Let's have a date at Ben & Jerry's on April 17th? IS there a Ben & Jerry's in Atlanta? I dunno... But, read through this article. Use what you can, discard what you can't. Just some ideas...
(RealSimple.com) -- Sometimes you get what you don't pay for. Here are nearly two dozen of the best freebies and -- most important -- how to score them.
Free education• Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Get your geek on: MIT offers a far more comprehensive selection of free online courses than other universities -- nearly its entire undergraduate and graduate curriculum. Downloading materials takes minutes. A newsletter highlights new offerings, from Quantum Physics to American Women Authors.
What's the Catch? Users can't enroll, take classes on campus, or earn degrees.
Find Out More: http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html
Don't Miss
In Depth: Right On Your Money
Real Simple: Credit cards 101
Real Simple: Save money all year long
Real Simple: Worksheet for managing monthly bills
• BBC, FrenchPodClass. The BBC offers top-notch online and MP3 lessons in languages familiar and obscure, including French, German, Portuguese, Mandarin, Greek, and Urdu. FrenchPodClass has easy-to-use, enjoyable podcasts that allow you to learn French while you do errands or go for a run.
What's the Catch? Classes are one size fits all, which fast learners may find sluggish (and slow learners may find difficult).
Find Out More: http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html, http://www.frenchpodclass.com/
Free classes
• U.S. Small Business Administration. Learn how to write a business plan, register your company, and deal with the tax details of running a home business at your local Women's Business Center evening classes (men are welcome, too).
What's the Catch? Novices and more advanced learners share the same classroom.
Find Out More: http://www.sba.gov/localresources/index.html (click on "Local Resources" for a nearby center and for financial and marketing information).
• Apple Stores. Apple gives excellent classes on business and entertainment software, music programs, and computer basics, all remarkably free of sales pitches. There are also classes on how to use Apple hardware, like iPods. Most of the company's stores -- there are more than 170 -- offer several classes a day.
What's the Catch? All classes relate to (often pricey) Apple products.
Find Out More: http://www.apple.com/retail/ (click on "Visit an Apple store").
Free culture
• Museum visits. While some museums don't charge an admission fee, others can cost $20 and up (more than a movie!). Take advantage of free days, half days, and nights that take place weekly or monthly at various institutions throughout the United State s.
What's the Catch? The free-admission times tend to attract large crowds; expect long lines and less of an opportunity to get up close and personal with a Cézanne.
Find Out More: Check out the Web sites of your local museums.
• Music Together, Music for Aardvarks, Gymboree. These three companies all offer a complimentary peek at exactly what baby music classes entail (hint: plenty of drumbeating, rattle shaking, and scarf throwing). It's a great way to introduce your little one to the experience before shelling out $135 to $255 for a full term (generally 10 to 12 weeks).
What's the Catch? Many parents have been taking classes together for a while, so they can be quite chummy. As an observer, you might feel left out and too shy to participate fully.
Find Out More: http://www.musictogether.com/ClassLocator.aspx, http://www.musictogether.com/ClassLocator.aspx, http://www.musictogether.com/ClassLocator.aspx.
• Kids' Night on Broadway. Once a year (this year it was in late January), children ages 6 to 18 can experience the Great White Way for free with a full-paying adult. There are also Kids' Nights for nationally touring shows throughout the year.
What's the Catch? Tickets go very fast, especially for the most popular shows.
Find Out More: http://www.kidsnightonbroadway.com/kids.php.
Tip: To find out about free movies and concerts in your area, go to Yahoo or Google and type in the kind of entertainment, "free," and the name of your city.
Free gyms
• Health-club trials. LA Fitness, Bally Total Fitness, the Sports Club/LA, and Gold's Gym have a range of free-trial offers, from one day to two weeks, for prospective members, as do many other gyms throughout the country. Rules vary.
What's the Catch? You often have to tour the health club with a sales representative, which sometimes takes as long as an hour. Some gym companies may require you to prove nearby residence with a driver's license.
Find Out More: Go to the gyms for details.
Free photos
• Adorama, Dotphoto, Kodak, Snapfish. In addition to photo sharing and online albums, these popular services provide 15 to 50 free prints when you sign up.
What's the Catch? You have to pay for shipping, which usually isn't more than a few dollars.
Find Out More: https://www.dotphoto.com/join.asp http://www.snapfish.com/registration
Free pets
• Craigslist Community Pet Listings, Petfinder.com. Unlike shelters, most of which charge a small adoption fee, these sites feature numerous free-pet notices posted by owners, usually as a result of an impending move or an allergic family member.
What's the Catch? Not all the owners who post notices are as honest as you'd wish. Out-of-control animals can be listed as "friendly and calm."
Find Out More: www.craigslist.org (click on your city, then on "Pets"), www.craigslist.org (click on "Classified Ads").
Free phone services
• The Popularity Dialer. Want to flee that meeting? Get out of lunch after an hour? The Web-based Popularity Dialer can place one of five fake calls: the boss call, the cousin-in-need call, the male-friend call, the female-friend call, or the affirmation call (reminding you that you're wonderful). Each recording includes convenient pauses for your side of the conversation.
What's the Catch? You need to know beforehand that you'll want rescuing and you have to be willing to break social graces by taking a phone call in the middle of a meeting or lunch.
Find Out More: www.popularitydialer.com.
• 800-FREE-411. Instead of dialing 411 and being charged 50 cents to $1.50, call this service, from a cell or a landline, for free nationwide directory assistance.
What's the Catch? You have to listen to a 20- second ad before receiving your number.
Find Out More: 800-373-3411 (800-FREE-411).
• Skype. Download and install free Skype software and call other Skype users, computer to computer, at no charge, anywhere in the world. If you have a webcam, you can see whom you're chatting with, too.
