Sciota florist knows the power of flowers

Kate Kays got a call from a soldier stationed in the mountains of Afghanistan. His wedding anniversary was approaching and he wanted to personalize it, despite the distance.Kays has received some unusual requests in her 16 years as the owner of Miller’s Flower Shop by Kate in Sciota. But this one was truly different.The soldier asked if she would use a vase he bought on deployment. Kays agreed, and the soldier sent a Afghani-crafted, stone-carved [...]

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Have an Android Phone? This Company Will Pay You to Do Something You Already Do Every Day

How many times do you use your phone each day? 10? 15? 20?

If you’re anything like the rest of us, it’s probably much more.

As a country, we collectively check our phones more than 8 billion times each day. That’s 74 times a day for the average 18-24 year old.

Crazy, huh?

Now just imagine if you earned pennies throughout the day for using your phone — whether logging onto Facebook or checking to see if that guy or gal texted you.

It wouldn’t be a way to get rich quickly, but it would be a way to earn money with zero extra effort. And a company called Adme is making it happen.

That’s right: Your smartphone addiction can finally pay off.

Interested? Have an Android phone? Here’s how it works — plus details on a cool bonus you can get just for trying it out.

You’ll Earn Money Just for Using Your Phone

Full-time college student Heath Vasquez downloaded the Adme app a year and a half ago, and has since earned more than $60. He’s used it to buy food and household supplies.

“I like how it’s easy and doesn’t require any effort,” he says. “You just unlock your screen, and you earn money.”

Each time you wake up your phone, Adme shows you ads in a newsfeed-style platform. You can click on the ads, or simply swipe through them to get to your home screen.

Advertisers pay Adme to show you their ads, and Adme passes a portion of the revenue on to you.

Unlike other lockscreen apps, Adme is “non-incentivized,” meaning you don’t earn more money for clicking on ads.

Instead, Adme has developed an algorithm that pays you based on how much you use your phone. So if you want to click on the ad, you can — but you won’t miss out on money if it doesn’t interest you.

Stephanie Viera, a stay-at-home mom to two young boys, often clicks on the ads anyway. She uses the app to stay informed.

“I like to read the news,” she says. “I don’t always click on the news feed, but most of the time I do — and if I’m in a hurry, I’ll just swipe it across so I can do what I have to do.”

“You can [use Adme] any time,” she adds. “Simple. I really love it.”

Get Paid to Try It Out — and Refer Your Friends

Though Adme keeps the intricacies of its algorithm under wraps, it says most people earn $3 to $6 per month, and up to $8 per month if they’re heavy phone users.

Once your earnings reach $10, you can cash out via PayPal — Adme covers the fees.

Now through Jan. 15, 2016, Adme’s also running a special promotion to help you hit the $10 threshold even quicker. You’ll get $3 just for signing up for the app, plus $1 for each new user you refer.

If you have a big network or social media presence, referring your friends can help you earn much more quickly.

Take Alicia Jones, for example. She works in TV and has more than 70,000 followers on Instagram. By posting her Adme referral link to her profile, she earned more than $140 in just two months.

Of course, most of us don’t have networks anywhere near as big, but there’s still potential to quickly earn money promoting the app to family and friends.

Can You Really Earn Money Using Your Phone?

Yes.

As we discovered while using the app and talking to users, Adme is a legit way for Android owners to earn money just by using their phones.

“It really does pay,” Jones says. “It’s easy money and you don’t have to work for it. Doing what I do all day anyway: open my phone and just scroll, scroll, scroll.”

Keep in mind, though, it’s not a way to get rich quickly. You won’t earn big bucks with Adme.

But a true Penny Hoarder knows every penny helps — especially when they start turning into dollars.

“Sometimes when you need something, a little goes a long way,” Vasquez explains. “Even a penny is a lot.”

If you want to try the app, click here. Don’t forget you’ll get $3 just for signing up before Jan. 15, 2016!

Your Turn: Have you tried a lock screen app? Will you try Adme?

Sponsorship Disclosure: A huge thanks to Adme for working with us to bring you this content. It’s rare that we have the opportunity to share something so awesome and get paid for it!

The post Have an Android Phone? This Company Will Pay You to Do Something You Already Do Every Day appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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3 Ways Amazon Prime is Helping Us Rock the Holidays — and How to Get it for FREE

The holiday season is a beautiful time of year, but some would also say it brings a lot of stress.

