Child Benefit What you need to know

Child Benefit What you need to know by Amber Rolfe Are you a parent or guardian?  If you’re responsible for one or more children, you could be eligible to claim Child Benefit. And whilst your employment status won’t affect the amount you receive, simply registering to claim will ensure your State Pension is protected even if you’re unemployed.  We spoke to HMRC, to find out everything you need to know about Child Benefit, and their advice on how to claim:  What is Child Benefit?  Child Benefit is a social security payment that is distributed to the parents and guardians of children and teenagers.  Introduced as ‘family allowance’ in 1946, and known as Child Benefit since 1977, the system is designed to give parents and guardians extra financial support in order to raise their child/children.  Who can get Child Benefit?  Anyone who’s responsible for one or more children is eligible to claim Child Benefit.  You’ll receive Child Benefit payments from the birth of your child/children, right through t o the age of 16. If your child/children stays in education or training past this age, you’ll still receive Child Benefit payments up until they turn 20.Although there’s no limit to how many children you can claim for, only one parent can claim Child Benefit.  How much are Child Benefit payments?If you have one child, you’ll receive:   £20.70 per week.  For each additional child, you’ll receive an extra:   £13.70 per week.  How often will I get Child Benefit?  You’ll receive Child Benefit monthly.  How can I claim Child Benefit?  Once you’ve registered the birth of your child, or they come to live with you, you can apply to claim Child Benefit.  To do this, just fill in the Child Benefit claim form CH2, and send it back to the Child Benefit office once complete.  To add a new child to an existing claim, you can either call the Child Benefit helpline (providing you meet the criteria specified by HMRC), or use the above form to make a new claim by post.  Why should I claim Child Benefit?  There are a number of reasons you should always claim your Child Benefit. And it’s not just because you’d be missing out on money you’re entitled to if you didn’t.  Claiming Child Benefit also means:  You’ll claim National Insurance credits up until your child turns 12, even if you’re not earning enough to make contributions, or you’re not working at all. This allows you to protect your State Pension whilst raising your child/childrenYour child will receive a National Insurance number when they turn 16You’ll be eligible to claim other benefits, such as Guardian’s AllowanceHMRC can also backdate your claim by three months, so even if you’re late submitting your form, you don’t have to miss out.What if I earn over £50,000 a year?  If you or your partner earns over £50,000 a year, you’ll be required to pay a High Income Child Benefit Charge on your Child Benefit.  The tax is 1% of Child Benefit for each £100 of income over £50,000.  To find o ut more about the HICBC, and how it may affect you, read everything you need to know about the High Income Child Benefit Charge, or visit HMRC for more information.  What may affect my Child Benefit eligibility?  Your ability to claim isn’t affected by your employment status, or your savings and investments.  However, there are a few factors that could affect your eligibility.  For example, you won’t be able to claim if your child:  Is 16 or over and working more than 24 hours a weekIs married or in a civil partnership (unless they don’t live with their partner, or their partner is in full-time education or training)Has been in custody or prison in the last 8 weeksHas been in the care of a local authority in the last 8 weeksIs going to be in residential or hospital care for 12 weeks or moreIs claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, Universal Credit, tax credits, Income Support, or Employment and Support Allowance  Want to find out more?  To find out more about Child Benefit, visit t he HMRC website.You can also contact them directly to ask any questions you may have, report changes, or send a general enquiry about your Child Benefit.  *All information was correct at the time of writing. Please visit https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit for more details.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the

Writing a Resume For Security Company

Writing a Resume For Security CompanyWriting a resume for security company is very important to your career in the industry. You will have a professional appearance and good grasp of what you should present to any employers that will possibly be reading your document.A lot of people think that writing a resume for security company is just an added job requirement. But you will find that you are a good candidate if you will consider this. People are scammed everyday, and they look at other people's resume in order to determine the quality of the person they are hiring.With all the work you have done to write a document, it is important that you have your grammar corrected and spell check to ensure that it is error free. The next thing that you need to remember is to stick to the basics in order to make your resume appear professional.For example, if you need to add job titles and responsibilities, you need to include them with or without the modifiers. Keep your language concise and a void jargon, which are not only boring, but also distracting. Remember that employers are looking for people who can communicate in short sentences that give them a basic understanding of what you are able to do. You also want to keep your resume simple.The next thing that you need to consider when writing a resume for security company is the tone. A lot of people think that they need to use professional, yet formal writing, but it is actually more beneficial for you to be informal and to show you are a down to earth person who knows how to handle yourself and interact with others. This will give you an advantage and make you look more appealing to potential employers.As an example, you can include your hobbies and activities as well as your interests and any particular skill sets that you have to give you an edge over other candidates. The best part is that if you decide to enter a program such as security contracting, your resume can be a great tool for what you are about to learn . You can now choose to get certified in how to use special training courses.When you are preparing your resume for security company, make sure that you write the same way that you would when giving a presentation. You do not want to be too formal or too informal because the impression you create is going to be the one that an employer is going to notice the most.In conclusion, writing a resume for security company is very important. You can use the tips that have been given here to create a professional looking document that you can use for your interviews.

