I have stumbled upon CashCrate. This site is a free site that pays you to complete surveys or "offers." You don't have to pay anything and you make anywhere from $.20 to $1.50 (some are more, but require you to sign up for a service and then cancel during the trial period). There are also daily surveys for $.80 that you can take, and if you get referrals, you make 20% off of them and 10% off of their referrals. (So if you sign up, please link to the site using the links on my webpage!)
The basic premise is that companies need consumers to try and review products, services, and websites and are willing to pay money to have them do so. So, if you access the site via CashCrate, they will give you the compensation.
Some of the surveys and offers take a while, so it's not really an alternative to a full-time job, but if you are bored at the computer and want to make a little extra money, it's a way to earn a little extra. My personal goal is to make about $5 per day, so I will get about $150 extra per month.
To get paid, you have to make $10 and then they will send you a check on the 20th of the following month. I just started, so I haven't gotten my first check yet, but I'll let you know when I do and I have visited some other blogs and seen scanned copies of the checks, so I'm pretty sure it's legit.
My only other tip for you is to set up a separate e-mail account, because you must provide valid information on the surveys and you will get lots of "junk" e-mail. It's not technically SPAM because you are giving them consent to e-mail you. Just confirm the sites that require confirmation and delete the rest of the junk e-mails.
So, help me out on referrals and give it a try yourself. Starting with my August monthly summary, I'll let you know how much money I make each month and I'll keep a running total in my sidebar.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
July 2008
July 29th, my husband lost his job, so things are going to get sticky for a bit. Thankfully, we have a budget and have for 18 months been living without using credit cards. Here is the summary for how we did financially in July:
Current Balances
1) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $7,401.00 - 18.99% - $193 min payment
2) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $8,683.25 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
3) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $20,865.98 - 16.24% - $504 min payment
4) National City (Home Equity) - $24,103.75 - 5.50% - $109.21 (interest only payment)
TOTAL DEBT = $61,053.98
Reduction this month = $1,002.09
TOTAL REDUCTION = $22,610.79
Savings
Savings Balance = $4,063.77
Changes this month = ($88.53)
+46.10 to Emergency Fund
-60.00 for Quarterly Water Bill
-283.47 for Brakes for Eric's Car
+50.00 to GWO Fund
+150.00 to new Furniture Fund
+8.84 to Moving Fund
Current Balances
1) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $7,401.00 - 18.99% - $193 min payment
2) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $8,683.25 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
3) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $20,865.98 - 16.24% - $504 min payment
4) National City (Home Equity) - $24,103.75 - 5.50% - $109.21 (interest only payment)
TOTAL DEBT = $61,053.98
Reduction this month = $1,002.09
TOTAL REDUCTION = $22,610.79
Savings
Savings Balance = $4,063.77
Changes this month = ($88.53)
+46.10 to Emergency Fund
-60.00 for Quarterly Water Bill
-283.47 for Brakes for Eric's Car
+50.00 to GWO Fund
+150.00 to new Furniture Fund
+8.84 to Moving Fund
June 2008
It took a while, because we took a little break on the snowball to buy baby stuff (nothing charged!), but finally in June we were able to pay off the carpet. As a result, July statement balances were:
1) Kohl's Card - PAID OFF
2) Nelnet (Jen's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
3) HH Gregg (Refrigerator) - PAID OFF
4) Nelnet (Eric's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
5) Toyota Financial (Jen's Car) - PAID OFF
6) Rite Rug (Carpet) - PAID OFF
7) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $7,469.79 - 19.24% - $189 min payment
8) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $9,434.51 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
9) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $21,048.02 - 16.24% - $481 min payment
10) National City (Home Equity) - $24,103.75 - 5.5% - $109.21 (interest only payment)
TOTAL DEBT = $62,056.07 TOTAL PAYMENTS = $1,179.17 TOTAL REDUCTION = $21,608.70
1) Kohl's Card - PAID OFF
2) Nelnet (Jen's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
3) HH Gregg (Refrigerator) - PAID OFF
4) Nelnet (Eric's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
5) Toyota Financial (Jen's Car) - PAID OFF
6) Rite Rug (Carpet) - PAID OFF
7) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $7,469.79 - 19.24% - $189 min payment
8) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $9,434.51 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
9) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $21,048.02 - 16.24% - $481 min payment
10) National City (Home Equity) - $24,103.75 - 5.5% - $109.21 (interest only payment)
TOTAL DEBT = $62,056.07 TOTAL PAYMENTS = $1,179.17 TOTAL REDUCTION = $21,608.70
January 2008
Starting June 2007 we put our house on the market. One thing it needed was some new carpet in one of the upstairs bedrooms where the cat's litter box resided. Also, we were expecting baby #2 and needed to set up the nursery and a big girl bedroom for Grace. We decided in January (when we were letting our MLS reset) to paint and recarpet the upstairs hallway, Grace's new room, and the stairway. Because we didn't want to wait on our tax return, we did a 0% interest loan for the carpet and added $598.89 to the debt. As a result our February statement balances were:
1) Kohl's Card - PAID OFF
2) Nelnet (Jen's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
3) HH Gregg (Refrigerator) - PAID OFF
4) Nelnet (Eric's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
5) Toyota Financial (Jen's Car) - PAID OFF
6) Rite Rug (Carpet) - $598.89 - 0% (12 mo.) - $0 min payment
7) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $7,879.11 - 21.49% - $226 min payment
8) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $11,199.66 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
9) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $21,990.30 - 18.24% - $582 min payment
10) National City (Home Equity) - $24,148.58 - 7.75% - $154.04 (interest only payment)
TOTAL DEBT = $65,816.54 TOTAL PAYMENTS = $1,362.00 TOTAL REDUCTION = $17,848.23
1) Kohl's Card - PAID OFF
2) Nelnet (Jen's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
3) HH Gregg (Refrigerator) - PAID OFF
4) Nelnet (Eric's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
5) Toyota Financial (Jen's Car) - PAID OFF
6) Rite Rug (Carpet) - $598.89 - 0% (12 mo.) - $0 min payment
7) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $7,879.11 - 21.49% - $226 min payment
8) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $11,199.66 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
9) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $21,990.30 - 18.24% - $582 min payment
10) National City (Home Equity) - $24,148.58 - 7.75% - $154.04 (interest only payment)
TOTAL DEBT = $65,816.54 TOTAL PAYMENTS = $1,362.00 TOTAL REDUCTION = $17,848.23
October 2007
This month I was finally able to pay off another one. On October 18th I mailed the final payment on Eric's student loan. New balances on the November statements were:
1) Kohl's Card - PAID OFF
2) Nelnet (Jen's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
3) HH Gregg (Refrigerator) - PAID OFF
4) Nelnet (Eric's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
5) Toyota Financial (Jen's Car) - PAID OFF
6) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $9,009.40 - 22.24% - $260 min payment
7) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $12,195.07 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
8) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $22,660.54 - 18.74% - $599 min payment
9) National City (Home Equity) - $24,158.59 - 8.25% - $164.05 (interest only payment)
TOTAL DEBT = $68,023.60 TOTAL PAYMENTS = $1,423.01 TOTAL REDUCTION = $15,641.17
1) Kohl's Card - PAID OFF
