South Sterling — The Greene-Dreher Historical Society announces it has received a $1,000 grant from the PPL Foundation. These funds will support educational programs for children, including special programs held for third and fourth grade students at Wallenpaupack South Elementary School in Newfoundland.The Historical Society Partners with Wallenpaupack South Elementary School to coordinate programs on local history for third and fourth grade students at the school. For [...]
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الأربعاء، 17 أغسطس 2016
Pocono Mountain Hog Chapter makes donation to Salvation Army
Pocono Mountain Hog Chapter makes donation to Salvation ArmyPocono Mountain HOG chapter presents a check for $500 to the East Stroudsburg Salvation Army. The chapter has collected and given over $91,000 to the Salvation Army in the last two years.
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4 Free Digital Marketing Opportunities Most Marketers Are Missing
Digital marketing.
To some, it’s merely another fancy buzzword. To others, it’s the backbone of their entire business.
In my life, digital marketing is almost everything I do.
For most entrepreneurs, however, it is a highly underutilized and misunderstood tool.
Most people think digital marketing has to be an expensive endeavor that takes thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours to see any success with.
This is simply not the case.
There are a number of free tools and opportunities within digital marketing that most entrepreneurs are missing.
Here are just a few of them to help get you started.
1. Use the power of blog commenting to build links
Blog commenting has become a practice synonymous with spammers and sleazy online marketers.
Because of this, most entrepreneurs do not take advantage of this incredible opportunity.
Despite the negative connotation, blog comments are a fantastic way to promote your business and build a very natural link profile.
It’s only when blog commenting is used improperly (like in the image below) that it’s damaging to your Google ranking and personal reputation:
So, how can you use the power of blog commenting to market your content in an authentic, natural, and non-spammy way?
The first and most important step is finding the right blogs to comment on.
The best way to do this is simply to use blogs you regularly read or blogs that show up in your social media feed.
This practice ensures that you are posting on sites relevant to your niche.
It also increases the authenticity of your comments since you are an actual reader and probably have gained real value from the content you are commenting on.
However, if you already comment on your favorite blogs on a regular basis and are looking to expand your reach, there are other ways to find places to comment.
An easy way to do this is to utilize the Google Search Console and Advanced Search Operators.
Let’s say you are running an online fitness clothing store for women.
You could enter any of the following search operators into Google:
- Women’s athletic wear “comments”
- Women’s athletic style “leave a reply”
- Women’s athletic clothing “leave a comment”
For example:
The search operators you are using clearly specify to Google that you only want search results that have the option to comment on the page.
After you’ve compiled a list of potential blogs to comment on, you can check their Ahrefs ranks to determine whether or not they are worth your time.
Now that you are done with the easy work of finding high quality blogs to comment on, it’s time for the hard stuff.
And that’s getting your comment approved.
This basically comes down to writing a non-spammy comment that still includes a link to your site.
Since most high-quality blogs have a pretty heavy moderation policy, this is not an easy task.
Here are a few key points to keep in mind:
- Always fill the name field with your name—not the name of your site. Comments that have URLs in the name field are deleted most of the time.
- Leave the website field blank. Since you are going to include a link in the body of your comment, leaving the website field blank will help improve the odds of your comment passing the moderator.
- The best way to comment is to pick a relevant point from the blog content and then expand on it in an authentic and genuine way.
Take a look at some of the examples below to see the right way to do this:
2. Don’t overlook press releases
I know, I know.
“What the heck, Neil? Press releases?! We are in the 21st century here!”
And I get it.
But press releases, when used properly, can actually be a pretty fantastic tool.
If you time the article right, a press release can generate a load of views and shares for your content.
When you have a large number of people, especially journalists, reviewing your content, it is more likely that your work will be picked up by major publications.
This can be a pivotal component of getting your content to go viral.
Press releases can also help your link-building campaigns in a big way, but you have to be intentional about the content.
Here are a few of the benefits, if you can ignore the not-quite-accurate benefits of “rankings” and “links.”
Links and rankings do happen, but only indirectly.
If a journalist or blogger sees your press release and decides to cover your content or include it as a part of a major story, the keywords you’d use would be key.
Make sure your content is filled with keywords you want to rank for.
This way, if a journalist takes a quote from your work, you’ll be able to build up links to help boost your rankings.
The most important thing to keep in mind when running a press release, however, is your message.