What's the Catch? If you don't have DSL or a cable modem, it may be more cost-effective (money- and sanity-wise) to dial up the old-fashioned way.
Find Out More: www.skype.com.
Free e-mail reminders
• Memo to Me. Avoid visits to the "belated birthday" or "so sorry I missed our anniversary" section of your local card store. Memo to Me reminds you before the event. Just plug in your e-mail, choose a password, and program the events you need to be reminded of and when you need the reminders. Whether it's Grandma's 80th or your own anniversary, no one wants to be the one who forgets.
What's the Catch? There's some innocuous advertising on the Web site.
Find Out More: www.memotome.com.
Tip: E-cards have gotten less corny. You can find witty and well-designed cards at www.hipstercards.com, vintage ones at www.cardcow.com, and photographic ones at ecard.digiart.ee.
Free ice cream
• Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day. On one day every year (this year, April 17), all of the more than 600 Ben & Jerry's stores worldwide offer free cones, with no limit -- eat all the Cherry Garcia you'd like.
What's the Catch? There are often long lines, and popular flavors, like Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, run out early.
Find Out More: www.benandjerrys.com for stores.
Free used books
• PaperBackSwap.com, TitleTrader. List the books that you'd like to get rid of, then wait for someone to request one, which can take as little as eight minutes. Mail your book to the person and you'll receive a credit to choose your own book. PaperBackSwap.com involves only paperbacks, which keeps shipping cheap, usually about $1.60 per book. TitleTrader also lists DVDs, CDs, and VHS cassettes and can rack up higher costs with heavy hardbacks, though shipping rarely tops $4 at the book rate.
What's the Catch? Popular fiction moves fast, while classic and esoteric titles may stay put for months.
Find Out More: www.paperbackswap.com, www.titletrader.com.
Free household items
• The Freecycle Network. This nonprofit community group with an environmental mission lets users "recycle" unwanted items by posting ads on local online bulletin boards. If you see a chair or a computer that you'd like, respond to the ad. The site is a great way to acquire a perfectly good coffeemaker or piano while doing your part to reduce waste.
What's the Catch? You're responsible for getting the stuff home.
Find Out More: www.freecycle.org to find a group.
Free (and worth it) samples
Many free-product programs come with hidden costs. The ones below are legit. Sign up for one and your in-box may be inundated, but there's also an outside chance you'll end up with a flat-screen TV.
• Start Sampling (www.startsampling.com) connects manufacturers with consumers who test products. Type in your demographic information and you'll see a screen listing your free-sample options -- everything from cleaning products to Harlequin romance novels to toiletries.
• Kiehl's (800-543-4572) hands out samples of every product it sells approximately 10 million giveaways a year. Request samples at a Kiehl's store (where the selection is usually larger) or a Kiehl's counter in a department store. Or call Kiehl's and tell the operator what you'd like to try and the company will send you up to three samples.
• Programs from American Consumer Opinion and E-Poll (www.acop.com, www.epoll.com) allow users to take product surveys to get cash ($4 to $25 per survey), samples (ranging from pizza sauce to even the rare flat-screen TV), or points (which can be redeemed for gift cards from retailers such as Amazon.com and Target).
• Oil of Olay's sample program (www.olay.com; click on "Samples & Offers") gives away small sizes of its newest products.
• Sephora stores (www.sephora.com for locations) offer generous samples from the more than 150 cosmetics lines they carry. Just ask and a salesperson will hand you a packaged sample or fill jars with requested products for free.
• Procter & Gamble's Home Made Simple and Tide e-newsletters (www.homemadesimple.com, www.tide.com) entitle you to discount coupons and new-product samples. E-mail to a friend
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Tuesday, February 26, 2008
401K Withdrawals?
This article below really scares me. While this article focuses on Mr. Charlton - how many of us could easily be placed in this story? Sure, our circumstances may be a little different, but the ending could be similar - a financial disaster.
In a nutshell, a 40 year old man was living life as he wanted - deferring gratification on very little - had the house, the leased vehicle, and all of the things that made him happy in life. Then, life happened. The credit card bills became more than what he could handle. What he considered living the life was taken away from him in an instant. He cashed in his meager retirement savings - this gentleman is 40 years old and when he borrowed $10K from his retirement - that was HALF! And he honestly feels that he has plenty of time to bounce back. At his current lifestyle, if $20K is what he has to support he and his wife, he'll be back to working after retirement about a WEEK after his celebratory dinner.
If we need motivation to change our spending habits - let this be our example. Financial ruin is certain only if poor decision making is your choice.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/02/20/borrowing.retirement.ap/index.html
Trent Charlton knew the risks when he borrowed $10,000 from his 401(k) and cut his retirement savings in half.
Trent Charlton has pawned diamond rings and sold photo equipment to cut expenses.
But Charlton, a 40-year-old account executive at an Irvine, California, trucking company, said he had little choice because he and his wife could not keep up with monthly expenses after American Express reduced the limits on three credit cards.
As home prices fall and banks tighten lending standards, more people are doing the same thing: raiding their retirement savings just to get by and spending their nest eggs to gas up SUVs, pay mortgages or put food on the table.
But dipping into 401(k) accounts can carry risks because defaulted loans and hardship withdrawals are taxed as income and are subject to a 10 percent penalty if the worker is under 591/2 years old. That means if the trend grows, many Americans will risk coming up short on retirement savings or may have to rely on an overburdened Social Security system.
"People who take out a loan or withdrawal are adding to a looming retirement crisis over the next 30 to 40 years," said Eric Levy, a partner at global consulting firm Mercer. "And what implications will that have (for) our economy?"
Some of the nation's largest retirement plan administrators, such as Great-West Retirement Services and Fidelity Investments, are seeing double-digit spikes in hardship withdrawals and increases in loan requests, a sharp departure from levels that traditionally varied little.
