The Frugal Prof

Here is the FTC warning about this type of fraud

Here are two things to know and tell your friends about fake check fraud:

Having the funds credited to a bank account does not mean the cashed check is valid.

Federal banking rules require that when someone deposits a check into an account, the bank must make the funds available right away – within a day or two.

But the bank also has the right to recover the money from the account holder if the check is counterfeit. It is only when the check works its way back to the bank that supposedly issued the check that it is discovered to be counterfeit.

2. Cashier’s checks and postal money orders can be forged.
A cashier’s check is a check guaranteed by a bank, drawn on the bank’s own funds and signed by a cashier. Cashier’s checks are treated as guaranteed funds because the bank itself, rather than the individual account holder, is responsible for paying the amount of the check.

Cashier’s checks are commonly required for real estate and brokerage transactions. If a person deposits a cashier’s check, the person’s bank must credit the account by at least $5000 the next day. The same holds true for postal money orders.

Fake Checks: How Big is this Problem

The Postal Inspection Service has stopped fake checks with a face value of $62 billion in 2017. Postal Inspectors intercepted 13,724 counterfeit postal money orders, and 550 non-counterfeit postal money orders, with a total face value of $14,157,204.

During 2016, total check frauds cost banks $789 million, a 25 percent increase from two years before. Efforts by banks stopped $7.8 billion in losses to victims in 2016.

What are fake checks?

Fake checks are simply counterfeited checks, usually copies of business checks from real companies.

Three different types of financial documents are commonly involved in fake check frauds: regular checks, cashier’s checks, and money orders.

Some appear to be created in the U.S. and Canada, but many are shipped in from overseas and then sent to victims.

• The regular fake check purports to be from a business, and usually contains a real account and routing number. These are not handwritten, and they look quite professional. The name of the business will appear on the check, and they often include a phone number as well.

• Fake Cashier’s checks look like they are from a bank or financial institution.

A genuine cashier’s check is a check guaranteed by a bank, drawn on the bank’s own funds and signed by a cashier. Cashier’s checks are treated as guaranteed funds because the bank itself, rather than an individual, is responsible for paying the check amount. These are commonly required for real estate and brokerage transactions.

The Office of Comptroller of the Currency has issued an alert about fake cashier’s checks.

• Money orders are issued by banks and the United States Postal Service. These are effectively a cash substitute. Money orders can be cashed at a bank and postal money orders at a post office. They are printed on special paper with watermarks to make them difficult to counterfeit.

The Postal Service has issued an alert on how to detect a fake money order or a money order scam.

Fake checks are used in a variety of frauds such as mystery shopper or nanny “jobs”, as well as prize and sweepstakes scams.

What the scams have in common is that victims have to send money to the fraudsters.

After depositing the check, victims are asked to quickly wire money or buy gift cards that eventually make their way to the fraudsters before the checks bounce.

Regardless of the format, the checks usually look professional and convincing.

To test the actual validity of a check, consumers should not call a phone number printed on the check but should instead look up the telephone number for the supposed source of the check and call directly to see if it is real.

Who are fake check fraud victims?

Young people. Fake check frauds affect victims of all ages and income levels.

However, the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel complaint database shows that the biggest age range for victims are those between 20 and 29 years old, at 21 percent of the total.

By contrast, less than 10 percent of the victims were 70 or older.

The results are consistent with the findings of BBB in its study Cracking the Invulnerability Illusion, which found that millennials are most likely to be victims of fraud.

Small businesses. Check frauds affect not only individual consumers, but small businesses as well. The American Banking Association survey for 2016 found that bank losses from small business accounts increased to 22 percent for fake check fraud, up from 14 percent from two years before.
Lawyers. Some sizable law firms have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to collection fraud. The attorney deposits a fake check from the client’s “debtor”, deducts their legal fee and use a bank-to-bank wire transfer to send the remaining money to the supposed client.
Banks. Those depositing fake checks are responsible for losses when the checks are found to be counterfeit. Banks can take funds from victims’ bank accounts or take collection action if they do not have enough to cover the losses. When victims don’t have the money to cover fraudulent deposits, banks may end up absorbing the losses.

FDIC insurance does not cover losses due to theft or fraud.

If a check is fraudulent, the company that has its name on the check is not liable as long as it has no knowledge of the fraud.

The person who deposited the fake check is responsible for returning money to the bank that made the money available to the depositor. This is explained in the Direct Deposit Account Agreement people sign when they open a bank account. Of course, victims have a right to sue those who defrauded them, but fraudsters are often difficult to find.

Stories from victims of fake check fraud

A St. Louis college student, Isayas, was looking for a part time job online, and found an offer to hire him as a mystery shopper. He took the job, and received a very professional-looking letter outlining his tasks.

Isayas got a cashier’s check in the mail written on the Patelco Credit Union in California for $1,987.22.

He deposited the check in his bank, and the following day the money was credited to his bank account.

He was told to go to McDonald’s, Subway or Starbucks, have a meal, and complete an evaluation form.

Then he was to go to WalMart and send money twice to addresses in Seattle and Tacoma, Washington.

He withdrew cash from his account and sent $885 to the two addresses specified, filled out the evaluation form, and sent it back.

Then the bank informed him that the check was no good and wanted the money returned.

His family helped him to set up a payment plan with his bank. They then reported the fraud to the police and to BBB.

Kathy, from the Chicago suburbs, was contacted on LinkedIn by someone impersonating a competitor of her employer. Kathy had heard very good things about this company, so she was excited. The person she was dealing with used the name of the real head of HR at the company. In addition, the email she got looked very professional, and the email address looked like it was from the company.

Kathy interviewed over a chat feature and was offered a job. She was told that she would need to buy office supplies, a laptop, a printer, and other items needed for the work.

The impersonator emailed several checks to Kathy so she could buy these items from the “company’s vendor” in Huntington, West Virginia. Kathy printed the checks and deposited them into her bank. Kathy says she waited until her bank told her the checks had cleared, and then sent several payments to the “vendor” through Western Union. She sent about $2,000 in all.

After that Kathy’s bank completely froze her account – for three months. The checks did not have the correct routing number for the company for which she believed she was working Kathy reached out and tried to contact the real company, but never heard back.

Kathy reported this to the police and BBB. She never received the supplies she had sent money for, and never heard any more about the supposed job. Kathy was surprised by the level of detail the crooks were able to provide, and urges people to be extra cautious, especially if a check is involved. She advises people to never take a job found online without meeting the employer in person.

Common Frauds that employ fake checks

For fraudsters, the possibilities are almost endless in how they exploit people’s erroneous belief that having the money credited to a checking account means the check is good.

Mystery Shopper Check Scams

The most common frauds that employ fake checks are mystery or secret shopper frauds.

Police and other agencies across the U.S. and Canada routinely issue warnings about this fraud.

Those operating this fraud contact victims, often by mail, offering jobs as mystery shoppers and enclosing fake checks. After receiving a mystery shopping check in the mail, victims are directed to deposit the check into their own checking account, then to mystery shop a retail location, often Walmart.

Consumers are told to wire part of the money from the check they received, write up a report on their experience at the store, and keep the “remainder” as their pay. For example, if the fake check is for the sum of $2,500, the victim may be directed to send $2,100 and keep the “remainder” as pay.

But the checks are fake, and the victim is simply sending his or her own money to the crooks.

Walmart says it never hires mystery shoppers and that it trains employees about common scams such as fake check fraud, even rewarding employees for spotting and stopping fraud transactions.

Gift Card Scams:

In more recent variations of the fraud, scammers mail fake checks and ask people to visit drug stores or other retailers. They ask “shoppers” to buy gift cards, take a photo of the numbers on the back of the card and send the photo back to the fraudsters before completing a report about the shopping experience. After being supplied with the gift card number, fraudsters sell the cards through underground marketplaces.

