Mutiple streams of income......

December 31, 2008—so much to be optimistic about! New Year, new young President who would dig in and fix things for us!
By the time the hangovers were gone, we realized it wasn’t going to be that simple. Opinions differ on how long we’ll be mired in this muck. GM and Chrysler are unstable, AIG and Citigroup are getting by with a little help from friends (ahem) and the unemployment rate is higher than in 20 years.

Which brings me to the point of my blog: Ben Bernanke says this recession will end this year, and I believe him—because I need to for my sanity! So my new mantra is “Until 2010.”

Our family, like most everyone else that I know, has not been untouched by this economy. My husband and son work for the same company, have both had a really long, long winter vacation, and both jobs are still touch and go. I am a third-party Recruiter (Headhunter, if you must say it!) and client orders for new employees are few and far between in times of hiring freezes, layoffs, bankruptcies, and company closures.

How can people survive and thrive in this kind of environment?

This blog will be dedicated to only positive, uplifting ideas—things that can get us though “Until 2010!”

We need to look at these times as life lessons. In looking for ways to diversify our income, I am learning so much about technical things, and even more about myself. You learn how strong you are, and how much you know about countless things. There is no reason to limit yourself to just one “day job.”

Speaking of diversifying your income, there are so many things you can do besides work 9 to 5 to make money. If you have a hobby or interest- have you ever thought about a business in that area? Passion for your work makes it not seem like work!
Craigslist isn’t a great place to look for a job, (too many scams) but it is a good place to look for inspiration. These are all ideas from Craigslist in the last few days:
· Gutter cleaning
· Foreclosure clear-outs
· Interior painting
· Corn hole manufacturer
· Court process server
· Carpet cleaning
· Spring Landscape cleanup
· Photography
· Tutoring
· Pet sitting and dog walking
· Child care
· Running errands for elderly
· Picnic table builder
· Outdoor play structure builder
· Virtual administrative assistant
· Bookkeeping
· Telemarketing from home
· Simple website design
· Typing student papers
· Grant and technical writer
· Hair cutting, coloring, perms, etc.
· Manicures and pedicures
· Massages
· Collections
· Modeling
· Rehab and remodeling projects
· Deck building
· Roofing
· Tree service
· Appointment setting
· Computer repair and virus removal
· Vent cleaning
· Desktop publishing
· Tax preparation
· Housekeeping
· Insulation installation
· Shelving/closet installer
· Flea markets, Craigslist, and Ebay
· Pressure washing
There are very diverse needs in the marketplace. Keep your mind, eyes, and ears open—and where you see a need, fill it.
Politicians are talking about creating jobs, but I’m afraid they’ll all be $8.00 an hour jobs that no one can raise a family on. Think about creating your own job- where you get to decide when and where you work, and how much you get paid:)