Today I decided to check out a website I had seen a commercial for. Its a website where people get huge HUGE deals on EVERYTHING. From gift cards to Starbucks and Home Depot to iPads and Laptops. The thing that really caught my attention was a lady saying she purchased a KitchenAid standing mixer for $40! Now, I love to cook and have been dying for one of these awesome mixers for months, if not years. So I decided I need to figure out how I could be apart of something so amazing.
Before going too deep into what happened next, let me tell you something. If something seems too good to be true... It is. The only exceptions are Jesus and how unreal it is how much He loves us (yet He does) and Santa Claus. Those are pretty much the only exceptions to this common phrase. I, of course, always need to try things on my own. And I always want to believe things, so I give it at least one try. But let me tell you, if you hear of something being such a huge deal - theres something wrong. It really is too good to be true. Dont even do investigating. Because people know how to deceive and make you think its still good. Just avoid it. Dont do it. Its bad.
So back to my story. Which Im sure you have a general idea of how things went. But Ill tell you anyways. This needs to get out. Im contemplating making my own commercial about this site and exposing the TRUTH about it.
So I checked out the site. I wont even say the site at this point because I know youll be tempted to check it out. Ill post it at the end... after my warnings and you can make an education decision of what you want to do. I go to the site and theres all these amazing testimonials of what people have won and how much they spent on it. And it said "winners" rather than 'testimonials.' This shouldve been my first clue. But I ignored it and continued figuring out what it was. I immediately went to the place where all the things are available. Again, ignoring a bad indication when you have to click on "auctions" to see all the cool stuff they have available. And on each item available you click "BID NOW".
Let me tell you, there is some cool stuff available! Like I said, gift cards, iPads, iPhones, TVs, etc. Heres my other problem - Im slightly impulsive. I see something I like and I go for it. Theres no additional shopping around. I dont check other places for deals. I decide I want it and thats that. So right as Im about to sign on the dotted line and create an account for this sinful site, I found a tab that said "whats the catch?" Trying to be fiscally responsible, (I really still dont understand it all) I clicked on it and watched a short video that explained the game to me.
Heres how it works:
In order to win something, you have to bid on it and [obviously] be the highest bidder.
In order to bid on something, you have to have bids - this means you have to purchase bids which are normally $.60 a piece.
When you bid on something, you use your bids and youre technically spending $.60 every time you bid on something - win or not.
To create an account, you have to purchase bids at normal price and you have to buy a pack of 60. (Thats $36 for 60 bids.) But then youre in the game!
Bidding starts at $0.00 and everytime someone places a bid, it goes up by $.01. Amazing right??
So you have to wait for the timer to run down to 10 seconds, then its open for bidding. You can see how many people are participating in the auction by clicking on the item.
Heres the bigger catch, everytime someone bids on the item, the clock goes back to 10 seconds and starts counting down again. So the clock can say 10 seconds for 20 minutes - depending on how many people are bidding and how far theyre willing to go.
If you lose a bidding war, you can click "buy it now" and pay the full purchase price AND get all your bids back.
You can always choose to "buy it now" and pay the full purchase price - but that kinda defeats the purpose.
There are other little rules to play by, but these are the main instructions. This is how the game is played. Its what you need to know to start bidding. Are you thinking it seems amazing and you need to sign up?! Then youre like me. If youre thinking its a total scam and you need to run... youre way smarter than me.
So within half an hour of creating and account and buying my "starter kit" with 60 bids - Im down to 6 bids. And Ive obtained 7 free bids in the process. Therefore, I went from 67 to 6. In half. an. hour. Another tid bit about Carly - I can easily and quickly become addicted to something. Ive posted in the past about playing the stuffed animal claw game... well this is why I dont gamble and go to casinos. Ever. Because I know how easy it is to get the fever and spend a lot of money knowing that a win is just around the corner. And theres another $50.
I didnt end up winning anything. I was trying to win more bids and a Starbucks card. And I failed. And now Im down to 4 bids. =/ Yikes. Needless to say, I have checked the site several times to see how things are going and whats up for auction. I ended up bidding again... its how I got down to 4 bids.
I started this posting last night and am now finishing up. There is a new development though! I have received an email with tips on how to win auctions! One of which shows the times when there is less traffic on the site to increase your chances of winning! So Ill have to check that out! But I really need to get some more bids. Im debating against buying more bids though... since Ive basically thrown money away already.
And that is my story. So if you see a commercial for dealdash.com and youre tempted to go there... just remember that sin is tempting. And run. RUN. RUN FAR AWAY. Block it from your browser!!
Hopefully you dont have find yourself in the predicament Im in. WANTING MORE.
May the force be with you if you check it out...
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
The Trouble with Fear
As you may - or may not - know, I graduated from college a little over a year ago now. Gee. A year. Where in the world did the time go?? What have I been doing since then? Well, let me tell you. Not much.
I've continued to work at the same place since graduating, the same place I worked at during college when I would come home on summer break and often times during Christmas. I enrolled in and completed Physics this Spring, so I am one step closer to graduate school. Pretty much any graduate school. I've spent every free moment at home, with my Ava and our new Brinkley. Literally. Every free moment. Partly because I don't really have any friends around here. Mostly because I love home and I love my dog(s) even more.
But you get to a point where you think, what am I doing?? I mean, I need to choose/find a career. I need to become a full-fledged adult. I have a dog to support. And hopefully I'll have more to support one day. I've decided to not go in the direction I've been striving towards for the past 4+ years. I think I've written about that. And I'm ok with that decision. The problem now is where do I go? What do I do?
So I embarked on a new career venture toward Physical Therapy. I've been told I would make an excellent Physical Therapist... apparently I have the right personality. [This isn't necessarily a compliment...] I visited a private campus, an extension from a graduate school in Florida. It is based in San Diego (which is much more viable for me). It only has 2 programs. Yes you read correctly - 2. Occupational therapy and physical therapy. It is kinda perfect for me. It's a shorter program, though more intense. It's small so I don't have to walk all over the place to get to class. The only thing I'm concerned about is the internships you do. Where you're sent wherever they want to send you. Finding housing for 2 or more months is completely your responsibility. And you don't know where you will be sent. But even as my head told me that just isn't happening, my heart was consoled when I found out students take their dogs with them. And even more consoled when the proposal of my grandma coming along with me - and her totally liking the idea. So I proceeded to process.
What's standing in my way? Observation hours. Once I track down 80 observation hours, I'm good to go. I can apply no problem.
And even with knowing how close I am, I continue to look into my options. The first time I don't just go for something at the drop of a hat. Usually, when I shop, I grab the first thing I see. No need to further exploration. That's a fairly good description of me. And usually, I'm content with my choice. Except for these situations. Regarding my life. I'm more meticulous and indecisive. So I have come up with becoming a real estate agent. I can watch hgtv all day. I love home shows. I came up with a handful of reasons why I would make a great real estate agent. My favorite reasons - its so quick to get licensed and you create your own schedule, so you can be extremely flexible. However, I'm terrible at marketing myself. Literally I loathe talking about myself and putting myself out there the way you have to in real estate. I've also come up with becoming a chef. (Something that has always been in the option list.) Because I can watch food network all day long. And I love being creative with food.
I mean, the list goes on and on. And why am I still sitting, job searching and processing? Because I'm afraid. Do you know what the biggest trouble with fear is? It's paralyzing. It'll stop you in your tracks, steal your voice and confidence, and ruin a plan.
So in this place of feeling stuck and needing to move forward, the most influential feeling is fear. And it is stopping me from doing anything. Pathetic isn't it? The Bible says not to fear enough times to be said every day for a year. I know the Lord is in control. I just want a door to be opened. I know I'm probably reading it wrong and really, multiple doors are open, I just need to decide which one to walk through. And no matter which door I choose, the Lord is with me.
