Category: Feature Stories

3 Real Ways To Make More Money In 2022 (In 10 Days)

Posted on by Gary

By Michelle Baltazar 

If one of your new year’s resolutions for 2022 is to sort out your finances, you’re not alone. The Coronavirus pandemic brought on drastic changes in our ability to maintain a secure job, earn extra income and start (or keep) a new business.

But there are ways you can make 2022 a better year by following these two simple steps – in 10 days. The best thing to do is to spread the tasks over several weekends.

Tip #1 Start a weekly savings budget. Time required: Two-three days

Technically, you can prepare this budget in a couple of hours or less, but to avoid the anxiety, allocate a weekend or two. There is also a difference between an expense budget (how much you spend) versus a savings budget (how much you save).

Most people know they have to set aside a certain amount off their wages for bills and other expenses but not many put together a weekly savings budget – and that’s a big difference.

I’m not saying this is going to be easy but it’s absolutely worth the effort. There are many budgeting spreadsheets available on the internet but I recommend this one from the government as it means you’re not giving away your financial info to a third-party service provider (unless you don’t mind this!).

Step one: Go to Budget Planner and work out your expense budget as indicated in their spreadsheet. It’s alright if you can’t fill the spreadsheet completely. If you can at least cover your major expenses, then you’re already a step ahead of most people.

Step two: Once you’ve filled in the spreadsheet, you’ll know how much money you have remaining. From this amount, you can work out your weekly savings budget.

Step three: Hey, if this is all too hard, to begin with, nominate a savings amount and stick with it for the year. Even a small amount, say $50 a week, works out to be at least $2,000 for the year.

Tip #2. Check your superannuation. Time required: One-two days

Again, you don’t need two days to do this, especially if you’ve already downloaded your superannuation app. But if you’re scratching your head and wondering what ‘superannuation’ even means, your future self will thank you if you swap an hour of a Netflix episode with an hour of googling the term.

Here’s a link to a government website to know more: How Super Works

The actual tip here is that by the end of this exercise, you should be able to answer two important questions:

What is the name of your superannuation fund?

What is your superannuation account balance?

If you can answer both of those questions easily, well done! You’d be surprised how many people don’t know these very basic details about their super.

Tip #3 Subscribe to Money Magazine for their twice-a-week free newsletters. Time required: Less than five minutes

Full disclosure: I am the editor-in-chief of this magazine so, of course, I’ll recommend that you subscribe to it but I can’t tell you how many hundreds, even thousands, of dollars I have saved simply from reading tips from the finance experts we feature over the course of the year.

You can also choose to subscribe to any other finance newsletters or websites. It doesn’t matter as long as you do subscribe to at least one finance-related resource in 2022. Financial literacy can do wonders for your wallet.

The main thing though is that you don’t invest nor give your money to finance schemes that sound too good to be true. If they are offering you unrealistic returns, it’s most likely a scam.

There you have it – three tips to kick off your financial journey in 2022. There’s so much more than you can do but I believe in the power of three when it comes to completing tasks, big or small. By ticking these three goals first, you’re more likely to gain confidence in your financial acuity.

Source: The Australian Filipina

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Revealed: THIS decade Produced The Best Looking Cars

Posted on by Alex

A new study from Confused.com (Q4, 2021) has revealed that the 2010s produced the most beautiful cars, according to Fibonacci’s Golden Ratio – a mathematical symmetry ratio that influences perceived attractiveness. The golden ratio – which analyses the height and width dimensions of the ‘face on’ view of the car, was used to determine the scientific beauty of over 370 cars. Confused.com can now reveal all!

The results:

Decade

Decade’s average % match to the golden ratio

Most statistically beautiful car from the decade

Car’s percentage match to the golden ratio

2010s

90.18%

McLaren 720s 4.0 V8

99.73%

2000s

87.83%

Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe

99.20%

1970s

85.37%

Mercedes-Benz C111 – 11 D

99.33%

1990s

84.94%

Ferrari F355 GTS

95.61%

2020s

84.00%

McLaren GT

98.08%

1960s

79.49%

Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada

97.99%

1980s

79.36%

Lamborghini Jalpa P350

98.08%

1950s

76.34%

Chrysler Plymouth Fury (KP31)

95.30%

1940s

74.48%

Ferrari 166 MM Zagato Panoramica

88.27%

2010s produced the most statistically beautiful cars

Confused.com can reveal that the 2010s is the decade which produced the most statistically beautiful vehicles. Cars released in this decade averaged an incredible 90.18% match to the golden ratio. Of the cars released during this decade, the 2017 McLaren 720s 4.0 V8 is the most attractive. With an almost perfect 99.73% match to the golden ratio, it’s also making the most stunning of all cars analysed. The decade’s high average is also down to the 2017 McLaren 570s Coupe (99.24% match) and the 2012 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Coupe (99.20% match). These beautiful models finished second and third in the decade, respectively.

