Jeremy here... the creator of Odd Job Nation. Glad ya'll are finding it useful-- please let me know if you have any questions, feedback or things you'd like to see!
I just received my new phone book the other day... this 15lb paper monstrosity that I haven't used in years and I thought - WHY??? The next day, I received another one from their competitor. UGH! What a waste! Of course it is only going in the recycling bin...Then I thought of all the junk mail I get... After all, with the internet, the majority of my business is done online. So the only mail I really get is JUNK! How do I get rid of all this stuff?
There is a National Do Not Call Registry, but there is no "do not mail registry" - why? So, of course I had to look...
I found 2 sites that can help if you are receiving unwanted phone books and junk mail.
Yellowpages go green - is a grassroots movement that will submit your name and address to the phone directory companies and stop delivery of a phone book to your home. ***NOTE - we are still researching this site - please do not use it until we can verify its legitimacy. Thanks!
DMAchoice is another site that is incredibly useful. DMAchoice™ is an online tool developed by the Direct Marketing Association to help you manage your mail. You can opt out of unsolicted magazines, catalogs, credit offers, and other mail offers. You can choose individual companies or opt out of an entire category altogether.
And yes, both sites are FREE to use!
I think the additional plus to these sites is not only the recyclable waste that is prevented from being delivered, but also it lessens the burden on the postal carriers ( that could be good and bad) but also it prevents your personal information from being passed on/sold to other comapnies - which in turn, may prevent identity theft as well. But that's just my thoughts...
Now that's what I'm talking about! Congrats!!! The Toyota RAV4 is an excelllent vehicle. I had the privilege of demoing one for a few weeks. Toyota makes a wonderful product. I told you we aren't all bad! I'm glad you finally had a good car buying experience. Congrats again!
Thank you all for your well-wishes. I am feeling MUCH better thank you! Hopefully the virus is gone for good!
Now, for the other news - and a special thank you to alexis - I did find a salesman whom was very knowledgeable and helpful! Ronnie at Fuccillo Toyota found me a very nice 2008 Toyota Rav 4 that I can afford, and my daughter absolutely fell in love with! I say my daughter because I am still suffering with sticker shock! But I am getting over it - THANK YOU CK411 ...
It is unbelieveable! This is my first new car and other than buying my house, probably the scariest thing I have EVER done! Even hubby leaving was NOT this scary! LOL!!!
Seriously, though, I needed the car - I'll post pics tomorrow - and Ronnie took care of everything - even returning my rental! I never expected my car buying experience to be so easy and wonderful! Ronnie had the Kelly blue book papers and the carfax ready and waiting.. we negotiated of the price but he gave me a fair deal - and I did it all WITHOUT A MAN!!! LOL!!!
Normally, I would not attempt something this large because I have dealt with car salesmen before and it was no picnic... they treated me like some dumb broad and tried to get me to buy something I didn't likeor was a piece of crap... until I told them where they could go with their merchandise and walked off the lot... I didn't have to do that today...
I inteded to look at a Kiabut It was on another lot and Ronnie suggested the Rav4.... I was skeptical, but did a quick check on edmunds to see what the reviews were.... I was really surprised... and I came home with my new car a few hours later... As I said other than a little negotiating over the price, there was no fight, no being treated like an idiot, everything and eveyrone was very professional...
I do want to say that my daughter was a little disaapointed because Billy wasn't there to say how HUGE it was! LOL! ( you gotta see the commercials)
OH and I climbed another hurdle today too. On the way to the dealership there is a bridge. Not just any bridge either. I am terrified of bridges. I stopped at the toll and told them I couldn't cross the bridge, I needed to turn around. The girl looked at me like I was crazy! She said there is no where to turn around I have to cross the bridge. She could get a state tropper to assist me, but I would have to go across. Well, if you cross one way, you have to cross coming back too! I pulled over to the side and sat for a few minutes. My daughter was wonderful! She said " you can do this!" I sat there and cried... Finally I pulled myself together. and drove across that damn bridge!!!!! I shook, I cried, I white knuckled that steering wheel, but I made it across. On the way back, I drove my new rav4 across that bridge with the biggest grin you ever saw!!!! It has been an incredible day....