There is a real mystery shopping industry, but checks typically aren’t sent in advance to shoppers. Businesses may hire people to visit a retail location, make a small purchase and report back. This allows businesses to assess customer service, cleanliness and other aspects of a business location. Most of those engaged in this business are part-time workers who are paid after work is completed.

This industry is organized through the Mystery Shopper Providers Association (MSPA).

The MSPA is regularly contacted by victims of these frauds; Sarah Saar, the group’s executive director, says that it hears from as many as five to 10 victims daily. In addition, the fraudsters often impersonate the MSPA or its members.

Here is a batch of mystery shopper scam letters the U.S. Postal Inspection Service seized before they could enter the U.S. mail.

Check overpayment scams

Fake check frauds appear to have originated with this type of fraud, and there continue to large numbers of complaints about it. The FTC issued its first warning about fake checks in 2004, and it was about this type of fraud. In overpayment scams, fraudsters contact people who are selling cars, boats, and other items over Craigslist or other websites and offer to buy them.

They claim that a third party owes them money, and this third party will send a check to pay for the item. The victim gets a legitimate looking check that is for more than the sale price. The fraudsters ask that the victim send them the difference through Western Union or MoneyGram. There is no real buyer — it is just a fraud to get the victim to wire money.

Fraudsters can review Craigslist posts from anywhere in the world, so it is an easy way for them to find potential victims. Craigslist has fairly prominent warnings about frauds, even stating directly: “Don’t accept cashier/certified checks or money orders – banks cash fakes, then hold you responsible.”

Another variation of this fraud involves a seller who requests that the buyer send a check to a supposed third party that will ship the car or other item. Victims do not realize that they are sending money to the original fraudster or a co-conspirator.

Fraudsters often engage in a variety of scams.

Car wrap scams

BBB receives many complaints from victims who are approached via email or social media to “shrink wrap” their cars with advertisements for energy drinks, beer, or other products in exchange for a monthly payment, often around $200 per month. Fraudsters tell victims that companies are happy to pay for this type of advertising. The FTC has issued a warning about car wrap scams.

Victims receive a counterfeit check, which they are told to deposit, and then to send money through Western Union or MoneyGram to the company that will supposedly wrap their cars. But the check is counterfeit, and by the time victims realize it, they have lost the money they sent by wire.

Energy drink company Red Bull reports it has reached out to the FBI about this problem. The company’s website posts a warning about this and other types of fraud using its name, stating

“Red Bull does not do such advertising at all and never asks third parties to brand their private cars.”

There are several businesses that really do pay people to place ads on their cars. Greg Star, one of the owners of carvertise.com in Delaware, pays Uber, Lyft and other drivers to wrap their cars for hospitals, colleges or businesses like Buffalo Wild Wings. Carvertise typically pays drivers $100 per month for periods of time between two and twelve months.

Star says that they never send people checks, instead sending drivers to the locations where they have their cars wrapped with an ad. Carvertise itself pays the company that wraps the cars. He also says that scammers have begun impersonating his business and that they hear from victims once or twice a week. He says this has been a growing problem that involves victims who are may be vulnerable.

Nanny or caregiver scams

Fraudsters often advertise “jobs” for nannies, babysitters, caregivers for the elderly or disabled, housekeepers or tutors on Craigslist, at Care.com or at other job web sites.

Those who are “hired” are told that they need to buy a wheelchair or other equipment for job purposes. Victims receive and deposit the fake check, and then wire money to a supposed third party to get the equipment needed for the job. But there is no real job, and those who respond lose their own money.

The FTC has both a consumer warning and a short video explaining caregiver frauds and how to avoid them.

Care.com is one of the largest forums for caregivers, operating in 20 countries with a membership of more than 28 million people. They regularly hear about these frauds trying to operate on their system, almost all of which involve fake checks.

Relevant Articles:

Sweepstakes and lotteries

This type of fraud was addressed in a June 2018 Better Business Bureau study on prize and sweepstakes fraud. This is the third most common type of fake check reported to BBB Scam Tracker (after “fake check fraud” and “employment”).

Victims typically get a letter in the mail announcing that they have won the Publishers Clearing House lottery or another major sweepstakes or lottery.

The letter tells them that they have won a large sum of money, and need to call a phone number to confirm their winnings. The fraudster explains that money is needed for taxes or other costs before they receive their winnings. They are told a check is enclosed with the letter to cover those costs. The victim need only deposit the check and send the money by Western Union or MoneyGram to a third party to pay these expenses and then receive their prize. But there is no prize, and of course the check is fake. Here is the FTC warning on prize frauds.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service reported stopping and seizing over a million pieces of sweepstakes mail last year, with counterfeit checks that had a face value of $62 billion. USPIS issued this statement:

Foreign lotteries are illegal in the U.S. These lottery solicitations are almost always criminal scams designed to dupe victims into sending money to the scammers. Using the legal process, Inspection Service screeners interdict illegal lottery mailings and protect victims from criminal misuse of the mail. In FY 2017, interdictions removed 1,083,903 illegal lottery solicitation letters detailing 4,723 different scams.

Often these letters contain counterfeit checks or money orders.

Inspection Service screeners interdicted solicitations containing counterfeit checks with a face value of approximately $62 billion. Approximately 963 Canadian telephone numbers used in the illegal lottery scam letters were terminated as a result of these interdictions.

Small business fraud

An American Bankers Association survey found in 22 percent of the cases, banks lose money because of fake checks where the victim is a small business.

Fraudsters may use fake checks to “pay” in advance for goods and shipping costs. For example, one banker related that one of their customers sold paintings online. They received a fake check, but did not ship the paintings right away, learning later that the check they received was counterfeit.

Other complaints describe how businesses received checks made out for more than the amount owed for services provided and then were asked to send back the overage. These frauds often target photographers, sending checks and then asking that part of the proceeds be sent along to another party supposedly involved in the wedding or other event.

A recent BBB survey of frauds affecting small business identified fake checks among the top five scams that put small businesses at risk.

Why does this fraud work?

The public writes far fewer personal checks than in the past, thanks to alternatives such as debit and credit cards and online bill payment services.

With the decline of personal checks comes a decline in knowledge about how banks process checks. Just as a lack of knowledge can create a target-rich environment for frauds, more robust consumer education about checks and their processing may help prevent such check fraud.

Victims believe that they are protected because they think they have been provided with money in advance of the actions they are being requested to take. By reinforcing this belief, scammers build trust and alleviate concerns that the deal might be a fraud. And once consumers confirm that there is money in their account, they are far more willing to proceed.

Who is behind fake check scams?

Nigerians and nationals of other West African countries appear to be deeply involved in fake check frauds, though others are likely involved.

Every prosecution of fraud involving fake checks that BBB is aware of, where the victims respond by sending money, has involved Nigerian fraudsters. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, and it has an educated population, but many of its citizens have few job prospects. Moreover, Nigerians have migrated to countries around the world.

What to do if you have deposited a fake check into your account

• Notify your bank or the bank that appears to have issued the check.

• File a complaint:

◦Better Business Bureau

◦ The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or call 877-FTC-Help

◦ The Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3

◦ The U.S. Postal Inspection Service

◦ Western Union, 1-800-448-1492 https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/file-complaint.html

◦ MoneyGram, 1-800-926-9400 http://global.moneygram.com/nl/en/how-to-report-a-problem

◦Green Dot, 1-866-795-7597

◦Canadian Anti Fraud Centre, toll-free from the US at 1-888-495-8501

◦ Victims who are seniors or other vulnerable adults may be able to obtain help through Adult Protective Services, which has offices in every state and many counties. Find a local office at www.elderjustice.gov.

Resources

• BBB’s Scam Tracker allows you to report scams and see if others in your area have reported similar frauds.

• The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has helpful explanations for many of the common questions that arise with fake checks.

• The American Banker’s Association has resources for consumers.

• Publishers Clearing House helps you check if you have won their sweepstakes, or complain about sweepstakes scams.

