Make Money on Valentines Day!

In honor of Valentine's day, I thought I would share 13 great ways to make money on Valentine's day. The original post is from WiseBread.com and can be found here. Enjoy!

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13 Ways to Make Money From Valentine's Day

While Valentine's Day is traditionally for lovers, it's also for savvy entrepreneurs. Instead of emptying your wallet to buy your special someone something special (aka "expensive"), you can actually turn a profit by setting up a side gig. Take advantage of the Hallmark holiday by raking in cold, hard cash with these 13 ways to earn extra money from Valentine's Day.

1. Create Handmade Valentine's Cards

If you're crafty or have decent graphic design skills, create your own line of heartfelt or funny Valentine's greeting cards. They're relatively easy to make — keeping them clever will probably be the hardest part — and you can sell them on Etsy, Bonanza, and a host of other sites that cater to handmade items. You'll can find colored envelopes at your local office-supply or craft store, and be sure to account for the cost of materials and shipping when pricing so you can make a decent profit.

2. Deliver Stuff

Not all local companies have the resources to offer delivery services, and that's where you come in. Identify some of the businesses that are particularly relevant around Valentine's Day and contact them to see what their delivery needs are. Places like florists, gift shops, and bakeries may be able to use an extra hand.

Bear in mind that this gig will likely be under-the-table because of insurance restrictions, so consider that before deciding if this is right for you. Even better, you may be able to score private gigs from, say, a guy who wants to send his girlfriend flowers last minute so he can save on the high shipping and delivery costs. One man's procrastination is your extra cash.

3. Play Chef for a Couple's Romantic Dinner

Are you a whiz in the kitchen? Offer to cook a multi-course meal for family, friends, co-workers, or even strangers who want to enjoy a relaxing Valentine's Day at home without all the hassle of cooking a romantic dinner. Plan a special menu of the couple's favorite dishes — complete with candles, ambient lighting, and mood-setting music — and set your fee to accommodate for the ingredients, travel, and time spent setting up, cooking, and cleaning after the meal.

4. Write Love Letters for Would-Be Casanovas

Most people aren't very slick when it comes to writing poetry or love letters, but if you're a gifted writer who can make people swoon in just a few sentences, putting sweet nothings on paper might be your money maker. (See also: 11 Life Skills That Are Now Completely Obsolete)

5. Plan Exciting Date Experiences

Everybody has their strengths, but men aren't always the best at planning special, exciting, or romantic dates. There are some creative dudes out there, for sure, but for the most part, the male of the species needs help in this area. If you happen to excel in this department, put together a few itineraries that are too good to pass up, and then do the due diligence so you can get paid by setting up the date to ensure that it goes off without a hitch.

6. Babysit or Pet Sit

All those parents you know — both of human and fur babies — deserve a break, too. And you can cash in big if you have the skills, certifications, and patience to babysit or pet sit while Mom and Dad enjoy a night out on the town.

According to UrbanSitter's 2015 Babysitting and Nanny Rates Survey, you're looking at about $15 per hour for one child and upwards of $20 per hour for three children. Add in a 15%-20% tip plus pizza money and you could take home a legit payday, albeit with a few more gray hairs. For pet sitting, you can expect between $10 and $15 per hour, as estimated by Care.com's pet care rate calculator.

7. Bake Valentine-Themed Goodies

What's Valentine's Day without dessert? That's the best part! Whip up your famous cookies, cakes, and pastries, and shop them around to local eateries (you'll fare better if you establish yourself as a small business with well-packaged goods and a business card; both of which are easy to do), or offer them up to your private network of friends, family, and co-workers.

8. Unload Unwanted Jewelry

If you have a collection of jewelry with which you're willing to part, you may be able to find interested buyers in your area. Instant-list apps like Wallapop, VarageSale, and OfferUp have made it simpler than ever to unload your items by snapping a photo, writing a short description, and naming a price.

9. Promote Your Party-Planning Skills

There may not be a huge market for amateur party planners, but it's worth a shot. If you're known for throwing memorable shindigs, you might be able to drum up some business. Shop the dollar stores for decorations to keep costs down.

10. Busk, or Serenade Couples

Throw a hat or instrument case on the ground in a well-traveled area and belt out love songs all day. If you want to be more proactive about it, take your show on the road and wander up to lovey-dovey couples for a serenading session. That dude would be a dummy if he didn't at least reach in his pocket for a dollar.

11. Photograph Couples' Special Moments

Valentine's Day, with all the sentiment that surrounds it, is prime time for weddings, engagements, and other relationship-specific photo ops. If you're handy with a camera, offer to snap shots of the special moments that the happy couple will cherish forever.

