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For many Americans, inflating the 12-foot Frosty the Snowman, untangling strings of Christmas lights and setting up the reindeer display on the front lawn are merely tasks on a never-ending holiday to-do list. It’s a hassle big enough to spark a trend for residents and businesses alike: leave the decorating to someone else. For you, an entrepreneurially-minded go-getter, that means job opportunities – perhaps the most festive gigs of the season.  Here are a few ways to find holiday decorating jobs. Find Christmas Decorator Jobs Locally as a Freelancer Helping neighbors with tasks they don’t want to do is the bedrock of side gigs. While the door-to-door approach is always an option, be sure to check out these locally-focused online platforms that make getting in touch with people in your area a little bit easier. Craigslist Synonymous with online classified ads, Craigslist is an invaluable resource for finding and listing local odd jobs. For holiday decorators, three features...

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . If you’re paying more than $1,200 a month in rent by yourself, that means two things: It stinks to pay that much rent, and  You’ve clearly got some income. Not everyone can afford that kind of rent. So you’re making money and living in a decent place. You’ve finally got a little cushion in your bank account. You’ve achieved a certain level of financial stability. What should you do next? Well, we have six suggestions for you: 1. Give Your Credit a Boost to Save Money on Future Big Purchases You’re doing pretty good. You’ve got a decent place to live, you make your rent payments — you’re not overly concerned with your credit score. In fact, you might not think much about it at all. But what happens when you want to buy a house? Or a car? Even a five-point difference in your credit score could mak...

Christmas is a magical time of year. As in, all your money seems to magically disappear — especially if you’ve got children to shop for. The National Retail Federation predicts shoppers will spend an average of $659 on gifts for family and friends this year. Prices like $200 for a Barbie DreamHouse and $300 for a Nintendo Switch aren’t helping anybody. We know you want to get the kiddos presents they’ll love — but you shouldn’t have to blow your budget in the process.  We combed through the lists of this season’s top toys from mega retailers Walmart and Target to find affordable options for families on a budget. Here are 15 cool toys under $20 that won’t give you buyer’s remorse. Note: The costs listed are the regular retail prices sourced online on Nov. 13, 2019. The price you pay may vary. 9 Toys Under $20 From Walmart Walmart’s list of the top toys of the season include unboxing surprises, a little superhero cosplay and gifts that add a bit of glam. There are several o...

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . Working through college is a good way to offset the high costs of school. But it can be tough to find a decent-paying job you can balance with classes and extracurriculars. Instead, look into legitimate ways to make money online for a more flexible source of income. For a regular paycheck and work-at-home schedule, check out these 13 online jobs for college students. 1. Social Media Manager Starting Pay: $15-$40/hour Managing a company’s social media accounts can be a fun way to make money on a flexible schedule. It’s also a cool way to connect with businesses you love. A social media manager serves as the voice and face of a business on a number of engagement platforms. You’ll promote deals and content and interact with followers. How to Get Started You could post your resume on random job boards, b...

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in October 2018. Usha Tewari has two full-time jobs, but she only gets paid for one of them. Tewari works as an administrator for the Orange County Property Appraiser in Orlando, Florida, but she started an unpaid position on Jan. 28, 2017 — the day her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, moved in with her. Tewari made the decision to move her mom, Mila, in with her after she noticed that the staff at a rehab facility wasn’t making Mila take her medicine or eat her meals.  She discovered that alternative options were limited — caregiving facilities provide varying levels of care, and a dementia diagnosis eliminates many lower-cost choices. “I got very frustrated with the process,” says Tewari, who couldn’t afford memory care facilities that charged thousands of dollars per month to feed and bathe her mom — on top of the base price. “That’s when I realized I can’t depend on other people. I have to figure it out ...

Black Friday sales aren’t limited to the day after Thanksgiving. Nowadays you’ll see stores advertising Black Friday deals before Halloween’s jack-o-lanterns have gone bad. Like Christmas in July, some retailers — such as Lowe’s and Home Depot — even hold Black Friday sales in the spring. The whole craze of lining up at midnight for stores to open the Friday after Thanksgiving ended once retailers decided to simply stay open Thanksgiving day. While shopping on the holiday gives you one more opportunity to catch a good sale, it also gives you a greater chance to buy things you really don’t need. Or you end up overspending all for the sake of buying a bunch of stuff on discount. Some businesses, however, buck the trend and stay closed for Thanksgiving. We’ve combined lists from RetailMeNot , BestBlackFriday.com and TheBlackFriday.com of stores confirmed to be closed on Thanksgiving day.  If you’re trying to save a little dough this holiday season by abstaining from some of t...