Tony Blair admits 'weaknesses' of devolution failed to end calls for independence

Watch above: Tony Blair on devolution and calls for independence

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I remember sitting on the school bus when the news came over the radio that my home nation had voted for devolution.

Whether you were for or against (and the numbers were almost equal), there was no denying that Wales was on a radical new path. But in what direction?

The Welsh and Scottish referendums of 1997 were supposed to heed the calls for greater autonomy and silence the drum beat of nationalism.

Later, Northern Ireland's peace process would deliver an assembly there, too. But more than 20 years on, demand to break away from the UK is running higher than ever across all three nations.

So, ahead of a crucial set of elections for the union next week, what does the architect of devolution make of his own work now?

Sitting down with Tony Blair, at first he is defensive.

"If the Labour Party hadn’t implemented its manifesto commitment to do devolution in 1997, the union would already be in tatters," he tells me.

But he admits his plan was not without fault.

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• Tony Blair says he did not enjoy being prime minister

• Robert Peston: Is Boris Johnson the last Blairite in Britain?

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"Where I think we were wrong was in believing that devolution would end the argument of independence - it hasn’t ended it... I agree it has proved to be a tougher fight than we anticipated."

Last year the current prime minister reportedly called devolution a "disaster". There are others who agree, arguing that it has only strengthened calls for independence, by demonstrating the ability of nations to go their own way.

During the pandemic, the profile of the devolved administrations has never been higher - daily press conferences have spelt out the separate policies like never before.

Mr Blair denies this has fuelled the fire of independence. Instead, he blames Brexit, and in Scotland, a lack of political opposition to the SNP.

In 1997 the then PM Tony Blair established the Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Act, which allowed the countries to vote on devolution. Credit: PA

But he admits that while his administration poured huge effort into creating governments, parliaments and assemblies, there was not enough focus on what would tie them together as one United Kingdom.

"I do think one of the weaknesses in the way we approached devolution was not to build real cultural ties and emphasise the enormous things that the different countries in the United Kingdom have in common."

That is something the current government is now attempting to correct, though not without controversy.

Mr Blair dismisses a recent policy to fly the union flag on government buildings as a "gimmick".

"I don't think that's the thing that's going to make the difference, its emphasising what we do have in common", he tells me.

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• 'Feud' between Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond 'bringing Scotland down', says former prime minister Gordon Brown

First Ministers Mark Drakeford and Nicola Sturgeon have apparently become more popular during the pandemic due to their devolved powers. Credit: PA

Those are arguments unionists may have to deploy with more urgency than they'd like.

A majority for the SNP next week, or for an alliance of pro-independence parties, would provide fresh impetus for a second independence referendum.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will not grant one, potentially teeing up a constitutional crisis that may have to be resolved in the courts.

Despite the SNP spelling out their support for a second referendum in their manifesto, Mr Blair denies that a majority for Nicola Sturgeon automatically translates into a majority for another referendum.

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• Blair attacks Corbyn for turning Labour into 'glorified protest movement' and says it is 'marooned on fantasy island'

Former Labour PM Tony Blair sat down for a chat with ITV News UK Editor Paul Brand. Credit: PA

"I'm not sure that even if the SNP win a majority in the Scottish Parliament that it necessarily means that people want to go through the disruption of an independence campaign - I would frankly doubt that."

He admits that it would become "more difficult over time" for PM Johnson to resist calls for another referendum, "if opinion looks as though it is fixed."

But he is pinning his hopes on a Labour rebirth in Scotland, which he says is under "exceptionally good" new leadership, even though it still trails behind the SNP in the polls. I asked Mr Blair if the UK will still exist in ten or 20 years' time. Yes, he insisted.

But that will require quite a revival in the fortunes of unionists like him and in the United Kingdom they hold dear.

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WTF: We should be more concerned about Aaron Taylor-Johnson

February 25, 2021 Madelyn Dewey

Aaron Taylor-Johnson is a popular star from films including Marvel’s Age of Ultron (2015), pictured above at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con. Taylor-Johnson met his current wife, Sam Taylor-Johnson, in 2008 when auditioning for the film Nowhere Boy (2009). (Courtesy of Gage Skidmore).

