Welcome to the 'Funderdome'

Local woman to promote product on ABC show

Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/2uwiBMq

Pa. volunteers needed for AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program

HARRISBURG (AP) — The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program is looking to expand its team of volunteers for the upcoming tax season.Approaching its 50th year, Tax-Aide offers free tax filing help to anyone, especially those 50 and older, who can't afford a tax preparation service.Tax-Aide volunteers make a difference in their communities by assisting many older, lower-income taxpayers who might otherwise miss out on the credits and deductions they've earned.Tax-Aide [...]

Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/2uO3vgv

The Opioid Crisis Is Now a National Emergency. Here’s What That Means

On Thursday, President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a national emergency.

That may mean big changes in health care and treatment options for people who are dealing with an opioid addiction.

Here’s what we know so far about what these changes might look like.

The Opioid Crisis Is Now a National Emergency

This is a fairly unprecedented move, as emergency rulings are usually reserved for acute outbreaks or natural disasters. But the declaration comes at the recommendation of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis which President Trump established back in March.

The commission members spoke with all 50 state governors, non-profit advocacy groups, parents whose children are struggling with an opioid addiction and treatment providers across the nation.

Last week, the commission drafted an interim report with its preliminary findings and recommendations. In the report, the commission acknowledges the severity of the opioid crisis, calling it “unparalleled.”

The report states that, according to recent estimates from the Centers for Disease Control, 142 Americans die every day from a drug overdose.

It also notes that between 1999 and 2015, more than 560,000 people have died due to drug overdoses in this country and that as of 2015, 27 million people self-reported current use of illegal drugs or abuse of prescription drugs.

The commission also acknowledges an over-saturated but underserved percentage of the population affected by the opioid crisis. More than 40% of people who have a substance use disorder also have a mental health problem — and less than half of these people receive treatment for either issue.

The commission proposed several action steps that can be taken to lessen the severity of the opioid crisis, the first of which was a call for an executive decision to declare the issue a national emergency.

On Thursday, President Trump took the commission’s recommendation and declared the opioid crisis a national emergency.

What Will This Declaration Mean?

Because the opioid crisis is now a national emergency, the suggestions will be treated with a sense of urgency and states will be able to bypass much of the red tape that was previously stagnating any progress in curbing the opioid epidemic.

The recommendations will hopefully both help people who are currently struggling with an opioid addiction receive treatment and prevent future generations from misusing opioids at all.

These suggestions will springboard off of the decision to declare a national emergency:

• Remove the barrier to treatment that comes from Medicaid’s exclusion of federal Institutes for Mental Diseases (IMD). While official legislation won’t be in effect yet, individual states will now be able to petition for waiver approvals to allow Medicaid to fund treatment in inpatient programs that treat “mental diseases” (including substance use disorders) and those that provide withdrawal management.

• Mandate education for the doctors who prescribe opioids for treating pain. The opioid epidemic, the report notes, “began in our nation’s health care system.”

• Federally fund access to Medication-Assisted Treatment at all licensed facilities and ensure further testing and development of new treatment options.

• Equip law enforcement officers with naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug, and put “immunity” laws in place that will ensure people aren’t afraid to call for help in case of a drug-related emergency.

• Slow down and stop the spread of fentanyl and fentanyl-type drugs (which are, the report claims, more dangerous than most of the opioids out there today, including heroin). The commission proposed an increase in manpower and funding that will allow various government agencies including the FBI, the DEA and the Department of Homeland Security to develop methods for slowing the distribution of these synthetic opioids.

• Facilitate the sharing of data regarding prior overdoses and prescription history between state and federal programs to prevent the over-prescription of opioids in the future.

• Rework patient privacy laws to make information about histories of substance abuse more easily available to medical professionals.

• Ensure a standardized treatment experience that does not discriminate between those being treated for mental health and substance abuse disorders and those being treated for physical diagnoses. While there are already laws in effect to prevent this disparity, they are not widely enforced, and, as a result, too many people go without proper help.

Along with these initial proposals, the commission has promised to carry out a full review of federal laws, programs, regulations and funding that focus on addiction and substance abuse. The commission notes that its work will be ongoing, and that it will have more to share later on in 2017.

As these changes begin to take effect, we’ll be sure to update you on what that will mean for anyone dealing with an addiction or substance use disorder in terms of rights, health care and treatment options.

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.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2fyxffo

The Next Recession is Coming. Here’s How to Get Prepared Right Now

It’s an unhappy fact of life: Sooner or later, the economy’s going to take another dive.

Sorry, but another recession is bound to happen in the next few years. And when it does, your future self is going to thank you for thinking ahead and getting ready for it.

Oh, wait, you haven’t done that? You’re totally unprepared for the next recession?

Well, don’t feel bad. Two-thirds of Americans are in the same boat, according to a new GOBankingRates survey. It found that most Americans’ finances are woefully unprepared to withstand another recession.

In the last U.S. recession, millions of Americans lost their homes, jobs or businesses. With that in mind, we’re here with six steps you can take to protect yourself from a recession and mitigate the damage it can cause you.

Recessions: Like a Bad Penny, They Keep Coming Back

Like we said, economic downturns are simply a fact of life.

Technically, a recession is when the economy declines for at least six months in a row. That typically leads to serious job losses. Our most recent downturn was called the Great Recession because it was the worst one since the Great Depression.

The Great Recession ended in 2009 — eight years ago.

Historical data shows the U.S. averages a recession every six to seven years.

So we’re probably due for another one in the next few years. Nobody knows when.

And it doesn’t matter who’s in the White House. None of this is intended to be a political statement of any kind. The fact is, these same truths would apply whether Donald Trump or Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton were president.

Here’s how to prepare for a recession:

1. Start Hoarding Your Pennies

Could you live off your savings for six months? For a year? Don’t feel bad — I know I couldn’t.

Start socking away a little cash to give yourself a financial cushion, an emergency fund in case you get laid off. Once you have an emergency fund goal in mind, figure out how much of each paycheck you’ll need to set aside to reach your goal in three months, six months, a year.

Stash and Acorns are two popular apps that offer easy, automatic ways to start saving and investing. They’re really useful for tricking your brain into saving more. You’ll invest without even realizing you’re doing it.

Stash sets up automatic stock market investments for you. It lets you invest as little as $5 into a set of simple portfolios reflecting your goals and your tolerance for risk. You can set it up to pull a specific sum of money from your bank account at regular intervals.

