Guide to Traveling on a Budget

 Guide to Traveling On a Budget, Liz Fe Lifestyle, 2021

 

Is it possible to vacation in other countries without maxing out your credit cards or taking out a personal loan? According to this book, the answer is Yes.

 

Start saving money today. Cut that daily Starbucks coffee down to weekly. Do you really use all of those monthly subscriptions on your credit card bill? Are there ways to shrink your electric bill? If you have extra stuff around the house, sell it online or have a tag sale. Put all of that saved money into your Vacation Account.

 

Visit airline websites every day. They may have a special today that is gone tomorrow. Be Flexible. You may want a non-stop flight from America to Rome, for instance. You may also find that flying to Rome, via Amsterdam, is cheaper than flying non-stop.

 

Do lots of research on your destination country. Are there museums or cultural landmarks with free, or reduced-price, admission? What is available in hostels or inexpensive hotels? Is there a decent public transportation system? You really should try some street food, at least once. Be Flexible. Don't set your itinerary in stone, because it is going to change. Consider traveling in the spring or autumn, when fewer tourists will be there with you.

 

This book also includes a look at budget traveling in countries like Guatemala, Morocco and Fiji. It is an excellent introduction to the world of inexpensive vacations. Maybe it will inspire you to start planning that overseas vacation that has been in the back of your mind for years.

Money: 5 Things You Should Avoid

 Money: 5 Things You Should Avoid, Liz Fe Lifestyle, 2021

 

By itself, money is not the problem. It's just an inanimate piece of paper or hunk of metal. People's mindset toward money, giving it all sorts of power over their lives, is the problem. It has been going on throughout human history.

"He who has the gold makes the rules." "The love of money is the root of all evil." Does spending money, regardless of what you are buying, make you feel better? Are you a believer in "retail therapy?" How long does that shot of dopamine last? How do you feel later? How much money do you spend each week, at the casino, or on lottery scratch tickets? If you do come into a lot of money, will you spend it as fast as possible on shopping sprees, or will you, figuratively, stick it under your mattress? It can be very hard to change your mindset from anxiety and pessimism to hope and optimism.

Cutting your expenses does not mean living like a hermit. Do you really need all those subscriptions that show up on your credit card? Get in the habit of putting some money, even just a few dollars a week, into a savings account, and leaving it there. You never know when a sudden medical or car repair bill will drop on top of you. Start thinking about investing in the stock market.

This is an easy-to-read book about mindsets toward money. It is very much worth reading for everyone.

The Youth Climate Change Movement

 The Youth Climate Change Movement, Liz Fe Lifestyle, 2021

 

Greta Thunberg is the most well-known climate change activist, but she is hardly the only one. This book introduces the reader to several other activists working to improve conditions in their communities.

Write to your elected representatives, in your state capital or in Washington, demanding that they act on climate change. Climate change education needs to start - today. It should not be taught just in college, or just in high school, but an age-appropriate climate change curriculum should also be taught in elementary school. More young people will get involved in battling climate change if they learn about it in school.

Recycling and using public transportation are not nothing, but much more effort needs to be aimed at the corporations that do most of the polluting. For instance, if an oil company touts their environmental record, write to them, on paper, and demand specifics. Paper is much harder to "lose" than an e-mail. Don't be afraid to write to them several times, becoming a pain in the rear end.

For any young person who needs inspiration to get involved in climate activism, reading this book is a very good idea. It is short, and very easy to understand.

YouTube Sponsors: How they Work and What to Expect

 YouTube Sponsors: How They Work and What to Expect, Liz Fe Lifestyle, 2021

 

Everyone wants to be an online influencer, but what are the actual steps involved?

 

First of all, you need to already have some videos online, and some followers. The minimum number of followers needed is 1000. There are ways to analyze who watches your videos. Do they watch the entire video? Which video has the most views? Do your videos get lots of comments?

 

There are sites where brands and influencers can get together, and maybe strike a deal. You can also write to your favorite brand, and ask. The worst they will say is "No," or "Try again when you reach X thousand followers." If you do strike a deal with a brand, be absolutely certain that you understand what they want. Will you be talking about their product for 3 minutes, in the middle of your video, or is "This video is sponsored by . . ." good enough? Try to find a brand whose products are close to the subject of your videos. Interrupting a beauty and makeup video to talk about a financial services firm is not good. At minimum, you need to say "This video is sponsored by . . ." in your video (don't just put it in the description). The viewer needs to know if you are praising a product because you legitimately like it, or simply because you are getting paid for it.

 

This is when you start getting checks from YouTube with lots of zeros in them, right? Wrong. Getting such checks is certainly possible, but it is much more likely to make hundreds, not thousands, of dollars per month.

 

Here is an excellent introduction to the world of being an online influencer. It is very much worth reading for everyone.

YouTube: How Much Can Users Really Make?

 YouTube: How Much Can Users Really Make?, Liz Fe Lifestyle, 2021

 

Becoming a YouTube influencer sounds pretty easy. Post a few videos on the site, and, within a short time, you have half a million followers. Soon after that, YouTube starts sending you monthly checks with lots of zeros. Simple, right? Wrong, according to this book.

 

Where do your views come from? Clicks from American viewers are more lucrative than clicks from foreign viewers. If possible, make your videos at least ten minutes long. That length allows YouTube to stick an ad in the middle. Make sure that your videos are "family-friendly." If not, Forget about making any money from them.

 

It is possible to make Kim Kardashian-level money from YouTube. Making hundreds, not thousands, of dollars per month is much more likely. A better way to make money is from partnerships, or sponsorships, with related companies. Another good idea is to use your YouTube channel to, for instance, publicize your line of skin care products, or your budding music career.

 

This is a really good introduction to the world of YouTube influencing. There is a lot to think about, but, if you want to do the work, success is possible. Here is an excellent place to begin your influencer journey.

How to Build Your Influencer Brand

 How to Build Your Influencer Brand, Liz Fe Lifestyle, 2021

There are many things to consider before a person can become a social media influencer.

What is your subject (food, travel, beauty and makeup)? What is your method of communication (blogging, podcasts, videos)? Who is your target audience (please be more specific than "everyone")? Don't try to spread yourself all over social media; pick one or two platforms and stick with them. The Facebook audience is different than the YouTube audience which is different than the TikTok audience?

How often are you going to post new content? Whatever you choose, be consistent. Know your competition, and find some way to be different than they are. Why should a person listen to you, or buy from you, over someone else? Define your brand. What colors and font will you use? What is your mission (aside from making a lot of money)?

This is an excellent introduction to the influencer world. Other books go into more detail, but for anyone just starting out in social media, reading this book is a very good idea.