Monthly Archives: November 2019

How to Reduce Business Expenses

Companies are always so focused on revenues and maximizing their stock prices and profits that they often forget the other side of the equation — lowering business expenses — which can contribute immensely to their overall profits. If you own a business and are looking for ways to cut expenses, consider some of the following strategies.

Piggyback Some of Your Advertising
Find ways to include advertising in other mailings like invoices, according to Entrepreneur. This enables you to save on postage and generate sales with no additional costs. If you print a newsletter, include advertisements and coupons about new products in it. Another way to save on advertising costs is to use postcard decks. Companies that offer these services usually include dozens of other offers in their mailings. But the mailings go out to hundreds of thousands of customers. All you need are a fraction of the leads these cards generate to spur lots of traffic to your website or store. Local neighborhood ad magazines or circulars are another way to get your advertising message out to many local customers.

Use Independent Contractors
Use freelance copywriters, marketing research professionals and IT workers instead of hiring employees to oversee these functions. Search industry publications for these workers, or place online job ads to attract them. Using independent contractors enables you to avoid salaries and health-care expenses, which can really get expensive for small business owners who are just starting out. These independent professionals are also 1099 workers, meaning you don’t have to incur or deduct taxes from their paychecks. They report their own incomes and expenses.

Reduce Office Supply Costs
Stop buying all your office supplies at retail cost. Look for online wholesalers or vendors who sell pens, paperclips, legal pads, binders, copy paper, index tabs and staplers at reduced costs. Purchase more generic brands instead of the top sellers. Recycle your ink cartridges. Set a monthly budget for office supplies and don’t exceed that limit. Keep them locked in a cabinet and assign one person to dispense them. But make people sign for what they use so you can track everyone’s purchases. This alone can help deter those who take more supplies than they need.

Reduce Management Costs
Once employees learn their duties and responsibilities, reduce the number of hours in which they’re directly supervised. Kevin, Shawn T. and Edward J. Coyne of Harvard Business Review say you should be able to reduce supervisory hours by 10 percent each year if your employees’ duties remain unchanged during that timeframe. Moreover, reduce the number of managers who are performing duplicate functions to improve efficiency in your organization.

Cut Product Costs
If you manufacture your own products, study ways to obtain cheaper natural resources, such as paper, wood, plastics, gravel, corn, wheat and soy. If you purchase your products, compare the costs of various suppliers. Don’t be afraid to switch product sources if you can save money, especially if the new company will provide all the additional services you need and deliver on time.

Lower Financial Expenditures
Ask your bank if you can refinance the mortgage of your building if you own it. Consider leasing a building because it’s often the cheaper option. Lower your insurance expenses by ascertaining whether you’re overpaying or duplicating coverage in some areas. Similarly, compare other insurance companies to your own to determine if you can lower your premiums. If you plan to expand your business, conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis and forecast before your do, according to American Express.

Purchase Used Equipment
Buy used fax machines, copiers and other high-end equipment. You should be able to save as much as 60 percent on used computers, office furniture and other equipment by buying them at national chains such as Aaron Rents & Sells, according to Entrepreneur. Also, attend auctions to purchase used or equipment or check online and newspaper ads.

If you start making a conscious effort to save on business expenses by using some of the aforementioned suggestions, you’ll be surprised how much you’ll reduce them. With that said, it may be difficult to just instantly address all the issues, you could utilize funding sources like VC capital or a small business loan. Running a small business is a living thing, staying on top of things needs to be consistently on your mind or you won’t notice things until it is too late.

Tips For Avoiding Design And Production Mistakes

Many projects fail because of errors in design and production. It is not uncommon that product development projects go over budget, or fail altogether, because of these types of mistakes. Let us look at the most common mistakes which occur during the design and production process.

Bad Timeline Expectations: It is often the case that timelines are created before finishing the idea gathering phase of product development. If timelines are too short it puts unnecessary pressure on the development team. This pressure will likely cause them to speed through the early phases of product development, with hopes of releasing a prototype as soon as possible. Unfortunately, in new product development, one of the most common mistakes that leads to failure is speeding through the idea gathering, or Fuzzy Front End, phase. Failure to set a realistic timeline is one of the most common mistakes.

Poor Testing Parameters: Prototype and market testing is one of the more important aspects of the product development process. It is at this stage that failure arises in many projects.

It is up to the development team to outline the exact metrics to determine whether a product meets its functionality requirements or not. Poorly defined parameters can cause inferior prototypes to pass testing.

