Category Archives for Make Money

Six Ways To Make Constructive Use of Your Daily Commute

The following is a post by MPFJ staff writer, Kevin Mercadante, who is a professional personal finance blogger, and the owner of his own personal finance blog, OutOfYourRut.com. He has backgrounds in both accounting and the mortgage industry.

Next to work itself, it’s probably safe to say that (depending on where you live of course) the daily commute to work is usually the second most stressful thing that you do in any given day. It can even seem like a one-two knockout punch – your job keeps you running and jumping all day, but the commute saps whatever energy you have left.

There’s not much you can do to eliminate your commute to work, but you can make some changes so that it works in your favor.

Change the way you see your commute

You can change your whole outlook on your commute by being purposeful about using the time to your advantage. For example, you can think of it as a warm-up period that will help you get ready for work. This can be especially beneficial if you have a very stressful job – and who doesn’t these days?

If you are going to be in your car for 30 minutes or even an hour or more, you can find ways to make your commute productive (which we’ll get into in more detail below). The point is to view your commute time just the way you do any other time in your day, and put it to work in your favor. If you can, your whole outlook toward it will probably change.

Leave a few minutes earlier than you do now

At least part of what makes a commute so stressful – at least the morning commute – is the possibility of not making it to work on time.

If your job is really stressful, or you just don’t like it, you may be leaving late for work in an unconscious attempt to rebel against going at all (I know all about that one – I’ve been there!).

But that’s something you can fix. By leaving for work a few minutes early each day, you can greatly reduce the stress that comes from commuting in heavy traffic. And if you really don’t like your job, the commute time could be used to help you deal with it.

Listen to motivational or inspirational tapes and CDs

One of the best uses of your morning commute is to mentally prepare yourself for the day ahead. You can do this by listening to motivational or inspirational tapes or CDs. They can put you in a better frame of mind either by helping you to de-stress, or by getting you into the frame of mind to be productive.

You might also want to avoid listening to the news or to news programs on your commute. I don’t know about you, but news programs can stress me out all by themselves, but even more when I’m stuck in traffic.

Create your Things-To-Do List

A problem that contributes to stress on the job is a lack of organization. This can often be remedied simply by creating a things-to-do list. You can use your morning commute to help you do this. If your commute involves numerous traffic lights, you can probably do this old-school with a handwritten list. If it’s mostly freeway driving, you’ll want to use some sort of recording system so you can simply dictate.

Set your to-do list up in a way that will prioritize your most important tasks – the ones that will cause the greatest conflict if don’t complete them. Whatever else you need to do can go on the bottom of the list. Just by taking this time to organize your agenda for the day you could go a long way toward reducing stress on your job. And that will make your commute less stressful as well.

Listen to “how to” tapes and CDs

Sometimes a stressful job, in combination with a stressful commute, can leave you with little mental energy to see beyond your circumstances. Use your commuting time help you overcome this.

If you would like to acquire a new skill that will help you to advance on your job – or to prepare you for your next job – you can get the ball rolling with instructional tapes and CDs. Learning anything new is often a matter of preparing your mind through repetition, and your daily commute will provide just the opportunity for that.

Learn a new language

Taking the tapes and CD idea to a higher level, you can even use your commute to learn a new language. This will have at least three advantages for you:

• Learning something new is a way of recharging and validating yourself; it could be just the lift you need spice up your days.
• A new language can come in handy if you are planning a vacation to a foreign country.
• Being bi-lingual can an advantage in a number of career fields, so by starting the process during your daily commute, you may be giving yourself a valuable skill for your next career move forward.

Even though it’s unlikely that you will be able to master a new language simply by listening to audios in your car every day, it will help to prepare you to get additional training.

Time is perhaps the most valuable commodity we have, and by using your commuting time for personal benefit, you’re increasing the amount of productive time that you have.

How about you all? What do you do with your daily commute?

Share your experiences by commenting below! 

How to Teach Your Kids To Be Entrepreneurs

The following post is by MPFJ staff writer, Melissa Batai.  Melissa is a freelance writer who covers topics ranging from personal finance to business to organics to food.  She blogs at Mom’s Plans where she shares her family’s journey to healthier living and paying down debt.

Times have changed from when I was little.

When I was young, people in my family thought that the good jobs were factory jobs.  Those jobs paid a fair wage, had good benefits, and were secure.  Or so they thought. But then, my dad’s factory union went on strike, and scab workers (or the more politically correct “strikeworkers”) were brought in.  He was unemployed for over two years before he found another factory job. Those were tough times.

