Piles of trash left at the former Daniels Top-of-the-Poconos Resort in Canadensis have sparked an investigation by the Monroe County Municipal Waste Management Authority.A large pile of burned materials and several broken televisions which might be causing lead contamination to the ground were reported by a department investigator who visited the site Friday. Mattresses, burned and broken furniture and food packaging was found in a second pile. A fire extinguisher, overturned boat and [...]
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الثلاثاء، 3 مايو 2016
Business Briefcase: Frailey-Miller wins ATHENA award
Chamber of Commerce annual honor hails leading businesswomen Michele A. Frailey-Miller of Frailey Insurance and Investments was selected for the Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce's ATHENA Award. To achieve this award, the recipient must meet three specific criteria: To assist women to be the best they can be; to hold the highest level of professional [...]
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Jersey Mike’s is Giving Away Free Subs. Here’s How to Get Yours
Attention Jersey Mike’s fans: We found an easy way for you to earn free food from your favorite sub shop.
Sign up for a Jersey Mike’s Shore Points account and you’ll get a free regular sub!
Creating an account only takes a few minutes. The sign-up process is a little finicky, so you might have to send your confirmation codes more than once.
But be patient — you get free food at the end!
How to Get Your Free Jersey Mike’s Sub
- Follow the steps on your screen to create a Shore Points account and subscribe to text and email alerts. You can unsubscribe from either at any time.
Creating your account will earn you enough Shore Points Rewards points for a free regular sub.
Just click Shore Points when you open your app to see your point balance and redeem them in the store.
Enjoy!
Your Turn: Are you a Jersey Mike’s Subs fan?
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).
The post Jersey Mike’s is Giving Away Free Subs. Here’s How to Get Yours appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Best Hotel Credit Cards of 2016
The best co-branded hotel credit cards can help you earn free hotel stays, room upgrades, and more. Plus, some hotel credit cards make it easy to earn special status that can lead to even more benefits.
Still, there are other rewards credit cards that function as hotel credit cards without necessarily being affiliated with a specific hotel chain. These cards have programs that vary widely, but some offer flexible rewards or even travel credit you can use to book any hotel.
The right hotel credit card for your needs can vary greatly depending on your goals and travel style. If you want a card to score cheap getaways at hotels in your area, for example, almost any of the top co-branded hotel credit cards might work just fine. If you would rather stay in hostels or vacation rental properties, on the other hand, a card that doles out flexible travel credit might be a better deal.
Best Hotel Credit Cards for 2016
Before we dig into the details of each card’s offerings, here is a list of the best hotel credit cards we will cover in this resource:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred®Card
- IHG®Rewards Club Select Credit Card
- Marriott Rewards®Premier Credit Card
- Citi Prestige®
- Starwood Preferred Guest®Credit Card from American Express
- Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard®
- BankAmericard Travel Rewards®Credit Card
- Hilton HHonors™ Card from American Express
- Hilton HHonors™ Surpass®Card from American Express
Chase Sapphire Preferred®Card
While the Chase Sapphire Preferred®Card is more of a flexible rewards credit card than a hotel card, it has perks that let it fit into this category quite nicely. For starters, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to a slew of popular hotel loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio, including IHG Rewards, Hyatt Gold Passport, Marriott Rewards, and Ritz Carlton Rewards. Because of this, the Chase Sapphire Preferred®Card is an awesome companion card to any of the co-branded hotel cards Chase offers.
In addition, you can use Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book a room with any hotel chain at a 20 percent discount when you use the Chase travel portal. If you like to stay with different hotel brands or aren’t loyal to a specific brand, this is a huge perk. As a last resort, you can also redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points for cash back at a rate of one cent per point, which makes it easy to book any hotel or lodging option of your choice.
- Read here to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Earn 50,000 points after you spend $4,000 on your card within 90 days
- Earn 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases
- $95 annual fee, waived the first year
- No foreign transaction fees
IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card
The IHG Rewards Club Select Credit card has become infinitely popular among travel enthusiasts for several reasons. First, you can use your points to stay at this brand’s popular all-inclusive resorts. And second, this card qualifies you for Platinum status that helps you qualify for room upgrades, special perks and more.
While this card does have a $49 annual fee, it is waived the first year. If you choose to keep the card after the first year, however, you’ll get a free night at any one of IHG’s 4,900 hotels worldwide each year you are a cardholder. Plus, you’ll earn 5x points for each dollar spent at IHG properties, 2x points per dollar spent at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants, and 1x points on all other purchases.
- Read here to learn more about the IHG Rewards Club Select Credit card
- Earn 70,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 on your card within 90 days
- Enjoy a free night each year of card membership
- Earn 5x points at IHG properties, 2x points at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants, and 1x points for all dollars spent elsewhere.
- Automatic platinum elite status, as long as you remain a cardmember
- $49 annual fee, waived the first year
Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card
The Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a must-have for anyone who loves to stay at Marriott or Ritz Carlton properties. Since these programs are interchangeable, you can use the points to earn to stay at both brands of hotels and resorts.
With this card’s current offer, you’ll earn 80,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. Plus, you’ll earn 7,500 more points when you add an authorized user and they also make a purchase. Since free nights start at just 7,500 points (or 6,000 points for a PointSavers reward), that’s easily enough points for eleven free nights!
- Read here to learn more about the Marriott Rewards®Premier Credit Card
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, plus 7,500 points for adding an authorized user who also makes a purchase.
