MAKE MONEY ONLINE POSTS: 04/13/17

الخميس، 13 أبريل 2017

CLOSING BELL: Stocks slide, led by energy companies

Energy stocks led a broad decline on Wall Street, giving the market its third loss in a row.

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EPA head tells coal miners 'regulatory assault is over'

SYCAMORE, Pa. (AP) — Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt told dozens of Pennsylvania coal miners Thursday that the "regulatory assault" on their industry is over, and that the environment can be protected without hurting business."We're going to do it the American way, grow jobs and show the rest of the world how it's done," Pruitt said before going on a mine tour about 50 miles south of Pittsburgh."The regulatory assault is over," he said, [...]

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Airbnb Collects Taxes in More Places to Keep Good Graces of Cities

Airbnb is a marvel of the modern era — people hosting people, allowing for more affordable travel all while providing a more intimate look at the day-to-day goings on of cultures around the globe.

So cool.

Over the last couple of years, however, Airbnb has faced some opposition — mostly from destination cities that are less than pleased with the booking service for taking business away from their tourism industry and severely impacting how much the cities can collect in hotel and tourism taxes.

Airbnb initially fought back, but then decided a better strategy would be just to comply with local governments. Now the company partners with them to ensure the company’s hosts and guests alike are paying their fair share of hotel and tourism taxes.

If You Can’t Beat ‘Em…

Airbnb recently announced that starting May 1, it will add another 10 U.S. cities and counties, the entire state of Texas and 31 cities in France to its list of taxable destinations.

That means Airbnb will have agreements with more than 275 jurisdictions, which the company says means they’ll collect more than $240 million in collected and remitted taxes around the world.

Taxes vary greatly by location, so it’s difficult to say exactly how much more you should expect to pay. But this change won’t mean any dramatic alterations to the way you use Airbnb.

A blog post the company published states that the new system “ensures a streamlined process for our host community and lightens the administrative burden for state and local governments.”

…Join ‘Em

Airbnb, which operates in more than 65,000 cities across more than 191 countries, plans to continue establishing these types of agreements with cities around the world in the coming years.

Here’s a full list of the cities in which Airbnb currently collects occupancy taxes. You can check to see if your next destination is on the list!

And if you’re struggling with some major wanderlust but are in need of travel inspiration, check out these incredible (and inexpensive!) Airbnb’s in every state.

If you’ve got an extra bedroom (or maybe even just a backyard and a tent!) here are some tips to help you get started making extra cash by renting out your space on Airbnb.

Your Turn: Tell us about your favorite experience in an Airbnb!

Grace Schweizer is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s currently dreaming up her next big trip — and it will definitely involve a stay at an Airbnb!

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, one of the largest personal finance websites. We help millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. In 2016, Inc. 500 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the No. 1 fastest-growing private media company in the U.S.

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Medical Debt Collectors Have Gone Rogue. Here’s How to Protect Yourself

Your phone rings. A debt collector is on the line, pestering you to pay your medical bills. If you don’t, they’re going to sue you and ruin your credit rating.

And the crazy thing is, you don’t actually owe any money.

If this has ever happened to you, you’re far from alone. A new report says debt collectors are harassing a surprising number of Americans to pay off medical debt they don’t even owe.

“Medical debt collection is a system run amok,” said the report’s co-author, Gideon Weissman of the nonprofit Frontier Group.

Frontier and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group looked through 17,700 medical debt collection complaints that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau received over the past three years.

What they found was amazing:

Sixty-three percent of these complaints came from people who didn’t even owe the debt the collectors were pestering them about.
They either didn’t owe the debt in the first place, had already paid the debt or had it discharged in bankruptcy.
Many complained of debt collectors’ aggressive tactics such as frequent, or repeated calls, calls harassing friends and family, threats of legal action or the use of abusive language.
Thirty-five percent of complaints made reference to the consumers’ credit reports.

So, if you’re getting these aggravating calls from debt collectors even though you don’t owe any medical debt, you’re not crazy, and you’re not alone.

“Medical debt collectors often employ aggressive tactics and attempt to collect debt from the wrong customers — putting consumers’ credit records at risk,” the report’s authors said. “Medical debt accounts for more than half of all collection items that appear on consumer credit reports.”

These entries on credit reports, they said, “are often wrong or are about the wrong consumer.”

What to Do About This?

What can you do to protect yourself? Here are our tips on dealing with debt collectors.

Some of the highlights:

Know your rights.

Watch out for debt-collection scams.

Addressing debt earlier is better.

File your own complaint with the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.

Your Turn: Have you ever been wrongly harassed by a bill collector?

Mike Brassfield (mike@thepennyhoarder.com) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. Unfortunately, bill collectors pester him about medical debt that he actually owes.

How Will Your Kids Pay for College? Here’s How to Talk About It Now

The high cost of college and the burden of student loan debt are well-known issues in our national dialogue.

Still, going to college seems like an inevitable next step for most current K-12 students.

The cost of college isn’t a deterrent for most teens, according to a recent survey by Junior Achievement.

Of the 13- to 17-year-olds surveyed, almost nine in 10 (89%) say they plan to attend college. An annual T. Rowe Price study of younger kids, ages 8-14, puts that number at about eight in 10 — slightly lower, but still a large majority.

These expectations are surprisingly close to actual results.

By age 26, 88% of high school graduates have enrolled in college, according to a 10-year study by the Center for Public Education.

Why Kids Don’t Go to College

Why do the rest decide not to attend college?

Two-thirds of non-college-goers come from low-income homes, so it’s unsurprising finances played some role in the majority of reasons for not attending college.

About a quarter (23%) said flat out they couldn’t afford it.

Sixteen percent said they’d rather work and make money. Another 16% said they had to support their family.

Another sixteen percent of students said they didn’t go to college because they already had a good job. Less frequent answers included some related to finances, as well, including pregnancy, child care and marriage.

Only 5% said they didn’t attend college because they didn’t need to or couldn’t get in.

But few students anticipate these financial issues.

When asked how the conversation about student loan debt affects their plans, only 4% of teenagers said it makes them less likely to go to college. Instead, 60% say they’ll figure out a way to pay for college without taking out student loans.

While higher education feels like a certainty for younger generations, what’s uncertain is just how they’ll pay for it.

How Will the Next Generation Pay for College?

Four in 10 teens who plan to attend college say they expect scholarships and grants to cover most of their costs.

Only 1 in 10 anticipate taking out student loans — a pretty stark difference from the number of current college students who receive student loans.

Recent data show more than half of college students take out student loans, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Are today’s teens being too optimistic? Or does their response mark a change in our awareness of the burden of student loan debt?

Time will tell.