Administrators say consumers are using retirement savings to pay for unmanageable mortgages, maxed-out credit cards, and costly utilities and groceries.
Charlton and his wife used the retirement money and $7,000 from savings to pay down their credit card debt. They also cut monthly expenses by pawning a diamond ring and selling camera equipment he owed money on. And he's looking for someone to take over his $550 monthly payment on a gray BMW 335i he leased last April.
Charlton said his goal is to pay off the 401(k) loan in two years. He has not decided whether he will contribute to the plan during that time.
"I made the best decision I could," he said "I keep hearing about bankrupting your future retirement. But I feel like it's far enough away that I'll be able to save up enough."
Charlton's predicament arose as lenders are taking steps to rein in credit because more consumers are missing payments on mortgages, credit cards and loans. Borrowers are finding their credit limits suddenly reduced and low-interest cards hard to come by. Mortgage lenders have also reduced limits on home-equity lines of credit.
Meanwhile, jobs are harder to find, and consumers are getting pinched by higher food and fuel prices.
Consumers who tap their retirement accounts can take a loan from their 401(k) accounts worth up to $50,000, or 50 percent of the amount invested, whichever is less. There are no tax consequences for a loan in good standing. But if a borrower defaults, the loan is considered a withdrawal and subject to the same tax penalties.
If Charlton repays his loan and continues making contributions, his account balance at 62 will be nearly the same as if he had not borrowed, according to projections by Alicia Munnell, director of The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.
But if he repays the loan and suspends contributions for five years, his final account balance would fall by 18 percent.
Based on current savings rates, the center estimates that 43 percent of households risk not being able to fund the same standard of living during retirement as they have in their working years. That percentage increases to 49 percent for Americans between 36 and 43 whose main retirement plans are 401(k) accounts, not employer-funded pension plans like older generations.
Some plans don't allow workers to make contributions while making payments on loans. Others require workers to wait a set time before contributing again after taking a withdrawal. If the employer matches contributions, workers are taking a double hit.
"The idea of paying yourself back is not necessarily a plus," said Charlie Nelson, a senior vice president at Great-West Retirement Services. "For a loan, you're paying back using after-tax dollars, so generally, over time, you won't earn as much."
Great-West Retirement Services, the unit of a Colorado-based insurance company that manages 3.5 million accounts for employers, said hardship withdrawals jumped 14 percent last year, and the number of loans rose almost 13 percent, with a dramatic increase occurring in the fourth quarter.
Fidelity Investments, which jockeys with Vanguard Group as the nation's largest mutual fund provider, said it saw withdrawals surge 17 percent in 2007, with record withdrawals in December, but a smaller increase in loans. Vanguard saw no change.
"What we're talking about is people spending their retirement now and lowering their standard of living when they retire ... People aren't willing to make some of the tougher choices in the short-term to make a better future for themselves," said Stuart Ritter, a certified financial planner with T. Rowe Price.
In the last three decades, 401(k)s have replaced traditional pension plans as employers' preferred retirement offering, which has shifted the responsibility of saving to employees from employers. Only 32 percent of workers ages 36 to 43 have any coverage by a pension plan.
If Americans find they didn't save enough, they may have to work longer and shorten their "golden years" of retirement, Munnell said. Otherwise, workers will have to cut corners and settle for a frugal retirement.
Theresa Perry, who manages benefits for the firm PinkSlip LLC in San Francisco Bay, said she's been surprised by the number of people using hardship withdrawals to make payments on so-called "piggyback" loans, which are home-equity loans wrapped with a first mortgage to allow borrowers to fully finance a home's value.
"I've been doing benefits administration for 15 years and using 401(k)s to keep mortgage payments under control is new to me," Perry said. "They're not taking money out to purchase homes anymore. They're taking money out to keep the home they already have."
Ritter worries that unaffordable mortgages or other financial troubles will persist for many consumers, even after they have tapped retirement funds.
"That's not a smart strategy. You don't want to apply a short-term fix to a long-term issue," he said.
But for Americans who are struggling to keep afloat in a slumping economy, today's money problems are more urgent than a far-off retirement date.
Said Charlton: "We have to take care of ourselves now and put retirement on the back burner."
In a nutshell, a 40 year old man was living life as he wanted - deferring gratification on very little - had the house, the leased vehicle, and all of the things that made him happy in life. Then, life happened. The credit card bills became more than what he could handle. What he considered living the life was taken away from him in an instant. He cashed in his meager retirement savings - this gentleman is 40 years old and when he borrowed $10K from his retirement - that was HALF! And he honestly feels that he has plenty of time to bounce back. At his current lifestyle, if $20K is what he has to support he and his wife, he'll be back to working after retirement about a WEEK after his celebratory dinner.
If we need motivation to change our spending habits - let this be our example. Financial ruin is certain only if poor decision making is your choice.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/02/20/borrowing.retirement.ap/index.html
Trent Charlton knew the risks when he borrowed $10,000 from his 401(k) and cut his retirement savings in half.
Trent Charlton has pawned diamond rings and sold photo equipment to cut expenses.
But Charlton, a 40-year-old account executive at an Irvine, California, trucking company, said he had little choice because he and his wife could not keep up with monthly expenses after American Express reduced the limits on three credit cards.
As home prices fall and banks tighten lending standards, more people are doing the same thing: raiding their retirement savings just to get by and spending their nest eggs to gas up SUVs, pay mortgages or put food on the table.
But dipping into 401(k) accounts can carry risks because defaulted loans and hardship withdrawals are taxed as income and are subject to a 10 percent penalty if the worker is under 591/2 years old. That means if the trend grows, many Americans will risk coming up short on retirement savings or may have to rely on an overburdened Social Security system.
"People who take out a loan or withdrawal are adding to a looming retirement crisis over the next 30 to 40 years," said Eric Levy, a partner at global consulting firm Mercer. "And what implications will that have (for) our economy?"
