Smithfield Township has hired professionals to help shape the Marshalls Creek of tomorrow. Thomas Comitta Associates, Inc. (TCA) will help Smithfield draft a plan to revitalize the Business Route 209 corridor.Township officials hope a master plan would facilitate the kind of large projects that could feed the surrounding areas.“The concept is to concentrate on a couple areas initially,” said Smithfield Supervisor Brian Barrett on Friday. “The first is [...]
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الجمعة، 2 ديسمبر 2016
You Don’t Have to Save a Ton of Money to Retire Rich — If You Start Young
Man, I blew it.
As I turn 30, I’m just starting to think about retirement.
I mean, during my freewheelin,’ travel-happy 20s, was I really supposed to think about what to do when I turned 65?
Apparently, yes. If I had, I could be sitting pretty right now. All thanks to the power of compound interest…
Which my dad definitely tried to tell me about in high school, but I was more interested in who Britney Spears was dating and how many different things I could make with a pack of ramen (the answers: K-Fed, and lots).
So if you know any about-to-be college grads, you should probably share my recent discoveries with them.
If they start now, it’s crazy how little they’ll need to save if they want to have enough money for retirement.
When Should You Start Saving for Retirement?
If you know me, you know I stopped understanding math somewhere around sixth grade.
Thankfully, there are retirement calculators to do the math for you.
I decided to go with SmartAsset’s Retirement Calculator, which accounts for taxes and inflation.
Here’s what I plugged in:
Location: Burlington, Vermont (#lifegoals)
Annual salary: $36,000 (the average starting salary for liberal arts majors)
Annual retirement expenses: $25,200 (70% of your income)
Retirement age: 65
Rate of return: 7% (fairly typical in retirement calculations)
Inflation rate: 2%
The answer?
If you start saving when you’re 21, you only need to save $100 per month, or $25 per week to have enough in retirement.
You might be thinking you’ll need more to live on than $25,200 per year — but keep in mind you’ll likely have paid off your mortgage and car by then, and you’re probably going to make more than $36,000 at the peak of your career, so your social security benefits will be greater.
This figure also doesn’t account for any employer-sponsored retirement plans. If your company offers one, definitely take advantage of it!
Retirement calculators can’t predict the future, and these numbers certainly don’t apply to everyone. They’re just estimates to inspire you to start saving now.
Because here’s the thing: If you save just $3.57 per day, you’ll be pretty solid in old age.
Since you’re never going to do this on your own — unless you’re some magical being with a wealth (ha) of self-control — I have one piece of advice: AUTOMATE IT.
Open a Roth IRA and set up an automatic transfer from your checking account each week. $25 every Monday. It’s not that hard.
I set up an automatic transfer (for a whole lot more, ‘cuz I’m old) last year; it’s the only way I’ve finally begun contributing.
So, please, learn from my mistakes — do this, and do it now!
If you want to run your own numbers (fair warning: it’s slightly terrifying), just plug them into the calculator above.
Your Turn: Do you know anybody who’s about to graduate college? Share this with them!
Disclosure: You wouldn’t believe how much coffee The Penny Hoarder team goes through. This post contains affiliate links so we can keep the grinds stocked!
Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget. Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.
The post You Don’t Have to Save a Ton of Money to Retire Rich — If You Start Young appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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If You Want to Break Your Binge-Watching Habit, Don’t Get This HBO Deal
We all have that one show we’ve been meaning to binge-watch… and this offer for Amazon Prime members makes it easier to catch up on HBO shows this holiday season.
Existing Amazon Prime members can start a 30-day HBO trial absolutely free. Access to HBO is available through Amazon Channels, which you can stream through your browser or the Amazon Video app.
When you click to start your subscription, you’ll visit a page where you confirm your account details — email, payment method and billing address — before you start your free trial.
What Happens to Your HBO Access After 30 Days?
HBO will automatically charge your card at the end of the trial period if you don’t manually cancel your subscription on your video subscriptions page.
After the trial is over, HBO costs you $14.99 per month.
I can’t decide what to watch first: “Westworld,” “The Night Of,” or the last season of “Girls.”
And I didn’t even think of all the movies available via HBO, like “The Martian,” or classics like “Home Alone.”
The holidays sound like the perfect time for a movie night at home, right?
Whether you watch something with your family or while you’re hiding from them in your childhood bedroom is up to you.
Your Turn: What will you watch with your free Amazon Prime HBO trial?
Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer at The Penny Hoarder.
The post If You Want to Break Your Binge-Watching Habit, Don’t Get This HBO Deal appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Earn $12/Hour to Advocate for Issues You Care About While Working From Home
Want to get paid to work on issues you care about?
NextWave Advocacy is hiring work-from-home political grassroots outreach representatives for telephone outreach on a variety of legislation and policies.
NextWave is a bipartisan firm located near Washington, D.C., that works with companies, trade associations and advocacy groups to educate and mobilize citizens throughout the policymaking process.
Specific legislation is confidential, but a representative from the recruitment team told TPH, “We have worked on projects such as transportation and energy, education, and pharmaceutical work.”
You’ll have the flexibility to select which projects you work on and set your schedule.
This is a work-from-home position with 20 hours a week or more. Pay is $12 per hour. It’s a great fit for college students or stay-at-home parents who want to earn extra money with a flexible schedule.
You won’t do any sales or fundraising in this position. As a caller, you would:
- Inform citizens about a political issue and identify a client’s supporters.
- Educate advocates about the policymaking process and how they can make a difference.
- Assist individuals in expressing their views in a letter and in the mail to federal, state or local officials.
