Secret track that’s a revhead’s dream

BEHIND the tall barbed-wire fences, where cameras and mobiles are confiscated, you can channel The Stig. We taker a rare look at Ford’s test track.

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/21NWith

Proof Dick Smith staff urged to grab bargains

DICK Smith staff were encouraged to purchase items from its controversial fire sale, a leaked email shows, despite the retailer’s claims to the contrary.

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/1RDvDL6

Credit vs. Debit: Which Card Should You Use Online?

In case you hadn’t heard, most banks and businesses began transitioning their credit cards and credit card terminals away from magnetic stripes and toward EMV technology on Oct. 1st of this year. Also referred to as “chip and pin technology” and “chip technology,” EMV stands for “Europay, MasterCard, and Visa,” and is the standard for fraud protection in most advanced countries around the world.

As Jon Krauss, senior manager of credit product management at Discover, told us earlier this year, 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.”

While this is certainly good for consumers, the news does come with one caveat: Chip technology doesn’t extend to purchases made online – even if you have a card that includes it already.

Four Reasons to Use a Credit Card for Online Shopping

Still, most experts still suggest using credit cards for your online purchases – especially if you’re choosing between credit and debit. While the risk of fraud is always lurking in the background, credit cards come with additional protections that debit cards simply lack. Here’s what we mean:

Most credit cards come with zero-fraud liability.

“Using a credit card provides an extra layer of protection against fraud and it makes getting a refund easier,” according to Discover’s website. While certain protections are extended to both debit and credit card transactions from the federal government, most credit cards take these protections a step further by offering their own form of zero-fraud liability.

If someone does get your credit card number and makes a purchase online, chances are good you won’t be held liable for a single cent of it if you report it in a timely manner. Sadly, the same can’t be said about purchases made with debit cards at all. More on that in a minute.

Federal protections are greater for purchases made on credit.

Thanks to the passage of the Fair Credit Billing Act, liability for unauthorized charges made with credit is limited to $50 for both in-person and online credit transactions as long as you report the incident within 60 days.

However, as noted above, most credit cards offer zero-fraud liability, meaning you won’t be on the hook for a penny. Most credit card issuers will put the fraudulent charge on hold while they conduct an investigation so you won’t be out the money in the interim, either.

Debit cards, though, are a whole ‘nother animal. Since the money you spend comes out of your bank account, you may have to wait days or weeks to get a refund for a fraudulent transaction made with your card. Further, your liability jumps to $500 if you don’t catch the fraudulent transaction within two business days – and you could even have your bank account drained with no recourse after that.

Here’s how the Federal Trade Commission words it: If a fraudulent transaction made with debit goes unreported for more than 60 days after your statement is sent, you could be on the hook for “all the money taken from your ATM/debit card account, and possibly more; for example, money in accounts linked to your debit account.”

Use a credit card for online purchases: It will offer more consumer protections than a debit card does in the event of fraud.

Credit cards make it infinitely easier to dispute charges.

Another reason credit is better than debit for online purchases: dispute resolution. What happens if you order something online and it shows up damaged or doesn’t show up at all? Or what if you don’t get what you ordered?

“When you pay with your credit card, you may have the ability to withhold payment or dispute a charge if there is an issue with your purchase,” notes Discover on their blog. Most of the time, your card issuer will even take care of the investigation details, too. If you receive something funny or damaged in the mail, you just need to pick up the phone and call them.

However, the situation may not be resolved so smoothly if you made the purchase with a debit card instead. “When you pay with your debit card, the funds are immediately withdrawn from your account, leaving you without the cash until you can settle the dispute with the merchant on your own,” says Discover. And, even if your bank takes up your cause, you’ll have the burden of proof on your shoulders.

Using credit cards responsibly can help you build credit over time.

Where debit cards link directly to your bank account and let you use your own money, credit cards offer a short-term loan you have to pay back. While this may sound scary, this situation could actually be a boon to your credit health and credit score. By making purchases with your card and paying your bill right away, you’ll exhibit responsible credit habits that can boost your score over time.

• Related: How to Build Good Credit

Remember, debit cards don’t help you build credit, nor do they report your account activity to the three major credit reporting agencies – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. If you actually want to improve your credit, using the credit you already have responsibly might be the best way.

What to Watch Out For

If you’re using credit instead of debit for online shopping this year, here are some tips that can help:

• Pay your balance in full each time your statement closes to avoid interest charges. Most of the time, it makes sense to use credit cautiously and slowly. Especially at first, you should only use credit for small purchases you can pay off right away.
• Shop only on sites with added security features. Most secure sites have a URL that begins with “https.”
• Avoid spammy or unprofessional-looking websites. Some fake sites pose as legitimate retailers in order to get your information.
• Keep your credit and personal information private whenever possible. Don’t give out anything more than you have to, and never reveal your credit details unless you have to.
• Monitor your accounts daily (or at least every few days). You need to know a fraudulent transaction has taken place in order to protect yourself. We suggest checking in with your accounts every few days at the very least.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to making online shopping safer, credit cards have indisputable advantages over debit cards. Not only do they offer additional protections themselves, but they also come with greater government protections as well. At the end of the day, the added convenience and security features are what matters most.

Do you use credit or debit for your online purchases? Why?

Related Articles:

• Eight Tips to Make Credit Work For You, Not Against You
• Protecting Against Credit Card Fraud
• Keep an Eye Out for This New Credit Card Scam

The post Credit vs. Debit: Which Card Should You Use Online? appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Source The Simple Dollar The Simple Dollar http://ift.tt/1NawwI7

What to buy for the people you hate

HERE’S what to buy for that brother-in-law you can’t stand, or pretty much anyone who really deserves a metaphorical lump of coal this Christmas.

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

Are our new trams going the wrong way?

NO ONE doubts this form of transport is needed to boost our options, but there are concerns that a $1 billion network could be a white elephant.

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/21NctXy

Are these new trams going the wrong way?

NO ONE doubts they’re needed to boost transport options but there are concerns that a $1bn network could be a white elephant.

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/1R8q7AW

Want to Buy Gifts AND Give Back? Check Out These 15 Charitable Gifts Under $25

The holiday season brings out the best in people. The spirit of giving is in the air — not only for giving to those you love, but also to those less fortunate.

And what’s even better than doing those two things separately? Combining them in one gift.

Doing so is easier than you think, as many non-profit organizations offer gift-specific ways to support their missions. Some are donations with distinct labels, so you know what your money goes towards; others are physical products whose proceeds benefit the cause.

In the past, for example, I’ve purchased a “goat” — which, in reality, was a donation to a charity that gave livestock to poor families — and also paid for a year of school for one Nepalese girl. When I gave my friends cards that explained these gifts, they were delighted I’d supported such great causes in their name.