And btw, I resent the implication that you need a man to buy a car. If you're uncomfortable with the jerk that's selling you the car, find a different salesman. My sister once walked out of a dealership because the salesman insisted her "husband" (she wasn't married at the time) come and work the deal. Men are easily manipulated by salesmen, they find a certain comradery with them, and slip into a comfortable state of stupidness.
I'm very sorry you're not feeling well. I worked as a top sales consulatant for Hyundai, Saturn, and Nissan and I am a woman. Not so hard to believe, but hopefully I can help with some issues and guide you in the right direction. I tried to reply to this post earlier, but my labtop cleared the message somehow. First of all, let me ask you a few questions. Is this sales person calling you on the phone asking you impretinent questions to try to help you get a better deal, better payments? Or, is he calling and finding anyway possible to get you into the dealership? A good salesman knows two things for sure: it does him no good to sell you a car you can't afford (it's nearly impossible to re-sell to someone with a repo on their credit and they want return business); secondly, a satisfied customer is a repeat customer. If they are purposely trying to get you into something they know you can't afford, they are stupid, insensive, and don't care to go the extra mile (they want that sell now, not later, they're just a little bit stupid). A sales person has two jobs, find a vehicle that fits your needs, and make it affordable. I have a few suggestions that might help you. Go in there, or set your mind to a reasonable payment and downpayment. Everyone knows more down, less a month. If you can't come up with anything or little down, expect your payments to be more. Generally look at 20 a month for every 1000 you finance. That's rule of thumb. That's in no way intended to come off in their defence, but in my experience, customers come in many times with unreasonable expectations when financing a car. Moreover, if your sales person is an ass...find another that isn't. Typically older women (if you can find one) or older men make better salespeople. They understand the game and what not only butters their bread today, but in the future. Find someone that this is their career, not their "just getting by for now" job. More experienced salespeople also tend to have better customer service. If the saleman is cocky, find a different dealership or ask his manager to work with another salesperson that doesn't have such a poor attitude. It may be a bit embarrassing, but every once in a while, us car sales jerks need to be put in our place. Explain that if the "bad" salesman approaches you in the future you will find another dealership. Don't fall for any of our sales pitches...want to know what a few of those are, explain your fianancial situation to me, what car you're looking at, and your emotional state and I'll let you in on some trade secrets. I would be happy to help you find a good sales person, that is typically key to a good deal and a good experience. Car buying shouldn't be a bad experience; you're salesperson should be making it easy and pleasurable. If they're not, there are plenty out there that will.
Thank you! I did get a rental for the week, so I can get back and forth to work - a 2009 chevy impala!!!! OMG!!! I WANT ONE!!! It is beautiful!!!! But there is NO WAY I could afford it! All the buttons on the radio work! the A/C works!!! And it rides beautifully!!! WHAAAAAAA!!!!!
ok the past few days have been yucky... I have been sick for nearly 2 weeks and the doctor didn't know why - come to find out I have something called "parvovirus". I don't know what it is or how I got it, all I know is I feel like poop! and have missed several days of work because of it. To top it all off, my car died. So now, I have to find another vehicle...
This of course terrifies the hell out of me. I hate dealing with car salesmen ( slime balls!) and I do NOT want to get in a situation I cannot afford!
SO I was doing my research as usual and came across this 5 minut video on how to buy a car without getting screwed - pretty interesting and informative.... check it out...
then type in "charitable & non-profit organizations"
The search will locate all non-profit organizations in your area with name, address, phone # and website (if available), plus directions, and distance from your location!
you can also use this to locate any other service or organization in or near your area....
I came across and interesting site ODDJOBNATION.COM - it lists odd and sometimes strange jobs across the US for people who have been laid off and need a little extra income...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Millions of Americans enjoying their small windfall from President Barack Obama's "Making Work Pay" tax credit are in for an unpleasant surprise next spring.
The government is going to want some of that money back.
