nontraditional jobs

Jobs That Offer Free Room and Board

Linsey Knerl — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:24:41 +0000

Not everyone is looking for the same kind of job perks these days; health insurance, 401(k), and paid time off might be good for some, while others would benefit more from a warm meal and a place to crash. Many employment opportunities do offer some variation on “room and board”, although this may also entail long or irregular working hours. If you're willing to trade in the 9-to-5 for something more nontraditional, these gigs may be just what you're looking for. (See also: 25 Awesome Websites to Help You Get a Job)

Nanny

A quick glance at the new reality TV show “Beverly Hills Nannies” will tell you that taking care of someone's children is not a walk in the park. For someone who is looking to save on rent, expand their work history, or who really enjoys working with kids, however, becoming a live-in caregiver for children definitely has some benefits. In addition to a sleeping room, meals with the family, and occasional access to transportation, some of the better nanny jobs include an extra ticket to the next family vacation. Not all nannies have a live-in situation, but for those that do, the decent weekly salary helps make it an attractive option for college-aged adults.

Adult Care Service Provider

On the other end of the age spectrum is the role of care-giving for grown-ups. Whether you are providing services for an elderly client, an adult with special medical needs, or someone with developmental disabilities, many of these jobs will let you stay on the premises through your resting hours. Not all jobs that offer room and board will pay you additionally during your sleep time, and those that do usually pay at a discounted rate. Some jobs at group homes, for example, allow you to eat with the clients, and in some cases, catch some shut eye when everyone else goes to bed.

Farm or Ranch Hand

Working in an agricultural setting is hard work; so much so, in fact, that many large farming operations rely on their employees to be available 24/7. Someone with the right skills and an excellent work ethic could get a job at a farm, dairy, or ranch for decent pay and the benefit of living in a farm-owned residence. While usually not as posh as many farm-owner homes, these arrangements do allow for you to be close to your work (no commute) with no extra rent check to pay.

Tourism Industry Worker

The tourism niche is so broad that it literally encompasses about every job you can imagine. Cooks, waitstaff, massage therapists, medical professionals, personal trainers, housekeepers, retail associates, and management are just a few of the jobs available at lodges, cruise ships, and vacation destinations worldwide. Many of the positions include completely free room and board for the duration of the season; others offer deeply discounted or subsidized housing.

Military

While not always comfy, serving your country does take care of the how, when, and where of your living arrangements. Many will not be up to the challenge of sleeping in a cramped sub or taking on the tent life that overseas duty can entail; some military families have thrived in base housing, however, even in spite of the modest accommodations.

Pastor

The face of America's churches is changing daily, but the “preacher's house” is still a perk available in some parts of the country for those in the profession of faith. Many full-time head pastors get a modest salary and use of the nearby home on church property, in addition to benefits typical employees get (life and health insurance, for example.)

As the population of our country ages and people start thinking outside of normal employment traditions to get the services they need, room and board arrangements are likely to get even more common. Be sure to use discretion when applying for any job that offers it, however; sharing your abode with your employer is a personal decision — not to be taken lightly.

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This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Non-Traditional Jobs: How Bibliophiles and Film Fanatics Can Find Success

Charissa Arsaoui — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:00:03 +0000

Book lovers and movie fanatics of the world unite! There is a legitimate way for you to feed your addiction for bestsellers and box office blockbusters without spending a dime. In fact, it may pay to be nice to the UPS and FEDEX men because they soon will be showering you with gifts and lots of them! In a given week, I receive at least five packages — all of which contain new release books and movies ready to review. That’s right, folks. Everything you were told about the entertainment industry is true. It pays to network.

With that being said, I am going to share my secrets of success with you, Wise Bread readers. I am a contributing writer/reviewer for Buzzine and know how to work my magic when requesting new titles from publishers and distributors. In fact, last month’s booty consisted of over 50 books for my reading pleasure and at least a dozen comedies and documentaries from dinosaurs to wildlife photography to organic cooking. Needless to say, I am in the process of reviewing the bulk of these titles and now have gifts for every member of my family for free. How utterly cool is that? It really is easier than it looks.

Here’s how you can go from your average bookworm or movie watcher to a supercharged, reviewing machine.

Find an outlet for your reviews.

This can be your blog or a publication that you write for. Make sure that you clear your role in the company with the Editor before setting out to express your opinion about an upcoming new release. Much like food critics, reviewers can be brutally honest. You may or may not need to censor your content a bit to fit your target audience.

Start making contact.

Do a simple web search to locate publishing companies and film distributors throughout the country. Locate their Press Room and make note of the name of the site’s publicist. Write down the name, author, and ISBN of the titles that you are requesting to speed up the process. This information will be needed for the next step.

Make a written request.

Some publishing companies require that you fax in requests on company letterhead. I have yet to meet one that has not honored an email request. When writing the publicist for the first time, introduce yourself by name, give background information on the publication that you work for, state the titles that you are interested in, and include a mailing address where the items can be shipped to.

Keep an open line of communication with your contacts.

If a publisher or distributor honors your request, be kind and send them a few words of thanks. Also, send them a link to the review once it goes live. Many companies use your words to help promote their artists, actors and actresses, and authors.

Sign up for the company’s mailing list and request catalogs so you can view future titles.

Treat the publisher/distributor with respect, provide them with a hard copy as well as links to the review, and watch in awe as you become the type of person who gets whatever he or she requests. It’s kind of a “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” philosophy. In return for free publicity, you get boxes full of books and movies for free!

Writer Linda Formichelli created a list of contact information for nearly every publishing company in the United States. Along with the name, address, and phone number of these businesses, she has also gone to great lengths to gain the contact information of publicists who are more than willing to get new material into your hands. Even if you write the wrong person, chances are he or she will forward your request to the right agent.

For a few minutes of your time, you can request upcoming new releases and stop accruing late fees on your library card for having a title out too long. Although some reviewer gigs may not pay monetarily, they do have perks in the form of free merchandise. You may also find yourself richer because of the experience.

Take it from me. Put your talent to use and start reviewing today. Free publicity is enough to get some people to stand up and pay attention. If you are passionate enough about a subject, your words will forever shine through.

Guest Post Blurb:

This is a guest post by Charissa Arsaoui, a freelance writer with a love for arts and thrift-related topics.

This article is from Charissa Arsaoui of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: