Americans report gearing up to spend $923 on Christmas gifts this holiday season — just $19 below the all-time high of $942 reported in pre-pandemic 2019 — despite the fact that their spending power has been reduced considerably in the face of persistent inflation._[1]

Eye-watering figures when one considers that 49% of Americans have no or less savings than they did a year ago._[2]

Holiday debt is the gift that keeps on giving, but you don’t have to be the intended recipient.

If you’re looking for ways to enjoy the holiday season without breaking the bank, here are several cheery ways to celebrate Christmas on a budget. From making your own decorations to finding creative gift ideas, these tips will help you make the most of your holiday season without spending too much money.

1. Start by Listing Anticipated Expenses 

Having a topline figure in mind helps prevent spending creep, and serves as a psychological accountability partner. To get started, simply jot down a Christmas budget list of the common holiday expenses you may encounter. 

Possible Holiday Season Expenses:

Next, set reasonable boundaries for whom you may choose to buy gifts. Setting boundaries can help ensure that everyone involved in the gift–giving process is comfortable and that expectations are managed. Boundaries can also help to keep the focus on the spirit of giving, rather than on material possessions.

Possible Gift Recipients:

• Spouse
• Children
• Extended family members
• In-laws
• Nieces, nephews, goddaughters, and godsons
• Teachers
• Neighbors
• Bosses, coworkers, secretaries, etc.

When you’re budgeting for Christmas, the costs can add up quickly. Not all of these expenses will apply to you, but it gives a few examples of costs you might not have remembered. 

And while the average American household considers a Christmas budget per child of around $200 to be the norm, experts suggest far less. At just $75 per child, their suggestion is to invest in year-round core memory events as opposed to a once-yearly toy dump._[3]

As you consider the expenses you’re responsible for this Christmas, take a look at the next step.

Related: 5 Financial Mistakes to Avoid This Holiday Season

2. Create a Frugal Christmas Budget

The key to enjoying Christmas on a budget comes as a surprise to exactly no one — merely having a budget in place. Your completed Christmas budget will show you an overall picture of your projected costs and help you save money in the long run. In this step, you’ll assign a dollar figure to each anticipated expense to give you a clearer picture of how much you’ll be spending.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Keep in mind that it might take a little bit of time to complete this step. For example, you might look up the cost of a professional photographer, but then realize you have the perfect selfie to put on your Christmas card instead.

Or, you might think you want to buy new Christmas decorations for your front lawn, but change your mind once you see the cost.

Spend some time doing a little research about the items on your list and try to come up with a total projected expense for the season. If you’re not comfortable with this total number, move on to the next step.

3. Find Ways to Lower Costs

You might be looking at your Christmas budget with fresh eyes and seeing a number you simply can’t afford.

Christmas might seem expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Furthermore, you don’t have to go into credit card debt to make it a memorable and fun holiday season.

Here are some ideas to help you have an enjoyable Christmas on a budget: 

• Play a gift game. Many families now play games like a white elephant gift exchange or hot gift potato, which means they only have to buy one gift for the adults in their family. Suggesting this can save hundreds of dollars every Christmas. Plus, it’s a fun way to spend time as a family.

• Stick to the four-gift rule for your kids. Kids have so many toys these days. They can easily become overwhelmed, especially when the time comes to clean the playroom to make room for new toys. The four-gift rule says that you can buy your kids something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. These four presents should be more than enough for them to enjoy their holiday season.

• Consider thoughtful Christmas gifts on a budget. Budget Christmas gifts are great for teachers, co-workers, and neighbors. If you’re a crafty person, take a shot at some homemade gifts. A nice letter and a $5 Starbucks gift card can also go a long way. Teachers love gifts that are from the heart – a thank you note from your child would go much further than another coffee mug or candle.

• Have a potluck. Even if you love hosting Christmas dinner, you don’t have to pay for the entire meal. Ask your guests to bring a dish.

• Use coupons and shop at discount stores. T.J. Maxx and Marshalls are ideal stores for you to shop for gifts. They have amazing name brands at affordable prices. You can also use coupons when shopping online. DollarSprout Rewards allows you to save on gifts in a multitude of ways. You’ll earn up to 10% cash back (or more) at 10,000+ popular online merchants. Walmart, eBay, Kohl’s, Macy’s, you name it. Wherever you do your Christmas shopping you’ll be sure to earn cash back on your purchases.

Related: 75 Creative Ways to Save Money Around the House

4. Look for Ways to Make Extra Money

Of course, you can only cut your budget so much. If you’ve done everything you can to lower the cost of your Christmas expenses but you’re still coming up short, it’s time to hustle. Here are a few ways to earn more money for Christmas spending. 

• Deliver food. Get paid to make deliveries on your own schedule. People don’t like going shopping when it’s cold and snowy outside, so now is a great time to start this side job.
• Complete microtasks. Not everyone has a ton of extra time to commit to a second job or even a fully involved side hustle. Micro job sites allow users to find and complete simple tasks for cash. From spotting errors on websites and data entry to product reviews and feedback, most tasks can be completed in 1 hour or less.
• Sell last year’s gently used gifts. Getting rid of some of your old gifts can help pay for this year’s presents. If you have an old cell phone lying around, try selling it on Decluttr. Once your tech is evaluated, you’ll get same-day payment via PayPal or with a check sent by mail.
• Shovel snow. If you live in a cold climate, there are lots of people who will pay you to shovel their driveway when it snows. Start with your neighbors and friends first.
• Work retail. Many stores hire extra employees during the holiday season. It’s a short period of time, but you can earn extra money and score discounts at your favorite stores.

Related: 15 Festive Ways to Make Extra Money for Christmas 

5. Take advantage of seasonal offers

Stores are clamoring over customers during one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year. In doing so, they’ll offer generous rewards, cash, or steep discounts just to get you in the door. Along with earning more money, you can also find ways to earn gift cards for free. Use the gift cards to buy your Christmas presents or give them away as gifts. 

Some easy ways to snag free gift cards include: 

1. Collect Swagbucks. New members get a $10 sign-up bonus. When you build up your supply of Swagbucks by taking surveys, watching videos, playing games, and more, you can redeem them for gift cards to your favorite retailers.
2. Take online surveys with Survey Junkie. When you cash out the money you’ve earned from completing surveys, you can get paid in a variety of gift cards.
3. Sign up for InboxDollars. Earn a $5 bonus for signing up, which you can get in the form of a gift card to one of dozens of major retailers. Every time you shop online, take a look at current deals and earn cash back for purchasing items on your list.

Remember, Fun is Free

Even though Christmas can get expensive and you might feel pressure to buy many people gifts, remember that fun is free.

You don’t have to spend money that you don’t have this holiday season. Christmas is about spending time with family and friends. There are so many frugal and free activities you can do that will bring you closer together.

You can volunteer at a soup kitchen and help the needy. Spend an afternoon baking bread and cookies with your children. Take a drive and look at Christmas lights. Surprise your grandmother and her friends at the nursing home. Create a silly Christmas dance choreography and teach it to your nieces and nephews.

Related: 10 Christmas Gifts You Should Never Buy for Someone

The post 5 Cheery Ways to Enjoy Christmas on a Budget appeared first on DollarSprout.

To make things worse, you waited too long and now you can’t return it for a refund.

But it’s not too late to get your money back. You can sell makeup online, even if it’s used. In fact, selling used makeup is not only legal, it’s a welcome practice on many websites and in many online communities.

8 Places to Sell Cosmetics from Home

When it’s time to replenish your own stash, where are your favorite places to shop for on-sale makeup from home? Take those into account when starting your makeup home business.

Here are some of the best places to get started.

1. Poshmark

Poshmark is an incredibly popular app known for being one of the best places to sell clothes online. Many people don’t realize that you can sell new makeup on Poshmark, too.

Poshmark doesn’t accept liquids, like perfume, and makeup has to be brand new. This is a great place to sell items that you might have received in a beauty box or as a gift that you don’t want to use. For example, I once received a bright purple lipstick that I would never use, from a beauty subscription box. Things like that are great items to sell on Poshmark.

Related: How to Start an Online Consignment Business

2. Reddit

Reddit is a social news website with forums on a variety of different topics. You can find a couple different Reddit groups, known as subreddits, that revolve around buying and selling makeup.

The most popular one is called MakeupExchange. Though it’s not a traditional marketplace, subreddit has a long list of rules and several moderators to ensure things run smoothly.

Because there is no official middleman, it’s difficult to guarantee authenticity for buyers. If you’re a seller, be sure to read the rules carefully before joining.

Related: 24 Practical Ways to Make $500 Fast

3. Glambot

Glambot is another popular website to sell new or used makeup. It only accepts specific brands and has some restrictions on the type of makeup you can send, so be sure to check its frequently asked questions to find out if your makeup qualifies.

Glambot provides a lot of information to buyers, like how much the product has left. For example, a buyer could purchase a used lipstick that is 80% filled.

4. Instagram

What’s nice about selling makeup on Instagram is you don’t have to pay for website hosting or give commissions to third-party sellers.

Items with good photos sell best on Instagram, so take more time to prep your items listed for sale. Once you do, research hashtags to make sure that buyers can find your images easily.

Related: 13 Best Places to Sell Your Old Jewelry Online

5. Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is another great spot to sell makeup because there’s a large customer base. However, Facebook has a specific set of rules on what you’re allowed to sell.

There are also numerous buy/sell/trade groups on Facebook. These groups usually have moderators and their own rules.

Be careful when posting items for sale because you’re sending items to buyers you might not know. There’s a level of risk involved when selling to people in person, but if you’re willing to take that on, selling your makeup on Facebook can be a solid option.

If you are meeting a buyer in person, make sure you meet in a well lit and highly-trafficked area such as a mall.

Related: 5 Realistic Ways to Make Money on Facebook

6. Mercari

Mercari is similar to Poshmark and is another app to list your items for sale. Mercari has fewer rules than Poshmark. It doesn’t seem to prohibit used makeup items and the fees are 10% of the listing price.

7. eBay

For decades, eBay has been one of the best marketplaces for selling almost anything. Makeup is no exception.

Like Instagram, it’s important to have professional images on eBay so your products stand out against other listings. Bundles do well on eBay too, so consider putting a couple of similar items together if you want to increase your chances of a sale.

Pay attention to the fees on eBay and watch for promotions for lower listing fees.

Related: 22 Sites Like eBay to Sell Almost Anything Online or In Person

8. MUABS

MUABS stands for Makeup Addict Blog Sales, and there are many listings for new and used items.

There are also listings for perfume, which is prohibited on some other sites. MUABS takes a 10% commission of all sales, which is equivalent to Mercari (10%) and lower than Poshmark (20%).

