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Tuesday, February 19, 2008

~Consider These Options For Making Money~


TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THESE IDEAS,
BE CREATIVE, POSITIVE AND RESOURCEFUL!
  1. PROVIDE A SERVICE: Virtual secretaries(work at home) are in demand and a necessity for businesses that are operating on a shoestring. Consider installing one or two land line phones enabling you to provide an answering service to trades people, such as electricians, plumbers, lawn maintenance etc. Look in the Yellow Pages for business's listed by owners name only. A clue they probably do not have an office. Prepare a very professional flyer with your business name, services offered(you can include paperwork, billing) whatever you are capable of. Be honest about that. Have a salary in mind that includes your expenses, be prepared to negotiate though. AND most important, when you have made a decision on a client(s), get everything in writing, signed and notarized.
  2. SELL ON CONSIGNMENT: A golden opportunity to finally get rid of those items you no longer wear, if ever and be paid at the same time. Look carefully through your gently worn clothes making sure they are clean, with no tears; button and zippers working, and remember jewelry too and bring to a reputable consignment shop. Be patient, it takes time but it's worth a little bit of your time.
  3. YARD AND GARAGE SALES: The absolute primer on making money, a must to try and is almost always successful. It is work, preparation is the hardest step but without taking the time to do the prep work, you will end up disappointed with a small turnout and profits. PLEASE READ MY SEPARATE POST ON GARAGE SALES IN ARCHIVES.
  4. PERFORM HOUSEHOLD SERVICES: You can earn some money informally by letting friends, family, church members and others in your community know that you are available to clean their houses or apartments. If you have a knack and stamina for cleaning quickly and thorougly, you can turn this into a regular, reliable way to earn extra money.
  5. HAVE A BAKE SALE: Do you have a particular recipe for a delish cookie or coffee treat? how about tasty breakfast burritos? Why not bring your items once a week to your job and sell them to co-workers and other business people in the vicinity? Wrap them in colorful plasticwrap, put them on a big serving platter or tray with the price visible on a card. That way there is no mistaking them for free. You may find that people start to anticipate your arrival with homemade goodies. The possibilities are endless here, we all know Martha started small with samples:)
  6. SELL HOMEGROWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES: You don't have to have a farm to produce delicious, organic produce.(I have a friend who grows them on her patio in pots). By presenting your goods in an appealing way(save the plastic or cardboard produce containers from the grocery store and tie them with a distinctive ribbon or desktop printed label, you give them niche appeal, selling them much the same way as baked items, listed above.
  7. DO GARDENING SERVICES: Mowing lawns is a perennial summer job for kids. If you have a mower, encourage your children to launch a business--or do it yourself. In addition you can also weed or haul gardening rubbish to the dump(often garbage services won't remove it.)
  8. DOG WALK AND PET SIT: Owners are always looking for reliable pet-care services. Plus if you stay home with your kids during the day, a regular dog-walking gig is a great way to get everyone out of the house for some fresh air and earn extra money. Print up a flyer to leave at pounds, the ASPCA and local veterinarians. Be prepared to provide references from anyone you have ever sat for before. Remember these pets are much loved by their owners. You have a responsibility to provide them with a safe and caring person, that's you. Only consider this job if you are an animal lover and dependable.
  9. BABYSIT: To provide regular childcare in your home, you'll often need to be accredited and registered with the state. But occasional babysitting in your home or someone else's is more straightforward. You might already babysit for friends for free, but by reaching out in your community you can find parents whom you would feel comfortable charging a reasonable fee--such as those belonging to common churches, PTA's or playgroups. Depending on your schedule, you can position yourself as a last-minute resource, a Saturday sitter while Mom does errands, date-night sitter and so on.
  10. RENT OUT GARAGE SPACE: This option has been a very successful one based on feedback. How many of you park your cars in the driveway because your garage is cluttered? (Hint: have that overdue Garage Sale) and advertise for the garage rental at the same time). Make sure you have several well placed notices about the rental and you can sometimes use small circulars that offer free ad space. Insist on references though, be specific about what you will allow stored and have it in writing, signed and notarized. Be sure to include that the owner provides you with a photo i.d. and don't forget those references.

All the above are sure ways to follow the dollars into your wallet.

Monday, February 18, 2008

~15 Ideas For Saving Money On Gas~


No surprise to find out that the U.S. topped out at an average of $3.00 a gallon as April ended, news from the Energy Information Agency, which tracks fuel costs across the country. With no appreciable drop in these prices in the near future, I have some excellent tips to get the most out of each gallon you buy and follow your dollars back into your wallet.


CAR MAINTENANCE:



  1. Keep the tires inflated properly. This one is simple and a potential lifesaver. Underinflated tires waste fuel and wear out the tire tread. Also, check tires regularly for alignment and balance.

  2. A well tuned engine burns less gas. Get regular tune-ups and follow through with routine maintenance. The right parts and fresh oil keep your engine running happy and less thirsty for gas.

  3. Get the junk out of the trunk. A weighed-down car uses more fuel. For every 250 pounds your engine hauls, the car loses about one mile per gallon in fuel economy. Carry only the basic emergency equipment and items you really need.

GAS SHOPPING:



  1. Buy the lowest grade (octane) of gasoline that is appropriate for your car. Check your owner's manual for this information. As long as your engine doesn't ping or knock, the fuel you're using is fine. You can save hundreds of dollars a year.

  2. Pay cash at stations that charge extra for credit cards.

  3. Don't top off the gas tank. Too much gas will just slosh or seep out. Why waste those precious pennies?

DRIVING:



  1. Drive intelligently; don't make fast starts or sudden stops. You're just overexerting your engine and burning extra fuel. Gradual acceleration also helps automatic transmissions run better. Engine-revving wastes fuel, too.

  2. Lighten up on the accelerator. The faster you drive, the more gas you use. Speed limits have gone up around most of the nation, but you don't have to see your fuel consumption increase by two miles per gallon when you do.

  3. Avoid long warmups. Even on cold winter mornings, your car doesn't need more than a minute to get ready to go. Anything more and you are just burning up that expensive fuel.

  4. Combine errands into one trip and plan your trips for the most efficient route. You'll save yourself time and money.

  5. Do not rest your left foot on the brake. The slightest pressure could cause a drag that will demand additional gas use--and wear out the brakes sooner.

OTHER GOOD HABITS:



  1. Tighten up that gas cap. Make sure it's on securely. Buy a new one if your current cap doesn't fit snugly. Gas easily evaporates from the tank if it has an escape.

  2. Buy a fuel-efficient car. When buying cars factor in long-term fuel costs. Keep in mind that sunroofs add to wind resistance, lowering the mileage per gallon.

  3. Be smart with the air conditioning. On the highway, closed windows decrease the wind resistance, so run the air conditioner. But in stop and go traffic, shutting off the air conditioning and opening the windows can lighten your fuel use. Air conditioning can lower your fuel economy by 10-20% percent.

  4. Remove snow tires in good weather. Deep tread and big tires use more fuel.