2) Nelnet (Jen's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
3) HH Gregg (Refrigerator) - PAID OFF
4) Nelnet (Eric's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
5) Toyota Financial (Jen's Car) - PAID OFF
6) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $9,009.40 - 22.24% - $260 min payment
7) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $12,195.07 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
8) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $22,660.54 - 18.74% - $599 min payment
9) National City (Home Equity) - $24,158.59 - 8.25% - $164.05 (interest only payment)
TOTAL DEBT = $68,023.60 TOTAL PAYMENTS = $1,423.01 TOTAL REDUCTION = $15,641.17
May 2007
This month I paid off my Kohl's card. The last of the balances under $1,000. The new balances as of my June statement were:
1) Kohl's Card - PAID OFF
2) Nelnet (Jen's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
3) HH Gregg (Refrigerator) - PAID OFF
4) Nelnet (Eric's Student Loan) - $1,918.86 - 5.14% - $51.92 min payment
5) Toyota Financial (Jen's Car) - PAID OFF
6) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $9,469.76.93 - 22.24% - $273 min payment
7) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $13,843.50 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
8) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $23,824.09 - 19.24% - $628 min payment
9) National City (Home Equity) - $24,118.37 - 8.75% - $173.83 (interest only payment)
TOTAL DEBT = $73,174.58 TOTAL PAYMENTS = $1,526.71 TOTAL REDUCTION = $10,490.19
1) Kohl's Card - PAID OFF
2) Nelnet (Jen's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
3) HH Gregg (Refrigerator) - PAID OFF
4) Nelnet (Eric's Student Loan) - $1,918.86 - 5.14% - $51.92 min payment
5) Toyota Financial (Jen's Car) - PAID OFF
6) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $9,469.76.93 - 22.24% - $273 min payment
7) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $13,843.50 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
8) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $23,824.09 - 19.24% - $628 min payment
9) National City (Home Equity) - $24,118.37 - 8.75% - $173.83 (interest only payment)
TOTAL DEBT = $73,174.58 TOTAL PAYMENTS = $1,526.71 TOTAL REDUCTION = $10,490.19
April 2007
This month I paid off my HH Gregg Card because I wanted to be sure it was paid off before my 0% interest period expired and my student loan because it had a bigger minimum payment than the Kohl's card. The new balances on the May statements were:
1) Kohl's Card - $145.67 - 21.9% - $10 min payment
2) Nelnet (Jen's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
3) HH Gregg (Refrigerator) - PAID OFF
4) Nelnet (Eric's Student Loan) - $2,431.15 - 5.14% - $51.92 min payment
5) Toyota Financial (Jen's Car) - PAID OFF
6) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $9,553.93 - 22.24% - $265 min payment
7) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $14,166.77 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
8) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $24,038.09 - 19.24% - $608 min payment
9) National City (Home Equity) - $24,118.37 - 8.75% - $173.83 (interest only payment)
TOTAL DEBT = $74,453.98 TOTAL PAYMENTS = $1,508.71 TOTAL REDUCTION = $9,210.79
1) Kohl's Card - $145.67 - 21.9% - $10 min payment
2) Nelnet (Jen's Student Loan) - PAID OFF
3) HH Gregg (Refrigerator) - PAID OFF
4) Nelnet (Eric's Student Loan) - $2,431.15 - 5.14% - $51.92 min payment
5) Toyota Financial (Jen's Car) - PAID OFF
6) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $9,553.93 - 22.24% - $265 min payment
7) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $14,166.77 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
8) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $24,038.09 - 19.24% - $608 min payment
9) National City (Home Equity) - $24,118.37 - 8.75% - $173.83 (interest only payment)
TOTAL DEBT = $74,453.98 TOTAL PAYMENTS = $1,508.71 TOTAL REDUCTION = $9,210.79
March 2007
Just after making our budget, I got my tax return and decided to pay off my car payment to free up my payment to use on other balances (per the snowball). Here were my new balances based on the April 2007 statements.
