I receive articles every day to be considered for publication in SNEWoman Magazine. Unfortunately, we just can't fit them all in the issues. That being said; I've decided to post some of the articles received here on the blog for your review. Hopefully you will get some great information out of them and on a regular basis. This particular article was submitted regarding Women and Car Purchases. Happy Reading!
Car Purchasing Tips for Women
The automobile industry is changing the way people purchase or lease vehicles. This article is to point out how women should adapt their automobile needs and finances to work best for their overall lifestyles. Here are some interesting facts and statistics :
1. Women buy more than 65% of all new vehicles, and even if they're not the ones signing the check, they are a decisive influence in 93% of all vehicle purchases, according to Road And Travel Magazine's market research.
2. J.D. Powers and Associates found that female car buyers pay an average of 0.2% more on their cars.
3. According to a Consumer Reports survey, 69% of women use a variety of sources to research before buying a car, compared to 86% of men. Women also seem to be shy about negotiating the price, with 68% of women talking numbers with the dealer, as opposed to 76% of men.
Now that we can see that women are the primary buyers, lets put some helpful hints together for you to make your buying experience, a smarter and more efficient one.
A. Identify your financial situation before you start. Determine how much you can spend on a vehicle per month if you should have a payment. Find out your credit score before you start.
B. Should you lease or buy? If you like to change vehicles every 2-3 years, you drive 15,000 miles or less per year, and you don't plan on putting a lot of money as a down payment, then leasing may be the way to go. The example I give is that a women buys a $25,000 car. She takes a 72 month car loan of $349 per month. Adding up the cost of tires, brakes, etch, her monthly cost will rise to $400 per month. Wouldn't it make sense to lease a NEW vehicle for 36 months , then get another one after that? Many women say well "I don't own the leased car" When you have a 72 month loan, you don't own that car either. Decide if it makes sense to pay a loan of $350 per month after 3 years with 3 years left? At this halfway point in your loan, you may have already lost 50% of its value.
C. DON'T buy a payment, buy or lease the vehicle that you WANT. So many people buy a car for the payment and end up disliking the car for years as they write their monthly loan check. Even worse, some people trade their car in and lose thousands of dollars, trying to buy a payment, instead of the RIGHT vehicle for themselves.
D. Consider insurance, gas mileage, and property taxes, as part of your monthly vehicle expenses.
E. Should you look at new or preowned? Preowned is a great option if you can purchase a 2-3 year old vehicle with an extended certified warrantee. (extend the original new car warrantee for additional time)
F. Do your research on the internet. Many purchases are done over the internet today. It's a great resource tool!
G. Go to a dealer who, you trust with a great service department. When you go to the showroom after doing your due diligence, make sure the salesperson you are dealing with, feels comfortable to you. If not, ask the Sales Manager to speak to another person. You need to feel that the sales person is working in your best interest and that you can put your trust in them to help you make the right decisions.
Robert Fioravanti is a Corporate Sales Director at Inskip Automall and can be reached at rfioravanti@penskeautomotive.com.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The Wastefulness of Decluttering; or How to Make Less Count for More
Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow him twitter.
Don’t throw the good away with the bad.
‘It is preoccupation with possession, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly.’ ~Bertrand Russell
I know there are many of you who want to declutter, or who have already gotten started … but you hit a roadblock.
And it’s a big one: you don’t want to be wasteful. Your gut tells you that getting rid of perfectly good things — things that cost a pretty penny to get in the first place — is wasteful as hell.
I recently received this letter from Marissa, a brilliant reader:
“I am currently going through my possessions for the umpteenth time to have/own less. My issue I am having now, is that when I donate/throw away items I don’t “need” I feel like I am wasting money. At one point in time I used my hard earned money to buy this item and now I just want to get rid of it. Though this does help in my future shopping habits so I don’t buy anything on a whim or just because I want to have it, I feel like I am throwing away money into the trash/donation bins.”
This is such a common question that I thought I’d address it here — if you’re holding onto stuff because you feel it would be a waste of good money if you got rid of it, here is the answer you are looking for:
I hereby release you of your burden.
You are free. You bought these items with hard-earned money, and you don’t want that money to go to waste, so you’ve been holding onto them. It’s a burden that keeps you from freeing yourself of these unneeded possessions — it forces to you keep the space they occupy, to maintain these possessions, to constantly see them every day even if you don’t want them, to walk around them or trip over them or live in a cramped, cluttered space. This is a burden, paying penance for your initial wasted expenditure of cash.
But: the waste was when you bought it, not when you get rid of it. You bought something you didn’t really need — and the real waste would be to ignore this and not learn from it.
So here’s how to make sure that by decluttering possessions you don’t need, it’s not a waste:
1. Learn your lesson. This might sound condescending, but it’s not meant to be — if we don’t realize our mistakes, we can’t learn and avoid them in the future. So realize: you shouldn’t have bought the items in the first place. Avoid doing this in the future, by buying as little as you possibly can. Stop being a consumer, and start living.
2. Realize that keeping the items is wasteful. If you keep stuff you don’t need, it costs you money — you pay for the space to store it (lots of possessions means bigger homes or storage containers), you pay to maintain it, it costs you time (and therefore money) to keep it and go around it, you have to fix things when they break, you have to sort through things to find things, you spend time moving things around, and so on. Getting rid of this unnecessary stuff frees you of this waste.
3. Find someone who will use it. It’s a waste to keep something when you’re not using it (a good reason car-sharing is a much better use of cars than private ownership, btw). So find a friend or family member who needs it, or give it to Goodwill or some other such charity, or donate it to a library that will let many others use it. Consider starting a neighborhood tool library, or a book-sharing spot in your community. When someone else uses your items, it’s not a waste.
4. Test the waters. If you’re unsure of whether you’ll need something later, put it to a test: have you used it in the last six months? If not, you probably don’t need it (unless it’s seasonal — then ask if you needed it in the last year). If you’re still unsure, box it up with today’s date, and check on it in six months — if you never needed to open the box, you didn’t need it.
5. Don’t let your possessions own you. If you hold on to possessions because you feel it would be wasteful to get rid of them, they are controlling you. They are dictating your life, rather than you creating the life you want, living how you want to live. Let go of possessions and be free — living otherwise would be the true waste.
6. Make better use of your time and space. Once you’re freed of this clutter, don’t waste your freed time on acquiring more stuff. Spend your time on incredible experiences, not on possessions. In the end, get a smaller house, now that you need to store less stuff, and help save the earth while you’re at it (a smaller home, along with ditching your car and becoming vegan, is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your carbon emissions).
‘Don’t water your weeds.’ ~Harvey MacKay
Don’t throw the good away with the bad.
‘It is preoccupation with possession, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly.’ ~Bertrand Russell
I know there are many of you who want to declutter, or who have already gotten started … but you hit a roadblock.
And it’s a big one: you don’t want to be wasteful. Your gut tells you that getting rid of perfectly good things — things that cost a pretty penny to get in the first place — is wasteful as hell.
