Since the internet became a pandemic both in the U.S. and around the world, one of the main objectives of just about anyone on the web has been to try and earn some money from using it. As simple as that may sound, making it work is not all that easy. Last year one industry was said to have had over 13 billion dollars – yup, billion, as in bailout’s – both spent and earned in it.
This is the world of affiliate marketing. For those of you that have been on Mars for a bit, affiliate programs are where you join a program, some free – most not, which provides you either with a digital or material product that you then sell on to other individuals or groups for a profit. That’s it. Basically when you’re an affiliate you become a salesperson for that organization. For the amount of money involved, I’m sure we can all understand why these programs are so attractive for product producers, as it takes the lion’s share of sales, production and distribution costs away from the companies themselves and into the hands of ordinary Joe Plumber’s in the street. Lots can be said to knock these affiliate programs, and yet I know (personally) people who have made fortunes with them. It’s definitely not something for everyone, but if you have a large group of contacts (like MySpace, bebo etc.) socially and you don’t mind being seen to be working in sales, this could be a great way for you to make some extra cash. The main things to remember with affiliate programs are that they ARE out to sell you on the product. There’s definitely no free lunch when it comes to these programs, but again, if you’re willing to work at it you will see the rewards – probably not for a couple of months, but it will happen.
Main things to be aware of and to avoid with affiliate programs are those that promise to do it all for you. “We supply your leads” “You never have to speak to anyone” “ We do all the selling for you”. Lines like these scream DANGER to me, because if they do it all for me, what the frak do they need me for? As a tax write off when I fail or what? Other than that, there really are some excellent programs out there that do work – look for digital e-books that you can download and set up to sell automatically on online markets such as Amazon and eBay. Make sure you have an address for the company and like any investment, try and get to speak to someone who’s done this already, so you can quiz them on results, timeframe to make money, etc..
Most importantly, have some fun! It can be.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
How to save money in a recession without turning blue!
We're all having to tighten the financial belt these days. Incomes aren't exactly increasing, while costs continue to rise. Learning how to save money is not a magic trick, it's simply a matter of self discipline and a realistic and complete budget. Let's see how any one can learn how to save money, even in difficult times.
Begin by making a budget which covers all of your fixed expenses, such as food, clothing, utilities and shelter. Once you've covered the essentials, make entries for non-essential expenses, such as manicures, salon visits, a gym membership or the like. Look your budget over to see if your figures are realistic when compared with both your income, actual practice and personal priorities. Learning how to save money regularly all comes to discipline and priorities.
Let's say you've budgeted $30 a month for entertainment. You go to the movies once a month, rent three movies a week and go out to lunch once a week? These few entertainment occasions can easily eat through that $30 budget in a week and a half. Remember when you were a kid, receiving allowance? That $5 bill looked great, but quickly disappeared in a few sodas and a fast food meal. The point is, that money is much more quickly spent than earned! With your example entertainment budget, don't fool yourself. If these items are a priority for you, allocate the money and don't go over your budget. On the other hand, learning how to save money involves making decisions on which non-essentials are important versus those you could really do without.
For example, if you subscribe to satellite or cable services, but it's really a big hit on your monthly bills, consider alternative ways to have your home entertainment at a lesser price. With a fast DSL line, you kill two birds with one stone. Net surfing is fast and you can watch movies 'on-demand' from one of the online movie rental sites, for a lot less money. Figuring out how to save money requires some 'outside the box' thinking, too.
Once you've covered essentials and luxuries, include a realistic savings amount just as you would any fixed expense. Have a goal for the specific purpose of that savings account. Next year's vacation? Retirement? College fund? Holiday gifts? Emergency stash? Make separate savings accounts for different objectives, if you wish. When you're starting to learn how to save money, this strategy prevents any 'cheating'.
How to save money on groceries? Shop the sales and plan all of your menus around the sale foods. Shop canned good outlet stores and dollar type stores.
Around the house? Check your weatherstripping for leaks, change filters on heaters and air conditioners and turn the thermostat down a few degrees in winter. Reduce the temperature on your water heater by 5-10 degrees.