Once you connect the Acorns app to a debit or credit card, it rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and funnels your digital change into an investment account. You can have it automatically round up all your purchases, or only the transactions you choose.

2. Get a Side Gig

Losing your job would be a painful blow to your bank account unless you’re able to find new employment quickly.

That’s why it’s best to diversify your income if possible. The simplest way to do that is by starting a side gig.

You can hustle up extra money driving with Uber or Lyft on your own schedule.

Thanks to the growing gig economy, there are other ways to scratch up some extra cash nowadays. Craigslist is an easy place to sell your services under the “Gigs” section. And if you don’t trust Craigslist, check out TaskRabbit or Fiverr — to name just a few.

3. Be a Superhero at Work

If a recession forces your employer to cut back, how can you position yourself to keep your job?

Non-essential employees get laid off first, so focus on making yourself indispensable. Don’t sleep on opportunities to acquire new skills or more responsibility.

4. Stay in the Hunt

Do you like your current job? Cool.

Just don’t get lulled into complacency. Be ready to look for a new job if you have to. Start with this:

• Update your resume and your LinkedIn page.
• Keep networking. Start networking before you need a job.

5. Pay Down Your Debts

Here’s why credit card balances are the devil: If you don’t pay off your balance every month, interest charges will keep eating away at your income.

Paying off your credit cards now will free up money in the future — money that will get you through hard times.

The average interest rate on credit cards these days is nearly 13%, or 16% for travel rewards cards. Instead of burning your money paying interest, take out a debt consolidation loan at a lower interest rate. An easy place to start is Even Financial, which can help you borrow up to $35,000.

If you have student loans, consider refinancing them through an online marketplace like Credible, where you can shop around for the best interest rates. That way, you can be confident the lower interest rate is worth the refinancing cost.

6. Adjust Your 401(k) or Your Investment Portfolio

When the last recession caused the stock market to plunge, Americans’ retirement savings took a beating. The nation’s 401(k)s and IRAs lost nearly $2.5 trillion in the last half of 2008 alone.

Take a look at your own 401(k) account. Are you too heavily invested in stocks? Consider your age, too. If you’re nearing retirement, put more of those funds into bonds.

Just don’t get carried away with that strategy. Before making any changes to your 401(k), keep in mind how many years you have until retirement. If you have decades of working ahead of you, keep your retirement funds in stocks so you don’t miss out on the market’s long-term growth.

To get more out of your 401(k) account, consider using an online robo-advisor like Blooom to help manage it for you.

The upshot of all this: No one wants to see an economic downturn, but it’s inevitable that another one will come along. If you take these steps, you might be able to sail through the next recession in style.

Mike Brassfield (mike@thepennyhoarder.com) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. He’s still recovering from the last recession.

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.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2vqL3OC

These 2 Companies Will Literally Pay You to Help Fight Climate Change

Climate change: Who needs it, right?

We know you want to do your part for the environment, fight climate change and help stave off the impending doom of rising oceans and dying polar bears.

But you don’t exactly want to rely on a horse and buggy for transportation or do all your late-night reading by candlelight, either. We get that.

So we found two ways you can reduce your carbon footprint and barely change the way you consume energy at home. Watt a deal.

Oh, and did we mention these companies will pay you to go green? Yeah.

Take five minutes today to sign up for these two free services to earn money while boosting your clean energy consumption.

1. Get Paid Up to $300 to Use Less Energy at Home

California residents can earn up to $300 a year by syncing their utility accounts to an energy-sharing program called OhmConnect and agreeing to help reduce energy usage by about an hour a week.

Here’s how it works:

1. Sign up for a free OhmConnect account, and sync it with your online utility account though Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric or Southern California Edison.

2. Once or twice a week, you’ll receive a text message to participate in an #OhmHour, an hour of reduced energy consumption. Turn down unnecessary lights, hold off on the laundry and the dishwasher and opt for a fan instead of the AC. It’s a perfect time to go outside, play games on your phone or go to dinner or the movies.

3. OhmConnect will send you weekly payments for reducing your electricity consumption during #OhmHours

Why? By cutting your electricity use, you help keep demand low and prevent unclean power sources from kicking in. So you get to earn up to $300 a year and help save the planet — not bad!

Your earnings are based on how much power you save. The more you save, the higher your OhmConnect status, which helps you earn even more.

2. Opt for Clean Energy — Without Installing Solar Panels

You can promote using clean energy, even if you don’t live near wind turbines or have solar panels on your home.

With renewable energy company Arcadia Power, you can offset your monthly energy consumption with 100% renewable sources in about two minutes.

Arcadia Power matches each kilowatt-hour of power you use with a kilowatt-hour of wind energy. Basically the company purchases certified renewable energy certificates in your name, so others can take advantage of clean energy in their area.

To get started:

1. Find out if your area qualifies.

2. Create an account, and provide your local utility information. Arcadia Power will monitor your monthly electricity use and purchase certificates accordingly.

3. When you sign up your home or apartment (yup, renters are eligible, too!), you’ll get $20 off your next electric bill.

The site even has a dashboard that lets you keep track of how you’re helping the environment.

“I’m always looking for ways to be green in life, and one of my biggest contributions to the planet is the energy I use at home, so I like that Arcadia can help me have a small impact there,” says The Penny Hoarder founder Kyle Taylor, who tried the service.

“It costs you nothing to do something good — only two minutes of your time,” Taylor says.

Get Paid to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint and Fight Climate Change

Going green doesn’t have to mean giving up everything — or anything, really — you love about the 21st century.

Check these companies out to start saving energy and getting paid today.

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.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2wCn4dU

That New Fiduciary Rule Just Got Pushed Back Until July 2019

Update: The Department of Labor further delayed the fiduciary rule in August 2017. This post has been updated to reflect the change.

After spending spring in political limbo, the so-called fiduciary rule was supposed to go into effect this summer. But a new decision by the Department of Labor has further delayed the change.  

This long-awaited retirement investment adviser scout pledge formalizes the duty of financial advisers to act in the best interests of their clients.

Previously, investment professionals were held to the less stringent “suitability standard,” which only required that financial advice meet your needs based on your investment profile.

Under the suitability standard, your broker could recommend an investment plan that’s OK, but puts you at greater risk than you’re comfortable with. Or, you could get backed into an investment that’s not a great fit just so that your adviser can get a commission.

