Could this company trigger GFC 2.0?

GLENCORE, the mining giant which sparked yesterday’s $60 billion rout on the Australian share market, could be the trigger for the next GFC.

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

Tesla just announced a ludicrous new car

THIS is the future of the family car. It doesn’t run on petrol, is the safest SUV ever made and is as quick as a Lamborghini. All while carrying seven people.

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/1KKbbE3

7-Eleven bosses fall on their swords

HEADS are rolling at 7-Eleven Australia following the company’s wage scandal, which has reportedly seen banks refuse to lend to new franchisees.

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/1LO8ZgS

Could you stomach bugs?

BEETLE bread? Choc-coated crickets? How about bug biscuits? Exploding prices and looming shortages mean we may have to find space for insects in our food chain — and soon.

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/1FH15Vk

‘Blow me’: how not to tweet a work rival

‘BLOW me’ tweet lands reporter in hot water, but if the tabloid queen who received it expects an apology, she may be sorely disappointed.

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

Student Guide to Car Insurance

If you’re lucky enough to drive your own set of wheels during college, now’s the time to do a little bit of homework on car insurance. Even if your parents have taken care of your policy until now, it’s a smart idea to know what you need to stay safe and legal once you have to get your own car insurance.

In this student guide to car insurance, we’ll tackle the basics: We’ll start off with why skipping car insurance is a really (really, really) bad idea. We’ll also discuss whether you can stay on your parents’ policy and, if not, what kind of coverage you need and how to save as much money as possible.

Why Do I Need Car Insurance?

If you’re making car payments or even just paying for a tank of gas every week, driving a car probably already seems expensive enough. Car insurance adds another monthly bill on top of that, and it can be tempting to skip it to save some cash. Don’t do it!

We get it: Things are tight. But forgoing your car insurance is a big gamble for a few big reasons:

• It’s probably illegal in your state to drive without car insurance. So if you get pulled over and can’t provide proof of insurance, you’ll at least face a steep fine. You could even lose your license and your car.
• A crash could be very costly without car insurance to cover you. Even if you simply hit a tree and walk away unharmed, without insurance, you’ll have to pay every penny that it takes to repair your car or buy a new one. But what if you’re injured — or you injure someone else? If you have health insurance, it will cover you, but when you’re at fault in a crash that hurts others, you can be held liable for their medical expenses. You’ll also be on the hook for the damage to their vehicle, too.
• Car insurance can give you peace of mind whenever you get behind the wheel. In turn, that can help you become a more calm, confident driver who’s at a lower risk of getting into a crash.

There’s good news, though: Car insurance doesn’t have to be that expensive — there are lots of ways to save. In fact, you may even be able to stay on your parents’ policy. We’ll tackle whether that’s the case for you below.

Can I Stay on My Parents’ Car Insurance Policy?

You might be eager to stake your financial independence, but it probably makes more sense to remain on your parents’ car insurance policy as long as you’re eligible (and as long as they’re willing). That’s because your parents are probably considered much lower-risk drivers than you. Because of that, it will almost certainly be cheaper for them to keep you on their policy than for you to get your own. As a bonus, they can likely afford to pay for higher limits that would mean greater coverage if you were in a crash.

Fortunately, there is no magic age where you’ll be kicked off your parents’ auto insurance. But if you want to stay covered by their policy, you’ll probably need to keep the following in mind:

• Don’t change your primary address. Even if you’re off at school most of the time, most insurers will let you stay on your parents’ policy if your primary address is still with them.
• Your parents should be listed on the important car-related documents. They should be on the title of the vehicle, not you. And if you’re financing a car, they should at least be listed as co-owners.
• Don’t get hitched. If you decide to elope one weekend with your college sweetheart, you might get kicked off your parents’ policy since you’ll no longer be considered a dependent.

What Kind of Car Insurance Do I Need?

If you can’t stay on your parents’ policy, don’t get too bummed. Getting a quote for car insurance can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ll take a look at the major types of car insurance and cover what you need, why, and how much.

Liability (Bodily Injury/Property Damage)

Liability insurance is required by law in almost every state. It covers you when you are at fault in an accident that injures someone else (bodily injury liability), damages someone else’s car (property damage liability), or both.

When you get a car insurance quote, the amount of liability insurance that’s included will be written like this: 25/50/25. That’s how much coverage you have, in thousands, for three things: bodily injury liability per person (in this example, $25,000), bodily injury liability per accident ($50,000), and property damage liability ($25,000).

Do I need it? Absolutely. This is the core of your car insurance, and something you can’t can’t skip. So how much do you need?

Every state except New Hampshire requires a certain minimum amount of liability insurance. You can find your state’s requirements in this table by the Insurance Information Institute (III). Your insurer won’t allow you to purchase any less than the state minimum.

However, experts don’t recommend only getting the state minimum amount, since it might backfire if you get into a bad crash. Hospital bills, after all, are notoriously expensive — and so is replacing someone else’s Mercedes.

While you may not have a lot of assets to protect as a student, you should still get whatever you can reasonably afford above the state minimum. If that’s not much (or anything) other than bare-bones coverage, be sure to opt for more once you graduate, wrangle that well-paying job, or buy a house.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage kicks in if your car is damaged by something other than an accident — think storm damage, theft, or vandalism. So if someone smashes your car windows in a drunken rage after a big football game, comprehensive takes care of the replacement costs.

Do I need it? Maybe. If your car is relatively new, you’re probably going to want comprehensive coverage — and if you’re making car payments, you’ll probably be required to have it. Basically, if your car is totaled and you can’t easily go out and buy one that’s similar, you’ll want comprehensive coverage.

On the other hand, if you’re still driving that old clunker your parents got you for your first car, comprehensive coverage will probably be overkill. After all, once you add up the price of the coverage and pay your deductible, you might be able to get another used car — maybe even one with fewer miles on the odometer.

When you opt for comprehensive coverage, you won’t choose a specified amount of coverage like you do with liability. Instead, you’ll choose a deductible — that’s the amount you’ll pay before your coverage kicks in. This may be as little as $100 or as much as $2,000. If you have a $500 deductible and the damage amounts to $1,200, you’ll pay $500 and the insurance company will cover $700.

A higher deductible will save you some money on your coverage, but you should only opt for an amount that you can comfortably pay.

