Free From Broke

A Personal Finance Blog for Regular Folks

Business

Three Stories That Prove Consumers Still Have Power

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There’s a story that the media has missed in all of their 2011 wrap up stories.

It’s one of those rare feel-good economics stories that deserves to be relived because in 2011, one group above so many others who tried, showed that they have far more power than what they thought.

It’s not a story about Wall Street bankers, Washington politicians, the Tea Party movement or even the Occupiers.

It’s about you.

You, the consumer, showed that when you speak, you can influence the actions of the world’s biggest companies.

Not convinced? [Read more…] about Three Stories That Prove Consumers Still Have Power

Are You Making These Mistakes With Your Side Business?

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The beauty of the blogging community, the different inspiring individuals on Twitter, and the many forums out there is that you get to communicate with many like-minded folks.

I love chatting with other ambitious colleagues because we get to help each other, share feedback, and think of ideas that one person alone could never come up with alone.

Through my various chats over the years I’ve learned that I’ve done many things wrong.

Instead of getting upset with a criticism I usually do my best to apply it to my life.  This is why I’m comfortable with writing a piece on small business mistakes that we all make at the beginning.

We’re all guilty of making certain mistakes when first trying to launch a side business.

Are you making any of the following mistakes with your side business?

[Read more…] about Are You Making These Mistakes With Your Side Business?

Are You Cut Out to be a Landlord?

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One of the ways that many people decide to invest in real estate, or create a passive income stream, is to purchase a rental property with the intention of becoming a landlord.

Owning property that you can rent out to others can be one way of creating income, and also of waiting for a property to increase in value.

However, being a landlord isn’t for everyone.

You should consider whether or not you are truly cut out to be a landlord. [Read more…] about Are You Cut Out to be a Landlord?

What is a Solopreneur?

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Solopreneur is a word that applies to many people and yet they don’t know it.

“What is a solopreneur,” you might ask?

Simply stated, a solopreneur is an entrepreneur who works solo; and this makes perfect sense.  Now just because the word solo is in there doesn’t mean to think small – always think big.

Thanks to the online marketplace there has been an explosion of solopreneurs.  Operating a business from the privacy and comfort of home appeals to thousands of people and the Internet helps to facilitate this goal. Depending on the type of business, not only is this simple to do but very little capital is required to get things off the ground. [Read more…] about What is a Solopreneur?

Work from Home? Why You Should Consider Child Care

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When I first started working from home, my son (who is now in elementary school) was three. One of the most common questions I fielded was this: How do you get work done with a child at home?  The answer: I send him to the sitter.

People are often shocked to learn that my son went to the sitter, and later to preschool, when I am a work from home parent.  After all, isn’t one of the reasons some of us work from home is to avoid sending the kids to the sitter?  This is only partially true.  I like working from home because it provides me with flexibility, and, of course, because I can spend more time with my son.  But that doesn’t mean that I keep my son home all the time.  Indeed, having my son in child care has helped me be more productive, as well as provide the opportunity for more quality time with my son.

Here’s why you might consider child care when you work from home: [Read more…] about Work from Home? Why You Should Consider Child Care