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Top Tips for Working More Efficiently at Home

Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

Whether you work remotely for a company, or you are running your own business from home, working more efficiently can make your day better and give you more time to focus on things that are important to you. One of the biggest factors that can slow down your work is your laptop or mac. When you first purchased your laptop, it probably ran fast and smoothly. Over time, its performance and speed will slow down. From slowly opening programs to not having enough space to download any files, it can become frustrating and impact your work.

Making some simple changes to your device will significantly improve your efficiency and the way you work. 

Here are some of the best ways to improve your laptop performance and efficiency. 

#1 Free up space 

Freeing up space on your device can be one of the most helpful things that you do. Even if you don’t need to download files on a regular basis, your device will still need empty space available on the device for virtual memory, to perform tasks and run programs. You must aim for completely clean MacBook storage. Start by removing any old programs and files that you don’t need, delete any temporary files and uninstall any unnecessary or unwanted software. 

#2 Check your device for malware 

Sometimes your device might not be running efficiently due to a virus, adware, spyware or another malicious software or program. This can take up a lot of space, and use a lot of resources on your device, as well as put your security at risk. You should regularly check your device for malware by running a virus or threat protection check in the settings, to ensure your device is running as best as it can. You should also download anti-virus and anti-malware on your device. These steps will keep your device running efficiently, and ensure you do not hit any costly or detrimental disruptions later down the line, that may stop you from being able to work altogether. 

#3 Service your laptop 

You should get regular service on your device, especially if you use it every day. You can do this yourself by watching YouTube tutorials by professionals. Alternatively, you can find a reputable company that can service your device for you. This service will increase the speed and performance of your laptop, by making sure everything is running properly. A service will focus on the hardware, rather than the software. When dust and debris build up on your device, it can impact its performance. All the parts of your device, including the circuit board and other components that sit inside, require cleaning at some point. If you choose to service your laptop yourself, make sure you are careful and put everything back properly. You should also try to avoid eating in your workspace to reduce the crumbs that fall into your device and keep your workspace clean. 

#4 Regularly reboot your device 

When you regularly lock your device or reboot it, you are providing it with the chance to improve its performance automatically. During this time, your device will fix any bugs, reduce memory leaks, and flush the RAM. If you don’t have anything of importance on your laptop, you may also consider the option of resetting your laptop. Over the years, you may have built up many files and programs that you don’t want or need. A reset is quick and will get rid of all the files, and set it back to the way it was when you first purchased it. 

#5 Increase the Random-access memory (RAM) 

RAM is the short term memory of your device. While you might not be downloading a file during your workday, the RAM is used to process all the tasks you are working on. Without RAM or a sufficient amount of RAM, your programs or any activity to try to do on your device, will not work. It works by reading files, temporarily storing them for you to use, and loading applications. Depending on what you do for work, will dictate how much RAM your device requires. For example, if you just use your laptop for basic activities, then 4GB of RAM should be sufficient. If you are running bigger and more demanding programs, for activities such as programming, graphic design, or gaming, then you will need 8GB of RAM or more. Review the tasks that you complete regularly, and consider if increasing the RAM will help your device run more efficiently. 

An efficient workday heavily relies on the performance of your laptop or mac. Follow these top tips to help you improve your working day. 

Taxation for Philippine Social Media Influencers

Whenever my content creator friends and social media influencers would ask me when is it the best time to pay taxes, I would always tell them that once you are earning, you have to pay. And this is not because I want to be some goody two shoes in this industry, but personally, what I value most is peace of mind. So today, let’s go through this RMC about Taxation for Social Media Influencers.

Believe me! I had my fair share of missed tax filings and books that were not updated years ago, and it was not a fun thing to go through. I had to pay exorbitant fees, but I couldn’t blame anybody else. Paying taxes is the responsibility of the tax payer, so I couldn’t blame my accountant or blame the BIR for charging me. Having no knowledge of the law is not an excuse, so we all better brush up on learning about taxes.

