BART SMITH OFFICIAL WEBSITE • AUTHOR • YOUTUBER • COOKIE BAKER • COOKBOOK CHEF • FUTURES TRADER
Check out these recommended links, tools and resources that may help make your home office more efficient, productive and easier to manage.
I don't know about you, but my previous TV cable/Internet provider had me locked into a 2 year contract with TV services I didn't want just so I could pay less for Internet. What a crock! Hence, I was paying roughly $170 a month when you include taxes and fees for two services (TV + Internet). When I broke away from the bundle and just paid for Internet, that bill came to $78 per month roughly. I was still not happy.
Well, one night in disgust, I did some research online for a more affordable Internet service provider. That's when I found T-Mobile Wireless Home Internet. Their call center had just opened (at 4:00 A.M. PST) and I was up to make the call and place my order immediately upon finding out what they offered and for how much.
NOW, I pay $50 per month for my Internet service and the best part? Unlike cable Internet service, my Internet is wireless (not hard wired). What's the difference? With land lines connecting to your house, those companies have problems and interruptions of service ALL THE TIME! ("There's an outage in your area. We should have it fixed in the next 6-9 HOURS!") YIKES! You've experienced that before, right?
Well, so far, I have nothing but good things to say about T-Mobile Wireless Home Internet. I even got my mom T-Mobile Wireless Home Internet for her house and her neighbor's house. Both ladies are now saving $300+ each per year having switched to T-Mobile Wireless Home Internet!
So, if you want, MAKE THE SWITCH LIKE I DID and DITCH your current TV/cable/Internet provider. Call your current TV/cable/Internet provider and ask if you're in a contract and/or how you can cancel your service. Don't do it, though, until you order, receive and test your T-Mobile Home Internet equipment. Keep in mind, with the Internet and YouTube and other TV apps, you can get all the TV shows and movies you want via Roku or a Fire TV stick through your Internet and YouTube. You don't need "cable TV" anymore. That's an old way to get your TV. So, do as I did and "cut the cord!" (i.e., your cable TV service)
Call T-Mobile Wireless Home Internet at 844-839-5057, place your order, and get your equipment mailed to you. When you receive it, set it up and test it for 5 days or so BEFORE canceling your current (soon-to-be former) Internet service provider.
Once you see how much you love T-Mobile Wireless Home Internet, then call up your current (soon-to-be former) Internet provider and cancel those overpriced services. I did just that and I'm EXTREMELY HAPPY I made the switch to T-Mobile Wireless Home Internet.
Who's your phone carrier? I use MintMobile and pay $15/month (when I pay annually). It's so nice to get one bill per year. Compare your cell phone service to what's below and start saving money like I did.
$15/MONTH CELL PHONE SERVICE
I pay $15 a month for my cell phone service. What do you pay? My mobile provider was robbing me of $100's of dollars EVERY MONTH. Now? I don't see a bill for a whole year because I pay a whopping $180-ish for the WHOLE YEAR. That comes out about about $15 a month.
MintMobile also offers a referral program where you can refer others for a commission. This also minimizes your bill.
STOP PAYING $40-$80 a month per cell phone line. I even get better quality of service when I set my phone to WI-FI CALLS, no more dropped calls, etc.
Use my referral link and you'll get $15 added to your Mint account when you sign up, and I'll get $$$ too. It's a win-win deal for us both!
BUSINESS PHONE# LINKS
TO YOUR CELL PHONE
I use TextNow's telephone calling and texting app as a second phone number, which I've assigned to my business. I like it because I can put this phone number on my website (for business/media inquiries) and not my personal cell phone. For approx. $4.95/month, I've got a business-dedicated telephone number to give out to the public.
Then, with the app, I can text and make/receive phone calls on that second phone number all from my personal cell phone. Pretty convenient, if you ask me. Here are a few more features:
• Choose a local U.S. phone number.
• Customize your voicemail greeting.
• Set business hours your phone rings.
• Caller ID shows your business number.
• Includes unlimited calls and texts.
GOOGLE PHONE# LINKS
TO YOUR CELL PHONE
If you're looking for a separate (and free) phone number you could use for your business and link it to your phone for calls, voicemail and texting, look no further than a Google Voice number.
Google Voice is a telephone service that provides a U.S. phone number to Google Account customers in the U.S. and Google Workspace customers in Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the contiguous United States.
Google Voice is free for personal use for any user with a Google account. However, it has no free trial for paid plans for small businesses and organizations.
