I know I keep saying I'm going to talk about some survey sites like Squishy Cash and Vindale; I promise these will be in my blog very soon. Since I want to test these income options a little longer before I report to you, I'm going to wait a little longer. This week, I'm going to share something really cool that my technical team, A.K.A. the guys in the house...LOL, have been testing for about two weeks now. You're going to love this if you like watching TV and have an iPod, iPhone or iPad, trust me!

I have to say, I didn't discover this income opportunity on my own, the guys in my house brought it to my attention. They first read about it in a San Antonio Express News article titled, "Loyalty Program Offers Points for Retailers." I'm including the link to the article at the bottom of today's blog entry, if you're interested in reading more. They were excited about giving it a test run and reporting back for blogging purposes, so they immediately downloaded the app. They tested the app using an iPhone 4S and an iPod Touch.
**Do note-you can use an iPod Touch with app store capabilities for this app, but your device must have a microphone feature.

According to them, the app was simple to download, similar to all other apps they've used. Then it asked for some simple information in order to create a log-in to your Viggle account. If you have a Paypal account and want to be paid via Paypal for your earnings, you can include your Paypal email address. It will not ask for your Paypal password, which no app should. So, after downloading the app, there are 2 ways you can earn points:

1. "Checking In" to television programs you are watching.
2. Watching advertisements the app offers.

The guys thought the checking in was pretty simple. You can choose from a list of programs ("What's On" tab) to check into and watch or if you put your device near the TV and have the app open and set to detect, it will recognize what is on. It will verify the show with you and begin clocking points for you. It gives  you an average of 2 points per minute, but some shows offer bonus points. The app also has some featured programs currently showing and tells you how many points you will receive for checking in to those. As far as the advertisements, Viggle gives you options of ads you can watch (on the app) and then it rewards you points for doing so.

Points are not too hard to earn if you watch TV regularly. The guys have earned about 20,000 collectively in the past two weeks. You are rewarded in gift cards to many retailers (like Best Buy, Burger King, Fandago, etc). Every 7,500 points earns you a $5 gift card. There is also a way to get paid cash via your Paypal account too. It also equates to about the same amount as the gift cards value ($5/7,500 points or so). Not bad, for something you're doing anyway.

So, to review-
Download the Viggle app from the Apple app store, check into TV programs you watch and/or watch ads offered on the Viggle app and earn points. Once you earn 7,500 points, you can redeem for gift cards to your favorite retailers/restaurants or if you have a Paypal account, you can receive cash. You're actually getting paid to watch TV, how cool is that?

SA Express News Article about Viggle:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/iPhone-iPad-app-rewards-being-a-couch-potato-2685086.phpnterested  

Last week, I mentioned three companies that I was checking out. This week I want to share a little more about one- Thirty-One. The more I research this company, the more I like it! The first thing that tuned me in was when I realized that the "Thirty-One" name is derived from Proverbs 31 in the Bible.I love that! For those not familiar with Proverbs 31, it is the book in the Bible that paints the picture of the godly woman. I found a great link online that describes this and compares it to what a godly woman would be like in our modern-day world. Click here to read this fantastic comparison and explanation of the Proverbs 31 woman.

So, just the fact that Cindy Monroe founded a company based on the principles of Proverbs 31 was very impressive to me. A portion of her story reads, "..I prayed to find a way to offer something that would help women like me contribute to their lives financially by owning their own business. It is from this passionate resolve that Thirty-One was born. I began sewing purses with one machine in the basement of my home in Chattanooga, Tenn., and I'm awestruck when I see how far we have come with the support and dedication of so many people. Today, our Thirty-One family has grown to more than 60,000 Consultants nationwide!" 
You can read the whole story of how Thirty-One began here.

I really encourage you to visit their website and just listen to the ladies' stories in the video on the "Become a Consultant" page. There is also a "News" page with snippets from when Cindy Monroe was featured on the Today Show. I absolutely LOVE this company, their products and their mission. It's obviously founded on the Solid Rock!

This week's spotlight goes to Thirty-One. I did join some survey sites over the week to research those but I'm not going to take the spotlight from this amazing company this week. So, I'll give you more information on what I've earned from the survey sites and how I did it. I even have the guys in my  house testing a few iPod/iPhone apps that earn money. I will report on all of these in next week's blog!

Enjoy some family time today and I can't close without saying, "Goooo Giants!"  Have a blessed week, my friends!

Like many families, we are starting the Dave Ramsey financial program to work towards being debt free. If you're not familiar with it, it's a financial program, very popular in Christian groups, to help you "Live like no one else." The idea is if you live like no one else will today, someday you will have the financial freedom to truly live like no one else. So many households live paycheck to paycheck and both partners work, so getting out of debt is really important to many families. The first step on the plan is to save $1000 for an emergency fund and the second step is to begin the 'debt roll-up' work. I really like the ideas Dave presents and we are working on step one now but hope to quickly (in the next month) be on step two.

With debt reduction on so many minds, it reminded me that many families don't want to stop working their full-time jobs, they just want time freedom to enjoy their families more and afford to make family time a priority. Many families also want to have the extra cash to take family vacations and do home improvements; things that also improve family time and revolve around the heart of the home. Like many, that means finding ways to add extra income to the household in order to become debt-free faster and have the cash to enjoy the extras like those listed above.

Some folks take on part-time jobs alongside their full-time ones but for many that's just not an option since that would take even more time away from the family and not allow proper supervision for younger children. More and more people are turning to home-based income opportunities for this reason. Direct sales, home party businesses and online income opportunities are very popular for these reasons. This week, I was looking into a few of these for my own purposes.

