Top 5 - Money saving apps 2017

Top 5 - Money saving apps 2017 by Amber Rolfe Unfortunately, money doesn’t grow on trees… But if you have the right apps, it could grow on your phone (OK, not literally â€" but you get the idea). Whether you’re saving for a holiday, a house, or you just want to put aside a little extra to help cover yourself later in the year (see: Christmas) â€" taking control of your money could make all the difference when it comes to hitting your goals.We’ve already covered money saving tips for 2017, but here are five of the best money saving apps for 2017:QuidcoQuidco works by giving you cashback on every transaction you make, acting as a middle man between you and over 4,500 retailers.In other words, you earn money by spending money. And yes, you read that right.It could be on anything from your weekly supermarket shop or family holiday, to a new car or broadband subscription â€" with the amount you get back usually depending on what deal is available, and how much you spend.You can then withdraw whatever yo u’ve earnt with one easy tap â€" either to your bank or PayPal account.The best part? Some retailers will give you cashback just by entering the store. And let’s face it, you can’t argue with a 20p reward just for visiting a Halfords.Cost: Free. Perfect for: People who need to justify their spending.  SquirrelAlways have more month left than money? Squirrel is here to help.Squirrel works by limiting the amount you can spend, depositing funds into your accounts only when you need them. Simply enter your salary, bank details, and a budget that suits you â€" and Squirrel will pay you your chosen amount in weekly or monthly instalments.Not only does this ensure you don’t accidentally spend the money you need for necessities, it also means you can save for something long term with minimal effort â€" and resist the urge to dip into your money just because it’s there.In fact, it takes one working day for withdrawals to arrive, so impulse buys are basically off the table.And with the money you don’t yet need being deducted as soon as you get paid, you won’t even notice it’s gone (or forget to save it in the first place).Cost: Free for 3 months, then £3.99 per month.Perfect for: People who don’t have self-discipline (but can buy it).  VoucherCodesThe VoucherCodes app is a hub for all of the best vouchers, discounts, deals, and savings.By browsing their range of brands, categories, and locations, you could save on anything from fashion and accessories through to hotels and day trips. And, with deals from over 5,500 leading stores, restaurants, and attractions, it’s bound to have some savings out there to suit you.VoucherCodes is especially good for foodies, as it has the biggest collection of restaurant vouchers of any app on the market enabling you to make the most of 2 for 1 deals and 50% off discounts at all your favourite places.Not only does the app allow you to browse and favourite the best deals to use whenever you’re ready, it also offers a ‘nearby’ feature â€" that notifies you when you’re in close proximity to a great deal.Whoever said saving had to be hard work?Cost: Free.Perfect for: People who want to save without sacrifices.  PriceSpyLet’s face it, buying something then realising you could’ve got it cheaper elsewhere is basically the shopping equivalent of a slap in the face.Of course, you could shop around for the best deal before you make your purchase, but who has the time for that? Especially if what you’re looking at buying has limited availability.To save you the hassle, PriceSpy compares prices from thousands of retailers â€" all at the touch of a button.Features include real-time search, voice search, and integrated barcode scanning, as well as the option to receive push notifications whenever prices change.So whether you’re shopping online or in-store, this app will ensure you always get what you want for the best price.Cost: Free.Perfect for: People who put convenience first.  ToshlIf y ou’re prone to impromptu spending sprees, late bill payments, and a shocked reaction whenever you pluck up the courage to check your bank account â€" this is the app for you.Toshl helps you monitor, track, and budget your money â€" notifying you when payments are due, where you can save, and how much you’re spending each month.By compiling and categorising your spending, you’ll be able to see exactly where your money’s going, making it quick and easy to plan for the future â€" not to mention curb any unnecessary outgoings (e.g. that daily coffee you probably don’t always need).And with an engaging user interface (e.g. pie charts, bubble graphs, other cool technical-type things), this app is a great choice for people who are put off by traditional saving methods.Cost: Free (or £1.99 per month for Toshl Pro).Perfect for: People who have no idea where their money goes.  Honourable mentions: Love The Sales, Hotel Tonight, You Need a Budget, Monzo, Skyscanner Flights, Tastecar d, Meter Readings.  Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Money saving tips

