#so spending an extra seven dollars to get five cloths for $25 was WORTH IT

[kazoosandfannypacks]

I already bought christmas presents for 3/5 of the members of my immediate family this year. Let's GO!

[theconservativebrief]

I recently received a Facebook message from a high school acquaintance I hadn’t seen or spoken to in years. She had been thinking of me, she said, and she was wondering if I was looking to make extra money on the side. Apparently I’d be perfect at selling body wraps and weight-loss products — she could sign me up to do so, and then we’d both make money!

This was my first time getting a sales pitch for a multilevel marketing company, but it wasn’t the first time I had heard about this kind of recruitment tactic. I had seen her posts on Facebook, where she bragged about the flexibility and financial freedom her burgeoning business venture had allowed her. I had seen other Facebook friends hawking leggings, lipsticks, and the opportunity to hawk leggings and lipsticks under them. According to the Direct Selling Association, the multilevel marketing (MLM) industry’s lobbying arm, one in six American households is involved in the industry.

Most MLM salespeople don’t make a ton of money — a 2017 report by the Federal Trade Commission found that 99 percent of MLM sellers actually lose money. The website Magnifymoney recently polled 1,049 MLM sellers across various companies and found that most sellers make less than the equivalent of 70 cents an hour. Nearly 20 percent of those polled never made a sale, and nearly 60 percent earned less than $500 in sales over the past five years.

This is a far cry from the success stories promoted by most multilevel marketing companies. To see how accurate the survey was, I talked to seven current and former MLM sellers about their experiences. They worked for 10 different companies in total, including LuLaRoe, Amway, and Mary Kay. Some made thousands of dollars a month, a few managed to break even, and some ended up losing money. Some gave up on MLMs entirely after one experience; others hopped from one company to the next.

Signed up by: A friend

What she put into her business: 25-30 hours of work each week; $5,000 on clothing, approximately $2,000 on clothing racks, promotional materials, and packaging

What she got out: Nothing

It was easy [to sell] when I first started. That summer, I had really high hopes that it was going to be really successful, because a lot of stuff I had was selling right away. Every sale I had, I was selling between 20 and 50 pieces. As the fall started to come around, there started to be a lot of quality issues with the clothes. Customers didn’t seem to be buying anything anymore — it was a lot harder, and you had to work a lot more for those sales.

I never actually took a paycheck, because one of LuLaRoe’s philosophies is that to be able to sell a lot of clothes, you have to have a lot of inventory. They really push new consultants to put everything they make back into the business right away. I didn’t actually make any money doing it, because I just reordered with all the profits I made.

Signed up by: The woman who does her nails

What she put into her business: 30-40 hours per week; $700 on an initial inventory order

What she got out of it: 42 women on her downline; an undisclosed amount of money she reports is on par with what she made at her full-time job

It’s actually my third multilevel marketing endeavor. I had previously worked with Monavie, which is a nutritional beverage, as well as Beach Body, which is a fitness program. I spent a significant amount of time, money, investment into those businesses with no luck. I had a real bad taste in my mouth about multilevel marketing in general and I had kind of sworn it off forever. But once I looked into SeneGence, which is LipSense’s main company, it was very different than what I was used to, and I decided to give it a go.

We’re legally not allowed to disclose specific numbers about our income — it’s part of our compliance. It’s just been a very positive experience for me.

Signed up by: Her father’s coworker

What she put into her business: Approximately approximately 11 hours per week; $99 initial inventory purchase

What she got out of it: $30-$40 per month

[My mom] was like, “Hey look, this is what so-and-so is doing, and she said it’s out-earning her paycheck.” Knowing what this lady does and her educational background, she was probably pulling in fifty to sixty thousand dollars a year through her regular job. So I was like, “Whoa, holy crap, she’s earning $6,000 a month off ItWorks!”

They tell you things like, “If your business isn’t succeeding, it’s because you aren’t working hard enough,” and “You have to be a product of the product.”

They encouraged us to demonstrate the wraps on people, or on ourselves. They give you tricks that make the product sound like it works, but when you do research on how your stomach and digestive system work, that science doesn’t work at all.

Signed up by: A friend (LipSense); that same friend (Maskcara)

What she put into her businesses: 20 hours per week with SeneGence, LipSense’s parent company; 10 hours per week with Maskcara

What she got out of them: $3,000 per month from downlines’ commissions with LipSense; $1,700 in September with Maskcara

I [left LipSense because] didn’t like the way things were run. It was very cutthroat. The biggest thing I had an issue with is that they made you purchase your products up-front. You had to check a box saying you have sold your previous inventory [in order to buy more, but] nobody has done that.

I had a great team, and I didn’t spend a crap-ton of time doing it, but I know women that are just making nothing — and they spend hours and hours and hours. But then you find women that are making, like, 100 grand a month and maybe spend the same amount of time [working that] I was. It’s a game of luck — it’s when you get into it.

When I was with SeneGence, there were about 80,000 distributors. When I joined Maskcara, I was one of the first 2,000.

Signed up by: A friend (Arbonne); through the website (Avon); a friend (Young Living)

What she put into her businesses: $750 on inventory with Arbonne; $10 to sign up for Avon, plus expenses; $450 with American Income Life Insurance Company; $150 for the Young Living premium starter kit

What she got out of them: Nothing; she lost money with Arbonne and went into debt with Avon

I’ve actually been involved with a few MLMs. I got involved with Arbonne because I posted on my Facebook page that I needed to work from home because I couldn’t afford childcare. So naturally, my friend who was involved with Arbonne messaged me like, “Oh, I have this opportunity.” I met her for coffee with her upline. At the time, I didn’t really understand MLMs or most of what they were — I thought it was legit.

