Don't worry if your spring cleaning has spilled into the fall months. Any time is a good time to get rid of the clutter in our homes. Besides a clean house, a wonderful side effect of getting rid of old junk is earning some extra cash; You would be surprised at how much money is hiding in your house.

Tim Luke, an appraiser and auctioneer who stars in HGTV's "Cash in the Attic," shares this intriguing tidbit: "From my travels around the country, I'm convinced that the average household has $1000 to $2000 of potential cash in stuff that they don't use."

That's a lot of money just sitting around.

When most people try to earn some money out of their stuff, they automatically think "garage sale". (Depending on where you live, you might also refer garage sales as a tag sale, estate sale, rummage sale or even as a white elephant sale.) While you might earn some cash from a sucessful sale, there are other ways to earn money from your old stuff. The secret is finding the right market for the things you need to sell.

Check out these tips to see if you can cash in from the odds and ends hiding in your home:

Read 'em and weep

If you have huge bookshelves full of material you're never going to read again (especially expensive textbooks) try selling them to other book sellers online. The best place to start is bookscouterwhere you'll see a listing of 40 companies that will buy your books PLUS pay for your shipping! Halfand Amazon also specialize in reselling your books.

Consign and dine

Consignment shops are terrific for selling used handbags, jewelry, antiques and furniture. Look here for a great resource to help you find shops willing to help you sell your higher ticket items. Just remember, your items need to be in good, if not great, condition.

Sell like Macklemore

Opening up a thrift shop may be a good option if you have a constant flow of things you'd like to sell. If you've ever thought about opening up a thrift shop, you can learn the ins and outs from the Association of Resale Professionals.

Old Money

If you have antiques that are very valuable, visit the go-to source for information about antiques and collectibles.

Going once, going twice....Sold

Try selling items auctions style (or set a fixed price) on Ebay.*

*If taking photos and writing descriptions of every item you want to sell sounds like a daunting task, you can simply take your stuff to a local Ebay drop-off store and they'll list your items for you. They will keep a percentage of your sale, but it does make things extra conveinent.

Similar items sell together

On Amazon, you can find your item and click "Sell one like this" to begin your listing. Amazon won't charge you unless your item sells. You can even ship your stuff to Amazon and then they'll do all the work for you.

Make friends with Craig

Craigslistis perfect for selling large items like treadmills and kayaks which would be extremely difficult to ship. Buyers are local and can pick up at your house or a neutral location.

Yardsale online

Yardsale.com is like a garage sale online. Sellers aren't charged a fee, but buyers pay a small service charge.

Craft for cash

Sell your homemade arts and crafts items by creating your own page to showcase your talent on Etsy! Another site that specialize in handicrafts is readwrite and is worth checking out.

Sporty spending

Sports equipment can be very pricey, so it's often insulting to receive an offer for a buck at a garage sale when you know you spent seventy bucks for it at the store! Check this site out to see if you have what they want.

The barter system

Another option is to trade your used stuff for something you'll actually use. Barter Clubs are set up all over the country, as well as online. You can exchange items or services on these web sites:

www.barterquest.com
www.bizx.com
www.u-exchange.com
www.swap.com
www.itex.com

Social media swap

Facebook has a marketplace where you can list items for sale and provides the social aspect to it that your friends' friends can feel comfortable knowing the buyer is a real person whom they can trust.

Donation, donation

Donate your stuff and take the tax break! Drop off any unsold items at a charity donation center, such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.

The IRS says that the fair market value of used items is the price that buyers would pay for them in a thrift shop. You need to keep a paper trail of your donations in case you ever get audited. (Shreek!) You'll get a receipt when you donate items to a charity, but if the value exceeds $500, you'll need to include Form 8283 with your tax return. If it's worth over $5000, you'll need to also send the IRS a written appraisal of gift. Luckily, you'll be able to deduct the cost of the appraisal, subject to the two percent limit for miscellaneous itemized deductions.

Last, but not least..

Finally, the best way to decrease the time and energy you need to sell your old junk is to stop buying so much new stuff! Live more and spend less!

The post 13 ways to make money dejunking your closet appeared first on FamilyToday.

A college education is one of the biggest investments a person will make in his lifetime - or a parent's lifetime. Let's look at the ABC's of funding Junior's future schooling.

A - Act now

College is probably going to cost a lot more than you think. A fantastic financial tracker like the several ones offered at Provident Living can help you figure out how much you're going to need to save each month. Tuition is only a part of the package. Room and board need to be included in your college expenses. According to a gro up of academic researchers, colleges post inaccurate financial information to prospective students about the cost of living in the cities where the students will be living. TuititionTracker is a tool that can help you set monetary goals by giving you an idea of actual costs by college listings.

B - Be sure

to do the math. According to Saving For College.com, the current published price of tuition, fees, room and board and other costs for the average four-year private college is $46,272. If costs continue to rise at 4 percent annually, the four-year sticker price of college for today's newborn will be about $398,000. Yikes! Let's say your goal is to save 25 percent of this cost by the time your daughter is ready for college. If your savings plan returns 6 percent annually, you can reach your goal with monthly contributions of $215. Bankrate is a helpful resource for parents who are overwhelmed with the math of it all.

C - Consider different forms of saving

The sticker price is what a college tells you it will cost to go to school there, but the net price is the lowered amount after scholarships or financial aid. One option is to create a 529 Savings Account, which is an investment tool that allows you to save money tax-free. The money will grow and can be used on any accredited college or university in the United States.

D - Don't lock into a particular school just yet

Prepaid tuition plans allow you to pay towards tuition in a given state, but what if you move or your child doesn't want to go there? You're better off creating a more flexible savings plan.

E - Education accounts can be set up that give you tax breaks,

like the Coverdell education savings accounts (ESA) or a Custodial account. They receive tax benefits and can only be used toward education costs. Talk to your local banker to see how their programs work.

F - Federal money is available

There are two federal tax credits in place to help make the cost of college more affordable. These credits are the American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. IRAs and Roth IRAs are also useful tools for setting money aside. There are certain restrictions, but they also provide tax benefits.

G - Google can help you find scholarships

and give you ideas for talents and skills that are in demand, which Junior could be encouraged to develop. There are a ton of them out there just waiting to be given away. There are a number of paid and free websites where you can also find scholarship information, but start with www.fastweb.com and www.scholarships4u.net Do a Google search to find out who is donating local grant money and research money, too.

Whether you or your children pursue higher education to improve career options or to enrich your lives, learning should be a lifelong goal. Now go out there and spend less to live more.

The post If you want your baby to go to college, this is how much you should be saving now appeared first on FamilyToday.

You name it, there's an app for that. Yes, even your spiritual growth. Your cell phone has the power to lift you to new heights by just the touch of a finger. Below are 10 faith-based mobile apps that are absolutely divine.

1.

Bible App - Free! It lets you read the scriptures and make notes with more than 1000 versions of the Bible available in 780 languages.

2.

Simply Being Free app! Choose music or nature sounds to relax to while praying, meditating, doing yoga, sleeping or to help you focus better.

3.

Favorite Hymns Hymnal Over 250 free hymns where you can search by lyrics, meter, or topic. Instruments play the hymns while you memorize the words or simply listen and enjoy.

4.

Instapray - Free! If you believe prayer really does change things, you'll love the group effort of millions of people praying from across the globe. Request a prayer or pray for someone else with over 35 million prayers in 195 countries in the world.

5.

ConZentrate. Perfect for meditation and Zen moments, this free app provides visual and auditory cues to help you stay focused during your quiet, contemplative moments.

6.

Change your Thoughts, Change your Life is a free app that includes inspiration from the famous Dr. Wayne Dyer. The app includes excerpts from his thought-provoking speeches and books to lift and inspire you. These make for motivating daily devotionals to help you improve your attitude and thoughts.

7.

Hay House Radio is a free app that gives you access to inspirational speeches that will elevate your soul.

8.

Gratitude Journal - The Life Changing App - $3.99 It allows you to focus on the positive things going on in your life and even allows you to add pictures to remind you of your many blessings.

9.