6 Tips for Getting the Highest Price when Selling Makeup

Selling makeup online can be a profitable side hustle if you follow a few simple best practices.

1. Learn to take professional photos.

Your photos are the most important part of selling your makeup. Make sure to take pictures in focus with excellent lighting.

You don’t have to purchase an expensive DSLR camera. Most newer smartphones come with high-quality cameras already installed. You can also can buy a lightbox on Amazon for $40 or less. The lightbox provides a clean source of light so you don’t have to wait until day time to take good pictures.

2. Make your prices competitive.

Do some research before pricing your items, and factor in fees if you’re using a middleman like Poshmark or Mercari.

You want to make sure you earn enough so it’s worth your time. If it takes an hour to photograph items, create listings, and package and ship the items, you’ll want to make more than a $3 profit.

3. Be honest about flaws.

Online buyers are very observant customers. They want to know exactly what they’re getting, and they want to make sure the product they receive matches the pictures. So if you notice an item has a flaw, write that on your listing. If an item is used, make sure to list it as such. The more details you give, the less likely your buyer will be to return the item or ask for a refund.

4. Respond to questions quickly.

No one likes waiting for a response, and customers are much more likely to buy from a communicative seller. Some sites will even show how responsive or how slow you are.

If someone asks you a question, be sure to answer it as quickly as possible, even if it’s to say you need more time to give a full response. If you’re out of town, note that on your profile or set up an automatic vacation response.

5. Package your items well. 

Makeup can be fragile to ship, especially if you’re sending anything powdered like eyeshadow, so be sure to package things well.

It’s better to add extra bubble wrap than to wing it and hope your item gets there in one piece. You’ll save yourself money in the long run if you package things correctly in the first place, and you’ll also save the headache of dealing with returns and negative reviews.

6. Ask for reviews and testimonials.

If a customer has a good experience, make sure you get reviews and testimonials. Buyers like purchasing from trusted sellers, so it’s important to build a solid reputation.

Related: 28 Best Selling Apps to Sell Stuff Online (and Locally)

FAQs About Selling Makeup Online

There are a few basic strategies to follow when selling makeup online, but this can be a confusing process if you’re new to e-commerce and the makeup home business.

What’s the best way to find cheap shipping supplies?

There are many different places to purchase cheap shipping supplies. If you’re only shipping a few items, you can get bubble mailers at the dollar store or on Amazon. If you’re going to be shipping several large packages every month, it might be wise to buy in bulk from Costco.

Can I make a living selling makeup online?

As with any online business, you can start small and scale it over time. There are people who make a living selling their makeup online. Keep in mind that they likely have to source discounted makeup to resell in order to build their business.

Selling the makeup you already own can only last so long, so if you want to build this into an ongoing income stream, you’ll need to continuously look for makeup items you can sell for a profit.

Does the makeup have to be new?

It depends on where you sell your makeup. Some platforms, like Poshmark, require new makeup; but there are lots of platforms that let you sell used makeup too.

Flipping Makeup Can Be Lucrative

Selling makeup online can be a good side hustle, especially if you already have barely-used makeup to part ways with. Try out a few different platforms like Poshmark, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace, to see which ones you have the most success with.

Remember to follow the best practices such as writing honest descriptions of your products, responding quickly to potential buyers, and asking for testimonials and reviews from your customers. If you enjoy the process of selling your own makeup, you can even turn your side hustle into a small-scale business finding free or deeply discounted makeup items and selling them for a profit.

The post 8 Best Places to Sell Makeup Online (Even If It’s Used) appeared first on DollarSprout.

You get a flat tire, have to take your child to the emergency room, or need to replace a broken washing machine.

No matter what life throws at you, having at least $1,000 in savings can help curb those financial surprises. Unfortunately, nearly a quarter of Americans have no savings at all._[1]

If this is you, take comfort that you’re not alone. But don’t wait until your next financial setback to make a chance. Now is the time to get ahead and create a basic emergency fund. Many financial experts recommend saving $1,000 to start.

Before You Save $1,000

Before working through the steps to save your first $1,000, laying a solid foundation will help keep you focused.

Establish Your “Why”

Before you start saving, think about why you want to save and what motivates you to reach your goals.

Are you living paycheck to paycheck? If so, a savings account will alleviate financial stress and prepare you for the unexpected. Do you have a family? Your savings will help you maintain financial stability for those you love, even when you’re faced with uncertainty.

Getting clear on your why helps you prioritize saving. Changing your spending habits to start an emergency fund might not seem appealing, but temporarily cutting your expenses to prevent taking on debt or to prepare for your children’s financial future may be more motivating.

Your motivation for saving money doesn’t have to be deeply meaningful or profound. Maybe you’re motivated by extrinsic rewards. If that’s the case, your why could be as simple as the spending splurge you’ve promised yourself once you reach your goal.

Whatever your reason is, get clear on it before you start saving. This is what will keep you going on the days it seems impossible to save $1,000.

Set an Attainable Savings Goal

Next, set an attainable savings goal. If you haven’t been successful at saving money in the past, it’s OK to start small. Set a goal like saving $100 in a month. If that seems too high, start with $50. Even $10 or $20 per month is a good place to begin.

The goal is to make saving money a habit. If you can achieve your goal, you’ll become more confident in your abilities, and you can build on your success.

As you succeed in saving money each month, increase your savings goal for the next month. If you’re saving $10, try upping it to $20. If you’re saving $75, increase to $100 or $150. Do what you can in a manner that’s comfortable for your budget and before you know it, you’ll be closer to your goal of saving $1,000.

Financial success is all about small but consistent steps over time. You don’t have to save $1,000 by next week. Just start with the first step.

Earn More Money Than You Spend

The savings formula is simple: income – expenses = savings. You can increase your savings in one of two ways: earn more, spend less, or both.

It sounds simple, but saving money only happens when you make more money than you spend. If you’re spending as much as you make, you won’t be able to accumulate savings because you won’t have any money left over. And if you spend more than you earn, you’ll end up in debt.

Increase the income portion of the equation by starting a side hustle to bring in some extra cash.

If you’re already working a full-time job and caring for family, you might not have time to earn more money. If that’s the case, focus on the expenses side of the equation. Take a look at your expenses and figure out if there’s anywhere you can cut.

7 Steps to Saving $1,000 for When You Need It

Use this step-by-step guide to create a plan and save your first $1,000.

1. Know Your Income and Expenses

Find a few minutes to sit down and add up how much you make each month. Include wages, tips, commissions, and any other income. Then use your previous months’ bank and credit card statements to calculate your current spending, including categories like eating out, groceries, gas, and other expenses that vary month to month.

Once you do this exercise, you’ll see exactly how much money is left over for savings. Then you can find ways to change the equation. Look for low-hanging fruit where you can reduce your spending without compromising your lifestyle.

For example, how much could you save by packing your food rather than going out to eat for lunch at work? If you have a tendency to buy clothes you see in Facebook ads but never end up wearing them, consider deleting the app from your phone or using an app like News Feed Eradicator to block your Facebook feed on your computer.

Creating a simple budget will help you see how much money is coming in and how much is going out each month. From there, you can determine how much to set aside for your $1,000 savings goal.

2. Set a Target Date to Reach $1,000

Once you decide how much you can save each month, choose a realistic date for your savings goal. If your goal is to save $100 a month, then it will take 10 months to reach $1,000.

Your savings goal should be a minimum amount you plan to save each month. Anything leftover at the end of the month can be put toward saving or split between your goals and extra spending.

Let’s say you set aside your planned $100 for savings. At the end of the month, you have $100 leftover that you planned to spend but didn’t. You can put the entire amount toward your goal or use some for savings and treat yourself with the rest. This can help you reach your savings goal faster and stay motivated along the way.

For added motivation, consider trying the 52-week money challenge. The goal of the challenge is to save $5,000 in one year. However, you can adjust the weekly savings amounts to fit your budget.

3. Determine the Amount to Save From Each Paycheck

A monthly savings goal is fine if you get paid once per month. But if you receive multiple paychecks per month, it might make more sense to set a savings goal for each paycheck.

After you determine an amount, talk to your payroll department or human resources. They can usually split your paycheck between two accounts so the money won’t even reach your main checking account. You can also set up automatic transfers from your checking to your savings.

This way you don’t have to rely on yourself to transfer the funds. Your savings is guaranteed.

4. Save Money in a Separate Account

Saving your money in a separate account is one of the most important steps in this process. When it’s out of sight, so is the temptation to spend it. An online savings account is a great option for most people. You’ll keep your savings separate from your checking account, and most online savings accounts offer higher interest rates than brick-and-mortar banks.

This is how I keep myself from dipping into my savings account. Our emergency fund is kept separate from the rest of our money, and it takes a few days to transfer funds to our checking account.

I have to think long and hard before transferring money from savings to checking. This gives me time to determine if something is truly an emergency and make a rational decision rather than an impulsive one.

5. Automate Your Savings with an App

Micro-saving apps can help you build a savings habit by setting aside a few dollars or cents at a time. Qapital is one of the most widely used of these apps.

Qapital users set rules for how to save money. With the round-up rule, Qapital rounds your transactions up to the nearest dollar and saves the difference. If you spend $45.01 at the grocery store, the app will round the transaction to $46 and transfer the extra $0.99 to a savings account.

Other Qapital savings rules allow you to save money when you get paid, work out, or indulge in a guilty pleasure.

6. Revisit Your “Why” When Tempted to Tap into Savings

We’ve all been there. You see something you want and get tempted to pull from your savings account to buy something.

Remembering your why will help you stay motivated in those situations. Your why will remind you that it’s important to leave your savings account alone.

Write down your reasons for saving money and display them somewhere you’ll see every day. If your motivation for saving is to buy the new pair of shoes you’ve promised yourself for reaching your savings goal, then hang a picture of the shoes on your refrigerator and put a reminder in your phone to keep it fresh in your memory.

7. Find One Big Expense to Cut

A painless way to save $1,000 quickly is to cut one big expense. Cancel your gym membership. Cut the cable. Skip dinners out. Any expense in your budget that isn’t necessary or doesn’t add value to your life is money you can put toward your savings.

These sacrifices can be temporary while you’re building your savings fund. Sometimes, it’s easier to make one or two decisions to cut something big than to make many small frugal decisions, like learning how to coupon or switching to generic brands.

Save $1,000 Faster by Making More Money

If there isn’t much room in your budget to cut spending, look for ways to increase your income.

Start with your current job. If it’s been a while since you negotiated your pay, then consider asking for a raise. The best way to approach this conversation is to gather information in advance about your performance and previous work. Once you have a solid case for why you’ve earned a pay increase, schedule a meeting with your manager to present your reasoning.