Unlike with a regular blog post or YouTube video, when you run a press release, you and your content are now in the spotlight.
If you have any incongruency in your messaging, any incorrect data, or serious errors within your release, the PR will do more harm than good.
With a press release, you are shouting your message from a mountaintop.
Make sure you are shouting the right message.
While press releases are typically very expensive endeavors, costing anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars, there are tools online that let you generate press coverage for free.
Here are a few of the best:
There are certainly drawbacks to press releases.
They do not directly improve SEO; they are difficult to track; and if you make a mistake, you can do more damage to your brand than good.
However, if you know your way around, you can actually market your content quite effectively using free press release sources.
Just make sure you consider the pros and cons before filing for a release.
3. Get on Google+
With the prevalence of social media in today’s marketplace, it surprises me that more businesses do not take advantage of the Google+ platform.
Google+ is a fantastic free way to market yourself, your business, and your content.
Getting started on Google+ is simple.
Because I’ve already written extensively on how to use Google+ for your marketing campaigns, I’ll give you only a brief synopsis in this article.
The first step is to claim authorship with your personal Google+ profile.
Basically, this makes it easier for readers to identify your content, and it will allow you to position yourself as an authority within your niche.
Here’s how you can do this as simply as possible, courtesy of Social Media Examiner:
Once you’ve linked your content to your Google+ account, it’s time to start utilizing the power of the Google+ apps.
The first thing I recommend is using the +1’d Content app.
This allows people to recommend a website or a post. It will increase your click-through rate and will allow people to share and comment on content outside of Google+.
Next, you need to set up YouTube integration with your Google+ account:
Source: youtubecreator.blogspot.com
Let me share a little statistic with you.
People spend almost 6 billion hours—a month (!)—consuming YouTube content.
By integrating your Google+ and YouTube accounts, you will expand your reach on both platforms simultaneously and increase the number of eyes viewing and sharing your content.
And finally…
The big one.
Google Hangouts.
Google Hangouts is by far one of my favorite marketing tools.
If you have any degree of authority within your niche, running regular Google hangouts is one of the fastest ways to engage your audience and improve your sales.
When people get to interact with you in a raw and unedited form, they tend to connect with you on a deeper level.
This will build engagement with your audience, transforming them from casual readers to raving fans.
Using a Google Hangout to host a webinar is also a great way to boost sales, especially whenever you are releasing a new product.
However, be warned.
If you are using webinars solely to promote new products, users will leave, and you will damage your online reputation.
You need to offer massive value while hosting webinars before you even mention a new product.
4. Do link outreach (the right way)
When digital and content marketing first started to take off, the tactic of link outreach became very common.
Link outreach basically looked something like this:
And the thing is…
…this used to work.
However, in the modern business world, the above strategy will probably have a 1-3% success rate, likely with lower tier websites and blogs.
But.
The core strategy of connecting with other influencers and having them promote your content (either by replacing a broken link or just sharing it outright) still works.
If you do it the right way.
What is the “right” way?
Focusing on relationships first and link building second.
Here is the deal.
A lot of Internet marketers are a pain in the butt.
They are constantly seeking to gain value from other people—those they have no relationship with—and rarely offer anything in return.
If you want to stand out from this crowd and actually succeed in your link-building efforts, you need to try a different approach.
The first step is to find companies you want a link from in the first place.
I once again recommend you select blogs and websites you are already familiar with and read on a regular basis.
But if you’ve already worn out all potential opportunities with your “regulars,” you can try another approach (shout-out to Ryan Stewart of Ahrefs.com for introducing me to this).
If you want to find great places to get potential links, then fire up Google, and input one or more of the following searches:
- [Your keyword] + “Top posts of the week”
- [Your keyword] + “Friday link roundup”
- [Your keyword] + “Best posts of the week”
This will allow you to find blogs and websites already curating great content.
Trust me: it’s a lot easier to get a link from one of these resources than from a blogger who only promotes their own content.
Now that you’ve found the blog you want to get a link from, it’s time to connect.
This does not mean you immediately email them, asking for a link to your content.
The first step you need to take is to start following the blog/website/influencer on social media.
Once you are following them, drop them a line with something simple:
Hey, this is so-and-so. I read your piece on XYZ and really enjoyed it! Keep up the great work!
Once you have broken the ice and made the first contact on social media, start commenting on their posts and on their blog.
Do this for about a week, continuing the conversation you started above, if at all possible.
