Thursday, October 29, 2009
Housing
We just received our Housing Tax Credit. We actually earned interest on it. We actually got $119 in interest.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Housing Tax Credit
Like I have mentioned before, I just bought a home and have been in the process of moving. My wife and I actually qualified for the Housing Tax Credit. The tax credit we will receive is 10% of the purchase price of the home up to $8,000. In order to qualify, you must not have owned a home in the past 3 years and must close on the house by November 30, 2009.
After we closed, we received all of the documents of closing a few days after we closed. Last Sunday, I had made an appointment with my CPA and she made an amendment to my 2008 taxes. She gave me the paperwork that I needed to send into the IRS for my money. She told me that it is taking up to 16 weeks to receive my check. I plan on using the money to pay off some debt.
This tax credit does not have to be paid back, but you must live in the house for at least 3 years. If you are in the market for a new home, and you qualify for the tax credit, you must hurry up. The deadline for the tax credit is November 30, 2009.
Good luck.
After we closed, we received all of the documents of closing a few days after we closed. Last Sunday, I had made an appointment with my CPA and she made an amendment to my 2008 taxes. She gave me the paperwork that I needed to send into the IRS for my money. She told me that it is taking up to 16 weeks to receive my check. I plan on using the money to pay off some debt.
This tax credit does not have to be paid back, but you must live in the house for at least 3 years. If you are in the market for a new home, and you qualify for the tax credit, you must hurry up. The deadline for the tax credit is November 30, 2009.
Good luck.
Cheap but effective
I finally have a chance to post a new blog. Been busy with moving to a new home.
One of the things we have been doing lately is eating on the go, i.e., fast food. Something that I have done, although, it sounds cheesy, is to add to my order once I get to the pay window at the drive through. Example: I had ordered my food going to the drive through window. I had already paid in the first window, so what I did was add something once I got my order. About 50% of the time, they just give it to me free. Like, I would order an upsized drink and instead of charging me the difference, they just give it to me free. This sounds cheap, but it is a good way of upsizing your order or getting some extra food with your order for free.
It doesn't hurt to ask. All they can say is no or it will cost you extra. This is just a simple idea.
One of the things we have been doing lately is eating on the go, i.e., fast food. Something that I have done, although, it sounds cheesy, is to add to my order once I get to the pay window at the drive through. Example: I had ordered my food going to the drive through window. I had already paid in the first window, so what I did was add something once I got my order. About 50% of the time, they just give it to me free. Like, I would order an upsized drink and instead of charging me the difference, they just give it to me free. This sounds cheap, but it is a good way of upsizing your order or getting some extra food with your order for free.
It doesn't hurt to ask. All they can say is no or it will cost you extra. This is just a simple idea.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Update Status
I just bought a home and I am in the process of moving and getting settled in. Hope to have new stuff up once the dust settles on the move.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Blog site updated
I have made some minor changes to the blog site. Check it out. I have a new search engine and news. Please pass the word around so I can have more followers to the site. I hope you are enjoying the blogs.
Thanks,
Emanuel
Thanks,
Emanuel
Monday, August 24, 2009
Update on the last posted blog
I just wanted to add something to the last blog - Save Money. If you follow the stock market, you have probably heard of a market correction. This happens every so often. This is actually a good thing. It makes people realize about their mistakes on financial situations and forces them to make changes for the better. This is what I feel is happening in America today. A correction that everyone needs to go through in order to come out stronger than before. So, even though everyone is have a tough time at the moment financially, if you hang in there, this will pass and you will be stronger for it.
One more comment, please take time to check out the sponsors on this page and pass the word around about my blog.
Thanks,
Emanuel
One more comment, please take time to check out the sponsors on this page and pass the word around about my blog.
Thanks,
Emanuel
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Save Money
Today's blog is about saving money and how to make the most of your resources available to you.
We are in tough economic times. A lot of people are cutting back on expenses as more and more people are losing their jobs. This is a great time for you to start making changes in your financial lives. It starts now. Do you want to change your financial situation - have more money rather than spend what little you have? If so, I have some ideas that may help you.
First, make a list of the things you need and the things you would like to have. Give the priorities to the things you need. If you want to buy something, i.e., new tv, computer, etc., make sure you are able to pay for it in cash rather than on a credit card or be able to pay for it in one month if you do put it on a card and avoid any finance charges. Wants vs. needs. If you don't have the money to pay for it in full, then don't get it. All this is going to do is get you into debt, and that is how one starts to get further and further in debt.
Second: Stay home and save money. By staying home, you spend less money on going out, spending gas, pay for dinner or a movie, etc. Save that money. Eat at home, rent a movie (using coupons) or watch a movie on tv. Cutting back is ok, especially right now. If you can do that and look at the savings you can make, you will see an improvement in your finances. Here's an idea, calculate how much you would spend on going out to a movie and/or dinner; then, put that money into your savings account instead. This is one way you will see your bank account grow. If you do this often, you will have a good nest egg for those rainy days.
Third: Check your credit cards - interest rates, balances. The smart thing to do is get your credit cards paid off as soon as possible. Let's say you have three outstanding credit cards. First - balance of $1,000, Second - balance of $500.00 and Third - balance of $2,500. What should you do to eliminate these cards? You have a few options. First try to pay off the card that has the greatest balance. Pay more than the minimum on that one to pay it off faster. If you are tight on money, then pay the minimum on the other two cards while you pay the other higher balance off. Then, once that one is paid for, go to the next highest and do the same thing, then the third. But make sure, you do not use those cards while trying to pay them off. If so, you will take a lot longer to pay them off. Another way of paying off the credit cards is to look at your interest rate. Although, credit card companies are being tougher on card holders these days, try to contact them to see if you can lower your interest rate, most times, they will do so. If you can get them to lower your rate, then you can pay them off faster. Another option is to consolidate your cards, i.e. find a low transfer rate card and transfer all of your cards to one card with a low interest rate. This way, you have one payment instead of three, and a lower interest rate. I have had some luck in this. I would get approved for 0% interest for 6 months or a year or a 3.99% interest on life of loan. I would transfer my other cards to this one, pay as much as possible and paid it off sooner.
Fourth: Use your resources wisely. Use your cards to your advantage. As stated in the third idea. Find a lower interest rate card and transfer all of your balances to that one, have one payment and a lower interest rate.
Here is a story of what I did last year. I was looking for a good used car for my wife. I found one at a dealership and negotiated a price of $5,000 total (TTL). What did I do? I actually bought the car on a credit card, then transfered the balance to a card that was charging 3.99% interest. The loan interest rates on used cars are higher than new cars - typically around 8-10% depending on the year. The older the card, the higher the rate. So, instead of paying 8% interest on a car loan, I was paying 3.99% on the life of the loan. This is what I mean by using your resources. (Unfortunately for me, my wife had a car accident and totaled the car, so it didn't work out the way it was supposed to). But you get the idea.
Finally: use your money wisely. If you can't afford it, don't get it. Save your money until you can pay for it in cash. Another thing, if you have paid your cards off, great, but don't close your credit card account. As I found out, it actually hurts your credit score if you do. I don' t know why, but it does. Just don't use your card.
Do what I do when you get your pay check. Pay yourself first. Meaning - set aside $25 or $50 and put it into your savings account first before you spend it on bills or entertainment. This is a good way to build up your savings account.
I hope these are some ideas you can use. If you read this, pass it along to as many people as possible. I would like ot get a lot of people following my blogs and click the ads, that helps me out too.
Good Luck.
We are in tough economic times. A lot of people are cutting back on expenses as more and more people are losing their jobs. This is a great time for you to start making changes in your financial lives. It starts now. Do you want to change your financial situation - have more money rather than spend what little you have? If so, I have some ideas that may help you.
First, make a list of the things you need and the things you would like to have. Give the priorities to the things you need. If you want to buy something, i.e., new tv, computer, etc., make sure you are able to pay for it in cash rather than on a credit card or be able to pay for it in one month if you do put it on a card and avoid any finance charges. Wants vs. needs. If you don't have the money to pay for it in full, then don't get it. All this is going to do is get you into debt, and that is how one starts to get further and further in debt.
Second: Stay home and save money. By staying home, you spend less money on going out, spending gas, pay for dinner or a movie, etc. Save that money. Eat at home, rent a movie (using coupons) or watch a movie on tv. Cutting back is ok, especially right now. If you can do that and look at the savings you can make, you will see an improvement in your finances. Here's an idea, calculate how much you would spend on going out to a movie and/or dinner; then, put that money into your savings account instead. This is one way you will see your bank account grow. If you do this often, you will have a good nest egg for those rainy days.
Third: Check your credit cards - interest rates, balances. The smart thing to do is get your credit cards paid off as soon as possible. Let's say you have three outstanding credit cards. First - balance of $1,000, Second - balance of $500.00 and Third - balance of $2,500. What should you do to eliminate these cards? You have a few options. First try to pay off the card that has the greatest balance. Pay more than the minimum on that one to pay it off faster. If you are tight on money, then pay the minimum on the other two cards while you pay the other higher balance off. Then, once that one is paid for, go to the next highest and do the same thing, then the third. But make sure, you do not use those cards while trying to pay them off. If so, you will take a lot longer to pay them off. Another way of paying off the credit cards is to look at your interest rate. Although, credit card companies are being tougher on card holders these days, try to contact them to see if you can lower your interest rate, most times, they will do so. If you can get them to lower your rate, then you can pay them off faster. Another option is to consolidate your cards, i.e. find a low transfer rate card and transfer all of your cards to one card with a low interest rate. This way, you have one payment instead of three, and a lower interest rate. I have had some luck in this. I would get approved for 0% interest for 6 months or a year or a 3.99% interest on life of loan. I would transfer my other cards to this one, pay as much as possible and paid it off sooner.
Fourth: Use your resources wisely. Use your cards to your advantage. As stated in the third idea. Find a lower interest rate card and transfer all of your balances to that one, have one payment and a lower interest rate.