Undefined Target Customer: During new product research it is not enough to conceptualize a product that solves some identified problem. A Product developer needs to accurately identify exactly who will purchase the product.

All to often product development firms will poll too wide array of people, and not focus on the individuals who are most likely to purchase the product. Most people will give their opinion on a product, especially if they are being paid, but unless they are the individuals who will actually consider purchasing the product the data means little.

Choosing The Wrong Price Point: Even if a product meets some market need if it is priced higher than its target market is willing to pay it will not sell. Choosing the right price is a difference between success and failure of a product. 

Too Much Complexity: A product’s purpose is what it does. If it does not do what it is supposed to than the product will inevitably be a failure. It is far too common that a design team tries to add too much functionality to a product, losing sight of what problem the product was supposed to solve in the first place. This mistake causes more drain of economic resources, delays product release, and makes product testing more difficult.

Ignoring Industry Standards: Every industry has certain standards that manufacturers must meet. It is easy for an inexperienced team to forget. Such examples are standards on electrical cables, bolts and screws, or food requirements. A product can be rejected, or worse, cause some serious harm or injury if the industry requirements are not properly researched.

Not implementing the industry standard for a particular product can result in large economic losses, especially if large amounts of inventory has already been created.

What Could Cause a Personal Injury Lawsuit to Fail?

There are many situations in which you may want to file a personal injury lawsuit. You may have been seriously injured in a car accident, for example, resulting in huge medical expenses and loss of income as well as physical and mental suffering. 

If you can prove negligence, you may be able to be fully compensated for your losses but there are certain reasons why your personal injury lawsuit could fail. Here are some reasons why this could happen. 

Failing to Provide Adequate Proof 

Not only do you have to prove that the other person is at fault but the other side may deny that your injury occurred as a result of the accident or that it is not as serious as you claim. If you have personal injury lawyers to guide you through the steps after an accident, he or she is more likely to be able to prepare a solid case. 

If you don’t have a legal background, trying to go it alone and claim directly from an insurance company without legal representation can put your rights at risk. 

Insurance companies will often try to settle a claim directly with you and tell you that you will get a better settlement without having to pay legal fees. A personal injury lawyer has your interests at heart and will fight to ensure that you receive what you deserve. 

Loss of credibility

The defense in a personal injury lawsuit is there to make you appear less credible. A gap in the documentation or any steps can leave room for the defense to cast doubt. You have to support your claim with documentation. This could include medical records and other documents. 

Every time you incur an expense because of your accident, you should write it down and keep any receipts. A personal injury lawyer will be able to give you advice on what you can claim. 

Any delay in getting medical attention could send the message that your injuries are not as serious as you claim they are. Receiving immediate attention for your injuries should be a priority in terms of your own health. 

You have a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent your injuries from getting worse, from whiplash to fractures, etc. You need to go for any recommended therapy, take medication and attend follow-up appointments. 

Lack of expert testimony

A personal injury case often relies on expert testimony. It is the best way to counteract any accusations made by the defense. An expert is able to tell the jury about your injury and the impact it has had on your life. 

Choosing the wrong lawyer

If you want to file a personal injury lawsuit, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer at your side who can guide you through the process. Unless the lawyer specializes in personal injury cases, you could receive ineffective representation. 

For example, some personal injury lawsuit claims are filed with inflated loss of future earnings and overstated pain and suffering claims. Impartial medical professionals legally qualified to present a competing analysis may result in such a claim being dismissed or certain items to be eliminated, resulting in a reduced amount of financial damages. 

Filing an appeal

You are able to file an appeal if you aren’t happy with a verdict. Even if you win your case, it may not be the end of a lawsuit because businesses or individuals may lack the funds to pay or refuse to pay. Your attorney will be able to advise you on what steps you need to take to collect your compensation. 

Retire On The Money You Save on Interest

If you are in a financial bind, cut expenses such as cable TV, drop you internet service and go to a dial up connection, cancel newspaper and magazine subscriptions, turn the thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer, only dine out on your birthday and anniversary, don’t buy books or periodicals, borrow them from the library instead, and so on. After cutting your expenses wherever you are able, look for a second job. Jobs parking car, stocking grocery shelves, working at car parts outlets, and sales positions at retail stores are just a few of the possibilities. There is nothing but honor in honest labor.

