Stocks are on their longest winning streak in three months as retailers, technology companies, household products companies and health care firms made large gains.
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الخميس، 25 مايو 2017
Snag a Free 24-Ounce Iced Tea From Teavana This Friday Only — Here’s How
Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner, and the Teavana store near you wants to quench your thirst now that the unofficial start of summer is here.
Kick off the weekend with a free 24-ounce specialty iced tea from 3-7 p.m. at Teavana on Friday, May 26. To claim your cup of tea, just head to a participating Teavana store. Use the coupon code “FriYAY,” or download and show this invitation (download starts automatically) to participate in the event.
The summer teas you’ll be able to choose from include:
- Beach Bellini, a tropical tea with notes of papaya, pineapple and citrus.
- Strawberry Daiquiri, which combines strawberry with smooth vanilla and rose petals.
- Piña Colada, a blend of coconut, pineapple and vanilla-kissed tropical fruit.
This promotion kicks off Teavana’s “Fri-YAY” summer campaign. Every Friday from June 2 to Aug. 11, customers who buy one 24-ounce summer iced tea between 3-7 p.m. will get one of equal or lesser value for free.
Desiree Stennett (@desi_stennett) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
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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Learning to Code Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive — Learn With These Free Apps
Apple recently released a new curriculum aimed at high school and community college students who want to learn how to develop apps using the programming language Swift.
The full-year course is available as a free download in iBooks if you’d like to check it out.
If you’d like to learn to program but not necessarily in Swift, there are loads of apps on the market that let you learn right from your mobile phone or tablet.
These 10 apps are free, though some offer additional content for a one-time or subscription fee.
Programming Apps for iOS
These are all available in the iTunes Store.
Cargo-Bot
If you’re completely new to programming, you’ll want to get a good grasp of the basic concepts before getting into the nitty-gritty of coding. This app helps you get there by wrapping the concepts into a fun game to play on your iPad.
Hopscotch
Compatible with iPhones and iPads, this app is a winner with parents. It’s great for helping kids learn how to code by teaching them to create their own game. It’s also a good go-to app for adults who are new to the world of programming.
Learn to Code With HTML
If you’ve dreamed of designing and creating your own webpage, this is the app for you. Take a few interactive courses on your iPhone or iPad, then dive in to create a unique webpage to call your own.
Swifty
If you’re interested in developing apps for macOS, iOS, watchOS in Swift, but you don’t attend a school offering Apple’s new curriculum, here’s another option. Swifty helps you learn the language in bite-size lessons that are perfect for completing on your iPhone or iPad when you only have a few minutes to spare.
Javvy: Learn to code in Java
If you want to specifically learn the programming language Java, then grab Javvy for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. It starts you off with the basics and gradually ramps you up to understanding advanced concepts like modifiers and classes.
Programming Apps for Android
These are all available in the Google Play Store.
SoloLearn
Learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, C++, Python, Java, C#, SQL, Swift and Ruby with SoloLearn. If you get stumped on a concept or lesson, the SoloLearn online community will help get you back on track.
Enki
This app is made for beginners and experienced programmers. Each lesson is only about five minutes long, so if you’re pressed for time, this is the app you want.
Pocket Code
Created with children and teenagers in mind, this educational app teaches young adults to develop the things they like best: games, animation and interactive videos. This fun app works equally well on your phone or tablet.
Udacity
Unlike the other apps on this list, this one is simply a gateway to an online learning site. Udacity offers dozens of courses that teach everything from basic programming skills to how to develop for virtual reality.
Programming Hub
Featuring over 20 programming languages, this app is a one-stop shop where you can quickly learn several languages so you’re prepared for anything. It even features a selection of programming-related interview questions to prep you for your next job.
Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She planned to be a programmer when she grew up, but then this writing thing happened.
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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T-Mobile Will Pay Off $1K on Your Phone AND Let You Keep it if You Switch
Have you been looking for a new cell phone provider?
If so, you might like this killer deal from T-Mobile. And no, T-Mobile didn’t pay us to write about this — it’s just so good that we had to!
The cell phone company is launching a promotional deal to snatch some of its competitors’ customers.
Starting May 31, T-Mobile will pay customers up to $1,000 to switch over their plans with no trade-in required.
T-Mobile Says Your Current Plan Sucks
The campaign is aptly named #GetOutoftheRed — a clear jab at Verizon’s red V logo.
A promotional video featuring T-Mobile CEO John Legere is kind of weird blasts Verizon, alleging it hasn’t been able to keep up with increasing demand for unlimited data. Legere claims that while Verizon’s download speeds have fallen 14% since it launched its unlimited data plan, T-Mobile’s speeds are only getting faster.