Why are we discussing this? Yesterday, our tax ministry, the BIR, released a Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) or a memo reminding everyone that all Social Media Influencers to file and pay their taxes. This is RMC97-2021. Some of you would ask “who are Social Media Influencers”? So the BIR actually gave a run down of who these people are and they specifically mentioned those who are under the YouTube Partner Program or basically people who are earning from Youtube.

But, if you earn via direct advertising, meaning you get paid by brands, or you earn via other platforms like Facebook (via support badges, stars, etc.), Twitch (via bits and subs), Kumu (via in app gifts, etc.), Instagram, even Affiliate commissions, please please please do pay taxes for these things, well. The law states that if you earn any income on Philippine soil, you will have to declare taxes for these earnings.

So how do you begin?

I wrote a blog post before where I explained how you can start paying taxes as a freelancer: A FREELANCER’S AND CONSULTANT’S GUIDE TO USING TAXUMO

A Freelancer’s and Consultant’s Guide to Using Taxumo

Feel free to go through this post.

In the RMC, BIR also goes through the allowable deductions or basically, what are the expenses that you can declare. It also goes through compliance from registration, to updating your books and filing and paying taxes (which I discussed in the shared linked above for Freelancers).

The BIR goes on to remind the penalties for tax evasion and failure to file a return.

Penalties for Online and Social Media Influencers who evade taxes and who fail to file their taxes

After that, the BIR discusses double taxation. Double taxation is basically being taxed by the platforms that you use and being taxed as a professional. An example for this is that Google LLC withholds 24% of your earnings. Then when you declared in the Philippines as a tax payer, you will have to pay VAT/Percentage, Income tax and (if applicable) withheld taxes.

To avoid double taxation, one must secure a tax residency certificate (TRC) from the BIR and then this is submitted to the foreign platform who is applying taxes in their own countries. Note that this is only applicable to platforms and entities in countries that the Philippines has a tax treaty with.

What happens to your taxes in that foreign country? In the case of Google LLC, the previously withheld 24% will now become 15% and then you still have to pay taxes in the Philippines. Of course, for other platforms, they will have yet to share what their own taxes are.

So with the reminder yesterday, the last section of the RMC states this…

So there you have it. If you have questions or you need assistance, feel free to chat with Taxumo via the chat button on their site: https://www.taxumo.com or email them your inquiries customercare@taxumo.com.

Crisis Proof your Freelancing Business

The COVID-19 pandemic will bring a “new normal” for many.

I just had my husband cut my hair a while ago then I colored it with a hair dye after. I haven’t been out of the house since March 13. I still manage to stay positive though and be grateful for what I have.

Not everyone will be affected the same way. Some Filipinos have already lost their jobs while others are thinking of resigning due to health and safety concerns. 

And there are those who surprisingly started a freelancing business in the middle of the pandemic. These Filipinos are earning a lot of income in the comfort of their home.

Crisis proof your Freelancing business

On March 21, John Pagulayan, a highly sought-after, 7-figure freelancer who has taught thousands of Filipinos how to build a thriving freelance business will teach you exactly how you can do this.

This is for everyone who wants to work from home, start a freelancing business, earn additional income on the side, or get better, higher-paying clients.

FREE WORKSHOP: The Simplest Way to Start a Crisis Proof Freelancing Business in 90 Days or Less… Even If You’re Just Starting Out

WHAT: An online workshop on how to start a crisis proof freelancing business in 90 days or less

WHEN: May 21, 2020

HOW MUCH: FREE

What will I learn from this webinar?

  • The unlikely opportunity waiting for you to earn “new” and more income during this pandemic
  • How COVID-19 accidentally created 6-figure per month Filipino earners
  • A proven plan that allows you to create a business that needs little to zero capital
  • Why freelancing has become one of the most stable source of income right now
  • What it takes to get freelance clients at will even if you don’t have skills, portfolio, or experience

Who should attend this webinar?