Don’t Take Out a Second Mortgage

If you end up heavily in debt by over extending yourself for an automobile and/or credit card purchases, the worst thing you can do is to take out a second mortgage on your home.

If you take out a 10 or 15 year home equity loan, that would mean you are going to be paying for your car or those credit card purchases for the next 10 or 15 years. If you had charged gasoline or dinner on that card, do you really think it would be wise to finance them over 10 or 15 years? See how ridiculous that would be.

Getting Out of Debt

If you have credit card and bank debt, there are two main methods that are recommended to retire that debt.

The first says to take the credit card with the lowest balance and pay if off as soon as possible. On all other cards and debt you’d make minimum payments until that lowest one is retired. Once it is paid off and closed, of the remaining cards, you’d take the one with the next lowest balance and repeat the process.

Or you may want to use the second method and that is to take the credit card with the highest interest rate and pay it off as soon as possible, while making minimum payments on all other debt. Next do the same for the one with the next highest interest rate and so on.

If you have multiple cards and loans, you may want to start with the first method and when you’ve closed out a credit card or two, you may want to switch to the second method. Do not cancel the cards, just cut them up and stop using them. Canceling them too quickly can adversely affect your credit rating. Instead, find ways to pay them off with one-off options like selling your old card collection or selling your old junk car.

Never Pay Interest for Anything but a Home Mortgage

Never pay interest for anything but a home mortgage. Take out only a 15 year or shorter time-frame mortgage and make extra payments whenever possible. Don’t buy a home until you have enough savings to replace the heating system, the roof, & all appliances. Those are must have things that, if they fail, you would have to borrow money to replace, at quite possibly a very high interest rate. You do not want to borrow to purchase these items.

If you never pay interest on credit cards, automobiles, major appliance purchases, trips and vacations, and the only interest you ever pay is on a 15 year home mortgage, the money you save over your working years, if invested, will allow you to retire comfortably.

Common Juicing Questions

There are 4 major types of juicing machines. A centrifugal force juicer, masticating juicer, twin gear juicer, and a juice press.  Each type produces its own challenges and benefits.  In the article below I answer some common questions people have when getting into juicing.

1. When is the best time to drink fresh juice?

Actually anytime is great, but research indicates that the body absorbs more nutrients in the morning.

2. What does organic really mean?

Organic is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as any meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Plant foods with the organic label are produced without using pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation. Organic also means that the food is generally GMO free, but there is no longer a 100% guarantee that anything is GMO-free. The term organic is strictly controlled, but the term ‘natural’ is not. A government-approved certifier inspects a farm to ensure organic standards. There are three kinds of organic labels:

  • ‘100-Percent Organic’ means that the product is made of only organic ingredients.
  • ‘Organic’ means 95% of its ingredients are organic.
  • ‘Made with Organic Ingredients’ means at least 70% of the ingredients are organic. 

3. When should I use organic fruits and vegetables?

Not all the fruits and vegetables that you juice need to be organic. The rule of thumb is that if you discard the skin such as with avocados, bananas, oranges, and pineapples, organic is not necessary. If you juice the peel and skin use organic. Refer to a very useful list known as the ‘Dirty Dozen’ of the most contaminated fruits and vegetables. The ‘Clean 15’ are the least contaminated. These lists are updated yearly by the non-profit Environmental Working Group. Despite these lists I try to go organic as much as possible, because pesticides and other chemicals are found in trace amounts even when you remove the skin.

4. But I can not afford organic produce!

The demand for organic foods across the US and Europe is rapidly growing and causing prices to decrease. Did you know that most local supermarket now have their own organic brands at affordable prices? I’ve even seen sales where organic was cheaper than the non-organic variety! So check prices.

5. Do I need to wash pre-washed produce?

Yes! Washing or even just rinsing all your produce is a good idea, because tests show that even ‘pre-washed’ greens have harmful bacteria. Washing or rinsing is very effective against bacteria, but of no use against pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. This is why organic is important even if you wash produce thoroughly. Studies show that the produce most likely to sicken you is packaged salad greens. If your diet is solely raw food, parasites may be a concern.

6. What are ‘greens’ so special?

Green leafy vegetables such as kale, collard greens, lettuce, spinach, and beet greens are so packed with nutrients that they are referred to as ‘superfoods.’ But they are bitter tasting so few people drink just leafy green juice. I add a leaf or two to all my juice recipes – just enough to benefit from the nutrients without the bitter taste. Many consider the most nutritious green of all to be wheatgrass. 

