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How to Convert Cryptocurrency Safely Without Centralised Exchanges

Converting cryptocurrency usually means using a centralised exchange. For many people, that’s fine – but it isn’t the only option, and it isn’t always the best one. This is a reason that many people seek to convert cryptocurrency without centralised exchanges.

For crypto-to-crypto swaps in particular, decentralised exchanges offer an alternative that keeps funds in your own wallet rather than on a third-party platform.

Over time, I’ve found myself increasingly interested in alternatives that reduce custodial risk, minimise account dependencies, and keep control of funds in my own wallet. That curiosity led me to decentralised exchanges and on-chain swaps.

This post explains how to convert cryptocurrency safely without using centralised exchanges, what trade-offs to expect, and when this approach makes sense – and when it doesn’t.

This is not financial advice. It’s a practical, experience-based overview intended to help you understand the landscape and make informed decisions.

Why Some People Avoid Centralised Exchanges for Crypto Conversion

Centralised exchanges offer convenience, liquidity, and familiarity. They also introduce a number of risks that are easy to overlook.

Common concerns include:

  • custodial risk (you don’t control the private keys)
  • account freezes or withdrawals being paused
  • KYC and identity exposure
  • reliance on a single platform remaining solvent and operational

None of these risks mean centralised exchanges are “bad”. They simply mean they are a trade-off, not a default.

For some conversions – particularly crypto-to-crypto swaps – decentralised options can reduce exposure to these issues.

What “Without Centralised Exchanges” Means in Practice

Avoiding centralised exchanges doesn’t mean avoiding infrastructure entirely.

In practice, it usually means:

  • using non-custodial wallets
  • interacting directly with smart contracts
  • swapping assets via decentralised liquidity pools

You still rely on:

  • blockchains
  • smart contracts
  • network fees

The difference is control. Funds never leave your wallet unless you explicitly approve a transaction.

This preference for control over convenience mirrors how I approach other technical and personal systems elsewhere on this site.

What You Need to Convert Cryptocurrency Without Centralised Exchanges

Before attempting any decentralised conversion, there are a few prerequisites.

1. A Non-Custodial Wallet

This is essential. A non-custodial wallet gives you control over your private keys.

Popular examples include:

  • MetaMask
  • Trust Wallet
  • hardware wallets paired with browser extensions

Security basics matter here:

  • store your seed phrase offline
  • never share it
  • double-check wallet addresses

2. Network Awareness

Crypto assets live on specific blockchains. ETH on Ethereum is not the same as ETH bridged elsewhere.

Before converting:

  • confirm the network your asset is on
  • confirm the network the swap will occur on
  • ensure you have enough native token for gas fees

Most failed swaps happen because of network mismatches or insufficient gas.

3. A Decentralised Exchange (DEX)

A DEX allows you to swap assets directly from your wallet using smart contracts.

Examples include:

  • Uniswap (Ethereum and compatible chains)
  • SushiSwap
  • chain-specific DEXs depending on the network

DEXs do not hold your funds. They simply facilitate swaps via liquidity pools.

How a Decentralised Crypto Swap Works Step by Step

At a high level, the process looks like this:

  1. Connect your wallet to the DEX
  2. Select the asset you want to swap from
  3. Select the asset you want to receive
  4. Review the quoted rate and slippage
  5. Approve the token (first-time only)
  6. Confirm the swap transaction

All of this happens on-chain. You can view the transaction on a block explorer once it’s confirmed.

Nothing is instantaneous – and that’s a feature, not a flaw.

Understanding Slippage and Pricing Risk on Decentralised Exchanges

Unlike centralised exchanges with order books, most DEXs use automated market makers.

This means:

  • prices move based on liquidity
  • large trades can shift the rate
  • slippage tolerance matters

Key safety practices:

  • start with small test swaps
  • use conservative slippage settings
  • avoid illiquid token pairs

If a deal looks too good, it usually is – often due to low liquidity or malicious tokens.

Common Safety Mistakes When Using Decentralised Exchanges

Decentralised swaps remove some risks, but introduce others.

1. Interacting With Fake Tokens

Always verify:

  • token contract addresses
  • official project documentation
  • multiple sources

Never rely solely on token names.

2. Approving Unlimited Spending

Many wallets allow you to approve unlimited token allowances.

