If you’re planning on going into business for yourself, you probably already know it will cost a lot.  What you may not realize is just how much.

According to the AARP, the average cost of starting up a business is around $30,000. That’s a lot of investment for something that has a high potential for failure. Statistics show that 80% of new businesses fail before they reach their tenth year.

If you are committed to starting your own business, be smart about it. Put your money where it will serve you best by investing in these five critical areas. Read more

The American dream has certainly changed. In our parents’ time, the dream was to get a stable job you could retire from, own a home, and start a family. Today, it’s very rare for employees to stay with the same company for 30 years. People are much slower to get married and have children than in the past. Home ownership is now outpaced by renting. It’s safe to say – things are different.

When it comes to work, even the very definition has changed. It used to be defined by an office setting, with a 9 to 5 work schedule, a suit and tie, and saving towards retirement. Now, younger members of the labor force are abandoning security to pursue freedom. They want to work their own hours, be their own boss, and live the life they desire right now, not when they’re 60.

If you’re one of these people, you’ve got a rough road ahead. It’s tough to be your own boss, and cut yourself off from the security of a salary job. But if you succeed, you can join the small percentage of people who are pursuing the lives they always dreamed of, without having to ask for vacation time to do it.

To help you get started, here are five effective ways you can turn your skillset into a sustainable career. Read more

Everybody has an activity that they enjoy doing during their free time. What if somebody told you that you could make your hobby pay?

The internet’s popularity is at its record high. With a little creativity, you could use the web as a platform to monetize your hobbies. This extra income could come in handy in helping you achieve your financial goals. Read more

Earning your living as a full-time freelancer has its upsides, and it’s downsides. On the one hand, your freelancer lifestyle means that you’ll be able to achieve a better work/life balance and set your own schedule. You can even avoid the annoying commute to work each morning if you’re happy to work from home. However, as a freelancer, you’re also in a position where your income is never completely guaranteed.

The good news is that just because your money is often unpredictable as a freelancer, that doesn’t mean that you can’t do things to improve your income management strategy. As a full-time and self-employed freelancer, there are various strategies you can put in place to give yourself financial peace of mind.

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