Are Store Credit Cards Worthwhile?

by: admin - December 18th, 2010   Filed under: Easy Finance, Money Thoughts 1 Comment

Okay, so I’ve been holiday shopping and about a dozen or so times so far this festive season I’ve been greeted at the checkout by a cashier who wants to know A. If I have “insert store’s name here” credit card and  B. Would I like to sign up for one? Usually doing so results in an immediate benefit such as fifteen percent or so off my purchase that day. Of course, there are usually exclusions and so any big screen televisions or similar big ticket items that I’d like to buy would be exempt to such a large discount (but would probably be eligible for a somewhat smaller discount). Regardless, money off is money off and with so many looking to save (as well as Holiday shop) during tough economic times store credit cards may sound appealing. The question is, after the immediate discount are they really worthwhile?

It depends. The problem with these cards is that they generally come with hefty interest rates, which can nullify any savings you’ve received. If you’re saving fifteen percent one day, but paying twenty-nine percent or so in interest, it’s really not the best deal. However, like most credit cards the benefits are biggest for those who are able to pay off their balances each month, avoiding  paying interest entirely while  still enjoying all the benefits of the card. Unfortunately due to very large interest rates, if you’re not the type that’s in the habit of paying off your entire balance each and every month, no store credit card is likely for you. None I’ve found, at least.

If you are a full balance payer then you then you’ll want to look at  any yearly fees or other fees your prospective card comes with before adding it to your plastic shopping arsenal. According to Consumer Reports some cards worth considering are those offered by Gap, Banana Republic, Piperlime, Athleta and Old Navy as they offer a fifteen percent credit on your first purchase as well as five points for each dollar spent at any of the aforementioned retailers. Furthermore, the Barnes and Noble card is given high marks, as it includes not only a twenty five dollar gift card, but up to five percent off purchases as well.

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6 Sites to Make Money Online From Writing

by: admin - January 25th, 2010   Filed under: Money Thoughts 5 Comments

Having been an online content producer for some time now, I’ve found myself lucky to stumble across what I consider some of the better sites for online writers. In most instances, before you begin work with an online content site, it’s a good idea to conduct your due diligence. Read some reviews by those who have used the site, look for reports of problems with payments or service, and consider testing the site with an article or two before committing any real work to it. Here are a few of the sites that I’ve had contact with and some of what I’ve learned and liked about each site.

1. Associated Content – If you are a talented SEO (Search Engine Optimized) content producer, Associated Content can bring in some decent paydays. While their upfront payments aren’t exactly enticing, often ranging in the $2-$5 range, if you know how to produce good SEO material, you can make additional income based upon page views. This means that while a three-dollar article might not seem worth the effort at first, if the topic and keyword density are good, you could supplement that amount each month, making much more money in page views than the article ever paid upfront.

2. Helium – I was a web content virgin when I started working with Helium.com. A friend recommended it as a good site to make a little cash and get some writing experience. From page view residuals, to contests and writing articles for publishers, Helium offers a variety of ways to make money. While you can pick up some decent money by writing articles for publishers, be aware that you are in direct competition with those who are writing to the same topic, so your work will need to be on topic and well written. The downside to this is that if your article is not selected to be purchased by the publisher, there is little reward, as your article will then be banished to the page view vault were it will sit, possibly making you a dollar or two throughout the course of the year if you are lucky. Your material will also be ranked by peers on the site, something that must be done by Helium members to maintain their ability to receive page view payments. Overall, Helium is a great site, but it can be a lot of work with little return if you aren’t chosen by the publishing gods.

3. Textbroker – Textbroker.com was a lucky find I stumbled upon one day while reading an article about how to make money on the Internet. There is an application process by which your writing will be ranked to determine your skill level, as well as what type of articles you will be eligible to write (thereby determining how much you will be paid per word). The great thing about Textbroker is that you can write to a wide number of topics at various skill levels. While working, if you encounter a publisher who really likes your writing style, they can choose to send you orders directly.

4. ContentCurrent – With ContentCurrent.com, you have the ability to select either article writing jobs, forum posting jobs or both, which can offer some nice variety in your work. There is an application process for both types of work (article and forum posts) to ensure your work is of acceptable quality.

5. Bukisa – While you likely won’t get rich on Bukisa.com, it is good for a couple extra bucks a month if you’re willing to take the time to post your articles there. While it doesn’t seem to carry the readership of some of the larger sites like Associated Content or Helium, it is a viable option for writers looking to get established on the web and dip their toe in the online content production waters. There are no upfront payments for content, just page view residuals.

6. WriterAccess – With WriterAccess.com, you can create a profile including writing samples, a resume, and other pertinent information regarding your writing background. The site will ask for information regarding your writing experience as well as a writing sample in the application process. If you are accepted as a writer, WriterAccess offers the ability to apply for projects on their job board. While there are often a limited number of jobs to choose from, there can be some good money to be made if you are selected for a particular job.

Kris is a freelance worker who writes about managing personal finances for an Australian comparison website offering the best credit cards including a range of products with the cheapest credit card balance transfer available down under. Read more of his writing on their blog, The Credit Letter, or subscribe to their RSS feed.

Free Courses for Establishing a Home Based Business

by: admin - September 24th, 2009   Filed under: Money Thoughts, Work Thoughts Add Comment

The Internet is filled with money making opportunities, and most are mediocre at best, if not down right fraudulent. I would like to tell you about one of the better opportunities I have come across, and it’s absolutely free so you really have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. This opportunity is offered by Kevin Potts, founder of the website CambridgeBusinessAcademy.com.

