As Businesses and consumers tighten their money belts, making money can be harder than in good times.  In theory, this is true but by making some very small changes, we have seen an increase in work instead of a decrease.

The first thing I had to do was look at my time management.  Yes it is not right as yet but it is a lot better than it was.  Things are now getting done and running three companies, it is become more and more vital.

Secondly, All three companies had to be looked at to make sure we are offering the best deal to businesses and making the most out of this difficult time.  Our Website design company, Earthsalt has seen an massive increase in popularity which is great as more and more companies realise that the Internet can help them.

Thirdly, Costs was another area we looked at.  By making some small changes we have cut down our costs to make a good monthly income from the businesses I own.

As a business person, I have found that some local businesses will moan thier heart out given the chance about the credit crunch etc but when you ask them what they are doing about it, the changes are few and far between.

Its been a few weeks since my last entry which I apologise for.  Over this time, life has been hectic building websites, carrying out handyman jobs and keeping on going projects alive.  My focus is now well and truly fixed on the future of becoming a millionaire.

During the next coming months, the main focus is to not only pay off bills etc but also to pay off any debts we have.  This will mean from January 2009, we will start the new year a fresh and can work on the next stage which is actually saving money.

In the news, much talk is about banks and the financial markets and looking around, there are some great deals on saving accounts available.  Talking to a number of financial advisors, they all say there are going to be better deals coming soon as more and more institutes look for us to save our money with them.

One thing I have learnt in the last few weeks is to really use your time to the maximum.  Each day needs to be planned and stuck too.  All in all, this is starting to work and personally I have already seen an increase in what I am getting done.

Over the last week, I have taken some good advise from a good business friend of mine.  Discussing my plans with him, it was clear, a new personal plan was required.  With three companies on the go and my finger in some other pies, time management is the main thing to concentrate on.

Two of the companies I own are Internet based and some work was required to make the sites more attractive and effective.  These have now been done.  Earthsalt is our web design and marketing organisation and since we changed the site, we have already seen an increase in viewing figures.

Another business, Paul the Handyman (for locals to Croydon, South London) has also seen a big increase in both visitors to the web site and requests for quotations.  It all goes to show, plan your time and concentrate on one thing at a time, you will build a great foundation to become a millionaire.

On a down side, I have been looking out on search engines to see what comes up to help me achieve my goal in becoming a millionaire.  I knew it would be full of websites offering the chance of making your dreams come true but some of them are nothing but huge money making scams.  When I have a chance, I am going to start reviewing some of them and post them here so others don’t get caught out.

As a national advert says “every little helps” and by using free tools, you could earn income without actually doing that much.  Depending on how much spare time you can afford to give something, the Internet has already seen people make millions by coming up with an idea.  Take Facebook for instance or the story of a local fisherman living in a country who just happened to own nbc.tv.

It is very unlikely you are going to come up with something which will directly make you a millionaire just on the Internet but by using a few tools you could start to get an income which could contribute towards your savings.

Google Adsence – is a free online tool for anyone with a website or blog to use.  Adwords is pay per click advertising and Adsence is used to promote these ads on your web site.  When people click on the advertisments, you get paid a commission and over time could bring you a nice income.

Banner Advertising - Again there are a number of Advertising publishers who’s databases are filled with lots of banners and links to companies and organisations.  In fact, most websites use these agencies to drive banners to thier websites and again, when visitors click on them and buy something, you get a commission.

Article Writing - This is a little more difficult to get into but if you are good at writing articles about a subject matter, there are organisations that will pay you either a fixed fee or commission for them to use it.

At the end of the day, every penny counts.  Having a blog or website which you make popular can generate income without actually paying too much apart from time and effort.

There are many scams out there that say will earn you money but every now and then, one actually looks like it will work.  The main focus is to get in at the beginning.  The lower down you are, the less your going to make.  Take two of the largest Internet and Media sectors Gaming and Social Media, and you have a great Business opportunity know as GEM LIFESTYLE

GEM LIFESTYLE combines the two together and at the end of September, will launch in the UK.  This is what i mean by getting in while it is new.  The competition will be less and the demand will be more.  This means you make more money as a associate.