When I went to interview with the American Income Life Insurance Company, I was like, “This kind of reminds me a little bit of the Arbonne meetings,” but it didn’t hit me that that was what it was. It wasn’t until Young Living essential oils that I really understood. In the business-building classes, I asked them, “What’s the best way to get long-term retail customers?” [because] I was doing research with the FTC and found out that we need to have retail customers if we want to be legitimate.

My upline said she doesn’t worry about retail customers; she just worries about getting wholesale customers — i.e., distributors — and selling to them. That’s when I really began to understand what an MLM was.

Signed up by: Her boss at her full-time job

What she put into her business: 10-20 hours per week; a $3000 initial inventory purchase, plus additional orders since then.

What she got out of it: Nothing; she lost money.

When you’re getting started, everyone encourages you to invest everything [you make] back into it and buy more product. So instead of keeping that [money], you just keep buying more and more, because there are constantly new things coming out.

One of the options they tell you you could pursue is to get a loan. I’m glad that when I signed up, I had money saved away that I used. Not that I’m happy about having thousands of dollars’ worth of makeup sitting in my house that I can’t seem to get rid of, but there are actually people out there who are getting loans to start selling.

[The woman who signed me up] makes 13 percent of Mary Kay’s portion of every consultant underneath her that places an order. I think our group has 110 people in it. And she did over $120,000 in sales just by herself this past year — she has about 400 different customers. The town she lives in has 75 people, so it’s like, oh she’s from this itty-bitty town, and she’s doing great. She’s driving this brand new pink Cadillac. If she can do it, why can’t I? But it does not work that way.

You’re not allowed to sell stuff to other people’s customers. We lived in this small area of North Dakota, and she had 400 customers. She had a monopoly on the area.

Signed up by: A personal training client at the gym

What he put into his business: 10-15 hours per week; $885.79 in initial registration fees

What he got out of it: $2,500-$3,500 CAD per month; more than 100 people on his downline

I was 20 years old [when I signed up]. I was working as a personal trainer, and I had recently dropped out of school because my dad was a gambling addict and my family had declared bankruptcy at the time. I was in a vulnerable state just wanting to make more money.

The way we were taught was just to hit whatever threshold in terms of client sales that allowed us to make commission off of our downline. In terms of sales, we didn’t do a lot — we had one or two clients that just liked our products, and they would buy a couple hundred dollars of product every month. That really only translated to $100, $200 of profit, which is not a lot. The majority of the income came from making commissions off your downline.

After a while, I started to realize that a lot of the things I was doing were very unethical. Not necessarily illegal, because a lot of these MLM companies have certain loopholes in terms of legal stuff that allows them to be in business. But a lot of the stuff that we were doing just didn’t sit right with me. I bought up a lot of issues that should be changed — for things to be run a little bit better, for us not to screw people over or lie to people or mislead people. That didn’t really sit well with the leaders.

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Original Source -> Multilevel marketing companies say they can make you rich. Here’s how much 7 sellers actually earned.

via The Conservative Brief

[acid-flash-backs-dead-souls-blog]

10 THINGS AUSTRALIANS SHOULD KNOW WHEN PLANNING A USA ROAD TRIP

Each explorer ought to complete a USA excursion in any event once in their life. 

The US is the most perfectly awesome nation for traveling. It's enormous yet exceptionally drivable and the streets are amazing. 

There is such a tremendous measure of assorted variety in America. Each state feels altogether different from the following, both in scene and in culture. 

After touring the countryside in the US for over multi year, we've still just secured around 60% of the States yet we've learnt a couple of things about going in the nation en route. 

In case you're an Aussie or Kiwi arranging a USA excursion, here are 10 things you should know. 

1. The USA is a BIG nation 

We've been touring the countryside in the US for over multi year we've still just secured 30 states! When we get done with voyaging we will most likely be up to around 40. 

In case you're constrained on time, pick an area of the nation as opposed to attempting to make a great deal of progress. 

There are some decent US travels that you can do in less than two or three weeks in the event that you don't have sufficient energy to drive over the entire nation. Here are five astounding US excursion schedules that we've done on our movements. 

2. You Might Need A Visa for the US 

In case you're going to the US for only half a month and flying in and out, no issue! You can enter under the Visa Waiver Program utilizing ESTA (electronic pre-endorsement). 

On the off chance that you need to remain longer than 90 days or in the event that you anticipate likewise going by neighboring nations, the US visa circumstance is somewhat confused. 

When you hit US soil, your 90 days begins ticking yet it doesn't reset on the off chance that you cross the fringe to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. 

Truth be told, whenever spent in these nations include towards your 90 days the US on the off chance that you visit them after you entered America. You can apply for a 6-month vacationer visa on the off chance that you need to complete a more extended trek. Here are the points of interest of how we did it. 

3. It's Cheaper to Hire a Car in the USA from Outside the US 

It'll unquestionably be less expensive to book your rental auto before you leave for the USA on an Australia, UK or New Zealand auto employ site. 

Statements from US auto procure organizations may look appealing however they do exclude duties or protection, which are paid when you gather the auto, so you'll need to twofold them to get the genuine estimation of the rental. 

We locate the best costs for rentals originate from UK locales since they incorporate every one of the charges and protection. 

4. Purchasing a Car in the USA Isn't That Easy 

… and it's most likely more inconvenience than it's worth except if you're spending no less than a half year travels. 

In the US you need to enlist the auto in a state, most likely the one you buy it in, and get protection. Both of these things require a US address so in case you're sufficiently fortunate to have a companion or relative who can encourage you, it should be possible. 

We discovered just a single safety net provider that would cover us as drivers with an outside permit and the protection was $450 every month! We figured out how to bring it down to $200 every month following a half year of driving without any mishaps. 