The tax credit is supposed to provide up to $400 to individuals and $800 to married couples as part of the massive economic recovery package enacted in February. Most workers started receiving the credit through small increases in their paychecks in the past month.
But new tax withholding tables issued by the IRS could cause millions of taxpayers to get hundreds of dollars more than they are entitled to under the credit, money that will have to be repaid at tax time.
At-risk taxpayers include a broad swath of the public: married couples in which both spouses work; workers with more than one job; retirees who have federal income taxes withheld from their pension payments and Social Security recipients with jobs that provide taxable income.
The Internal Revenue Service acknowledges problems with the withholding tables but has done little to warn average taxpayers.
"They need to get the Goodyear blimp out there on this," said Tom Ochsenschlager, vice president of taxation for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
For many, the new tax tables will simply mean smaller-than-expected tax refunds next year, IRS spokesman Terry Lemons said. The average refund was nearly $2,700 this year.
But taxpayers who calculate their withholding so they get only small refunds could face an unwelcome tax bill next April, said Jackie Perlman, an analyst with the Tax Institute at H&R Block.
"They are going to get a surprise," she said.
Perlman's advice: check your federal withholding to make sure sufficient taxes are being taken out of your pay. If you are married and both spouses work, you might consider having taxes withheld at the higher rate for single filers. If you have multiple jobs, you might consider having extra taxes withheld by one of your employers. You can make that request with a Form W-4.
The IRS has a calculator on its Web site to help taxpayers figure withholding. So do many private tax preparers.
Obama has touted the tax credit as one of the big achievements of his first 100 days in office, boasting that 95 percent of working families will qualify in 2009 and 2010.
The credit pays workers 6.2 percent of their earned income, up to a maximum of $400 for individuals and $800 for married couples who file jointly. Individuals making more $95,000 and couples making more than $190,000 are ineligible.
The tax credit was designed to help boost the economy by getting more money to consumers in their regular paychecks. Employers were required to start using the new withholding tables by April 1.
The tables, however, don't take into account several common categories of taxpayers, experts said.
For example:
--A single worker with two jobs making $20,000 a year at each job will get a $400 boost in take-home pay at each of them, for a total of $800. That worker, however, is eligible for a maximum credit of $400, so the remaining $400 will have to be paid back at tax time -- either through a smaller refund or a payment to the IRS.
The IRS recognized there could be a similar problem for married couples if both spouses work, so it adjusted the withholding tables. The fix, however, was imperfect.
-- A married couple with a combined income of $50,000 is eligible for an $800 credit. However, if both spouses work and make more than $13,000, the new withholding tables give them each a $600 boost -- for a total of $1,200.
There were 33 million married couples in 2008 in which both spouses worked. That's 55 percent of all married couples, according to the Census Bureau.
-- A single college student with a part-time job making $10,000 would get a $400 boost in pay. However, if that student is claimed as a dependent on a parent's tax return, she doesn't qualify for the credit and would have to repay it when she files next year.
Some retirees face even bigger headaches.
The Social Security Administration is sending out $250 payments to more than 50 million retirees in May as part of the economic stimulus package. The payments will go to people who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, railroad retirement benefits or veteran's disability benefits.
The payments are meant to provide a boost for people who don't qualify for the tax credit. However, they will go to retirees even if they have earned income and receive the credit. Those retirees will have the $250 payment deducted from their tax credit -- but not until they file their tax returns next year, long after the money may have been spent.
Retirees who have federal income taxes withheld from pension benefits also are getting an income boost as a result of the new withholding tables. However, pension benefits are not earned income, so they don't qualify for the tax credit. That money will have to paid back next year when tax returns are filed.
More than 20 million retirees and survivors receive payments from defined benefit pension plans, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. However, it is unclear how many have federal taxes withheld from their payments.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union raised concerns about the effect of the tax credit on pension payments in a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in March.
Geithner responded that Treasury and IRS understood the concerns and were "exploring ways to mitigate that effect."
Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan, the top Republican on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said Geithner has yet to respond to concerns raised by committee members.
"So far we've got the, 'If we don't address this maybe it will go away' approach," Camp said.