Another option is to pursue opportunities outside of your regular job. There are many side hustles you can do online with the skills and experience you already have. You can also apply for part-time or seasonal jobs in your area.

By increasing your income and focusing on the areas that have the biggest impact on your monthly budget, you can save $1,000 in less time than you may think. And that $1,000 can make all the difference the next time you’re faced with a financial emergency.

The post How to Save $1,000 in a Year or Less appeared first on DollarSprout.

Do you choose a 50/30/20 method? Should you use cash envelopes? The range of options can make it harder for beginners who don’t know which method will work best for them.

One of the most common types of budgeting is a zero-sum budget or a zero-based budget. It’s also one of the simplest and most straightforward ways to budget your money. This is how I budget my money, and I find it works really well.

If you’re new to budgeting and want something simple and easy to start with, consider using a zero-based budget.

What is a Zero-Based Budget?

A zero-based budget is a budget where you assign every single dollar a job, even if you have “leftover money” after paying bills. This ensures that your monthly expenses equal your monthly income. With this budget, every single dollar you earn goes toward a purpose.

Just because every dollar has a job doesn’t mean you spend every dollar you earn. Rather, some dollars will go toward expenses and others will go toward paying down credit card debt, adding to your emergency savings, or another financial goal.

This type of budget is a more mindful approach because it makes you think about every dollar and forces you to confront your spending habits.

Zero-based budgeting encourages you to create a budget that incorporates spending and saving. You’ll have some expenses that are fixed, like your mortgage or rent or car payment. But when it comes to variable expenses, like your grocery bill or your clothing budget, you’re more likely to think about what you really need and can afford.

To see it in action, check out our zero-based budget calculator below:

Example of a Zero-Based Budget

Here’s an example of how a zero-based budget actually works. You can use this as a guide to create your own spreadsheet, or you can use our zero-based budget calculator to get started. Just modify the categories and amounts to fit your spending and expenses

Benefits of Budgeting to Zero

There are numerous benefits to zero-based budgeting. Because every dollar is accounted for, you’re less likely to waste money. This can help you reach your financial goals much faster because you know where your money is going.

Every dollar has a purpose

In a zero-based budget, every single dollar has a purpose. If you aren’t sure how much you’re spending each month, this is a great place to start. It’s also helpful if you’re trying to get out of debt and need to allocate extra money toward your debt payments.

When every dollar has a purpose, you have better control over your money. You can effectively spread your money out between monthly necessities and long-term financial goals.

Helps to identify spending patterns

Without a budget, you might not be completely aware of what you’re spending money on. A zero-based budget forces you to face where your money is truly going and evaluate whether that decision aligns with your values and financial goals.

I made the mistake of finding out how much money I spent at Starbucks last year. Let’s just say, I haven’t had any Starbucks since the new year started. We all have our little vices, and when you pay close attention to a zero-based budget, you’re more likely to make better decisions.

You also have the ability to choose what’s more important to you — daily Starbucks drinks or a nice date night, for example. Whatever you decide, this budgeting exercise gives you a reason to evaluate the tradeoffs you make with your money. And this ultimately will lead to better financial decisions overall.

Reach your goals faster

A zero-based budget can be a great tool to help you reach your financial goals faster because it encourages you to be consistent and clear about where your money goes.

For example, if you’ve assigned $300 to the “pay down car loan” category, you’ll be less tempted to use the money for something else. When you can be consistent about payments or savings over time, you’ll reach your goals faster.

Downsides of Zero-Based Budgeting

Zero-based budgeting can be an amazing tool to achieve financial stability, but it also has some downsides. If you’re the type of person who struggles to stick to a budget, consider these challenges before choosing this budgeting system.

It can feel restrictive

Unfortunately, a zero-based budget can feel restrictive at times. You have to decide how all of your money will be used for the whole month before it even begins, so it’s easy to get frustrated when you need to address the unexpected.

Perhaps you only make it halfway through the month before you’ve spent your entertainment budget. Then a friend invites you to a big birthday outing where you have to pay your own way. You can rebalance the budget and borrow from another category, but if this type of restriction will bother you, then the zero-based budget may be a challenge.

Difficult to handle emergencies

When every dollar has a job, unexpected expenses can put a dent in your financial plans.

You can set aside a sum of money each month for unexpected expenses or emergencies, but these can still be hard to predict. Months can go by without any major surprises, and then suddenly your car needs a new transmission.

You can handle this by allocating money to an emergency fund each month and drawing on that fund when large, unexpected expenses occur. Look at your unexpected expenses over the last year or so to calculate how much to put into your emergency fund.

Time consuming at first

When you’re trying to get the hang of zero-based budgeting, it can be extremely time-consuming. You’ll have to monitor your spending throughout the month and record which expenses go into which category. You might even end up tracking your spending every day.

Instead of manually tracking your expenses, you can always use a budgeting app. You Need a Budget is probably the most well-known, and it’s based on zero-based budgeting principles. It also teaches you to live on last month’s income, which is great for people who have a variable income or are self-employed.

Mint and Personal Capital also allow you to set a budget and track your expenses in various categories.

Some people like to track their expenses without an app and prefer to use a spreadsheet or notebook. They claim that it’s easier to truly see how you spend your money.

How to Make a Zero-Based Budget

Making your own zero-based budget may sound time-intensive, but it’s a useful exercise for anyone new to budgeting.

1. Figure out your monthly income

First, you’ll need to add up all of your monthly income. This can come from a variety of sources, including:

• Wages and tips
• Freelance payments
• Stock dividends
• Sale of investments or property
• Tax returns
• Rental income
• Royalties
• Child support and/or alimony

If your income varies from month to month, look back at least six months to capture a realistic average monthly income.

2. Start with regular expenses

Next, list your regular expenses. This includes all expenses you’ll incur every month. It should cover things like:

• Mortgage or rent
• Utilities
• Gas, tolls, parking or public transportation pass
• Groceries
• Childcare
• Cell phones
• Insurance
• Car payments
• Memberships and dues
• Subscriptions

3. Add your sinking funds

After you’ve listed your monthly expenses, add your sinking funds. A sinking fund is savings set aside money toward an expense that doesn’t occur monthly. To prepare for infrequent expenses, you’ll need to create sinking funds for any irregular items such as:

• Car insurance payments (every 6 or 12 months)
• Property taxes (yearly)
• Christmas (yearly)
• Income taxes (yearly)

A sinking fund ensures that you have the money you need when you need it, which is especially important when it comes to expenses like insurance and taxes.

4. Plan for your goals

Now it’s time to think about your family’s long-term financial goals. Start putting aside money for the things that matter to you. Remember, even if you allocate just $50 to each category every month, the money will add up when you’re consistent.

You can save toward goals like:

• An emergency fund for surprise expenses
• Paying off credit card debt, car loans, or student loans
• Going on a vacation
• Making a down payment on a house
• Remodeling your house
• Sending your children to a private school or college

You can put all of your savings into one account or set up sub-accounts for each goal. The latter might make more sense, particularly if you’re saving for multiple goals at once.

5. Budget to zero

Now that you know your monthly income and have a list of your expense categories, assign every dollar of income to an expense.

Cover your fixed expenses first. There won’t be any wiggle room in your mortgage and car payments, so you know precisely how much to allocate.

For variable costs, you may be able to find creative ways to reduce those expenses. For example, you can save money on groceries by using cash-back apps or call your phone service provider to ask if there are any deals you could be taking advantage of.

Next, consider how much money to put into your sinking funds. For many of these funds, you can’t be short on cash when you need it, so add a buffer.

For example, look at your property taxes over the last few years. Suppose you paid an average of $1,000 per year in property taxes over the last three years. Add a buffer, and plan to have $1,200 in your property tax account at the end of the year just in case. This means you need to plan to add $100 to this sinking fund each month.

For sinking funds related to taxes, you should include a buffer since you don’t want to be short. A sinking fund for something like Christmas has a little more leeway.

Finally, allocate the remaining income to your financial goals. Even if you can only save a little each month, it will feel great to put $25 into the vacation fund or $50 into the kitchen remodel account.

6. Track and adjust

Once you create your budget, start tracking your expenses. If you find that you’re consistently over in one area, think about adjusting your budget. You’ll have to take money from one category to increase the budget for another category, so think carefully about where you can reduce your spending.

As mentioned, You Need a Budget, Mint, and Personal Capital are all great apps for tracking your budget and expenses. If you’d rather go old-school, a simple spreadsheet from Excel or an app like Tiller could also work well.

7. Get a month ahead

Once you get in the routine of using your zero-based budget, try to plan a month ahead and have the entire amount you need for the month in your bank account on the first day of the month.

It might take a little while to get there if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, but you’ll have peace of mind if you can make this happen.

Zero-Based Budget FAQs

Making a zero-based budget can be confusing if you’re new to budgeting or have more experience using another system, like the 50/30/20 budget.

Can I make a zero-based budget if I have irregular income?

Yes, you can. If anything, it’s a preferred method if you have irregular income.

Try to build your budget around a lower income than you plan on receiving so you always have wiggle room in case a payment is late or you make less than planned in tips.

Do I need to use a spreadsheet for a zero-based budget?

You can use your own spreadsheet or a digital system like Mint or Tiller. That’s the beauty of a zero-based budget. It might take some time to figure out the best system for you, but there are a variety of options to choose from.

What if I have money left over?

If you have money left over, allocate it to your next financial goal. You can decide where this money will be of the most value to you, whether that’s paying off debt, padding your emergency fund, or moving you that much closer to your next vacation.

The Zero-Based Budget Is Worth Your Time

It takes some time, but a zero-based budget is worthwhile if you have big financial goals or if you’re just getting started budgeting. It can help you rein in your spending or pinpoint areas you need to work on.

The zero-based budget is also helpful if you tend to spend any extra money you have left over at the end of the month. This type of budget means every dollar has a specific purpose that you designate.

By helping you planning ahead and aligning your expenses with your income, you’ll be able to make positive steps toward both short- and long-term financial goals.

The post How to Make a Zero-Based Budget in 7 Simple Steps (with Example) appeared first on DollarSprout.

But what about magazines? How do they fit in now that so much of our content is digital?

According to a survey by Mequoda, two-thirds of Americans still read magazines. In fact, of the adults surveyed, 70% had read at least one print magazine in the last 30 days. About half had read two or more print magazines in the last month._[1]

While digital content is up to the moment and relevant, magazine articles and photographs can be much more indulgent and creative. Think about a great bridal spread or an exciting fashion editorial. The vibrant colors and glossy pages all contribute to consumers’ continued love for print magazines.