8 Tips to Improve Your Job Search Results

The traditional ways of searching for jobs no longer work today. You can’t just hand in a resume and hope for the best. It is possible to supercharge your job search if you become more proactive. Here are some tips to improve your job search results. 

1. Scan your resume for two minutes

Creating your resume can take you much time and effort but according to CareersWiki.com, 68% of hiring managers will spend less than two minutes looking at it. 

They simply don’t have the time to read dense, complex descriptions or navigate their way through a badly-formatted resume. Scan through it and see if it gives a clear message about what you have to offer. 

2. Write a great cover letter

Make sure your cover letter isn’t generic or boring. A recruiter who hates your cover letter won’t even look at your resume. State why you’re excited about the job and why you’re the right fit. Know the company tone and your value. 

Show that you know what the company does and some of the challenges it faces and how your experience has equipped you to meet its needs. 

3. Start networking

Your networking skills and the professional relationships you establish can work wonders in your job search. Networking is usually far more effective than waiting for jobs to appear on job boards. Select some companies where you would like to work. Follow the companies on LinkedIn and Facebook. 

Write personalized LinkedIn connection requests and start conversations with people who can help you. Comment on blogs, join groups and conversations. Make yourself known and actively pursue the kinds of positions you really want. 

4. Optimize your LinkedIn profile

You need to make sure your LinkedIn profile is 100% complete. If a recruiter was looking on LinkedIn to find a candidate for the position you’re seeking, would your profile show up? 

Try it and if you don’t show up on the first or second page, you may have to take a look at the profiles of people who do show up so you can use the right tactics. They may be using certain keywords that give them a higher ranking. 

6. Create measurable goals

Setting firm goals when searching for a job can help keep you disciplined and motivated. For instance, you may challenge yourself to go for one interview a week and make five networking calls. 

Use technology to stay organized. For example, you can make up a spreadsheet with dates and check off tasks when you’ve completed them. It makes it easy to add job hunting tasks and also means that when potential employers call you, you’re immediately aware of what actions you’ve taken that may have prompted the call. 

7. Learn new skills

Factoring in a few hours a day to take a class or learn a new skill that relates to your dream job is always useful. Researching your job niche may even reveal exactly what courses you could take to improve your chances. Taking some online courses could help to make you more employable and help you to stand out from the competition. 

8. Follow up on applications

If you haven’t heard back on applications you have submitted and more than a week has gone by, you need to follow up. Your persistence may pay off. Sometimes simply expressing how interested you are in the job can help to get you pushed up in the application process. 

If you find out you’ve been unsuccessful, you can remove the job from your list. Don’t be put off by any setbacks in your job search but learn from your mistakes and move on. 

Tips to Advance Your Accounting Career in 2020

Accounting is a popular career choice because accounting skills are always in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are likely to be 1.54 million accounting jobs in the U.S. by 2026. This is 10 percent more than there were in 2016. 

Being an accountant offers job security, an attractive salary, and a growing number of opportunities for employment. Of course, there is a difference between the salaries of accountants in different jobs and at different seniority levels. Here’s how you can boost your career prospects. 

Find a mentor

Find a mentor with many years of experience in the field of accounting and who has faced similar issues and problems to the ones you’re experiencing. A mentor can offer valuable insights and give you the advice to prevent you from making mistakes that could affect your career trajectory. 

If you can’t decide on one mentor, it is quite acceptable to have more than one. For instance, one mentor may be able to provide advice in a specific area of accounting and another may be able to offer advice on advancing your career. 

Become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Becoming a CPA will give your career a boost as this qualification is widely recognized and highly respected. If you want to be a CPA, you need serious dedication, commitment and drive. 

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) sets and regulates the 4-part CPA exam, which is considered to be one of the most difficult professional exams. 

Each state has different requirements to become a CPA. For example, the general requirements to become a CPA in Ohio are that you have state residency, a Social Security number and 150 hours of semester credit, inclusive of a bachelor’s degree. 

Complying with the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements laid down by state boards of accountancy is necessary to retain a CPA license. 

Develop your networking skills

Building up a network of valuable contacts can help with career advancement. If you devote time and effort to your contacts, you can build relationships with professionals who can offer you guidance and advice. 

If you have a vast network, one of the advantages is that it puts you in a better position when you’re looking for your next job. Many jobs aren’t even posted on job boards but are filled through referrals. 

