The Frugal Prof

11 of The Best Side Hustle Ideas for 2019

4. Free $10 Walmart Gift Card

Have you heard of Ebates?

It’s a cash-back site that pays you for shopping online. I use it all the time — it’s an instant way to save on everything you buy.

Right now Ebates is offering a pretty sweet deal: Spend $25 and they’ll send you a free $10 Walmart gift card!

Here’s how it works…

Sign up for Ebates here (you just need to give them a name and email address).
You’ll need to make at least $25 in purchases through Ebates online shopping portal within 90 days of signing up. If you do, Ebates rewards you with a $10 Walmart gift card. Easy!

On top of that, Ebates is currently offering 5% discount on Amazon purchases!

Want to Get Paid for Sharing Your Amazon Purchase History?

Such an easy way to Earn an extra $36

Shoptracker is operated by The Harris Poll, a well known survey company that measures U.S. public opinion.

In order to get paid, you must download the shoptracker program.

Then, every month, you will receive a $3 VISA Gift Card.

I did it and it works. More information about ShopTracker here.

5. Free EBooks

Looking for some new reading? BookBub offers email subscribers access to free and discounted ebooks, including bestsellers.

Just enter your email here and browse the company’s archives. Deals are available for a limited-time only and change daily. Choose from over 20 categories and read on any device: Kindle, Nook, iPhone & more.

6. Free Godiva Chocolate

Free Godiva chocolate — what could be better?

Oh, maybe the fact this offer isn’t a one-time deal. Once you sign up, you get free chocolate every month at participating locations.

7. Blue Bottle Coffee

Want to try a bag of some of the best coffee in the country — completely free?

You can get a 2-ounce trial of Blue Bottle’s famous beans for nothing at all.

It’s part of their monthly subscription service, so you’ll need to enter your credit card info, but you’ll get an email before Blue Bottle charges you and sends you more coffee. Just make sure to cancel your subscription if you don’t want to keep getting coffee.

But after you suck down that sweet freebie, you might actually want to stay subscribed to the service and have beans delivered to your door every month.

8. Sephora Beauty Products

Oooh, Sephora.

Become a “Beauty Insider,” and you’ll have your choice of a free beauty kit from Fresh or Marc Jacobs on your birthday.

9. Free Coffee Mug

Want to be more environmentally friendly with your daily coffee — without shelling out $20 for a travel mug?

Nab a free lightweight travel mug from Au Bon Pain when you subscribe to its eClub!

10. Free Movies

Does your family still watch movies with a DVD player? We hope you’re using Redbox to find cheap rentals!

Plus, if you sign up for Redbox’s Text Club, you’ll get free movies and other deals.

11. Family First Aid Kit

You can never be too prepared, especially if you’ve got little ones running around.

Order your free family first aid kit from Florida Hospital so you’ll be ready for any scrapes or scratches, should they occur (they will).

12. Free Kind Granola Bar

This free Kind granola bar isn’t necessarily a freebie for you, but a gift you give to someone else for being kind.

Get it? You’re doing something kind for someone who did something kind — paying it forward.

Just go to Kind’s site and choose how you want a gift card delivered to a friend, co-worker or acquaintance and you’re done.

13. Prenatal Drink Mix

Expecting?

Try this free prenatal drink mix, which also comes with a coupon for $5 off your next purchase.

14. Awesome Hair

If you’re looking for even more free haircare products, you’re in luck.

L’Oreal Paris will send you cost-free samples, specific to your hair type. All you have to do is sign up for the company’s email offers on its website.

15. Emergen-C Vitamin Drink Mix

Getting sick is the worst. The next time you feel a case of the sniffles coming on, you might want to blast your system with vitamin C to try to stay healthy.

One of our favorite ways? Downing a glass of Emergen-C vitamin supplement drink mix with water — and with that link, you can try a free sample!

16. Banks still offer Free checking accounts with interest.

Some examples of checking accounts offering interest and free checking:

Ally Bank Interest Checking: Offering (.1% to .60% annual percentage yield depending on balance amount)
Capital One 360 Checking: (.20% to 1%) Capital One
FNBO Direct Online Checking: (.65% annual yield) FNBO Direct
More info
(I have no relationship with these companies)

17. Here are 300 FREE Ivy League University courses you can take online right now.

Join 1,148 smart people on my E-mail list. Subscribe below!

45 Things You Should Always Buy at a Dollar Store

April 25, 2018 by Frugal Prof

45 Things You Should Always Buy at the Dollar Store (+ 21 Things You Never Should)

Most smart and frugal shoppers love the Dollar Stores:

Whether it’s the 99c Store, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, or newcomer Five Below, there are tons of great bargains. Buying something for a dollar might seem too good to be true, but for the many dollar store loyalists out there, it’s a fact of life.

So, here are 45 things you should Always buy at a dollar store and 21 things you Never should.

What to Buy at the Dollar Store

Dollar Store Overview:

Dollar Tree currently has 14,000 locations, with plans to open hundreds more in 2018. Comparable sales were up 1.8% at Dollar Tree in the second quarter.

Dollar General currently has about15,000 locations, with plans to open 900 in 2018. Comparable sales were up 3.7% at Dollar General in the second quarter.

While not a traditional dollar store in that its products are priced up to $5, Five Belowcurrently has 625 stores, and it plans to open 50 more this quarter alone. In the second quarter of 2018, Five Below’s comparable sales grew by 2.7%.

What to Buy at the Dollar Store

Housewares & Decor

The nice thing about buying home decor and decorative wares at a dollar store is they’re cheap and easy to replace if they break, or if you feel like switching things up around the house.

• Reusable food storage containers

• Bins for organizing

• Wine glasses

• Mugs

• Plates

• Silverware

• Kitchen towels

• Vases

• Artificial flowers

• Picture frames

• Candle holders

• Cleaning supplies

• Garbage can or waste basket for a bathroom

Want to Get Paid for Sharing Your Amazon Purchase History?

Shoptracker is operated by The Harris Poll, a well known survey company that measures U.S. public opinion.

I did it and it works. More information about ShopTracker here.

Party & Special Occasion Supplies

Party supplies and wrapping paper are a must-buy at the dollar store, as they’re often priced at a fraction of their cost at other stores.

This is ideal– because who wants to spend a fortune on stuff that will be used once and then end up in the trash can?

Frugal Tip: Stock up on holiday items a few weeks after the holiday. You can score amazing deals on Halloween Costumes, Christmas Decorations and more.

Relevant Articles:

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11 of The Best Side Hustle Ideas for 2019

11 Legitimate Survey Sites

Check your local dollar store for deals on these items:

• Greeting cards

• Gift bags

• Wrapping paper

• Tissue paper

• Balloons

• Holiday decor

• Themed party decorations

• Cups

• Paper plates

• Party utensils

• Napkins

• Table cloth

• Birthday candles

• Large bowls for chips and snacks

Kids’ Gear

These inexpensive items will not only keep your kids busy on rainy days, but they can also act as perfect goody-bag fillers, stocking stuffers and Easter basket surprises.

