Update on oDesk

I have officially been hired for a job on oDesk and it is a data entry job requiring that I Google for info and then add that info to another web page owned by my new "boss". I have started the job and it is repetitive but not too difficult, and the pay is fair the type of work. I will keep you all posted on my progress and new jobs, then you can better judge if it's something you would be interested in.

A Real Live Actual Legit Work At Home Internet Job

I found a great site where you can actually work from home. The site is definitely legit. You have to apply, take skills tests, and then do a bit of work to build your online resume. Once you have passed the appropriate tests, you are then permitted to apply for posted jobs. There are categories such as data entry, administrative support, web development, customer service, etc. I will warn you that the tests are not easy and you are expected to create a cover letter for each job you apply for. It has a bidding component to it, in that you put in the lowest you are willing to do the job for. Some are fixed prices per job, some are paid hourly. Most of the hourly rates are pretty low, but then you can sit in your undies and do the work. There is no referral bonus, no ads, no hype, just jobs. Someone in a MyLot discussion actually told me about this and I applied right away. >>>>> www.oDesk.com

Little Help. Please!

I am looking for reader's suggestions. Do you make money online? Do you earn from social networking sites? Pay To Click sites? Give us your best recommendations. I don't need to see proof of payment, just the names of the sites and your experience with them. As a reward for your willingness to share, feel free to post your affiliate links here once you've written about them.

New Forum

I just wanted to let you all know that I started a new forum. It deals with budgeting, making money, saving money, eating cheap, free stuff, and general conversation. Please take a minute to stop by and introduce yourself:

http://livingwithless.forumotion.net/forum.htm



See you there!

Snippets

Today I was pondering what to write about, and it occurred to me that I have a lot of ways I save money on my food budget that have become second nature, and that these small things were worth sharing. So, by popular request, here are a few of my tips and tricks for saving food dollars:

You know how you always have vegetables left over, but never enough to do anything with? I have several bags in my freezer that I put them in. It doesn't matter if it's only a teaspoon of corn, put it in the corn baggie. You can also mix veggies all in one bag. Either way, they are incredibly handy for those nights you want to use that leftover pot roast to make beef stew. Just throw all those "spare" veggies in the stew and no need to open several cans or bags of veggies. You won't notice a difference in the taste and it can save you some cash.

I do the same thing with onions. Whenever I dice onions for anything, I always add the leftovers to a baggie in the freezer. Eventually I have enough to use in a recipe and zero waste.

No one in your house wants to eat that last piece of bread when there's a fresh loaf calling their names? Throw them in a bag in your freezer. The next time you want to make stuffing, you already have the bread.

Skim, 1% and 2% milk can be frozen for later use. The next time your favorite grocery store has a killer sale on milk, stock up without fear. Don't forget to use about 1/2 cup before you put it in the freezer (to allow for expansion).

Leftover chicken broth (or any other kind of broth)? Pour it into ice trays until frozen, then dump them into a bag or plastic container and keep frozen. When you need fresh broth, just drop your cubes in the pot.

Need a vegetable bin but don't want to spend the money? Go to your favorite dollar store and get a small mesh trash can. They usually come in various attractive colors and the mesh allows airflow so your veggies don't go bad.

Never throw leftovers away. If your family is the type that won't eat the same meal two nights in a row, make up your own "T.V. dinners" and freeze them. When you are too busy or too tired to cook you will have homemade convenience food for a fraction of the price.

Recommendation of the day

Three words: The Tightwad Gazette. I'm talking about the books, not the newsletters. Before you accuse me of hawking for profit, I recommend purchasing them from eBay. I got one for .99 and one for 1.04 (this is a site for saving money, after all). There are 3 volumes and all are packed with money saving tips. They also make for pleasant reading, and have a nice index in the back. I just can't say enough about them. They are chock full of tips for making things yourself, recipes that are inexpensive but yummy, substitutions for when you run out of that all-important ingredient, etc. Just check them out, you won't be sorry.

And Making Some More Cash

Hi all! I've been gone for awhile, but I hope to be around more often now. My dear hubby donated his kidney to a friend and we've had a long road to recovery. I am happy to report that both hubby and his friend are now both doing very well. Hence, I can get back to my loyal followers...lol. While I was sidelined at home, I did continue to work on ideas in my head. I also tried various Internet tasks that pay for your time and I have had ample time to see who is legit and who is a complete waste of time. Here are the results of my research:

One of my favorites is Vinefire. This is a brand new site that promises to pay by January 2010, and if it does, it will be worth the wait. It is not time consuming, although it's easy to lose track of time while you're there. You can earn up to $50 per day, although I am averaging about $30 per day, which is still nothing to sneeze at. Check it out at:
http://www.vinefire.com/?ref=rib89@hotmail.com

My other new favorite is YouData. They don't promise big bucks, but they do pay out every Friday to your PayPal account. All you have to do is look at some ads and make your money. Check them out at:
http://www.youdata.com/join/firemom31

Want truly free ringtones, wallpaper, etc., for your cell phone? www.myxer.com is the best I've found. I use them regularly and I get no spam, just great stuff for my phone. How can you not love free stuff?

How about free education? In these horrid economic times, education can help you get or keep that coveted job. I found a website sponsored by reputable educators Prentiss and McGraw-Hill that will allow you to take an entire degree program for free. Now, the catch is that they do not offer any degrees or diplomas, but they say they are working on it. In the meantime, why not improve your skills for free?
Check them out at:
http://www.free-ed.net/free-ed/

Well, enough writing for my first day back. Have an awesome day and see you soon!