QUESTION: Yes, I was reading your article in Womans World about at home work. I have logged on to the sites you have said and have not had any results.
Do you have to enroll and pay money before you can make any money? Any help or advise you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
ANSWER: Sometimes it takes a bit to hear back from companies, but if you are interested in a particular area, I suggest signing up with multiple companies.
For example, survey companies and mystery shopping companies don't always have weekly assignments. By signing up with several companies, you will keep a steady flow of assignments as opposed to having occasional assignments with just one company.
If you are looking for more Survey companies, check here: http://freebiemoms.blogspot.com/2009/10/great-gift-idea.html
Mystery Shopping, check here: http://freebiemoms.blogspot.com/2009/01/lengthy-list-of-mystery-shopping.html
Data Entry: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1802964/work_at_home_job_facts_data_entry.html?cat=31
Call Center: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/96111/work_at_home_job_facts_call_center.html?cat=31
and if you visit MOMdotCOM.net (my website) http://www.momdotcom.net/ you'll find a lot of other ideas and opportunities.
I suggest that you never pay a company money. This is generally the first sign of a scam. Like any job, the money should be paid to you for your hard work.
Scams and Online Data Entry Opportunities
QUESTION: I have just read the article in Women's World and am very interested in a Work-from-Home job, since I have xxxx and can not find a job for the life of me. I have a computer and Internet service and believe this would help me alot.
Please help me through the process of finding a job to work from home, I am very gun shy since I was burned recently by a scam.
I would appreciate any information you can provide to me for me to get started. I am really interested in the Data Entry jobs.
Thank you for your help in this matter, I look forward to hearing from you.
ANSWER: I'm sad to learn that you have had problems with scams in the past. Sadly, there seem to be so many these days!
The first, and best, rule of thumb is to not pay money in to earn money. Legit internet opportunities, for the most part, do not require any investment that would differ from employment outside the internet realm. You may need some tools (a fast internet connection, a reliable computer, and so forth,) but you should not have to pay someone to hire you.
If you are seeking legit data entry opportunities, you'll want to start with this article: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1802964/work_at_home_job_facts_data_entry.html?cat=31 which gives a detailed overview of Data Entry requirements and on the second page, offers companies for you to explore employment opportunities with.
I hope this helps you on your journey!
Please help me through the process of finding a job to work from home, I am very gun shy since I was burned recently by a scam.
I would appreciate any information you can provide to me for me to get started. I am really interested in the Data Entry jobs.
Thank you for your help in this matter, I look forward to hearing from you.
ANSWER: I'm sad to learn that you have had problems with scams in the past. Sadly, there seem to be so many these days!
The first, and best, rule of thumb is to not pay money in to earn money. Legit internet opportunities, for the most part, do not require any investment that would differ from employment outside the internet realm. You may need some tools (a fast internet connection, a reliable computer, and so forth,) but you should not have to pay someone to hire you.
If you are seeking legit data entry opportunities, you'll want to start with this article: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1802964/work_at_home_job_facts_data_entry.html?cat=31 which gives a detailed overview of Data Entry requirements and on the second page, offers companies for you to explore employment opportunities with.
I hope this helps you on your journey!
Disability and Taxes
QUESTION: Do you get paid by check for these surveys? I am on disability and can't afford to lose it by making extra money because I would lose my health insurance as well? Do they take out taxes and report the earnings?
ANSWER: Survey companies reward you for your participation in many different ways. Some offer gift certificates as rewards, some offer prize incentives, and other offer cash. Those that reward you with cash payments will typically offer a check reward or a Paypal payout. Most of the rewards are exactly that, an incentive for offering your opinion.
In most instances, you are not considered an employee of the company that is conducting surveys, so it falls under the same tax guidelines that other incentives do, such as accepting a gift card or a discount for filling out a credit card application.
With that said, I'm not a certified accountant, so I do suggest that you check with yours to find out the federal guidelines and the state guidelines for your state for reporting income from incentives.
If you plan to work exclusively with a survey company or engage in other activities such as mystery shopping, and make part-time wages, you may fall under the role of an independent contractor. In this case, the IRS offers online publications for filing requirements for employment http://www.irs.gov/publications/p501/ar02.html#en_US_publink1000220720
Again, though, I suggest checking with your accountant regarding federal guidelines and state guidelines for reporting income.
