Okay so we are finally using the set it and forget it approach and have money going into savings. If you are not doing this, read the other article here because the topic for today requires much more discipline than the automated approach.

Building wealth is a long, slow daunting task. It’s just like losing weight. You’re not going to notice anything happen overnight. The rule of thumb for losing weight is after about 8-12 weeks, you will start to notice something. After about 16 weeks, other people will start to notice.

Growing your wealth is a much slower process. You will not notice anything within the first several weeks. It is important to make this realization before beginning your journey. Slow and steady wins the race. Realize that if you remain disciplined, your wealth will grow tremendously over time. There are a number of different ways to go through the process, but we will work on them one at a time. Don’t ever just jump into the deep end. That works for some, but very few. We want the average person to build wealth, everybody can’t be Evel Knievel.

The approach: Log in every night!

Every week, I have a money date with myself to see how my finances are going. That is another story for another day. However, during the week, I have shorter check ups everyday to maintain my wealth building process. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they laid bricks every day!

During these checks, I login to all of my bank accounts every night before bed. I have six bank accounts (and a couple more for my children). Two or three is good enough, but I can be extra sometimes. When I login to my accounts, I transfer some amount to my savings accounts. I have been doing this every night for years, in addition to my other savings tactics.

So at the end of every night, log into all of your checking accounts and move anything over $.01 to $9.99 to your savings account. If you feel this is too much, move everything to the nearest $5 or $1. If you have $748.29 and you feel taking the $8.29 is too much for you, then just move $3.29 to your savings account. Just make a habit of transferring money into savings everyday.

I do this every night, but now I am to the point of where this money goes into my children’s accounts. I have one spending account and one savings account for both of them (That’s another story). Even if you have less than $100 in the account, you can move all of the change over to your savings account. The point is to get yourself in the habit of saving money, putting money away. We will talk more about savings accounts and how much you all should be saving in another article.

As with automating your savings, the point is to get into the mindset of putting money aside for your future. As you see the money pile up, you will feel accomplished and want to build more. Discipline is Key!

The post Another way to work on your savings! appeared first on Let's Learn Money!!!.

Rich people have multiple sources of income. They use one source of income to build other sources of income and have income coming from different sources. They have common themes that they use to continually increase their income. Those themes are another story for another day. The point of all of this is to say, that if you want to become wealthy, you have to increase your income, so you can use money as your tool to build the type of wealth you are looking for. Side hustles are the perfect way to start building!

This is the first of many blogs like this. I have had many side hustles and continue to find new ones all of the time. If you want to build wealth, you have to diversify your income! Let’s get started.

What’s a Brand Ambassador?

Have you ever seen a person giving out samples in a store, or a bar, or some type of event? Ever been to an auto show and you see all of workers showing your the cars and some letting you take test drives? Have you ever met a Budweiser or Red Bull girl/boy? These are brand ambassadors! They are not employees of these large corporations, they are independent contractors who get work through agencies to promote brands.

This is by far, one of my favorite side hustles!

Why? Several reasons.

• You pick which shifts you work.
• You make great money for giving out free stuff.
• You can work as much or as little as you want.
• You meet some amazing people, sometimes celebrities!
• There is always work available!

What’s Awesome and What Sucks?

I was a brand ambassador for years. It was some of the most fun I have ever found in a job. I remember one job was taking pictures of a group of teens who were learning to drive. I made $40/hour and got to test drive a Lamborghini! The only reason I stopped doing this type of work is because I passed a point in my life where I work when someone tells me to. Now that is not a goal for everyone, but I have always had the goal of working when I want to work.

So besides what is listed above about why this is is one of my favorite side hustles, this gig is great because it is fun and you can make a sizeable amount of money quickly!

One the other side of the spectrum, there are some drawbacks.

• You will meet people that do not want to work, but that’s everywhere right?
• You will come across some brands that you do not want to work for (I am not a fan of the cell phone promotions)
• Sometimes you have to complete reports at the end of a job (this is not all that bad, it’s just some companies don’t require the follow up report and that was awesome lol).
• Also sometimes companies play favoritism and you can get a gig that you really like, but can’t get that same gig consistently because you are not one of the agency’s favorite.
• You get so much free stuff its ridiculous! You can get food, clothes, gift cards, stuff for your home, all types of stuff!

A Day in the Life of a Brand Ambassador

Typically a brand ambassador, promo model, or whatever you’d like to call it can make anywhere between $15 to $75 per hour. On average, you can make about $25-$35/hour. This is one the best side hustles.