Collision Coverage

Collision covers the cost of fixing your car when you’re in a wreck. (Remember, property damage liability only covers these costs for someone else’s car when you’re at fault.) Just like with comprehensive, you’ll choose a deductible for collision coverage. Higher deductibles mean a lower rate and vice versa.

Do I need it? Again, maybe. If you have a newer car and opted to get comprehensive coverage, you’ll definitely want to get collision, too. If you decided against comprehensive coverage because your car just isn’t worth much anymore, you can probably safely forgo collision, too.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist

Uninsured and/or underinsured motorist coverage is another form of liability insurance. In this case, it applies when an uninsured or underinsured driver is at fault in an accident, making it more difficult for you to get your crash-related bills paid. Some states require this type of coverage, which you’ll generally get in an amount equal to your regular liability policy.

Do I need it? Yes, if your state requires it. Even if that’s not the case, we still recommend it.

Truth be told, this is one of the biggest judgment calls in car insurance. But consider this: More than 12% of drivers nationwide don’t have car insurance, according to the III. It might be safe to assume that number is higher among college students with tight budgets. If you’re in an accident with one of them, you’ll be glad you paid a bit extra for this coverage.

Medical Payments/Personal Injury Protection

Again, the bodily injury liability insurance at the core of your quote applies to others when you’re at fault in a crash. Medical payments or personal injury protection coverage helps cover your own bills (or those of your passengers) if you’re hurt in a crash.

Do I need it? Probably not, as long as you’re covered by a good health insurance plan. Remember, you can typically remain on your parents’ health insurance plan until age 26, even if you’re not a dependent.

How Can I Save Money on Car Insurance?

A lot of factors go into what you’ll pay for car insurance. Unfortunately, one of the biggies is your age. When you’re under 25, you’ll typically pay more for car insurance because you’re at a greater risk of getting into a crash and filing a claim.

The average yearly cost of car insurance for a 21-year-old in 2015 was $3,620, according to a study by Value Penguin. Ouch. (If you need a reason to embrace the aging process, consider this: That number plummets to $2,078 once you’re 30.)

Other demographic information, such as whether you’re a man or a woman, where you live, and whether you’re single or married will also affect your rate. Sorry, city boys: In general, the cards are stacked highest against young, single men who live in densely populated areas.

You can’t change those basics, but there are several other ways you can shrink your car insurance bill. We’ll outline a few of those below.

Discounts, Discounts, and More Discounts

Auto insurance companies are willing to knock a lot of money off your insurance rate for all sorts of reasons. Don’t be shy about asking for a complete list, since some of them might not be publicized.

Here are some of the easiest discounts for you to take advantage of as a student:

• Good student discount: Are you under 25? Are you a full-time student with pretty good grades? You’ll probably be eligible for a good student discount. Criteria will vary depending on your insurance company, but usually you’ll need at least a 3.0 grade point average. In certain circumstances, you may also be able to qualify if you’re on an honor roll or dean’s list, or if you have high standardized test scores.
• Resident student discount: Maybe you’re attending school far away from home and don’t plan to drive except when you come back for visits. Your insurance company will give you a big break for this, since driving less means there’s less chance you’ll get into an accident.
• Safe driver discount: Never been in an accident? Never gotten a ticket? Criteria will vary from insurer to insurer, but you’ll probably be eligible for a safe driver discount.
• Pay in full/automatic payment discount: If you’re willing to pay for six months or a year of car insurance up front, your insurer might give you a discount. Same goes if you sign up for automatic payments — just make sure you keep track on your own and have ample money in any account that your insurance company may draw from.
• Driving school discount: If it’s not already required in your state to get licensed, taking a defensive driving class can mean a big discount from your insurer. Sometimes, taking such a class can also keep your insurer from raising your rate after you get a ticket. To find a defensive driving class, check with your state’s division of motor vehicles; they are held frequently and typically only require four to eight hours of your time.
• Anti-theft discount: Does your car have an alarm or any other anti-theft features, such as an electronic immobilizer? You can probably get a discount.
• Safety equipment discount: Your car might come equipped with safety features such as air bags, anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, or motorized seat belts. All of them can mean you pay less for car insurance.
• Early signing discount: If you’re shopping for car insurance with enough time before your current policy lapses (say, a month), some insurers will give you a small discount since you didn’t wait until the last minute.
• Multiple policies discount: If you live off campus, renters insurance is a wise move to protect your belongings. (If you’re a full-time student under 26 who lives on campus, you’re probably covered by your parents’ homeowners insurance.) Go through the same company for renters and car insurance, and you may nab a discount for bundling your policies.
• Data-tracking discount: Some insurers offer an initial discount if you sign up to use a small device that tracks your driving habits. If the device records good driving habits, you could save even more. However, the flip side can also be true. For instance, if Progressive’s Snapshot records riskier driving behavior, such as frequent hard braking, your rate could go up. Be sure to check the details of your insurer’s program before you sign up.

Choose Your Ride Wisely

Perhaps you’ve been chugging along in your rust bucket long enough, and you’re thinking of upgrading. The type of car you pick can have a big effect on your insurance rates, so choose wisely.

In general, any car that can go really fast will make your insurance really expensive, so consider whether impressing your friends is really worth the premium. Same goes for luxury rides, if you’re lucky enough to have the money for those.

Sticking to vehicles such as family-friendly sedans and SUVs might not have a lot of sex appeal, but it will help keep your car insurance rates as low as possible.

If you have your eye on a specific make and model, you can get a sense of what you might pay by checking this database at Insure.com.

Go for a Higher Deductible

When you get car insurance, certain parts of your policy will require you to choose a deductible. That’s a fancy term for what you will have to pay before your auto insurance company picks up the rest of the tab. For instance, if you have a $500 deductible on collision coverage and the damage amounts to $3,000, you’ll have to pay $500 toward your car repairs after an accident before your insurance kicks in and covers the remaining $2,500.

You can choose from a wide range of deductibles — typically, as low as $100 or as high as $2,000 or even more. Choosing a higher deductible will mean a lower rate since you’re agreeing to shoulder more of the burden in case you make a claim.