Learn How to Write a Letter T Template

Learn How to Write a Letter T TemplateWhen you decide to start an Internet business, the first thing you want to do is determine what kind of letter T template will be used to promote your business. You want to know how to write a letter T template that will attract potential customers. After all, you want to make sure you get them as much information as possible about your business before they decide to get involved.Let's start with the basics and go from there. The most important step to learning how to write a letter T template is knowing what type of letter you want to write. You must have a topic of your own choice.Next, the first rule of how to write a letter T template is to write about things that matter to you. You can write about anything you choose. This is the basis for everything else and it is best to write about a particular topic that is very personal.When you write about something that you care about, you will find that your letter T template will have more people in terested in reading it. They will connect with your letter T template on many different levels. The reason why it is so important to write about something that is important to you is because it will get their attention. They will also understand what they are going to be reading.When you write about something that is fun, you will find that your letter T template will be more likely to keep their interest. They will relate to you on an emotional level. Once they connect with you on this level, they will be willing to work hard for your business.Finally, a good letter T template should offer something for everyone. This means that it should have a mixture of humor, entertainment, and information. It should not only offer something for the youth, but it should offer something for the middle aged, and it should offer something for the senior citizen.Remember, when you are writing a letter T template, you want it to appeal to people who are getting ready to retire. They need to be remin ded of their past. Their memory is short, so they need a reminder, and they need to remember the good old days.This is the foundation for what you need to learn in order to start writing a letter T template. You want to keep the reader interested, so you must keep it short, but be creative. You must have fun in your letter T template because this is what people remember.

