A whole lot of people are feeling the squeeze. Everything from gas prices, utility bills (our local gas and electric hit us with a 70% increase), buying a home and other expenses are climbing through the roof while wages remain stagnant. The result is that even with two or more people in the household working, many families are living from check to check.

What about savings? In January, the U.S. Commerce Department reported the savings rate for all of 2006 was a negative 1 percent, the lowest since the Great Depression of the 1930's. Martin Crusinger writing for the Associated Press said, "...not only did people spend all the money they earned but they also dipped into savings or increased borrowing to finance purchases."

Since the job probably is not cutting it, you have to look at additional ways to make money. Affiliate internet marketing can fill the money void quite nicely.

Affiliate internet marketing is simply promoting someone else's product and getting paid for it without the overhead, products to stock or customer service hassles. The affiliate programs are usually free to join and anyone can make a healthy living online not just the experienced internet marketers.

You can get paid monthly, which is the usual standard, quarterly, one tier or two. One tier means direct referral. The affiliate merchant does not allow you to hire others to promote the product. Any commission paid to you is thru your efforts only.

With two tier programs not only can you sign up people to help you, (known as building a downline), but you also get paid a percentage of their sales in addition to your direct referrals. Some affiliate programs offer 3 tier payment plans or more. The point is anything above one is more money in your pocket.

Just starting out? Think of a product or service that interest you first and then see if there is a hot market for it. Ebay and Froogle are good places for this kind of research or just type some keywords into whatever search engine you use and hit enter. Is there a market? The internet is the biggest marketplace in the world so the odds are the answer is yes.

Get your own website. This is critical. It allows you to promote multiple affiliate programs and sign people up to your mailing list. Send visitors to your website first and then to the main affiliate page.

If you already have an online business, add affiliate marketing to your portfolio. Write a review of the product on your website or blog. You can also place an advertisement on your site. Generally, text ads get better clickthroughs, however if one is not available then by all means use a banner. They may not have the appeal they use to but a good banner is still very effective.

Whether a newbie or experienced marketer, use ezine advertising. This is a very powerful way of getting your affiliate program in front of a targeted audience. Also check the forums. There is a niche on just about everything so it stands the reason people are gathered someplace talking about it. Do not go in attempting to make a sale right away, instead be an active participant and use your signature to advertise your product or service.

Nowadays most people are just trying to stay one step ahead of the next bill. Affiliate internet marketing can go along way to changing that. Spend your time and energy in not only making money but building an online business. That is the best way to protect you and your family against the squeeze.