Have you noticed that over time, nothing ever costs less money?

Most people are simply trying to make ends meet; pay the bills, ensure their kids have good food and a reasonable home to grow up in.

However, even if you're getting by, you may be one major medical bill away from financial ruin.

Or, perhaps you're just praying your old car starts every morning because you can't afford to get even a newer, used car.

It could be that you're doing okay financially, but you just really want to accelerate your saving toward paying off your mortgage early.

Whatever, your reason, it's clear you could benefit from earning some extra money.

The internet makes it easier than ever to earn extra income outside of your day job or to supplement your gig economy contract work.

Specifically, the Best Easy Work site allows individuals to get started earning daily money from their system for free.

Feel free to watch the video above to learn more about Best Easy Work and its owner, Martin Ruiz.

Because nothing ever gets cheaper to afford in life, it's helpful to know there are non-stressful ways to make some extra money online.

Enjoy this guest post from Julie Morris, a career and life coach. Visit her site at juliemorris.org
-Nick Venturella, owner, tinycareer.com

Sometimes you just need something fun to try. You’re tired of plopping down on the couch for Netflix every night, and you can’t remember the last time you were challenged. It’s fun to lie around for a while, but you’re ready for more. Here are a few ideas to get you off that couch and into the real world.
 
Learn to Play a Musical Instrument
 
Let’s start with one of the best new skills around: learning to play a new musical instrument. This is a skill that lasts a lifetime, and you won’t be sorry you invested the time and money to do it well. Be consistent in practicing and before you know it, you’ll impress your family and friends with what you can do. Online lessons make this easy today. Just search for lessons for the instrument you want to play and get started.
 
You can also easily buy instruments online to use. Don’t overlook used instruments - many still have a lot of life left in them and you’ll get them at a cheaper price. Don’t be afraid to wheel and deal either. If you find an instrument you like online, make an offer and you may save some money. Whether you’re looking for a trumpet, clarinet, saxophone or something else, you will likely be able to find what you need.
 
Learning to play an instrument can also give you another benefit - socialization. As you get better at playing, you’ll naturally want to play with others. Whether that is in a community band,  just jamming with friends or even starting your own group, music can take you on a journey you won’t regret.
 
Writing Physical Letters
 
In our day and age, we have lost what it means to put pen to paper, write an actual, physical letter and send it to a friend. Remember the feeling of opening up the mailbox and seeing an envelope with your name written on it? Pick a few friends to write, or there are also plenty of online sites where you can sign up to find a pen pal. You can look for an international pen pal, someone who speaks a language you’re trying to learn, someone who is a student or even someone who might be going through the same kind of experience you are facing. Be careful about posting your address online - you may want to choose a site that doesn’t post your personal information publicly. Start writing some letters, and you never know what you might find on your next trip to the mailbox.
 
Homebrewing Beer
 
In 2017, craft beer passed the 10 percent mark of the overall U.S. beer industry for the first time, showing that Americans love their small-batch beers made in a non-mechanized, traditional manner. Many people love it so much they make their own at home. In fact, it’s a great new hobby if you love craft beer. There are many kits you can buy to get started at home, and many online courses that teach you how to go about making your own beer. You start with just four ingredients - grain, water, hops and yeast - and you end up with a cold, refreshing beverage. A gallon batch will make about 10 bottles and cost you about the same as a six-pack at the store.
 
Now that you have a few ideas, there’s no excuse not to hop up from the couch and learn a new skill that will make you a more well-rounded person. There’s so much out there to see and do even beyond this list. You may even make some friends once you put yourself out there.
 
Photo from Unsplas

Engineering is a great career and one that has a lot of potential for the future.
 
With young people moving towards this career according to this post from Atkins - here’s what you need to know to set yourself up for success.
 

1. Figure out who your idols are. Having people who are already successful to look up to is a great way to keep yourself motivated and to give yourself guidance in terms of the path that you want to take with your career. Begin by looking at some of the companies that you admire the most. For instance, if you are a diehard fan of Apple, you may look up to Steve Jobs. If you think the invention of the Segway is the greatest thing to happen to humanity since the introduction of sliced bread, Dean Kamen may be someone who inspires you. Explore how these individuals achieved success so that you can take the same steps in your own life.
   
