Happy Valentine’s Day… Psss Save Money Skip the Restaurant

So you’re here because you want to save and become wealthy. I’m hear to tell you can do this, but you got to be smart in both how you work and how you spend. Relationships and family can be very expensive. I don’t want any angry e-mails, but tonight on Valentine's Day instead of getting pressured into going out to some fancy Restaurant bring the entertainment home.

I did some searching on the Internet for a semi fancy restaurant. I found one called Max Streak House located in New York City. Here’s the price breakdown.

"Classic" Caesar Salad- Hearts of romaine, shaved reggiano, herb croutons, and classic caesar dressing, please request anchovies, 8.95.

Filet Mignon, (Bone-In) 16oz- Served with brandy peppercorn sauce, 47.00.

This is just the bare minimum mind you, no desert. You will probably order a couple glasses of wine so lets say they cost $8.00 per glass.

OK total is 63.95 per person x 2 (Your date) = $127.90 + 20% tip = $153.48

I know I’ll be accused of being cheap, but you could do this in your home for around $50 or less. Caesar salad kit $3.50, Filet Mignon is usually about $10 a pound $20, and a fine bottle of wine $10. So your grand total for the evening is only $33.50 and you got to show off your awesome cooking skills!!!

I think it’s better to put effort and time into something you give than taking the easy way out in buying a prepackaged product. It’s much more appreciated and you feel better about giving it as well.

Spottt.com Beta Link Exchange by AdBrite.com Founder

This is the 9malls.com Spottt

Do you have a web site or blog? I have a free way for you to generate quality traffic. I just signed up for Spottt.com a new banner exchange program from AdBrite. All the beta testers today where given 10,000 free banner impression credits! Just sign up (takes seconds), upload a 125x125 banner, give Spottt your link, and post the HTML code on your web site. This is all it takes for free traffic to whatever you want including web sites, blogs, FaceBook, MySpace, or whatever else you can think of.

The Only Way to Bank is Online, Nickel and Dimed No More

Are you still banking at your local brick and mortar bank? STOP!!! You’re missing out on the opportunity to make 4%+ on your money doing absolutely nothing. While doing my research the online bank I like the most is eTrade.com. One their savings account you get a generous 4.10% and on their checking 3.25%. I plan on going with the checking account because you can make unlimited free deposits and withdrawals. Here’s what I liked the most about eTrade: eTrade.com will reimburse you on the biggest banking crime out there, ATM fees. Bank of America in efforts to raise their falling stock price raised their ATM fees to $3 for non customers. That used to be a the cost of a
whole Extra Value Meal at McDonald's (Not anymore, thanks inflation). eTrade will reimburse you this cost no matter how many withdrawals you make as an outside customer from Bank of America. eTrade will send you free checks and debit card when you open up an account, it’s FDIC insured up to $100,000, and they even have a local eTrade bank here in Seattle! You can treat eTrade bank just like any other bank accept they aren’t ripping off the customer like the majority of national chain banks. I think banks have really lost sight of what being a bank means. The goal of the bank is having a safe place to keep your money and watch it grow. The goal of a bank is not to design elaborate schemes to nickel and dime you until you go broke. I really get worked up about this issue. If there is one thing that pisses me off it’s the way most banks do business. Thank you to outside competition like eTrade. Now do your part send a message to the national banks and switch.

Why Buy a House When You Can By a Duplex?

Example of a Duplex

While the housing market is in a slump rental rates are now at an all time high. Anyone thinking of buying a new house should find one that has an attached rental unit or make plans to create one. Find a house with a rental unit, duplex, or triplex. Live in one unit and rent out the rest of the space. This way your renters are paying off your mortgage and you will be able to afford more property. Since the gain on a $500,000 house will be more than a $300,000 home you will end up making more money when you sell. Also, property that is able to be rented out is more valuable especially in a down market. This is a no brainier easy money solution to maximizing your wealth generating potential on a less than millionaire salary.