It could be their parents are doing a better job of saving for college than ours did. Or maybe they have more creative ways to cover costs.

It could be a simple matter of youthful ignorance (ahh, remember those days?).

Teens may have the best of intentions — 17% even say they plan to have a job to pay for college — but maybe lack the perspective of the high cost.

What Kids Say vs. What Parents Say

If kids and teens are too optimistic about paying for college, it could be because they over-estimate how much their parents are going to cover.

There’s a major disconnect between how kids and their parents view paying for college.

In 2015, 48% of teens told Junior Achievement they expected their parents would help pay for college. Only 16% of parents said they planned to pay.

It’s similar with younger kids, too.

Nearly a quarter of kids in the T. Rowe Price survey expect their parents to pay for all of their college costs.

Of those, 1 in 5 have parents who expect them to contribute, but the kids are apparently clueless about this expectation.

Why the disconnect?

I’m not a parent, but out of sympathy I’ll venture a guess: Paying for college is just too complicated to think about, let alone to clearly explain to your kids.

Talk to Your Kids About the Cost of College

Teaching kids anything about money is tough.

Talking to them about college piles major career and life choices on top of unpleasant financial issues.

Where do you even begin?

My parents didn’t go to college, nor did most of the parents of my high school peers.

Our teachers and counselors went to college at a time when tuition was much lower and highly subsidized. For their parents, college was reserved for the wealthy elite.

They knew to push us to attend college, but couldn’t offer proper guidance about how to responsibly pay for it. And now, our generation is buried in unprecedented debt.

We don’t want it to be worse for the next generation.

So how do you help your kids?

Start by including college in your list of what to teach kids about money.

In addition to talking to them about whether and where they’ll go, as well as what they’ll study, talk about the cost and options for covering it.

As your kids think about and prepare for college, discuss these topics with them:

Will you or anyone in the family help pay for college?

This is a basic place to start.

Make sure your kids know whether to expect money from you for college, so they plan accordingly.

How much will they have to cover themselves?

If you’re paying, how much do you plan to cover? Is it a set amount, a percentage, or is it contingent on other factors?

How can they start saving money for college now?

Do you need to help them start a savings account or set savings goals? Where will their money come from, and how will it grow?

Where can they find scholarships, and how do they apply?

One mom helped her son win $100,000 in college scholarships. Read her tips!

We also have tons of resources to help you find scholarships. Here’s a list of 100 college scholarships and another 100 bizarre scholarships that might surprise you.

What are student loans, how do they work and should they get them?

Long before they fill out a FAFSA, help your kids understand student loan debt in simple terms (you may have to study a little yourself…).

Explain what it actually means to take out student loans. Help them understand the commitment they’re making and think about how they plan to pay it back.

How Will Your Kids Pay for College?

The question of how to pay for college has plagued us for decades.

Just as college becomes more necessary, paying for it becomes more of a burden on students and their families.

Constant political and social changes only seem to complicate the issue more.

The cost, funding and relevance of higher education shifts with every generation, leaving parents of young children to only guess what to expect for their kids’ future.

Will your kids be covered by college scholarships?

Will they be buried in debt after graduation?

Will they be able to pay up front with savings?

Will they work during college to pay their own tuition?

Or, who knows? Maybe by the time they’re out of high school college won’t be necessary at all.

Your Turn: Are you saving for your kids’ college fund? Do you talk to your kids about paying for college?

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).

Good at Nagging? Here’s How to Turn That Trait into a Lucrative Side Gig

Are you lauded in your social circle as the one who always manages to get things done on time and according to schedule?

If so, you could make you some extra cash by helping other people quit dawdling and just get their stuff done already.

New Yorkers are paying three entrepreneurs $40 a pop to show up at a local coworking space to buckle down and work on pet projects they’ve been putting off.

The event is called a Cave Day, a “day of heads-down, facilitated, distraction-free productivity so you can treat yourself to prioritize YOU and getting your personal work done.”

How Cave Day Works

Basically, it’s a big room with tables, electrical outlets, internet access, snacks and “procrastination nannies” who will keep you on track and away from distractions.

They even take away your phone.

There are productivity coaches on hand in case you hit a wall and structured breaks to remind you to get up and walk around every now and then.

Fast Company’s David Zax attended a Cave Day in March to work on his screenplay.

“Over the course of the morning, punctuated by occasional stretching and doodling breaks led by [event organizer Molly] Sonsteng, I found myself steadily plugging away at it — and proceeded to make more progress than I had in months,” he says.

Sounds like the organizers are onto something.

The business idea sounds nutty, but the trio has done so well since their January launch that they’re already raising the price on future events to $45 per ticket.

I’m not surprised this business has take off.

Almost everyone knows someone who’s struggling to finish a novel, write a collection of songs, draw their first graphic novel or complete some creative project they started ages ago.

All they need is someone to coach them to stay productive and grind it out.

Be that person.

Start a Side Gig as an Anti-Dawdle Cop

The group behind Cave Days has clearly invested a lot of time and energy into building its business.

You can do something similar on a smaller scale to earn some extra scratch.

Start a side gig as an accountability partner to creative-types who are working on a book, manuscript, screenplay, or thesis.

You’ll need to spend some time getting to know your clients to understand what motivates them and what kinds of things would further undermine their progress.

For instance, I’d respond well to pre-arranged check-ins to see how things are going.

On the other hand, I’d run screaming from someone who sent me motivational quotes and inspirational messages.

Just try saying, “Let’s do this!” around me.

One of my good friends, however, loves her vision board and collects inspiring memes like they were gold bars.

Hey, whatever works.

Why This Is a Great Side Hustle

You don’t need a ton of cash to get this gig off the ground. All you need is knack for productivity and a sincere desire to help people succeed.

You’ll typically keep in touch with your clients via phone, text and email, so a cell phone and small space to set up your home office are all you need.

Rather than rent a coworking space, offer to meet at a coffee shop to help keep clients on track while they work (remember to tip your barista!).

You don’t have to invest in expensive marketing to find new clients. Ask your friends and family to spread the word and contact local writers groups to let them know you’re available.

From fitness to money management, accountability partners are hot right now. In fact, your side gig might even become your full-time job.

Your turn: Do you need an accountability partner or would you make a great coach?

Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She admits having a half-done project she’d pay someone to motivate her to finish.

Huddle House to open by summer in East Stroudsburg

Construction has started on the new Huddle House restaurant at the Days Inn in East Stroudsburg. The southern-style comfort food franchise planned to open for Memorial Day, but building material procurement delayed construction.“Work began about a month ago,” said hotel General Manager Deepak Silam. “We expect to open the middle of June, or by July 4 for sure.”Huddle House will operate 24 hours a day and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner all the time. [...]

