There are way to many gimmicks out there claiming internet riches in return for “a few short minutes of your time.” Unfortunately for you, the reality is that most of these offers are blatant lies and won’t make a single penny. What they don’t lie about is that you will spend minutes (or hours) filling out surveys, participating in groups, or buying useless junk. In the end you’ll be left with 5 subscriptions to some magazine you don’t want, enough spam emails to fill a truck, and a bunch of wasted time.

This doesn’t mean that building cash flow on the internet is impossible, here are 15 avenues that will bring in money…provided you are willing to actually work (gasp!)

1. Utilize your social Influence: Are you popular on the web? If so, you may be in for a treat. Sites like Gushcloud.com allow you to turn that popularity into a paycheck by promoting products. As an “influencer” you will go to sites like Gushcloud, pick products you like, and post them to Facebook or Twitter. Then, depending on how many people click on the item, you’ll begin to get cash.
2. Write: Disclaimer (must be a decent writer). There are two options with this one. You can either grow yourself as a brand by taking side jobs from bloggers and others through sites like Fiverr; or you can write content for larger brands like Associated Content. Either option will yield nearly instant revenue, but stick with it and become a popular writer and the money will really start to flow.
3. Buy and Sell: It’s amazing how cheap some things are online if you do enough looking. This makes a fun margin for internet resellers. Pick an item to start with, find out how much it should sell for on Priceonomics.com, then scour the web to find that item for cheaper somewhere else and the circle is started.
4. Be Helpful…On YouTube: Do you have knowledge about a difficult subject? Education is going online, and that doesn’t just mean traditional subjects like math – you can teach anything you want to. A guy named Will from LearnYourOwnIt started making instructional videos on laptop repair and this side hobby has turned into a steady stream of income.
5. Build A Following Through A Blog: You’ll see advice, promises, and step-by-step guides on how to create a blog and fill it with content; but what really makes money is an avid following. The easiest and most effective way to accomplish this is to write on a subject you are passionate about. Start small, post something new everyday, and you’ll be surprised at how much people appreciate an honest blog filled with real posts. This method will take months to make any money, but when it does start bringing in revenue, that cash flow will be consistent.
6. Create Graphics: Got an eye for what looks awesome and some skills with Photoshop? Thanks to the rise of sites like Elance and fiverr you can win jobs and help artistically deficient people build fun graphics. Some users on Fiverr has made thousands of dollars making logos for websites from the comfort of his own home.
7. Learn HTML: Through sites like CodeAcademy.com you can learn html and other web languages easily and quickly…(if you have enough drive to get through the stuff). If you’re able to accomplish this feat there are many opportunities for you to make money. Disclaimer here; I’m not suggesting that you learn “coding” and become a programmer. Html itself is a framework and not a code, which makes it easier to learn. With basic knowledge you can begin fixing and tweaking people’s websites, which can become very lucrative very fast.
8. Be A Know-It-All: If you know a lot of random but useful information; Answers.com and sites like it will provide you with some extra cash. Simply go on the site and register as an expert and start answering questions. If people like your answers, money will come your way!
9. Pinterest: Now the world’s third-largest social network, Pinterest is a gold mine for well-followed pinners. Some people on the site who have over 100,000 followers are bringing in upwards of $100/day by simply pinning affiliate products. Gathering a following that large doesn’t just happen overnight, but become a “celebrity” on Pinterest and you could see some serious cash.
10. Data Entry: Is the most boring thing on earth…but it also makes money. If you find yourself with a lot of time and accountant acumen, this may just be  your key to monetizing your hours online. Sites like TaskUs.com do data entry full time and could be the next key to money making for you.

Now With a Twist…

The “final five” on this list come with a twist. These methods for making money online also involve a non-internet component.

11. Craigslist: No internet money list would be complete without mentioning the infamous Craigslist. Check out this article for five awesome ways to make money on the site. Craigslist gets a ton of bad press, but the vast majority of transactions are safe and beneficial. Just be sure to meet in well-lit areas and check the money for fakes!
12. Make Some Art: Got an artistic bone in your body? Turn that bone into money! EveryArt.com is a site that allows you to build commissioned art pieces specifically for clients. The best part is that you don’t need to be a professional to make money. Just create something that your client likes and watch the dollars fly in.
13. Hang Out With Dogs: Like dogs? Got a house or apartment? Make money with DogVacay.com by watching, walking, or just hanging out with dogs (don’t worry, cats are coming soon). Simply sign up on the site as a host, start taking in dogs, and make up to $1000 a month.
14. Rent Out Your Drive Way: Live in a highly trafficked area? Ever wish you could make some money off of the prime parking spot that is your driveway? Parking Panda now lets you do that through the internet. All you need to do is set the price and availability of your spot and you could make $20 a day without doing any work at all.
15. Sell Clothes (not your own though): StyleOwner.com allows you to set up and run a clothing store online – and you get 10% of all sales. These aren’t your clothes, or even clothes that you’ve bought, they are just selections from around the web. If you’ve got an eye for fashion this is a great way to turn those long nights spent perusing internet boutiques into some cold hard cash.

