The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered the disbarment of Stroudsburg attorney Peter Quigley for the mishandling of client funds.The decision affirmed a disciplinary board finding that, on five occasions, Quigley misappropriated funds from trust accounts set up on behalf of clients’ awards for various civil judgments.Quigley said his mishandling of funds was more the result of negligence, poor record keeping and a lack of understanding of trust account principles, than [...]
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الاثنين، 26 يونيو 2017
5 Ways Anyone Can Eat Healthy, Delicious Food on an Insanely Cheap Budget
When you’re on a tight budget but you have children to feed, eating fresh food — which often expires quickly and comes with a hefty price tag — often takes a backseat to longer-lasting and cheaper processed food.
But the drop in price tends to come with an equally steep drop in nutritional value.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as food stamps, can mean the difference between feeding your family a healthy dinner and going to bed hungry.
But SNAP benefits were never designed to fund a family’s full food budget.
A family of four could qualify for up to $649 per month under SNAP, but that amount only goes to families that have no monthly income. Most of the 48 million people who qualify for SNAP bring in some form of income, so they get less than the maximum amount.
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that examines government spending, the average allotment for families that use SNAP is closer to $255.
And if you’re a family of three that brings in just over $26,000 a year? You don’t qualify for SNAP benefits.
Regardless of whether you get SNAP benefits, stretching your monthly grocery budget to make sure there is enough to feed your whole family takes skill.
How to Stretch Your Tiny Food Budget
Of course, with limited budgets, low-income families have to get creative if they want to eat healthy, fresh food.
We compiled a few tips from entrepreneur and mom Rachel Bolden-Kramer, author of the upcoming “My Food Stamps Cookbook,” and nutrition advocate Cooking Matters to show you — whether you qualify for SNAP benefits or are just on a budget — how to get a little more with less.
While you can use some of these tips in grocery stores, the more involved you are in your community, the more you can benefit.
1. Join a Community-Supported Agriculture Cooperative
Community-supported agriculture allows community members to pay weekly, monthly or seasonal fees to support local farmers. In exchange for the periodic payments, community members can pick up a heaping box of fresh produce each week.
LocalHarvest.org keeps an extensive list of CSA programs nationwide. Just in St. Petersburg, Florida, where our office is located, and surrounding counties, there are 32 CSA programs.
Prices vary, and not all CSAs accept food stamps, so it might take some legwork to figure out what program is right for you. But once you find the right one, the weekly boxes could cut down your spending at grocery stores.
Even if you don’t use food stamps, joining a CSA could be a solid money-saving trick.
As a bonus, joining a CSA also gives you a chance to learn about the farmers who grow your food and their practices — all while getting your children more excited about eating vegetables.
2. Score Free Food From Neighborhood Gardens
Community or neighborhood gardens are different from CSAs. While full-time farmers generally run CSAs, neighbors donate their time and money to maintain most community gardens.
According to Bolden-Kramer, it’s possible to buy discounted produce from neighborhood farms, and some also give community members who use food stamps free greens and herbs to help them stretch their budgets and elevate meals.
3. Seek Out Dollar-Matching Programs at Your Local Farmers Markets
We’ve already got a slew of tips on how you can stretch your dollars at your local farmers market, even if you don’t quality for food stamps.
If you do qualify, many states offer programs that help low-income families get more produce for their dollar. In California, where Bolden-Kramer lives, the program is called Market Match.
Through this program, for each dollar a SNAP beneficiary spends at a participating farmers market, they get another dollar they can spend at the farmers market.
A quick Google search will tell you if your state has a similar program. For example, in our home state of Florida, the program is called Fresh Access Bucks.
4. If You’re at a Traditional Grocery Store, Shop Smart
Of course, there will be times when you need something you can’t find at a farmers market, CSA or community garden. That’s when you’ll have to head to a traditional grocery store.
Cooking Matters, an organization dedicated to teaching families how to stretch small food budgets, has some ideas on how to better navigate a grocery store and keep your budget intact.
The organization suggests opting for frozen vegetables when fresh produce feels out of reach, meal planning to cut down on food waste and comparing unit prices so you can pay the least amount of money for the best food options.
5. Try Amazon Prime at a Discount
We already wrote about Amazon’s recent decision to lower the cost of its monthly Prime membership for people on government assistance.
Instead of paying $10.99 a month for membership, you would pay $5.99 each month as long as you have a valid Electronic Benefit Transfer card.
While you can’t use your EBT card to make purchases through Amazon, you do get free shipping on items you purchase through the site. This could save you money on transportation costs if you don’t have access to a reliable car but need to purchase large or heavy items.
The Prime discount is only available for monthly memberships, and you can cancel it any time.
Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. We’re letting you know because it’s what Honest Abe would do. After all, he is on our favorite coin.
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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Not All Abuse is Physical — This Program Helps Victims Escape Financial Abuse
There are a number of reasons victims don’t leave their abusers, but it often comes down to a lack of money.
It’s tough to move and start over under the best circumstances. But when an abuser is holding the purse strings, it’s even more difficult.
Frankly, it can seem impossible.
Financial abuse can include forbidding a victim from holding a job, hiding assets, not allowing a victim to have or access a bank account, and a host of other controlling behaviors.
“Imagine not being able to pay for a cab ride because you don’t have your own money to spend, or not having access to a bank account or a credit card. That’s the experience of women trapped in financially abusive relationships,” Vicky Dinges, senior vice president of corporate responsibility at the Allstate Foundation, told us.
Allstate Foundation Purple Purse is a nationwide program designed to provide financial empowerment to survivors of domestic violence.
The foundation offers a set of free financial tools to help people untangle the financial complexities and safety considerations of leaving an abusive partner.
