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Have you wondered why US was at a default in August of 2011? This article seeks to examine US expenses and debts. Where has all the money gone? Let’s take a look.

1. The American People:

Amount Owed: $4.7 trillion (2010)

2. China:

Amount Owed: $884 billion (2010);

$1.1 trillion (2011)

3. Japan:

Amount Owed: $865 billion (2010);

$914 billion (2011)

4. United Kingdom:

Amount Owed: $459 billion (2010)

$346 billion (2011)

5. Ireland:

Amount Owed: $197 billion (2010)

$346 billion (2011)

Those who work minimum wage jobs are usually not the ones who are less educated. Many people will find that those, whose credentials are not recognized, are stuck working minimum wage jobs. Think about having only $1500 to spend a month. Then examine the rent, car, food and other necessary expenses. How much of your money is left? Here are the top 10 minimum wage jobs in North America.

1. General Labor:

This is the saddest part about capitalism. Many individuals who work general labor job are usually internationally educated individuals who have come to seek newer beginnings. Their wages are mediocre as their credentials are not recognized. If one goes through the postings on Craigslist Toronto they will find that most employers in Ontario will pay between $10.25 and $11/hour. The mass jobs are located within the $10.25-10.50 range. After reviewing general labor jobs in New York and West Virginia, I also found that the majority were minimum wage at $7.25/hour. Only if one is experienced, there is a possibility for wage increase.

2. Fast Food Employees:

Anyone who works at Tim Horton’s, Quiznos, Subway, McDonalds and many other fast food restaurants know what I am talking about. The job requires little skill and education. In fact Statistics Canada notes that a person who has an education that is less than a high school diploma is five times as likely to work minimum wage or less. According to a survey taken in 2005, 1 in 8 people with no high school diploma are working minimum wage, while 1 in 35 people with some post-secondary training will work minimum wage. Most high school students begin working at a fast food joint to earn some extra cash to cover small expenses. With increasing minimum wages in both Canada and the US and increasing expenditures to run the business, there are hikes in food prices.

3. Telemarketing:

These jobs again require little education and skill. Many individuals who perform telemarketing duties are usually provided with a base salary. They mostly rely on sales skills and abilities for extra income and cash. Mostly those who are in the process of completing their high school degree, work as telemarketers.

4. Food and Beverage Servers:

Although servers get good tips for their service, their base pay is poor. According to United States Department of Labor, 21% of those who work in the Food and Beverage business are between the ages of 16 and 19 (2008). Most of the employees are part time workers who have little education or are in the process of completing their degrees. The median wage for these sector workers in US is $7.90/hour. In Canada the median wage for this sector is $10.50/hour which includes supervisors.

5. Nannies:

Most of the nannies who work at the home of a family-earn a bare minimum. When you wager in rent, food and other expenses, the nanny is left with minimum wages. According to New York Times, many nannies in the United States are paid off the books and miss disability and social security benefits.

It is always funny to note where people stash their money. I still wonder why anyone would keep big bills in their home. It is dangerous and smells trouble when a burglar comes in. Interestingly enough, for this article, people do stash and hide money in their homes. They find some weird places to hide the bills. Here are just 10 crazy places people hide money.

1. Under the Mattress:

It is a very common practice for people to hide money under their mattress. They usually do so to wear off intruders and spouses/kids who keep asking for more money. One should not feel safe knowing that their money is under a mattress. They should be more subtle and discrete.

2. Bra:

Laugh all you want but it is true. Many waitresses and women hide money in the bras. They usually do so to attract more tips and for flirting purposes. I shall also add that, in Hollywood, women have put money in their bras so that men cannot steal it. I, however, believe this is a good place only if you are a tourist. Those who pick pocket would never think to look in there.

3. Floor:

I’ve found people to be even more creative. They would specifically have a loose piece of wood in the floor where money could be stored. Anyone walking would hardly notice it unless you tell them where the hiding spot is.

