Skip to main content

Author Archives: Jason Butler

Avatar photo About Jason Butler

Jason Butler is an Atlanta native, as well as businessman, blogger and teacher. Not only is Jason a prolific flipper, marketer, writer and side hustler his number of years in higher education and student support have given him expert knowledge in understanding the economics of the student loan industry.

Website

Older posts
Newer posts

How to Start a Home Based Business

Posted on March 10, 2017 - 6:30 am by 3
startup, starting a home-based business,

How to Start a Home Based BusinessMany people think about starting their own business. As Dinks, you know that at times, two heads are better than one. When it comes to business, gaining knowledge and avoiding failure are two ways that you can become successful. Starting a home based business might not be the easiest thing to do, but you can make it happen. Use the points laid out in this post to make your home based business a success.

Reliable Internet Service

For the most part, whatever your business is, you will need reliable internet service. You can’t afford to have the internet going in and out because most of your home business, you will probably have to deal with customers online in some way. An unreliable internet service provider could mean the end of your home based business. Do you want to risk your livelihood by dealing with cheap or horrible service? There are many internet service providers out there to choose from. Review different companies and choose the one that you think will keep your business bringing in the money.

Products

If you’re selling things, you should only promote products that you believe in. People can tell when you’re promoting something that you really don’t care for. Find products and companies that have the type of values and goals that you can stand behind. When you spend a lot of time and effort to build a home-based business and sell products, your belief in the products shows. You are more enthusiastic when you’re promoting them.

Taxes

Everyone loves paying taxes. I hope you could sense the sarcasm in the last sentence. Taxes are something that everyone has to pay. Having a home based business might make filing a little harder for you. Receive a consultation from a tax professional. Make sure that he or she is experienced in dealing with your type of business. There are different tax requirements for different businesses. You may be able to get special statuses and credits for your business that you may not have known about. A good tax professional will make sure that your taxes are done correctly.

Advertise your business

How can you expect to make any money if you don’t let anyone know about it? The answer is that you won’t make any money if you don’t promote and advertise your business. You should network with other firms. Also, tell your friends and family about your business. They can possibly be your next customers.

Another way to promote your business is to use social media. You can set up an Instagram, Twitter and Facebook page for your business. Doing that will ensure that you will have traffic coming from different places. Someone may hate Twitter, but love Instagram. You want to make sure your business is getting seen on various platforms.

Workspace

You have to set up a workspace for your home business. You may think that you will always be able to do work in your bedroom or a common area, but that is not always the case. Distractions can happen. Taking the time to find a space to work is one of the smartest things you can do. It will help to keep you on track.

Would you consider starting a home-based business?

Disease Called Debt

Paribus Review

Posted on March 7, 2017 - 6:30 am by 1
Paribus review, money saving app, online shopping app

Paribus Review

This post was sponsored by Paribus. 

In the world of technology and applications, a new app is emerging every day to take over the world with its usability and uniqueness. Paribus is no exception. In case you’re an application addict, as a significant portion of us are nowadays, you may have heard about an app called Paribus. It’s taken the world of personal finances by a tempest and been included on Good Morning America, in USA Today, and a great many other platforms as well. Let’s get into the Paribus review.

Probably one of the first things you might have heard about it is:

“It’s an approach to get free cash!” It’s straightforward—who doesn’t love free money?

So what does Paribus actually do?

It is a fact that stores ensure cash back when costs fall, the main catch is that you need to request it (and know when to do as such). Paribus does this for you.

Most retailers offer cost coordinating on buys in the event that you discover a lower cost inside a predetermined timeframe, as a rule, 7 to 15 days. Now, this is something most of us do not consider worth noting. For example, you purchase something and the following week it goes at a bargain. Be that as it may, if you don’t have sufficient energy to start these discounts or look for value drops religiously. Paribus is an online administration that tracks your online buys at lower costs and uses bots to request a discount if it finds the product at a lower cost.

How to use it?