Legere also accuses Verizon of charging ridiculously expensive fees when customers want out of their contracts — and claims at least 9 million customers don’t terminate them because they can’t afford to.
Legere “feels bad” for all the “trapped” Verizon customers — yes, he really said that — so T-Mobile will pay off financed or leased devices when customers switch to its service “whether you owe $1 or $1,000.”
While the video focuses on Verizon, the deal is also available to AT&T and Sprint customers.
The best part? The paid-off device stays with you, so you don’t have to pay for a new one. You also get to keep your phone number, and the pictures, videos and apps on the device.
Qualifying phones for this deal include the iPhone SE, iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL.
Like every deal out there, this one comes with a few contingencies:
- You must sign up for the $15 per month T-Mobile ONE device protection.
- You’ll buy out your phone upfront, and T-Mobile will send you a prepaid MasterCard in 15 to 30 days to reimburse you.
- The offer is good for up to five lines per subscriber.
- You must have qualifying credit, and your current account must be active and in good standing.
- AT&T and Sprint customers must have their original provider unlock their devices.
T-Mobile says that the average Verizon customer owes $315 on their device.
Is this deal good enough for you to make the switch?
Kelly Smith is a junior writer and engagement specialist at The Penny Hoarder. Catch her on Twitter at @keywordkelly.
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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Chicken Soup for the Soul Will Pay You $200 for Your Personal Story or Poem
We’ve all got a story (or two) to tell. Yours could earn you money.
Chicken Soup for the Soul is accepting essays and poems to include in upcoming books. If yours is chosen, you’ll get a check for $200.
If you’re not familiar with the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series, allow me to acquaint you with this neat publishing house.
Way (way, way) back in the early 1990s, two popular motivational speakers put together a book filled with inspirational stories.
“They called it Chicken Soup for the Soul because they wanted it to soothe and provide comfort, just like their grandmothers’ cooking,” according to the company’s website.
The book was a smash hit. I remember seeing it on all my friends’ bookshelves and coffee tables. Everybody I knew talked about the book because it was so widely read (sort of like Harry Potter is today).
The company eventually expanded its selection and now publishes a variety of Chicken Soup for the Soul books on specific topics like faith, raising kids and, yes, even cats.
Right now, the publisher is soliciting stories and poems for books in these subgroups:
- Christmas and Holiday Collection
- Miracles and More
- My Crazy Family!
- Positively Happy!
- Stories of Redemption
If you’ve got a personal experience to share that fits one of these topics, here’s what you need to know.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Stories
Your story should:
- Be written in the first person.
- Be something that happened to you or someone you know.
- Have a clear beginning, middle and end.
- Create emotion in the reader.
- Come from the heart.
- Be no longer than 1,200 words.
- Not be a biography, term paper, thesis, letter or journal entry.
- Not be about politics or anything controversial.
Submitted stories must be true. The publisher does not accept creative writing essays or fictional material.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Poems
The guidelines for poetry submissions are a little more relaxed. Your poem should:
- Tell a story that helps the reader learn about your experience, but in poetry form.
- Not focus on rhyming or sound like a greeting card.
Chicken Soup for the Soul only accepts story and poetry submissions that have not been previously published.
How to Submit Your Entry
Submitting your entry is easy. Simply fill out this online form, add your story or poem to the correct field, and hit “Submit.”
Note: Be sure to write your entry in a computer app like Microsoft Word or Google Docs that automatically saves your work as you go, then paste it into the submission form. That way you won’t lose your work if your browser gets the hiccups. (Ask me how I know.)
After you submit the form, you’ll see a confirmation message on your screen that the publisher received your entry. That’s all there is to it!
Well, not exactly. There’s one more thing left to do, and it might be the most difficult.
Be patient.
It may take the publisher a long while to get back to you. The website explains: “We get thousands of submissions for each book and we only have room for 101 pieces, so please don’t take our silence personally!”
If your story or poem is selected, you’ll receive an email asking for explicit consent to publish your work.
One month after the book is published, you’ll receive 10 copies and a check for $200.
If you’ve got an experience you want to share, fire up your computer or pull out your notebook and get to work.
Good luck!
Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She bought a lot of Chicken Soup for the Soul books just so she could keep up during conversations with her friends. Seriously, those books were everywhere.
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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This Company Will Literally Pay You $75 Just for Downloading Its Free App
This is pretty cool.
Do you have a smartphone? We thought so. You’re probably reading this on it right now.
Anyway, this company called Smart Panel and will literally pay you to download its free app.
That’s it.
The app collects anonymous statistics from your phone to help your favorite web sites, apps, tech companies, and mobile carriers give you better services and more features.
The company wants to know how long you’re spending on Facebook each week, what YouTube videos you like, and how often you check your email.
