August 2011
Volume 2 | Issue 8
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* Back-to-School Issue*
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August 2011
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Parent’s Back-to-School Guide
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Why Breakfast Matters!
Table of Contents
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sse n ent E m t r a d Ap rm an
Slowing the Gas Price Roller Coaster
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Five Ways to Make Ends Meet
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Dear Friend & Readers,
Another school year is fast approaching. Soon, we will begin the familiar schedule of school and after-school activities. Make sure to check out our back-to-school articles, healthy recipes and budget tips as well as an article on how to make an extra income. We hope you enjoy this month’s issue and we look forward to hearing from you! Comments and suggestions are always welcome
. Thanks and Happy Reading!
Claudia Perez Rivas Editor crivas@laredofamilytimemagazine.com
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Laredo Family Time Magazine
Publisher
Rimar Publishing Group
Editor
Claudia Perez Rivas
Advertising/Marketing Manager
Juan J. Martinez Jr.
Photographer
Guillermo A. Sosa-Signature Portrait Photography gsosa@signatureportraitphotography.com
Calendar Editor
calendar@laredofamilytimemagazine.com
Sales
Rosalina Saracho
Contributing Writers
Eric Ellman
Comments
info@laredofamilytimemagazine.com
crivas@laredofamilytimemagazine.com
juan@laredofamilytimemagazine.com
Rsaracho@laredofamilytimemagazine.com 956.754.0014
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Would you like to write for our Magazine? For editorial guidelines contact us at editor@laredofamilytimemagazine.com A submission does not guarantee publication. We reserve the right to edit all submissions.
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Laredo Family Time Magazine is published monthly by Rimar Publishing. Copyright Š2011. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.
Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily the opinions of this publication.
Mailing Address: Laredo Family Time Magazine P.O. Box 3735 Laredo, TX 78044
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Getting organized for the first day of school is key to a successful year ahead, so parents and students should start early, make a plan and set a budget.
For students in elementary school, Target.com/backtoschool is an online resource with tools to help parents and kids prepare for the first day of school. Parents can find a link to TargetLists, an easy-to-use, list-making service to help keep track of everything needed for the back-to-school season. The next step is to set a budget. Try involving kids in the shopping process by giving them a budget and encouraging them to stick to the shopping list. If they come in under budget, set that money aside for supplies or clothes that are needed later in the school year. Including children in the process will help teach them to shop responsibly. Designate a back-to-school space to stay organized at home, suggests Sabrina Soto, Target style expert for home. "Hang a yearly calendar and a dry erase board so it's easy to keep track of everyone's schedules. Set up storage bins with extra school supplies so kids have everything they need for each project they are assigned," she says. Finally, it's important to transition the family into the school year routine. Avoid morning madness when school starts by gradually easing into school season bedtimes and wakeup calls two weeks prior to the first day of school. This will make the transition back to school easier for kids as their body clocks will already be adjusted. Getting ready for school is no easy task, but making it stress free will get kids excited and start the year on a positive note. Parents can also help their children's school succeed by enrolling in Target's Take Charge of Education Program, a school fundraising initiative where by shopping with a REDCard, you can give money to your child's school and receive 5 percent off of everything on the back-to-school checklist. For more information and to help your child's school, visit Target.com.
Content courtesy of ARA
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Guides
Get started by taking inventory of items left over from last year. Avoid overspending on unneeded items by developing a shopping list based on what's really essential. Try repurposing old folders or notebooks by covering them in patterned paper to create a new look.
