Stroudsburg resident graduates from Pratt InstituteBROOKLYN, N.Y.— Stroudsburg resident Joe Ghaida received a architecture degree from New York City's prestigious Pratt Institute at its 127th Commencement ceremony. Held at the iconic Radio City Music Hall. Ghaida was one of nearly 1,000 graduating students to be awarded their degree.Wilkes University students and faculty participate in summer researchWILKES-BARRE — [...]
Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/2aP89p5
الأربعاء، 3 أغسطس 2016
ESU student group wins award
The East Stroudsburg University chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association received the Bronze Award for the 2015-2016 academic year. This award recognizes any chapter that has gone above and beyond expectations. The NSSLHA chapter at ESU has been involved in multiple service projects including work with the community Relay for Life program, Homecoming and a charity fund raiser for Operation Smile, an international organization that provides surgeries for children in [...]
Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/2aCTqu1
Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/2aCTqu1
Extraordinary nurses recognized at PMC
Nurses at Pocono Medical Center are being honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.July's DAISY Award recipient goes to Ellouise Prince, RN of the Cardio Vascular Unit. Ellouise was nominated by a family member of a patient who received care from Ellousie.The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, California, and was established by [...]
Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/2aOaK1U
Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/2aOaK1U
Ofgem moves towards 'more competitive, fairer energy market'
A series of measures including capping pre-paid meter prices and encouraging people to shop around will be introduced in order to create a “more competitive, fairer energy market”, the UK’s energy regulator announced today.
Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2aycNGO
SeaWorld Says Thank You to Florida First Responders with a Free Ticket
Want to get up close and personal with sea life? Have a kid or two who’d love to meet Nemo and the gang?
If you’re a first responder and a Florida resident, you can snag an introduction to Dory without paying a dime.
SeaWorld Orlando is honoring Florida first responders’ service and sacrifice by offering a free single-day ticket this month.
And since it’s way more fun with friends and family, you can get up to four guest tickets discounted to just $49.50 — a pretty decent deal, since they usually start at $69.
Free Tickets to SeaWorld Orlando for Florida First Responders
SeaWorld’s deal extends to current and former law enforcement officers, fire rescue first responders, emergency medical technicians and 911 operators.
Although the registered first responder must be a Florida resident, her guests need not be residents to use the discounted tickets.
Both complimentary first responder tickets and any discounted guest tickets must be purchased by Aug. 30, but they can be used through Sept. 30.
Law enforcement, fire rescue and EMTs can register online here, but 911 operators must present valid identification in person at the park in Zone B.
Thanks for working hard to keep our community safe, first responders! Now go have some fun — even if it gets a little wet.
Your Turn: Will you take advantage of this free ticket to SeaWorld, Orlando?
Jamie Cattanach is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. Her writing has also been featured at The Write Life, Word Riot, Nashville Review and elsewhere. Find @JamieCattanach on Twitter to wave hello.
The post SeaWorld Says Thank You to Florida First Responders with a Free Ticket appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2auUCEB
Yeah, Buoy! This Seas-onal Job Pays You $11K to Live on a Cruise Ship
Are you in the market for a unique seasonal job? Well, American Cruise Lines is hiring 10 deckhands for the fall season.
This is an ideal position for recent grads or students taking a semester off. It could also be great for anyone who just wants a break and a fun, temporary job.
You’ll live onboard a cruise ship for 16 weeks and help with an array of tasks, from customer service to “participating in steering the ship,” as well as standard maintenance and cleaning.
As is typical of this kind of work, you’ll face long work days and perhaps a bout of homesickness — but you’ll get unique work experience in a lucrative industry, see some awesome sights and bank a lot of money in just a few months.
The position pays between $700-$900 per week. That’s at least $11,200 in income!
Plus, you’re sequestered on a cruise ship with room, board and meals provided, so you won’t face temptations to blow your paycheck. You’ll arrive home four months later with a serious nest egg.
Deckhand Job Requirements
You don’t need previous experience for this position, so it’s an opportunity to break in if you also want to pick up future cruise ship jobs.
You must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma, pass a pre-employment drug test, have no “major arm or neck tattoos,” and have the stamina for some heavy lifting and long hours.
This is U.S.-based employment — the cruise line is based in Jacksonville, Florida — so you must be authorized to work in the U.S.
Are you ready to get in shape and get a tan while friends on the mainland settle in for winter? You can learn more and apply here.
