الأربعاء، 11 يناير 2017
Can This $15 Device Save You Money on Your Energy Bill? Short Answer: Yes
Much of the country is in the clutches of freezing winter weather right now. So as temperatures go down, thermostats go up.
Even down here in allegedly balmy Florida, I’ve been cranking my heat to avoid becoming a human popsicle. I realize my house becomes less energy efficient with every degree I bump up my thermostat — but I get cranky when I’m cold, and nobody’s got time for that.
I recently decided to look for ways to assuage my guilt and offset the energy I use to heat my home by finding other ways to be fiscally and environmentally responsible. The U.S. Department of Energy gave me a great idea.
The DOE claims I can save as much as 30% on wasted electricity by installing occupancy sensors in the rooms my family uses most.
So I can save 30% and still keep my fingers from turning blue while lounging in my living room? Yes, please!
What the Heck is an Occupancy Sensor?
I wasn’t particularly familiar with occupancy sensors or how effective they are, so I did a little digging.
It turns out these inexpensive devices are actually pretty neat.
Most residential occupancy sensors are designed to replace existing light switches. They don’t require an expensive electrician visit because they’re super easy to install.
They’re typically motion-activated, constantly on red alert for movement of the human variety. If the room is empty for more than a few minutes, the lights automatically switch off.
Since the sensors are located in the same spot as traditional light switches, they won’t pick up motion from animals unless you happen to have an alpaca or some other really tall pet (and if you do, please invite me over).
Yeah, But Do Occupancy Sensors Really Save Money?
I did a little research into just how efficient these little gadgets are and whether they live up to the hype.
It turns out they do.
If reading energy reports is your jam, here are a few to check out. If not, I did the research so you don’t have to.
- This Environmental Protection Agency study found businesses that use sensors average 60% energy savings. Granted, this report focuses on office buildings, but it does support DOE’s 30% residential savings claim.
- If you like visuals, here’s a joint study summary between two U.S. and Canadian energy agencies with a cool graph showing how much you can save depending on the type of light bulb attached to the sensor.
- Check out the full joint agency report for an in-depth look at lighting wastage estimates, average energy savings per room type and other delightfully nerdy data.
Where Can I Buy Energy-Efficient Occupancy Sensors?
You can find occupancy sensors at just about any big box home improvement store and at some chain hardware stores.
If you don’t want to bundle up and leave your house, hit up Amazon for a wide variety of sensors, starting at around 14 bucks. If you want to wire up a bunch of rooms, this 6-pack will run you $65, which works out to just about $10 per sensor.
Occupancy sensors are a great way to offset the cost of setting your thermostat higher during the winter, but they’ll help keep your home more energy efficient all year. How cool… er, hot is that?
Your turn: Do you have occupancy sensors in your home? How much money have they helped you save on energy costs?
Lisa McGreevy is a Staff Writer with The Penny Hoarder. She’s happiest when it’s at least 85 degrees, so this winter weather can suck it.
The post Can This $15 Device Save You Money on Your Energy Bill? Short Answer: Yes appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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Get Paid $11+/Hour to Grade Tests — Without Ever Stepping into a Classroom
Want to work from home — but not be berated by strangers on the phone?
Or better yet, not be flooded with phone calls in general?
Then we might have found the perfect gig for you.
Measurement Inc. is hiring work-from-home readers/evaluators across the U.S.
Pop Quiz: What’s Measurement Inc.?
Good news: No kinked-up tape measures are involved at Measurement Inc.
Rather, this company might have been your worst nightmare throughout grade school. The educational company issues achievement tests and scoring services for state government and other testing companies.
But it can be your friend now — a friend who pays you at least $11.70 an hour.
How to Get Paid to Grade Tests — From Home
The company needs readers/evaluators to sign up for the upcoming spring 2017 rush. The work is temporary and project-based.
Many projects require evaluators to score essays based on content, organization and grammar. Other projects are in the math, science or social studies realm.
To properly grade each project, you might get scanned responses displayed via your computer screen or a video recording of the task being completed (maybe for a math project or something).
Tests vary not only by subject, but also by grade level.
Am I Qualified to Be a Work-From-Home Reader/Evaluator?
You need a bachelor’s degree — any subject area is just fine.
Other requirements include:
- Passing the placement test
- An interview
- Breaking out your professional references
- Being able to work in the U.S.
- Having a fast, reliable computer
You next thought: You’re seriously going to trust me to grade someone’s work and affect their future?
Don’t be so dramatic. Measurement Inc. fully preps you with paid training before each project.
How to Sign Up — No Scantrons Required
Check out the complete job listing. From there, click the “Apply Now” button. The process will take about 20-30 minutes.
You’ll need to complete an application and provide proof of your four-year college degree (think: diploma or transcript). Then sit tight to see if you can snag an interview.
Once you’re in, you’ll be in a “reader pool,” where you’ll be contacted as you’re needed.
Interested in other work-from-home jobs? We have plenty more on our Facebook jobs page.
Your Turn: What was your least favorite subject in school?
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 Get Paid $11+/Hour to Grade Tests — Without Ever Stepping into a Classroom appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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11 Advanced Techniques for Repurposing Old Content
When it comes to content marketing “hacks,” this is one of my absolute favorites.
So many marketers finish a piece of content and never touch it again. But why do that when you can get so much mileage out of one piece of content?
That’s the power of repurposing content.
It’s a lot like creating passive income. You do the hard work once, and you continue to reap the benefits.
With repurposing content, it’s the same idea. You create a piece of content once and then use it in a bunch of different ways.
That means less work and more results. It seems too good to be true, but I promise you it’s not.
The beauty of this technique is that you can repurpose any type of content. Articles, videos, checklists—you name it.
So grab a piece of your content you want to repurpose, and let’s look at 11 advanced techniques for repurposing.
1. Create a SlideShare deck
If you’re on LinkedIn (and you probably are), you can leverage SlideShare to get more life out of your content.
