My Money Map

How I Got A Check From The Government to Start My $5,000 a Month Business on Google ... All While Serving My Country......

2008-12-15T10:47:00.000-08:00

http://www.darrensmoney.com/?t202id=31799&kw=mil&t202kw=military-art

Written by Darren | Date: October 7, 2008 4:15 pm

Hi, my name is Staff Sergeant Darren and I started this blog because I wanted to share with my fellow airmen how I was able to pay off all my debt in a few months simply by spending a couple minutes filling out a few forms online!

IS THIS FOR REAL??? HAS ANYONE TRIED THIS....CAN HE GIVE REAL PROOF?

What are your thoughts? What IS the program? Or are they just making it big by charging $3 shipping!?

Comments??

FREE REDBOX RENTALS

2008-12-10T08:41:00.001-08:00

Every Sunday in December (and the first Sunday in January), you can get a free rental from Redbox locations inside of Walmart stores. All you need to do is use the code specific to the Sunday you are renting on.
The codes are:

12/07/08 - 11MOMS4US
12/14/08 - 11MOMS4UA
12/21/08 - 11MOMS4UN
12/28/08 - 11MOMS4UT
01/04/09 - 11MOMS4UA

Notice the end of the code spells out "SANTA" across all 5 weeks. So, enjoy the codes courtesy of Redbox, Walmart, and the Eleven Moms.

And remember, these codes only work at Walmart locations on the Sunday specified

one of the best analogies I’ve ever seen to explain the downfall of Socialist taxation policies.

2008-10-23T12:34:00.000-07:00

The Parable of 10 Men in a Bar

from: http://itooktheredpill.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/the-parable-of-10-men-in-a-bar/

Not a Bible parable, obviously, but one of the best analogies I've ever seen to explain the downfall of Socialist taxation policies.

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes,it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do.

The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. 'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.' Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free.

But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100%savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

'I only got a dollar out of the $20,'declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!'

'Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I got'

'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'

'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works!!

The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

[Found on Internet, here's what Snopes has to say about the authorship. Regardless of who wrote it, it explains the concepts very well.]

"Spreading the wealth around" never results in a better outcome for people. It always results in destruction. Case study: Zimbabwe.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:6

This entry was posted on October 22, 2008 at 6:41 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to "The Parable of 10 Men in a Bar"

Isolden Says:
October 22, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I heard this first on Rush's show and thought it a very appropriate analogy. Wish more ppl knew about it - pass it on -
ozarksky Says:
October 22, 2008 at 11:17 pm
This is great!!! It's so simple…yet BHO just doesn't get it. Or…perhaps he does…get us all drunk (for free) and have his way with us. Count me out!!
sweetakin Says:
October 23, 2008 at 11:20 am
While sitting at our coffee table with my 8th grader studying for an upcoming test, political news was on the t.v. in the background. My son was observing the treatment of "Joe the Plumber" and asked why people (media) were bashing him for asking a question. After my explanation, my son remarked, "Mom, that would be like me making 100 on my test, a classmate making a 25, my teacher taking points away from me, and giving them to the other student all so that our grades would be equal. But then we'd both fail."

I replied, "Yes, but maybe that would be fair." To which he replied, "Or maybe he/she didn't study, or better yet, didn't even care to study because he/she knew they would get some of my points. In that case, why should I study?" To which I replied, "Bingo son, you get it."

P.S. Bless you for the "shout out" on MM! You're terrific! I understand that this time of year she would be inundated with trolls, so I will continue to read and learn.
itooktheredpill Says:
October 23, 2008 at 12:10 pm
sweetakin,
Your son is wise! You have taught your children well.

Thank you for your kind words.

Sincerely,
Red Pill.

wooops

2008-10-18T13:49:00.001-07:00

wooops
Originally uploaded by jimshitz010010010010000101

Proof that Obama's camp faked his birth certificate

Uploaded by jimshitz010010010010000101 on 16 Oct 08, 12.18PM PDT.

Why should someone tell me where my money goes???

2008-10-17T16:15:00.001-07:00

An editorial by Paul Marx, Owner of radio station KBON 101.1FM

I was brought up believing that the United States of America was the
country that gave anyone the opportunity to be as successful as one
can achieve, but now it seems that many people believe that if you
become too successful you should be "punished"; if you make "too
much" money with your success some of that money should be taken away
from you and "shared" with those less fortunate, but aren't we are
already sharing?

Aren't the so called "less fortunate" in this country already being
taken care of? After all they get Federal housing, Food stamps,
medical cards and God knows what else. How much more should we give
them?? We have become a country filled with too many people who want
something for nothing. Do we just keep giving and giving to those who
contribute the least to the country? Shouldn't there instead be some
sort of plan to reward those who contribute to the country or at
least let those who earn success, enjoy it?

Why is it always so popular for a politician or political candidate
to talk about "more taxes" on the rich? Why can't people understand
that in most cases it is those so called "rich people" that own
businesses and create jobs. They are people who in many cases
started at the bottom and worked their way up, many taking a gamble
by investing their life savings into a business or idea. So, they
invest, build their business with hard work, hire people to work for
them and see some well earned success, then we punish them. That's
right folks, while the word "tax" is being used it's not
really "taxing" those people who earned success, it is punishing
those people. Is it fair that we take from these people
to "distribute the wealth"? Distribute to who??

I don't want the government to take money that I have worked hard for
and give it to someone who most likely does not contribute to this
country. I am fed up with driving down the streets at mid-day and
seeing people sitting outside smoking, drinking and playing cards
under a tree while I have to worry about my business; how the downed
economy will affect it. I am tired of going into a store all times of
the day and seeing people buying expensive steaks with food stamps
but having the cash to buy cartoons of cigarettes, bottles of wine or
whiskey and cases of beer. I am tired of driving by bars during work
hours and seeing the same cars there day after day. These are some of
the very people Presidential candidate Barak Obama wants to "spread
the wealth" to.

Anyway don't financially successful people spread the wealth on
their own by spending more money? I would think that they probably
buy bigger, more expensive homes, more expensive furniture, more
expensive automobiles, send their kids to college, etc. In other
words, besides creating jobs for other people who WANT to work, they
help the economy by spending that money that they have earned.
I agree with this "post" I found on a discussion board: "It is not
the governments job to determine who makes" too much" money, only to
make fair rules for all to follow. The smart and motivated will
succeed, the lazy will not".
To Quote "Joe the Plumber": "That's the American Dream to me. You
work hard. You're going to get what you want eventually. It's not
going to happen overnight by no means, but if you work hard enough
you will get it. I resent the government or Obama's plan to take more
away from me." -- (Joe Wurzelbacher, October 12, 2008).

As "Joe" told Diane Sawyer recently: "Americans should get treated
equally. Why do we have escalating tax brackets on higher incomes at
all? Why are we penalizing the success that we proclaim as the
American Dream"?

A writing by Peter Ferrara titled "Federal Income Taxes: Who Pays and
How Much" states: "Facts are that the top 1% of income earners are
paying 40% of federal income taxes, almost twice their share of
income, so the rich certainly seem to be paying their fair share, and
then some. Liberal politicians who say we need to raise taxes on the
rich so they will pay their fair share are either abusively
misleading the public or hopelessly ignorant regarding federal tax
policy. If 40% is not fair for the top 1%, what would be fair, 50%,
100%? Secondly, liberal politicians wailing about Republican tax cuts
for the rich are also either misleading the public, or hopelessly
uninformed. With the top 1% now paying 40% of income taxes, the top
5% paying 60%, and the top 40% paying 99.4%, where are the tax cuts
for rich? Clearly, federal income taxes are overwhelmingly paid by
upper income earners".

