For years spam emails have suggested ways to get money from Microsoft and eBay. (Mostly by forwarding the spam to everyone you know). Here, however, is a real way to get cash back from eBay and Microsoft. Just in time for holiday shopping, too!

Microsoft is paying cash rewards to use it’s search engine Live.com. Here’s how it works:

First, sign up for a Windows Live cashback account. Then search for a product you’d like to purchase by using Microsoft’s search engine Live.com. At the top of the search you’ll see an eBay link that says “Live Search” with the coin image above. Click on the link and complete your purchase with eBay’s “Buy It Now” feature.

You’ll get 25% of the purchase price, up to $200 total!

Fine print: The cashback deal is only available for 60 days after completing your purchase and must be deposited into a Paypal account. Also: only US searches qualify.

Enjoy!

Handing over your hard earned money to someone else is not easy to do (even if you are the least selfish person around). It takes a lot of time and effort to earn your money, so when times are tough it is hard to give it up as well. I’m definitely not saying that you shouldn’t borrow money to people, but there are many things that you should consider before you hand the money over.

How Long Have You Known the Person? – This is a huge consideration. It takes a lot to build a relationship and trust someone enough to pay you back. If you have just met someone and they are asking you to borrow $200 for example, how do you know if you will ever see that money again?

Have They Asked For Money Before? – If someone is consistently asking you for money then something is probably wrong. I understand that times are rough, but if someone is taking the money they borrow from you and going out to buy some new clothes then they didn’t really need the money in the first place probably (unless they had no clothes to begin with).

Are They Family? – The hardest people to say no to when it comes to money is your family. You definitely don’t want to step on anyone’s toes or make anyone upset that will ruin your family relationship. There is a great article from our partners at MainStreet.com about How to Say No When Family Asks For Money. It gives some great tips and makes you realize that saying no does not always have to be your answer.

Do They Already Owe You Money? – If someone hasn’t paid you back yet for money you have already borrowed them then it probably is not the best idea to lend them some more. Saying no is hard, but losing money that you might need in the long run is even worse.

Can You Actually Afford to Lend Them Money? – Times are tough for everyone. Although the person asking you for money might need some right now, you may realize that you will desperately need some in the future. When you work hard for your money you really need to consider yourself (and your family) first and foremost. You don’t want to lend money to someone one week and realize the next that you really need it back, because if something goes wrong and the person can’t pay you back right away, you might be the one asking for money.

Really think through some of your options before you lend someone money. It is a difficult situation to work through but one that needs consideration before you answer “yes” or “no”. Another consideration could be to ask the person if there is any other way you can help them besides lending them money, maybe there is something else that could be more beneficial to them. Whatever your answer may be, make sure you are looking out for your own financial situation as well.

Photo: Ronnie Bergeron

As the Obama administration takes shape, so do worries about how the government will pay for any health care reforms.

ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) can do amazing things.  If you have the stomach for risk, the following new entries to world of ETFs can help you stay in the black when the market turns red.

1. Short ETFs
ETFs that “short” the market are, in the simplest terms, betting that the market will go down.   For example, if you believe the Dow Jones Industrial Average will decline 3% in one day, you can purchase ProShare’s Short Dow 30 ETF - DOG.  If the Dow does go down 3%, this fund will increase 3%.  Of course, if you are incorrect and the Dow increases 5%, this fund will lose 5%.   It’s not limited to the Dow, a few more examples are PSQ which shorts the NASDAQ, and SH which shorts the S&P 500.

2. Ultra Short ETFs
Regular shorting not exciting enough for you?  If you’re ready to roll the dice for even greater potential returns, so-called “UltraShort” shares return two-times the market.   If you short the Russell 2000 Small Cap Index using ProShare’s TWM and it decreases by 8%, TWM will return an impressive 16%.  But again, if the Russell 2000 increases even a small 2%, this fund will lose 4%.  Ultra Short ETFs can be found to short the NASDAQ, the S&P 500, Mid Caps and more.

3. 3X Bear ETFs
If you’ve full on lost your mind for shorting and are absolutely convinced the market will tumble and fall down, down, down, there are also ETFs which short the market and return THREE TIMES the fall.  Direxion’s Large Cap Bear 3x Shares (BGZ) shorts the Russell 1000 three times its inverse.  Of course, this also means if the market rebounds you are set to lose three times as much as it increases.  Vegas, anyone?