You MUST specify you have an outside permit when you purchase your strategy or you won't be secured on the off chance that you have a mishap. 

5. Try not to Bring Much Stuff from Home 

"Stuff" is modest in America. Pack light or, even better, accompany an unfilled bag! Garments, shoes, toiletries, gadgets… it's all shoddy in the US. 

In the event that you require design for your USA excursion, stock up at a Target or Walmart before you hit the street for things like an auto situate, a GPS and a cooler. (Unexpectedly, it's quite often less expensive to purchase auto seats and GPSs inside and out than it is to lease them with your auto when going in the US.) 

In case you're anticipating outdoors on your excursion in America, discover a REI store for all your apparatus or shop on Craigslist for second-hand supplies. 

6. The National Parks in the USA Are Amazing 

One of my most loved parts of movement in the USA are the astounding National Parks. 

A portion of the extra charges are very steep, up to $30 for the enormous parks like the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon. You can buy a yearly go to cover the passage to US National Parks for just $80. 

Remember about State Parks as well. There are some fantastically intriguing ones like Antelope Island in Utah. State Parks as a rule have a littler extra charge, $5 to $10, and are not secured on your National Parks pass. 

7. Convenience Can Be Cheap (If You Know a Few Tricks) 

We once in a while spend more than $50 to $80 a night on inns in the USA. 

2 to 3.5-star inns are great incentive in the US and quite often incorporate complimentary wireless internet, stopping and frequently breakfast. Numerous rooms additionally have an ice chest and microwave and they quite often have a visitor clothing. Travel in the US is better than average esteem! 

We have learnt a couple of basic traps that spare us a ton on convenience in America. 

Extraordinary compared to other traps is to utilize Priceline Express Deals, which resemble riddle lodgings, to get gigantic rebates on inns. We typically spare 25 to 60% on the entirety of our inns by booking along these lines. 

In case you're on a more drawn out US excursion, you'll have to separate your long periods of driving with longer remains all over. 

Utilizing Airbnb is critical to a lengthy, difficult experience trip. Spending seven days in a condo or house will give you much-required space from your movement associates, time to make up for lost time with clothing and unwind after extended lengths of driving. 

While Airbnbs regularly aren't less expensive than inns for a night or two, has frequently drop their daily rate significantly in case you're remaining up to seven days. 

8. Tipping in the US is a Necessary Evil 

To Australians, Kiwis and Brits tipping for all intents and purposes everything in the US gets irritating and can feel awkward. 

It's really a need for laborers in the US as least wages are unimaginably low. Your server is presumably just procuring two or three dollars a hour and her wage comes totally from tips. 

What would it be advisable for you to tip? 

Hold up staff in eateries ought to be tipped 10-20%. Tip your barkeep $1 per drink. Cabbies ought to be given $1-3 for every trip or around 10% of the metered passage. Lodging doormen or room benefit staff conveying a comment room ought to get $2-5 relying upon the level of inn. 

When you look at of your inn room, you should leave $1-2 every night of remain in a lodging room as a tip for the cleaning staff.

[norfloxacin1]

To Tom and little Joey mackerel catching was a novelty, and neither was able to aid very much in the work until after having satisfied his curiosity regarding this odd method of fishing.

Tom was lost in wonder because the hungry fish snapped at the bit of white cloth, or even the bare hook, before it was well down to the surface of the water, and not the least of his surprise was regarding the ease with which the mackerel could be shaken off after having been brought inboard.

“It’s the greatest fishin’ I ever heard tell of!” he exclaimed in delight as Uncle Ben detached a rainbow-colored fish from the hook by a sharp jerk on the line. “My, my, but don’t they take hold lively!”

“That’s more’n can be said for you,” the old lobster catcher replied with a laugh as he pulled in another fish. “When you strike a school of mackerel it don’t pay to spend much time with your mouth open, for they’re odd creeters, an’ jest as apt to knock off bitin’ in another minute as they are to keep on for the next hour. Fishermen have to get ’em when they’re in the humor, an’ it’s a case of jumpin’ to it the best you know how. Why don’t you swing your line over?”

“I declare for it I’d forgotten all about doin’ my share,” Tom said, in what was much like a tone of apology as he acted upon the old man’s suggestion. “It’s so funny that I couldn’t do anythin’ but watch.”

Even while speaking he swung a fat fish over the rail, and from that moment the most enthusiastic fisherman aboard was Tom Falonna.

The eager fish even allowed themselves to be caught by the “baby,” and little Joey screamed with delight as he brought over the rail a tiny “tinker” gorgeous in hues of blue, green, pink and white.

“Talk about luck on the first cruise!” Mr. Rowe cried when it seemed as if the “Sally’s” deck was completely covered with the beautiful fish. “To strike a school so near inshore at this time of year is enough to make a man sit up an’ look at himself; but to have ’em keep up the fun so long is somethin’ I never run across! What about losin’ a few lobsters for the sake of gatherin’ in sich a fare as this? I’m tellin’ you, Uncle Ben, if we could get this lot inter Boston fresh, the ’Sally’ would come somewhere near payin’ half her cost. If we only had a lot of ice aboard!”

“I’m allowin’ Portland would be as good a market as Boston, an’ if this wind holds we could run in there with the mackerel sweet an’ fresh, even though we didn’t have any ice,” Uncle Ben replied thoughtfully, but without ceasing his work for a single instant.

“I believe it would pay, even though we didn’t get back to the island for a week, for there’s a good bit of money in this fare,” Reuben said in a tone of satisfaction; but his face clouded when the old man added decidedly:

“We can’t afford to take the chances of havin’ things go wrong at home, an’ that’s the fact.”

