Family Trip to SeaWorld

Hey there.  I haven't had a chance to catch up with you guys over what went down this Memorial Day weekend.  I decided long ago that we were not going to stay home this weekend and we were going to have ourselves a good time.  I toyed with the idea of taking the family to Las Vegas, Disneyland, and LegoLand, among many other places but due to high entry prices and/or road trip time, I crossed many of those places out.  In the end, I managed to grab a great deal (buy 1 get 1 free) on SeaWorld admission.  BAM!  We were soooo there.

My Experience with an Online School

Hey there. You know, many years ago, I attempted to complete my degree in business with an online school. I figured that I wouldn't have time to go to a brick and mortar building for school so online studies would be perfect. Especially since I'm a night owl and I stay up late anyways. Win-win situation for me, right?  In theory, yes.  In practicality, no...  My problem was that I didn't have the drive to finish school.  Not at that time, at least. I always told myself that I would go back to school when I am good and ready.  To not only get that degree but to set an example to the kids that higher learning can be achieved at any age.  Now, I believe that I am ready.

A Place to Find Cheap Seats

Hey there.  Things are finally starting to look up.  The economy is crawling in an upward trend and I have decided that I want to treat the family out to an event.  The problem that I'm having is finding tickets at a resonable price.  Hey...  just because things are looking better doesn't mean I want to spend an arm and a leg to entertain my family.  lol

Bank of America Shatters Dreams and Leaks Personal Data.... AGAIN

Hey there.  If you know me, you know my disdain for Bank of America.  Whether it be through my own personal hell with Bank of America or through friends and family's.  I simply do not like Bank of America and I don't care how big they are.  I just don't like being treated like a small fry because it's the "largest bank" in the US.  In  my eyes, that just means that they're too big for their own good.  They're too careless, they think they're above eveyone else, and they simply don't protect your personal data the way a bank should.

Review: SaveandMakeMoola.com

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Save and Make Mooka, LLC for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there friends.  Who here loves to go to the mall but hate standing in line and fighting through crowds to check out the latest in stuff?  Personally, I like shopping at the comfort of my own home but I spend way too much surfing from site to site and scouraging the web for online coupons.  By the time I find a discount, I've already wasted a lot of time.  That's where a great site like Save and Make Moola comes in and makes it easier.  So let's take a quick look at the site and review it's contents.

What's the Deal with Gold Coins?

Hey there.  Am I the only one that wonders why we see ads on TV selling gold coins for less than the market value?  I was up late last night watching TV when I saw an advertisement that claimed that the coins were worth hundreds but they're selling them for $20.  It got me wondering if the price of gold is wildly fluctuating that one day, an ounce is worth $20 and the next day, it's a few hundred.

That got me wondering if it's a good investment to keep track of gold prices.  It seems like a good idea.  Invest some money in a commodity that is in demand.  You see gold everywhere.  Watches, necklaces, teeth... Donald Trump's place.  lol  I mean, if gold is that valuable, I don't see where you can go wrong in investing in it.  But then again, it is investing and there's always that risk of it's value decreasing.  Maybe if I go to a gold spot, where they buy and sell gold, to see what's up.  If they say that it's profitable, it may something to consider.  If they say they're barely breaking even... then it's something to think hard before doing.

I'm wondering if any of you have had any experience with the gold trade.  I know that now there's a service where you mail your gold scraps and you get cash for it.  Is that any good?  Would you rather just go into a shop and see what you can get?  I'm curious, friends.  Let me know.  Later!

Metallman's Reverie: Blog Income for April 2011

Hey there.  April is in the the books and it's time to report on how well on (or off) pace we are in reaching my $1700 goal for the year. Let's take a look at the numbers:

Mylikes - $9.74
DragonBlogger - $9.41
CMFads - $1.88
Blogsvertise - $132.00
Total for April - $153.03
YTD Total - $652.65 (+$85.98 ahead of pace)

Not too shabby, my friends.  I'm glad that I'm still exceeding my monthly goal of $141.66, even though it's just barely.  I'm still disappointed in my lack of participation in dragonblogger.com.  It's an awesome and I've been given an awesome opportunity to be an author there but I just can't seem to capitalize on it just yet.  I have been dealing with some personal issues and it has eaten up my time to write articles.  I have been fortunate enough to be offered what I like to call "insta-post" and that's what's keeping my name on DB.com at the moment.

