etsy

How to Make Money as a Superfan

Dr Penny Pincher — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 09:00:06 +0000

Being a devoted fan of something usually takes up a lot of time and money. But what if you could actually make money from being a superfan? Here are some ways you can turn your obsession with your favorite sports team, musician, celebrity, book, movie, TV show, or even video game into cold, hard cash.

Trade collectibles

Leverage your knowledge as a fan to spot collectibles and memorabilia that other fans would appreciate. With some study, you'll learn which items you can buy cheap at auctions, estate sales, and garage sales and sell at a profit. A perk of trading collectibles is that you will get to enjoy having the items around until they sell. Advertise your collectibles for sale on eBay or Craigslist. (See also: 10 Collectibles That Almost Always Become More Valuable)

Make YouTube videos

You can earn ad revenue from posting videos on YouTube and getting a lot of views. In addition to ad revenue, you could also promote your own website or blog where viewers can go to purchase items or collectibles from you.

You could make videos of yourself discussing concerts, new albums, and happenings with your favorite musicians, or even film yourself reacting to a new music video or song. You could upload videos of your commentary about sports news or events, or if you're a gamer, you could highlight game play video complete with tips and tricks. The options are endless. (See also: How to Make Money by Creating YouTube Videos)

Peddle merchandise near events

Set up a display of fan merchandise for sale near a concert or sporting event where there will be lots of pedestrian traffic from fans. You may need to get a permit to set up a vendor stand along the sidewalk, or you could strike a deal to sell your wares inside a coffee shop or restaurant near the event venue. A potential downside of this plan is that you could get stuck with unsold merchandise, but as a fan, you might not mind ending up with it. You can turn to eBay or Craigslist to try and unload more merch.

Sell handmade items on Etsy

If you are crafty, you can make fan items to sell on Etsy. For example, Star Wars fans are selling a wide range of items such as custom party invitations, costumes, necklaces, handmade T-shirts, and even light switches. You can also sell vintage items on Etsy that are not handmade, which is useful if you are fan of something that has been around long enough to become vintage.

Run a fan website, blog, podcast, or Facebook page

Offering free content for fans on a website, blog, podcast, or Facebook page allows you grow an audience and make money by selling advertising or promoting your own website where you can sell merchandise. Your content could include reviews or updates for concerts, albums, books, video games, movies, TV shows, or sports events.

Publish ebooks

You can take your interest as a fan to the next level by writing a nonfiction book on your favorite celebrity, musician, or team. Many successful ebooks are short reads, so an avid fan may be able to produce an ebook with a few weeks of effort.

Another approach to writing as a fan is to produce a work of fan fiction based on your favorite book or movie universe. Kindle Words has a publishing program for fan fiction that has over 90 licensed fandoms, so they have permission to publish fan fiction from these universes. (See also: Can You Really Make a Living as an Ebook Writer?)

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

What You Need to Start Flipping Items for Cash Online

Kentin Waits — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 11:00:09 +0000

Over the past few months, I've shared my love of flipping by sharing easy items to flip for cash and "flippable" knickknacks that can bring in the highest profit. But knowing what to sell is far different from knowing how to sell. With that in mind, let's explore the essentials for getting started in the flipping game. Here are the only nine things you need to make money flipping your stuff.

1. A Smartphone

Even if you're equipped with decades' worth of knowledge about a wide range of items, immediate access to information is crucial. Though I've spent most of my life immersed in the world of antiques, I still rely on my smartphone nearly every time I go picking. Researching recent online sales helps me confirm hunches, learn more about obscure items, decide what's worth buying, and determine the maximum price I can pay. And I can do all of it on the go with my smartphone in hand.

2. A Quality Camera

Though written descriptions are important, great photographs sell products. Invest in a high-quality digital camera and work to develop basic photo-editing skills. Just a few minutes' worth of cropping, adjusting brightness levels, and tweaking contrast ratios can turn so-so snapshots in fabulous photos.