It’s all run by Verto Analytics, a trusted analytics firm, so you know your info is staying anonymous.
Here’s how it works…
- You can’t download this from the app store. Here’s the promo link. It’s free to download.
- Once you’ve qualified and downloaded the app, the company will give you $5.
If you keep it installed for at least two weeks, you’ll earn another $10. Then, for every following month you keep the Smart App installed, you’ll get another $5.
In total, you can earn up to $75 for the 1st year! - You can redeem your rewards via Paypal or an Amazon.com gift card.
Good luck Penny Hoarders!’
Disclosure: We appreciate you letting us include affiliate links in this post. While we would have recommended this anyway, the affiliate link helps keep the beer fridge stocked in the Penny Hoarder break room.
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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What You Touch While Shopping Can Influence What You Choose to Buy
A new study reveals that shape, size and sense of touch influence purchasing choices. Learn more in this HowStuffWorks article.
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Source Business & Money - HowStuffWorks http://ift.tt/2r1qvuf
What You Touch While Shopping Can Influence What You Choose to Buy
A new study reveals that shape, size and sense of touch influence purchasing choices. Learn more in this HowStuffWorks article.
Source Business & Money - HowStuffWorks http://ift.tt/2r1qvuf
Source Business & Money - HowStuffWorks http://ift.tt/2r1qvuf
The First Steps for Enjoying Four Frugal Hobbies
Long time readers of The Simple Dollar know that I have a number of hobbies that I’m quite passionate about, most of which are actually pretty cheap if you make smart choices regarding them. Because I wear my hobbies on my sleeve so much, I get pretty frequent emails and Facebook messages from readers asking about how they can get started in those hobbies, too.
So, today, I thought I’d share some steps for how to dip your toes in some of my favorite hobbies at an absolute minimal cost while still giving yourself a chance to really understand what it is about these hobbies that is enjoyable. All of these are intentionally written as solo experiences – you don’t have to have anyone else in your life on board with these strategies, though you may find yourself meeting other people in the process of doing them.
The best part? The cost for each of these is extremely minimal. Most of them are free.
Let’s get started on this path to a new hobby!
Hiking
There are few things I enjoy more on a nice day than going on a hike in the woods. Many people think of hiking as an intense backpacking journey over four days out in the wilderness that requires endurance and a high tolerance for rashes and blisters and bug bites. Yes, that’s one type of hiking, but my definition is pretty broad and includes things that others might merely think of as “nature walks.”
Wikipedia’s definition of hiking is “the preferred term, in Canada and the United States, for a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails (footpaths), in the countryside.” If you recognize that “vigorous” (and “long,” for that matter) has a lot of different meanings for different people in different situations, you’ll quickly see that hiking is an umbrella term for a wide range of experiences. I’ve been on strenuous hikes where I thought I was going to pass out before the end of them, and I’ve also been on leisurely strolls with elderly folks and toddlers. The core of hiking is simply walking in and appreciating nature.
So, how can you get started?
First, find a state or national park with multiple trails that’s reasonably close to you. You probably don’t have one next door, but you probably do have one within an hour’s drive at most. The Oh, Ranger! app is very useful in terms of finding parks near you with hiking trails.
When you go to the park, select a low-intensity trail that seems like it might be interesting to you. You are far better off picking a trail that’s very easy for you rather than one that’s challenging. Trust me – the potential challenge goes up far beyond what you’re capable of – assuming that there are no sherpas reading The Simple Dollar, I’m very confident that there are trails out there that blow away your fitness level. You are far better off choosing a very easy trail at first and working your way slowly upward in difficulty over subsequent hikes.
If you look up the park you’re interested in online, you can often find a description of many of the trails which will indicate their relative difficulty.
For example, my favorite state park that’s within a reasonable distance from where I live is Ledges State Park. After visiting that park’s website, I found a discussion of a “fully accessible interpretive trail to Lost Lake […] located at the southern part of the park.” That is the type of trail that makes for a great starting point.
Dress yourself appropriately with comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes that won’t mind getting a little dirty. No one is making a fashion statement on a trail, so don’t worry about it too much. Choose comfortable clothing and particularly comfortable shoes for walking.
Pack a simple bag, too. For your first hike, I suggest taking along a backpack with some sunscreen, a beverage, a small snack (or a small meal, depending on the time of day), sunglasses, and a first aid kit. It doesn’t need to be overly heavy, nor should it be.
Enjoy the hike! Go to the trail and enjoy it! Walk at your own pace. Stop when you need to or when you see something interesting. There’s no reason to rush unless you feel like it or want to, and don’t feel bad about going slower than people around you, though it is courteous to let faster folks pass you.