SlideShare is an extremely popular site that showcases slideshows from professionals all over the world. It’s a great way to get your voice heard and expose your content to an entirely new audience.
List-type articles or guides work especially well for slide decks. But just about anything will be successful as a slide deck—you just have to format it correctly.
Here’s a great example of a SlideShare deck from Barry Feldman:
What’s even better is that Barry adapted this from an old blog post of his:
The content works well as both a blog post and a slide deck. By repurposing the content, Barry put his content in front of two completely different audiences.
2. Make a video tutorial
Video marketing is a hot topic right now. Because videos are so widespread and popular, more and more marketers have been using them.
Videos are easy to watch, share, and save for later. You can watch them at home or on the go. And they don’t take too long to make.
When you repurpose existing content as a video tutorial, the process gets even easier. People love how-to videos, and if you offer a high-quality video tutorial, you’ll get a lot of traffic and shares.
So, what kind of content makes for a good video tutorial?
If you’ve ever held a webinar, you can quickly and easily turn it into a video tutorial. This is an awesome way to repurpose content. It’s taking a limited resource (webinar) and making it unlimited in the form of a video.
Source: WordStream.com
Here are some more ideas:
- In-depth blog posts can be slimmed down into a whiteboard or explainer video
- A list post can become a list video
- Turn a slide deck into a narrated presentation
The only limit is your imagination.
3. Turn your blog posts into an ebook
If I told you to write an ebook, you’d probably be bewildered. You might not know where to start or how to write a huge ebook.
But if you blog, you have an almost completed ebook right before your eyes.
You’ve probably amassed some blog posts. If so, you can make these into an ebook.
Ebooks make excellent lead magnets, and you can sell them too. I love using ebooks in my marketing strategies because of how flexible (and popular) they are.
When your readers look at a site for the first time and see an offer for a free ebook, they’ll automatically position you as an authority in their minds. And if they download it, you’ll get an email and possibly a customer out of it.
Michael Hyatt offers new visitors a free guide on his blog:
Whether you call it a guide, a blueprint, or something else entirely, an ebook is a powerful way to repurpose content.
4. Transform your slides into an infographic
Infographics can drive more traffic than you’d think. At Kissmetrics, we’ve used infographics to generate millions of visitors and tens of thousands of backlinks.
But sometimes, infographics can take a while to create. You’ve got to find the right facts, get the right visuals, and combine the two well.
If you have a slide deck, you probably have everything you need for an infographic. Like infographics, slides present information in a short and sweet format and often incorporate media.
To get started, you can use a free infographic maker such as Piktochart or Canva. Just plug in the data from your slides, format it a little, and voila!
(Another tip: You can combine slide decks to create a single infographic, or you can split up one slide deck into multiple infographics.)
5. Get your blog posts on the air as podcasts
Podcasting has gotten pretty big lately, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
Podcast listeners don’t like fluff—they want substance.
What better way to create an awesome podcast episode than by repurposing a blog post?
If you have some detailed blog posts in your archive, pull them out and dust them off. With a little reformatting, editing, and scripting, they’ll make excellent podcasts.
Keep in mind that if your posts use lots of media, you’ll have to find a different way of communicating that information. And you’ll probably need to rework some of your writing so it sounds more natural when spoken.
Even though this option can be a little tricky, it’s worth it. You can share your podcasts on all kinds of platforms, including iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and Podbay. And with each platform you use, you’re sharing your content with a new audience.
6. Include your comment responses in a newsletter
If you’re regularly responding to comments on your blog, you’re creating helpful content without even knowing it.
In my opinion, this is one of the most powerful “content hacks” you can use. When you respond to comments, you’re not thinking about creating content—you’re thinking about helping people.
And when you take that raw advice and edit it, you’ve got some powerful tips and tools, perfect for newsletters.
Readers expect bite-sized advice in newsletters. Pop in a comment (or a few), and you’ll satisfy your readers while breathing new life into content you thought you’d never use again.
7. Use factoids as social media posts
When you maintain a blog, you come across a lot of facts. Some of these are small factoids perfect to be reused as social media posts.
Factoids give your readers something new to learn, and they don’t take up much space. Statistics, trivia, and other “did you know?” type of facts all work well.
Here’s Microsoft using a statistic to spread awareness of Internet unavailability:
A little goes a long way. Factoids definitely deserve to be a regular part of your social media strategy.
8. Share shorter blog posts on Medium and LinkedIn Pulse
Most people think LinkedIn is a boring, stuffy place, but it’s not. In fact, it can be your secret marketing weapon if you use it correctly.
Medium is a popular blogging platform where professionals and experts share articles on all kinds of topics. If you spend some time with it, you’ll find it can be a powerful tool.
Besides SlideShare, another cool LinkedIn feature is Pulse. Like on Medium, you publish a post there and hope it gets featured. If it does, you can gain new followers.
And don’t worry, republishing old content on Pulse or Medium won’t get you penalized by Google.
9. Make new content out of old
Buffer’s Kevan Lee suggests refreshing old posts that might not be as relevant today as they were when you first published them.
Usually, these old posts just need a bit of an update to become relevant again. It’s worth it to take a look at your archives and see which posts need a touch-up or two.
Here are a few easy ways you can modify old posts:
- Find a new title
- Update the post with new facts and figures
- Add more substantial content
Once you’re done, you can either publish the new post or update the old one (if it ranks well and brings in traffic).
10. Share your old content on social media
Certain social media sites work insanely well for sharing content—if you do it right.
Two excellent options are Reddit and Quora.
Reddit can drive a ton of traffic, but self-promotion is usually frowned upon. To combat that, find a relevant subreddit, and only post content that you genuinely know will help readers. (You can also try Reddit ads.)
Quora is a little friendlier about self-promotion. As a bonus, if you find a question that a piece of your content answers, you can give a short, helpful answer and then link to that piece of content. This is another great traffic builder.
