Because of the current economic climate, it's easy to think that there is no way to add to your wealth without getting a full or part-time job outside of your home. But, believe it or not, there are still some relatively easy ways for you and your family to earn extra cash in these difficult times, and many of them you can do from the comfort of your own home.
Sell your wares online. Do you like to make jewelry or sew? Do you paint or do crafts in your free time? There are plenty of online stores, like etsy.com, where you can sell your homemade products. All you need is a valid email address to join. If you are a photographer, in addition to selling your photos on Etsy, there are stock photography websites that will buy your photos. Try fotalia.com, dreamstime.com, shutterstock.com, and bigstockphoto.com.
Pick up extra hours. If you do have a job outside of your home, find out if your company has any overtime or part-time positions that you could pick up after hours or even do from home. If you work shifts, make sure to let your co-workers know that you are interested in picking up extra hours and would be willing to sub for them.
Offer your services to local businesses. If you enjoy bookbinding, go to local stationary stores or boutiques and see if they will sell your products in their store. If you sew or quilt, make yourself known to local fabric and quilting stores as someone willing to do custom jobs from home or at the store. If you're really a master with a sewing machine, you can make prom dresses, wedding dresses, or do alterations. If you don't have a special skill, offer cleaning services.
Reap profits from your garden. You can plant seeds in the winter and transplant the seedlings into individual pea pots when they are several inches tall, or just sell some of your harvested produce at your local farmer's market in the spring, summer, and fall.
Use eBay and Craigslist. Find old furniture and belongings that you no longer need or use and, before you give them away, identify what you can sell online. Make sure you to include a picture of your product and an honest description of its wear and tear.
Become a mystery shopper. Why not get paid to go to the mall or out to eat? Volition.com has a database of legitimate mystery shopping companies, as reported by actual mystery shoppers. Look through their database and make a list of companies that you would like to work for and then apply. It's as simple as that.
Become a substitute teacher. You can earn up to $250 substituting, depending on your area. Check local schools'requirements for substitutes, and remember to look at private schools. Indeed.com is a good database that lists positions and requirements for substitute teachers all over the U.S.
Tutor or teach music lessons. If you are really good at math or English or have a particular musical talent, you can earn money. Advertise where parents are likely to look: at schools, the library, at grocery stores, and in the newspaper.
Offer genealogical services. Lots of people are interested in doing their family history—in and out of the Church—but just don't have the time to do it. With tutoring and databases readily available, use your resources and help someone discover their family's story.
Teach a language. Put your mission tongue to use; many people need to learn foreign languages for a variety of reasons, and many prefer to do it conversationally than learning by bits and pieces. If you don't know a foreign language, advertise English assistance in your local newspaper. Plenty of foreigners want to improve their English as well.
Become a census taker for the 2010 Census. The U.S. government needs thousands of people to help them update address lists and conduct interviews with people in your community. While most positions require a valid driver's license and use of a vehicle, you will be reimbursed for authorized mileage and other related expenses. Just call 1.866.861.2010 or visit the website at census.gov/2010censusjobs/howtoapply.php for more information.
Get paid to take surveys. Sign up with a paid survey site and complete a member profile. The site will send you an e-mail any time they have a survey that matches your profile. Legitimate survey sites do not require a fee, so make sure that they don't charge you to join the database. Once you have completed the survey (expect to spend about fifteen to twenty minutes per survey), you will be compensated with cash, points that can be redeemed for prizes, sweepstakes entries, or, in some instances, new products to try. Reputable sites include pineconeresearch.com, panelbase.net (a UK company), and americanconsumeropinion.com (rated very well, although they provide fewer opportunities).
Go through this list of suggestions and see what works for your lifestyle. (Be sure to check out the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act currently under consideration before marketing children's products.)
If you try something and it doesn't work, try something else and see what happens. There are countless opportunities to make money, if you are only willing to put forth some extra effort.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Clues for Quick Cash
Vote for Dinner!
With the presidential elections just around the corner, here is a great way to teach your kids about the democratic process while creating a meal that everyone can enjoy.
Dinners got out of control a while back. I thought with all the Tupperware around, I could easily let everyone pick their own vegetable, side dish, or fruit, or just save the rest for later in the week. My reasoning was that if everyone had what they wanted, at least they would eat it.
But the requests started coming in for separate main dishes. I justified potatoes, pasta, and even grilled chicken as separate or combinable entrees and sides, using up even more space in the fridge with the leftovers.I was working harder than necessary, the food bill was going up, and we were actually wasting more leftovers than we were using. And the kids were getting used to having their way a little too much.
