With the current circumstances with the economy there is no surprise that people are trying to make money in every way including scammers. Understand that scammers are present whether the economy is good or bad but schemes tend to be higher due to the current situation of the economy. Work at home jobs might look very persuasive for a person in desperate need of money but don’t let the need of money cloud your judgment in seeing what is in front of you. Learn about 6 telling signs that will be of assistance to you to not becoming the next victim of a get rich quick scheme.

Too Good to Be True- Most people have heard of the saying ‘if it looks too good to be true, it probably is’; in this case this saying is often accurate. If the company is offering a job which pays thousands a day, a week or month to perform a job online than you should take a vigilant look into it before jumping in. Keep in mind that if these types of jobs were possible unemployment rate across the country won’t be so elevated. If it is possible to make this much money than the job duties being described is almost certainly much more complicated.

Too Much Personal Information Needed- This is where your judgment and natural instinct will be critical. When company is asking for things like a birth certificate, business credit cards information, personal banking accounts, social security number and copy of your driver’s license than they are probably trying to steal your identity. Submitting a W9 form is acceptable but anything beyond this you should skeptical. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Asking For Money- What previous employment have you had where the business ask for you to pay any sort of money upfront? This should stand out as being very suspicious. Any legitimate business hiring almost never ask for any kind of payment. This is the foundation of the pyrmaid scheme, so if yous ee this, just keep your credit cards in your pocket, and don’t think about paying to sign up for a job.

Little To No Information About the ‘Company’- Search engines can be someone’s best friend especially trying to seek out the difference between legitimate work at home jobs and the schemes. The search engine can be to your advantage leverage in this battle so utilize it. A well established and proven business will have information about their business not including ‘their’ website. There are tons of forums based around work at home jobs and usually no rock is left unturned. In this current economy a work at home job that is legitimate will usually be well spoken of especially online and within news media outlets. If you are researching the company and little to no information is coming up than start looking the other way.

Bad Reviews- Another advantage on your side would be review websites. You might have done research online and noticed that the company has been in business for a few years or more but that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear just yet. A company that has been in the business for years; who claims to pay you good money to work at home but has majority of horrible reviews then this is another sign of a scheme. Also check for the business at the Better Business Bureau website.

Flashy Websites- The business website should be very clean and presentable wise. You would steer clear from websites that shows piles of money, fancy cars and big houses. They use these types of images to create a dream image your mind. These images are not needed by legitimate companies since they don’t need to convince or draw people in comparison to businesses quick rich schemes which are based on dreams.

You can prevent yourself from being the next victim by just following the 6 signs above, having common sense and using your natural inner feelings. The main reason some of these scams work is because of desperation. Don’t let the desperation cloud your judgment in recognizing a get rich quick scheme.

Thanks for your patience, BudgetPulse will be up and running shortly.

Craig

Thanks for your patience, BudgetPulse will be up and running shortly.

Craig

This guest post is contributed by Lauren Bailey, who writes on the topics of online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: blauren99 @gmail.com.

To budget carefully is to really think about each item on which you are spending money. As a reader of BudgetPulse, you probably are serious about allocating money for specific expenditures, cutting out unnecessary items, etc. I myself am always looking for new ways to cut back on spending. One thing that occurred to me recently was that I spend quite a bit of money on items that you can just as easily acquire for free. Here a few things that we shouldn’t be having to pay for if we’re smart about it:

1. Books.

Some people have shoe shopping addictions, and still others have a compulsive need to get the latest electronic gadget as soon as it comes out. My personal waterloo was books. Even though I wouldn’t finish what I bought, I’d go out to the store and buy some more. While it was nice to amass a large collection of books, it was certainly expensive. If you let go of this idea of collecting things, you’ll find that books can be had completely free at your local library. Skip the expensive retail booksellers and get a library card.

2. Movies.

I used to be pretty old-fashioned when it came to purchasing films. Whether I was renting or buying, it added up to quite a bit of money. Then my children informed me of the wonderful capabilities of the Internet. Although NetFlix is a great, cheap option as well, if you do a little searching, you can find almost any movie through torrent sites or you can find streaming sites as well. Invest in a computer-TV adapter if you would rather watch a movie on your big screen.

