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When you read a quotation from some enlightened author, you’re getting right down into their best material. There’s no need to sift through hours of pages in order to find the best stuff; the best stuff is in the quote!

This is why I’ve spent years reading books of quotations. Can you imagine the wisdom buzz a person can get from that? Sure, you often have to read boring quotes, but every little while you’ll run into a real good one! And when this happens, your mind is stretched, your eyes are opened, and it can become an amazing intellectual or spiritual experience. And then you start over, because it becomes addictive.

Here are ten motivational quotes based on the topics of aspiration and life that I have always loved. Take the time to dig through them and glean the great lessons that they hold.

1. When a young man sets out to learn something of his own free will, he marks himself out as an exceptional man. And he begins to rise in the world. -Herbert N. Casson

2. Life is a petty thing unless it is moved by the indomitable urge to extend its boundaries. Only in proportion as we are desirous of living do we really live. - Jose Ortega y Gasset

3. It is asked, how can the laboring man find time for self-culture? I answer that an earnest purpose finds time or makes it. It seizes on spare moments and turns fragments to golden account. A man who follows his calling with industry and spirit, and uses his earnings economically, will always have some portion of the day at command. And it is astonishing how fruitful of improvement a short season becomes when eagerly seized and faithfully used. It has often been observed, that those who have the most time at their disposal profit by it the least. A single hour a day, steadily given to the study of some interesting subject, brings unexpected accumulations of knowledge. -Channing

4. Restlessness is discontent and discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure. -Thomas Edison

5. I am suffocated and lost when I have not the bright feeling of progression. -Margaret Fuller

6. I know of no more encouraging fact than the ability of a man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor. It is something to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so make a few objects beautiful. It is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look. This morally we can do. -Thoreau

7. What would be the use of immortality to a person who cannot use well a half hour? -Emerson

8. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. -Mark Twain

9. If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness. -Thoreau

10. 1) Sit quietly for a moment, and you realize how you have been foolishly running about.
2) Learn to keep your mouth shut, and you realize you have been talking too much.
3) Avoid getting involved in too many things, and you realize that you have been wasting your time in unnecessary things.
4) Close the door, and you realize that you have been mixed up with too many kinds of people.
5) Have few desires, and you realize why you have had so many ills.
6) Be human, and you realize that you have been too critical of others. -Chen Chiju (1588-1639)

If you liked these motivational quotes, make sure to sign up for the thought for the day at HappyPublishing.com. There’s a great new quotes page there on hardship quotes.

Many Boomers who find themselves back in the forgotten waters of dating often wonder if it’s worth it.  They feel like they’re sinking more than they’re floating and want, frankly, just to swim for land!  If you’re one of these, I might have a few tips that’ll serve as a raft.  They may help you stay afloat - after all, Mr. or Mrs. Right may be headed your way.

One of the problems with entering the world of dating, after years away, is that the whole game has changed, namely because the players have changed.  You are now an independent, well-rounded individual with several chapters of life under your belt.  What’s more, so are the individuals you’ll be dating. The wide eyes of innocence have become the wise eyes of experience.  Yes, these are all extremely positive things, but they do come with a price tag.

The price tag sings a familiar tune, the “Set in My Ways” blues.  Boomers have lived their life the way they’ve chosen for more than a few years.  They have their own way of doing things, saying things, buying things, etc.  Boomers have places they like to go and places they have no intention of going.   They have things they like to do and things they have no intention of doing.  The good thing is, you’ll never be in the dark for long, they’ll let you know right away!

That’s part of their charm, but it’s also part of the problem.  Boomers have to allow themselves to “back up” and look at the world with fresh eyes and an open mind.  They have to keep reminding themselves not to be so “set in their ways” that they become like concrete.  Who wants to date or even know a statue? 

We should all make a point of keeping our minds as flexible as we keep our bodies.  When we feel the need to overly assert our likes and dislikes, we should remember the episode of Andy Griffith when Andy’s date, Lydia, bored him to tears with, “I do not like chit chat…” and details about the sun giving her the herpes.  What a prize!  We all have opinions, but they should never turn into stipulations. I’ve always taught my daughters to be on the look out for the number of things they say they don’t like.  If you find that you’re often telling others how you don’t like to do this or that, or you hate this food or that food - ask yourself how much fun you think you are to be around.   Never let yourself come across as a stick in the mud or someone who thinks their way is the only way.  

To me, this is the main problem boomers face when dating.  They’ve become so set in their ways that they tend to close down, refusing to let fresh ideas in.  We should all be open to other people’s suggestions and ways of doing things.  Should we ever compromise our principles or core beliefs?  Bite your tongue!  But we also shouldn’t turn people away by being overly rigid and “Lydia-like.”

A few other tips that come to mind are:

• Gauge how much the other person wants to talk about ex relationships and act accordingly.  If he/she seems to want to get things out in the open, go for it.  Maybe, once everything’s out, there’ll be no need to look at it ever again.
• You love your children, and you should!  But if you talk about them NON STOP, it’s as though you’ve brought them along for the date.  If you aren’t careful, you and your date will soon be surrounded by ex-lovers, children, pets, in-laws, lawyers, and friends. That’s too crowded to even breath, let alone create a new relationship.
• Look your best at all times.  Whether you’re running for the Sunday paper, to Starbucks for a latte, or visiting the dentist - if you’re in dating’s warm waters again, you should be ready to dive at all times.
• Be well-read.  Be sure you’re able to talk about more things than just your family, work, or (even) episodes of House.  Be sure to keep up with the news and current events.  Broaden your horizons - learn new things, take up new hobbies, play new games, etc.  The more you’re able to do, the more interesting you’ll be. 
• Take good care of yourself.  Eat right and get plenty of exercise, rest, and fresh air.  Make health a priority.
• Most of all - enjoy yourself!  As a genral rule, when we embrace life, it embraces us back.  And it doesn’t get any sweeter than that.