I hope this is of some help. I'm really not qualified to give advice regarding tax laws for others. Be sure to speak with your local tax representative or a quality accountant.
ANSWER: Survey companies reward you for your participation in many different ways. Some offer gift certificates as rewards, some offer prize incentives, and other offer cash. Those that reward you with cash payments will typically offer a check reward or a Paypal payout. Most of the rewards are exactly that, an incentive for offering your opinion.
In most instances, you are not considered an employee of the company that is conducting surveys, so it falls under the same tax guidelines that other incentives do, such as accepting a gift card or a discount for filling out a credit card application.
With that said, I'm not a certified accountant, so I do suggest that you check with yours to find out the federal guidelines and the state guidelines for your state for reporting income from incentives.
If you plan to work exclusively with a survey company or engage in other activities such as mystery shopping, and make part-time wages, you may fall under the role of an independent contractor. In this case, the IRS offers online publications for filing requirements for employment http://www.irs.gov/publications/p501/ar02.html#en_US_publink1000220720
Again, though, I suggest checking with your accountant regarding federal guidelines and state guidelines for reporting income.
I hope this is of some help. I'm really not qualified to give advice regarding tax laws for others. Be sure to speak with your local tax representative or a quality accountant.
Data Entry Opportunities
QUESTION: First, I want to say that I appreciate the information you are sharing to help stay at mom's find work to contribute to the household budget. It is greatly appreciated and makes my search for work at home more bearable.
The question I have is in regards to the information for Data Entry work at home jobs. All the sites that I have opened up from leads via your site request money to get started. Do I need to purchase the information before I can get a data entry work at home job. After reading other material from your site, I think that sites that request money should raise a red flag. Please advise.
ANSWER: Thanks for you very kind compliment. I'm so happy to learn that you are finding some of the information helpful!
Did you look at this Data Entry article linked on the website? http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1802964/work_at_home_job_facts_data_entry.html?cat=31
On the second page, you will find a list of legit companies that, to my knowledge, do not charge. They are standard companies where you will fill out an application for employment.
I checked out the first two Affiliated Computer Services http://www.acs-inc.com/ and DionData Solutions http://www.diondatasolutions.net/opportunities.htm to make certain that they had not changed their policies, and indeed, they are still hiring by application with no fee involved.
You are dead-on to suggest that a company should not charge a fee, money should always flow to you, not away from you! (However, with that said, there are occasionally software upgrades needed for your computer, extra phone lines, or other equipment requirements you may need to have for Telecommuting jobs that are not always provided by the company. These are always reasonable expectations, though.)
If any of the companies listed in the article have changed their policies and are now charging for services, my apologies, and just strike them off your list of prospects.
Also, I send out updates from time to time to my newsletter group, as I run across new (legit) opportunities. Feel free to sign up and also feel free to email me back with any questions you may have.
I hope this helps!
The question I have is in regards to the information for Data Entry work at home jobs. All the sites that I have opened up from leads via your site request money to get started. Do I need to purchase the information before I can get a data entry work at home job. After reading other material from your site, I think that sites that request money should raise a red flag. Please advise.
ANSWER: Thanks for you very kind compliment. I'm so happy to learn that you are finding some of the information helpful!
Did you look at this Data Entry article linked on the website? http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1802964/work_at_home_job_facts_data_entry.html?cat=31
On the second page, you will find a list of legit companies that, to my knowledge, do not charge. They are standard companies where you will fill out an application for employment.
I checked out the first two Affiliated Computer Services http://www.acs-inc.com/ and DionData Solutions http://www.diondatasolutions.net/opportunities.htm to make certain that they had not changed their policies, and indeed, they are still hiring by application with no fee involved.
You are dead-on to suggest that a company should not charge a fee, money should always flow to you, not away from you! (However, with that said, there are occasionally software upgrades needed for your computer, extra phone lines, or other equipment requirements you may need to have for Telecommuting jobs that are not always provided by the company. These are always reasonable expectations, though.)
