Got an Email Address? These 93+ Companies Will Give You Free Stuff

Who doesn’t love free stuff?

The age of Internet advertising means freebies are all around you, from food to beauty supply samples to boat trips (yes, seriously).

Marketers want to get their names and products in your inbox. And they’re often willing to give away a little something-something in return for that precious email address of yours.

So we raked the Internet to find some of the best freebies you can get by signing up for companies’ newsletters.

Pssst — can’t stand the inbox bloat?

You can still take advantage of many of these freebies: Just sign up, grab the coupon offer inside and unsubscribe from future advertisements.

Food and Snacks

From appetizers to entrees, these restaurants have enough freebies to keep your tummy full and your wallet happy.

1. Einstein Bagels: Free bagel and shmear — and a free bagel on your birthday — when you sign up for The Shmear Society
2.  IHOP: Free stack of Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity Pancakes at sign-up, each anniversary of the sign-up, and also on your birthday when you join the Pancake Revolution
3. First Watch: Buy one, get one free offer when you sign up for the Sun eClub
4. Ruby Tuesday: Free appetizer when you join its So Connected email club
5. Longhorn: Free appetizer when you purchase an adult entree for subscribing to its eClub
6. Friday’s: Get a free appetizer or dessert when you join its Give Me More Stripes newsletter
7. Olive Garden: Free appetizer when you purchase two entrees
8. California Pizza Kitchen: Free small plate when you join its Pizza Dough reward club
9. Joe’s Crab Shack: Free appetizer when you join Joe’s Catch E-Club
10. Texas Roadhouse: Free appetizer and birthday offer when you join its email club
11. Moe’s: Free queso when you join Moe’s eWorld
12. Applebee’s: Get a free birthday special when you sign up for its newsletter
13. Spaghetti Warehouse: This one’s a twofer! Get a free appetizer (and a free meal on your birthday) when you join the Warehouse Club email list, and a free Brownie Sundae Supreme when you join the Text Club!
14. Red Lobster: Free appetizer or dessert with two adult entrée purchases when you join the Fresh Catch Club
15. Mi Abuelo’s: Free entrée with the purchase of a regular-price entrée and two drinks, along with a points system and other special offers on your birthday
16. Del Taco: Two free tacos when you join the Raving Fan eClub and a free shake on your birthday
17. Rubio’s: Free taco when you join the Beach Club
18. Taco Cabana: Free fajita taco when you join TC Fanatics
    
19. Arby’s: Sign up for Arby’s newsletter to get a free roast beef sandwich when you purchase a drink
20. Johnny Rocket’s: Join the Rocket eClub for a free burger with the purchase of an entree and drink — and on your birthday
21. Denny’s: Join its Loyalty Program and enjoy a free Grand Slam on your birthday when you show your ID
22. Firehouse Subs: Download its mobile app for rewards and enjoy a free sub on your birthday when you show your ID
23. Benihana: Earn a $30 gift certificate during your birth month when you join Chef’s Table
24. Houlihan’s: Get $10 off your next visit, plus a free meal on your birthday when you join its email club
25. Buca di Beppo: Get free pasta when you join its eClub
26. Sbarro: Get a free slice when you join the Slice Society Email Club
27. Zaxby’s: Free Meal Deal when you join, and then a free Nibbler on your birthday when you join the Zax Club
28. Baker’s Square: Sign up for its eClub to receive a free entree when you purchase another entrée and two drinks
29. Culver’s: This eClub will get you a free Value Basket when you purchase another Value Basket
30. Red Robin: Free burger on your birthday when you sign up for Red Robin Rewards
31. Bennigan’s: BOGO entrée when you join its e-club, as well as a free dessert on your birthday
32. Uno’s: Get a free birthday offer when you sign up for Uno’s eClub
33. Auntie Anne’s: Free pretzel after first purchase when you download its Pretzel Perks app
34. Pizza Hut: Free cheese sticks with your next order when you join Hut Lovers
35. Qdoba: Get a free order of chips and salsa or a regular drink when you sign up for Qdoba Rewards
36. Bojangles: Get a free cheddar biscuit with any purchase and a coupon for a free berry biscuit on your birthday when you join the Bojangles’ eClub
37. Wingstop: Get a free order of fries for signing up for Wingstop’s newsletters
38. Chili’s: When you sign up for MyRewards, you’ll earn 60 points, which Chili’s says is enough for your first free menu item
39. Earl of Sandwich: Get $5 off your next purchase when you sign up for the Royalty Club
40. Firehouse: Get a free large drink with next purchase when you sign up for Firehouse Rewards
41. Hardee’s: Get a free small fry and beverage with the purchase of any Thickburger when you sign up for Hardee’s email list
42. Waffle House: Become a Waffle House Regular to get a free order of hashbrowns
43. Steak ‘n Shake: You’ll get a free menu item on your birthday when you join Steak ‘n Shake’s eClub
44. Alien Fresh Jerky: Get a free jerky sample — just for giving your email address to Alien Fresh
45. Don Pablo’s: Get free nachos and a $10 voucher on your birthday when you join the Habaneros Club
46. Captain D’s: Get a coupon to enjoy a free dessert once a month with the purchase of a regular price meal
47. Marie Callender’s: Subscribe to the newsletter and get 20% off your next dine-in purchase

Dessert

What’s a meal without dessert? Here’s where to get a little sugar without spending any cheese.

48. Sprinkles Cupcakes: Get a free cupcake on sign-up… and on your birthday!
49. Panera: Join MyPanera Rewards to earn a free pastry or Sweet Welcome Reward
50. Krispy Kreme: Download the app and sign up to score a free half dozen donuts — and a free donut on your birthday
51. Great American Cookie: Get a free cookie with regular cookie purchase when you join the CookiE-mail list — and a free cookie on your birthday, too
52. Village Inn: Get a free slice of pie with an adult entree purchase when you join VI’s eClub
53. Black Angus: Free dessert for joining the Prime Club and a free steak dinner on your first birthday as a member
54. Cracker Barrel: Sign up for its newsletter to score a free dessert on your birthday
55. Big Boy: Big Boy’s eClub will get you a free dessert on your birthday
56. Macaroni Grill: Get a free dessert on your birthday when you join the email club
57. Jack in the Box: Get a free dessert on your birthday
58. Cinnabon: Join Club Cinnabon to get a free Minibon
59. Corner Bakery Café: When you sign up for eCafe, you’ll get a free cookie
60. Barnes and Noble Kids’ Club: Your kid will get a free cupcake and more on her birthday when you join the Kids’ Club
61. BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse: Get a free mini Pizookie (a fresh-baked cookie topped with ice cream and, yes, it’s as good as it sounds) when you sign up for BJ’s Premier Rewards Program
62. Melting Pot: Get a free box of chocolate-covered strawberries when you spend $60 (which is easy to do there!)
63. Godiva Rewards: Get free chocolate every month when you sign up!

Ice Cream

If you stand between me and my ice cream, you’re looking to get knocked over.

Fortunately, these ice cream freebies mean nobody gets hurt.

64. Friendly’s: You’ll earn a free scoop on your next visit, and then a 25% off coupon — not to mention a sundae on your birthday!
65. Dairy Queen: Buy one Blizzard, get one free — and get a free Blizzard on your birthday, too!
66. Cold Stone: Join the My Cold Stone Club to get a Buy One Get One coupon and a birthday offer
67. Carvel: Subscribe for a buy one get one free coupon
68. Menchie’s: You’ll get 25 free smiles — rewards points — when you sign up
69. Pinkberry: Download its app to earn rewards and get a free small yogurt on your birthday
70. Marble Slab: Free ice cream when you sign up for its Rewards program
71. Orange Julius: Join the Julius League for a BOGO drink coupon
72. Baskin Robbins: Sign up for the Birthday Club to get a free birthday scoop
73. Dippin’ Dots: You’ll get free Dippin’ Dots on your birthday when you join the Dot Crazy! Rewards Club
74. Rita’s: Join the Birthday Club for a free birthday treat (Italian Ice)
75. Maggie Moo’s: Get a birthday freebie when you subscribe

Coffee

Raise a glass to the beverage that keeps us all sane and (mostly) civil in the early morning hours!

