Author: Complete Controller

Congratulations, you have taken the first step to achieve financial independence. Budgeting is the door to the financial freedom you are striving towards. It offers you a clear picture of your spending and enlightens you on areas of improvement. Furthermore, it helps you in creating financial stability. However, once you have initiated this practice, what matters is to sustain it creatively. If you are unclear about how to proceed with it, this blog is here to provide your answer.

• 1st way: If you love hanging out with friends or trying new dishes at a restaurant, this method can be a little challenging for you but not impossible! It can put you under financial strain in the coming years. I encourage you to decrease this costly habit gradually. Specify some days for having a nice dinner to fulfill your wants, but this practice is highly beneficial if you are working hard to attain financial freedom.

Well, this was good advice, but do you want to learn creatively? Restaurant deals and holidays! Locate good restaurant deals and save a great deal of money! Additionally, you can utilize coupons to get a discount! Try this hack and share your experience in the comment section below!

• 2nd way: Be alert to your hidden insurance fees. Insurance is an excellent way to secure your future, but it comes with hidden costs that might be unhealthy for your budget. Just as you try to maintain good physical health, it’s fundamental to comprehend the importance of your financial health.

We need to ‘creatively’ cut non-essential expenses, and insurance costs are one of them. Once you clearly understand your budget, you can confidently discuss matters that need to be discussed, such as communicating with your insurance agent to get the best deal and discounts that fit your circumstances. It is an effective and intelligent strategy.

• 3rd way: Start small with debts. In America, 70% of people have borrowed money to finance their needs and improve their quality of life. However, debt can be good and bad depending on how well or poorly you manage it. Financial experts call debt a hollow trap that gradually consumes your happiness. Some experts recommend proceeding with small balances first to ditch the increasing interest rates. Upon completion, you can continue with clearing off the remaining debt balance. It sounds easy while reading but requires consistency and commitment. But, again, it depends on how you treat it. Consider receiving consultation from a financial expert.
• 4th way: Walk to work. Reduce your transportation costs. Don’t get your eyebrows raised like this. The accumulated cost of an everyday commute is quite expensive. You can creatively save money by walking to work, or if your office is at a reasonable distance, consider getting a cycle or electric bike. This practice is like killing two birds with one stone: saving money by walking and getting back in shape. Financial and physical health are both achieved!
• 5th way: Shop at thrift stores. How about purchasing unbranded items? Remember Emma Watson once mentioned that wearing unbranded and cheap clothes doesn’t mean you’re poor. It is powerful; it illustrates how imperative it is to reflect that you have responsibilities to meet and not impress the people around you. Remember, you have a family to feed, not a community to impress. You can turn your visions into reality by making small sacrifices. Wearing unbranded clothes is not considered poor. Instead, it is regarded as creative and intelligent.
• 6th way: Pack a meal for the office. Eating outside at lunchtime can be expensive. Cooking your lunch can save you more than $100 at the end of the month. It might take a few minutes, but this practice is undoubtedly rewarding. Search for delicious meals and give them a try! I can sense the coming of a master chef!
• 7th way: Save on electricity. Switch from regular bulbs to energy-saving electronics. Energy-saving products save a great deal of money annually. Utility bills consume a more significant part of our income. Creatively handle this by making a better investment.

In addition, there are other creative ways to cut your budget:

1. Use coupons
2. Cut back on your entertainment expenses
3. Find free or discounted activities
4. Get rid of cable
5. Manage your credit wisely
6. Use cash instead of credit
7. Live below your means

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are various creative ways to cut your budget. You can save a significant amount of money over time by minor changes to your spending habits. Several free or low-cost resources are available to help you manage your finances. You can stretch your budget even further by taking advantage of these resources. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

As parents, it is crucial to instill essential life skills in our children, such as maintaining a healthy diet and financial management. Teaching kids about investing at an age-appropriate level is an important way to empower them to make their money work for them. This knowledge will undoubtedly benefit them in the future.