4. Long ETF
It wouldn’t be fair to ignore the flip side.  You think the market has been beaten up as much as it can, the floor has been set and we’re ready to rebound.  So now you’re ready to “long” the market (the opposite of short, of course).  So you bet it will go up in price, instead of down.  “Sounds like a regular investment” you say, and of course, you’re right.  But in the vein of the multiplier ETFs mentioned above, you can also bet on the market going up and get two-times or three-times returns.  ProShares Ultra QQQ (QLD) aims to return twice the return of the NASDAQ 100 and Direxion’s Large Cap Bull 3X Shares (BGU) seeks daily investment results of 300% of the price performance of the Russell 1000 Index.

Keep in mind that these investments are extremely RISKY.  But if you play your cards right, the market can work in your favor, if it goes up or down.

By Grace Bastidas | MainStreet.com

The job cuts keep coming. Whether it is small business owners, or Citigroup (Stock Quote: C), which just announced more than 50,000 anticipated layoffs, it seems few jobs are safe.

Are you are someone in your family looking for work? Good luck. The number of unemployed Americans soared to 10.1 million last month, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, so competition is stiff. Job seekers need to network as much as possible, and a career fair is a great start.

“It’s an opportunity to get out there and see who’s hiring,” says Norm Meshriy, a career counselor based in Walnut Creek, Calif.

Here’s how to put your best self forward:

BEFORE:
Organize the essentials. Proofread your resume and make sure it’s up-to-date, error-free, to-the-point and print out at least a dozen copies of it. Order business cards —“even if they just have your name and some simple information,” recommends Meshriy. And if you want extra credit, set up a Web site that showcases your professional image.

Research the companies in attendance. “The way to stand out to a recruiter or hiring manager is to know about the company,” says Meshriy. Find out about their structure, services, hiring practices, and needs.

Prepare a 30-second pitch. “You want to include who you are, where you are from, one interesting thing you have done, what you are looking for, and what you need from the person you are speaking to,” writes life coach Deborah Brown-Volkman in the book, Don’t Blow It! The Right Words for the Right Job.

Plan your outfit carefully. “You don’t want to look too dressed up—too in need,” says Meshriy. “But you don’t want to look too casual, so that they can’t picture you in a work setting.” Dress as if you were going in for an interview.

DURING:
Get there early. “I always recommend that they get there while people are setting up so that they can walk around and see where their target companies are, and so that they can set their priorities,” says Meshriy. “Usually, the most animated people are more interested in filling those positions,” he says.

Be clear about your objective. “What do you want to gain by attending? Do you want a new job? Do you want to meet a specific person? Do you want information or an informational interview? How many people do you want to meet? You cannot get what you want unless you know what you want,” writes Brown-Volkman.

If you’re nervous, take a deep breath and introduce yourself—this is where your 30-second “commercial” comes into play. “You want to be professional, direct, courteous, and conscious of the potential employer’s time,” says Lynn Berger, a career coach in New York City. Chances are there’ll be a line of job seekers behind you. “You don’t want to be the person that hogs all their time,” adds Berger. “You want to move around.”

Network effectively. Before you leave each booth or station, offer the recruiter a copy of your resume and ask for a business card on which you can jot down notes about your conversation. “Most importantly, ask for permission to follow-up,” says Berger. “Ninety-nine out of 100 people will say yes,” says Meshriy. “By asking at the fair, you put your foot in the door.”

AFTER:
Follow up. You can measure success by how many job leads you learned about, according Brown-Volkman. The trick is to follow-up by calling or emailing within a week. “Then, keep following up with that person until you get the desired interview or assistance you need.” Chances are you need them more than they need you so be patient, but persistent.

Lastly, send a thank you note to each person you spoke with. “I’m a bit old-fashioned, I like a card in the mail,” says Meshriy, who believes a hand-written letter goes a long way. It’s a simple step that can make a lasting impression.

Here’s a brief view of conversations happening across Geezeo right now. What say you?

Do You Know? Common versus Preferred Stock
Do You Agree? Car pooling saves loot
Buy, Hold, or Sell? El Paso Corp
First Time Homebuyers: Does size matter?
Eat In Tonight? How much do you spend on food monthly?
What If: You Had a Cool Million?
Check Up: How is your IRA and investment doing?

