Winning holiday shopping spree: Tips for Nigerian e-commerce by Reuben Kalu - ITREALMS

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To effectively position your business and attract new traffic, it's crucial to start early and strategically plan your holiday campaigns.

Here is a detailed guide on the best times to start and how to drive traffic to your store, showcasing your Christmas bestsellers, and ensuring good conversion strategies to tap into the N1 billion online sales in Nigeria:

Five tips for small business owners online - ITREALMS

Sponsored@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Entrepreneurs can benefit from new ideas on ways to address a particular issue or ideas for growth.

Small businesses are embracing digitalization and catering to their customer needs through a variety of online channels. 

With new technologies emerging such as artificial intelligence, there is no time like the present to help your small business grow by taking advantage of the online world.

2018 Convention: Jehovah’s Witnesses kick off, offer tips on surmounting challenges - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

This year’s Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses, focusing on how to face contemporary challenges with courage, holds in 34 different locations across Nigeria from August to December. The convention, which has as theme, “Be Courageous!” will be held almost every weekend from Friday, August 3, to Sunday, December 23, report ITRealms.

A statement signed by George Ijeh, a spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses, said that the convention will help attendees to face with God-given courage the daunting challenges individuals, families and the society at large face today. 

“When you look at the news today, you can clearly see that people of all ages are dealing with more anxieties and fears than ever before. It takes courage to face these pressures. We welcome everyone to this year’s convention to benefit from the practical advice that’s contained in the Bible,” Ijeh said.

He explained that the three-day programme consists of 54 presentations that will include talks, audio dramas, interviews, and short videos. 

Highlights, according to the statement, include the baptism, on Saturday morning, of new members who have completed a Bible Study programme, and a Public Discourse on Sunday morning, on the theme, “The Resurrection Hope Imparts Courage​—How?” Additionally, a feature film entitled The Story of Jonah—A Lesson in Courage and Mercy will be shown on the final day of the convention programme.

“In all, there will be 308 conventions in Nigeria. The programme commences 8:20 a.m. each day of the convention, closing at 3:50 p.m., except on Sunday, when it closes at 2:45 p.m. The convention begins in the Lagos-Ogun area from August 31 and will hold at the Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses located along Idiroko Road, Ota; Daluwon along Mowe-Ofada Road; Lekki and Badagry,” Ijeh said.

He disclosed that “For the benefit of all, the progamme will be presented in English, French, American Sign Language (ASL), and more than 20 indigenous Nigerian languages, including Igbo, Esan, Nigerian Pidgin, Yoruba, Efik, Gun, Hausa, Tiv, Idoma, Isoko, Urhobo and Ijaw, among others.”

The statement invited everyone to attend, assuring that “there is no admission fee and no collection will be taken.”

Apart from Nigeria, the conventions are being held at venues in about 180 different lands. The date and location for each convention can be found on the Witnesses’ official website, jw.org.

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Relationship: Domestic violence in marriages worries expert, offers tips

ITREALMS:

A relationship expert and life coach, Mrs. Ifeoma Chigbogwu, has decried the rising deaths and injuries on spouses in Nigeria due to domestic violence, describing such relationships as ‘domestic jungles’ reports ITRealms.

Chigbogwu, an award-winning author and blogger in a 15-minute video made available to ITRealms, explained that the spate of domestic violence which manifestes in wife-beatings, mutilations, violence against pregnant women and unborn babies, has made many marriages death traps and chambers of horrors and torture.

The motivational speaker, who also runs an outreach programme that caters for widows and orphans, observed that men were no longer the only culprits in domestic violence as a growing number of female partners have reportedly become aggressors in recent times.

“Lately, the women are in fierce competition with the men…in this gory domestic saga. If they are not pouring hot oil on the men, they are stabbing them to death or setting the bedroom or house on fire while the men sleep”, Chibogwu lamented.

She hinted that “many men are yet to wake up to the reality that their wives have overtaken them in finding new and creative devilish methods to vent pent up anger. Honestly, this is a tragic nightmare.”

Chigbogwu, however, advised intending couples to observe their prospective partners carefully to discern any attitudes or actions characteristic of abusers.

“Look out for reverential fear of God and self-discipline, otherwise your Knight in shining armour could become your nightmare and your Queen of your castle, could become your Quinine.