In my opinion, Barack Obama's political strategy seems to be more
welfare and give-away programs at the expense of not only who he
considers to be "rich", but also at the expense of the hard working
middle class Americans (Even though many of them may not realize that
yet); taking from them and giving to those who contribute the least
to this country.
It's very sad but it seems that America is becoming a nation of more
& more people with their hands out for charity & freebies, and I have
to give Barack Obama this. He's smart enough to realize that
promising to give more of "something for nothing" to these people
will get him millions of votes.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. This election, maybe more than ever, it is very
important that you THINK BEFORE YOU VOTE and put AMERICA FIRST!

Thank you,

PAUL MARX
Owner/KBON 11.1FM
www.kbon.com

P.S. One more thing. Ask yourself, who would you have voted for if
this election had been right after 9/11? In your honest opinion who
do you think would have best acted on America's behalf?

4 star menu-for fewer than 4 bucks

2008-10-11T19:11:00.001-07:00

Here are some simple items that can turn your everyday grocery list into something resembling a 4 star menu-for fewer than 4 bucks:

1. Off-Brand Orange Marmalade $2-3
Why spend the money on high-end (read: expensive) orange marmalade if you’re just using it as a glaze for meat or adding it into a dessert? To get the flavor benefit without the added cost, try adding orange marmalade to an oozing round of soft cheese that has been warmed in the oven, and then top it off with candied walnuts or toasted pine nuts. Serve with crackers. Also, mix with an equal part of mustard and rub on salmon, pork or chicken.

2. Fresh Dill $2-2.50
Some people think that being able to draw from a collection of herbs and spices is the secret to great cooking. That may be, but quality not quantity is the key to sealing your foodie cred. Those herbs that are browning away on your spice rack aren’t doing anything for a dish’s flavor profile. The trick to making effective use of any herbs is freshness and dill can add a delicious subtle touch to all sorts of dishes. Try mixing it with plain cream cheese and spread on crackers or bagel chips, topped with smoked salmon, diced tomatoes and red onions.

3. Asian Chili Paste $3.59
There’s nothing quite like the fiery high note of chili paste to give a dish depth and make it more interesting. Look for it in the market with the name Sambal Oelek. Sambal Oelek is unique as a flavoring ingredient because it is typically made up only of chilies with no other additives. Add lime and sugar and you’ve got sweet Indonesian dipping sauce. Add to mayo for an Asian aioli which makes a fab spread on toasted bread with any sandwich filling. Or serve alongside Gyoza (Japanese noodle dumplings).

4. Whole Grain Mustard $4.50
Move beyond the French’s and explore some more exotic mustard varieties. While there are a variety of mustards, from sweet honey to Chinese to Dijon available to you, Maille has a flavor and texture that adds interest to everything from sausage to deli sandwiches to salad dressings and sauces. And you only need a little. Make your own salad dressing: A dab of mustard, some red wine vinegar, olive oil, and a bit of honey can dress up even the most garden variety salad. Add herbs for variation.

5. Fresh Ginger Root $1.50
Ginger always seems to get overlooked in favor of its admittedly amazing cousin, garlic. But that’s a shame. Ginger has depth, round edges and an almost citric bite that, as Asian cooks have long known, goes great with fresh and cheap ingredients. Make a ginger dressing by combining ginger with sesame oil and rice vinegar and either mix by hand or in a blender. Add your dressing to a coleslaw mix to make an Asian slaw. Or serve it alongside Ahi Tuna Tartar for the kind of appetizer found in many high-end restaurants, no cooking required.

6. Risotto $4
It sounds fancy but Risotto takes less than 20 minutes to make and can be a great way to use up leftover vegetables, cheese or even seafood or sausage. Just add about 1/4 cup of whatever topping you like to each serving right before putting it on the plate. Classic combos include mushrooms and Parmesan, sausage and tomato or shrimp and peas.

7. Greek Yogurt $2
There’s no reason to use plain yogurt when you can get the rich, unsweetened Greek variety instead. Use in dips, cream sauces, roll-ups, and desserts. Combine with mint, garlic and lemon to taste and serve alongside hummus, pita and chopped veggies. You might not think so but Greek Yogurt is also perfect for cooking Indian style yogurt chicken.

8. Vinegar $1-1.50
Vinegar is cheap but it can transform ordinary root vegetables into taste sensations. Start with the cheapest carrots, beets and onions you can find and make pickles by briefly boiling them, then cooling in ice. Add vinegar and sugar and you’re done.

9. Eggs $2-4
Okay so even if you aren’t much of a gourmet, you’ve probably got eggs on hand and if not you definitely should. This staple is both versatile and still relatively inexpensive even if you go for the free-range or organic variety. But don’t be confined to serving them sunny side up or scrambled. Go gourmet by poaching them for an Eggs Benedict or Salad Lyonnaise (eggs on a frisee salad with bacon). Eggs can be added to casseroles, used as the binding agent in veggie burgers or make their way into a frittata for a festive Sunday brunch. For a quick frittata, beat 4 or 5 eggs, and then scramble slightly with spinach and mushrooms. Bake in the pan in the oven until solid.

Once you’ve got these ingredients stocked in your pantry, look to sites like GourmetSleuth.com, EzEating.net, or SimplyRecipes for more great ideas on what to do with them.

FROM MINT.COM

tips from mint.com

2008-10-11T19:07:00.000-07:00

With all of the recent doom and gloom in the financial markets, it’s easy to get discouraged about your own financial situation. But here’s some good news for a change. While personal finance may seem complicated, it really boils down to 4 good habits that can make the difference between going broke or building up your net worth each month.

1. Save money
2. Avoid debt
3. Invest
4. Don’t lose it

Just as with achieving a balanced diet or maintaining a regular exercise regimen, getting your financial house in order is easier said than done. What’s that they say about the best laid plans? A 12 step program can get you on the road to financial recovery.
Save money

1. Know what you spend

The first step to growing your money is knowing your money. Just by seeing that you spent $432 one month dining out with your friends, or that you went to Starbucks 37 times, you’ll change your spending habits for the better.

2. Stick to a budget

Most of us really only have 1-2 “problem” areas. Maybe it’s shopping, maybe its electronics. Once you know how much you typically spend, set a budget 15-25% lower. If you try to cut too hard too fast, you’ll never be able to stick to it.

3. Find a checking account that pays interest

“Free” checking isn’t exactly free. Sure you get free checks and no account fees, but most checking accounts pay no interest - zero, nothing. Meanwhile, the banks are loaning your money out in the form of mortgages or business loans at 7-8% interest. That’s how banks work. If you don’t have a checking account that pays interest, you’re being ripped off. Consider switching your account to one of the many that allow your money to work for you such as an E*Trade Max-Rate Checking Account (2.9% APY on accounts over $5K) or an HSBC Online Payment Account (2.25% APY, open an account with as little as $1).

4. Find a savings account that pays 3%+ interest

The average US savings account only pays about 0.5% interest. With inflation at 2-3%, you’re actually losing purchasing power each year. Find a high-yield savings account, money market fund, or CD that pays more such as WaMu Free Checking and Savings (3.0% APY, open with WaMu Free Checking) or E*Trade Max-Rate Savings (3.3% APY, open with as little as $1).
Avoid debt

5. Know your credit score and correct your credit report

Your credit score determines the interest rate lenders will charge on your credit cards, mortgage, student loan, or car loan. That means any mistakes in your credit report can cost you tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime. Unfortunately, 79% of all credit reports have an error, and 25% have an error serious enough to deny you access to credit. Take charge of your credit score at FreeCreditReport ($12.95/month for credit score and monitoring) or myFico (all three FICO scores and credit reports).

6. Eliminate late fees

About 35% of your credit score is determined by on-time payment. If you’re late on a credit card payment, it could cost you much, much more than the $29 late fee - if you let it go more than 60 days, it can affect your credit score and cost you thousands.

7. Don’t pay credit card finance charges

The average American carries $8,500 in credit card debt. At a minimum payment of $100 a month, it takes 6.7 years, and $4,257 in extra finance charges before you’re in the clear. If you carry a balance, one way to get some temporary relief is through a balance transfer. The best way out of this quagmire is to pay down your highest interest card first, or look for a balance transfer card such as the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card (0% Balance Transfer APR for up to 12 months, no annual fee, 3% transfer fee) or the Chase Platinum Visa® Card (0% Balance Transfer APR for up to 12 months, no annual fee, 3% transfer fee but no more than $99).

8. Get a credit card that pays you

Visa and MasterCard typically charge retailers 2-3% of each purchase you make. As a consumer, you can get a cut of those fees in the form of cash back rewards. Don’t settle for a card that pays less than 1%. A typical household can get as much as $300 a year back just for buying what it was going to buy anyway. Examples of cash back cards include the Chase Freedom℠ Visa Signature® Card (3% cash back on gas and groceries) and Blue Cash® from American Express (up to 5% on gas, restaurants, and drugstores).
Invest

9. Contribute to an IRA or 401k

Invest $100 a month in a tax-deferred account like an IRA or 401k, and at a growth rate of 10%, in 30 years you’d have $380k. In a regular taxable account (assuming 20% annual taxes), you’d only have $229k. That’s a $151k difference. Companies such as Fidelity and E*Trade offer such accounts.

10. Start investing and keep investing

Two simple steps can put you ahead of 99% of your peers. First, have your employer automatically deduct $200-$300 a month from your paycheck to a brokerage or mutual fund account. Second, grow that money in an index fund like the S&P 500. By having the money automatically deducted, you won’t be as tempted to spend it. If $200 a month in the S&P behaves as it has in the past 20 years, two decades from now you would have around $170k in savings. Open a Scottrade Brokerage Account ($7.00 stock trades, $500 minimum deposit) or an E*Trade Financial Brokerage Account ($12.99 stock trades, $1,000 minimum deposit).
Don’t lose it

11. Create an Emergency Fund

An emergency fund helps protect you against all of life’s ups and downs, whether they be car repairs, job loss, or a leaky roof. If you’re young, single and have no mortgage, strive for about 3 months expenses, or ballpark around $10,000. If you have a house, kids, or both, strive for 6 months expenses, or around $20,000 - $30,000 for the average family. Be sure to keep your emergency fund in a high-yield savings account so that it continues to grow.

12. Protect yourself with insurance

The right insurance depends greatly on your age and whether you have a family. If you’re in your 20’s, you need renter’s insurance - it’s typically around $150 a year and covers theft and fire. If you have a family, you need life insurance, health insurance, and disability insurance. Compare rates at InsWeb.com or Insurance.com.

CHANGE... WE NEED!??

2008-10-04T01:52:00.001-07:00

CHANGE... WE NEED!
Originally uploaded by hhsc/Greg

view profile
~ Sailor ~ Pro User says:

Ha! You are gonna get your CHANGE alright. Venezuela got their CHANGE. It's a brave new world, folks. HOPE you can afford the taxes given to another 35,000,000 non-tax paying citizens.

95% of Americans will get a tax cut! NEWS Flash - 30+% of Americans DON'T pay taxes. Do the math!

HA! I quit. I have started with nothing but the shirt on my back 3 times. Not again.

Obama can mail my check and you can keep your CHANGE.

Ha, this is gonna be almost as fun as the 1960s.

Hey, if by chance Obama does lose, will y'all be attending the riots?
Posted 13 hours ago. ( permalink )

obama chicken

2008-10-04T01:38:00.001-07:00

obama chicken
Originally uploaded by eywmm0

an orange beach resident put this on the back of their truck.

Uploaded by eywmm0 on 15 Sep 08, 7.16AM PDT.

'Urine or You're Out'

2008-09-20T18:24:00.001-07:00

THE JOB - URINE TEST

(Whoever wrote this one deserves a HUGE pat on the back!)

Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem.

What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test.
Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their A--, doing drugs, while I work. . . . Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?

Pass this along if you agree or simply delete if you don't. Hope you all will pass it along, though. . Something has to change in this country -- and soon!!!!!!!
I guess we could title that program, 'Urine or You're Out'

Car Buying Guide with money saving tips

2008-09-14T20:02:00.001-07:00

Car Buying Guide with money saving tips
Originally uploaded by Mint Software

Money saving tips, using a money management tool and a car buying guide can help you save money on your next car purchase.

Uploaded by Mint Software on 13 Sep 07, 3.11AM PDT.

Money Saving Tips: Frugal Idea Fridays - Frugal Lunch

2008-09-01T03:25:00.001-07:00

Money Saving Tips: Frugal Idea Fridays - Frugal Lunch
Originally uploaded by Mint Software

Want some frugal lunch ideas? Find them here. Following money saving tips can lead to improved finance management.

Uploaded by Mint Software on 8 Jun 07, 7.44PM PDT.

Turkey sandwich on wheat bread with lettuce, tomato, light mayo, carrot sticks, canned pears in light syrup and a snack pack of Oreos (the husband’s favorite):

Turkey sandwich on wheat bread ($1.30)
Lettuce ($0.25)
Tomato ($0.25)
Light mayo ($0.14)
Carrot sticks ($0.12)
Canned pears in light syrup ($0.69)
Snack pack of Oreos ($0.41)
Fountain or cooler water (free!)

Cost: $3.16

Comparison with eating out? Let’s assume an average lunch is $6 and that you have the frugal lunch idea twice per week. By packing your own lunch twice per week, you will save annually $295!

What more money saving tips? Check out more frugal lunch ideas from CleverDude.com!

Have your own frugal lunch idea? Sharing is caring

Money Saving Tips

2008-09-01T03:24:00.001-07:00

Money Saving Tips
Originally uploaded by Mint Software

Applying money saving tips and the use of a money management tool will get you into good financial shape.

Uploaded by Mint Software on 13 Sep 07, 4.03PM PDT.

FREE supplies for my rain harvesting system!!!

2008-08-15T14:19:00.001-07:00

I happen to come across all of this stuff in someones trash (two diff houses)....and figured I could use it...or at least try to use it for my rain harvesting system! :D

I LOVE FREE STUFF!!!

ways to advertise and increase traffic for FREE

2008-07-15T00:09:00.001-07:00

As I branch out and try to get my business going (www.LaPhotoDr.com) I am always looking for new ways to increase website traffic and to advertise my site!

Here is a list I found that I thought might be helpful to others in the same boat as me! (source: http://www.verio.com/free-advertising/)

"

Television ads are often prohibitively expensive for small businesses to produce and air. Magazine and radio ads are less expensive but still require a sizeable investment when part of an ongoing campaign. Although you can spend a lot of money on an Internet campaign, there are many ways to leverage the Internet and gain free advertising for your business. Following are 20 ideas to consider.

