From taxpayer bailouts to top of the world

LAST year, Qantas was begging the government for assistance. This year, they’re making a killing. So what happened, and when will cheaper fares start?

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Ready for Hurricane Joaquin? Here’s How to Build an Emergency Kit on a Budget

For some folks — self-proclaimed “preppers” — being ready for anything is an obsession. For others, it’s an afterthought.

Hurricane Joaquin might not actually strike the East Coast, but many regions are facing serious rain and flooding. Whether or not you’re likely to be affected by the storm, it’s a good time to take stock of your situation.

Are you ready for an emergency? Preparing doesn’t have to be expensive.

How to Build Your Emergency Kit for Less

Sure, you could plunk down a cool $200 on a one-size-fits-all emergency kit filled with stuff you probably won’t need.

Or, try the budget-friendly option: build your own customized, cost-effective kit. Here’s how.

Decide What You Need

First of all, know what you need.

The Red Cross suggests keeping these bare essentials on hand, mostly common-sense items: food, water, extra clothes and medicine.

You definitely need a stash of those. But what other goods make sense for where you live?

In my part of Florida, I can’t think of a disaster scenario that would necessitate the hand chain saw or rope in the $200 kit I mentioned, but maybe I’d feel differently if I had to deal with tornadoes or earthquakes, or if I lived in a wooded area.

Figure out what your kit needs, and prioritize those items. And don’t get carried away — you probably just need to be able to feed yourself for a week or so, not build a shelter on a desert island.

Prep for Free

Some of your preparation won’t cost you a dime. It’s all about gathering stuff you already have, like important documents, cell phone chargers, maps and spare emergency cash.

You can even stock your stash with free items — Raven signs up for free samples online and uses some of the giveaways toward her emergency kit.

Instead of buying it by the flat, consider bottling your own water. Use of bleach-purified, leftover two-liter bottles and use municipal, treated water. Just don’t use milk or juice cartons, which can harbor bacteria. Date your bottles and replace them every six months, and you’re good to go.

If you’ll need water for hygienic purposes, clean your bathtub, then fill it with cold water. It won’t be potable, but you can use it to flush toilets and keep yourself clean.

Don’t forget your protein! Beef jerky is a great survival snack — but it isn’t cheap. You could dehydrate your own and save money and sodium content. Plus, you get to make your beef jerky the way you like. Check yard sales or Craigslist to find a dehydrator on the cheap.

Whenever you’re doing your own food prep, make sure you’re meticulous. Items undergoing long-term storage can get contaminated if they’re not perfectly sanitized and sealed — and you don’t want to discover your food stash is useless when an emergency arises.

DIY to Save

In my area, hurricane shutters are important, but expensive.

The good news is you can make your own out of plywood or polycarbonate — just make sure to factor in the cost of waste when you’re doing your comparison. You may not be able to find much use for raw material scraps once you cut out shutters.

Collect Cost-Effective Items

When you have to buy items, use coupons and your penny-hoarding knowledge to your advantage: Shop on the right day, use cash-back sites to earn rebates and use hacks to get the best deals at stores like CVS and Walmart.

When you pick up batteries, hydrogen peroxide, bleach and bandages, make sure to buy generic — they’ll work just as well as the brand name stuff. Check out the dollar store for these items, and while you’re there, pick up some emergency entertainment: crayons and coloring books for the kids, and a pack of cards for adults.

You probably already know how much you can save by buying in bulk. Emergency rations of paper towels, toilet paper, canned goods, batteries and bottled water are a perfect opportunity to take advantage of those savings.

Finally, consider battery-free emergency additions, like wind-up flashlights and weather radios. If you’re going to be without electricity, you’ll definitely want a handheld cell phone charger, which you can keep charged and prepared beforehand.

Plan Ahead

One of the best ways to save money on disaster preparedness is to play the long game: Look for sales in your day-to-day life and stock up, way before your storm season approaches. Cans of tuna on BOGO? Put your “get-ones” into your stash.

The more you can avoid a last-minute disaster-prep rush, the better: Vendors do price gouge. Here in Florida, the price of canned goods and gallons of water goes up in June and falls steeply in December, after hurricane season ends.

In case you do need a last-minute item, include disaster prep in your savings budget. Set aside $20 a month or so, and consider it part of your emergency fund — because that’s exactly what it is.

Stay safe, Penny Hoarders — and don’t forget your can opener!

Your Turn: Do you have an emergency kit? How did you build it on a budget?

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!

Jamie Cattanach is junior writer at The Penny Hoarder and a native Floridian, so she’s attended a lot of hurricane parties. She’s passionate about learning, literature, chocolate and finding ways to live the good life as cost-effectively as possible.

The post Ready for Hurricane Joaquin? Here’s How to Build an Emergency Kit on a Budget appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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Score One for the Tea Party

Remember the much-maligned Tea Party movement? These were the patriotic Americans who took to the streets and the townhalls across America. Good news: they helped change and maybe even slightly fix America.

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When’s The Best Time to Have a Baby, Financially Speaking?

How do you know when you’re “ready” to have a baby? Can you know?

While there are a ton of emotional, physical and lifestyle factors to consider, breaking down the costs of having a baby might get you closer to an answer.

Financially, waiting until you’re in your 30s, settled into your career and more financially stable seems like an obvious choice. But it’s not always that simple.

Learnvest looked at several important child-related costs, using two hypothetical couples to determine how having a baby at 26 versus 36 would affect their finances.

Child Care Costs

You and your partner will likely spend anywhere between 7% and 16% of your combined income on child care, according to a recent study by Child Care Aware. This sounds like an argument for waiting until you’re older and more financially stable; a higher income will make this cost easier to absorb into your budget.

