Focusing on revisiting past traumas and endlessly discussing feelings doesn’t prepare you for the real challenges of life. I’ve seen this approach lead people to dwell on their emotions instead of taking control of their mindset. In a world where resilience and competitiveness are non-negotiable, constantly analyzing yourself can hold you back. You’ve got to focus on moving forward, not getting stuck in overthinking.

Digging into emotions and slapping labels like “depressed” or “anxious” on yourself only gives those feelings more power. Once you accept that identity, you’ve locked yourself into a mental framework that sets you up to fail. Instead, focus on what’s useful to your growth – not what’s technically “true.” Sadness might exist, but why let it define you or your potential?

Life is suffering and pain, and you’re here to get through it. The sooner you accept that, the stronger you’re going to be. I’m not interested in sugarcoating it. Pain is the flavor of life, and I’ve learned to embrace it – every single bite of it.

There’s this push for “vulnerability” that people treat as some kind of sacred idea, but let’s be honest – more often than not, it’s emotional manipulation. Crying in front of someone isn’t solving anything – it’s just fishing for a reaction. Real strength isn’t about showing how upset you are, it’s about staying composed and solving the problem at hand.

Life is hard. That’s not a flaw in the system – that is the system. Trying to escape the pain will get you nowhere. Success comes from using discomfort as fuel. Fear and frustration aren’t your enemies – they’re tools you can use to push yourself further. Anger, when controlled and directed, is a powerful motivator that can help you achieve more than any comforting words ever could.

So instead of spending hours breaking down your feelings, focus on becoming a competitor in life. Dwelling on problems doesn’t move the needle – solving them does. Build a mindset that makes you unbreakable, not one that keeps you fragile. You don’t need anyone else to analyze your mind for you. You’re capable of figuring it out and acting on it yourself.

The path to success isn’t in leaning on others or searching for a crutch. It’s built through discipline, accountability, and refusing to let anything – especially your own emotions – stand in your way. That’s how you push forward, even when life gets hard.

When it comes to verifying email lists, cost can vary significantly depending on the tool you choose. To help you navigate the options, we manually researched and compared the pricing for verifying 10,000 emails across the top email verification tools. Below, you’ll find a detailed table showcasing the costs, giving you a straightforward way to assess which service offers the best value for your needs. This comparison ensures you can make an informed decision without the hassle of hunting down pricing details yourself.

Popcash.net is an affordable popunder network with a low deposit minimum. I got started with just $5. These inexpensive pop networks often don’t offer the best quality traffic. Sometimes you might get lucky and find a decent network that can generate sales. Otherwise, you might use it to inflate Google Analytics metrics, for example, if you’re trying to meet traffic minimums for a specific program.

I tested the minimum CPM of $1 twice, spending a total of $2. You can see in the GA4 image that on both July 2nd and 4th, Popcash reported sending around 1,000 impressions to my site, but GA4 recorded fewer than 300 impressions each time. This discrepancy suggests that the actual CPM is closer to $4, rather than the $1 CPM claimed by Popcash.

When it comes to driving traffic to your website without breaking the bank, popunder networks are a viable option. Though the traffic quality is generally lower, these networks are known for their low minimum deposits, making them accessible for smaller budgets. Here, we explore some of the most affordable popunder networks based on their minimum deposit requirements and overall reputation.

1. RichAds – $2 Minimum Deposit

RichAds is the most budget-friendly option on our list with a minimum deposit of just $2. This network is ideal for those who are new to popunder advertising or have extremely limited budgets. Despite the low cost, it offers a range of targeting options to help you reach the right audience.

2. PopCash.net – $5 Minimum Deposit

PopCash.net is another economical choice with a minimum deposit of $5. This network is popular among marketers looking to test the waters of popunder advertising. It provides a user-friendly platform and efficient customer support, making it a reliable option for beginners.

3. PopAds.net – $10 Minimum Deposit

PopAds.net is well-known in the popunder advertising space, offering a minimum deposit of $10. It provides a high level of customization and control over your campaigns. The network’s competitive pricing and reputation for delivering results make it a popular choice among advertisers seeking affordable traffic solutions.

4. PlugRush – $25 Minimum Deposit

PlugRush requires a minimum deposit of $25 and is a great option for those looking to step up their advertising game. It offers a wide variety of traffic sources and detailed analytics, allowing advertisers to optimize their campaigns effectively.

