How to Drop Bad Habits and Encourage Productivity in Life

At first I was going to call this article, “10 Tips for a Productive Work Day.” But the more I thought about it the more I felt like productivity isn’t just about work. I like having a productive weekend or night at home too. (But, of course, I love a good vacation day spent doing NOTHING as well!) I would really like to have a productive life, but it’s sometimes a bit of a struggle. Here are ten tips that help me stay on track.


1. Make a to-do list. 

I am absolutely lost without a to-do list! I (try) to write out a list every morning just before I begin the day. I’ve also found that if I’m feeling overly anxious about a big project at work or looming deadline I sometimes make my to-do list the night before. This makes me feel like I’m getting a jump start on the day.

2. Give yourself small rewards for completing big tasks. 

I don’t know about you, but I am all about rewards. It might be something as little as, “Once I finish getting through all my emails I’ll go make my afternoon cup of coffee.” Little rewards don’t have to be about money or things, get creative and find small ways to motivate yourself to hustle. 🙂


3. Find ways to break up your workday (or night). 

I feel like I have a pretty decent attention span, but I’m not super human or anything. It’s good to break up tasks that take a long time or that are physically demanding in any way. For example, let’s say you’re a photographer and you have about five hours of editing to do one night. Work for three hours then give yourself a snack or paint your nails. 

4. Avoid addictive time wasting activities. 

I recently confessed my love for Candy Crush Saga. I’m no stranger to time wasting activities. Facebook can be a trap. Smartphone or internet games can also get super addictive. Avoid these when you’re trying to get something done. Check your FB during the last five minutes of your work day (maybe as your reward?). Also set limits for mini “time wasting” sessions. It’s ok to need a mental break, but don’t get sucked in. For example, next time you go to check Instagram while you’re suppose to be working look at the clock first. Give yourself only 2-3 to scroll through your feed then stop.


5. Get as much done as early in the day as you can. 

It’s a ripple effect thing. Personally, I’m sort of morning, sort of not a morning person. You know? I have a hard time getting up in the morning! But I’ve noticed that when I do get up and get rolling on my to-do list for the day I already feel so accomplished by nine or ten in the morning that I feel confident about the rest of the day. Start your day with a bang! The momentum will keep you rolling. Then you have the evening hours to relax and unwind.


6. Tackle that really tough to-do first. 

I know. You don’t want to. Me neither. But once it’s done it’s done! I find that I’ll often leave a really tough or bummer to-do at the bottom of my list for days and days longer than it should have been there. And it’s just looming over me the whole time. Just do it. You’ll feel better. And then you’ll only have the easy stuff left to do.

7. Showcase your success.

This is motivation fuel for the future. It’s ok to feel super pumped and proud when you complete a tough goal or finish a super long to-do list. Tell your significant other. Instagram that finished project. Call your mom. Pump your fists in the air. Celebrate—you did it!

8. Tell someone your goals. 

Now they are your accountability partner(s). Boom. I don’t know about you, but I am WAY more likely to finish a goal if I’ve told someone else about it. This can be as public as you like. You could tell your sister a personal goal. Or you can start a monthly blog series where you share your goals for the month (like 4 Simple Goals) and then you share progress. You decide who you want to tell, just tell someone.


9. Be realistic. 

We all need breaks. Plan to come back to difficult or frustrating tasks later. Sometimes things don’t come together like we’d hoped. Sometimes a task turns out to be way more physically demanding than we thought. Be honest with yourself. Take a break if you need. Just be sure to make a specific plan to come back to the project, maybe seek out some help if you need.

10. Make goal setting a habit. 

Maybe the whole to-do list sounds annoying, or cheesy, or overwhelming to you. Find what works for you. And don’t worry if it feels weird or even scares you a little at first. It will start to feel like a normal part of your daily life. And you’ll start to feel weird/off if you miss it. It’ll become habit, like brushing your teeth. It’s not overwhelming or annoying to remember to do this simple task twice every day. But it wasn’t always a habit, probably your parents had to remind you a lot at first. Let goal setting become a routine and positive part of your everyday life.

7 Dos and Don'ts For Becoming a Billionaire

Becoming a billionaire seems like a great goal, but unfortunately, it's only a dream for most of us. The thing is, many billionaires didn't start as such. Some indeed had economic and educational advantages, but even without those, their smart decisions and business choices—plus a few key characteristics—led them to their billions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Billionaires can often fall into two classes: those who have invented something new; or those who do something else better than anyone else.

Being a billionaire takes an extreme work ethic and for many, quite a bit of patience.

Billionaires are always learning and if you have the chance to ask them, they will almost always say they are the student, not the teacher.