What You Should Do to Protect Your Investments

At first glance, it might seem like there’s not much for you to do in response to the new rule. But now is an ideal time to check on your investments — and make sure you have investments you’re satisfied with.

Mike Chadwick, president of Connecticut-based Chadwick Financial Advisors, said that investors whose accounts were managed by fee-based firms are likely in better shape than those who, until now, worked on a commission basis.

He’s gotten calls from people who managed their modest IRAs and other retirement accounts through big, national commission-based firms. Instead of converting small accounts to fee-based ones, those clients are being asked in some cases to close their accounts entirely.

“They can’t offer a solution at a [balance] threshold that low,” Chadwick said.

You may be able to stay on if your commission-based account is eligible for a Best Interest Contract Exemption (BICE).

Chadwick said it’s a good time to review your investment accounts and make sure your financial adviser meets your needs.

“Make sure you know what you’re buying inside of what you own,” he said.

Don’t just look at your financial firm’s policies – do a review of how your money is being invested, as well.

Delay, but No Surprises for Fiduciary Rule

The Obama administration’s long-term project with the Department of Labor was set to begin in April, but President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February to delay the fiduciary rule.

Trump feared it would reduce options for investors and stifle investment professionals. His executive order directed the Department of Labor to review and potentially revise the rule.

Many financial firms had already prepared for the change by adjusting their own commission policies or adjusting from fee-based programs to flat-fee setups. While June 9 is remarkable on paper, the past few months of preparation may have had a greater impact on many financial advisers.

Broker and insurance agent compliance wasn’t originally set to take effect until Jan. 1, 2018, but the Department of Labor recently announced brokers will be exempt from abiding by the rule until July 1, 2019. The delay will give firms more time to comply with the new rule.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is soliciting feedback to guide its own potential rule proposal for retail investments, which may include stricter conflict-of-interest guidelines.

Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer 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.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2rHPwbS

How to Get $1 Filet Mignon Sandwiches This Monday Only at Morton’s

Eating like a king or queen doesn’t have to cost you the crown jewels. At least not if you head to Morton’s Steakhouse on Monday.

On Aug. 14, you can have filet mignon, in the form of a petite sandwich, for just $1. And if one is not enough, have a dozen. With this deal, you can have up to 12 sandwiches for just a buck each.

Although Morton’s has locations all over the world, only its U.S. restaurants will participate in $1 Filet Day.

If you want to dine in the lap of luxury without a huge bill, we recommend showing up early. This deal is for dine-in customers only, and you have to sit at the bar. So depending on the size of the Morton’s near you, seating could be very limited.

The deal starts when the Morton’s near you opens and ends at 10 p.m.

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.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2vWLGk9

People Are Developing Colorectal Cancer at Younger Ages. Get Screened Today

So, how can I put this?

I’d like to talk about your behind for a minute. (Yeah, I know. Awkward.)

A disease we normally associate with old age is beginning to pluck off younger adults in their prime.

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States. A new study reveals that the number of deaths from colorectal cancer in adults younger than 55 is rising inexplicably.

Doctors currently recommend people get regular colorectal cancer screenings beginning at age 50, but some doctors say screenings should maybe begin sooner.

Colorectal Cancer: The Basics

Colorectal cancer risk factors include:

• Smoking
• Being overweight
• Physical inactivity
• Diets high in red meat and processed food
• Heavy alcohol use
• A history of inflammatory bowel disease
• Having type 2 diabetes

The American Cancer Society website is filled with resources where you can learn about colorectal cancer, what signs and symptoms to look for and why preventative screening is so important.

There are several types of tests that screen for colorectal cancer, and, let’s be honest, none of them are a ton of fun.

But you’ve got to suck it up and just do it.

Screenings “significantly reduce” the chance of colorectal cancer-related death, but only 67% of people over 50 are up-to-date with their screenings.

Don’t be a statistic.

Where to Find Affordable Colorectal Cancer Screening

Medical tests can be expensive, but when it comes to colorectal cancer screenings, you’ve got several affordable options.  

1. Many private health insurance plans cover the cost of a colorectal cancer test. Check with your benefits administrator or call your insurance company directly to find out if screenings are part of your coverage plan.

2. Colorectal cancer screenings are on the Affordable Care Act’s list of preventative care benefits for adults, but some plans are exempt. Use these ACA resources to find out whether your test is covered.

3. If you’re over 50, Medicare Part B covers a variety of colorectal cancer screening tests.

4. Medicaid coverage varies by state. Find your state on this map to learn more.

5. You may be eligible for free or low cost screening through your state’s Department of Public Health.

6. Community health clinics across the country provide low- to no-cost colorectal cancer screening services. Use the U.S. Department of Health’s clinic locator to find a location near you.  

I can think of at least 895,623,748 things more fun than getting a colorectal cancer screening, but taking care of your health is worth it.

And who knows? Maybe you’ll get a good story out of it.

Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s the queen of awkward conversation, which makes her loads of fun at parties.

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.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2uO475T

Amazon Family Will Still Save You 20% on Diapers, but There’s a New Catch

Amazon can be a lifesaver. You can find some pretty great deals and have the things you need or want shipped right to your doorstep.

When you’re a new parent trying to keep the house in order, as well as feed, bathe and change a baby, that kind of convenience is even more amazing. It’s the savings, however, that really rock.

Previously, parents who subscribed to Prime and purchased their baby’s diapers on Amazon could save a whopping 20% simply by making it a monthly subscription.

For instance, a 216-count box of Pampers brand diapers goes for $40.84. If you can save 20% on that box of uber-essential baby items, you’ll save $8.17 each month. That’s $98 each year.

Sadly, the honeymoon is over. Amazon has changed its subscription policies, and it could hit parents hard in the bank account.

Buy, Buy (and Buy More) Baby

Amazon’s new policy still allows parents to get the 20% discount with Amazon Prime, but they’ll have to buy more stuff for their precious little ball of joy. Here’s what Amazon Family says:

“Amazon Prime members unlock 20% savings on diapers and baby food subscriptions when receiving 5 or more products in a given month to a single address, compliments of Amazon Family. Amazon Family also provides special offers and age-based recommendations to Prime members with young children.”

So instead of simply getting 20% off your diaper subscription, you need to pick up a subscription to four more items. Let’s see, baby food, wipes, rash cream and laundry detergent?

