Are you a freelancer?

If yes, then you probably already know that good invoicing skills are not an option for you!

After all, how timely or untimely clients pay you depends largely on the kind of invoice you share with them.

What Constitutes Quality Invoicing?

Part of what makes you a professional and gives you an edge as a freelancer is an ability to create/send a comprehensible invoicing system.

Do not make assumptions or leave anything to guesswork. Your job is to remove the confusion/guesswork from reading an invoice, not add to it.

One quick look at an invoice should tell your client –

• What payment method do you prefer
• The due date for the payment
• The exact amount they owe you

Often beginner freelancers wonder how to send an invoice via email.

You do get a variety of options to pick from. Some may sound more effective than others depending on your industry. Read on to see all available solutions –

1. Sending it as an email attachment; the DIY route.

If you like to keep it simple and basic, stick with Google Sheets or Excel Spreadsheet. See to it that your invoice includes all essential fields like –

• Date of issue
• Client name and contact information
• Due date
• Details of services
• Discount (if any/applicable)
• Cost per service
• Serve fees and taxes (if applicable)
• Total amount due
• Late fee (if applicable)

Do not leave out the preferable payment method. Include your payment address if you use digital payment services like PayPal and Stripe. Pay special attention to AVOIDING TYPOS.  One misspelled word can make you lose your payment and hard work.

Save the invoice as PDF so no one can change the information. Attach the PDF file to the email. It’s better to include the invoice number in the subject line.

The body can include a note along the lines of, “Please find the attached invoice for October. Kindly remit the payment to the address mentioned in the invoice. Thank You”

Note – Since the whole process is manual, the responsibility to send reminders will fall on your shoulders. Also, know that this invoicing style is highly prone to incorrect keystrokes and typos.  

Do not send email invoices if you send some personally identifiable financial data. They are unencrypted and unsecured. Certain project types and industries may not accept email-based invoices if the payment is going via direct deposit or directly to your bank account.

2. Professional Billing Services and Invoicing Software

This is another way to invoice via email. An invoice generator takes a lot of work out of this otherwise tedious/manual process. Typically you can pick from various templates to fill in all the relevant information. Much of the language in invoice templates come pre-filled, which removes much effort. It’s one of the systems you need to skyrocket your freelancing career.

Benefits of Using Invoice Generator/software

• Option to integrate expense tracking
• Ability to discern how much profit you are making as a small business
• Better cash-flow management
• Awareness of the total amount clients owe you
• Information about pending freelance bills

The best part of using an invoice generator service is – easy integration with digital payment platforms like PayPal, Chase Pay, Zelle, and Stripe. Clients can click a button to pay directly through their business account, which cuts down on the number of steps involved and the time taken to make the payment.

Built-in functionalities also avoid the chances of typos and mistakes, so your money doesn’t end up in the wrong account. Sending reminders is also easy with an invoice maker.

However, on the flip side, these services can often be expensive for beginner freelancers or those with only one or two clients.  

Weigh the pros and cons to see if it hits the sweet spot regarding ROI.

3. Freelance Management Toolkits

A freelancer management suite such as Bonsai gives you the perks of dedicated billing functionalities. Translation? You can set up custom invoice templates for different clients, send them securely, and track the money from all channels.

Companies design these suites/toolkits with the knowledge that most freelancers don’t have hundreds of clients. That is why the often price their services rather reasonably.

Often these systems incorporate other elements of freelancing that enable you to earn more and be more professional.

Benefits of Using Freelance Management Toolkit

• Setting your expectations right in terms of what you charge
• Option to create bespoke service proposals
• Time tracking
• Expense management
• Project milestone management for different clients
• It gives you the big picture of the entire project
• Easy billing with a one-click option

Unpaid invoices will automatically trigger a reminder/alert to your client after the due date. You can customize such a courtesy reminder at any time.

The best part – these suites are available at more or less the same pricing as bookkeeping services.

So, Which One Is The Best?

Let’s say what is best for you may not be for another freelancer. It all boils down to your budget, number of clients, expectations, nature of the business, industry, etc.

