How to Find High-Risk Car Insurance

Motorists who want to save money on their car insurance should do everything they can to avoid being labeled as high-risk drivers by insurance carriers.

“If you want to keep your insurance affordable, try to keep your driving record as clean as possible,” says Nicole Farr, a spokeswoman for Arizona Insurance Institute.

Things that can put you in the high-risk group include frequent accidents, traffic tickets, and convictions for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs says Kevin Foley, a New Jersey insurance agent.

“If you have been driving under the influence and you are caught, it will adversely affect the cost of your insurance,” Foley says.

How do insurance companies rate drivers?

Based on their driving histories, motorists typically are placed in one of three risk groups by insurance carriers:

1. Preferred drivers: These are divers with clean driving records, without traffic citations.

2. Standard drivers: These people have reasonably good driving records, but they may have some citations.

3. Non-standard drivers: These drivers represent a higher-than-average risk because of numerous accidents, citations, or DUI convictions. Other things that can put you in this category include:

• Allowing your insurance coverage to lapse. Insurers don’t like to see gaps in auto coverage.
• Driving a high-performance car. These cars are expensive to repair and are more frequently involved in accidents.
• Living in a community with a high rate of traffic accidents. You may be a safe driver, but if there are numerous accidents in your community, your insurer may charge you higher rates.
• Having very little driving experience. Young and inexperienced drivers are considered to be at high risk for filing insurance claims.

How can non-standard and high-risk drivers find affordable insurance?

As with any consumer product, shopping around and comparing offers is the key to savings – and many major carriers insure non-standard drivers. For example, a 2016 Washington State consumer guide lists Allstate, Farmers, Nationwide, Progressive, and Safeco as providers of non-standard auto policies to state residents.

You can request a list of companies that offer non-standard or high-risk car insurance in your state by contacting your state department of insurance. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners provides a contact list for state insurance regulatory agencies.

Another way to find non-standard auto carriers it to work with an insurance broker who can contact numerous insurers on your behalf, Farr says.

Be sure to compare several quotes from different insurers to find the best rates. Non-standard drivers often can find cost breaks by contacting small insurance companies that specialize in such policies, says Farr.

Even when you’re trying to cut costs, however, you should consider whether the policy you choose has adequate protection, says Janet Ruiz, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit Insurance Information Institute. “It’s important to get the right amount of coverage for your situation,” she says.

How can you tell if a non-standard insurance company is reliable?

When you buy an auto insurance policy, it’s important to make sure that the carrier is fiscally sound so it can pay off if you have a claim.

Before you choose a policy, you may wish to request information about its business practices and performance from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Consumer Information Source. This online feature offers facts about insurance complaints, licensing, and finances.

Another source of information is A.M. Best’s online Consumer Insurance Center. A.M. Best rates insurance companies by reviewing their financial performance and fiscal stability.

What if no one will sell you a policy?

If you can’t buy non-standard insurance because you represent a very high claims risk, your state department of motor vehicles may place you in an assigned-risk auto insurance pool.

This is a last resort, since the cost of coverage typically is very high in such pools, says Foley. “You want to avoid the assigned-risk pool if you can.”

Insurance companies are typically required by government regulators to insure a share of a state’s high-risk drivers, based on the amount of policies they sell. Once you’re in an assigned-risk insurance pool, you may pay more than double the amount you would pay for a policy on the open market.

Before you can buy a policy outside the assigned-risk pool, you’ll have to demonstrate that you’ve become a more responsible driver. You may need to remain a part of the pool for two or more years, Farr says.

During that time, “you need to be prepared to pay some pretty high insurance premiums,” she says. “That’s where it hurts, in the wallet.”

Related Articles: 

• Car Insurance After a DUI: What You Need to Know
• Best Car Insurance Companies
• Four Companies That Offer Cheap Car Insurance for College Students

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How to Become a World-Class Copywriter in One Month or Less

Want to know a little secret? It’s not something I’m super proud of…

In fact, most people have no idea whatsoever that I used to be a terrible copywriter. It took me years to learn the most basic fundamentals of writing.

And yet, here I am. I’ve been blogging for more than 10 years and have had the privilege to publish content on many great websites.

My businesses thrive on content marketing. Or more accurately, they were built with content marketing. So, obviously, content worked for me.

How? I got better. I learned how to write in a way that captivated my readers and convinced them to trust me.

And I don’t mean sell-anything-knock-your-socks-off better. I mean good enough to succeed online and grow three multi-million-dollar companies from scratch. Let’s face it: I’m no Hemingway.

But money doesn’t lie.

That is the power of copywriting. In fact, great copywriting is one of the most essential skills in digital marketing today.

If you can leverage your writing to tell a compelling story while convincing customers of the need for your product, there is no limit to the growth your business can experience.

However, if you are stuck writing generic emails, ads, and sales letters, you can expect to spend the rest of your entrepreneurial career struggling to make a single sale.

But how in the world do you actually become a good copywriter?

• Should you spend countless hours handwriting famous sales letters?
• Should you read hundreds of books on copywriting?
• Should you go to college and spend $100k on yet another advanced degree?

I think there is a better way to become a world-class copywriter—an easier way that requires almost no investment from you and that will only take you about 30 days.

The first thing I want to point out is that this article is designed to help you become a world-class copywriter, not a master copywriter.

To become world-class (the top 5%) takes only about a month of focused, intentional work.

Breaking through those extra four percentile points to become a true master copywriter (the top 1%) will take you years, if not decades, of practice and dedication.

However, unless your entire career is dedicated to copywriting, all that effort is unnecessary. If you can break out of the realm of good copywriting and become great, the extra four percentage points are simply not needed to run a successful business.

Becoming world-class is completely achievable and can be done faster than you think.

With that definition out of the way, let’s begin.

1. Understand your customers

Before you even start thinking about how you can write compelling copy, you need to have a deep understanding of the people for whom you are writing that copy.

This is the single most important part of writing great copy.

Your product could be completely irrelevant to your audience (not something I would recommend), but with good copy, it would still sell.

If you understand your customer.

You can have a terrible product (again, not something I would recommend) and still sell it through great copy targeted at your customers.

If you understand your customer.

Understanding your audience and their fears, wants, and needs is the first step to writing great copy.

How do you do this?

First, put yourself in their shoes. This should be relatively easy if you are selling a product that solves a problem you once had.

For example, my company Crazy Egg helps entrepreneurs figure out why customers are leaving their websites. Quite frankly, it’s easy to write copy to sell my services because I used to struggle with the same problem.

There are no hypotheticals or guesswork involved when I am writing posts for The Daily Egg. It’s like biking downhill. No effort. I know the pain of having a high bounce rate; I know how it affects people’s businesses; and I know how to fix it. This makes it easy for me to speak to other entrepreneurs facing the same issues.

However, if you are selling a product or service you would not use yourself (a common problem among freelance copywriters), you need to gain more knowledge about the issue.

This is where customer surveys are a lifesaver. Instead of having to guess what your customers are looking for, just ask them directly.

Ideally, you’ll have some sort of marketing persona already created and can use this to target your customer.

If you are not working directly with your final client (for example, if you are a ghostwriter or run a copywriting firm), make sure to find a way to survey the end user.

This will allow you to gain deep insights into what your audience is looking for whenever you are writing your copy.

2. Understand your product

Once you have a deep understanding of your customer, you need to have a deep understanding of your product.

This is typically easier for entrepreneurs—many of whom create the product themselves and hire the sales people—than for freelance copywriters.

Regardless of whose product you are writing copy for, here are a few questions you should ask yourself to truly understand what you are selling.

Question 1: What is my elevator pitch?

If you had to sell your product to someone in 15 seconds or less, how would you do it?

With an elevator pitch.

One of the biggest mistakes most copywriters make is writing verbose copy. Their headlines are too long; their subheadings could be the intro to a Game of Thrones book; and the body of the copy drags on longer than an Ayn Rand novel.

By writing down your 15-second elevator pitch, you’ll learn how to get your point across quickly and clearly. People do not have the attention spans they used to have, and learning how to condense your message is key to holding their attention.

Question 2: What are the main features and benefits of my product?

The next question you need to ask yourself is: “What are the main features and benefits of my product?”

Make sure you understand the difference between features and benefits.

But you should also go a step further. Ask: “What pain points does my product solve?”

Why would someone need your product or service? Not “Why would they want it?” but “Why would they need it?” What can you offer that they cannot live without?

While this is significantly easier for companies addressing common needs (dating, fitness, and business niches), every company should have an “offer their customers cannot refuse.”

You just have to figure out what that is.

Question 3: What sets your product apart from the competition?

One of the most important questions you can ask yourself is: “What is different about my product?”

Why would someone choose your product over the competition’s? And don’t just say, “Quality.”

Everyone thinks that their product is the best or that it has the most to offer.

But in my experience, nine out of 10 entrepreneurs who believe their product is superior have something very similar to their competitors’ products in terms of quality.

You need to know which specific benefits set your product or service apart from your competition.

1. Do you solve a certain pain point that your competition does not address?
2. Do you offer a more in-depth analysis with your services?
3. Does your product have some sort of special unique feature not found among other products?

Figure out where your advantage lies, and you will be able to write incredible copy that will convert like crazy.

Your ability to answer the above three questions will largely determine your ability to succeed as a copywriter.

Most people think copywriting is all about mechanics. But in truth, great copywriting starts with knowledge.

Once you have nailed down your understanding of your customers and your product, then the mechanics come into play.

3. Write attention-grabbing headlines

Before we delve into the secrets of writing persuasive copy, we need to address the elephant in the room.

Headlines.

Headlines can make or break your copy.

It doesn’t matter whether you are writing for ads, a website redesign, Facebook posts, or landing pages. Headlines convince readers to click on your article and give your copy a fighting chance. How do you write attention-grabbing headlines?

There are 3 keys to attention-grabbing headlines.

1. Your headlines should be unique

The Internet and advertising world are full of copycats and people who thrive on plagiarizing other people’s content.

Don’t be one of them.

If you want to stand out from the crowd and sell your products, you need to have unique, attention-grabbing headlines.

2. Your headlines should be extremely specific

As soon as your audience reads your headline, they should know exactly what they’ll receive from your product or service.

Steer clear of generic or ambiguous phrases, and describe what your potential customers will get very specifically (this is where the elevator pitch comes in handy).

3. Your headline should convey a sense of urgency

You want your audience to think about what they’ll lose if they don’t take immediate advantage of your product or service.

Are they losing clients? Are they missing out on potential social opportunities? Capitalize on people’s fears of missing out (FOMO), and your headlines will help your copy convert like crazy.

4. The secrets of persuasive copy

And now we get to the good stuff.

• You understand your customers and your product better than the back of your hand.
• You’ve written attention-grabbing headlines that have cut through the noise and piqued your audience’s interest.
• Now, you have to keep that interest and get them to click that “Buy Now” button.

Here are my three favorite copywriting tactics for converting traffic into paying customers.

1. Focus on benefits over features

Imagine you are reading copy designed to sell content marketing training.

Which of these two phrases would make you more likely to buy?

“Enjoy our three 2-hour-long video modules, detailing all the nuances of marketing your content through social media, email, and guest blogging.”

Or:

“Discover the content marketing secrets that will help you write viral articles guaranteed to make you massive amounts of passive income in a few short weeks!”

I think the answer is pretty obvious.

Whenever you are writing copy, you need to remember that people don’t really care about your product or service.

What they care about are the benefits they will receive from your products or service.

2. Get (even more) specific

Once your copy is focused on benefits over features, make your copy as specific as possible.

Detail exactly what people will receive from your products or services.

Tell them how their lives will be different once they use your product or service. Let them visualize a different—better—life, thanks to your product.

Explain in painstaking detail what benefits they’ll reap from buying what you have to offer.