Far from home for the first time, many college-bound students face new challenges and responsibilities not always covered on the SAT - from term papers and study groups, to unforgiving professors, part-time jobs and all the other nuances of newfound independence. And these days, with many students on a tight budget and sharing cramped rooms and counter space, finding ways to bring a bit of domesticity to the dorms - or a first apartment - isn't always a top priority. But maintaining a balance between school and life, while learning the skill sets to take care of oneself in the real world, are arguably just as important as acing any exam. That's why it's a prerequisite for students to come prepped with at-home necessities to keep them on their A-game. This includes a few culinary essentials and household items designed to keep co-eds well-fed (toasters and countertop ovens) and well-pressed (an iron), even in the wilds of the real world. The following checklist features dorm room and apartment essentials that no student should be without. Ear plugs Roommates, dorm rooms and apartment complexes are noisy. Keep ear plugs on hand to help shut out distractions and ensure quiet study time and a good night's sleep. Coffeemaker From all-nighters to early classes, keeping a coffeemaker on hand helps keep co-eds awake and cuts down on expensive coffeehouse brews. Snag multi-cup machines, like those from Black & Decker, with auto shutoff features (it powers down as you power up for the day), plus Sneak-a-Cup capabilities, allowing you to snag a quick cup, even as the full batch is still brewing. DVD case Budding cinephiles should leave DVD boxes at home and transfer their collection to a sturdy carrying case, making their new, semi-nomadic lifestyle that much easier to manage and to keep all their favorite films in one, easy-to-find place. Toaster For undergrads, bagels and toast are pretty much a major food group. Luckily these days, even affordable toasters come in cool, stainless steel designs thanks to brands like Black & Decker, which have preset toasting features, extrawide slots for easy loading and unloading, plus retractable cords - perfect for tight spaces and easy storage. Flip-flops
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Community showers are an unfortunate rite of passage for many dorm dwellers. So always remember to keep a dedicated pair of flip-flops to spare bare feet from touching questionable tile. Extra-long sheets When it comes to bedding, just remember: Double-X. Translation? Extra sets of extra-long twin sheets for oddly-sized dorm-room mattresses. Students don't always have time to do laundry, which is why it's smart to keep an extra pair on hand, too. Surge protector Between phone chargers, computers, desk lamps and all sorts of other gadgets, it's always a bright idea to bring a power strip with surge protector to help manage today's many electronic needs. Quarters Sure, home is great for free laundry. But between visits, be sure to have a stash of quarters ready for the laundry room. And a timer isn't bad either. Nothing worse than finding one's wet unmentionables piled high atop a public machine by an impatient neighbor. For more information on small home appliances, visit www.blackanddeckerappliances.com. 8
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* Personalize a pencil case, lunch box or book bag with your name so they don't get lost in the shuffle.
Back-to-School Ideas
* Make a duct tape wallet or purse and tuck your lunch money in a safe place. * Use stencils to trace letters and add the name of each class or subject to make finding the correct book easy. * Create fun artwork out of duct tape shapes and designs to decorate the insides of lockers. * Accent personal belongings, such as cell phone cases, clothing and more. * Make and decorate picture frames for lockers to hang pictures of favorite school memories. The school bells of a new school year also mean it's time for fall sporting events. Students can be the biggest fan in the stands at pep rallies and games. They can show their school spirit by making pennants, flags, megaphones and even Tshirts. Visit DuckBrand.com for crafting instructions using Duck Tape Sheets.
It's time to trade in the sunglasses, swimwear and flip-flops for book bags, crayons and calculators. The hustle and bustle of the back-to-school season means shopping for all the new clothes, electronics, books and supplies needed to start the school year off right. Back-to-school shopping can be difficult for students looking to express themselves and for parents who face the increasing expense of education.
Heading back to school gives students, from elementary to high school, the opportunity to develop and show off their own style and personality with a unique twist on traditional school supplies.
Book bags, pencils and pens - even calculators and rulers provide a palette for creative expression. A new and inexpensive way to add flair and creativity to ordinary book covers, plain notebooks and dull folders is to use Duck Tape brand duct tape Sheets. The sheets are available in a variety of colors including blue, white, red, silver, black, green, purple and yellow. For students who really want to stand out, sheets also come in prints, such as zebra, leopard, camouflage and tie-dye. Here are ways to add a touch of personalization to school supplies and other belongings using duct tape or other household crafting tools: * Jazz up notebooks and folders with different colors or prints for each class to make them quick and easy to find when grabbing supplies from your book bag or locker.
