People Give Away Crazy Stuff on Craigslist, and You Can Make Money Off It

Maybe you’ve used Craigslist to buy or sell things, but have you ever checked out all of the things that are free?

That’s right, there is a section devoted to things which are simply given away.

People give things away because it is easier than trying to sell them or bringing them to a thrift store as a donation. But it isn’t always that difficult to sell these things, and if you know what you’re doing you can make thousands of dollars from Craigslist freebies. Let’s take a look at how it is done.

How to Make Money on Craigslist by Finding Free Stuff

Go to Craigslist.org, and if you’re not automatically forwarded to a local page, find your state on the list and click on the link for the location closest to you.

For me, the closest offering was “Fort Myers/Southwest Florida,” but when I arrived at that page, I could narrow down the results by clicking on “Collier County,” where I lived when I decided to check out Craigslist freebies. You might look at a couple different locations if they’re both close to you.

Once you have your local directory, look under the “For Sale” heading for the link that says “free” and click that. You’ll probably see advertisements for all sorts of free items if you live in or near a town of more than 15,000 people. One week in Collier County, Florida, the free things offered on Craigslist included:

• A functioning full-size trampoline
• An artificial Christmas tree
• Firewood
• A toilet seat
• A bathroom countertop
• A hot tub
• A refrigerator
• Sliding glass doors
• Wooden doors
• Windows
• Leftovers from a rummage sale

I wouldn’t want a used toilet seat, but some of the other things looked good in the photos. The pictures of the rummage sale leftovers clearly showed some decent luggage, a folding chair, many books, clothing, vases and three pieces of wooden furniture.

If we had lived in a house instead of our small condo, I might have gathered up a bunch of these free things to sell at rummage sales — and that’s only one way to sell them, as you’ll see in a moment.

At the time, a post on About.com (no longer available) asked readers what their best free finds were. The answers included a running Suzuki ATV 250, a home gym set, a fish tank and a working motorcycle.

One reader said, “I have also picked up many big screen TVs and sold them for 200 a pop.” This guy says he’s had many $200 paydays from picking up a free TV now and then.

Of course there are better and worse places to do this. In some cities, you might have a lot of competition and new ads can pop up every few minutes, so check often. In small towns, there might not be enough ads for free things to bother looking. But chances are good that you can get some free things, and anything you sell them for is a profit.

How to Sell Craigslist Freebies

Let’s assume you have been running around picking up free things that were advertised on Craigslist. Now how do you sell what you collected? There are several ways to cash in your treasures, including these three:

1. Sell Them on Craigslist

The first way can be considered a sort of arbitrage, which means capitalizing on market inefficiencies by buying cheap and quickly selling for more in some other place. Free is as cheap as it gets, and the “other place” is just the ad categories where things are not free.

Ryan Finlay has some useful information about this on his website, recraigslist.com/. He makes a living on Craigslist, and most of what he sells he obtains there as well.

If you read about Finlay’s best day on Craigslist (as of April 2013), you’ll notice that he paid nothing for five of the six items he sold for a profit that day, and the dryer he sold for $200 was purchased for just $25. He figured he spent $15 on gas and ended the day with a $700 profit.

2. Hold Rummage Sales

The second way to sell the things you get is at rummage sales. The advantages include working from home, not having people call you all the time (as with the first strategy), and limiting your time dealing with customers to a weekend or two each month. Of course this doesn’t work well if you don’t live in a good location for a rummage sale.

3. Sell Items to Specialty Buyers

The third way, which will work only with certain types of items, is to sell to known buyers. For example, I got six boxes of free floor tiles, put them in our van and then sold them later for $10 to the first flooring company I passed.

Perhaps I sold too cheap, but hey, I got them for free. For luggage or electronics you could go straight to a pawn shop to get cash. We have a construction resale place that will buy things like used appliances, countertops and windows, which are all free items offered on Craigslist.

Selling to companies that are always buying is probably not how you get the best price, but it puts the cash in your hands fast. Another advantage is that you won’t end up with a house full of things that haven’t yet sold.

If you go this route, you should keep a list of the best places to sell your goods. You might even be able to get free things and sell them before you return home.

Your list should have scrap metal buyers (aluminum and copper items), pawn shops (electronics, jewelry, luggage and tools), used appliance buyers, used furniture buyers or consignment shops and, perhaps, a used bookstore if it pays cash for books.

It might be best to use several selling strategies to get the most out of your Craigslist freebies. For example, you could sell broken metal items to scrap dealers and large pieces of furniture on Craigslist to get them out of your home, and save the smaller stuff for your next rummage sale.

Once you know how to sell you can also buy things cheaply for resale, but the beauty of this hobby or business is that you can start with no expense other than the gas in your car.

Steve Gillman is the author of “101 Weird Ways to Make Money.” Of the more than 100 ways he has personally made money, writing is his favorite (so far).

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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How to Become a Stay-at-Home Parent Without Pulling Your Hair Out

Wonderful as it can be, becoming a stay-at-home parent involves plenty of challenges.

Will you be able to adjust from a 9-to-5 schedule to a naptime-to-naptime schedule? Are you prepared to ditch your business suit for 24/7 sweatpants?

Will you remember how to talk to other adults after daylong marathons of “Yo Gabba Gabba”?

But apart from asking yourself these questions (which are definitely worth asking), you also need to think about the financial aspects of this life-changing decision.

Lifehacker’s Two Cents blog looked at the financial steps you should take before you decide to stay home, like comparing income and expenses, looking into insurance and adjusting your savings strategy.

They’re all great tips, and you should definitely check them out if you’re considering staying home.

But what else do you need to know before becoming a stay-at-home mom or stay-at-home dad?

While I don’t have kids of my own (of the non-furry variety, at least), I did some digging and found these great strategies other stay-at-home parents recommend online.

1. Base Your Budget on Take-Home Pay

When you’re looking at your monthly income and expenses and tweaking your budget, remember to use the working partner’s take-home pay, not their full salary.

Once taxes are deducted from those paychecks, you won’t be left with the full $50,000 (or whatever amount) the person technically earns.

That said, making less money as a household could actually wind up benefiting you, says Alden Wicker on LearnVest.

“If your plan is to quit your job and stop earning money all together, you might be pleased with the effect on your taxes,” Wicker explains.

“It’s very possible you’ll be bumped into a lower tax bracket, meaning your spouse will pay a lower percentage of income to taxes, saving you money.”

2. Remember to Subtract Work-Related Expenses

When you’re trying to think of ways to make your new budget work, remember that with one partner leaving a job to stay home, you’re actually cutting back on several job-related expenses.

In addition to not having to pay for child care (a big deciding factor for many SAH paren), that also means no more commuting costs, parking lot passes, coffees and lunches on the go, or constant peer pressure to contribute to your co-workers’ birthdays, workiversaries and fundraisers.

“I saved money at the hairdresser, for example, because after I quit my job I didn’t have to get my hair done every six weeks,” says Jonni McCoy of Miserly Moms on BabyCenter.com.

3. Communicate Clearly About Responsibilities

This is not a discussion you want to have at the end of a long day, when you’re both exhausted and staring down a sink full of dirty dishes.

Decide before quitting your job how you’re going to divvy up household responsibilities like cooking, cleaning and running errands.