  • Filipinos who are looking to supplement or replace their monthly income
  • Freelancers who are overworked and underpaid and are struggling
  • Anyone who wants to create a sought-after, highly-paid, stress-free, freelance business 
  • People who want to explore and make money from online income opportunities

Who will be teaching in this webinar?

John “The Legend” Pagulayan is an email copywriter and consultant to businesses here and abroad. He has been featured in GMA 7’s 24 ORAS, Inquirer, and a regular speaker at freelancing and digital marketing summits.

His mission is to give every Filipino freelancer (regardless of their background — high school grad man o walang pinag-aralan) a fighting chance to have the business and lifestyle of their dreams.

Quick Questions:

What is a webinar?

It’s an online video seminar. All you need to attend is a computer, a good internet connection and speakers. This is great because you can learn at the comfort of your own home, wherever you are.

What if I’m not available on March 21?

Not a problem. You can watch the VIDEO REPLAY of the webinar anytime, anywhere. Please watch it at your earliest convenience because the video is only available for free viewing for a limited time.

Is there a deadline for the registration?

Yes, registration will be closed once the video is no longer available for free viewing.

When will this happen again?

This is a special learning opportunity provided in partnership with John Pagulayan. We don’t know when it will happen again.

Don’t Miss Out On This FREE Learning Opportunity

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by joining this webinar. This is your chance to learn how to create a sought-after, highly-paid, stress-free, freelance business and seize the “new” opportunities in the middle of this pandemic. 

SUMMARY OF WHAT TO DO:

  1. Register for the online workshop: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FREE
  2. Watch, comment and tell John your biggest takeaway, share, and win 1 of 5 Full Year Memberships at zero cost.

Hope this helps!

Sincerely,

I Promise to Be a Better Freelancer this 2019

I sound so crazy saying that. You might be wondering, who actually promises to be better at one’s profession or one’s job even.

Well, that’s the entire point. Only a few of us commit to be better at what we do.

When creating goals for this year, most of us write down financial goals, weight loss goals, travel goals, etc. Hardly do we take the time out to create action steps on how we might better our freelancing profession, how we run a company or a business or even how we work in the office. We only think about improving our profession, business or career when the going gets tough, when ratings are involved or when we’re trying to get a promotion.

I think this year is the year that we push ourselves into COMMITTING to do better in what we do. Since I’m a freelancer / entrepreneur, I commit to be better at both these things. I have listed down things that I will commit to.

I will commit to seeing my worth.

Last year, I have been scared of losing. I have been scared of losing a lot of deals with clients, losing relationships and losing opportunities. I agreed to some projects that have lowered my worth as a freelancer. This year, I commit to being braver, to seeing my strengths and to valuing myself. I commit to dealing with people who see the value that I can give them. I will constantly remind myself that I am worth every penny, because I deliver great value.

My Team: #TeamTaxumo

I will commit to deliver exceptional work.

I will commit to not only deliver projects ask of me, but deliver exceptional work. I will help my client with their objectives and contribute ideas and more than the scope of work given to me. I will continue to provide more value to brands that I trust and love.

I will commit to tracking my finances better.

I will commit to logging my income and expenses dutifully. I will commit to continuously using frequently-used-apps like PayPal, Taxumo, GCASH and UnionBank Mobile Banking and to use my not-so-frequently used apps like Wally, 52 Weeks and other apps that I have downloaded an paid for. I know that these will help me, but lazy me takes over! Haha! So I will commit to fixing my finances better this 2019.

I will commit to writing, blogging and vlogging more consistently.

I commit to creating better content — content that is from the heart and more purposeful. I promise that I will b/vlog about the things that my readers will be interested in and that they will learn from. I promise to be consistent, too. I will not let the week pass without creating content.

I promise to learn more about “other” things this year.

I usually come across things that I use for my craft, but I know that I need to learn or at least read about other things that are not related to what I do. I commit to read more, listen to people, meet new people and create new relationships with people. I commit to widening my network, since I know that this is how I’ll be able to learn more.

That’s about it. These are the things that I commit to as a freelancer.