Daily Deepak - Oprah Winfrey introduced the world to the inspirational Deepak Chopra. This free app provides you with daily devotionals and inspiration.

10.

FamilySearch Our spirituality should bring us closer to others. This mobile app is connected to the world's largest genealogy database where you can find living relatives and ancestors. The most important thing in the world is family.

Here's an added bonus...

11.

VolunteerMatch- Going inward for spiritual growth should ultimately result in your reaching outward to love and serve others. This free app helps you find service projects in your area, matched with your interests and talents.

The post 10 faith-based apps that will rejuvenate your spiritual life appeared first on FamilyToday.

In a society that values Botox more than health, it is no surprise that increasing depression rates and plummeting self-image in women are the results. Sadly, a large number of women question and doubt the inherent beauty of their body and personal value. Too much emphasis is placed on what the mirror tells us about physical beauty, and that our value in society is determined by that judgment.

You know your wife has more value than what a piece of glass says. She wants to be beautiful for you, but she also wants assurances that her inner beauty is worth more.

Try sending some of these texts to your sweetheart to bring a smile to her heart today.

1. "Save those dirty dishes for me tonight. You work too hard and deserve a break!"

You're probably laughing about how un-romantic those words are, but you are wrong. Women want to feel appreciated. They do work hard and often feel their efforts go unnoticed. The fact that you have paid attention and want to step in to help will most definitely bring a smile to her lips. Want to score even more points? Text, "I'm bringing dinner home tonight!"

2. "Is there anything I can pick up for you on the way home from work tonight?"

Are you noticing a trend here? Your wife has a lot on her plate and any errand you can run for her eases her burden and increases her love for you. Even if she says she doesn't need anything, you've scored major points just for asking!

3. "Have I mentioned lately how much I love your gorgeous eyes? I'm thinking about them right now and it's making my heart skip a beat."

Sound corny? She'll eat it up — guaranteed.

4. "I watched you sleep this morning before you woke up. It reminded me how lucky I am to have you in my life."

She will never get tired of hearing sweet words like that. Women often wonder if their husband's eyes are wandering. Any time you can assure her that you're here to stay is a wise investment in your marriage.

5. "Thank you for everything you do for our family. I'm the happiest man alive."

She wants to make you happy. Sometimes homemakers feel less valuable than their money-making husbands. She wants to know that you recognize her valuable contributions to the family, and how they make a difference to your family's finances. Want to make her laugh? Text, "I was looking at our budget today and noticed you're not spending enough money. What can I buy you?"

6. "In case no one else says it to you, I just wanted to let you know that you're having a great hair day! You are the most beautiful woman in the world."

While she wants to be recognized for her inner beauty, she also wants you to think she's beautiful. Any time you can compliment her on something specific, she'll beam with joy. You can't lose by simply texting, "You look gorgeous today."

7. "How did I ever convince you to marry me? I'm the luckiest man in the world."

Who doesn't want to be adored by their spouse? She wants to feel like she is a highly valued prize. Let her know that your life is better with her in it and she'll work even harder to make you happy. Another text that works is, "I can't imagine my life without you."

8. "You're a great wife, busy mom and hard worker. So I'm wondering, how do you still manage to look so young and beautiful? You're a knock-out."

Seriously, what woman wouldn't want to be told this? The more texts like this you send to her, the more love you will get in return. It's a win-win!

9. "You are so beautiful inside and out. You make me want to be a better man."

A funny paradox is that a man marries a girl, hoping she'll never change. A girl marries a man, hoping he will change. A woman can always see a man's potential and she hopes that she's the one who can inspire the man to become even better. She wants to know that she motivates and lifts you to great heights. Another text that warms every woman's heart is, "I'm sorry. I was wrong." Even if you don't know what you did wrong, those words will turn an ice-cold greeting at the door tonight into a warm, loving one. Ultimately, does it matter who's at fault? It's better to be happy than right anyway.

10. "I love you."

Three words; a lifetime of happiness. She can never hear those words enough.

The post 10 texts that will score you major hubby points appeared first on FamilyToday.

Men and women think differently about sex. Here are five sex secrets your wife may not tell you.