Through a self-led curriculum of ebooks and interactive web-based videos, abuse victims learn how to protect themselves and their finances, repair bad credit, apply for loans, budget and more.
Allstate has invested $50 million in its initiative and raised nearly $5.5 million in donations. It says its foundation has helped more than 1 million people “recover their financial independence and break the cycle of domestic violence.”
Actress Kerry Washington and tennis star Serena Williams have teamed up with the foundation to spread the word about Purple Purse and raise awareness of how financial dependence makes it more difficult for victims to leave abusive partners.
“Not a lot of people really know about financial abuse,” Williams told Mic. “It’s an invisible but also really devastating form of domestic abuse that traps victims in these harmful relationships.”
Need a Plan? These Resources Can Also Help
Here are some additional resources for victims of abuse:
- The National Endowment for Financial Education created a free workbook to teach survivors how to rebuild their financial lives after domestic abuse.
- The IRS has a free publication containing tax information for survivors of domestic abuse.
- WomensLaw.org has free legal advice on how to deal with identity theft and credit card debt as a result of financial abuse.
- Soroptimist awards over $1.6 million in education grant money for women to attend college or vocational school and increase their earning potential.
- We’ve put together a list of 12 steps to protect your finances when leaving an abusive relationship.
If you or someone you know needs immediate help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or TTY 800-787-3224.
Lisa McGreevy 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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Boys Just Wanna Have Fun in Their Careers; Girls Just Wanna Help People
It is a widely accepted belief that young adulthood is the time to make mistakes and find yourself.
Adulting is hard. It takes a moment to figure it all out.
I mean, who hasn’t changed their major once — or twice? Or made a career switch? Or done a little job-hopping?
Or was that just my circle of friends and colleagues?
A recent study by Junior Achievement and EY, formerly Ernst & Young, found that 91% of teens 13 to 17 already know what future field of study they want to pursue. So perhaps there’s hope that the next crop of kids will be more focused and stumble less in their early careers.
However, the teens surveyed don’t seem to be making strides toward shattering the traditional gender roles where men are the breadwinners and women are the caregivers.
How Career Priorities Differ by Gender
The study asked teens what their top priorities were when choosing a future career. For boys, it was having a job that’s fun, followed by a job they’d be good at and a job that’d bring in a lot of money.
The top priority for girls was having a job that helped people. Having a job they’d be good at and a job that was fun were the second and third concerns for girls.
Forty-five percent of girls wanted a career that has a meaningful impact on society or their community, compared to 33% of boys. On the other hand, 29% of boys wanted to pursue work where they’d be a leader or expert, while only 23% of girls had similar aspirations.
The fields of study teens gravitated toward also reflected the typical stereotypes. Over a quarter (26%) of girls planned to study the arts, which interested only 10% of boys. Over a third (36%) of boys planned to study a STEM field (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), compared to 11% of girls — though girls (24%) did favor careers in the medical and dental fields over boys (6%).
For Those Who Want to Shatter Stereotypes
Luckily, for those who want to smash traditional gender roles, this study is not a cut-and-dry determination of all teens’ career interests. It’s important to note that the sample size for this study was 1,000 teens.
Girls interested in STEM careers can join Girls Who Code, and those interested in business can seek out a mentorship with a female leader.
Boys interested in caregiving careers can check out the American Association for Men in Nursing’s initiative to increase the amount of male nurses by 2020. There’s also nothing wrong with being a stay-at-home dad or stay-at-home spouse.
I’m not a career counselor, but I’d say following your true interests can yield a type of success statistics can’t measure.
Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. When she was a teen, she was planning a career in the medical field. She became a journalist instead.
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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Sorry, but Student Loan Interest Rates Will Increase (Again!) on July 1
Getting ready to take out loans to help pay for college this year? You may want to reconsider — it’s about to get more expensive to do so.
New interest rates for federal student loans go into effect July 1.
The Department of Education adjusts the interest rates annually. While the rate increases outlined below may seem minuscule, they may add a significant amount to what a borrower will pay over the life of the loan.
The rate on loans you’ve already taken out will not change, but if you plan to take out loans in the coming academic year or beyond, you may want to re-evaluate how much you plan to borrow.
Here are the New Federal Student Loan Interest Rates
The interest rate for undergraduate direct subsidized loans and direct unsubsidized loans, which are often referred to as Stafford loans, will increase from 3.76% to 4.45%.
Direct subsidized loans don’t accrue interest while you’re in school, during your grace period or if you defer. Direct unsubsidized loans accrue interest as soon as they are disbursed.
The typical rule of thumb is to borrow the maximum in subsidized loans before turning to unsubsidized federal loans.
Graduate direct unsubsidized loan rates will increase from 5.31% to 6%.
Direct PLUS loan rates will increase from 6.31% to 7%. These loans are meant to fill financial aid gaps. If you’re an undergraduate student, only your parents can take out PLUS loans.
The fixed interest rate for federal Perkins loans remains at 5%.
Federal student loans also come with a one-time fee, which is deducted from the disbursement you receive.
For direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans, that fee is 1.069%. For direct PLUS loans, that fee is a whopping 4.276% of what you borrowed. The fee that’s taken from your disbursement is not waived from your final repayment of the loan.
Student loan interest rates have fluctuated in the years since the recession, when interest rates in the 7-8% range were the norm. Because the first day you can borrow for the 2017-18 academic year is July 1, there’s no way you can borrow before this change takes effect.
How to Deal With the New Interest Rates (Before You Graduate)
Now may be a good time to get in touch with your school’s financial aid department, which can help you evaluate the loans you’ve been offered and calculate the potential interest you’ll eventually pay. Requesting a phone appointment before you get to campus this fall can help you avoid long lines of students who need help with emergent issues.