Being the Business Doctor - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Being the Business Doctor - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career On a social level it may be considered wrong to judge another. However, on a business level, judging becomes a necessity prior to investing in any type of service, and particularly so when it comes to medical care. “Jeanette” relayed that upon visiting her doctor, she was dismayed by the fact he appeared lazy on all levels. In particular, he didn’t pay attention to the details on a variety of issues. Not wanting to take a chance should a serious condition arise, Jeanette switched medical service providers. We are all doctors of our business. We recognize what will hurt and what will improve the business health of our clients. The way in which we communicate makes all the difference for the outcome. A doctor will ask, “Why are you seeing me today?” Similarly you might ask on initial consultation, “Why did you agree to meet with me today?” Next, the doctor will take careful note of everything you relay, as should you for your prospects and clients. One major differentiator for being judged as “good” is to clarify anything you might not understand. Interestingly, most are afraid to do this as they believe it shows them as weak. But the opposite is true. This demonstrates you care, are doing your best to help, and most importantly that you are honest! Honesty in communication is a huge factor for making the final judgment of “Yes, I want your service” or, the “I’ll think about it” syndrome. The next opportunity to differentiate you from everyone else is to review the notes carefully. Take the time to research additional information for a comprehensive outlook prior to additional meetings or developing a proposal. How you communicate is the basis for all you do. The ability to be succinct and direct will eliminate the possibility of misunderstanding of what you say. This is why a question and answer session works so well. But to soften the interrogation style, as a businessperson, use storytelling as it relates to the conversation. This strategy increases the congeniality between parties. You will be judged as easy to talk to and therefore easy to work with. This simple technique positively influences the buying decision. When you have the facts firm in mind and can relate peer to peer to your clientele plus offer valid solutions, you will be judged as extremely competent. Your actions of care and concern motivate the sales, referrals and testimonials. An important last differentiator from everyone else in your field is the follow-up communication. Do you have a system in place for checking in with everyone you assist? This includes those who do not move forward initially. They may be waiting to see how interested you truly are or awaiting funds to be deposited into their account. Either way, follow-up is an essential ingredient to making the sale. As we approach the New Year, resolve to build your personal brand as always giving your best to your clientele. You will be headed toward the wave of the Smooth Sale! Author: Elinor Stutz, CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC, (800) 704-1499, was honored by Open View Labs with inclusion in their international list of “Top 25 Sales Influencers for 2012.” Elinor authored the International Best-Selling book, “Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results”, Sourcebooks and the best selling career book, “HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews”, Career Press. Elinor offers highly acclaimed inspirational keynotes for conferences and is available for consultation.

