The easiest *and* safest way to make $100 online

Yes, I know what you're thinking. No, this is not a scam. :) Note that I didn't say "easiest and fastest" - in order for this to work, you'd have to wait for six months. Here is how it works: my online stock broker, TradeKing, is pretty aggressive when it comes to recruiting new members. They're giving away $100 to all new users who were referred by an existing user (such as myself). If you open a stock-trading account with TradeKing, transfer at least $1,000 into your account, make one (just one!) trade and keep the money in the account for six months, you'll get $100 for your troubles.

Each trade (buy or sell) costs $5. If you don't trust the stock market, you can buy some stocks, sell them a minute later, and keep the cash in your account for six months. That way, you'll be out $10 (for buying and selling) and you'll make a total of $90 (100 minus 10). That translates to a 9% return on your investment of $1,000 - better than any CD or savings account out there! (Note: if you find a CD or a savings account that promises more than 9% in six months, run like hell - it's probably a scam.) Or you could park your money by buying stocks in some reliable, stable company like Coca-Cola (their ticker symbol is KO) and have it grow a little for six months. Not only that, but you'll also get a small dividend for being a Coke shareholder. Whatever you choose to do, it's up to you - as long as you keep the funds in your account for six months, you'll get a bonus. Who knows, maybe by then you'll begin to dabble in investing and start growing your portfolio. :)

What's in it for me? If you keep your money with TradeKing for six months, I'll get $100 too, so it's a win-win! This promotion is only for referrals - if you just open a new account all by yourself, you won't be eligible. To get a referral link, leave a comment on this post and I'll send you a referral letter. (Make sure to include your email in the comment!) Click here to read the complete rules.

Win a strawberry necklace!

Tanya over at Haphazard Homemaking is giving away a pretty awesome strawberry bead necklace. I'm not what you'd call an expert on jewelry, but I've never seen anything like those mini-bead necklaces. It'll probably make a great present. ;) The giveaway ends on Friday and there are very few entries, so hurry!

Win a signed copy of Silver Phoenix!

Elizabeth Briggs is giving away a signed hardcover copy of a young-adult book Silver Phoenix. I've never met a free book I didn't like, and if it's a signed book, it's even better! The giveaway ends on March 29th - go here to enter.

$20 for Socks4Life!

The one, the only Cara from Your World Natural is hosting a giveaway for a $20 gift card for Socks4Life. I don't know about you, but I never have enough socks. If you too suffer from sock deficiency, make sure to head on over there and enter to win.

Win a copy of Love and Respect!

Hearts for Homeschooling is giving away a copy of "Love and Respect: The Love She Most Desires, The Respect He Desperately Needs" by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. Looks pretty interesting. Here is the link - the deadline is April 9, but why delay?

7 books giveaway!

Angela over at "My Poetry and Prose Place" is giving away not one, not two, but seven books! This is a great giveaway, and there aren't a lot of entries, so make sure to enter it.

Obligatory awkward first post

Hello world, etc. :)

This blog is kind of an experiment. There are no 5-year plans for its growth development, no specific goals or anything of the kind. For now, its main purpose is to be a token blog where I can link to other blogs' giveaways in order to maximize my chances of winning. ;) Over time, I might develop it further, with some commentary on stock market, personal finance, and all that other fun stuff. With any luck, it will turn into a helpful resource of sorts. Even in the worst-case scenario, it will be a pretty good collection of links to online giveaways, so make sure to stop by every now and then and see what's new.

I guess this is the part where I have to write something about myself. (I was never a big fan of introductions.) I'm a Siberian entrepreneur who ended up living in the Nevada desert. (It's a long story.) I graduated from the University of Nevada just before the Second Depression Great Recession, didn't find any jobs for my political science degree, and ended up with a blue-collar job at a local warehouse. Considering that Nevada has the highest unemployment level in the country, I'd say I did fairly well. It's not exactly what I dreamed of doing when I was little, but hey - a job is a job is a job. When I'm not working 60 hours a week (overtime is such a beautiful concept), I look for new ways to make money. Over the past seven years, I've tried taking advantage of poorly organized raffles, card-counting, interpreting, day-trading, investing, abusing casino promotions (there are plenty of those in Nevada), as well as selling stamps, coins, comic books, regular books, Kindle books, Nintendo Wii's, PS-3's, stuffed animals, other collectibles, and so on...

That's not a complete list - just the stuff I could think of off the top of my head. I've been called a shameless opportunist and ruthless capitalist more times than I care to count, and I don't mind that. :) If anything, I consider it a compliment. Why do I do all that? Because I can. Life is a game, and the size of your bank account is a good way of keeping score. Money can buy happiness. It can also help you retire early. I'm 24 years old and I highly doubt that Social Security will still be around in 40 years. Even in the best-case scenario, the eligibility age will probably be pushed to 70 or higher. I may have 55 good years ahead of me, but I'd rather not spend 50 of them working a full-time job. Every extra dollar I make, every dime I save, every profitable stock trade brings me a bit closer to my dream of early retirement, but that's a topic for another day...