12. Draw or Paint Couples' Portraits

You don't have to be a well-established or recognized artist to sell your work. Some couples may enjoy the prospect of being drawn or painted, not only as a Valentine's Day activity, but also a gift to themselves that they can hang in the home as a reminder of their love.

13. Host a Singles Party for All Your Lonely Friends

Planning on spending Valentine's Day alone? Not anymore. Host a party at home for singles, if you have a large and diverse network of friends. Charge a few bucks admission to cover the cost of food, décor, drinks, and so you can walk away with a reasonable wage.

Top Black Friday Deals

Black Friday is known for deals – big deals. You're not waking up before the crack of dawn and standing in long lines merely for paltry discounts on second-rate products. You want to get the best deal possible to justify subjecting yourself to the mayhem of Black Friday.

To pinpoint your Black Friday shopping targets, visit deal-monitoring sites such as dealnews.comand BFAds.net, both of which publish leaked Black Friday ads that identify items that retailers will mark down the day after Thanksgiving (or, in some cases, on Thanksgiving day).

[More from Kiplinger: 10 Online Shopping Traps That Catch Even Smart Shoppers]

BFAds.net founder Michael Brim says the prices on all the items on his list are confirmed and will be available in stores, but he can't confirm whether the same deals will be available online. Brim cautions that the prices may be higher in Wisconsin and Oklahoma, which have laws that prevent retailers from selling items at prices below what they paid for them.

Here are 10 of the biggest Black Friday bargains available at popular big-box retailers across the country:

1.Toshiba 40-inch 1080p LCD HDTV -- $179.99 at Best Buy

The price on this TV is usually about $350. You won't find another 40-inch name-brand TV with similar specs for such a low price, Brim says. The closest deal he's seen is $200 for an off-brand 40-inch TV. (Note: Online shoppers will find the Toshiba at this low price on Amazon.com on Black Friday.)

2. Compaq Presario CQ58 15.6-inch laptop -- $179 at Walmart

This sale price, as reported by dealnews.com, is 50% off the current price of $359 on Walmart.com. Another good laptop deal is the Lenovo G585 15.6-inch model for $188 at Best Buy; it usually retails closer to $300, Brim says.

[More from Kiplinger: 12 Ways to Save More, Spend Less on Black Friday]

3. Canon PowerShot A3400 IS 16-megapixel digital camera bundled with an SD card and case -- $90 at Target

This price is $29 lower than any other deal advertised for this camera this year, reports dealnews.com. Target will also mark down the Nikon Coolpix L310 14.1MP digital camera to $100 from $200.

4. Proscan 32-inch 720p LCD HDTV -- $100 at Kmart

Sure, it's not a name brand, but you won't find a cheaper 32-inch TV.

5. Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7-inch 8GB tablet with a $20 gift card -- $179.99 at Best Buy

The price on this tablet is at an all-time low. What makes the Best Buy deal stand out is the $20 gift card that comes with the tablet.

6. Xbox 360 with Skylanders game -- $150 at Walmart

Brim says this console-and-game bundle is cheaper than the console alone, and the game usually costs $65. Dealnews.com says it hasn't seen the Xbox 360 this cheap since last Black Friday.

7. Dyson DC33 vacuum -- $250 at Sam's Club

This same model is currently listed for $390 on Amazon.com. Brim says he's only seen a price this low on a refurbished Dyson DC33 -- not a new one.

[More from Kiplinger: 9 Great Gadgets for Less Than $100]

8. Samsung Galaxy S3 smart phone -- 96 cents at Sam's Club

You have to buy this in-store and commit to a two-year contract to take advantage of this deal.

9. Apple iPad2 16GB WiFi with $100 gift card -- $399 at Meijer

The $100 gift card makes this the best iPad2 deal Brim has seen. The next-best deal is from Walmart for $399 with a $75 gift card. Walmart is guaranteeing this price for shoppers who visit from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thanksgiving day; you'll get a voucher if they sell out that night.

10. Leap Frog LeapPad Explorer -- $65 at Walmart

This is the best price ever on this popular children's learning and game device. The previous low was $89.

Original Post:http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-hottest-black-friday-deals-at-big-box-retailers-180811354.html

How to Get Paid to Buy Beer!

Buy beer and make money.

That's right, earn money by buying beer. Too good to be true? Check out this article from www.thepennyhoarder.com.