• Books

• Coloring books and activity books

• Puzzles

• Craft supplies

• Colored paper

• Stickers

• Flash cards

Personal Items:

Believe it or not, you can find a lot of everyday items, even name-brands, at the dollar store for less!

• Tissues

• Lint roller

• Hair accessories such as headbands and hair ties

• Hair brush

• Name brand / dentist recommended toothbrushes

• Name brand make-up, lotion, and toiletries

• Dixie cups

• Books

• Cookbooks

• Pet toys

• Photo albums

• Flower pots

• Watering cans

• Wind chimes or outdoor decor

Don’t forget to check for coupons before you shop

Check out my post on how I save 40% using coupons here.

What NOT To Buy At The Dollar Store

Of course every store varies and there can be some fantastic brands of these below items, but generally, these items should be avoided:

• Power Strips, Electrical Cords and Electronics:

Any time something electrical is made with lesser quality materials, it can lead to electrical fires and a generally subpar device.

• Batteries that Contain Carbon Zinc:

Inferior batteries can cause serious damage since they can leak. Also, they run out of juice a lot sooner than mainstream brands.

• Vitamins and Medication:

Studies have shown that vitamins and medication at the dollar store are often missing essential ingredients and aren’t as strictly regulated by the FDA.

• Plastic Wrap, Oven Mitts and Knives: These items simply don’t work as well as the more expensive variety.

• Toys that can break into small pieces: Any plastic toys that can easily break into smaller pieces aren’t a good idea for your kids.

• Cotton Swabs: They have a tendency to break easier and since the name brand is not much more, you’re better off going with that.

• Off-Brand Makeup, Shampoo and Conditioner, and Lotions: While some people swear by these dollar store products to save money, it really depends on the specific item. Many of these items are filled with chemicals that could be harsh on your skin and dry out your hair. Plus, they may not be allergy tested.

• Candles: Generally, candles don’t burn long and omit a less-than-desirable odor.

• Glue and Crayons: These items simply do not work as well, and you’ll be spending more to replace them.

• Pet Food: Depending on the product, some pet foods you’d find at the dollar store may not be as carefully regulated as other stores.

• Kids’ Floaties (Flotation Devices): With anything involving safety, you’re better off paying more for a stronger, more durable flotation device.

• Some Cleaning Supplies: Much of the feedback on dollar store cleaning supplies is they are more diluted than a regular brand.

Even in a retail shopping world dominated by behemoths like Amazon and Wal-Mart, dollar stores provide excellent deals. And if you can shop after holidays, there are some incredible deals. Every dollar counts.

Banks That Still Offer Free Checking with Interest

April 25, 2018 by Frugal Prof

When you’re trying to save money, every little bit counts. And those pesky $12 account fees can really add up.

Americans are still paying $15 billion in fees, including monthly service charges, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has said.

Here are three banks that are offering a free checking account and paying interest on the deposits. It’s a very good deal.

Some Banks still offer Free checking accounts with interest.

Some examples of checking accounts offering interest and free checking:

Ally Bank Interest Checking: Offering (.1% to .60% annual percentage yield depending on balance amount)
Capital One 360 Checking: (.20% to 1%) Capital One
FNBO Direct Online Checking: (.65% annual yield) FNBO Direct
More info
(I have no relationship with these companies)

Tips to track down Money owed to you:

Unclaimed money from state governments:

Such as old bank accounts and contents of safe deposit boxes. Go to Missingmoney.com MissingMoney.com has the most updated information for the state and provincial offices, their websites with contact information and property listings. Searches and claiming are always FREE. Information goes securely and directly to the state/provincial unclaimed property office.

Old Stocks and Bonds:

Go to SEC.gov An old stock or bond certificate may still be valuable even if it no longer trades under the name printed on the certificate. The company may have merged with another company or simply changed its name. Keep in mind that due to corporate reorganizations (such as splits, mergers, or reverse mergers), the current share price may not be useful in determining the certificate’s value, if any.

If the name of the transfer agent is printed on the certificate, contacting the transfer agent is the easiest way to learn about the certificate. If the transfer agent whose name appears on the certificate is no longer in existence, contacting the state agency that handles incorporations in the state in which the company was incorporated may prove useful. Certificate holders who have a brokerage account may want to ask their broker if they can assist in researching the certificate.

Unclaimed Bank Funds:
What is included in Unclaimed Deposits?
Unclaimed Deposits may include any item or negotiable instrument deposited in or issued by an FDIC Insured financial institution including
checking or savings accounts,
cashiers checks,
official checks,
money orders,
Certificates of Deposit,
IRA Accounts,
and others collectively referred to as “deposits”.
Deposits are considered unclaimed if the rightful owner did not assert that the funds belonged to them within 18 months after the failure of the financial institution.
Claiming funds held at a Closed Bank: FDIC Website

Unclaimed Savings Bonds: TreasuryHunt.gov

Savings Bonds
- Search for Savings Bonds That Stopped Earning Interest – Treasury Hunt allows you to search for bonds issued since 1974 that have matured and are no longer earning interest.
- Calculate the Value – Find the value of your paper savings bond.
- Replace a Savings Bond – Replace a lost, stolen, or destroyed paper savings bond.

Unclaimed Pension Funds: PBGC.Gov
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation protects the retirement incomes of nearly 40 million American workers. Call PBGC toll-free at 1-800-326-LOST (5678). [TTY/ASCII users: call the federal relay service toll-free at 1-800-877-8339 and ask to be connected to 1-800-326-LOST.]

Unclaimed Tax Refunds:
Tax Refunds – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may owe you money if your refund was unclaimed or undelivered.
Credit Union Failures – Find unclaimed deposits from credit unions.
SEC Claims Funds – The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lists enforcement cases where a company or person owes investors money.

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Survey Sites That Actually Pay

Getting Results: How I Paid Off $17K

The Best Personal Finance Books

Unclaimed Money Scams:

Beware of people who pretend to be the government and offer to send you unclaimed money for a fee. These scammers use a variety of tricks to get your attention, but their goal is the same: to get you to send them money. Government agencies will not call you about unclaimed money or assets.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides tips on how you can avoid government imposter scams.

There is currently $42 billion in unclaimed funds floating around in the United States, according to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA).

Unclaimed funds are accounts in financial institutions or companies that have had no activity generated or contact with the owner for a year or longer, most commonly in savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed dividends, security deposits, IRS refunds and more.