Simple measures, like remembering to turn off lights and taking public transportation 2-3 times a week instead of driving, all add up to significant savings in a year's time. If you've got young kids, you know how fast they grow out of clothes. For items like jeans, tee-shirts and every day wear, shopping thrift shops and garage sales can save you hundreds of dollars a year. It doesn't matter to the kids – until they're of a certain age – how much you paid for the jeans and tees. In both cases, they will still get spaghetti sauce and grass stains.
Treat your savings account like your phone bill. (It must be paid!) Once you learn how to save money, you'll see how quickly and painlessly it mounts up. Just $10 a week can pay for a great ski vacation next year!
Begin by making a budget which covers all of your fixed expenses, such as food, clothing, utilities and shelter. Once you've covered the essentials, make entries for non-essential expenses, such as manicures, salon visits, a gym membership or the like. Look your budget over to see if your figures are realistic when compared with both your income, actual practice and personal priorities. Learning how to save money regularly all comes to discipline and priorities.
Let's say you've budgeted $30 a month for entertainment. You go to the movies once a month, rent three movies a week and go out to lunch once a week? These few entertainment occasions can easily eat through that $30 budget in a week and a half. Remember when you were a kid, receiving allowance? That $5 bill looked great, but quickly disappeared in a few sodas and a fast food meal. The point is, that money is much more quickly spent than earned! With your example entertainment budget, don't fool yourself. If these items are a priority for you, allocate the money and don't go over your budget. On the other hand, learning how to save money involves making decisions on which non-essentials are important versus those you could really do without.
For example, if you subscribe to satellite or cable services, but it's really a big hit on your monthly bills, consider alternative ways to have your home entertainment at a lesser price. With a fast DSL line, you kill two birds with one stone. Net surfing is fast and you can watch movies 'on-demand' from one of the online movie rental sites, for a lot less money. Figuring out how to save money requires some 'outside the box' thinking, too.
Once you've covered essentials and luxuries, include a realistic savings amount just as you would any fixed expense. Have a goal for the specific purpose of that savings account. Next year's vacation? Retirement? College fund? Holiday gifts? Emergency stash? Make separate savings accounts for different objectives, if you wish. When you're starting to learn how to save money, this strategy prevents any 'cheating'.
How to save money on groceries? Shop the sales and plan all of your menus around the sale foods. Shop canned good outlet stores and dollar type stores.
Around the house? Check your weatherstripping for leaks, change filters on heaters and air conditioners and turn the thermostat down a few degrees in winter. Reduce the temperature on your water heater by 5-10 degrees.
Simple measures, like remembering to turn off lights and taking public transportation 2-3 times a week instead of driving, all add up to significant savings in a year's time. If you've got young kids, you know how fast they grow out of clothes. For items like jeans, tee-shirts and every day wear, shopping thrift shops and garage sales can save you hundreds of dollars a year. It doesn't matter to the kids – until they're of a certain age – how much you paid for the jeans and tees. In both cases, they will still get spaghetti sauce and grass stains.
Treat your savings account like your phone bill. (It must be paid!) Once you learn how to save money, you'll see how quickly and painlessly it mounts up. Just $10 a week can pay for a great ski vacation next year!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Legitimate Ways to Earn Money Now
Like most people, I've been strapped for cash recently as I try to outlast this recession. My hours at work have been reduced drastically, leaving me to try to make ends meet on lower take-home pay. I'm already draining my savings account to pay my monthly bills, so I need to find legitimate ways to earn money now. I've tried applying for a part-time job at fast food chains and stores like Wal-Mart and Target, but they get so many inquiries these days that they pretty much told me not to count on an interview. That means my only choice is to check online.
After spending a few days researching ways to earn money now, I think I've got a handle on how it's done. There are a variety of options, but I'm going to focus on the easiest ones for the time being since I'm not really looking for long-term results here. I just want something that will help tide me over until hours at my regular job pick back up.
Anyway, one of the most popular ways to earn money now is by selling items on eBay. To do this, all I need is a free eBay account (which I already have), and some stuff to sell. It can be anything from DVDs that I no longer watch, used books, jewelry, clothes, CDs, or whatever else I think people will buy. This could be a good way to earn money now -- and clear out some of the clutter in my house at the same time!
