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In last weeks episode I talked about why starting a blog is a great way to generate extra revenue and improve your finances but this weeks episode I thought I would take things a step further and talk about something a bit more advanced that has really helped me out over the last few years, outsourcing. For a long time I wanted to outsource stuff and I really had no idea of how to do it, I did some research and joined a course that gave me all the basics to show me exactly how to do it. Now this doesn't mean you need to go out and hire a VA (virtual assistant) but rather at the very minimum to have someone who can help you out with smaller projects that you can't or don't want to do. In fact in early 2012 I hired a writer for 6 months so I could learn things like outsourcing and use that new information to improve my business while my writer could keep things moving along for me. The truth is outsourcing can sound very scary but I kind of describe it more like a blessing in disguise, and it's something that I wished I had known about a lot sooner. So in this episode I'm going to give you some big tips to help you get started with sites like Elance and show you how utilizing outsourcing can leverage your business much faster. So check this episode out now. In This Episode... • I’ll show you have to find qualified people that will help you get your business up and running fast. • I’ll show you how to get quality work done for much less than you think. • And Finally I’ll share the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to outsourcing. Links Mentioned In This Episode  SFP Episode 11 - In this episode of the Stumble Forward Podcast I talked about why starting a blog is a great way to earn some extra income. Fiverr.com - If you are looking to outsource stuff on the cheap this is a great place to get everythings from writers, to voiceovers, to graphics done for just $5. James Scott On Fiverr - This is the voiceover I used on Fiverr who did the voice for my podcast intro. Elance - This is another site I outsource to that allows me to get bids from other people. Virtual Freedom Book - This is a new book by Chris Ducker that talks all about working with VA's and outsourcing for your online business. Wrapping Up Wrapping up in this episode outsourcing is very simple and you don't need to have any success or even a lot of money for that fact to get up and running.  So if you are looking to do something with your online busines

When it comes to improving your finances their are a lot of different ways to go about doing this.  One that has worked well for me was starting this blog.  Starting this blog has helped me pay off my credit card debt, and save extra cash on the side. More than that I've been able to take my family some great vacations from a cabin in the mountains of Virgina, to going to the beaches of Hilton Head, South Carolina. On top of that I've been able to attend conferences such as Affiliate Summit Central, and the Share A Sale Think Tank which were both held in Austin, Texas.  The income from my blog is also allowing me to attend the FINCON Expo which will be held in New Orleans this coming September. Finally, the biggest thing I was able to achieve with my extra income was that I was able to build a brand new house and this was no easy thing to accomplish but it was one goal I really wanted to achieve and in 2013 I was able to do just that.  Below is a picture of what my house looks like.   Now I don't say all this to brag but rather to show this is what you can accomplish if you start a blog.  Now I'm not going sugar coat things and make it sound like it was just that easy because it wasn't. In 2008 I was living a paycheck to paycheck lifestyle and I had to work very hard and I am very thankful for the opportunities I have been given and the goals I have achieved so far. I should also mention that I am in no way anywhere close to where I want to be yet but when it comes down to it, it's the journey I enjoy and I know some great things are in store yet and I can't wait to get going. So if you haven't listen to this episode now. In This Episode... • I’ll give you the good and the bad when it comes to starting a blog. • I’ll also give you a simple method you can use to create income fast. • Finally I'll share a few tools I used to get my blog up and running fast. Links Mentioned In This Episode Modest Money Top Finance Blogs - Use this tool to seek out and find other top notch finance blogs such as this one. Smart Passive Income - A great blog that shows you unique ways to earn a passive income online. Namecheap - Where I buy my domain names for my websites. Hostgator - The hosting company I'm currently using to host my blog. Bluehost -  Another hosting company I'm considering moving to. Stumble Forward Podcast Episode 10 -  In this episode of the SFP podcast I interviewed Harry Campbell and talked about ways to ear

