Instant Term Life Insurance Without an Exam – Haven Life Insurance Review

Historically, life insurance has been a taboo subject. As humans, we’re hardwired to think we’ll live forever. Since discussing life insurance means we’re addressing our own mortality, far too many of us choose to avoid the situation altogether.

Fortunately, the tide appears to be turning as more and more families choose to buy coverage for their families. As a 2016 study from life insurance research and development agency (LIMRA) showed, around 70 percent of American adults have some type of life insurance coverage. Further, the number of households with life insurance coverage grew by 5 million from 2010 to 2016 – showing an increase of 6 percent.

Parents under 45 with children in the home are buying coverage at higher levels than ever. From 2010 to 2016, individual coverage for millennials under the age of 35 also grew by a whopping 48 percent.

While this is all good news, far too many families still don’t have enough life insurance coverage in place. As a 2015 study from Bankrate showed, nearly half of respondents said they had less than $100,000 in coverage, while 21 percent noted they had $21,000 in coverage or less. While some coverage is better than nothing, for most families, this isn’t nearly enough.

Introducing Haven Life

Fortunately, there’s a new – and easy – way to purchase the right amount of term life insurance coverage for your family. With Haven Life, you can apply for a tailored life insurance policy online and get coverage in a matter of days – or even hours.

Better yet, you can purchase a Haven Life term life insurance policy on top of the life insurance coverage you already have. So, if you have a life insurance policy through your employer, you don’t have to give it up. Best of all, term life insurance typically coverage costs a lot less than you think.

But, why Haven Life? First off, Haven Life only sells affordable term life insurance. With Haven Life, you’ll never have to endure a long sales speech about whole life insurance that costs an arm and a leg. Since Haven Life only sells term coverage, you can shop for the coverage you want without worrying about cheesy salesman or absurd pricing. Keep in mind, a 35-year-old man could buy $500,000 in term life insurance coverage for as little as $21 per month!

• Related: Life Insurance 101: Types of Life Insurance Explained

Another huge reason to shop for life insurance with Haven Life? You can apply entirely online. By clicking through to Haven Life’s online application page, you could be on your way to affordable life insurance coverage in minutes. Simply fill out the application with your personal details, health information, and life insurance needs, and you’ll quickly find out how much you qualify for – and how much it costs.

And if you’re in perfect health, the news could be even better. Because Haven Life offers InstantTerm – a type of policy that doesn’t require a medical exam – those with excellent health could apply for life insurance coverage and have a policy in place within hours. You don’t have to apply for an  InstantTerm policy separately, either. Once you fill out Haven Life’s application, you’ll find out whether you qualify for  InstantTerm right away.  If you do not qualify,  you will have 90 days to go through the standard medical exam procedure that most other term life insurance companies employ.

Where you once had to sit in a stuffy insurance agent’s office to buy life insurance or get contacted by a bunch of agents through an online form, the online application process created by Haven Life has made buying a policy that much easier. Better yet, you’ll get the same quality of coverage you would buy through a normal agent and you get coverage that is competitive with the rest of the industry, even those that require a medical exam.

With Haven Life, you can count on receiving:

• A simple online application process
• No medical exam for qualified, healthy applicants
• Easy price and policy comparisons
• An immediate decision with InstantTerm
• Backing of Mass Mutual, an insurer with 160 years of experience
• A plain language no commission policy

The Haven Life Online Application Process

Since you’re reading this review, you’re probably aware you need more life insurance coverage. While you’ve taken a positive first step in the right direction, you’re not done yet. In order to receive the coverage your family so desperately needs, you need to move forward with the application process.

The good news is, the Haven Life online application process is simple – and with no strings attached. To get started, you’ll simply head to HavenLife.com and fill out some basic information on the home page. From there, you’ll select the prompt that says “begin application.”

Once you begin your application, you’ll need to fill out some basic information about yourself, your income, your family, and your health. Before you get started, here are some details you’ll need to have ready:

• Name
• Address
• Income
• Net Worth
• Employment Status
• Military Status
• Criminal History
• Driving History
• Travel Plans
• Tobacco Use
• Alcohol Use
• Health History
• Social Security Number
• Driver’s License Number

Once you submit the required information, you’ll get an answer immediately on whether you’re approved or not and how much your monthly premium will be. In some cases, you’ll need to complete a medical exam to get coverage, but will still have coverage while the underwriting process takes its course. Fort those who qualify with the best rate class, however, will likely qualify for an InstantTerm policy with no medical exam required. With Haven Life’s InstantTerm, you can apply for coverage in the morning and have a life insurance policy in place by afternoon.

How Much Does Term Life Insurance from Haven Life Cost?

While whole life insurance coverage can be prohibitively expensive, term life can be downright cheap. I filled out a few applications to work up some examples, and here’s what I found:

• A 35-year-old woman in excellent health can buy a 20-year term policy with a death benefit of $500,000 for as little as $18.50 per month.
• A 47-year-old man in excellent health can buy a 20-year term insurance policy for $500,000 for as little as $58.50 per month
• A 26-year-old man can buy a 30-year term life policy for $250,000 for as little as $19.75 per month.
• A 36-year-old woman can buy a 20-year policy for $750,000 for as little as $28 per month.

At the end of the day, the cost of your policy depends on factors such as your age, your health, and how much coverage you want to buy. That’s why filling out a preliminary application with Haven Life is the best way to get started – you don’t know how much you could save unless you apply. Even if you hope to buy a larger policy, it may be more affordable than you think.

On the other hand, Haven Life does have the right to deny applicants who have poor health or a higher risk of early death. And even if you’re quoted an affordable monthly rate, the true monthly premium of your policy could change once your medical exam results are read. Fortunately, you are not required to purchase a term life insurance policy from Haven Life – even after you submit an application and complete a medical exam.

Also keep in mind that Haven Life offers quotes from competing insurers as well as their own. If you could find a better deal on term life insurance elsewhere, Haven Life will let you know. Since term life insurance all works similarly, the best thing you can do is shop around among different issuers or at least compare prices before you buy. Haven Life makes this part easy by offering competing quotes directly on their own site.

What are People Saying About Haven Life?

Although Haven Life launched in May of 2015, they have already built an excellent reputation among both consumers and life insurance ratings agencies. This is partly because Haven Life is owned by MassMutual, an insurer with 160 years of experience in the life insurance business. As of September 2016, MassMutual and its subsidiaries C.M. Life Insurance Company and MML Bay State Life Insurance Company were rated by A.M. Best Company as A++ (Superior; Top category of 15).

Of course, ratings aren’t nearly as important as firsthand reviews and experience. Fortunately, I know one person who saved almost 50 percent on her premiums when she bought a 20-year term policy for $750,000 last year. Where another company quoted her $60 per month for coverage, a policy with Haven Life came in at just $28 per month.