To forgo child care costs altogether, you might be in a better position later in life for one parent to stay home. You will have had some time to save up a nest egg, and dropping to one income isn’t as devastating when it’s still a good income.

A younger couple, however, will probably be at an advantage when it comes to free child care from family and friends. Grandparents are a source of child care almost as popular as daycares or preschools.

Having a child at a younger age usually means your parents are younger, too. They’ll be more willing and able to accept the challenge of wrangling a kid all day. And your younger friends may be more willing and available to help care for your child before they’re occupied with their own families.

Baby’s Impact on Your Retirement Fund

In your 20s, you’ll probably be on a tighter budget than, say, a decade later. You’re unlikely to have a good start on your retirement fund, and a baby will likely tighten the budget even further.

Waiting until later in life will allow you and your partner to start saving for retirement well before you have a baby.

Even if you never put another dime toward retirement after having a child in your 30s, you could be set for retirement. When you’re able to start early, you’ll have more money set aside and more years to take advantage of compound interest on that money.

When Is the Best Time to Have a Baby?

While child care cost is a draw, saving for retirement definitely leans in favor of waiting.

We generally assume a couple at 36 is going to be further along in their careers, earning more, have paid off significantly more debt, and be more savvy about saving and planning for their financial futures.

But what about tax breaks? And college costs? It’s just not that cut and dried.

So… when will you be ready? To see how your finances can help answer that question, read the full post at Learnvest.

Your Turn: How does your financial situation affect when you plan to have a child?

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 When’s The Best Time to Have a Baby, Financially Speaking? appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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What Older Workers Don’t Know About Social Security

Many people close to retirement lack Social Security knowledge that could boost their payments.

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Why a Leased Smartphone Is a Dumbphone

Don’t be hypnotized by the hype: Leasing your smartphone is a dumb move. You can save more than a thousand dollars over two years by purchasing a phone outright and using a cheap month-to-month plan. Photo: Eduardo Woo

If you find yourself itching to have the latest gadget, take comfort knowing you’re not alone. Roughly half of Americans cut back on other expenses just to be able to afford new technology, according to CNBC’s All-America Economy Survey.

So when big-name carriers like Verizon and AT&T started ditching two-year contracts and instead offering payment plans that allow people to lease expensive handsets like iPhones, many Americans took the bait — nearly 25% of all new smartphones were paid for with financing plans from July 2013 to March 2014.

But are these payment plans really the smartest way to pay for your smartphone? Let’s do the math.

The Two-Year Contract

The two-year contract has been the most popular — and in many cases, the only — option for the past decade. Opting for a long-term plan with a big-name carrier usually means paying about $199 upfront for the subsidized price of a $600-$700 smartphone, along with an activation fee that typically runs $35-$40.

On top of that, you’re paying about $40-$50 a month for the data, talk, and text plan (give or take, depending on your usage) and a $40 monthly access charge for the handset. Over the course of the two-year period, you’re looking at $2,276, not including fees and taxes.

Plus, when your two-year contract is up, your monthly bill doesn’t automatically decrease even though you’ve essentially paid back the full retail price of your phone (those subsidies are built into your monthly rate and recouped over two years). Rather, you’re eligible for an upgrade that allows you to receive a new device (for another $199) along with another hefty two-year contract.

Should you choose to switch carriers or leave your contract before your two years is up, you’re also looking at a steep early termination fee of up to $350.

The only real advantage to staying on a contract is that after two years, you own the phone and can choose to make some money reselling it or to keep using the phone and negotiate a discounted monthly rate (which we’ll discuss in a bit).

The Payment Plan

Verizon recently announced that they are eliminating long-term contracts, joining other carriers in offering new customers a monthly installment plan instead.

Their ‘Edge’ plan works like this: Customers pay $0 down and then spread out the retail price of their smartphone into monthly payments (18, 24, or 30 months). This charge is on top of the price for the line and the cost of the plan, which is divided into five tiers based on data usage:

• Small: $30/month for 1GB
• Medium: $45/month for 3GB
• Large: $60/month for 6GB
• X-Large: $80/month for 12GB
• XX-Large: $100/month for 18GB of shareable data

Let’s say you wanted an iPhone 6. The retail cost of the phone is $750. Broken down into 24 monthly payments, that’s roughly $31/month. Each line costs $20/month, which includes unlimited texting and talking — notably lower than the $40 charge in the previous two-year contract model. Now, if you select the Medium data plan from Verizon, you’re looking at a total of $96 a month (plus fees and taxes).

Over the course of two years, that brings you to $2,304 — about $30 more than if you were on a contract. The real kicker with this plan, however, is that the program allows you to trade in your phone early for a new one without putting down another $199 upfront for the device.

With AT&T’s Next plan, for example, you can trade in your phone and upgrade to a newer model after you’ve made a minimum amount of installment payments, depending on the length of your payment plan. By taking advantage of the upgrade, you’re resetting the amount you’ve paid off to zero (much like leasing a car) and have essentially entered a new two-year commitment without the ability to resell your original device.

Monthly installment plans are the Trojan horse of cellular service — they market themselves as a cheaper no-strings-attached option, but the only way to get out of it is to purchase the full retail value of your phone.

If you’re already on one of these plans, the smartest course of action to take would be to pay off your phone under the original payment terms, or buy it out early, and resell it — resist the urge to upgrade by trading your phone in.

Month-to-Month

Unlike the two-year contract or the monthly installment plan, the month-to-month approach truly is commitment-free. You can still enjoy the unlimited talk and text offered by big-name carriers as well as a data package that fits your needs, and you can switch carriers if you relocate to an area where one is more predominant, or just because you’re tired of AT&T’s customer service (or lack thereof).