3. An Account With an Online Auction Site

An account or storefront on eBay, Etsy, Amazon, or similar site is the virtual front door of your flipping business — a door that millions of potential buyers can walk through 24/7. While selling locally on Craigslist is convenient for large items, many people are understandably put off by the risks associated with meeting buyers in person. Also, depending on your area, a Craigslist ad may simply not get the same level of attention as a listing on a major auction or retail site. (See also: The 9 Secrets of Highly Successful Craigslist Sellers)

4. A PayPal Account

Though there are competing payment methods, PayPal is the standard for most online transactions. As much as you may want to support the underdog or minimize your transaction fees, make your life (and your buyers' lives) easier by setting up a PayPal account and getting verified. Verified status on PayPal boosts your credibility as both a buyer and a seller, allows you to send and receive money as often as you like, and provides certain seller protections.

5. A Dedicated Space

While not a requirement, a dedicated space for inventory can help serious flippers keep track of what needs to be photographed and listed, what's listed but unsold, and what's waiting to be shipped. Find a walk-in closet or basement corner that you can devote to stock, packing supplies, and other business essentials.

6. Packing and Shipping Supplies

If you're selling primarily online, you'll need a steady supply of boxes, Bubble Wrap, and packing peanuts. To keep my overhead low, I try to source most of this material free from local retailers. Department and grocery stores usually restock shelves in the evening and are more than happy to offload empty boxes that would be destined for the dumpster or recycling bin anyway.

7. A Shipping Account

As an active flipper, you'll likely be shipping packages all week long. Avoid schlepping all those parcels to the post office by setting up a USPS account, paying for and printing your postage at home, and having packages picked up at your doorstep. FedEx Ship Manager and UPS Internet Shipping are similar services that allow you to do the same thing. Whatever option you choose, be transparent. Communicate your shipping charges clearly and make sure buyers understand their options and have accurate tracking information.

8. Basic Customer Service Skills

Just as in the brick-and-mortar world, selling successfully online takes a bit of hand-holding. Inevitably, prospective buyers will have questions, request additional details or photos, and try to get a better deal by throwing lowball offers your way. Channel your inner customer service representative and respond to inquiries quickly and respectfully. Your buyers will appreciate it and remember you when it's time to buy again.

9. An Eye for Trends

Since tastes and styles change quickly, flippers need to stay on top of trends. Particularly if you're selling clothing, antiques, or home décor items, become a student of the world around you. What items are people just beginning to appreciate and collect? What clothing trends are fading away? What parts of the resale market are oversaturated? Once you've tuned into evolving trends, you'll begin to anticipate what's next and discover whole new categories of items you can flip for easy cash.

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

How to Earn Money on Etsy — No Craft Required

Ashley Eneriz — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 10:00:16 +0000

Etsy is a wonderful marketplace to sell crafts and other handmade goods. However, you do not have to be crafty to make a profit on Etsy. There are several individuals who make their living off of selling a wide range of art supplies (that do not need to be handmade or customized), as well as vintage items.

Selling Supplies on Etsy

For individuals selling art and craft supplies directly to consumers, there are not many online markets. Both eBay and Amazon can prove profitable, but the reach that Etsy has as a crafting platform and community is beyond compare.

Generally, people who buy or browse Etsy are individuals who love handmade goods and are interested in crafting at some level. The benefit of selling supplies is that all crafters need it, both beginning hobbyists, as well as experienced craft makers who sell their work for a living.

How to Sell Supplies on Etsy

In order to be successful selling supplies on Etsy, you have to know the field. For example, if you want to sell yarn, you will need to know a thing or two about knitting. This doesn't mean that you have to be an expert knitter, but you do need to be willing to put in the research about yarns and yarn related crafts.

Is important that you also have the ability to find quality products for inexpensive costs. When considering what to list, think of Etsy's fees. Having an Etsy shop is free, but listing a product costs $0.20, and Etsy then takes 3.5% from the selling price. Therefore, if you list a skein of yarn for $9, then you will pay $0.52 in fees. Calculating fees beforehand can ensure that you make the most possible profit for your item.

Depending on the supplies you want to sell, you will be able to get inventory through local craft stores with coupons and a wholesale license, which allows you to buy the item tax-free. You might also need to purchase supplies in bulk, overseas, like through Alibaba.

Selling Vintage Items on Etsy

eBay is a popular selling platform for selling used items, but many times the kitschy and fashionable items do not get the respect or views they deserve. Etsy allows individuals to sell vintage items in the same way as a boutique owner would sell their wares.