4. Freezer:

This is funny but still true. People are known to put money in the freezer wrapped in a zip lock bag or aluminum foil. You could also stuff the zip lock bag between meats and other frozen items which will cover the treasure. Most robbers would never check the freezer for money purposes.

5. Book:

People would stuff their money in a book pocket which is located in a library of thousands if not hundreds of books. Any robber will have to go rummaging through the hundreds of books to find which one has the money.

Most people dream of working from home. It comes to mind definitely when commuting for hours to and from the workplace. Traffic Jams are the great inspiration for people to stay at home and start a lucrative business. Anything can be done from home nowadays because of the internet and telecommunications revolution. Of Course the scale might have to be kept small to keep it manageable from home but the profits are bigger with no rent and transport to pay for. Many women have been working from home, now men too have joined hands with them to run successful businesses from home. Here is a list of ten best businesses that can be done from home. Of course one has to go out sometime but this is only when it suits the home based business schedule.

1. Writing

This is one job that has traditionally been done from home. Writers now can access the internet and use its resources as a library. The sudden boom in the world wide web has created a great demand for writers who can create pages that attract viewers on to blogs and web sites.

2. Surveys

This is another creation of the twenty first century. One can stay at home and get paid for doing surveys for companies. These companies carry out market surveys and product surveys for various companies. They need people to answer and give feedback on products and services. Companies even send samples of food and cosmetics to the surveyors place at home for taking an opinion. You get free samples and also get paid for your opinions.

3. Candle Making

This is for people with an artistic touch. Candles can be made at home using raw materials bought at wholesale rates. These candles are very popular for decorations on festivals like Christmas or anniversaries. People love to light candles at home as soft lighting instead of harsh electric lighting. There are many new ideas like floating candles and perfumed candles. All these products have a very large market and even the internet can be used to display products on web sites and to take orders.

4. Tutorials

Part time classes can be taken to help children who are having difficulties in keeping up in class or in finishing their homework. This one on one method of teaching also infuses confidence in students who are otherwise very shy in class. These classes are of great therapeutic value. The tutorials can also be given to people studying in higher classes.

5. Day Trading

Anyone with a computer can become a day trader in shares. One can become a sub broker of a broking house and the trading screen can be accessed through the internet. With a little training and patience money can be made from trading in safe stocks. It is also a great way to get practical training in investment strategies. Most brokers give some guidance to their sub brokers to enable them to make safe and profitable trades. It is also a branch of study which is endless. One can acquire knowledge of all the companies of the world and learn to read balance sheets and analyse fundamental statistics and to read technical charts.

The economic landscape has shifted drastically over the past few years with so many countries having experienced the recession. This has made a majority of people who are in employment to seek for new ways through which they can earn supplement income. However, the risks and capital involved for such ventures has made it virtually impossible for most people to go into business. The internet has become a big resource that so many people rely on, i.e. communication, advertising, banking and shopping amongst other things. Unknown to some is that internet too is the biggest platform from which you can earn money from the comfort of your home.

Unlike other businesses, starting an online business is not as expensive as the capital base required for it is significantly low. Nonetheless, you need to have a website to drive traffic to your business.

Discussed herein are different ways through which you can earn that extra dollar from the internet.

1. Provide your skills in the online marketplace

If you did not know it, the reason why you are employed is to provide your skills and expertise. As such you can find sites online where you can provide expert advice on various areas such as programming, marketing and teaching amongst others and get paid for it. Examples of sites that you can use to offer your skills are Elance, RentACoder and DesignOutpost.

2. Sell your priced photos on stock photography websites

There are people who are gifted in photography but let their talent to go to waste. If you have photographs that visitors to your home adore so much you can earn money from it by selling them to stock photography sites. Examples include Fotolia and Big Stock Photo.