Shipping Supplies & Buy Postage Online Services
From time to time, I ship books and other products to family, friends and clients. Well, I need shipping supplies and a way to print postage online so I don't have to wait in line at the post office. So, here's what I have and I've been using for years.
BUY POSTAGE ONLINE AT USPS.COM
Because my time is valuable, and yours too, I prefer not to stand in line at the post office to buy postage for my Priority Mail boxes/envelopes. Instead, I use USPS' Click 'n' Ship, which allows me to pay and print postage online. Once you create a free account, simply enter the address where the box is being shipped to, pay for postage, print the label, then tape it to the box. Then, run down to the post office, drop it in the big bin and you're done. No waiting in line, EVER!
MY FAVORITE "QUIET" MAILING TAPE
I love this mailing tape. Why? Well, not only is it strong, but it's also QUIET! It doesn't make that loud screeching noise when you pull out a new bit of tape. Trust me, when you mail lots of boxes or envelopes (of anything) it's nice NOT TO HEAR that usual noise tape screeching in your ear. That said, I've got two links here. You can buy either a single roll or a pack of rolls. Save money and buy a lot if you want.
Amazon.com (Search Results)
If you mail books to folks who buy your books from your website , for example, people via media mail like I do, then you might want to have some padded envelopes on hand. Since there is such a variety of colors and sizes, I thought you could just take a look at the search results I found on Amazon.com. Take your pick, stock up and remember to use USPS' Media Mail service option when mailing books to your family, friends and customers. You save money on postage when shipping media mail.
Amazon.com (Search Results)
If you mail books to people via media mail like I do, here's a cool way to promote your book while it's in route to your intended recipient. Use a clear envelope to show off your book via its front/back cover. Affix postage and a mailing label on one side while leaving the (other) clear side to display your book's front or back cover for the world to see! Remember to use USPS' Media Mail when mailing books. You save money on postage.
Amazon.com (Search Results)
There are several different types of packing peanuts to choose from as well as quantity. Take a look among these search results and choose your preferred brand, type, quantity and price. I like to keep lots of packing peanuts on hand when shipping my cookies all throughout the country as well as other products.
Amazon.com (Search Results)
Depending on what you're mailing, you might need some bubble wrap. Well, here ya go! Choose from among these Amazon's search results for "bubble wrap." See what you can find, the type of bubble wrap you want, within your budget, etc. There are lots of varieties. Pick what you like.
FREE "SMALL" SHIPPING BOX
These are nice to have on hand when shipping small items that won't fit in an envelope. For example, I've shipped a lot of cookies with this Small box. Shipping this box comes with free tracking when you pay for postage online via Click 'n' Ship. Choose from 1-5, pack of 10 or pack of 25.
FREE "MEDIUM" SHIPPING BOX
These are nice to have on hand when shipping a lot of stuff to someone , but you don't need a large box to do it. For example, I've shipped a lot of cookies using these boxes. Shipping with this box comes with free tracking when you pay for postage online via Click 'n' Ship. Choose from 1-5, pack of 10 or pack of 25.
FREE "LARGE" SHIPPING BOX
Another FREE shipping box from the USPS. These are nice to have on hand when shipping A LOT of stuff to someone. Shipping with this box comes with free tracking when you pay for postage online via Click 'n' Ship. Choose from 1-5, pack of 10 or pack of 25. If you need a TALLER (large) box , here's one that 8.5" high compared to this one that's 6" high.
FREE USPS CUBE-SHAPED BOX
Great for when you're shipping small items to someone within the USA. Postage for this box is based on WEIGHT and DISTANCE from where you're shipping from to where you're shipping to. This IS NOT FLAT RATE box (rate). So, if you ship within 2-3 states from where you live, the cost for postage can be cheaper than Flat Rate. If you ship cross country, it could be more expensive than using a Flat Rate box.
FREE ENVELOPES, LABELS & MORE
What else do you need? Priority Mail envelopes, Express envelopes, tube boxes, labels, stickers, stamps, window envelopes, commercial invoices, domestic return receipt forms, large mailing cartons? You should see what's available for FREE from the USPS. Check it out and shop away! Everything is mailed right to your door.
WEIGHT SCALE (90 LB. LIMIT)
This is a great scale to have when you ship a box or envelope that ISN'T FLAT RATE! and you need an exact weight to determine postage costs. Simply weigh your box or envelope and use that exact weight when purchasing postage online via Click 'n' Ship.
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