It’s up to you to decide if the new rule will save you bundles on all the things you need, or if it will just mean buying more stuff than you really need.

Want to save even more money on diapers? Here are nine ways you can get diapers for free.

Tyler Omoth is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder who loves soaking up the sun and finding creative ways to help others. Catch him on Twitter at @Tyomoth.

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.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2uO6Ig1

Scoop Up Free Ice Cream From Uber in These 10 Cities (but Act ASAP)

If you live in one of 10 major cities in the U.S. and Canada, Uber may foot your ice-cream bill every Friday for the rest of the summer.

These cities are Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Miami, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Dallas, Atlanta and Toronto.

If you call one of those cities home or are just visiting, simply open your Uber app today starting at 11 a.m. local time and request ice cream. If you’re matched to a nearby Uber ice-cream truck, it will come your way with a free cone for you and up to four friends.

That ice-cream cone will also come with a limited-edition — limited as in the Uber ice cream trucks could run out so order your ice cream right now — collectible cone and a punch card.

Make sure to hold on to those two things because they’re your tickets to free ice cream every Friday for the rest of the summer.

Simply take your cone and punch card to any participating McDonald’s location every Friday between now and Sept. 22, and get another free ice cream.

It’s not clear how much ice cream the Uber trucks will hand out today, but they completed 123,000 ice-cream requests throughout 2016.

Remember, if there is no truck near you when you try, don’t give up! The trucks are always moving. You don’t want to miss out when one comes near.

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.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2hRPk8W

Here’s What to Binge-Watch Before Disney Movies Disappear From Netflix

Kids love Disney movies. They demand to see them not once, but over and over and over and… You get the drift.

Admit it: You love them too. Not just the classics, but the new ones as well. You’re singing the songs in your head right now, aren’t you?

If you’ve been rejoicing over the fact you can watch so many of your favorite Disney movies on Netflix, we suggest you enjoy them while they last. Disney just announced it’s bidding bon voyage to Netflix streaming in the near future.

Our ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ Will Have to Pay for Disney

Just as the world realized it could watch a ton of Disney films on Netflix, Disney declared that the end is near. On Aug. 8, the mega-corporation announced it’s preparing to launch its own Disney-branded streaming service.

The good news is the new channel will not launch until 2019, which means the current deal with Netflix will continue through the end of 2018.

The bad news is if you are a Disney junkie or have kids, you may want to start saving to pay for yet another service to add to your streaming library.

The new Disney streaming service will feature such titles as “Toy Story 4,” “The Lion King” live-action movie and the sequel to “Frozen,” as well as new shorts and features.

So much for getting by on just the “Bare Necessities.”

Make the Most of it Before You “Let it Go”

You have less than one year and five months to catch all the Disney titles you can on Netflix, so binge, binge, binge!

Currently, you can stream newer titles like “Zootopia,” “Finding Dory,” “Pete’s Dragon,” “Moana” and “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”

What? You didn’t forget that Star Wars is now a part of the Disney universe already, did you?

And don’t forget to reminisce with some of your favorite classics like “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” “Lilo and Stitch,” “The Emperor’s New Groove” and “The Mighty Ducks.”

Will Disney Streaming Be Worth the Money?

We don’t know what the price will be for the new Disney streaming service, but if it’s like most Disney products, it won’t be cheap, but it will probably be high quality.

If you’re a true Disney fanatic, it may well be worth your money. Perhaps you can save money at Disney World on your next vacation to stockpile for the extra expense.

In the meantime, you already have Netflix. Take advantage of the Disney-Netflix partnership while it lasts!

Hakuna Matata!

Tyler Omoth is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder who loves soaking up the sun and finding creative ways to help others. Catch him on Twitter at @Tyomoth.

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.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2uNEqSD

Here’s How to Create a Solar Eclipse Viewer With Things You Already Have

ASK GFC 033: How to Invest for College Students

Exposed: Those Quirky Trader Joe’s Products Are Made by PepsiCo, Frito-Lay

Every now and then, a fantastic piece of journalism is released. It digs deep. It asks the tough questions. It gets us the answers we have all been seeking.

Eater, “the source for people who care about dining and drinking in the world’s best food cities,” according to its Twitter bio, brought us such journalism this week.

On Wednesday, Eater played the role of David, and California-based Trader Joe’s was Goliath. Although the war still wages, this time, the battle goes to David.

For years, journalists have tried to answer a simple question: Who is supplying the cheap, delicious food sold in the Trader Joe’s chain of grocery stores? For just as long, Trader Joe’s has been notoriously evasive.

But now, after ingredient comparisons and an impressively creative Freedom of Information Act request for public records about recalled food involving Trader Joe’s from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration, we have some answers.

Who Supplies Trader Joe’s Food?

Unfortunately, Eater doesn’t have all the answers.

Eater provided a list based on manual ingredient comparisons and items that have been recalled at some point in the past 10 years. Because the list is incomplete, we still can’t tell you who supplies Trader Joe’s cookie butter.

But here are a few of the more interesting ones we do know about:

• Trader Joe’s dry-roasted and salted pistachios are made by the same company that makes Wonderful Pistachios.

• PepsiCo-owned Naked has supplied Trader Joe’s with beverages in the past. Eater notes that the TJ’s mango smoothie and Naked’s mango smoothie have the same ingredients. The Trader Joe’s Very Green juice smoothie is also suspiciously similar to Naked’s Green Machine.

• The ingredients in Trader Joe’s pita chips match perfectly with those in Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips. Stacy’s is owned by Frito-Lay Inc.

• Finally, TJ’s pretzel slims and its dark-chocolate pretzel slims are nearly identical to Snack Factory’s pretzel crisps.

Generally speaking, Trader Joe’s products are cheaper than the name-brand foods you get from other grocery chains. So this list should prove that you are not sacrificing the quality for low prices.

To see the full list of the Trader Joe’s products we’re now pretty certain are made by big brands, head over to Eater.

There are still many more products that have not been matched to a supplier. So keep fighting the good fight, Eater and Vince Dixon.

Desiree Stennett (@desi_stennett) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She has a deep appreciation for journalists who don’t give up when a company refuses to answer your questions.

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.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2vVVTxe

7 DIYs That’ll Add Value to Your Home Without Draining It From Your Wallet

My first house was a gem straight out of the 1980s. Laminate butcher block countertops, orange-ish kitchen cabinets, emerald green fireplace tiles… you get the idea.

