Jobless rates jump in Monroe and Pike counties

Monroe and Pike counties each had a large jump in unemployment during August, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Center for Workforce Information and Analysis.Monroe’s rate went from 6.4 percent in July to 6.8 percent in August. It is also eight-tenths of a percent higher than a year ago.Pike County’s jobless rate rose three-tenths of a percent in August to 6.7 percent. That figure was six-tenths of a [...]

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Students From These 10 Community Colleges Earn the Most After Graduation

Whether you’re making your way to a cost-effective bachelor’s degree or simply hoping to finish school as quickly as humanly possible, community college is a solid academic option.

If you do go on to get your four-year degree, you’ll have potentially saved tons of cash on those first two years of tuition — and board, if your community college is close enough to mom’s house. (Thanks, Mom!)

Since the latter school’s name will grace both your degree and resume, no one will be the wiser. Heck, if you really play your cards right, you might even get paid to transfer.

Even if you stick with the A.A., you’ll still have tons of career options. There are lots of high-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year program, and you’ll be even better positioned for jobs that don’t require a degree at all.

But as it turns out, not all community colleges are created equal.

Which is the Best Community College?

Salary research company PayScale recently put together its annual college salary report for the 2016-2017 academic year, ranking more than 1,000 U.S. schools by their alumni’s earnings.

The survey includes both early and mid-career employees (those whose careers have lasted five years or fewer, or 10 years or more, respectively).

And as it turns out, where you go to school can have a profound correlation with how much you earn — although what you study, of course, also has a serious impact.

In the case of community colleges, for instance, the lowest-ranked school — Gaston College in Dallas, North Carolina — has mid-career employees earning just $38,800 on average. That’s less than the early career salary at the top school. Yikes!

Obviously, part of the savings of community college is living close to, or even at, home, and moving out of state might counterbalance some of the extra earnings you could stand to see from these programs.

But if you’re in California, New York or Texas, have a look at these 10 community colleges, whose graduates have had the best earnings over the course of their careers.

1. Bakersfield College; Bakersfield, California

Early career pay: $39,200

Mid-career pay: $71,500

2. CUNY – Queensborough Community College; Bayside, New York

Early career pay: $40,000

Mid-career pay: $70,100

3. Gloucester County College (now Rowan College at Gloucester County); Sewell, New Jersey

Early career pay: $30,400

Mid-career pay: $67,100

4. Moorpark College; Moorpark, California

Early career pay: $36,600

Mid-career pay: $66,900

5. De Anza College; Cupertino, California

Early career pay: $46,800

Mid-career pay: $66,600

6. San Jacinto College; Pasadena, Texas

Early career pay: $41,000

Mid-career pay: $66,300

7. El Centro College; Dallas, Texas

Early career pay: $44,300

Mid-career pay: $66,200

8. City College of San Francisco; San Francisco, California

Early career pay: $41,500

Mid-career pay: $65,700

9. Bergen Community College; Paramus, New Jersey

Early career pay: $38,400

Mid-career pay: $65,600

10. Orange Coast College; Costa Mesa, California

Early career pay: $38,700

Mid-career pay: $65,200

Where Will You Go to College?

Obviously, making education and career decisions isn’t as simple as choosing a school on the highest-earning list and hoping for the best.

But if you’re on the hunt for the perfect program, it’s worth having a look at PayScale’s data. In the face of such a monumental decision — and plethora of options — every data point helps.

In fact, while you’re at it, check out this quiz. Not only will it help you choose a college, but it’ll also let you know exactly how financially ready you are to take the plunge into academia.

Happy hunting. And don’t forget: No matter where you go to school, it’s your effort, and penny-hoarding savvy, that determines your salary.

Your Turn: Will you attend community college before transferring to a four-year school, or are you planning on attending a two-year program?

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.

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International film crews focus on Pennsylvania miners

WAYNESBURG (AP) — International interest in the American presidential race has focused its attention squarely on Greene County and the state of coal mining there.Film crews from at least five countries, a PBS team based in New York City and several newspapers from across the country visited Greene County and the CareerLink services office in Waynesburg over the past three months to discuss the presidential election and the future of coal."It's shocking that the coal [...]

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Monroe County inmate population drops as officials tackle mental illness issue

The inmate population at the Monroe County Correctional Facility has steadily dropped over the last several years, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.In 2012, there were more than 400 inmates; the total now is in the mid-300s.The decrease is not because of a lack of crime, said Monroe County President Judge Margherita Patti-Worthington.“There are many layers, not just from the court’s perspective, but funding authorities, [...]

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GFC 070: How to Got to From Average to Being Awesome

“You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.”

This quote comes from Jim Rhon. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to focus on this quote more and more.

Why?

Because I want to be a better person.

I want to be a better father.

I want to be a better husband.

I want to be a better leader for my family.

I want to be a better entrepreneur, author, and businessman.

If I have learned anything, it’s this:

If I am not intentional when it comes to the people I surround myself with, I will never accomplish my life’s biggest dreams and goals.

Who Do You Surround Yourself With?

Have you ever given much thought on the five people you spend the most time with, and why? When you think about who these five people are, do they embody where you see yourself? Is that where you want to be?

Are your closest friends growing? Are they encouraging and challenging you to grow? Are they living a lifestyle you truly want for yourself and your family?

If the answer is “no,” it might be time to reassess those relationships. Obviously, this part is extremely tough for a lot of people.

Trust me, I’ve been there. My wife and I have had to make some extremely tough decisions when it comes to who we surround ourselves with.

In this post, I want to share some stories on how I raised the bar in my personal life. With these tips, you can do the same.

When Your 5 People Are Family Members, Friends, and Co-workers

Many of us spend the bulk of our time with our families. I’m not really talking about your spouse and kids here; I’m talking about your other relatives or your in-laws.

When it comes to family, you should ask yourself a few questions. Are these family members offering you support and encouragement? Are they making you a better person?

Even when it comes to my own family, I had to recognize that a lot of my own blood relatives weren’t coming through the way they should.

That didn’t mean we cut them off completely; for us, it just meant limiting our time with them. With these certain family members, we learned we had to take a step back so we could focus our energy on our family.

The driver behind our choice to step back was an overall sense of negativity. When it comes to negative attitudes, I didn’t want that around my children. I didn’t want them to be looked down upon or told they will never succeed.

You see, some of our family members have a fixed-mindset that tells them their life and their choices are out of their control. These people feel as if life dealt them a hand, and they must accept it. They feel as if they cannot change, and that they deserve to be where they are now five, ten, and even twenty years from now.

At the end of the day, we didn’t want our kids exposed to that.

Over time, my wife and I have had to make similar choices when it comes to our friends. While we have plenty of friends from high school and college who we love to hang out with, that was a totally different period in our lives.

As we have grown as parents and as a couple, we now see that a lot of them are living lifestyles we can’t necessarily support. Either they’re making the same mistakes they were making five or ten years ago, or they’re not in a good place in their marriage.

Over a period of years, we learned to stop spending time with couples who had different values and ideas on marriage than we do. And if we wanted to survive and thrive as a couple, we needed to surround ourselves with couples that were equally committed to their marriages.

Another area we had to limit was our dealings with coworkers. We have all worked with people who are a cancer to their employers and absolutely toxic to be around. These people love to complain about everything, gossip, and talk negatively about everyone else. Other times, they are just plain lazy and unmotivated.

When I was starting out as a financial advisor, I worked with a group of advisors who weren’t necessarily trying to grow. They were content with where they were, so they spent long lunches away from the office.