If any of the companies listed in the article have changed their policies and are now charging for services, my apologies, and just strike them off your list of prospects.
Also, I send out updates from time to time to my newsletter group, as I run across new (legit) opportunities. Feel free to sign up and also feel free to email me back with any questions you may have.
I hope this helps!
Seeking Canadian Money Earning/Saving Websites
QUESTION: I read your very inspirational story in Woman's World and first of all want to congratulate you for taking your ideas and running with them. I would also like to know if you have a Canadian website or know of one that has the same money making opportunities as yours. The websites in the Woman's World magazine are for Americans only and I would be very interested in some of your ideas.
Thanks in advance for your reply.
ANSWER: Thank you for your kind words. I'm so glad to learn that you found my story inspiring, that was my greatest hope in sharing- that I might somehow help others.
I do not have a Canada area to my website, but I can direct you towards some good websites where you might find the information you are looking for:
Free Guide for Busy Moms http://www.freeguideforbusymoms.com/ (blog)
Red Flag Deals http://www.redflagdeals.com/
Canadian Moms http://canadian-moms.ca/
We Are Canadian http://wearecanadian.spruz.com/
SmartCaNucks http://smartcanucks.ca/
Also, many (if not all,) of the Survey and Mystery Shopping companies I have listed on MOMdotCOM.net accept Canadian applicants, be sure to give them a try: http://www.momdotcom.net/ (check the Money Earning section.)
I hope this helps give you a start. If not, give me a holler and I'll ask around in the blog communities for more tips.
Wishing you all the best!
Thanks in advance for your reply.
ANSWER: Thank you for your kind words. I'm so glad to learn that you found my story inspiring, that was my greatest hope in sharing- that I might somehow help others.
I do not have a Canada area to my website, but I can direct you towards some good websites where you might find the information you are looking for:
Free Guide for Busy Moms http://www.freeguideforbusymoms.com/ (blog)
Red Flag Deals http://www.redflagdeals.com/
Canadian Moms http://canadian-moms.ca/
We Are Canadian http://wearecanadian.spruz.com/
SmartCaNucks http://smartcanucks.ca/
Also, many (if not all,) of the Survey and Mystery Shopping companies I have listed on MOMdotCOM.net accept Canadian applicants, be sure to give them a try: http://www.momdotcom.net/ (check the Money Earning section.)
I hope this helps give you a start. If not, give me a holler and I'll ask around in the blog communities for more tips.
Wishing you all the best!
I Need to Earn Money to Purchase a Van
QUESTION: Hi Barb,How can I make Money on my Computer.I need the money to get a van. I have a Grandson and a Granddaughter now and I could use the money to get a van so we dont have to walk anymore. Can you help me.Please.
ANSWER: Thank you for your inquiry. There are many legit ways to earn extra money using the Internet, hopefully some will be of help to you. You will find a comprehensive listing of ideas here: http://freebiemoms.blogspot.com/2009/03/work-at-home-job-facts-online-surveys.html
Also, don't underestimate the power of savings. For every dollar you save, you'll be closer to having more money for your goal of purchasing a van. Check here for money saving ideas: http://freebiemoms.blogspot.com/2009/10/money-saving-topics.html
I'm always running across new deals and ideas, so feel free to visit my blog http://www.momdotcom.net/ and sign up for the newsletter to stay up-to-date on opportunities.
I wish you the best and hope you are able to purchase a vehicle for transportation soon!
ANSWER: Thank you for your inquiry. There are many legit ways to earn extra money using the Internet, hopefully some will be of help to you. You will find a comprehensive listing of ideas here: http://freebiemoms.blogspot.com/2009/03/work-at-home-job-facts-online-surveys.html
Also, don't underestimate the power of savings. For every dollar you save, you'll be closer to having more money for your goal of purchasing a van. Check here for money saving ideas: http://freebiemoms.blogspot.com/2009/10/money-saving-topics.html
I'm always running across new deals and ideas, so feel free to visit my blog http://www.momdotcom.net/ and sign up for the newsletter to stay up-to-date on opportunities.
I wish you the best and hope you are able to purchase a vehicle for transportation soon!
How to Get My Blog Noticed?
