Historic general store in Bushkill is something to crow about

Long awaited store and eatery is open

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Cheers! Here’s How to Celebrate National Beer Day With Cheap Brews

National Beer Day is April 7 in the United States.

Not to be confused with National Drink Beer Day, which is in September, or American Craft Beer Week, coming in May.

National Beer Day commemorates the Cullen-Harrison Act of 1933, which made low-alcohol beer and wine available for the first time since it was outlawed in 1919. It was the first step toward the full repeal of Prohibition later the same year.

We’ve found some beer deals in craft beer-loving cities around the U.S. to help you celebrate.

Many local bars and restaurants are getting in on the celebration, so ask about specials at your nearby brewery or watering hole.

It should go without saying, but just in case: These events are for adults 21 and older, so have your I.D. handy.

Boston

Join the New England Real Ale Expo in Boston April 6 to 9 at the South Boston Lithuanian Club.

Enjoy a selection of more than 100 rarely seen, award-winning cask ales, ciders and meads.

Admission is just $5 at the door for most sessions.

Burlington, Vermont

This little city of 42,000 is home to one brewery for every 3,800 people, according to Thrillist.

Small but mighty, its craft beer street cred draws on the history of New England.

Stop by Vermont Pub on Thursday. It’s the state’s longest-running craft brewery — be sure to try its experimental beer of the week, a Maple IPA.

New York City

Shops and restaurants throughout Grand Central Terminal in New York are celebrating with specials — including discounted beers.

Enjoy beer-related deals from Beer Table, Central Market New York, Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant, Michael Jordan’s The Steak House, Shake Shack, Shiro of Japan, Tri Tip Grill and Zaro’s Bakery.

Asheville, North Carolina

Find events happening around North Carolina all month for NC Beer Month, including these National Beer Day events in Asheville:

• Free Beer Class and tap night at Tyler’s Restaurant & Taproom.

• Thirsty Monk Beer Dinner is a six-course meal with six paired beers for $55. It’s not a cheap night out, but it’s good value for the price!

Portland, Oregon

Celebrate in Portland at the annual Brew Hog Blowout at North 45 Pub, featuring 21 brewers for a “mini beer fest,” house smoked ribs and door prizes.

Elsewhere in Oregon, you can grab $7 growler fills at Three Creeks in Sisters, and $6 growler fills at Seven Brides in Silverton (every Thursday).

Scottsdale, Arizona

On April 7, Two Brothers Tap House and Brewery is unveiling the Pollinator, a house-brewed honey wheat beer.

Sample the new brew for free, and enjoy complimentary beer-centric appetizers, according to the Scottsdale Independent.

San Antonio

Southerleigh at the Pearl Brewery will be serving its four-beer flight for just $5 — normally $12-$16.

Plus, its eight-beer flight will be $8 — normally $20-$30!

Southerleigh’s executive chef and brewmaster will also host the James Beard Dinner at the James Beard House, showcasing local favorites and a selection of Southerleigh beers, according to San Antonio Magazine.

Austin, Texas

Growler USA is hosting an all-day, all-night happy hour, according to Austin Monthly.

Specials include 10% off growler refills, $2 off appetizers, $3 off kombucha, $2 off wines and $2 off all Texas beers.

Each guest will also receive a free 64-ounce plastic growler to take home.

Milwaukee

Celebrate in Brew City on Thursday with Miller Time Live at Miller Time Pub and Grill.

Enjoy $2.50 Miller Lite taps and free music from Brent Brown.

Your Local Grocery Store

If you don’t want to go out for thirsty Thursday, celebrate National Beer Day at home!

Ibotta is offering a $3 rebate on Budweiser, as well as between $2-$4 back on combinations of Bud and your favorite party snacks.

Not a Budweiser fan? Get $4 back when you buy Shock Top with oranges or lemons.

Your Turn: How will you celebrate National Beer Day 2016?

Disclosure: This one time, Kyle came into the office with $6 worth of Taco Bell that he planned to eat over the course of three meals. By clicking the affiliate links in this post, you help us help Kyle seriously ease up on the Taco Bell.

Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer’s Digest and more, attempting humor wherever it’s allowed (and sometimes where it’s not).

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Tired at Work? This Company Pays Employees $500 to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

This just in: Sleep is awesome.

You probably already know that, though. There’s nothing like opening your eyes after a long, restful night’s sleep, especially if a stressful job (or two), kids and other commitments keep you from getting your recommended seven to nine hours.

But what if you actually got paid to get the sleep your body so desperately craves?

No, I’m not talking about intense, lengthy sleep studies (although those are always an option).

Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini is paying his workers up to $500 if they can prove they’re getting their rest.

Why Some Workers Get Paid to Sleep

In a work culture sometimes described as a “rat race,” the idea of paying employees to rest might seem counterintuitive.

Especially as our constant connectivity increases telepressure and erases the distinction between work life and home life, it’s easy to spread ourselves too thin in the pursuit of success — even to the detriment of our personal health.

