In Ohio, although Vectren does not publicize this, one can, if they only use gas to heat their home, subscribe only during the heating months. I have the gas turned off in March, no charge and I reconnect in Nov. for $60. My savings over the remaining months is approx. $140. My savings will increase if Vectren is permitted to raise the monthly meter fee; their application is pending with the state.

To ceasesmith: I admire your tenacity. You "got grit."

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/07/2018 09:01PM by mom.for.hirehotmail.com.

@ceasesmith wrote:

I'm beginning to feel like I'm being attacked.

No not at all. Just trying to understand your situation, which you talk about a lot. I would assume that means discussing it isn't a problem. If it is I apologize. It just seemed at a perfunctory glance that either numbers don't add up or we weren't getting the whole story. The question about food assistance was asked because it would be great if you could get them. If what you are saying is the full story you should be able to from what I can tell.

Agree with bgriffin. Previous posts gave me the impression you were open to some ideas. A better understanding of the primary problems makes it easier to narrow down some recommendations.

Really? I never would have guessed.

@iShop123 wrote:

It depends on your local utility costs.

@LisaSTL wrote:

Really? I never would have guessed.

@iShop123 wrote:

It depends on your local utility costs.

Thanks for contributing a useful post to the discussion.

Right back at ya.

I DO talk about my situation. Perhaps too much?

From my point of view, it ties in with MSing.

There are NO jobs here. Believe me. I apply to every job that comes open within 45 miles of here -- including clerking at a c-store, waitressing, dishwashing, etc.

I don't even get interviews (even with companies that brag they don't tolerate age discrimination).

My situation may not be unique -- actually depending on MS income to subsist -- but I do feel that sometimes it's a good idea to show a different side of MSing.

And remember, my situation IS TEMPORARY.. All I have to do is scrape enough funds together to get out there and do some shops so that I have funds coming in next month!!!!

The "social safety net" is NOT built to help people in a temporary bind.

As long as I can work, I can make out OK. Many months, I make more than enough MSing to meet my needs, and have some left over.

It's just from June 1 this year, it's been one disaster after another -- my car broke down 150 miles away, it cost $1500 to fix, then it kept breaking down over and over....then I broke my left wrist (no insurance, so I splinted it and taped it, and it healed, but took 4 months!)....I can usually count on $l,000 a month from MSing, so I'm usually OK....but last month's payment from my bread & butter MSC was a whopping $0.28. Yes, twenty-eight cents.

My car is now actually fixed, truly. The first place charged $1500+ for "blown head gasket" when it didn't have a blown head gasket. The real problem was a coolant leak, which is now fixed (another $579 later). And a couple weeks ago, when I got in my car 6 AM to start a route of more than 20 gas stations, car was deader 'n a doornail. Yep -- the alternator gave out. There went another $400+.

So lost that route (I got on the phone and found another shopper, so the route got done; I just didn't make any money at all). And the car was in the shop for a week -- again!!!!

I hold myself up to youngsters as an example of what NOT to do -- one, sock away every dime you're allowed into 401(k) and other retirement vehicles; two, if you GET married, stay married! (Married couples tend, on the whole, to plan better/be more prepared for retirement ) Buy life insurance on your partner (even if they object, and fear they'll die if you do). And lastly, save, save, and save.

I am not complaining, or asking for help (although the sympathy is greatly appreciated). I am an educated, interesting, talented person who is temporarily set back. And I'm better off today than I was in 2015, when I was attacked at work and injured, and couldn't work at all for most of two years, not even MSing! When I was able to get back to work, I even succeeded in repaying over $12,000 to the people who supported me during that time that I couldn't work.

Sorry, TMI!!!

Cease, I think you're a trooper! Hang in there!

@ceasesmith says:

" I am an educated, interesting, talented person who is temporarily set back. "

I am standing and applauding you for believing in yourself. Cheers and hats off. Things will change, whether for good or bad, but they will change. Those happenings will give you the opportunity to grow and learn more. No matter how trying and difficult. All of it sounds trite, and I'm pretty sure you know all this, but sometimes it is good to hear it from someone else. Thank you.

Guys, I totally believe the MSCs and clients take advantage of the low guy on the totem pole, the independent contractors and schedulers. They want to pay the least and the desperate take the lower pay jobs and before bonuses kick in. I never knew how tough it is at the bottom. There are all sorts of rationalizations for this system: the ever common "you are an independent contractor", "you took the job so you take the terms", etc. It sucks. I mean YOU the shopper front the expenses! For what, amazing pay? Hah! I had jobs where I had a credit card to charge to the project whereas here the suckers get to front the expenses and hope for reimbursement. Especially as independent contractors, it's rough. I feel for the ones who might be more desperate to take the lower paying jobs.

Yup, those expenses you front are loans. I don't like taking those jobs on, even the ones where you just return the item after 30 minutes. Who takes the liability there in between purchase and return? You, not the client who requests that purchase and return. Hmmph.

I did a car shop. Two days later they paid me $75. Seriously. Why have the other car shops taken eight weeks?!?

@Niner wrote:

Why have the other car shops taken eight weeks?!?

Simple answer; The 2-day payment MSC is probably better capitalized and needs your business more than the others.

If no shoppers took the 2 month payment shops, things may change, but as long as the company has shoppers, they won't. There was a time in the past when they economy was very good and shops paid/reimbursed more. They still took 60-90 days t pay.

For those who feel taken advantage of, what companies have you worked for as an employee that were not taking advantage of you?

As self-employed independent contractors, the ball is in our court to either accept or decline jobs; the terms fair and equitable do not apply. I well realize some folks must work for less than they desire and/or require, but that is business. If one cannot or will not come to grips with the tenets of working for themselves, shopping will be an unrewarding and difficult endeavor.