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With back-to-school season back again, now
Green Living
is a great time to instill a simple message your child will benefit from in the years to come: green is good. By implementing a few recycling tactics across your home and encouraging the same behaviors in the classroom, you can turn your student into a green "hero" and help her embrace earth-friendly habits. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, only 30 percent of consumer waste is recycled each year. This presents a great opportunity for children to use their green thumbs and take part in saving the planet. Here are a few ways to get your children started: 1. Give paper some TLC Paper accounts for as much as 50 percent of landfill space. Rather than add to this waste, implement a designated paper recycling bin that can be easily accessed where you tend to use paper most in the home or in the classroom. Or, better still, put your paper products to good use by challenging your kids or students to create paper craft projects. Then encourage them to recycle any scraps when finished. 2. Get crafty In addition to paper products, all kinds of waste can be "upcycled" into useful or decorative items. For example, a painted egg carton can make a unique storage box for small objects like beads or paper clips and tissue paper glued to a clean spaghetti sauce jar makes for an attractive vase. The possibilities are endless, so you'll not only be saving trash from a landfill, you'll be inspiring creativity. 3. Better together Recycling is often more effective when multiple people take part. Teachers can set a goal for their classroom, school or even individual students to recycle a specified amount of paper, plastics, aluminum and glass before the end of the school year. Parents can support this effort by encouraging children to not only recycle at home, but to also take recyclable materials into the classroom to participate in the school's project.
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4. Adopt a program Encouraging your children to take part in a recyclingfocused program can develop valuable habits while encouraging some fun. One such program is the Elmer's Glue Crew Recycling Program, a classroom resource designed to teach children how they can help save the planet, gives recycling-related lesson plans as well as fun and engaging projects for their students. Throughout the year, the classroom or school collects empty glue bottles and glue sticks to be recycled through TerraCycle. For additional information on the Elmer's program, visit ElmersGlueCrew.com and Facebook.com/GlueCrew.
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Healthy Kids When the morning alarm sounds and the morning rush to get out of the house begins, breakfast often takes a back seat to other pressing matters. But eating a nutritious breakfast could be the best thing you do all day. While the majority of U.S. adults say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, nearly half (45 percent) say they don't eat it due to lack of time, according to the Seneca Farms 2011 Children's Nutrition Survey. The survey also found that: • Nearly 60 percent of moms admit their child skips breakfast. • More than half of moms wish their child ate a more nutritious breakfast. • 48 percent of American women say they're either too tired or don't have enough time to eat breakfast. "Skipping breakfast is a big mistake for anyone, but especially children," said Elizabeth Somer, a registered dietitian and author of 11 books. "Students who eat breakfast perform better on memory and recall tests, react faster, think more clearly, are in better moods, pay attention better, and are less restless compared to students who skip breakfast. They even score higher on IQ tests and have an easier time managing their weights." Somer says that a nutritious breakfast should follow the "1, 2, 3" rule. The breakfast should have: 1)
A whole grain to provide needed high-quality carbs for the brain during the morning hours.
2) A little protein to keep your child satiated and maintain even blood sugar levels throughout the morning. 3) 1 to 2 colorful fruits and/or vegetables.
