It's an unfortunate reality of college life that pupils nearly never have adequate money. Most pupils are in a uniquely complicated position in their lives: they are compelled to balance being financially independent with not yet having a stable revenue.

The vast quantity of student finance books & blogs obtainable can make student budgeting look genuinely convoluted. Do not forget, however, that student budgeting is basically just about two items: making money & saving money. A financially savvy student will are compelled to do a bit of both. There are plenty of practices for making money, nevertheless in deciding on, generally keep in mind the acronym TEA – time, effort, & capacity. To make money, you must be willing to invest time & effort, & you need to have a skill you can industry. Some money-making practices demand more time, quite a few more effort, & quite a few more capacity. Make sure you think meticulously about which of these 3 items you've more of when you are deciding on the finest process for you. For most pupils, time may be at a premium, so the finest value is likely to lie in something you are already fantastic at – the A in TEA.

Here are some potential money-making practices for pupils. Think of which would use your personal robust points.

Getting a part-time employment

This is well worth it should you can, in particular over the holidays. Bear in mind that quite a few colleges do not permit pupils to work during term time, nevertheless should you are allowed & do have the time, weekend & evening assignments may be worth a look, in particular at the student union or in a college bar. Some universities in the UK permit pupils to do temp work doing cleaning & admin over the holidays, in return for basic pay & free accommodation. The upside of this type of work is that it has set pay & set hours, somebody else typically tells you what to do so you likely do not need to think about it too much outside of work hours, & it can look fantastic on your CV. The downside is that you are compelled to find & apply for part-time assignments & may find them complicated to accommodate in a busy student schedule. In effect, a part-time employment is likely to demand a good deal of time & effort.

Tutoring online

This is comparable to one except that you can typically set your own hours and the pay may be better. Even so, you will often are compelled to work outside your tutoring hours to plan ahead, & in order to create a fantastic reputation, you will are compelled to be reliable & work commonly. Tutoring isn't a awesome employment for the disorganized – you do are compelled to be in a position to schedule way ahead of time. This is a employment that focuses on capacity & effort.

Freelance work

Plenty of pupils work as freelancers in their spare time. If you have any digital abilities – think writing, editing, coding, logo design, translation, & so on – you can find individuals on freelance web-sites willing to pay you for a few hours of work. As a rule of thumb, the pay is not brilliant at the outset, nevertheless should you are a fast worker you can often make it up with volume, & finally, you can create up adequate of a reputation to charge higher rates. The finest aspect of freelance work on this scale is that it is especially low-commitment – you can do precisely as much as you want & fit it around your schedule. Even so, there is also especially high competition for assignments on some of these sites. One tactic is to to start with work for especially low rates, after which raise your fees once you've gained a few good critiques from clients. Like tutoring, freelance work requires capacity & effort nevertheless is flexible time-wise.

Content mills

This is comparable to freelance writing work, except that rather than working directly for a client, the client commissions work from a web-site & you then produce work as the web-site offers it. Content mills have a bad rep amongst writers for not paying especially well & for having unreasonable editing rules. Even so, most content mills have a rating technique, & once you've reached a higher rating by means of fantastic work, a fairly fast writer can often earn a good chunk above minimum techniques. The editing rules may be harsh, nevertheless as a student, it is a fantastic approach to practice writing abilities with pretty low commitment. You are not going to make millions on a site like this, nevertheless you may make a few hundred should you have spare days now & again over a term. Above all, making a steady revenue with a content mill requires effort.

Task apps

You can increasingly join apps that send you activities to do for money, often photographing shop displays or confirming the cost of something in a local store. One issue with apps like this really is unclear employment descriptions. Make sure that you know precisely what you are required to do, otherwise you may be surprised by unanticipated activities such as having to ask questions in stores. The pay is especially low, & assignments are infrequent. Even so, should you walk by means of town a lot anyway & would be passing, you might give apps like this a go, as the activities will hardly ever take more than a few minutes out of your day. You are finest off discovering an app distinct to your vicinity – search 'task apps' & your vicinity to find 1. This type of work requires more often than not time & effort.

