Back in the 70's these home parties were all the rage. I attended a few given by friends - Avon, something for babies and a lingerie party. I bought Skin So Soft from Avon for insect repellent, nothing from the baby or lingerie parties. I was quickly dropped from the invite list AND from some other social events like coffees and even playdates. I wasn't the 'friend' these people wanted.
Have not been to one in 30 years, would not go to another and would never think to host one. BTW, I never found the products to exceed what I could buy in a store in price or quality.
I believe that the Internet with its online communications is a great equalizer for introverts; we can take a moment to reflect and formulate our thoughts, and interject in conversation when appropriate without being interrupted. And, as sd noted, preparing for conversations (elevator speeches, opening lines for small talk) is a great way of dealing with face-to-face networking situations.
Thanks for all the great info, but I have 2 questions about Mystery Shopping.
1. can you trust the one's that pay thru paypal? or should I only accept checks?
2. Should I trust the site if they ask for my SSN?
... the cheapest item of all is the one you DON'T buy. Don't get misled into buying a pile of stuff just because it's cheap. Most of us Americans would do quite well to edit our possessions very carefully.
One job that most people can take on is general living and householding skills. This is a fact because most people used to have these skills which are now largely forgotten or ignored. This does not mean stepping everything back in time. For instance, buying your own paper is clearly more cost-efficient than making it yourself as is doing large loads of laundry which used to be an all-day job or even sewing your own clothes. Other things, like repairing broken things or making home-chemicals have a huge return on investment, an "hourly wage" or more precisely, hourly savings rate that is far in excess of what most people are making. It is essentially a drive towards self-sufficiency, but obviously self-sufficiency has diminishing returns and nobody should aim to be 100% self-sufficient unless they are very rich in time.
The problem is debt and the solution isn't more debt.What is needed is debt reduction and cleansing.Banks should have been allowed to fail,bankers to jump.Those who were sensible could have bought assets on the cheap ,deflationary pressures would have reduced expenses of the general public putting more money into their hands.The government could have helped by reducing taxes and spending.They could have audited the Fed,deported Greenspan and Bernanke to Zimbabwe and closed it down.Instead they are putting on band aid when the patient is dying.
I sold Avon one time. I was a young poor college student. I was terrible at it. I still buy Avon occasionally.
I have never attended a StampinUp party. Upline, Downline, $150 and you can get a hostess gift. All these terms make my head spin.
I do love a lot of Stampin Up products such as their markers, of course stamps, and ink. Some of their products are made by other companies such as Lyra, EK Success & Tombow. You can get them much cheaper at your craft store or other online vendors.
I recently made a large order online with SU. I have a sweet demo online who I order from. I was happy with my purchases.
I did some really hard research before I invested that kind of money. I am happy with my purchases that will last a long time and be more frugal for me in the long run.
Yes, these home marketing companies have some great products but research is the key and learning to be a good, informed, frugal shopper when attending the parties.
Well, I just took a shot of this stuff and WOW. What a kick. I shook the bottle of stuff, If this is what you are talking about, and very very tiny bubbles. Even if you turn the pint on its side and then shake it, little buddles that only last a second or two, now big bubbles at all on the top. tastes like a type of vodka. Well, I have another batch ferminting now with sugar, water and some corn meal and yeast. Saw the recepe in another post, just converted it for three gallons.
Where can I find a recepe for using whole dried corn, taken off the cob??? Want to try it with dried corn. Thanks...
I'm a long time collector of outsider art and Ebay is one of the best places to find some of the best art from newer emerging artists.
Recently I started collecting work from the artist Justin Aerni. He has a huge body of solid work for such a young guy. I was blown away by his stuff. His store is here
--> http://stores.ebay.com/AERNI-STUDIOS
My husband plays WoW a lot and he does spend less on video games and other entertainment; however you have to be careful with excessive use. He's getting close to level 80 now and because of that he's been playing more often. This month our electricity bill was $50 higher than normal. So, yes it can save you money but it's like any other addiction - it can have hidden costs.
I've never been to one of these. I don't like the idea of this kind of marketing but I don't think they're all bad. I think it depends on the quality of the product. If I were interested in buying something and someone had this kind of party then I might go. I don't know I would feel pressure to buy from a friend or not.