Trust Pilot also offers a range of ongoing reviews from new Haven Life customers. Here are some of the reviews consumers have left:

“The experience with Have Life was excellent. The process was very easy and not burdensome. The response was quick and not drawn out like I experienced with other life insurance companies.” – Tiffani

“Can’t say enough good comments about this product and the ease , no hassle experience with this company. Their website is very easy to use which made it easy to decide exactly what I wanted. A couple of emails back and forth, a 20 minute visit by the nurse to for the medical checkup and that was it. No pressure, no trying to steer me to a different product, can’t beat it!” – William

“The process of buying life insurance through Haven Life was great. I dreaded going to see a financial advisor who would try to sell me on products I didn’t want or need. This was a perfect alternative to that process and took less than 30 minutes to complete. If you know what your looking for and don’t want the hassle of a salesman trying to upsell you, Haven Life is perfect.” – Benjamin

How Much Life Insurance Should I Buy?

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who have some life insurance coverage, you might wonder whether buying more is a good investment. Keep in mind that most experts suggest buying at least 5-10x your income in life insurance coverage. If you earn $50,000 per year, for example, you’ll want to have at least $250,000 – $500,000 in place.

While this is a good place to start, many experts believe you need a whole lot more. Fortunately, Haven Life offers a life insurance calculator you can play around with to get an idea of how much coverage to buy. Based on your answers to a series of questions, you can get a general range of coverage that will adequately protect your spouse and kids.

While there are numerous reasons to load up on life insurance coverage, here are some of the main life expenses your policy needs to cover:

• Income Replacement – If you or your spouse were to pass away early, you would need to make sure your life insurance policy was adequate to replace your income during your working years.
• College Tuition – If you have children and want them to attend college, it’s important to consider this expense when you buy life insurance. With enough coverage in place, you could get your kids through college debt-free.
• Mortgage Payments – Whether you have the typical thirty-year mortgage or a loan with a shorter term, it’s important to consider how this loan will be paid off if you died. Consider adding enough life insurance to pay for your mortgage in its entirety upon your death.
• Funeral Expenses – Passing away before your time is both tragic and expensive. Depending on the type of funeral your family plans, they might need to spend $10,000 or more. Make sure your life insurance policy is large enough to coverage funeral expenses in addition to everything else.
• Children’s Expenses – Kids are expensive, and they only get more expensive as they age. If you have children at home, make sure you have plenty of coverage to pay for daily living expenses, college tuition, sporting events, weddings, and more.

Who Can Get a Haven Life Policy?

If you’re thinking about getting a Haven Life term life insurance policy, you’re in luck. Currently, the insurer sells affordable term life insurance in 48 states plus the District of Columbia. They’re not yet available in California or Montana, but they hope to change that soon.

To qualify for a policy, you must meet medical standards or pass a medical exam set up by Haven Life. You should be at least 18-years-old but younger than 65. You also need to meet the following qualifications:

• Be a non-military U.S. citizen
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Not intend to use the policy for business purposes or to replace another policy

Conclusion

If you’re thinking of buying a term life insurance policy, don’t delay. The younger you are when you buy a policy, the more affordable your monthly premiums will be. And if you should happen to become sick, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you already have the life insurance coverage you need.

To get started, visit Haven Life’s home page to begin the quick and simple process of applying online. Within a matter of minutes, you should have a general idea of whether you’ll qualify, how much coverage you can buy, and how much your monthly premiums will cost.

You may not want to talk about life insurance, but you do need to act. Buying an inexpensive term policy is the best way to protect your family today, tomorrow, and always.

Do you have term life insurance coverage? How much did you pay?

Source Good Financial Cents http://ift.tt/2jRJmRu

Worried About Affording an EpiPen? This New Alternative May Ease Your Mind

We all know that 2016 was a mess. There were a lot of things that just seemed to go so wrong.

But 2017 holds the potential for redemption, and it’s already on the right track. This month, CVS Pharmacy began offering an EpiPen alternative — and it comes at a (much) lower cost than what we saw last year.

The Rising Price of the EpiPen

Back in the summer months, the now-infamous EpiPen manufacturer, Mylan, raised the price of the lifesaving EpiPen Auto-Injector to more than $600 for a pack of two.

And while a few tricks aimed to make the EpiPen more affordable, this news still left allergy sufferers anxious about whether they would have the lifesaving care they needed in the event of a severe allergic reaction.

And that’s a scary way to live.

Several months later, in an attempt to quell the outrage following the original price hike, Mylan announced it had released an “authorized generic” version of the EpiPen which costs somewhere around $300 for a pack of two. (OK, better. But not quite good enough!)

That’s why this news is so great: CVS Pharmacy is now providing a more affordable alternative to the epinephrine auto-injector — the generic version of the EpiPen’s top competitor, Adrenaclick.

This new FDA-approved alternative features the same active ingredient found in other epinephrine auto-injector devices, meaning there’s no reason not to take advantage of CVS Pharmacy’s awesome price point.

Get Some Peace of Mind That’s Affordable

Here’s the deal: you can’t put a price tag on saving a life. Well, unless you’re Mylan, but we see how well that went. (Can you see me rolling my eyes from all the way over there?)

And while we could stand to see the price of the epinephrine auto-injector drop even lower — experts estimate that each device costs as little as $20 to manufacture — CVS Pharmacy is certainly the hero that 2017 deserves.

This new epinephrine auto-injector device will go for a cash payment price of $109.99 for a pack of two. That’s about $55 each!

And while this in itself is huge news, there are ways to bring this number down even further. If you have insurance, use this card to get your epinephrine auto-injector for as little as $0 out of pocket.

As a bonus, you can rack up points on each pharmacy purchase using CVS Pharmacy’s ExtraCare Card to spend throughout the store — and while you’re there, check out some other ways to save while shopping at CVS.

Your Turn: Have you been affected by the EpiPen price hike?

Grace Schweizer is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s not a huge fan of the big guys taking advantage of the little guys.

The post Worried About Affording an EpiPen? This New Alternative May Ease Your Mind appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2jREBrb

Millennials Will Actually Do This to Save Money — But Most Seniors Won’t

If you needed to quickly find some extra money to cover an emergency expense, what would you be willing to give up?

If you answered “anything but booze,” you’re not alone.

Only 37% of Americans surveyed are willing to give up alcohol in order to save money, according to a new Bankrate survey.

That’s surprising, but the differences between older generations and millennials are where things really get interesting:

• A mere 17% of people 71 or older said they’d skip the sauce.

• Millennials are far more responsible than their elders, with 51% saying they’d give up their craft beer and cordials.

• 44% of millennials said they’d also cut back on their coffee consumption.

Even if they don’t give up booze, 69% of millennials would still rather cut back on overall spending or dip into their savings, rather than rack up credit card debt to cover an unexpected expense.

Meanwhile, only 41% of all adults surveyed say they’d use their savings in an emergency.

The survey also found three out of five Americans had a major expense in the past year. Most of the emergencies were related to illness, car trouble or home repairs.

“It’s not a matter of if, but when an unexpected expense will pop up,” National Endowment for Financial Education spokesperson Paul Golden told Bankrate. “It’s only a matter of time.”  