Then on evening while my husband and I were discussing the heated presidential primaries, the kids said they wanted to vote, too. We explained they'd have to wait a few more years, and noting their disappointment, I tried to think of another way they could participate in a voting experience.
The next day when I was cleaning out another ten Tupperware containers, the light bulb came on, and I instantly knew what the kids could vote on. Dinner would no longer be made-to-order for everyone. Instead, each family member would nominate a "candidate" for each part of the meal--entree, side dish, vegetable, fruit, drink, and dessert. Each of the four kids got to pick one item for each category.
I printed off ballots with pictures next to each item (for the two younger kids), and each child made one poster for one of their chosen items and spent the next three days campaigning for that item. The night before the elections, each child privately filled out a ballot and slipped it in a taped-up shoe box with a slit on top.
The next day I surprised them with the results at dinner and we talked about what everyone had voted for. The kids realized that if one person had voted another way, dinner would have been a little different.
We had this activity again, on the "American Idol" finale night, and we plant to have an extra special dinner vote on the night of November 4 to coincide with the presidential elections.
My Great Idea: The Money Jar
At first I blamed my eyesight when images on our computer monitor seemed fuzzy. However, when my kids and husband complained about the blurriness, I knew that the problem was our years-old monitor. Our computer was used heavily on a daily basis for work, study, and relaxation. My exasperated impulse was to grab the charge card and order a new monitor online.
Then I paused. I considered our financial balancing act with past medical bills, kids in college, two broken cars, and a son's mission only a few months away. I visualized the debt-logged credit card bill, precariously near its limit. I heard the voices of church leaders repeatedly admonishing us to get out of debt. Yet, a new monitor wasn't a frivolous item; it would benefit our family in practical ways. I felt so trapped--the cycle of debt seemed endless.
Suddenly I remembered a phrase from a book I was reading, "Every household, no matter the circumstances wastes a certain amount of money each and every month, and that is the money you will use to get out of debt." (_Debt-free on Any Income_, by Lyle and Tracy Shamo, Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, 2004, p. 27)
My heart lightened as I thought, "How much wasted money would it take to buy a new computer monitor?"
I excitedly told the family my great idea: We would put a jar on the kitchen table and everyone could contribute spare change or a few dollars towards a new computer monitor. To actually save up to buy something was, unfortunately, a new concept in our home.
We covered a jar with plain paper. We attached a photo from an advertisement of the type of computer monitor we were saving for, including its price. We wrote the starting date on the jar's paper cover. The project was begun by dropping in coins found in the clothes dryer, and change snatched from the car's cup holder.
At dinner we would all try to guess how much was in the jar. That was a great weekly reminder of our goal, and it was fun to see whose guess was the closest. The new money amount would be written on the outside of the jar, so it was easy to track our progress. As the jar filled, its contents were taken to the bank and changed into cash, which was hidden to remove the temptation to use it.
My habits were altered as I refrained from impulse buying at the store, thinking of the new monitor, and I found myself purposely rounding up payments at the checkout so I could stuff the extra money into the jar. My husband regularly emptied his pocket change into the jar.
Two and a half months went by; a new school year was approaching. To my surprise, I saw that in all the back-to-school store ads that computer monitors were on sale! We actually had enough money in our jar to afford one at the current sale price. Coins were changed into bills, and we literally paid cash for our new flat-screen monitor.
Today, our old, glass jar is on the table sporting a new paper wrapper, heavy with cash towards our next goal. Thanks to a blurry computer monitor our family now has a clearer vision of what financial independence looks like.
Family Etiquette Dinner
Plan a nice, sit-down dinner for your family and make sure everyone participates in the preparation; include rolls, salad, appetizers, a main course, and dessert. Set the table with nice plates, glasses, and silverware if you have them (food dishes are set to the left of a setting; glasses to the right), and instruct your children in common eating etiquette. Some things may seem basic, but remember: your kids probably don't know them! Some habits include:
Unfold (don't shake) your napkin when you sit down, and use it for wiping your mouth and fingers (licking is only acceptable when you are eating meat off the bone, as in ribs).
Work from the outside in with your silverware; the shorter forks are for salads and appetizers, the longer for the main dish. Utensils shouldn't touch the table after use.
Place butter and a roll on your individual plate. Break off bite-sized pieces of the roll and butter them individually; don't butter the whole roll at one time.
Ask for things to be passed to you if you can't reach; stretching over the table is considered bad etiquette.
If you get a bad bite of something (such as gristle from meat or an undetected garlic clove), put the napkin to your mouth and discreetly spit it into the napkin. Don't forget it's there!
