Pain at the pump: Area gas prices on the rise again

Pain at the pump: Area gas prices on the rise again
Area residents fear the impact that rising gas prices could have on their lifestyles and business stability. According to PittsburghGasPrices.Com , an online forum that provides a user guide to the highest and lowest fuel prices at Pittsburgh area stores for the past 36 hours, lows have been around $2.69 per gallon and highs have been around $2.89.

Everyone's a comedian
A few months ago, "Saturday Night Live's" Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell created a short film, "Lazy Sunday." The contrast of two white guys talking about cupcakes, Red Vines licorice (enjoyed with a Mr. Pibb) and "The Chronicles of Narnia" -- set to a hardcore rap beat -- was clever, funny and became an instant hit.

Pots of money but the worst TV coverage ever
THE WORLD'S richest cricket Board and probably, the world's worst possible live television coverage of the sport. The BCCI's just made a billion, or so they have announced. Great. But can't they ensure that we, the viewers, get to watch the game properly? Or don't they give a damn, having sold the rights for a whopping sum and washed their hands off the whole sorry business?

Moving Off Course
Most people think of PGA professionals as the golfers with enviable swings, ready smiles and the good fortune to get paid for spending their day on a golf course. But a growing number of pros are leaving the green grass behind and pursuing nontraditional careers with equipment manufacturers, retail chains, finance companies, real estate developers and city governments.

Bayern boss: Ballack leaving for the money
Germany's captain Michael Ballack is leaving Bayern Munich because he will make more money elsewhere, most likely at Chelsea, according to Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness. Ballack turned down a Bayern deal reportedly worth $43 million.

Make More Money This Year!

Easy tips to add to your income quickly!
Could you use a little more cold, hard cash? Who couldn't? Generate (or free up) some quick bucks with these savvy tactics.

- Hold a garage sale.

Make sure you do it right. Get the word out through signs, flyers and ads to ensure plenty of traffic. Fill a cooler with cheap sodas and charge fifty cents a can. You can even scour others' garage sales the week before yours for the 'deals' you'll be re-selling!

- Go over your budget.

Are you cringing? Don't be. By simply keeping track of where your money goes for a month or so, you'll quickly see a few easy places to free up cash. When you know that it's temporary, it's very easy to do. No pizza for just this week; instead have a picnic with leftovers while watching a video. Combine errands for a couple of weeks and deposit the gas savings into your 'extra cash' account. Reward yourself in a non-monetary way for the 'sacrifice' you're making and you'll find this can be a lot of fun!

- Give lessons.

You don't need to be a pro to share your knowledge with others. Keep your prices low so people will respond favorably and remember, it's more than you were making otherwise. Sewing, gardening, cooking, musical lessons, you name it. You may find you really enjoy teaching others!

- Create a summer job.

You don't have to be a teenager to mow lawns or baby-sit. Many people do handyman-type work in the summer such as painting, mowing, or general fix-it work. Deliver newspapers. Offer to cook a meal a week for a busy family. If you're going to be working on someone else's property, be sure you get the proper insurance first to protect yourself as well as check on the necessary licensing in your area.

- Start a business.

Everyone knows that most businesses are not profitable right away, but there are exceptions. Join a party-plan or direct sales company and you could be making money very quickly. Just make sure you have a plan of action first, since these types of jobs require significant personal motivation to work.

- Barter.

Maybe what you really need is not cash, but a particular project done. If you can do top-notch work yourself in a different area of expertise, offer to trade services/products with someone in the field you need. The key is to keep the retail value of the traded work or product equal so that everyone comes out a winner.

Be creative! For a little investment of time and energy, you could have the extra cash you need!

About the Author

Colleen Langenfeld delivers deals, tips and creative resources to working moms who want the most out of their homes, families and careers at http://www.paintedgold.com . Sign up for our FREE online newsletter and get a digital Creativity Toolkit as our gift to you!