Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Ecards That Give Us Happy & Free Communications
Perhaps one of the best things about the internet is the availability of the ecard, also known as the electronic greeting card. There is such a huge selection of sites that offer ecards, it is almost impossible to even conceive of a number.
The word "free" might in a sense be misleading, since the sites have to have some sort of income to exist. Hence, pop-up ads and cookies that provide for the junk mail we must endure for the seemingly free ecards. But to many, it is but a minor annoyance to endure such things for the sake of something free. Anything free seems to be a way to grab attention immediately, however temporary it may be for those who quickly learn that free is not always what it seems.
Ecards exist in an immense variety. You have the ever-popular all-occasion sites, of course. There are the miniclip ecards, animated ecards, talking ecards, musical ecards ecards that contribute to a cause for a small and hopeful contribution, religious ecards, flash and Java ecards, and free ecards if you subscribe to the site. Of course, that means more pop-ups and cookies will be inevitably coming your way. But, alas, we must have advertising!
Ecards are vast and interesting. The ecards with themes should win over anyone who has an obsession, such as Elvis or teddy bears or even motorcycles. You also have ecards for all occasions and festivals of India. There are Hindu ecards as well.
Certain web sites even allow public participation. You are allowed to submit your own pictures, drawings, photographs.
It's amazing how many web sites you can come across that offer free ecards. Know, as well, that you can use different keywords to search for the ecards. Not to forget, the different search engines should provide differing results.
The invention of the ecard was certainly an invention for the curious. It might also be an invention to cause dismay should you have a slow internet connection or should your computer suddenly shut-down on you before you are allowed to finish viewing your ecard from a much-adored friend or loved one. It's like trying to view a card you receive in snail mail, only to have it snatched out of your hand before you get to the much-awaited punch line. Oh, the horror!
I suppose there are those who are hooked on sending ecards. They are, after all, a source of amusement for many. Most people do need a good hearty laugh. However, sending in bulk could be viewed in bad taste. No one wants their in-box of email to be overwhelmed, even by ecards. So, please use discretion and self-control when you discover the interesting and joyous world of ecards. Besides, isn't there some sort of rules to govern good manners, even when using our rights to something free? It's like taking the whole stack of napkins off the restaurant table when you really only need a few. Someone somewhere has to pay for them, and though they do offer them for free, there's really no need to be greedy.
All About Free Greeting Cards
Greeting cards are a wonderful way to let your loved ones know you care about them and are thinking about them. Free greeting cards let you do exactly that, without breaking the bank. Greeting cards these days can be quite expensive or very cheap, but occasionally you can come across a great deal where you can get greeting cards for free.
Most free greeting cards are sent through email rather than on paper. Free websites offer services to send free or inexpensive greeting cards via email to your loved ones absolutely free (or close to it). Many websites that offer these free services also offer other free services. For example, Yahoo, Google, and MSN all offer free greeting cards as well as many other services such as email and search engines. Other websites that offer free greeting cards are Blue Mountain Arts and Excite.
Free greeting cards are not as easy to find as they once were. Even just a few years ago free greeting cards could be found all over the net. Now, you have to really search, and the selection is not the greatest. The best online greeting cards are not free. The largest selections are reserved for the paying customer, while the free cards are more like a teaser.
These online websites allow for many features. Depending on the site, you can add many free features to your free e-card. Some of these free features include music, a personalized message, animated graphics, and other visual and audio effects. These features allow you to create a very personalized card that is much more special to the person receiving it that just a simple store bought card.
Another way you can get free cards is to make them yourself on a computer. You can get free templates for just about any word processing or desktop publishing software by doing a simple internet search. These free templates allow you to easily create cards on your home or work computer and print them on your printer, which is essentially free for you to use. Unless you print a lot of cards, the cost is so minimal it might as well be free!
You can also design your own free cards on your word processor. Simply set up the page as landscape, and format the page to consist of two columns. The left column is the back of your card. The right column is the front of your card. Create another page with the same format. The right column is your personal message, while the left column is where the poem or phrase of your card would traditionally belong. Print the two pages back to back, and fold it in half. A free greeting card, designed entirely by you and especially for that special someone!