I am a little disappointed that I didn't cash anything out for Izea for April, but those funds will be cashed out in May which will make May a pretty good month.  I also received a huge offer from an unexpected source so I'm hoping that May will be the best month of the year so far.

The giveaways have been going great.  Because I'm made my fair share of money from this site, I've been giving a monthly prize away to my readers.  I'm hoping that you guys are enjoying that and take as a big thank you for stopping by and reading. 

So there you have it.  My online source of income revealed!  It's not much to toot about but hey, it's better than nothing.  Was thinking of using some of that money for some Lakers finals tickets.... but that rant is for another time. lol  Feel free to check out my affiliates at the links above and hope that you'll be able to make some spare change online the way I did.  Later!

Helping to Find a Good Web Host Rating

Hey there.  I feel good today.  Why?  Because friends consider me a "online veteran."  lol  Not that I've dealt with wars or anything of that sort online, but because I'm in the blogging game and friends and family come in and ask questions about how to get started and how much work is involved to maintain a small following.  Just last weekend I was talking to a cousin that wanted to start their own business and came to me to ask about domains and web hosting. 

I made it pretty simple, I told her that she could start online for free with many free blogging and web design  platforms but I strongly recommend that she go out get her own domain and then look for a good web hosting site.  She needs something cheap and easy and after a quick search, she may end up going with Web Hosting Hub.  Looking their rating, it seems like the perfect fit for someone that's just starting out.  It's seems easy to navigate and it's cheap. 

I know that I'm not an online guru, but I like that people come for me for advice.  It tells me that at least some people think I know something about something.  lol  Later!

Are Pro Accounts on Sponsored Tweets a Red Flag for Izea, Inc.?

Hey there.  I'm a big fan of Izea, Inc.  They have opened the doors for me to make some money while blogging and sending out tweets.  I have nothing but sincere thankfulness for them.  With that being said, the fact that they are now offering "pro accounts" on Sponsored Tweets is alarming.  If a monthly fee, you're twitter account will get this neat "pro account" symbol attached to it and will be pushed up the queue, ahead of basic accounts, when advertisers are looking for potential tweeters.  I understand that it's an optional service and it's not necessary, but the fact that they are offering it raises some red flags for me.

First off, I don't see the need for pro accounts.  At least on the outside, Izea is doing wonderfully.  Their many platforms are alive and active within the online community.  It's hard to find an online entity that is not associated with one of the many services that Izea offers.  So the fact that they are trying to squeeze out money for pro accounts tell me that 1) Izea is not doing as well as we think they are or 2) they've turned into a bunch of greedy bastards.  lol  I doubt it's the second one since they've all been more than awesome when I've spoken to them, so I'm more inclined to say it's number 1. Then again, it could be that the company is expanding and is looking for extra income to fund upcoming projects.  I don't know, but I'm not so sure if the pro account thing is the way to go.

I've always looked for Izea to come up with fun and innovative ways to make it easy for average Joes, like myself, to make some money online.  I really don't want to hear that Izea may be having some funding issues.  I'm hoping that my observation is wrong and that they're doing it only as a means to further fund their expansion not because they are strapped for cash.  Especially when you consider the amount of online companies that did not make it.  I hope you guys know what you're doing and the same fate doesn't come down on you.  Later!

Taking Care of Yourself

Hey there.  You know, I posted about the Lupus walk that will be going on later this year and started thinking about my health.  I have no idea when was the last time I went to a doctor.  Like, for anything.  I'm pretty proud of my immune system for keeping me healthy, or at least healthy enough to not have major issues.  I haven't had anything but the common cold or flu come my way and aside from that, I'm pretty well off.  However, a cousin of mine mentioned this weekend how he recently purchased some Medicare supplement insurance on the side, just in case.  I've been wondering if maybe I should do the same.

I already have health insurance through my job but my cousin mentioned to me how this third party insurance sent a nurse to his home to get him screened and what not.  I don't ever remembered being screen from my job insurance so it just makes me wonder if now is the time that I should go get checked out.  The last thing I need is to be the popular stone on FindAGraveMaker.com.  lol  In all seriousness, I guess I should take a second look at my health and start taking that extra step to keep myself healthy.  Later!

Being Smart About Credit Cards

Hey there. If you have a TV or a radio then you've heard many commercials to help build or repair your credit. Many of us have struggled with credit card debt. Especially when many of us were forced to use credit cards during the recession.  I'm not saying that we shouldn't use them, I'm just saying that we should be a little more smart about it.

