Monroe County could lose millions of dollars a year on slots.The Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down a gaming tax that will reduce funding for Monroe County job creation projects — a tax that brought in nearly $13 million last year alone for the county.The court ruled that the roughly 4 percent “local share assessment” on slot machine revenue is unconstitutional because it is not uniform, and affects Pennsylvania’s 12 casinos [...]
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الاثنين، 3 أكتوبر 2016
Court ruling bites Pa. natural gas industry
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission said it has accepted the state Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down a number of provisions to the oil and gas law.The high court ruled last week unconstitutional the use of eminent domain for natural gas storage facilities, and the exclusion of private wells from notification of hazardous spills.The industry no longer has a fast track to commonwealth court when it comes to challenging local zoning ordinances. And the [...]
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How to Cut Cable and Still Watch the MLB Playoffs
By Chris Brantner
Major League Baseball fans love October, because it means weeks of playoff baseball — all starting with the first Wild Card game on Tuesday. Even if your team doesn’t make the postseason, October baseball brings fans some of the best games of the year, as teams take their play to a whole new level in the crisp fall air, and really seem to step up their games under the spotlight.
And if your hometown team does make the postseason, you want to see every pitch. This is the big crescendo, the grand finale you’ve been waiting for after a six-month, 162-game season.
Normally when you think of watching baseball, you picture watching it through your cable subscription. This makes sense, since most games are broadcast on FOX, Fox Sports 1, TBS, and ESPN, as well as team-specific cable networks such as YES (Yankees) or NESN (Red Sox). Almost all of these are channels you’d usually only watch through a cable TV package.
While cable packages are synonymous with paying lots of money and getting terrible customer service, you don’t have to deal with either to get your postseason baseball fix. You can watch every MLB playoff game for cheap — without a cable bill looming over you.
There are a couple of different options out there, and the best one for you likely depends on how many games you want to watch and whether you’re more concerned with seeing the American League or National League games en route to the World Series. Here are some details on all of your choices.
A Digital Antenna
One of the easiest and cheapest tools for any cord cutter is a digital antenna. These are nothing like the old rabbit-ear antennas of old — they’re much more high-tech and powerful, allowing you to receive free high-definition signals over the air. Most locations get strong over-the-air reception of broadcasts from the four major networks: FOX, NBC, CBS, and ABC.
A decent portion of the National League playoff games will be broadcast on FOX, so an antenna will be key to watching. And, the entirety of the World Series will be broadcast on FOX as well.
One of the best parts is, purchasing the antenna is the only cost included in this process. Once you’ve got a digital antenna hooked up, watching live, over-the-air TV is absolutely free.
How much will you actually spend on an antenna? Well, it depends on how far away you live from a city (and its broadcast stations) and what model you choose, but you’ll likely end up spending somewhere around $50. You can check out how strong reception will be in your location using this tool.
What quality of picture can you expect from your antenna? For those concerned about missing out on the quality of a cable broadcast, worry no more. The TV you watch with an antenna is a perfectly crisp, high-definition picture. Many people even insist the HD quality from their antenna is much better than any HD picture they’ve ever received through cable.
Sling TV
Sling TV is an online streaming service that lets you watch many popular cable channels live for a monthly fee. If you subscribe to Sling TV to watch the MLB playoffs, it will either cost you $20 or $25 for a monthly subscription. The difference in cost depends on which package you choose: Sling Blue or Sling Orange.
Sling Orange costs $20 per month and would let you watch the National League Wild Card Game on ESPN and the entire American League playoff lineup on TBS. The Blue bundle costs $25 per month, and would let you watch TBS and a solid amount of National League games on FS1. In certain locations, subscribers even get access to FOX on the Blue package. This would give you the remainder of the National League games and the World Series all on Sling TV.
The monthly cost isn’t very steep — certainly less than even a standard cable package — but the best part is you can give it a test run with a seven-day free trial. You can time it right and watch some of the playoffs for free, or just test it out ahead of time to see if the service is the right fit for you.
PlayStation Vue
The PlayStation Vue service from Sony is set up very similarly to Sling TV. Anyone can subscribe, not just PlayStation users, and you can watch on a variety of devices. The starting cost is $29.99 per month and TBS, FS1, and ESPN are all included in the one package.
Certain locations will get access to FOX as well. But, in those locations the starting package costs $10 more per month. As with Sling TV, the service does have a free trial. You can either put these two back-to-back and watch two weeks of the playoffs for free, or compare them to each other and cancel the less preferred service.
If you want to compare PlayStation Vue with Sling TV to find out which is a better option for you, you can check out this article for a breakdown of the two services.
Compared to the NFL season, figuring out how to watch the MLB playoffs without cable is pretty simple. The best bet would likely be combining an HD antenna with one of the above streaming services. This will let you watch as much of the playoffs as possible, while still avoiding those huge cable bills.
Chris Brantner runs CutCableToday.com, a site dedicated to helping people find better options for watching TV without cable.
Related Articles:
- How to Watch Football This Season Without Paying for Cable
- Cord Cutters: How and Why to Say Goodbye to Cable TV
- The Secret to Getting Great Concert or Sports Tickets for Cheap
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Rebel teens are killing Aeropostale and some other clothing giants
Two years ago, Aéropostale Chief Executive Officer Julian Geiger shared his view of the adolescent shopper. "The teenager today wants to fit in," he told analysts. "They want to fit in by wearing things that make them feel safe. If there's a brand promise to Aéropostale, it's that the teenager can wear our clothes, go to school, and not be teased or made fun of the way they look."It turned out he was wrong. After decades of battling with rivals Abercrombie & Fitch and [...]
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Become a Poll Worker and Make Some Extra Cash While Helping People Vote
Welcome ye faithful American citizens.
No matter your state, district or territory, we want to help you make a little extra money off the elections this year (which are Nov. 8, in case you’ve been on an island, in which case, I’m a little jealous).
And nope, it doesn’t require selling Trump toilet paper or a Hillary nutcracker. No joke, those are real things. Nor does it require you to do anything illegal — please don’t do anything illegal.
It only requires you to show up to the polls for a day and help voters run the machines, check signatures and assist in any other necessary manner.
Not only will you be taking part in an historic moment, you’ll pocket some extra money — perfect for everyone’s holiday cheer.
How to Become a Poll Worker in Your State
Unfortunately, becoming a poll worker isn’t a universal process for each state or even in each state’s counties. We found out the hard way when we began tackling this project.
Much of the information you find below focuses on one city or county of your state — as an example.
If you don’t live in that city or county, you can find more information online. Your best bet is to find your Secretary of State’s or Division of Election’s websites. From there, you’ll likely be directed to your city or county’s supervisor of elections’ office — which also usually have websites.