   
2. Build up a portfolio. Find time in your schedule to take part in any opportunities that involve hands-on work. Having additional experience above and beyond your basic education is a great way to set yourself apart from other students. Taking part in these types of opportunities outside of the classroom is also beneficial from a learning standpoint. As you apply the principles that you have learned, they become permanently solidified in your mind, helping you gain a deeper understanding of the concepts that you are covering in class.
   
   
3. Understand how building a network can benefit you. Making connections with people in the field of engineering can give you a leg up when it comes time to begin looking for a job. For instance, if there is a guest lecturer appearing on campus, go to the lecture and try to connect with the speaker after they are done. Consider building relationships with some of the alumni from the school, as well. Many of these people are interested in helping undergraduates achieve success.
   
   While it is possible to do some networking online, you should also try to network in person. Meeting someone in person leaves a much longer lasting impression than emailing someone or connecting with them through social media.
   
   
4. Work with others whenever possible. When you get hired, you most likely will have to work with a team of other people. You can prepare yourself by participating in as many group activities as possible. Joining a sports team is one option. You could also become a journalist at the newspaper for your school, join an organization that focuses on teamwork or sign-up for projects that involve working in groups. Learning how to function well as a member of a team is a skill that you can take with you into the workplace after graduation.
   
   
5. Find ways to function as a leader. When you work in a group, it is a good time to practice your leadership skills. That doesn't mean that you should boss people around. Instead, you should use your influence to affect the way that other team members work with one another and to guide the decision-making process. Learning leadership skills in a variety of different situations can make you more attractive to potential employers.
   
   
6. Identify your weak areas and take steps to correct them. Everyone has areas where they could improve. Through self-reflection and by soliciting feedback from people that you work with, you can identify areas where you may not be performing as well as you could be. Using the information that you gather, you can then take steps to improve. For instance, if your communication skills are lacking, you can work on learning how to communicate more effectively. This also helps you develop the ability to accept criticism, which is important as you move forward in your career.
   
   
7. Consider adding a business course to your curriculum. In the field of engineering, you need to have a strong business background as well as understanding engineering concepts. This is especially true if you plan on taking on a leadership role. From learning about profit-and-loss statements to learning how to negotiate effectively, business classes can provide you with helpful skills that you can use in your career. By studying business along with engineering, you can give yourself the tools that you need to succeed, regardless of what challenges you face.

Writing is powerful.

Actually, let me back up. Communication is powerful. 

The ability to articulate specific thoughts into language that can connect with others is, in part, what makes communication powerful.
 
However, to do that you need a way to deliver those thoughts to others to make connections to learn and grow together.

Writing is one tried and true communication delivery method.
 
Writing can allow an author to communicate with a single person or large masses via distributed books, or through websites.
 
When an author has a good grasp on communicating about a particularly useful subject that many others want to consume that author's words become inspiring and sought-after.
 
Mildred Stallworth is such an author.
 
Stallworth’s online writing and published books help to motivate and inspire readers around the world.
 
If you want to understand how writing can effectively communicate to benefit others, be sure to check out Stallworth’s collection of published works.

It was a summer storm.

It was severe. It was quick and violent.

High winds, horizontal rain, and hail. Almost a tornado.

The next morning it was clear there was roof damage. Damage from the hail? Perhaps. Windswept shingles in the yard confirmed the need for the roof's repair.

I walked around the house. We have several mature trees native to Michigan where we live.

I made it to the backyard. I noticed a thick branch on the large Maple tree cracked where it connects to the trunk. Then my eyes followed the broken branch to it's tip. The majority of the broken branch had crashed into the roof in the back of our house.

Roof damage, for sure.

I didn't hesitate. I immediately began searching the internet for quality local roofing contractors in Canton, Michigan.