Another terrific way to earn money now is by taking paid online surveys. This used to be a time-consuming pursuit, but in recent years, a couple of good websites have sprung up to make the process a lot easier. These sites aggregate all the paid survey offers in one central location and serve as an intermediary for payouts. So instead of getting tons of checks for tiny amounts like $3 or $4, I can keep taking surveys until I accumulate $15 or $25 before requesting a check.
And finally, creating a website or blog can also help me earn money now. I can start a website or blog on just about any topic that suits my fancy, such as sports, knitting, stamp collecting, or photography. I can even start a fan page for my favorite celebrity or simply recount the daily happenings in my life. The topic really doesn't matter. Once I get my website or blog up and running, I can then place Google AdSense on the site to make cash whenever a visitor clicks the ads. Or, I can sign up with a paid blogging service and generate extra income by promoting various businesses and services.
I'm encouraged by all these easy ways to earn money now. I can start doing all of these things immediately without spending much up front, and should see results relatively quickly. I doubt that any of the activities I've talked about would be able to sustain my lifestyle without the help of a "real" job, but they should work as short-term aids.
After spending a few days researching ways to earn money now, I think I've got a handle on how it's done. There are a variety of options, but I'm going to focus on the easiest ones for the time being since I'm not really looking for long-term results here. I just want something that will help tide me over until hours at my regular job pick back up.
Anyway, one of the most popular ways to earn money now is by selling items on eBay. To do this, all I need is a free eBay account (which I already have), and some stuff to sell. It can be anything from DVDs that I no longer watch, used books, jewelry, clothes, CDs, or whatever else I think people will buy. This could be a good way to earn money now -- and clear out some of the clutter in my house at the same time!
Another terrific way to earn money now is by taking paid online surveys. This used to be a time-consuming pursuit, but in recent years, a couple of good websites have sprung up to make the process a lot easier. These sites aggregate all the paid survey offers in one central location and serve as an intermediary for payouts. So instead of getting tons of checks for tiny amounts like $3 or $4, I can keep taking surveys until I accumulate $15 or $25 before requesting a check.
And finally, creating a website or blog can also help me earn money now. I can start a website or blog on just about any topic that suits my fancy, such as sports, knitting, stamp collecting, or photography. I can even start a fan page for my favorite celebrity or simply recount the daily happenings in my life. The topic really doesn't matter. Once I get my website or blog up and running, I can then place Google AdSense on the site to make cash whenever a visitor clicks the ads. Or, I can sign up with a paid blogging service and generate extra income by promoting various businesses and services.
I'm encouraged by all these easy ways to earn money now. I can start doing all of these things immediately without spending much up front, and should see results relatively quickly. I doubt that any of the activities I've talked about would be able to sustain my lifestyle without the help of a "real" job, but they should work as short-term aids.
Keep your spirit and cheer up with a positive thought for the day, every day!
We’ve all met those grumpy souls, people who always seem to the worst of a situation. In this life, you’ve got to be able to laugh once in a while, even if only at the sometimes seeming absurdities that fall everyone’s way. You need to cultivate a positive outlook on life. Otherwise, you end up like the grumpy guy. A grouch that’s no fun!
Just like your Mama probably told you, no matter how terrible things seem to be, there’s always someone who’s worse off. Therefore, you always automatically have a positive thought for the day! The real question is, do you take advantage of the fact, to the betterment of you and those around you?
If you tend towards the Eeyore outlook, take a few minutes and search out some of the many websites which have a positive thought for the day, all picked out and waiting for you to gather and give a little thought to throughout the day. Some sites will actually send a positive thought for the day right to your email, with no effort on your part other than signing up for it and then reading it. What could be easier?
So let’s say your email produced a positive thought for the day you’ve already contemplated? What, are there no others left? You just put on your thinking cap. Within a minute or two, something should come to mind. Sometimes, the simplest of positive thoughts can be thought provoking indeed. For example, you may have purchased a bag of the most heavenly coffee from a sustainable source. So what’s so great about that, says Mr. or Ms. Grouch?