In today's episode of the Stumble Forward Podcast I have a very special episode for you.  First off, it's my 10th episode and I can't believe things have gone this fast. I launched this podcast at the beginning of March and it's already been two months.  I guess it's like they always say, time flies when you're having fun. On top of being my 10th episode I also decided it was time to bring on my first guest to the podcast and I've brought on none other than Harry Campbell of YourPFpro.com Harry and I have been great internet friends for some time now,exchanging a lot of emails back and forth sharing ideas, and tips to improve our online businesses.  More than that he has been earning income in a lot of different way from real estate, to blogging, and much much more. So if you are looking for some unique ways to earn a little extra income this is an interview you will definitely not want to miss to so check it out now. In This Episode... Learn how Harry lands his freelancing jobs using his unique resume approach. Learn about the different ways Harry goes about earning extra income with his blog. Learn about some of the new ways Harry is going about earning extra income with his car. Links Mentioned In This Episode Harry's blogs and guides Your PF Pro - Harry's personal finance blog. The Ultimate Guide To Understanding Your 401k - Harry's complete guide to 401k planning. The Four Hour Work Day - Harry's other blog helping you work less, save more, and live more.  I didn't mention this blog in the podcast but I thought I would mention it as well. Tools To Earn Extra Money Online Google Adsense - A free advertising program that allows you to put ads on your site and earn extra income on a per click basis. Commission Junction - An affiliate network that allows you to work with advertisers. FlexOffers - This is another affiliate network that Harry uses to work with advertisers as well. Freelancing Tools Harry Uses Elance - Is an online market place to find all sorts of online freelancing work. Problogger Job Board - Is a great place to go to find other freelance writing jobs. Unique Ways To Extra Money Uber - A unique program that Harry is using to drive people around and make extra money with his car. Conferences  Fincon Expo - This is a unique conference that connects money and media, from personal finance bloggers to industry professionals and is one where  Harry and I will both be in attendance at this year.

In today's episode of the Stumble Forward Podcast I talk about a unique way to pay off your credit card debt in a much faster way. Today the average american carries roughly $15,000 of credit card debt and what's worse is most of us struggle to get this debt paid off, often times taking us years to do. In my case I had $6500 of credit card debt it was going to take me over 3 years to get this debt paid off.  It was at this point I decide their had to be a better way. So I did a lot searching and thinking and eventually came up with a plan that allowed me to pay this debt off in one months time.  Now I don't claim that everyone can do it as fast as I did but even if it cut half the time off it would be worth it. So check the episode now. In This Episode... I’m going to share how I paid off $6500 in credit card in 1 month. The process I used to help me pay off this debt. I’m also going to share the tools I use to make this happen. The Process I Used To Pay Off $6500 of Credit Card Debt Ask The Right Questions.  The first step to paying off your credit card debt is to ask the right questions.  A lot of time we ask all the wrong questions when it comes paying off your debt.  Find out the right questions you should ask in this episode. Put A Budget Together. The next step is to put together a budget and start looking at different ways that you could improve your budget and financial situation the fastest. Take Action.  Finally, with all the different ideas in front of you it's time to take action and focus on one course until successful. Links Mentioned In This Episode FreeMind -  A free mind mapping software. Mint.com - A free budgeting software. Debt Snowball Spreadsheet - A free spreadsheet program to help you organise and pay off your debt. Wrapping Up Wrapping up, it can take you as long as you want or as short as you want to pay off your credit card debt, but you just need to be willing to take responsibility and do it. So take some time and follow the steps I laid out in this episode and you should be on a path paying down you credit card debt in no time. Finally, if you get a chance subscribe to my podcast and leave a review which you can do over in iTunes and Stitcher. Check out the links below and do that now. Click here to subscribe via iTunes. Click here to subscribe via Stitcher. Thanks for listening and I will see you in the next episode.

If you've ever considered starting your own website and even more making money with that website you may think you could just follow a few of the popular bloggers and everything would just magically come together.   The truth is starting a website has become a really tough thing these days. Now I'm not talking about the technical end of things but rather the marketing end of things.  When it comes down to it their are tons of other websites out there and if you think your idea has never been thought of before think again.   The web has become a crowded and noisy place and it's only going to get worse. Today, in order to stand out and be successful you need the right tools and more importantly the right mentors to guide you in the right direction.  That's why in today's episode I'm going to talk about the 3 internet marketing courses that I recommend that will guide you to success. These are all course that I've personally dealt with at one point or another, in fact I'm still in two of them to this day.  When it comes down to it mentors will put you on the fast track to success like I mentioned in last weeks episode when I covered the 7 things you should be looking for before you join an internet marketing course. Finally, most importantly these courses have some great vibrant communities behind them and that alone is worth the cost to join them. So check out this weeks episode and share your comments below. In This Episode... Learn about the 3 internet marketing courses that helped me earn over $30,000 online. Get an inside look at what each course specifically offers and how they can benefit you. Find out which course I recommend as the best course to be a part of and why. 3 Internet Marketing Courses I Recommend The School Of Internet Marketing.  This course covers some very in depth topics from getting your site up and running to starting your very own affiliate program. Fizzle. The is a newer course that just came out in the last few years but they cover tons of topic and even have some of the top people online teaching them. Internet Business Mastery Academy. In you learn exactly what it takes to create and start your own online freedom business from things like lifestyle design to attracting qualified buyers. Links Mentioned In This Episode Debt Roundup The School of Internet Marketing Fizzle Internet Business Mastery Academy Ken Evoy's ebook JamesMartell.com Zen Habits Wrapping Up In the end it's th

