Money & Finances

Mystery Shopping: Can You Really Make Money As A Mystery Shopper?

I had a friend who did mystery shopping for a living. 

It seems every week she was visiting and "grading" a different place.  She got to check out hotel rooms.  She had free restaurant meals.  She also got to purchase a few cool things and she was reimbursed for them.

Over the years, I have tried mystery shopping a few times. My hope was that I would have the kind of success with mystery shopping as it seemed my friend enjoyed. 

Here's how mystery shopping went for me, plus some tips for making money as a mystery shopper...

Continue reading: Mystery Shopping: How To Be A Mystery Shopper

Online Job Search: How To Find A Job Online

The first place that many people go when looking for a job is online, and rightly so.  

Old job hunting rules tell you to pound the pavement as if your job search is a full-time job.  But with the convenience of the Internet, you can cover a lot more ground online.  

Still, finding a job online is a fulltime job in itself.  

Here are the best tips gathered from career experts regarding how to find a job online...

Continue reading: How To Find A Job Online

How To Get Rid Of Your Cable Box Or Satellite Dish And Watch TV On Your Computer: 7 Fun Freebies!

Did you know that you can get some of the exact same channels that you watch on cable and satellite television right on your computer?

Well...you can!

If you're paying $90 or more a month to have cable or satellite television then you're paying too much.

There is a wealth of television available online that is easy to access and watch if you know where to look.

That is the biggest thing: knowing where to find what you're looking for. Because believe me, as much good stuff as there is available online, there is just as much junk.

Whatever you do, do not buy one of those software packages that "gives you satellite TV on your computer." Nearly all of them are a scam, and you can actually get the same software for free! Yup, that's right for FREE, and I'll tell you how to do that.

Here are 7 free programs that enable you to watch TV and movies on your computer...

Continue reading: Watch TV & Movies Online For FREE!

Outside-The-Box Career Idea: Be A Hot Dog Vendor

Hot dogs are a simple food that requires very little in the way of preparation, is modest in cost, and is as American as apple pie.

Every ball park, county fair, and football stadium sells them. With a large captive customer base, serious money changes hands during these and many similar events.
 

Fun facts about hot dogs sold at baseball stadiums.

Here in Duluth Minnesota, there is a long-established hot dog vendor business selling under the name "The Original Coney Island." The largest portion of their business is generated from the sale of coney dogs, dressed with coney sauce, mustard and onions.

Many years back, I often picked up "5 coney dogs with everything" for lunch at a cost of about $2.50 it was an economical meal that came guaranteed with heartburn to carry me through the rest of the day.

Today, I'm more likely to order just two, but the tab will come to $3.50, indicating a healthy profit on a very small investment for the modern hot dog vendor.
 

Read one man's story about selling hot dogs through the recession.

Continue reading: Career Idea: Hot Dog Vendor

Forever Stamp Dilemmas: Does It Make Sense To Buy Forever Stamps For First-Class Postage?

Forever stamps are U.S. postage stamps that have no price printed on them.

The value of a Forever Stamp is whatever it costs at the moment to send a letter first class, regardless of when you bought that Forever Stamp.

Thus, a Forever Stamp never declines in value. In fact, it actually increases in value as the cost of postage increases. It's kind of like "rent control for stamps". 

Good News & Bad News

The bad news...

There's another postage rate hike around the corner: May 11, 2009!

The Governors of the U.S. Postal Service have approved new prices for mailing services, including a 2-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail stamp to 44 cents. Prices for mailing services are reviewed annually and adjusted each May. The new prices will go into effect Monday, May 11. -- Postal News Blog

The good news...

If you already have some Forever Stamps on hand, they will be worth more on May 11th when the newest postage rate hike goes into effect. Yep, the value of a Forever Stamp automatically increases from 42-cents apiece to 44-cents apiece -- the new first-class postage rate.

If you haven't already invested in a good supply of Forever Stamps, you might want to now... before the rate hike takes place!