One very bad example of this kind of thing is attaching such a marketing party to an event people are expected to go to. My wife was invited to a bridal shower which had such a party as part of it. She was basically obligated to go to the bridal party and then pressured to go to the sales party in addition. She opted out of the sales party but felt a bit conflicted about doing so.
Networking is not solely for the extroverted gladhander. It's all in how you do it. Think about what it is you want in a job. Prepare the "elevator speech" -- a couple of minutes about you and how you can fit into the world of work that you want. Everyone has to do that.
The next step is to talk with people. But that can mean more listening than talking, more asking questions than dragging the entire conversation along. One of the great secrets in life is that everyone wants to be listened to. Ask questions and listen to what is being said. Use that information to ask more questions. Anyone can do this -- even Introverts. And it's a great way to learn and to discover enough dots to create a line to your next position.
"Network Marketing Parties: Opportunity or Emotional Blackmail? "
I don't think that it is an Either Or question. A network marketing party CAN be (and in most cases from my experience IS) emotional blackmail, but I have been to a party where I wasn't really "Pitched" by anyone to buy anything but there were displays and things that may have persuaded people who were REALLY looking for something new.
But then I'm not sure doing it that way is really effective. If the purpose is really to RECRUIT, then the emotional blackmail is one of the many tactics that can be used to do so.
oh god,, thank you so much for ur Big information.. i just got it today.. and i check on the internet if there is anyone who have been trapped with this plastic fraud..n i saw ur article. so what should we do just to not activate the account right??
do u know where r they getting our information? if we do not activate the account we wont have pay anything in the end of the month , arent we? im afraid the company still ask from the fee or smtg..
thank you so much, i appreciate it.
chris k . do you know what to do to remove the haze from my clear coat tryd rubing compond and polish with no help still hazy if hit with a light at night .any help from someone would be great.
Well, I could say that the best way to save money on your trip to London is to not go... but I know that just because my trip to the city didn't blow me away, doesn't mean that other people won't find it enjoyable.
So here's my tips...
-Definitely buy an Oyster card as it is good for the tube and the buses.
-All the museums are free!
-Do not take a ride on the Eye. It's boring, a rip-off, and a terrible photo opportunity.
-Visit the tower of London! You can probably find discount tickets to this online but even if it seems expensive, it definitely was one of my favorite things to see in the city.
I had reservations about Aldi's when it came to town here in Alabama but have been pleased with what I have gotten. Their trail mix and dried fruit are great. You can't beat milk at $1.49 a gallon (skim through whole milk). Being urged to use your own bags is a wonderfully environmental statement. My only complaints are the limited amount of products being offered and a frequent lack of enough cashiers.
You gotta love subjective arguments riddled with semantics, when an objective perspective is required. Objectively, Social Security is quite simply Ponzi. Subjectivly, a plethora of argument exists why SS is not a Ponzi Scheme.
Initial investors get more than they put in--both Ponzi and SS.
Requires incoming funds equal to or greater than the current payout--both Ponzi and SS.
SS is universal requiring everybody to pay in, while a Ponzi Scheme is not.
A Ponzi Scheme is destined to fail because it cannot find sustainable amounts of investors, while because SS is universal (thus having large funds) there is time to tweak the system so it does not fail.
Blah, Blah, Blah.
The crux of the question in whether SS is Ponzi is really asking whether or not SS produces a return on an investment, or ultimately robs contributors? Well at least that's my between the lines. In my humble opinion, SS has grown into the largest Ponzi Scheme ever in that it robs Americans of wealth. So many of the arguments presented already mention SS is only intended to be a safety net. I don't disagree that SS WAS intended to be a safety net for the poor during the Great Depression, when payrolls were only taxed a total of 2% (1% each by employee and employer) on the first $3000 of income.
SS was intended to be a safety net, but SS is a failed attempt at a good deed. What SS effectively has done since its inception has incrementally taken a larger portion from Americans' payroll which may be used for savings, or mortgage payments, or car payments, etc. and has moved that money into SS where there may in fact be no return. Imagine an American economy where the taxpayers had 5.2% more of their paychecks (avoiding Medicare in the argument) and employers had 5.2% more to offer employees in benefits?