I found Tittle Brothers Construction. A family owned and operated general contractor with plenty of residential and commercial roofing experience.

From the moment I contacted Tittle Brothers I felt respected. They explained their process, and were happy to provide a free estimate.

The roof got repaired quickly. The quality was excellent.

Now, I just hope the forecast remains sunny and 70 the rest of the summer.

You just moved to Downriver, Michigan.

You don’t know the area well yet, but you have found the nearest grocery store, pharmacy, and even a few restaurants you like.

Considering your rookie status to the area, when your home’s drains seemed clogged you weren’t sure exactly who to call.

You did a search or two online for Sewer Downriver Michigan and soon found PlumbersDownriver.com.

From what you could tell online they provide quality, professional plumbing services, both residentially and commercially.

You then decided to ask your neighbor if she could recommend a plumber in the area. She immediately asked if you had checked out PlumbersDownriver.com yet.

That was positive validation, so you called, recived prompt quality service and now have your plumbing fixed like new.
​
Now, you can check off knowing your local area plumber on your path to becoming a neighborhood veteran resident.

You’ve spent the last few years establishing this area as your home.

Meanwhile, you’ve been saving every extra penny available for a down payment on the purchase of your own home.

Afterall, homeownership is the American Dream. It’s been a goal you’ve been working towards for some time now. Plus, it represents the opportunity to begin building equity for yourself – a worthwhile investment.

You envision your children growing up in your home, holidays and birthdays spent together in small piece of the world that you can call your own.

Since recently learning about the Maricopa County “Home in 5” program, which extends help to creditworthy individuals to buy homes and rebuild neighborhoods affected by foreclosures, you’re financially ready to begin shopping for your first home.

As you chat with other friends who have made the leap from apartment living to their own home, only one residential real estate agency keeps coming up. That’s Century 21 Citywide.

Beyond the fact that Century 21 Citywide is knowledgeable and compassionate to their clients’ unique home buying needs, they are also experts on the “Home in 5” assistence program.

This makes your decision to partner with Century 21 Citywide for your first home one of the easiest decisions you’ve had to make about home buying.
​
Now, to decide exactly which house you like best, that’s the hard part.

It’s not always easy to figure out the best option to handle your roof repairs or a new roof installation for your home or your business.

However, you want to ensure whoever you hire is a professional.

That said, if you need roofing in Dearborn, Michigan you’ll want to check out RoofingDearborn.com and contact the professionals of All Point Construction there.

All Point is a reputable local roofing company who takes pride in providing quality work, done right.

All Point Construction only uses the highest quality materials and is a fully licensed, bonded and insured, family-owned roofing contractor. All Point will treat you how they would want to be treated – with dignity, respect and compassion.

There are several reasons to choose All Point Construction for your residential or commercial roofing needs including the fact that they work directly with lenders to help you save thousands on financing.

​That, coupled with exceptional workmanship and an A+ Better Business Bureau rating makes for a winning combination you can trust.

Plus, All Point will provide a free quote on your roof project, which makes your decision to learn more even easier. 

Check out All Point Construction at:
Roofing Dearborn
3200 Greenfield Road
Suite 300
Dearborn, MI 48120

Ever since I got my first smartphone, I've been taking pictures everywhere.

I love that I always have a camera in my pocket any time a good photo op arises.

The problem is, I have tons of photos and some are saved in the cloud, some I've downloaded to my computer, and others are simply still sitting on my phone.

I recently went back to look at some photos I had taken that were stored on my computer and had completely forgotten about many of them.

That experience frustrated me. I no longer want to forget about my photos, but I needed a better way to organize them.

Then I found the ImageRanger software, which is designed to quickly and easily organize all my photos in one place.

ImageRanger is great. I can easily organize my photos into a folder structure how I want -- by year and city. It removes duplicates images, and I can even sort on all the portrait style photos in my collection. This is great when I'm trying to locate pictures I've taken of my friends. 

ImageRanger also has advanced features for professional photographers. A few of my pro photographer friends will love this.

​If you haven't already, check out ImageRanger.com.