How about you? Let’s start an accountability thread. Tell me about what you COMMIT to as a freelancer, entrepreneur, employee, profesional, parent, etc. I’d love to hear about it!

How Financial Tools Can Keep You Out of Trouble

Money is a difficult subject to talk about. But with the right financial tools, anyone can learn to manage their expenses and stay away from financial troubles later on.

Those who know me would know that I like automation. And, I also like looking for financial tools that can make my life easier and my business run smoothly.

Today, I’d like to share three financial tools that can help freelancers manage their finances better. I’ve personally used these, and I can attest that they definitely work.

Financial Tool #1 – Wally for Expense Tracking

I’ve been a fan of Wally for almost two years now and I’ve been using it to tracking and managing finances.

What I love about it is that it lets me compare my income versus expenses. It also gives me insights on my spending habits.

One of my guilty pleasures is online shopping. I just can’t help it! I get curious about a lot of stuff, especially when it comes to beauty products and Zeeka’s things. I’m also into checking out local brands. Just check out my Instagram and you’d know what I mean.

And sometimes, I can’t help but be a bit impulsive.

But with Wally, I get to see the expenses I’ve made and categorize them according to their purpose. It lets you create your own budget, add tags and categories, and even the location of your purchase.

It also lets you add reminders for recurring payments, attach images and pictures of receipts, and even keep track of all financial accounts in one place. You also even set goals for savings and investments.

Wally also has a feature where you can track the loans you’ve made and strategize on payments to avoid incurring penalties.

The most awesome thing about the app? It’s absolutely FREE!

You can get yours today by visiting the App Store or Google Play.

Financial Tool #2 – Paypal

I have used PayPal ever since I started writing for a living. And being a recognisable brand all over the world, Paypal made it easier for local and international clients to trust me with their business.

What I love about Paypal is its flexibility. I can send and receive funds from my clients without the fuss. I can also integrate other apps and automate processes like recurring payments with ease.

I have always prioritized automation in running my projects and businesses. As an entrepreneur, it’s important for me to free my time so I could focus on the tasks I need to do. And Paypal has given me the option to do just that.

Paypal has come in handy for online payment options, especially for Manila Workshops and Taxumo.

Those who avail of our workshops find it easier to make seat reservations through our website. It also gives them easier access to ongoing promotions and deals with just a click of a button. Taxumo users also get to enjoy seamless payments when they use their Paypal to pay for our services.

This service from Paypal is an awesome tool you can use for your freelance business. You can use it to get direct payments from anywhere in the world transferred to your local bank account.

You can also add it to your website and other profiles for clients to make payments any time.

Here’s a quick tutorial on how you can also add a Paypal button to your website:

Financial Tool #3 – GCash

I’m such a fan of GCash because it’s so convenient. Ever since I started using it, I didn’t have to carry as much cash anymore.

GCash is perfect for freelancers, especially those who don’t have time for long queues just to pay their bills. With just a tap of a button, you can get your phone bills, credit card bills, and other utilities paid at your convenience.

Here’s a cool feature from GCash. Did you know that you can just scan your electricity bill to pay it on your GCash app?

Yep, I used to type in the reference numbers when I started paying our electricity bill through the app. This process is a bit tedious and is prone to errors, but it definitely beats standing in line at the payment centers or banks.

Thankfully, GCash now added a feature where you can scan the code at the bottom of the bill and saves you from all the effort.

GCash also has other features that freelancers can take advantage of. There’s GCredit, where you can use it as a credit card for online payments. And there’s also GInvest, where you can start investing your hard earned cash and get access to various investment funds.

You can check out my post for more information about GCredit here.

If you’re interested in investing, you can learn more about GInvest here.

Freelancing can be difficult, especially if you’re starting out or if you don’t have a steady stream of clients. That’s why it’s important for every freelancer to learn how to manage their finances well.

Good thing that there are financial tools available today that can help you stay out of debt and financial troubles.

What tools do you use to manage your finances? Share your finance-related tips with us below.