Been There, Done That

I can attest to this.

Late last year, my family was hit with a $1,200 bill for a structural engineering survey after it was discovered our home might be sitting over a sinkhole (yes, I’m pretty freaked out).

If we need further assessments it will cost an additional several thousand dollars (even more freaked out).

My husband and I will decide at that point whether to use a credit card or some of our savings — just skipping a few morning lattes isn’t going to cover that bill. Bankrate is right: Since we’re Generation X-ers, we’ll probably go the credit card route, but we’ll cross that bridge if we come to it.

I have to say, millennials’ commitment to saving money for a rainy day without relying on credit cards is pretty impressive.

They’re regularly bagged on for living too much in the moment — but if the Bankrate survey is any indication, it’s older generations that could learn a thing or two from our kids about money management.

Convinced it’s time to build an emergency fund of your own so you don’t have to give up margaritas and macchiatos? Here’s everything you need to know to get started.

Your turn: What was your last unexpected expense? How did you pay for it?

Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She believes in saving up for emergencies but who can really predict a sinkhole?

The post Millennials Will Actually Do This to Save Money — But Most Seniors Won’t appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2iuHaTY

If You Fall in One of These 4 Categories, You Should Buy Postage Now

Every time I mention I need to buy stamps, someone always scoffs, “Who uses stamps anymore?”

But every time I go to the post office, I end up in a line six or eight deep.

Mailing stuff is still big business. But it’s about to get a little more expensive.

Less than a year ago, the U.S. Postal Service gave us a 2-cent break on stamp prices. But this month, prices are going back up, to 49 cents per stamp.

What gives? Is the Postal Service just wishy-washy?

There a method to the math, but Penny Hoarders know what this change really means: The best time to buy postage is right now.

Why You Should Buy Stamps This Week

Unless you’re looking for a special edition postage stamp, most stamps are now labeled “Forever” instead of with a monetary value; you can use them regardless of the fluctuating price of stamps.

On Sunday, Jan. 22, the price for those Forever stamps will increase 2 cents. Here are the mailing price changes you need to know:

• Letters: 47 cents to 49 cents

• Small Priority flat-rate box: $6.80 to $7.15

• Medium Priority flat-rate box: $13.45 to $13.60

• Large Priority flat-rate box: $18.75 to $18.85

• Large APO/FPO flat-rate box: $16.75 to $17.35

• Regular flat-rate Priority envelope: $6.45 to $6.65

• Legal flat-rate Priority envelope: $6.45 to $6.95

• Padded flat-rate Priority envelope: $6.80 to $7.20

If you fall into one of these categories, you should probably get in line to buy stamps or Priority postage right now:

1.You Actually Send Letters

If you buy a book of 20 stamps this week, you’ll pay $9.40. Next week, a book of stamps will cost $9.80. Two cents per stamp doesn’t seem like much, but think about how many letters you mail in an average year. If it’s more than 20 — people who still pay rent by mail, sing it with me — it’s worth stocking up now and saving 40 cents per book.

2. You Sell on Etsy, eBay or Another Online Platform

If you sell anything online, you’ll probably see a small increase in the cost of mailing each package. A cent here or there? No big deal. But over the course of a year, the increase can mean hundreds in additional business costs.

Make plans now to adjust your prices to account for the postage increase. Then, buy whatever supplies you can before the price goes up on stamps or Priority flat-rate postage.

3. You’re Getting Married

Letters heavier than 1 ounce cost an extra 21 cents, which means your fancy-dancy wedding invitations could cost 70 cents each to mail instead of 68. Plus, you’re probably putting stamps on the invitation-response cards. And the save-the-dates. And all those thank-you cards you’re totally going to write within three months of the wedding.

I’m not saying you have to send all those items to have a fun wedding celebration. I’m just saying that if you plan to mail any of them, you’re about to pay a bit more.

4. You Want to Make Some Extra Cash

Did you know you can buy and sell unused postage stamps on eBay? Buy a bunch at 47 cents each now and sell them later as the price continues to increase. Bonus tip: Don’t just buy whatever stamp the guy behind the counter offers you. Ask for the cool stamps that collectors or letter-writing fanatics might be looking for later. Your profits may be small, but a small profit is way better than no profit.

What’s Up With All the Price Changes on Stamps? They’re Just Stamps

The price changes are actually more calculated than you might think.

In 2014, the U.S. Postal Service got permission to raise stamp prices by 3 cents (from 46 cents to 49 cents) for a two-year period. The hike was essentially a fundraiser for the Postal Service, which doesn’t receive any government funding. Instead, it makes all its money off us mailing things.

Stamp prices are typically tied to the rate of inflation, so when the two-year special increase expired in spring of 2016, stamp prices dropped back to 47 cents — which was in accordance with the inflation rate.

This month’s increase is just another turn in the inflation game, but it seems more severe because we just played this back-and-forth game.

Your Turn: Will you buy postage stamps before the rate increase?

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

The post If You Fall in One of These 4 Categories, You Should Buy Postage Now appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2jhm1JZ

These 3 Work-From-Home Jobs are Open Right Now (One Pays $16/Hour)

Are you still looking for the perfect job for your lifestyle? We’re always on the lookout for great work-from-home opportunities!

Remote customer services jobs are a good fit if you’re looking for the flexibility of working from home and the stability of a full-time or part-time job with an established company. You can often work non-traditional hours if it fits your schedule and work in sweatpants, if that’s your style.

Here are three work-from-home customer service jobs to apply to today:

1. Customer Relations Associate at Pier 1 Imports (Fort Worth, Texas)

Are you passionate about interior decorating? You’ve probably spent your share of hours inside a Pier 1 Imports store!

The company is hiring remote customer relations associates near Fort Worth, Texas.

A customer relations associate takes incoming calls from customers to help make purchases or resolve issues.

This is a work-from-home job with hours including holidays, evenings, weekends and weekdays. Your schedule would be flexible, and you can work full-time or part-time.

Pier 1 offers “competitive pay and benefits,” plus a 25% employee discount as soon as you start.

Paid training starts March 6, and you’d need to work from the corporate office in Fort Worth for the first 90 days, plus at least two days a month going forward. Otherwise, you can work from home.

Applicants should have some customer service experience. In your home office, you should have high-speed internet access (hard-wired) and a quiet, distraction-free workspace. The company would provide the necessary computer equipment.

To apply: Fill out the online application and pre-employment assessment here.

2. Customer Service Tech Support at Conduent Global

Conduent, a business process services company, is hiring work-from-home customer care assistants in Pennsylvania and New Mexico and a bilingual (Spanish/English) virtual call center rep anywhere in the U.S.

You would take calls from customers to answer questions, resolve issues and recommend products to suit their needs.

These are full-time positions that come with great benefits:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance after 60 days

• 401(k) retirement plan after 60 days

• Educational assistance

• Paid time off after six months

Schedule is flexible, depending on your availability. These listings don’t specify pay, but a listing for a similiar in-house position pays $10.70 an hour plus bonuses.