11. Merge multiple pieces of content into a webinar
Everyone loves a good webinar.
If you’ve never hosted a webinar, you’re missing out. Webinars create a high level of engagement and communicate your value to everyone watching.
Obviously, it’s super easy to turn slides into a webinar. It’ll take almost no work, but you’ll have a completely new piece of content.
I suggest merging multiple pieces of content into a webinar. If you have a slide deck and a blog post on the same (or a similar) topic, integrate both of those into the webinar.
The more content you use, the more value you’ll be able to provide. (But don’t overdo it!)
If you’re on a budget, I recommend using Google Hangouts to create a webinar for free.
Source: Tutsplus.com
Conclusion
Repurposing content is hands down one of the most useful content marketing strategies I know. This is a strong tool—don’t be afraid to use it.
It helps you avoid one of the worst pitfalls of blogging: stale content.
Too many people let their well of content run dry. Eventually, all that’s left is an outdated collection of subpar content. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Think of all your content as living, breathing documents. They can be changed and improved over time.
Once I realized this, my blogging strategy was transformed. If a piece of content performed well for me, I knew I could reuse it in the future.
The next time you create a piece of content, remember to revisit it down the road. Maybe you’ll turn your next article into a video in a year.
What’s your favorite way or repurposing content?
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How to Plan a Great, Low-Cost Valentine’s Day Surprise
Some of you are going to see the topic of this article, check the calendar, and be completely confused. Valentine’s Day? That’s more than a month away! Why write about it now?
The reason I’m writing about it now is because, with sentimental holidays like Valentine’s Day, some prep work can help you create a very low-cost gift that’s incredibly meaningful for your partner.
Why? Time is almost always the most valuable ingredient in a great, thoughtful, meaningful gift. When you invest your own time into something, you make something into more than the sum of its parts, and that’s almost always the key to something unforgettable for a day like Valentine’s Day.
Here are seven things you can do to create a wonderful Valentine’s Day surprise for the special person in your life, even if you don’t have a lot of money.
Write a good love letter. This actually isn’t as hard as you might think. Just go to the store, pick out a small pack of good paper, and get a good wide-lined pen – it’s all you need.
Instead of just sitting down and writing, spend some time drafting the letter in a computer program. Start off with your partner’s name, then simply state that your partner means an incredible amount to you, in whatever words feel the most comfortable. Then, simply list several little things that you notice about your partner that you really love. Try to mix it up – mention a physical trait, but also mention a kindness and other character attributes. Mention things you’ve seen that person do that have stuck an arrow in your heart. List six or eight or ten of them – the ones that really stand out – and then close by simply stating that for all of those things, and countless others, you love that person with your whole heart, and sign it.
Write the letter, then let it rest for a few days and edit it again. Then do it again. And again. Give it several drafts until it sounds wonderful. You can even ask a friend who can write well to give you a bit of polishing help, but don’t let them change very much. Keep your voice in it.
Once you have a draft on your computer that you like, pull out that nice paper and transcribe it in your own best handwriting. Take it slowly and make every letter look as nice as you can. If you mess up, start over. Give it time so that it looks good. (I’ve had to redo such letters several times before.)
Then simply fold it and deliver it, perhaps along with a very small additional gift. The letter will mean an incalculable amount.
Plan an amazing meal at home, down to the last detail. What is your partner’s favorite meal in the world? Is there a way that you can possibly prepare that meal at home in a presentable way?
Research recipes and techniques. Figure out how to make that recipe like the back of your hand, then also figure out what foods accompany it. A salad? A particular wine?
Spend some time thinking about details. Where could you sit that would be romantic? Do you have a nice tablecloth? What about a candle and a candle holder? Most of those items are either laying around your house or can be had very inexpensively, but the key is to think about it and come up with lots of little nice details.
Spend the time between then and now continuing to think about details and making sure you have those little details ready. Plan for when you’d prepare the meal, how you’d get the ingredients, and make sure you have all of the little elements ready to go.
One great way to do this is to do it as a surprise, and perhaps have that love letter sitting at your partner’s place before the meal.
Make some personalized soap. It’s actually very easy to make personalized soap with a wide variety of scents and colors. Just visit the soapmaking section of your local hobby store and look for “melt and pour” soap options.
The thing is, with a gift like this, you can personalize like crazy. Look online for soap molds, different colorings, and different scents. You could make a sandalwood soap in the shape of the logo of his favorite baseball team. You could make an evergreen scented soap in the shape of the Millennium Falcon. You could make a raspberry scented soap that’s colored in a reddish-purple with a bit of oatmeal mixed in, cut into simple rectangles. You can basically do anything.
The key is to think of a pairing of shape, color, and additive that would make the soap really feel personalized for your partner. Think deeply about those options and what’s available, and give yourself plenty of lead time to acquire the small number of items you need.
Remember, you can always use the excess as soap or for other gift-giving occasions.
Transcribe a poem or quote and present it well. If you like the idea of a love letter but are scared of your own ability to write creatively, instead look for a meaningful poem or quote for your partner and hand-transcribe it on nice paper.
Take your time and read a lot of poems and quotes. Consider some of your partner’s favorite writers or people and look for quotes or poems by that person.
Also, take your time to transcribe the poem beautifully. Take it slow, use your best penmanship, and don’t be afraid to start over if you’re unhappy with the result.
For an extra touch, consider a fountain pen and a bright ink, but only if they’re available to you. I have a small number of fountain pens, so I’m likely to choose a colorful ink when I do this type of thing, enabling me to make nice crisp lines in an ink color that my wife would love.
Make your partner’s favorite snack, personalized and packaged. If your spouse has a particular snack that they really love that can’t easily be found or bought, take the time to make a large quantity of that snack for your partner.
One year, for example, my wife made me a large bucket of handmade krumkake that she rolled herself with her grandmother’s krumkake iron.