But forward-thinking businesses, startups and entrepreneurs are starting to change all that, pointing to the increased productivity achieved by healthy, happy, well-rested workers.

Bertolini claims his efforts to invest in worker wellness have increased employee productivity by 69 minutes a month (though we’re not exactly sure how you quantify that so exactly, even if you are Duke University researchers).

His sleep compensation plan requires workers to prove they’ve achieved 20 nights per month of at least seven consecutive hours of sleep, which they track with their Fitbits. They’re paid $25 per successful night’s sleep… up to $500 per year.

Need More Sleep?

If you’re stuck working crazy retail hours or commuting to a 40-or-more-hours-per-week position, getting enough sleep might seem impossible.

Especially on top of keeping social and familial commitments, staying active, and still — gasp — making time to have some fun every once in a while.

But finding flexible work can help make restfulness a reality in your life.

Although you won’t get paid to sleep per se, you’ll be more able to organize your life in a way that helps you make time to catch some z’s.

Here are some options:

• Try one of these work from home jobs to decrease the distance from your office to your bed.

• Convince your boss to let you work your current job from home.

• Come work with us here at The Penny Hoarder, where we offer flexible hours, weekly remote work time and unlimited sick days. (It’s awesome in a whole host of other ways, too!)

If none of these work for you, you may still be in luck if you can stick it out for a bit.

As data rolls in proving napping on the job increases productivity, some people predict we might see dedicated in-office sleep space as often as we see conference rooms.

Fingers crossed!

Your Turn: What do you think about these workers being paid to sleep? Would you nap at work if you were allowed?

Jamie Cattanach is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She also writes creative nonfiction and poetry, some of which has been featured in DMQ Review, Sweet: A Literary Confection and elsewhere. You can follow along at http://ift.tt/1RiB7sH.

The post Tired at Work? This Company Pays Employees $500 to Get a Good Night’s Sleep appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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Got the Travel Bug? 11 Ways to Make Money on the Road and Abroad

Certain jobs are great for travelers, but your employer or the nature of the work often determines your destinations.

Maybe you have other ideas about where you want to go, and you may want flexibility with how long you stay in each place.

In other words, you may want more freedom in your traveling.

Of course, you can just save enough money and go. We’ve previously reported on how one couple saved $40,000 to travel the world.

But perhaps the best you can do is save a couple thousand dollars. And no matter how much you save for that big trip, the money will run out at some point.

Will you have to go home and get a job after a few weeks on the road?

Not if you use some of the following ways to make money while you travel.

1. Start a Travel Blog

Traveler Mark Wiens makes money by writing about the food he eats on his adventures.

He monetizes his travel blogs with links to affiliate products, and gets a commission when people purchase through his links. He recommends only products and services he trusts.

For example, he might have a link to a hotel booking site he uses and likes, and gets paid when his visitors sign up or use it.

Weins also writes and sells ebooks, freelances for various websites and magazines, and makes videos about traveling and eating.

“Right now I have the Bangkok 101 things to do guide, Eating Thai Food Guide, Vegetarian Thai Food Guide and the Delhi travel guide,” he says.

His first travel blog made all the other income sources possible, Weins says.

Because he and his wife put most of their money back into traveling, they don’t need a car. Instead, their money goes toward plane tickets and other travel expenses.

Want to start your own blog? Here’s our guide.

2. Be a Travel Photographer

It isn’t necessarily easy to get started as a travel photographer, but you also don’t have to be the most talented to succeed.

It helps to have a decent camera, and a good eye doesn’t hurt either. But anybody can learn the basic skills required.

Making sales is more difficult.

Brendan van Son makes $2,000 per month as a travel photographer and says, “the wealthiest travel photographers in the world these days are not necessarily the best photographers, but the ones who are the best at marketing themselves.”

3. Work on Organic Farms

If you like to work outdoors, connect with organic farms around the world through WWOOF.

Their membership roster includes hundreds of farms looking for volunteers. A quick search through sample listings for Ecuador, for example, turns up dozens of options.

These volunteer positions pay in meals and a place to stay.

“In most countries the exchange is based on 4-6 hours’ help — fair exchange for a full day’s food and accommodation,” the WWOOF FAQ page says.

Having all your meals and lodging covered also allows you to travel with very little income. Combine this with one of these other money-making strategies here and save up for the next leg of your journey.

4. Teach English

Teaching English overseas is a tried-and-true way to see the world while making money.

You can locate opportunities using websites like Dave’s ESL Cafe.

Most positions require a certificate (ESL, TEFL, TESOL etc.), and a bachelor’s degree. Some certification courses (like this one) cost less than $300. But if you have a specific job in mind, check to see what kind of certificate is expected.

If you don’t have a degree or certification, but have a firm grasp of the English language, there are several ways to teach abroad without certification.

For example, simply offer your services independently wherever you travel. You might even avoid the necessity of a work visa if you trade for room and board. Always check local laws to be sure.

5. Create Travel Videos

You may already be posting your experiences online when you travel, so why not monetize your videos on YouTube?

With a little practice you can easily shoot, edit and upload the videos while you travel. With some marketing and a little luck, you might soon have a nice income.