One great way to know whether or not a credit card is a good one is to check out some credit card reviews.  This is an effective way to read up and get comfortable with the credit card.  Are consumers happy with the service?  Are the rates too high?  No grace periods?  Low balance?  Reward points?  You can get all of that answered by reading a few reviews and see if consumers are happy.  Happy customers usually means that it's a fair card.

Another thing you can do is check out the finance boards.  This is most effective when you do not have a particular card in mind.  The finance boards can have a wide range of topics and it can be overwhelming at first, but after reading a few topics, you'll be able to narrow your search and find what you're looking for.  Especially when many customers can pitch in and provide their 2 cents on a credit card that they own. 

Chase credit cards, Citi credit cards, any credit cards.  If you do a little homework before you apply, you are more than likely to know whether or not you really can afford to have a credit card.  Interest rates, grace periods, and whether or not they have reward points may play a factor in your decision but always remember that in the end, the debt will need to be paid and all the points in the world cannot pay it off.  Stay smart and good luck!  Later!

Metallman's Reverie: Blog Income for March 2011

Hey there.  March is in the the books and it's time to report on how well on (or off) pace we are in reaching my $1700 goal for the year. Let's take a look at the numbers:

Mylikes - $13.14
DragonBlogger - $13.96
Sponsored Tweets - $23.00
Blogsvertise - $97.50
Total for March - $147.60
YTD Total - $499.62 (+$74.62 ahead of pace)

Not too bad, right?  I managed to make a little more than my estimated monthly average of $141.66.  That increased my YTD total to stay on course to exceed my $1700 goal for the year.  Blogsvertise continues to be my bread and butter and it may finally take Izea's spot as my top sponsor.  I am still getting offers from Izea, but I haven't hit the cashout mark just yet.  Also, I am happy that I have earned a few bucks from my articles on DragonBlogger.com but am disappointed that I missed the 4 article quota (yet again) for the month to earn a percentage of the income that is earned from the site. 

Overall, another solid month for Metallman's Reverie.  YES!  It is possible to make money online!  It's not easy, but it's definitely possible.  And because I've been able to be semi-successful at blogging, I started a monthly give a way.  I just shipped out the first prize today and stay tuned for April's prize.  Also, I'm thinking of revamping my logo/avatar.  Maybe modernize it a bit.  If you guys know anyone that is willing to make a new Metallman logo for me, send them my way.  I'm willing to pay cash or free advertising (maybe both?) depending on the quality of the design.  Thanks friends for all your support!  If you are blogger and looking to make a few bucks, check out my links above and check it out for yourselves.  Tell them that Metallman sent ya!  Later!

Looking to Start Your Own Store?

Hey there friends.  So have you have a chance to check out the great offers that SMC corp has to offer?  If not, then you definitely need to check it out.  I've expressed how easy it is to get started and how they offer all the tools to help you succeed.  Low prices, business management help, and online help are just a few of the services provided, but I would say that the best part of it all is the way they make you feel secure.  They are willing to address issues such as the specialty merchandise corporation complaints that they receive.  Most companies would hide their complaints and show only all the positive responses and reviews.  So for a company to expose themselves and say, hey we're not perfect this may not be for everybody and we're letting you know about it, is simply awesome.  It makes me feel like you are working with people as opposed to a bureaucracy.

If you have any questions as to how SMC, specialty merchandise corporation, works, you can always check out their website or reviews from their customers.  Many have strong testimonies that state that they had little to no online business experience but with the free help from SMC, they were able to make their dream of being their own boss a reality.   Feel free to check it out.  There have been many SMC money makers out there and after reading their story, you know that an average Joe such as yourself can make it too.  Go online, read up on reviews, check out their products.  You'll see that you'll definitely find positive words to describe SMC and once you've had a chance to review their products, you'll find something that you'll want to have in your store.  Later!

Battling Depression

Hey there.  You know, I've been in a funk recently.  It's even been suggested that I may have some sort of depression.  Me?  The clown that likes to make not so funny jokes, sarcastic remakes, while dancing the robot?  Wow.  Didn't know that could happen.  Nevertheless, I took initiative and started to look into some of the treatments for depression.  What I found out about the disease (because it is a disease) is that it can strike anyone, even those that look happy on the outside but are depressed on the inside.  After speaking with a few friends that have dealt with some sort of depression at one point, suggested I look to buy Pristiq.