No doubt about it, free greeting cards are the best way to send someone greetings for holidays, seasons, birthdays, anniversaries, valentines, Christmas, Mother's Day, Father's Day, thank you, sympathy, or any other occasion!
All About Holiday Cards
You may think of holiday cards as being Christmas or Seasons Greetings cards, but really there are many more holiday cards than this one holiday. There are holiday cards for Christmas, Hanukah, Easter (or Resurrection Day), Thanksgiving, Halloween, Columbus Day, President's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Independence Day, New Years, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparents Day, and Administrative Assistants Day. As you can see, there are many holidays we celebrate, and each of them have their own holiday cards.
Holiday cards were not always so popular. Only in the last several years have holiday cards been created for all of the holidays we celebrate as Americans. I was surprised to find Halloween and Thanksgiving holiday cards when I went Christmas card shopping last year. I later discovered that holiday cards are becoming more and more popular, as people send holiday cards all year round to their friends and family. It is becoming increasingly popular to send holiday cards to all of you friends and family at every opportunity, just to let them know you care.
Holiday cards come in all shapes and sizes. You can choose holiday cards that are uniform and simple, and send one to everyone on your list. Or, you can choose individual holiday cards suitable for each person based on personality and what holiday they celebrate. For example, if you know people who are Christian and people who are Jewish, you may choose to send a uniform card that says simply "Season's Greetings." On the other hand, you can choose to send your Christian friends Christmas holiday cards, and your Jewish friends Hanukah holiday cards. This way everyone feels special, and knows that you are thinking of them specifically.
Holiday cards can come with fancy pictures or cartoons, sentimental poetry or funny phrases, or even music or pop up figures. You can get holiday cards specifically for each member of your family. There are holiday cards for children, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, husbands, wives, and friends. There are romantic holiday cards, funny holiday cards, sexy holiday cards, and sentimental holiday cards.
You can find holiday cards at any general store, retail outlet, discount store, or holiday store. You can also find holiday cards at wholesale outlets, dollar stores, and specialty shops. The funniest and most sexy holiday cards can be found at novelty stores such as Spencer's, found in most shopping malls.
Alternatively, you can make your own holiday cards with a little bit of glue, construction paper, a pair of scissors, and a lot of creativity. Children rather enjoy making holiday cards for their friends and family. Buying a holiday card is not nearly so much fun as making one yourself. Also, the home-made holiday card from your favorite child means much more than a uniform holiday card purchased in a store.
Regardless of who you are sending a holiday card to, you are sure to find the perfect holiday card to suit that person's interests and hobbies. From Harley Davidson to Disney, holiday cards are an absolute must in every season.
http://www.searchbigdaddy.com/dotsbdp06
http://www.dotsbdp06.bloglanding.com
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
What are the benefits and advantages of a family budget?
- What are the benefits and advantages of a family budget?
We elaborate a little more below. For most people, a family budget is the equivalent of a simplistic process: money is earned and comes in; money is spent and moves out!
It is a fluid, easy-flow, one-directional, cash management process. It is driven by daily life, a spending-orientation, or no plan at all!
For most families, income is also fixed and outflow typically increases over time, as the needs of the family fluctuates and changes. Loading up on debt is also very typical for the majority of our families. If this sounds very much like a vicious circle, it is. Most families are caught up in it and constantly battle to get out.
Mostly, we think that we wisely spend our money on necessities like food and clothing, gas and household or family needs, but can rarely put a finger on where the money actually goes, let alone produce a budget!
A good place to start is to monitor these expenses.
Take stock of your fiscal situation. Start with assessing where exactly you are in your financial life and circumstance. Most of us think we know, but we really do not.
That is, until we take the time to actually list, study and analyze the situation. Figure out what your financial worth is, look at all financial goals, and set a timeline for reaching them. Does this sound like an action plan? Where do you start?
A good suggestion is your bank statements, tax return and recent current credit report – a financial asset statement if you will -and an overview of the current situation.
