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Mompreneur’s blogging journey (part 10) :Knowtbook lessons & November plans
I love how Amy Lynn Andrews Knowtbook has made my life easier.
Knowtbook is easily the best thing that happened to me.It’s because of her kindness ,that I understood the true essence of blogging .
Help those who need you.I am not an affiliate but I still mention her everywhere.
That’s because she is one of the few bloggers who says it how it is.
Shady is not her style.
3 Things I learnt from Knowtbook this month:
1)I love the look of sliders on websites .
But apparently it slows down the site.
Plus it’s SEO night mare.
So slider out for me.
I don’t want to do anything to make my site non friendly to Google!
2)Canva has a limit to the number of copies of its ebook templates you can use for commercial use.
So what’s the solution for mompreneurs who are bootstrapping ?
Don’t cry ,you have GIMP.It’s an open source software totally free!
3)Blog design for solopreneurs can be a never ending time waster.
After I read this post I calmed down .
https://amylynnandrews.com/blog-design-dos-and-donts/
Read it .It will help you too.
What did I write this month ?
31 posts for the UBC
My top post this month:
What am I doing this November?
I am a blogbuddy with Blogchatter .
Looking forward to more fun.
I have joined NaBloPoMo with Blogher
Daily blogging throughout November . I saw my Alexa improve throughout October .
The global rank has improved . But the India rank is not stable.
I am gardening a lot.It keeps me calm.I have Petunias ,roses ,chrysanthemums ,chillies ,cucumbers and a whole host of beauties in my balcony .
The Dailychatter in October encouraged me to do this too.
My hubby thinks I have lost it.But good habits need blood and sweat.It’s easier for me to sweat in the cooler seasons.
What am I working on ?
My Instamojo shop.Read about it here Media kit template (editable in word):Mompreneur’s blogging journey (part 9)
It’s in the teething stage .Still working on making it better.
Health wise
Incorporating Chia seeds more deeply into my diet. Use it mixed with whole wheat atta, to make rotis too.
Working on becoming stronger.
Nowadays on the treadmill ,I look at the distance covered .It’s keeping me happy.
What am I reading?
There are affiliate link in the following post .Which means at no extra cost to you ,will get access to a whole basket of resources to help you blog better.Plus you get access to my Instamojo school with all my products forever!How’s that for a a superb deal?I will be sharing the checklist from the courses there too.
You will just need to forward me the receipt of the products bought with my link.
I am going through the Genius Blogger’s Toolkit
It’s packed full.I think I have enough material to read till 2018!
What did you do in October?
Let me know in the comments .
below.
This is the last post for #Dailychatter with Blogchatter Day 31
Sharing is good Karma!
Gold and Dhanteras :What you should know before investing
What do you buy during Dhanteras ?
When you read about Dhanteras and favourite stories you realize one thing.
Indians love their gold!
“Have a little extra money ?Don’t forget to buy gold” .Advice we have all received sometime or the other.
My 3 Money Rules
- Increase your earning But don’t forget savings.
- Money saved is money earned!To earn and keep is important.
- Diversify assets. Always balance your financial basket
In India we are conservative in our investments .
Savings,equity,gold,land all are important for your wealth basket.But the percentage of each is what makes you win or loose.
In India Gold has always been popular.From ancient times gold has been the number one precious metal.
Primary reason maybe it’s beautiful warm ,yellow colour which reminds us of the life sustaining sun.It’s also linked to many popular Indian stories .Gold also signifies the blessing of Goddess Laxmi.It’s association with prosperity and affluence makes gold buying symbolic.
Being a noble element makes it less likely to cause skin irritations and react with atmospheric elements.Makes it perfect for wearing and keeping for long time .
Gold jewellery makes most Indian woman happy.So it’s a must wear for weddings and auspicious ceremonies.
Gold has been consistently the only happy metal for Indians.Not surprisingly India is the number one gold buyer in the world !
We are typically conservative investors. So we like safety and security over anything else.
This is why physical gold wins any day. Atleast with most women.
What are the different methods out can invest in Gold ?
This article in jagoinvestor will help you decide.
But before stockpiling Gold ,physical or otherwise you must know a few things.
