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Advertising through commercials, billboards and magazines have been influencing our purchases for decades, so much that conspiracy theorists claim they contain ‘subliminal messages’ which trick us into buying products against our better judgment. In spite of this legacy, a powerful new king of advertising is taking their place: social media.
Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram are no longer just places to share pictures, ‘like’ or ‘follow’ people and trending topics, or collect your ‘favorite things’ onto virtual pegboards. Businesses are truly beginning to grasp the influence these social gathering places have on nearly every aspect of our life, including our finances.
How many business or product pages do you ‘follow’? Do you rely on social media to inform you of the latest trends, the greatest new gadgets, and what products your friends and family are using and buying?
If so, you’re not alone. Socialmediatoday.com gathered statistics that show exactly how powerful social media is on our purchases:
71% of consumers are likely to purchase an item based on referrals from social media
81% admit being influenced based on recommendations/posts from friends
78% of us admit to being influenced directly by businesses’ posts
74% of us rely on social media to make a purchase decision
Allowing your financial decisions to be influenced by social media can be either positive or negative. Awareness of the pitfalls while using the advantages is the best way to approach this unavoidable blending of your social and consumer life.
As a woman, you definitely understand what I mean when I say that beauty doesn’t come cheap. From makeup to manicures to haircuts, maintaining your appearance can really put a dent in your budget.
In a 2013 report, it was found that a woman will spend approximately $15,000 on beauty products in her lifetime. That’s a staggering number considering beauty products and services aren’t something we necessarily need to survive (although I might disagree).
Even so, beauty is fun! Plus, it’s hard not to splurge on it every now and then. If you’re on a tight budget, here are five beauty tips to help you stay beautiful without breaking the bank.
Normally I’m not one who’s up for traveling. However, here in southern Ohio it has snowed nearly every day for the past three weeks, the temperature has remained in the single digits on most days, and the roads are too bad to drive on. Saying that I’m suffering from cabin fever is a bit of an understatement.
While I’m stuck in the house crossing my fingers that winter will soon come to an end, I’m also dreaming about warm places. And, since I don’t have much of a vacation budget, I’ve been scheming up ways I can score a little getaway on the cheap.
If you’re in a position similar to mine, here are six painless ways to save money for a vacation. [ continue reading… ]
A baby on the way is a very exciting time for any family. Whether you’re new parents or adding to your growing family, preparing for your new arrival can already feel like a handful. Aside from the upcoming sleepless nights and never ending diaper changes, one of your biggest concerns is probably your finances. According to Parenting.com, the average middle class family will spend $12,000 on child-related expenses in the baby’s first year of life. That’s not a small chunk of change. So how do you prepare financially while trying to juggle all the new responsibilities that come with a new baby at the same time?
It’s definitely not an easy task and there’s really no rule book on how to parent, especially when it comes to finances. One tip we know works though, and it’s that the earlier you start preparing, the better you’ll be able to set up for your baby’s future. Before your baby’s arrival, take a look at this checklist on easy things you can do to financially prepare now: [ continue reading… ]
A year ago, I took the plunge and quit my job to be a full-time freelancer. It was a bold, scary move considering I was and still am in debt.
Of the many reasons I chose self-employment, flexibility and increasing my income were paramount in my decision. I believed I could make more money on my own since I worked low-paying nonprofit jobs for the bulk of my career, making roughly $30,000 per year. I’m happy to report I’ve accomplished that after a year, and more of that income is going towards paying off debt too.
Although I’ve reached my goals and have more balance and am earning more, it’s not been without trial and tribulations. I feel like I’ve been on an accelerated learning curve the past year, navigating the uncertain waters of freelancing.
Here are the top things I learned in my first year as a full-time freelancer. [ continue reading… ]
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