76. Caribou Coffee: You get a free medium drink when you join Caribou Perks, the shop’s reward club
77. Au Bon Pain: When you join this eClub, you get a free travel mug!
78. Dunkin Donuts: DD’s rewards program gets you a free beverage at sign-up, on your birthday and every time you rack up 200 points
79. Dunn Brothers Coffee: Get a free cup of coffee or half off a prepared beverage for joining
80. Starbucks: Get a free drink on your birthday — and free food and beverages every 10 purchases
81. IKEA: Get coffee on the house, as well as price protection and the chance to win a $100 gift card, when you join IKEA Family

Other Freebies

Now that you’re not hangry anymore, you can take care of other business. Here are some of our favorite non-food newsletter sign-up freebies.

Samples and Supplies

Need some shampoo? Maybe a sticker that might save Sassy’s life?

Here are some freebies you can get just for signing up.

82. ASPCA: It’ll send you a free Pet Safety Pack of stickers to put on your window so first responders know your pets are inside
83. Pantene: Get free samples and promotional materials for hair care products when you sign up for Pantene’s mailing list Free Samples
84. L’Oréal Paris: Subscribe to this newsletter, and you’ll get a free shampoo tailored to your hair’s needs.
85. Sephora: Beauty Insiders get a free gift on their birthday — and it’s usually a pretty nice one!
86. BareMinerals: Get a personalized birthday freebie when you sign up for its newsletter.

Ecourses

Ecourses are an awesome way to learn more about something… and these ecourses will help you earn and save lots of extra pennies.

87. Femtrepreneur: Get a free “Build a Profitable Blog” ecourse when you sign up for Femtrepreneur’s newsletter
88. Braid: It’ll send you a creative branding ecourse sample to get your freelance or small business off the ground
89. Tiny House Build: Just supply your email address for a free seven-day ecourse on building tiny houses that covers everything from insulation to home storage.

Movies and Events

Hey — you’ve got to live a little! Here’s some free entertainment.

90. Redbox: Join the Text Club to get free Redbox movies every month
91. Movie Tavern: Get free popcorn when you become a Movie Tavern member, and a free movie ticket on your birthday!
92. Barnum and Bailey: Children under 12 months old get a free circus ticket when you sign up for Baby’s First Circus
93. Catalina Express: If you happen to be in southern California, you can get a free trip to Catalina Island on your birthday when you give the company your email address

Percentages Off Your Next Purchase

If you’re in the market for some new clothing, kitchenware or lettuce, you don’t have to spend full price!

Here are vendors that will give you percentages off your next purchase in exchange for your email address.

Clothing

Get everything from free shipping to 30% off when you sign up for these store newsletters.

1. The Children’s Place: Get $10 off your next purchase when you sign up
2. Williams-Sonoma: You’ll get 15% off and free shipping on your next order
3. TJ Maxx: Free Shipping on your next purchase when you sign up for its newsletter
4. Old Navy: You’ll score 30% off next purchase when you sign up for its newsletter
5. Gap: This company will give you 25% off your first purchase when you sign up for its emails
6. Aeropostale: Sign up to get 20% off your first purchase

Food

Save on your next food purchase with these companies.

7. Quiznos: You’ll get a coupon for $1 off when you sign up for the QClub
8. Boston Market: Join the VIP Club to get $3 off your next purchase of $10 or more
9. Maggiano’s: Sign up to get $10 off your next visit
10. Smashburger: Get $2 off your next purchase of $5 or more
11. OrganicGirl: Join the OrganicGirl elist to get a coupon for $1 off any OrganicGirl product

Other Stuff

Here are a host of other businesses that will give you discounts when you trade in your email address.

12. Buy Buy Baby: Follow the popup prompt to get 20% discount off one item when you sign up for its newsletter
13. Pyrex: When you give Pyrex your email address, you’ll score 20% off your next order
14. Crate and Barrel: Get 10% off your next purchase when you sign up for its newsletters
15. Bed, Bath and Beyond: Get a 20% off coupon when you get connected with Bed, Bath & Beyond
16. World Market: Become a World Market Explorer to get 15% off your next purchase
17. Origins: Sign up for its email list to get 15% off first order
18. Joann Fabrics: Sign up to get 20% off your next purchase in store or online

Your Turn: Will you take advantage of any of these newsletter freebies or discounts? Let us know in the comments!

Jamie Cattanach is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She also writes other stuff, like wine reviews and poems — you can read along at http://ift.tt/1RiB7sH.

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Is Your Job Bad for Your Relationship? 15 Careers With the Highest Divorce Rates

When you’re looking for a job, you likely consider whether the work is interesting, how much it pays and its benefits.

But have you ever thought about the effect your work might have on your relationship with your significant other? Or the impact of your partner’s job on your relationship?

Some jobs seem naturally more likely to cause friction. For example, you might guess that high-stress jobs are bad for relationships, but that’s not always the case. Firefighter, military personnel and airline pilot all show up on Forbes list of the most stressful jobs of 2016, but do not appear on the Statista list of the 15 jobs with the highest divorce rate.

So what are the careers with the highest divorce rates? You probably won’t be surprised by the first few.

1. Dancers and Choreographers

This category tops the list, with a divorce rate of 43.05%.

Of course, dancing can be romantic and intimate. The environment and practice sessions seem to affect even those who are new to dancing. Consider the many confirmed hookups that have happened between contestants on the reality show “Dancing With the Stars.”

2. Bartenders

This is perhaps the least surprising profession on the list. After all, how does a bartender get the best tips, apart from providing excellent service? Flirting comes to mind.

The divorce rate for bartenders is 38.43%.

3. Massage Therapists

Who did you touch today? Even if it isn’t asked, it’s a question that might be on your spouse’s mind when you walk through the door after a long day as a massage therapist.

Clients often develop a crush on their massage therapists, and sometimes try to date them, massage therapist Daniel Reinisch told Glamour. He mentioned one marriage that resulted from a work relationship, and he said of a massage therapist friend who has many female clients, “…it would be ludicrous to deny his attraction to all these women…”

The divorce rate for massage therapists: 38.22%.

4. and 5. Casino Workers

When I worked as a blackjack dealer, it was difficult to keep track of who was dating whose wife or husband, and who was breaking up or getting together. The environment is one of gambling and partying, perhaps making it conducive to risky behavior.

Gaming service workers have a 31.35% divorce rate, according to Statista. Cage workers (cashiers and money counters) have an even higher divorce rate (34.66%), so maybe the problem is money. Is it a dangerous aphrodisiac?

Other Jobs With High Divorce Rates

Some of the jobs on the Statista list are surprising. For example, why would extruding machine operators have a divorce rate of 32.74%, landing at sixth on the list?

And who would have guessed that factory workers would get the No. 7 spot, with a divorce rate of 29.78%?

Here are the rest of the 15 professions that might negatively impact your relationships, along with their divorce rates:

8. Telephone operators: 29.30%
9. Nursing, psychiatric and home health aides: 28.95%
10. Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers: 28.49%
11. Baggage porters and concierges: 28.49%
12. Telemarketers: 28.10%
13. Waiters/waitresses: 27.12%
14. Roofers: 26.85%
15. Maids and housekeeping cleaners: 26.38%

The only surprise with entertainers is that they’re not higher on the list. How many people could be truly comfortable with all the kisses and bed time other people get from their movie actor spouses, even if it is just for the camera?