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JetBlue is Giving Away 1,000 Free Flights to Taxpayers Who Owe This Year

Bank account feeling a little — or a lot — lighter after paying your taxes this month?

JetBlue wants to wants to soothe your stress.

The Tax Return Return Flight contest will give away 1,000 free one-way flights to people who owed taxes this year.

And unlike some of the tax forms you may have encountered, entering this contest is so easy. We promise.

How to Enter the Tax Return Return Flight Contest

Simply submit your name, email address and birthdate at JetBluetaxreturnflight.com to enter.

Confirm that you owed taxes, check the box confirming you’re playing by the rules and hit submit. That’s it!

Once you submit your info, you’ll get a confirmation page telling you, “Tax return flight fingers crossed. If you are getting a free one-way flight, you’ll find out via email only.”

JetBlue won’t even check that you actually owed on your tax return — because that would be creepy. You can enter once each day until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on April 25, 2017.

JetBlue Free Flights Still Come With Rules

You must be a resident of the United States, but sorry, Hawaii — you’re excluded from this contest. You must also be 18 or older to enter.

If you win, you’ll get a travel certificate you can redeem for a one-way flight within the contiguous U.S. and Alaska. JetBlue notes in the rules that each certificate’s value is $150, but the company will cover any one-way flight. You will still have to pay the taxes and fees on your ticket.

You’ll need to use your certificate between May 1 and June 15, so start thinking about where you’ll go if you win! (And then start thinking about how you’ll save on your way back.)

JetBlue is pretty well known for its in-flight perks like free live TV and satellite radio, plus unlimited snacks and beverages. But flying for free would make those perks even better, don’t you agree?

Your Turn: Will you enter the contest to win JetBlue Free Flights?

Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer at The Penny Hoarder. Full disclosure: She really loves JetBlue.

The Surprisingly Versatile Vegetable You May Be Ignoring (and Nine Creative Ways to Cook It)

“Eat your vegetables,” your mom told you. And she had a point. Federal researchers note that people who eat more natural foods are less likely to develop chronic diseases and more likely to enjoy good health. Eat enough vegetables, researchers say, and you’ll reduce your risk for heart disease, stroke, heart attack, and certain types of cancers. And if you go the extra mile to eat vegetables with loads of fiber, you can reduce your risk of obesity and Type 2 Diabetes by half or more.

Still, eating enough vegetables isn’t always easy – nor is it always good for your wallet. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, women ages 19 and up need to eat 2 to 2 ½ cups of vegetables each day. Meanwhile, men ages 19 and up should strive to consume 3 cups (or 2 ½ cups for ages 51 and older). In today’s hectic environment, it has become increasingly hard to find smart veggie options on the run, and particularly in fast-food restaurants. And when you do find a fast-food salad or veggie burger, they aren’t always particularly cheap.

Unless you mostly eat at home and cook vegetables with every meal or eat vegetarian most of the time, hitting your daily quota of veggies can be tough. To bulk up on vegetables – or at least get close to the daily requirements proposed by government agencies – you may need to get creative.

Trick Your Taste Buds with Cauliflower

One vegetable is so versatile that it’s easy to work into your regular food routine – often, without changing much. By getting creative with cauliflower, you can create some yummy (and convincing) dishes that emulate other less-than-healthy foods.

If you’re not eating enough vegetables, it might be time to put cauliflower on the menu at your house. Here are a few of the best ways to work this adaptable plant into your nightly meals:

#1: Cauliflower Fried Rice

I don’t mean simply preparing fried rice with cauliflower in it — I mean using minced cauliflower as your “rice.” It tastes exactly like the real thing. Here’s how I make it:

Wash and dry a full head of cauliflower, then cut it into florets. Once the vegetable is completely dry, pulse small portions in a food processor until the entire head of cauliflower is rice-sized.

In a skillet, combine two tablespoons of sesame oil and four eggs. Cook the eggs “scrambled style” and set aside.

Add another tablespoon of sesame oil to the skillet, along with a medium onion (chopped) and chopped green onions. Cook for a few minutes on medium, then add a small bag of frozen peas and carrots. Once heated, add cauliflower “rice” and several tablespoons of soy sauce. Cook thoroughly for 6-7 minutes, adding back the eggs when it’s almost done.

You can add a ton of soy sauce or very little while the mixture simmers – the choice is yours. Just remember that, if you’re heavy on the soy sauce, this dish can get very high in sodium (try a low-sodium soy sauce for more flavor and less salt).

#2: Cauliflower Breadsticks

Cauliflower breadsticks mimic the flavor of traditional breadsticks, yet don’t pack nearly as many carbs. With this recipe, you’ll start with a head of cauliflower, wash it thoroughly, and chop it up. Make sure to dry your cauliflower completely before you move on to the next step (you’ll want to get ride of excess moisture with almost any cauliflower recipe to ensure it doesn’t come out soggy).

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Pulse your cauliflower in a food processor until it’s fine, then pour it onto a cheesecloth or towel. Wrap the cauliflower up into the towel and squeeze out all the extra water you can.

In a bowl, add two eggs (or four egg whites), one cup of your favorite shredded cheese, two teaspoons of minced garlic, one teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and a dash of salt and pepper. Mix it up, then spread it evenly to create a square shape on a baking sheet. I like to bake cauliflower breadsticks on parchment paper, but you could use a non-stick baking pan instead.

Bake your cauliflower for 15 minutes, then take it out of the oven. Sprinkle a cup of parmesan cheese on top, then bake for another 5-8 minutes. Serve with your favorite marinara sauce.

#3: Cauliflower Crust Pizza

To make cauliflower “pizza,” you’ll follow the directions above until you take your crust out of the oven the first time. Once the crust has baked for 15 minutes, you’ll take it out and cover it with marinara sauce, your favorite pizza toppings, and one cup of mozzarella cheese. I like to top my cauliflower pizzas with a bunch of veggies (onion, chopped peppers, mushrooms, etc.), but you could also add pepperoni, sausage, or ham.

Bake for another 7-10 minutes (until toppings are cooked and cheese is melted), then cut into square-shaped pieces and serve.

#4: Cauliflower Mashed ‘Potatoes’

Cauliflower can taste a lot like mashed potatoes if you mash it and add traditional creamy, garlicky flavors. To make mashed cauliflower “potatoes,” you’ll start by boiling or steaming a full head of washed cauliflower florets for 15 minutes. Once the cauliflower is cooked, you’ll dry it completely – the dryer the better!

Put your vegetable in a bowl and add two tablespoons of milk, a half cup of sour cream, one tablespoon of butter, garlic salt, and chives. Mash the cauliflower by hand or use a hand mixer until it has the consistency of potatoes.