Take photos of interesting things that you see. One of the best parts of hiking, in my opinion, is the photography. I love taking pictures of interesting sights or discoveries that I find while hiking. I often use these as screen savers or background images. Take lots of pictures – you can delete the lesser ones later.
Stop for a while and enjoy the scenery. Even if I don’t need to rest, I like to stop regularly when hiking just to enjoy the environment. I’ll look around, breathe deep in the fresh air, and just admire the natural growth in every direction. Somehow, it just makes me feel good.
Start keeping track of the trails you’ve walked. I like to keep a list of the trails I’ve walked in a little notebook, along with the length and some thoughts about the trail. Even a simple list of the trails can be fun. Start one for yourself in a notebook you have laying around, or even in a Google Doc or in Evernote.
Trail hiking can become addicting. Don’t be afraid to start ramping up your difficulty if you found the first trail you tried to be easy. Part of the fun of trail hiking is to stress your body just enough so that it feels rewarding to make it to a great vista, but not so much that you feel miserable along the way. Plus, the more you do it, the better shape you’ll find yourself in.
Journaling
I have a daily routine of journaling each morning. It’s something I’ve been doing with high regularity since I was about twelve years old (and, believe it or not, I still have most of those journals).
The purpose of journaling isn’t to simply list the events of your day, but to reflect on what’s going on in your life. I usually try to look for both the highs and the lows in my life. What are the high spots? Why was that moment so great? How can I expand upon that in my life? What are the low points? What can I do to fix what caused those low points?
I try to go as deep as possible with this, and that usually means confronting some difficult aspects of who I am as a person. I’m far, far from perfect; I’m even quite far from the person I want to be and the person that I tell myself that I am. However, I find that through journaling, I have gradually become a better person in my adult life. I understand myself far better than I used to. I have a strong grip on my goals in life and what my values are. I attribute all of that to journaling as a regular practice, and I consider it to be one of the most valuable things I do each day.
I find that actually writing down my thoughts helps far more than typing them out. The process of thinking about the words I’m writing triggers far deeper thinking and introspection than typing the words.
So, how does one get started? It’s actually pretty easy.
Find a reliable pen or pencil and a cheap blank notebook. You probably have a decent pen or pencil somewhere in your house. It’s also quite possible that you have a blank notebook somewhere, too. If you don’t, just go to a department store and look for a cheap notebook – I like college ruled ones because I can fit more material into them.
Yes, you can start dumping a lot of money into pens and pencils and notebooks if you really want to, but it doesn’t really matter that much, especially if you’re just dipping your toes in.
Think about the one thing in your life that’s troubling you and start writing it down. Just describe it to the best of your ability. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just write down why it bothers you with as many details as you can think of.
Use the “five whys.” Now, answer the question of why this thing is bothering you. Why are you upset by this event or feature or attribute? It’s usually a pretty hard question, and it’s going to be the first in a chain of them.
I find that repeatedly asking “why” – much like my six-year-old son sometimes does – is incredibly powerful here. Every time I write down something, I ask myself why. Why does this bother me? Why am I making this choice? I think about that for a little bit, and then I write down a little more.
There are never any right or wrong answers here. The only thing that matters is honesty, and sometimes the honesty is harsh. It can hurt. It can make you feel bad about yourself. I’ve been driven to anger and to tears by journal entries many times.
The thing is, if you keep asking why, there will come a point where you suddenly stumble upon some kind of powerful realization about yourself, about your values, and about your place in the world. When that happens, it is powerful. It doesn’t happen every time, or every other time. You’ll often stop journaling because you feel stuck or because an answer to your problems isn’t apparent yet and that’s fine. Just keep coming back to it and asking yourself why and you’ll eventually dig down to something useful.
Journaling helped me realize that my primary source of unhappiness at my previous job was a sense of abandoning my family, and I was able to figure out how to fix that. Journaling has helped me become a better husband and a better father and forge better relationships with almost every single person of significance in my life. Journaling has helped me overcome a lot of my introversion and has gently pushed me to community involvement and to the building of a far larger social network than I would have ever imagined. It has helped me with my financial journey, my health journey, my career journey, and countless other things. It’s helped me figure out my true values and, lately, it’s helped me figure out how to better express and articulate those values so that I can communicate successfully with people in my life with different beliefs and values than my own.
All you really need to start is a pen, a notebook, and a willingness to look at yourself honestly.
- Related: Thoughts Become Desires
Reading Books
Reading is an incredibly powerful hobby. It can introduce you to new ideas and new perspectives on familiar ones. It can help you to see the world from the eyes of others. It can be highly entertaining. It also makes navigating the world much easier, because a sharpened skill for reading (and retaining what you read) is useful in just about any profession in the world. Reading books also helps expand your focus and expand your scope through which you view the world. It’s all incredibly rewarding.