And you don’t have to pay a lot for a subscription. A surprising number of sources can help you find magazines for free.

7 Ways to Get Free Magazines Delivered in the Mail

Believe it or not, you can get free or cheap magazines by mail every month. You can also find free magazines at local spots like the library or maybe even the doctor’s office. Between discount magazine sites, reward points, and BOGO offers, you might never have to pay for a magazine again.

1. ValueMags

You can buy discount magazines on ValueMags, and you can also earn reward points to get totally free magazines. The MagPoints loyalty program awards points for visiting ValueMags, taking paid surveys, and participating in partner offers. Once you earn enough points, you can redeem them for magazines.

In addition to reward subscriptions, ValueMags offers free online or print subscriptions to a handful of magazines including People, Outdoor Life, and more. All you have to do is create a ValueMags account

If there’s a paid subscription you have your eye on, check Rakuten for 20% cashback at ValueMags and other deals on Time, Marie Claire, ESPN Magazine, and other publications.

2. RecycleBank

RecycleBank’s mission is to work toward waste-free communities. It rewards people for recycling at home, but note that you can only earn points if your community’s recycling service is a RecycleBank partner. You can also earn points by taking RecycleBank’s classes on leading a more sustainable life or answering the questions of the day.

Once you’ve earned points, you can trade them in for magazine subscriptions. RecycleBank offers reward subscriptions to magazines like Backpacker, Country Living, Cosmo, and more. Pay attention to the terms and conditions of the rewards, as some do expire.

3. Mercury Magazines

Looking for a way to level up in your professional life? Mercury Magazines offers totally free magazine subscriptions. All you have to do is complete a form with some information about yourself and your professional life; then you’ll see a list of business magazines that are available to you.

The free publications listed on Mercury Magazines make money by selling advertising. Since advertisers often want to target specific groups, you need to be a magazine’s target group to get your free subscription.

You’ll receive your first magazine in the mail within 10-12 weeks of completing the Mercury Magazines survey.

4. Freebizmag

Freebizmag has collected a library of business resources, including free business magazine subscriptions and free trade magazines. Check out Freebizmag’s special deals for free subscription offers to magazines like Boating World and Tennis Magazine.

Information sources include free eBooks, white papers, and more. You can search for topics that are relevant to your work. Freebizmag has information on everything from agriculture to IT.

5. Gift subscriptions

Do you have some birthdays to buy for coming up? Purchase a subscription for your friends and family, and you might be able to get a free magazine subscription as well. The free offer might be for the same magazine or for a magazine owned by the same publisher. Either way, it’s a steal.

6. Coupons

You can often find coupons for magazine subscriptions. Check out coupon websites and bloggers’ social media accounts. You could also visit magazine publishers’ sites to see if they’re offering any discount magazine vouchers. Be sure to keep your eye open for coupons and deals around the holidays.

If you’re new to couponing, it’s easy to learn how to start couponing, so dive in and see what kinds of magazine coupons you can find.

Other Places to Get Free Magazines

It’s fun to get free magazines in the mail, but that’s not the only way to get them for free. You can also read plenty of free magazines online or in person.

7. Capital One Shopping

Capital One Shopping rewards users for shopping at your favorite online store. It features deals on magazine sites like Magazines.com and Magazine Store. You can also find offers for bookstores that sell magazines. Get low prices and rewards for subscribing to titles like National Geographic and Food Network. 

All you have to do is register for Capital One Shopping and then search for its magazine offers. You can also earn rewards points for buying magazine subscriptions that you can later redeem for gift cards.

Related: Capital One Shopping vs. Honey

8. Groupon

Offers on Groupon change all the time, but be sure to browse the site before subscribing to a new magazine. Groupon offers print subscriptions for 75% or more off, so it’s definitely worth checking out. This is a great way to get heavily discounted subscriptions to magazines like Wired, Men’s Health, and National Geographic.

To activate your subscription, you need to buy the voucher on Groupon and then redeem it on the magazine’s site to start your subscription. Keep in mind that Groupon’s offers don’t last, so scoop up interesting offers quickly.

9. Google Books

On Google Books, you can find free digital magazines online. Just go to Google books and search for magazines. Once you’re on the magazine’s site, you can search for the particular publication you’d like to read. It doesn’t have too many popular selections, but if you’re interested in a niche topic, you might find a magazine you like.

10. Flipster

Flipster is an app that lets you use your library card to read magazines your library subscribes to. To get started, download the app and start reading for free. Flipster is a completely free way to read magazines without going to the library.

If your local library doesn’t offer Flipster, it may have a similar app for reading magazines. Ask a librarian or visit your library’s website for details.

11. Waiting rooms

Reading the magazines in a waiting room helps pass the time while you wait for your appointment. If you start reading a magazine that you really like, ask the staff if you can bring it home. The worst they can say is no. The office might have so many magazines that it’s happy to offload a few of them to you for free.

12. Freecycle

Freecycle is a collection of over 5,000 groups from around the world, bringing together people who are giving away items and looking for free items. Each group has its own set of rules and volunteer moderators manage individual groups. Search the Freecycle site to find a group near you. Once you find one, scan the listings for someone giving away magazines.

You can also post a “wanted” request in the group, looking for people who have magazines to give away. Someone might have a stack of magazines on their coffee table looking for a new home.

13. Amazon

If you’re already an Amazon Prime member, you can access discounted subscriptions to major magazines. Amazon also offers free 30-day access to many popular magazines like Cosmo, Wired, and Shape. You can try any number of magazines for 30 days, but you will pay for a subscription if you don’t cancel before the end of the 30 days.

Amazon also offers cheap magazine subscriptions to Prime members. You can also subscribe to magazines at a deeper discount by opting for the Kindle version. A print subscription will cost more, but you’ll still get print discount magazines as an Amazon Prime member.

And generally, if you subscribe to the print version, you will get access to the Kindle version as well.

Related: 6 Ways to Get Amazon Prime for Free

14. Magazine websites

Many magazines, like People or Rolling Stone, publish a lot of content on their websites. If you’re looking for free content, this could be a great way to do it. The publisher’s site might also offer a good deal on the print or digital version of the magazine if you want more.

15. Your local library

Most local libraries subscribe to a selection of magazines. If you don’t usually keep magazines, check out your favorites from a library near you. If you enjoy keeping the magazines or using them for projects, ask the librarians what they do with older issues. They may be willing to sell magazines to you for cheap.

16. Find a BOGO deal

Many magazines, like Real Simple, offer a Buy One, Give One offer. Renew your subscription or buy a new subscription and send a second subscription to a friend for free. If you and your friends want to subscribe to the same magazine, team up and split the cost of one subscription. You’ll both get 50% off.

Related: 20 Ways to Get Free Stuff Online

Your Reading Habit Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive

If you’re able to find a lot of free magazines, you can really read a lot of content. That’s awesome, but what should you do with the magazines when you’re finished reading them? You definitely don’t want them to sit around taking up space.

Instead of just recycling or throwing away your old magazines, get creative. Can you pass them on to a friend or relative who might like to read them? Maybe the magazines can go to a shelter or retirement home? You might be able to donate them to a prison as well (just check the prison’s donation rules first). Be sure to ask before you donate magazines since some places don’t accept them.

You could also use old magazines for your own creative pursuit. Cut out recipes to create a book of your favorite recipes. Use pictures to create a vision board or home improvement ideas. Kids also love cutting up magazine pages and using them for art or school projects.

And, if you can’t find a creative use for a magazine, you can always recycle it.

The post 16 Ways to Get Free Magazines Online (or in the Mail) appeared first on DollarSprout.

But for others, it’s their full-time job. They get paid to test drive a car, stay in a hotel, or get free clothes.

To be a paid social media influencer, you’ll need a social media following. Some people, like celebrities, gain instant, massive followings online and start making money right away.

For most of us, it’s not that simple. It takes time, effort, and lots of work before we can learn how to be an influencer, grow a following, and get paid. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done. You can get paid as a social media influencer, even if you’re starting from scratch.

What is Influencer Marketing?

Influencer marketing is a marketing strategy used by companies and brands. They ask regular people who have large social media followings or are experts in their fields to promote their products.

Using influencers is a way for companies to get real people to promote them on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube instead of using traditional marketing like print or television ads.

Influencer marketing is cost-effective for the companies, and it’s a way for the influencers to make money for posting on social media.

Related: How to Become a Social Media Manager

How Does an Influencer Make Money?

These influencers are generally paid in one of three ways: free products, brand sponsorships, or affiliate marketing.

Free products

Most influencers will start earning money in the form of free products. This can include hair care products, a king-sized mattress, or baby gear. The company will send these items for the influencer to discuss on their social media channel.

Free products are a good way to learn how your audience responds and which items they’re most interested in. If you’re just getting started, it’s tempting to accept all free products. But if you’re an influencer for bullet journals, your audience might not appreciate an ad for luggage.

Related: How to Get Paid to Test Free Products at Home

Company partnerships and brand sponsorships

Another term for this category is brand ambassador, which means that a company or brand will pay you to act as a spokesperson for them.

You share with your audience the positive aspects of a company, such as how its products can help you sleep better or be more productive, to increase its brand awareness and sales. You might also be required to post on social media about the company a fixed number of times per week or participate in social media campaigns.

Social media influencers typically earn a flat fee for partnering with companies, but they can also earn money through affiliate marketing. Be aware that if you choose this route, you must disclose this relationship via FTC guidelines.

Affiliate marketing

When an influencer makes money through affiliate marketing, they share a special link or code for a product with their audience and receive a portion of any sales made through that code or link.

If you’re a well-known book blogger and you frequently recommend books, you can join Amazon’s affiliate program and each time a reader buys a book you link to on your website, you earn a small commission.

It’s a more passive way to earn money as an influencer but has the potential to be incredibly lucrative.

How Much Money Does an Influencer Make?

There’s no average rate or median salary for social media influencers. How much you can earn depends on factors like:

• Your number of followers
• The amount of engagement your posts receive
• The length of the advertising campaign
• How much you ask for

The larger and more engaged your following is, the more you can make. Even those with small social media followings can still earn money as an influencer.

If you only have 1,000 followers, you can pitch companies to work with you. For affiliate marketing, you might need just one well-performing post or tweet for a company to approach you. What truly matters to companies is that you have an engaged following who listen to your recommendations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My post all about this gorgeous sweater jacket is live on @minervadotcom blog today! This embossed fleece made the perfect cozy layering piece for this fall/winter. Feels like wearing a blanket, but has that chic @anthropologie vibe. Especially since I modeled it exactly after a specific #anthro jacket. Swipe to see more pics and the inspo and then be sure to head to the #minervadotcom blog to check out the post all about it and how the sewing of this @simplicity_creative_group pattern went! Link in bio! // #minervamakers #ad #sponsored #s8811 #anthroinspired

A post shared by Heidi || Handmade Frenzy (@heidi_handmadefrenzy) on Jan 30, 2020 at 12:15pm PST

How much you make also depends on the type of payment you receive. Free products don’t generally translate to cash (unless you sell the product when you’re done using it), but brand sponsorships and affiliate marketing can generate a significant income. If you can, try to have a few revenue streams (e.g., affiliate marketing and free products) to earn the most money.