Serve your cauliflower mash alone, with butter on top, or with your favorite gravy.

#5: Cauliflower Buffalo ‘Wings’

Bite-size cauliflower florets make a healthy substitute for chicken wings, but soak up plenty of savory, spicy buffalo sauce. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Start with a head of cauliflower, taking special care to wash it and cut it up into wing-sized florets. Dry the cauliflower completely before you move to the next step.

In a bowl, whisk together one cup of flour, two tablespoons of garlic powder, a half cup of milk, and a pinch of salt. Dip each of the cauliflower florets into the mixture, shake off any excess, then lay them in a large baking pan. Cook the cauliflower for 20 minutes at 450 degrees.

Now, take the cauliflower out of the oven and turn the temperature down to 400 degrees. Grab a marinating brush and saturate the “wings” with your favorite buffalo wing sauce. This recipe also works with other sauces you’d normally try with wings – teriyaki, for example, or barbecue sauce.

Bake another 10 minutes at 400 degrees, then serve with blue cheese or ranch dipping sauce.

#6: General Tso’s Cauliflower

The General Tso’s cauliflower recipe I tried at home was similar to this one (except for the fact I used store-bought General Tso’s sauce).

Start with a head of cauliflower that’s been washed and cut into florets. In a bowl, mix together one cup of flour, ½ cup of cornstarch, two teaspoons baking powder, two teaspoons salt, four eggs, and ½ cup water.

Add cauliflower to the batter, shaking off the excess but leaving enough behind to coat it. Fry cauliflower in a large oiled skillet on medium heat for 10-15 minutes. Make sure to flip cauliflower halfway so both sides are slightly brown and crunchy.

Let the cauliflower sit on paper towels to soak up excess oil once cooked, then toss in your favorite General Tso’s sauce. Sprinkle shallots and sesame seeds on top, then serve with rice or dipping sauce.

#7: Roasted Garlic Cauliflower

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees, then wash and cut a head of cauliflower into florets. Dry the cauliflower all the way, then cover it thoroughly with a mixture made up of three tablespoons olive oil and three tablespoons of minced garlic.

Pour cauliflower into a casserole dish, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 25 minutes, stopping to mix halfway through. Remove the cauliflower from the oven and sprinkle a cup of your favorite cheese on top. I prefer a mixture of parmesan and mozzarella, but nearly any cheese that melts will do.

Bake for another 5 minutes (or until cheese is melted), top with parsley, and serve.

#8: Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower

Turmeric is a bright, yellowish spice hailed for its health benefits. Some experts say it’s a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory, and that it may help prevent certain types of cancer and strengthen your immune system (though others caution that it’s not a miracle spice).

Combine turmeric with cauliflower and you’ve got a healthy dish that packs an antioxidant punch. I make turmeric roasted cauliflower with a recipe similar to this one.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees, then toast coriander and peppercorn seeds on high heat for around a minute. Once cooled, grind the spices along with garlic, turmeric, crushed red pepper, and olive oil. Cover cauliflower florets in the mixture and bake them for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. Once roasted, sprinkle with shallots and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

#9: Cauliflower ‘Tots’

I’ve never tried to make these before, but I am aching to experiment with this low-carb recipe for tater tots. Start with a head of cauliflower. Wash it thoroughly, cut into florets, then dry all the way. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees, then steam the cauliflower florets for 3-5 minutes before pulsing in a food processor.

In a large bowl, combine cauliflower, one egg, ½ cup minced onion, ½ cup minced bell pepper, ½ cup cheddar cheese, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, ¼ cup breadcrumbs, and ¼ cup minced cilantro and/or parsley. Mix ingredients together and season with salt and pepper.

Once your mixture is ready, use your hands to form it into small tater tots. Place tots on a cookie sheet and bake them for 20 minutes at 375 degrees. Serve with ketchup as you normally would.

Holly Johnson is an award-winning personal finance writer and the author of Zero Down Your Debt. Johnson shares her obsession with frugality, budgeting, and travel at ClubThrifty.com.

Related Stories:

What is your favorite cauliflower recipe? Have you tried any of the recipes on this list?

The post The Surprisingly Versatile Vegetable You May Be Ignoring (and Nine Creative Ways to Cook It) appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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You’re Running Out of Time to Ask for a Tax Extension. Here’s How to Do It

So you haven’t filed your taxes yet? What have you been doing for the entire first quarter of the year?

OK, I’ll put my scolding face away. Everyone has different circumstances. That’s why tax extensions exist.

Worried about missing the deadline? In a panic about your taxes?

Read on for a quick guide on how to file an extension.

How to File for a Tax Extension

You can’t get an extension unless you ask, and you have to do it before tax day!

Asking for an extension gives you an extra six months to file your tax return.
IRS Form 4868 is the magic ticket to a (temporary) reprieve from dealing with your tax return.

The extension request form doesn’t ask why you want an extension. You’ll estimate your tax liability for the year, input your payments (if you made any) and calculate any balance you have due to Uncle Sam.

The IRS also allows you to file for an extension for free using TaxSlayer, TurboTax or a number of other free filing software options it lists online.

Guess What: You Still Have to Pay

The bummer? Filing for an extension doesn’t give you more time to pay any taxes you have due. Those payments are still due April 18 — or you’ll incur fees and penalties.

Quick Sidebar on Interest and Fees, Because I Know You’re Wondering

Usually, the IRS explains, the late payment penalty is half of 1% of unpaid taxes after April 18. The IRS charges this penalty monthly and caps it at 25% of the amount of unpaid taxes. But if you pay more than six months late, you’re also on the hook for a minimum penalty of $205 or 100% of the taxes owed — whichever is less.

Yikes.

When you file for an extension online, you’ll have the option to pay all or part of your estimated income tax due. If you don’t pay in full right away, you’ll accrue interest on any tax owed.

Interest on your unpaid taxes starts to accrue April 19, even if you have the two-month extension for being out of the country. The IRS’ interest rate is the federal short-term rate (right now, that’s 0.83%) plus 3% — so you’re looking at 3.83% on your unpaid tax bill every month. The interest compounds daily, and the IRS updates the rate quarterly.

“The interest runs until you pay the tax,” Form 4868 warns. “Even if you had a good reason for not paying on time, you will still owe interest.”

(Yes, that is the IRS mean-mugging you through a form.)

If you want an extension and make an electronic payment before the regular tax deadline, you don’t have to file Form 4868 to formally request an extension. You’ll automatically get an extension when you make that partial or full payment through IRS Direct Pay and select “extension” from the “Reason For Payment” drop-down menu.

If you prefer to pay via credit or debit card through the Electronic Federal Payment System, you can get the automatic extension by selecting “extension” in the “Tax Type” menu.