Once you’ve established good rapport and the influencer is aware of you, it’s time to ask for the link.
While this tactic works great for broken links, it works even better if the blogger regularly posts a “Best of the web” article or something similar.
You will end up getting more traffic from a weekly roundup than you would from a broken link.
And, if your content is good, you may end up getting a repeat “customer” who will continue linking to your company for months or years to come.
Conclusion
Digital marketing can be a lot simpler (and less expensive) than people think.
But you have to be willing to take an “outside the box” approach to it.
Equipped with the above four tips and tricks, you’ll be able to market your company more quickly and effectively than ever before.
None of the advice I’ve given here is easy, but it’s simple and doable.
Take the time to educate yourself on these four opportunities, and learn how to capitalize on them to grow your business.
And invest your time in uncovering the wealth of other free digital marketing opportunities available in today’s marketplace.
You may be surprised at how effectively you can market your company and your content without a big budget.
What is your favorite free digital marketing opportunity?
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Cinemark is Showing Free Kids’ Movies for a Good Cause This Saturday
Looking for a fun, family-friendly activity this Saturday morning?
Want it to be free, or nearly so?
Best of all: Want to make the world a little better while you do it?
Well, we’ve found something for you that checks all those boxes.
Cinemark is partnering up with WE.org to offer free kids’ movies and discounted concessions for Community Day this Saturday, Aug. 20.
You and the kids can catch your favorite DreamWorks flick free of charge, and pay just $2 apiece for small popcorn, sodas and packaged candy.
Net proceeds will help fund youth empowerment and service learning programs right here in the U.S.
Free movies and cheap goodies for a cause? Now, that’s a deal we can get behind.
How to Get Free Movie Tickets at Cinemark This Saturday
Your theater might be playing “Kung Fu Panda 3,” “Home,” “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” “Madagascar 3,” or “Shrek” — so you and the kids are sure to enjoy the show!
Showtimes start at 9 a.m., with the last available showing around 11 a.m.
The specifics vary by location, so call or click to check the deets at your local Cinemark.
Showtimes and film selection should already be available at your theater’s website or box office.
You can’t reserve tickets ahead of time, but they’ll be available at the box office starting at 8:30 a.m. on Community Day (again, Saturday, Aug. 20).
Then, sit back and enjoy… not just the movie, but knowing the money you spent on snacks is going to help kids who need it!
Your Turn: Will you head to your local Cinemark this Saturday?
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 Cinemark is Showing Free Kids’ Movies for a Good Cause This Saturday appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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You’re Not Alone: 52% of Americans are Fighting to Make Ends Meet
I finished my master’s degree in May and I’m now attempting to “adult.”
Like, with a real, full-time job, a reliable bank account and retirement savings.
After graduation, I didn’t have much money left, so I moved back home. Living under my parents’ roof kind of feels like I’m cheating, and I know I’m lucky to have this option to help me make ends meet.
That’s not the case for everyone.
More than half — 52% — of Americans are struggling to make ends meet, according to a new report from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation.
The foundation recently released its Financial Capability in The United States report, which surveyed 25,000 American adults about their “financial capability” — a term that refers to your spending knowledge, resources, access and habits.
The Good and Bad News About Americans’ Finances
Making ends meet and being financially capable don’t just hinge on your individual financial status. A lot of factors directly correlate to our country’s economic status, so keep that in mind.
The good news comes first: The national economic temperatures are improving.
Today, compared to the depths of the recession in 2009, fewer Americans have difficulty paying their bills, and the number of Americans who say they are satisfied with their financial situation has nearly doubled.
Unemployment has also decreased, which almost makes everything more bearable.
However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows on the financial front.
Although fewer Americans struggle to pay bills and the number of Americans satisfied with their financial situation has doubled, there are still 69% of us — me included — who report being unsatisfied with our financial situations.
But perhaps even more shocking is that nearly one in five of us spend more we earn. (Hence why I choose to currently live at home.)
via The FINRA Investor Education Foundation
The Financial Help You Need
If you’re like me and want to become more financially savvy and competent, do some reading and get motivated. I feel confident that, with some patience, diligence and a whole lot of penny hoarding, I — and you! — can get everything under control.
Here are eight resources I’ve found especially beneficial. (I’m currently working on No. 6.)
- Feeling like you never have enough cash is hugely challenging. Here’s how to stop living paycheck to paycheck, and start saving some money.