The most common traits among billionaires are work ethic and refusing to give up.

7 Real-Life Ways To Become A Billionaire

Do: Invent

Inventing is a challenging career path to take. But if you've got the smarts to create successfully, patent, produce and market a product that people need (and thus, will buy in droves), you can build your future billionaire life on it. Successful inventions aren't necessarily complicated or high-tech items but can improve existing items. For example, James Dyson invented a better vacuum cleaner, and Gianfranco Zaccai invented a better mop, the Swiffer.

Do: Innovate

Innovation is the fine art of considering a current mainstream market and finding a creative way to improve the current offering.

Successful innovators will identify the real needs behind customer demands and meet them with a smarter, better, more efficient product or service that provides more than its competitors. Others may develop a business that works in a way just different enough to stand out from the rest. IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad is an excellent example of someone who used innovation to yield billions.

Furniture doesn't seem like a fascinating market. Still, his approach of providing modular, economical pieces with a modern flair from Sweden and other European designers and manufacturers to a global market proved fruitful.

Do: Invest

Self-made billionaire Warren Buffett is famous for his frugal ways and smart investments. Investing, of course, requires a little seed money and some accurate insight into which investments are smart and which could result in a loss. If you can follow in the footsteps of billionaire investors like Buffett, then this might be the route for you.

Do: Be an Entrepreneur

The third option for becoming a billionaire is the time-honored tradition of entrepreneurial pursuits. Starting a business and taking it to success isn't always easy. Still, for those with good business sense and the ability to spot start-ups that have the potential to be great, entrepreneurship can be the vehicle to great wealth.

Billionaire entrepreneurs might work in one of two ways: either by coming up with a great idea and taking it all the way, as in the case of Bill Gates and Microsoft, or by spotting someone else's good idea and investing in it early on. Both are viable ways to reach the success that can get you billions of dollars for your net worth.

 Long-term holdings in the stock market may be a better bet than popular high-risk investments, according to billionaire Warren Buffett.

Don't: Think You Know It All

The moment you think you have nothing left to learn is the moment you kill your potential for becoming a billionaire. Especially if you're interested in building your wealth through inventing or innovating, you have to be curious, open-minded, and always learning. Those qualities allow you to look at old things in a new way, to see the potential for change and profit where others see only what already had been done.

Don't: Make Flashy Investments

The latest and greatest investment opportunity may be fun to talk about, but one of the pitfalls of would-be billionaires is to jump in on the "next big thing," which doesn't always turn out to be so big. Investors who make billions from their investments avoid flashy, fun, and high-risk picks and instead choose those with long-term potential to provide great returns. Real estate, energy, steel, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and energy are among the picks, while high-tech and intriguing but risky options may go either way.

Don't: Quit Too Soon

Entrepreneurial types who succeed realize that success rarely comes overnight. One business idea might not pay off, but the next might. It's not easy to build something from scratch, especially when your something is a fortune of billions. Time is on your side if you don't rush it.

How Can I Become a Billionaire?

It isn't easy to become a billionaire especially if you haven't already made millions. You will need time, patience, investment savvy, and entrepreneurship to become a billionaire unless you are born into a family with billions that you stand to inherit.

Who Was the First Billionaire?

John D. Rockefeller may have been America's first billionaire, as reported in 1916. However, there are historians who argue this fact, stating Rockefeller came close but did not achieve the status of a billionaire. Some say Henry Ford earned the title.

Is Warren Buffett a Self-Made Billionaire?

Warren Buffett is a self-made billionaire many times over thanks to his keen investment and business acumen, and hard work.

The Bottom Line

While some billionaires started out that way via inheritance, many did not, earning their billions through inventing, entrepreneurship, and smart investments. Though it may end up being a dream for many, some, such as Warren Buffett, have managed to make that dream a reality.

Getting Rich From Stocks: Millionaire Stock Market Rules

Investing in companies through the stock market is often touted as a way to make real wealth for yourself, and even wealth for your family through generations. But how do people get rich from stocks, especially when the stock market is so volatile?

How to Get Rich in the Stock Market?

1. Understand the Stock Market and Stay Focused

stock market investingWhen it comes to growing your wealth in the stock market, you need to have a working understanding of the stock market itself and be comfortable with long-term investing. Very few people become overnight millionaires off of a lucky stock pick, so don’t count on that happening to you. You can use financial advisor if you need help getting started. The Paladin Registry, for example, is a service that connects investors with certified advisors who are fiduciaries (that means they are required to act in your best interest).

Stay focused on your investment goals and stay calm in down periods. Let the market work for you.

