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Posts Tagged ‘economy’

Making Money During an Economic Catastrophe (“Econogeddon”)

December 27th, 2009

We are in the midst of something we could never have imagined: economic catastrophe. I prefer to call it “Econogeddon.” How can anyone supplement their income during such a depressing backdrop?

You can always look for a second, and sometimes a third, job. That is, if you can find one. You’ll most likely be competing against many others looking to do the same thing, and often in a business that you are overqualified for.

I have always thought there has got to be a way to be successful online. For me, I know of no other possibility. Maybe that’s a little shortsighted. But, the ideas and potential are seemingly endless. I’m not talking about multi-level marketing or those millions of get-rich-quick schemes. They are simply that: schemes. Only the owners and possibly the first few who “get in first” will make any money leaving the rest disgruntled and dejected.

You can always get involved in the many legitimate affiliate programs out there. Nearly every store has them. But, you need to advertise if you’re going to have a chance to make some reasonable income. And, that can be pricey. You certainly can look to the standard bearers in online classified advertising and auctions to sell your extra stuff that just gathers dust and takes up space. It definitely can and is being done on a regular basis. I read about a doctor who needed to supplement her private practice income, so she turned to eBay and makes much more than being a doctor will ever earn her.

You’ll have to work long hard hours to accomplish this. But, any job requires that. The benefits of working from home most likely will outweigh those objections. But, the Internet is so vast, it can be a daunting task to even begin. The learning curve is steep, but quick. If you put in the time, you most certainly have a chance. You could always get lucky by inventing the next big thing: a gadget that makes life easier for homemakers, or the next over-the-falls app for the many hand-held devices out there, but that’s probably a little more than you had in mind. Just know there is opportunity out there in the wild wild Net.

I have worked for many years looking for success online. I have found it from time to time. That’s why I keep going back. I’ve tried and failed more times than I can count, usually because I got involved in something that promised giant paydays. That’s nothing but a big nuclear red flag in your face. I avoid them now like the plague. You need persistence, patience and perseverance. You’ve heard that countless times before, but it’s what is necessary to succeed.

Just “building it and they will come” is not the recipe we all wished it was. I find that by looking for already-established businesses who offer things that interest me with a fair compensation plan are best. If there is a multi-tiered comp plan, I run the other way. They just aren’t sustainable. And, the old line about hitting up your warm market, that is, family and friends, is just not possible for me anymore. I’ve already exhausted that avenue. But, with some many hundreds of millions of people online everyday, all day, the possibilities are endless. Plus, when you mention the words “refer” and “recruit,” it makes people’s blood run cold. Most can not find even one other person to join them in their new business. The rejection hammer is just too much for most to take.

But you can, and you must, find a business or an avenue that suits your personality style. And, it most certainly can be done. Just don’t give up. Ever. The most precious gift, the most potent fuel we can have is HOPE. And, there is always that if you insist on it.

Grant Brad Gerver is an entrepreneur and creative consultant for http://filibi.com, a new classified and coupon advertising site and home business. He’s also a blues singer-songwriter and guitar player with The Buzzard Brothers: http://www.youtube.com/gbgerver Additionally, Grant writes political humor, thousands of bumper stickers, and humorous movie reviews. He has also worked with various companies as a product-naming specialist. He’s a retired elementary school teacher and published children’s author who works in the health care field.

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Get that Online College Degree… Now!

May 29th, 2009
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Choosing an online college can be very overwhelming. How do you know which ones are worth going to with so many of them to choose from? The best way to find out is to choose several different schools that have programs that you are interested in, and then speak in depth to their admissions advisors. Below are eight must-haves for a good online college; you can base your talking points on this list.

  1. Must be accredited. It is important that the online college that you choose be accredited because this is a way that you can ensure that the school meets established standards. This makes a difference if you want to transfer your credits or prove the worth of your degree to an employer. There are two types of accreditation: institutional and specialized. An institutional accreditation applies to the entire school and its programs, while a specialized accreditation generally applies to a specific degree program or school of study within the college or university. This is further broken down into national accreditation or regional accreditation. Regional accreditations are the most widely recognized.

  2. Platform must be easy to use. The “platform” is where you will find your classes, chat rooms, even your virtual library. Every online college has a different online learning platform, and they all work a little differently. You should make sure that the school’s platform is intuitive and easy for you to use. Ask the admissions advisor if you can have a demonstration of their platform and if they offer online tutorials to students.

