Friday, October 21, 2016
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Finding and Keeping Survival Jobs
A survival job is any job you take, often on a temporary or part-time basis, that is not in your field or pays considerably less than you're used to. A survival job, while not a perfect solution, pays the bills, helps you avoid financial disaster, and allows you to hold your head up until you find the better paying job you were trained for.
Adjust your attitude. Arrogance or misplaced ego or pride has no place in any job search. Employers know if you think you're above doing any job and consequently will not hire you. Remember any job is worthy, and your goal is not to make this your permanent position but rather to survive financially until you can get a better job.
Prepare for the survival job hunt just like you would for any other job. Dress well, be well groomed, update your resume, and slant it to the job you're applying for. Show up on time for interviews, and research the companies you're applying to so you know what they are looking for.
Once you get a survival job, work hard, work smart, show up on time, and sign up for any training programs that will make you more employable. Never talk the job, or your employers or fellow workers down to anyone, anywhere.
Apply for more than one survival job at a time if you can work two jobs
at a time. Sometimes two survival jobs will be enough income to almost equal your old pay.
at a time. Sometimes two survival jobs will be enough income to almost equal your old pay. - You'll be competing with many people, even for a survival job, these days so prepare for your job hunt as well as you would for any other job.
- Prepare a good resume and tweak it for each job.
- Dress well, have good grooming, and be prepared for any questions that might come up about why someone with your qualifications would want such a lowly job.
- Avoid getting depressed.
- Try not to work so many hours that you have no time to continue your job hunt for a better job in your field.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
The Thrifty Cook Saves on Groceries
I love to cook and I enjoy being frugal and I've learned through the years that you don't have to spend a lot to make delicious meals.
How to Save Money on Groceries 17 Ways |
1. Set up a food budget and determine to stick to it, no matter what. A good suggestion is to start by spending 20% less than you currently do on food.
2. Make a detailed grocery list of all you need to buy before you ever leave the house. Include all the items you normally buy, all the items you've run out of, and any items that you know you'll be needing soon.
3. Eat something before you go shopping. Studies have shown that grocery shoppers average between 10% to 25% more money spent on groceries when they shop hungry.
4. Make arrangements to leave the kids at home. Again studies show you'll spend more when you bring the kids with you to the supermarket
5. Clip coupons only for items you normally buy.
6. Join a food co-op with your friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers, and purchase some of your food that way. You can save a lot by buying in bulk, and with a food co-op the expense is shared.
7. Pick a quiet, less-busy, time of the week to do your grocery shopping. You'll be less stressed and have more time to search out bargains and compare prices.
8. Grow a garden. Use what you grow. Eat what you can freshly picked, and then can, dehydrate, or freeze the rest.
9. Shop less. This is an old trick but it's a very effective one. You aren't spending money if you aren't in the grocery store. Shop twice a month, or once a week, or even once a month if you can manage that.
10. Bring only the exact amount of cash with you that you plan to spend on groceries this week. Leave your checkbook, credit cards, and debit cards at home. Again, this is effective because you can't spend money you haven't brought with you.
11. Determine to buy most, or all, of your personal items at the dollar store rather than the supermarkets. It's much cheaper. Or, make your own. This applies to household cleaners too, either make your own natural cleaners, or buy them cheaply at the dollar store.
12. Buy bread at a bakery thrift store, and shop at a salvage grocery store for real bargains on food. Also check out ethnic grocery stores for bargains on produce and spices, as well as other foods. You can even check out the food at the dollar store, or places like Walgreen for bargains.
13. Cut down on or eliminate paper products, soda, and empty calorie foods, (especially chemically-laden and sugary breakfast cereals for children), as well as all prepared foods. Buy real food, and make your own meals. By the same token, cut down on meat, dairy, and milk. We eat more of these products than is healthy as a rule anyway.
14. Buy the generic, or house brand, whenever you can. You'll save a lot with this tip alone.
15. Buy bulk foods and stock up, so you'll always have plenty of good, wholesome food in your house. Eat more beans and legumes, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat ethnic more often, these dishes are often inexpensive, healthier for you, and delicious.