2. Budget for Investing

BudgetingBudgeting your income is a powerful tool for your investments. Include your investment contributions in your monthly budget so you can track your investments over time.

Look for areas that you can cut back in your spending so you can increase your investment amount. Whatever amount you already contribute to your investments, cutting back on another spending could mean investing even more. There's no shame getting help in organizing your finance.

3. Use Index Funds

Index Funds InvestingPicking one stock that is going to make you rich is a bit unrealistic. That’s why index fund investing is so popular.

When you invest in an index fund you are broadly diversified. By investing in many different companies in one fund, your investment in each fund is automatically smaller. This means you earn less from each company. But that way also, should some of the companies turn out to be lemons, you don’t lose as much money.

Rather than seeking the one stock that will change your life forever, index fund investing is good for the buy-and-hold strategy and getting rich in the stock market over time.

4. Buy and Hold

Buy and HoldWhat the Apple example clearly shows is that buying and holding a stock can be enormously beneficial for your finances. “Buy and hold” refers to buying stock shares and holding on to them for the long term, even when the stock market is down.

Most legendary investors preach the glory of the buy-and-hold method. In 2016, Warren Buffet said, “The money is made in investments by investing and by owning good companies for long periods of time.”

5. Short Selling

Short SellingShort selling is the opposite strategy of buy and hold. People are looking to make money in the market in a shorter time frame, and they do that by “shorting” stocks.

Here’s the gist: You borrow stocks and sell them at current market prices and receive a cash payment. But since you’ve only borrowed the stocks, you need to replace the stock that you sold. And you are responsible for paying dividends for the length of time that you borrow the stock.

When people short sell, they want the stock to drop sharply so they can buy it back at a much cheaper price. This means they can take home the difference. And sometimes the difference is a lot of money, which makes short selling a way you could get rich in the stock market.

Shorting the market requires a knowledge of the market and an educated guess on when the stocks will go down. You don’t want to borrow them for too long, because you’ll end up owing a lot in dividends. If you're interested in short selling, you can buy and sell stocks through a brokerage firm like E*TRADE.

6. Contribute to Your Portfolio Consistently

Contribute to Your Portfolio ConsistentlyContributing to your investments consistently over the years is a great strategy to grow wealth in the stock market. It's one strategy that works for the average American paycheck. Many people don’t have huge amounts of money at any one moment to invest but do have smaller amounts that they can consistently contribute over the years.

Consistency is a strong investing move. Say you start with an initial investment of $3,000. Invest $500 a month over 30 years at 6% interest, and you’ll have $523,022 in your accounts.

At $1,000 a month, you’d have $1,027,897 at the end of 30 years.

You can use a calculator like this one to see how different levels of monthly contributions can make a difference in your investment results, and If you’re just getting started, you can use an automated investing service like Betterment. For those with a bit more experience, try Personal Capital. It not only lets you keep track of all of your finances in one place, but also has a stellar wealth management service.

Know The Math Behind Getting Rich in the Stock Market

When Apple went public in 1980, the price per share was $22. If you had invested $5,000 and held on to it until August 2018, you would have watched the share price grow to more than 10 times its starting price, to $227.63 per share. But even more important, the stock split 56 times during that time.

With $5,000 to invest, you could have bought 227 shares in 1980. By 2018, after Apple had split its stock and changed its business model a few times, you would have 12,712 shares in the company. At $227.63 per share, your initial $5,000 investment would have grown to $2,893,632.56.

That’s using the stock market to get rich. Really rich. Long-term investing like that, over the course of 38 years, would have made you a multi-millionaire from just one company.

So how do you make that much money from the stock market? While there is no one right answer, there are a few things you can keep in mind.

Yellow Card: How to use, Buy and Sell crypto & more

Yellow Card is a cryptocurrency exchange that offers the safest way to buy and sell bitcoin and also other cryptocurrencies. This post explains how to use Yellow Card, how to buy crypto, how to sell, the supported cryptocurrencies, eligible countries, and many more.

Yellow Card is a cryptocurrency exchange service that provides a secure way of buying and selling bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. With Yellow Card, you can also send, receive and store your crypto.

This is made possible by a bitcoin wallet available on the Yellow Card service. Yellow Card is one of the easiest ways to buy and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether cryptocurrencies at the best rates.
Is it safe to use Yellow Card?

Yes. It’s safe to use Yellow Card for cryptocurrency exchange and transactions. Yellow Card is regulated by FinCEN in the USA. It’s also regulated and accredited in each country it operates.

Aside from that, more than 500,000 people have downloaded the Yellow Card mobile app. So far, no one has sued or claimed to be defrauded by Yellow Card.

