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Using Containers to Organize Your Life

KMP Blog — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:02:44 +0000

Most of us start out in a new place with the best intentions of keeping it clean and tidy (unlike our last residence). And yet, almost without fail, life gets busy, unexpected obligations come up, and you let the housework fall by the wayside. Piles begin to form and before your know it, your house is starting to look like an episode of Hoarders. Well, it might not be that bad yet, but you clearly need to nip it in the bud and get organized before you feel like you’re living in a fort of pizza boxes and piles of clothing (clean or dirty? You don’t even know…). And your salvation lies not only in the ability to throw things away, but also in learning to organize the stuff you want to keep. To that end, you should invest in a storage system that involves containers.

The nice thing about container storage is that it can be put to use in every room in your house as a means of organizing your entire life (and you can buy piecemeal to avoid ending up with a lot of expensive storage space you don’t need). The garage is a good place to start, because it is often the catchall for crap that you don’t want to trip over in the hallway. You likely have everything from sporting equipment to Christmas decorations to craft supplies to tools and automotive repair items that actually belong in the garage. And you can bet there’s a lot more. So get yourself some extra-large bins to house the majority of the detritus and get a number of smaller tubs for items that can easily become lost (like your disparate collection of nuts, bolts, screws, nails, and so on).

Next, think about how you can organize the spaces that are meant for storage. Instead of piling everything up in the closet until it’s ready to explode in an avalanche of stuff, install shelving and fill it with properly sized containers. Each one can be allotted to hold craft supplies, extra linens, board games, or whatever else you plan to house there. This will not only keep the closet from becoming an ungainly mess, but it will give you easy access to items you use frequently. If you label the bins, you will be able to find everything in a flash.

Another likely area of clutter is the office, followed closely by the family room. In each of these rooms, you probably face media storage problems. These days, there are many forms of electronic entertainment, such as CDs, DVDs, and video games (not to mention old-school standbys like books, records, and tapes) and organizing them can pose a real problem. Instead of opting for cheap plastic shelving units that will fall apart soon after you fill them, put up the cash for some permanent shelving and line it with stylish bins to hold all of your media. You can find options to suit any aesthetic and they will look better and last longer than some of the furniture that is custom made for media.

Organizing your living spaces may not be your idea of fun, but if you spend the time and money to do the job right the first time, you’ll only have to do it once. And by using containers, you’re not only ensuring that everything has a place, but you can also seal your items in airtight bins to ensure that when you come back for them, they are just the way you left them.

Breana Orland writes for Morrison CHS which specializes in feed screws, quick change parts and builds the best products available in the container handling industry.

Credit Card Finder Minimalism Series Part 1 – How to Live a Minimalist Life and Feel Better Instantly

What the Bag You Carry Says about You

KMP Blog — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 01:19:58 +0000

Most women carry a purse, a pocketbook, or some other piece of luggage to haul their daily necessities around. Some men also carry bags. And students are no stranger to backpacks and book bags galore. In fact, most people, at one time or another, find reason to carry baggage of some sort (the literal kind – emotional baggage isn’t much use at all). What you may not know is what your choice of bag says about you as a person. So if you’re interested to discover what personality traits are lurking in your purse, rucksack, or messenger bag, read on to find the bag that characterized you.

1. Handbag. If you carry this popular purse that must be held rather than slung over the shoulder, you’re likely the whimsical type. You’re not a big worrier, that’s for sure (since you clearly don’t trouble yourself with potential pitfalls like purse-snatching or setting your bag down and forgetting it somewhere). You also don’t need to carry a ton of stuff. You can breeze out of the house with the bare essentials and never look back.

2. Shoulder bag. This is a more no-nonsense purse. There’s no chance of losing it since it is firmly attached to your shoulder. It’s a mainstay of mothers, who are often toting kids and don’t have a spare hand to carry a purse. The larger size and many pockets can accommodate the trappings of a multitasking mom (Band-Aids, snacks, and toys, in addition to the regular stuff) and with an adjustable strap, you can make sure everything is within easy reach, even when you have a child on one hip and another by the hand.

3. Baby bag. Obviously, you have a young child (or children). Your life, like your bag, is sectioned off into diapers, bottles, and blankets. It may not be as pretty as the handbags you carried when you were younger, but it befits your station in life and helps to make your busy life more manageable.