What Is Passive Income and How To Make Passive Income in 2019

September 24, 2018 by Frugal Prof

Many people dream about leaving the workforce and retire early or just have more time with family. Some dream about having the ability to travel without worrying about a paycheck.

But a dream without a plan is just a wish.

passive income

To put some wheels on that dream, you need to consider passive income.

There are plenty of different passive income options and explanations of how to build it. If you’re new to the idea, I’m about to break it down for you.

What Is Passive Income?

Passive income is money you earn in a way that requires little to no effort. Some passive income ideas—like renting out property or building a blog—may take some work to get up and running, but they could eventually earn you money while you sleep.

Relevant Articles:

Why Build Passive Income?

Your income is your greatest wealth-building tool—a tool that typically requires your active participation in the form of a full-time job. You know what I’m talking about! Even if you love your job, I’m willing to bet you wouldn’t mind earning some extra income without the blood, sweat, tears, and time commitment of another job. In fact, there are several benefits. Building a passive income:

• Increases your wealth-building plan

• Creates an opportunity to retire early

• Protects you from a complete loss of income if you lose your job

• Provides an additional source of income when you’re no longer able to work or if you outlive your retirement fund

How Much Money Can I Make?

Passive income generally won’t make you wealthy overnight, so forget about any get-rich-quick schemes you’ve heard of. But steady, profitable passive income options can build some serious money over the long haul. We’re talking anywhere from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars—depending on the income stream.

How to Build Passive Income

Passive income can be built in many ways, but first let’s take a look at what it truly is and which income streams are available.

Investing

When we say “passive income,” some people tend to think of investing because it can produce the largest results with the least amount of work. But your retirement plan and passive income should be thought of as two separate things.

The whole idea behind long-term investing is to create income for retirement.

Read about The risk to the current stock market here.

You want to make sure you’re investing in your company retirement plan, like a 401(k)—if your fund choices are good and they offer a match—in addition to other tax-favored plans like a Roth IRA if they don’t offer a Roth 401(k).

These are great options for building a solid retirement plan, but you will incur taxes and penalties for any withdrawals before a certain age. With retirement planning, you want to let your money grow for the long haul and not touch it!

On the other hand, we want to think about passive income as a type of low-effort income that can be accessed at any time. Let’s take a look at some of these options below.

Real Estate

One way to build passive income after you’re debt-free and have some cash saved up is by purchasing real estate and renting it out to tenants.

Before you buy rental property, pay off your own home first and purchase your investment property with cash. Don’t ever go into debt to buy rental property!

The last thing you need to do is take on the expense of owning another house or commercial building on top of a monthly mortgage payment! Cash only. Period.

I also suggest buying close by so you can personally keep an eye on the property. Find a real estate agent who knows your area well so you can buy property in a location that will attract renters.

Rental property can be a great source of extra income, but it isn’t the most passive choice because you’ll put a lot of time and effort into managing the property—unless you hire a property management company.

Other Passive Income Ideas

Affiliate marketer

Affiliate marketers earn commissions by promoting other companies’ products.

You can become an affiliate marketer by creating a blog and writing product reviews or sharing information about a particular product, service, or pastime.

Read my post on how to begin a blog here.

For example, if you love cooking, you might start a blog where you share your favorite recipes but include links to certain ingredients or kitchen tools you’re looking to promote.

If your readers click on those links and make purchases, you’ll earn a commission. It’s really that simple. And while you probably won’t start out earning $1,000 a month with this sort of gig, once you build up an audience and find more products or services to promote, you could end up banking that much or more on a monthly basis.

Relevant Articles:

Monetize your blog:

Monetize your website via Share a Sale and Flex Offers .

Max Bounty, This affiliate network partners with dozens of survey companies and has lots of great offers available. Rated as the number 1 top CPA Network by mThink’s BlueBook Rankings 3 years in a row, promoting offers through Maxbounty is a solid choice.

Their interface is attractive, easy to use, and fun affiliate contests are held regularly. Run by a very friendly and fun group of people who have been in the business for over 12 years.

Igain Network: iGain specializes in market research offers and features high quality advertisers on their real-time tracking platform. Offering superior support is their primary objective, and they do so with their friendly team of passionate individuals.

These are the best affiliate programs that help you make more money from your followers. Imagine receiving and extra $1500 a month from your blog traffic. Advertisers want exposure to blog audiences. So, it is a win-win.

Ready to start your own blog? … Read my post on the 7 Rules to a Profitable Blog here.

If you have a brilliant idea that appeals to a specific audience, you could create something like an educational blog or a YouTube tutorial series to generate online traffic.

If your content is engaging and it sees enough daily traffic, you could sell ad space on your blog or ad spots on your channel. After you put in the heavy lifting, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy streams of passive income.

Sell Digital Products

If you’ve discovered how to create content that produces enough traffic to host ads, you could make a product your audience would love to buy. That could be anything from a simple e-book to a complex app that generates income for years after it’s released.

Rent Out Useful Items

Do you have any items you don’t use all the time that others would like to borrow? Useful items like a truck, trailer, trampoline, kayak, or even your own yard could earn you passive income as rental items. This also includes renting out spare rooms in your house with the help of websites like Airbnb. Hop on your favorite social media site, upload pictures of your items, set a price, and tell the world they’re ready for rent.

Passive Income Tips

The list of passive income ideas could go on forever.

You might want to check out the Podcast Side Hustle School by Chris Guillabeau, Author of $100 Startup. Quick profiles of unique side hustle ideas of entrepreneurs who create side businesses.

As you search for the best fit, keep an eye out for ideas that show positive long-term track records. Do other people make money on the idea? Has it come back to bite someone who tried it? Look for ideas that are steady, profitable, and trustworthy. Do your research. And never go into debt.

Freezing Your Credit is Now Free – Equifax Data Breach

September 23, 2018 by Frugal Prof

What Happened: Equifax data breach

The credit reporting company announced in September that the personal information of 145.5 million consumers had been compromised now referred to as the Equifax data breach.

It originally said that the information accessed included names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and – in some cases – driver’s license numbers and credit card numbers.

It also said some consumers’ credit card numbers were among the information exposed, as well as the personal information from thousands of dispute documents.

However, Atlanta-based Equifax recently disclosed in a document submitted to the Senate Banking Committee, that a forensic investigation found criminals accessed other information from company records.

According to the document, provided to The Associated Press by Sen. Elizabeth Warren‘s office, that included tax identification numbers, email addresses and phone numbers.

Finer details, such as the expiration dates for credit cards or issuing states for driver’s licenses, were also included in the list.

The equifax data breach is therefore much more serious than was reported.

See my earlier post on how to check to see if your personal data has been compromised here

Credit Freeze:

Starting Friday, a new federal law allows people to freeze and unfreeze their credit at the three major credit bureaus without being charged.

Before, it cost consumers in almost half the states $3 to $12 per bureau to freeze or unfreeze their credit reports.

Credit freezes and unfreezes with the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — will be free for everyone by federal law starting Sept. 21.

A credit freeze prevents lenders from pulling a person’s credit report – a key part of the approval process for a credit card or loan – essentially preventing fraudsters from opening a new account in that person’s name or the name of someone in their family.

Unfortunately, many credit card companies don’t pull your credit report before issuing a new card.

This is why you still need to keep an eye on your credit even if you have a credit freeze.

The new law comes more than a year after Equifax disclosed a major data breach that exposed the personal information of 148 million Americans and prompted lawmakers to rethink identity security.

The new law also extends how long a fraud alert remains on your credit reports from 90 days to one year. Less severe than a freeze, fraud alerts tell lenders that your personal data may have been compromised and to take extra steps to verify your identity before approving new credit.

Existing alerts on Experian reports will automatically be extended, according to Rod Griffin, director of consumer education and advocacy at Experian.

Relevant Articles:

How to “freeze” your credit report

Placing a freeze should be fast and relatively easy, although you will have to sign up for separate ones at each of the three credit bureaus.

Step 1: Go to the credit bureau websites and locate the “security freeze” link.