But roofers? Why are they on the list? Do they come home too tired to contribute to the relationship?

Whatever the explanations are, at least you know you may have to work extra hard on that relationship if you or your significant other is a roofer, telemarketer or porter.

And Now the Good News

Some professions seem to be good for a relationship, or at least not bad for it.

If you want to make a relationship last, look for someone in one of these professions with low divorce rates. Marry an agricultural engineer, for example. Their divorce rate is an amazingly low 1.78%.

Here are some other professions to consider, along with their divorce rates:

• Nuclear engineers: 7.29%
• Podiatrists: 6.81%
• Sales engineers: 6.61%
• Clergy: 5.61%
• Transit and railroad police: 5.26%
• Optometrists: 4.01%

Your Turn: Do you think your job has a negative or positive effect on your relationship?

Steve Gillman is the author of “101 Weird Ways to Make Money” and creator of EveryWayToMakeMoney.com. He’s been a repo-man, walking stick carver, search engine evaluator, house flipper, tram driver, process server, mock juror, and roulette croupier, but of more than 100 ways he has made money, writing is his favorite (so far).

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Here’s How I Make an Extra $200/Month on Etsy — Without Making Anything

Unless you’re a crafter or vintage item dealer, you’ve probably never considered selling on Etsy.

Traditionally, items sold on Etsy have to be either handmade or vintage. But if you sell tools or supplies to make things, neither of those requirements apply.

I made an extra $200 last month selling needlecraft patterns, kits and supplies on Etsy — and my numbers are growing every month.

Here’s what I’ve learned, so you can do the same.

Figure Out How to Sell on Etsy By Finding Your Niche

Cross-stitch is a hobby of mine, but selling completed cross-stitch projects isn’t a moneymaker.

Why?

When you consider how long it takes to finish one piece, you’ll never be able to earn a decent hourly rate.

However, because I love to cross-stitch and am active in needlecrafting social media communities, I know the types of kits and patterns needlecrafters want.

I regularly shop at local thrift stores, purchasing kits and patterns for a few bucks each.

Then I mark them up anywhere from 400% to 1,200% and sell them in my Etsy shop. I opened my shop in August and had earned more than $600 by the end of December.

Needlecraft kits and patterns are rarely expensive at thrift shops. In fact, I seem to have little (if any) competition for them. Most of the kits I find are from the 1970s or 80s and still sealed in the original packaging.

Needlecraft is enjoying a renaissance right now.

When an older person passes away, family members see a stash of old needlecraft supplies, assume it’s junk and toss it in a donation box.

Some of it is junk, but some are vintage or out-of-print patterns and can be sold for anywhere from $20 to $100. Not a bad markup for something I typically buy for less than a dollar!

Buy Cheap

Needlecraft patterns and kits already are inexpensive at thrift stores.

But to make the biggest profit, I’m a bargain shopper — even when I’m thrifting.

I know which stores near me have half-off days. I also sign up for their email lists or follow them on Facebook to regularly receive 20% coupons.

Get to know your local stores so you’ll know how to get the best deal.

How to List Your Products on Etsy

Etsy charges 20 cents to list an item for four months. Plus, it gets 3.5% of the selling price, which is pretty competitive compared to Amazon and eBay seller fees.

Etsy is a big marketplace, so if you want buyers to find your items, there are a few things you’ll need to do.

Post Good Photos with Your Etsy Listings

When people shop online, they can’t pick up the item to feel its materials and textures.

Etsy listings allow you to add up to five photos per listing. Use them all — and take the best, well-lit photos you can.

Etsy has several articles about taking killer photos in its seller handbook.

Before you take the photo, spend a few minutes cleaning up the item. Remove sticker residue and any dust.

Use Photoshop to brighten the photos a bit. Be honest about the condition of the item, but present it in the best light possible.

Write Great Descriptions for Your Listings

Again, your customers can’t inspect products in person, so your description should tell a story, as well as provide useful information.

Buyers want to know the stitch count, size of the finished project and the materials required. If there’s an interesting story behind the design, share that, too!

Use Effective Keywords

Etsy gives you space for thirteen keywords.

Use them all.

Don’t just use generic keywords like “cross-stitch” or “needlecraft.” An Etsy search for the term “cross-stitch” reveals nearly 160,000 products.

Think of a term someone would use to find your specific product.

If you’re selling a vintage car needlework kit, use “vintage car cross-stitch.” A search for that term leads to fewer than 100 products for the buyer to explore. That’s much more manageable.

Share, Share, Share

Unless you’re a cross-stitch lover, you’d never know about the huge cross-stitch community on Instagram. I set up an account specific to my Etsy shop and regularly share projects I’m working on, as well as interesting pieces I’ve listed for sale.

I definitely see a spike in Etsy shop views when I post photos of the kits I’m listing. I also pin new listings to Pinterest and share them on Twitter.

I’ve even had people send me private messages, letting me know what kinds of kits they’re looking for so I can keep an eye out while I’m thrifting.

How Much Can You Make If You Sell on Etsy?

The average needlecraft kit may sell for between $8 and $15, but I often come across rare, vintage kits and patterns that sell for $25 or more.

My shop’s sales started out pretty modest, but as I’ve added items to my shop and gained social media followers, my sales have grown steadily each month.

I’m not going to be able to quit my day job any time soon, but I‘ve been able to make a profit from something I love doing, and it doesn’t get better than that.

Your Turn: Will you start an Etsy shop for your craft hobby?

Janet Berry-Johnson is a Certified Public Accountant and a freelance writer. Her work has appeared on Scottsdale Moms Blog, Forbes and BonBon Break.

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From Rags to Riches to Rags Again: 21 Lottery Winners Who Lost Everything

When I was a repo man, one of my more unusual assignments was repossessing a Cadillac from a recent $1 million lottery winner.

While investigating to determine where the vehicle was hidden, I learned that when the annual lottery checks arrived she quickly spent them partying, leaving her without enough to make her car payments. One night, I drove her car away while she slept.

It’s tough to say how often lottery wins have happier endings. Given the many national lotteries around the world and the 44 state lotteries in the U.S., there have probably been thousands of $1 million-plus winners, and some of them must responsibly manage their winnings.

But sadly, some lottery winners lose it all very quickly.

It’s too easy to find one tragic real-life case after another. Here are 21 of the worst. And what if you win big in the lottery someday? What mistakes should you avoid? The lessons are pretty clear, and they’re right there in the stories if you pay attention.

1. A Typical Story?

Lisa Arcand won $1 million in the Massachusetts lottery in 2004. She bought a house and went on vacations like many winners.

Of course, a million dollars isn’t much after taxes, so she also opened a restaurant to make some additional income. Sadly, within a few years she ran out of money and closed the failing restaurant. In 2007, she said of her lottery experience, “Actually, it’s been very depressing.”

2. From Millionaire to Factory Worker

Michael Carroll was a garbage man in England when, at age 19, he won £9.7 million (about $14.4 million at the time) in the lottery in 2002. A mansion, drugs and gold jewelry ate up the money quickly.

By 2012, Carroll was broke and living off unemployment checks. Now he works on an assembly line in a cookie factory, making £204 (about $300) per week.

3. Party Down… and Down, and Down

Gerald Muswagon, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, won $10 million in 1998. He bought cars for friends and family, and made his new house into a “party pad.”

Eventually, he’d spent all his money and he took a minimum-wage job to support his six children and his girlfriend. In 2005, just seven years after his big win, he took his own life.

4. Generous to a Fault

Janite Lee won $18 million in 1993. Although her gambling habit reportedly cost her more than $300,000 per year, she may have spent more on charitable and political donations. Her generosity included $1 million for Washington University to build a new library. In 2001, she filed for bankruptcy.

