Tag: how to make money

This is How Rewarding the Streets of Accra Can Be

Post author By Desmond Bonsu
Post date September 28, 2017
No Comments on This is How Rewarding the Streets of Accra Can Be

You won’t find money lying in the middle of every street in Accra. Even after the 100^th try, probably. However, there are many ways the busy streets of Ghana’s capital can reward you. The street is putting hundreds of thousands of cedis in the hands, pockets and purses of those who ply it diligently. Well, if you’re lucky you would come across a 1 cedi note lying on the floor of one of the many busy lorry stations in the city, but that’s not the focus of this article. For those who are still looking for an opportunity to make money in Ghana, here’s one of them.

On every stretch of Accra’s streets, tarred or untarred, you will find brisk business activities taking place. Thousands of people engage in buying and selling via small roadside kiosks, hawkers, food vendors and major shops along the streets. Now here lies the money.

Read: Start a roadside business today and you’ll be amazed at the profits

Businesses that have relied on the power of the streets have been duly rewarded. Rush energy drink, adinkra pie, nkatie burger, newspapers, fanmilk products, and quite recently A1 bread are among the many products which have enjoyed tremendous brand awareness and acceptance on the streets. They have become household names to the dwellers of Ghana’s capital city, Accra. A sure route to make money in Ghana, as a small retailer.

Business activities along the streets are quite enormous if you observe the zeal with which hawkers run along and across the major streets in the mornings and at evening rush-hour periods. Money is exchanged for goods at every second, enriching the owners of these businesses and the retailers who risk everything on the streets as well. Without taking a dive into the numbers, you would agree that this should have a positive relationship with revenue growth.

Read: The most profitable business in Ghana requires the least capital and skill

Contrary to the opinion of a minority section of Accra’s population, the products sold in or along the streets are not inferior. It’s often the same products you find in many supermarkets. You’ll have noticed that strong brands like Malta Guinness have in the past few years also invaded the streets of Accra. It is where the money is. To put this in perspective, consider a Nielsen survey, which found that majority of Ghanaians shop at general stores or from road side kiosks that sell almost everything from beverages to mobile recharge vouchers.

As entrepreneurs, new or seasoned, there are many lessons to pick from Accra’s street business. It does not seem like business in the street is coming to a close any time soon. Even though law enforcement agencies have at some points taken steps to drive hawkers –the main drivers of street business, away from the streets, the model keeps flourishing. Where there is traffic, there is money because it is where the buying and selling takes place. For those who find this retail model very dangerous (which it is), you can site your small shop by the road (having obtained the necessary permits), and this also, can be very rewarding. It is one of many ways to make money in Ghana.

Read: Majority of Ghanaians shop at General stores and road side kiosks

Tags how to make money, make money in Ghana

Money

8 Ways to Make Your Money Work for You

Post author By Desmond Bonsu
Post date June 12, 2017
No Comments on 8 Ways to Make Your Money Work for You

“Make your money work for you” is such common personal finance advice that it borders on being cliché.

But what does it actually mean? And more importantly, how can you do it?

There’s no simple answer — or a single way to do it. In fact, almost everyone can find at least one way to put their money to work. Below, Business Insider rounded up eight methods to get you started.

With an online bank, you can see your savings growing from anywhere.Flickr / Pat (Cletch) Williams

Open a high-yield savings account

Sean Gould, a wealth strategist with Waddell and Associates and a certified financial planner, explains that before sending your money off to do the heavy lifting, you’ll want to have an emergency savings account of about six months of living expenses stored in cash.

A smart place to keep it is in an FDIC-insured high-yield checking or savings account, where it can generate more value as it waits.

A typical savings account offers an interest rate around 0.01%, and a typical checking account is the digital equivalent of putting your money under the mattress. However, high-yield checking and saving offer interest rates that exceed 1% — 100 times what you’d get otherwise.

These accounts are usually available at online banks, which keep costs down by forgoing brick and mortar locations. NerdWallet provides comprehensive lists of high-yield checking and high-yield savings.

Invest your time and money up front, and let the profit roll in.Flickr / krispdk

Develop streams of passive income

Passive income is the term colloquially used to define any money earned with little to no effort expended, according to Investopedia.

Once you’ve set it up, passive income streams earn you money while you sleep. Sounds too good to be true, right? But fear not — it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. Creating any streams of passive income requires an investment upfront, whether of your time or money, but can lead to huge payoffs later.

Common forms of passive income include real estate investments or silent partnerships in businesses, but it can also be generated by anything from making YouTube videos to using affiliate marketing on your blog.

The more you set away now, the less you’ll have to worry about in retirement.Flickr / Colville-Andersen

Store it in retirement accounts

Retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs are investment accounts, meaning your savings are invested in the market and have the potential to grow exponentially.

“The key is to get money in a 401(k),” says Gould. “Save as much as possible to have your money work for you tax-efficiently and to get money in the markets. The first bucket outside of the emergency fund is the 401(k) up to the match [if your employer provides one]. You don’t want to give away free money.”

After that, Gould explains, you’ll want to put money in an IRA or a Roth IRA.

“Another good tool people don’t think about are HSAs,” he says, referring to the savings accounts for which people with high-deductible health insurance coverage are eligible. “If you sock money away in an HSA you don’t lose it, and whenever you have healthcare costs, you can pull the money out and not pay taxes on it. When you turn 65, it turns into an IRA and you don’t get penalized for using it for other costs — you can pay Medicare costs and long-term care premiums.”

Sit back and watch your investment grow.Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Invest it in the market

If you maxed out your 401(k) and IRA, next is an investment account, Gould says. “The key is participating in the markets.”

Being in the markets is not the same as trying to time the markets: Pulling money in and out to take advantage of favorable fluctuations and minimize the loss when the market dips is a strategy most experts advise against.

Over time, Gould says, worrying dips in the market should even out, resulting in an overall gain. To take advantage of this effect, though, you have to leave your investments alone.

And, he advises, “Don’t have more than three to six months sitting in cash. People like the comfort of money in cash because they’re burned from 2008 and 2009, but inflation will eat away at your cash. Sitting in comfort is not a good way to make money.”

Do your research and get the most out of your credit card rewards.Shutterstock

Choose credit cards with rewards you’ll actually use

Using a credit card might not feel like putting your money to work, but choosing a card with rewards appropriate for your lifestyle (read: airline miles cards aren’t great for people uninterested in travel) means each dollar you spend on your cards is doing double duty.

“As a financial planner, we don’t like debt, but if you have the cash flow and predictability in your budget and you can pay off your bill every month, there are great credit cards out there,” says Gould. (See some of the best credit cards for every lifestyle.)

If you have credit card debt, this strategy isn’t for you — the key to making your money work with your cards is being able to pay off your bill in full every month.

After your initial investment, you don’t have to put in time day-to-day.Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/Flickr

Become a silent partner in a new business

Starting your own business can be a risky move, but if everything goes well, it can certainly pay off. Another way to reap the benefits of a successful new startup without the stress of getting a company off the ground is to become a silent partner who invests capital but doesn’t handle any of the day-to-day operations.

The prospect comes with pros and cons. You won’t have any say in how the company is run or the daily decisions active employees make. But you’ll earn a cut of any profits the business makes without putting in any long hours.

However, you still run the risk of financial loss if the venture tanks.

Investing in real estate is historically proven to pay off.Shutterstock

Invest in real estate

If recent history has taught us anything, it’s that housing isn’t a guaranteed investment. That said, if you have the available cash and risk tolerance, investing in residential or commercial real estate may be a good fit.

Investing in real estate is two-pronged: You could consider buying a single home to live in to be an investment, or you could invest beyond your home, into land to sell or stores or homes to rent. Branching out beyond your own home “depends on your market and the appetite for rental real estate,” Gould says. “In most markets, if you can handle the headaches and there’s room, it’s an option.”

But in the spirit of diversifying your assets, Gould says to bear in mind that many homeowners already find real estate to be the largest asset in their portfolio, and cautions would-be real estate investors to be wary of weighting their portfolios too heavily toward one kind of asset.

Put your money to work by increasing your own worth in the job market.Flickr / Chris Devers

Pursue a professional degree or certification

Another way your money can work for you is by increasing your worth on the job market. “If you have time and money to invest in furthering your education, you can make yourself more marketable to become a higher earner,” Gould says.

That doesn’t only mean sinking tens of thousands of dollars into grad school. Making yourself more marketable as an employee or professional might be as simple as joining a workshop to improve your public speaking or taking a class to master Microsoft Excel.

If you’re looking to increase your skill set but don’t have the money to help you do it, there are even tons of great free business classes available online

Source: Business Insider

Tags how to make money, how to make money work for you, Make Money Fast

Money

65 Ways To Make Extra Money in 2017

Post author By Desmond Bonsu
Post date June 12, 2017
No Comments on 65 Ways To Make Extra Money in 2017

How to make money online.

Making money online is one of the many ways to make extra money. There are many legitimate online careers where you can earn a full-time living or at least a side income. I love being able to earn a living online. It allows you to be location independent and/or work from home. So, if you are interested in learning to make money online, then start here.