Here is a story of what I did last year. I was looking for a good used car for my wife. I found one at a dealership and negotiated a price of $5,000 total (TTL). What did I do? I actually bought the car on a credit card, then transfered the balance to a card that was charging 3.99% interest. The loan interest rates on used cars are higher than new cars - typically around 8-10% depending on the year. The older the card, the higher the rate. So, instead of paying 8% interest on a car loan, I was paying 3.99% on the life of the loan. This is what I mean by using your resources. (Unfortunately for me, my wife had a car accident and totaled the car, so it didn't work out the way it was supposed to). But you get the idea.
Finally: use your money wisely. If you can't afford it, don't get it. Save your money until you can pay for it in cash. Another thing, if you have paid your cards off, great, but don't close your credit card account. As I found out, it actually hurts your credit score if you do. I don' t know why, but it does. Just don't use your card.
Do what I do when you get your pay check. Pay yourself first. Meaning - set aside $25 or $50 and put it into your savings account first before you spend it on bills or entertainment. This is a good way to build up your savings account.
I hope these are some ideas you can use. If you read this, pass it along to as many people as possible. I would like ot get a lot of people following my blogs and click the ads, that helps me out too.
Good Luck.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Updated postings 8/18/09
Just letting you know that I am still posting. I haven't been around much, because I am in the process of moving.
I recently saw in the news about a lady who saves tons of money using coupons and smart shopping. I believe what she took to the cashier to check out was worth about $130.00 and ended up paying about $8.00 and change. She would make a list of what she was going to buy. Using coupons and shopping smart, i.e., circulars - buy one get one free, items on sale, etc. and shopping at several stores that have the items on her list on sale, she was able to save all that money. It all starts with the coupons. There is where the majority of your savings will come.
One other thing we discovered on how to save money on entertainment is your local library. Yes, the library. We would spend money on movie rentals. We would spend .99¢ for a 1 day rental. This can add up fast. So what we found is that by getting a library card, you can actually rent movies for free and up to 7 days. They may not have the most up-to-date movies, but you can find a good selection of older movies. Free entertainment - savings that add up.
Just an update on the surveys I take. I have been getting alot of surveys here lately. One of my accounts, I now have earned $26.00 in one account and in the other survey account I have, I am up to $13.00. I am planning to cash in on both and put that money into my savings account.
Hope to have more updates soon.
I recently saw in the news about a lady who saves tons of money using coupons and smart shopping. I believe what she took to the cashier to check out was worth about $130.00 and ended up paying about $8.00 and change. She would make a list of what she was going to buy. Using coupons and shopping smart, i.e., circulars - buy one get one free, items on sale, etc. and shopping at several stores that have the items on her list on sale, she was able to save all that money. It all starts with the coupons. There is where the majority of your savings will come.
One other thing we discovered on how to save money on entertainment is your local library. Yes, the library. We would spend money on movie rentals. We would spend .99¢ for a 1 day rental. This can add up fast. So what we found is that by getting a library card, you can actually rent movies for free and up to 7 days. They may not have the most up-to-date movies, but you can find a good selection of older movies. Free entertainment - savings that add up.
Just an update on the surveys I take. I have been getting alot of surveys here lately. One of my accounts, I now have earned $26.00 in one account and in the other survey account I have, I am up to $13.00. I am planning to cash in on both and put that money into my savings account.
Hope to have more updates soon.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Updated postings
Sorry I haven't posted anything new. I just moved to a temporary place, and I am in the market for a home. So, when this is all done, I hope to have new postings.
Just an update on online surveys that pay. I have been receiving a lot more surveys that pay - usually about $1.00, $2.00 and $3.00.
I have completed some recently and I am up to about $22.00 in one of my accounts and the other one has $9.00.
Like I said, if you have spare time, try these, they do pay.
Just an update on online surveys that pay. I have been receiving a lot more surveys that pay - usually about $1.00, $2.00 and $3.00.
I have completed some recently and I am up to about $22.00 in one of my accounts and the other one has $9.00.
Like I said, if you have spare time, try these, they do pay.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Gambling Casinos
Today, I am writing about gambling casinos. I AM NOT PROMOTING CASINOS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. I am writing about this because I recently went to a gambling casino in Oklahoma for the first time. I am not a gambler, but it can get addictive. I have been gambling only once before on a ship off the coast of Texas.
This post is about my recent trip to the casino that may help those out there who would like to learn about gambling, make some money, but not get rich. One thing I noticed was the amount of slot machines there were. I was intrigued. The whole casino was full of slot machines. From Elvis slot machines to Pyramids. I went with a budget of $100.00 for me and $100.00 for my wife. That was all we were going to spend. Although, we did plan on staying the night at a hotel, we planned on coming home early the next morning. The casino is only about 2 1/2 hours away from our home. And they offer you free drinks. Unfortunately, no alcoholic drinks, just sodas - coke, sprite, etc. Also, don't eat at the casinos, they are very expensive. Find a restaurant or fast-food place, you can save money that way.