I recently received this letter from Marissa, a brilliant reader:
“I am currently going through my possessions for the umpteenth time to have/own less. My issue I am having now, is that when I donate/throw away items I don’t “need” I feel like I am wasting money. At one point in time I used my hard earned money to buy this item and now I just want to get rid of it. Though this does help in my future shopping habits so I don’t buy anything on a whim or just because I want to have it, I feel like I am throwing away money into the trash/donation bins.”
This is such a common question that I thought I’d address it here — if you’re holding onto stuff because you feel it would be a waste of good money if you got rid of it, here is the answer you are looking for:
I hereby release you of your burden.
You are free. You bought these items with hard-earned money, and you don’t want that money to go to waste, so you’ve been holding onto them. It’s a burden that keeps you from freeing yourself of these unneeded possessions — it forces to you keep the space they occupy, to maintain these possessions, to constantly see them every day even if you don’t want them, to walk around them or trip over them or live in a cramped, cluttered space. This is a burden, paying penance for your initial wasted expenditure of cash.
But: the waste was when you bought it, not when you get rid of it. You bought something you didn’t really need — and the real waste would be to ignore this and not learn from it.
So here’s how to make sure that by decluttering possessions you don’t need, it’s not a waste:
1. Learn your lesson. This might sound condescending, but it’s not meant to be — if we don’t realize our mistakes, we can’t learn and avoid them in the future. So realize: you shouldn’t have bought the items in the first place. Avoid doing this in the future, by buying as little as you possibly can. Stop being a consumer, and start living.
2. Realize that keeping the items is wasteful. If you keep stuff you don’t need, it costs you money — you pay for the space to store it (lots of possessions means bigger homes or storage containers), you pay to maintain it, it costs you time (and therefore money) to keep it and go around it, you have to fix things when they break, you have to sort through things to find things, you spend time moving things around, and so on. Getting rid of this unnecessary stuff frees you of this waste.
3. Find someone who will use it. It’s a waste to keep something when you’re not using it (a good reason car-sharing is a much better use of cars than private ownership, btw). So find a friend or family member who needs it, or give it to Goodwill or some other such charity, or donate it to a library that will let many others use it. Consider starting a neighborhood tool library, or a book-sharing spot in your community. When someone else uses your items, it’s not a waste.
4. Test the waters. If you’re unsure of whether you’ll need something later, put it to a test: have you used it in the last six months? If not, you probably don’t need it (unless it’s seasonal — then ask if you needed it in the last year). If you’re still unsure, box it up with today’s date, and check on it in six months — if you never needed to open the box, you didn’t need it.
5. Don’t let your possessions own you. If you hold on to possessions because you feel it would be wasteful to get rid of them, they are controlling you. They are dictating your life, rather than you creating the life you want, living how you want to live. Let go of possessions and be free — living otherwise would be the true waste.
6. Make better use of your time and space. Once you’re freed of this clutter, don’t waste your freed time on acquiring more stuff. Spend your time on incredible experiences, not on possessions. In the end, get a smaller house, now that you need to store less stuff, and help save the earth while you’re at it (a smaller home, along with ditching your car and becoming vegan, is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your carbon emissions).
‘Don’t water your weeds.’ ~Harvey MacKay
Saturday, August 21, 2010
I always loved this article: 9 WAYS TO GET THE BEST FROM YOURSELF
Too many people die at 20 and are buried at 80. Too many people coast through life, never manifesting their potential and using only a fraction of their personal talents. According to the latest scientific research, the average person uses only 1/100th of 1% of their brain power over the course of the lives while respected researcher Ivan Yefremov has confirmed that "we could, without difficulty, learn 40 languages, memorize a set of encyclopedias from A to Z and complete the required courses of dozens of colleges." And yet most people become creatures of complacency, doing the same things, in the same way, with the same people, every day.
Here are 9 powerful lessons to consider for getting the best from yourself and manifesting the fullness of the potential for excellence that lies within you:
1. Define a Higher Reality
The most successful people in business are "possibilitarians". They make the impossible probable by thinking better thoughts than others and constantly visualizing a larger future. Make the time to think creatively and dream of ways to grow your business and enrich your personal life. Go to educational seminars, expose yourself to richer information and stay open to new ideas.
2. Surround Yourself with the Best
You are a product of your environment. The Principle of Association says that who you will be 5 years from now comes down to two primary influences: the people you associate with and the books you read. Make sure both are first rate. Surround yourself with people who are moving forward, men and woman who are excited and passionate about the changing business world we live within. Form a mastermind alliance of other salespeople who are creative and successful and meet weekly over the new year to brainstorm new ways to multiply your business victories. Also, read the biographies of the people you admire and learn from their lives. You can get deeply into the minds of the world's greatest thinkers simply by walking into a library.
3. Live in Day Tight Compartments
In the seminars that I deliver for companies across the country, I urge people to bring a greater sense of urgency to their days. Too many people squander their time worrying about past failures or future challenges. Yet, all to often, the fears of the future never materialize. As Mark Twain observed: "I've had a lot of trouble in my life, some of which actually happened." Live every day fully. The past is history and the future is but a dream. This day is all you have. Try new things, take more chances, think bigger thoughts. The results will speak for themselves.
4. Raise Your Standards
Eye doctors use the term "Amblyopia" to describe the phenomenon that occurs when the healthy eye of a young child, after being covered by a patch, loses its ability to see. People who spend their days working within a small zone of comfort also suffer from their own form of Amblyopia. By living their lives with blinders on, they have lost their natural ability to see the boundless opportunities presented by this Age of Knowledge. They have lost their vision and grow content with mediocrity. Unfortunately, the only path to a satisfying life is through excellence and initiative. Raise your standards for the year ahead. Demand more of yourself and push yourself to try things you may have thought you could never do. The best way to conquer fear is to meet it head on.
5. Go the Extra Mile
One of the best strategies for business success is to "under promise and over deliver." This simple philosophy will create a core of "True Believers" within your customer base who will generate tremendous word of mouth advertising for your business. Ask your customers what they expect from you in terms of service and then exceed their expectations. And do the same in your personal life. Read for 30 minutes a day, no matter how busy you are since new ideas are the commodity of success in these information-crazed times. Also work hard since industry always delivers its rewards. And constantly be improving your self since leadership always begins within.
6. Focus Your Energy
The great sage Confucius said: "man who chases two rabbits catches neither." One of the timeless principles of success is also one of the simplest: focus your energies on the things that count. As I teach in my time management seminars: "The person who tries to do everything ends up doing nothing. The real secret to getting things done lies in knowing what needs to be left undone." Concentrate your time on only those high-leverage activities that will lead you to your stated goals. If an activity is not linked to one of your strategic objectives, have the self-discipline to "just say no." Your productivity and achievement levels will soar.
