If It Seems Too Good To Be True, It's Probably A Pyramid Scheme

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Every year, thousands of people are caught in unsustainable business structures called pyramid schemes which can lose them hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, and cause immense emotional hardship. While they’re completely illegal, it’s a tricky thing for the government to legislate against and wipe out. The best defense it to be clued up on what pyramid schemes are, and how to avoid them. The risks may sound worthwhile, but they’re cleverly formed to make it impossible to take away profit, or even earn your original expenditure back. They can resemble very closely structures called multilevel marketing programs, which are legal. The best way to be protected yourself against these schemes is to exercise caution, but also understand how pyramid schemes portray themselves to potential targets.

What are multilevel marketing programs?

MLMs are systems whereby their revenue is a direct result of the sales made by representatives. Pyramid schemes, on the other hand, make most of their money from the sign-up fee that their recruits pay, with the products more a machine by which they can seem to legitimize their existence and structure, rather than a ware to be peddled. While multilevel marketing programs are legal all over the USA, they are treated with some skepticism due to their close resemblance to pyramid schemes. To read a case study which looks at the differences between legitimate marketing programs and pyramid scams, click here www.stay-a-stay-at-home-mom.com/jerky-direct-scam.html.

Pyramid schemes require an initial fee

Unlike MLMs, the income of pyramid schemes is based on the upfront costs paid by recruits. These costs can be hundreds or thousands of dollars but come with promises of riches unknown afterwards. If you’re faced with a scheme which seems too good to be true, but that requires a huge upfront fee, it’s wise to be very cautious. There is no way that the company can guarantee your returns.

They require you to recruit family and friends

Pyramid schemes usually promise that you’ll get your initial startup fee back by recruiting new members. This is how the pyramid takes its figurative shape. The goods that you’re required to sell will be items of little to no use, and act more as a token of the transactions rather than a product worth buying or selling, and certainly not one worth investment. This is a tell tale sign of a pyramid scheme if the item seems to have little value, but you’re still required to recruit many people to recoup your costs.

You have to buy a lot up front

Either alongside or instead of the huge upfront costs, pyramid schemes can require you to buy vast amounts of the product up front, for large sums of money, in order to sell on or pass to your new recruits to sell. This is the way they tie you in, as you become the legal owner of these products, whether you can sell them or not. These items could be things which are self-referential to the scheme, such as information booklets, and you’re required to sell them through your own personal franchise.

You are forced to buy things

As with any other criminal organization, there’s a lot to be said for their staff management and customer relations. People that enter into pyramid schemes report being threatened when they asked to leave, and were even made to feel as though they had to buy things they didn’t want or need, just to keep themselves in good standing with the scheme.

Much like many scams, pyramid schemes target vulnerable individuals, and force them to pay out extortionate amounts of money to get nothing in return - it’s not really surprising they’re illegal. If you feel as though an offer you, or a family member, have received is too good to be true, it’s probably is. Pyramid schemes are marketed as fantastic opportunities to get rich, join a community, or get through financially difficult times, but in actuality, they just tie people into debt and long-term problems. If you come across a system which requires a large upfront fee which you can only recoup by signing up family or friends as new members, it’s best to avoid them like the plague. Help other people to avoid them too by reporting any suspicious schemes to Action Fraud. Always be aware and exercise caution when signing up to any new schemes.

What To Do When There’s An Emergency At Home Or Away

It’s definitely unfortunate, but in life, there is a range of emergencies that we can all experience from time to time. As much as you’re careful and as much as you do your bit to avoid them, they can still arise. You can often find yourself needing assistance from the police, medical services or the fire department. Regardless of the reason for the assistance, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re prepared to act when an emergency situation arises. Whether you get ill or injured, it’s helpful to know what to do in each situation and hopefully these ideas will guide you if you’re ever in the situation.

There’s an Accident at Home

One of the most common emergencies that we all experience in our lifetime involves the home. You spend a lot of time there, and if you’re a stay-at-home mom or you work from home, you can often spend most of your time there. So, it’s important to have a list of emergency numbers that are accessible to everyone in the house. If you hurt yourself and cannot move or require immediate medical attention, you’ll be glad you had them.

Surprising Things Which Could Be Affecting Your Sleep (Bet You Didn't Think Of These!)