This year, I will be lucky enough to cap out on SS contributions, which is a figure roughly $12K between my and my employer's contributions. This is a contribution roughly $10K greater than the inital 2% deduction that SS was established on. Figure a conservative 30% tax on the now taxable $10K and you have a remaining $7k to invest, or spend, or pay medical bills, pay off a loan, etc. (Not to mention still $3000 in tax money that I don't know, maybe could be used to help out the poor.) I could pay off an auto loan and save another $2k on financing over the next few years...or imagine this--had I had the extra take home pay all along, I could have paid cash for said auto out of an interest bearing savings account.
I love the arguments postulated in previous posts about what happens to privatized savings accounts if/when the bottom drops out of the market. My answer to that is that whether it is a penny or a million bucks, wealth is wealth. When I die before I get any positive return on my SS contributions, and then my wife dies before she can get a positive return on my contributions, and my kids are all 18+, my SS contributions leave no wealth to be handed down.
To anybody that understands the power of compounded interest, even a 1% payroll deduction devoted to privatized investment with a nominal return outperforms what SS does in the long run.
I don't expect SS to go away, or for it to be underfunded when I retire, but I do expect a larger SS tax in the future (or combination of reduction in benefits and increased tax), so what I see in the future is even less discretionary take home pay, less ability to save, more need to borrow, and an increased need for SS benefits when I do retire. Anybody else see the cycle?
Sound like there is/was too much available on the market. In a buyers market, many would-be buyers look and look and look. They see lots of houses that they really like, but never actually make a decision on any of them. Instead they keep looking because with all that's out there for sale, there is probably a better one than the ones they have seen. I've had buyers making plans for what they can do with my house, where they will put the furniture,etc. They exhibited all the signs of being ready to buy. But later the agent tells me that they really love the house, have it on their hot list, but want to see what else might be coming up available. That is partially the agent's fault for not working to close the deal. Not the listing agent, but rather the agent who brought the people to look. The listing agent can't close another agent's clients.
Sure. But it's not a new gamble--you're already "gambling" that you can go on earning enough to support yourself with your regular job.
Granted, giving up a perfectly good job can seem like taking an extra risk, but the correct response to that is not to clutch ever more tightly to that one job, but rather to expand your range of options--more capital, more skills, more willingness to consider other options, more flexibility in the cost structure of your household.
It seems that cheap and frugal is back in style. I was under the impression that cheap things were low quality and that being frugal was looking for the best value. I guess it depends on your view of the word. Bottom line: Why not get the same item at a lower price if you can. It is ok for retailers to have a lower profit margin.
TIP: Check twitter for ways to save before making your final purchase. Start by following http://twitter.com/saveabunch
Thought-provoking as always. The early edition of "YMOYL" assumed 6-10% guaranteed returns via government bonds, rates that have not been available for a long time.
Wouldn't being able to earn through retirement be as much of a "gamble" as assuming investment returns will be what you need? Many of the jobs that retirees can get are the same deadening jobs that new workers can get. Not everyone can be a consultant at a high hourly rate. And very few can be freelance writers!
I don't have a ton of female friends, so I'm not bombarded with these. I usually go if invited by a genuine friend, since frequently the hostess is only throwing the party as a favor to the rep, but I never feel compelled to accept a casual invitation from an acquaintance. And I wouldn't feel compelled to go if the product were something I had no interest in buying (scrapbooking supplies, "adult" items).
When I go, I almost always do buy something small, usually something I'd been wanting or meaning to buy anyway - with products like Tupperware or Pampered Chef, there's usually something for sale that fits that description, and at least they're decent items. I do realize that I could often find something similar for less elsewhere, but I guess I chalk it up to the cost of the evening's entertainment - not an absolute obligation, but part of the social contract.
But I'm pretty sure I'd never host one of my own, no matter who was asking, because I wouldn't want to put my friends in the position of feeling obligated by the invitation, and many would.
