A little more than a mile north of Ken’s Woods Campground, about 10,000 feet above the ground — that’s where Rolf Mielzarek’s plane stopped flying. Twenty years ago— Nov. 6, 1996— the aircraft fell toward the Lehman Township tree line.It started with the windscreen. A crack formed on the copilot side, shattering glass seconds later. Wind tore through the cockpit at 170 miles an hour.Air kept rushing in, searching for an escape. It [...]
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الأربعاء، 23 نوفمبر 2016
10 Embarrassing Online Shopping Fails to Avoid This Holiday Season
I know what you’re doing right now. You’re aimlessly browsing the web at your desk on your lunch break. Or you’re scrolling through social media on your phone before bed.
Sooner rather than later, you’re going to end up shopping online.
Oh, you’re just browsing, you say. “I don’t need anything, I’m just looking,” you promise.
I know you better than that. I know because I am you. I shop online constantly.
It’s nothing to be proud of, I know. It would do me good to get some fresh air and sunshine.
But since I’ve experienced all possible online shopping fails already, my vampire complexion means you benefit from my trials and errors.
So before you settle down on Black Friday, Cyber Monday or Whatever Wednesday ready to scoop up some deals, read this first.
Please don’t make these 10 mistakes when you shop online.
1. Getting Fooled by Terrible Discounts
A markdown from $54.99 to $49.99 isn’t a real discount. It’s a ploy to get you to think it’s a good deal.
Just because something is listed on the sale page of a website doesn’t mean it’s worth your money.
2. Spending More to Get “Free” Shipping
We’ve all been there. You know you can get free shipping if your order totals more than $50, but your cart comes to $48.50. Can you find something that costs just $1.50?
I admire your dedication, but I will laugh as you sort the sale section from low to high trying to find something that works.
It’s time to step away from the entire virtual cart and rethink your original purchase. Would it be worth paying to have that original item shipped — and sticking to your original budget?
3. Not Abandoning Your Cart
Nothing triggers buyer’s remorse quite like getting a coupon in your inbox the day after you place an order.
Suddenly, you’re thinking about that item you decided you didn’t really need. You’re considering placing two orders from the same site in two days. This is real life.
Hold on for a second.
Some websites will send you promo codes every single day, no matter what. If you’re paying attention to those daily “deals,” you should unsubscribe right now. Save yourself!
But others will trigger an email coupon when you leave items in your cart and close your browser. One of our contributors tried this and found several “Did you forget something? Here, have a discount!” emails waiting for him soon afterward.
If you don’t need to place the order immediately, a short period of indecision (or “indecision”) can help you get a better deal.
4. Falling for Expensive Promoted Products
Marketplace websites like Etsy and eBay have tricked me so many times by placing advertised products in my search results — even when I choose to sort price from lowest to highest.
Before you click on that attractive-looking item thinking it’s in your price range, double-check for an indicator that it’s a promoted product.
5. Not Shopping in Incognito Mode
Did you know some online shopping sites will show higher prices for certain locations?
Shop in your browser’s private mode to avoid retailers switching up prices to try to get you to buy now.
6. Shopping While Intoxicated, Tired or Hungry
No. Do not.
That is how you end up with a skirt two sizes smaller than what you normally wear, because you think you might be able to fit into it eventually. It’s only $12, but it’s a final sale. Whoops?
You’re not going to fit into that thing unless you get food poisoning twice. Wouldn’t you rather keep your $12?
7. Not Doing Your Research
Never make an impulse buy based on the image of the item alone.
Did you read reviews for the product? (Bonus points if you can peep user-uploaded photos.)
Did you check the specs on expensive electronics to make sure you’re getting a high-quality item?
Did you check the clothing size chart?
If you can’t rattle off the reasons it’s worth buying that product right now, step away from your laptop. You’re not ready to buy!
8. Not Checking the Return Policy
A lot of online stores let you make returns, but some of them also make you jump through at least three hoops before you can get your money back.
Before you buy, check the store’s restrictions on returns and find out how much it will deduct from your refund (for return shipping or restocking) if you send the item back.
9. Not Using a Cash-Back Program
If you’re not shopping online through a cash-back portal like Ebates, you’re missing out on free money! Most major retailers participate, and you can get up to 10% back on many purchases.
I like the Google Chrome Ebates extension that automatically detects if there’s a rebate I should get — and then accesses it for me in one click.
10. Not Getting Price Adjustments After You Shop
If a product goes on sale after you’ve already bought it, you can usually go back to the store and ask for a price adjustment.
Did you know you can do the same online? I’ve been using Paribus for about a year, and it does all the work of asking for price adjustments for me on sites like Amazon.
Paribus keeps a percentage of the refund for the trouble, which is fine because I really don’t want to spend that time on live chat with customer service.
Your Turn: Which online-shopping traps have you fallen victim to?
Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. We’re letting you know because it’s what Honest Abe would do. After all, he is on our favorite coin.
Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer at The Penny Hoarder. She shops online a lot.
The post 10 Embarrassing Online Shopping Fails to Avoid This Holiday Season appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Planning on Buying a KitchenAid This Black Friday? Here are the Best Deals
This Thanksgiving, I’ll spend some quality time with a loved one I don’t hang out with nearly often enough.
And while I’m excited to see my mom and dad, my brother and sister, and one of my uncles who’s driving in from out of state, I’m not talking about any of them.
Her name’s Bella, and I can’t wait to reconnect. She’s hardworking, quiet, reliable, bright red and shiny.
Yes, she’s my KitchenAid stand mixer, and yes, I named her. (And yes, she’s a she.)
Judge all you want. I’m not sorry.
Want Your Own KitchenAid Mixer This Year?
After I recieved Bella as a gift for my 23rd birthday, she quickly became the centerpiece of my kitchen.
Not only is she beautiful, but she’s efficient — and all manner of good things have originated in her bowl, from knock-your-socks-off fresh pasta to the kind of chocolate chip cookies you literally can’t stop eating.
If you’re ready to nab your own KitchenAid after eyeing them for years, Black Friday’s a good time to do it. Lots of retailers offer steep discounts on this desirable kitchen appliance year after year.
But which one offers the best deal?
We raked the web to find the best Black Friday offerings on KitchenAid stand mixers to give you an easy guide to answering that question.
After all, you have better things to think about over the holiday — like how the heck you’re going to get everything done without your very own Bella to help.
These deals are generally organized from best to worst, but your own best deal will depend on your unique situation. How fierce are your color and size preferences? Are you already planning on placing an order from one of these retailers, and is the convenience of making only one stop a worthy trade?
Also, these are the Black Friday deals available as per Wednesday, Nov. 23 — so more may become available as we get closer to Friday itself.
One final note: KitchenAid is offering mail-in rebates for pre-paid Visa cards worth $30 or $50 when you buy an eligible model.