Consider David Hoffmann’s YouTube Channel, Davidsbeenhere. Hoffmann has more than 1,000 videos, some with more than 50,000 views.

6. Freelance on the Road

There are many ways to freelance as you travel.

Write while you’re on the road or sell your services on Fiverr. You can do some freelance jobs from just about anywhere, like being a evaluating search engines or testing websites.

Many ways to make money at home also work on the road — as long as you have a laptop and Internet connection.

7. Be a Guide

Being a local tour guide is easier than ever, thanks to websites that connect you with tourists.

Of course, you need to know an area well to be a good guide, so this only works after you’ve been settled in a new locale for a while.

Another alternative is leading tours through an operating company.

For example, Tariq El Kashef has been leading adventure tours for four years, and has been to fifteen countries so far. He says many tour operators have applications on their websites, and you’re trained in destination countries once you’re hired.

8. Work at Hostels

Hostels around the world provide cheap alternatives to hotels, but they also can be a source of employment.

The pay is most often in the form of a free room in exchange for a few hours of daily work, but some may offer more.

Search Hostels.com to see what’s available where you’ll be traveling. Call to see if any are in need of help, and what they can pay.

9. Become a Traveling Craft Vendor

My wife and I spent a summer as traveling flea market vendors, often sleeping in our van.

We sold various things, like walking sticks and other crafts we made. This can be a good way to travel in the U.S.

You can also sell online while traveling, using local post offices to ship your products. You can sell everything from Christmas crafts to creative paper products using online platforms like Etsy.

If you’re traveling in other countries, focus on making and selling something small, like jewelry.  Your supplies won’t take up too much space and you can resupply locally as you go.

10. Become a Street Performer

If you can sing, juggle or just entertain people, you can make money performing in the street — also known as busking.

Even if your talents are limited, you can make money as a costume busker.

Spend some time in a busking forum to learn about opportunities and the ins and outs of local laws around the world.

11. Take Jobs as You Go

If you stay in your country of citizenship while traveling, you don’t need to worry about work visas.

Just look for jobs as you go, and stay for a few weeks or months when you find one.

This is more of a nomadic lifestyle than a trip, but you can choose where you go and take jobs only in areas you want to further explore.

Your Turn: Have you ever made money while traveling? What did you do?

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

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Pfizer Calls Off Tax-Dodging Merger with Allergan

Pfizer, the biggest U.S. drugmaker, won't be going ahead with its merger with Allergan, a company based in Dublin, Ireland

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Reader Personas

There’s only one key behind producing great content, day after day…

You don’t need to be the best writer.

You don’t need to be a top expert (although it can help).

You don’t need any fancy tools (although they can also help).

What you do need to do is understand your reader.

Most marketers would rather spend time learning about a new traffic tactic than spend time learning about their readers, and it’s the reason why they struggle.

Let me illustrate the importance of this with a simple example:

Imagine: You’re writing for an audience that consists of one person – yourself.

Do you think you could come up with something that you’d love to read?

I’d be worried if you said no.

You know not only what you want to learn about but also how you want to consume that information.

If you can’t write something great for yourself, there’s no way you can write something great for any other audience.

There’s no tactic or strategy that will make up for a fundamental lack of understanding of your reader.

Hopefully, you’re nodding your head at this point.

The question you should be asking is:

How can you understand your readers better if you don’t happen to fall into that audience?

And that is a great question.

The answer is that through research, you can create reader personas—avatars of your typical readers.

The more fleshed out these are, the more effective they will be.

Personas aren’t created out of thin air.

Although your experience may help you create them, you need to follow a system, which is what I’m going to detail for you today.

Step #1 – Start with stats—demographics

Certain characteristics of a persona are easier to research than others.

We’re going to start with the easiest one: demographics.

The reason why demographics are the easiest to research is because they are statistics. A demographic is any statistic or value that can describe a group of people.

Here’s a list of common demographics, but there are more:

• location
• age
• gender
• income
• educational level
• religion
• ethnicity
• marital status
• number of children

If you already have a blog and some readership, it’s much easier to determine demographics.

However, you can nail down some important attributes of any audience with a few free tools.

Always start with Alexa.

You can enter you site, or a close competitor’s site (which has the audience you want), into the search bar. It works best on high traffic sites.

When you do, you’ll get information on gender, education, and browsing locations.

Write down these rough percentages somewhere.

Next, go to the Google AdWords Display Planner. It gives you more than just search volume data.

Put in a keyword into the first text box that fits your niche well, target whichever countries you’d like, and then submit the form:

Front and center of the next page will be a graphic that looks like this:

Most people ignore it because they’re only looking for search volumes.

However, this is some of the most accurate data you can get for gender and age.

Repeat this process for a bunch of keywords, and then average out your results.

Next, we’re going to use Google Analytics (GA), but only if you already have a decent-size audience.

Go to “Audience > Demographics > Overview” in GA, and enable data collection if you haven’t yet.

Then, come back a day or two later, and you will see a bunch of data collected from your actual visitors, including age and gender.