Safer practice:

  • approve only what you intend to swap
  • periodically review and revoke allowances

This reduces damage if a contract is compromised later.

3. Ignoring Gas Fees

Gas fees can make small swaps uneconomical, especially on congested networks.

Always check:

  • current network fees
  • whether the swap value justifies the cost

Sometimes the safest move is simply waiting.

When It Makes Sense to Convert Crypto Without Centralised Exchanges

Using decentralised exchanges is often well-suited when:

  • converting crypto-to-crypto
  • avoiding custodial exposure
  • experimenting with small amounts
  • prioritising control over convenience

It is less suitable when:

  • converting to fiat
  • needing deep liquidity for large trades
  • requiring customer support

There is no universally “best” method – only appropriate ones for specific situations.

Taxes and Record-Keeping for Decentralised Crypto Swaps

Decentralised does not mean invisible.

On-chain transactions are public, and in many jurisdictions crypto-to-crypto swaps are taxable events.

Good habits include:

  • keeping transaction records
  • exporting wallet histories
  • using tracking tools where appropriate

This is an area where convenience tools can be genuinely helpful.

Final Thoughts

Converting cryptocurrency without centralised exchanges isn’t about ideology or avoiding rules. It’s about understanding your options and choosing the level of control and risk that fits your situation.

Decentralised exchanges offer powerful tools – but they require care, patience, and responsibility. Used thoughtfully, they can reduce certain risks while introducing others that are easier to see and manage.

As with most things in crypto, safety comes less from the platform you choose and more from how well you understand what you’re doing.

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Why Most Productivity Advice Fails in Real Life

Productivity advice is everywhere.
In my experience, productivity advice fails most often when it collides with inconsistent energy, competing priorities, and everyday interruptions.

Productivity tips in books, podcasts, apps, videos – all promising better focus, better habits, better output. Much of it is well-intentioned, thoughtfully designed, and even backed by research.

And yet, for many people, it simply doesn’t stick.

Not because they’re lazy or undisciplined, but because most productivity advice is built for an environment that doesn’t resemble real life.

This post isn’t about rejecting productivity altogether. It’s about understanding why so much advice works in theory but collapses in practice, and what tends to work better instead.

Productivity Advice Assumes Stable, Predictable Conditions

A common assumption underneath most productivity advice is stability.

Stable time.
Stable energy.
Stable motivation.
Stable priorities.

Real life rarely offers this.

Mornings are unpredictable. Workloads fluctuate. Family needs interrupt plans. Energy varies from day to day. Yet much advice assumes you can:

  • wake up at the same time every day
  • follow an ideal routine consistently
  • maintain focus blocks without interruption

When those assumptions don’t hold, the advice feels like a personal failure – even though the real issue is misalignment with reality.

Most Advice Is Built for Peak Performance, Not Real Life

Productivity content tends to highlight what works at your best:

  • perfect mornings
  • uninterrupted focus
  • high motivation
  • clean schedules

But most days are not peak days.

What actually determines long-term progress is how productivity systems perform on average days – or worse, low-energy days.

Advice that only works when conditions are ideal doesn’t fail occasionally. It fails systematically, because ideal conditions are rare.

Sustainable productivity looks boring precisely because it’s designed for imperfect circumstances.

Productivity Advice Overestimates Motivation and Willpower

A recurring theme in productivity advice is the idea that motivation can be generated on demand:

  • “just start”
  • “build discipline”
  • “push through resistance”

While motivation matters, it’s unreliable.

Real life includes:

  • poor sleep
  • stress
  • illness
  • emotional load

Advice that depends heavily on motivation tends to break down exactly when it’s needed most.

Systems that reduce reliance on motivation – by removing decisions or lowering friction – tend to survive far longer.

Why Productivity Advice Focuses on Tools Instead of Behaviour

A lot of productivity advice focuses on tools:

  • apps
  • planners
  • trackers
  • frameworks

Tools are tangible. They’re easy to recommend and easy to sell.

But tools don’t change behaviour by themselves.

Without a clear system – when work happens, what happens next, when to stop – tools simply add complexity. For many people, they become another thing to manage, maintain, or abandon.

The problem usually isn’t a lack of tools. It’s a lack of structure that fits real constraints.