3. Sunday afternoon entertainment.

If you find that you’re bored on a quiet day, skip out on the brunch appointments or happy hours, which can be quite the money-drainers. Instead, check out what museums or parks are in your area. They’re fun, family-and date-friendly, and, best of all–they’re often either super cheap or completely free.

4. Bottled Water

I used to be pretty picky about what kind of water I would drink. However, I soon realized that purchasing bottled water can really put a strain on your pocketbook, while the added benefits–health or taste-wise–are really rather negligible. Get a good filter and enjoy the fruits of free water.

5. Internet

Okay, so this one may be a bit of a stretch, because the fact of the matter is that, in our increasingly hyper-connected world, we may need Internet access at all times wherever we go, in which case, you’ll have to pay. However, if work or school doesn’t require you to be online at all times, then consider nixing that expensive wireless connection at home. Almost everywhere now has several free Wi-Fi spots, and if you look, you may just have to occasionally purchase a coffee to enjoy Internet access without the monthly bills.

While each one of these items may be worth paying for if you have a high set of personal preferences, if you are, on the contrary, not that picky, then you could stand to save a lot of money by getting what you want for free. I did, and it’s made a huge difference.

Listed here are five frugal exercise ideas to help you save and keep fit. We live in a world where nearly everyone says they want to be fit but many lack the discipline and determination to actually do it. Part of the issue that a lot of us have is the cost that is often associated with staying in shape. The cost to have a membership to health club is usually one of the first things to get knocked out of an already tight budget. If you are on a budget you can also say goodbye to any of those home food delivery services. While they promise you diet friendly meals they come at an incredibly high price that almost no one can truly afford. Before you throw in the proverbial towel and resign yourself to a life of butter thighs and flabby arms let’s consider some of the ways that you can be fit and healthy without spending a fortune.

It is entirely possible to get plenty of exercise and eat well without breaking your budget, people have been doing it for years. Do not let yourself be fooled by the media and your peers into thinking that the only way to be healthy is to spend your entire paycheck on it. My great grandfather lived to be 101 years old and never once set foot in a health club. He never bought a single protein bar or meal replacement shake either. His health plan wasn’t really a plan at all, just a common sense approach to life that served him well for a century. Like him you can live by these five frugal exercise ideas to help you save and keep fit.

Five Frugal Exercise Ideas To Help You Save And Keep Fit

Tip One – Go for a walk or run. The best gym in the world is located right outside your window. It costs nothing to use and has endless equipment options, none of which ever have a line. Going for a long walk each day is a great way to get some exercise in for you and your family. If you have little ones push them in the stroller or pull them in the wagon, which gives you a little extra exercise too. Pack some water and take a long walk that really counts. If it is cold outside walk laps at the mall or any other indoor facility. Once you have the walk down start running, there is no better or cheaper exercise then running. All you need is a pair of tennis shoes and you can improve your overall fitness in a few short months.

Tip Two - Explore the great outdoors. I bet that there is a website or a book that you can find in the library that will tell you all about local trails and day hikes for you and your family. Strap on a backpack and start exploring. You will get a great full body work out as you change elevation and trek for miles and get to experience the beauty of nature. Eventually you will be able to go on full day hikes or even overnight backpacking trips. A lot of trails or set up for strollers, so you will not have to leave the little ones at home. For sure you can bring the family pup and get him in shape too.

Tip Three – Eat better. This does not mean buying items that fit in with the newest diet craze or buying expensive diet products. Eating well is about balancing your diet so that it is relatively free of processed food and sugars. Instead of buying a bag of cookies buy a bag of apples. If you really want cookies, make them yourself they will be healthier and taste better. Cut back on fat by avoiding fried foods. Get protein from beans instead of meat all the time, you’ll cut  your fat intake down significantly without missing any protein.

