Category: Income and Career

Improve your sources of income to help balance your budget and increase your savings.

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Can You Ever Really Beat the System?

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Boy, there’s a real question for the ages, isn‘t it? It seems that a lot of us find ourselves scratching our heads frequently trying to figure out “how to beat the system” and no matter how hard we try, we just can’t ever seem to do it. As we sometimes say, the emphasis is on “we” because when you really think about it, some people actually do seem to beat the system and usually that doesn’t seem to include us. Is that time well spent?

Some of us ask if we can ever really beat the system and get ahead, but I've found a different approach to be successful. Here are my recommendations.

It certainly ruins most of your day when you sit and moan about how you “just can’t win” or you don’t have any luck. When you do that, you are probably dooming yourself to even more failures and future frustrations. Wouldn’t your time be better spent on trying to learn and educate yourself more every day so you have a better chance to succeed in your job or hell, everything in life! Trying to learn more and improve yourself will always improve your chances to beat the system. Continue reading

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Your Opinions for Money – Are Paid Online Surveys Worth It?

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If you are looking for ways to make extra money (and aren’t we all?) then here’s an idea to give a try: paid online surveys. If you are anything like me, you have strong opinions and you spout them off at just about any opportunity that comes along. That might explain why I am not invited to a lot of parties? Hmm, that makes me think. But I just can’t help but throwing my two cents in whenever the situation arises. Having said that, you can throw your two cents in and it can actually result in you getting some cash thrown right back at you!

If you like to give your opinions, you can get money by completing paid online surveys. But before you get started, there are some important things to know. Here's what beginners should realize before they dive in.

 

Online opinion and survey sites have become a really popular way for some folks to cash in doing some pretty easy, mindless things in their spare time. The number of websites willing to pay you is growing every month. So, as Smash Mouth’s 1999 hit song says, “you’re an all star….get paid”. Continue reading

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10 Essential Qualities You Need to Land a Great Job

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As of right now, employment numbers are showing that the U.S. is approaching what is referred to as “full employment”. In fact, at around 4.0% unemployment we are approaching a 17-year low in the number of unemployed Americans. Of course there are some who challenge that assessment saying that there are large numbers of “under-employed” or those who have simply stopped looking for work ever since the recession of 2008 wreaked havoc on our economy. Some of that is true, no doubt.

The job market is expanding and now is the time to accelerate your career. Here are 10 job skills and traits that will help you land the position you want.

But, there is also a trend that is showing that salaries are starting to rise. Minimum wages are being raised and hiring for expansion in many industries is underway by the thousands. That means opportunities for workers are expanding. Continue reading

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21 Really Weird and Wacky Ways to Earn Extra Money

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Please note this post contains affiliate links which help to fund this blog at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

Have you ever had your hands clinging to a pair of inside-out turned pockets, and exclaimed, “There’s got to be something I can do to make some extra bucks?” We recently talked about “weird and wacky” ways to save money. But today it’s all about “weird and wacky” ways to earn extra money!

Almost all of us could use some extra money, but taking on a second job isn't very appealing. Here are 21 really weird and wacky ways to earn extra money that will help spark your imagination and get your cash flow moving.

Believe it or not, there are so many ways you can boost your income that it is almost unlimited. The problem is that many ideas simply sound just too weird or wacky to ever be taken seriously. Having done just a little exploring, I’ve found 21 ideas that might just be crazy enough to work. Yes, 21 weird and wacky ways out of literally dozens and dozens you can try to earn some extra money right now! Continue reading

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Today’s Mail Brought Me an Unexpected Financial Windfall!

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Today started like any ordinary day around here. Had my breakfast, watched a little CNN, checked out my emails, and played a bit of free online slots. It was a typical Monday morning here in exciting retirement land. Yeah, real exciting, huh? Well, nothing like a financial windfall to add a little pizzazz to your day!

I am thrilled to receive an unexpected financial windfall, but I should have known it was coming. Make sure you know what your retirement situation will be.

I am a creature of habit these days and although there are a few surprises here and there that do happen, what happened today was totally unexpected! I am still pinching myself and I am overwhelmed. Today’s mail brought an amazing letter from one of my former employers, R.H. Macy. Continue reading

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How Financial Success Can Make You Forget Frugality

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Generally speaking, I have always thought myself to be very frugal and smart with my money. It’s a lesson I learned as a kid from my mother who was really good at stretching a dollar and more than that, she understood that extravagance just wasn’t a virtue. My parents provided a pretty good life for me as a child, and I was never all about having the biggest or best of everything anyway. I often saw that others were demanding that kind of thing. Being practical and even “frugal” was fine with me all through my formative years.