Applicants should be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and be able to pass a drug test and criminal background check. The position may require you to come into a local office or vendor site for pre-employment screening and new hire documents.

To apply: Fill out the online application for New Mexico, Pennsylvania or national positions.

3. Customer Service Sales Representative at Alan’s Factory Outlet

Alan’s Factory Outlet is an online retailer and builder of garages, gazebos, carports, storage units and other structures in the southeastern U.S.

The family-owned business is hiring a remote customer service sales representative to answer customer calls and emails.

This is a full-time work-from-home position starting at $16 an hour. Hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

Applicants should have at least three years’ customer service experience and an associate degree (bachelor’s preferred) and love helping people. You should also be interested in the business, as you’ll have to become familiar with all the products and services to assist customers.

You should have a quiet home office with high-speed internet, a headset and a printer/scanner.

To apply: Start by submitting your resume through the job listing. The hiring process will include a one-way video interview, online test, phone interview, live video interview, and reference and background check.

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

Your Turn: Have you found any interesting work-from-home jobs lately?

Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer’s Digest and more, attempting humor wherever it’s allowed (and sometimes where it’s not).

 

The post These 3 Work-From-Home Jobs are Open Right Now (One Pays $16/Hour) appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2jXE8I3

Amazon’s New Credit Card Offers Serious Benefits — But Should You Sign Up?

Amazon has offered its own credit card for a while.

We’ve all seen the credit-card offer pop up in the Amazon checkout process. “Your total could be $0!” as the bolded text promises a gift card large enough to pay for all of your books, live plants or sundry items when you apply for the card.

But with so many points-laden, benefit-rich credit cards on the market right now, it was easy to ignore Amazon’s offer and stick with whatever payment method you’d been using.

Until now.

The new Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is so tempting, it might get you to abandon all other shopping methods — as if you shopped anywhere else at this point.

What’s So Special About Amazon’s New Credit Card?

Amazon’s new credit card promises as much as 5% back on purchases made with the card.

Instead of getting a credit toward your balance, the reward comes back in the form of points you can redeem on future Amazon purchases.

Prime members get 5% back on Amazon.com purchases, along with 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drug stores. All other purchases get 1% back.

Every 100 points you earn converts to $1 toward future Amazon purchases. When you choose your Amazon Prime credit card as your payment method, you have the option to use a portion or all of your points toward the total.

You also receive a $70 Amazon gift card once your application is approved.

Hello, This Thing is a Trap

Amazon’s new credit card is sure to entice superfans to apply. But there’s a dark side to the rewards.

This credit card has an APR of 14.74% to 22.74%, depending on your credit health. If you’re the type to carry a balance on your credit cards, do not pass go, do not collect anything. It’s not worth the long-term risk to get these rewards.

The interest rate isn’t even the biggest red flag for this credit card. The scarier thing is that it exists at all.

Amazon has cornered us, simultaneously figuring out what we want to consume and figuring out how to make us dependent on its methods of getting those goods to us.

The retail giant does media, online storage, grocery delivery, just-about-everything-else delivery — and it’s done all that while conditioning us to expect to receive online orders in two business days or less.

I love shopping on Amazon because I love expending as little energy as possible when I shop. But I’m fully aware of how much I spend on the website, primarily due to convenience.

Would it be great to have those points to spend on future purchases? Sure, I love a bargain.

But I’m not sure I want Amazon’s hooks in me any deeper.

Your Turn: Will you apply for Amazon’s new credit card?

Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer at The Penny Hoarder. Yes, she has bought live plants from Amazon.

The post Amazon’s New Credit Card Offers Serious Benefits — But Should You Sign Up? appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2js26tY

Questions About 401(k) Fees, Razors, Camping with Kids, 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. 401(k) fees and other options
2. Personal finance book recommendations
3. Roth IRA, 401(k), and taxes
4. Learn how to program cheaply
5. National park camping with kids
6. Saving for a reward
7. Evernote and encryption
8. Belt buying advice
9. When to toss a razor
10. Saving old statements
11. When to start garden planning?
12. Exchange health care plan options

Winter is such a confounding season. I actually love brisk weather – I love it when it’s around 30 degrees or 40 degrees out. There’s a certain crispness to the air that I absolutely love. I love snow, in manageable amounts.

What I don’t like is when the temperature drops low enough (usually about 10 degrees F or below) where it’s miserable to go outside. I especially don’t like ice storms that leave everything slick.

Right now, we’re in the midst of a giant ice storm. Our family dog fell down in our driveway and slid about fifteen feet. I only made it to the end of the driveway by holding firmly onto a vehicle along the way. It is absolutely unsafe to drive anywhere and absolutely unsafe to walk anywhere, either. I’m stuck inside.

It’s slick and miserable and all I want is for the temperature to rise enough to melt all of it away.

Q1: 401(k) fees and other options

I have a conundrum that I’m hoping you can shed some light on. I work full time (going part-time later today!) and my nonprofit does not offer retirement benefits. I currently put $300/month into a Vanguard IRA with very low fees, my take home is going to be $2300/month. My husband works full time and his company offers retirement but no match. His take home is $3267 after taxes, family insurance, and putting $499 out of every paycheck into a 401K (maxing) and another $230 for a Roth IRA. These accounts are held through an investment company/broker person and have much higher fees, around 1.5%. There aren’t any other options through his work, although there are other funds we could choose that seem to have slightly lower fees but also lower average returns.

We’re both in our late 30s and our investment/retirement balances are just $100k due to lots of debt that we prioritized for several years (not sorry!), so we’re catching up. Even though we’re still paying off low-interest student loan debt, and throwing a lot at that, we want to put this amount of money into retirement right now. Do you see any other options for retirement investing for my husband that would have lower fees? Is it possible to transfer money from an account when he’s actively contributing to a different account, like a low-cost Vanguard or Fidelity investment? If it helps, I currently make $52,500, going down to about $39,000, and my husband makes $75,000.
– Kim

The ability to roll over a 401(k), and when you can do it, varies a lot from plan to plan. You’d have to have a conversation with the plan manager to find out what options are available to you and what restrictions you have.

Having said that, if you’re not receiving any matching funds from your employer for 401(k) contributions, you should make it a priority to hit your annual contribution cap on your Roth IRA before contributing a dime to that 401(k) plan. That’s a very high fee and you should avoid it if you can.

Basically, here’s the priority you should be following. First, you should contribute to the 401(k) at whatever amount you need to in order to get all of the employer matching money. If there’s no matching, skip that step. Then, you should contribute to a Roth IRA up to the annual contribution limit (usually $5,500). If you still want to contribute more, you can either go back to that 401(k) or put it in a taxable account you manage yourself. There are advantages and disadvantages each way, mostly due to the fact that a 1.5% expense ratio in that 401(k) is way too high.