Before establishing this website, Mr. Potts worked in the corporate world, was involved with venture capitalists and was even a full time religious minister for 8 years. While growing his congregation from 200 to 600 he decided to return to commerce but combine what he has learned from his service to the community to providing help for entrepreneurs who seek to have a home based business.

As the following testimonial shows, Potts main influence was Tim Lowe, who is one of Europe’s top entrepreneur coaches, and taught him everything he needed to know about building a home based business with great success:

Currently, the CambridgeBusinessAcademy.com website has an honest promotion where Potts is giving away for absolutely $0 his comprehensive home business opportunity called The Money Mentor High Level Coaching System. The first coaching package is called Starting Point, and is a 10-video DVD series outlining the methods of setting up a home based business. The second is known as Life Changers and is an 8-video DVD series containing interviews with experts who have been tremendously influential in making Kevin Potts a successful home business entrepreneur. The third series is a called the Blue Print, which is a 60+ page report containing additional tips for success and the fourth series is known as Meet The Gurus, which is a 13-video series where experts specific to the home based marketing field provide their strategies.

It is important to note here that no information is kept hidden from people who sign up and there is no sales pitch, which is a rarity with top performing businesses. On the site, Potts states that this free offer could end without notice so take a look at the introductory video on http://www.cambridgebusinessacademy.com/ and proceed from there.

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Online Loan Comparison

by: admin - August 24th, 2009   Filed under: Easy Finance, Money Thoughts Add Comment

computer-moneySince the recession is not truly over, many people are forced to rely on loans of any type to pay bills. However, finding a company or financial institution that would be willing to offer loans and credit cards that are payable at convenient terms, can be frustrating and time consuming. Moreover, the terms and conditions for car loans, home loans, credit cards, etc’ are often filled with jargon and legalese, making them hard to understand.

An example of a site targeted for this problem is http://www.compare2save.com.au/. The site provides a list of trusted, regulated financial service providers, that can be easily compared. The financial services being compared are divided into such categories as: personal, car, home, savings, and bank accounts. Essentially, instead of going through the confusing maze of finding a reliable financial services provider that offers agreeable conditions, Compare2Save has picked the reputable companies that have a track record for working with consumers to get the loan they can afford.

Keep in mind that an online loan application is an accepted, economical and trustworthy approach, especially if you maintain your dealings with established companies and compare the various offers being presented to you. Additional benefit for consumers can also be gained from reading the site’s news and information sections, to make an informed decision before choosing the optimal loan or credit card.

The loan search process on the site is notably quick. For instance, a credit card seeker just has to pick the credit card type and then look at a chart of available cards before making a selection. This comparison chart will provide such information as: the lender, introductory and ongoing interest rates, balance transfer, interest free period, etc’. The most affordable loans will be at the top of the list and, from that point on, you can continue to the actual financial service provider site to complete your application. Overall, the information on the site is laid out in a simple and easy to understand manner, which is a welcome approach, considering that many loans today are known for being mired with small print.

Check out the Compare 2 Save website to get an idea of what to look for in a financial help resource and how you can fully benefit from utilizing it.

Mobile Marketing for Your Business

by: admin - July 22nd, 2009   Filed under: Innovation, Money Thoughts 1 Comment

mobilemarketingThe concept of mobile marketing has been gaining increased acceptance since the introduction of SMS (Short Message Services) about a decade ago. This took place just as companies began collecting cell phone numbers and started sending their promotional content to consumers’ mobile devices.

Whether it is between a business representative and a client discussing a product, or if it is a company broadcasting a message to thousands of customers, smart marketers have realized that  SMS marketing is a formidable method for instantaneous communication with their current and prospective mobile consumers. In fact text messaging adoption rate is predicted to rival e-mail marketing as a useful tool for marketers and is becoming an integral part of their customer relationship management. By using mobile marketing, companies can track whether a given communication, such as SMS, had been received and what the response rate was, therefore, providing insights into the success rates of a given campaign.

A company called Trumpia is known to be an all-in-one service provider for mobile marketing. The company is a leader in providing bulk texting SMS, where a business can sign up for a guaranteed amount of SMS messages to be used within a given amount of time. The company goes beyond what its competitors are offering, by providing service plans that are affordable and having such practical features as rolling-over text message credits so that unused credits are not wasted.

Moreover, Trumpia is offering a multi-channel marketing approach to enable companies to reach customers wherever they are. Using the company’s services, a business can send permission-based messages using  every popular mode of communication, namely email, SMS, instant messages, and even the ability to broadcast messages to social networks and blogs including MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and more. This allows companies to efficiently produce a single contact database instead of having separate customer lists for mobile and email users. It is even possible to set up a service where customers will text a keyword to a number and begin receiving the advertiser’s customized announcements on their phones. Additionally, advertisers can easily monitor and manage their advertising campaign to evaluate the campaign effectiveness.

Trumpia’s services have been implemented in various industries, as listed on the company’s website, such as retail, education, restaurants, media, real estate, and more. Some of the client companies include famous brands, such as Dairy Queen, GNC, Remax, Pepsi, Doritos, Comcast and many more. Since, essentially any business can benefit from mobile marketing, head on over to the Trumpia site, where you can read further information and sign up for a free trial to see how this service can work for your company.