You will have to spend a day signing up for a bunch of branding companies. If you go on Facebook and type in Brand Ambassadors of (and then a major city), you will find jobs posted almost every day. If you go to the docs section of a group, you will find a list of companies to sign up for.

Take a day and do this. Complete the paperwork (if needed). I suggest that you create a separate email for this because you are going to get several emails everyday for work and you don’t want to miss anything.

Once you get an email, respond quickly. You are not the only one trying to get the job. Sign up for as many or as few as you want. Here’s something, you may not care for, but I loved it. Sometimes it takes anywhere from 2 weeks to 60 days to get paid. But let me explain why this is awesome. If you do the work consistently, you will have money deposited, or checks in the mail multiple times a week every week. When I stopped doing brand ambassador work, I had checks coming in for months after I was done. It was LOVELY!

I only did the work part time and I was averaging $2500/month. Again, this is an absolutely amazing source of extra income. I have helped many people get in this type of work.

Types of Work Available

If it is a brand, someone will promote it. I have done some of everything while working with these companies.

I have worked with Wrangler at a Walmart. I passed out t-shirts to men that tried on a pair of jeans and gave me their opinion on how the jeans fit. I made $18/hour for this.

I have worked with plenty of alcohol brands such as Sailor Jerry, Titos, Absolut, Effin, and many more. These events included exclusive casino events all the way do to local bar events. I made between $20 and $40 working with alcohol brands.

I have worked with PNC bank. They have a program that helps kids “Grow up Great”. This job paid me $16/hour to watch kids play games and give out prizes.

I made $25/hour to pass out flyers for a new cell phone company.

I worked with wine brands making $30/hour passing out samples at a local gas station.

I worked at a mall passing out gifts to people who made a purchase of $30 or more at any store in the mall.

A lot of these jobs tip as well. This work is so much fun.

Go ahead, get started. There’s money to be made out here!

BONUS:

Here are some of the agencies that I have worked with to get you started with these side hustles:

Encore Nationwide

GTE Agency

Big Orange Productions

Assist Marketing

180 Promotions

If you would like to find more, go to google and type in Brand Ambassador agencies. You do not have to put in your city or “near me” because these companies work with national and international brands, therefore, they have work and events taking place all around the world. Sign up for as many agencies and you can, and join the Facebook Groups.

Now go get the money!

The post Side Hustle Series: Brand Ambassadors appeared first on Let's Learn Money!!!.

This about your last networking event, or think of any networking event. What happens while you’re there. There are a bunch of people in the same room, most likely they do not know each other, and what happens? You have a bunch of people starting meaningless conversations and end up with a bunch of business cards that you are probably not going to use.

This happens all of the time. It is a complete waste of time, unless the food and drinks were good. In that case you were just out for a good time and had some probably interesting, but again, meaningless conversations. Of course, this doesn’t happen 100% of the time. Every now and then when a blue moon comes out, a great connection takes place at a typical networking event.

So why does this happen?

There’s an old saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know!” Nowadays, people have their own agenda. Everyone looks out for themselves, so that is no longer the saying. The saying can go further, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know, and what they are willing to do for you.”

At these events, everyone wants to pass out business cards, but not form relationships. They take business cards that most likely end up in the trash, or at the bottom of purses for an extended period of time. Why? There is no common ground, no trust, no meaningful conversation. Because of this, if I ever go to a networking event, it’s for the food, drinks, and to have a good time. I never go to a networking event to look for new clients. In addition, I have never been to a networking event and wanted to partner with someone after our initial conversation.

Network like a BOSS!

However, all is not lost! There is a way to network effectively. You have to understand that this will happen over multiple conversations and possibly pull in multiple clients at once! This has happened to me on multiple conversations. I never had problems finding new clients using this approach!

1. Common Ground

Stop trying to find these one off events where you can’t really get to know someone after the first conversation. You don’t even know if you actually want to work with these people, you don’t know if your morals and or values align.

Think of the hobbies you like, then join groups based on those hobbies. It can be a book club, a travel club, some type of study group, a community service group, or whatever your heart desires. Join these conversations, where you can learn something about these people and their circles. Sometimes third party networking is best. For example, let’s say you’re a photographer who is part of a book club. One of your book club buddies, whom you’ve had multiple conversations with mentions a brother or sister that is looking to do portraits for a new baby or their newly promoted high school senior. This would be the point where you mention your services! There is a need and it is your turn to fill the need!

