The Five Best Penny-Pinching Jobs

Some folks just know how to pinch a penny until it screams. Whether you're clipping coupons, bringing your lunch to work every day, or cutting your own hair, you're not alone. Online degree programs allow you to turn your penny-pinching ways into a lucrative career.

Online Degree Programs for Penny Pinchers

Check out some of the greatest penny-pinching jobs, and learn about the college degrees that correspond. Who knows? With these great jobs, you might not have to pinch pennies for long.

Penny-Pinching Job #1: Purchasing Agent

Shop for a living with someone else's money as a purchasing agent. These trained buyers can be found in almost all companies, from grocery stores to manufacturing firms. Purchasing agents earned mean annual wages of $57,630 in 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Certification or an online associate's degree in business or economics could be sufficient for some entry level jobs, but your best bet is a bachelor's degree.

• Penny-Pinching Perk: Free samples from sales agents means you'll stock up on a random assortment of goods.

Penny-Pinching Job #2: Cosmetics Sales

Work on your own selling cosmetics or other small goods. You can sell to neighbors and friends, or grow your business into a storefront. Complete an online certificate program in business or marketing, and you'll give yourself more training to confidently own and operate your own business. Product promoters like the kind found in cosmetics sales earned mean annual wages of $27,150 in 2008, the BLS reports; if you own your own business, those numbers may increase.

• Penny-Pinching Perk: Cosmetics samples means you may never buy a tube of lipstick again.

Penny-Pinching Job #3: Catering Manager

Create beautiful food for memorable special events as a catering manager. Work for an upscale grocery store, find an established company, or strike out on your own with your own recipes and workers. An online degree program in culinary management offers business training targeted to your needs in catering.

• Penny-Pinching Perk: In a word: leftovers.

Penny-Pinching Job #4: Dental Assistant

Work in a dentist's office and enjoy more than the free toothbrushes. You'll welcome clients, perform administrative tasks, and potentially work in a clinical capacity. An online certificate program is all you need to work in the career. Dental assistants earned mean annual wages of $33,170 in 2008, the BLS notes.

• Penny-Pinching Perk: Become a hygienist for less. The American Dental Association reports that 87 percent of dentists offer their assistants reimbursement for continuing education courses.

Penny-Pinching Job #5: Child Care Provider

Looking for a stable job outside the rat race? Consider the penny-pinching benefits of working in child care. The BLS reports that child care workers earned mean annual wages of $20,350 in 2008. Work from your home, or find employment in an established daycare center. An online certification course or program may be all you need to work as a child care provider.

• Penny-Pinching Perk: Owning your own day care means the chance to raise your own children from home and save on childcare expenses.

College Degrees & Certificate Programs

No college degree can guarantee a career or salary, but you'll benefit from formal training in the careers above. What's more, some hiring managers require training. The good news? Many full-time workers are able to keep their jobs while attending school online. For penny pinchers considering college, getting your degree online is the natural choice.

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