The model numbers differ even down to the color, and the rebate also specifies it’s “only applicable at authorized KitchenAid retailers,” so you’ll have to check the fine print. You can find the rebate forms here, here and here.
Where to Buy a KitchenAid Mixer on Black Friday 2016
Without further ado, here are the deals, with all prices reported before taxes.
We’re also not including what you could save by using a discounted gift card and/or a rewards credit card, but those are both good ideas. Learn more about these strategies in this guide to deal-stacking.
Kohl’s
Kohl’s deal certainly doesn’t look like the best at first glance.
Not only is its 5-quart “Artisan” a pricier-than-others’ $329.99, but you’ll also be levied a “shipping surcharge” of $7.50.
What, Kohl’s?
However, when you take a closer look, you’ll find the potential for massive savings.
You get an extra 15% off when you order online using the promo code NOVSAVE15, as well as $75 in Kohl’s Cash to use later ($15 per $50 spent).
You can further increase your savings by signing up for Kohl’s Yes2You Rewards and earn 280 points, which will net you $10 in Rewards Cash (yes, this is different than Kohl’s Cash). If you buy through Ebates, you’ll get 8% cash back ($22.44).
If you skip shipping and head to the store for pickup, that means your final price is $280.49, and $173.05 if you count the Kohl’s Cash, the Rewards Cash and the cash back.
Plus, we were able to verify that Kohl’s is a KitchenAid authorized retailer and qualifies for the $50 mail-in rebate, which would bring your total price down to just $123.05 on a qualifying mixer. Whoa!
Walmart
Walmart’s offering the 4.5-quart “Classic” KitchenAid stand mixer in white for $186.81 or onyx black for $189. You have to add it to your cart to see the price, which the system calculates with additional sales tax based on your area.
Other models in fancy colors and larger sizes are also available on sale, but still cost considerably more — as in, over $300.
If you order online, your mixer will ship free since it’s over $50. You can also pick it up in-store.
Walmart purchases aren’t eligible for KitchenAid’s mail-in rebate, but you can get 12% cash back through ShopAtHome, so you could score your mixer for as little as $164.39.
Macy’s
Macy’s is offering the 4.5-quart “Classic Plus” in silver for $199.99, and the colorful 5-quart “Artisan” for $279.99, down from original costs of $349.99 and $499.99, respectively. It offers free shipping for orders of $50 or more, plus store pickup.
However, KitchenAid expressly disqualifies all Macy’s purchases from its mail-in rebates.
Ebates is offering 12% cash back on Macy’s purchases, which means your mixer would wind up costing you $175.99.
Amazon
Amazon has the 5-quart “Artisan” model in every color you can imagine starting at $279.99.
Some colors are slightly discounted or more expensive, and a few, of course, are unavailable entirely. You’ll get free shipping whether or not you have Prime.
It also has the white 4.5-quart “Classic” in white or onyx black for about $224.90 with shipping. You’ll have to place it into your own cart to verify the price at the time you attempt to make the purchase.
We verified Amazon also qualifies for KitchenAid’s $30 mail in rebate on this model, bringing the total price to $194.90, but didn’t see any cash-back offers.
Best Buy
This unlikely retailer has the 5-quart “Professional 5 Plus” model in empire red, silver and onyx black for $199.99, down from $499.99.
It’s also offering the 5-quart “Artisan” from $250.99, depending on the color. You’ll have to add your chosen mixer to your cart to see the price.
Best Buy offers free two-day shipping on both deals, as well as in-store pickup. You can get 1% cash back through Ebates, which is better than nothing, I suppose.
Although it looks good on the surface, beware that price-match guarantee — it specifically excludes Black Friday deals.
Target
Target has the 4.5-quart “Ultra Power Plus” model in ice blue, red and light silver for just $259.99, and you’ll get a $20 Target gift card to use later.
That essentially brings your price down to $239.99, so long as you planned on ever spending money at Target again (which I think we can agree is a given).
You’ll also get free shipping to your home or local store for pickup. The sale price ends right at the end of Black Friday. If you order online through TopCashback, you’ll get 2.25% cash back, bringing your total cost to $234.59.
The downside: KitchenAid mixers purchased at Target are not eligible for mail-in rebates.
Bed, Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath and Beyond’s 5-quart “Artisan” is a pricer-than-average $329.99, but if you’ve got one of the company’s famed (and ubiquitous) 20% off coupons, that comes down to $263.99.
You’ll also get free shipping on your online order over $29. TopCashback is offering 5% cash back, so your purchase will wind up costing you $250.79.
However, on its mail-in rebate forms, KitchenAid calls out Bed, Bath & Beyond purchases as ineligible for the $30 and $50 Visa cards.
Your Turn: Are you getting your very own Bella this Black Friday? If so, which retailer will you visit?
Disclosure: Clink! Clink! Clink! That’s the sound of pennies hitting our piggy bank, thanks to the affiliate links in this post. It’s a better savings plan than stopping traffic to pick up loose change — and safer, too!
Jamie Cattanach is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. Her writing has also been featured at The Write Life, Word Riot, Nashville Review and elsewhere. Find @JamieCattanach on Twitter to wave hello.
The post Planning on Buying a KitchenAid This Black Friday? Here are the Best Deals appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Set It & Forget It: 6 Ways to Make Money While Stuck in Holiday Traffic
After I finish work today, I’m hitting the road to go see my boyfriend’s family for Thanksgiving.
I’ll be hitting one of the worst roads in America, actually. It’s Interstate 4 — from Tampa to Orlando. So I’ll probably be sitting… in my car… on the road.
AAA estimates nearly 50 million Americans will be traveling at least 50 miles this Thanksgiving holiday — 1 million more than last year and the most since 2007.
Odds aren’t looking too good for me. However, while I’m burning fuel — and lots of time — I can easily make some extra money.
6 Ways to Make Extra Money While Sitting in Holiday Traffic
Nope, we’re not encouraging you to take out your phone and stare at your screen. Because when traffic starts moving, you’re going to want to stay on top of that car in front of you.
Just leave the phone in your pocket and feel the money trickling in. (Or is it just that awkward buzz of a text message?)
1. Listen to audiobooks.
I love audiobooks because I can listen to them — soak up the information, riveting plot, whatever it might be — while doing other things, including driving.
And you can make money listening to them. Yeah, this might sound like a head-scratcher from our ever-so creative founder, but listen up.
If you haven’t heard of SwagBucks, go ahead and check out our beginner’s guide. The site hosts a variety of rewards for online shopping, searching, watching videos and — in this case — listening to books.
Once you create an account (or log into your account), use the search tool to find “Audible” — the home of online audiobooks.
With this current offer, SwagBucks will reward you 800 SB (translated to $8) for downloading Audible, which costs $1 a month. If you keep your membership for more than two months, you’ll earn 1,700 SB (translated to $17).
You can redeem this for money or giftcards — and you get to listen to your favorite books on your commute.
2. Share your data.
Having a company harvest your data sounds scary, but we’ve tried this — and earned a $25 Amazon gift card along the way.
It’s called MobileXpression, a research company that studies internet trends. Right now, it’s looking for a few thousand Android users to sign up, which is pretty easy.
First, before you take the driver’s seat, sign up online. You’ll share some simple demographic information before being you can download the software, which runs in your phone’s background.
Don’t worry, the site says it won’t slow anything down. And the data submits itself. Simply go about your normal activities.
The app won’t monitor calls or hack into your personal info; it just wants to check out the web pages you view, the links you click and the time you spend doing various tasks.
After seven days, you can play an instant rewards game — but it’s not really a game because you’re guaranteed to win something (like that Amazon gift card).
3. Invest your money.
To be frank, the thought of trying to manage investments scares me. But it doesn’t have to be as difficult as it sounds.
With apps like Clink, you can invest in the stock market with $1 a day. Plus, when you download the app and use the promo code PH2016, you get a $5 bonus, which is kind of cool.
The app walks you through the sign-up process. And you don’t need to know about investing or index funds or compound interest. That’s all handled for you. (Thank goodness.)
So rather than letting your money sit in a savings account as idly as you sit on the interstate, make an investment.
4. Ignore advertisements.
Sure, this sounds odd, but stick with me.
This app called SlideJoy will pay you around $6 per month. The catch is you’ll see an ad, news story or promotion each time you look at your Android phone (sorry, Apple people).
You don’t even have to act on these. If you’re not interested, simply swipe right and get on with your life (but you won’t be doing this while driving, right?). If you do like it, then swipe left.
And these only appear on your lock screen — instead of your pup’s face or your favorite photo from a recent vacay.
Using your phone normally, you can expect to make about $5 a month. But don’t scoff. In a year, you could pay off a month’s phone bill or buy plenty of pricy Starbucks lattes.
Read our full review of the app here.
5. Get paid for all the online shopping you’ve been doing.
This app doesn’t really require you to think — just shop.
When you sign up for Paribus, it’ll scan your email archives for receipts. It might sound scary, but we use it here at The Penny Hoarder.
If it detects purchases from Amazon, Target or one of its other 16 retail partners, it tracks the item’s price and issues a refund as soon as the price drops.
After you sign up, you don’t have to do anything. Except keep your eyes on the road — and continue shopping when you get to your destination.
6. Whip out this card for gas — or gas station snacks.
Yeah, I’m with you: Credit cards are sorta intimidating. But I recently signed up for a rewards card, and because I pay off my balance each month, it’s awesome.
Need some suggestions? The Barclaycard® Rewards MasterCard® – Average Credit gives you two points for every dollar you spend on groceries, gas (that’s right now!) and utilities. Plus, outside of that, you’ll earn one point for every other dollar.
Translated: 1,000 points equates to $10. Not bad.
Even more importantly, the card is free. So don’t feel too guilty hitting up the gas station candy aisle. (Butterfinger Bites, please!)
Your Turn: Where are you driving this Thanksgiving?
Disclosure: Here’s a toast to the affiliate links in this post. May we all be just a little richer today.
Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. After recently completing graduate school, she focuses on saving money — and surviving the move back in with her parents.
The post Set It & Forget It: 6 Ways to Make Money While Stuck in Holiday Traffic appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Ale, Yeah! These 3 Flexible Jobs are Perfect for Any Craft Beer Lover
I typically avoid mentioning my love of beer on my resume or chatting about my latest favorite brew during a job interview.
But we found three times where this is absolutely appropriate.
Even more?
These jobs offer flexible hours — and one even lets you work-from-home. So crack a beer, and start your job search.
3 Flexible Jobs for Craft Beer Lovers
Get creative with your resume. Consider including these keywords: beer-lover, beer advocate, beer aficionado, beer snob, beer geek.
Whichever you prefer, check out these three opportunities.
1. Be a freelance writer for Craft Beer’s website.
“Do you have dreams of becoming the world’s next Michael Jackson (not the moonwalking one)? Do you know places in your city no beercationer should miss?”
If you answer “yes” to all of the above (and understand that Michael Jackson joke), then consider writing for Craft Beer, a website created by the Brewers Association with a mission of spreading craft beer joy — and information.
Pitch yourself to the crew by entering your basic facts, social media accounts and a post pitch.
The pay?
“I’m looking for experienced writers to pitch me articles, so the pay will depend on what type of articles they write,” Jess Baker of the Brewers Association told me in an email. “We offer a variety of rates, and writers will get those details upon pitching stories to me.”
Shoutout to Write Jobs for bringing our attention to this full-bodied opportunity.
2. Work from home as a Minibar Delivery rep.
I like to think of Minibar Delivery as a mix of Uber and my favorite bar — without the nauseating ride home. I also can’t help singing that “Let’s get drunk at the minibar” line from Iggy.
Anyway, this awesome startup is hiring full-time customer service representatives to work from home and answer alcohol-related (or induced) questions.
You should be so well-versed in alcohol that you can confidently answer customers’ beer, wine and spirits questions. You’ll also answer and process incoming customer service requests via emails and phone calls.
Pay starts at $15/hour, and as a full-time employee, you’re eligible for health, dental and vision benefits.
This gig is as sweet as a honey ale. Find all the information in our original article.
3. Become a professional beer buyer.
This might seem odd, but I’m so proud to say that The Penny Hoarder’s founder, Kyle Taylor, was once a professional beer buyer (though I’m not sure it’s on his resume…).
What a job.
Basically, he got paid to go buy beer and see if he was carded, kind of like a sneaky undercover cop. He made up to $5,000 doing this — each month.
Even better than the money? He got to keep all of his purchases, so needless to say, his liquor cabinet and fridge were constantly stocked.
Want to do this? Kyle wrote about his experience.
For more job opportunities, check out our Facebook jobs page.
Your Turn: What’s your favorite brewery?
Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. After recently completing graduate school, she focuses on saving money — and surviving the move back in with her parents.
The post Ale, Yeah! These 3 Flexible Jobs are Perfect for Any Craft Beer Lover appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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This 99-Cent Spotify Premium Deal Will Get You Through the Holidays
Need some new tunes to get you through the holiday weekend? Or maybe you have a ton of new albums on your wish list, but can’t justify buying them all until after you buy Christmas gifts for your family.
How about three months of music for just 99 cents?
If you’ve never used Spotify Premium, now you have a chance to try it for less than a buck.
While you can always listen to Spotify streaming music for free, upgrading to the Premium service eliminates ads, lets you skip an unlimited number of songs and allows you to search for and play any track on demand.