One way to take advantage of this plan is to hold onto your smartphone after your two-year contract is up and speak to a representative about switching over to a monthly plan, saving yourself about $15-$25 a month (since you’ve paid the entire subsidy back over the course of your two-year contract). Note: This discount does not take effect automatically — you have to speak to someone about making the switch and getting the monthly discount.

The other way to reap the benefit of paying monthly is to buy an unlocked phone outright and opt for an alternative cellular plan like Cricket or Ting. If you can handle paying the initial $750 to buy the phone (or find a lightly used version online for less), this option can save you more than a thousand dollars over the course of two years, even after the cost of the phone.

• Related: Fed Up With Verizon or AT&T? Try One of These Cheap Cell Phone Plans Instead

Pay-As-You-Go

The above options assume you use the same amount of talk, text, and data every month. However, if you’re meticulous about finding free Wi-Fi and monitoring your usage, a pay-as-you-go plan may be your smartest option.

T-Mobile’s Prepaid plan, for instance, gives you 30 minutes of talk and 30 text messages for just $3 a month, with the option to supplement as well as purchase daily data passes. As with the month-to-month option, you must purchase or provide your own unlocked device.

The Bottom Line

It’s easy to get swept up in the tech-craze — but keep in mind that constantly purchasing the latest and greatest device comes at a hefty price. Not only are smartphones reaching their peak, there will always be a new update that’s marginally better, leaving you feeling like you missed out if you don’t have it.

Changing your perspective and making smart choices when it comes to selecting your carrier, determining your monthly plan, and deciding how long to stick with your old phone can save you over a thousand dollars over the course of a typical two-year contract. Don’t fall for that trap — outsmart the smartphone industry.

Related Articles:

• How to Avoid Getting Cut By the Cutting Edge
• 11 Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans
• Five Tactics for Getting a Better Cell Phone Deal

The post Why a Leased Smartphone Is a Dumbphone appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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10 Purchases You Shouldn’t Make With a Credit Card

Many credit cards offer a slew of incentives to consumers who use them — from cash back and other rewards to zero liability in case of fraud.

But credit cards are not always your best form of payment, especially if you aren’t great with debt. In many cases, you’re better off keeping the plastic tucked away.

Here are 10 purchases you should probably avoid making with your magic plastic:

1. Household Bills

If you’re already cutting it close for the month, you may be tempted to use plastic to pay the utility, cell phone or cable bill.

But if you’re not paying off your full balance each month, the interest you’ll be charged makes those monthly bills even more expensive.

2. Cars

Car dealers often don’t allow credit-card purchases, or may limit the amount of the purchase price you can put on your card. Dealers don’t like credit card payments because they have to pay the 1-3% fee the card company charges to process the transaction.

You could exercise the cash advance option. But you’ll pay a fee and a higher interest rate.

Also, you won’t get a grace period on the interest — it will begin to accumulate right away.

Instead of using a card, go to a credit union or bank to get financing approved at a reasonable interest rate before shopping for a car.

(If you’re renting a car, however, a credit card is a great tool. Here are the best ones to use for car rentals.)

3. Student Loans

If you can’t afford to pay your federal student loans, you have options, such as an income-based repayment plan, deferment, forbearance and possibly loan forgiveness.

Paying your student loan debt with a credit card increases the amount of interest you’re paying on the debt. Even if you have a 0% introductory credit card offer, it will expire in time.

And while the federal government will accept a credit card payment for loans in default, many student loan servicers won’t allow this form of payment.

4. Retail Therapy

Think a new purchase will cheer you up? Perhaps.

But if you choose this mode of “therapy,” remember cash is king. That way, you won’t let your credit card balance spiral out of control.

5. Medical Bills

If you use a medical credit card available through your health care provider’s office to pay bills, be careful to read the fine print about your obligations.

Also consider steps you can take to reduce health care costs.

6. A Night on the Town

Handing your credit card to an unscrupulous waitperson equipped with a skimming device isn’t your only worry.

If you’re out on the town throwing back drinks, it’s easy to run up a tab you can’t afford. In these scenarios, it’s best to pay with cash.

7. Big-Ticket Items You Can’t Pay Off Immediately

Credit cards offer great purchase protections and should be used for many big-ticket purchases. But buying something on credit when you can’t afford to pay it off right away isn’t smart.

8. Credit Card Payments

You can’t charge your monthly credit card payment on another credit card.

But perhaps you’ve been tempted to use a cash advance from a credit card to bolster your checking account so that you can pay your other bills.

Your credit card is not an ATM and should not be used as one.

There are real benefits, however, to transferring high-interest credit card debt to a new card with a generous 0% balance-transfer offer. Just be aware of the balance-transfer fee and the length of the offer.

9. “Sale” Items

Convinced you may miss out on savings if you don’t purchase a specific item on sale right away? That’s one of the warning signs of an impulse buy.

Wait a day and think about whether you really need the item. Nine times out of 10, the answer will be “no.”

You aren’t saving money by spending it for something you don’t need.

10. Unsecured Online Purchases

Does the Web address have an “https” at the beginning? If not, that’s your cue to take your online shopping elsewhere.

In fact, do your homework before purchasing anything online to make sure a company is reputable and not the source of many consumer complaints.

Your Turn: In the past, we’ve touted the benefits of purchasing some of these items with your credit card, but we like to look at both sides of any issue. What do you think? Do you agree with these warnings?

This post originally appeared at Money Talks News. Since 1991, MoneyTalksNews has been producing both video and print to help you make more, spend less and avoid rip-offs.

The post 10 Purchases You Shouldn’t Make With a Credit Card appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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5 Reasons to Reconsider the Home of Your Dreams

Remove your rose-colored glasses and consider these factors before buying the home you love.

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10 Security Tips for Online Businesses

Protect your business by beefing up security measures. Learn 10 security tips for online businesses at HowStuffWorks.