QUESTION: My biggest problem is getting my blog noticed so that people know I have an e-book. How do you build a following? I am working on the squidoo lens now that you mentioned in your article.
ANSWER: Starting with some Squidoo pages may help drive traffic towards your blog and book. If the information on the page is useful, people will find it, appreciate it, and look to your blog/book for more.
There are tons of ideas on how to build a following. I still stand behind creating quality content as number one. When your readers know they can expect to find consistent quality and useful information, they will return and in turn, you will build a loyal following.
Some other ideas:
1- Start a newsletter group to deliver daily/weekly/quarterly tips. This is a good way to stay connected with your readers.
2- Consider hosting a giveaway. This may bring new readers to you. Be sure to post the contest on contest-friendly websites such as prizey.net
3- Guest blog on other websites. Create a series of articles to offer and ask "like-minded" bloggers if you could provide guest content for them. This will bring new traffic your way as people who are interested in the content will check out your website/book.
You can also work on SEO wording and listing with search engines to build traffic (not my expertise, but some use this technique.) Being active on other social media outlets (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) or forums (iVilliage, Gather, etc.) can be helpful towards building your internet presence, too.
There are many books on the subject, such as The Frugal Promoter. These may be of help in giving you additional ideas.
Just remember, it takes time to build a loyal following and everyone has their own path to follow. If you are passionate about the topic, keep at it and you will be successful!
ANSWER: Starting with some Squidoo pages may help drive traffic towards your blog and book. If the information on the page is useful, people will find it, appreciate it, and look to your blog/book for more.
There are tons of ideas on how to build a following. I still stand behind creating quality content as number one. When your readers know they can expect to find consistent quality and useful information, they will return and in turn, you will build a loyal following.
Some other ideas:
1- Start a newsletter group to deliver daily/weekly/quarterly tips. This is a good way to stay connected with your readers.
2- Consider hosting a giveaway. This may bring new readers to you. Be sure to post the contest on contest-friendly websites such as prizey.net
3- Guest blog on other websites. Create a series of articles to offer and ask "like-minded" bloggers if you could provide guest content for them. This will bring new traffic your way as people who are interested in the content will check out your website/book.
You can also work on SEO wording and listing with search engines to build traffic (not my expertise, but some use this technique.) Being active on other social media outlets (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) or forums (iVilliage, Gather, etc.) can be helpful towards building your internet presence, too.
There are many books on the subject, such as The Frugal Promoter. These may be of help in giving you additional ideas.
Just remember, it takes time to build a loyal following and everyone has their own path to follow. If you are passionate about the topic, keep at it and you will be successful!
Surveys Not Working for Me
QUESTION: I am wondering if you could give me some suggestions on legitimate ways of earning money at home. I have a 40hr./wk. job at a nursing home, a job which I love, but I need some extra income. I have signed up for a few surveys but after the preliminary survey it often says I'm not eligible to take the survey. I'm just wondering what else is out there that I can try.
Thanks for what you do!
ANSWER: Sometimes surveys are not the route to go. Depending upon your interests and lifestyle, you may not be a good match with a survey company. If you've tried a few already, consider other alternatives to surveys, such as Focus Groups http://freebiemoms.blogspot.com/2009/01/focus-groups.html or Mystery Shopping http://freebiemoms.blogspot.com/2009/01/lengthy-list-of-mystery-shopping.html for earning opportunities.
There are so many avenues to explore. If you haven't checked out my current list of legit programs detailed on MOMdotCOM.net, you'll find it here http://freebiemoms.blogspot.com/2009/03/work-at-home-job-facts-online-surveys.html
If any of these do not appeal to you, tell me more about your interests and I'll see what I can do to help steer you towards exploring other opportunities.
Thanks for what you do!
ANSWER: Sometimes surveys are not the route to go. Depending upon your interests and lifestyle, you may not be a good match with a survey company. If you've tried a few already, consider other alternatives to surveys, such as Focus Groups http://freebiemoms.blogspot.com/2009/01/focus-groups.html or Mystery Shopping http://freebiemoms.blogspot.com/2009/01/lengthy-list-of-mystery-shopping.html for earning opportunities.