Professional Beer Buyer might not look good on a resume, but I’ll tell you it’s a kick ass job. If you have ever worked at a grocery store or a gas station you might know that there are undercover auditors who try to buy beer or cigarettes just to see if you ask for their ID.

Yeah – I’m that guy.

For the last year I’ve worked as a compliance auditor trying to buy cigarettes and beer from unsuspecting cashiers at places like Wal-Mart, Winn-Dixie, Exxon Mobil, and others. My job is to observe whether the cashier asks for my ID, which most do.

Regardless of whether they ask me for my ID, I have to buy the beer, submit the receipt, and fill out a quick report in order to get paid for the audit. All of this is done with the hopes of re-training the cashiers who aren’t checking IDs before they get caught by a different kind of auditor. The kind that carries handcuffs.

How to Become an Alcohol Compliance Auditor

1. You’ve got to be between 18-30 for this job. Sorry dad.

2. Fill out an application with the following auditing companies: Corporate Research,TrendSource, & Sinclair Customer Metrics. They are the middle men. Companies like Wal-Mart hire them to audit all of their stores around the country. They hire you, collect your report, and then pass it on to the brass upstairs.

3. Each site may ask you to take a small test before getting hired. They are pretty easy, but if you can’t spell your own last name than you might consider a different job.

4. After you’ve been hired (only takes a day or two) you can starting searching for assignments. The assignments are self-assigned meaning that you get to pick which stores you want to audit. Depending on your state, there might be hundreds of locations for you to choose from. You can audit one of them or you can audit all of them.

5. Submit your report. The reports only take about 5 minutes to complete and they require that you upload a scanned copy of your receipt. Each assignment pays between $5 and $30 with the average being somewhere in the middle. However, I have had jobs pay up to $50 for locations where the company has had a tough time finding an auditor. The company will also reimburse you for any purchase that they required.

6. Drink the beer. Well, technically that’s not required in order to get paid. Consider that a bonus.

Spend More to Save More

This is an interesting concept: save money by spending more. Check it out.

10 Ways to Save Money by Spending More

Certain things are worth spending money on.

There is a fine line between miser and smart spender.

As your accounts grow in size and decimal places, there are several key purchases that may increase your quality of life — and even save you some cash in the process!

A range of experts shared advice for items that savvy investors should buy in order to climb the ladder and accumulate wealth while also increasing day-to-day enjoyment.

Here are 10 thrifty ideas for smart ways to spend more without feeling guilty:

1. Hire Some Help

Time is money. If your hourly income is more than what you would pay for someone else to clean the house, walk the dog or mow the lawn, then hiring some help makes financial sense.

Jennifer Litwin, an author and consumer reporter, added that grocery delivery can be a big-time saver. Litwin listed “avoiding the new long self-check-out lines; getting fruits and vegetables that are well-wrapped and packed; and shopping from the comfort of your own home and still being able to take advantage of sales” among the service’s advantages.

The time saved from outsourcing some of your daily chores can be used to relax after a long day at work, log in some extra face time at the office, or brainstorm new investing ideas.

2. Dress for Success

Sloppy outfits are not exactly an express ticket to the C-Suite. While Silicon Valley is known for its casual environment, rocking the hoodie in a typical business landscape may elicit some unwanted attention — even if you’re Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Fanya Chandler, Nordstrom’s national stylist director, advised investing in core pieces.

This means men can splurge for a high-quality suit while women can spend a little more on the dress, skirt or jacket. Blouses are a spot where women can scale back a little, she said.

Loren Bendele, CEO and co-founder of Savings.com, suggested investing in handbags, well-made jeans and staple children’s clothing also.

“The most expensive item you’ll buy is the one you never wear,” he cautioned.

3. Table for Two, Please

If you’ve found the One (or narrowed it down to one for now), don’t forget about date night.

While anniversaries are often associated with splurging, Bendele said surprising your plus-one with tickets or going out to dinner could be a way to build lasting memories.

“Date nights don’t necessarily have to be expensive either,” he said. “Picnics on the beach, breakfast in bed and candlelight dinners at home are always big events.”

Research from the National Survey of Families and Households provides further evidence for the importance of some alone time.

“Indeed, the predicted probability of divorce for those who rarely had couple time was 21 percent for both wives and husbands, but only 14 percent for wives and 10 percent for husbands who reported having couple time almost every day,” wrote researchers from the University of Virginia’s National Marriage Project.

4. Turning to the Financial Pros

Depending on the extent on your burgeoning financial empire, adding a trusted financial adviser to the payroll may be a good idea. Experts have years of experience that they can draw on to grow your portfolio while you can concentrate on your own career. But be sure to keep tabs on your accounts and ask questions to make sure that their investing values and philosophies match your own.