Helpful Tips:

When doing the search, make sure to type in all the places you have lived. Also, if you’re married, make sure to check under your maiden name as well. Using a first initial and your last name is also encouraged to make sure everything comes up.
It’s up to you if you want to use a third-party service to claim your money, but it’s not required. Each state has its own process, which usually takes three to four months and requires information like your social security number and more. If you choose to use a locator business to claim your money in order to avoid doing the paperwork yourself, don’t pay up front. Also, don’t pay the company more than 10 percent or 20 percent of the amount of money you are claiming.

Related articles you may enjoy:

How it all began. What made me say enough.

44 Ways to Create Extra Income

Getting results on your debt free journey

State By State List: To search for money owed

To see if you have unclaimed funds, search each state’s comptroller website (listed below). This is the governmental institution that handles the process. From there, each state will vary in its exact process, but you’ll likely be asked to type in your name, which will then generate a list of results. If the information seems like it could be yours based on an address match, for example, then you can say you want to claim it.

To see if you’re owed money, check out every state you’ve lived in below:

How to avoid your State stealing your financial account:

If you fail to contact companies that manage your accounts every few years, the money in those accounts could be taken from you- by your state. “Unclaimed Property” laws require that financial institutions, including mutual funds, banks, and insurers, forfeit “forgotten” accounts to state governments. These laws were enacted so governments could safeguard overlooked assets until their rightful owners stepped forward- but the states soon realized that most of these assets were never reclaimed.

What to Do: Phone Every financial institution where you have an account once every three years. Yes, three years! Logging into a password protected account should also prevent problems too. Interacting with an automated phone system will not.

It’s your money and you need to be proactive and protect it.

I hope you found this content helpful. If you did, please share it on social media!

Thanks.

11 Ways to Earn More Money in 2018

April 23, 2018 by Frugal Prof

11 Ways to earn more money in 2018

- Imagine how it would feel to create extra income each month?
- Extra money for your family
- Extra money for vacations
- Extra money to reduce your debt
- Extra money to have more time to Enjoy your life!

These are all practical ideas that can be implemented to create more income and less stress in your life. Some are side hustle ideas while others are one-off ideas to save you money. In my experience of paying off $17K in debt last year, every little bit counts!

Read my debt free story here.

1. Paid Consumer Research: is conducted by major companies through Paid Online Surveys:

Companies need to understand consumer behavior and trends and they pay you for your time for consumer research via Paid Online Surveys. These consumer research sites are 100% FREE to join and always pay.

1. Sign Up.

2. Confirm your e-mail.

3. Earn Money.

4. Do them quickly to avoid burnout.

Survey Junkie: (Great Surveys, Little Time, Great Payout)

You can earn anywhere from $12 – $18 per hour from Survey Junkie!

Survey Junkie has one of the strongest reputations on the web, and they have always paid on-time and the right amount. Not only that, but they have excellent customer service if you ever have an issue.

Taking surveys in your spare time can be a great way to earn some extra dough fast. Check out Survey Junkie which will pay you instantly with cash via Paypal. They have over 6,000,000 members and they have an 8.9/10 rating on Trust Pilot.

American Consumer Opinion: Easy to sign up. 6 Million Members.
Reviews of American Consumer Opinion:
- “American Consumer Opinion Panel has been one of the best, and probably THE best, panel that I have worked with in some time…” J.D., Texas –
- “I do surveys for several different companies and, I have to say, American Consumer Opinion ranks at the top as they have a very good site with no junk [that] seems to be well managed.” H.B., Tennessee –
Begin earning at American Consumer Opinion:

Vindale Research: ($2 Registration Bonus)

Vindale Research is by far one of the best survey sites due to the fact that surveys can pay as much as $75 per survey. However, these surveys are quite rare and people usually earn closer to $10 – $12 per hour. More about Vindale Research here.

While there are plenty of high-paying surveys, there are also plenty of low-paying ones. To make it worth your while, don’t bother taking surveys that don’t pay well.

When you complete your profile you get a $2 sign-up bonus. Furthermore, there are usually plenty of surveys to take and you can setup email notifications when new surveys come out. Sometimes you can even take the same survey 2-3 times a day.

In this post we reviewed the details of 17 of the Best work at home companies hiring. These are legit companies that appreciate the talent of people who choose to work at home. I hope you found something that suits your skill set.

2. Become a Certified Closing Agent.

You Earn Extra Income, Set your Own Hours, and the Income is Fantastic!

($75-$200 per appointment).

• First of all, it’s great money! You can make $75 to $200 in a single signing, and a signing takes about an hour. Total work time including preparing and driving to the signing is about an hour and a half to two hours when you’re starting out. And a lot less as you become more experienced. Part time loan signing agents generally do one to three signings per week – about $300 to $500 dollars extra a week and full time agents can do 3-8 signings in a day which is about $400 to over $1,000 dollars in a day.

You can start part-time and work around your existing work schedule.

• You can get started with absolutely zero experience.

You can work from home and be your own boss.

You have the ability to make money almost immediately.

What is required: In order to earn 9X more than an Uber driver, you need to invest your time and money to become a loan signing agent. Pretty straight forward.

But, the truth is that 95% of people want to make $100 an hour but won’t invest their time and money to make it happen.
Learn More about the Loan Signing System here.

