So you lost your day job.

So you lost your day job. I did too. But that doesn't stop me from looking. While I've been at home, as opposed to worrying and trying hard to make ends meet, I've been seeking alternatives.

Last week I had three job offers. Only one sent an email...

...to regretfully inform me that I was not selected.

Has that ever happened to you?

Countless times when going to a job interview money is invested as is time. It's a headache to have to put those directions to that job in your GPS, present yourself with appropriate attire and go through the motions. You spend the day anxiously pacing back and forth thinking of what to say, and how to make an impression. You look at websites that give you tips on what to expect from a future employer. Potential supervisors smile and welcome you and as you 'step into the office' you hope and pray that you get that job. You come driven and already committed. You have fully researched every angle. And, you are probably knowledgeable about the history of who founded that company that you have made such a dire effort to gain employment with.

And if you don't get the job you wish you wouldn't have wasted so much precious time!

Have you ever gone online while in the middle of debating 'should I apply again?', 'should I beg?' and think boy do I need money fast! I gotta pay my rent!'

Do you ever Google the words 'I need money now' or 'make money online fast' out of desperation? Isn't it funny that when you do, Google completes the phrase for you? Or before you finish the phrase 'now' is replaced with 'fast' or 'today'?

When you do click on the first link is it 'Survey Money Machines'? And then you think, nah it's a scam. Or do you see those 'home based business' sites that are longer than most of the hubpages you see here and have BIG WORDS like:

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE!

Frankly it's all nonsense, and the more they scream get rich, make money, get paid today the deafer you become. But that doesn't stop you from thinking....I really need money. Well I do too, but the only way to make money is to keep applying for different jobs. I even thought about bankruptcy as the source URL for this picture suggests. Sometimes however when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping for alternatives. Eventually you'll get the job you want...

...but in the mean time it doesn't mean you can't seek other measures.

As opposed to sitting around brooding, I decided to take some time to find some thing to do. So I tried paid surveys (while still doing extensive job searches). At first however there was a bit of confusion as you can mistake a 'survey' site for a 'referral' site.

An offer site works on behalf of companies to include free trials, or quotes for a variety of businesses. They range from Auto-Insurance, to Health, and Online Colleges. Some do include surveys and videos to watch. The surveys typically pay less than $1. The offers pay more, but the catch is...

You actually have to complete an offer with your credit card and not cancel.

Here is a list of sites with their paying thresholds.

1. FusionCash - $25.00
2. Vindale Research - $50.00
3. MindsPay - $50.00
4. Cash4offers - $35.00

Granted, you do make money on these sites, but to reach a threshold based on surveys alone or without spending is impossible. If you go by 'clicking emails' at the most you get is 2 cents per click. So, if all you want is referrals then by all means check them out. Basically its like getting your money back for the sites you try out. At this point however I can't really spend very much so they aren't for me.

There are also paid survey sites however. Their threshold is much lower they give you incentives like drawings and options such as Paypal, or gift cards. It's meant to be fun, not to really make 'money' per se. The difficulty with 'paid survey' sites is that you don't always qualify to complete the survey. Sometimes you might spend 10 or 15 minutes on a survey only to have a screen pop up that thanks you for participating but you don't qualify.

The above image was after I took a survey that cost me 20 minutes of my time. But instead of getting frustrated I just continued to find other sites where I was more successful. Don't get me wrong, EVERY site has its bugs, but for the most part I have been able to work steadily over time to get close to the payout threshold.

The following are bona fide paid survey sites. Thresholds are included as are the points or dollars you need to cash out and some extra incentives.

1. My Survey - 1100 pts - $10. The threshold to just being using your points however is 1000. And they provide you with a long list of things you can use your points for. This ranges from just giving to charity to a Diamond Necklace.

2. Valued Opinions - This one is the fastest 'cumulative' survey that I have done. You get dollars for surveys. They give you gift cards, (including a Visa Virtual Account) starting at $20. You also can take polls and Valued Opinions honors you if you give to charity or stand out in the surveys. You can also earn up to $2 per friend you refer. And all of it is done via e-mail so you don't have to be posting links on sites that only suggests spam.

3. e-rewards - I've been with e-rewards for 4 years believe it or not. It's by invite only so even if you access the site, not even by referral can you get in. With e-rewards their threshold starts at a $10 level. It's all discounts however. I use e-rewards to get $25.00 gift cards that I rack up during the year from GameStop so I can buy my son some video games. So watch for that e-mail. It's pretty exclusive, and I don't think I will ever unsubscribe.

These were some recent discoveries that I found through a fellow hubber named kmackey32. Credit is given to whom credit is due and I can honestly say this has been the most profitable.

I know many of you have had to deal with Google Panda's famous algorithm wreaking havoc on your Add-dollars-&-sense ('Scuse the pun AdSense). I almost took it personal and though, damn why when I decide to seek an alternative do I not find this 2 years ago???

Oh well, but hey it's just a challenge so I'll just push forward and do the best I can...until I get a job of course. Or maybe, at least do this part-time.

Questions and Answer sites that actually pay you was a new concept to me. But some of these folks have been doing this for a long time and when I was told about it I couldn't believe it really. But you do actually get paid as long as you keep asking or answering questions.

1. http://www.webanswers.com/_5urvf42s -Answer 50 questions and then link your Google Adsense. Asking and answering questions makes you money. They were hit hard by Google Panda, but at least in this case the money you will be making will be consistent as long as you keep answering questions daily. Rewarded answers stand to profit 60 % and referrals gives you an extra 10 %. There are some 'questions' I have about that site, but I will keep you updated in regards to that extra 10%.

2. www.weegy.com?r=0FBF3CF8 - is an AI powered by a searched engine to help you get answers to questions. Plus if you become an expert you get paid $0.50 per answer. With weegy however you need to have Quicktime installed and if your plug in doesn't work (like mine didn't) neither will weegy.

3. rateitall.com - is a fun website where you can rate different topics. Granted this is more aimed at a 'youthful' group in my opinion. But you can also connect Google Ad Sense to this site and as you rate you go higher in rank. You can also promote your business, your site, yourself. Rateitall has also gotten a Case Study by the API Ad Sense Host to boost revenue. Ad Sense accounts for 70% of its revenue. I'm not sure how the infamous Google Panda Algorithm may have affected Rateitall, but since I have been with them, my earnings through Ad Sense have gone up 'sharply'.

http://code.google.com/apis/adsense/host/docs/casestudies/rateitall.html

A valuable tool that has helped enormously with this process has been my password organizer. It's like a phone book.

• Name
• Site Address
• Login/Username
• Password
• Notes

It will help keep you from going insane when you are struggling to remember a password. Also, it will make it easier to use a variety of different ones.

Remember not to use the same password for every site.

Keep your organizer safely guarded. For convenience sake its tempting to have a website 'remember' your password. I don't practice this as I might forget my password, and you might accidentally hit that button to 'clear all cache settings' including passwords. It's a discipline I have learned to practice and at times I do remember some of my passwords because I use them very often.

It's also important to note that changing your password every three months is a good idea and it will put your Organizer to good use. In the beginning I had trouble remembering to actually write my passwords in my Organizer.

But over time I have been doing it consistently with every site I go to. I have discovered this has lessened my time with having to access these sites. The alternative is asking for it to be sent by email or struggling to remember your security questions.

It is a downright pain in the neck to have to do that! Don't you agree? And oftentimes I might need my password right away and I don't get it until a day...

or a week later!!!

There are a variety of Password Organizers that you can find. I got mine from Books-A-Million for $4.00. Usually organizers cost $9.95. For quality assurance sake, the better ones cost upwards of $15. Or visit any local department or book store and bargain hunt like I did.

Losing a job can either be a pitfall or a stepping stone. You can either sit down, do nothing and worry. Or you can sit down and find ways to earn money, even if it is slow going. I have worked hard for two months while looking earnestly for a job. But in that interim I have found some great sites, and communicated with some interesting and helpful people. I have no regrets and think a learning process can be just as valuable as reaping rewards for hard labor.

Losing a job can either be a pitfall or a stepping stone. You can either sit down, do nothing and worry. Or you can sit down and find ways to earn money, even if it is slow going. I have worked hard for two months while looking earnestly for a job. But in that interim I have found some great sites, and communicated with some interesting and helpful people. I have no regrets and think a learning process can be just as valuable as reaping rewards for hard labor.

Don't give up or give in to your circumstances or you may miss out on new opportunities. Below is a poll I am taking for the purpose of knowing what your experiences online have been. If you have read this far then its obvious you are curious if not interested in finding an alternative while you are waiting for a 'day job'.

Please comment and if you have found an excellent alternative include your experiences.