Let’s be honest, nobody wants to pay taxes but it is just one of those things that needs to be done. As a recent college graduate, my dad has always done my taxes for me. I know that many graduates are in the same situation as I am: what do I do now?

Here are some tips that might help you get through your first round of taxes:

1. Ask for Help – Your parents, friends, or other family members are not going to say no if you ask them for help with filing your taxes. If you are confused it is better for you to ask someone to walk you through them your first time instead of doing it wrong and continuing to do it wrong in the years to follow. Ask if you could sit down with someone while they do their own taxes (yes, this may be extremely boring but you will learn a lot).

2. You Don’t Need to Pay Someone – My friend paid someone a few years ago to help her with her taxes and realized it was a huge waste of money since everything got messed up. Don’t leave your taxes to someone else. Turbo Tax can be extremely helpful and gives you step by step instructions on what to do. I’m not saying that paying someone will end up poorly for you, but if you are trying to save some money then try doing your taxes by yourself first.

3. Don’t Try to Skip Out on Taxes – It won’t help you in the long run to avoid paying your taxes. If you get paid in cash under the table and do not get taxes taken out, you don’t want to try to avoid filing your earnings with the government. Yes, some people may slip through the cracks, but there is a chance that you may not and the consequences may be more than you want to pay. According to our partners at MainStreet.com, more than 50% of taxpayers will be audited during their lifetime when it comes to their taxes. Don’t take risks or try to find loopholes because you could be one of these people!

4. Consider All Your Options – There are so many ways that you can get some money back on your taxes. In an article at MainStreet.com, Sean Leviashvili explains all the areas that you should consider while filing for your taxes such as your 401(k), property taxes, and charitable contributions. Check out the article here for more information about how these and other areas can help you save money on your taxes this year.

Taxes won’t be fun so doing it for the first time might be a little bit stressful. Nobody likes doing their taxes (except for maybe those that do them for a living) but it is something that needs to be done. Check out some advice from our Geezeo users in the Grim Reaper: Death, Taxes, Wills, Lawsuits, etc. group!

Photo: Aldo Garza

I myself must admit that I am a bit of a coupon-a-holic.  But consider my results - on a good shopping trip, combining coupons and sales, I have saved nearly $100 off of my grocery bill!  And it’s not on items that we wouldn’t normally use.  It’s items that we can stock up on because we use them so often.  It makes sense that if you can, you should.

Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with another self-proclaimed coupon-a-holic and Geezeo user - Jenni (aka jkbrigham).  We talked about how to find ways to save money and some of her best experiences.   Read on to find out more!

Jenni, one of the ways you find to cut back on your family spending is by using coupons.  How long have you been doing this?

On and off for about 4 1/2 years.  More on than off really.

Did you ever get to the point that you felt it wasn’t worth the time anymore to do this?  And why?

At times yes!  When we’re in a financial position where we don’t have to be as particular with spending  it’s pretty easy to think “Hey - we have the money, why bother with the coupons” but I always end up couponing again - it’s an addiction I suppose, but if an addiction can save money instead of spending it I’m all for it!

Jenni, if you will, recall your favorite couponing experience.

There are a couple. The first was about 2 years ago.  The local grocery store was having a HUGE double/triple coupon sale (unfortunately this place closed - I MISS IT!) - they were doubling coupons up to $1.00 and tripling coupons up to $0.75.  I got everything lined up and ready and Austin and I went shopping!!  At the register the total was $163.00 - after coupons we paid $3.00. It was GREAT!!

Then recently there was another HUGE coupon trip.  No doubles or triples, just a LOT of planning and hunting deals.  Before coupons my total was $138.61, after it was only $42.79 and I ended up with about 15 lbs of free beef (ground, steaks, etc).  So that means I saved 95.82 on coupons and sales.  My best friend couponed with me that night and saved over $100.00 on her groceries as well - that’s nearly $200.00 off total just by planning and clipping!

What advice would you two like to pass on to others about the benefits of couponing (or, if any, the pitfalls)?

Couponing can be a real blessing to your family as long as you remember a few things - don’t buy it JUST because you have a coupon.  Do you use the item? Is the store brand still cheaper than the after coupon price? All important!  Stock up only as much of an item as you will use before they expire.  Sure something might be free or cheap with a coupon, but if 1/2 of them will end up in the garbage then you’re not really doing yourself a favor by buying them.  Plan your list and menu (YES I plan a menu before I shop - eliminates those expensive mid-week ”forgot something” trips!) according to your coupons and sales to save the most money.

