Here are 2 reasons why you should maintain good relationships with previous employers:
1. From a small, family business situation:
My brother came home from college about a week ago and visited an old manager to say, "Hey!" Guess what happened. His old manager asked him if he would like to work for a few days! My brother did not go by the store to get a job. It just happened that the manager needed some extra help for the holidays and was willing to pay him for it. Good deal, eh?
2. From a corporate, internationally operating business situation:
I was seasonally employed for nearly 4 years in retail. While I was in college I worked every summer, almost every spring and fall break, and every holiday season. It was pretty sweet to have a job waiting for me when I came home---exactly when I needed money. Imagine that...a job waiting for you.
Keep up with previous employers, co-workers and old friends. You never know where jobs might show up!
Showing posts with label extra cash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label extra cash. Show all posts
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
A Holiday Guest Post: Your video game habit, your unemployment and your lack of cash
It is the holiday season which means that major publishers like EA and Activision are pumping out AAA video game titles like there's no tomorrow. The problem, however, is that you're light on cash and a new game costs anywhere between $40 and $60...
How can you afford your video game habit?
1. Discounts: There are always discounts on video games. There are nearly countless stores in America that sell video games and they're all competing with each other over you. Just a couple of weeks ago, 3 different retailers offered the same discount of 'buy two get one free' on select titles, and Amazon followed shortly after with a 'buy two get a $40 gift card.' You can check Kotaku.com (a video game blog) before the weekend for a rundown of sales that are happening at different stores and online retailers. Remember, a game will be just as good years down the road as it is now, so you could buy older games you haven't played yet for a fraction of the cost of current ones.
2. Trade-ins and reselling: I know it is tough to get rid of your old games, but honestly, if you're not going to play them again then why keep them? The longer you hold onto a title, the less it will be worth in trade-in value at locations like Gamestop. Also, try selling your games on Amazon and Ebay, where you can often get much more than trade-in value, though it is not always a gauranteed sale.
3. Rent before buying: Renting games is not always a great option since renting from places like Blockbuster can be expensive, plus you don't get to keep the game for very long. However, consider this scenario: You have a few days or a weekend available to play a game and there's a new game out that you know only takes 10-20 hours to beat. In that case, you would be much better off just renting the game for a few dollars instead of buying it for full price. Also, if you're not sure whether you want to buy a game or not, renting it (or borrowing it from a friend) can help you make up you mind about whether you really want to pony up that cash or not.
4. Replayability: If you have to limit yourself to just one or two purchases over the next few months, what you really want to find is a game that will give you a lot of bang for your buck. Replayability is the value over time that a game has. Multi-player games typically have good replay value since each game you play online is going to be different and they often involve competitive leader boards that encourage you to practice and play more to increase your standing. Single player games like sports, racing or role-playing games also offer the same value since they encourage a player to go through the game multiple times, trying different strategies each time, so even though you're getting the same product, each time it is slightly different.
How can you afford your video game habit?
1. Discounts: There are always discounts on video games. There are nearly countless stores in America that sell video games and they're all competing with each other over you. Just a couple of weeks ago, 3 different retailers offered the same discount of 'buy two get one free' on select titles, and Amazon followed shortly after with a 'buy two get a $40 gift card.' You can check Kotaku.com (a video game blog) before the weekend for a rundown of sales that are happening at different stores and online retailers. Remember, a game will be just as good years down the road as it is now, so you could buy older games you haven't played yet for a fraction of the cost of current ones.
2. Trade-ins and reselling: I know it is tough to get rid of your old games, but honestly, if you're not going to play them again then why keep them? The longer you hold onto a title, the less it will be worth in trade-in value at locations like Gamestop. Also, try selling your games on Amazon and Ebay, where you can often get much more than trade-in value, though it is not always a gauranteed sale.
3. Rent before buying: Renting games is not always a great option since renting from places like Blockbuster can be expensive, plus you don't get to keep the game for very long. However, consider this scenario: You have a few days or a weekend available to play a game and there's a new game out that you know only takes 10-20 hours to beat. In that case, you would be much better off just renting the game for a few dollars instead of buying it for full price. Also, if you're not sure whether you want to buy a game or not, renting it (or borrowing it from a friend) can help you make up you mind about whether you really want to pony up that cash or not.
4. Replayability: If you have to limit yourself to just one or two purchases over the next few months, what you really want to find is a game that will give you a lot of bang for your buck. Replayability is the value over time that a game has. Multi-player games typically have good replay value since each game you play online is going to be different and they often involve competitive leader boards that encourage you to practice and play more to increase your standing. Single player games like sports, racing or role-playing games also offer the same value since they encourage a player to go through the game multiple times, trying different strategies each time, so even though you're getting the same product, each time it is slightly different.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Extra Cash: TV and Internet
You can save money on your cable if you're willing to sacrifice a little...