Q2: Personal finance book recommendations

I am 45, divorced & plan to remarry in the next year or so a great guy; we both have grown kids. Is there a book you would recommend to older couples on merging finances later in life? Or one, for finances later in life?
– Jill

I don’t know of any books specifically targeting older newlyweds. There are quite a few books targeting people in your age range, however.

Surprisingly, one of the best all-around finance books I’ve seen for people in their 40s and 50s is The Everything Personal Finance in Your 40s and 50s Book, which is well-written, easy to read, and quite comprehensive. My expectations are usually low for books in that kind of series format, but this one is very solid, particularly in terms of the basics. A similarly good book is The Charles Schwab Guide to Finances After Fifty by Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz.

The thing is, I’m mot 100% sure either book will be of a tremendous help to you. Most personal finance books tend to cover the basics really well and both of those books do that, but they don’t really tell you what kind of plan to follow. They mostly give you the facts and some things to think about and assume you’ll use those to develop a plan on your own. They’re akin to a bucket of Lego bricks – very useful, and they can be used to build anything, but they don’t tell you how to build it. For good reason, too – everyone’s life is a little different and thus their plan is a little different.

My thinking is that if you read several personal finance books like those and still feel uncertain about what to do, you need some guidance in personalizing a plan, and that’s where a fee-based financial advisor can help. I don’t think it’s wrong to want to use an advisor, nor do I think it’s wrong to plan it yourself; it depends on your personality.

Jill had a second question

Q3: Roth IRA, 401(k), and taxes

On Roth vs standard IRA or 401k. Several posts suggest that when all things are equal (current vs retirement income) splitting between the two options. Sounds good there. However, what I have not seen explored is the impact having a Roth may have on things like social security. There are some income thresholds where social security is taxable (is it only when one is below the maximum retirement age?). Would a withdrawal from the Roth count as taxable income in this circumstance?

For example: if I chose to retire at 62 & take social security then, my estimate is $18k a year. My fiancé (husband’s) is similar. I should also have a pension about that same amount ($18k) for a total family income of $54k a year. Based upon the formula on the IRS website we should be just above the base amount for consideration of taxes on social security. (1/2 social security + taxable income > $32k (married, filing joint)). Then there is the potential that I would need to pay taxes on $2k of the social security. If I take distributions from my standard ira/401k that would only add to the amount of social security that is taxed. If I take distributions from a Roth, would it have an impact?
– Jill

In general, Roth IRA distributions will not count against you when it comes to determining the portion of your Social Security benefits that must be included in taxable income, but 401(k) distributions will.

The problem with relying on specific numbers like that for retirement planning is that in the 20 or so years between now and your retirement, a lot of those specifics are going to change. Tax rates will change. Social Security rules will change. Formulas will change.

The reason a balanced approach is usually suggested is to hedge against future uncertainty. You won’t have the “best” results, but you won’t have disastrous results, either.

Q4: Learn how to program cheaply

What’s the cheapest way to learn how to program? Want to see if it’s right for me but all options seem expensive.
– Alvin

Free Code Camp is hands-down the best place on the internet to start learning how to program. It’s a giant array of free classes and resources to teach you how to code. I would never, ever start with a paid program; I would always start here.

Having said that, there will come a point when you’ve gone through the certifications at Free Code Camp and there are still gaps in your knowledge. At that point, I’d turn to something like Team Treehouse and use their resources to fill in your knowledge gaps. It’s a paid service, but it’s top quality and it’s cheaper than many other services.

If you’ve done all of those things and earned certifications, you’re probably ready to get some kind of a job as a developer.

Q5: National park camping with kids

How do you guys really pull off going to national parks for several days with three younger kids? Do they get bored? How do you keep them engaged? How do you handle sleeping arrangements? A big tent? We have a six year old and four year old and love the idea but it just seems difficult.
– Mark

We have a lot of tools in our repertoire for keeping our kids engaged on a national park trip. Our biggest tool, honestly, is geocaching; we turn all of our hikes and explorations into a treasure hunt. Usually, Sarah and I will pick out a morning trail and then a longer afternoon trail each day and over breakfast we’ll look for geocaches on those trails and describe them to the kids. This usually gets them interested. (Other than our geocaching tool, Sarah and I institute a “no device” rule for camping, for adults and kids, which helps.)

In addition, Sarah and I usually spend time reading a lot of travel guides and thus we can point out interesting things on our explorations. We also usually walk and hike so much that we’re all absolutely worn out when we get back to the campsite and prepare a meal over the fire. The combination of fresh air and lots and lots of exercise (think 20,000 or 25,000 steps of trail hiking and walking) always does the trick for all of us. We’re usually dead in the evenings and go to bed early.

For sleeping, we used to use an eight person tent, but a couple of years ago, Sarah saved up some of her hobby money and purchased a used pop-up camper similar to what her parents had when she was younger and we sleep in that at night now. Both work just fine; I actually somewhat prefer the tent because of ease of use as I don’t like pulling the trailer.

Q6: Saving for a reward

Saving for a reward is something my husband and I have done via the funds from a vice, and I would like to share our strategy.

When my husband quit smoking, what had been cigarette money (a pack a day ~ $75 every two weeks) was auto-drafted into its own savings account. That account was dedicated to a vacation we had planned before we had a medical scare to pay off, and it also gave us something to look forward to during a very difficult time. Since we were used to the money already being out of our budget, we didn’t miss it, and it made it possible to take a trip that meant a great deal to us after a very close call. We cut back HARD to pay off the medical bills without tapping the vacation money, and we did it!

Since then, whenever we’ve cut or reduced an expense, that money becomes either its own savings account or is added to existing accounts (emergency fund, vacation, car, etc.). Per the original question’s example, I imagine this could be done with the difference in grocery bills, decreased medical costs, etc.
– Connie

I think saving up for a reward for yourself for good behavior is a great policy. It gives you something tangible to work towards, not something that’s nebulous and far-off like retirement. Of course, when you do reach your financial target, that doesn’t mean you have to use it that way if you decide not to. You might just find a higher mountain to climb.

Personally, I do the same thing. I save money for months for Gencon, which is a trip I take each year with several old friends. Each year, I take plenty of cash with me. Each year, I never spend it all and come home with some. However, it’s wonderful to have that goal to save for, and it’s also wonderful to be able to go on that trip with my friends and not really worry about budgeting to buy something along the way; I know I’ve planned for it.

Goals are just great.

Q7: Evernote and encryption

So what is your reasoning behind not putting any personal information on Evernote? Michael Hyatt and Tim Ferriss both feel as if it is completely fine to put personal info on. Side note I would tend to agree with you on this, but if you have reasoning appreciated.
– Barry

This is a question spawned by my recent article about how I use Evernote, a tool I consider essential.

In general, I do not trust any service with my private information unless I absolutely have to. I would not put my Social Security number or other such data anywhere unless it was utterly required, and in that case, I’d do the best I could to transmit that data as securely as possible. Thus, I see no reason to have my personal data in Evernote; it is not absolutely required there.

