In the past, blue collar workers were mechanics, plumbers, and construction workers. They made less than their white collar counterparts who sat in offices and made bigger salaries for being “knowledge workers” and not manual laborers. While both blue and white collar workers are suffering job losses, the fact is that if you have a manual skill, you may be out of a job, but you’re hardly if every out of work. You can use those skills to pick up temporary gigs, save you money on your own expenses, and network your way into better jobs. If you have time and money to diversify your skill set, take a look at some of these manual skills to help you both make and save money when times are tough. (more…)

If you are like most Americans, odds are you or someone you love may have recently suffered a job loss or a cut in pay and now you find yourself wondering how you will be able to pay all your bills. Whether it is something as simple as buying the weekly groceries, or the fear that you may lose your home if you can’t pay your mortgage, a job loss can cause many a sleepless night, leaving many wondering where exactly their next paycheck will come from. Some even fear the thought of not being able to find a job, causing their quality of life to suffer. While unemployment may not last forever, here are some creative ways to make some extra cash to pay your bills until you are able to find a steadier paying job. (more…)

Some areas of the country have been in a deep recession, like nationally known Elkhardt. There jobs dried up in the RV industry and few other industries remained to offer a job opportunity. Many workers were faced with either poor job prospects or the decision to move to a more booming area, which were also few and far between. As the recovery picks up steam, some areas will begin to boom more heartily and it’s here that many people waiting to make the decision to move can finally start looking at the pros and cons of moving to find employment elsewhere. There are so many factors, not the least of which is the cost of moving, and financing moving costs on your own which you will have to fund someway, either through conventional or payday advance loans. (more…)

Budgeting wasn’t exactly fun, but it was probably easy enough when you were employed. Once you’re laid off, almost every aspect of your budget has to be re-evaluated to see how expenses can be cut and income maximized. Learning how to create a budget in bad times can be the start of your financial education that has a lasting impact. It can even help you start to develop a wealth consciousness where before you just were simply too busy to pay attention to every facet of your daily finances. (more…)

Unlike family vacation ideas on a budget, business travel budgets aren’t looking for a fun experience more than savings. You can really get some great airfares today, as airlines compete for fewer customers, but that doesn’t really take into account the amount of lost time in travel and the simple inconvenience of it all. If you’re able to convince your clients that you can provide the same level of service without actually showing up in person, they will probably be happy to agree to a more technological solution that saves you money too. (more…)

With the price of living going up and more companies going out of business, many families have deemed it necessary to take on part time jobs along with their full time jobs in order to help make ends meet. This may be because of the company a loved one worked for going over, or simply because now more than ever people are seeing the importance of being able to set a little something aside in a savings account just in case something happens to them. Even when prices and the economy aren’t much of a concern, many people are still pulling down full time and part time jobs for a variety of reasons. (more…)

Not a lot of people are lucky enough to truly love their job. While the pay and benefits might be great, just getting up and heading out the door isn’t always an exciting or even appealing idea. So, the only solution is to find a new job, but in the current economy many people often wonder - is it a bad time to change jobs? (more…)

There is no doubt that the last two years have been tough from an economic perspective. No matter the job people have or had, industries left and right have been hit hard. Sadly, since December of 2008, more than 2.5 million people have been laid off. In addition, millions of startup and small companies have failed - companies that were built on life savings, as well as heart and soul. Although experts believe it will take another two years or so for the financial situation to turn around, people still have to work, care for the family, and pay bills. Therefore, one of the best things a person can do is to look at the list of the best jobs to survive the recession. (more…)

While it was slowly brewing for many years, the economic crisis has finally become a national talking point. For many months, people tried to say that there was an economic crisis and were being shut down and told that the situation was under control. With those days gone and billion dollar bailouts being developed to help keep the economy afloat, it is time to start wondering where every job stands. While many people are able to keep their jobs, there is a great deal of worry about what will happen to our current salaries. (more…)

With a bad economy more and more people are finding money to be very tight. Does this sound like your situation? If so, you may be overlooking one simple step to earning more: ask for a raise. Now may not seem like the best time to ask for more money, but remember this: you will never know until you ask. (more…)