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To help you out, here is a week's worth of quick-fix, on-thego breakfast ideas. Try them out, and you and your child will not only feel better, but you'll both have a more productive day: • Quick-serve oatmeal, such as Seneca Farms Oatmeal, served with a glass of low-fat milk and a bowl of watermelon or berries. It takes just 45 seconds to make in the microwave and you don't have to add milk or water, a great breakfast for people on the go. • A whole wheat tortilla with scrambled egg whites and salsa, a cup of low-fat milk and a small can of sliced pears. • Top a whole wheat English muffin with thick slices of tomato and thin slice of low-fat cheese and heat in the toaster oven. It's like having a slice of pizza in the morning. Serve it with freshly-squeezed orange juice and you're good to go. • A smoothie made with low-fat milk, orange juice concentrate, a banana, wheat germ, and frozen strawberries. • A toasted whole grain waffle topped with peanut butter. Serve with an individual serving of canned fruit (packed in its own juice). • Fill a 1 /2 cantaloupe with non-fat lemon yogurt and sprinkle with granola. Breakfast matters, for you and your child. And it's easier than you think to get the day started off right. For more information about Seneca Farms Oatmeal, visit www.seneca-farms.com.
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A highlight of every school day is lunch. It's a break in
Nutrition
the day, a time to hang out with friends and a time to get some much-needed energy back into the body and brain. But, some lunches come up short. Poor food choices leave kids lacking in essential nutrients that won't likely be captured later in the day. That has nutrition experts concerned. "School lunches can account for as much as one-half of the calories a child gets in a day," says Susan Moores, a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant in St. Paul, Minn. "Lunch is a major meal for kids. It fuels them for the balance of their school day and can help them perform at their best in school and in their after-school activities. It's well worth it to make that meal great tasting and meaningful." Here are five nutrition strategies to help your kids know how to put some punch in their lunch when they walk through the cafeteria line: 1. Have every meal contain something good for their bones. Up to 90 percent of a person's bone density is formed by age 18. Osteoporosis, though considered an older person's condition, is really a problem that develops when kids are young; part of its risk depends on how well bones are "fed" during those early years. Make sure your child's lunch contains bone-building foods rich in calcium, potassium, vitamin D and magnesium. Low-fat dairy foods like milk and some cheeses can contain all of the above. 2. Always have protein and a wholesome grain on the tray. Protein is important for the growth of every cell in the body, including muscle and brain cells. Whole grains are an important - and preferred - source of energy for the brain. School lunches can be a good source of both protein and whole grains as many menus are shifting to include foods that are more healthful. For example, Big Daddy's(r) pizza from Schwan's Food Service, Inc., the No. 1 pizza provider to schools across the country, offers pizza with a 51 percent whole grain crust and low-fat pepperoni as part of its LiveSmart Schools(tm) portfolio of products. All of the company's new school products meet the newly proposed USDA School Meal Rules for reduced sodium, less saturated fat and sugar, and increased whole grains. 3. Pick foods with bright colors, crunch and crispness. Fruits and vegetables fill that role. Kids, and adults, eat with their eyes and nose as well as their taste buds. A steady diet of earth tones gets boring. Color, crunch and crispness put pizzazz on the plate and wake up the senses. Apples, oranges and bananas are great, but consider adding peppers, kiwi, berries and sugar snap peas for more interest and fun. 4. Make the drink matter. Every day, 20 percent or more of caloric intake comes from what kids choose to drink. At lunch, choose a drink that makes a difference for the rest of the afternoon, and beyond. Milk is marvelous for its bone benefits. A 100 percent fruit juice works; so does plain water. 5. Make their plate MyPlate. Earlier this summer the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued an easy to understand visual of what a healthy meal looks like. In a snapshot it's easy to see how a healthy meal should be proportioned. Show your kids the plate, talk about what's on it and encourage them to make their lunch tray look the same. School lunches give kids the opportunity to take ownership in their health by learning how to make good choices for their growing bodies. Kids want to be strong, look good and perform well at what they love to do. Smart choices at lunch help them accomplish all this and more.