So, when I got there, I walked around, trying to get a feel for how the machines play. I looked around for machines that I could understand and play. I mostly played the penny slots. Although, the payouts aren't large, you can at least spend more time playing and not lose a bundle doing it. I did win a few dollars, not much, here and there. As I played, I started to understand the system more. I noticed when I spent little, I would win more times - I would win like $5.00 up to about $10.00. But as soon as I played the maximum, I would lose. Playing the maximum is where you can win the jackpots - ranging from $200.00 to $5000.00 on the penny slots. The other higher priced machines payed a lot more. It is possible to win them, because I heard in the background, people screaming, the machines ringing, so I know they hit something big. I did pretty much spend my $100.00 limit that night, within a few hours. So for me, the next time I go, I would go for a day, not spend a night. And I would probably take a little more than $100.00. But do set a limit, you can get carried away easily.
I also played on the blackjack table. When my wife and I got there, there was a gentleman there playing with 2 hands. He kept losing, but continued to spend more money to see if he can get back what he lost. Like I said, it can get addictive. He finally spend all of his money and left. While he was losing, I was actually winning. Until, they got a new dealer. I won a few more times, but instead of walking away, with the little I did win, I stayed and lost all of it. Not very smart on my part.
My wife actually did not like the slots and played a few hands of blackjack. She still had about $40 at the end of the night. The next morning. We decided to go back until we lost the $40 we had or try to recoup the $200 we took with us. She ended up staying to play bingo. The bingo did not start until 1:00 p.m. and ended around 4:30 p.m. I was planning on leaving at noon, but, that did not happen. I did not gamble anymore. She played bingo as I sat and watch.
People actually did win money on bingo. In fact, one oriental lady won $200.00 twice, by her self within the first 5 games. She pocketed $400.00 within 15 minutes or so. I would have been happy with that. Later, she played the pull tabs, and won some more money, but she also spent more for that too. There were others in the bingo hall that won over $1000.00 by themselves. So, you can win money there, but it is all luck. No strategy. We did not win anything on bingo and lost our $200.00 that we took for the trip, but I enjoyed getting out of town and learned a new experience - casino gambling. My wife and I talked about the next time we would go to the casino. She said "give me $50 for bingo and you can spend the rest". So all she wants is $50 to play bingo for the afternoon - 2-3 hours, and I would go gamble on slots or the tables. But, we would not spend the night. Since it is only 2 1/2 hours away from home, we could leave in the morning, and get back later that afternoon, early evening.
I talked to a co-worker who had gone gambling to the same casino I went to. He said he actually won about $500 playing bingo, but after mid-night. But he ended losing it all, because he did not know when to quit. So people do actually win. The advice he gave me on playing the slots was to play the maximum and you could actually hit big.
So, my message to you is this - if you decide to go gambling, do set a limit, don't get carried away, because you can easily do that. If you win a decent amount about $200 or more, walk away. If you play the slots, look around first before jumping in. Find a machine you like and understand how it plays and pays out. I recommend the penny slots. You will spend more time playing and your money will last longer and have more fun. Play the maximum and you never know, you might hit it big.
P.S. Only go gambling f0r the entertainment. Don't spend money you don't have or expect to get. If you have the money to spend on a mini-vacation like a gambling casino, do so and don't expect to get rich. Learn when to walk away. But, you never know, you could come out of there with a few extra bucks - maybe more than what you took to spend and have fun doing it.
This post is about my recent trip to the casino that may help those out there who would like to learn about gambling, make some money, but not get rich. One thing I noticed was the amount of slot machines there were. I was intrigued. The whole casino was full of slot machines. From Elvis slot machines to Pyramids. I went with a budget of $100.00 for me and $100.00 for my wife. That was all we were going to spend. Although, we did plan on staying the night at a hotel, we planned on coming home early the next morning. The casino is only about 2 1/2 hours away from our home. And they offer you free drinks. Unfortunately, no alcoholic drinks, just sodas - coke, sprite, etc. Also, don't eat at the casinos, they are very expensive. Find a restaurant or fast-food place, you can save money that way.
So, when I got there, I walked around, trying to get a feel for how the machines play. I looked around for machines that I could understand and play. I mostly played the penny slots. Although, the payouts aren't large, you can at least spend more time playing and not lose a bundle doing it. I did win a few dollars, not much, here and there. As I played, I started to understand the system more. I noticed when I spent little, I would win more times - I would win like $5.00 up to about $10.00. But as soon as I played the maximum, I would lose. Playing the maximum is where you can win the jackpots - ranging from $200.00 to $5000.00 on the penny slots. The other higher priced machines payed a lot more. It is possible to win them, because I heard in the background, people screaming, the machines ringing, so I know they hit something big. I did pretty much spend my $100.00 limit that night, within a few hours. So for me, the next time I go, I would go for a day, not spend a night. And I would probably take a little more than $100.00. But do set a limit, you can get carried away easily.
I also played on the blackjack table. When my wife and I got there, there was a gentleman there playing with 2 hands. He kept losing, but continued to spend more money to see if he can get back what he lost. Like I said, it can get addictive. He finally spend all of his money and left. While he was losing, I was actually winning. Until, they got a new dealer. I won a few more times, but instead of walking away, with the little I did win, I stayed and lost all of it. Not very smart on my part.