I'll admit that I never heard of it before but since I value this person's opinion, I had to check it out.  I looked for it online and sought out the pros and cons.  A big pro was that it can be bought online.  Which is great for those of us that want to be discrete about it.  Using an online pharmacy can give you that added privacy, but you need to be careful because I'm sure that the online pharmacy that can offer you drugs without a prescription is not trustworthy.  Even the Pristiq website warns you of those looking to make a buck and will offer you a way to buy cheap Pristiq through a trusted online pharmacy.  I love that their website is open about getting you the help you need, even by helping you find the generic Pristiq for those of us that are strapped for cash.

I didn't think that depression could happen to me.  I'm still not 100% that it's there.  The only way to know for sure is to get a doctor and get checked out.  And when that time comes, make sure to ask about Pristiq.  It's better to get that information from a doctor than an online blogger.  Take care, friends.  Later!

Get Your DD214 Forms Online

Hey there friends.  I recently posted about obtaining a VA Home Loan if you have served in the military.  Though I provided some pretty useful information, I was asked what could be done if they have no received their DD214 forms or if they have misplaced them.  You need your DD214 forms to determine your eligibility so it's important that you hold on them.  But if you whatever reason you don't have them, here's how you can obtain them.

Getting your DD214 forms online is extremely easy.  Using the DD214 express service from the link that I have provided, you simply fill out the request to have the forms and send them in.  If you have a fax number, you can request duplicate forms using the VA fax on demand system.  Dial 301-837-0990 from a fax machine and follow the directions.  It really is that easy.  If you already have a home loan, no problem.  You can still take advantage of the awesome VA refinance rates available to you.  BUT YOU MUST HAVE YOUR DD214 FORMS.

If you're in the military, you should definitely take advantage of the options available.  There is no excuse as to why you shouldn't.  These programs are there to help and by not taking advantage, you're just making it difficult on yourself.  Do yourself and your family a favor and look into these option.  You'll be glad you did.  Later!

Metallman's Reverie: Blog Income for February 2011

Hey there.  February is in the the books and it's time to report on how well on (or off) pace we are in reaching my $1700 goal for the year. Let's take a look at the numbers:


Yahoo Contributor Network - $1.85
CMFAds - $2.25
MyLikes - $5.84
DragonBlogger.com - $17.00
Sponsored Tweets - $25.25
Blogsvertise - $64.00 
Total for Feb- $116.19
YTD Total - $352.02 (+$68.69 ahead of pace)

Not too bad.  I failed to meet the minimum of $141.66 this month but my good January definitely carried me into the plus side this month.  I am trying some new things to see if they'll increase traffic and income and I was pleasantly surprised that I received a payment from YCN.  They'll pay based on impressions so for every 1000 page veiws, you'll get paid $1.50.  I have not been as active as I would like but it's nice to know that someone out there is still reading some of the articles I published there.  I also received payment for my work on Dragon Blogger.  My first payment there and I'm hoping that more will follow.

Overall, a solid month.  I fell short by only $25 so that's not too bad.  I'm trying things out and doing well in the online community.  If you believe that you're ready to try out some of online services that I use, check out the links above.  Tell them that Metallman sent you.  lol  Best of luck!  Later!

US Military Loans

Hey there.  I have a few friends over in the military and one of the great benefits, aside from serving our country, is all the great programs that help their families.  Whether it be grants, benefits, or loans.  One branch of the military, United States Marine Corps, have such great programs and if you or your loved one is in the military, you must take a look at the VA purchase options that offer awesome rates for home purchases.

It's part of the American dream to own a home, but let's be honest with ourselves.  Buying a home while serving your country is not easy on your own.  This is why these great programs were created, to offer help to those that decide to help their country.  They'll provide loans to those enlisted and their rates will be some of the lowest you'll find.  But what if you already obtained a mortgage before you enlisted?  You can still take advantage of the low VA refinance rates that are available.  Either way, you're in prime position to save money and buy that dream house for your family.

Don't just be a hero to your country, be a hero to your wallet as well.  Take advantage of the great programs readily available to you, our troops, and continue to be proud of being an American.  Later!

Start Your Own Business with SMC

Hey there.  You know, I just dawned on me that being your own boss should be the goal of every man.  Now, I don't mean man as in men, but man as in mankind.  When you take control of your business, you own profits, your own growing pains, you learn the true value of money as well as how to run a business.  Not all of us will be successful, but you'll never know unless you try.  This is why I love that SMC (Specialty Merchandise Corporation) is allowing you to be your own boss. 