5. Millionaire or Murderer?

Willie Hurt won $3.1 million in the Michigan lottery in 1989. The money didn’t last long. Within two years Hurt wrecked his marriage, lost custody of his kids and was charged with attempted murder. He spent his winnings on his divorce and drugs, according to his attorney.

6. Big Winner Goes Deep in Debt

Suzanne Mullins won $4.2 million in 1993 in the Virginia lottery. She split the prize with her husband and was supposed to receive 20 annual after-tax payments of $47,778.

But when money got tight, she borrowed from a company that lends cash to lottery winners. In 2000, the lottery rules changed, allowing Mullins to collect the rest of her money all at once. She apparently spent the money rather than pay back what she owed to the lottery lender, and in 2004 a court ruled she still owed the company $154,147.

7. $31 Million Gone in Two Years

Billie Bob Harrell Jr. won $31 million in the Lotto Texas game in 1997, and he no longer had to stock shelves at Home Depot.

He bought a ranch and a few homes, gave money to his church and made loans to friends. Everyone wanted a piece of his money, and soon his marriage was in trouble as he lent and spent all of his winnings. In 1999, less than two years after his big win, Harrell took his own life.

8. Big Spending

Sharon Tirabassi, of Hamilton, Ontario, won $10.5 million in 2004. She treated friends to vacations in Cancun, Las Vegas, California, Florida and the Caribbean. She got married and bought a house for $515,000 — and got a $360,000 mortgage loan rather than paying all cash. She bought numerous cars, including one that cost more than $200,000, and gave millions of dollars to family and friends.

By 2007, half of her money was gone. By 2008, with her husband in jail for a DUI, Tiribassi lost their home. Now, to pay the rent and support her kids, she takes the bus to her part-time job.

9. Living for the Moment

Lou Eisenberg won $5 million in 1981, which at the time was the largest lottery win ever. After taxes, he received payments of $120,000 annually for 20 years. He bought a condo in Florida, took trips to Europe and Hawaii, and gambled. He also gave cash to whoever he figured needed it. Of his spending, he says, “I lived for the day.”

Shortly after cashing his last check in 2001, Eisenberg was broke. Now 81 years old, he lives in a mobile home on social security and pension income that amounts to about $1,000 a month.

10. Elderly Lottery Winner Looking for a Job

Vivian Nicholson, of Castleford, England, won £152,300 in 1961, the equivalent of about £3 million today ($4.5 million). She famously vowed to “spend, spend, spend!” She bought expensive designer dresses, vacations, and a new car every six months.

By the 1970s, Nicholson was broke. In 1998, she received money from “Spend, Spend, Spend,” a musical about her life, and spent it all quickly. By 2007, at age 71, she was living on a pension of £87 weekly ($131), and was looking for a job. After sending out 25 resumes, she still hadn’t found one.

11. Karmic Lottery Loss

Denise Rossi won $1.3 million in the California Lottery in 1996. But instead of telling her husband of 25 years — who thought they were happily married — she asked for a divorce, and said she wanted it done quickly.

Soon after the divorce, Rossi’s ex-husband discovered her deception. In 1999, a judge determined that she had broken asset disclosure laws, and he awarded her husband every penny of her winnings.

12. “Nightmares”

William “Bud” Post won $16.2 million in 1993, and five years later said, “Everybody dreams of winning money, but nobody realizes the nightmares that come out of the woodwork, or the problems.”

Post’s brother tried to hire someone to kill him and his wife. A landlady forced him to give her a third of his winnings. He was convicted of assault for firing a shotgun at a bill collector, and for passing bad checks. He declared bankruptcy. When Post died in 2006, he left behind little or nothing for his seventh wife and the nine children he had with his sixth wife.

13. Killed for His Money?

Urooj Khan won $1 million in the Illinois lottery in 2012, and opted for the lump-sum payout of $424,500 instead of annual payments. He planned to use the money to expand his dry-cleaning business.

Sadly, Khan died less than a month after winning, the day after his check was mailed. While his death was ruled natural at first, a test later revealed that he had been poisoned with cyanide. The police have not named a suspect, and a subsequent autopsy revealed nothing more.

14. Another Lottery Winner Poisoned

Ibi Roncailoli won a $5 million Lotto prize in 1991, in Ontario, Canada. Soon afterward, she gave $2 million of her winnings to a child she had secretly had with a man who was not her husband.

When her husband, gynecologist Joseph Roncailoli, discovered the truth, he poisoned his wife. He went to jail for manslaughter, but not before reportedly asking Ibi’s family for help in paying for her funeral.

15. Two Lottery Wins, Very Little Money

Evelyn Adams won the New Jersey lottery twice, in 2005 and 2006, collecting $5.4 million in total. Spending sprees, bad investments, gifts to family and a gambling habit all helped her get rid of the money quickly.

16. Defrauded by a Friend

Marva Wilson won $2 million in the Missouri lottery in 2012. Freya Pearson, whom Marva considered a friend, tricked her into giving Pearson unrestricted access to her bank account.

Pearson used the money to travel, gamble and buy cars and an apartment, spending more than $640,000 of Wilson’s winnings. Just two years after cashing in her winning ticket, Wilson was broke.

17. Tax Fraud and Other Problems

Alex Toth won $13 million in the Florida lottery in 1990. He lived well for a few years, then went broke, split up with his wife, got in trouble for filing false tax returns and spent some time in a mental institution. He avoided going to trial for the tax fraud charges by dying, penniless, at age 60 in 2008.

18. Yet Another Lottery Divorce

Lara and Robert Griffith won £1.8 million ($2.7 million) in the Lotto in 2005. They bought a home for £670,000 ($1 million), along with a Lexus 4×4 and a Porsche convertible. Robert paid for his band to have a record made, and Lara splurged on designer handbags. They set up a beauty salon business.

Then, six years later, Roger disappeared with the Porsche and Lara discovered suspicious emails on his computer. He denied having an affair, but the marriage ended, the money was gone and now Lara is an employee at the salon they used to own.

19. Too Young to Win?

Callie Rogers is perhaps the youngest big lottery winner. At age 16, she won £1.9million ($2.9 million) in 2003. Her winnings went toward cosmetic surgery, drugs and partying. She says she attempted suicide three times.

Now married and a mother of three, she has only £2,000 ($3,000) left in the bank, but says she is finally happy. She says of the experience, “I was too young to win the lottery — I don’t think 16-year-olds should be eligible.”

20. A $27 Million Spending Spree

David Lee Edwards split a $280 million Powerball jackpot with three others, a win that came while he was unemployed and living in his parents’ basement. After taxes, he received a lump sum of $27 million. He bought a $600,000 house, a $1 million fleet of cars, a $78,000 watch, a $1.9 million jet, 200 swords and other medieval weapons, and a $4.5 million fiber-optics installation company. He also married a woman 19 years younger than he was.

Within a year, he had spent $12 million. The house was soon lost to foreclosure, his wife was arrested for stabbing a boyfriend, and David died at age 58 in 2013.

21. A Millionaire Wins the Lottery

Jack Whittaker was already a millionaire when, on Christmas of 2002, he won $314.9 million, the biggest single-person lottery win in history. He opted for a lump-sum payment, which after taxes, left him with $93 million. His contracting business, which employed over 100 people, provided a great living, but his humble lifestyle meant few people knew how much he made. The lottery winnings were apparently a different kind of income.

Whittaker spent money at strip clubs and casinos. He gave millions to charities. His habit of leaving cash in his car resulted in thefts of $545,000 one time and $100,000 another, and his house was robbed. He showered gifts and cash on his beloved 16-year-old granddaughter, who spent much of the money on drugs. A year later, she was found, apparently murdered.

Whittaker rarely speaks to the press now, and some reports say he is broke. When asked if life was easier before his big win, he said, “Yeah, it was a lot easier then.”

Your Turn: What would you do if you won a big lottery prize? Do you think you would be better off than these winners after ten or fifteen years?

Steve Gillman is the author of, “101 Weird Ways to Make Money” and creator of EveryWayToMakeMoney.com. Of the more than 100 ways he has personally made money, writing is his favorite (so far).

The post From Rags to Riches to Rags Again: 21 Lottery Winners Who Lost Everything appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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The Beginner’s Guide to Optimizing for Bing Search

On the surface, it doesn’t appear Bing gets much search traffic, but when you consider it also powers Yahoo, you start realizing that perhaps optimizing for Bing isn’t such a bad idea.

Here’s what Bing and Yahoo’s search traffic looks like compared to Google’s:

Although even combined, they still represent a fraction of Google’s search traffic, that’s still a large audience that should be catered to.

Optimizing for Bing differs a little bit from optimizing for Google. The companies use different proprietary algorithms to produce results, and each weighs various factors differently.

Because Google is the largest search engine on the planet, most SEO guides focus specifically on how to rank for Google. This guide is meant to get you started with the competition, both Bing and Yahoo, which are powered by Bing’s search engine.

1. Claim your business

Just like on Google, you need to claim your business on both Bing and Yahoo to maximize local search results.

To do this, you need to visit Bing Places for Business and create or claim ownership over your business listing.

Yahoo’s local business search results utilize Bing’s business listings instead of its own, which show up as local business listings on a site called Yext. Eric Shanfelt does a great job explaining the complicated business structure Yahoo employs to deliver local business listings here—if you’re interested.

Still, you can register on Yext, instructions for which are included in Shanfelt’s blog.

Once you’ve registered your business with Bing, you’ll need to register your website the same way you did when registering it with Google, by indexing your site.

2. Get your site indexed

Since Bing is now in the driver’s seat, Bing’s Webmaster Tools replaced Yahoo Webmaster Tools, so you have to submit your site to only one place for both search engines.

Here’s what it looks like:

First, you need to create a Bing login. You can use your Outlook (Hotmail if you’re grandfathered in from those days) or Microsoft login to do that.

Then, you can visit the Bing Website Submission page and fill out the forms as shown above to submit your website.

You’ll also need the URL address for the XML sitemap of your site.

Then, you need to verify ownership by copying and pasting the provided code into the proper section of WordPress.

Like anything Microsoft, Bing has an extensive set of instructions on how to do this on the Bing website.

Once you have everything registered, you should be indexed within a few minutes and start noticing traffic trickling in by the end of the year.

3. Tag and categorize your site

Like with any other search engine, tags and categories help make your content discoverable to the right audiences for the right searches.

WordPress makes adding tags and categories easy for each post and page created. These vital labels tell both robotic algorithms and human readers what to expect from the post, much like a title or header would.

Here’s what WordPress’s Tags and Categories look like:

Both the slug and description of a tag help further explain the content’s purpose. These are signals used in sitemaps to identify sections. It’s helpful for search engines to identify content in order to deliver appropriate ad experiences through their platforms.

Of all the SEO tips and tricks, tags and categories are the most important as they give the overall picture of what your website is really about. Without them, bounce rates go up and organic search traffic goes down.

4. Use SEO keywords in proper context

The usage of relevant keywords has proven an important search ranking factor in search engines across the board, and Bing is no different. Here’s a chart of how Bing and Google compare to each other when it comes to keywords:

While factors such as internal links are less important in Bing than Google, relevant, contextual keywords are still vital. This is why blogging is one of the most widely used forms of content marketing in the business world today.

Hire a professional ghostwriter or copywriter to ensure each page of your website is fully optimized with marketing slogans and other ad copy that gives descriptive information around the keywords you want to focus on.

For example, in the vaping industry, you’d want to describe features of your mechanical mod boxes so search engines understand what traffic to send your way.

Bing’s algorithms, like Google’s, take the surrounding 5-7 words for each keyword along with its density within the content into account when determining search rankings. You can’t just spam “Vape vape vape vape” to rank for vape products.

You need to offer “ejuice, mods, wicks, tanks, and other accessories” to really make an impact.

5. Connect to social networks

Another method you should be using to help drive Bing search results is integrating social media into your SEO strategy. This merging of social media and SEO is practiced successfully by 74 percent of marketing departments already.

To link social media accounts to WordPress, you need the Jetpack plugin, which is typically installed by default in managed WordPress sites hosted by providers such as GoDaddy. But it can also be installed manually. Search for it in WordPress plugins or find it on the WordPress website.

With Jetpack installed, you can link your social media accounts—Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Tumblr, and more—to your blog to ensure every post is automatically promoted on those sites with backlinks.

Here’s what it looks like:

Marketers often debate the importance of social signals in search engine rankings, despite the fact that several studies showed they do affect search results.

In Bing specifically, results viewed by your Facebook friends will often be featured in SERPs.

Whether or not it specifically helps Bing search results doesn’t matter. Why? Because social networks have large audiences you need to be in front of anyway.

Here’s a breakdown of the number of active social media users on each social platform:

Whether you use social media marketing for improving your search results or not, understanding that these two aspects of your online presence go hand-in-hand is the most important takeaway.

6. Avoid black-hat techniques

As you well know, there are black-hat and white-hat SEO techniques. Black-hat techniques are tactics that, while may work, violate the search engine’s terms of usage and can get your website banned. White-hat techniques both work and follow the rules.

Don’t use black-hat SEO techniques on Bing as it’s not worth the risk.

These include keyword spamming, creating fake sites, and more. Here’s a chart of black-hat SEO tactics to avoid:

These black-hat SEO techniques may sound like a good idea on paper, but they’re not sustainable. JC Penney was infamously removed from Google temporarily after being found using black-hat techniques by the NY Times.

Bing is no different. If your site is found to be using black-hat SEO, there’s a good chance you’ll be removed from the index and lose all the time and effort you put into building your rankings.

On Bing, this removal is especially problematic as the age of a website is a ranking factor that isn’t weighed heavily on Google. Sites that stay up longer are more likely to have results presented at the top of Bing SERPs, so a ban can be detrimental to Bing searches.

7. Feature great content

According to Search Engine Land, using a search engine is the most popular first action a customer takes before making a web-based purchase.

If you want to be featured in those results, you’ll need great content to draw organic search traffic.

Bing especially looks at content quality, which is defined as authority, utility, and presentation. All web content needs to satisfy this trifecta to have a fighting chance to be the top Bing search result.

Content is king online, and to reign supreme on Bing, you need quality content to satisfy its strict requirements.

As laid out by Buffer, the ideal blog length is 1,600 words, which takes the average person about 7 minutes to digest and move on.

Each blog post you create for your website needs to be approximately 1,600 words of quality content to maximize your chances on Bing and Yahoo. This means it has to be well-researched, well-sourced, and well-cited, and it needs to include lots of great images.

If the quality of your content isn’t up to this standard, you’re basically wasting your time as you’re unlikely to rank well on Bing.

Conclusion

Although they may not draw the online traffic of Google, Bing and Yahoo combined are still a powerful search option used by people around the world.

Reaching this demographic requires focusing on contextual keywords and proper formatting. Users of Yahoo and Bing have been found to be more educated and make more money, so it’s the perfect place for businesses to reach their audiences.

Unlike Google, Bing traffic is more heavily influenced by Facebook, contextual keywords, and ad-free experiences. Site age is another important factor, so it can take time to build traffic on the search engine.

Have you had success ranking websites on Bing? What advanced strategies did you use to accomplish it?

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Should I Get a Second Job? Consider These Hidden Costs First

If you’re short on cash and long on bills, getting a second job probably seems like the best solution. You put in a few extra hours each week and earn some extra cash… how hard could it be?

About 5% of Americans have a second job. We’re having it all, right?!

But making a considerable income from a second job is tougher than it sounds, not just in terms of your body and mind, but when it comes to your wallet, too.

If you’re committing to hustling for that second paycheck, I commend you.

Here’s what to watch out for, and how to make your efforts worthwhile.

The Worst Part-Time Job I Ever Had

After graduating from college, I was lucky to get a full-time job with a decent salary — but it wasn’t enough to cover my car insurance, personal debt, student loans and my other costs, like rent and groceries.

The idea of paying the minimum on my debt for the next umpteen years made my stomach turn.

My roommate and I lived modestly, but I still felt desperate to take on a second job to close the gap between what I was making and what I needed to truly make ends meet.

I had retail experience, so I searched for clothing stores seeking sales associates. I was lucky to get an interview — and then a job offer — from a sister store of a chain I had already worked at in college. I would be folding solid-color T-shirts during all my nights and weekends.

My hourly rate was $9.25, which checks out with typical retail wages for the year 2009. I worked between 12 and 15 hours each week, usually three or four hours in the evening followed by one weekend shift of six to eight hours.

I earned a commission on some sales, but it took some time to actually see that cash on my paycheck — and if a customer returned their items, you lost your commission on that sale.

In a typical week, I worked 12 hours at my second job and earned $111 before taxes.

I earned bonuses less frequently than typical pay, but they averaged out to about $5 per paycheck because I was not good at upselling. They were also taxed separately, so I’m going to leave them out of the equation.

How All My Money From my Second Job Went Away (Sort Of)

Let’s subtract taxes!

In place of my pay stubs, which I’m sure I shredded about three moves ago, I used a take-home pay calculator. In 2009, I lived in Maryland and had one federal exemption as a single lady.

Social Security, Medicare and state income tax added up to $12.38 — so more than an hour of work went straight to taxes. My weekly gross pay of $111 turned into a net pay of $98.62 per week.

Let’s keep subtracting.

I had to drive to work, four miles each way. If I worked four days in one week, I drove a total of 32 miles.

Gas cost about $2.20 per gallon that summer and a gallon covered me for about 20 miles. This meant I spent an extra $3.52 at the pump each week to make sure I was covered for those trips.

I’m down to $95.10 for 12 hours of work.

Then there’s the food. When you’re working about 12 hours per day between two jobs, when do you have time to eat, let alone cook?

I relied on frozen microwave meals, at an average price of $3 each. I’d gobble down four of these each week for dinner, while leftovers and PB&J sandwiches made up my typical lunches.

$95.10 – $12 for easy meals = $83.10 earned per week.

Here’s Some Extra Spending I’m Not Proud of

Then there was my caffeine habit. I know, this isn’t a fun one to admit, because every money-saving book out there starts with cutting your latte habit.

But I had a weakness for Frappucinos. And during a long shift, a Frappucino really hit the spot.

Let’s subtract $8 per week for two trips to Starbucks, which I counted as a little perk that made my life better when I was feeling dead on my feet.

I’m down to $75.10 for 12 hours of work. That means I only actually profited $6.26 per hour from my second job.

Look, my life was still pretty easy. I went from my comfortable office job to my relatively calm retail job without having to ride public transit for an hour each way. I didn’t have to work crazy late-night shifts, or get asked to work late at the last minute.

It was tiresome, sure, but it was a routine I settled into well enough. That $75.10 added up, week after week, and the extra $300 I earned each month paid all the expenses for my car, from insurance to gas to tune-ups.

Wondering, “Should I Get a Second Job?”

If you’re feeling desperate and want to pick up a second (or third, or fourth) job, here are five practical tips for doing it right.

1. Get a Job as Close to Home as Possible

It might mean a less-cushy gig — maybe making movie theater popcorn instead of selling handbags — but a short commute will make juggling two jobs a lot less stressful.

Remember, you’ll need to leave your day job with extra time to battle rush-hour traffic.

2. Don’t Go Bonkers on Your Second-Job Wardrobe

An employee discount at your new job might be tempting, but you’d be better off stocking up on black pants and solid-color polo shirts at the thrift store.

If you’re required to wear a certain shirt or other uniform component, you may have to pay for it at work.

But if it’s a matter of wearing a certain kind of “regular” clothes you don’t already own, go the cheapest route you can.

3. Avoid “Money Leaks”

“Don’t squander your additional paycheck by adding in money leaks like extra meals out or runs to Starbucks to make up for added stress,” David Galloway explains on Lifehacker. Where was this guy to look over my shoulder in 2009?

“Sure, you might feel you deserve it, but you’re working multiple jobs to achieve a goal and these little money leaks add up to keep you away from becoming debt-free, buying a house or going into early retirement,” he writes.

4. Plan Ahead to Make the Most of Your Money

It might mean less time with your friends and more time in the kitchen on Sunday nights to prep meals for the week.

But any extra money you can avoid spending around your second job means more money in your pocket, even if it’s just a little bit.

5. Don’t Lose Your Mind

Looking at your schedule for the week or month might make you want to cry. You might actually cry.

But think of your second job as a short-term solution, not something you’ll have to do for the rest of your life.

Give yourself a time goal, whether it’s a year or three years, and then get out if you can afford it.

And then, figure out what you’ll do with all your free time.

Your Turn: Have you ever lost money working a second job? What are your tips for saving money while you’re moonlighting?

Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s always had at least two jobs. Old habits die hard.

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Questions About Re-enlistment, Social Investing, Lasagna, and More!

What’s inside? Here are the questions answered in today’s reader mailbag, boiled down to summaries of five or fewer words. Click on the number to jump straight down to the question.
1. Budgeting on non-monthly cycle
2. To re-enlist or not?
3. Socially aware investing
4. Credit card as emergency fund
5. Low salary offer
6. Endless road to better investments
7. Low interest loan payoff?
8. Staying with company long term
9. Cooking lasagna from frozen
10. Used camping gear
11. Borrowing money to invest
12. Lying about job to family

Most days when I am writing, our family dog is curled up right on top of my feet. He’s a little Yorkshire terrier and Maltese mix who is extremely playful during his waking hours but seems to sleep about sixteen to eighteen hours a day. During the day, when I’m working, he sleeps, but then he’s full of boundless energy in the afternoons.

I was very apprehensive about having a pet, but I agreed with my wife that it would be a good experience for our children, so we selected this little guy based on his reputation for being a great family dog. He’s been that and then some – the only complaint I have at all is that he likes to bark at other dogs when he sees them, to an almost comedic extent.

Plus, he has the added benefit of being very warm on my toes on a cold winter day.

Q1: Budgeting on non-monthly cycle

I am looking around for budgeting and home financial software to help simplify our households finances. However one of the largest problems I keep coming across is is there seems to be no “fit all” solution for us.

For starters, a little bit of information about how we currently handle budgeting. At this time our family (me, my life-mate, and our toddler) live on a single income. I am the only worker (software engineer for banking software funny enough) , but I make enough to support our entire household and still make savings for retirement and emergencies as well as our hobbies, etc. She has little interest in managing the overall finances and is fine with just knowing what we have available for general spending and obviously being kept in the loop and decision making of any large purchases. In the end we keep 2 sets of accounts, one primary checking/savings accounts that are used for the households expenses and bills and our overall savings for the household, and the other is for her own discretionary spending.

I would eventually like her to be more involved (or at least more aware) in the details of our household finances. But please make no mistake, she is financially conscious and knows her own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to spending. In part I recognize its why we carry the setup we have. I myself have a similar issue to her as when I see larger numbers its super tempting to just say “we have $X, we can afford Y frivious thing”. Which finally brings us about to how I currently have our budgeting set up.