- Get a free night stay at a Category 1-5 property on your card member anniversary
- Earn 5 points for every $1 spent at 4,000 Marriott locations, 2 points for every $1 spent on airline tickets purchased directly with the airlines, at car rental agencies & restaurants and 1 point everywhere else
- $85 annual fee, not waived
Citi Prestige
The Citi Prestige® is yet another flexible travel card that can easily work as a hotel credit card. For a limited time, you’ll earn 50,000 points after you spend $3,000 on your card within 90 days. Other benefits include $100 off global entry, a $250 annual air travel credit, and your 4th night free on any hotel stay booked through their travel concierge.
In addition to using your points to book travel directly, you can transfer your Citi points to the Hilton HHonors program at a rate of 1.5:1, or to a handful of airline partners. Conversely, you can use your points on American Airlines for the superior value of 1.6 cents per point.
This card does charge a hefty annual fee, however, which means it probably won’t be worth it unless you’re sure you can take advantage of all of its benefits.
- Earn 50,000 points after you spend $3,000 on your card within 90 days
- Earn 3x points on air travel and hotels, 2x points on dining and entertainment, and 1x points on all other purchases
- $250 annual air travel credit
- $100 off Global Entry
- Complimentary 4th night hotel stay
- $450 annual fee, not waived
Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
With the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express, you get the best of both worlds in terms of hotel and airline perks. Most importantly, you can use your points to book hotels at rates that start at just 3,000 points per night. In addition, you can transfer your starpoints to more than 30 different airlines, including popular airline loyalty programs like American AAdvantage and the British Airways Executive Club.
The current signup bonus on this card is 25,000 starpoints after you spend just $3,000 in purchases within 90 days. Plus, you’ll receive free, in-room premium internet access and Boingo wifi at more than 1 million hotspots worldwide. The $95 annual fee is also waived the first year on this card, making it a stellar deal.
- Earn 25,000 bonus Starpoints® after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
- No foreign transaction fees
- Receive free in-room, premium internet access. Booking requirements apply.
- Enjoy complimentary, unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi on up to four devices at 1 million hotspots worldwide
- $95 annual fee, waived the first year
Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard®
The Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard® is another flexible travel credit card that works well as a hotel card and is a good introductory balance transfer credit card. By signing up for this card, you’ll earn 40,000 points after you spend just $3,000 within 90 days. Those points are worth $400 in travel credit, and you can use that credit to book a room with any hotel chain.
In addition to the signup bonus, you’ll earn 2x points for every dollar you spend. That’s a pretty sweet deal for any card that lets you redeem points for one cent each, but it’s even better when you take the signup bonus into account.
At the end of the day, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard® is a great hotel credit card for someone who wants to try a wide range of hotels and doesn’t want to deal with a specific loyalty program.
- Earn 40,000 points after you spend $3,000 on your card within 90 days
- Earn 2x points for every dollar you spend
- $89 annual fee, waived the first year
- 0% Introductory APR on balance transfers made in first 45 days after account opening
- Miles never expire
- No foreign transaction fees
BankAmericard Travel Rewards® Credit Card
The BankAmericard Travel Rewards® Credit Card is yet another flexible travel credit card that works well with hotels. With this card, you’ll earn an unlimited 1.5 points for every dollar you spend, plus 20,000 bonus points worth $200 in travel after you spend just $1,000 on your card within 90 days.
Since this is “travel credit” and not tied into a specific loyalty program, you can use your points to book any hotel without worrying about blackout dates or reward availability. Once you rack up a huge stack of points, you can redeem them for hotels, airfare, cruises, rental cars, baggage fees, or any other travel benefit you desire.
Best of all, this card never charges an annual fee!
- Earn 20,000 online bonus points when you spend $1,000 on your card within 90 days
- Earn an unlimited 1.5 points for every dollar you spend
- Book any hotel or travel experience you want with no restrictions or blackout dates
- No annual fee
Hilton HHonors™ Card from American Express
The current offer on the Hilton HHonors™ Card from American Express lets you earn 75,000 Hilton HHonors points after you spend $1,000 on your card within 90 days. In addition, this card makes earning points extremely easy. For example, you’ll earn 7x Hilton HHonors points for every dollar you spend at participating hotels and resorts, 5x points at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, and 3x points on all other purchases.
Plus, you can enjoy complimentary silver status just by being a cardholder.
- Earn 75,000 Hilton HHonors(TM) Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on your card within 90 days.
- Earn 7X Hilton HHonors points for each dollar spent at Hilton properties, 5x points at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations in the U.S., and 3x points on all other purchases
- Complimentary silver status
- No annual fee
Hilton HHonors™ Surpass® Card from American Express
If you’re looking to earn a larger signup bonus with the Hilton HHonors program, the Hilton HHonors™ Surpass® Card from American Express is probably your best bet. With this card, you’ll earn an amazing 100,000 Hilton HHonors points after you spend $3,000 on your card within 90 days for a limited time. Plus, the earnings structure on this card is downright amazing. By using your card for everyday purchases and travel, you’ll earn 12x points for each dollar spent at participating Hilton properties, 6x points for each dollar spent at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, and 3x points for each dollar spent on all other purchases.
Meanwhile, you’ll also earn Hilton gold status just for being a cardholder, plus the ability to earn Hilton HHonors diamond status after spending $40,000 on your card within a calendar year.