Leaving some food leftover is acceptable, but you shouldn't make your plate look like you licked it clean!
If you have to leave during the meal, place your napkin on your chair to signify you will be returning. When finished with the meal, place the napkin folded on the place setting; put your knife and fork together and set to about 4 o'clock on your plate.
You might think some of these traditions are silly, but at the very least your etiquette night will be a fun, cultural experience your family can enjoy together. Your children can also thank you in the future when they know how to behave in circumstances where etiquette is expected!
21 Things to Do before Summer Ends
Even if money is tight, there are still plenty of ways to have an exciting summer. In fact, the best summer memories are often made up of small, simple pleasures. When the heat's on, don't sweat the big stuff. Take time to sip lemonade, read a good book, and enjoy the beauty of nature. At LDS Living, we've looked, asked, and researched the top twenty-one things to do before summer ends.
1. Take a Hike
Being outdoors is like owning a pet - there's just something healthy about it. It feels great to get back to nature, so while the weather is nice, why not explore some of the wonderful parks, trails, and reserves near your home? Bring a magnifying glass and pair of binoculars for a closer look at insects, birds, and other wildlife.
2. Read a Biography
Books are an easy vacation you can fit under your arm. They are distractions our tired brains love, and there are few things as gripping as a good biography. Many people throughout history have lived lives of achievement and inspiration. So bring a blanket and find some shady trees - they were made for reading good books.
3. Make Real Lemonade
Summer just doesn't seem like summer until you've had a nice cool glass of real lemonade. Try this recipe:
Peel three fat lemons. Cut them into smaller pieces. Drop the pieces into a blender with 1-1/2 cups of sugar and 1-1/2 cups of water. Use the blender to chop until coarse, then strain into a pitcher. Add ice cubes. Adjust as needed.
4. Host a Neighborhood Block Party
Summer is always a season of change, meaning at least one new family will move into the neighborhood. So why not host a potluck block party and give everyone a chance to get to know one another better? You can oftentimes obtain a special permit from your city that allows you to block off the street.
5. Go on a Field Trip
Remember the time you were reading about the art museum that wasn't far from your home? Summer is the perfect time to explore all that your community has to offer. How about visiting an aquarium, aviary, or zoo? Or try your state capitol building.
6. Sleep Outside
Most of us have fallen asleep outdoors a few times in our lives, or at least slept with the window open. Brigham Young once said that summers were meant for sleeping outdoors, and that the fresh air does the mind good. So take a trip back to your school days and enjoy sleeping under the stars.
7. Go to a "Dive-in" Movie
Sometimes you need to take a break from the sticky summer night heat. One great way to spend a summer evening is cooling off while watching a good movie. Many water parks show movies on giant screens while people relax in the pool. Can't find any in your area? Opt for a matinee. A nice cold soda and a dark, cool theater can provide a much-needed break from the hot summer sun.
8. Take a Dip
Studies show that 86 percent of all the swimming you'll do in your life is completed before you're twenty years old. And most of that was done in the summer. Make this the summer of swim. Visit the community pool, or better yet, take a trip to the ocean or a nearby lake. You can do some beachcombing or fishing while you're there!
9. Have a Yard Sale
Yard sales are a great way to get organized and cleaned up before the school year starts. Get your kids involved and let them earn some money. They may not want to give away some of their toys, but they might be interested in selling them. Have a yard sale - and don't forget to sell some of that good lemonade.
10. Eat Homemade Ice Cream at Sunset
Making ice cream is one of the crowning events of any summer - eating it while watching a beautiful sunset makes it even more special. This event needs to be planned and executed as though your summer depends on it. Go all out - get berries, cones, and whipped cream to dress up simpler flavors, which are easier to make and tend to turn out better than complicated flavors. Make it a fun time you'll always remember.
11. Attend a Concert in the Park
Many cities host a series of free concerts during the summer months, often with a wide variety of music from Celtic to bluegrass to classical. So grab a blanket or a lawn chair, pack a picnic, and sit back and enjoy!
12. Go Horseback Riding
Most people don't have the chance to ride horses very often, so saddle up and go on a mini adventure. Even if you're not an experienced rider, there are many businesses that can accommodate beginners. This will be great for kids, too, who tend to enjoy close contact with animals.
13. Visit an Amusement Park
If horseback riding isn't your style, you can always opt for a horse on carousel. Most amusement parks have something for everyone to enjoy. Even if you'd rather not take a spin on the roller coaster, there is sure to be dancing, singing, or some kind of entertainment for you to enjoy.