Over time, I started eating lunch with them to break up my day. What I found was, their lazy and nonchalant attitudes started to rub off on me. Because I was surrounding myself with people who weren’t motivated to grow, I was slowing my own growth.

After a while, I stopped eating lunch with them and got busy working on myself and my business. Once I made that decision and put some distance between us, I was able to grow my business more and focus on my goals and ambitions.

Career Coaches and Mastermind Groups

Beyond analyzing the relationships you have with family, coworkers, and friends, you should seek out people who motivate you. In my own life, I ended up joining the Strategic Coaching Program, which was founded by Dan Sullivan.

I have talked about my experience numerous times, but I have to say, this program was a game-changer for me.

With this one move, I surrounded myself with other entrepreneurs who were hoping to grow and change in the same ways I was. Although these entrepreneurs were diverse in gender and socioeconomic background, they all had something to offer to this group.

This was a huge monetary investment for me, but I can honestly say it paid off.

In addition to this move, I also joined several mastermind groups. In case you aren’t aware of these, these are groups of entrepreneurs or businesspeople who meet regularly to discuss their dreams and goals.

This was amazing for me. As an online entrepreneur, I found it fascinating to connect with other digital entrepreneurs. Remember, I live in rural Illinois, so it’s not that easy for me to find other people in my field who operate on my level.

Since the people in these groups lived all over the country, we would meet online through a service like Google Hangouts or Skype. This offered an excellent opportunity for all of us to air our grievances and bounce ideas off each other. We also opened a private Facebook group where we could collaborate in real time.

One mastermind group that was particularly helpful to me is Michael Hyatt’s Inner Circle mastermind group. This group gave me the tools to establish myself not just as an entrepreneur, but as a family man who had proper balance in his life.

In this inner circle group, we have ten guys who are all committed to being better fathers, husbands, leaders, and CEOs. I’ve shared some of my biggest struggles with this group, and received the kind of feedback I need to make huge, actionable changes. And when I tell them about my crazy dreams and goals, they don’t laugh.

Wrapping Up

When you look at your own life and the five people you spend the most time with, are you doing the best you can? Are you surrounding yourself with positive people who are striving to reach their own goals and dreams? Do you spend time with people who similar values and commitments as yourself?

If not, it may be time to seek out new relationships and opportunities so you can be exposed to different learning experiences and challenges.

This is tough, but it’s essential if you want to grow and become the very best version of yourself. I hope the tips I have offered here can help you find your way.

How do you feel about the five people you spend the most time with? 

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Squad Goals: Best Buy’s Geek Squad is Hiring Work-From-Home Agents

Are you tech-savvy and passionate about helping others understand technology?

Best Buy is hiring nationally for its Geek Squad Covert Dispatch — an arm of the infamous Geek Squad.

As a work-from-home covert dispatch agent, you’d offer technical support to customers online and over the phone. You’ll be the first line of contact when a customer has a question about their products or software.

This remote position requires a minimum of 35 hours each week, with day, night, weekend and holiday shifts.

You can work from anywhere in the United States, except California, Washington, Alaska or Puerto Rico.

You should love problem-solving and be able to talk to less-tech-savvy people about technology in a way that helps them make sense of their equipment, devices and programs. As Best Buy puts it:

Our (Geek Squad) Agents dedicate their lives to making technology easier for people, helping them achieve all they want and even more from their devices.

You’ll need to understand customers’ questions and make recommendations to solve their tech issues. As the first line of contact, you’ll also be responsible for dispatching calls to other departments based on customer needs.

And it’s your job to make sure the call and any transfers are seamless…

You know when you’re on a call with customer service, and you have to explain your problem anew every time you’re connected with a new agent? Well, it’s your job to prevent that annoying situation for Best Buy customers.

What You’ll Need to Be a Work-From-Home Geek Squad Member

To apply to work for the Geek Squad:

• You must be at least 18 years old.

• You can work remotely from any state except California, Washington, Alaska or Puerto Rico.

• You should have at least one year of experience troubleshooting and diagnosing issues with Microsoft and Apple desktop operating systems and Windows, iOS and Android mobile devices.

• You should have at least one year of customer service and sales experience.

• Bonus if you’re bilingual.

You’ll need a distraction-free work environment with reliable high-speed internet access. You’ll have a variable schedule, so be prepared to work a mix of days, evenings, weekends and holidays.

To apply: Fill out the application at Best Buy’s careers website.

If you’re interested in other work-from-home jobs — or jobs in general — then make sure to like The Penny Hoarder Jobs on Facebook.

Your Turn: Have you seen any exciting work-from-home jobs lately?

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

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Smithsonian Earth is Hiring a P/T Remote Writer (Baby Otters are Involved)

“Call the Smithsonian, I’ve made a discovery,” croon The Avett Brothers on their newest album.

Well, Scott and Seth, I’ve made one, too: Smithsonian Networks is hiring!

The organization is looking for a freelance writer to work on the Facebook and Twitter channels of Smithsonian Earth, its wildlife and nature documentary service.

Work part time from home for one of the most prestigious institutions in the world? Oh, and you get to write about animals and nature?

Tell me where to sign up…

How to Work from Home for Smithsonian Earth

Words are at the core of this position. Your sole duty will be researching, writing and editing material for Smithsonian Earth’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The ideal candidate will “be comfortable writing engaging, scientifically-accurate copy that manages to walk the fine line between being entertaining and educational,” according to the listing.

You need two years of experience writing social media copy, and preferably, some experience writing about science and nature.

You also must be extraordinarily detail-oriented and have experience fact-checking and copy editing.

The position is remote and has a flexible schedule. Pay is hourly, with “competitive rates based on experience.”

To apply, send a resume and sample of your work through the Indeed job listing.

Before doing so, the listing notes you should visit the aforementioned social media pages to get a better understanding of the organization’s writing style.

Even if you’re not applying for the gig, I recommend it — you’ll find photos of “pocket-sized marsupials” and a BABY OTTER BEING FED BY A SYRINGE.

And BTW, if those photos don’t make your day, you’re clearly not meant for this job.

Your Turn: Do you adore the Smithsonian? Will you apply?

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

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20 Fascinating Topics That Every New Blog Should Tackle

When you know your stuff, writing a blog is easy, right?

Uh. Not necessarily.

I’d say that I’m pretty familiar with digital marketing. But when it comes to blogging, I still face challenges.

The challenge isn’t my lack of knowledge; it’s translating that knowledge into readable content—content helpful to you and other marketers.

Maybe you’ve faced the same challenge.

For some reason, conveying stuff you know inside and out is a lot trickier than it appears. Writing is difficult enough, but continually coming up with topics that would boost your online marketing efforts seems downright impossible.

In the old days, maintaining a business blog was more about appeasing search engine algorithms than appealing to actual humans. Back then, cramming posts full of keywords was the top priority.

Today, for a business blog to produce results, it has to appeal to humans first and search engines second. In fact, SEO and UX are basically one and the same.

Gone are the days of blathering on ad nauseam about anything your heart desires.

Content marketing via blogging is one of the best ways to increase the online visibility of a brand. These days, though, the posts you create must be engaging, informative, interesting, and generally high in quality to get you anywhere.

Contrary to what you may have heard, quantity does not exceed quality here. Even so, coming up with fascinating topics for a blog is often difficult for business owners. Here are 20 topics and ideas to get you off to a great start.

1. Write a long-form post

In the business world, getting straight to the point is generally the way to go. Quick, snappy blog posts have a time and a place, but your blog will suffer if that’s all you ever do.

