Australia’s future titans of the tech industry

SOME of them are still teenagers while the oldest is just 22-years-old. These are the whiz kids poised to be Australia’s next Mark Zuckerbergs.

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

7 ways to travel like a millionaire — on a budget

Champagne wishes and caviar dreams might seem out of reach for travelers on a beer-and-burger budget. But with a little research and planning, a vacation filled with private jets and luxury accommodations doesn't have to be a far-fetched fantasy. If you'd like to vacation like a millionaire without refinancing your mortgage or sabotaging your credit score, try these seven travel tips to add a little grandeur to your next getaway.

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Coke’s ‘desperate’ bid to stop its demise

SOFT drink has been blamed for our worldwide obesity epidemic, but now Coke is coaxing scientists to say it’s not responsible. Should we trust its claims?

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/1IF7BtG

First Sav-a-Lot stores slated for Nevada

Discount supermarket chain Sav-A-Lot is trying to take a bite out of the Las Vegas grocery store market by opening the first of three new stores this week.

Source Business http://ift.tt/1L4vyvr

Allegiant Air opens new training facility

Allegiant Air has opened a state-of-the-art training facility in Las Vegas and has begun work there with its first class of pilots and flight attendants.

Source Business http://ift.tt/1f6u6gz

Officials OK funds for aviation forum, foresee more Las Vegas traffic

The last time Las Vegas hosted a Routes event, the number of airline seats coming into McCarran International Airport expanded by 17 percent. On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board of directors approved spending $490,000 to host the Routes Americas Development Forum in February 2017.

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‘Act like a lady, think like a man’

SOMETIMES the mind just boggles. Pen company Bic has been slammed for running a sexist advert that completely missed the mark.

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

Smoking ban hammers Harrah's New Orleans more than any storm surge

urricane Katrina couldn't crush the spirit of Harrah's New Orleans 10 years ago. The aftermath of the massive storm shuttered the property near the Mississippi River and entrance to the famous French Quarter for just six months while the city recovered, reopening for Mardi Gras in February 2006.

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Finance news you need to know

THE Commonwealth Bank has reported a five per cent rise in full-year net profit to a record $9.063 billion, while CBA shares went into a trading halt as it announced a $5 billion capital-raising.

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Station Casinos reports rise in net revenue, cash flow growth

Las Vegas' robust economy has treated Station Casinos well. The locals casino company reported a 4 percent increase in net revenue over last year and its 17th straight quarter for growth in earnings before interest, income tax, depreciation, amortization and management fees for the second quarter that ended June 30.

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Amazon Retiring Product Ads, Offers New Text Ads As Alternative

Amazon has notified its advertisers that the popular Product Ads will be discontinued on October 31.

Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.

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“Yes, We Still Love Google+” Says Outgoing Google CEO Larry Page

Asked about the service, Page expressed support that it will continue even as Google becomes part of Alphabet.

Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.

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FAA report conducted by NASA finds air traffic controllers 'dangerously tired'

Many of America's air traffic controllers suffer from chronic fatigue, potentially putting fliers at risk, according to a study conducted by NASA.

Source Business http://ift.tt/1P4TrDO

Kahr Firearms officially opens in Pike County

The gun maker, which broke ground on the 40,000 square-foot building in May 2014, marked progress in its move to Pennsylvania.

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

How Crowdfunding Works

Crowdfunding sounds like an easy way to raise funds for a project or product. Find out what crowdfunding is really about at HowStuffWorks.

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How Crowdfunding Works

Crowdfunding sounds like an easy way to raise funds for a project or product. Find out what crowdfunding is really about at HowStuffWorks.

Source Business & Money - HowStuffWorks http://ift.tt/1gxGdEz

Election Season Drives Fox News Into Top 2 Of Facebook Publishers In July [Report]

Latest NewsWhip data shows Fox surpassing Buzzfeed and closing in on No. 1 publisher, The Huffington Post.

Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.

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Marketing Land: Twitter’s New Search API, Mobile-Friendly Email Design & Google’s Alphabet

Here's our recap of what happened in online marketing today, as reported on Marketing Land and other places across the web.

Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.

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What was the world’s largest bankruptcy filing?

Businesses, cities, and even countries sometimes get into insurmountable debt. Learn all about the world's largest bankruptcy filing at HowStuffWorks.

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How soon after bankruptcy can I buy a house?

You'll be over the bankrupt hump in a few years. Learn how soon you can buy a house after filing bankruptcy at HowStuffWorks.

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What was the world’s largest bankruptcy filing?

Businesses, cities, and even countries sometimes get into insurmountable debt. Learn all about the world's largest bankruptcy filing at HowStuffWorks.

Source Business & Money - HowStuffWorks http://ift.tt/1DHaM5y

How soon after bankruptcy can I buy a house?

You'll be over the bankrupt hump in a few years. Learn how soon you can buy a house after filing bankruptcy at HowStuffWorks.