This article originally appeared on Makingsenseofcents.com by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Start a successful blog – The top thing I recommend doing if you want to learn how to make extra money is to start a blog! Blogging is how I make a living, and just a few years ago I never thought it would be possible. In fact, before I started my blog, I didn’t even know that blogs existed! I currently earn around $100,000 a month with my blog. You can create your own blog here with my easy-to-use tutorial. You can start your blog for as little as $2.95 per month, plus you get a free domain if you sign-up through my tutorial. I even have a Free How To Start and Launch A Money-Making Blog Course you can join, and it will help you start and launch a successful blog!
Create a course and teach others – Before you think that you have nothing to teach, I want to tell you that you most likely do! Online courses are extremely popular right now, and you don’t need to have a blog in order to be successful with teaching a course. I use Teachable for my online course platform and I highly recommend it!
Assist others with improving their resume – A few years ago, I interviewed a reader who ran a resume business. She showed me how others can learn to make side money by helping people create the kind of resumes they need to land their next job. If you are constantly reviewing resumes for your friends because you’re so good at creating them, then you may want to turn your skill into a paying job!
Answer surveys – Survey companies I recommend include American Consumer Opinion, Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, Clear Voice Surveys, VIP Voice, Product Report Card, Survey Club, ProOpinion, Pinecone Research, Opinion Outpost, Survey Spot, and Harris Poll Online. These survey companies are free to join and free to use! You get paid to answer surveys and to test products. It’s best to sign up for as many as you can, as that way you can receive the most surveys and make the most money.
Create an ebook – My friend Abby, from Just a Girl and Her Blog, explains how creating eBooks may be a great source income source for you. Abby made over $110,000 from sales of digital products (such as eBooks) in 2015, and she is on track to crush that in 2016. She started 3 years ago knowing nothing about blogging and now makes six figures a year, due in large part to her eBooks. She is now teaching others the process she uses to write and launch profitable eBooks, and you guys, it is genius! Learn more at How To Create A Profitable Ebook With Abby Lawson.
Edit content – Websites, books, courses, and more all need editors! No matter how many times a person reads a piece of content, something usually slips through. If you’re a grammar-nut, then this can be a great way to make money.
Manage social media accounts for others – Being a social media manager can be a fun job. Not everyone can do it but if you have social media skills, then it might be something to look into. It’s not as easy as just sharing random content as you do need to create a strategy that works, but it can turn into a good career if you are successful. Learn more about How I Started a Pinterest Consulting Side Hustle.
Use Swagbucks for your online searches – Swagbucks allows me to earn Amazon gift cards with very little work. Swagbucks is just like using Google to do your online searches, except you get rewarded with points called SB for the things you do through their website. Then, when you have enough points called SB, you can redeem them for cash, gift cards, and more. You’ll receive a free $5 bonus just for signing up through my link!
Proofread for a living – In 2014, Caitlin made slightly over $43,000 as a freelance proofreader, while also going on several fun vacations. If you are looking for a new job, or even just a side hustle, this may be something to look into. Learn more at Make Money Proofreading By Becoming A Freelance Proofreader.
Post on social media – If you have social media accounts, even just a personal Facebook account, you may be able to make money by posting small ads on your accounts. One popular company that I recommend is Izea.
Become a freelance writer – A freelance writer is someone who writes for a number of different clients, such as websites, blogs, magazines, and more. These writers don’t work for one specific company, rather they work for themselves and contract out their writing. Learn more at How To Start A Successful Freelance Writing Career.
Moderate forums – Some online forums will pay you to moderate their message boards. If there is a forum you visit often, you might want to see if they are hiring.
Test websites – This is a relatively new online work at home option I have heard about. UserTesting.com is a website that pays you to test websites. You get paid $10 for each website you review and test, and $15 per website that you mobile test. You do not need to be a super technical person for this online job, as they want real people to review websites to see what people really think.
Become a transcriptionist – Do you know what a transcriptionist does? Did you know that it is another way to make money? You can read more about how to make extra money as a transcriptionistat Make Money At Home By Becoming A Transcriptionist.
Become a virtual assistant – Virtual assistant tasks may include social media management, formatting and editing blog posts, scheduling appointments or travel, email management, and more. Basically, you get paid to do any task that needs to be done for someone’s business, but doesn’t need to be done by them. You can read more about how to make extra money as a virtual assistant at Make Money Online as a Virtual Assistant.
Become a bookkeeper – Ben, founder of Bookkeeper Business Academy, explains how becoming a bookkeeper may be a possibility for you. Ben helps people start and grow their own bookkeeping business with his online bookkeeping course. And, guess what? You don’t have to be an accountant or have any previous experience! You can read more about how to make extra money as a bookkeeper at Make Money At Home By Becoming A Bookkeeper.Creating a side business can be a great way to learn how to make extra money, and it may even lead to a full-time career.
1. Become an Uber or Lyft driver – Spending your spare time driving others around can be a great money maker. Read more about this in my post How To Become An Uber Or Lyft Driver. Click here to join Uber and start making money ASAP.
2. Sell on Amazon – If you want to learn how to make extra money online, then you may want to start an Amazon FBA business! Jessica Larrew, of The Selling Family, explains how selling on Amazon may be a possibility for you. She is a friend of mine, and I am blown away by her success! The first year that Jessica’s family ran their Amazon FBA business together, working less than 20 hours a week total, they made over 6 figures profit! If you are looking for a new job, or even just a side hustle, this may be something that you want to look into. Learn more at How To Work From Home Selling On Amazon FBA.
3. Maintain and clean yards – Yard maintenance is another way to earn extra money. You can make money by mowing lawns, killing/removing weeds, cleaning gutters, raking leaves, and so on.
4. House sit – House sitting is becoming more and more popular these days, and there are many websites out there for house sitting. You might not always get paid, but you are often compensated with a nice place to stay in a great vacation spot. In many cases, you do get paid to watch the house, water the plants, and so on.
5. Walk dogs and/or pet sit for extra money – If you love animals, then you may want to look into how to make extra money by walking dogs or pet sitting. With this side hustle, you may be going over to your client’s home to check in a few times a day, you may be staying at their house, or the animals may be staying with you. Rover is a great company that you can sign up with in order to become a dog walker and pet sitter. Learn more about this at Rover – A Great Way To Make Money And Play With Animals.
6. Groom pets – This is yet another side business related to animals, and it could be a good one for you. With a mobile pet grooming business you go directly to the pets rather than needing to find and set up a permanent business location.
7. Scoop poop – Okay, this isn’t the most glamorous job, but someone has to do it. This can be an interesting way to learn how to make extra money.
8. Shovel snow – If you get snow where you live, then you may be able to knock on your neighbors’ doors and see if they would like it shoveled. If you want to go a little further, you could even invest in a plow and market your services.
9. Babysit and/or nanny children – When I was just 14, I was making $10 an hour babysitting for a neighbor. I babysat 40 hours a week and it was a great way to make extra money! If you have any special skills or provide extra work, such as cleaning up around the house, teaching the child how to speak another language, picking up the child after activities, and so on, you will most likely be able to charge more than $10 an hour.
10. Help people fix things around their home – If you are a handy person, you may be able to get paid to repair broken items around a person’s home. Word of mouth is big when it comes to finding clients, but you can also post Craigslist advertisements that show your services, post flyers to bulletin boards around your town, and more.
11. Clean homes – Cleaning is something that many people dread. If you are good at cleaning, then you may be able to find clients who want you to come to their home to clean. This can pay around $20 an hour or more in some areas.
12. Move furniture – Moving is another task that many people dislike. Movers can earn a broad range when it comes to hourly pay, but it’s usually somewhere around $50 an hour if you run your own business.
13. Become a photographer – Do you love photography? You might be able to make money as a wedding photographer, portrait photographer, event photographer, and more. Learn more at How To Make $25,000 – $45,000 A Year As A New Photographer.
14. Tutor on a subject – Similar to teaching a skill, you may be able to make money by tutoring someone. You may help someone with their homework, help them learn a language, prepare for an important exam, and more.
How to make extra money by finding a part-time job in 2017.

If you want to learn how to make extra money, then you may want to look into finding a part-time job! There are many part-time jobs that may work with the schedule at your full-time job. You can find a job on sites such as Snagajob, Craigslist (yes, I’ve found a legitimate job through there before), Monster, and so on.
1. Deliver RVs to dealerships – RVs are huge, and the majority of the time they can’t be transported by semi-trucks because of their large size. Due to that, someone has to drive them from the manufacturer to the RV dealership. We recently met a couple who do this for a living, and they both loved what they did. They were able to travel a lot, earn a living, and got to see new RVs all the time. To make extra income doing this, you can contact transport companies in your area, RV manufacturers, RV dealerships, and more.
2. Find a part-time summer job – If you have a job that gives you the summers off, then you may want to look into finding a part-time summer job to fill the days. Some of the summer part-time jobs options are listed below.
3. Bartend – If you have bartending experience, then you may be able to find a bartending job at a bar, restaurant, catering company, and more. Since the hours for this are usually later at night and on the weekends, you will probably be able to find a bartending job that works somewhat well with your schedule.
4. Work at a restaurant – You could be a host, wait tables, clean tables, and so on.
5. Substitute teach – I know quite a few people who substitute teach both part-time and full-time and love it. Sometimes the schedule can be tricky as you may be called at the last moment, but other times you may secure a long term position.
6. Work at a hotel, motel, hostel, resort, etc. – There are many jobs in the hospitality industry.
7. Work at a retail store – I worked in retail for over five years, made lifelong friends, and I was able to make an okay income to live off of. Plus, you can usually receive a good discount when working in retail.
8. Lifeguard – You could lifeguard at a community pool, a private pool, a water park, and so on.
9. Deliver newspapers – Delivering newspapers can be a good way to make some side money. You may have to wake up early, but maybe those are the hours you are looking for.
10. Run errands for others – Being someone’s assistant can be an interesting way to make money. Someone may pay you to do their laundry, clean their home, pick up their food, answer phone calls, and more.
11. Sell your stuff to make money in 2017.
  
  There are many ways you can make extra money by selling items. We all have things laying around that can be sold, or you can even search for items that can be bought and resold for a profit. If you want to learn how to make extra money by selling your stuff, then continue reading below.
  
  Related post: 8 Things To Sell To Make Money
  1. Sell your stuff on Decluttr. Do you have cell phones, CDs, DVDs etc gathering dust in a drawer somewhere? You may be able to sell them on Decluttr! Decluttr is the fast, free and easy way to sell your unwanted cell phone, CDs, DVDs, games, and books for cash money!
  2. Sell/donate blood, plasma, eggs, etc. – Yup, all of these can be sold for a price, and you can definitely make extra money by doing so. Women can earn anywhere from a few thousand dollars to $10,000 or more for their eggs, depending on their characteristics. Egg donors are typically under the age of 30 and healthy. African American women and Asian American women usually earn the most money as there is a larger need for their eggs. This is not easy money, though. There are a number of doctor’s visits, and extracting the eggs requires a medical procedure. For sperm, the average donation pays anywhere from $50 to $100. It can be quite easy to donate, and some men donate as much as 2-3 times each week.
  3. Sell items on eBay – Whether you have old clothes you want to sell, a car, electronics, and so on, eBay can be a great way to sell many different types of items. eBay also has a worldwide reach, which can be great if the area where you live doesn’t have a large enough market for the item you want to sell.
  4. Sell items on Craigslist – If you want to learn how to make extra money, then you should look into Craigslist! Craigslist can be a great way to sell your items, while earning a higher value for them too. However, be safe, because you will have to meet with strangers to complete the transactions.
  5. Sell to secondhand stores – There are many secondhand stores out there that will take your clothing and shoes. Stores like Plato’s Closet, Hut No. 8, and Buffalo Exchange will pay upfront for on trend young adult clothing, and they take all of the legwork out of selling items, which is nice. There are also secondhand stores for designer items, women’s clothing, children’s items, and more. Some pay upfront whereas others may not pay you until after the item has sold.
  6. Sell on Etsy – Etsy is a great place to sell handmade items, vintage finds, and craft supplies. If you are a crafty person, definitely check out this website to learn how to make extra money.
  7. Sell your old books – Back when I was in college, I would always sell my textbooks immediately after the class was over. This helped me regain the amount that I originally paid for the book. You can sell your books on websites such as Half.com, and most university bookstores have a buy back option.
  8. Sell your gift cards – If you have any gift cards in your wallet that you know you won’t use, you should think about selling them. There are many, many websites out there that will pay you cash for your gift cards.
  9. Sell items through a garage sale – A garage sale can be an easy way to make extra money because everyone comes straight to you. The only downside is that usually you don’t make as much for your items as you would if you were to sell on sites such as eBay or Craigslist.
  Make more money at the job you already have.
  
  If you’re already employed and not interested in finding an additional way to make extra money, such as learning how to make extra money through a side business, then you may want to see if there are ways to make more money at the job you already have.
  1. Ask for a raise – Asking for a raise may be the best way to make extra money, as the work is the same and you most likely won’t be adding additional hours to your work week.
  2. Get a promotion – If a raise is not possible, then you may want to try for a promotion at your company that you know comes with a pay bump.
  3. Earn bonuses – Depending on the industry and the company you work at, you may be able to earn bonuses.
  4. Work overtime – Another way to make more money at the job you already have is to see if your company will allow you to work overtime. In many cases, overtime is welcomed and you can earn a decent amount of money through this. Plus, what’s an extra hour or two when you’re already there?
  5. Interesting ways to make money in 2017.
    