Want to avoid taking out loans? Explore opportunities for grants and scholarships that won’t have repayment obligations. If you’ve been putting loan funds toward your monthly expenses, like rent or groceries, you may want to check out federal work-study opportunities on campus.
One last tip: If you can afford it, start paying down the interest on the unsubsidized loans you’ve already taken out. Even if it’ll be years before you owe monthly payments on those loans, you can log into your loan servicer’s website and designate a payment to go solely toward your interest as it accrues.
It won’t feel like you’re making real progress on your loan repayment, but you’ll save a lot of money in the long run.
Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s no stranger to 8% student loan interest rates.
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 Service Lets You Park for Free (and Earn Serious Cash) When You Fly
Airport parking is notoriously pricy.
And that rental car you pick up once you reach your destination? Well, that’s no small expense either.
But frequent (and infrequent) flyers, rejoice: A company called TravelCar wants to add a bit of money back into your vacation budget by eliminating those expensive parking fees and putting your car to work for you.
How to Make Your Car Earn Its Keep
The idea behind this innovative peer-to-peer car-sharing service is threefold:
If you agree to let your car be rented out to other travelers while you’re on vacation, you’ll not only score free airport parking for the entirety of your trip, but you could also earn a profit by the time you return.
If you’d prefer not to have another vacationer rent your car, you can park in the TravelCar lot and pay a fee that’s significantly lower than most traditional airport parking services.
And travelers who want to rent a car through TravelCar can book a rental for up to 70% less than the fees conventional rental car companies charge.
How the Car-Sharing Platform Works
To be rented out to other travelers while you’re away on your own vacation, your car will have to meet a few requirements: It must be less than 10 years old, have less than 100,000 miles on the odometer and be registered in the U.S.
You’ll earn money for every mile your car is driven while you’re away and will be reimbursed after pickup at the end of your trip. If for some reason your car is not rented out during your trip, you still take advantage of TravelCar’s free parking program.
If you’re nervous about letting someone drive your baby car while you’re not around, don’t be: Your car is safeguarded from theft and physical damage by $1 million in liability insurance.
Luxury vehicles — in this case, anything valued over $40,000 — are not eligible to be rented out through TravelCar’s rental program, but you could still nab some pretty cheap airport parking.
Coming Soon To An Airport Near You
The Paris-based company, which already operates in 400 locations in 25 countries, launched its first U.S. offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City earlier this year. The company has plans for a rapid expansion throughout the U.S., and has already opened additional branches in several cities across the country, including Chicago and Orlando, Florida.
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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Pride at Any Price: 11 People Who Rocked DIY Fashion at Pride Celebration
June is Pride Month, when many cities across the world hold Pride parades to remember the Stonewall Riots that happened in New York City in June 1969.
In St. Petersburg, Florida, this year’s three-day Pride celebration included a parade, transgender march and festival. The parade attracted 30,000 to the city’s downtown, where people showed off their best glittery and fabulous versions of themselves.
We talked to some attendees who rocked their Pride outfits — while sticking to a budget. Here’s what they had to say.
1. Lance McAllister, 13, of Largo, Florida
How much money did you spend on your outfit?
Six dollars for the flag and shirt.
What influenced or inspired your outfit?
There’s this YouTuber named Miles McKenna, and there was this video where he said, “I’m trans, and you’re gonna catch these hands.” It really stuck with me. I’m a very humorous person. I’m not very serious. Even with this topic, I like to make light of it instead of saying, “This is so frustrating for me, and I don’t like being like this.”
Where did you buy your outfit?
EBay.
How many years have you been coming to Pride?
Two years. It’s really amazing.
What does Pride represent to you?
It means being yourself and loving it.
2. Tyler Smith, 19, of Boca Raton, Florida
How much money did you spend on your outfit?
Eighteen dollars.
What influenced or inspired your outfit?
I wanted to keep it chic. The male romper is definitely in, so I kind of wanted to go with that. I don’t have money for the male romper yet, so I stuck with my overalls from Forever 21. I got the overalls just from seeing other girls wear them. I wanted to be bold and courageous since I don’t know anyone here. Why not do a crop top because you don’t really see guys wearing crop tops too often.
Where did you buy your outfit?
I got my overalls from Forever 21. I have my bright pink socks with palm trees from Old Navy. Then I got this shirt from Forever 21, as well. I Googled “how to make a crop top.” It didn’t really work out, so I just cut it, washed it, rolled up, sewed up the sleeves to make it nice and pretty. The hat I got from Hot Topic.
How many years have you been coming to Pride?
This is actually my first year. I absolutely love it. I’ve never felt more welcomed by everyone.
What does Pride represent to you?
It’s gonna sound cliche. It’s going to represent freedom for me because I come from a household… in Texas where being gay wasn’t the best thing in the world. The fact that my mom doesn’t even know I’m here is kind of upsetting, but at the same time, I feel so liberated from everything else in the world. I don’t have to think about, “Oh, what’s going on at school?” or “Oh, what’s going on at home or work?” or anything. It’s just I’m here, and I’m in the moment.
3. Haley, 19, of Seminole, Florida
How much money did you spend on your outfit?
Maybe $35.
What influenced or inspired your outfit?
I identify as pansexual, so I went with the pan colors. The pink, yellow and blue is what the flag is, so that’s where I got the inspiration for my top, tutu, shoes and even my earrings.
Where did you buy your outfit?
I got all of the flowers at the Dollar Tree. I got the tulle from Walmart, and I think it was on sale.
How many years have you been coming to Pride?
This is my third year.
What does Pride represent to you?