5. Is Your Business Card Rolodex Ready?

“That's bone. And the lettering is something called Silian Rail,” boasts Patrick Bateman in “American Psycho,” in which he exhibits some serious business card envy.

For this tip though, skip the corporate competitiveness and concentrate on the basics.Entreprenuer.com suggests sticking to the standard business card size of 3.5 inches by 2 inches, keeping cards simple and including relevant contact information, including company name, phone number, email address and website address.

Critical information should be relegated to the front since business cards often spend the rest of their days in card holders that obscure the backs.

While many companies will provide employees with cards, this suggestion is especially useful for people trying to expand freelance or side businesses.

6. It’s Tool Time

Buying high-quality tools can save time, money and a leaky drain or two if you learn to use them correctly. But don’t be tempted to quit your day job to become Mr. Fix-It full time for your home though — if a problem arises that is beyond the scope of your skills, call the pros.

7. Consider Refinancing

With average 30-year and 15-year fixed mortgage rates at record lows, homeowners should consider whether now is a good time to refinance. Freddie Mac said the 30-year loan rate had dipped to 3.79 percent as of May 18, the lowest since long-term mortgages began in the 1950s.

“Record-low mortgage rates and low home prices are making home buying more attractive to Americans, and refinancing is a perfect example of spending money so you save more in the long run,” Bendele said.

8. Saying 'I Don't' to Cash Bars

As the average price of a wedding climbed to more than $27,000 last year, according to the Real Weddings Survey, couples-to-be may want to consider wedding insurance.

Several companies offer policies that range in coverage type and level to help couples recover lost expenses if plans go awry.

Anja Winikka, TheKnot.com’s site editor, said that couples should not skimp on either some form of a gratis bar for guests or a reputable photographer for the big day. She also suggested spending the extra money to get some professional help to help coordinate the wedding festivities.

“As much as you want to take on the creativity of DIY activities for elements of the wedding, the last thing you want to do on the day of the event is worry about the flowers, food, etc.,” Winikka said. “There are some vendors that should be hired professionally to avoid a stressful wedding day.”

9. Skip the Nosebleeds

Sporting events, Broadway, concerts — these are a few times when upgrading seats and paying a little extra may be worth it. But this does not mean that splurging for the VIP passes is the best idea either. Aim for the middle ground for maximum enjoyment with minimal impact on your wallet.

This concept also applies to family vacations.

“You can’t put a price tag on the life-long memories from family vacations,” Bendele said. “It is important to spend time together, and whether you plan a modest vacation or a more extravagant one, enjoying time spent together is a highly valuable investment.”

10. Networking to the Top

Rubbing elbows at relevant networking events is another area where it is important to spend. Investing in memberships at professional societies in addition to dinners and fundraisers provides plenty of opportunities to further your career and catch up on the latest news in your industry.

Same goes for personal development seminars and courses as long as you put them into action, said J.D. Roth, founder and editor of the personal finance blog getrichslowly.org.

“Any personal development is a good investment, if you ask me,” he said.

“But only if you act on the things you learn. Just going to a bunch of seminars won’t make you a better person. You have to put the things you learn into practice.”

By Katie Little | CNBC – Fri, May 25, 2012 10:25 AM EDT

Buy Things with Gift Cards

Just a few of the retailers whose discounted gift cards are for sale .

Any college student knows that saving money is just as, if not more important, than making money while in school. This post shares with you a clever and somewhat unknown way to save money when shopping: making purchases with gift cards.

How does this work?

Many people (myself included) receive gift cards as presents to stores that they never shop at. Generous people might just give their gift card to a friend, but frugal people will sell their gift card at a discounted rate. People who like the store can then buy the gift card, and use it when they go shopping. The end result is that the seller gets cash to bank or spend at a store they like, and the buyer gets a gift card worth more than what they paid. Its a win win situation.

Where does this happen?

Websites like PlasticJungle and GiftCardGranny serve as marketplaces where people can buy and sell gift cards and discounted prices. Shipping is free and depending on the retailer, discounts can range from 3% to 35% savings!

My Advice

Definitely use discounted gift cards for big purchases like TV's and laptops, but you might not want to use them for every purchase (it can lead to buying more things than you should). I also suggest banking whatever you save from this method. That way you wont be as tempted to spend that money and your savings account will grow.

Hopefully this post opened your eyes to the savings opportunity that is discounted gift cards! Check my blog often for new quality posts like this one