3. Target emotion above all else

The final ingredient of killer copy is a deep understanding that human beings are emotional creatures.

You need to remember this and target people’s emotions, not their logic.

For example, if you are selling a fitness or weight loss program, people inherently know they need to lose weight and get in shape.

But reminding them of this fact alone will not sell a single product.

However, if you target their emotions, it’s a different story.

• Paint a picture of how their lives will change in 3 months if they buy your product.
• Talk about how their confidence, energy, and sex appeal will be completely transformed.
• Talk about the fact that they will act differently in social situations, be more driven, and experience life on a new level.

Pinpoint the emotions your customers want to feel, and then ruthlessly target those emotions within your copy. If you can do this, you will become a selling machine.

Conclusion

Copywriting is not an easy skill to master. But it is one of the most important skills you can master.

Luckily for you, if you know what to focus on, you can easily improve the conversion of your copy 3, 5, 10, or even 200% overnight.

And now, you know the exact steps you need to take to achieve these numbers.

Remember, this is not about perfection or mastery. It is about improving your copy and becoming a world-class copywriter.

With one month of intentional effort and following the guide I’ve laid out, not only is this doable, it is all but inevitable. So get out there, and start honing your writing skills.

What is your best hack for quickly improving your copywriting skills?

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Pennsylvania seized auto auction is Oct. 18

The Pennsylvania Department of General Services will hold its fifth vehicle auction of the year with more than 360 vehicles available for the public to bid. The auction is 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18 at the Manheim Keystone Auto Auction at 488 Firehouse Road in Grantville, Dauphin County.Attorney General seized units include: 2014 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010 Nissan Altima 2.5, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta, 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt L, 2006 Chrysler 300 C, 2005 Chevrolet Equinox LS, [...]

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Get a Free Lyft Ride Home If You’re in New York, Illinois, Colorado or Florida

Want a free ride home after a night out this weekend? If you live in New York, Illinois, Colorado or Florida, Lyft can help.

The ridesharing company is teaming up with Budweiser to offer $10 credits toward rides between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights through the end of 2016. If your ride costs more than $10, you can apply that credit to your total.

Get a Free $10 Ride from Lyft

To get your $10 credit, visit Lyft and enter your phone number. You’ll receive a text message confirming Lyft has added the credit to your account.

The deal might be even sweeter than advertised: On the code one of our Penny Hoarders received, the offer was valid until 3 a.m. An extra hour to hang out (and maybe get a slice of pizza)? Heck yes.

You may use the credit for rides within the following Lyft service areas:

New York: New York City and Long Island

Colorado: Denver, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs

Illinois: Chicago

Florida: Tampa, Venice, Orlando, Jacksonville, Naples and Fort Lauderdale

Why Take a Ride on Bud?

Lyft and Budweiser have joined forces to curb drunk driving. Budweiser will donate $1 to safe-ride programs every time someone uses the hashtag #GiveaDamn in 2016.

“Everybody deserves a designated driver, even if you’re on a tight budget,” declared Lyft’s blog post announcing the partnership.  

Since supplies are limited, we suggest visiting the site on Thursdays to try to get your free ride — and then make some awesome plans for the weekend.

Your Turn: Will you take a free ride from Lyft and Budweiser?

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

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7 Places to Get Free or Low-Cost Mammograms — Even if You’re Uninsured

If you couldn’t tell by all the pink everywhere, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

And one of the best ways to stop breast cancer in its tracks? Early detection (it works).

Though every woman should do breast self-exams each month, women over 40 should also consider getting a mammogram — an x-ray that examines breast tissue — every one to two years. (Here are specific guidelines.)

If you’re younger than 40, but have risk factors for breast cancer, you might need mammograms, too; ask your doctor for their recommendation.

Whatever your age, don’t avoid mammograms because of their cost.

Women today have a bounty of ways to get free and low-cost mammograms. Here are seven excellent options.

1. Your Doctor

If you’re 40 or older and have a health insurance plan issued in the past four years, the Affordable Care Act requires your insurer to cover yearly mammograms with no co-payment.

Medicare and Medicaid also cover the cost of mammograms.

2. The National Breast Cancer Foundation

The National Breast Cancer Foundation partners “with medical facilities across the country to provide free mammograms and diagnostic breast care services to underserved women.”

Click here to search for a location near you.

3. The Susan G. Komen Foundation

This organization has affiliates in 120 American cities.  

According to its website, its affiliate network “is the nation’s largest private funder of community-based breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs.”

To learn what resources are available in your area, search for your local affiliate here. Once redirected, click on “Understanding Breast Cancer,” and then “Local Resources for You.”

Prefer to speak to someone?

Call the organization’s breast care helpline at 1-877-GO-KOMEN (1-877-465-6636), and the representatives will help you find low-cost options in your area.

4. The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program

The CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program “provides breast and cervical cancer screenings and diagnostic services to low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women across the United States.”

To qualify for this screening, you should be between the ages of 40 and 64, have no insurance or an insurance that fails to covers screening exams, and also live at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.

You can find out more information about your state or territory here.

5. The YWCA

Some YWCA chapters provide breast cancer screening and education to women who have no insurance or are underinsured.

Contact your local YWCA to see if it offers affordable mammograms.  

6. Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood offers low-cost mammograms, as well as any follow-up services you might need.

Click here to find a clinic near you.

7. Your Local Imaging Center

According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, many imaging centers offer reduced rates during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

You can search for a local mammography center on the FDA website.

To learn more about mammograms — including how they work and how to prepare — check out this easy-to-read PDF from the Komen Foundation.

Whatever you do, don’t wait!

Your Turn: Did we miss any options for free mammograms?

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. Editorial intern Jacquelyn Pica helped with did all the research.

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Deal of the week: The mobile-based current account from Monzo

Tom Wilson

Monzo-Card.png

Plenty of current accounts offer a mobile service, but in most cases banks have simply tacked an app onto their existing, creaking infrastructure.

Plenty of current accounts offer a mobile service, but in most cases banks have simply tacked an app onto their existing, creaking infrastructure.

The latest challenger on the scene, Monzo, threatens to shake up the market with its working prototype of an altogether smarter type of bank account.

read more

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Want to Make Childhood Dreams Come True? Space Camp is Hiring Counselors

Want a job that lets you work with astronauts, rockets, space travel simulators and a bunch of other geeks who love all things space… one you do not have to be an actual rocket scientist to apply for?

You’re in luck, because we have found the coolest job ever. (If you’re into stuff like that. We may or may not have some serious space geeks in the newsroom losing their minds about this job…)

The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is hiring Space Camp counselors.

And in case you missed it: space travel simulators.

You don’t need to possess or be pursuing a degree in rocket science (or any science) to do this job with the USSRC. You just have to be at least 20 years old, have a valid driver’s license, and be able to pass a drug test and background check.

Bonus if you’ve completed at least 30 credit hours of education (about two semesters full time), though “life and professional experience” will do as well. Previous instructional experience or work with kids is also a bonus.

Be a Space Camp Counselor

In addition to fulfilling the dreams of children every day, what does a counselor at Space Camp actually do?

Your duties would include:

• Performing lectures and briefings on the history of the space program

• Guiding participants through the steps to building their own rockets

• Conduct aviation simulations training

• Help escort participants through activities to maintain order and professionalism

• Handle transportation arrangements when necessary

Throughout your tenure as a counselor, you’ll also have the opportunity for professional, social and volunteer activities with fellow staff members.

The position is based in Huntsville, Alabama, and comes with free onsite housing and meals. You’d start in January 2017, and the position is seasonal. Pay varies depending on availability.

If counseling isn’t your thing, the USSRC is hiring for several other support positions in Huntsville, Alabama.

Want to be the first to know about other fun and interesting jobs like this? Like The Penny Hoarder Jobs on Facebook to stay in the loop!

Your Turn: Are you going to apply to be a Space Camp counselor?
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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Want to Work from Home? These 4 Startups are Hiring (Benefits are Amazing!)

Benefits are almost more important than pay these days.

I quickly realized this when I entered the workforce. Health insurance, paid vacation days, unlimited sick days, technology stipends and work-from-home days? That’s worth a heck of a lot more than a couple extra dollars on my paystub.

So when I came across these work-from-home jobs (a huge perk in and of itself) with awesome benefits, I wanted to share them with you.

4 Work-From-Home Jobs with Awesome Benefits

Below, you’ll find customer-oriented jobs at four startups with insane perks, including education credits, paid trips to Norway, unlimited Starbucks and mandatory birthday holidays.

Interest piqued? Mine too, so you better hurry up and get on these!

1. Customer Happiness Specialist at Acuity Scheduling

Best. Job. Listing. Ever. Yup, I’m totally making that statement — and it sounds like the company is pretty sweet, too.

Acuity Scheduling is a 10-year-old online scheduling company (I like the sound of that) based in New York City. And it has a BIG personality.

The job listing is written as a dating ad: “While I don’t usually do this sort of thing, I figured it was time to ‘put myself out there’ and see if, just maybe, the right person might be reading on the other side of the screen.”

The right person will be a human who loves to talk, email and live chat with other humans. Said human will help solve customer problems — even if it’s just a “forgot my password” issue. The human gets bonus points if you can handle some basic coding and create videos.

And Acuity promises to treat its new human with care. First, pay ranges from $45,000-$65,000, depending on experience and skills. The company also says they cover 100% of employees’ medical, dental and vision premiums. Employees also receive a 401(k) and get an annual $5,000 credit for continuing education.

Interested in a first date — err, interview? Apply online.

2. Customer Success Engineers at Appear.in

This Norway-based startup currently employs 18 individuals but is growing rapidly. Appear.in specializes in one-click video conversations.

Right now, it’s recruiting a customer support engineer — someone who will make “customers the happiest people around.” Up for the task?

You’ll help resolve technical issues and collect customer feedback. You’ll also work alongside the product team to build tools that’ll help with the quality of support.

Because of the amount of techiness required, Appear.in wants someone who has a background in computer science, informatics or IT. Plus, you should be eager to continue learning.

For you? Not only will you get to work from home, you’ll travel to Norway (for free) for team-building trips. I’m sold!

If you’re interested (in the job and Norway), apply online.

3. Customer Support Agent at InVision

InVision describes itself as a design collaboration platform (that doesn’t require a single line of code — score!).

In fact, it’s the world’s leading platform of its sort, with more than 2 million designers, product managers and marketers flocking to the product. These startups and agencies include big names, like Uber, Evernote and Twitter.

Now, it needs someone who can help out with customer support — working with customers to answer any questions.

As a customer support agent, you’ll possess excellent written and verbal communication skills. And you’ve gotta have the personality down: “You’re a natural-born evangelist with infectious enthusiasm,” the listing states. “You’re flexible, love having many irons in the fire, and have the skills to stay organized and on top of it all.”

It’ll help if you have knowledge in design practices and tools (preferred, not required). You also must be located in U.S. eastern or central time zones.

Ah, yes, the perks. “Each InVision team member is given the freedom and tools to do their best work from wherever they choose.” So that means you can work from home — or wherever, really.

You’ll also have a flexible vacation policy, unlimited Starbucks cards (WHAT!?) and unlimited access to books related to your job.

So grab your last paid cup of Starbucks and apply online today.

4. Customer Success Engineer at TaxJar

TaxJar wants someone who’s “hungry” for this position — for the computer type of cookies, probably

This startup helps ecommerce sellers navigate the murky waters of sales taxes. It caters to more than 5,000 business, including Erin Condren (as in the agendas), MailChimp, Marvel and Sony.

Even more impressive? The company is fully remote, with employees stationed across the United States. And now it needs a customer success engineer who will work with customers to resolve technical issues.

In order to snag this job, you’ll need plenty of technical experience and exposure to programming. You should be able to communicate with customers on the phone and via email. You’ve got to be accountable, agile, humble and a team player. Always be willing to learn something new.

Oh, and the benefits are awesome. Not only is the job a work-from-home type, it also offers a competitive salary; full health, dental and vision coverage; unlimited vacay; mandatory birthday holidays; a free Amazon Prime membership; a free Kindle or Fitbit; free Spotify Premium; and monthly gym reimbursements — to name a few.

If you’re interested, apply online.

Interested in more work-from-home jobs? Or customer service jobs? You’ll find plenty of that over at our Facebook Jobs page.

Your Turn: What’s your dream job benefit?

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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‘What Do You Want for the Holidays?’ for Frugally-Minded Folks

My extended family has always been very passionate about giving gifts. We enjoy hunting for and finding interesting gifts for each other. We often make gifts for each other, too, which can require a lot of lead time.

However, sometimes, about this time of the year, we realize that we simply have no ideas as to what the other person might like as a gift.

Often, we simply ask. I’ll often get a few emails and Facebook messages and texts during October asking for ideas, not just for myself, but for other people. At other times, we start brainstorming.

I know I’m not alone in this. This year, I’ve already had spouses of my friends that I don’t normally exchange gifts with asking for ideas. I’ve also already been planning many gifts and have already started making a few things and have purchased a few items as well.

Often, the hardest part is the idea. What can you give to someone that they’ll really enjoy that you can find at an inexpensive price? What can you make for someone that they’ll really enjoy, particularly if that person is frugal?

Here are some of the ideas I always turn to, both as a gift giver and as a frugal person who is sometimes asked for gift ideas.

Experiences An experience is a wonderful gift because it’s usually something new for the recipient (or else a repeat of something deeply enjoyed), it’s not something that requires storage space, and it’s almost always something that a frugal person wouldn’t buy for themselves.

What kind of things does the recipient enjoy doing? How exactly can you create a worry-free “deluxe” version of that experience for that person? That’s the idea behind an “experience” gift – to take something they enjoy and find a way to amp it up.

One great frugal way to do this is to remove some worry from their life so that they can simply enjoy something without concern. If that person is a parent, for example, you might “gift” them some hours or a day or even a weekend of child care so that they can go do something that they care about. You might even bundle that idea in with the child care offer, like giving someone concert tickets or passes to a convention and a note that you’ll watch their kids during that event.

For example, I personally like child care as a gift if it comes from a trusted friend or relative that enables me to go do something I really enjoy that I might otherwise skip due to family responsibilities. I enjoy nice meals at restaurants, too.

Consumables Everyone consumes food or drink during their lives. Many frugal people choose to reduce the cost of their food and drink as much as possible, meaning that they often skip over things like eating meals out on the town or trying interesting (read: expensive) food or beverage items.

For example, you might know someone who occasionally “splurges” and buys themselves an entry-level craft beer like a bottle of Sam Adams at a restaurant. That person might deeply enjoy a top-flight craft beer as a gift. You might know someone who occasionally buys a bar of inexpensive chocolate at the grocery store. A few bars of amazing chocolate can make for a spectacular gift for that person. A person who uses highly inexpensive coffee for their morning beverage might really relish a bag or two of high-end ground coffee.

These are gifts that are meant to be consumed and enjoyed. They are things that the recipient often won’t bother – or be able – to splurge for. It’s easy to find ideas – just spend time with the person and watch what things that they consume that they also seem to enjoy.

For example, I always enjoy a bomber or a six pack of some type of unusual craft beer. I rarely buy any, but that’s because I usually make some at home and I don’t drink very much – maybe one or two bottles a week – but when I do, I enjoy them. I also tend to enjoy cheeses, especially well-aged blue cheeses.

Higher-end practical items Frugal people tend to love practical items, items that they will use again and again in their daily lives. If there’s an item that they use a lot that’s looking worn, a well-made reliable replacement for that item – particularly one that you researched a bit in order to find one that’s actually well-regarded – is going to be a wonderful gift.

What does that person do every day? Do they cook at home? If so, kitchen tools are a good gift. You can also look at things that everyone does every day, like sleeping. A well-made set of bedsheets is going to be a great gift for a frugal person.

Another personal example: I almost always like well-made basic kitchen tools. A great paring knife, for example, is a welcome gift, as would be a bamboo cutting board. I also love flannel sheets – sure, it’s a boring gift, but few things make me happier than flannel sheets on my bed in the winter.

DIY items Many frugal people tend to embark on do-it-yourself projects, where they handle minor home improvements and home repairs on their own without calling in an expert. This often means trips to the hardware store on a regular basis.

This is why a gift card to a home improvement store is a very good fall-back gift for frugal people. Sure, it’s not imaginative, but a frugal person is definitely going to use such a card. It will often be enough to convince them to take on some project that they might have been putting off – if they can now get that replacement doorbell for free, it might just be time to replace that doorbell, for example.

If you spend time with that person, you can also rummage through their toolbox and watch what tools they use and then upgrade those tools for them. For example, if they have cheap plastic-grip screwdrivers that look kind of beat up, you might replace them with some Klein cushion grip screwdrivers.

Self-improvement items This can be kind of a tricky area if you don’t know the person well, but most frugal people do welcome self-improvement items. I’ve found that if a person I care about is talking a lot about an area of self-improvement, doing some homework and finding a great book or other key resource on the topic almost always makes for a great gift.

For example, if a frugal person is talking about getting more exercise, you might want to do some homework and get that person a Fitbit, which can really help with encouraging more walking, or a book on body weight exercises at home like this one. If a frugal person is talking about trying to organize their time better, get that person a copy of Getting Things Done.

Right now, I’m really into learning more about meditation and improving my personal ability to focus, so books on meditation would be a great gift for me. I’m also passionate about the big questions in life and understanding them better, so books on philosophy are always good ones for me. These are things that people can easily become aware of about me if they spend much time around me.

Hobby items Hobbies can be a tricky thing because you’re often unsure as to what items they have related to that hobby. One great way to find out is to simply examine their collections and then do some quick research on your phone for an item they don’t have that they might love. Another even better strategy is to find out if they participate in an online community related to their hobby and simply lurk there a little bit, seeing if they mention any specific items that they’d like or if they have a wishlist.

For a personal example, I’m an active member on BoardGameGeek, which is related to my hobby of board gaming. If a friend or family member wants to get me a game, they’ve been known in the past to check out my account there, where I keep an updated “wish list,” primarily to facilitate game trading but also to help anyone who might be peeking for such a reason.

A final thought: think about the giver. If the giver has a passion for, say, making home brewed beer, suggest that the person give you a six pack of their home brew. If the giver has access to, say, books or hobby items at a discount because of their job, suggest items that they can get at a discount.

The same is true for you. What are you skilled at making? Taking advantage of that skill means that you can produce a gift of much higher quality than the financial cost. Similarly, what special discounts do you have available to you? Again, using those discounts can enable you to buy a much higher quality gift than the sticker price.

In the end, it’s all about paying attention. The best gifts for anyone – frugal or otherwise – often appear right in front of you if you just pay attention a little bit. A person frustrated with an item they use regularly? That’s a big clue. A person longing for a particular item but not buying it? That’s a big clue. A person who’s passionate about a particular hobby or a particular type of item? That’s another big clue. Just pay attention and put some thought in and you’ll never go wrong.

Good luck!

The post ‘What Do You Want for the Holidays?’ for Frugally-Minded Folks appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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12 Tips for Negotiating the Best Deal on Your Car Lease

While many personal finance blogs will tell you leasing a car is a bad move, that’s not to say it may never make sense for you.

Maybe you like the idea of not having to worry about increasing repair costs. Maybe you don’t want the hassle of selling a used car down the road. Heck, maybe you just like the idea of driving a shiny, new car every few years.

The whole point of managing your money smartly is so you can afford to live the lifestyle you want. If you’re willing to cut back in other areas to budget for an auto lease, that’s your prerogative.

That said, plenty of people have gotten themselves into financial trouble by negotiating a car lease without doing their research first.

From the fairly basic to the more advanced, these 12 tips can help you get the best deal. Here’s how to negotiate a car lease like a pro.

1. Know Your Numbers

A lease has more components than just the price of the car, so make sure you sit down ahead of time and figure out how much you’re able (and willing) to spend on:

• The down payment

• The total cost of the car (known as the “cap cost”)

• The mileage limit (i.e. how many miles your lease allows you to drive per month before the lease company charges excess-mileage fees)

• The buyout or purchase-option price (i.e. what you must pay at the end of the lease if you choose to purchase the car).

If you have a vehicle you plan to trade in, visit Kelley Blue Book to find out how much it’s really worth so the dealer doesn’t shortchange you.

2. Know What You Want

Showing up at a dealership without a particular car in mind is like showing up with a sign around your neck that reads, “I’m open to the priciest option you can sell me!”

Do your research ahead of time to find out what makes and models are the best for your needs, and also give some serious thought to the options you can’t live without and those you can.

Showing up knowing your stuff keeps you from getting pushed into more car than you need — and it also sets a solid first impression that you’re on top of things and not likely to be easily persuaded.

3. Get Quotes Ahead of Time

Try contacting a dealership’s internet sales department to get a quote before you visit the lot.

It’s pretty hard to let a salesperson lowball you when you already have a quote in hand from their dealership.

4. Test-Drive the Dealership (and the Salesperson)

Most of us check out online reviews before trying out a new restaurant. Why shouldn’t you do the same when you’re about to visit a place where your financial future will be up for debate?

Edmunds.com offers a dealer ratings and reviews page where you can read other customers’ experiences at area dealerships.

It also has this clever strategy for checking out potential salespeople. (Did you know you could do that?)

5. Check Dealership Inventory

If your ideal car is in stock (read: sitting on the lot taking up valuable space), you’ve got an immediate upper hand in negotiating a car lease.

If a salesperson has to get a car for you from another location, they can play the “I’m doing you a favor by going out of my way” card.

But if you’re offering to take a car off their hands, you can play the “I’m doing you a favor by helping you move this off your lot” card.

You can check local dealership inventory here.

6. Go on a Good Day

The old saying “Never shop on an empty stomach” doesn’t only hold true for grocery stores.

If you visit a dealership when you’re feeling off your game (hungry, sick, tired, etc.), you’ll be less clear-headed and easier to push into a bad deal because you’ll want to just get things over with.

Go when you’re feeling rested and ready to handle the stress of negotiations.

7. Bring Backup

Even if you feel fairly confident in your negotiating skills, it always helps to have someone along to keep you on track.

Whether it’s a friend, family member or a co-worker who’s good at looking intimidating, bring someone who can point out the pitfalls of a potential deal, remind you of your original budget goals and prevent you from falling for any sweet-talk trickery.

8. Keep Your Phone Out

Plenty of apps can give you real-time assistance with how to negotiate a car lease — even during the conversation.

TrueCar shows you what other customers have paid for similar cars at a dealership.

The Cars.com app (found in the iPhone App Store and on Google Play) lets you compare in-stock vehicles at several local dealerships side by side and also helps you calculate loan terms based on current negotiations or your budget.

The Kelley Blue Book app (for iOS, Android and Windows phones) can even show you all current sales, incentives and rebates in your area for a particular car.

Not only do these apps help you be armed and ready, but they send a clear signal to the salesperson that you’re not someone they can take for a ride.

9. Check the Date

Chances are, there’s one key bit of information you’ve likely been overlooking as you browse cars at the dealership, and it could give you extra leverage: the manufacture date.

We all look at a car’s window sticker, which tells us things like price and miles per gallon, but don’t forget to the check out the manufacturer’s sticker (usually found on a vehicle’s driver’s side door). On the upper left-hand corner of the sticker, you’ll see a date and month, which tells you when the car rolled off the production line.

The further in the past that date is, the longer the car has been sitting on the lot — and the more the dealer has had to pay carrying costs on it. Meaning: They’re ready to get rid of this car.

10. Negotiate a Car Lease Like a Purchase

One of the easiest ways to get roped into agreeing to spend more than you want is by focusing only a lease’s monthly payment. This gives the dealer leverage to zing you on other lease terms. (See this diagram of the “cash flow shell game” to see how this works.)

To get the best deal, negotiate the cap cost first, as though you intend to purchase the car outright.

In fact, don’t even mention leasing until you and the dealer agree on a price. Once that’s settled, then you can bring up financing options (which include leasing).

11. Learn the Tricks of the Trade

We all know that when a salesperson says he has to go in the back to “check with his manager,” chances are he’s playing good cop/bad cop with an imaginary person to sweat you out. But that’s not the only sneaky tactic up his sleeve.

Check out these 21 scams car dealers try to pull — if you’ve ever tried buying a car before, I bet more than a few will sound familiar.

12. Be Ready to Walk Out

If you seem to be getting nowhere with a salesperson, don’t be afraid to simply leave.

One of two things will happen: The salesperson will panic and stop you halfway out the door to try sweetening the pot, or he’ll let you leave — in which case you can go find a dealership that is willing to work with you.

Your Turn: Have you successfully negotiated a car lease? What’s your best piece of advice?

Kelly Gurnett is a freelance blogger, writer and editor who runs the blog Cordelia Calls It Quits, where she documents her attempts to rid her life of the things that don’t matter and focus more on the things that do. Follow her on Twitter @CordeliaCallsIt.

The post 12 Tips for Negotiating the Best Deal on Your Car Lease appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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Annuity holders may be due redress for historic mis-selling

Rachel Lacey

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A number of annuity holders may be due redress if they were mis-sold a standard annuity when they could have got a higher income from an enhanced deal.

A number of annuity holders may be due redress if they were mis-sold a standard annuity when they could have got a higher income from an enhanced deal.

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Sainsbury's Bank launches longest ever 0% balance transfer card - but it's not the cheapest

Tom Wilson

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Borrowers can now shift a credit card debt and pay no interest for a record three-and-a-half years, if they’re willing to pay a 4% balance transfer deal.

Sainsbury’s Bank has stretched the longest 0% balance transfer deal to an unprecedented 42 months, creeping ahead of the pack of MBNA, Halifax and Virgin Money, which all offer 41-month interest-free deals.

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Can You Write a Killer Resume? Here’s How to Get Paid to Do It

If you’ve been thinking of starting a freelance business but aren’t sure what service you should offer, maybe it’s time to extend your search parameters… to the job-search industry.

Roughly 7.8 million Americans were unemployed as of August 2016, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — and that’s not counting people who have jobs but are looking to change them.

And the common denominator among all of them? They’re all sending out resumes, and most of them are getting it wrong.

According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, 54% of job seekers send out generic resumes, which don’t do much to differentiate them from the competition.

This is where you might come in — if you’ve got the right skills.

A freelance resume writer helps job seekers turn their boring, bland resumes into well-crafted marketing tools that show off their skills and experience in the most compelling light.

Sound like it could be up your alley? We interviewed four people who earn money as freelance resume writers, either full time or on the side, to get the scoop on what they do, how they got started and how much you can expect to make.

1. The Full-Time Resume Writer

Charmaine Pocek critiques resumes and LinkedIn content on Fiverr. Last year alone, she made $320,000 on the site, according to Fiverr PR agent Louis Rogers.

How did you break into freelance resume writing?

I worked in corporate recruiting for more than 15 years and had been revising and critiquing candidate resumes before sending them out to clients.

My husband actually sent me an email about Fiverr one day to look into the different offerings on the site. I thought, “maybe I could offer a gig myself.” Resume writing and critiquing was the logical next step.

Where did you find work?

I joined Fiverr back in 2011. When I first started, I had zero feedback and no referrals, but it allowed me to start getting work done quickly on the site. I spent the next year and a half critiquing resumes from all over the country.

After that time, I recognized that I’d built up my reputation and customer pipeline enough enough to transition to full-time in 2013.

How much can someone make as a freelance resume writer?

The great part about Fiverr is that it gives you flexibility. You can decide what you offer with a ton of specificity around the scope, how many hours you’d like to work and what you want to charge for your services.

Fiverr allowed me to transition from my corporate job to full-time freelancing in 2013, all the while earning more than I previously had. The flexibility and control have been great for my career and my family.

2. The Seasoned Business Owner

Dr. Heather Rothbauer-Wanish is the owner of Feather Communications and a Certified Professional Resume Writer.

How did you break into freelance resume writing?

When I first started writing resumes in 2008, I initially did it as a favor to several family members and friends. I found I really enjoyed it and started researching the industry. I realized that people made a living writing resumes and assisting people with their interview skills.

I joined two professional organizations, the Professional Association of Resume Writers/Career Coaches (PARW/CC) and the National Resume Writers’ Association (NRWA). These types of organizations allow you to keep abreast of changes within the industry and connect you with other resume-writing professionals.

Then, I obtained the Certified Professional Resume Writer certification from PARW/CC.

While I utilized my website to obtain clients, word-of-mouth referrals have been the biggest marketing source. In addition, I provided several (free) workshops at local schools, colleges and chambers of commerce.

By positioning yourself as an expert in your industry and telling people what you do, you are able to build a clientele. At this point, people know what I do, I have an active blog on my own website and have been featured and/or quoted on Monster, TopResume, Recruiter, MSN, The Telegraph, The Ladders, and other sites.

Where did you find work?

When starting as a resume writer, this may be your biggest challenge. Offering free resume reviews is one way to find clients.

Rather than pointing out the “bad” things for them to change on their resume, it is better to identify “areas for improvement” and briefly discuss how they can be addressed. Often, people don’t want to make these modifications on their own or trust you enough to make those changes.

If you can partner with a local job fair, you may be able to have a booth that offers free resume critiques. Contact local colleges and find out if their career services offices need assistance, or partner with a local temporary agency to offer a resume workshop.