Some of the nation's largest retirement plan administrators, such as Great-West Retirement Services and Fidelity Investments, are seeing double-digit spikes in hardship withdrawals and increases in loan requests, a sharp departure from levels that traditionally varied little.
Administrators say consumers are using retirement savings to pay for unmanageable mortgages, maxed-out credit cards, and costly utilities and groceries.
Charlton and his wife used the retirement money and $7,000 from savings to pay down their credit card debt. They also cut monthly expenses by pawning a diamond ring and selling camera equipment he owed money on. And he's looking for someone to take over his $550 monthly payment on a gray BMW 335i he leased last April.
Charlton said his goal is to pay off the 401(k) loan in two years. He has not decided whether he will contribute to the plan during that time.
"I made the best decision I could," he said "I keep hearing about bankrupting your future retirement. But I feel like it's far enough away that I'll be able to save up enough."
Charlton's predicament arose as lenders are taking steps to rein in credit because more consumers are missing payments on mortgages, credit cards and loans. Borrowers are finding their credit limits suddenly reduced and low-interest cards hard to come by. Mortgage lenders have also reduced limits on home-equity lines of credit.
Meanwhile, jobs are harder to find, and consumers are getting pinched by higher food and fuel prices.
Consumers who tap their retirement accounts can take a loan from their 401(k) accounts worth up to $50,000, or 50 percent of the amount invested, whichever is less. There are no tax consequences for a loan in good standing. But if a borrower defaults, the loan is considered a withdrawal and subject to the same tax penalties.
If Charlton repays his loan and continues making contributions, his account balance at 62 will be nearly the same as if he had not borrowed, according to projections by Alicia Munnell, director of The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.
But if he repays the loan and suspends contributions for five years, his final account balance would fall by 18 percent.
Based on current savings rates, the center estimates that 43 percent of households risk not being able to fund the same standard of living during retirement as they have in their working years. That percentage increases to 49 percent for Americans between 36 and 43 whose main retirement plans are 401(k) accounts, not employer-funded pension plans like older generations.
Some plans don't allow workers to make contributions while making payments on loans. Others require workers to wait a set time before contributing again after taking a withdrawal. If the employer matches contributions, workers are taking a double hit.
"The idea of paying yourself back is not necessarily a plus," said Charlie Nelson, a senior vice president at Great-West Retirement Services. "For a loan, you're paying back using after-tax dollars, so generally, over time, you won't earn as much."
Great-West Retirement Services, the unit of a Colorado-based insurance company that manages 3.5 million accounts for employers, said hardship withdrawals jumped 14 percent last year, and the number of loans rose almost 13 percent, with a dramatic increase occurring in the fourth quarter.
Fidelity Investments, which jockeys with Vanguard Group as the nation's largest mutual fund provider, said it saw withdrawals surge 17 percent in 2007, with record withdrawals in December, but a smaller increase in loans. Vanguard saw no change.
"What we're talking about is people spending their retirement now and lowering their standard of living when they retire ... People aren't willing to make some of the tougher choices in the short-term to make a better future for themselves," said Stuart Ritter, a certified financial planner with T. Rowe Price.
In the last three decades, 401(k)s have replaced traditional pension plans as employers' preferred retirement offering, which has shifted the responsibility of saving to employees from employers. Only 32 percent of workers ages 36 to 43 have any coverage by a pension plan.
If Americans find they didn't save enough, they may have to work longer and shorten their "golden years" of retirement, Munnell said. Otherwise, workers will have to cut corners and settle for a frugal retirement.
Theresa Perry, who manages benefits for the firm PinkSlip LLC in San Francisco Bay, said she's been surprised by the number of people using hardship withdrawals to make payments on so-called "piggyback" loans, which are home-equity loans wrapped with a first mortgage to allow borrowers to fully finance a home's value.
"I've been doing benefits administration for 15 years and using 401(k)s to keep mortgage payments under control is new to me," Perry said. "They're not taking money out to purchase homes anymore. They're taking money out to keep the home they already have."
Ritter worries that unaffordable mortgages or other financial troubles will persist for many consumers, even after they have tapped retirement funds.
"That's not a smart strategy. You don't want to apply a short-term fix to a long-term issue," he said.
But for Americans who are struggling to keep afloat in a slumping economy, today's money problems are more urgent than a far-off retirement date.
Said Charlton: "We have to take care of ourselves now and put retirement on the back burner."
Articles
Hey, guys. Let's hear some feedback on these articles. I find it interesting to hear some of the thoughts that others have about this whole Financial thing. Though some have deviant opinions - I rest on the fact that I am living like NO one else so that I can LIVE like no one else!
Americans are 'financially illiterate' - survey: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance http://biz.yahoo.com/cnnm/080226/022608_financial_illiteracy.html
Monday, February 25, 2008
FREE Mystery Shop
For those of you who LOVE to go out to eat at nice restaurants, but it needs to be reduced in the budget? Sign up for this Mystery Shopping site. They will forward you various 'shops' from time to time that you go out to grade. In this, you'll be able to eat (they'll reimburse your expenses) and grade the restaurant on the performance. There are a LOT of details, you WILL work for this free meal, but it is a good way to get in the meals that you've cut out of your budget!
Happy shopping...
www.sassieshop.com
Happy shopping...
www.sassieshop.com
Week #4 is HERE!
Alright, guys! How's it going? Who's going to take the prize? Are you saving? Are you paying off debt? Coming to class? Inviting others? Bringing in some credit cards to cut up in class? Let's keep the momentum going so that we can finish this race BETTER than what we started!
Marketing Research for Extra Cash?
This is one of the companies that I know about that you could visit in order to potentially earn extra funds. Please read the instructions given below to the letter.
