The following is a guest post from a You Have More Than You Think partner.

As small businesses grow, the need to hire an accountant becomes inevitable but they really shouldn’t be seen as a costly necessity. If you ask the right questions and request the right services an accountant could, in fact should, make your business more profitable by saving you both time and money.

1. Online Accounting

The whole world is online but for some draconian reason a lot of people have been reluctant to move away from traditional ink’n’paper accounting. By keeping your records electronically, bearing in mind it always a good idea to have hard copies for yourself, you can transfer all the information your accountant needs at the click of a mouse. This saves money on stationary, paper, envelopes and stamps while at the same time being more efficient and environmentally friendly; so money, time and karma saved.

2. Share Information

You must share everything with your accountant to get the best service. Many small business owners are reluctant to share all their financial information for a number of reasons but usually it is because they are embarrassed if their figures don’t match up to their ambition. My advice: get over it. Your accountant needs the tools to work with; remember your business is their business.

3. Assess Your Needs

Your accountant will offer you a number of accounting services and not all of them may be necessary to your business requirements; so make sure you are not paying for services you do not need. Figure out what you, or any of your employees, can do with regards to accounting and weigh up the cost of spending your time doing them. If you can do these chores efficiently enough that you are spending fewer business hours in relation to what it would cost to hire an accountant then do them yourself. Many accountants charge per the hour or offer part-time assistance; so figure out exactly what you need and only pay for that.

4. Shop Around

Ask your firm for a projection of accountant services and charges for the following year, most should be able to provide this service. If you shop around and find a better deal then let your accountant know about it, they may throw in some extra help or a discount to sweeten the deal.

5. Maintain a Positive Working Relationship

Many people feel intimidated by their accountants and it shouldn’t be this way, the relationship between yourself and your accountant should be a positive one. If you are happy with them and vice versa you know the best job for both of you will be getting done.

Last Saturday, I attended The Day of Foster.ly - an all day expo designed for metro DC area entrepreneurs.

The organizers said the event was open to everyone, but most of the attendees were software developers, founders of tech start ups or aspiring founders of tech start ups.

Despite the fact that I was the only personal finance blogger present, I learned a lot, had a great time and met some pretty interesting people.

Since I wasn’t there to pitch any products or seduce an unsuspecting developer into cofounding the next Mint.com with me, my job was simple:

1. Look presentable. 

The night before, my tresses were washed, conditioned, and styled. (OMG. You should’ve seen my hair the day prior to the event. It was so nasty.)

2. Engage others.

For someone who doesn’t like people all that much, I’m quite personable. I don’t have a problem talking to strangers, so there was nothing for me to do here except show up.

3. Have my business cards ready in case anyone asked.

Now we’ve got problems.

Business cards? I had them. But I began to realize the Ziploc bag I used to store my business cards was a wholly unacceptable solution for a professional of my caliber.

On the morning of The Day of Foster.ly, I drove to Staples in search of a business card holder. For some reason, I envisioned a sexy, sleek, stainless steel case that I’d whip out whenever I heard the question, “Do you have a business card?”

Well, Staples didn’t have that. What they had was a black, faux leather contraption that resembled a man’s wallet. Uh, no thanksss.

So what was my solution?

I simply put my business cards in a pocket on the side of my bag. There, they were easily accessible and safe from the other crap jostling around in my purse. That’s it. I saved enough cash to buy two glasses of wine and leave the bartender a tip.

Why didn’t I think of this option before? It worked. And I’m pretty sure no one noticed which hat I pulled my business cards out of.

If I paid more attention to the non-monetary alternatives, I would’ve remembered I left TWO business card holders in an old purse.  Both are sitting in my closet as we speak. There’s also a pocket in my laptop case that I could’ve used.

This got me to thinking. What would you do to solve a problem if money couldn’t fix it?

I didn’t have the time or the desire to go hunting for a business card holder. My energy was better spent networking with like minded entrepreneurs. So I went for the free and quick fix.