Relevant Articles:
45 Ways to Increase your Income
9 Best Ways to Save $7K This Year
11 Legitimate Survey Sites for 2018
3. Cash Back at Ibotta
How Does Ibotta Work?
What is Ibotta?
Ibotta is a cash-back app that grants you rewards (in real-life dollars — not points or gift cards) on your everyday purchases. It turns couponing into a bit of a game, and you can do it all from your phone. No scrappy newspaper coupons required.
It also features rewards across retailers: from Amazon to Forever 21 to Walmart.
Here’s how to use Ibotta:
1. Download the free app and sign up.
2. Explore cash-back offers.
What’s great about it:
Ibotta is a great way to find cash back not only on grocery staples but also at online retailers and through travel sites. You can also use it to discover new brands.
For example, if you only bought Viva paper towels before downloading the app. But if you can get $3 back on a pack of Bounty, why not?
“Ibotta is more portable than coupons, and it introduces me to brands I’d otherwise not try.”
3. If you’re shopping in store, add offers to your account before heading out. Do this by tapping the little plus sign next to the offer.
4. Once you hit $20, you can cash out through PayPal or Venmo. You can also opt to receive your rewards as a gift card.
4. Get Paid for Sharing Your Amazon Purchase History
Such an easy way to Earn an extra $36
Shoptracker is operated by The Harris Poll, a well known survey company that measures U.S. public opinion.
In this case, it wants to see what products Amazon users purchase. When you sign up for ShopTracker, it tracks your Amazon purchases from your computer.
All it wants to see is your order information, including the order date, product title, category, ISBN number, release date, condition, seller, list price per unit, quantity and other details.
Shoptracker will send you a $3 Visa Gift card every month but only if you download their software, which takes about 5 minutes. Here is more info about ShopTracker
5. Get paid for graphic design work: 99 Designs, is a leading site for all things design.
6. Get paid for shopping:
It’s easy to join and I get cash back from nearly All of my purchases.
Every quarter they send me cash back from my purchases!
How it works:
Before you make a purchase,
simply visit the Ebates site,
find the store,
and use their link to make a purchase.
You’ll see discount codes (usually between 3%-10%)
You will recieve cashback for your purchase.
They pay you via Paypal. Probably the best way to get cash back. It’s great.
They have a browser extension that makes it so easy to save.
Start earning cash back this month at Ebates:
7. Decluttr: Fast, easy way to sell CD’s, video games, electronics and more.
Easy to use and Rated “Excellent” as a trustworthy site. Give it a try.
8. AirBnb : Fund your next travel excursion by renting a room with Airbnb
AirBnb Tips: Make your space available during high-demand times. Think: concerts, conventions and sporting events. Be a good host and make sure your place is stocked with the toiletries you’d expect at a hotel — toilet paper, soap and towels. Be personable. A lot of travelers turn to Airbnb for the personal touch they won’t find at commercial properties.
9. Become a DJ: Sure Calvin Harris makes nearly $50M and is on top of Forbes annual list of the world’s highest paid DJs. But, did you know the average DJ for a wedding can earn between $600-$3000? Pretty good money! With some basic equipment, you could be making money this weekend. Find DJ Equipment Here.
10. Write Corporate Slogans and Taglines
Product slogans can be very short, like Nike’s “Just Do It.” They’re rarely much longer than Hallmark’s “When you care enough to send the very best.”
Although companies usually have their own teams of writers and marketers, they often run competitions that pay big prizes to outsiders who can come up with a catchy line. Watch for these opportunities on television and in print, but your best chance of finding them may be online. Try one or more of these platforms:
Slogan Slingers helps companies create slogan contests in which their registered writers compete. It’s free to sign up as a writer, and the company claims you can “make up to $999 per contest (minus our small admin fee).”
11. Create a course and teach others :
Before you think that you have nothing to teach, I want to tell you that you most likely do!
Online courses are extremely popular right now, and you don’t need to have a blog in order to be successful with an online course.
Teachable is one of the Best companies. More about Teachable here.
12. Start a Blog. I’ve written a whole post about how to get started. Read more here.
13. Do Errands: Task Rabbit
Help people fix things around their home – If you are a handy person, you may be able to get paid to repair broken items around a person’s home. Word of mouth is big when it comes to finding clients, but you can also post Craigslist advertisements that show your services, post flyers to bulletin boards around your town, and more.

The Best Way to Pay College Athletes

April 18, 2018 by Frugal Prof

The Best Way to Pay College Athletes

You can’t watch the Final Four without thinking about and debating the issue of The Best Way to Pay College Athletes.

Many people agree that college athletes should be compensated. Few people can agree on the best way to do it. Should all athletes be compensated? And by what formula? What about the traditionalists who view a free college education as an incredibly valuable form of compensation already? These are all legitimate and challenging questions.

The Fab Five Problem: Many college basketball fans realized the current system was unfair when hearing the story of Michigan’s Fab Five. Jalen Rose, the team’s star, couldn’t even afford to buy his own jersey. Yet, his school, the University of a Michigan, was making millions from his success.

Pay College Athletes

A new system would alleviate this unfortunate situation without upending the entire scholarship system. Sports has merged into entertainment. It is a logical extension to compensate college athletes not as athletes, but as entertainers.

The best way to compensate college athletes is to pay them for their value from television appearances. Entertainers who belong to the Screen Actors Guild are compensated this way. This would be in the form of extra compensation for those appearing on regional or national TV broadcasts.

Yes, most of the recipients would come from high profile sports like basketball and football. But let’s be honest, those are the sports creating the most economic value for the schools from their TV contracts.

I envision something along the lines of $15,000- $20,000 per nationally televised game and a lesser amount for a regionally televised game. There would be larger incentives for reaching milestones like the Final Four and Bowl games. This would be extra compensation in addition to receiving a scholarship. For the average student athlete, no change would be needed.

Will this system fully compensate these athletes? No, it won’t. It will fill the gap for a few athletes who are creating extraordinary value for their universities. The only way for an athlete to receive full compensation as an athlete is to get an agent and go pro.

A few high profile sports generate the majority of the revenues at major Universities. Ending the student scholarship system could leave athletes in less lucrative sports with no scholarship and a low paying “job” as an athlete. Ending the current scholarship system would force the NCAA to decide, “how much compensation does an athlete in a low revenue sport deserve?” Attempting to pay all amateur athletes presents a no-win situation for the NCAA.

By compensating only those athletes that appear on television, the athletes who are generating the most revenue and creating the most value for the University and it’s brand, would be given a “bonus” payment. The scholarship system should remain intact.

College athletes deserve to receive bonus income for creating economic value at a high level. A change in the current system can be accomplished without destroying the current student-athlete system. Rewarding a few exceptional athletes is much easier than trying to place a value on every college athlete in every sport.

11 Legitimate Paid Survey Sites to Make Extra Money

April 14, 2018 by Frugal Prof

Legitimate paid surveys really come in handy to create extra income.

Imagine how it would feel to create an extra $700 in income each month?
Extra money for your family
Extra money for vacations
Extra money to reduce your debt
Extra money to have more time to Enjoy your life!

How it Works:

1. Sign Up With as Many As Possible

2. Confirm Your E-Mail!

3. Start Earning

The Highest Paying Survey Sites:

Survey Junkie (Great Surveys/ Great Payout/ Earn $12-$18/ Hour)
Vindale ($2 sign-up bonus and some surveys pay $75)
American Consumer Opinion: (My nephew makes $150-175/month)
Global Test Market: Great For International Users since they’re currently available to 49 different countries. Expect to earn at a rate of roughly $10 per hour.

1. Survey Junkie (Great Surveys, Little Time, Great Payout)

Survey Junkie has one of the strongest reputations on the web. Although they don’t come with a sign-up bonus, by sticking to the higher-paying ones, you can earn anywhere from $12 – $18 per hour.

Survey Junkie has one of the strongest reputations on the web.

Benefits:

Stick to higher-paying surveys and earn $12 – $18 per hour
Strong reputation for a survey site
Will always know how long a survey takes and how much it pays
Great customer support
Plenty of surveys to choose and they frequently update their site with knew ones

Join Survey Junkie Here

2. American Consumer Opinion (Can make $175/mo with it)

Paid Surveys: Money Making Potential Level: Very High

Many reviewers recommend ACOP and think it is the best due to high paying surveys.

ACOP is very straightforward. All you need to do is fill out the demographic questions truthfully to determine the surveys you will be qualified for and start taking surveys. That’s it.

Why sign up?

