HOW TO MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR HOBBY

HOW TO MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR HOBBY

Millions of people all over the world collect stamps as a hobby,

and the number is growing every day.

It is indeed an exciting and rewarding hobby, and it can also be

extremely profitable.

The price of stamps vary with supply and demand due to the number

of collectors increasing. The price of stamps is steadily rising,

as the supply of stamps diminishes and more people want to

acquire them.

Most people start a collection for the pleasure and education

just like any other hobby, but this hobby offers a financial

reward as well, as collections experience a steady increase over

the years.

It is possible to start your own business if you are experienced,

and already have a good size collection. For information about

becoming a dealer, write to the

American Stamp Dealer's Association

147 W 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

HOW TO START:

Some people very early in life collect stamps, it often begins as

a gift of a small package of stamps given to a child, and the

child becomes a collector for life. As the collection grows, some

tools become essential:

* Stamp album

* Hinges

* Magnifying glass and tongs

They can be obtained from a stationary store or your local stamp

dealer.

You can find albums at any price, starting from about $5.00 to

the most expensive one at about $200.00.

Stamps Should always be handled carefully, because the condition

is a very important factor to determine the price of resale

value.

The various grades of stamps are: mint, very fine, fine, good and

poor.

Specimen in outstanding condition often sell at many times their

catalog value, which is the reason not to mishandle any stamp,

which could drastically reduce their value.

If you want to know if you have valuable stamps in your

collection and are really serious about persuing this hobby, you

can buy the Scot's Standard Postage Stamp catalog which lists

every stamp in the world. This is a three volume encyclopedia and

is the complete reference. You can also consult it at your local

library if you don't want to go into the expense for the time

being.

To start your collection, ask everybody you know to save you

stamps they get from different countries, also go through old

letters and small boxes hidden in your attic, chances are that

you will be surprised to see how much you can find. Other cheap

sources of supply are flea markets and garage sales. Start

swapping when you have doubles. There are many philatelic clubs

all over the country and it would be very advisable for a serious

collector to belong to one. This way you will become educated in

this field and learn everything you can before you spend money on

your collection. Stamp clubs also provide their members with

possibilities to exchange and sell your stamps.

You should also read as much as you can about stamps by

subscribing to a philatelic magazine.

WHERE TO SELL YOUR STAMPS:

Stamps are like any other commodity, you can always go to a

dealer who will offer you the current wholesale value of your

stamps, but you can do much better by selling to other stamp

collectors by advertising in magazines and newspapers specialized

in stamp collecting.

Check several current issues of those magazines, it will enable

you to compare the ads with what you have to offer.

If you want to buy stamps as an investment, try to buy few

moderately expensive stamps a year. Always buy quality instead of

quantity, and diversify, do not invest heavily in a single area.

It is our opinion that stamp collecting is one of the best

ways--and safest--to keep up with inflation.

Five Easy Steps to Staying Motivated

Five Easy Steps to Staying Motivated

Motivating yourself to excel at your job or to be an example to your employees, should not be something you do only when the spirit moves you. It’s an ongoing process that should include every facet of your business life. This means your mental attitude, physical well-being and appearance, work atmosphere, your interaction with others (clients and employees alike), and your off-the-job environment.

Motivational experts get paid big bucks to tell professionals, striving for success, that they must constantly examine these factors. How do you do that? Follow the 5 tips that follow, and watch the changes.

1. Maintain a Positive Attitude – Let’s realize that life is only 10% of what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. We’re responsible for our own actions and attitudes, and changing them when appropriate. When you’re around people/things that are uplifting and positive, you feel that way. You have more confidence in yourself, and know you can change whatever needs changing. If you can make your workplace such a place you’ll find happier workers and higher production. You might even find your employees look forward to coming to work!