There’s a theme to all these money-making strategies…they take work. The biggest mistake most people make is falling for gimmicks claiming insane returns on your time and effort. However, that doesn’t mean that making money from the comfort of your couch is impossible. If you’ve had experience with one of these monetizing tactics or have more to add, please do so in the comments below!

Josh is the founder of two internet companies, a student at UCLA, and a writer. Check out his latest venture called Entrepreneur Stories.

Are you completely confused as to what all of these stock market and financial services terms are?  Could you explain yourself if someone asked you to answer the question what are dividends?  Most individuals will go on the wrong path and not use the various resources available to them on the internet like this one to learn more about the lucrative and vital task of investing to preserve future income. Though there are many places to start, such as IRAs, savings accounts, bonds, and stocks, one of the most important terms you must know to succeed is “dividends”.

What are Dividends – The Basics

What is a Dividend

Dividend investing, which often involves buying stocks in companies that payout dividends, is becoming a standard in a post bail-out, low interest rate world. The most beneficial way to preserve the value of your hard earned dollars instead of watching them waste away due to inflation in a bank account, is to invest them in either precious metals, or dividend paying stocks. Dividends are quite simply a distribution of profits from a corporation to its various shareholders. For example, Company A will earn $10 million this year, and distribute $2 million in $2 increments per stock held. This would mean that if you were a shareholder in this company, and held twenty shares, you would be paid out forty dollars come payment time. Companies pay out certain amounts from their profits to shareholders, most often on an annual or quarterly basis.

Benefits of Dividend Paying Stocks

Dividend investing provides a host of benefits that may far outweigh some of the other viable options out there in the volatile marketplace. Most notably, dividends provide a constant share of the profits to the shareholders that make up a company. It is much more rewarding, both financially and in terms of morale, to understand that purchasing a stock can be more of an investment with a real return rather than a gamble that feels like a Las Vegas Roulette game. Regular stocks consist of the “buy low, sell high” mentality that resembles the uncertainty of gambling. Dividends can ameliorate this problem with its aforementioned constant return rate.

The Drawbacks of Dividends

Though dividend investing can be useful for solidifying your portfolio, it does come with some major drawbacks that seem to undermine the idea of safe, low-risk investing that keeps you in the game without the possibility of losing your shirt. The greatest drawback is the risk of dividend taxes doing up to around fifty percent in the near future as former tax breaks expire. It is a burden to know that the Federal Government can be taking away almost half of this constant stream of income, making it less worth the while in general. Also, the whole idea of constant may, in fact, be an ephemeral thought. Companies can, at any time, choose not to pay dividends at all. It is the status quo in the market that once a company starts to pay, it usually doesn’t end the payments unless it suffers from a major fall. Even though some can rest easy knowing this, it is still the decision of the Board of Directors, and the money can stop flowing at any time for any reason. This makes the idea of purchasing a stock only for its dividends much harder to swallow. Lastly, the idea that the money taken out for dividends is taken away from future investment is one that has great bearing on a company. Though dividends can be great by providing short term happiness through consistent payment, always take into account that all that money paid out wasn’t used to drive up the actual stock price of the company through investment.

Technical Dividend Terms

Declaration Date – When the payment will be paid according to the Board of Directors.

In-Dividend Date – Last day that the stock includes the dividend, if it is sold before this date, the original owner cannot claim a dividend.

Ex-Dividend Date – The date on and after which any new owner of the stock will not receive a dividend during the next Declaration Date. However, the new owner is entitled to the dividend on any Declaration thereafter.

Record Date – The date on which the company temporarily closes its book and records any new shareholders.

Payment Date – The date on which checks or credit for the dividend is sent out to shareholders.

Investing in dividends can be one of the best moves you can make with the help of a stock broker. It provides a steady stream of income, represents investment into an established company, and makes you feel like you are actually a part of a grand organization and not just an individual that holds paper. With that, may you be blessed with continued success in all of you future investing endeavors and may you always be informed to the best possible extent. To success. To security. To prosperity.