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After a long day at the chalkboard and on the playground, kids can come home from school hungry and ready for an afterschool snack. Studies show that children snack an average of three times a day, but they still aren't getting adequate levels of vitamins and minerals. The challenge for parents is to find a treat kids will want to eat that's not filled with empty calories. Kids' diets are low in vitamin D, calcium, potassium and dietary fiber, according to the American Dietetic Association. And over the past decade, children's eating patterns have been markedly low in vitamins A, C and E. Most moms know that if left to their own devices, children will almost always go for sweet indulgences first. In fact, cookies are the No. 1 snack item eaten by kids today. So, can moms reward kids after a tough day at school with treats they'll actually want to eat while fueling healthy development? The answer is yes. And it helps to plan ahead. Here are some helpful tips that can have a positive impact on kids' afterschool snack choices. * Make nutritious treats accessible. To help parents with busy after-school schedules, look for convenient snacks that can be easily taken from the cupboard or refrigerator and brought on-the-go. Having snacks at their fingertips helps encourage kids to make better choices. For example, when you come home from the grocery store, use sandwich bags to prepack single servings of things like grapes, cheese, crackers and carrots to make them easy to grab and go in an instant. For a sweet alternative, make your own trail mix using their favorite cereal, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows or peanuts. * Pack in nutrients. One key to success is to modify kids' favorite foods by pumping up the nutritional value, according to Mike Bloom, vice president of marketing for Suncore Products. For example, his company recently introduced a new line of cookies, WhoNu? Nutrition Rich Cookies, created to look and taste like familiar family favorites, while packing more than 20 essential vitamins and minerals, plus dietary fiber. www.laredofamilytimemagazine.com
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* Create tasty options. Take familiar favorite treats and make them even tastier for kids. For instance, parents can make small changes to beloved treats using simple recipes like a frozen yogurt sandwich. Scoop half a cup of your favorite flavor of low-fat frozen yogurt between two Crispy Chocolate Chip WhoNu? Cookies. Freeze until firm and serve. * Timing is everything. Know your children's schedules. A snack can help ward off hunger, but filling kids up with a heavy, calorie-filled treat can spoil their appetites. Space snacks out appropriately, and look for treats packed with fiber that will keep their stomachs full without ruining dinner. * Allow more than one chef in the kitchen. Let kids' creativity soar using their plate as a canvas. Offering a variety of flavorful treats they've helped create fends off boredom. Allow kids to play with their food with this fun recipe: PB&J "Sushi" Trim the crust off a slice of whole wheat bread and spread peanut butter and jelly over the bread. Roll and cut into one-inch sections with a butter knife. Give your child a pair of chopsticks to add some international flair. To see more after-school snack recipes that taste great and are packed with vitamins and minerals, visit www.whonucookies.com.
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Budget Tips Gas prices are on a roller coaster ride again. A bargain these days is anything under $4 a gallon, which is especially difficult since it's summer and everyone's hitting the road for vacations. Inching closer is fall's "back-to-school" drive cycle. In short, there is a lot of driving ahead and higher gas prices are now the norm, so it's time to look at ways to alleviate the pain at the pumps. A good place to start is eye-level with your feet - your car's tires. You may look at tires as black, round utilitarian objects, but truth be told, these technical wonders - when properly maintained - are gas saviors that can slice hundreds of dollars off your annual gasoline bill, according to Dan King, Yokohama Tire Corporation's senior vice president of sales and marketing. "The first thing is to always make sure your tires are properly inflated," says King. "Tires that are underinflated by eight pounds per square inch (psi), for example, can reduce vehicle fuel economy by as much as 2 percent and tire tread life can also be reduced by as much as 25 percent." King says for the best driving savings and safety results, make checking the tire pressure a monthly routine. "It only takes five minutes," he says. "If you're not doing it once a month, chances are you're driving on under-inflated tires." Use the tire inflation numbers usually labeled inside the driver's door, fuel door, glove box or in the owner's manual. (The number on the tire's sidewall is the maximum inflation pressure.) Over-inflation reduces the tire's contact patch with the road, while under-inflation puts extra weight on its sidewalls and causes an unsafe increase in tire temperature. Certain types of tires - ones with low rolling resistance (LRR) - can help save fuel, too. "LRR tires are designed to minimize the energy wasted as heat while the tire rolls down the road," King says. "That results in improved fuel efficiency. Studies show driving on LRR tires alone can save about $100 annually."
