How To Turn A $9 Water Bill Into $100 One

Q: How do you turn a $9 water bill into a $100?

A: Don't open your water bill, put it aside, and don't think about it. Then when your water is turned off, Metro Water Services will not only charge you $50 to turn it back on, but $50 for a deposit as well. And of course you still owe the $9.

I am a dunce.

Credit Card Reps Being Helpful--Sort Of

I have been more attentive lately to credit card due dates, and my bank balance, and not overdrawing my account. I have been able to move some due dates around. I get paid twice a month, and for me this is harder than getting paid once a month. I used to get paid once a month, and then you can pay your bills as you go along. With twice a month, I always run short of money. Bills are due at inopportune times between my paydays. Lately, I have had a lot of luck with calling bill collectors and asking them to change a due date. They mostly have done it. I have been shocked, but thrilled. That is until today when I called Discover. The rep said he would be able to move my due date forward two days, but then said they may drop me from my payment program. I was very disappointed. They want to get paid, and I want to pay my bills, and something simple like moving a due date one or two days would be productive for everyone involved. But I guess some CC companies can only be so helpful.

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Mystery Shopping Going Well

I am now in my third week of mystery shopping and have made more than $300! Not bad for my $4.99 trial fee. I may not even have to renew, as I have signed up with so many individual shopping companies that I can get assignments directly from them. So far, I like the apartment and health club assignments the best. I have done a couple of restaurants--the fees are either small or non existent, but you do get reimbursed for your meal, so you could see it as eating for free. I would love to make at least $400 before my first month is out. At the rate I am going, I may make it! It does eat into some of your free time, but so far, it has been fun for me. We'll see how long it stays profitable and fun. I'd like to do it for a couple of months at least. I may get pickier about assignments though and not take any of the low paying ones anymore. We'll see.

What Price Mystery Shopping

I do have to say I did take a risky assignment the other day. The company wanted me to evaluate the local bus station. Not only that, but they wanted me to do it late at night! I was rightfully hesitant in taking the assignment. The station is not a place you really want to go, particularly "after hours." But they were offering a pretty good fee to do it, and you could also get reimbursed for a lovely meal there.

I drove by the day before to figure out where to park. I couldn't believe I was doing this! It made me feel better when I noticed the station had its own small parking lot. At least I could park near the door and it wouldn't take long to get in the front door.

The next night I drove down at the appointed hour and booked a ticket to a nearby small town. It was as bad as I expected. All kinds of unsavory characters. Craziness. People talking to themselves. I am not a snob, but it is the kind of place where you fear for your safety. I didn't even notice a security guard there. Not good. I made notes that I would later put in my report.

I went in to buy my meal. I really didn't want to eat in there, as there was another man talking to himself nearby. But I had to according to my mystery shopping agreement. The cook behind the counter was the best part of the evening. He smiled and took time to get me what I wanted. He scored high points.

I guess it is good that the company hired a mystery shopper. Would I recommend it to others, I was asked. No. There are a lot of improvements that need to be made. I hope they make them. It would be good if bus companies could not only be a cheap, but safe alternative for people looking for transportation. I hurried out to my car and got in, glad I was not leaving on a bus to anywhere.

My Hand at Mystery Shopping

In my quest to make some extra money, I have been investigating a number of ways to earn some extra cash.

My latest venture is mystery shopping. I have been intrigued by it for some time, but just did not have to time to even investigate it while in law school. Now that I am out, and have taken the bar, I am taking a stab at it while I wait for my bar exam results.

I signed up with a mystery shopping company, one that alerts you to shopping opportunities in your area. There is a fee to belong. I know people say don't pay to earn money, but I am only doing a trial run, which only cost me $4.99 for a month.

So far, I have to say it has been worth it. Just slightly halfway through my paid month, I have already made about $150. Not bad return on the money! In the process, you have to sign up with individual mystery shopping companies, so at the the end of the month, I might not even have to renew. I can just go directly to the individual companies' websites and accept assignments there.

In doing mystery shopping, you do have to plan and take assignments that will fit into your schedule. I have limited myself to one assignment a day. I don't want to overdue it with my regular job, etc. So far I really like it. It seems to be an easy way to make a little cash that can help close the gap financially.

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.......