Depositing money into a brokerage account with the intention of teaching your child about investing may not be advisable. If the child experiences losses, it could potentially lead to a negative perception of the stock market, hindering their future involvement in investing. Conversely, if they achieve gains, they might develop an overconfident mindset and take on greater risks, which could pose significant drawbacks. Consequently, it’s essential to consider alternative methods for introducing children to investing that minimize potential adverse outcomes.

4 to 9 years

Children at a young age should not yet learn about the stock market. But you can learn the principles of the stock market. Investing is investing for the long term. So, you can teach your child lessons that spending time and energy on something can yield a valuable result in the long run.

For example, your child can garden. Planting and caring for seeds will eventually produce a beautiful plant or flower. A giant puzzle or craft project can be encouraged and rewarded with a compliment that hard work can bring great results.

10 to 14 years

Kids heading into puberty are generally more interested in finances than you think. They must also be able to understand simple investment principles. You can teach them about well-known brand companies. For example, you can take some ownership of Disney when watching a new Disney movie, or Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, or refueling at Shell.

You can also teach them about spreading. Teach them not to put all their money in one company and that anything can happen to any company. Multiple companies mean less risk. Also, teach them that “get rich quick” is an illusion. Let them enter the lotto with their own money. In this way, they will learn that the chance of winning is minimal to non-existent.

14 to 18 years

After some math knowledge, you can teach the kids about the power of compound interest. Teach them that money can make money. Teach them that the power of compound interest works faster and faster as more money makes more money.

With the rule of 72, you can learn how to double their money. Divide 72 by the return per year, and you know how many years it will take you to double your money. For example, a return of 7% per year doubles your money after ten years (72: 7 = 10).

Also, teach them that inflation works similarly but makes your money worth less instead of more. You can teach them that they lose purchasing power when their money yields less than inflation.

You can let them gain experience with the stock market through a virtual portfolio. It is best to start with well-known stocks from everyday life. Create one or more portfolios per theme. This way, you can show them which system works and which method works less or not at all.

+ 18 years

Here, you can put real money to work. Start investing some of the money they earn during the holidays or weekends. Advise in good times but especially in bad times. Explain why stocks fall or rise. Teach them that investing regularly is more rewarding than investing a total amount at once. Make sure they don’t make the mistakes that you undoubtedly did.

Conclusion

The most important thing is to teach children about investing from the start and know what to teach as children grow because the teaching should change according to a child’s age.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Spring comes with spring cleaning. However? It applies to your home, but also your money matters. Do you want to get a clear picture of whether you can save money and have it completely clear how much money you can put aside? Then, you can easily overview your income and expenses using our eight tips.

Overview of Income and Expenses: This Man Has It All

1. First, list your income

Make a list of all your income. Do this digitally – for example, in Excel – to save it and save it for later. You naturally start by noting your wages, benefits, or pension. Allowances and regulations such as child benefits are also included in the list. Do you get holiday pay and a 13th month? You also put that in your overview. Note immediately whether it concerns one-off or, for example, monthly income.

2. Next, map out your fixed costs

You create a list with all your fixed costs in the same file. It includes all recurring expenses you must meet after entering a contract. Think of your rent or mortgage payments, the energy bill, insurance, subscriptions, and the municipal assessment. Please note that fixed costs do not necessarily all recur monthly. Therefore, note how often you must deal with these expenses.

3. Divide your other expenses into categories

In addition to the fixed costs, you also must deal with daily or ‘household’ expenses. Write precisely what you spent on this in the past month and the month before. Think of groceries, transport, and the drugstore. It might be a long list if you jot down each message separately. That’s why it’s helpful to divide the list into categories and note your spending on each type.

Nibbed also distinguishes between household expenditures and reservation expenditures. Reservation expenses do not necessarily recur monthly but regularly. These include clothing, shoes, furniture, electrical appliances, and holidays. You also write down all these kinds of expenses in categories.

4. Make your budget for the average month

We said it before some income and expenses come back monthly, others every quarter or six months. That is why it is wise to make an average monthly budget. You then convert all yearly income and expenses into an average monthly amount. By the way, make sure that you do not count amounts twice.

5. See if you can save money

Is your budget ready? Then, you can see if and where you have room to make changes to your expenses. You may be able to reduce your fixed costs by, for example, canceling subscriptions or taking out cheaper insurance. It’s good to check this at least once every six months!

