Budget Babble

When you can barely stretch your paycheck from one week to the next, it may be time to tweak your shopping habits. Stretching your dollars doesn’t mean you have to cut corners or do without. You can actually buy more for less by following a few simple guidelines. 1)   Shop at your local $1 dollar store. You don’t need to stock your shelves with brand name stuff when the cheaper version will do just fine. Dollar stores can be a goldmine of bargains for everyday items. Sandwich bags, paper towels, trash bags, toiletries, and even groceries can be purchased for only $1 a piece. Many of your cleaning products as well as hundreds of other everyday items can be purchased at dollar stores for a fraction of what you’d pay in a grocery or drug store. 2)   Take advantage of coupons and specials. Cut all the coupons you can use and organize them so they’re easy to find. You can find great coupons on product packages and you can search online and find additional coupons. When purchasing m...

A payday loan may be the answer for people with bad credit, but as with any loan there are pros and cons. While one the one hand you can get money quickly, on the other, they cost a lot. Still, they may be the only option for some people who need some emergency cash. What are payday/advance Loans? Payday loans are also called cash advance loans. They are small (up to $700), unsecured loans-meaning you can borrow without any credit or collateral. These loans are paid to you quickly, usually instantly or within 24 hours, and due to be paid back with your next paycheck. These loans are popular with people with bad credit or no credit. Anyone who can prove a regular monthly income with pay stubs or bank records can get one. Sounds convenient, right?     Let’s discuss the fees before you rush out to take out a loan for yourself. Where do I find a lender? You can find lenders at check cashing stores, pawn shops, banks and credit unions, “Lending” stores and online. Are There Fees At...

For business owners large and small, advertising your brand has never been so easy.    Nearly every person in the world today is connected to the internet somehow and every one of these people is a potential customer to you. Whether your business is online or a brick and mortar store, there is a way you can reach anyone with an internet connection via their home computers, cell phones, laptops and tablets. It’s called email marketing, and when utilized the right way, it can be your best friend. Email marketing enables you to offer your product to everyone who may be interested in it, in short time. You simply design an ad or brochure and send it out to all your previous customers and new, potential customers. When they respond to your email, they are taken to your website and there your business grows. Creating the perfect email isn’t hard if you keep a few basics in mind. A design that will catch their attention, a product that they need and a simple purchase and checkout pro...

Everyone talks about making money with paid online surveys, but many of these sites are scams and that scares people away.    It gives honest survey sites a bad name they don’t deserve. There  are  real money-making survey sites out there…you just have to know what to look for. While you won’t get rich quick, if you are realistic and join the right sites, you can begin earning real money today! So how do you know if a survey site is legitimate or a scam? Well, I joined  32 survey sites  and I found some good and some bad. I’ve been paid by about half of them at least once but my favorites are the 5 listed here that I get regular payments from. As for the rest of the sites, I deleted my accounts and unsubscribed myself due to factors like emailing me “offers” instead of surveys and having ridiculously high redemption amounts that would take months, if not a year, to reach. How to Get Started When you join a site, fill out your profile right away. This determ...

                                                      Taking Online Surveys is a fun way to earn a little extra cash  just for giving your opinion. When you answer these surveys, you are shaping the market of tomorrow by telling companies how you feel about their products. The pay is generally low since these surveys are designed for mass audiences, but the payments add up and it's always a big help at cash-out time!  Surveys can be a great way to earn an extra few bucks.While doing surveys won't make you rich, the compensation you get in the form of points or credits adds up until you redeem it for cash or gift cards. If you're going to be online anyway, why not have a little fun?                                             Here i...

Every Dollar (or Towel, or Pet Toy, or Bag of food) makes a world of difference in a struggling pet shelter!                                                                                                A True, but  Sad Story I once worked in a city animal shelter. The number of pets that ended up in just that one shelter was heartbreaking and the number of them that were not adopted by their 7th day and were euthanized was tragic. I went home every night and cried. It was an absolutely gut-wrenching and tragic reality I ever had to face. I saw firsthand the enormous impact each donation made, no matter how big or small.  And If you can't  donate  cash, there are a gazillion other ways to help!         ...

When you are struggling to make ends meet, saving can seem an impossible goal. Even if you're living paycheck to paycheck, there are ways to save and have some money left over at the end of the week. Here are 5 money saving tips that will leave you with a few extra dollars in your pocket.                                                                                 #1 Shop at your local $1 dollar store. Dollar stores can be a goldmine of bargains for everyday items. Sandwich bags, paper towels, trash bags, toiletries, and even groceries can be purchased for only $1 a piece. You’ll just have to skip the brand name items…you don’t need to stock your shelves with expensive stuff when the cheaper version will do just fine. Many of your cleaning products as well as hundreds of other every...

If you want to excel as a writer, you need to outshine the competition! These sites are brimming with helpful tips, online classes, writing forums, job boards, blogs and more!   It seems that everybody wants to make money by writing online. There are more and more writers competing for the same jobs every day. It’s hard to stand out in such a big crowd.    When I started writing, I spent hours browsing writing related sites. Reading one article, I'd find links to other articles and resources that I had no idea existed. It is like a never-ending journey through the world of online content. Browse through these sites. Within them you will find that each article leads to more articles, each link leads to more links. Keep chasing the information and soaking up the knowledge like a sponge. I do, just because I can and it’s free. I bookmark certain pages to refer back to. I use my snipping tool to take screenshots of pertinent information. My desktop is full of virtual sticky n...

During uncertain economic times such as these, charities and other non-profits are struggling to help entire communities in need. With few resources and a fraction of the funding they require, expenses like rent, cleaning supplies, office supplies, outreach and transportation needs are hard to meet. Cash donations are most commonly sought, and while cash is always welcome, it is certainly not the only way to give!  Giving Goods: In-kind Donations Are Every Bit as Valuable as Cash!  When was the last time you cleaned out your closets? Or decluttered the basement? You probably have valuable donations hidden in your closets, attics or cellars. Many of the things we throw away, in fact, could be put to good use elsewhere! Check your favorite non-profit’s website or Social Media page for a “Wish List” of items they need.  The single, most valuable thing you can donate to  any  agency is your time! Walk a dog or play with a cat, Spend time with an elderly person, or h...