3. Blogging

Over the past few years, blogs have become the biggest tools on the web that people utilize to express themselves. Despite the increase in number of blogging sites, one may be deceived into thinking that they are not well paying anymore. However, if you are a skilled writer, you can earn good money for it by turning an idle blog into a money spinner.

4. Create a blog network

As a professional, you can link with others of the same like mindedness by creating a blog network. By doing so, it is possible to join the big leagues, e.g. Weblogs Inc.

5. Provide Online Support

As information and communication technology takes center stage, a majority of people are increasingly relying on it. As such there are millions of people out there who are starving for support, e.g. web content management, hardware and software trouble shooting that tends to be expensive out there. You can create a niche for yourself by proving an online support service that can be accessible to millions of users worldwide.

Becoming a millionaire does not require any supernatural power, just a willingness to learn every moment, a fierce determination and a commitment to one’s goals. However, beware, there is no easy way out. If you want to become a millionaire, you have to work for it. If someone promises to make you a millionaire overnight with a small investment, (we see millions of such scams on the Internet), be away from it. It happens by mere chance, or never at all. You have to set your mind on it, strive for it and then, grow in it. Even though there are myriads of ways one can become a millionaire, here are the top 10 ways to become a millionaire, just to give you a start.

1. Decide to gain financial success and work for it

Understand that human mind is a vast source of power. You are what you think. If you decide to become a business magnet, visualize yourself in that position, you are sure to attain it one or the other day. The only advice of precaution here is: do not allow past mistakes or bitter experiences from friends or family members thwart your attempts in this direction.

2. Set up a goal and work for it diligently

Whatever is your favorite hobby or skill, work at it diligently and be perfect in it. Work out a plan for it and commit yourself to it. It might be a little difficult to become a millionaire if you are working for someone else. However, there is no need to worry. If you are an average worker, you will definitely be able to save a few bucks if you spend prudently. Lead a frugal life and save as much as you can, at the time of your retirement, you are sure to become a millionaire.

3. Invest wisely

The grave mistake people generally make is that they think of saving as something which can be done in the end, after spending for the luxuries of life. Just imagine, if you are not willing to pay yourself, your hard work and the strains you went through to have enough to spend for luxuries, who is going to take care of it? Give yourself a pat on the back in the way of constant, wise investment by being frugal, by staying away from unnecessary expenses like eating out often and acquiring the most expensive homes or vehicles of the time. Wait a little, save a little and you will never regret the waiting. Learn the trends of the market. Invest in secure avenues like tax liens which are comparatively safe and offer an interest rate of ten to twelve per cent a year. Do not even think of investing in stocks if you do not know the tricks and tips of the market.

4. Update yourself constantly

If you want to be good in business, you will have to cultivate the habit of reading financial publications, newspapers and explore other sources of information like learning from the experiences of other businessmen and the like. Do not allow bad experiences overrule you. Let them be good teachers, helping you never to repeat past mistakes. Remember, most of the people who are now rich are risk-loving and action-oriented. Be a part of the online community of your niche and read the postings regularly.

5. Start appreciating yourself

Love your work and do not forget to appreciate yourself if you successfully reach the goal which you set up for yourself. Beware of over-confidence. That will destroy yourself, depriving you the opportunity to learn from your surroundings or from the people around you. Develop positive mindset and do not waste time analyzing your past mistakes. Just knowing why it happened will suffice for your continuous growth as a millionaire.

Even after the recession, most economies are still struggling to get out of the gutters. Most corporate organizations as well as small and medium sized business enterprises are still downsizing as a means of keeping their doors open come the next financial year. As a result, employees are not being paid the hefty packs they used to enjoy, i.e. bonuses and contributions. Unfortunately, the only thing that has remained constant amidst all of these turbulences is bills. Whereas, a majority of workers are experiencing a decline in their monthly earnings, the bills are continuously on the rise due to inflation.