Here’s how you can get started at almost no cost.
First, think of a story you’ve enjoyed in your life or a particular subject you want to know more about. Maybe you really enjoyed scary campfire stories when you were younger, which would point you toward a horror novel. Perhaps you’re really curious about the Revolutionary War, which might point you toward a nonfiction book about that time period.
On the other hand, maybe you love watching mysteries on television, which might point you toward a mystery novel. Perhaps you’re really interested in time management and how to get more done in a day, in which case a time management book is a perfect fit.
The key is to find something you’re interested in. If you’re not deeply interested in the topic of a book, it’s pretty hard to get sucked in, especially if reading books isn’t something you have as a hobby.
Next, look for a well-regarded book that matches what you’re looking for. Generally, well-regarded books are engaging but not overly difficult to read, which is absolutely what you’re looking for if you’re trying to make a first attempt at reading a book in a long while.
I decided to do this myself regarding the Revolutionary War, a topic that I find really interesting and have read many, many books about. I wanted to see what books were recommended by others, not just my own recommendation. So, I went to Google and typed in “introductory revolutionary war books” and visited the first dozen links or so to see what books showed up time and time again.
Two books showed up time and time again: Washington, the Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner and 1776 by David McCullough. Incidentally, I strongly agree with these two books as great books about the American Revolution that are fun and fairly easy to read. Either one of these would be a great read, and you could probably choose among them based on your specific interest at the moment.
You can follow almost the exact same pattern for any book genre or topic you’re interested in. Just follow the recommendations and you’ll find a very solid and enjoyable read on that topic or in that genre.
Once you have a book or two in mind, hit the local library. See if they have your desired title – or one of your backup titles – on their shelves. If they don’t, talk to the librarian and see if they can get the book via interlibrary loan. Generally, the top regarded books on a topic or within a literary genre are on the shelves at a library and, if not, they’re usually easy to get via library loan.
There’s no need to actually buy the book. The library is a spectacular source for borrowing books for free, so take advantage of it.
Once you have the book in hand, put aside a little time each day for reading it. I like to read in the afternoon with my children, for example, right when they get off the bus, as we all have a thirty minute period of sustained silent reading. I also usually read for half an hour or so before bed.
The key is to plan for that time and make it part of your day, every day. Take the book with you if needed, as you might use your lunch break at work for reading (I certainly used to do this).
When you’re reading, don’t be afraid to stop and go back if you’re confused, and don’t be afraid to look things up, either. I do this constantly when I’m reading. There’s nothing shameful about being confused by an idea or being thrown by a plot twist or the emergence of a previously obscure character. When you’re feeling confused, stop. Go back and resolve what it is that you’re confused about. If needed, look up a word or a concept using a dictionary or Wikipedia in order to get the general idea. There is no such thing as a dumb question, especially when you are reading to yourself.
Similarly, remember that it’s not a race. You don’t have to rush through the book. If you read slowly, that’s fine. If you read fast, that’s fine. I actually read some books much more quickly than other ones. Read at whatever pace is comfortable and enables you to understand what’s happening in the book or what ideas are being shared. If that means reading a single page every fifteen minutes, that’s fine. I’ve read through books even more slowly than that before. (I am painfully slow when reading philosophy, for example, because I am constantly stopping to jot down ideas.)
On that note, if some specific point is really interesting to you, don’t be afraid to stop and jot it down and then go look it up later or think about it later. Many books often offer little dangling threads that can point you in a completely new direction. For example, 1776 led me to discovering one of the most interesting forgotten people of the American Revolution, Roger Sherman. I pretty much can’t get through a book on philosophy without filling up half of a notebook with various jottings.
If a book is boring you, don’t force yourself to finish it. There are many, many books out there. Try a different one. Life is too short to force yourself through a book that bores you or one that’s just way over your head. Don’t feel “dumb” if you’re reading a really introductory book on a topic, either.
I like to post brief reviews of books I’ve finished for my friends on social media. Quite often, this encourages them to also read the book, giving us something to talk about, and sometimes I find that a friend has already read the book which gives us an immediate conversation topic. This is almost always enjoyable and a nice perk to finishing a book.
Much like the other hobbies listed here, this becomes a cycle. Once you’ve read one book and enjoyed it, it’s pretty hard not to go back to the library and look for more. Over time, you get better and better at it and can handle more challenging books, both in terms of the writing and in terms of the ideas.
Playing Tabletop Games
One of the highlights of my week is my Sunday afternoon and Tuesday evening tabletop gaming groups. My Sunday group almost entirely plays board games, usually fairly complex strategic ones. My Tuesday group usually plays adventure board games and role-playing games (or collaborative storytelling games, depending on how you look at them). We also sometimes have dinner parties where we play games with others, and family game nights are routine at our house.