Now, thankfully, times are different.  One of the best differences is that the Internet makes it easy for many people to have a side gig or even create their own business.  If my parents would have had a side income stream when he was laid off, those two years might not have been so difficult.

As a parent, one of the things I want to teach my kids is how to create a side gig and make it successful.  My son is only 9, but I’ve already started training him about business.  When he’s ready for a part-time job in his teens, I don’t want him to go to McDonald’s like I did when I was young.  Instead, I want to see him create his own business.

If you want the same for your child, here are some ways to get started:

1.  Let him sell something at a garage sale.

Do you have a garage sale every year or two?  Let your tween start selling something such as refreshments to learn about profits, pricing, and marketing.

We had a garage sale this year and bought two dozen donuts for $12 beforehand.  My son sold them for $1 apiece and sold quite a few of them.  We taught him that he would have to sell a dozen before he recouped his initial investment. He sold about 18 but was left with 6 as the morning wore on.  He cut the price to 75 cents and then 50 cents and managed to sell them all. He also learned that if he nicely asked people when they walked up, they were more likely to buy than if he just sat there quietly. In that one morning, he got to practice his math skills, learn about sales and marketing as well as how to turn a profit.

2.  Let her look for opportunities around the neighborhood. 

Chances are there are plenty of opportunities for your tween or young teen around the neighborhood.  Perhaps a neighbor needs a babysitter or a working couple needs someone to let out their dog during the day.

One of the best skills an entrepreneur can have is to recognize a need that has to be filled.  A savvy entrepreneur can step in and fill that need, creating a job for herself.  That’s what you want to teach your child as she looks for jobs around the neighborhood.

3.  Let him cash in on what he’s good at. 

Is your son a math whiz?  If so, maybe he could start tutoring younger students or even those in his class who are at a lower level.

If he’s good at web site creation, why not spread the word among family and friends?  Chances are there are one or more people you know who need some help with a website.  This can give him experience and word of mouth referrals that can help his business grow.

As a parent, one of my jobs is to teach my child that often the most stable job out there is one that you create yourself when you recognize a need that has to be filled.  If you teach your child to think like an entrepreneur, hopefully she will be able to create her own job. . .and her own success.

How about you all? How else do you develop the entrepreneurial spirit in your child?

Share your experiences by commenting below!

***Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/allisonjohnstonn/

The Future Landscape of Freelance Entrepreneurship and How to Prepare Yourself For Making the Jump to Self-Employment

The following post is by MPFJ staff writer, Shondell of Call Me What You Want, Even Cheap. She blogs about her recent car loan and mortgage pay off and a whole bunch more. Check out her blog right here.

What does the future hold for the traditional 9 to 5 desk-bound job?

It’s possible that things are not going to be same, according to a recent survey conducted jointly by Millennial Branding, a Gen Y consulting firm, and oDesk, a popular online work platform. The survey done on 3,200 freelancers worldwide revealed that 72% of them want to leave their regular job to hit the entrepreneurial road and 60% said they intend to do so within a year or two.

The number one reason given by the respondents for wanting to go out on their own is the desire to have the freedom to work whenever and wherever they want. To prove their point, a whopping 89% said that they find a corporate 9 to 5 job limiting and that they prefer to work on their own. This signals a major shift from a decade ago when a desk job in a corporate office was viewed as a matter of prestige and lifelong security.

The survey also revealed that the word “entrepreneur” has acquired an expanded definition. To the majority of those interviewed, the word no longer means “someone who has started a company”. Rather, it’s a mindset that sets one apart from those with a 9 to 5 mentality. According to this new definition, freelancing is a kind of entrepreneurship although all freelancers don’t necessarily start a company. In fact, everyone who makes his/her living through legal means without becoming an “employee” can be called an entrepreneur.

Another big shift is in the way that entrepreneurship has come to be viewed, according to the survey. It was revealed that a full 57% of the respondents representing the Millennial Generation (comprising those who are between 19 and 30 years old) see entrepreneurship as “entirely good”. This is a 10% more than the older generation. Not only that, 58% of freelancers classified themselves as entrepreneurs. The implication of this should not be ignored by companies.

It doesn’t mean that everyone who said that they will quit their job will do so and become entrepreneurs. It also doesn’t mean that the traditional 9 to 5 job is on the way out. What it means is that more young people are willing to make their living as freelancers than before. Freelancing is no longer seen as an option for the “jobless” but a profitable and respectable way to make a living.