Gold prices over the years have been consistently up.So it should be great to buy Gold right ?Depends .
It depends on what you want out of that investment . If its meant for securing the amount,not necessarily growth .Then gold is not too bad.
I love Gold but I love after knowing all its negatives.
Read about gold price movements in India before buying.
Interestingly Gold is considered the purest international currency.You might be able to buy stuff with gold but not with Indian currency in places outside India.
So while it’s better than having money in your savings account,it has not always kept it’s promise as an inflation adjusted investment
Warren Buffet – “We live in a world where 80 years out of 100 will be good. But we don’t know which 20 will be bad.”
So what should be on your investment plate this Diwali?
The best way to learn is from the greats.
My favourite 3 Quotes from the book
Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger(affiliate link),Warren Buffet’s reticent but equally brilliant friend.
#Value investing principle 1
Measure risk
Everything in life depend’s on having a good judgement . Assessing risks and benefits are mortar before choosing any investment .
- Safety margins need to be adequate.
- Avoid dealing with shady people.
- Avoid big mistakes . Shun major capital losses.
#Value investing principle 2
Be Independent
Only in fairy tales are emperors told they are naked
- Have independance of thought .
- Be objective and rational.
- People agree or disagree doesn’t matter.
What matters is correctness of your analysis and judgement.
#Value investing principle 3
Have patience
Compound interest is the Eighth wonder of the world (Einstein )
DON’T interrupt it unnecessarily
So before you buy Gold today remember Asset allocation.Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Are you a value investor?
Whats your plan for investing Dhanteras and otherwise?
This is a part of UBC #Daily chatter day 28 with @Blogchatter
(Disclaimer:I am not an investment specialist.Kindly consult a professional before making any investment )
Sharing is good Karma!
CUDDLL:Come together find a friend
When my sister shifted to Delhi for her post-graduate training, I wished I could help her find friends easily and safely.
A new city busy work life means she had limited chances of finding friends, outside her immediate circle.
She wants to explore Chandni Chowk, Dilli Haat, Khan market.She also wants to visit the national museum and libraries.
She has plans to go saree shopping at Nalli.All this made me very worried.God alone knows how she will find friends with such varied interests.
From knitting to trekking everything excites her.Unfortunately, none of her colleagues share these interests.A tricky problem.How I wished I could help her.
The other day she suddenly told me about how she attended a photography workshop after finding it on Cuddll.
It made me curious and a little worried.
Delhi makes me worried.Finding friends can be a tricky business.But she told be all about Cuddle.
CUDDLL is about coming together to find a friend.
Why you need friends?
Humans are social beings.You need company for emotional wellbeing.
While being alone and lonely can be soul-sucking, you need to strictly avoid bad company.
In real life you can’t choose your friends according to interests.Though it’s better to be alone than in bad company, in real life things are tricky.You end up regretting those friendships.
Friendships you will regret
- Forced friendship
- Selfish friendship
- Needy friendship
- Jealous friendship
- Will not let you grow a friendship
- Insisting on exclusive friendship
- Good time friendship
- No common interests friendship
- Disloyal friendship
- Get you into a hot soup friendship
Friendship … is born at the moment when one man says to another “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself -C.S Lewis
There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate –Linda Grayson
Why are friendships tricky?
Because friends don’t wear thheir interests around their neck.They may or may not tell you their likes and dislikes.
Guess what?
Now finding friends and your party circle is easier than before.
The Good News
Cuddle the new friend on the block tells you to Come together.
What exactly is Cuddll?
Unlike most other dating apps Cuddle is a friend finding event finding platform.
You can find people and events according to your interest and have fun.No more being tongue tied or bored, because Cuddll makes finding friends easy.
How can you quickly set up Cuddll
- Just download the app.
- Make your profile using your phone number.
- Complete your profile.
- Add a cuddll or plan an event.
You can make it open or closed according to your wish.
Invite friends and you are set.Once your friends join you will get an update.
You can also join the cuddle you like.Joining a cuddl gives you badges.
Cuddll lets you find people with similar interests participate in meaningful group activities in places close to them.
Informal social gatherings are what Cuddll is all about.It is the Airbnb of the party scene.
You can plan and engage in get-togethers without formal organizations, entry charges.