You’ve spread a little good in the whole scheme of things. Less rainforest is being destroyed and that coffee grower in a undoubtedly poor region of the world is better able to feed his family. Such a simple positive thought for the day can increase your awareness, spur you on to more positive acts and strengthen your compassion. You have a tasty cup of Joe, too.
True, some days are better than others. So much so, that there are days when you’ve really got to reach for that positive thought for the day. If you’re really fresh out of positive thoughts, go for a joke of the day. Maybe the joke of the day will make you laugh. Perhaps you recall the, how many morons does it take to screw in a light bulb, joke. Three. One to hold the light bulb and two to turn the ladder. “Wow, I’m glad I’m not that guy!” See? At least you can screw in a light bulb! A positive thought. They’re everywhere.
Just like your Mama probably told you, no matter how terrible things seem to be, there’s always someone who’s worse off. Therefore, you always automatically have a positive thought for the day! The real question is, do you take advantage of the fact, to the betterment of you and those around you?
If you tend towards the Eeyore outlook, take a few minutes and search out some of the many websites which have a positive thought for the day, all picked out and waiting for you to gather and give a little thought to throughout the day. Some sites will actually send a positive thought for the day right to your email, with no effort on your part other than signing up for it and then reading it. What could be easier?
So let’s say your email produced a positive thought for the day you’ve already contemplated? What, are there no others left? You just put on your thinking cap. Within a minute or two, something should come to mind. Sometimes, the simplest of positive thoughts can be thought provoking indeed. For example, you may have purchased a bag of the most heavenly coffee from a sustainable source. So what’s so great about that, says Mr. or Ms. Grouch?
You’ve spread a little good in the whole scheme of things. Less rainforest is being destroyed and that coffee grower in a undoubtedly poor region of the world is better able to feed his family. Such a simple positive thought for the day can increase your awareness, spur you on to more positive acts and strengthen your compassion. You have a tasty cup of Joe, too.
True, some days are better than others. So much so, that there are days when you’ve really got to reach for that positive thought for the day. If you’re really fresh out of positive thoughts, go for a joke of the day. Maybe the joke of the day will make you laugh. Perhaps you recall the, how many morons does it take to screw in a light bulb, joke. Three. One to hold the light bulb and two to turn the ladder. “Wow, I’m glad I’m not that guy!” See? At least you can screw in a light bulb! A positive thought. They’re everywhere.
Smart Goals
One of the biggest difficulties that many people run into in their adult life is setting smart goals. Goal setting is much more difficult than it should be, it seems. Many of us take setting goals for granted, but the way we think about our projects makes a profound difference on what we accomplished and what we do not. If you always set pie in the sky marks for yourself and get used to failing, you will never get there. If, on the other hand, you set goals that challenge you, but that are not beyond your abilities, you will set up a habit of succeeding each and every day. It is up to you. A smart goal is a goal you can reach.
For me, setting smart goals is all about organizing my life. I like to start everything in the morning, and I like to have everything well set out before I start. Every day, I set up a daily calendar. I schedule what goals I have to achieve that day, which ones I have to work on, and which ones I have to plan out for the future. Some of them are rather easy – for example, organizing a spreadsheet, doing the billing, or finishing the wash. Other ones, however, are more difficult. By combining easy goals that I can finish and more difficult projects, I am able to provide myself with reinforcement and then work my way towards my most important goals. Positive reinforcement, after all, is what it is all about.
Just because I set smart goals doesn't mean that I don't get to challenge myself. It does mean, however, that I don't lie to myself about what I am going to accomplish. You can set up smart goals that are indefinite such as “get in shape,” but you have to go back and divide them up into manageable pieces. If not, you can always deceive yourself about whether or not you have accomplished your goal. In my experience, people are either too hard on themselves are too easy on themselves when they do not define their goals correctly. Either way is a mistake. Only through setting goals which are concrete enough that you will know when you are done can you succeed in living your dreams. It is possible to do what you thought was beyond you, but it takes a lot of time and hard work. In order to finish a great project, you need to break it down into small pieces.