4. Backpack. If you’re not a student, carrying a backpack can mean only one thing: you simply haven’t grown up. For crying out loud, invest in an adult means of carrying your crap around and stop acting like a teenager! If you’re into sports, get a duffel bag. If you’re at an office, carry a briefcase. And for days at the beach, use a beach bag. Give the backpack to your kid.

5. Messenger bag. This is like a cross between a backpack and a briefcase (fancier than the former and roomier than the latter). It is the preferred baggage for hipsters, college grads, and pretty much anyone transitioning between the messy confusion of adolescence and the organized professionalism of adulthood.

6. Briefcase. This bag is 100% professional. If you work in an office setting, you should invest in a good one. The bag you choose to carry says a lot about your dedication to your job (and your image), so if you want to be taken seriously in the working world, ditch the shoulder bag and go for one that has corporate conformity written all over it.

7. Tote bag. Have you noticed that people have taken to hauling their gear in those recyclable grocery bags or the canvas numbers they give away at charity events? Unless you’re a tree-hugging Portland-native, get yourself a real bag and leave the recyclable ones for your groceries. Those from Portland are exempt because they clearly don’t care that they all look homeless (a strange and disturbing “style” trend).

Shirley Simpson writes for Converting Tech where you can find an assortment of vacuum sealers and poly bags along with other superior flexible packaging solutions.

Want to Lose Weight and Look Great? Carry a Water Bottle!

Keep Home and Work Separate

KMP Blog — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:54:33 +0000

Working from home offers a great opportunity for you to start your own business, be your own boss, and keep your kids at home (rather than consigning them to the random shuffle of caretakers provided by any given daycare facility). But splitting your time and your space between work and family obligations can quickly become overwhelming, and the line you draw between the two can easily become blurred when your work space is part of your home. If your office is prone to spilling out into the rest of the house, you could be creating a situation that turns your entire home into your office, effectively pushing your family out (and making you feel like you’re always at work). In order to avoid this unfortunate turn of events, you need to take a good look at the boundaries you’re setting (or ignoring) and find a way to keep your work and your family life separate.

The first way to compartmentalize your work within your home is to create a home office (if you don’t already have one). Allocate a room to house your business paraphernalia, or if you don’t have the extra space, section off a portion of another room by putting up a screen to hide your desk from view. You can also get a roll-top desk to hide your laptop and paperwork when you’re off the clock, as well as a storage cabinet for other work-related detritus. Taking these measures to physically erase the signs of your job within the home will help you to leave your business behind closed doors (or a desk) when you’re done toiling for the day. It will also keep clutter out of your family space.

The next step is to create a mental separation between your office and your home. If you’re thinking about work (or actually working) when you’re spending time with your family (or vice versa), you’re not devoting your full attention to either, which means you’re probably going to make mistakes with both. The people you love deserve your undivided attention when you’re with them or their feelings will be hurt. And you shouldn’t try to focus on other matters while you’re on the job or your output will almost certainly suffer. Either way, you stand only to lose on both fronts.

The trick is to implement a scheduling system that allows you to break your day into manageable chunks that allow for work time and family time. You might have to make some arrangements with your spouse (especially if you have kids) so that you can deal with home obligations during the day and have your nights (or mornings) free to get some work done. You should consider whether you are more of a morning person (meaning you should set your alarm to get up early) or a night owl (allowing you to make some headway on your work when everyone goes to bed). This will have a marked effect on your schedule. Or if your kids are school age, you can probably get a lot done during the day and then devote the evenings to your family.

Whatever schedule you set, it has to fit your lifestyle and your time constraints, so think about how you can make it work best for you. By separating not only the space you use for work from that you use for family, but also making the decision not to dwell on one while you’re engaged with the other, you can easily split your focus (and your time) between your office and your home, even though both happen to be in the same place.

Leon Harris writes for Pennsylvania Precision Cast Parts, a leading medal casting manufacturer specializing in investment castings. At PPCP you are sure to find the highest quality products at a rapid turnaround.

The Happiest Jobs on Earth

KMP Blog — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:05:09 +0000

Sorry to say, working at Disneyland won’t make you nearly as happy as visiting will (you don’t want to ruin the magic). But there are a number of professions that will bring satisfaction to the people who choose them. While there certainly is a level of subjectivity involved (some people love to work with others all day, and others are happiest on their own), there are a few occupations that can make just about anyone happy. If you’re looking to get out of a line of work that you hate but you’re simply not sure what you might like to do for a living, check out this list before you conduct that job search to see if anything grabs your fancy. There are likely at least a couple that would make you happy if you gave them a try.

