1. Download and install OpenOffice (free) if you haven’t already. If you already use OpenOffice, you can skip this step.
2. Download a free OpenOffice book template from Lulu.com.
3. Import the Template you downloaded into OpenOffice Writer’s My Templates by doing the following:
   1. From the main menu, choose File > Templates > Organize.
   2. In the box on the left, double-click the folder into which you want to import the template (I suggest My Templates).
   3. Click the Commands button. The context menu appears.
   4. From the context menu, choose Import Template.
   5. Find the template that you downloaded (probably on your desktop) and click Open. The Open Templates window closes and the template appears in the selected folder.
   6. If you’d like, type a new name for the template.
   7. Click Close to close the Template Management window.
4. Start a

Posted on September 19th, 2007 by DazzlinDonna
Filed under: Cutting Business Costs | 11 Comments »

I briefly mentioned bartering when I discussed keeping home office business costs down, but I wanted to expand on the topic just a bit.

When you work from home, you no longer have an entire company filled with people with varying skills. Instead, you generally only have yourself. While some of us may be able to consider ourselves jacks or jills of all trades, most of us are skilled in fewer areas. Of course, you can always outsource projects to others for pay, but I believe shelling out money should be the last resort…not the first.

The best way to get things done is to barter or trade for the services. While there are bartering services available, that requires utilizing strangers for the… Continue reading

Posted on September 7th, 2007 by DazzlinDonna
Filed under: Cutting Business Costs | No Comments »