▪ Incentive range in value from 100 to 5,000 points per survey.
▪ Test and own new products for FREE.
▪ More than 7M active members, $30,146,900 paid out, and 20M+ surveys taken.

This site is super easy to use and is a money magnet. Get a chance to earn hundreds of dollars every month and FREE products.

Click here to start using ACOP for FREE

3. Vindale Research ($2 Registration Bonus/ Up to $75/ Survey)

Paid Surveys: Money Making Potential Level: Very High

Do you want to earn up to $75 per survey? If you do, then, this is right for you.

Multiple $10, $15, and $75 payouts for individual surveys.

Vindale Research is one of the online surveys that pay cash. Yes, cash. If you are looking for surveys for cash only, this is the site for you.

Take surveys now with Vindale Research for FREE.

Vindale Research is by far one of my favorite survey sites due to the fact that surveys can pay as much as $75 per survey. People usually earn closer to $10 – $12 per hour.

When you complete your profile you get a $2 sign-up bonus. There are usually plenty of surveys to take and you can setup email notifications when new surveys come out. Sometimes you can even take the same survey 2-3 times a day.

Benefits:

$2 registration bonus when you verify your email and complete your profile
One of the best referral programs – earn $5 per referral
All payments are awarded in cash
Potential to earn roughly $10 – $12 per hour
Highest-paying survey at around $75 per hour, although this is quite rare

Join Vindale Research for Free

Desktop Version Here

Mobile Version Join Here

4. Inbox Dollars

InboxDollars is the mobile and online loyalty club that pays cash!

Members have earned over $30 million in cash since 2006.

InboxDollars earn cash with the official InboxDollars mobile app.

In the current version of InboxDollars mobile app, members can earn cash for:

– Searching the web
– Reading email
– Taking surveys
– Downloading apps
– Purchasing Groupons

5. SwagBucks: (Possible to make $1,500 in a few months; Earn $10 sign up bonus instantly)

Swagbucks is the “make money whatever it is that you do over the internet” juggernaut in the industry.

There are a lot of ways you can earn from Swagbucks. Name what you do online and Swagbucks for sure has that to help you earn money.

Next thing you know, you” have a ton of points in your Swagbucks account redeemable for cash, gift cards, among others.

No kidding my nephew has made over $1,500 with Swagbucks The thing with that is he has only been using Swagbucks for a few months. If he can make this, you could make it, too.

Swagbucks tops all sites about when it comes to cash back and free rewards. With Swagbucks, you earn more than what you spend. You wouldn’t know all the great offers until you sign up. Some previous offers included:

Click here to start with SwagBucks: for FREE and receive $10 bonus when you sign up

6. Global Test Market (Great International Survey Site)

Global Test Market: is a great survey site for international users since they’re currently available to 49 different countries. Expect to earn at a rate of roughly $10 per hour.

Stick to the high-paying surveys that they have. Otherwise, it’s not worth your time. Complete about 1-2 surveys per week and earn an extra $10 – $20 per month.

You need a minimum of $10 to cash out to either PayPal or for gift cards. Each time you refer your friend you get a bonus of 100 points.

Best international survey site on this list – available to over 49 countries
Can easily make an extra $20 per month by taking a short amount of surveys
Only need a balance of $10 to cash out
Great reputation for always paying out on time

Join Global Test Market Here

7. Nielsen

You certainly know Nielsen because they’ve been in business over 90 Years!

You can Join Nielsen and enter to win prizes, rewards, and cash.

They give away $10,000 Each Month!

Nielsen is a professional research company and the world’s leading provider of media and marketing information, including the Nielsen TV ratings. Filling out our survey and registering your devices is an opportunity to become a part of important research insights.

Join Nielsen Here

8. Harris Poll

Take surveys. Get gift cards!

With over 50 years in the business, the Harris Poll is among the world’s oldest online market research companies. It’s fun, simple and membership is 100% free!

Become a member of the Harris Poll Online and you will have the opportunity to influence important decision makers in government, corporations, and non-profit organizations.

Join the Harris Poll Here

9. Shoptracker ($3 Sign-up Bonus + $36/Year With Little Effort)

This is actually an app rather than a site, but we decided to include it since the survey you do take is on the web. The best part about this program is that you only have to take a survey once.

Shoptracker works by paying you to allow them track your Amazon purchases. Simply install the app and link your Amazon account. First take a short 3-question survey on your Amazon purchases, and you immediately get a $3 Visa gift card as a sign-up bonus.

The great thing about Shoptracker is that once you’re all setup, there’s no more work on your part – just the initial survey and leaving the app installed on your smartphone.

For every month that you leave the app installed on your phone, you get another $3 Visa gift card. Leave the app installed for an entire year and you can easily make an extra $36/year with almost no work. The only think you have to do is cash out.

Shoptracker is part of the The Harris Poll Survey Company that was founded in 1963, definitely making this one of the more reputable and secure apps to use.

10. You Gov: ($2 Sign-up Bonus)

When it comes to taking the most interesting surveys on the web, YouGov is where it’s at. There are times I tend to get tired from taking so many online surveys. This is when I look to YouGov.

You get to share your opinions about current events and take polls on issues that are current. Not only that, you get to see the opinions of others who take the same survey. In short, it’s more like a small community.

YouGov comes with a registration bonus of $2 and I can usually earn around $8 – $10 per hour. There’s quite a few surveys available, and I use this site to keep me on my toes.

Benefits:

$2 sign-up bonus
One of the most interesting survey sites on the web
Can cash out to PayPal or for gift cards
This survey site is more like a small community
Most surveys are geared toward politics are current events
You’re able to see the opinions of others as well
Earn at a rate of roughly $8 – $10 per hour

Click here to Join You Gov: for free.

The Highest ranked Survey Sites:

Survey Junkie (Great Surveys/ Great Payout/ Earn $12-$18/ Hour)
Vindale ($2 sign-up bonus and some surveys pay $75)
American Consumer Opinion: 6 Million Members (My nephew makes $150-175/mo with ACOP)
SwagBucks: (Possible to make $1,500 in a few months; Earn $10 sign up bonus instantly)

Relevant Articles:

Value Investing vs. Jim Cramer

April 3, 2018 by Frugal Prof

The Value Investor Wins When The Mad Money Crowd Panics

Thesis:

By most measures, this Nine year bull market is quite expensive. It takes discipline to wait for attractive prices in stocks, but it is always worth it.

The “Mad Money” Crowd always finds a stock to buy no matter what the valuation. The problem is that buying overpriced stocks leaves you with little ammunition during a panic and when prices are incredibly attractive.

The more you invest when the market is overpriced, the less cash you have available to invest when prices are attractive.

I run value screens on the market everyday that tell me there are only a handful of stocks that are attractive. It’s not easy to be patient.

The issue is not one of bullish or bearish. It is one of probabilities and potential returns.

