Simply Thrifty

Using the power of thrifting is a wonderful way to keep the money you already have.....but sometimes you need to bring in some additional income.  This page features several ideas on how to supplement your income from home.  There are six streams of income I want to share with you.  The great thing about all of them, is that you will be showcasing what you already know.  Everyone knows something, about something.  So, use your knowledge, skill, and inspiring nature to give back to the world.  They might surprise you, and give a little something back for it!

Some of the options you can explore are:

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 The Steps To Success

Step one is the hardest part- what are you good at?

Step two- where do you want to go? 

Step three- how do you want to get there?

Step four- what resources do you already have to work with?

Step five- when do want to work?

Step six- what is your motivation?

This isn't an eighth grade essay contest.  However, if you can honestly assess yourself and answer these questions, you will be able to find the perfect home based job or business.  The answers you provide will be the keys to your future successes.  I am going to elaborate on each of the six avenues of income, to help you make an informed decision about which path is right for you.

Affiliate Programs are an inexpensive alternative to direct sales.  Pricing for these programs range from free to $20.00.  In home parties are optional.There are no kits to purchase, and a website (or affiliate link) is included in the price.

Basically, business owners are paying you 10-30% commission to advertise their products.  Add these links to your website, or just print the affiliate link on business cards to pass out. You are credited for each sale that is generated from your link.  If you choose to invest in products, you can use party plan guidelines and offer in home or vendor event demonstrations. 

Small businesses are not the only group that utilizes affiliates.  Most major retailers accept affiliates who have existing web sites to advertise their links on.  While shopping online, check the small print at the bottom of your favorite retail web site.  The majority will have a link for affiliate sign up.

Most affiliate programs will pay you for recruiting, in addition to your sales.  If someone decided to join your team, through your affiliate link, you will be compensated for the sales they incur through their site.  It is possible to join a free program, and build a strong down line, just like direct sales.   There are no vacations, free cars, or million dollar homes.  However, with a little bit of effort in finding the right companies, and a great marketing plan, you can supplement your income nicely by becoming an affiliate advertiser!

Check out

http://www.free-wahm-affiliates.com/index.html

http://www.athomedirectory.com/list.php?cat_id=3

These sites will help you find free and low cost affiliate programs by categories that interest you.

Cash Crate is very popular with a lot of SAHM's.  They offer the best money for clicking on offers.  However, in my experience, most of these are offers where participation is required. (That means, you have to pay for something---be it shipping on a free trial, or a small fee for a sample)  I personally do not use this one very often....but there are some free offers on it....and some people have reported success using this program. 

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Direct Sales programs give you the opportunity to own your own business.  You will be an independent consultant or representative for the company of your choice. 

These companies charge fees ranging from $99.00 to $1500.00.  They will provide you with training on individual products, marketing, and setting business goals.  Direct Sales companies will provide you with a basic starter kit, filled with business materials for in home parties, product samples for demonstration, and marketing and training guides on how to run the business by company standards. 

The company you choose should offer products you believe in, are knowledgable of, and are marketable in your area.  Most companies require in home parties or demonstrations as a method of sales. 

Customers will either receive products direct from the company (drop shipped) or you will carry a back stock and deliver the night of the show (wholesale). 

The comapany you choose will depend largely on how much you have to initially invest in you business.  If your company offers drop shipping to your customers, you will have a lower start up cost due to not carrying inventory.   If your company treats you as a wholesale buyer, then you will need a larger investment to buy product to resell.

Do your research on how much you will need to invest.  Some companies will pay for credit card processing, some will not.  This means you will need your own merchant account. 

It is very easy to get caught up in the excitement of being recruited.  Be sure to ask your recruiter questions before signing up.  Once you pay and the kits are shipped, there is no getting your money back.  Make sure this is the right choice for you.  You may love one companies products, but not have any money left after you pay for all of the additional items needed to hold a show, reward the hostess, process credit cards, and buy merchandise for your back stock.   Questioning will make or break your business from day one.

Direct sales is an amazing way to make a lot of money in a short amount of time, if you are sociable.  You will begin by launching your business to family and friends.  The problems usually come when that list of people are exhausted and you move on to the next tier of people beyond your inner circle.  Bookings are what will make your business thrive.  The main goal of your show is not sales.  The products sell themselves with proper marketing.  Your goal is booking!!!! You have to keep the parties fun, and books filled to make this a good business to invest in.

 Check out  http://www.directsalescompanies.com/  for lists and information on direct sales programs.  This site will show you what types of businesses are available, start up costs, and requirements.