This is the most accurate data, so use this as a primary source and the others as supplementary.

Still in GA, go to the “Audience” menu option. Browse through the tabs such as “geo,” which will give you language and location results.

By now, you should have 4-5 core demographics about your readers. Write them down in point form in a file somewhere. For example:

• Gender – about an even 50/50 split, might be skewed toward more females
• Education - slightly less educated than the average Internet user
• Location - most likely readers are from the US, the UK, and India
• Age - average age is about 30, very few senior readers
• Income – likely low to medium due to a relatively young age

Some demographics, such as income, are tough to research. However, you can take educated guesses about them based on other demographic stats.

That’s a very good start, but if you want to get even more detailed demographics, you can use some of the tools I compiled here.

Step #2 – What is your reader thinking?—Psychographics

Next up are psychographics, which inform you about the values, attitudes, preferences, and thoughts of a group. In this case, it’s your readers.

Here’s a basic list of questions you’ll eventually need to answer:

• Why do they want to learn about (your niche)?
• How important is (your niche) to them, i.e., is it a hobby or part of their job?
• What common questions do they have about (your niche)?
• How knowledgeable are they about (your niche)?

Unfortunately, we can’t just look these up on Alexa or GA.

You need to spend time observing your readers and learning about them before you can answer these questions.

To do this, first you need to find your audience.

Option #1 – Start with Reddit: You’re looking for any specific forum or group where your potential audience is active. You need to be able to see discussion among the people whom you’re trying to understand.

I suggest starting with Reddit unless you already have a specific group in mind.

You can find most audiences on Reddit. All you need to do is use the subreddit search function and type in your niche.

For a nutrition site, I’d search for “nutrition”:

Subreddits are essentially small forums within the site.

In this case, “r/nutrition” is the subreddit where people discuss nutrition, while “r/bodybuilding” is where people discuss bodybuilding.

Pick the most relevant subreddit that has at least a few thousand subscribers.

If you’ve never used Reddit before, check out my guide to marketing on Reddit, which will walk you through the basics of how the site works.

Start by clicking the “top” filter, and set it to show links from “all time”:

This will show you the most popular (upvoted) posts in the subreddit of all time.

It tells you what the readers of the subreddit care about the most.

In this case, nutrition enthusiasts care about:

• busting myths (i.e., cholesterol in eggs is unhealthy)
• the current nutritional guidelines (and why they are wrong)
• learning about nutrition (good courses and tutorials)
• creating practical, healthy, and enjoyable diets

Look through at least 50-100 threads.

Then, go back to the default subreddit filters, and go through another few hundred threads.

Look for things they don’t like (get zero votes) or don’t care much about (get a few votes).

From doing this, you can start answering the questions we identified earlier, understand what your audience’s big problems are, and what helps them the most.

Option #2 – There’s always a forum: Any audience that uses the Internet participates in at least one forum.

Google “(your niche) forum,” and you’ll find at least 2-3, if not several.

Employ the same process as you did with Reddit. Go through at least a few hundred threads, observe, and note down what the readers like and dislike.

Now, go back to your sheet with your demographics, and jot down the answers to those questions I asked at the start of this section.

Step #3 – Base your decisions on behavior

People don’t always act how they should.

People on a diet shouldn’t eat that piece of cake, but sometimes they do.

That’s because behavior doesn’t always follow intent, which means that psychographics alone are not enough.

When it comes to content, there are a few main questions about your audience that you should be able to answer.

Question #1 – How do they like to consume content? Every audience likes to consume content differently.

There are 3 main aspects of content that you need to determine:

• What format do they prefer (e.g., video, text, audio)?
• How often? (an hour a week? an hour a day?)
• What length of content do they prefer?

There are many ways in which the answers to these questions can be combined to produce different optimal types of content.

You find these answers by going back to those forums.

Note down the three aspects for all the content that gets voted up or gets a lot of replies.

You might find that your potential audience likes to consume long, in-depth (>2,000 words) written articles once every few days.

Or you might find that they prefer to watch quick videos multiple times per week.

Regardless, this will tell you how they connect their problems to their behavior.

Questions #2 – What are they most convinced by? The first question is the most important, but it’s also important to understand what your readers trust.

If someone has a problem they want to solve, they need to trust you and your content before your content can help them.

Again, go back to a forum or two, and read through the most popular threads.

Take note of the credibility of each post.

For example, here’s a post from “r/nutrition” that was highly upvoted. It links to official sources and studies:

After browsing more threads, I saw that this was common.

The readers in that nutrition audience trust only research, so all posts written for them should be well-cited and data-driven.

Alternatively, you might find that your audience prefers quotes and advice from experts in the field.

Or you might find that people are open to learning from hobbyists.

Once you find out this information, add it to your sheet, which should be getting pretty detailed by now.

Step 4: Put your reader persona together, and use it

The goal here is to take all that information and apply it to a specific avatar. Give him or her a name.

Then, turn all those bullet points into sentences that describe your avatar. Essentially, you’re describing his or her life situation (as it pertains to your content).