You can even download music for offline listening — in case you’re going to be on a plane for four hours this weekend without Wi-Fi.
How to Get a Spotify Premium Trial for 99 Cents
Sign up on the Spotify website — it’ll only take a minute. Have your credit card handy to enter payment information.
If you decide not to continue your subscription after your three-month trial, you’ll have to manually cancel — or else you’ll get charged $9.99 per month. If you love Spotify and can’t bear giving up that commercial-free experience, consider these options:
Spotify Premium for Students costs just $4.99 per month
Spotify Premium for Family costs $14.99 per month, but you can have up to six individual accounts. That means everyone in your household could owe $2.50 each for their own account — which feels like a must-have for group houses.
Spotify says it only has a limited number of trial offers available. So if you’re debating whether to try Spotify, take my advice and just do it already (for three months, at least!).
Your Turn: Will you sign up for this Spotify trial? What are you most excited to listen to?
Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer at The Penny Hoarder.
The post This 99-Cent Spotify Premium Deal Will Get You Through the Holidays appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Autumn Statement 2016: Insurance premium tax rises by 2%
Chancellor Philip Hammond has announced that rates for insurance premium tax (IPT) will rise by 2%, taking it from 10 to 12%, starting in June 2017.
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6 Neuromarketing Hacks for Maximum Content Impact
What do humans and lab rats have in common?
We both have predictable behavior patterns and react similarly to the same psychological stimuli.
And while we humans are certainly more complex and sophisticated than lab rats, you can still pull the right levers and hit the right buttons with your content marketing to elicit the response you’re looking for.
I would by no means consider myself an expert in psychology, but over the years, I’ve learned a lot about how the human mind works.
I’ve found out that nearly everyone is predictable to some degree.
By understanding a few key psychological insights, I’m able to better understand my audience and deliver content that clicks with them and maximizes my results.
What’s the secret?
Neuromarketing.
What exactly is neuromarketing?
TechTarget defines this term as
“the study of how people’s brains respond to advertising and other brand-related messages by scientifically monitoring brainwave activity, eye-tracking and skin response.”
It’s basically a sexy word that you get by combining neuroscience (the branch of psychology that deals with the nervous system/brain) and marketing.
The idea is that using cognitive research findings allows marketers to do their jobs with greater efficiency and ultimately boost conversions and sales while providing an optimal user experience.
Although neuromarketing is a fairly new phenomenon (it began in the 1990s), it’s gained a lot of momentum in the past 20+ years.
There are even academic institutions and publications that are devoting massive amounts of time and money to this type of research.
Of course, some people are skeptical because neuromarketing often goes against conventional wisdom.
But I’ve found it to be incredibly powerful once I started using it in my marketing.
Here are some specific neuromarketing hacks I recommend.
1. Appeal to your audience’s emotions
As hard as we try to be logical and rational, we’re all emotional beings to some extent.
There’s just no getting around it.
If you can form an emotional connection with your audience, I can guarantee that your content will have a significant impact.
There’s a particular quote I love from an article titled “The Feelings Economy.”
It goes like this:
In an oversupplied economy, customer feelings drive purchase decisions and profitability.
I think this really nails it. The brands that tend to thrive are the ones that are able to elicit the right emotions and hit the sweet spot.
How exactly do you appeal to your audience’s emotions?
Well, you start by understanding which specific emotions on average generate the biggest response:
According to research from OkDork and Buzzsumo, your best bet is to create content that evokes:
- Awe
- Laughter
- Amusement
- Joy
More specifically, I recommend using images and stories in your content to trigger these types of emotional responses.
That’s because they’re great at targeting the limbic system, which controls basic emotions.
2. Incorporate images of faces
You might have noticed that I use a lot of images of people’s faces in my content.
Case in point:
I also place an image of my own mug on my website:
Why?
Because, as it turns out, there is power in facial expressions. It’s basically the universal language.
Allow me to explain.
Say you’re trying to interact with someone from a foreign country who speaks an entirely different language. Communicating with words is likely to be pointless.
What they’re saying sounds like gibberish to you and vice versa.
But you can always understand facial cues.
In fact, that’s how babies largely understand the world. Before they develop language, they primarily rely upon their parents’ facial expressions and tone of voice to extract meaning.
The point I’m trying to make here is that the human brain has an innate ability to process facial cues, which makes images of people’s faces ideal for conveying emotion.
Images can also help you establish trust.
Notice how Tim Ferriss’s photo gives off the vibe that he knows his stuff and that signing up for his course should prove helpful:
You can do yourself a big favor by weaving images of people into your content. Doing so can make your audience feel a certain emotion as well as perform a specific action.
3. Use colors to elicit emotion
What’s another way to get your audience to feel a particular way?
Using the right colors.
Each color has a certain meaning, so using the color that matches the emotion you’re looking to target can be highly advantageous.
Here are some examples of the meanings of color in the western world:
The key is to identify the particular emotion, feeling, vibe you’re going for and incorporate the relevant color(s) in your content.
I don’t have enough time to adequately explain this topic to do it justice here. But I’ve covered it in depth before, and you can learn all about it via this resource.
4. Focus on relieving pain points
Conventional marketing wisdom says that showcasing the benefits of a product/service and ways it will improve your customer’s life is the best way to go.
By explaining the positives, you can target the intrinsic pleasure-seeking part of the human brain.
But in my opinion, this isn’t the best approach to take.
In one of my posts on Inc.com, I mention the fact that “neuromarketing experts say that the brain’s pain avoidance response is almost three times stronger than the brain’s pleasure seeking response.”
I also point out that neuromarketing expert Christophe Morin states that
…humans are pain-avoiding machines.
The bottom line here is that you’re usually better off explaining how you can relieve a pain point than discussing the pleasures of using a product/service.
In other words, focusing on how you can eliminate a negative should have a bigger impact.
5. Capitalize on the law of reciprocity
Have you ever had someone do something really nice for you, even when they didn’t have to, without asking for anything in return?
How did you feel toward them afterward?
The odds are good that you felt a sense of gratitude and probably wanted to consciously (or subconsciously) return the favor in some way.
This is the law of reciprocity at work.
At its core, the law of reciprocity explains why we feel indebted to someone when they do something for us.
This could be something as big as saving one’s life or as small as giving away a copy of an e-book.
Much research has actually been performed on this topic.
In fact, a study back in 2002 explored how patrons tipped in restaurants. The researchers examined how people tipped under three types of scenarios:
- Scenario 1 – Patrons received a small piece of candy with their check
- Scenario 2 – They received a larger quantity of candy
- Scenario 3 – They received no candy at all
The researchers found that “the gift of candy increased the average tip from 15 percent to just under 18 percent.”
Although this wasn’t a dramatic increase, it definitely proves the law of reciprocity and that people feel indebted when you do something nice for them when you don’t have to.
By offering your visitors something like a free trial, a free e-book, a free online course, etc., you can expect more conversions in the long run.
6. Use scarcity as leverage
We humans have some interesting tendencies and preferences.
If there’s less of something, our desire for it increases. If there’s more of something, our desire for it diminishes.
This phenomenon is known as the scarcity effect.
A now-classic psychological study from 1975 conducted by Worchel, Lee and Adewole examined the effect of scarcity on people.
It was a very simple study involving cookies, but it was very telling nonetheless.
The researchers “put 10 cookies in one jar and two of the same cookies in another jar. The cookies from the two-cookie jar received higher ratings—even though the cookies were exactly the same!”
What does this mean from a marketing standpoint?
It means that you’re far more likely to maximize your impact by leveraging scarcity. For instance, you might say that there’s a limited time offer on a product/service, or you may have a sale that only lasts 24 hours, etc.
That, right there, can increase a person’s urge to buy significantly.
Conclusion
Neuromarketing is legit and something I’ve found to be incredibly powerful in regards to content marketing.
Besides making it easier to build trust and rapport and generally connect better with your audience, neuromarketing is often the catalyst for increased leads and conversions.
And the hacks I covered here are just the tip of the iceberg. There’s ongoing research being conducted to better understand the psychology behind marketing and what resonates with consumers.
By putting these tips to practice, you can make your content marketing more potent and get more bang for your buck.
Can you think of any other psychological principles that can help you level up your content marketing?
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Autumn Statement 2016: Pension saving allowance slashed
In his first Autumn Statement, the new Chancellor Philip Hammond announced plans to reduce the Money Purchase Annual Allowance from £10,000 a year to just £4,000 from April 2017.
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Autumn Statement 2016: NS&I to launch new bond paying 2.2%
One of the rabbits pulled out of chancellor Philip Hammond’s hat is the announcement of a new market-leading three-year savings bond.
It was widely predicted that chancellor Philip Hammond wouldn’t be pulling many ‘rabbits’ out of the hat when he stepped up to deliver his inaugural Autumn Statement.
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Autumn Statement 2016: Government plans to tackle pension scammers
The government will publish a consultation looking at ways to tackle pension scams before Christmas, chancellor Philip Hammond announced in his Autumn Statement.
Hammond told parliament he plans to give firms "greater powers to block suspicious transfers" and make it "harder for scammers to abuse small self-administered schemes".
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Autumn Statement 2016: Salary sacrifice perks curbed; pensions exempt from charges
In an Autumn Statement thin on surprises for private investors, chancellor Philip Hammond has announced a clampdown on salary sacrifice schemes.
These schemes are offered by employers and enable staff to divert some of their gross earnings into other employee benefits such as pensions or childcare schemes.
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Finding Something New on the Long Financial Journey
Here’s the truth: when you set a big financial goal for yourself, most of the new discoveries and new behaviors occur at the start of the journey. You bury yourself in knowledge, learn quite a bit, figure out a plan that works well for you, put that plan in place, automate it as much as you can (by having money taken out of your check and so on)… and then you wait. And wait. And wait.
For some people, that waiting can be very difficult, for two reasons.
First, it can feel like there’s less opportunity in their day to day lives. Whenever you take on a financial goal, particularly once you first exit the “honeymoon” period (the part at the start of any new endeavor where you’re having fun learning and trying new things), you’re going to find that you’ve allocated your resources differently and that usually means you have less resources left behind for “free spending” compared to what you had before you started. That can feel disheartening. It can easily twist in your mind into a sense of being very restrictive, giving you a strong sense that you’re missing out on opportunities and life experiences.
Second, it can feel like the progress is really slow and you’re helpless to make it go much faster. Often, once you’ve set up a financial plan, it’s just a matter of rolling through the months and years. The plan is on autopilot. You’ve set it up and it’s running along in the background, but it’s going to be a very long time before you see results.
When you combine those two factors, the road to financial success can seem like a very long drive on a Kansas highway. The hours roll by, but the horizons seem endlessly flat and the destination is still so far ahead that you can barely see it. You feel like there’s nothing new under the sun at all.
In the end, you can start to become disconnected from your goal and from what you’re doing to progress toward it. Disillusionment can begin to creep in, which makes it easier and easier to give up.
What can you do?
For me, a big part of the solution has been to constantly look for new things on the long financial journey. While my financial plan is pretty much locked in place at this point, it actually relies on a bunch of things in my life not actually changing from the way that they are right now. Those factors, from my family to my career, from my personal beliefs to the individual tactics I use each day, are not perfect. They’re never perfect.
Thus, I’ve found that an essential piece of ongoing financial success during the “set it and forget it” part of the journey is to dig into those underlying factors and see what I can do to improve them.
I like to use a house analogy for this. I’ve got blueprints for a house and I’m in the process of ordering parts and waiting for them to be delivered. While I wait for that delivery, I can just sit in place and stew on my thoughts, or I can look for ways to make that house better. I can look at where the foundation is going to go. I can look for new construction or architectural ideas. Yeah, I might end up changing that blueprint a little bit, but what I’m going to end up with is a better house than before, probably one that’s built faster, too.
Here’s how I’m constantly trying to “improve my blueprint” and find something new under the sun during this journey.
Learn (and Think) About the “Why”
Why exactly am I on this financial journey to begin with?
It’s a simple question at first glance. I want to retire early and have the freedom to do lots of things at that point.
But the longer I look at the question, the deeper it becomes.
Why do I want to retire early? Why do I want some sense of freedom in the future? What kind of freedom do I want? Why do I not have that freedom or some aspect of it right now?
And it keeps going deeper.
Why do I desire things that are different than what I have right now? What is it that I really value the most? Why do I emotionally respond to things the way that I do? Why do I make the choices that I make?
Very quickly, you start running into some very challenging questions, ones that aren’t easy for anyone to answer. They lead directly into reading about philosophy and psychology and spirituality.
I find myself reading a great deal of philosophy right now, particularly stoicism and transcendentalism. I read a lot about the information age and how it’s changing our brains and our desires.
More than that, I think about those things. I look at my own life through lots of different lenses and the lives of others through those lenses.
And, over time, I gradually begin to answer those deep questions to my own satisfaction. It turns out that those answers are never exactly the same for anyone, but by reading the thoughts of people who have deeply pondered those questions, you can shape your own answers and build them into something strong.
Once you start having real, concrete answers to those questions, you start to see how the changes in your foundation actually change your day-to-day life and your big financial plans. You start walking right back up the ladder of those questions until you can really answer that “why” question in a way that really means something for you.
It’s a journey that never really ends. There’s always a new way of looking at things.
I tend to view this journey as being like a rough-edged rock. You have some vague idea of the core of your values, but the edges are very rough. Learning about things like philosophy is like tossing that rock into a rock tumbler that, over time, gradually smooths out the edges and lets the underlying aspects get exposed. It’s a long process, but the stone at the end is beautiful. It’s something you’re proud of. It’s something you can build on.
Try polishing the rock that is your underlying values and see where it takes you.
Try New Tactics
I’ve been reading about, writing about, and trying all kinds of money-saving tactics for many years now on a near-daily basis. The reality is that, when I see a new list of tactics, I’ve usually already tried the vast majority of them. That’s okay.
For me, though, reading a list of tactics to find two or three that I haven’t tried before is actually worth it because trying those two tactics and figuring out if they make sense or they’re cost-effective really does “liven up the game” a little bit. I enjoy that discovery process. It’s actually quite fun to find a better way of doing things, a more cost-efficient way of doing things.
I’m at the extreme end of this, having written and experimented with frugality tactics on a weekly basis for literally a decade of my life. For others, the ratio of repeats is going to be lower.
For me, this simple technique checks a ton of boxes.
First of all, it provides new experiences. I’m going to be doing something different that I haven’t done before. That’s fun in itself. In the process of trying out new frugal techniques, I’ve learned to cut my own hair, made my own soap, made pasta from scratch, tried iced coffee with ice cubes literally made of coffee, and dozens and dozens of other things that were well worth trying, even if they didn’t all stick. I’ve made new friends, entertained my children, and taken care of countless household responsibilities along the way. Trying something new is almost always interesting, even if you conclude that it doesn’t fit for you.
At the same time, it potentially results in a better method of doing things. Lists of frugal tips have improved how I boil pasta, how I prepare beans, how I wash windows, and countless other things. Either I’ll find a technique that works better than before at the same price or I’ll find a technique that works just as well as before at a lower price. In either case, I’m better off, and that actually happens more often than not.
The point? Try stuff. Even if a long list of tactics seems old hat, dig out the five or so you haven’t tried before and give them a shot. See if they fit for you.
Build Up the “Earn” Side of the Equation
No matter how perfectly your financial plan is set up, it can almost always be disrupted in a positive way through entrepreneurship and good career moves. If you raise your income level, you’re either going to be able to achieve your goal far faster than before or else you’re going to be able to elevate your goal to greater heights than ever before.
One approach is to focus on your current career path. What can you do to get great job performances that might lead to a raise or a promotion? What challenges can you take on that will build your resume for a better job? Can you take on more hours? Can you look for a professional mentor who can help guide you in your current situation? Can you simply just stop idling at work, find things to work on, and be more productive? All of those things not only provide a new focus, but they also result, in the long run, in more income.
Another approach is to focus on building a small side business of some kind. There are infinite side businesses you can start, from gardening for vegetable sales to starting a Youtube channel, from a lawn care business to writing ebooks. Spending a healthy portion of your time on a side gig can build a daydream into something that produces real, significant revenue throughout the year.
Both routes provide a new set of challenges that, upon succeeding, will provide benefits that directly accelerate your already-existing financial goals.
Final Thoughts
The journey to your financial destination can seem long and dull, but that’s only if you accept your current mindset as being beyond question, your current tactics as being more than good enough, and your current earnings and career options as deeply satisfying and incapable of improvement. Since almost no one can claim those things as all being true, it’s very likely that the path to your financial destiny involves many options for new directions and new experiences.
Good luck!
The post Finding Something New on the Long Financial Journey appeared first on The Simple Dollar.
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These Stores are Giving Out Freebies on Black Friday
No matter how early stores open on Black Friday, shoppers will be there. For many, getting Black Friday deals is more than just a tradition — it’s a competition.
If your shopping list is ready and waiting by the front door (along with your car keys, travel coffee mug and enough granola bars to get you through the morning), don’t start putting on your coat just yet.
Check out these Black Friday giveaways to see if you can get something for free just by showing up at your favorite stores.
1. Bass Pro Shops
Get your picture taken with Santa between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. at Bass Pro Shops.
There’s also a free craft workshop for kids from 5 to 7 p.m., and a family activity area with free games is open all day.
2. Belk
The first 200 visitors to each Belk store starting at 6 a.m. on Nov. 25 will receive a gift card worth between $5 and $1,000. You must be at least 18 years old to receive one.
The department store will offer the same giveaway for shoppers starting at 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving.
3. Cabela’s
Outdoor chain Cabela’s will continue its tradition of offering giveaways to the first 500 people in line at 5 a.m. on Black Friday.
These early birds will receive a “mystery envelope” with prize details inside; the giveaways include gift cards and outdoor products, including a trail camera worth $99.99 and a smoker valued at $349.
4. Half Price Books
Visit Half Price Books starting at 9 a.m. on Black Friday. The first 100 people who enter at each location will receive a free tote bag and a $5 gift card. You must be at least 16 years old to receive the giveaway.
One random winner at each location will find a $100 gift card in their tote bag!
5. Victoria’s Secret
Black Friday visitors to Victoria’s Secret get a free tote bag while supplies last.
6. World Market
Get in line before World Market opens at 7 a.m. and you’ll enjoy free coffee and breakfast treats.
The first 100 customers ages 18 and older who enter on Black Friday will receive a free reusable tote bag and a $10 gift certificate good for any purchase made on Nov. 25.
Your Turn: Have you seen other awesome Black Friday freebies and giveaways? Let us know and we’ll update this post!
Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer at The Penny Hoarder.
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Autumn Statement 2016: Ban on letting agents' fees
The Chancellor has announced a ban on letting agents charging tenants fees, which will come into effect “as soon as possible”.
Currently, tenants can be charged fees for anything from reference, credit and immigration checks to drawing up a tenancy agreement. Fees can vary widely from an average of £200 to several hundred pounds in London.
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Autumn Statement 2016: Measures to boost house building
In a bid to tackle the chronic shortage in housing, the Chancellor has announced a new £2.3 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund to deliver up to 100,000 new homes in areas of high demand and a further £1.4 billion to build 40,000 additional affordable homes. And another £1.7 billion by 2020-21 will be used to speed up the construction of new homes on public sector land.
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5 Black Friday Myths, Busted. Here’s the Truth About the Biggest Shopping Day of the Year
Did you know the name Black Friday has nothing to do with retailer profits? Or that the day may not actually be the busiest shopping day of the year?
Since I was a kid, Black Friday shopping has just been a regular part of the holiday season. I never questioned its origins or its domination of retail shopping deals.
Apparently, I should have.
As I dug into the history of Black Friday, I busted those and a few other common myths about the shopping pseudo-holiday.
Read on — and let us know which of these caught you by surprise!
1. The “Black” in “Black Friday” Comes from an Accounting Term
I’ve heard this one for years: “Black Friday” comes from the the phrase “in the black,” used in accounting to refer to the black ink indicating retailers are finally turning a profit.
