If you are looking to supplement your current income or get your foot in the door to more substantial work, Craigslist is a great source for finding a job that could lead to something bigger.  When you click on the Part Time section of Craigslist Jobs, the first thing you’ll notice is that the vast majority of jobs are real.  Not some get rich quick scheme, but bonafide part time jobs that can earn you some extra income.

Jobs range all over the place from skilled professionals to simple, easy to do jobs that anyone can apply for.  This also could potentially bring you the possibility of a more permanent and substantial paying job either through promotion, or simply providing you with more work experience to put on your Resume.

To check out what jobs are available in your local area, visit Craigslist, find your state, click on it and choose the nearest town you live in.  You might be very surprised with what you find and bring in the ability to earn some extra dough.

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Yes, it’s true, people can earn extra income from sampling merchandise, inquiring about products, demonstrating products and assisting with the organizing of name brand products.

Keep in mind that the money is not significant at first, but can grow as you earn a good reputation for completing your assignments on time and in a professional fashion.

Being a Mystery Shopper is perfect for those who love to go to stores and dining establishments.  In fact most of the assignments will revolve around these two venues.

There is also the added benefit of sometimes being able to get name brand merchandise for free.  As an example, my wife as a Secret Shopper took an assignment in demonstrating Keurig’s new Coffee Machine in a local Macy’s Store.  She was paid for doing the demonstrations and was also allowed to keep the machine and all the leftover sample coffee’s from the demo’s.  We had free coffee for almost a year!

To learn more about how the program works, you can visit Mystery Shoppers to learn more.

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Nielsen Company

In addition to the bonuses that you’ll receive from Nielsen Ratings, you’ll also receive recognition as one of their select panel members.  The reason why that is so special is because your personal opinions on consumer products will not only represent millions of Americans, but you will also be influencing some of the worlds largest retailers and product manufacturers.  How often do we get a chance at doing that?

Instead of being a restaurant critic, you get the opportunity to be a product rating critic. You don’t have to possess any special skills except an opinion on what you feel are the best products on the market today.  Nielsen will send you a special electronic device for you to record the choices you make with the products you personally buy.

If you’d like to become a member of Nielsen Ratings Homescan family, I’ve provided a banner link below to check it out.  Just click on the banner and you’ll be taken to their application page.  I hope this gets you a lot of great goodies and some recognition!!!

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One such individual is the One Pot Chef who has a video series of budget cooking shows on Youtube.  He also included a top 10 money saving tips for saving money at home.  He includes such tips as:

1.)  How to get your bread for less

2.)  How to recycle packaging

3.) How to save on electricity

4.) How to save with a list (not what you’re thinking)

These are just some of the ideas and I though you might enjoy picking up some worthwhile ideas for saving extra money.

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1.)  Existing balances - Card Issuers will not be able to change the rate on your existing balances unless you are 60 days delinquent in your account.

2.) Payments - If you make more than the minimum payment on your credit card, the payment applies first to the balance that holds the highest interest rate on your card.  (For example if you took a cash advance at a higher rate than the rest of your purchases were set at, your higher than minimum payment would apply to the higher interest rate charge on your outstanding balance not only towards the lower rate that credit card companies get away with currently)

3.)  Teaser Rates - Credit Card Issuers cannot raise rates for the first year after you opened your account.  All promotional rates must last for at least 6 months.

4.)  Bills - Credit Card companies must give you your credit card bill 21 days before the due date.

5.)  Over Limit Fees - Credit Card companies cannot charge you over the limit fees on your cards unless you have actually signed up to allow such type of transactions.

6.)  Minors - If you are under 21 years of age, a credit card company must also obtain the signature of a parent or responsible adult who agrees to take responsibility for the debt unless the credit card company is given proof that the under 21 recipient can actually repay the credit charges.

7.)  Change of Terms - If a Credit Card company changes the terms of their cardholder terms they must give you a 45 day advance notice.

8.) Payment Option Fees - Credit Card companies cannot charge you fees to make your payment by mail, phone, bank transfer, or online payment except if it is an expediated service.

9.) Gift Cards - Any gift cards that are purchased must be available for use for a minimum of 5 years from the time of purchase of said card.

Likely the Credit Card companies will respond by charging higher merchant fees and take away levels of rewards in the case of reward cards that offer frequent flyer mileage and other rewards.  Banks love to make money and it is sure to take the changes out on the consumer and merchants.