Really just my sexuality. I’ve been feeling more confident about myself lately, so I might as well dress up and go all out. Pansexual is when essentially you’re attracted to all genders. You don’t see a barrier. It’s essentially the same as bisexual, but bisexual is just two genders, and pansexual is everyone.
4. Abby White, 16, of Orlando, Florida
How much money did you spend on your outfit?
Twenty-five dollars for my hat, flag and shorts.
What influenced or inspired your outfit?
Gay pride in America. It’s freedom.
Where did you buy your outfit?
The Altamonte Mall.
How many years have you been coming to Pride?
This is my first year. I like it so far.
What does Pride represent to you?
Love.
5. Amber Bernardino, 35, left, and Tiziana Bernardino, 41, of Bradenton, Florida
How much money did you spend on your outfit?
Tiziana Bernardino: Fifteen all together.
What influenced or inspired your outfit?
Amber Bernardino: It’s just kind of an idea that popped up into our heads.
Where did you buy your outfit?
Tiziana Bernardino: The Dollar Tree.
How many years have you been coming to Pride?
Amber Bernardino: It was her first Pride, and I’ve always been to Pride. She’s working on the whole free thing. I’ve been going since I was like 20 in Denver, Colorado.
What does Pride represent to you?
Tizana Bernardino: Freedom.
Amber Bernardino: Love and freedom.
6. Justin DeGraffenried, 26, of St. Petersburg, Florida
How much money did you spend on your outfit?
Probably $40 for the fabric and labor putting it together.
What influenced or inspired your outfit?
It started a few good years back at a toga party. Someone said I looked like Jesus, and I went with it. I got a couple robes made, and I’ve been doing it ever since.
Where did you buy your outfit?
I had a friend hand-make it for me.
How many years have you been coming to Pride?
At least four years.
What does Pride represent to you?
A celebration of love.
7. From left, Sister Didi DayTripper, 25, of Largo, Florida; Agatha Frisky, 41, of Tampa, Florida; and Monica M. Diver, 45, of St. Petersburg, Florida
How much money did you spend on your outfit?
Agatha Frisky: This was thrift, so I couldn’t even tell you. The shoes were $45.
Sister DiDi DayTripper: We usually go to the thrift stores, so under $10.
Monica M. Diver: Well this was leftovers. I got the corset at the thrift store for like $5. Then I had extra fabric, so I put the fabric over it. The skirt I got at a thrift store a few years ago for $10.
What influenced or inspired your outfit?
Agatha Frisky: We just decorated for Pride colors. I was working with the rainbow. (Pointing to Sister DiDi DayTripper): This one just wanted to look cute.
Where did you buy your outfit?
Monica M. Diver: Thrift stores.
How many years have you been coming to Pride?
Agatha Frisky: Eleven years.
Monica M. Diver: Eleven years.
Sister DiDi DayTripper: Seven years.
What does Pride represent to you?
Agatha Frisky: Hopefully progress.
Sister Didi DayTripper: Unity.
8. Janelle Ferber, 23, Spring Hill, Florida
How much money did you spend on your outfit?
Not much. Maybe all together $10 to $15.
What influenced or inspired your outfit?
I went with tribal. Something edgy. I just like to be different. Everyone is doing rainbows, so I went with skulls.
Where did you buy your outfit?
Online and Goodwill.
How many years have you been coming to Pride?
Two years.
What does Pride represent to you?
Pride represents equality. Being one with everybody. It doesn’t matter if you are LGBT or not. It’s about being proud of who you are on the inside. You are a person. It’s about being together and being one.
Tina Russell (Instagram @trussell2522) is a photographer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s happy to bring herself and her camera back home to Florida after living in the frozen tundra of Central New York for four-and-a-half years.
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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Why Takata’s Bankruptcy is No Big Deal if You’re Owed Class-Action Money
Takata, the Japanese company responsible for the faulty airbags linked to the deaths of 11 people in the U.S. and more worldwide, has filed for bankruptcy.
The company has already racked up more than $9 billion in costs and fines as it tries to replace airbags that can shoot dangerous shrapnel when deployed during a crash, according to CNN Money.
If you’re one of the 14 million people included in the $553 million settlement reached in May — eight years after the first recall — you may be a little wary. Will your payout of up to $500 if you drive an affected Toyota, BMW, Subaru or Mazda be affected by this bankruptcy?
Since the automakers, not Takata, agreed to that multimillion-dollar settlement, you will likely still see a payout once a judge approves it. And that is just for people who had or still have the dangerous airbags but were not injured.
Takata has already agreed to pay a $1 billion fine after pleading guilty to submitting false tests to automakers to conceal the faulty airbags. A portion of that money will go to people the airbags injured and the families of those killed.
Takata’s airbag scandal may have wrecked a portion of its business, but the company still has some value. Key Safety Systems, Takata’s Chinese rival, purchased the company for $1.6 billion.
“Although Takata has been impacted by the global airbag recall, the underlying strength of its skilled employee base, geographic reach, and exceptional steering wheels, seat belts and other safety products has not diminished,” Key Safety Systems CEO Jason Luo told CNN Money.
In the bankruptcy, the company’s shareholders will not make off with cash following the sale. Instead, that money will cover the costs associated with the recall, according to CNN Money.
Desiree 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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6 Unusual House-Cleaning Hacks That’ll Save Money and Impress Your Friends
Are you worried your house hasn’t gotten a deep clean in a few months… or years? Like, maybe you’re afraid to look behind the couch?
We feel you.
But we can’t just let you procrastinate like that.
We also don’t want you wasting money on pricy cleaning products, so we found some smart — if surprising — alternatives.
Here are some clever DIY housekeeping tricks that will actually save you money — and impress your friends while you’re at it!