Your Turn: Have you worked a unique seasonal job?
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 Yeah, Buoy! This Seas-onal Job Pays You $11K to Live on a Cruise Ship appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2alx1Ao
Keep Your Kids Safe Online With Norton by Symantec (Review)
This post is brought to you by CJ Affiliate’s VIP Content Service. Thank you Norton by Symantec for sponsoring this post. While this was a sponsored opportunity from Norton, all content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Even though we limit screen time at my house, my kids still spend plenty of time on tablets and computers.
While sometimes it’s for fun, their time in front of the computer is also necessary for various types of school work from learning modules to reading assignments.
Still, it’s a scary world out there. As the father of small kids, I am keenly aware of how dangerous the internet can be.
From predatory websites to addresses with unsuitable content, there are numerous ways for kids to get into trouble on the web – even when they are innocent.
To keep my kids safe from dangerous web content, I use Norton by Symantec on as many of our devices as possible.
Not only does using this product let my kids explore the web freely and safely, but it keeps track of the sites they visit so I can keep close tabs on their internet use.
Norton Security Review
Norton Security’s suite of products were practically created for families like mine – you know,
Norton Family Premier is the top product for families with young children who explore the web. While it can purchased on its own, it is also included with .
The following list includes some of my favorite benefits of the Norton Family Premier package:
- Know at a glance when and where your kids spend time online – Receive valuable feedback on your children’s internet use, including the websites they visit and when they visited them.
- Gain valuable insights that lead to open, informed conversations – Knowing how your children spend their screen time can help you tackle problems before they arise. And if certain websites become a problem, Norton Security makes it easy to block them.
- Use simple settings to make the Web safe for kids to explore – Norton Security’s user-friendly settings make it easy to block inappropriate website and content so your children cannot get access.
- Help teach balance and healthy habits without taking away kids’ freedom – Monitoring your children’s internet use behind the scenes makes it easier to assess your judgment as a parent without nitpicking or being confrontational. With Norton Security, your kids are free to search the parts of the web you already approve.
- Easily protect kids’ private information and online reputations – With so many predators online, this feature is crucial for families to have. With Norton Security, your children are prevented from sharing most private or personal information on the web.
- Easily protect all your kids’ devices with a single solution. Most families these days have multiple computers and handheld devices. With Norton Security, you can protect them all in one fell swoop.
Other Norton Features to Consider
Another cool feature offered by Norton is search supervision. Not only can you monitor your family’s website visits and time spent on the internet, but you will also get a list of the words and phrases they have searched for on the web. If anyone in your family begins searching for terms you aren’t comfortable with, you’ll have this information, even though the software prevents them from visiting off-limits websites.
While this might put you in an uncomfortable position, it’s crucial to know the kinds of things your kids are searching for on the web. If a problem is brewing in their lives or they are going down a dangerous path, their internet search history can offer insights that can help you get them back on track – before it’s too late.
In addition to security features that focus on safety, Norton also offers some really fun and interesting perks and security features for people who travel. If you lose your phone while on the go, for example, you can log into your Norton account and take a picture of its surroundings to see if you can figure out where it’s at.
If you find it has been stolen or want to make sure no one accesses your private information while you’re recovering your phone, you can also wipe all data remotely.
These travel features, in particular, are part of the Norton Mobile Security package, which is covered in Norton Security Standard (1 device), Norton Security Deluxe (5 devices) and Norton Security Premium (10 devices).
And when it comes to backing up travel photos taken on your phone, Norton has you covered once again. Included in the Norton Security Premium package is a comprehensive backup plan.
Using this feature, you can upload your photos from your trip into backup and access them anywhere. And if your phone disappears or is stolen, you’ll still have access to your photos through your Norton account.
On top of these perks, Norton’s Identity Safe is another feature that every family needs. Included in all Norton products, it allows the user to track and manage all passwords for personal accounts and can even generate strong passwords for those who get frustrated coming up with their own.
Identity Safe also works on all types of devices, meaning it will function seamlessly no matter which standard computer, laptop, or device you’re using at any given time.
Final Thoughts
In today’s world, it’s important to protect your family in any way you can. And although we might hate to admit it, the internet is one place where impressionable kids can be led astray. Norton products were created to help each of us monitor internet access and use from the very beginning, but without watching over our children’s shoulders at every turn.
The internet – and the world – can be a scary place. As parents, we need all the help we can get when it comes to protecting our kids.