How Employers Can Keep Workers Happy

How Employers Can Keep Workers Happy January can be a struggle for many of the UK’s workers, as life returns to normal after the revelries of the festive season. The combination of heading back to work, gloomy winter weather, and the financial consequences of over-indulging during the Christmas break can leave us all feeling low. This year, the ‘most depressing day of the year’ January’s infamous ‘Blue Monday’ is set to fall on 21st January. For employers, this can mean a demotivated and disengaged workforce at a time when being ready and raring to go is crucial for starting the year off well. With workplace morale set to dip this month, Erik Fjellborg, CEO Founder of Quinyx, the market leader in workforce management, shares some advice to help bosses banish those blues and retain a happy, motivated and productive workforce. Spread some New Year cheer Who said that work perks should be reserved exclusively for Christmas? At a time when everyone is feeling low, it’s more important than ever to reward your staff. Whether it’s something as simple as getting in a round of coffees or some sweet treats, small touches can go a long way to cheering up downbeat staff. For companies where logistics allow, why not go one step further and offer a late start or early finish to ease workers back into their routine. Taking measures like this will help boost morale and motivate your staff members. After all, it’s the little things in life that count and that applies to work life too.” Be  flexible Flexibility is key. Our recent study ‘Work that Keeps the UK Working’ found that 73% of the UK’s workers still face issues when it comes to flexibility in their current work schedules. With flexibility around when, where and how we work becoming ever more important to the country’s workforce Blue Monday presents the perfect opportunity to demonstrate that flexibility is at the heart of your business. Whether that’s letting someone work from home, or swap their shifts around to allow for other commitments, flexibility should be for everyone and that applies whether you run a boardroom, a bar or a shop floor. Unfortunately, flexibility still has connotations of spiraling costs and scheduling nightmares. But with the right tools in place, flexible working can be easier than people think. Giving staff some leeway will prove hugely beneficial in the long term.” Show you care With morale low, some staff may even begin to look for opportunities elsewhere. It’s not surprising that January also sees  â€˜Massive Monday’   the day of the year when record numbers of job seekers apply for new positions. Staff retention is a major problem for employers. It may sound simple, but one of the easiest ways to hold on to your workforce is just to show you care. Go that extra mile and get to know your staff members individually. Especially in larger businesses, its common for employees to feel neglected by management, with a  study  by the ADP Research Institute finding that nearly two thirds (62 percent) of UK workers believe they are undervalued at work. By taking the time to understand staff on a more personal level, bosses will demonstrate that employee happiness is a high priority. It will also help to work out the staff members who may not feel so settled, so steps can be taken to address the problem. Erik Fjellborg concluded: January is a notoriously difficult month for employees and can cause all manner of headaches for bosses. By using simple workforce management methods, employers can help their staff overcome those back to work blues and increase productivity as a side effect. The key thing to remember is that a happy workforce is essential to any successful business, so this Blue Monday I urge all of the UK’s employers to put employee happiness to the top of the agenda. About the author:  Quinyx  was founded in 2005 by  CEO Erik Fjellborg  after a summer spent working at McDonald’s. After witnessing how difficult it can be for managers to sort shifts manually, Erik built one of the world’s first  fully web-based Workforce Management solutions to do the heavy lifting.  McDonald’s loved Erik’s solution and became Quinyx’s first customer.

How Does Writing the Story of Yourself Help You Plan Your Job Search and Craft the Message That Your Prospective Employer Receives?

How Does Writing the Story of Yourself Help You Plan Your Job Search and Craft the Message That Your Prospective Employer Receives?In a recent J-School presentation, Julie Cline, a founding partner at Get A Job, offered an interesting and intriguing suggestion. Her insight was to look at how does writing the story of yourself helps you plan your job search and craft the message that your prospective employer receives. Her idea is to consider how the words you use in job postings can have a powerful impact on the mind of the reader. In fact, Cline believes that this really holds true to any type of communication.As we all know, preparation is crucial in any type of planning. With many people wanting to make their jobs search easier, this idea can be of great value. Using stories that tell the story of you and where you are now will enable you to prepare your statements of purpose and make them less generic and therefore more specific to your needs.Writing the story of yourself could b e as simple as finding a story that matches your background or experience. Maybe you could visit your social networking sites and write an open letter that describes your accomplishments and experiences that apply to your current situation. By telling the story of you, your future employer will have an idea of what kind of employee you will be and will better understand your experiences.How does writing the story of you to help you plan your job search and craft the message that your prospective employer receives? This concept is about what your job market is like and about being more specific with your letter of intent. You should prepare your statements of purpose with an intention to describe what you hope to gain from the position that you are applying for. Then, you can choose the best words to include in your letter of intent.You may be asking how this might work for your writing. Well, here is a tip for you. When you are creating your letter of intent, write down every though t you had in the morning about what the circumstances are for the position that you are applying for and why you would be the best person for the job.Now that you have the thought in mind, why not prepare some professional references. Your references can provide your employer with insight into what you have accomplished in the past and how your current employer can benefit from you in the future. If you are not currently a part of a large company, it can be helpful to keep your business cards on hand so that you can give them to your references. It is also good to keep the contact information on your phone and computer.How does writing the story of you to help you plan your job search and craft the message that your prospective employer receives? What type of messages do your references and potential employers want to hear? This concept holds true to any type of written communication including emails, letters, memos, and proposals.If you have the time and interest in planning and cr afting the message that your employer receives when they receive your letter of intent, then there is something to learn about how does writing the story of you to help you plan your job search and craft the message that your prospective employer receives. This is something that can really assist with your job search. It can be of great help if you take the time to plan and write your story well.