It’s so important for the sake of your health that you try and get enough sleep at night. After all, without a proper night’s rest, you will be more at risk of picking up bugs. In fact, as we said before, research has found you are at less risk of major illness such as strokes if you get a proper night’s rest. Therefore, you need to ensure you have a good night’s rest. However, for some people, despite the fact they go to bed earlier, they just can’t get enough shut eye. If this is you, here are some surprising things which could be affecting your sleep that you might not have thought of before.

Your mobile phone

If you have your mobile in your bedroom, it could be the reason for your lack of sleep. For one thing, you might be on your device before you try and get some shut eye. And even 20 minutes on your phone surfing the net before bed will cause your brain to be alert. Therefore, when you try to sleep, you will struggle to get any shut eye. And as well as this, the light on your phone when it flashes to say you have a message could wake you up in the night. Therefore, turn your phone on to vibrate and put it in the drawer. And avoid looking at it before you go to bed!

Bed bugs

Another surprising reason why you might not be getting enough sleep is because of bed bugs. A lot of people think they couldn’t possibly have bed bugs in their house because their sheets are clean. But it can easily be passed on via guests or even a package. Therefore, if you find you are scratching your skin and are finding it hard to sleep, you might have these pests. And if you are thinking do I have bed bugs, there is a lot of information online to help you figure it out. Thankfully, there are some easy ways to get rid of the bugs. Washing your sheets and hoovering the area is one way to remove them. That way, you can have a good night’s rest without any interruption.

Your late dinner

What time do you eat dinner? You could be causing your sleepless nights as you are eating past 7 pm. After all, your body will struggle to get to sleep if you have a full stomach. Therefore, if you want to get a better night’s rest, you need to have dinner earlier rather than later. That way, your stomach has time to digest the food before it’s time to head to the land of nod.

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Your bedroom is too cold

It’s so important that you maintain a good temperature when it’s time to get some sleep. After all, you will struggle to sleep if you are too cold or hot. As this feature reveals, you will have a restless night if you are too cold. Therefore, don’t open the windows before going to sleep. And make sure you don’t go too heavy with your mattress, so you don’t start stirring in the night!

And remember to consider when you bought your mattress. It will need replacing every six years if you are hoping for a great night’s sleep.

Everyone's Doing It: So Just Why Should YOU Move To Canada?

Ever since Donald Trump became President-Elect in November, interest in moving to Canada from US nationals has reached an all-time high. In fact, the interest was so high that the Canadian Immigration website actually crashed on the day of the results. But even before news of the election spread, people from the US (and indeed all over the world) have been emigrating to Canada. This is for a whole hoard of different reasons. One is Canada's seemingly prosperous economy - reports suggest it is one of the wealthiest nations in the world. Therefore it's not a surprise that so many people move to Canada with the intention of growing their business, or even starting one. It also holds the advantage of having quite liberal rules on immigration, meaning that you can get through the whole process without the kind of hassle that may be thrown up by other countries. If you're not already convinced, take a look at the following reasons why moving to Canada might be the right option for you.

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There is a great contrast of terrain

Mention the word 'Canada' and you will probably find that it means different things to different people. For some of us, the name conjures up images of remote, wild locations surrounded by snow and mountains. For others, it brings to mind the bustling metropolis of cities such as Vancouver and Toronto. The great thing about the country as a whole is that it can offer the best of both worlds. If you are naturally a city slicker, you can set up home in one of the modern cities, where everything you need is at your fingertips. If you would prefer to bring up your children in a quieter, more relaxed setting, there are plenty of quaint towns and villages to choose from - many also within commuting distance of the cities.

The ski season is unrivaled

Whether you're already into your snowsports or if you just want to give something new a try, you'll struggle to find a country that values skiing as much as Canada does. The Whistler Blackcomb is one of the largest ski resorts in the whole of North America and is home to an impressive 8,171 kilometers of pistes. The season itself stretches from November right up until May, so you have plenty of time to perfect your snow plough. Whistler attracts ski enthusiasts from all over the world and the resort is also home to other attractions and plenty of restaurants, so it's well worth a visit even if you are not a skier yourself.

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There is a public healthcare system

The different healthcare systems across the world can often be a cause for contention. Every country is different, but Canada is regarded as one of the most progressive countries in the world due to its well-regarded public healthcare system. Essentially, healthcare in Canada is free for citizens. That means visits to your doctor, accidents at work, broken bones, hereditary diseases - all of them are covered by the national healthcare plan. The only exceptions to this rule are dental care (which you still have to pay for), glasses and the purchasing of prescription drugs.

