Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Earn Money Online with Squidoo

Did you know that you can earn money from blogs or even your own "expert" site such as a Squidoo lens?

If you don't believe me, the New York Times recently featured an article about how Squidoo is making experts of anybody - there's even a site about Beef Jerky!

So, how do you make money from these - and is it worth it?

If you create an interesting and attractive site you can earn a reasonable amount of money - certainly enough to be reasonable pocket money, sometimes more.

Check out www.SquidooSecrets.com and sign up for a free information - if you don't want to listen to the one hour video, at least you'll get the free email course that'll give you hints and tips to make money with this great idea.

How much does it cost?

Creating your own Squidoo lens is free and has the potential to make you money - you'll just need a Paypal account to receive your earnings.

If you want to make money from an existing website or blog you can sign up for Google Adsense (another great way to make money) at Adsense Freedom.



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Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Grants for College

If you're considering college, it's well worth looking at the range of grants that are available to students.

Whether it's federal grants, or scholarships specific to one college, there's money that you can apply for if you fit certain criteria.

The first place to look is in the college prospectus or on their website, if there's any financial aid available to students, this is the place that they're likely to mention it - although you'll probably have to dig a bit for the information.

If you're looking for a particular type of scholarship, for example, sports or nursing, then searching the internet may offer some useful results.

Failing all of these, there are many college scholarship search sites, where you can check out what financial aid is currently on offer.

For further information on which sites are hot and which ones bomb, check out http://www.grantnscholarshipsearch.com

Saturday, August 19, 2006

April Fools edition of kids money making ideas

After a summer of having my kids at home - here's my suggestions for doing well as a kid or teenager:-

Do nothing this summer
Occasionally smile at your parents
Go away on vacation
Say thanks for the free ice creams, food, treats and visits they take you on
Then remind them of all the stuff you need for school or college - let them buy it for you
See something that you just love in a shop window - smile nicely - again!

Hmmm - well, yes, I am being a little cheeky here - but I reckon that most kids seem to have it "good" - if not better than good.

If you're a kid living in the UK and planning to go to college - make sure that you fill in the application for your EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) which could be worth up to £30/week every week that you're at college! Why work?

More kids money making ideas!

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Want a list of money making ideas for kids?

Still stuck for ideas - and now's the key time to find some great money making ideas - you've finished school for the summer and have loads of free time.

I've been scouring the internet for some useful ideas that you can use and have come across the
Kids Money site which is designed just for you - you can even add your own tips.

You'll also find the "Kids Allowance Survey" - who does what and for how much - could be useful information if you want to talk with your parents about what "everyone else" gets and has to do for their allowance! You can even contribute to the survey yourself via their five easy questions.

If you're talking to your parents about your allowance - they'll also find some good articles on why an allowance will help you learn to manage your money better on the kidsmoney.org site - so you might want to let them have the website address.

There's also the results of their babysitting survey - which gives you a good idea of the average hourly rate for babysitting, depending on how old you are and how many kids there are to look after.

Please feel free to add your own comments and idea via our "comment" facility below! I'd love to hear them.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Adults view of money & teens

This is a recent article that I came across - it's designed to help parents show their teenage kids how to manage their money so that they can become rich when they grow up.

I wonder what you reckon:-

Hey Big Spender: 7 Signs Your Teen Needs a Money Education
By Cheryl Hall


If your teen left home tomorrow, would they need credit repair in a week? Would they be able to buy groceries in a month? Would they have to come back and live in your basement, hiding from their creditors, up to their eyeballs in credit card debt? It’s a scary idea, I know, that in theory your teen will be out on their own shortly. Do they have the money skills necessary to survive? Are you raising a shopping addict or a savvy spender?



Your teen might need a crash course in money management if:

1. Your teen has no “cash” concept.



It’s easy to overspend or not realize that this is really money I’m using when it’s all done via technology. Debit cards and credit cards are convenient; ATM cards have virtually replaced my need to ever actually visit the bank. Which is great on a holiday when I need cash; not so great for a teenager who never associates cash with any of their transactions. If your teen uses a debit or credit card for every purchase, wean them of it for 30 days. For 30 days, all transactions must be in cash, which means they have to have the cash in their pocket. Somehow those “necessities” become less necessary when you must have the green to make them.



