Enter to WIN a Jolie Statement Necklace from Chloe + Isabel (value $138)

It's giveaway time! We're excited to partner with the social retail company, Chloe + Isabel to offer one (1) lucky reader this gorgeous Jolie Statement Necklace – valued at $138. A world of treasures adorn this Jolie Statement Necklace: pearls, crystals, metallic beads — all gracefully displayed on modern snake-embossed vegan leather in a feminine blush hue. […]

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Identity Theft Wrecked My Credit Score. Here’s How I Got It Back Above 700

Once upon a time, I was 18 and did not take my mother’s warnings about shredding documents and protecting my social security number seriously.

True story: Someone opened an AT&T account in my name.

Not recognizing the charges and not knowing any better, I simply didn’t pay them. Soon, the account was in collections.

I was young enough not to know or care much about my credit score or what it meant to have an account in collections. Besides, it was only like $300. How much could that possibly affect me?

To be honest, my initial motivator was the never-ending stream of phone calls from the collections agency. My phone was ringing off the hook, and when I told them the debt wasn’t mine, they didn’t care.

Then, I decided to use my free annual credit check — and found that I was solidly in the “poor” category, with a score hovering below 600.

I was young, but I knew my creditworthiness could affect a whole host of life decisions and experiences I really wanted to have, like purchasing a house or car, or even getting a real job.

Turns out $300 can be a really big deal, after all. I had to do something.

The First Step: I Filed a Dispute

First, I called AT&T directly to see if they could invalidate the debt.

But, of course, when they asked me to confirm my identity for the account, everything matched.

That’s what identity theft means.

I told them I’d never heard of the address or phone number they mentioned, and while they notated the account, the phone calls didn’t stop.

So I filed a dispute directly with the credit bureaus online. I filled out the forms, clicked out of the window and considered my credit troubles finished. Sure enough, for a while, the phone calls stopped.

But they came back. And when I re-opened my credit report, the false account was still there.

Accounts in Collections: Heading Straight to the Source

Although the credit bureaus are legally required to conduct an investigation, if the original creditor (in this case, AT&T) tells them to step off, they pretty much do.

And once an account is already in collections, the creditor doesn’t even own it anymore.

They’ve resigned themselves to the fact you’re never going to pay, and have (usually) sold the debt for a fraction of its sum to a collections agency in an attempt to make something off the account.

In this case, the best practice is to go straight to the source and deal with the collections agencies directly. They’re the ones who stand to make money on you at this point.

Here’s the good news: The collections folks are legally required to prove you owe the debt — or strike the account from your record if they can’t. And because they’re the third party in the creditor/debtor relationship, they almost never have all the paperwork required to do so.

That means if you write them a letter with the right verbiage (think: legalese), you’ll likely see the false account fall off very quickly.

How to Fix Your Credit

My next steps were simple, thanks to a website I found called Credit Infocenter.

It’s full of free resources for people in my position, trying desperately to fix their falsely maligned credit.

I read their comprehensive article on debt validation (which I’ve just summarized, in very broad strokes), and sent a tweaked version of their sample validation request letter to the collections agency on my tail.

Bonus: a cease and desist clause is written in, requiring that all future correspondence from the agency must be conducted via written mail. Peace out, never-ending phone calls!

Then, I waited 30 days… and got a letter from the agency apologizing for the inconvenience and confirming that the account had been closed and stricken from my record.

A glance at my credit report a few days later showed it was true! It was that simple — one letter, and my credit score was on the road to recovery.

Today, my score is over 700, and I was able to buy a new car with a low-interest loan.

If you’re like me, once you have your money under control, you won’t want to lose it ever again.

You can use a free site like True Identity to keep tabs on your finances. It’ll send you an alert by email, phone or text if someone tries to apply for credit in your name. Then, you can easily freeze your TransUnion credit report until you’re all clear again.

Before driving face first into a total credit nightmare like mine, you might as well keep tabs on your stuff — especially if you can do it for free.

Your Mileage May Vary

It’s important to note every credit holder’s circumstances are different.

Credit Infocenter’s step-by-step guide states many letter-writers simply never hear back from the agency, and lists next steps to take should that happen to you.

Not every case will be as simple as mine. Although my credit score is pretty awesome now, it didn’t happen overnight. It took me several years to move my credit from “Poor” to “Good.”

Even a seriously negative factor, like an account in collections, isn’t the only one affecting your credit score. Part of the reason it took me a long time to move up 100 points is because all of my accounts are relatively new — I’m still young(ish)!

But even if it’s not an instant, easy fix, it’s so worth it to reach out to a collections agency to repair your credit.

You’ll carry your credit score around for the rest of your life, and it takes seven years for negative factors to fall off your report if you don’t intervene.

Tweaking, printing and mailing a letter couldn’t possibly take more than an hour of your time.  And it’s a way better investment than those next two Netflix episodes you have waiting.

I promise.

Your Turn: Have you ever been a victim of identity theft? Will you try this trick to repair your credit report? Let us know in the comments!

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

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Verizon Just Released an Unlimited Data Plan. Is It Worth $80+ a Month?

The cutthroat competition between U.S. cellular carriers is as intense as ever.

And Verizon, the country’s largest wireless provider, has been taking a beating in its smaller rivals’ TV commercials for not offering customers unlimited data.

In a recent T-Mobile ad, singer Nicki Minaj disses Verizon, contemptuously saying, “Come on, girl, let’s get us a man with unlimited data.”

During the Super Bowl, a kinda dark Sprint commercial portrayed a father actually faking his own death to get out of a Verizon contract.

Now Verizon is saying, “Fine. Challenge accepted.”

Just like that, Verizon is now offering an unlimited data plan.

The Wall Street Journal put it best: “Verizon Communications Inc. will start selling unlimited data plans on Monday, the first time it has offered such a service since 2011 and a sign that intense competition is forcing the nation’s largest carrier to respond.”

Verizon customers can keep their current plans or switch to the unlimited data plan. Verizon will continue offering its traditional data plans, which start at 2 GB.

The WSJ and Bloomberg News say Sprint and T-Mobile have been cutting into Verizon’s customer base since they started heavily advertising their own unlimited data plans last fall.

So, What Does This Mean for You?

Well, this is further proof that competition is good, because it forces goods and service providers to offer consumers more and better choices. (Today’s historical tidbit: That’s totally why communism collapsed.)

If you’re already on Verizon, should you switch to the unlimited data plan?

If you stream a lot of data-hogging video on your phone, you should strongly consider it.

“At $80 a month for a single smartphone,” the WSJ reports, “Verizon’s new unlimited plan is only $10 more than a current Verizon plan that includes just 4 gigabytes of monthly data.”

Although the price is a bit higher, unlimited data means you can no longer be charged those annoying fees for using too much data.

“Overage fees, which can cost $10 to $15 per gigabyte per month, have been a sore spot with customers, especially those in family plans that offer a pool of shared data,” the Sun Sentinel newspaper reports.