“S’pose you can’t get ’em in port fresh, what is to be done with such a slat?” Tom asked, and Mr. Rowe replied mournfully:

“We’ll have to salt ’em down, which not only means a big lot of work, but cuts down the price a lot. It’s a pity we hadn’t left you lads ashore, an’ then it would be a case of our gettin’ inter market with what would fetch a couple of hundred dollars.”

“How far do you allow we are from Apple Island now?” Sam asked suddenly, as if a happy thought had come to him.

“Somewhere ’bout five miles, I reckon. What do you say, Uncle Ben?”

“We can’t be much further off than that; but if we was countin’ on makin’ Portland, it would add ten miles to the run if we put in home, an’ that’s far enough to cut short our chances of gettin’ the fish on the market while the weather is so warm.”

“What’s to hinder Tom an’ me from pullin’ over home when this school gets through bitin’?” Sam asked. “You could get under way in a jiffy, an’ have no need to worry ’bout things on the island. The only trouble would be that you’d have to go without a small boat.”

“You’ve hit the nail square on the head, lad!” Mr. Rowe cried excitedly. “It’s the very thing to be done! I allow we can get along without the dory when it’s a case of scoopin’ in two hundred dollars or more!”

“What about it, Uncle Ben?” Sam asked anxiously, and the old man replied, speaking slowly and thoughtfully:

“It’ll be a long pull for you, Sammy; but if it wasn’t for that I’d say Reuben had the right idee. We’ve got a lot of fish here, an’ they’re worth seven or eight cents apiece as they run, for fresh mackerel at this time of the year are somethin’ of a rarity, an’ there are rich folks enough in this world to pay extra money for the sake of havin’ things out of season.”

“Then the whole business is settled,” Tom cried, still continuing his work of adding to the cargo. “It wouldn’t make any difference if we were ten miles from home, ’cause we’d be bound to pull back for the sake of helpin’ bring in two hundred dollars to the family. How is that for two or three hours’ fishin’?”

To this outburst Uncle Ben made no reply and his crew took it for granted that the matter was settled without need of further discussion. Mr. Rowe suggested that the “baby,” who was not making any great headway at taking fish, set about gathering up the catch into baskets that it might be sent into the hold where the sun could not shine upon it and the remainder of the “family” worked even more rapidly than before, if indeed that could be possible, in order to add to the take before the mackerel were done biting.

It seemed to the eager fishermen as if a full hour had been spent at the work before the fish, with no apparent reason, suddenly sank out of sight, and Uncle Ben announced as he swung his lines inboard:

“That finishes this job, an’ if you’re countin’ on makin’ Portland while the fare is sweet an’ fresh, Reuben, I’m allowin’ we’d better get the ’Sally’ on her course. It’s been a rare piece of good fortune for the first cruise,” Uncle Ben said placidly, and Mr. Rowe shouted in a tone of command:

“Now, then, if you boys are reckonin’ on pullin’ back home, it’s time you got over the rail, for we can’t waste a minute jest now!”

“Shan’t we hold on a bit to help put the fish in the hold?” Sam asked. “It’s so early in the day that no great harm will be done if we make the trip three or four miles longer.”

“We can do that work after we’re on our course, an’ I’m not allowin’ you shall go any further from home,” Uncle Ben said decidedly. “If you’re willin’ to go back, get about the job before the ’Sally’ is under way.”

“Willin’? Of course we are!” Tom cried as he hauled the dory alongside. “It would be funny if we wasn’t, with so much money to be made. I’d go back alone rather than lose the chance to make a pile on the first cruise.”

“Then over the rail with you, an’ be lively!” Mr. Rowe cried.

In a twinkling the two boys were in the dory, the painter was cast off, and little Joey was dancing excitedly about the deck as he screamed shrilly:

“Good-bye, Sam! Good-bye, Tom! I’m sorry you won’t have a chance to see the city, but I’ll tell you all about it when we get back!”

“We don’t want to see any city, when there’s lots of lobsters in the pots!” Sam cried cheerily. “Say, Uncle Ben, the car was mighty nigh full when we dumped the catch in last night; what’s to be done if we have good luck to-day?”

“Better freight a load over to the Port, Sammy, if you feel able to pull that far. Mr. Mansfield will take all you carry; but in case you’re too tired, we’ll run the chances of losin’ some of ’em, seein’s how this ’ere lot of mackerel more’n makes up for them as may eat each other.” (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); #gallery-0-7 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-7 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 25%; } #gallery-0-7 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-7 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

“Jest hold your hand on the top of your head till we get tired when there are big dollars to be made, an’ see how long you’ll keep it there!” Tom cried as the “Sally” came around on her heel, every inch of canvas catching the fresh breeze and forcing the little schooner on her way to Portland, as if understanding how necessary it was the fish be delivered to the purchasers by daybreak next morning.

“I thought I’d seen quick work before, but I never struck any thin’ so sudden as mackerel fishin’,” Tom said when the dory, with the boys each pulling a pair of oars, was headed for Apple Island. “There must be big money in sich business, an’ I wonder Uncle Ben don’t knock off lobsterin’ to ’tend to it.”

“We might come out fifty times, an’ not strike luck the same as we had it this mornin’,” Sam replied with a happy laugh. “It’s great for the first cruise, an’ now if we can take as many lobsters as we did last night, it’ll seem as if this family had started in all right.”

So elated were the lads by the success of the morning that the five-mile pull was hardly more than sport, and so busy were they speculating as to how much money the mackerel would bring in that it seemed as if they were hardly more than cast off from the “Sally D.” before Apple Island was close under the dory’s bow.

“I reckon Mr. Rowe was way out of his reckonin’ when he said we were so far away,” Tom cried in astonishment, when Sam called his attention to the fact that they were almost home. “It can’t have been more’n—— Hello! Ain’t that your old heathen jest pullin’ out of the cove?”