For Equifax: www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/

For Experian: www.experian.com/freeze

For TransUnion: www.transunion.com/credit-freeze

Type in your name, address, social security number and date of birth. (Note: You can also submit a credit freeze request via phone or in writing.)

You may be asked to provide a previous address if you have lived at your current one for less than two years.

You also may need to answer a few questions about your background, including loans you’ve taken out, credit cards you hold or previous addresses to confirm your identity.

Step 2: Select the security freeze option. (Or if you already have a freeze in place, select whether you want to temporarily “unfreeze” it or remove the freeze permanently

Step 3: Jot down your PIN number, as you will need it to change the status of your freeze, like when you want to “thaw” or unfreeze it to get a loan for a new car or apply for a mortgage.

If the credit bureaus cannot sufficiently verify your identity based on the information you’ve provided, you may need to mail in copies of your driver’s license, utility bills or other supporting documentation to validate your identity and execute a freeze.

“We want to make it is as simple as possible to access that freeze, but we want to protect you at the same time,” Experian’s Griffin said. “We need to strike that balance.

Identity Theft Protection Insurance:

Dave Ramsey recommends paying for identity theft protection through Zander Insurance.

They offer a specific case worker for id theft. The cost is $75.

The Federal Trade Commission’s website, www.ftc.gov/idtheft, offers information about how to protect yourself against fraud.

Conclusion:

I believe this is a big wakeup call for consumers about the likelihood of id theft. There are options like a credit freeze or more extensive solutions like buying identity theft protection. But, beware of companies that charge too much for the same service.

Either way it is our responsibility to check our own credit reports to make sure that no one has committed id theft using our social security numbers to get new credit cards or other activity. This is the unfortunate reality of the situation.

Best Government Auction Sites to Find Amazing Deals in 2019

September 20, 2018 by Frugal Prof

Best Government Auction Sites to find Amazing Deals in 2019

No matter what situation you’re in, saving money on the things you buy can be a big help. Don’t worry, I’ve done some research for you.

Here are Ten online auction websites where you can find the absolute best deals on the products you want.

Be sure to share this article with family and friends so they can join in on the savings.

And check out my related post on how to find money owed to you here.

1. GovDeals.com

GovDeals provides services to various government agencies that allow them to sell surplus and confiscated items via the internet. There are tons of items for you to bid on.

You’ll find automobiles, clothing, computers, medical equipment, office equipment, real estate and so much more.

To start bidding, simply join the Liquidity Services Network by registering for a free account.

Once you’ve registered, you will have access to all of the marketplaces found on the site. You can even set up “Favorites” and receive notifications when items are newly posted, or closing soon. Get notified of items by location, category or seller.

Here are a few examples of items up for bid on the site:

Apple MacBook Pro laptop computers – This auction is for one lot of MacBook Pro laptops. There are 30 in total. Starting bid is $6,770.

iMac computers – Here is an auction for one lot of 20 iMac computers. All run on Mac OS 10. Starting bid is $100.

Click here to get started on GovDeals and you’ll be saving money in no time.

2. ShopGoodwill.com

I’m sure you’ve heard of Goodwill retail stores. It’s known for the selling of clothing and household goods that have been donated at over 3,200 locations across the country.

But did you know they also have an online auction site? They do.

ShopGoodwill.com is the place to find special items that you’ve been looking for. Whether you are a serious collector, casual treasure hunter, or Ebay reseller, you’ll be able to choose from a wide array of antiques and collectibles.

There are also new and nearly new items pulled from participating Goodwills’ large inventory of donated products.

You’ll be glad to know that proceeds go to a great cause.

Revenue from auction sales fund Goodwill’s education, training and job placement programs for people with disabilities and other barriers.

You’ll find multiple categories of items for sale. Antiques, art, books, movies, jewelry, office supplies, and tools, just to name a few.

Here are some items selling on the site:

Samsung digital camera – This auction is for a Samsung ES65 10.2MP digital camera with battery. Includes camera with USB cable, LiIon battery and camera case; charger is not included. Starting bid is $7.99.

MacBook Pro laptop – This auction is for an Apple MacBook Pro A1286 Laptop Computer. Current price is $101.

iRobot ROOMBA – This auction is for the iRobot Roomba Robotic Vacuum Cleaner. Current bidding is up to $14.99.

The site is very simple to use. Just create a free account and you’re ready to begin bidding.

Click here to get started on ShopGoodwill. You’ll be glad that you did.

Relevant Articles:

Value Investing

3. PropertyRoom.com

If you’re looking for deals with a twist, check out PropertyRoom.com. The site works with more than 3,000 law enforcement agencies and municipalities nationwide to help auction their seized, stolen, abandoned and surplus goods.

With hundreds of auctions available on the site, you never know what kind of deal you’ll be able to find. The bidding on most auctions starts at $1, with no reserve. Items up for grabs include coins, jewelry, vehicles, electronics, fine art and more.

Check out these items currently up for bid:

2002 Ford Pickup – Get a great deal with this online auction for a 2002 Ford F250. Current bid is $850.

Men’s ONISS watch – Brand New ONISS Men’s Watch. Model #ON8500-22 MRG (MGBK). Current bid is $9.

Apple iPad 4 – This Apple iPad 4 has 128GB of storage and both Wi-Fi and cell capabilities through AT&T. It has a 9.7-inch display with both front and rear-facing cameras, perfect for FaceTime. The current bid is $115.

The site is a great way to give back to the community. To date, millions of dollars have been returned to local communities and law enforcement agencies from proceeds provided by these auctions. Funds help cover the costs of road repairs, lifesaving equipment and even lowering taxes.

Click here to visit PropertyRoom and register for a free account today.

Relevant Articles:

11 Survey Sites that could pay you $750 this month.

4. Treasury auctions

Did you know there are roughly 300 public auctions conducted throughout the U.S. each year to sell forfeited property? It’s true.

The properties are forfeited as a result of violations of federal law enforced by the Department of the Treasury or nonpayment of Internal Revenue Service taxes.

A wide variety of merchandise is available through government auctions.

You can bid on items such as automobiles, aircraft, boats, real estate, jewelry, electronics and more. Proceeds are used for law enforcement activities and restitution to victims of fraud.

But when and where are these auctions held?

There is a handy listing of all auctions on Treasury.gov that will give you all the important details for each auction.

You’ll see categories of items currently for sale as well as links to auction details.

Here are some available items up for auction on the site:

2009 Volvo – This auction is for a 2009 Silver Volvo XC90 R-Design. The vehicle has 72,481 miles. The minimum bid is $6,600.

2014 Ford Explorer – This is an Explorer Limited model with 3.5 L 6 cylinder engine; Running condition, no visible dents or defects. Minimum bids for this auction are not being announced.

Single family home – Single Family Residence with 2,490 sq. ft., built in 1989. It’s located in Folkston, GA. The minimum bid is $80,000.

Click here to see auction listings on Treasury.gov and take advantage of its deeply discounted sales.

5. Municibid

Another government auction site worth exploring is Municibid.

It’s an easy-to-use site for government agencies, schools, authorities and utilities to sell their surplus and forfeitures directly to the public. All of its auctions are conducted online and are available to be bid on 24 hours a day.

There is no charge for sellers to use the site. However, there is an 8 percent buyers fee added to all purchases. This fee is charged on top of the winning bid, so if you do make a purchase, factor that into the amount you want to spend.

Municibid is packed full of items for sale.

Categories include automotive, computers, electronics, furniture, office supplies, sporting goods and more.

Here are some items selling on the site:

2004 Ford F-250XL – This pickup is a 4-door 4X4 Supercab with an 8-foot bed and air conditioning. Slate Blue with only 58,772 miles. Current bid is $4,400.

2003 Chevrolet S-10 Pickup – 4X4 extended cab with 83,000 miles and a 4.3L V6 engine. Current bid is $625.

Click here to explore all of the auctions being held on Municibid. You’ll be amazed at the number of things you can bid on.