Back in the 70's these home parties were all the rage. I attended a few given by friends - Avon, something for babies and a lingerie party. I bought Skin So Soft from Avon for insect repellent, nothing from the baby or lingerie parties. I was quickly dropped from the invite list AND from some other social events like coffees and even playdates. I wasn't the 'friend' these people wanted.
Have not been to one in 30 years, would not go to another and would never think to host one. BTW, I never found the products to exceed what I could buy in a store in price or quality.
I believe that the Internet with its online communications is a great equalizer for introverts; we can take a moment to reflect and formulate our thoughts, and interject in conversation when appropriate without being interrupted. And, as sd noted, preparing for conversations (elevator speeches, opening lines for small talk) is a great way of dealing with face-to-face networking situations.
Hello-
Thanks for all the great info, but I have 2 questions about Mystery Shopping.
1. can you trust the one's that pay thru paypal? or should I only accept checks?
2. Should I trust the site if they ask for my SSN?
Thank you!!
... the cheapest item of all is the one you DON'T buy. Don't get misled into buying a pile of stuff just because it's cheap. Most of us Americans would do quite well to edit our possessions very carefully.
http://www.online-couponcode.blogspot.com/ is a very good blog for discount coupons for saving while shopping
One job that most people can take on is general living and householding skills. This is a fact because most people used to have these skills which are now largely forgotten or ignored. This does not mean stepping everything back in time. For instance, buying your own paper is clearly more cost-efficient than making it yourself as is doing large loads of laundry which used to be an all-day job or even sewing your own clothes. Other things, like repairing broken things or making home-chemicals have a huge return on investment, an "hourly wage" or more precisely, hourly savings rate that is far in excess of what most people are making. It is essentially a drive towards self-sufficiency, but obviously self-sufficiency has diminishing returns and nobody should aim to be 100% self-sufficient unless they are very rich in time.
The problem is debt and the solution isn't more debt.What is needed is debt reduction and cleansing.Banks should have been allowed to fail,bankers to jump.Those who were sensible could have bought assets on the cheap ,deflationary pressures would have reduced expenses of the general public putting more money into their hands.The government could have helped by reducing taxes and spending.They could have audited the Fed,deported Greenspan and Bernanke to Zimbabwe and closed it down.Instead they are putting on band aid when the patient is dying.
I sold Avon one time. I was a young poor college student. I was terrible at it. I still buy Avon occasionally.
I have never attended a StampinUp party. Upline, Downline, $150 and you can get a hostess gift. All these terms make my head spin.
I do love a lot of Stampin Up products such as their markers, of course stamps, and ink. Some of their products are made by other companies such as Lyra, EK Success & Tombow. You can get them much cheaper at your craft store or other online vendors.
I recently made a large order online with SU. I have a sweet demo online who I order from. I was happy with my purchases.
I did some really hard research before I invested that kind of money. I am happy with my purchases that will last a long time and be more frugal for me in the long run.
Yes, these home marketing companies have some great products but research is the key and learning to be a good, informed, frugal shopper when attending the parties.
Well, I just took a shot of this stuff and WOW. What a kick. I shook the bottle of stuff, If this is what you are talking about, and very very tiny bubbles. Even if you turn the pint on its side and then shake it, little buddles that only last a second or two, now big bubbles at all on the top. tastes like a type of vodka. Well, I have another batch ferminting now with sugar, water and some corn meal and yeast. Saw the recepe in another post, just converted it for three gallons.
Where can I find a recepe for using whole dried corn, taken off the cob??? Want to try it with dried corn. Thanks...
I'm a long time collector of outsider art and Ebay is one of the best places to find some of the best art from newer emerging artists.
Recently I started collecting work from the artist Justin Aerni. He has a huge body of solid work for such a young guy. I was blown away by his stuff. His store is here
--> http://stores.ebay.com/AERNI-STUDIOS
If you haven't realized it, your sodas and burgers are already taxed. Stay out of my kitchen government.
My husband plays WoW a lot and he does spend less on video games and other entertainment; however you have to be careful with excessive use. He's getting close to level 80 now and because of that he's been playing more often. This month our electricity bill was $50 higher than normal. So, yes it can save you money but it's like any other addiction - it can have hidden costs.