“It’s much easier to talk about one another’s roles while you’re deciding to become a stay-at-home [parent] rather than after you’re already home with the kids,” writes Apryl Duncan in About.com’s Parenting section.

“Make a plan together beforehand so you’ll know what to expect,” Duncan explains. “This will eliminate a lot of frustration that can easily enter into your relationship as you both adjust to the changes in lifestyle.”

4. Look Into Ways to Make Money From Home

Numerous companies offer remote positions, but when you’re keeping an eye on kids, you may be better off with something more flexible you can do on your own time.

Luckily, there are plenty of other ways you can make money working from home, like freelancing, part-time consulting, transcription and selling your crafts on Etsy.

These kinds of jobs can fit into your normal schedule, so you can work while your kids are asleep or playing, and most tasks don’t have to be finished in one sitting (to allow for the inevitable interruption of “Mo-ooom!” or “Da-aaad!”)

5. Sign Up for Free Diapers Early

When only one of you is working full time, budgeting and frugality are extra important.

Diapers aren’t cheap, but babies have a way of going through them like they are. So start preparing as early as possible by signing up for all these great ways to get free diapers.

Your Turn: Stay-at-home parents, what do you wish you had considered before you made the switch? If you’re about to transition to staying home with kids, what are you doing to plan for the change?

Kelly Gurnett is a freelance blogger, writer and editor who runs the blog Cordelia Calls It Quits, where she documents her attempts to rid her life of the things that don’t matter and focus more on the things that do. Follow her on Twitter @CordeliaCallsIt.

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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Think Organic Food is Worth the Price? This Could Make You Think Again

When you jack up your monthly grocery tab by opting for organic food, you have certain expectations.

You expect food that hasn’t been doused in pesticides. You expect the grower to have used only natural methods to grow it. You expect that your food has a less severe impact on the environment.

But the fuzzy feelings you have about what your decisions mean for your family and the world around you could just be wishful thinking.

That’s because it’s surprisingly easy for the “USDA Organic” label to show up on food that doesn’t live up to the standards set in the Organic Food Production Act of 1990, especially for imported foods.

In fact, just last month, a shipment of 36 million pounds of non-organic soybeans and corn from Ukraine was suddenly “organic” by time it reached California.

The company that handled the shipment told The Washington Post it was “provided with false certification documents,” and most of the non-organic soybeans and corn had already been sold to customers who paid extra for what they thought was organic food.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investigating what went wrong in this instance, but according to The Washington Post, it’s not so surprising because holes in the USDA regulation process leave room for mislabeled food to get into your shopping cart.

How Foods Get the “USDA Organic” Label

The Organic Food Production Act lays out certain requirements for products grown in the U.S.

to receive the organic label.

• The food must have been produced or handled without synthetic chemicals.

• The food must be grown on land that has not been treated with any synthetic chemical or other prohibited substances within the past three years.

• The companies that grow the food and handle it after harvest must all agree to adhere to the same organic labeling standards the USDA set.

For imported foods, a USDA-approved third party must verify that the companies meet these minimum standards.

What’s Going Wrong With Organic Labeling

According to an analysis from The Washington Post, those third-party contractors, both in the U.S. and internationally, make it difficult for the USDA to maintain blanket standards for all the food you buy.

While the USDA is responsible for regulating the organic food industry, its certifier locator shows that it only works with 81 third-party contractors to certify companies are properly producing food, and most of those regulators work here in the U.S.

For imported food, the USDA only recognizes government regulators in Canada, the European Union, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland. The USDA has only approved 33 of the 81 third-party organizations to regulate what food can be called organic in the rest of the world.

“In theory, this should all work very well,” The Washington Post said. “In practice, ensuring that imports labeled ‘organic’ are actually organic is very hard, because global supply chains are complex and nontransparent. A number of suppliers or organizations may sell the product before they reach the final customer.”

This means organic labels can show up (or disappear) anywhere along the way to the food’s final destination, and once the change happens, it could be difficult to know which foods are truly organic.

Ready for some worse news?

Well, limited resources and varying practices across the world make it tough for the USDA to fix the problem.

Think about that the next time you’re deciding if your organic soybeans are worth the extra bump in price.

Desiree Stennett (@desi_stennet) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She tries to eat organic whenever possible and is currently having an existential crisis because everything she believes may actually be a lie.

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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Canine Flu is No Walk in the Dog Park — but it’s Really Cheap to Prevent

How’s Fido feeling?

While you can usually tell if your furry friend is feeling icky, you might want to pay closer attention in the coming days.

An outbreak of the dog flu has hit Florida this week, putting furry friends at risk all over the state.

Here’s what you need to know.

The Dog Flu is No Walk in the Dog Park

The University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine released a statement May 31 explaining the dog flu epidemic in detail.

At least a dozen dogs in Florida have been infected so far. These dogs were either present at the Perry, Georgia dog show May 19-21 or the Deland, Florida dog show the following weekend.

The infection has also spread to dogs that have been in contact with those at the shows.

The infected dogs tested positive for the H3N2 strain of canine influenza, which is the same strain responsible for the 2015 outbreak of canine influenza in Chicago, as reported by UF’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Symptoms of the virus include sneezing, nasal discharge and coughing.

The statement also says there is no evidence this strain of the dog flu can infect humans.

How to Prevent the Dog Flu and Save Money if Fido Catches it

Just like the human flu, there is no actual treatment for the dog flu.

However, there are medications a vet can prescribe to help your dog feel better while fighting it. Vets may also prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications to help reduce fever and fight secondary infections that may occur.

There is good news, though: The dog flu can be prevented.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there is a vaccine available to prevent the H3N2 canine influenza. This can cost $25 to $35 depending on where you take your pet, as reported by the New York Times.

If you’re searching for a cheaper alternative to a regular vet, The Balance suggests heading to a nearby veterinary college, saying they “offer a sizable discount over what the local vet clinics and animal hospitals charge.”

Not sure if you want to vaccinate your dog? The AVMA also says “good animal care practice and nutrition” in dogs can help build a healthy immune system. That means keeping your dog healthy with a balanced nutrition can help him or her fight off the virus on their own. (Here are our favorite pet loyalty programs for saving on everyday pet costs!)

The big costs associated with dog flu come if your dog needs to be hospitalized. Fortunately, this is only necessary if your dog become extremely dehydrated or develops further complications.

If you don’t have the money to pay upfront, you still have options.

One of those options is to apply for CareCredit, a credit card that specializes in health care financing. Depending on your credit score, you could be eligible for interest-free, short-term financing.

As with every credit card, be sure to understand the risks associated with opening a new line of credit, such as the possibility of credit inquiries affecting your credit score, and the danger of keeping high balances on cards with high interest rates.

Last but not least: If your fur baby should catch the flu, don’t panic. The AVMA reports the fatality rate is less than 10%, and most pups recover in two to three weeks.

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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Take Note: This Company Needs Remote Law Enforcement Transcriptionists

We get a lot of requests for work-from-home jobs that can be done at odd hours of the day or night, that aren’t in customer service and that don’t require you to talk on the phone.

If you have background in law enforcement transcription or court reporting, this job fits the bill.

Net Transcripts is hiring full-time and part-time Law Enforcement Transcriptionists.

What’s Involved in These Transcription Jobs?

As an independent contractor, you’ll work from home transcribing audio content from criminal investigations, internal affairs and various law enforcement audios.