Sam ceased rowing in order to gaze in the direction indicated by Tom’s outstretched finger, and an exclamation of dismay burst from his lips as he cried:

“That’s him sure enough! Now, what kind of mischief do you reckon he’s been up to?”

“With all hands of us an’ the ’Sally’ away from home, I don’t allow he could kick up very much of a row,” Tom replied carelessly, and added with a hearty laugh, “I reckon he was chafin’ some under the collar when he found we’d got out of his way.”

“Unless he fooled with the lobster car, I don’t s’pose he could do much mischief,” Sam said half to himself; “but yet it seems as if he must have cut up some kind of a shine, else why is he goin’ off so peaceable like?”

“’Cause there was nobody ashore to pick up a fuss with,” Tom replied in a tone of satisfaction. “I wish Uncle Ben would let Mr. Rowe, an’ you, an’ me serve the old pirate out once! I’ll bet he wouldn’t want to come foolin’ ’round this island ag’in!”

The lads gave no further attention to Captain Doak, after making certain that he was pulling toward the Port at his best pace, and five minutes later their dory had rounded the point, opening to view the shore of the cove.

Then it was that both the boys ceased rowing very suddenly, as they gave vent to a cry of mingled anger and sorrow, for the shanty appeared to be in a blaze, with the flames already bursting out through the roof.

“That’s what the old heathen has been doin’!” Tom cried in a rage, as he dipped his oars deep in the water. “Pull around, Sam, so’s we can overhaul him, an’ no matter how big he is, I’ll give him a dose that won’t be forgotten very soon!”

“Even if we could get the best of him, there’s no use chasin’ his boat; he’s got a good mile the start, an’ we’d never be able to make that up ’twixt here an’ the Port. Pull, Tom, pull the best you know how, an’ perhaps we can save some few of the things!”

“It’s too late now, for the whole place is in a light blaze,” Tom replied sorrowfully, but he obeyed the command to the best of his ability, and the dory was sent over the water at a rate of speed which, it is safe to say, she had never equaled.

The boys did not slow down on nearing the shore, but ran her at full speed high up on the sand, leaping over the rail even as she struck, but before they had taken a single step in the direction of the shanty it was possible to see that any efforts of theirs would be useless.

Uncle Ben’s home, slightly built of inflammable material, was burning fiercely, the flames leaping up from every point, and it could be understood that Captain Doak had waited until making certain his villainous work was thoroughly performed before he left the island.

The boys ran at full speed, however, hardly knowing what they did, and came to a halt only when the heat of the fire prevented any nearer approach. Here they stood watching the devouring flames in silence a full minute, when Tom, turning in the direction of the Port, shook his fist threateningly as he cried angrily:

“It makes no difference what Uncle Ben says, if ever I come within strikin’ distance of that miserable pirate! The idea of burnin’ a shanty when he couldn’t do himself any good, but only to turn an old man outer house an’ home! Come on, Sam, even if we can’t catch him we’ll tell the folks at the Port what he has done, an’ I’ll be way out of my reckonin’ if they don’t make it hot for him before he’s many hours older!”

“We can’t spend the time to go there till after the traps have been hauled, ’cause even if the shanty is burned we’ve got to take care of the lobsters,” Sam replied with a sigh. “If we could only rig up some kind of a place for Uncle Ben to sleep in when he get back!”

“He’ll have the ’Sally,’ won’t he? We can live aboard of her till another house is built; but it’ll take all the money that comes in from the mackerel to pay for new lumber.”

“I forgot that we’d have the schooner for a home, so things ain’t quite so bad as they might have been. See here, Tom, we mustn’t think of runnin’ after Cap’en Doak, for there’s no knowin’ but that we’ll have to carry a load of lobsters to the Port, an’ if that’s so, we oughter get off early, ’cause we must be back before dark.”

“Why? There’s no place here for us to sleep, ’less we camp under the trees an’ if we have to go to the Port I’m thinkin’ we’d best stay there till mornin’, ’cause there’s no show Uncle Ben can get back even as early as to-morrow.”

“You’re right; but even at that we can’t hang ’round here very long, seein’s how there’s nothin’ to be done. Let’s pull the traps, an’ then make up our minds what we’d best do.”

“Say, we’ve got to go to the town, ’cause there ain’t anythin’ here to eat, an’ I’m mighty hungry already.”

“Come on, then; we’ll tackle the traps, for it’s a case of goin’ hungry till that work has been done an’ we’ve pulled a heavy dory six or seven miles!”

GETTING EVEN To Tom and little Joey mackerel catching was a novelty, and neither was able to aid very much in the work until after having satisfied his…

[trendingnewsb]

20 Ways to Help You Out When You Desperately Need Money

We’ve all been there. You’re between pay checks, running low on cash and then disaster strikes and you need money–now. Or you get paid on Friday and find yourself broke on Monday. You have too much integrity or are too scared to rob a bank…but the thought has crossed your mind.

Don’t fret! I am here to help.

20 safe and legitimate ways to get money fast

Below is a list 20 perfectly legal and legitimate ways to get your hands on some cash in a pinch. Some of the ways are more suitable for some than others but the list will provide you with options and more importantly get you to generate your own creative ideas on how to increase your cash flow.

Keep in mind that these are short term solutions. The real solution to your money problems is proper money management and planning (a.k.a. budgeting). Learning to live below your means, delaying gratification, eliminating debt and reducing your dependency on credit are the keys to financial freedom.