Yellow Card Supported Countries

Yellow Card is currently supported in 16 countries. 4 in East Africa, 4 in West Africa, 4 in Central Africa, and 4 in Southern Africa.

• Kenya
• Rwanda
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Senegal
• Gabon
• Ghana
• Nigeria
• Zambia
• Malawi
• Botswana
• Cameroon
• Côte d’Ivoire
• South Africa
• DR of the Congo
• Republic of the Congo

Yellow Card Supported Cryptocurrencies

There are 3 supported cryptocurrencies on Yellow Card at the moment of writing this article. 

1. Bitcoin
2. Ethereum
3. Tether (USDT)

The Bitcoin option is automatically available for all users. Ethereum and Tether are available to users based on their Tier and other factors.
Yellow Card mobile app download

Before downloading the app, click here to register. Then you can download the Yellow Card mobile app from the Google Play Store (if you are using an Android device).

Users with iOS devices can also download Yellow Card from the Apple App Store.

How to deposit money from your local bank account into your Yellow Card wallet

You can deposit money into your Yellow Card wallet through any of the 10 fiat currencies supported by Yellow Card.

The 10 fiat currencies supported by Yellow Card are listed below.

• Nigerian Naira
• Kenyan Shilling
• CFA Franc
• Tanzanian Shilling
• South African Rand
• Botswana Pula
• Ugandan Shilling
• Zambian Kwacha
• Ghana Cedi
• Rwandan Franc

Follow the steps below to deposit money into your Yellow Card wallet

1. Log in to your Yellow Card Account (Either on the app on through a browser)
2. From your dashboard, press the “Deposit” button

Although it varies based on your location, there will be multiple payment methods available to you
Input the amount you want to deposit and complete the transaction

Learn more here.

How to buy cryptocurrency on Yellow Card

Buying cryptocurrencies on Yellow Card is very fast and simple. You just have to follow the steps below.

1. Create your Yellow Card account or log in if you are an existing user
2. Deposit money into your local currency wallet
3. From your homepage, select the cryptocurrency you will like to buy. It can be Bitcoin, Ethereum or USDT
4. Click on “Buy” and input the amount of crypto token you want to buy
5. Cross-check and confirm the details

After the purchase is authorized your wallet will be credited with the tokens you paid for.

How to sell cryptocurrencies on Yellow Card
If you want to sell cryptocurrency on Yellow Card, kindly follow these steps.

• From your dashboard, click on the cryptocurrency you want to sell
• Click on the “Sell” button and input the amount of the crypto tokens you want to sell
• Cross-check and confirm the details
• Provide your security pin to authorize the transaction

Once the transaction has been authorized, your local currency wallet will be credited with the exact amount. You can always withdraw the money in your local currency wallet to your local bank account at any time. You can also use it to buy cryptocurrencies.
How to send cryptocurrency from your Yellow Card wallet

If you want to send cryptocurrency to another user on Yellow Card or another crypto wallet, follow the steps below.

• From your dashboard, click on the cryptocurrency you want to send
• Select the destination you want to send the crypto tokens to. This can be another Yellow Card user or a third-party crypto wallet
• If it’s another Yellow Card user, use the “phone number” or “email address” options
• If it’s a third-party crypto wallet, you should use the “wallet address” option
• Whichever one you want to use, provide the correct details
• Enter the amount of cryptocurrency you want to send to the receiver and confirm
• Provide your security pin to authorize the transaction

Yellow Card referral code

The Yellow Card referral code is: 61709441
Yellow Card Priority Level

The Yellow Card priority level is what determines how long it takes for your transaction to be confirmed and executed.

If you’re sending Bitcoin to an external wallet, you can set the priority level to your preference. Generally, the Miner’s fee varies by priority.
Yellow Card service charges: 

How much does Yellow Card charge per transaction?
Yellow Card charges a very small service fee per transaction. Since it’s different for every country, you should see the full list of Yellow Card service charges for each country here.
Where is the Yellow Card head office located?

Yellow Card has its head office located in the United States of America. They also have physical branch offices in each country they operate in.

Country City Address

1. United States Atlanta 3545 Broad St (Head Quarters)
2. Botswana Gaborone Extension 10
3. Ghana Accra 26 Nii Osae Ntiful Ave
4. Kenya Nairobi 90 James Gichuru Road
5. Nigeria Lagos 7 Ibiyinka Olorunbe, Victoria Island
6. South Africa Durban 333 Anton Lembede St, Durban Central
7. Tanzania United Republic of Dar es, Salaam 429 Mahando St, Dar es Salaam
8. Uganda Kampala Plot 29-37 Ntinda Road
9. Zambia Lusaka 16948b Thabo Mbeki Rd

Yellow Card customer support and email address

If you have any issue or complaint, you can contact Yellow Card customer support service through their email address, social media channels as well as their online help center.

