The internet is jam packed full of articles that promise easy ways to make money. Every site has a plan that they claim is the absolute best that is out there. Once you end up reading several sights, reality says that the majority of the easy ways to make money most likely are a complete waste of time. In fact, some of the "too good to be true" ideas actually require spending money in order to earn money.
I've actually fallen for some of these so-called "easy ways to make money" schemes. Fortunately, I can say that I've never been so naïve to actually invest much of my hard-earned money, but I've wasted about $50 total. My personal favorite though, was the attempt to take online surveys. Sure, it works if you sit glued to your computer 24 hours a day. Most of the surveys that were sent my way were already filled by the time I'd get to it, and many of them gave me preliminary questions to determine if I was even eligible to take the survey! I barely qualified for any of them. The worst part is that I never saw a single cent. I gave that up within two months.
Mystery shopping was suggested as one of the best "easy ways to make money" that I found. I figured it would be enjoyable and somewhat challenging. I spent $30 to register for a ton of sites that hire secret shoppers. Out of the seemingly millions of sites I registered at, only a few offered me local shops. I know I live in a more rural area, but we have malls and major department stores. Yet, I was only being offered small, low paying assignments. I'm still getting offers for assignments but nothing even remotely appealing has popped out at me.
If you're looking for guaranteed easy ways to make money, look around your house and itemize your own personal interests. If you're looking for ways to make fast money, think simple. Organize a garage sale, get rid of some things on ebay, offer to sell things for friends and family. If you're crafty and able to sell some of your creations, it may be a wonderful way to bring in some extra cash. Try to cash in on some of your hobbies and interests.
Just be warned, most of those guaranteed easy ways to make money are a complete waste of time. There are sites that have done their research and uncovered some scams that you should check into. It seems like every day I see a new magazine with articles on easy ways to make money. They almost always say the same things. There are always new schemes and scams formulating as well. If you're willing to waste a little bit of money, you can find some interesting and easy ways to make money. However, if you need to make money quickly, skip the tiny investments and glance around your house. If you do decide to sign up for one of those guaranteed easy ways to make money, don't invest too much of your own money, and exercise some caution.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Importance Of Managing Your Money
One of the biggest challenges adults encounter is learning about money. No matter how much money you may have, you still have to worry about managing your money so that you can save for retirement, college for your children, and any other desire you may have. The good news is that you don’t have to do this on your own. There are many qualified professionals that are trained specifically to help you with managing your money, and making the most of your income, no matter how little or how much you make.
For smaller amounts of money, you may be able to manage your bills and expenses on your own. If you are bad with figures, and tend to forget to pay bills, there are software programs made specifically to help with managing your money. These will often alert you when bills are due, and keep a running tab of your expenses. You can get a clear picture of your financial position this way.
For larger sums of money, you need to be a whiz at budgeting and money management to get the most bang for your buck. If this isn’t your strong suit, then you need help. You can find this help as close as your local bank. You can also find investment firms and consultants in your community that will assess your needs, and help you make the best decisions for managing your money. They may wisely guide you towards investing in stocks and bonds. The stock market can be a tricky place, but if you have someone smart and experienced helping you with managing your money, it’s a good gamble.
If dealing directly with the stock market isn’t for you, there are other ways you can go about managing your money so you have a good nest egg when you retire. You can use a 401k. Most employers help you set this up, and some will match what you contribute each week or each month. An investment company invests this money for you. You can choose high-risk stocks, or go for the safer, lower yielding stocks and bonds. You can also earn interest on your money by putting them in money market accounts at your bank. This is a great way to go about managing your money for retirement or education with little to no risk. These accounts are like savings accounts, but they require a minimum balance. The interest rates on money market accounts are higher than your average savings or checking account.
No matter how you go about managing your money, the important thing is that you look at all your options and make the best decision for you and your family. If you want to save for college, or for your dream vacation, let your advisor know what you want and when you want it. They can then spell out your options for you.
For smaller amounts of money, you may be able to manage your bills and expenses on your own. If you are bad with figures, and tend to forget to pay bills, there are software programs made specifically to help with managing your money. These will often alert you when bills are due, and keep a running tab of your expenses. You can get a clear picture of your financial position this way.
For larger sums of money, you need to be a whiz at budgeting and money management to get the most bang for your buck. If this isn’t your strong suit, then you need help. You can find this help as close as your local bank. You can also find investment firms and consultants in your community that will assess your needs, and help you make the best decisions for managing your money. They may wisely guide you towards investing in stocks and bonds. The stock market can be a tricky place, but if you have someone smart and experienced helping you with managing your money, it’s a good gamble.
If dealing directly with the stock market isn’t for you, there are other ways you can go about managing your money so you have a good nest egg when you retire. You can use a 401k. Most employers help you set this up, and some will match what you contribute each week or each month. An investment company invests this money for you. You can choose high-risk stocks, or go for the safer, lower yielding stocks and bonds. You can also earn interest on your money by putting them in money market accounts at your bank. This is a great way to go about managing your money for retirement or education with little to no risk. These accounts are like savings accounts, but they require a minimum balance. The interest rates on money market accounts are higher than your average savings or checking account.
No matter how you go about managing your money, the important thing is that you look at all your options and make the best decision for you and your family. If you want to save for college, or for your dream vacation, let your advisor know what you want and when you want it. They can then spell out your options for you.
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