When I was in graduate school I signed up for a special 6 month deal on cable (TV + internet). I even had HBO. It was GREAT. My 6 month deal cost me about $65 per month. After 6 months my rate would have been greater than $120 per month. Instead, I called the cable company and told them I was a student, simply couldn't afford $120 per month, and that I'd have to cancel. They put me on the phone with another representative who then offered me a deal (high speed internet and standard basic cable) for $80 per month for the next 6 months. I accepted. Success!
A few more tips:
+Some people advise shopping around for cable providers (and prices). However, there was only one supplier for my area.
+Monitor your bills or statements carefully if you're involved in a cable promotion. My company screwed up my bill several times.
+I will tell you that I tried this tactic again after my second 6 month deal ran out and it did not work. I eventually switched over to the very basic TV option (15 channels) and high speed internet.
+Here are some more tips from the wisebread blog about how to lower your cable bill:
"Stop Paying for Cable Television But Keep Up With Your Favorite Shows"
"Thirteen Minutes to a Lower Cable Bill"
When I was in graduate school I signed up for a special 6 month deal on cable (TV + internet). I even had HBO. It was GREAT. My 6 month deal cost me about $65 per month. After 6 months my rate would have been greater than $120 per month. Instead, I called the cable company and told them I was a student, simply couldn't afford $120 per month, and that I'd have to cancel. They put me on the phone with another representative who then offered me a deal (high speed internet and standard basic cable) for $80 per month for the next 6 months. I accepted. Success!
A few more tips:
+Some people advise shopping around for cable providers (and prices). However, there was only one supplier for my area.
+Monitor your bills or statements carefully if you're involved in a cable promotion. My company screwed up my bill several times.
+I will tell you that I tried this tactic again after my second 6 month deal ran out and it did not work. I eventually switched over to the very basic TV option (15 channels) and high speed internet.
+Here are some more tips from the wisebread blog about how to lower your cable bill:
"Stop Paying for Cable Television But Keep Up With Your Favorite Shows"
"Thirteen Minutes to a Lower Cable Bill"
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Extra Cash: Sell your stuff
Do you have a lot of stuff? Sell it online through craigslist, ebay, half.com or Amazon. Believe me, people are still scouring the Earth to find discounts and savings!
I sold my car, my father's keyboard, my brother's saxophone, my old flute, and my uncle's trumpet (will full permission) on craigslist rapidly. If you've sold stuff on craigslist before then you know it can be slightly addicting. Also, remember that some of your family members may actually want to get rid of their stuff but do not have time OR may even be afraid of the internet! This is your opportunity! Here are some things you could sell with permission:
+Books (especially relatively new textbooks)
+Toys (small children can grow out of toys really fast)
+Older electronics and small appliances
+Instruments
+Furniture
PLEASE remember to exercise caution when using craigslist. Trust your instincts and always meet in public places during business hours. Take a friend with you to meet an interested party.
I sold my car, my father's keyboard, my brother's saxophone, my old flute, and my uncle's trumpet (will full permission) on craigslist rapidly. If you've sold stuff on craigslist before then you know it can be slightly addicting. Also, remember that some of your family members may actually want to get rid of their stuff but do not have time OR may even be afraid of the internet! This is your opportunity! Here are some things you could sell with permission:
+Books (especially relatively new textbooks)
+Toys (small children can grow out of toys really fast)
+Older electronics and small appliances
+Instruments
+Furniture
PLEASE remember to exercise caution when using craigslist. Trust your instincts and always meet in public places during business hours. Take a friend with you to meet an interested party.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Extra Cash
Last week I took a day off from The Bakery to work for my father. I was promised a sizable sum for a 10 hour job which involved "touching-up" chairs with varnish in a fine dining establishment. My day started at 4:15 am and ended at 6 pm. Even though the job was tedious and some of the restaurant employees were quite demeaning I'd say it was worth the money. (Note: I will never eat in that particular restaurant because the employees were total snobs and treated us like scum.)
Mowing lawns and babysitting are no longer for teenagers. I earned quite a lot of extra cash by babysitting through undergrad and graduate school. Do you have a knack for household things like cleaning, moving, organizing, sewing, repairing, etc.? Network with people you know in the community to see if anyone needs help. You never know who may pay you $$ to help put up a Christmas tree, repair kitchen cabinets, shuttle children, or take elderly people to the grocery store. You could say something like, "Hi Mrs. Such and Such. Yes, I hope you are doing well today. I'm still looking for a job in my field but I'm trying to earn a little extra cash by mowing lawns. Would you happen to know anyone who would be interested?"
Mowing lawns and babysitting are no longer for teenagers. I earned quite a lot of extra cash by babysitting through undergrad and graduate school. Do you have a knack for household things like cleaning, moving, organizing, sewing, repairing, etc.? Network with people you know in the community to see if anyone needs help. You never know who may pay you $$ to help put up a Christmas tree, repair kitchen cabinets, shuttle children, or take elderly people to the grocery store. You could say something like, "Hi Mrs. Such and Such. Yes, I hope you are doing well today. I'm still looking for a job in my field but I'm trying to earn a little extra cash by mowing lawns. Would you happen to know anyone who would be interested?"
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