How Productivity Advice Fails and Ignores Cognitive Load and Mental Energy

One of the most overlooked factors in productivity is mental load.

Every decision, interruption, or context switch consumes cognitive energy. Over time, this adds up.

Advice that adds:

  • more tracking
  • more optimisation
  • more self-monitoring

often increases cognitive load instead of reducing it.

Ironically, the attempt to be more productive can make life feel heavier, not lighter.

What helps most people is not more awareness – it’s fewer things to think about.

Why One-Size-Fits-All Productivity Advice Persists

Generic advice spreads because it’s simple to package.

It doesn’t need context.
It doesn’t require knowing your constraints.
It scales easily.

But productivity is deeply contextual:

  • personal energy patterns
  • family structure
  • work demands
  • health
  • environment

Advice that ignores context can still sound convincing – right up until you try to live it.

When it fails, the failure is often internalised as a lack of discipline rather than a mismatch of design.

What Works Better Than Generic Productivity Advice

Across different areas of life, the approaches that tend to hold up share a few traits:

  • They reduce decisions instead of adding them
  • They assume inconsistency, not perfection
  • They prioritise repeatability over optimisation
  • They are simple enough to resume after a break

Rather than asking “How can I be more productive?”, better questions often are:

  • “What can I remove?”
  • “What decision can this system make for me?”
  • “What still works on my worst days?”

These questions lead to systems that are quieter, less impressive, and far more durable.

This is the same reason simple systems tend to outperform complex tools and rigid routines in personal projects.

Productivity Advice Isn’t Useless – It’s Often Misapplied

None of this means productivity advice is worthless.

Much of it is genuinely helpful in the right context:

  • short-term goals
  • controlled environments
  • specific constraints

The problem arises when advice designed for narrow conditions is treated as universal.

The most useful shift is not rejecting advice, but filtering it through reality:

  • Does this assume stable energy?
  • Does this increase or reduce mental load?
  • Does this still work when things go wrong?

If the answer is no, the advice may still be interesting – but it shouldn’t become a standard.

Final Thoughts

Most productivity advice fails in real life because real life is messy, inconsistent, and unpredictable.

The goal isn’t to become maximally productive. It’s to create systems that work without constant effort, even when motivation is low and conditions are imperfect.

Progress doesn’t come from doing more things better.
It comes from doing fewer things more consistently.

And consistency, in real life, is almost always a design problem – not a character flaw.

What to Do Next (Optional, Not a CTA)

If you’ve found yourself cycling through productivity methods without lasting results, it may be worth stepping back from optimisation altogether.

Instead of asking what new habit or tool to adopt, ask:

What can I simplify so this works even on my worst days?

That question tends to lead to quieter answers and better outcomes.

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Why Simple Systems Beat Complex Tools for Personal Projects

When a personal project starts to feel messy or unmanageable, the instinctive response is often to look for a better tool. It becomes a case of simple systems vs complex tools, and how they can be applied properly.

This may include:

A new app.
A more powerful platform.
A more sophisticated workflow.
Managing personal projects.

I’ve done this more times than I can count. And while tools can help, I’ve learned – sometimes the hard way – that most struggling projects don’t fail because the tools are inadequate.

They fail because the system around the tools is missing or unclear.

In my experience, the real difference between stalled and sustainable personal projects is almost always the system – not the tool.

This post explains why simple systems consistently outperform complex tools in personal projects, and how shifting your focus away from optimisation and towards structure can dramatically improve follow-through and create simple workflows.

Simple Systems vs Complex Tools – Why Tools Feel Productive but Systems Create Real Progress

Tools are tangible. They promise leverage, efficiency, and clarity. Installing or configuring one feels like progress, even when nothing meaningful has changed.

Systems are quieter.

A system doesn’t announce itself. It doesn’t look impressive. But it defines:

  • when work happens
  • what happens next
  • how decisions are made
  • when a project pauses or ends

Tools assist execution. Systems govern behaviour.

Without a system, even the best tool becomes a distraction.

Why Productivity Tools Are So Tempting in Personal Projects

There’s a psychological reason tools are so appealing.

Choosing a tool:

  • is a finite decision
  • provides immediate feedback
  • avoids confronting deeper problems

It’s far easier to spend an afternoon setting up software than to define:

  • realistic constraints
  • success criteria
  • stopping conditions

Tools let you feel productive without forcing commitment.