12. Buy bread at a bakery thrift store, and shop at a salvage grocery store for real bargains on food. Also check out ethnic grocery stores for bargains on produce and spices, as well as other foods. You can even check out the food at the dollar store, or places like Walgreen for bargains.
13. Cut down on or eliminate paper products, soda, and empty calorie foods, (especially chemically-laden and sugary breakfast cereals for children), as well as all prepared foods. Buy real food, and make your own meals. By the same token, cut down on meat, dairy, and milk. We eat more of these products than is healthy as a rule anyway.
14. Buy the generic, or house brand, whenever you can. You'll save a lot with this tip alone.
15. Buy bulk foods and stock up, so you'll always have plenty of good, wholesome food in your house. Eat more beans and legumes, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat ethnic more often, these dishes are often inexpensive, healthier for you, and delicious.
16, Use the smaller size grocery cart whenever you can. The temptation to add items to the bigger carts can be huge. Grocery stores know this and are making their carts bigger all the time, just to trick you into buying more every shopping trip.
17. Don't waste or throw away any of the foods you buy. Try to avoid running out of items between shopping trips, but if you do, learn to substitute for whatever you're out of instead of making an unplanned trip to the store where, chances are, you'll buy more than just the item you ran out of. By careful planning and substitution you can avoid blowing your food budget this way.
17. Don't waste or throw away any of the foods you buy. Try to avoid running out of items between shopping trips, but if you do, learn to substitute for whatever you're out of instead of making an unplanned trip to the store where, chances are, you'll buy more than just the item you ran out of. By careful planning and substitution you can avoid blowing your food budget this way.
Monday, October 17, 2016
How to Earn Money Without a Job
Jobless? Trying to live on minimum wage or unemployment? Retired but need more income? There are ways to earn some cash when you need some, either for short-term financial help or as a long-term money-maker.
Here are some more ways you can earn money when you have lost your job, can't get a job, or maybe you are retired but need more money to live on, or you work a minimum wage job and need more money than that to support yourself.
None of the jobs in this article are online or internet jobs, although there are plenty of those kinds of jobs available too.
There are a lot of businesses that need temporary or one-time help, and that is a good place to start looking for work. Examples include working as a department store Santa, selling Christmas trees or pumpkins at a store parking lot, picking fruit for a farmer, working summers in a National Park, or as a summer campground host, working at a carnival or county or state fair. They need a lot of help during the time the fair is running. That help could be you.
How can you find one of these temporary jobs? Often they are posted through your local employment office, or in your local newspapers, as well as online on job boards and places like craigslist.
Start checking about a month before the season starts for fairs and carnivals, and throughout the summer growing season for work with farmers. Also drive down country roads and see if any farmers have posted "help wanted" signs in their orchards or fields.
For holiday or seasonal jobs like playing santa or selling pumpkins, ask your local employment agencies where/how these people are hired, or again look on craigslist and job boards.
Also some RV work sites have listings of jobs you can do if you live in an RV. Many Christmas tree lots hire people who live in RV's to stay on their tree lots for the season. These people are called work campers and a google search for your area may turn up a job like this. You don't need to live in the RV if you are already in the area though. Just something to keep in mind.
Start checking about a month before the season starts for fairs and carnivals, and throughout the summer growing season for work with farmers. Also drive down country roads and see if any farmers have posted "help wanted" signs in their orchards or fields.
For holiday or seasonal jobs like playing santa or selling pumpkins, ask your local employment agencies where/how these people are hired, or again look on craigslist and job boards.
work a summer tourist job
Also some RV work sites have listings of jobs you can do if you live in an RV. Many Christmas tree lots hire people who live in RV's to stay on their tree lots for the season. These people are called work campers and a google search for your area may turn up a job like this. You don't need to live in the RV if you are already in the area though. Just something to keep in mind.