1. Education Administrator. Teachers, while generally happy, get the short end of the stick when it comes to determining the policies that will make their classrooms run effectively and efficiently. This is why many eventually opt to move into administration. Seeing the faces of young people and knowing that you’re helping them to become competent and functional members of society is one thing, but actually having the chance to influence the course of their education on a larger scale could be even more satisfying.

2. Architect. There’s no better feeling than finishing a job and having an actual, physical product to show for it. Some people create art and others make toys, or Cuisinarts, or cars (for example). But when you can look at a city skyline and see a gleaming structure in steel and glass that you designed, or look at house you imagined on paper and see how it now provides the perfect home for a family, you’re going to know what true satisfaction feels like.

3. Author. Creation is the name of the game, and when you’re an author, you get to create entire worlds at your leisure. Of course, the best-selling authors are generally fairly prolific, putting out one to two books a year during the peak of their career, but once you get a few under your belt, you can probably take all the time you need. The best part is, if you write fiction, you have the satisfaction of creating something that is totally, 100% yours (and no one can really tell you it’s wrong).

4. Physical Therapist. Think doctor, but without all the schooling or pressure. The idea is, you have a chance to return people to optimum health after injury or help them get on track with their fitness in a safe and healthy way. But you don’t have to attend years of medical school and you’ll probably never be forced to do an emergency tracheotomy (eww) or hold someone’s life in your hands.

5. Firefighter. There are few jobs as physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging as putting out fires and rescuing people that are trapped within burning structures. And yet, it is rated as one of the most satisfying jobs to hold. Aside from the adrenaline rush it can provide (which feels pretty good), it offers the chance to make a real difference in the lives of others by saving mothers, fathers, children, and even entire families. There’s no way to rate the level of happiness that can bring.

Keeping Stored Food Fresh and Healthy

KMP Blog — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 12:09:56 +0000

Food storage is no laughing matter. If you store items at the wrong temperature or package them improperly, you’re going to end up with spoilage, staleness, and even worse problems that cause your food to become unsafe before it is slated for expiration. And unless you feel like buying the same food items over and over only to watch them go in the trash (or worse, send you to the hospital with food poisoning), it’s probably best to learn how to properly store them so that they are fresh, healthy, and appetizing when you return to eat them. Here are a few simple guidelines to keep your food nutritious and delicious.

For starters, you’ll want to make sure that your fridge is set to the correct temperature. It should be somewhere is the range of 35 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, if you set it slightly below this, you could keep foods fresher longer, but it could also make items like beverages begin to crystallize if you set it too low. Another option is to look for a fridge that comes with “crisper” drawers for fruits and vegetables. Some have their own temperature control, along with seals to keep out the moisture that can cause mold and mildew. As for the freezer, at or below zero degrees is preferred.

However, the temperature isn’t the only consideration. If you want to keep out potential problems like mold, bacteria, and insects, you’ll need to seal your food items properly. Tinfoil and plastic wrap aren’t going to cut it if you have persistent trouble with any of these pesky interlopers. Opt for tight-sealing Tupperware for any items that you would like to store after opening. Even these are not foolproof, but they should prevent most problems. As for the issue of freezer burn, you can utilize specialized Ziploc bags that are made to stop just such an occurrence.

But there are a whole host of foods that make a home in your pantry rather than your fridge or ice box. What should you do to protect them? Again, an environment that’s cool and dry is preferable to one that is susceptible to moisture. However, this may not be possible. For this reason, you should store dry goods (flour, sugar, and other baking items, pasta, cereal, and so on) in sealed containers. In an area that is both dry and free of contaminants (including insects) a bag clip would be appropriate for most items. And store cans in this area also. Although they are largely impervious to common threats like bacteria, extreme moisture and temperature fluctuations can impact the integrity of a can.

All of your food items can last until their expiration date (and even beyond) if you take the steps necessary to store them properly. You can, to some extent, control the temperature and moisture level of the environment, and by keeping opened foods in sealed containers or Ziploc bags, you have a better chance of returning to find them still fresh and ready for consumption. Shoddy storage is certainly your prerogative, but you’re the one whose health stands to suffer for this lapse in judgment.