Source Good Financial Cents http://ift.tt/2aRifH7
Is Low-Interest Debt ‘Good Debt’?
For the past several years, the United States has been in a period of very low interest rates on many types of loans. Home loans can be had below a 4% interest rate - that’s substantially below what’s normal historically. Car loans are at a similar low point in terms of interest rates, too.
Because of these low rates, many financial gurus like to talk about the idea of “good debt” and “bad debt.” They often separate these debts based on some combination of interest rate and purpose into two categories, one of which usually includes a home mortgage and student loans (and perhaps a first car loan), and another which includes everything else, particularly credit cards.
In earlier times, the logic was that you should pay off all of your debts as fast as possible and strive for debt freedom. The logic then, however, was based on the fact that interest rates were relatively high. Home loans below 4% haven’t really ever existed before this for extended periods.
So, it comes down to this. Is there such a thing as a “good debt”? Or is the traditional view that all debts are “bad” a reasonable view?
Here’s my take on it.
First of all, my feeling is that debt itself, regardless of interest rate, is a shackle. You’re locked into debt payments each and every month, regardless of the interest rate. Those payments require you to have a higher income level in order to pay them off than you would need to have without that debt.
Think about it. If you have a credit card debt that requires a minimum payment each month of $100, you need to be bringing in $100 a month more than you would without that payment. If you have a car payment that requires you to make a $300 payment each month, then you need to be bringing in $300 a month more than you would without that payment.
That same phenomenon is true for every debt that you have.
The counterargument against that is that the item you’re getting from that money you borrowed is both valuable enough and easy enough to sell that if you were in a pinch, you could recoup the borrowed money, or else that the item you bought is necessary for you to earn money.
So let’s walk down that road a little bit.
A student loan is basically illiquid. You can’t sell what you get from a student loan to anyone, at least not directly.
The idea behind a student loan is that you’re going to get education and certification because of that investment, and that education and certification is going to increase your income enough to pay for the student loan itself, the interest on that loan, and the lost wages from the time spent studying.
That’s not always a guarantee, though, and that’s why we see many students in situations where they’re buried beneath a mountain of student loans and having to use other forms of debt just to keep their heads above water while they pay off those debts.
It works out well for some. It does not work out well for others.
Is it a “good debt,” though? I think that a student loan is a reasonable option on the table, particularly for someone who knows why they’re going there and what they wish to study, and has the internal skills to make the college experience a success. In other words, it is possibly a “good debt” for the right person, but it’s often not a “good debt” at all.
What about a home loan? A home loan uses a house as collateral, meaning that if you can’t pay the debt, they take the house. I tend to view all home loans as essentially “rent to own” arrangements, where you agree to rent the house from the bank for a certain number of years upon which you’re handed the deed to the house.
Most of the time, a home grows in value over time at a fairly slow rate (in some situations, it’s faster growth; in others, it can drop in value), which means that when you sell it, you’re going to theoretically walk away with more cash than you put into it.
But is that a good debt? Well, you’re going to have to pay for housing one way or another, so I think a mortgage on an entry-level home is a good debt. However, I think a mortgage on a home that’s anything much above an entry-level home stops being good debt for the reason described above – it forces you onto a high-wire act where you have to have a high income to keep paying the mortgage.
My feelings on a car loan are similar. If you don’t have a car and need one to get to work, a car loan to get you a car is better than nothing at all. However, having said that, a car loan to buy a nice car isn’t what I would call good debt.
A car loan to buy a new car is actually a pretty significant financial mistake, as the second you drive the car off the lot, the car immediately depreciates significantly and you’re underwater on that loan. You have to make a significant number of payments to even have the possibility of being able to escape them, and those payments are often quite high. Plus, you’re facing the challenge of having to sell that car if you’re in a financial pinch.
- Related: Should You Always Buy a Used Car?
What about investments, then? Many people encourage the use of debt in order to invest. For example, some might argue that an opportunity to borrow money at 4% to invest in something with an average annual return of 7% is a good idea.
I think this is an awful idea, at least in terms of personal debt. There are situations where you might wish to do such a thing within the structure of a business for which you are not liable, but if you do this personally, you’re putting your personal finances at serious risk.
Why? You might earn more in investments, but past performance in investments is never a guarantee of future returns. While you’re hoping for those returns, you’re locked down in debt payments — and if that investment ever goes awry or you can’t pay those bills, you’re going to be in an awful financial state.