2. Your teen “needs” things



Things as in gizmos, gadgets and junk. I have a saying in my house that is incredibly insensitive in a “but I need it” moment, but puts it in perspective. “You need sunshine, oxygen, food, shelter and basic clothing.” No one on the face of the earth has ever needed a video game, a new MP3 player, a newer phone with newer accessories, jewelry, the best shoes at the store, etc. You get the picture. Break them of the habit. Needs are necessities of life. Wants are completely different and are not priorities.

3. Shopping is an errand you run

It’s not an all-day thing. Shopping is not entertainment. Neither is it the best way to spend an entire weekend. It’s also an expensive hobby. The temptation to keep up with their friends is great and just might wipe you out. The urge to shop even when there is nothing to buy is a sign of a shopping addiction. When most of your teen’s social activities include going somewhere to spend money, this is definitely a sign that possible future money problems are on the horizon. Cut the mall time down. Or better yet, maybe they should get a job at the mall. That way, it’s the last place they want to be.



4. Your teen always “runs over”



Those commercials for cell phones where the parents are having chest pains over the cell phone bill are funny; but the reason that they work as a commercial is because a lot of us can relate to that and that’s not funny. As a parent of a teen, giving them something to be responsible for is the only way to make them more responsible. The unfortunate side effect of that giving of responsibility is that sometimes they screw up. Once or twice is a mistake. Every month, going over on the minutes, putting more on the credit card than they’re allowed, causing you overdue charges, consistently costing you money is a sign that your child desperately needs some money management education. Take the phone, cut the card and get back to basics until there’s a change.



5. You didn’t just win the lotto



Every time there’s a birthday or Christmas, the next day, is your child broke? Does one trip to the mall wipe out a paycheck? Are they always borrowing from you to keep afloat or keep gas in the car? Learning to create and manage a budget is a skill that is learned, which they’re not going to learn until you create the necessity. If your teen is working, then they probably know what must be paid for each month. Do they have to keep the car up and pay for their own insurance? Work with them to set up a weekly savings so that those bills are paid. Keep it simple and keep it on the refrigerator until they’ve got the hang of it.



6. They missed the formula



You know that amazing formula. Want more money? Work more. Or maybe work smarter or for more money. Whatever you do to change that formula, “work” is always a part of it. If your teen is always moaning and complaining about lack of funds, what are they doing to make money? Do they have a job? Could they work more hours and still keep their grades up? Could they work a weekend job for more cash? Could they work full-time over the summer and save some of that money for rainy days? Getting the work formula is key because it usually helps with money management skills. Your child will start looking at that hot new gizmo and think, “how many hours did I work to make that money?” What a great way to start prioritizing.

7. Watching you, they’ll never do it differently



Where do children learn their attitudes and ideas about money? The same place they learn everything else that winds up being really important; at home. If you never pay in cash, why would they? If you need things or are constantly trying to keep up with your friends or neighbors with the best gadgets, best car, best house, etc., of course they’re going to. If you feel insecure about money, they do. If you are always borrowing from one credit card or one bank to keep the other one off your back, then of course they are. If there is no family budget, how could they have a personal budget? In other words, if you need money management help, of course they need money management help. The best way to remedy this situation? Make a money education for your family a priority. Ask for help and then be dedicated to the process of making changes.



If you’re afraid your teen wouldn’t make it financially in the “real world”, then they probably won’t; at least without the opportunity to learn some new money management skills. Don’t throw your hands up in despair. You and your family can learn more about money, it’s not hopeless. Money is a learned skill just like making a bed or driving a car, and your teen learned that! Make a commitment to yourself and your family to make a money education a priority and then do the daily work required. In no time, your teen will be proud of their accomplishments and enjoy using their new skills. Now if you could just get them to do laundry.



Cheryl Hall (http://www.MillionaireKids101.com) has the keys for parents to help their children become financially successful. She has created 3 courses to help children learn how to think about money and start on the road to wealth and independence; Millionaire Kids 101, 201 and Millionaire Masters. Cheryl is a successful real estate investor and has been helping new investors start on their way to financial freedom.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cheryl_Hall

Please feel free to post your comments and thoughts below.

Friday, June 02, 2006

Ways to make money for teens

This useful article has some pretty unusual ideas for ways that teenagers can make money.