You have to sign up with the email address where you get your web based shopping receipts – all significant mail addresses that you use to shop. On the off chance, if you have more than one email, you should enlist a different record for each. Paribus will require access to see your email. The framework then looks for approaching receipts. It just gathers data from those messages, so you don’t have to stress over them perusing your own messages. On the off chance that that is a worry to you in any case, simply agree to accept a devoted email to send your receipts with one of your trusted mail servers such as like Gmail.

In addition to registering with email, you must have a credit or debit card. All data taken from the credit card is taken care of by Stripe. Paribus never gets the full details of your full card.

Linking with Amazon Account

You have to link your Amazon account with Paribus, by giving the email address and secret key you use for making buys. Paribus guarantees, “Information is transmitted safely using SSL (TLS 1.2) bank-review encryption. Any secret data is encoded utilizing AES-256.” So, they have solid encryption. Paribus doesn’t offer price monitoring or guarantees with Amazon, but they will help you get money back for late deliveries.

You will be able to get money back from a number of great retailers though. The retailers Paribus monitors changes every once in a while, so you can stay up-to-date here.

Some Downsides of Paribus

Here are some of the cons of Paribus to consider:

  • You need to give them consent to examine your email.
  • If you don’t shop online much, you won’t save much.
  • They don’t work with the whole web (as of now).

Some constraints of Paribus

Paribus’ first constraint is that it only includes certain retailers to scan for discounts. As more individuals join the application and it develops more, it is expected that the measure of dealers it works with will extend essentially. For some early adopters, however, there might be a noteworthy holding up period before it turns out to be really valuable.

Finally, if you want to sign up for Paribus please use this link. It will help us DINKs keep the show on the road.

More Paribus reviews:

A Review of the Investing App Robinhood

Posted on March 6, 2017 - 6:30 am by 2
investing app, Robinhood app, investing tips

A Review of the Investing App RobinhoodRobinhood was developed around just a single promise: no-fee stock trading. The app was launched in 2014 and rapidly grew to become a favorite among people who want to invest without paying $7 per trade. Since the app was launched, it has gained several thousands of users and facilitated over $1 billion in trades. The app is stylish and easy to use. It makes stock trading inexpensive, instinctive, and mobile. Robinhood is the app that wants to make stock trading easy for everyone.

Using the app

If you have a recent model of iPhone, you can choose whether to log in using a password or your fingerprint. With an Android, you can only log in using a password. You must first link your bank account to start trading with the app. You can set up a one-time transfer that would take up to 3 business days to process. The money will remain in your Robinhood account, but you cannot transfer it back.
After that, you can schedule periodic deposits into your Robinhood account.

Inside the app

Robinhood’s home screen shows you your total funds in the center and how much you’ve made that day.
If you want to trade a specific stock, you can search for it simply by clicking the magnifying glass. If you click the check mark on the right it to would be added to your “watch list.” You can read relevant news about the stock that Robinhood has pulled by scrolling down on that page. You would be taken to the Market Buy page.

When you click the buy button, Robinhood allows you to buy stock even before the market is open. The purchase will be completed immediately once the market opens. Robinhood’s background appears black the moment the market is closed.  When the market opens, it switches to a white background. Anytime that a trade is completed, the app will send a notification.

The selling interface is just like the buying one. You can decide on the number of shares you want to sell. You can see an overview of your money at the account page. Also, you can see how much cash and stocks you have and your own buying power. Buying power simply refers to the amount of money you can spend on stocks at a particular second.

One among the downsides of Robinhood is that you must wait a little for the funds you have made selling stock to be “settled” before you are able to reinvest it and purchase another stock. You will see the amount of money still waiting to clear in the Unsettled Funds category. This normally will take a few business days. If you are looking to cash out of Robinhood, it is easy to transfer the funds back to your linked account by clicking Transfer To You Bank from your account page. It also takes up to 3 business days to complete, which is actually standard for apps that hold money, such as Venmo.

I opened an account with Robinhood last month. It’s very easy to use. If you are beginning investor, I’d suggest checking it out.