Here’s an example:

Reader name: Sneil Patel

Sneil is a 30-year-old man living in New York, USA. After going to community college, he was able to find a job as a data entry clerk, making approximately $60,000 a year.

Sneil has developed an interest in getting healthier through nutrition, and he spends time actively learning about this subject online.

He particularly likes to read about nutrition myths and ways to create a diet that works for him and his professional lifestyle, which sometimes requires him to work long hours. In addition to reading, he tries to take at least one in-depth course or tutorial a month.

Since Sneil likes to investigate the truth behind claims, he appreciates content that cites credible research studies. He prefers medium-long content (1,000-2,000 words) that is mostly text. He has time to read a few of these articles a day.

Do you see how that story brings all the data we’ve collected together?

Paragraph 1 is all about demographics.

Paragraphs 2 and 3 both contain psychographic information.

Finally, paragraph 4 addresses your avatar’s behavior.

Using your reader persona: At this point, you should have a persona that you can use. I recommend printing it out and putting it close to where you write.

Every piece of content should be written with this person in mind.

Now that you understand your persona almost as well as you understand yourself, if you keep asking yourself what would Sneil want to read here?, you’ll be able to create content that resonates with a large part of your audience.

One final note: an avatar can evolve. This first version is your best guess at what your readers are like, but as you get feedback from them through comments and emails, you can revise it.

Conclusion

There is nothing more important than understanding your reader if you want to create content that truly makes an impact.

Simply put, a reader persona is the best way to understand your reader.

That’s why I’ve given you this simple 4-step process to creating your own reader persona.

I encourage you to use it as soon as possible and start integrating your reader persona into your content creation processes.

Finally, I’d love it if you shared the reader persona(s) you’ve created in a comment below.

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What We Really Value – and What We Don’t

When I look out in the driveway at my car, what I honestly see is nothing more than something that will reliably get me from point A to point B. To me, that’s the purpose of a car. When I buy a car, that’s what I’m looking for – the best deal on something that will get me reliably from point A to point B, ideally with the least use of gasoline to save on fuel costs.

When others look out onto their driveways, they see other things. I should know, because I once did, too. Perhaps they see an environment that they spend a lot of time in while they’re commuting, so they want it to be “nice.” Perhaps they see something that they view as a statement about the kind of person that they are. Perhaps they see a beautiful object that they covet. Or maybe they see something else entirely.

Whatever it is that you see when you look out in the driveway is going to shape what kind of car you end up purchasing. For me, I buy a late model used car from a reliable manufacturer, drive it and properly maintain it until problems begin to crop up, and then trade it in for a similar replacement. Others might buy cars from different manufacturers as a personal statement, or they might buy a car for purely aesthetic reasons.

The thing is, those different perspectives on why a person would own a car lead to different expenses. Someone who buys a car from a less reliable manufacturer is going to, over time, spend more on repairs. Someone who buys a brand new car and cycles it out frequently is going to lose lots of money to depreciation. Someone who insists on a luxury driving experience is going to pay a premium price.

So what’s important here? It’s not just about cars, for one.

The key thing to notice is that when you let other values beyond maximum functionality for the dollar lead your buying choices, you’re going to spend more for that functionality than others do.

For example, my cousin, who I love dearly, is almost always driving a new-ish Lexus. She wants a fairly luxurious experience when she drives along with the fairly high reliability that a Lexus brings. I don’t even want to guess what she spends on automobiles per year, but I know it’s a lot more than what I do.

The problem comes in when you allow those other values beyond functional “bang for the buck” to steer a lot of your spending. Do you insist on the premium version of different household products when you buy them? Do you always have to have the latest smartphone, both for the cachet and for the technical features? Do you always have to be dressed in expensive clothing?

If you bring those additional values and desires to the table in more and more of your spending choices, it becomes harder and harder and harder to make ends meet. It becomes harder to save for retirement. It becomes harder to have money left over at the end of the month. It becomes harder to have the financial freedom to take a career risk or to go back to school.

In short, when you use other values beyond functional bang for the buck when making purchases, you’re taking away from other aspects of your life. Your desire to have a luxury car experience instead of a purely functional and reliable car, for example, takes money directly away from your retirement savings, for instance.

It might seem like I’m making a call for everyone to adopt a purely functional “bang for the buck” attitude in regards to every dollar that they spend, but that’s actually not the case at all.

The problem isn’t with buying some things for other reasons. The problem is with buying lots of things for reasons beyond functional “bang for the buck” reasons.

Here’s why.

In everyone’s life, there are simply some things we care about more than others. We only have so much “emotional bandwidth” for things that we truly care about.

Beyond that, there’s a set of things that we really don’t worry about much at all in life. Those are the things that we have no problem buying in generic form if it turns out that we actually need it for something, but for the most part, we don’t really care about at all.

In the middle, though, there’s a tricky place. It’s full of things that we think we’re supposed to care about, but really don’t.