- When you can’t cut anything else from your budget, you have to increase your income. Find a side job to rake in some extra money each month.
- Pay off your credit card debt. It won’t be easy, but finally making that last payment will be a huge relief because you can stop paying interest and focus on the essentials.
- Take a good, hard look at your monthly bills and expenses. Determine what’s necessary and what’s not, and start negotiating.
- You need to eat, but you don’t have to break the bank to do so. Use these strategies to save money on groceries and household essentials.
- Start an emergency fund. If any unexpected bills pop up, this will save you.
- Has it been a while since you talked to your boss about money? Looking for a new job? Consider negotiating your salary or asking for a raise.
- Look for the freebies in life. And if your birthday’s coming up, definitely take advantage of the free stuff!
We can do it, Penny Hoarders! Here’s hoping all of our numbers continue to improve.
Your Turn: What other advice do you have for those of us struggling with our financial situations?
Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. After recently completing graduate school, she focuses on saving money — and surviving the move back in with her parents.
The post You’re Not Alone: 52% of Americans are Fighting to Make Ends Meet appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Care costs increasing 10% faster than pensioner incomes
The cost of living in a care home is increasing 10% faster than pensioner incomes, as average annual costs exceed £30,000 for the first time.
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Brewskies of East Stroudsburg to get makeover
A longtime East Stroudsburg beer distributor is planning to an addition of upstairs apartments.The owner of Brewskies Beverage on North Courtland Street has submitted a land development plan to the East Stroudsburg Planning Commission to make a multi-purpose two-floor building that includes the liquor store and six apartment spaces.The development plan calls for the combining of the Brewskies lot with the next door Pocono Heating and Air Conditioning store lot.The [...]
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7-Eleven’s Letting You Fill Almost Anything You Want With Slurpee for $1.50
You’ll never guess who’s turning 50 this year.
He’s icy cold, but despite his age, he remains deliciously hard to resist. He does hang out at 7-Eleven more than you might like, however.
That’s right: It’s the 50th anniversary of the Slurpee.
And to celebrate, 7-Eleven is hosting a two-day-long Bring Your Own Cup Day — again.
After a successful celebration in March, the company’s bringing back everyone’s favorite deal.
On Aug. 19 and 20 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time, you can fill up your cup with delicious Slurpee goodness for just $1.50.
The best part of the deal? It doesn’t have to be a cup.
7-Eleven’s Bring Your Own Cup Day
7-Eleven will honor the #BYOCUPDAY deal for almost any vessel you can reasonably imagine filling with a Slurpee. According to the rules, it just has to be:
- able to fit through a 10-inch hole
- food safe
- watertight (duh?)
- the only one you buy — the deal is only good for one “cup” per person.
That leaves a lot of leeway. Fishbowl? Check. One of your lucky sneakers? Not so much… but that couldn’t fit a lot of Slurpee, anyway.
Toasters are prohibited, but pineapples are totally cool.
So grab your favorite flower vase — or secretly flush your child’s goldfish (don’t really) — and hit your local 7-Eleven this weekend for a sweet treat on the cheap.
You might want to check your blood sugar afterwards, though.
Your Turn: What vessel will you fill with a delicious Slurpee on Bring Your Own Cup day?
Jamie Cattanach (@jamiecattanach) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She also writes other stuff, like wine reviews and poems.
The post 7-Eleven’s Letting You Fill Almost Anything You Want With Slurpee for $1.50 appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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The Small Bag Experiment
For years, I’ve enjoyed the writings of James Altucher (recommended reading: his book Choose Yourself). Although the man has made millions over the years, in part through a very successful web design company, I recently learned that he is now living out of a small bag with about 15 items in it – by choice, not by financial need. He no longer has a permanent residence and is essentially a vagabond, living with friends and staying at hotels and hostels and through AirBNB.
The piece of this story that I find interesting is that not too long ago, Altucher had a 4,000 square foot flat filled with possessions. Over the course of several months, he sold off almost all of those possessions (including the flat) and moved out.
Some people might find this story strange. I find it fascinating and really, really valuable, even if you have no intentions whatsoever of doing anything similar. Let’s walk through why.
My Small Bag
I have this very nice duffel bag that I use every time I travel. What exactly would I put in there if I were going to live just out of that bag?