Content warning: discussion of grooming, manipulation, relationship abuse

In the spirit of my last article, which explored Evan Peters and his take on the Marvel hero Quicksilver, I began this week with Aaron Taylor-Johnson on the brain. I might have used this article as a space to compare the two and their unique portrayals of the character had I not begun my casual research into Taylor-Johnson and his life. Unfortunately, all plans of lighthearted superhero universe theorizing dissolved when I was accosted by the fact that Taylor-Johnson’s wife is 23 years older than him … WTF??

Don’t be ridiculous, you’re thinking. Maybe he’s just into older women. Sure, I might perceive the Taylor-Johnson relationship from this perspective if Aaron Taylor-Johnson, formerly just Aaron Johnson, had been in his thirties or forties upon meeting Sam Taylor-Johnson, formerly Sam Taylor-Wood. Actually, when Aaron met Sam, he had been 18 years old. She had been 42.

Sam was married with two children when she met Aaron. Her husband at the time was Jay Jopling, a famous art dealer. Though the two cited the involvement of “no other parties” in their separation in September 2008, Sam announced her engagement in Aaron one year later, in October 2009. Sam and Aaron announced that they got engaged one year to the minute of meeting.

It doesn’t take a genius to piece together that Sam separated from her husband in response to meeting Aaron, though this is hardly the problematic detail in the Taylor-Johnson relationship. I only include this piece of information in my article because it implies that Sam premeditated her relationship with Aaron immediately after meeting him.

The circumstances of Sam meeting Aaron are perhaps the most disturbing aspect of their relationship. The pair met when Aaron was auditioning to star in the film Nowhere Boy (2009). Sam was the director. Let’s examine that power dynamic: Sam decided to become Aaron’s boss. She had the power to determine the success of his career at the time. She “fought for him to be cast” for the role. 

According to Elle magazine, Aaron confessed to having a relationship with Sam while the movie was being filmed. “While the pair kept their feelings for each other under wraps at the time, [Aaron] admitted that he knew everyone on set was aware of their relationship,” says Elle Magazine.

Now let’s talk about grooming. According to the American Bar Association, grooming is “a predatory process” which entails gradually gaining a person’s trust with intent to abuse. The victim is usually “a child, teen, or vulnerable adult.” Aaron was 18 when filming for Nowhere Boy began in March of 2008. He met Sam when he auditioned for the role and remained a teenager even after his birthday in June, when their relationship continued to develop. 

Teenagers are vulnerable to grooming, particularly when the perpetrator is an adult—again, Sam was 42 years old at the time of filming—with an excess of power or control over the victim—again, Sam was Aaron’s boss. The age gap would be creepy without such a severe power difference.

When Aaron was still 19 years old, in January of 2010, Sam became pregnant with his child. The pair were not married at the time. After their first daughter was born in 2010, Sam gave birth again in 2012 to their second child, still out of wedlock. 

If Aaron hadn’t felt responsibility to wed Sam before, he likely felt it by the birth of his second daughter. In a 2010 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Sam spoke on Aaron’s behalf to say that he told her—at age 18 or 19—that he “said he wanted kids.” The fact that Sam is quoted saying this, not Aaron, is worrying in itself. Aaron has been quoted saying “‘I wanted kids, we had kids,’” after Sam gave birth as a reason for the success of the relationship. Sounds a bit like entrapment to me.

Sam has boasted that, throughout the couple’s relationship, the pair have “only been apart for maybe two or three days” at a time. “We hardly go out now, it’s just us,” Sam said to Harper’s Bazaar in 2010. Interestingly, groomers and abusers often try to spend “every minute with their partners,” something that seems sweet on the surface but is actually a tactic intended to isolate and manipulate victims into becoming dependent on the abuser. 

The couple uphold a reputation for keeping their relationship extremely private. This is another tactic often also employed by manipulators or abusers. Preventing a partner from speaking openly about a relationship is common for manipulators. Even for someone to naturally feel disinclined to share relationship details publicly is a common sign of shame and innate discomfort with the interpersonal aspects of a relationship.

If this relationship were one in which the genders of Aaron and Sam were reversed, I believe more people would be talking about the extreme age gap between the two, as is the case in relationships such as Jim Carrey and Ginger Gonzaga or George and Amal Clooney. It is important to recognize cases in which men may also be victims of abuse, even if men traditionally have more power than women. This is one such case in which an older woman may have taken advantage of a teenage boy.