Sometimes you’ll find that the Secretary of State has done the work for you (like Minnesota). Others will make you dig a bit more, like Florida (of course) — which takes you to the Division of Elections site and requires you to find your county.
If you find yourself drowning in the internet, you’ll likely be able to speak with a human when you call your county clerk’s office. Hopefully a representative can point you in the right direction.
Be sure to research or ask about training requirements, as well as any approaching deadlines.
How Much Can You Make as a Poll Worker?
As stated, this isn’t an easy 1-2-3 search process.
Where we could, we listed the general information for each state. Where we couldn’t, we got specific and chose a county to give you an idea of pay, hours, etc. I don’t think anyone would appreciate a 300-page county guide — me included.
So go ahead and start perusing. Keep this in your back pocket, or slip a virtual bookmark on this page for your future reference.
Alabama (Montgomery County)
Qualifications: Must be at least 18 years old and a registered voter in Montgomery County.
Pay: $100
Training: Required, up to 60 days prior to each election
Alaska
Qualifications: Must be registered to vote in Alaska, capable of working in a non-partisan way and have no familial relationships to candidates.
Hours: 15
Pay: $9.50-$10 an hour
Training: 2-hour, paid training
Arizona (Maricopa County)
Qualifications: Must attend training
Hours: 14.5 hours.
Pay: $75-$90
Training: Required but paid — $10 for attending
Arkansas (Pulaski County)
Qualifications: Must be a qualified Arkansas elector; must read and write English; must be resident of the precinct; must not have been found guilty or pleaded guilty to charges against violation of any election law; must not be a paid employee of a party; must not be a candidate; must not be married or related to a candidate
Hours: 13
Pay: $105-$120
California (San Francisco County)
Qualifications: Be at least 18 years old; a U.S. citizen registered to vote in California, and be able to read, write and speak English
Hours: 15.5 hours
Pay: $142-$195
Training: Required
Note: The deadline for the 2016 election passed on Oct. 1. But keep this guide for the next election.
Colorado (Denver County)
Qualifications: Must be a U.S. citizen living in the county; be able to pass a criminal history check; not be related to a candidate by blood or marriage
Hours: 14 hours
Pay: $11-$15.50 an hour
Training: Required, paid
Connecticut (West Hartford)
Qualifications: Must pass a brief interview; have access to a computer (for training purposes); other qualifications vary depending on position
Hours: 14.75 hours; half-day positions available
Pay: $215-$380
Training: 2-hour class, computer required
Delaware
Qualifications: Must be a county resident, registered to vote in Delaware and at least 16 years old
Hours: 15.5 hours
Pay: $190-$235
Training: Required, 3-hour class, paid $50
Note: The deadline has passed for 2016, so remember this for next time.
District of Columbia
Qualifications: Must be registered to vote in the District; cannot be a candidate or nominee for any elected office; cannot work for a political party, committee or campaign
Hours: 15 hours
Pay: $120-$160
Training: Required
Florida (Palm Beach County)
Qualifications: Must be registered in the county
Hours: 13 hours
Pay: $170-$265
Training: Required, 3-7 hours, unpaid
Georgia (Fulton County)
Qualifications: Must be a Fulton County resident and at least 16 years old
Hours: 14.5 hours
Pay: $175-$275
Training: Online and face-to-face training required, paid $30
Hawaii
Qualifications: Must be at least 16 (birthday on or before June 30 of election year); registered Hawaiian voter; can read and write English
Hours: 11 hours
Pay: $50-$175
Idaho (Kootenai County)
Qualifications: Must be 18 years or older; be a registered Idaho voter; cannot be related to a candidate; able to read and write English; lift at least 20 pounds
Hours: 14 hours
Pay: $125 per day; $25 for 2-hour training
Training: Required, paid
Illinois (Cook County)
Qualifications: Must be a registered voter in Cook County; at least 18 years of age; able to speak, read and write English; perform basic math; is not associated with the candidates; cannot be a registered sex offender
Hours: 14+ hours
Pay: $125 for judges
Training: Required, paid $45
Indiana
Qualifications: Must be at least 18 and a registered voter in the county you wish to work
Pay: Up to $150
Iowa (Scott County)
Qualifications: Must be a registered voter in the county
Hours: 15.5 hours
Pay: $7.92 an hour, plus mileage reimbursement (.4650 cents a mile)
Training: Required
Kansas (Shawnee County)
Qualifications: Must be at least 18 years older and an American citizen
Hours: 14 hours; part-time shifts available
Pay: $110
Training: Required, 3 hours, paid minimum wage
Kentucky
Qualifications: Be a registered voter; at least 18 years old; cannot be a candidate or related to one
Hours: 5:30 a.m. to close
Pay: A minimum of $60, payment for mileage
Training: Required, paid $10
Louisiana
Qualifications: Registered to vote in Louisiana, no assistance required
Pay: Up to $200-$250
Training: Required
Maine (City of Auburn)
Qualifications: Must be a U.S. citizen; at least 18 years old; must be a registered voter in Auburn; can’t be an officer of a municipal committee or a political party
Hours: Varies by position
Pay: $7.75-$8 an hour
Training: Required
Maryland (Montgomery County)
Qualifications: Must be a registered Maryland voter; must be a U.S. citizen; must be able to speak, read and write English; can do simple math; can lift 50 pounds with assistance
Pay: $75-$250
Hours: Varies by position
Training: Required, paid $30
Massachusetts (City of Cambridge)
Qualifications: Must be a registered Massachusetts voter; must be able to read, write and speak English
Pay: $15.04-$16.95 an hour
Hours: 14.5 hours
Training: Required, paid
Michigan
Qualifications: Must be a registered Michigan voter; cannot be a challenger, candidate, member of the candidate’s family or a member of the Board of Canvassers; cannot be a convicted felon
Pay: At least minimum wage
Training: Required
Minnesota
Qualifications: Must be a U.S. citizen who can vote in Minnesota; must be able to read, write and speak English; cannot be related to a candidate, live with a candidate or be a candidate
Hours: Full and partial shifts available
Pay: $13.30/hour
Training: Required, at least 2 hours
Note: The deadline for the 2016 election passed May 1.
Mississippi (Madison County)
Pay: Up to $125
Training: Required
Missouri
Qualifications: Must be a registered voter; must be able to speak, read and write English; cannot appear on the ballot or have a close relative on the ballot; cannot hold elective office at the time of service
Hours: 6 a.m. to close
Pay: $64-$100
Training: Required, takes place about 4-6 weeks before the election and lasts 2-8 hours
Montana
Qualifications: Must be registered to vote in the county you’re serving; cannot be related to a candidate
Hours: 14 hours
Pay: At least Montana minimum wage, $8.05
Training: Required, unpaid
Deadline: At least 30 days before the election.