As GEM LIFESTYLE does not launch to the end of September, you can sign up as a pre-associate and start building your team up with other business minded people you know.  That way at the end of September, you are already to go with this great business opportunity.  To read more about GEM LIFESTYLE and to sign up as a pre-associate, CLICK HERE

It’s day one of the plan and now it is time to put the whole two years and a bit into action.  After spending a few days going through advice, articles and other blogs, I have seen that the good ones are all giving the same main points to help you become a millionaire.

Point one: Spend less – Make more

“If you haven’t got it – you can’t spend it!”  is true in many ways.  All our credit cards have gone and we now only use our real money.  One good article I have read tells me that this was a good call.  Credit cards may allow you to buy “Stuff” but unless you can pay it back straight away, it’s costing you more than you originally planned.

Shop around for “Stuff”.  Like us, we have two kids who in todays society are already picking up the adverts and talk from friends on the latest must haves.  Don’t give in to the pressure.  Live life as much as you can but at a budget you can afford.

Point two: Save, Save and Save – Get a savings account that works

This is something again I already have.  After spending some time looking around, I found a great savings account with a high interest.  The one thing I have not been good at is putting money into it.  This is something that will and must change.

Point Three: Priorities time – Time is money

There is 24 hours in a day and at least 8 of them your asleep.  Use the rest of your time to work towards your goals.  This again is something I need to consecrate on and writing a timetable of what each day should include is where I have started.  Running three business has not seen the results I wanted but listening and reading about where I have gone wrong and putting them right is where the changes lie.

As someone that spends a lot of time on the Internet, It is very easy to get distracted by things like Facebook, E-mails, other social networking and googling.  That’s got to change.  Planning each day with the piorities and any spare time can be used for enjoyment.

Point four: Enjoy YOUR Trip – Don’t let others talk you out of things

This is something that I had personal experience of.  Being self employed and a entrepruner, I have in the past talked about a new project with family or friends and as soon as I said it, they would put the idea into a negitive downfall without being able to give any good reasons why.

One of these as an example was three years ago while discussing a plan to start a web portal for the local area.  Only a few of the family and friends I spoke to said it would work.  In a way this was good for me as it made me even more determined to get it to work.  Today, it is the largest independent web portal for the local area getting around 8000 unique visitors a month.

Point Five: Get real – Dream it but don’t believe it (Until you can)

You lie awake at night dreaming of having that great house with open fields and parties every night while in the driveway are two of the latest cars you always wanted.   You can dream this but unless you can afford it, it is only going to be a dream.  One point I have really picked up on is set yourself a goal of how much you want to have in the bank before you will allow youreslf to go out and buy “Stuff”.

My goal is by a years time is to have £350,000 in our savings account by September 2009.  By March 2010, it is to be upto £550.00 and by January 2011, the golden £1,000,000.  How is this going to happen.  Well to start off with, Today (yes i know it is Sunday) is re-looking at all three businesses and seeing where time = money.  What are the piorities and which can bring the biggest cash input for the smallest amount of outlay.

Tomorrow, I will share those details in basic form here.

An ambition too far some may say but a few years ago, I made a plan and one of the things was to become a millionaire by the time I was forty.  The clock is ticking and at times it feels like I am nothing but a dreamer but with just over 2 years to go, this blog will follow the ups and downs, the good and bad advice and the daily life of fufilling the ambition.

As I have already found, being self employed is both rewarding and hard work.  It can be a lonely and cruel place but I for one have found that the positives greatly outlay the negitives.  “Put your mind to it and you will succeed”  is what most coaches and advisers are saying.  We this is it, 870 days to go or 20880 hours left to i’m forty and had fulfilled the lifetime ambition.