Relevant Articles:

Jim Cramer: Time to get out of the stock market

October 8, 2008: Jim Cramer Panics at the bottom

Bullish investors should turn into shrinking violets as the stock market continues its shocking downward spiral, CNBC’s “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer told Ann Curry on TODAY Monday.

In what Curry called a “dramatic statement,” Cramer emphatically urged any investor who has money they may need in the next five years tied to stocks to pull their dough out.

“I thought about this all weekend,” Cramer told Curry. “I do not want to say these things on TV.

“Whatever money you may need for the next five years, please take it out of the stock market right now, this week. I do not believe that you should risk those assets in the stock market right now.”

2008 Crisis: Lessons Learned (Genworth, Buffett, Goldman Sachs, And Washington Mutual)

While Jim Cramer was panicking on the Today Show, smart value investors like Warren Buffett (NYSE:BRK.A) were putting money to work.

His investment in Goldman, Sachs preferred shares was an incredibly successful investment in an undervalued company.

And since 2008 the stock market has had an incredible run thanks to buybacks, low interest rates, continued spending by the debt- heavy consumer, and expanding valuations. (SPY)

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The Country Has Racked Up $1 Trillion In Credit Card Debt

Debt: Clouds on the horizon

With consumers feeling better about the economy, the amount of money borrowed on plastic has reached a high not seen since the Great Recession.

Outstanding credit card debt topped $1 trillion at the end of 2016, according to The Nilson Report, a card and mobile payment trade publication.

While household income has grown over the past decade, it has failed to keep up with the increased cost of living over the same period.

To bridge the gap, more Americans rely on credit cards, one of the most expensive ways to borrow.

The average credit card interest rate is 19.36 percent and the average household pays a total of $1,332.80 in credit card interest each year, according to a separate report by NerdWallet.

Consumer Confidence:

I listen to a lot of conference calls and this quote from the Nike (NYSE:NKE) call stood out to me as we just passed this $1T mark in just credit card debt alone.

Nike conference call:

And one other things too I’d just say, that the brand is extremely strong in North America and consumer’s appetite for our brand continues to really be almost unsatisfied. Trevor Edwards, President Nike Brand

These comments refer to $150 basketball shoes and their main customer is a millennial. The consumer appetite here with $1T in debt is almost unsatisfied. Really.

Investment Fads: FANG Stocks

FANG stocks: The popular moniker for Facebook (NASDAQ:FB), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL).

Investing fads usually end in painful losses when a bear market comes and the price to earnings ratios contract as well as share prices.

Expensive stocks based on p/e ratios versus their nominal growth rates.

FB PE Ratio (Annual) data by YCharts

The nifty fifty were very good companies for the most part. The problem was that due to p/e expansion, they were expensive and investors suffered huge losses.

It seems quite similar to what we see today with the “FANG” stocks.

NIFTY FIFTY:

Investment fads usually run their course quickly and end badly. The Nifty Fifty captivated investors for the better part of a decade prior to its demise in 1973, but not before reviving the high-risk investing that had been out of vogue since the Crash of ’29.

The 50 stocks identified by Morgan Guaranty Trust represented some of the fastest-growing companies on the planet in the latter half of the 1960s.

Their popularity among institutional and individual investors sparked a quantum shift from “value” investing to a “growth at any price” mentality that resurfaced with a vengeance in the tech-stock bubble a quarter century later.

By 1972 when the S&P 500 Index’s P/E stood at a then lofty 19, the Nifty Fifty’s average P/E was more than twice that at 42.

Among the most inflated were Polaroid with a P/E of 91; McDonald’s, 86; Walt Disney, 82; and Avon Products, 65.

Along came the stock market collapse of 1973-74, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 45% in just two years.

As a Forbes columnist described it, the Nifty Fifty “were taken out and shot one by one.” From their respective highs, for instance,

Xerox fell 71 percent,

Avon fell 86 percent

Polaroid fell 91 percent.

Valuations: A very expensive market.

The best gains for the intelligent investor occur when others are fearful. Today, we have incredibly high levels of complacency. And we also have an incredibly expensive market.

Nothing to fear. Typically a bull market would climb a wall of worry. Today, there is almost nothing to worry about as evidenced by the VIX or fear indicator. (NYSEARCA:VXX)

“Be Fearful When Others Are Greedy and Greedy When Others Are Fearful” –Warren Buffett

VXX data by YCharts

Pockets of value:

I am not saying one cannot make money in this market. In fact, a majority of my recent ideas have been very profitable.

I am saying that the probabilities of gains versus losses is now against the intelligent investor.

Every dollar of stock one purchased near the top in 2008 prevented one from buying lifetime bargains at Dow 8K and Dow 7K. There are pockets of value that I have written articles about.

However, for the index buyer of the S&P 500 stocks at 26x earnings and buoyed by buybacks, there is considerable risk both in the short-term and medium-term.

The goal is to buy when the risk/ reward is overwhelmingly in the investor’s favor. And by many objective factors, this market is more than fully valued. As evidenced by the Market cap to GDP.

Stocks in the mainstream:

1929: Shoeshine Boys

WHEN THE SHOESHINE BOYS TALK STOCKS IT WAS A GREAT SELL SIGNAL IN 1929.

JOE KENNEDY, a famous rich guy in his day, exited the stock market in timely fashion after a shoeshine boy gave him some stock tips.

He figured that when the shoeshine boys have tips, the market is too popular for its own good, a theory also advanced by Bernard Baruch, another vested interest who described the scene before the big Crash:

“Taxi drivers told you what to buy. The shoeshine boy could give you a summary of the day’s financial news as he worked with rag and polish. An old beggar who regularly patrolled the street in front of my office now gave me tips and, I suppose, spent the money I and others gave him in the market. My cook had a brokerage account and followed the ticker closely. Her paper profits were quickly blown away in the gale of 1929.”

Investing Guru Tony Robbins:

Self-help guru, Tony Robbins, has released his second book on investing since this bull market began, Unshakeable. His investing advice is in addition to his full schedule as a self-help guru.

“If you don’t sell, you don’t lose money,” says Tony Robbins. “Every single bear market has turned into a bull market.”

Tony Robbins, March 2016

Conclusion:

We’ve come a long way from panic to complacency.

There are small pockets of value, but the risk/ reward is very challenging. The consumer has tremendous debt, and interest rates are set to climb higher.

This is the market we have: full panic at 8,000 and full complacency at 25,000.

Read my post, How to profit from the next panic.

Things can and do change quickly. And higher interest rates will have an impact on both consumers and investors.

I expect buying opportunities as volatility returns and uncertainty comes back in the market.

That allows me to be patient and wait for better opportunities to come.