2. Leave Personal Troubles Home - Everyone has problems, but they don’t belong at work. Turn your attention and energy entirely to your on-the-job tasks. This will actually be good for you because you’ll get a mental break from your troubles.
3. Create Positive Affirmations - The reason for writing goals for your business is the same as creating positive affirmations on paper. What your eyes see and ears hear, your mind will believe. Try it! After you’ve written them down, read them aloud to yourself – and do it every morning when you get into work. You’ll be amazed at what happens. Come up with a set of new ones every month. Statements such as, “I’m an important and valuable person,” or “I know I’ll make good use of my time today.” Repeating them out loud everyday at a set time will help reinforce positive actions.

4. Make Sure Break Times Are Really Break Times - This is an area where most bosses/entrepreneurs fall down. You become so intense about the project or situation you’re working on that you don’t ease up. Thinking that it’ll be solved in the next few seconds, and then you’ll get a cup of coffee can lead you right up to quitting time. Regularly adhering to a specified break schedule, even if you’re the boss, releases the tension. If you work on a computer this is even a greater problem because before you realize it – you’ve been working in that same position for hours. The best answer to this is to set yourself a reminder on your appointment calendar for every 2 hours, and let the computer reminder chime send you the alert to move around.

5. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise - I know that lately it seems that “exercise” is the cure-all to every physical ailment or your love life, but despite that there is some truth to that ugly word. By “exercise” I don’t mean that you should go out and join a gym and spend your lunch-time, 3-days-a-week there working out. What is really beneficial and workable is that at those chiming alerts from your computer, get up and walk around your desk or room. Maybe go outside and get the mail and enjoy the sunlight (if you’re an entrepreneur that has a home office), or just get up and do a few stretches. Concentrated, tense thinking – typing - plotting plans - or whatever your work, makes all those muscles tighten up and knot up. Then when we move we “ooh” and “ouch” because we’ve knotted up into a ball of tension. Periodic stretching, even at our desk, or just getting up and walking over to the window and getting a different view can help. One of the greatest disservice modern business décor has done to us, is making our offices pristine, sleek, unencumbered spaces. There is nothing more relaxing than getting up from your desk and walking over to a peaceful, serene, seascape or pastoral painting and just drinking it in visually. Momentarily transporting your mind out of work and into that place does wonders. A few good paintings and less shiny chrome in offices would benefit us all.

It only takes a little concentrated effort on our part to keep motivated and productive, which leads to success. I know you’re going to hate hearing this, but it’s true anyway – and that is, “WHEN LIFE GIVES YOUR LEMONS – MAKE LEMONADE!”

Tips on How to Teach Your Kids to Save Money

Tips on How to Teach Your Kids to Save Money

A lot of teens nowadays do not understand the value of earning and spending money. They were not oriented that investing is necessary even if they are still students. As parents, you play a crucial role in this area.

You should be able to teach your kids on how to save money. They should be able to understand the concept of money and investment as early as childhood. This will prepare them to learn money management, as they grow old.

Here are some tips on how you can teach your children how to save money:

1. Your children should be educated of the meaning of money. Once your children have learned how to count, that is the perfect time for you teach them the real meaning of money. You should be consistent and explain to them in simple ways and do this frequently so that they may be able to remember what you taught them.

2. Always explain to them the value of saving money. Make them understand its importance and how it will impact their life. It is important that you entertain questions from them about money and you should be able to answer them right away.

3. When giving them their allowances. You need to give them their allowances in denominations. Then you can encourage them that they should keep a certain bill for the future. You can motivate them to do this by telling them that the money can be saved and they can buy new pair of shoes or the toys they want once they are able to save.

4. You can also teach them to work for money. You can start this at your own home. You can pay them fifty cents to one dollar every time they clean their rooms, do the dishes or feed their pets. This concept of earning little money will make them think that money is something they have worked for and should be spent wisely.

5. You can teach them to save money by giving them piggy banks where they can put coins and wait until they get full. You can also open bank accounts for them and let them deposit money from their allowance. You should always show them how much they have earned to keep them motivated.

Money and saving is not something that is learned by children in one sitting. You should be patient in teaching them and relating the value of money in all of their activities. Children will learn this easily if you are patient and consistent in guiding them and encouraging them in this endeavor.