If you’re stumped on what to get someone for the holidays, it’s hard to go wrong with a charitable gift. You can support a cause close to that person’s heart, or get inspired by the following ideas.

5 Virtual Gifts That Support Charity

The following gifts don’t come with anything but the warm and fuzzies — but I think it’s way more fun to tell someone “I bought you two chickens” than “I donated $25 to charity for you.”

If you’re looking for a physical gift you can actually wrap in paper, scroll to the next section.

1. DonorsChoose Gift Card — Any amount

You’re not going to fix education in America with one gift, but you could significantly change one classroom — and the students within it — with a donation to DonorsChoose, a platform where public school teachers can crowdfund supplies.

The cool thing about a DonorsChoose gift card is that your giftee can log onto the website and choose a teacher and project that speaks to them.

2. A Month of Art Supplies — $10

Nicaragua is the second-poorest country in the western hemisphere; the average adult makes less than $5,000 a year.

As in most places, an education is key to a bright future, and La Esperanza Granada is one organization working to bring more opportunities to Nicaraguan children.

The organization has a variety of options in its online store. If you have a friend who loves art, for example, $10 will buy a month’s worth of art supplies for a Nicaraguan student.

3. Developmental Toy for a Child With a Disability — $10

In the Southeast Asian country of Laos, unexploded ordnance still injures and kills civilians each year. COPE is a Laotian organization that provides prosthetics and support to victims of these explosions.

For $10, you could buy a developmental toy for a child with a disability. This might be a good fit for your doctor aunt, or for that friend who just got back from an epic Southeast Asian backpacking trip.

4. 2 Chickens — $24

You may have heard of “gifting livestock” through the organization Heifer International, but CARE has better ratings on Charity Navigator and does similar work.

In their gift shop, $24 purchases two chickens for a poor family in a developing country. The best part is chickens are a gift that keeps giving (or, rather, laying).

5. Apples or Broccoli — $25

Got a friend who loves food? Or who’s a health nut?

You can help them give apples or broccoli to a hungry family through Feeding America, which supplies fresh nutritious food to 199 food banks across the country.

10 Physical Charitable Gifts

If you want something that supports charity and looks good under the tree, check out the following options.

6. Alzheimer’s Association Holiday Ornaments — $5.99

Alzheimer’s is a heartbreaking disease that affects 5.3 million Americans and their families. It’s also the only leading cause of death that can’t be prevented, cured or slowed.

The Alzheimer’s Association works tirelessly to fund research and raise awareness about the disease, and you can support them by buying this beautiful purple ornament for someone you love.

7. Children’s Art Pin Butterfly — $10

Did you know families comprise nearly 40% of our country’s homeless population? Family Promise’s goal is to help these families find affordable housing and regain financial independence.

If you’d like to help its cause, check out this adorable children’s art pin for $10. Can’t you just picture your grandma wearing it?

8. Nora Necklace — $14.99

All the profits from this simple — yet gorgeous — Nora Necklace support trafficked women in Asia.

Starfish Project provides women living in brothels with the educational, medical and emotional care they desperately need.

9. ALSF Amazing Lemonade Stand Book — $15.95

What a great gift for a young child! This picture book is a true story about Alex, a little girl who battled cancer with a lemonade stand.

Who knows? It might even inspire your giftee to host their own lemonade stand fundraiser.

10. Pay Love Forward V-Neck — $16

Searching for a gift for your stylish friend? How about this V-neck tee from Humanity Unified?

All of the profits from your purchase empower women in Rwanda through educational and job-training programs.

11. Sunshine Pal Teddy Bear — $20

Staying in a hospital is tough at any age — but for small children, it can be downright terrifying. Project Sunshine provides free educational, recreational and social programs to children facing medical challenges.

You can support them by purchasing a cuddly teddy bear for a child in your life; when you do, the organization will also give a teddy bear to a child in need.

12. Gourmet Salad Garden Kit — $22

Not sure what to get your vegan friend? We’ve got the answer: this gourmet salad garden kit, which comes complete with five seed varieties in a cute tin.

You’ll support Farm Sanctuary, whose goals are to “protect farm animals from cruelty” and “promote compassionate vegan living.”

13. MIZU Water Bottle — $25

Whenever people talk about a charity doing things right, they talk about charity: water, which uses 100% of its donations to fund clean water projects in developing countries.

We think this sleek-looking matte black water bottle would make a great gift for anyone on your list.

14. TAPS Apron — $25

The sudden loss of a loved one is the hardest thing many of us will ever have to go through. The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) provides support and resources for people who have lost a military servicemember.

You can support its mission by buying this apron for the cook in your life.

15. WildAid Tote Bag — $25

Which one of your friends was up in arms about Cecil the Lion? We’ve got a gift for them.

This tote bag is from WildAid, an organization that focuses on consumer education rather than poaching prevention. Their motto is, “When the buying stops, the killing stops, too.”

Your Turn: Do you have a favorite charity you like to support during the holidays?

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 Want to Buy Gifts AND Give Back? Check Out These 15 Charitable Gifts Under $25 appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/21MBfHq

Today Only: Get 2 Free Pizzas When You Buy This Groupon

Do you still need to buy someone a Christmas present? Need a last-minute Hanukkah gift? Do you like pizza?

Do you especially like free pizza?

That’s what I thought. Read on: You’re in luck.

Get Two Free Large Pizzas With Papa John’s Groupon Purchase

Today only, receive two free, large, one-topping pizzas when you purchase a $25 Papa John’s gift card through Groupon.

That’s a $55 value — including two free meals for you when you cross another (lucky!) person off your holiday shopping list!

Even better: You don’t have to use the two free pizza coupons at the same time, and you have plenty of time to eat them up — through Jan. 24, 2016.

Pizza Time!

If you’re ready to gobble up this deal, head over to Groupon and purchase your $25 gift card for $25. You’ll receive three separate emails — one with the gift card, and two vouchers for FREE PIZZA!

Step two: chow down! Happy holidays. Cheesy, cheesy holidays.

Your Turn: Will you be noshing on free Papa John’s pizza in the new year?

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We would have shared them with you anyway, but a true “penny hoarder” would be a fool not to take the company’s money.

Jamie Cattanach is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder and a native Floridian. She’s passionate about learning, literature… and pizza. Mostly pizza. You can wave hi to @jamiecattanach on Twitter.

The post Today Only: Get 2 Free Pizzas When You Buy This Groupon appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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

You’re Wasting $600/Year On Something You Could Get for Free

Did you know the average American spends more than $50 a month on bank fees?

You probably don’t even realize it’s that much, but a bunch of small fees can add up quickly.