“During courtship, everyone should be on the lookout for tell-tale signs that are usually ignored. Habits or demonstrated attitudes. These are called red flags or danger signals.

“Some people can cover up their malicious and evil energies and intentions and you simply have no clue but if truth was told, most abusive relationships do not start overnight. You will notice the lack of transparency, the lies, the negative and dysfunctional behaviors”, she added.

According to Chigbogwu “How can you see a man who slaps his mother or tells you that his mother is useless, and you go ahead and marry him happily because you feel that will save you from mother in-law issues?

How can you hear a young lady tell her father or older brother to shut up and mind their business, because she has her life to live and you are happy that she is independent, particularly if she told them so in defense of you during courtship?

There are so many examples of red flags but assuming these were not seen or noticed. How will you know you are in a jungle and what should you do?”

Watch full video here:

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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Tips to shape future workforce by Accenture

ITREALMS:

To help leaders, especially those at the decision levels like the chief executive officers (CEOs) to shape the future workforce in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Accenture has offered some tips on how to scale through, reports ITRealms.

Accenture Strategy  led by the group chief executive, Mark Knickrehm, made this tips known in its latest study, underscoring three of these tips to include reimagine of work, pivoting for the workforce and scaling up new skills.

He explained that to reimagine work entails reconfiguring work from the bottom up.

As said by Accenture, “Assess tasks, not jobs; then allocate tasks to machines and people, balancing the need to automate work and to elevate people’s capabilities. Nearly half (46 per cent) of business leaders agree that job descriptions are already obsolete; 29 percent say they have redesigned jobs extensively.”

In addition, to ‘Pivot the Workforce’ Accenture underlines areas that unlock new forms of value, stressing that going beyond process efficiencies and prepare the workforce to create new customer experiences.

“Fuel new growth models by reinvesting the savings derived from automation into the future workforce. Foster a new leadership DNA that underpins the mindset, acumen and agility required to seize longer-term, transformational opportunities,” Accenture advised.

On the third place, Accenture said, is the ‘Scale up new skilling’ which measures the workforce’s level of skills and willingness to learn to work with AI.

“Using digital platforms, target programmes at these different segments of the workforce and personalize them to improve new skills adoption. Accenture has developed a ‘new skilling’ framework based on a progression of skill level and using a suite of innovative digital learning methods that maximizes training investment at speed and scale,” Accenture advocated.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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pix: group chief executive, Mark Knickrehm,

Ekeh tips Access Bank for digital disruption

ITRealms:

The acclaimed serial digital entrepreneur and Chairman, Zinox Group, Dr. Leo-Stan Ekeh, has tipped the foremost financial institution, Access Bank Plc, is exceedingly equipped to take advantage of the impending disruption aided by the rise of financial technologies (FinTech), reports ITRealms.

Ekeh made this assertion Thursday, December 14th, 2017 on the sidelines of the inaugural edition of Africa Fintech Foundry (AFF) Fintech (AFFDisrupt2017) conference at Eko Convention Centre, insisting that bank has been exceptionally ready to align the expected unleash in an era of innovative change in the financial services sector.

Zinox chairman who featured as one of the guest speakers at the event, noted that Access Bank’s establishment of Africa FinTech Foundry (AFF), a new financial industry that applies technology to improve financial activities, is a bold move that has further demonstrated the bank’s readiness to take the lead in the race to leverage financial technologies (FinTech) in the sector.

“I can now see why the young men at Access bank exude so much confidence to lead in the financial sector in the near future at a time the Nigeria banking sector is almost ready for a certified leader.

“I commend Access Bank on the launch of the Africa FinTech Foundry which will not only boost technological innovations in the financial services sector, but will also offer young African tech start-ups and entrepreneurs access to much-needed capital, capacity-building, world class partnership opportunities and a useful platform to launch innovative products and solutions on a global scale. We all expect the Nigeria government to use platforms like this to build a new generation of Nigerians who can defend their wealth.

“This is an era in which you either disrupt or stand the risk of being disrupted. This reality is much more pronounced in the banking and financial services sector, hence the growing popularity of financial technologies or FinTech, as it is widely known.