The premise is simple: you can not get to arrive where you want to be if you do not know where you are today, what it will take to get where you need to be and how to get there.
A well thought out, planned and realistic budget will serve as a roadmap to get you there. It is a financial tool facilitating your financial dreams, goals and aspirations, making them become a reality. Budgeting will enable you to actually reach your financial targets and set goals.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS?
How do you define financial worth? Is it cash in the bank, savings and checking accounts, RRSP’s, stocks and investment portfolio?
Remember, anything you have that is of value counts. All your assets form part of your financial picture and health. Ask yourself: What is your take-home pay, after deductions? How are you paid? Is it monthly, weekly, bi-weekly? Then you need to budget accordingly!
Think about all other sources of income, temporary, seasonal, part-time - extra income, found money and bonuses that you might have.
Maybe deciding to leave it out of your family budget altogether is wise and advisable? (we will delve into this question a little later).
Try to find ways to do without some small creature comforts and pleasures to reap bigger rewards later.
Starting small, early and now, with discipline and commitment, a steady, consistent pace and amount every month, tracking and optimizing financial phenomena like ‘compound interest’ (which we will describe later), will all feed into this process.
We will take this journey into budgeting together to see how it can change lives: yesterday, today and tomorrow!
Back to listing assets and thinking about savings: consider all banks, savings and loans, credit union accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, Christmas club accounts you might have. ALL LIQUID ASSETS that can be readily turned into cash need to be included.
Consolidate accounts if you have too many accounts spread out and save on banking fees. Improve tracking actual spending better and more easily. Earn higher interest and have less exposure to identity theft or fraud by getting a good handle on your current situation.
For most individuals and families alike, this step is quite a revelation. It forms the basis and baseline for deeper analysis and scrutiny.
Other assets might include things like: art, precious metals, sculptures, paintings, collections, antiques, jewelry and more.
Most of us are used to having a short-term focus on money and budgeting. A paradigm-shift is required to move us towards a more in-depth, longer-range view and planning.
Set short, mid and long term goals, have a definite structured plan, read up on family budgeting, personal financials and fiscal management strategies. All of this will help us focus on what is important for our needs, requirements and circumstance, while keeping financial discipline and budgeting in the forefront of our busy lives.
This is never an easy task amidst all the hustle and bustle that is our daily lives! Here is a very healthy and wealthy way of supplementing your budget, and a surefire way of taking your health to a higher level, the absolute quick means of discovering that health is wealth. Check it out now!
Most of the published literature on family budgeting in general centers around how to get out of debt, stay out of debt and live a full and prosperous life.
Some suggest frugal living is the answer and offer ‘your money or your life’ perspectives, where you cannot necessarily have both. There are many examples advocating the cheapskate monthly makeover that focuses on shaving costs off expenses and living frugally.
Market providers both online and offline, offer various budget kits which offers worksheets and more and there is always the handy tip-like Coles notes and the pocket idiots’ guide to living on a budget.
Other sources focus on becoming totally debt free, debt proofing your life, getting a life and choosing simplicity or how to address credit card debt and expenditure.
This ‘how to’ guide is a little different.
We have chosen to take a very hands-on, practical approach to fiscal management and get you started, walking through the budgeting steps and set you up, sending you off, well and good, on-course to solid budgeting in your family and household!
This brings us to the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How part of the discussion. These form the dynamic, interacting and inter-dependent elements, systems and processes that form “family budgeting.”
Who? Every family situation is uniquely different and distinctive. There is no one-size-fits-all answer and solution for everyone.
Some of the tips in this guide might apply to your unique means and circumstance, and others may not have any significant impact or practical application at all.
In general terms, you will find handy ideas, hints, process steps, practical savings suggestions and budgeting that might have gone unnoticed before.
The information provided is general and should be evaluated on an individual and contextualized basis. Remember to consult a financial advisor when making fiscal decisions that could affect the financial health, well-being and future of you and your treasured family.