1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. YouTube
4. LinkedIn
5. Instagram
6. Yellow Card Help Center

Email Address: support@yellowcard.io

How to Make Thousands of Dollars By Creating and Selling Online Course

An online course is a combination of videos, PDF files or written content, It could be audios or anything you wish to add with a goal of impacting knowledge on a particular topic.

There are many ways that you can make money online, one of them is creating and selling online course. If you are skilled in any relevant subject or aspect, you can create a course around it to help others out there. You sell the course to them and they buy to learn. This way you help people reach their goals while also making money.

Online courses have become very popular. With tens of millions of people online every month to learn. When people get stuck or look for ways to do things, the first point of call these days happen to be online course.

If someone is looking to learn coding, to build a business, to learn how to play a music instrument, to do almost anything, millions of them learn it through online course taught by professionals.

Almost everyone is an expert in one area or another. You can use your area of expertise to make money online while teaching others. It could be music, coding, business, blogging, making money, anything at all, there are people out there willing to learn. You just have to connect to the right audience.

Your location does no matter, you can stay in Nigeria, India, South Africa, Kenya, United States or anywhere at all and teach people from around the world.


How much can you make from online course?

For the purpose of this post, we will focus on Teachable. Teachable is one of the leading platforms to create and sell online course.

On average, instructors on teachable earn over $7000 from online courses. But that is just average. As a content manager at Teachable revealed, there are instructors who make up to $1 million every year from their courses. That is massive and there are a of people in that bracket.

While getting to that level will take time an dedication, it is very possible to start and earn a reasonable amount of money.

Derek Murphy, an instructor at Teachable revealed how the journey started for him. He was not an expert at the subject he as teaching but was well informed. He was initially skeptical if he will make any income from it. So because of this, he kept delaying and delaying. But when he finally created his first course, he made $18, 000 in one month from the course.

Teachable alone has over 15 million students learning on its platforms and instructors have made over $256 million! The online learning industry is valued at over $160 billion by GM insights.

How much you plan to make from a particular course is down to you. If you plan to make $20, 000 from a course then you have a lot of options. You can sell the course to 2000 students at $10 then you will make $20, 000. You can sell it to 200 students at $100 and you still make your target $20, 000. Or you can go high and sell to 20 students at $1000 and you make your target $20, 000.

That is just a format. It all depends on what course you are creating and how you value it!

What should you teach?

You can teach anything in this world. But the best thing to teach is to teach what your audience wants. Nothing beats that. If you do not have an audience yet, find them. Research and determine which audience you want to target.

Make sure to research and understand your topic very well. It is important. There are many ideas. I know a lot of people stall a this stage of wondering what to teach.

Imagine this post is about making money through online course. I could decide to make this a course and sell it. You can teach people how to use a particular product that is very much in use. Teach about anything. It is all about things people are interested in learning.

Once you have come up with your topic. Put up your ideas and test it out. Join a Facebook group or LinkedIn group that is related to your ideas. Share some tips from it and see how many people are interested. Collect emails. You will need their emails to sell the course.

Let’s say I want to teach about “Blogging and making money”. I will join a related Facebook or LinkedIn group and post this:

Hello,

I have some awesome ideas on how you can set up a blog and make good income in 6 months.

I will also show you how to do your SEO and get good rankings in no time

You will learn the secret ways most bloggers make money that they do not want to tell you.

If you are interested, comment with your email.

Best regards.

Now watched out how many people are interested. That should give you an idea. Collect the emails. You will eventually use it to market your course when it is ready. Every potential email, is a potential student.

How long will it take you to create a course?

It can take you an hour, it can take you days or months. This all depends on you. If you are teaching a topic that you are very good at, it will likely take you few hours to create your course.

For example, I am a blogger and I have been doing this for many years, it will take me maximum two hours to create a course about blogging.

If I am entering into an aspect am not used to, It will take time to research, understand the topic, find the audience and then create the course.

If you have written a book you want to turn into a course, it will not take you long.

Basically, it depends on you and the topic you are teaching.

How to create an online course

Creating online course is very easy when you use a platform like Teachable. They make everything easier for you. There are other platforms like Udemy, Coursera and others but Teachable stands out.

You can sign up for Teachable here. You can also sign up to a monthly webinar that shows you how to create a course that will spin you big money, the webinar is hosted by teachable, a platform that has paid out over $250 million to instructors on its platform. Click here to sign up for webinar.

Let’s look at steps you take to create an online course.