Join 1,148 Investors on my e-mail List Below

7 Ways to Minimize Your Chance of an IRS Tax Audit

April 3, 2018 by Frugal Prof

Financial Freedom

7 Ways to Minimize your chance of an IRS Tax Audit

I am sure we agree that anything related to Taxes are not your favorite topic. However, there are ways to lessen your chances of having a problem with the IRS. And there are steps you can take to increase your odds of avoiding a costly and stressful tax audit.

To be candid, there is no way of being sure that your federal tax return won’t be audited. Even overpaying won’t protect you from IRS scrutiny. Some returns are pulled out by random selection.

Others are chosen by IRS computers, which analyze returns to to score the likelihood of collecting further. Computers select a return for audit if medical expenses, contributions, property taxes, etc … represent an unusually high percentage of the taxpayer’s income (according to nationwide models.)

Returns also invite scrutiny when figures do not agree with other information received by the IRS, such as when a corporation reports on FORM 1099 that it paid $2,000 in dividends to a taxpayer, but that taxpayer reports only $1,000.

And returns may also be selected for audit because of tips received by “tax informants.”

Relevant Articles:

The Best Personal Finance Books

Survey Sites That Actually Pay

It’s not about the Money. It’s about Taking Charge.

But your chances of being audited can be Greatly Reduced if you follow these 7 suggestions:

Answer All questions on the tax return form
Complete All schedules that are Required

Include Full Documentation of items that are likely to be questioned, such as large casualty losses, or large moving expenses. If the IRS asks for supplied substantiation, expect this request to lead to additional questions on other areas of the return at the same time.

1. Send Tax Returns and other documents to the right office at the right time so that the correspondence and personal contact aren’t necessary. Once begun, such correspondence or contact is often difficult to end- one thing leads to another.

2. Don’t deduct a type of item that had been disallowed on a previous tax return. The IRS may remember this and look fo r a repeat.

3. Don’t use a tax preparer of a dubious character. If the IRS, through its investigators, find a preparer who is grossly incompetent or worse, the name of all his/ her clients will be obtained. All of them, however, innocent, will have their tax returns checked by experts.

4. Be certain that the return has the right signatures and identifying numbers. If it is a corporate return, the title of the signer should be one of the officers authorized by law to sign.

Many Audits are triggered by…

Information returns from banks, investments, or employers that show payments (dividends, interest, salaries, or fees) that differ from those that were reported.

5. Unusually large deductions. The computer flags deductions that are much larger than the average amount taken by most taxpayers in the same income group.

Suggestions:

Provide some details on extra large deductions. Big casualty loss? Describe the hurricane or flood, maybe even enclose a newspaper article. Give dates and details of a long illness that produced large medical deductions.

6. Unbelievable numbers:

Examples: Claiming that you held IBM stock for 25 years and sold it at a loss. Business expenses that are out of line with the amount of gross income or the nature of the business … Mortgage interest and property tax deductions that are unusual for your area.

7. Large Round numbers raise questions as to whether you picked an exaggerated number out of the air without supporting documentation.

8. Home office: This set-up usually receives closer scrutiny.

When are Taxes Due:

Every year since 1955, taxes have been due on April 15 … except for sometimes. Like the last two years. And this year.

Tax Day falls on April 17 for 2018.

That’s the deadline for filing your 2017 federal tax return, the last day to make a contribution to an individual retirement account for it to count against 2017 income, the deadline to file a tax extension, and the day when quarterly estimated tax payments are due for those who make them.

Make sure you are taking full advantage of all the tax savings available to you beyond a standard deduction:

Fund an IRA

Health Savings Accounts: (Basically an IRA type vehicle to pay health-care related expenses)

-Must have a high deductible health plan

-Annual deductible above $1,300 ($2,600 for families)

Withdrawals: Can be made tax-free to pay qualified medical bills. Unused HSA money can be carried over to subsequent years to grow tax-deferred through investments in mutual funds, stocks, bonds, etc… – potentially for decades. Money withdrawn before age 65 that is not used for health related expenses is subject to income tax and a 20% penalty. After age 65, you pay only income tax.

Student-Loan Interest: You can deduct up to $2,500 worth of interest paid on student loans, regardless of how many students there are in the family and whether the loan financed higher education for you, your spouse, and or dependent, provided your income is below a set amount.

Alimony: Alimony is 100% deductible for the payer and is considered income for the recipient.

Nobody wants to have scrutiny and the stress of an IRS audit. So, by being careful to avoid these 7 mistakes can lessen the probability of an audit.

*Legal Disclaimer: The Frugal Prof is not a certified accountant and the information provided should not be construed as accounting advice. Please consult with your own tax preparer.

7 Golden Rules For a Profitable Blog

March 24, 2018 by Frugal Prof

7 Golden Rules to Create a Profitable Blog

I believe that starting a profitable blog is one of the best ways to create extra income. And I am passionate about helping people to learn how to make money from blogging. A successful blog can do many things for you and your family.

A successful blog:

• It may help you pay off your debt;
• It may help you save for a vacation for your family:
• It may help you stop living paycheck to paycheck;
• It may help you reach retirement sooner;
• It may help you not feel as stuck at your job;
• It may help you to become debt free:

It takes work, focus, and perseverance to be a successful blogger. And there is no reason you cannot create a profitable blog too.

*Disclosure: I believe in transparency and want to disclose that I’ve included certain products and links to those products on this page that I will earn an affiliate commission for any purchases you make. My aim is to only recommend products that will truly benefit you.

1. Start today. Or Start as soon as you can.

There’s never been a successful blogger who has ever said, “I wish I waited.” Ever.

Most say, “I wish I started sooner.” Imagine a few months from now cashing checks and earning a nice side income for yourself and your family.

As a passive income source, blogging allows you to earn income while you sleep and enjoy more time with your family. And of course, blogging is a great way to get out of debt.

My guess is that you’ve already been thinking of starting a blog. And you have some idea of what you would want to do. The next step is to check on the best name for your blog.

“Well, I’m not technically savvy.” Guess what- Me neither! And most of the successful bloggers I know in certain niches (like Mommy blogs) aren’t either.

In fact, being technically savvy is not helpful in creating a successful blog. What’s important is creating quality content and connecting to your readers. Everything else can be learned.

Since I’m not technically savvy, I love Bluehost. I’ve used their technical support many times. In fact, they will help you set up your blog if you have need any help. Either by phone or via chat. I’ve never waited for their representatives more than 5 minutes. Even at odd hours. They are Amazing!

Simple steps to creating a wordpress Blog with Bluehost:

Go to Bluehost
Select your plan

Pick a name for your site
Enter your account info, choose a password, and enter your payment info
Pick a theme for your new WordPress blog!

And if you have any questions, click the Chat button at the top right to speak with them directly.
And they will be happy to help you.

2. Content Counts.

Content is king (or queen). A blog needs helpful, engaging content. If you can do that, you will be very successful.

There are no advanced blogging tricks that can overcome a boring blog that doesn’t help people. Keywords, SEO, Lead magnets, and monetization can be learned.