Another idea that has worked for some people is to offer your service for free for a week or so to someone needing help, then do a really good job at whatever work you're doing, because you're going to ask the boss for a paying job when the time is right. The hard part is putting yourself forward enough to do this, but you're job hunting anyway, which is also a challenge, so you might as well try anything that will get you through the door and earning.
If you know how to do anything that other people will pay you for, then start selling your skills or products. Figure out the amount you need to make a profit and start selling.
If you have a home of your own, maybe you can rent out a room or two to someone else. Yes you lose some privacy, but you'll probably gain some security and possibly a friend too. Don't do anything illegal, and have some sort of system for checking out the people you want to rent to.
Volunteer anywhere, and do a really good job. Two different volunteer jobs I had led to a paying job somewhere else because the people I worked for appreciated my hard work, and wanted to help me out. They recommended me for a job with someone they knew that needed a good worker once they knew I was reliable and hard-working and could do the job. This happened to me in two different states where I was volunteering on different projects, and I did not ask either of the people I volunteered with to help me find a job, they just did it.
Hold a yard or garage sale. Most people have heard of this, and many people have held their own garage sale at one time or another. To make money at it, you will need to be business-like, advertise with bright signs all over the area, set up a neat display area, have items clearly marked, and price your items reasonably.
Hold a yard or garage sale. Most people have heard of this, and many people have held their own garage sale at one time or another. To make money at it, you will need to be business-like, advertise with bright signs all over the area, set up a neat display area, have items clearly marked, and price your items reasonably.
Collect scrap metal and resell this metal to the scrap metal dealers in your town or area.
You almost need a pickup or a van for this one, although it is possible to start small by cleaning out the scrap metal that is laying around your own place.
Ask around, many people will let you pick up their scrap metal, even pay you to do this, just because they can't be bothered to do it themselves.
There is a market for aluminum, copper, brass, and many other metals. To make any money at selling scrap metal you need to do some research into how to locate the metals to sell, how to identify each metal, what to avoid, and what things aren't worth picking up, and how to clean your items, as well as how to find the recycling centers.
I learned most of this from a book in my local library, but there is also information on the internet, or you can look up the scrap metal dealers in your phone book, call them, and ask them what they will take, and how to sell to them.
You almost need a pickup or a van for this one, although it is possible to start small by cleaning out the scrap metal that is laying around your own place.
Ask around, many people will let you pick up their scrap metal, even pay you to do this, just because they can't be bothered to do it themselves.
There is a market for aluminum, copper, brass, and many other metals. To make any money at selling scrap metal you need to do some research into how to locate the metals to sell, how to identify each metal, what to avoid, and what things aren't worth picking up, and how to clean your items, as well as how to find the recycling centers.
I learned most of this from a book in my local library, but there is also information on the internet, or you can look up the scrap metal dealers in your phone book, call them, and ask them what they will take, and how to sell to them.
Collect pop bottles and cans for recycling. I doubt if anyone needs to know how this is done. I live in Oregon, where we recycle a lot, so nearly everyone takes their used cans to the grocery store here. You should do it too. Of course, you could also pick up cans beside the roads and in parking lots, and even in trash cans. (Why should these cans or bottles get thrown away, help save the planet, recycle!)
Donate your blood or plasma for money. I've never done this, but I know people who have. They earn money, and help the people who eventually receive the blood or plasma. The places that pay you for this usually advertise in some way, either in the local newspaper, or online. Ask local homeless shelters where to donate blood or plasma in your town. They should know. You won't make a lot doing this, and you can't do it all the time, but it might earn you enough to keep going.
Hire on as a parking lot attendant at your local fair grounds or event place. These jobs are advertised through employment offices usually. Or you might get a job as a ticket taker, working at the same place.
Grow lots of vegetables in your garden this summer and sell those extras. You might even start your own little vegetable stand beside your place. Make sure you take out a permit if you need to, to sell in your area.
Apply for work on a local farm. This means picking strawberries or lettuce or whatever the farmer grows in his fields. Some farmers hire people to help them during haying season too. (I grew up "haying" on a ranch, so be warned, this is hot, dirty, and hard work.) Look for these jobs in your local newspaper. Sometimes the farmers will pick up local workers in a bus or van too, to take you to the job site. Take water and a lunch!