I’d start with three or four days of clothes. I’d probably include three decent everyday outfits – three pairs of nice chinos, three button-up shirts, three t-shirts, three pairs of underwear, and three pairs of socks, along with an extra t-shirt and sweatpants for exercise or messy things. When one of those started to look worn, I’d donate it and replace it. Easy enough.
I’d include my laptop, iPad, and Kindle and their chargers. I use those devices for such drastically different things. I use my laptop for writing and podcast recording and video editing. I use my iPad for reading magazines and watching videos and Netflix and the like. I use my Kindle for reading books. I’d also carry around an external mouse, some headphones, a good podcasting mic, and a document scanner because I’d just scan most paper documents and I often prefer to use an external mouse than a laptop trackpad when I’m working at a table. I could see myself replacing the laptop and iPad with a single iPad Pro at some point.
I’d include a good small flashlight and a package of batteries for it. This is my favorite flashlight I’ve ever tried.
I’d include my toiletry bag, with basic things like a toothbrush, a razor, some toothpaste, deodorant, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, dental floss, and so on.
I’d include a few ready-to-eat foods, like a bag of nuts or some of the better nutritional bars, so I could eat something nutritional anywhere. This wouldn’t take up a lot of space, but it would be in there.
I’d include a notebook and some pens. I take notes constantly and sketch out ideas on paper. I’d probably keep my last filled notebook or two with me because I look back through them. I’d digitize older notebooks.
I’d include a few small card games that I really love to play and some gaming dice. The rules for most games would already be on my iPad, so I’d just need the equipment to play. I’d basically have a small dice bag and an 800 count card box, which would easily fit.
I’d include a water bottle and a cooking cup (a cooking cup is a metal cup you can basically sit over a fire or a stove to cook anything in) and a few water flavoring packets and tea bags.
I could honestly fit all of this stuff in a good-sized backpack, but I’d probably still use the larger bag anyway in case other things came along.
I’m not counting things I’d keep in my pockets, like basic identification, keys, and so forth, and there are probably a few little things I’m skipping, but that’s what I would carry. I’d have a pretty content life with the things in that bag, honestly, assuming I was suddenly single again.
Why?
The question you might be asking yourself is why? Why would I even engage in such a thought experiment?
For me, the question is still why? However, my “why” points in a different direction.
When I look around our home, I see lots and lots and lots and lots of different possessions. I have a more-than-healthy board game collection. I have a lot of books. I have several boxes with items for occasionally-tackled hobbies. I have tons of cooking equipment.
If I could really live a happy life with the contents of that bag, why do I have all of this other stuff? Furthermore, why do I sometimes buy stuff to add to it?
This is all stuff that I rarely use when it comes right down to it. This is all stuff that someone, at some point, is going to have to deal with, whether it’s trying to resell it or give it away or throw it away.
Now, why am I keeping all of that other stuff? Really? It’s all extraneous. Why am I buying things that wouldn’t fit in that bag?
The contents of that bag are genuinely important to me. Everything else, less so. Why buy things that aren’t important to me?
Sure, there are some items that make sense to purchase because I’m a homeowner. I need a few cooking instruments, for example, and some basic tools for eating. Basic furniture makes sense. A few tools for home repair make sense. I do have a closet, so a somewhat larger wardrobe makes sense, too.
Everything else, though? Why?
The truth is that I don’t need the vast majority of things in our house, and quite a few of them are wants that I could have entirely done without.
This leads me straight to a very simple question.
The Real Question
Whenever I buy something new, I should be asking myself this question: would this item take up a place in my small bag, and if not, why on Earth am I buying it?
As I’ve noted, my bag has enough space for my core items for living, my core items for working, and my core items for my main hobbies (reading, writing, playing tabletop games).
Every possession of mine beyond what fits in that bag is essentially extraneous. It occupies only a small sliver of my time, as the contents of that bag manage a large portion of it. Sleeping, self-care and hygiene, work, and my two main hobbies are covered by the contents of that bag. Every other possession I have is either an unnecessary expansion on one or another of those categories or is something that I rarely use and could easily borrow or substitute.
This observation really brings me to two conclusions.
First, it encourages me to continue to pare down my possessions. I can see the forward progress in certain places in my home. Closets that were once full to the brim are now half-empty. The only thing I can point to that takes up more space than it once did is my board game collection, and I could honestly pare that down significantly if I wanted to.