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Survey: 71 Percent Browse Retail Apps Before Buying In-Stores

Retailers as a group haven’t figured out how apps fit into their larger strategies, despite all the “omnichannel” rhetoric to the contrary. To date retail apps have mostly been treated as small-screen versions of e-commerce desktop sites with some “circular” content...

Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.

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How are secured claims treated in bankruptcy?

Knowing what you have to repay after bankruptcy is important. Learn more about secured claims and bankruptcy at HowStuffWorks.

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How are secured claims treated in bankruptcy?

Knowing what you have to repay after bankruptcy is important. Learn more about secured claims and bankruptcy at HowStuffWorks.

Source Business & Money - HowStuffWorks http://ift.tt/1L3B4hQ

PUC staff urges no expedited order to continue net metering program

Legal staff with the Nevada Public Utilities Commission is recommending that commissioners do not issue an expedited order Wednesday to continue an existing net metering program as requested by rooftop solar officials.

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What you need to know about Google's new parent company Alphabet

In case you missed it, Google is now Alphabet, Alphabet owns Google, and Google has a new CEO, who reports to the old CEO. Here's the deal.

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Twitter Launches Full Archive Search API To Give Enterprises Instant Access To Every Tweet

Expanding on historical products offered by its Gnip service, Twitter is now offering social management platforms real-time access to full Twitter stream.

Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.

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American Girl To Crowdsource Film Introducing New Doll

What better way to get young girls intrigued than to offer them the opportunity to star in a YouTube video? That's the idea behind the Mattel brand's social effort surrounding two of its historical dolls.

Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.

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LVCVA board approves plan to demolish Riviera

The shuttered Riviera property will be demolished as planned as the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority's board of directors on Tuesday affirmed a recommendation of its Convention Center District committee.

Source Business http://ift.tt/1Wg5jbM

The Forgotten Money-Saving Strategy You Learned in Kindergarten

When we were kids, everything was negotiable.

Picture school lunches. Everyone was scoping out everyone else’s food, throwing out offers and trying to end up with the tastiest selections. I was once part of a five-way trade so complicated, it was a wonder we even had time to eat — though I did end up with a miniature Snickers, so no complaints here!

For some reason, we stop bartering as adults. We measure everything in terms of cost, but we forget about how much money we can save with a little creative negotiation.

Channel your inner kindergartener and get ready to do some trading. Here are a few ways that you can use bartering to save money.

How to Barter Successfully

No matter what you are bartering for, follow these three simple steps:

1. Think about what you want. Be realistic, because it’s much more difficult (though not impossible) to barter your way to diamonds than it is to get help building your website.
2. Consider what the people who sell what you want, would need. Match your skills to their needs. What do they need that you can provide?
3. Pitch them. Explain how your skills can meet their needs, in exchange for their goods or services.

This pitch is more likely to work if you build a relationship first. Don’t just stroll into a business and start talking about exchanging products and services. Take the time to get to know the person and the business first, before broaching the idea of a trade.

Before you start thinking of bartering strategies, consider why you might barter.

To Build Your Business

Whether you’re a freelancer, a small business owner or a master of the side hustle, having a business requires resources. It’s true that it takes money to make money, but the fewer dollars you have to spend to make your business work, the more you get to keep.

As a writer, I’ve done my fair share of bartering. When I needed to build a website, I reached out to one of my talented friends and offered my writing services in exchange for his development know-how. Sure, I could have done it myself with a lot of Googling, but I wanted a professional.

While my friend usually charges thousands of dollars to build a site, I didn’t have to pay a single dime. He agreed to trade his services for five blog posts, a long-form article and some website copy he needed for his clients.

Need another incentive to try bartering for business services? This tactic could also help you land additional work and new clients.

Not only did I get a fantastic website, but my friend’s clients were so pleased with the content, they ended up hiring me for a long-term (and well-paid) freelance gig.

To Enjoy Luxuries You Wouldn’t Otherwise Be Able to Afford

Not all bartering needs to be business-related. Products or services you want just because are good targets, too. Things that entertain you and make you look and feel good may not be necessities, but that doesn’t mean you always have to live without them.

Local businesses are especially good targets for some bartering. Chains often have corporate regulations to follow, but local businesses may have more leeway.

Want an expensive haircut from a boutique salon? Keen to sign up for that pricey organic CSA? Barter with your skills! Offer your services as a handyman, marketer or whatever your skills may be in exchange.

You could even work out a long-term arrangement, if your skillset allows it. For example, if you work in search engine optimization, you could trade monthly SEO work for monthly haircuts.

Don’t Discount Discounts

Though getting things for free is ideal, you may not always be successful, especially if you’re targeting an expensive item or service. Instead, use your bartering skills to snag major discounts.

A furniture store may not be able to give you a free bedroom set, but offer a few hours of skilled work in exchange for a reduced price. A bookkeeper likely won’t work for free, but might give you a lower rate if you help him establish a social media presence.

When bartering for a discount, make sure that you have a fair exchange in mind. You always want to make sure that the discount is worth the work you’ll put into it. In other words, don’t do hundreds of dollars worth of work for a $50 discount.