Apply at your area tree farm, to help plant trees. This is big business in Oregon where I live. Christmas trees mostly. And it's very hard work, but if you need a job, you should look into it. Check the local newspaper for tree planting jobs. Sometimes the employment office lists them too.
Work as a seasonal firefighter. (This means forest fires.) In areas of the west and in Alaska, there is a real need for people who can do this work. It's very hard work, and can be dangerous, but it pays well during the fire season. Ask at your local employment office for the companies who hire fire fighters.
Apply at a local food cannery. In the area where I live, we have a lot of food processing jobs every summer. It's hard work, but only lasts a few weeks or a few months.
Don't forget to try those area "labor ready" associations. Each day, whoever is present and ready to work can get the work that the employers are needing workers for. These places seem to have different names in every city, but you've probably seen the long lines of men and women outside, waiting for any job available. Sign up with them and do good work whenever you do get one of these temporary jobs.
- Think positively, you can earn enough without a "regular" job to live on. Millions do right now.
- Be alert for opportunities. They are everywhere, you just need to recognize them
- When one job is about to end, you need to start looking around for another one.
- Ask the people you work for to write you a reference. It'll help when you apply for the next job.
Remember the pay might be minimal but it's more than you're making now. And if you do a good job in one of these seasonal jobs they often will invite you back the next year. It's happened to me before.
- You'll need to put some time and energy into tracking down jobs because no one is going to do this for you.
- Always be prepared, at anytime, to apply for any work going. You could be driving along a road and see a "help wanted" sign, or someone you know may mention a job opportunity and you'll have to move fast to have a chance at it.
- You won't be able to do most of these jobs for more than a few weeks, or months, and sometimes they are only a one day or one weekend event type job, so you'll have to be prepared for that.
- You probably won't have many, if any, job benefits.
How to Live Without a Job
If you are paying attention to the current economy you are probably aware of the need to prepare for a possible period of unemployment, or of having a job that pays much less than you're used to.
If you do find yourself in this position, here are some things you can do to get through it, and even learn and grow from the experience.
If you do find yourself in this position, here are some things you can do to get through it, and even learn and grow from the experience.
Preparation and planning is the first, and the most important, step for surviving any crisis, including job loss.
Start a savings program immediately, and build it up until you have at least three months salary in the bank, six months worth of savings is even better.
And, while you're in a saving mode, stock up on food too. A full pantry has saved more than one family during a financial emergency.
Start a savings program immediately, and build it up until you have at least three months salary in the bank, six months worth of savings is even better.
And, while you're in a saving mode, stock up on food too. A full pantry has saved more than one family during a financial emergency.
Get rid of debt. Stop using credit cards, then begin paying off all your credit cards.
Get out of debt in any way you can. Instead of buying a newer car, use the money to pay off some of your old bills. If you get a Christmas bonus, tax refund, or a birthday gift of money, use the money to eliminate debt.
Get out of debt in any way you can. Instead of buying a newer car, use the money to pay off some of your old bills. If you get a Christmas bonus, tax refund, or a birthday gift of money, use the money to eliminate debt.
Learn new skills that will make you more employable, more valuable to your current or to future employers. Take a first aid class, upgrade your computer skills, take classes in "getting along with other people", or in how you can add value to your business or company.
If your people skills are weak, you'll be the first fired, last hired. Employers want those men and women who fit in and don't cause trouble with other employees or with the bosses. Smile more, work harder and smarter, and learn how to network.
If your people skills are weak, you'll be the first fired, last hired. Employers want those men and women who fit in and don't cause trouble with other employees or with the bosses. Smile more, work harder and smarter, and learn how to network.
Learn the basics of money management. Learn to "pay yourself first." Start a savings plan. Set up a budget. Take free or inexpensive classes that teach you about some aspect of finances or money management that you currently know little about.
Eliminate as many "frills" as you can. Do you really need cable? Eating out three or four nights a week? Three cars? A new dress every month? Magazine subscriptions?