Schlesinger Associates is looking for people who could qualify for the following studies. In order to qualify please call (770) 658-1026 and give the appropriate project number, or if you know of anyone who may qualify for one of these projects, please forward this email on to them.
Project #109: Males 45-54 yrs old who have some grey hair. This study is taking place on Monday February 25 – Tuesday February 26. Please dial ext. 211 or 215
Project #120: We are looking for females 18-45 years old that currently use artificial nails. This study will take place on Thursday, February 28th. Please follow the following link and complete a short survey. We will contact you about the study if you meet the qualifications.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=FGyMIybCRYbU8gduPmpazw_3d_3d
Project #136: Males and females 28-38 yrs old or 50-65 yrs old who have made donations. This study is taking place on Thursday February 28. Please dial ext. 213, 215, 316, 212 or 204
Project #125: Males and females who have been diagnosed with diabetes and have consumed food or beverage items to specifically help you manage your diabetes. This study is taking place on Tuesday March 4. Please dial ext 204 or 316
Project #145: We are looking for males and females 30-45 yrs old who currently own a vehicle and make $75k+ annually. This study is taking place on Tuesday March 4. Please go to the following link, fill out the preliminary questions and if you qualify on these preliminary questions, one of our representatives will call you to complete the screening process. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=TJmeCRJMMNsjGDo0i4BGmw_3d_3d
Project #128: We are looking for males 16-21 yrs old who eat snacks. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YOU MUST HAVE PARENTAL CONSENT TO TAKE THE ONLINE SURVEY. This study will be taking place on Tuesday March 4. Please go to the following link to answer the preliminary questions. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=H56v4Z0vQ2bwBiKUkkY3_2fg_3d_3d If you qualify on these questions, one of our representatives will call you to take you through the remaining screening criteria.
Project #131: We are looking for males and females 25-55 years old that frequently make online purchases. This study will take place on Tuesday, March 4th. Please dial ext. 212 or 200.
Project #127: We are looking for 25-45 yr old females to participate in a focus group regarding hair care products. The study will take place on Tuesday, March 4. Please follow this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ChbCdCn5Zmtu1fTG2TOUOQ_3d_3d and complete a short survey. We will contact you about the study if you meet the qualifications.
Project #124: We are looking for males and females that currently have a personal or business membership to a wholesale club. This study will take place on Thursday, March 6th. Please follow the following link and complete a short survey. We will contact you about the study if you meet the qualifications.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=zk2mOvTAAq8Inp8Q7C4sCQ_3d_3d
Project #122: We are looking for Males 40 yrs old + who have insurance. We are also looking for males who have been diagnosed with Cancer. Please dial the same extension. This study is taking place on Thursday March 6. Please dial ext. 211.
Project #106: We are looking for males & females age 18+ to participate in an interview regarding tax preparation software. The study will take place on the week of March 10-14. Please follow this link and complete a short survey. We will contact you about this study if you meet the qualifications.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=1JXrHXpYztic_2fcIf0wnlMg_3d_3d
Project #115: We are looking for 24-39 yr old men to participate in a focus group that is focused on the interests, values, attitudes of typical “guys.” The study will take place Tuesday, February 26. Please dial ext 212
Project #127: We are looking 25-55 yr old hair stylists to participate in a focus group regarding hair care products. The study will take place on Tuesday, March 4.
Please dial ext 200 and 207.
Project #133: Males and Females 18-60 yrs old who have ever used organizational supplies. This study is taking place on Wednesday March 12 and Thursday March 13. Please dial ext. 200, 203, 207, 210 and/or 213
Please call (770) 658-1026. This is an automatic line; you must dial an extension number to speak with a recruiter. If that recruiter is on another call, please leave only ONE message even if you are calling for multiple studies. Once you are speaking with a live person, we will be able to transfer the call to another recruiter or write down your name and number for another recruiter to call you back. The more messages that are left in voice mail increases the amount of time you will receive a return phone call. For studies that have survey links, please only go to the survey to let us know of your interest and we will call you if you qualify.
Please do not reply to this email if you need a response from a person. This email box is not checked regularly and is only used to remove people who are requesting to be removed from the email list.
If you would like to be removed from Schlesinger Associates Email List please respond to the email with REMOVE in the subject line followed by your EMAIL ADDRESS
Schlesinger Associates has enacted a privacy policy in order to protect and safeguard personal information collected from consumers, business individuals and entities, healthcare professionals and patients relating to health information. All personal information is kept confidential and only utilized for research purposes.
_____________________________________________________________Schlesinger Associates Recruiting Department
Schlesinger Associates Atlanta5909 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd ste 950Atlanta, GA 30328P: 770.396.8700F: 770.396.8753usafocus@usafocusgroups.com www.schlesingerassociates.com
US Locations: New Jersey New York Orlando Los Angeles Atlanta Philadelphia Chicago Boston Dallas San Francisco Bala Cynwyd PhoenixUK Locations: Central London Wimbledon
Schlesinger Associates is pleased to announce the opening of its two newest facilities: Schlesinger Associates Chicago ~ O'Hare and Schlesinger Associates Phoenix, located in the Camelback region.To learn more about our newest facilities and our acquisition of The Research House in London, England, visit: www.schlesingerassociates.com
Schlesinger Associates is looking for people who could qualify for the following studies. In order to qualify please call (770) 658-1026 and give the appropriate project number, or if you know of anyone who may qualify for one of these projects, please forward this email on to them.