Users can join “Cuddlls” (informal social gatherings) & chat with other users who are also looking to attend the same gathering.
[wp-review id=”115599″]
Pros of Cuddll I liked :
Its a wonderful mix if the old and new.
It gives a modern twist to the traditional concept of doing fun stuff with friends.
Just like I found my hubby and best friend while studying at med school, you may find your besties while enjoying doing what you love.
It can be singing, dancing,cooking work, play anything.You don’t need to be something you are not.You don’t have to try hard to impress.
Nor do you have to worry about looking great and sounding engaging.
Cuddll helps you find people who like doing the same things that you enjoy.That makes social interaction fun just how it should be.
Cuddll’s USP is their call to action.
Come together!
Celebrate birthdays ,go for dinner or a movie anything is possible.
Cuddll’s cons:
The app may hang if your phone is too full or slow internet
In smaller cities, if there are fewer users you may find it difficult to find activities.
How to find friends who are right for you?
- Look for people with similar interests.
- People whom you like as well as respect.
- People who respect you.
- People who help you grow.
- People who are there for you.
- People who don’t pull you down.
In this world, you want someone who gets you.You want birds of a feather, to stay together for a long time.
Dating apps are often full of people of the wrong kind.Even one bad choice can be dangerous.
This is where Cuddll impresses effortlessly.Cuddll talks about shared interests, hobbies, passion.of having an experience together.It makes the platform perfect for choosing friends carefully.
You won’t need to fumble about being boring or bored to death.Shared interests make friendship much easier.
Takeaway and personal insights
It’s never easy to find friends.Dating apps are full of people with doubtful intentions.
Cuddll makes finding people with similar interests easier.You can go for an activity you like and may find a new friend.
A word of caution:
- When you meet virtual friends in the real world, always meet at a public place.With women’s safety very important.
- Avoid sharing personal info.No credit card, debit card birth date etc should be shared.
- Don’t invite them into your homes.
- Listen to your mind.
- Tell someone you trust about who you are going to meet and where before going out.
Technology, when used the right way, can be great. Friends are the people you choose.Relatives you are born with.
I found my life partner in s friend with a shared passion for travel, happiness, and being financially independent.
It also changed my life. Friends are the silver lining when life is grim. But for that, you need to find the right type.
Have you tried Cuddll yet? Try it and do let me know in the comments below.
Disclaimer: While all efforts are there to make posts helpful. Updates will be added to keep pace with new information.
Read my disclosure in full for a better understanding.
Sharing is good Karma!
Debit card fraud India :wake up to Digital identity thefts
You earn money.
Keep it in the bank.
It gets stolen.Bank pays you back .
Right ?
Wrong!
Very very wrong.
If what RBI says sticks, (which it will probably )if you lose your money from the bank ,digitally or physically you are liable to get a maximum of 1 lakh rupees only.Even that has a millions of subclauses!
Doesn’t matter how much money you had in the bank.
This covers everything.
For your lockers it’s even worse.
Don’t believe me?
Read on.
The recent spate of debit card fraud has opened most people’s eye to the threat of digital fraud.
In India where people don’t even
know what to do in case of stolen debit cards this is worrying.
With Aadhar data collected by third parties ,who have all your information and bank account details.
You are the perfect sitting duck for data thefts and major frauds.
The user data which was stolen this time, was apparently related to Malware detection .You are at risk every time you use card at any retail shops ,restaurants,ATMs
Anywhere they use that machine where you slide your card in.That’s a point -of sale machine.This is probably where the malware was inserted.But investigation is pending.The full story will be disclosed after RBIs investigation is complete.
Solution:Carry cash during shopping.
Shop less
Bad for shop owners.Great for you.You will not only save money but protect yourself from unscrupulous people.
Online shopping using debit card?
Use cash on delivery
I rarely use amazon even though it has the best deals .Because sometimes it doesn’t give me COD.
Avoid using Nonbank ATMs
Difficult but must do.This is the excuse that banks are giving now.
Keep your phone number updated with bank .Check online account info only from home Internet with secure connection .
Use strong passwords for all accounts
NEVER from a public PC . There are softwares which can be used to save all transaction details.
How do ATM frauds in India occur?