Also, check what you spend money on every day. Do you feel good about that, or would you save on some expenses instead? Our 11 tips to save money are for you in the latter case.

6. Set your savings goals

Do you have money left if you deduct your expenses from your income? Determine how much you will save each month and – not unimportantly – what your savings goals are. Saving is more effortless if you know exactly what you are doing it for. Start with that if you don’t have a pot for irregular expenses. Such a buffer ensures that you will not be faced with surprises.

If you do not need money for a longer period, consider alternatives to saving, such as investing. Although you run the risk, you can also achieve a higher return.

7. Automate with an online housekeeping book

If you start making an overview, manually noting everything down can help your awareness. Programs such as Excel or Google Sheets are beneficial for this. However, plenty of online household books also take the work off your hands. This way, you can see exactly what you spend and on what, all year round, without writing everything down.

If you have a Knob checking account, you automatically have an overview of your income and expenses. The Digital Cash Book is linked to your account by default. You can easily add your credits and debits from other banks via upload. You get a wholly categorized overview of all your banking matters.

8. Plan a little further ahead

In addition to an overview of your income and expenses, do you want to get a grip on your money for later? Read more about the different ways you can save for your retirement. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

If you’re looking to reduce your spending on dining out, it’s important to recognize that when you go to a restaurant, you’re not just paying for the food. You’re also covering the costs of the entire dining experience, including the preparation of dishes, the service provided, and the cleaning of the cookware and cutlery used during your meal. All of these elements contribute to the total cost of dining out and are essential to keep in mind when trying to save money.

This is How You Save a Lot of Money on a Restaurant!

According to experts, an average restaurant should use a factor of three or even four when determining its prices. This means the prices are three or four times as high as the ingredients used. Even if you can purchase all the ingredients for a meal as cheaply as a restaurant, you will still be considerably cheaper by preparing the meal in question. A restaurant also charges many other costs, even if you only ordered one simple dish. 

Save Money When You go to a Restaurant

From a purely practical point of view, the advice to extend a meal yourself, thus saving restaurant costs, seems perfectly logical. But never escaping the daily stress and hectic pace can be frustrating. Moreover, almost everyone doesn’t have the time to deal with pots and pans after a long day at work. In such situations, it’s important to know how to save money when dining out.

Eating out with family and friends is a fundamental way for many people to socialize. Therefore, it is not pleasant to reject every invitation to a nice restaurant because of a shortage in your budget. Moreover, by constantly refusing invitations, you risk losing contact with people in your immediate environment and, in the worst case, even ending up in social isolation. Fortunately, there are several ways to enjoy an occasional meal in a cozy restaurant without completely disrupting your finances.

The Place Where You Eat Out

Before going out for dinner, you must know which restaurant you will visit. Not every restaurant is the same, so the choice of a particular eatery can also determine the costs associated with such a visit. Your wallet will certainly appreciate that.

The Day You Go Out to Eat

If you visit a restaurant on a Friday evening or at the weekend, the price for, for example, a three-course menu can be a lot higher than if you would order the same menu on another day of the week. On those days, the restaurant is likely to have less customer traffic. Towards the end of the week, and on weekends and public holidays, more people will visit a restaurant, so prices may be a bit higher. Specific discounts are often given. By not eating out on one of the busy days, you can quickly save a few euros per person at these restaurants, while the food service will be the same quality.

Take on the Role of Waiter or Waitress Yourself

When you go out for dinner in a vast luxury restaurant, you must consider that your bill will be considerably higher than when you settle for a much cheaper family restaurant. The difference can sometimes be tens of euros per person. Therefore, choosing a restaurant where you can save money, for example, by going to a self-service restaurant, is vital. After all, in these types of eateries, you don’t have to pay extra for service; therefore, you don’t have to wait until a waiter or waitress has time to take your order. The price of the dishes can often be significantly reduced for this reason, while the quality does not have to be compromised. You can usually eat delicious food at an attractive price in a self-service restaurant.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

If you are an older adult, would you be willing to go back to school? Many are choosing to do so. While the traditional path to higher education typically involves young students fresh out of high school, a growing number of older adults are returning to college campuses. In 2019, 7.4 million U.S. college and university students were 25 years old or older. If you are thinking about joining them, here is what you need to know.