Good Luck!

In this day and age, a lot of people are talking about ‘fairness’. There’s a good reason behind this, as many people who have been caused distress after something like a horrific accident want justice, as they may have suffered in a variety of ways. The importance of getting justice at the expense of the person or people who have caused their injury is reason enough to go to the likes of First4lawyers for help, as they know the area of personal injury law inside out.

One way of seeking justice is making a claim for compensation. If the consequences of your injury include having to quit your job for health reasons and spending a fortune on healthcare such as medicine and treatment, then you may be able to go down this route. People in increasing numbers are doing this as they feel that any compensation awarded has enormous financial benefits.

Compensation can help to fill the gap that your regular income from working once occupied. It can also meet the costs of any other expenses which you’ve been forced to cope with since becoming injured. They may include any medication needed to help your recovery, money spent on going to the hospital or clinic and back, any care needed from a care worker, and items such as wheelchair ramps and stairlifts needed to make your home easier to get around.

If you’re in such a situation, and are still dealing with the consequences, then, providing that the accident happened less than three years ago, you may be eligible to make a claim for compensation. Meanwhile, if your claim is successful, it might have a positive impact on the lives of others, as they may find that safety at work, on the road and in public spaces is given greater priority than before.

If you own a business, the chances are that efficiency never strays far from your mind. You’re always looking at how much everything costs and wonder if there’s any way to save money. Perhaps one of the biggest expenses any business faces is energy. At this moment in time, energy bills seem to be rising at a pace which leaves many business people alarmed at the costs they face, and as a result, some are wondering what can be done to reduce the bills.

If your business has looked into those schemes and found them too complicated to try and take part in, there is another way of trying to reduce the cost of your energy bills. By visiting makeitcheaper.com, you could get all the help you need in trying to reduce the amount of money you’re spending on gas and electricity, whether it’s through changing suppliers or through negotiating a better deal with your current one.

Research recently conducted by campaigners shows that, in order to change supplier, many business customers have to do so through a ‘renewal window’, as many businesses are locked into deals which last up to three years. This has proved incredibly frustrating for a number of people, especially as a number of businesses weren’t aware of the window existing in the first place. Meanwhile, just 20% of the 750 businesses contacted remember actually getting a renewal letter.

As businesses pay fixed price tariffs for between 1 and 3 years, it’s important to get the cheapest deal possible. A quick visit to makeitcheaper.com will help you to find a great value deal on your energy.

If you do business in the electronic world of today, then you definitely know the importance of having a working website online. What many business owners do not know is that even if they do not have a budget for web design or maintenance, they can still create an effective and professional web presence for absolutely no money.

Below is a quick overview of a few of the ways that business owners can begin creating their presence online without having to spend any money at all.

Blogger

Blogger is the free blogging tool that comes from Google. It is perhaps the easiest blogging tool to use and to monetize, because it is connected directly to the largest online advertiser in the market. However, it does have a few drawbacks and a few less advantages than the other two solutions that will be presented in this article.

Blogger is usually used for a beginning website. It is also one of the quickest kinds of websites to set up, as it is mostly plug-and-play. If you’re looking to get up a quick and dirty website, Blogger is the free service for you.

WordPress

Perhaps the most comprehensive blogging service online would be WordPress. WordPress actually has a few advantages over Blogger, the most important of these being the ease of connecting the website to search engines. One would think that Blogger would be easiest to connect the search engines, but WordPress is actually one step ahead because it embeds the proper code as soon as a post is published.

WordPress is also one of the easier plug-and-play medians to use. Although it is easy to use, it is also one of the most comprehensive, allowing you to add many third-party applications quite easily through a simple drag and click mechanism.

WebEden

This blogging tool is most effective if you’re in the UK and want to build a business website. Perhaps the best blogging tool when it comes to connecting with potential customers in that country, WebEden provides many of the easy plug and play options of WordPress and Blogger. However, the user interface is set up for an English audience, which definitely helps if you are trying to solidify your presence inside of that country.

How’s that for a quick overview of ways you can build a website for free!

Thinking of studying abroad? These simple tips will help you get the most out of your experience.

Decide on a Program

Mark Your Calendar

Resist the Urge to Insulate

Gas and electricity can cost more than other expenses in a household if some things are not done to control the costs. You can use simple solutions to save money on energy costs. These solutions will require making some lifestyle changes.