If you need money today…

1. Pawn or sell something

If you’re REALLY in a pinch, you may need to pawn or sell that prized possession you’ve got stashed away. Your desperate situation may call for you to have to part with that old comic book collection, your grandmother’s antique pearls or china or that coin collection you’ve had since childhood. I do advise that you think long and hard before making this decision. Once it’s gone–it will be incredibly difficult to get it back and your desperation will ensure that you probably won’t get what the item is actually worth.

Another option is to dig through your closets, and basement for stuff that may still have some value such as an old DVD or video game collection, your 10-year-old’s baby clothes, a toddler bicycle, that espresso machine ( or juicer) that you only used once.

There are tons of apps[1] that let you snap a picture of your stuff and post it online immediately.

2. Sell an old cell phone

Almost everyone has an old smartphone lying around that still works. You decided to upgrade from that perfectly functional phone because it was the chic thing to do. Now the old phone is just laying around collecting dust. Sell it! If you need money today check out the website ecoATM. This site allows you to safely sell and recycle your old phone. They also pay cash for old tablets, iPods and MP3 players.

3. Sell your clothes at a local consignment shop

If you have quality designer clothes or furniture you no longer want or need go ahead and sell it outright to a consignment or thrift shop. A lot of consignment shops will buy your items outright eliminating the consignment fee and the wait for your items to sell. You won’t get top dollar this way but you will walk away with some cash in hand.

4. Borrow from a friend or family member

This is the one method most of us want to avoid. However, you can receive the money the same day using apps such as PayPal. Keep in mind that borrowing from a loved one takes humility and sincerity. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT borrow from friends or family if you have no intentions of repaying the loan or if you know you cannot meet the terms of repayment[2]. This is the quickest way to ruin a relationship. Proceed with caution.

5. Sell your plasma

You can get paid for your plasma. Most donation centers will pay you anywhere from $25-$50 for it. The best part about selling plasma is that most places will allow you to sell it up two times per week.

**Quick note: There is a difference between selling your plasma and donating blood. You do not get paid for blood donations so make sure you distinguish between the two and are clear with your request.

6. Get A Cash Advance

This is a bad idea! I do not recommend this unless there is a life and death situation and you have a plan for quick repayment. Some credit cards offer the opportunity to take out cash against your credit limit. Please understand that the terms of repayment are going to be MUCH different than the terms for regular credit card purchases. Between the fees for accessing the money and the jacked up interest rate, it is not unusual for you to end up spending $1,000 for an $800 cash advance. It’s simply not worth it.

If you need money in 7 to 10 days…

7. Sell your clothes online

Selling your clothes is one of the easiest and quickest ways to make money fast. The clothing resell industry has become very trendy and is reportedly a $16 billion dollar industry[3]. There are hundreds of online apps, websites and avenues to get your clothes sold. Some apps and websites even pay the shipping costs for you.

8. Sell your junk online

Websites such as Craig’s List, Amazon, Ebay, and the list goes on, are great and cheap ways for you to sell your junk. You can resell ANYTHING these days. If you bought it, chances are there is someone out there who will pay you for it. These sites take time as you have to ship items, items have to be verified and then you are paid. Payment on these websites usually take seven to ten business days.

9. Sell your unused gift cards

Sites such as Cardpool, Raise and Cardcash will al low you to resell your unused gift cards for slightly less than face value. You can get you money in as little as two days and even quicker for e gift cards. It’s a quick, easy and painless process.

10. Become an Uber/Lyft Driver

If you have some extra time on your hands–just a few hours a week would do it–and live in or near a populous area, driving for Uber/Lyft is a very lucrative way to make money fast. It is also a great long-term side hustle. Uber drivers can make as much as some full-time jobs if they work in the right area. You could earn $100 mark in as little as five hours per week.

11. Sell your sports/concert tickets

Got season tickets or concert tickets? Sell them. In some cases you may not get face value for the tickets but you can recoup a good portion of your money. For really popular events–such as play off games or marquee performances–you can make well above the ticket face value. If you’re that desperate for money, missing a concert or the big game isn’t that big a deal.

12. Do odd jobs

Babysitting, pet sitting, house sitting, cutting grass, house cleaning, walking dogs and other odd jobs around the neighborhood are great ways to get some quick cash in your pocket.

13. Inbox Dollars and Swagbucks

Inbox Dollars and Swagbucks are websites that pays you cash (very small amounts of cash) to perform various tasks such as watching videos, commenting on ads, taking surveys, shopping and the list goes on and on. You will not get rich using these website, but you can earn a couple extra bucks by spending a few minutes (or hours) online. The websites requires you to bank $30 before you are paid.

If you need money in 30 days…

14. Negotiate with your creditors

If you need money to pay bills or debts, call your creditors and try to negotiate. Explain your situation and request an extension or make arrangements to pay a portion of what you owe. Most creditors will work with you. Their primary goal is to get their money. They are willing to wait a few days or take a portion of the payment in lieu of you not paying them at all.

15. Get a part time job

Look, I get it. You are already overworked, under paid and stretched thin as it is. But a part-time job isn’t forever. It’s only temporary. If you can work long enough to avert the crisis and then establish an emergency fund, you won’t find yourself in this predicament again. You may have to deliver pizzas in the evenings or work retail on weekends but anything worth having requires work. We live in the age of the side-hustle and in the era of multiple streams of income. This is one bandwagon worth joining. The more you do now, the less you have to do later.

16. Become a Secret Shopper

Secret shopping is the perfect side hustle for those who love to shop, stay-at-home moms and anyone who loves good customer service. Mystery or secret shoppers are independent contractors posing as “shoppers”. You are paid to visit your local stores and shops as a regular customer and report back on various aspects of your experience. A word of caution! This industry is full of scams. Be sure to check out the company reviews online or stick with companies that are tried and true[4].