That makes higher deductibles an easy way to save money on your monthly premium. But you should only choose a high deductible if you have savings (either your own, or perhaps an advance from the Bank of Mom and Dad) to cover that hefty bill if you need to after a crash. Otherwise, you’ll be scrambling to scrape together those funds during an already stressful situation.

Give Your Wheels a Rest

When you get a car insurance quote, the insurer will ask you approximately how many miles you drive each year. The reason is simple: The less you drive, the less chance your car will wind up wrapped around a telephone pole.

A few lifestyle choices can help you drive less and, therefore, pay less for your car insurance:

• Do you go to school in a bigger city with a good mass transit system? Opt for the bus or the subway over your car.
• Can you move close to campus, or stay put in the dorms? You’ll cut way down on mileage.
• If you wrangle a part-time job or internship, can you carpool with friends who work nearby? You’ll save on car insurance — and make Mother Nature a little happier, too.

Be Careful With the Plastic

Perhaps you recently got your first credit card, and it’s burning a hole in your pocket: Suddenly, that expensive dinner with friends looks a lot more appealing than yet another night of ramen. That’s understandable, but be careful.

Before you start swiping up a storm with your credit card, take a step back and think. You’re just starting to build your credit, which can affect a whole lot of your financial life in the future — everything from what kind of car loan you qualify for to whether you can get a desirable new apartment. Bad credit can even ruin your chances of getting hired for a dream job.

And yes, your credit can even affect what you pay for your car insurance. That’s because insurers have data showing that people with bad credit are more likely to file a claim and cost them money.

Moral of the story? Use your credit responsibly, paying bills on time every month. Try not to get into the habit of carrying a balance, either — interest charges can add up quickly, sinking you deep into debt before you even realize what’s happening.

For a thorough primer on how to harness the power of plastic for good, not evil, read up on How to Build Good Credit in College. If you want to establish credit with the best card possible, check out our guide to the Best Credit Cards for Students in 2015.

Where Can I Find the Best Car Insurance?

First, breathe a little sigh of relief: You probably don’t have to talk to an insurance agent unless you want to. These days, it’s easy to get car insurance quotes online, a process that usually only takes a few minutes with each insurer. (If that still sounds like a big time commitment, it’s worth it: Your rate can vary dramatically from company to company. It always pays to shop around, especially when it comes to car insurance.)

If you still have questions about car insurance, or simply find the subject fascinating (who doesn’t?), you can learn more from some of The Simple Dollar’s past articles. Don’t worry — the exam will be open book.

• How Much Does Car Insurance Cost?
• Best Car Insurance Companies of 2015
• Guide to Car Insurance for Teens and Driver Safety
• Average Car Insurance Rates and the Costs of Tickets

The post Student Guide to Car Insurance appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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Uber to be legalised in unlikely Australian city

IN a blow to the taxi industry, Australia will soon be home to the first national capital in the world to legalise and regulate ride sharing.

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Yes, You CAN Save Money in Your 20s Without Giving Up Fun

“It’s good to be cautious and plan for unexpected events. It’s also good, however, to learn how to release and destress. Everything works out, and if you’re smart, able and had a job once, you’ll have one again.”

So says Elite Daily’s Senior Lifestyle Writer, Lauren Martin. Her article, “If You Have Savings in Your 20s, You’re Doing Something Wrong,” has been breaking the Internet since its publication earlier this month.

The article has elicited enthusiastic hurrahs from millennials wanting to validate frivolous spending — and scathing rebuttals from the money-conscious likes of USA Today, Time and US News.

Because it’s already been done, I won’t explain why Martin’s advice is misguided and ridiculous. We’re penny hoarders — we get it, right?

Why It’s Tough to Save in Your 20s

And yet, part of me wants to join the masses celebrating Martin’s oh-so-tweetable claims.

“You can’t make a mark on the world if you’re too cheap to live in it.”

“Refusing to give yourself the luxury of enjoying your money negates the whole point of making it.”

“When you live your life by numbers, you strip yourself of poetry.”

Like Martin, I’m in my 20s. I have no savings. I want to live incredible stories and allow myself to make silly decisions.

Unlike Martin, I won’t advise anyone to do the same.

I’ve neglected saving in my 20s because I’ve been lazy. I haven’t been creative. I simply haven’t tried hard enough.

It’s tough to save in our 20s, because we believe people like Martin who insist we have to choose between saving for the future and enjoying life now.

Six months shy of hitting 30, I wish I had found a better balance in my 20s.

I listened to the Lauren Martin on my right shoulder telling me to live it up, but I ignored the Suze Orman on the other side showing me how easy saving and earning money could be.

You don’t have to choose one or the other. You just have to be smart about how you do both.

Making Money Doesn’t Have to Mean Giving Up Fun

Did you know you could make money hanging out at a bar, instead of spending all of it by last call?

And I imagine you’d get some cool stories working as a pirate, modeling nude, performing with hula hoops or touring with the cat circus!

Even though I’ve given up a lot of luxuries for it, I have no shortage of stories from building a writing career from scratch. Making money and experiencing life aren’t mutually exclusive.

TPH junior writer Jamie Cattanach drove a horse and buggy to make extra money during college.

“I got to play with horses, help guys keep their proposals secret until the perfect moment and meet people from all over the world,” says Jamie. “Plus, over winter break, I’d routinely make $300 in a night.”

When you regale friends with stories from these weird gigs five or 10 years from now, you can enjoy the added satisfaction of knowing you were wily enough to get paid for those experiences.

Having Fun Doesn’t Have to Mean Spending Money

Don’t assume it takes $10 drinks and $50 brunches to have a good time with friends.

Enjoy sports, concerts, entertainment and art without spending a dime. Plan ahead a little, and have a weird and fun birthday for free.

Travel across the country on a $1 bus ticket or drive yourself and find cheap gas. Get creative, and you’ll still eat well on the cheap and sleep comfortably without breaking your budget.

Surprise! Saving Money Doesn’t Have to Be Boring (or Hard)

I’ll admit making money and living frugally are probably the easier parts of this equation. Building that nest egg is the bigger challenge.

The best way for money people like me to start saving is to automate it. Get someone (or something) else to take care of saving for you.

TPH editor Kathleen Garvin opened a Capital One savings account shortly after college that automatically pulls money from her personal account once a month.