Maybe it’s something that we trick ourselves into caring about as a proxy for really caring about something else, like how a guy will try to get into particular things in order to impress a girl, or perhaps a cause that on some level we feel should be important to us but really isn’t.

Maybe it’s simply marketing, where a well-placed ad convinces us that we need something in order to live out a life that we really want.

Maybe it’s the influence of our friends who hype us up about something that we otherwise wouldn’t care about.

Maybe it’s something as simple as the familiarity of a name brand, that slight sense of identification we might get from buying something with a familiar label on it.

Those things feel like they matter… but they really don’t matter. The truth is that there are really only a few things that truly matter to us in life. Everything else is just window dressing and insignificant details.

My financial philosophy is simple. Figure out what things truly matter to you in life and don’t skimp on them, but go quite cheap on everything else.

To jump back to that car analogy, a car is just not something that truly matters to me. It’s something I need to get from point A to point B, thus I buy the most cost-efficient version of a car that I can find.

For others, their car might be something that truly matters to them, in which case it actually can make sense in their lives to buy a different car.

The trick is to figure out what handful of things actually matter to you and distinguish them clearly from the huge number of things in life that really do not.

For me, things that matter include my family and my closest friends and my community. They include being intellectually challenged (particularly in certain areas that fascinate me) and being able to get in a “flow” zone where I’m working on things and solving problems in such a pure state that I lose track of time. They include having interesting books to read and board games to play. They include having access to parks and recreational areas. I value having access to the news and information about the world around me.

Once you get past those things, everything else is far less important. When I’m being truly honest with myself, almost everything else I could care deeply about recedes far into the background by comparison.

So why spend money on those other things?

There’s no reason for me to have anything more than a functional car. There’s really no reason for me to have anything more than a functional home, aside from perhaps a bit of extra space because I value my family. There’s no reason for me to buy most name brand products at the store, so I buy almost everything store brand. There’s no reason for me to have fancy clothes, though having decent shoes is pretty important when I’m exploring.

Those are simply things that, when I’m honest with myself, aren’t really priorities at all in my life. So I choose not to spend money on them.

So, let’s turn that question on you. What is it that you really care about?

What things make you feel genuinely good during the day? What things do you look forward to most when you’re thinking about the days and weeks and months ahead? What causes you to jump out of bed in the morning? What occupies your thoughts, even when you’re far away from the things in question?

Those are the things that are most important to you, and if you think about those things a little bit, I’m willing to bet that the vast, vast majority of your time and energy and thoughts are devoted to a pretty small handful of things in your life.

Honestly, the rest doesn’t matter too much. Spend your money and time and energy only on the minimal function necessary for those unimportant things, and instead devote your time and energy and, yes, adequate money to those few things that you really truly do care about.

Suddenly, you’ll have plenty of money for the things you care about. You’ll also have plenty of money to take care of the foundational things, like saving for retirement and getting rid of debt.

It’s all about figuring out what matters to you and dialing back on everything else.

The post What We Really Value – and What We Don’t appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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Britain's property hotspots revealed

Hannah Nemeth

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Homeowners selling their homes in outer London boroughs and the commuter belt have seen a rise in demand for their properties over the first three months of the year, according to new research by estate agent eMoov.co.uk.

Homeowners selling their homes in outer London boroughs and the commuter belt have seen a rise in demand for their properties over the first three months of the year, according to new research by estate agent eMoov.co.uk.

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This Couple Bought 3 Major Household Appliances for Just $700. Here’s How

When my husband and I bought our bank-owned home last month, we already had money set aside for the clothes washer and dryer we knew we’d need.

But when the inspection showed someone had stuffed a gas oven where there was no gas hookup, we were suddenly looking at a much larger bill.

New electric ovens start at about $500 and some can easily creep above $1,000 — our whole budget. We didn’t want the kind with coils, because me + coils = burnt dinner

We looked into buying floor models or returned appliances, but the savings were negligible where we live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We were left with just one increasingly attractive option: used appliances.

There are some real risks to this option, since even the best-maintained used appliances have given up some of their functional life. But with these few tips, used appliances can be the best bang for your buck.

Here’s how my husband and I scored three top-of-the-line appliances for just $700.

1. Shop in a Store

When you decide to buy used, there are a whole host of options — from Craigslist and yard sales to used appliance stores.

And while used appliance salesmen may have the same perceived trustworthiness as used car salesmen, they offer one clear advantage: They’ll offer you a warranty.

The coverage usually ranges from six weeks to three months, but regardless of its length, a warranty guarantees you’ll come home with a usable, working appliance.

Warranties should be written and explicit about what is — and isn’t — covered. They should also be free, though length and coverage may be negotiable for a fee. Our six-week warranty was free, and includes a full refund, no matter the reason.

Stores will usually also offer the best selection of used appliances, so you’re more likely to get the color or model you want. In our city, the stores were also drastically cheaper than Craigslist, but may not be the case in more affluent areas.

Check online reviews for the past 12 months to make sure the store is reputable and has a good return policy. With a little research, brick and mortar stores offer great purchase security for used appliances.