“New orders are available Monday through Friday with turnarounds that vary from same day to 5 business days. The majority of our orders are 3 business days,” according to the job listing.

You’re free to set your own hours and work a full-time or part-time schedule.

Before you can take on client work, you’ll need to complete an initial assessment with at least 98% accuracy.

Experience as a court reporter or as a transcriber for a law enforcement agency is preferred.

Applicants for this position must also have:

• United States citizenship and residency

• Verbatim, multi-speaker transcription experience

• Very strong attention to detail

• Excellent grammar and proofreading skills

• Minimum 80 WPM typing speed

• Proficiency with MS Word and the ability to open Excel documents

• A PC that can run a transcription software package of your choosing, a foot pedal and good, noise-cancelling headphones

Apply here for the Law Enforcement Transcriptionist  job at Net Transcripts.

Don’t forget to also check out our Jobs page on Facebook. We post new jobs there all the time.

Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She loves telling readers about work-from-home jobs so look her up on Twitter @lisah if you have a tip to share.

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 Does Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement Mean for U.S. Jobs?

On Thursday, world leaders (well, at least 194) of them let out a collective groan as President Donald Trump announced the U.S. was pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement.

The accord is a voluntary agreement among 195 countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other factors scientists have blamed for global warming on their own terms. No regulations, just guidelines.

Since beginning his campaign for president, Trump has repeatedly cited the agreement as a “bad deal” for Americans, noting that it hurt coal miners (bigly).

But CEOs and entrepreneurs, including Elon Musk, Richard Branson and Disney’s Bob Iger, say the reality is renewable energy will only drive U.S. economic job growth.

The Outlook for Renewable Energy Jobs is Bright

Indeed, there’s a bright outlook for renewable energy jobs.

For example, take jobs in the solar sector — 373,807 in 2016, according a January report by the U.S. Department of Energy (undertaken under President Obama, of course.) That’s more than four times the number of people who spent time on coal mining throughout last year.

And how about wind power? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects wind-turbine technicians as the fastest growing jobs through 2024. The bureau expects employment in this particular trade to more than double by that year.

As of 2015, those wind-energy jobs paid a median salary of $51,050 and didn’t require a full college degree. That helps low- and mid-skilled workers find a place in a rapidly changing economy, says a report by jobs site Indeed.

The same could be said of of solar. Construction and manufacturing of solar parts grew at the fastest pace of any sector of that industry, say experts with the Department of Energy in their January report.

Commitment to renewable energy would sustain this growth, business leaders say.

“Protecting our planet and driving economic growth are critical to our future, and they aren’t mutually exclusive,” Iger said in a statement. “I deeply disagree with the decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.”

Branson excoriated the decision to withdraw in an interview with NPR, while Musk quit two of the Trump administration’s advisory councils.

Yikes. If you’ve got that many rich dudes throwing shade at your decision, maybe you didn’t make the most business-friendly choice.

And there’s more: According to latest available data from BLS, only 53,420 people were employed in the coal mining industry as of May 2016.

That’s more than 20,000 fewer than The Washington Post reported earlier this year. That article also highlighted that the coal industry employed fewer workers than Arby’s.

Yes, Arby’s.

And the outlook for coal isn’t good.

A paragraph in the energy and environmental research organization Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis’ 2017 U.S. Coal Outlook begins with good news about a coal-friendly administration, but it continues with, “Too many companies are still mining too much coal for too few customers.”

Some Governments Say They’re Still Committed to Renewable Energy

“Disappointed with today’s decision on the Paris Agreement. Climate change is real,” General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt wrote on Twitter yesterday. “Industry must now lead and not depend on government.”

Not all governments, Jeff. Particularly at the state level.

The United States Climate Alliance, a group of three states (bet you can guess which ones) has pledged to meet all the goals of the Paris Agreement, at least within their borders.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, California Gov. Jerry Brown and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (see, I told you) formed the group the same day as Trump’s announcement.

Those Climate Alliance states represent more than 20% of all U.S. economic output, so if those three governors can keep up the momentum with renewable-energy jobs it could have an impact regardless of Trump’s next move.

Another seven states — Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island and Virginia — have also agreed to support the aims of the Paris Agreement.

The U.S. technically can’t withdraw from the Paris Agreement until 2019. And until then, Trump has promised to renegotiate the agreement.

So maybe don’t break out the Mad Max armor just yet.

Alex Mahadevan is a data journalist 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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Create Your Own Magic: DIY Mickey Ears You Can Make for Under $10

How to Afford Quality Dental Care

You have a dental problem that needs attention, but you’re not sure how to pay for your trip to the dentist. Take a deep breath – it’s okay. There are several ways you can afford quality dental care without putting yourself in a financial tailspin.

This guide will help you understand the options you’ll have when budgeting for a dental procedure. We’ll cover expected costs for common procedures. We’ll look at what to do if you don’t have insurance. And we’ll go over the basics of dental financing, dental credit cards, HSAs/FSAs, dental savings plans and dental insurance.

Because every situation is different, we recommend working closely with your dentist and insurance provider (if applicable) to make a plan that fits your needs and budget. But a general understanding of what’s out there will help you ask the right questions.

Let’s get started.

Contents

The Cost of Common Dental Procedures
Dental Credit Cards vs. Dental Financing
FSAs and HSAs
Dental Savings Plans
Dental Insurance
What About Cosmetic Dentistry?
Other Budgeting Tips

The cost of common dental procedures

To start, here’s a look at the typical costs you can expect for common types of dental work.

If you need a dental procedure but you’re not sure how you can afford it, start by talking to someone at your dental clinic. (Do you still need to choose a dental clinic? You can find one through your dental insurer’s website or your state’s dental society.) Dental clinics have experience making treatment practical for patients on a limited budget. If you do have insurance, your dentist’s front-desk staff can give you an idea of what you’ll be responsible for paying out-of-pocket.

How do I pay for a dental procedure without insurance?

If you don’t have insurance, someone at your dental clinic can help you estimate costs of treatment and describe financing options. Consider dental financing or a dental savings plan to help pay for a major procedure.

Dental credit cards vs. dental financing

Dentists know that patients are more likely to get the treatment they need if they can spread out payment over months or even years. Most dental clinics partner with third-party creditors who simplify the process for the clinic; some clinics even offer in-house financing. Most payment plans, however, go through a third party and have some kind of interest baked into their contracts.

Most of these arrangements are unsecured loans, although there are dental credit cards that serve a similar purpose. Your clinic may work with more than one financing partner – and they may agree to work with another financing company of your choosing. Don’t be afraid to do a little shopping to find a payment plan that works for you.

Pitfalls of dental credit cards and dental financing

There are a couple of common characteristics between dental credit cards and dental payment plans. The first common feature is an interest-free period, which may be 6, 12 or 24 months. The other similarity is a high interest rate that kicks in if you don’t pay off your entire balance by the end of the intro period. Once the introductory period has passed, what once was an interest-free loan can be subject to back-interest at rates as high as 27%, as was the case with CareCredit.

Before you lock into a payment plan, be sure you can make your payments every month without depleting your emergency savings. It’s also important to fully understand the terms of your financing before you sign. Clinic staff shouldn’t make you feel rushed. Ask questions and take your time to research your options before committing.