Secret to Making Money... Passive Income

This is My Actual InBoxDollars Check

Yes, one of the secrets to making lots of money in life is finding ways to get passive income. Rich Dad Poor Dad said it, now it’s my turn. Instead of rental properties which is what Robert T. Kiyosaki vouched for I would rather go in a more high tech direction. The goal is everyday find programs like the one I’m going to tell you about and eventually you will be wealthy. The web site is called www.InBoxDollars.com. In Box Dollars is a real, legitimate, professionally run company that pays free subscribers to read e-mail advertisements. InBoxDollars sends about 2-3 emails per day at an average of $0.03 per e-mail. Do the math this comes out to $32.85/year. Doesn’t sound like much, but do this for 10 years that’s $328.50 extra found money! Still doesn’t sound like much? Well sign up with multiple paid to read companies and get that number up to an extra $500 or $1000. That’s just you reading e-mail. If you want to make even more than refer your friends and get paid when they read their e-mail. You get the point. All I’m saying is instead of looking at everything as a whole start looking at your life in parts. Make a little here, save a little here and you will be surprised how much it ads up. The site once again is InBoxDollars.com. I’ve been a member for about 3 years.

No Matter What Age You Are Read This Book!

I just read the book after seeing the author on CNBC’s The Big Idea: Donny Deutsch. His name is Alan Corey and the book is called “A Million Bucks by 30.” Here’s a guy that started out making only $40,000 a year and with a few lifestyle changes and smart investment strategies easily became a millionaire by the age 30. All it took was a willingness to live below his means and passive income through real estate. Alan Corey is just a regular guy that uses his extremely disciplined mind to become rich. One of his extreme cheapskate strategies was to reuse the popcorn bags you get at movie theaters because they will refill them for free. I highly recommend the book for his humor, motivation to save, and simple but effective investment ideas.


Buy this book through Buy.com

XY7.com Affiliate Network Under Dog Takes on the Titans of Affiliate Marketing

So if you don’t know affiliate marketing it’s how my site 9malls.com makes money. Basically you put a simple HTML code on your web site or blog and when someone makes a purchase though that link you get a commission. This put very simply is what’s known as affiliate marketing.

Sign up with XY7.com

If you are already into affiliate marketing you know some of the big companies include Linkshare, Commission Junction, and Performics. What you may not know is in effort for smaller affiliate networks to complete with the big ones they are offering you higher commission rates. One of the companies that I work with and have found consistently offer higher commission rates is XY7.com. I met the people that work for this company at Affiliate Summit Las Vegas and can’t say enough good things about them. If you haven’t already signed up with them you’re doing yourself a disservice because you are not getting the highest possible commission amount from a given company. Just a quick example lets say you have a movie blog and want to make some extra cash. NetFlix.com on Linkshare.com pays you $18, but on XY7.com they pay you $21.00 a lead. Trust me this may not sound like much by on 100 leads this is an extra $300 in your pocket. It’s worth the effort to switch out your links!

Sign up with XY7.com

February Means American Express Rebates

I couldn't wait for my annual cash rebate from American Express. Finally it's here! If you are a member of the Costco American Express Cash Rebate Card than you know February is cash rebate time. I just got mine in the mail and cashed it tonight. One thing that I love about the Costco American Express Rebate Card is that there is no annual fee, no limit to how much money you can make, and you save more money percentage wise when you shop at Costco. I buy all my groceries and gas at Costco for this reason. In my opinion there really isn’t any reason why you shouldn't carry around some form of cash back credit card. It’s found money that you didn’t even have to work for. Think of it as a up to 2% raise in yearly income. My suggestion is put everything on it. If you have a business put your business expenses on it, mortgage, apartment rent, gas, clothes, everything. It add up fast! Go down to your local Costco to get the rebate card or click on banner to sign up for the none Costco branded equivalent credit card.

Steve Jobs and the 2008 MacWorld Conference & Expo

engadget.com one of my favorite technology blogs is updating their site in real time directly from MacWorld. Visit the engadget blog for the latest MacWorld info or visit Apple's web site directly for the 2008 Steve Jobs MacWorld keynote speach.

Cattle Getting it on at 2008 Detroit Auto Show

So I think this is one of the most hilarious marketing promotions gone bad ever. At the 2008 Detroit Auto Show Dodge wanted to demonstrate the power and agility of the Dodge Ram. The marketing executives at Dodge decided what better way to do this than to heard cattle with the Ram, instead of using strictly horses. Also, heard these cattle in the middle of the street not at the ranch. Anyway... so everything was going great, but animals heading the call of the wild soon were getting frisky. The cattle went crazy and started to mount each other at every opportune moment. Watch the hilarious video!

