Financial Freedom Through Passive Residual Income

There are so many things about being self-employed that are terrific -- setting your own hours, choosing to do what you love without the pressures and limitations of someone else being your boss, being responsible for you own financial independence -- the list goes on. But being self-employed has its challenges, and one of them is planning for retirement. We've been working far too long and too hard to have to scrimp and save once we hit 65. But without a pension, or a company-matched 401(k) program, retirement has become something we're dreading rather than looking forward to. Thankfully, a very wise businessman told us that we needed to look into growing our passive residual income. Not knowing what passive residual income actually entailed, I decided to do some research on the Internet.

There are lots of ways people earn money. They teach, they fix broken bones, they invest other people's money -- you name it. But earning passive residual income is different. There are two aspects to this kind of moneymaking. The first component is your lack of being actively involved. We're all actually familiar with how to earn money this way -- from interest on a bank or money market account to stock dividends to earnings on rental property. The money's coming in, but you're not necessarily actively working to earn it. The second component is the concept of recurring payment. Again, we all know some examples, such as the commission our insurance agents make every time we renew our policies, the royalties an artist or songwriter earns every time their song plays on the radio, and things of that nature. The money continues to come in on a regular basis long after the "real" work is finished.

The beauty of passive residual income is in its potential to grow exponentially, and in its longevity. You do a job --setting up a website full of affiliate ads, for example -– and then spend some time promoting it. After a while, you start getting some decent traffic on your site, those visitors start clicking ads, and you earn a nice commission check every month without having to actively monitor the site anymore. The opportunities are virtually limitless!

There are some immensely helpful websites loaded with information about how to build a nice stream of passive residual income. Some opportunities require a start-up investment, while others allow you to work from home via the Internet to begin generating cash without any initial fees. The beauty of building passive residual income is its ability to be self-perpetuating. There's a ton of work to be done up front, but the possibilities, and the potential financial freedom, make it very worthwhile.

Thinking of building your dream home? Take a good look at log home packages

Purchasing a home is one of the most important and largest single investments we make during our lives. With the current home market in a state of flux, many people with the means to buy a home are exercising caution. Your choice of home style can make a significant difference in your ultimate equity picture. Here's an option you may not have considered, but which is an excellent way to hedge your bets. Log home packages are available in plenty of styles to suit every taste and lifestyle. When compared with a home of similar size, the log home package can be far less costly, require less maintenance and withstand a fire that would consume the conventional home.

Today, you can buy improved land, with some or all utilities already installed, for a much better price than was on offer just a few years ago. This allows you to situate your home in the best location for optimum views and sunlight exposure considerations. Layouts tend to be open, with large beams and posts which give you a modern look with efficiency of design.

You can view plenty of log home package designs online. There are also entire magazines devoted to log home designs, with hundreds of floor layouts. When you choose the design you like, you can purchase the blueprints and either do the construction yourself, or engage an architect. Many companies include a made-to-order inventory of the materials you'll need and will deliver to your home site. If you don't feel up to doing the construction, such companies have crews of workmen who will do the construction work as well.

One terrific advantage to going the log home package route is that the logs used are so heavy and thick, they provide a high insulation factor. Perhaps best of all, in case fire strikes, a log home has a two hour burn through, at temperatures of 1500º. This fact gives you an obviously huge advantage. You may also save on your homeowner's insurance. Because the logs are finished, you don't have the expense of repainting your home every several years, while your new home remains eminently attractive.

You can also install green architectural features, such as solar panels, into your custom log home design. Other rustically charming features, such as real stone fireplaces also add classic value that never goes out of style.

The log home packages are a good choice if you're looking to build or buy. These homes are built of materials to last a lifetime and remain good looking with low maintenance costs. Do go investigate and see if this option isn't just what you're looking for in your dream home.

Free Money

Everyone likes free stuff, and for most people free money ranks at the top of the list. Who wouldn't like to get something for nothing? Still, usually this is easier said than done. If you could get money free, no one would work a job! Still, if you're willing to exercise some creativity and fly by the seat of your pants a little bit, there are some great opportunities out there which allow you to make a decent living for doing almost nothing.

One of the best free money deals out there is volunteering as a research subject. If you don't mind having strange medicines tested on you, you can make a lot of money for just hanging out in a hospital. Some of these tests are outpatient, but the really well-paying ones have you stay there for more than a week at a time. You can make hundreds or even thousands of dollars, get free room and board, and be paid to just chill out in a hospital bed. Things don't get much sweeter than that!

Filling out surveys is another almost free money opportunity. Like medical experiments, the opportunity depends a lot on where you live. If you happen to be located near a university or in a major city there will be survey taking and focus group opportunities galore. Even if you don't, however, you can probably get in on it over the Internet. Taking online surveys is really easy, and you can make a few bucks on it. Like many free money schemes, there isn't always a lot of cash in it, but you do get something for little or nothing.

Another great free money opportunity is being a secret shopper. A lot of people like this job because for them it doesn't feel like a good job at all. Basically, you get paid a small stipend to go into a store and buy stuff. You pay attention to how well they serve you, what kinds of things are happening in the store, and how well it is run in general. Then you report back to the store's owner or to some central company. I suppose it isn't technically free money – I mean you are being paid to investigate a store – but if you like shopping a lot it will feel like it! It's the sort of job you can do on a day out with your friends wandering around downtown. You get a free meal or some clothes and a little bit of spending cash besides!