The 2000s comes in second place, with releases in this decade averaging an 87.83% match to the golden ratio. The 2003 Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe can be thanked for assisting with this high average, due to its 99.20% match to the golden ratio. The second best from this decade is the 2000 Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge Stradale F1 (99.07% match), followed by the 2008 Aston Martin One -77 in third (98.85% match). When it comes to the 17 Aston Martins analysed, the One -77 is the most beautiful, beating iconic models such as the 1963 Aston Martin DB5 (76.96% match).

It was the 1970s which produced the third most statistically beautiful cars, with an 85.37% match to golden ratio for the decade on average. Confused.com discovered that the 1970 Mercedes-Benz C111 – 11 D is the most mathematically stunning car released, with a 99.33% match to the golden ratio. This places the Mercedes as the third most beautiful car overall, and the oldest car to make it into the top 10.

In fourth place is the 1990s, with car releases averaging an 84.94% match to the golden ratio. With a 99.20% match, the 1994 Ferrari F355 GTS is the most stunning car to come out of the 90s, and the second most beautiful car overall. This is followed by the 1996 Lotus Esprit V8 32V Turbo as the second-best car of the decade (98.96% match), and the 1994 McLaren F1 in third (98.67% match). The F1 is also the second-best of all McLarens analysed.

40s and 50s: the least beautiful decades for cars

With a 74.48% match to the golden ratio on average for the decade, it’s the 1940s that produced the least statistically beautiful cars. The 1949 Ferrari 166 MM Zagato Panoramica came out as the most stunning, with an 88.27% match to the golden ratio. However, despite being the most statistically beautiful of the decade, the Ferrari falls short in the overall rankings. It places just 112 out of the 372 cars analysed, and 22 out of the 29 Ferrari models considered for the research.

The 1950s produced the second least statistically beautiful cars, with a 76.34% match to the golden ratio on average. With a percentage difference of 95.30%, the best car to come out of the 50s was the 1957 Chrysler Plymouth Fury (KP31). Of the five Chryslers analysed in the study, the Plymouth Fury takes first place. This beats younger models such as the 1997 Plymouth Prowler (92.11% match) by 3.19%, and the 1970 Plymouth Superbird (89.27% match) by 6.03%.

Alex Kindred, Car Insurance expert at Confused.com, comments:

“Although car design and technology have evolved throughout the decades, many classics from the 70s and the earlier years are clearly still popular today, with enthusiasts desperate to get their hands on them.

If you’re fortunate enough to own one of these classic beauties, keeping it secure should be a priority, as many classic cars don’t have the security systems more modern cars do. And it doesn’t have to be pricey. If you have a garage, keeping it stored away overnight might be a safer option than leaving it on the driveway.  Or you can invest in security devices, such as a steering wheel lock or a GPS tracker, which both help in keeping your car more secure. Our guide to car security highlights some of the most effective ways to keep your pride and joy safe.”

Please Note

  1. Confused.com sought to determine the most scientifically beautiful car from each decade according to the golden ratio (a mathematical symmetry ratio that influences perceived attractiveness) of the front view of the car.
  2. A list of a maximum of 50 iconic cars of each decade from the 1940s to 2020s was obtained from reputable sources using in-house metrics. Please access the full list of sources in this Google document.
  3. The width and height dimensions of each vehicle within the dataset was extracted from each vehicle’s manufacturer’s official website. Any model specifications not found on the sites were alternatively sourced from one of the following sources: Conceptcarz.com; carfolio.com; autoevolution.com;  auto-data.net/en/; supercars.net; fastestlaps.com/; dimensions.com ; allcarindex.com ; carsopedia.com; carsguide.com.au ; automobiledimension.com; ev-database.uk. Cars with no data available were omitted from the study.
  4. Following the collection of data, the ratio of width to height was used to calculate the difference against the golden ratio dimensions (1.61803398875). In total, 372 cars were analysed.
  5. Subsequently, percentages were calculated to express the difference from each car to the golden ratio.
  6. All vehicles were ranked in ascending order, deeming the most beautiful cars as the ones closest to the golden ratio proportions; therefore, determining the most statistically beautiful cars from each decade.
  7. All data was collated in November 2021 and is subject to change.

Source: https://www.confused.com/car-insurance  

Photo by Broderick Armbrister from Pexels

 

Are Property Investors Ignoring The Real Cost Of Real Estate??

Posted on by Gary

  • Buying and selling fees, ongoing management charges, tax and tenancy uncertainty can erode any potential profits on property investment.

  • Falling gross rental yield rates and rising housing prices can make it harder to find reliable returns.

  • AltX provides access to the attractive property market without some of the risks and expenses that come with direct investment.