How much money would you save if you simply asked yourself, “If I can’t purchase the item I want, what will I do next?”

Today marks the official start of Quick Tip Tuesday.

Every Tuesday (Wednesday if you’re an email subscriber), you’ll receive a tip, via video, on how to save more money, earn more money or grow the money you have already. The idea is to deliver this information quickly. I’ll do my best to keep the videos short.

I’m always looking for helpful content to share with my readers so if you have any fresh ideas that you think are worth sharing on Quick Tip Tuesday, please submit them using the form on the Contact Me page.

If you’re so inclined, maybe you’ll send me a video response on YouTube. No pressure, but it’d sure be nice.

Don't tell anyone, but I made this yesterday - almost a week later than originally promised.

The last few weeks were super busy. Once I remembered the less I have to do the less I get done, I signed up for a ton of activities.

It’s counter intuitive, but if I don’t schedule non-work related tasks, I’m more likely to procrastinate.

This strategy totally works. There’s only one problem: I’m exhausted.

I know chicken wings and pork chops were on my last menu plan. Sadly, I didn’t get around to cooking them. I just couldn’t drag my butt to the supermarket to grab the ingredients I needed. So I subsisted on Super Pollo and McDonald’s. Pathetic, I know.

This week, I’m looking forward to relaxing. Now that I have groceries, I really hope I tear it up in the kitchen.

As I write this, I’m realizing the main reason I’m not scheduling so many evening networking, volunteering or recreational activities is so that I can dedicate more time to working out. So never mind. I guess I won’t be relaxing after all.

Here’s my dream menu plan for the week.

Monday/Tuesday: Leftovers (Asparagus & Mushroom Quiche and White Bean Sausage Stew)

Wednesday: Salisbury Steak, Mashed Potatoes and Cabbage

Thursday: Baked Chicken Thighs, Collard Greens and Yellow Rice

Friday: Lebanese Taverna (Happy Hour)

Saturday: Shredded Beef Tacos

Sunday: Cob Salad with Watermelon Mojito Popsicles (optional)

Psst. I made this late too.

Check out more meal options on Menu Plan Monday at I’m an Organizing Junkie.

Whether applying for a job at a local, home-based business or a global, multi-billion dollar corporation, there are certain rules you need to follow during the interviewing process.

Even if new technologies helped you get a seat in front of the interviewer, the ways you’re going to wow him are downright old-fashioned.

No one cares about your fictitious online persona that instills jealousy in the hearts of friends and ex-lovers. Whether you receive the job offer boils down to how you come across in-person.

Let’s get ready for some good ol’ face-to-face, human interaction.

Do Your Homework

Alcohol and preparation are the only known cures for nervousness.

For obvious reasons, we’ll focus on the latter.

When asked, “What do you know about the company?” your reaction shouldn’t include a quick shoulder shrug coupled with “Uuuuh, I dunno.”

Familiarize yourself with the basics.

What products does your future employer sell?

What markets do they serve?

What challenges do they face?

Finding information on public or large companies is relatively easy. It shouldn’t be your only stop, but Google is a good starting point.

For small, privately owned organizations, you may need to dig a bit deeper for information.

You just need to know where to look.

Use the tools available through your library. Many great resources are paid for by your tax dollars. For instance, my library provides 24/7 access to premium websites such as ReferenceUSA, Business and Company Resource Center and Proquest.

If you need help, talk to a research librarian.

Prepare to Shine

Get ready to answer common interview questions. 

If you “um” and “uh” through your responses, the interviewer will think you’re incompetent or full of shit.

I highly recommend reading 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions by Vicky Oliver.

You don’t need to memorize your responses.

You do need to practice your delivery.

Say your answers out loud while standing in front of the mirror. It feels a little weird at first, but no one has to know. Think about how you handled deadlines, difficult coworkers, and other job related stressors in the past.