“The landmark step taken by Access Bank shows the bank’s readiness for the future of disruption in the sector which is already here with us,” he said.

The Zinox Chairman – who featured as a panelist in one of the discussions: From growth to sustainability- How FinTech can survive and thrive – also gave attendees a plethora of insights and useful tips drawn from his over 35 years’ journey as arguably Africa’s biggest technology entrepreneur during a Fireside chat moderated by Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, Managing Partner at Grand Central, Nigeria.

The inaugural edition of the Africa Fintech Foundry (AFF) Fintech conference had in attendance the best startups building products and solutions in the Financial Technology (FinTech) space, alongside investors, financial and technology partners, and a global audience of delegates from disparate industries to showcase next generation technologies and innovative solutions relevant to the financial services industry. Sessions on the day included a keynote address, fireside chats, masterclasses, partner exhibitions and panel discussions.

Other speakers at the event included former Minister of Communication Technology and Senior Partner at TLcom Capital, Mrs. Omobola Johnson; CEO, SystemLogic Group, South Africa, Audrey Mothupi; Founder, SASWARE Nigeria, Collins Onuegbu; Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Nigeria, Hakeem Adeniji-Adele; Investment Officer, West Africa at Accion Nigeria, Ashley Lewis; Co-Founder/Managing Partner, Trans-Sahara Investment Corporation Nigeria, Kyari Bukar; Managing Director, SystemSpecs Nigeria, John Obaro; Managing Director/CEO, InfoGraphics Nigeria, Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu; Chief Investment Officer, Coronation Capital, Ahovi Kponou; Managing Director, Accenture Financial Services, Toluwaleke Adenmosun, among many others.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Top Six tips to save time with smartphone

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Time is an essential commodity that cannot be trifled with. Notable American entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker, Jim Rohn captured it succinctly when he declared that: “Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.”

Nevertheless, your smart phone, when used effectively, can be a very useful tool for helping you use time more judiciously. The following tips from the Research and Development Unit of Yudala, Nigeria’s fastest growing e-commerce outfit – will help you become smarter in saving time.

1.Set up task lists: Most busy people always seem never to have enough time in a day. This is often due to clashing engagements and loads of crucial tasks to attend to. However, your smartphone can make life easier for you in this regard by helping you make smarter use of your 24 hours. One of the ways to achieve this is by setting up a task list. You can create a simple spreadsheet with the major tasks you have set out to achieve each day with timelines attached to each. You can even set a reminder for each task. With this list accessible on your smartphone, you can work smarter and maximize your productivity. When managed properly, a task list can be a fantastic organizer.

2.Create access to your documents: Today’s fast-paced, knowledge-driven economy has resulted in more mobility, with more time being spent on the move and away from work spaces or the office. Valuable time and potential business deals will certainly be lost if you have to get to your laptop or the office to take action or respond to important correspondence. With your smartphone, you can access your emails, save your important documents online and access them on the move, thereby reducing down-time. Whether at home or out of the office, you can still get crucial work done with apps such as Microsoft One Drive, Google Drive or Dropbox which allow you to store and retrieve your documents whenever you need them.

3.Online Shopping: Considering the crushing daily schedule most individuals pass through to earn a living, finding time to visit an open-air market or physical store for your shopping needs may be a tough ask. This is where your smartphone comes in. Online shopping is gradually growing in popularity and you can leverage on this to manage your time more efficiently. Interestingly, platforms such as Yudala combine physical stores with an online presence, thus offering the consumer more convenience.

As a result, you no longer have to physically visit a store for your shopping requirements. You can place orders online and have your items delivered straight to your door, with the additional convenience of paying on delivery. Interestingly, some supermarkets have also caught the online shopping bug and now offer home delivery for provisions and food items.

4.Digital Banking: The days of filling out numerous forms and standing in a queue in a crowded banking hall while waiting to carry out a simple transaction are decidedly over. Banks and other financial institutions are fully in on the digital revolution.  Therefore, you can save more valuable time by cashing in on the ease of digital banking. With your smartphone, there is no reason why you cannot carry out all the transactions you previously visited a bank for. You can check your account balance, transfer money, request a debit card, pay bills and even set up a monthly savings plan. All you have to do is subscribe to online banking and download and install your bank’s app.