For me, setting smart goals is all about organizing my life. I like to start everything in the morning, and I like to have everything well set out before I start. Every day, I set up a daily calendar. I schedule what goals I have to achieve that day, which ones I have to work on, and which ones I have to plan out for the future. Some of them are rather easy – for example, organizing a spreadsheet, doing the billing, or finishing the wash. Other ones, however, are more difficult. By combining easy goals that I can finish and more difficult projects, I am able to provide myself with reinforcement and then work my way towards my most important goals. Positive reinforcement, after all, is what it is all about.
Just because I set smart goals doesn't mean that I don't get to challenge myself. It does mean, however, that I don't lie to myself about what I am going to accomplish. You can set up smart goals that are indefinite such as “get in shape,” but you have to go back and divide them up into manageable pieces. If not, you can always deceive yourself about whether or not you have accomplished your goal. In my experience, people are either too hard on themselves are too easy on themselves when they do not define their goals correctly. Either way is a mistake. Only through setting goals which are concrete enough that you will know when you are done can you succeed in living your dreams. It is possible to do what you thought was beyond you, but it takes a lot of time and hard work. In order to finish a great project, you need to break it down into small pieces.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The few simple but essential principles of your steps to success
Woody Allen famously remarked that 90% of success was showing up. Perhaps Woody's adage is remembered for its simplicity and inherent truth. When you wish to attain a goal, your biggest obstacle is to begin. How many times have you thought about that hall closet which needs cleaning and sorting? Is it done? If not, it's only because you never started. A hall closet may entail a couple of hours work to make it all neat and tidy again. Although this may seem so simple that it doesn't warrant a mention, most failed projects are due to the lack of a beginning.
Your mother probably told you many times as you were growing up, "Just keep plugging along and you'll finish the job." Here is the second of the few, simple, steps to success. Consistency and persistence pay off. No matter how large the project seems, all that's required is that you break the project down into its separate parts, in a step-by-step outline. Begin at the beginning and keep on going. It's similar to mowing a large lawn. You may tire in the middle of the task, thinking, "I'll never get this done!" Just take a break and get back to work. Don't give up in midstream!
The third rule of your steps to success requires that you plan your steps and prioritize your tasks. If you're putting in a vegetable garden, you don't want to purchase your plants in a burst of gardening enthusiasm, only to realize your plot needs tilling and composting. Your lovely plants will wilt and die by the time the ground is prepared.
Learning to delegate is an essential in your steps to success program. Let's use the garden example. You did buy your plants too early. However, you've got a couple of teenagers not getting their quotient of fresh air and exercise. Put them to work! You can put the plants in the garage out of direct light and keep them moist until the ground is worked and ready.
If your project is large, such as painting the house or cleaning out a cluttered, two-car garage, allot a certain amount of time on your calendar each day to the exclusive pursuit of that task. It's best to make the time of day consistent, which helps assure you'll follow through.
You can see that the basic steps to success in any project are really quite simple. Take that first step, be persistent and consistent, plan ahead and organize your work. Then it's a matter of putting one foot in front of the other until you're done!
Your mother probably told you many times as you were growing up, "Just keep plugging along and you'll finish the job." Here is the second of the few, simple, steps to success. Consistency and persistence pay off. No matter how large the project seems, all that's required is that you break the project down into its separate parts, in a step-by-step outline. Begin at the beginning and keep on going. It's similar to mowing a large lawn. You may tire in the middle of the task, thinking, "I'll never get this done!" Just take a break and get back to work. Don't give up in midstream!
The third rule of your steps to success requires that you plan your steps and prioritize your tasks. If you're putting in a vegetable garden, you don't want to purchase your plants in a burst of gardening enthusiasm, only to realize your plot needs tilling and composting. Your lovely plants will wilt and die by the time the ground is prepared.
Learning to delegate is an essential in your steps to success program. Let's use the garden example. You did buy your plants too early. However, you've got a couple of teenagers not getting their quotient of fresh air and exercise. Put them to work! You can put the plants in the garage out of direct light and keep them moist until the ground is worked and ready.
If your project is large, such as painting the house or cleaning out a cluttered, two-car garage, allot a certain amount of time on your calendar each day to the exclusive pursuit of that task. It's best to make the time of day consistent, which helps assure you'll follow through.