Veronica Staudt, owner of Vintage Meet Modern, used to sell her vintage jewelry finds on eBay before Etsy was popular. However, she has seen more success using Etsy, because it is a more personable platform. "I did a lot of homework about where I could sell vintage goods and have them respected, understood, appreciated, and desired," she says. "At the time there were not very many selling platforms that allowed for that. Etsy is one of the few that appreciates what makes vintage special and unique." She is more than just a username and seller ID, unlike on eBay. She was able to create a brand through Etsy, which just would not have been possible to do through eBay or Amazon.

Heidi Ferguson, owner of Princessntheflea, is another successful vintage shop on Etsy. She originally started selling her vintage finds on eBay in the late 90s, but took a five year break when eBay changed its business model and made selling vintage items harder. "I started my Etsy shop in August of 2015 with about 10 items to get a feel for how the site worked and quickly sold out of items," she says. "I started making goals of 20, then 30, then 40 items in the shop until I finally reached 100."

Lauren Arkin, owner of LABoudoirMiami, says, "My vintage business LA Boudoir started off as a brick and mortar shop and after five years of my clientele being mainly locals and tourists, I wanted to reach out to more potential clientele nationally and internationally. Through some research, I thought Etsy had a great platform to reach that goal. Now I have clients all over the world including those in Europe and Asia. It took about six to eight months to get my Etsy shop to where I am happy with it."

How to Sell Vintage Items on Etsy

The three women above are proof that selling vintage items on Etsy can be a successful side business, but how do you get started? First things first, find a niche that works for you. If you don't know anything about jewelry or designers, then those should not be your first choice of items to buy and sell, unless you are willing to put in many hours of research.

Once you find your niche, research the best selling items in your area of interest. It is important to know how much certain items go for, so that you will know what buying price you need to stick to. You can find inventory at thrift stores, yard sales, and estate sales. It can be tempting to want to buy a lot of inventory when you first start, but it is better to start off slow and buy items of the highest quality.

If you are looking to explore a side business, don't overlook Etsy. Both crafters and non-crafters alike can benefit from Etsy's personable and tight-knit selling platform.

Do you sell on Etsy? Share your experience below.

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

Flashback Friday: 55 Brilliant Ways to Turn Your Junk Into Cash

Chrissa Hardy — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 10:00:08 +0000

In every house, on every street, there is too much junk. We all have things we don't need. So rather than letting those unwanted items collect dust and cause clutter-induced anxiety, why not sell them for some extra cash?

Here are 55 brilliant ways to turn your junk into cash.

10 Things You Should Always Buy and Sell on eBay — Before you drop off bags of clothes and old toys at your local Goodwill, try selling them on eBay! You never know what people on the Internet are willing to pay a premium for, so give it a go and see what you get.

11 Unusual Ways to Sell Your Stuff — If you've got clutter to sell, go beyond the classic Craigslist sale and sell your stuff on Facebook, specialty forums, and through several easy-to-use apps on your phone!

8 Totally Free Things You Can Sell on eBay — Who knew you could sell things like pine cones, driftwood, and empty perfume bottles for actual cold-hard cash? You can! And here are five other things you might have around the house (that you definitely don't need) that you can sell on eBay.

Clear Out That Clutter: 15 Places to Sell Your Stuff — Clutter can lead to unnecessary stress, and who needs more of that in their lives? If you're sick of looking at unwanted jewelry, textbooks, car parts, and more, then you should really consider selling it on one of these sites!

Make Money and Declutter by Selling These 5 Unlikely Treasures — Surprisingly, you can make a good chunk of change from selling old coffee mugs and smartphones. So the next time you're short on cash, look in your kitchen cabinet and junk drawer for items to sell.

6 Weird Things to Sell on eBay for Extra Cash — I'm not entirely sure why anyone would pay for things like empty makeup containers, someone's unwanted magazines, or toilet paper rolls, but there's a market for them on eBay! So before you toss any of these things, try to unload them in exchange for cash, instead.

What are some other ways to sell your old stuff? Share with us!