You only get the $80 per month price if you sign up for autopay, Lifehacker notes. If you don’t, it costs $85 a month.

If you’re on a rival network, should you switch plans?

Ooooohhh, big decision. Let’s discuss.

We’ll start with a basic monthly price comparison of the four major wireless carriers’ unlimited data plans.

With one smartphone: Sprint, $60; T-Mobile, $70; Verizon, $80; AT&T, $100.

With four smartphones: Sprint and T-Mobile, $160; Verizon and AT&T, $180.

So, Sprint and T-Mobile are cheaper.

However, there’s one major difference: Their unlimited plans typically only allow for lower quality video streaming, at a lower 480p resolution. In contrast, Verizon says its unlimited plan allows “HD video streaming.”

We should mention that the tech product review website Tom’s Guide cautions that the meaning of “HD” is murky and likely means 720p video in this case, rather than a full 1080p. Either way, it’s higher-quality video.

“A key difference in Verizon’s plan is the ability to watch streaming videos in high definition,” tech website CNET reports. “T-Mobile and Sprint’s unlimited plans tweak the video so it takes up less traffic; the result is a DVD-quality feed on your phone, which they argue is plenty on a phone screen.”

To switch, or not to switch? It depends on whether you watch a lot of video on your phone, and whether you want it to be high-def. Verizon’s other calling card is its high quality.

“The company is the industry’s top performer in overall quality, network reliability and speed, data and calling,” Bloomberg News reports.

Tom’s Guide compared Verizon’s unlimited data plan to those of Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T. Its conclusion: “Go with Verizon if you’re a heavy hotspot user or want higher quality video, but go for T-Mobile One Plus if you’d rather have a less confusing bill and similar features for an upcharge.”

Gizmodo concludes its review thusly: “If you use more than 10GB a month of data, it’s definitely worth investigating.”

What About My Phone?

One final thing: As part of its new promotion, Verizon is offering a free phone to new customers if they trade in a qualifying phone.

Verizon is offering the newest phones from Apple, Samsung, Google, Moto and LG.

Eligible trade-in phones include: iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, Samsung Note 5, LG G5, LG V20 and HTC 10.

Your Turn: How much data do you use?

Mike Brassfield (mike@thepennyhoarder.com) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. He tries not to need unlimited data.

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This Simple Mistake Could Cost You an Extra $14K on Your Student Loans

When you’re in college, student loans can feel like an unending pool of money.

The squad’s craving pizza on a Thursday night? This pizza party’s on you.

A small car repair? You’ve got it covered.

A blowout spring break trip that ensures you don’t miss out on one second of the college experience? Why not?!

Well, I’ll tell you why not: Overborrowing on student loans is a common source of regret among college graduates.

In a recent study, NerdWallet surveyed 522 undergraduate degree holders, and 48% said they could’ve borrowed less and still afforded their education.

On average, those who said they could have taken out less admitted to overborrowing by $11,597 over the course of their studies. For women, the average was slightly higher at $13,455, while men said they took out an average of $9,915 more than they needed.

If you overborrowed by the average amount of $11,597, you could end up paying upward of $14,000 once you factor in interest over the course of your loan’s 10-year lifespan. That breaks down to an additional $119 per month, according to NerdWallet’s analysis of a typical monthly payment on federal student loans.

Why So Much?

Part of the issue is just how little students know about their loans when they’re taking them out — until the end of college.

If borrowers fully understood the gravity of the loan repayment process, they’d probably think twice about using their loans for random expenses and fun money.

And that’s the real problem. A recent Student Loan Hero survey found that 15% of students used student loan money on clothing; 13% used it on restaurant outings; and 3% used their loans to fund vacations.

But all that extra spending comes at a huge cost down the line once interest kicks in.

If you compromise on a cheap spring break destination that won’t break the bank and resist the urge to shop ’til you drop, you stand to save big bucks in the long run.

So How Much Should You Borrow?

There’s really no perfect answer, but it’s always better to keep your loan amounts as low as possible.

If you end up with more than you need, put the rest away in an emergency fund, or save it for when you start repaying your loans. The faster you can pay them off, the better.  

Find ways to keep your educational expenses low, like shopping around for the best price on textbooks.

Also, make sure to apply for scholarships — and lots of them. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, and you definitely won’t receive scholarships if you don’t apply.

And if you’re done with school and struggling to understand your student loans, take a look at this in-depth guide to loan repayment.

Your Turn: Did you take out more loans for school than you really needed?

Grace Schweizer is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She was lucky enough to go to school in everyone else’s spring break destination.

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This Program Helps Stay-at-Home Parents Go Back to Work… and Pays $25/Hour

For seven years, John Bortscheller embraced his new “dad career.”

Bortscheller, 45, left his job as a corporate account manager to take care of his two sons, who are now 6 and 8 years old.

When his youngest son started full-day kindergarten in the fall of 2015, he began to seriously consider returning to work.

But how?

Though he’d worked some part-time jobs and volunteered, his seven-year career hiatus felt like a huge hole in his resume.

An Internship Program for Adults

Bortscheller discovered a program for people just like him: moms and dads who took time off from the working world to take care of their children.

After a five-month paid internship, Bortscheller was hired on full time at ReadyTalk, an audio and web conferencing technology company in Denver.

ReadyTalk offered the internship with help from Path Forward, a nonprofit organization that partners with companies to create midcareer internship programs to ease the transition back to work for stay-at-home moms and dads.

“If you perform well, this innovative program just helped you overcome a career gap that may have seemed insurmountable — and it sure felt that way to me at times,” Bortscheller said.

“If you don’t perform as well as needed, this program still helps you to begin to overcome the career gap by polishing up your career and interviewing skills, expanding your professional network, introducing you to other partner firms in the program and overall boosting your confidence.”

The idea for the back-to-work program was born at Return Path, a data solutions company with 12 offices around the world and more than 500 employees.

After several successful cohorts, and buy-in from other companies like PayPal, SendGrid, ReadyTalk, Moz and MWH, the program’s founders decided to spin it off into a nonprofit in 2015.

How an Internship Through Path Forward Works

Path Forward gives companies the tools to set up their own in-house internship programs for moms and dads, and supports participants to make their experiences successful. So far, the back-to-work program is underway in New York and California, and according to its website, it will expand to other major metro areas in 2017 and beyond.

The organization helps companies draft language to post on their own job websites. Candidates apply and go through a standard interview process, like they would with any job.

Each internship lasts 20 weeks, though companies can decide if they want interns to work full time, part time or a mix.

Participating companies generally pay between $20 and $25 an hour, with the expectation they will offer a competitive salary if an intern is hired on full time.

Overcoming the Challenges of Returning to Work

Tami Forman, executive director for Path Forward, said stay-at-home moms and dads face an uphill battle when they decide to return to the workforce.

For starters, they have a years-long gap on their resume, which can make hiring managers wary.

