Posted by Joseph Edwards
It is absolutely no secret that Americans are currently hurting at the gas pump with the recent national average topping $3.76/gallon. The average American family spent $4,155 in 2011, or roughly $350 per month, to fill the gas tank. This means that the average American household spent a whopping 8 percent of its income just on gas. American families are stressed enough as is with food prices skyrocketing. As we face a challenging economic climate with the potential for layoffs looming, it is important to find creative ways to make and save money.
Did you know by just opening up your laptop and writing for one hour a day, you can make enough money to roughly offset your monthly expenditures on gas? Of course, where you live in the country and how often you drive will determine how much you spend on gas each month. However, in any case, writing for just one hour a day can help you relieve some stress and save money on gas. Let’s examine three online freelancing platforms you can use to make money writing online.
Textbroker
Textbroker is a well-established online freelancing platform that is very easy to use. In order to receive approval to write on Textbroker, you will have to submit a writing sample based on a topic that will be provided to you. If you have any real writing skills, it should not be difficult for you to earn 4-star status. As a 4-star writer, you will earn 1.4 cents per word. If you happen to reach 5-star status by submitting a very strong sample or if you complete impeccable work for a period of time, you can earn 5.0 cents per word. You can choose to write on any topic you are passionate about. Textbroker will pay you via Paypal for your work once it has been approved. While Textbroker may not pay as much as other writing platforms online, it does guarantee payment and it is an excellent source to just get started writing online.
Elance & oDesk
Elance and oDesk are two highly regarded freelancing platforms you can use to make money writing online. After signing up on both platforms, you can bid on the several hundreds of writing opportunities that are available. You can complete writing assignments on a fixed price basis or bill by the hour for your work. You will notice that many of the assignments posted do not pay nearly enough for the work required. You will really need to sort through the listings to find assignments that provide you adequate compensation for your work. You can easily build a portfolio showcasing your writing samples. The best way to transfer money you have earned on Elance or oDesk is via free direct deposit to your bank account.
The key to enjoy the process of making money writing online is to find topics you are passionate about. After a challenging day at work, writing on topics you are genuinely interested in will certainly help boost your mood. As icing on the cake, you can easily offset your monthly expenditures on gas by writing for just one hour a day.
Joseph Edwards is a freelance contributor for www.KeyInsuranceQuotes.com Joseph loves writing online on topics he is passionate about after a stressful day at work.
Posted by Money Tips Staff
How to Get an Instant Loan with Bad Credit
Payday loans or instant cash loans are funds borrowed from a certain lender, which shall then be repaid on your next paycheck. Perhaps we no longer need to explain why people turn to the idea of instant cash loans. We all know for a fact that money isn’t easy nowadays, and given the situation where you need some extra amount of cash for whatever reasons, instant cash loans are definitely the most practical way to get the money that you need.
Payday loans are ideal for short-term loans, often for emergency purposes, and should not be considered as a regular lending source as its interest rates are considerably higher than the traditional loans that your bank offers. On the other hand, the interest rates may vary from one lender to another, and as to how much credit you’re applying for.
What’s obviously good about a payday loan is that it’s instant and anyone who is currently employed can apply for it. There’s no need for your home equity or whatever collateral for that matter, all you need is a paycheck guaranteed to pay off your instant cash loan. In addition, people with bad credit still have a high chance to get approved for an instant cash loan. How is this possible? Lenders for instant cash loans aren’t likely to conduct a credit check on their applicants. For as long as they can verify the information you gave to them such as your address, bank and employment details, you’re most likely to get approved for a payday loan.
Perhaps one of the fastest way to apply for payday loans with bad credit is through the internet. Most instant cash loan lenders do have a small office, or they operate entirely online. Online lenders will just require you to send them a copy of the documents they requested, usually your last paycheck stub and bank statement through fax or email. Once your application has been approved (normally within the same day that you applied), your bank account will then be credited with your loan amount.
Payday loans instant cash are becoming very popular these days as they offer a more convenient and flexible way to get an instant cash loan. It’s basically instant cash for everyone – regardless whether you have a bad credit or not.
is a freelance financial writer who blogs for cashloans.org.uk where you can get immediate cash loans.
Posted by Money Tips Staff
Whether you’re a student looking to plan a summer break after the stresses of finals, you’re a working parent trying to take the whole family on the vacation of a lifetime, or you’re a retiree on a fixed budget looking to cross some items off the bucket list, you may find that international travel is simply outside of your price range. But don’t let the high price of airfare and lodgings hold you back. There are tons of ways to cut costs in order to arrange the incredible trip you crave at a cost you can afford. Here are just a few options that will get you to the sun-drenched shore or bustling international hub you’ve been dying to visit while still managing to stick to your limited budget.
- Pack light. It might not seem like a big savings to take only carry-on luggage, but with nearly every airline now charging extra for this basic service, you can definitely cut costs by finding ways to cart only a small bag. Even a lone traveler will likely pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $50-$100 round trip for each checked bag; and if you’re traveling with family members that number could quickly become several hundred dollars.
- Get insurance. Okay, so this falls into the category of added expenses. But if you happen to need it because you missed a flight, you’ve gotten yourself in some legal trouble, or you find yourself in a foreign hospital (that your medical insurance won’t typically cover) you’ll be glad you paid a little up front to save a lot in the long run.
- Seek out family and friends. Many of us have extended family or old friends living overseas. While you might feel strange about contacting people that you’ve never met or that you haven’t seen in years, the potential to save on lodgings is undeniable. And in many cases these people will be happy to host you. Extended family may be keen to meet you for the first time and your old friends will likely relish the chance to catch up and reminisce. Of course, it’s probably in your best interest to offer them the same courtesy should they care to visit you in the future.
- Try a cruise. All-inclusive travel is a great way to save money (since lodgings, meals, and some activities are included in the up-front costs). And if you don’t like the idea of spending several days on a ship, there are resorts and clubs across the globe that specialize in all-inclusive vacations. The only problem here is that you’ll generally be on your own for the airfare required to reach your destination, but occasionally you can find rebates on plane tickets if you sign up for multi-night stays.
- Look for package deals. There’s no denying that tours to Australia, trips to Brazil, and vacays in the Caymans can be pretty pricy. But many travel agencies and hotel chains offers special deals that include the cost of airfare, lodgings, transportation, and in some cases even meals during your stay. Many require you to book in advance and commit to several nights, but considering how much you can save by going this route, you could just get your dream vacation at a cost that is commensurate with your tight budget.