As soon as you begin your first full time job, one of the many items that you will have to fund is your retirement. Sometimes it may seem like retirement planning is the least of your worries and you can put off funding your twilight years so that you can be more comfortable right now. Unfortunately, not funding your retirement account right now means that you miss out on the interest and principle development necessary for you to retire as soon as possible. If you want to be able to live comfortably and still save money for that island paradise you want to live in when you are done working a 9–5, here are some wacky ways to continue responsible financial planning for retirement.
Become a character for kids birthdays
One thing that comes around ever year without fail are our birthdays. While you may grimace at the thought of getting older, most kids can't wait until their next birthday. This is because kids' birthdays often feature food, fun, and friends. Get in on some of this action and earn money too by becoming a birthday character. There are a number of gimmicks, including Disney characters, magicians, and face painters for children's birthday parties. For half a day of work, you can make enough to fund a few days of vacation, without including the growing interest. Plus, you can have fun!
Perform Internet tasks and surveys
Surveys and focus groups are always listed as some of the best second jobs on the Internet. It can be hard to find survey sites and focus groups that solely coincide with your days off, so instead, make a daily goal for surveys. Spending one hour on a $10 survey every day of the year, while you are enjoying some TV time comes out to $3,650 per year. After 30 years, you will have amassed a $109,500 fortune towards your goal. Just an extra $10 in surveys or Internet tasks each day can fund several years of retirement.
Open up a great blog
Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to become the next big Internet sensation to make money on a blog. There is a subset of followers for any blog or forum. Whether you want to blog about professional experiences, your crazy personal life, or if you want to open a blog that provides information about your favorite topics, you can make money from these ideas. Monetize your blog with Internet ads, affiliate links for products, or offering to review products will give you extra cash, plus provide an outlet that will allow you to unwind after your day-to-day job. For more advice, talk to a professional like Duff & Associates.
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