Study the job description of the position you’re applying for. How are you qualified to fill the company’s need? And if you’re lacking some skills, what will you do to make yourself the best person for the job? Are you taking online, non-credit classes? What books, magazines or email newsletters do you ready regularly?

You gotta be ready to talk about every objective, responsibility and accomplishment that’s on your resume…in detail.

Stay Calm

For the love of all pork fried in bacon fat, please dress appropriately for the interview. Err on the conservative side. If necessary, ask your Human Resource contact if proper attire is business or business casual.

Arrive to your interview about 15 minutes earlier than scheduled. If you’re unfamiliar with the location, do a quick drive-by the day before. The morning of your interview is the worst time to learn your GPS device will have you driving in circles.

For city folks, splurge on garage parking. Your meeting may last longer than you expect. You want your mind focused on the interview not on how much you’re racking up in parking tickets because the meter expired.

Silence your cell phone. Don’t put it on vibrate. Silence that sucker or turn it off. Schedule a reminder in your calendar if need be.

Side Note: There should be a smartphone app or feature that automatically silences your cell phone at a set time. If there isn’t, someone should get on that pronto. And to whomever that person is, lemme say, “You’re welcome.”

Introduce yourself to the interviewer with a polite smile, a warm greeting, and a firm handshake.

Let’s stop here and talk about the art of a good handshake.

The interviewer is not a chilvarous gentleman and you’re not a virginal damsel, so don’t give him your fuckin’ fingertips when he extends his hand. Make your handshake full. Make it firm. Two pumps is all ya need.

Remember to thank the interviewer for carving time out of his schedule to meet you.

Oh, and uh, ruh, I should probably mention…no cussing during the interview.

Sell It

Go ahead, and brag a little.

Show that you’re sure of your abilities.

The trick is to strike a balance between convincing the interviewer that you’re frickin’ awesome without simultaneously looking like a asshole.

Got it?

Answer questions briefly, accurately, and honestly. Then, shut up. Rambling will only lead to you repeating yourself. You’re awkward enough as is.

Be careful divulging personal information. You want to be relatable, but you don’t know how the interviewer will judge you.

When asked why I was relocating to Washington, D.C. from Orlando, Florida, I told potential employers that I wanted to live in a more cultured metropolis. That’s true. But it is also true that I would’ve moved to New York City if my then boyfriend hadn’t accepted a job with the federal government.

Try to see yourself from the employer’s standpoint. It’s not about you. In the event you’re hired, the company will pay you for your service. How will you serve them?

Avoid criticizing your current or past colleagues and supervisors. Praise the companies you’ve worked for. If asked why you’re leaving or why you left your previous employer, keep the attention on you.

Ask Thoughtful Questions

Presumably, you’ve droned on and on about your qualifications during the entire interview.

People reeeally like to talk about themselves. So, try to word your questions in a way that focuses on the interviewer. For instance, “Fortune magazine says XYZ, Inc. was one of the top 100 companies to work for in 2011. Based on your experience, why do you think the firm received such recognition?”

Demonstrate you’ve done your research by asking the interviewer specific questions related to the company.

Shut it Down

Until you receive a job offer, avoid discussing salary and benefits. The interview is not the proper time to address such matters.

Conclude your meeting by reiterating what strengths and contributions you’ll bring to the organization.

Verbally express your interest in the company and the position.

If you didn’t receive a business card from the interviewer upon your first encounter, get one before leaving.

Again, thank the interviewer for his time.

Follow Up

If you think you’ve thanked the interviewer enough, you’re wrong. You’re gonna thank him again. Within 24 hours of your meeting, send the interviewer a genuine thank-you email that includes specific issues covered during your conversation. You don’t want to sound generic.

What tricks do you use to impress interviewers?

The following is a guest post from a You Have More Than You Think partner.

Buying Your first Home 

Thinking of buying your first home? It’s an ideal time to buy. The prices of property are the lowest they have been in a long time. Mortgage rates are hovering near their all-time lowest. This may be bad news for property sellers, but it is great news for first-time home buyers. It is important, however, that you understand that buying a home is a momentous transaction that should not be approached lightly.