How to Land a Job as a Content Writer in the Beauty Industry CareerMetis.com

How to Land a Job as a Content Writer in the Beauty Industry Original Image Source â€" Depositphotos.comIt’s tempting to overlook becoming a writer in the beauty industry. There’s so much written content in the world today that writing looks like an easy job from the outside. You just have to write about your opinions and subjective thoughts, right? It’s only once you think about doing it for yourself that you realize how much work goes into creating content for the beauty industry!Many different types of writers exist in the beauty industry. You have opinionated influencers on one side who have gained a large enough following that they can write mostly from their own experiences and opinions. At the other end, you have informational writers who dive deep into beauty topics to bring clarity on complex topics. No matter which ends you want to jump into, there’s more going on under the surface than it looks like to the casual reader.If you want to be a content writer, you must take the job seriously. As with any other career, it takes wo rk to build yourself up and put yourself in the right positions to keep advancing.evalFrom my own experience starting out and growing from nothing, I want to give you a few tips to help you along. Maybe you can learn something from my advice on how to become a content writer, even if you’re just starting today without any experience at all. If you’re ready to start, here’s how!1) Take Internships evalAt the beginning of your writing career, your goal is to get a byline or some sort of visible recognition as a content writer. One of the best ways to do this is to take an internship. You can get your foot in the door and start to build a name for yourself without the pressure to find all your own clients and work.Internships may not pay well, but you’re likely to learn a lot about writing, dealing with clients, managing yourself, working with deadlines, and other important parts of the job. You may even get a byline or two, which is a real victory that’s going to help you al ong in your career.There’s a lot to learn about working as a content writer. When you need a shortcut to learn the ins and outs of the industry, an internship can teach you a lot in a short time. It’s usually better to learn in a structured, established environment instead of just jumping in and trying to figure everything out on your own. You’ll be better prepared to strike out on your own and make it work.Don’t stay in an unpaid or low paying internship for too long. If you’re not getting fairly compensated for your work and no growth opportunities are materializing, don’t give any company more than a few months of your time and your work. In that time, you’ll learn what you need to and get exposed to useful experiences that you can apply to your own career.2) Attend Events in the Beauty IndustryWhat better way to meet people and network with the right crowd than to show up at the same events and introduce yourself? Show up at beauty events regularly and work on buil ding your professional network.The power of networking exists in every profession, even for writers in the beauty industry. You need to meet PRs, other writers, and the people in charge of the published content. Jobs can come from anywhere. Whether you get a word of mouth recommendation or a content curator you meet happens to be looking for another contributor, you could find work from anyone. Throw your net wide at the beginning of your career, meeting everyone you can and creating relationships.evalWhether you make the right connections to get work or not, you should be writing about your experiences as each event. This is a source of unique content with you as the primary source. It makes great material for your portfolio and gives future prospective clients a sense that you’re serious about your work; at least, serious enough to attend industry events.Beauty events also help you learn more about your industry. If you want to be a better writer, it helps to know your industry inside and out.As a writer who writes about hair-styling, you should know about undercuts, braiding techniques, and popular styling products. Makeup writers should know about color theories, matching skin tones, and how to build a look. Learn what you can whenever you can so you’ll be able to expand your range of writing topics3) Be Active on LinkedIn As a content writer, LinkedIn can be a powerful source of connections for you. Try to add anyone that you work within a professional capacity, so you can keep in touch for future projects, recommendations, or otherwise. Keeping your profile up to date and making an effort to start connected, even if just by connecting with people and leaving it, could help you score more word-of-mouth positions later on.evalWhen you launch a LinkedIn profile, you need to keep it up to date. Put up links to your social media or website, post a portfolio, and keep your work history as updated as possible. Make sure your profile reflects as closely as p ossible what you do and the type of jobs you’ve been doing.4) Keep Connected to the Pulse of the IndustryDo you know what’s going on in and around your niche in the beauty industry? Tap into the right sources to stay connected to the latest news, trends, and goings-on in your niche. You should keep an eye on the general industry-wide trends, but focus most of your effort on knowing what’s going on in your particular niche.If your main focus is hair, keep up with the latest hair trends, tech, styles, and methods. Same with makeup, fashion, skincare, or