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It is a place full of culture

Another great reason to move to Canada is simply the huge amount of things there are to do there. Canada is sometimes referred to as a melting pot of cultures, due to its rich and diverse history. The country was built on a whole hoard of different settlers, ranging from American to European to indigenous cultures. This has given birth to a very exciting and vibrant culture, and a nation that is made up of people from all different backgrounds and races. As a result, there are plenty of attractions and museums to visit, such as the history museum, the nature museum and the agriculture museum. It is also a great place to bring up your children as the diverse history of the country can teach them about the importance of tolerance and multiculturalism. Canada is one of the most relaxed and liberal countries around, which is another reason why it is regarded as so progressive. So it can be a perfect environment to raise a family in, if strong values are important to you.

The education system

The education system in Canada is ranked as one of the best in the world - making it one of the few Western countries to achieve such a status amongst rival countries such as China and Japan. In fact, Canada ranked 6th on the OECD survey, the first western country on the list just after Singapore.  Canadian students are considered some of the top performers in the world, and tend to perform well regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds. The country is made up of a mix of both private and public funded schools, so you can choose whatever your personal preference is for your child. If your children are considering going to university, you are also in luck; Canada boasts some of the best universities in the world, including McGill in Montreal and the University of Vancouver.

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The natural wonders

It wouldn't be worth mentioning Canada without touching on some of the amazing natural features that it boasts. The Rocky Mountains stretch an awe-inspiring 3,000 miles across Canada and down into North America, and feature nature at its very best. Rugged canyons, crystal clear lakes and snow-capped mountains all make this remote place a must-see if you are planning on making a move to Canada. There are also a handful of national parks, where you can see glaciers in all their glory and spend a weekend hiking with the family. Wildlife is rife in these protected areas, so see if you can spot a wild elk or a grizzly bear. Just make sure you wrap up warm, as it sure can get cold in the winter. With all this on your doorstep, it's easy to see why so many people are making the move to Canada these days.

Discount Timeshare Resale Rentals For Families

We’re now officially in the winter season, and if you live up north you may be thinking about taking a vacation down to Florida to warm up. If your budget is tight, you may want to consider an accommodation that is less expensive than a traditional hotel room. You could always camp, but who really wants to do that on a vacation? Instead, why not try out renting a timeshare on the resale market?

For those unfamiliar with timeshare, it is simply a piece of vacation time, usually one or two weeks, that can be used at a resort. A timeshare usually comes equipped with a kitchen and at least one private bedroom, which makes it great for families. The best part about timeshares is that you may rent them from existing owners. This is how you can save a significant amount on accommodation. When an owner is unable to use their vacation time, they typically try and rent out their timeshare for extra cash at a discounted rate. They’re just happy to get something for their unused vacation time.

Let’s look at a few examples. BuyaTimeshare.com is a leader in the timeshare resale space and has amassed a large customer base of timeshare owners looking to sell timeshare now. When looking at timeshare resorts in Orlando near Disney available for rent it looks like the following discount deals are available on the site:

Bluegreen Resort's The Fountains – One week for $50. This resort is located on International drive near Walt Disney World®, EPCOT® and more. Its featured amenities include a water park, zero-entry pool, hot tubs, on-site restaurants and more.

Westgate Lakes Resort and Spa – One week for $100. This lakefront resort is located near SeaWorld, Universal Orlando and more. Its featured amenities include heated pools, hot tubs, Serenity Spa and more.

Hilton Grand Vacations Club at SeaWorld – One week for $200. As the name implies, this resort is located right next to SeaWorld. The featured amenities include a shuffleboard court, tennis and sports courts, playground, pools, whirlpools and children’s activity center.

Sheraton Vistana Resort - $500 for one week at the beginning of March. This resort is located near Walt Disney World® and other theme parks. Its amenities include nearby golf courses, on-site bar, pools, marketplace, tennis court, put-put golf and more.

To obtain a timeshare at these discounted rates you’ll just need to submit your offers on BuyaTimeshare.com and wait for the timeshare owner to accept or decline. If a timeshare owner is advertising for $500 you may want to offer something like $400 and see if the owner accepts. If the owner rejects your offer, you’ll receive an email notifying you about it. If you’d like to try again just submit another offer and wait for the owner to respond. We recommend placing offers on more than one ad to increase your chances of getting the discounted rate you’re looking for.

Once a timeshare owner accepts your offer you’ll need to work with them on the paperwork to get everything finalized. And that’s it! You’ve now got a great 1-week vacation at a significantly discounted rate.