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Nursing Homes Are Getting Better (But They're Not Perfect Yet)

The next generation of nursing homes is working to shed old stereotypes.

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Banking and card fraud rises to £325 million

Tom Wilson

Credit card fraud.jpg

Losses from fraudulent use of payment cards, cheques, and online and mobile banking rose 6% to £325.3 million in the first half of 2015, according to figures released today.

Financial Fraud UK (FFAUK) said that even though the total amount of fraud increased by £17.6 million, fraud losses as a proportion of total spending fell to a four-year low.

Banking and card fraud rises to £325 million

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Losses from fraudulent use of payment cards, cheques, and online and mobile banking rose 6% to £325.3 million in the first half of 2015, according to figures released today. Financial Fraud UK (FFAUK) said that even though the total amount of fraud increased by £17.6 million, fraud losses as a proportion of total spending fell to a four-year low. That’s largely down to security systems installed by banks and credit card companies, which successfully detected and prevented almost a billion pounds’ worth of fraudulent transactions. In total, around 70% of all fraud attempts were thwarted in the first half of the year. Katy Worobec, director of FFAUK, said: “Banks use sophisticated security systems to protect their customers, stopping over two-thirds of fraud from occurring. “However, the industry is never complacent and banks are continuously improving the tools they use to beat the evolving threat of fraud.” The fraud awareness group urged people to be vigilant online, as losses from online and telephone fraud rose by 37% compared to the previous year. Worobec added: “Fraudsters are now attempting to trick people into handing over passwords, PINs and passcodes – the keys to the door – so it’s vital that customers safeguard their personal and financial information. “Criminals impersonate many different organisations, including banks, the police, government departments and utility companies. Card ID theft also rose by 28% to £18.8 million. That’s defined as when a fraudster opens an account in someone else’s name, or hijacks an existing account using stolen information. The increases were offset by a 21% fall in cheque fraud, and a 34% drop in fraudulent face-to-face transactions. Overall, card fraud rose 1% compared to the previous year, while spending rose more quickly. FFAUK said card fraud accounted for just 6.9p for every £100 spent, down from 7.5p at the end of 2014. However, fraud on contactless cards remained very low, with around half a million lost on spending of £2.58 billion, equivalent to 2p in every £100 spent. Detective Chief Inspector Perry Stokes, head of the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit, said: “Criminals can be extremely convincing, so it’s really important to be on guard. Be very cautious about giving out your personal information. “Remember that people aren’t always who they say they are. Just because someone has a bit of information about you does not mean they are definitely genuine. If you get a call, text or email out of the blue asking for your details or for you to transfer money, then do not respond. Instead report it to your bank straight away.”

read more

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10 Security Tips for Online Businesses

Protect your business by beefing up security measures. Learn 10 security tips for online businesses at HowStuffWorks.

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Who Wants to Become Business Partners with Neil Patel?

Have you ever wondered how I’ve been able to build multiple successful businesses? KISSmetrics receives over a million visitors a month, and the business raised over 15 million dollars in funding.

Crazy Egg, although it isn’t talked about much these days, does well too. It’s actually larger than KISSmetrics from a financial standpoint. And Hellobar, which is owned by Crazy Egg, is growing at a rapid pace. The bar is seen millions of times each and every day. 

And those are just the businesses people know me for. I have a handful of other businesses that do well too that no one hears about. For example, I’ve made millions of dollars in profit from real estate over the last few years…simply by buying distressed properties, fixing them, and then flipping them.

I’m not here to brag because the reality is I’m not that smart or even lucky. I’m where I am today because I’ve surrounded myself with people who are smarter than me. And I make sure I always take care of those people who do well for me…

In essence, my team members are like my family members. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am.

So what’s the purpose of today’s blog post? I am actually looking for more team members—family members—ones that I can work with for life.

Now, before you apply to any of these positions, make sure you read them all, and pick the one that’s the best fit for you. 

Basic skills

No matter what position you are applying for, I’m looking for people who have the following qualities:

• You are a natural hustler.
• You communicate professionally.
• English must be your native language or you have native fluency.
• You have a constant and reliable computer and Internet access.
• You are intelligent, self-motivated, and hardworking.
• You are looking for a long-term partnership because once I find someone I enjoy working with, I want to work with them for life (seriously).
• You have to be willing to work 40 hours a week.
• You need to have good time-management skills (you can work remotely).

If you have these qualities and skills, you may be a good fit for the openings below.

My new book

Over the years, many of you have told me that I should write a book. And I am actually now. It’s been in the works for more than six months, and it will come out next year. I’ll be announcing more details of the book in January.

The book is going to be co-authored with two of my long-time friends: Patrick Vlaskovits, who is a New York Times best-selling author, and Jonas Koffler, who is responsible for a lot of The New York Times best-selling books you’ve read.

If you are interested in joining our book team, here are the three positions we are looking for:

1. Digital Marketer/Growth Hacker – you will be responsible for top-of-the-funnel marketing. You should have experience with SEO, social media marketing, conversion optimization, and anything else that could be used to drive sales.
2. Content Marketer – you will be responsible for the editorial content and calendar, supporting this project, and will help identify and target sites with large audiences receptive to our messages as well as craft and create blog posts for A-list blogs and media outlets. You will also help schedule podcasts and AMAs. Being detail- and deadline-oriented is a must, and we’ll need our person to be extremely well-organized and have a passion for putting together insanely great content with a deep knowledge of outlets. Oh, and design skills are a plus.
3. Research Assistant - you will work with us to track down great stories and data. You love getting to the heart of the matter, and you know how to find gems in unexpected places. You’re fearless and committed to new and big ideas while able to gather materials quickly. You will be an integral part of the content team, helping us dig up inspirational and exciting content for the project.