Americans are paying an average of $4.35 in fees every time they use an out-of-network ATM, according to Bankrate. And we’re doing this, on average, 7 or 8 times per month.

Slap on anywhere from $8-$12 in a monthly service fee many customers aren’t even aware of.

And if you don’t maintain the monthly minimum balance? That’s another $15.

The average minimum balance required, by the way, is over $6,000. I’ve seen them on the lower end, too, but even a few hundred dollars can be a challenge some months. You shouldn’t be penalized for that.

Want to Save That $600? Here’s How

The crazy part is these fees are probably unnecessary. Several banks offer fee-free accounts with equal or better services. A free account or one that costs you money just to have it – it’s kind of a no-brainer, right?

We’re a fan of both Fidelity and USAA, because they automatically reimburse ATM fees and there are no minimum balances to keep your account free.

Fidelity also offers an interest rate on your balance; click the orange link to take advantage of their special offer.

We want you to get the most out of your account. That means getting rid of these unnecessary fees that eat away at your balance.

I’m pretty impressed with this offer. The Fidelity account is in a tiny minority – only 4% – of interest-bearing checking accounts that are free to use.

I’m challenging you to make the switch. Click the orange button in the banner above to learn more about the offer.

Your Turn: Are you surprised to learn how much we pay in bank fees? Are you going to make the switch to the free Fidelity® account?

Sponsorship Disclosure: A huge thanks to Fidelity® for working with us to bring you this content.

The post You’re Wasting $600/Year On Something You Could Get for Free appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/1Z4Ky48

Can You Make an Awesome Sandwich? This Woman Made $5,000 With Hers…

Do you love to cook? Want to collect cash for your culinary creations?

You’ve read how to earn money watching cooking shows, and you’re already experimenting with creating luxury dishes on the cheap.

So how about writing down some of your recipes to make extra money?

I recently discovered the wonderful world of recipe contests, and decide to give it a shot.

What Happened When I Entered My First Recipe Contest

The very first contest I entered had a grand prize of $25,000 — just for writing a sandwich recipe.

I found out about the contest a few days before the deadline, so I spent those few days perfecting my entries. Then, I waited.

I was thrilled when I got the call — my sandwich was a national finalist! A few intense weeks went by while I waited for the judges’ taste tests and encouraged my friends and family to vote for my recipe.

Finally, the winners were announced. I won my category — and received $5,000!

How to Enter Recipe Contests

Sound exciting? You can easily join in the fun, and the rewards.

To get started, check online for upcoming contests. Contest Cook has a vast list, and it’s always being updated. There’s a list for professional cooks, one for children and a few for amateur home cooks.

Some contests offer free plane tickets to an event so you can cook your dish live. Others award cash, or hand out fun food prizes like cooking tools and appliances.

You might even win a chance to compete on TV or earn hundreds of thousands of dollars!

But first, you need to plan your cooking content strategy. These tips can help make your entry the best of the bunch:

1. Read the Contest Rules

Start by reading all the guidelines. Then read them again.

And after you complete your entry, read the rules one more time before submitting it.

You could create the most exquisite cuisine, worthy of a Michelin Star restaurant, but be disqualified for something as simple as failing to mention the sponsor’s brand name.

Don’t let all your hard work go to waste. Take an extra few minutes to read all the rules so you give your entry its best shot.

2. Find Out How Your Entry Will Be Judged

The rules usually give a detailed breakdown about how the judges will rate each recipe.

Don’t submit a recipe that requires two hours of chopping vegetables if “ease of preparation” is a big factor.

If creativity is important to judges, try inventing a fusion dish that will surprise the tasters.

Some contests rely primarily on audience votes — so get ready to recruit your friends and family during the voting stages.

3. Research Foodie Trends

Did you know cauliflower is one of the big trending foods of 2015?

If you feature something fashionable, you may be more likely to get attention. Look into the most popular spices, drinks, sauces and vegetables.

If you can find a way to put them all together — even better!

4. Channel Your Inner Food Photographer

Natural light will probably be the most flattering to your dish. Take your plate outdoors, or photograph it next to a large window.

Put some fresh produce from your recipe next to your plate — it’ll improve the image and give a visual suggestion of what’s in the dish.

Display your food vertically and horizontally on the plate for a better presentation. Bring your camera close to the food so the audience can clearly see every layer.

Add some action. Spoon some sauce over the top, or dig in a fork to lift a bite — either can add a special dynamic to your photos.

5. Taste Your Creation

Leave yourself time before the deadline to taste-test and perfect your recipe. It’s hard to tell on paper if you’ve overdone the hot peppers in your chili, or added too much salt to your green beans.

I usually cook by throwing ingredients together and tasting rather than measuring — but that doesn’t work for contests. I have to force myself to be mindful and measure everything as I go.

Finalize your measurements, and only submit once everything is just right.

6. Chose a Clever Name

Which sounds better? “Tuna Salad with Mango” or “Tropical Tuna Temptation?”

Go beyond the simple description and consider the emotion you hope to evoke when people read your recipe. If you’ve already tried your hand at naming contests, you’ll be a star.

Your name should tell your meal’s story.

For my contest entry, I made a chicken salad sandwich. Instead of calling it “Chicken Salad on Protein Bread,” I called it “Chicken and the Egg Power Snack.”

I was striving for a light-hearted name, but wanted to highlight key ingredients and the purpose of the sandwich — refueling after a tough workout.

7. Enter as Many Times as Possible

If a contest has multiple categories, enter them all! Create a diverse array of dishes so you have the best chance at finding the one that stands out.

Good luck, Penny Hoarders!

Your Turn: Have you ever entered a cooking or recipe contest?

Rachel Whetstone is a freelance writer and work-at-home mom. Rachel took a chance this year and jumped into the world of freelance writing for the chance to spend more time with her family. She enjoys writing articles and recipes, as well as going mystery shopping to earn her pennies.

The post Can You Make an Awesome Sandwich? This Woman Made $5,000 With Hers… appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/1m8Bmg8

Oil Prices Drop to Lowest Level in 7 Years

Americans hitting the road this holiday season are receiving some good news: oil prices have fallen to the lowest in nearly seven years.

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

Lift Your Returns With a Barbell Strategy

Historically, a winning investment strategy is to buy stock in last year's best and worst sectors.

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

Nine Strategies for Investing in Yourself Without Major Financial Expense

Spend less than you earn.

That’s what I consider to be the fundamental rule of personal finance. Everything really comes down to that – frugality, investing, career choices, and so on.

Most people look at that sentence and see the frugal implications. “Spend less” is absolutely a vital part of the equation… but it’s not the only part. “Than you earn” is just as important, and the two together reveal the two key pieces of the financial puzzle.