Being in the work-at-home arena for so many years, I've heard of so many home businesses and most of them are awesome. It's all about finding the perfect fit for you. I can't possibly list everything in one blog, but you can browse the rest of my website to view many home businesses. If you want me to talk about any specific ones in future blogs, just email and let me know or leave a comment and I'll do that for you. Today, I'm going to talk a little about 3 home party/direct sales businesses I was thinking of this week and also one home survey site I joined.

1. Avon- This company is built on strong values and has been around for as long as I can remember. My mom sold Avon and so many people in my family have. I even sold it for awhile when I was a newlywed. I've always loved the products and it really is fun to sell. From what I remember and what some folks who still sell told me, it is a very low start-up cost ($10, I believe) and you can earn from 20% to 50% on the items you sell as well as incentives for sharing the business opportunity and recruiting others. I give this company a thumbs up all the way. The products are great and they offer much more than just cosmetics these days. I think Avon really does sell itself once you share the catalogs.
2. Thirty-One- I really don't know much about this company except that I first came in contact with a rep at a teacher orientation session once. They have some awesome purses, totes and other similar products in really snazzy colors and patterns. They are very pretty and functional! Monogramming is also available on most, if not all, items. I am planning to look into this further. If you are a Thirty-One consultant, I'd love to hear from you with the 'low-down' on the business, cost for start-up, etc. This business makes me really warm and fuzzy because I just love cloth purses and bags and I love their organizational items. Ahhh...I really need to learn more about them! I'll keep you posted!
3. Mary Kay- Again, I know it has been around for years but I don't know much about the business structure. I'm going to tell you what I have been told by previous reps and I've found online. You can sell via home demonstrations or just general direct sales, the products are top-notch and come highly recommended by many. I also notice, from personal experience, that the ladies using Mary Kay have amazing skin! Who doesn't want that? I believe the commission is 50% on most items you sell but I have no idea about minimums or any of the other details. I do know however that the company once gave pink Cadillacs to some top producers... I'd love to know how you can earn a pink car! Gotta love that! What girl wouldn't want a pink, princess set of wheels?!? Again, if you know more about Mary Kay, please share and I'll share it in my blog and/or somewhere on my website.
4. Buzz Back- This is a survey company that a friend recommended. They will give you surveys to do that can earn you a few bucks here and there. So far, I've only done one survey for $1 but thought I'd share.  You do  have to fill out a short questionnaire and qualify to become a member but then they will send you surveys that match your criteria as they come around. There is no cost to become a member and if you ever go to a survey site that wants to charge you, please don't pay to join any survey sites, that would be a scam. 
   
   I just joined  BuzzBack about a week ago and so far have only received one survey, but I'll keep you posted. I don't think this will be a stand alone income opportunity, but I'm fine with offering my opinion and taking a few minutes of my time to earn a few bucks. You do need to reach $15 to receive your payout. I will let  you know how this progresses over time. Here's the link if you are interested- http://www.buzzback.com/ (you need to scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see a box on the right side labeled 'Join the Buzzback Panel'). I don't receive any incentive for referrals and I have no idea if they ask you where you heard about them but if they do, a mention to MommyBizMatchmaker.com would be nice  even though there is no earnings involved. I'll always take a plug for the website. :)

Well, those are my thoughts for the week regarding home businesses and ways to earn extra cash from home! It seems like the words frugal, couponing and debt free are becoming really popular with families today! Cheers to living like no one else so some day you really can!

How often do we go to our own "About Me" page and read about ourselves? Well, I did just that yesterday and it really took me on a trip down memory lane....

When I read the line that expressed that I had been in the work-at-home arena since 2002, it hit me in the heart. My first thought was that  my son was only 7 and my daughter just 2 then. Like many other moms, they were the reason for my initial desire to be at home making money. I just wanted to be able to contribute to the family income but not sacrifice my family to make that happen.

It's been a fast 9 years and I have been involved in the work-at-home scene to some extent for all that time. In the beginning, I totally worked from home providing home business consulting and home business services to work at home families via my website. I also worked in network marketing and home party sales for several different companies. It was great getting to know so many people who shared my desire to put my family first! I love the work-at-home community.

As my kids got a little older, I decided to go back to college and pursue my teaching degree. In 2007 I obtained my Bachelors and later in 2011 my Masters Degree in Special Education. I have now been working as an elementary teacher as well as a special education teacher for 5 years. I still do help families with work at home businesses, provide consulting and home business services but so much of my time is devoted to teaching.

My kids are now in 6th grade and 10th grade! Although they are getting older, my priorities do still remain the same... contributing to my family's income while still putting them first. Teaching allows me to do this and I'd love to transition to a home-based teaching position with an online academy or online college at some point in my near future, but I know God's plan for me right now is to work with special needs students and make a difference in their lives.

At this point in my life, I am no longer a full-time work-at-home mom but am turning my focus back to that. I want to work at home in the field of education and continue to provide services for work at home families. I've also considered some home business opportunities for products that I enjoy using and sharing with others. I know, I will always be a part of this wonderful home business community that I first became involved in in 2002 and that is exciting for me.

Obviously, I am at a different stage in my life now than I was then. I guess that shows that working from home can be full or part time and can also be alongside earning money outside the home too. This is exactly why I decided to add a blog to my website. I will be sharing ways to make money from home, some may be a little extra cash and others will have the potential for full-time income. I know there are families who want to supplement their income that they already earn outside the home and others will want to work on a plan that can help them make the transition to being at home full-time.

Also, in my blog I'll share some pieces of my own daily journey as they relate to making money from home. I look forward to connecting with my old friends in the work-at-home community as well as all the new families that have joined over these 9 years! Wow, has it really been that long?