Regardless of how many income streams you have, it’s important to partner with and advertise companies and products you believe in and that provide value to your audience. You don’t want to compromise your morals or your followers’ trust for a paycheck.

Working as a social media influencer is still a business, so you’ll want to hone skills like negotiating pay, managing business expenses, and pitching clients. You might also consider connecting or networking with other social media influencers for tips, job leads, or support.

Related: 35+ Side Hustles to Make Extra Money in Your Spare Time

Choosing Your Social Media Platforms

Choosing the right social media platform is key to making money as a paid influencer. If you’re on several already, examine your stats like the number of followers and impressions. Wherever you get the most traction and engagement, pick that one to start. You can always add others as your influence grows.

The type of products you’re advertising or the company you’re partnering with might influence the platform you choose. Its products might perform better on one over another.

You should also consider the type of campaign the company might want or how you communicate best. Whether you do well making YouTube videos or posting on Facebook, you’ll want to play to your strengths when working as a paid influencer.

Instagram

Instagram is one of the top social media sites for influencer marketing. From IGTV to stories to posting pictures, there are plenty of ways to share with your audience.

If you want to become an Instagram influencer, work on growing your account to a minimum of 10,000 followers so you can utilize its “swipe up” feature. Once your followers have the ability to “swipe up,” you can drive traffic to your own website or to specific affiliate products you’re promoting.

Facebook

Even if you have a small Facebook following, you can still partner with and promote brands on your Facebook page. If you’re comfortable using Facebook Live, that’s even better for you as an upcoming paid influencer.

Many companies ask influencers to utilize the Facebook Live feature on their business pages to share a product or service. Some social media influencers even have a contract where they’re required to go on a company’s Facebook page live at regular intervals to talk about a product or educate that company’s customers.

Related: How to Make Money on Facebook: 5 Easy Strategies

YouTube

YouTube offers several ways for influencers to make money. If you have a large following, you can monetize your channel with ads, sell your own products, and even require a subscription for premium content. You can also partner with brands to do video campaigns, product placement, and endorsements.

If you spend time and energy growing a YouTube channel, you can pitch or partner with companies and make money as a YouTube influencer.

Other platforms

If you’re not comfortable on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram, you can still work as an influencer on networks like:

• SnapChat: Similar to Instagram, you’ll need a large and engaged following to make money on this platform.
• TikTok: Formerly Musical.ly, TikTok is quickly growing as a viable way for influencers to make money from their short videos.
• Twitter: Although not as popular as other platforms, you can use sponsored tweets and affiliate links to make money on Twitter.

Whatever platform you choose, make sure you’re following all its posting rules, especially any related to disclosing business relationships or sponsored content. You don’t want to lose your influencer status (or income) by failing to comply.

How to Become an Influencer on Social Media in 7 Simple Steps

While becoming a top social media influencer isn’t easy, launching your social media influencer business is pretty simple.

1. Choose your niche.

Choosing a niche is the most important step you’ll take as a social media influencer. Your niche will define you and the companies you’ll work with. Many social media influencers pick a niche like cooking, home design, motherhood, fashion, or crafting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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@rebelliousfashion #rebelgal

A post shared by Eleana P | Fashion Blogger (@eleana_p) on Jan 30, 2020 at 12:02pm PST

Pick a niche that you’re passionate and knowledgeable about and one that you think will interest you for a long time. You don’t want to grow your influencer status only to get bored with the niche in six months.

2. Set up your social media accounts.

As you set up your social media accounts, be consistent. Whenever possible, use the same name, profile, or brand image and description on each platform.

Use a similar voice, tone, and personality in your posting to build trust and connection with your audience. Be authentic, honest, and engaging.

3. Create a posting schedule.

As you grow your following, your audience will expect regular content from you. To do this, consider creating a posting schedule or editorial calendar. You can plan out ideas, topics, keep track of campaign dates, and anything else that helps you stay on top of your obligations.

Consider using planning software to have your images post automatically online and set aside time each week to create and edit videos or images. You can even hire a virtual assistant to keep you organized as your business grows.

Related: How to Make Money from Home as a Virtual Assistant

4. Know your target audience.

As your accounts grow, use any analytics or information available to you to understand your target audience. Ask questions like:

• How old are they?
• Where do they live?
• What’s their education level?
• What do they like?
• Which posts get the most interaction or engagement?
• What time of day are they most engaging with your account?

The more information you have about your audience, the more you can curate and tailor your content to them. This also helps you create pitches and target the right companies and brands for your followers.

5. Apply for affiliate partnerships and contact sponsors.

As your social media influence grows, and you get to know your audience better, you can apply for affiliate partnerships. Make sure you read the terms, conditions, and requirements carefully before applying and note the ones you don’t qualify for. If you don’t meet the criteria now, you might be eligible later as your following and influence grow.

Also, make a list of companies you’d like to work with or have sponsor you. If you’re just starting out, consider working with smaller or newer companies first.

You can even contact local brick-and-mortar companies, too. As you do the work and gather testimonials and a good reputation, you can start to work with larger, higher-profile companies.

6. Promote your social media accounts.

One of the best ways to grow your accounts, after posting consistent, helpful, and engaging content, is to promote them by cross-posting. For instance, you can let your Twitter followers know about your Facebook page and your Facebook followers know about your Instagram account.

You can also work with other up-and-coming influencers to promote each other’s accounts. The idea behind this is to let people know where they can find and follow you and attract new fans.

You can also consider an ad campaign to help people find you. Those can be expensive and might not drive the traffic that you want, but if you can get even a hundred new followers, it might be worth it.

Whatever you do, don’t pay for followers. That is a shady practice that will make your existing followers not trust you and make influencers and brands not want to work with you. It’s better to grow your followers slowly and organically than to pay for followers.

7. Interact with your followers.

Engagement is essential when it comes to growing a following and pitching brands. Interact with your followers by answering their questions, responding to comments and direct messages, and even commenting on some of their content. This shows an active interest in your followers which will make them loyal to you and even more interested in buying products or services that you recommend.

If you don’t want to stay connected to your social media profiles 24/7, pick a block of time each day that’s dedicated to interacting with your followers. You’ll still get the benefit of engagement and building trust without having to do it all day long.

Becoming an Influencer Requires Consistency

It may seem elusive at first, but it’s possible to earn money as a social media influencer without being famous or having a large following.

While you may have to pitch brands and companies in the beginning, as your audience and reputation grow, companies may come to you. And as you begin to work with larger companies, you’ll start to make more money.

You want to be fair when you negotiate with these companies, so charge them a reasonable price. Remember that this is a business deal for them, too. They want to work with an influencer who’ll get the most eyes on their products or services and who will represent their beliefs and values. But they also want to stay within their budget.

If becoming an influencer interests you, pick a specific niche, stick to a posting schedule, provide useful and helpful content, and engage with your audience. Doing this means you’ll gain their trust, and they’ll use that trust to buy products and services that you recommend.

Related: How This Couple Makes $1,000 a Month Cooking on TikTok

The post How to Become a Influencer and Make Money (2024 Guide) appeared first on DollarSprout.

Starting an online thrift or consignment store can be a good way to accomplish the goal of making some extra money online.

This type of side hustle or small business might not be as hard as you think. All you need is some basic equipment, items to sell, and a platform to sell them on. And you can use the extra funds to save for a down payment, remodel your house, or take your parents on that dream vacation.

What Is a Consignment Shop?

An online thrift store, or consignment shop, is a website or app where people can buy or sell used items.

The consignor brings items that they no longer want. When one of the items sells, you, as the consignment store owner, receive a portion of the proceeds in return for listing the item and handling the transaction. The consignor gets the remaining funds. A typical percentage split is 60/40, or 50/50 for more expensive, high-end items.

You might shop for used clothing or accessories at popular online thrift stores like thredUP or Poshmark. Resale websites are essentially large consignment stores that are great sources for high-quality, gently used clothes at a fraction of the price you would normally pay.

Related: 20 Best Small Business Ideas for New Women Entrepreneurs

How Much Can You Make Consigning Items Online?

The resale industry is a major business in the United States. The number of resale stores has grown 7% over the past two years, according to the National Association of Retail and Thrift Shops._[1] And First Research estimates that resale stores in the US make a combined annual revenue of $17.5 billion._[2]

Thrift and resale stores are popular with a diverse set of customers. According to thredUP’s 2019 Resale Report, 64% of women have bought or are willing to buy items secondhand. That number is up from just 45% in 2016._[3]

Thrifting also transcends generation. Thirty-three percent of secondhand shoppers are Millennials, while 31% are Boomers. Gen X makes up a healthy 20% of thrift store shoppers. Value chain, department store, and luxury shoppers all buy secondhand in similar numbers, according to thredUP’s 2019 Resale Report.

These positive trends make the online thrift shop business an exciting option if you’re looking for an extra source of income.

Things You’ll Need to Start an Online Thrift Store

Although you don’t need a physical location to start an online thrift store, you still need a few things to get started.

Items to consign

The first thing you need is items to consign. You can start with your own closet, of course. But eventually, you may need to source items elsewhere. You can find those at yard sales, thrift stores, or from friends and family.

To start your consigning business, think about what kinds of items you want to sell. Will you focus on something specific, like maternity clothes or luxury handbags; or do you want your site to be more general? You can start with one niche and expand as your resale business grows.

Selling platform/website

To get your online thrift store up and running, you need to use a sales platform or create your own website.

You can choose either an all-in-one platform or set up a WordPress site plus a payment platform. People also have success in setting up Instagram accounts to list clothes for sale and receiving payments through PayPal.

Shopify is an example of an all-in-one sales solution. Just log in, post your items, and start selling. This is a quick way to get up and running, but it will cost you $29 a month or more. Fortunately, you can deduct this cost on your taxes.

If you don’t want to spend the money for a fully hosted and supported solution, you can also set up a WordPress site and pick a selling platform plugin. WooCommerce is a commonly used e-commerce platform that you can integrate into a WordPress site.

You can also use well-known apps to sell your items. Poshmark and Mercari are great, but they’ll take a portion of your sales. If you decide to list your items on Instagram and bill via PayPal, you’ll likely have to pay PayPal fees.

Pick whatever platform is the simplest for you. You can always change later if you need to.

Related: 14 Stores to Sell Used Furniture for Cash (and How to Make the Most Money)

An organized system

Your online thrift store will likely sell many different items from multiple categories. You might also sell items for other people if your store grows. You’ll need a way to keep track of items as well as payments, fees, and shipping supplies.

There are a few different choices for tracking your inventory and payments.

When you’re small, you may be able to use a simple paper tracking system. Attach a numbered tag to each item and record the consignor of each tag number, whether that’s you or someone else. When that item sells, record the sales price, fees, and any other relevant details. You can track this information on a physical paper log or in a spreadsheet.

To automate the process and reduce your risk of errors, you could invest in software made specifically for consignment store owners. Industry-specific software can help you organize your consignor accounts, inventory, sales, and consignor payment information all in one place.

A decent camera

When you’re selling items online, you need to take high-quality pictures of your merchandise. Good pictures will make items sell faster.

A good quality camera can help you take appealing product photos. An inexpensive tripod will also be helpful. If you’re on a budget, a simple DIY product photography setup will be enough to get started with. You can also use your smartphone since many of those cameras are near-professional quality.

Shipping material

Since you’ll be shipping physical products to buyers, you need to have shipping materials on hand. Choose the minimum amount of protective packing materials to keep your product intact. If you’re shipping something soft like clothes or handbags, basic protection should be just fine. For breakable products, you’ll want something with more cushion.

You can find or buy packing materials from a variety of sources. Friends, neighbors, and family might be more than willing to donate their boxes and shipping materials to you. You can also get supplies from USPS and FedEx for free when you use specific services.

How to Start an Online Thrift Shop in 7 Simple Steps

Now that you’ve set up your store, there are a few other steps to follow to make sure your business is legitimate and profitable.

1. Check local tax and business laws

To make your business official, register it with your state’s Department of Revenue and obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number through the IRS. Check with your county clerk’s office to obtain necessary licenses and permits and apply for a sales tax permit.

You should also research local laws to understand when you need to charge your buyers sales tax. Also, open a business bank account to keep your income separate.

2. Establish your terms

Decide on the terms of your thrift store, and make them visible to your customers. You might want to include information like:

• Will unsold items be donated or returned?
• How long will the items be made available for sale before being donated?
• Will you accept returns from customers, even if you don’t believe you’ve made an error?
• Who will pay for return shipping?
• Does your store carry insurance on the items to be sold?
• When are payments due from your customers?
• What is your shipping and handling time?

Because these terms represent a legal document, you should consult an attorney if you have questions about your agreement.

3. Keep excellent records of your items

In order to have good records of your profits and whether or not you shipped an item, consider keeping a spreadsheet with the information below for each item you list.

• Item Name
• Item Listing Price
• Actual Sale Price
• Paid (Y/N)
• Shipped (Y/N)

If you decide to grow your store and sell items for other people, you’ll also need to track the name of the consigner and the fee you charged.

4. Advertise your business

When you’re first starting out, advertise your business for free on social media and through word of mouth. Use relevant hashtags, and tell friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers about it.

You can also post in local groups and buy Facebook ads targeted to a local audience to find more customers. If you’re selling a specific type of merchandise, target that market. For example, if you’re selling maternity clothes you can post in local mom groups.

Just be sure to follow group guidelines when posting. You don’t want to get flagged as spam and kicked out of the group.

Related: How to Sell Your Services Online Like a Professional

5. Know consignment percentages

If you sell on a larger platform, you have to know what percentage of your sale the platform will take. This will help you price your items so you still make a profit. Similarly, if you sell items for other people, decide what percentage of the sales price you will take.

Consignment stores can charge anywhere between 10% to 60% of the item’s final sales price, depending on the type of item being sold.

6. List items online

Once you have items to sell, post them online. Include a few pictures of the product, an honest description of the piece, and its condition and the price.

7. Pay consignors on time

After an item has sold, you have to pay consignors on time and in accordance with your consignment agreement. Paying your consignors in a timely manner will help you avoid legal issues.

If you use a large platform like eBay or Poshmark, they will automatically deduct their fee from the final sale price. But if you’re selling for someone else, you’ll need to make sure you pay them their share.

Who Should Start an Online Thrift Store?

If you’re organized, enjoy having flexible work hours and managing an online store, an online resale business could be a great fit for you. Maximize your profits and success by choosing a product niche you’re passionate and knowledgeable about.

With recent revenue growth in the resale industry and increased consumer interest in secondhand goods, now’s a great time to start an online thrift store of your own.

Related: How One Recent Grad Started a $2,000 a Month Shopify Side Gig

The post How to Start an Online Thrift Store in 7 Simple Steps appeared first on DollarSprout.

We’ve all clicked off of a website if the menu is hard to read or the content is impossible to find. I know I’ve done it.

People also evaluate a business’s credibility on the website’s appearance, and they expect it to load in two seconds or less. That means that websites need to look good, be user-friendly, and load quickly enough to keep visitors from moving on.

But how does a business achieve a functional, beautiful website that attracts and keeps users?

Among other things, they hire a web designer.

What is Web Design?

Web design is the appearance, layout, images, and other visual front-end elements that affect a user’s experience on a website. To create an aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly website, many businesses and website owners use web designers.

Web design vs. web development

While web design involves what users see when they go to a website, web developers work on the backend to make sure that the site functions properly.

This includes things like how fast the pages load, that users don’t experience errors, and making sure the website is mobile-friendly. Web developers typically use coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to do their job.

Website owners might employ both a designer and developer to create a site for their business.

Related: 16 Online Business Ideas That Anyone Can Start

What Does a Web Designer Do and How Much Do They Make?

Web designers use their creativity and eye for design to create functional, user-friendly, and beautiful websites. They work in tandem with their clients to choose the site’s layout, colors, fonts, and images. They also make sure readers can easily navigate the site on a laptop, desktop, phone, or tablet.

Web designer qualifications

Web designers often have a degree or certificate in visual design. This isn’t a necessity, but it does help provide a fundamental understanding of website elements like color schemes, fonts, layouts, and proportions.

User Experience (UX) training is also helpful for potential web designers. This training helps designers think about different types of people who might use the site to help them map how each user will navigate it.

To implement the design and UX ideas, web designers often work with a programmer or learn coding languages like HTML (what gives the site structure) and CSS (what allows you to change colors, images, and other visual aspects). Learning these languages isn’t crucial for a web designer, but it can make you a better designer.

Average salary

According to Glassdoor, full-time corporate web designers make an average of about $52,000 per year. If you’d rather work for yourself, freelance web designers can make between $30 to $80 per hour._[2]

Related: 50 Freelance Job Websites to Find Your First (or Next) Gig

How to Start Working as a Website Designer

People who enjoy designing websites can build their own business with just a few simple steps. It may take time to grow a full-time income, but it is possible.

1. Enroll in a web design or development course

First, think about what skills you have and the ones you need. Then consider taking classes to bridge the gap. Udemy offers affordable classes on HTML and CSS, visual design, and user experience.

Online classes are practical and worthwhile if you’re trying to grow your web design skills. The cost for the courses is an investment that can pay off as you build your business.

The more skills and services you can offer, the more you can charge and the higher-profile clients you can work with. Plus, you can deduct the classes on your taxes.

2. Create your own business website

A great way to practice your design skills is to work on your first project: your own website. You can start by making a simple blog or website.

If you want to grow your web design business and attract clients, you need somewhere to showcase your skills and abilities. Your business site is your first and best advertisement to potential clients.

3. Add your portfolio to your website

Clients will hire you based on what they see, so it’s crucial that you showcase your design skills and personal projects on your business website. If you don’t have any clients, you can create mockup sites to demonstrate how you’d approach a particular design.

You can also reach out to local nonprofits, churches, or business-owner friends and offer to work on their site in exchange for testimonials.

4. Identify your ideal client

As you’re starting your business, you need to think about what your ideal client looks like. Ask yourself questions like:

• What type of business do they run?
• Is there a particular topic or genre you’d like to specialize in?
• Who runs the site you’re designing?
• How old are they?
• Where do they live?
• What is their budget?

This is just a sample list of questions. When creating your ideal client profile, you can add as many details as you want that will help you identify the types of sites that your ideal client owns and how to market and network with them.

5. Find clients

As a web designer, you’ll find work in one of two ways: working for someone else or freelancing. If you’re interested in freelancing, you’ll need to pitch clients as well.

Traditional web design jobs

Sometimes working for someone else is a great way to get your foot in the door and build your skills while earning a consistent paycheck. Some people prefer a traditional schedule and other perks of being an employee.

To find a job with a web design company, check out job postings on LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor. You can also do a search for “web design companies” and browse the careers section of their websites.

Make sure you have a solid resume, even if you don’t have much experience. Highlight things like your relevant training, testimonials from past clients, and the designs you’ve done.

Freelancing

As a freelancer, you’ll work for yourself. That means it’s your responsibility to manage your own schedule, track your income and expenses, and find clients.

One way to find clients is by networking. Figure out where your potential customers might be and visit those places. It can be a Facebook group, in-person meeting in your town, or even LinkedIn. Try networking with other freelance web designers; they may have some good tips for finding your first clients.

If networking with strangers is uncomfortable for you, you can start by designing a marketing campaign. Share your new services with your social media followers or email list, put together a Facebook ad campaign, or let your family and friends know what you’re doing.

Ask them if they can connect you with any potential clients. Sometimes that personal connection makes it a little easier to network.

Related: 25 Legitimate Ways to Earn Money Online

Pitching

Once you’re in front of potential clients, you’ll need to pitch them. Include a description of how you can help them, what makes you different, why they should hire you, and a brief summary of your experience or skills.

If you’re at a networking event, try to distill all of that information into a 60-second “elevator pitch,” and make sure you have some business cards on hand to distribute so potential clients have a way to contact you. You can even use your cards as a small sample of your work.

6. Promote your services

To grow their business, freelance web designers need to promote themselves and their services.

Social media is a free and effective way to generate interest in your design skills, and it’s also a way to stay connected to your network. Using free platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, you can share updates on your projects, your menu of services, and even ask your followers what they’d like you to learn or work on.

Sponsored or targeted ads on social media networks are another effective method for driving traffic to your design services. This expands your potential client base as you have the ability to reach clients beyond your local area.

If you have an email list, you can use that to share design tips and tricks, give inside information on upcoming projects or updates, or even offer discounts for new customers.

Related: How to Become a Graphic Designer in 8 Simple Steps

7. Build your brand

As a web designer, you’ll help companies build their brand. But it’s equally important that you build your personal brand as well. There are a few ways you can do this:

Your website. Create and update your website to reflect your personality. Make sure that you’re conveying the right feeling to your ideal customer.