If your day job is not cutting it for you as it used to or you have just been laid off, then it is high time you considered alternative ways of earning that much needed extra dollar. The supplement income that you earn from these extra jobs will help cushion you against the harsh economic times that a majority of folks are going through right now. Discussed herein are top ten ways to earn an extra dollar.

1. Become a freelancer

Thanks to technological development in internet technology, you can be able to work from home as a freelance. For instance, there are people who work as writers and editors for the numerous blogs found on the internet and are able to make good money for it. Given the tight budget that a number of businesses are operating on, it is possible to get a contract as a freelance agent. Moreover, there are particular sites, i.e. sologig.com that provides a platform for employers who would like to contract qualified personnel from any part of the globe at an affordable rate than they would have got locally. From these sites you will be able to find part-time or in some cases full-time work.

2. Sell your library

Having gone through high school, college and university, I’m pretty sure that you have a library of books that perhaps you are keeping for sentimental value or are hoping to pass them to your children. There are certain book store retailers, i.e. Barnes & Noble that can buy your textbooks at an attractive price. In addition, if you have a collection of classic novels, you can get good money for them by selling them at selected second-hand bookshops.

3. Sell rare coins

There are certain personalities, e.g. Susan Headley, who have etched a living for the last 6 years by finding and selling circulating coinage. She is reported to have earned up to $2,500.00 in 2008 by selling the coins that she located. This may sound as a myth but it is true. Other than her, there are other hordes of people who are earning a living the same way as she is. For instance, you can make up to a maximum of $35,000.00 y finding and selling rare error coins. Others that can be worth up to $5,000.00 are presidential error coins. To know more about selling circulating coins, log onto guidetocoins.com

4. Start a business

The reason why you are employed is because your boss wants to exploit your expertise to his/ her advantage. What is if you could do the same by making use of the skills and expertise that you have to earn extra cash on the sides? There are websites that can provide you with a platform from which you can endorse your product and services with an aim of providing skills to others who are in need for them, e.g. jobvana.com

5. Participate in sweepstakes

In a bid to gain more customer base, a majority of businesses are running sweepstakes competition where they are offering cash and other prizes such as plasma TV, cars, microwaves and laptops amongst other things. Whereas, winning these prizes are purely lack, there are those persons who have constantly participated in them and won not only cash but also gift items that would have otherwise been a tall order on their monthly wages. You can get valuable pointers from such persons on how to go about the process.

The small screen has given rise to some of the most popular stars in the recent past. With their popularity, also came a high price tag. In the recent past there has been a surge in reality TV stars who have shot to fame for their antics on the small screen. Here is a list of the top 10 highest paid TV stars.

1. Oprah Winfrey

The talk show hostess who started her show in 1986, has the last season is due in 2011. The actor is also a producer and a philanthropist. She is known for her philanthropy which is not just limited to the show. She has her own magazine known as the O magazine.  She has been considered as one of ‘The Most Important People of the Century,’ by Time.com. She tops the list with earnings of approximately $ 315 million last year.

2. Judge Judy Sheindlin

The show Judge Judy is a rage with the audience. This American court show features the former family court judge Judith Sheindlin. The show started off in the year 1996 and has been extended till 2013, the seventeenth season of this show. Judge Judy is known for being blunt, truthful and outspoken judge in America.  She sits second on the list with earnings of $45 million.

3. David Letterman

The host of the ‘The Late Show of David Letterman,’ David Letterman, started his career as a weatherman. He started with his show in 1992. He has won several Emmy’s and other awards. He has had interviewed several eminent guests in his tenure. He sits third on this list with annual earnings of $28 million.

4. Ryan Seacrest

Ryan Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is also the host of E! News and American Idol. He started his career as the host of Radical Outdoor Challenge in 1993. He started hosting the American Idol with Brian Dunkleman in 2002. Since season two of American idol in 2003, he has been the lone host for the show. He is also the executive producer of several shows including, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Denise Richards: It’s Complicated and Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. He sits fourth on this list with annual earnings of almost $15 million.