The result of the survey has one big implication, which is more young people today are likely to begin their career as freelancers and then go on to start their own companies than ever before. If you are a young graduate or employed, then there is a high chance that one day you will opt to become an entrepreneur. It is never too early to start developing the mindset of one to prepare yourself for the day when it eventually comes.

Starting your business is no piece of cake. If you start without proper planning and adequate preparation, then the probability of failure far outweighs the probability of success. Therefore, you should not leave your current job until your part-time gig starts generating enough income to pay the bills and show clear signs of growth.

Here are some tips on how to prepare yourself for the life of an entrepreneur:

• Save every penny you can: Money is the key to success in any business. When you finally leave your job to devote fulltime to your business, you should have adequate savings to last at least six months. You should also have enough money to weather difficulties arising from non-payment by your clients, your business partner possibly ditching you and lawsuits by competitors or customers. So start saving every penny you can and stash the money in a bank account that is not easily accessible so that you will not be tempted to use it.

• Purchase benefits: When you are self-employed, purchase key benefits like life and disability insurance, and health insurance. In the event that a misfortune strikes you or your business, these benefits come in very handy.

• Pay all your debts: Running a business is hard enough; you don’t want to be saddled down by previous debts. So clear all your debts before taking the plunge. To minimize the chance of acquiring new debts, you can stop using your credit cards and spending money on things that are not absolutely necessary.

Despite the apparent charm of freelancing and entrepreneurship, leaving the security of your job is not an easy thing to do, especially if it pays you well. When you are on your own, every step of the way is fraught with risks. If you are not fully prepared, you may end up losing everything you have. The only way that you can cushion yourself from possible disasters is by being financially sound.

How about you all? Are you planning on eventually quitting your 9-5? 

If you were to make the change in the future, what would you do financially to prepare for the switch?

Share your experiences by commenting below!

***Photo courtesy of Daniel Rashid.

Why You’re Not Getting a Job After Graduating from College

The following is a post by MPFJ staff writer, Kevin Mercadante, who is a professional personal finance blogger, and the owner of his own personal finance blog, OutOfYourRut.com. He has backgrounds in both accounting and the mortgage industry.

If you are a recent college graduate and still have not been able to land a job in your chosen career field, you can take comfort in the fact that you are hardly alone in this situation. What is important is developing strategies that will keep this problem from going on too long.

But first, it’s important that you consider the reasons why getting a full-time position your field has been so difficult. Once you understand that, developing a strategy will be easier to do.

A weak job market

It is extremely frustrating to be unable to find a job at a time when the job market seems to be improving. And while it’s true that the overall market is improving, that improvement is extremely uneven. Perhaps nowhere is that more obvious than with recent college graduates.

Recent statistics indicate that there is a “mal-employment” rate of 36% for college grads under the age of 25. Even though the overall unemployment rate for recent college graduates is just 7%, that number hides the fact that many recent grads are either working part-time, or are working in full-time jobs that are not related to their major area of study.

These numbers can vary even more depending upon your major. For example, nurses and accountants are in high demand, while many other majors have a serious oversupply of job candidates.

These numbers are not meant to discourage you, but to paint an accurate picture of exactly where you’re at – and why.

High expectations

When you are fresh out of college, it’s common to expect a certain minimum pay level. After all, not only did you spend the last four years or more earning your degree, but you probably have come out with bills to pay, including student loans.

Unfortunately, the current job market for new college graduates does not justify high expectations in all cases and in all majors. There may be an advantage to taking a lower level position that is at least related to your major, that way you’ll least begin your career and can start building some experience.

It’s also important that you do not go too either without a full-time job, or without one related to your major. Long periods of unemployment – or completely irrelevant employment – can be career-killers in this job market.

Lack of work experience

This is the classic job hunters dilemma – you can’t get a job unless you have experience, but you can’t get experience unless you have a job. This is even more pronounced among recent college graduates because you’ve spent the last few years in school, rather than working in your major area of study.

However, the problem is compounded if you have never held a paying job of any kind during your college years. Some job placement counselors are highlighting this as an issue with employers.

No, a job at Starbucks will not provide any relevant experience if you’re an engineering major, but it does indicate that you have made the transition from student to employee.

An employer often wants to know that you have experience earning a living. A part-time job during your school years could be an indication that you understand the importance of punctuality, that you have worked with customers and under supervision, and that you even have one or two references that can verify your reliability as an employee.

If you don’t have a working history at all, that could be making your job search even more difficult. Employers today want to hire people can “hit the ground running”. They are not keen on training new hires in the basics of holding a job.