Nebraska
Qualifications: Must be registered to vote in the county you’re serving; must be able to read and write English; cannot be a candidate
Hours: 2 different 13-hour shifts available
Pay: Varies, starts at minimum wage of $9 an hour
Training: Required
Nevada (Clark County)
Qualifications: Must be a registered voter; cannot be a candidate nor related to a candidate; must have reliable transportation
Hours: 14-hour shift on Election Day; workers may also serve during early voting.
Pay: $120
Training: Required, unpaid
Note: The county says it urgently needs qualified elections workers, so here’s more information if you’re interested.
New Hampshire
Note: We could only find limited information for this state but will update you as soon as we know more!
New Jersey
Qualifications: Must be a New Jersey citizen
Pay: $125-$200
Training: Required
New Mexico (Los Alamos County)
Qualifications: Registered to vote in Los Alamos County; must be able to read and write; must be able to execute the oath of office
Pay: $65-$150
Training: Required
New York (New York City)
Qualifications: Must be registered to vote in New York City; must be a permanent U.S. resident; must be at least 18 years old
Hours: 5 a.m. to close
Pay: $200
Training: Required, paid $25-$100
North Carolina (Mecklenburg County)
Qualifications: Must be a registered voter; must be a resident in your precinct and in good standing; must be able to read and write; must not be a government official or a candidate.
Hours: 6:30 a.m. to close (after 7:30 p.m.)
Pay: $100-$200
Training: Required, paid $25
North Dakota (Cass County)
Qualifications: Must be a U.S. citizen and an eligible voter within your county; must be at least 16; must have some basic computer skills; must be able to read and write.
Pay: $12.64 an hour
Training: Required, 3 hours
Ohio
Qualifications: Must be at least 17 years old and registered to vote in the county you wish to serve; cannot have any felony convictions; can’t be a candidate.
Hours: 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Pay: Approximately $160
Training: Required, 3 hours; a pre-election meeting at your polling location, 1 hour
Oklahoma (Tulsa County)
Pay: $87-$97, mileage if your home is 10 miles or more away
Training: Required, paid $25, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Oregon
This state’s a bit different from the others. It’s adopted a vote by mail process, which doesn’t require traditional polling sites or workers. You can always reach out to your local board of elections for the deets.
Pennsylvania (Berks County)
Qualifications: Cannot have held public office within two months; cannot be a candidate; must perform duties in a non-partisan manner.
Hours: 15 hours
Pay: $110-$120
Training: Required, two hours, compensated
Puerto Rico
Qualifications: Must be a registered and qualified elector who is 18 or older; must be a resident of the U.S. and Puerto Rico
Hours: 7 a.m. to close
Training: Required
Rhode Island
Qualifications: No need to be a resident of the city/town you’d like to work for but you need to be registered in Rhode Island; must be able to read the state’s constitution in English; must be able to write your own name; cannot be a government employee; cannot be a felon
Hours: 15 hours
Pay: $75 (half day) to $225 including food; complete list of pay rates available online
Training: Required and paid $25 for 3-plus hours
Note: The deadline to apply has passed; the last day of training for the 2016 election was Sept. 7.
South Carolina
Pay: $60-$180, depending on role
Training: Training is required, $60 per day
South Dakota (Pennington County)
Qualifications: Must be a registered Pennington County voter; must be able to read and write English; able to lift 25 pounds
Hours: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. or later
Pay: $100-$175
Training: Required, paid, held the week before the election in 1- to 2-hour sessions
Tennessee (Davidson County)
Qualifications: At least 17 years old and a Davidson County resident; must be able to provide your own transportation
Hours: 13.5 hours
Pay: $150
Training: Required (available on days, nights and Saturdays), paid $30
Note: The poll official roster has been filled for the 2016 election. However, you may continue with the application process if you’d like to be considered for future elections.
Texas (Galveston County)
Qualifications: Must be a registered voter in Galveston County; conversant in English and Spanish
Pay: $10/hour, about $130 total
Training: Required and paid
Utah
Qualifications: Must be registered to vote in the county you work for
Pay: $150-$225
Note: Workers were selected at the end of September, so keep this for the next election!
Vermont
Qualifications: Must be a registered voter and 18 years or older, unless you’re an approved 16- or 17-year-old assistant; must live in the district you work in
Pay: Varies, minimum wage at least
Training: Required, no pay mentioned
Virginia (Fairfax County)
Qualifications: Need to be a registered Virginia voter who isn’t an elected official or an employee of an elected official
Hours: 16+ hours
Pay: $175-$250
Training: Required, 3 hours, no pay mentioned
Note: The application deadline has already passed for the 2016 election.
Washington
Washington seems to have adopted the same process as Oregon with a vote-by-mail process. Therefore, it doesn’t staff traditional poll workers.
West Virginia
Qualifications: Must be a registered voter in the county you’re serving; must be able to read and write English; cannot be a candidate nor be related to a candidate
Hours: 14 hours
Pay: Up to $175
Training: Required, one-day session, pays up to $125
Wisconsin (City of Milwaukee)
Hours: 14.5+ hours
Pay: $130-$160
Training: Required, pays $25
Note: The deadline for the 2016 election has already passed.
Wyoming
Qualifications: Must be registered to vote in Wyoming; must be physically, morally and mentally competent. More details are available on the Wyoming Secretary of State’s website.
And, even if you don’t sign up to be a poll worker, the least you can do is get out there and vote!
Your Turn: Have you ever been a poll worker?
Editorial intern Teyonna Edwards helped with the research for this post.
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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You Could Win $50,000 by Asking Your Friends If They’re Registered to Vote
Are you ready to vote in next month’s presidential election? What about your friends?
Nonpartisan nonprofit organization Vote Plz says the 2012 election was decided by Millennials, “And this election should be too. It’s up to you to vote and decide!”
Making sure you and your friends are registered to vote could help you win cash, scholarships or $50,000 toward your student loans.
And really, you have no excuse not to check your voter registration status. It’s the responsible thing to do.
Voting = Winning? In This Case, Maybe!
Entering is easy. Visit VotePlz to check your voter registration status, which generates a custom referral link. Share that link with your friends so they can check their own status.
If just one of your friends uses your link to find out if they’re registered to vote, you’ll get entered into the sweepstakes.
The site will help you register to vote if you want, but you’re not required to do so.
Vote Plz suggests sharing your referral link on social media, asking classmates or teammates to check their status, or sharing your link with family members.