Your welcome. I posted the information because I was reading the reactions to a local news story about it. Most peoples' reactions were to close the boarders and ship put all the "illegals"... of course I had to respond...
I know that swine flu has been in the news lately - but before everyone goes crazy thinking there is an epidemic or some such nonsense - THINK! and READ!
It is NOT an epidemic by any means evne though it is contagious. From the CDC ( Center for Disease Control) " Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring."
12 cases and no deaths in 4 years - can we say the same about drugs and guns in 1 day?
LIHEAP has a little known program allowing low-income homeowners to weatherize their home for little to no cost - depending on program guidelines in your state.
Yes, you do have to be income qualified, HOWEVER, the guidelines are LESS strict than other governement assistance programs and even RENTERS may qualify in some cases. The states heve even teamed up with contractors to determine what your needs are.
For example:
I had a company come in and do an energy assessment on my home. They even have a camera (like an XRAY) that can see the inside of your walls to determine how much insulation you have! How cool is that? They determined that while my windows and doors are in good shape, I do need insulation - Apparently I have little to NONE! So, they would come in put in all the insulation, seal all the cracks and leaks, ( plus a bunch of other stuff)
PLUS I asked about a tankless water heater - which would not only replace my extremely outdated water tank AND boiler (30 y/o) - BUT ALSO give me hot water on demand - let me tell you between dishes, laundry, and showers.. OMG!
TOTAL cost for the work and materials = $16,000
NOW FOR THE BEST PART...
Since I own a 2 family home (my son lives upstairs) and we are both income eligible... The govt picks up 1/2 the tab! Which means, I would only be responsible for $8,000 (basically the cost of the tankless water heater) and it can be financed @ $90/month!
So you might want to check into for yourselves BEFORE the heat of summer is upon us!
In February 2009, The FDA (Food and Drug administration) approved the use of Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for the treatment of severe obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). We can only hope that with the studies that have been done, that ultimately, this treatment will be covered by insurance companies for depression and anxiety as well.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a humanitarian device exemption for the first implantable device that delivers intermittent electrical therapy deep within the brain to suppress the symptoms associated with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a humanitarian device exemption for the first implantable device that delivers intermittent electrical therapy deep within the brain to suppress the symptoms associated with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
The Reclaim system uses a small electrical generator known as a pulse generator to create electrical stimulation that blocks abnormal nerve signals in the brain. This small battery-powered device is implanted near the abdomen or the collar bone and connected to four electrodes implanted in the brain through an insulated electric wire known as the lead. Two device systems may be implanted to stimulate both sides of the brain or one device may be implanted with two lead outputs.
Human device exemptions facilitate the development of medical devices intended to treat or diagnose a disease or condition affecting fewer than 4,000 people per year in the United States. To receive approval, a company must demonstrate the safety and probable benefit of the device.
“Deep brain stimulation using the Reclaim system may provide some relief to certain patients with severe obsessive compulsive disorder who have not responded to conventional therapy,” said Daniel Schultz, M.D., director, Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “However, Reclaim is not a cure for OCD. Individual results will vary and patients implanted with the device are likely to continue to have some mild to moderate impairment in functioning and continue to require medications.”
OCD is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors such as handwashing, counting, checking, or cleaning are often performed with the hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away. Performing these actions provides only temporary relief, but not performing them markedly increases anxiety.
The approval of the human device exemption was based on a review of data from 26 patients with severe treatment resistant OCD who were treated with the device at four sites. On average, patients had a 40 percent reduction in their symptoms after 12 months of therapy. While all patients reported adverse events, the majority of these events ended after an adjustment was made in the amount of electrical stimulation.
Patients who require electroconvulsive shock therapy should not be implanted with the Reclaim device. Other patients who should not use the device include persons who will undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or deep tissue heat treatment known as diathermy.
Personally, I think so and apparently I am not alone. Legislation has been proposed to put an end to addicts on welfare- its about time!!!! I think we should stop supporting addicts with tax $$$. If everyone has to take a drug test to EARN a living, then why don't they have to take a drug test to collect a check?