1. Research your ideas
Always research your ideas. widen your knowledge of it, to help you present it better and thereby impact your students. Let’s assume you want to teach on “how to find investors for your business easily.” You need to research the troubles upcoming entrepreneurs face in getting investors. Understand their fears and wants, since they will be your target audience.

Your course should be about them!

2. Pick a platform
You will need a to pick a platform that will host your course. It is very important. A good platform is one with lots of students and other instructors. We recommend teachable. With over 15 million students learning and over 65, 000 instructors, it is a very reliable platform to get started.

Click here to go to Teachable

3. Making videos
To help your students understand better and make more impact, it is very advisable that you add videos to your courses. You will need a good camera. It is also okay if your laptop has a good camera quality and voice recording.

If you are camera shy, you can hire someone to do the videos for you.

4. A good work book

Give your work book a professional design. Everything should be well packaged and cool. Teachable has made a lot of things easy. You just have to give in your best.

5. Price your course
Set a price for your course. Like I mentioned earlier, you should have your income goals at heart. Calculate how many people you need to sell it to, at a particular price to meet your income goal. That is just a basic. You can sell many times above your income goals.

6. Sell your course
All should be set. Create your sales page and you online course is ready for the world!

Marketing your online course

After creating a good online course your next step will be selling the course. There are many ways that you can do this.

Your biggest asset is going to be an email list. Where you can save emails of potential students and send them emails about the course and how to sign up.

1. Social Media
Like I pointed out earlier, you can use Facebook groups and Linked groups to pitch your ideas. Then collect emails. With the emails you collect, you can send the course details and how to sign up.

2. Write guest posts
You can look for niche related websites and write guest posts. Write a post that is around your course and drop a link to sign up for it.

3. Ads
You can run Google ads or Facebook ads to reach target audience. The good thing is that you can target ads to your target audience and only pay a few cents when one of them clicks on it.

4. Share it with your followers
On your social media profiles, share it with your followers. The more people know about it, the more potential students.

5. Talk about it on YouTube
You can make YouTube Videos talking about the online course and what it has to offer

Keep learning

There are so many things that your experience will teach you and you can improve on over time. You may make $8000 from your first course but you will learn a lot from it, and what you learn can help you make $50, 000 from your next course.

It is about progress. Th good thing is, your course continues making you money. A course you made last year will still be making you money this year. A good place to start learning is from this webinar.

You can go here to check other ideas to make money online: Make money online

Getting Rich From Stocks: 11 Millionaire Stock Market Rules

If you choose to invest the time to study how the stock market works, it can be an excellent long-term strategy to build a great fortune for you and your family.

The key to getting rich from stocks is to invest in the most profitable companies in the market, and then hold your investments for the long term. This passive style of investing comes with risk, however, it has the potential to make you rich…extremely rich!

In this post, I’ll dive into the key rules millionaires follow to build their wealth in the stock market. If you follow these 11 lessons below, you too may become rich from stocks.

Can stocks make you rich?

Yes, the stock market can make you rich. However, this usually takes a combination of time, experience, and initial financial investment to do so. Investing in stocks also involves a level of risk. Even though you can become a millionaire investing in stocks, it’s essential to be aware you can also lose money.

There are a few ways you can get ready to invest in the stock market. The more time you take to understand the market, the better you will be at investing wisely. If you’re interested in making money from investing in the stock market, the following tips can make you rich while minimizing your risk.

Here are my 11 rules on how to get rich from stocks:

1. Learn about the stock market

Learning about the stock market will only help you become a better investor. You should know the basics before you start investing. Picking up a book about trading on the stock market is one way you can learn about it.

It is a good idea to know what you are getting yourself into. It would be best to educate yourself about the different types of securities traded on the stock market, how trading works, and how to invest in different types of financial options.

There are also plenty of online articles about the stock market; some are geared towards beginners and some towards more advanced investors. A quick Google search about the topic you are interested in learning about should yield many results. This article from Nerdwallet teaches the basics of investing in the stock market.

Another way you can learn about the stock market is to read the daily finance sections of your favorite news article or news app. Keeping up to date with the trading sector can help you better understand the market. 

2. Pick the Right Stockbroker or Trading Platform

Picking the right trading app is one way to become a better investor. You should look at what multiple platforms offer before making your decision. Some trading platforms charge commission fees on each trade, while some do not.

Some also have extended trading hours so that you can act quickly on the news about a stock. For example, Schwab, E*Trade, and Wells Fargo allow trading after the market closes, though their hours differ. 

Many trading platforms also have a mobile app. This comes in handy so that you can trade on the go. If breaking news happens that can affect a stock price; you want to be able to act upon that news as quickly as possible. Having an app with good usability is one way to ensure that you never miss out on a trade.