Sell a skill in college

You're likely to have a skill you can capitalize on it in college. Some pupils paint nails, do photography for major events or for people's social media profile pictures, make & sell meals for busy buddies & even make & sell cute small packs of items such as chocolates & cheerful messages for fellow pupils to give to buddies during busy exam weeks. You'll need to make certain this doesn't impact the time you can spend studying, & you might are compelled to check whether something you want to do is legal (in particular where food & for that reason wellness & safety are involved). Think of your marketable abilities – you likely have a number of! Skill-selling is an capacity-based process of making money.

Be smart about credit cards

If you are going to use credit cards, just be smart about it. It's simple to rack up debt while you are in college. You need to generally seek out a credit card that suits your credit score, has rewards, & (most of all), has a low interest rate (in accordance with this comparison). If you get a credit card, do your finest to pay the bill in full every single month. If you cannot pay it in full, pay as much as you perhaps can. The objective here is to assist you out where you need it, nevertheless make certain you are being smart & responsible.

So these are 7 techniques in which you can earn money during your spare time in college. With the TEA fundamentals in mind, think meticulously about which might work finest for you – then find your money-making plan after which adhere to it.

Above all, never forget that making money as a student is undoubtedly possible!

Most of us have likely heard that education never stops, and in the professional world, that is absolutely true if you want to advance in your career. Continuing professional education can keep you in touch with the latest trends in your industry, better compete for jobs, and refresh or hone your skills. In many fields, continuing professional education (CPE) can be required as many programs will award certifications for having passed the Training or course. 

What is Continuing Professional Education?

Continuing professional education, or CPE, is a general term for what is learned after a program, course, or training is completed. An example of CPE is a professional taking courses to keep or earn a license or certification. Many fields, such as medical and accounting, require those with a license to practice their specialties to take annual courses to keep their skills current. Other people may choose to take professional education programs or participate in conferences to gain new skill sets for a promotion or higher salary. Some CPA courses are offered by colleges and universities while others may be given through group internet-based CPA training programs or in-person CPA programs.

Types of CPE

There are dozens upon dozens of types of continuing professional development courses out there, too many to mention in fact, but there are two primary types of continuing professional education courses:

• Professional licensing
• General development/learning

General development programs are the type of programs that don’t help or offer a professional credential. They will help develop new skills or refresh current ones and can help boost your profession. For example, a graphic designer taking a course to learn the latest programs and tools available that can enhance their resume and make them a more desirable hire. 

Professional licensing courses are as they sound. These CPE programs offer development as well as certifications that prove you have taken them and know the necessary skills to maintain your license or possess it in the first place. 

Benefits of Professional Education Programs

There is a wide range of benefits that come with professional education continuing. While the specific advantages depend on what the continuing education program is and why you’re signing up for it, there are three core benefits to taking CPE courses:

• Career Advancement: Continuing education for professionals can make your resume stand out from the competition when job hunting or seeking a promotion. Having training and courses listed, along with the certifications given, demonstrates a serious attitude towards your career and helps you accumulate more advanced skills which are both attractive to employers.
• New Skills: While we’ve been discussing CPE in terms of career advancement and finding jobs, not all courses are about that. There are many areas of study that can be fulfilling for their own sake while potentially contributing to career advancement, like learning a new language or learning accounting to better balance the home budget. 
• Keeps You Sharp: It’s easy to become intellectually lazy and rest on what you already know that has gotten you to where you are, the problem is that learning becomes an area of necessity rather than an investment in yourself. Taking courses or CPE development training keeps your mind active and challenged, bringing a confidence boost while bettering your skillset. Continuing education, whether for work or pleasure, is a nice reminder that there is more to know and that you’re able to know it. 

Certificates for CPE Professionals

Whether you’re interested in a CPE program or looking for easier ways to recognize your students, granting acknowledgment and certifications should be as difficult as the training itself. We at SimpleCert put giving awards and certifications on easy street by streamlining the process from signing up to delivery. Our certificate Management program can be paired with a wide range of data collection platforms from MailChimp to Google Forms and offers easy-to-use design features to make your certificate as unique as your program. 

Discover the simple way to grant certifications to your professionals with SimpleCert certificate maker.

SimpleCert

For e-commerce sellers, strong accounting practices are key to managing cash flow, calculating profits, and staying tax-compliant. This guide covers the essentials of ecommerce bookkeeping

, from revenue and expense tracking to calculating the cost of goods sold (COGS) and leveraging accounting software.

1. Track Your Revenue: Organize Sales Data

Accurate revenue tracking involves recording each sale and the fees associated with your selling platform(s).

