150 Jobs You Can Start Today Creative Ways to Make Money Now

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1 You're the Top JOBS FOR THE CEO IN YOU Apartment Manager If you never thought it was possible to stay home, eat potato chips, watch TV, and get paid for it, guess again. Being an apartment manager is perfect for couch potatoes, writers, artists, moms, seniors, or anyone who stays home a lot. Some building owners will even hire people who already have nine-to-five jobs as long as they carry beepers. I know many couples who worked as apartment managers for a number of years to save for down payments on homes. What a great idea! Basically, an apartment manager is responsible for collecting rent, keeping the building and surrounding area clean, and knowing whom to call in an emergency. Some positions may even require light maintenance. The actual labor involved in this job will depend on your tenants and the size and quality of the complex. Most large complexes (over fifty to seventy-five units) have special maintenance crews. Typically a ten- to twenty-unit building is easiest to handle. Some building owners prefer couples, but this is not a requirement. The main attributes that apartment owners generally look for are honesty, common sense, good credit, stability, and an ability to fill vacancies. Most large cities have apartment associations that offer certified resident manager training courses. For example, the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles offers a training course approximately twelve times a year. It costs between $450 and $500, and the placement rate is around 80 percent. After completing the course, you can place an ad in the Apartment Association's employment bulletin, an excellent way to get a job. Most courses are extremely informative and well respected among apartment building owners. Another option is to explore a course that is subsidized by the government in your city. Many community colleges will offer an apartment management course for a nominal fee. You can also try calling the local chamber of commerce regarding an apartment managing course. Whether you receive free rent and utilities plus salary will depend on the building you are managing. Smaller units often offer only a rent reduction or free rent, while larger buildings pay a weekly salary as well. This is often negotiable depending on your experience. Some management companies even offer health benefits and profit sharing. To find an apartment manager position, check the classified section of your newspaper, contact building owners and management firms directly, and network with other apartment managers. You will need to submit a current resume and a list of references. Also helpful is the Encyclopedia of Associations, which can be found at your local library: one for national associations and several volumes for different regions. The National Association of Residential Property Managers has local chapters in many states, and the National Apartment Association is in Washington, D.C. Good luck. *BENEFITS: Salary plus free rent and utilities or rent reduction; sometimes profit sharing and health benefits. *PITFALLS: Overbearing owners and tenants; calls at all hours. *SOURCES: Classified sections of newspapers. Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, 213-384-4131, www.aagla.org. Los Angeles City College Community Services, 323-669-1031, www.lacitycollege.edu/comsvcs. National Association of Residential Property Managers, 800-782-3452, www.narpm.org. National Apartment Association, 703-518-6141, www.naahq.org. Building owners and management firms. *NEEDS: Prior experience; good credit; some basic maintenance ability. Designing Greeting Cards and Postcards The gift card industry is a thriving business. The average person receives about thirty cards a year. A neighborhood post office recently estimated that a third of all first-class mail consists of greeting cards. If you possess photographic, writing, or arti