So what exactly does Evernote do in terms of encryption? It’s described here, but in a nutshell, the communication between your device (phone or computer) and the Evernote servers is secured, but the contents of your notes are stored in plain text on the Evernote servers unless you take an additional step to encrypt them, as described here.

Since 99% of my notes are things like notes from classes, brainstorming sessions, recipe pictures from magazines or cookbooks, and so on, this really doesn’t bother me, but I actually do encrypt any of the key notes from projects that I’m working on.

Would I feel okay having my private information in an encrypted note in Evernote? Honestly, I’d feel roughly as secure as I would having it in just about any online service with solid encryption. It wouldn’t keep me up at night, but I wouldn’t be 100% happy with it. This isn’t anything negative about Evernote; it’s just a general way I feel about all cloud services.

Q8: Belt buying advice

Do you have any suggestions for buying a men’s belt that will actually last? I have bought belts at several stores only to find them falling apart usually the latch ripping off of the leather. I want to find one that lasts more than a month without spending hundreds.
– Darrell

The belts that cost hundreds that you mention are usually crafted to look incredible but aren’t necessarily long lasting, either. I’ve had the same trouble as you and I’ve only really found three belt companies that build good long-lasting belts that didn’t charge hundreds, as you mention.

Anson Belt makes a belt that’s microadjustable and doesn’t have the holes in it like other belts. I’ve personally used these and found that there’s a lot less wear and tear on the leather without the fastening and unfastening mechanism on most belts, which accounts for their relatively long lifespan.

Orion belts are made with absurdly thick leather and also reduce the force applied to the fastener and to the belt hole by having dual holes and fasteners on most models.

Saddleback makes a more traditional single hole leather belt, but they treat their leather in such a way that it’s very tough. My experience has been that the belt is so tough that it’s almost rigid for a long while after you first start wearing it, but it really lasts.

All of these belts do a great job of being much more long lasting than a typical department store belt for different reasons and all clock in at or below the $100 threshold.

Q9: When to toss a razor

When do you decide that it’s time to toss a disposable razor cartridge? I’m always trying to get “more value” out of a cartridge and end up cutting myself, but on the other hand, throwing it away always on the first use or two is a bad idea because you can get several more shaves out of it.
– Darren

Here’s my solution to this. Each time I shave, before and after the shave, I “sharpen” it by running the blades backwards on my soapy forearm a few times. I usually then decide whether to throw away the cartridge based on the smoothness of the shave. If I find I’m having to shave over the same spot two or three times and it still doesn’t feel smooth afterwards, I toss the cartridge.

The “sharpening” seems to take care of the worst spots on the blades – the spots that would actually nick you – but it can’t stop the gradual reduction in the edge of the blade.

I find that I can usually get about 25 shaves out of a typical cartridge, more or less. I tried switching to a safety razor a few times but my face skin is really sensitive and I ended up with bright red jaws due to skin irritation.

Q10: Saving old statements

How long should you save old bank statements and credit card statements? I know you should save tax docs for seven years, but what about other statements? Can’t find any “standard” advice for them.
– Alice

Seven years is a perfectly good number. Just file them all away in folders when you receive them.

My system is to have a folder that says something akin to “Bank of America Credit Card – 2017 Statements” and then in that folder I keep all twelve of the statements that arrive that year, paperclipped together. I’ll do the same for each card and each bank statement that we receive. I keep all of these in a filing cabinet in my office. Every seven years, I chuck all of the old ones.

This system really doesn’t take up a whole lot of space. It works pretty well.

Q11: When to start garden planning?

My husband and I live in northern Iowa and bought a house in August. We’re planning on starting a vegetable garden together in the spring and have been inspired by your occasional gardening posts. (More of them please!) When do you start planning for your garden in the spring? Do you grow starts inside?
– Annie

We’re already planning, actually. At this point, it’s mostly just a diagram and a possible seed order.

Usually, in late February or early March, we’ll plant some seeds in biodegradable cups and put them in a tray near our biggest window. We’ll water them and care for them so that they’re pretty tall when the weather turns pleasant, then we’ll plant them on a Saturday afternoon. This usually gives us fresh produce in June or July. (In fact, sometimes we’ll start a second batch of seedlings inside in late May and as soon as harvesting the other plants in late June is done, we’ll tear them out and throw in a second batch for a late harvest in September or early October. This only works for stuff with a short cycle, though.)

We usually wait to plant until the long term National Weather Service forecast does not show any nights that dip below freezing. This often happens in April, but has been in early May before, too.

Q12: Exchange health care plan options

My wife and I have a health care plan through our state’s health care exchange. In 2013, we both left our jobs to start a small business and use that exchange plan. If the ACA is repealed, what do we do?
– Andrew

Likely, you’d continue on the health care plan you have at the time it’s repealed through the end of the year, at which point your insurer may or may not offer you a new plan, likely depending on your pre-existing conditions and other things that might flag you as a risk.

However, that’s a guess. It is really, really unclear what the next year or two hold in terms of health care options for people. I am very hesitant to make predictions about the future, especially on something that could go in so many directions as this could.

I will say this: I will be shocked if the entirety of the ACA is repealed and not replaced with something. The question is what exactly that something is, and that remains to be seen.

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.

The post Questions About 401(k) Fees, Razors, Camping with Kids, and More! appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Source The Simple Dollar http://ift.tt/2jXoAE5

Is the FTSE 100 about to slip up?

Gary Adams

If you’ve kept an eye on the business pages this year you may have noticed something unusual – the FTSE 100 has closed the day at an unending series of highs – 14 days so far – and counting.

If you’ve kept an eye on the business pages this year you may have noticed something unusual – the FTSE 100 has closed the day at an unending series of highs – 14 days so far – and counting.

read more

Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2joIA1M

15 Advanced Facebook Advertising Techniques You Probably Didn’t Know About

Facebook advertising is just as powerful in 2017 as it’s ever been.

Perhaps even more so.

The sheer volume of users alone (1.71 billion as of July 2016) makes it a digital marketer’s playground.

When it comes to Facebook advertising, I could spout off a laundry list of done-to-death conventional techniques.

And most are still quite effective.

But what I want to do here is delve a little deeper and truly dissect Facebook.

I want you to understand its full potential.

Here are 15 advanced Facebook advertising techniques you probably didn’t know about but should most definitely experiment with.

1. Using “Pages to Watch”

Facebook has a pretty cool feature called “Pages to Watch.”

It’s not something I use for marketing directly, but it can provide some helpful insights to assist me in my marketing.

Long story short, you can compile a list of pages you’re interested in along with analytics.

Here’s what I mean:

Just add pages from brands that are relevant to your industry and have a strong Facebook presence.

This is helpful because you can see which posts are the most and least engaging. In turn, you can use this information when deciding what to post on your own page.

Check out this article from Buffer for more info on the Pages to Watch feature.

2. Post images via Instagram

Here’s a sneaky little tactic I stumbled upon.

Rather than posting images directly on Facebook, post them via Instagram.

Why?

A study from Buzzsumo found that “images posted via Instagram get 23% more engagement.”

