Bren wrote:


A friend of mine told me that she was making homemade pornographic movies with her boyfriend for a man in Wisconsin…and he would send them money. Has anybody heard of such things? (I’m asking because I need money haha)

LaCrosse
There are various times in life when it is important to reflect on what we can do well. In the past year I have found a need to carefully consider what marketable skills and interests I have developed over the years. Through this evaluation - both with my husband and alone, as well as some brainstorming with a counselor at our local small business center - I came up with the idea of teaching breadmaking and sewing. These are two skills that I have maintained since I was young and are almost second nature for me, enhancing the opportunity to make some money on the side by holding some classes.

I have found that the actual teaching of the classes has not been the most difficult thing; rather it has been in finding venues to market and teach these classes. I called local area Parks and Recreation departments and I contacted Girl Scouts. Most offer fall and spring classes. Advertising in the local paper or even on a bulletin board at a grocery store are two other possibilities for getting the word out.

Both the Girl Scout liaison and the Parks and Recreation Director  I contacted showed a genuine interest. The Parks and Recreation Director encouraged me to take a smaller class size, due to the amount of interest – which was under my desired minimum students. I did this with the recognition that if these ladies are satisfied with their experience, they will spread the word to other friends, increasing the likelihood of similar, more financially productive classes to come. Although it is easier to work with a smaller group, especially when one is getting practice on how to best teach something to people who are inexperienced, the financial trade-off must be considered. For my 6-week class, I charged $10 for the material kit and $12 – 15 per class session for each attendee. I also allowed the ladies to only pay for the weeks they would attend. To teach this sewing class, I needed to consider the supplies I would need to have available for my students – irons, ironing boards (compact and regular), cutting mats, rotary cutters and enough scissors for 10 students. The ten dollar charge for the material kit was intended to cover the cost of fabric, a pattern and thread. Planning ahead by purchasing appropriate supplies at estate and garage sales will make the cost of this outlay more manageable.

For my breadmaking class at the Parks and Recreation Department, I put on a demonstration but gave the women the opportunity to feel the bread dough and see each step in the process. I ground some grain for them, as well. And I passed out copies of the step-by-step routine of making bread from scratch. The honorarium for this class was $150. As someone who already has most of the essentials in my kitchen, I found that I only needed to replace my measuring cups and spoons to maintain a professional look. After 15 years, well loved utensils begin to show their age. This time I invested in stainless steel instead of plastic.

I have found that driving to and from and teaching these classes do not take up much of my time. However, it is important to recognize the need to allot time to both make a list and gather supplies beforehand and plan for sufficient time to unload the van and get supplies inside and set up. Inquiring about any needed power cords and running water at the facility were details I needed to remember. Practicing doing my presentation to someone who would not be critical but give me opportunity to express aloud what I had planned to say and give me constructive input helped give me confidence in my ability to communicate. Bringing samples of the desired result – whether it is a simple garment that I had made or samples of bread and rolls, with corresponding recipes – has helped pave the way for the ladies to invest the time and effort to begin to learn a new skill, as well.

Evaluating as I have gone along as well as at the conclusion of the course gives opportunity to learn from one’s mistakes and recognize growth in one’s own skills and ability to communicate effectively.

Overall, I like the benefits of teaching these classes because they do not take me away from home for excessive amounts of time. I can make a contribution to our income while building my confidence in my abilities. It is much easier to make money through what one already knows. I would like to suggest that you also brainstorm with your husband and friends to see what you can come up with to make money teaching what you already know.

This article was originally written for an ebook project for Marilyn Woodard at www.CreatingGreatHomes.com.



By: Theresa J Gould

About the Author:

Theresa Gould is Robert’s wife of 15 years and homeschooling mother to seven children. She enjoys baking, cooking, sewing and passing a love for these lost arts to her daughters and others. The Gould family loves to take walks, read and play board games. They also are interested in working together as a family in business as they have done in the past with their home businesses Faith and Family Books and RobnT Business Solutions.



Beautiful Women Discussion

Rosie wrote:


I would like any suggestions of good programs that advertise and close sells for you. I’m looking for one that has a product that is really unique and needed. I’d like one that uses direct response marketing to sell and promote for me. I’d be willing to pay a percentage to them and a monthly fee if this would help me earn money. I’d like this to become a residual income for me. Does a monthly fee mean that everytime someone does the same thing, I would continue to receive on a continuous basis. This sounds interesting to me. Has anyone found a good program and really making money with no additional advertising costs? If you know of a program that is automated but that I can pay my fees or setup and still make a good profit.

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Drahfruida wrote:


I just moved in to a new place with a roommate. I have one month to find a job and so far I’ve applied to 20 different business and haven’t heard from anyone in over a week. I’m getting worry and I have no where else to go if I can’t make rent.

What are some alternative ways for making money? Selling magazines, how does Ebay work? I could use any advice you may have!!! Thanks…

Create Niche Video Sites Fast

Here are my weekly money savings tips:

1. Maintain a good credit score! It will save you thousands of dollars in the short and long term when you need to borrow money to buy a car or a home. Creditors will give you an interest rate and the loan amount based on your income and credit score.

2. Large sums of money should NEVER be left in a checking account or even a low-interest bank savings account. Rather, put the money into a high interest savings account (like an ING savings), money market fund, or other forms of short term high interest investments with a fixed return.

3. If you have an employer matching 401K plan, maximize your contributions, so that you double your money!

4. Set aside 10% of your paycheck towards some form of long term savings account, like a money market account, mutual fund, retirement plan, or 401K. As you pay amount increases, your contribution will also increase automatically. 10% will also ensure that you stay ahead of inflation.

5. One of the best investments you can make is to first pay off all your high credit card debts. Credit cards typically carry a high interest rate and by paying off these debts, you get one of the best returns available which also is tax-free.

6. If you are losing sleep over an investment, whether its a stock, mutual fund, or retirement plan, its not worth it! Your lack of sleep is probably a good indication that it may be too risky, too good to be true, or just not the right invesment for you.

7. If an investment is projecting returns that are just too good to be true, they probably are. Unless you are intimately involved in the investment or are an insider, an investment that sounds too good to be true is probably too ambitious, too risky or just a scam.

8. Before you invest in something, always do your own research. Consulting with others and getting a second opinion is good, but you need to investigate for yourself. The internet is typically the best source for lots of information but make sure you read enough or get relevant data.

9. Always negotiate for commissions or fees paid for financial or real estate advice. Don’t be misled by standard commissions and “non-negotiable fees”. It is your money and the experts work for you.

10. Can’t get out of debt? If you are having problems meeting your debt payments each month and feel like you are digging a deeper hole, go talk to your creditors and banks to find a solution to get out of the mess. Beware of debt consolidators as they could charge higher interests in the long term and get you even deeper into debt.

If you like any of these tips, have questions on some, or have some feedback, I would like to hear from you. Visit this article by clicking on http://www.financialresource.org/blog/10-money-saving-tips/ and Post your comments. Look for more money saving tips each week!

Happy Springtime and be Money Smart!



By: Money Manager

About the Author:

Money Manager is part of the community at Financial Resource: Your Path to Financial Freedom!

A financial education blog to share experiences on 401K, assets, budgeting, cashflow, early retirement, finance, financial freedom, investing, money management and retirement planning using downloads of free audiobooks or books on tape, posts, podcasts and video.

Join our community in its path to financial freedom by visiting us at http://www.financialresource.org



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