Some may have been in jobs that no longer exist, or they may want to try out a new career but they don’t have any experience, Forman said.

There’s also a stigma around taking time off from a burgeoning career for child care.

“We do still have a mindset as a society that your career is meant to be a death march from college graduation to retirement, and I don’t know why,” Forman said.

“There’s plenty of evidence to suggest that’s not the most interesting way to build a career or even the most successful way to build a career. It’s a hard thing to get over.”

Forman said she can sympathize with hiring managers who may be hesitant to take a chance on someone who’s been out of the workforce for a while.

That’s why the internship works — it’s a small commitment, both for the company and for the employee.

“It de-risks that scenario,” she said. “It allows the company and the hiring manager to say, ‘Let’s give this person a chance.’”

It also gives moms and dads a chance to experiment with jumping back into the working world, potentially with a new career path.

Several of the program’s participants realized at the end of the internship program that the decision to return to work wasn’t right for their family, and Forman says that’s OK, too.

“The benefit to the participant is they get an opportunity to see how coming back to work feels for them,” Forman said.

Another bonus is that companies have a pool of “professionally mature” employees to choose from. Stay-at-home moms and dads are patient, they have good time-management skills and, Forman joked, they are expert negotiators.

“Anyone who has talked a toddler off a ledge of ‘I want this now,’… that’s kidnapper-level negotiation skills,” she said, laughing.

Is a Return-to-Work Internship Right for You?

The organization also tries to create a feeling of camaraderie among program participants who are working in the same geographical region.

For former stay-at-home dad Bortscheller, that networking was invaluable.

“The program also introduced me to other interns of similar backgrounds and their sponsor companies – cool, progressive organizations that I may not have stood a chance at gaining even a phone interview, given my long career gap,” he said.

For Jenni Lillie, who took time off to raise her now-11-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son, the internship was a confidence booster.

After completing the program at Return Path, Lillie, 42, accepted a full-time role as a brand designer. The outcome was a win for everybody in her family.

“I learned that I wasn’t as behind in my technical skills as I thought I was,” Lillie said.

“My kids have gained a little more independence as a result of me going back to work and not being at home as much. Working with a creative team again has been really fun and fulfilling.”

Your Turn: Have you completed a return-to-work program? Would you try this type of internship?

Sarah Kuta is an education reporter in Boulder, Colorado, with a penchant for weekend thrifting, furniture refurbishment and good deals. Find her on Twitter: @sarahkuta.

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How to Make Tax Time Easy Peasy

Sponsored by H&R Block. For information only. Not all tax situations are the same. By Holly Reisem Hanna It's tax time again, and if you're anything like me, this time of year tends to generate a little bit of stress. Even though I've been filing tax returns since I was 15, with new tax rules […]

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Flexible and Home-Based Jobs for Pet Lovers

By Kimi Clark Work-at-home jobs for pet lovers are everywhere if you know where to look. Flexible and home-based opportunities for animal lovers are in demand now more than ever and are growing more and more popular every day. If you're a pet lover looking to work from home, here are some options for you […]

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My Path to Earning a Full-Time Blogging Income

By Holly Reisem Hanna I know I talk about blogging A LOT. But there is a reason for it, and that's because blogging has been a lifeline for me. Before I began my blogging journey, I worked as a nurse. I worked at a pediatric hospital where I saw terrible cases of neglect and abuse. […]

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25 Fun, Budget-Friendly Date Ideas That Don’t Feel Cheap

Dating is hard, especially when you’re trying to live on a budget. When even the cheapest dinner can cost upward of $25, going out on the weekends can seem daunting.

If you want to hang out with your significant other without draining both of your bank accounts and you don’t want to settle for another night of watching Netflix on the couch, why not try some of these creative cheap date ideas?

1. Go Geocaching

Geocaching is a modern-day form of treasure hunting. Identify your location on your phone or geocaching device, choose a “package” to search for, and follow the clues to try to find it.

It’s a great bonding activity, and it forces you to work together to find the object. Once you do, you can both put your names on the little notebook inside the capsule and commemorate your first date forever.

2. Attend a Trivia Night at Your Local Bar

Trivia nights usually charge a $5 or $10 cover charge, but anything after that is up to you. Eat beforehand, order some sodas, or take advantage of drink specials, and team up to answer some quiz questions.

And who knows? If you’re good enough, you may even win a free pitcher of your drink of choice or a prize. Simply search “bar trivia night” and your neighborhood or city, and see what comes up!

3. Break Out Some Conversation Cards

For introverts, conversation cards are a blessing. Not only do they immediately help break the ice, but they usher everyone out of the dreaded small talk zone.

Here are some brands to choose from: Table Topics, 101 Conversation Starters, Mindy Kaling’s Questions I Ask When I Want To Talk About Myself Set.

4. Embark on a Photo Walk

I know this sounds like code for “nature walk,” but let me explain. You can find plenty of photo challenges online to print out and do with the other person.

Maybe you can make a competition out of it and raise the stakes: Winner buys dinner or gets to choose the movie on your next Netflix night.

5. Attend a Poetry Slam or Comedy Show

I’m aware we’re no longer living in the ’90s, but poetry slams have been making a comeback in many cities, and comedy shows never left.

These events typically cost around $5 to $10, depending on where you live. Some can even be free, and you’ll have plenty to talk about when the show’s over.

6. Build a Kite and Fly It Outside

What better way to test your compatibility than by trying to master the “art” of arts and crafts?

This particular exercise is the perfect combination of indoor and outdoor activities, plus a great chance to work together.

7. Play Some Good Old-Fashioned Pool

Don’t underestimate how charming a dive bar can be, especially when it comes with a nice pool table.

A game of billiards provides the perfect opportunity to casually chat about your day, but it also involves an element of competition that will keep your date on his or her toes.

8. Re-Enact Scenes From Your Favorite Movies and TV Shows

Have you ever wanted to stroll along the same snowy path in Central Park that Buddy took in Elf? Or maybe twirl around in front of the Rockefeller Center statue like Liz Lemon in 30 Rock?

Either way, if you live in or near big Hollywood hubs like NYC or LA, why not print out a few screenshots from your favorite films and try to re-create them?

You can even reproduce your favorite “date” episodes. (Katz’s Delicatessen in NY is a good start if you want to have what your neighbor is having.)

9. Pick Out Crazy Outfits for Each Other to Try On

There’s nothing more satisfying than finding a ridiculous outfit at the mall… except for convincing your friend or partner to try it on.

Every clothing store has its fair share of quirky outfits. Give them a little time in the spotlight by putting on an impromptu fashion show and modeling the outfits with your partner for laughs.

10. Buy Paint Supplies and See Who Can Make the Wackiest Art

Not everyone can be Picasso, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing.

Take a trip to an arts and crafts store — or even a thrift shop or dollar store if you want to make it even cheaper. Embrace your creative side and see who can paint the weirdest picture. Who knows? You might give Dali a run for his money.

