by Jennifer Thompson | Dec 10, 2021 | Abundant Life, Become a money magnet, Digital Nomad
Everyone has some capacity to make money online! You will need to find a niche market that you can help based on your experience and passion.
How well you serve your audience will dictate what your earnings are. Don’t just pick a niche because it’s currently ‘hot.’ You are going to need to continue to build, write articles, and market that product and new products that fit under that initial niche for years to come, so make sure it’s a niche that you’re passionate about, otherwise you will not enjoy success.
Source: Canva
Here are 5 ways to make money online quickly and without a lot of effort.
1. Transcribe Audio.
With more websites now offering written transcriptions for those that are hearing impaired, transcribers are now highly in demand. While it doesn’t always pay a lot, it also doesn’t require a lot of work or a commitment from you. Check sites like Upwork, Freelancer and Rev.com for these types of jobs.
2. Participate in Online Surveys.
Participating in online surveys don’t take much time while allowing you to you create a little extra cash flow for yourself. Mobrog and Surveybee are sites that offer countless surveys. You get paid each time you complete a survey.
3. Audio Editting.
If you are familiar with sound editing software there is a job opportunity waiting for you cleaning up online interviews, webinars, webcasts, etc. Sites like Upwork or Freelancer offer editing software work.
4. Enter Games and Contests.
Writers, photographers, logo designers etc., there’s are tons of contests running looking for the best ‘product.’ You don’t get paid unless you win so you will need to enter as many contests as you can find in your niche. Webcashgenerator is an excellent site offering thousands of contests.
5. Flip Domain Names.
Some people have figured out a way to make a very nice income buying and selling domain names. Use Google Adwords to find trending keywords and then use that information to choose domains to flip. Be creative when you are trying to buy domain names. Even if the main keyword isn’t available you can work off of that keyword and incorporate it with other words.
6. Write.
Provide writing or content services. If you like to write and you feel you are good at it, you can offer those writing skills to others. You can find work as a technical writer, content writer, editor, proofreader, and the list goes on.
Sign up at one of the many sites that provide a way for writers and clients to connect and start selling your services. Sites like Upwork, Contently and Freelancer are all good options. Medium.com is a great platform to start your writing career.
7. Translation Services.
Translation services are in high demand. If you have a second language you can make money. Promote yourself through freelancing websites or using classified ad websites to find clients who need translation work done. Translayte is one of the best sites to locate jobs for translation services.
8. Ebooks.
Writie an e-book and self-publish through Amazon or Lulu. Don’t just write any e-book. Seek out a niche that you have something to share and make sure that the market isn’t already saturated. Selling ebooks is an excellent way to make a steady stream of passive income.
9. Blog.
You might also decide to launch a blog in a niche you are interested in. You don’t make money from writing the blog. As your readership grows, you make money by the commissions you receive from posting ads or affiliate marketing.
10. Sell on Ebay or Etsy.
There are many people that make a full time income selling stuff on e-Bay or Etsy. Whether you want to sell your vintage clothing, cool new jewelry or anything else, one of these venues could be right for you.
11. Teach Online.
If you like to teach but would rather do it from your home, you could think about teaching for one of the online schools. From salsa dancing to gardening and investing. Take the time to explore the online schools and find a good fit for you. If you want to teach English online, there is Preply. If you have any other skill, teach it on Coursera, Udemy or Skillshare.
12. Videos and Webinars.
The internet provides a terrific opportunity to teach viewers about all kinds of things from how to knit to how to train your dog, and everything in between. You can create a video or webinar to help those interested and you can charge for these. It’s a far more lucrative service than print material is and it’s also still very untapped so the opportunity is there.
13. Begin a Podcast.
Talk about topics that are of interest so that you can draw in an audience. Once you have a good size audience following you, then you can make money off your podcast through ads. A great way to make some money.
14. Sell Your Music.
You can sell your music directly from your own website. Radiohead did it a few years ago and raked in tons of money just by asking for donations. It made news headlines. As an independent you can do this. Many are now. You don’t need a middleman and you don’t need a big label to sell your music.
15. Freelance Designer.
Create a website for yourself that showcases your portfolio. Find work online in the classifieds and begin to build your profile. It will take you some time to get established, but it is well worth it as there is a lucrative income awaiting you.