Define your goals

Accurately define your goals beforehand to facilitate planning. How big a house are you looking to buy? Do you have a set purchasing time frame? What facilities do you want in your new home? Are you buying abroad or in your home country? The clearer you are about what you want, the more focused and better equipped you will be to navigate the sometimes turbulent housing market.

Considerations

It is worthwhile to consider and answer a few basic questions when shopping for your first house. These considerations can help you better prepare for what lies ahead and prove valuable when discussing details of your transaction with mortgage lenders, insurers and other professionals.

• Property market

Are you familiar with the property market? It is important you understand the real estate market and how much houses are listed. Understanding the asking price for homes helps you align your dreams and financial capability with the realities in the real estate marketplace.

• Credit history

Is your credit accurate and in good shape? Potential lenders perform credit checks to determine how much risk each borrower brings to the table and whether a borrower is a good candidate for a loan. Get your credit report in order by making sure it is accurate and reflects a good credit history before you meet potential lenders. Good credit is central to securing a mortgage bargain.

• Purchase method

How are you going to make the purchase? Innovative loan programs have been developed that allow people to buy homes with little or even no initial money put down. However, most purchasers buy real estate through financing, which is the difference between an upfront payment and the purchase price. The less the money you put down upfront, the higher the monthly mortgage payments you will pay. Determine how you want to purchase your home. Are you going to buy with or without some cash upfront?

Is there someone who can help you? Many first time buyers have been able to make down payments by having their parents take out homeowner loans on their property to help their children purchase theirs. This of course entirely depends upon your parents trust in your financial acumen.

• Down payment

How much down payment can you afford? You often know you are ready to buy a house when you have enough money saved up to put a down payment. Ideally, your monthly mortgage payments should not exceed a quarter of your monthly income. To ensure your monthly mortgage payments fall within this bracket, have ready at least 20% down payment for the house.

• Recent purchases

Have you made any major purchases recently? Your credit and debt history determines how much you can borrow. Records of major purchases in the recent past can lower your borrowing limit. Make sure major loans like car loans and credit and debit card loans are lower than 40 per cent of your gross income to raise your borrowing limit.

• Additional expenses

What additional expenses come with your home? Owning a home comes with additional expenses like utility bills, homeowners’ insurance and house maintenance costs. Note any additional home expenses and prepare for them.

Remember information and planning is critical in real estate. Planning helps you identify cost effective shortcuts in the property market and adequate information broadens your knowledge base and helps you respond intelligently to requests from lawyers, brokers, lenders and other professionals. Keep informed and plan adequately to make buying your first home a pleasant experience.

We all make mistakes with money.

It’s okay.

Try to forgive yourself for squandering a few bucks here and there. Stop reliving the time you forgot that coupon for a free sausage biscuit on your dining room table.

You’re not the first person to pay full price for a jar of salsa con queso because you misread the sales label. And no one blames you for allowing a $2 Ikea wine glass to slip from your hand after you had a few.

Forget about that stuff, man. You’re imperfect.

But some of the ways you handle money are catastrophic for your financial well-being.

If you insist on living a life of fiscal destitution, here are ten remarkably effective tricks to help you realize that dream.

1. Buy a ton of junk you won’t use, and put it in a storage unit you’ll pay for until the end of days.
2. Treat tax filing and payment deadlines as if they’re set by any ol’ powerless, unsecured creditor.
3. When your business is thriving or you’re raking in lots of cash from your day job, spend like the good times will last forever.
4. Half ass attempts to pay off debt, negotiate pay raises, or achieve any other objective that makes you uncomfortable but would increase your cash flow.
5. Without performing the most basic of research, go to college, and pretend a degree will magically result in a fulfilling and financially lucrative career.
6. Keep your financial affairs in such a disorderly mess you forget credit card due dates, overdraw your bank account, and go over your credit limit.
7. Forego health insurance because you’re young, strong, and medical related emergencies don’t happen to you.
8. Act as a cosigner on loans you can’t afford to repay.
9. Wait for someone else to take responsibility for your financial matters.
10. Spare no expense for your children even if a 100% increase in price only results in a 1% increase in benefit derived from the item in question.