Needless to say, playing board and card games and other tabletop games is a notable part of my life. It’s socially rewarding and I’ve built many strong friendships thanks to gaming. It also scratches my strategic thinking itch and my creative thinking itch.
How does one get started, though? One might expect this hobby to be expensive; after all, you need a game to play and those cost money, right?
Not so fast.
First of all, figure out what kind of game you want to play. For some people, light social games that rely heavily on social interaction are great. For others, strategic games are more up their alley because they enjoy stretching their strategic and logical thinking. For yet others, storytelling games and role playing games and the creativity they foster are right up their alley. There is no “right” or “wrong” answer here – just figure out what sounds interesting to you.
Next, use Meetup to find any active gaming groups near you. You might also want to check the calendar at the local library (because many libraries host game groups and game nights) as well as any local stores that cater to tabletop gaming. Find some kind of connection to those groups, whether through an online resource, a shop employee, or a librarian, and ask about the groups. What kinds of games do they play? Are they open to completely new players?
Generally, I’ve found that storytelling games and role playing games tend to have game nights that are distinct from the other types of games. In most communities (aside from very large ones), the light social gamers and strategic gamers tend to share game nights and overlap with each other more.
All you have to do once you’ve found a potentially promising group is to show up. Introduce yourself to people in the group and explain that you’re completely new to the hobby. You’ll almost always find at least a few people who are enthusiastic and will teach you a game and help you get started. At most game nights, people tend to bring their own games, so you’ll usually find a lot of people who own games and are happy to teach them to newcomers.
As with anything, not every game will click with everyone. Try different groups and different kinds of games and different individual game tiles. You’ll find that with the right group, most games are fun, and with a group that doesn’t click with you, many games aren’t as fun. That’s completely normal. The goal here is to get a feeling for what you like and people you might like to play games with going forward.
There’s really no requirement to own any games at all if you’re a regular member of a game group, though it is considered courteous to eventually start bringing a game or two. Fortunately, board games make great gifts, so just let a potential gift-giver know that you’re getting into this hobby and suggest a few titles that you might like to own. Eventually, this can grow into game nights at your own place with a mix of your game group friends and other friends, too.
Final Thoughts
The truth is that there are a lot of great hobbies out there that don’t have a steep cost of entry. These are just four of those hobbies; four I happen to be pretty familiar with.
There is no expectation that all of these will click with you, or any of these, though I hope that you’ll try at least one of them out.
The thing to remember is this: the world is full of experiences and hobbies and leisure activities that you’ve probably never even considered, and many of them are basically free to dabble your toes into. Try lots of things and find ones that make your heart sing a little, and then when you’re involved, stick to the experience and not the stuff.
You’ll soon find a more joyous life, and one that doesn’t place a huge burden on your wallet!
Good luck!
Related Articles:
- 11 Fun Things to Do That Can Actually Earn You Money
- Cheap and Social: 15 Inexpensive and Very Fun Things to Do With Friends
- Choosing Income-Positive Hobbies – and 15 Examples to Get You Started
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Current Borrowers are Safe From Trump Plan to Kill Public Loan Forgiveness
If you work for the government or a nonprofit and have been panicking about the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts that include elimination of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, this should come as a relief.
The White House released the president’s official budget proposal on Tuesday, and while it calls for cutting the program, the plan wouldn’t jeopardize those already enrolled in the program.
Only those who take out loans on or after July 1, 2018, or those who take out loans to complete their current studies, would be affected by the program’s elimination as proposed by President Trump.
The elimination of public service loan forgiveness and other cuts President Trump proposes are far from a sure thing because. They still must pass Congress, which typically makes makes huge revisions to presidential budgets.
Who is Affected by the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Cut?
The Bush administration established the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program in 2007 to encourage college grads to seek jobs in the public and nonprofit sectors by forgiving their student loan debt after 10 years of service.
Last week, The Penny Hoarder described the uncertainty many borrowers faced when a draft of the Trump administration’s budget proposal called for eliminating the program.
At least 552,931 borrowers participate in the program. As we wrote about, some borrowers worried that none of their loans would be forgiven, and others commented on how it could ruin their plans to start a family or retire.
Although the program’s future is unclear, if you’re currently on track for public loan forgiveness, you can rest a little easier knowing your devotion to public service probably hasn’t been for naught.
Kelly Smith is a junior writer and engagement specialist at The Penny Hoarder. Catch her on Twitter at @keywordkelly.
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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Retailer earnings help US stocks toward 6th day of gains
The Standard & Poor's 500 index and Nasdaq composite are trading at all-time highs. Stocks are stretching for their longest winning streak in three months.