Tips For Landing A New Job

Posted on March 3, 2017 - 6:30 am by 1
job tips, finding a job advice, career tips

Tips For Landing A New JobHello, Dinks. Things happen, and people can lose their job for some reasons. If for some reason you happen to lose yours, I want you to know that it’s not the end of the world. You will bounce back with another job soon. I’ve only been fired once, and that was when I was in college. The whole department was fired, so it wasn’t my fault. Since then I still made it a point to follow instructions at every job that I’ve had. Today, I want to go over a few tips that can help you land a new job.

Update Resume & Cover Letter

Check out samples of resumes and cover letters before you update yours. Include any new info and skills that you attained from your previous position. Also, don’t have your resume long and drawn out. One page is enough. Employers don’t want to read resumes that are three pages.

Dress the Part

When you start getting interviews make sure that you dress the part. Always dress to impress. Wear professional dress clothes at each interview. Not only will you look more presentable, but you will feel more confident when you meet the interviewer. You’d be surprised, but not everyone dresses their best for their interviews. You can guess what happens after those interviews. The people don’t get the job.

Be Smart with Social Media

The third thing that you should do is be smart with your social media. Don’t post anything crazy such as drunk or raunchy pictures especially on Facebook. Also, it wouldn’t be smart to post threats or racists comments. If you do that type of stuff, there is a chance that you will be unemployed for a long time. When you’re using social media, you have to remember that each site is different. Some or more professional than others. LinkedIn is on that is very professional. You should have a nice polished picture for your profile. For the most part, people don’t post anything crazy on there. Posting chain messages or explicit content is also not recommended.

Tell People

Let your friends and associates know that you are looking for a job. They may know of some opportunities that you can qualify for. Maybe there are job vacancies on their current work or they themselves are owners of startup companies that look for potential hires. Also, they may know someone else who’s hiring. I’ve gotten hired at a couple of jobs because of my network. Most people are here to help you. I’ve even had the opportunity to help people get jobs when they needed them.

Practice Before the Interview

Before you interview with a company, you should practice. Go over potential questions that they could ask you. Have your answers ready. The worst thing that you can do is go into an interview fumbling your answers. It’s a horrible feeling. The extra time practicing will give you a better chance of getting the job. Also, research the company that you’re interviewing with. Knowing important things about the business will give you a leg up on the competition.

Losing a job can be a pain in the you know what. It doesn’t have to last. You will get hired again. The tops above will make it sooner than later.

5 Ways to Make Money Stretch

Posted on March 1, 2017 - 6:30 am by 8
money management tips, stretching finances, stretching money tips

5 Ways to Make Money StretchThere are many ways that people can save or stretch their money. You don’t have to do anything too outrageous to get your money to stretch. Today, I want to go over five ways to make your money stretch. You’re about to be shocked at how easy some of these things are.

Shop at thrift stores

I am a huge fan of shopping at thrift stores. There is nothing wrong with shopping there. Thrift stores have a lot of useful items for great prices. Some thrift stores offer better prices than some of the others. You will see that the more you visit different locations. You should purchase items that are versatile and can be worn in professional settings and everyday situations. Besides clothes, you can also buy dress shoes, glasses and coffee mugs for a low price as well.

Buy things in bulk

If you’re not already doing it, you should buy items in bulk. There are deals for certain items at Costco or Walmart when you buy them in bulk.  Costco is preferable as their return policy is great.   Toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, shampoo, and soap are just a few of the items that you should consider buying in bulk. When you buy items in bulk, you’re saving money because you’re purchasing those things only a few times a year instead of every couple of weeks.

Public transportation

If there is public transportation available in the city that you live in, you should consider using it. It should give you a break from auto upkeep and gas prices. Your job may even give you a discount for using the public transportation. Another way that you will save money if you use public transportation is that you won’t have to pay for auto insurance anymore. Auto insurance premiums can be very expensive especially if you have an accident or a couple of violations. Sometimes premiums go up for no reason. That happened to me last year. While the increase wasn’t too much, it was still more than I used to pay.

Cook at home more

This is such an easy thing to do, but a lot of people are just lazy. Your wallet will thank you if you start doing this. If you don’t know how to cook, you need to learn. It is not difficult at all. You can make meals for a fraction of what you will pay when going out. Many stores offer coupons. That will help you save even more money.