Our checking account regularly carries 1 paycheck plus a small buffer plus any holdover for large bills/expenses (mortgage, cell phones, upcoming insurance, etc). On a general level we budget from paycheck to paycheck (moving savings and excess leftovers from previous paycheck on payday first), effectively tricking ourselves to acting like we are living paycheck to paycheck. I have attempted to do the whole “keep a months worth in checking and budget over the month”, but I find I always have less at the end of the month than I would otherwise. In other words it just doesn’t naturally flow for us. We find it easier to keep track of less fixed things (like groceries and gas) in more human immediate terms. leftovers in these categories usually wind up in savings come next payday or sometimes will be treated as a “small windfall” for a short term splurge depending on our overall needs and finances at the time.

However nearly all financial software that I have looked at so far operates on this basic concept. Budget for the whole month only. Those that allow interruption of this rule do so only on a day by day basis. In other words its harder to view our budgets in a paycheck to paycheck basis that works so well for us. At this time I’m using a spreadsheet, but I work in linux and my life-mate plays in windows (remember my overall goal is to make this stuff more accessible to her). We both use android phones, but neither feel comfortable tying any software to our bank accounts. I’m fine with importing data mind you.

Do you have any recommendations of software that already exists? I have contemplated writing it myself (as its well within my capacities to do), however that is a serious time sink. Not to mention distributing it at all while working for my current company would violate a non-compete disclosure and open me up to other issues (I’ve already discussed this with my employer).
– Stephen

The reason personal finance software generally operates in a monthly format is that the billing cycle of most companies is a monthly one. People receive monthly cell phone bills, internet bills, electric bills, credit card bills, and so on. If you operate on a non-monthly cycle, then those bills all become irregular bills.

In other words, the context of personal finance packages is on the handful of normal monthly bills people receive, not on the cycle of their paychecks.

There aren’t any software packages I know of that run on a non-monthly cycle for that reason. The closest I’ve found to non-monthly cycles is through using forecasting in software like Quicken and You Need a Budget. Forecasting basically allows you to input the repeating pattern of your bills and your income and so you can look at the approximate state of things moving forward.

Q2: To re-enlist or not?

A little background on me. I am 31, single and have served on active duty for 6 years. I grew up very modest and have never had a very good relationship with money. I have managed to save about 35K and have recently starting putting money into the TSP (about 6K). I love my job, but it is physically and mentally draining. My brain tells me to stick it out for the full 20 years to get to retirement, but i’m not sure my body is up to the challenge. I excercise regularly, but some days are so long that the energy to do anything physical outside of work just isn’t there. Additionally, if i left the military, i have no idea what i would do career wise. I kind of feel stuck. I have no debt (paid off 23K since enlisting) and have a dream of building a home in Texas one day. I guess what my question boils down to is… Is having a steady income to live comfortably worth physical and mental strain? I am facing the decision of re-enlistment soon and would love any advice or input from you.
– Jim

I’m of the belief that if your career path is bringing you so much daily misery that it overshadows the value of the destination, then you should consider a new career path. It sounds to me that your daily unhappiness is adding up to far more for you than the benefits of reaching the twenty year mark.

However, you shouldn’t change careers without some kind of a plan. What exactly would you do if you changed career paths? What would your new career be? What education would you need to get into that field? If you can’t come up with a good answer to those questions, you shouldn’t switch. You should never make a career leap into nothing.

So, my suggestion for you is to do some serious soul-searching before you have to re-enlist. Hit the library and pick up a copy of a good career guide like What Color Is Your Parachute? and see where it leads you. Take the exercises seriously. See if you can find something that clicks with your personality and skill set. If you can find something that matches you, then make a plan for switching to that career; if not, I’d probably just re-enlist.

Q3: Socially aware investing

I am fully invested with Vanguard, but I am troubled by their lack of socially responsible investment options. They have one only, a large cap fund that filters out guns, tobacco, and alcohol. But this leaves me profiting from companies that contribute to global warming. I am sick about it. There are many socially aware actively managed mutual funds, which are very expensive, tax inefficient, and sometimes have dubious socially aware filters and criteria. Can you weigh in on finding the balance between index investing and being socially responsible? I am a fan and I value your opinion.
– Kevin

There are a few major problems with the idea of socially aware investing.

First of all, the idea of socially aware investing means different things to different people. Do you consider it “socially aware” to invest in a health insurance company that doesn’t provide very good coverage for mental health conditions, even if their physical health is good? Some people wouldn’t worry about this, while others would. Is it “socially aware” to invest in a company whose primary profit motive is to encourage caffeine addiction in people?

Another big problem is in supply chains. Is it “socially aware” to invest in a company who has another company in its supply chain that has a history of chemical dumping? Sure, you might say that it’s not okay to do that, but how would you know what the behavior is of every single company in another company’s entire supply chain?

Issues like this go on and on and on. In short, I think it’s nearly impossible to find “ethically perfect” companies. Companies are collectives of individuals, and unless you completely agree with the ethics and values of everyone at that company that’s involved in decision making, that company is not going to be “perfect.”

In the end, I think that “socially aware investing” requires several things from an investor. It requires that you go through all of the social values that you hold and decide which ones are requirements for you to invest in. Then, you have to start evaluating individual companies, because it is very unlikely that you’re going to find a fund that filters things to match your particular set of values. The other option is to decide which values you’re willing to compromise on in terms of investing and then accept that a fund that matches your core values might compromise some of your secondary ones.

In other words, you either accept some compromises on your values and use a fund that’s made up of “ethically better than average” companies or else you do a ton of research on your own, invest in individual companies, and get closer to your values without ever quite getting there.

Q4: Credit card as emergency fund

Saw an article about emergency funds on your site. Why not just use a credit card and repay the bill quickly? Yea you’d have to pay back interest on a big emergency but then you wouldn’t be wasting money in savings.
– Charlie

The problem with this solution is that it doesn’t address credit card emergencies. What do you do in the case of identity theft? A lost or stolen wallet? A bank that decides to cut your credit limit at an inopportune moment?

Those situations leave you in a lurch where a credit card won’t save you.

In the end, cash is king. It solves problems that credit cards just can’t solve. Credit cards can handle a lot of emergencies, but there are quite a few emergencies where a card just isn’t going to help.

Q5: Low salary offer

I just graduated and received my first job offer in my field, which should be exciting except that the offer is for very low salary, even below the bottom of the range of normal salaries for my field in my area. While I can definitely make ends meet on this salary I am wondering whether I should ignore the offer or negotiate hard to get something in a range that’s in line with what my peers will be earning.
– Nate

Given that you’re an entry-level person in your field, I think it’s reasonable to be paid near the bottom end of the range of normal salaries upon your first job. However, outside the bottom of the bracket seems strange unless there are some extenuating circumstances.

Do you have a solid transcript? Is your field a competitive field? Is your employer one with a sterling reputation? Does this job offer a ton of opportunity for advancement? Those might be reasons to accept a bit lower salary than you otherwise would, but if those things are not true, then you should’t accept an offer outside the normal range.

What I would do is negotiate. Make a salary counteroffer that would put you in the lower end of the normal range and see how they respond to that. It’s likely that their offer does have some negotiating room, so take advantage of that and negotiate.

Q6: Endless road to better investments

I am a public educator and I work with a company for my 403b and a 457. I also work with another company for a Roth. (I am also trying to protect privacy. I don’t want to speak negatively about the financial companies or their representatives)

One company does not have a Roth and the other does not have a 457 thus the reason for working with both.

My question does not have to do with retirement readiness or questions as they pertain to how much one should invest, when to start, etc. I am a person who also tries to do research and reading on investing and I have read often about fees. I also try to take note of common themes or advice provided in the reading I do. One thing I often read (especially for someone like me) is to simply invest with Vanguard in index funds such as their target retirement fund years. The reading indicates that the fees are lower and over the long run this would be the most efficient way to fund.