Systems do the opposite — they expose ambiguity.

What a System Is (and Why It’s Not Just Another Tool)

A system is not:

  • a checklist
  • a productivity app
  • a rigid schedule

A system is:

  • a repeatable pattern
  • a decision framework
  • a defined flow from start to finish

At its simplest, a system answers three questions:

  1. When does this happen?
  2. What is the next concrete action?
  3. When do I stop or reassess?

Once those are defined, tools become optional.

How Complex Tools Cause Friction in Personal Projects

Complex tools tend to introduce:

  • configuration overhead
  • maintenance requirements
  • cognitive load
  • dependency on motivation

They assume consistent energy, focus, and interest – which personal projects rarely have.

When energy dips, the tool becomes friction instead of leverage. Miss a few days, and the system collapses because there wasn’t one.

This is why people repeatedly abandon:

  • task managers
  • note systems
  • project trackers

Not because they’re bad – but because they demand more structure than the project actually has.

Why Simple Systems Scale Better Than Complex Tools

Personal projects live in unstable environments:

  • changing priorities
  • limited time
  • emotional investment
  • external interruptions

Simple systems survive these conditions because they are:

  • easy to resume
  • forgiving of missed days
  • clear about next steps

A system that works at 50% consistency is more valuable than a tool that only works at 90%.

Build the System First, Choose the Tool Second

Instead of starting with a tool, start by defining the system in plain language.

For example:

  • “I work on this project twice a week.”
  • “Each session has one clearly defined task.”
  • “If I miss a session, I resume at the next scheduled time.”
  • “Every four weeks, I decide whether to continue or stop.”

Only after this exists does it make sense to choose a tool – and often, pen and paper is sufficient.

The system does the heavy lifting. The tool just records it.

This same systems-first thinking has shaped how I approach daily routines and long-running projects elsewhere on this site.

Why Systems Matter in Both Technical and Non-Technical Projects

This pattern shows up everywhere:

  • writing
  • learning
  • side projects
  • technical builds
  • creative work

In technical contexts, the temptation is even stronger because tools feel inherently productive.

But complexity compounds quickly. Without a governing system, tools multiply, workflows fragment, and momentum disappears.

The more complex the tools, the more important the system becomes.

When Tools Actually Matter (After the System Exists)

This isn’t an argument against tools entirely.

Tools matter when:

  • the system is already clear
  • scale demands automation
  • coordination across people is required

At that point, tools amplify a system that already works.

Used prematurely, they only amplify confusion.

The Long-Term Advantage of Boring, Simple Systems

Simple systems don’t generate excitement. They don’t look impressive. They don’t inspire screenshots or tutorials.

What they do is:

  • reduce decision fatigue
  • make progress predictable
  • lower emotional resistance
  • keep projects alive longer

That last point is critical.

Most personal projects don’t fail because they’re impossible. They fail because they slowly dissolve under friction.

Systems slow that decay.

Final Thoughts

If a project feels stuck, the answer is rarely “find a better tool”.

More often, the real question is:

What system is this project actually running on?

When you define the system clearly – even in imperfect, human terms – tools become optional, interchangeable, and far less important.

Progress follows structure, not sophistication. This is truly a case of simple systems vs complex tools, and the roles they play.

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Jays n Dees Projects in 2025

Jays n Dees e-Store logo

A Quick Post on Our Projects in 2025

Last Updated: 2nd April 2025

This quick post has been created to keep readers knowledgeable on Jays n Dees projects for 2025.
It is already starting April, so once again the year is galloping away from Us.

However, there are a few major projects already in Our sights, and some that We are already undertaking.
Hopefully you can find some inspiration from these if you are loking for something (else) to accomplish!

Let’s go through some of Our Projects now and provide a breakdown for each of them:

Jays n Dees e-Store

The major project of 2025 would have to be Our e-Store, www.jaysndees.com.au. It is true that we also have Our Blog (from where you are reading this), and Our Free LTC and DASH Cryptocurrency Faucets, but the big ambition is to build the e-store up to its’ full potential.

We are limiting the e-Store to Australia for the moment, but eventually the plan will be for international reach.
Australian Print Providers are used, and we offer Free Post for Australia.