7. Be a Motivational Leader
Peak performers are people-centered. They understand that by helping people get what they want, they will help you get what you want. Tirelessly ask those in your network of contacts: "How can I help you reach your goals?" Be of constant service to your customers, to your friends and to your community. Inspire others by your example and keep the promises you make. You might be surprised by the endless opportunities that are certain to come your way.
8. Be the Change
We are swimming in a sea of change. There has been more new information developed over the past 30 years than in the previous 5000. Technology is changing at a breakneck pace, the sociopolitical world has been transformed and even our workplaces and work styles are far different than they were just a few years ago. So what can we do to not only survive in this new information economy but thrive? My answer is to "Be the change". One day Mahatma Gandhi was asked by one of his followers how to change the attitudes of others. Gandhi thought for a while and then replied with a knowing smile: "Be the change." Embrace change as a business tool. Let go of that "bunker mentality" and be a part of the changing world around you. Master technology, surf the Net, take courses and start to see change for what it really is: an opportunity to take your business and your life to a whole new level of effectiveness.
9. Master The Action Habit
"Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do," wrote the German philosopher Goethe. Top performers understand that lasting success is a numbers game: the more action you take, the more results you reap. Take cold calling for example. The salesperson who makes one hundred calls a day is certain to close more deals that the one who only makes 50. Get good at taking action. If you learn a new marketing strategy or a new stress reduction tactic at a seminar, apply it immediately before "The Law of Diminishing Intent" takes hold and your desire starts to fade. If most people effectively implemented even half of the ideas that have graced their minds over the years, they would be successful beyond their dreams. The problem is that most people simply do not act on what they know. Don't let that happen to you.
Sustainable Living Articles @ http://www.articlegarden.com
Here are 9 powerful lessons to consider for getting the best from yourself and manifesting the fullness of the potential for excellence that lies within you:
1. Define a Higher Reality
The most successful people in business are "possibilitarians". They make the impossible probable by thinking better thoughts than others and constantly visualizing a larger future. Make the time to think creatively and dream of ways to grow your business and enrich your personal life. Go to educational seminars, expose yourself to richer information and stay open to new ideas.
2. Surround Yourself with the Best
You are a product of your environment. The Principle of Association says that who you will be 5 years from now comes down to two primary influences: the people you associate with and the books you read. Make sure both are first rate. Surround yourself with people who are moving forward, men and woman who are excited and passionate about the changing business world we live within. Form a mastermind alliance of other salespeople who are creative and successful and meet weekly over the new year to brainstorm new ways to multiply your business victories. Also, read the biographies of the people you admire and learn from their lives. You can get deeply into the minds of the world's greatest thinkers simply by walking into a library.
3. Live in Day Tight Compartments
In the seminars that I deliver for companies across the country, I urge people to bring a greater sense of urgency to their days. Too many people squander their time worrying about past failures or future challenges. Yet, all to often, the fears of the future never materialize. As Mark Twain observed: "I've had a lot of trouble in my life, some of which actually happened." Live every day fully. The past is history and the future is but a dream. This day is all you have. Try new things, take more chances, think bigger thoughts. The results will speak for themselves.
4. Raise Your Standards
Eye doctors use the term "Amblyopia" to describe the phenomenon that occurs when the healthy eye of a young child, after being covered by a patch, loses its ability to see. People who spend their days working within a small zone of comfort also suffer from their own form of Amblyopia. By living their lives with blinders on, they have lost their natural ability to see the boundless opportunities presented by this Age of Knowledge. They have lost their vision and grow content with mediocrity. Unfortunately, the only path to a satisfying life is through excellence and initiative. Raise your standards for the year ahead. Demand more of yourself and push yourself to try things you may have thought you could never do. The best way to conquer fear is to meet it head on.
5. Go the Extra Mile
One of the best strategies for business success is to "under promise and over deliver." This simple philosophy will create a core of "True Believers" within your customer base who will generate tremendous word of mouth advertising for your business. Ask your customers what they expect from you in terms of service and then exceed their expectations. And do the same in your personal life. Read for 30 minutes a day, no matter how busy you are since new ideas are the commodity of success in these information-crazed times. Also work hard since industry always delivers its rewards. And constantly be improving your self since leadership always begins within.
6. Focus Your Energy
The great sage Confucius said: "man who chases two rabbits catches neither." One of the timeless principles of success is also one of the simplest: focus your energies on the things that count. As I teach in my time management seminars: "The person who tries to do everything ends up doing nothing. The real secret to getting things done lies in knowing what needs to be left undone." Concentrate your time on only those high-leverage activities that will lead you to your stated goals. If an activity is not linked to one of your strategic objectives, have the self-discipline to "just say no." Your productivity and achievement levels will soar.
7. Be a Motivational Leader
Peak performers are people-centered. They understand that by helping people get what they want, they will help you get what you want. Tirelessly ask those in your network of contacts: "How can I help you reach your goals?" Be of constant service to your customers, to your friends and to your community. Inspire others by your example and keep the promises you make. You might be surprised by the endless opportunities that are certain to come your way.
8. Be the Change
We are swimming in a sea of change. There has been more new information developed over the past 30 years than in the previous 5000. Technology is changing at a breakneck pace, the sociopolitical world has been transformed and even our workplaces and work styles are far different than they were just a few years ago. So what can we do to not only survive in this new information economy but thrive? My answer is to "Be the change". One day Mahatma Gandhi was asked by one of his followers how to change the attitudes of others. Gandhi thought for a while and then replied with a knowing smile: "Be the change." Embrace change as a business tool. Let go of that "bunker mentality" and be a part of the changing world around you. Master technology, surf the Net, take courses and start to see change for what it really is: an opportunity to take your business and your life to a whole new level of effectiveness.
9. Master The Action Habit
"Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do," wrote the German philosopher Goethe. Top performers understand that lasting success is a numbers game: the more action you take, the more results you reap. Take cold calling for example. The salesperson who makes one hundred calls a day is certain to close more deals that the one who only makes 50. Get good at taking action. If you learn a new marketing strategy or a new stress reduction tactic at a seminar, apply it immediately before "The Law of Diminishing Intent" takes hold and your desire starts to fade. If most people effectively implemented even half of the ideas that have graced their minds over the years, they would be successful beyond their dreams. The problem is that most people simply do not act on what they know. Don't let that happen to you.
Sustainable Living Articles @ http://www.articlegarden.com
Friday, August 20, 2010
A note to advertisers...
We are officially announcing an extended launch date for the upcoming issue of
Southern New England Woman Magazine from August to September
After putting our ear to the ground and thoroughly researching "quarterly print publication advertising statistics" we've made a decision to extend the release date of our upcoming SNEWoman issue. Our findings concluded that a September-December issue would be most beneficial for our advertisers giving them an opportunity to promote products and services during a more effective time period. At which time they could include
"Fall Sales"
"Holiday Specials"
"Bridal and Wedding Services"
"Gift Certificate Purchases"
"2011 Programs and Events"
"New Years' Resolution Programs"
Our Premiere Issue has been tremendously successful for our advertisers and has received more press from the media than ever anticipated. 20,000 copies were HAND delivered to over 750 locations including 52 Walgreens, libraries, hospitals, coffee shops, boutiques, high traffic restaurants, salons, spas, hotels, doctor and dentist offices, influential women related business offices, etc. To our delight, magazines flew off the shelves faster than imagined, and left drop off locations looking for more copies, which we happily accomodated. Most encouraging for a new publications' "FIRST" issue!