Returning to school is a financial challenge for many families just after the extra expenses involved in the holidays. September is a month as steep as the January slope. To help you manage money during these complicated weeks, we share a practical guide that will make your life easier.

The shopping list is varied: tracksuits, slippers, backpacks, textbooks, stationery, and an infinite number of products until you reach the tablets. We must equip our children to face the new course without going into school fees. The return to school leaves an invoice of around $500 per student, according to the OCU data.

The estimation of school training has become a fiery discussion recently, as both school expenses and understudy advance obligations have gone up higher than ever. However, many investigations continue to demonstrate that there are barely any better speculations.

Textbooks account for half the budget, followed by clothing and uniforms, which account for 32%, and school supplies, which account for 14%. The rest is for other expenses.

Textbooks are, therefore, the primary headache. According to an Amazon study, more than half of the families believe this expense is high, and a third think it is disproportionate—53% claim more discounts on textbooks.

Seven Practical Tips to Reduce the Costs of Going Back to School

1. The first step is straightforward: check your children’s school materials and list their needs. You don’t need many new materials for a new course.
2. Once you have the list, compare, compare, and compare. The price differences between some stores and others are significant. Don’t start shopping at the usual site because it is more convenient; maybe you can save a considerable amount elsewhere. For example, stationery prices may vary up to 36% depending on one store or another.
3. Attention to the campaigns of offers of the return to the school – You can find exciting discounts, but other times you see that the price does not improve. It is just a way to attract customers.
4. Plan. Why buy everything in September? Prices change according to the seasons. For example, purchasing a tracksuit in August is 10.55% cheaper. The shoes cost 19% less in April, a good month for stationery, which is 26% cheaper.
5. Do not go shopping with children to avoid becoming infatuated with either too expensive or unnecessary items, for example, that backpack of your favorite cartoon character worth $10 more than current.
6. Bet on collaborative consumption in product exchange platforms or second-hand sales. It is an excellent way to bring materials from previous years to life while you get them from the new course.
7. Do you know the OCU textbook price comparator? It is a valuable tool for finding the best opportunities at the main expense of returning to school.

Private study loans are unique in that private loan specialists will consider your pay and financial record as a significant aspect of the endorsement procedure. The more grounded your economic assessment, the more likely you will be affirmed and fit the bill for well-being rates.

More established understudies have many indistinguishable choices from more youthful ones about paying for school. Suppose you can stand to pay for it out of your investment fund. That’s fantastic. However, for some individuals, it will mean acquiring. While assuming obligation may not be perfect, particularly further down the road, government and private understudy credits can regularly give the financing you need.

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About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Why is Self-Care Important?

We have inadvertently disengaged from ourselves in the bustle of life. Maintaining a high performance level at work and family obligations may be demanding. When we ignore our existence, we may not even be aware of it, yet we gradually lose a part of ourselves that may become obvious in the future. There is a universal truth: no matter how charming the outside world is, you may never feel the essence if you are not contained within. It is troubling. Why we give up our time for self-care is beyond me. Aren’t you deserving of your love? Only when you are emotionally and physically stable can you maintain positive relationships with others? You can only have good relationships with those close to you when you are mentally tough; otherwise, you risk losing your sanity and those relationships.

Additionally, your professional performance and general well-being are interrelated. Let’s say that if you don’t maintain your mental and physical health over time, it will undoubtedly deteriorate, significantly impacting your career. But the real question is, how can I allocate time for this activity? Before we start, I want to let you know that this activity requires a high degree of consistency. Yes, it’s a daily exercise. If you don’t work on yourself daily, you’ll remain stagnant throughout your entire life- which is quite depressing. Life is meant to be lived, and it’s only possible when you give yourself a well-deserved treat every day. Since we are unique individuals, we each need a daily dose of love that we can only offer ourselves.