What MSC pays in 2 days -- please?

@ceasesmith wrote:

What MSC pays in 2 days -- please?

Jennifer.Barrick@gfkmysteryshops.com just sent out an urgent plea for cell phone shoppers stating that they'll pay twice PER WEEK. Have to do them through Presto and not paying enough for me to bite, but you might be able to get a bonus since you're in the boonies.

If it's Presto the app, I can't do them. But I'll check and see what else GFK might have. Sure would be nice to have a little $$$ coming in. Thanks!

Nothing within 400 miles of me, except in/around Denver. And I don't drive anywhere close to Denver.

Despite having some issues related to money, it is clear that Ceasesmith has a rich life in other regards. Having decent neighbors like what she has can be worth their weight in gold.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@Niner wrote:

Why have the other car shops taken eight weeks?!?

Simple answer; The 2-day payment MSC is probably better capitalized and needs your business more than the others.

If no shoppers took the 2 month payment shops, things may change, but as long as the company has shoppers, they won't. There was a time in the past when they economy was very good and shops paid/reimbursed more. They still took 60-90 days t pay.

For those who feel taken advantage of, what companies have you worked for as an employee that were not taking advantage of you?

I teach now full time. I do not feel taken advantage of. Where I am, we get six figures depending on your background. I feel our property taxes in my area at 13-50k+ take advantage of us. I quit my lawyer job and joined the system that my parents complained about at length.

@ceasesmith wrote:

What MSC pays in 2 days -- please?

I think I mentioned the dealer so I did not want to post it here. I PM'd you the info.

@Niner wrote:

I feel our property taxes in my area at 13-50k+ take advantage of us. .

^^^ Ouch, that's quite a bite! I feel like property taxes take advantage, too, to a certain degree...but I'd REALLY feel that way if property taxes here were as high as yours!

@Jill_L wrote:

@Niner wrote:

I feel our property taxes in my area at 13-50k+ take advantage of us. .

^^^ Ouch, that's quite a bite! I feel like property taxes take advantage, too, to a certain degree...but I'd REALLY feel that way if property taxes here were as high as yours!

I would not live here but for my job. We get 60% of our final salary if we work thirty years, so figure 60% of maybe 150k for retirement? My husband is a teacher also, and he has nine more years. Those are two really good pensions. We already own a home out of state, clear. So, I am obligated to stay where we are for another 16 years. I like my job though. I did not like the NYC lawyer 80 hour a week nonsense.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/09/2018 01:45PM by Niner.

@Niner, What do you do with your house out of state? Is it a rental or a second home/vaca home until you're ready to live there?
Teachers in public school top out at about 80k here, I think, which is a decent salary for this area. I have my master's in education, but I was only in the school system for 3 years and then I decided that I not only did *NOT* want to work there, but also wanted to take my kids out of the system, so now I home educate them.

Because of that, though, I"m old enough now that anywhere I work, I'll be lucky to get in 20 years, and that's if I start in the next year or so. Also, I'm spoiled after "not working" for 17 years....So I'm looking for alternatives: MS, notarizing legal docs/refine docs, I babysit and tutor...we have property and are hoping to have a couple more homes to help with retirement income, as well.

I think it's funny that I'm probably going to be the most educated night shelf stocker at Target/Walmart. Or maybe the oldest-ever burger flipper...lol

We go to our other home every weekend, we don't rent it. Teaching is both the easiest job and hardest job I have ever had.

You could still get started and vest at about ten years.

I guess some would argue that many teachers are underpaid.....but if you like the job, then that's more than half the battle. I love my job but definitely feel taken advantage of at times (written as I prepare to work from home all day Sunday for no additional pay).

Mystery shopping works in a similar way for me. Both are jobs where I work at the top of my game to make my employer more profitable in the end, and shave off a little piece for myself in the process.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

I guess some would argue that many teachers are underpaid.....but if you like the job, then that's more than half the battle.

Underpaid? Maybe in a few places. One of my kidlets teaches Kindergarten. For what is essentially a 10-month job, it's about $75k/year + benefits that are largely unsurpassed. These are 5-year olds. 18 of them. Mostly it's parenting kids from overworked, single parent homes rather than actually teaching. In an area where the average salary is less than $50k, it doesn't seem like a wise use of taxpayer money.

Excellent teachers who teach junior high or advanced high school classes are worth their weight in gold. (Who would want to teach other people's hormone-raging, poorly parented teens?) I'd like to see educators paid based on merit, not on seniority.

Gotta agree with you on the seniority thing.

Few are as inspiring (or inspired) as Jaime Escalante.

@iShop123 wrote:

@SteveSoCal wrote:

I guess some would argue that many teachers are underpaid.....but if you like the job, then that's more than half the battle.

Underpaid? Maybe in a few places. One of my kidlets teaches Kindergarten. For what is essentially a 10-month job, it's about $75k/year + benefits that are largely unsurpassed. These are 5-year olds. 18 of them. Mostly it's parenting kids from overworked, single parent homes rather than actually teaching. In an area where the average salary is less than $50k, it doesn't seem like a wise use of taxpayer money.

Excellent teachers who teach junior high or advanced high school classes are worth their weight in gold. (Who would want to teach other people's hormone-raging, poorly parented teens?) I'd like to see educators paid based on merit, not on seniority.

We are paid based on education and experience. I teach physics. I would not trade with a kindergarten teacher for a day. Elementary is not easy.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/09/2018 06:56PM by Niner.

There was a woman at my husband's school who was an MD, a podiatrist. She wanted more time to spend with her kids. My husband works at a place where it is uncommon to get fired. This doctor got let go in January because she could not do it. The subject matter is the easy part.