Did you know ATM s are controlled by third party.
These ATM providers have insurance for theft of money from ATMs.
But in this case appararently the people were at home while money was withdrawn using their card details in USA and China .
IMAGINE the extent and depth of the fraud.
SHOCKINGLY no one is giving us the truth.
Not the bank ,not the government
6.5 million is not a small number if debit card.We don’t know the total amount stolen.
It’s like the money just disappeared and it happened at the same time in a well orchestrated way.
A payment gateway called Hitachi Payment services which has ATM and point -of -sale machines
These third parties manning the ATM have insurance for theft from ATM
In this case it’s a tricky point.Who is responsible .
How safe is your money in the bank?
Did you know bank is not liable to protect you in case of theft from lockers?
That’s because banks don’t have any way of knowing what exactly was in your locker.
It could be a pile of junk for all that they know. They just rent the space.
What makes bank lockers attractive is the amount of security you have which is not possible at home.
As per the RBI: “The bank will, in no way, be responsible/liable for the contents kept in the locker by the hirer. In case of theft, burglary or similar unforeseen events, action will be initiated as per law.”
In case a customer opts for a locker from a bank, it is more of a proprietor and a tenant relationship: banks provide on rent, a secured facility to safeguard your previous processions, and nothing more than
3 RBI RULES you must know
What is the maximum deposit amount insured by the DICGC?
Each depositor in a bank is insured upto a maximum of Rs.1,00,000 (Rupees One Lakh) for both principal and interest amount held by him in the same capacity and same right as on the date of liquidation/cancellation of bank’s licence or the date on which the scheme of amalgamation/merger/reconstruction comes into force?
What is the ceiling on amount of Insured deposits kept by one person in different branches of a bank?
The deposits kept in different branches of a bank are aggregated for the purpose of insurance cover and a maximum amount upto Rupees one lakh is paid.
Does the DICGC insure just the principal on an account or both principal and accrued interest?
The DICGC insures principal and interest upto a maximum amount of Rs. One lakh. For example, if an individual had an account with a principal amount of Rs.95,000 plus accrued interest of Rs.4,000, the total amount insured by the DICGC would be Rs.99,000. If, however, the principal amount in that account was Rs. One lakh, the accrued interest would not be insured, not because it was interest but because that was the amount over the insurance limit.
So what exactly is safe?
(Do let me know if you find resources to support consumers from frauds like this.)
Comment below to let me know.
I am linking to Ultimate blogging challenge with Blogchatter #DailyChatter #UBC Day 26
Disclaimer :I am not a legal or insurance expert .The information I have provided comes from RBI website .
The links provided will guide you to the relevant articles.
Kindly take all actions after following legal advice.
Sharing is good Karma!
Mompreneur’s blogging journey(part 9) : How being social is great for your blog
I wrote about how being social is good for our health.But did you know being social is great for your blog too.
From the time I learnt about blogging I heard about mastermind groups.
#My friend Alexa, Ultimate blogging challenge with Daily Chatter is wonderful.I learnt ,made friends and had loads of fun.
MyFriendAlexa taught us how to read blogs and share.#UBC taught us the discipline of daily blogging. Luckily even after #MyFriendAlexa had ended we shared each others in sign for new posts.
Then I heard about the Blogbuddy programme.
I can never stop myself from participating and I signed up.Blogchatter sent a serious email asking whether I was sure . Because it’s a lot of work. It’s a commitment. Am I ready for it?
I was.
That’s why I signed up for Blog buddy 3.0
The power of having a blogging community supporting you is priceless.
9 ways how the community helps
- Support
- Understanding
- Inspiration
- Knowledge
- Friendship
- Greater reach
- Objectivity
- Social health digitally
- Chance to be part of the bigger picture .
- Finding a dedicated group of people to help you grow, is a dream.
Do we have the same dream?
Do we want to blog better?
Will we help each other?
Will we learn together?
Yes definitely that’s the blog buddy goal!
Our team’s name is Ink Magic
Inking words to create magic that’s our shared dream.
I believe relationships are destined.W e are joined by invisible threads. New challenge awaits. Who can say no to a challenge?
To new beginnings and old friends. I think you can do the impossible when you believe.