Customers can continue to mail letters at today’s prices by purchasing the Forever Stamp before May 11. Forever Stamps were developed to help consumers ease the transition during price changes. Forever Stamps do not have a denomination and will be honored whenever they are used with no need for additional postage for a one-ounce letter mailing. On May 11 the price of the Forever Stamp will be 44 cents. -- Postal News Blog 

Continue reading: Forever Stamp Pros & Cons

How To Start A Food Catering Truck Business

Looking for a fun way to pick up the slack and increase the paycheck during these tough economic times? Why not try a simple service business, such as driving a food catering truck?

My first exposure to the tasty delights that can be found on a catering truck was on a military base overseas. Every noon hour, the chow wagon (affectionately referred to as the "roach coach") rolled onto the tarmac in front of the hanger where our two C-123B cargo planes where based.

This was almost 40 years ago and I can still recall the taste of their Asian fried chicken lying on top of a bed of fried rice -- all packaged up in a neat little box that served as both a delivery container and serving bowl.

Over the years, I've worked at many different locations that were faithfully serviced by a shiny chrome truck bringing snacks, quick meals, and often local specialty dishes that you just couldn't get anywhere else. One thing that all worksites have in common is hungry workers. No matter if it's a construction site, a sales lot, or even a multi-story office building -- wherever more then a dozen people are employed, a catering truck of some sort is likely to include those locations on their daily route.

Catering trucks that service job sites throughout the work day usually come in 2 styles:

• The lunch truck -- a stainless steel catering unit, mounted on a pickup truck cab and chassis. The vendor stands alongside and the truck's sides open like wings to display the products. Usually, one side of the truck is the cold side with the display case filled with ice, and sandwiches, cold drinks, fruit, and anything else that requires refrigeration would be located on that side. The other side of the truck would likely be equipped with a large coffee urn, and warming oven to keep heated items ready to serve.
   
• The catering truck -- a full service stand-up rolling kitchen. Usually this type of catering truck is manned by 2-3 people. One may work the crowd outside collecting money and passing orders to those inside who are doing the cooking and packaging. This is where burgers, fries, breakfast specials, and other specialty items are cooked to order on the spot.

Continue reading: Food Catering Truck Business

New Legislation Affects The Sale Of Handmade Items Online Plus Kids Toys & Clothing At Thrift Stores

While many retail giants have fallen by the wayside, it is no secret that thrift stores have flourished in these tough economic times. 

However, many thrift store owners are worrying that the new legislation that regulates lead content in clothing and toys could very well drive them out of business as well.

Thrift stores already are civilly liable if someone is injured by a product. But under the new law, selling any product containing lead becomes a criminal offense, making it virtually impossible to obtain insurance coverage and exposing resale businesses to unnecessary risks.  -- Salt Lake Tribune

Here's how the new lead laws will affect you as a thrift store shopper (or owner), or if you're a crafter who makes handmade items and sells them on places like eBay and Etsy...

Continue reading: New Lead Laws Affect Thrift Store Sales

Ponzi Scheme Warning Signs You Should Look For

No one who invests money expects to be caught in a Ponzi scheme.  After all, Ponzi schemes are illegal!

Still, many investors are now finding themselves at a loss because they were duped by investments that appeared to be legitimate.  

Here are some basic tips and warning signs, so you won't be taken advantage of or caught up in a Ponzi scheme...

Continue reading: Ponzi Schemes And How To Avoid Them

11 Tips For Surviving A Furlough Or Layoff

In an effort to save jobs and keep companies running, more and more companies are asking employees to take a temporary leave of absence.

Temporarily lay-offs (or furloughs) can range from the employee taking a few days off each month without pay to the company closing down for a short period of time. Furloughs are implemented as a cost savings measure for the company.

While many jobs are saved, a furlough can still create hardships for families -- especially when finances are already stretched.

Here are some tips for surviving furloughs or being laid off...

Continue reading: 11 Tips For Surviving A Layoff

Survival Tips For Single Parents Below The Living Wage

If you are a single parent living below the living wage, you are not alone.

Those who make below a living wage "make insufficient income to live locally given the local cost of living," according to Poverty in America.

Use this living wage calculator to determine if you fit into this group. You can also see which professions you should aim for in order to rise above the living wage for your state.

Of course, the long-term plan for most below the living wage is to work toward raising one's wage and to make it to a point where you are no longer struggling. Meanwhile, you must still survive day-to-day life while working towards that goal.

That's where things become difficult...

Continue reading: Single Parents Below The Living Wage