Drawn to potential gains in a surging market, Australians continue to invest in real estate. But is there a better way to get in on the boom without costs and fees chipping away at your yield?

 According to the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data, property represents 51% of household wealth in Australia. And it doesn’t look like that percentage is going to be going down anytime soon. In June, ABS figures revealed quarterly growth in household wealth of 5.8%. And the increase was once again driven by residential property. The asset class grew by 6.7% in the period – the largest quarterly jump on record.

It’s clear Australians have retained their strong appetite for investing in property and are hungry for more opportunities. But is being a landlord all it’s cracked up to be – especially as residential prices continue to rise?

It all adds up

It’s one thing to outbid (or out-negotiate) the competition for your new investment property. It’s another factor in all the other initial and ongoing costs associated with real estate investing, all of which can dent potential returns in both the short- and long term. They include:

  • Buying and selling costs including stamp duty, conveyancing fees, agent fees, and inspections, not to mention the time involved in research, due diligence, finance, and settlement.
  • Ongoing fees such as property management services (which can generally eat up 7-10% of weekly rent income plus GST[1]), maintenance and repairs, strata fees, and landlord insurance (about $1200 a year for a property worth $1million[2]).
  • Capital gains tax on rental income from positively geared investments, as well as on the eventual profit when you sell.

And there’s also the potential unreliability of tenants, which can become an even bigger concern as you grow your investment property portfolio. On the one hand, more dwellings mean a greater number of potential income streams. On the other, each carries its own risk of vacancy and no- or low-rent periods, as we saw during COVID-19 support measures.

As vacancy rates rise and fall, so, too, can your return, bringing an extra element of unpredictability.

Prices up, yield down

Several other factors are making it harder for investors to find yield in the rental market.

In September 2021, the gross rental yield dropped to 3.32% – the lowest ever – with Melbourne (2.8%) and Sydney (2.5%) recording the lowest figures. COVID border closures and migration restrictions most likely played a role in this drop – highlighting one of the risks of traditional property investment.

Months of rising housing prices also make it harder to find consistent yield due to the inverse relationship between the two factors. Combining low yield with the aforementioned costs of real estate investment, and you can see why many potential investors are frustrated.

Taking some of the worries out of real estate

Alternative investing options like AltX give you a chance to get involved in the upward-moving Australian property market – without exposing yourself to as many of the costs and variables that can cause your yield to yo-yo.

By investing in the private real estate debt used to fund Australian real estate projects, property is still a part of your portfolio as the underlying security – without the burden of owning it yourself. Your regular monthly payments come in the form of interest, rather than rent, which means less worry about vacancy rates or unreliable tenants. And with an average deal timeframe of 12 to 18 months and no exit costs, you’ll have more flexibility in where and how you allocate your capital.

It’s an exciting time to get involved in the soaring Australian property market. And the alternative investment options from AltX might be the key to avoiding some of the traditional costs associated with doing so.

About AltX

AltX (www.altx.com.au) is a market-leading alternative investment platform. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Sydney, AltX provides bespoke access to alternative income-generating products which have traditionally been inaccessible to individual investors.  AltX has funded in excess of $2bn of transactions since inception with zero loss of investor capital.

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

This article was sourced from a media release sent by Medianet

Will The Omicron Strain Impact Property Trends??

Posted on by Alex

Pete Wargent, the co-founder of BuyersBuyers, Australia’s first national network of property buyer’s agents, says the Omicron strain of the coronavirus will have a negligible impact on the trajectory of the housing market.

Mr Wargent said, “to a certain extent, the last couple of years should have reminded us that making predictions is very hard, especially when they are about pandemics or the future. But, that said, there’s little to indicate that the latest strain of the virus will have any meaningful impact on housing market trends.”

“After an initial wobble, stock markets have been resurgent, and financial markets have been largely unperturbed, which is likely to be a better indicator than the latest alarmist headline.”

“Financial markets are possibly factoring in the various news about the lack of serious cases of the latest strain to date, with many reporting mild symptoms. However, case numbers seem to be increasing rapidly, which could delay the full reopening of the international borders into 2022”.

“Moreover, a look back at how the housing market fared through the past two years suggests that there are more crucial factors at play than the latest strain of the virus, such as the cost of mortgage debt and the supply of properties being made available for sale” Mr Wargent said.

Cooling naturally

BuyersBuyers co-founder Doron Peleg said that a cooling of the housing market was inevitable in 2022 after a storming year in 2021. Still, the latest virus strain wasn’t a key factor in his forecasts.

Mr Peleg said, “a range of factors combined will help to take the heat out of the housing market in 2022, such as gradually rising mortgage rates, more vendors looking to lock in gains, and more cautious buyers as affordability bites following the strong price gains of 2021”.

“The rate of immigration has not been a key factor in driving the market over the past couple of years, with the notable exception of CBD and some inner-city apartments, where the absence of international students has been felt particularly keenly.”