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I Had a Workplace Relationship Implode – Here Are Six Ways It Could Have Been Avoided
Workplace conflict is inevitable, but it’s not always bad. In this way, it’s much like a marriage. As legendary British anthropologist Gregory Bateson put it: “Too little conflict, and the marriage is dull. Too much, and it’s toxic.” That same notion can be applied to workplace relationships.
An office without debates or conflict is a place where no one is pushing forward new ideas. But, if everyone is cutthroat, and people are taking their laptops into the bathroom stall so they don’t fall behind on their work, you’ll have problems.
I recently came across a research paper on workplace conflict out of the University of Virginia. The author sat down with esteemed conflict researcher and University of Virginia business professor Kristin Behfar to try to figure out why work fights occur and what we can do to prevent them. After a detailed analysis of the various reasons that cause coworkers to battle, they came up with six key ways that workplace conflicts can be mitigated.
Appropriately, my go-to strategy of changing the subject to sports every time I sense tension was left off the list. (I guess there are people out there who don’t know or care who LeBron James is, which is a shame.)
I recently had a workplace relationship go south, so this article was of particular interest to me. My team brought on a new person, and it didn’t work out. I’ve been trying to analyze why – and I now see that things could have worked out much differently had I heeded the advice of those who study conflict for a living.
Here’s how the experts say to deal with conflict, along with all the ways I failed to do so:
Recognize Representation Gaps
A representation gap refers to the idea that conflict can arise when people have competing interests despite the fact that they’re both aiming for the same goal.
For instance, people in sales might butt heads with those in marketing because they have different ideas about how to best approach new clients. Companies that have a clear definition of success and communicate it to all employees are the best at mitigating these conflicts.
How I failed: My company has clearly defined goals. It was partly my job to make these objectives clear to our new employee, who we’ll call Mark (not his real name). As you probably guessed, I didn’t do a good enough job.
Looking back, there was a clear representation gap. Mark was working on a creative project, and in my mind he was taking too long to complete small tasks which I thought were of little importance. I needed him to complete his work quickly so I could do my job. Of course, in Mark’s mind, he was simply being detail-oriented.
As the researcher points out, we were “defining success differently.” I wanted things done quick and dirty, he wanted slow and perfect.
If we could have communicated better about this, a happy medium could have been achieved. Unfortunately, I let this issue fester, which leads us to the next tactic for avoiding conflict…
Recognize and Manage Passive Aggression
I find it very uncomfortable to have direct, face-to-face interactions about job performance. Many others agree, as the research shows that “passive aggressive behaviors — vagueness, avoidance, teasing or exclusion — are much more common” than direct conflicts where people actually say what they mean.
The key is to “tactfully refocus on shared team goals.” Basically, you have to have a real conversation. This doesn’t imply that you’ll get results from casting blame. Similar to how the representation gap issue gets solved, you will have a better chance at finding a resolution if you can get together with the person you’re having a disagreement with and speak frankly without being rude. If no one knows what’s wrong, nothing can get solved.
How I failed: I was passive aggressive and internalized my feelings. I never teased, as that’s not my style. I am more the type to keep my head down and hope that someone more senior will solve my problem. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get help from someone higher up the chain when they don’t have a clue about what’s going on.
I acted like a person who gets served the wrong meal at a restaurant but chooses to complain about it because he doesn’t want to upset the chef by sending it back. This creates a cycle of anger and resentment that will eventually boil over — as it did, of course.
Create Psychological Safety
Psychological safety is a term coined by Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson. It refers to the idea that people should be free to express risky ideas, make mistakes, and speak freely without the fear that they will be criticized. Teams that encourage openness and honesty in this way tend to be higher performing than groups that are afraid to say what they really think.
How I failed: As I mentioned before, Mark was working on a project that required creativity. Having worked with Hollywood TV writers, I understand that the way feedback is delivered can have a dramatic effect on how a person feels. I’ve seen accomplished, confident, writers end up looking like children who saw Bambi’s mom get shot after receiving harsh criticism of their work.
And yet, when Mark would come to me to discuss his progress, I was often quick to point out flaws or areas for improvement. I was never judgmental or rude, but I definitely did not take the time to stroke his ego. I was looking to get results fast, and didn’t feel like I had time to consider the impact of every word I was using. I noticed after a while that Mark became more tentative, and as a result his work suffered.
In a complex, fast-paced environment, it’s often hard to slow down and think about how your actions are affecting other people. In being blunt with Mark, I was probably hurting his confidence. In treating him this way, I was weakening our relationship and subtly hurting the overall performance of the company.