16. Sell an App.
The apps marketplace includes millions of users and so $1 or so per sale can generate a lot of money, if it’s an app that there is demand for. If you have a really good idea, but you aren’t a programmer it might pay to hire a programmer. Just make sure that you retain all rights.
17. Sell Stock Photos.
If photography is your hobby this is an excellent way to make money from it. People constantly are searching for stock photos by keyword, so find your best photos, upload them to a site like ShutterStock or Fotolia and start making money. It isn’t a lot per sale, but if you have enough photos up there you can build a nice side income.
18. Create YouTube Videos.
YouTube and other sites like make it easy for you to have an opportunity to be discovered. Show off your talent. Create product review videos linked to an affiliate program and generate a commission. You can also create courses.
19. Offer advice.
Whatever you have some expertise in, you could turn it into a way to make money. At JustAnswer you can get paid for your knowledge. It’s a paid question and answer website with a growing field of experts.
Customers register, ask their question and name the price they are willing to pay for an expert answer. The average is between $10 and $40 dollars. The expert responds within the hour and when the customer accepts the answer you earn 25% to 50% of what customers pays. How much you earn depends on how many questions you answer. Experts are vetted to ensure the credentials they provide are accurate.
20. Work as a Virtual Assistant.
The demand for virtual assistance is high. People that work as virtual assistants can make a full time income online using skills that they already possess.
The earnings will depend on who you are working for. Some sites connect virtual assistants with clients. The most common method is through a bidding process. You find a job that interests you and then you bid on it. What you bid will depend on the duties that are required.
You will often bid on an hourly rate, although some jobs are flat rated. The hourly rates can vary from ridiculously low such as $2/hour to average $10/hour to higher $20/hour so search around.
Virtual assistants do all kinds of tasks. They can do research, schedule appointments, answer calls, post to social media, create reports, make phone calls, do bookkeeping tasks, and the list goes on.
Different virtual assistant positions require different skills and so you should look to find a posting that matches your skills and what you like to do. Fiverr, Riprecruiter and Freelancer are great sites to offer your services as a virtual assistant.
Final Word
Source: Canva
There are countless opportunities for online work. Depending on your skill set and interest, there is definitely something for you. You just need to search. Once you’ve created your online presence in a niche you like, your consistency and determination will pay off. And you’ll see the money roll in.
by Jennifer Thompson | Nov 22, 2021 | Abundant Life, Family Finance, Let's Talk Money, Personal Finance
What should you and your partner do if you have competing goals and priorities?
I got a call while at work. It was my fifteen-year-old daughter. She wanted me to pick up mascara — yes, you read that correctly, mascara, not bread or milk, but mascara.
I reminded her what I’d told her and her sister — never to call me while I was at work unless it was an emergency. She replied, yes, I know. This is an emergency. I have a party tonight. I need mascara.
I realized I should have been clear about what exactly an emergency would entail as far as I was concerned. Not wanting to pass an obvious teachable moment, before hanging up I explained what I would consider an emergency — an event that involved loss of blood or loss consciousness — looking good at a party did not qualify as an emergency from my perspective.
Conflicting Values
This story highlights two things — how different all our values are and how we prioritize them differently.Your money should be managed in alignment with what you value. But the truth is, many people do not know what their core values are.
Yes, we all value safety, security, love, and respect. But we don’t all place them in the same level of importance. So, what are your top 5 core values? When my daughters were young, safety and security were one of my top five values. Now that they are adults, freedom and intimacy dominate.
Once you know what your values are, it makes it that much easier to manage your finances. I can say “no’ to some things so I can say ‘yes’ to what aligns with what I value.
What happens, however, when your values and priorities are not aligned with those of your partner? One of you may be great at saving money and the other may be someone who uses credit freely. Your money personality types could be on the opposite ends of the spectrum.
And, what happens if you both have conflicting priorities? He wants to complete his Ph.D., and your biological clock is screaming at you to start a family? Or he wants to retire abroad, and you don’t?
How do you compromise? How can you support each other without compromising your needs?
Here are some ideas:
- Communicate openly what is most important to you. This can only be done once you are crystal clear about what you value.