“Remember, though, that the closure of the borders didn’t lead the doomsday outcomes many commentators predicted, partly because corrective policy measures were taken” Mr Peleg said.

“All eight of the capital cities recorded double-digit price gains over the year to September, with most recording price rises of about 20 per cent or higher”.

Population growth to resume

Pete Wargent of BuyersBuyers said that buyer sentiment has been broadly unchanged by the latest virus developments.

Mr Wargent said “there is less fear of missing out in the housing market now. But the pattern of housing trends through the pandemic has taught more buyers to look through the short-term noise and to buy quality properties when they can while taking a medium-term outlook.”

“We wouldn’t be surprised to see employment surging towards a record high approaching 13½ million through 2022, with the economy likely to grow by about 5 per cent per annum for the next couple of years, in turn helping to push the unemployment rate down to 4 per cent for the first time since the mining boom go-go years”.

“There might be a delay in the rebooting of immigration due to Omicron. But looking through the noise, population growth should be back to over 300,000 per annum whenever travel does become easier, and potentially even nearer to 400,000” Mr Wargent said.

About BuyersBuyers

BuyersBuyers connects people looking to buy a property with some of the best buyer’s agents around Australia. We aim to level the real estate playing field to give first-time and experienced home buyers and property investors a personalised service with the advantage of having a property expert working for them, serving only the buyer’s interests. Our national network of top buyer’s agents is the largest in Australia and offers some of the most affordable buying solutions on the market.

All our buyer’s agents are licensed, experienced, and are committed to working in the best interest of our clients. We offer excellent value for money with very competitive and affordable fees and no commissions. What you see is what you get. Our bespoke property research and tools enable buyer’s agents and buyers to stay informed on market trends and our insightful property reports help determine the best places to buy. That’s why we are quite simply, ‘the better way to buy property.

This article was sourced from a media release sent by Medianet

How Investors Are Embracing Alternative Strategies In This Day And Age

Posted on by Gary

Traditionally financial advisers were considered investment specialists who earned fees for advising their ‘non-financial’ clients on where to invest. But with traditional debt and equity investments no longer achieving the desired outcomes, they’ll need to stay ahead of all available investment options – including the ones self-directed investors are already embracing.

Trust in financial advice eroded during the Banking Royal Commission, and only one in ten Australians currently receive financial advice. Oliver Wyman estimates non-advised investments in Australia are worth $3.6 trillion – more than three times assets under advice.[1]

“Financial advisers have been forced to make significant changes – to their fee models, professional education requirements and client duty of care – and in some cases their licensees have exited the industry,” says Nick Raphaely, CEO and Co-founder of AltX, an alternative investment platform focusing on property-backed private debt.

“At the same time, the available universe of investment options has expanded – and many high net worth or sophisticated investors know that. They expect more from their advisers than ever before.”

Direct investors are embracing debt

While it’s still a relatively small component of any portfolio, industry experts believe Australia’s private debt market could double by 2025. According to Preqin, Australia’s private capital assets under management rose steadily in 2020 to a record $77 billion, and the country has one of the most attractive risk/return profiles globally. These assets comprise private equity, venture capital, private debt, real estate, infrastructure, and natural resources.

“Investors no longer question whether the asset class has merits. They come directly to us, and are more interested in whether the deal matches what they’re looking for in terms of risk and return,” says Raphaely.

One AltX investor, who currently has over 100 deals on the platform and also invests in private debt elsewhere, says AltX’s deals play a “conservative role” in his portfolio as a capital preservation play. “I like the quality of the deals, and I like AltX’s flawless default rate of zero. Your money works harder there than with the bank, without taking on any undue risk.”

As a wholesale investor, he also invests directly in property, funds and equities – without a financial planner.

“I find they don’t really understand what you’re trying to do, or they have a bias towards a particular path,” he says. “I wish accountants could still provide that kind of advice, because they see everyone’s books and understand what does and doesn’t work.”

Most investors don’t have the time or expertise to stay on top of a truly diversified portfolio – let alone any tax advantages. Yet 19% of Australians say the biggest barrier to accessing financial advice is lack of trust – and 29% say it’s a desire to manage their own finances.

AltX’s Flagship First Mortgage Debt Fund has recently received a ‘Recommended’ rating from independent research house IIR, and AltX can also create bespoke funds for advisers. This makes first mortgage private debt more accessible for both advisers and their clients.

However, they first need to understand the role of alternative assets like private debt in the current market.

Liquidity, yield and capital preservation

For investors approaching or in retirement, generating reliable income is the number one concern right now. But defensive positions are currently difficult: investing in cash currently does not beat inflation, and other fixed-income like 5-year Australian government bonds are only returning around 0.5% yield.