Unplug some of your electronics

The last tip that I have for you today is to unplug some of your electronics when you’re not using them. I’m not talking about unplugging your computer or your refrigerator. I’m talking about unplugging things like your coffee maker, DVD player, phone chargers, and TVs. All of those things suck power even when you are not using them. I don’t even know how much money I’ve saved since I started unplugging stuff. What I do know is that for 2016 my light bill averaged out at $51 per month. I’m not complaining at all.

What are some ways that you make your money stretch?

Disease Called Debt

Things to do if Your Credit Card is Stolen

Posted on February 27, 2017 - 6:30 am by 1
stolen credit card tips, credit card tips, credit card advice

Things to do if Your Credit Card is StolenHopefully, your credit card is never stolen. A few years ago I dropped my wallet outside my college dorm. I realized it a few hours later. I freaked out initially, but I knew that wasn’t going to help the situation. I did a few things to help ease my mind. You should do them as well.

Call your credit card company

I called my credit card company. The phone number is located on your statement and the credit card company’s website. The number is toll-free. I was able to speak with a live person. They asked me a few questions about my account. They asked me a few questions about my account. They asked for my address, my social security number and when I noticed the credit card was missing. They also wanted to know when the last time was that I made a purchase. They helped to keep me calm. They shut that account down and stated that I’d receive a new credit within a week.

Pay attention to your credit card statement

If your credit card is stolen, the next thing that you want to do is pay close attention to your credit card statement. You want to make sure that there are no bogus charges. Sometimes it takes a while for unauthorized transactions to process through the system. You want to be sure that nothing slips through the cracks. If you do have an unauthorized transaction, contact your credit card company ASAP, so that you can dispute it. The sooner that you do that, the quicker you can get your money refunded to you.

The Fair Credit Billing Act

The third thing on the list is to know what the Fair Credit Billing Act is. It is a bill that protects consumers against the risk of credit card theft. The FCBA lets you know that if your credit card gets stolen, you’re only liable for up to $50 in damages if you report the theft within two business days. If you report the theft before the thief can use the credit card, you won’t even be liable for $50. Time is of the essence. It’s crucial that you contact your credit card company as soon as possible if your credit card is stolen. You don’t want to have to pay $50 for something that you didn’t do.

Credit Bureaus

There is a chance that your credit card getting stolen could lead to identity theft. If you believe that that is the case, you need to contact the credit bureaus as soon as possible. If you do that, they’ll place a fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert will make it much harder for anybody to open a new account in your home. The quicker you act, the better.

If your credit card is stolen, don’t just sit around and wait. It could cost you a lot. You may lose money, and your credit score may drop. Make sure that you report it early. It will make things so much better for you.

What to do When Dealing With Personal Bankruptcy

Posted on February 24, 2017 - 6:30 am by 1
dealing with personal bankruptcy, tips on personal bankruptcy, talking about bankruptcy

What to do When Dealing With Personal BankruptcySometimes people get so behind with their finances that they have to file bankruptcy. Making a choice to file for personal bankruptcy is something that a lot of people find difficult to do. If you have the right information, you can view the process as the best way to get a fresh start with your personal finances. Thankfully, I haven’t been in a situation where I had to consider bankruptcy. It can be a tough decision. Today I want to give you some tips for dealing with bankruptcy.

File Chapter 13

The first thing that you should do is figure out if you should file Chapter 13 instead of Chapter 7 if you’re facing foreclosure. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy will let you create a restructured payment plan which includes your mortgage arrears. Doing this will allow you to get your mortgage payments current. That way you will be able to keep your home. With Chapter 13, you don’t have to turn over your property. That’s one less thing that you have to worry about during this time

If you move quick enough, you may be able to take advantage of Chapter 13. Many people know this, but Chapter 7 is the traditional liquidation bankruptcy. It involves selling off your assets. Chapter 13 is basically a repayment bankruptcy meaning that you will have to pay off some of your debt.