    If you’re looking for even MORE ways to learn how to make extra money, then this is your spot. These are all of the other ways to make money that didn’t fit well into the above categories. If there is something that you do to make money that is not on this list, please share in the comments below!
    1. Cuddle with strangers – Did you know that you can learn how to make extra money by cuddling with people that you don’t even know? There are many cuddling companies that currently exist, and this option seems to be growing more and more each year. You can sell cuddles to strangers, and some people even make a few hundred dollars a day by cuddling with others.
    2. Place advertisements on your car, home, or even on your body – Yes, there are companies out there that will pay you to place an advertisement on your car, home, or even your body (such as a tattoo on your forehead). If there’s space on your car or your fence that you don’t mind placing an ad on, then look into this!
    3. Be an extra in a movie or TV show – If there’s a movie or TV show that is being filmed near you, you could always learn how to make extra money by becoming an extra. You won’t have to do much and it could be a lot of fun, especially if you are able to meet someone famous!
    4. Invest – There are no guarantees when it comes to investing, but you should always start sooner rather than later. If you are looking for a good investing platform, I recommend Motif. Motif Investing allows individuals to invest affordably. This approachable investing platform makes it easy to buy a portfolio of up to 30 stocks, bonds, or ETFs for just $9.95 total commission.
    5. Sell breast milk – Only recently did I realize that some women make extra money doing this. If you are breastfeeding, you may be able to sell your breast milk and learn how to make extra income. Breast milk often goes for $1 to $2.50 per ounce, and sometimes it sells for as much as $4 per ounce. There are many people who are looking to buy breast milk – not just mothers. Athletes, and those looking to boost their immune systems, are buyers as well.
    6. Receive bonuses and rewards for using a credit card – There are many credit cards out there that will give you cashback just for using them. If you are good with credit cards (please skip this if you are not), this is something to look into as you can make money without having to do much. Read more at How To Use Credit Cards To Earn Cheap/Free Vacations.
    7. Take part in medical research studies – Medical studies allow you to help with the research and study of diseases, medicine, treatment, and more. Depending on what is being studied, studies ask for certain types people for the different tasks needed to be performed. To find paid medical research studies, I recommend checking out your local Craigslist listings, contacting universities in your area, and seeing if there are any medical testing companies in your area. Most cities have these options, and you just have to look for them.
    8. Use Ebates when shopping online – One of the easiest ways to learn how to make extra money is to use a cashback website! If you shop online, you should always use a cashback website like Ebates so that you can earn free cash back and make extra money for the online shopping you already do. It doesn’t cost anything to use Ebates. Instead, you just click on a link through their website that leads you to the store you are interested in shopping at. They earn money when you shop through their link, and they give you part of what they receive as a thank you for using them. You can still use coupons and discounts when shopping as well, so it’s just an extra way to make money back on your purchases with very little work. You can sign up for Ebates here.
    9. Enter contests and giveaways – There’s no guarantee that you will win anything when entering contests, but it is possible to learn how to make extra money by doing this. You may win cash, gift cards, vacations, electronics, and more. The key here is to enter as many as you can.
    10. Mystery shop – Yes, you can actually get paid to shop at stores and eat at restaurants. A few years ago, I mystery shopped a lot to make extra income. I made anywhere from $150 to $200 a month mystery shopping and received free meals, makeup, and more. I only used Bestmark for mystery shopping, so I know that they are a 100% legitimate company. There are other legitimate mystery shopping companies that exist, but you do want to do your research.
    11. Try InboxDollars – InboxDollars is an online rewards website I recommend if you want to find ways to learn how to make extra money. You can earn cash by taking surveys, playing games, shopping online, searching the web, redeeming grocery coupons, and more. Also, by signing up through my link, you will receive $5.00 for free!
    12. Travel the world and be an au pair – In 2016, my sister was an au pair in Italy. It was an interesting experience, and she shares how you can become an au pair and travel the world in her blog post. Learn more at How To Become An Au Pair And Travel The World.
    13. Earn money with your FitBit – Did you know that you can earn money, points, gift cards, and more with your FitBit? Yes, you can! I recommend signing up and connecting your FitBit to Achievemint and Walgreens Balance Rewards to make money easily. Read 4 Ways To Earn Money With A Fitbit to learn more about how to make extra money with your FitBit.

Tags how to make money, Make Money Fast

Business

45 Ways to Make More Money Fast

Post author By Desmond Bonsu
Post date June 12, 2017
No Comments on 45 Ways to Make More Money Fast

how to make more money in 2017 — mimagephotography/Shutterstock

Whether you need to boost your cash flow to pay bills, save more or simply improve your lifestyle, there are plenty of ways to make more money.

Some methods of saving are easy, while others require more effort.

But all have the potential of paying off if you want to boost your bottom line.

This article originally appeared on Business Insider by Cameron Huddleston, GOBankingRates

Try any of these 45 ideas to start making more money in 2017.

1. Ask Your Boss for a Raise

If you want to make more in 2017, start by asking for it. According to compensation data company PayScale, 75 percent of workers who negotiate their salaries get pay raises. However, less than half of workers have asked for raises, according to PayScale’s salary survey. So, if you’re not asking for more, you could be leaving money on the table.

To get a general idea of what you’re worth, check the going rate for your position at sites such as PayScale.com, Salary.com and Glassdoor.com. Then build your case for why you deserve higher pay based on your accomplishments and the value you’ve added to the company, according to PayScale’s salary negotiation guide.

2. Give Yourself a Raise

You can boost your paycheck on your own by keeping more of what you earn. Do this by adjusting your tax withholding if you typically get a large refund every year. A big refund indicates that you’re letting Uncle Sam hang on to too much of your money during the year.

Rather than wait until the spring to get your money, file a new Form W-4 with your employer to claim additional allowances and have less tax money withheld. IRS.gov has a withholding calculator that you can use to figure out how many allowances to claim. Considering that the average refund was $2,777 in 2016, you could be adding more than $230 back to your paycheck each month.

Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/flickr

3. Refer Other Employees to Your Company

You might be able to score a bonus at work by referring potential employees for job openings at your company. About two-thirds of large employers have documented referral processes in place, according to iCIMS, which provides software for screening new hires.

“Check to see if your company has a bonus policy for referrals,” said Lisa Rowan, a writer at personal finance site The Penny Hoarder. “For example, at The Penny Hoarder, employees receive a $500 bonus upon referring job seekers who get hired.”

4. Switch to an Online Bank Account

In today’s low-interest-rate environment, you won’t get rich by stashing your cash in a savings account. But it still pays to shop around for the highest rate so your money can grow a little faster.

“Consider switching to an online bank account that offers a high-interest savings and checking account,” Rowan said. For example, she said Synchrony Bank offers a 1.05% APR on its savings accounts, and Ally Bank offers a 1.00% APR on checking accounts. The national average for savings accounts is just 0.06% APR and 0.04% for checking accounts, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

5. Earn Cash Back

You can turn everyday purchases into money-making opportunities if you pay with a cash-back rewards credit card. If you’re responsible with credit and pay off your balance each month, consider taking advantage of a card that offers back a percentage of the amount you spend. The standard amount you can earn is 1 percent to 2 percent, but some cards offer 3 percent or more, according to consumer education site MagnifyMoney.com.

You also can earn cash back on online purchases by shopping at sites such as BeFrugal.com, Ebates.com and MrRebates.com. These sites partner with retailers to offer consumers a percentage of their purchases back in cash. The average amount you can earn is 4 percent to 10 percent, said Brent Shelton, a spokesperson for Ebates.com. Most Ebates.com members earn more than $100 each year, and many earn thousands of dollars in cash back, he said.

Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/Flickr

6. Help Your Investments Make More

If you’re working hard to contribute to a retirement account, it’s important to limit the impact investment fees are having on your account balance. For example, if you’re paying 1 percent in annual fees, a $100,000 portfolio can be reduced by about $30,000 over 20 years compared with a 0.25 percent fee, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

So, check your retirement plan statement to see how much fees are eating into your returns. If the investments offered in your 401k have varying fees, consider switching to lower-fee investments to have more money when you retire.

7. Participate in Focus Groups

You can pick up extra cash in your spare time by participating in focus groups run by companies that do market research.

“[It’s] a great way to earn cash for sitting in a room with strangers and sharing your opinion on something,” said Jim Wang, creator of the personal finance blog, Wallet Hacks. He signed up with a local marketing company he found through GreenBook.org and was paid $100 for 90 minutes of his time.

You can also sign up through FocusGroup.com to participate in groups. Be aware that you might only be invited to participate in a couple of focus groups per year with any company, so consider signing up with several if you want to earn more.

8. Take Online Surveys

If focus groups aren’t available where you live, you can still make money offering your opinion online.

“I once earned $500 for taking surveys at night while sitting on the couch,” said Lauren Greutman, frugal-living expert and author of “The Recovering Spender.”

Greutman said she got paid to take surveys on sites such as Swagbucks.com, InboxDollars.com, PineconeResearch.com and OpinionOutpost.com. Be aware that some sites offer gift cards rather than cash, but you can still use the cards to make everyday purchases.

mimagephotography/Shutterstock

9. Do Market Research

You likely can make more money gathering market research than participating in it, if you have time to take on a part-time job as a market research interviewer.

“This typically freelance role is an entry-level position helping to gather market research and data for a variety of clients and companies,” said Brie Reynolds, a senior career specialist at FlexJobs. “Great phone skills are a must, and these jobs offer part-time schedules and the ability to work remotely.”

Reynolds said that the hourly pay for market research interviewers starts at $10 an hour, with incentives for overtime pay.

10. Test Websites

An easy way to make some quick money is by testing websites, Wang said. He recommends signing up at UserTesting.com, which pays participants to visit sites or apps and give opinions about their experiences.

“You get $10 for every 20-minute test, and you’ll need a computer, webcam and a microphone,” Wang said. “You’ll be asked to perform some tasks, say your thoughts aloud and do so for 10 minutes. It’s pretty simple.”

11. Be a Human Guinea Pig

You can make money — and a contribution to medical science — by participating in clinical trials. The amount paid varies depending on the type and length of the study. However, some can be as simple as giving a blood sample, said Donna Freedman, author of “Your Playbook for Tough Times.”

Freedman said that she found clinical trials to participate in through ads in student and independent newspapers, on bulletin boards at a university and even through Craigslist. A good site to check for studies in your area is ClinicalTrials.gov, which is a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The site also offers tips on what to expect during clinical trials.

Flickr / Sandra Cohen-Rose and Colin Rose

12. Sell Your Clutter

“One of the fastest ways to score extra cash is to declutter something from your house and hawk it online,” said J. Money, creator of BudgetsAreSexy.com and RockstarFinance.com.

His favorite site to sell items he no longer wants is Craigslist because it’s easy to use, and you don’t have to worry about shipping because you’re selling to local buyers.

“I try to list one new item a week — typically on Fridays right before the weekend hits — and the trick is pricing it right and taking lots of pictures, as well as writing a detailed description, which helps with search and keywords,” he said.

Be sure to let potential buyers know that they can contact you by text message, which is how most of J. Money’s transactions occur.

13. Resell Thrift Store Finds Online

“Another way you can make extra cash is to buy items at thrift stores and resell them online through eBay or Poshmark,” Greutman said. “This is a great way to increase your income.”

She said that her sister-in-law does this and makes $1,000 per month, which provides additional income for her family. Greutman said that she does it for fun. She once bought an Anthropologie dress for $3 at a thrift store and sold it for $75 on eBay. She has also earned extra cash by finding antiques at garage and estate sales and selling them for more on eBay.

14. Turn Used Books Into Cash

Don’t let the books you’ve already read collect dust on your shelves. You can turn them into cash by selling them online, Greutman said. Or you could make money selling cheap books found at yard sales for more online.

You can get money for used books with Amazon Trade-In. Additionally, BookScouter.com lets you compare offers from various book buyback vendors.

Yutaka Tsutano/Flickr

15. Sell Used Electronics

If you have a gaming console your kids no longer use, an old cellphone or tablet stashed in a drawer or a computer you don’t need, you can turn these items into cash. Sell unwanted electronics on sites such as Gazelle.com and uSell.com, both of which offer free shipping. You can also take old phones, tablets and MP3 players to one of the more than 2,200 ecoATM kiosks across the U.S. and get cash on the spot.

16. Cash In on Unwanted Gift Cards

If you received gift cards you know you’ll never use, you can make money off them. Net up to 92 percent of the face value of gift cards by selling them to card resale sites such as Cardpool.com.

You can sell your cards electronically or mail them for free. Cardpool.com also lists popular gift cards on its homepage, so you’ll know which ones are in demand and will fetch a higher price.