3. Only Invest What You Can Afford to Lose 

This should be a given, but it must be said. Investing can be a gamble, so it is advised not to invest money you don’t have. Some stockbrokers will offer you a loan to invest with, but it’s best to use the money you already have. You should not take out loans or borrow money from people to invest in the stock market. Doing so can put you in debt, making your efforts counterproductive.

4. Practise With Demo Trade Accounts

Practising with demo trade accounts is an excellent way to get a feel for the stock market without actually risking any money. This is known as paper trading, and it’s a great way to gain experience and confidence. Forex offers demo trade accounts for you to get used to the market.

5. Understand Fees and Commissions

Some trading platforms charge fees. It is good to know what each trade will cost you, if anything, and be aware of the fees associated with trading on different platforms.

Some brokerage companies charge per trade as a commission, and some commissions may be charged as a flat fee, while some may be based on the value traded. Other fees might be added on, called non-trading fees, which can account for charges on withdrawals, deposits, and other things that are not specifically trading.

It is vital to take note of the fees your platform might have, as the fees can often impact what you make. This article from BrokerChooser helps outline the many different fees associated with trading through an online broker.

7. Do Your Due Diligence When Picking Stocks

Taking the time to learn about each stock you are interested in and comparing its overall performance will help you be a better investor. In fact, you can become a millionaire by investing in stocks wisely.

Many platforms come with stock tracking applications, making it easy to watch different stocks over a period of time. Sometimes patience is key to getting the right stock price. 

Staying on top of business news can also help you invest better. Keeping an eye out for what companies are doing is one way you can act quickly on breaking news that may affect a stock.

Many news sites and apps feature a finance section, which shares breaking news about companies who trade on the stock market. Some publications and websites are dedicated to delivering breaking news on different companies and the stock market as a whole.

Marketwatch is a popular choice for getting the latest news about the stock market. Investopedia lists some of the best apps for financial news here.

8. Diversify to Minimize Your Risk

“You’ve probably heard it before, the saying “diversify your portfolio.” It is said again and again for a reason. Investing in a good variety of stocks from different industries is one way to keep your portfolio diversified and be on your way to becoming a millionaire by investing in the stock market.

You should also diversify your portfolio with different kinds of financial instruments. You can invest in mutual funds, ETFs (exchange-traded funds), corporate bonds, and derivatives based on stocks, commodities, currencies, and bonds. Adding a few of each to your portfolio can set you up for financial success.

You can learn about the different types of investment opportunities in the stock market in this article from Rule On Investing.

9. Use a Roth IRA

Using a Roth IRA to invest can be a smart move for your financial future. A Roth IRA allows you to invest money that can be withdrawn tax-free during your retirement.

As long as you are over the age of 59 1/2 and have had your account for at least five years, you can take money out of your account tax-free. This is a good idea for long-term investments that you plan not to touch for a while.

If you invest using a Roth IRA early enough, you can have stocks and funds that are worth much more than you purchased them for. Investing the right way in a Roth IRA may even help make you a millionaire by investing in the stock market. After all, it is never too early to start investing for your retirement.

10. Re-invest Your Profits and Dividends

While putting any profit back into the stock market can be difficult, this can often be a very financially sound move. Taking profits or dividends from one stock that did well and putting the earning towards other stocks or funds that you believe will increase in value can help you multiply your earnings.

Re-investing can be a smart move financially and help you set a plan for making future investments. If you re-invest wisely, you can get rich from the stock market.

11. Make a Financial Plan and Stay Disciplined 

Making a financial plan and sticking to it is probably the number one way the stock market can make you rich. Taking the time to understand the market and understand all the things that go along with it is just the first step to investing.

Coming up with a foolproof plan to invest in the stock market responsibly and with meticulous dedication can help you become a millionaire by investing in the stock market. Speaking with a financial advisor can help take some guesswork out of planning.

Doing a quick Google search of financial advisors in your area and reading client reviews can help you pick an advisor suited best for you. Financial advisors work with all different levels of investors. A good financial advisor can help anyone, whether a beginner or an advanced investor.

The Bottom Line

Investing in the stock market can certainly make you rich. Investing in stocks can make you a millionaire. With the right know-how and some sound tips like the ones above, you can be on your way to becoming a millionaire in no time. 

8 Places Where You Can Sell Stuff Fast When You Really Need the Money

It's a new year, and whether you’re moving, are in need of cash, or just want to clear the clutter out of your house, you can make a decent amount of money by selling all of that excess crap.