Keep your spending in check and seek out ways to earn more money.

The problem is that earning more money requires you to invest something. Financial investing, for example, calls on you to take the money you have and use it to produce more money. You buy some shares of stock, collect the dividends, and perhaps sell that stock for more than you paid for it. You buy some real estate and charge rent on the people that live there.

Your Non-Financial Resources

But what do you do if you don’t have a bunch of money in the bank to use in this way? The truth is that you likely already have a lot of non-financial resources that you can invest to improve your income. Here are four quick examples.

Time

Every single one of us has 24 hours per day to do with what we wish. Take a look at this chart, which shows how an average working person’s time use breaks down on an average day. 7.7 hours of sleep. 8.9 hours of work related tasks. 2.5 hours of leisure. 1.0 hours of household activities and 1.0 hours of eating and drinking. 1.2 hours of caring for others. 1.6 hours in a nebulous “other” group.

Let’s say you take a bit of downtime at work, part of your daily leisure time, and most of that “other” time and add them together, giving you about 3 hours on an average day. That’s a valuable resource, one that you can use to achieve a lot of things.

Energy

You also have the energy, both mental and physical, with which to take on challenges in life. The simple fact that you’re reading this article indicates that you have some energy to expend each day.

The question is, of course, how you choose to use that mental and physical energy. Are you spending it sitting in a steady state not doing anything productive? Are you engaged in improving yourself or in genuine leisure activity? It’s a choice you’re able to make all the time.

Pre-existing Skills and Knowledge

Every single person also has a set of pre-existing skills and knowledge that’s unique to them but also has some common ground with others. That list of skills is often far longer than people realize, encompassing things like driving a car, organizing your time, and so on, and also including highly technical skills that can find a good-paying job.

Those skills are a resource for you. They’re like tools that you have inside of you that you can use to build amazing things – a new career, a side job, or something else entirely.

Relationships and Social Connections

Another resource that many people possess but overlook are the social relationships and connections that they have, both personal and professional. The positive relationships you have with other people in the world are a true asset, one that you can tap again and again.

As with many resources, however, this resource requires some effort on your part to maintain and even more effort to grow. It’s worth it, though, as the relationships you have provide value in pretty much every aspect of life.

Investing in Yourself Without Money

So, how do you turn these four resources – and others you may have – into better earning opportunities without spending money? Here are nine strategies for pulling off that very trick.

Strategy #1 – Get Involved in Communities Related to Your Desired Skills and Career

What do you wish you were doing? What does the next rung look like in your career ladder, or what career would you like to jump into? Right now is the time to start paving the way for that, and you can do it by getting involved in communities (online and offline) related to the career that you want and the skills that you need.

What good does this do? It provides a chance to start building relationships in that field which can lead to employment opportunities. It helps you directly build new skills you need for the new direction you’re taking. It provides a place to share your work and get your name out there, too.

You can find such communities all over the place, online and off. Start by checking Twitter for people interested in your desired skills and career path. Look at Meetup for any and all relevant local groups.

This mostly takes spare time, but some extra energy and a few pre-existing social connections can help, too.

Strategy #2 – Take Advantage of the Abundance of Online Learning Opportunities

Yes, working toward a degree is a great way to improve your earnings potential, but doing so is usually prohibitively expensive. On the other hand, the actual material that you would learn on your way toward a degree is almost entirely available on line right now. You can start learning what you need to know for free right now.

The number of online learning platforms available right now is incredible. Coursera, edx, and Khan Academy are perhaps the best known ones, but there are topic-specific ones like Duolingo and university-specific ones like MIT OpenCourseWare. All of them are completely free.

These things won’t necessarily earn you a degree, but they will teach you skills, help you earn certifications, build your knowledge base, and make it much, much easier for you to zip through a degree program later on because you’ve already tackled the material. All it takes is time and energy.

Strategy #3 – Never Eat Alone

This is the title of a very interesting book by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz that centers around one key point: meal time is a valuable time for building relationships and when you choose to eat alone, you sacrifice that opportunity.

The idea is simple: figure out a way to eat every meal with someone, whether it’s a family member or a friend or a coworker or someone else, and spend the meal engaged in an active discussion with the people you’re eating with. Part of your goal should be to get the other person to talk and actually actively listen to them and respond to what they’re saying and thinking, as it’s the best opportunity you have to learn and also to really build a strong bond with that person.

Try to pencil in someone as a dining companion for every meal that you eat and really work to make that meal into an opportunity for memorable conversation. For me, for example, I relish my role as a parent so I eat breakfast each day with my children and eat a family dinner with my children and my wife almost every evening. On the evenings where I do not, that means I’m eating with another community group so I eat with members there. For weekday lunches, which is the hardest part to me, I’ll either skip lunch entirely (to be more productive in other ways), eat out occasionally with people, or actually take a meal to a friend’s house for lunch. I try to never eat alone, because eating with others is gold for relationships and it costs nothing more than the already existing cost of meals.

Strategy #4 – Improve Your Fitness and Appearance and Energy Levels Through Better Diet and Exercise

Maintaining a healthy weight and at least a minimal level of physical fitness is absolute gold in terms of the quality of your everyday life. You look good. You feel good. You have lots of energy. Those factors make it easier to build relationships, have self-confidence, and take on lots of life challenges.

The best part? It’s free to do it. All it really takes is willpower and determination.

Dieting is easy and it saves money, too. All you really have to do is eat less than what you’re eating right now. Stick to a 1,600 calorie a day diet, for example, and most people will shed pounds. Smaller people may need a 1,200 calorie diet.

Exercise doesn’t require a big financial commitment, either. You can run/jog anywhere and body weight exercises (push ups, sit ups, planks, crunches, yoga, and so on) do not require any additional equipment. Need guidance? Youtube has tons and tons of videos on almost every form of exercise.

All you need to give is some time, some commitment, and some willpower and you will improve your appearance, self-confidence, and energy levels.

Strategy #5 – Volunteer for Leadership and Communication Opportunities

It’s true in almost every single aspect of life: the people that swallow their nerves and volunteer to lead or to take on scary tasks (like speaking to an audience) tend to be the ones that build lots of relationships with people in the community, build lots of trust from their supervisors and coworkers, and end up receiving raises and promotions.

Raising your hand for a leadership position or a speaking task is really scary for a lot of people. No one wants to sign up for extra work. No one wants to stick their neck out there, either. It’s scary.

Doing so, however, puts you in a position where there’s pressure to perform your best and many, many eyes are watching your performance. It’s a great opportunity to come off as someone who can handle tough situations and challenges and responsibilities – and that’s the type of person who will see raises and promotions in the future. Not only that, leadership and public speaking tasks are usually impressive enough that they become great resume fodder, helping you to get future jobs.