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

20 Places Besides Etsy to Sell Your Handmade Goods

Damian Davila — Mon, 09 May 2016 09:30:25 +0000

First launched in 2005, Etsy rose as the leading ecommerce website for people looking to buy or sell unique handmade items, including art, photography, clothing, jewelry, and knick-knacks. With the potential to sell to over 50 million customers, Etsy has been able to gather over 1.5 million active sellers. All Etsy sellers are looking to make it big — like top sellers BohemianFindings and Clbeads, who boast over 730,440 and 411,130 sales, respectively.

However, sellers of handiwork are savvy to avoid locking themselves to Etsy. Since its IPO on April 16, 2015, the price of Etsy stock [NASDAQ:ETSY] has lost over 71% in value. Take action and list your items somewhere else. There is a plethora of places to showcase your wares, after all. In alphabetical order, here are 20 places besides Etsy to sell your handiwork.

1. Aftcra

Launched on 2013 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Aftcra is an online marketplace that only sells "Made in America" handmade products. If you currently live in the United States and your products are handcrafted by you or your small team, you can become a seller on Aftcra. Given the niche market of Aftcra, this marketplace charges a selling fee of 7%, which is double of that of Etsy. However, Aftcra charges no other fees, unlike Etsy's $0.20 charge per listing, $0.20 per auto-renewal fee for unsold quantities, and variable multi-quantity fee.

2. Amazon Handmade

In 2015, the ecommerce giant entered the handmade market with its Handmade at Amazon offering. In its push to compete against Etsy, Amazon is waving its $39.99 monthly fee for a required professional selling plan until August 1, 2016. However, you can only take advantage of this fee waiver as long as you sell fewer than 40 items. If you sell more than 40 items in categories on Amazon, you'll have to pay the $39.99 monthly fee right away. Handmade at Amazon charges a 12% referral fee, with a minimum applicable of $0.5 per item, on sales of goods.

3. ArtFire

Boasting seven million shoppers per year and 10,000 active shops offering two million products, ArtFire offers three seller plans. The Shop plan only charges a 9% final commission fee on sales but limits your offering to 24 active listings. The Webstore plan charges a $20 fee per month, allows you to have up to 1,000 active listings, and tacks on a 3% final commission fee. The Commercial Store plan charges a $60 fee per month, allows you to have up to 5,000 active listings, and tacks on a 3% final commission fee.

4. Big Cartel

Big Cartel is a good option for sellers that are comfortable with HTML, CSS, and Javascript, and who like to customize their online storefronts directly. This online marketplace doesn't charge you a penny if you're selling up to five products. However, Big Cartel is designed only for small stores that sell up to 300 products and charges a monthly fee of $9.99, $19.99, and $29.99 for stores of up to 25, 100, and 300 products, respectively.

5. Bonanza

Formerly known as 1,000 Markets, Bonanza is a good option for sellers already selling on Amazon, eBay, or Etsy because it allows you to import your inventory directly from those marketplaces. Bonanza charges sale fees fees based on final offer value (FOV), which is the price plus any portion of the shipping charge exceeding $10. Items with a FOV under $500 receive a 3.5% sales commission, and items with a FOV greater than $500 receive a fee of $17.50 plus 1.5% of the amount over $500. The maximum possible fee is $250. Bonanza also offers an advertising service within the platform at an additional cost.

6. Craft Is Art

Started in 2009, Craft Is Art originally focused on jewelry and fashion accessories. Nowadays, the Las Vegas-based company accepts sellers of all types of handmade goods. If you're comfortable with up to 100 listings, you can enroll in the pay-as-you-go plan that charges only a 5.5% sales commission. Or you can pay $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year to have an unlimited number of listings and pay no sales commission.

7. Craigslist

With more than 60 million users each month in the U.S., Craigslist is a great resource to sell your goods. While Etsy users have mixed reviews about selling handmade goods on Craigslist, you really can't go wrong with zero charges for listing and making a sale. Additionally, you get to potentially increase the exposure of your handiwork at a local level.

8. DaWanda

Sellers who believe their products have great sales potential on international markets should take a look at DaWanda. This marketplace allows you to list your handiwork on the English site, as well as the German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, and Polish sites. Of course, you will need to be able to provide the product descriptions and shipping details in those languages. DaWanda charges a 10% commission on the sales price of any item sold.

9. eBay

Within eBay, you can list your handiwork under several categories, including handmade crafts, handmade jewelry, and many others. eBay recommends you be as detailed as possible in the description section of your listings, include keywords that will draw potential buyers to your listing, take high-quality photos of your goods from different angles, and determine whether an auction-style or fixed price listing is the best format for your products.