But being the thrifty (read: cash-strapped) twentysomething that I am, I wasn’t about to spend a fortune to upgrade my home.

A year-and-a-half after purchasing the home — and renovating it in strategic ways that I believe saved me thousands of dollars — I got a new appraisal.

The value of my house had increased 30%.

7 Inexpensive Home Renovations You Can Do Yourself

Though some of that can be attributed to inflation and a super hot housing market in the Denver metro area, a good chunk of it was because of the changes I’d made. You can learn how to do your home repairs for free or cheap, too.

Here are my seven picks for do-it-yourself renovations that are both cheap and effective.

1. Use “Oops” Paint

Never underestimate the power of a little paint.

Walk into a home and see bright pink paint everywhere? Don’t freak out. You can fix that with a little elbow grease and some vigilance at your local home improvement store.

Every time I walk into Home Depot, Lowes or Ace Hardware, I scour the paint department for “oops” paint, or paint that’s been returned to the store because the original buyer didn’t end up liking the color.

This paint is deeply discounted — often at least 50% off — and it might be just the color you’re looking for. You can frequently find it in large quantities, too, which helps if you’re trying to paint a large room or several rooms the same color.

Painting requires a fairly sizeable time commitment, but it’s not difficult and it saves you hundreds of dollars you’d be spending to hire professionals. If you’re in this for the long haul, you won’t mind painting a room or two at a time.

2. Take Advantage of Contractors’ Castaways

Contractors buy items in bulk. They build dozens of houses at a time and often overestimate how much material they’ll need.

Their cast-offs can be your treasures.

Places like ReStore, run by Habitat for Humanity volunteers, are full of valuable items like sinks, cabinets, doors, light fixtures, wood flooring and more.

If you aren’t looking for a specific type of tile, for example, there’s typically an ample supply of neutral bathroom and kitchen tiles at my local ReStore at a fraction of the price I’d pay at the store.

Again, you’ve got to be vigilant and visit the store frequently to find what you want, but that time and effort is totally worth it — and kinda fun, to be honest — when you’re renovating on a budget.

My go-to item at ReStore? Doors.

Its selection of doors, both interior and exterior, is massive and you can get them for cheap — sometimes as low as $10. If you buy an older home, chances are the doors don’t match or they date the home.

A brand new batch of crisp, white doors can make the place look and feel totally different with minimal effort and cost.

3. Update Little Details

Some of a home’s most overlooked details are fixtures — light fixtures, ceiling fans, door knobs, hinges and drawer pulls.

With a can of metallic or black spray paint, which will cost you between $3 and $7, you can transform these types of items.

These are all subtle cues to a buyer that your home is modern and fresh, not outdated and needing hours of work.

Instead of buying new ceiling fan kits, I spray-painted the existing fan blades and metal components and hung them back up — good as new.

I also spray painted all the door handles and door hinges — they were bright gold before — which helped modernize the house instantly. Same with my fireplace frame, which was mostly black but had bright gold accents.

This trick works on the exterior of the home as well. I freshened up the dated light fixtures that hung on either side of the garage with a bit of black spray paint in one afternoon.

If you can’t afford to paint or replace your cabinets, consider investing in new handles and knobs instead.

In my two-story home, the prominent stair railings and banisters were the same orange-ish color as the kitchen cabinets.

It took a while, but rather than buy new, I sanded, restained and sealed the original oak railings and banisters with a darker color. Now, my stairs are a focal point, not an eyesore.

4. Scrape Your Ceilings

Remember when people thought “popcorn” ceilings were cool? Yeah, me neither.

This is an easy — though admittedly labor-intensive — update that will give your home more “wow factor” when a potential buyer walks through the door. It’s one less negative thing on their list.

To start, I advise taking it one room at a time.

Remove all furniture, then completely cover — and I mean completely — every surface in the room that you don’t want to be coated in fine white dust at the end of the day. I recommend using plastic sheeting and tape.

With a squirt bottle or a clean landscape sprayer, lightly mist a square section of the ceiling. After a few minutes, use a putty knife to gently scrape the “popcorn” off the ceiling. Repeat until the entire ceiling is smooth and flat.

Sand using a slightly damp sponge before applying a fresh coat of paint.

5. Replace the Builder’s Mirrors

No matter which home you walk into, the mirrors in the bathrooms are likely original to the house. They’re probably big, boxy, unframed beasts.

A quick way to make your bathrooms look and feel more polished is to replace the builder’s mirrors.

Measure the space above the sink first, then head out to find an inexpensive, framed mirror to hang.

Your replacement mirrors don’t have to be brand-new — I’ve found some amazing mirrors at thrift shops and garage sales that added tons of character to the bathroom. With a little luck, you can probably find some mirrors for free, too.

Here’s where your trusty can of spray paint can come into play again — if the mirror has a unique and interesting frame, but it’s the wrong color, don’t let that discourage you.

6. Make Raised Garden Beds Out of Recycled Materials

Don’t have the money to pay for landscaping? I’ve got you covered.

Scour the sale wood pile at the home improvement store, visit ReStore or nab a wood pallet someone else threw away. Then build a raised garden bed or two.

Raised garden beds keep out rabbits, moles and other hungry backyard pests, plus you can control the soil. They make gardening easier because you can walk around all four sides to pick weeds and pluck ripe vegetables.

They’ll also get a buyer thinking about the home’s potential — “What would I want to plant here next summer?”

Instead of focusing on your home’s patchy grass or complete lack of landscaping, they’ll be impressed by the clean lines and practicality of your garden boxes.

7. Change Your Countertops

Though I splurged and updated my kitchen countertops to granite, I wasn’t ready to spend that kind of money on my home’s four bathroom sinks.

So, for $17, I bought a box of cement patch and skimcoat like this kind here. For less than $20, I made concrete countertops that look modern and sleek.

Start by taping off or removing your bathroom sink. Then, tape off any areas where the countertop connects to the wall.

Scuff and sand your existing countertop, and then wipe it clean. Mix a small amount of the cement powder with water and use a putty knife to apply it to the countertop in a thin, smooth layer.

Once that first layer dries, lightly sand away any bumps or divots. Add additional layers until the countertop is entirely covered and smooth. Seal your new cement countertop with heavy-duty concrete sealer.

You can also replace the entire countertop in your kitchen or bathroom with concrete by making a mold and pouring the concrete in.