Another time, I made a large quantity of homemade marshmallows with just a hint of a favorite flavor in them and wrapped them beautifully in cellophane.
Prepare a photo collage. Perhaps you have some photos of your partner at their favorite places, or the two of you together at various places. Take those photos to a photo store, have them touched up a bit, and have high quality prints made of them. Then arrange them in a photo collage.
There are a lot of ways to do this. You can either simply buy a multi-paned collage photo frame. Another option is to simply lay them out yourself in a larger frame, say an 11″ by 17″ or even a poster-sized frame. If you use a larger one, integrating a handwritten poem or note in it can be a great personalized touch.
Again, this gift is all about time. It’s about choosing photos, getting prints made, figuring out how to arrange them well, and so on. You need real lead time to pull this one off, but you can turn your shared memories into a very beautiful gift.
Make some personalized bathtub bombs, then set up a nice bath. This one does take some prep work, but it can make for a really nice experience for a partner.
All you have to do is follow this easy bath bomb recipe, substituting your own color choice here. Make a bunch of them – you’ll find the recipe ingredients to be very expensive.
Then, plan for a wonderful bath for your partner. Buy a bottle of tasty table wine and put that wine next to the tub. Draw it nice and warm and then have a couple of the bombs ready to go beside the tub, along with the others wrapped in a bit of cellophane. Put on a bit of quiet music. Hang up a towel and a bathrobe for their convenience.
Then, when your partner arrives, just let them wile away their worries in a warm bath. You can have your partner soak for a bit while you perhaps prepare the finishing touches on that dinner.
The best strategy? Combine them. Have a bath ready with a few bath bombs when your partner gets home, then finish setting up a romantic dinner while they soak, with a romantic letter on their plate when they come to the table. The cost for all of that? A few household supplies, the basic foods needed for a dinner, and a sheet of paper. Your partner, however, will love it.
It just takes some planning and some time, so get on it now. You can create a mind-blowing Valentine’s Day without spending much money, just some time and thought.
Good luck!
Related Articles:
- 10 Frugal Ways to Say ‘I Love You’
- Six Cheap and Memorable Dates
- 10 Heartfelt Gifts for People Who Don’t Need More Stuff
The post How to Plan a Great, Low-Cost Valentine’s Day Surprise appeared first on The Simple Dollar.
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New Study Shows Best Debt Repayment Method
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Today's Headlines: Home Values in Trump vs. Clinton Country
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These four sectors will make or break the FTSE 100's record winning streak
The FTSE 100 has been in sensational form since returning from the New Year's break, having made a record high of 7,143 moments before trading closed for 2016.
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Scam watch: beware fake Amazon emails
Email fraudsters are trying to steal money from the bank accounts of unsuspecting consumers by pretending to be from online shopping site Amazon.
Action Fraud has issued a warning to consumers after receiving several reports of scam emails, purporting to be from Amazon - one victim says they lost £750 to this scam.
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Men more likely than woman to complete their tax return on time, says HMRC
Men are more likely than women to complete their tax return by the 31 January deadline, according to new analysis of the 2013/14 tax year revealed today by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
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TalkTalk guarantees 'no broadband price hikes': but should you switch and fix?
TalkTalk has launched a new range of broadband packages, which guarantee no price rises for the duration of the contract.
The provider says consumers are looking for more transparency with their bills, and claims it is the first broadband provider in the UK to offer this kind of long-term fixed deal.
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A Penny Hoarder Tells Us What It Was Like to Be an Extra on “The Avengers”
Being a movie extra sounds like a decent way to earn about $100 a day.
Considering the impact our favorite films have on our lives and culture — especially gigantic blockbusters — wouldn’t it be exciting to be even the smallest part of one?
Or… would it ruin the magic?
We wanted to know what it’s actually like to land a gig as a movie extra. How do you get cast? What’s it like to be on set? And, ahem… do you get to meet the stars?
We got in touch with TPH reader Jared Zajac who mentioned his experience on our Facebook page. Zajac was an extra in two major blockbusters filmed in Cleveland, Ohio.
Zajac makes his living as a motion graphics designer, both as a freelancer and as an employee for a Live Events company.
In 2011, after seeing an ad on Cleveland.com for an open casting call, he spent a week as an extra on “Marvel’s The Avengers.” In 2013, he spent one day on the set of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
A Reader Tells Us What It’s Like Being a Movie Extra
We asked him to describe the experience for us. Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
The Penny Hoarder: What was the casting experience like?
Zajac: The casting call took place at a local hotel. I arrived early, but the line already extended far into the backyard of the hotel. The local news crew was there, and it was very hot. By the time most people got to the casting area, they were a little red from the sun.
I waited for probably two to three hours. When I got to the casting area, they allowed a certain amount of people into a classroom-type area, where they would explain what this is for and what we would be responsible for if we were cast.
They handed out a pamphlet with an explanation and a list of the rules. We had to fill out a short questionnaire; then they took a headshot photograph of each person.
TPH: What was it like to be on the set of “The Avengers”?
Zajac: Our scenes were the scenes in Germany near the beginning of the film (they were actually filmed in Cleveland’s Public Square).
On a typical day, we arrived on set at around 5 p.m. and wouldn’t wrap shooting until around 7 a.m. We were paid overtime for anything over eight hours a day. (Editor’s note: Zajac noted on Facebook that minimum wage is standard for non-union extras. Union workers receive scale pay.)
They went over the plot with us, and what was happening in the scene. They also stressed that this information was confidential and we would be discharged if we divulged the scenes. We went to wardrobe and makeup where we changed — and they made sure my shaved head wasn’t too shiny.
The first scene we filmed on the first day was the shot of all of us running out of the theater scared when Loki attacked. I paired up with a “movie wife,” and we ran out together, and away from a flipping police car. The “theater” was actually a mall, and inside was our on-set holding area.