  3. Must have tech support. Since all of your studies are done on your computer in an online environment, the chances that you will run into some sort of technical issue are pretty good. Make sure that the school you choose has 24/7 tech support. You can ask the admissions advisor how long the average wait time is to speak to tech support – chances are when you run into problems you won’t have that much time to figure them out.

  4. Must provide student services. A good online college has student services to make sure that their students have the optimal chance at success. This includes offering tutoring services for a small fee or even for free.

  5. Must accept CLEP credits. You may hear many online schools advertising credits for “life experience.” In general, the only legitimate way to offer this is through CLEP testing. These credits are accepted at many online colleges and traditional universities. They are a great way to test out of classes on subjects that you may already have mastered.

  6. Must have small class sizes. A good online college will have a small number of students in each class. This is because online students need a lot of individual attention to ensure that they do not feel isolated. A smaller class size makes this more manageable for the instructor, which brings me to my next must have …

  7. Instructors must be accessible. Make sure that the school that you choose requires instructors to allot a certain amount of time to give students the chance to speak with them on an individual basis.

  8. Must have a variety of financial aid options. If you are in need of some type of help to pay for school, like most of us, make sure that the school you choose has plenty of financial aid options. These include federal grants, scholarships, and student loans. Ask the admission advisor specifically about this – for each school has different financial aid opportunities.

All these discussion points will probably make for a long conversation, so make sure that you put aside some time to get to each of them. Don’t worry about asking the admissions advisors at your school choices too many questions – that is what they are there for! Also have a pen and paper ready (or your laptop) to write down notes, that way you can compare the different schools. Good luck with your decision!  More information, as well as applications can be found at Best Online MBA Programs, Masters in Business or Affordable Online College.

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The Million Dollar Difference of The Right College Degree

May 24th, 2009
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A doctorate is the highest educational achievement that you can earn and there is much respect associated with having those letters behind your name. Only one out of a hundred people have a doctorate, so that reverence is certainly due. Also, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, someone with a doctorate degree earns one to two million dollars in lifetime earnings more than someone with a master’s degree. With numbers like that, what are you waiting for?

Ph.D. or Doctorate?

It seems that there is some confusion when it comes to the difference between a doctorate and a Ph.D., or Doctor of Philosophy. Actually, a Ph.D. is one of several doctorate degrees that you can earn. Doctorate degrees can be broken down into two types: professional doctorates and research doctorates.

People who earn professional doctorates apply their degree to a specific profession, as opposed to an academic field of study. These include M.D. (Doctor of Medicine), J.D. (Juris Doctor), DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine), and PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) among many others.

Research doctorates include the Ph.D. and are often focused on a particular subject. Here is a breakdown of some of the more popular doctorates available in the United States:

  • Ph.D. or Doctor of Philosophy: This degree is normally earned by those who want to go into research or Academia. There are many fields in which you can earn a Ph.D. including history, mathematics, and chemistry.

  • Psy.D. or Doctor of Psychology: If you want to be a psychologist, than you can either earn a Ph.D. in psychology or this degree.

  • DBA or Doctor of Business Administration: This degree is for people who are interested in the theory of management. Those who earn this degree normally go into research or teach on a college level.

  • Ed.D. or Doctor of Education: If you are looking to become a school administrator than this degree is for you.

  • D.A. or Doctorate of Arts: This degree emerged in the 1960s and is offered in many of the same subjects as a Ph.D, particularly arts and humanities. It is often labeled the “teaching doctorate.”

What does a doctorate entail?

Most doctorates require that you have a master’s degree in a related field of study. Once you are accepted you begin with a rigorous course of study, especially for the professional degrees such as M.D. or J.D. The professional degrees are normally followed by an exam, such as the bar examination, and/or an internship, such as a residency. With Ph.Ds and other research doctorates, courses are normally followed by an exam and then the writing of a thesis or dissertation. These dissertations can be anywhere from 50 to 450 pages in length and commonly focus on a particular area of expertise. For example, someone pursuing a doctorate in U.S. Economic History might write a dissertation on the effects of Soviet Union socialism on U.S. economic policies during the Great Depression. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the average time it takes a student to earn their doctorate is seven years. However, there are some accelerated programs out there and a lot depends on how long it takes you to write your dissertation.

Online Study is a Great Option

If you are interested in a doctorate degree, do not rule out online colleges. Three of the five most popular doctorate degrees (according to the Department of Education) are available through online study; these are Doctor of Psychology, Doctor of Engineering and Doctor of Education. Online learning is an extremely convenient way to learn. The courses are offered in a format that works around your schedule. This is perfect for people who have a career that they do not want to take time off from, or if they have a family. In fact, online doctorates are so flexible that there really is no reason not to finally reach this highest level of achievement.  Free, instant enrollment information can be found at University College Online, Top Online MBA Programs or Online PHD Management.