We did initially have the store set for worldwide, but the amount of problems that were faced in the beginning trying to get things right was quite exhausting for me (D1) as I am still even learning new things.
I have posted on StackOverflow a small number of times, and there is also a large amount of reading and learning I am still yet to do, from lots of different data sources.

To date, everything listed in the e-Store is Approved. There is nothing in the Google Merchant Centre (I am Australian, so it is ‘re’, and not ‘er’) that is Limited or Not Approved. There are some missing signals for Australia under ‘Store Quality’, but even though I have the items listed in that particular sectionalready, I am a bit stuck on them for the moment.

Novel (Sept/Oct 2024) Project

Sometime back in September 2024, I began drafting up a novel. There are no mentions of plot or storyline within this post. I do not want to spoil anything for any potential future readers.

Whilst I managed to build something up to around the low 30s in chapters, the story wasn’t working properly. I would need to go right back to the beginning, and rebuild it from there. I found that I had many holes in the main story, and even some of the other bits and pieces of it just didn’t quite make sense.

This year though, I do plan to complete it and make it available as a digital product through Our e-Store, and also potentially other ebook outlets.

Cryptocurrency

This year so far has already seen some interesting developments.

We currently have around 90% of Our crypto portfolio locked into rewards earning cryptos, namely Cosmos and Osmosis.
About a week ago now, we received a message via Our Self Custody Wallet that their support for Osmosis was ending, and that we needed to unstake Our funds and convert them to something else. We have around a week left of them being locked (unstaking takes 15 days), and then we will need to convert them to a supported coin.

I think that any of that particular crypto will be converted to Cosmos, where it will be able to still earn a decent yield.

Throughout the course of 2025, the main plan with it all is to just let it all earn wherever we can. Once again, there will be no investments.

We still utilise Our cryptocurrency mining rig. The only change here is the coin it is used to mine for. We have switched it back to mining Ethereum Classic (ETC), mostly because of the cooler months that we are coming into.

Home Projects

There are many a number of projects that we are needing to do around Our property, but this year I have decided to focus on a small group of them.

Obviously there is lots of building and renovating to do, and these jobs will be completed as time and money permits.

I have mostly completed setting up and preparing the garden beds for this year. There is going to be lots of garlic to hopefully sell once it is finished. I purchased some different varieties of garlic to try out this year along with what we usually do, so it is certainly going to be an interesting season with this!

We are going in and planting a large variety of the produce we consume on a regular basis, mainly to try and save some money at the supermarkets with shopping. With a family of 6 to feed, this is not a cheap exercise at all.

Another project for the year, is expanding upon the small private golf course I started many years ago. I would like to see a few more greens in place, with multiple tee off points attached to each. That would easily get it up to 9 holes – perfect for a nice casual weekend of barbeques, bonfires, chasing balls with clubs, and drinks.

eBook

At the start of the year, I started designing up my very own ebook for a specific sort of project. As time permits, I will finish the pieces I have been slowly working on, and later in the year I will also release my ebook. Both the projects, and the ebook, will be made available in Our e-Store.

Whilst I understand that some of the projects I accomplish are possibly for a very niche market, that is not going to stop me from giving it a really good go. There is so much to learn and succeed at when it comes to marketing ideas, and the best possible way is to just get stuck into it and keep trying.

Different Car

I currently have a 1997 80 series Toyota Landcruiser 1FZ-FE as my work vehicle. It is a great truck, it can carry lots, it can tow big loads, and it can go almost anywhere. As a general work truck though, it does get a little heavy on fuel, especially as it is a full time four wheel drive. Most of the time, this capability is not needed.

So I have managed to acquire a more suitable vehicle for my work. It is a Holden Crewman, and it will be plenty enough for what I need. It is currently unregistered, and it does have a small number of the known issues of them to fix and repair, but once I get in and sort them all out it will be good to go.

The only downside to it is, it will not carry all 6 of us at the one time like the ‘Cruiser can.
We do have our family Carnival for this purpose though.

Once the Crewman is properly back on the road, I will consider decommissioning the Landcruiser.
Whilst I am not yet sure if I will sell it complete or part it out, I will list it on the Jays n Dees e-Store, and also any other appropriate website when the time comes.