Also worth noting: Stores typically offer delivery — and many will even install your purchases for free. Our store delivered, installed (including rewiring our oven for a 220-volt plug) and hauled away our junk stove for free.

You can also negotiate prices, which was my husband’s favorite part; I’ve never seen him so excited to spend money. Like the used car business, negotiating is completely acceptable and even expected.

We saved close to 10% off the original offer, which was already a good deal.

2. Buy High-Quality Models

When you’re buying new, price dictates what you’ll get in terms of quality, style and features.

But appliances depreciate quickly, so the cost difference between a used top-of-the-line and used bottom-of-the-line machine can be as little as $50. This lets you make purchases that will save you even more down the road.

For example, consider buying a double-oven freestanding range. In addition to being a coveted upgrade when you sell your home, the smaller upper oven can handle most of a family’s daily needs without the expense of heating a larger space.

In my opinion, these ovens’ initial price point means their construction is more reliable. Plus, having two ovens makes it easier and faster to prepare large meals.

Buying used also let my husband and I afford a high-efficiency washer and dryer. Used Energy Star washers, dryers and refrigerators only cost a little more than their energy-sucking friends, which can mean big savings on your utility bills.

3. Buy Fixable Used Appliances and Consider the Cost of Repairs

Buying used means you’re buying a product with only a limited warranty, so look for reliable appliances.

But even the best appliance is likely to break or malfunction, so repairability should also be one of your top concerns.

Internet reviews are a good place to start. How an appliance breaks is just as important as how often.

Whether you’re paying someone else to repair it or DIY-ing, a washing machine that occasionally clogs the drain pump is far easier and cheaper to repair than one that occasionally burns up the main motor.

Research may take longer than if you were buying new. But I found as long as the appliance was manufactured within the last five years, reviews were plentiful and easy to find.

The more moving parts your appliance has, the riskier the purchase. Complicated appliances like dishwashers, range hoods and dryers will almost certainly need minor repairs within a few years, something reflected in their low used prices.

Other general rules:

• Upright washers are less likely to malfunction than front-loaders — especially when comparing machines more than five years old. If they do break down, top-loading machines are usually easier to fix.

• Gas stoves are often easier to repair than electric stoves.

• Manual knobs can usually be fixed. Bad electrical touchpads usually need to be completely replaced.

Keep in mind, used appliances often come with some pre-existing damage. Some of these issues may be simply cosmetic. For example, our new stove had a dent on one side, but it doesn’t affect the function at all, and it’s completely covered by cabinetry.

However, other damage can affect the appliance’s function and safety.

For example, glass-top stoves shouldn’t have any cracks or chips. These could allow moisture into the electrical components underneath, which could lead to possible shocks or short-circuiting.

If you buy a stove with bad glass, you’ll need to replace it before you can use the stove — an expensive repair that can cost as much as a (less-damaged) used stove!

Keeping these tips in mind, it’s possible to be frugal and still get a great product.

My husband and I spent $700 dollars on three top-of-the-line appliances: $350 for the double-oven range, $200 for the upright washer and $150 for the dryer. We use each of them multiple times a week, and they still work as well as the day they were installed.

Even better, the entire process took less than a day, the same amount of time it would’ve taken to buy new.

When something else in the house fails (I’m looking at you, 20-year-old refrigerator), it’ll be an easy choice to buy used again.

Your Turn: Have you ever purchased used appliances?

Kimberly Marney is a newlywed, newly changed states and newly expectant mom looking to save her family money. She currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The post This Couple Bought 3 Major Household Appliances for Just $700. Here’s How appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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Avis, Budget and JCPenney Might Owe You Money! Here’s How to Find Out

Looking for a way to make easy money?

Each year, consumers just like you collect FREE money from class-action settlements, and most of the time it only takes a few minutes to file a claim!

Last month, I told you about five settlements you might be eligible to join from companies like Abercrombie & Fitch, Mitsubishi, Ford and Stevia In The Raw.

And now I’ve got six more settlements from huge companies like Avis, JCPenney and Snyder’s snacks!

So what are you waiting for? Check whether you’re eligible for free cash or products from any of these settlements.  

1. Snyder’s

Love pretzels or chips?

If you purchased Snyder’s pretzels or Cape Cod chips between Nov. 13, 2007 and Mar. 3, 2016, you might be owed $20!

Snyder’s agreed to pay $2.7 million to settle accusations the snack maker falsely advertised its pretzel and chip products as “all natural.” They actually contain artificial colors and genetically modified ingredients.

Customers who purchased Snyder’s snacks can get $1 per item, up to $20.

You don’t need to show any receipts, but you do need to file a claim by July 5, 2016.

Click here for details.

2. AG Adriano Goldschmied Apparel

Did you buy AG Adriano Goldschmied apparel in California, either online or through upscale retailers like Nordstrom between June 4, 2010 and Feb. 29, 2016?

If it’s labeled “Made in USA” or “Made in the USA,” you could get one free pair of AGAG pants or one free $20 promo code!

You don’t have to provide a receipt unless you’re trying to get more than two promo codes or pairs of pants.