“I’ve labeled it ‘Forget it Exists,’ so I resist the temptation to dip into it,” she says.

If you don’t have room to “forget” about $50 or $100 per month right now, save pennies instead. Pay with whole bills if you use cash, and empty the change into a jar at the end of each day.

Join an auto-savings program that will round up your credit, debit or checking account purchases and set the “digital change” aside for you. If you use the auto-savings app Acorns, you can even invest those savings without having to learn about things like assets and mutual funds (shudder).

Or, keep it even simpler with this trick: Hide money from yourself.

Save in Your 20s, Enjoy It for the Rest of Your Life

Let’s also note that working and saving in your twenties doesn’t mean giving up your window for life-changing experiences. Older adults have fun, too; I swear!

Saving and investing aggressively now could mean you can retire at 40 or be a millionaire by your thirties. Or, at least you won’t be buried by debt for the rest of your life.

Imagine the mark you’ll make on the world doing whatever you want for 25 years while your cohorts pay off student loans, mortgages and credit card debt.

Your Turn: Do you think saving in your 20s is necessary? Or, are you better off having fun and taking risks with your money?

Disclosure: We appreciate you letting us include affiliate links in this post. It helps keep the beer fridge stocked in the Penny Hoarder break room.

Dana Sitar is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She also writes about writing, work, life and love for blogs and books and sometimes things people care about, like Huffington Post and that one time she had an article published in The Onion. Follow along on Twitter @danasitar.

The post Yes, You CAN Save Money in Your 20s Without Giving Up Fun appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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Need Help With Your Finances? Get Suze Orman’s Money Course for Free This Week

Getting a handle on your finances can be overwhelming. Sometimes, I just wish someone would walk me through everything step by step.

That’s why I was excited to discover that, for the rest of this week, Suze Orman is offering her online personal finance course for FREE. (Sign up using the code “TODAY” before 8 p.m. EST on Friday, October 3.)

In this easy-to-follow online course, you’ll learn about everything from paying off student loans to saving for retirement to buying your first house. The content is yours to keep, and will be updated as she adds more.

When asked why she created the course, Orman told TODAY: “People need to know about their money and they don’t have any place to go on a regular basis… or they can’t afford [financial advice].” Sounds like a pretty good reason to us!

How to Get Ahead With Orman’s Course

The course has seven modules, each featuring videos, worksheets and plenty of motivational talk from Orman herself:

1. Overcoming Your Financial Obstacles
2. Be Debt-Free
3. Retirement Rules
4. Invest for Success
5. Big Ticket Items: Buying a Car or Home
6. Making Finances a Family Affair
7. The Must-Have Documents & Insurance

The best part? The fluffy inspirational stuff is all accompanied by actionable tips and advice.

“When you leave, you’re not going to just leave here with knowledge,” promises Orman in the introductory video. “If you have credit card debt, oh, you’re going to get out of credit card debt — because we’re going to give you a plan to do so.”

When I first learned about the course, I skeptically assumed it would be nothing more than self-promotion for Orman — but as I looked through the modules, I was pleasantly surprised by both its accessibility and comprehensiveness.

“This is a course that’s going to teach how you to get rid of the emotional blocks that are keeping you from being more — and give you the tools as well so that you can have your dreams come true,” says Orman.

Though making your dreams come true will undoubtedly require a lot of additional effort on your part, I do agree that getting your finances in order is important — and Orman’s course is an excellent place to start. It’s free for the next week, so what do you have to lose?

Go download Suze Orman’s free course today. (Don’t forget: the offer expires at 8 p.m. EST on Friday, October 3.)

Your Turn: Have you taken the course? What do you think?

Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget. Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.

The post Need Help With Your Finances? Get Suze Orman’s Money Course for Free This Week appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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Are You Wasting $1,500 of Food Each Year? This Book Can Help (Giveaway!)

Would you ever buy four bags full of groceries, then purposely leave one behind at the checkout line? We sure wouldn’t!

But that’s what most Americans are doing every day, says Dana Gunders, author and scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council. According to her research, we throw away a shocking 40% of our food.

“Wasted food is wasted money, wasted energy and wasted water,” says Gunders. “Armed with simple tips and tools, families can make a major dent in what’s currently getting tossed out with the trash — and put a little cash back in their wallets at the same time.”

To help combat our rampant food waste issue, Gunders wrote the Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook, which was released by Chronicle Books today.

In her book, she shares checklists, recipes and strategies that teach you everything from shopping smarter to decoding expiration dates and using your fridge to its full potential. With this knowledge, Gunders hopes you’ll reduce your food waste and save money.

Win a Copy of the Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook

Since we think this book has the potential to help a lot of people, we asked Chronicle Books if they’d give away a few copies to our readers. They generously obliged, and we now have three handbooks up for grabs!

Want to win a free copy of the Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook? Just leave a comment below, and we’ll randomly pick three winners at 12 p.m. EST on Friday, October 3.

Good luck, Penny Hoarders!

Your Turn: What’s your favorite way to reduce food waste in your kitchen?

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!

Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget. Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.

The post Are You Wasting $1,500 of Food Each Year? This Book Can Help (Giveaway!) appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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10 Extinct Job Titles

New jobs are being created everyday, but what happened to the professions of yesteryear? Learn more about 10 extinct job titles at HowStuffWorks.

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10 Extinct Job Titles

New jobs are being created everyday, but what happened to the professions of yesteryear? Learn more about 10 extinct job titles at HowStuffWorks.

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

How to Master the Art of Upgrading Devices

Because it's expensive to always own the latest, greatest smartphone or other gadget.

Source U.S. News - Money http://ift.tt/1h7pmIu

15 Fall Maintenance Tasks Every Homeowner Should Tackle Now

Save yourself money and hassle by caring for your roof, yard and pipes before the cold weather rolls in.

Source U.S. News - Money http://ift.tt/1KItidE

How to Launch a Career in Social Media Marketing

Four things students and new graduates should know about this field.

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How to Find Luxury in a Financially Responsible Life

Being financially responsible in the modern world comes with a particular set of challenges. One of them is the fact that we are, as a society, inundated with luxury options. We have experiences and items available to us in such a breadth and depth that have never existed before in the history of the world.