 

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Ways To Make Income In A Poor Economy

February 26th, 2009
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Seeing how the economy has taken a nose dive, you would be hard pressed to find a person that hasn’t felt the effects. No matter if it’s a friend who’s been laid off or a friend who has had their company hand out pink slips, almost every family has had the need for extra money.

The need for extra money has caused hordes of people turning to the Internet to find techniques to earn cash so the can make ends meet. Before, families have never had the need for making extra cash because they earned enough to live comfortably. Times are tougher. Now days many people are learning new ways of making ends meet. If you’re in this group, don’t panic. It’s easier than you might think.

Below are a few ways anyone can get out and extra money on the the World Wide Web. Don’t think you’ll earn enought to worry Donald Trump but maybe you can buy food for a month or make that mortgage note before lose the farm.

Internet auction sites. Ebay allowed many stay at home parents and other people to earn income by selling stuff on the World Wide Web. Some great sources of stuff to sell are Craigslist, garage sales and estate auctions. Make sure you know what the stuff is worth before buying it though!

Free Online Classifieds. Craigslist is a free Online classified site that allows people to post stuff for sale or give away stuff. There are people making full time incomes by going around and picking up stuff other people want to get rid off. You can then turn around and list it on Craigslist for sale or list it on ebay.

Nearly everyone knows how to make crafts. Etsy is an online auction site for consumers to hawk their crafts. A lot of families are creating some major money putting their crafts and craft supplies on auction sites.

Become an Expert at what you know. Do you have a special skill that others may need? There are places on the Net that are always looking for freelancers. People with computer skills or special knowledge of a program like Excel or Quickbooks can find freelance jobs. Writers are also in great demand. To find these jobs, just look in the Services section of Craigslist or visit the Marketplace section of DigitalPoint forums or Sitepoint forums. people are making good income providing services others can not, or do not want, to do.

Even if you think no one will pay you for what you know, there is a way for you to get extra income during this time of economic recovery. Just get out there and apply yourself and search for the opportunites. Look at the positive side of things, you just might find something that you love doing and can make a comfortable living at.

 

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What we can learn from an Economic Recession

February 5th, 2009
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A lot of people think that an economic recession is bad. There are certain benefits, while that is partly true,. 

Start your own internet business blog to beat the recession.

When the economy is in recession, it won’t be long that you will get a check from the Internal Revenue Service or IRS. This may amount from $300 to $1,200 which is the government’s way to help the economy. 

If you are wondering how much you will get, compute for this using the economic stimulus tax calculator. This is considered to be a rebate so if you didn’t get it this year, you will in 2009. This was done when the economy was in recession in 2000 but most of the checks came in when the economy was recovering a year later. 

During an economic recession, majority of bonds and stocks are undervalued. This means it is bargain to buy them right now so go for it! Find out which company's shares will do better once the economy recovers before you go on a shopping spree. It will be easy to decide which one you should invest in, with that in mind,. It is also possible to buy new homes when the prices have gone to an all time low.  

One solution to curb the economic recession is for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. This means that as long as you have good credit ratings, you will be able to borrow money from the bank.

As a consumer, an economic recession brings tax breaks. What happens is that you don’t have to pay the IRS that much this year because of a deduction for private mortgage insurance which happens to be an extension of the sales tax write off and also a boost in the alternative minimum tax exemption amount. 

If you are still working, an economic recession may also increase retirement account limits. You can do this by using your rebate check to turbocharge your retirement savings and investing this in a Roth or Traditional IRA. A number of people have decided to invest it in both. 

Should your gross income is $100,000 and below, you can now roll over your 401(k) directly into a Roth IRA without having your funds go through a Rollover Traditional IRA first. But if your income is above $100,000, just wait until 2010 when the income limit disappears so that you too can invest this into your retirement account. 

There are people who say that an economic recession is also good for the environment because the consumer will be forced to cut costs. People will more likely trade in their sports utility vehicles or SUV's for more fuel efficient vehicles. This in turn will reduce the number of carbon gases that are released into the air. Unfortunately, industries won't be able to do the same. 

Instead of going to the store to buy something you like, more people will order and purchase the same items online thus increasing business over the web. Because it is much cheaper to do this online the same goes for advertising because. 

There are benefits to an economic recession even if many of us see that nothing good comes out of it. The only consolation is that it is only temporary and the economy will recover by late this year or early next

 

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