FSAs and HSAs

If you don’t have dental insurance but you do have health insurance through your work, an FSA (flexible spending account) might be an option. You can use your FSA contributions to pay for eligible treatments with a tax advantage. (FSA contributions are pre-tax, meaning they reduce your taxable income.) The max you can contribute to an FSA in 2017 is $2,600. The caveats are: unused FSA contributions don’t roll over to the next calendar year, and you can only adjust your contribution amount during special open enrollment periods.

If you have an HSA (health savings account) or if your employer’s health coverage offers an HSA option, you could also pay for your dental work with tax-advantaged income. (HSA contributions are also pre-tax.) HSA contributions do roll over to the next year – though they’re only available to people who have a qualifying high-deductible health plan (HDHP). Max HSA contributions for 2017 are $3,400 for an individual and $6,750 for a family.

For more on HSAs and FSAs, read up on Health Savings Accounts vs Flexible Savings Accounts.

Dental savings plans

The term “dental savings plan” may be misleading. Sometimes called “reduced-fee dental plans” or “discount dental plans,” these programs are really loyalty networks. Patients with dental savings plans pay for care out-of-pocket but at a discounted rate. Dental care providers lose some of their profit margin in exchange for securing more patients. Dental savings plans are not insurance, nor are they savings accounts; they are paid memberships to networks of dentists who’ve agreed to discount their fees for members.

Benefits of dental savings plans

Dental savings plans, unlike individual insurance, allow you to take advantage of their discounts immediately. Some plans may also cover cosmetic procedures not deemed medically necessary by insurance, such as braces or veneers.

Risks of dental savings plans

Dental savings plans have fee schedules with specific costs for each procedure. Your treatment must be on the schedule, or you’ll be responsible for your clinic’s normal rate. Be sure that you understand if you’re agreeing to any treatment options or upgrades beyond those listed in your plan’s fee schedule.

Not all dental clinics participate in dental savings programs. You’ll want to make sure the plan you’re shopping for includes your home dentist (if you have one) or a dentist that you feel comfortable with.

Dental insurance overview

Dental insurance is different than other types of insurance. It rarely covers 100% of major dental procedures. In addition, most dental plans have a relatively low maximum yearly benefit. Depending on your plan, your coverage may max out after your insurer pays for $1000 or $1500 of your dental care in a year. Dental insurance is similar to other insurance in that you will likely have to meet an out-of-pocket deductible before your coverage kicks in. That could be something like $50 or as much as hundreds of dollars depending on your plan’s coverage.

Drawbacks aside, dental insurance doesn’t have to be expensive. Many decent plans cost less than $20 a month. Those with dental insurance can find further help in paying for the remaining cost of treatment by using some of the other means covered in this article.

Types of dental insurance

The first and most basic classification for dental insurance is whether it’s through an employer or is an individual policy. Most people with dental insurance are covered through their employer (also called a group policy), either as a default condition of their job or by opting into the plan.

Individual coverage vs. employer-provided coverage

If you have an immediate need for a procedure but don’t already have dental insurance, then an individual policy might not be the best option. Most individual dental insurance policies have waiting periods for different procedures. For example, you may have to wait 6 months from sign-up to be covered for a routine cleaning. Major procedures like root canals or crowns could have waiting periods of a year and a half or more.

If you enroll during open enrollment, individual dental insurance is available as part of some health insurance plans or as stand-alone insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Marketplace open enrollment for 2018 runs from November 1, 2017 to December 15, 2017.

On the other hand, employer-provided coverage is available for dental work, often without the same waiting periods. You may, however, have to wait the length of your employer’s probationary period before you can use dental coverage if you just started your job. If you don’t have dental coverage, but it is available through your employer, check with your human resources manager about signing up.

Closed vs. open network

The second classification for dental insurance has to do with the way the plan pays benefits to your dental clinic. Most plans use the PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) model, though some plans use the indemnity model. We’ll touch on some of the other models as well, but the most important thing to know is whether a plan uses a closed network or an open network.

PPO plans

PPO plans use a closed network of dental care providers. (Plans that use a closed network are also called “managed care” insurance). This model offers better rates for preferred providers – that means lower out-of-pocket costs when you stay within the network. PPOs also cover out-of-network providers (just at less favorable rates for the patient).

PPO plans typically have three tiers of coverage rates, and many use a 100-80-50 structure. Preventive maintenance procedures make up the top tier and are covered at 100% of the cost. Basic restorative procedures, like fillings, are the next tier. They’re typically covered at 80%. The bottom tier includes major restorative procedures like crowns, root canals, dental implants and other surgeries. Even though these are the most expensive procedures, they’ll often qualify for the lowest rates of coverage—around 50% of the total cost. Check your plan’s schedule of benefits to find specific percentages for each tier and the procedures covered under them.

Other, less-common plan types that use closed networks are HMOs and EPOs. Neither HMOs nor EPOs cover treatment by out-of-network providers.

Indemnity plans

Indemnity plans use open networks. They are the oldest style of insurance. With indemnity coverage, you can go to any dental care provider, and the plan will pay for a percentage of the total cost.

Indemnity plans, like PPOs, usually have a tiered schedule of benefits that covers minor treatments at more favorable rates than major ones. Check the schedule of benefits for your particular plan to know what’s covered at which rates.

Pre-authorization

You should talk with your dental clinic and insurance company to get pre-authorization before scheduling a dental procedure. This process can take a few weeks, but it can be helpful to have an idea of what your financial responsibility will be beforehand. Pre-authorization is routine for dental clinics and a required service for insurance companies.

What about cosmetic dentistry?

A nice smile goes a long way. If you want to make yours look a little nicer, there are a few ways you can make your cosmetic dentistry more affordable.

What is cosmetic dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry is dental work done solely to improve appearance. Examples of cosmetic dentistry include veneers, dental contouring and reshaping, whitening, some types of braces, all-porcelain crowns, bonding (filling or attaching artificial material to the surface of teeth) and extruding (lengthening) of teeth. Cosmetic procedures are those not considered medically necessary and are usually not covered by insurance.

Note: some types of dental work improve both the health and appearance of your teeth. Such treatments are usually at least partially covered by dental insurance.

How can I afford cosmetic dentistry?

Although dental insurance usually won’t cover cosmetic procedures, you may be able to find discounts through a dental savings plan. You can also ease the cost burden by spacing out procedures or by distributing your payments with dental financing. Better yet, consider starting a personal savings plan to save up the money needed for a cosmetic procedure.

Other budgeting tips

Pay lump-sum

If you have the cash on hand, consider paying for your procedure in one lump sum to avoid the extra cost of interest from a loan or credit card.

Save up for emergencies

It’s not a bad idea to have a savings account just for dental, medical and car emergencies. A good way to start saving is to set up an automatic transfer to move money from your checking account to savings account each month. Building up an emergency fund before you need it can take some of the stress out of surprise dental issues in the future.

Prioritize your treatments

Take care of the most pressing problems immediately to prevent future expense. Then you can space out less time-sensitive procedures to ease the impact on your finances. Ask your dentist for help developing a long-term, prioritized treatment plan.

Don’t wait to take care of your teeth

As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Preventive maintenance is cheaper, better-covered and less painful than a major restorative procedure. Consider the following strategies to keep your teeth healthy – and avoid costly procedures in the future:

• Visit your dentist twice a year for exams and cleanings, and be sure to take care of cavities quickly.
• Seek treatment for missing teeth to avoid jawbone loss.
• Ask your dentist about a fitted mouth guard if you grind your teeth at night, as grinding can cause cracked molars that will later require crowns or implants.
• Avoid chewing ice.
• Brush your twice daily and floss once daily.

Good daily habits go a long way toward reducing costly dental issues in the future. By prioritizing dental health and knowing your options for financing issues that do arise, you can keep your teeth and your budget in good condition. Now that’s something to smile about!

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How to Afford Corrective Eye Surgery

Thinking of ditching your glasses and contacts in favor of laser eye surgery? As technology advances, it’s becoming safer, more effective and more available than ever. Nevertheless, in many cases, the procedure still entails a significant cost, which may discourage people who would benefit from seeking treatment.

Better eyesight is a worthwhile investment. It’s a life-changing procedure for the cost of an old used car. However, not everyone’s bank account is prepared for purchasing either one. But don’t dismiss the possibility yet: there are savings options available to help lower procedure costs and lessen their impact on your day-to-day budget. Stay with us to learn more about laser eye surgery costs, coverage, and payment options that can make the care you need more affordable.

The cost of laser eye surgery

Costs can vary by type of procedure.

• LASIK, the most common and affordable type, is ideal for most patients with farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism. It involves using a laser or a combination of a laser and blade to cut a thin flap in your cornea and then reshape it.
• Wavefront LASIK is a more technologically advanced form of LASIK that uses wavefront light analysis to determine exactly how light travels through your eye, allowing the surgery to be more customized to your specific needs, and thus potentially produce better results than traditional LASIK.
• PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) is the second most common type of laser eye surgery. It’s usually more expensive than LASIK. It removes tissue directly from your eye surface to change the curvature of your cornea.

The average cost of all these methods runs between $1500-$2500 per eye. (LASIK and PRK pricing is generally quoted per eye, because in the case of astigmatism only one eye may require the surgery.) The surgery is an outpatient procedure that normally takes about 10 minutes and is mostly painless. Recovery time is usually no more than 48 hours, so you can be back to work in no time.

Does insurance cover laser eye surgery?

Not normally. Under most plans, it’s considered an elective or cosmetic procedure. However, many larger insurance companies partner with providers to offer subscribers a discounted rate as a courtesy. Additionally, many large employers offer plans that cover at least part of LASIK costs. If you work for a major company, ask your HR department if any available plans might cover corrective eye surgery.

But there are special circumstances in which insurance companies may deem the surgery medically necessary and cover it.

Special circumstance #1: you need the surgery to perform your job.

This often applies to members of the armed forces who meet specific vision requirements and are willing to have the surgery done in a military facility. Civilians with important public service jobs like police and firefighters who must meet safety requirements can also make a case to their insurance companies that the procedure is necessary to meet the demands of their professions. Athletes who play pro sports and entertainers such as actors may be able to make a case as well.

Special circumstance #2: medical conditions

The other way you could qualify for insurance-covered LASIK is if you have a medical condition that makes wearing glasses or contacts dangerous or impossible, such as severe metal allergies, dry eyes, or a contact lens intolerance. These conditions, as well as an effort to wear glasses or lenses, must be documented; contact your insurance provider to learn more.

Corrective eye surgery financing options

Some providers offer in-house financing for LASIK and PRK. These providers generally don’t charge interest, so you can spread your payments out over many months or, in some cases, years without paying anything extra. This makes an affordable option – just make sure the provider is reputable and board-certified before you proceed.

Other providers partner with a financing company such as Care Credit. These companies administer the financing plan and offer long-term payment structures with fixed rates. You can also seek out your own financing, but before you commit to a personal loan, check with your surgeon’s office to be sure they are willing to work with your financing company of choice.

For some financing plans, a deposit may be required. (Learn more about how secured and unsecured loans are different.) Interest rates can also vary greatly by company and depend on your credit history. Some may rise above 20% in some cases. Remember to research all your options, and if an interest rate is involved, opt for the shortest-term financing possible so you can save money on interest in the long run.

Saving for vision care

If your employer offers a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA), take advantage. These types of accounts offer an excellent, tax-advantaged way to save for your LASIK or PRK procedure. They also allow you to contribute a percentage of your income to pay for medical care-related costs over a period of one year. Both HSA and FSA contributions are pre-tax and reduce your taxable income.

2017 FSA & HSA Limits
	FSA	HSA
Eligibility	Anyone with insurance through an employer	People with a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)
Tax advantage for contributions	Pre-tax	Pre-tax
2017 yearly maximum (individual)	$2,600	$3,400
2017 yearly maximum (family)	$2,600	$6,750
Year-end rollover	Generally, no – but employer may offer a grace period or allow up to $500 to carry over	Yes

In 2017, the maximum an individual can contribute to an FSA is $2,600. (Note: this amount will likely not cover the full procedure cost for both eyes.) If your employer offers a Health Savings Account (HSA), you can contribute more than an FSA: $3,400 for individuals and $6,750 for family coverage. The downside is in order to have an HSA, you must be enrolled in a high deductible health plan. However, if you are young and in good health, this downside may be minimal. An upside to having an HSA is if you don’t use all the money in the account in one year, it rolls over into the next. Conversely, the majority of FSA funds must be used by year’s end or you lose them.

Other costs to consider

You’ll most likely have to purchase some prescription eye drops for after-surgery care. They are usually a combination of antibiotics and steroids, depending on the type of surgery you select. There are also eye drops that help with discomfort. Your insurance may cover the cost of these prescriptions; check your plan’s prescription drug coverage. You may also need artificial tears for a few months after surgery. These are over-the-counter, and you’ll likely have to pay for them out of pocket. They could end up costing several hundred dollars over time, so you may want to account for that cost when budgeting for FSA or HSA contributions.

Although laser eye surgery requires a significant financial investment as well as time spent researching providers and benefits, for many people, seeing clearly is worth the expense. If better vision is important to you, don’t dismiss the idea of corrective eye surgery too quickly. Research and careful budgeting can make this life-changing procedure fit within almost any budget.

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Affording Alternative Medicine

Every year, Americans pay billions of dollars for complementary, alternative and integrative health care — chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, massage therapy, biofeedback and more. But with very few exceptions, insurance policies typically don’t cover these treatments.

Alternative medicine accounts for as much as 11.2% of total out-of-pocket spending on health care. Despite its popularity, insurers tend to view this type of care as untested, experimental or scientifically at odds with mainstream medicine. It’s one of the more glaring disconnects in American health care and — for the people caught up in it — surely one of the most frustrating.

The good news is, consumers of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) have options to help make their health care more affordable. Read about them here, then follow up with your medical practitioner and insurance provider to see which course of action offers the healthiest — and most affordable — option for you.

Why alternative medicine?

The benefits cited by advocates of alternative, complementary and integrative medicine include:

• Non-conventional treatments often focus on the patient’s health as a whole instead of isolating and eliminating a single cough or itch.
• Alternative medical treatments provide options for those concerned about the cost of prescription drugs and, particularly in the case of pain management, the potential for dependency and side effects.
• In addition to physical benefits, many patients see improvements in their mental and emotional health. Certain treatments may have the beneficial side effect of stimulating the body to release endorphins, for example, creating a natural state of euphoria.