My wife actually did not like the slots and played a few hands of blackjack. She still had about $40 at the end of the night. The next morning. We decided to go back until we lost the $40 we had or try to recoup the $200 we took with us. She ended up staying to play bingo. The bingo did not start until 1:00 p.m. and ended around 4:30 p.m. I was planning on leaving at noon, but, that did not happen. I did not gamble anymore. She played bingo as I sat and watch.
People actually did win money on bingo. In fact, one oriental lady won $200.00 twice, by her self within the first 5 games. She pocketed $400.00 within 15 minutes or so. I would have been happy with that. Later, she played the pull tabs, and won some more money, but she also spent more for that too. There were others in the bingo hall that won over $1000.00 by themselves. So, you can win money there, but it is all luck. No strategy. We did not win anything on bingo and lost our $200.00 that we took for the trip, but I enjoyed getting out of town and learned a new experience - casino gambling. My wife and I talked about the next time we would go to the casino. She said "give me $50 for bingo and you can spend the rest". So all she wants is $50 to play bingo for the afternoon - 2-3 hours, and I would go gamble on slots or the tables. But, we would not spend the night. Since it is only 2 1/2 hours away from home, we could leave in the morning, and get back later that afternoon, early evening.
I talked to a co-worker who had gone gambling to the same casino I went to. He said he actually won about $500 playing bingo, but after mid-night. But he ended losing it all, because he did not know when to quit. So people do actually win. The advice he gave me on playing the slots was to play the maximum and you could actually hit big.
So, my message to you is this - if you decide to go gambling, do set a limit, don't get carried away, because you can easily do that. If you win a decent amount about $200 or more, walk away. If you play the slots, look around first before jumping in. Find a machine you like and understand how it plays and pays out. I recommend the penny slots. You will spend more time playing and your money will last longer and have more fun. Play the maximum and you never know, you might hit it big.
P.S. Only go gambling f0r the entertainment. Don't spend money you don't have or expect to get. If you have the money to spend on a mini-vacation like a gambling casino, do so and don't expect to get rich. Learn when to walk away. But, you never know, you could come out of there with a few extra bucks - maybe more than what you took to spend and have fun doing it.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Stocks that pay monthly dividends
Today's topic is about stocks. Since the recession, a lot of people have moved away from the stock market. Many people have lost lots of money in the market. But in fact, now is the time to buy stocks not sell. Many stocks are at record low levels. In fact, in the last couple of months, I have notice the market move up. I have a 401-K through work. It hit a low, but now, I have seen it rebound to where it was before we got hit hard with the recession, and it shows signs of moving further up.
I am not a genius when it comes to the stock market, but I try to do my research the best I can. I trade stocks through Ameritrade. There are other brokers out there too - E-Trade, Scott Trade, etc. They usually have low transaction fees. There fees for buying and selling is about $9.99 per trade.
What I have done is put together a portfolio of stocks that pay on a monthly basis. So, each month, I get money. They don't pay much per month, but the price of the stock was low enough that I could accumulate more of the stock and with time, your return will pay for the money you have invested. Some examples of stocks that pay on a monthly basis - stock symbols:
ADX, AWF, CHY, CSQ, EOI, ETG, EVV, IDD, NUV, PHK, PPR, SBR, SJT
There are a few examples of stocks that pay monthly dividends. Their yields range depending on the price of the stock. For example:
AWF dividend yield as of 6/30/09 is: 10.60% closing price was $10.27 per share. Monthly dividend payout: .0925¢ per share
CHY dividend yield as of 6/30/09 is: 10.10% closing price was $10.22 per share. Monthly dividend payout: .0825 per share
SBR dividend yield as of 6/30/09 is: 4.90% closing price was $44.29 per share. Monthly dividend payout: .18276 per share
Some of the stock's dividends vary from month to month. They may pay less or they may pay more. Also, their stock price varies from day to day as well, affecting the overall yield of the dividend.
Banks don't pay you that kind of yield on your savings or checking or cd accounts that you have. If you can afford to, open an account with a online broker. Every time you get a pay check, send in $25.00 or whatever you feel comfortable with. Let it accumulate. When you have enough money to buy some shares, do so. If you buy the stock before the record date, you can earn a dividend for that month. In general, it takes about 3 business days to settle a trade. For example; if you buy a stock on Tuesday, June 30, it will settle on Friday, July 3rd. If the date of record is on Monday, July 6, you would be eligible for the dividend declared for that month.
If you want long-term investing, look into stocks that have a strong history of payout. A good company that has a good record of payout is Johnson and Johnson (JNJ). If you look at their history, they pay dividends on a quarterly basis - every 3 months. They have continually raised their dividend on a constant basis. This company is a solid company. Other good companies to invest long-term are Coca-Cola (KO) and McDonalds (MCD).