Increase your visibility on search engines: Insert keywords that describe your business into the HTML < META > tags on your Web site pages. Repeat these keywords in the text of your Web site's homepage. Strategic use of keywords can put your business name at the top of customers' search results. For more information, see our article "Optimizing Your Site for Search Engines and Directories."
Put your URL on everything: Maximize your advertising efforts by listing your Web site address on everything you do. Print the URL on your company's letterhead, on your business cards, on the front of your building or the door to your office suite. Use the URL in your e-mail signature. List the URL on any print advertising that you do, including phone books, brochures, flyers, and direct mail pieces.
Submit your site to every directory, specialty listing, industry organization, and yellow pages you can find: No matter what industry your business is in, there are online directories, such as Yahoo! Yellow Pages, that you should register with. Many business and industry associations allow you to list your business on their Web site. In addition, there are individuals who maintain popular lists of resources; use Web search engines to find these lists, and then create an entry for your business.
Utilize evangelists: Channel the energy of your most enthusiastic staff and encourage them to promote your company's product as they surf the Web.
Blogs: A Weblog, or blog, is a collection of short articles, essays, or loosely-formatted thoughts, usually written by one individual. Since the 2004 U.S. presidential election, blogs have become extremely popular as both a medium to get your message out and a vehicle for paid advertising. Blogs also encourage reader comments, making them a valuable tool for gathering customer feedback. Companies such as Blogger (www.blogger.com) will host your blog for free. You can also install a blog on your own Web site with free software such as MediaWiki (http://wikipedia.sourceforge.net).
Podcasting: Podcasts are audio files recorded in a radio talk show format. By posting podcasts on your Web site and other sites like Apple's iTunes (www.itunes.com), customers can subscribe to your podcasts, download them as soon as they are available, and then listen to them on their computers or portable MP3 devices. The software to create podcasts is free; for more information visit www.podcastingnews.com.
Join online communities: No matter what the topic, there are thousands of people discussing it passionately on the Internet. By contributing to these discussion groups, you can inform your customers and advertise your business..
E-mail lists: Cultivate a list of your customers' e-mail addresses and send them new product announcements, coupons, special offers, and useful information. See our article "Introduction to E-Mail Marketing" for more information.
Get the attention of the press: Pitch news ideas about your industry to local newspapers, radio stations, and television stations. Pitch ideas to Web news sites. Propose that one of your employees be the expert interviewed in the news piece.
Win awards: Research organizations that give awards for the products or services you provide. Apply for these awards and take the process seriously. When you win, make the most of the publicity.
Donate time or resources to a charity: Encourage charitable organizations to promote your business' donations and involvement. Try to get media coverage for the organizations and community causes you champion.
Publish information and reports about your industry: Provide consumers with free information about your business' industry. Invest in potential customers and they will invest in you.
Reciprocal links: Companies such as LinkLeads (www.linkleads.com) help businesses by facilitating an exchange of hyperlinks. By allowing a company to insert links to their products on your site, a company will allow you to insert links to your products on its site.
Reciprocal banner ads: Companies such as 123Banners (www.123banners.com) help businesses by facilitating free banner advertisement swaps. By allowing a company to advertise on your site, they allow you to advertise on theirs. Be sure you retain control over what Web sites carry your ads, and what ads you post on your site.
Coupons: Make coupons available on your Web site and e-mail them to your customers. Encourage them to give the coupons to friends and family.
Free samples of your product or service: Offer free samples of your product or service. Distribute these samples as widely as possible. Register your giveaways with Web sites such as A+ Free Stuff (www.aplusfreestuff.com) that act as a clearinghouse for free products. Before giving something away for free, ask customers to provide their e-mail address or fill out a short survey.
Free classified ads: Use services like Yahoo! Classifieds (http://classieds.yahoo.com) to post free ads for your products and services. Also consider posting offers for free samples of your products, sweepstakes, and other giveaways.
Excellent customer service: There's no advertising like personal recommendations made between friends and family. The best way to encourage this type of "viral marketing" is to provide excellent customer service. Take the time to properly train and motivate your sales people and do what is necessary to satisfy your customers' needs.
Business alliances and partnerships: Build partnerships with businesses that offer complementary products and services, and then promote each other. Make joint press statements about your industry, your partnership, and your products and services. Make sure your partners provide links from their Web sites to yours.
Ezine: Write an e-mail newsletter, called an ezine, with articles about your industry, your products and services, and related news of interest to your customers. Check out sources such as goarticles.com and ezinearticles.com, which provide free articles you can use in your ezine. Advertise your ezine for free with directory sites such as www.ezine-dir.com.

Not all these ideas may be appropriate for your business. The important thing is to think creatively and experiment. The Internet is an extremely flexible tool that gives your business many avenues for advertisement and enables you to react quickly to customer feedback."

FREE CHICK-FIL-A!!!!!!!!

2008-07-11T12:24:00.001-07:00

Dress like a cow on today and receive a free combo meal at either
lunch or dinner. Wear partial dress such as a hat only, receive a free
entree.

For tips and to find a location near you, go to

http://www.cowappreciationday.com/

They even have parts of a cow that you can download, print and wear!

I HAVE A BIKE FOR MY PROJECT!!!

2008-06-26T22:06:00.000-07:00

This is my bike:D My great sister and her hubby picked it up for me today!!! I got it for FREE off of www.freecycle.org ....def check that site out:D The bike seems in good shape from what I can tell by way of pictures!

It needs a new chain but that is a simple issue I hope:D

The frame is set up a lot like the example videos bike! This I hope will work to my advantage when tryin to figure out how to mount the motor and other parts for the bike to work! :D

I am anxious to get this running with gas prices going up so fast!!!
I will keep you posted!

Electric bike...powered by a DRILL??? :D

2008-06-23T23:28:00.001-07:00

I want the first one! :D

more about the first bike shown:

Possible how-to build an electric bike!!!

2008-06-23T22:13:00.000-07:00

I have got to study how others make their bikes electric....I found this video and it was very helpful! I just need to get the parts together now and recruit a friend to help me:D If you know where I can find any of these parts relatively cheap please let me know! :D

part 1

part2

part 3

part 4

part 5 - finished

Going back to 2 wheels???

2008-06-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

When we were young the only way to get around without depending on our parents was our bike! Unless we walked..but biking was so much faster! With the price of gas continuing to rise....I am highly considering going back to 2 wheels! I am looking to do it in a different way than before tho! I am going to attempt an electric bike! This is a bike that I will be able to pedal as well as run on electric power! There are electric scooters and bikes that do not allow you to pedal along as well. This causes a problem if for whatever reason you run out of your charge! This way....if I happen to run out of a charge while on my bike...I can use my own power to get where I'm going! Another plus is that I also get exercise on an electric bike instead of just sitting and being along for the ride. So if all goes well I will have a bike similar to this:

Hunting for supplies for Rain Barrel!

2008-06-13T00:39:00.001-07:00

I was headed somewhere today and spotted a Dollar General...so I thought...Ill stop there and see what they might have for cheap that I could use for the rain barrel! To my surprise they had just about everything I needed...I like to shop around so I didn't buy anything yet! I am also using www.FreeCycle.org (more info on that in a post to come!) to try and see what supplies people have that they will give me! Here is what I found! (gotta love a camera phone!!!:) )

TWO DIFFERENT LENGTH HOSES...I still need to measure to see what I need.

A 34 GALLON TRASH CAN.... I think this will be a good substitute for ones you find online that costs about $60 at cheapest. This one was only $25!

A WATERING CAN...this is if I wanted to just put a spout on the barrel and transport the water from the barrel to the garden using a watering can. I plan on attaching a hose and using gravity to get the water to the garden. I am hoping putting the barrel on a stand will be enough gravity to get the job done!

so far the cost to do project with out stand would be:

$25 - trash can
$8 - 50 ft hose
$1.50- water can
------------------
$34.50

more items to add:
-stand (bricks, cinder blocks, table??)
-netting to keep bugs out of water
-funnel (if i choose to catch the water this way and direct it to the barrel in a more discreet location)

I will continue to post more of my experiment as it happens:D Please comment if you have any tips or if you are interested in learning something specific about my project...I will do research for you and post a reply!

Thanks for being a faithful reader!

A Waterless carwash????

2008-06-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW LARGER:

CLICK HERE TO BUY ONLINE!!!

FREE FOOD at mall for kids:D

2008-06-04T23:21:00.000-07:00

Kids Club Members pick up $3 voucher for
participating merchants at Customer Service.

http://www.cortanamall.com/home.html

EASY QUICK way to save money AND water!

2008-06-04T02:26:00.000-07:00

A few simple water harvesting video

2008-06-03T23:32:00.001-07:00

Save money by saving water!!!

2008-06-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

With gas prices as high as they are and only seeming to get higher I am even more concerned with how to save money! I love watching all the do it yourself shows and the other day they had a segment on catching rain water! I thought....well thats a great idea! Its FREE!!! I want to use it at our house to water the small garden we have in the front of the house. I know that the possibilities go on and on for what you can use the water for....just be sure you check into the safety regulations where you live! So I am going to share what I have found with you! I hope its useful! Send me a msg if you have done this and I will post your story!

I want to create a simple water catching device that I can store high and open the nozzle when needed to let water be drawn by gravity down to the garden. I was thinking about attaching a hose that has small holes in it that would sit on the garden and water the garden all at once...buuuut my sister informed me that they MAKE hoses for this purpose already!

I am going to start my venture into water harvesting with a small project. I want to gather water and use it to water our garden. To do this there are a few ways I could attempt it. I would like to use gravity to my advantage but it seems like it may be hard to get a large enough container high enough to make it worth the effort. They sell water barrels online and they come with everything you need....and in the long run.....are worth the price. The money you will save on water costs (or the lack of)....will pay for the barrel many times over its lifespan.

If you are more like me and are more of a do it yourselfer :)....and also like to do things as cost effective as possible the below project might be more your style.

I do not want to take credit for the following story or idea...but I also don't know the source! But here it is anyway...for you to read and hopefully use to save water!

"For a very cheap solution, stop by your local soda bottler and ask if they have any syrup drums. The coke bottler near my house gave me as many as I wanted for free (they use them as trashcans at the plant). These are food safe and similar to the 55 gal drums that are sold at garden stores.

To turn these into a rain barrel simply cut a hole in the top to collect the rain from the roof (or downspout) and drill a hole in the side to attach a hose spigot. The total cost of the building was about $5.

As mentioned, these are gravity fed so you may need a way to increase the pressure. I built a stand out of some scrap PT 4x4s and fence pickets that gives me enough pressure for watering the garden."

I will update you as I attempt something like thise for our garden! :)

Baskin Robbins $0.31 a scoop night!!!

2008-04-24T13:55:00.001-07:00

Baskin Robbins is honoring America'sFirefighters by
selling ice cream for $.31 cents per scoop on Wednesday, April 30th
between 5 and 10 pm. Grab your friends, and/or the kids and
have a cool one! This fundraiser for the firefighters is an important
one for them, so let's go out and have ice cream and support a great cause.

http://www.baskinrobbins.com/Promotion/31cent.aspx

CALL YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY NOW!!!

2008-03-18T04:09:00.000-07:00

stop whatever you are doing and call you credit card company right now!

I have been telling a friend to call and get her interest rate lowered on her credit card so I figured I should do the same for mine! WELL....to my shock.....when I called they had raised my interest rate SO high without my knowing it that the operator VOLUNTEERED to try to lower it!!! When I asked her what it was she said.....not 20%....not 30%....but 31.49%....I was so mad!!! She said she needed a supervisor to approve to have it lowered so I had to wait on hold. I waited a few minutes and she came back on saying she was unable to reach a supervisor right now but she could have one approve to lower my interest rate and call me back within 24 hours....I told her "i can wait"....she she put me back on hold and in about 5 minutes she came back telling me that the lower rate had been approved and it was now 11.2%....BIG difference!!!

I just don't get how the government lets the credit card companies get away with this. If they RAISE my interest rate they should have to TELL me! I think they should have to tell me BEFORE they raise it! And have to tell me WHY the heck they are raising it! If the government would worry about regulating these companies people would have more money and they wouldn't have to worry about a recession or printing more checks (that put the country in more debt) to send to people who they hope will spend it to get the "economy going again". They could save us alllll A LOT of money if they would just keep the credit card companies in line. I have a feeling though that this won't happen...I think that the government gets some kind of cut from these companies so they can continue to behave this way! It is an outrage!

so stop what you were doing before you read this....get your credit card or cards out....get a pen and paper....can call them all and make note of your current interest rate and ask them to lower it!

I am not going to be using the company I am currently with much longer as I am transferring my balance to a 0% interest card! I recommend you do the same! Otherwise you are PAYING THEM to SPEND your own money! Think about it...it doesn't make sense!

Rant about your interest rates here...I am sure many of you will be surprised when you call too!!!

FREE CEREAL!!!! 6 BOXES!!!

2008-03-07T21:47:00.000-08:00

Below are three links to the coupons for FREE cereal! You can print 2 from each link! Thats right SIX boxes of FREE cereal! Try it for FREE and even if you don't like it buy it for a friend or for a shelter or bless someone at church....or even your neighbor!

CHECK IT OUT:

FREE CEREAL 1

FREE CEREAL 2

FREE CEREAL 3

Job Hunting...again!

2008-03-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

So I have been hunting for a job since my other one fell thru....but this past 2 weeks or so I have been doing it more on purpose! I need the income. I have found a few that would do but only one have I applied to that seems like it would be something I would enjoy doing. It is not the best pay but with 2 p/t jobs the second one doesn't have to be the best paying job.

I am also moving very soon. I am going to be having more room mates. This will cut down costs and help us all save money.

thats a quick update today! :D

Save more than you SPEND!!!

2008-02-25T04:05:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to share with you about a friend of mine who when we went to the store last night.....she saved more than she spent! It sounds crazy but its true! She took advantage of the BOGO (buy on get one)FREE offers! AND she used the FREE bag of chips coupon from this site! (it expires on march 9th so print yours now!) Just for proof...here are some pics of her receipt:
-

FREE programs!!!

2008-02-25T02:29:00.000-08:00

Follow this link to watch a video about 3 free programs!!!

FREE PROGRAMS!

Stock photo money making update!

2008-02-23T04:10:00.000-08:00

I have sold a few more photos on BigStockPhoto.com!!!!! I am now up to 11.00...now I know this doesn't seem like much but I have not been working at it like I should! I used to make sure I submitted a photo for approval at least once a day! I only do it once a month now if I remember! I have lots of images that would probably sell but its just putting that effort in to fill in the discription about the photo that takes time....but I am going to start doing it again. The benefit of it is that once you do the work.....the photo is there.....and can sell over and over again from that one time submission! So I think its worth it to spend the time if in the end the profit equals the effort or even in some cases exceeds it!

Here is my screen shot from Big Stock Photo (click to enlage) :

COUPONS, COUPONS, COUPONS!

2008-02-22T00:06:00.000-08:00

It is amazing the amount of money you can save with just a little effort. So...follow things links and put forth the effort and with the money you save....pay yourself! or pay off that debt faster!!

Smart Source
How it works: Select the coupons you want; click “Print Now” when you’re done!

CoolSavings :Free Coupons & Great Deals!

Visit CoolSavings before you shop to save big on groceries, clothing, travel and more!

CouponDiscounts.com
Another great coupon site that has free printable grocery coupons , simply enter your zip code and see all grocery coupons available in your area .

FREE CHIPS! - Click the image!!!

2008-02-19T01:09:00.000-08:00

Shed layout draft!

2008-02-17T10:49:00.001-08:00

I found a really cool program online for free that lets you layout your house! This is the layout that I figure out for the very limited space! I am going to redo it with an added space attached to the shed for the bathroom. I am going to make that another storage building you can buy also. The shed if doable....but for a little bit more money...you could have a more comfortable living space and bathroom! :D

Click picture to enlarge! :)

A small house from a storage shed?!?!?

2008-02-16T23:30:00.000-08:00

So....I have been brainstorming about my housing options! I think this one that I am going to share today is actually....doable! The main issue I have right now is that I don't have anywhere to build it!....so I'm gonna build it here!:) I search and searched on lowes.com and homedepot.com and found one that I think would work the best out of what they offer:

These are images from home depots website. It is a 12x24 building....it is close to 300 sq. ft. Yes...its small. But if it was only for me and I OWNED it and it helped me get out of debt! I could live there as long as it takes! I could seperate it into 2 rooms...one 12x12 living room and one 12x12 bedroom...which is a good size for both...totally doable:) I have thought about making an addition to the barn for a bathroom or....i could make one that is accessible from the bedroom as well as the living room area. this would take space away from the bed room...but it would still be fine. I would put a loft in the bedroom or a loft bed...and use that to make room for a desk under the loft. I plan to draw it to scale in photo shop:) and put it on here!

One of the things I really don't have a clue about is the plumbing and electrical! I can put a window unit in for the a/c....but thats all I have figure out! So I still have lots of research to do! But if I ever get a piece of land...I could finally have my shoe box to live in that I own! :D man that would be amazing....to just own something!

I am not just a brainstormer...I also am getting a second and maybe a third job to try and make and save more money! I am not eating out now except MAYBE on Sundays after church. I have a budget sheet and once I have a steady income amount I can really start to put a dent in my debt! Any tips?:)

Be sure to check back for updates on my Shed to house conversion!

Household tips to save money!

2008-02-15T00:54:00.000-08:00

Get yourself a power strip for all your electronics.
These can be had for as little as $10 and they make a huge difference in your electricity use. Using power strips for your computer, television and other stuff you don’t need powered up when you are not using them can cut your electric bill by a substantial amount because these products normally draw “phantom power” even when they are off. No sense in doing that, right? We have them on our computers and our television/DVD player so that at night or when we go away we can just flip the switch and cut off the power completely. Without making a change to the electronics you use, you can cut your consumption by at least 50% and your bill as well.

Brew your own coffee.
Seriously, 3 bags of beans can get you through the month for a total of $20. Buying a cup every day would run about $4, times 20 work days = $80 minimum per month.

Coupons
Pretty self explanatory, but they can save you a lot.

Cut off the Cable!
Get rid of some cable tv services…if not all of it.

FOR A LIMITED TIME...FREE BOOK!!!

2008-02-14T01:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday on Oprah....Suze Orman was on! She is so passionate about women and their money issues that she is offering her book "Women and Money" for FREE as a download on Oprah.com

OFFER GOOD UNTIL 5PM PACIFIC ON FEB. 14TH!!!!!!

I have this book and it is a very good resource and I would highly recommend anyone reading this book! Do keep in mind that it is over 300 pages ... so before you press print...maybe just print the sections you need:D

Enjoy!

www.Oprah.com

My new dream house...

2008-02-13T05:54:00.000-08:00

I have a long ways to go before I can afford a house...but a girl can always dream! I have been looking up ways to have a cheap house! I am just so sick of renting! So sick of paying someone else's mortgage! I have thought about buying a trailer. I could get a decent one for around $10,000. and If I can't find land to buy the land rental fee is only about $100 in most places. It is still an option I guess...but I would want a roomie and I have no one right now who would live in a trailer with me. At this point...in a about 2 months I will be moving. My current roommate and I are moving someplace with a friend of mine, lets call her beth, whose roomie is getting married. Now the roomie who is engaged was going to move home with her folks for a few months before the wedding but beth and I have convinced her to move in with us for a few months and save us all some money! So with that said... I might get a trailer to rent out to someone else? I have so many ideas!!!

Here is my new dream house...it is made from a storage container used for shipments on trains....clever idea...something cheap but kewl and also safe:

One of the coolest things about this is the way it is designed...when you want to move...it folds into itself and makes the shape of a container again so that it can be moved easily and just like a regular shipping container! I am doing research on the price and how much it costs to actually get it to where you would want your house...sometimes they try to rip you off on the shipping!

Please comment about any creative housing options you know about!

Government Grants?? Loan Forgiveness??

2008-01-18T04:15:00.000-08:00

I have been doing some research to see if this is for real. I would love to find a way to get a grant to pay off even a portion of my school debt! I have not been able to find a person yet who has gotten a government grant for anything. I was hoping to find someone who got a grant for their school loan debt. I have been able to find a list of ways to "work" off your debt with the government.

The list is below is from http://www.finaid.org/loans/forgiveness.phtml:

Volunteer Work

These volunteer organizations offer loan forgiveness:

AmeriCorps. Serve for 12 months and receive up to $7400 in stipends plus $4725 to be used towards your loan. Call 1-800-942-2677.

Peace Corps. Volunteers may apply for deferment of Stafford, Perkins and Consolidation loans and partial cancellation of Perkins Loans (15% for each year of service, up to 70% in total). Volunteers make a real difference in the lives of real people with two years of service in more than 70 developing countries. Contact the Peace Corps at 1111 20th St., NW, Washington, DC 20526 or call 1-800-424-8580 or 1-202-692-1845.

Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). Volunteer with private, non-profit groups that help eradicate hunger, homelessness, poverty and illiteracy. Provide 1700 hours of service and receive $4725. Call 1-800-942-2677 or 1-202-606-5000.

Military

Students who are in the Army National Guard may be eligible for their Student Loan Repayment Program, which offers up to $10,000. (Note, the military and veterans' associations provide many scholarships and tuition assistance programs. See the section on Military Aid for details.)

Teaching

Laon forgiveness form for Teachers

Students who become full-time teachers in an elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families can have a portion of their Perkins Loan forgiven under The National Defense Education Act. This program forgives 15% of your loan for the first and second years of teaching service, 20% for the third and fourth, and 30% for the fifth. Contact your school district's administration to see which schools are eligible.

Mississippi teachers who currently have their Alternate Route Teaching License and teach in a shortage area may be eligible for the Teacher Loan Repayment program. Visit the Mississippi Office of State Student Financial Aid web site at www.ihl.state.ms.us or call 1-601-432-6997.

The American Federation of Teachers maintains a list of other loan forgiveness programs for teachers.

Legal and Medical Studies

Many law schools forgive the loans of students who serve in public interest or non-profit positions. For more information, contact Equal Justice Works (formerly the National Association for Public Interest Law) at 2120 L Street, NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20037-1541 (phone 1-202-466-3686 or fax 1-202-429-9766).

The US Department of Health and Human Services offers loan forgiveness programs through the National Health Service Corps and the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program. These programs offer loan forgiveness to physicians and registered nurses who agree to practice for a set number of years in areas that lack adequate medical care (including remote and/or economically depressed regions).

The US National Institutes of Health's NIH Loan Repayment Programs repays up to $35,000/year of student loan debt for US citizens who are conducting clinical medical research.

If you're a California resident, contact the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (State Loan Repayment Program, 400 R Street, Room 330, Sacramento, CA 95811; 1-916-326-3745). Other states may have similar programs.

Federal Government Loan Forgiveness Programs

The Federal Student Loan Repayment Program allows federal agencies to establish loan forgiveness programs to help recruit and retain employees. This is technically a loan repayment program and not a loan forgiveness program, as the agencies make payments directly to the loan holder and the payments represent taxable income to the employee. The agencies can repay up to $10,000 in Federal student loans per employee per calendar year, with a cumulative maximum of $60,000 per employee. Employees must agree to work for the agency for at least 3 years. For more information, see the Student Loan Repayment Program FAQ. This program is authorized by 5 USC 5379 (alternate link) and 5 CFR 537. Federal Employee Student Loan Assistance Act (P.L. 108-123, 11/11/03) increased the repayment limits to $10,000 per employee per year and $60,000 per employee cumulative. (The federal government's jobs site is located at www.usajobs.opm.gov. They also have a site focused on jobs for recent graduates.)

Job Hunting...

2008-01-18T03:25:00.000-08:00

I am job hunting again. The studio job just was not dependable enough. I can't live like that. I need to make money...I have bills to pay:) I have been looking online and in the paper...and have applied but haven't heard anything positive back yet. I am grateful to the ones that write back and say the position has been filled....even if its one I really wanted. I did find on job that woul dbe perfect for me....editing pictures via email on a constant basis! I would LOVE that! That is what I want to do with Photo Therapy! So I hope that one works out! In my job search I have used several websites.

The best job finding websites I've found are:

www.monster.com
(will email you matches)

www.Craigslist.com
(takes a little more work and searching but if you find a good one its worth it!)

and the career services site thru my local university...search near you to find one!

slighty bummed today....

2008-01-08T15:33:00.000-08:00

so for the last year and a half I have worked a photography studio. I am a graphics artist by title...which means I retouch/enhance the photos in photoshop. Over the past few months there have been a few changes. Over the past month...even at Christmas time (which is usually crazy)...they were calling me in the morning to tell me that there was no work and not to come in today. Minus Christmas break...this has gone on for about 2 1/2 weeks. I have been looking for another part time job for about the past 2 weeks. And the reason I am more bummed today is because the message they left this morning was...that they would call me only if they needed me to come in! Like I can just sit around and wait for a call! I didn't take a second job while working there for fun! I got bills to pay. I liked my job there.

I am just trying to pay my bills, save, and live. I am not asking for some $200 an hour job. I am good at my job. I am good at it and enjoy doing it so much that I have started to sell my services online to people all over the country. Not only do I retouch but locally I also do photo sessions. The profit I make from this does not replace what I was making at the studio...not yet!

Here are some examples of my work:

Got money books for christmas:D

2008-01-04T01:26:00.000-08:00

When people asked me what I wanted for christmas....this year I actually knew:D and so I figured ....ask for them for Christmas and get them for free! :) So I got 2 wonderful books for Christmas... and I am busy reading these days...trying to get up to speed as far as good financial moves go!

I am currently reading:

The Mon ey Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke

So far it is really good! It breaks things down step by step! You can even go online with the code provided in the book and have a custom action plan made just for you! It guides you step by step based on how you answer a series of questions! I am on about page 40 and I started last night and only stopped reading because I got tired! Another good thing about the book is that you don't have to read it all the way thru. The chapters are set up as sections...so if you are looking for a specific thing you and just read that chapter and put the book down until the next time you have specific questions! I want to learn as much as I can so I am reading the whole thing first and then will keep it around as a reference!

I also got another book for a christmas present!

Women and Money

I will be sure to let you know how that one is too...but if it is anything like the one I am reading now...it is wonderful!

Be sure to click the book images or titles to buy your copy today!

Goals I met since set in August...

2007-12-31T03:06:00.000-08:00

I reached my goal of raising my monthly income by at least $500. I did this by getting a second part time job working for Hallmark Cards. I am a supervisor in charge of the Hallmark accounts in about 20 Walmart stores. It is an interesting job...and I get to travel! So...so far....its working out well!

Because I met my goal of raising my monthly income I was able to buy a newer vehicle. I got a 1999 GMC Jimmy...and so far....I'm Loving it! I have to travel for work and this is a big improvement from my old faithful ('92 Galant). My old car served me well but it was time to move on!

I was also able to pay off my CompUSA credit card! woohoo! Because of my monthly increase I was able to pay on my card more than once a month. I focused on this credit card first because its interest rate was high and I was able to transfer my other credit cards to a %0 credit card. Now that I have paid this card off I plan on just putting the money I would have put towards my CompUSA card...towards my current debt! This way...I will not add that money back into my budget and I will pay my credit cards down faster.

click image below for larger view

Myth 1: Cancel your credit cards.

2007-12-22T17:06:00.000-08:00

Getting out of debt is all the rage. It's easy to fall into and hard to escape, but many millions of us are working on it. Here is one myth to be aware of in the pursuit of financial freedom.

Myth : Cancel your credit cards. By all means, pay off your credit card balance (or balances). If your credit cards have the sweet lure of the Muses and sing to you from your wallet, remove them. Cut them up, freeze them in baggies of water, or seal them in an envelope and give them to your mother. But please, please don't cancel a credit card that is still carrying a balance. If you do, the credit card company you owe money to will very likely consider you a high-risk account, and promptly raise your interest rate. The way they see it, if you cancel your card, you're on the brink of ruin. If you're in the process of repaying your debt, this is not the impression you want to make, especially if it's untrue. A better bet is to stop using the card, pay your bill on time for at least six months, and contact the customer service department directly. Ask them to reduce your interest rate; creditors can be refreshingly flexible and cooperative when they recognize a reliable customer. If you consistently pay more than the minimum and stop adding to the unpaid balance, you will get it paid off eventually. Then you can cancel the card. Or you can leave it in pieces, on ice in your mother's freezer.

Tips for students!

2007-12-20T02:11:00.000-08:00

Now that I am finished with college....I can look back and realize how good I had it! There are tons of ways you can save money while in school! Here are a few:

Buy used textbooks. You’re just going to sell them back at the end of the term. (Or end up wishing you had done so five years from now.) You don’t need new textbooks.

Skip spring break. Forget the long road trips. You can have a lot of fun for cheap close to campus. (My college used to organize economical group trips; yours probably does, too.) You might be surprised at how fun it can be to stay on campus, too.

Live without a car. Cars are expensive: gas, maintenance, insurance, registration, parking. Stick close to campus. Learn to use mass transit. Find a friend who has a car.

Don’t hang out with big spenders. Some kids have parents with deep pockets. Other kids are well down the road to financial trouble. Hanging out with them can lead you to spend more than you can afford.

Take advantage of campus activities. There’s always something to do. Attend free movie festivals. Pay a few bucks to see the local symphony every month. Support the sports teams. Attend lecture series. Get the most from your student ID!

I got a lot of free meals by attending events with Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship! Check out their website to find one on your campus!

Print on demand books...

2007-12-19T00:15:00.000-08:00

I am a writer. I have several books that I want to write. It is not an easy process and takes patience and persistence but I have finally finished my first poetry book! With a lot of help from my sister ( who is a fab graphic designer and photographer : www.adairphotography.com )...it is finally finished! We have been working on Layers for years. It is a compilation of 3 years of my life. They are listed in the book in chronological order so it reads like a poetic autobiography.
front cover back cover

When looking online there are many options for self-publishing. Many of them call for you to pay upfront. And then to also store many copies of your book at your house...and then to also take orders....AND then ship the book when someone orders it. I wanted a simpler route! A friend of mine shared www.lulu.com with me! So far it has worked wonderfully for me! They are a print on demand publishing site. That means that all I do is upload my work...set the price...design my storefront...and they take care of the rest! When someone visits my store...and places an order...lulu then prints a book and ships it to them! I am notified by email! That way I don't have to waste time and money storing them in my house and shipping them!

I am taking orders and have almost reached my goal of 35! This is a local order so I can buy in bulk and save on shipping! This way I will also be able to hand deliver these and thank people for purchasing a book! When I do deliver the books...I am also going to insert a postcard we made for them to hand out to friends who they think might like the book! It will also be a reminder for them or something they can post on their bulletin board! I am also mailing the card out to friends and family!

So if you have a book you have always wanted to write...LULU is a good way to go! It costs me nothing but time to get the book up on my store...and then when someone buys one...they take the cost of printing the book and the rest of it is profit!

Another online $ maker...

2007-12-18T23:01:00.000-08:00

I come from a very creative family. We love to make things....design things....be crafty! So my sister came across the perfect online place for us to sell our creations!

www.Etsy.com/phototherapy

Etsy is an ebay for crafters basically! I can post my photography, my books, my photo editing...for sale and people buy directly from my shop! I have sold a few books, a few photographs, and the photo editing is picking up also. It cost $0.20 to post an item for sale. And a percentage of the price you are charging when the item sells. The item stays listed for about 3 months before it expires. What I like to do is...I post an item for sale...then when the order comes in I use another website to print the image or book that will ship the item directly to my client. That way I don't end up paying shipping twice. This saves me time and money! And that is the goal....after making money of course!

Here are my sold orders so far! :

Your Orders (5 total)

quantity

price

sold on

status

reserved for nolagurl - New Orleans Stroll - 8x10

to nolagurl

$25.00
$0.00

Dec. 09
2007

• details

	got payment
	shipped

insert person - Photo Retouching by email

to QueenColeenz

$12.00
$0.00

Nov. 19
2007

• details

	got payment
	shipped

Photo Retouching by email

to QueenColeenz

$8.00
$0.00

Nov. 16
2007

• details

	got payment
	shipped

My Bug Book

to sussiesandsuch

$15.00
$0.00

Jul. 10
2007

• details

	got payment
	shipped

My Bug Book

to sussiesandsuch

$15.00
$0.00

Jun. 30
2007

• details

	got payment
	shipped

And here is my bill....what I have had to pay so far:

Monthly Statements / view full list / view current

Month	Opening bal.	Fees	Payments	Closing bal.
December 2007	---	$1.08	$2.38	N/A	(current month)

November 2007	$1.40	$1.30	$1.40	$1.30	due by 12/15/07

October 2007	$2.38	$1.40	$2.38	$1.40	due by 11/15/07

September 2007	$2.38	$0.00	$0.00	$2.38	due by 10/15/07

August 2007	$2.38	$0.00	$0.00	$2.38	due by 09/15/07

I have only paid about $6 or $7 and have made far more than that. So...this far it has been a good investment of my time and money.

Check it out and let me know how it works for you!

Some tips.....mark others as your favorites and they will mark you as theirs....and that gets your shop more visitors! Also....TELL your family and friends!

Add the link to your shop as a signature on the bottom of your emails!

Getting serious about my money.

2007-12-13T00:58:00.001-08:00

I should have gotten serious a long time ago. But I just didn't understand that a few years can make a difference...as well as a few trips to the store! When I finally got serious about my money I started to one thing on purpose...I didn't really like it at first...but it has paid off. I started to watch TV shows and listen to radio shows dealing with money issues and the US economy. I thought it would be good to know what is going on in the country and the world...money wise....because it would affect my money some point down the line! I have a high level of respect for Suze Orman! She is one of my favorites to watch on TV! She may not always be nice about it....but she knows her stuff! If you have questions or want to know if you can afford something...she is the lady to ask!

When I got serious about my money I also put into play something very simple and practical that I could do each time I got a paycheck. I had already known that I should save...but how do you know when and how much? I didn't know how to set that limit...sooo...it just never happened. I would put random amounts into my account very randomly...and that is no way to save! I had known about Tithing too. This I did...I am sure I missed a paycheck or two. But I tried my best to do this. I knew that it was a priority of mine. The simple act that I put into practice was this..."Pay God. Pay yourself. Pay everyone else!" So, I started to do just that. Every paycheck...%10 straight to a tithe account...then %10 into a savings account (which I made sure had a good interest rate)...and then I paid my bills. The savings are there for when I need it. I try to leave it alone but in the case of an emergency...I have that money instead of just popping out the credit card and getting into MORE debt! I will talk about credit cards another day!!! ( BEWARE OF PLASTIC!!!)

Try these steps...they have worked for me! I believe that God is faithful! And that when we tithe (which is just giving back what belongs to Him anyways!) He is faithful to make sure our needs are met...and even some of our wants! :D I also believe it is important to take value in ourselves. I think I am important. Therefore, I save for my future. I know another easy easy way to save more...put what I used to pay in credit card payments (once I have paid them off) into my savings account each month. I know that one day more money will be going into the savings...when my CCs are paid off! That will be a glorious day!

I am determined...

2007-12-05T01:10:00.000-08:00

The search has started! I am determined to find a way to make a decent amount of money using the internet. The first thing I am trying out is stock photography. I enjoy taking pictures and my sister told me about this. I have an account with www.BigStockPhoto.com

The process is:

1. Take a picture
2. Post it online (give it a title, enter detail, etc.)
3. Wait for approval
4. Wait for it to sell

The good thing about stock photography accounts is that once the picture is on the website...your work is done. The picture could sell in a week or in a year...but you have done all you can. It can continue selling as long as you have an account.

The pay per image isn't gonna blow your mind. But $1.00 and $0.50 can add up over time. Especially on images that you spend time on once and they continue to be bought. Most stock photo website have lists for their photographers letting them know what photos are in high demand. They want to help you sell...because when you make money so do they! Different stock photo websites have different requirements for what photos they accept to be sold on their site. Be sure to read these before wasting your time submitting photos that won't be accepted.

So far I have made $7. One photo has sold at least 3 times. I am hoping to get more photos like that...that just keep being bought!

The journey begins!

2007-11-25T16:44:00.000-08:00

Is there anyone else out there like me? A single woman, over 20k in student loans, credit card debt, tired of paying rent (which is really just someone else's mortgage)...and those are just a few things to list!

I come from a very creative family. I enjoy doing a lot of things and am trying to turn my creativity into cash!