Sex secret #1 - Help without being asked

Husbands, you need to understand something: getting in the mood starts outside the bedroom. It can often begin at the kitchen sink when you say you're going to do the dishes tonight. It can occur when you remember to take out the garbage before she has to nag you to do it. Nothing is more sexy to an exhausted new mother than watching her thoughtful husband change the diapers. It's one of the least known mysteries about women.

Sex secret #2 - Make it romantic

Men think about sex long before they're married, whereas women imagine marriage as a loving closeness. Women tend to think more romantically - candles, soft music, a warm embrace, loving words. Men tend to think more sexually. Women generally like sex because it makes them feel a closer connection to their husband. Men like sex because it's ... sex. Women want the loving experience; men need the physical affection.

Sex secret #3 - Make her feel beautiful

Most men are very visual. They are attracted to the female form. Most women generally would prefer to be intimate in the dark, mostly because they don't feel good about their own body.

A negligee or nightie is fun to receive as a gift every now and then, but if those are the only kinds of clothing she ever receives from you, she's going to get annoyed. She'll often be more thrilled with a new outfit she can actually wear out in public and brag to her friends that you gave her. She wants to be able to talk to her girlfriends about how thoughtful you are.

Sex secret #4 - Be understanding, not demanding

Men often (but not always) enjoy sex more than women. It's a sad, frustrating fact. For women, it takes a lot more physical and mental work to enjoy sex. Physically, it can be painful. Emotionally, women have to think about getting pregnant before and after every single time. A woman's entire life can be altered, and she knows it. A woman has to consider birth control measures every single day (especially if she is on "the pill"), a fact that might even make her feel resentful about intimacy.

There will be times when she would rather sleep, and so she offers it to you as a loving gift. Accept the gift and don't be offended if that's all that happens. It doesn't mean she doesn't love you. But don't be greedy about it; the more often it's unenjoyable for her, the more likely it is that she will never want sex. It then becomes a chore to her. Women want sex to be a special occasion, but if you demand it every day, it can become a task she dreads. Pace yourself.

Sex secret #5 - Tell her what you like about her body

OK, so what if she's had so many pregnancies that her figure now looks a little more ghoulish than girlish? Tell her what you love about her body, and be sincere. Remember that neither one of you is perfect.

Women often complain that all men want is one thing and that their evaluation of a woman is based entirely on physical attributes. Be careful in your praise of her external gifts to include some of her inner qualities so she knows it is the whole person you love.

You know when you watch some commercial on TV with a catchy jingle and then you can't get that song out of your head all day? If the power of suggestion can affect us that much from a source we really don't care about, think about how much it would affect us if it came from a source we really did care about. When your sweetheart hears you complain about what a terrible cook she is or how you wish her hair looked, then she begins to believe it. The opposite is true too; when she hears what a thoughtful wife she is, or caring mother, then she becomes those.

She wants to believe that you will keep pursuing her even after you've won her. She wants to feel like she's worth it to you. She wants to feel safe with you and know that you'll never leave.

Sexual intimacy should be a beautiful expression of love, not a power play. Showing kindness and trust during the day can enhance what happens at night.

The post 5 secrets about sex your wife doesn’t know how to tell you appeared first on FamilyToday.

If you and your special someone really want to understand each other, you need to know about "love languages."

In the last couple decades or so, there has been a lot of talk about love languages - a movement begun by Dr. Gary Chapman, author of "The 5 Love Languages." A love language is simply the way a person interprets actions or words, assigning meanings to those actions or words based on his experiences and values.

Discover your partner's love language. For example, does he feel loved when you buy him gifts, spend time with him or have long talks? Maybe he feels loved when you do acts of service for him or actually tell him those three magical words out loud - "I love you." As a couple, ask each other what actions you each can do to communicate your love. On the flip side, find out what behaviors send the message "you're not important" or "I just don't care anymore." Encourage your partner to be specific.

Asking these questions is a good first step. Be genuine, and your partner will be flattered and eager to teach you. Now, you may get a girl who is insulted by your questions and says something like, "Well, if you don't know my needs, there's no hope for us!" Yes, she's being dramatic, but her reaction may just be to test your sincerity. If she thinks your lack of mind reading skills means that you don't love her, just explain that you want to make sure you get things right because you truly want to please her. If she sees that you're sincere, she'll soften and open up her heart. Some women simply don't know how to tell their men what they want.

When my husband and I were first married, I began our life together by doing all the things I thought the perfect wife should do (based mostly on what I saw my parents do, what I read in books or observed on TV). I baked cookies and gourmet meals. I fussed over little things around the house. When I didn't get the grateful reaction I'd expected, I decided to find out what my husband really wanted in a wife. He didn't want all the sweets in the house to tempt his waistline, and he said he'd rather have a simple meal if it meant I was in the kitchen less and with him more. What a revelation! We wrote lists of what we both thought made "the perfect spouse" and were equally surprised at how differently we ranked various efforts.

Find out how your partner feels loved. Does she hear the words "I love you" when you bring her flowers or chocolates out of the blue, or do those words ring loud and clear when you volunteer to wash the dishes or do a load of laundry? (Hint: most women really want help with housework!) You may think you're supposed to buy an expensive gift for her on Valentine's Day (mostly because the ads on the radio tell you so), but maybe what she really wants is a handmade card that features your wit and charm or an hour of your undivided attention.

On second thought, you'd better show up with at least one flower - just in case. We don't want you to end up sitting in the dugout. A flower and a card really are the bare minimum on Valentine's Day. That's your head's up.

It's all about expectations. You two come from different backgrounds and life experiences, so your expectations are probably different. Find out what your partner hopes for and expects - then, write it down. And get that eraser out, because expectations will change as he or she changes and matures. Keep asking for updates.

Here's a simple exercise to get you started. Get all the main stats on your partner. These will come in handy when you're trying to come up with special gifts or acts of service to show your love. Find out your partner's favorite...

• Dessert

• Flower

• TV show

• Quote

• Holiday

• Song

• Restaurant

• Superhero

Once you determine the things that are important to your partner, incorporate those things into your expressions of love. Remember, it doesn't matter so much what you say or do. It's how your partner interprets your words and actions that determines whether or not he or she truly feels loved and understood. While romance is great, what your partner really wants is to feel supported in the things he or she values most.

The post How to love so deeply that you’ll never lose your sweetheart appeared first on FamilyToday.

Here are a few examples.

Men can compartmentalize. Women see the whole picture. That's why you ask yourself if the date went well at the end of the night, and she has already named your third child.

Men can focus on the task at hand. Women become distracted by the forest, making them unable to recognize the tree in front of them. That's one reason why men can hang Christmas lights and why women can't park their car backend first into a parking stall.

Men think rationally. Women think emotionally. That's why you pick out the cheapest birthday card at the store in two minutes, and she spends 20 minutes analyzing every nuance of how the receiver will interpret the card's canned message.

Men can turn off their brains. Women can't. That's why men can go fishing for hours and women will worry about whether or not the teal napkins at your wedding will coordinate with the salmon on the plate next to the calla lilies in the centerpiece on the table, especially if Aunt Paula is sitting next to cousin Brittany who recently returned from her trip to Japan where she"�

Men enjoy the moment. Women often can't enjoy the present because of what might happen in the future. That's why men can take a nap on the expensive designer pillows on the couch and women can only see how much it's going to cost to have them dry cleaned if dirt or drool get on them.

Men want to have fun. Women do too, but only after the floor has been vacuumed, the homework is finished, the next meal has been prepared, and"�

Men are generally more satisfied with themselves. Women are not. That's why a woman won't believe you when you tell her she's the prettiest thing you've ever seen.

Men don't notice details as well as women. That's why you can happily drive your dirty pick-up truck around town, and all she sees are the water bottles and hamburger wrappers scattered on the seats.

Men want to go from Point A to Point B. Women want to experience the journey. That is why men's sentences are short, and women's conversations last for hours.

Men don't have curves. Women do. That's why you want them.

Men have testosterone. Women have estrogen. That's why men want to get frisky, and women want to rock babies.