Fannie Mae Auctions : As you can imagine, Fannie Mae auctions off real estate, but actually, so do the GSA and Treasury auctions listed above. In Fannie Mae’s case, it owns thousands of properties because people defaulted on their Fannie Mae-insured mortgages.

Sample Lot: a 969-square-foot condo in the Glover Park neighborhood of Washington. Asking price: $299,000.

FDIC Auctions : The FDIC, which insures banks, gets its holdings when they fail and sells some of them via auction to the public. We’re talking commercial buildings, land, houses, apartment buildings and — weirdly — bank buildings. The FDIC’s auction page even contains a section called “Bargain Properties.”

Sample Lot: 2 bedroom 2 bath condo in Boca Raton, Fla. Asking price: $229,900.

Cash surveys

HUD Auctions : HUD, of course, owns houses nationwide that it obtained when people defaulted on their HUD-insured home loans. HUD’s site lists homes for sale in most every state, some fixer-uppers, others in excellent condition.

USDA Auctions : The U.S. Department of Agriculture also auctions off houses and apartment buildings, but why buy one of those when you can buy a farm or ranch from the USDA? The agency obtains these properties when people default on USDA-insured loans, among other ways. Hint, the text version of USDA’s auction site is easier to use.

U.S. Marshal’s Service Auctions : And finally, the U.S. Marshal’s service auctions off some true bling as part of its mission to “combat major criminal activity by disrupting and dismantling illegal enterprises” and “depriving criminals of the proceeds of illegal activity.” Once again, there is real estate, but also businesses, cash cars, collectibles — and more.

Sample Lot: 2006 Suzuki GSX Motorcycle. Bid when I looked: $4,050.

As you browse the government auction sites above, you’ll notice some link you to additional sites run by private contractors. These contractors have legitimate relationships with the government, but bidder beware: other private companies will try to make their auctions seem like government auctions as a marketing ploy.

Always start with the legitimate links provided by the government itself.

Good luck!

11 of the Best Side Hustles to Earn an Extra $1,000 in 2019

September 19, 2018 by Frugal Prof

11 of the Best Side Hustles to Earn an Extra $1,000 in 2019

There’s a reason side hustles are becoming more popular these days. Not only do they allow you to expand your horizons and grow professionally, but they’re a great way to pocket some extra cash.

By getting a second gig on top of your full-time job, you’ll have a prime opportunity to accumulate more spending money, pay down debt, or pad your savings account.

That said, if you’re going to put in the effort and get a second job, you might as well get the most money out of the deal.

Of course, the amount you earn each month will tie in to the number of hours you’re willing to spend working that side hustle. But if you put in your time, these gigs have the potential to pay $1,000 a month — or more.

1. Web developer

On a basic level, web developers create and maintain websites, but there’s much more to it than that. While some web developers focus on back-end tasks, like creating databases, others use their design skills to create compelling graphics and features.

To work as a web developer, you’ll need to be well-versed in coding or scripting languages like HTML, PHP, and JavaScript, to name just a few.

But if you are, you could easily command $50 an hour for your services, which means that if you work your side hustle for 20 hours over the course of a given month, you could take home $1,000.

2. Graphic designer

If you’re passionate about graphic design and know your way around popular software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, then you might score yourself some pretty substantial money on the side.

Graphic designers create everything from website images to catalogs and brochures, and they’re often able to charge $75 or more per hour for their services.

Put in 14 hours a month at that rate, and you’ll easily hit the $1,000 mark.

3. Loan Signing Agent

You Earn Extra Income, Set your Own Hours, and the Income is Fantastic! ($75-$200 per appointment).

• First of all, it’s really good money:

You can make $75 to $200 in a single signing, and a signing takes about an hour.

Total work time including preparing and driving to the signing is about an hour and a half to two hours when you’re starting out. And a lot less as you become more experienced.

Part time loan signing agents generally do one to three signings per week, – about $300 to $500 dollars extra a week. while full time agents can do 3-8 signings in a day which is about $400 to over $1,000 dollars in a day.

You can start part-time and work around your existing work schedule since most signings occur on evenings and weekends. Simply pick up work when you want, and keep your day job.

• You can get started with absolutely zero experience. There’s no resume checking prior to a loan signing. You are hired simply based on your location in proximity to the loan signing.

• You can work from home and be your own boss. Owning your own business can allow you to take advantage its many benefits, such as tax write-offs.

• You have the ability to make money almost immediately.

It pays nearly 9X more than driving for Uber. However, it requires you to take a class and invest time and money.

If you can do that, then you can start making up to $200 per signing.

Within a year, Julia is now making $10,000 per month.

Hear her story below.

Learn More about the Loan Signing System here.

4. Become a Transcriptionist:

Transcribe documents and movies: You’ve probably heard of scribie.

They pay 5$ to $20/audio hour. It’s another company that would let you work at your own convenient time. Very flexible and files are usually around 6 minutes or less.

It also has its own software that would allow you to dictate instead of typing.

You can also get promoted once you level up.

5. Paid Consumer Research

Companies try to understand consumer behavior and trends and they pay you for your time for consumer research via Paid Online Surveys.

These consumer research sites are 100% FREE to join and always pay and pay out on-time.

1. Sign Up.
2. Confirm your e-mail.
3. Earn Money.
4. Do them quickly to avoid burnout.

These companies are ranked in terms of Quality, Reputation, Earning Potential, and other factors.

For those who want to earn up to the $650+/month mark, I suggest trying out all of the sites on the list and stick with the ones that work best for you.

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

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

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

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

American Consumer Opinion: Easy to sign up. And they have 6 Million Members.

Reviews of American Consumer Opinion:

“American Consumer Opinion Panel has been one of the best, and probably THE best, panel that I have worked with in some time…” J.D., Texas –

“I do surveys for several different companies and, I have to say, American Consumer Opinion ranks at the top as they have a very good site with no junk [that] seems to be well managed.” H.B., Tennessee –

Begin earning at American Consumer Opinion:

Vindale Research $2 Registration Bonus Plus Up to $75 Per Survey

5. Musical instructor

If you’re passionate about an instrument you love playing, then why not teach others to do the same?

Music lessons can bring in some serious cash, and all you really need to provide them is the ability to play the instrument in question and a fair degree of patience.

The amount you’ll earn as a musical instructor will vary depending on where you live and the instrument you play, but to give you an example, piano teachers typically get $30 to $60 an hour. If you’re able to command the high end of that range, you can bring home $1,000 a month after 17 hours on the job.

6. Get paid to charge Scooters

Electric Scooter Charging: A New Side Hustle from Bird Pays $30/ Hour

Mike Wisell, 33, a tattoo artist who lives in Santa Monica, started a new gig a few weeks ago. He charges scooters and he makes pretty good money doing it.

Bird is among a handful of companies that rent out electric scooters to get around big cities. The site uses a team of “chargers” to pick up the scooters when they’re running out of juice, bring them home, charge them and return to a “nest.”

Training was simple:

sign up, (No affiliate relationship)
take an online video course,
receive a set of tools in the mail,
then get to work.

He even picks his own hours.

“The pay is pretty good if you hustle,” he says.

More info about Scooter charging here.

Relevant Articles:

11 Survey Sites that could pay you $750 this month.

7. Waiter

It’s hard to pinpoint what waiters earn on average, because there are so many variables involved. But know this: If you’re able to snag a few popular shifts (think evenings and weekends) at a high-end restaurant, you might easily take in $1,000 a month in tips alone.

8. Affiliate marketer

Affiliate marketers earn commissions by promoting other companies’ products.

You can become an affiliate marketer by creating a blog and writing product reviews or sharing information about a particular product, service, or pastime.

Read my post on how to begin a blog here.

For example, if you love cooking, you might start a blog where you share your favorite recipes but include links to certain ingredients or kitchen tools you’re looking to promote.

Monetize your blog:

Monetize your website via Share a Sale and Flex Offers .