1. Clean With the Magic of Vinegar
Have you heard about this? You can use vinegar to disinfect your microwave, scrub filthy pots and pans, shine dusty surfaces and de-scum your shower head.
White vinegar costs a fraction of the price of Lysol, Windex or Clorox cleaners that do the same thing. You just have to be OK with the scent of vinegar for a while. Or…
2. Try These All-Natural Cleaning Science Experiments
Take your DIY cleaning to the next level (and avoid the vinegar smell) by filling your caddy with homemade cleaning products.
Our writer Lisa Rowan experimented in her own home with all-purpose cleaner, dish soap, bathroom scrub, reusable wet floor wipes and air freshener, and she came clean with her results.
Do these recipes sound intimidating? I thought so, too. Then Lisa demonstrated how to make them on TV, and now I see how easy they are.
3. Raid Nana’s Medicine Cabinet
Bypass her prescriptions, and find the Efferdent — even if you don’t have dentures. Trust me. I cleaned my whole house with denture cleanser, even one horrific bathtub.
You can clean — and disinfect — your toilet, bathtub, sink, coffee mugs and other ceramic vessels with a tablet or two! Plus, instead of the stinging aroma of bleach, you’re left with a minty-fresh scent.
4. Say No to Antifreeze
You may be melting in the summer sun now, but winter always comes back. Prep for the inevitable freeze with alcohol. No, not booze. (Well, maybe also booze.)
Rubbing alcohol mixed with water can defrost your windshield.
Save money on antifreeze wiper fluid, and avoid waiting for your defroster to do its thing. (We know: Everyone’s looking for a way to get to work faster on Monday morning!)
5. Believe in the Magic of Rubber Bands
Here’s creative frugality at its finest: rubber bands for everything.
You probably have a few of these cheap, colorful, versatile gems wallowing in the corner of your junk drawer. You can use them around the house in place of expensive tools and accessories you’re bound to lose, anyway.
Here are just a few pricy things you can replace with rubber bands:
- Non-slip hangers
- Jar openers
- Professional French tip manicures
- GPS mount in your car
- Selfie stick
- Maternity pants
6. Stop Swiffering and Start Saving
We all know that magic duster and its endless refills are hard on the wallet. But you buy them anyway, because they make cleaning so easy.
Stop. You don’t need them. You can get the job done with dryer sheets.
Run a sheet along your baseboards or bookshelves to remove dirt and dust. Plus, your living room will smell like fresh, clean laundry! Mmmm.
Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer’s Digest and more, attempting humor wherever it’s allowed (and sometimes where it’s not).
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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Legit or Scam? Here’s What Happened When We Took Surveys on Valued Opinions
We’re all about ways to make extra money here at The Penny Hoarder. And one of the simplest ways is using paid survey sites.
You’re not going to make a fortune. But if you’re just sitting around watching TV anyway, why not make a few bucks?
Whenever we find out about a new survey site, we take if for a test drive before recommending it to our readers. Here’s what happened when we tried Valued Opinions…
The Penny Hoarder’s Valued Opinions Review
Valued Opinions is one of the easiest and highest paying survey sites I’ve ever used — all of the surveys I took paid at least $1.50.
The surveys also stay true to the website’s name and goals — it really does pay you for your opinions. I took surveys on tons of different topics, from my views on certain cultural trends to which video game consoles I’m interested in and why.
It also offered product testing as a way to earn extra money through its website.
Signing up is easy, and the layout of the website is inviting and simple to navigate. You fill out your personal info and the site determines which surveys you’re qualified to take.
When you first make your account, you’ll fill out different profiles about yourself, about topics like transportation, education, consumer habits, and others. The site uses this info to send you surveys you’ll almost always be qualified to take.
The image below is a what your dashboard looks like. Whenever there are available surveys, they’l be listed in the “My Surveys” section.
I’ve already taken a few today, so my list is empty. I get around 2-4 emails every day with available survey options.
Once you finish a survey, the site usually prompts you to take a few more. I didn’t end up qualifying for all of them, but I was able to take quite a few.
Although you can’t redeem your survey money for actual cash, you can redeem it for a Visa gift card, or purchase gift cards for major retailers such as Macy’s, Nike and Amazon in $20 increments.
The site charges a $2 fee, which is why the $20 gift cards cost you $22. Luckily, the surveys pay well, so it won’t take long to earn that extra $2.
The lowest amount you can redeem is $10, but it’s for retailers like magazines.com, which I don’t personally use, so I’m holding out for an Amazon card. I haven’t redeemed any awards yet, but the website states it emails you the gift card code within 24 hours.
Here’s a list of all the surveys I’ve taken within the last week. As I said before, these are some of the higher paying surveys I’ve seen out of the sites I’ve used.
None of them are under $1.50. The lowest one I saw, but ended up disqualifying for, was $1. They’re quick surveys, too — most only took 15-20 minutes.
In a little over a week, I’ve earned $11.50.
At this pace, it’ll only take me another week to earn the $22 I need to cash out my rewards for the Amazon gift card I want.
With its high paying surveys, interesting topics and short survey times, Valued Opinions is definitely worth checking out if you want to make a few extra bucks on your spare time.
Jacquelyn Pica is an Editorial Intern 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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Top 20 money-saving websites
There are so many online tools out there that that can help you to save money. Here are Moneywise’s top 20:
1. MySupermarket.co.uk
Potential savings: £1,560 p.a.
Use this website to compare the cost of your weekly shop across all the big supermarket chains. Users save an average 30%, which adds up to a whopping £1,560 a year for the average family.
Use it in the same way as you would any online supermarket shop, and it will constantly show you how much your basket would cost at each supermarket. When you’ve finished shopping, it will transfer you to your chosen supermarket – along with your basket – to check out. Or you can print out your shopping list and head to the shop in person.