- Listen to the heart of your partner and what matters to them.
- Share what you both want as individuals, as a couple, and as a family (if you have kids).
- Make a list of your goals — as individuals and as a couple. When would you like to achieve them?
- Create a financial plan. How much can you afford to put aside each month to meet each other’s goals?
- Look for ways to compromise? E.g., Your spouse wants to retire abroad, and you want to stay put so you can be part of your grandchildren’s lives. How about living abroad for half the year?
- What areas can you reduce your expenses to help each other’s visions come to fruition?
Bringing It All Together
Decide how important your relationship is to you. Relationships are about negotiating needs. It can be challenging but also rewarding. If maintaining a healthy relationship is what you need, then open and honest communication is a great place to start.
Not meeting our dreams and goals can breed resentment. You don’t have to sacrifice your relationship to achieve your goals and, neither do you have to sacrifice your dreams for your relationship. Negotiate your needs.
Prioritize them. Be clear about what is merely a wish and what is a compelling goal. Aim to achieve the most important goals. What are you willing to do to achieve them while maintaining a close dynamic relationship with your partner? In many instances, helping your partner achieve their dreams just may help you get closer to yours!
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by Jennifer Thompson | Nov 18, 2021 | Abundant Life, Authenticity
It was December 2020 last year and I distinctly recall the voices of hope expressed collectively across the globe that 2021 would be different from 2020. Let’s face it, 2020 may go down as the worse year of the decade, if not the century!
And in the same breath, we voiced the hope for the new year. How did we think that a day would make a difference? That we’d wake up on January 1, and suddenly things would be different.
That we would eradicate the pandemic and that with Donald Trump gone, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would make things, right? Much as I recall feeling some degree of renewed faith in a better world with the new leadership, we all know that things don’t change overnight.
December 2021 is almost upon us. Covid 19 is still with us. We have had three different variants of covid. And masks are still required in most public places. We have started to normalize this pandemic and all that came with it — after all, life does go on.
What have you normalized?
On an individual note, why is it so hard to change? What have you normalized? It is not about New Year’s resolutions since we know how ineffective those are.
If you are reading this, you have lived through many New Year’s Eve’s. With great intentions that things will change — we’ll save more, eat healthily, exercise regularly, invest in our dreams, spend quality time with our family, and improve the quality of our lives.
How are you doing? In what ways have you improved the overall quality of your life, your finances, and your relationships? Has anything changed at all?
How much have things changed over the past five years?
And why not? Are you any closer to completing that novel you started to write five years ago? Is your weight where you had hoped it would be three years ago? Are your significant relationships giving you the intimacy you desired two years ago when you both first got together? Are you settling? Have you started saving money towards your goals?
And, what about the promise to yourself to not sweat the small stuff? Or the promise to be more mindful? To be present. To savor life. To be kinder to those around you. And what about the pursuit for more joy?
Do the things that triggered you ten years ago still trigger you today?
So much has changed yet so much remains the same.
When you do a look back on your life, does it look like much has changed yet so much still remains the same? Travel has certainly changed. More sanitization for one. Yet some things remain the same — people are still people — they can get frustrated, impatient, and rude.
How to make long-lasting change.
Nothing changes if nothing changes! Talking about change is not change — but it is one step towards change. So, how do we make long-lasting change?
- Decide what you want to change.
- Know exactly why you want to change.
- See yourself through the identity of someone who has already made the change.
- Create a step-by-step plan on how to get there.
- Take immediate action towards that goal.
- Get support.
- And Accountability.
- If this is an outcome that can be measured, then measure the change.
Speeding towards change
I used to speed whenever I drove. And yes, I racked up a lot of speeding tickets. This did not deter me from speeding.
However, when my daughters started to learn how to drive (no, I did not teach them — I hired a driving instructor), I decided I wanted to be a better example to them. I had to consciously make an effort to drive slower. I got the support and accountability from my family to help me keep to the speed limit.
Five years later, I was pleasantly surprised when during a drive to California, my daughter said to me, “mom, you sure changed your style of driving.” I asked her what she meant and she said, “You stopped speeding and are more considerate to other drivers.”