I've never been to one of these. I don't like the idea of this kind of marketing but I don't think they're all bad. I think it depends on the quality of the product. If I were interested in buying something and someone had this kind of party then I might go. I don't know I would feel pressure to buy from a friend or not.
One very bad example of this kind of thing is attaching such a marketing party to an event people are expected to go to. My wife was invited to a bridal shower which had such a party as part of it. She was basically obligated to go to the bridal party and then pressured to go to the sales party in addition. She opted out of the sales party but felt a bit conflicted about doing so.
Networking is not solely for the extroverted gladhander. It's all in how you do it. Think about what it is you want in a job. Prepare the "elevator speech" -- a couple of minutes about you and how you can fit into the world of work that you want. Everyone has to do that.
The next step is to talk with people. But that can mean more listening than talking, more asking questions than dragging the entire conversation along. One of the great secrets in life is that everyone wants to be listened to. Ask questions and listen to what is being said. Use that information to ask more questions. Anyone can do this -- even Introverts. And it's a great way to learn and to discover enough dots to create a line to your next position.
"Network Marketing Parties: Opportunity or Emotional Blackmail? "
I don't think that it is an Either Or question. A network marketing party CAN be (and in most cases from my experience IS) emotional blackmail, but I have been to a party where I wasn't really "Pitched" by anyone to buy anything but there were displays and things that may have persuaded people who were REALLY looking for something new.
But then I'm not sure doing it that way is really effective. If the purpose is really to RECRUIT, then the emotional blackmail is one of the many tactics that can be used to do so.
oh god,, thank you so much for ur Big information.. i just got it today.. and i check on the internet if there is anyone who have been trapped with this plastic fraud..n i saw ur article. so what should we do just to not activate the account right??
do u know where r they getting our information? if we do not activate the account we wont have pay anything in the end of the month , arent we? im afraid the company still ask from the fee or smtg..
thank you so much, i appreciate it.
chris k . do you know what to do to remove the haze from my clear coat tryd rubing compond and polish with no help still hazy if hit with a light at night .any help from someone would be great.
Well, I could say that the best way to save money on your trip to London is to not go... but I know that just because my trip to the city didn't blow me away, doesn't mean that other people won't find it enjoyable.
So here's my tips...
-Definitely buy an Oyster card as it is good for the tube and the buses.
-All the museums are free!
-Do not take a ride on the Eye. It's boring, a rip-off, and a terrible photo opportunity.
-Visit the tower of London! You can probably find discount tickets to this online but even if it seems expensive, it definitely was one of my favorite things to see in the city.
I had reservations about Aldi's when it came to town here in Alabama but have been pleased with what I have gotten. Their trail mix and dried fruit are great. You can't beat milk at $1.49 a gallon (skim through whole milk). Being urged to use your own bags is a wonderfully environmental statement. My only complaints are the limited amount of products being offered and a frequent lack of enough cashiers.
You gotta love subjective arguments riddled with semantics, when an objective perspective is required. Objectively, Social Security is quite simply Ponzi. Subjectivly, a plethora of argument exists why SS is not a Ponzi Scheme.
Initial investors get more than they put in--both Ponzi and SS.
Requires incoming funds equal to or greater than the current payout--both Ponzi and SS.
SS is universal requiring everybody to pay in, while a Ponzi Scheme is not.
A Ponzi Scheme is destined to fail because it cannot find sustainable amounts of investors, while because SS is universal (thus having large funds) there is time to tweak the system so it does not fail.
Blah, Blah, Blah.
The crux of the question in whether SS is Ponzi is really asking whether or not SS produces a return on an investment, or ultimately robs contributors? Well at least that's my between the lines. In my humble opinion, SS has grown into the largest Ponzi Scheme ever in that it robs Americans of wealth. So many of the arguments presented already mention SS is only intended to be a safety net. I don't disagree that SS WAS intended to be a safety net for the poor during the Great Depression, when payrolls were only taxed a total of 2% (1% each by employee and employer) on the first $3000 of income.