Every time someone uses your referral link, you’ll get an entry into the sweepstakes, up to 25 entries. VotePlz shares a leaderboard of referrers to the site, so even if you’ve hit your sweepstakes entry cap, you can still relish your work for the greater cause.
You must be 18 to enter. You know, voting age.
VotePlz will notify the winners around November 15, 2016.
Johnny, Tell Them About the Prizes!
Twenty grand-prize winners will each receive their choice of the following prizes:
- Up to $50,000 student loan forgiveness for debt from an accredited college or trade school. The prize money will be paid directly to your loan provider.
- Up to $50,000 scholarship to an accredited college or trade school. The scholarship will be paid directly to your school and you can only use it toward tuition, books and equipment. Room and board isn’t covered by the prize. You can use the prize for more than one academic year, but if there’s money left from your $50,000 pot when you graduate, you will not receive any remaining reward.
- $25,000 cash money.
But wait! There’s also a second-prize drawing in which 2,000 winners will each receive a $20 prepaid gift card.
As usual, you’re responsible for any taxes on your prizes.
Maybe the coolest thing about this whole sweepstakes is that it’s a project of a performing arts school. Circus Center in San Francisco offers trapeze, acrobatic and other training programs for all ages.
Election season can be tense. Lighten the mood a smidge by encouraging those around you to make sure they can vote if they choose to.
As for guilt-tripping them if they don’t vote? That’s up to you.
Your Turn: Will you enter the VotePlz contest? Who will you recruit?
Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer for The Penny Hoarder. She lives in Washington, D.C., where election season is particularly stressful.
The post You Could Win $50,000 by Asking Your Friends If They’re Registered to Vote appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Sick of Your Salon Job? This Antarctic Base is Hiring a Seasonal Stylist
I once dated a barber. (Who, ironically, had a mullet.)
He chose his career because he thought it’d be one of the last overtaken by robots.
I see his point: People are attached to their hair people, and probably won’t flee to robo-barbers any time soon.
Visions of Edward Scissorhands aside, if you’ve got hair skillz and an appetite for adventure, I’ve got a job for you: McMurdo Station in Antarctica (yes, that continent on the bottom of the world), is hiring a seasonal hairstylist.
Here’s how to make the cut…
How to Become a Hairstylist in Antarctica
Think living on the other side of the world for a while sounds interesting?
As a McMurdo hairstylist, you’ll be responsible for giving haircuts to all personnel, as well as scheduling appointments, cleaning and sweeping, and interacting with clientele.
To be eligible, you must have a high school diploma or GED, a cosmetology or barber license and two years of experience. Bonus points if you’ve given military cuts before.
The listing notes a Current ServSafe® Food Handler certificate is also required — but it looks like you can get one online.
This position’s season is “Austral Summer,” which is winter to most of us — I’m guessing November through March.
Pay isn’t listed, but according to my friend Nick, working in Antarctica can be an excellent way to save money because your flights, housing and meals are paid for.
Even if you’re not a barber, several food service positions — like baker and prep cook — also are available.
Click here to see all the openings (and follow our new jobs page for all kinds of exciting new opportunities).
As for the stylist position, you can apply right hair, er, here.
Your Turn: Think getting paid to work in Antarctica would be cool? Or just plain cold?
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.
The post Sick of Your Salon Job? This Antarctic Base is Hiring a Seasonal Stylist appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Questions About 401(k)s, Suitcases, Paleo Diets, and More!
What’s inside? Here are the questions answered in today’s reader mailbag, boiled down to summaries of five or fewer words. Click on the number to jump straight down to the question.
1. Financially stuck in rural area
2. Rationalizing too much spending
3. 401(k) ripoff
4. International stock trading
5. Suitcase recommendations
6. Frugal paleo diet
7. Weekend grocery shopping in October
8. IRA withdrawal concerns
9. Establishing new habits
10. Career “return on investment”
11. Burning out or not?
12. Cultivating other aspects of life
In 2016, I’ve started a new pattern of dividing the year into quarters and spending each quarter on a three month personal project of some kind. Thus far, it’s really really worked well.
I’ve found that during that weekend that comes the closest to the end of a quarter (in this case, October 1-2) is a great time for a review of the project that just finished up, figuring out what worked and what didn’t, and then planning the details of the upcoming project to launch on the following Monday (today, in other words).
Since these projects are fairly personal in nature – very geared toward self-improvement – I don’t want to discuss the details too much. However, I will say that my project for this quarter is related to dietary improvements. I’m trying to discover and implement a consistent way of eating better.
This whole process of “three month projects” feels very invigorating to me. I feel really excited about each change and each self-improvement.
Q1: Financially stuck in rural area
My sister – we’ll call her Katie, but that’s not her real name – is having a rough time. When she and her husband got married, they were both pretty deeply in debt. They managed to pay off all their credit cards & student loans in the last 9 years, and got the remaining debt down to payments on 3 cars and their mobile home. The purchase price was $60K. Things seemed great.
Then, she found prepaid phones & a credit card that had gone to collections because of, um, extramarital activities. He got the boot, she got the “house”, 2 of the cars, and all 4 dogs. While all of this was going on, she decided to change jobs, going with a temp agency that set her up with an assignment for which she had no training… and after about a month of being harassed by her boss for not knowing what she was doing, Katie was asked to not come back.
Now, she’s in a situation where she’s got a part-time-ish job at a call center for a large retailing company – she can pick up extra shifts to try to make ends meet and some weeks can get up to almost full time. She’s looking for a job but not having much success at this point.
The biggest issue for Katie’s financial big picture (aside from not having a job), is that she feels tied to this trailer. It’s not in great shape – there are many things that need fixing as it’s over 35 years old and hasn’t been maintained. The land is worth ~$25K. They’ve paid off about $15K at this point. She feels like she should pay off the whole mortgage, and then sell the land, which seems like she is taking an enormous hit. She lives in a very rural area with extremely limited job opportunities – I think she’d have a better chance of getting work a little closer to where there are more people. She’s in her mid-30s. What do you think is her best outcome? Should she just walk away and declare bankruptcy? Should she follow through with her plan of paying it off? Can she have someone haul off the old, crappy trailer and get a better one to put on the pad? I’m curious to know what your thoughts are.
– Nina
If she’s single and living in a very rural area with extremely limited job opportunities for her skill set and she also has significant debt over her head that she’s having difficulty paying, then she needs a significant change in environment. She’s in a position where there really are no tools that she can use to improve her situation. She can’t get a job that pays well, for starters. She likely has limited access to more training. She’s got a trailer that seems to be an albatross around her neck.