Staying in touch with your clients is one of the most important aspects to cultivating an active resume-writing business. Find out how their job search is going, ask them for a Google review, and inquire if they know someone else who could utilize your services. Your word-of-mouth referrals will be your largest component of business.

At this point in my resume-writing business, my new clients tend to be referred from someone else.

How much can someone make as a freelance resume writer?

This varies depending upon the level of clientele you are working with and (potentially) your geographic location.

When I started, I met with people in person and worked only locally. Because of where I live, people won’t pay as much for a resume as in a larger metropolitan area (given that the average wage is probably between $10 – $12 per hour).

If you are working with college students and entry-level professionals, that will be different than working with someone that has 20+ years of executive experience. Some resume writers charge $100, while others charge $1,000+.

Remember that your pricing as a resume writer does affect the perception of your services. Don’t undervalue your services — that turns people away and makes them assume you may not know what you are doing when it comes to writing resumes.

3. The Freelancer-Turned-Employee

Adam Hatch is a freelance resume writer who was eventually hired in a more permanent role by ResumeGenius.

How did you break into freelance resume writing?

I started writing resumes first by making my own, and when I received compliments on it, I began looking for paid work writing them on freelancing sites like Upwork, Freelancer, and career sites.

After having freelanced for ResumeGenius, they brought me on as a writer. I still freelance and have had my work featured on a number of career sites like SkillsYouNeed and Careers.org, but I also have a steady job writing resumes, templates and articles for ResumeGenius.

Where did you find work?

One of the best resources for freelance writers is FreelanceWriting.com. They actually have a useful article on the topic titled Resume Writing as a Freelance Service.

I started charging a lighter rate at the beginning, and then increased it as I got more experienced and successful. I generated clientele first by posting on social media and freelance sites and then more and more by word-of-mouth.

How much can someone make as a freelance resume writer?

I’ve heard of some freelancers taking home six figures in a year, but I have a hunch that these are outliers.

When I was only freelancing, the highest I made per month was just under $3,500. I didn’t have a ton of experience and could likely have earned more over time, but there are also those months where jobs aren’t coming in or work isn’t getting published as fast as you’d like.

(For the record, I was writing out of Northern California, but had clients from all over the U.S. and a few internationally.)

Freelancing is great, and as a supplement, I totally support it. Still, the best thing about it seems to be the doors it can open to steadier income streams.

4. The Side Gigger

Mike McRitchie is a career and small-business strategist who admits that “resume writing was something [he] kind of got into by accident.”

How did you break into freelance resume writing?

I started off creating a business blog. The idea was the blog would support my part-time business-coaching/consulting work.

Although I did get some business from it, it was difficult for me to do part time when I had a full-time-plus job. So I thought, “What service could I sell part-time that my blog would support?”

I ended up testing a resume-writing service. I had been in many jobs over the years. I’d also hired many people and seen hundreds of resumes. I had also purchased a course on resume writing several years prior but had never implemented it. So I offered the service but didn’t get very far through posting it on my blog.

Where it started to turn the corner was when I made an offer for a free resume review via a LinkedIn post. I also made similar offers to people I found by searching in LinkedIn for “Looking for Opportunities.”

Between the two, I got my first resume review clients, and half of them purchased my resume-rewrite services.

Where did you find work?

After proving the concept to myself, I expanded by trying the same strategy on Facebook. (No luck with either posting to my FB page or via paid ads.)

So then I tried Craigslist under the “Small Business Ads” section. I found you could post up to three ads for free; you just had to renew them each week or they’d expire.

I ended up getting the same amount of business there as through LinkedIn. I also had a couple people come through my website via the blog.

I’ve focused my resume writing on the wireless telecom industry, since I have over 1,000 LinkedIn contacts in that industry and am also a member of several wireless telecom industry LinkedIn Groups and publish blog posts there weekly.

How much can someone make as a freelance resume writer?

So far it has been a good sideline business — two to four rewrites a month at $147 each. Over the last three or four months, I’ve made a little over $1,500.

Not big money, but a start and a great way to learn in-the-trenches business and marketing skills.

Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Freelance Resume Writer?

To do well at freelance resume writing, McRitchie advises, you should possess the following basic skill sets:

• “Editing. This includes spelling and grammar, the ability to format a Word doc (working with tabs, bullets, font size and spacing), and recognizing what looks good.

• “Knowledge of what makes a resume effective. You don’t have to make a resume perfect, but you do need to get and stay up-to-date on what works.

• “Being a good listener. You need to understand what a client is looking for, what they’re pursuing, and where they are in their career progression. Listening intently and asking good probing questions based on their input will get a good result.

• “Analytical ability. Being able to quickly identify areas of excellence and extract achievements that are memorable from each resume will help prevent it from ending up in the trash.

• “Marketing skills. If you can’t get paying clients, you won’t get far. This is a business, so you need an entrepreneurial bent.

• “Organization. As with any business, there are details you need to keep up on, whether that’s invoicing and collections or tracking marketing and sales results.

• “Adaptability. Ultimately, freelance resume writing is something you can get going fairly quickly if you have the right mindset and skills. As with any business, there is a learning curve, and you may find yourself and your business evolving along the way. Just go with it, and eventually you’ll look back and be shocked at how far you’ve come.”

Your Turn: What do you think? Could freelance resume writing be a fit for you?

Kelly Gurnett is a freelance blogger, writer and editor who runs the blog Cordelia Calls It Quits, where she documents her attempts to rid her life of the things that don’t matter and focus more on the things that do. Follow her on Twitter @CordeliaCallsIt.

The post Can You Write a Killer Resume? Here’s How to Get Paid to Do It appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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If you own a property, you could live longer

Hannah Nemeth

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There is a direct link between homeownership and life expectancy, according to new analysis of official data.

Consumer group the HomeOwners Alliance (HOA) analysed the relationship between owning your own home and how long you live across England and found that life expectancy is better in areas with a high percentage of homeownership.

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