You could be compelled to go through this process, but things might resume their usual course after three days. However, if you want to continue pushing here for a while, I’ll let you in on a little secret that has helped me stay sane and gain more respect every day. To achieve this, make a list of priorities and include this activity. Then, deliberately teach yourself to do this; you’ll first need to push yourself. It must be done for 15 days before you become accustomed to it.

It’s a Kindness By You to You

Self-care blogs abound on social media, offering practical advice and inspiring readers to put it into practice. However, if you’re swamped with work and family, you might not find time for yourself, turning into a significant regret later in life. For instance, you sacrificed your own identity to establish identities for those around you, and this is enough to shatter you from the inside. You don’t have to give up on yourself to fulfill life’s necessities; these two things may coexist. All that is needed is your participation; you alone can change your life for the better. Additionally, self-development and growth are essential components of existence that spur forward motion in our lives and enable us to realize our potential. Furthermore, you are only exercising your right to self-respect; this is not being selfish.

What are Some Things You Can Do for Self-Care?

Self-care is a term that is often used but not always well understood. As mentioned earlier, it refers to the activities and practices we engage in regularly to maintain our physical, mental, and emotional health. In addition, there are many different things you can do for self-care, and what works for you may be different from what works for someone else. However, some general things you can do for self-care include:

• Get enough sleep
• Eat healthy foods
• Exercise regularly
• Take breaks when you need to
• Spend time with loved ones
• Do something you enjoy every day

By taking care of yourself, you will be better able to take care of others and live a happy, fulfilling life.

Penciling in Some “Me” Time

Making time for yourself can be difficult, especially if you have a lot of responsibilities. But it’s important to schedule time so that you can relax and recharge. In addition, pencil in some “me” time can help you feel more balanced and less stressed.

Here are some tips for how you can make time for yourself:

• Schedule time for yourself every week and stick to it
• Designate a space in your home as your “relaxation zone”
• Make sure to include activities you enjoy in your “me” time
• Set aside time each day for your hobbies or interests

You can return to your responsibilities feeling refreshed and recharged by taking some time for yourself.

Letting Go of the Guilt

It’s natural to feel guilty after making a mistake. However, dwelling on your guilt can prevent you from moving on and making things right. You can do a few things if you want to let go of your responsibility.

First, accept that you made a mistake. It cannot be easy, but it’s an important step. Second, forgive yourself. It doesn’t mean that you should forget what you did, but it does mean that you should give yourself some grace. Lastly, make amends if you can, and try to make things right. If you make a mistake at work, apologize to your boss. If you hurt someone you love, try to repair the relationship.

Making a mistake is never easy, but it’s important to remember that everyone makes them. Forgiving yourself is a crucial part of self-care. By doing so, you are just being humane.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

1. Make a vacation plan in time

Especially if you are with several people, think about what kind of vacation you want, a box where the trip is going, and the budget. Simple and effective! Those who wait until the last minute run the risk of being forced to go on holiday during the most expensive period.

2. Go out of the box

The Spanish Costa, a Greek island, or the French Côte d’Azur are lovely holiday destinations but often very touristy and expensive. Once you get off the beaten track, this can make a big difference to your wallet. Especially in Eastern Europe, prices are lower, and there are still many ‘undiscovered’ gems. Two first steps: the coast of Montenegro and the mysterious Transylvania. And for winter sports enthusiasts: have you ever considered the Czech Republic or Turkey?

3. Have a holiday in your own country

A holiday in your own country saves a mountain of travel costs. Moreover, there are plenty of beautiful places in the Netherlands. There is plenty to see and do, from the rolling hills in the south to the mudflats in the north. On anwb.nl, you will find tips per province, which often offer excellent packages or discounts on days out. Or look at the holidays in your own country, ANWB. The following applies: the longer you are a member, the more extras you get.

4. Options for a journey by train

Although a little bit more expensive than the bus, it is often cheaper than the plane. Moreover, you can reach many European cities at lightning speed. Significant places in Belgium, France, and Germany are easily accessible by rail.

5. Rent a car for a week

Do you want to go out in a rental car for a few days? Please inquire about the weekly price. Remarkably, this is sometimes even cheaper than a three-day car rental. As a budget tourist, go for the smallest and most simple model. The temporary four-wheeler only serves to get you from A to B quickly, not to boost your ego. An additional advantage: the replacement car is an upgrade if that model is unavailable.