“Alternatives are not designed to keep pace with ‘raging bull’ equity markets – they provide non-correlated diversification to protect investment portfolios,” explains Raphaely. “But they can provide a balance of income, diversification and liquidity if you know what you are looking for.”

For example, AltX provides returns of around 4%-8% on first mortgage-backed property loans, over a fixed period – say 12 months. Construction loans may yield higher returns, but they assume an extra level of risk in the execution of actually building a project.

That’s why private debt investors need to do a fair amount of due diligence before committing to any specific deal. And their advisers should be across those details too.

“I understand property,” the AltX investor told us. “I don’t look at any LVR (Loan to Value Ratio) over 65% unless it’s a cracker of a position. I look at the valuation and whether I agree with that value. I look at the property, where it is and what the alternative uses are – how easy it would be to resell. And I tend not to go past 12 months.”

He prefers to invest directly, to have full visibility over the underlying asset. “I like that AltX has been doing this for quite a while. What I really love is that the exit strategy for the borrower is clearly laid out for every transaction. This gives me a lot of clarity on how I’m going to get my money back.”

Not just for those in the know

Raphaely co-founded AltX 10 years ago because he believed the ‘exclusive club’ mentality of investing in private debt was ripe for disruption. “It shouldn’t have to be a case of who you know,” he says. “We want to democratise access to this asset class.”

Many AltX investors do hear about the platform through friends and colleagues. These investors are far less likely to come through their financial adviser – although Raphaely hopes that will change as more planners understand the valuable role private debt can play in a portfolio.

“Instead of targeting a balanced portfolio mix with 60% equities and 40% bonds, think about it in terms of time,” he suggests. “Especially for retirees, who don’t have the time horizon to recover from a capital loss or ride out low bond yields.” For example, carving liquidity needs up into time, you could allocate cash funds to a 12-month private debt deal – and enjoy strong returns with a similar sense of security. “As a first mortgage holder, you rank in priority to other creditors,” notes Raphaely.

Other assets, like private equity, also have a strong showing as alternatives to equities – but (like equities) they play a growth role, rather than yield. And private equity positions are far less liquid than shares.

“There are assets that can provide income, but they aren’t the ‘usual’ types of products many financial planners are used to,” says Raphaely. “If we look at the US, there is certainly growing acceptance of alternatives as part of the mix. Yieldstreet, for example, enables investments in art or marine finance as well as real estate.”

As financial advisers seek to stay relevant in ever-changing markets – where new tech platforms may be just as trusted by the next generation of investors as a human adviser – it’s important to be aware of all the possible options available to meet investor goals and risk appetite.

About AltX

AltX (www.altx.com.au) is a market-leading alternative investment platform. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Sydney, AltX provides bespoke access to alternative income-generating products which have traditionally been inaccessible to individual investors.  AltX has funded in excess of $2bn of transactions since inception with zero loss of investor capital.

This article was sourced from a media release sent by Medianet

5 Good Reasons Wealthy People Love Patek Philippe

Posted on by Alex

Patek Philippe, a traditional Swiss watchmaking brand, enjoys an aura of covetable glamour that originates from its lavish traditions of watchmaking and its exquisite polished, handcrafted timepieces.

In this article, we will walk you through 5 compelling reasons that make Patek Philippe an incredibly popular choice amongst rich collectors. Here, take a look:

A Symbol of Exclusivity

Research reveals that since 1839, Patek Philippe has made and sold less than 1 million watches, which allows this luxury Swiss watchmaker to enjoy an immensely covetable brand appeal. Patek watches take around nine months to be manufactured, while the more exquisite pieces are produced in a period of over two years. The growing demand and the sought-after models have given the brand an affluent status that allows rich people to set themselves apart in the crowd.

Hand-Finished Beauty

Philip Patek watches are known for their finesse and beauty. These intensely charming timepieces are admired because of their stunning hand-finished components. The Swiss watchmaker infuses each design with an iconic detailing that captivates the admirers with its distinctive and high-end glamour. From the dynamic batons to the hand-finished hands, and the overall design, it is the little details that allow a Patek watch to leave the onlookers struck by its sleek appeal.

It’s an Investment

Many savvy collectors invest in Patek watches as an investment, and both vintage and modern watches promise a spectacular resale value. History stands witness to the fact that Patek watches bought back in the 1950s or 1970s, for instance, the Calatrava, and the 5131 Cloisonné Enamel, sold twice more than their original retail price.

Be part of a Legacy

Patek Philippe maintains an archive for every single watch made since 1839, and it allows watch enthusiasts revel in the confidence of being a proud member of the Patek community. The archives have meticulously documented the history of each and every watch that has ever been produced by the celebrated Swiss watchmaker, allowing the purchaser to be a part of a legacy shared with royal family members, heads of states, and celebrities.