Whopper Freakout Ghetto Version (Full Uncut Video)

The Whopper Freakout Ghetto edition banned from YouTube now only on MegaVideo.com. Yeah I think some postings of this video have been removed from YouTube.com do to some copy write issue. I thought comedy sketches were protected under fair use. Anyway you can still find it online, I found the video on MegaVideo.com one of the best video sharing sites on the net. There are still some postings of Whopper Freakout on YouTube, but probably for a limited time.

"Red Bottom Shoes" Christian Louboutin Signature Feature

"Red Bottom Shoes" Christian Louboutin Signature Feature

All Christian Louboutin shoes have a signature red bottom. The Christian Louboutin red bottom shoe gained popularity when it was seen on the TV show Las Vegas on November 2007. Shop the NBC Universal Store for the red bottom shoe. You can find more information about this popular shoe on the blog KissMeStace.com. On the blog there is a whole article written about Christian Louboutin.

Woot of the Day - Reebok Precision Trainer XT Heart Rate Monitor with Chest Strap

Woot Reebok Precision Trainer XT Heart Rate Monitor with Chest Strap

Price: $19.99 + $5 shipping
Woot.com is one of my favorite web sites. They offer one item per day. I plan to list the one item everyday on my blog.

Jordan Launches the Air Jordan XX3 is $185 Worth The Price?

Jordan XX3 $185 Suggested Retail Price

The Jordan brand still remains strong even though some of the young people wearing Jordan's shoes have never seen Jordan play. The vintage Jordan brand continues despite of this fact with the release of the Air Jordan XX3. The shoe will guarantee NBA level abilities and a 4 ft vertical jump... well may be not. I can guarantee you you'll be out $185 however (suggested retail price). Nike promises that the Jordan XX3 will "be the best basketball shoe ever." I hope so! I mean shoe technology has come such a long way (sarcasm). If anyone ever says to you Women are the only ones obsessed with shoes just reference this story in my blog about the $185 Jordan. Read the full story on FOX Business News.

Bill Gates at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show

For the most part the keynote speech was one long commercial for Microsoft. The only two entertaining parts was the parity video on Bill Gates last day in the office and playing Guitar Hero with Slash. Other than that it was hocking Microsoft's wares in front of a captive audience.

See the entire keynote speech here:

Click on image to see the Bill Gates keynote speech

Meet the 2 New Bond Girls!

Will the new James Bond live up to the hype? Casino Royale (2006) U.S. Box Office totals according to Yahoo Movies was $167,007,184. "James Bond has two new Bond Girls. Olga Kurylenko and Gemma Arterton will co-star in the latest installment of the 007 franchise opposite Daniel Craig, Columbia Pictures has announced (http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=291650&gt1=7701)."

Meet Olga Kurylenko

Meet Gemma Arterton

LG Christmas Card - My Favorite One of the Year!

Check out the Christmas Card I received today from LG it's my favorite holiday card of the year.

http://us.lge.com/2007_holiday_card/

Will Players Named in Mitchell Report Effect MLB Sales?

Will Players Named in Mitchell Report Effect MLB Sales?
12-13-07

The Mitchell Report names names, but experts say it will have no effect on MLB sales. This is according to a article I recommend by TVWeek.com. Some of the names included in the report are Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Miguel Tejada and Mark McGwire. I don't know about you, but even though it might not effect the baseball TV viewer ship it threatens the integrity of the game. Baseball stats don't mean a thing anymore with steroids, HGH, and who knows what else. Even though the line is blurred between what is legal and illegal we should take a stand on certain substances. Substances that are known to be dangerous. If the playing field is level players of all levels won't feel as much of a need to take these performance enhancing drugs just to stay competitive in the sport.

Hannah Montana is Big Business This Christmas

Hannah Montana is Big Business This Christmas
12-13-07

So you don't think the millions Hannah Montana earns enough for her concerts is enough? Well, not to dispair Nintendo DS has the game for you. Now all the Hannah Montana fans out their can jam on their Nintendo DS. "Hannah Montana: Music Jam, a game created exclusively for the Nintendo DS, lets you play as Hannah in an adventure where she learns to play musical instruments (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/jinnygudmundsen/2007-12-13-hannah-montana_N.htm)."
So if you thought the Hannah Montana juggernaut was just a fade think again. There's millions more to be made by this made by TV music artist.

$0.00 Commission Free Stock Trades

Get $0.00 commission free stock trades from a site I found called Zecco.com. The only condition is your account needs to carry a balance of $2,500 to get the 10 free trades each month. The stock trades are only $4.50 otherwise.