There are so many avenues to explore. If you haven't checked out my current list of legit programs detailed on MOMdotCOM.net, you'll find it here http://freebiemoms.blogspot.com/2009/03/work-at-home-job-facts-online-surveys.html
If any of these do not appeal to you, tell me more about your interests and I'll see what I can do to help steer you towards exploring other opportunities.
Mystery Shopping Laws in Nevada
QUESTION: I have emailed both of the companies you listed in your Woman's World article on Mystery Shopping and have not heard from either. I live in NV and have been told it is illegal to do Mystery Shopping in this state without a Private Investigator's license. Wanted to know if that law has changed recently or not. Would love to do Mystery Shopping here but can only work with legally operating businesses.
I have read your book and learned a great deal about the Internet. Thank you. Hoping to find a way to earn an income from home.
ANSWER: Thank you for your inquiry and for your kind words! I'm so glad you have found the guide useful.
Sometimes, with Mystery Shopping companies, you may not fit the demographic requirement or they may not have shops available in your area. It helps to sign up with multiple companies. This give you a wider reach and can help keep you busier with assignments! You'll find a longer list of legit companies here: http://freebiemoms.blogspot.com/2009/01/lengthy-list-of-mystery-shopping.html
Regarding Nevada law, as I do not live in the region, I'm not familiar with the laws. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce, they may be familiar with requirements for Mystery Shoppers in the state. I also found this website http://www.nationalshoppingservice.com/public/popups/mystery_shopping_laws.asp and they have Nevada laws listed. I'm not certain how current or accurate the information is, though.
Hope this helps! Wishing you well in your mystery shopping pursuits!
I have read your book and learned a great deal about the Internet. Thank you. Hoping to find a way to earn an income from home.
ANSWER: Thank you for your inquiry and for your kind words! I'm so glad you have found the guide useful.
Sometimes, with Mystery Shopping companies, you may not fit the demographic requirement or they may not have shops available in your area. It helps to sign up with multiple companies. This give you a wider reach and can help keep you busier with assignments! You'll find a longer list of legit companies here: http://freebiemoms.blogspot.com/2009/01/lengthy-list-of-mystery-shopping.html
Regarding Nevada law, as I do not live in the region, I'm not familiar with the laws. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce, they may be familiar with requirements for Mystery Shoppers in the state. I also found this website http://www.nationalshoppingservice.com/public/popups/mystery_shopping_laws.asp and they have Nevada laws listed. I'm not certain how current or accurate the information is, though.
Hope this helps! Wishing you well in your mystery shopping pursuits!
Google Ads
QUESTION: I visited your site after reading the Aug. Woman's World article. My question is, as I'm checking out your website, is, how much can the ads by Google on the site be trusted?
Other than wondering about that, I was impressed with your article and what you were able to filter out from all the spam and dishonest ads online to actually make good money.
ANSWER: Thank you for your inquiry. Many of the ads found in the "ads by Google" section are placed by, what I would consider to be, trustworthy companies. Some are not. I do my best to keep the ads filtered, but as I always advise, proceed with caution in any online venture. (There are two sections devoted to avoiding scams and how to detect scams, in The Mom's Guide to Earning and Saving Thousands on the Internet. If you do not have a copy of the book, you might find one at your local library, my favorite freebie source!)
Thank you for your kind words. It takes time to weed through and become established with companies, but it is well worth the effort if you are looking to supplement your income or just breathe a little easier.
Other than wondering about that, I was impressed with your article and what you were able to filter out from all the spam and dishonest ads online to actually make good money.
ANSWER: Thank you for your inquiry. Many of the ads found in the "ads by Google" section are placed by, what I would consider to be, trustworthy companies. Some are not. I do my best to keep the ads filtered, but as I always advise, proceed with caution in any online venture. (There are two sections devoted to avoiding scams and how to detect scams, in The Mom's Guide to Earning and Saving Thousands on the Internet. If you do not have a copy of the book, you might find one at your local library, my favorite freebie source!)
Thank you for your kind words. It takes time to weed through and become established with companies, but it is well worth the effort if you are looking to supplement your income or just breathe a little easier.
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