Freelance Writing Work

Are you looking for a way make money from writing but don’t want to write at the going rate of a penny per word? If you enjoy writing, consider starting your own site and using your writing skills to help sell a product or generate leads for a company that is looking for potential clients.

There are many, many affiliate programs out there that need people who are good writers to attract people to their product. Affiliate programs work like this:

A company has a product to sell. They provide you with the advertisement to place on your site. You write a post about the product and include the advertisement. A visitor to your site reads the post and clicks on the advertisement. They are taken to the company website. If that visitor purchases something from the company, you get paid. It is easy to find affiliate offers because there are companies out there who are called affiliate networks and they have hundreds of products to choose from. You can sell pet supplies, vitamins, toys for kids, ringtones, games etc.  You can also help generate leads for a company. Insurance companies, debt relief firms, credit card companies are all looking for leads to qualified customers.

A good way to begin is to consider a product you would be interested in buying. If you like to play golf or tennis try promoting products related to the game. If you are an avid camper consider selling camping gear. If you have had debt problems you will know how to appeal those looking for debt relief. You generally are more successful with a product you yourself would enjoy using or have experience with.

Writing good sales copy and getting traffic to your site are the keys to making sales. Writing sales copy is different from other types of writing and attracting traffic to your site is another field entirely. An eBook has recently come on the market which is geared toward the non-technical website owner and covers these topics in an easy to understand manner.

The eBook is called LeadCallsYou and though the title would make you think it is for someone who needs to generate sales leads, the information provided can be used for any type of website where you are trying to sell something. The author specifically wrote the book for the novice web site owner and includes some great references on how to write internet sales copy and how to bring traffic to your site. It is one of the few eBooks out there about internet sales that can be understood by everyone. Click here to check it out LeadCallsYou and start making some money from your writing skills.

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Alternative to Ebay

I am always learning things from my children. My son who is away at college and has a job working in the school computer lab gave me an idea for a great “get extra money” tip. When he came home from  school he had an old laptop someone had given him. The laptop was not working and was missing a few keys. He went online to a site called http://cashforlaptops.com/ and got an online quote for the value of the computer.

Cashforlaptops quoted him $122.00 for the computer if the laptop was as he described.  Cashforlaptops sent a box to our home with a shipping label. All I had to do was put the computer in the box, seal it and attach the shipping label. Shortly after I sent the computer the company sent a check for the above amount. So don’t throw away your old laptops – GET CASH for them!

In the paperwork cashforlaptops sent they also mentioned you could get cash for your old cell phones. Here is a site I found that gives you cash for your old cell phone -  http://www.sellmyoldcellphone.com/  Included in that site are references to sites where you can sell your old ipod or gps device.

I know you can do the same thing on ebay but I think this is quicker and a lot less work your part.

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If you want to retire early it is critical that your finances are organized. Effective management of your finances is only possible if you know exactly what you’ve got and how it is performing. One of the frequently asked questions when it comes to organizing your financial paperwork – is what to keep and what to throw away. So here is some good advice from  of Simple Things You Can Do To Improve Your Finances by Ilyce R. Glink.

1. Federal and State Tax Returns – Currently, the IRS may audit you three to six years after you have filed. They can only ask for receipts six years back but if they believe you intentionally hid income or filed a fradulent return, there is not statute of limitations. Glink recommends keeping all tax returns with back up information. If you don’t like Glink’s advice, consult your accountant and ask about a “document retention schedule.”

2.  Investment information – The three things you need to know about your investments are: how much you paid for them, how much you sold them for and what was the annual rate of return while you held them. When you buy or sell an investment, you will recieve something called a confirmation statement – keep this, you will need it later. You also need to keep dividend statements for stocks and mutual funds.

3. Retirement account records and pay check stubs – If you have been making contributions to an IRA these are the records you need to keep until you have withdrawn all funds from the account so that you can prove the amount of the non-taxable portion: Forms 1040, 8606, 1099R, and 5498 for each year that you made a contribution to the IRA (according to the current tax law). Keep pay check stubs until you recieve your W-2 form for the year. This will give you an opportunity to check for errors.

4.  Insurance policies – Keep the original insurance policy and signed contract for as long as you have the policy. Once the insurance is cancelled wait 2 years and then throw away the papers.

5. Trust and other estate planning documents – Keep trust documents and back up documentation as long as the accounts are active.

6. Medical Records – If you don’t have enough medical expenses to deduct  anything from your tax return, you can throw them away after you file the return. If you do claim a medical deduction keep them filed with the tax return as supporting documentation. Also if you have an ongoing medical condition or situation hang on to your records.