Ruthlessly pare back on the excess spending you've been guilty of in your family. Examine every aspect of your life, from insurance, travel, food, shelter, clothing, medical, entertainment, transportation, etc. etc., for ways you can cut down your current expenses in that area of your life.
Ruthlessly pare back on the excess spending you've been guilty of in your family. Examine every aspect of your life, from insurance, travel, food, shelter, clothing, medical, entertainment, transportation, etc. etc., for ways you can cut down your current expenses in that area of your life.
If you do become jobless, then make some money in any way you can. If that means taking a temporary job of some kind, or washing dishes in a cafe, or learning some new ways to make money without a full-time job, than so be it. You can pay the bills this way, just like you did with your old job.
There are many ways to make money without holding down a 9 to 5 job, so look around you for money-making opportunities.
There are many ways to make money without holding down a 9 to 5 job, so look around you for money-making opportunities.
- Check out your elders. Grandma and grandpa may know a lot of ways about living on very little. Ask. Check out books on thrift and frugality from your local library.
- Research your field, so you can spot hiring, or firing, trends in your area.
- Dress well. This is for your morale, as much as for the business of job-hunting.
- Treat job hunting like a business. Set goals, research companies and jobs you are unfamiliar with.
- If you do lose your job, don't panic. Most people will face a period or two of unemployment in their life. If they can survive it so can you.
- Don't get stuck in the rut of only applying for jobs in the field that you know. Apply for any job you think you can do, including one's you may not have considered "good enough" for you before. All jobs have value, all are worthy of your respect. A ditch digger or a plumber is as valuable and needed as a nurse or a teacher.
- Don't forget to tell everyone you know that you are looking for a new job. That's just how most jobs are found.
- Have some fun. No one can job hunt 24/7. It's just too stressful. Cut yourself some slack.
- Remember your family is feeling the stress too, so support each other as much as possible.
Save Money by Cooking at Home
Save 
Due to the challenging economic times, most people can't eat out as much as they used to. Cooking and eating at home can be a very positive experience though; not only will you save money, you'll more than likely be eating healthier, and as a bonus spending more time with your family.
Plan to eat at home most days. If you work outside the home then you already know how tempting it is to pick up some fast food on the way home from work. After all you're tired and there's nothing at home that's easy to fix right?
The way to avoid this scenario is to make sure that it's easy and convenient to eat at home. This means planning ahead.
If you have the ingredients for several easy to prepare meals in your kitchen at all times, you won't be so tempted to stop at the fast food joint. So keep a full pantry and fresh foods in your refrigerator and frozen food in your freezer.
Shop wisely and make sure you save money at the grocery store. Use coupons, buy generic, watch that the items you purchase are rung up correctly by the cashier, don't shop hungry, and go shopping alone.
Avoid packaged and frozen meals as well as most salty and sweet junk foods if you really want to save money. Go for the real foods, not the prepared meals that are full of chemicals and other things that you really can't afford in more ways than one.
Avoid packaged and frozen meals as well as most salty and sweet junk foods if you really want to save money. Go for the real foods, not the prepared meals that are full of chemicals and other things that you really can't afford in more ways than one.
Prepare as much of the evenings meal ahead as you can. Cut up vegetables as you bring them home from the store, ready for salads or snacks. Package the meat you purchase into family sized packages and freeze for meals. Cook extra every time you cook, then label and freeze the extras for dinners or work lunches later on in the month.
Choose water to drink, and eat healthy snacks like fruit. You'll save money and improve your health too.
- Make real foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes, and rice a bigger part of your menu.
- Get a simple basic cookbook if you don't know how to cook. It'll save you money.
- Don't stress about eating at home more, you can still eat out once in awhile as a treat.
Photo Credit
http:www.freerangestock.com,
Living Well When Money is Tight
Spending time in nature is free
More and more people are facing job loss or job insecurity, but you don't have to give up all the good things in life just because you're broke. There are so many ways to have a great quality of life on very little money.
