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Re: Home-Based Businesses
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #334464 by Green Tortuga
Jan 9, 2009 12:08pm
Thread Board (disabled)
And here I was thinking you (Ryan) were a starving artist and that if I win the lottery I would share it with you and now I see you don't need it!!!

Goofy girl
Re: Home-Based Businesses
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #334468 by Goofy girl
Jan 9, 2009 12:18pm
Thread Board (disabled)
And here I was thinking you (Ryan) were a starving artist and that if I win the lottery I would share it with you and now I see you don't need it!!!

Well, I'll survive. Being a part-time blogger isn't likely to make anyone rich. It's a cheap and easy way to make a little extra money, though. It helps more if your blog is something that other people are selling and there are lots of relevant ads for the subject!

-- Ryan
Re: Home-Based Businesses
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #334462 by SITE Sleuths
Jan 9, 2009 12:49pm
Thread Board (disabled)
I know someone that sells Two Sisters products. www.twosistersgourmet.com Its nice because it's food products that people will run out of and if they like it, will need more. Something like Pampered Chef is great but the stuff last forever so its not like you are going to get someone buying a $40 stoneware pan every month.

They have different start up kids and my friend said she made her original investment back in one or two parties.

Good Luck!
crazyolis
Re: Home-Based Businesses
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #334456 by Brandy
Jan 9, 2009 1:02pm
Thread Board (disabled)
I have a friend who does Stampin' Up and she likes it because there is not a lot of pressure to do any more than she feels like doing. Plus, you can get discounts on stamping supplies, so there's a bonus! ;) I know several people who sell Cookie Lee jewelry and Arbonne health products, too.

There are lots of opportunities listed here: http://www.entrepreneur.com/bizopportunities/net/indexnet.html
I work with these companies quite a bit, so if you have questions about any of them, I could tell you what I know.
Re: Home-Based Businesses
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #334498 by Crazyolis
Jan 9, 2009 1:06pm
Thread Board (disabled)
Oh yeah, I wrote about a Two Sisters consultant once. I think it sounds like a fun business if you're into cooking. I like the concept that the "party" is basically a cooking class, where you show people how to make dishes with the various products.

Another concept I like is SimplyFun. They sell games, so instead of the kind of lame ice breaker type games you have at some of these in-home parties, the whole party is about playing *their* games, which of course, gets people in love with the games and wanting to buy them.
Re: Home-Based Businesses
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #334511 by Tdyans
Jan 9, 2009 1:16pm
Thread Board (disabled)
I hosted one for my friend when she first started and then went to an open house that she had. They are fun. Lots of good food and its nice that you can sample the stuff before you buy it so you know that you like it.

Its worth a look if you do like to cook and experiment with things.
Re: Home-Based Businesses
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #334464 by Green Tortuga
Jan 9, 2009 1:32pm
Thread Board (disabled)
how do you get money from a blog with google ads??

romana
Re: Home-Based Businesses
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #334456 by Brandy
Jan 9, 2009 3:21pm
Thread Board (disabled)
There is Tupperware (I sell it)!

GG
Re: Home-Based Businesses
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #334525 by Romana
Jan 9, 2009 6:19pm
Thread Board (disabled)
how do you get money from a blog with google ads??

When people see an ad that interests them, they click it. And every time someone clicks it, a little bit of money gets thrown your way. =)

If you blog about letterboxing, you probably won't get much money out of it. (Not many letterboxing ads to show!), but if you blog about cell phones or jewelry or something, you might get better results. =)

-- Ryan
Re: Home-Based Businesses
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #334656 by Green Tortuga
Jan 9, 2009 6:47pm
Thread Board (disabled)
The Google ads are automatically generated, right? It does a search on your blog entry and automatically puts up ads that go with it?
Re: Home-Based Businesses
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #334672 by Brandy
Jan 9, 2009 6:50pm
Thread Board (disabled)
It does a search on your blog entry and automatically puts up ads that go with it?

Yep. *nodding* Which is why it's important to blog about stuff that would generate good ads! =)

-- Ryan
Re: Home-Based Businesses
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #334675 by Green Tortuga
Jan 10, 2009 7:57am
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Interesting... I just have to figure out now what I could possibly have to blog about that people would want to read!
Re: Home-Based Businesses
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #334477 by Green Tortuga
Jan 15, 2009 5:44pm
Thread Board (disabled)
Question: Can you put ads on the free blog sites like blogger.com, or do you have to build your own website from scratch?
Re: Home-Based Businesses
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #337843 by Tdyans
Jan 15, 2009 6:26pm
Thread Board (disabled)
Can you put ads on the free blog sites like blogger.com, or do you have to build your own website from scratch?

Yes, you can put ads on free blog sites like blogger. *nodding*

-- Ryan
Advice needed: what do I do next?
Board: Money and Investing
Feb 25, 2009 10:10am
Thread Board (disabled)
So my wallet was recently stolen (may the thief suffer from abcessing hemmorhoids and uncontrollable sneezing forevermore) and although I have had my debit card and credit card stopped and replaced I suspect there is probably more I ought to do to protect myself from identity theft. I have a vague recollection that i can have my credit frozen so that no one else can open a line of credit in my name without my knowledge- is this so? How do I got about making this happen? Is there anything else I should do?
Re: Advice needed: what do I do next?
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #355282 by Poodle Circus
Feb 25, 2009 10:18am
Thread Board (disabled)
I am so sorry to hear that this has happened to you. I know for a fact that it can be a bit difficult to recover from. I had my identity stolen awhile back and it took what seemed like forever to get everything straightened out. I would suggest that you contact the credit companies that you are a member of and ask to put a password on all of your accounts. That might save you some insanity!
Camp Fire Lady
Re: Advice needed: what do I do next?
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #355282 by Poodle Circus
Feb 25, 2009 10:22am
Thread Board (disabled)
I keep seeing ads for a company called "Lifelock" (lifelock.com) that protects your identity. I have no idea how sucessful they are, I dont use them. I think it's about $30/month.
Re: Advice needed: what do I do next?
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #355282 by Poodle Circus
Feb 25, 2009 10:29am
Thread Board (disabled)
When I had a possible theft, my bank called and put an alert out to Visa, Discover, etc, to have them call me should any attempt for a new line of credit being started.

On a lighter note, have fun with mom today :)
Re: Advice needed: what do I do next?
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #355282 by Poodle Circus
Feb 25, 2009 10:36am
Thread Board (disabled)
You should call the credit reporting agencies (TransUnion,Experian, EquiFax) and they'll put a flag on you credit report. Theyll put a fraud alert on your account to prevent anyone form using you identity to open any new credit accounts.

I found this article to be useful.
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/debt/20050603a1.asp
Re: Advice needed: what do I do next?
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #355282 by Poodle Circus
Feb 25, 2009 10:48am
Thread Board (disabled)
As someone who suffers from permanent boneheaded-ness and therefore lost my wallet 3 times in the past 2 years, (not theft -but bottom line is the same)...let me put my $0.02 out there.

Everyone immediately thinks of the bank cards, not the other stuff in your wallet that can cause issues. Like video rental cards and library cards that can easily be used w/o ID and if the items are not returned, guess who gets hosed? Do a mental inventory and think about who else you should be contacting to cancel stuff.

I guess that TV ad question: What's in your wallet works for this situation too.

pre
Re: Advice needed: what do I do next?
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #355282 by Poodle Circus
Feb 25, 2009 6:44pm
Thread Board (disabled)
there is probably more I ought to do to protect myself from identity theft.

Or maybe not. Have you ever wanted to change your identity? Perhaps this is your opportunity!

Spike
Re: Advice needed: what do I do next?
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #355517 by Spike
Feb 26, 2009 6:15am
Thread Board (disabled)
Funny man. ;) Maybe once upon a time... but I'm living a life that I really enjoy now.

Thanks for the advice, everyone- I will be calling Experien today to get a fraud alert put on my information. And double checking to make sure that when i replaced my library card they changed the account number.
Budget Cuts in Perspective
Board: Money and Investing
May 4, 2009 10:23am
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Re: Budget Cuts in Perspective
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #384542 by Trekkie Gal
May 4, 2009 10:27am
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WOW, 100 million sounds like a huge lot of money. But seeing it presented as it is in the video it seems like pennies!
Re: Fraud Alert - Credit card imbedded chips
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #680841 by The Blue Rose Gang
Mar 4, 2012 1:28pm
Thread Board (disabled)
The information in the chips that are imbedded in our cards can be stolen and then the card can be cloned and used.

I'm not really especially impressed with this danger for a few reasons.

First, I think it would be kind of obvious that someone was up to mischief if they started waving electronic equipment at my crotch. (I usually keep my wallet in my front pocket.) Did you see how close their sensors had to be to read the cards? Mere inches away! Women had to take their wallets out of their purses for it to work.

Second, credit cards have a maximum $50 fee they can charge if the card is lost or stolen, and most wave that fee. If my card number is cloned and abused, ultimately, it's not going to cost me anything. It might be an inconvenience to get it replaced, but that's about it.

And finally, just because something can be done doesn't mean it is being done. I've never heard of real criminals actually doing this sort of thing, although I'm sure eventually such stories will come out. Regardless, though, the actual risk is pretty low compared to the risk of your card being lost or stolen, skimmers, or a server who takes your card away to run a transaction at a restaurant and makes a copy of it without the need for fancy RFID technology.

Of all the things to worry about, this one doesn't even make my top 100 list. *shrug*

-- Ryan
Re: Fraud Alert - Credit card imbedded chips
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #680841 by The Blue Rose Gang
Mar 4, 2012 3:20pm
Thread Board (disabled)
I've heard that they can do this with passports too. Anyone know if this is the case?
Re: Fraud Alert - Credit card imbedded chips
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #680904 by Rosmarinus
Mar 4, 2012 6:52pm
Thread Board (disabled)
I've heard that they can do this with passports too. Anyone know if this is the case?

Newer passports have RFID in them, but I'm a little skeptical that transferring the information to a hotel key card is going to get anyone through a border checkpoint. ;o)

-- Ryan
Credit question?
Board: Money and Investing
Mar 20, 2012 8:39am
Thread Board (disabled)
Hey... this question isn't for me, but for a friend who is struggling.

He has several credit cards that he's struggling to pay and lately hasn't been paying them at all. I'm trying to help him get back on track. One of them is offering to settle for half of what's due. Should I push him to do this, or will that be a lot worse in the long run on his credit report? How bad does something like that look?
Re: Credit question?
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #685269 by Brandy
Mar 20, 2012 9:07am
Thread Board (disabled)
One of them is offering to settle for half of what's due. Should I push him to do this, or will that be a lot worse in the long run on his credit report?

Half of the minimum amount due? Hmm... I'm not sure how that compares with paying the full minimum amount due, but I kind of doubt it'll make much of a difference. Not paying half of the minimum amount due and all of the minimum amount due is a black mark either way. I definitely think it's worth doing everything possible to at least cover the minimum amount due.

If he hasn't done it already, though, I'd suggest he call up each of the credit card companies and tell them he's having trouble with payments and if he can get the interest rates reduced. I've heard that most of them are actually pretty good doing that sort of thing. It still may not be a good rate, but it's better than nothing.

And when there's enough money to cover more than the minimum payments, let the extra go towards the highest interest card first!

-- Ryan
Re: Credit question?
Board: Money and Investing
Reply to: #685269 by Brandy
Mar 20, 2012 11:42am
Thread Board (disabled)
Speaking from personal experience, I just went through debt reduction last year and found out when doing my taxes that all the debt forgiven by the credit card companies is counted as INCOME. Just something to think about (basically it means I OWE about $5000 in taxes this year when I usually get back about $2000). And, yes, the credit card companies mostly settled for half of what was owed, but my credit went down the drain. Since my intention was to totally get rid of my credit cards, I'm okay with having no credit. So I guess it all depends on what your friend is trying to do. Credit card companies are willing to work with people as long as they are up front and honest about what is happening. Good luck to your friend.