7. Credit Card receipts and statements – After you receive your monthly statement, you can throw away your receipts for that month’s purchases UNLESS you are in dispute with the store about the item, may want to return the item or have purchased a warrantly regarding the item.

8. Household Bills and Receipts – Glink says after you record your general household bills you can throw them away except for those for child care and tuition because these might help you qualify for a tax deduction. If you qualify for a deduction keep these receipts with your tax records.

9. Cancelled checks, ATM Receipts, bank statements – Keep copies of your account statements going back six years or possibly forever, Glink says. Again, check with your accountant regarding what their document retention schedule says if you can stand keeping all that paper. Cancelled checks can be discarded after one year unless they relate to tax deductions or capital improvements.

10. Mortgage, home equity loan, second mortgage and property tax records – Mortgage companies will send you a statement listing  the amount of interest you paid that year, and the real estate and insurance premiums paid by the company on your behalf, if they escrow your tax and insurance payments. You need that statement and your property tax bills for income tax preparation. Keep these documents with your tax records for that year.

11. Home purchase/sale and capital improvements – Hold onto these records forever as you may be required to prove at some time how you calculated your profits.

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Less Tax Refund = More Wealth

Those of you who got tax refunds probably were very happy but an article in our paper said maybe we shouldn’t be so happy when we get a tax refund. The article said getting a tax refund meant you gave the government an interest free loan over the past year because you had too much taken out of your paycheck.So far in 2008, the average tax return totaled more than $2,400. So that means that millions of us are overpaying the government about $200.00 a month on average. Some people think that overpaying income tax is good way to save money but often it is an easy way to spend money on unplanned purchases. Here are some suggestions from the article about what to do with extra money:

Pay down debt ($200 per month could really help reduce it)

Save in a 401(k), an IRA or an education fund - If you are in the 28% bracket and contribute $200 a month to a traditional 401(k) you can lower your tax bill by about $672 per year. If you contribute $200 into a tax-deferred account earning an 8% return, after 20 years that account would grow in value to $118,649 before taxes are paid.

Save it for a rainy day – Put the money in a savings account or money market fund to be used in an emergency. 

 Invest it – Put the money into a mutual fund. Mutual funds allow small investors to particpate in the stock market.

Make a purchase to “upgrade” your life. Put the money toward a home improvement (ex. insulation that will help you save money on heating and cooling your home)

If you find you are consistently receiving a good tax refund every year, you may need to revisit the amount withheld from your paycheck.

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Do You Have Silver in Your Pocket Change?

This post on Silver In Pocket Change took me back. I remembered spending some time with my dad going through the change he took in at his store. We were on a treasure hunt, looking for silver dimes, quarters, and halves which were minted on or before 1964. Why? Well, 1964 was the last year that many coins were minted from 90% silver. In a short time, the value of the silver was much more then the face value of the coins.

In fact, half dollars were still 40% silver from 1965 until 1970, and many people report finding silver halves in bank rolls and pocket change today! People who live near banks in smaller towns tend to have the best luck. Apparently the large coin distributors who serve larger banks already go though the change, or else too many people have already been treasure hunting to make looking worthwhile.

However, you can still find quantities of US silver coins for sale at flea markets, auctions, and online auctions. This is often the cheapest way to buy silver because you aren’t paying for a fancy coin. And US silver is something that everybody recognizes. To get more help understanding the value of US Silver Coins, try this free US silver coin value calculator.

Also note that WWII coins were minted with some silver because other base metals were in short value during the war effort. A lot of people do not know about that, so learn about the value of WWII Silver Nickels.

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Nothing Beats that 30 Second Commute of a Home Business!

We have posted before about how sometimes the process of building savings and getting out of debt just simply requires more money! If you believe you have cut your bills to the bone, shop for food with the intention of getting the best health for your buck, and keep that AC turned up a couple more degrees than is entirely comfortable, then it may just be time to look for some more money! I touched on this lightly on the post about Ways To Get Out Of Debt.

Common Home Businesses

I know lots of people who get their second income (and some who get their first income) from running a home business. Ventures vary, and tend to depend upon the individuals skills. Many people tend to enjoy their home business more than their “real job” because the ones that prosper tend to be very based on an individual’s natural predisposition, or on something that is lacking in their normal work life.

Do You Like Lawns?