However, if you want either of those settlement options you must file a claim no later than May 29, 2016.

More info here.

3. It’s Just Lunch

Did you pay for an It’s Just Lunch matchmaking service on or after Oct. 15, 2001?

If so, you could receive a date voucher valued at $450 from a settlement claiming the dating company overcharged customers — while ignoring their dating preferences.

It’s Just Lunch members don’t have to provide any proof of purchase, but they must file a claim no later than June 25, 2016.

Learn more here.

4. Avis and Budget

Avis and Budget customers who were charged a “Frequent Traveler Program Surcharge” when renting a car may be entitled to $129!

Budget customers who were charged the fee between Nov. 27, 2006 and Feb. 17, 2013 are eligible for the cash pay-out.

Avis customers can join the class-action settlement if they were charged the fee between July 14, 2005 and June 14, 2012.

Rental car consumers who wanted frequent-flyer miles from Avis and Budget travel partners and were charged for it also can receive a portion of this settlement.

You don’t need to show receipts, but you must file a claim by July 5, 2016.

More details here.

5. JCPenney

Did you buy JCPenney clothing in California advertised at a 30% off or more between Nov. 5, 2010 and Jan. 31, 2012 or Jan. 1, 2013 and Dec. 31, 2014?

If so, you could get a chunk of a $50 million “fake sale” settlement, either as a cash payment or store credit.

You don’t need a receipt to join the settlement, but you only have until June 30, 2016 to file.

Click here for more details.

6. Rexall

If you bought a Rexall joint health supplement between 2005 and 2013, you could get $8 per bottle up to $104!

The company was accused of making false statements on the labels of certain dietary supplements and agreed to settle. Find a list of included products right here.

You will have to submit a claim by Sept. 28, 2016 to receive a cash payment, but you don’t have to provide any receipts.

More info here.

Your Turn: Are you going to file for any of these class-action settlements? Let us know when you get your benefits!

Melissa LaFreniere is the News Editor at TopClassActions.com.

The post Avis, Budget and JCPenney Might Owe You Money! Here’s How to Find Out appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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Higher earners face new pensions tax charge

Rachel Lacey

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Higher earners could be subject to a new tax charge from today, (6 April 2016) following the introduction of a tapered annual allowance that will reduce the amount of money they are able to contribute into a pension.

Higher earners could be subject to a new tax charge from today, (6 April 2016) following the introduction of a tapered annual allowance that will reduce the amount of money they are able to contribute into a pension.

The complex new system will see those people with a taxable income over £150,000 face a reduction to their £40,000 annual pension allowance.

New tax charge on higher earners' pensions

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Higher earners could be subject to a new tax charge from today, (6 April 2016) following the introduction of a tapered annual allowance that will reduce the amount of money they are able to contribute into a pension. The complex new system will see those people with a taxable income over £150,000 face a reduction to their £40,000 annual pension allowance. This reduction will be at a rate of £1 for every for every £2 of taxable income in excess of the threshold. This tapering ceases once taxable income hits £210,000, leaving the individual with an effective annual allowance of just £10,000. In a worst-case scenario, Hargreaves Lansdown says this could land an individual with an income of £210,000 with a £13,500 tax bill, following the loss of £30,000 worth of their annual pension allowance. Check how much you’ll earn now Nathan Long, senior pension analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, warns that the complex new system will make it incredibly difficult for higher earners to calculate how much they can pay into their pension without getting stung by a large tax bill. He says: “High earners will now need either a crystal ball or the benefit of hindsight to navigate the new annual allowances rules. Few people know their total year’s income from work, savings and investments in advance. However, those with total annual income above or around £150,000 need to be alive to these changes, or else risk a nasty tax surprise.” In practice, Hargreaves Lansdown says this means anyone earning more than £110,000 should find out whether they will be affected once all income streams are taken into account. Mr Long adds: “Higher earners should prioritise tallying up their expected income for the year, work out if they could be caught by the new rules and plan accordingly. Simply remaining a member of a company pension scheme could increase tax bills – so employees in particular should act now by discussing the options with their employer.” How to beat the tapered allowance However Mr Long says there are some steps higher earners can take to protect their retirement savings. For example making use of carry forward rules, which allow you to pay any unused allowance from the previous three tax years in the current tax year (2016/17) - this could give you an additional £130,000 to pay into your pension. He also says employers may be able to offer some flexibility. “Contributions to your workplace pension could push you over your new lower allowance, but your employer may offer different solutions to help you out. “This could include offering cash in lieu of pension contributions or potentially having them re-directed into an ISA or investment account so you can continue saving for retirement.” In addition, Mr Long says married people could beat the change by pumping money into a spouse’s pension. “If your own pension allowance is trimmed back it may be possible to fund for your spouse.” he explains.

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Is Working From Home Really More Flexible?

By Dawn Berryman Many of us seek work-from-home employment or start our own business because we want more flexibility. We want the ability to work the hours we choose, be with our children when we want and take care of our personal and family needs while we work. Is that realistic? There are many scenarios […]

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