You can see that the basic steps to success in any project are really quite simple. Take that first step, be persistent and consistent, plan ahead and organize your work. Then it's a matter of putting one foot in front of the other until you're done!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Legitimate Ways to Earn Money Now
Like most people, I've been strapped for cash recently as I try to outlast this recession. My hours at work have been reduced drastically, leaving me to try to make ends meet on lower take-home pay. I'm already draining my savings account to pay my monthly bills, so I need to find legitimate ways to earn money now. I've tried applying for a part-time job at fast food chains and stores like Wal-Mart and Target, but they get so many inquiries these days that they pretty much told me not to count on an interview. That means my only choice is to check online.
After spending a few days researching ways to earn money now, I think I've got a handle on how it's done. There are a variety of options, but I'm going to focus on the easiest ones for the time being since I'm not really looking for long-term results here. I just want something that will help tide me over until hours at my regular job pick back up.
Anyway, one of the most popular ways to earn money now is by selling items on eBay. To do this, all I need is a free eBay account (which I already have), and some stuff to sell. It can be anything from DVDs that I no longer watch, used books, jewelry, clothes, CDs, or whatever else I think people will buy. This could be a good way to earn money now -- and clear out some of the clutter in my house at the same time!
Another terrific way to earn money now is by taking paid online surveys. This used to be a time-consuming pursuit, but in recent years, a couple of good websites have sprung up to make the process a lot easier. These sites aggregate all the paid survey offers in one central location and serve as an intermediary for payouts. So instead of getting tons of checks for tiny amounts like $3 or $4, I can keep taking surveys until I accumulate $15 or $25 before requesting a check.
And finally, creating a website or blog can also help me earn money now. I can start a website or blog on just about any topic that suits my fancy, such as sports, knitting, stamp collecting, or photography. I can even start a fan page for my favorite celebrity or simply recount the daily happenings in my life. The topic really doesn't matter. Once I get my website or blog up and running, I can then place Google AdSense on the site to make cash whenever a visitor clicks the ads. Or, I can sign up with a paid blogging service and generate extra income by promoting various businesses and services.
I'm encouraged by all these easy ways to earn money now. I can start doing all of these things immediately without spending much up front, and should see results relatively quickly. I doubt that any of the activities I've talked about would be able to sustain my lifestyle without the help of a "real" job, but they should work as short-term aids.
After spending a few days researching ways to earn money now, I think I've got a handle on how it's done. There are a variety of options, but I'm going to focus on the easiest ones for the time being since I'm not really looking for long-term results here. I just want something that will help tide me over until hours at my regular job pick back up.
Anyway, one of the most popular ways to earn money now is by selling items on eBay. To do this, all I need is a free eBay account (which I already have), and some stuff to sell. It can be anything from DVDs that I no longer watch, used books, jewelry, clothes, CDs, or whatever else I think people will buy. This could be a good way to earn money now -- and clear out some of the clutter in my house at the same time!
Another terrific way to earn money now is by taking paid online surveys. This used to be a time-consuming pursuit, but in recent years, a couple of good websites have sprung up to make the process a lot easier. These sites aggregate all the paid survey offers in one central location and serve as an intermediary for payouts. So instead of getting tons of checks for tiny amounts like $3 or $4, I can keep taking surveys until I accumulate $15 or $25 before requesting a check.
And finally, creating a website or blog can also help me earn money now. I can start a website or blog on just about any topic that suits my fancy, such as sports, knitting, stamp collecting, or photography. I can even start a fan page for my favorite celebrity or simply recount the daily happenings in my life. The topic really doesn't matter. Once I get my website or blog up and running, I can then place Google AdSense on the site to make cash whenever a visitor clicks the ads. Or, I can sign up with a paid blogging service and generate extra income by promoting various businesses and services.
I'm encouraged by all these easy ways to earn money now. I can start doing all of these things immediately without spending much up front, and should see results relatively quickly. I doubt that any of the activities I've talked about would be able to sustain my lifestyle without the help of a "real" job, but they should work as short-term aids.
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