2.VoucherCodes.co.uk
Potential savings: £1,143 p.a.
There are no end of voucher websites online where you can download vouchers or find online codes to receive discounts. VoucherCodes.co.uk is really easy to use and allows you to search by date, popularity or store.
How much you'll save will very much depend on what vouchers you use, but one savvy shopper slashed a purchase by £1,143 by using discount codes on Black Friday last year.
Also check out LatestDeals.co.uk, Hotukdeals.com and MyVoucherCodes.co.uk.
3&4. Quidco.com and TopCashback.co.uk
Potential savings: make £300 p.a.
Use a cashback website when you are shopping online and you are effectively paid to shop. Simply sign up, then search for the shop you want to spend your money at and Quidco will tell you if you can earn money to shop there. If you can, click through to the shop from the Quidco site and shop as normal. It will track that shopping and pay you cashback into your Quidco account.
The average Quidco user earns £305 cashback a year. TopCashback is another good cashback website that often pays back marginally more cash than Quidco, so it is worth signing up to both.
5. UK.CamelCamelCamel.com
Potential savings: £100s p.a.
Got your eye on something on Amazon? Tap the item’s Amazon address into this website and it will track the price for you, alerting you when it drops. You can also see the price of the item over the past 18 months on a chart, so you can see how much the price has fluctuated and whether it is worth waiting for a price drop. For example, the Flymo Robotic Lawnmower has varied in price on Amazon from £998 to £499 in just the past six months.
6. Kelkoo.co.uk
Potential savings: £90 p.a.
This retail price comparison website can help find you the cheapest products. You can search by brand, retailer or category.
The site states that the average user saves 15% on their purchases. So, assuming you buy goods worth £50 via the site every month, that could add up to an annual saving of £90.
7. ILoveFreegle.org
Potential savings: £100s p.a.
Described as ‘online dating for stuff’, this website can be used to give away things you no longer want, and you can hunt around for free stuff in your area. There’s everything from furniture to topsoil, so you could save yourself hundreds of pounds and help someone out locally.
8. Bumblebeeauctions.co.uk
Potential savings: over £300
This website sells off police property acquired through raids, shoplifted items or unclaimed lost property. It tends to have quite a few bikes for sale and you can pick up a top-ofthe- range model for under £50. For example, we saw a Carerra Vengeance bike worth £360 sell for £40.
TRAVEL
9. PetrolPrices.com
Potential savings: £280 p.a.
A decade ago, fuel prices were a lot lower than they are now. You’d pay 92.8p a litre for petrol and 95.1p a litre for diesel. But soaring oil prices have sent the cost of filling your car skywards. However, you can fight back. Prices vary hugely at different petrol stations – you’ll pay as much as 20p a litre more at a motorway service station than a place just a mile off the main road.
Tap your postcode into this website and it will show you the cheapest places for fuel nearby. Assuming you have a car with a 60-litre capacity fuel tank and you refill it twice a month you could save almost £300 a year by seeking out the cheapest fuel rather than filling up at the most expensive petrol stations.
10. Trainsplit.com
Potential savings: £83 p.a.
This website searches the internet to see if your train fare would be cheaper if you split your tickets. That’s where rather than buying one ticket from, say, Bristol to London Paddington, you buy a ticket from Bristol to Didcot and then another ticket from Didcot to London. You don’t have to change trains, but the cost can be substantially lower.
The average user saves £83.19 a year over three separate journeys, according to the site. But frequent travellers could save far more.
11. Skyscanner.net
Potential savings: £300
Use this website to get the cheapest possible deal on your flights. Tap in where you want to fly to and from and when, and it will search all the major airlines to find the best deal.
It really comes into its own if you haven’t decided exactly when you want to travel as you can search by entire month, or even year, and it will show you the average price for each day or month so you can time your trip accordingly.
The site found return fares to New York that were £300 cheaper than with the most well-known airlines.
HOME FINANCES
12. Comparethemarket.com
Potential savings: £1,000 p.a. The average household can save more than £600 if they shop around for a better deal on their utilities. Add in the savings on offer if you find a better deal on your car and home insurance and you could save more than £1,000 a year.
There are several good comparison websites such as MoneySuperMarket.com, Gocompare.com and uSwitch.com, and to make absolutely sure you are getting the best deal you should check a couple. But, thanks to the fact you get two for one on cinema tickets for a year if you purchase through Comparethemarket, it may come out on top.
13. Skype.com
Potential savings: £120 p.a.
Voip (voice over internet protocol) allows you to make free phone calls via your computer all over the world. Several companies offer Voip services, but the best known is Skype – it has more than 600 million accounts worldwide.
All you need to use Skype is an internet connection and either a computer or mobile phone with built-in microphone and speakers or a separate microphone and headset – then simply download free Skype software and you’re ready to go.
If the person you are calling also has Skype, then your call won’t cost either of you a penny. You can speak as long as you like, whenever you like, wherever you like. Assuming your monthly phone calls cost you £10, that’s an annual saving of £120.
14. Saynoto0870.com
Potential savings: £450 p.a.
Your phone bill can quickly rack up if you need to make a call to a premium rate number. For example, call an 0870 number from a BT landline and a 10-minute call would cost you £4.30. Call an 09 number and you could end up paying £6 a phone call.
Saynoto0870.com lists alternate free or local telephone numbers for companies with a premium rate number, meaning you can call them for a lot less. Just be aware that the alternative numbers are listed by other users and are not verified. This means some of the numbers don’t work, and scammers can list numbers. Be cautious and don’t use it to find an alternative number for your bank or building society.
