Tammy's Tightwad Tips

Job hunting during a recession

Tammystips — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:38:43 GMT

Maybe you've lost your job, are afraid you'll lose your job, or are just looking for some extra income.

If so, you're probably doing some job hunting (aren't we all?) right now.

Here are a few tips that might help you out.

1. Lower your expectations. During a recession, beggars can't be choosers. Don't expect to find a great-paying job with full benefits that you'll just adore. If that happens, good for you! But don't plan on it.

2. Put the word out. If you're job hunting, share it. You never know when a job might be found because you told someone you were looking, and they told someone, and they told someone and that someone called you.

3. Dont pass up one-time or short-term jobs. Just because a job will only last a short time, doesn't mean you shouldn't take it. Don't pass on it with the idea that something better will come along. Those small jobs (such as a mystery shop, a special project, a housecleaning gig, a delivery job, etc.) will pay the bills and get you through the hump.

4. Think outside the box. Sure, you may be experienced in a certain type of career, but what else can you do? Extra income can be made by doing deliveries, cleaning houses, babysitting (only if you like kids), working at the mall, etc. Look around - just because a job doesn't fall into your college degree or area of expertise doesn't mean you should ignore it.

5. Ask. Don't be afraid to ask a manager or owner if they're hiring. They might not have posted a sign or a classified yet, or they might just be thinking about hiring. What's the worst that could happen? They'll say no.

Turn your hobby into a new career

Tammystips — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:32:13 GMT

If you’re like most of us, the current economic outlook has you casting your net for some extra income ideas.

Whether you’re looking for something to supplement, or you’re needing a new job after a layoff, maybe you should take a look at your hobbies for some inspiration.

If you’re a crafter, you can sell things you make. Check out Etsy or look into a local avenue for selling your wares in your community. Is there a craft consignment store in your area? Selling crafts could be as simple as placing an ad in your local newspaper or sticking a sign in your yard.

Do you like to write? Use your words to bring in a little extra income. Check out FreelanceWriting.com, Associated Content or Today.com for sites that pay.

Do you like movies or like to review products? Write reviews on Review Stream on restaurants, movies, products, etc. They pay $2 for each accepted review.

Maybe you love weddings. Why not start your own wedding consulting or planning business?

Do you love animals? Start a pet sitting business. There are plenty of people who would love to hire a reliable pet sitter to take care of their animals when they have to be away from home. If you know anything about livestock, how about starting a farm caretaker business? When I had my small farm, finding someone reliable and knowledgeable about goats and chickens to care for the place when we had to be gone was difficult. If you live in a rural area, this could be a good side business and you could find yourself in great demand.

Take a quick inventory of your favorite hobbies and skills you have. Think outside the box - you might be surprised at the interesting income ideas you can come up with based on things you love to do!

Take the mystery out of mystery shopping

Tammystips — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:21:19 GMT

Mystery Shopping

If you're looking for something that is a quicker way to make money than retail merchandising, with less time commitment, then mystery shopping may fit the bill.

You've probably seen the ads and thought "Yeah, right. What's the gimmick?" Really, there is no gimmick.

The only thing you should beware of are companies or ads that require fees from you. No legitimate mystery shopping company will ask you to pay anything. Most ads you see in newspapers are not mystery shopping companies - they are clearinghouses that will give out lists of mystery shopping companies - for a fee from you. Don't buy into it. That information is readily available at the cost of your time only.

You just need to know where to look.

How does it work?

Mystery shopping companies are generally contracted by larger companies - retailers, restaurants, etc. to pay you and I to shop their stores then report back to them our experience.

They don't want to know if you liked your cashier or if you thought they were pretty. They want to know if the cashier greeted you, acted appropriately, if the bathrooms were clean, how long it took for store personnel to help you when you asked for assistance, and the like.

Some mystery shops may require all of these things and more, while others simply tell you to order, buy or ask for a specific item or entree then time how long it took to get what you asked for.

It varies from company to company and job to job.

I have done mystery shops at local fast food restaurants, local cellular service centers, office supply stores, copy centers, department stores, movie theaters, gas stations and convenience stores and many other businesses.

In essence, a mystery shopping is simply observing and reporting. The main thing to remember with mystery shopping is to simply report facts. The company does not want to know that you felt your cashier was in a big hurry unless that cashier states to you "I'm in a big hurry so I need to get you checked out quickly."

All mystery shopping companies have specific guidelines for specific jobs and these are detailed to you - the mystery shopper - up front before you agree to do a shop.

Most mystery shops have a specific - yet flexible - time frame, i.e. a shop must be completed between Tuesday and Friday of next week between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. for example.

Some shops require a specific date during a specific time (between 3 and 5 p.m. on Friday).In addition, mystery shops do require you to pay for an item during your shop, then you will be reimbursed for that item when you are paid.

You must save all receipts for mystery shops.

How to get started

Most shop sign ups are conducted over the Internet or by phone. Most companies have websites where potential shoppers can sign up and choose shops to do. Other companies will have shoppers sign up online, then the company will contact the shopper by phone to arrange shops.

I have found that the best way to get into the mystery shopping business is to sign up with several companies then regularly check their websites.