Another way to invest is to look for companies that do stock splits (not reverse splits). An example of a stock split is when a company has a stock price of $100.00 per share. They declare a 2 for 1 stock split. That means that for every stock you own, you will receive 2 shares, but in turn, the price of the stock will be cut in half - that is, if you own 10 shares and a stock split is declared of 2 for 1, you will own 20 shares, but the price will be $50.00. Companies from time to time, will do this, but be aware of any company that does this on a regular basis. It could mean trouble long term. The reason they do this is to make the price per share more attractive to more buyers, in turn more buyers, means the price will go up again - more money for you.
There is also an investment called a DRIP (Dividend Re-Investment Plan). This means, that every time a company pays you a cash dividend, you will automatically buy that stock with the dividend you received. Sometimes, the money you make will not be enough to purchase a complete share, so the shares are bought in fractions. Over time, without you really missing the money, you can accumulate more stocks and it will continue to grow making more dividends. You will have to check with your broker if you are interested in this plan and they can give you more information about this.
These are just examples of stocks that pay dividends. Use your own judgement. Do your own research. I am not recommending to purchase these stocks, they are merely examples.
I hope this was informative and will help you make some extra cash. Please be sure to pass this along. Tell you friends and family and have them bookmark this blog. The more people, the better.
Thanks for reading.
I am not a genius when it comes to the stock market, but I try to do my research the best I can. I trade stocks through Ameritrade. There are other brokers out there too - E-Trade, Scott Trade, etc. They usually have low transaction fees. There fees for buying and selling is about $9.99 per trade.
What I have done is put together a portfolio of stocks that pay on a monthly basis. So, each month, I get money. They don't pay much per month, but the price of the stock was low enough that I could accumulate more of the stock and with time, your return will pay for the money you have invested. Some examples of stocks that pay on a monthly basis - stock symbols:
ADX, AWF, CHY, CSQ, EOI, ETG, EVV, IDD, NUV, PHK, PPR, SBR, SJT
There are a few examples of stocks that pay monthly dividends. Their yields range depending on the price of the stock. For example:
AWF dividend yield as of 6/30/09 is: 10.60% closing price was $10.27 per share. Monthly dividend payout: .0925¢ per share
CHY dividend yield as of 6/30/09 is: 10.10% closing price was $10.22 per share. Monthly dividend payout: .0825 per share
SBR dividend yield as of 6/30/09 is: 4.90% closing price was $44.29 per share. Monthly dividend payout: .18276 per share
Some of the stock's dividends vary from month to month. They may pay less or they may pay more. Also, their stock price varies from day to day as well, affecting the overall yield of the dividend.
Banks don't pay you that kind of yield on your savings or checking or cd accounts that you have. If you can afford to, open an account with a online broker. Every time you get a pay check, send in $25.00 or whatever you feel comfortable with. Let it accumulate. When you have enough money to buy some shares, do so. If you buy the stock before the record date, you can earn a dividend for that month. In general, it takes about 3 business days to settle a trade. For example; if you buy a stock on Tuesday, June 30, it will settle on Friday, July 3rd. If the date of record is on Monday, July 6, you would be eligible for the dividend declared for that month.
If you want long-term investing, look into stocks that have a strong history of payout. A good company that has a good record of payout is Johnson and Johnson (JNJ). If you look at their history, they pay dividends on a quarterly basis - every 3 months. They have continually raised their dividend on a constant basis. This company is a solid company. Other good companies to invest long-term are Coca-Cola (KO) and McDonalds (MCD).
Another way to invest is to look for companies that do stock splits (not reverse splits). An example of a stock split is when a company has a stock price of $100.00 per share. They declare a 2 for 1 stock split. That means that for every stock you own, you will receive 2 shares, but in turn, the price of the stock will be cut in half - that is, if you own 10 shares and a stock split is declared of 2 for 1, you will own 20 shares, but the price will be $50.00. Companies from time to time, will do this, but be aware of any company that does this on a regular basis. It could mean trouble long term. The reason they do this is to make the price per share more attractive to more buyers, in turn more buyers, means the price will go up again - more money for you.
There is also an investment called a DRIP (Dividend Re-Investment Plan). This means, that every time a company pays you a cash dividend, you will automatically buy that stock with the dividend you received. Sometimes, the money you make will not be enough to purchase a complete share, so the shares are bought in fractions. Over time, without you really missing the money, you can accumulate more stocks and it will continue to grow making more dividends. You will have to check with your broker if you are interested in this plan and they can give you more information about this.
These are just examples of stocks that pay dividends. Use your own judgement. Do your own research. I am not recommending to purchase these stocks, they are merely examples.
I hope this was informative and will help you make some extra cash. Please be sure to pass this along. Tell you friends and family and have them bookmark this blog. The more people, the better.
Thanks for reading.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Putting money in your pocket by saving
Another way of putting money in your pocket is by saving. Here is something that I do that actually saves me some money. I am a user of My Coke Rewards. If you like drinking Coca-Cola products, you can actually save some money on several things. You must register with www.mycokerewards.com. Find any Coke product that has a code underneath the cap of bottle products, or inside the carton on 12 packs of their products. Enter that code into your account. Each code (bottle) is worth 3 points. The cartons are worth 10 points. You can accumulate these points toward rewards. I have used the rewards for a free 12 pack of coke; rent 1 get 1 free movie rental at Blockbuster as well as rent a video game and get a video game rental free at Blockbuster.