And this makes sense, considering the insane level of engagement Instagram receives.

According to Brand Watch, “Engagement with brands on Instagram is 10 times higher than Facebook, 54 times higher than Pinterest and 84 times higher than Twitter.”

Legitness!

In theory, following this simple step can net you nearly a quarter more engagement than simply posting directly on Facebook.

3. Forget the hashtags

Okay, hashtags are well and good in certain situations.

In fact, they’re quite beneficial on networks such as Instagram and Twitter.

But not so much on Facebook.

The same study from Buzzsumo found that posts with hashtags received less engagement than posts without.

Not only does this save time, but you’ll also get more bang for your buck with every piece of content you post.

Think of it as a mini-hack.

4. Post between 10 p.m. and midnight local time

I’m sure you already know that timing is essential on social media.

Even if you post a masterpiece, it’ll have only a marginal impact if your audience never actually sees it.

It’ll get shuffled to the bottom of their feeds.

From my experience and concrete data from Buzzsumo, the ideal time to post is between 10 p.m. and midnight local time.

There are two main reasons why.

First, there are fewer people posting content, which means less competition and more visibility.

Second, there are enough people still awake and active on Facebook to make it worth your time.

This graph from Buzzsumo illustrates this phenomenon:

Stick with this two-hour window, and you should be golden.

5. Using “Audience Insights”

You should know by now that I’m a sucker for cool social media features.

Especially those that are highly data-driven.

The “Audience Insights” feature is perfect for helping me get a detailed snapshot of my audience so I can cater to them more efficiently and create relevant content based around their interests.

And relevancy is essential because it ultimately maximizes your impact and increases your ROI.

You can get information on:

• Age
• Gender
• Lifestyle
• Education level
• Job title

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The data you generate from this can spill over into other elements of your overall marketing campaign.

Check out this resource from Facebook for more on this feature.

6. Work video into your core strategy

I think we can all agree that video is huge at the moment.

Some might even consider 2016 as the year of video.

The interesting thing is that video accounts for only 3% of all content on Facebook.

I found that number to be staggeringly low.

But it also presents a great opportunity.

Posting plenty of high-quality video content allows you to grab the low-hanging fruit many of your competitors appear to be missing out on.

This leads me to my next point.

7. Directly embed videos

Considering YouTube is so huge, your first instinct may be to embed YouTube videos into your posts.

But that’s the wrong move.

That’s because “directly embedded Facebook videos get more engagement than YouTube embedded videos.”

A lot more!

Just look at how much the total number of interactions from direct embedding dwarfs the number of those embedded with YouTube.

Keep this in mind moving forward, and your engagement levels should increase considerably.

8. “Crowdsource” your business decisions

You’re probably familiar with the term “crowdfunding,” where capital is raised with contributions from a large number of people.

You can apply a similar concept to Facebook with “crowdsourcing” key decisions.

Here are some examples:

• Ask your audience to choose your brand’s new logo
• Ask which new background to use for your Facebook profile

This is cool because:

a) it lets your audience know you’re genuinely interested in their opinions, and
b) it is a natural catalyst for engagement.

The easiest way to crowdsource is to create polls in which people can vote.

9. Keep posts under 150 characters in length

Less is best in terms of Facebook character count.

In fact, I recommend treating it like Twitter—use a max of 150 characters.

Why?

It’s simple. Shorter Facebook posts receive far more engagement than longer ones.

Here’s data to prove it:

As you can see, posts with 50 characters or fewer receive the most interactions, and the number of interactions gradually declines as more characters are added.

In other words, keep it short and sweet.

10. Add CTA buttons to your Facebook ads

Here’s an interesting fact:

“The average advertising click-through rate on Facebook is 0.9%.”

But “adding a CTA button can lift your click-through rate by 2.85 times.”

Just think of the long-term impact this can have on your campaign.

Adroll even made a brief infographic that mentions the “big results from a little button.”

Check out this guide from Facebook to learn exactly how to create a CTA button.

11. Using “Facebook Groups” for community building

You may have heard Seth Godin talk about the importance of groups or “tribes” as he calls them.

It’s an essential component of brand building.

But one resource I think that many marketers are failing to capitalize on is “Facebook Groups.”

It’s a lot like LinkedIn Groups where you create a specific group based around a key topic of interest (usually your niche).

This is beneficial for several different reasons:

• It strengthens your relationships
• It helps you build new ones
• It builds brand equity
• It facilitates interaction
• You can gain valuable intel

If you’re not sure how to go about this, consult this quick tutorial from Facebook.

12. Pin your most epic post

Another feature I love is the option to “pin” posts at the top of your timeline.

That way, Facebook users see your best content once they land on your page.

It’s kind of like putting your best foot forward, which hearkens back to the halo effect, which I discussed in another post.

I suggest looking over your timeline and finding the highest quality post that received the most engagement and “pinning” it to the top.

Here’s how to go about it.

13. A/B test your ads with Qwaya

I won’t launch into a long-winded discussion of how much I love A/B testing.

You probably already know that.

I will say, however, that it’s your ticket to maximum conversions and for cleaning up any inefficiencies in general.

But how exactly can you perform A/B testing on Facebook?

I suggest using Qwaya.

It’s a great Facebook ad manager that will help you take things to the next level.

Here’s a screenshot:

If you’re funneling a considerable amount of money into Facebook ads, this tool is a must.

You can learn more about it in this article I wrote.

14. Use plenty of “question” posts

In a previous article on Quick Sprout, I examined which types of posts received the most interactions on Facebook.

Here’s what I found:

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that “question” posts are ideal in terms of generating interactions.

It’s probably because people like to get in on the action and have their voices heard, so I suggest using this quite a bit.

15. Stick with articles between 1k and 3k words

I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going on a quick long-form content rant.

Once again, according to Buzzsumo’s findings, long-form content performs best on Facebook.

In particular, posts between 1,000 and 3,000 words are ideal.

However, you don’t want to go any further than 3,000, considering the fact there’s a significant drop off in the number of interactions.

Conclusion

I think Facebook gets overlooked these days sometimes because it’s become the old man of social media.

By this I mean there are always newer, hipper, sexier networks popping up.

But Facebook isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

In fact, it’s on track to reach two billion users within the next couple of years or so. That’s pretty insane when you think about it.

By going beyond the basics and swimming into the deep end, you can find some real potential for high-quality leads.

And by following the right formula, you can cash in on a large percentage of those leads and convert them into customers.

Can you think of any other advanced Facebook advertising techniques?

Source Quick Sprout http://ift.tt/2jrAdlR

10 Things That Will Be Less Expensive in 2017

In 2017, the list of predictions for what will cost more is long. You’ll even spend more without leaving your home, as rent and house prices are expected to increase.

However, there’s some good news. Plenty of items will drop in price this year, including avocados — which had become so expensive, they were actually being stolen from orchards.