What you can do to improve your chances

Okay, that’s a fair description of what you’re up against. What can you do to overcome it?

Take control of the situation. Choose the career that you wish to have and develop career goals that you will stop at nothing to reach. Once you have these goals in place, you can start putting together a plan to attain them. Build your personal brand on your social media pages. Potential employers will research you before your interview, so make sure that your profiles are full of flattering images showing your hardworking and career-oriented side. Research every organization that you apply with and have a solid idea of what your job will entail. This will give you a much better chance of leaving a favorable impression during your interview.

If you’re still in school, get a job now. As we discussed earlier, employers want to know that you at least know how to hold a job. If you’re still in school, get a part-time job even if it is completely unrelated to your major. It will have some value when you graduate and are looking for your first full-time job.

Take a temporary assignment (this can work particularly well for a summer internship, which employers love!). There is a real shift from full-time, permanent positions to temporary and contract work, and it is happening throughout the job market. As a recent college graduate, this can be the perfect niche for you. It will offer you an opportunity not only to gain some experience, but also to make some valuable contacts in the business world. It’s not a perfect situation, and it may be only loosely related to your major, but it is most definitely a foot in the door. And when a future full-time employer is looking for references, you will have them.

Offer to work part-time in your chosen field. A lot of employers who will not consider hiring you for a full-time position may consider taking you on a part-time basis. This has become even more relevant now that the Affordable Care Act is rolling out, and requiring that employers provide health insurance for any employees who work at least 30 hours per week. If you indicate a willingness to work less than 30 hours per week, that could be a way to a job in your field.

Consider self-employment. If you’re unable to land a full-time position related to your major, you might want to give self-employment serious consideration. Investigate the possibilities for self-employment, both within your major and beyond. If the job market is this tough, you may find that self-employment is your only viable option. If that is the case, start as soon as you can and begin building up your business.

If a job that fits your requirements turns up, you can always drop the business. But if a job offer never comes – you’ll be ready.

How about you all? If you are a recent college graduate, are you having any difficulty finding a full-time job related to your major? If so, what are you doing to overcome the problem?

Share your experiences by commenting below! 

***Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonbache/4625864479/

When Should You Leave A High Paying Job?

The following post is by MPFJ staff writer, Catherine Alford. Cat is a freelance personal finance writer who blogs at www.BudgetBlonde.com. 

One of the main reasons that people are hesitant to change careers or leave their job is the paycheck, and first let me say, that definitely makes sense.

We all work hard to get paid so that we can do the things we enjoy. That’s the circle of life, or at least, that’s the circle of a professional life. So, the more you earn, technically the more you can save, invest, and spend.

The problem comes in when you’re in a high paying job that you actually don’t like. Dare I say, some of us might hate your jobs, and your high paycheck is the reason you’re paralyzed, stuck, and afraid to take a leap.

I’m not going to be the writer that encourages everyone to quit their careers and backpack around the world. I understand the pressure of having a family to take care of and the fear of the unknown. So, while not everyone will be able to leave a job they don’t like, there are a few instances where I think it should be considered. Here they are below:

Working Too Many Hours

If you’re in a job you don’t like, and you are constantly working, this would definitely be grounds for changing to a different career. You’re staying in your job because of your high paycheck, but you don’t even get to enjoy it! What’s the fun in that?

Remember, we only get one life. Even if you get paid less, imagine how amazing it will feel to have a few evenings off or a Saturday when you don’t have to field endless e-mails. Sometimes, our happiness is worth a smaller paycheck. Plus, wouldn’t it be nice to finally take your wife on that vacation you promised her or take your high school senior to tour colleges?

The Pros Don’t Outweigh The Cons

There are pros and cons to every job. Everyone should be able to agree on that.

Some people have great benefits while others have incredible flexibility. Maybe you get a high paycheck, but you have to work 80 hours a week. Maybe you get endless airline miles from your business trips, but that means less time with your family.

Whenever you are deciding to stay or leave your job, make a list of pros and cons. Add to it over the period of a few days. Think about it, share it with those close to you, and let that help you in your decision.

Perhaps you’ll find that you have way too many pros on your list to leave your job, but the other more exciting side of the coin is that you just might realize there are other possibilities to pursue.

There’s No Room for Improvement

Another valid reason to leave a high paying job is if there is no room for improvement. Sure, you’ve been promised a raise or an even higher paying job, but do you think it’s going to happen?

There are all sorts of reasons why you might not move up in a company. Politics is the biggest reason. Perhaps the CEO’s child is set to take over the company and so it’s highly unlikely you will run it one day. Or, maybe your boss loves you but their boss has disliked you ever since you accidentally took their parking spot on day one.