Key concept: types of medicine

A look at differing perspectives on medicine and health care

Conventional
Also called mainstream or traditional, this term describes approaches to health care based on Western medicine.

Alternative
A non-mainstream approach used instead of conventional medicine. Examples may include homeopathy, naturopathy and traditional Chinese medicine.

Complementary
A non-mainstream approach used as a supplement to conventional medicine. Examples may include massage therapy, yoga and meditation.

Integrative
A coordinated strategy using both conventional and complementary health care. Treatments such as chiropractic manipulation are often included in integrative medicine.

CAM
This acronym stands for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and in some cases also refers to integrative medicine. Another catch-all term for alternative and/or complementary health care is body and mind medicine.

Making the case to your insurance provider

Just because a treatment isn’t specifically covered by your insurance policy doesn’t necessarily mean it’s off the table. Some CAM advocates recommend documenting your alternative care and filing a claim for reimbursement with your insurance provider.

Instead of simply mailing in copies of your receipts, ask your primary care physician and your CAM practitioner to help you compile additional documentation that specifically addresses your medical issues. The information you’ll send your insurance provider can include:

• A Letter of Medical Necessity (LOMN) from your primary care doctor advocating the need for treatment based on the determination that it’s integral to your health
• An official diagnosis and prescription for treatment from your primary care doctor
• A detailed listing of the treatments and procedures accompanied by their Alternative Billing Codes (ABCs) applying to alternative health care services including chiropractic care, massage therapy and osteopathy.

Thorough documentation can help make the case for reimbursement. Ideally, input from your primary care doctor will show that your alternative care has a conventional medicine seal of approval. If your insurance provider initially rejects a claim, you may be able to appeal by supplying additional documentation.

Health care savings and financing

Health care savings accounts weren’t created with alternative medicine in mind, but they can be useful tools for qualifying out-of-pocket CAM expenses. Those expenses may include treatments and products such as chiropractic care, acupuncture and over-the-counter herbal or homeopathic medicines.

The various types of accounts are not interchangeable, and it’s essential to know the differences.

At a Glance: Health Care Savings Accounts
	Flexible Spending Account (FSA)	Health Savings Account (HSA)	Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
Tax advantage	Pre-tax contributions	Pre-tax contributions	Pre-tax contributions
Year-end rollover	Up to $500	100%	Employer’s discretion
Funding	Employee/employer	Employee/employer	Employer

FSA (Flexible Spending Account)

• May be offered through employer’s benefits plan
• Employee contributes to account through paycheck deductions
• Employer may also contribute
• Can be used to help pay for out-of-pocket expenses
• $2,600 limit on employee contributions per individual

HSA (Health Savings Account)

• May be offered through employer’s benefits plan
• Only available to people covered by a high-deductible health plan (HDHP)
• Employee contributes to account through paycheck deductions
• Employer may also contribute
• Can be used to help pay for out-of-pocket expenses
• $3,400 limit on employee contributions per individual; $6,750 limit for family coverage

HRA (Health Reimbursement Arrangement)

• May be offered through employer’s benefits plan
• Commonly paired with employer’s high-deductible health plan (HDHP)
• Funded solely by employer contributions
• Reimburses employees for out-of-pocket expenses and premiums
• Limits on employer contributions vary according to type of plan

Pros and cons

PRO: Tax advantages
Health-care savings accounts offer tax advantages. Consider the potential tax benefits of an FSA as an example. With a yearly salary of $50,000 and a tax rate of 30 percent, contributing $2,000 pre-tax into an FSA translates to a $600 tax benefit.

CON: Rollover restrictions
FSAs require you to “use it or lose it” by the end of the benefit year, meaning that you would forfeit unused contributions above a $500 carryover allowance. Although HRAs generally don’t have this requirement, the employer can decide at the beginning of the year whether unused money can be rolled over. HSAs do not have “use it or lose it” rules, but they’re available only to those with HDHP insurance.

PRO: Availability
Availability of FSAs and HSAs has seen a general increase in recent years. For instance, an estimated 90 percent of employers offer FSAs.

CON: Eligibility restrictions
There may be strings attached when it comes to defining eligible treatments. An HRA could require extensive paperwork in filing claims for reimbursements.

Which one is right for me?

The list of IRS specifications on these accounts is long and complex, so get informed before making a decision. Talk to your employer to see what’s available and find out what kind of alternative care might be eligible. Also, ask your health care provider and financial advisor for a recommendation.

What about health care financing?

You may be able to finance some out-of-pocket expenses through a health care loan or health care credit card. Each kind of financing has advantages and disadvantages.

The key thing to remember is that most financing agreements aren’t designed to make purchases more affordable; they simply make the process of paying for them more manageable.

Health care loans

This form of financing for alternative health care may be available through a commercial lender. Zero-interest loans are rare, however, and the types of eligible treatments may be limited. Also, your overall creditworthiness can greatly influence your ability to get this kind of loan.

Health care credit cards

On the plus side, the application and approval process can be quick and easy. Some offers provide zero interest or low interest if you pay off the entire balance within a short introductory period. In general, though, you should always make your payments on time and in full to avoid late payment penalties and damage to your credit score.

Work with your provider

As the old saying goes, you never know what you can get if you don’t ask for it. Health care professionals, both conventional and alternative, may be willing to work out a deal that helps you control your costs.

Tips from consumer advocates include:

• Ask if there’s a discount for paying your entire bill up-front
• Ask about setting up an extended payment plan
• Get help from a payment-assistance program

Above all, don’t be reluctant to ask any cost or payment-related questions you have about your treatment. It’s not just about money — it’s about your health and well-being.

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Financial Infidelity: 4 Steps for Healing Marriages Torn by Finances

“…for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer…”

Millions of Americans make those vows each year, but an alarming number of marriages end in divorce. In fact, it’s been estimated that the percentage of marriages ending in divorce could be as high as 40-50%. Of those unfortunate outcomes, a whopping 30% of divorced couples cite financial disagreements as the cause of their union’s demise.

We’ve talked a lot about what to do from a financial standpoint before you tie the knot, but what about after? What are some steps you can take to save a marriage torn by financial infidelity?

Here are some steps you can take after the damage has been done.

Step 1: Talk about it.

A 2014 survey conducted by the National Endowment for Financial Education found that 1 in 3 couples suffered from financial infidelity. That means that a spouse was lying to their significant other about debts, loans, credit, or anything else money-related. If your marriage is already suffering because of finances, being dishonest about money can escalate the problem further.

As awkward as you might think it is to discuss your debts and other financial information with your spouse, full transparency can go a long way toward saving your marriage. In fact, 42% of couples surveyed in a 2015 study reported feeling happier in their relationships when they discussed money once a week.

In the interest of transparency, there are questions you can ask your spouse to gain a better understanding of their financial patterns. Examples include:

• How much debt are we talking about?
  Get it all out there and in the open. Then make a plan together to tackle your joint and individual debt. What’s the lowest credit card you can pay off outright? Are you eligible for student loan forgiveness?
• Which one of you is more financially literate?
  Which one of you is more self-aware about the standing budget and what you need to buy versus what you want to buy? How can you work together to improve your finances as a couple?
• How much do you make a month?
  Compare this to the monthly bills that are essential such as utilities and food to get a big-picture view of your monthly budget.
• How much do you spend on the average day?
  Keep receipts or use a budgeting tool like Mint to track spending. It’s the only way to single out the non-essentials you can trim jointly or individually from your budget.
• What are your income goals and milestones?
  Do you have an emergency fund? Have you thought about how much it will cost to save for retirement? Create a savings plan you can both get behind and work together to achieve your financial goals.