False.
It’s true that many retailers turn their only profits in the fourth quarter — some even run at a loss the rest of the year. But this isn’t what coined the popular name for the day after Thanksgiving.
In fact, the term originated as a negative one, and we believe it started in Philadelphia.
Various sources offer different dates of origin, but it looks like “Black Friday” was popular in Philly by the 1970s. It was the day shoppers overwhelmed the city and caused all kinds of headaches for local police.
As retailers raked in profits, Black Friday spelled doomsday for store employees, city officials and others who worked extra hard to guide the nation through the frenzy.
By the 1990s, the term started catching on around the country, and our best explanation for the accounting story is media spin. The dark connotation of the term was not in the best interest of retailers.
2. Black Friday is the Busiest Shopping Day of the Year
It has to be the busiest shopping day, right? Why else would the news cover shopping malls and microwave sales?
This might just be hype. Black Friday has ranked among the busiest shopping days for decades, but didn’t move into the top spot until online shopping became popular over the past decade.
Between 1993 and 2002, the Saturday before Christmas held the number-one spot for retail sales. Black Friday ranked between fourth and eighth busiest those years.
Black Friday pulled into the lead for the first time in 2003 and has held that position since 2005. But with the majority of people shopping from home, we have to attribute some success to online shopping, not the mall’s doorbusters.
3. Black Friday Deals Inspire Violence in Shoppers
We’ve all seen the headlines and heard horror stories. There’s even an online ticker that used to count Black Friday deaths and injuries.
But is Black Friday really turning us all into deal-crazed maniacs willing to kick off the holiday season with manslaughter for a discount on the latest American Girl doll?
Probably not.
A closer look at stories of “Black Friday” violence shows most of these aren’t related to shopping at all.
This 2013 robbery didn’t even occur at a retail store.
This 2008 incident at Toys R Us was considered gang-related.
Few news reports cite a shopping-related conflict as the cause for violence or injury, but Black Friday still makes it in the headline.
Even if all “Black Friday violence” could be linked to shopping, it wouldn’t be unique to the holiday.
Walmart is one of the biggest Black Friday offenders, and is linked to rising crime rates around the country, regardless of the time of year
“Black Friday death” makes a killer headline (pun intended). But make sure you know the details before believing the hype.
4.Thanksgiving Dictates Black Friday’s Date
Each year, Black Friday falls on the day after Thanksgiving. So the date of the shopping day is dependent on the floating date of Turkey Day.
But that doesn’t seem to be the case.
You may have heard that Thanksgiving Day has shifted over the years — from the last Thursday of November to the fourth Thursday.
The country was even once split over the issue: In 1939-40, 16 states celebrated Thanksgiving on the last Thursday in November, while President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the rest of the country celebrated on the second-to-last Thursday.
Why?
It was all about money.
The last Thursday of November in 1939 was also the last day of the month. Because tradition and protocol kept consumers from holiday shopping until after Thanksgiving, this created a shorter holiday shopping season.
Less shopping meant reduced retail profits, a threat to the economy still recovering from the Great Depression.
Thankfully, Congress stepped in to clear up the confusion caused by Roosevelt’s proclamation. November’s fourth Thursday was officially declared Thanksgiving in 1941, which accounts for years when there are five Thursdays in the month.
The resolution preserves tradition without compromising our ability to finish our shopping before December 25.
It’s a bit of a chicken-or-egg question, but it looks like Black Friday’s popularity had a significant influence on Thanksgiving’s official date.
5. Black Friday Offers the Best Retail Shopping Deals
If you keep an eye on Black Friday ads, you’ll probably feel some déjà vu. Many retailers recycle the same deals each year — some practically print the same flyer!
But even these deals aren’t always the year’s best. You can always wait for an even better deal. Discounts can get significantly steeper as Christmas draws near, according to ShopAdvisor.
The same study also found 42% of products were priced lower in the four weeks before Black Friday than on the actual day. Average discounts on the days leading up to Christmas also outweighed Black Friday deals — some were three times higher.
Can You Believe It?
Black Friday may not be everything we always believed it was. But even with these myths busted, a holiday about finding a good deal is still a win for a Penny Hoarder!
Your Turn: Did you know any of these were myths? Which ones surprised you?
Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, Writer’s Digest and more. She’ll probably spend Black Friday working on an elusive essay and eating ALL the leftover green bean casserole.
The post 5 Black Friday Myths, Busted. Here’s the Truth About the Biggest Shopping Day of the Year appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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How to Survive Black Friday Shopping With Your Kids
Shopping with young children in tow is a necessity for a lot of families. For many parents, the kids have to come along or the shopping doesn’t get done.
So what do you do on a big shopping day like Black Friday?
Do you wake the kids up early and get in line for the doorbusters? Do you pack distractions to keep kids’ hands busy as you travel from store to store? If you’re buying holiday presents, how do you keep curious eyes from spying their gifts in advance?
I reached out to Rosemarie Groner at The Busy Budgeter, who has two young children, for her advice on what to do. Here’s how she recommends going Black Friday shopping with kids in tow.
Delight and Distract
“If you have an iPad or an iPhone with a kid-proof case, this would be a great time to break that out,” Groner told us. An all-day shopping trip becomes much more fun when kids are given rare access to unlimited screen time.
It’s also a good idea to pack small toys to keep kids entertained, and Groner suggests packing special toys that kids don’t usually get to play with.
It’s also possible to buy new toys to increase the delight/distract factor, but make sure you keep those toy purchases within your budget!
Packing your kids’ favorite snacks is another great way to delight and distract. The kids get their favorite goodies — and yes, this is the time to pull out those special-occasion treats — and you also save money by not having to buy snacks at the food court.
“Packing a cooler full of drinks, sandwiches and portable snacks like Go-Gurt, trail mix and chips can help you avoid the high cost of eating out,” Groner explained. It’ll also help you keep the kids happy, fed and hydrated so you can keep shopping.
How do you do your holiday shopping when your kids are within eyesight? Here are Groner’s suggestions:
“For younger kids, you can buy holiday gifts with them right next to you using the distraction method: ‘Whoa! Look over there! Balloons!’ Then slip the toy into a store tote bag.
“When you get to the checkout, asking the cashier to discreetly check out while you keep the kids occupied can help you keep the presents a surprise.”
Of course, it’s a lot easier to shop for holiday gifts if your kids are asleep.
That’s why Groner advises parents to “Pack blankets and pillows to put in carts and strollers.” Kids can take a nap when they get tired, and you can keep hunting down those Black Friday bargains.
Skip the Doorbusters
While we’re on the subject of sleep: Should you wake up the kids at 3 a.m. so you can stand in line for doorbuster deals — or camp out in front of the store overnight to be the first ones inside?