14. Attend a Festival
During the summer months, festivals are everywhere. So grab the kids and spend the day learning about the food, crafts, history, music, and dance of another culture. From Greek to Scottish to Polynesian, you're sure to find a great cultural event to attend. Check your local paper for dates and details.
15. Shop at a Farmers' Market
Local farmers' markets are overflowing with fresh, delicious fruits and vegetables. In summer, you're sure to find perfectly ripened tomatoes, sugar-sweet corn, and delicious watermelon. Go to localharvest.org or farmersmarket.com to find a farmers' market near you.
16. Pick Fresh Fruit
You can also enjoy the bounty of summer by going to the farm yourself to gather juicy strawberries or plump blueberries right from the field. Later in the season, try picking peaches or apples from a local orchard. Check pickyourown.org to see if there is a kid-friendly farm in your area.
17. Clean Up a Park
With the kids out of school, it is often hard to keep them busy with productive, meaningful projects. So grab some gloves, some garbage bags, and a rake and head to your neighborhood park. After you finish cleaning up, let the kids spend some time at the park to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
18. Build a Fort
Kids love to have a special place of their own. Let them drape sheets and blankets over some tables, chairs, and piles of couch cushions for a few days, or round up some scrap lumber and cardboard boxes for the perfect outdoor escape.
19. Attend a State or County Fair
A great event for the whole family, local fairs usually have carnival rides, games, food, entertainment, competitions, crafts, and displays. It's the perfect way to celebrate your local culture.
20. Go Stargazing
Warm summer nights are perfect for stargazing. You can make it as simple as admiring the stars in the night sky, or, with a little planning, you can catch meteor showers, locate constellations, and even find out when other planets will be visible. Find a secluded area near your house that has less light pollution so you can enjoy the full glory of the night sky. Go to stardate.org for lots of tips and a weekly calendar of celestial events.
21. Complete a Triathlon
Races are popular and common in the summer, and the days are long enough to give you ample time to prepare. Find a "sprint" triathlon, a form of triathlon that typically includes shorter, more achievable distances for novice racers. Your whole family can participate in the training, making it a summer of health. It can also bring you closer together as you all work towards a common goal! If you can't race, find out how you can assist with one.
Sharing Time: Sensing God's Creations
This sharing time will involve the children in an activity to help them learn about the beautiful world around them.
Preparation: On ten index cards write a sense word: SMELL, TASTE, TOUCH, HEAR, and SEE (two cards of each word). Place them face down on a table at the front of the room. Post the "sight" pictures somewhere in the room. Gather the other items needed for the sensory activities below.
Be familiar with the scripture Doctrine and Covenants 59:18-20:
Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man.
Presentation: Slowly read the scripture D&C 59:18-20. As you read, touch your eye, put your hand on your heart, mime eating, act out putting on clothes, point to your mouth and nose, and make a strong muscle with your arm (see bolded words).
Tell the children that they are going to discover some of the things God created for them by using their senses. Ask the children to name the senses (help them remember all five senses).
Point out the cards on the front table. Have a child come pick a card. Have them complete one of the sensory activities that matches the word they picked. Repeat until all the cards are used or time is up.
Smell: Blindfold the child and have them sniff as you hold something under their nose. Let them guess what it is. (Suggestions: orange, flower, or peanut butter.)
Taste: Blindfold the child and have them open their mouth and taste the item you give them. Let them guess what it is. (Suggestions: apple slice, popcorn, or chocolate.) You may wish to give each child a small portion of one of the items to taste at the end of the lesson.
Touch: Blindfold the child and have them feel an item that you place in their hands. Let them guess what it is. (Suggestions: cotton ball, pinecone, rock, or feather.)
Hear: Blindfold the child. Show the other children a picture of an animal and have them imitate the sound that animal makes. Let the blindfolded child guess what animal it is. (Suggestions: bird, cow, cat, or sheep.)
Sight: Describe something to the child and let them find a picture of it somewhere in the room. (Suggestions: sun, flowers, fish, or river.)
Bear your testimony that Heavenly Father loves us and created the world with many wonderful things in it for our families to use and enjoy.
Sing songs to reinforce the lesson such as, "My Heavenly Father Loves Me," Children's Songbook 228; "I Think the World is Glorious," CS 230; "Two Little Eyes," CS 268; and "I Have Two Ears," CS 269.
Sharing Time: Family Members in the Scriptures
This sharing time will teach the children about different family members in the scriptures and Church History.
Preparation: Familiarize yourself with the people in this sharing time. If possible, obtain pictures of each of them (Lucy Mack Smith, Mary [the mother of Jesus], Lehi, Alma, Miriam, Mary and Martha, the Brother of Jared, and President Gordon B. Hinckley.)