Boost Your Barter Potential by Connecting With Others

Remember the five-way school lunch trade I mentioned earlier? Well, I was able to earn that Snickers because I was working with friends.

Relationship-building is crucial for bartering. People who know and trust you are much more likely to accept a barter agreement. To foster those connections, join small business associations, networking groups and meetups whenever you can.

Barters don’t just have to be one-on-one. Yes, adding more people makes things more complicated if you’re working with strangers, but that’s why it’s important to have a strong network.

When you meet others, think of how you might be able to help one another. Even when businesses seem entirely unrelated, once you get to know people, you can think of creative ways to work together.

Consider a dog groomer, a small printing press and a website designer. The dog groomer needs some postcards printed for a mail campaign, the printing press needs a new website and the website designer has pet dogs that need grooming. It’s just a matter of talking and figuring out fair details, whether they’ll exchange discounted services or purely trade services.

Not sure how to get the conversation started? You could even use this article. Post it in your LinkedIn groups or community discussion boards and ask members if they have anything to offer. You may be surprised how easy it can be to begin.

For maximum barter potential, expand your network outside your field. If I only got to know other writers, I wouldn’t have anything unique to offer. Since I know people in a variety of industries, I can create unique and beneficial connections.

Go to networking events and get to know people. Today’s casual acquaintance might be the key to tomorrow’s bartering gold mine.

Your Turn: Have you ever bartered for a freebie or discount? Tell us about it in the comments!

Erin Palmer is a writer and content marketer who is always up for a good trade or a good laugh. Barter or joke with her on Twitter @Erin_E_Palmer.

The post The Forgotten Money-Saving Strategy You Learned in Kindergarten appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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Getting A Grip On The Mobile Engagement Gap

Columnist Brent Hieggelke delves into data that shows there's a growing mobile engagement gap between high- and medium-performing apps and explains what you can do to boost your app's performance.

Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.

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Should Your College Kid Get a Credit Card?

You may want your child to start building credit, but consider the barriers to entry.


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Taxi exec calls proposed Uber, Lyft rules a 'public safety disaster'

An executive with one of Southern Nevada's dominant taxicab companies says the Nevada Transportation Authority's proposed regulations for transportation network companies "is going to represent a public safety disaster for Las Vegas."

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Gaming claims a place in presidential race

The gaming and resort industries on Tuesday staked out a spot in the presidential race taking shape in Nevada, reminding leaders of their importance to the state's economy, as well as the votes of thousands of their workers.

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10 Ways to Save $600 a Year on Cable Without Giving Up Your Favorite Shows

With the average cost of cable running around $600 a year (according to this savings calculator from Slate), it’s no surprise that more and more people are making the decision to cut the cord and get their TV fixes elsewhere.

But can you really still watch all the shows you love without paying the price of a hefty cable package?

Yes, you can. Here’s how to watch TV without cable.

1. Major Network Websites

You can view videos of full episodes of many of your favorite TV shows for free on network websites.

Broadcast channels like ABC, CBS and NBC offer a wide range of on-demand episodes, as do premium channels like TLC, TBS and HGTV. Just head to your favorite network’s website to check out what’s available.

Cost: Free

2. CBS All Access

Check out more than 6,500 episodes of CBS shows with CBS All Access live-streaming. Available for your PC or mobile device, it also gives you access to live TV and special features like the Big Brother live feed.

Cost: Free one-week trial; $5.99 a month after that

3. Feeln

Presented by Hallmark Cards, this streaming service offers movies and TV series handpicked for being heartwarming and family-friendly.

Commercial-free and available on a wide range of devices from your iPhone to your Roku to your Xbox 360, Feeln also offers 100 originally produced short films and programs as well as an exclusive collection of Hallmark Hall of Fame features.

Cost: $1.99 a month

4. Netflix

Commercial-free and available on a number of platforms, Netflix has one of the largest libraries of shows and movies available for live-streaming.

It releases whole seasons of shows at once, which is great for binge-watching but not so great if you want to be up-to-date on your favorite shows so you can discuss them with your friends — you’ll have to wait for the latest season to end before you’re able to watch it on Netflix.

Netflix has also been a pioneer in original content, offering its subscribers exclusive access to hit shows like Orange is the New Black and House of Cards.

Cost: $7.99 a month (or free with this nifty trick)

5. Hulu and Hulu Plus

You can watch a variety of popular shows on the free version of Hulu the day after they air, but you’ll only be able to access the five most recent episodes.

Upgrade to Hulu Plus and you’ll be able to see all episodes of a series, including past seasons of currently running shows like Modern Family as well as classic shows like The Twilight Zone. (Unfortunately, you’ll have to sit through ads whether you use the free or the paid version.)

Hulu is also trying to get into the original content game, with a limited number of exclusive series like Behind the Mask and Difficult People.

Cost: Free for Hulu; $7.99 a month for Hulu Plus

6. Sling TV

One major complaint about alternative TV services is they typically don’t offer much for sports fans. Sling TV by Dish Network is one solution, offering live access to 20 premium channels including ESPN, Adult Swim and AMC as well as add-on packages that give you additional channels based on your interests.