17. Fix Stuff and Sell It

If you’re good at fixing things, Freedman recommends keeping an eye out for discarded items left on the curb that can be repaired and resold.

“Sometimes people toss out perfectly good items because they’re trading up, or because they’re moving and don’t want to haul everything. Sometimes these ‘curb mart’ deals can mean big bucks,” Freedman said.

She added that someone she knows picked up a four-piece wicker porch set that had been set out with the trash, cleaned it, styled it with cushions and posted a picture on her city’s Facebook yard sale page.

“It sold for $150 almost immediately,” she said. “The entire process took about half an hour. Not a bad way to earn some extra cash.”

WOCinTech Chat/flickr

18. Create Online Content

If you love to write and have expertise in a certain subject, creating online content as a freelancer could be a lucrative side hustle — or a full-time job, said Holly Johnson, a freelance writer and creator of the Club Thrifty blog.

“Nearly every business has a website, and most hire freelancers to create content for their blogs,” she said. “By learning how to create engaging blog posts, you can earn anywhere from $50 to $500 per post.”

Johnson said that she started creating online content for pay in 2011 and was able to become a full-time freelancer by 2013.

“Even though I work flexible hours and days, I earn considerably more than I ever did at my day job,” she said. To get started, Johnson recommends creating an online portfolio to showcase your work. And list freelance writing as one of your skills on LinkedIn.

19. Start a Blog

“Starting a blog can be a great way to make money,” Wang said.

You can use free software from a site such as WordPress.org to create your blog and use Google’s free AdSense program to put ads on your site. Additionally, you can join Amazon Associates to earn up to 10 percent in advertising fees by advertising products on your blog.

However, if you can’t devote hours to building a blog, Wang recommends using it as a way to showcase your work.

“The quickest way to earn money off a blog is to use it as a portfolio,” he said. Show the work that you’re doing in your field of expertise to get freelance work or land a new, higher-paying position.

20. Manage Social Media for Others

If you’re looking for part-time work that you can do from home, you might be able to make extra money as a social media manager. For this professional-level position, you need a bachelor’s degree, experience in marketing or communications and at least one year of social media experience, Reynolds said.

The pay ranges from about $10 to $29 per hour, and openings are listed on FlexJobs.com.

Leo Hidalgo/Flickr

21. Profit From Your Photoshop Skills

If you have experience using photo-editing software and a background in design, you can work part-time as a freelance Photoshop expert, Reynolds said. For example, one listing for a Photoshop expert on FlexJobs.com involves working with an interior design firm to create concept boards. Reynolds said that the hourly pay for freelance Photoshop experts ranges from about $10 to $26.

22. Make Money From Your Love of Gaming

If you love playing video or computer games, you could profit from your passion as a gaming support representative. The pay ranges from about $10 to $20 per hour.

“In a gaming support representative job, people with a passion for gaming and technology are hired to provide customer service support for gamers related to questions about products and services,” Reynolds said. “These roles are typically part time and remote, with seasonal and short-term options available.”

23. Get Paid to Research

“People with a knack for research and a passion for learning new things might enjoy a part-time, remote job as a business researcher,” Reynolds said. “Researchers receive requests for information on different topics and are paid by completing these short research projects.”

You can find business researcher gigs that pay about $10 to $25 per project on FlexJobs.com.

Flickr / US Department of Education

24. Be a Tutor

“Tutoring jobs are an excellent option for people with a passion for education and a need for flexible scheduling,” Reynolds said.

You can find jobs that pay about $10 to $40 for tutoring students of all ages online at FlexJobs.com. Previous teaching or tutoring experience is preferred, Reynolds said. You also can find online tutoring gigs at Tutor.com and Wyzant.com or offer in-person tutoring in your community by advertising your services on community, school or university bulletin boards.

25. Be a Courier

You can earn extra money as a courier with Postmates. This on-demand delivery service operates in 44 metropolitan areas and connects couriers with consumers who want food from a restaurant or merchandise from a local store delivered to them.

The service’s nearly 40,000 couriers make deliveries by car, bike, scooter or on foot and earn up to $25 per hour — plus tips — during the peak lunch and dinner times, said April Conyers, director of communications at Postmates. Payment is based on factors such as time and distance. To become a courier, you can sign up at Postmates.com and start delivering pretty much immediately, Conyers said

26. Be a Peer-to-Peer Delivery Driver

You can turn a daily commute or cross-country road trip into a money-making opportunity as a driver for Roadie, a peer-to-peer delivery service.

“The service connects people with stuff to send with drivers heading in the right direction,” said Marc Gorlin, founder and CEO of Roadie. Basically, you get paid for delivering packages on trips you are taking anyway. And the service is available in all 50 states.

Most local deliveries pay between $8 and $50, and long-distance deliveries with oversized items can pay up to $650, Gorlin said. You can earn even more for delivering pets. Additionally, you can pick up more than one gig at a time — as long as everything fits in your car.

Drivers must be 18 and have a valid driver’s license and a current auto insurance policy. To get started, fill out an online application using the Roadie app, have your background validated and take an online tutorial.

Mike Coppola / Getty Images

27. Drive for Lyft or Uber

You can make money in your spare time driving people for Lyft or Uber. For example, some Lyft drivers make more than $800 driving on Friday nights and weekends.

Both of these ride-sharing companies are hiring drivers who meet certain requirements. You must be at least 21, have a valid driver’s license, a four-door vehicle, be covered by auto insurance and go through a screening process. Your vehicle must also meet certain requirements that vary by locality.

28. Assist Others Virtually

“A niche that’s growing by leaps and bounds is the virtual assistant,” Freedman said. This job lets you make money while working at home by helping others do things they can’t or don’t want to do themselves and requires an eye for detail and strong organizational skills, she said.

You can find virtual assistant positions at Fancy Hands and Zirtual. While the pay rate varies, virtual assistants with Fancy Hands are paid by the task. Assignments start at $2.50 to $7 and go up.

29. Care for Pets

If you love animals, you could make extra money caring for people’s pets while they are at work or on vacation. You can sign up with a site such as Rover.com or DogVacay.com to be a pet sitter or dog walker.

Both sites let sitters set their own schedules and rates. According to Rover.com, sitters can earn $1,000 or more per month.

Shutterstock

30. Be a Babysitter

Being a babysitter can be a fun and easy way to make extra cash — if you like children.

“As a midlife college student in Seattle, I earned $10 or more per hour to watch kids who sometimes went to bed an hour after I arrived,” Freedman said. “It was like being paid to study.”

The average babysitting rate is currently about $15 per hour, according to Care.com. However, the rate varies depending on the city, the sitter’s experience and the number of kids being watched. You can apply to be a babysitter with a site such as Care.com, which matches caregivers with those in need, or post on Facebook to let friends know you’re available to sit.

31. Be a House Sitter

An easy way to make extra cash is to be a house sitter while the homeowners are away.

“That could mean staying in the place or coming by to water plants, pick up mail and make the place look lived-in,” Freedman said.

You can get house sitting jobs by applying through a site such as Care.com. Or advertise your services on Craigslist, Facebook or community bulletin boards.

32. Rent Out Your House … or a Room

Renting a room in your house — or your entire abode — is a quick way to make hundreds or even thousands of dollars, Freedman said. For example, if you travel frequently for work or fun, you could list your home on HomeAway.com or VRBO.com to rent it out to other travelers while you’re away. If you have a spare room and want to host guests while you’re at home, you can do so through Airbnb.com.

As long as you don’t rent some or all of your primary residence for more than 14 days a year, you won’t have to pay taxes on your earnings, Freedman said. Just make sure to keep valuables and sensitive paperwork in a safe or locked file cabinet while guests are in residence.

Phil Noble/Reuters

33. Lease a Parking Space

If you live in a big city where parking is expensive or hard to come by, you might be able to make extra cash by renting out your parking space if one comes with your apartment or condo. Freedman said that, as a writer for MSN Money, she interviewed a women in Chicago who rented her condo parking spot and parked her car on the street. The woman told Freedman that the extra monthly income was worth the hassle.

She also knows someone in Chicago who inherited property with a garage boasting room for five cars. The woman rents out four of the spaces to those seeking secure parking.

34. Rent Out Your Car

If your car frequently sits in the garage because you take public transportation or travel a lot, turn it into a money-maker. You can list your car with a peer-to-peer rental service, such as Getaround or Turo. Getaround claims that its drivers can earn more than $800 a month. Turo users earn an average of $720 per month. For example, you could earn more than $6,500 a year by renting a car with a market value of $20,000 for 15 days each month.

Each service provides up to $1 million of insurance coverage. Getaround takes a 40 percent commission on rental earnings and is available in San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, Chicago, Portland and Washington, D.C. Turo is available in more than 4,500 cities and takes a 15 percent to 35 percent commission.

35. Rent Your Belongings

You might have items that others will pay to use on a short-term basis.

“Sites like Loanables and Zilok will help you find folks willing to pay to borrow your barbecue grill, power tools, vehicle, formal wear, blender, extension ladder or whatever,” Freedman said.

At Loanables.com, you can post items for rent and decide the terms of the rental, including the price. It even has a pricing comparison list, so you can see how much rental places typically charge. Zilok also lets renters set their own prices.

IMCBerea College/Flickr

36. Sell Crafts

If you’re crafty, you could profit from your ability to create handmade items. For example, Freedman knows people who make money by selling their wares on the online marketplace Etsy.

The site charges a 20-cent listing fee, 3.5 percent commission and a payment processing fee of 3 percent, plus 25 cents. Freedman recommends having a plan to keep up with demand should your Etsy store be a hit.

37. Provide Lawn Care

You can make money mowing lawns, trimming hedges, weeding garden beds and cleaning leaves, Freedman said. Start by calling local lawn care companies to see what they charge and then set your rates accordingly. You can also make flyers advertising your services and rates and distribute them in nearby neighborhoods.

38. Be a Mystery Shopper

Although mystery shopping scams abound, this job is a legitimate way to make money. Scams typically ask for some sort of payment, but real opportunities — which you can find through Volition.com and MSPA-na.org — offer a fun way to make money by scrutinizing how a retailer or restaurant does business, Freedman said.

According to MSPA North America (formerly the Mystery Shopping Providers Association), mystery shoppers go to specific stores, pose as customers and then complete questionnaires. Shoppers can expect to earn $8 to $20 for a typical assignment.

Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/Flickr

39. Make an Extra $5 — or More — on Fiverr

If you have a service to offer — from graphic design to resume writing — you can sell it on Fiverr.com. The site was launched on the premise of offering to do tasks for $5, but sellers can now charge much more. It’s free to sign up, and sellers keep 80 percent of the purchase amount for services they sell.

The amount you can make might seem small, but Freedman knows people who make their entire living this way.

40. Share a Skill Online

If you have a skill to share — from cooking to crafting — you can make money by teaching others how to do it online. At a site such as Skillshare.com, you can teach online classes with short videos.

Teachers get paid monthly for every student who takes a class. On average, they earn $3,000 a year, but top teachers make up to $40,000 a year, according to Skillshare.com.

41. Teach Lessons

You can teach lessons the old-fashioned way — face to face — if you can play an instrument, are fluent in a foreign language, are a certified fitness or yoga instructor or have some expertise you can share with others.

You can find the going rate for the lesson you want to teach by checking Craigslist listings for your city. Then you can list the lessons you’re willing to teach on this free site.

Melia Robinson

42. Do Chores

You can make money doing chores for others — such as cleaning, assembling furniture, making minor repairs or running errands — by signing up at a site such as TaskRabbit.com. Download the app to be notified of jobs available near you and then pick the ones you want and negotiate a rate with the client.

43. Be a Brand Ambassador or Event Marketer

You can make extra cash as a brand ambassador if you’re willing to hand out flyers on the street, dress as a mascot or help promote a company in other ways. Or you could do similar work as part of an event marketing team.