We at The Penny Hoarder aren’t exempt from it.

Between attending holiday parties, baking cookies and traveling over the river and through the woods, things are a bit hectic.

Add the fact this is a busy time of year for us work-wise, and it won’t be surprising if we go a little insane.

Thankfully, we have a tool that’s helping us through the holiday season with panache.

Here’s why we love Amazon Prime, and how you can get it for FREE.

How We’re Crushing the Holidays With Amazon Prime

Here are the three biggest ways Amazon Prime is saving our skin this holiday season:

1. We Stream Our Music Ad-Free

With Amazon Prime Music, we stream all our Christmas music without ads. Uninterrupted cheer. All the time.

… I think some people are probably less enthused about this than I am.

2. We Watch Free Movies When Our Boss Isn’t Looking

What’s the only thing better than watching Christmas movies? Watching Christmas movies when you’re supposed to be working!

So, when our boss isn’t looking, we use Amazon Prime Instant Video to stream feel-good movies and relax a little bit (and get paid!).

3. We Slack on Our Gifts Until the Last Minute

Because we’re busy writing about money-saving deals and tips for you, we don’t have a lot of time to shop.

Luckily, Amazon Prime comes with free two-day shipping on over a million items, so we can slack on our gifts until the last minute. (Just kidding, mom!)

Interested? Click here to get a FREE 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

Penny Hoarder tip: Put a reminder in your calendar for 30 days from now, so you don’t accidentally get charged.

Your Turn: Do you use Amazon Prime? What’s your favorite feature?

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

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

The post 3 Ways Amazon Prime is Helping Us Rock the Holidays — and How to Get it for FREE appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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Seven Things Everyone Should Know About Their Money

While watching a snippet of the Dr. Phil Show the other day, I heard a monologue that related intimately to personal finance.

“You cannot change what you do not acknowledge,” snipped Dr. Phil, who was desperately trying to counsel a broken family on coming together.

Later I learned this was one of Phil’s “life laws,” or principles he goes back to often and actually lists on his website. In case you were wondering, life law No. 1 is “You either get it or you don’t,” and No. 2 is “You create your own experience.” And “People do what works” is No. 3. I think most of us agree with those statements, right?

But No. 4 — “You cannot change what you do not acknowledge” — still caught me. When my husband and I were in debt many years ago, we were blissfully unaware of how perilous our situation really was. We had good jobs, yes, but we were spending all the money we made and always one layoff or illness away from losing it all.

Because we didn’t acknowledge the problem, we didn’t dare try to change it. Years later, it took a huge lightbulb moment for us to realize we could be doing a whole lot better. But until we had that “a-ha moment,” it was easy to skate through life without a care in the world.

Why is that?

“Get real with yourself about life and everybody in it,” writes Dr. Phil as a strategy for life law No. 4. “Be truthful about what isn’t working in your life. Stop making excuses and start making results.”

I can’t really say I’m a fan of the show, but geez, isn’t he spot on?

Whether you want to get your money straight, pay off debt, or simply reach your financial potential, it all starts with acknowledging that something isn’t quite right and, more importantly, being real about it.

Seven Things You Need to Know About Your Money

But being real isn’t about beating yourself up — at least I don’t think so. We’ve all made financial mistakes we aren’t proud of, but picking ourselves apart won’t heal them. We need to acknowledge our problems, yes, but only for the purpose of coming up with an actual solution.

That’s why it’s important to know your money inside and out — and not just the rewarding details, but your deep, dark secrets as well.

To get ahead in life — to take control — you have to get real and see things for how they really are. If you’re looking for a place to start, figure out these seven things about yourself and get real — once and for all.

No. 1: Your Net Worth

If you want a fairly clear picture of your financial health, take some time to figure out your net worth. This is normally calculated by taking your assets and subtracting your liabilities, but the process increases in complexity if you’ve got more than a few outputs and inputs.

The easiest way to figure out your net worth is to sign up for a free account with Personal Capital. Their net worth tracker will tell you exactly what you’re “worth” without asking for a dime in return.