I know that some of these reasons might not seem substantial, but it’s important to take a hard look at your current position and the people you work with and be honest with yourself about your chances for promotion.

Your Spouse is Over It

Many people wiser than I am have talked about the importance of family and how no job is worth their disappointment. If your spouse is putting pressure on your to quit your high paying job, it’s important to listen to their concerns.

Your spouse knows you better than anyone else, and they can see changes and differences in attitude better than others.

While you may be unable to quit a job you don’t like because you need your paycheck to pay your bills, having an honest conversation about your career path with your spouse is a good first step to exploring possibilities for the future.

It’s Up to You

Ultimately, it’s important to know that this decision is really up to you. You’re the one that has to wake up every day, get dressed, and head to work. You’re the one that has to pay your bills, and you’re the one who has to interact with your coworkers every day.

Quitting a job is no easy feat, especially if you are several years into your career. However, as evidenced in this post, there are a few reasons why you should consider it even if you are pulling in a high paycheck.

How about you all? Have you ever quit a high paying job? What are some other reasons people should consider switching careers?

Share your experiences by commenting below!

***Photo courtesy of http://farm1.staticflickr.com/144/321697588_e6f0478fbf_z.jpg?zz=1

What Would It Take To Get Rid of Money?

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Welcome to My Personal Finance Journey! If you are new here, please read the “About” or “First-Time Visitor” pages to find out more about us. If you would like to receive free updates on articles like this by email, then sign up here or you can subscribe to the RSS feed. Also, check us out on Twitter or Facebook. Thanks for visiting! Keep on learning!
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Here lately, most of the posts that I have written have been pretty research, fact, and detail-heavy.

Today, I wanted to take a break from the research-type posts and possibly have some fun thinking out loud to answer the following question: “What would it possibly take to get rid of and/or make money obsolete in the world?

Now, I admit that this might seem like quite a strange thing to be talking about on a blog that discusses well, money, of all things! Personally, I don’t think the world is near to the point where getting rid of money would be smart, possible, and/or prudent. However, it is an intriguing thought experiment to work through nonetheless. So, let’s get started!

Side note: In this post, I’ll be trying to talk about getting rid of money in the sense that society or technology advances to a point where it is not needed. I’m not talking about forms of government like socialism, etc.

Unlimited Resources

The first thing I can think of that would probably be a requisite for getting rid of money is that technology evolves to such a point that everyone worldwide has access to everything they need/want at the touch of a button. This would include traveling to wherever they want, eating whatever food they fancy, and having any type of objects needed to perform tasks / play with. If you are a Star Trek fan, one possible invention that I could see making this possible is a “replicator.”

Of course, to make having unlimited resources a reality, the energy source that would power the technology would also need to recharge itself and/or be completely 100% renewable.

A Incentive for people to succeed, do their best, and/or contribute to society

No matter how advanced technology is, I don’t believe that money will be made completely obsolete unless there is some motivation/incentive for un-motivated people to contribute to society. Now sure, there would be a substantial amount of folks that would still work their hardest for recognition, the joy of doing their best, helping others, etc. However, that alone I do not believe would be enough to get rid of money altogether.

An Incentive for People to do Unwanted Jobs or the Technology to do them for us

One thing I find fascinating in our society is that depending on how we are raised / what we are genetically dis-positioned to enjoy, a certain job that one person finds terrible will be perfect for someone else.

However, if you’ve seen the show Dirty Jobs for example, I believe that there will always be some jobs out there that people probably just would not do without some incentive that makes the job more palatable. Take cleaning out porta-potties for example. It’s probably not the best job in the world, but hey, I read somewhere that it pays $80,000 a year and doesn’t require a college degree. At that kind of pay, it becomes do-able.

If money were to become obsolete, we’d need some sort of incentive to give to folks to do these unwanted jobs. Either that OR technology becomes so good that we can just get machines to do all of these jobs for us, which might be very possible in the future – who knows!

How about you all? Have you ever thought about what it would take to get rid of money / make it obsolete? If so, what would need to happen?

Share your experiences by commenting below!

***Photo courtesy of http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2257/3534516458_6be8f6ef9d_o.jpg

5 Common Career Tips in Finance

The following is a guest post. Enjoy! 

Even in an unstable jobs market, finance jobs remain an appealing option, with careers in the financial sector promising attractive starting salaries, quick promotion prospects and of course, big bonuses for the key players. 