The first thing she needs to do is get down to one car. A single person does not need two cars, especially in her financial state. She needs to sell off one of them and use the proceeds to pay off the other one. This will help her make ends meet much easier than the way things are right now.
She seems to be underemployed, so I hope she’s taking advantage of the many forms of aid available to people in her situation. There are many, many, many programs out there practically begging to help her keep food on the table, clothes on her back, and so on. She needs to be using all of them.
Her long term goal should be to get out of this trailer with minimal impact on her credit, then move away to a place where she can get trained and gain steady employment that will pay more than minimum wage. If she’s not committed to that, she’s probably never going to see a significant improvement in her financial state.
Q2: Rationalizing too much spending
My husband and I have been able to save money while living a nice lifestyle not anything really fancy but generally if we would like to buy something we can. We had a daughter in October of 2015, best thing that has happened to us to date. I previously had a lot of issues with shopping for clothes mostly for myself spending upward of $400 a month on clothing ect. It just is way too much for us. I had then opened a checking account just for my slush money and it has worked for the most part well although sometimes I get on kicks where I spend more than I should.
Since we have had our daughter there always seems like I am buying something. I have set up a budget for us but honestly it seems like a joke because each category is always busted. My bonuses at work really make us have extra money otherwise we would probably live paycheck to paycheck. I will also tell you what debts we have. 2 small car loan, mortgage, small family loan. We paid paid off my students loans!! So exciting. We would like to pay off our cars to be able to have a better debt to income ratio. We don’t have really any bills we could eliminate besides cable but we live in the country and that is our only activity besides being outside ect.
We have money in savings roughly 4 plus months of expenses, a child’s savings account, and an account for our daughter for a car or anything like that. We do contribute to our retirement plans although mine is not fully matched yet which I should try and contribute more. I really would like advise on how to stay more on track monthly. We try so hard but then fail. Like we are always well we have the money it’s totally fine lets just buy it or go there. Which I do still want to be able to do stuff and enjoy the fact we do work hard. I would love to stay at home with my daughter but we have crunched every number and it’s not possible. I do sometimes think that our budget is not reasonable but I just would like advise on how to manage money better. Any help would be great.
– Sara
It sounds like the problem isn’t with the budget, but with self-control. No budget will ever work if it’s not coupled with a commitment to making that budget work. If you see money in your checking account and immediately translate that as being money you can spend on whatever it is that you happen to want at the moment, any budgeting is useless.
I really only have two pieces of advice for you. The first one is to pull out your bank statements and credit card statements for the last few months and go through every single purchase. Ask yourself whether or not that purchase really makes sense in hindsight. Do you even really remember it? Did it bring any lasting value into your life? If it was just “kinda fun,” was there something else you could have done for free that was also just “kinda fun”? Did you buy something you could have just borrowed from a friend or a neighbor or a family member or from the library? You need to be looking at everything through that perspective. Start thinking through every purchase like that, not just in the moment when you’re excited about the potential purchase, but later on when the excitement is gone. Did that purchase really help?
The second piece of advice is to automate some things. If you’re finding it very tempting to spend money in your checking account, set things up so that money is scooped out of your checking account into a savings account or a Roth IRA automatically shortly after each payday, so there isn’t a bunch of cash just sitting there tempting you to spend it. Most banks can do automatic transfers like this quite easily using their online banking tools – just set up an automatic transfer into a savings account, or you might even want to go to another bank and set up a savings account there and set up an automatic transfer into that “second” savings account. The goal is to get the money out of sight and thus out of mind, to the best of your ability.
Q3: 401(k) ripoff?
401(k) is a ripoff scam. No one can retire on it. Motley Fool says people can only get $4k/year out of it. Stop promoting it you look like a scammer.
– Aaron
I’m guessing that the Motley Fool article you’re referring to is this one: The Average American Has This Much Saved in a 401(k) — How Do You Compare? It mentions the number you’re quoting here – that the average American contributing to a 401(k) will get about $4,000 a year out of it upon retiring.
That doesn’t make it a “ripoff.” What it’s actually saying is that a 401(k), like many things in life, is what you choose to make out of it.
If you don’t consistently put money into your 401(k) plan throughout your adult life, there’s not going to be any money in there for you when you retire. A 401(k) builds value by earning returns on your contributions, but that only works if you contribute money.
Let’s say you put in just $1 when you’re 25 and it gets a return of 7% a year. You’re going to have $14.97 in that account when you’re 65. But what happens when you contribute $0? You have nothing when you’re 65.
It comes down to contributions. If you don’t contribute, then there’s no way for a 401(k) to grow in value and take care of you when you’re older. That doesn’t mean the 401(k) system is a ripoff. It’s just like a savings account – it only rewards people who make the choice now to save for the future. If you spend all your money now and don’t contribute, it’s not reasonable to expect there to be money in that account for you when you’re older.
Q4: International stock trading
I represent an offshore company located in St Vincent and the Grenadines. I would like to open up and account and invest in stocks (in the name of my company) and I would lile to know if you know any trading platforms that will allow me to do so.
I’ve contacted OptionsXpress and E*Trade (not working with non-Us residents anymore) and I was hoping you can help me find a company that would accept me.
At this point I am not looking for “the best” anymore.
Please note that I don’t conduct business in the USA.
– Alan
There basically aren’t any US-based companies that allow foreign investors to invest with them directly. There are too many regulatory burdens on those companies, as too many people were using such mechanisms as tax dodges and money laundering mechanisms.
Most people outside the US who wish to invest in US stocks do so by using brokerage firms that operate in their own country. I am unfamiliar with what’s available to you in St. Vincent, so I can’t specifically give you any recommendations.
Q5: Suitcase recommendations
About to take a job that involves a lot of travel. I’m looking for a “bang for the buck” suitcase that will get maximum value – i.e., the cost per trip is the lowest possible while keeping my stuff fairly safe. Recommendations?
– Nate
Honestly, unless you plan on taking anything fragile, I’d take the cheapest suitcase I could find.
Here’s the truth: pretty much any suitcase you buy is going to end up getting pretty beat up. They get tossed around by baggage handlers and often ripped open by overzealous TSA agents. No suitcase in the world will survive that kind of handling for a lot of years.
Basically, you have a choice of buying a cheap suitcase that will last for a fairly small number of trips or a higher-end suitcase that’s somewhat more structurally sound and will last for maybe twice as many trips but will cost you far more than twice as much.
Honestly, just go to a department store and buy whatever’s on sale. Use it until it starts falling apart, then replace it. You’ll have to go through a bunch of suitcases in this way before you end up comparing to the cost of a higher-end suitcase, and a higher-end suitcase won’t last that much longer anyway.
Q6: Frugal paleo diet
I’ve been eating a paleo diet for several years now (summary: very little bread/grains/pasta). We’re starting to “frugalize” our finances and I am wondering if you have any strategies for “frugalizing” a paleo diet?
– Dan
Here’s a summary of the “paleo diet” that Dan mentions: http://ift.tt/Kx5Fct
Basically, you don’t need too much help to frugalize a paleo diet. Many of what I consider “frugal food staples” fit perfectly into a paleo diet – eggs, for example, are a perfect fit, and they’re definitely in that wheelhouse.
Most of our family meal plans are centered around whatever happens to be on sale that week at the grocery store – fresh produce and meats – both of which are perfectly aligned with the paleo diet, too. Many nuts are pretty low cost as well and they’re a key part of the diet.
To me, the paleo diet seems to fit pretty well with frugal living.
Q7: Weekend grocery shopping in October
I need some help budgeting for food. In a normal month I go shopping for groceries 4 times and I usually shoot for spending $150 per grocery visit. Add to that $50 a week for eating out (usually family pizza night each week and then one meal out every other week) and you get our $800/month family food budget. Easy enough, right?
Well we go grocery shopping on Saturdays and there are five Saturdays in October. That means we’re going to blow past our food budget. $150 times 5 is $750, so unless we cap eating out at $50 for the month we’re going to go over.
Suggestions here? Really seems unfair to sacrifice family pizza night at the shrine of our budget.
– Lola
This should happen, on average, a little over four times a year. Remember, a year has 52 weeks plus an extra day or two (depending on leap year), and there are twelve months in a year. So, most years, you’ll have 4 months with 5 Saturdays in it and some years you’ll have 5 months with 5 Saturdays (like when January 1 is a Saturday, for instance).
If you’re finding that your budget cuts that close when it comes to food, I’d put some more breathing room in there. Increase your budget for food by about $100 a month, but try to stick to your $150/week at the store plus $50/week for eating out. That way, every third month, you should have an extra $300 on hand, which will cover that extra $150 for groceries and $50 for eating out from that extra week. The other $100 can go to help with unintended overages and also for those times when this pops up five times in a year.
That may mean some changes in other areas of your family budget, but you’ll be better off over the long term with those changes. You’re better off coming in under budget in specific categories, after all.
Q8: IRA withdrawal concerns
This is my first time to have a financial question for you. I really don’t know where to turn for this kind of advice.
Please don’t advise me to keep my IRA – the short of it is I want to cash it in but want to do it in the least painfully taxed way. I don’t have time to go into all the reasons why I want to cash it in and you don’t have time to read a long saga anyway. My first inclination is to take it all out at once, pay the infernal taxman and be done with it. But being impulsive can be costly. So I decided to see if I could find a better way. I’ve perused the internet to no avail. Can you help me please?
Facts:
* I’ll be 64 in Dec.
* I have only about $10,000 in an IRA & I would like to close the account and have the cash to place elsewhere. Since it was taken out of my paychecks pre-tax when I rolled over my 401K it had to go into a regular IRA. I will not be putting it into another IRA or any account associated with the stock market. Right now my IRA is earning me a grand 8 cents per month.
* At the end of this year I will have a gross income of $18,482 – $8,242 from Unemployment and $10,240 from my new job.
Question:
* Would it be better to take it all out at once or is there a more wise way to close the account in a relatively short amount of time? I’m not even sure how to figure out what would be best.
I can’t think of any more facts that you might need to know in order to give me a dose of advice. I still enjoy your newsletters and check out the website as well. Just today I mentioned your website to the guy who came to look at my furnace.
Thank you for any help you can give.
– Ralph
If you’re only making $18,000 a year right now and you only have $10,000 in your IRA, you’re probably in the best possible place for just emptying out the whole thing right now and doing whatever it is you have planned for it. The tax bracket for the 15% tax rate in 2015 for single filers is $9,226 to $37,450, so (assuming the brackets for 2016 remain similar) no matter how much of that $10,000 you take out, you’re going to be paying 15% on it.
So, let’s say you take out the full $10,000. You’ll end up owing 15% federal income taxes on it ($1,500) and any state taxes on it (it depends heavily on what state you’re in – could be anywhere from $0 to $1,000). I’d probably put aside $3,000 of it to be safe, then use the remaining $7,000 in whatever way you feel is appropriate.
Note, of course, that this is all under the assumption that you’ve made the decision for other non-financial reasons to withdraw that money now. If that’s the underlying principle, you’re in fine shape to empty it out given your financial state.
Q9: Establishing new habits
How exactly do you go about establishing a new habit, like a permanent diet change or an exercise routine? I find that every time I do this it utterly fails within a week or so. What works for you?
– Danny
For me, the most effective method for establishing a new habit is making it into a strict 30 day challenge – and sometimes even longer than that. I simply challenge myself to do this new habit each day for 30 days and I really focus on achieving success with it.
On each of those days, I try to establish a consistent time and place to do whatever it is that I’m wanting to do. For instance, if I’m going to exercise, I define when I’m going to do it each day (maybe after my first morning writing session, for instance). I then make it a point to do it at that time each and every day, using every way I can to remind myself to do it.
After those thirty days, I slowly start peeling back the reminders for the new habit until I don’t need reminders at all – it’s just natural to do things at that time.
Q10: Career “return on investment”
How do you figure out if something like a certification is going to have a good return on investment in your career? For example: if I go spend the money on a certification, am I actually going to earn the money back and more with a higher salary?
– Charlie
You never really know for sure – that’s because the future is uncertain. All you can ever really do is evaluate the likelihood that it will help.
The best way that you can evaluate the usefulness of some investment in your career is to look at job listings and see if certain certifications or other things match up with a higher salary or with a different position entirely. Another strategy is to directly talk to your supervisor about steps you can take to increase your salary or increase your chances at promotion or increase other benefits (at my previous job, I often lobbied for more time off instead of more pay).
Again, none of those things are guarantees, but they are indications that the door is open to greater pay if you take on that step of self-improvement.
Q11: Burning out or not?
Hubby and I have big disagreements about creating a budget. I want to really cut back on our spending and start getting rid of this debt and investing for the future ASAP. Hubby wants to go slower. His big argument is that if we do it my way we will be fine for a while and just burn out after that and end up back where we started. He keeps saying “little steps.” But I feel like if you don’t take “big steps” with this you won’t ever get there.
What can we do to take big steps while avoiding “burnout”?
– Lindsay
Communication. Honest, open, clear, regular communication. Nothing beats it.
Whenever you find yourself “hiding” a feeling in order to please your spouse, it’s basically the equivalent of putting a pinch of sand in a gas tank. It’s probably not going to do any harm, but over time, it’ll gradually wear down the engine. Do it too often and you’ll find yourself arguing and feeling frustrated more and more and more.
Take the big steps, but talk about them all along the way. Never, ever hold back, and never, ever get angry at your spouse for their take or the way they feel about it. If your partner wants to pull back, pull back a little.
Q12: Cultivating other aspects of life
I am recently retired at age 53 and I just learned about you and other writers online who write about personal finance and long term financial independence. Kudos to you for sharing the ideas in such a friendly way!
The biggest lesson I want to share is to take care of yourself along the way. Eat well, get plenty of sleep, stay in shape, have some good relationships, and find a few hobbies that really speak to you. Do those first, before worrying a bit about financial independence.
I know this is a topic you cover sometimes, but I really want to stress this to you. Don’t forget things like hobbies and personal health and fitness and relationships in order to push toward retirement a little bit sooner. If you can walk away at 48 instead of 53 but your body is broken down and you don’t have anything you’re passionate about, you’re going to be miserable.
– Owen
You said it perfectly, Owen.
You can work toward any financial goal you’d like, but that goal really isn’t worth much if you’re miserable when you get there. If your financial goals mean that you’re in poor physical shape and/or poor mental shape and/or lacking in ways to find genuine leisure in your life, you’re not going to have much joy when you achieve that goal.
Financial success is great, but it doesn’t mean much on its own. If it’s not supported by physical success and mental success and spiritual success, it’s not going to be the tentpole that holds up your life.
Got any questions? The best way to ask is to follow me on Facebook and ask questions directly there. I’ll attempt to answer them in a future mailbag (which, by way of full disclosure, may also get re-posted on other websites that pick up my blog). However, I do receive many, many questions per week, so I may not necessarily be able to answer yours.
The post Questions About 401(k)s, Suitcases, Paleo Diets, and More! appeared first on The Simple Dollar.
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IKEA is Giving Away Room Makeovers in These Cities. Here’s How to Apply
For a diehard IKEA fan, not much could get better than free furniture… except maybe this.
How would you like to your room transformed with free IKEA furniture chosen and placed by a team of design experts? (Told you it could get better!)
IKEA Home Tour is casting for homes around the country. If you’re selected, its Home Tour Squad will come over to “transform your space with smart solutions and creative DIYs.”
Plus, they’ll film it and post to IKEA’s social media channels — so you get a free makeover and 15 minutes of fame to boot.
How to Submit Your Home for a Makeover
Cities are always changing, so keep an eye on the website for updates. As of this writing, the show is casting for Las Vegas, with upcoming submission periods for Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle.
To apply, you’ll submit a two- to three-minute video featuring the room you want to make over and how IKEA Home Tour can help.
You can submit your bathroom, dining room, garage or laundry room for a makeover. Makeovers will focus on home furnishings, not renovation, so don’t expect major plumbing or construction work — just IKEA’s signature small-space design solutions.
What to include in your video:
- A shot of the outside of your home
- A panoramic view of the room that needs help
- You and your family’s personalities (including pets!)
- You explaining what kind of house you have, why you need IKEA’s help and what your dream room looks like.
Make sure you film in landscape, but otherwise, it’s fine if it doesn’t look professional, as long as it showcases your space and personality. Submission FAQs include tips for shooting your video.
Current and upcoming submission periods include:
- Las Vegas: Now through Oct. 16
- Los Angeles: Nov. 14 through Dec. 11
- San Francisco: Jan. 16 through Feb. 12, 2017
- Portland: Feb. 27 through March 26, 2017
- Seattle: April 10 through May 7, 2017
To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old and live within a 60-minute drive to an IKEA store, as the makeover includes a trip to the store for furnishings. Find your nearest IKEA here.
After submitting, you’ll receive an email to let you know whether or not you’re selected to move on in the process.
If you’re selected as a semi-finalist, IKEA Home Tour team members will come by your place one weekend to see your space and meet your family. After these home visits, they’ll select finalists.
Filming the Makeover (Your 15 Minutes of Fame)
If you’re selected as a finalist, you’ll commit to the full makeover and filming, which includes:
- Design calls with the Home Tour Squad
- 2-4 hours on two separate days to finalize designs and film “before” footage
- 1-2 hours filming and shopping at your local IKEA
- One week for makeover implementation and filming
The video of your home makeover will appear across IKEA USA’s website and on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram (maybe more, depending on which social media channels are created by the time you film).
Are you ready for your close-up? Get all the details, and submit your room in need of TLC here.
Your Turn: What does your dream room look like?
Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer’s Digest and more, attempting humor wherever it’s allowed (and sometimes where it’s not).
The post IKEA is Giving Away Room Makeovers in These Cities. Here’s How to Apply appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Savings update: act now before easy-access rates fall below 1%
Savings rates continue to fall on easy-access accounts with best deals at 1% before tax (0.8% after tax).
The latest cut comes from Tesco Internet Saver which now pays new savers 1.01% before tax (0.81% after) down from 1.07% (0.86%). The rate includes a bonus for the first year, after which the rate drops to 0.4% (0.32%).
Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2cNECs4
Halifax to cut Help to Buy Isa rate for existing customers
Hopeful first-time buyers with Halifax’s previously market leading Help to Buy Isa will see the amount they earn in interest cut from 8 December.
Help to Buy Isas enable first-time buyers to save for their required mortgage deposit, with the government topping up savings by 25% up to a maximum of £3,000 when they come to buy a property.
Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2cNG26a
Half of Moneywise users would like the option to switch water provider
Over half of Moneywise.co.uk users (53%) would like the option to switch water provider, our latest poll results have found.
Currently, you have to stick with the water provider that services your local area.
Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2cMqm89
Couples putting partner's finances at risk by failing to talk
Only a third of over-40s have ensured their partner will still have an income in retirement if they die first, according to a new study from Prudential.
More than one in five couples have never discussed their retirement finances at all, while one in 10 last bought the matter up more than six years ago.
Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2cXqjo4
Kroger Wants to Give You Something for Free Every Single Week
The best discounts in life lead to free products, right? That’s just solid math.
If you live near a Kroger grocery store, free items could be a regular part of your shopping experience. (Just one more reason to love Kroger, am I right?)
Each week, Kroger offers a Free Friday Download: a digital coupon that makes one item absolutely free.
How to Use Kroger’s Free Friday Download
Visit the Free Friday Download page on, of course, Friday. Download the digital coupon to your Kroger mobile app.
You have two weeks to pick up your free item, which the register will automatically discount when the cashier applies your Shopper’s Card.