10. eCrater

Launched back in 2004, eCrater is an alternative to eBay. The main benefit of listing your handiwork here is that the costs are minimum. It's free to open your store and you don't pay a commission on sales that are directly from your store. For sales that come from the site, you pay a 2.9% sales commission on the sales price of your item.

11. iCraftGifts

Based in Toronto, Canada, iCraftGifts offers you the opportunity to offer your handiwork to both Canadian and American audiences at the same time. iCraftGifts charges a $25 non-refundable one-time fee for setting up your store and offers three plans: starter (up to 50 items for sale for $5 per month), professional (up to 100 items for sale for $10 per month), and elite (unlimited items for sale for $15 per month). There is a 10% discount when you pay annual fees upfront.

12. MadeItMyself

MadeItMyself is another marketplace that charges no listing or monthly subscription fees. You only pay a flat 3% commission charge on sold items.

13. RebelsMarket

Craftspeople of alternative lifestyle and cultures, including goth, steampunk, or rock, can find in RebelsMarket a great channel to reach out within those niche markets. If your application to open a store is approved, you pay no listing or setup fees and have no contract to maintain your store open for a minimum period. You'll be charged 15% of the total item price, excluding shipping.

14. ShopHandmade

You can't go wrong with free. At ShopHandmade, you're charged no fees at all for selling your handiwork. You can list and sell as many items as you want and you keep all your revenues. Besides your handiwork, you can also sell your gently used craft supplies, genuine vintage items, and arts and crafts services.

15. Shopify

Shopify is a turnkey ecommerce solution that you can deploy at your existing website or registered domain name, or that you can use to register a domain within Shopify. This online marketplace is appropriate for sellers looking for a flexible solution that can grow with their business and are willing to pay extra for add-on services, such as an in-store point of sale that connects to Shopify in the future. Shopify is a very robust platform, but all the bells and whistles come at a price. With monthly plan prices of up to $179 and credit card rates of up to 2.9% plus 30¢ per per transaction, Shopify is a platform for intermediate to well-established online sellers.

One important point for sellers considering Shopify is that the marketplace only imports and exports products by CSV file.

16. Silkfair

Some sellers of handiwork also deal other types of goods, such as books, magazines, collectibles, and electronics, and are looking for platforms that allow them to list all kinds of items. Besides Craigslist, eBay, and Amazon, Silkfair is another online marketplace for such sellers. Silkfair doesn't charge you to setup your online store or list items, but tacks on a standard 3% transaction fee on sales across all of its plans. This online marketplace offers templated online stores with limited features and no fees, and customizable stores with extra features starting at $7.99 per month.

17. Squarespace

You may have first heard about Squarespace from its 2015 or 2016 Super Bowl commercials. The reasons why Squarespace can afford to spend so much in marketing is that many companies, including Cisco, Lyft, and Fast Company, use this platform to build not only online stores, but also websites. The main advantage of Squarespace is that it can provide a wide range of possibilities ranging from a single-page websites to a full-fledge online store. Squarespace charges $7 monthly for a cover page, $12 for personal websites, $26 for business websites, $30 for basic online stores, and $80 for advanced online stores. There are discounts for paying in advance for an entire year.

18. Storenvy

Focusing on the indie brand market, Storenvy currently hosts over 44,350 sellers of goods made by hand. This online marketplace aims to stand out from the crowd by curating indie craft makers through its social shopping marketplace. Storenvy claims that its marketplace works like a social network and that it provides you exposure based on feedback from other users (such as "envies," Storenvy's equivalent of "likes") and followers of your store. The more activity your business gets in the marketplace, the greater the chance your business has of being featured on Storenvy's collections at the front page.

All sales made through the Storenvy marketplace are charged a 10% commission of the total sale, including shipping. There are no additional fees for setting up a store or listing your items. However, all customer payments are processed through Stripe or PayPal, both charging a 2.9% plus $0.30 fee to you.