Your social media. Be consistent across all platforms. Use the same name, profile picture, tone (e.g., casual vs. professional), and website information everywhere you share your business details. People will get to know you this way.

Your niche. Focus on a particular niche, ideally one you’re passionate about. It’s easier to market to a specific audience than to everyone. Who knows, you could become the go-to person for healthy recipe websites or handmade soap makers.

Your services. Work well with your clients. A happy customer will refer you to friends or family who need your services, and reviews from satisfied customers are the easiest way to build your brand.

Creating a solid, consistent brand builds trust, recognition, and makes potential clients more likely to hire you.

Should You Become a Website Designer?

If you’re creative, good at design, and have basic coding skills (or are willing to learn them), you might do well working in website design. You also need to be able to listen to your clients, work collaboratively with them and web developers, and, if you’re interested in freelancing, be able to market and pitch yourself.

Although breaking into the field can be difficult, especially for those without any specialized training, if you practice, network, and look for opportunities to develop your skills and portfolio, you can find success as a web designer.

The post How to Become a Freelance Web Designer in 7 Simple Steps appeared first on DollarSprout.

Survey Voices is a site that aggregates different paid survey opportunities on the internet. It’s free to sign up for Survey Voices, and you’ll be instantly connected to surveys from sites like Swagbucks and Survey Junkie.

Before you get started, it’s important to keep in mind there are some downsides. You’ll have to provide personal information to register, and Survey Voices has a history of complaints with the Better Business Bureau.

You’ll also have to keep track of rewards across different sites, and it might take longer to cash out.

If you’re aware of those negatives but still want one place to see many different paid survey opportunities, Survey Voices might be right for you.

What Is Survey Voices?

Survey Voices is a paid survey aggregator. That means the Survey Voices website doesn’t have its own surveys that you can take to earn money. 

Instead, Survey Voices connects you with paid online survey sites. So when you click on a survey opportunity on Survey Voices, the link will direct you to a different site to take the survey. According to their site, their goal is to filter out scammy and low-paying websites so that you only see the best-paying survey opportunities.

How Does Survey Voices Work?

It’s free to sign up for Survey Voices, and the site is open to anyone 18 and older. You just have to provide your email address and fill out a qualifying questionnaire. The questionnaire asks about your home address, employment status, and homeownership status. It also asks if there children in the household and if you own a car.

Your answers to the questionnaire will help Survey Voices connect you to paid survey opportunities that you’re eligible for. For example, some market researchers may target homeowners or specific geographic locations. Your answers to the questionnaire will help Survey Voices match you to the right paid surveys.

Whenever you click a link to take a survey in Survey Voices, you’ll be directed to a third-party website. There, you’ll follow the instructions of that website to complete the survey.

Survey Voices doesn’t pay users directly. Instead, you’ll need to track your rewards for each site you complete a survey through and follow each site’s cash-out procedure. Survey Voices also doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be paid for your responses.

Related: 23 Best Apps and Games That Pay Real Money (2024)

Is Survey Voices Legit or a Scam?

There are some Survey Voices reviews that say the site is a scam. Survey Voices doesn’t charge money to join and is clear on their homepage that they are a survey aggregator, not a direct provider of paid surveys.

On the other hand, Survey Voices does engage in some questionable marketing tactics that might mislead you. When you click the button to sign up, Survey Voices mentions that you can earn your first $300 or more a month.

If you look at the FAQ, you see that you’d have to work 40 hours a week at approximately $3 an hour to earn $300. That’s definitely not as quick and easy as the site claims.

You may have privacy concerns about the sign-up process since you have to provide your full name and address to register. Survey Voices also asks for your phone number and date of birth. 

It’s important to read the fine print on the registration. Not only are you consenting to receive emails from Survey Voices, but you’re also agreeing to phone sales calls and text messages. Some users complain about receiving a large number of email and telemarketing solicitations from Survey Voice’s marketing partners.

You can revoke the site’s permission to share your information with third parties at any time. However, if you gave them permission upfront and they’ve already shared your information, you’ll need to reach out to or unsubscribe from each of their marketing partners individually.

RewardZone USA, LLC owns Survey Voices. RewardZone isn’t accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has a BBB rating of C.

According to the Better Business Bureau and other customer reviews, the company has failed to resolve multiple customer complaints. Trustpilot doesn’t have any reviews for Survey Voices or RewardZone, and they’re also hardly mentioned on Reddit.

Legit Survey Site Alternatives to Survey Voices

Rather than working with an aggregator site like Survey Voices, you can connect directly with the sites that offer paid survey opportunities. When you sign up with one survey site, you’ll have an easier time managing your rewards rather than spreading them out across multiple sites. 

Branded Surveys

Branded Surveys is a site that focuses on providing online surveys for money. You can get started by signing up and filling out your profile. You’ll earn 100 points for creating your account and additional points for each survey you take.

Once you reach 1,000 points, equal to $10, you can redeem them for gift cards or for cash via PayPal or direct deposit. 

Swagbucks

On Swagbucks, you can earn points by taking surveys, watching videos, and shopping online. Trade in your points for gift cards to retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and iTunes.

The minimum threshold for payout is $1 for an Amazon gift card, or roughly 160 Swabucks. It’s free to sign up, and you can earn a $10 sign-up bonus if you complete certain tasks after you register.

InboxDollars

Earn cash with InboxDollars by taking surveys, watching videos, and more. You can even earn money by playing video games or shopping at your favorite stores.

On InboxDollars, you’ll earn real cash rewards instead of points. You can get a $5 bonus just for signing up. The minimum threshold to request a payout is $30.

Survey Voices Review Summary

Survey Voices may work for you if you want to see lots of different paid survey opportunities in one place. However, it does have its downsides. You may have difficulty collecting your rewards, and you may receive marketing emails and sales calls from their partners.

Based on these downsides, you’ll likely have more luck and a better experience by signing up directly with paid survey sites.

Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and InboxDollars are all legitimate survey sites that help you earn money by taking surveys, watching videos, and more. These sites make the sign-up and rewards process transparent.

Taking paid surveys isn’t the only way to make money online, either. For example, you could get paid to play online games, proofread documents, or earn cash back by shopping at your favorite stores.

Whatever route you choose, read the site’s reviews and check out its reputation on Trustpilot, Reddit, or the BBB before you make your decision. There are plenty of legitimate side hustles and ways to make extra cash if you decide not to use Survey Voices.

The post Survey Voices Review 2024: Legit, but a Giant Waste of Time appeared first on DollarSprout.

According to the 2017 State of Telecommuting in the U.S. Employee Workforce Report_[1], nearly 4 million U.S. employees work from home at least half the time.

There’s so much more flexibility that comes with working from home. When you work remotely, you can skip long commutes, wear gym clothes all day, and spend more time with your family.

Plus, you can get more done at home. A Stanford University study_[2] found that remote workers were 13% more productive than office workers. People who worked from home logged more hours and were more effective during those hours.

If you want to work from home, customer service is the number five_[3] remote work job category, earning about $16.23 per hour in 2018_[4]. If you want to work from home doing something you enjoy, look for remote chat jobs.

What Is a Chat Agent?  

Online chat agents provide customer support via text-based chat discussions.

Successful live chat agents should enjoy a fast-paced environment with little downtime in between. They should be able to multitask since they’ll often have multiple conversations going on at once.

Online customer service jobs require that you be able to communicate professionally using proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Some chat agent jobs do require specific knowledge of the business you’re supporting and the chat platform. As you’re researching online chat jobs, look for companies that provide training and don’t require previous experience.

All you physically need to be an online chat agent is a reliable internet connection, a computer, and possibly a phone and headset depending on the position. You’ll also find it easier to concentrate in an area that isn’t noisy.

Online chat jobs aren’t exactly the same as being a virtual assistant. VAs can support a wide range of activities, but a VA might also do customer support like answering emails and fulfilling orders.

As a virtual assistant, you might also make appointments, order supplies, or manage social media accounts. An online chat agent’s primary responsibility is to provide customer support.

There are some jobs that may require you to be a phone-based customer service agent. If you prefer talking to people instead of typing, these jobs might be a more suitable fit for you.

16 Best Places to Find Online Chat Jobs

Many reputable companies offer online jobs for virtual chat agents. You might need specialized knowledge to work for tech companies, while others may only require excellent customer service skills and an internet connection, even if you have no prior experience in th role.

1. Accolade Support

Accolade Support hires customer service agents that work as independent contractors. This means they don’t get paid benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, or a 401(k) plan.

Instead, they have the flexibility to choose which hours they want to work. It’s not clear what the pay is or how many hours are required per week.

Agents must have:

• An American accent
• Excellent customer service, written, and oral communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Technical support skills

Here are the technical requirements:

• A headset
• A PC with Windows 7 to 10 (Macs aren’t eligible)
• Your computer needs to be hardwired to the internet 

Related: 25 Legitimate Ways to Earn Money Online

2. Apple

Apple At Home Advisors answer questions and provide online chat support to Apple customers. Apple provides an iMac and headset to its at-home advisors. You’ll need internet access and a quiet place to work. However, the company will reimburse part of your internet costs.

To succeed in this job, it helps to have some experience with Apple products like iPhones and iPads, but it’s not required. Apple provides training on the technical aspects of the latest Apple products and on the Apple approach to customer service.

The Apple At Home Advisor program also offers paid time off, product discounts, and free career development resources. Apple offers part-time and full-time At Home Advisor roles. You’ll learn more about the pay and benefits during the interview process. 

Related: 17 of the Best Places to Find Small Task or Micro Jobs

3. Asurion

Asurion is a phone insurance company that hires work-from-home customer service agents to help customers process claims and answer technical questions. Employees make $13.50 an hour starting out. 

The job requires:

• A high school diploma or GED
• Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays
• Six months of experience in customer service
• Ability to pass a background check or drug test

You also need to have a quiet working background and high-speed internet. Asurion will provide the rest of the equipment. There are also bilingual customer support positions, but the pay isn’t listed.

Related: 9 Transcription Jobs That Pay You to Type Audio to Text

4. Amazon

Amazon employs remote workers as Customer Service Associates. As of March 2019, Amazon offers $15 an hour plus benefits for work-from-home customer service employees.

In that role, Customer Service Associates were expected to work about 20 to 29 hours during a typical week, but asked employees to be available up to 60 hours per week based on customer call and chat volume.

Customer service associates at Amazon can expect to communicate with customers in a variety of different ways, via phone, email, and chat. It’s a fast-paced environment that requires a strong customer focus.