Make Small Adjustments

Sometimes the changes will require you to change to way you heat or cool the home. Electricity or gas heat can cost an extravagant amount if no consideration is shown in conserving the heat or cool air in the home. By changing the thermostat by just a degree or two, it can help save several dollars each month.

Install Insulated Shades

Another solution to keep the heat and cool air inside the home is to install insulated curtains or shades. The curtains can be opened on warm days to allow the sun to heat the home, but at night when the sun has went down, they can be closed to hold the heat inside and keep the cool air outside. In addition, insulated windows or energy efficient windows will also help cut the heating and cooling cost.

Unblock Vents Around the House

The heating and cooling vents should be open and not blocked by furniture so the air can flow freely. Anytime the air is prevented from entering a room, it will be a waste of energy. In addition, another thing to consider is how well the home is insulated. A well-insulated home will protect the home from the elements. By managing the airflow, the thermostat and the windows, energy costs can be cut and money can be saved.

Be Sparring With Hot Water

Using hot water can make energy costs go up, and if a faucet is continually dripping hot water, the electrical or gas bill can increase. Therefore, to save money, fix dripping faucets and make sure to turn off the faucets after each use to conserve energy.

Maximize Use of Appliances

Washing machines, dishwashers and clothes dryers all use a lot of energy to operate. To save money when using these items, set these appliances on the economy setting. When possible, use cold water instead of hot water to save even more money. Newer appliances can now be bought with the energy star energy efficient ratings to help them cost less to operate.

Go the Extra Mile With Good Light Bulbs

To help save on electricity, consider changing all the light bulbs in the home to energy-saving light bulbs. These bulbs will last longer than ordinary ones and save money at the same time. In addition to changing the bulbs, switching off the lights when leaving the room can lower energy costs as well. Other electrical items such as televisions and computers should be turned off when not in use. When these items are left on standby, they are still using electricity. Saving money is easy when an individual is willing to make changes to the home environment.

A passbook savings account is one where the balance of the savings account, including interest, is recorded in a passbook. The passbook keep track of each credit or debit to the account, including deposits and withdrawals, by keeping a running total of the passbook savings account activity and a recording of each transaction.

History of the Passbook Savings Account

In years past, the passbook savings account was the type of savings account most people utilized. In fact, the passbook savings account dates back to the 19th century. Prior to the implementation of check printing and bank stamping machines, entries were hand-written in the passbook by the bank teller.

Between the mid 1960s and early 1970s, banks began using an automatic stamping machine to enter the ongoing balance into the customer’s passbook. Tellers no longer needed to hand-write the customer’s balance into the passbook.

photo by krasi

Are Passbook Savings Accounts Still Available?

The passbook savings account is an ideal banking solution for customers who do not make very many transactions with their savings account. For those who regularly interact with their savings account, perhaps online, monthly statements are most likely the way to go.

Some modern banks still offer the passbook savings account. However, most savings accounts utilize paper or electronic statements that are regularly processed, usually once per month, and mailed or emailed to customers. Because fewer interactions with tellers are necessary due to access to banking functions over the Internet, the passbook savings account is no longer convenient. Paper and electronic statements are much more versatile. However, if you feel that you need a passbook savings account, some banks still do offer this type of account.

Passbook Savings Account and Interest

The passbook savings account earns interest on the money that is deposited into the account. Whether you receive electronic or paper statements, or if your balance is recorded in a passbook, interest earned is recorded as a credit to your account.

The interest that is paid on a passbook savings account is determined by the interest rate that your bank is adhering to. Interest rates are variable. Call your bank to find out the interest rate they are paying for a savings account. Usually, savings accounts of any type will pay between 3% and 5% interest on the money you are saving in the account. Some accounts pay more and some may pay less.

What are Passbook Savings Accounts Good For?

Passbook savings accounts are great for opening a savings account for a grandchild or another small child. The passbook gives the child a tangible way to know that they have money in the bank. Passbook savings accounts are also great for those who want to create a savings account and leave the money in the bank. If you are the type of person who likes to squirrel away money into a savings account and basically forget about it, the passbook savings account might be just the account for you.

Passbook savings accounts are also for those who feel more secure dealing with banking the way it used to be. Customers often view a passbook savings account as a friendlier alternative to the standard statement savings account. Some human interaction is involved when you have a passbook savings account. You may wish to see the teller to deposit money into the account.

An IRA and a 401(k) are both retirement programs. The main difference in an IRA vs 401k is that an IRA is an Individual Retirement Account, meaning an individual is solely responsible for opening it, paying into it and controlling the investments in it. A 401(k) is a retirement program set up by an employer.