The only debt I would remotely call a “good debt” is one that is purely to get you started. It takes care of a basic need, like just getting back and forth to work or keeping a roof over your head. A student loan might qualify here if you’ve taken care of every possible prerequisite you can outside of school, you know exactly what you’re going to study, and you’re going in as prepared for success as you possibly can; a big debt to “find yourself” is a mistake because you can engage in that without going into debt (like saving up to backpack around the country or around Europe for a while).
Debts for things like a nice car or a home that’s anything bigger than a starter home are not good debts. They might be debts that you’ve convinced yourself that you need, but that does not qualify them as good debts.
Again, the reason is that you’re locking yourself down into the high-wire act of debt payments for something you purely want. A brand new car is a want, not a need; a very basic used car might arguably be a need. A large home is a want, not a need; a very basic starter home might be a need in some situations.
Going into debt for something you want and don’t need is merely an amplification of something that’s already a bad choice. The bad choice in question here is buying something that you want when you can’t actually afford to do so. When you can’t afford to do it and buy it anyway, that’s a mistake; when you have to use debt to do so, it’s a mistake that will haunt you for a long while.
So, is there such a thing as “good debt”? In my view, there is, but it’s very narrow. It’s for a entry-level used car or a small starter home or schooling that you’re primed to succeed at. Debt for pretty much anything else is a debt for something you want, not something you need, and that’s never a good trade for the kind of high wire act that such a move introduces into your life.
Good luck!
Related Articles:
- Debt Diaries: Real-Life Stories of Debt, Bankruptcy, and Recovery
- Two-Sided Coin: Is Debt the Devil?
- 11 Ways to Get Out of Debt Faster
The post Is Low-Interest Debt ‘Good Debt’? appeared first on The Simple Dollar.
Source The Simple Dollar The Simple Dollar http://ift.tt/2aT7Wz5
Hate the D.C. Metro? Here’s Your New Favorite Way to Commute for $2.15
When you’re stuck standing by the tracks trying desperately to get to work on time, a delayed train might seem like the worst problem in the world.
And for commuters in Washington, D.C., it’s a problem encountered a little too often in recent years.
Even those of you far from our nation’s capital have probably heard about the issues surrounding its subway system in recent years.
But as of Aug. 1, Washingtonians have a new option on their list of affordable ways to get to work — and on time, at that.
Rideshare company Via added Washington, D.C. to its service coverage area, previously limited to only New York City and Chicago, on Monday.
Better yet? Rides are just $2.15 — the same amount you’ll pony up to ride the District’s lethargic metro.
Beat D.C. Metro Delays with Via
Via is a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft, with a couple of significant differences.
First of all, it only offers shared pool rides — there’s no private car treatment available.
But for that reason, it boasts insanely competitive pricing, starting at just $5 in Manhattan and $3.95 in Chicago.
It’s also committed to ensuring its drivers receive a liveable wage of at least $20 per hour in net earnings, according to the Washington Observer — which stands in stark opposition to the fare cuts Uber’s reportedly been levying.
And with Washington’s metro under extensive reconstruction, Via saw a great opportunity to expand its business while bringing reliable, affordable transportation to the commuters who need it most.
“Washingtonians are in desperate need of a system that can fix their commute during this period of extensive Metro maintenance work,” Daniel Ramot, Via co-founder and CEO, said in a statement according to The Observer.
“And we’re thrilled to be answering the call.”
The tax-free $2.15 is similar, and in many cases lower, than existing metro fares. Plus, additional riders in your party ride for just $1 per passenger. Find the full pricing information here.
The best part of all? Your ride won’t only cost the same, it’ll probably get you there in a more timely fashion — and you won’t have to jam yourself into an underground tube.
Compared to a subway, a shared car is pretty darn close to the lap of luxury.
Your Turn: How many times have metro reconstruction projects made you late for work?
Jamie Cattanach is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder who’s really glad she doesn’t live in Washington D.C. right now. Her writing has also been featured at The Write Life, Word Riot, Nashville Review and elsewhere. Find @JamieCattanach on Twitter to wave hello.
The post Hate the D.C. Metro? Here’s Your New Favorite Way to Commute for $2.15 appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2aunarm
What Happens When You File for Bankruptcy? Here’s What to Expect
There’s a particular scene from “The Office” that I love.
Michael Scott, regional manager for paper company Dunder Mifflin, is having some money troubles. On the advice of a colleague, he walks into the office and yells: “I. Declare. Bankruptcy!”
