A bad economy can provide a great opportunity to put some “principles” on hold. First lady Michelle Obama made headlines, and made many mothers proud, when she announced that her daughters would continue to make their own beds in the White House. Children must learn to participate in household chores, and those who don’t grow often make terrible husbands who rarely lift their socks, much less make the bed or vacuum.

All good parents know that children need incremental responsibilities. But in this economy, there are many adults who would appreciate a few extra hours a week working a side gig to bring in extra money to keep their own families fed, clothed, and cared for. At the same time, there are many nonprofits that need volunteers, even the smallest volunteers willing to sit down and talk to a patient, fold towels, or stuff envelopes.

What if every family with a full-time job, and an extra $ 25 or more available a week, hired a family that needed some extra money to help with cleaning, yard work, organizing, or housekeeping. running errands for a couple of months while you found a steady job? Could small jobs like this really stimulate the economy? Well yeah, actually any job that keeps money moving stimulates the economy. [Be sure to check IRS guidelines. The cutoff for hiring household help is $660 per year before the employer needs to pay employment taxes on the person providing help.] You don’t want to be fined for trying to help someone in need.

If you are reading this and need to earn some extra money, do you have friends or family who could use your time, help, or experience? With the job landscape changing, many people are returning to the trades. Experienced workers over 55 years old are perfectly equipped to offer apprenticeships to younger workers looking to develop skills to build on.

And, of course, there is the question of discretionary income. The economy has given a double to service industry workers who depend on tips for a significant portion of their income. Instead of eating out twice a week, what if you went out just once but double the tip? If your bill for two is $ 30.50 and you generally add $ 4.50 twice a week, what if it was only once but you tipped $ 10? You would save enormously and your server would feel greatly appreciated.

In fact, there are little things everyone can do each week to make a big difference. If you are in a position to provide a little extra help, it will make a real difference for a family in need. If you need some extra income, you might be surprised who in your inner circle would be willing to help. And the biggest surprise of all is that everyone wins. Because small jobs really stimulate the economy.

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