Make sure it matters to you
For some of you, this may not be a big deal. But for me, my driving represented my life! There is a lot to be said about a person by the way they drive. The tools I used to slow down my driving rippled to other areas of my life. I learned to savor, not speed, reflect and not react, pause and
What are some of your intentions for 2022? How much does it matter to you whether you achieved it or not?
December 31, 2021
What if, you took the first step towards a more compelling life? What if, on December 31 2022 you looked back at how you lived the year and felt it was the best year of your life? What would that look like?
How would you like the next 365 days to look for you?
by Jennifer Thompson | Nov 18, 2021 | Abundant Life, Authenticity, Manifesting Life on Your Terms
The way you think influences the way you feel and the way you feel influences the way you think. It’s a cycle that can be hard to break. Your feelings affect your energy and perception of your reality.
Most people focus on areas in their lives, relationships, and circumstances that are short of their ideal. Essentially, areas that they are unhappy with. Unfortunately this keeps you there — in the unhappy circustances.
The Way You Think and Feel
When you’re feeling sad, you may look at all the things that are going wrong in your life, engage in self-criticism, and predict things are going to end poorly. The more you think about sad things, the worse you feel. The worse you feel, the more you think about sad things. If you want to change your reality, start by changing the way you think and the way you feel. Yes, sometimes it is easier said than done.
Stop It
When you find yourself in a negative state, ask yourself, “Am I ruminating or problem-solving?” If you’re dwelling on the problem, you’re ruminating. If you’re actively looking for solutions, you are problem-solving. Problem-solving moves you forward, ruminating holds you back.
The following can help interrupt your ruminating thoughts:
- Get involved in an activity that requires some serious mental energy for at least a few minutes. It’s a healthy distraction.
- Find someone to talk to about a completely different subject from one you’re ruminating.
- Avoid negative people. Energy is ‘contagious’ — whether positive or negative.
- Sit down and plan your next vacation.
- Engage in a hobby.
- Journal the outcomes you want out of a different life!
- Take a walk in nature. Notice what’s around you as you go on your walk.
- Stay fully present.
Do What Works For You
The key is to find something that works for you. You may need to experiment with a few different strategies until you find the activity that best helps you change the channel in your brain.
If you’re having a difficult time getting troubling images out of your head, or you always dwell on the negative, seek professional help. Talking to a therapist could help you think and feel differently.
Acknowledge Your Feelings
This process is not about ignoring the issues in your life. This is not about ignoring your feelings. Whatever you resist will persist.
Acknowledging you are feeling bad, or depressed, is necessary. But you get to decide how long you want to stay in that energy of negativity.
Be honest with yourself. What part of you wants to stay in that negativity? And what parts of you wants to move away from this stagnation? Honour all parts of you, but master the parts that lead you to your destiny.
by Jennifer Thompson | Nov 14, 2021 | Abundant Life, Authenticity, Become a money magnet, Blogging, Business
Talking about money can be a challenge for many couples. According to a Stress in America survey released in 2015 by the American Psychological Association (APA), about a third of adults with partners reported that money is a significant source of conflict in their relationship. This was the case no matter how much the couple earned!
They often cited disagreements over money as one of the main reasons people get divorced. This conflict continues even after the divorce. According to Dan Courvette, publisher of Divorce Magazine, “the two most contentious issues during a divorce are finances and children — in that order.”This is unfortunte, considering we live in one of the wealthiest regions in the world.
A survey conducted by the Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC) of Canada in 2016 found that two-thirds of the 1000 Canadians interviewed said they still had concerns about their finances.
Talking About Money
Yet many people are uncomfortable talking about money. This could very well be part of the problem. A poll conducted by Merrill Lynch and Age Wave in 2018 suggested that 61% of women surveyed would rather talk about the details of their death than speak about money. 61% of women surveyed would rather talk about a one-off event than talk about money, a subject that affects most aspects of their lives daily.
Money touches most aspects of our lives. Avoiding the subject of money in your significant relationship can only add to this stress. So, how can a couple talk about money affectively?
As a financial advisor for over twenty years, I have observed hundreds of couples navigate money within their relationships. And the three qualities that make some couples more successful discussing money than others are transparency, good communication skills and respect.