Traditional Watchmaking Traditions

Rich people adore Patek Philippe for its rich legacy and its traditional watch and case-making techniques that date all the way back to the 1800s. This iconic brand continues to dominate the market of luxury watches with its meticulous preservation of centuries’ old watchmaking techniques, handcraftsmanship, and alluring designs.

Photo by Antony Trivet from Pexels

How To Get Your Loved One A Gift That’s Personally Picked This Christmas

Posted on by JillAntonio

With an 80% increase in gifting during the pandemic lockdown period, this female-founded Aussie gifting startup, PersonallyPicked has seen exponential growth over the past year. Demand continues to grow for unique and fabulous gift options for loved ones being sent, “just because”.

As the name suggests, PersonallyPicked allows customers to curate the perfect gift for their friend, colleague, or loved one, selecting from over 150 incredible gift options. For those more indecisive or in need of a little gifting inspo – there are ready-made gift boxes for a quick solution.

That said, PersonallyPicked says that over 95% of their customers choose to build their own personalised gift box – offering a gift that, as the name states, is personally picked for them.

Some of the most popular gift items during the current lockdowns have included drinks such as Melbourne Martini cocktails in a jar, Just a Glass Wines, and T2 teas, as Aussies enjoy a tipple or two from home – be it toasty and warm, or fresh and fruity.

Additionally, people are spreading the fun, with activity-related gifts rising in popularity during the lockdown. Many Australians are sending Journey of Something puzzles, quiz games, and cocktail recipe books to keep people entertained at home. It seems we’re also quite keen to pamper friends and family with beauty and wellness products such as the Aunty Honey Heat Packs, Lapcos Face Masks, and Huxter Bath Salts in rather high demand.

PersonallyPicked Co-Founder Samantha Lynn said, “Customers are sending gifts not for any particular occasion, but just because loved ones were going through difficult times and as a way to re-connect and bring joy. We have also had a huge uplift in corporate clients and businesses organising gifts for their staff who were working hard in lockdown at home, which is really great to see.”

Over the last 12 months, PersonallyPicked has seen a 250% increase in sales, with the online gifting trend seeing no sign of slowing down.

PersonallyPicked offers a range of bright, colourful, and unique packaging options that stand out from the crowd. The best part, each gift box is personalised with the recipient’s name for the ultimate personalised experience.

For more information or to order your own PersonallyPicked gift box, head to: www.personallypicked.com.au

The Surefire Guide To Starting And Successfully Running A Home Business

Posted on by Alex

By:

Some of today’s most prominent businesses were started at home, and many of today’s successful business owners are content to operate their businesses from their home office, garage, or on-site warehouse. 

A small business may be defined as a “privately owned corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship with fewer employees and less annual revenue than a corporation or regular-sized business.” Therefore, a small home business can be defined as such; only its operation occurs at the proprietor’s residence or in the residential setting of one of the employees. 

Many people decide to start a small home business to earn extra income or simply to go into business for themselves. Many small businesses are run from homes today, ranging from financial consulting and baking to salon services and tutoring. Whether you’re interested in selling products or providing services from your home, the following information will help you get started and probably answer some questions you might have and know some pros and cons. Of course, if you have little ones at home, starting a business alongside them can be a challenge – but not impossible! Parenting while working from home can actually be enjoyable, while also setting a positive example for your children to learn from.

Benefits and Advantages of a Home-Based Business

If you’re thinking about launching a home business, you’ll want to explore the many enjoyable advantages and benefits. In fact, many of these benefits persuade people to start a home business in the first place. 

Time with Family

Many people prefer to work from home so that they can be around for the family. Small business owners can be on-site to keep an eye on older relatives who may need occasional assistance. They can be at home when children are let out of school, and they can enjoy flexible hours to quickly leave home and attend kids’ events like after-school track meets or basketball games. Even if you are a “pet parent,” staying at home jobs or starting your own business will be ideal for taking care and sharing more time with the people you love or your furry loved ones. 

Zero Commute Time

The average American spends an hour per day commuting to and from work. That adds up to 20 hours per week. Many people spend even more time commuting, enduring the stress of heavy traffic, inclement weather, and crowded busses or trains. There is also the substantial cost associated with work commutes. Being at home will reduce these extra costs since you will be able to cook and eat at home, avoid traffic, lower your gas budget or any other transportation budget. This would be the perfect time to start eating clean and having a healthy diet, adding more activities that will keep you productive such as meditating instead of being stuck in traffic. 

Save on Commercial Rent

When you run your business from home, you can save the cost of rent. If you operate your business in a commercial space, you’d be required to pay rent as well as utilities and insurance. You can avoid this type of overhead by operating your business online from your home. You can reinvest the money you save on commercial rent back into your business in some other form, such as digital marketing. 