The IRS says it will only contact you if it denies your old-fashioned, paper-submitted request.

There is a way to avoid a late payment penalty if you wait to pay your taxes when you file your extended return.

When you file your return, you can attach a statement explaining the reason you didn’t pay on time, according to the instructions for Form 4868. If you satisfy both of the following conditions when you complete your tax return, the IRS is likely to waive your penalty:

You pay at least 90% of the total tax on your return before the due date via withholding, estimated tax payments, or payments you made when filing for your extension, and
You pay the remaining balance when you file your return.

What if You’re Out of the Country?

If you’re a U.S. citizen or resident who’s out of the country at tax time, you automatically get an extra two months to file your tax return — no need to file an extension. Need more time? File an extension with Form 4868 or through one of the e-filing options, and you’ll get an additional four months to complete your return.

But the payment rules are the same for world travelers: If you’ll owe taxes but don’t make a payment before April 18, you’ll have to pay interest like the rest of us.

The key to surviving tax season, whether you started crunching numbers in January or are still hyperventilating while reading this article, is this:

Don’t hide from the IRS. Most of us pay taxes and share the task of filing tax returns. And just about everyone has questions about how to do it right — and what to do if you feel like you’re in financial trouble at tax time. The worst move is to pretend your problem doesn’t exist and hope you fly under the radar.

Don’t be afraid to call the IRS with your questions or concerns: Its agents have heard everything. I promise.

Your Turn: Have you ever asked for an extension on your taxes?

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

Ask GFC 030: What Are My Options With a 457 Rollover?

4 Great Credit Cards for New Parents (Even If Your Credit Score Stinks)

If you’re a mom or dad to young kids, you’re quickly learning how expensive and exhausting a child can be.

I know the feeling.

My wife and I have two children under the age of three, and it’s been a wonderfully rude awakening, to say the least. After all, the average child costs around $16,916 per year.

Fortunately, my background is in personal finance. Knowing where to find the best deals — on credit cards, in particular — has helped me save hundreds, maybe even thousands, on child-related expenses.

4 Great Credit Cards for New Parents — Even If You Have Bad Credit

Picking the right credit card isn’t easy, though.

There are more than 1,000 offers available, and young parents have unique needs. For example, your credit standing might need some TLC, you might still be in college, or you might simply want to stretch your dollars as far as possible.

Taking all that into account, here are four of the best credit card offers for new parents with a range of financial needs.

1. Best for Store Discounts: Target REDcard

Even people with limited credit experience can qualify for the Target REDcard.

The Target store credit card doesn’t charge an annual fee and offers a 5% discount on every Target purchase — including online.

That’s pretty much the complete package as far as a budget-conscious young parent is concerned. My wife has this card and loves the everyday savings it provides.

The Kohl’s Card is another good option, offering a 20% first-purchase discount and another 15% discount when your card arrives in the mail.

Kohl’s doesn’t have as broad a selection of items as Target, though, so if you have to choose one, I recommend the REDcard.

2. Best for Bad Credit: Capital One Secured MasterCard

Between increased costs, a more hectic lifestyle and less sleep, it’s understandable if your credit score has become “bad.”

After all, the average first-time parent is in the same boat. But you don’t want to let it stay that way.

Using a secured card is the best way to bounce back — the required security deposit makes approval all but guaranteed and reduces the need for high fees.

The Capital One Secured MasterCard is an especially attractive option, since it lacks an annual fee and has the potential to be “partially secured” — meaning your spending limit could actually be higher than the amount of your deposit.

You’ll be required to place a $49, $99 or $200 deposit in return for a spending limit of $200 to $3,000, depending on your creditworthiness.

3. Best for Parents in College: BankAmericard Cash Rewards for Students

Roughly 26% of undergraduate college students (about five million people) are raising kids while in school.

So it’s worth noting a college or university email address can serve as your ticket to better credit card terms than you’d otherwise expect with a limited credit standing. BankAmericard Cash Rewards for Students is a good example of this.

It doesn’t charge an annual fee or interest for the first 12 months. It also offers a $100 initial bonus, 3% cash back on gas and 2% on groceries (up to $1,500 in combined quarterly purchases), and 1% cash back on everything else.

4. Best for Excellent Credit: Citi Double Cash

If you check your credit score and find it’s actually excellent, you might want to apply for Citi Double Cash.

It’s one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market, offering 1% cash back on all purchases, plus another 1% when you pay your monthly bill.

It also offers 0% introductory financing for both new purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months — and there’s no annual fee.

Which Credit Card is Right for You?

Regardless of which card you pick, make sure to use it responsibly.

Credit cards are our most efficient credit-building tools. They can be free to use, don’t require getting into debt and report information to the major credit bureaus every month.

As long as this information is positive, the process will lead to efficient credit score gains. But it can work the other way, too.

Finally, it’s wise to add your child to your account as an authorized user. There’s no minimum age requirement, so you’re free to arrange a huge head start in his or her credit career.

I know I’ll be taking this approach with my kids.

Plus, authorized users can’t be held accountable for mistakes. So, your child can request the removal of any negative records you pass along to his or her credit report.

Your Turn: Are you a new parent? Do you have one of these cards, or do you have another favorite?

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. We’re letting you know because it’s what Honest Abe would do. After all, he is on our favorite coin.

Odysseas Papadimitriou is CEO of the personal finance website WalletHub, which offers free credit scores, full credit reports and 24/7 credit monitoring. He is a personal finance industry veteran, having previously worked as a senior executive at Capital One.

Help United Make (Better) Headlines as Its New Public Relations Manager

We’re all about jobs that come with great benefits, and this one sure fits the bill.

It offers paid time off, health and life insurance, a 401(k) and access to a wellness program.

It even includes free and discounted flights for the whole family.

In this position, you’ll help shape the branding and social media presence of a notable Fortune 500 company that really knows how to make headlines.

Your primary responsibility will be for “creating and maintaining a favorable image and brand reputation” for this company’s local and overseas markets.

If this sounds like a good fit for you, check out this recent job posting for a Manager of Brand Public Relations for United Airlines.

What’s Involved with Public Relations for United Airlines

United is dedicated to “strategic storytelling” as part of its newest efforts that involve “transforming the way United does business,” according to the job description.

The job posting notes the company has “high standards,” so here’s what you need to know to snag this public relations job that opened up a few weeks ago.

Responsibilities:

It looks like the heart of this job is to help the company stay on message with the media no matter what situations arise.

A focus on communications

Helping to develop talking points and news releases to support local market announcements

Ensuring all communication is in “alignment with key messages and company positioning”

Responding to media inquires

Acting as “primary company spokesperson during select off hours including weekends”

Though not listed in the job description, you’ll no doubt be expected to adhere to a strict dress code.