Contributions: IRA vs 401k

In a 401(k) program, the employee contributes tax-free money. The majority of employers that offer a 401(k) will also help contribute to it. This is essentially free money and should be taken advantage of by every employee. Employers can choose the amount they contribute, which is typically $.50 for every $1.00 the employee contributes, up to a certain percentage of the employee’s annual salary. Some employers will match the employee’s contribution dollar for dollar. This is the easiest way to double your retirement savings. The cap for 2012 contributions has been increased to $17,000 ($16,500 in 2011).

Keep in mind, however, that many employers will require the employee to work for them for a set number of years before they are allowed to keep the employer matched contributions. This is called being vested in the company. Once the employee is fully vested, they are entitled to 100 percent of the employer matched contribution. If the employee resigns or is terminated before they are fully vested, they can lose the money the employer contributed to their 401(k). It is important for an employee to discuss vesting with the human resource department so they are well aware of the guidelines used by the employer in contributing to the 401(k), as well as the details of the vesting period, if applicable.  With IRAs, there is no such thing as vesting.  The money you contribute to an IRA is considered yours from the start.

Withdrawals: IRA vs 401k

Withdrawals from a 401(k) should not be made until the individual reaches age 59½ in order to avoid paying stiff penalties. Withdrawals must begin by age 70½. Contributions made up to age 59½ have great tax benefits – the contributions are tax deductible, while the investment growth of the account is tax-deferred. If money is withdrawn before age 59½ it will be assessed an early distribution penalty tax in addition to being taxed as ordinary income. The few early withdrawal exceptions include:

•   If the individual dies and the account is paid to a beneficiary
•   If the individual becomes disabled
•   If an amount less than is allowable as a medical expense deduction is withdrawn
•   If the individual begins substantially equal periodic payments
•   If the withdrawal is related to a QDRO – a Qualified Domestic Relations Order

IRA Details: Contributions and Distributions

An IRA is a retirement account that is opened by an individual with the help of a financial institution such as Fidelity, Vanguard or T. Rowe Price. Investment brokers can assist an individual in opening an IRA and explain the different ways to invest the money that is contributed.

The individual that opens the IRA controls where the money is invested – although most people rely on the expertise of their financial broker to assist to make this decision. The money invested in an IRA can be distributed in stocks, bonds, mutual funds or Certificates of Deposit. These investment choices provide you with different levels of security, stability and investment return.

Roth IRA contribution limits for 2012 are $5,000 for those under age 50 and $6,000 for those over age 50. However, contribution limits can vary according to an individual’s tax filing status and income level.

The Roth IRA has a tax break like no other investment tool. If you keep your funds in your Roth for a minimum of five years and do not make a withdrawal until after age 59½, none of your withdrawals will be taxable. Just like with 401(k), there are early withdrawal penalties – similar exceptions include:

•   If you become disabled
•   If you need to pay for higher education costs
•   If you need money for a first time home purchase
•   If you need to pay large medical expenses

The choice of an IRA vs 401k can be a good question if an individual is employed and their employee offers a 401(k). The employee should take advantage of the 401(k) first and invest any additional money in an IRA.

Do you have both an IRA and 401k? Was this explanation helpful?

While starting a new business is one of the most exciting times in your life, it can also be extremely stressful. There are hundreds of little details that could have a devastating effect on your business if left unattended. One area in which you will want to pay particularly close attention understanding how merchant account processing for businesses works.

In order to secure the most business, it is important that you are able to accept credit cards as payment from your customers. To process these types of payments, you will need to apply for a merchant account. This is when things can get confusing, as there are a number of different companies that offer variations on these types of accounts.

The main difference that you will see from different merchant companies is the prices they charge for their services. One company may charge you a startup fee of $300 or more, while another could be half of that. In most cases, the startup fee will depend on your credit rating. However, you will want to focus more on the processing fees than the actual startup fees.

Processing fees will vary from one company to another and these numbers should be looked at very closely. What you must realize is that the more you are paying out in processing fees the less you are going to be making a profit. Always do fee comparisons before you make your decision on a provider.

Along with the cost of the services, you also have to take into consideration their customer service. They may offer the best prices available, but if there is a problem for your processing payments over the weekend and you must wait until business opens on Monday, your business could be in trouble. A lack of good technical support could cost you thousands of dollars.

Learning to understand how merchant account processing for business works can be complicated, but this is an aspect of your business that requires your utmost attention. The right company can help you to build a profitable business, but the wrong one could easily lead you to a failure that could have otherwise been prevented.