Regardless of your niche, there are surely topics you could cover that require more than 400-500 words. Brainstorm topics that demand extensive, in-depth coverage, and then create long-form blog posts about them. The exhaustive nature of such posts will make them fascinating to anyone who is thirsty about the topic.

You may be aware that long-form blog posts—over 2,000-3,000 words—will rank higher, get more shares, and earn more links.

This is the kind of traction you need to gain with your blog.

2. Be a reporter

Even if journalism was never your forte, pretend otherwise by reporting back to your audience about important events in your industry. Ideally, these should be events you have attended yourself.

There are, of course, differences between journalistic writing and blog writing. However, in today’s content-driven world, there is also a lot of overlap.

For example, write a blog about your experience at a recent trade show. At the event, take notes about the things you see and the people with whom you interact. Take photos, and include them in your post. Include your own insights to make the piece more personal.

3. Comment about a popular post

Part of maintaining an interesting blog is staying in the loop about happenings in your niche and industry. You should already be keeping up with blogs in that sphere. When a particularly interesting one pops up, write a post about it.

Doing this accomplishes a few things. First, it lets you engage with the community while delivering your take on the original post. Second, it gives you the opportunity to link back to the original post, which might result in a link in return. You’ll gain exposure and, potentially, some backlinks!

4. Share your secrets

No, I’m not telling you to give away all your secrets. Rather, connect more deeply with your audience by giving them information about your business practices and processes “from the horse’s mouth.”

It’s all about transparency and authenticity, and it resonates strongly with readers. People enjoy feeling like they are privy to special knowledge.

I do this as often as possible, e.g., by updating my audience on the $100,000 challenge, showing all the relevant data, metrics, and revenue numbers, and sharing the lessons I’m learning from my experiment.

Maybe it’s time to pull back the curtain, and share your secrets in a blog post.

5. Round up industry experts

Establish relationships with key players within your industry through persistent social media activity. Once they’ve gotten to know you, invite thought leaders in your niche to share their views regarding a specific topic.

Compile all their contributions—with their permission, of course—and create a roundup blog post with them. Include links to each person’s blog because they might return the favor.

6. Make an infographic

You probably have plenty of facts and statistics about your niche and industry at your disposal. Put relevant ones together, and use them to create an eye-catching infographic to share on your blog.

If necessary, hire someone to create it for you. Include it in a new blog post, and then provide commentary about the facts and statistics within the body of the post. Encourage sharing by providing an easy link for people to use.

7. Look at both sides of an issue

Posts covering the pros and cons of a particular issue, product, or service tend to be received very well, and they are usually a breeze to put together. Brainstorm and write down issues that tend to have significant advantages and disadvantages.

During the course of researching this kind of piece, you will become even more knowledgeable about your niche. In the post itself, speak directly to your audience. Ask them for their take on the issue. Through their contributions, you can develop even more fascinating fodder for your blog.

8. Go behind the scenes

Blog posts about your actual business should be kept to a minimum as they tend to be pretty yawn-worthy. From time to time, though, go ahead and give readers a glimpse of what makes your company tick.

Reserve these posts for behind-the-scenes topics your audience will actually care about. For example, share what your company does to prepare for a big trade show, or introduce a new employee who you suspect will be a real game-changer for the company.

9. Explain how to do something

How-to articles and blogs tend to do well because people overwhelmingly turn to the Internet for advice and instructions on accomplishing various things. If you can incorporate one of your products into a how-to post, all the better.

For example, perhaps there’s a special way to use one of your products few people know about, or maybe there’s a process people should follow to make the most of it.

Be as thorough as possible in your post. Explain it as meticulously as you can. Include videos and photos to drive home your point and to ensure people bookmark and share your article.

10. Interview people

Yep, I’m asking you to be a journalist again. Remember those thought leaders and industry experts from a previous tip? Interview one of them to create a full-fledged blog post about your niche or industry.

Thankfully, you don’t have to be in the same room as your interviewee to talk to them. Come up with a list of questions your audience would be curious about, and email it instead. You could also post the questions via Twitter or another social media channel.

11. Make an FAQ post

Since you’re already actively engaged with your niche and industry on social media—you are, right?—you can easily keep your finger on the pulse of what people are saying. More importantly, you can quickly figure out what they are asking.

Scour social media for questions from everyday people regarding your niche. Compile a frequently asked questions post to address them. You might even include links to questions on sites like Twitter and Facebook to gain a little link juice too.

12. Give readers the hard truth

I don’t care what niche or industry you cover. There are sure to be at least a few elephants in the room or subjects that people are generally afraid to broach. As long as you have something useful to say, go ahead and have at it.

Controversial posts shouldn’t be the bread and butter of your blog, but they can certainly stir up interest under the right circumstances. Tell it like it is in your blog from time to time to really wow your audience.

13. Share a case study

Blogs that explain how everyday people make use of a company’s products or service can be pretty engaging. However, resist the temptation to make something up. Wait until you have something truly special to share, and then share it.

Ideally, you should get permission from the client or customer to feature them, and include their input in the case study too. While the piece will obviously be promotional to some extent, write it in a factual, journalistic way to avoid alienating your audience.

14. Start a series or a regular feature

Some topics are so extensive that they can’t be covered adequately in a single post—not even a long-form one. When you run across one of these, consider breaking it up into a series for your readers. Create cliffhangers at the end of each one to keep them coming back for more.

You could also come up with a weekly or monthly feature for your blog. For example, you could highlight happenings regarding your niche in social media every Monday, or you could feature a new product or service every month.

15. Make a really long listicle

By now, we’re all familiar with the standard listicle, which typically contains 5-10 related points. This has been done so much that people don’t get very excited about it anymore.

Improve on the concept by coming up with a really long listicle that pertains to your niche. But do so only if the topic at hand is deep enough to warrant it, or you will end up with a bunch of similar-sounding points.

16. Stir controversy

Think of some common views or beliefs regarding your niche. You are sure to disagree with at least a few of them, so write posts expressing your viewpoints, challenging the accepted opinions.

Doing this will likely invite controversy, so be sure to write these posts in a tactful way. Don’t attack others. Instead, explain why you think the status quo has it all wrong, and challenge readers to convince you otherwise.

17. Debunk some myths

What are some common misconceptions or myths regarding your industry or niche? Compile a list, and then use it to create a really fascinating post for your audience.

Make sure you back up your claims, though. Otherwise, readers will lose their interest when they realize they’re reading the rants of someone who really doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Approach writing such an article with the intention of providing as much useful and usable information as possible.

18. Share customer success stories

With any luck, satisfied customers will occasionally contact you to express their appreciation. When this happens, ask them if you can feature their comments in a blog post for your business.

In this type of post, begin by describing the problem the customer was facing. Describe the product or service they used, and then explain how they were able to solve their issue by using it. If possible, include additional comments from the actual client to make the post especially engaging.

19. Perform research to delve deeper

At a certain point, you will exhaust the resources regarding facts and statistics concerning your niche. Avoid becoming repetitive, and conduct your own research.

This could mean something as simple as posting an online survey for your existing readers and sharing the results. However, you might even want to hire a market research firm for assistance. If you can present brand-new facts and information to the world, your blog will be better, and you will have a lot more to go on.

In your post, include visual representations of data to help people make sense of it. A simple pie chart or bar graph can make a huge difference.

20. Share a link roundup

As you run across interesting posts, memes, and other content regarding your niche, save them. After accumulating 10 or 20, write a link-roundup post featuring each one.