Look for any and all opportunities to lead groups and to speak publicly. Not only will this get you out there, each time you step up to the plate it will seem less scary and you’ll be better and better at it.

Strategy #6 – Take on a Creative Hobby

This might seem like a strange way to invest in yourself, but it’s actually a very powerful one.

Creativity is all about looking at problems, situations, and solutions from new directions. Doing so forces us to use our mind in new ways and as we discover those new approaches, they integrate themselves into how we think and handle problems and situations in life.

Creativity isn’t just about paintings, though. It’s about trying anything new and learning how to do it. It’s about coming up with ideas and trying to figure out how to implement them. People are creative when they make dinner or when they write a computer program or when they draft a thoughtful email.

There are countless hobbies that spur creativity. The traditional arts are obvious ones, but things like writing open source software or starting a blog also force you to be creative, and that creativity helps to open your mind and build new skill sets.

Strategy #7 – Get in the Habit of Better Time Management

Like a lot of people my age, I often feel like I am completely drowning in things that I need to get done. I am a writer with more agreements than I sometimes feel like I can creatively keep up with. I am trying to launch another side gig as well. I am a parent with three children that I want to kiss on the head each day before they leave to get on the bus and greet each day when they get off the bus. I am a husband with a wife that deserves a lot of love, care, and attention. I am a homeowner with a house that needs lots of little things done to it. I am involved in my community with spots on various community boards and membership in multiple groups. I also have my own hobbies and interests that deserve a little time, too.

I tend to feel like I’m juggling all of these things best when I have a good time management system in place. For me personally, the Getting Things Done system is the key. I use Todoist as my task manager of choice and Evernote for longer notes. This keeps all of those distracting “I’ve got to remember to do this” thoughts out of my head because I know they’re all stored in an easy-to-access form. That way, I can just focus on knocking out all of those tasks.

Learning how to do this has helped me so much in terms of improving my focus and productivity. I would not be able to juggle my life very effectively without a good system in place, so it has actually vastly increased my ability to earn money and maintain all of the things I care about in life.

Strategy #8 – Read Challenging Books

I don’t mean page-turners read solely for entertainment. I mean books that make you think about the world, absorb new ideas, and reconsider your views (every viewpoint I have is constantly being reforged by opposing viewpoints, which actually means that I have very few views that I hold to be strongly true).

A challenging book that makes you really think is something that helps you in countless ways. It improves your knowledge set. It improves your critical thinking skills. It improves your understanding of a specific topic and either alters your views or helps forge them and make them stronger. It helps you to discuss the issues that you learned about in the book with others.

The best part is that there are millions of challenging books available to you for free at your local library. Pick up something that looks really hard on a topic you have an interest in and spend the time to work through it. Stop whenever you’re confused and read things like Wikipedia so that you get a grasp on what’s being said. Think about the ideas that are being shared – do you agree with them? Do they make sense? Can you see how the ideas come together with other things you know?

It’s a process that constantly sharpens the mind. It makes you a better conversationalist. It makes you a better problem solver. It helps you come to better conclusions about life situations. It makes you a more efficient learner, too. All of those things directly help you to earn more money.

Strategy #9 – Get Better (and Probably More) Sleep

Sleep is a necessary function of our lives. It recharges our mental and physical energy, making it possible for us to focus on the tasks at hand in our life. Inadequate sleep means that it’s harder to focus on things, it’s harder to approach things with mental and physical energy, and it’s harder to be a happy and vibrant person. We simply don’t have gas in the tank to pull it off.

The key to a good day is all about getting a good night of sleep the night before and, honestly, the nights before that, too. (I find myself affected more by the sleep I had the night before than the sleep of the previous night, meaning that if I get four hours of sleep in the night hours between Monday and Tuesday, I feel like a zombie on Wednesday.) The magic number is different for most people, but it tends to fall between 7 and 9 hours.

I know from personal experience that I can feel pretty good on less sleep for several days in a row, but I also know from seeing my work during those periods that I’m not performing at my best (even if it feels like I am at the time) and I’m certainly a little more “cranky” and emotionally swingy than usual.

The best recipe for a good night of sleep is to simply devote plenty of time to it. Go to bed early so that you can sleep as much as you need. Keep your room as dark as you can and minimize screen time in bed (just put that cell phone away).

If you’re struggling getting good sleep even when you set aside plenty of time for it, consult your doctor. There may be a medical issue involved that can easily be resolved.

Final Thoughts

All of these strategies are very useful ways to invest in yourself. They can improve your energy level, your decision making process, your knowledge base, your ability to focus, your available free time, and so on.

The catch is this: none of these will really help without long term consistency. You need to stick to these things over a period of time to really see the benefits. Reading one challenging book is good, but reading them consistently is what will make the difference. Getting one good night of sleep is good, but getting consistent nights of sleep is what will make the difference. Getting a batch of exercise is good, but getting consistent exercise is what will make the difference.

So here’s your game plan. Pick one of these strategies and commit to making it a habit in your life. Try to take steps forward on that strategy every single day for a while. Commit to getting a better night of sleep for a month or to spending an hour a day reading a challenging book instead of watching television in the evening.

Gradually, you’ll find that you have more energy, more skills, more relationships, more knowledge… and eventually all of that will translate into more income.

Good luck!

The post Nine Strategies for Investing in Yourself Without Major Financial Expense appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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

Stamp duty bills fall by £4,500

Tom Wilson

house made from twenties.jpg

Homebuyers’ stamp duty bills have fallen to a typical £4,500 thanks to the reform of stamp duty introduced in December 2014, according to figures from the Halifax.

Homebuyers’ stamp duty bills have fallen to a typical £4,500 thanks to the reform of stamp duty introduced in December 2014, according to figures from the Halifax.

read more

Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/1RCcyca

5 Ways Affinity Groups Can Boost Your Career

As a member of one of these groups, you can meet coworkers, build friendships and reinvigorate your workday.


Source U.S. News - Money http://ift.tt/1N9jUkv

What Will Cost You More in 2016?

Expect to pay more for rent, high-tech appliances and cars in the coming year.

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

3 Ways You're Couponing All Wrong (and How to Coupon Correctly)

If you aren't using apps and websites, your couponing is probably stuck in the 20th century.


Source U.S. News - Money http://ift.tt/1N9jCdk

11 Stocks That Will Get You Into the Holiday Spirit

Studies often show a link between companies' philanthropic efforts and financial performance.

Source U.S. News - Money http://ift.tt/1QcHyA7

Tropical Paradise Retirement in Sultry Bali

Sanur has calm seas and beautiful beaches.