However, times are tough, and there are often hundreds of applicants per job, at entry level and above. If you want to start or progress your career in finance, you’ll need to do some serious research to beat the competition. To start you on your way, here are five top tips.

Starting Out In Finance

Tip 1: Do the right degree.

In times gone by, there were many routes into a career in finance. New starters came from a variety of academic backgrounds, with new starters with degrees in the arts and humanities common place. In the boom times, a degree wasn’t even always strictly necessary, and many a wily 18-year-old was able to talk their way into a trainee position. However, times have changed and nowadays, employers are looking for targeted degrees. While mathematical and engineering degrees are still attractive, finance, accounting, economics and business degrees are best.

Starting Out and Moving On

How about you all? Do you have or have you ever thought of embarking on a career in finance? If so, what do you think is the best way to get started?

Share your experiences by commenting below!

Jacob’s Thoughts – Listed below are my random thoughts as I was reading this article.

• One thing I have noticed throughout the years is that in the world of finance, the school from which you earn your undergraduate/graduate degree in finance really does matter more so than in other professional fields.
• Therefore, if you’re really interested in getting the best start in finance, you might want to try to your best to go to a top-tier MBA school.

Can My Son Earn a Computer by Mowing Lawns?

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Welcome to My Personal Finance Journey! If you are new here, please read the “About” or “First-Time Visitor” pages to find out more about us. If you would like to receive free updates on articles like this by email, then sign up here or you can subscribe to the RSS feed. Also, check us out on Twitter or Facebook. Thanks for visiting! Keep on learning!
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Click here to enter my free $65.84 giveaway for a chance to win 5% of My Personal Finance Journey blog income and give another 5% to charity! Deadline to enter is May 31st, 2013.

Pay Per Mowing 

Balloon Payment

How about you all? If you had a teenager, what option would you choose?

Share your experiences by commenting below!

***Photo courtesy of worradmu / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Five Ways to Deal with Job Burnout

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Welcome to My Personal Finance Journey! If you are new here, please read the “About” or “First-Time Visitor” pages to find out more about us. If you would like to receive free updates on articles like this by email, then sign up here or you can subscribe to the RSS feed. Also, check us out on Twitter or Facebook. Thanks for visiting! Keep on learning!
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The following is a post by MPFJ staff writer, Kevin Mercadante, who is professional personal finance blogger, and the owner of his own personal finance blog, OutOfYourRut.com. He has backgrounds in both accounting and the mortgage industry.

Job burnout is something that affects most workers sooner or later.

It’s not that you necessarily need a new job – it’s just that there are times when you just feel like you’re stuck in a rut, or even question why you’re in that career at all. This can happen even if you ordinarily like your job and the work you’re doing.

Most often, job burnout isn’t a matter of coming to the end of your rope in your job or career. Like nearly every other facet of life, sometimes it just needs a recharge.

1. Take on new projects at work

Job burnout often comes from the “same old, same old” syndrome. As human beings, we all crave a certain amount of diversity in our activities. It may be that you just need a bit of a new direction in your job.

You can satisfy that need by taking on new projects at work. I’m not talking about “busy work” projects like cleaning out the file room or rearranging the office furniture. You have to take on a project that will make you feel challenged and valuable.

This might involve taking the lead on a new initiative in your department, or taking on a new responsibility that is parallel to your usual job functions. By doing this, you can feel greater control over your career, and that may be enough by itself to put an end to the burnout.

2. Take on new projects outside work

Sometimes, the reasons for job burnout are more related to what is happening in your life outside your job. The boredom or lack of satisfaction that you sense from your personal life may carry over to your professional life.

You can overcome that by taking on new projects and activities outside work. One of the big advantages here is that the activity can be just about anything.

Consider one or more of the following broad categories:

• Something physical, like an exercise program or joining a gym
• A creative project, like starting a vegetable garden or creating an e-book
• Learning something new, like a new language or taking dancing lessons
• A social activity, such as taking a cooking class or joining a civic organization
• Volunteering, such as participating in a charity or church group, or helping in a disaster relief effort
• A sport, like softball, a bowling league or a soccer club
• Learning a new work skill, such as a computer software application or accounting skills to increase your sense of control over your career
• Weekend travel, to close-in places that will give you a chance to refresh yourself when you are not at work

Activities such as these can give you a new sense of purpose in your life, and that will make you feel recharged. You’ll almost certainly bring that fresh attitude to your work, and that may put an end to the sense of job burnout. 　

3. Try to offload some responsibilities

These days, what we think of as job burnout may actually have more to do with stress.

