If you’re anything like me; you’re always looking for ways to earn extra money.  I’ve tried too many different methods and the only one that I have had any significant success with has been niche store building.

My old cactus website (cactusjax) brought in a fair amount of revenue last year.  Although this year it seems so out of date as blogging has taken over as the most profitable way to create an authority website.

So I have built my new cactus website (cactusandsucculents) using wordpress and phpBay.

Mark Hansen owner of a fantastic blog called The Niche Store Builder is running a competition to win a website, built by himself, after he has followed the Build a Niche Store Guide for 90 days.

It costs nothing to enter – just follow the instructions at the Build a Niche Store Guide website. You never know – you could be the lucky winner!

Niche Store Builder Contest is a post from: Victoria Ice

There is 30 1 hour lessons on the program I have purchased, so that is 1 lesson a day for the next 30 days starting from tomorrow. I will hopefully by the end of that time be able to communicate in Turkish. I do not expect that I will know everything but I do hope to be able to communicate when I am travelling.

I will let you know how I get on, so watch this space!

Learning Turkish is a post from: Victoria Ice

And after ten years in debt – I have decide to take the bull by the horns and get my finances in order.

We are both self employed and working together and so it can be a little iffy with just how much we will be earning each month but am hoping to clear at lest £2000 (remember that is before tax). I am working on the principal that once I have cleared my debts I can set monies aside to pay my Taxes as soon as they become due.

My credit cards are gone – yes I have cut them up a few days ago telling myself that there was really no reason for keeping them if I was not planning to use them again.

The other culprit is our mortgage and that is more than half of our total debt.

Sorry if this is getting a bit long in the tooth now but this is our starting point - and we do so want to be is debt free by July 2011……………………………….

So watch this space and I will try and keep you up to date with our getting into the BLACK…………

My starting point;

Credit Card 1 – £5,398.72 (21.9%)
Credit Card 2 – £5,759.68 (20.8%)
Credit Card 3 – £17,625.78 (15.9%)
Credit Card 4 – £6,172.82 (0%)
Overdraft – £3,981.96 (18.8%)
Mortgage – £58,952.67 (5%)

TOTAL DEBT…£97,891.63

We will be Debt Free is a post from: Victoria Ice

The great by product of this is that I have saved SOOO much money by not buying: roasts, burgers, tuna etc and instead loading up on couscous, beans, and veggies

I feel great, I’ve lost weight and I’ve saved a load of money…

Eating less Meat is a post from: Victoria Ice

I’ve started looking for tips to simplify my life, and implementing those a few at a time until things feel more orderly.

Two Simple Ways to Simplify Your Life

Clear a thinking space. When our space is cluttered, our mind is cluttered. Remove anything from your space that is distracting. Clear surfaces of clutter. File papers and documents that no longer require your attention.

Just say “no.” It’s only two letters, but it is often the most difficult word to say in the English language, especially for “pleasers.” But saying no gracefully is key to simplifying your life because it allows to focus our energy on those commitments that are most important to us.

Simplify Your Life is a post from: Victoria Ice