Can you think of any other amazingly dumb ways to handle money?

I have no intentions of cutting back on coffee. Maybe I'll up my dosage.

Seriously, I’m spending too much money on food. Over the last couple weeks or so I’ve opted to work in a coffee shop instead of free venues like my apartment or the library.

There’s good and bad that comes with the decision.

Yeah, I don’t incur any extra costs by using my apartment as an office. But I’m miserable there. Although proud to be an introvert, I can’t shut myself off from face-to-face interaction anymore – not even for one day.

And yeah, my taxes pay for the library. But their internet connection is slow. Plus, I swear old people visit the library for two reasons: 1) To challenge the strength of their vocal cords and 2) To test the weakness of decent people’s patience. If the librarian winces when you speak, you’re talking too loud (or your breath stinks).

Either way, the coffee shop is the best place for me to work. After sitting there for hours, the Quiche Lorraine starts calling my name. I answer by shelling out $4 for a slice. It adds up.

Although I’m not making a Quiche Lorraine this week, today, I’m cooking one of the best quiches I’ve ever tasted.

For the rest of the week, I’ll keep it simple.

Monday: Mushroom and Asparagus Quiche (Recipe below!)

Tuesday: White Bean & Sausage Stew

Wednesday: Baked Chicken Wings, Black Beans, and Yellow Rice

Thursday/Friday: Leftovers

Saturday/Sunday: Baked Pork Chops, Broccoli and Garlic Roasted Potatoes

Recipe of Mushroom and Asparagus Quiche Ingredients

Yields 6 to 8 servings.

• 1 tube (8 ounces) refrigerated crescent rolls
• 2 teaspoons prepared mustard
• 3/4 pounds (about one bunch) fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed (1/2 stick)
• 3 eggs, slightly beaten
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon each dried basil, oregano and sage

Separate crescent rolls into 8 triangles and place in an ungreased 9 inch pie plate. Place rolls with points toward the center. Press onto the bottom and up the sides to form a crust, seal perforations, spread with mustard and set aside.

In a large skillet, saute the asparagus, onion and mushrooms in butter until the asparagus is crisp-tender. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients, stir in asparagus mixture and pour onto crust.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until a knife inserted near the edge of the pie plate comes out clean. Let stand for 5 mintutes before cutting.

Meals from Last Week’s Menu Plan

Slow Cooker Country Ribs & Potatoes

Slow Cooker Chuck Roast & Potatoes

For more menu plans, check out Menu Plan Monday at I’m an Organizing Junkie.

I finally found my groove.

I’m so excited!

As you may know, I quit my job at the end of last year. It’s taken me four months to figure out what I need to do in order to maximize productivity. Well, I kinda already knew what I had to do. I was just working out the details.

The biggest change comes in where I work. I cannot stay locked in my apartment all day. It’s not that I can’t get any work done. That’s not the issue at all. But other aspects of my life suffer when I isolate myself from other human beings. You see, I feel really lonely and sad when there’s no one around. I looked into renting a co-working space, but they’re like $450 a month in the metro DC area. That’s insane.

So, every morning I wake up before 7:00. And by 8:15, my butt is parked in a seat at the local coffee shop. For about $100 a month, I’ve created my own co-working space.

Okay, that’s enough about me. What happened this week that we both can benefit from?

Funny Money Related Video

If you’ve never listened to the lyrical  and comedic styling of Phillip and Emmanuel Hudson, then I’m sorry. Your life is incomplete.

Normally, I don’t think there’s anything funny about men who never have any money. But these guys have managed to put a hilarious spin on what it’s like to date someone who’s always broke.