Groner says no: “Unless I could save several hundred dollars on something I would have bought anyway, I would skip the frustrations involved in that. I can’t think of anything that I could get to make camping outside of a store with kids overnight worth it. Not even for a free iPhone 6.”
If you’re disappointed to be missing out on doorbusters, Groner suggests looking for Cyber Monday deals instead. You’ll often find great deals on electronics, home goods, holiday gifts and more — and you can shop without having to get out of bed!
Work in Teams
If you’ve got another parent, relative or friend available to shop with you on Black Friday, use the power of teamwork.
“It’s a great idea to team up with another adult,” Groner told us. “That would give you both a chance to break away for a few minutes kid-free to grab something while the other handles the kids.”
Having two adults present helps the shopping go more quickly because you can cover more ground. One of you can hit up the Electronics section while the other one visits Toys, for example.
With two adults, you also have someone available to take kids to to the bathroom, sit with them as they eat a snack and help entertain them when they get bored.
Of course, if you have two adults available on Black Friday, that also gives you another option: Have one adult babysit as the other one shops.
As Groner puts it: “An even better way to team up with another adult is to have her watch your kids from her home while you grab her shopping list of bargains for her.”
Your Turn: What are your tips for shopping Black Friday sales with kids? Share your suggestions and your stories in the comments.
Nicole Dieker is a freelance writer focusing on personal finance and personal stories. Her work has appeared in The Billfold, The Toast, Yearbook Office, The Write Life and Boing Boing.
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Borrowers miss out on best mortgages
Homeowners are missing out on record-low mortgage rates, by failing to switch to a better deal when their fixed rate expires.
According to research from mortgage broker Trussle and YouGov, only 28% of borrowers have ever switched their mortgage, despite the average customer saving £2,800 a year by remortgaging.
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Need a Work-From-Home Job, Eh? These Sites Can Help You Find Them in Canada
Canadians: We’ve heard your cries.
Here at The Penny Hoarder office, we hustle to cater to our readers. Unfortunately, we don’t have the capacity to fully cater to an international audience. Not yet, at least.
However, this is a break from your regularly scheduled programming.
8 Websites to Help Canadians Find Work-From-Home Jobs
Earlier this year, we found 13 websites that host work-from-home jobs. A great resource, I might humbly add.
Now, in addition to that list, we’ve found even more sites — but for Canadians.
1. Jobspresso
I actually found Jobspresso on my previous work-from-home job website search. Little did I know, it was crafted with ? in Toronto.
This site specializes in remote jobs, so you won’t have to sort through the job listings like you might with some of the sites below.
The best way to navigate this site, in my opinion, is to search by category: designer, developer, marketing, project management, support, system administration, various and writing.
You can also narrow your search by the type of work: contract, freelance, full time, part time and internship.
You’ll then want to take a look in the location column of the job listings to make sure Canadians applications are accepted.
2. Indeed
We love Indeed. And no, we were not paid to say that.
It’s a huge job posting database that sees more than 200 million unique visitors a month from more than 60 countries, according to its About page. Hint: That’s a lot.
Lucky for you, Indeed has a Canadian extension. Simply type “Work From Home,” “Work At Home” or “Remote” in the search bar, and start perusing.
If you find a promising job listing, be sure to read through the post about any location contingencies (i.e. must live in the Ontario area).
If you scroll down to the bottom of the listing, next to the date it was published, sometimes you’ll find an “original job” link you can track back to the company’s site.
3. Glassdoor
Here’s another site we love using: Glassdoor.
Surprise! It has a Canadian option, too. Canadian Glassdoor is just as sweet as the parent site.
We love it because it’s so transparent. Here, you can find company ratings (from current or previous employees), salaries and information about hiring processes.
The best way to use the tool is to leave your location blank and simply type in “Work From Home” in the keyword box. You’ll easily be able to click through the job postings without opening millions of tabs or new windows.
I’d like to note, however, that this “work from home” filter isn’t perfect. Like Indeed, you’ll want to scan the listing to be sure it mentions work-from-home options. The easiest way I do that is a Control + F search of “work” to highlight the good stuff.
4. LinkedIn
Personally, I’m a huge fan. And, once again, it has a Canadian counterpart.
However, you don’t even need that to find work-from-home jobs in Canada. And you also don’t need an account.
Go to LinkedIn, scroll to the bottom, and select “Jobs” under “Browse LinkedIn.” It’ll take you to the job search page where you can search “work from home” in “Canada.”
Like Glassdoor, the filter isn’t flawless. Some jobs might allow remote work once a week, some might be field jobs. Some might not even mention work-from-home. However, I found a few gems in my quick preliminary search, so I think you could, too.
5. FlexJobs
FlexJobs doesn’t exclusively house work-from-home jobs. Rather, it holds thousands of “flexible jobs,” which includes work-from-home jobs, but also part-time work, telecommute options and contract or freelance gigs.
It’s a great place to get started, though. At the top of its homepage, select “Jobs” then click “Advanced Job Search.” On the right side, you’ll find an international option; select Canada and hit “Enter.”
Right now, there are more than 1,800 listings for you to pan through.
Two catches. Again, they’re not all work from home, but they are “flex.” Also, in order to read through the complete job listing, you’ll need a membership. You can get this for $14.95/month. (Then cancel when the search is over!)
6. Workopolis
I’d never heard of this site until I started this dig. Workopolis claims to be Canada’s largest career site; its database is searched 16,000 times a day.
I searched “work from home” (or try “work at home,” too) in the keyword box — left the location box empty — and 6,500 results popped up.
As I scrolled through the pages, a lot of the listings were repeats, but were, in fact, work-from-home opportunities. Many even said so in the title.
Overall, there aren’t 6,500 unique work-from-home positions available, but there are quite a few, so clicking through the results seems worth it.
7. Recruit
Shoutout to our editorial fellow, Kaitlyn, for finding this; I’d never actually heard of the site.
You can jump from country to country, but for the sake of this, we’ll settle on Recruit’s Canada version. Simply type in “work from home” in the keyword portion; leave the location blank.
It’ll ask if you want to sign up for email updates, which might be helpful.
The site is like a less legit-looking Indeed, but it generates some promising work-from-home job leads, so check it out.
8. AngelList
This is the home of startups, which, from my experience, tend to favor work-from-home flexibility.
Start at AngelList Canada. You’ll see companies, investors, followers and finally jobs. Select jobs. From there, you’ll begin your search. “Find a job,” then create an account. I always just opt to connect via Facebook.
You’ll end up creating a profile, and it’ll all look similar to LinkedIn. From there, you can start searching for work-from-home opportunities.
Your Turn: Did I miss any good sites, Canadians?
Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. After recently completing graduate school, she focuses on saving money — and surviving the move back in with her parents.
The post Need a Work-From-Home Job, Eh? These Sites Can Help You Find Them in Canada appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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