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Yokohama's AVID ENVigor tire is a good example of the expanding LRR tire technology. "It's an excellent low rolling resistant tire that saves fuel and combines performance, comfort and long treadlife," King says. King also offers other fuelsaving tips:
* Keep your tires properly inflated. Once a month, when the tires are cold (at least three to four hours after the vehicle has been driven), check tire pressure with a reliable tire gauge. Be sure that the valve stems have a plastic or metal cap to keep dirt out and seal against leakage.
* Replace your air filter. A clogged air filter blocks the air needed to burn fuel efficiently and wastes gas.
* Keep your car tuned-up according to the manufacturer's recommended schedule to keep all systems in good working order, which can optimize your mileage.
* To prevent skidding and hydroplaning, tires must be replaced when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch. An easy test: place a penny into a tread groove. If part of Lincoln's head is covered by the tread, you're driving with the proper amount of tread. If you can see all of his head, you should buy a new tire.
* Built-in treadwear indicators, or "wear bars," which look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread will appear on the tire when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch. When you see these wear bars, the tire is worn out and should be replaced.
* Visually check your tires for signs of uneven wear. You may have irregular tread wear if there are high and low areas or unusually smooth areas. Consult your tire dealer as soon as possible.
* Tires should be rotated at least every 6,000 to 8,000 miles and the alignment should be checked once a year. Misaligned tires can cause the car to scrub, which lowers mileage and causes unnecessary tire wear.
* Slow down. For every five mph you go above 60 mph, you're using more gas, and, ultimately, paying even more for each gallon of gas.
For additional tire care and safety tips, visit www.yokohamatire.com or www.rma.org.
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In this economy, everyone could use a little extra cash to help cover the rising costs of food, fuel and just about everything else. Between work and raising a family, it may seem like there is no time, but here are five ways you can earn money on your own schedule. Sell Products from Home. Direct selling is a popular way to earn money that allows you to be your own boss and enjoy a flexible schedule. Products range from cooking and jewelry items to health and beauty aids and more. Look for a company that is a member of the Direct Selling Association and that has products you feel good about promoting. Make sure to ask questions about compensation: there are many companies to choose from and some offer more lucrative pay than others. One of the biggest benefits of direct selling is mobility; you can grow your business wherever you have contacts/relationships. XANGO is a global company that specializes in categorycreating wellness products including premium mangosteen beverages, nutrition supplements and personal care products that are good for your family's wellness and financial health. XANGO does business in over 30 international markets so you can build income in your own community or grow a global business through international contacts. Lisa Mullen's XANGO business provides much needed income during uncertain economic times. "I don't worry about paying my mortgage or filling the gas tank," says Lisa. "That kind of peace of mind is priceless." Find out more about direct selling at www.directselling411.com and more about XANGO at www.xango.com. Freelance or E-lance. You don't have to put your skills to work in a 9 to 5 desk job. There are a number of websites that can help you find freelance work, and quite a bit of it can be done from home. Check out www.guru.com, www.odesk.com and www.elance.com to find potential clients and advertise your skills. Tutoring. Tutoring can be more than just helping young students master math or English. Tutors can also help people learn a new skill. Your expertise in areas such as foreign languages, computers, music, sewing, art and more could help others learn and you earn. Do What You Love. If you have a passion for cooking, start a catering or personal chef business. If you have a knack for handmade crafts or jewelry, there are online marketplaces that let you set up your own virtual shop and sell your products. Visit www.etsy.com, www.amazon.com or www.google.com/checkout to learn more about public marketplace opportunities. Helping Hands. Just have a few hours per week or month? Start a side business doing yard work, housekeeping, handyman services or personal shopping. You may also consider starting a personal errand business, running errands for seniors or retirement community residents. Busy pet parents may need someone to walk their dogs during the work day or when they are on vacation. Print up some business cards and spread the word through friends and acquaintances.
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