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

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.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2wAWf9W

How to Become the World’s #1 Expert in Your Niche

Whether you’re a brand, a webmaster or a solo blogger, it’s essential your audience takes you seriously.

You need to prove you know your stuff.

But in a world that’s become increasingly saturated with self-appointed “gurus,” it’s become incredibly difficult to separate yourself from the masses.

That’s why authority and credibility have become the name of the game.

How do you achieve authority and credibility?

It’s not something you can buy. It must be cultivated, and that takes time.

You can’s just go from being an unknown to being a top industry expert overnight.

But I’ve learned over the past decade that there are several ways to expedite the process and attain expert level status within a reasonable amount of time.

In this post, I would like to share with you some lessons I’ve learned, top strategies I’ve used as well as some specific tools you can use to become the world’s number one expert in your niche.

You need to be all in

Before you do anything, you need to make sure you’re truly interested in and passionate about the niche you’re focusing on.

Let’s be honest.

It’ll be an uphill battle if you’re only lukewarm about the topic you are choosing.

Talking about it, writing about it, vlogging about it will inevitably become a chore, and you’ll lose momentum.

I can’t tell you the number of projects I’ve abandoned over the years simply because I wasn’t fully invested in them.

I lacked the passion.

And as Gary Vaynerchuk would say, “Passion is priceless.”

What I’m saying is before you get in too deep, make sure the niche you’re focusing on is something you’re deeply interested in and passionate about.

This is the key to sustaining you for the long haul.

Quite frankly, this has been a huge factor in my success.

It’s not by chance that my niche is digital marketing.

I truly love it. I eat, sleep and breathe digital marketing.

Talking about it all the time doesn’t feel like work. It’s fun.

That’s how I’ve been able to write over 4,000 blog posts over the past 10 years.

I would have never made it otherwise.

The bottom line is you need to be all in before anything else.

That’s a prerequisite.

And here’s a little slice of advice.

The smaller your niche is, the quicker you can build influence.

In fact, a study by Technorati found,

more than 54% of consumers agree that the shorter the community size, the greater the influence.

Keep it in mind because “niching down” is often a good idea when you’re seeking to attain expert status in a hurry.

Make learning a habit

Before you can share your knowledge with others, you need to accumulate your own pool of knowledge first.

The quickest way I’ve found to build a solid body of knowledge is to surround myself with the topic I’m interested in.

In other words, you need to get in the habit of learning continuously.

Fortunately, the Internet is the ultimate vessel for building your knowledge.

It’s simply a matter of finding the best possible resources for research and learning.

This usually starts with blogs, slideshows, infographics, etc.

But I have a little trick for streamlining things and finding some of the top resources quickly.

Here’s what you do.

Let’s say you want to become an expert in urban farming.

First, go to BuzzSumo.

Type in a search phrase.

Then click on “Content Analysis.”

Now click on “Search.”

You’ll get a bunch of results.

Next, scroll down to the section called “Most Shared Domains by Network.”

You’ll be able to see which websites, blogs and publications are receiving the most shares.

The pie chart on the right will give you a visual perspective on things.

For instance, it’s clear that inhabitat.com is killing it in terms of shares relating to “urban farming.”

It’s definitely a site I would want to check out.

You can also scroll down to the bottom to see the top 10 pieces of content for the moment.

I’ve found that BuzzSumo is absolutely perfect for identifying key resources for research.

Build a hub

There’s a lot I love about content marketing!

But what I love the most (besides increasing sales) is that it has allowed me to build my reputation and establish a loyal audience.

When it comes to boosting your authority and credibility, I can’t think of a better way than simply creating great content around your niche.

It’s the perfect way for putting your money where your mouth is and proving you truly know what you’re talking about.

Create your personal “hub,” where you use a variety of different mediums to discuss your niche.

Allow me to use NeilPatel.com as an example.

I use it to show potential clients I’m legit in a few different ways.

First, there’s my blog.

I make sure it stays populated with high-end, in-depth posts on everything digital marketing.

Next, there’s my collection of videos that I refer to as “Neil Knowledge.”

Here, visitors can watch brief videos where I share my knowledge on a variety of digital marketing topics.

Then, there’s my podcast that I call “Marketing School.”

At the moment, I have nearly 350 podcast sessions that run the digital marketing gamut.

This is a model I suggest you follow because it’s your key to being recognized as an expert.

Building a hub such as this gives you an opportunity to cover your niche in great detail and share your knowledge with visitors who are eager to learn.

This isn’t to say you need to use the same mediums I do.

In fact, I recommend experimenting with different formats to see what works best for you and what resonates the most with your audience.

Here are some ideas:

And the more high-quality content you accumulate, the more seriously people will take you.

Connect with other influencers

At this point, you should have chosen a niche, learned everything you can about it and created a hub where you can share your knowledge.

The next step is to start forming relationships with other influencers in your niche.

Why is this important?

This is one of the best ways to get your name out there and to increase your brand equity.

Being associated with other major players enables you to siphon off some of their “street cred” and get your audience to take you more seriously.

Let me give you a quick example.

Awhile back, freelance writer Jorden Roper launched her website called Writing Revolt.

It serves as an online hub for talking about everything related to freelance writing, including ways to thrive in a competitive market.

She was an up-and-comer and had some loyal followers, but it was a fairly small following.

She connected with Bamidele Onibalusi of Writers in Charge, one of the most popular resources for freelance writers.

Bamidele talked about her journey, the way Jorden created a nice living for herself through writing and her tips for making it as a freelance writer.

Just like that, her brand equity skyrocketed, and she gained a massive amount of respect as an expert in her niche.

To me, connecting with relevant influencers like this is the quickest way to gain recognition and have your name associated with a particular topic.

After all, if a trusted name in your niche gives you their stamp of approval, it will inevitably have a positive impact on you.

How do I connect with influencers?

For starters, let me suggest an incredibly old school yet (sometimes) effective tactic.

And that’s to simply get in the habit of consistently leaving high-level comments on top blogs in your industry.

You might be saying, “Neil, that seems so primitive and antiquated!”

Perhaps it is.

But it can still be a great way to get on someone’s radar.

Here’s an example of a comment from one of my top commenters, J. Ustpassing:

Besides potentially building a relationship with a key influencer, you can also gain the attention of their readers.

And as long as your comments are legit, they will elevate your authority.