Take to heart the old quote that you are broke and not poor. The two words mean entirely different things. Broke is a temporary state, that can change in an hour, while poor is a definition of someone who has basically lost hope and can see no way out of poverty. You are broke, not poor, and there is hope for you.
Investigate the services and aid that can help you through this time. For example, do you qualify for Unemployment? Have you applied for food stamps? Assisted housing? Signed up to receive a free food box from your local food bank? Enjoyed lunch at a local soup kitchen? Check out your states services to the poor and struggling people who live there (or your country if you are not a citizen of the USA), and take advantage of everything that you qualify for. That's what these services are for, to help struggling people survive.
If you still have more than one car, get rid of all but one of them, and make sure that it's the most fuel-efficient and usefull vehicle you have. If you're really desperate, sell all your vehicles and use public transportation, or buy a bicycle with carrying ability, or walk everywhere.
Check out all of the places in your area that offer free entertainment. It will be different in every city, but likely your public library can help you with this, they probably have some free entertainment and free activities themselves, as well as knowing what's going on in your town.
Make new friends with people you meet in the same situation as you. Standing in line at the food bank or checking out the library's stack of books on frugal living, you just might run into someone who's already living good while broke. If you ask, they just might share what they know with you.
Learn a new, but inexpensive hobby. Either for fun and entertainment, or as a way to have some future earnings, or both. If you always wanted to learn to crochet or sew for example, now might be a good time. You might get good enough to sell what you make. Many do.
If you own one of those huge "mega-houses", this might be a good time to sell it and buy a much more energy-efficient, smaller and easier to heat and cool house. You might consider moving to a cheaper area too. Where you live, and your choice of home, can make the difference between surviving this period of being broke, or not.
If you still have some money in savings, put some of it to good use and stock up on several months worth of food. A full pantry will ease your mind down the road when little or no money is coming in, because at least your belly will be full.
- Try to think "out of the box." Just because you're broke, doesn't mean you have lost your ability to reason and figure out solutions to problems.
- Stay close, or get closer, to your loved ones and friends. Now's not the time to "go it alone."
- Learn to make do, do without, use it up, and wear it out. No more disposables or throw away products. You just can't afford that now.
- Give something to others, whether time, energy, or something you have that they need, that you no longer use. Other people are in the same boat, and good people help each other through things.
- It's not the end of the world if you're broke, so watch out for depression and hopeless thinking.
Frugal Depression Era Recipes
I remember eating many of these meals when I was a child too, especially the creamed eggs on toast, and the ham and white bean soup. We ate these a lot and they were very good.
There are so many great recipes from the depression era in this forum, plus the stories from those times are so inspiring and interesting to read. Click on the link below and check them out for yourself.
http://community.tasteofhome.com/community_forums/f/30/t/44025.aspx?PageIndex=1
creamed eggs on toast is a yummy comfort food
Creamed eggs on toast
1/4 c butter
2 cups milk
3 tbs. flour
6 hard-boiled eggs, sliced or chopped
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepperMelt butter or margarine; add flour and seasonings. Blend well and cook over low heat until bubbly. Add milk all at once; cook, stirring constantly, until thickened throughout. Add eggs and heat thoroughly. Serve hot on toast or corn bread. Makes 4 servings
Vintage WW1 Eggless, Milkless, Butterless Cake
1 cup water
2 cups raisins
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup lard (shortening)
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
Place water, raisins, cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar, lard (shortening), nutmeg and salt in a saucepan and mix. Place on heat and bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes. Allow to cool, then sift together the flour, baking soda and baking
powder. Stir into cooked mixture.
Place in a greased loaf pan and bake at 350F for one hour.
1 cup water
2 cups raisins
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup lard (shortening)
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
Place water, raisins, cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar, lard (shortening), nutmeg and salt in a saucepan and mix. Place on heat and bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes. Allow to cool, then sift together the flour, baking soda and baking
powder. Stir into cooked mixture.
Place in a greased loaf pan and bake at 350F for one hour.
white beans and ham soup
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