Their interface is attractive, easy to use, and fun affiliate contests are held regularly. Run by a very friendly and fun group of people who have been in the business for over 12 years.

These are the best affiliate programs that help you make more money from your followers. Imagine receiving and extra $1500 a month from your blog traffic. Advertisers want exposure to blog audiences. So, it is a win-win.

Ready to start your own blog? … Read my post on the 7 Rules to a Profitable Blog here.

9. Photographer

Love taking pictures? Why not offer up your services to those looking to capture key memories?

As a photographer, you can do everything from family photo shoots to low-key events to weddings. And if you’re good at what you do, it can be an extremely lucrative side gig.

Case in point: The average wedding photographer in the U.S. commands around $2,000 for his or services. Not bad for a single day’s work (plus editing and such, of course).

How to create a business as a photographer here.

10. Personal trainer

If you have a passion for fitness and exercise, then you might consider moonlighting as a personal trainer outside of your regular job. In doing so, you’ll not only keep yourself more active, but empower other people to get in shape.

Best of all, you might do pretty well financially.

Personal trainers earn an average of $50 per hour, but some can easily charge up to $100. To become a certified trainer, you’ll need to go through a course which will not only require some of your time, but also, your money. But if you’re willing to make the investment, it could pay off in the long run.

11. Babysitter

If you love kids, then babysitting on nights and weekends is a good way to beef up your bank account. Depending on where you live and the job in question, you might earn up to $20 an hour watching other people’s children.

Granted, you’ll need to be willing to give up a decent chunk of your personal downtime to hit the $1,000 mark on a monthly basis, but think about it this way: Babysitting often means sitting on somebody else’s couch while children are asleep.

And really, that’s not so hard. Just be aware that some families will want you to become CRP-certified before hiring you. If so, you’ll need to complete a brief course, but a non-expensive one at that.

I hope you’ve found some ideas to get you started on creating a side hustle that earns you $1,000 in 2019!

23 Ways to Make Extra Money in 2019

September 17, 2018 by Frugal Prof

23 Ways to Make Extra Money in 2019

If you’re wondering “How can I make extra money in 2019?” then you’ve come to the right place!

• Pay off your debt;
• Save for a vacation for your family:
• Stop living paycheck to paycheck;
• Reach retirement sooner;
• Become debt free:

*Disclosure: This page contains some links to companies that I have a business relationship with. The reader pays nothing and I strive to only partner with quality, reputable companies. Results May Vary Person to Person.

1. Paid Consumer Research:

Companies try to understand consumer behavior and trends and they pay you for your time for consumer research via Paid Online Surveys.

These consumer research sites are 100% FREE to join and always pay and pay out on-time.

1. Sign Up.
2. Confirm your e-mail.
3. Earn Money.
4. Do them quickly to avoid burnout.

These companies are ranked in terms of Quality, Reputation, Earning Potential, and other factors.

For those who want to earn up to the $650+/month mark, I suggest trying out all of the sites on the list and stick with the ones that work best for you.

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

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

American Consumer Opinion: Easy to sign up. And they have 6 Million Members.

Reviews of American Consumer Opinion:

“American Consumer Opinion Panel has been one of the best, and probably THE best, panel that I have worked with in some time…” J.D., Texas –

“I do surveys for several different companies and, I have to say, American Consumer Opinion ranks at the top as they have a very good site with no junk [that] seems to be well managed.” H.B., Tennessee –

Begin earning at American Consumer Opinion:

Vindale Research $2 Registration Bonus Plus Up to $75 Per Survey

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

▪More rewards: The more you take surveys, the more rewards you get through its Loyalty program.
▪More points: Earn extra points for surveys completed on top of the points you receive from taking those surveys. That’s double the benefits of taking surveys. Again, you won’t see that elsewhere.
▪Time: Ipsos values your time. If you are disqualified, you’d know it right away. I can’t say the same thing for others.

2. Become a Certified Closing Agent.

You Earn Extra Income, Set your Own Hours, and the Income is Fantastic! ($75-$200 per appointment).

• First of all, it’s really good money! You can make $75 to $200 in a single signing, and a signing takes about an hour. Total work time including preparing and driving to the signing is about an hour and a half to two hours when you’re starting out. And a lot less as you become more experienced.

You can start part-time and work around your existing work schedule since most signings occur on evenings and weekends. Simply pick up work when you want, and keep your day job.

• You can get started with absolutely zero experience. There’s no resume checking prior to a loan signing. You are hired simply based on your location in proximity to the loan signing.

• You can work from home and be your own boss. Owning your own business can allow you to take advantage its many benefits, such as tax write-offs.

• You have the ability to make money almost immediately.

It pays nearly 9X more than driving for Uber. However, it requires you to take a class and invest time and money.

If you can do that, then you can start making up to $200 per signing.

Learn More about the Loan Signing System here.

3. Get paid to charge Scooters

Electric Scooter Charging: A New Side Hustle from Bird Pays $30/ Hour

Mike Wisell, 33, a tattoo artist who lives in Santa Monica, started a new gig a few weeks ago. He charges scooters and he makes pretty good money doing it.

Training was simple:

sign up, (No affiliate relationship)
take an online video course,
receive a set of tools in the mail,
then get to work.

He even picks his own hours.

“The pay is pretty good if you hustle,” he says.

More info about Scooter charging here.

4. Get Paid for Sharing Your Amazon Purchase History

Such an easy way to Earn an extra $36

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

In this case, it wants to see what products Amazon users purchase. When you sign up for ShopTracker, it keeps your private information, well, private.

All it wants to see is your Amazon order information, including the order date, product title, category, ISBN number, release date, condition, seller, list price per unit, quantity and other details.

In order to get paid, you must download the shoptracker program. Then, every month, you will receive a $3 VISA Gift Card.

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

5. Get Paid to Drive: Get a Check This Week

People drive for a variety of reasons: to spend time with their kids, earn extra money, to pay for school, even to exercise and see the world. You can use almost any car to deliver, as long as you have a valid driver’s license, insurance, and a clean driving record.

Get paid to Drive for Amazon: Amazon Flex Make $18-$25/hour Be your own boss, set your own schedule, and have more time to pursue your goals and dreams.

Make money selling on Amazon FBA.

Can you make money in Amazon FBA?

I’ve been spent at least one hour every day finding items to list on Amazon (or eBay).

I discuss my numbers, tips, and experience here.

6. Monetize your blog:

Monetize your website via Share a Sale and Flex Offers .

Their interface is attractive, easy to use, and fun affiliate contests are held regularly. Run by a very friendly and fun group of people who have been in the business for over 12 years.

These are the best affiliate programs that help you make more money from your followers. Imagine receiving and extra $1500 a month from your blog traffic. Advertisers want exposure to blog audiences. So, it is a win-win.

Time for you to start your own blog? … Read my post on the 7 Rules to a Profitable Blog here.

7. Do Errands: Task Rabbit

Help people fix things around their home – If you’re a handy person, you may be able to get paid to repair broken items around a person’s home. Word of mouth is big when it comes to finding clients, but you can also post Craigslist advertisements that show your services, post flyers to bulletin boards around your town, and more.

8. Become a Transcriptionist:

Do you know what a transcriptionist does?

Did you know that it is another way to make money?

Transcribe documents and movies: You probably heard of scribie. They pay 5$ to $20/audio hour. It’s another company that would let you work at your own convenient time. Very flexible and files are usually around 6 minutes or less. It also has its own software that would allow you to dictate instead of typing. You can also get promoted once you level up.

9. Earn money as a photographer: If you like photography, why not take the next step and get Paid to take pictures? Yes, you can get paid to travel and take pictures.

It’s a great career or side hustle idea.

10. Deliver Dinner: Join Door Dash and get your first check this week!

11. Wash Cars: Offer a door-to-door car washing service to local residents. You bring the cleaning supplies; they provide the water and the electricity for vacuuming out the inside of vehicles. Similar to mowing lawns, painting houses, and shoveling snow, this takes very little money to get started!