Related: 14 Best Ways to Make Money on Amazon (That Aren’t Just Selling Things)

5. Uber

Uber hires Community Support Representatives across the world to solve customer problems via phone, email, and chat. To work at Uber, you should be able to show empathy for riders and drivers. Uber is looking for support representatives with excellent written and verbal communication skills.

You should expect to work evening or weekend shifts when support demand is high. Uber prefers to hire support representatives with a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Communications, English, or Journalism, but a degree isn’t required.

Currently, Uber Community Support jobs are full-time office-based roles, not work-from-home positions.

6. Arise

Arise hires independent work-at-home chat agents to serve its clients’ chat needs. As a chat agent, you’ll provide real-time support and troubleshooting to customers.

You may work for a variety of companies that hire Arise to supply them with experienced chat agents. Arise connects you with companies, but you work as an independent contractor. This means you have more flexibility in the jobs you expect. 

Arise also offers support for new contractors via online videos. 

Related: 29 Best Work-From-Home Jobs That Pay Well 

7. Best Buy

Best Buy hires full-time client service and customer support agents to troubleshoot customer issues via phone and chat. Sometimes you may respond to customers via social media platforms or the Best Buy forum.

Customer issues might include technical problems, questions about their local store, or issues with item delivery. Service agents should be comfortable speaking to customers over the phone and via chat. At least one year of customer support experience is ideal.

Best Buy customer support agents should be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends. It prefers to hire agents who have experience working with and troubleshooting consumer electronics.

Agents work in an office or retail store, not from home. Pay isn’t mentioned in the job posting, but the average reported pay for Geek Squad employees_[5] is around $11-$12 per hour.

Related: How One Auto Tech Earns $13K/mo Answering Questions Online

8. Concentrix

Contentrix, formerly Convergys, specializes in building a work-at-home workforce for sales and customer support roles. It’s currently hiring in 35 states for remote customer support roles. To work with Concentrix, you’ll need a computer, secure workspace, and an internet connection. Specific clients may have additional requirements.

Pay starts at $10 an hour for Concentrix workers, and you’ll be paid every two weeks. Concentrix employs both full-time and part-time workers, and you can work a maximum of 40 hours per week. You’ll agree on your schedule when you’re hired.

Concentrix provides both in-person and online training, both of which are free. After training, Concentrix evaluates you to make sure you are ready to work with customers.

9. OutPLEX

OutPLEX, previously Talk2rep, offers outsourcing services for customer support functions including live chat and text support. The company hires US-based work-from-home customer service representatives. With OutPLEX, you’ll resolve customer issues via email or phone.

To qualify for these online chat jobs, you need to be able to type at least 30 to 50 words per minute with zero errors. You can check your typing speed online.

Your computer must be hard wired to the internet and needs to have a Windows operating system (Apple computers aren’t eligible). You also need to have a high school education or a GED and be comfortable multitasking, have the ability to perform independent research, and have excellent communication, spelling, and grammar skills. 

10. The Chat Shop

Live Chat Agents represent The Chat Shop customers across the world. The Chat Shop provides training to agents, but you need to be a native English speaker with excellent grammar and typing skills. Currently, it’s only hiring in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas.

You’ll also need to be an organized worker who can multitask and learn new skills. The Chat Shop agents typically work 20 to 40 hours a week from home.

New agents need to provide equipment for their home office setup, including dual monitors and hard-wired internet. The Chat Shop also recommends that you have an external keyboard and mouse if you’ll be using a laptop for work.

11. SiteStaff

SiteStaff provides boutique chat services for businesses. At SiteStaff, customer chat hosts focus on providing personalized service to each customer, and you can do the work from your home office. 

To qualify for a Chat Host role at SiteStaff, you should be able to type at least 65 to 75 words per minute. You need a strong grasp of punctuation, grammar, and spelling.

SiteStaff is looking for Chat Hosts with exceptional problem-solving skills. Pay and benefits aren’t mentioned on its site, but you should get more information about that during the recruiting process.

12. Live Person

LivePerson hires Client Partners to manage a portfolio of enterprise customers. A Client Partner with LivePerson will work closely with the customer’s executive team throughout the relationship.

In this role, you would work remotely to drive continuous improvement efforts, become an expert on LivePerson’s offerings, and manage customer contracts.

LivePerson requires at least a Bachelor’s degree and seven or more years of experience in account management. If you have an MBA, that’s a plus. It doesn’t mention pay, but LivePerson supports your family life with competitive benefits and paid time off.

13. LiveWorld

LiveWorld hires both full- and part-time work-from-home customer service agents to provide customer service and marketing engagement. As a LiveWorld agent, you should be both fluent in the language you’re supporting and in English.

Your primary responsibility at LiveWorld will include responding to customers’ social media posts, responding to user content in a social context, and triaging customer questions.

This isn’t a phone-based position. Since you’ll be doing a lot of writing, you should have excellent grammar, punctuation, and spelling skills. You’ll need to commit to working specific blocks of time in a quiet location.

Nights, weekends, and holidays are sometimes required. You should provide reliable internet and phone access and a computer.

14. Support.com

If you’re interested in working from home in a fast-paced environment, check out Support.com’s contact center opportunities. Support.com provides tech support services for clients by phone and chat.

Since Support.com is focused on technology, you’ll need to have experience troubleshooting Mac, iOS, Android, or Windows devices.

Perks of working with Support.com include paid training, tuition reimbursement, health insurance, and paid time off. Support.com also provides a content library to help you expand your tech support skills and career.

It’ll also provide a tax-free work-from-home reimbursement. Several reviews online reported that the reimbursement was $0.50 per hour to compensate for internet and equipment use.

15. Fancy Hands

If you want more variety than the typical online chat job, sign up to be a Fancy Hands virtual assistant. As a VA, you could do several different tasks, including online chat jobs. Fancy Hands hires virtual assistants on any schedule, so feel free to choose your own hours.

When you start, each task pays between $3 and $7. Pay may increase as you gain experience and will likely vary based on the task complexity, how quickly you complete the task, and other factors.

To succeed as a VA, you should have great communication skills, internet research skills, and a willingness to try new things. You’ll need to have your own computer and audio headset.

Fancy Hands also hires on-site Customer Support Associates for its NYC office. Customer Support Associates help troubleshoot and manage client issues. This job requires weekend availability.

16. Freshworks

Freshworks hires Customer Success Managers to work with Software as a Service (SAAS) customers. Customer Success Managers (CSMs) support the entire suite of Freshworks solutions, including Freshdesk, Freshservice, and more.

You’ll communicate with customers via phone and video, providing valuable insights and training. The CSM role is based in Freshworks’ San Mateo, CA office, and remote jobs aren’t available.

Online Chat Jobs Websites to Find Clients

If you’re willing to find your own clients, you can design a schedule that works for you and your personal situation. Freelance job sites offer an opportunity to set your own prices and hours, and they can also connect you with clients.

FlexJobs

FlexJobs offers a curated list of remote and flexible jobs. It covers part- and full-time roles for both entry-level and experienced candidates. Flexjobs helps you find remote and flexible job opportunities that you may not see on typical job boards.

Job postings include both freelance and employee roles. FlexJobs also provides extensive resources to help you in your job search. These include job search checklists, resume reviews, and video introductions.

It costs $14.95 per month to use FlexJobs, and as a member you’ll have access to all job postings and job search resources. You can pay for a month at a time if you think your job search will be short.

For job seekers who expect to search for a longer period of time, FlexJobs also offers quarterly and annual rates. If you’re not happy with the service, you can request a refund within 30 days.

Fiverr

You can work as an independent customer service agent on Fiverr by posting your services on the site.

Just sign up, set up your profile, and post your chat agent services to Fiverr’s marketplace. Fiverr lets you connect with customers, negotiate terms, and collect payment.

You’ll receive payment once your client verifies the work. Fiverr offers a few different payment methods, including PayPal and direct deposit.

You can set prices anywhere from $5 to $995. Before creating a listing, search similar gigs to see what other people charge. Make sure to post relevant information about your skills, like language fluency and typing speed.

Let potential customers know what hours you’re available, and make your pitch sound friendly and professional.

Related: How to Make Money Proofreading from Anywhere in the World

Upwork

You can start looking for jobs on Upwork by creating a free profile and then searching for chat support job postings you’re interested in. Upwork will highlight jobs that might be a good fit and email you when new jobs are posted. Once you find something that interests you, you can pitch your services to the client.

Upwork also streamlines the work process by allowing you to communicate with your client and invoice through the site.

Although you can create a profile for free, Upwork charges 20% of the first $500 billed with a client, 10% of lifelong billings with a client between $500 and $10,000, and 5% on lifetime billings beyond $10,000.

Keep this in mind when you’re researching jobs on Upwork. You’ll also pay $0.15 each time you connect with a potential client.

Freelancer

On Freelancer, you can connect with clients hiring freelancers for almost any type of job. First, create a profile that includes your skills and experience. When you find a job you’re interested in, you can submit a bid to the potential client.

If your bid is accepted, you can complete the work and receive payment. Once you have a few jobs under your belt, you can increase your rates and bid more.

You have to pay to access jobs on Freelancer. The Intro plan, at $0.99 per month, allows you to list 30 skills and submit 15 bids per month.

As you upgrade your membership, you gain access to additional features and can submit additional bids and add more information to your profile. You can also deduct the membership as an expense on your taxes. 

New freelancers can make a great impression by presenting a tailored, professional proposal to prospective customers. 

Tips to Make More Money as a Chat Operator

Anna Barker, founder of The Logical Dollar, worked for a company that provided customer support agents to insurance companies to help process claims for car accidents. She said operators should be able to write in a positive way so that nothing they say is misinterpreted. This can be difficult to do through text but is crucial for this type of work.

While many text chat operator jobs from home don’t require prior experience, there are some that need someone with a legal, language, or technical background. The good news? Those who do have this experience can often make more. 

“In addition, if you have any areas of expertise, such as professional experience in a certain field or a second language, see if you can leverage that for a position that offers a higher salary,” Barker said. “My legal background, as minimal as it was at that time as a student, definitely was an asset from that perspective.”

Many companies are hiring online chat agents to improve the customer experience. Some opportunities are more flexible, allowing chat agents to set their own hours. Other jobs require you to work specific shifts and be on-site.

“Some companies ask their chat operators to be available for night shifts, so that customers can talk to someone at any time, day or night,” Barker said. “That may work for you but, if not, just be sure that you’re aware of the hours for which you’re signing up.”

Successful chat agents enjoy multitasking in a fast-paced environment. Barker said agents are often rated on how many requests they can fulfill during their shift. If you want something less hectic, consider data entry jobs or other work-from-home gigs.

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