Multitask between Your Professional and Personal Lives

While it may take some practice to juggle tasks associated with your business and personal life skillfully, you can undoubtedly multitask when running a home business. You can break from your work to throw in a load of laundry or prep for dinner on your lunch break. You can create a daily dynamic schedule that includes tasks related to your business and household needs. Moreover, you may easily fit a wide range of tasks into your day without the commute time, such as exercising.

Be More Productive

Because your business belongs to you, you’re likely to feel a tremendous investment in its success. So, you’re apt to work hard and be highly productive. Moreover, there won’t be any other employees (unless you decide to hire them) or a boss around to distract you from your tasks. Consequently, you can more easily stick to your workday plans. When you run your own business, you can set your own goals in terms of productivity and develop the strategies to achieve them that work best for you. You definitely are able to become your own boss! A great way to get started would be creating a schedule you know you will follow every day. It must have realistic metrics so you can stay motivated throughout this new journey. While making your schedule, you might want to add some household activities that might take around 15 minutes to complete or maybe just take an outdoor walk or read that book you have purchased and haven’t had the chance to open it—organizing your agenda and working at home will a great experience. It doesn’t matter if you are a morning or evening person.

Getting Started

Starting a business is an exciting prospect, but there are a lot of details to address. By staying organized and tackling all necessary tasks, you can set your business model up for a successful launch.

Define Your Business

Take time to define your business clearly. Will you sell products, services, or both? Although you may already have a good idea of what you want to do, you’ll want to think in terms of specifics once you’re serious about starting a small home business. Take time to brainstorm through some ideas and make a list of the possibilities you’re most interested in pursuing. Once you have a shortlist, you can research your options and take a look at the marketplace to determine if there’s a need for your offerings. Take into consideration also what are you good at, baking, cooking, singing, tutoring, numbers, dropshipping, etc. this will help you to keep motivated and have a business project that you will enjoy and won’t see it as a boring work task that you just have to perform. 

Brainstorm Your Business Name

Take time to choose a business name carefully. You’ll want to choose a name that’s easy for customers to spell and remember. It makes sense to select a web-friendly name in this digital age and nothing too similar to your competitors’ names. While there are business name-generating apps available that you can try, you might also want to make a list of possible names for your business and run them past family and friends to get their thoughts. You can even ask your close friends and family to suggest options as a way of helping you brainstorm.

Identify Your Target Audience

Who are you trying to sell to? Defining your target audience, whether it’s local homeowners or teenagers nationwide, will help you market your business effectively. When you have a target demographic in mind, you can create more targeted strategies for engaging potential customers. Therefore, you must identify your product or service’s target audience before you begin marketing efforts for the brand. The group will include existing customers as well as potential customers.  

Your target market does not necessarily consist of everyone who may be interested in your products. It’s important to identify the people you want to reach through your brand marketing efforts, whether you’re using digital marketing campaigns or advertisements or on social media channels.

Understanding your target audience and their pain points allows you to create content more effectively and target advertisements with the right marketing message for each segment.

Develop Your Business Plan

Creating a business plan is a crucial step for developing your home business. It can include every aspect of your business, guiding both its launch and operation. Some key elements of your business plan should include:

  • Company description: provide a summary of what your company does. Company descriptions give an overview of key aspects of your business, such as what you do and what sets you apart from the competition. Your business description should clearly explain what you do.
  • Breakdown of your products and services: The product or service section of your business plan should emphasize the value you offer clients or customers.
  • Executive summary: provide a formal business summary, one that could appear in professional business directories.
  • Marketing and sales plan: describe how you intend to market your company (i.e., digital and traditional sales measures)
  • Competitive analysis: analyze the marketplace you intend to operate in; know how you fit in and who your competitors are. 
  • Operating plan: describe how you plan to run your business and list company departments and managing personnel.

Financial Considerations

You’ll need to carefully evaluate your finances and develop a budget related to your startup expenses and business operation. Don’t forget to add in costs for items like marketing, insurance, and other necessities associated with the types of products or services you’ll sell. Determine whether or not you’ll need to apply for a business loan. For entrepreneurs who are starting new businesses, personally funded venture capital is often the first thing they consider. While this is common at the beginning, it is essential to separate your personal and professional funds when your business is growing and earning cash, not only for tax purposes but also to protect your credit and eliminate unnecessary stress.

Legal Business Structure

Take time to determine your business’s legal stature and structure. Do you intend to own your business as a private proprietor or to create a corporation? Learn about the different structures and decide which is best suited for you and your business.

Business Licensure

What type of license will you need to operate your business? Be sure to calculate the cost of your license into your startup costs. Although there are general business licenses, there are also specialty licenses that may apply to your business. Check here to learn more about specific types of business licenses.