any other segment of the beauty industry. Whether it’s the latest hairstyle trendor an upcoming show, make a point of knowing about it. You always want to be on top of what’s happening, so you can write about it and make pitches from a place of knowledge.In the beauty industry, product launches are especially important. Many product launches create a lot of hype and excitement, so you’ll want to know when something is comin g out ahead of its launch. Make sure you’re tuned into the right sources to hear about as many of these launches as possible.When pitching topics or ideas for articles, having an eye on trends and news helps you think of novel ideas that might catch public interest. You won’t be able to do this unless you know what people are saying, doing, and looking into at any given time.5) Narrow Your NicheevalIt’s tempting to look for whatever work you can get as long as it’s slightly related to beauty. The problem is that if you dilute your work too much you won’t end up with enough experience in your preferred field. It’s difficult to specialize and get a detailed knowledge of a specific niche if you keep branching out to completely unrelated topics. A jack of all trades may be able to find more work, but specialization helps you get better jobs, consistent work, and often higher pay.When you stick to a certain niche, you unlock a lot more work in that same niche. Getting a lot o f experience writing in a niche makes you more valuable in that specific niche, helping you land better and better contracts you wouldn’t get with limited experience.Niching out doesn’t mean choosing a very narrow topic. What it means is getting gradually more specific. In the beginning, you can define your niche in a broad term, like hair. As you go, narrow it down. For example, you can narrow down from hair in general to hairstyling Always try to learn how to improve your craft. Find a few beauty journalists whose work you enjoy reading, then continue reading them regularly. You can also find beauty websites that publish articles or blogs you enjoy reading and follow along with their new content.You can learn so much through reading work by experienced writersin your field. Observe their work closely and try to identify the pieces that you like so much. Are they formal or casual? Is the writer’s personality clear from the work, or does it take on an informative tone?Take not e of the tone of voice the writer uses, the way they structure their articles, the length and depth of their articles, and the types of words they choose throughout the piece.7) Showcase YourselfEven if no one is willing to give you a platform to show your work, you can make one for yourself. Branch out with your own profiles and build an online presence for yourself. You can use almost any online platform to make this work, most of which are free to use.Try any of these:Launch a blog.Write create YouTube videos.Post to social media Portfolios are a very important part of being a writer. If you don’t already have an online portfolio, start one today. Look for a free online work portfolio site, or just use your social accounts and your own website instead.Read about how to make a portfolioand what to include if you’re not already sure of it.8) Get Published For the aspiring writer, having your name published in magazines and websites in the beauty industry will give you some ext ra credibility. From the beginning, you should try your hand at writing pieces to contribute to beauty blogs and online magazines. Start small and work your way up to more notable publications.It’s unlikely that you’ll be paid for your work, in the beginning, so you shouldn’t devote too much of your time to writing for publications, but try to submit at least 1 article per week if possible.To get work, you’re likely to need samples of your work to show. If the samples are already published works, that’s better for you as you can show that other publishers have already thought favorably of your work. But, even if the work is turned down for publishing, you should keep it as a sample or publish it through your own channels (your blog, social media, etc.). The more samples you have to show for yourself, the better off you’ll be when applying for future writing work.9) Learn Your ValueThe number one problem so many new writers have is underestimating themselves and giving wo rk away for nearly free. If you do the work, make sure you’re getting value out of it. That value could be your own practice and promoting your own website or social media, or it could be a byline and an actual paycheck.So many people are going to try to tell you the value of your work. You need to have an idea about it instead of letting other people dictate how much your time is worth. This comes into play when you’re creating a quote for prospective clients, establishing your rates, and negotiating. Don’t let anyone tell you your work is worth less than it is. Figure out how much your work is worth.This is something I had difficulty with when I first started writing. I chronically undercharged for my work, because I had no real clue what it was worth. It took time and experience to open my eyes. Don’t fall into the same trap! Sit down now and figure out how much you need to earn to make your work sustainable, how much other people are getting paid in a similar phase of th eir career, and industry averages for writers.Becoming a content writer in the beauty industry takes time, experience, and practice. If you’re willing to put in the effort and the time, you’re likely to find a way to break into the industry and make a name for yourself!