That said, it’s live access; there’s no option to record a show you want to watch later. Sling does offer a replay period during which you can view shows that aired within the past three days on certain channels, and certain channels allow you rewind a show you’re already watching — but ESPN is not one of those channels, so if you want to catch the big touchdown that happened while you were in the kitchen, you’ll have to hope they show a replay.

Cost: $20 a month for the basic “Best of TV” package; add-ons available from $5 a month (for Sports Extra, Kids Extra, etc.) to $15 a month (for HBO)

7. HBO Now

If you’re addicted to HBO shows like Game of Thrones and Girls, you’ll find they’re not available on other streaming services.

If you want to watch them without renting them when they come out on DVD, you’ll want to get HBO Now. It’s available for most devices — tablets, laptops, phones and desktops, but not video game consoles — and offers a month-long free trial (which means you can watch a whole ‘lotta GoT for free if you’re a binger).

Cost: Free 30-day trial; $14.99 a month after that

8. Amazon Prime Instant Video

Amazon Prime’s Instant Video feature gives you streaming access to a number of popular TV series and movies.

The list is by no means exhaustive, and you’ll find it doesn’t have the most recent seasons of currently running programs, but you do have the option to buy a season pass (which typically ranges from $10-$20) or pay per episode (around $1.99-$3.99) to view additional shows.

If you already buy a ton of stuff from Amazon and can benefit from the free two-day shipping that comes along with Amazon Prime, it’s certainly an option worth considering.

Cost: $99 a year (which breaks down to $8.25 a month)

9. HDTV Antenna

Go old-school and hook your TV up to an HDTV antenna to get basic broadcast channels with a high-quality picture. Add a TiVo or other DVR device, and you’ll be able to record shows to view them later.

Find out which channels are available in your area and the best antenna for your needs at AntennaWeb.

Cost: $15 and up

10. The Library

Go really old-school by checking out the offerings at your local public library.

I did a search of my nearby branch and was surprised to find DVDs of everything from I Love Lucy to The Brady Bunch to Malcolm in the Middle. It’s not enough to satisfy the diehard TV fanatic, but if you’re looking for a cheap way to pass a rainy day, you certainly can’t beat the price.

Your Turn: Do you use any of these TV alternatives, by themselves or in combination? What do you like (or dislike) about them?

Disclosure: We have a serious Taco Bell addiction around here. The affiliate links in this post help us order off the dollar menu. Thanks for your support!

Kelly Gurnett is a freelance blogger, writer and editor who runs the blog Cordelia Calls It Quits, where she documents her attempts to rid her life of the things that don’t matter and focus more on the things that do. Follow her on Twitter @CordeliaCallsIt.

The post 10 Ways to Save $600 a Year on Cable Without Giving Up Your Favorite Shows appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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How to Avoid Excess Bank Fees

There’s no denying that ATMs and overdraft protection are incredibly convenient, but they also bring in billions of dollars in fees for the banking industry. Photo: Jim Pennucci

By Peter Miller

The world of consumer banking used to be based on the pillars of free checking and equally free toasters, but those days are long gone. Today’s bank statements are likely to be filled with an array of charges and costs, fees that may seem small and unimportant but which together actually bring billions of dollars into the banking system.

While depositors may have had an inkling that banking has seemed increasingly expensive of late, it’s possible to avoid a host of these charges — and probably all of them.

FDIC Call Reports

The FDIC collects quarterly “call” reports from the nation’s banks, but starting this year banks with assets of $1 billion or more are required to provide new information. Now, for the first time, we can see the full extent of those little fees that keep cropping up — and it turns out that taken in aggregate, they’re not so little. In fact, according to the FDIC, they amounted to $7.4 billion in just the first quarter.

According to FDIC spokesman David Barr, “The new data include consumer overdraft-related service charges, consumer periodic account maintenance charges, consumer ATM charges, and all other service charges on deposit accounts. This last category includes all service charges on deposit account products that are intended for use by a broad range of depositors (which may include individuals), as well as ‘per check’ fees and other event-based charges, such as stop payment fees and wire transfer fees on consumer deposit accounts.”

Of the $7.4 billion in service charge income on deposit accounts reported by the 626 institutions, Barr says:

• Overdraft charges on consumer accounts totaled $2.5 billion, or 34.1%.
• Periodic account maintenance charges on consumer deposit accounts totaled $975 million, or 13.2%.
• ATM charges on the banks’ consumer accounts totaled $439 million, or 5.9%.

The charges on consumer accounts (overdraft charges, periodic account maintenance, and ATM charges) represented more than half (53.3%) of the service charge income reported on deposit accounts.

How to Protect Your Wallet

Given the numbers from the first quarter, it looks like the nation’s big banks will collect nearly $30 billion in fees during the coming year. That’s a lot of money, but the odds are that you can avoid such costs by asking five magic questions.