In this episode of the Stumble Forward Podcast I talk about the 7 things you should look for before you join an internet marketing course.  I recently just joined my seventh, yes you heard me right, seventh internet marketing course and over the years of doing this I've learned a lot of things. I've learned what key things need to be in place in order to find the course that will not only help you grow your online business but also to help you solve the specific needs that your business offers. Now I must admit I've joined some great courses over the years and I've also joined some really bad courses and the one thing that I can tell you that makes the biggest difference is how much research you do before you join that will determine how successful things will be later. So check out the episode now. In This Episode... Learn how to pick the right internet marketing  course that fits your needs. Learn what is a good price top pay for for an online marketing course. Learn what the biggest benefit is to joining an online marketing course. Learn how I research courses before I join them. Learn about the two basic types of courses out there and which one is right for you. 7 Things You Should Know Before You Join An Internet Marketing Choose a program that fills a specific issue you are dealing with.  Determining what you really need to know before you join a course. What formats does the course offer.  Is the course all video, audio, or just text, or does the course offer all three of these options. Consider who is doing the training.  Knowing who is doing the training is very important, because you always want to be learning from the best. On top of that learn how I evaluate courses before I join them. Consider the cost and guarantees.  When you join a course it's very important to understand how the cost plays a role in it as well, and do they offer a guarantee. Is the program continually updating and adding new content. Courses that are not up to date may be giving outdated info that could be hurting your business. Is the course offer a specific direction.  Joining course that are more step by step and take you through the process tend to be much more helpful. Does the course have a strong community behind it. Finally, what kind of community does the course have.  Are they inviting and helpful or are they just looking to benefit themselves?  Knowing these things upfront will help you in the long run. Links Menti

In this episode of the Stumble Forward Podcast I talk about four ways you can go about selling your timeshare and not get ripped off in the process.  If you are someone who is looking to sell your timeshare this is definitely not an episode you will want to miss. In episode 2 I talked about why you should not by a timeshare and covered some of the pitfalls that come along with them but in this episode I thought I would continue the conversation a little an talk about the real problem that comes with timeshares, selling them once you don't want them anymore. I lived through this situation and can tell you from first hand experience that they can be very hard to sell.  In fact it took me nearly 4 years to get my sold and on top of that I lost a lot of money in the process.  This is because the sellers market for timeshares can be very harsh if you don't know what you're doing. Over the four year period I lost $1100 to these scammers which really hurt my financial situation at the time but I did manage to get a portion of that money back and I will share this as well in this episode So check out this episode now. What You'll Learn In This Episode Learn the simplest way  to get your timeshare sold today. Learn why you should never pay money up front to sell your timeshare. Learn how I got my money back from timeshare resale companies. Learn what you could do to make some extra cash from your timeshare. Finally, learn why some options may not be worth it. 4 Ways To Sell Your Timeshare Timeshare Resale Companies.  When it comes down to it these companies have been known to dupe a lot of people into believing they can sell their timeshare but this just isn't the case.  I bought into 2 of these companies and one was even the biggest known resale company in the industry I didn't get one of offer from them. eBay and Craigslist.  Ebay and Craigslist are two other options to consider as well but this doesn't alway guarantee results either.  In fact these options could be just as costly as well.  In this episode I cover what you should know before you consider putting your timeshare on an auction site. Donating Your Timeshare.  Donating your timeshare might also sound like a valid option as well but again their can be some huge upfront cost to contend with and just because you want to donate your timeshare doesn't mean they will take it. Doing A Buy Back Option.  Finally, the last way to go about selling your timeshare is to con