Isn't it wonderful that we're so different? Wouldn't life be boring if we were the same? We certainly wouldn't be attracted to each other if we were. Together, we complete each other.

If everyday items were designated as either male or female, they would further illustrate our funny differences.

FREEZER BAGS: They are male because they hold everything in, but you can see right through them.

PHOTOCOPIERS: These are female because once turned off, it takes a while to warm them up again. They are an effective reproductive device if the right buttons are pushed, but can also wreak havoc if you push the wrong buttons.

TIRES: Tires are male because they go bald easily and are often over inflated.

HOT AIR BALLOONS: Also a male object, because to get them to go anywhere, you have to light a fire under them.

SPONGES: These are female because they are soft, squeezable and retain water.

WEB PAGES: Female, because they're constantly being looked at and frequently getting hit on.

TRAINS: These are definitely male because they always use the same old lines for picking up people.

HOURGLASS: Egg timers are female because, over time, all the weight shifts to the bottom.

HAMMERS: Male, because, in the last 5000 years, they've hardly changed at all and are handy to have around.

THE REMOTE CONTROL: Female. Ha! You probably thought it would be male, but consider this: It easily gives a man pleasure, he'd be lost without it, and while he doesn't always know which buttons to push, he just keeps trying.

Married men and women have probably discovered some of these frustrating differences by now. Enjoy them. Love them. Laugh at them. Celebrate them!

The post How differently do men and women actually think? appeared first on FamilyToday.

All moms are working moms - they just might not get a big paycheck for everything they're doing. Raising children is the hardest, most rewarding job you'll ever do. But if there are bills to pay or you want to keep career skills fresh while staying at home with your kids, there ARE work options.

You need to get more creative, especially if you want to work from home. Rather than posting a resume on Monster, which will mostly result in getting you a ton of junk mail, try connecting with people you already know on Linkedin or searching for local jobs at Craigslist or Backdoor Jobs

You can also find some terrific freelance jobs online based on your expertise, at sites such as:

• Sologig
• Elance
• Guru
• Sidejoblist

If you're artistic, you can get paid for your creativity and accept as many or as few jobs as you'd like at:

• Logoworks
• Logos for websites

Sell your photography skills at:

• 123RF
• Shutterstock
• Fotolia
• Crestock

Virtual customer service jobs allow you to assist other companies from your computer. If you have a landline, a computer, and your home is quiet, you can take incoming calls for companies or help them with data entry tasks. See who is hiring at:

• Arise
• Liveops
• Homeworking

Mystery shopping is one of my all-time favorites for getting paid to do something you'd already do, like get an oil change, see a movie or shop at a store. Companies will pay you to pretend you're a "normal" shopper while you're evaluating the customer service, quality, cleanliness, and attentiveness of a selective retailer. Being certified by The Mystery Shopping Association will get you more jobs. Some companies are definitely more reputable than others, so you want to be careful who you choose to work with. There's no need to pay for a list of mystery shopping companies, although you'll find many websites which will try to get you to do just that. Start at Mysteryshop.

Market research is another one of my favorite ways to earn quick money for doing something fun. Companies will pay to get your opinion both online and in person. Do a search for "Market Research" next to the name of your city to find companies in your town that are looking for people to participate in focus groups at their facility. You can also find some listings at Find focus groups. You'll meet a lot of interesting people and get paid to simply talk about what you like and don't like.

You can also get paid to take surveys online. Some survey sites are scams, so be careful. Here are a few of the reputable ones out there:

• Ipsos
• Qualvu

Merchandising companies will pay you to go into stores to make sure items are displayed correctly for a particular product and company. A reputable company is RQA, inc.

Don't want a job, but just some extra cash? Try some of these ideas:

Sell an ebook

Making a Kindle MOBI from a Word document takes only 5 minutes.

Sell your stuff

Have a garage sale, donate your junk to Goodwill for the tax deduction, or sell it on Craig's List, Amazon, eBay, or even at a pawn shop for some fast cash.

Look around your neighborhood to see what people need

Offer to mow lawns, house sit, walk dogs, wash windows, babysit, do social networking for small businesses or even build websites for local companies.