12. Become a youth sports coach: If you like kids and sports, this is a perfect side hustle idea.

13. Become a referee:

14. Start a Blog

Forbes: How This 27-Year-Old Made $1 Million Last Year

One never knows what can happen when a blogger finds just the right niche. Take Michelle from the blog Making Sense of Cents. She was recently featured in Forbes magazine and makes over $1M a year from a side blog that became very popular. You never know what a blog could become.

The 7 Rules to a Profitable Blog here.

Relevant Articles:

The Best Personal Finance Books

15. Create a Youtube Channel:

You’re probably wondering? Can you really make money from Youtube?

This year, a 6-year-old made $11 million in one year reviewing toys on YouTube

Some of the biggest stars these days are not actors at all, but YouTube stars.

One of the biggest is a 6-year-old named Ryan who plays with toys.

Ryan has become a multi-millionaire, according to Forbes magazine’s just-out list of highest paid YouTube entrepreneurs.

16. Paint Houses:

17. Give Music Lessons:

18. Become a lifeguard:

19. Become a ski instructor:

20. Opinion/ Surveys:

Survey Junkie: You can earn points through Survey Junkie and redeem them for cash or gift cards. They give you 25 points just for filling out your profile. Expect to make about $3 per survey.
One survey site I love is called InboxDollars. It offers several short, daily surveys you can take. If you take all of them each day, you could earn an extra $730 a year — not too bad. Begin Earning at InboxDollars.
My Survey: Make Money Online! Have fun & get paid for doing surveys Start a New Account. It’s FREE!
Begin Earning at My Survey.
American Consumer Opinion:
Luntz focus groups: Typically will pay between $75-$200 depending on the topic. Usually only available near large cities

21. Flip concert tickets:

22. Enter Contests and Sweepstakes: “Google sweepstakes” and you can find thousands of monthly or yearly drawings from your favorite companies and brands.

23. Become a part-time bookkeeper:

24. Write about stocks: I made over $5,000 writing about undervalued stocks and it helped me pay off $17K in debt last year. More here.

25. Design logos: 99 Designs

26. Ebay: This might be the fastest way for most people to generate quick cash.

I wrote a post detailing how I made $493 in a few weeks and made money on Ebay. Details and tips here.

Conclusion:

In this post, we explored more than 45 Ways to create extra income. Whatever your financial goals, finding a way to get paid for your extra time is always a good idea. I hope you found a couple of interesting ideas to pursue.

9 Major Discounts You Don’t Want to Miss

September 10, 2018 by Frugal Prof

9 Major Discounts You Don’t Want to Miss

Are you missing out on major discounts and don’t even know it?

Believe it or not, discounts are everywhere!

I’m not just talking about major blowout sales or BOGO (Buy one get one Free) offers—I mean discounts on basic buys you make every day.

And because every little bit of savings can add up, it’s time to make sure you aren’t missing out on extra opportunities to keep more cash in your wallet!

Disclaimer; I believe in transparency and want to disclose that I’ve included certain products and links to those products that I will earn an affiliate commission for any purchases you make. The reader pays nothing.

9 Basic Discounts You Might Be Missing out On

1. Download Digital Coupons

Did you know most supermarkets allow customers to download virtual coupons directly to their rewards card or store app?

Its true- Check out my post on how I save 40% on groceries here.

If you reach the checkout line, it never hurts to ask the cashier if you’re missing out on any coupons or discounts.

They may have some leftover from another customer or a special code they can ring up. All you have to do is ask!

If you’re shopping online, take advantage of websites like RetailMeNot, which finds a slew of digital coupons for you to choose from.

I use Ebates and they give me cash back for nearly all of my purchases. Ebates gets a commission from stores you shop at and they share the commission with you.

Average cash back is about 7%, which is great.

Right now, they are offering a Free $10 Gift Card when you join and spend $25.

More about Ebates Here.

2. Abandon Your Cart

I mean abandon your online cart and cross your fingers for a discount!

According to Baymard Institute Research, almost 70% of online shoppers abandon their online shopping cart. Knowing that, businesses are always looking for some way to lure you back in and get your business.

Many online retailers will email you a 10–20% off coupon to encourage you to finish the check-out process.

Next time you’re planning an online purchase, go through all the steps (be sure you’ve already given them your email) and then close the page right before they ask for your payment information. In a little while, you might have an extra discount waiting in your inbox.

Patience pays off!

3. Follow Your Favorite Businesses on Social Media

If you’re not following your favorite stores and restaurants on social media, you could be missing out on some major discounts! How else will you know that it’s two-for-one ice cream day at your favorite shop? Or that it’s free coffee day for dads at your local coffee hangout?

Stay in the loop so you can score those discounts when they pop up!

Relevant Articles:

4. Give Feedback

Do you love giving your opinion, but wish it actually helped you earn some extra cash?

Being involved in consumer surveys might be a good fit for you! This kind of market research will ask your opinion on a variety of things—like food, stores, habits and everything in between.

See my post on Survey Sites That Actually Pay here.

Oh, and you know that customer survey at the bottom of your receipt you never pay any attention to? It could pay to take a peek at it!

Lots of restaurants will offer something like a $2 to $3 discount, a free single entrée item, or even a dozen glazed doughnuts just for taking a customer survey!

5. Sign up for Email Lists

Pick three or four of your favorite restaurants and sign up for email alerts.

You’ll have to sort through some duds, but every now and then you’ll score a deal like 15% off your entire meal or a free appetizer or dessert.

If your inbox starts to overflow, just create a separate account and let those promos pile up.

If you’re a first-time customer to a specific store, make sure you sign up for their email list.

First-time customer’s usually get a pretty significant discount.

Relevant Articles:

6. Redeem Your Loyalty Points

You’ve probably signed up for more rewards programs than you can count. Each time you scan a rewards card or type in your phone number, you’re racking up those points. But are you actually remembering to redeem them? Use them before you lose them!

Nowadays, almost every place you shop at has a rewards program, so make sure you sign up and start taking advantage of the savings. You could earn a few bucks off an upcoming purchase or even free chips and queso at your favorite Mexican restaurant.

Keep an eye out for stores that offer discounts or reward points for gasoline too. Kroger, Sam’s Club and Costco all offer discounts on gas for your car. Fill’er up!

7. Ask About Car Insurance Discounts

Who doesn’t want to save money on car insurance each month? There are plenty of ways you can save just by asking your car insurance company. They might offer a discount if you’re over a certain age, have a good driving record, or even if you’re married.

Tips on how to negotiate discounts here.

Cash surveys

8. Pick up in Store to Save on Shipping

Nothing sours an online sale or discount like getting hit with a hefty shipping cost.

Baymard Institute found that 60% of online shoppers abandon their online shopping cart because the shipping is too high.(2)

If your retailer offers a “pick up in store” option, go for it! Sure, it’ll cost you some gasoline to get there and back, but you’ll be saving that needless shipping cost!

9. Check for Employee Discounts

Check with your employer to see if they offer a discount on a specific cell phone provider, or reimbursement for getting your fitness on.

If so, find out what you need to do to take advantage of this awesome benefit.

Plenty of companies offer their employees a break with these kinds of group incentives. It never hurts to ask—especially if you end up saving a little extra dough.

Of course, these aren’t the only ways to land a discount. Keep your eyes peeled for other discounts you might be overlooking. And remember, if you’re trying to trim your budget or get your savings to grow faster, every little bit helps!

10 Best Deals From Outlet Mall Shopping

September 5, 2018 by Frugal Prof

10 Best Deals From Outlet Mall Shopping

1. Make sure it’s a good deal.

Outlet malls aren’t just for items that didn’t sell at the retail store. Some offer seconds or B-grade goods, and many retailers stock items that are only made for their outlets, sometimes with noticeable differences in quality from what you’d find at the mall.

