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Work smarter, not harder – Metro US

Work smarter, not harder

Being a Smart Cookie isn’t just about finding ways to spend less and save more, it’s about making more money too. And just to be clear, we do not mean taking a job you hate because the paycheque’s better. As we enter into 2009, we encourage you to find ways to attract more money into your life. And to get you started, here are a few Smart Cookie tips.

Turn Your Passion into a Paycheque:
With a little effort and creativity, it’s possible to turn almost any pastime into a paycheque. For example, one of our Smart Cookies was interested in learning about and tasting new wines. She had a friend who started a business that offered wine tastings at company events and she offered to help out. This was a great opportunity for her to make extra cash, sample some wine and meet new people.

Why Not Make Some Money AND Reap the Benefits?
Consider taking on a part-time job at your favourite store — many retail stores hire extra employees to help out during their busy season. One of us was furnishing a new condo, got a job at her favourite furniture store (which offered employees 40 per cent discount) and used the money she made working at the store to buy her discounted furnishings.

Clean Out Your Clutter
Anything you haven’t used in over a year, you no longer need! But rather than throwing these items away, why not find them a new home? One of the Smart Cookies makes about $300 at the end of each season and puts that toward new clothes. Another sold her wedding dress for $800 on craigslist.org. You can do the same with sporting equipment, toys, CDs, books, almost anything.

What about Passive Income?
There are ways to increase your monthly income, without lifting a finger. For example, if you pay monthly for a space in a garage, but you know your car will be gone during work hours or you’ll never use it, you can rent out your space during the weekdays to someone who works near your parking spot. Advertise the space on craigslist.org or in your local paper. One of our Cookies rents out her space and earns an additional $50 per month.

Consider contract work
If it’s not a conflict with your full-time job, look for freelance or contract opportunities. By utilizing her contacts, one of us was able to get additional contract work providing PR services for clients outside her job, earning an extra $2,000 per month!

– Tune in Wednesday night at 9 p.m. EST/PST on the W Network and be sure to visit www.smartcookies.com for more tips.