In addition, to find merchandising gigs there are several avenues: Check your local newspaper's classified section (especially on Sundays), do a search on job hunting websites such as www.monster.com or www.careerbuilder.com or www.indeed.com (put in the keyword "merchandiser") or go to www.volition.com.

www.volition.com is a good place to start for both merchandising and mystery shopping. This website has a master list (and user recommendations) for mystery shopping companies and merchandising companies.

Most of the mystery shopping jobs I've done were found through volition.com. I have done mystery shopping for several companies - Corporate Research, Shopnchek, Secret Shopper, Shadow Shopper, Maritz Research, Certified Marketing, DSG Associates and many others.

How will I be paid

Through trial and error, I found that some jobs paid really well while others did not pay well in comparison with the amount of work I was expected to put into a mystery shop.

For example, one company called me to ask if I could make an "emergency" shop visit to a local fast food restaurant. All that I need to do was order one large soft drink then stay on the premises for 15 minutes. For that I was paid $21 - well worth my time.

I took a job for another company in which I had to go to a local hardware store (20 miles away), browse in three different sections, ask for help in a fourth section, time how long it took to get help, recall the names of each employee I encountered in each section (and describe them), go to the front checkouts to observe another customer checking out, purchase an item then keep notes on my checkout experience. I was in the store a total of one and a half hours and I was paid $5 - plus reimbursed up to $2 for the item I purchased. It was not worth it.

Some companies will pay within just a few days of the completed shop but most pay on a 30 to 45 day cycle after the completed shop. Some companies will send you a paper check while others will pay via PayPal. I prefer the companies that use PayPal because the payment is generally faster and doesn't depend upon iffy mail service.

In closing. . .

With mystery shopping, attention to detail, ability to keep time commitments and follow directions to the letter are very important. Make sure you are able to do those things if you want to get jobs and get paid.

All in all, merchandising and mystery shopping have been well worth my time. Even now, when I find myself strapped for cash, I'll look around at the websites I'm signed up with to see what's available.

Either way, if you're looking for an easy way to bring in a little extra income it's worth your time to check it out.

Retail merchandising can provide flexible, steady work

Tammystips — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:29:52 GMT

Retail merchandising is a good way to gain experience, earn money, and work a flexible schedule.

If you're reading help wanted ads, a merchandising position will also occasionally be called an "area representative" or a "sales representative."Merchandising is basically maintaining a product in specific stores in a specific area.

The job requirements may include putting new product on store shelves, removing discontinued product, ordering new product, maintaining current displays, doing resets, inventories and more - or less.

Merchandising jobs can be long-term store services that will last indefinitely or short-term projects that last for a specified period of time.

For some positions, merchandisers are employees of the company, while other positions are independent contractor positions. An independent contractor is self-employed and received a 1099 form for their taxes at the end of the year (a 1099 is only provided if the independent contractor made more than $600 from the company during the course of the year).

Most often, merchandisers are paid on a monthly schedule and are paid a flat rate. A few companies pay on a different schedule or pay hourly. Some jobs include mileage pay.

Some jobs have the option to pay by PayPal, some will direct deposit into your checking account while others will mail a paper check.I personally have worked a variety of merchandising jobs. Some of them long-term, some of them short. Some as an employee, some as an independent contractor.

One job I worked was servicing books for a book distribution company at stores in my area. This job was a few hours per week with set days (Monday, Tuesday, and Friday) and flexible hours (work had to be completed between the hours of 6 a.m. And 5 p.m.). For this job I was an employee and taxes were taken out of my check. I was paid every two weeks for exact hours reported. I worked this job for a few months until the schedule no longer worked for my family.

Another merchandising position I held was monthly magazine servicing of pet magazines in area farm and feed stores. This was done at a specific time each month and I was paid a flat fee which was calculated based upon expected hours driving, in-store time and mileage. For this job I was paid monthly by a check sent through the mail and I was an independent contractor. I worked this job for three years until I decided the excessive driving was too much (I drove a total of about 250 miles each time I did store services).

I most recently worked as an independent contractor for a greeting card company servicing two local stores. For this position I was paid monthly via paper check and my pay was based upon a combination of flat rate and commission sales. I was required to service my stores a specified number of times per week - any days or times were fine.

One smaller merchandising job I worked was servicing digital cameras at a specific store. One time per month I went to this store. I used a printed worksheet to check inventory levels of this specific brand of camera. I was in this store approximately 30 minutes each time and I combined this job with another job that I did monthly in the same town. I was considered an employee for this company and received a paper check in the mail once per month.

These were all ongoing, long-term merchandising positions. I have also done other short-term projects such as cosmetics resets and inventories and clothing display sets. Most short-term projects (such as product setups or resets) require a time commitment of between two and eight hours. The pay is usually hourly, but is always good (usually $10-12 per hour).

In addition, my husband also worked in the merchandising field. He serviced grass seed products, plants, mylar balloons, chewing gum displays and many others - both long-term employee positions and short-term projects.

If you know where to look, merchandising can be a good source of income for someone who is looking for flexible scheduling.

Merchandising is best for people who are able to work with little or no supervision. If you feel that you need someone "in charge" to be with you and tell you what to do, then merchandising may not be for you. It does require a great deal of personal problem-solving and troubleshooting. Because getting assistance requires a phone call or an email and may not be immediately returned or followed-up on, you need to be able to basically figure out a lot of things for yourself - within the parameters of the company's requirements