Qualifications:

In this position, you’ll need the skills to weather whatever comes your way.

In addition to a bachelor’s degree and five to seven years of experience in public relations or communications, you should also:

Work well under pressure

Have good problem-solving skills

Be creative

Have a proven track record of managing multiple priorities

Even if you don’t have all the required qualifications, don’t let that deter you from applying — some companies are willing to look beyond professional skillsets most organizations would consider critical.

“The less they have to train you, the better,” business and workplace author Alexandra Levit told Monster.com.

Don’t get discouraged if you don’t land this job. Similar positions within the organization may open up sometime soon.

Your turn: Do you think you have what it takes to land this public relations job?

Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She thinks this job sounds like a drag.

Have an Amazing Family Summer Without Breaking the Bank: 20 Low-Cost Family Summer Activities

We have three children. My wife is a teacher. I have a fairly flexible job that gives me freedom to work whatever hours I like provided that I get my tasks done.

What does that add up to during the summer? It adds up to a lot of family time. Each spring, Sarah and I spend a lot of time brainstorming things that we’re going to do as a family during the summer.

We come up with day-long activities, afternoon activities, weekend activities, and so on, and we plan ahead for those activities so that we can just pull out a plan and be ready to go with it at a moment’s notice.

Being the highly organized person – at least in terms of information – that I am, I have a notebook in Evernote that contains a note for each one of these ideas, outlining what we need to do for each of them so that when we decide to go for it, we don’t have to think about what to grab or what needs to be done. I just pull up the note.

Given that we’re pretty cost conscious folks, many of these plans are intentionally very low-cost plans. We don’t feel the need to run to a baseball game or to an amusement park just to have a great time together as a family.

Today, I thought it might be fun to share some of the activities from our folder, so here are 20 of the most “share-able” ideas, ones that aren’t too off the beaten path and should work with some variation in most areas.

Activity #1: Geocaching (and managing our own geocaches)

Whenever I mention low-cost family activities, I almost always mention geocaching because it is undoubtedly in the top tier of our family’s favorite things to do together.

For those uninitiated, geocaching is basically a global “treasure hunt” using cell phones or GPS devices. You simply go get coordinates for geocaches from a geocaching app or from geocaching.com and then go to those coordinates and look around according to the clues given to you by the site or app. Eventually, you’ll find a hidden container, which usually contains a log book and often contains little tchotchkes (which follow a take-one-leave-one policy).

We love simply “collecting” the geocaches we’ve found and swapping various trinkets for the trinkets we find in geocaches. Our whole family tends to get really into this for two or three periods each summer, during which we’ll spend full days just going to a new town or recreational area and hunting for tons of geocaches.

Activity #2: Going on a picnic and a trail walk at a local or state park

The local, state, and national park services in America do a tremendous job of making our nation’s natural beauty accessible to all. Parks all over this nation have places to picnic, informational exhibits to see, trails to walk, and views to admire, and most of them are free (and the rest are really low cost).

It’s well worth your time to head out to some of these parks and see what they have to offer. Just pack up a picnic lunch and head out to a nearby state or local park (or a national one, if you’re lucky enough to live near one). Walk on some of the easier trails, take lots of pictures, and admire the views. Find a comfortable picnic table or a soft spot in the grass to spread out a blanket and enjoy a picnic lunch together.

It’s a wonderful way to spend the day outside in the fresh air enjoying the majestic beauty of some of the best that nature has to offer.

Related: How We Plan Frugal Family Vacations in National Parks

Activity #3: Building a fort in the woods

While this isn’t something you should do at a public park, if you happen to live near wooded areas or have friends that do, spending a few hours in the woods building a fort out of fallen limbs and logs is a tremendously fun time for the family.

Just go out there and start piling up tree limbs to make walls with an opening to get in and out of the fort. You can make the thing as simple or as elaborate as you wish, and if it falls over a time or two as you’re figuring out how to do it, that’s no big deal.

We’ve spent full afternoons building these kinds of forts in the woods as a family, sometimes creating quite elaborate structures. We’ve had picnics inside of them and even came back to the same structures several times to improve them. We’ve even managed to put a roof on a few of them, including one memorable one that kept us dry during a moderate rainfall (though a few patches did have to be made).

Activity #4: Making a food item that everyone likes completely from scratch

How is pasta or macaroni actually made? What goes into it? How about ice cream? What about peanut butter? These simple things are staples that most of us just buy without a second thought at the store, but it can be a ton of fun (and very tasty) to make them ourselves from scratch, and it’s often an activity that can draw in kids like moth to a flame.

For example, just pull out a bag of flour and some eggs and announce that we’re going to make pasta for supper. Statements like that will get kids intrigued and you’ll likely find yourself going through the steps of making pasta from scratch or making bread from scratch or making a cake from scratch.

The best part with a family project like this is that everyone walks away learning something new and you usually have a food item on hand that you can turn into a very distinctive and memorable meal or snack.

Activity #5 : Going on a day trip (with a picnic basket) to an interesting nearby town

There are several interesting little towns within a couple hours of our home in Iowa. The Amana Colonies have a rich German heritage. Pella has a wonderful Dutch heritage and wonderful places to just walk around. Orange City is similar. Decorah has one of the most beautiful downtowns that I’ve ever seen. It can be fun to just go to these interesting towns and cities and simply explore them.

Pack up a picnic lunch and head out in the morning. Explore the town for a while, then head to a park for lunch, then spend the afternoon exploring. What kinds of interesting sites are available? What examples of the town’s history can you find?

We’ve wound up exploring the birthplace of John Wayne, the childhood home of Herbert Hoover, how to make sauerkraut, how to make fizzy sodas, and how to do rosemaling, all for free on these kinds of trips. They often end up providing us with a few incredibly fun and quite memorable moments and they make for a very fun day for virtually no cost.

Activity #6: Playing a full course of disc golf at the park

Many parks offer open “disc golf” courses that simply require a Frisbee to play a round, which takes an hour or two (or more if you have a family). Disc golf is much like regular golf, except that the holes are baskets above the ground and you throw a Frisbee until you can toss it in the basket, with the best player taking the fewest number of throws.

It’s such a simple and fun way to spend a few hours outside. It offers some gentle competition, but unless you’re quite skilled, there are going to be enough mistakes and foibles that everyone will eventually have a bit of egg on their face and there will be plenty of laughs and fun. At least, that’s how it goes when our family heads out to play disc golf.

Activity #7: Having a ‘summer reading challenge’

Some summer activities do need to be oriented toward the indoors because there are always rainy days and thunderstorms and sometimes you just feel like relaxing in the air conditioning.