Keep up with advances in technology

Technology is driving change in accounting practices. Cognitive computing, machine learning, high-speed analytics and big data are having an impact on the industry. This offers opportunities for accountants to learn new skills. Knowledge of data analysis, for example, could become a non-negotiable skill in the future for accountants. 

You should make it a point to enhance your existing expertise and gain new skills in your own time. Aim to become an early adopter instead of taking a wait-and-see approach. 

Cloud computing is a good place to begin because it is the foundation on which accounting technologies will depend in the future. The sooner you become comfortable about working anywhere and on any device, the more prepared you will be for what comes next. 

As with all industries, accounting is becoming a technology-driven profession. It is difficult for formal curriculums to keep up with the pace of change. Accountants who are committed to continued learning and ready to experiment with new tools are likely to have more opportunities for career growth than others. 

Accountants who adopt new technologies that can make them more productive and save time will remain competitive and be in demand for some of the top positions in the field. 

Why You Should Purchase Handmade Jewelry

Many of us own jewelry that we have received as gifts or purchased ourselves, but this may not include any handmade jewelry. If you’re tired of buying mass-produced jewelry, adding some handmade jewelry pieces to your collection offers many benefits. Here are some of the reasons why purchasing handmade jewelry is a good idea. 

Support talented artisans

Artisan handmade jewelry is often made with great care. Automatic machines aren’t used to speed up the process. Instead, a few tools help artisans to handcraft pieces using their hands to bring their ideas to life. 

Supporting their creativity helps these talented jewelry makers to continue their work. Most of them create their pieces because they are passionate about their art. They often don’t receive the amount of financial compensation they should relative to the amount of hours they put in. 

However, they still need to earn a living and if enough people buy their work, they are able to support their families and continue to do what they do best. You are supporting a new economic model that allows hardworking, creative artisans to do the work they love. 

Own more unique, creative items

Handcrafting items means that every piece is different. You don’t have to worry about showing up for a social event to find someone else wearing exactly the same necklace and earrings as you. 

You can choose a piece that expresses your lifestyle and personality best and know that you are the only person in the world wearing it. You are able to choose from intricate designs that are difficult to mass-produce and truly show artisanship. 

Many small-scale handmade jewelry makers live in far-flung locations and online platforms have given them the opportunity to share the techniques of their homeland and their unique designs. Each piece tells a story and holds a message. 

Choose quality items that last

Jewelry makers put a great deal of attention and care into a tiny piece of handmade jewelry. Contrast this with artificially produced items produced mechanically in a factory where the focus is on volume. Handmade jewelry is often better constructed with more care than factory-produced items. 

Jewelry makers may take much longer to produce a piece, but the attention to detail is worth the wait. Time is a precious resource and knowing that a piece has taken time to create can make it more meaningful. 

Experience better customer service

When you buy handmade products and something goes wrong with them, you can almost guarantee that sellers will want to fix them. They don’t want their reputation to suffer and many of them rely on customer satisfaction and excellent reviews to sell their products. 

They may also be willing to make custom items to your specifications. You can ask a designer to include something unique to you, whether it is a birthstone or an engraving. 

Contribute to sustainability

Artisans know where their materials come from and would rather use those that are ethically sourced. Their jewelry isn’t made with machines and so less electricity is used and they usually only employ a couple of people to help them, so there are no bad work ethics either (apart from probably working late nights at times!) 

Whether you’re buying a gift or something special for yourself, choosing handmade is the best way to go if you want a piece that’s unique, beautiful, durable and more sustainable. 

You know who made the piece, where they made it and that in doing so, they put their heart and soul into it. Remember that you’re buying a piece that will be an investment for you but will also support a bigger cause. 

Tips For Staying Healthy While Travelling

Travel can either be one of life’s most abundant experiences. The differences in the worlds’ collection of cultures need to be seen to be truly appreciated. With that being said, it is hard to take it all in if one finds themselves sick. Staying healthy while traveling is important, and the average traveler can greatly reduce their risk of falling ill by falling several basic principles.

Sleep: When moving your body into an environment home to billions of foreign microbes and bacteria is going to need some time to adjust. For it to adjust properly it needs proper rest. Getting proper sleep the nights leading up to one’s trip can greatly reduce the risk of falling ill when arriving in a foreign destination.

Hold Off On The Street Food: Street can be very good, and at times some of the most authentic food one will experience in many countries. That being said, letting your gut adapt to the changes over a few days before hitting the street foot carts is a good bet. Many people fall ill going for the cheap local food the moment they land.