As someone once said, “Self isn’t something one finds, it’s something one creates.” Self Help Daily would love to help YOU create a masterpiece!

The NFC East is proving to be the best division in the NFL. It has the reigning Super Bowl Champs, the NY Giants. It has the team that a lot of people were saying is the favorite to win it this year in the Dallas Cowboys. Donavon McNabb and the Eagles are playing great ball, although they do have a 2-2 record. And how about those ‘Skins?

Let me explain why I am picking the Washington Redskins to win this division. First, I don’t think there is any way that the Giants will win the division. Sure they are undefeated. And they did beat Washington week 1. They blew out St. Louis in week 2. But they struggled at home against the Bengals. In my opinion, last year the stars aligned perfectly for them. They don’t have a shot to repeat that this season. Their defense is nothing special. Plaxico is already causing some trouble. Remember this is the same Eli Manning who threw 20 interceptions last year. Not exactly what you would normally expect from a Super Bowl contending team. In my eyes they are the third best team in their own division, at best.

Now let’s talk about the Eagles. McNabb is finally healthy and it is showing. He is playing at such a high level and it is fun to watch. He had been plagued by various injuries for the past three seasons and many thought that he was finished. There were the off-season reports of him being traded to his hometown Chicago Bears. But Reid decided to stick with him and the results so far have been great. His top receiver from last season, Kevin Cutis, will be back very soon too. That will only help Donovan and this offense. McNabb doesn’t seem to mind who he throws the ball to though, as long as they catch it. Donavan has grown fond of rookie DeSean Jackson. Jackson sure has been a very nice surprise. He looks to be the playmaker the Eagles have been looking for. He is a very dynamic speedster on the outside. All they need is a healthy Brian Westbrook, because this offense really does revolve around him. But I do get the feeling that injuries may continue to hold them back and they will lose some games that they shouldn’t. Just like they did last week against the Bears.

The Cowboys are the cream of the crop. This team is built to win now. They have their star quarterback, Tony Romo. There are so many weapons on this offense. There is outspoken T.O., the top tight end in the game in Jason Whitten and touchdown machine Marion Barber. They also have spark plug rookie Felix Jones who offers a great change of pace. I believe their were 13 Pro Bowlers on the Cowboys last season alone. That was more than the Patriots! Somehow, with so much talent on both sides of the ball this team can not win a big game when it matters. From Romo botching the hold in the playoffs in 2006 to getting knocked out by the Giants last year. I believe that this will haunt them again. The Redskins ran right at them last week and hit ‘em in the mouth. Other teams will try to follow that gameplan. Don’t get me wrong, the Cowboys are still one of the elite teams in the NFL but they will fold under pressure once again. Similar to the New York Mets in baseball.

So here we are with the Washington Redskins. They have improved immensely every week. Jason Campbell seems to be grasping Zorn’s new offense really well. He is scanning the field and making plays downfield to both Santana Moss and Randel El. Campbell is really looking comfortable in the pocket and is also now changing play at the line. Through four games he has yet to throw an interception. Chris Cooley is also proving to be as reliable as always. I think that he is the most underrated tight end’s in the NFL. He can really do it all and flies under the radar. Clinton Portis is playing like he is 23 years old again. I am not sure when the wheels will ever fall off for guy? Portis is in his 7th NFL season out of Miami and has been a true workhorse. As long as Portis remains this effective and continues to run hard, this offense will be more than fine. The passing game/play action passes all revolve around their efficient running game. The defense has also been solid. They have played four teams with good offenses, Giants, Cards, Saints and Cowboys, and has fared really well. I believe this is the year for the Skins to win this division. The defense will continue to play well and keep the team in games. And this offense will also keep getting better. Jim Zorn has the team going in the right direction. They play in Philly this week and then 3 very winnable games. Can anyone say 7-1?

http://www.footballisbetter.com/

What?

I guess at this point in my life, some would say I have gone completely “around the bend” or “over the edge” about this issue of getting more focused, organized and productive. It is no longer just an area of interest for me. It is my career, my passion and pretty much all I want to do for the rest of my life. I believe that studying about and teaching this body of knowledge is my true “calling,” and my fascination with this field continues to grow stronger each day.

If you study any topic diligently, sooner or later you begin to see fascinating connections and begin to understand how the various strands of knowledge and snippets of information come together at a common point. When this starts to happen, you can’t help but wonder about the unifying element of it all. You wonder, “Is there a central idea, concept or focal point that pulls it all together?”

So…is there a focal point or unifying element of getting focused, organized and productive? I’m beginning to think there is!

So What?

If you observe highly focused people, you can usually track their behavior to the same controlling source. If you trace good organizing habits to their source, you always arrive at the same place. If you track down what makes a person highly productive, once again, you find yourself heading in the same direction. It’s as if you backed down the train tracks heading out of New York City until you arrived at their originating point. If you do this, sooner or later, you arrive at or near 42nd Street and Park Avenue…New York’s Grand Central Terminal.

In similar fashion, if you back down the tracks leading to focus, organization and productivity…they take you to the Grand Central Terminal of human beings…the brain.

I often tell people who are struggling to get organized, “If you get your mind right…everything else will begin to easily fall into place.” I suspect most people probably pass this off as a casual statement or consider it tired, worn-out advice. However, in my mind, there is no better advice I can offer. I have studied this topic for a long, long time. I am becoming more convinced that the human brain is the focal point that pulls everything together. Therefore, if you understand more about how the brain works, you will begin to uncover the true secrets of living a more focused, organized and productive life.