I need to acknowledge Aaron before I end this article. It’s important to note that most victims of grooming and relationship abuse are unaware of the abuse while still in the relationship. It’s unlikely that Aaron can get space enough to recognize the abusive nature of Sam’s behavior at this point in time, especially after having been married to her for more than a decade. After having children with Sam, Aaron may also feel a certain type of responsibility to maintain the relationship and to shun such allegations against his wife. 

Take my analysis with a grain of salt. Celebrities and their lives can never truly be known, and I often refrain from speculation personally on the basis of offering famous individuals some semblance of privacy. That being said, it’s often hard to notice the signs of abuse until someone points them out. Be wary of the signs of abuse in your own relationships. Anyone can be abused.

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How to Save Money: 17 Tips

Find long-term savings by shopping smart, bundling services, canceling subscriptions and more.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

You’re human. Of course you want to save more money, but trimming your spending feels like a sacrifice.

Thankfully, there are relatively easy ways to save money — whether you want to trim a few or a few hundred dollars from your budget.

17 ways to save money

We compiled 17 proven ways to save money, from adjusting daily habits, to cutting monthly bills, to making long-term changes.

1. Use an automated tool

Find an app or bank account that takes the work out of saving. Digit and Qapital both automatically transfer small amounts from your checking account to a separate savings account. Learn about apps that automate savings for you.

2. Count your coins and bills

Empty your pockets each day and start collecting that extra change. Then take your collection to the bank and put it directly into your savings account instead of your checking account. When you want to watch your spending, use dollar bills instead of credit cards. It’s harder to part with cold, hard cash.

3. Prep for grocery shopping

A little work before you go to the grocery store can go a long way to help you save money on groceries. Check your pantry and make a grocery list, then use coupons and loyalty programs to maximize your savings as you shop.

4. Order smaller servings at restaurants

Opt for appetizers or split an entree with your dining companion to save money when you eat out.

5. Get discounts on entertainment

Take advantage of free days at museums and national parks to save on entertainment costs. You can also ask about discounts for seniors, students, military members and more.

6. Map out major purchases

Time your purchase of appliances, furniture, electronics and more according to annual sale periods. Don’t buy anything hastily, either. Always wait a day or two before buying to limit buyer’s remorse.

7. Restrict online shopping

Make it more difficult to shop online. Instead of saving your billing information, force yourself to input your shipping address and credit card number each time you order. You’ll probably make fewer impulse purchases.

Automate your budget with NerdWallet

Track spending by category, compare months and spot ways to save.

8. Make your own gifts

Go the DIY route or save money with affordable gift ideas, like herb gardens and gift baskets.

9. Lower your car payment

Refinancing your auto loan and taking advantage of lower interest rates could save you considerably over the life of your loan.

10. Bundle cable and internet

You could lower your cable bill by as much as $40 per month by changing your cable package. And you could save more than $1,000 over two years by bundling your cable and internet service, depending on your carrier.

11. Switch your cell phone plan

Changing your plan is one way to save money on your cell phone bill, but it’s not the only way. Removing insurance from your plan could save you nearly $100 per year, per line.

12. Monitor your electric bill

Big and small changes in your energy usage can help you save hundreds annually on your electric bill.

13. Lower your student loan payments

Income-driven repayment plans can lower your monthly student loan payments by several hundred dollars each month.

14. Cancel unnecessary subscriptions

Uncheck the auto-renew option on any subscriptions you aren’t using regularly, such as subscription boxes or streaming services.

15. Track spending

Keep track of your monthly cash flow — your income minus your expenditures. This will also make it easier to mark progress toward your saving goal. Try a budget app that tracks your spending. (NerdWallet has a free app that does just that.) Or you can follow these five steps to help you track your monthly expenses.

16. Refinance your mortgage

Refinancing your mortgage to snag a lower interest rate can save you several hundred dollars each month. Use our mortgage refinance calculator to find out how much you could save.

17. Set savings goals

Set a specific but realistic goal. It may be “save $5,000 in an individual retirement account this year” or “pay off my credit card debt faster.” Use a savings goal calculator to see how much you’d have to save each month or year to reach your goal.

Implement money-saving tips with a budget

One smart way to manage your money — and hopefully hold on to more of it — is to follow a budget.