- Capture compelling human interest stories from real people from all parts of the country.
- Offer opportunities to get further involved in current and future grassroots campaigns.
You can also take the three-part writing assessment any time to get paid to write letters and other communications to legislators, but the company isn’t actively recruiting writers right now.
The company works on projects year-round — this isn’t temporary work — but projects ebb and flow with politics.
“We are actively recruiting for political grassroots outreach representatives right now in anticipation for the Trump administration,” NextWave said.
To apply for this position, you should:
- Have excellent written and spoken English.
- Be “pleasant, upbeat and professional” on the phone.
- Have an interest in policy issues and a general knowledge of the legislative process.
- Prior experience in telephone-based work is helpful but not required.
To apply: Fill out the application online here.
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: Have you found any interesting work-from-home jobs lately?
Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer’s Digest and more, attempting humor wherever it’s allowed (and sometimes where it’s not).
The post Earn $12/Hour to Advocate for Issues You Care About While Working From Home appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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American Express Rewards Members: Get a Free $25 to Spend on Amazon
If you’re a member of American Express Membership Rewards, the ability to spend your points on Amazon isn’t new.
For every one point you redeem, you get 1 cent off your purchase. Which isn’t much, really.
But for a limited time, you can get $25 off your next Amazon purchase of $50 or more.
This is a targeted promotion, so it won’t apply to everyone, but it’s definitely worth checking if it can help you cross off your holiday shopping list for less!
Find Out If You’re Eligible for This Awesome AmEx Amazon Deal
Make sure your AmEx card is eligible for American Express Membership Rewards, and that you’re enrolled. Then, follow these super easy steps.
1. Link your American Express card to your Amazon account.
It’s not as hard as it sounds; Amazon walks you through the process. If you’re still confused, there’s a whole list of frequently asked questions to scroll through.
2. Shop, shop, shop!
Fill up your shopping cart with at least $50 of goods sold by Amazon.com, not a private dealer.
If you’re not sure what to get, you can always opt for a $50 gift card.
3. Check out.
Once you get to the payment page, select your AMEX membership rewards cards, then enter the number of points you’d like to put toward your purchase.
You only need to put in one point for the promotion to apply, which is what Jennifer at Deals We Like recommends.
When you get to the checkout page, use the promo code AMEX16EVER. If you’re not part of the targeted promotion, you’ll get a message letting you know you’re inelgible.
But if it works, you’ll see a $25 discount on your order.
Our director of media relations, Lizabeth Cole, tried the deal with her American Express rewards card. She was stoked it applied and says she’ll likely use it toward Legos.
What to Do If You’re Not Eligible
Don’t give up just yet.
Jennifer at Deals We Like recommends asking Amazon’s customer service about the offer, and she explains exactly how to do so (just make sure to use the right promo code for this offer).
If you’re lucky, a nice agent just might apply the deal to your card!
Your Turn: What are you adding to your shopping cart?
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 American Express Rewards Members: Get a Free $25 to Spend on Amazon appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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How Important is Money to Marriage? Apparently Not as Important as This
What’s the key to a successful marriage?
My parents have stuck together for 27 years, so I text my mom the question.
Her response: “Trust! Laughter! Compromise! Spending time together! Good conversation! Support! Emotional support!” (Yes, all of those exclamation points are necessary, apparently.)
Some would perhaps add that “spark” (which I refuse to discuss with my mother) and maybe even God — or similar religious beliefs. I’d add similar political views because after this election… yikes. Conscientiousness is also a good one.
And an adequate income would be nice, right?
What People Say is the Key to a Good Marriage
What about just helping out around the house?
My mom has always been the stay-at-home type, so she cleaned the house, did laundry, put food on the table, maintained our yard… and more.
I swear the most my parents argued about when I was growing up (to my knowledge, at least) is housework. And apparently, they aren’t the only ones.
A recent Pew Research report illuminated the trend: “More than half of married U.S. adults (56%) — both with and without children — say sharing household chores is ‘very important’ to a successful marriage.”
This might not seem surprising, but it is when you consider what the Pew study shows is not as important:
- Adequate income
- Shared religious beliefs
- Having children
- Agreement about politics.
While 46% of Americans say, yes, you need to bring home some bacon (not literally, but that would be nice, too), 61% say it’s more important to share household chores.
In fact, chores rank right up alongside “satisfying sexual relationship” at 63% and “having shared interests” at 66%.
What do I conclude from this? For all you singles: Update your Tinder profile to include, “Interested in those who do housework, cook, etc.” Delete “Looking for a wealthy banker, lawyer, etc.” But be sure to ask the important financial questions.
And for all you married folks: Perhaps worry less about your bank account and more about the dust bunnies rolling through your house.
Your Turn: Do you agree? Is doing chores more important than providing a sturdy income?
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. She prefers doing laundry instead of dishes.
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If Your iPhone 6s Turns Off for No Reason, Apple Might Fix It for Free
As if cell phones weren’t grouchy enough lately (I’m looking at you, Samsung Galaxy Note 7), they seem to be throwing users for yet another loop.
Recently, some iPhone 6s owners have reported their phones shut down for no apparent reason, which would definitely be annoying if it happened while you were trying to take a selfie. Seriously, good lighting is hard to come by. You usually only get one chance for that perfect shot.
Has your iPhone 6s shut down unexpectedly? If so, you might be eligible for a free battery replacement.
Here’s how to check.
Head to Apple’s Website
Apple’s statement explains that the bug only affects “a very small number” of devices and is not a safety issue (a.k.a, it won’t explode or catch fire).