Project #109: Males 45-54 yrs old who have some grey hair. This study is taking place on Monday February 25 – Tuesday February 26. Please dial ext. 211 or 215
Project #120: We are looking for females 18-45 years old that currently use artificial nails. This study will take place on Thursday, February 28th. Please follow the following link and complete a short survey. We will contact you about the study if you meet the qualifications.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=FGyMIybCRYbU8gduPmpazw_3d_3d
Project #136: Males and females 28-38 yrs old or 50-65 yrs old who have made donations. This study is taking place on Thursday February 28. Please dial ext. 213, 215, 316, 212 or 204
Project #125: Males and females who have been diagnosed with diabetes and have consumed food or beverage items to specifically help you manage your diabetes. This study is taking place on Tuesday March 4. Please dial ext 204 or 316
Project #145: We are looking for males and females 30-45 yrs old who currently own a vehicle and make $75k+ annually. This study is taking place on Tuesday March 4. Please go to the following link, fill out the preliminary questions and if you qualify on these preliminary questions, one of our representatives will call you to complete the screening process. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=TJmeCRJMMNsjGDo0i4BGmw_3d_3d
Project #128: We are looking for males 16-21 yrs old who eat snacks. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YOU MUST HAVE PARENTAL CONSENT TO TAKE THE ONLINE SURVEY. This study will be taking place on Tuesday March 4. Please go to the following link to answer the preliminary questions. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=H56v4Z0vQ2bwBiKUkkY3_2fg_3d_3d If you qualify on these questions, one of our representatives will call you to take you through the remaining screening criteria.
Project #131: We are looking for males and females 25-55 years old that frequently make online purchases. This study will take place on Tuesday, March 4th. Please dial ext. 212 or 200.
Project #127: We are looking for 25-45 yr old females to participate in a focus group regarding hair care products. The study will take place on Tuesday, March 4. Please follow this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ChbCdCn5Zmtu1fTG2TOUOQ_3d_3d and complete a short survey. We will contact you about the study if you meet the qualifications.
Project #124: We are looking for males and females that currently have a personal or business membership to a wholesale club. This study will take place on Thursday, March 6th. Please follow the following link and complete a short survey. We will contact you about the study if you meet the qualifications.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=zk2mOvTAAq8Inp8Q7C4sCQ_3d_3d
Project #122: We are looking for Males 40 yrs old + who have insurance. We are also looking for males who have been diagnosed with Cancer. Please dial the same extension. This study is taking place on Thursday March 6. Please dial ext. 211.
Project #106: We are looking for males & females age 18+ to participate in an interview regarding tax preparation software. The study will take place on the week of March 10-14. Please follow this link and complete a short survey. We will contact you about this study if you meet the qualifications.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=1JXrHXpYztic_2fcIf0wnlMg_3d_3d
Project #115: We are looking for 24-39 yr old men to participate in a focus group that is focused on the interests, values, attitudes of typical “guys.” The study will take place Tuesday, February 26. Please dial ext 212
Project #127: We are looking 25-55 yr old hair stylists to participate in a focus group regarding hair care products. The study will take place on Tuesday, March 4.
Please dial ext 200 and 207.
Project #133: Males and Females 18-60 yrs old who have ever used organizational supplies. This study is taking place on Wednesday March 12 and Thursday March 13. Please dial ext. 200, 203, 207, 210 and/or 213
Please call (770) 658-1026. This is an automatic line; you must dial an extension number to speak with a recruiter. If that recruiter is on another call, please leave only ONE message even if you are calling for multiple studies. Once you are speaking with a live person, we will be able to transfer the call to another recruiter or write down your name and number for another recruiter to call you back. The more messages that are left in voice mail increases the amount of time you will receive a return phone call. For studies that have survey links, please only go to the survey to let us know of your interest and we will call you if you qualify.
Please do not reply to this email if you need a response from a person. This email box is not checked regularly and is only used to remove people who are requesting to be removed from the email list.
If you would like to be removed from Schlesinger Associates Email List please respond to the email with REMOVE in the subject line followed by your EMAIL ADDRESS
Schlesinger Associates has enacted a privacy policy in order to protect and safeguard personal information collected from consumers, business individuals and entities, healthcare professionals and patients relating to health information. All personal information is kept confidential and only utilized for research purposes.
_____________________________________________________________Schlesinger Associates Recruiting Department
Schlesinger Associates Atlanta5909 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd ste 950Atlanta, GA 30328P: 770.396.8700F: 770.396.8753usafocus@usafocusgroups.com www.schlesingerassociates.com
US Locations: New Jersey New York Orlando Los Angeles Atlanta Philadelphia Chicago Boston Dallas San Francisco Bala Cynwyd PhoenixUK Locations: Central London Wimbledon
Schlesinger Associates is pleased to announce the opening of its two newest facilities: Schlesinger Associates Chicago ~ O'Hare and Schlesinger Associates Phoenix, located in the Camelback region.To learn more about our newest facilities and our acquisition of The Research House in London, England, visit: www.schlesingerassociates.com
Friday, February 15, 2008
Dave's Thoughts on the Stimulus Tax Rebate
Dave's Thoughts on the Stimulus Tax Rebate
Listen to Dave's comment from the radio show
Most of you are jumping with joy that you're probably going to be getting a big, fat check from the government. You may be thinking, "FREE MONEY, BABY!!!"
Well, I'm not here to totally rain on your parade, but plain and simple, I'm not lovin' this plan. This government plan to try to stimulate the economy and pull us away from a possible recession is actually straight-up socialism - just the opposite of capitalism! I don't want my money to help you (if you haven't paid federal income taxes) buy an iPhone or whatever else you have your eye set on.
"Letting Americans keep more of their own money should increase consumer spending, and lift our economy at a time when people otherwise might spend less," President Bush said. The idea in theory sounds like it will work smoothly, but I have a much better idea that will eventually increase consumer spending, and in turn, cause the economy to flourish: encourage freedom from debt!
The last time a stimulus rebate like this was issued was in 2001. A recent study revealed consumers spent two-thirds of those rebates within 6 months of receiving them. Do you have a game plan already for what you'll do with your rebate this time around?