Six Ways For Kids To Make Money
By Steven Gillman

Most of us know the usual ways for kids to make money, which include lemonade stands, newspaper routes and mowing lawns. However, there are more unusual ways. Some of the ways listed below are from my own childhood, when I was always looking for another way to make money.

1. Be a chef. At about eleven years old, I used to sell meals to my brothers (I had four of them). I got 25 cents for scrambled eggs or a sandwich, and more for more complicated meals. My brothers preferred to stay in front of the TV and let me cook for them. Since the food was already provided by my parents, the income was pure profit.

2. Computer whiz-kid service. Many young kids know a lot about computers. My nephew was getting paid for programming by the the time he was fourteen, but even younger kids can show old folks how to use a computer and the internet for a fee. Learn a few more skills, and they can even set up computers for new owners who are using them for the first time. Letting grandparents spread the word would be a good marketing ploy.

3. Household carnival. I charged my brothers five cents for a wadded up piece of paper selected from a bucket full of them. Most had a penny or two inside them, but a few had a quarter. It was just one of my "carnival" events. I also had them throwing pennies at a bowl across the room, which I kept, of course. If a penny stayed in the bowl they won a dime. I'm almost embarrassed to say how much of their hard-earned paper route money I took from them.

4. Collect returnables. We collected and returned cans and bottles for a deposit as kids. Now that more states have return laws, it's an even better way to make a little cash. During the Cherry Festival, when I lived in Traverse City, Michigan, adults came to town just to collect the cans that people threw all over. With a 10 cent deposit, they were collecting more than $100 worth per day according to several of them. If the kids wear gloves, leave broken cans and bottles alone, and use hand sanitizer, this is a safe way to make money.

5. Personal services menu. If there are many people in the family, a great way for kids to make money is to sell their services. They can make a menu of things they'll do and how much they charge for each. It might include washing windows for 50 cents each, for example, and maybe $1.50 to walk a dog. If the list is copied, it could be handed out to all relatives and possibly neighbors too.

6. Rummage sales and flea markets. If parents agree, kids can have rummage sales, selling not just household things, but arts and crafts and refreshments too. Parents might even take their kids to a flea market to set up a stand. I sold (as an adult) more than $1,000 of hand-made walking sticks one summer, while my wife sold hundreds of dollars worth in pewter figurines glued to rocks, sea shells and crystals. Cookies and drinks sell well too. It's a great way to learn about business, and a good way for kids to make money.

Steve Gillman has been studying money for thirty years (and sometimes making a little). For interesting and useful information, visit his website, Unusual Ways To Make Money: http://www.UnusualWaysToMakeMoney.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Gillman


More great money-making ideas for kids & teens coming soon!

Ways to make money for teens

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Easy ways for kids to make money

Looking for an easy way to make extra money but not sure where to start?
Do you or some of your friends read or have your own blogs?

Did you know that it's possible to earn money from your own blogs - in fact, it's one of the really cool ways for kids to earn money online!

The great news is that it won't cost you anything to start - so it's ideal for you to get started making money.

All you need to do is set up your own account at Blogger.com You'll need to think about what your interests are - and set up a Blog related to them - or in something that you'd like to learn about.

Let me give you an example, my daughters blog is about juvenile diabetes, 'cos she's been diabetic since she was 11. She can write plenty about her experiences over the past few years (she's eighteen now) and make money doing it!

Make sure that you name your blog to let people know what it's about, my daughters blog is http://juvenile-diabetes.blogspot.com which makes it clear what it's about.

Then write your first post, it should read something like "Welcome to my Juvenile Diabetes blogspot. Here you'll find plenty of information about juvenile diabetes and how it feels to be a teenage diabetic."

Now publish your blog - you have your own online blog now that you can tell your friends about.

The way that you make money is that you now add "Adsense" to your blog - this involve adding the adverts from Google that you'll have seen if you've spent anytime on the internet.

You may need an adult to set up the account for you - but they're going to be so impressed that you're setting up your own easy money making venture that they're almost certain to support you.

Now all you need to do is to write a post at least weekly, daily if you wish, but NO MORE than three times a day or your blog might get banned!

You can find out more about what kind of information people are searching for at Wordtracker.com and their free trial will give you an idea of what to write about that people are looking for - and what will make you money!


Easy ways for kids to make money