Cars We Remember: The demise of the Studebaker-Packard Corporation

Q: Greg, I am not what you would call a car buff, but I think we are fortunate to have someone who is living in our midst. Each week I read your very informative column in the Pennysaver here in New York. Back in the late ‘40s and ‘50s, my grandfather bought a series of Studebaker cars: the first being a Land Cruiser (fine car: a 1950, I think) followed by others of increasingly poor quality, but increasingly more radical in design. When I was in college [...]

Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/1hexszQ

Travellers furious at CommBank glitch

A MAJOR outage of Commonwealth Bank’s Travel Money cards has left thousands of travellers stranded and unable to access their funds.

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/1SU3igL

Bitcoin baron nabbed in Japan

MARK Karpeles, the head of the collapsed MtGox Bitcoin exchange, has been arrested amid fresh accusations of fraud.

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/1gCqAMs

Should Your Parents Have a Say in Your College Major?

If your parents are footing some or all of your tuition bill, it’s not unreasonable to expect some gentle nudging toward a practical major. Photo: Siena College

When my husband chose to pursue his first bachelor’s degree in theatre arts, his parents were less than thrilled. They wanted him to be happy, of course, but they also wanted him to earn a degree that translated well into real life – and a real career.

But my husband forged ahead with his plans, ultimately earning a degree in theatre and moving to Chicago to give acting a real shot. Unfortunately, just a few years later, he realized that his parents were right to worry. Just as they had warned him, the pay for new actors was incredibly low – so low that he had to work a day job to pay the bills while auditioning and doing shows on weekends and evenings. Further, his “career” had afforded him no benefits, no chance for upward mobility, and no stability at all. And in the end, he wanted more.

So back to school he went, but this time for something more practical. Instead of something aspirational, he chose to learn a trade and pursue a bachelor’s degree in mortuary science. And $23,000 later, he had a degree that paid off in spades.

I share my husband’s story often, but not to embarrass him; I share it because I believe it serves as a cautionary tale for anyone on the fence about pursuing their “dream college degree.” Sure, it works out plenty of times, but what happens when it doesn’t? Like my husband, you’re stuck either toughing it out or heading back to school to pursue something else – at your expense. And, as we all know, college isn’t cheap.

Should Your Parents Have a Say in What You Major In?

To me, this begs a question: Should parents have a say in their child’s college major?

Here’s what I think: It depends on who’s paying.

When parents are footing the bill for their children’s education – or at least part of it – I believe they should have some say in that investment.

Survey responses from Discover Financial’s 2015 Student Loans Survey seem to echo that sentiment. According to the poll, a growing number of parents (44%) said they were more likely to offer funds for college if their child majored in a high-demand field or profession. That’s up from 33% in 2014.

And that makes sense. With the costs of college – and corresponding student loan debt levels – surging year after year, it’s wise for caring parents to at least try to steer their children toward a degree program that can prepare them for a rewarding career – and one with excellent earning potential.

Actually, the Discover survey shows that the latter has become more important than anything else. According to the survey, which polled 1,000 adults with college-bound children ages 16 to 18, 47% said that earning potential was the most important criteria for their children’s college major. Meanwhile, a full 48% of parents surveyed said they were limiting their children’s college choices based on affordability in 2015.

Simply put, parents are looking at it from both ends of the spectrum. In other words, they are stepping in to analyze the one thing college-bound kids can’t always understand – the true costs of a college degree.

And when parents offer this advice, we should really listen. After all, following good advice could mean the difference between having a profitable career – or struggling and starting over later in life.

Could Your Parents Be Right?

As I wrote this piece, I yelled into the other room to ask my husband if he regrets spending his free college ride on a degree in theatre arts. “Nope,” he said, adding that his education provided him with plenty of life experience – and led him to where he is at this very moment. With me.

In that sense, it’s hard to argue that he did the wrong thing. We all know how life sometimes forces twists and turns as you work your way up. Progress isn’t always a straight line, and there will always be setbacks. As my husband sees it, his first degree was a learning experience, albeit an expensive one.

Still, most of us would be better off if we listened to our parents more often. There are things you cannot know until you’ve lived enough to experience it yourself. And sometimes, when you’re 17 or 18 and think the world is your oyster, the dose of reality your parents offer is the best medicine you can find.

So, let’s reframe the question. Instead of asking whether parents should have a say in your college major, let’s ask if you’ll be willing to listen. Because, here’s the truth: Sometimes the best advice is the advice you don’t want to hear.

Do you think parents should have a say in their children’s college major? Why or why not? Does it depend on who is footing the bill?

The post Should Your Parents Have a Say in Your College Major? appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Source The Simple Dollar The Simple Dollar http://ift.tt/1STep9Z

TV as you know it is over

CHANNELS Nine, Seven, Ten and the ABC were officially put on notice last week. A revolution is coming that will change the way you watch TV.

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/1E2cfhl

20 Everyday Items to Buy at the Dollar Store (And 10 to Get Elsewhere)

I’ve always been a dollar-store shopper, but I never bought food there.

Then our local dollar store started carrying the exact same brand of whole wheat bread I normally buy for $2.49. It might be two days closer to the expiration date, but not past it. So now I save $1.49 on every loaf of bread.

But you have to be careful. I once bought a screwdriver at a dollar store and it fell to pieces the first time I used it.

So what should you buy at dollar stores, and what should you avoid? I looked at what the experts say in interviews with MoneyTalksNews and Today. Based on their advice and my own experience, here are 20 things to buy at dollar stores and 10 things to avoid.