SNEWoman is taking advantage of the extra time by increasing the amount of pages as well as diving deeper into more editorial content. The pages and printing of the publication will continue to be of the highest quality.
Since we want to make our relationship with you long lasting and successful, we feel comfortable extending the deadline and wanted to inform advertisers who have already signed on to this issue as well as ones who were not able to get ads in for the original deadline. Advertising rates start at $350 for three months (full color 1/8th page) with a 3.4 readership bringing you approximately 70,000 consumers to potentially view your business advertisement!
Please let us know by September 1st if you would like to be included in the September-December issue. It is important for us to place your advertisement in the best possible location which makes sense to the category, product or service further enhancing your ROI.
Thank you for your continued support.
We would love to have you part of our SNEWoman Family!
Southern New England Woman Magazine from August to September
After putting our ear to the ground and thoroughly researching "quarterly print publication advertising statistics" we've made a decision to extend the release date of our upcoming SNEWoman issue. Our findings concluded that a September-December issue would be most beneficial for our advertisers giving them an opportunity to promote products and services during a more effective time period. At which time they could include
"Fall Sales"
"Holiday Specials"
"Bridal and Wedding Services"
"Gift Certificate Purchases"
"2011 Programs and Events"
"New Years' Resolution Programs"
Our Premiere Issue has been tremendously successful for our advertisers and has received more press from the media than ever anticipated. 20,000 copies were HAND delivered to over 750 locations including 52 Walgreens, libraries, hospitals, coffee shops, boutiques, high traffic restaurants, salons, spas, hotels, doctor and dentist offices, influential women related business offices, etc. To our delight, magazines flew off the shelves faster than imagined, and left drop off locations looking for more copies, which we happily accomodated. Most encouraging for a new publications' "FIRST" issue!
SNEWoman is taking advantage of the extra time by increasing the amount of pages as well as diving deeper into more editorial content. The pages and printing of the publication will continue to be of the highest quality.
Since we want to make our relationship with you long lasting and successful, we feel comfortable extending the deadline and wanted to inform advertisers who have already signed on to this issue as well as ones who were not able to get ads in for the original deadline. Advertising rates start at $350 for three months (full color 1/8th page) with a 3.4 readership bringing you approximately 70,000 consumers to potentially view your business advertisement!
Please let us know by September 1st if you would like to be included in the September-December issue. It is important for us to place your advertisement in the best possible location which makes sense to the category, product or service further enhancing your ROI.
Thank you for your continued support.
We would love to have you part of our SNEWoman Family!
I know this won't apply to everyone, but I am a mom with three kids and I am always looking for ideas on how to save money on day to day things they may need. School is right around the corner and coinsidentely I received an email from someone with budgeting tips for school shopping. Being a mom and woman who loves to share information, I thought I would pass it along to you. Hope you get a few tips out of it as well.
TOPIC: BACK TO SCHOOL BUDGET
It’s that time of year again – back to school – which means families everywhere are heading out, stocking up and forking over fistfuls of money on everything from pencils… to peanut butter. According to the National Retail Federation, the average family spends $550 on school supplies each fall, making this time of year second only to Christmas – for total consumer spending.
Talking Points/Tips
Tip #1: Make a list and set your budget:
It's a good idea to know what you need to buy and how much is available to spend before you go shopping. 85% of people plan to spend less– but if the average is nearly $550 – what does that truly mean for you and your family – $200, $300? Having a defined back-to-school budget and sticking to it is essential. Back-to-school time is the perfect time to begin teaching your children about budgeting habits. Before you go out to restock on back-to-school supplies or clothes, work with your child to craft a budget. When you’re shopping, work as a team to find the best deals. If you have money left over, reward your good work with a small treat or put the extra money into a rainy day fund.
Tip #2 Cash or Credit?
If you pay off your bills each month, you may want to use credit and get rewarded for your back to school purchases. Find cards offering the best rewards points, and you can narrow down results by the types of rewards you want to earn, whether it’s cash back, points at your favorite retail stores, or miles. Is your credit card earning you an A in savings? Nearly 80% of people are on the wrong credit card. Find out which is right for your unique spending habits. If your child is heading off to college, you can find the best student credit cards to fit their needs and help them start building good credit.
Tip #3 Get Connected on the Cheap
If your child is old enough, consider joining a family plan so everyone can stay connected, especially when the carpool plans fall through or games get cancelled. Find the most cost-effective plans for your family that can satisfy your teen who can’t live without texts and your need to access your email.
Tip #4 Buy Books Online
Look online to find the most affordable books. At BetterWorldBooks.com, readers can find used books and textbooks up to 80% off, and shipping on book orders is not only free anywhere in the U.S. but it’s a carbon offset! What's more, when you buy through Better World Books, you're supporting global literacy programs - a portion of all revenues goes to organizations like Books for Africa and Room to Read, and to date they've raised over $6 million for literacy. Save upwards of 80% on all your textbooks, and with college text books costing up to $200, that’s a lot of savings.
Tip #5 Alternative Transportation
If you’re close enough to school, have your kids walk or ride bikes with their friends. Otherwise, take the school bus or start your own carpool. Gas prices can vary by $0.50 within one neighborhood, so use free online tools like BillShrink.com that can help you find the cheapest gas prices along your route. With the average commute, that’s a savings of up to $130/year just during the week.
Tip #6 Get cash back on supplies from top retailers
With cash back deals and partnerships with over 800 retailers from Staples to Office Depot to Wallmart, chances are you’ll find what you need for back to school shopping all in one convenient location – FatWallet.com. Websites that offer cash back on your online purchases are a great way to put some extra money back in your wallet, where it belongs.
Tip #7 Save on Sports
If your son or daughter is planning on starting a new sport this school year, see if there’s a way to find a deal on equipment. A great way is to contact graduating athletes or family friends to see if they have an extra lacrosse stick or baseball glove that they would be willing to part with. Plus, if your child is trying something for the first time, make sure they like the sport before buying the newest equipment.
Tip #8 Only Buy What You Need
Once you're in the store, all those fun extras can be tempting – colored pens, locker accessories, self-stick notes, the list stretches on and on – but chances are, your back to school budget doesn't. To avoid overspending, determine how you'll handle your child's requests for non-essentials before you head out to shop.