One of our favorite summer activities is a family reading challenge. We make pages full of checkboxes and then each time someone reads a book for half an hour, they can check off one of those boxes.

We often set up some kind of family reward if everyone makes it to a reasonable goal and there’s usually some other kind of special reward for the winner. For example, the family reward is usually some kind of special activity day that we’d probably do anyway but it provides a great reward for the activity, like a day at a local amusement park, and the individual reward is something like allowing the winner to choose a place to go out for dinner.

Activity #8: Making a family movie

Almost all of us has a video camera in the form of our cell phone and many models either have simple video editing software right on the phone or makes it available for download (there are also tons of desktop video editing software options).

What this means is that most people have all they need to make a family movie of some kind. You can write a script and make a dramatic or comedic film. You can make a documentary of sorts about your current life. Just choose something together that you’re all engaged with, write a script or a detailed plan for what you want to do, then start shooting the pieces.

Afterwards, you can work together to edit everything into a movie that you can enjoy immediately, then put up to rewatch later on when everyone’s older. There are few things more fun than watching a family movie that everyone made a few years ago, which stands perfectly on top of the fun of actually making one this summer!

Activity #9: Making and flying kites

It’s actually not too hard to make a kite, and it’s pretty fun to fly a kite on any moderately breezy day. Making your own kite just requires two dowels, a plastic bag, some electrical tape, and some string, but you can go as elaborate as you want with the project.

The process of actually making the kite is a fun project on its own, but then heading out and actually flying the kite adds even more to the mix. It provides an opportunity to make something, an opportunity to learn about revising and repairing things, and also provides the simple fun of just flying a kite that you actually made yourself.

Activity #10: Making a giant blanket fort and watching movies in there

This is a great way to spend a rainy day at home. Just take all of the blankets and sheets and pillows in the house, bring them into the living room, and then assemble a giant blanket and sheet and pillow fort using the furniture and whatever you can find to prop things up.

Once you get the thing built, bring a tablet or a small video player in there and hang out in a tight space as a family and watch a movie together. It’s fun to just be piled up together in a family-built blanket fort on top of a ton of pillows, watching a fun movie together, and the only cost is the time involved.

Activity #11: Creating a huge sidewalk chalk mural

If you have a box of sidewalk chalk sitting around, go find a section of pavement with a ton of open space and start drawing a gigantic mural. Draw a picture of your family allying with a ton of dragons to destroy a huge medieval castle. Draw a picture of the family dog piloting a giant mech costume. Write out the entire text of some meaningful passage and letter and decorate it beautifully.

Get everyone involved. Plan out what you’re going to do at the start so that the whole thing has some coherent sense. Make sure to use as many different colors as possible and account for the fact that you only have so much blue chalk.

A great sidewalk chalk mural can absorb several hours and result in a really colorful and fun art piece that will last only as long as the weather allows it. It’s simply a great way to spend a warm summer afternoon.

Activity #12: Having a backyard campfire and cooking dinner over it

This is a slice of camping (see below) that you can easily bring to your own backyard if you have a fire pit – and if you don’t, you can easily find inexpensive raised fire pits.

Just gather some lawn chairs, pick up some wood (or use any extra untreated wood you happen to have around), and get a fire started. Use some thin sticks to roast marshmallows or cook hot dogs, or simply wrap some items in aluminum foil and drop them right into the campfire to cook them. Simple campfire meals – meat and vegetables and flavorings wrapped in aluminum foil with a bit of butter and an ice cube for moisture – are delicious and incredibly easy and fun for everyone to make for themselves.

Activity #13: Having an art contest within a certain timeframe

Got a spare afternoon? Bring out all of the art supplies in the house, place them on a table, and then tell everyone that they have the afternoon to create an art showing of whatever they make.

Everyone can do this – I often do this by simply drawing and coloring in some elaborate stained glass style patterns.

The winner of the “contest” can be decided by family voting and that person can win a prize that involves getting out of chores or some other small favor, but the real fun of all of this is in the creation and in the sharing of those creations.

Activity #14: Going stargazing

There are few things more fun on a late summer evening than going out in the country where the lights aren’t as bright, stretching out on a blanket, and gazing up at the stars. You can spend time simply enjoying the majestic beauty of the night sky, or you can actively look for particular stars and planets and constellations.

The real fun of it, though, is simply being close to family, stretched out on the ground, with the incredible beauty of the night sky before you and a bit of summer’s evening chill in the air.

Activity #15: Completing a many-piece jigsaw puzzle

This is another great long-term activity for hot summer afternoons and rainy days. Just find a quiet corner of your home, set up a card table, place a chair in front of it, and start a 1000 (or more) piece jigsaw puzzle on it. Leave it set up so that anyone can take a turn putting pieces into the puzzle over the following days or weeks.

What often happens is that people will sit down for a few minutes, find a piece or two, then move on to something else. Then, someone else will do the same, then someone else will, and before long, the puzzle starts coming together to create a beautiful picture and, in the end, completing the puzzle feels like a family accomplishment.

Activity #16: Exploring how something is made

If you have curious children, eventually one of them will ask how something is made. How do people make glass bottles? How do people make airplanes? How do people make roads? I know my children ask those kinds of questions all the time.

If you have an empty day before you, you can answer one of those questions in depth. Find out where such things are actually being made near you and then simply call and ask if you can visit and learn more about the process. In the past, we’ve done this to learn more abut how paper is made and how hard candies are made, and we’ve even done simple forms of those things at home.

Activity #17: Going on a weekend camping trip

If you have a spare weekend, head to a state park together and pitch a tent at a campsite. You can build campfires, cook your own meals, sleep in the outdoors, explore trails, see wildlife, get tons of fresh air, and learn about the world around you.

If you have a tent and a few sleeping bags, a weekend of camping really isn’t very expensive at all. You typically make your own meals and the park provides all of your activities. It’s a great way to spend a summer weekend or two doing something outside of the norm without blowing up your budget.

Related: A Basic Guide to a Cheap, Fun Family Camping Vacation

Activity #18: Going to a community festival (and packing along a lunch to take)

Many towns and cities host community festivals during the summer months in which the town shows off many of the traits that make it interesting. You can often learn about different cultures, try samples of the things made in the town, and engage in a lot of fun activities.

While town festivals can be expensive, they’re not too bad if you focus on the free activities and bring along your own picnic lunch. Just get out there in the morning, eat a lunch you brought with you around noontime, and if you decide to stay through dinner, you can either eat a second picnic meal or indulge of one meal of festival fare. Most good community festivals have enough free activities that you can fill up a day with tons of enjoyable things to see and do without breaking out your wallet.