In this episode of The Stumble Forward Podcast I'll be covering the 6 most important tips to doing your estate planning and avoiding probate court.  Back a few years ago I actually did this with my own financial situation after seeing a movie that really moved me emotionally to take action. In this movie a young couple was killed in a car wreck leaving their young child in the hands of two individuals who had no experience with kids.  Fortunately this couple had an estate plan and will all in place and were able to side step things like probate court and  dealing with who will actually get custody of their kids and possessions. Almost a week later my wife and I were meeting up with our lawyer to discuss our will and estate plan.  In those few meeting we laid the ground work for our kids future in the event something were to happen to my wife and I. Now I know this is a topic we all need to talk about at one point or another but it shouldn't be when something like this makes us finally see the light but rather before these things happen. So in this podcast I will cover the 6 big things I learned while setting my will and estate plan and hopefully you will be able to benefit from this information as well. What You'll Learn In This Episode Learn why need to have a will in place and how it could cost big if you don't. Learn how your property deed should be set up in order to prevent probate court. Learn how to set up your financial accounts so they get passed on properly. Learn how to set up your will so you don't give to much power to one particular person. Learn why you need to inform others who are going to be in your will. Finally, learn why double checking your will over could save you some big headaches down the road. 6 Tips To Estate Planning Make Sure Your Home Is Deeded Correctly.  Having your home deeded in both spouses is very important and if it's not it could but you in a very bad position. Set Accounts Up As Joint with Rights To Survivor. Did you know how you set up things as simple as your savings account could make a big difference as to what your loved ones will get.  This is often one of the most over looked things in estate planning. Review Your Beneficiaries.  Reviewing your beneficiaries is very important and must be done on an ongoing basis because beneficiaries will trump your will everyday of the week.  On top of that I also discuss the common mistakes people make with their beneficiaries as well.

In this episode of the Stumble Forward Podcast I will be covering my 9 tips to finding cheap airline tickets.  Recently I just booked my flight to Fincon#14 also known as the Financial Bloggers Conference.  When it comes to purchasing tickets for these kinds of things I typically follow some very specific steps in order to find the best deal. In fact I was able to land my tickets for $283 which is a really damn good deal.  When I compared the surrounding airports over a several week period I found that getting a better deal than that was pretty much nonexistent. On top of that what's also very interesting is that I actually bought the tickets right from my smart phone which is something I've never done before but I couldn't resist the deal and I jumped on it right away. In the end great deals for airline tickets are out there you just have to know how to find them and in this podcast episode you will learn the 9 things I'm doing to find cheap airline tickets. What You'll Learn In This Episode Learn how I like to shop for airline tickets online Learn about the travel sites I use to find the best deals Learn which day is the best day to book your fight Learn what triggers higher flight cost and why prices with other flights are cheaper Learn how some airlines may vary prices based on the device you use 9 Tips To Finding Cheap Airline Tickets Start Looking Ahead Of Time -  Don't waste time and start looking for tickets way in advance, in fact you typically start looking 330 days in advance. Consider The Day You Fly - The day you book your flight and the day you plan to leave because they can have a dramatic on the price you pay. Consider The Time Of Year and Destination -  Figure out when the cheapest time of year is to fly to your target destination is and it could save you hundreds. Be Flexible - Consider being flexible as possible and wait for the best deals to find you instead of chasing them down by having them sent straight to your inbox. Consider Stand By - If you have the time consider holding back by going on Stand By if your airline is looking for people to hold back for the next flight and and you could get some free tickets for your next flight. Get A Rewards Credit Card - Sign up for a rewards credit card and get your airline tickets paid for by just paying your regular monthly bills. Check Airfare Watchdog - Airfare Watchdog allows me to check several sites all at once and find the best deal.  You will

In this episode of the Stumble Forward Podcast I'm going to be talking about a new credit card scam and chances are if you've gotten a new credit card lately you may now even be at a greater risk of having your info stolen due to a new technology that credit cards are using to make purchasing stuff easier and faster. Yup, I'm not even kidding about this, the credit card companies are putting you at risk.  Now later on in this article I have a video you don't want to miss on how this scam works, but first I want to talk about this new technology is and after the video I will give you some actionable steps to avoid this from happening to you. What You'll Learn In This Episode How this scam works without even touching or seeing your credit card. How to protect yourself from this scam. How to know if you are at risk of this scam. What Are RFID Credit Cards First off, RFID stands for Radio Frequency IDentification.  Below is the actual definition that Wikipedia defines as an RFID card. Definition: RFID Credit Card - A contactless smart card is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits that can process and store data, and communicate with a terminal via radio waves. What this basically means is that any card that is RFID enable will have a small micro chip implanted on it that carries all of you vital credit card information on it.  On top of that the chip is also gives out a radio frequency which allow the card to be waved  in front of a scanning device and they will instantly take your info. Getting a little nervous yet?  If you are like me you might be wonder right now if your credit cards have this technology already on them, and their is a real quick way to tell if you do. A couple of things to look for are a little radio way signal or if the card has a name like PayPass, Paywave, or Blink, you have a card that has RFID technology.  Below are some pictures of what this might look like.                                                                                                                                                   How RFID Credit Card Fraud Works So before I get into more about this scam and how it works below is the video I promise on exactly how scammer are using this technology to rip unsuspecting people off. When it comes down to it these scammers don't need a whole lot of sophisticated tools to steel your credit cards and st