5.Educational/Reading materials: The increasing convergence of technology has seen the world shrink to a global village. An amazing depth of educational, informative and other reading content is available on the internet. This is in addition to books and materials related to your career, industry or area of study. These can be accessed from the convenience of your smartphone in various formats including audio, video and written form. What’s more, you can save valuable time by using apps such as Audible or Librivox Audiobooks to listen to useful literature or other contents while carrying out other activities such as your daily workout, a long drive or while cleaning or doing the dishes.

6.Travel arrangements and hotel reservations: Gone are the days when making travel plans can be a time-wasting affair.  With your smartphone and in the comfort of your home, you can save time by booking your flight and making hotel reservation. Irrespective of your destination, this can be achieved with a good internet connection and the right app on your smartphone. With your smartphone, you can make payments, check in online and choose a seat without physically visiting the airline’s booking office. This applies even for trips by road to other parts of the country, as a number of transport companies now have their mobile apps with which you can book and pay for a trip.

Time Management Apps

You can carry out all of the tips given above without additional time management apps, your smartphone is already equipped with the features mentioned.  However, there are many fantastic applications available for Smartphones in this category.  If you choose to use one of these, ensure that it complies with your overall strategies for better time management. A comprehensive task management application or program might have many valuable features, but if you find that its complexity means that you are spending a lot of time using it, you will be defeating the object of having an application to help with your time management in the first place.  If this is the case, consider using one of the myriad of other programs available or simply use the features already available on your smartphone.  Remember, the point of a task manager is to make you more efficient with your time and reduce the stress in your life, avoid anything that adds to it!

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Gmail awesome tips, tricks you may never know

TechTips&Tricks@ITRealms:

Preamble:

Between Labs, extensions, and settings, there's a plethora of ways that you can customize your Gmail experience and tweak how emails are handled. Below are some of our favorite methods for managing time and giving Gmail an extra boost when it comes to organization.

Send and archive in one step:

Here's a trick to save a lot of time. First, click the gear icon and choose Settings from the resulting drop-down menu. Find the Send and Archive section and check the box beside Show "Send & Archive" button in reply. This adds a new button when you're replying to an email. Clicking it will allow you to send your response and automatically archive the email, thus removing it from your inbox. It's a godsend for those who receive endless amounts of email, and one that keeps your inbox free of clutter.

Enable and disable tabs:

Gmail has three tabs -- Primary, Social, and Promotion -- and organizes your emails for you automatically. But did you know you can customize these tabs? If you want to do so, click the gear icon in the upper-right corner and choose Configure inbox from the drop-down menu. This allows you to add new tabs, such as Updates and Forums, or remove any tabs that you don't like or want. It's a handy bit of auto-organization for when you're feeling overwhelmed.

See more with compacting setting:

When you click the gear icon in the upper-right corner of Gmail, one of the first things you'll see in the resulting drop-down menu is an option to switch between Cozy, Comfortable, and Compact viewing modes. Switching to Compact eradicates a good deal of space, allowing you to see more email information on each line. It's a good setting to go with if you want to maximize your efficiency and see as much information as possible in a single glance.

Take back an unfortunate email:

Whenever you send an email in Gmail, you'll notice a yellow box that says the email was sent. If you catch it fast enough, however, you can actually cancel the email while it's in the process of being sent. If it has already been sent, this option turns in Undo Send, which allows you to correct your mistake with a couple of clicks. If you don't see the feature, click the gear icon in the upper-right corner and select Settings from the drop-down menu. Then, check the box beside Enable Undo Send in the Undo Send section. Here, you can also set a 5-, 10-, 20-, or 30-second cancellation period.

Send Money Instantly:

Whenever you start to compose an email in Gmail, you can hit the dollar sign -- or the pound sign, if you're located in the United Kingdom -- to use that email as a vehicle for sending money. It allows you to set an amount and input, or choose a payment method. When the recipient gets the email, they can "activate" the payment and the transaction will occur. Could you just use PayPal? Yes, but this option is just as useful when it comes to making quick, small payments.