Tutor what you know

Call your local high school, middle school, and elementary school to be put on their tutor list. You can also find local tutoring gigs at Wyzant, Domestic Sale and Back Page, Tutorz, Tutor Match and on Craig's List.

Sell your knowledge

There are places online where you can register as an "advisor" so people can pay you for your expertise. You can sign on at Ingenio or Oodle

Solve problems

Check out Think Geek and Idea Bounty, Instructables.

Sell articles to magazines

Hubpages
Helium

Collect aluminum cans

Cans and glass bottles can be taken to your local recycling center, which will pay you cash on the spot.

Work where you live

If you live in an apartment, ask your manager what odd jobs you could help with on the property to earn some extra money. Rent out a room in your house or find a roommate to help share housing expenses.

Get paid for your ideas

TV networks are always looking for new ideas for game shows or reality TV shows. At Picky Domains. If you can come up with a great name for a new product, go to Site Point and help them with their "name my thingy" projects. Submit your ideas at Quirky and if the community there likes it, you can get funded for a new project of your own.

Get your blog to work for you

If you already have a blog, you should be earning affiliate commissions or Adsense commissions. You can also get paid by advertisers to write reviews about certain products by signing up at Social Spark, Payperpost, Linkworth and Sponsored Reviews.

Earn freebies

in the form of gift cards and cash to review email offers from other companies. A great one is My Points.

The post 10 of the best paying side jobs for stay-at-home moms appeared first on FamilyToday.

Well, it takes practice. If you're stumped when it comes to knowing whether or not women are attracted to you, here are a few "indicators of interest." Once you get good at recognizing them, you'll feel much more confident when approaching women.

The "hair flick"

Many women unconsciously flick their hair when they're interested in men. It's basically a form of preening (like a bird cleaning its feathers), and women do it when they are trying to be more attractive.

Running her hand through her hair

Another more obvious version of the same thing, women subconsciously run their fingers through their hair and brush their hair to the side when they are attracted to someone.

Mirroring

Mirroring is exactly what it sounds like. It's copying someone else's body position or movements. If you're sitting next to someone you respect or look up to, and they're leaning back with a foot resting on their knee, there's a good chance you're sitting the same way, but you don't even notice. This has importance in the game of attraction as well. A woman who is attracted to you will mirror your body position. If you're at dinner and you've got your hands sitting on the table a certain way, and you notice your date holding her hands the same way or picking up her glass when you do, that's a good indicator of interest.

Scratching the back of her hand, her shoulder or the side of her face

Now, she may truly have an itch, but if other signs are also present, she's interested.

Eye contact

If a girl makes eye contact with you several times - especially if she looks down slightly or smiles after your eyes meet - she's saying, "Come over here!" If your eyes meet and she looks to the side, she's probably just scanning the room and not projecting interest.

The laugh and head tilt

If she is laughing, she is showing interest - especially if she laughs often, and what you're saying isn't all that funny. She may tilt her head which is meant to show that she's playful.

Direction of her body

If her shoulders are square toward your body, she's probably pretty engaged in what you're saying. If her body is facing elsewhere, she's looking for a reason to leave, and her body is indicating where she wants to go; however, a shy girl might face away from you and just send flirty glances in your direction.

Foot direction

Even if we're not looking directly at someone, our feet will often point toward the people we are interested in.

Touching

Women find excuses to touch you when they're interested - most likely your shoulder or arm at first. While sitting, she may slide right next to you to point at something or show you something on her phone. If she's not interested, she'll keep a safe distance.

Dilated pupils

Scientifically speaking, dilated pupils are a very strong indicator of interest; however, pupils also dilate when the room is dark, so don't rely solely on this. If you notice your date's pupils are dilated, she's into you, and she's probably ready to be kissed. Even if you don't want to go in for a kiss, at least you know she's attracted to you - a definite confidence booster.