- Earn 100,000 Hilton HHonors points after you spend $3,000 on your card within 90 days
- Earn 12X points at participating hotels, 6x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, and 3x points on all other purchases
- Complimentary gold status
- $75 annual fee, not waived the first year
How to Get the Most Out of Your Hotel Credit Card
Signing up for a new hotel loyalty program is a smart move for anyone who travels frequently. However, there are plenty of ways to maximize the hotel points you earn – and get the most bang for your buck!
If you’re hoping to earn a ton of hotel points and score as much free travel as possible, consider these tips:
Pick a hotel loyalty program you already know and love.
Before you jump head first into a new loyalty program, it’s important to make sure it fits in with your travel style. For starters, you should make sure your new loyalty program actually has properties in cities you hope to visit. While most big loyalty programs have properties all over the world, that doesn’t necessarily mean they have one in your favorite city.
If you already stay with a particular brand all the time, picking up that brand’s co-branded hotel loyalty credit card is a no-brainer. Not only will you earn points for free hotel stays, but perhaps special status as well.
Consider a flexible travel credit card to rack up even more points.
If your favorite hotel loyalty program offers more than one credit card, you could consider getting them all to rack up even more points. If you love Marriott Rewards, for example, you could consider getting both the Chase Sapphire Preferred®Card and the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card. Since Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio, this is a no-brainer.
Of course, the same can be said for the IHG Rewards program and its co-branded hotel credit card. With more than one signup bonus and way to rack up hotel points, you can earn more free hotel stays over time.
Use your rewards card for as many purchases as you can, then pay it off right away.
No matter which hotel credit card you choose, you’ll want to make sure you use your card as much as you can to rack up as many points as possible. By using your card for everyday purchases, and especially in any category that offers “bonus points,” you can earn a lot more points and free hotel stays over time. Remember though, you’ll need to pay your card in full every month to avoid paying interest on your purchases.
Don’t forget about resort fees.
While most “free nights” you’ll earn with a hotel card won’t cost you a cent, certain high-end properties do charge resort fees. Whenever you are ready to book a free night, make sure to inquire about any taxes or fees so you can plan for them. While inconvenient, most resort fees aren’t very expensive and add up to no more than $30 per night.
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Does Money Truly Bring Independence and Security?
It’s been no secret that over the past few years Sarah and I have adopted a goal of financial independence. Our goal is to reach a point where we can live off of the income from our investments as early as we possibly can. It’s a straightforward goal, really, and it’s one that we work towards by finding additional ways to earn income as well as keeping our spending low.
There are two big reasons why we’re chasing this goal: freedom and security.
First of all, we really want to be free of the workweek grind. As most working Americans know, the grind of a typical workweek, repeated over and over, can really wear a person down. You’re often left feeling exhausted and you definitely feel as though there’s never enough time to try all of the things you want to do. We want this goal so that we can have more time to explore other endeavors.
Second, we want the security of having plenty of money in the bank even if things go wrong. Even if we find that we can’t sustain living in a financially independent state, we can still return to the workforce with the knowledge that we have a lot of resources to fall back on.
It makes sense from a financial standpoint, after all. Having plenty of money in the bank unquestionably does improve your personal freedom and your security.
But is that enough? How much security and independence does that really bring all on its own?
Potential Risks
Even with lots of money in the bank, there are still plenty of risks we face when it comes to our future.
The collapse of the dollar is a potential risk. If the political wheels turn the wrong way – and some might argue that this is already happening – the dollar could be rapidly devalued. We’re not financially independent any more if the dollar suddenly goes into rapid inflation. You can have a million dollars in the bank, but it’s not going to be that useful if a gallon of milk costs $500.
Large-scale societal problems also present a challenge. Even if the dollar isn’t devalued, other things such as a major plague or some kind of serious technological revolution can really change the rules of the game in a way that we didn’t expect. A situation where the normal supply lines for goods or services breaks down can cause a lot of difficulty in the lives of those who are not prepared for it.
Fraud and criminal acts are things that we need to be on guard for all of the time. While many such criminal acts that could target our wealth are ones for which we might have a legal response, some would be difficult to handle. Sometimes, life is going to punch you in the gut when you least expect it. Are you ready to handle picking up the pieces from this kind of disaster?
Familial and health issues could definitely drain our resources very quickly. Even with great health insurance, a major illness can burn through your resources very quickly. Family and legal issues can similarly damage one’s financial state, even with protections such as umbrella insurance.
Personal changes include any situation where your own personal beliefs, goals, and desires change over time. You might find that you’re not happy with parts of your life, and the truth is that money can’t solve everything. Financial freedom can hold open the doors to a lot of life changes, but many changes require other things in life like strong relationships and personal health.
These are just a few of the more obvious challenges that might occur that could damage one’s sense of financial independence, but they’re far from the only ones.
It’s obvious, then, that financial independence only gets you part of the way to your destination of maximum personal freedom. It’s definitely a key component, but if your goal is to build a life with as much freedom as possible balanced with some personal security against the unknown, you’re going to have to go beyond mere dollars and cents.
It is worth noting, before we get started, that money can actually help build many of the things below, but they also require a great deal of personal time and effort.
Additional Tools for Greater Freedom and Security
So, beyond mere dollars and cents, what kinds of things can you do to prepare your life for the maximum amount of personal freedom as well as protection against unforeseen events? Interestingly enough, many of these areas can also alleviate some of the reliance you may have on your personal wealth, too. You won’t need as much money if you pull off these things.