You can register with a promotional talent or event staffing agency, such as Street Team Promotion or Across the Nation, to be notified of jobs in your area. Several recent job listings for events on Across the Nation’s Facebook page were paying $15 to $20 per hour.

44. Serve as an Online Juror

Most of us hope we’re not called for jury duty. However, you can make extra money as an online juror. Attorneys use mock juries and focus groups to prepare for trials. They submit facts related to a case, and online jurors answer questions. You can sign up at sites such as OnlineVerdict.com and eJury.com if you’re at least 18 and a U.S. citizen.

OnlineVerdict.com pays between $20 and $60 per case, and eJury.com pays $5 to $10. Note that jurors can only review cases in the county or federal district where they live.

Garry Knight/Flickr

45. Be a Tour Guide

If you have special knowledge about the city where you live, its architecture or art scene, you might be able to make money as a tour guide. One way to do this is as an “insider” for Vayable.com.

You can set your own schedule and offer experiences to tourists — such as scouting for street art or going on a pub tour — and get paid within 24 hours of completing them.

Tags how to make money, make money, make money in 2017, make money in 2019

featured Money

4 Steps People Who Weren’t Born Rich Can Take to Get Rich

Post author By Desmond Bonsu
Post date April 7, 2017
No Comments on 4 Steps People Who Weren’t Born Rich Can Take to Get Rich

Building wealth is a matter of working consistently and managing what money you do have well. A little luck is a big help.

President-elect Donald Trump was born into wealth. His first job was literally handed to him in the form of a lofty title and loan from his real estate tycoon father. Most of us aren’t that lucky. In fact, it’s incredibly far from the norm to spend day one of your life rich.

The path to wealth for most people is more nuanced, complicated, riddled with hurdles and unique to personal circumstances. While Trump had wealth handed to him, the rest of us have to do it the other way around. We have to make smart decisions with the money we do have and build wealth over time. Here is the swiftest way to do it:

1. Pay down high interest debt.

The first step to wealth is to settle outstanding debt. Holding significant debt inhibits people’s ability to make new investments and buy assets. Start with high interest loans and work backwards. Low cost debt can be okay — think under 3 percent — but high-interest loans, with rates between 5-20+ percent, should get paid off as fast as possible. In order to sustainably gain control of your finances, pay down debt until you have paid off all loans with higher interest rates.

Related: 10 Steps everyone must take to get rich

2. Spend less than you make.

This step is perhaps the easiest to say and hardest to do. Get a handle on what your monthly expenses are and look to get that amount to be less than your monthly income. The key is lowering spending to less than your income so you can build a savings cushion. Start slow by putting away a certain amount every month that allows you to keep enough money on hand to pay bills, pay off debt and live somewhat comfortably.

3. Build a savings cushion.

You never know what could happen to your income. Maintaining a savings cushion to cover three to sixth months of expenses in savings is an important contingency plan. Small business owners take a similar approach. Many work to build a three to six month liquidity cushion so they can stay afloat while establishing their businesses and scaling their operations to meet growing consumer demand.

Related: How to earn extra money

4. Become an owner.

Start investing after your savings cushion is built. We have all been told “work hard and you will be rewarded,” but that doesn’t mean you will be wealthy. Wealth comes from ownership. Take savings above your cushion and buy a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds and other assets that will grow. Monitor the progress of your investments, and keep expanding your portfolio.

People don’t build wealth just by working hard. They build a nest egg by owning things that become more valuable over time and investing responsibly. In order to become an owner, you need to pay down debt, spend less than you earn, save enough to live for three to six months without an income — just in case — and invest in attainable assets. The jury is still out on whether we can still classify President-elect Trump as lucky to be hand-delivered wealth, but the door is open for everybody else to earnestly pursue it if they follow these steps.

Source: Entrepreneur by Toby Russell

Tags Business, featured, get rich quick, how to get rich, how to make money

Money

5 Reasons Why Most People Don’t Become Wealthy

Post author By Desmond Bonsu
Post date April 7, 2017
No Comments on 5 Reasons Why Most People Don’t Become Wealthy

In this video, Entrepreneur Network partner Brian Tracy discusses five reasons why most people never experience the wealth they desire.

Click here to watch video

To start, it’s simple: “If you want to achieve true wealth, you have to be willing to put in the necessary work to get there,” says Tracy.

Most people don’t achieve wealth because they have low confidence, a lack of motivation, a lack of clarity, they are lazy or no one is supporting them. Confidence is key when it comes to success and wealth. Your level of self confidence is a critical factor — the more things you try, the more likely you’ll figure out what you like and want to do.

In terms of motivation, many people think someone will come along and motivate them. But, the hard truth is that no one is coming to the rescue and you must take charge of your own life.

From writing out clear goals to surrounding yourself with people that support your goals, you can get on track towards a wealthy life.

To learn more, click play.

Watch more YouTube videos from Brian Tracy on his channel.

This article originally appeared on Entrepreneur by Brian Tracy

Entrepreneur Network is a premium video network providing entertainment, education and inspiration from successful entrepreneurs and thought leaders. We provide expertise and opportunities to accelerate brand growth and effectively monetize video and audio content distributed across all digital platforms for the business genre.

EN is partnered with hundreds of top YouTube channels in the business vertical and provides partners with distribution on Entrepreneur.com as well as our apps on Amazon Fire, Roku and Apple TV.

Tags brian tracy, Business, how to become wealthy, how to make money, Make Money Fast

Life

5 Frugal Habits of the World’s Richest People

Post author By Desmond Bonsu
Post date March 31, 2017
No Comments on 5 Frugal Habits of the World’s Richest People

Just because someone has accumulated a bank account that rivals that of Bill Gates doesn’t mean they spend like there is no tomorrow. Research and anecdote teaches that wealthy people, including the very wealthiest, are surprisingly frugal.

That’s not saying they’re cheap. After all, there is a difference between being cheap and frugal. Frugal means being smarter and wiser at prioritizing your funds, finding the best value and making solid investments, traits that have fattened the bank accounts of the richest people in the world. They have so much wealth because they realize the real value of money.

Here are some of the frugal habits of the wealthy you adapt to build up your own hefty bank account.

1. They use coupons.

Surprisingly, households with average incomes of $100,000 or more use more coupons than those that bring in under $35,000. Celebrities including Carrie Underwood, Lady Gaga, Kristen Bell and Hilary Swank are just a few examples of wealthy individuals who are fans of coupons.

As a whole, it’s been found that an astounding “71 percent of the affluent use paper coupons every month, with 54 percent using online coupons every month.”

2. They live below their means.

The super rich are also known for living well below their means – even as far as cutting their own hair. One example of this is that they don’t see a vehicle as a status symbol. Instead, they realize that a car serves just one purpose; to get from Point A to Point B.

Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, famously drove around in a 1979 Ford F150 pickup truck. Walton’s son, Jim drove an older Dodge Dakota despite being worth over $16 billion. Mark Zuckerberg owns a modest $30,000 Acura TSX entry-level sedan, the 61st richest person in the world Azim Premji drove a Toyota Corolla, and Warren Buffett recently sold his 2006 Cadillac, which was noted for not being anything special, for a new model.

Many very rich people live in modest homes. Warren Buffett still resides in the house he bought bought for $31,500 in Omaha, Nebraska in 1958. Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook and Christy Walton all live in modest homes.

Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad, Hobby Lobby founder David Green and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer prefer to fly commercial, and even coach. Bill Gates was known to fly commercial for years. Azim Premji usually stays at company guest houses.

Finally, the wealthy don’t spend money on only luxury clothing. John Caudwell, an auto-shop owner who entered the cell phone business in 1987 and is now worth $2.6 billion, has stated “I don’t need Saville Row suits” and “I don’t need to spend money to bolster my own esteem.”

In fact, 74 percent of the super rich shop at Wal-Mart, while only 6 percent shop at Brooks Brothers.

3. They are charitable.

One of the more interesting habits that the rich have in common is their willingness to donate a vast majority of their wealth to a charitable cause. Zappos’ Tony Hsieh personally invested $350 million in the Downtown Project to improve downtown Las Vegas. Chuck Feeney, the co-founder of Duty Free Shops, has donated more than $4 billion to disadvantaged children and public health initiatives. Other wealthy individuals including Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, George Soros, Mark Zuckerberg, and Michael Bloomberg have donated huge chunks of their fortunes.

4. They value quality over quantity.

Wealthy individuals aren’t cheap, and certainly are not against enjoying themselves, but they put more thought into their purchases. For example, T. Boone Pickens has said, “I don’t go cheap on anything, but I’m not a shopper. If I want something, I look at it, decide what it is, but it will usually be the best product. I’ve got a pair of loafers that I still wear that I got in 1957.”

5. They don’t carry wads of cash.

It’s been found that “86 percent of people who spend cash on luxuries like expensive cars, jewelry, and electronics are non-millionaires trying to act the part by purchasing luxury brands.”

Take the advice of oil mogul T. Boone Pickens and carry around only the cash that you need for what you intend to buy. According to Brad Klontz, a CFP professional and associate professor of personal financial planning at Kansas State University, the rich are often “money vigilant.” They avoid credit debt, and “are more anxious about making sure they have enough money and are managing it well.”

Source: Entrepreneur by Murray Newlands

Tags Business, habits of richest people, how to become rich, how to make money, world's richest people

Business

101 Ways to Make an Extra $500 a Month While Keeping Your Full-Time Job

Post author By Desmond Bonsu
Post date March 31, 2017
No Comments on 101 Ways to Make an Extra $500 a Month While Keeping Your Full-Time Job

Whether you want to pay off your credit card debt or save money for your dream vacation, we could all use a little extra cash.

Whether you want to pay off your credit card debt or save money for your dream vacation, we could all use a little extra cash. Of course, finding that extra money can be a challenge when you are working 40 hours a week at your full-time job. Thankfully, there are ways for you to earn an additional income while still working full-time. In fact, most side gigs can earn you an extra $500 a month easily. Here are 101 different ways for you to achieve that goal:

Make extra cash at your current job

Since you have a full-time job, you can use that full-time gig to your advantage. Because of the convenience of already knowing the job, you are already on site, you already have contact with the people that make decisions — this is one of the best places to start.

1. Volunteer for overtime

You’ve already spent more than enough time at work, but volunteering for overtime is one of the easiest ways to earn extra money. Often the boss is relieved to have the extra help too.

2. Refer new employees

Some places of business will offer a bonus if you refer a new employee. If you know someone who needs a job, take advantage of this referral program.

3. Customer referral

Just like an employee referral program, some companies have a referral compensation program for bringing in new customers.

4. Do a job no one else wants

Are there any tasks or projects that no one wants to be a part of? Offer to complete these unwanted assignments for a fee, of course.

5. Use the suggestion box

If your employer pays for awesome suggestions, then put your thinking cap on and start filling that suggestion box.

Cash in on your skills or hobbies

Most of us are skilled and experienced at something — or have an interest in another area that we don’t usually get paid to do. If that’s the situation, you can finally put your talents or hobbies to work if you need some additional dough.

6. Launch a blog

No matter your interest or talent, you can write about it on your blog and make money by selling ads.

7. eBook publishing

Another way to make extra cash through your writing is to publish eBooks in either your field of expertise or whatever you’re passionate about. This goes back to #6 and you can often combine a blog and an eBook, by taking all of your blog posts and making an eBook with them.

8. Coaching or consulting

If writing isn’t your cup of tea, you can offer your services to individuals or businesses either in person or via Skype or Google Hangouts. Some people just need someone to help push them forward. You can be this person.

9. Public speaking

If you have an inspiring story or if you have the ability to motivate others while sharing your knowledge, public speaking is a lucrative side business where you could make anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to a couple of thousand dollars per gig.