Only devices manufactured between September and October 2015 with a limited serial number range were impacted.
Not sure when your phone was made? Just head here on Apple’s website and enter your serial number to find out if your phone is eligible.
And yes, for those of us who aren’t so tech-savvy, the website walks you through step-by-step directions to find your serial number.
If your phone is affected, all you’ll have to do is head to an authorized Apple service provider or retail store, or contact Apple Technical Support, to have your battery replaced for free.
Sounds to me like we can all return to uninterrupted selfie sessions soon!
Your Turn: Does your iPhone 6s turn off unexpectedly? Are you eligible for a free battery replacement?
Kelly Smith is a junior writer and engagement specialist at The Penny Hoarder and a senior at The University of Tampa. Her phone hasn’t exploded or randomly shut off, so she’s good.
The post If Your iPhone 6s Turns Off for No Reason, Apple Might Fix It for Free appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Happy National Cookie Day! Here are 7 Places to Get Free and Cheap Cookies
Hey, you! Yeah, you. Ready for the best news of your day?
Unless someone is proposing to you tonight, or that meeting with your boss is about you finally getting a raise, here it is:
This Sunday is National Cookie Day!
That’s right. This Sunday, Dec. 4, is National Cookie Day.
That means free cookies!
Wanna score your free sugar fix? Here’s where you can get ‘em while they’re hot (or take them home and microwave them).
1. Great American Cookies
While last year every Great American Cookies was offering free regular chocolate chip cookies, this year it’s by location only, so be sure to contact the one closest to you before heading in.
Not sure where that might be?
Enter your ZIP code or city on the company’s website to find the location nearest you.
2. Insomnia Cookies
College students, rejoice — your favorite late-night indulgence will get you a free traditional cookie this Sunday!
That’s right, you get to choose between M&M, sugar, double chocolate chunk, double chocolate mint cookies and many more for this sweet freebie.
Make any purchase in-store or online to get your freebie — delivery minimums still stand, though.
3. Whole Foods
It’s not quite free — but what did you expect from this Gucci-level grocer?
Grab a 25-cent chocolate chip cookie when you drop by Whole Foods to grab your quinoa and ground bison through Dec. 6.
4. Schlotzsky’s Deli:
The delicious deli will give away free cookies and do some good for our service members and their families.
Stop by a Schlotzsky’s Deli on Dec. 4 and grab your free small cookie with any purchase. If you can’t make it in, you can also tweet a cookie emoji to @Schlotzskys to receive a free cookie coupon via the company’s reward app, Lotz4Me. Just make sure you download it and make an account to redeem your free cookie!
Additionally, the company will give out 1,000 free cookies at United Service Organizations airport centers in the following cities: Phoenix, Denver, Houston, Atlanta and San Antonio.
If you’re already a Lotz4Me rewards member, you can also receive a free small sandwich if you try all four of Schlotzsky’s Big “S” cookie flavors in the month of December.
5. Pei Wei
When you think of Asian food, you don’t typically think of chocolate chunk cookies, but Pei Wei’s got ‘em and it wants to give you one for free on Sunday.
All you have to do is order a small or regular entree, or a kid’s meal, and Pei Wei will satisfy your cookie craving.
6. Hot Box Cookies — Columbia, MO; St. Louis, MO; Lawrence, KS
Hot Box ups the ante by giving away two free chocolate chippers on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Just follow one of its social channels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat. Then, just craft a post — no particular topic necessary, according to the Hot Box Cookies Facebook page — and tag the company in it to get your freebie.
7. ROCS Local Markets and Subways
If you live near one of these West Virginia-based convenience stores, snag a free cookie on the day after National Cookie Day, Dec. 5, all day long — but only if you prove you’re really in the holiday spirit.
You’ll have to sing a slightly altered version of “Jingle Bells” at the register. Cookies are totally worth the slight embarrassment, though, right?
Your Turn: Which of these free cookies will you gobble up on Sunday? Are there deals any we missed? Let us know in the comments!
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.
Kelly Smith is a junior writer and engagement specialist at The Penny Hoarder and a senior at The University of Tampa. She contributed to this post.
The post Happy National Cookie Day! Here are 7 Places to Get Free and Cheap Cookies appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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The Ultimate Blueprint for a High-Converting Longform Blog Post
You know the saying “content is king,” right?
Well, there’s a new king in town, and its name is longform content.
Like you, I was skeptical about longform content at first. “Nobody wants to read 4,000 words,” I thought.
I was dead wrong.
Because longform content rocks. It seems intimidating at first, but the benefits are insane.
Need proof? Back in 2012, I ran an A/B test on my site Crazy Egg. I tested the regular homepage against a shorter version. And the longer version converted 30% higher than the short version.
Longform worked better in 2012, and it still works better today.
Need more proof? Longform blog posts get more social shares and have a higher average Google rank.
Convinced? Awesome! Now onto the good stuff—creating the content that converts.
For most of us, creating the content is usually the hard part. If you’re used to writing 400-word blog posts, writing 4,000+ seems impossible. But it’s totally possible. And I’ll show you how.
Look no further: This is the ultimate blueprint to creating a high-converting longform blog post.
1. Know your audience
You will get absolutely nowhere if you don’t consider your audience first and foremost.
It seems obvious, right? But many bloggers get this wrong. They post irrelevant content and then scratch their heads, wondering why the content didn’t do well.
Even if you put out awesome content, it’ll be worthless if your readers don’t love it. You need to find out what your readers want and make it happen.
But how do you get the scoop on your readers?