Tip Four – Get your loved ones involved. Whether it is your spouse, your children, or your best friend staying fit is easier if you work with a team. Set goals together both for weight, endurance, and savings. See who can come up wither the best ideas or who can save the most money and get in the best shape the quickest. Almost everyone will tell you that the best way to get fit is to put a little competition into it. Even if you just get a group together to play basketball a few times a week, the extra exercise will quickly show in how you look and feel.

Tip Five – Buy previously owned equipment. If you absolutely must have a piece of exercise a equipment like a treadmill or weights to get work out with at home do not ever buy it new. You can easily find used exercise stuff for sale on websites or in the newspaper. Most of the time these items will be in almost new condition for a fraction of the price of buying new stuff. The same is true for exercise DVD’s. Do not buy them new, instead borrow them from the library or friends to make sure you like them and will actually use them before you purchase one.

It is entirely possible to follow these five frugal exercise ideas to help you save and keep fit. Do not let the number of dollars in your bank account dictate your health. It is easy to find low cost ways to eat well and stay healthy if you just take the time to do it. Remember that a hundred years ago no one went to the spinning classes or had their meals delivered in neat little 300 calorie packages. They just stayed active and ate foods that made sense. Those same simple steps that kept them fit can keep you healthy too. Figure out what you need to do to be happy and healthy at the same time. If you are able to find things that you like to do you will be much more likely to continue doing them and more likely to stay healthy over the years. Live the new mantra healthy body, healthy mind, and healthy bank account.

This article was written by personal finance writer Timothy Ng from Sydney, Australia. He is genuinely passionate about helping people compare credit cards and helping them through researching to find the best low interest credit cards.

I confess that I miss that passbook account. There was something about the teller stamping my book and watching my account balance increase that brings back fond memories. I even remember going to the bank and asking the teller to update my passbook with any interest I had earned.

My how things have changed. Today the options for a child savings account have expanded substantially, thanks in large measure to the Internet. So if you are looking to open an account for child or grandchild, here are a few factors to consider, along with my top picks for the best options.

1. Choose an online bank: While I cherish the memories of going to the local bank, the reality is that most banking in the U.S. is done online. Online banking is convenient, and it gives you instant access to your account information. As adults, our children will certainly bank online, so they might as well start early.

2. Seek a competitive interest rate: It’s important to teach children about the power of compound interest and the importance of getting a good deal. As a result, choose a high interest savings account. While the interest rate is not the only consideration, the account should offer an interest rate in the top 5% of all banks.

3. Avoid fees: There are plenty of online banks that do not charge monthly fees. Particularly for small balance accounts, it’s important to make sure the account won’t be hit with fees each month. We opened an account for our children years ago at a local bank, and they started charging the accounts a $15 monthly fee. For accounts that had just a few hundred dollars, this was totally unacceptable.

4. Be mindful of minimum balance requirements: Some banks require a minimum balance to open an account. Other banks have no minimum, but charge a monthly fee if the balance falls below a certain threshold. Unless your child’s account will have a high enough balance to avoid these fees, these banks should be avoided.

5. Consider ease of use: Not all online banks are created equal. Some are much easier to use than others. Particularly for young children, consider how easy it is to navigate the site and find the key information you need.

6. Look for flexibility: You may just want to open a savings account for your son or daughter. If that’s the case, flexibility may not be that important. For some, however, you may want to look at money market accounts, certificates of deposit, and even foreign currency accounts. If so, make sure the bank you choose offers these options.

Three Top Picks

While it’s not practical to list all possibilities, here are three top choices to consider:

Smarty Pig is an excellent choice for an online savings account for a child for several reasons. First, for accounts under $50,000, it pays the highest interest rate you can find (currently 2.15%). Second, you don’t just deposit your money, you set savings goals for the money. These savings goals provide an excellent teaching opportunity. Third, friends and family can contribute to the child’s savings goal. And finally, the concept behind the site makes saving fun, which is important for any child learning to save.

Ally Bank has several advantages going for it. First, while it’s interest rate doesn’t match Smarty Pig, it does offer some of the highest rates available from a traditional online bank. Second, it offers a wide variety of account options, including many certificates of deposit. If you are looking for more of a traditional bank, Ally is a good choice.