Emma Martin writes for Spee-Dee where you can find auger filler and a rotary filling machine to meet your packaging needs and increase speed and efficiency in your business.

Simple Yet Overlooked Ways to Conserve Energy

KMP Blog — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 01:53:25 +0000

In this time of recession, all of us are looking for ways to conserve energy and cut back on our utility bills. For some this means taking up reading rather than watching TV or tooling around on the computer. Others lower the thermostat and resort to wearing sweaters and wool socks when the outside temperature drops. And it never hurts to purchase energy-saving appliances when you go to replace your fridge or dishwasher. And yet, people often miss out on some of the simplest techniques when it comes to eco-friendly energy conservation. Here are a few things you may have failed to consider when it comes to the most cost-effective, energy-efficient way to run your household.

The first thing you should do is schedule an in-home energy audit. Technicians from your utility provider (or an independent company) can come to your house and check the premises for leaks around doors, windows, and other seams, as well as pinpoint trouble spots with pipes and insulation. Based upon their recommendations, you can determine if you need to install new (or better) insulation, seal cracks, and/or put weather stripping in place to lower your electric bill. Just a few minor repairs could make a huge difference in how much energy you use throughout extreme weather during the summer or winter months.

The next area you’ll want to tackle is your use of electronics. Even if you turn them off when not in use, you should be aware that they are susceptible to phantom drain. This is a phenomenon by which electrical devices continue to siphon miniscule amounts of energy whenever they’re plugged in, regardless of whether they’re turned off or in conservation mode. By unplugging them when they’re off, you can prevent this wasteful energy use. In addition, you should be aware that incessantly charging electronic devices leads to similarly squandered electricity. Check your devices frequently and unplug them when charged. Believe it or not, this can even help to extend the life of your batteries.

Finally, consider the lighting in your home. CFLs (compact fluorescent bulbs) have become popular because they use less energy and last longer (cancelling out their increased initial cost). But did you know that LEDs (light emitting diodes) are even more energy-efficient? Although they are not yet widely available, they can often be found online (you will simply have to purchase fixtures for them as they do not generally fit in standard fixtures used for other types of bulbs). In addition, you should make every effort to use natural lighting throughout the day. And of course, follow the old adage and turn off the light when you leave a room.

Conserving energy can be an expensive and time-consuming proposition if you want to go all out with it. But there are also a lot of easy, cheap, and effective ways to cut back on the amount of electricity you use in your home. By following a few simple guidelines when it comes to checking for problem areas, turning things off, and looking for alternatives, you can do your part for planet Earth and save a little money while you’re at it.

Leon Harris writes for Southern States, the quality name in high voltage switching. Whether you are in need of circuit switchers, power fuses, or other electrical power transmission and distribution needs, Southern States will tailor a custom solution for you.

Packing and Quality Control: Important to Any New Business

KMP Blog — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:39:51 +0000

Carol Andrews writes for Plexpack which offers continuous band sealer, shrink packaging machinery and many other items for your e-commerce and other packaging needs.

When starting a new business, it’s important to have all your ducks in row. You’ve likely got a solid business plan penned, a lender on the hook, and a lot of ideas about how you want to proceed with getting your fledgling enterprise off the ground. There are going to be a lot of attendant costs with any start-up operation, and since you are likely to have a finite amount of funding, you’re going to be watching every penny. Of course, this necessitates cutting back in some areas that you would like to spend more, and often the first things to go are packaging and quality control. However, you should think twice before short-changing these areas. They could be more important to your success than you think.

The difficulty with slashing quality control should be obvious. If you don’t check for problems before shipping out products, you could end up sending defective items. However, with all your manpower devoted to processing orders, manufacturing goods, and getting them shipped in a timely manner, you don’t seem to have the additional time or money needed to focus on quality control. Besides, if workers are doing their jobs correctly, you should need QC in the first place, right? Wrong. The problem here is that you’re looking at the issue from the wrong angle.

Most start-ups have a few employees who wear a lot of hats. Their attention is constantly divided between a number of tasks, some of which they’re bound to excel at and others that they will be new to or ill-suited for. You are not a large corporation that can delegate a single task for each employee (better ensuring that it receives their full attention and they have the expertise to do it flawlessly). For this reason, it is imperative that you double-check every item that leaves your workroom before it is sent to a client. Otherwise you could end up losing the very people who are keeping your business afloat.