One of the best ways to get to know your readers is by surveying them. You can send out a mass survey or schedule calls with a few readers to find out exactly what your audience wants.
Next, check out your comments section. Read through each comment, and really listen to what your readers have to say. You’ll likely find that certain types of posts tend to have more comments.
And don’t forget to check your social metrics. Which articles have been shared or retweeted?
Last but not least, I’ll share one of my favorite tools for getting into your readers’ minds: Google Analytics.
Google Analytics (GA) can reveal a lot about your readers. You can find out where your readers are from and what their interests are. Every blogger needs to know and use GA.
2. Choose relevant ideas
Once you’ve understood your readers’ needs, you have to meet those needs with your content. And that means coming up with relevant ideas.
Here’s the catch: Coming up with ideas is hard. You want something fresh that will excite your readers, but it’s all been done before, right?
Don’t worry—it’s easier than it seems.
First, take a look at the data you’ve collected from your readers. What kinds of topics are most popular with them? That’s the ballpark you want to be in.
Let’s say you have a fitness blog and you see that articles about food get the most attention. That’s your starting point. From there, you can narrow it down.
For example, if GA Interests tells you that your readers are interested in apartment living, you might write an article called “5 Apartment Workouts That Won’t Wake the Neighbors.” You’re delivering exactly what your readers want.
But there are tons of ways to get ideas. One time-tested trick is to use BuzzSumo to find trending articles. Let’s apply that to our example of apartment workouts:
Now you’ve got some insight into what your competitors are doing and what’s working for them.
3. Make the content crazy good
You knew going into this that the actual content of your blog posts is important.
And when you’re dealing with longform posts, the quality of the content will make or break the experience.
If you can’t hook your readers and keep them interested, you’ll lose them because no one’s going to read thousands of words if the content is boring them to tears.
How do you keep your readers entertained that long?
There’s one trick to this: Strive to provide enormous value with every word you write.
If you’re constantly aiming at providing value, your writing will be more targeted. And that’s always a good thing.
(It also wouldn’t hurt to brush up on your copywriting skills.)
I’ll be the first to admit that you can focus on providing value and still struggle with writing great content.
Thankfully, there are other techniques you can use:
Aim to use short paragraphs, subheadings, and lots of images. This will help readers move through the post more quickly, increasing the likelihood that they’ll finish reading.
Check out this post from Buffer:
Subheadings are particularly important for longform content. If your readers are scrolling through your post and see paragraph after paragraph after paragraph, they’ll get tired. Fast.
Make sure your readers always know where they are in your post. Use subheadings as mile markers to remind your readers of the topic at hand.
And you absolutely have to include research. Your readers want to be sure that what you’re saying is backed by data. Posts that include real-life examples and case studies perform better than data-free posts.
Don’t skip over this step! Your article content plays a crucial role in conversion. If your content doesn’t wow people, do you think they’ll want to give you their emails? (Spoiler alert: they won’t.)
4. Offer something special
If you’ve written a spectacular longform blog post, you’ll hook your readers. But it doesn’t end there: you have to give them somewhere to go next.
Don’t get me wrong—there’s a ton of longform content that performs extremely well without offering anything. (Quick Sprout’s Advanced Guide to Content Marketing is just one example.)
But we’re talking about writing high-converting longform blog posts. And while you can get good conversion rates without offering a gift, they won’t be as good.
Think about it. Your first-time readers just finished your 3,000-word post. They loved it, and they want more. If they see a free offer from you, you can bet they’ll take it.
That’s because once you’ve built up authority with your audience, you’re in the position to offer a trade: something extremely valuable for nothing more than an email address. It’s a win-win.
This technique—giving away something on a blog post—is called a content upgrade. Your offer raises the bar and gives readers something even better than the blog post itself.
Brian Dean from Backlinko is a huge fan of content upgrades. In fact, he was one of the pioneers of the content upgrade approach.
He even uses a content upgrade on his post about content upgrades:
See what he’s doing? He’s offering his readers something valuable that builds on the information in the blog post. In this case, it’s a checklist.
When Brian implemented content upgrades, he got an unbelievable 785% in conversions. (Nope, that’s not a typo.)
That’s the power of the content upgrade.
But you need to create the perfect content upgrade. It needs to be relevant, valuable, and helpful.
This is where all that data we talked about earlier comes in. Remember that apartment workout example we used? Our hypothetical fitness blog has readers who are also interested in apartment living (according to GA).
Content upgrades let you go a step further. An article called “5 Apartment Workouts That Won’t Wake the Neighbors” is good, but offering a bonus infographic showing the five workouts, step by step, is even better.
Here’s another great example from Bryan Harris at Videofruit. I love this content upgrade because it’s so relevant.
It’s already valuable, but then Bryan ends the article with this:
Are you kidding me? Templates and source code? That’s a one-two punch that creates a humongous amount of additional value.
As you can see, content upgrades work best when they’re super relevant to the topic at hand. Give your readers actionable advice they can use today.
5. Share it
I see that sometimes people focus on the “content” part of content marketing too much.
But your awesome blog post won’t do anything if it’s sitting on your site collecting dust. It needs to be shared.
The first step is to promote the article on all your social networks. (Here are some of my favorite tools for getting more social shares.)
But you don’t have to stop there. You can find influencers in your niche and reach out to them with your article.
A popular method of reaching out to blogs is to find broken links, alert the blog owners, and nicely ask them to share your article. Brian Dean calls this the “Moving Man Method.”
This worked extremely well for Backlinko reader Richard Marriot, who saw a 348% traffic increase in a week. He sent out emails like this:
And this was the result:
This isn’t hot air—this is stuff that works for real people. And it’ll work for you too.
Conclusion
If you do it right, longform blog posts can become one of the highest converting parts of your site.
But that requires paying serious attention to it. You can’t stop blogging, and you can’t let the quality of your posts go down.
That said, if you put in the work, you’ll see your conversion rates soar. I know that because that’s what happened to me and tons of other bloggers.
People love longform content when it’s super valuable to them.
So, go out there and create longform blog posts that will blow your readers away.
What are your favorite tricks for creating awesome longform blog posts?
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Shoney’s Hot Fudge Cake Day is Coming! Here’s When to Get Free Dessert
Looking for a down-home helping of comfort food between those big, fancy winter meals you’re making?
If you live in the American South, you’re in luck: Shoney’s is celebrating a holiday this December that might just eclipse Christmas. (Well, almost.)
As its website proclaims, “Hot fudge cake day is coming!” Um… yes, please.
And you guessed right: Shoney’s is serving up the delicious dessert totally free.
Here’s When to Nab a Free Dessert From Shoney’s
Lots of menus describe their items as “world famous,” but in the case of Shoney’s hot fudge cake, it might actually be deserved.
Two fudgy slices of cake sandwich a serving of cool, sweet vanilla ice cream — and it’s all topped with a generous helping of fudge sauce, whipped cream and, of course, a cherry.
Want to try the concoction free of charge? Just head to your local Shoney’s on Dec. 6, smile and say, “Please.”
No purchase is necessary, per a rep’s Facebook comment… but don’t forget to tip your server, even if you don’t order anything else!
Your Turn: Will you celebrate Hot Fudge Cake Day?
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 Shoney’s Hot Fudge Cake Day is Coming! Here’s When to Get Free Dessert appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Planning Ahead for Extended Leave, Financially and Professionally
Quite often, when the topic of extended leave from one’s career comes up, it’s in the context of having children. People often want to spend a few years at home with their children when they’re young, returning to the workforce when the children are entering their school years, or even continuing to stay at home and providing a homeschooling environment.
That’s one big reason for such leave, but there’s another reason as well. Some people want to take a period of extended leave to build a business or chase other creative pursuits, while still others simply want an extended break.
My cousin and her husband, who I’ll call “Nina” and “Craig,” plan ahead often for extended breaks. Multiple times over the past two decades, Nina and Craig have taken time off from their careers to go on adventures. One time, they walked the length of the Continental Divide. Another time, they walked the length of the Appalachian Trail. Yet another time, they set off on a cross-country bicycling adventure. Each time, they planned ahead for the excursion, left their current positions on the best possible terms, spent a year or so on their adventure, and then went back to their regular lives afterwards.
At the same time, one of my closest friends, who I’ll call “Kevin,” walked away from his career for a two-year break during which he hoped to launch a woodworking business. During his spare time, he had developed a plan for this business, and he made financial choices along the way so that he could spend two years either making or breaking that business. Unfortunately, his business didn’t take off like he hoped and he’s back in his previous career path.
When I left my own previous career in 2008, I didn’t know whether it was going to be for an extended leave or whether it was a permanent change. I left on great terms, giving my boss plenty of notice and setting up as much documentation and information as I could before I left (I literally created a “wiki” of my work practices). I intended to spend that time focused on my family, but in the margins of that time I intended to keep building up The Simple Dollar. In a few years, it became clear that I had built something stable enough with The Simple Dollar that it could effectively become my career for a while.
What do each of these cases have in common? They all involve people choosing to take extended breaks from their career to try something different, and there are a lot of specific elements that they have in common, too, if you look closely. Here are some of the strategies that all of these stories have in common.
Build a Very Clear Budget
When you make the decision to move forward with an extended leave at some point in the future, your first step should be to build a very clear budget so that you know what this will cost. Like it or not, that’s going to add up to a lot of money. This is not a cheap proposition. Here are some things to think about while planning.
How much will you need to live on during this period? What is your true monthly cost of living? Furthermore, what money will you need to support whatever it is that you plan on working on? You can start by looking at your average monthly spending right now, then multiplying that by the length of your intended leave.
How will you pay for things like health insurance? Make absolutely sure that you’re covering irregular bills as well as the expenses that are currently covered by your employer. Walk through all of those expenses and know what you’re going to need to cover.
What about an emergency fund, so that an unexpected event doesn’t destroy all of your plans? Unexpected things are going to happen. Make sure that all but the worst events don’t derail your plans. You do that by having some significant flexibility in your budget, which means saving extra money that serves as an emergency fund.
Live Well Below Your Means While Preparing
The savings for this plan is going to have to come from somewhere, and the way you’re going to be able to build it up is by living well below your means as you prepare for the extended leave. If you can find ways to cut, say, 50% of your living expenses, then you’re suddenly able to save 50% of your take home pay.
Try all kinds of frugal strategies, even ones that seem kind of extreme. Completely cut the cord when it comes to television service. Eat all of your meals at home and take leftovers to work. Buy store-brand everything. Use mass transit to get to and from work and sell off a car if you can. Move to a smaller home or apartment. There are many strategies you can use here.
The more frugal strategies that stick, the lower your savings goal becomes as well. Remember, whenever you permanently lower your living expenses, that means that your savings goal becomes lower, too, because you’ve reduced the cost of each month that you’re trying to cover.
Have a Plan for Your Time, Too
While you’re getting your finances in order and saving up for this big idea you have, start thinking about how you’re going to spend your time, too. It’s very tempting, once you’ve taken a burden off of your shoulders, to just idle for a while, and that idling can turn into a long term pattern. If you take an extended leave and do nothing of value with it, what was the point?
If you’re going to start a business, develop a thorough business plan. Don’t just think about it. Write it. Revise it. Find mentors that will look at it and give you suggestions. A business plan is there to help you think through all of the potential pitfalls of a business idea, so take it seriously. It’s your blueprint.
If you’re going to chase a creative endeavor, treat it like “work.” Make sure that you’re planning to spend a lot of time every day on that creative endeavor. Plan those days out now. Even better, start practicing your skills now in your spare time. Make drawings, write short stories, write some code – whatever it is that you want to do, start honing the underlying talent.
If you’re going on an adventure, plan at least the framework of that adventure. When will you leave? How long will it actually take (with some extra time thrown in to handle unexpected events)? What will you actually need on this adventure? What preparatory steps will you need to take to pull it off? Make a packing list. Make a timeline of things you need to take care of. Do the thinking now so you can jump right into the “doing” later.
Don’t Burn Bridges; Do Everything You Can to Leave Them Intact
This is probably the most important principle behind all of these stories. When you step away from your current career path for an extended break, don’t burn bridges. Do everything you possibly can to step away in the most positive fashion possible.
Give plenty of notice. Don’t just show up, drop a two week notice on someone’s desk, and then stroll out the door. That will almost always harbor negative feelings. Instead, when you give notice, give plenty of lead time so that the process for finding a replacement is as clear as possible.
Document your work. Make sure that you have thoroughly documented your work as much as you possibly can, so that someone else who comes in to replace you can pick up the threads easily. Make sure to show all of this documentation to your supervisor so that they’re aware that you took many steps to make the transition smooth.
Maintain positive relationships. Even if you’re frustrated by workplace relationships, take an extra effort to make sure that they remain positive during your final months and weeks at work. Don’t leave with an angry rant against anyone, even if you feel it’s justified. Be positive with everyone in your final days. Then, try to maintain some of those relationships even after you leave, even if it’s just through social media.
Make Sure You Have a Clear Path to Return
This is the flipside of the “don’t burn bridges” strategy. You want to make sure that the door is open to your return, so take those steps now as you’re thinking about leaving.
Talk to your supervisor about the prospect of returning at the end of your timeframe. What would you need to do to maximize the chances of that return? What small steps can you take now to make it possible? What about a few steps even while you’re gone?
Don’t let your knowledge completely atrophy while you’re gone. Spend at least a little time each week keeping up to date on the changes in your field. What new things are coming down the pike that you need to be aware of? Things will change while you’re away.
Maintain those connections. One great way of doing this is to start a blog or an Instagram about your adventure and share it with your old coworkers and supervisors. This keeps you as a real presence in their lives. Tag them in your posts sometimes and respond to any comments that they leave. If you remain at least somewhat on their radar, your return will seem much more plausible for everyone.
Final Thoughts
Walking away from your career in the middle of the journey can seem as scary as possible, but if you plan for that departure carefully, don’t burn your bridges, and keep the door open for a return, you’ll find that your adventure will have a much greater chance of giving you life-changing results while still keeping a bit of a safety net in place.
Good luck in wherever your adventures may take you!
Related Articles:
- Why Retirement Is Out and Financial Independence Is In
- 50 Side Businesses You Can Start On Your Own
- The Freedom to Quit Your Job
The post Planning Ahead for Extended Leave, Financially and Professionally appeared first on The Simple Dollar.
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These 3 Trades are Growing Like Crazy and Pay $21+/Hour (No College Needed)
School not your thing? Good news: You don’t have to go to college to get a decent job.
In fact, if you’d rather not gain the freshman 15, there are other avenues to take — ones that won’t saddle you with oodles of student debt.
CareerBuilder included three such avenues in its report on the “hottest jobs for 2017.” All the jobs pay well, have grown faster than the overall labor market over the past four years, and have a “critical mass” of jobs.
Most of them, however, required a LOT of school. So I pulled out three that didn’t, and have highlighted them below.
3 Good Jobs That Don’t Require a College Degree
In the “skill trades” occupation category, CareerBuilder offered three titles as examples: electrician, plumber and HVAC technician.
Before you click away because these jobs aren’t your idea of glamorous, take a look at the average hourly earnings: $21.38, according to CareerBuilder.
Even better, these careers are growing: More than a million new jobs have been created over the past four years.
And the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) backs it up. Here’s what it has to say about…
Electricians: median salary of $24.94 per hour, or $51,880 per year, and an expected growth rate of 14% over the next eight years.
Plumbers: median salary of $24.34 per hour, or $50,620 per year, and an expected growth rate of 12% over the next eight years.
HVAC Technicians: median salary of $21.69 per hour, or $45,110 per year, and an expected growth rate of 14% over the next eight years.
Rather than sitting in a classroom, these careers usually require you to get on-the-job training through a multi-year (paid!) apprenticeship.
So if you’re looking to start or change your career, remember college isn’t the only answer.
Sometimes, learning a skill — rather than taking some statistics course you’ll probably never use again — might be the smarter choice.
Your Turn: Have you ever considered learning a skilled trade?
Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget. Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.
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Deal of the week: American Express Shop Small
American Express card members will be rewarded for spending with smaller local retailers this Christmas.
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Inflation fears hitting UK households
Over half (55%) of UK households are worried about the rising cost of food, following the vote to leave the European Union.
The research from Scottish Friendly also found that a quarter of young adults (18-24) spend more than their income on essential expenditure, compared to one in six 25-34 years olds. Only 9% of over-55s find themselves in the same position.