From high end cell phones to beautiful clothes, from incredible food and drink to an infinite variety of amazing items from an infinite list of specialty stores online and off, from easily accessible travel to every corner of the world to spacious automobiles with every feature under the sun, our society offers luxurious options that blow away even those available just a few decades ago.

And, regardless of how financially strong-willed you are, at least some of those luxury options are incredibly tempting.

I’m no different. There are expensive items and experiences that I want quite a bit, from a library/game room in our next home and a trip to New Zealand to a really sweet laptop computer and a completely redone home brewing setup. All of those luxury items – and many more – are quite tempting.

Our family has a healthy income. Don’t we deserve a few luxuries?

But there’s a big problem with luxury items: they quickly begin to seem normal, and when they do, your life just became more expensive. How many of you survived just fine without cell phones ten or fifteen years ago? I know I certainly did, but now it’s a luxury I can scarcely imagine living without. The same goes for high speed internet access. For many people, things like cable television or a new (or new-ish) car falls into the same category – luxuries you’ve become completely accustomed to, to the point where you won’t do without them.

At the same time, there’s the need to save money. Financial success doesn’t come without saving and it doesn’t come without making hard choices about what to spend money on.

So how do you balance all of this? How do you enjoy some “luxury” in your life without emptying your wallet? Here are six strategies I use to balance that out.

Strategy #1 – Give Yourself Blocks of Truly Free Time

I’m part of the “sandwich generation,” which means that I simultaneously have young children at home as well as aging parents. I want to be a good parent, a good husband, and a good son. I have a career that requires a lot of time and energy and quite a few community responsibilities, too. We’re homeowners and that means that there’s time devoted to keeping up the house.

That means that free time is sometimes pretty scarce. There are days where it feels like even a little free time is a wistful dream.

For me, there are few things more luxurious than a block of unscheduled time where I can just do whatever I want. Free time – time where I can just tinker with my hobbies, curl up with a good book, hang out with some of my friends, or something else like that – is truly the top luxury in my life.

I usually do this by walling off one or two Saturdays each month so that there are no scheduled activities whatsoever. I don’t have any professional responsibilities, any community responsibilities, or any family responsibilities. I can just do whatever I want.

Those days are amazing. They are, without a doubt, the biggest luxury in my life. I do things like brewing a new batch of home brewed beer or curling up with a book or doing something completely off the wall like making a programmable Christmas light system so that the lights move in time with music.

I look forward to those free days. I think about them in advance, plan things that I want to do, and I actually feel more incentive to take care of things in advance so that I truly feel as though I have free time without any responsibilities pushing back on me.

How can you do this for yourself? Just declare one or two days a month to be a “stay-cation” where you turn off your responsibilities and do whatever you want. Write it down on the calendar. Take care of things early so that you don’t feel pressured by other responsibilities. Plan some fun things that you want to do.

That free day will be one of the most luxurious things you give yourself – and it doesn’t cost a dime.

Strategy #2 – Give Yourself a Monthly Allowance

One aspect of our family budget that’s a little different than others is that we have a small line item both for Sarah and myself that gives us each an amount of money that we can spend on whatever we want.

If I want to use that money to buy a book, that’s great. If I want to use it to buy some fancy item for my home brewing setup, that’s fine, too. If I want to buy some unnecessary hobby item, that’s also wonderful. I use that money for one (or, rarely, two) trips to game conventions each year with friends as well.

If Sarah wants to have a pedicure, that’s great – it just comes out of her free money. If she wants a book, that’s great, too. If she wants a bar of gourmet chocolate or a beautiful new dress, it’s up to her. Whatever she might want, she can buy. She also uses that money to finance an annual short trip with her sisters.

The key thing is that, each month, that spending is capped by our monthly allowance. Within that amount, we can each do whatever we please – but only within that amount.

This works well with our financial goals because everything is already budgeted. Both of us know that we’re still saving plenty even with that luxury spending, so there’s no guilt associated with it. It’s not keeping us from attaining any of our financial goals.

I often “expand” my hobby money – because that’s usually what it is for me, hobby money – by “flipping” hobby items. For example, I might buy an item for $30 related to my hobby and then be able to sell it for $60 later. I use that money as an addition to my hobby spending. I also sometimes sell off gear from hobbies that I’m no longer interested in.

In the end, I’m left with resources to enjoy a few luxuries of my personal choosing, but those resources come with the extra bit of confidence that spending that money or that time isn’t damaging our financial plans in any way. We’ve made our financial plans around them.

Strategy #3 – Give Yourself Rare Experiences Instead of Stuff

When I think back on the most interesting and wonderful moments in my life, very few of them have to do with stuff. Instead, they either have to do with experiences or they’re associated with some kind of personal achievement.

I look back on things like the completion of big projects or the end of a long hike or making it up to a viewpoint that others often don’t make it to. I look back on things like serving food to the homeless and the conversations I’ve had with people in very different life situations. Those experiences became a part of me and really changed me.

Very few of those life-altering experiences cost money. They did require some time, but often not an enormous amount all at once – it was usually split up among several days. I can often find those powerful experiences fairly close to home, although I tend to have them much more often when I’m on unfamiliar ground.

Unfamiliar ground really is the key to exceptional experiences. You just need to put yourself in a situation where you’re going to see and experience things that are outside of the realm of your normal daily life, whether it’s scenic vistas, interactions with people, new activities, or something else.

Instead of filling your spare time or vacation time with expensive trips, try instead to fill that time with activities and experiences that will stick with you and help you to understand the world better. Skip the tourist destination and instead choose an experience closer to you that pushes you in a new direction.

The greatest luxury of all is a greater understanding and appreciation of the world and the beauty that it contains.

Strategy #4 – Own Luxurious Items Only As Replacements for Items You Use Frequently

We own two Le Creuset enameled cast iron pots. We use them for all kinds of cooking, from pastas and rice and soups to casseroles and desserts and beans. These enameled cast iron pots also have a list price around the $300 mark. Apiece. Yes, for kitchen pots.

I have a Global chef’s knife that cost more than $100. I use it for chopping and slicing all kinds of foods in the kitchen.

Sarah and I both have smartphones with MSRPs in the hundreds. We both use our smartphones several times a day (at least) for contacting each other, family, and friends.

Those are luxury items, without question. They’re all expensive items for which there are definitely lower-cost equivalents and even good “bang for the buck” equivalents that would be a lot less expensive.

