April 2020

People all over the world are required to stay at home during this COVID-19 pandemic. This is the best effort that we can contribute to hopefully flatten the curve sooner than later. Many people are probably bored now since we cannot go out, we cannot meet up with friends, and we cannot go on with our usual routine. But it’s just a small sacrifice for the welfare of many and for our own safety as well so we must thrive and survive.

Well, in this article, we will discuss some tips to help you spend your time at home productively and hopefully help us get through this tough time.

1. Read a book – reading a book is very therapeutic. It helps you take your mind off the worries and stress specially during this crisis. So, pick up a book that has been on your bookshelf for a while now.
2. Learn something new – this is also a great time to learn something new like cooking, baking, photoshop, video editing and so on. There are many free tutorials available online and it is best to take advantage while you have time to spare. This is indeed something that will keep you occupied during the day.
3. Exercise – when was the last time you exercise? Well, you probably always utter your excuse that you are busy with work and stuff thus you do not have time to work out. Well, you now have all the time in the world so you might as well exercise. You can do whatever suits you – run in treadmill, lift weights, yoga, dance or whatnot. But of course, you need to do everything at home.
4. Work at home – you can also work from home using the computer and the internet. This is indeed something that we can be thankful about that we are living in a modern world. You can also find other ways to earn during your time at home. You can start your own website. There’s no need for big budget to do this. You can even find a discount domain, free templates and really cheap web hosting package. You can also do vlogging if you prefer to create video content. There are many job opportunities that you can try during your free time at home.
5. Sleep – during normal days, you’re probably too busy that eight hours of sleep is just impossible. Well, you can have decent and quality sleep now. It’s time to catch up on your sleep to give your body strength and energy that you need to face this crisis.

Staying at home is just a small thing but if everyone will be obedient, it will definitely make a big difference. It’s not like we are required to fight a war so let us be thankful. Some people like doctors, nurses, grocery staff and other front-liners are making a big sacrifice and the best way to repay them is by making sure that we are following the guidelines of social distancing and keeping safe at home. There are many ways to ease boredom at home just like what we discussed in this article.

If you are interested in starting an online boutique with little to no money, you’ll be interested in hearing five tips to help get you started. It’s a common misconception that you need a ton of start-up money in order to open an online store. With these tips, you will be able to officially open the virtual doors to your boutique and start turning a profit.

1. Map Out a Business Plan

Starting an online boutique might be more simple than you imagine, but it still takes diligent planning and hard work. When you’re outlining your business plan, it should include these five steps: locate products for inventory, sort out paperwork, set up your shop, market your business, and start making sales. Once you’ve mapped out your business plan, you’re ready to proceed.

2. Buy and Sell Refurbished Electronics

Refurbished electronics are known to be as good as new, with a less expensive price tag. TheStore sells refurbished cell phones, computers, navigation systems, and much more on their website.

All of their products are from top companies. TheStore sells almost every technology-related gadget you could possibly think of. You’ll be able to stock up on inventory for your own online boutique without burning a hole in your wallet.

3. Peruse Other Boutiques

Visit as many online boutiques as possible. Write down how much they’re charging for the same merchandise you plan to sell. This will help you gauge the best way to price your items. If you’re selling a refurbished iPhone 11 for $100 more than other online stores, you’re unlikely to make a sale. Of course, you want to turn a profit, which is why TheStore is a great place to buy high-quality items for an excellent price.

Conversely, if you’re intending on selling a MacBook Air for $200 less than other online shops, you’re selling yourself short. You may sell a ton of them, but you won’t make as much money as you should. The best way to decide on pricing is to price your items accordingly to other websites; set your prices similar to theirs.

4. Run Email Checks on Potential Investors and Competitors

If you’re planning on starting out with one or two employees, you’ll want to run email checks on potential investors and competitors. GoLookUp is an international-based website that allows you to search for information online.

Using their email address lookup feature you can ensure you’re getting into business with the right people. Once you have the green light from GoLookUp, you’ll feel safe conducting business with the people you checked out. These are all matters of public record, so don’t feel as if you’re violating anyone’s privacy.

5. Purchase a Domain Name

You’ll need a domain name for your website. GoDaddy sells domain names for just several dollars a year. After you’ve chosen a name for your company, you can see if that name is available on their site. If it isn’t, you can choose something similar or use “.org” instead of “.com.” Sites that sell domain names offer various options to help you get the website name that you truly want.

A few other suggestions are looking up local yard sales, antique stores, and estate sales. You’ll often find a great bargain on all different sorts of items. When you’re store is up and running, you can start implementing marketing techniques. Facebook ads and Google ads will gain the attention of potential consumers. And don’t forget to have fun with it! Sell what you want, know that you don’t need a lot of money to begin, and watch patiently as the cash flows in.