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Landlords set up companies to best tax hikes
Many landlords are preparing for government tax changes by placing their property portfolios within limited companies, a new study has revealed.
Kent Reliance’s Buy to Let Britain report suggests that investors have sought secure mortgages through limited companies or have put up rents to mitigate higher tax costs.
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Don’t Wait Til You Turn 65: 19 Senior Discounts That Start Early
Is 50 the new 65? When it comes to saving money, it can be.
Many companies offer senior discounts on everything from restaurant meals to clothing purchases and more. And a number of them start offering these deals long before you turn the magical senior discount age of 65.
Youth has its advantages, and some of us don’t want to be considered “senior” before our time.
But when it comes to your budget, why not take advantage of any available discounts for seniors? Don’t let pride or a label come between you and extra cash in your bank account!
How to Get Senior Discounts
For some senior discounts, you’ll just need to whip out your photo ID to prove your age. For others, you might need to sign up for a free store membership program; this usually only takes a minute or two.
If the discount isn’t offered right away, don’t be shy — ask! Even if a business doesn’t advertise a senior discount, smile and ask anyway. You just might get one.
For example, while I was verifying senior discounts for this post, a customer service representative told me his company didn’t have a senior discount but he might be able to get me one anyway.
Make Sure Your Location Honors Senior Discounts
Many businesses are franchises, different locations might offer different discounts or age requirements. You can always call ahead to verify your local location’s policy.
And don’t forget to consider all available discounts. Other savings, such as online deals and buy-one, get-one-free specials, could offer bigger savings than the senior discount — or you might be able to stack them with your discount.
Senior Discounts at 50
1. Kmart: The company’s GoldK program offers up to 20% off prescriptions for members ages 50 and up.
2. Banana Republic: Most locations offer 10% off in-store purchases.
3. Bealls Department Stores: Club 50 Plus members get 20% off their purchases on the first Tuesday of every month at any store. This deal excludes Clinique, Estee Lauder and gift card purchases. The company operates stores in 38 states.
4. Alamo Rent A Car: The company offers 10% off and unlimited mileage at the rental counter at all airport locations, according to an email from the corporate headquarters.
Senior Discounts at 55
5. IHOP Restaurants: The 55+ menu is about 10% off regular menu prices.
6. Ross: The store offers shoppers ages 55 and up 10% off every Tuesday, staff explained by phone.
7. Walgreens: Get 20% off purchases on the first Tuesday of every month once you enroll in the free Balance Rewards program, staff told us by phone. Sign up in stores or over the phone.
8. Best Western: Seniors ages 55 and up get a minimum of 10% off at hotels and resorts worldwide. You’ll need to prove your age when you check in.
9. Ponderosa Steakhouse: Some locations offer a senior menu, though age requirements can vary. For example, customers ages 55 and up get a free drink and save 10% on all entrees in Kissimmee, Florida, Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Senior Discounts at 60
10. Kohl’s: Shoppers 60 and up get 15% off every Wednesday.
11. Golden Corral: The senior buffet will save you about 50 cents off regular menu prices, but the real savings come from the early bird special, where guests 60 and up can enjoy the buffet between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday to Saturday, for only $7.59 — drinks included.
12. Ryan’s Restaurant: The senior buffet price is about 10% off regular menu prices from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., staff explained by phone. Your meal comes with a beverage.
13. Radisson Hotels: Seniors ages 60 and up enjoy 10% to 15% off best available rates, depending on location, staff explained by phone.
14. Choice Hotels: Senior guests save up to 10% on advance reservations booked by phone.
15. AMC Theaters: Ticket prices and discounts vary by location, staff explained by phone. For example, seniors save about 8% in Destin, Florida, depending on showtimes.
16. Regal Entertainment Group: Ticket prices and discounts vary per location. For example, guests 60 and up save 8% to 10% in Miami, depending on the time of the show.
17. Cici’s Pizza: “Many of our stores do offer discounts,” states the company’s website, though age requirement may vary per location. For example, seniors ages 62 and up save $3 on their orders in Orlando, Florida.
AARP Discounts
AARP membership can be an affordable way for the 50-and-up group to save on all sorts of experiences. Membership costs $16 a year, though AARP occasionally offers a half-price yearly membership.
Many businesses accept AARP, and for quite a few, AARP membership is the only way to get a senior discount.
You can also check out the deals and benefits before joining by visiting its website or signing up for emails about its offers. While you’ll find lots of deals on the website, here are a couple of examples:
18. Denny’s: AARP members get 15% off menu prices at all times.
19. Target Optical: AARP members save up to 60% on eye exams and 30% on eyeglasses.
Your Turn: Have you scored any senior discounts before turning 65? What are your favorites?
Mary Sincovec is the author of published fiction and a lifelong writer. She has been a software quality assurance engineer, an ESL/EFL instructor, and currently tutors students in academic writing. A love of writing and helping people prompted her to contribute to The Penny Hoarder.
The post Don’t Wait Til You Turn 65: 19 Senior Discounts That Start Early appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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How to Get a Cheap Rental Car
For most people, the vacation planning hierarchy goes flight, hotel, then vehicle. But don’t treat your car rental as an afterthought — knowing your needs and conducting a little online research could save you a lot of money.
“You don’t want to pay for services you don’t want or need because you don’t understand them,” said Neil Abrams, president of Abrams Consulting Group, which focuses on the car rental industry. By following our tips below, you won’t get taken for a ride on your next rental car purchase.