If you are interested in working on the book project with me, here’s how you can apply:

1. Shoot an email to: neilpatelprojects@gmail.com
2. The subject line must be: “Book Project for NAME OF POSITION” (This is not a trick question. Include the actual name of the position you are applying for.)
3. In the email, note the following three things:
   1. Your full name
   2. Where you live
   3. The name of the city and name of the venue that the Beatles performed in for an entire year before they became globally famous.
4. Attach a picture of a slice of pepperoni pizza. It has to be in the .png format and cannot be greater than 1 MB.
5. Do only those tasks.

For the book project, you’ll be going through three rounds of interviewing before we choose the three lucky individuals. The tasks above will get you through round 1, after which we will give you the next set of tasks you will need to complete.

The deadline to apply for the openings for the book project is October 6th by 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

My new software company

I’m looking for an engineer who can help create an ad management software. I already have the customer base and clientele for this business.

I’m not just looking for an engineer. I’m looking for someone who wants to become business partners and help start a new venture.

Here’s some of the skills I’m looking for:

• Proficient coder – someone who writes clean code and can code extremely fast.
• API knowledge – you either need to have the knowledge or to be a quick learner as you’ll be tapping into the Facebook ad API and the Google AdWords API.
• Knowledge of Amazon Web Services – the product will be hosted on Amazon Web Services.
• Ability to create a product that scales – keep in mind that there will be thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of users going through the product each and every day. There will also be a lot of data passing through the application that needs to be analyzed and computed.

If you are interested in becoming partners in the software company, please go here to apply.

Copywriters and funnel experts

I am doing a lot of stuff in the conversion optimization space right now. Here’s what I am looking for:

1. You need to read Quick Sprout. Make sure you read the guides and posts on Quick Sprout as I am looking for someone who already knows the conversion optimization basics.
2. You have to be passionate about online marketing. If you don’t love what you are working on, you’ll eventually quit. That’s why you need to have a passion for marketing.
3. You need to understand copywriting, sales funnels, and email marketing. You don’t have to be the best at any of these tasks, but having a basic understanding of them is a huge plus. My team and I can help you become an expert on these topics.

If you are interested in the marketing position, please go here to apply.

Conclusion

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment. If you applied for a past job and didn’t get selected, it doesn’t mean you can’t apply for any of these openings.

Last time, we had an applicant who was very persistent. His name is Jared Mitchell. He kept emailing and calling and even got a meeting with me. He proved his value and did so well in the first few months that over the next six months he will make $150,000 to $200,000 just from my network.

And Jared isn’t the only case. Jonathan Rozek continually bugged me to show me how he can improve my conversions through copy changes. He showed me the results, and he is on track to make a similar to Jared’s income over the next 12 months.

I look forward to bringing you into my family so that we can become team members and help each other grow and prosper.

P.S. Don’t forget to apply to one of the positions above.

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How to Buy the S&P 500 Index With ETFs

Fund managers are always trying to beat the S&P 500's performance, but it's easier said than done.

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The Locus of Control

Let’s start off by talking about exactly what a “locus of control” actually is. From Wikipedia:

In personality psychology, locus of control refers to the extent to which individuals believe they can control events affecting them.

Perhaps even more importantly:

A person’s “locus” (Latin for “place” or “location”) is conceptualized as either internal (the person believes they can control their life) or external (meaning they believe their decisions and life are controlled by environmental factors which they cannot influence, or by chance or fate).

So, let’s summarize this in simpler terms.

A person who thinks that they mostly control their own life has an “internal locus of control.” People who think this way place the power of what happens in their life in their own hands. Their life is mostly shaped through the decisions that they make each day, for better or worse.

A person who thinks that they have little control over their own life and that other things they don’t control, whether it’s family or friends or society or the government or big corporations or their faith or anything else, actually have all of the power in their life has an “external locus of control.” People who think this way tend to attribute both the good and the bad events in their life to forces outside of themselves. They view their lives as being shaped almost solely by powerful forces that they can’t control.

A great example of the difference between the two comes from the Wikipedia article and from our school days: exams. Let’s say that a person goes to class, takes an exam, and then sees the results from that exam.

A person with an internal locus of control will look at the results from that exam and attribute those results to themselves, for better or worse. They will look at factors like their own study habits, their own note-taking, their own time spent asking questions, and so on.

A person with an external locus of control will look at the results from that exam and attribute those results to things besides themselves, for better or worse. They will look at things like the difficulty of the exam, the difficulty of the teacher, the testing environment, and so on.

I believe that an internal locus of control is absolutely necessary to achieve significant financial and professional success in life. Failures and missteps are simply a part of life, and an external locus of control allows a person to always provide external reasons for failure or success, allowing that person to avoid having to take personally challenging steps to overcome those failures.

A person with an internal locus of control will look at career challenges and ask themselves what they can do to put their career on firmer ground. A person with an external locus of control will blame coworkers and bosses and overly challenging work for their difficulties and lack of progress.

A person with an internal locus of control will look at financial challenges and ask themselves what they can do to improve their financial state through better investing and spending choices. A person with an external locus of control will point to society for not paying an adequate wage, businesses for charging prices that are just too high, and so on.

A person with an internal locus of control will always look for ways to make challenging situations better in the future as a result of their own actions. A person with an external locus of control will instead look at others and conclude that those factors cannot be changed or helped.

Now, before we go any further, it is worth noting that an internal and an external locus of control aren’t two separate states. They’re more like a spectrum. A person doesn’t just flip a switch and move from having an external locus of control to having an internal one. Instead, it’s much more like a light dimmer or a thermostat, where people have some internal locus of control and some external locus of control.