Some Ways to Handle Your Child's Requests:
§ Allow one extra purchase
§ Have your child foot the bill for anything that's not on the list
§ Have your child pay the difference between what you're willing to buy, and what they want to buy
Tip #9 Buy This Now, Buy That Later
Some stores actually raise their prices on popular back-to-school items before school starts. Search for school bargains all year. Why wait until September to purchase notebooks, pens and clothing? You can spread out your spending and get great deals if you’re on the look-out all year long, instead of dropping hundreds of dollars in August. While school supplies are generally cheaper during back to school, clothing sales go on throughout the year, many times with better deals than during back-to-school season.
Tip #10 Take Advantage of Tax-Free Holidays
Many states offer tax-free holidays around the start of the school year. Find out if your state has one planned; and if it does, be sure to take advantage of it. Shopping on the right day could take as much as 10% off of your back to school tab.
Information was sent to me by Billshrink.com. Check them out at BillShrink.com to if you’d like more information on how you be smarter with finances.
Happy shopping!
TOPIC: BACK TO SCHOOL BUDGET
It’s that time of year again – back to school – which means families everywhere are heading out, stocking up and forking over fistfuls of money on everything from pencils… to peanut butter. According to the National Retail Federation, the average family spends $550 on school supplies each fall, making this time of year second only to Christmas – for total consumer spending.
Talking Points/Tips
Tip #1: Make a list and set your budget:
It's a good idea to know what you need to buy and how much is available to spend before you go shopping. 85% of people plan to spend less– but if the average is nearly $550 – what does that truly mean for you and your family – $200, $300? Having a defined back-to-school budget and sticking to it is essential. Back-to-school time is the perfect time to begin teaching your children about budgeting habits. Before you go out to restock on back-to-school supplies or clothes, work with your child to craft a budget. When you’re shopping, work as a team to find the best deals. If you have money left over, reward your good work with a small treat or put the extra money into a rainy day fund.
Tip #2 Cash or Credit?
If you pay off your bills each month, you may want to use credit and get rewarded for your back to school purchases. Find cards offering the best rewards points, and you can narrow down results by the types of rewards you want to earn, whether it’s cash back, points at your favorite retail stores, or miles. Is your credit card earning you an A in savings? Nearly 80% of people are on the wrong credit card. Find out which is right for your unique spending habits. If your child is heading off to college, you can find the best student credit cards to fit their needs and help them start building good credit.
Tip #3 Get Connected on the Cheap
If your child is old enough, consider joining a family plan so everyone can stay connected, especially when the carpool plans fall through or games get cancelled. Find the most cost-effective plans for your family that can satisfy your teen who can’t live without texts and your need to access your email.
Tip #4 Buy Books Online
Look online to find the most affordable books. At BetterWorldBooks.com, readers can find used books and textbooks up to 80% off, and shipping on book orders is not only free anywhere in the U.S. but it’s a carbon offset! What's more, when you buy through Better World Books, you're supporting global literacy programs - a portion of all revenues goes to organizations like Books for Africa and Room to Read, and to date they've raised over $6 million for literacy. Save upwards of 80% on all your textbooks, and with college text books costing up to $200, that’s a lot of savings.
Tip #5 Alternative Transportation
If you’re close enough to school, have your kids walk or ride bikes with their friends. Otherwise, take the school bus or start your own carpool. Gas prices can vary by $0.50 within one neighborhood, so use free online tools like BillShrink.com that can help you find the cheapest gas prices along your route. With the average commute, that’s a savings of up to $130/year just during the week.
Tip #6 Get cash back on supplies from top retailers
With cash back deals and partnerships with over 800 retailers from Staples to Office Depot to Wallmart, chances are you’ll find what you need for back to school shopping all in one convenient location – FatWallet.com. Websites that offer cash back on your online purchases are a great way to put some extra money back in your wallet, where it belongs.
Tip #7 Save on Sports
If your son or daughter is planning on starting a new sport this school year, see if there’s a way to find a deal on equipment. A great way is to contact graduating athletes or family friends to see if they have an extra lacrosse stick or baseball glove that they would be willing to part with. Plus, if your child is trying something for the first time, make sure they like the sport before buying the newest equipment.
Tip #8 Only Buy What You Need
Once you're in the store, all those fun extras can be tempting – colored pens, locker accessories, self-stick notes, the list stretches on and on – but chances are, your back to school budget doesn't. To avoid overspending, determine how you'll handle your child's requests for non-essentials before you head out to shop.
Some Ways to Handle Your Child's Requests:
§ Allow one extra purchase
§ Have your child foot the bill for anything that's not on the list
§ Have your child pay the difference between what you're willing to buy, and what they want to buy
Tip #9 Buy This Now, Buy That Later
Some stores actually raise their prices on popular back-to-school items before school starts. Search for school bargains all year. Why wait until September to purchase notebooks, pens and clothing? You can spread out your spending and get great deals if you’re on the look-out all year long, instead of dropping hundreds of dollars in August. While school supplies are generally cheaper during back to school, clothing sales go on throughout the year, many times with better deals than during back-to-school season.
Tip #10 Take Advantage of Tax-Free Holidays
Many states offer tax-free holidays around the start of the school year. Find out if your state has one planned; and if it does, be sure to take advantage of it. Shopping on the right day could take as much as 10% off of your back to school tab.
Information was sent to me by Billshrink.com. Check them out at BillShrink.com to if you’d like more information on how you be smarter with finances.
Happy shopping!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
13 small things to simplify your workday
I love to read articles and blog posts on how to simplify my life and be more effecient during work or at home with my kids. I came across a site that I love and refer back to regularly and thought I would share one of the blog posts with you. I find it great when I am able to get a few things out of editorial content and share it with my friends.
13 small things to simplify your workday
Work simply and with focus.
“Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” ~Lao Tzu
Post written by Leo Babauta.
One of the best things I did when I decided to simplify my life was to simplify my workday — first at my day job and later, by quitting my day job, in the work I do now as a writer and entrepreneur.
I’ve eliminated most of the routine, boring, administrative tasks with a few simple principles.
These days, I have eliminated the non-essentials, and can focus on what I truly love: creating.
Not everyone can make such drastic steps toward simplicity, but if you have some control over your workday, you can do a few small things that will simplify things greatly.
If you don’t have control, or if you find yourself thinking, “I can’t do these things”, I’d start to ask why not? Is it possible to change things, if not today then over the long term? I found that often I thought something wasn’t possible (working from home, for example), but in the long run they were.
You don’t need to do all of these things — pick just one, and try it. Then try another and see if it works. Experiment to find what works for you.
And enjoy the simple work life.
Start early. Going into work early was one of my favorite tricks — it was quiet, before the phones and chatter and meetings started, and I could get a lot of work done in peace. By the time everyone else was getting started, I’d gotten two or three big tasks checked off.
Limit your hours. It’s ironic, because so many people work long hours and think they’re getting more done and being more productive. But they’re throwing brute hours at the problem. Instead, cut back on your hours and set a limit — say 6 or 7 hours a day — and get your most essential work done within that limit. If you know you’re only working 6 hours today, you’ll be sure to get the important tasks done first and waste less time. Limits force you to be effective.