Once you’ve addressed these and any other questions you may have, it’s time to formulate a plan!

Step 2: Plan it out.

When formulating debt repayment plans, organization is key. You need to meticulously itemize your existing debt – both yours and your spouse’s – and then you need to figure out what the monthly payments are for each account. Then, because you should always pay a little more than the monthly minimum, determine how much extra you can pay per month to eliminate that debt once and for all.

How to eliminate debt as a couple

1. Add up your total existing debt (car payments, student loans, etc.)
2. Total up the minimum monthly payments for each open account.
3. Compare that amount with your collective income.
4. Determine how much beyond minimum payments you can budget for per month.

There are also plenty of tools that can help you manage debt, from our debt-payoff calculator to apps like Mint, which are designed specifically for budgeting.

Prioritizing payoffs

You can also try the Debt Snowball Method to prioritize which debt you’ll pay off first. This method is a phenomenal way to gain some perspective on your marriage finances.

First, you’ll list your current debt from lowest to highest and include minimum payments. If you are able to outright payoff the lowest balance in that debt hierarchy, great: you’ll have that much more money toward paying off the next item on the list. From there, the more money you free up, the more you have to pay-off the bigger items — and save on interest payments.

Of course your plan and your situation will vary, but having an organized approach to debt can work wonders for your marriage.

Step 3: Consult a marriage counselor.

A marriage counselor can help you address the underlying issues behind financial infidelity. As Dave Ramsey sums it up:

“There’s a certain kind of malice involved with financial infidelity. This is a huge breach of trust and can ultimately destroy both your marriage and your finances.”

Financial infidelity may be less about the money (or lack thereof) and more about communication breakdown and broken trust with the love of your life. Having a plan to address financial concerns in a marriage is only a temporary solution if the root cause of the financial infidelity is not addressed. That’s where consulting a marriage counselor can help.

Counseling costs and benefits

Most insurance providers don’t cover costs associated with marriage counseling. But it’s still worth a call to your provider to find out if treatment would be covered under your policy’s mental health benefits. Even if treatment isn’t covered, consider the emotional and financial costs of divorce. Counseling is an investment in the future of your marriage — and it’s tough to put a price tag on that.

If out-of-pocket costs of counseling are too burdensome, consider revisiting the idea once you’ve paid off one or more of your open accounts with the Debt Snowball Method mentioned above. You can simply reallocate a portion of that freed-up cash toward receiving the counseling you need. You could also create extra room in your budget by limiting impulse purchases. Opportunities for trimming your budget will become more obvious as you begin to track your spending together.

Step 4: Seek qualified financial advice.

Once you’ve determined the true cause of the financial infidelity and you’ve formulated a plan, it’s time to get a second opinion. Consider seeking out a financial planner. We’ve covered financial guru Suze Orman in the past, and her expertise is invaluable when it comes to finding a reliable financial planner. In a Money Matters piece, Suze gives her take on the criteria for finding a financial advisor with your best interests in mind.

According to Suze, you’ll want to meet the planner on their turf (their office space) rather than have the planner come to you. This gives you a chance to see how they organize their surroundings. This might seem superficial but, as Suze observes, a planner or advisor who can’t keep his/her own office in order can’t help you keep your life in order, either.

Another thing to watch out for is a financial planner who just asks about the money in your initial consultation. A good financial planner should consider all aspects of your life when helping you formulate a customized financial plan.

Suze concludes with probably the most important tip: pay attention to how the planner is compensated. Whether you’re looking for another set of eyes on your budgeting plan or starting one from scratch, having a clear understanding of fees and rates will help you avoid unpleasant surprises down the road. As a general rule of thumb, Suze recommends fee-only planners who charge a flat or hourly rate and are not involved in financial product sales. This can help ensure you’ll hire a planner who will act in your best interest.

It’s important to do your homework for this step. A good planner can help you turn your plan into actionable data that could not only get you out of the red financially, but also help heal your marriage.

Staying out of trouble

Now that you’ve taken the necessary steps to begin healing your marriage, take preventative steps to avoid history repeating itself.

Keep the conversation going

Lack of communication is one of the largest contributing factors to financial ruination of a marriage. One 2015 survey found that 22% of husbands and wives had recently made purchases they did not want their spouses to know about. Going forward, there needs to continue to be clear, frank, open, and honest discussion when it comes to spending and saving. You’ve already done the heavy-lifting to start the healing process. Don’t jeopardize your progress by repeating behaviors that got you in trouble in the first place.

Budget for fun

Whatever budgeting and debt paydown methods you choose, make sure you budget for fun activities you can enjoy together. Put aside some money for an occasional round of mini-golf or a night at the movies with the family. As Dave Ramsay put it, “It’s okay to set aside some time and money for yourself each month. Even a small indulgence can do wonders for your money morale.”

You’re more than a couple; you’re a team.

Managing your finances takes time, effort, and energy — and the same is true for a marriage. When your marriage is weighed down by money problems, pointing fingers isn’t likely to help. Instead, face your money worries as a team, and tackle them together. By creating a financial plan you both support and keeping the lines of communication open, it’s possible to improve your relationship and your financial outlook at the same time.

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Boston Becomes the Latest City to Offer Free College Tuition to Residents

Over the last few years, several U.S. states have announced plans to offer free college tuition to students.

The plans are part of an effort to make a college education more accessible while simultaneously lightening the (heavy, heavy) load of student loans.

Then, earlier this year, a city followed suit: San Francisco began offering residents full-time and part-time college funding regardless of that person’s income.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Boston will be the latest locale to provide its residents with a free college education (and unlike Silly Bandz and fidget spinners, this is a trend we can get on board with).

Bridging the Gap with Free College Tuition

Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Gov. Charlie Baker announced the college affordability pilot program, named the Boston Bridge. The program will be available to all high school students in the graduating class of 2017 who live within the city of Boston and attend public, charter or parochial schools.

Baker pointed out “college affordability too often serves as a barrier for students in the Commonwealth seeking to complete a degree” and that “this program is intended to provide more opportunities for a quality education.”

How It Works

To qualify for the Boston Bridge program, students must meet the federal Pell grant income limits and be enrolled full-time at one of three Boston area community colleges: Bunker Hill Community College, Roxbury Community College or Mass Bay Community College.

Students will then be required to complete their associate’s degrees within two-and-a-half years before they can transfer to a Massachusetts state university or public college.

The program was designed with time, school and degree restrictions to encourage more students to make it all the way to graduation.

State Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago had a clear message for students: “if you commit the time and do the work, we’ll be beside you every step of the way to help you complete your college journey while avoiding burdensome debt.”

The city will cover students’ tuition and fees, after deducting any Pell grants or discounted tuition through another program, at community colleges. At four-year schools, the city and the state will split the cost of tuition.

The Boston Bridge program is actually a build-out of two prior iterations, Boston’s Tuition Free Community College program and the Commonwealth Commitment. Both programs had an underwhelming response from the community, but are still in place today and hope to attract more students in the future.

