I know it's easy in our more irritable moments to chalk up people with money as the few fortunates crowned by Lady Luck. But, I'm afraid it's more than sheer luck; there's a reason why some people have money and some don't. Of course, I'm not counting lay offs, family illness or death, a stock market fall, that sort of thing. Those are things that cannot be prevented. However, some people are savvy with money in ways others are truly ignorant. Some multiply their money while others blow it. Some invest their money with wisdom, while others choose downright ill-advised investments. Some set up multiple streams of income, and others depend only on that basic paycheck each week. Some find tax shelters and save on taxes, while others get burned alive.

I own my own website on which I receive cash back for all I buy and commissions those things friends, family, and acquaintances buy. You can purchase almost anything on the site, including top vitamin supplements, event tickets, jewelry, insurance---plus you can shop from 700 department stores. In many cases, you also get free shipping. So I'm not only saving on items or services I purchase, but I'm also earning commissions on everything others buy on my site.

Not only is this true, but my site is also a travel booking site, and is, incidentally, as user friendly and competitive price-wise as those well known sites. I am essentially a travel agent with all the benefits that includes. I save money on my personal travel. I can take online classes with cruise lines and receive a free cruise. I earn commissions if acquaintances, friends, or family book travel on my site. I can plan group tours or cruises for excellent prices, and the larger the group, the higher the commission. And if I book eight cabins on most cruise lines, I get to travel gratis---sixteen cabins and I can take a friend or significant other free too.

But, maybe just as valuable as earning fat commissions, as a travel agent, all my travel can be a tax write-off. Finding legit tax write-offs is a terrific way that savvy people protect and save income. In Botkin's book Lower Your Taxes Big Time, she writes, "If you were a travel agent and went to various cities and checked out the hotels, restaurants, accommodations, or meeting facilities, you would be able to deduct all your expenses and not even be subject to the 50 percent rule."

In addition, the organization of which I'm a part offers this huge buying/selling site free to non-profits: associations, charities, and faith-based groups. Lots of these groups will accept such a freebie and promote it. You obviously don't make any money up front, but you earn modest commissions on all the business they do through the site.

When you think about it, it's a little sad. Many people who could be doing better financially fail to see the obvious benefits a business like this offers. But, strangely, I find that those who are not desperate for income are often most likely to purchase this online business because they see how much money it can save them and earn for them at the same time. Go figure.