Many people are now doing the work of more than one person. Each time a coworker is laid off, their work is distributed to the remaining employees. Over time, you can begin feeling overworked and stressed. If it is possible, talk to your supervisor about letting go of some of your less important responsibilities. Perhaps they can be transferred to another coworker who isn’t as busy, or even gently suggest hiring a part-timer as an overflow person. Since this will be a touchy issue, you’re best to frame it in a positive way. You can do this by suggesting that your productivity on your most important functions will improve if two or three responsibilities were taken away from you.

4. Ask for a job re-assignment

Often, the reason for job burnout isn’t from you.

It could very well be a result of one or more coworkers, your boss, or even circumstances in your department. If on close reflection you believe this to be the case, it will be worth it to you to ask for a transfer to another department if that is an option. It’s often said that 51% of your success on a job is your relationship with your boss. If that relationship is not particularly cordial, finding a way out of the situation may be the only way that you will eliminate the burnout problem.

5. It may be time for a new job

Since this is the most radical solution, I’ve saved it for last.

In truth, since the job market is not as fluid as it once was, you are better off to exhaust all other possibilities before going this route. But the reality is that sometimes you are just over the job. It may have been an ideal situation way back when, but either the situation has changed, or you have changed!

Either way, it may be time to make a change. Some of this may be a matter of personality. Some people are perfectly content to spend their entire working lives on the same job, doing essentially the same work. Others – and I can say this because I’m in this group – need change from time to time. Job burnout may just be an internal sign that it’s time to move on. You can spend time in psychotherapy trying to figure out why this happens to you, but you’ll probably never get a solid answer. You may just be wired that way! I figured this out a while back, and when I accepted it and built it into my work life, things just started going better.

How about you all? Have you ever experienced job burnout? Or are you experiencing it now?

What are you doing (or what did you do) to deal with it? 

Share your experiences by commenting below!

***Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/corneveaux/3248566797/sizes/s/in/photostream/

How to Sell Your Items on Craigslist

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The following is a post by MPFJ staff writer, Kevin Mercadante, who is professional personal finance blogger, and the owner of his own personal finance blog, OutOfYourRut.com. He has backgrounds in both accounting and the mortgage industry.

This is America, a place where most of us are blessed to have more stuff than we can ever want, need, or use. Sadly, a lot of the stuff that we want to get rid of ends up in landfills. That’s exactly what happens when you put your stuff out for garbage pickup!

But, you can easily convert your junk to cash on Craigslist, while keeping it out of the landfills.

I know – you’ve probably heard a few Craigslist horror stories, and you don’t want to get tied up with it. In truth, Craigslist is really nothing more than the traditional local newspaper classified ads gone cyber. People are hardly reading local newspapers anymore, which is making it almost impossible to either buy or sell through the print media classifieds. That’s why there’s Craigslist!

Whether you love or hate Craigslist, it is quickly turning into the preferred place to buy and sell secondhand merchandise at the local level.

I know this to be true because I have been increasingly working on Craigslist in recent years, and that is on both the buying and selling side. Not only can you sell your used items for cash, but you can also buy good secondhand items for a small fraction of their retail price. And sometimes, you can even buy an item on the cheap and sell it for profit.

Learn what sells on Craigslist – and what doesn’t

As a rule, you can sell anything on Craigslist that you can sell in the classified section of your local newspaper. You can easily learn what types of items sell by perusing the Craigslist site. There you will find everything from books to automobiles.

Common items in good working condition are an excellent start. Higher-priced, more exotic items that you might find on eBay are usually not good choices. There just aren’t enough people looking for those items through the site. But anything like furniture, computers, entertainment equipment, appliances – items of practical everyday use – are good candidates.

Clean up your merchandise and get it ready for sale

If you try to sell junk on Craigslist, you will probably waste a lot of time meeting with prospective buyers but not making the sale. People are looking for items that work and will fill a need in their lives. You can sometimes sell defective items if they have a high value, but simply need some work. But, you will have to disclose that in your ad and price it accordingly.

Whatever you are trying to sell, clean it up as well as you can, and make sure that it is in good working order. If you have the original paperwork and/or manuals that go with it, that will be a plus.

Make sure your title is descriptive and direct

Your title should be as descriptive and direct as possible, and avoid marketing fluff. The reason for this is that your ad will be one among many, and people will scan the titles to determine if they’re even going to click through to your ad. That being the case, your title must describe exactly what it is they’re looking for in as few words as possible.