Once you have enough points to redeem, just find the item you want and redeem it. They will send you an email with a website where you can download a pdf file of the coupon. Print it out and use it.
This is just a few things this site allows you to do. You can even enter your codes for prizes. I have yet to win anything, but I do use their coupons for savings and that is like money in your pocket. If you are like me, we have a Coke vending machine at work. My co-workers know that I save the caps, so they save them for me. I usually get about 3 a day on average. One co-worker saves a handful before he gives them to me - usually around 8-10. There is a limit on how many you can enter per day. The limit is 10 codes. If you have more, just enter them the following day. I actually have over 700 points. I redeem them from time to time on movie rentals and game rentals.
I hope these ideas that I am providing will help you. Don't forget to pass this information to your family and friends. Have them check out this blog - have them bookmark it and check back on a regular basis. The more people view this, the more it will help those out there looking to save and put a little cash in their pocket.
Pass it along - www.extramoney-ideas.blogspot.com
Thanks for reading.
Once you have enough points to redeem, just find the item you want and redeem it. They will send you an email with a website where you can download a pdf file of the coupon. Print it out and use it.
This is just a few things this site allows you to do. You can even enter your codes for prizes. I have yet to win anything, but I do use their coupons for savings and that is like money in your pocket. If you are like me, we have a Coke vending machine at work. My co-workers know that I save the caps, so they save them for me. I usually get about 3 a day on average. One co-worker saves a handful before he gives them to me - usually around 8-10. There is a limit on how many you can enter per day. The limit is 10 codes. If you have more, just enter them the following day. I actually have over 700 points. I redeem them from time to time on movie rentals and game rentals.
I hope these ideas that I am providing will help you. Don't forget to pass this information to your family and friends. Have them check out this blog - have them bookmark it and check back on a regular basis. The more people view this, the more it will help those out there looking to save and put a little cash in their pocket.
Pass it along - www.extramoney-ideas.blogspot.com
Thanks for reading.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Online surveys that pay
My post for today is about online surveys that pay. I have been researching some and I actually came about a couple of sights that I signed up for and have taken surveys. Most surveys you take, are anywhere from 5 minutes to 25 minutes long. They vary in topics from dvds to food products. The two sites I use will send you a survey directly to your email. Most of the time, you fill out the survey and submit it and they will enter you into a monthly or quarterly drawing for prizes. Some surveys will say that you get paid from $1.00 to about $5.00. The longer the survey, the more money you can make. There are some surveys that do pay more than $5.00 but don't come around much. The trick is that you first have to qualify for the survey. If after you answer some questions and qualify, you will continue with the survey and at the end, they will credit your account. You will usually see the money in your account in around 2 to 6 weeks. The account I am referring to is the account you set up with the company when you register. You enter your name and address. There is a minimum of $5.00 that you must earn before you can request payment.
And as for getting paid, yes, you actually do. The first company I use is www.surveyspot.com. This company will send you a lot of surveys each day. Most do not pay, some do. I actually earned about $25.00 before I requested my money. They sent me a check for $25.00. It took about 4-6 weeks to get, but I did get it. They are legit. I have yet to win anything in their drawings though.
The other company I use is www.acop.com. This company doesn't send you very many surveys, not like surveyspot. I may receive about 2 per week on average. I have taken surveys with this company and have gotten paid. They also offer drawings as well. You get entered into a drawing after each survey you get. With this company, when I requested my money, I actually got it in about 2 weeks.
So, if you have extra time and want to make a little bit of cash, check out this two survey sites.
And as for getting paid, yes, you actually do. The first company I use is www.surveyspot.com. This company will send you a lot of surveys each day. Most do not pay, some do. I actually earned about $25.00 before I requested my money. They sent me a check for $25.00. It took about 4-6 weeks to get, but I did get it. They are legit. I have yet to win anything in their drawings though.
The other company I use is www.acop.com. This company doesn't send you very many surveys, not like surveyspot. I may receive about 2 per week on average. I have taken surveys with this company and have gotten paid. They also offer drawings as well. You get entered into a drawing after each survey you get. With this company, when I requested my money, I actually got it in about 2 weeks.
So, if you have extra time and want to make a little bit of cash, check out this two survey sites.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
More extra cash ideas
Just a reminder, the ideas I am blogging about are my own and you can take them for what they are worth. I am just trying to give ideas that may help someone out there who many need a direction to go and hope that my ideas will help those people. Also, I was informed by someone about get rich schemes. By no way am I saying that these ideas are quick rich schemes. They are just my opinions on where and how you can make some extra money.
My next idea, was actually given to me by someone. He told me if you want to make some money, you can go out and collect aluminum cans. I have seen some runners who go out and pick up cans along the way. I don't know how much you can get for aluminum cans, but it is something and is a good opportunity for some extra cash.
