Dave Ramsey Forums

I just checked Dave's website recently, and his community forums are now free. I believe you used to have to pay a fee to use them. So that was exciting, and I immediately started reading the posts. I have not participated in any discussion yet. I love forums, especially when they are about something that can help you so much. Well, off to check out the new discussions.......

Searching for Cash Surveys

Previously, I signed up with a lot of survey companies, but because of being in school, I ended up not being able to do most of them. Now I have time and would like to revisit those companies. I am going to search through my email and read the fine print. One of the ones I re-read about yesterday offers prizes for doing surveys, and although that is nice, I just really want cash for doing them right now. Cash is what I need to pay off debt and to save. So, I guess I will just keep searching through my old mail. I know with some companies, you can redeem points for cash, but I just haven't stumbled on them and figured it out yet.

Applied For a Part-Time Job

Now that I have my JD degree (I love the sound of that!) I have a little more time to devote to my writing. And getting out of debt. I searched online for freelance writing jobs, and found one that fit me. I applied and should hear back in about two weeks. I can do it remotely, which is perfect, and it seems like it would not be too difficult to do. I would need to learn more of the details first, since the job description was a little sketchy. I guess they will contact me if I get it, and I can then ask more questions. My only worry is that now that I am not in school, I don't want to fill up all of my spare time again. Hopefully, I can contain this job. But I do need the extra money to help pay off bills and to build up my savings.

Inflation Hitting Retirees

Another article I read yesterday about finances and retirees is how inflation is robbing the elderly of their retirement plans. When they made their retirement money plans, they did not account much for inflation, since inflation has not really been a problem for quite some time. However, it is raising its ugly head and having consequences now. So, retirees who wanted to travel more or have fun, are not realizing their dreams, or at least having to cut them back. Same old story: either the retirees have to scale back or return to work. In this case, I vote for people to return to work, at least part time. If they can find something they enjoy doing, they will keep their skills and memory sharp and not have to worry so much about finances. If they work part time, they would still have time to travel too.

Sharing Resources

I read an interesting article yesterday in the newspaper. Talked about retirees/elderly having trouble making ends meet and what can be done about it. It talked about the economy of marriage--how two can live as cheaply as one. But what if you are not married? Getting roommates is one way to do the same thing, and it mentioned how this strategy could be a good one for the elderly. It would make everyone's dollars stretch further. I predict that some of these McMansions that are going up, particularly in Nashville, will be used for this very purpose on down the road--little communes for elderly baby boomers. It could really be fun. But there are a lot of elderly people (not talking about baby boomers here, but older people) who don't seem like they would like to live with other people. If people could just see how this could be fun and liberating, maybe they would try it, and it would enable people to be independent and live more fully longer.

Doing More Surveys

I now have time to get back to trying my hand at making money from surveys. I haven't gotten too far with it, but will have the time now to put into it. I just requested two $30 checks from two survey companies I have worked with in the past. That is my earnings to date with surveys! Not a lot of money, but it is a start. A reader in the past told me she made about $300 a month from surveys, and I would like to get up to that level. Hopefully with a little work and investigation into how to do it better, I will be able to do that.

Making Payment Arrangements

Now that I am out of law school, and the bar exam is behind me, I am trying to get the rest of my life that I have neglected back in order. This of course includes my finances. I have set up payment arrangments with all of my credit card companies. This will lower my payment and lower the interest rate. I can also pay the debt off faster, once I am caught up with my expenses, etc. Only one arrangement is unsure: HSBC tentatively set up a payment arrangement for me, but it has to be approved by someone else there, and I will receive a letter within two weeks telling me whether I was approved or not. This sounds kind of wierd to me, but that is what they told me. The woman on the phone said she didn't think I would have any trouble getting approved. Now I just need to get my house in order. My real house in order.