SS was intended to be a safety net, but SS is a failed attempt at a good deed. What SS effectively has done since its inception has incrementally taken a larger portion from Americans' payroll which may be used for savings, or mortgage payments, or car payments, etc. and has moved that money into SS where there may in fact be no return. Imagine an American economy where the taxpayers had 5.2% more of their paychecks (avoiding Medicare in the argument) and employers had 5.2% more to offer employees in benefits?
This year, I will be lucky enough to cap out on SS contributions, which is a figure roughly $12K between my and my employer's contributions. This is a contribution roughly $10K greater than the inital 2% deduction that SS was established on. Figure a conservative 30% tax on the now taxable $10K and you have a remaining $7k to invest, or spend, or pay medical bills, pay off a loan, etc. (Not to mention still $3000 in tax money that I don't know, maybe could be used to help out the poor.) I could pay off an auto loan and save another $2k on financing over the next few years...or imagine this--had I had the extra take home pay all along, I could have paid cash for said auto out of an interest bearing savings account.
I love the arguments postulated in previous posts about what happens to privatized savings accounts if/when the bottom drops out of the market. My answer to that is that whether it is a penny or a million bucks, wealth is wealth. When I die before I get any positive return on my SS contributions, and then my wife dies before she can get a positive return on my contributions, and my kids are all 18+, my SS contributions leave no wealth to be handed down.
To anybody that understands the power of compounded interest, even a 1% payroll deduction devoted to privatized investment with a nominal return outperforms what SS does in the long run.
I don't expect SS to go away, or for it to be underfunded when I retire, but I do expect a larger SS tax in the future (or combination of reduction in benefits and increased tax), so what I see in the future is even less discretionary take home pay, less ability to save, more need to borrow, and an increased need for SS benefits when I do retire. Anybody else see the cycle?
Sound like there is/was too much available on the market. In a buyers market, many would-be buyers look and look and look. They see lots of houses that they really like, but never actually make a decision on any of them. Instead they keep looking because with all that's out there for sale, there is probably a better one than the ones they have seen. I've had buyers making plans for what they can do with my house, where they will put the furniture,etc. They exhibited all the signs of being ready to buy. But later the agent tells me that they really love the house, have it on their hot list, but want to see what else might be coming up available. That is partially the agent's fault for not working to close the deal. Not the listing agent, but rather the agent who brought the people to look. The listing agent can't close another agent's clients.
@Frugalscholar:
Sure. But it's not a new gamble--you're already "gambling" that you can go on earning enough to support yourself with your regular job.
Granted, giving up a perfectly good job can seem like taking an extra risk, but the correct response to that is not to clutch ever more tightly to that one job, but rather to expand your range of options--more capital, more skills, more willingness to consider other options, more flexibility in the cost structure of your household.
It seems that cheap and frugal is back in style. I was under the impression that cheap things were low quality and that being frugal was looking for the best value. I guess it depends on your view of the word. Bottom line: Why not get the same item at a lower price if you can. It is ok for retailers to have a lower profit margin.
TIP: Check twitter for ways to save before making your final purchase. Start by following http://twitter.com/saveabunch
Thought-provoking as always. The early edition of "YMOYL" assumed 6-10% guaranteed returns via government bonds, rates that have not been available for a long time.
Wouldn't being able to earn through retirement be as much of a "gamble" as assuming investment returns will be what you need? Many of the jobs that retirees can get are the same deadening jobs that new workers can get. Not everyone can be a consultant at a high hourly rate. And very few can be freelance writers!
I don't have a ton of female friends, so I'm not bombarded with these. I usually go if invited by a genuine friend, since frequently the hostess is only throwing the party as a favor to the rep, but I never feel compelled to accept a casual invitation from an acquaintance. And I wouldn't feel compelled to go if the product were something I had no interest in buying (scrapbooking supplies, "adult" items).
When I go, I almost always do buy something small, usually something I'd been wanting or meaning to buy anyway - with products like Tupperware or Pampered Chef, there's usually something for sale that fits that description, and at least they're decent items. I do realize that I could often find something similar for less elsewhere, but I guess I chalk it up to the cost of the evening's entertainment - not an absolute obligation, but part of the social contract.
But I'm pretty sure I'd never host one of my own, no matter who was asking, because I wouldn't want to put my friends in the position of feeling obligated by the invitation, and many would.