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

Top Holiday Gift Ideas & Bargains for Foodies

Food-related items are the perfect present for friends and family members who seem to have everything. 

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

How to Save Money When You’re Filing Your Taxes

You can adopt a DIY approach to minimize costs. 

Source U.S. News - Money http://ift.tt/1M0ZC8y

Got an Amazon Prime or AAA Membership? Don’t Miss Out on These Extra Perks

I accidentally shared Kindle’s Lending Library with my friend Adriana.

After a phone discussion, I remembered a book she might want to read. “I borrowed it via Amazon just to read chapter five,” I emailed her.

“Wait — borrowed via Amazon? How does that work?” Adriana responded.

She soon discovered that as an Amazon Prime member, she can borrow books with the Kindle Lending Library. She had been a Prime member for years, but had no idea about the extra benefit.

But this isn’t a post about Amazon, or even about books. It’s about memberships.

Think about all the memberships you pay for on a monthly or yearly basis. You’ll probably think of AAA, your airline points credit card or your college alumni association. You might think of AARP, or your carsharing membership.

Many of these affiliations come with extra perks, from discounts and upgrades to outright freebies.

But if you don’t know about the perks, you can’t use them.

If you want to make the most of the memberships you already pay for, here are three ways to max out your benefits.

Pay Attention to Promotions

We all try to get to “inbox zero” as quickly as possible. But if you’re not reading emails from the services you already pay for, you’re definitely missing out on special offers and discounts.

Don’t forget to sift through your mail and skim the magazines that arrive as part of your memberships.

What used to seem like junk might start to seem like dollars saved — if you can spot the discounts flashing at you from the pages of that alumni association or museum membership magazine.

Your email inbox and snail mailbox are the best ways to find out about new promotions you can cash in on.

When you’re logged into your online memberships accounts — maybe to pay your bill — take a few extra seconds to look around.

I scored a discount recently just for paying my credit card bill. I have an airline points card, and my payment confirmation screen included a short list of promotions I could select. This one caught my eye: “Get $15 back when you spend $60 or more at Amazon.com.”

What luck! I shop for just about everything on Amazon, and that particular credit card is already tied to my Prime account.

I’m confident I’ll spend enough by the end of December to get the $15 added back to my card.

All I had to do was click on the offer to have it applied to my card. When you really think about it, all I really had to do was scroll down and look to spot a deal.

Look for the Discounts You Want

On the hunt for a certain discount? Head to the web.

“The benefits vary from club to club,” said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Jeanette Tejada de Gomez, about the company’s discounts. But she advises the Web is the best place to check for both local and national discount offerings.

Review the listed benefits for your membership and take note of what you might be able to use most often.

Then use the heck out of them.

Elizabeth Xu, a freelance writer based in Toledo, joined AAA for car insurance and roadside assistance. She’s only used the roadside assistance service once, but has come to rely on the AAA discount that comes with many travel bookings.

“I nearly always book travel online and it’s really simple to see if an accommodation has an AAA rate — most do, and it’s easy to save $10 to $30 per night,” Xu said.

Another discount category surprised her: Attraction tickets.

“Because my husband and I have moved around so much, we really enjoy getting to know our new city,” Xu said. “It’s nice that we can do so with a discount.”

The couple even found competitive discount rates for Disney theme parks with their AAA membership.

“Some of the most underutilized programs are discounted movie tickets, attraction tickets or savings at stores the member already shops at,” Tejada de Gomez said.

Smart members can earn back the cost of their yearly membership with the savings from one month of applicable discounts, she added.

Get the App

Check through your memberships to see if any of them offer a smartphone app. A quick glance at your app can be the difference between saving and paying full price.

For example, the AAA Mobile app maps out the cheapest gas stations in your area.

Meanwhile, the AARP Member Advantages app will help you find the discounts nearest you. Since an AARP membership gets you a discount on just about anything — if you’re of a certain age — you might need the app to keep track of them all.

Or, take the co-working space I pay to visit a few times a week. Looking at the company’s check-in app shows me when there are free happy hours and networking events scheduled for members only. Events have included free yoga classes, guest speakers and wine tastings.

Adriana’s book-borrowing discovery worked out for both of us. She’s getting more out of her Amazon Prime membership, and I’m starting to use discounts to make up for the annual fee on my airline credit card.

I’m definitely reading my mail with a more critical eye.

Your Turn: How are you maximizing your membership benefits? Share your tips and favorite discounts!

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!

Lisa Rowan is a writer, editor, and podcaster living in Washington, D.C. Her student ID finally expired this month, and she’s looking for ways to make up for her student discount at the movies.

The post Got an Amazon Prime or AAA Membership? Don’t Miss Out on These Extra Perks appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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

10 Cheap Ways to Stay Entertained When You Can't Go Outside

So the weather outside is frightful? These indoor activities are inexpensive and delightful.

Source U.S. News - Money http://ift.tt/1OfPB9k

How to Maximize Your Tax Return By the End of the Year

Take these steps to lower your tax bill, and put your money to better use.

Source U.S. News - Money http://ift.tt/1m8k0Qm

Can you spare a dime for my nickel?

SELF-described billionaire and ex-LNP heavyweight Clive Palmer has asked the Queensland government to help bail out his struggling nickel refinery.

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

Savings update: top rates being cut or withdrawn

Sylvia Morris

cutting rates.jpg

Banks and building societies are cutting the rates they pay to new savers.

Banks and building societies are cutting the rates they pay to new savers.

Charter Savings Bank has cut the rates on its fixed rate bonds, Shawbrook has withdrawn its top-paying one-year fixed-rate Isa while Paragon Bank has withdrawn its easy-access account which paid 1.46 per cent before tax (1.16 per cent after tax).

Savings update: best rates being cut or withdrawn

Feed Copy: 