I want to thank that person for letting me know about this idea.
My next idea, was actually given to me by someone. He told me if you want to make some money, you can go out and collect aluminum cans. I have seen some runners who go out and pick up cans along the way. I don't know how much you can get for aluminum cans, but it is something and is a good opportunity for some extra cash.
I want to thank that person for letting me know about this idea.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Welcome To Ideas On How To Make Extra Money
This blog is for those people who need to make extra cash. Times are difficult for many and people are looking for ideas on how to make extra cash to get by. I will give people ideas on how to make extra cash in your spare time. I do hope that this helps those in need and maybe, just maybe, it will give you an idea for a business.
Ebay
Alot of people make extra money using Ebay. Either they sell miscellaneous stuff, i.e., stuff around the house they don't need or use. Or they actually have an Ebay store where they sell several things they buy to resell. One idea I have for selling on Ebay is finding things around the house you don't use - tools, electronics, clothes, etc. When I first started using Ebay, I had several misc., things that I just didn't use and sold on Ebay. One of the first things I sold was an old Commodore 64 system. I hadn't used it in a long time. It still worked, but it was just collecting dust. I put it on Ebay and I sold it. I don't remember exactly how much I made, but I got paid. The buyer paid for shipping. The only thing about Ebay is that you do have to pay for posting the ad and a final valuation fee as well as any additional pictures you post. The first picture is free. It isn't much unless you sell a very high dollar item. Also, if you use Paypal to receive payment, Paypal will charge a fee for their service. But their service is easy to use and very convenient. Usually once the auction is over, and if you have a Paypal account, you send them a bill via Paypal and usually see payment within a day or so. Sometimes, you will receive payment right away. The money is posted into your account. And if you have your bank account link with your Paypal account, you can (for free) transfer that money into your account, or if you prefer, you can receive a check via the mail, but it will take a few days to receive it.
Another way to make money on Ebay, if you don't have stuff around the house to sell, is to go to garage sales. These can be gold mines. Do your research before you go shopping. Find items that you think will sell on Ebay. Go to Ebay and find the item(s) you would like to sell. Do a search for a particular item. A page will load up which will show items for sale. Some have bids (items in green), others do not (items in red). Some are buy now options. A good idea to do is find the item(s) you are interested in selling. Once the page loads up, look on the left side of the page. There is a column that shows Refine Search. Scroll down until you see a link that says Completed Items. Click on that link. A new page loads up. This page will show you which items have sold (green), and which ones did not sell (red). Click on the completed items in green to see how the item was described in the ad, what the starting price was, shipping price and what the item actually sold for. This will give you a very good starting point and gives you a better chance of a successful sale. Once you get the feel for it, you can expand and sell more things and higher priced items.
Doing this in your spare time, can be bring in extra income. I will post other ideas in the near future.
Thanks for taking the time to view this blog.
Ebay
Alot of people make extra money using Ebay. Either they sell miscellaneous stuff, i.e., stuff around the house they don't need or use. Or they actually have an Ebay store where they sell several things they buy to resell. One idea I have for selling on Ebay is finding things around the house you don't use - tools, electronics, clothes, etc. When I first started using Ebay, I had several misc., things that I just didn't use and sold on Ebay. One of the first things I sold was an old Commodore 64 system. I hadn't used it in a long time. It still worked, but it was just collecting dust. I put it on Ebay and I sold it. I don't remember exactly how much I made, but I got paid. The buyer paid for shipping. The only thing about Ebay is that you do have to pay for posting the ad and a final valuation fee as well as any additional pictures you post. The first picture is free. It isn't much unless you sell a very high dollar item. Also, if you use Paypal to receive payment, Paypal will charge a fee for their service. But their service is easy to use and very convenient. Usually once the auction is over, and if you have a Paypal account, you send them a bill via Paypal and usually see payment within a day or so. Sometimes, you will receive payment right away. The money is posted into your account. And if you have your bank account link with your Paypal account, you can (for free) transfer that money into your account, or if you prefer, you can receive a check via the mail, but it will take a few days to receive it.
Another way to make money on Ebay, if you don't have stuff around the house to sell, is to go to garage sales. These can be gold mines. Do your research before you go shopping. Find items that you think will sell on Ebay. Go to Ebay and find the item(s) you would like to sell. Do a search for a particular item. A page will load up which will show items for sale. Some have bids (items in green), others do not (items in red). Some are buy now options. A good idea to do is find the item(s) you are interested in selling. Once the page loads up, look on the left side of the page. There is a column that shows Refine Search. Scroll down until you see a link that says Completed Items. Click on that link. A new page loads up. This page will show you which items have sold (green), and which ones did not sell (red). Click on the completed items in green to see how the item was described in the ad, what the starting price was, shipping price and what the item actually sold for. This will give you a very good starting point and gives you a better chance of a successful sale. Once you get the feel for it, you can expand and sell more things and higher priced items.
Doing this in your spare time, can be bring in extra income. I will post other ideas in the near future.
Thanks for taking the time to view this blog.
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