Another brilliant way to find influencers to connect with is to use BuzzSumo.

In fact, the “Influencers” feature is one of the top features on this platform.

I won’t cover the entire process here because I’ve already went over it before, but you can find all the details in this post.

For more on influencer marketing, I suggest checking out this article.

Leveraging Quora

Finally, I would like to point out how great Quora is for building credibility.

This is one of the most high-end question-and-answer sites, and I’ve used it extensively.

At the moment, I’ve answered 287 different questions, and it’s helped me gain 8k followers on Quora and 47k answer views this month alone.

I’m telling you, Quora gets results and can be incredibly potent for you to position yourself as an expert in your niche.

I find it ideal for imparting my knowledge.

You can learn how to use Quora in this post.

Conclusion

I’ll be the first to say there’s no magic bullet that can turn you into a top expert in your niche overnight.

It’s very much a process that takes time.

Fortunately, you can accelerate that process significantly by following the formula I covered here.

With the right approach, you can gain serious recognition and make your name synonymous with your niche.

This, of course, can yield a host of benefits, e.g., increased brand equity, continual leads and higher conversions.

Which niche would you like to achieve expert status in?

Source Quick Sprout http://ift.tt/2wP68zP

6 Ways to Get Paid to Get an Education (Instead of Paying for One)

If you’re like me, you love to learn — but find college a tedious and boring way to do it.

And perhaps you don’t want to wait years to start making a living. Then there’s the average student debt to consider, now above $35,000.

College isn’t the right choice for everyone.

What if instead of expensive classes, years of waiting and starting work under a mountain of debt, you could get a paycheck now, while having interesting experiences and learning new things?

If that sounds good to you, keep reading. Here are six ways to get paid to learn valuable skills.

1. Be a Paid Apprentice

The Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship funds various apprenticeship programs at companies across the country, including CVS and UPS.

“Registered Apprenticeships are innovative work-based learning and postsecondary earn-and-learn models that meet national standards for registration with the U.S. Department of Labor (or federally recognized State Apprenticeship Agencies),” the DOL website explains.

You’re paid from day one, making an average $15 per hour, with “incremental wage increases” as you become more proficient.

The DOL estimates you can make an annual $50,000 once you complete an apprenticeship.

You receive a nationally recognized credential from the DOL, and you might even get college credit, depending on the program.

There are over 1,000 potential career areas accessible through the DOL’s Registered Apprenticeship program, but these are their top occupations:

• Able seaman

• Carpenter

• Chef

• Child care development specialist

• Construction craft laborer

• Dental assistant

• Electrician

• Elevator constructor

• Fire medic

• Law enforcement agent

• Over-the-road truck driver

• Pipefitter

You may apprentice for up to six years, but most people complete programs in four.

In addition to 2,000 hours of work each year, you’ll typically spend at least 144 hours in a classroom — though this may be unpaid time.

2. Serve and Learn

Want to help people and learn new skills while earning a modest stipend?

Consider one of these volunteer service options:

The Peace Corps

As previously explained on The Penny Hoarder, you’ll get training, a living expense stipend, health benefits and a payment (currently $8,000) upon completion of a 27-month assignment.

Then you get job placement help and preference applying for any federal position.

What are the qualifications?

The Peace Corps website says 90% of positions go to volunteers with a bachelor’s degree, but they also consider an applicant’s “work, hobbies and volunteer experiences.”

AmeriCorps

Sometimes referred to as the “Domestic Peace Corps,” AmeriCorps is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

As a volunteer, you work on projects in the U.S., first receiving general training and then assignment-specific training.

The CNCS FAQ page makes it clear your “pay” is minimal. You get a living expense stipend, and possibly housing.

But once you complete a term of service (10-12 months), you also receive an AmeriCorps Education Award to help pay for college.

AmeriCorps is actually a “national network of hundreds of programs throughout the U.S.,” and you’ll need special skills or a bachelor’s degree for some assignments.

For other programs, you don’t even need a high school diploma. But, you do have to be between 18-24 years old when you start your service.

Volunteering for service organizations is an opportunity to do some good, learn new skills and make some money — plus it looks good on your resume.

3. Be an Intern

Serving as an intern is a common way to learn skills and get job experience.

You can even search for paid internships on websites like Internships.com. For many of these positions you need to be a college student, but not necessarily a graduate.

Kristen Pope’s recent post lists a dozen internships that pay more than $5,400 per month, so enrolling in college for a while might make sense if that’s what it takes to qualify.

4. Use a Job as Business Training

One of the most effective ways to get paid to learn valuable skills is finding employment in the industry in which you’d like to do business.

For more on this idea, see my post on how to use a job as training to start your own business.

5. Get Selected for the Thiel Fellowship

Yes, you can still get paid $100,000 to drop out of college.

Billionaire Peter Thiel’s foundation has been offering the Thiel Fellowships for years.

If qualified, you’ll get $100,000 over the course of two years — if you’re willing to leave school and work on something visionary and/or entrepreneurial.

Past fellows include Eden Full, who invented a tool that uses solar energy to provide clean water to off-grid communities, and Paul Gu, who created online lending platform Upstart.

6. Look for On-the-Job Training Opportunities

Almost all jobs involve some on-the-job training, so you might want to look at job prospects related to what you want to learn.

For example, as part of a job working with adults with developmental disabilities, I was paid to learn how to de-escalate situations and restrain people without harming them.

I received certification, just as I did when I was trained as a highway flagger by a temp agency, and when I learned CPR as a security officer.

To find jobs that offer valuable skills training, use the big job websites.

On Indeed, a search for “paid training” (no location specified) turns up more than 100,000 jobs.

For Sarasota, Florida (near me), the results included Red Cross positions, a company willing to train you to add captions to videos and no-experience-necessary cable installation jobs.

Steve Gillman is the author of “101 Weird Ways to Make Money” and creator of EveryWayToMakeMoney.com. He’s been a repo-man, walking stick carver, search engine evaluator, house flipper, tram driver, process server, mock juror and roulette croupier, but of more than 100 ways he has 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.

source The Penny Hoarder http://ift.tt/2vW5wfF

A Daily Commitment to Excellence

When I woke up this morning, I sat up in bed and told myself, “I’m not going to spend any money today at all. I’m going to fill my day with fulfilling things that don’t involve spending a dime!”

I put a reminder in my phone to remind me of this commitment to excellence. It’ll go off four or five times today, reminding me of what I’m shooting for.