However, these are items we use literally every single day. We used their predecessors every single day as well. Because of that heavy use, we really understood the limitations of the predecessors of these items and we really appreciate the advantages of these items.

They’re reliable. They do their jobs incredibly well. Sure, they’re expensive luxury items, but we get the opportunity to appreciate that luxury every single day.

Compare that to buying a luxury item that you don’t use nearly as often. There’s no need to buy the “luxury” version of an item that you don’t use and rely on every single day. Instead, for those things, focus on things that are merely the best “bang for the buck.”

Another thing worth noticing is that these were all replacements for low-cost versions of the items. We didn’t dive right into the luxury versions of those items. We bought a low-cost version first and figured out whether it was an item that we would use regularly.

For example, I went through a phase where I tried to teach myself the guitar. I could have dropped a lot of money on a new guitar, but instead I asked for a very low cost one as a gift. It was perfect for learning, as I didn’t really have the appreciation that would be required to really get value out of a high end guitar. Of course, I eventually realized that I would never be a good guitarist, mostly due to the size of my fingers (I simply can’t hit the right strings consistently because my fingers are really large). So, it turned out to be good that I didn’t invest in an expensive guitar.

If it had turned out that I loved playing the guitar and played it every day, then upgrading to a luxury guitar wouldn’t have been a big deal. I would have only “lost” the cost of a cheap guitar (and I could have still used it or passed it to another family member or even sold it). On the other hand, if I had jumped straight to a luxury guitar, it would be sitting there unused. I would have had to take a healthy loss to sell it in a used state, too.

If you want to buy luxury, buy luxury versions of items you already use all the time. You’ll cut down on your total luxury purchases.

Strategy #5 – Own Luxurious Items Only Within Tight Constraints

It is often tempting to fill one’s life with luxury items. For example, one might want to have luxurious items all throughout the kitchen, in the bedroom, and in the bathroom, and also own a luxury car.

The problem with that is that the more luxury items you have, the less appreciation you have for each one. If you have tons of luxury items around your home, it makes your luxury car seem less special by comparison.

A much better approach is to have a “luxury sanctuary” in your life, one area where you can truly enjoy and appreciate the luxury.

For me, my “luxury sanctuary” is my game room (which doubles as part of my home office). In there, I have a ton of board games, RPG books and supplies, and miniatures, accumulated over many years of collecting. I truly enjoy spending time in there, and I also enjoy taking things out of there and enjoying them with family and friends. I get pleasure from playing games, painting miniatures, designing adventures for my friends and children, and so on.

Maybe for you, your car might serve as your “luxury sanctuary.” For others, perhaps it’s the kitchen, or maybe it’s a living room with a big television and a satellite dish and speakers. Maybe it’s your bedroom, with beautiful decor and a comfortable bed and sitting chair.

Choose that one specific area of your life and don’t feel bad about making it luxurious. However, at the same time, recognize that the fact that this one particular area is so luxurious means that you truly appreciate it more. It is your “sanctuary,” a place where you go to feel special.

Strategy #6 – Keep the Less Important Parts of Your Life Decidedly Non-Luxurious

The flip side of having that kind of “luxury sanctuary” is that it implies that the rest of your life isn’t so luxurious – and that’s a good thing.

Filling the rest of your life with inexpensive items, “bang for your buck” purchases, generic supplies and so on has several huge benefits for the luxuries in your life.

For one, it means that you can afford those luxuries while also being able to save for the future. Frugality in most areas of your life subsidizes those other areas quite well, at least in my experience. It’s why I often chase the bottom dollar in many areas of my life.

For another, the “normal” areas of your life make the occasional “luxury” parts feel like an oasis in a desert. The luxury really does feel special when it isn’t part of a continuous luxurious pattern, where it ceases to feel special if it’s nonstop. It’s much like how a person in a desert appreciates an oasis, while a person living on top of a large aquifer might not appreciate the abundance of water.

Here’s another way to think of it. I am strongly frugal in most areas of my life so that I can afford to have some luxuries in the remaining areas. We use an old washing machine and dryer and use a lot of generic supplies so that we can have things like our smartphones.

We don’t expect luxury in every part of our life, or even in most parts. Our luxuries are relatively rare.

However, because those luxuries are rare, we can easily afford the specific areas where we do have luxury, plus we appreciate those luxuries more. At the same time, we’re able to continue to move forward toward our big financial goals.

Final Thoughts

Sarah and I do not live a life of luxury. We have a few luxurious elements in our life, but most of our life is decidedly ordinary.

We pick and choose our luxuries carefully, restraining them to the areas we care about most, and in the other areas, we accept and even relish frugality because we realize that being cheap in those other areas makes it possible to enjoy a few of the luxuries we care most about without damaging our savings plans and goals.

Some of our best luxuries, however, are non-financial ones. They take the form of free time – a day or two at home where we don’t have to do anything at all – or in the form of special experiences that really alter our lives, like an amazing meal or a personal achievement or a long hike to a beautiful lookout.

It is because those luxuries aren’t constants in our lives that we’re able to appreciate them so much. When luxury becomes “normal,” all you have is a normal life that costs more than it did without the luxury. Nothing seems special. Nothing seems better than the norm any more because it all is the norm.

Spread out your luxuries. Be choosy with them. Fill the rest of your life with frugality. You’ll appreciate the luxuries even more than before and you’ll find your financial goals are still quite attainable.

Good luck.

The post How to Find Luxury in a Financially Responsible Life appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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10 Expenses You Can Cut Today

Giving up a few luxuries, from cable to coffee, can help keep your budget in check.

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Free superfast broadband upgrades for Virgin customers

Tom Wilson

Vivid fibre.jpg

Virgin Media will start to roll out its new ultrafast broadband speeds in October, offering free upgrades to 4.6 million existing customers.

Virgin Media will start to roll out its new ultrafast broadband speeds in October, offering free upgrades to 4.6 million existing customers.

The new Vivid fibre range will offer speeds of up to 70, 150 and 200Mbps, replacing existing speeds of 50, 100 and 152Mbps respectively.