I know a lady who keeps books who also spends a couple of week-ends a month mowing lawns and tending gardens for a few people in the neighborhood. She loves the chance to work outdoors, and some of her neighbors who are either not able, or not inclined, to do that sort of work, appreciate her service. It seems a little unusual to see this lady driving around in her small pickup, packed with yard machines and tools, but everybody seems happy. She says she can do 3 or 4 yards on one busy Saturday, which earns her an extra $90 – $120 for a sweaty day’s work. She enjoys doing it, says it supplements her exercise routine, and she uses her profits to fund her daughter’s college plan. Since she does fund a tax deductible account, she is not hurt on April 15! She also says she enjoys the chance to just get out and meet her neighbors. She does have a lot of friends, so it seems to work for her!

Do You Have A Hobby?

I know of people who got very interested in various activities which vary as much as woodworking, coin collecting, and martial arts who eventually moved into building a home business around them. Collectors may be very good at finding bargains they can flip for a profit, if they can be moved to part with them! Handy people can set themselves up to help with home repairs. People with specialized skills can teach them. Some of these people just keep this hobby/business as a small second income, and some have put themselves in a position where they got to leave the rat race to take the plunge into self employment!

Home Internet Businesses

Of course, that’s what we do here. We run our business online. This does take time and skill to build up, but once you get it running, it can be the easiest job you have ever loved to do. You do not need a physical store to sell online if you know what you are doing. Some common business models are EBay and Droppshipping businesses, Blogging for Money, and Internet Marketing.

Tax Considerations of Home Business.

First, I am not an accountant, so do your own research. But I do use my handy tax software for home business and I see that any work space in my home can be used as a home business office tax deduction if I only use it for my business. Even less restrictive is the home business storage space tax deduction. Look into this. You may be able to make a bit of money, and shave a bit off your taxes if you an set aside an area of your home for business use. That is just the tip of the iceburg too. Why not get paid for doing what you love, and also get some breaks from Uncle Sam?

That’s what we are all about. Live without debt, and still live large!

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EBay is Still A Great Way To Begin An Online Business

I started my online career with EBay, and I still think it is a great way for relative newbies to get a start online. Nowadays, I usually only buy things on EBay (A bad habit, sometime…addictive you know!), but I do not believe I could have been as successful without the headstart that the Bay of E gave me!

For one thing, EBay already has traffic! If you have ever done any online selling online, you know that your business hinges on having people actually see what you have to offer. With EBay it is simply a matter of positioning yourself in an area where those shoppers are already looking for something to buy!

Secondly, EBay wants to help you! Believe me, in the world of online commerce, finding anybody that really wants to help you make money is rare. Most offers to help you sell, are just offers to buy an e-book that makes lots of money for the author, and maybe not so much money for the purchasers. Look at this great post on EbayDropShipping.blogspot.com about how EBay Helps You Sell! You can find step by step tips from making your first auction, to finding hot items to sell, to advanced tips on really making your auctions shine!

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EBAY ADDICTION

So am I the only EBay addict around here? Before I started working on the net, when I still commuted to a j.o.b., I learned to love online auctions, especially the big monster – the Bay of E! Right away, I was struck by this wonderful, virtual marketplace, where you could buy stuff, and also sell stuff! And actually, EBay is a great place to start making some money online. It was where I started, and probably the jumping off point for many web workers.

Why mention this? Well, one thing I learned is that I could only cut my bills so far. So I needed to generate more income to fill the gap. I started when we replaced all of our VCR players with DVD players. I had mountains of barely watch VCR tapes, both for adults and children. I could sell them for a few bucks, ship them out with media mail, and accomplish two things. I cleaned out boxes of VCR tapes and made some money, not a ton of money, but some money. After I cleaned out my collection, I started looking for movies at garage sales and thrift shops. I could buy them for fifty cents to a dollar, and sell them for 4.99 all day. If they didn’t sell, I donated them.

 Its a little tougher to sell VCR tapes now, but I’m all out anyway! That’s not the point. The point is you should be looking through your closets for the “fat jeans” or “skinny jeans”, clothes your kids have outgrown, or the purple purse your aunt bought you for your birthday last year. Sell ‘em, and if your aunt asks, tell her it was stolen!

Of course, I also love to shop on the Bay. Where else can I wake up at 4 a.m. and buy a reconditioned digital camera or a gently used Billie Joel CD. It’s not all about price, though I have found some bargains. Sometimes it is just so convenient to be able to look for a Victoria’s Secret $50 gift card online without having to worry about where else I would find something like that!

See people get gift certificates for presents, and they may not want to purchase anything at the store the certificate is for! They sell them on EBay in a thriving market. Right now, as I’m browsing the category, I’m seeing some $100 restaurant coupons going for $25!

Browse EBay Gift Certificates - psst – maybe you’ve got a gift card you’d like to unload before it expires too!

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