However, you can accomplish the same thing with a pen and paper. Create a category for your assets (including your savings, retirement accounts, house, car, etc.) and another for your liabilities (debts such as your mortgage, car loan, credit card balances, or student loans), then compare the figures. Your net worth is whatever’s left after you subtract your liabilities from your assets.

While knowing your net worth may not seem like a big deal, it can be a game-changer, says J. Money of Budgets Are Sexy.

“We all like to think we know where our money is and how well we’re doing (or not), but seeing it in plain black and white tells a much more accurate picture,” he says. “The numbers never lie, and to be able to go back throughout the months and watch your progress is incredibly motivating.”

Whether you input your information in Personal Capital or calculate your net worth by adding and subtracting the figures on your own, knowing your net worth can be a powerful motivator.

• Related: The Most Important Number

“Whether you’re paying off debt or investing for the future, your net worth will reflect the moves and is one of the best ways to spend five minutes of your time each month,” says J. Money.

No. 2: Where Your Money Is Going

We’ve written about the importance of tracking your money before, and can’t underscore this lesson enough. If you don’t have any idea how much you’re spending on groceries or entertainment each month and constantly running short, you need to find out those crucial details right away. The longer you wait, the more it will cost you.

“Everyone should know where their money is going,” says TSD contributor and fee-only financial planner Matt Becker from Mom and Dad Money. “That is, how much money is coming in, how is it being spent, and how it is being saved. That information provides a baseline for where you are now and allows you to start making purposeful decisions about how you want to improve things going forward.”

In this post, we detail the step-by-step of tracking your spending, and exactly why this is so important. If you need help getting started, that’s a good place to begin.

No. 3: How Long Your Emergency Fund Could Last

Think you have enough cash in the bank to weather any financial storm? You might have plenty, or you might have a lot less than you think. Either way, it pays to know how much money you really have — and how long it might last if your family loses an income stream or someone becomes deathly ill.

“Everyone should know that their income is not guaranteed,” says financial expert Deacon Hayes from Well Kept Wallet. Many people spend money as if their income will last forever, he says, but that is seldom the case.

“As a financial coach, I have seen people lose their jobs, take a pay cut, or even one spouse decided to quit their job to stay at home with the kids,” says Deacon.

Knowing how long your emergency fund would last in unexpected circumstances or if the worst-case scenario played out is an essential part of protecting your family from the “what ifs” of life.

To find out, figure out your monthly expenses and compare them against the money you have saved in your emergency fund. If you’re having trouble figuring it out, our detailed post on How to Create a Bare-Bones Budget can help you figure out the bottom-dollar figure you need each month to get by.

How long could you live off your emergency fund? Photo: William Murphy

No. 4: Your After-Tax Income

Debt blogger Melanie Lockert from Dear Debt believes everyone should have a decent grasp on their after-tax income if they truly want to get ahead. We all know how much our salary is, right? But do most of us know exactly how much money we’re bringing home?

If you’re not using a monthly budget or tracking your spending the answer is probably “no.” And unfortunately, not knowing how much you actually take home can be a huge mistake, says Melanie.

“Many of us can think we make a lot of money, but after taxes, we’re not bringing home that much. Budgeting, saving, and investing all rely on your after-tax income and what you can contribute. If you know what you’re really making at the end of the day, you can control where your money goes and have a better understanding of what it can do for you.”

• Related: A Retirement Tax Trick You May Not Know About

No. 5: Your Financial Goals

Money is “a tool you use to build a life you want to live, not something you use just to buy more stuff,” says Jim Wang of Wallet Hacks. “You should draw a picture of what you want your life to be in five, 10, 20 years and then use money to craft that life. All too often, we only think of the things we want to own, like cars or a particular house, rather than what we want our lives to be.”

For most people, this idea involves figuring out when you might be able to retire or reach financial independence. Like Jim says, we should all look at our money from the perspective of how it can help us get where we want to go.

Whether your goal is paying down debt once and for all, retiring early at 55, or paying off your house, it helps to write those goals down. Only then can you create a realistic plan to make all your dreams come true.

• Related: The Big Questions and the Little Expenses

No. 6: Your Credit Score

Your credit score isn’t just a measure of your financial health; this three-digit number can be used to decide how much interest you’ll pay if you take out a loan for a home or car — and if you qualify for that loan at all.

For the most part, a good or above average credit score (720+) is enough to qualify for the best loans and rates, but anything lower might lead you to struggle to find a good deal or qualify at all.

• Related: What Is a Good Credit Score?

First things first: To figure out where you are in terms of credit, you need to figure out what your credit score is. The easiest way for most people to do this is to sign up for a free Credit Karma account. By inputting your personal information, you’ll gain access to a wide range of details listed on your report — plus estimated credit scores from both TransUnion and Equifax.

If you want to dig a little deeper, you can also request a copy of your credit report from the three credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – once per year at AnnualCreditReport.com. This will give you a sense of your credit history and show you any delinquencies or dings to your credit, but it doesn’t provide you with an actual credit score.

Finally, some credit card issuers, such as Discover, will include your free credit score with each monthly statement as a cardholder perk.

No. 7: How Much Money You Owe

If you want to dig your way out of debt, it’s crucial that you know exactly how much money you owe. After all, you can’t really create a plan of attack unless you’re intimately acquainted with the actual balances on your loans, credit cards, and other debts.

We often focus too much on the monthly payment, but those monthly bills only tell part of the story. If you want to get out of debt, acknowledging how much debt you’re in is the first step you need to take.

To find out, break out all your monthly bills, including car payments, mortgage payments, student loans, credit card bills, and anything else you might have, and total the amounts owed.

What you find might surprise you — even scare you. But sometimes, that “shock value” is the most useful tool you have to turn your situation around.

“It’s important to know how much debt you owe, because it stands in the way of your financial freedom,” says Lance Cothern, author of Money Manifesto, who paid off $80,000 in student loan debt in three years. “Once you know how much debt you have, you can put together a real plan to start paying it down based on what makes sense for your family.”

• Related: 11 Ways to Get Out of Debt Faster

Final Thoughts

While none of these seven details is earth-shattering on its own, as a group they represent a total picture of where you are financially — and where you’re going. That’s why it’s important to face the music – to be real. If you spend your entire life with your head in the sand, you may look back one day and wish you had done things differently.

This sad truth begs the question, “Why not get real with your finances and take actionable steps to get ahead now instead?”

Unfortunately, it isn’t always that easy. I hate to circle back to Dr. Phil, but I’m afraid I must. After reading through his life laws and thinking them through, another one caught my eye.

“Life rewards action,” writes Dr. Phil. “Make careful decisions and then pull the trigger. Learn that the world couldn’t care less about thoughts without actions.”

Once again, I am drawn in by the simplicity and truthfulness of his advice. While thoughts and actions are the first step to getting out of debt and becoming wealthy, they really do mean nothing if you never follow through.

He goes on…

“Talk is cheap. It’s what you do that determines the script of your life. Translate your insights, understandings and awareness into purposeful, meaningful, constructive actions. They are of no value until then. Measure yourself and others based on results — not intentions or words. Use any pain you have to propel you out of the situation you are in and to get you where you want to be. The same pain that burdens you now could be turned to your advantage. It may be the very motivation you need to change your life.”

Dr. Phil is right. Wishful thinking might help you sleep at night, but it won’t pay off your debts, and it won’t help you become rich.

Knowing these seven things about your money is the first step, but taking action is the only thing that can change your life for the better. You cannot change what you do not acknowledge, and you cannot get ahead if you never really know where you are.

Do you know all of these details about your finances? Why or why not? What is the most important thing you ever learned about your finances?

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Let Them Unwrap Awesome: College Students Will Love These 15 Gifts Under $25

Your college student almost definitely doesn’t want these gifts this year: A Dust Buster. Slippers. New notebooks.

I mean, I wanted all those items during my college years and was thrilled to receive them, but those gifts aren’t exactly exciting. I wasn’t much of a party animal in college, if you couldn’t guess.

Most college students love surprises. Especially useful surprises.

So don’t let them down this year. Whether it’s your little sister, a cousin or your own kids in college, get ready to rumble this gift-giving season with presents that will truly surprise them.

Here are 15 gifts your college student actually wants — and they’re all $25 or less.

1. French Press — $16.35

A caffeine habit gets expensive, doesn’t it?

Make it easier for your favorite student to get their fix without going broke: Get them a small French press they can tuck away in their dorm room.

Got a few extra bucks to spare? Get them an electric kettle to heat the water for just $13.99. Mornings just got WAY easier.