The next few days, we filmed the scenes where Loki makes everyone kneel before him. The ground was very hard and uncomfortable so we were given knee pads.
Joss Whedon was there, but he wasn’t directing us. There was a local Cleveland director for us.
Tom Hiddleston was on set, and his weapon looked very cheap in person, like a Halloween costume prop! He was a jokester and very talkative, even to the extras. Two versions of Captain America’s shields were also on set, one was wooden and one was metal.
We were there in the wee hours of the night, around 3 a.m., filming the scenes where Captain America arrives to confront Loki. We were all directed to get into our kneeling positions and a stand-in would stand where Captain America would be.
Once we were all in our places, Chris Evans would replace the stand-in and act his scenes as Captain America. He was very no-frills, not very talkative and very focused on his work.
There was one particular day early on where I sat in holding for over five hours. Those days were the roughest because there wasn’t much to do besides eat and socialize. There would be really extensive catered meals for lunch and dinner (lunch was around 8 p.m., dinner was around 2 a.m.).
On the final day, we moved over to the museum, where we filmed a scene of Loki killing a guy. For that day our holding area was under a bunch of tents outside. It was also a shorter night, and we were out of there by two or three in the morning.
In this movie my role was “guy in a tux” who was attending a play. In the end, despite being in many shots, I only saw my face in one shot of the entire film, one of the kneeling scenes.
I did make some friends on the set, and it’s cool to see them in the scenes and remember that week I spent with them all.
We actually held an “extras screening” on the day of the premiere at a local theater. We dressed up, and all met up again one more time to watch the movie together for the first time at a midnight showing when it opened in May 2012.
One of the extras made “Avengers” t-shirts for everyone with our wardrobe number on the back, which we all wore to the event. One extra even showed up in a limousine as Tony Stark.
Another showed off his new “Avengers” tattoo. Yeah, some extras went all out. But it was a great event.
TPH: How did your experience on “Captain America” compare?
Zajac: Two years later, I went to another local casting call for the movie “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” I mentioned that I was in “Avengers,” which might be a reason they called me back to work again.
For that movie, we were in a local hall. I was cast as a SHIELD Agent this time, and we were shooting the establishing shot of the morning at SHIELD Headquarters, which is shown throughout the film a couple of times.
On set were Chris Evans and Emily VanCamp. We didn’t film scenes with them, but they shot some scenes while we were in the holding area. There was, again, catered food for us, and it was much like the last experience, except this one was much shorter. I again saw myself in the trailer and then the film, but this time I was far away and you couldn’t really see my face. Only I knew it was me.
But seeing yourself in the film is just an added bonus. The experience is one I will always remember.
How to Find Work as a Movie Extra
Are you intrigued? Zajac’s description of the experience certainly perked up the movie nerd in me!
If you want to find extra work, check out these tips from other Penny Hoarders:
Keep an eye out for open casting calls for extras from these sources:
Your Turn: Have you worked as a movie extra? How does your experience compare?
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 A Penny Hoarder Tells Us What It Was Like to Be an Extra on “The Avengers” appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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The 7 Core Principles of a Wealthy Marriage™
When I was growing up, I learned a lot of money lessons through the school of hard knocks.
I received lots of bad money advice growing up, and I mean lots. I remember one time, when I was short on funds in college, my dad even told me to open a credit card so I could afford new clothes.
Eventually, I opened more credit cards and took out student loans to finish school. That might not sound horrible, but the military was paying for my school and I was working 25+ hours a week. I had no business taking out student loans!
By the time I was ready to graduate, I was over $30,000 in debt.
I’m not even sure I realized I was on the path to financial destruction, either.
I was spending more than I made and not really planning for the future at all.
Then, God had this weird way of putting this girl next to me, and Mandy wound up living next door.
All of a sudden, a voice of reason had been brought into my life – a person who could see everything I couldn’t.
One story in particular comes to mind at the beginning of our relationship. Basically, my father was trying to borrow money from me at a time when I didn’t really have it. Of course, Mandy stepped in and said,
“You cannot do this. Your dad loves you, but you’re not helping him when he can’t help himself.”
You see, I didn’t have any money either at the time. I was going down the same path as my dad – almost nothing in my checking account, no savings account, and no emergency fund. Fortunately, my girlfriend was there to help me see the big picture.
And, she was great in that role even once we got married. When I was deployed to Iraq shortly after we were married, I still had some bad money habits. I thought it was okay to put wants on a credit card because we could just pay them off later.
Fortunately, Mandy was like, “No!” We weren’t putting anything on a credit card, she said, because she didn’t want credit card debt.
At the time, it felt restrictive. Looking back, however, I am so thankful for those initial money battles we had. Talk about God putting the right woman in my life at the right time.
Even better, all of my early experiences with money led me to become a financial planner. By the grace of God, I learned what I needed to do and the many ways I could serve others.
Once I started on the path towards becoming a financial planner, I also made sure my own financial house was in order. With help from Mandy, we implemented a lot of changes in terms of our finances and our marriage. We built up our emergency fund. We started new savings accounts. We created short-term goals and long-term financial goals, and we started having regular money conversations. We also learned to invest heavily for retirement with the goal of becoming financially independent.
We’re very fortunate now, and dare I say “wealthy,” but it definitely took time to get here. Our success can be attributed to both God and hard work, and I’m so incredibly thankful for every minute and every lesson I learned the hard way.
7 Principles of a Wealthy Marriage™
Still, if I have learned anything at all, it’s that there are several core principles that define a Wealthy Marriage™. By and large, it’s these principles that have helped us grow our marriage, become closer as a couple, and become financially independent over time.
If you want to level up your marriage romantically, spiritually, and financially, these are the core principles I suggest you focus on. By knocking all of these out, you can become a wealthy couple together – in more than one way.