Use smart reply to save time on responses:

In the mobile version of Gmail, there is currently a feature called Smart Reply. It uses some of Google's Artificial Intelligent (AI) technology to automatically create a few quick responses (somewhat modeled after your email behavior) that you can immediately send. These range from a basic "thanks!" to more complex questions based on the email you are responding to. It doesn't always work, but for simple responses, it can help you save a lot of time on your mobile device.

Save space with drive:

If you can't fit a file on an email or prefer not mess around with attachments, use Google Drive instead. Every Compose window comes equipped with a Drive icon, which allows you to quickly attach Drive files from within your browser. It's also handy if you need to share files that aren't stored on the device you're using... as long as Drive is one of the common storage options.

Synergize with LinkedIn:

One of the great extensions to use in the business world is Rapportive, a Gmail extension that links the sender's contact information with social media, specifically LinkedIn. Open an email from someone with a LinkedIn account and the tool will immediately show their profile information in a sidebar, along with links to their various social media accounts. It's one of the best networking tools available if you regularly use Gmail.

Use canned responses to save even more time:

Gmail Labs are experimental extensions that you can enable for free. Labs don't always stick around, but Canned Responses has been on the block for years, so we feel confident recommending it. Head over to the gear icon, choose Settings, and click the Labs tab. One of the labs should say Canned Responses. Enable it, and you can create email templates that you can immediately copy into an email and tweak as needed. It's ideal for customer service or tracking down leads.

Delegate some of your emails:

Gmail offers a service that allows you to set up a series of delegates. These delegates have the ability to read and respond to your emails, and even manage your contacts, although they can't chat or change your settings. Setting up delegates is useful if you are a busy professional and need an employee or team member to step in and check the latest responses when you simply don't have enough time.

Try IFTTT configurations:

IFTTT or "If This Then That" is a smart device platform that allows you to customize a variety of responses and scenes for your smart home. It also works with a lot of other things, including Gmail. Here are some examples of the IFTTT ideas already created by people and ready to be used. With the right recipe, you can save files directly to Drive, automatically sync Evernote and To-Do-List (Todoist), trigger notifications, and carry out a bunch of other useful actions. Find the options that are best for your life, and you can transform your Gmail experience into something twice as useful.

Courtesy: Tyler Lacoma @DigitalTrends

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Six tips to reduce mobile data usage

For many, the smartphone’s utility has assumed such remarkable proportions that it is now being relied on as a first-hand source of news, information, entertainment and a fitting tool for retaining a handle on our increasingly interconnected world.

Considering the multiple applications on which data is expended on a smartphone and with data connection rates still comparatively pricey in Nigeria; most smartphone owners are constantly in a perpetual fix on how to manage this most important resource in order to avoid missing out on the latest information.

In view of the foregoing, the Research/Development Unit of Yudala – Nigeria’s fastest growing composite e-commerce outfit – shares simple tips on how to reduce your device’s data consumption.

1.Use Wi-Fi whenever possible and for sharing large files: Your smartphone or other mobile device has Wi-Fi capability.  You can use this reduce your data consumption in your home, office or other locations by connecting to available wireless network(s). You can also tweak your settings for automatic connection to a secure Wi-Fi network when you arrive at home or the office. Once connected, your phone’s cellular data can be turned off and conserved.

Wi-Fi also comes in handy when you are downloading or sharing large files. Heavy files can quickly eat in to your smartphone’s data. Same applies to automatic application updates. To reduce your data usage, these heavy consumptions should be done when connected to a secure Wi-Fi network.

2.Set up a data usage limit/alerts: Most Android smartphones come equipped with an in-built data monitor. This functionality, which can be accessed in your phone’s settings tab, can help you keep an eye on your data consumption. The beauty of this feature is that through it, you can see how much data is being consumed by each of the apps on your smartphone, thus identifying the ones you need to keep a strict eye on. For other devices such as Apple’s IOS, you may see how much data has been consumed in total but may need to install an app to ascertain data consumption per app.  

With this information, you can set up data usage limits/alerts to manage your usage. Also, heavy data-consuming apps can have their data access curtailed or you can choose which ones to uninstall.

3.Stick to the mobile versions of websites: While using your smartphone data for browsing, you can save a lot of megabytes if you avoid using websites’ apps for platforms such as YouTube, Facebook; that favourite sport site or gossip blog by using the mobile site instead. To do this, simply access the mobile version of a website by typing www.m. before the sitename when launching the browser. Furthermore, some websites often ask to re-direct the user to its Desktop version. To avoid burning through your data, simply decline and stick to the mobile version.