Activity #19: Meeting the families of friends for an afternoon at the park

Several times per summer, we’ll call up the family of one of our children’s friends and ask them to meet us at a park. This gives the parents a good chance to get to know each other and allows the children to play with their friends.

Often, we’ll combine this with grilling or a picnic meal that we eat together at the park shelter, which makes for an inexpensive meal. It gives us a chance to get to know other families in the area better, particularly the parents of our children’s friends, and occasionally build new friendships.

Activity #20: Building a freeform castle out of a ton of LEGOs from old kits

This is yet another “cooling off in the afternoon” activity that can end up being a ton of fun for children who still love LEGOs or other building toys but have somewhat outgrown the kits. Simply pull out a bunch of incomplete kits and parts, combine everything together, and build one giant castle/vehicle, using everything you can find.

You might find a mashup of a train and a Star Wars spaceship combined with parts of a castle to make some sort of flying battleship. You might combine a normal city building with part of Hogwarts to make a Ministry of Magic building. You might merge a model of the Death Star with a LEGO Architecture kit to make a futuristic tech headquarters. You might combine a fairy’s home with a ton of ordinary LEGO bricks to make an enormous rainbow-colored add-on.

Just mix and match and build and create and see what you come up with when you’re not simply following instructions or looking at a pattern. This type of project turns out to be incredibly engaging and sometimes pulls in everyone in our family for an hour or two of LEGO building.

Final Thoughts

If you turn a creative eye to the things you already have on hand and the natural creativity and curiosity and energy of your family, you can find nearly infinite things to do during the summer. A summer vacation doesn’t have to be expensive nor does it have to be boring. You likely already have everything you need to fill up a summer with tons of things to do that everyone will enjoy.

Get started now and plan out a few things so that you’re ready for the summer when it comes. Where might you camp? What’s geocaching all about? What places might you be able to tour? What kinds of recreational facilities are available?

Get that information together, combine the ideas above with your own imagination, and jot down a big list of ideas for things to do this summer. It’s a far better alternative than having bored children who beg to go to an expensive amusement park, that’s for sure!

Good luck!

Related Articles:

The post Have an Amazing Family Summer Without Breaking the Bank: 20 Low-Cost Family Summer Activities appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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Fretz named Liberty Bell honoree for 2017

STROUDSBURG — The Monroe County Bar Association has named Patricia Fretz the Liberty Bell Award recipient for 2017.The Stroudsburg resident will be recognized for her efforts toward promoting an understanding of the law as it relates to educating residents both old and young on their rights and responsibilities in protecting the elderly. She has served the Monroe County Area Agency on Aging, as well as her local community, for more than 40 years.As part of the local [...]

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Atom Bank unveils 'exceptional' five-year mortgage fixed at 1.29%

Adam Williams

Atom-bank-logo_1.PNG

Atom Bank has refreshed its mortgage range and now offers some of the cheapest products on the market, with rates starting at 1.29% for a five-year fix.

Perhaps better known for its savings products, which must be opened and operated using a smartphone app, Atom Bank also offers mortgages to consumers who use a mortgage broker.

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OPENING BELL: US stock indexes slightly higher in early trading

Trading is light so far Thursday as Wall Street prepares for the Easter weekend.

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No License? No Problem. Here’s When You Can Fish for Free in Each State

Gone fishin’?

… Not if you don’t have a license.

Whether you’d like to try fishing for the first time, or you’re an experienced angler who wants to take a friend or family member out on the water, you’ll be happy to learn free fishing days will soon be upon us!

When Can You Fish for Free?

National Fishing and Boating Week is June 3-11.

And in conjunction, many states will host free fishing days.

On these days, you can go fishing on any public body of water — without having to purchase a license.

Here’s a state-by-state list for 2017, courtesy of Take Me Fishing:

Free fishing days

If you live in any of these states, then there’s no excuse not to go and catch your dinner.

If you don’t have your own tackle, ask local outfitters about renting it — or go with an experienced fisher-friend.

You should also check your neighborhood newspaper or boating-supply store for fun events celebrating the week.

Or, just head to Walmart.

Whatever you do, just get out there — because, trust me, there’s nothing better than the feeling of yelling “Fish on!”

Your Turn: Will you take advantage of free fishing days in your state?

Susan Shain is a freelance writer and digital nomad. She covers travel, food and personal finance (basically, how to save money so you can travel more and eat more). Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.

Clueless About What to Do After Graduation? This New App Might Help

“At Social Media High, Facebook is the all-star quarterback, Twitter is the school paper’s editor in chief and Snapchat is the mysterious, Harley-riding transfer student.”

“That makes LinkedIn the nerd who skips prom for the mathlympics. Yet, like in every great John Hughes movie, the underdog actually belongs in the in-crowd.”

That’s Joanna Stern’s brilliant introduction in her recent Wall Street Journal article encouraging professional adults to use LinkedIn more.

And with the launch of the LinkedIn Students app, the same advice may apply to college students, as well.

“Using insights from LinkedIn’s database of over 400 million professionals, the brand new app helps you discover jobs that are a best fit for graduates with your major, companies that tend to hire from your school and the careers paths of recent alumni with similar degrees,” explains Ada Yu in a company blog post.

Are you panicking daily, wondering, “What career is right for me?” You might want to try this app.

What is LinkedIn Students?

“Think of it as your personal job exploration guide, providing tailored jobs related recommendations [sic] based on real data from the career paths of hundreds of millions of successful professionals,” Yu continues.

Because the job search process can often seem overwhelming, LinkedIn designed its app to be used in manageable, daily chunks.

I already have an awesome job (you can work at The Penny Hoarder, too!), but I still decided to give it a spin.

What Using the New LinkedIn App is Like

If you already have a LinkedIn profile, signing up is easy: Just confirm your university, major and expected graduation date.

The interface then presents you with a set of five screens — each with a different piece of career advice on it — which you have to swipe through. (How millennial of you, LinkedIn!)

The first has a relevant career, complete with a brief description, median salary and several alumni in the role.

It’s followed by a recommended LinkedIn blog post, a company often recruiting at your school, a selection of alumni with your major (so you can presumably examine their career paths), as well as a specific job opening you might want to consider.

To me, it seemed like swiping through the set of five screens is supposed to be your daily career exercise.

Some of the ideas were repetitive, and not all of the information was relevant, but it did seem like a painless way for college students to kickstart their career searches.

And like LinkedIn says, it’s a smart way to “chip away at your job search checklist in any of your in-between moments — walking between classes, waiting in line at the coffee shop or taking a study break.”

You’re already on your phone all the time anyway — you might as well give your career a boost while you’re at it!

Your Turn: Will you download the LinkedIn Students app?

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.