This is great for a few reasons. First, it forces you to stay up-to-date on your industry news and helps you bring relevant information to your audience. Second, it lets you branch out and opine about all kinds of content. Finally, it may even enhance your link-building strategy, which never hurts.

Conclusion

In a perfect world, none of us would ever have to cope with writer’s block.

The ideas would flow freely and continuously. Since that’s not the case, use this list of topics and ideas to kick-start your new blog.

When readers visit your new blog and are presented with an array of fascinating posts, they’re likelier to engage with it, bookmark it, and keep coming back for more.

And that’s exactly what you want to happen.

Have you already covered one of the ideas listed above? Which new ones are you excited to try?

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Whole Foods is Hiring Seasonal Workers. Hello, Holiday Grocery Discounts

Disclaimer: I love Whole Foods Market.

From the made-to-go salads and wealth of produce to the selection of protein pancakes and sometimes-still-warm bakery treats (my weakness).

And it’s not just the food. It’s the way it treats its employees — something I started taking note of lately.

So, my dreamy rant is over. What I’m trying to build up to is: Whole Foods is hiring seasonal workers — and the benefits are super awesome. (Great description, right?)

Whole Foods is Hiring for the Holidays

Most importantly, Whole Foods is currently hiring in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.

Second, positions are seasonal — great news if you simply want some extra cash as your holiday spending ramps up. You can find these seasonal jobs by searching “seasonal” on the company’s career page.

A range of positions are available, too. Think: Meat service team member, seafood team member, bakery service team member (dibs!), cashier, coffee and juice bar team member and overnight grocery team member — just to name a few.

Responsibilities will vary by position, but the store’s general seasonal team member calls for all food enthusiasts. “Whether a Wine Expert, Baker, Butcher, Chef or you just love to share the joy of food, we want you to join us for the holidays,” the listing states.

For full job descriptions and requirements, you’ll want to explore Whole Foods’ career page.

And if a job isn’t currently available near you, it’s worth bookmarking and returning to later since the stores’ needs are always changing.

Benefits of Bagging a Seasonal Job at Whole Foods

Not only will you be surrounded by beautiful vegetables and delicious-smelling treats, you’ll also get some pretty good benefits — as long as you work at least 20 hours a week.

Perhaps the best one? You’ll receive at least a 20% store discount. Just think about cutting your bill for your Thanksgiving feast and holiday dinners by 20%. This could be huge.

Next best? The competitive pay, which Glassdoor reports at about $11 an hour.

If you take the gig on permanently and put in 800 hours of work, you’ll get insurance (with low premiums — we’re talking up to $20 per paycheck).

Full-time members also get service hour grants. If you put in 6,000 service hours (three years of employment), you’ll gain stock options.

And, yes, you’ll get paid time off, which can be rolled over from year to year.

Even more? Whole Foods made our list of companies where employees can work their way up to six-figure salaries.

So, basically, your seasonal job could be a gateway to future success — or at least a gateway to a discounted holiday feast. Both sound delicious to me.

To find more jobs — some with just as awesome perks as Whole Foods — follow our Facebook jobs page.

Your Turn: Do you shop at Whole Foods?

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.

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15 Super-Cheap and Super-Simple Snacks, Sides, and Meals to Fill Your Belly

Two years ago, I wrote an incredibly popular article entitled 26 Favorite Cheap and Easy Meals. The post consisted of a big pile of my favorite inexpensive and pretty easy meals that I’ve prepared for myself and my family over the years. Almost all of them are far below $1 per serving and they’re all quite easy to prepare, too. (In fact, just yesterday, I wrote an article discussing how to use a $1 per meal strategy to save big on food costs.)

Still, even those recipes don’t add up to the level of cheapness and simplicity that I’m often looking for when I want a super-cheap or super-quick snack or light lunch during my workday. I love to run to the kitchen, grab something really easy and tasty, and get back to work quickly, but I also want it to be really inexpensive, too.

So, what I do is make a lot of different options available to me so that I can have a variety of things each day. I’ll grab one of these items for a super-quick and super-cheap snack or maybe grab two or three together for a light and cheap and super-fast lunch. I try to have as many of these things on the ready as I possibly can.

Yeah, sure, some of these may seem like common sense, but it’s often the common sense ideas that we overlook.

Here goes.

A hard-boiled egg It’s so simple, yet such a bargain. I can buy eggs at the store for $2 per dozen, then hard boil eight of them in a pan in about ten minutes. I’ll crack them, peel them, and then keep the eight peeled hard boiled eggs in a bowl in the fridge to be eaten in the next few days. You can just grab one, put a bit of salt and/or pepper on them, and gobble them down as you go on to your next task.

A poached egg on toast Toss a piece of toast in the toaster, then fill a bowl about half full with water. Crack an egg carefully right into the water, then cover it with a saucer and microwave it for about a minute for a pretty soft yolk or about a minute and twenty seconds for a harder yolk. You can fish it right out of the water with a slotted spoon and put it right on the toast for a quick “on the go” open faced breakfast (or lunch) sandwich.

Toast slathered with peanut butter A slice of bread costs a few cents, as does the amount of peanut butter that fits on a butter knife. Just toss a slice of bread in the toaster as you walk by, then grab it after it pops and spread the peanut butter across the top. I often eat a banana with this for a super-quick breakfast that’s got protein, fiber, grains, and a serving of fruit all in one batch.

Oatmeal Buy a jumbo container of rolled oats. Keep a half cup measuring cup inside of it. When you want a bowl, add a half cup of rolled oats to a bowl, pour a cup of water on top of it, and add a bit of honey for flavor. Stir it then microwave it for a minute. Warm, delicious oatmeal – and the total cost is much less than a quarter.

Sliced cucumbers and onions in vinegar water If our garden provides cucumbers or we find them on sale, we’ll take some home, slice them into thin slices, and put them in a bowl that’s about three parts water to one part vinegar. We’ll do the same with a small onion at the same time. The cucumbers pick up a wonderful flavor from the vinegar water, and it’s easy to just pinch a few out of the fridge, put a bit of salt and pepper on top, and gobble them down as a quick snack.

An open-faced tortilla/quesadilla with toppings A tortilla can be topped with just about anything while still being tasty. Peanut butter is a great topping, for starters, but you can use almost any kind of condiment or cheese that’s on sale from the store for a quick snack or a simple lunch. You can also toss it in the microwave for just a few seconds to warm it up or melt any cheese you put on it. Put a second tortilla on top (or fold it in half) to make a sandwich of sorts.

Homemade granola bars Mix 2 cups rolled oats, 1/4 cup honey, and 1/4 cup peanut butter together with any other additions you’d like to add (nuts, dried fruits, whatever you’ve found on sale), then add rolled oats until the ball just holds together. Put a piece of parchment paper into a baking pan, then press the ball down flat on the parchment paper (as flat as you’d like) and stick it in the fridge for a few hours. Pull out the pan and slice the bars – they’re ready to eat. You can keep them at room temperature or in the fridge; just eat ’em within a day or two. They don’t take long to make and then are ultra-convenient once you’ve assembled them.

Fresh fruits We almost always have bananas and apples sitting in our fruit bowl on the kitchen counter and we usually have a bowl of grapes in the fridge as well. It’s easy to just grab one and add it to your lunch as an extremely cheap and very healthy addition to the meal, or to grab one as an afternoon snack. The key, of course, is availability – having them right out there front and center makes it a lot easier to grab them as a tasty, low-cost, and super-quick snack or meal finisher. Seriously, just wander through the produce section of your store and grab whatever fruit is on sale this week; you’ll have a variety and they’ll always be cheap.