5. ClaroAds – $50 Minimum Deposit

ClaroAds, with a minimum deposit of $50, provides an accessible entry point for advertisers with moderate budgets. The platform is known for its simplicity and effectiveness in delivering real traffic, making it a solid choice for many marketers.

6. AdOperator – $100 Minimum Deposit

AdOperator demands a minimum deposit of $100, which is higher compared to others on this list but still affordable. It is recognized for its extensive reach and reliable traffic. The platform offers robust targeting options to ensure your ads reach the right audience.

7. Propeller – $100 Minimum Deposit

Propeller is another well-known network with a $100 minimum deposit. It offers a wide range of ad formats and targeting capabilities. Propeller is favored for its broad reach and the quality of traffic it delivers relative to its cost.

8. AdCash – $100 Minimum Deposit

AdCash, also with a $100 minimum deposit, provides a comprehensive platform with advanced targeting and reporting tools. It is suitable for advertisers looking for more sophisticated campaign management and a wider range of traffic sources.

9. EzMob – $100 Minimum Deposit

EzMob, requiring a $100 minimum deposit, is known for its high-impact advertising formats and effective campaign management tools. It is a good option for those who want to explore different ad formats within the popunder category.

10. ExplorAds – $200 Minimum Deposit

ExplorAds has the highest minimum deposit on this list at $200. Despite the higher entry point, it offers a vast inventory of traffic and advanced targeting options. This network is suitable for advertisers with a slightly larger budget who are looking for more refined campaign control.

Conclusion

While the quality of traffic from these popunder networks may not be the highest, they provide an affordable means of driving visitors to your site. Whether you’re a beginner with a limited budget or a more experienced marketer looking to experiment with popunder ads, there’s a network to suit your needs. Start with lower deposits to test the waters, and as you become more comfortable, you can scale your campaigns accordingly.

By leveraging these affordable popunder networks, you can effectively boost your site’s traffic without a significant upfront investment.

I recently purchased a vehicle from American Credit Acceptance. They sold the vehicle to me as-is at an auto auction, which is pretty standard for cars older than 5 years. At an auction, the use history of the vehicle is often unknown but it’s likely it’s off-lease or repossessed. The vehicle had a few things wrong with it in the condition report, but overall, ran and drove fine. There was no check engine light or anything. It had an issue with the hood, headrest and tailgate but it was all repairable.

After winning the auction and paying for the car, I drove it to my local shop for a state inspection. While driving, the check engine light came on. After further diagnosis, the mechanic found multiple error codes and it was explained to me that it was likely the seller cleared engine codes to misrepresent the vehicle.

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I have a bunch of VPSs – too many really. So I try to have some shared web hosting accounts to spin up websites on quickly, especially when my expectations of traffic are low. However, cPanel is notorious for hacks, so I moved to SiteGround for security reasons.

Before and after the migration, I ran a speed test. The purpose of the move wasn’t for speed but I thought the data would be worth sharing, especially since the website, resources and it’s configuration are all constant. I didn’t change anything. I think NameCheap gets pelted in the forums for having slow hosting, but it’s actually not a huge difference.

NameCheap speed test:

SiteGround speed test:

Today, after 5 days of pulling my hair out with Upwork (locked out), I decided to search them up on TrustPilot to see how others are feeling about the platform lately with all the changes. Surely enough, it’s banned. Kind of crazy for a company of that size.

It’s not uncommon for shady companies to be banned from TrustPilot for manipulating reviews. We know Upwork is going down a tough path in many facets. Their stock has fallen 86% in 19 months.

Investors are pressuring for revenue, but the only solution they have seem to bring is more fees for loyal customers and freelancers. Scams are elevated (see my story below about losing $30,000 with Upwork).

Let’s not forget customer service is out the window and nearly impossible to reach even for clients who have hired 400+ contractors and used the platform for many years. I’ve been a customer since Sept of 2010 – that’s 14 years ago.

So what does the future hold for Upwork? I really don’t know.

SurferSEO has been the standard in SEO when it comes to optimizing articles for SEO. I’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars with them in the last year alone.

NeuronWriter on the other hand has been popular in SEO groups lately. It has gotten a lot of favoritism from the bootstrapped/solopreneur folks. I recently bought like 10 lifetime licenses when they had the sale with AppSumo.

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Growing an e-commerce brand can be tricky. Paid ads are a common channel, but they don’t convert without some level of social proof. That social proof starts with an active organic profile. Today I wanted to share reviews of a handful of popular services, because many of these services are selling fake engagement, which isn’t helpful.

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