A couple of Christmases back, I was struggling to make ends meet. Payroll became very hard and there was a two-week period where we were waiting on checks that never seemed to come. I ended up liquidating a lot of my assets and selling things quickly to both make payroll and enjoy a nice holiday with my family. Checks eventually came and, a year later, we're doing great.

I learned a lot during this time. I learned how to get top dollar for all the stuff that I don't need, as well as a way to get paid to unclutter my house. Here are several places where I sold things to keep my startup alive, got some extra cash and organize my life at the same time.

Pawn shops

If you’re in a pinch and need money ASAP, there’s probably a no better option than visiting your local pawn shop. While you probably don’t have a hidden gem that will get you featured on the show Pawn Stars, you can pretty much sell any of your unwanted items that have some sort of value, such as jewelry, electronics, or collectibles like coins. Make sure that you bring in some sort of proof of purchase though.

The biggest drawback of pawn shops is that you’re going to pay for selling your items in a hurry. You can definitely fetch more money through online sites like eBay, but if you need the money fast, the process may take too long.

Consignment shops

Another option is selling your items to a local consignment shop. The main advantage of these second-hand shops is that most of them focus on one type of product. For example, there are consignment shops dedicated solely to clothes, books, musical instruments, furniture, electronics, antiques and even automobiles. Because of this, you may be able to get a better price at a consignment then you would at a pawn shop.

Before committing to a consignment shop, visit the shop beforehand to see if your items will match the clientele and determine how picky the store is about accepting used items.

Craigslist

Craigslist has a massive following of bargain hunters who frequently view the classified site for a steal. And it’s free to list your items. But, sometimes it may take several days or weeks for your item to sell. To ensure that you’re unloading your stuff immediately on Craigslist, you should:Post clear pictures of your items.

• Set a deadline -- this will inspire potential buyers to negotiate.
• Clearly state what you’re selling in the headline.
• Add specific details, but keep it short. And, be honest if there any flaws.
• Research to see what prices your stuff might normally sell for.
• Batch or lot your items together. For example, if you have used children’s clothes and toys, sell those in one lot.

Fulfillment by Amazon

This service is intended for sellers with a large inventory, but if you have some unused items, Amazon’s Fulfillment Program is another way to quickly make money from the stuff lying around your house. This works by just packing up your goods into a box, listing it and sending it to Amazon. Amazon will pick up the box up store it until it sells. When it does, Amazon will ship the item out. Since Amazon is a juggernaut, your item can easily and quickly get discovered by a massive audience. Just make sure that it’s listed at a competitive price and is an item that is in-demand.

The downside with Amazon is that the company is going to take a cut, so if you’re selling a cheaper item, like a $5 DVD, it may not be worth it.

Social media

If you are concerned with safety (as you might be with Craigslist) or with packing your items (which might happen with Amazon), you can just sell your extra stuff to people you already know. You can list your stuff on Facebook for free and, hopefully, receive a response in just a couple of hours. Since your network includes people in your neck of the woods, the transaction can go down quickly. If you have something perfect for a specific group, you might post the item on a relevant group’s page.

Besides Facebook, you can also sell stuff on Instagram. Just snap a picture and add a brief description. You can even collect payment through PayPal, in order to sell our items to a wider customer base.

If social media isn’t looking promising, download several different apps where you can sell your used items to local buyers.

Host a "raid my closet'' party

This will take a little planning, but you could host a "raid my closet" party. Simply invite your friends, family or coworkers to your house and let them pick out the stuff that they want to buy from you. Hopefully, they’ll take all of that stuff that doesn't even fit anymore off your hands by the end of the party. Best of all? It’s a party, so you’ll have fun at the same time.

If you don’t want people rummaging through your closet, Poshmark is a real-time digital selling party.

Local colleges and flea markets

If you live near a college or university, you can place flyers on campus or post the items on college forums. It’s best to do this right before a semester starts when students are looking for the stuff they need for the upcoming school year.

If there isn’t a college nearby, you could set up a table at a local flea market. You’ll have to rent a space, but flea markets are a good place to sell everything from used goods to collectibles. If the price is right, you can definitely unload everything you want to sell. Furthermore, thanks to technology like Square, you can accept credit cards and get paid online.

Buyback programs

If you want to sell unwanted gadgets, like smartphones or tablets, you can make some extra cash through buyback programs like eBay Instant Sale, Gazelle, Nextworth or BuyBackWorld. The price that you’ll receive for your used electronics will vary from program to program, so do a little homework beforehand to scope out how much you can get. Additionally, timing and quality of the gadget will also determine the final price. For example, a broken first-generation iPhone is almost worthless, but a newer iPhone should sell quickly at a fair price.

Here's to uncluttering our lives and having a little extra spending cash this year!