Principle #1: The Confident Marriage Ticket
The #1 principle that helps Wealthy Marriages™ grow and thrive is the confident marriage ticket. This ticket includes everything a marriage needs to be wealthy and successful – a full commitment from both parties, the courage to make it work no matter what, capabilities that grow and complement one another, a sense of community, and the confidence to see your marriage through. But, where does it start? It all starts with a thorough commitment to your marriage and one another.
It’s easy to commit to someone at the beginning of your relationship when kids and careers aren’t really getting in the way. When life gets complicated, however, watch out. It can be difficult to stay committed when your entire life becomes infinitely harder than it used to be.
To become a wealthy couple with a spiritual commitment to one another, you have to commit to your marriage through both the good times and the bad. You can’t be a fair weather friend, nor can you be someone who only shows up half the time.
First step of achieving a Wealth Marriage™ is to commit to your spouse
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I have to say, it’s commitment that helps couples weather than hard times more than anything else. When you’re truly committed to one another, nothing can truly come between you even during the worst of times.
When I think of the courage it takes to have a wealthy marriage, I immediately think to when we had our first son. You can read all the baby books you want all day long, watch videos on YouTube, and talk to your friends with kids, but nothing can prepare you for the way it feels when you bring a baby home for the first time.
You’ve already committed to your marriage and raising this child, but now you need courage to hold it together during hard times. You also gain the courage to learn as you go, because the bulk of parenting is learned on the fly.
The same is true with your marriage. You may not know how everything will work out all the time, but you need the courage and willingness to learn and grow. Courage will bring you through hard times just as often as it helps you enjoy the good times.
Capabilities come into play once you fall into a routine with your spouse. You’ve learned what your partner likes and doesn’t like, and you’ve found ways to serve them that keep both of you happy most of the time.
At this point, your capabilities are what help you cope with conflict in a healthy and helpful way. Remember, commitment brought you together for the long haul and courage has helped you stay together during hard times.
From here, your capabilities are talents you nurture that help your marriage thrive. You capabilities can include comforting your spouse when they’re down, encouraging them to be the best they can be, or simply helping out at all the right times.
Once you become capable in your marriage, you’ll also become confident. Over time, the confidence you exude will make your marriage run that much smoother. Eventually, you’ll even become confident in your ability to become wealthy – both spiritually and financially.
Principle #2: The Marriage Gap
The second important principle for married couples is the importance of knowing and understanding “The Marriage Gap.” This is a term we use to describe the difference between your ideal marriage or “Cinderella story” and the reality of your marriage and the maintenance of your relationship.
Many couples get caught up in how their marriage used to be before they had kids, a house, and a ton of responsibilities. As a spouse, however, you have to realize the person you married many years ago isn’t the same as they once were. Just like life has changed you, it has changed them as well. Together, you have grown and matured over time.
Today might not be the best day your marriage has ever seen, but that’s okay. Why? You’re focusing on the long haul – the big picture. You have a lifetime to spend together, right? When you see the marriage gap for what it is, you realize the little bumps in the road have nothing to do with your long-term goals as a couple and as a family.
Principle #3: The Connected Vision
Once you have a good concept of how to create the Confident Marriage Ticket and an understanding of how your marriage may not always stack up to reality, it’s time to focus on the third component of a Wealthy Marriage™ – The Connected Vision.
This is where you and your spouse will really come together to communicate and share your hopes and dreams. Part of the connected vision is just talking to one another all the time, and keeping those lines of communication open. But that’s not all; my wife and I firmly believe that certain habits we call “The Love Habits” can also make your marriage happier and wealthier.
Love Habits can look different for everyone, but we’re talking about the sweet and loving habits you implement with your spouse over time. These love habits are something you should try to do every day, mostly to promote a “team philosophy” and to share life’s ups and downs with one another.
One love habit to consider is sharing your “daily wins” with one another each evening. What went right for you today? And how did it make you feel?
Other love habits to implement can and should be the physical kind. Hugging one another, kissing, and showing physical attention are great ways to show one another you care and are in your marriage for the long haul. Trust us, it’s much easier to stay connected when you’re intentional about it and when you have healthy love habits that keep you close no matter what.
Principle #4: The Wealthy Money Beliefs
Far too many people assume building real wealth requires a ton of money. The reality is, when you really look at people who are wealthy, many work regular jobs and earn modest incomes.
These people didn’t become wealthy through some magical formula; instead, they built their wealth using solid financial principles.
One of those principles is contentment – as in, being content with what you have. Contentment is so powerful and yet so simple that it often derails people. It’s so easy to want to buy that new dress, a new pair of shoes, a new car, or that bigger house, but being content means knowing you don’t need them.
The second money value you should master as a couple is staying on top of your own finances. This means knowing where your money is going – either by budgeting or tracking your spending.
If you hate the idea of budgeting, I encourage you to give it a second look. Most people are wasting money on things they don’t even care about, and a budget can help you identify those budget drains. Once you start budgeting, you learn to identify the waste in your life and allocate those funds to financial goals that actually matter.
Remember, becoming a wealthy couple means learning positive money habits. Over time, the small money moves you make together will add up in a huge way.
Principle #5: The Growth Commitment
To build wealth, you must become comfortable investing in a financial sense but also in yourself. This mean investing in savings accounts, money markets, CDs, your 401(k), and the stock market, but also investing in your own personal development and your growth as a couple.
For some people, investing in personal development means going back to school to earn a MBA, taking a course or higher level certification, or hiring a business coach, a life coach, or a consultant to help get your career and your life on track.
For wealthy couples, investing should become automatic. Wealthy couples tend to have their financial investments on autopilot so they can reach their long-term financial goals. Wealthy couples also learn to encourage each other’s personal development and investment in themselves.
As you grow and mature as a person, your marriage will inevitably do the same. That’s why it’s important to dedicate your life to growing together as a couple. Not only should you strive to grow within your marriage, but you should allow your faith, your career goals, and your knowledge to grow and expand over time as well.