Freelancers who are short on time often find that good invoicing practices save them time and billable hours to devote to more productive business activities.

If you spend too much time on administrative tasks like invoicing – you may want to explore professional invoice creator and management toolkits. 

Packing your shoes is often the last step in getting things ready for a move. People save it for last because they don’t want to mess around with multiple pairs of shoes in different shapes and sizes. However, a few hacks will help you quickly deal with this task and avoid skin creases, odors, moisture, and other damage during the moving process.

Based on the experience of Livermore moving, we’ve highlighted some easy moving tips that will take the guesswork out of packing shoes.

5 Tips on How to Pack Your Shoes for a Move

Start packing your shoes with some preparation and throw away the shoes you don’t wear. After all, it makes no sense to pay for the transportation of things you don’t need. Set aside any pairs you avoid because they are uncomfortable, and donate to charity if they are in good condition. Feel free to throw the rest in the trash.

Now that you’ve taken inventory of your shoes and are sure which pairs you’ll take with you, it’s time to pack them.

Tip 1. Use Only Clean Wrapping Paper

Use special packing paper and bubble wrap to avoid leaving marks from newspapers or printed sheets on shoes. Be sure to give your shoes proper care:

• Shake off the remaining dirt;
• Wipe off dust;
• Allow time to dry and air out;
• Treat with cream or protective spray.

Then, you can wrap each shoe in a half piece of packing paper to protect it from rubbing or scuffing.

Tip 2. Tie Shoes with Laces Together

During transportation, there will definitely be shoes that will lose their pair. To help it dig through the pile trying to find a matching shoe before you’ve fully unpacked it, tie the shoelaces and trainers together and wrap the rest of the shoes together. This is the best way to move shoes in order.

Tip 3. Stuff Each Shoe with Paper or Socks

This hack will help you keep your shoes in shape while moving and save space. Take your rolled-up pair of socks and stuff them into your shoes. You can also stuff your shoes with plastic wrap or clean wrapping paper.

Tip 4. Pack Expensive Pairs of Shoes Separately

While you won’t regret an old pair of sneakers that might be lost or damaged during a move, an expensive pair of heels or loafers will be a significant loss. It would be ideal if you kept the box that the shoes were in when you bought them. Then pack them in a box by carefully wrapping them in paper or bubble wrap and adding some crumpled wrapping paper to the space around the heel itself. If you haven’t saved them, you can purchase packaged cardboard shoe boxes or use small plastic containers.

Tip 5. Pack the Shoes You Are Currently Wearing in a Separate Box

If you already have a specific moving experience, you understand that unpacking and organizing things in a new place is a rather lengthy process. So, ensure you have a separate shoe box that you will need immediately. Set aside separately:

• Two or three pairs of essential shoes that are easy to put on and take off;
• A pair of shoes that can be combined with work outfits for at least a week;
• A pair of shoes in case you decide to attend any special event;
• Shoes to wear around the house.

Pack it all into an essentials box and label it so you can use these shoes until the moving date. You can even take essentials with you in the car as these are the first items you will need in your new residence.

Hope these tips from moving services will help you to minimize the stress of relocation and preparing for it and make the first few days settling in at your new home well-organized.

The items were recalled by Unilever because they could contain “elevated amounts” of benzene, which can cause cancer when exposed to high doses over an extended period of time.

Several dry shampoos from Unilever have been recalled because they may contain “elevated amounts” of benzene.

Over a dozen aerosol dry shampoos from Unilever have been recalled due to concerns that they may contain “elevated amounts” of benzene, a naturally occurring substance that, when exposed to high concentrations over an extended period, may cause cancer.

The company that makes consumer goods recently issued its most recent recall in response to rising levels of benzene contamination in various aerosol items, including some sunscreens and deodorants.

Which dry shampoo products is Unilever recalling?

Aerosol dry shampoos manufactured before October 2021 and sold in the United States under the names Bed Head, Dove, Nexxus, Suave, Rockaholic, and TRESemme are being voluntarily recalled by Unilever. In a statement, the company claimed that it had not been made aware of any “adverse events” involving the recalled products and that an “independent health hazard evaluation” had determined that daily exposure to the benzene in those products is not anticipated to have any negative effects on health.