Make the Money Work For YouDon't wait until it comes in the mail to formulate a plan, and whatever you do, do NOT spend this money before it gets to your hands! Those are just formal invitations for Murphy to unpack his suitcases in your spare bedroom! Here are a handful of ways I recommend making your tax rebate work for you, depending on where you are in the Baby Steps:
Pay off debt. This may sound like a no-brainer, but I already expect that few people will actually do it! There's really no reason NOT to throw this "free" money toward your debt snowball. It will get you one step (or maybe quite a few) closer to being debt free, and THEN you will have the freedom to buy that toy or take that vacation you've had your heart set on for quite a while! Learn how
Invest it. If you put this big chunk of change into a mutual fund for a few years, you'll actually receive TONS more money than just the initial $600 or $1,200 check this summer.
Say you get back $600 and put it automatically into a mutual fund averaging 12%. In 2018, that one-time investment will grow to approximately $2,000! If left in for 20 years, it will be worth about $6,500! For the married folks, this free money can grow up to $13,000 over 20 years - WOW! Calculate your earnings
Have some fun. I'm not a total meanie. I actually do like to have some fun with my money, and I encourage you to do the same! There's nothing wrong with taking your spouse out for a nice dinner or buying that new pair of jeans with some of this money you could be getting. Just stick within your boundaries, and remember that the quicker you get out of debt, the more fun things you can do and the more money you can give away to bless others.
Source: www.CNNMoney.com
Listen to Dave's comment from the radio show
Most of you are jumping with joy that you're probably going to be getting a big, fat check from the government. You may be thinking, "FREE MONEY, BABY!!!"
Well, I'm not here to totally rain on your parade, but plain and simple, I'm not lovin' this plan. This government plan to try to stimulate the economy and pull us away from a possible recession is actually straight-up socialism - just the opposite of capitalism! I don't want my money to help you (if you haven't paid federal income taxes) buy an iPhone or whatever else you have your eye set on.
"Letting Americans keep more of their own money should increase consumer spending, and lift our economy at a time when people otherwise might spend less," President Bush said. The idea in theory sounds like it will work smoothly, but I have a much better idea that will eventually increase consumer spending, and in turn, cause the economy to flourish: encourage freedom from debt!
The last time a stimulus rebate like this was issued was in 2001. A recent study revealed consumers spent two-thirds of those rebates within 6 months of receiving them. Do you have a game plan already for what you'll do with your rebate this time around?
Make the Money Work For YouDon't wait until it comes in the mail to formulate a plan, and whatever you do, do NOT spend this money before it gets to your hands! Those are just formal invitations for Murphy to unpack his suitcases in your spare bedroom! Here are a handful of ways I recommend making your tax rebate work for you, depending on where you are in the Baby Steps:
Pay off debt. This may sound like a no-brainer, but I already expect that few people will actually do it! There's really no reason NOT to throw this "free" money toward your debt snowball. It will get you one step (or maybe quite a few) closer to being debt free, and THEN you will have the freedom to buy that toy or take that vacation you've had your heart set on for quite a while! Learn how
Invest it. If you put this big chunk of change into a mutual fund for a few years, you'll actually receive TONS more money than just the initial $600 or $1,200 check this summer.
Say you get back $600 and put it automatically into a mutual fund averaging 12%. In 2018, that one-time investment will grow to approximately $2,000! If left in for 20 years, it will be worth about $6,500! For the married folks, this free money can grow up to $13,000 over 20 years - WOW! Calculate your earnings
Have some fun. I'm not a total meanie. I actually do like to have some fun with my money, and I encourage you to do the same! There's nothing wrong with taking your spouse out for a nice dinner or buying that new pair of jeans with some of this money you could be getting. Just stick within your boundaries, and remember that the quicker you get out of debt, the more fun things you can do and the more money you can give away to bless others.
Source: www.CNNMoney.com
Bernanke, The Economy & Reality
In case you haven't heard... the government is in the process of putting together a financial recovery package that will put more money back into consumer's hands in order to get the economy going again. One such article was in today's NY Times. It is titled "Fed Chief’s Reassurance Fails to Halt Stock Plunge". I'd rather not bore you with the details, which may put $50 to $100 more dollars a month in some people's hand, and none in others. But I did want to point out a key paragraph in the article.
"Most economists agree that tax rebates are one of the fastest ways to lift consumer spending. They also agree that stimulus measures are most efficient when aimed at low-income or middle-income people, because they are more likely than affluent people to spend any extra money rather than save it."
All certified, or want to be certified nerds can read it for yourself by checking the article out at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/18/business/18fed.html?th&emc=th (FYI... the quote is on page 2)
In layman's terms... what they're saying is, "Let's temporarily put more money into the low-to-middle income people's hands. They will get the economy going again because they're not bright enough to figure out why we're putting this extra money in their hands. Because they are always living above their means, they are going to do exactly what we want them to do... spend the extra back into the economy! They love stuff and will continue to spend every bit of money they get their hands on. They will never do what it's going to take to learn how to properly save and invest. And we already know that don't know where their money is going because they never budget. I mean... who really wants the low-to-middle class to learn what it truly means to be financially disciplined? Not us! And most assuredly, not right now!"
My question to you is, "how much longer do we continue to play Boo Boo The Fool???" Better yet... how much longer shall we continue to operate as slaves? Proverbs 22:7 says, "The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave."
Got debt? Then ya got chains!
A great financial resource for breaking the chains is the book, Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. An even better resource is his 13-week personal finance course, Financial Peace University. You can find a class in your local area at www.daveramsey.com.
My fellow Americans... It's time to wake up! It's time to stop buying into the lies! It's time to break the shackles! It's time to "take ownership of our [own] lives and maximize our [individual & collective] potential in order to win back our communities, families, and personal lives!"