Assuming this has done the trick, Michael begins cutting up all of his credit cards.
Not so fast. Declaring bankruptcy isn’t quite that easy.
Here’s a quick primer on what happens when you file for bankruptcy.
What is Bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy is a legal process that allows consumers to eliminate or repay some of their debts.
“Bankruptcy is basically an opportunity for a consumer to get a fresh start,” said Ira Rheingold, executive director for the National Association of Consumer Advocates.
“That’s why bankruptcy laws were created — to give people an opportunity to have their debts forgiven and to get a fresh start on their financial life.”
For individuals, there are two types of bankruptcy under the law: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.
Chapter 7 is the most common type of bankruptcy. Last year, the U.S. Courts recorded 519,130 Chapter 7 filings and 299,515 Chapter 13 filings.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy, sometimes called straight bankruptcy, is a three- to six-month process that allows you to get rid of most or all of your debts. After you file, a bankruptcy trustee may sell some of your assets to repay your creditors.
To file Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you have to show you don’t have the means to repay your debts over a period of years. If you have or make too much money, a judge may decide that you need to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy instead.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy, also known as wage-earner bankruptcy, is an option for individuals who have a reliable source of income that can be used to repay a portion of their debts. Under this type of bankruptcy, a trustee creates a repayment plan that lays out how you plan to pay down your debt over three to five years.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy comes with some debt limits: You can only have $383,175 in unsecured debt and $1,149,525 in secured debt, according to the U.S. Courts. There are no debt limits for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Why Would You File for Bankruptcy?
People typically file for bankruptcy when they have large amounts of unsecured debt, which is debt that’s not secured by an underlying asset, like a house. The most common types are credit card and medical debt.
They may be out of work for an extended period of time, their wages are being garnished by creditors or they may be worried about the bank foreclosing on their home.
“Bankruptcy should be considered as the last resort for debt,” said Joji Varghese, a bankruptcy counselor at ClearPoint, a nonprofit finance education agency. “For example: Eviction, foreclosure, wage or bank account garnishment.”
Bankruptcy may not be a good option if you’re what’s known as judgment proof — that is, you don’t have any wages for a creditor to garnish or property for them to place a lien on. You’re typically considered judgment proof if your main source of income is some form of public assistance.
“You can’t get blood from a rock — debt collectors can bother you to the ends of the earth,” Rheingold said.
“People who file bankruptcy are people who have some income that might be in danger. Their wages are being garnished, they have a bank account, they have a house. You don’t have enough present income to pay your debts fully and if you don’t take action, you could lose your home or your car.”
You may want to consider some other options instead of bankruptcy, including credit counseling, working out a settlement deal with some or all of your creditors or selling your property to help pay down your debt.
Many people find themselves thousands of dollars in debt, but with a little hard work, they pay it down on their own.
What Happens When You File for Bankruptcy?
With each type of bankruptcy, you’re required to file a petition with the federal bankruptcy court in your district.
Many people consult a bankruptcy attorney before filing and work with one throughout the legal process. Since they understand that you’re probably short on cash, many attorneys will work with you by setting up a payment plan.
You’ll pay a handful of administrative and filing fees for your case. Expect to fork over roughly $300 to file bankruptcy. You can apply to have Chapter 7 fees waived or set up a fee payment plan for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
When you file, the court will want to know all about your financial affairs: your debts, your income, your assets and your monthly expenditures.
The court will appoint an impartial trustee to administer your case. An automatic stay goes into effect, which prevents creditors from trying to collect the money you owe them.
You typically won’t spend much time in court or in front of the bankruptcy judge — it’s mostly an administrative process carried out by your trustee.
You may, however, need to attend a meeting of the creditors. At this meeting, the trustee will ask you and your creditors questions as part of their fact-finding investigation into your finances.
Ultimately, the bankruptcy judge will decide whether to discharge your debts, a decision that releases you from personal liability from certain debts and bars creditors from taking action against you.
Keep in mind: Even if you file a successful bankruptcy case, some debts never go away, such as student loan debt, child support, alimony and most tax debts.
What Will Bankruptcy Do to My Credit Score?
Yes, bankruptcy can significantly lower your credit score.
A bankruptcy filing gets reported to the creditor bureaus and can stay on your credit report for up to 10 years. It’s a red flag to lenders that you may not be able to repay any money they let you borrow.
