Market Performance: April 9, 2024.

Stock futures rose marginally on Wednesday morning as investors await key U.S. inflation data that will inform the Federal Reserve’s path on rate policy.

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 44 points, or 0.1%. S&P 500 futures traded just above the flatline, while Nasdaq-100 futures were little changed.

The March reading on consumer price index is slated for release at 8:30 a.m. ET. Economists polled by Dow Jones expect an increase of 0.3% month over month and 3.4% year on year. Economists expect core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, to rise 0.3% and 3.7%, respectively.

The Best Side Hustles, Plus Resources to Help You Succeed

Side hustles, also known as side gigs, are paid projects you do outside your main job. They can be a great way to pay off debt or earn more money on the side.

Looking for a ready-made side hustle? Or maybe a creative gig you can use to carve out a niche for yourself outside of your full-time job? Either way, you’ve come to the right place. We curated the best side hustle ideas we’ve come across.

Rideshare Driver

Use your car and your smartphone to chauffeur people around your city and earn some decent cash on the side. Uber and Lyft, the most popular ride-share companies, are always looking for drivers.

Food Delivery Driver

Driving strangers around isn’t for everyone. So, try meal delivery instead. Most food delivery apps and services work the same: A customer places a food order with a local restaurant, you drive to the restaurant, grab the order and take it to the customer. You get paid by-the-order plus tips.

Online Survey Taker

You could add up to $225 a month to your pocket by signing up for a free account with InboxDollars. They’ll present you with short surveys to choose from every day, which you can fill out while you watch the news. You just have to answer honestly, and InboxDollars will continue to pay you every month. This might sound too good to be true, but it’s already paid its users more than $56 million.

Real Estate Investor

You’re not the only one who daydreams about making money in your sleep. And investing in real estate is one of the best ways to earn passive income. The only problem? You need to have lots of money. Well, you used to… With a company called Connect Invest, you can get your foot in the door for just $500, investing in what are called short notes. And, if you make your first investment before August 31, you can earn a $20 bonus.

Virtual Bookkeeper

Want a high-paying side job you can do from anywhere? Those are the perks of working as a bookkeeper, says Ben Robinson, a certified public accountant and business owner who teaches others to become virtual bookkeepers through his online course, Bookkeepers.com.

General Freelancer

If you have specialized skills and want to make some side money using them, join a freelance network. Marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork are a good way to test the freelancing waters. The websites help you find gigs and connect with clients.

Genius Dave Ramsey Tips To Help You Make More Money

The author of more than a half-dozen New York Times bestselling books, Dave Ramsey has been one of the biggest names in personal finance since 1992. That year, his namesake radio show debuted on one station in Nashville — today, over 18 million combined weekly listeners tune in.

Convince Your Boss That a Raise Is a Good Investment

Ramsey advocates requesting a raise as often as your job performance merits one. But he wants you to go into it with this frame of mind: “I’d like to see some more income, but I’d like to be worth it,” a line he used on an episode of his radio show titled, “I Work More Than My Co-Worker But I’m Paid Less!”

Ramsey cautions against comparing your efforts or income to that of your co-workers when asking the boss for a bump in pay. Instead, present a plan that lays out how you hope to grow within the company while continuing to add value. After that, if the boss refuses to pay you what you’re worth, walk.

Think of Smart Spending as a Path to Greater Earnings

In 2009, Ramsey wrote on his Facebook page, “Earning a lot of money is not the key to prosperity. How you handle it is.” That was nearly 15 years ago and it’s still the central thesis of Ramsey’s personal finance philosophy — his website covers budgeting more than just about any other subject. The idea is that no matter your income, you’ll waste dollars you could have invested in wealth-building if you don’t follow a budget and a spending plan. 

Treat Living Check to Check Like the Crisis That It Is

Subsistence living is so common in the United States that millions are resigned to accepting the paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle as inevitable and even acceptable. Ramsey wants them to snap out of complacency and treat their situation with the kind of intense urgency that they would dedicate to a crisis.

Set Achievable Goals and Don’t Stop Until You Reach Them

Ramsey’s central philosophy is that success is measured by aspirations realized. He suggests outlining ambitious but realistic goals for your financial life, but also for your spiritual life, physical fitness, education, family, career and social life, as well. Last May on Twitter, Ramsey summed it up with this “There is tremendous satisfaction in working your tail off to hit a goal, then winning. It is worth the work.”

Alternative Investing