There are various different families in question here too: single-income, single-parent, blended and/or extended families, double-income households, stay-at-home mothers working part-time from the home to make ends meet, social-supported and/or subsidized families, families at risk, divorced household with shared parenting and financial responsibilities, debt-ridden or bankruptcy families and numerous others. We hope to offer something for everyone.
What? Family budgeting is a structured process and planning activity, dealing with a family’s financial resources and context.
This hands-on approach puts expense items into categories as another helpful strategy. This is done to get a better handle on the current situation and offers somewhat of a reality check to most that choose to undertake this journey.
Some of the categories could be:
- Obligations – list each item under headings like: home: mortgage or rent; association fees and professional dues; insurance: health, auto, home, renters’ and life; tuition, day care; loans: car loan, student loan, bank fees and interest; taxes, property taxes and so on.
- Necessities – again list each item under headings like : food, groceries, gas, yard maintenance, security, pest control, utilities: gas, water, electric, garbage, sewer; school lunches, household supplies, car maintenance, monthly parking, housekeeper, household repairs, internet service, dry cleaning, cable TV and more.
- Pocket expenses – treat this as a whole category, covering: lunch at work, snacks, sodas, coffee, drinks, parking, tolls, newspapers, magazines, batteries, postage, shipping, mail
- Family Allowances – another whole category including items like : parties, entertainment, weekend outing, movies, concerts, other entertainment and events, home improvements and decorating, magazine and other subscriptions, dining out and fast food, furniture
- Personal allowances - clothing, hobbies, personal recreation, books, CD’s, manicures, hair, alterations, shoe repair, personal gifts, luggage, night out with friends, gardening, films, processing, video rentals, sports/recreation, family gifts, contributions, donations, computer software and other related items.
- Budgeting should also include expenses for improving your health, as you will all agree that health is wealth, check it out here and take your health to a higher level.
http://www.tinyurl.com/8q3jc
http://www.tinyurl.com/yav48a
Monday, 14 May 2007
How to Achieve Leadership While Learning Your Qualities
How to Achieve Leadership While Learning Your Qualities
How to Unleash the Leader Instincts within you
Leaders take on great responsibilities. Leaders adhere to rules, policy, and set the grounds to improve the environment around them. Leaders come in many forms. A true lead makes employees feel great, since they know, they will make mistakes, while giving the room to learn from the mistakes, and know that they will come out on top. Leaders do not dwell on mistakes people make, rather they do not focus on the person, and they focus on the problems.
A problem arises. A verbal communication attacker targets the leader accusing him of being responsible for his problems. The person lashes out without respect for the leader, and disregarding his human rights. The person fears his discomforts otherwise; he would not act in such a way. The person fears changes, failures, and disapprovals. The leader observes his power, considers his feelings, and thinks carefully before judging, criticizing, or accusing the attacker. The leader paraphrases so that he halts an argument while working toward an understanding with the attacker.
http://www.tinyurl.com/2qafy2
http://www.tinyurl.com/2dqhvf
Sunday, 13 May 2007
How To Set Up A Family Budget
Unlike the quote provided above, seemingly reflective of general opinion on family budgets today, we will attempt to take a much more positive approach to budgeting, as a family oriented, user-friendly, financial management and planning tool and life-enabler.
Maybe budgeting is not as much about reflecting on what you cannot have, but more about thoughts on how to stretch, invest and spend your earned dollars more wisely. In short, it is about making your money going further.
“How to Set up a Family Budget”, is a quick-reference, easy, how-to guide, meant to take you through the typical, who, why, when, what, where and how questions typically asked when considering fiscal planning for the household and or budgeting in general for your family need, means and circumstance, now and for the future.
Budgeting is not just about restricting spending and living a cheapskate life. It is about insights, wisdom, informed decisions, action and sustained discipline when it comes to your household financials.
Financially speaking, assess quickly where you think you and your family are today.
- What kind of a picture do you have?
- Could you come up with something?
- Did you have the data and numbers you needed?
- Would you be able to plan for where you want to be and start living your life today as a fiscally sound and disciplined family with the information you have at your disposal at present?
