Vegas on a Budget

In just two days I will be faced with a challenge.  That challenge being that I am going to Las Vegas and I don't have much money to spend on "stuff". If you keep up with this blog, you know that I am putting money away in my 52 Week Money Challenge.  Now, as I gear up for my trip to The Silver State, I face 8 nights of being surrounded by slot machines, alcohol and food.  While the alcohol is free (as long as I'm playing a slot machine or table game) the food is not.

Now, when it comes to food - I have a plan. That plan is more of a challenge. How can I stay in Las Vegas and attend this conference while spending $20 or less each day?  You know people at conferences are NO-NO-NO... NOTOOOOOOOOORIOUS for large group meals and trying to be on "baller" status. As Sweet Brown has said, "Ain't nobody got time for that!".

During the time I am away in Vegas, I will document my ability to stay within budget.  I already scored a hotel room on The Strip for $16 a night. The cool thing is that I lived in Vegas for 5 years - so I am aware of many of the cheap eats in town.  Let's hope for more amazing deals to come my way because this "Baller" is officially retired.

Viva Las Vegas!

Educate. Empower. Economize.

When Having an Opinion Pays: Epinions.com

Here's a way to make a little $$$.  All you do is write reviews of products you've purchased. I've made $227 and I hardly write reviews! What reminded me was that I randomly had money deposited into my PayPal Account last night!. :)  

Granted, I have been using this site since 1999.  However, I wrote really good reviews on products that produced a fair amount of money for just sharing my opinion.  The opinions stay on the site and continue to generate funds.  I like that!!!

To give you an example, I wrote a review on an Outdoor Antenna back in March 2012.  Since then, I have generated $20.45 on this ONE review. 

I wrote an opinion on Capital One Credit Cards that earned me over $15 and warranted a call from Capital One that resulted in forgiveness of some of the debt and a lower interest rate.  This is the only credit card I have maintained after going into my credit counseling program. 

If you choose to use this site, keep in mind that you really need to write clear, personal accounts of the product or service and put as much detail in it as possible.  Rule of thumb, if you were looking for input from other users on that item, what would you want to know?  When the reviews are well written they are rated higher and get more views - and THIS is how you make money!

Bottom line - We all buy and use products, so why not get the extra bonus of making money on your thoughts on them?

Visit my Epinions page!

Educate. Empower. Economize.

Consumerism and Our Debt

"What do you really want?"

That's the thought that goes through my mind when I make purchases.  I'm not perfect. I still succumb to the, "The cost is just too great to leave this in the store" spending philosophy. It's all part of consumerism.  That's the idea of advertisers telling us that we need stuff in order to be happier, make others happy or find ways to make life easier. Subliminal and oftentimes blatant notions that we must have stuff to feel "fabulous", "amazing", or have the "most amazing skin", the "silkiest hair" or that a pair of shoes can make us run and jump higher.

I discovered a group that's led by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.  On their album there's a song called "Wing$". This song is about consumerism and the violence and status that is associated with it - with the endorsements from celebrities to sell products and how it affects us as consumers. It's pretty deep! The song is centered around shoes but it can be associated with just about anything you buy.

Are the things we buy the stuff that make us happy?  I'll be the first to say that shopping used to give me a "high".  I'd buy something and be so happy that I got it only to realize that it was more about just the experience of having it for the first few days or weeks.  After that, I wouldn't appreciate the purchase and more times than I care to mention, wouldn't use it.  Case in point, my acoustic guitar. I always wanted one for the fantasy of having a guitar and being able to strum the strings in a magnificent melody.  Well, that didn't quite happen.  I ended up with an instrument that lives in a brilliant red cloth case tucked away in my closet, that hasn't seen the light of day in over 8 years.

The role you play in consumerism becomes even more important now that it's tax time.  I have filed my taxes and have since gotten my refund. The plan is to use 90% of it to pay toward debt.  I still have a couple of bill collectors calling the house and this will take care of that.  The rest will go toward my bank consolidation loan.  The remaining 10%? I bought myself a reasonably priced juice extractor and will use the remaining cash on my trip to a professional conference.  I will also buy a new entryway door for my townhouse to continue working on the investment of my home.

Without careful consideration, it would be easy to buy myself stuff with this large tax refund.What do I really want? I really want to be out of debt. Therefore, I will put $2000 toward that bank loan.

What's your plan of action if you're getting a tax refund?

Educate. Empower. Economize.