At NerdWallet, we think about a budget as a spending plan because saving money doesn’t mean you have to quit spending altogether. It just means you have to prioritize some financial goals over others.

We recommend the 50/30/20 budget for smart money management. Devote 50% of your income to necessities, 30% to wants and 20% to savings. If you find one of your allocations exceeds these percentages, make some adjustments to fit the formula.

As you work toward your ultimate financial goal, make sure to put your newfound funds in a good high-yield savings account to maximize your money. Some of the best online accounts pay interest rates that are much higher than large traditional banks.

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19 Ways to Find Fast Cash

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

You need cash now, but payday is days or weeks in the distance. What do you do?

Panic and stress are natural reactions. Once those subside, you’ll find there are ways to get your hands on money in a hurry, without falling prey to scams.

Here are 19 strategies to earn fast cash today, plus some tips on how to cut costs, boost your income and build an emergency fund, so you don’t find yourself scrambling for spare change next time around.

1. Sell spare electronics

You can sell your old phone or tablet on sites such as Swappa and Gazelle, but to get cash today, using an ecoATM kiosk is your best bet. Consider selling old MP3 players and laptops, too.

2. Sell unused gift cards

Cardpool kiosks offer instant cash for gift cards valued between $15 and $1,000. You’ll get slightly less there; the company pays up to 85% of the card’s value at its kiosks, while it pays up to 92% if you sell through its website. You can also go through an online gift card exchange like Gift Card Granny, but most take a few days because you have to mail the card and then wait for a check or direct deposit.

3. Pawn something

As a way to borrow money, pawnshop loans are not great. But they’re quick, and if you can’t repay the loan, the pawnshop simply keeps the item you used as collateral. That’s a lot better than ruined credit and calls from debt collectors. You can often sell outright to a pawnshop, too, instead of borrowing against an item. Jewelry, musical instruments, firearms and up-to-date electronics fare best.

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4. Work today for pay today

Searching for this phrase online turns up lots of results. We've researched 26 legitimate side jobs that can provide a quick income boost, ranging from driving passengers or packages to freelancing from home.

You can also try the Craigslist jobs or gigs sections, which often have postings for short-term work in food service, housekeeping and general labor.

5. Seek community loans and assistance

Local community organizations may offer loans or short-term assistance to help with rent, utilities or other emergencies. NerdWallet has compiled a database of payday loan alternatives available to residents in nearly two dozen states. Local churches may make small loans at low rates. Community centers and nonprofit associations in your area may also offer small loans.

6. Ask for forbearance on bills

Some creditors such as utilities and cable television companies don’t charge interest on late payments, so find out whether they’ll accept delayed payments. Use whatever money you save from not paying those bills to cover emergency needs. If you can't pay consumer debts such as auto loans or mortgages, explore your options with the lender first before turning to toxic high-rate loans.

7. Request a payroll advance

Ask your employer for a cash advance on your pay, which usually doesn’t cost you any fees and which you repay via payroll deduction. Some companies also offer low-cost loans to workers in crises. You also might consider Earnin, an app that offers workers advances that they repay in a lump sum on payday at no interest. It does ask for a donation, though, and requires access to your bank account and work time sheets.

8. Take a loan from your retirement account

You can take a loan on your 401(k) or individual retirement account, but there are conditions. You can borrow from your IRA once a year if you repay the money within 60 days. If your employer allows 401(k) loans — not all do — you typically can borrow as much as half your account balance, up to $50,000, and you have five years to repay it. However, if you don’t make payments for 90 days, the loan is considered taxable income. And if you quit or lose your job, you typically have to repay the 401(k) loan shortly thereafter.

9. Borrow against life insurance

If you have a life insurance policy that has cash value, sometimes called permanent life insurance, you can borrow against it and have the rest of your life to repay it. If you don’t repay, the insurance company subtracts the money from the policy payout when you die. But you can’t borrow against a term life insurance policy, which is the more common type.

10. Use a credit card cash advance

If you have a credit card and the account is in good standing, a cash advance is a much less expensive option than a payday loan. You’ll pay a fee, typically around 5% of the amount you borrow, plus interest, which can be around 30%.

11. Look for a payday alternative loan

Some credit unions offer small, short-term cash advances known as payday alternative loans. Federally chartered credit unions legally can’t charge more than a 28% annual percentage rate on PALs. That's not cheap, but it's much better than payday loans, which have triple-digit APRs.

12. Take out a personal loan

Some lenders can fund a personal loan in a day; if you have good credit, you’ll probably have many choices. If your credit is a challenge, you’ll need to find a lender that not only delivers fast cash but also accepts poor credit. Rates for borrowers with bad credit from mainstream lenders top out at 36% APR. You may find other lenders offering fast funding without a credit check, but you’ll pay triple-digit interest rates. Don’t fall for it.

13. Rent out a room

Sites like Airbnb aren’t just for people who have vacation homes to rent out when they’re not using them. Many of the site’s listings are for extra rooms — or even shared rooms — in the owner’s house, meaning you could stay put while bringing in some cash, particularly if you live in a reasonably desirable area. Check local ordinances to make sure short-term rentals are allowed.

Creating a listing on the site is free, but there is a 3% service fee when a reservation is made. The company releases payment to the host 24 hours after the guests check in.

14. Moonlight as a dog sitter

Technology is on your side here, too, with sites including Care.com and Rover, matching pet owners with dog sitters and walkers. You can choose to host the dog or stay at the owner’s house (and — here’s an idea — rent out your place through Airbnb while you’re gone). Rates are between $20 and $60 a night in most areas, though they can skew higher or lower depending on the location and the amount of work involved.

15. Become a rideshare or delivery driver

These are jobs you can do in the evenings or on weekends, using your own car and gas. Companies such as Uber and Lyft match you with people willing to pay for a ride, and delivery services such as OrderUp and Postmates pay you to deliver takeout and other items.

16. Cut your insurance premiums

One of the dirty secrets of the car insurance industry is that premiums for the same driver for the same coverage can vary by hundreds of dollars from company to company. Each insurer does its own math; that’s why it pays to compare car insurance quotes.

If you like your carrier, review the dozens of discounts it may have available. You could get 10% off or more for things like making good grades, completing defensive driving training or going at least three years without an accident.

The same is true with homeowners insurance. Shopping around can save you 10% to 15%, as can discounts for things like having a home security system, staying claim-free or being a nonsmoker. And many insurers offer discounts for buying both car and homeowners or renters policies with them.

17. Consolidate your debt

If you’re struggling to keep up with multiple debt payments, you may be able to consolidate those balances — from credit cards, medical bills, store financing or other charges — and lower your payments with a personal loan. Some lenders can fund the loan within a day. Refinancing $5,000 worth of debt from a 10% interest rate to 5% could save you more than $800 in interest if you need to carry the balance for at least four years.

If you have good credit, you can do a balance transfer of high-interest credit card debt onto a new card with a 0% introductory interest rate. Make sure you can pay off the balance before the rate balloons at the end of the introductory period.

18. Refinance your student loans

Borrowers are benefiting from low interest rates and a competitive private student loan refinancing market, and refinancing options are available for people with a range of credit scores. It’s worth checking into whether a refinance could save you money — especially when the average borrower through NerdWallet’s refi platform can save more than $11,000.

19. Change your cell phone plan

If you value money in your pocket over buying a new fancy phone, look into cell phone providers that offer rock-bottom rates. FreedomPop offers basic voice and data service for free. The catch with these services is you often have to buy a phone outright or bring your own. So maybe you don’t want to sell your old phone quite yet. You can find a prepaid cell phone plan for $30 a month or less as well.

4 fast-cash sources to avoid

Payday loans: Payday loans are short-term loans that are made to people who have a source of income and a bank account and that are repaid in a lump sum. Your credit isn’t a factor, but if you already have outstanding payday loans, you may not be able to get another one. Interest is usually expressed as a “fee” — $15 per $100 borrowed is typical. But that can be a trap: Borrowers typically have the option to pay another fee instead of settling the loan, and over time, those fees add up. A typical $15 fee on a two-week loan amounts to nearly 400% interest on an annual basis.

Payday installment loans: Available at stores and online, these payday installment loans stretch repayment terms to as long as three years. You don’t need good credit; the products often are advertised as no-credit-check installment loans. But you typically must meet the requirements of a payday loan: a paycheck and a bank account. Interest charges mount quickly: A $2,000, three-year loan at 400% APR will end up costing over $16,000.

Auto title loans: These short-term loans — in places where they’re legal — require you to hand over the title to your vehicle as collateral for the debt. They’re often compared to payday loans, and the interest rates are comparable, but they can be even worse: If you don’t repay, the lender can seize your car.

Credit-building payday loans: Most payday lenders don’t report on-time payments to the big credit bureaus, which would help your credit scores. Some lenders do, and they also reduce interest rates on subsequent loans to reflect improved credit. Oportun, Rise and Fig Loans all offer installment loans at a lower cost than a payday outlet — but their rates are still many times those of mainstream lenders. We don’t recommend these loans unless the only other option is a traditional payday loan.

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2 Standout Ways to Make Money on Amazon

Join Amazon's affiliate program or sell stuff through the marketplace to profit from the site's huge retail audience.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

There are many ways to make money on Amazon. You can join the Mechanical Turk marketplace and get paid to do virtual tasks, publish an e-book or a printed book through Kindle Direct Publishing, or you may be able to deliver items through Flex — if the program is available where you live.

But Amazon's status as the top-selling online retailer makes two money-making opportunities stand out from the rest:

1. Joining Amazon Associates, the company’s affiliate marketing program.

2. Selling stuff through the company's e-commerce platform.

Here’s what you need to know about both options.

1. Become an affiliate through Amazon Associates

Participants link to Amazon products on their blog or social media channel and get a commission based on subsequent sales. Amazon Associates is best for influencers who already promote products.

How Amazon Associates works

Affiliates earn a commission when a visitor to their website clicks a link to an Amazon product and buys it. The visitor must purchase an item within 24 hours or add an item to their cart and purchase it within 89 days. Commissions are typically 1% to 10% of the purchase price, minus shipping, taxes and fees.

How to sign up

To get started in the Amazon Associates program, you’ll need to have a website that meets Amazon’s site requirements. Next, submit an application. If it's accepted, Amazon requires you to place its affiliate disclosure on your site. The Federal Trade Commission also requires affiliate marketers to clearly disclose their relationship with retailers in posts containing affiliate links. That means affiliates should make all disclaimers easy for readers to find.

How to make money as an affiliate

Affiliate marketing usually is best if you already have a loyal following. That's because you’ll have a built-in pool of potential customers who trust your judgment and will be more likely to buy products you recommend.

“Succeeding as an affiliate means tailoring products to your audience. Start by thinking about your audience’s needs and why they follow you.”

Your success as an affiliate depends on tailoring products to your audience. Start by thinking about your audience’s needs and why people follow you. Or go straight to the source by sending a poll or email asking what kinds of products to include on your site. Then spell out the relevant details in your posts.

Say you run a nature-photography blog for beginners. If you’re linking to a $65 aluminum tripod, you might add, “It’s lightweight and compact, so it’s a good option for hikers. I brought it on my three-day trek through Yosemite and it held up well in rough weather.”

Once you get affiliate links up on your site, focus on getting more traffic to those links to increase your chances of earning money. Frequently publishing content, such as blog or Instagram posts, can help engage existing followers. And it may help your site show up in search engine results, thereby attracting new readers.

To add more affiliate links to your site, consider building a product page that lets you list multiple links. That also gives readers easy access to the items you recommend. Or you might start a series of weekly or seasonal posts in which you review products. It’s also good to experiment with Amazon’s link, button and banner options, which can help highlight the products you recommend.

Track your site’s traffic with a tool like Google Analytics and use Amazon’s affiliate reports. They will help determine if your tactics work or if it’s time to change your approach.

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2. Become an Amazon seller

Those looking to start an online business can list products on Amazon. It takes an entrepreneurial mind and significant effort to get off the ground. But with the right product, the potential payoff can outweigh the risks.

Before you start selling stuff via Amazon, pick a profitable product. To do that, you’ll need to consider the selling costs, such as manufacturing and site fees.

How to get started

First, check if you’re eligible to sell in your chosen category. Some products, such as auto parts and watches, require Amazon’s approval before you can list them. Then determine how much it will cost to get your product in customers’ hands. That includes everything from materials and labor to packing, labeling and shipping. You may outsource the shipping, storage and customer service by participating in the Fulfillment by Amazon program. But that will cost you, so weigh the options carefully.

How much does it cost to sell on Amazon?

Amazon’s fee structure depends on the type of seller: individual or professional.

Individuals pay 99 cents, plus a referral fee based on the product category, for each item sold. Those selling media goods, such as books, DVDs and video games, also pay variable closing fees for each item sold. Amazon’s shipping rates apply to all individuals’ sales.

“Amazon recommends the monthly subscription program for those planning to sell more than 40 items a month.”

Professionals pay a $39.99 monthly subscription, a per-item referral fee — which varies by product — and variable closing fees on media items. For these sellers, the site’s shipping rates apply only to media items. They also have access to more product categories than individuals, can offer special promotions, and are eligible for top placement on product detail pages. Amazon recommends the subscription program for those planning to sell more than 40 items a month.

As an individual or professional seller, you’ll likely have to satisfy Amazon’s so-called A-to-z Guarantee. That means you could be on the hook for refunds, including shipping charges, if a customer isn’t satisfied. So it’s a good idea to build some financial breathing room into your business plan. Another important consideration is taxes. As a seller, you’re considered self-employed. So even though Amazon generally calculates the sales tax on items, you’ll likely have to set aside more money to pay estimated quarterly taxes on your income.

How to make money as a seller

Once you know all the costs involved, research prices for similar items. That will help you price items competitively. To maximize your earnings, consider finding a cheaper supplier to save on production costs or using search-engine optimization tactics, such as using relevant search terms throughout your posts, to reach new customers.

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How to Make Money on Etsy

Find your passion, research the competition and do the math.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

Creativity and passion aren’t enough to succeed on Etsy, an online marketplace  dedicated to art, crafts and vintage items. Here are other factors to consider if you’re trying to figure out how to make money on Etsy.

Make sure your idea can be profitable

If you want to make money selling stuff, it’s important to sell a product you care about. But before diving in, make sure it’ll actually sell. You can do some quick market research using Etsy’s search bar. Be as specific in your query as possible and click through to the different shop pages to see the number of sales made since opening.

If it seems that there’s enough interest in your product idea, then you can move on to the next step: making sure the product will earn you money. Here’s how to do the math.

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Figure out the cost to make each item. First, figure out what costs, such as materials or labor, are involved in production. If you want to sell handmade jewelry, for example, look up prices for the gems and earring hooks you’d use to make each piece. Then calculate the cost of making a single item.

Research the competition. Scope out prices for similar items on Etsy. It’s also a good idea to consider prices on other marketplaces, such as Amazon or local stores, to increase your chances of selling.

Factor in Etsy’s fees. Selling through Etsy isn’t free. For example, the site charges 20 cents to list an item. When you make a sale, there’s a transaction fee of 5% of the price you display for each listing plus the amount you charge for shipping and gift wrapping. Read up on all of Etsy’s fees before you start selling.

If you expect to owe more than $1,000 in taxes on your earnings, you should probably set aside money for estimated quarterly tax payments. There might be state, local or other taxes. Estimate your tax liability to determine an accurate figure to save.

Evaluate the numbers. Take the price-per-item you’ve picked and deduct the associated costs — including fees, taxes and production expenses — then see what’s left over. If you can’t turn a profit while maintaining a competitive price, you might want to try another sales venue or a different product.

Set up a successful Etsy shop

Once you’ve identified a solid idea, it’s time to create your shop. It’s a simple process: Sign up, click the “Sell on Etsy” button and fill in the details, such as your shop name, listings and billing information.

Once your shop is online, check out Etsy’s seller handbook and consider joining a team to help you learn the basics from other shop owners, such as how to take great photos of your items or write your shop description. Then you can focus on one of the most challenging parts of being an online entrepreneur: marketing your products.

Start with free methods. Creating a Facebook page or Instagram account for your shop is a good place to start. Check out similar accounts to find relevant hashtags and ideas for posts. Then post regularly and interact with followers to maximize your reach.

You could also start a blog about a topic that’s relevant to your buyers. If you have a vintage clothing shop, for instance, you could write about how to style clothes or repair older pieces. If you can afford to invest some money, consider paid methods, such as Etsy’s Promoted Listings product or Google’s Shopping ads tool, to showcase your items.

As the business grows, set sales goals and take advantage of Etsy’s web analytics tool. That way, you can gauge if your marketing tactics are working or it’s time to try something new.

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