15. Turn2us.org.uk
Potential savings: up to £9,600 p.a.
Just because you are working doesn’t mean you aren’t eligible for support. There is a range of help that you could be eligible for, from working tax credit to housing benefit.
This website provides a free benefits checker and grant search, so you can find out if there is anything you could be claiming to help your finances.
Over the past year 1.8 million used the Turn2Us benefit calculator. Of those, 53% reported a successful welfare benefit claim securing themselves additional income of between £50 and £800 a month.
16. Mylostaccount.org.uk
Potential savings: find an average £345
There is an estimated £850 million in forgotten bank accounts. Mylostaccount.org.uk is a free service powered by the British Bankers’ Association, the Building Societies Association and National Savings & Investments.
Enter your details and it will see if you have money in a forgotten account.
17. MobileValuer.com
Potential savings: Up to £400 per handset
Most of us have at least one old mobile phone handset sitting in a drawer somewhere. But, depending on your make and model, you could make up to £400 by selling it to a website that either resells or recycles your phone.
There are numerous websites out there now that want to buy your old phone so use this comparison website to make sure you get the most money for your handset.
LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT
18. ApplauseStore.com
Potential savings: over £1,000 p.a.
A night out at the theatre can easily cost £100. Switch your monthly trip to the stage for free tickets to see your favourite TV shows being filmed and you could save over £1,000 a year.
From X Factor auditions to comedy tours, this website offers thousands of free television and radio audience tickets.
19. OpenTable.com
Potential savings: £100 p.a.
Sign up for an account, then book restaurants via this website and you’ll build up points towards free meals. You typically earn 100 points per booking, but occasionally restaurants offer 1,000 points when you book. You can cash your points in once you have 2,000. The points are then converted into a cheque that is accepted at all restaurants on OpenTable.
So used regularly, you should be able to bag at least one free meal a year.
20. Readitswapit.co.uk
Potential savings: over £400 p.a.
Acting as a free secondhand book exchange, this website enables you to swap books you’ve read for new books, recycle books and get rid of used ones.
Avid readers could save over £400 a year by swapping four books a month, rather than buying new ones. Even a leisurely reader could save £100 a year.
Alternatively, Booksprice.co.uk allows you to search to fi nd the best price for your chosen read.
DON’T FORGET: Moneywise.co.uk
Last but not least, Moneywise.co.uk exists to help you save and grow your money. As well as features and guides on fi nancial products, we offer you tips and advice on staying safe online, beating rip-offs and making the most of your cash.
Also on our site you can‑download discount vouchers‑in your local area,‑compare interest rates‑on savings accounts, cash Isas, credit cards and mortgages and get free quotes for a range of insurance products.
We’ve even got an‑energy switching service‑ – it’s free to use, so why not see if you could save money off your household bills.
Have your say
What's your favourite money-saving website? If you know of something better, email editor@moneywise.co.uk
RUTH JACKSON is a freelance journalist. She also writes for MoneyWeek, The Times and The Guardian.
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16 Essentials to Creating a Trust-Boosting Twitter Profile
I don’t need to tell you how big trust in business and marketing is.
Trust is everything.
You can pull every clever trick in the book, invest thousands of dollars in slick, sexy advertising and work tirelessly on conversion optimization tactics.
But at the end of the day, it’s trust that leads to sales.
That’s probably why word-of-mouth marketing is just as important as it’s ever been.
A new study from Ogilvy, Google and TNS found,
word of mouth is the most powerful factor when it comes to consumers’ relationships with brands.
According to that study, 74% of consumers cite word of mouth as being the most powerful factor.
And this totally makes sense.
I’ll trust the input of a friend or family member over some hotshot salesman any day of the week.
So, when it comes to your Twitter profile, trust-building should be given top priority.
You obviously want to grow your following.
But more importantly, you want your followers to trust you and take your opinion seriously.
Which elements should you focus on to build trust?
In this post, I share 16 essentials mandatory for creating a trust-boosting Twitter profile.
1. Use a branded background image
What’s the first thing Twitter users see when landing on your profile?
For most, it’s your background image.
Of course, it needs to look great and have the right pixel dimensions.
But it also needs to incorporate the same branding elements you use in your logo, on your website, other social accounts and so on.
Here’s a good example from Burt’s Bees:
Here’s another from Mashable:
Both incorporate a color scheme, style and message congruent with their overall brand.
This is important because it typically takes being exposed to your brand five to seven times before customers will buy.
2. Add an appropriate profile picture
Equally important is your profile picture.
Again, it needs to be appealing and be in line with the rest of your branding.
Here’s the image I use for my Neil Patel Twitter profile:
It’s simple yet professional, and visitors can instantly recognize me.
Here’s the profile picture for The Art of Manliness:
It’s matches the central theme of the Art of Manliness website.
3. Get verified
I’ve mentioned before that adding a trust seal to your checkout page can increase conversions.
Twitter has its own version of a trust seal, which is a blue check mark.
It looks like this:
Although it’s just a small, simple icon, it can pump up your trustworthiness considerably because Twitter users instantly know your account is authentic.
I know I always look for the blue verified badge when I’m searching for a celebrity or major brand.
To get verified, you’ll need to submit a request, which you can learn about here.
And here are some of the basic elements you must have in order to be approved:
4. Highlight your credentials (without being obnoxious about it)
Twitter allows you to include some brief biographical information on your profile.
This is the perfect place to explain your credentials and what you bring to the table.
Use this space wisely.
Here’s the info I include on my profile:
Here’s the info Chris Ducker includes:
Just don’t go overboard tooting your own horn to the point of being annoying.
5. Connect your website
Twitter also allows you to include a link to a website in your profile.