19. Supermarket

Featured on GQ, InStyle Magazine, and the Food Network, Supermarket focuses on attracting talented makers and connecting them with discerning customers. Supermarket claims that its customers are very interested in knowing who made the goods, how those goods are crafted, and where are those goods made. So, being a great storyteller is an asset to sell on this online marketplace. At Supermarket, designers pay a 15% commission, including payment processing, on sold items only.

20. Zibbet

Home to more than 51,200 independent sellers, Zibbet only accepts independent sellers and sticks to a strict definition of handmade. When in 2013 Etsy revamped its seller guidelines to allow vendors to hire additional employees and work with outside manufacturers, some Etsy sellers vowed to let their listings expire and list all of their items on Zibbet. Unlike most online marketplaces, Zibbet doesn't charge a commission or transaction fee. Instead, Zibbet offers three plans: starter ($5 per month, sell up to 50 items), pro ($10 per month, sell unlimited items), and unlimited ($20 per month, sell unlimited items, additional features).

The Bottom Line

Besides Etsy, there are plenty of online marketplaces in which you can showcase your handmade goods. While some of them charge no fees, most of them do. Make sure to check for applicable fees to determine whether or not it makes financial sense to post your items on certain marketplaces. Whenever possible, sign up for a free trial to get a sense of the ins and outs of the platform before you start paying any recurring fees. If you're satisfied with the performance of a specific ecommerce solution, paying monthly fees in advance for an entire year often provides savings.

What are other places to sell your handiwork?

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

10 Awesome Jobs for People Who Want to Work From Home

POPSUGAR Smart Living — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:10:51 +0000

Many people dream of working from home because of perks like not having to commute and being able to work in your pajamas. The good news is we're seeing more and more jobs that give people the privilege of working from home. Although there are stereotypical contract admin or call-center jobs that let you work from home, there are plenty of other at-home jobs that are way more fun. Read on to find out what they are.

Etsy Store Owner

If you love making crafts and personalizing them, Etsy can be a possible career route for you. There are Etsy store owners that are making more than their previous day job and lovin' it! Of course, it's not all about being crafty. You'll also have to invest time into promoting your product on social media sites like Pinterest, taking great pictures, and coming up with search-friendly titles.

It's free to join Etsy, but you have to pay 20 cents to list your item, and the site will take 3.5 percent sales from your listed price. Inc. magazine has a great list of tips on starting your own Etsy store.

Music Teacher

If you have a love for music (and the skills to boot!), teaching other people how to play an instrument or to sing might be a good career choice for you.

What you can expect to make ranges from something in the teens to hundreds per class if you're famous. For example, Seth Riggs, a renowned vocal coach to the stars, charges $300 per session. To earn more money, you can choose to get certification and to build up a good track record.

Consultant or Coach

You can be a consultant on anything as long as you have the right expertise for the topic. One example is a consultant who helps business-school students with applicants. Famous ones charge each applicant $3,000 per business school. Basically, what they do is help students with their résumé, essays, and interviews.

You can also coach people over the phone and the Internet. An example of coaching can be a career as a life coach, in which you advise and guide people to achieve personal goals. According to LifeCoach.com, individual clients can be charged from $200 to $1,000 per month while corporate coaching will net life coaches about $1,000 to $10,000 every month.

You can coach people on pretty much any type of topic, from dating to personal finance.

Graphic Designer

There's a decent demand for graphic designers, especially those in web design. In this field, it's preferable for graphic designers to have some sort of educational training, such as a bachelor's degree, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The median annual wages for graphic designers was $42,400 in May 2008, according to BLS data.

Therapist

Another option for a career is an at-home therapist. There are positives and negatives to seeing patients in your home. Of course, there is always the issue of safety, so you'll have to be cautious with who you decide to take on as a patient. One of the biggest bonuses to seeing patients from home is you'll be saving on the cost of an office, the commute, and parking.

To be a therapist, one must complete an undergraduate degree, preferably in psychology, then go on to earn a master's degree in the field. The median annual salary of an occupational therapist is $84,000, according to Indeed.com.

Artist/Painter/Sculptor

If you've heard of the phrase "starving artist," you know that it's not going to be an easy career path. In fact, while you're busy trying to sell your paintings to a gallery or online, you might have to take on day jobs or sides jobs such as teaching art.