“A potential lender who sees that bankruptcy as a part of a consumer’s credit report information will view it as an extremely negative item, worse than delinquencies or accounts in collections,” said Varghese.
But not all financial experts are convinced that bankruptcy is the worst thing you can do for your credit.
Some believe that bankruptcy is the first step toward rebuilding your credit, learning how to manage your finances and staying out of debt for good.
“If you’re in a position where you have to contemplate bankruptcy because you have so much debt, bankruptcy is not going to do any more harm to your credit than all of the debts you already have that are accumulating against you,” Rheingold said.
“Bankruptcy may be the first step to help you rebuild your life and your credit.”
Your Turn: Have you considered bankruptcy?
Sarah Kuta is an education reporter in Boulder, Colorado, with a penchant for weekend thrifting, furniture refurbishment and good deals. Find her on Twitter: @sarahkuta.
The post What Happens When You File for Bankruptcy? Here’s What to Expect appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2aSPart
How to Setup a Moneymaking Blog … FAST
By Holly Reisem Hanna One of the biggest concerns for me when I launched my blog was what platform to use. I knew I had to purchase a domain name and hosting, but how to bring them together and make them work was a mystery to me. Because I was a new to tech world, […]
Source The Work at Home Woman http://ift.tt/1JfaI9e
Source The Work at Home Woman http://ift.tt/1JfaI9e
Nine Quotes From ‘Walden’ That Prove It’s the Only Personal Finance Book You Need
There are innumerable personal finance books stocking the shelves of bookstores coast to coast. I’m sure they all have useful bits of information in them.
However, I’ve always felt that one of my favorite books contains enough nuggets of financial wisdom to displace them all. If push comes to shove, I can follow the principles laid out in its text and believe that my money will be just fine.
That book is Henry David Thoreau’s Walden.
The following nine quotes demonstrate that Thoreau was ahead of his time when it comes to simple living, financial planning, and thinking about your career:
“The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run.”
Your earn money with your time and energy, and you never get it back. So when you pay money for an item, you’re actually exchanging a portion of your life.
Sometimes it’s hard to remember this simple concept, which is why I find it helpful to revisit Thoreau’s timeless wisdom on this topic. This is an idea he comes back to again and again, probably because it’s so hard for us to get it through our heads.
“As with our colleges, so with a hundred ‘modern improvements’ there is an illusion about them; there is not always a positive advance… our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.”
Not all technological advances actually improve the life of an average person. This one seems particularly pertinent with the rise of smartphones, which offer wonderful advantages but also suck up our time and money.
How many of us have reflected on our day before going to bed, wishing we hadn’t spent those three hours going down a Wikipedia rabbit hole? While our gadgets can vastly improve our lives, they can help you waste your life, too. You don’t want to find yourself killing time on your phone that you could be spending with your family or investing in a money-making side hustle.
And while it’s easy to get sucked into the costly habit of updating your smartphone every time a “new-and-improved” model comes out, remember that more often than not, the latest iteration of a device may not provide much, if any, extra value to you, depending on how you use it.
“I intend to build me a house which will surpass any on the main street in Concord in grandeur and luxury, as soon as it pleases me as much and will cost me no more than my present one.”
Thoreau realized early on that less is more when it comes to housing. A smaller living space means less taxes to pay, fewer rooms to clean and heat, and less stress overall. We could all benefit from considering this quote when we’re bombarded with advertising telling us to buy as much house as we can afford.
“A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.”
This is another timeless quote that stands on its own in terms of its power and simplicity. Reining in your desire to be a typical consumer can lead to far greater riches in the long run.
Happiness doesn’t come from buying a pressure cooker during Prime Day on Amazon.com. It comes from being able to appreciate the things you have that really matter to you.
“Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new.”
This might be my favorite quote in the book. There’s nothing I enjoy more than looking at old pictures of my Dad and making fun of his short shorts, perm, lapels, and pretty much anything else related to his style. But, I’m sure my kids will do the same to me (at least I never wore any Ed Hardy).
Why waste our money on fancy clothes and trends of the moment? Style is subjective and fleeting. If you wear things that are comfortable and affordable, you’ll be fine.
“All news… is gossip, and they who edit and read it are old women over their tea.”
A curious bias against old women who enjoy hot beverages aside, this quote speaks volumes about how little value Thoreau placed on keeping up with the latest news. His philosophy can apply equally well to stock market news.