6. Book your plane ticket smartly: on Sunday!

Still by plane? You can save a lot—for example, book on Sunday. Expedia and Airlines Reporting Corporation analyzed the prices of a billion flights. This research shows that flights booked on Sundays are the cheapest.

7. Departure outside the weekend

You can also reach more hotels and campsites on a weekday. Perhaps you are used to booking a holiday with Saturday or Sunday as the arrival day. Sometimes, this saves a few tens, which is how to avoid Black Saturdays, especially in the high season.

8. Go all-inclusive

The perfect way to keep your holiday budget under control. You know in advance what the trip will cost and what you will lose on the spot.

9. Rent a house

Would you rather not have strangers in your own home? Then you can also choose to rent an apartment or holiday home. It is almost always cheaper than a hotel or guest house, especially if you are traveling with more than two people.

10. Go camping

Invest once in a tent or caravan, and you can enjoy your own ‘home’ on holiday for years to come. In addition, you can often rent sanitary facilities so that you do not walk to the toilet building with the toilet roll under your arm under the eye of the entire campsite.

11. Book your hotel last minute

Would you prefer a hotel? Then wait as long as possible. Research by REIZEN Magazine shows that last-minute booking is often cheaper than two months in advance. The offer just before departure is much more limited, so if you want a choice, you pay more. Although your hotel site is not always the cheapest, it is wise to do a price check there. Also, it is good to know when general hotel booking sites are no longer available. The hotels themselves often still offer rooms.

12. Book a package

For trips in the Netherlands and the surrounding area, it is often interesting from a price point of view to book a package. Think, for example, of a weekend stay plus dinners and excursions, museum admission, rental bicycle, etc. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

The shopping experience has been jazzed up by introducing convenience and speed collectively through digitalization and online shopping. Over the past two years, online shopping has increased more than brick-and-mortar due to Covid-19, which resulted in massive digital transformation. In addition, the convenience involved in purchasing online has made consumers inclined to it even more than before, precisely due to the enhanced security that has swept out the skepticism and instilled confidence in the buyers, such as the refund policy.

Furthermore, the eCommerce industry is predicted to grow by 14.6% and 11.4% between 2022 and 2025, as mentioned by the statistics. But does this factor eliminate the occurrence of fraudulence such as credit card scams, phishing, hacking, identity theft, counterfeit products, and data breaches? The real question arises: How can you prevent these elements from happening? The answer is simple: equip yourself with adequate knowledge and employ a proactive approach to avoid this. This article will cover essential information to guard against possible danger while excitingly purchasing your favorite item. 

Purchase from Trusted and Authentic Sites

According to a recent survey in the U.S., studies revealed that 1 out of ten adults are trapped in scams caused by fake websites annually. This continues to grow due to technological advances. Regardless, do not despair, as numerous strategies exist to combat this fraud.

When you visit a site, look for its address bar thoughtfully; for instance, check for the URL and find S, such as HTTPS:// or any lock symbol. This precaution does not eliminate the possibility of a scam, but it enlightens the consumer regarding secured encryption. Other precautions include checking up on the social media presence, domain page, poor grammar, privacy policy, and, most importantly, running the website on a virus scan. I can guarantee these steps can guard against scams, but conduct your research on the brand before pursuing the order and information. 

Watch Out for Any Suspicious Emails

The revolution in the digital world has certainly facilitated online shopping but has also enabled hackers and scammers to become more astute and cleverer. You may never imagine their tricks and techniques; many individuals fall prey to scams. In addition, the lack of information leads to darkness and fraud. 

Now, hackers have adopted a new and prevalent method of accessing your information, such as sending emails asking for your account or further purchase information. Mind that authentic businesses and brands do not request sensitive information through emails. Upon receiving an email, avoid clicking on the link and delete the email immediately.

Make Use of Credit Cards

I want to share some speedy and wise advice about allocating a credit card solely for online transactions and shopping. Why? In case of a scam, you can immediately shut it down without facing any hazardous consequences. Furthermore, if you utilize a debit card for this purpose, you should know that it does not protect you as a credit card does.