Social Media or Community Manager

Social media and community managers are all the rage right now, and many companies are hiring for that position since they lack the know-how. And how do you gain that knowledge? Simply by being an avid user! There aren't many quality classes on social media right now, so the best way to pick up the skills is to use the platform. Community managers have duties from moderating comments to thinking up ways to grow reader base and engagement. Interested? Well, the average salary of a community manager is $53,000, says Indeed.com.

Writer

A freelance writer or novelist can always work from home. If you have a love of writing, you might want to try this out. Start by writing for small-time magazines or papers to build up your career. It's really important to network in this field because it's much easier to get your piece into an editorial publication if you know the editor. You can always opt for journalism school as a way of getting into the industry.

If you want to write the next great American novel, you can either start on your own or wait for National Novel Writing Month in November to write alongside thousands. If agents aren't biting, you may want to publish your book online as an ebook.

Start-Up Founder

Have a great idea floating around in your head? Perhaps the next Spanx or another social media platform? If you work on your own start-up, you'll have the luxury of working from home. However, you won't have a salary and you'll be living off of your savings when you're starting out. But if it takes off, you may find yourself with a robust income!

Software Engineer

Software engineers have the luxury of working from home and get paid a great salary. Further, they’ll never have to worry about a job since they are always in demand. These techies design and test different kinds of software like computer games and operating systems. The average salary of a software engineer is a hefty $90,000, according to Indeed.com.

It is possible to have a great job working from home — just follow one of these career paths.

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

5 Ways Etsy Can Help Start Your Small Business

Linsey Knerl — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:24:14 +0000

I love Etsy. I first began shopping there just a few weeks ago, although I had followed its popularity for the past few years and have marveled at the showcase of talent featured across many genres of online shops featured there. Surprisingly, my interest in Etsy has had nothing to do with hand-stitched crafts, luxury bath items, or the random brick-a-brac that many people associate with the site. I go to Etsy to get staples for my small business. (See also: Buying (and Trading) on Etsy)

Because Etsy is a growing market, adding new stores every day, it has the potential to be a huge marketplace for some lesser-known startup necessities. In the meantime, you can find a limited, yet high-quality offering in the following areas.

Company Logos

While the prices run the gamut, I was able to buy a OOAK (one of a kind) business logo for my website, business cards, blog, and social media avatars. The talent displayed on Etsy was amazing, and my finished product was delivered within 24 hours. You can find several options to have a logo completely customized to your specifications, or you might find that a premade design fits better into your budget.

Web Design

In addition to getting a savvy-looking logo for your business, you might as well invest in a professional website to help sell your wares or services. Many of the same people who sell logos on Etsy are also well-versed in getting a site set up. If you are looking for something highly-customized, you’ll pay more. Buy a pre-made site with only slight modifications (color and logo, for example), and you could see a big discount over hiring someone from an agency. (Hint: If you have an Etsy shop yourself, hiring a fellow crafter to do your shop design is a worthwhile investment.)

Office Decor

While not essential to having a well-run small business, putting a little personality into your office space can be useful in getting productivity at its peak. Some of the nice items I’ve found on Etsy include framed photo artwork, up-cycled vintage end tables, custom drawer pulls, and chalkboard wall decals. If you need something whimsical, yet practical, you’ll likely find it here.

Paper Supplies

Stationary, business cards, and envelopes can be ordered from a cheap site like VistaPrint, or you could give your business a classy, original look with the offerings found on Etsy. Whether you’re needing something completely handmade (like these collage notecards) or are looking for a more balanced look, you will likely find paper goods that communicate the feel of your company on Etsy.

Client Gifts

If you’ve used up all the free client gifts I’ve recommended in past articles, consider something beautiful and classy that your customers can hold in their hands. Contrary to common opinion, Etsy is not just for girls. You can find some really nice masculine designs, including this rustic organizer and organic shave kit made from beer. Regardless of the gender of your client (or the size of the organization), I’ve found handmade sweets to be a hit among all of the companies I work with. This tasty nougat speaks for itself!

Note: I linked to several Etsy shops in this article that I found to be interesting. Product offerings change often, so to keep the article relevant, I’ve linked to each shop homepage rather than individual items. I have not purchased from or have a personal interest in any of them, with the exception of Erin (who did my logo), and I cannot speak to the quality of each shop’s finished product.

How has Etsy helped your small business or blog?

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: