Payday around the corner

March is almost over and the payday is slowly coming closer. In a way it's a sad day because at least in my case the money is usually gone almost before I get it in my hand. It's like magic, the money just vanishes into thin air... It's hard when you don't have enough money. I wish I could teach at home too, but right now I don't have any free time so I guess I'll have to work all summer so I can afford to take the kids somewhere for a week before school starts again. I really do need to have a close look at my economy.

One way to get money quickly is to get online payday loans. I'm not very fond of loans but there are moments when one quick loan is actually the best way to heal your economy or your sanity. A friend of mine took a loan to get out of a really bad situation. She left her longtime boyfriend who was not treating her well and took a trip abroad, to get away from her everyday life and build up some strength so shoe could rebuild her life when she got back home. Those weeks in the sun, just taking care of herself, made wonders for her and she came home a much stronger woman. Without a quick loan she would probably still be saving money for that trip which changed her life. And who knows, she might even still be stuck with that stupid ex boyfriend of hers. In her case, that loan truly was a blessing.

Programming for others

BetSoftGaming is a little company that provides games to online casinos. I actually didn't know there was such a thing as betsoftgaming. If I've understood everything right, it's a special kind of games casinos can install on their servers and let people play on line. Once upon a time, when I studied computer science and programming I wanted to become a game programmer, but hey, then I woke up and realized that I'm first of all a mom and not a star programmer. *lol*

Anyway, I think it's interesting to see how companies are created and the niches they find to work in. I think we all have a lot to learn from looking at different kinds of companies. Even if you're planning on making something totally different with your company it's good to see what others have done with their in terms of website, contact with clients, products, etc. I will keep an eye on betsoftgaming, because I like the concept, even though online gaming is not going to be my field of work in the future.

Want to play on line?

I have written a few posts before about betting and online gambling. The first time I wasn't really sure what it's all about because I have never been a gambler but the more I look into it the better it looks. *lol* It really can be a quick way to earn some good money. I know, it can also be a way to lose money, but I think it's all about using your common sense. The best thing is to a) only play on safe places, like bet365, with a secure wallet system, and b) decide on a playing budget before you start.

I think the budget part is really important, because if you do you can enjoy playing without having to worry about what would happen in case your luck changes. I had a look around the website and found this information, which I think says it all: This facility enables customers to limit the amount of money that they are able to deposit online into their account on either a 24 hour or a 168 hour (7 day) basis. These amounts may be revised downwards at any time but any increase will only be implemented after 24 hours following the request.. They seem to take a pride in providing their customers with a secure setting so playing can be fun all the way through and not make you wake up with an economic hangover.

Save money on insurances

One of the most boring expenses must be the insurances. At least when you don't need them. I know a lot of people think they aren't necessary because you pay a lot of money and you might never need that insurance, so in a way it's a waste of money. Right? Nooo, that's wrong!

Spending money on Insurance Quoting Services is actually money well spent. You never know when you might need help so it's better to pay for it little by little than all at once. Check out the Insurance Plans Pros and Cons and get informed about the different types of insurances you can get. A Family Insurance sounds like a good idea to me, but since every person has his/her own needs and circumstances the best thing is to talk to a professional about what insurances might be the best for you and your family. Remember, better safe than sorry!

Money for Christmas

This is the time of year when most people in the West spend too much money on gifts. A lot of them have not been able to save any extra cash so by now they are getting desperate. How do they make it through Christmas?

Getting a loan to be able to buy expensive Christmas presents seems to be one of the most common ways of getting some extra cash. I'm not all that keen on loans, especially for such things as Christmas gifts. But I just hope that people take a good look around before they sign any papers. My advice is to read the small print and think about how you're going to pay it back.

When you need to get a loan there's a kind of quick short term loans called payday loans, that come very handy. You apply for the loan, they approve you and before you know it the money is already in your bank account. And then you begin to pay it back. It's really quick and easy.

Bad credit

It's easy to get into economical hardships. You can get unemployed, get divorced, get sick, someone close to you pass away, you can get robbed... Getting into economical troubles is nothing to be ashamed of and it's better to accept the fact and try to do something about it than to go on like nothing ever happened. Thank God I've never been in that situation and I hope I never will, but I know a lot of people who've been there.

I've heard that the number of "bad credit" consumers in the U.S. is growing by the day. Well, not only in the U.S., it's a problem that affects people all over the globe. And there's much to be done to prevent more people getting trapped in the bad credit limbo.

But once you're trapped, then what? Does it have to be for life? No, of course not. If you're suffering from bad credit there's a lot to be done.

The best thing would be to stay away from more credits until you're back on track, but since life isn't always logical you might need to get a new credit to pay for another one. That's where BadCreditOffers.com - A New Consumer Resource can give you a helping hand. It's a "free consumer resource dedicated to helping those with a less-than-perfect credit rating." Their goal is "to provide consumers with the knowledge and resources necessary to help them find the best credit offer to fit their needs, regardless of a bad credit history."

First of all, you need to make a financial plan - see the amount of money that's getting into the household and the amount that's getting out of it. In the long run you need to get to a stage where more money is getting in than going out. That's the hard part. But you need to make a plan that will run over at least a year or longer, whatever it takes to cure your finances. Credit counseling is a great way to get started.

Then you need to make a commitment. Do you really want to get out of debt? By making payments on time, you can rebuild your credit. Even if you can only pay a little every month, you need to do that and pay before the due date. Once you get into the habit it will get easier. Baby steps, as FLY Lady would say. And hang in there! It will get better.

Be happy, don't worry

One of the bad things about being a student is that you don't make any money and if you do, you'll probably spend it on books anyway, so you're always poor. It's okey when you're young and live with your parents because they will probably help you out as much as they can and you could get a scholarship. You might even get by without taking a loan. But when you've already passed the college age, don't live with your parents anymore, have a family to take care of, then being a student is an even tougher situation. Not only do you have to worry about your studies and exams, you also worry sick about money. At least if you don't take a private student loan. And if you plan to work part time you have to know that the more you work, the less you can study. Ask me, I know.... :-(

After several years of studies my best tip to all future students is to take a close look into student loan consolidation because consolidating your student loans can help you reduce your student loan payments. The best thing is to think about how to pay for your studies even before you register at college. Once you're in college and you run out of money it can get really expensive to take a quick loan without thinking. You're going to be in college for quite some time so you have to think twice about your economy. With a good plan and student loan consolidation you can avoid worries and concentrate on your studies.

Good luck to you if you're in college and please wish me luck, because I have 3 exams in 2 weeks time and I really should spend more time studying. But you can't live on air alone, can you?

Ink or not ink...

I spent all morning today printing notes and summaries for my Literature class. This year I'm studying Medieval Literature which is one of my favorite subjects actually. But there is so much to read. First of all we need to read like almost 1000 pages in different text books and then we also need to read 7 works in Medieval Spanish. *phew* And that is just one of the classes I take this year.

I think every student these day needs a computer with a printer, because copying notes by hand takes such a long time. Having a printer really is a blessing, because you can copy whatever you need, print it out and take it with you, to be read wherever you go.

So far I´ve spent a lot of money on ink for the computer. I am very forgetful and never remember the name of the ink I need for my computer. This is the usual scenario for me: Getting to the shop and not remembering what cartridges I should buy... That is so very embarrassing. I go back home, jot the name on a piece of paper and go back to the store, just to discover that I've lost that piece of paper. Isn't that annoying?

Recently I found Cartridge Finder, which is a user friendly site where you can find the name of the devices so you buy the right kind of ink. They carry cartridges for printers, copiers and fax machines. They also check PriceGrabber.com's merchant listings in order to give you the best price available. At least I know where to go next time I run out of ink. Which will be any time soon I'm afraid.

Tile floors

I'm a bit bored... I should be studying Latin but somehow I don't feel like studying tonight. I would rather be surfing the net or watching TV. One of my favorite shows on TV right now is called "Money Money" and if you're lucky you can win a lot of money. I wouldn't mind participating in a show like that, especially if I won some money. *lol*

If I won a lot of money I'd buy a spacious house with a huge garden, a big garage and a swimming pool. I've been looking at garage floors and there seem to be a lot to chose from. I would, of cause, have tile floors in my garage, because I like tiles. I think they are very classy and they can last for ages.

Short term loans

Things happen. When you least of all want/need something unexpected to happen, they do. I guess Murphy's Law is right after all, because things happen when you're not prepared. And since you're not prepared, money can be an issue.