4.Manage or disable push notifications: Push notifications refer to data automatically sent to your phone without user interaction.  For those who are constantly active on multiple social networks, this may dramatically affect data consumption as the various notifications from your social media channels –  Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc., pour in. While some of these notifications, such as work-related emails, can be necessary; others may not be so crucial. To keep your data lasting for longer, ensure you disable push notifications, automatic app updates and other such notices when you don’t need them.

5.Compress your data: There are a number of apps that can help compress data on your smartphone and other devices. Some of them have the capability to go as far as extending your data plan. Google’s Chrome browser, for example, has a feature that can help reduce your data consumption significantly. According to Google, this option can save you about 50% in data by routing all your web browsing through Google’s servers which takes the data, compresses it, optimizes it for the smaller screen and sends it back to your device. This option can be activated in the Settings tab and can help prevent you from running out of data all the time.

6.Apply caution when streaming: Content streaming is responsible for much of data consumption. HD video streaming, for instance, can drain a sizeable amount of your device’s data within an hour. Same applies to audio/music streaming or spending time looking through some of the high quality images or GIF files seen on Instagram and other social media channels. In order to conserve your data usage, caution should be applied when it comes to content streaming.

While it is absolutely impossible to totally avoid the entertaining fare that comes with streaming, there are smart ways to do this without burning through your data. One of this is by storing music, videos and other multimedia content on your smartphone. Video quality can also be set at lower rates and resolution reduced for sites such as YouTube when streaming.

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Six saving tips for bachelors

Weekend LifeStyle Special@ITRealms: 

The average Nigerian dude wants to ball. You can’t really judge them either, because…you only live once. YOLO!

Monday to Thursday: you stay on the hustle, money must be made.

Fridays nights: back to back clubbing with the babes.

Saturdays: wedding and after party then lounge/drinking time with your bros.

Sundays: big boy brunch at any four-star hotel and football time at the bar later in the day.

The lifestyle is the dream; however, except you have your own business or solid inheritance somewhere, this lifestyle cannot be sustainable -especially, if you are still a bachelor.

Even when they follow the best financial advice available (they work hard, spend less than they earn, save and invest) quite a percentage of single men still find they have to live pay cheque to pay cheque – with no savings.

Of course, this does not in any way imply that all the unattached men in Nigeria are flunking their finances or are in a hopeless position when it comes to money. Some men just face specific challenges, when it comes to managing their cash.

The state of the country’s economy plays a huge role in this dreary financial picture; as such, opting for just the basics when it comes to making financial changes may not be ideal.

Single dudes should consider taking on some of these hands-on money rules:

Rent must not exceed half of your monthly earnings

Yes, you want to live alone, have your own place and be independent, but you should not spend a fortune or run into debt renting an apartment. Ensure your monthly rent is not more than half of your total earnings per month. For instance, if you earn N100,000 per month ensure you do not rent a place that costs more than N25,000 per month. This means that you would be looking out for a space that would possibly cost you N300,000 per year.

It’s easy to get sold on the dream of emancipation from parents and total independence, but if it’s going to jack up your bills, it’s probably not a wise financial move. If you must rent a space, consider getting flatmates and move up from there.

Opt for hobbies that don’t require an upkeep cost

As a dude, you have a number of hobbies and activities you engage in, to keep life eventful and interesting. It could be fitness, or just games for leisure. The thing is, a number of these hobbies require ongoing upkeep costs; from club membership dues, to cost of supplies, uniforms, and even trips/get-together.

While it is definitely alright to have hobbies, just make sure you go for one that requires minimal maintenance, or even none at all. For instance, no matter how much you love golf, you may want to put that off for later, when you are more financially stable. Not only do you have to register to use the golf course, you have to get the outfits and the need for fresh supplies are almost endless. You may want to consider alternatives like playing music, on an instrument you already have, or even football with friends or colleagues.

Cut down on eating out

Yes, you want to join in on the Sunday brunches with colleagues; you want to prove to your girlfriend, who loves fancy food, that you are enough for her; you also want to order from ‘The Place’ like your colleagues, instead of brining something homemade or buying from the lady across the road and being the “stingy” or “low-class” one. 