This is great for driving referral traffic and can also serve as a trust-booster.
6. Pin your best content to the top
Just like Facebook, Twitter gives you the option of pinning a top tweet to the top of your profile.
At the moment, I’m using this feature to promote my podcast.
See?
Pinning a top tweet is a simple way to maximize the visibility of a particular post and is great for increasing trust.
Pick what you feel is your absolute best tweet, and pin it to the top of your profile.
Ideally, it would have already received plenty of engagement (e.g., retweets, likes, etc.) because this will make you seem more legit to first-time visitors.
Keep in mind this is the first post they will see.
Pinning a top tweet is simple.
Click on the downward arrow on the top right-hand corner of your favorite tweet.
Then click “Pin to your profile page:”
That’s all there is to it.
7. Stay away from garbage content
This is a no brainer but definitely worth mentioning.
At the end of the day, you’re only as credible as the content you tweet.
If you post genuinely insightful, relevant content, people will trust you more.
If you post garbage content that’s worthless, spammy and overtly self-serving, it’s going to kill your trustworthiness.
That’s why I always try to make sure my content hits its mark and matches the interests of my audience, which fall under the umbrella of digital marketing.
8. Retweet credible sources
Retweets are a big part of Twitter’s appeal.
With just a couple of clicks (or taps) you can retweet interesting content and share it with your audience.
But here’s the thing.
People will assess your legitimacy based on the type of content you retweet.
If you’re retweeting epic content from a credible source, you’re good to go.
This is going to enhance your image and increase your followers’ sense of trust toward you.
But if it’s crap, it’s going to diminish that sense of trust.
In other words, don’t retweet posts from spammy, irrelevant sources.
9. Link to major sites
Again, the content you associate yourself with can help or hurt your brand.
Sprinkle in a few articles each week from major publications such as The Atlantic, Harvard Business Review, The New Yorker, etc.—whatever matches your industry or niche.
It needs to be relevant to your audience and cover a topic of genuine interest to them.
And here’s another thing.
It’s best to include the URL of the publication so that people can instantly recognize it.
Like this:
The idea here is you can inform/entertain your audience while benefiting from the trust people have in an established, trusted site.
10. Stick with a consistent theme
A big component of gaining trust is being seen as an expert or an authority on a particular subject.
To achieve this status, you have to be selective about the type of content you post.
For instance, you won’t catch me tweeting about interior design or cooking.
You’ll find me posting content strictly about digital marketing.
That’s my MO.
Be clear about what your niche is by sticking with a consistent theme.
11. Maintain a steady posting schedule
Of all the social networks, people tend to post the most frequently on Twitter.
According to a recent study from CoSchedule, “15 tweets per day is recommended.”
Don’t be afraid of going a little crazy with your tweets.
The most important thing is to be consistent and not have any major gaps between posts.
12. Pepper in some videos
I’m sure you know how huge video marketing is right now.
Brands that use video report more traffic, more leads and a higher ROI.
I also find video to be perfect for breaking down walls and making deeper connections.
Why not throw in a few videos on your Twitter page?
I’ve been doing this recently and am seeing some great results.
Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income does the same.
Just link content from your YouTube channel or website.
13. Don’t flood your tweets with hashtags
Hashtags are an effective way to increase the visibility of your tweets.
Their overuse, however, can backfire, especially on Twitter.
While it’s fine and even encouraged to use 10 or more hashtags on other networks, like Instagram, it’s considered best practice to use a maximum of three hashtags on Twitter.
However, two hashtags is ideal and is the number I typically aim for.
Recent research shows that
engagement drops significantly once any more than two hashtags are used, on average.
“Loading the box” with hashtags looks spammy and can be a trust killer.
14. Strive to hit the perfect ratio of followers
Let’s say someone has 100k followers.
That’s great.
But what if they’re following 500k people?
All of a sudden, they don’t seem as legit and trustworthy.
But let’s say someone who has 100k followers is following only 50k people.
You’re probably more likely to take them seriously because their number of followers outweighs the number of people they’re following.
It may seem like a popularity contest, but you should try to reach a favorable ratio of followers.
I would like to think I’ve got a nice ratio:
According to Kred Stories,
it is essential that you get at least 20% of the users you follow to follow you back before you move on to the next group of followers.
In other words, don’t follow a ridiculous number of accounts unless you’ve got a sizable following.
It just looks bad if you’re following thousands of people and you have only a handful of followers yourself.
15. Be a stickler for spelling and grammar
There’s evidence that indicates poor spelling and grammar costs businesses millions each year in sales.
Just like you should double-check your blog posts and emails, you should always look over your tweets before publishing anything.
Otherwise, blatant errors will make you look amateurish.
16. Reply to (valid) complaints
More and more businesses are using Twitter as a platform for handling customer service these days.
You’re likely to receive some complaints at some point along the way.
The worst thing you can do is ignore them.
Your followers will see them, and you’ll look bad.
The best approach is to respond as quickly as possible and try to resolve the situation.
Here’s a good example of Domino’s pulling this off perfectly:
Conclusion
Psychological studies have found that we have an innate desire to connect with others.
based on perceptions of trust, people reported positive interactions with a ‘close friend’ to be more rewarding than interactions with a stranger or a machine.
They also found that two specific brain regions—the ventral striatum and medial prefrontal cortex—were actively engaged when someone thought they were trusting a close friend.
Your goal on Twitter is to maximize your trustworthiness and create more positive interactions.
You want to bridge the gap and make people feel a sense of camaraderie with you.
The essentials I listed in this post should help you accomplish this in a variety of ways.
This should make first-time visitors more willing to follow you and help you strengthen your rapport with your existing followers.
How do you decide whether or not you trust a person or brand on Twitter?
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