Buy These Dollar Store Items

1. Greeting Cards

Everyone seems to agree on this one. Why pay several dollars for a card when you can get it for a buck?

2. Socks

Socks in dollar stores are often of decent quality, and the kids’ socks sometimes come two pairs to a package, making them much cheaper than most other stores.

The experts say to look for socks made with acrylic or spandex for comfort.

3. Vases

You can include decorative bowls, too. The dollar-store versions are about the same as the cheapest vases in other stores, which will typically run you $3 or more. I’ve found decent vases made of glass and plastic in dollar stores.

4. Gift Bags and Wrapping Paper

Gift bags cost more everyplace else, and these are things that are going to be thrown away anyhow. I wouldn’t buy them anywhere else.

Wrapping paper is usually a good deal too, but the rolls are short.

5. Party Supplies

Once again, we’re talking about disposable items. Why pay twice as much for streamers and plastic tablecloths, or five times as much for Mylar balloons?

A trip to the dollar store can easily save you $20 if you’re planning a party.

6. Grooming Items

Hair ties and bobby pins eventually get lost, so why pay more for them? Some name-brand shampoos show up in dollar stores too, for half of what they normally sell for.

But if you buy combs, avoid the flimsy ones in packages of 10 or more — I bent one the first time I used it.

7. Some Food

I don’t trust generic imported food yet, but now I’ll buy well-known brands I’ve seen elsewhere, and that bread saves me some serious cash.

Still, make careful comparisons; many canned foods cost less at regular grocery stores.

8. Picture Frames

My wife and I have pictures on our walls in wooden frames we bought at a dollar store. The same frames cost $5 or more in any other store where we’ve seen them. Just check to be sure the bracket or hook for hanging is securely attached.

9. Storage Containers

You’ll find buy food storage containers on the “don’t buy” list below, but for storing cleaning supplies, hardware items and many other things, I use plastic tubs and containers from the dollar store. They cost at least twice as much in most other stores.

10. Some Kitchenware

Yeah, dollar store silverware is flimsy, but still, how would I break a fork or a spoon? Drinking glasses are a good deal too.

What Else Should You Buy at the Dollar Store?

Considering only things that save me at least 50% and have worked just fine, here are some other things I buy at the dollar store:

11. Rope and twine (for uses that don’t require high-quality).
12. Kids’ coloring books (but not the low-quality crayons).
13. Bags of balloons (good for water balloons and party decoration).
14. Bandanas (for various uses).
15. Candles (for emergencies).
16. Dish Towels (two-packs; they wear out quickly, but still worth it).
17. Plungers (throw them away when they break; you get seven for the price of one).
18. Cleaning supplies (some are OK, and they’re much cheaper).
19. Sponges (for cleaning other than dishes).
20. Duct tape (low-quality, but perfect for some uses).

Don’t Buy These Dollar Store Items

1. Toys

With some exceptions, most dollar store toys are low quality and will break quickly, if they work at all.

Some experts also say that parts and paints used for dollar store toys might not meet standards for safety.

2. Batteries

The experts say the battery life is so short that you’re better off getting batteries elsewhere.

They’re mostly right, but I’ll buy batteries at a dollar store for uses where I don’t need much power, like remote controls. I figure they last half as long but cost a fourth as much, so it still makes sense.

3. Medications and Vitamins

These show up on many “don’t buy” lists for dollars stores. I wouldn’t trust any supplements or drugs that are made for this market.

One exception is aspirin from a known brand, but often the containers are so small that you might be paying more per pill than you would at the drug store.

4. Paper Products

It is tempting to pick up that four-roll package of toilet paper or those paper towels for a dollar, but look again. Usually the rolls are much smaller than normal, and the experts point out that the quality is about as low as it can be.

5. Plastic and Aluminum Wraps

These are usually low-quality, and again, they’re made to sell cheap by making the rolls very short.

6. School Supplies

The low quality of pens, paper, binders and such is one reason to avoid getting school supplies at a dollar store.

The other reason is that if you wait for back-to-school sales, you can save a lot more money at Walmart, Target and other stores.

7. Pet Food

Experts warn about the lack of standards with dollar-store pet food.

Then there is the size issue. Those small packages may cost more per ounce than the bigger bags you buy elsewhere.

8. Power Cords

Extension cords and power strips found in dollar stores are low quality and are sometimes dangerous, according to the experts.

9. Tools

Most tools found in dollar stores are barely functional, in my experience.

10. Food Containers

Low quality is a problem with these food containers, but safety is also an issue, according to a recent report on the hazardous chemicals in dollar store items.

I’m not too worried about the chemicals in the dollar-store tubs that organize my stuff in the garage, but I stay away from putting food in dollar-store plastic.

One last bit of advice: Be sure you’re in a dollar store. Dollar Tree keeps everything at a dollar, but other stores that use “dollar” in their names may have higher-priced items.

Your Turn: What do you buy in dollar stores, and what do you avoid?

Steve Gillman is the author of “101 Weird Ways to Make Money” and creator of EveryWayToMakeMoney.com. He’s been a repo-man, walking stick carver, search engine evaluator, house flipper, tram driver, process server, mock juror, and roulette croupier, but of more than 100 ways he has made money, writing is his favorite (so far).

The post 20 Everyday Items to Buy at the Dollar Store (And 10 to Get Elsewhere) appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/1SSGGNJ

8 worst ways to make money online

You may see the appeal of making money online. But before you jump in, do some research and make sure the "opportunities" at hand are legitimate. Some ways to earn money online should be avoided simply because they are risky, illegal, dangerous or unprofitable. Beware of the following.

Source Business http://ift.tt/1OWtKGk