16 Entrepreneurs Share Their Personal Branding Idols - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

16 Entrepreneurs Share Their Personal Branding Idols - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career What public figure is your  personal  branding  idol, and what about their  branding  strategy inspires you the most? These answers are provided by  Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the worlds most promising young entrepreneurs. YEC has also launched  BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. 1. Richard Branson Richard Branson is one of my  personal  branding  icons. From Virgin Records to Virgin Atlantic, he’s built a strong brand and following through interesting storytelling, innovative initiatives, and world-class design.  Arry Yu,  StormX 2. Marcus Lemonis The more I watch him, the more Marcus Lemonis has climbed my list of favorite entrepreneurs and  branding  experts. His  branding  strategy always involves the people who have started the business and staying true to the original concept the business was founded on. The best part about the way he approaches the reshaping/rebranding of the businesses he invests in is how he cares about his partners along with how he wants both employee and employer to be in a win/win situation. Just because hes a highly successful entrepreneur, it doesnt mean hes abandoned his humility. In fact, his humility and honesty are his most valuable assets. As a business owner, seeing someone with that kind of business portfolio and net worth treating other people with such respect is very inspiring.  Jared Ross Weitz,  United Capital Source Inc. 3. Cody Wilson This is going to be a controversial pick, but Cody Wilson is one of the people I see as a  branding  genius. Hes the founder of Defense Distributed, a nonprofit organization centered around firearm production and distribution. Theyre so controversial because of their products centered around 3D-printing guns, which has placed them at the forefront of the American gun control debate. Wilson has managed to turn a concept as terrifying as creating unlicensed garage guns into a sleek and modern business serving as a reflection of the IoT paradigm. Hes successfully sold his company as a bulwark for the second amendment and weathered some of the most intense press scrutiny unscathed. His brand is an example of how to be controversial and successful.  Bryce Welker,  Crush The PM Exam 4. Elon Musk Elon Musk is on top of his game when it comes to  branding. He strategically posts about current events on Twitter, sharing both the good and the bad, and still manages to keep an unbiased opinion. He stays true to his own beliefs and consistently puts out the same message across everything that he does. His entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to change the world through tech inspire me and so many others across the world.  Samuel Thimothy,  OneIMS Integrated Marketing Solutions 5. Barbara Corcoran Barbara Corcoran sold her business in 2001 and hasnt had a specific business venture since. Yet, somehow, she has been able to stay relevant by building her  personal  brand. From  Shark Tank  to  Dancing with the Stars, she finds ways to make herself stay relevant. Rather than building a new business, she monetizes her brand with media engagements and inbound business investment opportunities.  Fan Bi,  Menswear Reviewed 6. Darren Rowse I admire the community that Darren Rowse has managed to create around his ProBlogger brand. His website is full of great advice for bloggers and his Facebook group is very active with writers helping each other out. Hes been able to successfully turn his brand into a fully engaged community which is hard to do.  Syed Balkhi,  WPBeginner 7. Tony Hsieh I love how Tony has leveraged his  personal  beliefs to build his companys reputation. He is known as the architect who builds strong company cultures that deliver great customer experiences. I believe that in the long term the companies that operate with honesty and transparency will be those that flourish. He has created both a  personal  and company brand that is often referenced as the quintessential customer-centric model. Customers want to do business with him and his company is a sought-after place to work.    Brian Greenberg,  Life Insurance Quotes 8. Marie Forleo Marie has done an incredible job  branding  herself, her most notable program B-School and her overall business. Every external brand touch point is consistent. The topics and advice she discusses on MarieTV resonate with just about any entrepreneur. The real deal, Marie is one of the few marketing experts that has been able to reach millions and teach thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs how to plan, launch and grow successful businesses.  Kristin Kimberly Marquet,  Creative Development Agency, LLC 9. Neil Patel Neil Patel has created a great  personal  brand for himself. He has a well-optimized website, strong social media presence, a podcast and most recently has shifted over to video. I like that his brand is about experimenting with different marketing techniques and he then spills his secrets as to what worked for him and what didnt work so well. Learning from him has saved me time and money by implementing processes right the first time.  