You can also expect to pay less for items like beef, eggs, MacBooks, 4K TVs, and travel. Here’s the full list:

1. MacBooks (And Possibly iPad Pros)

If you’re in the market for a MacBook, it’s probably best to wait until the second half of 2017 to buy one.

Mac Rumors and the Next Web cite predictions from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who predicts Apple will drop prices for all MacBooks, including new MacBook Pros and 12″ MacBooks in the latter half of the year.

In other Apple rumors worth noting, word is that Apple will launch three new iPad Pro models, including a 9.7″ low-cost tablet.

2. 4K TVs

A few years ago, 4K televisions cost as much as $4,000 to $6,000. A year ago, when high-definition 4K TVs were in the $1,000 range and higher, a “New York Times” article advised waiting at least a year to purchase a 4K TV. So is now the time to buy?

Yes, according to our deal data: Prices have dropped below $1,000 (to as low as $348). Thanks to 4K media streamers and companies like Amazon and Netflix, there are now more 4K movies and TV shows to watch.

3. Avocados

A growers’ strike and short supply this past summer caused the price of individual avocados to spike to as much as $3. In New Zealand, there was even an avocado crime wave, as thieves broke into orchards to steal the fruits off the trees.

However, according to the Avocado Producers and Exporting Packers Association of Mexico (APEAM), prices are finally set to drop.

4. Certain Grocery Staples

The USDA Economic Research Service Food Price Outlook has good news for home cooks and all food lovers. Several important kitchen staples are expected to drop in price.

Egg prices already dropped in the latter part of 2016, and they are expected to decrease another 11% to 12% in 2017. Beef and pork are both expected to drop about 1%, and vegetable prices are expected to drop 2% to 3% (an extra bonus for you healthy eaters).

Plus, peanut butter will also decrease in price by 2.5% to 3.5%.

5. Whole Foods Groceries

Whole Foods Market isn’t known for its bargains, but in 2017 the store will roll out a rewards program across all stores, after testing it in Dallas/Fort Worth and Philadelphia.

Rewards include 10% of your first purchase as a rewards member, a one-time 15% off the department of your choice, select free products and digital coupons. The more you shop, the more rewards you can unlock.

6. Basic Economy Seats on Major Airlines

Two major airlines recently announced lower-fare tiers — with restrictions.

Passengers who opt for Delta’s Basic Economy option don’t receive seat assignments until they arrive at check-in or the gate and are not eligible for refunds or same-day changes.

The announcement for United Airlines’ Basic Economy fares made headlines when news outlets reported the airline would charge to use overhead bins. However, the restrictions apply only to trips purchased at the basic economy rate; passengers don’t receive an assigned seat until check-in and are limited to one carry-on bag that must fit under a seat.

American Airlines is also set to soon roll out a basic economy fare.

7. Flights Overall

Economy fares are predicted to drop by 3% for short trips and 1% for longer trips, according to American Express’s Global Business Travel Forecast 2017.

The same report predicts that low fuel prices and competition will keep airline fares in check. Short-haul travel fares within North America will decrease by 2.5% to 5.5% while long-haul fares will decrease 0.2% to 4.6%.

International travelers may also be able to get $69 flights to Europe this year with budget airline Norwegian Air. However, “Condé Nast Traveler” reports that the cheap flights may still be a few years off, and Norwegian Air is looking at smaller airports, like Bradley International Airport in Connecticut and Westchester County Airport in New York. The $69 fares also don’t include fees for meals, seat booking and checked luggage.

8. Global Travel

The currently strong dollar means American travelers can get more for their money in many places abroad.

In Forbes’ recent roundup of 30 of the cheapest places to travel in 2017, travel expert picks included Portugal, one of the most affordable destinations in Western Europe; Barcelona, a more economical option than Paris or London; Greece, with affordable prices for food and accommodations; and Québec City, where prices are often 25% less than in the U.S.

9. Some Car Models

Some car models are set to be cheaper in 2017, including the Audi A4 base model, with a price drop of $2,400; the 2017 Hyundai Elantra, with a $100 price decrease; and the 2017 Kia Cadenza, with a $1,000 price drop.

Also, according to an analysis by SwapALease.com, seven 2017 car models will be cheaper to lease than the 2016 models, including the Buick Enclave (an $80 difference per month), the GMC Acadia ($42 less per month), the BMW X3 ($11 less per month), and the Subaru Impreza WRX ($11 less per month).

10. Electric and Hybrid Cars

Though one Tesla analyst recently predicted a delay, the Tesla Model S sedans are still set for release in 2017 with a price tag of $35,000.

And the Chevrolet Bolt, named the 2017 Motor Trend Car of the Year, costs about $30,000 after the federal EV credit.

After doing the math, this Jalopnik article points out that with a tax credit and gas savings, the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica would end up being cheaper than its non-hybrid counterpart. In fact, a recent MIT study found that overall, low emissions cars have lower operating and maintenance costs, putting them among the auto market’s least expensive options per mile.

Your Turn: What are you looking forward to buying cheaper in 2017?

DealNews has been publishing deals from online retailers and all over the internet since 1997. They also provide expert shopping advice that aims to help readers make informed purchases.

The post 10 Things That Will Be Less Expensive in 2017 appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2j0nQdu

5 Tips To Balance Saving For Retirement With Other Savings

5 Tips To Balance Saving For Retirement With Other Savings

Source CBNNews.com http://ift.tt/2jWKXcU

Should You Sell Your Trusty Old Car?

Should You Sell Your Trusty Old Car?

Source CBNNews.com http://ift.tt/2jQ6LTB

Here’s How a Family of 6 Slashed 80% From Its Food Budget

Reducing unnecessary spending is Moneywise users' top financial resolution

Helen Knapman

working-out-finances.jpg

Cutting down unnecessary spending is Moneywise.co.uk users’ main financial resolution for 2017.

Cutting down unnecessary spending is Moneywise.co.uk users’ main financial resolution for 2017.

Of those who voted in our latest poll, nearly one third (27%) picked this option.

read more

Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2ixXrTa

Accident claims firms are UK's worst nuisance callers

Adam Williams

answering-a-nuisance-call.jpg

More than 30 million nuisance calls are made every week, with accident claims firms being the most common thorn in the public’s side.

More than 30 million nuisance calls are made every week, with accident claims firms being the most common thorn in the public’s side.

Research by BT, shows that during a typical week in December, around 39% of nuisance calls made were concerning accident claims, ahead of PPI calls and computer scammers.

The top nuisance calls (13-19 December 2016) are as follows:

read more

Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2iy04Es

Retired downsizers may get stamp duty exemption

Rachel Lacey

new-house-older-couple.jpg

Older homeowners living in large properties may be encouraged to downsize and free up housing for families.

Older homeowners living in large properties may be encouraged to downsize and free up housing for families.

Newspaper reports suggest that communities secretary, Sajid Javid, will unveil plans to help retirees move into smaller properties later this month. It is thought the deal would include help with the costs of moving, such as a stamp duty exemption.

read more

Source Moneywise http://ift.tt/2ixYcvp