Here's more information - including the site:
Welcome to NotWithMyTaxDollars.com where you can learn about my proposed legislation to drug test recipients of Welfare, Unemployment and Food Assistance (formerly known as Food Stamps).
Nowhere in our state or U.S. constitutions is it mandated that financial assistance is a right. Make no mistake, it is a privilege afforded to those in need by the taxpayers via our federal and state governments. Also, unemployment compensation premiums are currently paid by the employer, not the employee; however that may change very soon. We should also remember that illicit drug use is illegal. It is a crime that has criminal penalties.
I think it's time that we get serious about the problem of illegal drug users abusing our public assistance system in West Virginia. We should require random drug testing for every individual receiving welfare, food assistance or unemployment benefits. After all, more and more employers are requiring drug testing. Why not make sure that people who are supposed to be looking for work are already prequalified by being drug free?
Furthermore, encouraging just one drug addicted, welfare supported mother or father, to get clean, would save potentially thousands upon thousands of dollars. For every child born who is inflicted with a lifelong drug abuse related disease, the taxpayer’s incurred expense could be in the hundreds of thousands and potentially millions of dollars.
Opponents claim that this legislation will hurt the children. Evidence clearly indicates that drug addicted parents are the ones truly inflicting the harm. This bill actually helps to protect the children. Someone who fails a drug test will be given two months to get clean before assistance is cut off. Any good parent would clearly choose their children’s best interest over illegal drugs. And, maybe financial resources or the lack there of will be a greater cessation motivator than the addiction itself. Remember, the upfront drug testing expense is minimal compared to the backside taxpayer incurred burden.
As for the constitutional issue, it has never been considered by the US Supreme Court. Furthermore, “Big Brother” already invades welfare recipient’s lives by requiring proof of need via payroll receipts and bank account information. Interestingly enough, employees can get fired from their job for drug usage, yet receive unemployment compensation benefits which in turn drives up the cost of employer paid unemployment premiums.
In essence, I believe that this bill will be constitutional. Opponents of this bill are either enablers of bad (illegal) behavior, drug abusers or the most despicable of all...have a personal financial interest/gain in the demise of a certain segment of our society. And, they’ve yet to offer a viable alternative to this legislation.
It’s time we start respecting the taxpayer and get serious about fixing this problem.
Crawford confirms he gave Olympic medal to Martina
By RACHEL COHEN, AP Sports Writer Jan 30, 10:21 pm EST
NEW YORK (AP)—Shawn Crawford confirmed that he gave his Olympic silver medal to Churandy Martina, the sprinter who finished second in the 200 meters but was later disqualified for running out of his lane.
“I’m like, if a guy is 10 meters in front of me, I don’t care if he stayed in the middle of his lane,” Crawford told The Associated Press on Friday after finishing third in the 60 at the Millrose Games. “He was going to beat me anyway. He didn’t impede in anybody’s race.”
Crawford, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist, originally came in fourth in Beijing. Teammate Wallace Spearmon was third but was disqualified for running out of his lane.
American officials studied video of the race and then filed a protest against Martina for the same error. Martina and his Netherland Antilles team have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, arguing that the protest was filed too late under rules set by the International Association of Athletics Federations.
Martina finished in 19.82 seconds behind world record-setter Usain Bolt. Crawford’s time was 19.96.
“It wasn’t about doing the right thing. It’s just me as an athlete—I feel like we all compete and train for four years to get to the Olympic Games,” Crawford said. “We got there, he was told he finished second after all that, he took a victory lap. I can understand his humiliation and embarrassment and all that.
“Me being an athlete, I know how he feels, so I feel like it was to me to give it up to him.”
Crawford left the medal for Martina at a hotel during a meet shortly after the Olympics. The two have since spoken about it.
“He was very surprised, thankful about it,” Crawford said. “He thought it was very big of me to step up like that.”
Thanks to my trusted ally - Elaine - she has found some more information about MODEST NEEDS and the grants they provide. Thank you Elaine!