In my opinion, every step a person can take toward an internal locus of control will have great outcomes for their life. An internal locus of control fuels things like self-improvement, saving for the future, taking control of your professional and personal life, and so on. Without those things going on in your life, you’re going to keep repeating the same actions and getting the same results that you probably won’t like.

So, how can a person develop an internal locus of control? How can you move that dial – one that’s set somewhere in the middle between “internal” and “external” – a little bit closer to that internal end?

I’ve found that some of the things I naturally think about in my own life achieve that shift wonderfully. Here are six things I often think about during the day that slowly push me toward an internal locus of control. Let these things run through your mind as your day progresses – and in every day going forward.

Remember that you always have the ability to change your situation. There is no situation that you are in that you can’t improve through your own personal action. Sure, it might seem hopeless at the moment, but there are better roads forward from here, no matter what the situation. You choose how much effort you put into recovering and improving your situation. You choose how much support and patience you give to others in your life that are struggling. You choose how much of your money you’re going to save or how much effort you’re going to put in at work. Those are choices you have control over.

Make a list of possible actions you can take in response to a difficult situation. Everyone faces serious challenges at some point in their life. Rather than looking at that challenge as an impenetrable wall, instead look for things you can to to handle this difficult situation. Can you reduce the impact of this situation? Can you find a path to recover more quickly from this situation? What are the things you can do to turn things in a more positive direction, even just a little?

Stop talking about yourself in a negative light, and when you catch yourself doing it, look instead at the things you’ve done well as well as the ways you can improve those negatives. Self-criticism can be a valuable thing, don’t get me wrong. It can help you find flaws in yourself. However, self-criticism that isn’t followed by steps to clear up those criticisms or to accentuate other positives instead isn’t helpful in any way. When you find yourself being critical of your attributes, stop and ask yourself whether you can take steps to improve those attributes or, if not, if there are ways that you can accentuate other attributes of yourself that are better.

Stop focusing on things that you cannot control about a situation, and when you catch yourself doing it, think instead about the aspects of the situation that you can control. There are factors in every situation that you can’t control. You can’t control the personalities and responses of others. You can’t control natural events or physical accidents. So stop worrying about those things, because you can’t do much about them. Instead, look at what you can control – your responses to those situations, how you handle your emotions, and the daily choices you make. The better your responses and choices, the less impact those negative things you can’t control will have.

Whenever you have a thought that begins with “I can’t…” replace that with “I choose not to…” There are very few things in life that you truly cannot do, especially in the short term. Most of the things that you tell yourself that you “can’t” do usually come down to things that you choose not to do, and by re-framing those things in that light, you can begin to see the excuses that you’re making. By saying you choose not to do these things, you have to honestly face your excuses and put the power of the choice back onto you.

Talk with your friends about possible actions to take to fix things, rather than complaining about the unfairness of it all. What are your conversations with your friends like? Do you rail about the unfairness of life and how overwhelming forces are out to crush you and how your workplace is unfair? Or do you look at steps that you could take to make the situation better, no matter what the situation is? One of those two things is going to result in a better outcome for you.

The key to all of this is simple: whenever a challenge comes up in your life, whether it’s saving for retirement or handling a financial emergency or something else, look first at what you can do to improve the situation. Don’t waste your time looking at or blaming things you can’t control. Look at what you can control and take action in those areas.

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3 Reasons You Should Still Buy Biotech Stocks

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton promised to end 'price gouging' for specialty drugs.

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Is the Stock Market Signaling a Recession?

Sometimes the market just needs to let off a little steam, which can be a good thing.

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4 Checking Accounts You May Not Know Exist

These specialty accounts provide unique perks and could save you money.

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Love This Dad’s IKEA Hack? Build the “Most Awesome Bed Ever” for $631 or Less

Eric Strong might be the most creative dad around. The Palo Alto, California father just designed the coolest bed ever for his son — without spending a fortune.

The little boy was still sleeping in a convertible toddler bed and the family needed it for his younger sister. But he didn’t want to give it up for a “big kid bed.”

He finally agreed to relinquish his bed on one condition: if he got “the most awesome bed ever.”

However, “the most awesome bed ever” was out of the family’s price range. So Strong did what any handy and thrifty parent would do: He used an IKEA hack to make his own awesome bed. Then he made a video detailing the process, so anyone can follow his lead.

What’s an IKEA Hack?

“IKEA hacking” is a way to modify or repurpose items from the Swedish furniture store to create other items. In fact, there’s a whole community devoted to this DIY trend.

Strong’s hack costs less than half the price of a comparable kid’s bed, but it’s just as much fun. Plus, if you want to follow his lead, we have ways to save even more money.

Hacking an Awesome Bed

Strong spent some time looking at other people’s IKEA hacks and gathering ideas, from a castle-themed bed to a beach house one to a model with a slide. Since it involves so much innovation, Strong dubbed his project an “extreme IKEA hack.”

He decided to base his design on IKEA’s Kura, a children’s loft bed. Many people already use the Kura as a key element in their hacks since it’s simple, fairly inexpensive ($209) and includes parts that can be swapped out and rearranged to create various layouts.

The Kura’s design includes a bit of space underneath that can be easily transformed into a secret space or private area for kids, which is an added bonus.

Strong worked to incorporate some of his son’s favorite things in his design: playgrounds, simple machines, rolling ball sculptures and even a favorite Berenstain Bears book.

How to Build the Most Awesome Bed Ever

Strong started with a classic Kura bed. He assembled it in a loft style and used a three-tiered Trofast storage system underneath.

He also included a Besta shelving unit, and deconstructed a second Kura bed to use the pieces (and he used almost all of them).

These items, plus a bit of ingenuity, became a mini ball run (complete with golf balls and PVC pipe), and a crane and pulley with a bucket for added fun.