This is where Payday Loans come in handy. I had heard about them before but didn't know what they were. Now I do. They are short term loans made especially to lend you a hand when you need money quickly. Getting a loan is very easy - you just fill in a form with your personal information and bank account information, wait until a lender contacts you and then work out the terms together. Normally you have to repay your loan within a month or less. Easy come, easy go kind of loan. That's why they're called "pay day loans" because you have to repay as soon as your next paycheck comes. There are several repayment options: Do nothing and your loan will auto-finance, pay off the loan in full, renew the loan and pay interest and fees only and finally, renew the loan and pay interest and part of the principal.

Contest for bloggers

I just came across Earthfrisk and their contest. It's a brand new company in the branch of Social Media and combines social bookmarking with social media and social networking. I think that's pretty cool, because it's kind of "all in one" really. You network and make friends, thus having a social life online and at the same time

There are some great prizes to win in different categories: Largest Network Of Friends/Members, Frisks/Submission King or Queen - Most Submissions, Comment Queen/King - The Most amount of comments placed in comments on boards and Best Original Homepage/Profile. The prizes are cash and Virtual Office Services.

If you don't know what Virtual Office Services are, you're not alone. *lol* I didn't know until a few minutes ago, I had to turn to Google to find out. It's basically a group of people who work for you and your company, answering your phone, taking messages, giving information to clients, receiving fax, a toll free phone number, etc. This is great for smaller companies (especially home based companies) because it makes your company seem bigger. That's good for getting more clients.

If you want to participate in the contest you'd better hurry up, because it ends next week.

My own money

After 3 years without my own income it's nice to be making my own money again. It's not much and we're not going to be rich because om my jobs, but that doesn't matter to me. I feel great just knowing that I am making something, even if it's just for coffee.

One way to make quick money is through poker. It's also a quick way to loose money. I have no personal experience with any casino of any kind (if you've read a few posts down you'd known that by now) but the more I read about it the more I think I'd better try it some day. Online gambling, when done in a secure place, seems to be the best idea so far. I couldn't go to a "normal" casino because the expressions on my face would let everyone know how I was doing. *lol* I do not have a poker face, on the contrary. By the way, what would be the opposite of a poker face? A mayogi face? ;-)

First things first... You need a good, reliable online casino review and a teacher. At least you do need a teacher if you're not familiar with the game. When you're about to start playing online it's good to have a reliable review to look at, because there are several thousands of online casinos and not all of them are safe. A good review should include game experience, trust score and bonuses offered by each casino. Then what? I guess you need a lot of guts and a will to win. I'm not sure I'm prepared for that yet, so for the time being I'll continue to just think about it. And have a look at reviews.

Poker face

I do not have a poker face. I never did. I think that is one of my biggest problems, I just don't know how to hide my feelings. I think I'd be the lousiest poker player ever,worldwide. *embarrassed* That's why I've never learned to play poker or any other betting game for that matter. I mean, what for...? People would know which cards I have by looking at my face. *lol*

And then I found Topusaonlinecasinos.com, a free guide to online US gambling sites. On the front page you find their Top 10 of US gambling destinations. They also offer a list of online poker rooms and online sportsbook. I have no personal experience of this site, but as far as I know this seems like a really good place to start for those of you in the US who are looking for online poker gambling. One thing I really like is that they don't just place the link ad then move on to the next one. They do a complete review of the site, and look at overall rating, software rating, trust factor, bonus and promotions. Why don't you check it out?

Getting started

I often wish I could wake up one morning and have a great business idea. Having your own company seems to be so much fun. But on the other hand, it's also a lot more work than most people think. I'm reading a book in Swedish right now about how to get started. I've read it before, several times, but I always find something new every time. I really do admire those who dare to believe in their dreams and start their own business. I got back to school instead. *lol*

According to my book you need to do a lot of planning before you even start your business. And then you need to give yourself between 6 to 12 months before you even see any results from your business. In other words, don't count on quick success! If things go well you'll be working with your company for many, many years so you'd better like what you do.

If your company is some sort of on line shop you need a good shopping cart software to manage your shopping cart. Having a shopping cart really does help, at least if your company is getting bigger. But the wisest thing is to start small and then when you're getting some profit, use it to make your company even better. But the most important thing, in my humble opinion, is to treat all your clients with respect and try to make them happy. A happy client is the best publicity your company can get, because the mouth-to-mouth is better than any other buzz you can get.

Lucky you!