Make a short list. Make a long list of all the tasks you need to do … then make a short list of 1-3 things you really want to get done. Choose so that, if you got only these tasks done, you’d be proud of what you did today. Start with the most important task, before checking email or reading online.
Batch distractions. What are your common distractions? Perhaps things like email, reading blogs, Twitter or another social network? Set a time for these, preferably later in the day: say, from 3-4 p.m. Don’t do the distractions before then. By grouping them all into one time period, you allow yourself to do other work first, but still get in your distraction time. Another approach might be to do them for 10 minutes at the end of each hour — but stick to that 10-minute limit!
Write shorter emails. If email takes up a lot of your day, the simple change of limiting yourself to 3-4 sentences per email will make a big difference. First, it’ll drastically shorten the time it takes to write or respond to emails. And second, it’ll shorten responses to your emails, which means you’ll spend less time reading email.
Limit meetings. The fewer the better. Some top Google executives just do 5-minute meetings — anyone who attends these meetings had better be prepared, and concise. If you can get out of meetings and just get the notes, or find an alternative way to communicate, it could save you hours per week.
Automate. The fewer repetitive and routine tasks you have to do, the more time you’ll free up for creating and important work. So automate wherever possible: have people fill things out electronically, or get info from your website instead of emailing or calling you, or use a service that automatically processes payments or ships your product, and so on.
Eliminate paperwork. I used to deal with a lot of paperwork, and even then I knew it was a waste of my time. If businesses and organizations could have paperwork filled out electronically, it would save a lot of paper, copying, filing, and duplicate effort. Whenever possible, eliminate paperwork in favor of digital. This might be more of a long-term move.
Clear your desk. This can be done in a few minutes. Clear everything off the top of your desk. Only put back a few essential items. Everything else should be: filed, given to the appropriate person, given a permanent spot in a drawer, or trashed/recycled. Make quick decisions and then get back to work.
Get away. If you can get out of your office, you can find a peaceful spot where you can focus on important work. Find a spot where you can work, turn off the Internet and do your work, and then turn the Internet back on so you can email or upload it to the appropriate spot. Working from home is a good option here. The more you can do this (it might be once a week, or an hour a day, or half of every workday), the better.
Take breathing breaks. Every 15-20 minutes, get up from your desk, and take a breathing break. It could be simply walking around the office, saying hi to someone, or even better, getting outside to get some fresh air. Walk around, get your blood circulating, perhaps massage your neck and shoulders if you feel tension. Do some pushups if you want to get fitter. When you get back to work, remind yourself what you want to be working on, and clear away all distractions.
Practice a focus ritual. Every hour or two, do a refocus ritual. This only takes a minute or two. You might start it by closing down your browser and maybe other open applications, and maybe even take a walk for a couple of minutes to clear your head and get your blood circulating. Then return to your list of Most Important Tasks and figure out what you need to accomplish next. Before you check email again or go back online, work on that important task for as long as you can. Repeat this refocus ritual throughout the day, to bring yourself back. It’s also nice to take some nice deep breaths to focus yourself back on the present. More focus rituals.
Schedule big blocks of creative time. Not everyone can do this, but when possible, put a big block of 3-4 hours in your schedule for creating or doing other important work. Make this time inviolate, and don’t allow meetings or other things to be scheduled during this time. Be ruthless about clearing distractions and doing the work you love during these blocks, taking breathing breaks as necessary.
Hope you were able to get some good information on of Leo's blog post. Would love to hear your comments on this or any other post we have at SNEWoman.
Best,
Pat
13 small things to simplify your workday
Work simply and with focus.
“Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” ~Lao Tzu
Post written by Leo Babauta.
One of the best things I did when I decided to simplify my life was to simplify my workday — first at my day job and later, by quitting my day job, in the work I do now as a writer and entrepreneur.
I’ve eliminated most of the routine, boring, administrative tasks with a few simple principles.
These days, I have eliminated the non-essentials, and can focus on what I truly love: creating.
Not everyone can make such drastic steps toward simplicity, but if you have some control over your workday, you can do a few small things that will simplify things greatly.
If you don’t have control, or if you find yourself thinking, “I can’t do these things”, I’d start to ask why not? Is it possible to change things, if not today then over the long term? I found that often I thought something wasn’t possible (working from home, for example), but in the long run they were.
You don’t need to do all of these things — pick just one, and try it. Then try another and see if it works. Experiment to find what works for you.
And enjoy the simple work life.
Start early. Going into work early was one of my favorite tricks — it was quiet, before the phones and chatter and meetings started, and I could get a lot of work done in peace. By the time everyone else was getting started, I’d gotten two or three big tasks checked off.
Limit your hours. It’s ironic, because so many people work long hours and think they’re getting more done and being more productive. But they’re throwing brute hours at the problem. Instead, cut back on your hours and set a limit — say 6 or 7 hours a day — and get your most essential work done within that limit. If you know you’re only working 6 hours today, you’ll be sure to get the important tasks done first and waste less time. Limits force you to be effective.
Make a short list. Make a long list of all the tasks you need to do … then make a short list of 1-3 things you really want to get done. Choose so that, if you got only these tasks done, you’d be proud of what you did today. Start with the most important task, before checking email or reading online.
Batch distractions. What are your common distractions? Perhaps things like email, reading blogs, Twitter or another social network? Set a time for these, preferably later in the day: say, from 3-4 p.m. Don’t do the distractions before then. By grouping them all into one time period, you allow yourself to do other work first, but still get in your distraction time. Another approach might be to do them for 10 minutes at the end of each hour — but stick to that 10-minute limit!
Write shorter emails. If email takes up a lot of your day, the simple change of limiting yourself to 3-4 sentences per email will make a big difference. First, it’ll drastically shorten the time it takes to write or respond to emails. And second, it’ll shorten responses to your emails, which means you’ll spend less time reading email.
Limit meetings. The fewer the better. Some top Google executives just do 5-minute meetings — anyone who attends these meetings had better be prepared, and concise. If you can get out of meetings and just get the notes, or find an alternative way to communicate, it could save you hours per week.
Automate. The fewer repetitive and routine tasks you have to do, the more time you’ll free up for creating and important work. So automate wherever possible: have people fill things out electronically, or get info from your website instead of emailing or calling you, or use a service that automatically processes payments or ships your product, and so on.
Eliminate paperwork. I used to deal with a lot of paperwork, and even then I knew it was a waste of my time. If businesses and organizations could have paperwork filled out electronically, it would save a lot of paper, copying, filing, and duplicate effort. Whenever possible, eliminate paperwork in favor of digital. This might be more of a long-term move.
Clear your desk. This can be done in a few minutes. Clear everything off the top of your desk. Only put back a few essential items. Everything else should be: filed, given to the appropriate person, given a permanent spot in a drawer, or trashed/recycled. Make quick decisions and then get back to work.