Here are some areas you can work on to build that kind of freedom.
Knowledge and Skills
What do you do if your toilet breaks? What if the light fixture in your family room stops working? What if your furnace stops working?
Do you call a repairman? If that’s your primary hope for fixing such things, you may find yourself in trouble in a difficult situation.
The reality is that the more you need to rely on the skills of others to go about your daily life, the less freedom you have. If you can’t fix your toilet when it breaks, then you’re relying on a plumber to maintain your indoor plumbing. If you can’t replace a light fixture in your family room, you need an electrician (or at least a handyman) to maintain indoor lighting. If you can’t make at least a reasonable shot at fixing an appliance, you’re relying on appliance repairpeople.
What exactly do you do if those people aren’t available? Does everything just descend into chaos quite rapidly?
The truth is that these kinds of skills are valuable for everyone to have, for a lot of reasons, but here are two big ones. First of all, the more skills you have, the easier it becomes to maintain things yourself and fix minor problems yourself with no help. If you know how to work on a car, you can fix minor car issues with no help, for example.
Second, if you have skills, you can trade those skills with others to gain other things. If you can fix your neighbor’s lawnmower, your neighbor might be able to help you fix something or give you something in return.
This extends to skills far beyond basic home and auto repair things. Any skill that you have that someone else might value in a crisis situation is worth having. Things like first aid, computer repair, bicycle repair, and so on are all well worth knowing how to do.
Here’s the solution: if you find yourself needing to pay someone else to do something for you, try to learn how to do it yourself first. You might find that you can’t actually do it for some reason, but it’s much more likely that you’ll find, if you spend some time learning, that the task really isn’t that hard to begin with, and if you do it a few times, it’s really not hard at all. That way, when you actually need that skill in the future or want to help a friend or a neighbor with that skill, you can easily call upon it.
Self-Sufficiency / Homesteading
Another key tool for maximizing personal freedom and minimizing your reliance on the services of others is through homesteading and self-sufficiency. When your home produces the resources you need to survive, then you’re not reliant on others providing those services.
For example, most people are reliant on the electrical grid to provide home energy for themselves, but people who have installed solar panels or a wind turbine are free from those needs and have all of the home energy they need.
If you buy all of your food from the grocery store, you’re reliant on the food supply chain. On the other hand, if you raise a lot of your food and store the extras, you’re not reliant on that food chain at all.
Consider investing in things like renewable energy at home through solar panels or a wind turbine. Also, consider starting a garden, even if it is not big enough to sustain all of your food needs. The knowledge you accumulate from doing this will be enough.
You may even want to consider installing water capture tools, such as rain barrels at the bottom of your downspouts, or even installing a well or a sandpoint for water. While you probably wouldn’t normally want to use that water for everyday purposes, it’s perfectly good for things like watering your garden or lawn.
Another part of this whole equation is knowing – and actually practicing – the preservation of some of the food that you grow. Do you know how to dry beans? Do you know how to can excess vegetables? In periods of disaster or societal unrest, knowing how to do such things can be very valuable.
Strong Relationships
Do you have a strong circle of friends in your immediate area that you can rely on when things are difficult? For instance, if you found yourself needing help, do you have people you could call on and reliably expect for them to be there?
I’m not talking about acquaintances or professional relationships or other such connections that are much more tenuous. I’m talking about people that will have your back through thick and thin, no matter what happens.
While it’s powerful to have such friends when things are good, having such relationships is absolutely vital if you’re making changes to your life. They’re also absolutely vital in situations where things become challenging. Having such relationships means that you have people you can rely on no matter what life happens to bring your way.
How can you cultivate such relationships? Be giving with yourself and the resources you can share. Give people time and effort and energy. Listen – and by listen I don’t mean futz with your cell phone while they’re talking or stand there trying to think of the next thing you want to say while ignoring what they’re saying. Those things are the bedrock upon which strong and lasting relationships are built, and it’s the ability to call upon those people when you really need them that can make life better – and make a disastrous situation a whole lot better.
Community Ties
While there are some similarities between community ties and strong relationships with people nearby, there are some distinct differences, too.
Community ties are lighter versions of those strong relationships. Community ties are the kind that will result in people giving you a helping hand when you need it, but not necessarily the kind that would be at your door any time of the day or night. Community ties are the kind where lots of people know your name and will say good things about you and give you a solid reputation, but won’t have your back in any situation.
What value do community ties have? Community ties make it easy to find work if you ever need it. Community ties make it easy to quickly find specific types of help if you ever need that. Community ties can form a great network of people who keep an eye on each other’s homes. Community ties are the invisible strings that make things better in countless little ways that you often don’t directly see, but you’re sometimes blown away when you do see them.
How can you build community ties? Get involved in local events in your town. Join a community organization. Help out with local charities. Learn the names of your neighbors and perhaps invite them over for dinner. Have a smile on your face when you go out in public and take the time to greet others and have brief conversations with them.
Those little steps seem small, but over time they add up to a great deal, and it’s that fabric of community that will help support you in countless ways if you put in the time and effort to do so.
Stewardship
Stewardship simply means taking care of the things that you own and are responsible for. It’s an easy concept, but it’s not one that we often put into practice. However, if you want maximum freedom in life, knowing how to care for the key things in your life is absolutely vital.