Jared Atchison,  WPForms . Gary Vaynerchuk Ive actually had the opportunity to meet Gary at his office in Hudson Yards. The eeriest thing was the conversation felt oddly normal because I had watched literally every video available on his YouTube well before ever meeting him. It was like we had been having the conversation every week for years. I start with that because of what he has helped me most with â€" authenticity. He is the exact same person you see plastered on social when you see him in person, very thankful and genuine. He has also helped me to learn to give without the expectation of anything in return. Those two things have helped me learn to be a better version of myself.  Frank B. Mengert,  ebenefit Marketplace (ebm) 11. Grant Cardone   Grant Cardones content is always on. From social to podcasts to events and everything in between, he really is an inspiration. Love him or hate him, he has mastered his own authenticity and has been able to create a massive following and move his audience to action. In a climate of conformity, he has securely gone against conventional wisdom on delivery and public relations, and this mastery of content has secured him solid conversion rates for his products, books, and brand.  Matthew Capala,  Alphametic 12. Gabby Bernstein Gabby Bernstein is my  personal  branding  idol because she has uplifting content that is authentic and real. She is consistent with her videos, email newsletter, and social media presence. I have followed her for about six years, and she has always adapted to whatever the new virtual platforms are and she has dominated them. Her brand is consistent and clean yet has allowed her space to grow, mature and change as a woman and teacher in ways that are easily communicated with her audience.  Ally Lozano,  Ally Lozano LLC 13. Tony Robbins Tony Robbins has built an empire helping others become the best versions of themselves. Hes an inspiring teacher and mentor to those who may not otherwise have a good role model or mentor in their lives. Tonys communication skills are phenomenal. Hes able to talk to a room of people but connect to people individually. He can relate to a lot of different people which I think is one of the main reasons people like to listen to him speak and take  his advice to heart.  Chris Christoff,  MonsterInsights 14. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson With around 12.8 million followers on Twitter, Dwayne’s messages tend to speak mostly of hard work, love and making the most of one’s life. I feel his overall appreciation for life that shines through his posts works brilliantly in building a brand based on his core beliefs. His posts come with an element of charisma and intimacy. It appears that he’s tailored his page to suit the needs of his fans, often highlighting people with whom he has memorable encounters. This has more than the desired effect in breathing life into his brand because the appreciation he showers on others is always well-received. The inspirational stories he shares help build the emotional connection. Besides, his consistency, with around three to five tweets every day, tells his fans that he’s always around.  Derek Robinson,  Top Notch Dezigns 15. Sara Blakely Sarah Blakely has always been a  personal  idol, both when it comes to her business acumen and her  personal  branding. Even though she is now a billionaire, she frequently discusses her humble beginnings, discussing how she gave everything she had into starting Spanx. These stories are not glamorous, and are incongruent with her current status, yet she keeps telling them. This consistent message of determination against the odds positions her as a relatable leader and makes her an immediate inspiration for young entrepreneurs. As a woman, she knew the potential for her product, and she used her  personal  experience to find a consumer insight that changed the industry. Her  personal  branding  is all about being herself and empowering others.  Kate Edwards,  Heartbeat 16. Jay Shetty   I have seen how Jay Shetty has built his brand around Wisdom Goes Viral from the get-go and there are so many motivational people who are similar to who he is and does what he does. To stand out among his peers, he created video content that touched peoples feelings. Ive watched him grow his brand from the ground up and I can see how he has generated such a loyal fanbase through his small snacks of wisdom. Everyone can use a little wisdom now and then, even though it may feel like common sense. He has touched people in ways that are making the world a better place, a single individual at a time. He provides a great model and platform for me to then build my brand with my domain expertise. I havent been as successful as he has, but I know what is possible as well.  Sweta Patel,  Silicon Valley Startup Marketing