2. “Namast’ay in Bed” Pillow Case — $20

When the caffeine finally wears off, students can drift off to sleep on this pillow case encouraging major chill vibes.

Young yogis will love the joke, and everyone else will appreciate your appreciation of their napping habit.

3. Stainless Water Bottle — $17.54

More and more campuses are installing water refill stations to make it easier for students to ditch bottled water — and to reduce the number of embarrassing water-fountain refill spills.

Give a Klean Kanteen 27-ounce bottle in their favorite color to help your student stay hydrated.

4. Bedside Storage Caddy — $7.15

Ever fallen asleep studying — only to find yourself snuggled up with your laptop, notebooks and phone in the morning?

It’s not exactly a good night’s sleep.

Make it easier to tuck away essentials before bed with a caddy that helps save precious space on desks and nightstands.

5. Stitchagram Coin Purse — $25

Put a bird on it! Or their dog, or their bestie, or maybe a few selfies of you.

Upload photos from Instagram or your computer to make a photo collage for a handmade coin purse.

If your student is always stashing away quarters for laundry or trying to find their earbuds, a coin purse is the perfect size to help them get a little more organized.

6. Adult Coloring Book — $9.23

Coloring is all the rage for grown folks.

Pick up a “stress-relieving” book of patterns for your student to turn to during midterms, finals or those nights when their roommate simply refuses to turn off their annoying ringtone.

Add a dozen colored pencils for about $5 and they’ve got a super-chill activity to last the whole semester.

7. Earbuds — $5.99

I’ve been out of college way too long to admit this, but I lose my earbuds. All. The. Time.

I’m guessing the average college student could use a spare pair to keep handy, as well.

If you want to give a gift that hands-down, 100% will get used and used often, earbuds are just the ticket.

8. Netflix Gift Card — $25

Monthly subscription costs add up fast, so help your student pay for the one they just can’t live without: Netflix.

Monthly plans start at $8.99 per month, but digitally delivered gift cards via Amazon start at $25. It’ll be the gift that keeps on giving! For three months!

9. Poppin Folio — $14

Help your fave student deliver their resume or term paper in style with a sleek document folio from Poppin.

There are plenty of color options, including luxe metallics for when they want to make an entrance.

Sadly, the Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper is not making the best impression. No, not even the one with the unicorns. Put it away.

10. Toaster Grilled Cheese Bags — $9.99

Ever wanted to whip up a quick grilled cheese without dealing with dishes?

Pop it all in the toaster — just don’t forget to put that delicious sandwich in a grilled-cheese bag first. These little Teflon-coated guys help heat up a sandwich that’s crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and tidy. And you can reuse them!

11. To-Do List — $6.95

Sometimes the best way to get organized is with an old-fashioned paper list.

Grab this one with sections for tasks, errands and correspondence (read: emails that need to be replied to yesterday) to help a student you love stay on track.

Kick in the Passive-Aggressive Note pad if they’ve got a roommate who never restocks anything in the fridge.

12. Wireless Wipes — $8.18

College is pretty gross. You know that cell phone goes to the bathroom. Help keep it a little cleaner with Wireless Wipes in a variety of fun scents.

I like rosemary peppermint because it makes my phone smell so fresh and so clean.

13. Mini Donut Maker — $24.95

Ah, snacks. They just bring college students together.

Help make your favorite student the talk of the dorm whenever they fire up the donut maker.

And honestly, it’s always a good time for a donut.

14. Cards Against Humanity — $25

This simple card game of questions and answers livens up any gathering.

Buy your student a set for $25 so they can stop inviting Nicole to parties she doesn’t go to because she’s the only friend who has it.

Really on a budget? Download the game for free and print the cards. But by the time you buy cardstock and printer ink, you may just want to plunk down your credit card for the real thing.

15. Graze — $11.99

Back to what’s important: snacks.

Snack subscription box Graze ships tasty snacks featuring natural ingredients. Once you sign up for an account, you can send a one-time box, packed with eight snacks, to anyone you wish.

Snacks by mail? Sign me up, please.

Your Turn: What gifts will you be giving college students this year? Did we forget any good ones?

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.

Lisa Rowan is a writer, editor and podcaster living in Washington, D.C. She wishes there had been an energy drink subscription box for her grad school night classes.

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