You practice stewardship with your possessions by taking care of them, cleaning them, and storing them properly. You practice stewardship with your home by keeping it clean and repairing it and doing maintenance. The same is true with your car.
Stewardship extends beyond those physical things, however. You practice stewardship with your relationships by putting in the effort to keep that contact going, by listening and helping when possible. You practice stewardship with your skills by putting them to the test on occasion.
When you practice stewardship, you end up with things that you can rely on, things that won’t fail when you need them. Sometimes things aren’t going to go perfectly, and when that happens, the person that has practiced smart stewardship and maintenance of the things in their life is going to reap the rewards, because those possessions and relationships will be there for them when they’re needed.
Take care of the things that you have. Know how to repair the things that you own. When they need replaced, buy things that will last for a long time. You’ll continually be glad that you did so.
Physical Health
You can have all of the assets in the world, but if you don’t have the physical health to enjoy them, not only are you going to miss out on their benefits, you’re also going to see many of your financial resources devoured in an effort to secure your remaining health.
The best solution, then, is to take proactive steps to help with your physical health.
It’s not exactly rocket science, people. Move around more. Eat a plant-based diet. Maintain some degree of portion control. Eat fewer sweets. If you do those things, you’re probably going to be in pretty good shape.
The challenge here is consistency. Eating one healthy meal won’t make you healthy. Having one busy day won’t do it, either. If your life routine involves unhealthy foods, you need to alter that routine. If your life routine involves not moving around very much, you need to alter that routine.
While you’re at it, it’s a good idea to get regular checkups with your doctor to keep tabs on your overall health. Medical screenings can identify problems when they’re still small, before they become big problems. When they’re small, they’re easier to fix and they’re far less expensive, too.
Mental Health
Hand in hand with your physical health is your mental health. Again, you can have all of the assets in the world, but without your mental health, it’s difficult to enjoy what those assets can bring into your life.
So, as with physical health, it’s absolutely vital to stay on top of things. This list of steps to maintain and improve mental health is very good:
1. Value yourself
2. Take care of your body
3. Surround yourself with good people
4. Give of yourself
5. Learn how to deal with stress
6. Quiet your mind
7. Set realistic goals
8. Break up the monotony
9. Avoid alcohol and other drugs
10. Get help when you need it
You might just notice that many of those steps are well in line with the other strategies from this article, such as building strong relationships and maintaining your physical health.
Final Thoughts
Here’s the truth: you can have all of the wealth in the world, but if you don’t have the things listed above – knowledge, skills, relationships, stewardship, health – your wealth won’t bring you freedom.
The truth is that financial independence is only one part of true independence. True independence, or as close to it as we can come in our world, comes from having the ability to solve most of life’s problems on your own or with the help of close relationships. The less we have to truly rely on others, the more independent we are.
If financial independence is a major goal for you, you should take steps to build other elements of true freedom while on your journey to financial independence. After all, the goal, in the end, is to maximize your personal freedom, and there’s no better way to do that than to make the basic elements of your life – your health, your relationships, your home – as free as possible.
Good luck.
The post Does Money Truly Bring Independence and Security? appeared first on The Simple Dollar.
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National Debt Up $1 Trillion Since December
National Debt Up $1 Trillion Since December
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3 Important Questions to Ask Before You Decide to Work From Home
Whether you choose to work from home for an employer or yourself, one major benefit most people expect is increased flexibility.
When you work from home, you can often set your own schedule, come and go from your workplace as you please, take care of household tasks throughout the day and care for children when you need to.
But does working from home really guarantee that flexibility?
How Working From Home Can Make Your Day Harder
Skipping the commute and set schedule of working in an office has obvious benefits for anyone craving autonomy in their workday.
But it also comes with drawbacks you may not realize until you’re stuck battling them to try to get your work done and enjoy time with your family.
Here are a few things Work at Home Woman recommends considering before you decide to work from home:
1. How Will It Impact Your Income?
If you want to start your own home-based business, you’ve probably already considered the potential income.
How does it compare with your current income, if you already have a full-time or part-time job?
Are you going to have to continue to work while you get your business off the ground to avoid cutting your family’s budget?
This potential for doubling up on work, at least in the beginning, can add an unexpected burden.
The extra hours you put in will leave fewer hours in the day and less flexibility for the non-work activities you may want to focus on.
How to Avoid a Financial Burden
Set realistic expectations.
Develop a clear business plan and reasonable budget, so you understand how many extra hours you’ll have to invest and for how long before you get the flexibility you’re looking for.
2. Can You Manage the Workload?
Whether you work outside of the home now or not, taking on new work is bound to be a challenge.
You’ll have to balance your new duties with the work you already do, like taking care of the house, raising kids, volunteering and a full- or part-time job.
Consider which of your current duties you can drop, which you can delegate or hire out, and which you have to continue after you start working from home.
How to Balance the Workload
Take it one step at a time.
Before you dive in, create a solid plan and become familiar with the steps that will help you take on your new work duties.
But don’t take them all at once.
Ease in, and slowly add new duties while you shed the old, so you’re not overwhelmed to the point of ineffectiveness.
3. How Will You Separate Work From Pleasure?
clownbusiness/Shutterstock
When you work at home, the lines between the two blur pretty easily.
Is it time to answer emails or tend to a sleeping baby?
Is the spare room a space for you to work or for your husband to organize his eBay inventory?
When does the work day end if you never leave the office?