11. Wander, On Purpose

Not all those who wander are lost. If you’re feeling adventurous, take a walk around your neighborhood or, even better, one you’ve never been to before.

You and your partner can indulge in the sense of mystery, and maybe even stumble upon an unexpected opportunity, like a community event or hole-in-the-wall restaurant, giving you future cheap date ideas.

12. Enjoy a Meal or Treat in Character

Everyone says the key to dating successfully is to “be yourself,” but that doesn’t always have to be the case.

Turn your next dinner table into a stage and try your hand at role-playing as your favorite dynamic duo from film or literature. Maybe you’ve always wanted to know what it felt like to be Holden Caulfield for a day or David Copperfield. Now’s your chance!

Hit a local restaurant or fro-yo place and stay in character as long as possible. The first person to slip up pays for your food!

13. People-Watch

Is the stranger walking ahead of you a secret agent on the way to his next mission? Or an accountant who wore a suit to work in an attempt to spice up his normal routine? You decide!

Find a bench in a hip part of town and speculate the lives of passers-by. May the reward go to whoever concocts the best tale.

14. Take Advantage of Late-Night Specials at Indoor Trampoline Parks

Indoor trampoline parks are, excuse the pun, springing up all over the place. Many places offer late-night deals for the over-18 crowd that often include food and drinks. This is one of those cheap date ideas that’s enough to make you want to jump for joy.

15. Go to the Library

You’d be surprised how many odd books get published these days. Honor your inner bookworm and meander through the aisles of the nearest public library with your date.

Challenge each other to find the funniest book title or locate an obscure item the fastest. (Quietly, of course. Other people may be trying to read!)

16. Visit a Psychic

Is your relationship headed for success or a dead end? A psychic may not be able to tell you everything you want to know, but the visit will sure give you plenty to talk about on the way home.

17. Cook Something

You don’t need to go to an expensive restaurant to enjoy a luxurious meal. Skip the pricy entrees, and cook up some fun in your own home.

For an added pinch of romance, set up some candles and put on some soothing music. You’ll never want to eat out again.

18. Find a Board Game Cafe

Depending where you live, you may be able to go to one of these unique establishments with your partner.

Pay a low cover fee, and gain access to stacks of classic board games you and your date can play all night (or until your game of Boggle gets too heated to continue).

19. Engage in Some Friendly Public Debauchery

Who said truth or dare was just for middle schoolers? Test the limits of your bravery by challenging each other to embarrassing feats in public.

For example, get a stranger to high-five you. Photobomb a tourist group selfie. Dance on a bench until someone else joins in.

The more fearless you are, the more brownie points you get.

20. Play Some Old Video Games

A little bit of nostalgia never hurt anybody. Stay in and break out your favorite childhood console games. There’s nothing like a little Mortal Kombat or Mario Kart to level up your next date night.

21. Re-create Childhood Photos

One way to take baby steps in your relationship is to literally follow in your partner’s baby footsteps.

Find a bunch of childhood photos and help each other walk down memory lane by re-creating old snapshots. Fitting a bonnet onto your date’s head is the quickest way to become more comfortable with each other, in my opinion.

22. Attend a Silent Disco

Have you ever wanted to throw a wild dance party without being disruptive or bothering your neighbors with your loud music? Now you can. “Silent discos” are becoming more and more prominent, especially around college campuses.

After paying a small fee, you’re given headphones and digital playlists and directed to a place filled with other participating members. On the count of three, everyone hits play and suddenly hundreds of people start dancing in sync, in silence.

23. Attend a Lecture at a Nearby College

Students aren’t the only ones who can benefit from educational events on campus. Many universities offer public events like lectures or panels.

Research the schools in your area, and check their “campus calendars” to see what events they have planned!

24. Try to Replicate Pinterest Posts

Pinterest is full of adorable art and baked goods items — many posted by people who will never make them.

On your next date night, challenge the status quo and attempt some of the quirky crafts and projects You may fail like these people, but that’s half the fun!

25. Learn a Dance From YouTube

Want to get active without heading outside? Search for fun dance routines on YouTube and dance the night away! Bonus: You’ll be ready to rock the dance floor on your next night out (or when you’re invited to nine weddings next year).

Disclosure: We have a serious Taco Bell addiction around here. The affiliate links in this post help us order off the dollar menu. Thanks for your support!

Tyler Vendetti hopes to win the lottery and lead a carefree life, or if that doesn’t pan out, work in television. When she’s not traversing the world or liking cat pictures on Facebook, Tyler can be found on Twitter @HeyThereFuture. You can also reach her via email (tyleravendetti@gmail.com), if you feel so inclined.

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These Six Content Marketing Tactics Will Give You 142% More Traffic in Six Months

You don’t need me to tell you how potent content marketing is.

I could spout off a laundry list of stats, e.g., “conversion rates are nearly 6x higher for content marketing adopters than non-adopters” or “content marketing costs 62% less than traditional marketing and generates about 3 times as many leads.”

You get it.

But the term “content marketing” is a wide umbrella, encompassing a nearly infinite number of strategies and variations.

What you really need to know is which content marketing tactics will get you legitimate results—which ones will boost your traffic and generate sustained leads.

In other words, which strategies are truly worth your time?

In this post, I’d like to discuss six key tactics I feel are most pertinent for content marketers in 2017.

More specifically, these tactics will give you 142% more traffic in six months.

Here we go.

1. Create multiple landing pages

I’m sure you have a landing page on your website.

But there’s absolutely no reason to stop at just one.

In today’s digital marketing world, customer segmentation is vital, and the one-size-fits-all approach just won’t cut it.

Take a look at this data from HubSpot, demonstrating the correlation between the quantity of landing pages and leads generated.

According to HubSpot, “While most companies don’t see an increase in leads when increasing their total number of landing pages from 1-5 to 6-10, companies do see a 55% increase in leads when increasing their number of landing pages from 10 to 15.”

Here’s the impact that multiple landing pages can have for both B2Bs and B2Cs:

The point I’m trying to make here is that the more landing pages you create, the more opportunities you have to rank for different keywords, generate more organic traffic, and ultimately increase conversions.

After all, leads are more likely to convert when they arrive on a landing page that’s fully customized to address their specific needs and concerns.

Now, I’m not saying you necessarily need to create 10 or more landing pages. That may be an overkill in some cases.

But what I am saying is that it’s smart to segment your audience and create an individual landing page for each specific customer type.

Here’s an example:

This approach is almost guaranteed to help you reel in more quality traffic.

2. Make infographics an integral part of your content formula

I feel a little bit like Captain Obvious by pointing out the impact of infographics.

But the bottom line is that this medium is your ticket to massive traffic.

Why?

It’s simple. Infographics get shared like crazy.

In fact, “Infographics are Liked and shared on social media 3x more than other content.”

Here are a few more stats that prove the traffic-generating potential of infographics:

They’re visual. They’re easy to follow. And they make it incredibly simple to digest complex information that would be difficult to consume in a traditional, text-based format.