5 Strategies to Cultivate a Culture of Continuous Improvement - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

5 Strategies to Cultivate a Culture of Continuous Improvement - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Many business leaders and entrepreneurs hold strict ideas of what success means to them and how to cultivate it, but you wouldn’t get there without people to create value as a collective in motion. All companies cultivate a work culture, whether they intend to or not. When conscious intention plays into a vision for interconnection, much more can be achieved beyond the standard expectation of showing up and doing your part. What culture does your company need? What will make your staff thrive? Growth is vital to success, and an impactful and positive work culture is born from the collaborative effort of professionals who continually strive to learn and develop. Here are five ways to create a culture of continuous improvement. Reduce the Red Tape Corporate red tape holds employees back if the company is bound and determined to remain set in its ways, which also obstructs and hinders growth for the employer. Red tape binds the mouths of talented professionals who see opportunities for improvement in processes and policies and may present revolutionary ideas to leadership, if they would only listen. Your employees are your front line, and if the front line falls, the rest of the company may soon follow. Take into account the viewpoints and feedback of employees as new to a position as two weeks and as old as 20 years. For example, Google’s 20 percent time plan enables employees to spend 20 percent of their day developing ideas, which gave the public AdSense and Gmail. Use creative human capital to capitalize on your company’s innovative potential. Where is the bulk of your red tape, and how does it hold employees back? Can paperwork go digital, and can there be less of it? Do employees need more time during the day to attend to the fine details? Do they want opportunities for learning on the job? Get their input and reduce the red tape to maximize the potential for continuous improvement. Curate Mentoring Opportunities You don’t have to hire a coach or consultant to come in and motivate your staff. Opportunities for continuous learning and improvement are present in the office right now. Open up the interconnectivity of departments and curate special mentoring opportunities. Allow senior employees to give back to new employees and help them develop new skills to grow within the company. Giving back and sharing wisdom gained over the years makes employees feel good. The flow of positivity will spread and inspire a continuous learning environment, while developing a strong and productive work culture. Among Fortune 500 businesses, 71 percent of companies provide mentoring opportunities to their employees because they know they will see results. Conduct Regular Reviews Annual reviews are a tradition upheld as a corporate standard of personnel measurement, but the approach is outdated. Employees desire positive reinforcement and constructive thoughts on improvement now. About 60 percent of personnel desire frequent feedback, on a monthly, weekly and daily basis, and for staff under 30, that number rises to 72 percent. More than 75 percent of employees consider feedback intrinsic to success, and 45 percent want to hear feedback from their clients and peers. Unfortunately, only 30 percent receive this type of feedback. That includes negative feedback. When feedback is delivered appropriately and constructively, 92 percent of employees agree that this open level of communication from leaders to staff improves performance and ensures success. Employees want to know where they stand with intermediate, considerate and direct interaction. Those performance reviews you dread every year don’t have to happen. Create a positive and continuous improvement work culture by conducting regular reviews. Stress Incremental Improvement Value Businesses and employees thrive when they’re not stressed out about meeting unrealistic deadlines and rushing to complete quotas. Stress the value of incremental improvement among your staff members. Set an achievable number, such as a 5 to 10 percent increase in sales or customer satisfaction for employees to achieve. Even if an employee reaches a 2 percent improvement, that’s something to celebrate. Goals are meant to evolve and are professional signposts guiding staff to success. Each small improvement adds value, especially when setting SMART goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-sensitive. Make sure goals are detailed with all ins and outs considered. Can the goal be tracked, and why does it matter? Is it the right time? When you set SMART goals, all signposts are clear and actionable. Get Updated on ISO New requirements for ISO 9001:2015 now include a systematic human resources approach with principles weighed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as intrinsic to successful quality management. This provides an opportunity for companies to add value to their work culture through the new requirements, which include 20,000 new standards increased to 20 pages from 14 in the previous compliance content. Certification assists companies with increased customer satisfaction levels, boosted business efficiency, better quality products and processes, and lowered unnecessary costs. Companies have until September 2018 to achieve certification. The specifics of the guidelines encourage leadership to take active involvement in creating quality products and developing strong relationship management skills. One of the principles includes building continuous improvement into a company’s organizational ecosystem and culture. How does your company’s environment promote this principle? The standards point to one-on-one relationships with customers as a key to increased quality improvement and business success. Companies today face shifting technological growth and information flow as competition only grows in the global marketplace. Productivity is stressed, but at what cost? Don’t let employees burn out. Instead, create a culture of continuous improvement to stay ahead of the game and keep growing. Don’t rest on your laurels â€" rise above them. Even the smallest of improvements can provide doors to major evolution and future success.

How to Write a CV

How to Write a CVThe process of writing a CV for a job search is not an easy one but it is certainly not as complicated as one might think. All you have to do is learn the right way to write an impressive resume and this also helps you to define your own CV format. The process of writing a CV is actually quite simple but it must be done in a proper way so that it catches the attention of the employer.First of all, you should determine what types of skills you can use in order to define your CV in a good manner. It is important to identify the skills that you possess that will make you suitable for the position that you are applying for.Once you know what sort of skills you possess then it is very easy to understand what your CV is all about. All you have to do is to put in the appropriate keywords in your resume that would help the employer to identify your skills. The CV that you write must be all about the skills that you possess and the way you present your skills.The first thing that you should put in your CV is your contact details. This includes your name, your email address, your mobile number etc. This helps the employer to contact you easily and it is important to include your name, your contact details so that your CV gets noticed by the employer.Next, you should provide the skills that you have acquired. If you have expertise in any area then do not hesitate to mention it and do not forget to indicate the major areas that you have expertise in.The next step in writing a CV is to define your skills in a proper manner. This requires you to first define your skills. You should define your skills in a way that it catches the attention of the employer.When writing a CV, you should ensure that your CV defines your skills in a proper manner. If you do not do this then the employer will never be able to get any idea about the skills that you have so that it is very important to put your skills in a proper manner.The next step in defining your CV is to make t he employers aware of your skills and qualifications. This means that you should always add a short paragraph to your CV about the skills that you have and the qualifications that you possess. There are certain skills that you can also include in this paragraph that will make your CV more attractive and enticing.

Most Employable Cities in America [Infographic]

Most Employable Cities in America [Infographic] Photo credit: StuSeeger via Foter.com / CC BY Youre in a dead-end job.  Or youve been recently laid off.  Or youve been pounding the pavement looking for your next job and it just seems like theres nothing there.  The job market is dead.  And your prospects are weakening by the day. Should you consider another area?  Should you consider a move to a better job market? I was once in that situation.  The cost of living in California was suffocating.  And the opportunities werent there as I had wrapped up a long project with no new ones on the horizon. And then a friend asked me if I was interested in a job he was hiring for in Ohio. Id never been there before, having grown up in California, and never considered leaving.  But I took on the opportunity, drove across the country, and got the job. Now I know it isnt easy to pull up your roots, move away from family and friends, and start a new life somewhere else.  But it can often turn into a wonderful adventure.  An opportunity of a lifetime.  A chance to build new skills and develop new relationships often ones that youll use the rest of your career. So if youre in the situation where looking outside a 50 mile radius of your current home is something youre open to, which cities should you check out?  And which should you avoid? In many cities across America, we hear about how hard it is to get a job but in other cities, it couldn’t be further from the truth. This infographic from Hansen Company takes you through what you need to know about the cities where it’s the easiest to find work in the United States. Texas features heavily so for people who live near there, it may be worth checking out if there are jobs in your industry in Plano, Irving, and Austin. Of course, there are also cities who struggle to provide enough jobs for their citizens and unfortunately there are a fair few cities with high unemployment in California. When you’re looking for jobs be sure to think about some of the places in the infographic. Find out more now!

Why Your Resume Format Matters and Doesnt - Pathfinder

Why Your Resume Format Matters… and Doesn’t - Pathfinder Your Resume Format Matters… and Doesn’t As a writer, I get a lot of questions about resume format. The advent of so many awesome career-related portfolio sites and easy-to-use graphic design tools has sparked an explosion of digitally interesting resumes and digital portfolios. Personally, I find these fascinating, simply because as humans, we are visual creatures and anything that is attention-getting helps candidates stand out from the crowd. And that is one of the main purposes of having a resume â€" to market oneself. Unconventional designs,  info graphics   charts, and illustrations are all great. Heck, there was even one person who put their resume on a candy bar recently, which attracted a lot of viral attention online. Another guy created an online career portfolio website that looked like an Amazon.com page which got a lot of “oohs” and “aahs” from appreciative audiences. While all these flashy and trendy tactics definitely serve a purpose (in what is otherwise a boring document that is likely to make any human resource person’s eyes roll up into the top of their head), the format also doesn’t matter. What really grabs ‘em where it matters is the content, not the pictures. Given a choice, human resource managers, hiring heads, recruiters, and headhunters would opt, hands down, to pick a resume that actually has meaningful, meaty content versus pretty pictures. While the format can be the attention-getting ploy, your resume ultimately needs to boil down to substance. The last thing you want to do is become link bait: Attract the fish with enticing bait, and once they bite, they realize that what was being offered was a deception of what they ended up biting down upon. No one likes surprises. Especially when they are disappointing ones where what they thought they were getting was something totally different than what was advertised. In some ways, the more cynical side of the human resource equation might have a different take altogether: What are you hiding? Why all the fireworks â€" is it sort of like the “Wizard of Oz” where the audience entering the presence of the Great and Powerful Oz are warned to pay no attention to the man behind the curtain? The last thing you want to come across as being is all smoke and mirrors. So while having an amazing, attention-getting format to a resume can help get you in front of people, what makes you get offered an interview is how you deliver on results. What things have you achieved with present and previous employers that are meaningful and relevant towards the position for which you are applying? Smart career managers know that being a “flash in the pan” with an interesting-looking resume can snag some interviews, but they also know that ultimately, their career success depends on how they communicate what they can deliver. (image credit:  By bpsusf (http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfbps/4607149870/) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0) or CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)