Banks and building societies are cutting the rates they pay to new savers. Charter Savings Bank has cut the rates on its fixed rate bonds, Shawbrook has withdrawn its top-paying one-year fixed-rate Isa while Paragon Bank has withdrawn its easy-access account which paid 1.46 per cent before tax (1.16 per cent after tax). Metro Bank and Tesco Bank have also cut rates to new savers taking out their bonds. Top fixed rate bond deals for one year include Shawbrook Bank at 2.15 per cent (1.72 per cent) and FirstSave at 2.12 per cent (1.7 per cent). United Trust Bank has a new 15-month bond paying 2.15 per cent (1.72 per cent) while Shawbrook pays a top 2.35 per cent (1.88 per cent) for 18 months and 2.45 per cent (1.96 per cent) for two years. Taxable accounts On easy-access taxable accounts the best rate is still at 1.65 per cent (1.32 per cent) from RCI Bank Freedom Account. With this bank 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 £70,000). The next best rate is Virgin Money Defined Access Saver at 1.51 per cent (1.21 per cent) but the bank restricts you to making three withdrawals a year at most from your account. Skipton Limited Edition eSaver pays 1.4 per cent (1.12 per cent) with no withdrawal restrictions. On tax-free cash Isas, the top easy-access deal with no bonus and no withdrawal restrictions comes from Coventry Building Society at 1.5 per cent. You can earn slightly more with Virgin Money Defined Access Isa rate is 1.51 per cent but it limits you to making three withdrawals a year. The best fixed-rate cash Isa deals for one year come from AA Savings, where the deposit taker is Bank of Ireland, at 1.76 per cent followed by Tesco Bank at 1.75 per cent. For two years AA Savings pays 2.01 per cent while Shawbrook Bank, Principality Building Society and Virgin Money all offer 2 per cent. Yorkshire Building Society’s 2.3 per cent fixed until December 2018 is the top three-year deal. It’s also available from its offshoots Barnsley, Chelsea and Norwich & Peterborough building societies. All accept transfers from other providers.

read more

Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/1OfL32U

Pensioner bonds set to expire, but who offers the next best rates?

Michael Trudeau

question piggy bank.jpg

Savers who purchased generous government bonds exclusively available to those aged 65-plus at the start of the year will face a difficult decision in January as the one-year 'pensioner bonds' mature.

Savers who purchased generous government bonds exclusively available to those aged 65-plus at the start of the year will face a difficult decision in January as the one-year 'pensioner bonds' mature.

The bonds, unveiled by chancellor George Osborne in his 2014 Budget, offered a fixed savings rate of 2.8 per cent over one year and 4 per cent over three.

read more

Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/1QtchaC

Five Stores With the Best Return Policies for Holiday Shopping

While finding the best price on holiday gifts is always a smart idea, there are times when paying bottom dollar can actually cost you money. Sticker price aside, a crappy or unfair return policy can mean getting stuck with a duplicate item — or something you simply no longer need. And since store return policies aren’t created equal and aren’t exactly common knowledge, this is an area where what you don’t know can hurt you.

Year after year, we hear how certain retailers continue to make returns and exchanges nearly impossible. And sometimes, it doesn’t even matter if you have a receipt.

My Experience With a Crazy-Strict Return Policy

Unfortunately, I know exactly how this feels. A few years ago, my husband and I bought a set of portable DVD players for our car at Best Buy after scouring ads for weeks to find the best deal.

When we opened the set a few weeks later, however, the DVD players wouldn’t work — as in, they wouldn’t even turn on. Something was obviously wrong, so we packed them up and headed back to the store. Unfortunately, we weren’t met with open arms.

Unbeknownst to us, Best Buy only offers 15 days to return an item with a receipt outside of the holiday season. We were still inside this range, but just barely. However, Best Buy didn’t want to let us return or even exchange our DVD players — even though we were within their return window, and even though we had the receipt. According to the store manager, the items were used and thus, not returnable. It didn’t matter that we just opened the box and plugged them in to see if they worked.

After standing at the counter and complaining for 90 minutes, the store manager finally relented and allowed me to exchange the DVD players for the exact same item. Still, the entire experience left a bad taste in my mouth.

What if I hadn’t had time to stand there and complain for over an hour? What if I hadn’t been so vocal? Sadly, I’m pretty sure I would have been out $180 — and stuck with a set of useless electronic devices that didn’t work from day one.

Why Store Return Policies Matter

This is why store return policies matter. Even when you think you will never have to return an item, you can never know for sure. On a positive note, most retailers offer special return and exchange policies over the holiday season — even Best Buy. The key is knowing the return policy and making sure you’re prepared from the beginning.

Consumers need to arm themselves with information before making a purchase, says Caleb McElveen, marketing director at SavingThousands.com.

“The best tip I have for consumers and exchange policies is to go directly to the retailer’s website,” he says. “In most cases, they will have a FAQ page for holiday shopping including their return policy during this time.”

If you’re wary of a bait-and-switch trap after the holidays, you can even print out the policy while it’s available online. “You never know what can happen,” McElveen says. And if you’re unable to locate a store return policy, you can always call the store. However, many would probably view this as a bad sign. (I know I would.)

Five Stores With the Best Return Policies

If you want to avoid a tricky situation altogether, it’s best to stick to stores with fair return policies and a solid reputation when it comes to returns and exchanges.

Earlier this year, GoBankingRates.com studied the return policies at 31 major retailers to determine which offered the most generous terms — and the fewest roadblocks when it came to returning individual purchases and gifts.

“Return policies should be a big consideration for holiday shoppers — two-thirds of people return at least one holiday gift,” Elyssa Kirkham, lead reporter on the GoBankingRates study, said in a press release. “Shopping at stores that are return-friendly can make life a lot easier if you have to make adjustments to your shopping list later on. It’ll also allow you to give guilt-free knowing your recipient won’t face a lot of hassle if they decide to exchange or return the item.”

If you want to shop at stores that don’t make returns impossible, consider the retailers that took the top five spots in the GoBankingRates study:

No. 5: Costco

Despite its reputation as a big-box warehouse store, Costco offers a superior return policy that includes no fine print and few restrictions. The retailer offers full refunds on all products, although they prefer that you have the receipt and original packaging.

Costco even offers the same generous terms for returns if you can’t visit the store yourself, notes their website, although you’ll have to take the item to UPS for shipment.

The big exception to their rules (or lack thereof) are small electronics, televisions, cellphones, and projectors, which qualify for a refund if purchased in the last 90 days.

While Costco is very forgiving when it comes to their return policy, you may not be able to exchange a half-eaten cupcake. Photo: Costco via Facebook

No. 4: J.C. Penney

J.C. Penney is another store with a liberal return policy and no specific timeline for returns and exchanges. On their website, they describe how you can get the full purchase price back in the original form of payment for all returns made with a receipt. Without a receipt, you’ll receive the lowest purchase price in the last 45 days in the form of a store credit.

Per their website, the return policy is slightly tighter on certain items including furniture, fine jewelry, small electronics, special-occasion dresses, and custom window coverings, among other items. However, most items in this category can be returned for full or partial credit with a receipt and within a 60-day window.

No. 3: Bed, Bath & Beyond

On its website, the housewares retailer says it offers “easy returns” with or without a receipt — and with no specific timeline in mind. Simply bring your return into the store — or ship it back to the retailer at their cost if purchased online — and you’ll be refunded the full purchase price in the original form of payment.

For returns without a receipt within 365 days, Bed Bath & Beyond will do their best to find your purchase in their point-of-sale system. If they can’t find it, you’ll still be refunded in the form of a store credit, although you may not get the full amount. Still, that’s a lot better than getting stuck with a duplicate coffeemaker.