Now more than ever is a time to review which companies truly have the best credit programs available.  It will also encourage a new round of consumers looking for the right credit card to use.  One way to make money off of this new trend is by setting up a Credit Card Broker business.  Click on the banner below and learn more.

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I suppose some consumers don’t want to go through the hassle of finding legitimate survey sites so they opt to pay into one of these services to get a list of companies that will pay them for taking the time to fill in questionaires and other such demographic studies.

The purpose of this post is to save you your hard earned money and give you legitimate survey companies that will pay you for your opinion.  The first is a company called Clearvoice Surveys.  Clearvoice has you fill out a questionaire form to determine what demographic you fall in.  When corporations hire them, they look for people who have signed up with them that fit that demographic and pay them to answer questions that help corporations determine whether or not a service or product should be brought to market or how they can improve on an existing product or service.

Keep in mind that you can’t expect to make a fortune off of survey sites as some websites would have you believe.  However you might be able to make enough to make your car payment, or put money away for a vacation or savings.  I’ll post other legitimate survey companies as I investigate them.  For now Clearvoice Surveys is a legitimate survey company that pays you for your time.

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With more and more people losing their jobs, with money getting tighter and expenses at every turn, is going back to college the answer?  Americans are one of the few developed nations that leave those wanting to go to college to foot their own bill.

It never ceases to amaze me in my world travels how even poorer nations, oftentimes have government programs that assist their citizens with the financial cost of going to college. 

With our economy upside down and things looking like they won’t turn around soon, how sound is the idea that going to college is going to provide you with a more financially secure life?

I admit after graduating High School, I chose not to go to college.  Instead I purchased a business and began running it.  I later made the jump into Office Management with nothing more than the computer and accounting skills I learned in High School. 

From there I migrated to Real Estate.  One thing that has always been ironic is learning that I have made more money than most of my fellow High School graduates who went on to college.

I’ve found that real work experience has provided me with more door openings than a college degree would have.  Evidently I’m not the only one who thinks it might have been the best choice.  20/20 recently did an in depth study on whether or not it makes sense to go to College. (see video below)

To sum up its recommendation, if you are a top honor student, you may want to consider a full blown college degree.  If not, you may very well be wasting your money and have been better off to start in an entry level job in the field your interested in or take some specific training via a trade school or community college that will give you the skills you need to get your foot into the door of the field you are interested in.

College is a huge expense by anyone’s standards and since we live in a time where America is rethinking what is truly important…the whole college thing might be something to reconsider as well.

One last things I’ll throw out there, it never ceases to amaze me how many college graduates end up in a career that had nothing to do with what they majored in, in college.  What do you think?

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Here are two ideas for earning extra money.  The first is being a ‘Convenience Mover.’  People buy furniture, appliances and other larger items that require a truck to move.  Many families don’t have access to a truck.  Why not earn some extra money being a ‘Convenience Mover.’  Place a low cost ad in your local papers classifieds, and/or a free ad in www.Craigslist.com and www.Backpage.com under Labor/Moving categories.  If you charge reasonable rates for the moving, you should be able to earn extra money for sure.  Be sure to pass out some homemade business cards (you can use free templates at www.avery.com) to the people and businesses you are picking the items up from, to get the word out on your little side business.

The second way you could earn extra money would be Dog Walking and Pet Sitting.  Let’s face it, Americans love their precious pets…even when they’re not so precious.  People can’t always take their kitty with them when they travel.  Why not advertise in the same sources mentioned above as a Pet sitter.  Depending on the needs of the Pet, you might stay in the home where the pet is located, or if you’re personal home is set up for it, you could watch the pet at your place. 

In addition, lots of people know that Fido should be walked but don’t quite get around to it.  By advertising your services as a ‘Dog Walker’ you could be putting some extra money in your wallet.  Copy some inexpensive flyers and pass it around in neighborhoods that you live nearby for even easier convenience.  Don’t forget to chat up the neighbors in the neighborhood you’re walking or sitting pets and have some homemade business cards ready to give out.  Neighbors are more likely to trust people who are working for their neighbors in the same neighborhood.

Sometimes the easiest money we can make is doing the simplest tasks.

Technorati Tags: Convenience Mover, Dog Walking, Part time jobs, Side Jobs

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