Remember, the better each of you becomes individually, the stronger you’ll be as a married couple. With both of you shooting for new heights on your own, you’re bound to become one powerful force.
Principle #6: The Legacy Shift
While growing a Wealthy Marriage™ is rewarding on its own, it’s crucial to pass down the core values you share to your family members along the way. By giving your kids the same values you have nurtured as a couple, you can help them with their own personal development as well. And by delivering your core values to your children, you help them reach the same level of fulfillment and success in their own lives.
Hopefully, they’ll pass the same lessons on to their kids as well. In that sense, the work you do on your marriage now could literally last for generations or more. Just remember, it all starts with you and your spouse and the changes you make today.
Principle #7: The Radical Impact
Once you have achieved true wealth as a couple, you can really appreciate all the hard work success requires. The thing is, this is where giving becomes so much fun.
One of the hardest things I had to get over personally was the idea that making more money would ruin me. For some reason, I had this idea it would change who I was as a person. However, I actually learned the opposite over time. Not only did becoming wealthier not change who I was, but it helped me become a better version of myself. I reached that conclusion when I realized the huge impact my wealth could make on others.
As a wealthy couple, it’s important to embrace the idea of radical giving – whether that’s to your church or some other causes you truly believe in. By giving back to causes you and your spouse find important, you can find a greater purpose for your work and your lives. As an added bonus, radical giving can bring you together as a couple in ways you wouldn’t believe!
Final Thoughts
Morphing into a wealthy couple doesn’t happen overnight. Most of the time, it takes years to realize the kind of couple you want to be and conform your lifestyle to achieve those goals. Marriage was never meant to be easy, but it’s much more rewarding when you’re both on the same team.
Still, becoming a wealthy couple is just like anything else. The sooner you get started, the better off you’ll be.
For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, you have to remember you’re in this together. Once adopt these important principles, you can focus on becoming the best married couple you can be.
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Yes, You Can Get Paid to Play Video Games. Here’s How
When I was growing up in the ‘90s, I never would have imagined I could get paid to play video games.
If I’d known that it would one day be possible to pad my income by letting strangers watch me game, right now you’d be enjoying a Rocky-style montage of me training to be the best gamer in the world.
My gaming brethren, the video game platform Twitch can validate our geekiness… and help us make money with it.
Here’s how to make money playing video games and streaming them in this free gaming community.
1. Ask for Donations
As soon as you sign up to stream (it’s free), you can add a donation button to your channel, which allows viewers to throw cash your way.
Donations can be anything from $1 to even thousands of dollars in one fell swoop. While the latter case isn’t the norm, some Twitch streamers have received large donations on their channels. (Remember: While they’re called “donations,” the IRS will still want its share.)
The best part about donations is that you don’t have to pay for a Twitch subscription or have a set number of followers to qualify. Anyone can add a donation button to their channel, and strangers who enjoy watching can toss you a few bucks.
2. Collect “Bits”
In October 2016, Twitch announced a tipping system called “Cheering,” through which viewers can gift their favorite streamers online currency called Bits.
Viewers can earn 5 to 100 Bits (100 Bits are worth $1.40) by watching 30-second ads. They can also purchase Bits outright via the Amazon payment system.
When a viewer likes something you did in your game, they can type “cheerxx” into the chat bar on your channel, where “xx” is the number of Bits they want to gift. For example, if someone types “cheer1000,” you’ll receive 1,000 Bits, which are worth $10.
3. Collect Subscribers
Leveling up requires a bit more work, but it packs a bigger payoff. Once you’ve amassed a steady following — at least 500 regular viewers — you can apply to be a Twitch Partner at no cost. Becoming a partner is key to earning more revenue on Twitch.
One of its benefits is the illustrious “Subscribe” button. Subscribers are people who really like you and want you to succeed. For each subscriber you gain, Twitch will pay you about $2.50 per month.
You don’t even have to be the best at the games you stream. If you are entertaining and market yourself on social media, you can gain valuable ground in the streaming world.
Try setting up a YouTube account where potential followers can get to know you before they commit to subscribing to your channel. Posting highlight reels from your streams will entice them to visit your channel on Twitch. Think of it as investing in a trailer so people will want to watch the whole film.
The most successful Twitch streamers interact with their viewers, display their gratitude for donations and are expressive. Humor and quirkiness will set you apart from the crowd.
4. Earn Ad Revenue
Nobody likes ads, but they do make the World Wide Web go ‘round.
If you’ve registered as a Twitch Partner and started gaining subscribers, you’ll also start earning ad revenue. Your channel will bring in about $250 per 100 subscribers per month.
When You Love What You Do, You Beat the Game of Life
While success and earnings vary, the truly dedicated have proven that video game streaming can be a lucrative full-time job. You can even gain the exposure required to go pro and compete in eSports tournaments in front of millions of viewers for millions of dollars.
Or it could just be a fun way to make a little extra cash on the side.
How to Get Started on Twitch
1. Sign up with a username, password, email and your birthday, or by connecting your Facebook account. You’ll need to be at least 13 years old.
2. Download Twitch-compatible broadcasting software, if you’re using a PC or laptop.
To stream from a PC or laptop, click the “Stream Key” link on your Twitch dashboard to get your personalized key. Copy and paste this key into your broadcast software. If you’re streaming from a PS4, click here. From an Xbox One, follow these instructions.
3. If you want other people to see you while you play, you’ll need to invest in video capture equipment. If you want them to hear you, you’ll need a microphone.
4. Set up a PayPal account to collect the money you earn from streaming.
5. If you have Amazon Prime, connect your Twitch account. Twitch is owned by Amazon, and the retail giant recently dropped the news that if you have an Amazon Prime subscription, you get Twitch Prime for free.
Twitch Prime offers free in-game loot, game discounts, zero ads, and more bonuses you’d normally have to pay for.