Image of the Week

Since I can’t afford to blow tons of cash on clothes anymore, I have to look for cheap ways to fancify my outfits.

Check out these super cute, homemade beaded bracelets I found on Pinterest this week. The material costs are low, and they seem easy to make.

Photo Credit: Honestly...WTF

Interesting Search Phrases

best friend wants me to pay $3,000 for destination wedding
Tell that heifer she can go straight to hell.

People who are always trying to get something for nothing
Those people suck.

poor people have it too good
OMG! Don’t they?!

birthday candles image
Whoever you are, please stop stealing my images.

my brother has horrible credit should i cosign for his house
Uh, I dunno what to say except….ಠ_ಠ

Awesome Reading

Fabulously Broke: How to Care for Clothes: The Poorly Dressed Grownup’s Guide
Budgets Are Sexy: “I Got Money That Doesn’t Belong to Me, BUT…”
Faithful With A Few: When A Waiter Gives You Free Food, Is It A Nice Gesture Or Is It Stealing?
Your Finances Simplified: 10 Common Characteristics of Millionaires You Can Follow
My Broken Coin: Minimalistic Approach: A Capsule Wardrobe
One Cent at a Time: 6 Ways to Make Extra Money From Your Car 

Carnivals Featuring You Have More Than You Think

TotallyMoney Blog Carnival – Big Bang Theory Birthdays Edition at Debt Black Hole

Carnival of Financial Camaraderie #31 – Lend A Helping Hand at 101 Centavos

There’s been a lot of hullabaloo around student loan interest rates lately.

If you haven’t heard, America’s student loan debt recently topped $1 trillion. That trumps what we owe on credit cards.

OH NOOOO!

Come July 1, 2012, the government subsidized student loan interest rate is set to double from 3.4% to 6.8% on new undergraduate loans – a big jump over the 1.6% I enjoyed a few years back.

It’s not terribly difficult to pay off a small, low interest rate loan.

Even if you’re paying high finance charges on a low balance, or vice versa, you’re still in a good position to become debt free.

But when you have big obligations with big interest rates, you’re pretty much screwed.

Apparently, student borrowers are finally realizing that.

They’re gambling on a college education with borrowed money, and they’re scared of making a bad bet. Since half of the nation’s new college grads can’t find gainful employment, I can see why they might be worried.

Now we got folks demanding student loan debt forgiveness. They’re mad as hell the debt must be repaid at a totally reasonable interest rate. The pay-whatever-it-costs-to-get-a-degree guys wanna renege on their promise to the taxpayer. To that I say, “Nah, buddy.”

Here’s where I get confused.

Ten years ago, financial gurus, politicians – let’s just say EVERYBODY – was screaming, “Student loan debt is good debt!!!”

I don’t remember a single “expert” who disagreed with this position.

Heck, we should be proud student loans exceed credit card balances.

Let’s congratulate ourselves for this monumental achievement.

Bravo! Hell yeah! Let’s here it for us! *golf clap*

Both political parties are sucking up to the angry crowd of future debt dodgers. “Let’s keep the rate where it is,” they say.

Since the United States is deeply in debt, it’s natural to wonder aloud, “How in the fuck can we afford to hold interest rates where they are?!”

Who’s gonna pay for this?

Well, Democrats and Republicans have the answer. Let’s hear them out.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it until you tell me to find a better quote, but:

There are no solutions…there are only trade-offs. ~ Thomas Sowell

Someone has to be responsible for returning principal and interest on student loan debt. Or, at a minimum, the portion funded by taxpayers. (I couldn’t give two rat turds about repayment of private student loan debt.) Who better than the folks who borrow the money?

Being that I paid off my student loans years ago, I might be a teensy bit insensitive to people who’re crying about the pending interest rate spike. I acknowledge, yet refuse to apologize for, my indignation.

What’s your position? Do you think the government should block the interest rate increase on student loans?