Use a Stable Data Connection

What allows a hacker to access your data? A weak data connection! With time, security policies have become more reliable and advanced, ensuring your sensitive information is not breached. 

Thanks to the cyber security survey, we learned the importance of installing a stable and secured data connection that protects us from potential danger online.

Search for Feedback on the Brand

A moderate search concerning the feedback and review of the brand can provide you with better knowledge of whether to purchase from here or not. In contact with a frequent online shopper, upon asking what influences her to buy from a particular brand, she responded, I check reviews and look at the pictures uploaded by the buyers to go further with my decision. 

Go Over the Terms and Conditions

Every website has specific terms and conditions that provide customers with information and requirements on sales and purchases. As experts say, before buying the product, quickly review the terms and conditions and collect evidence for all the needs mentioned to have a record that can help in case of fraud. Also, by doing so, you can get hold of something unusual and drop the idea of buying from that brand. Multiple online consumers have rated this strategy as effective.

Conclusion

In conclusion, shopping online can be safe if you take some precautions:

1. Make sure you shop on a secure website by looking for HTTPS in the URL and a padlock icon.
2. Pay securely using a credit card or PayPal rather than a debit card.
3. If you have any concerns about a transaction, reach out to the website’s customer service department.

By following these tips, you can safely shop and enjoy your packages. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

The tradition of giving Christmas gifts has been dramatically impacted in recent decades due to publicity from retailers. Previously, Christmas festivities consisted of giving away sweets or small trinkets, but now everything circles around expensive gifts.

Do not lose sight of the holiday season and time spent with good friends and family sharing holiday memories. The problem is that now we confuse having a good time or sharing with giving expensive gifts to everyone. However, the holidays can be financially stressful if there are insufficient funds to purchase everything on a wish list.

If you do not have enough money to buy expensive gifts, here are some tips for saving money and joyfully giving during the holiday season.

1. Use your skills

If you have a special skill or hobby, use it to your advantage, especially during these times of giving. For example, if you know how to knit, then you can give scarves. If you are a natural artist, give a handmade drawing, or if you are a talented pianist, then play a Christmas melody and dedicate it to someone.

2. Cook

Cooking is effortless today, especially when you can search for recipes on the internet or YouTube. You can bake your cookies and decorate them for Christmas. Or, if candy making or cookie decoration is not your preference, make dinner for your friends before Christmas. This is also an option if you are a guest at a Christmas dinner where you can contribute a dish.

3. Quality time

Even though the weather is unpredictable during Christmas, make every effort to spend time with loved ones. If you do not have much time to be with certain people, make it a priority to be mentally present when you are physically present. You can offer to help prepare dinner or make decorations when you are visiting. This is a great gift to parents when you no longer live at home.

4. Books

Books are a good option because it is only necessary to know the type of genre the person likes. Although books can be costly, you can search online for used books, visit flea markets, or shop at resale bookstores for a favorite author or genre.

5. Photo memories

Before social networks, having photos of relatives was a treasure. You do not need to print all the photos you have with your loved ones, but a better idea is to gather those old photos from their boxes and create an original album as a gift.

6. Gift exchange

Gift exchange is a great option when you do not have enough money to give a gift to each member. It is unnecessary to put a minimum or maximum limit on the exchange since you may not know the economic situation of others.

Exchanges do not require things to be acquired in stores because gifts can be creative. Use your skills and create your exchange gift. Take the necessary time to have options, acquire the material, and make your gift.

Other Ideas

Christmas gifts do not necessarily need to be packaged or wrapped. You can give surprises to your loved ones in many ways. You can vacation together at the beach later that year or provide them with gift certificates to amusement parks, nice restaurants, or a concert. Give a gift that provides a new experience or brings happiness. If so, you will feel at peace during the Christmas holiday.

Contributing to a gift with others also lessens your financial burden. You have two options for financial peace: either you save money from the start of the year for Christmas expenses or buy different gifts each month according to your budget. Always try to avoid overspending if you are spending money altogether. You can make a shopping list that suits your budget.