10. Photography

Do you have an eye for capturing moments? Put those skills to work and start a side gig as a photographer. Instead of trying to be a jack-of-all-trades, focus on a niche like weddings.

11. Sell pictures

Another way to make cash from photography is to sell your images to sites like Shutterstock. If you are artistic and unique with your photography in any way, Shutterstock (and others) will be interested in your pictures.

12. Become a gym instructor

Whether you’re trained as a personal trainer, yoga instructor or weight lifter, you can find some part-time work at a local gym. Again, some people just need someone to push or encourage them to continue their workout.

13. Become an umpire/referee

One umpire told Business Insider, “I umpire softball/baseball games for USSSA. There’s also Little League, ASA and others. I make $30 for an hour-and-10-minute game. Ten games in a weekend, and that’s $300. You can also maybe pick some games up after work. It’s not so bad if you, don’t mind a little yapping in your ear.”

14. Caddie

Love golf and being outside? Caddie on the side. You’d be surprised at how much money you’ll be able to rake in. A good caddie is hard to find. Some golf courses make you sign up for this job. Check it out in the pro-shop.

15. DJ events

If you’re a music lover and have the gear, charge people for your deejaying services.

16. Run a photo booth

Unlike photography, you don’t need a whole lot of experience in running a photo booth. Once you get the basics, it’s pretty easy and you can pocket around $1,000 per weekend if you work a couple of events. Be easy to work with, take the shots people dream of, chat with people and enjoy yourself. You’ll have all the work you can stand.

17. Become a session musician

Talented musicians can sit-in during concerts or recording sessions and actually get paid for their talent. Many places need rehearsal pianists and the like. Be willing to go early and stay late.

18. Write music

You can offer to write and record music on sites like, Fiverr and Craigslist, or write and record something for YouTube. Nowadays, many have become famous doing this.

19. Woodworking

You can turn this hobby into a nice little side business by selling your crafts on sites like Etsy or at local flea markets. Keep your ears open to what people are looking for and make the items people want.

20. Scrapbooking

Here’s another creative hobby that you can start cashing in on. Chron.com has simple step-by-by guides to getting this business started. Google “scrapbook” and see what comes up. Some people want something particular, and others don’t care and will let you do what you want. Scrapbooking can be a great creative outlet too.

21. Cater

If you’re an excellent cook then you should start catering events on the side. Here are a few tips to getting paid along the way. You may want to sign up and work for a busy caterer for a while. This is a tough business, and you may need help. But small specialty parties like baby showers, wedding showers and graduation parties are a little more manageable.

22. Bake

If you’re a better baker than a chef, then start selling your baked goods, such as birthday or wedding cakes, during your spare time. I had a neighbor who sold three things: homemade bread, breadsticks and cinnamon rolls. That’s it. She made a ton of money. All a person had to do was call her early in the morning for their order. This woman was able to stay home and raise four kids in style with this business.

23. Movie or TV extra

If there’s a major network or studio production in your town, you may be able to bring in a quick $200 per day just by being an extra.

24. Watch TV

If you’re a TV junkie who binge watches your favorite TV shows, then you may be able to start earning some extra money. You can download the Viggle App or become a Netflix ‘tagger,’ which has only launched in the U.K. and Ireland so far, but watch out for it in other countries soon.

25. Create or edit videos

If you have the talent and equipment, you can either start creating your own YouTube videos or editing them for others.

26. Draw caricatures

Artists can sell caricatures at fairs or local parks. Although, you may need to get a business license to draw at your city’s parks.

27. Make jewelry

There’s a demand for handmade jewelry on sites like Etsy. Also, many local spas, resorts and even hair salons like to sell great jewelry. You could start by selling on consignment until they see your worth.

28. Knit or crochet

There’s also a market for handmade knit items on Etsy. Baby items such as a shawl or blanket sell very well. Even knitted baby clothing sells too. Listen around your office for someone who has a special person coming into their life.

29. Build websites

You don’t have to be an expert at web design (although that does help) to build simple websites for individuals and small businesses. You might be able to make $100 per site too.

30. Build an app

If you love to code and have an awesome idea for an app, then you can absolutely cash-in on your app.

31. Social media manager

If you’re a social media wiz, then start charging individuals and small businesses to manage their social media accounts.

32. Repair computers

If you love to fix computers, smartphones and other tech gadgets, start a small repair business. Half the time the computer just needs to be unplugged for a while.

33. Auto repair

Whether it’s changing oil or repainting a vehicle, put your talents (and your garage) to good use. There is also the gig of, “I will take your car while you are at work and get it cleaned inside and out.”

34. Tutor

If you’re proficient in subjects like math, science, English, history or any other academic subject, then start tutoring after work or on the weekends. Parents are overwhelmed and need help in this area. Start looking in your own neighborhood first.

35. Teach English

There are plenty of people from around the world looking to learn English as a second language. You can help them out on a part-time basis. Most people only need to have you sit and speak with them or go for a walk and speak.

36. Install software

If you have a knack for installing software, then reach out to local businesses who need someone to do this task for them. Many cities and local governments look for this type of part-time help.

37. Bookkeeping

This isn’t the most exciting side gig, but there are plenty of businesses and individuals who could use someone to keep their paperwork in order.

38. Tax preparation

Everyone could use a little assistance when it comes to taxes. (Note: make sure to file a 1099 when you do this.) Some professional tax companies need seasonal help when they are in tax season.

39. Office or home organization

Both busy business and home owners could hire someone to come in and organize their office or home.

40. Interior design

If you have an eye for design, then spend your weekends decorating the homes of people in your neighbourhood. Brainstorm and create a portfolio of ideas so you are ready to spring into action when the opportunity arises.

41. Event planning

If you’re organized and enjoy making plans, then start charging others to plan out the events that they don’t want to, or don’t have the time to. You can plan and carry out office events, mixers and marketing events — especially on a smaller scale. It may be advisable to work under a larger planner for a while to get the hang of this job if you have not done it before. Many planners are on contract and not part of a company, and this is just the situation you want.

42. Build furniture

Handmade furniture is another craft that is in high demand, especially among millennials. Millennials are not going to be denied anything of great value. You can sell your work online on a website like Etsy, or at flea markets and maybe even local furniture stores.

43. Personal shopper

Not everyone enjoys shopping. But, if you’re a shopaholic, then take advantage of this and become a personal shopper for those who don’t like to shop, or who don’t have the time to shop. Busy executives are prime people to look at for this business. Notice the businesses which have recently popped up using this idea. Many people don’t want a business person, per se to do this work, they want someone who will become their friend.

Offline hustling

If you don’t have any skills or talents that you feel you can convert into a side business, then you can make additional money by doing the following offline side gigs.

44. Babysit

Do you have friends, family or neighbours who have children? Watch their children whenever they need a sitter. Determine your price beforehand so you will know what the going rate is. To have someone already known to the children is worth a lot to the parents.

45. Dogsit

The same goes for man’s best friend. Personally, I would rather hire someone to dog-sit rather than board her in a kennel.

46. Housesit

This also applies to watching the homes of people who go on vacation. Many homes are summer-only or winter-only. These people like someone to stay in their homes for security reasons.

47. Mow lawns

If you have a mower and other basic landscaping tools, and like being outside, then mow lawns in your neighborhood when you have free time. There’s nothing like a beautiful yard. My brother cut lawns to put himself through dental school. The school would not let him have a regular job so mowing lawns was perfect. Ditto for MBA school.

48. Shovel snow

Whether you have a truck with a plow or are willing to shovel by hand, people will gladly pay you to remove the snow from their driveways.

49. Painting

If you have some painting skills, then provide this service to anyone who needs a room, fence or even large job like an entire house painted. Go up and offer yourself to someone you see painting, or check out people in your local Lowe’s or Home Depot.

50. Moving

Does anyone really enjoy moving? Probably not. That’s why people and businesses hire moving companies to do the legwork for them. Even your neighborhood will have people who just need stuff carried to storage, or up and down their stairs.

51. Hauling service

If you have a truck, van or trailer, you can offer to pick up and deliver large items. Look in IKEA for these folks.

52. Pool cleaning

If you love being outside, here’s another perfect seasonal side gig. Most pool owners have their own equipment too. The main thing here is to be consistent and be there every week.

53. House/office cleaning

Whether people are too busy or don’t the have the physical ability to do this job, there is a demand for house and office cleaners. Be sure to get bonded and insured. Learn how to “clean green” too — this appeals to many people especially in larger areas of the country.

54. Clean gutters

This job can get pretty grimy, and it also requires a ladder, gloves and not being afraid of heights. If you have these things, you’ll find plenty of people to hire you for this dirty job. This job is especially easy to find in the fall. You can go door-to-door and ask for this job. Offer to put up their Christmas lights at a discount too and no one will turn you down.

55. Set-up holiday decorations

If you’re extremely festive and enjoy decorating, then offer your services to people who may be more on the Scrooge-side. Many business haven’t thought of making their front office cheery during the holidays, so have some ideas and prices ready. Second week of November is a great time to look for this job.

56. Handyman work

If you’re decent enough at basic home repairs, you could launch a steady side business for those who aren’t as handy. Nowadays, many handymen (and women) have made a full-time job of this.

57. Be a TaskRabbit

If you don’t mind running errands for people or assisting them with chores around the house, then you can become a TaskRabbit person for some extra cash.

58. Find odd jobs on Craigslist

If you just browse through Craigslist you’ll easily stumble upon a number of odd jobs that you can do in your free time.

59. Deliver pizzas

This is a great weekend gig where you can easily make $500 in a month — if you’re reliable and have the right personality. Most pizza places never have enough drivers.

60. Bartend

If you have the skills, both at mixing drinks and being a people person, you can make hundreds of dollars bartending on weekends.

61. Paint curbs

This is an out-of-the-box job. But you can paint house numbers on street curbs with just some spray paint and stencils. Have the stencils ready to show. Some pictures of prior work helps too. Some people go out one weekend to get clients and jobs, then come back during the week to paint.

62. Detail cars

Who wouldn’t want a nice clean car? Use this to your advantage by detailing automobiles during your downtime.

63. Recycle

Whether it’s cardboard or scrap metal, you can make a pretty penny by recycling on the side. I recommend you read this guide before getting to work so that you know what you and can not recycle. If you don’t have any metal or cardboard, there are still plenty of other common household items that you can recycle for cash. You should also make arrangements beforehand to drop off the recycling.

64. Work sporting events or concerts

Sporting events and concerts need plenty of bodies to make an event run smoothly, such as security. If you work at an NFL stadium, for example, you may be able to bring home $100 per game.

65. Donate plasma

If you donate blood plasma, you could almost make $500 per month — depending on the rates and how much you can donate. Know that the first time you donate plasma, the plasma is special and you can get double the money.

66. Participate in medical studies

If you don’t mind being a guinea pig, then you can partake in medical studies for some quick cash. There are many product tester jobs as well.

Hustle online

If you want to stay in the comforts of your own home, then start hustling with the following online gigs:

67. Freelance

There are hundreds of websites where freelancers can find gigs that range from writing to web development to translating. Just search these sites for opportunities that you’re good at.

68. Virtual assistant

If you’re an organized and reliable person, you can also search those websites to find virtual assistant jobs.

69. Tech support

If you have a landline and internet service, and don’t mind dealing with customers, then you can provide tech support on nights and weekends.

70. Fill out surveys

You won’t make a fortune taking online surveys, but the more that you take, the more you can earn on sites like Survey Monkey, Nielsen Digital Voice, Opinion Outpost or Survey Spot.

71. Join a virtual jury

Defense attorneys will hire people to test their cases on sites like http://www.ejury.com/ or http://www.virtualjury.com/.