Not to mention they’re fun.

There’s something inherently playful about infographics that makes people “eat ’em up.”

Just check out the number of shares this infographic from Copyblogger has gotten since the day it was published back in 2012:

Pretty impressive.

I realize there are definitely newer, sexier content marketing tactics out there.

I also realize that interest in infographics has waned slightly over the past few years.

But they’re still one of the top forms of content in terms of traffic-generating potential.

That’s why I recommend making infographics a top priority this year.

Check out this post from neilpatel.com and this post from Quick Sprout to learn the essentials.

3. Create “cornerstone” blog posts

If you’ve been following any of my blogs for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed I like going big.

By this I mean that I:

• create long-form posts (typically over 1,500 words)
• include a lot of visuals
• include statistics
• cover a lot of facts and details that others may not always touch on

In other words, I strive to provide my audience with as much value as possible.

Keep in mind I don’t always drive the ball out of the park with each blog post, but there’s a consistent level of depth I strive to achieve.

And this has been a big part of my success over the years.

This is why I can’t stress enough the importance of creating “cornerstone” blog posts, and not merely your average, run of the mill posts so common on the Internet.

In a post on Kissmetrics, I highlight just a few of the benefits of creating comprehensive, long-form content:

• higher rankings in search engines

• increased time on site
• success in social media
• a position of authority

One technique I’ve found useful for creating cornerstone content is to treat each blog post like a be-all and end-all guide.

Attack it with the intent of creating a definitive post that will answer nearly any question your audience may have.

Cover the entire spectrum.

I really recommend checking out this post I wrote on neilpatel.com to learn more about this process.

It also includes some concrete examples you can use to guide your efforts.

Now, of course, you probably won’t have the time to create five-plus posts like this each week (or even three).

That’s why I suggest at least considering scaling back your content and focusing on creating fewer but higher quality in-depth posts rather than churning out dozens mediocre ones.

4. Get cozy with video

Here are some quick stats from HubSpot regarding the state of live video.

• “Cisco projects that global Internet traffic from videos will make up 80% of all Internet traffic by 2019.”
• “4x as many consumers would prefer to watch a video about a product than read about it.”
• “43% of consumers wanted to see more video content in 2016.”

No matter which way you slice it, a steady diet of video content is going to crank up your traffic.

This brings me to my next point.

5. Behold live video

I’d like to take it one step further and discuss a key video trend that’s catching on currently.

And that’s live video.

Platforms such as Facebook, Periscope, and YouTube offer live streaming, allowing your audience to watch your video content in real time.

In my opinion, live video is one of the top ways to increase engagement levels and bring a massive influx of traffic.

Here are some numbers to back this up:

• “A significant number (50%) of marketers plan on using live video services, and 50% want to learn more about live video.”
• “People spend 3x longer watching video which is live compared to video which is no longer live.”
• “Facebook generates eight billion video views on average per day.”

I love this medium because it allows me to create an authentic, one-on-one-connection that’s nearly impossible to create otherwise.

It’s also cool because most live video services allow you to answer your viewers’ questions, giving you the opportunity to interact with them in a very personal way.

If you haven’t experimented with live video yet, I recommend giving it a shot.

It can push your traffic numbers off the chart.

Check out this post to learn how to use live video to build your personal brand.

6. Harness the power of content curation

At first thought, content curation might make you feel that you’re being lazy or maybe even unethical, as if you’re a poser who’s taking credit for the hard work of others.

But it’s not like that at all.

In fact, “only 5% of marketers worldwide never share other organization’s content, while nearly 1/3 share blogs, industry publications, or other resources on a daily basis.”

Content curation is an integral part of social media marketing, and almost every legitimate brand participates in it to some extent.

When you do it correctly, this practice can do the following:

• boost your brand equity
• establish you as a thought leader
• bring in a steady stream of high quality traffic

More specifically, “41% of marketers that curate content indicate it has increased the number and/or quality of their sales-ready leads.”

The key is to curate content the right way.

By this I mean upholding rigorous quality standards and always ensuring that the content you select is relevant to your audience.

One person in particular who I feel crushes it at content curation is Brian Dean of Backlinko.

Just check out his definitive guide on link building.

Embedded within the guide are plenty of links to external resources that greatly enhance the content and provide additional insights.

Here’s what I mean:

Of course, this is just one example. There are plenty of other ways to go about it.

Just use your imagination.

Conclusion

In my opinion, all six of these content marketing tactics are incredibly useful for revving up your traffic.

They target your audience in different ways, and when used collectively, they can produce a traffic surge.

I’ve experimented with each one and have seen positive results. Collectively, they helped me increase my traffic by 142% in six months.

Be sure to work these into your 2017 content marketing plan.

Which specific content marketing tactic have you had the most success with?

Source Quick Sprout http://ift.tt/2kL7fh5

Questions About Local Banks, Weight Loss, New City Challenges, 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. IRA contribution and rollover questions
2. Saving for next home
3. Using banking to “buy local”
4. Figuring out where to live
5. Turbo Tax difficulties
6. Retirement and general savings planning
7. Where can I live happily?
8. Why work so hard?
9. Weight loss wardrobe issues
10. New city social changes
11. The Great Courses?
12. Solitaire board game question

The human mind constantly amazes me.

The other day, I was able to recite the entire FFA creed from memory. I was a member of the FFA in high school (I grew up in a rural school where the vast majority of students were in that club) and entered the creed recitation competition as a freshman in high school, when I was… fourteen? I’ve had no reason to even think about it since, and yet here almost twenty five years later, I was able to recite the entire thing.

Yesterday, a person with headphones on was doodling in a notebook and singing a song. I’m pretty sure I haven’t heard the song since college, but the lyrics latched onto something in my head and I found myself singing along with almost the entire song. (This was the song, by the way.)

Yet, there are times when I desperately want to remember things that are actually important and in that moment nothing comes out of my mind. It’s simultaneously frustrating and comical.

On with some questions…

Q1: IRA contribution and rollover questions

if I have a 401k and 457 at work and I max them both out to 36000 per year, can I still contribute to a traditional ira account ? Second question is I have existing money in traditional ira account, how do I go about converting it to a Roth IRA account? It has been sitting in there since 2010 and I have a feeling I will have to pay taxes on them when I do the Roth conversion. Do I just need a CPA or a CFP??? Or both . My husband and I make over the limit per year to contribute to a Roth IRA.
– Maxwell

First of all, when you convert from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, you have to pay income tax on the contributions when you convert. In general, the best time to do this is in a year where your income is much lower than normal, so you can pay a low tax rate on that money. If you do it in a “normal” year, it’s probably not going to save you much money unless tax rates grow rapidly over the next few decades (I think they’ll go up, but not substantially; however, that’s just a personal guess).

As for the 401(k), 457, and a traditional IRA, it appears from the IRS FAQ on the subject that you can contribute to all of them at once without any trouble.