Now What?

A friend of mine recently bought a very expensive, very sophisticated new car. Right after he bought it, we jumped in his car and took a short ride. The car is the high-tech automotive equivalent of a thermos. It knows! Just as a thermos somehow “magically” knows to keep cold things cold, and hot things hot…this car knows how to assess various situations and respond accordingly and appropriately. It has enough buttons, switches, bells, whistles, gadgets and features to keep a rocket scientist happy for quite some time. Fortunately, my friend is a maven with regard to such matters, and I am convinced he will learn to use all the technological wonders available in his new car. However, I imagine some people will buy a car just like my friend’s and never learn to use a fraction of the gadgets. All the gadgets will be available, ready for use…but they will get little use out of them until they take the time to understand how these features work.

In a sense, this is a good metaphor for your brain. It also has a lot of interesting bells, whistles, gadgets and features. You increase your ability to take advantage of these wonderful features if you know more about how they work. Here are just a few examples:

• The brain has three separate systems that either work in harmony or compete for control over your behavior. One system is in control of your automatic functions such as breathing, heartbeat, temperature, metabolism, etc. A separate brain system controls your emotional functions. A third system controls your ability to think and exercise sound judgment. Everything works best when the systems are in balance and working together. When you see someone who is focused, organized and productive, the three systems are operating in harmony. The best way to create balance among the three systems is to pace yourself properly (as opposed to overloading your systems with too much input) and simply think about what you are doing…when you are doing it. Another way of saying this is: Do one thing at a time! Somewhat rare behavior these days. The brain systems work together best when you focus on one thing at a time.
• When you begin to overload your brain systems by multitasking, rushing or operating under too much stress, your emotional brain (the limbic system) takes over and starts calling the shots. One part of your emotional brain (the amygdala) hijacks your body and takes total control over your behavior. Although this can be a good thing at times (for example, if you find yourself being chased by a saber-toothed tiger), unlike a thermos, the emotional brain doesn’t always know how to respond appropriately to incoming messages from your five senses. For example, when the incoming messages indicate a tiger is on your tail, every nonessential brain system that doesn’t have a lot to do with running in the opposite direction is essentially shut down. One of the first systems to shut down is the thinking system of your brain (the neocortex). Your emotional brain basically says, “Don’t think…run!” The good news…we are not chased by tigers very often these days. The bad news…the brain doesn’t know that. Anytime you operate under too much stress, the brain thinks a tiger is on your tail and shuts down the thinking functions of your brain. In general, when the thinking functions of your brain are shut down, you default to your habits…good or bad.
• The moral of this story…if you are going to operate in a state of heightened emotions, you had better install some very good habits in your brain and nervous system to handle things important to you. That’s why they make pilots, astronauts and military people drill on emergency procedures so much. When the amygdala hijacks their bodies, they can still function effectively. Therefore, forming habits is the key to success in getting more focused, organized and productive. Planners, file systems, electronic gadgets and gizmos only work if the proper habits are formed first.
• The brain also houses your memory system, which operates much like a sophisticated tape recorder. Unlike a regular tape recorder, the brain’s memory system stores both facts and feelings. When things happen to you, a part of your emotional brain (the hippocampus) records the facts related to what happened and another part (the amygdala, again) records the feelings associated with the facts. When a similar, not necessarily identical, set of facts occur in the future, the tape recorder is turned on and the recorded feelings resurface and strongly influence your behavior. For example, if your parents scared you as a child by saying, “Don’t talk to strangers,” a little too often with a little too much emotion, you may have trouble being a superstar salesperson as an adult. You’ve probably got a tape running that inhibits your ability to perform one of the most critical functions in sales…talking to strangers. Most people have strong tapes related to money, taking orders, giving orders, being assertive and other issues related to being a successful businessperson. Some of your tapes serve you well…some don’t! Learning more about your tapes can be an enlightening experience.
• Although people often compare the brain to a computer, it is really better to think of it more as a chemical factory. All instructions issued by the brain are carried out by chemicals call neurotransmitters. Therefore, what you eat, how much you exercise, how you breathe, and anything you do that alters the chemicals flowing through your brain can alter your behavior. Basically, the neurotransmitters running through your brain and nervous system fall into two categories…excitatory or inhibitory. So, take a look at your current life speed and figure out if you need to slow down or speed up. Here’s a hint…learning how to breathe properly is a good use of your time if you want to influence neurotransmitters.

I could go on and on about how the brain, tapes, neurotransmitters and other factors influence behavior. But here’s the main point: If you really want to experience quantum leaps in your ability to get more focused, organized and productive…learn a little more about how your brain works. When you understand more about how the brain works, you can actually begin to exercise some measure of control over it, especially when you are operating under stress. Otherwise, it controls you…and you wonder why you intended to do one thing…but did another thing entirely.

You can receive regular tips on how to live a more productive and joyful life by subscribing to Chris’ blog at http://www.chriscrouch.typepad.com

Visit http://www.thegosystem.com to learn about the GO System, a course of easy-to-implement ideas on improving focus, organization and productivity in the workplace. The GO System is available as a self-study program, and is also taught by corporate trainers and professional organizers all over the country.

To learn about becoming a Certified GO System Trainer, visit http://www.gosystemcertification.com

In todays’ market, gaining a good rate for a secured loan is not an easy thing to do unless you know what your doing. That includes knowing where to go for your secured loan, and ensuring that you do not pass your details to too many lenders to find the best deal.

In a market where rates are rapidly increasing every day, lenders are tightening up their criteria for the people who need to borrow the money. Many people in a rush of panic will search the internet looking for a loan so suit them, and not realize that they are actually completing an application form, or an inquiry form for a call centre to call them.

I have noticed that there are many of sites on the internet that will say they are a financial comparison site, however when a client goes to the site to complete the form hoping for a quote, they actually get a message that says the following - “thank you for your inquiry, an advisor will be in touch shortly”. Where did that come from? all you wanted was a quote not for someone to call?

The best way to avoid this problems is to go to a qualified secured homeowner loans broker that is able to search the market for you and find the best rate based on your individual circumstances. Most independent homeowner loan brokers have access to all the major loan companies, and you can then be assured that you are getting the best deal possible.

If you have a poor credit history, or have little equity, or you may even need to self certify your income. In this case a secured loan may not be an option in todays’ market, so you will have to look at alternative routes to raise your money in a short period of time.

Personal Loans

Unsecured personal loans are another method of borrowing money. With a personal loan, it is usually possible to borrow up to a maximum of £25,000, and can usually be arranged on the same day as the application. You can either go to your bank, or again, a loan broker may be able to arrange this type of loan for you in a very short period of time, and by using the broker, means that you should have a wider choice of loans available to you, and having all the leg work done for you. This type of loan would be good for you if you could not get a secured homeowner loan due to not having enough equity in your property.

Bridging Loans

Bridging finance is a loan that is secured on your property, just like a secured homeowner loan is secured on your house. However the benefit to a bridging loan is that most bridging finance lenders will either go first or second charge on the property, which means you have a choice on keeping your existing mortgage running, or if you would like to pay it off. The other major reason people like to do a bridging loan is because it is very fast, and can be completed within a matter of days from application. Certain bridging loans lenders do not require a credit check on their applications as long as there is enough equity in the property that they are securing the loan against, so it is a very popular type of finance for people who struggle to get a homeowner loan due to their credit rating.

If your looking for any type of finance in todays’ market it would probably pay you to seek advice from a professional who is able to arrange the right type of finance to suit your needs.

When looking for a mortgage, bridging loan, or a secured loan, Advanced Finance are one of the largest brokers in the UK who are able to arrange finance for their clients, no matter what their situation. For more information or to apply for your chosen finance, simply visit the website http://www.advanced-finance.co.uk or you can call an experienced underwriter on 08709 777 888 today.

The probability of a specific outcome and presumption that the outcome result is measured in terms of the odds is fine providing the odds are the true odds.

The odds are numbers designed to show, what the speculator will receive for his outlay when betting on a certain event. It does not matter whether the event is a horse race, or price fluctuation on the foreign exchange currency market.

To be guided by odds formulated by bookmakers is to be guided by their necessity to balance their books because of the public weight of money invested for a particular result to happen. This is their key to the measurement of the odds. To presume that odds formulated this way is a pointer to a winner is a delusion. Only true odds can do that.

So what are the true odds as opposed to just odds created by the market/bookmaker?

Supposing there is a horse running in a race which is called Father Xmas, and because it is Xmas time, a lot of people will back it, liking the name. Their money will create a demand, and the odds will shorten. These are not true odds representing the winning chance of the horse. These odds are market oriented odds which do not represent the actual capability of the selection.

So what are the true odds needed in your corner to point to achieving a good result?

It is the process of weighing up what will not happen rather than what will. Finding out the real form of the selection based on a series of past performances under various conditions and a host of other data will direct us in the right direction. It means engaging serious attention to any minute point and having the ability to go by that.

Applying this to foreign currency, means that one cannot be constantly under the spell of how the market behaves, but must take the numerous circumstances into account to form an overall picture.

There are times when governments support their currency which might appreciate as a result, but often only for a very short time. That sort of thing does not necessarily signal to buy that currency, and does not represent true odds. However, a temporary following of a trend can often be productive, and spotting it early can mean getting true odds in your favour.

Realizing that certain currencies tend to behave differently at holiday times is most important. Currencies even tend to behave differently at certain times of the day. Learning to spot this is helpful, and is a plus. The days when certain important data is being released are imperative to bear in mind.
Also are the days, when important people are due to make a speech.

Negative news about the currency you wish to beat can be positive news for the currency you are holding.

Looking for the negative points about the currency you are opposing can be sometimes more productive than looking for the good points about the currency you are holding.

Ideal conditions are when the positive data lifts your currency, and the negative data drags down the other currency at the same time. Now, you are set to fasten your safety belt with great pleasure. That is also the time, when the foreign currency exchange game is like any other game, only more so. I have often maintained that bookmakers seek to have the odds in their favour, and I do not know of any poor bookies. It is prudent to always follow their example.

The foreign currency market is very strong and full of players. There is never a shortage of money to take out for the well informed, and there is a bottomless black hole for the reckless punters to throw their money into, especially the ones with certain systems. I used to know a fellow who rarely wrote letters home to his folks, but did send brief telegrams saying system going well please send more money.

Remember, that one of the odds in your favour is to deal with the foreign currency exchange companies who are cheaper than the high street banks. You can bet on that.

Paul Dubsky is director Foreign Currency Exchange Services Ltd. The company is focused on being able to offer really friendly currency exchange rates - http://www.foreigncurrencyexchangeservices.co.uk

We believe we are the only company which offers special rates to Senior Citizens.

Want to know the secret of how you can watch The best selling TV series the office as many times as you like and for next to nothing? You can most definitely watch tv shows online.

Are you, like tens of millions of others, hooked on the prize winning comedy series, The Office? Do you watch tv shows online? The Office is a situation comedy from the HBO stable: you know the people that brought “The Sopranos”, reckoned to be the best television series of all time. Well the office is a remake of a great British sitcom transferred into a North American setting, but carrying the same story line. People interaction in an office background. It has become an outstanding hot, and people wait with bated breath every week for a new episode to appear, to see who is snuggling up to who beside the coffee machine or the office printer. I now watch tv shows online including the office.

If you are a fan of sitcoms and your cable or satellite service doesn’t you’re your favorites, either when you want them, or instead show them as re-runs at a time that it is totally inconvenient to you, like in the middle of the day when you have to be at work, or in the middle of the night, when you want to be tucked up in bed, it can be very frustrating. You can change all of that and watch tv shows online.

Well the good news for all lovers of situation comedies like the office of any long running television series these days are over. For a one time investment of around $50.00 you can purchase and download a marvelous piece of software straight from the internet that will open a flood of unlimited choices of satellite TV viewing for you. And, unlike cable or satellite TV, that is a one of fee and not a monthly one . Watching tv shows like the office online isn’t the only show you can watch online. You can watch many others.

Anyone who loves television, and spends a lot of time in front of the screen will soon have made up that investment. You can start watching tv shows online instantly. Don’t think that you will be restricted to watching this new and fantastic choice of entertainment just on your computer monitor. Someone with even the smallest amount of computer knowledge will be able to hook up their home television to intercept all there favorite programs through the internet. All is that is needed is a laptop computer and to have wireless broadband reception in your home or even your office. Whilst computer monitors are getting wider, higher density and less expensive. But nothing can be clearer than a wide screen, high density plasma to catch the atmosphere in the “office”. Manufacturers of television sets, ever with an eye to future developments have begun to introduce televisions that can be connected to the internet. It’s a sign of how seriously they are taking this software development and why you should be too.

It is understandable that a lot of people would be a bit wary of purchasing this kind of software. How can such a revolutionary product be so inexpensive? The truth is that cable or satellite television was too expensive. Basically they have been using a similar type of software for years. For them the party is over, and for you it has just begun! This is exactly why I watch tv shows online.

But don’t rush of and by the first program available to you. Some times they are scared of by the price. Take your time to make a market survey, and once you have homed in two or three likely candidates, invest a few minutes in testing the strength of their product and especially their customer service. Ask a few questions and test the speed and credibility of their answer. Once your decision has been made, and the software purchased and downloaded, then you will be a part of an exciting new World of television/computer software technology. The Office will be in your home as well as your office.

To check out how I accomplish watching just follow the link to watch TV shows online.

The answer to the question is a resounding yes.  It is still very very possible, easy even, to use the internet to generate a healthy online income.  For instance, I published a new small website this week which took me about 10 hours to author and publish and it earned $40 in just 2 days with minimal effort marketing or promoting the site.  The website focuses on marketing a niche health related product.  I am confident that this site will generate an consistent income of about $400 a month and there is very little that I need to do now that it is up and running.  This is just one of many projects that I am working on at the moment. 10 projects with a similar success rate would generate $4000 per month; 50 projects with a similar success rate would generate $20 000 per month.

In my opinion the secrets to success are simple. 

Firstly, don’t try to be innovative and creative.  This takes time, and time is money.  Just copy the methods that others have used.  Many successful entrepreneurs are prepared to reveal the secret to their success for a fee and there are many ebooks available from some of the nets biggest successes.  It’s just a matter of finding the decent advice amongst the not so good advice which pollutes the net.  This is difficult!  However, having spent many hours researching and trying some of these methods, some of the advice is absolutely fantastic and really really works.  I use many of the methods that I have learnt from these invaluable resources.

Secondly, think small to earn big.  A project that generates $10 a day is successful.  Rinse and repeat over and over again and it all adds up to a substantial amount of money.

In my experience I have personally never been able to make decent returns from online auctions - millions upon millions people sell this way as a hobby and a prepared to do so for tiny returns.  This makes it difficult to earn enough to make the effort worthwhile.  In addition, I have never been able to generate any income via e-commerce or dropshippers.  The web is heavily dominated by the big boys which makes it impossible to compete in terms of price or the quality of service, unless you find a niche which can be readily exploited.

There are however opportunities and methods out there which really work.  You just need to find them!

Andy is an amateur web designer who has established methods of using the net to generate multiple streams of online income. He is associated to the website http://www.smallonlineincomes.com

To maintain the accounts of any company is a very hectic job. An individual tax mistakes be very much cautious in entering data. A minute mistake may prove fatal. While hiring any accountant, the company studies the capability of the person. Today, many big and small companies prefer offshore accounting because it gives an error free work. Another method of maintaining all the money related affairs of the company is web based accounting. All companies are finding the method very useful. The owner of the company is finding the system beneficent because despite sitting anywhere he can get the entire picture of his company. He gets taxes know all the dealings of his company. Profit and loss of his company is now before his eye.

Web based accounting is a system that resides on a web server. Anybody from any part of the world can access that accounting system with a simple browser, which is required to set up. It helps in running the company. The company need tax mistakes have to pay a large sum of money for the hardware and software. The user only needs to pay a small monthly rental fee. The concept is very much interesting and many companies are implementing it. The advantages of web based accounting are-(1) The administration cost is low, (2) You just need a browser, (3) Cost is low, (4) One can work from home, (5) No back up worries and (6) Applications are up-to-date. The system is a blessing for all the big and small companies. A company can prosper only when the finance of the company is properly maintained.

This performs cash-flow management, customer relation management, inventory control and marketing. It can be operated from any parts of the world. The monthly charge is also very low. It is very easy to implement this system. Firstly, you need to set up a system network. Secondly, you have to select and subscribe to the software. Thirdly, you have to customize the accounting system and lastly, you need to prepare system documentation. This system is a blessing for the small companies because it cut the cost of keeping an accountant. Now, the owner need not have to worry for the accounts of his company because sitting anywhere, he can see how the account of his company is maintained. There is less possibility of any sorts of mistakes.

With the advent of the web based accounting in 1998, the complete process of maintaining account has undergone a massive change. Before implementing it, the companies have to study its pros and cons. Before adopting the system, one should check whether this process would be helpful for his company or not. If it is not useful then he should not adopt the system. Maintaining balance sheet and keeping a record of the profit and loss of the company is a very tough job. If a wrong number is inserted on the balance sheet then the company has to suffer the consequence. Maintain accounting through web is a very easy process and involves less chance of mistake. The user should be very little careful in inserting numbers.

Michelle Barkley is a CPA who advises people on tax preparation and tax calculation.She specializes in bookkeeping outsourcing,Tax return preparation,back office outsourcing and Outsourced Accounting.To know more about Accounting outsourcing services, Web based accounting and to use the services visit http://www.ifrworld.com.

FINANCES: CREDIT CARDS AND LOANS

1. Create a budget and be realistic about all your incomings and outgoings. Make sure you know exactly what money you have and when you will have it. This will help you plan for events such as birthdays or holidays when you may need a little extra cash saved up.

2. Make sure you are getting the best possible interest rate for your savings, opening an online savings account could receive a higher interest rate than a regular current account.

3. Missing your credit card minimum payment dates will hit you with a big charge, so set up a direct debit payment to make sure you never miss the date by accident.

4. Lots of credit cards now offer cashback or points on your purchases or gift vouchers when you first sign up, so make sure you shop around before choosing your credit card. However don’t just choose a card because of a one off benefit, you have to look at the overall package.

5. Don’t be scared to transfer to another credit card with an interest free promotional period as lots of credit cards offer this now. However make sure you transfer to a different one before the promotional period is over as you could be charged with a higher interest rate once it has ended.

6. Keep your credit history healthy- this will make it easier to transfer to different credit cards when you need to.

7. Don’t sign up to department store credit cards even if they do offer you 10% off your first purchase, they charge you a very high interest rate, high late payment charges and are too tempting to have in your wallet while you are out shopping!

8. Don’t get yourself into a mess with paying your mortgage. If you are struggling to pay your monthly payments, speak to your provider about taking a mortgage payment holiday which is better than simply defaulting on your payments.

9. If you have a little extra money, pay more on your credit cards or loans instead of spending it on a treat. If you can pay your debts off quicker, you will pay less interest.

10. If you have been stung in the past by large bank charges, try to reclaim them by writing to your bank. If you think your bank charges are significantly higher than other banks, think about transferring your account.

11. If you travel a lot, use a credit card which doesn’t charge you for using it abroad. Some credit cards charge 2.5% for using it in a foreign country, however there are some that do not charge this fee if you shop around.

12. If you are worried about your finances, get free help from your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau, they understand what troubles you may be facing and are trained to help you think of solutions.

13. Make sure you are claiming any benefits that you are entitled to such as Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit. The forms can take a while to fill out and it can be confusing about what you are entitled for but you can go to your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau to help with any queries.

SHOPPING

14. Do you shopping online, this will stop you having to pay for buses or parking and you are more likely to buy what you need when you are online.

15. Join Internet Cashback to earn cashback while you shop online and get access to discount codes which aren’t available in the shops. Earn cashback on a variety of products including your food shopping, clothes shopping, credit cards, insurances etc. Download the Cashback Detector and you will never miss out on cashback while shopping online again!

16. Don’t buy everything from the usual high street shops; use a price comparison website before you buy anything to make sure you are getting the best prices, which could point you to an online shop you have never heard of before with the cheapest products.

17. Try not to impulse shop! Don’t buy something as soon as you see it; give yourself time to think about it so you can see if you really need it. This will also give you chance to shop around for the best price.

18. When buying your groceries try the supermarket’s economy range. You’ll find most of it tastes the same but is half the price, so don’t be put off by the packaging. Supermarket economy ranges are also good for toiletries, medicines and cleaning products.

19. Have a spring clean and sell anything you don’t want or use anymore on Ebay- it is really quick and easy to sell on Ebay now.

20. Do your grocery shopping at night if you can, as supermarkets such as ASDA or Tesco often reduce the price of food like bread, milk or cakes at the end of the day to make sure they sell it.

21. Before you go shopping, make a list of what you need and then stick to it, if you don’t know what you need, you’ll be more likely to overspend.

22. Don’t buy your daily cup of coffee from expensive coffee shops because they are too expensive. A £2 cup of coffee every day will cost you approximately £60 over the whole month! Take a flask out instead!

23. Take a packed lunch to work instead of buying it everyday, it will work out much cheaper especially if you’ve managed to get your bread reduced for your sandwiches the night before.

24. Don’t buy ready made meals; they’re expensive and not very healthy. If you get yourself organised you can cook a meal from scratch in about 20 minutes. It’s healthier and much cheaper.

25. Only buy what you need to eat, buying too much food means it’ll go out of date fast and you lose money on it.

26. Use the leftovers from your evening meals for your lunch the next day, as long as you keep in the fridge it will still stay nice and means you won’t need to buy your dinner out.

27. Always look out for special offers, coupons and discounts. Bulk buy if there is a special offer on something you regularly use, for example a BOGOF on toothpaste however don’t just buy something because it is reduced!

28. Don’t feel you have to be the first person to get the latest products, for example a mobile phone could cost £300 when first launched but could drop to only £50 in the next year.

29. Plan your family and friend’s birthday and Christmas presents in advance by buying them during the sales. If you have enough storage, you could buy your Christmas presents for the following year in the January sales.

EVENING ENTERTAINMENT AND LEISURE

30. Stop eating out at restaurants at evenings and weekends so often. It’s easy to get lazy and head out for dinner but you’ve got to remember that your meal will cost a lot more in a restaurant than it will cooking for yourself.

31. If you do eat out at a restaurant, try to skip the starter and only have two courses which will save you money without ruining your evening. Also, try to resist the coffee at the end of the meal, you can get one at home for much less.

32. Find a restaurant where you can take your own bottle of wine! These are quite common and will mean you are not paying restaurant prices for your drinks.

33. Take it in turns for you and your friends to throw a dinner party. This is much cheaper than going to a restaurant and is often more fun especially if you have themed evenings.

34. If you are going out for the evening, don’t go too early and have a few drinks before you leave. You will spend much less money but will still have fun!

35. If you have an expensive gym membership and do not use it then cancel it as it is a complete waste of money. Try walking instead or using your local leisure centre which will be much cheaper than a gym membership.

36. If you pay to go to a slimming club, consider starting your own with your family, friends and neighbours instead. You will still get the same motivation but will save on the weekly cost.

37. Don’t pay full price for cinema tickets as most cinemas offer cheap weekend or daytime prices, and if you know someone with an Orange mobile phone you can get 2-for-1 tickets on Wednesday’s with their Orange Wednesday promotion.

38. During summer holidays most council’s have free or cheap events for families and children to take part in, so make sure you hunt around to make the most of what is offered.

39. Libraries are a great place to take the children on a rainy day and are great for adults too as many now stock not only books but CDs , DVDs and magazines.

40. Share the cost of events with your family and friends, for example if you love football then buy a season ticket with your friends and take it in turns to go to the matches. This way you might miss out on some matches but that’s better than missing out on all of them.

41. Try and find a market research group in your area which will pay you very well for telling researches what you think of specific products or ideas. These are enjoyable to do and you are provided with refreshments while you are there.

FASHION

42. Aim to build your wardrobe up with classic pieces that match. This way you will be able to interchange everything, so you won’t have to buy as many new pieces.

43. Go to the factory or clearance shops; they’re much cheaper and give you big brands at low prices and chances are, nobody will know where you bought them from!

44. Try to save your shopping trips until the sales are on. Although make sure you don’t buy things just because they are cheap if you don’t actually need them and take them back if they don’t fit as many shops do not open their fitting rooms during busy sale times.

45. Go to your local charity shop for cheap clothes! Remember, the majority of celebrities shop in charity stores because that’s where all the quirky stuff is so you will be in good company!

46. Don’t splash out on designer clothes for your children. Hand-me-downs and supermarket clothing ranges are a great way to dress your children cheaply and they probably won’t even notice the difference.

47. Learn how to sew and fix your clothes, not only will you be able to sew any holes or rips, you will also be able to customise your own clothes to make one off pieces.

48. Return clothes for a refund that you have bought and then realised you don’t like, don’t just let them sit in your wardrobe with the tags on.

49. Don’t avoid the cheaper shops such as Primark, they are great to stock up on your simple wardrobe necessities such as t-shirts and nightwear.

UTILITIES

50. Only buy home appliances that have been certified as energy efficient, they may cost more to start with but you’ll save more over time on running costs.

51. Replace your old light bulbs with energy efficient light bulbs as they last longer and save you money.

52. Lower your heating thermostat. If there are rooms that you don’t use in your home then turn off the radiator and close the door. If you live in a 2 storey house, you can turn the thermostat down even further upstairs because heat rises. By turning your heating thermostat down 10-20 you will be surprised at how much energy you will save per year.

53. Install more insulation in your attic, replace old curtain liners with new insulating curtain liners and seal any draughts. If you have a big enough budget, install double or even triple glazed windows, these are very efficient means of insulating your home, saving you money on heating costs. They also boost the value of a property significantly.

54. Turn off the lights if you aren’t in the room and make sure everyone in your house does the same. There’s no point in being charged for light that you don’t use. Simple as that!

55. Don’t leave electrical appliances on standby as they still consume electricity. Turn them off at the wall and you could save up to 10% off your electricity bills. According to reports, the UK government is bringing in legislation that will make it compulsory for all new appliances to not have a standby mode because of the huge waste this brings.

56. You can save a lot of money on your water bills very easily, always shower rather than bathing and spend as little time in the shower as possible.

57. If you have a big home with few occupants you could halve your annual water bill by installing a water meter.

58. Turn your washing machine down to 40. Unless your clothes are heavily soiled a wash on 30-40 will still bring them out sparkling clean!

59. Don’t be lazy by sticking with your current utility company, shop around and make sure you are getting the best deal; you can use utility comparison sites to help you see which company will be best for you and use Internet Cashback to earn up to 37.50 pounds for switching utility companies.

TRAVEL

60. Book flights early and save money. While many of the budget airlines will fly to a regional airport, it may actually cost less to fly into an airport closer to a city center (if you are going on a city break) as you won’t have to pay for a taxi to your accommodation.

61. Budget airlines such as Ryanair are now charging per bag checked into the hold in an effort to speed up their turn around times. If you can, pack what you need (minus scissors, liquids etc) into your hold baggage. This also means you don’t have to wait round to pick up your baggage at arrivals.

62. Book hotels online rather than walking in unannounced and being hit with the typically higher walk-in rate.

63. Buy your car rental online rather than arranging for it when you arrive. Car rental is a competitive market and there are plenty of money-saving offers available.

64. If you are planning a journey by train or bus then book early, look for offers and do not travel in peak times. If you buy your ticket on the day of travelling it will be significantly more money than if you book in advance.

65. If you are on a long train or plane journey, buy your refreshments before you board as drinks and snacks are always over priced once you are travelling.

66. There are lots of websites which will send you free samples or money off coupons so find the best one and keep checking it for the samples you want to receive. Shampoo and body lotion samples are great to take on weekends away!

COMMUNICATIONS

67. If you don’t use your landline phone often then change to a pay as you go mobile phone, it is silly paying for line rental if you don’t use it.

68. If you don’t use your internet broadband often then cancel it and make use of free wireless internet in most restaurants, cafes and bars. You simply take your laptop and connect to their wireless for free (although it might cost you a cup of coffee!). You can go to your library and use their computers for free and even have access to their printers and photocopiers for a small cost.

69. If you are on a monthly mobile phone contract, think about going pay as you go instead. You will have much more control over what you spend, and you’ll be surprised at how many people will call you instead of you calling them!

70. Send an email instead of phoning or texting people. Most customer services departments will answer emails now if you have a problem with a service such as your utility bill which means you won’t have to ring their premium rate customer services phone number. You can also send your family and friends emails instead of calling them and even send birthday cards by email to save on postage.

71. There are lots of websites which let you send text messages to mobile phones for free so you won’t use up your credit texting while you can get online and use a messenger service such as MSN Live to talk to your family and friends over the internet for free.

72. Get a Freeview digital box and cancel your SKY or cable TV package. Freeview has lots of free channels and you can now watch the majority of TV programmes on the internet, so you won’t be missing out on your favourite shows.

AROUND THE HOUSE

73. If you have a spare room, advertise for a lodger. There are lots of people who just want a room during the week while they are at work, so you would still get your privacy at weekends. If you live on your own a lodger can provide you with great company and will help pay towards your bills.

74. Don’t be wasteful with products such as toothpaste, body lotion or foundation. When you can’t get anymore out of the tube, cut it open and you will be able to use the bits you couldn’t get to.

75. Re-use old ice-cream tubs or take away packaging, you can use them for freezing food or taking your packed lunch into work.

76. If you have a pet, don’t go out buying expensive bedding from the pet shop, recycle the waste paper from your office or buy your own shredding machine at home and shred up your old newspapers.

77. Only fill the kettle with the amount of water you need, filling it up full wastes energy and takes longer to boil so you’ll have to wait longer for your drink!

78. When you use your washing machine, make sure it’s full every time, if you just have a few items to wash then hand wash them in the sink.

79. Instead of drying your clothes in the tumble dryer, hang them outside or in rainy weather hang them over a clotheshorse. This will also keep your clothes nicer for longer as tumble dryers tend to shrink your clothes!

80. Learn how to make your own cleaning products which are as effective as the products you buy in the shop and you can often use the ingredients you already have in your kitchen cupboards.

81. Grow your own fruit and vegetables in your garden or rent an allotment, especially if you give the vegetables to your pets. Seeds cost virtually nothing compared to the actual products themselves.

MOTORING

82. Downsizing your car could save you 100s of pounds each year in both fuel and road tax so if you are just making journeys to and from work you should seriously consider getting a smaller, more efficient car.

83. Don’t renew your car insurance without shopping around first. Use a price comparison site and you could save £100s every year by changing to a cheaper provider.

For a price comparison service go to CompareTheMarket.com.

84. If you travel to work on your own, try and start a car pool with colleagues who live in your area, not only will this save in petrol costs, it will also keep your car miles low.

85. Don’t jump in your car for all journeys, if you can, walk or cycle and you will save money and get fitter.

86. Start a school run with other parents in your area if you drive your children to school or consider walking them there instead if it is in a walking distance.

87. Don’t drive too fast, the RAC claim most car engines run far more efficiently at 60-70 miles an hour, compared to 80 mph or over.

88. Check your tyre pressure regularly; if your tyres are under inflated by 20% then you’ll use 10% more fuel.

89. Don’t pay to get your car cleaned as it is a waste of money, set aside 30 minutes each week to wash it yourself.

MISC

90. Instead of buying a daily paper, read the news online. Most newspapers have regularly updated websites which have all the news stories for free which could save you approximately 15 pounds per month.

91. If you smoke, try to stop or cut down. The NHS has lots of free services to help you do this and it will save you £100s each year.

92. Monitor how much alcohol you drink. If you are having a few glasses everyday, try to cut back and only have it for special occasions.

93. Don’t spend money you don’t have on gambling sites, especially ones online. It is easy to lose track on how much money you are spending and more often than not, you will lose this money. Try premium bonds instead if you want to try your luck as this way you will not lose your money.

94. It may be cheaper for you to pay for your prescriptions in advance with a pre-payment certificate if you pay for more than five prescription items in four months or 14 items in 12 months.

95. Buy generic medicines when you can, a 16 pack of Anadin costs approximately 2.99 pounds however a Sainsbury branded pack will only cost approximately 33p.

96. Cut and colour your own hair, or get your friends to help you. There are lots of great DIY colour kits out there to give you a new look for under 5 pounds and a pair of clippers won’t set you back much. Be careful though!

97. Pretend it’s your birthday on a night out and you might get a free birthday cake or glass of Champaign.

98. Don’t lose all of your loose pennies, save them up in a jar and at the end of the year you will be surprised at how much money you have collected.

99. Make saving money fun! Saving money doesn’t have to make you miserable! You can still see your friends, buy yourself treats and go on holiday; you just have the added advantage of feeling proud of your finances instead of hiding away from them!

The author of this article is a keen blogger regarding cashback deals for retailers’ such as for ASDA and affiliate marketing programmes.