The bed has a secret space — complete with lights — you open by tugging on a fake book on the bookcase. (How cool is that?) Strong also added a secret window his son could use to peek out from the secret space, as well as a backup escape hatch.

How Much Does it Cost?

While this bed is far less expensive than purchasing a custom-built model complete with kid-friendly secret spaces and built-in gadgets (such as this fun castle bed that that sells for $1,342), it will still cost you.

You’ll need:

• Two Kura Beds ($209 each at IKEA)
• Trofast shelving storage system ($65.99 and up at IKEA)
• Besta shelving unit ($104 and up at IKEA)
• Golf balls for ball run ($11.79 for 18 on Amazon)
• Bucket for pulley system ($6.85 on Amazon)
• Pulley ($4.85 on Amazon)
• LED lights for secret space ($19.99 for a set of four lightstrips at IKEA)

That equals a minimum of $631.47.

And don’t forget you’ll likely need some paint, rope and other minor odds and ends.

How Can You Save Money on Your IKEA Hack?

You’ll find plenty of ways to save on the hacked bed of your kid’s dreams. Follow these tips to get the components you’ll need to create the coolest bed around without going broke.

Of course, make sure to earn rewards on your purchases by using your cash-back credit card or travel rewards card.

Sign up for the IKEA Moving Program

If you’re moving, sign up for IKEA’s Moving Program and you can save up to $25 on an in-store purchase of $250 or more.

Shop the “As Is” Section

Most IKEA stores have special “as is” sections with slightly damaged goods — those with ripped packaging, scratches, dents or other imperfections — marked down to great prices.

These drawbacks might not matter to you — for example, if you know you’re going to paint the item or the damaged side will be up against a wall. Check with your local store to see if they offer special deals and deeper discounts on items in this section.

BuzzFeed reports you can sometimes get 10% off on Wednesdays in this section with your IKEA Family Card. Be sure to check with your local store to see if you can take advantage of a sweet deal.

Buy Used

Kids grow out of beds quickly, and you can likely find a family looking to part with an IKEA component or two in decent condition.

Post a “wanted” ad on Craigslist or your local Facebook garage sale group, or scout local yard sales to see what you can find.

Buy Similar Items on Amazon

If you don’t live near an IKEA and want to order items online, you can expect to pay quite a bit for shipping: large item delivery starts at $99.

One way to get around this is to look for comparable items on Amazon, which generally offers free shipping for large items. This fun kid’s loft bed is similar to the Kura and retails for $222.93, but it comes with free shipping.

Make Some of the Pieces Yourself

If you’re handy, consider skipping the second bed purchase (or other parts of the project) and building similar components yourself.

You can often find free scraps of wood and other construction items on Craigslist, Freecycle or simply by asking at a work site. Sourcing these free items and doing a little more of the legwork yourself helps you keep more of your cash in your pocket.

Any of these ideas are sure to help you create a kid-pleasing bed like Strong’s. Your kids will want to go to bed with all these fun features — though getting them to actually sleep might be a challenge.

Your Turn: Would you ever tackle a DIY bed project like this dad?

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!

Kristen Pope is a freelance writer and editor in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

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Five Reasons Everyone Should Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Year after year, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns top billing as the best flexible travel credit card out there. Because of its many partners, its flexible rewards program, and how easy it is to actually earn points, it is often suggested alongside top hotel, airline, and cash-back credit cards as well.

But, is the card really worth the hype? The short answer: Yes.

Here are some pertinent details to consider before you read any further:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Highlights:

Five Reasons to Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

If you don’t have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card yet, there are a slew of reasons you should seriously consider getting one. Here are the top five:

Flexible rewards mean you can’t lose. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the perfect card for someone who wants to earn rewards, but isn’t sure how they want to use them. Since the points you earn with this card can be used to book any type of travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, the options are endless.

Meanwhile, you can also transfer points to a slew of popular airline and hotel transfer partners, or redeem them for gift cards or merchandise. And if none of that works out, you cash them in for a statement credit at one cent per point. At that rate, the 40,000 point sign-up bonus alone is worth $400!

You get free primary rental car coverage and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. Unlike many other travel cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers primary rental car coverage. What this means is that, when you rent a car, you don’t have to pay for the coverage the rental company offers or even rely on your personal auto policy for coverage.

In addition, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also offers free trip cancellation and interruption insurance that can reimburse you if your trip gets cancelled or you get stranded in your destination through no fault of your own.

A huge sign-up bonus sweetens the deal. Since the sign-up bonus alone is worth $400, you can’t really lose on this deal. Just spend $4,000 on the card within 90 days and you’ll earn that bonus – an instant 10% return on your spending. Just remember, you need to pay your balance in full each month in order to avoid paying credit card interest, which may be as high as 15.99% APR.

The best transfer partners. Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program offers the best transfer partners of any of its competitors. When you earn Chase points, you can transfer them to popular hotel and airline programs such as Southwest Airlines, British Airways, Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG at a 1:1 ratio. If you have a co-branded credit card with any of these programs already, getting the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can help you boost those point balances.

Earn two points per dollar spent on travel and dining. If you dine out often or travel frequently, this card is a must-have for your wallet. In addition to the one point per dollar you’ll earn on all purchases, you’ll actually get double points on all travel and dining expenses you put on your card. Those points can add up quick!

Another Way to Rack Up Rewards

Once you get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you may also want to consider getting a Chase Freedom® card. When you have both, you can pool your points for use in the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel program.