5. Kim Kardashian

She shot to limelight with the show ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ along with her family. Now she also stars in another reality show called ‘Kourtney & Kim Take New York’ alongside her sister Kourtney. She also earns handsomely with her endorsements deals Skechers sneakers, Kotex tampons and skin care brands Quick Trim with her sisters. The 30 year old has earned $6 million in 2010 alone and she charges $75,000 for an appearance.

As with any financial product, when it comes to taking out a personal loan, it really pays to shop around and compare APRs. The APR (annual percentage rate) specifies the real cost of a loan taking into account the interest payable, any other charges, and when the payments fall due.

Your bank may say it offers preferential rates to its current account customers; however, you may still find there are cheaper loans available elsewhere.  It’s important to research this topic and make certain that you understand everything that you are signing before you sign it.

Not everybody can live in the lap of luxury and thankfully, financial institutions realize that. The following are the most common reasons for a loan.

1. Getting Rid of Debt

If a business has to wind up or an individual does not know how to manage his finances, he will go into debt. The good news is that there are certain loans that exist solely for this purpose- that is, to help you get out of the financial mess. One such loan is called Debt Consolidation which you can use to combine the different debt amounts and pay it all off in one go.

2. Investments

Property prices are rising and there is no better way to increase the amount of money you have than buying some property. Wait for the cost to go up and then sell it- what could be easier? Getting a loan for this purpose is the smartest thing you can do in your life.

3. Car

For most people, their car is one of their biggest investments, and if you’re tired of cars that break down all the time or just won’t start, getting a nice car for a change can make the world of difference.

Unexpected car repair bills can also be quite expensive, so if the transmission has gone on your car or the head gasket has cracked, you either need a loan or a bus pass. If you need your car for work, you may need to borrow money to get it fixed quickly, then slowly pay it off as you can afford to.

4. Travelling

This may not make much sense, but many people take a loan to finance a holiday getaway. A need may also arise when a death occurs in another country and one does not have enough money to cover all the costs. Try not to go for a secured loan in this case, if you do at all.

5. Weddings

Every bride wants the perfect wedding and unfortunately, it doesn’t come cheap. However, most couples find it perfectly normal to spend massive amounts of money for one single party and if they don’t have that kind of money, they go get a loan. They can always take another one to finance the perfect honeymoon as well.

Before you apply for this loan, check the small print to see if you are for it eligible. Some best buys come with some nit-picky conditions. Again, it’s important to research the topic so that you are aware of what your requirements are.

Some banks are trustworthy while others exist just to confuse you and make money off you. The following are reliable and have great credibility.

1. Citibank

Citibank came into being during the 1800s in New York City. It is undoubtedly the best bank in the world and has a lot of financial clout as well. A country is not completely developed if this bank cannot be found almost at every corner! It has recently opened branches in Philadelphia, Washington and Boston.

2. JP Morgan Chase

JP Morgan Chase is even older than Citibank and has assets that amount to about 2 trillion dollars. The bank is a favorite amongst clients from different walks of life, be it government officials, business tycoons or the common man. They are widely celebrated for their credit card services as well as their reliability as far as commercial banking is concerned.

3. HSBC

HSBC was established about 20 years back and has had its headquarters in England ever since. Forbes declared it to be among the largest banks and companies in the world last year. HSBC is popular in Asia wherein its investments activities are particularly impressive.

4. Bank of America

As far as market capitalization is concerned; this bank is among the largest in the world. It can be found in over 120 countries and thanks to Merrill Lynch, it has also started getting recognized for its investment services. Its rivals include Wells Fargo and Citigroup.

5. Credit Agricole Group

Credit Agricole Group is based in France and is known for its retail banking services. Europe considers it to be among the largest in this financial filed and because it focuses on the importance of keeping the planet clean and green, it has managed to create a loyal customer base for itself.