Fruit smoothies Just put some of the cheap fruit you bought at the store in the freezer. Then, when you want a smoothie, put some of the fruit in a blender, add a little bit of milk and a little bit of honey, and puree. You can look around for “recipes” but, honestly, almost any fruit combination that sounds good in your head will work. Try adding other things like a dollop of peanut butter. Super cheap, super easy, super delicious.

Rolled bananas Grab a tortilla, smear a butter knife’s worth of peanut butter on it, peel a banana, wrap the peanut butter tortilla around the banana, and enjoy. You might have $0.35 in ingredients there depending on the tortilla size and how much peanut butter you’re using. Regardless, it’s a tasty fast lunch that packs protein, fruit, and grains all together in a convenient item you can eat on your way out the door.

Seasoned popcorn People seem to associate this snack with movies, but microwaving some popcorn and putting it in a bowl with a bit of seasoning is a really really inexpensive snack. Just pop the popcorn, take what you want, and leave the rest out in a covered bowl for others to snack on (or for yourself to snack on later). Microwaveable popcorn bags can be had for a quarter; doing it yourself with a few drops of oil, a brown paper bag, and some popcorn from a jar is even less expensive.

Unseasoned almonds and peanuts Both can be had for less than $0.60 per ounce, which means you can grab a handful of these for a super-cheap snack. Nuts are incredibly filling and pretty healthy to boot – they’re almost perfect for taking the edge off the feeling of mid-afternoon hunger.

Tuna and crackers I pop open a $0.30 can of tuna, empty the contents into a small bowl, add a little bit of mayo and a pinch of salt and pepper, mix it with a fork, and grab six or so crackers out of the cupboard for a quick little lunch. It takes thirty seconds to prep this, it costs about $0.50 all told, and it can fill you up surprisingly well.

String cheese A giant bulk bag of string cheese reduces the cost per piece down to a dime or two. These individually wrapped snacks are a great little protein blast for whenever you need it and can even serve as a good side with a sandwich alongside a piece of fruit.

Cottage cheese I prefer this to yogurt, to be honest, because it works as both a savory or a sweet snack or side dish. Just keep a container in your fridge and put two or three tablespoons in a small bowl for a snack or on the side of your dinner plate for a quick side dish. It’s great with a bit of ground black pepper on it or mixed with a bit of honey for a sweet taste, and if you buy a large container, a big spoonful of it is literally just a few pennies in terms of cost.

If you mix and match these options and add some variety to each one, you can have nearly infinite cheap and tasty and (mostly) pretty healthy snacks and simple modular breakfasts and lunches, all for pennies per serving.

Good luck!

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Apple is Hiring Students at These 13 Colleges to Work From Home

Are you a tech wizard? Do you enjoy helping others solve problems with their computers or phones?

If so, and you’re a college student with a side of tech savvy, Apple wants to hire you for a flexible, work-from-home job.

Apple is hiring students from 13 universities around the country for flexible positions in the AppleCare College Program.

You’ll need good grades and a willingness to learn the ins and outs of various Apple products in order to get this gig. But once you do? It’s sweatpants and hoodies on the couch all day.

Oh, plus working hard and making good money.

This College Gig Isn’t Easy to Get, But It’s Awesome

This isn’t any old college job. Applicants must be enrolled at one of the selected schools for at least two semesters and have at least a 2.7 GPA.

The application process may include multiple interviews, and there’s a background check. You will need high-speed internet and a quiet place to take customer calls.

If you’re hired, you’ll complete a seven-week training program, ranging between 20 and 40 hours per week, depending on when you get hired (if your start date is over a holiday break, expect to put in 40 training hours per week).

Right now, the AppleCare College Program is hiring at:

• University of Utah
• University of Wisconsin
• Virginia Tech
• University of Arizona
• Arizona State University
• Florida A&M
• University of Georgia
• Georgia State
• California State
• Colorado State
• Auburn
• Clemson
• Indiana University

The Perks of Working for the AppleCare College Program

If you make the grade, the AppleCare College Program offers great perks.

You plan your own work-from-home, 20 hour-per-week schedule, although you should expect to work 40 hours per week when you’re on winter or summer break. You can get health insurance, paid time off, major discounts on tech products and plenty of Apple swag.

Tuition reimbursement is available to students working in the AppleCare College Program, but classes must be applicable to the work you do for Apple. Sorry, your art-history class probably does not apply; neither does that one-credit badminton class you’re taking for your gym requirement.

Florida State University communications major Cali Calta previously worked in the AppleCare College Program troubleshooting customers’ iPhone issues. Being able to work from home was a major plus for her.

“Even a 10-minute drive to work is time away from what you’re doing,” she said. “I could do [school] work up to one minute before my shift.”

Calta reported earning a starting pay of $11.50 per hour, and said all AppleCare student representatives had to work one weekend day (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) each week.

During her employment, she snagged a GoPro camera for 40% off and enjoyed a half-off discount on Beats headphones; the latter made great gifts. She also received 200GB of iCloud storage, absolutely free.

This was Calta’s first virtual position, and she noted how different it was from in-person service jobs she’d had in the past. But “the experience is great in itself, to work for Apple.” she said. “It felt good to solve issues and get feedback. My communication skills have definitely improved.”

Not in college? You can still work from home for Apple.

Your Turn: Do you attend one of the colleges where Apple is hiring? Will you apply?

Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer for The Penny Hoarder.

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Top 7 Best Auto Insurance Companies of 2016

If you want the best protection money can buy, buying an auto policy from one of the best car insurance companies is essential. By buying a high quality policy from a reputable provider, you’ll gain both peace of mind and protection from life-changing financial losses.

While there are plenty of companies to choose from, the best car insurance companies offer certain features that help them stand out. In addition to policies that can be tailored to your unique insurance needs, they generally offer superior customer service, an up-to-date website where you can pay your bill or check your policy details, and a top notch claims process that makes recovering from an accident as seamless as possible.

Because car insurance has become such a competitive space, shopping around for the best car insurance rates is crucial. Where one company might charge higher rates due to your age or driving history, another might offer special discounts based on an entirely different set of criteria. Most of the time, the only way to find out how much you’ll pay is to apply for several quotes and compare them side by side.

Find the Best Auto Insurance Rates

Enter your zip code below and be sure to click at least 2-3 companies to find the very best rate.

This post was created to introduce some of the best car insurance companies in the business, plus provide an overview of how each business operates.

Best Car Insurance Companies in 2016

When your goal is finding the best policy at an attractive price, it pays to compare several of the highest rated companies side by side. When figuring out which companies to highlight, we looked at Reviews.com Auto Insurance Study and J.D. Power’s 2015 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. From those studies, we handpicked several companies that received high ratings across the board.

• Allstate Insurance
• 21st Century
• Auto-Owners Insurance
• Progressive
• State Farm
• The Hartford
• USAA

Allstate Insurance

If you’re looking for a company that offers high quality insurance policies with the opportunity for discounts, Allstate Insurance should be on your short list. Allstate received fairly high ratings across both studies mentioned in this article, with its highest marks received from customers who reported a positive rental car experience.

Allstate Insurance offers the best of both worlds when it comes to the user experience. With brick and mortar offices and agents placed all over the country plus a user-friendly and helpful website, customers have the opportunity to get in-person help or access information online at any time.