Households have varying needs, means and circumstance. Our money-management skills are also at different levels, as is our debt and savings!
- financial situational analysis and informed awareness,
- (ii) cutting cost,
- (iii) gaining control or curbing spending and
- (iv) Starting to save, building up wealth and liquid assets over time.
There are many phases and steps to go through when creating a budget.
In this brief introduction on family budgets, we have already introduced our first couple of key questions
- Why an e-book or how-to guide on setting up a family budget?
- Why would or do you need a family budget?
- What is the business case for and rationale behind family budgeting?
- What are the benefits and advantages of a family budget?
We elaborate a little more below. For most people, a family budget is the equivalent of a simplistic process: money is earned and comes in; money is spent and moves out!
It is a fluid, easy-flow, one-directional, cash management process. It is driven by daily life, a spending-orientation, or no plan at all!
Dot Cully
Saturday, 12 May 2007
Humour Turns E-Mail Viral
A study by Sharpe Partners, an interactive marketing agency, revealed that 89% of adult Internet users in America share content with others via e-mail. This is excellent news for those companies who use self-propelling word-of-mouse” e-mail techniques to sell their products.
The study generated some interesting results regarding the type of content that is most often forwarded, as well. The most popular content is humorous material.
The second most popular category is news, followed by healthcare and medical information, religious and spiritual material, games, business and personal finance information and sports/hobbies… in that order. So it is easy to see that humor is the best content for your viral e-mail campaign.
Cartoons, jokes and funny video clips are among the things that can be added to an e-mail to insure that it will go viral. People will want to pass along something that makes them laugh.
They are a lot more likely to hit the forward button and send your email to their friends and relatives if it is an “advertainment” rather than an advertisement.
Not along ago, about 35 million people got an e-mail containing a picture taken in Disneyland. It took a minute to see it but there was Donald Duck lying prone in front of the famous Cinderella Castle. The title of the picture was “Bird Flu has hit Disneyland”. It was a viral e-mail advertising Disneyland and used the edgy strategy of making light of what’s serious… and it works.
I’d guess that most people who own a computer have seen that picture… and thus the advertisement for Disneyland. The bird flu epidemic is newsworthy and has the potential to attract an enormous amount of attention to any brand that might, for whatever reason, associate itself with it.
Remember that people are much more likely to share a joke or a funny picture than anything else so you would be well advised to include humor in your e-mail campaign.
Dot Cully
http://www.tinyurl.com/ybs77a
http://www.tinyurl.com/yedw7h
MAGICAUCTIONWORDS
MAGICAUCTIONWORDS
Anyone who sells via online Auctions knows the frustration of listing over and over, only to have to keep relisting the items in the hope of them being seen.
In fact - the info contained in 'Magic Auction Words' is of far greater value than Randy possibly knows.
CLICK HEREHe started with a list of over 1000 'Magic Words & Phrases' that will make any Auction Listing Explode, But then went one better.
By showing some Actual Listings and their descriptions - he goes on to Break Down exactly why and how the magic words worked. [In simple language too - none of the psychologist mumbo jumbo!!]
Once you read through his analysis, you'll gain knowledge that can be implemented on any website, email, advert or auction listing. Secrets about how and why people react the way they do. Then you'll be able to use some of the Magic Words and Phrases he supplies to Greatly Enhance your site or listing, and you'll know you've covered every 'type' of reader.
After having read and reviewed a copy of Randy's 'Magic Auction Words', I thought he'd be putting it out at $47, but to my surprise he's only charging $7 and then giving you the chance to make money with it yourself.
I strongly recommend you have a look and see for yourself how much you like the sound of the info it contains, I'm sure you'll hear yourself agreeing with and feeling you've really learnt something from his breakdowns.
So without further ado - here's the link to go grab it before he realises it's true value
Regards
Dot Cully
P.S. Just one thing you'll discover is the difference 'Magic Words' made between 2 almost identical items ending within an hour of each other. One received only 28 views and no bids, The other Sold after having 168 views for 350% more than the starting price! - Imagine those results on you website & listings!