Get away. If you can get out of your office, you can find a peaceful spot where you can focus on important work. Find a spot where you can work, turn off the Internet and do your work, and then turn the Internet back on so you can email or upload it to the appropriate spot. Working from home is a good option here. The more you can do this (it might be once a week, or an hour a day, or half of every workday), the better.
Take breathing breaks. Every 15-20 minutes, get up from your desk, and take a breathing break. It could be simply walking around the office, saying hi to someone, or even better, getting outside to get some fresh air. Walk around, get your blood circulating, perhaps massage your neck and shoulders if you feel tension. Do some pushups if you want to get fitter. When you get back to work, remind yourself what you want to be working on, and clear away all distractions.
Practice a focus ritual. Every hour or two, do a refocus ritual. This only takes a minute or two. You might start it by closing down your browser and maybe other open applications, and maybe even take a walk for a couple of minutes to clear your head and get your blood circulating. Then return to your list of Most Important Tasks and figure out what you need to accomplish next. Before you check email again or go back online, work on that important task for as long as you can. Repeat this refocus ritual throughout the day, to bring yourself back. It’s also nice to take some nice deep breaths to focus yourself back on the present. More focus rituals.
Schedule big blocks of creative time. Not everyone can do this, but when possible, put a big block of 3-4 hours in your schedule for creating or doing other important work. Make this time inviolate, and don’t allow meetings or other things to be scheduled during this time. Be ruthless about clearing distractions and doing the work you love during these blocks, taking breathing breaks as necessary.
Hope you were able to get some good information on of Leo's blog post. Would love to hear your comments on this or any other post we have at SNEWoman.
Best,
Pat
Monday, August 9, 2010
Believing in Your Own Abilities!
"There is no limit to what you can imagine. And with commitment, with effort, what you can imagine you can become. Put your mind to work for you. Believe that you can do it. The world will tell you that you can't. Yet, in your belief you'll find the strength, you'll find the ability, to do it anyway." Ralph Marston
If I listened to everyone who said that this was no time to start a print publication with the economy the way it is, I would have never proceeded with my passion to publish Southern New England Woman. The critics were everywhere. "Advertising money is down" they said. You won't be able to print a "high quality" magazine because "it's too expensive". How did they know that? Did they already try it themselves? Not to my knowledge...
In my opinion, it turned out to be the best time to start a publication. You have to believe that things are always going to get better and to leverage yourself in the best position possible for when they do, to me, was the key to making Southern New England Woman work. Being a "how" thinker gets alot more accomplished than being an "if" thinker. That and treating people with respect and a personal commitment to do your best.
I have been fortunate in a way that I am most grateful for my own persistence. I have created several long term businesses. A photographer and makeup artist for seventeen years having no official training or formal education in the industry. Pageant director, trade show and event producer for fifteen years, also with no official training or formal education in the industry and now publisher of this fabulous new magazine. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, what I
"am" trying to do is explain to people that it "can" be done. You can create your dream job if "you-yourself", have the will to do it.
It's exciting to take something, an idea, a thought, and build it. If I didn't believe in myself and go forward to pursue my dreams, where would I be? What would I be doing? The one question I asked myself in every case was "what's the worst thing that could happen if I did this". My answer was "as long as my family was safe and healthy, it would only cost me a life experience if it didn't work". To me that was a win - win!
I've learned alot by doing my own research and step by step learning every aspect of the industry from the ground up. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Don't be anxious to get things done quickly. Success takes time, effort and the fortitude to put your heart and soul into what you really want. When you rush to get things done fast, or just to get them "done", you prevent yourself the advantage of utimatelty accomplishing much greater things and missing out on the many life experiences creating something new has to offer.
I guess the point of this post is this...
I hear from many people on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, etc., who ask questions like, I have a business idea but I don't know if I should go forward. Not sure how to proceed with 'my" dream job. I lost my job and am looking to start my own business but I am not sure if I can.
Now, I certainly don't consider myself a professional business coach in any respect, however, if I could give one piece of advice that is as important as anything else, it would be this. Ask yourself, what "your" passion is, what can "you" do to learn everything you can about your industry of choice and... "what is the worst thing that could happen if you try"?
I love this quote: Real confidence comes from knowing and accepting yourself, your strengths and your limitations. I was once afraid of people saying, "Who does she think she is?" Now I have the courage to stand and say, "This is who I am."--Oprah Winfrey
If I listened to everyone who said that this was no time to start a print publication with the economy the way it is, I would have never proceeded with my passion to publish Southern New England Woman. The critics were everywhere. "Advertising money is down" they said. You won't be able to print a "high quality" magazine because "it's too expensive". How did they know that? Did they already try it themselves? Not to my knowledge...
In my opinion, it turned out to be the best time to start a publication. You have to believe that things are always going to get better and to leverage yourself in the best position possible for when they do, to me, was the key to making Southern New England Woman work. Being a "how" thinker gets alot more accomplished than being an "if" thinker. That and treating people with respect and a personal commitment to do your best.
I have been fortunate in a way that I am most grateful for my own persistence. I have created several long term businesses. A photographer and makeup artist for seventeen years having no official training or formal education in the industry. Pageant director, trade show and event producer for fifteen years, also with no official training or formal education in the industry and now publisher of this fabulous new magazine. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, what I
"am" trying to do is explain to people that it "can" be done. You can create your dream job if "you-yourself", have the will to do it.
It's exciting to take something, an idea, a thought, and build it. If I didn't believe in myself and go forward to pursue my dreams, where would I be? What would I be doing? The one question I asked myself in every case was "what's the worst thing that could happen if I did this". My answer was "as long as my family was safe and healthy, it would only cost me a life experience if it didn't work". To me that was a win - win!
I've learned alot by doing my own research and step by step learning every aspect of the industry from the ground up. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Don't be anxious to get things done quickly. Success takes time, effort and the fortitude to put your heart and soul into what you really want. When you rush to get things done fast, or just to get them "done", you prevent yourself the advantage of utimatelty accomplishing much greater things and missing out on the many life experiences creating something new has to offer.
I guess the point of this post is this...
I hear from many people on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, etc., who ask questions like, I have a business idea but I don't know if I should go forward. Not sure how to proceed with 'my" dream job. I lost my job and am looking to start my own business but I am not sure if I can.
Now, I certainly don't consider myself a professional business coach in any respect, however, if I could give one piece of advice that is as important as anything else, it would be this. Ask yourself, what "your" passion is, what can "you" do to learn everything you can about your industry of choice and... "what is the worst thing that could happen if you try"?
I love this quote: Real confidence comes from knowing and accepting yourself, your strengths and your limitations. I was once afraid of people saying, "Who does she think she is?" Now I have the courage to stand and say, "This is who I am."--Oprah Winfrey
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Getting Ready to Roll...