Second, it encourages me to ask very, very hard questions about each purchase going forward. Is this purchase something that would honestly go in my bag? If not, why am I really purchasing this? If it doesn’t go in my bag, it’s something that I’m not going to be devoting much of my time to. Period. 80% or 90% of the time, I’m either using a possession from my bag or sleeping. Everything else fits into the 10% or 20% remainder of my life.
These two conclusions have one thing in common: they put money in my pocket, make my life simpler, and don’t take away anything of real value in my life. Fewer possessions means fewer things to take care of. Fewer possessions means less money spent on stuff. Fewer possessions means that I’ve flipped some of that unused stuff in the closet to put even more money in my pockets.
I can save that money for the future and retire earlier. I can use it for life experiences rather than new things. I can use it to build a better life for my children and give them opportunities I can scarcely dream of having.
What would be in your bag? Why do you own things that wouldn’t go in your bag? Why would you buy things that wouldn’t go in your bag?
Thinking about those questions will bring you to some powerful conclusions about your money and your life.
Good luck.
The post The Small Bag Experiment appeared first on The Simple Dollar.
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The Best Argument We’ve Heard for Taking All of Your Paid Vacation Days
Back in July, the best study ever was published — in my humble opinion, at least.
The study, titled “The State of American Vacation: How Vacation Became a Casualty of Our Work Culture,” is actually a lot more exciting than it might sound.
U.S. Travel Association and Project: Time Off surveyed 5,641 Americans who work at least 35 hours a week and receive paid time off. The findings were, well, disappointing.
Last year, 55% of Americans did not use all of their vacation days, which means we’re leaving 658 million paid vacation days on the table, according to the study.
Plus, 222 million of those vacation days could not be rolled over, paid out or used for another benefit. That means an average of two vacation days per worker were swept right off the table and into the garbage.
A lot of us — another recent study says 75% of us! — receive paid vacation time as part of our compensation.
So why aren’t we taking advantage of it?!
Why Don’t Americans Use Their Vacation Days?
After all, doesn’t a beach vacation sound nice right about now? Or even a couple of days with the kids or your pup? The cat? A dark room with Netflix, anyone?
But for a lot of Americans, the thought of a few days off is anything but relaxing.
Thirty-seven percent of Americans reported the number-one reason for not taking vacation was “a fear of returning to a mountain of work.”
“No one else can do the job” and “I cannot financially afford vacation” tied for second, with 30% of respondents offering each of those reasons.
Other reasons include “taking time off is harder as you grow in the company,” “want to show complete dedication” — that’s a Dwight Schrute move for sure — and “don’t want to be seen as replaceable.”
Plus, nearly two-thirds of employees felt as though their boss and cohorts didn’t support their decisions to take vacation.
Why You Should Use Your Paid Vacation Days (If You Get Them)
Listen: Now, more than ever, vacation is important. In this time of glowing computer screens, unavoidable phone updates and swiping to find your next date, our brains need a break. Less stress equals more happiness, right?
And remember those 658 million unused vacation days Americans aren’t taking? According to the study, that equates to millions of days of “free work” and $61.4 billion in forfeited benefits.
Take a minute to digest that.
That’s not all — the study found those who take more than 10 vacation days have a 65.4% chance of receiving a raise or bonus in a three-year period.
Those who took fewer than 10 vacation days per year had only a 34.6% chance of getting that raise.
Will Taking Vacation Really Get You a Raise?
So all you have to do is take your vacation days and — voila! — you’ll start making more money?
Not necessarily.
It’s an issue of correlation versus causation. The study can’t necessarily conclude that if you take vacation, you’ll get a raise. Those who feel more secure in their jobs might be more likely to take time off, or they might already be eligible for a raise.
Or maybe it’s that those vacation days really do reduce stress and rejuvenate the brain and an employee’s creative prowess.
I spoke with my boss, The Penny Hoarder founder Kyle Taylor, to get his take. Taylor admits he doesn’t pay attention to how many vacation days his employees take.
“In general, I agree with the sentiment that taking frequent breaks makes us more creative, more productive and all around happier employees,” he says.
“I don’t think there’s any virtue in not taking vacation; it just leads to burnout.”
Taylor does notice, however, if an employee doesn’t properly prepare for a vacation, which he might consider in a performance review.
So, in conclusion, we can’t really say that taking vacation days will get you a raise, but the better questions is: Why not take those vacation days?
