Well Boulder, if you think I'm phishing then you don't have to contact me-simple. Some folks are just trying to make some extra money and they don't have the acreage you do and they don't really want to farm. And did I say it was "easy?" I think I said it was work-but not like a farm would require. Little minnie-I get students from 3 general avenues: 1. As an addition to a library class that I teach 2. Word of mouth by those who have been to a class 3. Free advertising in the local newspaper Occasionally I will teach an entire neighborhood. I usually get one of those a summer, and there have been some summers where I did 2 or 3(30+ people each time.) I also teach at other local places by invitation that bring in good money. Here's an example of the ad I am running right now in the local papers. Keep in mind most of the work has been done for the year but there are still a lot of lookers and takers. Here it is: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=31472313&cat=62 Hope that gives you some ideas. It's one of many things I've been able to do. Really-contact me by email. I'm selling nothing. If I am all you need to do is come back into the forum and tell everyone-then I'll be banned from here. Some folks think there's only one way to do things. That's not my experience. Email: jrt2020_2@msn.com http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=31472313&cat=62

Hi littlestar 624, Saving is one thing. Many people put their money into the bank ... where it's "safe". And the bank counts on making more on it than the depositor gets. After all - who pays for those fine buildings? Some time ago when I went to attend a seminar on investing put on by a bank, I asked the location of the seminar at the information desk, then moved a bit closer to the advisor to ask, rather conspiratorially, "Do you know what's better than putting your money into the bank?". When she asked what that might be, and I replied, "Buying bank shares", she replied, laughingly, "That's for sure" - and another employee within earshot laughed, as well. Investing, quite often, is a different kettle of fish. I bought bank shares 40 years ago for about $4.20, paying about a dime dividend, which is taxed at a lower rate, in Canada (which benefit is lost if earned within a tax-deferred vehicle). The value of those shares has gone up, down, and sideways over those 40 years, and now sits at about $100. That increase does not become tax-liable until I either sell the shares ... or die (at which time the executor of my estate must declare them as having been sold on the day prior to my death). I don't plan to take either of those routes, this week or next. I like to defer the tax, yes, which I'm doing (as I would be in a tax-deferred retirement plan). But when I liquidate shares in a retirement plan, every dollar coming out is taxed, at regular rate. But when those shares bought with non-deferred money are liquidated, I (or my estate) must pay tax on only half of the increase (at regular rate). I get half of the captal gain free of tax. Over the years between, the annual dividend rate has increased ... a few years ago it was $1.00, then $2.00, last year $2.80, and as of a couple of months ago, is $3.08. Your money put into the bank hasn't seen principal grow ... and the annual rate of return that it produced hasn't grown like that, either, has it? If I borrow to invest, to gain part of the advantage that I lost in the tax that I paid before I invested, the interest is dedudctible, while it isn't if I borrow to invest in a tax-deferred retirement plan. Plus, I figure that I can borrow to invest at very low net cost ... but that's a story for another time. Actually, it's in a thread that I wrote on one of these money management threads, a while back. As is my alternative method of investing rather that in a tax-deferred retirement plan. Learn how money works - in a few years, you'll be glad that you did ... for it pays well! Good wishes to you and yours. ole joyful

Here is the posters previous post... "We have been on the market for about 30 days. The last week we have had three showings and all of them good. The last one resulted in an offer. The other two lookers (both came back a second time) were promising but one family decided to buy in the school district where they were renting and the other couple hadn't put their house on the market yet and wanted to wait until they did before making an offer (can't imagine why they came back a second time, if that's the case). BUT, it was an insult. The buyers had previously looked at 25 houses and "liked ours the best". Yeah, right. We're listed at $429,000, a price that we feel is right in line with what has been selling around us. No foreclosures in our area. We are in a very desirable subdivision. The view from all of our rooms is fantastic (lake and mountains). Well, the buyers came in at $375,000. No house, with our amenities and view and our size, has sold for less than $425,000. We figured that they are going around making low-ball offers and so far haven't found anyone that desparate. Well, we counted with $414,000 and told our agent that that was the lowest, we weren't going to waste time negotiating with someone who wasn't in obvious good faith. Sure enough, our agent called this morning and said they wouldn't consider it. They are going to low-ball another house in our subdivision (the buyer's agent is in her office) without a view. That house is listed at $399,000. Views are very important in this area. I'll bet the buyers offer $350,000, if that. I know which house it is. I sure hope the sellers refuse to be insulted, also. By selling for less than their house is worth, they bring down the value of the rest of the houses in the subdivision. We were so relieved as we were going to do whatever we could to get out of selling to these particular buyers if they met our counter offer. Things like refusing to pay for any problems encountered, etc. So, now it's back to finding a good buyer." So, it seems as though there IS more to the story. Chances are those were good buyers and were only testing the waters. So, let's see... your lazy, overpaid mega agent found you a good buyer in less than one month, in the worst housing economy in decades, and you have the nerve to come on here and slamming not only her, but all agents?! The reason why your agent did not respond to you when you questioned her integrity is because we, as agents, hate to work for people like yourself. Good luck selling in a few months when prices will be even lower, and interest rates even higher. Your saying that if those buyers would have accepted your counter, then you would have tried everything to get out of the deal, really shows us all that you are a waaaay too unrealistic know - it - all. BTW... when is the last time you worked 75 hours a week on end, only hoping to get paid?

When in high school, I did a lot of neighborhood babysitting. One mother had signed up for night school typing lessons for many weeks and I would babysit for her 2 boys. SO, I went out and put some clothes on layaway. Well, she came home from the first lesson and said that she wasn't going to continue - all that noise - SO, there I was stuck with these layaways. My mother said that she would take care of it so that I wouldn't lose my deposit, but THAT WAS IT, NO MORE. I knew she meant it and after that, NEVER COUNTED MY CHICKENS, etc. Still have that Suzi Orman mentality after all these 50+ years, and thanks Mom.