You have to be protected

When someone files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, their home can be protected. The homestead exemption allows this to happen. It can protect the home if the person filing bankruptcy owes below a certain threshold. Laws concerning the homestead exemption do vary between states. What may be allowed in Texas may not be allowed in Maine. Make sure to consult with a bankruptcy attorney before you do anything. You don’t want to be in for any surprises.

Determine the best type of bankruptcy to file

If you have to file bankruptcy, make sure you file the one that is best for you. If you go with Chapter 7 most of your debts will be relieved. With Chapter 13 your debt basically gets reconstructed, and you have a specific amount of time to pay them off.

Be smart

You should be weary of credits once you have filed for bankruptcy. Those companies may believe that because you have filed for bankruptcy, you can’t file it again for a long time. If you accept a loan from those companies, you are putting yourself at risk for more financial problems.

You should also get a lawyer to look over your paperwork for you before you file. You may miss something. Bankruptcy laws can be very complex. If there is something you don’t understand, talk to a lawyer. You don’t want to get yourself in trouble. Not only can you face legal woes, but you could lose property and money that you thought was protected.

Know the value of your home

Know what your home is worth. If you are upside down on your mortgage, you should eliminate your second mortgage. The main thing here is that your home must be worth more than what you owe on the first mortgage.

Personal bankruptcy is a big deal. It will affect you for a long time if you have to do it. Review all of your options and make a decision after that.

4 Ways to Supplement Your Income

Posted on February 22, 2017 - 6:30 am by 7
extra income, tips to increase your income, supplementing your income

4 Ways to Supplement Your IncomeHello, Dinks. Sometimes people struggle with having extra money. They could be living check to check, or they may just have a low paying job. I’ve been in this situation before, and it’s not fun. It doesn’t have to be permanent, though. There are several ways that you can supplement your income. Below are a few suggestions that you can consider.

eBay

I had to start this list with eBay. You can sell almost anything on the site. You can list things in your house that you don’t want or need anymore. I’ve been selling on eBay for years now. The money that I’ve made has helped me eliminate some of my debt. You can sell things such as clothing, shoes, board games, figures and coffee mugs to name a few. The opportunities are endless. If you still are having a tough time trying to figure out what you want to sell, check out this extensive list of 100 things to sell here.

Yard Sale

The second way to supplement your income is to have a yard sale. Clean out your home or apartment and put all the things that you don’t need in a pile to sell. Make sure you don’t just try to sell your significant others stuff. Yard sales can be pretty fun. They are easy ways to make money. I had a yard sale a few years ago. I made a small amount of money, but any amount helps. Depending on the number of things you have, you may be able to have a yard sale 2-3 times each year. Before you set up and start selling things, make sure that you check your city’s website. Some cities require you to have a permit before you can have a yard sale.

Direct Sales

Direct sales companies are the third way to supplement your income. You don’t have to worry about make a product or handling the money when working with a business or selling products for them. You can work with companies like Mary Kay, Lia Sophia, and Avon. The main things that you have to do are market their products and get people to sign up. Once that is done, they’ll handle the rest for you. You will make money every time somebody orders something.

Second job

The final way to supplement your income is to get a second job. A second job will give you the guarantee that you will make money every couple of weeks. It will give you the feeling of security because you know that you will be having some extra cash coming in. You won’t have to stress about trying to sell things online. There are many places that you could work at once you get off your full-time job. You can also work on the weekends. Department stores and restaurants are two locations that you can apply to.

If you are not making enough money, you should consider supplementing your income. These are just a few options for you to think about.

Disease Called Debt

Saving Money on Transportation

Posted on February 20, 2017 - 6:30 am by 1
transportation tips, save money on transpo, saving money on transpo costs

Saving Money on TransportationHello, Dinks! Transportation costs fluctuate on your situation. Some people pay a lot for it, while others don’t. Owning a car comes with several unexpected costs such as parking and repairs. Today, I want to go over a few tips that’ll help you save money on your transportation costs.

Do you need a car?