It's been a crazy, warm and busy summer for everyone, including me...and it's time to settle down and get back to the nitty gritty... I'll begin by updating you on what exciting things are going on at SNEWoman and it's Signature Event Series:
The next (GORGEOUS) issue of SNEWoman will be the September-December issue. Such an exciting time with tons of great things going on and the best time to promote products and services for fall, back to school, holiday events, holiday shopping and gift certificates sales, new year resolution programs, the beginning of the 2011 bridal season and so much more. Proudly, the new issue is bigger and the editorial content spectacular! For those of you who are interested in advertising, you can be in SNEWoman for about $100 a month. 20,000 copies and a 3.4 readership means approximately 70,000 readers looking at your ad every issue. We are all still excited that the Premiere Issue continues to receive such positive feedback from other media outlets, readers and advertisers and we can't thank you enough. Recently, SNEWoman had some great press in the Warwick Beacon, Cranston Herald and Johnston Sunrise. Here is the link if you would like to check it out: http://www.cranstononline.com/view/full_story/7902698/article-Women-take-center-stage-in-Paolino-Cruz-publication?sms_ss=facebook
Here is something fun! Check out our 2011 Calendar Contest!
We are looking for some great photos of women (all ages) taken in Southern New England during any of the four seasons. Photos may have one woman in the picture or up to three. Professional and amateur photos accepted and the deadline for entries is August 20th. We would love for you to be part of our Celebration of Women and hope that you enter one of your own beautiful photos, we know you have them... 14 photos will to chosen (12 months, front and back covers) to make up the 2011 full color high gloss calendar. Rules:
.Submitted photos must be full color, may be taken anytime throughout the year (all months available), photos may be up to five years old.
.Photos should include at least one but no more than three women of any age with some regional background visible.
.Non-professional and professional photos are eligible.
.Submitted photos must include; location of shoot, name of woman/model, name of photographer, complete contact information for both.
.Competition fee $10 fee per photo to help defray cost of quality printing submitted at the time of entry.
.Photos must be submitted no later than August 20th. (hard copy photos will not be returned)
.Winners will be notified at which time high resolution 300dpi images will need to be emailed to our graphic designer.
.JPEGS emailed to expoproductions@aol.com with payment via paypal to info@snewoman.com
or Hard copy photos mailed with $10 fee to SNEWoman, P.O. Box 8331, Warwick, RI 02888.
Get Ready!!! October 3rd is Fall Women's Expo @ Twin River. We are currently lining up seminar presenters and fashion show designers and boutiques. Presentations are 20 minutes. If you are interested in being involved with one of the fashion shows, becoming a presenter or an exhibitor you can email expoproductions@aol.com for more information. Want to attend and see what fun things went on at the Spring Expo? VISIT http://www.southernnewenglandwomensexpo.com/
The next Singles Networking event is scheduled: COCKTAILS AND CONVERSATION (ages 35 and up) will be held Tuesday, September 21, 5:30-7:30pm at Twin Oaks Restaurant, Cranston, RI. We would love to have you come out and join us for a fabulous singles networking event where you can meet some great people in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Enjoy appetizers, great conversation and cash bar. (Free Parking) Limited Tickets Available-Advanced Registration Required http://twinoakssinglesnetworking.eventbrite.com/
Running in Heels Business Networking will be held at the beginning of October. As soon as the details are finalized we will be sure to let you know.
You can always find up to date information regarding SNEWoman Magazine and it's Signature Event Series by following us on Facebook and Twitter.
I am going to leave you with one of my favorite FB posts from the last few weeks. For me this has related to all parts of my life and I hope that it does the same for you.
"Let your heart lead you. It whispers, so listen very carefully."
The next (GORGEOUS) issue of SNEWoman will be the September-December issue. Such an exciting time with tons of great things going on and the best time to promote products and services for fall, back to school, holiday events, holiday shopping and gift certificates sales, new year resolution programs, the beginning of the 2011 bridal season and so much more. Proudly, the new issue is bigger and the editorial content spectacular! For those of you who are interested in advertising, you can be in SNEWoman for about $100 a month. 20,000 copies and a 3.4 readership means approximately 70,000 readers looking at your ad every issue. We are all still excited that the Premiere Issue continues to receive such positive feedback from other media outlets, readers and advertisers and we can't thank you enough. Recently, SNEWoman had some great press in the Warwick Beacon, Cranston Herald and Johnston Sunrise. Here is the link if you would like to check it out: http://www.cranstononline.com/view/full_story/7902698/article-Women-take-center-stage-in-Paolino-Cruz-publication?sms_ss=facebook
Here is something fun! Check out our 2011 Calendar Contest!
We are looking for some great photos of women (all ages) taken in Southern New England during any of the four seasons. Photos may have one woman in the picture or up to three. Professional and amateur photos accepted and the deadline for entries is August 20th. We would love for you to be part of our Celebration of Women and hope that you enter one of your own beautiful photos, we know you have them... 14 photos will to chosen (12 months, front and back covers) to make up the 2011 full color high gloss calendar. Rules:
.Submitted photos must be full color, may be taken anytime throughout the year (all months available), photos may be up to five years old.
.Photos should include at least one but no more than three women of any age with some regional background visible.
.Non-professional and professional photos are eligible.
.Submitted photos must include; location of shoot, name of woman/model, name of photographer, complete contact information for both.
.Competition fee $10 fee per photo to help defray cost of quality printing submitted at the time of entry.
.Photos must be submitted no later than August 20th. (hard copy photos will not be returned)
.Winners will be notified at which time high resolution 300dpi images will need to be emailed to our graphic designer.
.JPEGS emailed to expoproductions@aol.com with payment via paypal to info@snewoman.com
or Hard copy photos mailed with $10 fee to SNEWoman, P.O. Box 8331, Warwick, RI 02888.
Get Ready!!! October 3rd is Fall Women's Expo @ Twin River. We are currently lining up seminar presenters and fashion show designers and boutiques. Presentations are 20 minutes. If you are interested in being involved with one of the fashion shows, becoming a presenter or an exhibitor you can email expoproductions@aol.com for more information. Want to attend and see what fun things went on at the Spring Expo? VISIT http://www.southernnewenglandwomensexpo.com/
The next Singles Networking event is scheduled: COCKTAILS AND CONVERSATION (ages 35 and up) will be held Tuesday, September 21, 5:30-7:30pm at Twin Oaks Restaurant, Cranston, RI. We would love to have you come out and join us for a fabulous singles networking event where you can meet some great people in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Enjoy appetizers, great conversation and cash bar. (Free Parking) Limited Tickets Available-Advanced Registration Required http://twinoakssinglesnetworking.eventbrite.com/
Running in Heels Business Networking will be held at the beginning of October. As soon as the details are finalized we will be sure to let you know.
You can always find up to date information regarding SNEWoman Magazine and it's Signature Event Series by following us on Facebook and Twitter.
I am going to leave you with one of my favorite FB posts from the last few weeks. For me this has related to all parts of my life and I hope that it does the same for you.
"Let your heart lead you. It whispers, so listen very carefully."
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