As for packaging, there are a couple of reasons to make it a priority. First and foremost, insufficient packing materials can result in damage. You don’t want this for obvious reasons. Spend the money to ensure that any items you ship are thoroughly protected. Secondly, the actual packaging of your product reflects on your brand. If you want clients to take you seriously as a business, you need to impress them at first glance. This means when they receive their orders, they see an outer shell that inspires confidence in the professionalism and know-how of your company. At the very least, you should have a package that sports your company logo, although it couldn’t hurt to feature a design that visually reinforces your brand image and speaks to your demographic.

Starting a new business is not easy. There are a lot of details to attend to and tough decisions to make. But don’t think that you can cut out important areas like packaging and quality control simply because you don’t see the end result of such negligence. Your clients will let you know, in no uncertain terms, that cutting costs in these areas is not acceptable – likely when they opt for the competition.

Top 10 Commonly Overlooked Tax Write-Offs

KMP Blog — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:01:58 +0000

Guest post by Cathy Pierce. Follow Cathy on Twitter @mrscathypierce

Tax deductions, or write-offs, could mean the difference between a healthy refund and paying money to the government. That’s why it’s important to be aware of any available deductions. Here are top 10 commonly overlooked tax write-offs.

1. Charitable Donations

Donations don’t have to be cash in order to get a tax break. As long as the charity gives you a receipt, you can claim donated items, like clothing or household goods. You can also deduct donations you make by check or credit card.

2. Mortgage Points

Whether you pay points on an existing mortgage or you refinanced your loan, you can deduct a portion of the amount you pay each month for mortgage points. You can continue to deduct the points on an annual basis, according to IRS policy, until you have deducted the full amount of the points, with each point equal to 1 percent of the loan value.

3. Education Costs

There are valuable credits, which are better than deductions because they offset your tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis, in the education agenda. One possibility is the American Opportunity Credit. The IRS also offers an above-the-line deduction up to $4,000 for individuals who make less than $65,000 annually.

4. Health Insurance Premiums

With insurance companies clamping down on what they cover, the IRS allows taxpayers to itemize any expenses on health care as long as the total exceeds 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income. People often think they haven’t spent this much on healthcare, but they typically forget to factor in the amount they pay out of pocket for health insurance premiums.

5. Green Credits

Do you have a hybrid car? Have you made energy efficient improvements to your house? You may qualify for a dollar-for-dollar write off up to $1,500. Expenses you can claim include energy efficient roofs, water heaters, skylights, or insulation.

6. Investment Costs

Often, people think about investments and adding the amount of interest they earn to their income for the year. However, you can deduct investment expenses, such as brokerage fees.

7. Retirement Credit

Younger individuals have the opportunity to reduce their tax bill by setting a portion of their income into retirement plans. Depending on the plan you pick, you don’t have to pay taxes on the part you invest.

8. Casualty Benefits

People living in a disaster area, as declared by the President, often get tax benefits to help compensate for losses occurring because of calamity. For example, people who lost homes and property due to Hurricane Katrina were able to write off some of their tax bill due to the tragedy.

9. Sales Tax

Federal taxes aren’t the only place where you can get deductions. Your state may offer certain deductions separate from Federal ones. In some areas, you may be able to deduct any sales tax you paid from your tax bill.

10. Unpaid Debt

If you made a personal loan to a friend or relative and never saw a penny, you may be able to deduct part of the loan from your taxes.

Make sure you don’t miss any of these deductions. Also, check with a tax professional each year to see what new deductions or changes the IRS has made before you file your return.

Snowed In? Great Games to Pass the Time

KMP Blog — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 18:03:56 +0000

Jennifer Kardish writes for Scrabble Pages where you can find Q words and words with Z in them. You can also learn how to play Scrabble and find tips and tricks.

If you find that the winter weather of January has you trapped indoors, the whole family might be starting to get a little stir crazy on the weekends. But instead of staring mindlessly at the tube or letting the kids text their friends day and night, why not declare a moratorium on electronics and plan for some family fun that will give you the quality time you crave – with a game night? You may be thinking about your dusty, musty game closet and wondering what you could possibly pull out that would interest everyone. If that’s the case, simply hop on down to your local toy store and pick up a couple of newbies that are sure to delight everyone. Here are a few to get you started and keep your spirits bright even through the darkest days of winter.