If you’re constantly listening to the Jim Cramers of the world and chasing the latest investment trends, you’re just going to reduce your overall returns. Better to make a plan early on and stay the course.
“God himself culminates in the present moment, and will never be more divine in the lapse of all the ages.”
Nothing about enjoying the present moment requires spending money. All of us can take more moments out of our day, no matter how stressful and hectic they are, to appreciate the simple beauties all around us.
I find it helpful to take micro breaks when I’m working. When I notice I’m becoming overwhelmed or angsty, I look out the window and try to find something to appreciate. Often it’s just the blue sky. That’s enough to make me stop, however briefly, and remember that it’s sort of a miracle that any of us are here at all. We exist on a spinning rock flying around a ball of fire, for crying out loud! It’s a little easier not to get bogged down in expense reports when you keep in mind the sheer amazingness of our existence.
“I would not have anyone adopt my mode of living on any account… I would have each one be very careful to find out and pursue his own way, not his father’s or his mother’s or his neighbor’s.”
This speaks to me, as a person who has fallen prey to gurus, experts, and other such people who purport to know it all. I like being reminded that, ultimately, I am in control and I need to decide what kind of life to live. You can choose the career you want, and it doesn’t have to be the same as your parents or your friends.
This quote applies equally well to saving, spending, and investing. Everyone is going to have different income levels, spending habits, and risk tolerances. Trying to employ the same investing strategy as a hedge fund is probably not going to be a good idea. It’s important to do your own research and customize your life so that you’re spending and investing in a way that makes the most sense for your unique situation.
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
I couldn’t leave out the granddaddy quote of them all. There’s a reason this passage has gained such a foothold in our modern culture. It is a pure distillation of why it’s important to slow down, challenge yourself, and figure out what is important to you.
You can sleepwalk through life whether you have $10 to your name or $10 million. I think we can all do a better job of taking the time to sit with our thoughts, block out the noise, and figure out why we want to save so much money to begin with. What are we living for? If you don’t have a goal in mind and values that you stand for, you’re less likely to succeed on your journey, whatever that may be.
Summing Up
The amazing thing about Walden is that it manages to present all these tidbits of financial wisdom in an entertaining style that is part memoir, part self-help manual, and part philosophy. You can even learn how to grow beans if you want!
The book has something for everyone, but it’s an especially good read for those who want to learn about becoming self-sufficient, developing wise spending habits, and getting up the courage to step out of the consumerist rat race.
Related Articles:
- Thoughts on Emerson’s ‘Self-Reliance’
- Deep Thinking: 14 Books That Will Change Your Perspective on Work, Life, and Money
- ‘I Make Myself Rich by Making My Wants Few’
- 15 Free Kindle Books to Inspire You to Great Things
The post Nine Quotes From ‘Walden’ That Prove It’s the Only Personal Finance Book You Need appeared first on The Simple Dollar.
Source The Simple Dollar The Simple Dollar http://ift.tt/2atYYMb
This Woman Found a Clever, Affordable Way to Spend 6 Months in New Zealand
If you’re like me, you dream of traveling the world.
Dreaming is one thing. But the reality is a tad daunting. Between buying plane tickets, paying for accommodations and tasting authentic local cuisine, traveling can quickly take a toll on your wallet.
Maybe that’s why so many people avoid traveling regularly. Or they save for months, even years, to afford a trip to Italy or a Caribbean cruise.
When I graduated college in 2014, I was excited to travel. My best friend from high school had moved to New Zealand a few years earlier, and her stories and photos had me itching to visit Middle Earth.
Tourists commonly rent cars and drive from one end of the country to the other. These trips usually last about a month.
However, I wanted to stay in New Zealand longer than just a month. And I knew I could find a way to afford this luxury.
Then my friend gave me the scoop. She recommended I apply for a working holiday visa.
What is a Working Holiday Visa?
A working holiday visa is a document for young people who are primarily traveling, but also plan on working while they explore a country.
Working holiday visas are well-known in New Zealand — people from all over the world take advantage of the opportunity. In larger cities like Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown, companies are eager to hire enthusiastic foreigners to work in restaurants, coffee shops and clothing stores.
These visas are for foreigners ages 18-30 and are valid for one year after entering the country. You also need to be healthy and have a clean criminal record to apply.
Australia has a similar working holiday visa arrangement. Depending on where you’re from, you may be eligible for this kind of visa in other countries, too.
