Bad Economy Jobs
Crime Scene Cleaner Jobs
Because of the inherent need for this kind of service, crime scene cleaner jobs are in high demand. Crime scene cleaner services are sometimes referred to as “CTS Decon” or “crime and trauma scene decontamination”. Entry level employees usually start with $35,000 to $50,000, depending on what state they reside in and a certain degree of training will be required before you will be accepted. However, no college degree is required for this crime scene cleanup field.
How To Become A Crime Scene Cleaner
Many companies will offer grace periods for securing your required documentation, however, according to State and Federal laws, certifications must be completed to retain your employment. An individual who chooses a crime scene cleaner job should not have a weak stomach as your ability to deal with several forms of body fluids and scenes that may be considered as disturbing will “almost daily” put you to the test. Attention to detail is a very important trait to have, due to all the fragments of bones and blood that must be cleaned up. Corners, counters and family photographs are just a few places that might be contaminated. There will also be plenty of biohazard material and infectious waste, so it is required that you be informed of proper cleanup management.
While crime scene cleaner jobs may be a strange career and not always appear glamorous, it can be fulfilling, more so as you will know that you are assisting in the restoration of an area that may have been traumatized, thereby allowing family and friends to return to a normal lifestyle. Additionally you will be trained in several different aspects of this rather interesting career, such as training in blood-borne pathogen, Respiratory Protection Program, Hazard Communication Program, Deodorization/Odor removal techniques and many more.
Crime Scene Cleaner Business
After gaining enough experience in your crime scene cleaner job, you can then use this experience to start and build your own company in a field that can actually be lucrative (fees are usually up to $600 per hour), or you could choose to purchase your own franchise.
Get started by obtaining decontamination kits that are appropriate for the job. Some gear that is needed would be biohazard waste containers and personal protective gear, while ozone machines, shovels, putty knives, ladders, razor blades are some tools that may be needed from time to time. Solvents and disinfectants, as well as bleach are widely used and should be well stocked.
Then get authorized and certified by the local departments. The laws are also important to learn so you will not get sued for improper practices of cleanup.
After investigators, police, fire and all first responders have arrived and concluded their investigations; the crime scene cleaning companies arrive on scene to do their part. Some of the situations they are called to deal with are, deaths that may be violent, such as suicide or homicide, a body that has already begun decomposition, and some have been called to cleanup methamphetamine labs.
The potential for growth in this job field is high depending on the needs of your location. Salaries can go up to six figures in big cities with more incidences of violent crimes and methamphetamine labs. With a low overhead and no college degree, being a crime scene cleaner can be a successful career and business.
Savings On Auto Insurance
With the bad economy, every little bit of savings will help. When was the last time you checked for auto insurance rates? If you are spending more than 12-15% of your total income on car insurance, you might need to get some car insurance quotes. Experts suggest spending no more than 15% of your income on insurance. Get at least three auto insurance quotes to gauge how much you should be paying.
Tips To Reduce Car Insurance Premiums
- Trade in your expensive sports car for a clunker that works and is reliable. This saves you a lot of money on your auto insurance coverage.
- You can pay a lower premium if you do not mind paying more out of pocket expenses when and if a car accident occurs. Get a higher deductible and your costs can decrease as much as 15% to 30%.
- Get rid of collision coverage on cars with very low market value. It is not worth the cost to repair a low market value car.
Selling Items For Your Online Business
Here are some simple tips you should consider before you start selling items for an online business. Before you start unloading your money on a product, make sure it has an audience.
Know your audience
Figure out how competitive your market is and decide the best route. This is where you discover your niche. Local markets are much simpler to start selling products. If you are located in California and you want to sell dog collars, break it down to the city level.
Selling a product
Start with smaller items that you can store. For example, you can get wholesale sunglasses and begin starting your own business. Sunglasses are small and you will not need huge warehouses to store them. Other options for starter items can include digital products such as e-books and computer software. If you decide not to deal with the handling and shipping of products, perhaps a drop shipping alternative is better suited for your new business.
Finding a Merchant
Google checkout and PayPal are two of the more common merchants available that can handle your online monetary transactions. By paying a small merchant fee for each process, you can set up an online commerce store in minutes.
The important thing to take from this is to research your consumer’s needs and reduce your overhead costs. You can make 50% profit from selling one item but if you sell only one item a day, that might not be enough for a meal.
2010 Homebuyer Tax Credit
If you are tired of paying rent or have planned on a home purchase for a couple years now, the year 2010 is the best time to purchase your first home. With the homebuyer’s tax credit being extended and with more people being qualified, you should not wait any longer. It is estimated that 2 million people will take advantage of this tax credit.
The new changes include current home owners who have lived in their primary home for at least 5 consecutive years out of their last 8 years. Qualifying income levels have also been raised.
Benefits of Homebuyer Tax Credit
Married individuals, who have not lived in and purchased a home for the last 3 years, can receive up to $8000 in tax credit.
Current homeowners can get up to $6500 in tax credit for purchasing a new home.
In order to qualify for any of the tax credits, your personal income must be below $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for married couples. Houses that cost over $800,000 do not qualify for this credit. Participants must be over the age of 18 and not a dependent. The tax credit can be used as a down payment for the new house instead of a credit on your tax refund, if you choose this option. This homebuyer tax credit extension ends on April 30, 2010, so act now and get your Real Estate Bailout.
This post is sponsored by Coldwell Banker.