72. Download smartphone apps

Apps like Rewardable, CheckPoints and Gigwalk will assign you tasks either online or offline for a couple of extra bucks.

73. Affiliate marketing

If you plug a business on your website or blog, you can become an affiliate for them and earn a commission whenever someone leaves your site to make a purchase. If done correctly, you can have a nice little side business. This takes extra smarts and know-how, but it can be learned.

74. Flip websites

This sounds a bit shady, but if you play by all the rules, you can purchase a domain for cheap and make it valuable by adding quality content to gain traffic. It gets even more lucrative when you purchase a domain that already has an established business. I like using Flippa.

75. Investing and lending

Thanks to sites like Lending Tree, you can join a peer-to-peer lending program and earn money through interest rates.

76. Facebook and Twitter administrator

Some people have easily made $500 per month simply by being an administrator for someone else’s Facebook and Twitter pages. If you are a good writer and quick thinker, this is a fun job.

77. LinkedIn profile writer

If you’re proficient at writing an amazing LinkedIn profile, and have a knack for writing resumes in general, you can write profiles for professionals and bank an additional $1,000 to $1,500 a month.

78. YouTube personality

YouTube personalities can make money through advertisements that have been placed on their channels.

79. Create an online class

If you have knowledge in specific subjects, you can create an online class on sites like Udemy. Piano, acting, SEO, entrepreneurship, writing, language, history, painting, knitting, quilting, woodworking — to name a few ideas. Write up a class schedule and what you plan to teach.

Renting out items you already own

If you don’t want to part with anything, there are plenty of ways for you to supplement your income by renting out items that you already own. Yard equipment, woodworking equipment, skis, rollerblades, skateboards and even your car will quickly bring in some extra cash.

80. Host a foreign exchange student

If you have the space, and meet the qualifications, you can easily earn $500 month by hosting a foreign exchange student. For safety reasons, programs usually like to send two students together.

81. Become a driver for Uber, Lyft or Sidecar

One of the most lucrative side gigs right now is being a driver for companies like Uber, Lyft or Sidecar. The average fares — depending on your local market — typically range from $11 to $15. It is said that people driving during Super Bowl week make up to $800/night.

82. Rent your vehicle or bicycle

Whenever you aren’t using your vehicle or bicycle you can rent them out for the day, or longer, if you like, via sites like RelayRides and Spinlister.

83. Become a PostMate

If you’re fond of transporting passengers, you can still use your vehicle to make extra money by joining PostMates, where you’ll deliver anything from clothing to groceries. If you live in a big city, you don’t need a car to become a PostMate — in New York City, PostMates can walk or ride bikes.

84. Rent out your home or your spare bedrooms

Thanks to sites like AirBnb and HomeAway you can rent out spare bedrooms or entire house.

85. Rent your garage

Do you have a garage that is being unused? You could rent it out to someone who wants to store their vehicle, or throw down a rug and make it an apartment.

86. Rent parking space

If you live in a busy part of town, perhaps in close proximity to a stadium, you could rent out your parking space or driveway whenever there are events.

87. Rent personal items

Instead of letting unused items like tools or kitchenware gather dust, rent them out to people who need them to complete a project.

88. Become someone’s friend

Yes. There are people out there who are willing to pay other people to be their friend. If you like meeting new people you can do this by joining a site like RentAFriend. Retirement centers may be good places to seek this type of employment too.

Sell stuff

You can always sell your unwanted junk or even new items to customers by going through the following avenues. Here are a few tips to using eCash and get paid for all of the things you sell.

89. Have a garage sale

This can be a hit or miss, but you can bring in some decent cash just by selling your unused items in your front yard.

90. Sell items on Craigslist

This is essentially the online version of a yard sale. No matter what you want to part ways with, you’re bound to find a buyer on the popular classified site.

91. Sell items on eBay

This site needs no introduction. It’s been one of the top places to sell your used items since 1995.

92. Sell other people’s items on Craigslist or eBay

You’ll have to give them a commission, but if you know anyone looking to sell their junk, make them an offer and sell it for them on Craigslist or eBay. Start watching what items sell online and what amount they sell for, then look for those items, pick them up cheaper and sell them online.

93. Drop shipping

You don’t have to sell used items online to make some extra cash. You can also start a side business through drop shipping. In this case, you would sell new items from a manufacturer or distributor online on sites like eBay and they’ll ship the items to customers for you.

94. Sell items on Amazon

Just like eBay, you can become an Amazon Merchant and sell both used and new items.

95. Direct marketing

People can actually make a decent living by selling products for Avon, Amway and Tupperware. In fact, there are hundreds of different direct marketing companies you can join. Check out this list of the Top 100 Global Direct Marketing Companies to find a direct marketing company that best fits you.

96. Set up shop at a flea market

Instead of selling items in your front yard, you could take your used goods, homemade crafts and even new items to local flea markets.

97. Sell items to consignment shops

Consignment shops are an option if you have an excessive amount of clothes or furniture to sell. Items that sell well are prom dresses, baby items, ties, men’s shirts, purses and coats.

98. Visit the pawn shop

If you’re in a real pinch, you can sell your valuable items to the nearest pawn shop.

99. Sell your used gadgets

If you don’t have a need for devices like an old smartphone or tablet, you can sell them on Gazelle.com. You may not earn a lot, but you could get a fair price for gadgets that are newer and in good shape.

100. Sell your old jewelry and silverware

If you have expensive jewelry or silverware, you can sell these to a proper jeweler or a silverware dealer, and receive a decent return. Again, this is an item to watch at yard sales and estate sales where you can pick them up cheaper and sell them for more online. Also, get a receipt if you can.

101. Resell or return unused gift cards

If you have any unused gift cards laying around you may be able to sell them on sites like CardPool or return them to the merchant. The same goes for concert, play and event tickets.

(By John Rampton)

Source: Entrepreneur

Tags Business, how to make money, how to make money quickly, make extra money, make extra money fast, make side money

Business

10 Dumb Money Mistakes People Make in Their 30s

Post author By Desmond Bonsu
Post date March 31, 2017
1 Comment on 10 Dumb Money Mistakes People Make in Their 30s

Don’t use your credit card to buy a designer baby stroller.

If you’re like many 30-year-old Americans, you probably spent your 20s finishing up college, finding your first real job, taking some risks, making connections and hopefully having some fun.

Now that you’re in your 30s, you’re moving into a different realm. These are the years to firmly establish yourself in your career and begin climbing the corporate ladder — or perhaps breaking out to forge your own way as a millionaire. You may also be thinking about building a life with a partner, having kids and planning for your long-term future.

This is also the period when many fall into major money pitfalls that sap their finances for years — or even decades — to come. With so much going on with work and life, it’s easy to focus on the here-and-now and put aside your bigger financial goals. However, this will leave you scrambling later in life. Think of this article as a map to help you bypass those monetary gaffes.

Related:4 Tips from a 26 year old who built a $10million consulting business

Avoid these 10 money mistakes in your 30s, and you will set yourself up for financial freedom in your 40s and beyond.

1. Carrying too much credit card debt.

Credit cards can feel like a solution when you just need a little extra help to get you through to your next paycheck. Credit cards can be a useful tool to help you establish credit and earn points or rewards or allow you to make online purchases. But credit card companies make their money off of your dumb financial mistakes, namely, impulse purchases and buying things you really don’t need.

If you don’t pay your cards off every month or, worse, if you only make the minimum payment, you will end up paying for those items several times over. Credit cards are infamous for their fees, interest rates and hidden rules in their fine print, and it will be difficult for you to catch up once you fall behind.

2. Not diversifying your income.

Most of us treat employment like we would a relationship. We are faithful to a single career or a single employer at a time. We pour all of our time and effort into establishing ourselves in our primary place of work and eschew all else. But when it comes to making money, it’s okay to have something on the side!

In fact, diversifying your income will give you a backup if something happens, and you find yourself out of your primary job. Think of this as a chance to broaden your interests or explore different areas. There are tons of ways to build a second career or money-making venture on the side. Having more than one source of income means more money to invest and save for future projects.

3. Not having a financial plan when you move in with a partner.

It’s no shock that more Americans are waiting longer to get married. And more people are living together before marriage, testing out the waters for long-term cohabitation and companionship. It all sounds wonderful — until you have to decide how to divvy up the bills.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is not having an honest and open discussion about finances, budgeting, debt and spending habits before you take the plunge and merge your lives. It may feel awkward to have this conversation, but it’s important you understand where you are each at financially and how your monetary habits may differ. Getting on the same page will help keep money concerns from overshadowing and affecting your relationship.

4. Putting off planning for retirement.

It may be hard to focus on retirement when it’s so far off, but your 20s and 30s are the best time to begin growing your nest egg. You should be taking full advantage of your employer’s 401(k) plan — especially if they have a matching program. And take the time to set up an IRA, either a Roth or traditional, and make recurring contributions.

The earlier you start putting money away, the more time you will have to take advantage of the wonder of compounding: it’s the most powerful way to make your money work for you. Consider this: if you invest $1,000 a year between the ages of 25 and 35, at approximately 7 percent interest a year, this $10,000 investment will earn you nearly $113,000 by the time you are 65 years old. Not bad, right?

5. Overspending on housing expenses.

You can imagine how awesome your life will be when you’re living in that apartment with the view of the river. Or how swanky you would feel to live in a trendy, up-and-coming neighborhood. One out of three Americans make this mistake, and live in a housing market where they are spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent.

Think of it like this: if you take home $1,000 in income, but spend half on a house, you only have about $33 a day to pay for all the rest of your expenses — not to mention saving for upcoming purchases or investments. Don’t fall into this overspending trap. It will suck away money you could be investing elsewhere and leave you constantly scrambling to cover your expenses.

6. Failing to plan for the worst.

You may be feeling invincible right now, but at some point you may get sick or hurt. According to the Social Security Administration, 1 in 4 of today’s 20-year olds will become disabled for a period of time before reaching age 67. Most people don’t have enough savings to cover months, let alone years, of lost income if they aren’t able to work.

You can protect yourself by purchasing long-term disability insurance, which will help cover your income while you are incapacitated, so you can focus on getting better. To insure about 60 percent of your gross income, expect to pay around 2-3 percent of your gross income in annual premiums. Think of this as protection against needing to pull out your investments early or dipping into savings you worked so hard to accumulate.

7. Not getting life insurance while it’s cheap.

Not to be a downer, but eventually we will all meet our demise one way or another. Here’s your friendly reminder that there is no time like the present to make estate plans, and that includes making a will and purchasing life insurance.

One important rule of thumb: the younger you are when you buy a life insurance policy, the less you’ll pay. The healthier you are, the cheaper and easier it is to get coverage. Jump on this bandwagon while you can. A little forethought will give you peace of mind later. You’ll know those you love will be cared for even under the worst of circumstances.

8. Not saving money for upcoming expenses.

While you are busy socking away funds in your retirement accounts, don’t forget to set aside money for other big, upcoming expenses. Someday you’d like to own a house, buy a new car, take a trip around the world or help put your kids through college. These major goals come with big price tags that may seem insurmountable, and they could put you in serious debt.

But a little forethought will go a long way toward making these goals a reality — plus reducing your stress over finances. Set up multiple savings accounts to start setting aside money for specific purchases. Have the money come out through automatic transfers so you won’t miss it.

9. Overspending on kids.

At some point in life, you may find yourself cradling a bundle of joy — a tiny person you are willing to do almost anything for to ensure their safety and happiness. For many people, that includes giving them the absolute best of everything, from top-of-the-line nursery furniture to brand-name clothes.

A word of caution — check your spending before your money disappears into a puff of toys, gadgets and baby accessories. Does your bouncing baby really need that fancy stroller? Or would it be more helpful for you all in the long run if that money went into an investment fund or savings account — or went to pay off debt? Don’t let emotions rule your purchases, for baby or for you.