They  have been around for over 50 years and have helped many realize their dreams of owning a private business.  So how does it work?  Simple, you buy products from SMC at a low, low, price and you in turn sell those goods in your store, online shop, or private business.  And their selection of goods is huge.  Anything from garden to toys to home decorations.  And the best part is that you don't have to drive around to get to work.  Work can be anywhere you want it to be.  No more traffic, no more stubborn bosses, no more annoying coworkers.  It's you, and you're business savvy, working directly with potential customers.  And if you don't think you can do it alone, no worries.  SMC also offers business coaching for new business owners, and guess what... IT'S FREE for the first few weeks.  Just enough help to get you motivated and confident that you can run your business.

Now, many people will digress and say that this is nothing but a scam.  Many have filed SMC complaints and SMC addresses the complaints head on.  You have to admire and respect a company that listens when people are not happy.  In my opinion, when I through the complaints, I noticed that the people that were complaining had failing businesses and to be honest with you, you really can't put that on SMC.  It's human nature to place the blame on someone or something then we fail.  But on the other side of the coin, there are those that have had huge success using SMC.  If you're still iffy on the whole thing, feel free to read this SMC review to get a better understanding of how it works.  There are many SMC money makers out there.  If you're willing to take that leap into being your own boss, do it with a company that has your back and will guide you through it.  It's better to have someone by your side to guide you, then to jump head first.  Later!

What's Your Website Worth?

Hey there.  Have you ever wondered how much your website is worth?  You hear big numbers from some of the more popular sites but for us small time blogging folk, how would we be able to determine how much our small piece of internet real estate is worth?  I went on a mission to find out how much metallman.com is worth and let's check out some of the numbers.


Website Outlook
Estimeted worth of metallman.com is USD 13074.3 according to websiteoutlook (Not so sure how much faith I can put in a site that misspells Estimated)

Urlappraisal.net

Your Estimated Site Worth Is: $8,020.21  (Not bad, I guess. Let's see what else we get)

Bizinformation.org 
Metallman.com Valuation $465,795.6  (Whoa! Check please! Wait... Paypal only!!!)

Webarbiter.com
Estimated value of the metallman.com is 73912,5 USD (And apparently that's the equivalent of 21 camels!  lmao!)

Well... as you can see, if you check the wrong the site you'll think that your site is worth a fortune!  It's tough to gauge how much the site is really worth.  Especially when it comes time to sell your domain.  I wouldn't sell my domain (unless bizinformation sends that half a million to my paypal account right away!).  Once you start blogging and have been doing it for several years, it's more of a way of life than a hobby. 

So, tell me friends.  What sites do you use to check up on your stats, worth, and visitors?  I'm curious to see what sites are accurate and which are not. As much as I would LOVE to believe that this site is worth half a mil, I know it's not.  I would love to be able to find that one site that would be able to accurately gauge where I stand.  Where I would know, just for the sake of knowing, how much I could potentially sell this site if push comes to shove.  Let me hear it friends.  Later!

I Need a New Computer. Maybe a Dell?

Hey there.  I'm in the market for a new computer.  Ever since I can remember, I've owned HP computers and each and every one has gone down in flames.  Well... not literally in flames but I've either had to repair it many times or get it replaced.  I think I'm ready to move on from HP and maybe try a Dell.  I've stumbled across a few Dell coupons and I'm thinking that it may be time to give one a try.

First off, I need both a laptop and a desktop.  Why both?  Well, I don't feel comfortable letting the kids use the laptop.  I just feel as if there are more fragile than a desktop and if they were to drop it while messing around, there's more chance of it being a goner as opposed to a desktop.  I figured that stepping into a store would be best to try the computers and have hands on experience but the best deals are definitely online.  Just check out these  Dell coupon codes that I've found.  20% off, $250 off, 25% off...  There are some great deals there.  It's just a matter of finding the computer that's best for me and the family.

But I wouldn't be savvy without checking out different sites.  I want the computers but I want them at the lowest possible prices and I think I found the Dell coupon codes that I'll be using.  Especially when I can get free shipping AND money off.  I don't need much, but I don't want a crappy machine either.  Maybe I should just build one from scratch.  Nah... I don't want to hassle with finding the parts.  Hopefully, I'll be able to start working from bed very soon.  Later!