In the past, outlet Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th has acknowledged that only 12 percent of its merchandise comes from Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

Another report from a couple of years ago found that only 20 percent of what Nordstrom Rack sells is clearance merchandise from Nordstrom stores and its website. The rest is bought expressly for the outlet.

It’s possible the outlet version of an item is cheaply made and won’t last as long as what you’d buy from the regular store, so factor in quality as well as price.

On the other hand, some differences might be insignificant, and the savings might outweigh them.

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2. Compare prices beforehand

Retailers know you’re looking for savings at outlet stores, and many try to make these discounts seem as deep as possible. You may see signs at the outlet store suggesting prices are 65 percent off, but those only apply to the sorts of things that haven’t sold despite repeated markdowns.

If you want to know what you’re really saving, check the retailer’s website and compare prices. You may be surprised to find outlet discounts aren’t as big as they claim.

Outlet Deals

3. Join online outlet VIP clubs

Simon, a major retail property group, has at least 75 “Premium Outlets” across the U.S. and Puerto Rico in its property portfolio. Tanger, another major outlet manager, boasts of 43 outlet malls across the U.S. and Canada.

They offer exclusive promotions when you become a member of their clubs.

With Premium Outlets’ free VIP Shopper Club, you’ll receive online and printable coupons and notifications of deals.

Tanger charges a one-time $10 fee to join TangerClub, but you receive coupons, and earn gift cards and other rewards at various “spend levels.”

4. Get the best deals off-season

Shop for your winter clothing in the summer and for summer items in winter to bring outlet prices down even further.

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5. Time your shopping trip

Outlets can be very busy, so you’ll do best at avoiding both congestion and picked-over shelves by shopping at off-peak times. Experts suggest stopping in on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Shop early in the day. If you’re not a morning person, avoid the early afternoon and wait until dinnertime.

6. Check retail stores before outlets

Try shopping during sales or with coupons at the local mall, where you might find the prices to be comparable but the quality better. Don’t forget to look at clearance items both in the store and online.

7. Check with outlet centers for coupons and circulars

Coupons and other discounts can make outlet shopping an even better deal. Call or go online to see if any coupons or circulars offer additional savings. Seniors and military discounts might also be available.

Learn How I save 40% on Groceries here

8. Watch the return policy

Unless you don’t mind driving back to the outlet mall, check the return policy before loading up on discounted goods. Many regular stores don’t take returns from outlet locations.

9. Ask outlet staff

If you have questions about the quality of outlet items, don’t be afraid to ask store staff. Some employees may tell you whether they’re made for the outlet or provide other valuable information.

10. Don’t be afraid to walk away

Don’t see anything you like? Don’t be afraid to leave empty-handed.

Outlet malls are typically placed in far-away locations. Not only is this real estate cheaper, but shoppers might also look at outlet shopping as investing in a full-day trip. With the expenses of gas, time and energy, shoppers might feel they need to justify the sunk costs and end up spending more than they would otherwise.

Ignore the impulse to spend more just to make the trip feel worthwhile. Shelling out more money for unneeded stuff won’t make you feel better, no matter how much you spend on gas.

Part time jobs for Stay at Home Moms

September 5, 2018 by Frugal Prof

Part Time jobs for Stay at Home Moms

Thanks to technology and a growing number of remote job opportunities, being a stay-at-home parent no longer means you have to put an end to your career and money-making goals.

Want to pay the bills, earn some extra cash, or save for retirement? These flexible jobs may be just the opportunity you’ve been searching for.

Disclaimer; I believe in transparency and want to disclose that I’ve included certain products and links to those products that I will earn an affiliate commission for any purchases you make. The reader pays nothing.

There are plenty of part-time, work-from-home job openings right now, all of which are perfect for parents who want to stay at home to raise their children. Covering a variety of industries including education, business, healthcare, and more, these positions allow moms and dads to make money without giving up 40 or more hours of their schedule every week—all from the comfort of their home.

What’s more, you can expect to see even more part-time telecommuting jobs listed in the coming years. “Right now, about 20 percent of all workers work part-time in the U.S. and by 2020, that figure is expected to rise to 40 percent,” Brie Reynolds, the senior career specialist at Remote.co

“Remote jobs are also growing, we’ve experienced a 52 percent increase in remote listings in the last two years.”

1. Certified Closing Agent

Benefits:

You Earn Extra Income,
Set your Own Hours
The Income is Exceptional.

•You can make $75 to $200 in a single signing, and a signing takes about an hour. Total work time including preparing and driving to the signing is about an hour and a half to two hours when you’re starting out.

And a lot less as you become more experienced.

Part time loan signing agents generally do one to three signings per week – about $300 to $500 dollars extra a week and full time agents can do 3-8 signings in a day which is about $400 to over $1,000 dollars in a day.
You can start part-time and work around your existing work schedule.
You can get started with absolutely zero experience.
You can work from home and be your own boss.
You have the ability to make money almost immediately.
What is required: In order to earn 9X more than an Uber driver, you need to invest your time and money to become a loan signing agent. Pretty straight forward.
But, the truth is that 95% of people want to make $100 an hour, but won’t invest their time and money to make it happen.
Learn More about the Loan Signing System here.

2. Travel Agent at AAA Club Alliance

AAA has come a long way from fixing tires. Over the years, the organization has consistently added products like auto and home insurance and travel packages.

AAA Club Alliance is now hiring travel agents to work with its New Jersey call center. This work-from-home job allows candidates to reside “anywhere in our footprint,” which includes all or parts of New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Florida, Missouri, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon and California.

But note: Since those hired must attend a five- to eight-week training program in Hamilton, New Jersey, location could be an issue.

The gig pays $17 an hour and features some solid benefits, including nearly four weeks of paid vacation accrued over the first year, travel discounts and tuition reimbursement. And — wait for it — all calls are incoming, so you won’t have to cold call.

Travel Agent at AAA Club Alliance

Pay: $17/hr

Responsibilities include:
Assisting customers with various AAA travel product questions
Fielding all calls for the retail offices when their lines are full
Meeting sales quotas for preferred airlines and vendors
Staying in the loop on internet travel sales trends and tools to book travel
Operating airline reservation and booking systems
Applicants for this position must have:
A high school diploma
A flexible schedule within a 24/7 operation (overtime may be required during peak periods)
Demonstrated sales and customer support knowledge
Travel school accreditation with 18 months experience preferred

Benefits include:

401(k) with 7% match
About four weeks paid time off in the first year (plus paid holidays)
Medical, dental and vision insurance
Tuition reimbursement and paid training
Travel discounts
Complimentary AAA Premier membership

Apply here for the Travel Agent position at AAA Club Alliance.

3. Hilton, Remote Reservation Sales

Part-time job answering back-to-back calls for worldwide reservations. Open nights, weekends and holidays; flexible schedule required. (Glassdoor salary estimate: $10/hr)

This isn’t likely to be the job that gets you rich. At an estimated $10 an hour, and on a part-time schedule, you probably wouldn’t even hit the $21,000 annual salary you’ll find estimated on Glassdoor. But, if you needed part-time, work-from-home work at an entry level, it could make sense.

Inbox Dollars

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

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

InboxDollars earn cash with the official InboxDollars mobile app.

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

– Searching the web

– Reading email

– Taking surveys

– Downloading apps

– Purchasing Groupons

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4. Hertz, ExpressRent Sales Specialist

Fast-paced, sales driven, inbound call center position performed through a videolink system. Full-time position, with with possible shifts 8 am-8 pm EST, 7 days a week. Bonuses available. (Salary estimate from GlassDoor, $11/hr)

The estimated hourly rate isn’t much higher, but the fact that this is a full-time position obviously increases potential annual earnings.

5. Westat, Field Recruiter

Seeking individuals in FL to act as field recruiters for individuals to participate in a Social Security Administration study. Requires local travel. (Salary estimate from Glassdoor, $15/hr)

The estimated potential salary seems about the same as the previous job, but given the local travel requirement, you should be able to either get reimbursed for mileage or take a tax deduction. Do that right and you should come out ahead.

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