How a Working Holiday Visa Extended My Travel Budget
I arrived in New Zealand with around $4,000 — just under NZ$5,500 — which probably would have been enough for me to take the classic one-month trip across the country.
I found a room for rent on a reliable website and made arrangements to live there before I landed in the country. In the capital city of Wellington, landlords are used to young travelers coming through, so mine was more than happy to let me stay for only six months.
And thanks to my working holiday visa, I was able to get a job serving tables in Wellington before I even arrived. My friend set me up with a job through someone she knew. Due to my previous experience in customer service, the restaurant manager hired me, even though she knew it was a short-term gig.
Employers in the customer service and hospitality industries are used to foreigners with working holiday visas looking for work. They often care more that you’ll be a good worker than whether you can stay with the company for years.
Unlike the United States, where servers live off tips, New Zealand servers are paid a higher hourly wage. When I lived in the country in 2014, minimum wage was NZ$14.25, although it’s a little higher now.
I usually worked about 30 hours per week. My starting wage was NZ$15 per hour (about US$13), so I made an average of NZ$450 per week (US$395) — easily enough to pay for housing, a phone plan and food.
My employer knew I wanted to travel and even tried to avoid scheduling me on weekends so I could have a couple of days at a time to explore the country. When I needed additional time off on short notice, she was almost always accommodating.
Thanks to my job, I was able to put aside enough money to travel around Australia for two weeks and discover New Zealand’s two main islands during my time off.
What could have been a one-month drive across New Zealand instead became a six-month exploration of one of the most beautiful countries in the world!
I didn’t come back home broke, either. In New Zealand, employers take a certain percentage of your paycheck and put it in a holiday pay budget. This budget is intended to go toward employees’ paid leave when they go on vacation.
However, I chose to take unpaid leave when I went on trips. I saved my holiday pay and requested it right before I left my job to move back to the U.S.
Saving my holiday funds made my transition back to the States much easier. When I left, the fund contained about NZ$850, or roughly US$600. I also got back my $175 apartment deposit.
How to Apply for a Working Holiday Visa
You can apply for a working holiday visa on New Zealand’s immigration website. The application is free for U.S. citizens, and I received my confirmation email and visa within a week. It all seemed too good to be true!
Don’t worry, the government gives you plenty of time to get everything in order for your big move. I chose to head to New Zealand six months after I received my visa, but could’ve waited longer to save more money.
Once you get your visa, you have one year to arrive in New Zealand. For example, if you got your visa email on Oct. 1, 2016, you’d have until Oct. 1, 2017, to enter the country.
All you have to do is show your visa to officials at the airport. As long as you’ve arrived within that time frame, you’re good to go! You can then stay in New Zealand for exactly one year with your working holiday visa.
New Zealand wants applicants to have at least NZ$4,200 in the bank, or about US$3,000. The government simply wants you to have enough money to get yourself going and live comfortably while you’re in the country.
You don’t need to have the money when you apply for the visa, but you should have a printout of your bank statement to show with your visa at the airport when you arrive in the country.
Saving $3,000 may seem like a lot of money. The number intimidated me too, but I was able to save it in six months waiting tables in the States. In the end, I was grateful I had to save so much money before going to New Zealand. Being financially stable made my transition to a new country much easier.
My six months in New Zealand were the best of my life. I’m thankful I didn’t let the fear of finances stop me from extending my adventure.
Your turn: Would you get a working holiday visa to expand your travel budget?
Laura Grace Tarpley is a 24-year-old who worked multiple jobs through college to pay for school and her travels. Currently, she is working as much as possible to travel to Scandinavia with her fiancé.
The post This Woman Found a Clever, Affordable Way to Spend 6 Months in New Zealand appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2aSvzHL
Nine in ten Moneywise users actively seek better car insurance deals
More than half of Moneywise.co.uk users (51%) say they challenge their insurer to beat the best quote they’ve found when renewing their car insurance.
Our poll of 728 users, found that a further 35% ditch their existing policy at renewal to find a new one elsewhere, while 7% charm their car insurer into offering a better deal.
Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2atTZF0
Petrol prices have begun to fall, says the RAC
The average cost of petrol on Britain’s forecourts fell in July following four months of price rises, the RAC’s Fuel Watch report finds.
The average price of unleaded petrol fell from 112.2p per litre to 111.79p per litre, while the average price of diesel fell from 112.47p per litre to 112.41p per litre.
Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2atNkuq
الاشتراك في:
الرسائل (Atom)