But if you are concerned with upgrading your financial status, you will have to skip these splurges. They seem small, but actually, they accumulate and take a toll on your finances. You will be surprised to find out that sometimes, the cost of the daily take-out is what, over time, separates the rich dude from everyone another dude the wrong side of the thin money line.

Acquire cars based on reliability and fuel efficiency…otherwise, use public transport

There is the assumption that owning a car makes a dude more appealing. Before using your life’s savings to buy a car, you must at least consider two factors.

Ask yourself: how reliable is the car? How fuel-efficient is it? Answering these questions lets you know if you would be actually making an investment by buying the car, or acquiring a liability.

This is because fuel bills and repair bills are serious money drainers when you own a car. Do not just jump and buy any car just because it is cheap and it still moves. If you cannot say for sure that it is reliable and fuel-efficient, get on with public transport. And by public transport, I don’t mean Uber and Taxify.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with commuting to work in a bus or keke napep. It is actually a better option as it is incredibly faster in rush-hour traffic. It’s also cheaper when you consider the fuel, oil and other maintenance costs of running the car. You save more and you upgrade yourself financially.

When shopping, use the 30-day rule

Believe it or not, shopping is not a “girl” thing. Guys love to shop too. When shopping – online or in-store, it is important that you adhere to the 30-day rule. The rule simply implies that you wait 30 days after your first serious impulse before buying the expensive item, no matter how essential you think it is. Waiting 30-days give you enough time to do research and ascertain the impact it could have on you financially, and whether you even really want it or not. 

Sometimes we are deluded by brief fascination and end up spend a lot of money on something that we will never use and may not improve our lives in any way.

The 30-day rule gives you the time to come back to reality and make the sane decision.

Don’t borrow money to invest

Every financial guru will tell you to invest your money in something, if you want to be financially stable in future.

While this is great advice, you must also ensure that you do not use borrowed money (money that is not originally yours) to invest…no matter how lucrative the investment seems or how much of an asset you assume it will be.

In the case where the investment you want to make is either a fixed deposit or bond, you will eventually find that the dividends may not be able to match the rate of interest you pay on the loan. Again, even investments, such as equities, that offer higher returns, can be too risky.

*Contributed by Nkem Ndem | nkemndemv@gmail.com

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Pix: NairaNotes

Tips for a perfect December wedding in Nigeria

ITRealms:

Preamble:

Many Nigerians consider December to be the most wonderful time of the year to plan a wedding. Over the years, a majority of couples pick the month as they believe it to be the best time to get hitched without any disturbance from the rain. Unfortunately, while December weddings can be romantic and scenic, the harmattan which is usually experienced during the period in a way ensures that everyone involved does not stop sweating. Also, considering it’s the end of the year, basic services, as well as a lot of items needed to set up the wedding, will be given at a much higher cost than normal.

If the thought of getting hitched during this time of the year is intimidating, don't fret. Where there is a will there is a way. Here are five (5) tips for the perfect December wedding in Nigeria

Have an Outdoor Wedding

Having an outdoor wedding in December is a no-brainer as it is sunny and gorgeous. Again, it may even be cheaper than renting a hall or event center. From a garden to the beach or even the outside of bride’s home, there are so many options. You have to keep in mind, though, the high temperature and make provisions to protect guests and stop them from sweltering. Ensure you put up canopies and provide parasols or hand fans. You can even print your ceremony programs on the fans; they would make a cute accessory.

Put A Drink In Their Hand

The weather is hot and the food most likely would be too. It only makes sense to ensure your menu includes a lot of cold dishes and chilly treats like mini milkshakes and smoothies for dessert, and also ensure the guests have chilled drinks served to them at intervals. In fact, you may want to consider offering guests a refreshing drink to sip on before the ceremony begins.

Have Just One Venue

It’s December; people are always on the road moving from one place to the other and attending various ceremonies. It is a safe bet to have your entire wedding in one place; that way you avoid delays and stress from the heat and traffic jams. If you must have your ceremony and reception in separate venues, ensure the venues are very near to each other. This will make transport easier.