Maybe I’m blinded by the sheer awesomeness of this, but I don’t see a downside. Before Twitch Prime existed, the previous top-tier subscription, Twitch Turbo, cost $8.99 per month.
Your Turn: Have you tried video game streaming on Twitch? Did you make any money?
Kristi Simpson has been gaming since she was 14 months old and has the picture to prove it. She is also a world traveler and plans her trips based on where she wants to eat.
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Can the GM BuyPower Card Help You Save on a New Car?
We’ve all heard of earning cash back, airfare, and hotel stays with credit card rewards, but what about a new car? The GM BuyPower card won’t let you earn new car per se, but it does let you save up rewards to make a hefty down payment. How? By rewarding you for every dollar you spend.
If you’re a GM enthusiast who is always trading up, this card probably sounds like a good deal. Like anything else, however, the devil may be in the details. Keep reading to learn how the GM BuyPower card works, who it’s good for, and why a different rewards card might work better.
GM BuyPower Card: How it Works
The GM BuyPower card works similarly to other rewards credit cards in that it doles out points based on how much you spend. With this card, you’ll earn 5% cash back on your first $5,000 in purchases every year. After that, you earn a flat 2% cash back on everything you buy, with no limitations or earnings caps.
So, if you managed to spend $10,000 on your card the first year, you would rack up $350 total – $250 during the 5% phase, and another $100 thereafter. If you spent $20,000 on your card during a single year, on the other hand, you would earn $550.
The good news is, this card lets you earn 5% back on your first $5,000 spent every year – and not just the first one. So, if you signed up for the card and spent $20,000 per year ($1,667 per month) for three years, you’d have a total of $1,650 in rewards – or about a 10% down payment on a Chevy Sonic or Cruze.
Beyond its lucrative earning structure, another great part about the card is that it doesn’t charge an annual fee. If you were to use it for regular purchases and pay it off every month, the rewards you earn would be truly “free.”
However, the kicker is that your rewards won’t really benefit you at all unless you’re planning on buying a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac vehicle.
Unlike other cash back cards, the BuyPower card doesn’t let you redeem points for cash back or gift cards. You can only redeem your points for a discount off a new car, and only through a licensed GM dealer. Plus, you can’t stack BuyPower card earnings with fleet vehicle incentive programs or the GM Employee discount.
You can, however, stack your rewards with some regular dealer incentives such as special financing deals. Is this a good deal? Well, it really depends.
Where the GM BuyPower Card Shines
If you’re especially loyal to Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac vehicles and expect to buy a new one in a few years, the GM BuyPower card could be an amazing addition to your wallet. In terms of cash back, I can’t think of any other card that offers 5% back on your first $5,000 spent followed by an unlimited 2% back with no limits. And since the 5% cash back “bonus” rolls back around every year, it’s almost like earning the signup bonus more than once.
With no annual fee, the GM BuyPower card becomes even more valuable. Better yet, this card offers 0% APR on purchases for your first 12 months. So, if you needed to make a large purchase and pay it off over several months, this card is a good option for that, too.
Where the GM BuyPower Card Breaks Down
While the GM BuyPower card makes sense for someone who’s in the market for a new GM vehicle, it makes almost no sense for anyone else. If you need a new car but aren’t decided on an exact make and model, for example, being tied down to a GM model, and particularly a new one, could leave you with limited options.
Speaking of that, it’s important to note that you can only use your rewards on a new vehicle. If you decide to buy used to save money, the rewards you earned would be basically useless.
And really, that’s the biggest drawback of this card; it lacks flexibility. With most traditional cash back cards, you can redeem your points for money in your bank account, a check in the mail, gift cards, or even merchandise. With the GM BuyPower card, you’re stuck with a discount on a new car — and that’s basically it.
Speaking of that, buying a new car may not be the smartest move anyway. According to Edmunds.com, the typical midsize sedan loses an average of $7,419 in value the first year. So, even if you build up a considerable amount in rewards, buying new means you’ll probably lose a considerable amount of money or equity in your car upfront regardless.
- Related: Should You Always Buy a Used Car?
Who Should Get the GM BuyPower Card:
- Someone who definitely wants to purchase a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac vehicle in the future.
Who Should Pass:
- Someone who wants flexibility in how they spend their credit card rewards.
- A person who’s interested in different car models and brands.
- Anyone who might want to buy a used car instead of new.
Final Thoughts
If your heart is set on a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicle, then the GM BuyPower card can help give a boost to your next down payment fairly effortlessly. By signing up and using the card for regular spending, you can earn hundreds of dollars per year good toward the purchase of a brand new GM car or truck.
If your car plans are up in the air, however, the GM BuyPower card could be more of a hindrance than a help. If you think you might buy a used car to save money, earning rewards that are only valid toward a new model won’t help. And who knows, you may wind up finding a better deal on a different make of car, too. With the GM BuyPower card, you’d be out of luck if you came across a stellar deal on a new Ford or Toyota, for example.
At the end of the day, most people find they’re better off the more options they have. And if you want a card that offers more flexibility, a regular cash back card is probably your best bet. Many of the top cash back cards come without annual fees, and some make it possible to earn anywhere from 2% to 5% back on nearly every purchase you make. And if you just so happen to use that cash back on a brand new GM vehicle, that’s perfectly okay, too — but at least you won’t be forced to.
Related Articles:
- Best Credit Cards for 2017
- How Big Should My Down Payment on a Car Be?
- Best Rewards Credit Cards of 2017
- Best Cash Back Credit Cards
What’s your favorite way to earn rewards? Would you ever use credit card rewards to buy a car?
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How to Make $500 Each Month Selling on eBay
By Emily Belcher Earning $500 each month on eBay is extremely doable. It could be done within minutes, depending on the value of the items that you plan to sell. For example, you could sell one item that would equal $500 in profit. Or, you could sell 50 items at $10 each to achieve $500 […]
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