Remember, with direct sales you will manage your own time, you will be your own boss, but you will still have to leave home to work.  Most parties last 2-3 hours plus travel time.   If you have time, and investment money.....this is the way to make it into an enjoyable, profitable career!  Just do your homework!  

Do you have things around the house that you haven't used in the past year?  Sell them!  The key to this method is to go to Ebay first.  

Look up the items you currently have in your posession then ask:

1- How many other people are selling the same thing? (You dont want to list yours if there are 20 other items just like it and no one is buying any of them)

2- Are people actually bidding on this item? If it is there at a fair price and no one is still bidding, then dont list.

3- Will you get a fair price for your item? (If not list it somewhere where you can name your price without investing in listing costs)

If you are happy with what you see, you will pay a small listing fee, and a percentage of the total sale price to E Bay to handle your transaction.  You have to have a paypal account to sell on Ebay.  You also have a probationary period when you start selling, so be sure to read all of your guidelines before you start listing.

If E Bay works for you, start looking up items you might be interested in selling, or have access to at a reasonable price.  You can LIST anything on E Bay,  but not everything will sell!  Be sure to do your research before going out and dropping $100 on a pallet of snow shoes that aren't selling!  Find your niche.  Get a respectable score as a seller, and be fair to your customers.  You will succeed!

http://www.ebay.com

If E Bay is not your thing.  You can work on a smaller scale with a customer base that is just as large.  It is called Craig's List.  This is an online want- ad that advertises nationwide.  You can list your items free, and people will call you to come by and pick them up.  You can offer to ship your item, but you will have to calculate shipping costs, and be responsible for documenting that the package was sent.  

Craig's List is perfect for listing items you already have.  Say you have one quality item to list, but don't plan on selling anything again for six months.  This is the place to do it!

Craig's List also will allow you the opportunity to tell people how much you want to get from the item.  It is NOT an auction.  So, you do not have to rist your Uncle's vintage record collection selling for 99 cent and shipping.  You will have more control over pricing. 

http://www.craigslist.com

Both of these methods are a great way to clean out your closet, or to sell items you are able to obtain wholesale.

Were you the kid who loved essay writing and research papers back in college or high school?  Then have I found a gig for you!!!

E How is a site that allows you to give people directions on how to do anything!  Do you have directions, knowledge, or insight into a specific topic?  E How lets you share that information with the world!  You get paid  when people click to read your article.  Simple as that!

http://www.ehow.com/

Squidoo's motto is that "Everyone is an expert on something".  I agree.  This blog allows you to do the same thing as E How, but in a more elaborate form.  Instead of just giving instructions, you can actually write articles.  Squidoo allows you to write what you know, for people who want to read about that topic.  They call these articles "lenses"  and they send out emails daily to their subscribers, helping promote their latest lenses.  Again, you are paid when people read your work.

http://www.squidoo.com

Also, blogging is a great way to start writing for profit.  Sponsors will pay a fee to advertise on your blog once you prove that you are going to stick around! 

Start a free blog today, and then start advertising it in yahoo groups, free online listings for work at home moms, and free top 100 sites.  Soon people will see that you have a good quality blog, and want to pay you to advertise on it!

Free blog sites:

http://www.wordpress.com/

http://www.blogspot.com/

http://www.blogger.com/

http://www.myblogsite.com/

Have you ever called a store customer service number to place a catalog order, or to check the return policy for something you bought online?  Well, you could be the person who answers those calls too!  Several companies are getting stay at home workers to work on their own time, in their own homes, handling customer service issues.

You are required to have a seperate land line phone in your home, and a reliable internet connection.  You "clock in" by signing in to the company's secured website, and answer calls placed into the call center during that time.  Some company's offer a live internet chat to assist customers with questions also.  When you "clock out" or log out of the website, you are done for the day, and will no longer receive calls or live chat from customers.

The company will require you to work a certain number of hours per day to remain an active employee.  However, you can choose when and how to do that.  Some people like to work the shift all at once.  Some choose to work a few hours here and a few hours there. 

Some companies will require you to pay for the phone line installation, and a telephone head set.  However, once you are established with them, and they see you will stay on, most will compensate you for these items at a later date.

Here are a few of the customer service positions available at this time.  By doing online searches, you can find legitimate work at home positions. WAHM.com is a wonderful place to find "real" online work.

http://www.wahm.com/jobs.html

http://www.chacha.com

For Correspondence & Deliveries:

589 Eufola Rd. Statesville, NC 28677

Telephone: 704-437-0057

Email: shannon1677@yahoo.com