No. 2: L.L. Bean

L.L. Bean is another store with a legendarily flexible return policy and a dedication to customer satisfaction through the entire shopping experience. The Maine-based outdoors outfitter doesn’t offer a specific timeline or cutoff date for returns with or without receipts on its website, and instead suggests bringing in your item so they can reimburse the original purchase price (with a receipt), help you with an exchange, or hook you up with an L.L. Bean gift card in the amount of your return.

While they’re willing to accept items without a receipt, that doesn’t include obviously used or soiled items, writes L.L. Bean. And to make an exchange without a receipt, you do need a valid ID. Other than that, their return policy is crystal clear and downright fair.

No. 1: Nordstrom

Nordstrom consistently ranks high on their return policy because, well, they don’t really have one. “We don’t actually have a return policy for purchases made at Nordstrom stores or at Nordstrom.com,” the website says. “We handle returns on a case-by-case basis with the ultimate objective of satisfying the customer.”

This absolute flexibility is a huge selling point for the retailer, who believes that, in dealing with customers fairly and reasonably, their customers are more likely to return the favor. When you shop at Nordstrom, you can rest assured you won’t run into any funny business if you should, heaven forbid, actually need to return at item.

Final Thoughts

When you’re shopping this holiday season, make sure you’re considering the big picture when you buy an item on sale. If you need to return it for any reason, you’ll want to make sure the store you’re dealing with has a reasonable policy in place.

You’ll also be better off if you keep all your holiday receipts (or all receipts, period) in one place. Further, checking store websites for details on returns before making a big purchase is always a good idea.

The more you spend on an item, the more money you have the potential to lose. Unfortunately, this lesson is one that is often learned the hard way.

Have you ever been stuck with an item you couldn’t return? Which store has the worst return policy in your opinion?

The post Five Stores With the Best Return Policies for Holiday Shopping appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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

Revealed - the savings accounts paying no interest

Tom Wilson

zero interest means empty pockets.jpg

HSBC and its sister brand First Direct are paying literally no interest at all to some savings customers, according to a ‘sunlight’ report from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

HSBC and its sister bank First Direct are paying literally no interest at all to some savings customers, according to a ‘sunlight’ report from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) that looks at the treatment of loyal customers.

read more

Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/1ORmc8k

7 Clever Ways to Turn Your Old Blog Posts Into Cash

Ever started a blog, written a few dozen entries on a topic you care about, seen the comments trickle in and then… gotten bored and quit?

The three encouraging comments that seemed wonderful when you started the blog don’t seem quite so wonderful now that you’ve been consistently blogging for a year with not much result.

Has all that precious time been wasted?

Not if you can find gold nuggets in your archives.

Whether you’re a blogger who has quit or a blogger who continues (even begrudgingly), your blog archives can be a very good source of material for both active and passive income that can build over time.

Here are some ideas for digging revenue-generating material out of your blog archives.  

1. Ebooks

Let’s get this one out of the way first, because it’s the go-to method of revenue generation for writers and bloggers. And it’s not a bad one.

The only problem with this approach — especially if your blog hasn’t quite found a big audience yet — is that the cash can be sparse initially, and selling ebooks isn’t quite as profitable as most writers hope.

But ebooks can be a fantastic source of passive income.

2. Apps

You’d be surprised how many opportunities exist to write for apps, or to partner with app creators who need content for their creations.

I know many writers who produced content for several Sutro Media apps a few years ago. While their model has changed somewhat, there are still opportunities for you to take existing work and republish it on different app platforms.

Think of all the apps you use — a fitness tracker, say, or Google’s new marketing skills app, Primer. Someone had to write all those tips about sleeping well and measuring your metrics, right? That someone could be you.

3. Articles and Guest Posts

I love writing about the art and craft of writing, and especially the business of freelancing. Freelancing is a lifestyle that gives me flexibility, location independence and financial freedom.

Along with contributing to several writing-focused publications, I also run a website for international writers.

You know what I do when I’m running out of ideas? I look through my blog posts for articles and guest posts to pitch.

But I don’t just copy any old blog post and send it to editors. I look through each post and take out one key point, then pitch a story around that point only. I’m repurposing existing content, yet still providing new value.

4. Personal Essays

Come on, ’fess up. You know you’ve ranted and raved on your blog. You may have published that awesome rant and let it gather dust, or you may have deleted it later out of embarrassment.

Either way, dig it up and see if you can rewrite your rant in the form of an opinion piece or an essay.

5. Online Courses

Two years ago, I created a personal challenge on my blog to send 30 queries to major national and international publications within 30 days.

As I pitched and heard from O, the Oprah magazine; Wired, MIT Tech Review and the New York Times Magazine, and landed a blogging gig with Psychology Today, my readers eagerly followed my progress.

My success with my queries spurred them to try their own challenges, but questions kept popping into my inbox: How did you organize your ideas? How did you find editors’ names? When is the ideal time to follow up?

A few months later, I floated the idea of an e-course called 30 Days, 30 Queries that would show writers how to pitch and get assignments from national magazines by sending 30 queries in 30 days.

Within days, I had four-dozen signups. In just over a year, my course has generated $30,000 in revenue.

If your blog is educational, e-courses are almost a natural progression. Your readers will happily pay for access to your expertise. 

6. Webinars and Video Trainings

If you have an online business, webinars and video trainings (either free or paid) are the new frontier to explore. The sooner you get involved, the better!

(Let’s put this in the “Do as I say, not as I do” category, shall we?)

If you struggle to choose an idea, pick a bunch of posts about the same subject and use them to get started.

7. Advertising or Promotional Material

If you’re a business-minded freelance writer, you know how much work and content can go into promotions, either for individual products or your business itself.

Content is the engine on which online marketing runs. As a writer — with a blog full of content — it’s a fantastic idea to take old posts and tweak them to create new promotional material.

Your Turn: Is there anything I’ve missed? How do you repurpose your old blog posts for cash?

This post was originally published on The Write Life, a website and community to help writers create, connect and earn.

The post 7 Clever Ways to Turn Your Old Blog Posts Into Cash appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/1IC1hqq

13 Weird Things You Can Rent for Money

By Kimi Clark Are you looking for ways to earn a little extra money? People all over the world have taken to looking at unexpected ways to generate cash. A new up and coming way to do this is to rent out things you already own … stuff that you have, and someone else needs. […]

Source The Work at Home Woman http://ift.tt/1lLz5a4

Chevron cuts Perth staff as oil price bites

OIL and gas giant Chevron is cutting staff in Perth as part of a global workforce cull to combat low oil prices.

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/1ND2Ogh