This lack of clear distinction between work time and space versus family/personal time and space can mean you either never get work done or you never know when to stop working.
Either way, it’s a quick path to frustration, overwhelm and resentment.
How to Strike a Work-Life Balance
One of the most important things you can do when working from home is to designate time and space for work.
And do the same for family and personal time — especially if you tend to be a workaholic!
Leave your computer, phone and/or tablet aside when it’s time to hang out with the kids, eat dinner or catch up with your partner.
If you live alone, schedule “me-time” or social time with friends to get you away from the computer or out of the house to think about something other than work.
And when you’re working, make sure house or family duties are off your mind.
Schedule child or pet care during work hours. Stay away from distracting tasks like cooking meals and cleaning the house — you won’t believe how tempting those become when you’re facing a full inbox!
Your Turn: What helps you balance your workload when you work from home?
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).
The post 3 Important Questions to Ask Before You Decide to Work From Home appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Mobile users to pay less in Europe as new roaming rates take force
Holidaymakers will pay less to use their phone in Europe as new mobile roaming rates come into force.
Roaming rates have been falling since 2007 and the latest change, which took force on 30 April, marks the last reduction in European roaming prices ahead of the fees being abolished altogether from 15 June 2017.
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Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! 11 Freebies and Deals for Teachers
Teachers, you guys have really, really hard jobs.
You have to explain what colors and shapes are and the sounds that letters make. (Non-teachers: Go ahead, try this on a friend. It’s not that easy.)
You have to learn like 60 new names every single semester.
And, perhaps most horrifyingly, many of you have to grade final papers — a task I found so onerous while I was a teacher that I quit after just one year. Sorry, not sorry.
But much like Pretzel Day brings a joyful reprieve to the hard life of The Office’s Stanley Hudson, Teacher Appreciation Day has the potential to make all that tough work worth it.
Because on this one day, people finally recognize that a pop quiz means more work for you, too. Because they recognize that summers off only barely begin to make up for your job: trying to talk sense to hormone-fueled, not-yet-fully developed brains all day.
Because you deserve it.
… and mostly because free food.
Teacher Appreciation Week Freebies and Deals
Teachers touch everyone’s lives, so lots of vendors are showing their appreciation with freebies and discounts.
Many deals take place on National Teacher Appreciation Day — Tuesday, May 3 — while others last throughout the whole first week of May, which is Teacher Appreciation Week.
So once the final bell rings, get your hardworking butt out of the classroom and take advantage of some of these 11 rewards! Heaven knows you’ve earned them.
1. A. C. Moore Arts & Crafts
Need craft supplies for the classroom?
C. Moore Arts & Crafts will give you 20% off your entire purchase through May 7 — and yes, that goes for sale items, too!
2. Aerosoles
You’re on your feet all day long, so you’d better have comfortable shoes!
You’ll get 15% off any footwear items priced $39.99 or higher at Aerosoles — either make your purchase in-store or phone in the order.
3. Chick-fil-A
Because this southern fried chicken joint is franchised and each location is privately owned, there’s not an overarching deal — but we’ve seen lots of branches offering free or discounted food in honor of Teacher Appreciation Day.
Check with your favorite location to see what they’re up to! And if they don’t offer you free food… well, you know where you keep that ruler.
4. Chipotle
Your favorite burrito shop is offering a BOGO deal to educators of all ilks — homeschoolers included!
5. EVOS
Here’s one our local readers will love.
Grab a friend and head to EVOS — when they buy one meal or salad, you’ll get yours for free in honor of Teacher Appreciation Day.
6. Greene Turtle
Live near a Greene Turtle sports bar?
This Tuesday, enjoy a free meal of up to $12 in value, or $12 off a more expensive menu item.
7. McDonald’s
Check with your local McDonald’s location to see what they have in store for you this Tuesday — some branches are offering free value meals.
8. Minute Maid Park
Hey Texas teachers! Ready for the big Astros game against the Twins?
Minute Maid Park is giving away a free tote bag — perfect for those freshly graded papers and your requisite travel mug of coffee — through the fifth inning when you buy tickets to Tuesday’s game. Packages start at $25. Play ball!
9. New York & Company
It’s easy to wear the same safe, tired outfit to school every day.
Treat yourself to something new from New York & Co — you’ll get 30% off a purchase of $50 or more in stores or online using promo code 6226.
10. PDQ
Sick of the cafeteria food?
Get a free combo meal for lunch or dinner at PDQ this Tuesday with a valid teacher ID.
11. World of Beer
Need to unwind from a tough day of teaching?
Get a free Angry Orchard or Sam Adams draught at World of Beer anytime on Tuesday between 11 a.m. and 12 a.m.
Want More Awesome Teacher Discounts?
These 21 discounts are in effect all year long.
And hey — seriously — thank you, teachers. For all you do.
Your Turn: What do you teach?
Jamie Cattanach (@jamiecattanach) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder who was not at all tough enough to make it as a teacher. Her creative writing has been featured in DMQ Review, Sweet: A Literary Confection and elsewhere.
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10 Creative and Affordable Ways to Treat Mom Like a Queen on Mother’s Day
Moms are probably the hardest-working people in the world.
Many of them hold down full-time jobs on top of another, way-more-important job: Raising human beings.
And the day-to-day process of raising the future — while it sounds romantic — really boils down to a whole lot of never-ending dirty work: dishes, dinner, laundry…
That’s why you should go out of your way to treat mom like royalty on Mother’s Day. Every. Single. Year.