Yarning (D2)

D2 has been very busy with learning how to yarn items. She is quite good at doing it, and has even managed to give all 4 Jays a few of her final products!
There is likely something very theraputic with creating something like that from nothing. I know it is something I could never do.

A few items have even already been whipped up by simply free forming them, so at some point I will try to convince her to put it into an ebook or something – at least a post about it anyway.

There may even be potential to put some products onto the e-Store.

Write and Post some Music

There comes a time in life where we must share what we learn.
Over the last few decades, I have been dabbling in writing my own songs.

I am quite shy and reserved in real life, so nothing has ever really eventuated from it.

J2 is starting to take a keen interest in music, both instruments and in writing, as he is getting to double digits in age, so I think he might be able to spur me into action a little.

At some stage we will begin to post some of the things we come up with. Sometime in the near future.

Building Projects

As the twins approach their first years of schooling, there is a need to create more space for them. More space for all of us too. I have mostly completed some of the smaller projects, but there is still some fencing left to do to ensure we have adequate safe space for them.

We also have upcoming kitchen projects, lounge room refurbishments, and also a better bedroom arrangement to focus on.

The projects themselves will be posted at a later date as they are completed, and hopefully all 4 Jays will learn a thing or two along the way. That is the aim, anyway.

Quads, Mowers, Motors Projects

We have a small number of motor powered contraptions sitting around on our small property, for the most part, doing nothing. The project plan for this, is to simply get them operational once again so they can be put to practical use.

As accomplishments are made, we will be sure to post about them.
It is all for learning and educational purposes after all.

A few of the projects include:

  • Kia Sportage so the Jays can learn how to drive a manual gearbox vehicle
  • Cheap made Quad bike for learning 4 stroke small engine repairs
  • Cheap made small motor bike for learning about 2 stroke engines
  • A couple of ride on mowers
  • Various brushcutters, mowers and other tools

Part of all this, is to also teach them about looking after, and maintaining their things.

Recipes

Throughout the year, I would love to get into making a couple of new recipe ideas.

We have a few delicious meals that we have altered over the years to suit our family. There are a number of them that have not yet been posted on our blog.

This year though, that is going to change to some extent. We all love food, and we all love new ideas for it.

What better way to show it, than to share with everybody!

Holiday with Family

With all of the business of Life, sometimes we forget the good things. I know I am heavily guilty of it.

So at some point during the year, we are going to plan a nice getaway for the family. This of course, will need to be sometime during a holiday period, as the 2 older Jays have their school commitments.

A holiday though, maybe a week or so long, where we can just go and explore something new, do something different, and reconnect.

That will be something worthwhile.

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jaysndees Our Year of 2024

…and what is in store for Us.

G’dmorning. G’day. G’devening..
Wherever you are reading this from, we would like to welcome you with Us, and more specifically, what is in store for us, and jaysndees our year of 2024.

We are Jays n Dees. Still completely functionally dysfunctional, and still a happily complete Party of 6 consisting of myself (D1), my Gorgeous wife (D2), and our adorably bonkers children, J1, J2, J3 and J4.
It may be a little obvious as to why we are jaysndees, but just incase, it is because we are a bunch of jays and dees. And ultimately, there will be a little of all of Us throughout this blog, and in fact, the website as a whole.

Progressively, as time permits, we would like to improve on our online presence, from building the blog up into a wholesome family oriented blog, to filling up our e-store with all sorts of our ideas.

Throughout the course of jaysndees our year of 2024, we will be sharing some aspects of our life with you. As always, we will simply be known as D1, D2, J1, J2, J3, J4, or jaysndees.
These details will primarily revolve around family projects, family happenings, crypto, and well, just life. We will build and share coupons for our e-store, create from our ideas, and take on all feedback.

We do have a number of major projects for undertaking throughout the year, and without giving too much away I will briefly mention just just a few:

  • 80 Series Landcruiser projects – engine, body, extras
  • quad bike revive – been through floods, untouched for many years prior
  • Our produce gardens
  • go-kart project with J1 and J2
  • Cryptocurrency and online earning
  • * a list of ambition more than a kilometre long *

Stay Tuned!

So cheers to the year that is ahead of two-four.
Hope you like and enjoy all that we have here in store for you!