Presentation: Tell the children that you are thinking of a person in the scriptures or in the history of our church. You are going to give them some clues. When they think they know who it is, they should quietly raise their hand (do not shout out the answer). Continue to give all the clues, then call on someone with their hand up to guess who it is. If they are not correct, ask for other answers. If none of the children know who it is, tell them the answer. If you have a picture, show it to the children.
Option: Cover the picture with a sheet of paper cut into six pieces. Take one piece off with each clue until the picture is fully revealed.
Lucy Mack Smith (see Joseph Smith--History 1:4, and Richard Lloyd Anderson, "The Early Preparation of the Prophet Joseph Smith," Ensign, Dec 2005, 12-17):
1. This person is a mother.
2. She taught her children to read the scriptures.
3. She moved many times. At one time she lived in a log cabin in the state of New York.
4. When one of her sons needed surgery, he asked her to leave the room so she didn't have to see him in pain.
5. Her husband and one of her sons are named Joseph.
6. Her son Joseph became a prophet.
Lehi (see 1 Nephi 1-2, 8, 16):
1. This person is a father.
2. He prayed to Heavenly Father.
3. He had a vision and taught his family the things the Lord wanted them to do.
4. He took his family out of Jerusalem into the wilderness, because the people in the city had become very wicked. They lived in a tent in the wilderness.
5. He found a curious ball that showed him the way to go, it was called the Liahona.
6. One of his sons is named Nephi.
Mary and Martha (see John 11-12, Luke 10):
1. These clues are about two people, they are sisters.
2. They were friends of Jesus, cooked for him, and listened to his words.
3. They had a brother named Lazarus.
4. They sent for Jesus when their brother was very sick, because they had faith and knew Jesus could heal him.
5. They were very sad, because Jesus didn't come in time and their brother died. But after Jesus arrived, He brought Lazarus back to life.
6. One of the sisters anointed Jesus with oil. (Mary)
Brother of Jared (see Ether 1-3):
1. This person is a brother.
2. He was a large and mighty man.
3. He had great faith.
4. He prayed for his family, so the Lord wouldn't confound their languages.
5. He built boats for his family and made stones to light them.
6. He saw the finger of the Lord, then saw the Lord and spoke with Him.
Mary (see Bible Dictionary, page 729):
1. This person is a mother.
2. She had a cousin named Elizabeth.
3. While she was expecting a baby, she went with her husband to Bethlehem to pay their taxes.
4. Shepherds came and visited her when she had the baby.
5. When her son was 12 years old, they went on a trip. Her son became lost. They found him in the temple, teaching the doctors.
6. Her son is Jesus.
Miriam (see Exodus 1:22, 2:3-8; Numbers 26:59, Bible Dictionary, page 733):
1. This person is a sister.
2. Her name means exalted.
3. She had great courage.
4. She watched over her baby brother when her mother hid him in the bulrushes.
5. When the Pharaoh's daughter found her brother and decided to adopt him, this person told Pharaoh's daughter of a woman who could help take care of the baby.
6. Her brother became a prophet named Moses.
Alma (see Mosiah 18, 27, 29):
1. This person is a father.
2. He became a prophet, and the leader of the church after he heard Abinadi preach.
3. He has a son with the same name.
4. His son was an unbeliever and tried to destroy the church.
5. He prayed that his son would learn the truth.
6. An angel visited his son and told him to stop trying to destroy the church. After that, his son became a great missionary and later became the high priest over all the land.
President Hinckley (see Jeffrey R. Holland, "President Gordon B. Hinckley: Stalwart and Brave He Stands," Ensign, June 1995, 5 and Gordon B. Hinckley, "Lessons I Learned as a Boy," New Era, Oct 1998, 4):
1. This person is a brother.
2. He and his brothers and sisters learned to work hard when they were children.
3. He had a brother named Sherman.
4. In the summertime, he and Sherman would sometimes sleep outside in a wagon filled with hay.
5. They would watch the stars, and learned that the North Star never changed. He wanted to pattern his life after the North Star and always be someone his family and others could depend on.
6. He became a prophet and the President of the Church.
Explain that we should love and take care of our families just as these people did. Bear your testimony of the importance of your family.
Sing songs to reinforce the lesson such as, "My Eternal Family," 2009 Outline for Sharing Time, 10-11; "A Happy Family," Children's Songbook 198; "Families Can Be Together Forever," CS 188; and "Love is Spoken Here," CS 190.