5. The 'Random Acts of Kindness' Grant
The 'Random Acts of Kindness' grant program, which Modest Needs administers on behalf of a private foundation, is similar to Modest Needs' own Self-Sufficiency Grant in that the 'Random Acts of Kindness Grant' is designed to prevent an otherwise self-sufficient individual or family from entering the cycle of poverty due to an unexpected emergency expense.
The 'Random Acts of Kindness' grant is open only to persons living in the greater Los Angeles area. The maximum grant available under this program is $10,000.00.
Modest Needs makes Bridge grants by remitting payment to a creditor for a relatively small, emergency expense on behalf of an individual or family suffering from short-term unemployment due to the current economic downturn.
In making a Bridge Grant, our goal is to allow a person who has recently become unemployed through no fault of his or her own AND who has yet to find a new position OR to begin receiving the unemployment benefits to which s/he is entitled to continue to look for work without having to worry - at least in the short term - about losing his or her home, car, health insurance, child care, or other items / services essential to an individual's ability to look for / accept new employment and / or to remain self-sufficient while that person is waiting for his or her unemployment benefits to start.
Any qualified individual living in the United States or Canada may apply for a Bridge grant. The maximum grant available under this program is either $1,000.00 or an amount equal to the amount of your monthly rental or mortgage payment, whichever is greater.
Here since: Jan 22, 2012
Female, 20
none
Murfreesboro, TN, US
Languages: english
Im 20yrs old and 9weeks pregnant. I need a job in the worst kind of way. i have no resume worthy work history, which is killing me. Im willing to do what ever it takes to get one and i have been tryin... see full post
Hi,
My name is Kleigh and I'm a 22 year old unemployed female. I am in desperate need of help with paying my rent and utilities for the month of January. The total comes to $600. I know that is prett... see full post
Hi,
I am writining concerning my daughter and her twins. My daughter & the twins are living with me. Unfortunatly I am waiting for disability due to epilepsy, and she can't return to work yet as... see full post
Here since: Dec 6, 2011
Male, 47
self employed
Cave City, KY, US
Languages: english
I have a wife and 2 children living at home.I just recently became unemployed after being in a buisness for 13yrs.Now I am venturing out to a new line of work so I can support my Family.We live in Ken... see full post
Here since: Jun 30, 2008
Female, 51
unemployed
home
West Rutland, VT, US
Languages: english
I finally managed to get my car . I must have put my resume in every business in every town in a 30 mile radius. Unemployment ran out am 3 months behind on rent. Electric and phone shut off notices ha... see full post
Me and my husband spent the day trying to get help for our family.We did make alittle progress,but it will not take place until Jan. or Feb.,which will lower our rent some.We did get a hold of Toys fo... see full post
I know that many American's are suffering and times are hard. I will, therefore, offer some of my time and talents to help those who need it. I can't offer any money, but I am very educated and will p... see full post
i am a grandmother who is raising my 3 grandkids agess 3,5,7 and unemployed. I am presently enrolled in college trying to better my education to take care of my grandkids and i am 53 years old, and go... see full post
Hi everybody, I never thought I would be in the situation that I am in now. I am an unemployed dental hygienist living in central Massachusetts. I lost my job over 2 years ago now, and I can't get a... see full post
I am looking for any place that can help me in getting christmas presents for my children. We are unable to provide them with any. We are struggle to keep ourselves in a place to stay. I have been une... see full post
I was diagnosed with bipolar one a few weeks ago...with getting my health in order, not being able to buy my 7 month old a winter coat or winter clothes, unable to buy heating fuel to heat our home, i... see full post
Here since: Jul 29, 2009
Female, 45
Advocate for the people! The Homeless Housewife
Santa Barbara, CA, US
Languages: English, German, Spanish, Hawaiian,a little Arabic
I wish that I soon find enough money to sustain my family for a while while I recover from my past. I wish that the suffering, anguish, and worrying just disappears and that everyone that I owe money ... see full post
hi- so im a desperate single mother who considers taking my life recently due to the current situation i find myself in. i don't dare tell anybody b/c it's always a moment that passes quickly ... see full post
thanks alot this is very helpful.. God Bless