But what if you don’t have a whole lot of cash?
You can still put together a memorable Mother’s Day that’ll let her know how much you appreciate all she does. Here are 10 ways to do it.
1. Make Her Breakfast in Bed
Classic, right? There’s nothing quite as luxurious as waking up to a fresh breakfast you don’t even have to get out of bed for.
But if you have basic ingredients in your home, you can do it without spending anything… and even if you do have to make a supermarket run, eggs are pretty darn cheap.
Make it extra indulgent by paying attention to detail: Fold the napkin nicely, and garnish the meal with a splayed strawberry or orange slice.
Make a creative meal she hasn’t had before — it doesn’t have to be difficult to be new! Here’s a five-ingredient recipe that looks scrumptious and easy to make.
And one more thing? Make sure you only fill her coffee and orange juice halfway.
Waking up to coffee burns is no one’s idea of a great gift. Just make sure you bring the rest of the pot along, too.
2. Tell Her What She’s Taught You
This idea comes from TPH Senior Editor Heather van der Hoop — or, more accurately, her mother.
One Mother’s Day, her mom asked her children to write down just one thing they’d learned from her.
“That email chain got really mushy, really quickly,” van der Hoop said.
I can only imagine.
Make this gift even more of a tearjerker by presenting it in a beautiful, handwritten card. You can stick with just one important life lesson, or make a whole list.
3. Make Her Favorite Meal
If taking mom out to Sunday brunch or dinner at her favorite restaurant is too pricy an option, consider preparing her favorite meal — or some doable facsimile — yourself.
Want bonus points? Make it with her.
Even if it’s something new and complex, you’ll have a blast laughing at your clumsiness together in the kitchen… and eating the result, even if it’s not Pinterest-ready.
4. Give Her Flowers — Yourself
There’s absolutely no reason to pay for overpriced delivery flowers when you can probably walk outside your door and find something beautiful to gather. Just make sure you don’t grab anything poisonous, or to which mom might be allergic.
Plus, no matter how aesthetically pleasing or sweet, those professional bouquets and greeting cards were put together by hands who know nothing about your mom.
Take advantage of your opportunity to personalize your gift, and to put in the time and effort that make it more than just a decoration.
5. Clean the House
Yep, the whole thing. Heaven knows mom’s probably done it thousands of times.
Heck, you could even give her the gift of cleaning the house, say, once a month for a year. It’ll make her feel awesome — and it still won’t even come close to how many times she’s done it.
6. Get Creative
Remember when mom used to pin your crayon drawings up on the refrigerator? Take advantage of your talents and make something she’ll cherish for years to come.
If you can’t draw, maybe your way with words would make for a beautiful poem. Who knows? It may just end up on the refrigerator alongside your shoddily drawn Kindergarten efforts she still loves so much.
7. Have a Spa Day
Even if you don’t have $100 or more to blow at a fancy salon, pampering mom is a great way to show her how much you care. Paint each other’s toenails or give one another a spiffy new hairdo.
You can even try out some of these great DIY facials and scrubs to get even more luxurious and indulgent.
8. Host a Movie Night
Do you know what your mom’s favorite film is? You should.
But if you don’t, find out — and then spend an evening watching it with her. Provide popcorn, candy and wine. Definitely wine.
You could even binge a few episodes of that favorite show you always chat about on your weekly calls.
(P.S. Call your mother.)
9. Get Playful
Is your mom less about sitting back and watching a film and more about getting in the game?
Grab her favorite board game, and maybe a few neither of you have tried, and set up a family game night — or gather around a chessboard, just the two of you. Either way, you’ll spend an evening chatting and laughing.
10. Go Over Old Family Photos
This is my very favorite option on the list. Grab those dusty albums and take a walk down memory lane.
Just don’t say I didn’t warn you: Make sure you have some tissues handy.
Happy Mother’s Day!
It turns out money-free Mother’s Day treats might just be better than the uninspired chocolate and flowers you might go for otherwise.
They’re creative and thoughtful. Best of all? They’re all about spending time together.
That’s probably what mom really wants this year, anyway.
Your Turn: What are you doing for your mom this Mother’s Day? If you’re a mom, what’s the best money-free Mother’s Day gift you’ve ever received?
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 10 Creative and Affordable Ways to Treat Mom Like a Queen on Mother’s Day appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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'Bank of Mum and Dad' is now a £5bn mortgage lender
In 2016, parents in the UK will lend their children £5 billion to buy their first home or move up the property ladder, a new study has revealed.
This means the Bank of Mum and Dad will hep finance 25% of all UK mortgage transactions, making it a top 10 lender.
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Want to Save Money on Your Kid’s College Tuition? Don’t Pay It
“Have you started saving for college?” a co-worker whispered apprehensively when I announced my first pregnancy at the office.
The question wasn’t unreasonable… even though my kid will be in the graduating class of 2037.
The average bill for the current school year looks like this for four-year colleges, according to the most recent Annual Survey of Colleges from The College Board:
- Public (in-state): $20,846
- Public (out-of-state): $35,329
- Private: $45,170
Those figures reflect tuition, fees, room and board, as well as books and supplies billed by the school.
Couple those staggering numbers with the fact college tuitions have consistently increased faster than the national inflation rate, and my kid is looking at a massive bill two decades down the road.
