The past few years have been difficult for many Americans. Jobs have been lost, the future is up in the air, and unexpected changes are all around. The one great outcome of hard times is that we tend to reevaluate what is important and take steps toward creating the life that we want. Of course, having plenty of cash can make big changes easier to accomplish, but being broke is no excuse for complacency. Even if you are struggling financially, make 2011 the year that you take back control and make some big moves in the right direction. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Design and Plan.
Take a good look at every area of your life – work, health, hobbies, family, whatever – and create a picture of how you’d like your future to be. Think big, as if there are no obstacles to getting what you want. Talk your ideas over with your spouse and close friends and family, but avoid the naysayers and negative nellies – you don’t need to hear all the reasons it can’t work right now! Once you have decided who, how, and where you want to be, develop step-by-step plans for getting from here to there. The more detailed the plan, the better, and be sure it includes steps that can be implemented immediately. Organize your plans so that you are doing something every day that moves you in the right direction.
Make the tough decisions.
The odds are that the exercise of connecting where you are now to where you want to be is going to reveal some serious obstacles. Whether those obstacles are financial (debt, income limits), personal (relationship issues, lack of support), or career-related (hate your job, lack of control), you are likely going to have to make some tough decisions to affect real change in your life. Those decisions might include bankruptcy or moving or taking bigger risks than you normally would, but they must be made to get to the life you want. Be honest with yourself about what needs to be done, then make the decision and go after it. Most of these things are like pulling off a bandaid – if you jump right in it will only hurt for a little while.
Do good.
One of the best things you can do to put your own life in perspective is to help out those less fortunate than you. Whatever your situation, there is always someone who is worse off and could use your help. Volunteer through a local nonprofit or church and spend a few hours each week doing good. Not only will you feel better about your own life, you will be helping out those who really need it as well. And, if you skip the movies and volunteer instead, you can save up your entertainment budget to put towards the parts of your redesigned life plan that require cash!
Knock off the To-do List.
Most of us have a ridiculously …
Before trying to make online money, consider a couple things. If you know a fair amount, you’ll be able to make money easily. These guidelines can help you do things properly.
Watch out for scams. Though lots of opportunities for income are out there, you need to be wary of disreputable ones. Read reviews of jobs you are willing to do prior to starting it.
Do you enjoy writing? You might want to look at any website that allows you to post articles and share revenue. Two great ones are InfoBarrel and Squidoo. Both of theses sites let you write on your favorite topics, and you get a split of the incoming revenue. Also, the opportunities from tie ins through Amazon’s affiliate program provide even more income.
Consider surveys as an option. There are many out there. Doing surveys is one way to earn a bit of extra cash or incentives online. You may not make a lot from any individual survey. They are fairly easy and the money adds up quickly.
Stand ready to prove your identity before you get to take advantage of making money online. You will have to provide valid identification at many online moneymaking sites. The process will be much simpler if you’re prepared with your ID.
You can earn money tutoring others. E-teaching, in particular, is becoming more and more popular. If you are knowledgeable in certain areas, it’s possible you could tutor on such sites as TutorVista or SmartThinking. This can open other doors if you are successful.
Perform a Google search to locate money-making opportunities. There you will find lengthy lists of different options. When you come across a company that is of interest to you, make sure to check out the reviews with regard to the organization. Be cautious about who you decide to work for, however.
Use your time well. There are tasks you can do to earn extra change that are super easy. Especially small tasks on websites like Mechanical Turk (mturk.com). Try doing these while watching television. Although you may not make a lot of money from these tasks, they add up while you are watching television.
Think about the worth of your time before working. When you work, what is an hour of your time worth? Remember, if you work for a little, you’ll set a price precedent for your work. People will know you don’t value yourself well, and they will give you that kind of payment.
Don’t depend on all of your income from just one source. You never know when one stream will dry up and you’ll need to count on another. What work you enjoy today can disappear overnight. Diversify so that you are acquiring income from a variety of sources. You will have other income sources if another starts slowing down.
After reading this article, hopefully you know how you can begin making money on the Internet. It takes effort and hard work, but it can help you make you some serious …