1. Pictureka. If you’re looking for a game that everyone can play, Pictureka is just as fun for adults as it is for kids. Once you lay the doodled tiles down, you’ll have a limited amount of time to find the type of picture listed on your card (be it birds, insects, legs, or a specific scribble). You may have to bid against other players to find the most items, or you could be scrambling solo to track down the pirate before the timer runs out. Either way, this fun and fast memory game will have you spotting certain items between rounds (at least until you flip the cards).

2. Forbidden Island. This cooperative game is not like others you’ve played. You have to work together to capture four sacred treasure before the island sinks, and the water could rise with every round! Only if everyone succeeds will the game be won, so the cutthroat style of play that dominates many other board games won’t work here. This is a good one for teaching kids to get on the same page and work for the good of the whole crew.

3. Bananagrams. You may have seen your kids playing this updated version of Scrabble on Facebook (complete with island rhythms), so why not bring it into the real world? The tiles come in a banana-shaped bag and players simply keep pulling letters until they’re all gone (the one with no remaining tiles at the end wins).

4. Apples to Apples. In this game of matching wits (and words) players are given a number of cards featuring people, places, events, etc. to match to a descriptive “green” card in play. Then it’s up to the player holding the green card to choose the best match. But beware: they may not be inclined to take the most literal match! Both a study of language and of interpersonal politics, this game makes everyone analyze not only their cards, but also their opponents. Available in a junior version with references kids will understand.

5. Totally Gross. Get your kids interested in science with the game that engages them in the grosser aspects of biology, chemistry, and so on. With a host of factual information combined with fun activities, your kids will get on board with learning about everything that makes us tick (as long as it’s potentially gross).

6. Once Upon a Time. Get creative with the game that demands the players tell the story. Using people, place, and thing cards, cut in the middle of anyone’s narrative to move the story in the direction of your own ending. Get rid of all your story cards first and announce your “Happily Ever After” to win the game!

5 College Jobs That Don’t Suck

KMP Blog — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 14:32:34 +0000

Jamie Alvarez writes for PhD Degree where you can find information about various online colleges and find the school and program that is right for you.

Going to college can be stressful, tiring and most of all, expensive. Most students are struggling to get by paying for groceries, rent, and tuition, surviving on the bare minimum. Although having a job while taking a full load of classes can be difficult, it can also be very rewarding and help minimize your debt. Finding the perfect job to meet your busy schedule may not be easy, but when you do find the right job, you won’t regret it. Here are five college jobs that are actually enjoyable and will help you survive these intense four years.

Library Clerk. Chances are you will already be spending a significant amount of time at the library studying for midterms, or final. Why not work there? The library offers part time jobs to students, knowing that students need to make time for studying. Some aspects of your job may include data entry, clerical tasks, and helping at the information desk.
Pet Sitting and Babysitting. This can be a great way to earn a little extra money during the weekend when you have more time available. These jobs are usually high in demand and can be found on the Internet, or possibly from some of your professors. Once parents find out you are available, your job offers will most likely increase. These jobs are typically easy and pay well. Also, chances are you can bring your homework along to catch up on work after the kids go to sleep.
Secretary For An Academic Department. While most secretaries have a heavy workload, working for your college tends to be more flexible with students busy schedules. Most of the secretarial jobs are part time to accommodate classes and extracurricular activities. Try working for a department that you have a particular interest in that would go along with your major. This will look good on your resume, while also building important relationships with coworkers.
Technical Support. Most college students are computer savvy, and for those of you that are studying engineering, or computer science, working in the computer lab can be an ideal job. This will not only help you gain experience in your field, but will also provide you with adequate time to work on your homework while you are at the computer lab.
Blogging. For those of you that enjoy writing, consider starting a blog about something you are passionate about, or your life as a college student. Feature advertisements to earn some revenue, or look into a sponsorship program that will help your blog earn money. Consider adding a donation button to your blog and mention to your audience that it is going towards tuition, or maybe a study abroad opportunity. This could become a great hobby that could eventually turn into a job. If it becomes something you really enjoy doing on your down time, look into become a permanent writer for other blogs that will pay you for articles. This may be just the thing you need to help you improve your writing skills for all those essays you need to write.