I am about 2 years away from transitioning out of public education and my consideration/question is whether or not to move my Roth and my 403 to Vanguard and place in index funds. I am still 10 years away from even considering accessing my investments. The rationale for this is because of reduced fees.

Let me add one more thing: The only analogy I can give you that might help is this: A person wants to eat healthier so they start eating more vegetables. Then they hear that fresh is better than canned so they start to eat more fresh vegetables. Then they hear they should eat organic so they consider doing that …. Financially I read about all those folks who do not save enough, so you then start saving and then you read about more options (457, 401/403, Roth …. ) and then you start reading about fees …. So on the one hand I am proud of my savings. On the other hand should I be concerned about fees and with that said move to Vanguard.

Geez … so much for me being succinct. Sorry!! Let me know if any of that make sense.
– Tracy

The truth is that there is always going to be a better investment out there. You can keep looking and looking and looking forever, but you’ll soon reach a point where it becomes very hard to find a significantly better investment than where you’re currently at. Another problem is that investments never stay exactly the same. Expenses change over time, as does the relative quality of the investment. Investments that were near the top several years ago might not be there now, and new investments might appear that are near that top spot.

The reason Vanguard comes up is because of that search. While their offerings aren’t necessarily number one for each type of investment, they’re consistently very good in virtually every type of investment. Because of that, many people just use Vanguard as their “good enough and now I don’t have to think about it any more” investment option, which is a completely reasonable thing to do.

The point? Most of the initial steps in finding the “best” investment make a huge difference. Choosing to save at all is huge no matter what you choose to invest that money in. Choosing to jump from a below average investment to an above average one is a pretty big step, too.

However, when you start spending time comparing investments that are just barely different from one another, you’re going to have to have a lot of money invested to make it worth that time, especially since three months later, the landscape will have shifted enough to have undone that research, because when you’re focused at that level, a tiny change in ratios can make all the difference.

I don’t feel like that level of micromanagement is worth it for most ordinary investors. If your wealth has reached a point where it does make a sizable difference, you’re probably not doing it yourself.

Q7: Low interest loan payoff?

My wife’s student loans are at 2.25% and 2.75%. Does it make any sense at all to pay them off early when they’re that low?
– Keith

It depends entirely on what your goals are going forward. Some people choose to invest before paying off low interest loans, while other people do it the other way around. Neither one is strictly “right” or “wrong.”

Paying off debt early helps with monthly cash flow. It makes your finances more tolerant of things like a drop in salary or a choice to become a stay at home spouse or a radical career shift. That’s harder to do if you have your money locked up in, say, a 401(k) plan without taking a giant tax hit. Debt repayments also effectively act like an investment that returns that particular interest rate guaranteed, so an early loan payment is, in your example, like an investment with a guaranteed 2.75% return. Which isn’t bad at all.

Investing is usually a better long term strategy. Most investment options will have a long term annual return that’s better than 2.25% or 2.75%, though in individual years they may do worse. However, you’re still going to be facing that student loan payment for as long as possible.

I don’t think of either choice as “right” or “wrong.” I think they’re both “right,” because they’re both centered around spending less than you earn and doing something wise with it. Different people are going to be drawn to different routes depending on their internal psychology and goals.

Q8: Staying with company long term

I’ve been reading articles that say that you’re more likely to receive significant bumps in pay by switching companies rather than staying with the same one. Is it then a bad choice to stay with a company for many years if you’re leaving money on the table?
– Marc

I think the strategy of switching employers regularly depends a lot on the field. It tends to be a solid idea in tech industries because startups are born, blossom, and then get bought out every few years and so if you can jump into one of those blossoming periods you can make very good money.

However, many other careers are centered around firms that are stable over the long term, and it seems to be a better strategy to establish yourself and move up in those companies and organizations rather than move around.

My general feeling is that if you can consistently jump to a new job that’s exactly like what you’re doing now except with more pay, then you should do that consistently. If that’s not a window that your career provides for you, then you should stay put.

Q9: Cooking from frozen

Do you have any tips on cooking things from frozen, like lasagna? Whenever I do it, it turns into a bunch of mush that no one wants to eat.
– Olivia

If you feel that your frozen lasagnas turn out to be mushy when you cook them, I suggest trying a different approach when making them. Instead of cooking the noodles when you assemble the lasagna, use uncooked noodles.

The reason for that is that uncooked noodles absorb a lot of liquid as they cook. As the liquid in the lasagna boils, the noodles absorb some of that liquid, making for a firmer lasagna when it finishes.

You’ll definitely want to experiment here to find exactly the kind of lasagna firmness that you’d like, but when a frozen lasagna is super mushy/goopy, the reason is almost always due to the pre-cooked noodles.

Another tip is to simply take the lasagna out of the oven for 15 minutes or so before serving and allow it to rest on the table. This often allows the heat in the lasagna to balance out and causes the whole thing to “firm up.”

Q10: Used camping gear

My wife and I have decided to camp in Yosemite in April. We have very limited camping gear so we are looking to buy some items. Is it okay to buy used camping gear?
– Sam

Yes, provided that it’s nothing that’s a pure safety item. Never, ever, ever entrust your personal safety entirely to a used item as you have no idea how it has been cared for or maintained.

So, for things like a sleeping bag or a tent, you’re fine buying used. The condition of these items generally won’t make the difference between life and death unless you’re camping in the Arctic. On the other hand, if you’re into doing any sort of climbing, you should be buying any and all safety gear for climbing.

You may find it somewhat difficult to find used camping gear in the United States in the winter, though you may find quite a bit in March as people get into spring cleaning.

Q11: Borrowing money to invest

If I can borrow money interest free or at 1-2% should I do so to use that money to invest? I can handle the monthly payments on the loan and could just repay it all from the investment principal.
– Pete

This is called leverage, and it’s generally a very poor idea to do this with your personal money because if things go awry when leveraging, they go very awry, and “very awry” is not something you want to do with your personal finances.

The problem comes when there’s a series of unfortunate events. Imagine if the item you invest in has a year like the stock market had in 2008, where the value of the item drops by 40%. Then, let’s also imagine that at the same time, you lose your job. What do you do in that scenario? You don’t have enough to pay back the loan and you don’t have the income to keep making loan payments. You could sell the investment at a loss and use the proceeds to make the loan payments, but you’re now in a big hole that will take a very long time to recover from.

The thing with leverage is that it can amplify gains, but it can also amplify losses, and if you’re not 100% prepared to handle amplified big losses, you should avoid such moves at all costs.

Q12: Lying about job to family

I have been a very diligent saver for many years and still have enough to live 8-10 years without working in my savings. About eight months ago, I left my previous job by mutual agreement. I was stressed out and not performing well and we mutually agreed it was better for me to move on. If anything, it was more my choice. Since then I have not told my parents or other family members about the career change, just avoiding the subject or acting like my career is still going as normal. I feel like I am lying.
– Calvin

If you do not feel comfortable discussing your career choices with your family, then you shouldn’t discuss them, period. It’s honestly none of their business.

If they ask prying questions, tell them something truthful in response. Tell them that you’re shopping for a different job because of issues with your employer. Tell them that you’re dabbling in a side business and describe whatever it is that you’re working on. Don’t contribute anything to discussions about the workplace.

You don’t have to tell them anything, and you can easily do that without having to tell lies, either. Just focus on what you are doing rather than what you’re not doing.

Got any questions? The best way to ask is to follow me on Facebook and ask questions directly there. I’ll attempt to answer them in a future mailbag (which, by way of full disclosure, may also get re-posted on other websites that pick up my blog). However, I do receive many, many questions per week, so I may not necessarily be able to answer yours.

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