It looks to me like you’re in very good shape!

Q2: Saving for next home

My wife and I are saving a down payment for a new home to buy. Our current home has $158,000 left to pay off and is worth around $180,000-189,000 We currently have $23,000 saved up just sitting in a savings account, since this makes around 1% what would be the best place to put this money to grow for eventual purchase of a $300,000 home?
– Kevin

It depends on your timeline. If you’re ten or more years out from buying that home, then investing everything in stocks makes sense. If you’re just a year or two out, the risk of investing in stocks makes no sense and you’re better off in that savings account (because the risk of a 40% drop in a year, like 2008, makes stocks not a good option).

The challenging area is in that five year range, which is where you appear to be. For that range, a balanced approach mixing the two is probably better. The more you have in stocks, the more volatile your annual return will be.

Let’s look at 2000 to 2009, for example. The annual return of the S&P 500 in those years was -9.03%, -11.85%, -21.97%, 28.36%, 10.74%, 4.83%, 15.61%, 5.48%, -36.55%, and 25.94%. In four of those ten years, you would have lost money in the stock market, and thus in those years, you’re better off with money in a savings account. In the other years, the gains were nice. If you’re only going to be in for a few years and you hit a negative year, you’ve got a good chance of losing money over that period, but if you stay in for a long time, you’re probably beating the savings account significantly.

What I would do, assuming you’re somewhere between five and ten years out, is split that money. I’d take most of what I have saved, put it in an index fund like the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index, and let it sit there. You can sign up for an account with Vanguard directly to do this kind of investing. Then, I’d continue to save straight into a savings account. As time goes, the percentage of your savings in the stock market will go down, which means that the volatility of stocks will affect you less and less. Then, when you’re ready to buy (or close to it), sell the stocks and put it back into savings.

Q3: Using banking to “buy local”

I’ve been hearing that if you disagree with some of the things big banks are doing or supporting that you should open accounts with local banks or credit unions. I like the ease and convenience of big banks, such ATMs everywhere, and online banking. I also wonder if big banks offer better interest rates and other deals. But I would also like to show my support by stepping away from big banks. What are your thoughts and advice on this if an individual chooses to step away from using big banks?
– Janice

We’re almost exclusively local bankers. Our main checking and savings are with a local credit union and a small local bank with just a few branches in the area.

Our reasoning is mostly centered around the fact that these two organizations are locally owned and operated. The money that these banks earn stays in the community. Both of those organizations support a ton of local events and employ a ton of people in our town, and even the people owning the organizations are local. They and their employees spend their money locally, too.

That, to me, makes a huge difference in terms of where my money goes. I’d much rather support a business run by local people where the money largely stays local than support a business that sucks all of the profits right out of the community.

I don’t feel as though “big banks” offer much additional convenience, either. Both local organizations offer great online banking and are part of large ATM networks.

Go local!

Q4: Figuring out where to live

As a current law student, this August, during interview season for next summer, I will need to decide where I want to live full-time post-graduation. I have no real ties anywhere particular in the US. My family is on the East Coast and I grew up on the East Coast. But I also went South for college, lived abroad for a year for work, and am now on the West Coast for law school.

So my question is: Given the chance to live anywhere, should I account for cost of living and taxes in my decision? I have family in New York City and NYC is a major legal market. However, NYC is incredibly expensive. My law school is in the Bay Area, another major legal market, and another very expensive area. I went to college in Texas, which had no state income tax. But that seems extreme to pick a location just because of tax purposes (rather than live near family). What do you think?
– Alexa

If you’re single and intend to stay that way, living away from family doesn’t have that much of an impact. Yes, you’ll have to travel to see them, but you’ll be buying one plane ticket, so it’s not that big of a deal, and their support is a little less important.

If you’re married and have children, the equation changes. Being near family allows you to participate in family events and ensure that your children know their family. Traveling to family events is much cheaper – if you’re flying three or four (or more) people across the country for a family event, your cousin’s wedding becomes a very expensive proposition, for example.

Not only that, living near family while you’re raising children can really help with the financial burden. Having family available for occasional babysitting and for potluck dinners and dinner parties and other such things can help a ton with expenses, enabling you to use your money for other things. Yes, you get some of those benefits if you’re single, but they’re amplified if you’ve got a family of your own.

I guess my recommendation to you centers around the other aspects of your life. If you’re single, I’d chase your career for now. If you’re in a long term relationship and children are remotely an option at any point in the foreseeable future, I’d definitely think heavily about family proximity.

Q5: Turbo Tax difficulties

I am considering for the first time in 33 years to file my own taxes(my tax guy retired). I want to use Turbo Tax but admit I have reservations as it seems all so confusing. My BIGGEST QUESTION is if I buy Turbo Tax, I have multiple filers(Mom in nursing home, disabled adult daughter and of course my wife and I) Can I do it with one purchase or would I have to buy the program three times? Seems would get expensive.

I must say I appreciate your review but also, Turbo Tax must have the absolute worst customer service I have ever seen online. I cannot find a number, email or chat to contact them with this question. From all I can see, you must have purchased the program first. Who ever is heading their Customer Relations/CEO needs a knot jerked in them, to me that is unbelievable that someone cannot email, chat or call with a question.
– Hugh

The desktop version of Turbotax allows you to do multiple returns and up to five e-files. This is answered here.

They have a contact form which I have used in the past and received a pretty prompt response. Many businesses use forms like this to avoid giving out their email address to keep spam at bay. They’ll answer general questions about their product with that form pretty efficiently.

Once you have the product, they have a lot of help tools available.

I’ve been very happy with Turbotax in the past and intend to use it again this year.

Q6: Retirement and general savings planning

Have a few questions regarding retirement and general savings. Firstly, I am 31 and have currently served on active duty for 6 years. I contribute 20 percent of my income to the TSP (10% traditional and 10% roth). I would like your thoughts regarding my contribution allocation. I put 70% in the T2050, 20% in the S fund and 10% in the C fund. Do you see any issues with this investment strategy? I got a late start towards investing and only have around $8K in my account at the moment. The military is coming out with the Blended Retirement System program soon and I am considering switching up my strategy a little once the program takes effect (putting 5% in traditional to get the match and 15% in the Roth). Any thoughts on the new Blended Retirement System? To me it sounds like a solid option for someone, like me, not planning on making a 20 year career out of the military. Any insight on issues or red flags you might see in how I am approaching my retirment savings would be greatly appreciated. Another topic I would love your advice on is my personal savings. For two and a half years I have saved vigorously off of E-5 military pay and currently I have about $37K in my savings account, which I primarily intend on using to purchase a home in 4-5 years once I depart the military. Given the VA home loan options, do you think it is wise to continue putting such large chunks of my income in my personal savings, when I could probably get a great home with little to no down payment through the VA home loan program?