1. What are your minimum balance requirements for checking and savings accounts?

Banks, with some reason, don’t want very small accounts because of the costs they represent. So they have a variety of maintenance fees they assess for low balances, often in an effort to effectively close out such accounts. Find out what the monthly minimums are and be aware that if an account balance falls below the benchmark for even a day you can be assessed the whole change.

• Related: How to Find the Best Free Checking Account

2. Can I get overdraft protection?

“It’s always good to have overdraft protection, a service which is often available without cost,” said Rick Sharga, executive vice president at Auction.com. “With such programs the system steps in and pays the bill up to a given amount if the account is overdrawn.”

Generally, overdraft protection means you have an optional system in place in case your account is overdrawn. For instance, you might have a savings or retirement account tied to your checking account. If you write a check that drops the account below the amount of available funds, money is automatically transferred from the other account to cover the debt, so the check doesn’t bounce and create its own headaches.

With overdraft coverage the bank — at its discretion — pays such things as automatic bill payments, recurring bills, and debit card transactions. Some overdraft coverage programs are automatic, others require enrollment.

Whatever system you choose, always ask about minimums, fees, and charges.

3. Can I get a line of credit?

An alternative overdraft approach is to get a line of credit attached to a checking account. This is different than a checking account related to savings or retirement funds because the money is an outright loan from the bank and not your cash.

There is often an annual fee for this service, perhaps $25, but it automatically advances money to cover overdrafts or if you simply need a loan. A line-of-credit requires a basic credit check and loan application, but once in place can last the life of the account. Depending on your income and credit, the size of your line-of-credit can be substantial, well into five figures.

4. Do I have to pay ATM fees?

Cash is readily available from ATMs everywhere, but there’s a catch: If you use another bank’s ATM, you may owe a fee. The fee may seem small — say $3 — but that’s a big percentage for a small advance.

Be sure to ask about ATM fees. Is there a fee to use the bank’s ATMs? How much? Is there a fee to use an ATM network that includes your bank? How much? If there is a fee to use a non-bank ATM, will the bank reimburse you? Is there a limit to fee-free ATM transactions, such as a certain number per month or the amount withdrawn?

5. Do you have a minute?

It costs big money to attract new customers, and banks very much want to keep your business. For that reason, if you get hit with an overcharge, one of the best strategies is to simply visit a branch and chat with a bank officer.

Explain your concern — nicely — and ask if the charge can be removed. Even before you get to the “ask” part, the bank officer may well say, “Gosh, you’ve been with us for so many years (or you have x amount deposited with us, or both), so let’s see if we can waive the fee.”

The bank officer knows that waiving the fee means fewer dollars in the short term, but keeping the account can mean a very-much larger stream of income for years to come. Weighing the pros and cons, there’s a very good chance the fee will be waived.

If the fee is not waived — and if you’re a good customer with solid credit and a healthy balance — you can always take your business elsewhere, especially if you find a bank that has good answers for the questions above.

Related Articles: 

• How to Earn Free Money With a Bank Bonus
• The Best High-Interest Savings Accounts Online
• How to Build Credit

The post How to Avoid Excess Bank Fees appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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Facebook Adds High Performing Ad Units To Audience Network

The social network is now offering autoplay video in native app advertising and dynamic product and carousel ads in full-screen interstitials.

Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.

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10 best summer sales you can’t afford to miss

The end of summer offers plenty of opportunities to save money on a variety of items. You'll find deals on seasonal items that retailers are looking to clear out to make room for colder-weather products, and sales abound on everything students of all ages need to head back to school. Plus, Labor Day sales offer an opportunity to save on several big-ticket items.

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Ride & Drive: 2015 Ford Edge

I was impressed with the previous generation Ford Edge.After spending a week behind the wheel of the all-new, 2015 Edge crossover utility vehicle, I’m absolutely blown away.Remade in nearly every detail, the current generation Edge features improved driving dynamics, new body structure and a redesigned suspension system developed specifically to better isolate road imperfection and absorb noise without compromising handling.Unlike truck-based crossover [...]

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Engagement: How To Unlock The Key To Content Performance Success

So you've developed a content marketing plan, and you're producing tons of great content -- the question is, is anyone reading it? Columnist Jim Yu explains how to increase engagement and improve your brand reputation in the eyes of your customers.

Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.

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How to Find a Job Without Using Job Boards

Boost your odds of job-search success with these five strategies.

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China Devalues Yuan to Strengthen Economy

China shocked international financial markets Tuesday by devaluing its currency in an apparent move to strengthen its economy, which has been slowing down.

Source CBN.com - Finance http://ift.tt/1J9ONGv

If You Want Different Results, You Have to Try Different Approaches

Albert Einstein is widely credited with saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.”

While I don’t view that choice as insane, I do see it as a common trap that most of us fall into during our lives. Why? We’re humans.

Human beings are creatures of routine. Even the most spontaneous among us stick to a lot of routines and habits in life. For us, it is challenging to try different approaches to the problems in our life.

Yet, that phrase still holds true. If you want different results than what you’re getting, you have to try different approaches.

The things you did yesterday have brought you to the life you have today. If you want something different, you have to do something different today to create a different life tomorrow. There’s no other way to get there.