There is no way to monetize a blog that doesn’t help and engage people. Content is really important!

Blog Posts: The longer the better. “Expert bloggers” rarely share this CRITICALLY important blog tip: write longer articles.

Don’t stop at 500 or 550 words. The longer the better. Shoot for a minimum of 700 words for anything your write. This will help you with Google ranking, but also with your reader. All of the data and research supports this tip. The most popular and shared pieces of content are always the longest. Yes, many of those are longer than 2,000 words. Write long pieces.

Relevant Articles:
The Best Personal Finance Books
Survey Sites That Actually Pay
It’s not about the Money. It’s about Taking Charge.

3. Take your blog seriously. View your blog as a profitable business and it will become one.

One of the reasons why new bloggers have trouble getting traffic is because their posts are too short. And they haven’t written enough helpful, engaging content. They aren’t really serious about their blogs. It’s a just a hobby. And that’s ok.

My focus in this article is for you to earn an income from your blog. And in order to do that you need to take it seriously.

Successful bloggers may pretend they woke up and had thousands of views and an e-mail list full of eager subscribers. Let me be honest: that doesn’t happen.

Blogging is competitive and takes work, dedication, and focus. Especially if you want your blog to make money.

Sometimes I have to wake up really early to finish a post before I go to work. I did this long before my blog was profitable. But, I had a plan to follow through on my goals and wanted to see results.

Blogging success takes time. In order for Google to rank your articles a certain amount of time needs to pass. You may write an incredible article today that will go on to bring you a lot of traffic and followers. But, it may take a few weeks or months for the articles to gain momentum.

Stay the course. And plan accordingly. I would never tell you that your blog can be profitable next month. And people that say that are exaggerating.

View your blog as a profitable business and it will become one. Take your content seriously. Take credible advice seriously. Have a plan. Have a strategy. And Invest in resources that will help you.

4. Have a Strategy to build traffic

Once you have great content, (Yes, I know I am repeating myself because content is really important.) You need a strategy to attract viewers to your blog. Each niche is a bit different, but right now many successful bloggers are using Pinterest to achieve excellent results. Pinterest can be a great source of traffic, especially if you use the right tools.

“Write it and they will come” is a poor traffic strategy. Blogging is too competitive and there is too much content out there. That is why you need to consider your ideal reader/ customer.

Your Ideal Reader: Thinking about your ideal reader is really important.

Who are they?
What are their problems?
How can you help them?
Where are they?

Some have been incredibly successful and others have been a learning lesson. Have a strategy to build traffic and know that you can keep revising it.

Use the right tools:

Tailwind is another great resource for Pinterest. What typically happens is that people wait to use Tailwind until their blog has traffic and is making money. And then they subscribe to Tailwind and get access to their Tailwind tribes and community and they have a big spike in traffic and Revenues.

And then they say, “Why did I Wait to use Tailwind?” That is a common experience. So, it is probably worth joining now and getting access to their great tools to help you schedule pins and access to their tribes and boards to increase your traffic. More about Tailwind here

I highly recommend using Canva to create pins on Pinterest. The cost is about $12 and if your strategy involves creating traffic with Pinterest, then this is a good choice.

I work with Bluehost because their technical support is amazing. One morning I woke up and there was zero traffic on one of my more profitable blogs. At 5:00 AM I called them and they fixed it in 5 minutes. They saved me a ton of time and money.

Invest with companies and courses that can help you. I use tools like Tailwind to grow my Pinterest following.
And as long as I am receiving value and these are helping me grow my business, I will continue to use them.
Don’t invest in expensive courses unless you are absolutely sure they will be a good investment. And that you are committed to doing whatever it takes to follow through.

5. Have a strategy to Monetize your blog:

There is no need to wait until you have engaging content to begin to monetize your site. It takes a while to build traffic and to create a relationship with the affiliate companies. Depending on your niche, there will be numerous opportunities with these companies to help you make thousands of dollars in the future.

It makes sense to apply to the programs as soon as possible since some companies evaluate you by how long your relationship is with the affiliate company. If you wait to join the affiliate company, some advertisers see you as a new blogger even if you have an established blog.

Great content allows you to build traffic. Traffic will allow you to monetize (make money) from your blog. Without traffic, it is very difficult to monetize a blog.

Affiliate Companies:

My advice is to check out their offers to see which ones are a good fit for your niche. Share a sale is an industry leader and has great offers in a variety of niches.

Share a Sale High quality affiliate company.

Other Quality Affiliate Companies:

Flex Offers High quality Affiliate Company. Strong with fashion, retailers.
Max Bounty, Their interface is attractive, easy to use, and fun affiliate contests are held regularly. Run by a very friendly and fun group of people who have been in the business for over 12 years.
Igain Network: iGain specializes in market research offers and features high quality advertisers. They offer a real-time tracking platform, which is great.

If you want to check to see which of your favorite companies are offered through an Affiliate program, a great resource to use is Offer Valult (it’s totally free).

7. Keep Learning

Today, bloggers are doing really well today converting traffic from Pinterest. If you read this post in 2020, bloggers could be using Facebook Live or YouTube videos to drive traffic.

I say this because current trends actually suggest that video is becoming more and more important in driving online traffic.

That is why it is so important to keep learning and developing your skills as a blogger and social influencer. Part of what is unique about blogging is that there is so much to learn: SEO, Blog Themes, Driving Traffic, Paid Ads, Lead Magnets, and on and on.

All of this presents an opportunity for you to increase your audience and to make more money. The more you know- the more you can teach others and create value.

I hope this post has added value to you.

Please consider sharing it on Social Media and Join 1,148 bloggers on my e-mail list for tips and strategies.

5 Books to Help you Achieve Early Retirement

March 22, 2018 by Frugal Prof

5 Books to Help you Achieve Early Retirement

For most people, it’s scary to think about retirement. And the following retirement statistics should scare the average person. However, you are not the average person. If you are engaged enough in your financial future to be reading this personal finance blog, then I hope you are above average when it comes to taking control of your financial life and planning for retirement.

And if you need some tips on getting started and how I took control of my financial life and paid off $17K in debt, read my story here.

*Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains links to products and companies that I endorse. I may receive a small fee, but the reader is never charged anything.

How much do you need to retire comfortably?
It depends. According to many financial experts, you should plan on needing about 80% of your pre-retirement salary once you retire, including income from Social Security, pensions, and any other savings.

And, you may need this income for longer than you think:

The average American retires at age 63.
The average retirement lasts 18 years, but many last much longer. Plus, who knows what the retirement life expectancy will be by the time you get there? I recommend that you err on the side of caution and plan on a 30-year retirement.
You’ll need $1,060,751 in savings if you expect to draw $5,000 per month for 30 years, assuming 6% annual investment returns and 2% inflation.

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