I have no debt and would like to put more in retirement savings but I am fearful that I will be cutting my personal savings short. I have few short term savings goals as well, but nothing that is going to “break the bank”. Lastly, I would like to get your thoughts on money anxiety. I ask this because I feel it is something I have been experiencing for the better part of the last few years. I grew up in a household with very little money and in fact joined the military with 23K in debt and a low 500s credit score.

Through frugal approaching, most of which I attribute to your blog, I have cleared all my debt and have seen my credit score rise to 640. The issue I am having is now that I am more financially sound, it seems that any time I spend money, even on essentials like food and gas, I get a depressed feeling. I feel as if any money spent that is not going into either my personal savings or retirement is negatively affecting my future finincial picture. Any ideas, aside from a budget, that you could recommend for dealing with this negative feeling when spending on essentials and non-essentials. Sorry for the long post, but I truely value your opinion and hope to one day have “all my ducks in a row”.
– Dennis

I think your current retirement plan sounds quite good. It’s basically just a slightly more aggressive version of Target Retirement 2050, which seems completely reasonable.

I looked into the Blended Retirement System and it seems like a solid program that gives individual savers more control over their money to be more or less aggressive as they wish. I have no problems with that program, at least from what I can read about it, and your suggested split makes sense, too.

The thing to remember with down payment savings is that it will allow you to have a smaller mortgage than you normally would. That either means you’ll be buying the same house you would without that savings and have smaller mortgage payments for the next 15-30 years or you’ll be able to buy a larger house than you would otherwise consider. That’s where your savings will return some real value to you. It’s up to you as to how valuable that is.

Q7: Where can I live happily?

I live in Ames Iowa which is constantly listed as one of the best cities to live in in America. Yet I hate it here and all I can think about is moving away and getting my family out of here. But here’s my question. If this is one of the best places to live in America where exactly should I go from here?
– Carrie

I live in a rural area near Ames and it’s the nearest city of any significant size. I quite like Ames. It’s far better than other cities I have lived in or near in my past.

I think any city you live in is what you make of it. People can love anywhere they live and people can hate anywhere they live. I also think there is a strong tendency in people to see the grass as being greener on the other side of the fence. They focus on the good things about other areas and the bad things about where they currently live and that causes them to overlook a lot of features.

I’m a firm believer that happiness comes from inside, not outside. A person can be happy or sad no matter where they are. Outside of clinical depression and similar mental health concerns, most people decide whether to be happy or not.

You might want to spend some time looking for things you like about Ames rather than things you hate, and you might also want to think about what you’re looking for elsewhere that you don’t already have. That statement applies to anyone living anywhere who is unhappy with where they’re at.

Q8: Why work so hard?

You write a lot about starting a side gig to earn more money and about how The Simple Dollar was your side gig while working full time. That sounds horrible to me. Why would anyone want to work 80 hours per week? I see the usefulness of earning more but what good is life if 90% of your waking hours where you’re not eating or doing basic life chores is spent working?
– Mark

First of all, I have always deeply enjoyed writing for The Simple Dollar. I love the research and reading that goes into the articles, the conversations with people (where I collect a lot of the personal stories and anecdotes that I use), the brainstorming of topics, the transformation of those topic ideas into an outline, and the writing of the articles. That’s fun for me.

I generally think that side gigs that are not fun for a person are going to end up in failure. I think the same thing (to a large degree) about a person’s main job. If you hate your job, you’re not going to perform well there.

I don’t think it’s good for anyone to work 80-90 hours a week, unless a lot of that work time is actually “play” and it’s fun A lot of what others might consider work that I’ve done in my life are things I view as “play” – I find them quite fun. There were huge swaths of every job I’ve ever had that I personally enjoyed. If I’m spending most of my time doing stuff I enjoy, I don’t mind “working” more than 40 hours per week (provided I’m compensated, of course).

If you’re spending your “work” time in complete misery, you should find another job or career path. Period.

Q9: Weight loss wardrobe issues

I’ve lost about 60 pounds over the last several months Clothes that used to fit me well are really baggy. So I need to buy a new wardrobe which seems expensive as I need lots of professional clothes. Also, should I hold onto old clothes that are too big for me now?
– Nina

You should definitely hang onto your old clothes for a while – a few years at least. You don’t want to find that this weight change isn’t a permanent change and then have to buy yet another new wardrobe.

If I was you, I’d simply replace a piece at a time. Take the one or two items of clothing that you have that are the baggiest and straight-up replace them. Put the baggy items in storage and add the great-fitting new items to your wardrobe. Repeat this regularly as long as you’re losing or holding your weight.

When you shop for “new” clothes, take your time with it. You don’t need to replace immediately or replace everything at once. Look for bargains and clothes sales to do replacements.

Just save your old clothes for a few years.

Q10: New city social changes

I grew up in the Midwest and went to a college near my hometown so I have more or less had the same social circle since I was six. I just started graduate school in Boston and for the first time in my life I don’t know anyone and I’m realizing quickly how lonely it is. A lot of my fellow students are from other countries and prefer to hang out with others from that same country and the only two people in my group that are from the USA seemingly have zero interest in hanging out. I feel really alone but am trying to put up a brave face for people back home. Writing to you about this because you offered some great advice about scholarships and college stuff a few years back. I don’t know what to do.
– Andy

What you should do is find some social events related to things you’re interested in. You live in Boston, so tools like Meetup are chock-full of things to do that match your interests. Go on there and start browsing around what’s available in the Boston area. I went and looked – there are literally hundreds of meetups in Boston and the surrounding areas.

Find a few groups that look interesting, join them, and actually go to their meetups. Go there with the intent of meeting people.

I’m guessing from your email that you’re introverted like me and this sounds a bit intimidating. My advice to you is this. Just go. It’s going to seem a bit scary. That’s okay. When you go, just make it your goal to meet a few people there. If you don’t know what to do, just say hello, introduce yourself, and ask questions. If you don’t know what to say next, ask a question. You’ll find that conversation blooms when people are given prompts about what to talk about. You’ll quickly figure out that there are some people that you click with. Those people are potential friends. Swap social media info with them, then follow up in the next day or two. I usually like to jot down a reason to follow up with people.

Good luck! This is the exact recipe I’d use if I were new to an area. I’d look for philosophy groups, board gaming groups, book clubs, hiking groups, homebrewing groups… I’d find friends, for sure.

Q11: The Great Courses?

Any thoughts on The Great Courses? Good deal? Ripoff?
– Stanley

They’re really good if you put the time into them. That’s the key.

Buying one of the Great Courses packages isn’t going to do much for you if you don’t actually listen to / watch the lectures, take notes, do the suggested reading or practice, and think about the material. If you do that stuff, you’ll get a ton of value; if you buy it and watch / listen to one lecture and then toss it in the corner, it’s not worthwhile.

My suggestion is to borrow a few from your local library and see if they click for you. See if the library can get any others that you’re specifically interested in. There’s also a surprisingly robust secondhand market for these sets, as people like to swap them and sell them once they’re done with them, so check Craigslist or Meetup to see if there are any places where people might do this.