First, decide whether you really need a rental car
If you’re traveling to a major city like New York, Boston, or Chicago, you could be fine riding the rails, hailing taxis, or taking a Lyft or Uber. A seven-day MetroCard is good for unlimited subway and bus trips in New York, and only costs $31. As an added bonus, you don’t have to navigate gridlock traffic in an unfamiliar town or pay to park downtown.
Aggregate, don’t procrastinate
If you’ve determined that a rental car is the way to go, start by searching the aggregator sites for perspective. Hipmunk and Kayak compare prices from many different sites and are often the cheapest way to rent a car. If anything, it’ll give you a good baseline to start with.
Darkness, your old friend
Similarly, opaque sites like Hotwire or Priceline — where you may know the price before booking, but not the company — negotiate for “stressed inventory,” according to Abrams. “If a rental company knows that a particular vehicle is not going to be rented on a particular date, time, and location, they’ll off-sell it at a net-rate deal to one of these opaque channels.”
Pay up front
Budget offers as much as 35% off your rental if you pay when you book your car instead of when you pick it up. A quick search on Budget.com and Avis.com for cars at Los Angeles International Airport returned a 10% to 15% discount if you use the “Pay Now” option. That said, their “Pay Now” prices were about the same as Alamo’s normal price.
Check your credit cards
The Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard®, and Discover it® Miles cards all offer excellent sign-up bonuses and waived annual fees for the first year, and you can book a discounted rate directly from your credit card dashboard online.
Also, many people overlook their credit card’s rental car insurance options – look into your cards’ policies and use the best one to pay for the rental. “Understand what services come with [your credit card], because each offers different types of auto rental insurance,” Abrams said.
Bundle up
Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia… all the big sites offer discounts when you package your vacation, so be prepared to book your car at the same time as your flight if you see a good deal. For instance, booking a flight, hotel, and car through Expedia for a weeklong trip to Orlando netted a $191 savings on the car rental when compared to the agency’s website. Don’t forget to look at airline and hotel and credit card sites, too, which also promote bundled discounts.
Get your off brand on
Sites like CarRentals.com (owned by Expedia) and CarRentalExpress.com include local and smaller national chains in their search. Don’t be afraid of Ace, Fox, Payless, or other agencies with which you may not be familiar. “There are three companies that own the eight major brands that control 95% of the industry,” Abrams said. That said, don’t expect off brands to always be on target: We searched for a compact rental from O’Hare Airport and found CarRentals.com was about $20 more expensive than Priceline.
When in Rome…
If you’re traveling to Europe, check out MyTripCar.com, an online rental upstart that promises “honest car rentals” by analyzing fees, waiting times, and credit card holds. Don’t be afraid to search for locally owned companies, too, such as Dan Dooley Car Rentals in Ireland.
Join the club
Big-box stores such as BJ’s and Costco both have their own car-rental affiliate programs, AAA has an exclusive partnership with Hertz, even college alma mater programs and the AARP can save you money. If you’ve paid your dues for the year, check to see if you can get some of that money back with a cheap car rental through your affiliation.
- Related: Is AAA Worth It?
Sharing saves
Look for a ZipCar or Enterprise CarShare program close by. Car share options are great if you only need a vehicle here and there during your trip. However, make sure there’s a drop spot nearby, because you don’t want to eat into your savings by taking a taxi to your rental.
Peer-to-peer options
Operating in over 4,500 cities and over 300 airports, Turo is the Airbnb of car rental — basically, you rent a car from a person instead of a company. Formerly known as RelayRides, Turo boasts a 35% savings over traditional agency prices and offers $1 million worth of insurance per trip. We live in exciting times.
How to get a cheap rental car: Where the rubber hits the road
In addition to using the “Pay Now” option, there are a number of other ways to save money once you commit to your car rental:
- If you can, avoid renting at the airport: With the exception of Manhattan, rates — and fees — are almost always lower when you rent a car in town rather than at the airport. If the price difference between an airport and city rental is more than a roundtrip taxi or subway ride from the airport, the savings might be worth the hassle.
- If you can, book on a weekend: Enterprise, for example, offers $9.99 daily rates Friday through Monday at participating locations.
- Weekly rates may be better than daily ones: Sometimes it makes sense to rent a car for five days even if you only need it for three.
- Check your insurance: Your primary car insurance may have you covered. Also Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover all offer at least secondary car rental insurance if you pay for the car with your card. Remember, too, that selecting the agency insurance could actually invalidate insurance you already have through your credit card.
- Never mind the bells and whistles: Rental car companies make a lot of their money on the add-ons they try to sell you at the counter. “Too often you have people buying the protection packages, what we call LDW—Loss Damage Waiver. They’ll buy navigation systems, which they don’t really need. The margins for rental companies are greater on those product lines than on the car itself,” Abrams said.
- Fill up your own tank: While we’re on the subject, fuel plans at agencies are outrageously expensive. You’ll save big-time if you gas up yourself at a nearby station before returning the car.
Related Articles
- Best Credit Cards With Rental Car Insurance
- Thoughts on Vacation Souvenirs – and Eight Smart Alternatives to Overpriced Tourist Items
- Why I’ll Never Feel Bad About My Vacation Spending
- 10 Hidden Costs That Can Derail Your Budget Travel Plans
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Annuity rates on the rise, up 10% over three months
A pronounced recovery in gilt yields, coupled with greater levels of competition, have led to a bounce in annuity rates over the past three months.
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Five pound note inventor calls vegetarians "stupid" for making a fuss
The drama around the use of animal fat in the five pound note continues, with the inventor of the new polymer note saying that all of the recent fuss is “stupid”.
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