10. Expecting a standard of living beyond your reach.

No matter your age, it’s easy to covet all the great new things other people seem to have. Many of us have gotten caught up in “keeping up with the Joneses.” But this game isn’t sustainable and doesn’t result in long-term happiness. Trying to keep up with someone else’s standards isn’t going to get you anywhere.

Another pitfall is expecting to live at the same level as your parents are at this phase in your life. Remember that your parents have (hopefully) spent decades accumulating their wealth. You will get there too, if you keep your expectations in check and don’t spend beyond your means now.

Source: Entrepreneur by Deep Patel

Tags avoid money mistakes, Business, how to make money, how to make money fast, money mistakes

Business Management

The Co-Founder of Gilt on What Her First Job at Ebay Taught Her About Running a Company

Post author By Desmond Bonsu
Post date March 30, 2017
No Comments on The Co-Founder of Gilt on What Her First Job at Ebay Taught Her About Running a Company

how to run a company — Image credit: Project September

Now the founder of Project September, Alexis Maybank explains why fortune favors the bold.

As the co-founder of Gilt.com, which brought the big city sample sale experience to a massive online audience, Alexis Maybank has a unique understanding of how to reach digitally savvy style mavens — and disrupt an industry.

The Gilt Groupe pioneered the flash sale model, in which luxury items would be highly discounted for 24 to 48 hours. At its peak popularity, the site reached users in more than 90 countries and had relationships with more than 6,000 designer brands. At the point the company was sold to Hudson Bay in 2016, it had a base of 9 million users.

Related: 4 Tips from a 26 year old who built a $10million consulting business

Recently, the fashion industry veteran returned to her startup roots to disrupt again. Her latest venture, launched last year, is Project September, which takes the classic fashion spread you would see in magazines like Vogue, and turns it into a streamlined shopping platform, with specialized green dots highlighting which of the items users can buy. If something catches your eye, you can shop for it right away.

Users can scroll through curated images from major industry influencers like Project Runway judge and Marie Claire editor Nina Garcia, model and activist Christy Turlington and Instagram star and entrepreneur Patrick Janelle. The platform has more than 20 million SKUs and has partnerships with more than 7,000 brands. Users who curate pages can earn 6.5 to 10 percent commission when people click through to buy the clothes or accessories in question. Since the company’s launch this past fall, the users base has been growing 30 percent week over week.

We caught up with Maybank and asked her 20 questions to figure out what makes her tick.

This article originally appeared on Entrepreneur by Nina Zipkin

1. How do you start your day?
I have three small children and a startup. Both are 24/7 hour jobs. I look at my schedule for the day, get sufficiently caffeinated, make sure the kids are set for their day, and then I head into my first meeting. I have always identified personally as an athlete, and since my mornings tend to start with a bang at 6.00 am, I do my workouts in the evenings.

2. How do you end your day?
It’s a little flipped with how people start their day. I put kids to bed, finish up work and then I go catch up on the morning news and work out. I was very influenced by the HBR Article, The Making of a Corporate Athlete, that studies how people in business have sustained high performance across long careers.

While the study focuses on many elements, and I definitely recommend this reading, one conclusion reached was that typically people push themselves too hard mentally and emotionally daily, but not hard enough physically. They found that this linearity erodes your effectiveness and resilience and this resonated with me. When I feel strong and fit, I feel focused and so much more prepared for anything that might come my way each day.

3. What’s a book that changed your mind and why?
Machiavelli’s The Prince . It’s amazing how true it was in the 1500s in Italy as it is at times in the business world. It’s a good reference how you keep your own counsel to a certain degree and remember where and how to elicit the best feedback. It’s also that interesting mix between being loved and being respected, and how you think about that especially in a mission-driven startup environment.

4. What’s a book you always recommend and why?
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. It’s important to intentionally jolt yourself out of your routine and comfort zone. I typically find myself reading articles and news, so I periodically force a work of fiction into my readings, particularly creative or surreal ones. I describe Murakami as akin to artist Salvador Dali if he had chosen to write literature instead of paint. I found myself thinking about other cultures, perspectives and perceptions in new ways in the time that followed reading his work.

5. What’s a strategy to keep focused?
In an environment where I’m juggling so much, I always try to have the three things, that no matter what pops up in a given week, I absolutely must get done. It allows me to follow through on the things that I really need to accomplish.

6. When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always thought I would be the next Jacques Cousteau. For me it was the exploration, the excitement, going to new areas. I thought I never wanted to work in an office. All of those reasons combined led me to think that I wanted to be a world famous marine biologist.

I spent so much of my life exploring, typically in far-flung geographic corners of the globe, and I got this interest from my mother and grandmother. This turned out to be one of the best forms of training for entrepreneurship: how to navigate the unknown, learn in new settings, read people and make decisions with not enough information. What started as a desire to be the next Jacques Cousteau turned into a passion for exploration, a curiosity to learn new things, and a comfort in being out of my comfort zone.

7. What did you learn from the worst boss you ever had?
The importance of consistency. There is no worse feeling dealing with boss who constantly changes his or her mind, varying moods and reactions or changing strategic direction. A lack of consistency leads to so many losses, needless amounts of stress and just a negative political environments in that work context.

8. Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?
I learned a lot working under Meg Whitman in her first four years as CEO at eBay. She was one of the first very senior women in Silicon Valley. Her ability and style as she worked across different teams made her a terrific leader, that allowed her to connect, motivate, challenge and really command the attention of so many groups and inspire them. Most importantly under her leadership of eBay the company went from 50, 60 people to tens of thousands. It was certainly a terrific experience that I was able to draw upon in my own context of rapid growth and managing everything from corporate strategy to business culture and do it well.

9. What’s a trip that changed you?
When I was 17, in high school, I went away for a month and lived on a glacier in Alaska. It was an unbelievable experience. The independence at an early age, taking care of everything that you might need — from figuring out where you are going to eat to how you are going to get it. You need to be ready for just about anything. It gave me the confidence to believe that no matter what, I’m going to get to the other side.

10. What inspires you?
I have a line of very strong and inspirational women that came before me in my family. A succession of self starters, who were strong and carved their own path. They were innately entrepreneurial, and a huge source of inspiration for me at every turn.

11. What was your first business idea and what did you do with it?
I think the first big business idea was in 2007 was when I co-founded Gilt Groupe. The idea was simple; it wasn’t big at the beginning. It was to bring the New York City sample sale to an online audience for the first time. We built something we loved for our friends, watched that catapult, grow and spread very quickly to so many people around the country and after that, around the world. All of this transpired in two to three years, reaching millions of people globally.

12. What was an early job that taught you something important or useful?
I joined eBay a year after I graduated from college. I learned something that I still tell young people today, which is to go to where the growth is. At 24, working at eBay as it scaled through one of the fastest cycles of hyper growth, I worked for the co-founder. As they needed capable people who were willing to raise their hands, I was able to start two businesses for eBay. The first was eBay Canada, one of the first international businesses and eBay motors. If you’re flexible, it’s amazing how much you can take on early in your career — if you are at a place that is moving really quickly.

13. What’s the best advice you ever took?
Susan Lyne, who oversees BBG Ventures, told me something that really stuck with me. Remember that a career is measured over many years. It’s not one moment when you’re feeling the highest sense of elation or your lowest sense of defeat. So stay focused on that and take solace in that. You’re going to be measured by what you do in totality, not in that one moment.

14. What’s the worst piece of advice you ever got?
Right as I was coming out of college, and I was going to work in a predominantly male environment as the only female. People would try to be kind, but would tell me that I must dress and act a certain way in order to fit in.I felt so uncomfortable and so not like me. A few years later I broke away from that and realized you are your own brand. And the more comfortable you are, the more confident and memorable you’ll be. You’ll be the most effective if you achieve your own personal style.

15. What’s a productivity tip you swear by?
Organization is not my specialty. Navigating through chaos, I’m better at. But I have two. I really love Instacart and my notes app and check list on my phone. They save me so much time.

16. Is there an app or tool you use in a surprising way to get things done or stay on track?
Project September, clearly. I use it to track everything that’s trending for events like fashion week and in street style.

17. What does work-life balance mean to you?
To me, it is a myth, it is a unicorn. Having two full-time jobs — my startup and my kids — it’s all about trade offs. Sometimes I’m a terrific professional or a terrific parent, but I’m almost never both at at the same moment. In any given day, decide which of the two are you prioritizing for that given period? You have to be willing to drop some balls along the way.

18. How do you prevent burnout?
For me, I have to force myself out of a routine. That’s usually done by getting outside, unplugging for a day or a weekend. You need those uninterrupted blocks of time to think through solutions or figure out how you’re going to tackle a problem. You just can’t do that in the four walls of an office space.

19. When you’re faced with a creativity block, what’s your strategy to get innovating?
Get out of your routine with some regularity to keep from getting creatively blocked.

20. What are you learning now?
On the work front, it is video, and how we can make that instantaneously shoppable and thinking of technologies that we haven’t seen yet. On the fun side, it’s how to do a kick serve in tennis

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com. She frequently covers media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.Read more

Tags Business, how to make money, how to manage a business, how to run a business, how to run a company, how to start a business

Open a high-yield savings account

Develop streams of passive income

Store it in retirement accounts

Invest it in the market

Choose credit cards with rewards you’ll actually use

Become a silent partner in a new business

Invest in real estate

Pursue a professional degree or certification

How to make money online.

How to make extra money by finding a part-time job in 2017.

Sell your stuff to make money in 2017.

Make more money at the job you already have.

Interesting ways to make money in 2017.

1. Ask Your Boss for a Raise

2. Give Yourself a Raise

3. Refer Other Employees to Your Company

4. Switch to an Online Bank Account

5. Earn Cash Back

6. Help Your Investments Make More

7. Participate in Focus Groups

8. Take Online Surveys

9. Do Market Research

10. Test Websites

11. Be a Human Guinea Pig

12. Sell Your Clutter

13. Resell Thrift Store Finds Online

14. Turn Used Books Into Cash

15. Sell Used Electronics

16. Cash In on Unwanted Gift Cards

17. Fix Stuff and Sell It

18. Create Online Content

19. Start a Blog

20. Manage Social Media for Others

21. Profit From Your Photoshop Skills

22. Make Money From Your Love of Gaming

23. Get Paid to Research

24. Be a Tutor

25. Be a Courier

26. Be a Peer-to-Peer Delivery Driver

27. Drive for Lyft or Uber

28. Assist Others Virtually

29. Care for Pets

30. Be a Babysitter

31. Be a House Sitter

32. Rent Out Your House … or a Room

33. Lease a Parking Space

34. Rent Out Your Car

35. Rent Your Belongings

36. Sell Crafts

37. Provide Lawn Care

38. Be a Mystery Shopper

39. Make an Extra $5 — or More — on Fiverr

40. Share a Skill Online

41. Teach Lessons

42. Do Chores

43. Be a Brand Ambassador or Event Marketer

44. Serve as an Online Juror

45. Be a Tour Guide

More from GOBankingRates:

Building wealth is a matter of working consistently and managing what money you do have well. A little luck is a big help.

1. Pay down high interest debt.

2. Spend less than you make.

3. Build a savings cushion.

4. Become an owner.

1. They use coupons.

2. They live below their means.

3. They are charitable.

4. They value quality over quantity.

5. They don’t carry wads of cash.

Whether you want to pay off your credit card debt or save money for your dream vacation, we could all use a little extra cash.

Make extra cash at your current job

1. Volunteer for overtime

2. Refer new employees

3. Customer referral

4. Do a job no one else wants

5. Use the suggestion box

Cash in on your skills or hobbies

6. Launch a blog

7. eBook publishing

8. Coaching or consulting