Why you might like Allstate:

• Most areas have a physical office and local agents
• Multiple opportunities for discounts for bundling, anti-theft devices, and passive restraint
• Consumer-friendly website

Why you should keep looking:

• Several comparable companies received higher ratings across the board
• Can be expensive if you don’t bundle policies

21st Century Insurance

Around since 1958, 21st Century Insurance became a wholly owned subsidiary of AIG in 2007.  Currently they insure more than 1.5 million vehicles and has some of the top customer service ratings.

Why you might like 21st Century:

• Excellent ratings for claims and customer experiences
• Specializes in special cases like high risk drivers and motorcycles
• Very high financial ratings

Why you should keep looking:

• Policies can be expensive unless you are one of the types of people they specialize in.

Auto-Owners Insurance

While Auto-Owners Insurance keeps a fairly low profile, they receive extremely high marks across the board. In fact, J.D. Power awarded Auto-Owners Insurance the highest rating in their 2015 Auto Claims Study, with a 5/5 in every category except for rental car experience. That puts Auto-Owners Insurance ahead of the pack in terms of overall customer satisfaction whenever a claim is filed.

The fact that Auto-Owners Insurance has been around since 1916 should also put consumer’s minds at ease. During that time, they have exhibited financial stability consistently. Auto-Owners Insurance also has 6,300 independent agents, meaning you can buy your policy directly from an individual who understands your needs.

Why you might like Auto-Owners Insurance:

• High ratings for customer service and claims experiences
• Individual agents who care
• Variety of discounts available

Why you should keep looking:

• Policies can be expensive if you don’t qualify for discounts
• Website isn’t as user-friendly as it could be

Progressive

Progressive Insurance is known for its constant barrage of advertisements, but they also have a solid base of customers who seem quite happy with their products. Although they didn’t receive the best marks possible from J.D. Power’s 2015 Claims Study, they come in extremely competitive when it comes to pricing.

Other benefits Progressive offers include plenty of opportunity for discounts, a solid online presence, and their Snapshot program, which rewards good driving behavior.

Why you might like Progressive:

• Plenty of available discounts and competitive pricing
• Great online presence

Why you might keep looking:

• Other companies receive higher ratings across the board
• Scarce individualized attention from agents

State Farm

Founded in 1922, State Farm Insurance has a history of financial stability and customer service satisfaction. With physical offices and agents dispersed throughout the country, State Farm is also known for offering individual service that simply cannot be matched by online-only firms.

The company’s biggest benefits include its brick-and-mortar stores and agents, the many discounts it offers, and its strong mobile app. State Farm also makes it easy and painless to get quotes online, which means you don’t have to head into a local office if you don’t want to.

Why you might like State Farm:

• Local offices and agents provide in-person help
• Great mobile app and website
• Plenty of discounts available

Why you might keep looking:

• Average ratings from J.D. Power

The Hartford

With more than 200 years of history in business, The Hartford has built an excellent reputation for customer service and claims processing. As of today, the company is still receiving high marks from companies like J.D. Power. In its 2015 Auto Claims Satisfaction study, The Hartford received excellent marks (4/5 or 5/5) in every category except for service interaction.

Although The Hartford is an old company, they still offer some of the best technology in the business. Using their website, you can shop around for and even apply for a new policy. Plus, you’ll have 24/7 access to agents either on the phone or online.

Why you might like The Hartford:

• Multiple policy discounts
• Top ratings for claims management
• Guaranteed renewals of your policy as long as you can drive

Why you might keep looking:

• Low ratings for service experiences during the claims process
• The best benefits go to AARP members

USAA

USAA received extremely high marks from J.D. Power’s Claims Satisfaction Survey, including 5/5 in overall customer satisfaction. In addition, USAA customers were extremely satisfied with their final settlement after an accident, which is one of the most important indicators or a high quality insurance company.

The biggest downside to USAA is that it is only available to members or former members of the United State military and their close family members. So, if you’re in the general public, you won’t have the opportunity to buy a policy from USAA.

Why you might like USAA:

• Top ratings, including overall customer satisfaction
• Superior customer service
• Diverse policy options to meet anyone’s needs

Why you might keep looking:

• Only available to U.S. military members, veterans, or their close family members

How to Pick a Policy with the Best Auto Insurance Companies

Knowing which companies received the highest marks year after year is just part of the battle. Beyond researching the best auto insurance companies on the market, you’ll also need to decide which type of policy to buy – and how much coverage you really need.

Consumer Reports offers an extremely helpful guide that highlights the steps you can take to find the best policy for your needs. Even if you’re fairly happy with your policy, they suggest shopping around to compare rates at least every two or three years. That way, you have a good idea of where car insurance rates are headed and how much you could save if you switch.

Here are some additional tips to consider as you shop around:

Pick a top-rated insurer – By checking auto insurance ratings, you gain insight from each company’s existing customer base. Consumer Reports suggests reading through the most recent auto insurance claims and satisfaction studies to see which companies consistently come out on top.

Set the right deductible – No matter whether you buy liability coverage or full coverage for your vehicle, you need to pick a deductible that meets you needs. Consumer Reports suggests choosing a higher deductible if you want to save on monthly premiums, but setting a lower deductible if you want to avoid a large out-of-pocket expense in the event of an accident. “If you have a good driving record and haven’t had an at-fault accident in years, or ever, opting for a higher deductible on collision might be a good bet,” writes Consumer Reports. Just remember to keep that much cash on hand in case you need it.

Don’t buy state minimum coverage if you truly want a high quality auto policy – While state minimum coverage is less expensive in the short-term, it can prove extremely costly if you have a claim that far exceeds the cap on the policy you purchased. By investing in a policy that offers more generous coverage limits, you can save yourself some heartache and protect your personal property in the event of a costly accident.

Want the Lowest Auto Insurance Rates? Do This

While auto insurance rates are extremely competitive, they still vary widely depending on the company you use and the type of policy you purchase. With that being said, there are still plenty of ways to keep your costs lower than average. If price is an important consideration in your search, consider these tips:

Ask about discounts.

Some of the best car insurance companies offer discounts on anything from bundled policies to good credit, zero claims, theft protection devices, and more. Others offer discounts for paying your six-month premium in-full or installing an electronic device that lets the company monitor your driving habits over the long haul.

Allstate Insurance, for example, offers Drivewise – a discount program for customers who install a tracking device into their vehicle. By letting Allstate monitor your driving habits, you can qualify for a discount of up to 30 percent.

Keep your credit in good shape.

Most of the best auto insurance companies check your credit before they extend a new policy. If your credit is excellent, this will only help you get the best auto insurance rates. If your credit is poor, on the other hand, you might be asked to pay a whole lot more.

To keep your credit in good health, check your credit score and report frequently. While Credit Karma lets you see an estimate of your credit score for free at any time, AnnualCreditReport.com is a government-approved website that lets you see your full credit report from all three credit reporting agencies once per year for free.

Keep insurance costs in mind when you choose a car.

The newer your car is, the more expensive your car insurance premiums will likely be. Also consider the fact that some car models with expensive replacement parts can cost more to insure regardless of age.

Consumer Reports suggests asking your car dealer to show you the “Relative Collision Insurance Cost Information Booklet,” produced annually by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That way, you’ll be in the best position to avoid models with insurance costs that are higher than most.

The Bottom Line

When shopping around on the best deal for auto insurance, it’s important to look at more than just premiums. The best auto insurance companies should offer more than affordability – they should also receive good ratings and reviews from their existing customer base, same goes for life insurance, burial insurance and health insurance.

The best way to find this out is to complete some research on your own. Look at some of the recent studies completed and read through them, then read as many online reviews as you can find. Also make sure to shop around and compare rates among the handful of companies you feel comfortable with. The more you shop around and compare, the better off you’ll be.

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First 50 Funds update: One third of Britain's best-performing funds are core funds

Gary Adams

outperforming-graph.jpg

Nine of the UK’s 25 best-performing funds – and three of Moneywise’s top 50 First Funds for beginner investors – are “core funds”, according to new research from TD Direct Investing.

Nine of the UK’s 25 best-performing funds – and three of Moneywise’s top 50 First Funds for beginner investors – are “core funds”, according to new research from TD Direct Investing.

read more

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Happy National Coffee Day! Here’s Where to Find a Free (or Cheap) Cup

If the whiplash-inducing speed with which we’re marching toward 2017 is leaving you a little (or a lot) exhausted, you’re in luck.

This Thursday, Sept. 29, is National Coffee Day.

And that means you can score a free (or cheap) pick-me-up… just in time to deal with the fact that, seriously, it’s time to start making plans for Halloween already. And have you started your holiday shopping yet?

I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

Where to Find Free Coffee on National Coffee Day 2016

We’ve found lots of options to help you score some celebratory joe — and wake you up as September ends.

1. Wawa

My favorite convenience store is giving away a free cup of coffee to every customer who comes in to celebrate National Coffee Day!

Bonus: You get to go to Wawa.

2. Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme ups the ante this Thursday by offering not just a free 12-ounce cup of coffee — but a free donut to go with it!

I don’t know about you, but I know where I plan to be when I see that “hot now” sign light up.

3. Cumberland Farms

Text “FREECOFFEE” to 64827 on Sept. 29 to score a free hot or iced coffee from Cumberland Farms that day.

While you’re at it, enter the chain’s Grand Slam Giveaway for a chance to win $99,999 should Boston hit a grand slam home run on the 99th pitch thrown to a Boston player.

Sure, the odds are long… but it’s a big prize and entry is free!

4. Pilot Flying J

On the road this week? These travel centers will offer a free small cup of coffee or any small, hot tea or cappuccino when you present this coupon on Thursday.

5. Sheetz

Sheetz will give away free coffee to celebrate the holiday — and to let you try out its new generation of brews!

6. Peet’s Coffee

Swing by Peet’s for a free medium drip coffee with the purchase of any fresh food item on Sept. 29.

7. Dunkin Donuts

To celebrate its 66th year of business, Dunkin Donuts will offer customers a medium hot coffee for just 66 cents this Thursday.

And if you’re active on social media, you don’t even have to wait until then to join in the fun.

“Beginning Monday, September 26 and running through National Coffee Day, Dunkin’ Donuts will surprise a total of 66 of its Twitter followers with Dunkin’ Donuts cards good for a year’s worth of free coffee,” according to the press release.

The franchise will also offer a one-day-only Snapchat geofilter on Sept. 29, so you can snap your discounted java.

8. LaMar’s Donuts and Coffee

If you live near a LaMar’s, head on down and buy a reusable travel mug for $1.19 on Thursday.

The shop will fill it with coffee for free — and you’ll save money, and trees, in the future!

9. Starbucks

This pricy chain won’t be offering a free drink this Thursday — but if you can spring for a cup, you’ll secure an even better freebie.

When you buy a cup of brewed Mexico Chiapas coffee at a participating Starbucks storefront in the U.S. or Mexico on Sept. 29, the company will donate a healthy coffee tree to a farmer in need.

The supply of free trees helps combat “coffee rust,” a fungal infection that runs rampant in Latin America and destroys valuable crops.

This Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of Starbucks’ One Tree for Every Bag initiative, which has already amassed funds for 18 million coffee trees.

As if a hot cup didn’t already feel good enough.

Your Turn: How do you take your coffee?

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.

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The Personal Canon: Core Works of Art We Return to Time and Again for Inspiration

By Jon Gorey, Drew Housman, and Trent Hamm

There’s something beautiful about the idea of refining an experience — that you can take the same walk to work every day, but improve what you get out of it each time. Maybe you learn to distinguish the different bird calls, or you start to identify the trees you see, or you discover the incredible history behind the corner bakery and its 80-year-old owner. The familiar can become new again or reveal even deeper beauty when you approach it with an open mind.

We at the Simple Dollar are always looking for ways to appreciate, improve, and build upon what we already have, as opposed to seeking out (and shelling out for) the newest, shiniest thing. It’s a valuable exercise to reconsider and appreciate what you already have – and this is especially true when it comes to art.

There are certain movies, books, poems, and paintings that are worth spending some time with. Re-watching, re-reading, and re-contemplating quality works can be very rewarding experience. You’ll often catch things you didn’t appreciate the first few times around, finding greater wisdom or humor each time. Referring back to your favorite works of art can help to anchor you in times of distress, and to inspire you in times of complacency.

Here are some core works of art that help to keep us motivated, curious, and enthralled, year after year.

Jon: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Catcher in the Rye

My stack of books to read is tall and wobbly — a leaning tower of literature I can’t seem to keep up with. Our Netflix queue, meanwhile, is overloaded with Oscar-winning movies from seven or eight years ago we still mean to watch. And yet, now and then I’ll bypass the book pile in favor of a novel I’ve read five times already, or pop in a DVD I’ve watched dozens of times. When it comes to culture, sometimes I just want a wise old friend, not a new relationship.

It can be a struggle to choose between re-watching a favorite film you know to be great and taking a chance on a new one, says Robert Thompson, trustee professor and founder of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. “There’s one argument that you should just pick the really good stuff and just keep watching and reading it over and over again,” Thompson says. “But there are so many great works of art out there that we can only begin to scratch the surface.”

With so many new critically acclaimed films, books, and TV shows coming out all the time, Thompson says it’s hard to find a balance when there are only so many hours of the day to consume culture – and so many years in your life. “I remember that horrible moment in my mid-40s when I realized not only all the great books I would never write, but all the great books I’d never even get to read,” he says.

But Thompson says there is a value to revisiting a fine work of art — that the more times you see it, the more you get out of it. “I don’t care how many times you watch a production of Hamlet, you always find more in there. To read the Divine Comedy once, to look at the paintings in the Sistine Chapel once, is to have experienced them — but it’s certainly not close to getting everything there is out of them,” Thompson says. “The good stuff just keeps on giving.”

This isn’t just true for masterpieces, Thompson says. “I’ve seen Animal House and Fast Times at Ridgemont High, what, maybe 60 times while teaching them over the years? And I still find things,” he says. And some works simply become part of our rituals. “The first time people saw It’s a Wonderful Life, they wept. And now that they’ve watched it 25 Christmases in a row, it’s like a longtime marriage instead of a first date — and both of those have their value.”

I was glad to hear that, because after giving it some careful thought, I realized the works of art I revisit most often — besides my favorite albums, of which there are simply too many to write about — aren’t exactly Shakespeare. There’s the 1986 John Hughes film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and the 1955 book Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. And to be honest, I should probably add the 1993 Richard Linklater film Dazed and Confused to this list, too.

I know, I know: It makes me sound like a juvenile slacker stuck in a state of perpetual adolescence or something. And maybe I am. But for whatever reason, those coming-of-age tales are the works I return to again and again.

I’ve come to realize the common thread between all three is that they’re slice-of-life, in-the-moment narratives. Unlike epic sagas that unfold over years or generations, these three stories take place over just a single day or two.

And I think that’s what really resonates with me. There is so much to see, do, learn, and experience in a single day; entire novels may be lurking in a Tuesday. Every day is rich with opportunity, but too often we let one slide by until the days blur into a month or year or a lifetime squandered.

Like the longtime marriage Thompson speaks of, I find deep comfort in these familiar stories and characters. I also think they help me to reset my inner compass, so to speak. Ferris Beuller’s brazen, carpe-diem optimism and Holden Caulfield’s restless but incorruptible sincerity remind me of the core beliefs I forged as young adult — and desperately strive to hold onto, even as the adult world so often tramples on such values.

And Catcher in the Rye, like It’s a Wonderful Life, is something of a Christmas story. As such, I tend to revisit it around that time of year, almost like a holiday tradition. I’m especially prone to re-read it if I’m visiting New York, because while parts of Salinger’s Manhattan may be long gone, he immortalized for me the irresistible romance of the city in December.

Oddly enough, Holden himself saw the virtue in revisiting something you’ve already experienced a number of times. Here he is describing why he liked returning to the Museum of Natural History (though after this passage, he decides not to go in):

“The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move. You could go there a hundred thousand times, and that Eskimo would still be just finished catching those two fish, the birds would still be on their way south, the deers would still be drinking out of that water hole, with their pretty antlers and they’re pretty, skinny legs, and that squaw with the naked bosom would still be weaving that same blanket. Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different would be you. Not that you’d be so much older or anything. It wouldn’t be that, exactly. You’d just be different, that’s all. You’d have an overcoat this time. Or the kid that was your partner in line the last time had got scarlet fever and you’d have a new partner. Or you’d have a substitute taking the class, instead of Miss Aigletinger. Or you’d heard your mother and father having a terrific fight in the bathroom. Or you’d just passed by one of those puddles in the street with gasoline rainbows in them. I mean you’d be different in some way—I can’t explain what I mean. And even if I could, I’m not sure I’d feel like it.”

That’s what I enjoy most about going back to these works: I’m a little different each time. As I got older, I could better see both the earnest heroism and confused folly in Holden’s behavior. As a writer, I continue to find new brilliance in Salinger’s unrivaled ability for dialog. And as a parent, I’ve grown to adore Holden’s little sister Phoebe, and his sweet relationship with her.

To paraphrase the sleazy Wooderson from Dazed and Confused: “That’s what I love about these stories. I get older, they stay the same age.”

–Jon Gorey

Drew: The Right Stuff and Illmatic

The Right Stuff, a work of historical nonfiction by Tom Wolfe, details the lives of the astronauts who were vying for a spot aboard the first U.S. space shuttle that would leave earth’s atmosphere. It’s a compelling read, especially for someone who didn’t grow up during the Cold War and has a hard time appreciating just how much the space race meant to the United States at that time.

What really struck me on my most recent time through the book was the single-minded focus of each astronaut the books profiles. They put family obligations, other ambitions and even their personal safety on the back burner. All that mattered was winning a spot on the Mercury shuttle.

There were no side hustles. No plan b’s. No “parachutes” for their careers, literally or figuratively. I admire the tenacity of anyone who approaches their work in such a fashion. If you are sure you want something, there’s no better way to approach it than to go all in.

That being said, this attitude is not the only way to approach your career. I was left thinking about how I don’t have anything in my career I care about to the point where I would leave my girlfriend for it. And I certainly wouldn’t die for my job.

Instead of wondering if there was anything out there for me that I would abandon everything for, the book made me think about how it’s okay to not be in love with your career. I have time to be a well rounded, well read, thoughtful person. This is in contrast than some of my peers who spend every waking moment chasing a singular passion.

Trying to learn and experience many different things has it’s own benefits, even if you never become world renowned in any one of those fields. I like that I can read The Right Stuff and marvel at the astronauts while also appreciating that I can live a satisfying life without seeking fame and glory by riding a rocket going 17,000 miles per hour.

Another work I return to often is Illmatic by Nas. It’s one of the most lauded hip-hop albums of all time, and for good reason. It’s poetry at its finest: evocative, moving, and inspirational. Nas was only 18 when he recorded this album about what it’s like to grow up on the streets of New York City in the 1980s, yet his words contain the wisdom and thoughtfulness of a Buddhist monk.

He tackles a range of issues on the album, and many of them are heavy and sobering: references to police brutality, gang warfare, the prison system, drug use, prostitution, and poverty abound.

Yet, the more I listen to it, the more I’ve been tuning into the fact that Nas seems to be having so much fun while he’s rapping. He makes jokes. He invites his friends to randomly shout on a chorus. He laughs. He talks about partying. He references Disney’s Cinderella, for crying out loud.

This lightheartedness in the face of adversity has been on my mind lately, especially as is it relates to personal finance. I tend to be very hard on myself if I don’t hit my savings goals, or if I buy blueberries at one market and then realize they were cheaper at another market. (“That $1.25 I just wasted could be worth $30,000 when I turn 60 if I’d invested it! Arghhh!”)

Thinking about ‘Illmatic’ helps me to keep things in perspective. I’m safe. I have a stable job and I’m surrounded by people who love me. If something happens that’s not perfect, there’s no need to freak out. When I get frustrated, It helps me to imagine a young Nas looking at me and saying “man, I made a great work of art while dealing with life in a public housing project in one of the most dangerous cities in the country. Chill out.”

–Drew Housman

Trent: Self-Reliance and Bedroom in Arles

When Jon asked me to talk about the core artistic works that have kept me motivated, curious, and enthralled throughout my life, two such works immediately came to mind.

The first is Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay Self-Reliance, which I wrote about extensively on The Simple Dollar in a three-part article (here’s part one, part two, and part three). The thoughts that flow through this essay have helped me to get through almost every challenge in my life, from the professional challenge of entrepreneurial ventures and a politically-charged workplace to personal challenges like the unexpected death of a dearly-loved mentor. In those moments of challenge, it is so easy to fall into a trap of finding excuses and blaming others when, in the end, my feelings and my choices are my own responsibility and no one else’s. Emerson enriches that core idea of self-reliance with the beautiful yet slightly archaic tone of mid-19th century American English, with words that feel like arrows shot across the ages directly into my heart.

I read Emerson’s words often.  That essay is a part of a very dog-eared collection of Emerson’s writings that sits on my bookshelf, right next to me each day as I work.  I pull it off that shelf quite often, flipping through the various essays but inevitably finding my way right back to Self-Reliance.

The other work is Vincent van Gogh’s Bedroom in Arles, specifically his second version of that painting which currently resides at the Art Institute of Chicago. This painting captures a very small bedroom of a man with a relatively simple life in terms of his possessions, but there is such brightness and life throughout it.  There is a blue sky and rich sunshine behind those windows. There is simple comfort in that bed. There is a chair upon which to sit and read and write letters.  There are bright colors throughout all of it, reflecting the joy that is to be found in such a life.

Whenever I think of a place I would love to escape to for a day or two, this is it. A little, quiet, simple room without much upkeep, with a simple, comfortable bed, a table with a book I’ve been dying to read and a pitcher of ice-cold water and a glass nearby, and warm morning sunshine flowing in through the window, perhaps with a gentle breeze that beckons me to go outside and explore.

–Trent Hamm

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What films, movies, books, or albums do you find yourself returning to? Share yours in the comments.

The post The Personal Canon: Core Works of Art We Return to Time and Again for Inspiration appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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