Leaning forward

Leaning forward indicates interest while leaning backward indicates disinterest. A great technique for generating attraction is leaning forward and backward while talking with a girl you're interested in. After she says something you find interesting, you lean in and respond with, "No way, you like squirrels too? I love squirrels!" If she leans back a little, you then lean back. As the date continues, repeat the same thing, leaning in at interesting points in the conversation and leaning back again. When your date begins leaning in at the same time you do, you've generated some attraction, and you can tell she's comfortable getting closer to you.

Practice paying attention to these behaviors with friends and even relatives before you rely on them in a dating situation. Human behavior is fairly predictable and entertaining! Good luck out there!

The post 11 foolproof signs that she’s into you appeared first on FamilyToday.

You're probably one of the millions of people who wrote down "save more money" on your 2014 New Year's resolution list. How do you stretch your budget and teach your children wise money management skills at the same time? Clip coupons!

Studies reveal that 72 percent of shoppers use coupons and teach their kids to do the same. Today's troubled economy has more consumers thinking twice to pay full price. And, you shouldn't! More parents are teaching their children that those little squares of paper equal money. The first coupon was handwritten in 1886 by Coca-Cola, who quickly learned that offering a deal increased sales. Smart company.

According to Nationalcouponmonth.com, 20 minutes a week of clipping and clicking online for coupons could save you over $1,000 annually. Sometimes a lot more. Coupons aren't just for groceries, either.

Budgetsaresexy.com has listed some of the reasons why coupons are awesome:

You save money. (My mantra is "Never pay full price." And "Free is better."�)

1. You save money.

2. Instant fun family activity.

3. You can feel accomplished and proactive about reducing your grocery bill.

4. Potential to find a good product that you might not otherwise have used since you are more likely to buy it with a good coupon.

Food always tastes yummier when you get it with a discount. Movies are better with a discount. Excursions are more fun with a discount. You just feel smarter and more in control of your money when you can pay less for something than the average consumer.

Bulk coupon buying is now all the rage with websites like Groupon and Living Social. Sprunk.com lets consumers sell their unwanted daily-deal offers online. CityPockets.com charges $1 plus 8 percent of proceeds; DealsGoRound.com takes 10 percent of proceeds. Both sites feature a digital wallet to help you organize daily-deal coupons.

Couprecoup.com is a listing service where you can find local steals and deals online for free. Free is even better than a coupon.

Everything is going mobile now, and the new QR codes allow us to scan digital coupons while we're standing in the checkout aisle. Show your kids how to install a QR code reader app on their cell phones.

Every penny counts these days. Remember the big ticket items, too. Some people are great at clipping coupons to save 50 cents on a can of fruit in the grocery store, but then they expect to pay full price on furniture or a computer. When searching for big ticket items, check out these websites which allow you to compare prices:

• www.consumersearch.com
• www.dealtime.com
• www.lowermybills.com

Would you believe they actually have an entire website dedicated to National Coupon Month, which is in September? You'll find some helpful tips, great resources and even consumer statistics that prove couponing is making a comeback. Hey, maybe that means we'll see more people carrying those cute fabric coupon holders in the grocery store, now.

GrocerySmarts is a website you and your kids can use together to plan out shopping trips that analyzes the grocery deals closest to your home. Great news about those expired coupons - send them overseas to military bases where they can be used for up to six more months. Most military bases have a "Commissary," which is a grocery store. Other areas have a PX or BX, which is more like a Wal-Mart that carries pretty much everything else. Our wonderful soldiers and their families need coupons for both food and non-food items. Your family can bundle your coupons into those two categories into baggies and mail them to:

KCL Overseas Coupon Program

Amanda Brumbaugh

10960 W Bridgetower Drive, Boise, ID 83709

Some other fun couponing sites your family can explore are:

• www.couponmob.com
• www.couponcactus.com
• www.thekrazycouponlady.com
• www.dailygrocerycoupon.com
• www.coupons.com
• www.couponmom.com
• www.valpak.com
• www.couponnetwork.com
• www.couponcabin.com
• www.coolsavings.com
• www.freecoupons.com

Remember, using your time and money wisely empowers you to take control of your finances and reach your goals. Here are some more tips for using coupons.

The post Crazy for coupons? Well, bring on the madness appeared first on FamilyToday.