Welcome to episode 2 of the Stumble Forward Podcast.  In today's episode I talk about one the biggest financial mistakes I've ever made in my life, buying a  timeshare.  That's right buying a timeshare has been one of the biggest waste of money for me and has cost me thousands of dollars and I got very little in return once I did sell it. In fact buying that timeshare literally turned my life upside down.  It burned up a lot my cash and put me in some really tight situations that all could have been avoided if I would have only turned down the offer.  However when I look back on the way things turned out I realize this mistake only made me a better person with my finances. In fact I probably would have never started this blog, podcast, or even got into financial services if I had not lived through that mistake, and sometimes that's what needs to happen in order for us to make a change for the greater good. So check out my story in this podcast of my biggest financial mistake, and on top of that I will also give 5 reason you do not want to buy a timeshare, and finally I will also share 3 things you need to look for if you are considering the idea of buying one. What You Can Expect To Get Out Of This Episode Learn why timeshares sales reps must be avoided. Learn how much timeshares can really cost you big. Learn what the biggest problems are with owning a timeshare. Learn how to find a timeshare for cheap and buy them for pennies on the dollar. Learn the right way to buy a timeshare without getting ripped off.  5 Reason You Should Not Buy A Timeshare Timeshares Are Not Real Estate.  Timeshares are nothing more than a piece of time, one week to be exact.  On top of that they do not grow in value either. Use Them Or Lose Them.  When it comes to timeshare you only have so much time to use your allotted week or you will lose them. Tons Of Fees Attached to Them. Timeshares can have some big fees attached to them such as maintenance fees, network fees, and exchange fees just to name a few. High Loan Interest Rates.  If you also decide to get financing through the resort know that the interest rates can be ridiculously high, in fact mine was 16% Impossible To Sell.  Finally understand that timeshares can be very hard to sell, in fact it took me over 4 years to get mine sold, and then when I did get it sold I only got 10% of the value. What To Look For If You Still Want To Buy A Timeshare What Kind Of Resort Is It.  Kno

Welcome my very first episode of the Stumble Forward Podcast! In this episode I will be covering  the basics of what this podcast will be about going forward and why I decided to start it. When it comes down to it this podcast will be specifically about avoiding costly financial mistakes and inspiring people to take action on their finances.  This could be helping people avoid the latest scam to financial pitfalls. Also this week I will be doing two more podcast.  The first being the biggest financial mistake I ever made, and the third episode which will be talking about a new credit technology that could be putting you at risk of get ripped off. In the second episode I will go in depth to my biggest financial mistake, buying a timeshare, which ended up costing me thousands of dollars and is probably the sole reason I started my blog and podcast in the first place.  On top of that I will also be sharing 5 reasons why you do not want to buy a timeshare and what to look for if you still would like to buy a timeshare. In the third episode I will be sharing a new technology that credit card companies are using that could be putting you at risk of having your credit card info stolen and what's worse is that these scammers don't even have to touch you or see your credit card numbers to get it. Why Started This Podcast When it comes down to it I started this podcast because like working in financial services, I loved working with families across there kitchen table and helping them solve costly financial problems.  With this podcast it allow me work across this virtual kitchen table and share my thoughts and ideas. On top of that when I was just getting started in my early 20's I wish people would have shared this same advice with me and with this podcast it allows me to do that.  Now I can't go back and fix any of the mistakes I've made but with this podcast it gives me the chance to helps others avoid these costly mistakes and that to me is the most rewarding part to this all. So take some time and check out my first episode and share your thoughts in the comments below.  Finally, I should also mention that this podcast isn't available on iTunes just yet since I just submitted it but it should be by the end of the week so just bare with me since this is my first podcast but it will be up soon. Links From This Episode Pat Flynns Podcast Tutorial Cliff Ravenscraft's Podcasting 101 Tutorial Podcast Announcement Article Share your comments and thou