So, what kind of results are you looking for in your life?

If You Want a Better-Paying Job…

Some people enjoy the job that they have – or at least enjoy it more than the alternatives – but they want better pay and more opportunities related to that job. They don’t want to be working the front desk forever or to be stuck in the entry-level slot for the rest of their years. They want more.

To get more, you have to do more.

You have to have skills that employers want. The job that you want likely requires skills that you just don’t have. Yet.

In order to move you up into that position – or to find that kind of position in another organization – you have to have the skills that the job requires. There’s no shortcut around that.

The catch is that there isn’t some magic spell that will move you from where you’re at to where you need to be to get that job. It’s up to you.

In other words, you have to devote your own time and energy to developing those skills. To get there, you flat out have to devote some spare time and energy to building new skills.

Often, people assume that these skills are built by going back to school, and that’s sometimes true, but there are also many opportunities to build skills without returning to school.

You can build skills by volunteering in your community. You can build skills by working on community projects, like software engineers working on open source projects. You can build skills by starting a side business related to your field.

Education. Projects. Certifications. Experience. Those are the things that are going to make your resume better. Those are the things that are going to get you an interview. Yet, an interview isn’t enough. How do you cinch the job from there?

You need to understand what exactly is needed in your “dream job.” Yes, there are often requirements on paper, but that doesn’t really tell you what you’ll need to get from here to there.

Do you have strong professional relationships with other people in your field? If not, build them. This goes beyond being friends with the other person who works next to you.

Are you proactive in taking care of problems? In other words, do you step back and look at the big picture, then address potential problems before they happen and try to find ways to make things work better during crunch times?

Do you communicate well both with your customers and with your managers?

Those are the kind of things that people look for when hiring for better jobs. Those things, however, aren’t always listed on the “requirements” for the job. They are things that are “icing on the cake” – the kinds of things that show up when you interview and set you apart from the rest of the field.

If you want a better job in your field, you need to be building these things in your spare time at work and your spare time outside of work.

You have to be unafraid to push yourself and risk failure. This sounds like a lot of work. It also sounds like you might very well fail anyway.

Guess what? That’s all part of the equation. You are going to stumble. Things aren’t going to happen exactly like you want them to.

You have to get up and brush yourself off when that happens. You can’t just blame society and give up. You have to keep pushing. Your skills weren’t quite strong enough yet. Keep polishing them. Keep trying.

If You Want to Not Be Worried About Debt All the Time…

This describes me several years ago. I was constantly worried about debt, particularly in the evenings as I was reflecting on the day or when I was about to drift off to sleep. It kept me up late many nights and that lack of sleep and energy kept me from focusing at work or taking care of many things I should have been taking care of.

As with the job plan, this one’s all about making good choices for yourself.

You have to stop buying junk. The only way a person gets into debt is by spending less than they earn. That makes sense, right? If you spend less than you earn, you have no reason to go into debt and your savings will build up. If you spend exactly what you earn, you still have no reason to go into debt – you just won’t be building any savings. The only way debt enters the picture is by spending more than you earn – or by having done so in the recent past.

Thus, you have to shift from spending more than you earn to spending less than you earn and you need to do it quickly. The only real way to do that is by getting a grip on your spending. You have to cut out your least important spending. Period.

Look throughout your life for the least important purchases. A good place to start is with the name brand items you buy. Have you ever tried the generic versions? Another place to look is all of the money you spend going out, eating out, and entertaining yourself. How much of that spending has any lasting value for you whatsoever? And, if it doesn’t have lasting value, why not do things that don’t involve spending so much money? You might also want to look at your regular bills, like your energy bill. What kinds of things can you do to permanently cut your energy spending, like air sealing your home or installing more energy efficient lighting?

You can give all of this a nice boost by going through your closet and selling all of the stuff you find there that you haven’t used in the last year. Use that money to whack away quickly at your debts.

You have to have a plan. A debt repayment plan is an essential tool for getting rid of your debts. It helps you to identify which debt should be receiving all of your extra payments.

The basics of it are really simple. Just list all of your debts by interest rate, with the biggest interest rate at the top. Apply all extra payments to whatever debt is at the top of the list. When that one’s gone, cross it off and continue with the next one down the list, and repeat until all debts are gone.

You have to have patience. A big pile of debt isn’t going to disappear overnight. It isn’t going to disappear in a year, either. You have to be patient.

The thing is, many people never have that patience. They get “bored.” They expect results immediately from a week or two of effort.

You will never, ever succeed if that’s the approach you take. Instead of being “bored,” be creative and look for new approaches and new things to do. Look around your community or on sites like Meetup for new things. Instead of expecting huge results immediately, keep track of your debt balance over time and look at how much it’s changed each month.

If You Want to Have a Brand-New Career in a Field You Love…

Perhaps you’re stuck in a job that you don’t enjoy and you want to try something different, but it seems almost impossible to make that leap. How can you ever go from this career to that career?

The thing is, people make career leaps all the time. It just takes some willingness to make some real changes in your life.