--Carlester T. Crumpler
"Most economists agree that tax rebates are one of the fastest ways to lift consumer spending. They also agree that stimulus measures are most efficient when aimed at low-income or middle-income people, because they are more likely than affluent people to spend any extra money rather than save it."
All certified, or want to be certified nerds can read it for yourself by checking the article out at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/18/business/18fed.html?th&emc=th (FYI... the quote is on page 2)
In layman's terms... what they're saying is, "Let's temporarily put more money into the low-to-middle income people's hands. They will get the economy going again because they're not bright enough to figure out why we're putting this extra money in their hands. Because they are always living above their means, they are going to do exactly what we want them to do... spend the extra back into the economy! They love stuff and will continue to spend every bit of money they get their hands on. They will never do what it's going to take to learn how to properly save and invest. And we already know that don't know where their money is going because they never budget. I mean... who really wants the low-to-middle class to learn what it truly means to be financially disciplined? Not us! And most assuredly, not right now!"
My question to you is, "how much longer do we continue to play Boo Boo The Fool???" Better yet... how much longer shall we continue to operate as slaves? Proverbs 22:7 says, "The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave."
Got debt? Then ya got chains!
A great financial resource for breaking the chains is the book, Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. An even better resource is his 13-week personal finance course, Financial Peace University. You can find a class in your local area at www.daveramsey.com.
My fellow Americans... It's time to wake up! It's time to stop buying into the lies! It's time to break the shackles! It's time to "take ownership of our [own] lives and maximize our [individual & collective] potential in order to win back our communities, families, and personal lives!"
--Carlester T. Crumpler
Stretching for Financial Peace
Are you READY for Financial Peace??? Well, your facilitators are certainly ready to assist you in reaching your goals! When you get a little discouraged and want to go to SPEND money, watch the video above and keep in mind that it is really the simple things that make us all happy! We have a wealth of information to share with you after last week’s class, so please stay tuned!
***If you have not been able to attend class yet, we’re happy to share with you that we are starting a Tuesday class IF neither the Monday or Saturday dates work for you. Class starts 2/26/2008. Kits are available in the bookstore. Please encourage those you are telling about the class to come out to class or the interest meeting on 2/19/2008.***
1. Have you completed your quickie budget yet? If not, get to it. If so, congrats – you know where you stand. I promise you that if you were to completely get it right the first time, you’d go down into a not yet developed hall of fame. Keep at it – it will work out!
***If you have not been able to attend class yet, we’re happy to share with you that we are starting a Tuesday class IF neither the Monday or Saturday dates work for you. Class starts 2/26/2008. Kits are available in the bookstore. Please encourage those you are telling about the class to come out to class or the interest meeting on 2/19/2008.***
1. Have you completed your quickie budget yet? If not, get to it. If so, congrats – you know where you stand. I promise you that if you were to completely get it right the first time, you’d go down into a not yet developed hall of fame. Keep at it – it will work out!
2. You will notice that there is a package of envelopes in your box. Please read through the notes included, notice the categories on your quickie budget that have astericks by them. These are the recommended areas to start going ‘cash only’. Start making plans to RELEASE the debit card for all of your transactions. It is scientifically proven that you tend to be a lot less emotional when swiping the card (even if it is debit) for your transactions. The envelope system is key to Financial Peace success!
3. Emergency Fund – have you started to save yet? If not, please give serious thought as to how you could begin to set funds aside to fund your $1,000 emergency fund. Keep in mind that if you’re not yet saving, technically – you’re not yet on Baby Step #1. The on-line savings accounts are excellent resources to start your savings. http://www.ingdirect.com/ or http://www.oneunited.com/ are great. ING has a referral program, so if you set up an account, let me know, I’ll be happy to refer you – we’ll both receive a contribution from ING for the referral! As your tax refunds arrive, please keep in mind that the FIRST debt on your debt snowball is to fund your emergency fund. Stay focused!
4. We are announcing a contest amongst the small group break out sessions! On Monday, we have Carlester, Jason and Shica’s group. On Saturday, we have Mark, The Mercer’s, and The Humphrey’s groups. Start brainstorming for your group’s name.
The contest will be based on the following:
-class attendance – couples are counted individually.
-Total Amount Saved
-Total Debt Eliminated
*the final results will be calculated based on the triplicate form included in your FPU kit that tracks all of the information!
5. Remember to complete your class reading for the week!
BONUS – Suze Orman has written a book, announced on Oprah, that she’s circulating on-line for FREE! If you desire to have a copy of this book electronically, please let us know (e-mail), we’ll be happy to forward it to you electronically!
3. Emergency Fund – have you started to save yet? If not, please give serious thought as to how you could begin to set funds aside to fund your $1,000 emergency fund. Keep in mind that if you’re not yet saving, technically – you’re not yet on Baby Step #1. The on-line savings accounts are excellent resources to start your savings. http://www.ingdirect.com/ or http://www.oneunited.com/ are great. ING has a referral program, so if you set up an account, let me know, I’ll be happy to refer you – we’ll both receive a contribution from ING for the referral! As your tax refunds arrive, please keep in mind that the FIRST debt on your debt snowball is to fund your emergency fund. Stay focused!
4. We are announcing a contest amongst the small group break out sessions! On Monday, we have Carlester, Jason and Shica’s group. On Saturday, we have Mark, The Mercer’s, and The Humphrey’s groups. Start brainstorming for your group’s name.
The contest will be based on the following:
-class attendance – couples are counted individually.
-Total Amount Saved
-Total Debt Eliminated
*the final results will be calculated based on the triplicate form included in your FPU kit that tracks all of the information!
5. Remember to complete your class reading for the week!
BONUS – Suze Orman has written a book, announced on Oprah, that she’s circulating on-line for FREE! If you desire to have a copy of this book electronically, please let us know (e-mail), we’ll be happy to forward it to you electronically!
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