Masihivandana.com

It was still early in the days of immigrating to Canada, I had settled down into a nice job. We did not have a lot but we were happy. The boys were small and my wife has opted to stay at home with them until they reached a good age. In those days we were living in a tiny basement apartment and things were moving along. However, my wife was beginning to get bored and I realised that staying at home with two small boys was going to drive her crazy. Her background was a B Ed in India and I was concerned for her state of mind.

Well, in travelling on the subways and reading the newspapers I often came across an advertisment - usually tucked away in a corner that would say ‘Earn money stuffing envelopes - you never have to leave home etc. etc.’ One day I had the bright idea to try it out, what harm could it do eh? I think you had to mail in a money order or bank draft for $25 to an address with a Post Box#. I did that and then we waited. Well, one day we got a letter in the mail. It was from these guys and here is what it said (this is in my words):

‘Are you stupid? Do you think that anyone would give you money just stuffing envelopes? If you want to make $500 per week here is what you do - Take out an advertisement in the newspaper, ask for an amount with the application and then said them a letter like this one and hopefully you will find 20 idiots responding to you in a week and you will have your $500/week. The only investment required is the advertisement.’

I was really embarrassed and thought ‘Oh my word!! How could I have ever fallen into this trap’. Fortunately it was not a lot of money but it was money and in those early days every penny counted. Actually I am not even sure that it was $25 or could have been more, it was ten years ago now and I don’t think about it if I can help it.

So hopefully if you had any similar ideas - Don’t do it. First of all - never pay up front without getting all the information. I have done that one other time and it cost me much more money. I’ll tell you about that one in another post.