Joining groups that you enjoy being around is some of the best networking because, you’re actually enjoying yourself without the pressures of finding your next client. Let it happen naturally. The point is to get around different groups building your network without the pressures of “networking”!

2. Always Be Ready

You never know when you’re going to meet a client. I own a performing arts center and I just so happen to have many skills outside of art. I have pulled several new clients from just listening to parent conversations. However, I also make a lot of referrals because sharing is caring! Also you get back what you put into the world!

Because you never know when opportunity is going to strike, always carry examples of your work with you! Always take pictures, video, have actual work with you, be ready to show your website or social media, have any visuals of your work with you at all times. Carry business cards and flyers at all times.

When you speak with the prospect, get their information. Follow up with them. Let them know you’re thinking about them. Send them ideas of what you can do. If you are a fashion designer, send them pieces of what you think they’re looking for. If you’re a consultant, send them possible ideas that you can make happen for them. Like I said before be prepared to have multiple conversations; be prepared to initiate these conversations.

3. To Infinity and Beyond!

When you do get a client, wow them.

If you say you will have something ready in 7 days, have it ready in 5 days.

Offer to deliver their product or service instead of having them pick it up.

If you charged them $1000, but the project didn’t take as long as you thought, give them an unexpected $50 off.

WOW THEM

Go above and beyond their expectations so they have no choice but to brag about your work. I also own a research company, when I first started, I had 5 steady clients. My work was great! They keep me busy because they kept referring new clients to me.

The post Networking…like a BOSS! appeared first on Let's Learn Money!!!.

Did you know that a large portion of Americans do not have $400 in a savings account? You can find statistics that show the average income of Americans looks pretty decent, however, we have billionaires out here to thank for skewing that result.

A $400 emergency would hurt a lot of people. It would really suck to be in that situation.

If you’re part of that statistic, today is the day that you put this issue to bed! I bet you’re here because you’re looking for something different. Well, you’re in the right place.

A lot of people are afraid to save. Many say, “there is a lot of month left at the end of the paycheck”, or some say they can’t save because there is never anything left after the bills are paid. They believe they can’t pay themselves first because their present bills are much more important than their future.

What if you could automate your savings and get someone or something else to save the money for you? All you would have to do is setup the account!

BUT WHY WOULD I WANT TO AUTOMATE MY SAVINGS?

Well, there are many reasons:

• You don’t have to make the decision of whether or not to save the money. You won’t have to do any of the “heavy lifting”!
• Once you see the money build into your account, your mindset will shift and you’ll begin to love saving money.
• You can get away from being part of that awful statistic mentioned above.
• Since the money comes out automatically, you won’t be as tempted to spend the money because you won’t see the savings happening.

OK, SO HOW DO I AUTOMATE MY SAVINGS?

Great question!

There are several apps available that can help you. If you don’t trust putting your information into an app, most banks will handle this for you.

My go to app is Qapital. I have used this app for years. They have many features that help you realize that saving money doesn’t have to be painful or scary. My favorite feature is the round up feature. This was the first feature I used. Any time I swiped my bank card, the transaction total was rounded up to the nearest dollar, and the change that was rounded up was put into a savings account for me.

It took several months, but I eventually saved $500!!!

I was hooked! I wanted more!

I wanted to get to $1000, but I wanted to get there a lot quicker than before so I used some of the app’s other features. Every week, I had the app transfer $25 and had the round up feature round up to the nearest $2. I saved the $500 within 2 months. This was mostly from saving my change – from SAVING MY CHANGE!

From that moment, something changed in me. I wanted to get to $2500. It was at that moment that I knew that my mindset had changed because I knew that I could save the money, but now I needed to earn extra to put away more money more quickly.

Now Qapital is not free (though it used to be). It costs between $3 and $12 per month, depending on the package. However, that is $3 you will not miss. I know there are things you have spend $3 that was not worth your money. This is totally worth it!

In addition to using Qapital, I also use my bank. Now I have banked with a few different institutions and none of them have a round up feature, but they do have a recurring feature. I have the bank automatically transfer money into savings every week. It is not as nice as the round up feature, but money still goes into my savings account every week. The good thing about going through your bank is that at most times, it is free to use the transfer service.

There are other apps that can help you automate your savings. Bottom line, start saving today if you have not already done so. Your future will be a lot brighter because of it. Promise!

BONUS:

If you’d like to try out Qapital, click this link! They will give you $5 just for signing up (after 45 days). Either use Qapital, or setup automatic transfers with you bank today! START SAVING!

The post Automate Savings… Set it and forget it! appeared first on Let's Learn Money!!!.