Free superfast upgrades for Virgin broadband customers

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Virgin Media will begin rolling out its new ultrafast broadband speeds in October, offering free upgrades to 4.6 million existing customers. The new Vivid fibre range will offer speeds of up to 70, 150 and 200Mbps, replacing existing speeds of 50, 100 and 152Mbps respectively. The new 200Mbps connection is significantly quicker than anything currently available from mainstream providers. Virgin boasts the connection would allow someone to download a two-hour HD film in three minutes, and a music album in a matter of seconds. The new speeds will be rolled out from 1 October, and Virgin intends to make the service available to 90% of its customers by the end of the year. Existing customers will not have to pay to get the new high-speed connections. Virgin will contact customers as and when the service is available in their area, who will then be able to opt-in for free. Ewan Taylor-Gibson, broadband expert at uSwitch.com, says: "Offering existing customers faster broadband for free is a smart move. You don't need to sign up to a new contract either, making it a very appealing deal. "The majority of consumers are yet to catch on to the benefits of faster broadband … but this is going to change with time. The majority of us are now considered heavy or moderate internet users, so fibre broadband is set to become a household essential.” Pricing for new customers is due to be announced on 1 October. Most providers use the BT openreach network, but Virgin has chosen to invest substantial amounts in its own infrastructure, which is why it can offer these higher speeds.

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4 Ways to Take Retirement Planning Into Your Own Hands

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Automotive Stocks to Buy After Volkswagen's Emissions Scandal

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Is Your ETF Too Fat?

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3 Delicious Slow Cooker Recipes for Autumn

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EMV Credit Cards: Six Questions Answered

Photo: Ben Watts

Using a credit card is one of the safest and most convenient ways to pay for products and services. Not only do most credit purchases come with zero fraud liability, but using one can save you from carrying around an easily-stolen wad of cash and allow you to keep track of every cent you spend.

But those benefits are about to be taken up a notch come Oct. 1. With the nationwide rollout of EMV technology taking place, credit cards will soon offer a broader range of safety precautions – plus other benefits. Here, we answer some common questions about the switch.

What Is EMV Technology?

You’re probably wondering what all of this means. In short, merchants in the U.S. are adopting EMV technology – which takes its name from “Europay, MasterCard, and Visa” – in order to make all of our credit transactions safer.

According Jon Krauss, senior manager of credit product management at Discover, the new chip cards and the technology they possess add an extra layer of protection against fraud on point-of-sale purchases, specifically.

But, how does it work? Krauss explains, “The microchip in chip cards generates unique, dynamic data every time a consumer completes a transaction, making it harder for fraudsters to collect their card information. In turn, it is more difficult for hackers to copy and use credit card information.”

According to Smart Card Alliance, 80 different countries are in various stages of adopting this technology. And in some countries, EMV is used almost exclusively. For example, 99.9% of terminals in Europe are chip-enabled, and so are 84.7% of terminals in Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

What Changes Can I Expect?

If you already have a credit card that offers this technology, the main detail to be aware of is that you’ll stop swiping your card like you normally would at retailers who have embraced the technology. Instead, you’ll stick your card into the EMV terminal slot so it can read the chip.

But if you don’t have a chip-enabled card, or the retailer hasn’t adopted this technology yet, you don’t have to sweat it. When that’s the case, use the magnetic stripe on your card as you have done in the past.

According to Krauss, a significant portion of the merchant community should be using EMV technology by Oct. 1 – but not everyone will be on board. It really depends on the merchant and how quickly they plan to adopt. Further, some industries are lagging behind in terms of making these changes.

“Gas stations, for example, are on a different timeline than most merchants,” noted Krauss.

Do I Need a New Credit Card?

As Smart Card Alliance notes, an estimated 120 million chip cards had been issued in the U.S. by the end of 2014. And by the end of 2015, that figure should be at around 600 million.

Most major card issuers have led the charge by adding this technology to their existing credit card products and supplying new cards to their current customers. In the near future, you can expect more card issuers to begin this process.

Discover, for example, expects the majority of their product portfolio to be migrated by the end of the year. According to Krauss, consumers who don’t have their new chip-enabled card yet can call their card issuer and ask for one. Further, some new cards being issued have both the magnetic stripe and the chip technology, including Discover products. So don’t stress if you find your “new card” has both.

“By having both methods,” says Krauss, consumers will “be ready as the U.S. fully transitions to chip technology.”

Consumers who want a card with better benefits can also use this opportunity to shop around. Many of the best travel cards and rewards credit cards already have this technology, plus a slew of other benefits.

Do I Have to Get a Card with EMV Technology?

If you’re hesitant about getting a new card, the decision will probably be made for you. A wave of new incentives and penalties have been put in place to propel both banks and merchants to adopt EMV – or else.

For example, the liability for credit card fraud will fall squarely on the party without EMV technology come Oct. 1 In other words, when credit card fraud takes place, whoever is the least compliant in terms of EMV technology — whether it’s the card issuer or the retailer — will have to take the hit.

In the event of a huge data breach, that kind of liability could lead to a nearly endless stream of unnecessary losses. And that’s part of the reason both merchants and card issuers have been so quick to make these changes; nobody wants to pay for fraud if they can prevent it.

Further, the magnetic strip cards we have all become accustomed to won’t be usable forever. As EMV technology takes hold, expect the old cards to go the way of the dinosaur. The technology is so prevalent in places like Europe, swipe cards have already died there. In fact, many overseas travelers are shocked to find their traditional credit cards won’t work with some overseas merchants at all.

Will EMV Technology Make All of My Transactions Safer?

Yes and no. The most important thing to remember is that, while EMV makes point of sale transactions immeasurably more secure, it does nothing for online purchases. Not only will you make your online purchases in the same way you always have – by entering your account information online – but you’ll also gain no tangible benefits for doing so, even if you get an upgraded, chip-enabled card.

In a world where online security is a real concern, this is truly unfortunate. However, it’s important to note that almost all credit cards offer zero fraud liability for all purchases, including those made online. And even government standards set by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) limit consumer liability for credit card purchases to just $50. So, that’s the most you could legally be on the hook for regardless.

What Will the Transition Be Like?

While the new technology is certainly a win for consumers, it won’t be perfect. You should expect a few frustrations as checkout clerks and customers alike acclimate themselves to the new process and the new cards.