Match the Work With the Quirk
It sounds obvious, but it’s worth stating: People perform better when their skills and personality are aligned with the work they’re doing. Behfar points out that not every personality is suited for every kind of role. The key is “identifying a person’s strengths and how they can help the team.”
How I failed: To be fair, Mark was mostly working on projects that matched his strengths. Where I, and my company as a whole, stumbled a bit was in also requiring that he help out in ways that were not putting him in a position to succeed.
It’s the nature of a smaller company to have an all-hands-on-deck approach. But that doesn’t mean all thought of “matching work with quirk” should be thrown out the window. Mark, a natural introvert, should not have been put in situations that required him to interact for long periods of time with needy clients. It clearly did not suit him well. With a little more planning and foresight, the conflicts that arose from that mismatch could have been averted.
Find the Perfect Size
Most teams are too big, plain and simple. Behar points to the research of Marvin Shaw, who found that “once teams exceed eight people, three people do 77% of the talking.”
Anyone who’s sat around a large conference table at a meeting, waiting anxiously to get a word in, knows how true that is. The key is to have small, nimble teams where everyone can have a say and each person knows their role.
How I failed: For once, this is an area where I didn’t do half bad! Of course, this was a function of being at a smaller company. But the teams Mark worked on were small and manageable.
However, one aspect that Behfar mentions is that no matter the size of the team, it’s important for managers to “clearly define how each person is adding value.”
In that regard, I had much room for improvement. Mark’s work was certainly valued, but, looking back, I can’t pinpoint a time where the exact reasons he was doing what he was doing were clearly articulated. In my mind, this was unnecessary. But, looking back, I can see how that sort of vagueness can lead people to think they’re being underappreciated.
Use After Action Reviews
Whether things turn out good or bad, it’s beneficial to spend some time figuring out why you ended up with a certain outcome. A thorough review is a good way to accomplish this. It allows companies to pick out successful strategies. Plus, if you got a result out of something that was lucky or random, you’ll only be able to replicate that result if you identify what made it happen in the first place.
A critical part of a good review, according to Behar, is “to make sure you give credit where credit is due.” Often, the reason people leave good companies is because they feel their contributions were looked over.
How I failed: I never conducted a single review. This is ironic, as I am very used to this process from my years as a professional basketball player. In that world, everything is filmed, reviewed, and analyzed almost immediately after it occurs. When you make a mistake, you know it instantly and can correct it the next time around.
Mark was left in limbo, as neither his good deeds nor his missteps were reviewed. It’s hard to know which way is up in a situation like that, and I feel bad for letting it happen. Furthermore, whenever Mark would ask for a performance review, he was either brushed off or made to think everything was okay.
As discussed earlier, avoidance is a part of passive aggressive behavior. Couple that with the breakdown of all the other action items on this list, and it’s no wonder that things didn’t work out.
Summing Up
Work, for many of us, involves hour after hour of collaborating with a person or a group of people in order to solve a problem. As with any relationship, it’s not always going to be rainbows and sunshine. Tensions will come to the surface. It’s how you deal with the conflict that determines your interpersonal success and the success of your business as a whole.
I learned a lot by getting my first real taste of workplace conflict. After living through it and diving into the research, I feel better prepared to face thorny issues going forward.
Related Articles:
- Do You Hate Your Job – or Your Boss?
- Handling Financially Irresponsible People
- Five Salary Negotiation Tips for People Who Hate Talking About Money
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Zopa to launch Innovative Finance Isa while axing ‘safeguard’ fund
Peer-to-peer (P2P) provider Zopa is set to launch its first Innovative Finance Isa (IF Isa), it’s announced today, although the retirement of its “safeguard” fund could leave investors more exposed to bad loans.
The IF Isa first launched in April 2016 but only a handful of smaller providers, such as Abundance, Crowd2Fund, and Crowdstacker, currently offer products.
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Stat of the month: debit card use to overtake cash by 2018
The expression “cash is king” may be about to lose its value according to payments industry association, Payments UK.
Last year, UK consumers made 38.7 billion payments, with cash and debit cards accounting for more than half between them.
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How much should you spend on a wedding gift? Moneywise readers say £26 to £50
How much to give the bride and groom as a wedding gift can be a tricky decision, so our latest Moneywise poll asked how much on average people give – as an individual, not as a household.
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Top 20 most consistent investment trusts over the past ten years
One of the biggest challenges a do-it-yourself investor faces is finding the cream of the crop among the thousands of funds all aiming to do the same thing - beat the market and their peers - as only a few will be able to consistently add significant value over long periods.
In the case of investment trusts the playing field is narr
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Find out if financial advice is worth it in June’s Moneywise magazine out now
Is financial advice worth it? We answer this question in June’s Moneywise magazine, which is on sale in WHSmith now for just £3.95.
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