Q12: Solitaire board game question

You talked recently about solitaire board games. How does that work? Is it like playing solitaire with a deck of cards? But don’t board games require at least two people? This seems interesting as a hobby.
– Orrin

You’re on the right track with the idea of playing solitaire with a deck of cards. Klondike solitaire – the solitaire variant most people think of as “solitaire” – is a nice example of a simple solitaire board/card game. They ramp up in complexity to whatever level you desire.

Some games are designed only to be solitaire experiences. Friday is a good example of that. Other games are designed to be played solitaire or against other people, depending on what you want – Agricola is a good example in that category, though a complex one. Any cooperative board game also works as a solo game, like Pandemic.

I generally like the really complex stuff if I have a good window of time for it. I like it when tabletop games feel like they’re making my brain melt and I can actually feel my brain at work. My favorite games as of late in this vein are Liberty or Death and Mage Knight. They’ve both given me a lot of hours of enjoyment as solo games, but they both work with other players, too. Be aware – these games are complex. I would not buy either as your first attempt at a solo game or you’ll just be scratching your head.

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 Local Banks, Weight Loss, New City Challenges, and More! appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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If You Want to Retire With an Extra $20K, Stop Doing This Right Now

Are you one of the millions of Americans renting a storage unit? Then listen up.

A recent Bankrate report revealed just how much money you’re wasting storing your excess stuff — plus how it could affect your retirement.

And the numbers ain’t pretty.

How Much Money Your Storage Unit Wastes

When you pay for a storage unit, you’re not only throwing money away — but also failing to invest it in something bigger.

Primarily, you’re missing out on the incredible power of compound interest. We’re talking tens of thousands of dollars here.

Don’t believe me?

This eye-opening chart from Bankrate shows what would happen if you invested that $25, $100 or $200 — rather than paying monthly for a storage unit.

Source: Bankrate

Still feel attached to your $100-a-month storage unit, now that you know it could cost you nearly $20,000 over the next 10 years?

I didn’t think so.

Hopefully those numbers are enough to kick you into action.

If you don’t need it enough to keep it in your house or apartment, you probably don’t need it at all.

As for what to do with all that stuff, here are a few suggestions:

• Practice KonMari, the art of decluttering.  

• Earn money with a garage sale.

• Sell your clothes online.

• Donate items to charity for a tax write-off.

• Give your stuff to friends and family who may need it more than you.

Isn’t it time you say goodbye to your storage unit…  and hello to a prosperous retirement?  

Your Turn: Do you have a storage unit?

Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget. Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.

The post If You Want to Retire With an Extra $20K, Stop Doing This Right Now appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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Why it isn't safe to take 4% income from your pension

Kyle Caldwell

pension-calculator.jpg

The '4% rule', the amount that retirees can safely withdraw from their pension pots, has been described as outdated.

The '4% rule', the amount that retirees can safely withdraw from their pension pots, has been described as outdated.

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Co-op Bank up for sale but it's "business as usual for customers"

Helen Knapman

co-op-bank.jpg

The Co-operative (Co-op) Bank says it’s “business as usual” for its four million customers, as it announced it has put itself up for sale.

The Co-operative (Co-op) Bank says it’s “business as usual” for its four million customers, as it announced it has put itself up for sale.

The Co-op is inviting offers for 100% of the share capital of the bank, although it says a sale is “dependent on agreeing an offer that is right for our key stakeholders, including customers”.

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Pensioner incomes beating working age households

Rachel Lacey

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Retired households now have a higher weekly income than their working-age counterparts, according to a new study from the Resolution Foundation.

Retired households now have a higher weekly income than their working-age counterparts, according to a new study from the Resolution Foundation.

The think tank found that pensioner households are typically £20 a week better off than those who are still in work. This compares to 2001 when they had £70 less to live off a week than working-age households.

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Santander launches voice activated payments app

Adam Williams

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Santander customers can make payments with their voice for the first time using the bank’s smartphone app.

Santander customers can make payments with their voice for the first time using the bank’s smartphone app.

Users will also be able to check their account balance, report lost cards or monitor their spending habits solely by using their voice.

Santander says it’s the first UK bank to offer such a service.

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These 4 Tax Deadlines are Coming Up Fast. Here’s What You Need to Know

I’ve been getting my W-2 forms in the mail.

You know, those intimidating sheets of paper that showcase your wages and taxes — all the money that’s been taken out of your paycheck.

The deadline for employers to send these little sheets out was January 31.

So now that you’ve got your W-2 form(s) in hand, it’s time to start procrastinating, right?

That’s how I feel, anyway. These forms give me a weird type of anxiety. It’s serious. What do I do with this? Can I just hand it off to my dad?

So I set it on my desk — where it’ll collect dust for a few months. Until the deadline approaches.

When are My Taxes Due in 2017?

April 18.

That’s when you need to file your 2016 tax returns.

Fun fact: The universal “Tax Day” is April 15. But it lands on a Saturday this year. And Washington D.C. celebrates its Emancipation Day the next Monday.

So mark Tuesday, April 18, 2017, on your calendar.

But there’s more to that day than just filing your returns.

4 Tax Deadlines That Land on April 18, 2017

It’s not just those pesky W-2 forms you need to worry about. April 18 is a big day with many deadlines.

So, be sure to:

1. File individual tax returns.

You’ve got to e-file or postmark your taxes by midnight.

You’ll need to use form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ and pay any taxes you might have due. If you don’t know what form you need (because I didn’t), consider:

• Form 1040 is for all taxpayers. It offers more tax breaks than the simpler forms listed below.

• Form 1040A is for those who meet a number of requirements, including those who have a taxable income of $100,000 or less and claim a standard deduction (versus an itemized deduction).

• Form 1040EZ is for individuals or married couple (filing jointly) who meet a number of requirements, including those with an income less than $100,000 and who aren’t claiming a dependent. It’s the simplest form to fill out, according to IRS.gov.

For more info on these documents and their requirements, I recommend you study up at IRS.gov. It’s not as intimidating as it might sound. (That’s saying a lot… coming from me.)

2. File an extension.

Need an extension? You need to file it by April 18. You can do so online for free.

Reasons for extensions include emergencies, extended vacations, overloaded work schedules and utter unpreparedness.

The extension runs six months. If you opt for this, you’ll need to mark October 16, 2017, on your calendar. That’s your new deadline.

3. File your estimated taxes.

For those of you who are self-employed: You should already have this date on your calendar.

You must file these four times a year: April 18, June 15, September 15 and January 17.

The IRS has tons of information for you to read up on.

4. Make final 2016 IRA contributions.

Got that retirement fund going? This is your last day to make a contribution to your IRA accounts, including traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs and Health Savings Accounts.

For more information — because you’re going to want to make the most out of these — the IRS has you covered.

Your Turn: Do you know your tax deadlines?

Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s really good at procrastinating.

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