If you live in North Carolina you're lucky! You can save some money on Coupon Codes from NCNatural's Adventure Resources. They have loads of coupons and update their site on a daily basis. The design isn't pretty, it's very simple, but as long as the site works it's o.k. by me.

It's very easy to find coupon codes on their website. Just go to the main page and scroll down until you find the name of a store you like. Then click on the link and you'll find a list of the different coupons they are offering at the moment. Remember that the update the list every day. I found coupons from several companies I like, my favorites are La Redoute (a French company with really nice clothes) and Avon. what a pity that I don't live in North Carolina!

Christmas wishlist

Christmas is getting closer by the day. Several of my favorite bloggers are already planning their holidays and I think it's about time I start my planning as well. I don't worry about cleaning the house this year because by the time we finish the makeover I will have cleaned every square centimeter. So I guess getting the house this dirty is good for something. *lol*

The one thing that worries me most about the Christmas preparations are the presents. In my family we give loads of gifts. At least to the kids. We start on December 1st with one gift each for every day until December 24. That makes 48 gifts in my case. And that's BEFORE Santa... Because Santa brings another sack of presents.... I know, my kids get too many presents. But I try to make sure the first 24 gifts are small and useful and not too expensive, like pens, erasers, underwear, chocolate bars...

When it comes to the bigger gifts I'm thinking about ordering on line this year. CouponChief.com is a good place to start. I like coupons! They make life a little less expensive. I haven't done a wish list for years (but I tend to tell people what I "need" in case they're planning on giving me something). If I did it would definitely include new pans, which I could get with Chefs coupons and a subscription or two thanks to a Magazines.com deals.

More on storage

Woohooo! Look what I've found - storage bins. Not the ordinary tiny dust bins. These are like cabinets or shelves with lots and lots of storage space. They are HUGE in space but not in size.

I think a cabinet like this would be just perfect in a scrap room, because you can actually store things on both the doors and the shelves. This could also be a good place for toys, collections and other small items. They are actually made for storage in a garage but I think they would work just as well inside the house. I definitely could use one of those!

Beta testers needed

I just found out that Zuujit Mobile Beta are looking for beta testers for their new mobile. On November 15, they're giving away an unlocked HTC Ty TN II to one of their lucky beta testers. Every bug entry that they get will go into their giveaway pool.

I haven't tried buying/selling on E-bay yet but this phone seems to be PERFECT for e-bayers. Just look at this: Turns your smart phone into a powerful, all-in-one eBay listing tool by creating and posting an online sales listing (with photos) in minutes, lets you access the bids that follow. It also receives and responds to incoming questions and let you manage your inventory — using only your smart phone! I'd love to win one of these! Would you?

The shiny look

I think I've found the ultimate garage furniture! Diamond plate cabinets. The cabinet sets include a worktop, pegboard, upper cabinets, and lights pre-installed. Just order, wait for delivery, place it where you want it, plug it in and voilà! It's ready to use.

I like the shiny look. It's so 70's, makes me think about disco dancing, John Travolta and Bee Gees. That's cool! With a few lava lamps, a nice and colorful coach you could actually use these cabinets in dorm. Wouldn't that be cool?

A new habit: backups

While my kids were babies I went back to school on line to become a webmaster. It was great fun and I learned a lot, both about programming and about computer safety. One thing we learned was the importance of doing backups on your computer. Unfortunately, most people ignore this and go on and on with their computers until something happens and they lose everything that's on the hard drive. You should do a back up at least once a month. Why don't you make it a new habit and do a back up on your hard drive every first of month?

If you have lots of stuff on your hard drive you might consider opening an account with an online backup company. That will save you both time and money. No need to buy CD:s and store them at home. Storing on line is clutter free and is good for both your computer and your home. But you have to be careful when you chose the company because not all of them offer the same safety and user conditions. Be sure to read carefully the terms before you sign up.

IDrive-E is one of the leading companies in this field. They offer you 2 GB encrypted (which make their backups more secure) online backup space without any kind of restrictions - for free! That's more than enough for any "normal" user. You can store your photos, media files or other documents you want to keep safe. You can chose between several types of backups: incremental backup, continuous backup or mapped drive backup, whatever suits you the best. You can easily access your files by logging in to your account from the web, which is great if you travel a lot or have several computers.

Why don't you start your new habit today and create a backup of your important files?