Previous Free Friday items have included Temptations Cat Treats, a single pack of Stride Gum, a free Yoplait Whips yogurt and a PowerBar.
Some ways to save money are complicated. This method? So easy.
Your Turn: What’s the best freebie you’ve ever gotten at the grocery store?
Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer for The Penny Hoarder.
The post Kroger Wants to Give You Something for Free Every Single Week appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2cMepiC
These 6 Apps Could Help You Earn $770 This Year (Just for Installing Them)
We’ll always encourage you to go the extra mile and put in the work to earn and save more money. But we’re certainly not going to ignore opportunities to earn passive income on top at the same time!
Passive income is money you earn from anything that doesn’t rely directly on hours you work or tasks you complete. You put in the work upfront — like creating a page on your blog or publishing a book — and reap ongoing rewards without additional effort.
But those involve quite a lot of upfront work. Want to earn passive income from just a few minutes’ investment?
How to Make Money By Installing Apps
That’s what these six apps are for. They each offer you cash just for installing them. And most offer ongoing returns with no extra effort from you. How can you say no?
Take about 10 minutes to download these six apps today, and you could earn up to $85 just for signing up — and more than $770 in passive income this year!
1. Get $5 When You Sign Up to Start Investing With Clink
If you want to start investing, but aren’t ready for a full-throttle stock market education, try Clink. It’s an app that allows you to invest as little as $1 a day.
Clink does the heavy-lifting for you, withdrawing funds automatically from your bank account and investing them across a portfolio of exchange traded funds (ETFs), which most sources consider ideal for new investors.
You can set the app to invest any amount you choose daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly — or link a credit card and invest a percentage of what you spend.
And you can withdraw funds back into your bank account at any time.
The smallest amount you can invest is $1 a day, so set aside at least $30 this month to get your feet wet!
Here’s how to get $5 for registering:
- Enter your email here, and click on “Get $5.”
- You’ll be taken to the link to install the Clink app. Then complete your registration. You’ll receive $5 to your account within two business days.
- Want to earn even more? Invite your friends, and receive another $5 for every friend who signs up — you could earn up to $100.
2. Get $5 From Stash to Start Investing
We’re kind of obsessed with Stash (and not just because it gives you $5 upfront).
Stash is another uncomplicated way to start investing. Choose from a set of simple portfolios reflecting your beliefs, interests and goals, and it does the rest.
To get the $5 sign-up bonus:
- Download the Stash smartphone app and set up your account with the same email address. Within two business days, you’ll see the bonus added to your account.
3. Earn $5/Month for Installing SavvyConnect
SavvyConnect is an online survey company that connects consumers with companies looking for your opinions.
When you install the new SavvyConnect app, you’ll earn $5 per month per device. You must be in the U.S. for this promotion.
The app conducts behavioral market research on your computer or mobile device while you browse the internet. Information is collected anonymously, and the software recognizes “private browsing” or “incognito mode” in major browsers and won’t collect information when you’re in those modes.
If you qualify, you’ll also receive notifications for paid surveys through the app, so you can earn more by completing those.
To get started and earn $5:
- Sign up here. U.S. members will receive an invitation to download the app.
- You’ll earn $5 per device for every month you keep the app installed.
- You’ll receive notifications for paid surveys based on your profile information, and have the option to earn even more by completing them.
- Once you’ve accumulated at least $1, you can request payment through your SavvyConnect account. You’ll receive a check through the mail within four to 12 weeks.
4. Get $15 for Using Smart Panel for 2 Weeks
Analytics company Smart Panel will literally pay you to download its free app.
The app’s purpose is to collect anonymous statistics from your phone to help your favorite websites, apps, tech companies and mobile carriers give you better services and more features.
For example, companies want to understand how much time consumers spend on Facebook each week, which YouTube videos we like and how often we check email.
It’s run by Verto Analytics, a trusted analytics firm — and, remember, stats are anonymous!
To get your $5 bonus:
- You actually can’t download this from the app store, but here’s the promo link. It’s free to download.
- Once you’ve qualified and downloaded the app, you’ll receive $5.
- Keep the app installed for at least two weeks, and you’ll get another $10.
- Then for every month you keep the app installed, you’ll get another $5. You can redeem your rewards via Paypal or an Amazon gift card.
In total, you can earn up to $75 in the first year, just for having the app installed on your phone.
5. Earn Up to $15/Month for Installing Media Insiders Panel
Media Insiders Panel has an ongoing project to help media companies better understand how consumers use, view and share TV, social, digital and mobile media.
This app “measures activities conducted on a device, such as sharing, viewing, clicking, chatting, downloading and more. The app also listens for TV shows, and, using technology of Gracenote, Inc., identifies which TV shows was captured.”
Just for installing the app and keeping it, you’ll get $5 a month per device. You can install the app on up to three devices for a single account and bank $15 a month!
You’ll also get a $5 bonus after you’ve kept the app installed for 12 weeks.
Here’s how to do it:
- Sign up at Media Insiders Panel
- Install and activate the MI Mobile app on your device(s).
- Watch your email for important information and instructions on next steps.
You can install the app on these devices:
- Android smartphones and tablets (4.0 or greater)
- Kindle Fire HD (but not first generation Kindle Fire)
- Apple devices running iOS 5.0 or greater.
6. Get $40 When You Sign Up for OhmConnect
California residents can earn up to $300/year by syncing their utility accounts to a program called OhmConnect and agreeing to help reduce energy usage by one hour per week.
OhmConnect wants to encourage residents to cut back on their energy consumption to reduce the demand that prompts unclean power sources to run. You’ll earn money for improving your habits, and you’re also helping the environment!
Just for signing up, you’ll get $20 instantly, or $40 if you’re an SCE (Southern California Edison) customer.
Here’s how to get started:
- Sign up for a free OhmConnect account and sync it with your online utility account. Get $20 to $40 when you sign up!
- You must have an online account with one of these three utility companies to participate: Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric or Southern California Edison.
- OhmConnect will send you weekly payments for reducing your electricity for one hour per week.
Your Turn: What tricks have you found for earning passive income this year?
Disclosure: We don’t hesitate to pick pennies off the sidewalk when we spot them. But the affiliate links in this post help our earnings grow even quicker. Plus, it’s a lot cleaner than sidewalk money.
The post These 6 Apps Could Help You Earn $770 This Year (Just for Installing Them) appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Nearly half of adults have less than £100 in savings
About 16.8 million working-age people in the UK - that’s 40% of us - have less than £100 in savings.
Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2d8dyox
Insurance prices to rise following tax hike
Insurance prices are likely to rise on average by up to £6.50 a year following a hike in taxes that is a “raid on the responsible”, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2d8cHV2
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