Finally, Discover Bank is an option that is well worth considering for one primary reason—ease of use. In addition to offering competitive rates, Discover Bank is one of the easiest sites to navigate and use.

Guest post from Dough Roller

Our post Choosing the Right 529 Savings Plan was chosen to be in the Thanksgiving Survival Edition carnival hosted by Fiscal Geek.  Check it out with all the other excellent articles that were selected.

I also had the pleasure of completing an interview for Frugal NYC about the new BudgetPulse site release and the savings goals function.  Here is the interview with Frugal NYC.

Bible Money Matters wants to push you to get going. 20 Tips to Press Onwards Towards your Financial Goals

Cash Money Life knows that dealing with terms can be difficult, especially when they are real similar. Difference Between Credit Score and Credit Report

Five Cent Nickel wants to teach you more about bonds.  What are Series I Bond

Get Rich Slowly has a guest post to help you with your fall cleaning without having to spend on new products. Creative Cleaning with Everyday Products

My Next Buck has a guest post helping you save as well.  It costs a lot of money to keep the lights on, but there are ways to cut it down. 72 Ways to Save Money on Electricity Without Paying a Cent

Couple Money wants to help you get out of credit card debt and to spend less overall. Living Off Cash, Not Credit?

Good Financial Cents wants to inform you about your retirement fund. Good to Know Rules and Limits for the Traditional IRA

Canadian Finance Blog knows how expensive heating can be as the winter slowly arrives. Top 15 Ways to Save Money on Heating

Flickr: Striatic

By Heaven Stubblefield

When I first went off to college, my mother once told me to do my grocery shopping at stores where the elderly shop.  Her reason: the elderly, who are on a fixed income like social security or a pension, are very thrifty shoppers.  So I began finding those people, and then did my shopping there.  Unfortunately, their pension or retirement must have been a lot more than my starting salary, because I was gasping every time I checked out of the grocery store or went clothes shopping.  So I began purchasing the Sunday newspaper and shopping at Walmart for clothes.  But even then, cutting coupons for the 3 or 4 things I would buy that were there was not cutting my bill.  Fortunately, today, the internet makes it easy to find savvy shoppers and the best deals in your neighborhood.  Here are some sites that will help you with various types of shopping.

Grocery Store Shopping

Coupons.com is a website that enables you to print coupons on your computer.  It is a free site, thanks to companies advertising.  As long as your grocery store accepts these types of coupons, you are good to go.  You won’t have to worry about your store acknowledging the sale because when you go to the site you enter your zip code and can see sales happening in your back yard.

CouponMom.com is another website that will help feed your family, both inside and out.  With offers like links to discount gift certificates to your favorite restaurant and printable coupons for your grocery staples, you are sure to save money on this free site.

Department Store Shopping

If you are shopping online, CouponCabin.com offers specific instructions on how to save at your favorite department or clothing store.  For example, it will list promo codes to use when checking out online and their staff checks at least 3 times a day to ensure the codes work.  An added bonus to this website is that they email you on Mondays with the latest deals and offers.

Finding Savvy Shoppers

Fortunately, you don’t have to leave home to find savvy shoppers.  In a world where people do enjoy giving advice, advice abounds when it comes to shopping and saving money.  Most of the coupon sites listed above have forums where people can share their news or successes in the trenches of retail.  Whether it is a deal that might make a night out less expensive (and therefore more enjoyable), or a post about milk being on sale, people are out there to help you save money.

If you consider yourself a savvy shopper, then most likely you are surrounded by the same in your circle of friends.  And if you are a mom, that gene became stronger with the birth of your child.  Talk about money with your friends, whether you saved or splurged, and you will get advice from them on their saving successes.  Enjoy helping yourself and other.  Saving money is an instant gratifier!

It was the excellent article written by Heaven about using canvas bags in grocery stores that generated a lot of debate from readers and was a fun topic for all.  You can read that article here.

We are honored to be selected and look forward to future carnivals, as well as hosting one later this year.