You can be more explicit in the description section. There you can give more details on the item, as well as its finer points. Just be careful not to overstate your case – people who shop on the site tend to be very practical minded, and will be turned off by too much sales jargon (this is important!).

If you are not sure what to write, check out other ads on the site and see what they have used. Another little secret: go to the manufacturer’s website, look for the product description for the item, and use some of the more factual language from that.It’s worth repeating: people who shop on Craigslist are looking for facts, not fluff!

They also like photos. You can easily take pictures of your item using a digital camera or your cell phone. Craigslist will allow you up to eight photos per ad, and as a rule, eight is the number of photos you should have. Take the pictures from different angles, as well as close-ups of significant features.

Make sure you stay within the posting guidelines! Familiarize yourself with the Craigslist terms of use to make sure you aren’t violating them. For example, don’t call an item “new” if it isn’t, and even avoid using the term “like new”. Be sure to place your ads in the right section. Don’t place furniture in auto parts because you think you’ll get more activity there. If complaints are filed, Craigslist can flag your account. Too many flags can lead to a temporary or permanent ban from the site.

Once your ad is up and running, it will be good for 30 days. After that you can renew it as many times as you like. Best of all, there is no fee for running an ad on Craigslist!

Price your merchandise reasonably

When you’re pricing your items for sale, always remember that the people who come to the site are looking for a bargain. They are not the least bit interested in paying you an inflated price for an item because you need to get a certain minimum amount for it. These are savvy bargain hunters who know how much the item is worth.

Find out what the retail price is for the item you’re selling, but understand that you must price it substantially lower than that. Also check to see what comparable items are going for on the site, and adjust for quality and condition. If you price too low, you would be losing money. But price it too high, and you will not make a sale.

Be available, and be fully prepared to negotiate

Craigslist gives you different options for customer contact. The most common is email, but you do not need to give your personal email in the ad. Once you register with the site, your email will be on record, but a specific site email address will be used to preserve your privacy. You can of course disclose your actual email, but that is entirely unnecessary.

You can also list your cell phone number, but a lot of people don’t for security reasons. I always include my cell phone number, because the easier it is to reach you, the more likely it is that you will make a sale. And for what it’s worth, most of the people will respond by text, rather than with a phone call.

Price negotiations often begin on the first contact – as I said, Craigslist shoppers are practical minded people looking for bargains. In fact, I generally prefer to handle negotiations before meeting with anyone. It establishes the fact that they are serious, and that the price will be reasonable.

In negotiating, you must be prepared to compromise! Wheeling and dealing is part of the process, and you must get comfortable with it. If you insist on getting your asking price you’ll almost certainly come away with no money at all. I generally set my prices 20% to 30% above what I hope to get for the item, and negotiate down from there. However, there have been a few times where I got full price! Just never expect that to be the rule.

Meet your buyers at a safe but remote location

Unless you are selling a large object, such as a large appliance or piece of furniture, it is best to meet prospective buyers at a remote location. There are two reasons for doing this:

1. You don’t want people coming to your house unless it is absolutely necessary, and
2. it is usually easier for people to find a common commercial location than a home.

Whenever possible, I try to meet people at Starbucks. For one thing, their stores are all over the place. For another, buyers tend to feel more comfortable at a commonly recognized meeting place. It also means that there are other people around, which minimizes the possibility of anything bad happening. I will usually meet people in the parking lot, but very close to the building. Occasionally I have met people inside the store, but I try to avoid it as a rule.

Payment: Never – never – accept checks!!!

Finally we come to payment, and here is the absolute rule of Craigslist: cash on the barrel only! Never violate this rule because that’s where trouble can happen. If you accept checks – even once – you expose yourself to the possibility of a bounced check. When you’re dealing with strangers, you have no idea if they are the true issuers of the check, or if they are passing you a bogus check from a closed account or another party. If the check bounces, you will not only be out the amount of money that you should have gotten from the sale of your item, but you’ll be hit with a bounced check fee on top. I suspect that this is where Craigslist’s bad reputation comes from. People are overly trusting, accepting checks and get burned. Make sure that all of your transactions are in cash that way there will be no repercussions later. That goes for buying as well. If you write a check to pay for item that you buy, you’ll be turning important personal information over to a potential thief. The check contains your name, address, your personal account number, the bank routing number, and your signature. That will be handing your identity to an identity thief on a silver platter.

How about you all? Have you ever bought or sold on Craigslist? What advice would you give to someone was never done it before? 　 

Share your experiences by commenting below!

***Photo courtesy of http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Craigslist02.jpg