“Consumers will have to have some patience because their experience at the point of sale will be different,” noted Krauss. For example, you might see longer lines and a little more confusion at the checkout in the short-term. Eventually though, everyone will get used to it.

Fortunately, all the stress and confusion should ultimately be worth it. Countries that have already introduced this technology are seeing massive drops in the amount of fraud perpetrated each year.

For example, losses on point-of-sale transactions in the U.K. have fallen by 67% since 2004, while lost and stolen card fraud fell 59% and mail non-receipt fraud fell 91%.

Unfortunately, increasing protections on the point-of-sale end could mean more incidents of fraud in the online world, notes Smart Card Alliance. This “fraud migration” is an unfortunate result of making certain transactions more secure. It’s inevitable that, as security tightens on one side, those who perpetrate these fraudulent acts search for easier targets elsewhere.

The Bottom Line

Thanks to the new technology, some credit card transactions in the U.S. are about to get a whole lot safer. Even better, you won’t have to do anything to enjoy these new benefits. Just sit back, relax, and wait for your new card to arrive in the mail. Or, search for a better card that is already on the EMV bandwagon. Either way, we’ll all enjoy better security for card-present transactions in the U.S. from this point forward.

The post EMV Credit Cards: Six Questions Answered appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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Savings update: top rates continue to rise

Sylvia Morris

Piggy bank with party hat and savings chart going up.jpg

Rates for new savers from banks and building societies continue to edge up. The top deal on easy-access accounts comes from French-owned RCI Bank, part of the Renault group, at 1.65% before tax (1.32% after tax) on its Freedom account.

Rates for new savers from banks and building societies continue to edge up. The top deal on easy-access accounts comes from French-owned RCI Bank, part of the Renault group, at 1.65% before tax (1.32% after tax) on its Freedom account.

Savings update: top rates continue to rise

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Rates for new savers from banks and building societies continue to edge up. The top deal on easy-access accounts comes from French-owned RCI Bank, part of the Renault group, at 1.65% before tax (1.32% after tax) on its Freedom account. But here you are not covered by the UK compensation scheme. If the bank goes bust you claim from the European scheme where the maximum amount is €100,000 (around £73,500). Just behind come Tesco Bank Internet Saver on 1.6% (1.28%) and BM Savings, part of Halifax, with the same rate on its Online Extra account. But both come with a bonus payable for the first year you are in the account - after which you will have to move your money or suffer a low rate. Kent Reliance's new Easy Access account pays 1.45% (1.16%), and Paragon Bank's Limited Easy Access 1.46% (1.17%). Neither deal is boosted by a short-term bonus. On fixed-rate deals internet bank Charter Savings has edged its rate up to a top 2.07% (1.66%) for one year. RCI Bank pays 2.05% (1.65%) and Shawbrook Bank 2.05% (1.64%). For two years you can earn 2.4% (1.92%) with Paragon Bank, 2.35% (1.88%) with RCI, or 2.32% (1.86%) with Charter Savings Bank. On fixed-rate cash Isas, Virgin Money has upped its rate to 1.76% for one year, while Shawbrook Bank now pays a top 1.85%. For two years Virgin Money pays a top 2.06%. On easy access cash Isas the best deal is 1.51% from Post Office Online Isa, including a bonus for the first year. Virgin Money matches this rate but you are limited to three withdrawals a year. The top deal with no bonus or withdrawal restrictions is 1.4% from Nationwide.

Best cash Isa rates this week

Best savings rates this week

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Renting a Car Cheaply is More Complicated Than You Thought. Here’s How to Come Out on Top

I always thought the car rental process was pretty basic.

Step one: Be old enough to rent a car (25 in many cases).

Step two: Choose a rental company based on location or price.

Step three: Drive the car.

But it’s not that simple. And anyone who’s looked at a super-cheap rental car rate online only to later find a sheet full of fees on the bill knows rental car companies aren’t in business to make your life easier.

“You can’t afford to approach [renting a car] like an art,” Kriston Capps writes at CityLab. “Rent a car like a scientist.”

He writes that renting a car is like a complex game, and the only way to win — and get your money’s worth — is to play the game aggressively.

In his article, Capps interviews several auto travel and consumer-protection experts to learn how to play the car-rental game. They’re full of tips on how to help your money go further when it’s time to rent some wheels.

You Should Buy Car Rental Insurance, But Not at the Counter

Consumer-protection attorney Steve Lehto offers a crucial tip for worrywarts and nervous types: Buy your insurance in advance.

Everyone wants the financial security and peace of mind of rental insurance, but do your research instead of making a last-minute decision under pressure.

Does your credit card offer rental insurance? Call and ask before it’s time to pick up your car. If you own a car, does your auto insurance cover rental car issues? Again, find out well before your reservation date.

If you need to pick up insurance for your rental period, do it ahead of time. “You can buy insurance from the rental company, or you can buy it from anybody else if you want to,” Lehto tells CityLab.

But the coverage you’re offered at the rental counter is by far the most expensive option. Instead, opt-in for insurance coverage when you make your reservation online, or call ahead to ask about insurance options.

You’ll still have to pay for coverage, but you’ll at least know your rental company of choice isn’t taking your wallet for a joyride.

Head over to CityLab for the full low-down on how to play the rental car game.

Your Turn: What are your favorite tips for saving money on car rentals?

Lisa Rowan is a writer, editor and podcaster living in Baltimore. She hates renting cars unless she can upgrade to something with more leg room.

The post Renting a Car Cheaply is More Complicated Than You Thought. Here’s How to Come Out on Top appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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6 Ways to Deal With Negative Online Reviews

By Jan Pinnington Imagine a world where everyone is always smiling and happy and full of uplifting kindness toward one another. It’s a place that I would like to think exists, but unfortunately, we don’t live in Pleasantville. No matter how genuine we are as entrepreneurs, chances are we will rub someone the wrong way. […]

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‘Lose Yourself in the spaghetti’ goes viral on Woolies’ Facebook page

WILL the real spaghetti please stand up? An Aussie man seized his moment for internet fame with a pasta-inspired rap post on Woolworths’ Facebook page.

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Will Aldi finally kill off IGA?

WILL IGA be the first casualty of the supermarket wars? Some analysts believe struggling grocery supplier Metcash, which stocks the independent retailer, could be gone within a decade.

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