You have to have a smart plan in place and some people to help you polish it. What is your destination? What things do you need to have in place to make it there? How can you put together those things in your spare time or during some kind of sabbatical period?

Those are all hard questions, but they’re questions that you need to answer seriously and honestly. It will take some serious introspection and some serious time for research.

Of course, you may still come up with a plan that’s completely unrealistic, even after all of that. That’s why it’s useful to take any such plan to trusted people in your life. Look for people whose opinions you trust. At the same time, don’t be afraid to reach out to people in that field that you won’t necessarily be competing against in the future and have them help you find flaws in your plan.

You want a plan that’s going to work, and without this preparation, you’re likely to fire off your rocket of action in the wrong direction.

You have to start building a cushion to get yourself through the transition period. Whenever you switch careers, there is often a bumpy transitional period as you take time off for education or adjust to a lower starting salary. That can be difficult, so it’s good to start preparing now for that transition.

Spend less than you earn. Bank the rest. Cut back on your least important spending. It’s a familiar recipe, but it’s the recipe that works.

The goal here is to make sure that you can make this big switch without losing important parts of your life. You need to keep food on the table and a roof over your head – and the heads of the people in your immediate family.

You have to start learning – and, if possible, doing – today. Even while you’re figuring out a plan, you need to start carving out time (and energy) for learning the skills you’re going to need at your new job. Look for any and all opportunities to do that.

This might mean stepping back from some commitments in your life right now. This might mean taking some basic classes online so you’re up to speed for the more challenging material. This might mean simply doing it, whatever it might be.

The real challenge for most people is simply finding the time. Cut back on the least important things in your life. Don’t be afraid to de-commit from a few minor responsibilities. Cut back on some of your more useless hobbies, like channel surfing or web surfing in the evenings.

If You Want to Never Have to Work Again…

Some people – myself included – dream about financial independence. A future in which I no longer have to work for a living seems pretty sweet.

However, it’s not easy to get there. It requires making a lot of very difficult decisions and choices along the way.

You have to have a vision for the future. If you’re doing this simply because sitting around all day playing Xbox sounds awesome, you’re probably not going to be motivated to stick with it. You need to have a compelling reason to do this, because it’s that compelling reason that will help push you through.

What would you do with your life if you didn’t have to work for income? What things would you achieve? What would you fill your life with?

Those questions aren’t easy ones to answer. They require a lot of thought and they will likely involve consideration of life paths that you’re not going to follow up on. That’s okay. When you do find the right thing, you’ll know, because it will start to drive you forward.

The key thing is to realize that it is possible. I’m well on my way to that destination myself. You can make that vision a reality, and when it’s an exciting vision, it can really help drive your life forward.

You have to put a strong check on your short-term desires. This is the big one. For this dream to happen, you have to start living way below your means. You simply can’t spend money on every whim and desire that comes your way, because if you do that, you simply won’t have the means to retire early.

That means that you need to go through a rather challenging process of evaluating how you spend every dollar and asking yourself whether that dollar spent is providing a lot of long-term value in your life. If it’s not, you need to cut that spending.

This doesn’t mean living like a hermit. This means that when you do spend money, you’re spending it on things that will have a lot of value in your life for a long time.

You have to start investing for the future. Simply spending less isn’t enough. You’re also going to have to take the extra money that you earn and don’t spend and invest it sensibly.

There are many avenues and philosophies for doing this. Some advocate loading up retirement accounts to the brim and taking advantage of early retirement clauses in those accounts. Others are in favor of simply putting that money into taxable accounts and holding onto the investments that you buy so that you’re not relying on a loophole.

Regardless of what you choose, the most important thing by far is that you start saving and start saving now and start saving as much as you can.

If You Want a Better Home for You and Your Family…

Many families are squeezed into a home or apartment that’s really small for their needs. Some parents are forced to enroll their students in a poor school district simply because of finances. Others might not feel safe in their neighborhood.

Whatever the reason, you want a better place to live, but it seems almost impossible to reach that point.

You have to sharpen your credit. Almost always, this kind of financial move will require a home loan, and you’re not going to get a home loan with terrible credit.

The first step is to grab your credit report (the federal government allows you to look at each of your three reports once a year for free) and look for problems. What debts are past due? What debts have a huge balance compared to their credit limit? Do you actually know what everything is on your credit report? Take care of all of those things and you’ll be in pretty good shape.

Even if you never look at your credit report, though, you can already take most of those steps. Keep current on all of your bills – even your utilities. Pay down any credit cards that are close to the credit limit. Stop adding to the balance of your credit cards, too. If you have creditors calling you, ask them to send you the material in writing and work through fixing those problems.

You have to have your debts – and your spending – under control. You have to be spending less than you earn or this will never, ever work. This means getting a grip on what you spend each week and each month and striving to have more in your checking at the end of the month than at the start of the month.

How do you do that? Start by cutting back on the least important spending. Whenever you’re buying something that’s not completely essential, ask whether this purchase will be something you still value in a month. If it’s not, skip it. Take other steps, like considering generic items in place of your name-brand purchases.