Do sobering numbers like these keep you up at night, wondering how you’ll ever foot the bill?
Try this concept on for size…
Don’t pay for college.
Grab your smelling salts. You can absolutely do it.
My parents were educated beyond college and wholeheartedly believe in the importance of higher education. Still, while they offered to pay for room and board for their five kids, they gave us the responsibility of handling the rest of the bill.
At the end of the day, we all managed to enter excellent college and graduate programs, land great jobs and do it all with little or no debt.
Here’s how you can help your kids do the same:
1. Give Your Kids Information Up Front
Tell your children long before they’re 18 what you do and don’t plan to contribute to their college educations.
Let them know you won’t be paying for college.
Their high school academic performance and extracurricular activities weigh heavily in the acceptance process and decide many scholarships. So make sure your kids know they need to make the most of those years.
If you haven’t started already, teach them important financial responsibility skills, like saving, budgeting and managing debt.
2. Reduce the Costs
College doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Consider high-performing, lower-cost state schools, particularly those in your state. Buy textbooks used — or rent them.
Room and board costs an average $10,000 to $11,000 annually, according to The College Board. Save some money by finding an on-campus or near-campus room that allows your child to make their own meals.
Have them get a roommate or three. College is more fun with roommates anyway.
If you’re all willing, have your kid live at home during college for free or a minimal cost.
3. Take Advantage of High School
Fewer required courses needed in college means a smaller tuition bill.
Make sure your kid takes as many college preparatory and Advanced Placement classes as possible. Have them sign up for the CLEP exams their desired schools accept.
By taking these steps, they can bypass introductory college classes and even receive college credits before matriculating.
Additionally, consider investing financially in a private high school education to set your child up for success.
Explore your local high schools’ college placement programs, their guidance on scholarship applications and statistics for money awarded and National Merit scholars. Look into the extracurriculars college admission boards love, like leadership opportunities, service clubs and honor societies.
A small investment in a quality high school education can give your kid the personalized resources to prepare for AP and CLEP exams, craft those all-important personal statements for college applications, require fewer (if any) remedial classes in college and connect with influential alumni — all of which can help save big sums of cash in tuition costs.
4. Major in a High-Paying Field
Admittedly, your vote on your kid’s major is pretty minimal if they’re the one footing the bill.
However, encourage your child to major, minor or at least take a number of courses in STEM subjects, even if their dream is to be a word-class painter.
If they have skills in a lucrative field they can use (or fall back on) after college, they’ll be better equipped to support themselves financially and repay any loans.
5. Get Involved in Finding Money
Not paying for college doesn’t necessarily mean you should leave your children twisting in the wind.
Together, work on identifying scholarships and contests that award money to students.
Think outside the box by looking for low-competition scholarships, like those offered through your employer, church or community groups. Every little bit helps.
Be sure to accurately fill out the FAFSA and any school-specific aid forms and submit them on time.
One mom’s system helped her son earn more than $100,000 in scholarships!
6. Be Smart About Loans
If you own property or a car, you’ve likely taken out at least one loan in your life — while your kid probably has no such life experience.
Use your know-how to help intelligently filter through loan options.
Crunch some numbers or use an online calculator to estimate post-college monthly payments and determine a reasonable maximum amount your kid should borrow.
7. Consider Loaning Money to Your Kids at No (or Low) Interest
This one isn’t for the faint of heart.
If you fully trust they will follow the repayment terms and the loan won’t impact your relationship, consider alleviating some of your child’s financial burden with a small personal loan at low or no interest… but only if you can afford it.
Put it all in writing and keep meticulous records to avoid confusion down the line.
8. Get a Job
It’s tried and true.
Have your kid get a part-time job or freelance during the school year and pick up extra hours during summer and winter breaks.
Urge them to save their earnings from part-time jobs in the years leading up to college so they have a financial cushion.
9. Look Into Tuition Reimbursement
Many companies, volunteer organizations and military groups will contribute toward or reimburse you for significant portions of your college costs if you work within their ranks.
Have your child consider the possibility of taking reimbursed night classes while working during the day. Or, delay college for a year or more to serve in an organization that will pay college costs.
Do You Plan to Pay for Your Kids to Go to College?
Don’t listen to your friends who are sacrificing their retirement funds for college savings plans.
Ensuring your children get high-quality educations doesn’t mean you have to foot the bill or that they have to go broke in the process.
My husband and I are still discussing how much — if any — of the first college bill we’ll cover in 17 years. The thought of paying nothing more than living expenses is still unnerving to him, but we’ve seen it work.
My parents never opened their wallets for any of my college bills. Without their money — but with the priceless tools and guidance they gave me — I got myself through those four years debt-free and have an enduring sense of accomplishment.
That’s what I want to give my kids.
Your Turn: Will you try this with your kids?
Megan Nye is a freelance writer and blogger who paid out less than $1,000 to earn her math and engineering degrees. She offers practical advice on seizing control of your time, making smart money choices, and saving your home from the brink of chaos on her blog, Prioritized Living.
The post Want to Save Money on Your Kid’s College Tuition? Don’t Pay It appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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The Best Affiliate Marketing Tips For Bloggers
By Kimi Clark As a blogger, we use affiliate links to help us earn a living. But when you’ve worked hard to build an audience, the last thing you want it to think is that your only purpose is to sell something! That’s why we’re sharing the best affiliate marketing tips for bloggers with you […]
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