1) Kohl's Card - $150.69 - 21.9% - $10 min payment
2) Nelnet (Jen's Student Loan) - $284.63 - 5.14% - $50 min payment
3) HH Gregg (Refrigerator) - $601.37 - 0% (if paid before June) - $18 min payment
4) Nelnet (Eric's Student Loan) - $2,460.07 - 5.14% - $51,92 min payment
5) Toyota Financial (Jen's Car) - PAID OFF
6) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $9,667.68 - 22.24% - $285 min payment
7) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $14,488.46 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
8) National City (Home Equity) - $24,118.37 - 8.75% - $173.83 (interest only payment)
9) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $24,305.81 - 19.24% - $640 min payment
TOTAL DEBT = $76,077.08 TOTAL PAYMENTS = $1,628.71 TOTAL REDUCTION = $7,587.69
1) Kohl's Card - $150.69 - 21.9% - $10 min payment
2) Nelnet (Jen's Student Loan) - $284.63 - 5.14% - $50 min payment
3) HH Gregg (Refrigerator) - $601.37 - 0% (if paid before June) - $18 min payment
4) Nelnet (Eric's Student Loan) - $2,460.07 - 5.14% - $51,92 min payment
5) Toyota Financial (Jen's Car) - PAID OFF
6) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $9,667.68 - 22.24% - $285 min payment
7) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $14,488.46 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
8) National City (Home Equity) - $24,118.37 - 8.75% - $173.83 (interest only payment)
9) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $24,305.81 - 19.24% - $640 min payment
TOTAL DEBT = $76,077.08 TOTAL PAYMENTS = $1,628.71 TOTAL REDUCTION = $7,587.69
February 2007
The timing couldn't have been more perfect. My church had been putting on some seminars called "Financial Peace University" that I thought would have been great to go to, but they were always on an evening that I had class. (I'm taking night classes at a community college in order to get my pre-requisites for med school that I hope to begin in the fall of 2010). Then during one of my GWO (Girls Weekend Out), my friend Heather told us all about Dave Ramsey. She told me to cut up all my credit cards, set a budget and about the "Debt Snowball" theory to pay off your debts. Now, getting rid of the credit card sounded a bit much, but I was willing to see what Mr. Ramsey had to say, so I bought and read his book, "The Total Money Makeover." I was inspired and so, in mid-February, in agreement with my husband, we cut up our credit cards (in a tearful ceremony).
We also set a budget, decided which items were important to save for (i.e. Christmas and my tuition) and started our debt snowball. Below are our starting balances. Again, this is my personal journey to eliminate my debt, so please don't judge the amount. We never pay late and have good credit, but we'd like to have this money available for things other than credit card payments.
From Smallest to Largest
1) Kohl's Card - $160.27 - 21.9% - $10 min payment
2) Nelnet (Jen's Student Loan) - $330.85 - 5.14% - $0 min payment (deferred)
3) HH Gregg (Refrigerator) - $970.48 - 0% (if paid before June) - $29 min payment
4) Nelnet (Eric's Student Loan) - $2,546.15 - 5.14% - $51,92 min payment
5) Toyota Financial (Jen's Car) - $5,411.50 - 2.9% - $318.07 min payment
6) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $9,741.65 - 22.24% - $283 min payment
7) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $15,545.53 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
8) National City (Home Equity) - $24,118.37 - 8.75% - $173.83 (interest only payment)
9) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $24,839.97 - 19.24% - $695 min payment
TOTAL DEBT = $83,664.77 TOTAL PAYMENTS = $1,960.78
We also set a budget, decided which items were important to save for (i.e. Christmas and my tuition) and started our debt snowball. Below are our starting balances. Again, this is my personal journey to eliminate my debt, so please don't judge the amount. We never pay late and have good credit, but we'd like to have this money available for things other than credit card payments.
From Smallest to Largest
1) Kohl's Card - $160.27 - 21.9% - $10 min payment
2) Nelnet (Jen's Student Loan) - $330.85 - 5.14% - $0 min payment (deferred)
3) HH Gregg (Refrigerator) - $970.48 - 0% (if paid before June) - $29 min payment
4) Nelnet (Eric's Student Loan) - $2,546.15 - 5.14% - $51,92 min payment
5) Toyota Financial (Jen's Car) - $5,411.50 - 2.9% - $318.07 min payment
6) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $9,741.65 - 22.24% - $283 min payment
7) Firstmerit Bank (Eric's Car) - $15,545.53 - 6.5% - $399.96 min payment
8) National City (Home Equity) - $24,118.37 - 8.75% - $173.83 (interest only payment)
9) Bank of America (Credit Card) - $24,839.97 - 19.24% - $695 min payment
TOTAL DEBT = $83,664.77 TOTAL PAYMENTS = $1,960.78
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Starting Out
I'm starting this blog to track my (our families) progress in becoming debt free. We actually started working towards our goal in mid-February 2007, but I'm just starting the blog now. I'm going to do some posts about key dates between the start and now. Then I'll update each month regarding how much debt we've reduced, how much money I've made on CashCrate, how much we've saved and any goals for next month.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