According to the statement, “Unilever U.S. is recalling these items out of an excess of caution.” Users of the impacted aerosol dry shampoo products should cease using them.

Refunds are available from the business for the individual goods listed below.

What’s benzene?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, benzene is a colorless or light yellow liquid with a sweet-smelling and highly combustible property. According to the FDA, it is one of the top 20 compounds used in the US. According to the American Chemistry Council, it serves as a “building block” for other compounds and materials.

According to the CDC, benzene may often be detected in crude oil. In addition to several lubricants, rubbers, dyes, detergents, medicines, and insecticides, businesses utilize benzene to create plastics, resins, nylon, and synthetic fibers.

According to experts, benzene is present in the air we breathe daily, particularly when we fill up our cars at the gas station. A few brands of cigarettes, detergents, glues, and paints also contain benzene.

How does benzene get into the dry shampoo you use?

According to Unilever, the benzene source was the propellant in the spray cans of the dry shampoo, and the company stated it is collaborating with suppliers to find a solution.

Butane, a petroleum product, is a typical propellant in spray cans, according to Chris Cappa, an environmental engineering professor at the University of California in Davis. If the butane refining process “isn’t very good,” you can wind up with gas that also includes benzene and other elements from the crude oil. According to Cappa, the most probable source of benzene is that gas.

“You may choose various products that you use if you want to reduce the possible exposure to things like benzene from tainted spray cans,” he added.

Because benzene will dissipate into the larger environment, using a spray sunscreen outdoors instead of an aerosolized dry shampoo indoors reduces the danger of exposure to high levels of benzene, according to Cappa.

According to Minneapolis-based cosmetic scientist Marisa Plescia, dry shampoos are “very simple” solutions that use a mix of powdered starches, silica, and scent to absorb oil from your hair. No business knowingly includes benzene in its goods. It’s pollution, according to Plescia.

Is benzene dangerous to people?

According to the Food and Drug Administration, breathing in, eating, or absorbing benzene over an extended period may result in major health problems, including malignancies like leukemia and other blood abnormalities.

According to the CDC, benzene may reduce the number of red blood cells generated by the bone marrow, resulting in anemia. Altering the blood levels of antibodies may harm the body’s immune system. People who inhale large amounts of benzene may have headaches, an erratic heartbeat, tremors, and drowsiness.

High benzene concentrations may cause nausea, vertigo, drowsiness, and seizures. Direct benzene exposure may cause tissue damage and irritation in the eyes, skin, and lungs. Some women exposed to high benzene concentrations reported irregular menstrual cycles and smaller ovaries. According to the CDC, “it is unknown if benzene exposure affects the developing baby in pregnant women or male fertility.”

According to Kelly Dobos, an adjunct professor and cosmetic scientist at the University of Cincinnati, benzene is “definitely harmful,” yet we are exposed to it every day, and the contamination levels in these cosmetic items often range from tens to hundreds of parts per million. It’s a little contamination, according to Dobos. There are toxicologists employed by the cosmetic industry. To assure the safety of their goods, they do thorough research.

Dobos advised using aerosol products outside or with a window open in a well-ventilated environment.

What other items include benzene?

In the last two years, aerosolized versions of sunscreen, antifungal deodorants, conditioners, and deodorants have all been recalled due to potential benzene contamination.

More than 30 aerosolized hair care products, including dry shampoos and conditioners, were recalled by Procter & Gamble last year when it was discovered that they contained significant amounts of detectable benzene. The corporation recalled more than a dozen aerosol deodorants with the Old Spice and Secret brands.

The supply chain of the propellants, the butane or propane fuel for the spray cans, must be impacted for there to be such high levels of benzene in each of the aerosol products, according to Homer Swei, a senior vice president at the environmental advocacy and research group Environmental Working Group.

He said that while benzene is carcinogenic, it is unknown how long or how much exposure is necessary to induce these health problems. It is difficult to “account for all these various sorts of exposure” since there are several sources of benzene, according to Swei. Until the industry can address these supply chain issues, he advised people to “avoid using these aerosols.”