Your relationship with frugality can change over time and financial circumstances. If you've drifted away from frugality, here's how to get it back.

But something happened, a blip along the way. That’s something I’d like to share with you.

My financial successes led to erosion of my frugality! Continue reading

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How Smartphone Apps Can Earn You Extra Cash!

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Please note this post contains affiliate links which help to fund this blog at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

If you are anything like me, you are always on the hunt to find some new ways to earn some extra cash. It might be a side hustle like selling at the flea market (which by the way is one of the most popular posts I have ever written) or it might be working a second job, part-time. There’s even the weird idea of writing a blog to make some money, albeit not quite as easy as it says it is on paper (or actually in cyberspace). In any event, if I were to ask you the question, “Do you want to make some extra money”, 99% of you would most likely answer a resounding “YES”! (I hear you!!)

Most of us are attached to our smartphones, but have you considered using smartphone apps to earn money? Here are 5 apps that can help you make some cash.

The many reasons we love that extra cash

So you want to start earning some extra income? You are not alone, my friend. Maybe you want to save up toward a weekend getaway with your significant other or need to generate extra cash to supplement some lost income. Are you desperately trying to save for a new car? Continue reading

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Can You Make Money Playing with Dogs? YES!

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If you love dogs and are looking for a way to earn extra money, read all about it here in today’s guest post, sponsored by Rover.com. Enjoy!

Love dogs? Get paid playing with them—there’s nothing else like it. The benefits of becoming a dog walker or sitter make it hard to say no, and it’s so simple to get started. Join Rover.com to be matched with hundreds of pet owners in your community looking for dog care. Whether you want to earn extra cash or are ready for a career change, here’s the essential questions to consider:

There are lots of great side hustles to make some extra money, but one of the most enjoyable ones out there is playing with dogs.

What kind of playtime are you ready for?

Choose the type of dog care you want to offer. Perhaps you’ve got evenings and weekends free for dog walking or maybe you’re available day time only for doggie day care. You have the option to provide drop-in visits, dog walking, doggie day care, house sitting at the pet owner’s home, or boarding dogs in your own home. Depending on your comfort level and interest, you decide what you’re available to provide. Continue reading

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Why Senior Citizens Want to Stay in the Workplace

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Most people think of a “senior” or a retired person as someone who sits around in the back yard snoozing on and off or perhaps hitting the golf course for a round with his retired friends. After all, most retirees have spent decades rising and shining every day and working there as$$es off to provide for themselves and their families and deserve some time to relax and have some fun in their “golden years”. And in most cases, they really do deserve a chance to just hang out and not carry the weight on their shoulders they have had for most of their lives.

Senior citizen jobs are becoming more important & prevalent as retirees go back to work. Here's some of the reasons why they want to stay in the workplace.

But a not-so-funny thing has happened to many older people these days. Many of them have found out that sitting around in retirement isn’t all that it was cracked up to be. There are a lot of reasons for that, so today’s post is something I can write about firsthand and with absolute certainty: why senior citizens want to stay in the workplace. Continue reading

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How to Maximize Your Social Security Benefits

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I don’t care who you are or how old you may be, you have thought about Social Security from time to time. It may be because you are wondering if there will even be such a thing when you retire. Perhaps you are approaching your retirement years and are wondering exactly what you will be getting every month once you start to draw upon it. Whatever the reason that Social Security has crossed your mind, the time for thinking about it isn’t when you are turning 66 or 67. Figuring out how to maximize your Social Security benefits starts long before that.

If you want to know how to maximize your Social Security benefits, start thinking about it now! Here are 12 ways to increase your benefits.

In fact, the time to think about your Social Security benefits is always now. Here’s why. There are a dozen factors that determine what you will get as your monthly payment when the day finally arrives for you to collect. Many of those items are things you do when you are young, middle aged, and then finally retired and each of those things will affect the amount you receive. Don’t believe me? Here are 12 ways you can increase you Social Security payouts when you retire by simply following these behaviors along the way starting right now! Continue reading