And for the one-third of you who don’t take vacation for financial reasons, you can’t use that excuse anymore. We have plenty of resources to help you afford a getaway.
Your Turn: If you don’t take advantage of all of your paid vacation days, why not?
Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. After recently completing graduate school, she focuses on saving money — and surviving the move back in with her parents.
The post The Best Argument We’ve Heard for Taking All of Your Paid Vacation Days appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Apply now to gain higher pensions lifetime allowance
Pension savers that are at risk of breaching the lifetime allowance can now apply for protection through a new HMRC portal.
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Deal of the week: Fed up with overdraft fees? This could be the account for you
Every week Moneywise’s product researcher Tom Wilson picks out his favourite deal. This week – Virgin Money’s genuinely fee-free current account.
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8 Genius Ways to Save Even More Money Next Time You Shop at Aldi
Maybe you’ve already heard about the small German grocery chain where you can buy groceries for even less than you’d spend at Walmart.
Aldi’s prices are super low — so low, in fact, you might not be sure what kind of quality you’re getting, to say nothing of customer service. I mean, you do have to pay to use its grocery carts.
If you’ve never ventured inside your local Aldi, listen up: It’s time. We promise you’ll thank us later.
And even if you’re already a brand fanatic, you might not know some of these great tips for saving even more money on Aldi groceries, or stretching your grocery budget a bit further.
Here are some tricks to make your next trip feel even sweeter, on top of the savings:
1. Use the Store’s Empty Boxes Instead of Buying Bags
Aldi is set up like a warehouse. Employees stock shelves by keeping products in their bulk boxes, cutting down on time and reducing labor costs — which keeps product prices low for you.
Instead of buying bags at the checkout line, use the empty boxes from the shelves or the front of the store — you’ll save a good chunk of change in the long run.
2. Take Advantage of the Double Guarantee
One of the best perks of shopping at Aldi is its return policy — the “Double Guarantee.”
If you are unsatisfied with a product you purchased, simply return it. Not only will Aldi refund you, the store will also replace the product!
Double Guarantee? More like double win.
3. Buy the Chocolate
There’s nothing like a quality piece of chocolate.
Since Aldi has European origins, its chocolate is actually fantastic. The store carries quality name brands such as Ritter Sport and Choceur, meaning you don’t have to compromise your sweet tooth for some savings. Yum!
4. Compare Prices to Trader Joe’s
Fun fact: Aldi is owned by the same company as Trader Joe’s.
While we do love the Joe, it’s hard to ignore that sometimes Aldi may be even cheaper. Compare the weekly newsletters before deciding which one to head to that week.
5. Aldi’s “Millville” Brand is the Real Deal
Some people may be turned off by not being able to purchase their usual brand name products at Aldi — but they shouldn’t be.
Did you know Aldi’s Millville brand is actually General Mills brand?
Skip the overpriced cereals and granola bars at big-name commercial grocery stores. You can buy the same exact products at Aldi under a different name that costs you way less.
6. Buy Gluten-Free and Organic
Eating organic or gluten-free on a budget may seem impossible, but it doesn’t have to be: Aldi has an entire section dedicated to both types of products at its famously low prices.
By sourcing locally, the store’s able to cut down on costs and you’re able to feel better about what you’re putting into your body.
7. Check Out the “Special Buys” Before You Head In
Every week, Aldi features “Special Buys” and “Special Meat Buys.”
Not only can you find things like backpacks, kitchenware or showerheads, you can also find quality meats paired with veggies for quick and easy dinner meals.
These featured items are listed weekly on Aldi’s website and also in stores, so be sure to check them out.
8. Do Your Holiday Toy Shopping Here
Don’t blow your hard-earned holiday money at stores that kill your budget on name-brand toys, like Disney or Barbie.
During the holidays, it’s not uncommon to find those same toys at Aldi stores for a lower cost.
Your turn: What’s your favorite thing about shopping at Aldi? Tell us in the comments below!
Kelly Smith is an editorial intern at The Penny Hoarder and a senior at The University of Tampa. She wishes there were an Aldi closer to her apartment.
The post 8 Genius Ways to Save Even More Money Next Time You Shop at Aldi appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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5 Reasons to Join a Direct Sales Company
By Kristy Empol You’re looking for something to do, something to break up the day, and possibly a way to earn some extra income. A direct sales company is a great fit for any mom whether you stay-at-home or work outside the house. When we first think of direct sales, many of us reminisce to […]
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