• Gross vs. Net Sales: Track gross sales (total revenue) and then subtract platform fees and refunds to understand net sales.
• Multi-Channel Integration: If you sell on multiple platforms (like Amazon and Shopify), use ecommerce accounting software like Connectbooks, QuickBooks or A2X to consolidate data, which reduces manual work and errors.
• Separate Sales Tax: Keep sales tax separate from revenue. This simplifies remittance to tax authorities and prevents mixing collected taxes with actual earnings.

2. Expense Management: Know Where Your Money Goes

Managing expenses is essential for profitability. Organized expenses help you spot trends and control costs effectively.

• Categorize Expenses: Use categories for different costs like marketing, shipping, warehousing, platform fees, and transaction fees. Clear categorization allows better expense tracking and highlights areas where you might cut costs.
• Inventory Management Costs: Inventory represents a significant expense. Track inventory costs to know your actual product expenses and prevent stockouts.
• Shipping Costs: Shipping fees impact profit margins, especially if you offer free or discounted shipping. Include fulfillment costs in expense tracking for accurate reporting.

3. Cost of Goods Sold (COGS): Measure Profitability

COGS is the total cost of producing the goods you sell, and calculating it accurately is crucial for understanding gross profit.

• Calculate COGS: To find COGS, add beginning inventory to purchases made during the period and subtract ending inventory. This reveals the cost of products sold during that period.
• Use Inventory Software: Real-time inventory tracking tools, like TradeGecko, make it easier to monitor COGS accurately and keep your stock levels balanced.

4. Cash Flow Management: Ensure Financial Stability

Cash flow management ensures you have enough funds to cover expenses, invest, and grow.

• Create a Cash Flow Forecast: Forecasting sales and expenses helps avoid cash shortages, especially during slower sales periods.
• Separate Personal and Business Finances: Open a dedicated business account for clear cash flow tracking, making accounting simpler and preventing personal-business fund mixing.
• Allocate Taxes: Set aside funds from revenue for tax obligations to avoid cash shortfalls during tax season.

5. Tax Compliance: Prepare for Sales and Income Tax

Tax compliance can be complex in e-commerce, especially for multi-state sellers, but proper tracking tools make it manageable.

• Sales Tax: U.S. tax laws require sales tax collection based on state economic nexus rules. Consider automation tools like Avalara or TaxJar for managing sales tax across multiple states.
• Income Tax Preparation: Unlike sales tax, income tax applies to your profits. Accurate revenue, COGS, and expense tracking are essential to determine taxable income and avoid errors. Professional tax help may save time and improve compliance.
• Store Digital Records: Store all receipts and invoices digitally within your accounting software, ensuring easy access for audits and tax prep.

6. Leverage Accounting Tools for Efficiency

Accounting software simplifies e-commerce accounting and enhances accuracy.

• QuickBooks and Xero: Popular accounting options for small businesses, both offer e-commerce integrations and features like expense tracking, inventory management, and multi-channel support.
• A2X Accounting: Designed for Amazon and Shopify, A2X automatically transfers platform data into QuickBooks or Xero, making it easier to track sales and fees accurately.
• Inventory Solutions: Tools like Skubana and TradeGecko help manage stock and COGS, integrating with QuickBooks and Xero for streamlined inventory and expense tracking.

7. Reporting and Analysis: Insights for Growth

Use accounting software’s built-in reports to track performance and guide decision-making.

• Profit and Loss Statement: Regularly review your P&L to measure revenue, expenses, and profitability over time.
• Cash Flow Statement: Analyze cash flow to understand inflows and outflows and maintain sufficient working capital.
• Balance Sheet: A snapshot of assets, liabilities, and equity, the balance sheet is helpful for evaluating financial health and preparing for business growth.

Conclusion

Mastering e-commerce accounting may seem complex, but the right processes and tools make it manageable. By tracking revenue, expenses, COGS, and taxes, you’ll gain insights into your business’s health, ensure compliance, and make strategic decisions. Embrace these practices to simplify your accounting and set your e-commerce business up for long-term success!

If all those seem too complicated to you, make it easy and automated with the help of

Connectbooks

. The software helps you automate your accounting, track your inventory in real-time, get sales and profit calculations done for you daily. Check out https://www.connectbooks.com/ for more details