This needs to become your natural way of doing things because if you can’t make ends meet now, you’re not going to be able to do it if your housing bill goes up. You need to be spending less than you earn now.

You have to save up and be realistic. If you’re spending less than you earn, then you have the capacity to start saving the difference between the two. Use it to pay off your worst debts, then start saving for the future in a humble savings account.

You need to be realistic here, too. You can’t expect to be financially perfect and ready to buy a house or upgrade to a larger apartment in just a few months. You need to get your finances straight and have some money in the bank and that takes time.

Patience is a real virtue here, but so is realism. You’re not going to move from a 500 square foot apartment to a mansion. Think instead about the smaller upgrades. What would a few hundred more square feet mean for you? Would it mean that it’s easier to cook at home? Would it mean that each of your kids has some private space? Those are real, worthwhile goals that are actually attainable.

Final Thoughts

If you keep doing what you’re doing now, you’re never going to have anything different than what you’ve already got.

For me, that causes me to look at the financial path that I’m on. Unless I do something different, I’m going to keep marching down that path in the same way that I have been for the last few years. Am I happy with that? I’m okay with it, but I could be doing better.

How about you? Are you happy with the financial path you’re on? Or do you dream of something more?

If you’re dreaming big, it’s time to start changing how you think and how you live each day.

Good luck.

The post If You Want Different Results, You Have to Try Different Approaches appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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IGT grows quarterly revenue as profits decline

Slot machine maker International Game Technology grew revenue 36 percent in the second quarter but saw a decline in profits as the now London-based company reported its first full earnings since merging with lottery giant GTECH Holdings.

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Las Vegas company proposes $650 million Indianapolis casino

Las Vegas-based casino operator Full House Resorts wants to build a $650 million resort development near Indianapolis and is willing to give up half the games at its south eastern Indiana casino for the project.

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The 5 Levels Of Mobile-Friendly Email Design: Time To Graduate

Some brands have mobile-friendly websites but fail to give their email subscribers the same experience. Columnist Chad White explains why it's time to close that gap and suggests ways to do it.

Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.

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How to Save on Wedding Gifts

These ideas will keep you within budget, even if you’re attending multiple celebrations.

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4 Money-Saving Lessons From Summer Camping You Can Use All Year

Campfire cooking and tent living can have a lasting impact on your finances.

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Where to Live While Looking for Love: The 15 Most Affordable Cities for Singles

It’s hard to find love in the big city, and even harder to afford the cost of dating.

An average Los Angeles date will set you back $148.22, reports LA Weekly. That number includes two movie tickets as well as dinner, drinks and “two cappuccinos.”

Just want a nice dinner with wine and dessert? Be prepared to pay $88, unless you and your date go Dutch.

But take heart, lonely singles — and save money. GoBankingRates has a list of the 15 most affordable cities for singles. Is your city on the list, or is it time to think about moving?

Find Love in Chattanooga, Memphis or Reno

Here are some of the highlights from GoBankingRates’ list (all numbers represent average costs):

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis has the most affordable housing of the 15 cities listed, with rent at 63 cents per square foot.

Use the money you save to take your date out on the town; you’ll pay $85.60 for “a bottle of wine, dinner for two, two movie tickets and a 10-mile taxi ride.”

However, be prepared to put some of those savings towards staying fit, because a gym membership costs $40/month.

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Head east for an even less expensive date night; your wine+dinner+movie+taxi combo costs only $78, making River City the most affordable date option on the list.

But you’ll see those gains at the gym when you pay $49 a month for your membership.

Reno, Nevada

If you’re looking to save money overall, try The Biggest Little City in the World. GoBankingRates calls it the most affordable city for singles with rent at 86 cents per square foot, a $20.67/month gym membership and a $97.30 date night.

Check out GoBankingRates’ full list to see all 15 cities. Is yours on the list? Let us know!

Don’t Want to Move? Learn How to Be a Great Cheap Date

Don’t want to pack everything up and move to Memphis, Little Rock, St. Louis, or any of the other cities on GoBankingRates’ list? Don’t worry; there are plenty of ways to save money on dates, even in a major metropolitan area.

Start with our list of 100 free things to do in the summer, or check out our 11 dates for cash-strapped parents.

Once Cupid’s arrow hits, use our list of 50 Valentine’s Day gifts under $5 to keep the love — and savings — flowing.

And when wedding bells ring, use our 101 creative ways to save money on weddings to start your new, financially prudent life together.

Your Turn: How much do you usually pay on a date?

Nicole Dieker is a freelance writer focusing on personal finance and personal stories. Her work has appeared in The Billfold, The Toast, Yearbook Office, The Write Life and Boing Boing.

The post Where to Live While Looking for Love: The 15 Most Affordable Cities for Singles appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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The Biggest Myth In Online Retail

Succeeding at online retail isn't always about deep discounts -- even during the uber-competitive holiday season. Columnist David Rekuc discusses nine other ways you can draw customers in and make it easy for them to say yes.

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