Extra Income means an income that you can earn apart from
the regular income coming in from employment or normal work. This earning can
be used to payoff your outstanding debts or build up a capital account or spend
it on luxuries that you could only think about before. Everyone seems to want a
second income but no one wants to work a second job, so the extra income is
normally seen as a windfall.
When we compare income levels in different countries, it is
evident that the average income per person is less than $15,000 a year--in
other words, where many people are near the breadline -- Extra Income really
does make people happier and improves their lifestyle.
But countries which have average income above the normal subsistence
level of approximately $15,000 a year, happiness seems to be income
independent. For example, an average American ranks richer than an average
Indian or an Austrian, but also less happy.
Why does this happen? People always look at their income relatively
with some norm or the other and the norm keeps rising all the time. And this norm is what increases the spending,
more or less in direct proportion to the income. Two things drive up the norm
with which people compare their incomes. One is the income that they themselves
have experienced -- which habituates them to higher standards of living. And
the other is the income that their colleagues or neighbors get, and which they
try to outdo.
The extra income options available today are targeted to generate
employment and are targeted specifically at people who can use their skills
that are lying dormant to make some more money for themselves. To achieve a
moderate success in generating an extra income one should be aware of their
strengths and weaknesses. This would greatly help in selection of a most
suitable way to generate extra income.
The selection process consists of logical steps. Firstly one
should ask themselves of an honest opinion of their strengths, what they excel
at? What do people around them keep complimenting or criticizing them on?, are
they perfectionists?, For example, if you are a
computer literate you could help your neighborhood in upgrades, repairs
or installation of software.
The extra income can also be augmented by doing extra
seasonal chores like raking leaves in the fall or clearing snow in winters.
These are just a few ideas, but making an extra income augmented with self
analysis will take away the need for a second job.
Today the internet and the general market have a lot of
ideas for generating extra income. Network marketing in general market terms
has been successful to some extent. Internet offers something similar that says
affiliate marketing. The internet also offers a host of other options like
writing, advertising and simple technical non-technical jobs which can highly
augment your regular income. The extra income that can be earned form these
opportunities depends on how good your skills in the field of your selection.