17. Garage/Yard Sale

There is nothing like a good ‘ole fashion yard sale to generate additional pocket money. I’m talking about the kind where you search every nook and cranny of your house and completely de-clutter and purge all of the items that are not absolutely necessary for you to live.

When planning the sale, make sure you advertise in your local area and also blast it on social media. A great thing about these sales is that anything that does not sell at the physical location of the event can be sold online. A great place to sell leftover items is on the Facebook Yard sale page.

18. Conventional Loan

This is an option–just not a good one. By taking out a loan, you are compounding your money problems in lieu of fixing them. However, if you feel you must take out a loan, experts suggest visiting your local credit union. Many local credit unions are getting into the short-term loan game and offer rates far superior to pay-day and other short-term loans. You do have to be a member of your credit union in good standing. Credit unions offering short-term loans work with those with poor credit and offer better rates, terms and conditions than other short-term lenders.

19. Become a Virtual Assistant or Bookkeeper

Virtual assistants provide a wide range of services to individuals, organizations or companies, but they do it virtually in lieu going into an office. It’s an excellent work from home opportunity and one of the most cost-effective ways of making money online. Rates for providing virtual services online could range from $10 an hour for simple data entry tasks to hundreds of dollars an hour if you have a highly specialized skill or expertise. You can work for a company online such as Upwork, Elance or Problogger or you can work as an independent contractor.

20. Rent out a room or become an Airbnb host

Got extra space? Rent it out. Getting a roommate is a great way to cut cost and save money fast. As with anything, make sure you do your research and due diligence when it comes choosing a roommate. If you live in or near a high tourist area, working with a service such as Airbnb is a great way to get a steady stream of qualified guests. They vet your potential guests for you and provide you with referrals.

Everyone needs some cash from time to time. The ways listed above are fairly quick and easily accessible ways to get a hold of some extra cash. The best way to avoid these money crisis is by living modestly and well below your means, saving for emergencies and following a budget.

Reference

[1]^Money Pantry: 15 Awesome Apps and Sites For Selling Your Stuff Locally[2]^The Simple Dollar: 4 Steps to Take If You Loan Money To Friends Or Family[3]^Business Insider: Selling Your Old Clothes Is Now A Billion Dollar Industry[4]^The Penny Hoarder: The Best Mystery Shopping Companies to Work For

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The post 20 Ways to Help You Out When You Desperately Need Money appeared first on Lifehack.

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[trendingnewsb]

20 Ways to Help You Out When You Desperately Need Money

We’ve all been there. You’re between pay checks, running low on cash and then disaster strikes and you need money–now. Or you get paid on Friday and find yourself broke on Monday. You have too much integrity or are too scared to rob a bank…but the thought has crossed your mind.

Don’t fret! I am here to help.

20 safe and legitimate ways to get money fast

Below is a list 20 perfectly legal and legitimate ways to get your hands on some cash in a pinch. Some of the ways are more suitable for some than others but the list will provide you with options and more importantly get you to generate your own creative ideas on how to increase your cash flow.

Keep in mind that these are short term solutions. The real solution to your money problems is proper money management and planning (a.k.a. budgeting). Learning to live below your means, delaying gratification, eliminating debt and reducing your dependency on credit are the keys to financial freedom.

If you need money today…

1. Pawn or sell something

If you’re REALLY in a pinch, you may need to pawn or sell that prized possession you’ve got stashed away. Your desperate situation may call for you to have to part with that old comic book collection, your grandmother’s antique pearls or china or that coin collection you’ve had since childhood. I do advise that you think long and hard before making this decision. Once it’s gone–it will be incredibly difficult to get it back and your desperation will ensure that you probably won’t get what the item is actually worth.

Another option is to dig through your closets, and basement for stuff that may still have some value such as an old DVD or video game collection, your 10-year-old’s baby clothes, a toddler bicycle, that espresso machine ( or juicer) that you only used once.

There are tons of apps[1] that let you snap a picture of your stuff and post it online immediately.

2. Sell an old cell phone

Almost everyone has an old smartphone lying around that still works. You decided to upgrade from that perfectly functional phone because it was the chic thing to do. Now the old phone is just laying around collecting dust. Sell it! If you need money today check out the website ecoATM. This site allows you to safely sell and recycle your old phone. They also pay cash for old tablets, iPods and MP3 players.

3. Sell your clothes at a local consignment shop

If you have quality designer clothes or furniture you no longer want or need go ahead and sell it outright to a consignment or thrift shop. A lot of consignment shops will buy your items outright eliminating the consignment fee and the wait for your items to sell. You won’t get top dollar this way but you will walk away with some cash in hand.

4. Borrow from a friend or family member

This is the one method most of us want to avoid. However, you can receive the money the same day using apps such as PayPal. Keep in mind that borrowing from a loved one takes humility and sincerity. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT borrow from friends or family if you have no intentions of repaying the loan or if you know you cannot meet the terms of repayment[2]. This is the quickest way to ruin a relationship. Proceed with caution.

5. Sell your plasma

You can get paid for your plasma. Most donation centers will pay you anywhere from $25-$50 for it. The best part about selling plasma is that most places will allow you to sell it up two times per week.

**Quick note: There is a difference between selling your plasma and donating blood. You do not get paid for blood donations so make sure you distinguish between the two and are clear with your request.

6. Get A Cash Advance

This is a bad idea! I do not recommend this unless there is a life and death situation and you have a plan for quick repayment. Some credit cards offer the opportunity to take out cash against your credit limit. Please understand that the terms of repayment are going to be MUCH different than the terms for regular credit card purchases. Between the fees for accessing the money and the jacked up interest rate, it is not unusual for you to end up spending $1,000 for an $800 cash advance. It’s simply not worth it.