Where to Build Your Online Reputation

Where to Build Your Online Reputation Just in case you hadnt heard, employers and recruiters are looking for talent online- through social networks and online searches. Can they find you? Will it be the right you? With a little savvy, strategy and creativity   you can own page one of search results, which is, by the way, what you want to achieve! In case you were wondering, I am not talking about putting your resume online. That isnt good enough. You need to do more to showcase your knowledge and personality- it is called social proof and this is what convinces people you are interview-able and perhaps hire-able. If recruiters just wanted to search a virtual stack of resumes, they could search on job boards. Were moving beyond that now. In 2012, 92% of companies surveyed indicated they would be recruiting from social networks. Companies like Jobvite and Bullhorn Reach are playing in this space to meet these new recruitment trends. Some of you may be ready to close this post because you are happy running low under the online radar. You are probably the same people who said who needs this new-fangled thing called the internet anyway? Whether you like it or not, social is changing how employers find talent, so I encourage you to think again and read on! Time Commitment This list below may seem overwhelming at first glance, don’t worry. You may already be using some of these social networks and you may only need to spruce them up a bit. If you are not using some of these social outlets, they don’t require daily or frequent updates. They exist and serve as online content referencing you so that search engines and recruiters can find what you want them to find. Go Google Yourself Before you do anything, search for your name using Google, Bing and Yahoo. Your past searches may influence your search results, so be sure you log out of your browser or account, if you have one, and clear your cache. This will ensure you see the same results others would view if they were searching for you. Type your name in the search box using quotation marks like this “Jane Doe.” Where does the right reference to your name appear in the search results? Your goal is to develop numerous references to the best content about you on the first page of search results. Ways To Get Found Online You can play a significant role in creating the right first impression online, if you take a proactive approach. The sites mentioned below already have high ranking search engine status and this gives you the power to elevate your name! Leverage LinkedIn If you have a LinkedIn profile, it will usually appear on the first page. However, if you have a common name, the results may not point solely to your profile. How will someone researching you know which profile is yours? If you haven’t already customized your LinkedIn profile URL (vanity profile), be sure to do so using the name people would search for you by. Also incorporate the right keywords in your headline, summary, and expertise sections. These keywords are specific skill sets recruiters would use to search for candidates. Here is a 20 Point Check List to make your LinkedIn profile more awesome. Amazing Amazon If you are an avid reader or just want to showcase what you have read, consider writing a customer review on Amazon. Select a book that is relevant to your work or industry, demonstrate your strong writing skills and by all means, complete your Amazon profile information. Create A Social Resume A Social Resume is certainly an option and if you have a LinkedIn profile, it is even better. This is an area I am pretty excited about and monitor closely. You can read more about online reputation management here and you can check out the infographics Im collecting and sharing on Pinterest.

Planning for the Creative Mind

Planning for the Creative Mind I might be on vacay, but my blog aint. Enjoy this glorious guest post from Sara of Your Creative Ally! image via Pinterest I’m getting some of my thoughts together for my  upcoming class in Chicago and it got me thinking that “business planning” can be integrated into so many other places! Want to move to a new house? You need a plan. Want to get your budget under control and live debt free? You need a plan. Want to stop  a group of Bynars from taking over your starship? You need a plan.(I’ve been re-watching Star Trek: The Next Generation from the beginning so stay with me…) Basic business/life/starfleet plans are comprised of three basic parts;  Vision, Budgeting and Implementation. (Business plans specifically also need the Research and a Marketing portions but for now we’ll stick with the basics) Vision: What do you want to see happen with this project? What do you see as the end all and be all final product? For moving to a new house it might be having the backyard or the screened in porch of your dreams. If you’re getting your budget under control, find that sweet spot where what you are making is covering all your expenses with a little extra for your savings account and a night out on the town. Budgeting: Remember budgeting is more than just money, we all need to budget our  time as well. Buying a house takes money (uh, duh…) so creating a detailed budget before going to the bank for pre approval is very important. When you have hostile aliens on your bridge and you need to get to them before the auto destruct destroys the ship in five minutes, budgeting and using your time wisely is very important. Implementation: Putting it all together and setting things in motion is sometimes the hardest part but if you have a strong plan behind you things can go much smoother. Also, with this step think about who you can bring on to help you out. Do you have a friend who’s great with numbers take a look at your budget and get their opinion? Maybe you need to trust that your first officer is going to have your back when you finally transport to the bridge to take back control.  (If you didn’t know I was a nerd before you certainly do now…hehe) It’s much harder to buy a house or budget your time or save the universe without taking the time to gather your thoughts, take a breath and think. Make sure you are doing that each time you have a problem that needs to be addressed or even a goal that you want to see come to life and things won’t seem so out of your hands and out of your reach! Homework for this week: What projects, problems or goals are you putting off because you don’t know where to start? How can you use the basic parts listed above to kick things into gear? Sara Carbaugh is the main magic worker at Your Creative Ally, a virtual consulting business that helps to create torture-free online marketing strategies for Creatives of all types. Well known for her humor and her sparkling personality, Sara brings a fun and quirky feel to her work. You can find out more about Sara and her work with Creatives by visiting her blog, following her on Twitter or stalking her on Facebook!