They say the smartest way to enhance your wardrobe is to buy things off season. Swimsuits and sandals in the fall, winter jackets and leather boots in the spring. I suppose they're right, but somehow whenever the snow starts to melt and the flowers start to bloom, that chocolate brown winter parka just makes me want to scream, regardless of its being fifty percent off. I don't want that brown parka - I want that new bikini and that aqua tank dress.

And if I made more money at my job, then maybe I could save a little extra for those spring and fall months when my closet appears woefully naked of new items. But I don't make more money at my job. And in this economy I'm grateful for the job I have; I'm not heading out into the angry world with my fingers crossed hoping for a better one.

So I have to find other ways to pay for my new bikini and aqua tank dress. And in my research, I've found that there are a couple things that you can do to help fund those guilty purchases without being late on next month's mortgage. For example, despite the fact that it seems to good to be true, you can actually make money taking surveys online.

I know the concept seems a little urban legend, but I'm not claiming that you can quit your day job, just that you can honestly make money taking surveys online. First you have to register with the right company. Avoid companies promising "inbox dollars" - the promise of a ton of money arriving in your inbox in the form of surveys with little to no work on your part. Instead, look for companies that do this type of work professionally.

Participating in surveys counts as market research, so you need to look for a market research company. You'll need to fill out a lot of paperwork on your own time, but it's necessary - the companies need to know a lot about you in order to send you the surveys that are most appropriate.

Here's a tip: don't be vague! Be as specific as possible on your paperwork. These companies have put millions of dollars into identifying and understanding their target market. I know that people think being vague about your hobbies, income, interests, or background means that you will become eligible for all surveys. Wrong. You are more likely to become ineligible. The more specific you are, the more you become a real person who is a potential customer with specific wants, desires, and opinions, and that is what the company is looking for.

While you can make money taking surveys online, it doesn't pay a ton. Anywhere from fifteen to thirty dollars for a survey that will take you between thirty minutes and one hour to complete. But if that aqua tank dress costs one hundred dollars, you only need to do six surveys to make it yours. And an actual new spring dress is better than a promise for inbox dollars any day.