Transparency
Trust is the basis of any successful relationship. Renowned marriage therapist and author, John Gottman, examined couples from all over the country and discovered that trust and betrayal were the most important issues to arise between partners. Transparency builds trust.
Financial Infidelity
Fidelity is a quality we desire in a partner. And sexual infidelity is not the only form of betrayal. We can also betray our partners through financial infidelity. Financial Infidelity is when one spouse makes significant financial decisions that impact the financial future of the other. A good example of transparency would be to tell your future partner about the amount of debt you carry.
Let me give you an example here.
Jessica called her banker to instruct him not to reveal to her husband the $20,000 credit card debt she accumulated from helping a ‘friend.’
Her husband had come in to see their banker to refinance their existing home to complete renovations on their new property.
She had asked the banker if her debt would affect their ability to refinance their home.
Of course, it would! Both their names were on their home! One partner’s debt would affect their household total debt servicing ratios, which determines the amount of credit for which they can qualify. As a couple, there is the understanding that your actions have consequences on your partner and relationship.
And how does trust show up for a couple in relation to their finances? It’s the feeling of knowing your partner has your back when making financial decisions.
Good Communication
Good communication between partners is the second quality necessary for successfully tackling conversations around money.
Money is a highly emotional issue. A couple facing financial challenges may find it difficult to communicate about money without getting emotional. Because it’s never just about money. Money is security, freedom, and ease. And for some people, money is also power and control.
You need to decide as a couple how much of the other person’s financial situation you need to know for you to feel safe. What’s the threshold for which you or your partner can spend before you need to consult each other? That each of you discuss a potential purchase if it costs more than $100?
Keep things separate or bring them together?
If you both decide to keep everything separate, that’s fine, but it’s something entirely different when the one person with $100,000 in unsecured debt wants to have their joint home refinanced to pay off that revolving debt.
It gets more complicated with bleded families. Would your partner like to know how much money you’re giving an adult child from a previous marriage? Will it affect your finances as a couple?
Discuss your attitudes towards money early in the relationship. Communicate about the way you feel regarding your financial concerns. Decide how you would like to resolve conflicts in your finances, especially concerning competing priorities.
Respect
Respect each other’s differences. Respect tour partner’s vision for your lives — as individuals and as a couple. What legacy do you want to leave your family, your community?
Discover what your core values are as individuals. Do you manage your money in alignment with what you value? Does your partner share your values?
There are also differences in personality types in a person’s approach to money. What happens when a spender marries a saver?
Compatibility in handling money is often not one of the first few qualities that individuals are consciously looking for in a mate. A partner with a good income may be of an attractive quality, but it means nothing if that same person is constantly living in overdraft.
What can you do differently?
There are a few things you can do to nurture greater openness in dealing with your finances.
Money talk should start early in the relationship.
When I say that money talk should start early in a relationship it does not mean presenting your net worth or cash flow statements on the first date. Start the conversation by discussing your relationship with money. What does money mean to you? How do you feel about debt?What’s your partner’s interpretation of risk? How did your respective families deal with conflicts around money?
As the relationship grows, share your dreams.
Talk openly about your vision for your lives. Share your dreams as individuals and as a couple. Most dreams require a financial commitment. How can you support your partner in achieving her goals? What does wealth look like for each of you?
Work on a financial road map together.
Once you’ve shared your dreams, create a financial plan to help you achieve those goals. How will you tackle conflicting priorities? You may feel uneasy about the potential financial sacrifice if your partner is considering going back to school to pursue higher education.
Listening to your partner shows you care. I suspect that if you get your finances straightened out and talk openly about it, other areas of your relationship will also benefit from this.
Bringing It All Together
Most people I know are more comfortable undressing on a first date than discussing their finances. We generally have a tough time talking about money.
Conflicts over money are one of the main reasons couples separate. It’s not the money that causes the conflict, but the threat to what we value most. And the differences in our approach to money. A person with the need for safety and security will feel threatened by their partner’s carefree nature with nature and judge it as reckless.
With open communication, transparency and respect, couples can nurture a safe place where they can safely talk about money and discuss their concerns without judgement. This may even bring them closer together.
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