Pitfalls - its WORK.  It is fun but it is also work.  Hunting through the papers for coupons and sales, looking online for printable coupons, calculating prices per ounce - all of this takes time and patience but in the end it IS worth it.  You will save so much money!

Thanks again Jenni, for taking the time to sit down and talk with Geezeo about your experiences.  Ryan at Frugal In Virginia wrote about being married to a coupon-a-holic.  Check out what he said.

Also Financially Frugal Families is a group here on Geezeo that you can go to in order to find some more tips on ways to save some money.

By Peter McDougall | MainStreet.com

Keeping your financial house in order is important. It’s even more crucial if you recently lost your job.

“Failing to manage your finances during unemployment could affect your credit report and hurt your chances of landing a new job,” says Mechel Glass, director of education at the Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Greater Atlanta.

For the first time since 2001, the economy has lost more than a million jobs in a single year, which means a lot of people are struggling to make ends meet. Here are a few financial tips to consider if you’ve lost your job.

Cash vs. Credit

If you have an emergency reserve or a rainy day fund, use that to pay necessary expenses including medical and grocery bills before turning to credit cards or other debt. Taking on debt when you have lost your income stream is a recipe for disaster. It may seem like a viable solution in the short term, but it will leave you in a financial hole when you finally get back on your feet.

Re-Evaluate Expenses

Trim spending as much as possible. Food, medicine and regular bills such as mortgage and utility payments are essential expenses. Consider cutting anything you can do without, such as new clothes, movie tickets, eating out or even cable TV. Expenses related to your job search, however, should remain untouched. Even though you aren’t getting paid for it, looking for work is now your full-time job and an essential expense.

Pay Your Debts

A third of your credit score is based on how promptly you pay off debt, and protecting that score is key to limiting the long-term damage of unemployment. Keeping up with minimum payments on existing credit-card balances not only protects your credit score, but also wards off penalties that could weigh you down even further. Make sure to keep current with mortgage payments.

Contact your lenders to explain the recent loss of income and find out if there is a way to defer or reduce payments. If you can no longer make your mortgage payments, contact a mortgage counselor at HopeNow (1-888-995-HOPE), a government-approved coalition of companies in the mortgage industry that provide free foreclosure-prevention assistance.

Seek Help

Before weeks turn into months, consider seeking help from an organization such as the CCCS of Greater Atlanta. A counselor can help set up a realistic budget and provide help working with creditors to avoid defaulting on loans. Counselors can help consumers who are in financial trouble as well as those at risk of getting into trouble.

Contact your town hall or county government to find out what social services are available. Residents of most states can also contact United Way’s 211 by dialing 2-1-1 to get in touch with local food banks and low-cost services such as day care.

If you still have a job but are worried about job security, consider implementing some of these tactics before receiving a pink slip. Taking a more conservative line with your finances, including building up a bigger emergency fund, can make a few months of unemployment a lot easier to get through.

“Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.”, once said uber-investor Warren Buffett.

Now that the economic tide is retreating there are a lot of nervous people self-consciously wondering and worrying what others might think — much like the pink-parts-exposed soul who accidentally wanders from the nudist beach to the one requiring clothes. (Embarrassing!)

How do you find out if you’re “swimming naked”? Easy. You’re getting a little nervous. Maybe even getting a bit panicky.

Here’s the thing: there’s a lot of panic these days. Now is the time to reject the group mentality and get dressed up in some chin-up confidence when it comes to managing your money. Here’s how.

Beware, critics. It’s good to listen to constructive criticism. But you can save yourself a lot of anxiety if you politely decline listening to lengthy complaints about the national or local economy. Misery loves company and these complaints won’t help you.

Instead, focus on what you can control. There are aspects of our economic meltdown over which you as an individual have no control. Here are a few things you can control: your attitude, your strategy, and your willingness to adjust accordingly and accept change. All of these are critical skills that go hand-in-hand with nuts-and-bolts budgeting.

Reduce your overhead as much as possible and build your cash cushion. Now is a great time to pay off your debts and start building that emergency fund. Both are big goals here at Geezeo and you can find encouragement from others who are working to do the same thing.

Look for golden opportunities. Warren Buffett also said “a public-opinion polls is no substitute for thought.” While everyone else is worrying you can take the lead and see opportunities others may miss.

Chin up!