People have multiple memberships or paid accounts, like Netflix. If you wish to balance your Christmas expenses, you will need to avoid purchasing additional items, or you can share some expenses with a friend. This way will lighten your monthly financial burden so you can use the saved money during the holidays. It not only gives you financial relief but also gives you a chance to spend time together with your friends. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

How to get customers is one of the biggest concerns of every entrepreneur. The limit on how to get customers in companies that sell to other companies and those that sell to the final consumer are becoming more diffuse, and marketing experts know it. Let us look at the example of a company that sells beauty products. It can sell to barbershops, beauty salons, and aesthetic clinics and sell to people who want to use the products in their homes.

So, How Do We Develop Strategies to Get Wholesale Customers and Final Consumers?

The basis is to define and understand who those customers are who are (or could be) interested in what you offer and then adapt your message correctly so that you do not waste your efforts. You must separate people who come to you by mistake, interest, or need. Once you have a classification system of potential clients, you must adapt your strategy to each of them.

Let us go step by step:

How Do You Get Clients?

We often forget that those who make purchasing decisions in the wholesale or distribution companies are also people. Like a final consumer, the decision to buy depends greatly on how we make them feel something (in this case, confidence and security of a good investment).

So, my first recommendation is to get clients no matter what type of company you are selling to people, not forgetting that you are selling to human beings.

1. Define your business model

It seems silly, but the first thing you should be noticeably clear about is your business model. If you do not have it clear, I will help you quickly with these pictures:

Mark an X in the place where your company is located:

For example

Some companies sell shirts for large companies (B2B – business to business) and have a store to sell shirts to those who will use them (B2C – business to consumer). In the case of products and services, the best example is that of Google, which offers search services on the web and products such as cell phones, etc.

For example

Some companies sell physical products such as computers (physical products) and software for those computers (digital products). Do you have your business model ready? Well, then, let us get right into the matter.

2. How do you want to be seen?

Some books call it “brand positioning,” but in this case, you should only know how you want to differentiate yourself from your competitors.

And this has a reason: if you are a company that wants to be seen as synonymous with quality, prestige, and luxury, your clients and your strategies on how to get clients will be different if you are a company that wants to be seen as the cheapest and most accessible from the market.

Do You Need More Help?

I will show you an example of how a magazine can be positioned according to its type of audience:

You can take your own company and sector to create your positioning chart, like this one:

In this table of two (2) characteristics, you can define:

• Feature 1 (price)
• Feature 2 (quality)

Yes now. Let us go to the advice I promised you on how to get clients according to your type of company.

How to Get Customers to Your Business?

The best way to start is by answering this question:

Who do you sell to?

Before designing a strategy for getting clients, you need to know how they are.

In Miriam’s example, a girl who is looking for a boyfriend should know which boys are interested in her and who might be interested in her.

If you want to expand Miriam’s example, you can see the following video (Marketing, an easy explanation):

How do you do that?

I recommend choosing criteria to better classify the clients you think are more likely to buy.

These data should be helpful and general. For example, it is better to know what city/country they are in and how much money they are willing to spend.

In this case, the name does not tell you anything because your company does not sell only the people named Pedro and María. You will use this information later when you want to personalize your offer.

With these criteria, you can create a simple table to identify the possible combinations of clients that interest you. Now, to make things easier for you, I leave you with a graphic that summarizes in a general way how these customers are companies and individuals:

As you can see, end customers and intermediaries have different needs and priorities. So, to avoid wasting your energies, you must give them what each needs, or they will run to the next business.

I will give you some examples of how to get clients with all this information at hand.

How to Get Clients for B2C Businesses

Remember that most buying decisions are impulsive and depend on the emotions you make them feel.

You do not know if these customers will buy from you again, so you should make them feel they are part of something bigger. For example, Apple does not sell only phones; it sells the feeling that its users are updated and concerned about security and exclusivity (for example).

How to Get Clients for B2B Businesses

If your business model is based on how to get client companies, you should remember that many people intervene in the purchase decision. So, any action to get them should show them concrete benefits that help them determine if your business is a good investment for them. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.