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From the Email Bag -- Home-Based Projects to Supplement Retirement
By Christine Durst & Michael Haaren
Feb. 7, 2013
Dear Rat Race Rebellion:
I’m about to retire, and need part-time projects to
supplement my income. I’d like to consider home-based projects,
but every time I search, I see things that don’t look
trustworthy, like mystery shopping jobs and stuffing envelopes. Also,
can I really make $100 per hour taking surveys? Please advise. –
Patrick in Boston, Mass.
Dear Patrick: Many
boomers mistrust the home-based work option, and they’re right to
be cautious. Our research shows a 61-to-1 scam ratio in work-at-home
job ads, so the odds are lopsided. But there’s a broad range of
legitimate jobs and projects, too, including many mystery shopping
assignments.
Here are some tips to help you spot scams and find legitimate leads:
- Envelope
stuffing is almost a guaranteed scam. Survey work that pays a few
dollars is usually legitimate, but the survey ads that offer high pay
are typically bogus. Steer clear of mystery shopping jobs that ask you
to wire funds.
- Other
signs of a scam include claims of high pay for little work, “no
experience necessary,” and flagrant symbols of wealth (mansions,
expensive cars, etc.).
- If a
“job offer” arrives unsolicited in your email, it’s
almost surely a scam. And don’t be fooled if it seems tailored to
your situation. Scammers routinely troll sites like CareerBuilder and
others for resumes. Then they shape their come-ons accordingly.
- Never pay for a survey or mystery shopping job.
- For
legitimate mystery shopping jobs, see Market Force Information, at
www.marketforce.com. You can also check our bulleted list at
http://bit.ly/pOphak.
Dear Rat Race Rebellion:
I got laid off and have had some trouble paying my bills, and my credit
rating is shot. Can I still get a home-based job? – Mark in
Blacksburg, Va.
Dear Mark: It
depends on the job. Many employers both online and off- now require
applicants to pass a credit check. Many freelance hirers, however, have
no such rule.
You may want to take on some freelance (aka independent contractor)
gigs to jump-start your income and upgrade your resume. Fortunately,
there are many types of freelance work to choose from. Here are some
thought-starters:
- Freelance
writers (including bloggers) are in high demand. The pay has come down
in recent years, but you can still earn worthwhile payments if you
choose projects carefully and build a list of credits. Some sites to
check include www.JournalismJobs.com, www.Problogger.net and
www.BloggingPro.com.
- Website
testers are often hired to give their impressions as they navigate new
or existing sites. Hirers typically pay $10 per site, for a review that
takes less than an hour. The demand for these projects is high,
however, so it may take awhile to break in. For more, see
www.Userlytics.com , www.UserTesting.com and
www.FeedbackArmy.com.
- Courthouse
researchers visit courthouses in their regions and record various data
from public records. For more, see the bulleted list at
http://www.ratracerebellion.com/jobs-courthouse.html.
----
Christine Durst and Michael Haaren are leaders in the work-at-home
movement and advocates of de-rat-raced living. Their latest book
is Work at Home Now,
a guide to finding home-based jobs. They offer additional guidance on
finding home-based work at www.RatRaceRebellion.com. To read features
by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators
Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2013 BY STAFFCENTRIX, DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM
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