If you need money in 7 to 10 days…

7. Sell your clothes online

Selling your clothes is one of the easiest and quickest ways to make money fast. The clothing resell industry has become very trendy and is reportedly a $16 billion dollar industry[3]. There are hundreds of online apps, websites and avenues to get your clothes sold. Some apps and websites even pay the shipping costs for you.

8. Sell your junk online

Websites such as Craig’s List, Amazon, Ebay, and the list goes on, are great and cheap ways for you to sell your junk. You can resell ANYTHING these days. If you bought it, chances are there is someone out there who will pay you for it. These sites take time as you have to ship items, items have to be verified and then you are paid. Payment on these websites usually take seven to ten business days.

9. Sell your unused gift cards

Sites such as Cardpool, Raise and Cardcash will al low you to resell your unused gift cards for slightly less than face value. You can get you money in as little as two days and even quicker for e gift cards. It’s a quick, easy and painless process.

10. Become an Uber/Lyft Driver

If you have some extra time on your hands–just a few hours a week would do it–and live in or near a populous area, driving for Uber/Lyft is a very lucrative way to make money fast. It is also a great long-term side hustle. Uber drivers can make as much as some full-time jobs if they work in the right area. You could earn $100 mark in as little as five hours per week.

11. Sell your sports/concert tickets

Got season tickets or concert tickets? Sell them. In some cases you may not get face value for the tickets but you can recoup a good portion of your money. For really popular events–such as play off games or marquee performances–you can make well above the ticket face value. If you’re that desperate for money, missing a concert or the big game isn’t that big a deal.

12. Do odd jobs

Babysitting, pet sitting, house sitting, cutting grass, house cleaning, walking dogs and other odd jobs around the neighborhood are great ways to get some quick cash in your pocket.

13. Inbox Dollars and Swagbucks

Inbox Dollars and Swagbucks are websites that pays you cash (very small amounts of cash) to perform various tasks such as watching videos, commenting on ads, taking surveys, shopping and the list goes on and on. You will not get rich using these website, but you can earn a couple extra bucks by spending a few minutes (or hours) online. The websites requires you to bank $30 before you are paid.

If you need money in 30 days…

14. Negotiate with your creditors

If you need money to pay bills or debts, call your creditors and try to negotiate. Explain your situation and request an extension or make arrangements to pay a portion of what you owe. Most creditors will work with you. Their primary goal is to get their money. They are willing to wait a few days or take a portion of the payment in lieu of you not paying them at all.

15. Get a part time job

Look, I get it. You are already overworked, under paid and stretched thin as it is. But a part-time job isn’t forever. It’s only temporary. If you can work long enough to avert the crisis and then establish an emergency fund, you won’t find yourself in this predicament again. You may have to deliver pizzas in the evenings or work retail on weekends but anything worth having requires work. We live in the age of the side-hustle and in the era of multiple streams of income. This is one bandwagon worth joining. The more you do now, the less you have to do later.

16. Become a Secret Shopper

Secret shopping is the perfect side hustle for those who love to shop, stay-at-home moms and anyone who loves good customer service. Mystery or secret shoppers are independent contractors posing as “shoppers”. You are paid to visit your local stores and shops as a regular customer and report back on various aspects of your experience. A word of caution! This industry is full of scams. Be sure to check out the company reviews online or stick with companies that are tried and true[4].

17. Garage/Yard Sale

There is nothing like a good ‘ole fashion yard sale to generate additional pocket money. I’m talking about the kind where you search every nook and cranny of your house and completely de-clutter and purge all of the items that are not absolutely necessary for you to live.

When planning the sale, make sure you advertise in your local area and also blast it on social media. A great thing about these sales is that anything that does not sell at the physical location of the event can be sold online. A great place to sell leftover items is on the Facebook Yard sale page.

18. Conventional Loan

This is an option–just not a good one. By taking out a loan, you are compounding your money problems in lieu of fixing them. However, if you feel you must take out a loan, experts suggest visiting your local credit union. Many local credit unions are getting into the short-term loan game and offer rates far superior to pay-day and other short-term loans. You do have to be a member of your credit union in good standing. Credit unions offering short-term loans work with those with poor credit and offer better rates, terms and conditions than other short-term lenders.

19. Become a Virtual Assistant or Bookkeeper

Virtual assistants provide a wide range of services to individuals, organizations or companies, but they do it virtually in lieu going into an office. It’s an excellent work from home opportunity and one of the most cost-effective ways of making money online. Rates for providing virtual services online could range from $10 an hour for simple data entry tasks to hundreds of dollars an hour if you have a highly specialized skill or expertise. You can work for a company online such as Upwork, Elance or Problogger or you can work as an independent contractor.

20. Rent out a room or become an Airbnb host

Got extra space? Rent it out. Getting a roommate is a great way to cut cost and save money fast. As with anything, make sure you do your research and due diligence when it comes choosing a roommate. If you live in or near a high tourist area, working with a service such as Airbnb is a great way to get a steady stream of qualified guests. They vet your potential guests for you and provide you with referrals.

Everyone needs some cash from time to time. The ways listed above are fairly quick and easily accessible ways to get a hold of some extra cash. The best way to avoid these money crisis is by living modestly and well below your means, saving for emergencies and following a budget.

Reference

[1]^Money Pantry: 15 Awesome Apps and Sites For Selling Your Stuff Locally[2]^The Simple Dollar: 4 Steps to Take If You Loan Money To Friends Or Family[3]^Business Insider: Selling Your Old Clothes Is Now A Billion Dollar Industry[4]^The Penny Hoarder: The Best Mystery Shopping Companies to Work For

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The post 20 Ways to Help You Out When You Desperately Need Money appeared first on Lifehack.

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