Stay Hydrated: People tend to consume more alcohol when traveling and pay less attention to their dietary intake in general. Dehydration has many levels and one may not even notice they are dehydrated, but your body does. Its ability to defend and repair itself against foreign invaders is impaired. 

Plant Heavy Diet: When concerned about the sanitary conditions of an area it is always much safer to go with the plant option over the meat. Even as a precautionary measure for the first few days as your body adjusts to the new environment. One is far less likely to become ill from vegetables than they are from poorly kept or cooked meat.

Walk When Possible: We all know exercise is good for one’s immune system. That being said, the likelihood that was will find themselves exercising while traveling is low. So walking where one can is the next best thing to help keep the immune system healthy.

Sleep In Private Rooms: In tropical or Equatorial climates many bad viruses are spread via mosquitoes. Many travelers elect to sleep in dormitory-style accommodations to save money. While it is economically much more friendly the likelihood of being bitten by a virus-carrying mosquito is much higher.

Bring Appropriate Attire: It is important to dress for the environment one is going into. Eco-tourism has become a major industry over the last 15 years and any hiking endeavor should be undertaken with the same level of planning a sit would at home. At the very least men’s and women’s boots should be purchased at home.

Practice Excellent Hygiene At Airport: It is very easy to get sick at the airport. Depending on the airport in question, it can see millions of passengers every day. Most people who catch a cold or virus do it by touching an infected surface than rubbing their eyes or touching their mouths. Paying close attention to avoid touching one’s eyes and mouth and as well as being diligent with handwashing is a good way to avoid getting sick.

Learning How To Use Bitcoin

You’re in an office meeting listening to your coworkers talk about cryptocurrency. The problem is, you have no idea what any of them are talking about. Sure, you heard about bitcoin in 2017, everyone was talking about it. 

However, it’s a few years later, and now everyone seems to be talking about the cryptocurrency again. Maybe it’s time you took a better look at bitcoin? Here are the basics of what you need to know about dealing with the premier cryptocurrency.

Step 1 – Downloading Your Bitcoin Wallet

When you want to start your cryptocurrency portfolio, you’ll need to download a wallet. No, we’re not talking about the leather wallet in your back pocket. A digital wallet stores your cryptocurrency, similar to the way your wallet saves your cash. 

However, crypto wallets rely on a digital private key to allow you to send and receive BTC. Your wallet has a unique address, which is your identifying number, sort of like your bank account. You get both “hot wallets” and “cold wallets.” 

Hot wallets are the wallets you use on platforms like Coinbase, and cold wallets are storage vehicles like USB devices that store your BTC offline. Choosing the best Bitcoin wallet requires some research, but there are a few good options, and we like the Nano Ledger X for cold storage.

Step 2 – Learning to Trade with Your Wallet 

After you download your wallet or purchase your offline cold storage wallet, you’re ready to send and receive bitcoin. Remember to back-up your wallet’s private keys. If you ever lose your cold storage wallet, you’ll need them to retrieve your bitcoins. 

There are a variety of ways to purchase bitcoin online. Localbitcoins.com has plenty of sellers. Simply click on a vendor, EFT them money from your bank account, and they release your bitcoin from escrow to your wallet.

Receiving bitcoin doesn’t require any action from your side. However, selling bitcoin is a different story altogether. That’s not to say that it’s not a relatively straightforward process to master.

Copy the recipient’s bitcoin wallet address, or scan their QR code. Navigate to the “send” tab, and enter the receivers address into the recipient box. Enter the amount you want to send, as well as the wallet address, and hit send. 

With bitcoin, you can send money anywhere in the world, without going through your bank. Save money on foreign transaction fees and forex rates.

Step 3 – Using Bitcoin ATMs

Now that you understand how to send and receive bitcoins electronically using your phone or computer, let’s look at bitcoin ATMs. Bitcoin ATMs are operating in most states and numerous locations in countries all over the world. With a bitcoin ATM, you can send money anywhere in the world.

Some bitcoin ATMs also allow you to withdraw your BTC in USD. However, these ATMs might ask you for information like your phone number or Social Security number, depending on where you are in the world. 

In Closing – Keep Learning

As bitcoin continues to gain market cap and market share in the financial system, those in the know will reap the rewards. Stay plugged into the crypto space, and stay on top of all breaking developments.