Do Not Pick the 25^th For Your Wedding

With December comes Christmas and usually, the 25^th is set apart for not just Christian families to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with their families, but also people around the world to enjoy the gift of Santa. Unless you are of a religion that does not observe this holiday, do not make the mistake of setting your wedding date on the 25^th. Doing so will ensure your invitation is denied by so many and your wedding is not well attended.

Plan Your Pictures

Thanks to the weather condition that is prevalent in Nigeria during the month of December, the sun is usually at its peak from early in the day and as such, it is advisable that you plan your wedding pictures in such a way that you get the best possible result (especially if you are planning an outdoor wedding). Plan your photography such that you do not have to take pictures at noon or too close to noon as the sun will be directly overhead and will cause unflattering shadows. Aim to take your pictures in the morning or later in the afternoon/evening.

*Contributed by Nkem Ndem, a PR Associate @Jumia Travel

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Christmas by road: 5 tips for those travelling to East

Art & Fashion@ITRealms:

Reconnecting with extended families:

Natives of Eastern Nigeria who live outside their region are always keen about the Christmas season as it is the one time they travel back home to observe several ceremonies and reconnect with their extended families. They almost always embark on their journey home by road via luxurious buses and shuttles, and due to increase in the number of vehicles heading east, travellers almost always have to deal with traffic jams and gridlocks.

Usually, travelers heading in the south-east direction from the Asaba end get the first taste of the traffic at the Onitsha head bridge before the main course within town where commercial activities add to make the traffic even more frustrating. Seeing as Christmas is here again, and almost every Igbo indigene has plans to visit home, there is bound to be serious traffic gridlock. But not to worry, Jumia Travel, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking site has a few tips and ideas to help alleviate the stress.

Set out early:

The early bird gets the fattest worms. If you are determined to beat the Onitsha traffic or at least cut out a lot of it during your journey. You should make plans to wake up super early so as to leave in time. If you are travelling from Lagos and commuting via public transport companies such as God is Good Motors or Chisco, endeavor to catch up with the first bus which leaves at about 6am. However, if you are setting out on your own, you can actually set out as early as 5am, depending on where you are setting out from. You however need to be vigilant so as not to fall victim to robbery or mugging.

Fill your stomach:

Hunger has a way of intensifying stress and making you angry even in situations where you would be angry on a normal day.  Keeping your stomach filled helps you stay focused on the traffic ahead, keeps you alert, and less stressed; and makes the traffic much more bearable. Luckily there are hawkers who parade the aisles of the traffic with tasty delights, you can patronize them or you can pack your own food before you set out for the journey. For those who have tiny stomachs and cannot afford to indulge in food, popcorn is a life saver. Eating one kernel at a time occupies your mind while the carbs calm you down.

 Listen to soothing Music:

Music is food for the soul and everyone has their kind of music, the one that calms and soothes their nerves in times of stress of difficulties. Before you set out on your journey, ensure you stock up on CDs and MP3s. Make sure you diversify the genre as there is no telling what mood you will be in when the gridlock sets in. You might find out that singing along to loud banging music might work better for the stress than slow music. Singing does not only get your mind off the traffic, it also changes your breathing pattern, which in turn lowers stress levels by slowing the heart rate and calming the nervous system. If you are however not a fan of any kind of music, you  can simple go for an audio book or a podcast.

Go with Public Transport:

Most people prefer to travel in their own private cars, however, it may not be the best option to deal with Onitsha traffic, especially if you intend to get to your destination as soon as feasible. The public transport systems have options that offer maximum comfort similar to that which you get from your own car. Sitting in the car and having someone else struggle through the traffic give you the opportunity to leverage your time focusing on tasks that provide utility or pleasure to your life as a whole. Again, these public transport drivers are aware of certain short cuts and routes (unknown to regular commuters) that help them escape some areas of traffic.

Relax:

Saying that the Onitsha traffic is exasperating and infuriating is an understatement. However, if you try to force your way through traffic and carry an aggressive style you will end up stressing yourself even more. When you find yourself at the point of frustration and anger, rather than banging on the wheel, making faces, muttering hateful curses under your breath, try to take a deep breath, as deep inhalation has a way of lowering stress levels, making it easier to deal with the gridlock.

Nkem Ndem, a PR Associate at Jumia Travel

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