Branding Campaign

Marketing is essential for any business but definitely a home business. You won’t have the benefit of being in a commercial area where you can post commercial signage. You’ll need to create a marketing plan that includes both traditional and digital marketing initiatives. Branding is the idea that if you display a positive message about your company to enough people for long enough, they’ll think about you when it’s time to make a purchase.

Source: Porch.com

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5 Ways To Keep Yourself Healthy During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted on by Alex

In the midst of a global pandemic, many want to know which ways are best to boost your immune system. However, it must be noted that there is no diet, supplement, or lifestyle modification that will protect against COVID-19 except for proper hygiene and social distancing. The tips listed below may support and boost your immune health, making it easier to fight off disease and infections, but they do not specifically fight against COVID-19

That being said, here are 5 tips that will boost your immune health and with time will help you feel healthier as well help your body to fight off illnesses.

Getting Enough Sleep Each Night

You may notice when you get a cold or start feeling sick, you start sleeping longer and deeper. This is your body allowing your immune system to better fight off the illness. Your immune system takes a lot of energy to fight off illnesses, likewise, it takes a lot of energy to protect against them. It’s important to get enough sleep for many reasons, among them is to have enough energy to give your immune system a chance to fight off illnesses.

Work Whole Plant and Fermented Foods into Your Diet

Whole plants, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes are incredibly rich in nutrients and antioxidants. These may give your immune system an upper hand in its fight against some harmful pathogens. It can cut down on chronic inflammation, provide fiber to promote gut health, and most provide the vitamin C needed to reduce the duration of a common cold.

While fermented foods may not be what many think is best for their diets (And in fact when done improperly can be dangerous so be sure to research fermentation before starting) they are often packed with probiotics and beneficial bacteria that promote gut health. In turn, this allows your stomach and immune system to work together to fight off illness.

Limit the Amount of Added Sugars in Your Diet

With many coming to the conclusion that added sugars and refined carbs contribute heavily to obesity, it is important to try to begin cutting these out of your diet. Obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease are all capable of suppressing your immune system. To maintain a healthy immune system it is vital to cut the risk of these by reducing how much-added sugar is in your diet to 5% of your daily calories.

Practice Moderate and Daily Exercise

Simple, daily exercises such as brisk walking, steady biking, jogging swimming, and light hiking are all great ways to stay in shape, as well as boost your immune system. An active body has a better chance of fighting off infections and illnesses.

Drink Enough Water Everyday

While drinking water does not directly protect you from germs or viruses, it does prevent dehydration and boosts your overall health. Preventing dehydration is important for everyone, as you are far more susceptible to illness while dehydrated.

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5 Ways to Manage Your Physical And Mental Well-Being During COVID-19

Posted on by Alex

The world has certainly been turned upside down over the last couple of months. These unprecedented times have tested people and the impact of the pandemic will be seen for a long time. This has, however, given people a good opportunity to get to grips with their physical and mental wellness. If you are someone who exercises regularly then you will understand how important it is to a human being’s stability. Our emotional status is often very closely linked with our physical state.

Think about it, if you have a stressful day at work it is compounded by any physical ailment you may be experiencing. Stress is exponentially increased when we are out of balance with our bodies and the current situation has led to a lot of stress going around. We need to make sure that we are keeping tabs on our physical and mental well-being. This article will give you 5 tips for maintaining yourself during a pandemic and hopefully teach you to deal with stress a lot easier.

Here are 5 steps to get you going throughout the day:

Step 1: Wake up and make your bed.

Step 2: Eat a well-balanced breakfast.

Step 3: Take a moment to plan your day (without using your phone or technology).

Step 4: Pick a time to put on your exercise shoes and do it.

Step 5: Put on your shoes.

You do not have to be lifting weight or going for 2 hour runs every day. Simple exercises with simple movements can have a massive impact on your health and mental state. A good rule of thumb is that you should aim for half an hour of exercise every day. Regular exercise has proven to increase your brain’s ability to process serotonin and norepinephrine. These are the hormones in your brain that manage your ability to deal with stress. Simple exercise and getting the blood flowing can have a tremendous impact on your mood and stress levels. Another vital impact of exercise is that it will give you more energy. It may seem like a contradiction but the more energy you use, the more you actually have. If you spend all day on the couch your body will become accustomed to that lifestyle and you will find it harder and harder to get up and get going. During a pandemic, it is absolutely crucial that you keep your energy levels up because it is hard enough to deal with a lockdown in a normal state, doing it while feeling tired and lethargic is much harder. Give yourself the boost you need by training your body and your mind.

Maintaining a healthy mindset is so important at this time. Everyone is dealing with the pandemic in different ways and you will find that those who are able to cope with the hardships are probably those people who have regular exercise routines. Taking care of your body creates a positive atmosphere and you will find that your mental state improves with each day that you spend on the go. You do not have to become a world-class athlete; you just need to get your body moving. Even a simple walk around the block can have massive effects on your well-being.