I just need to get over this and move forward. I know you're probably shocked to hear I'm afraid. I am the one who fears nothing! (Besides creepy crawlies.) But big decisions scare me. Paralyze me. Stops me in my tracks. Steals my voice and confidence. And ruins my plan. And what am I even afraid of?? Oh plenty. Failure. Not remembering what I've learned. Not liking it. Being put on the spot. Name it, I'm probably afraid of it.
I've continued to work at the same place since graduating, the same place I worked at during college when I would come home on summer break and often times during Christmas. I enrolled in and completed Physics this Spring, so I am one step closer to graduate school. Pretty much any graduate school. I've spent every free moment at home, with my Ava and our new Brinkley. Literally. Every free moment. Partly because I don't really have any friends around here. Mostly because I love home and I love my dog(s) even more.
But you get to a point where you think, what am I doing?? I mean, I need to choose/find a career. I need to become a full-fledged adult. I have a dog to support. And hopefully I'll have more to support one day. I've decided to not go in the direction I've been striving towards for the past 4+ years. I think I've written about that. And I'm ok with that decision. The problem now is where do I go? What do I do?
So I embarked on a new career venture toward Physical Therapy. I've been told I would make an excellent Physical Therapist... apparently I have the right personality. [This isn't necessarily a compliment...] I visited a private campus, an extension from a graduate school in Florida. It is based in San Diego (which is much more viable for me). It only has 2 programs. Yes you read correctly - 2. Occupational therapy and physical therapy. It is kinda perfect for me. It's a shorter program, though more intense. It's small so I don't have to walk all over the place to get to class. The only thing I'm concerned about is the internships you do. Where you're sent wherever they want to send you. Finding housing for 2 or more months is completely your responsibility. And you don't know where you will be sent. But even as my head told me that just isn't happening, my heart was consoled when I found out students take their dogs with them. And even more consoled when the proposal of my grandma coming along with me - and her totally liking the idea. So I proceeded to process.
What's standing in my way? Observation hours. Once I track down 80 observation hours, I'm good to go. I can apply no problem.
And even with knowing how close I am, I continue to look into my options. The first time I don't just go for something at the drop of a hat. Usually, when I shop, I grab the first thing I see. No need to further exploration. That's a fairly good description of me. And usually, I'm content with my choice. Except for these situations. Regarding my life. I'm more meticulous and indecisive. So I have come up with becoming a real estate agent. I can watch hgtv all day. I love home shows. I came up with a handful of reasons why I would make a great real estate agent. My favorite reasons - its so quick to get licensed and you create your own schedule, so you can be extremely flexible. However, I'm terrible at marketing myself. Literally I loathe talking about myself and putting myself out there the way you have to in real estate. I've also come up with becoming a chef. (Something that has always been in the option list.) Because I can watch food network all day long. And I love being creative with food.
I mean, the list goes on and on. And why am I still sitting, job searching and processing? Because I'm afraid. Do you know what the biggest trouble with fear is? It's paralyzing. It'll stop you in your tracks, steal your voice and confidence, and ruin a plan.
So in this place of feeling stuck and needing to move forward, the most influential feeling is fear. And it is stopping me from doing anything. Pathetic isn't it? The Bible says not to fear enough times to be said every day for a year. I know the Lord is in control. I just want a door to be opened. I know I'm probably reading it wrong and really, multiple doors are open, I just need to decide which one to walk through. And no matter which door I choose, the Lord is with me.
I just need to get over this and move forward. I know you're probably shocked to hear I'm afraid. I am the one who fears nothing! (Besides creepy crawlies.) But big decisions scare me. Paralyze me. Stops me in my tracks. Steals my voice and confidence. And ruins my plan. And what am I even afraid of?? Oh plenty. Failure. Not remembering what I've learned. Not liking it. Being put on the spot. Name it, I'm probably afraid of it.
But somehow, I'll get past this.
And move forward into life.
My grandma is depending on me for an adventure!
Ava is depending on me for a sweet life!
I need to grow up!
.......
Yikes.
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