Either way, we hope to see more programs like these in the future — because while we love a good student loan success story, wouldn’t it be nice if young people didn’t have to accumulate mountains of debt in the first place?

Grace Schweizer is a junior 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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How to Become a Highly-Rated User on Quora

I’m a curious person by nature.

I find myself constantly doing research on nearly every topic under the sun.

If I’m chilling at a restaurant with friends and someone wonders about a current event or mentions a fact, I’m Googling it on my phone.

(Yeah, I’m that guy.)

A lot of my Google searches begin with “what is,” “why is,” and “how to”…

And there’s a trend I’ve noticed when I Google a lot of these questions.

A sizable percentage of the results I get are from Quora.

Here’s a good example:

Here it is, chillin’ at a solid number three spot for this particular keyword phrase.

And this is by no means a fluke. Quora gets plenty of love from Google.

Interest in this large-scale Q&A site is definitely on the rise.

Just look at how interest has grown over time, according to Google Trends:

I’d say that’s significant.

With 190 million users as of April 2017 and 400,000 topics, there’s a solid user base and one that’s continually growing.

More importantly, Quora is an excellent resource to build trust and authority while expanding your brand.

I use it to bring in plenty of quality referral traffic and reel in countless leads.

I’ve seen Quora’s potency firsthand and highly recommend leveraging its power.

But you can’t just haphazardly throw up some answers and expect amazing results.

Like in most areas of marketing, you need to follow a process.

In this post, I’d like to share a process that’s worked for me and, I know, can work for you too.

To be upfront, it’s going to take some time to get the ball rolling.

But following this process can help you become one of the highest-rated users on Quora.

Pimp your profile

Your first order of business is to take some time setting up your profile so that it drips with awesomeness.

Here’s a quick look at mine:

You’ll want to cover your “Credentials and Highlights,” beef up your “Knows About” section and provide a thorough explanation of your bio.

And don’t forget to include a professional headshot for your profile image.

If you need a little help getting set up, check out this post I wrote on NeilPatel.com.

The bottom line is, the more information you provide on your profile, the better.

More specifically, you’ll want to select topics you’re highly knowledgeable about.

This will be important later on because you want to provide answers only on topics and questions that you understand in and out.

It’s integral for being seen as a trustworthy figure and someone who knows their stuff.

Here are some of the topics I chose:

Offer insanely helpful answers

Typically, on different platforms, you can employ hacks to build your audience quickly, boost your reputation, etc.

But on Quora, you don’t have any shortcuts.

You create buzz by providing helpful answers and exceeding expectations.

I know that “offer insanely helpful answers” is a little vague, so let me give you an example.

Here’s an actual question on Quora:

And here are a couple of answers to this question:

These are both pretty solid.

They definitely answer the question and provide some insight.

But I wouldn’t say either answer is in-depth.

Now, here’s my answer:

And that’s only part of it.

There’s quite a bit more information if you continue to scroll down.

Notice that it’s significantly more in-depth and structured more like a blog post than a basic answer.

I included relevant images, headers, and plenty of white space to make it both digestible and scannable.

This approach is a lot like the skyscraper technique: find great content and make it even better.

As I mentioned in another article, the way to do this is to:

Is it time-consuming and labor-intensive?

Yes.

But does it raise my credibility and authority?

You betcha.

I’m not saying you necessarily need to go to this degree of length with your answers.

Some might say it’s a little excessive.

But you want to ensure you’re answering a question in its entirety and leaving no stone unturned.

A person should walk away feeling satisfied with a new insight on the topic.

If you’re going to provide only half-hearted answers with generic information people can find anywhere, you’re wasting your time on Quora.

That’s just how it goes.

The only way to become a high-rated user is to be super helpful.

Finding questions to answer

Now that you know the level of depth to shoot for, let’s discuss how to find good questions to answer.

Since you’ll be putting a considerable amount of time and energy into it, you want to answer questions that will give you maximum visibility.

One way to find questions is to click on “Answer” from your dashboard.

Quora will provide you with the top questions curated for you, based on your knowledge and specific areas of expertise.

Many times, you’ll be able to find several questions right in your wheelhouse.

Another way to go about it is to search for a particular topic directly.

For example, I might search for “content marketing.”

Type it in the search box, and choose the particular topic that best matches what you’re looking for.

Quora will then provide you with a list of questions to choose from.

It’s all pretty straightforward.

Keep in mind the questions toward the top tend to have the most visibility, which is what you want.

Key metrics

You may be wondering which specific metrics translate into authority/credibility.

It’s simple.

There are three main metrics:

1. Views
2. Upvotes
3. Comments

You’ll see these at the end of your comments, and they look like this:

Views and comments are pretty self-explanatory, but you may be wondering what exactly an upvote is.

It’s a way for others to approve your comment and say it offers genuine value and contributes to the discussion.

Here’s an actual Quora user explaining what an upvote is:

The more views and upvotes you get, the better.

As for downvotes, these basically have the opposite effect.

Here’s a great explanation:

These obviously aren’t good and hurt your credibility.

As for comments, these can go either way.

Positive comments help you, and negative comments hurt you.

But from my experience, negative comments are pretty uncommon.

As long as you’re offering real value, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about negative comments.

Finally, there’s your following.

Once again, the bigger, the better.

At the moment, I’ve got 7.3k followers, which isn’t too shabby.

But there are people with much bigger followings:

As you begin to build a bigger presence on Quora, be sure to pay attention to these key metrics because they’ll give you a pretty good idea of how you’re rated and how people are responding to you.

And there’s one last thing I need to mention.

As you answer more and more questions, people will be able to get a sense of the topics you’re most knowledgeable about.

Quora will automatically list what you know most about by the number of answers you’ve given on a particular topic.

Here’s what I’m talking about:

If there’s a certain topic you want to be closely associated with, make it a point to focus your attention and answer questions on that topic.

An overview of the process

Now, let’s recap the steps:

1. Get signed up.
2. Thoroughly fill out your profile, and choose a list of topics you’re most knowledgeable about (I recommend choosing at least five).
3. Beef up your profile so that it lists your credentials, highlights, bio, and so on.
4. Find questions to answer by using either the “Answers” section of your dashboard or by directly searching for questions in the search box.
5. Provide comprehensive, in-depth answers for every question you select. Take full advantage of images, headers, etc. Also link to other helpful content whenever it makes sense.
6. Monitor key metrics to see how you’re rated and what your overall performance is.

Also keep in mind that being successful on Quora is often a numbers game.

In other words, you can’t expect to become a top user if you answer only a handful of questions.

You really want to shoot for a high volume and get in the habit of frequently answering questions.

This is crucial for eventually gaining a strong reputation and getting users to take you seriously.

Conclusion

Quora is a potential goldmine.

It’s one of the best sites for building trust and authority and ultimately being viewed as an expert in your industry.

What I really love about it is the overall demographic of Quora users.

From my experience, the majority of people are intelligent and have a genuine desire to learn and help others.

When compared to many other places, it’s a relatively troll-free zone—people aren’t trying to mindlessly sabotage one another.

But I will admit it does require a fair amount of effort to gain momentum.

And there’s a considerable time commitment involved.

But it’s well worth it when you consider the long-term brand equity boost you can get.

By following the process I mentioned, you can really strengthen your brand and drive a significant volume of referral traffic to your site.

How often do you use Quora for finding answers to questions?

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