Since the Chase Freedom® card offers bonus categories that dole out 5X points each quarter, getting this card is a great way to earn more rewards over time. When you have both, you can maximize bonus categories and get the most bang for your buck. Here are some details to consider:

Chase Freedom®

Highlights:

The Bottom Line

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, you are earning the most valuable point currency out there. And even if you don’t travel, the sign-up bonus is worth $400 alone. Plus, you’ll receive a slew of free perks just for having the card, including trip cancellation insurance, primary rental car coverage, purchase protection, and more. Even better, the $95 annual fee is waived the first year, which means you can score all of these perks for free in your first year.

Do you have this card? What’s your favorite travel or rewards credit card?

The post Five Reasons Everyone Should Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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David Jones horror week continues

DAYS after losing its boss in mysterious circumstances, retail giant David Jones was forced to admit customer details had been stolen by hackers.

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Can You Really Get Paid to Put Ads on Your Car?

Have you ever received an email offering to pay you big money to put ads on your car? Sounds great, right?

Of course, these are almost always scams. And I like to mess with scammers, so I responded to one of the emails.

The company’s reply explained I would be sent a cashier’s check to cover my first month’s payment and the cost of applying the “wrap.” I was to deposit the check, keep $300 for my fee for the first week and use the rest to pay the guy who wrapped my car.

I wrote back telling them I was excited to get started, but it seemed simpler for them to just pay me and then pay the ad installer directly. I would even take $200 per week instead of $300. I never heard from them again.

This is a typical cashier’s check scam. The check bounces, which you discover only after you wire your own money to the ad installer or pay him in cash.

These scams are extremely common. But you may be wondering, aren’t there legitimate companies that pay you to put advertising on your car? Let’s take a closer look.

How Not to Sell Ads on Your Car

Much of the information online about companies that pay you for car ads is worthless. Some of the companies these sites link to charge businesses to wrap their vehicles in advertising, but make no mention of paying you for wrapping your car with ads.

Others have no contact information online, which is never a good sign. Some don’t even ask you about your car and/or driving habits. Do you really think businesses are willing to pay for an ad on your car if they know nothing about whether it will ever leave your garage? Not likely.

Look at this driver application for Ads2go:

Submitting an Application with Ads2go has always been and continues to be FREE. However, with about 100,000 drivers in our database, we are pleased to now offer you two ways to be a VIP applicant.

The “VIP Pick Me First Application” costs $5.95. Of course, “Payment of these fees is NOT a guarantee that you will be asked to drive since such depends on the preferences of our advertisers.” Oh, and the fees are non-refundable.

How many people has this company paid for an ad placement? How many people have paid the company to submit a “VIP” application? When I contacted AdsToGo to ask these questions, I did not get a response.

In general, you should not pay anything upfront, and stay away from companies without contact information on their websites.

How to Actually Get Paid for Ads on Your Car

Fortunately, there are a few legitimate companies that pay you to put advertising on your car. For example, Carvertise is currently looking for drivers in the Mid-Atlantic region. They said:

Our drivers earn $100/month. We’ve had drivers make over $2,000 (over the past two years) in residual income for just driving their normal everyday route. We just ask for patience, as there is sometimes a three-month lag until a qualified driver is selected.

Carvertise also made it clear “there is no upfront cost to the driver,” which should be the case with just about any legit company.

Here are some other examples of companies that pay you for putting ads on your car:

• VehicleCommercial.com
• Pay Me for Driving
• Autowrapped

These companies meet the following guidelines:

• They don’t ask you for money
• They ask about your car and driving habits
• They require you to have car insurance
• They have contact information (not just a form) on their websites

I should mention I’ve applied several times on different websites and have never been contacted.

Of course, I don’t live in a large city where the real opportunities are more likely to exist. I also may not drive enough miles for advertisers to be interested. And there are probably more applicants than needed.

The bottom line: Getting paid to put ads on your car can be a great gig if you get it, but don’t hold your breath. You may not qualify or be selected anytime soon.

Other Car Advertising Opportunities

You may have a better chance to get paid for ads on your car if you drive for Uber or another rideshare company.

First, you’re likely to put many miles on your vehicle in busy areas — something advertisers want to see. Second, it’s possible taxi advertising companies, like Blue Line Media (ads on taxis in 100 cities), will start signing up rideshare drivers.

Finally, Viewswagon has a new advertising service for rideshare drivers. They pay you to show ads inside your car.

Your Turn: Have you ever applied for a car advertising opportunity? If so, how did it turn out?

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

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CII clears up car insurance confusion

crashed car insurance policy.jpg

Drivers are being warned to check the details of their insurance policies, as a new study reveals widespread confusion around what is covered by car insurance policies.

One in three drivers falsely believes an accident while driving another car will be covered for repairs by a comprehensive policy.

The Chartered Institute of Insurance (CII) warns the majority of comprehensive policies only provide third party cover when driving other cars. This would leave drivers out of pocket in the event of an accident.

CII clears up car insurance confusion

Feed Copy: 

One in three drivers falsely believes an accident while driving another car will be covered for repairs by a comprehensive policy. The Chartered Institute of Insurance (CII) warns the majority of comprehensive policies only provide third party cover when driving other cars. This would leave drivers out of pocket in the event of an accident. Overall, the CII estimates a quarter of drivers simply do not know what sort of policy they have. The confusion could also lead to some positive surprises for drivers. 34% think they wouldn’t be covered if they were to have an accident because they’d sneezed – but they would. And many motorists aren’t aware they are covered to drive in Europe by their UK policy under EU legislation. David Ross, director of communications at the CII, said: “The legal elements that underpin motor insurance are complex and are understandably challenging for the average consumer. “Our research has found that British drivers are frequently baffled by insurance, with many having no idea what they are covered for. Should the worst happen, this could mean that consumers are left out of pocket or they end up paying for cover twice because they never knew they had it.” The CII has launched a website to help people better understand what is and isn’t covered by their insurance policies, at www.askciindy.com.

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