Today, I’ll be going to a bookstore and a food co-op and walking around a downtown area of a nice Midwestern town with some real spending temptations. Having that commitment to financial excellence is going to be a real challenge.

Can I do it?

I’ve been using this daily commitment to excellence strategy a lot lately. It usually involves setting some sort of daily goal for myself that pushes me well beyond my normal boundaries.

One day, I woke up and my commitment was to walk or jog at least 25,000 steps. That’s about half of a marathon with my stride length.

Another day, I woke up and my commitment was to spend three hours in distraction-free study of a topic I’m trying to master.

On another day, I woke up and committed myself to getting our financial papers completely in order and negotiating a few bills.

Another day, my commitment was to have great face-to-face conversations with at least 25 people, which is pretty tough for me as I have a pretty strong introverted streak.

On another day, I committed to planning out and making two weeks of meals in advance for my family, with each meal in duplicate. In effect, I was making a month’s worth of dinners at once.

On yet another day, my personal challenge was to spend several hours truly cleaning a part of our house that I had neglected and was dreading.

A final excellence commitment challenge: one day recently, I woke up committed to writing 10,000 words and editing an equivalent amount.

I’ve learned some really valuable things from these kinds of personal daily commitments to excellence.

First, an audacious but not quite impossible challenge really pushes you to tackle it with relish. The best challenges are the ones where it feels like you can barely pull it off in a day, but you can do it if you really focus on it and put your mind to it.

Second, you feel absolutely great at the end of a day where you stick to that commitment to excellence. When you make a strong commitment to excellence at the start of the day and actually pull it off during the day, the feeling at the end of the day when you reflect on it is pure gold. You feel successful because you are successful. You took on a challenge and you nailed it.

Third, focus on your goal is absolutely essential – you have to get rid of distractions to pull off a good goal. A cell phone is a distraction most of the time. A tablet is a distraction most of the time. A web browser is definitely a distraction. A telephone is a distraction. Cut out things that distract you and focus on the thing you want to excel at.

Fourth, doing these things with excellence – in other words, doing them the “right” way without taking shortcuts – is virtually always the best approach. I could get to 10,000 words quite easily by writing “blah blah blah” over and over again, but that would be the opposite of a quality result. I could get to 25,000 steps on my Fitbit by sitting it on the washing machine while it was running. I could prepare a bunch of minimal effort meals that no one would really enjoy. In each of those cases, I met the “letter” of my commitment but didn’t achieve the spirit of the commitment. Shoot for the spirit of the commitment, every time.

Finally, consistent reminders throughout the day is vital for commitments that aren’t “active.” Many commitments to excellence revolve around sustaining a particular behavior throughout the day rather than just completing a project. Constant reminders are the key to success for this. I use the “Reminders” app on my cell phone to send me reminders throughout the day of the commitment to excellence I’ve made that day. “Remember to keep your spending under control!” “Remember to keep your calorie count low!” “Are you talking to people? You can do it!” My phone delivers notifications like that throughout the day, to keep me focused.

Making Your Own Daily Commitment to Excellence

This idea has really been a game changer for me as of late. Simply focusing on one area of excellence in a given day has really helped me to buckle down and achieve some things that I’ve let slide in recent years, and it’s been incredibly gratifying.

So, how do you apply this idea in your own life?

The first step is to come up with areas you want to improve in your life. What are you wanting to improve? We’re not talking about specific tasks, just areas of life where you’re not satisfied. Perhaps you’re unhappy with your finances. Maybe you’re unhappy with your health. Maybe you’re unhappy with your career. Perhaps you’re unhappy with your social life, or your spirituality.

Figure out what big areas of your life is really bothering you and holding you back. Try to stick to just two or three areas; the more you dilute your focus, the less success you’ll see.

For example, my main areas of focus these days are on learning and skill-building, personal health, and good daily financial habits.

Once you’ve identified areas where you wish to see improvement, come up with a handful of specific things you can do within each area to improve. For example, some of the things I came up with when considering my financial habits is a stronger mastery over impulse purchases, renegotiation of my bills, and better organization of my financial documents. Those are areas where I feel weakest right now and I would really like to see improvement. I have similar lists in the other areas I’ve noted.

Each night, before bed, select one of those specific ideas where you would like to see excellence in your life. Your commitment tomorrow will be to really hit a home run with that specific task.

For example, my commitment for tomorrow happens to involve reading and taking notes on several chapters of a very challenging book related to an area of personal finance that I don’t understand well but wish to cover in the future on this site. I might commit, as I did a few days ago, to having a no-spending day when I might be tempted to spend, or to have a day where I organize a huge box of financial documents and scan and shred them. The key is to have a challenging task related to that area of interest that I can complete in one day if I really push myself and commit to excellence and focus.

The next morning, upon waking, immediately reflect on that commitment. Think about what you’re going to achieve today and tell yourself that you can do this. Visualize yourself carrying off that challenge, what you’ll be doing today when you’re really nailing that goal, and how you’ll feel at the end of the day when you succeed.

Set your phone to remind you of the commitment regularly throughout the day. As noted above, this is especially true with commitments that don’t involve an active project but instead focus on consistent behavioral change throughout the day, but it works well with any commitment you make. The goal is to keep your mind on that commitment to excellence that you’ve made in that area of your life.

As you take on the commitment, do it with excellence – commit yourself wholly to making the best results you can for your commitment. Don’t just take the easy route through today’s goal. Instead, approach it with strength and courage and a commitment to excellence. You are going to do this – and you are going to do this well. No shortcuts.

Life will sometimes intervene and you won’t live up to a day’s commitment. The key for those days is to give it all you can regardless of life’s interference. Go to bed knowing that you truly gave it your best shot regardless of the obstacles, then wake up tomorrow with a new commitment.

Some Final Thoughts

When you start off the day by committing to excellence in some specific area of your life, a lot of good things happen.

Often, you really do achieve excellence in that particular area, for starters.

For another, you start to take the first steps of building a pattern of consistent excellence in that area.

You’re also beginning to establish an overall standard of excellence for yourself in all areas. If you actually pull off a daily commitment to excellence many times, you begin to expect that of yourself, and that expectation benefits you in almost every avenue of life.

What will you commit to today?

The post A Daily Commitment to Excellence appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Source The Simple Dollar http://ift.tt/2uvo85P