The first thing that you should ask yourself is if you really need a car? The answer will depend on a few things. Is the public transportation safe in your city? How far is your job from your home? Are there any stores or restaurants near? Once you figure out the answer to these questions, then you can make a decision if you need a car.

One car or two

Another important thing to consider is if you will have a two car or a one car household. Every situation is different. What I can say is that if you have one car, your costs will be lower. You will only have to get gas for one car. You will also only have to get insurance for one vehicle as well. The money that you will save could then be used to pay off other debt or for investing.

Zipcar

If you and your significant other lives somewhere where you really don’t need a car on an everyday basis, it may be to your advantage to sign up for a car share program. Companies such as Zipcar make their money by providing cars that drivers can rent for a particular time. Using Zipcar can easily cut your costs for gas, parking, and maintenance down drastically.

Biking

If you live in a small town, you can ride your bike around. A lot of cities are becoming more and more bike friendly. There are lanes on some roads that are designated for bike riders. Biking allows you to travel with virtually zero costs. The only thing that you have to worry about is buying a bike and safety equipment such as a helmet.

Public transportation

Public transportation is another option that you have to save money. In a lot of places, it makes more sense to ride the bus or train. Not only is it cheaper, but it will also help you get to your destination faster. Monthly rail or bus passes cost less than what you pay monthly for auto insurance and gas.

Reduce your gas

The final way to save money or transportation is to learn how to reduce your gas. Try making your vehicle lighter. For example, if you have extra things in your trunk that you never use, take them out. Stuff like spare tires, fluids and misaligned tires, unchanged oil and bad tires can all cut into your gas mileage. You could be paying too much for your gas because of poor maintenance.

You don’t have to spend all of your money on transportation costs. You can save money if you follow some of these tips.

What are some ways that you have saved money on transportation?

Three Immediate Actions to Reduce Debt

Posted on February 17, 2017 - 6:30 am by 2
get out of debt, debt tips, paying off debt tips

Three Immediate Actions to Reduce DebtDebt is something that many people have or have dealt with before. There are many ways to reduce it. Some ideas work much better than others. Today, I want to go over three things that you can do that will have a lasting effect on your debt.

Stop using your credit cards

Credit card debt is a major problem in this country. One way that you can change that is to stop using your credit cards. You will never get out of debt if you’re still using them for multiple purchases. Trying to get your credit card balance lower while you’re still using the cards doesn’t work. For years, I had a lot of credit card debt. I would make a payment and then use the credit card a few weeks later. I did that for years. My credit card fluctuated from $3400 – $3600. It didn’t start to get lower until I stopped using it.

I learned that you have to change your spending habits. I stopped using the credit card and opted to use my debit card instead. When it comes to credit, you’re using money that you haven’t made yet. It’s something that will need to be paid back. By changing your habits and using money that you have, your credit card debt will start to get lower.  When you stop using your credit card, you may not want to close the account down. Credit cards with low balances can be good for your credit score.

Pay more than the minimum

Credit card and loan companies are happy when you only make a minimum payment. A lot of that payment only goes to the interest. That is how a lot of these companies make money. To get ahead and to get out of debt, you should start paying more than the minimum amount as soon as possible. Paying an extra $20 – $30 can help your debt go down faster. If you want to pay more than that, you can start side hustling. All the money that you make from your side hustle can then go towards the debt. That way, you will be paying more than the minimum payment, thus not paying as much in interest.

Find support

The final action is to find support from your friends and family. Fighting debt can be a struggle. It can be tough trying to do things on your own. You will have ups and downs. Getting out of debt isn’t something that can happen in a few weeks. Depending on the amount of debt you have, it can take years.

Your friends and family can help to keep you motivated while you’re working towards your debt free goal. Check in with them periodically to let them know where your progress is. If you feel like you’re struggling with the debt, let them know. They will probably be able to get you motivated again.

Reducing your debt may take some time, but it can happen. Not using your credit cards, paying more than the minimum payment and finding a support group are a few ways that can help you. Stay focus, and you can make it happen.

Disease Called Debt
Older posts
Newer posts

Boost Your Brand – Advertise with Us!

Advertise With Us

You cannot copy content of this page