Forget Turkey: Here’s How to Get Half-Priced Sonic Cheeseburgers on Nov. 21

You know turkey day is coming up next week.

And while many of us look forward to the giant meal that is the cornerstone of Thanksgiving, not all of us love turkey. Let’s face it, that bird can get pretty dry, pretty quick.

Sometimes what you want isn’t a glorious bird with all of the trimmings while surrounded by family.

Sometimes what you want is a cheeseburger. Alone. In the peace and comfort of your car.

Sonic feels your pain and is stepping to the plate to help you out.

Half-Priced Sonic Cheeseburgers for National Un-Turkey Day

Sonic is declaring Tuesday, Nov. 21 National Un-Turkey Day. And what’s the most un-turkey thing you can think of?

A  cheeseburger, of course.

So, for those of you craving that delicious concoction that Jimmy Buffett sang about so passionately, Tuesday is your day.

On Nov. 21, all Sonic locations will offer half-priced single-patty cheeseburgers all day, while supplies last.

The best part is It’s not a buy one, get one half off; it’s just half-priced burgers all day. Limit? Nope. There’s no catch here. Just head to Sonic and grab as many as you like at half price.

You may want to mention the deal when you order, though, just so there’s no mix-up. Otherwise, go ahead and load up like this guy (remember him?).

Before you settle in for Thanksgiving, give your body the beef frenzy it really craves with some half-priced burgers from Sonic on National Un-Turkey Day. All the joy, half the coin.

Tyler Omoth is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder who loves soaking up the sun and finding creative ways to help others. He’d take a cheeseburger over roasted turkey any day. Catch him on Twitter at @Tyomoth.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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Millions of Americans Are at Risk for Diabetes. Here’s How to Get Screened

November is National Diabetes Month.

In the U.S., approximately 29.1 million people are living with diabetes (either type 1 or type 2). Medical expenditures for those people are as much as 2.3 times higher than for a person living without diabetes.

Diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational

Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, is most often diagnosed in children, teens and young adults.

Type 2 diabetes is more common. It makes up about 90-95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes, yet it’s estimated that in 2015, as many as 7.2 million adults were undiagnosed. That same year, 84.1 million Americans aged 18 and older had prediabetes, which is a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy but often goes away soon after delivery. However, if you’ve ever been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you and your baby are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Fortunately, there are simple and fairly inexpensive (and sometimes even free!) tests that can let you know if you have diabetes or if you’re at risk of developing it later in life.

Who Should Get Screened for Diabetes

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults over the age of 45 be screened for type 2 diabetes. However, if you or a family member are experiencing what may be symptoms of type 2 diabetes, you should talk to a medical professional about your concerns, regardless of age.  

(Type 1 diabetes is unlike type 2 in that type 1 is too often diagnosed only when it reaches a critical point, meaning most symptoms may go undetected until a physical crisis occurs. Still, there are symptoms to watch for that may be indicative of type 1 diabetes.)

You should consider being screened for type 2 diabetes if you:

• Are over 45 years of age
• Have a history of gestational diabetes
• Are overweight
• Have high blood pressure
• Have a close relative who has been diagnosed with diabetes

Inexpensive and Free Screening for Type 2 Diabetes

Many health care providers and facilities offer inexpensive and free type 2 diabetes screenings and tests.

It’s important to note that because your blood glucose levels fluctuate, a single test may be inconclusive. Most health care professionals will request more than one type of test.

• This free online calculator can help you assess your risk of developing type 2 diabetes at some point in your life. This is not a diagnosis by any means, but knowing the chances of someday developing type 2 diabetes may help some people change their habits and head off a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

• Medicare Part B may cover up to two diabetes screenings each year. Part B covers the cost of lab tests if you have high blood pressure, a history of abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels, a history of high blood sugar or are considered obese. Part B will also cover the cost of a screening if you are any combination of: over 65 years of age, overweight, have a family history of diabetes or have a personal history of gestational diabetes.

• Hospitals, medical centers and places like CVS, Walgreens, Costco and Sam’s Club usually offer inexpensive diabetes screening options. However, they also often offer entirely free type 2 diabetes screening days. You’ll have to keep an eye on the event calendars in your area and at your local stores, or feel free to call ahead and ask about any upcoming screening days.

• If at any point you’re diagnosed with prediabetes, the precursor to a more severe type 2 diabetes diagnosis, you can actually reverse or put off a type 2 diabetes diagnosis through diet and lifestyle changes. Research shows that you can actually reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes after a prediabetes diagnosis by 58% by losing body fat and exercising moderately.

• A diabetes diagnosis can seem pretty overwhelming at first. The American Diabetes Association, the CDC and the American Association of Diabetes Educators all offer an assortment of educational materials online for free.

• If you’ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes, you can go here to find a community of people who are living with the same diagnosis. The ADA has free community message boards and “town hall” style educational opportunities that you can participate in.

Cheap and Free Diabetes Supplies and Care Resources

Getting screened for diabetes is only the first step in managing this costly disease. For people living with diabetes (in any form), medical costs for regular testing, management and necessary supplies add up quickly.

• Nearly every blood glucose meter manufacturer will send you a voucher for a free meter if you fill out a short form on their website. You can go here for a brief overview of some companies that will send you a voucher, a list of which supplies work with that meter and how to check if those supplies are covered by your insurance. Some manufacturers will also send out coupons and vouchers for test strips periodically.
  Be aware, however, that companies give out free meters so that you will purchase test strips through them, and for many, that’s where diabetes care begins to get costly. You can go here for a list of test strip brands, retailers and prices so you can comparison shop.

• If you have insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, you can often get test strips for cheap or free with a prescription from a doctor.

• You can search online for “short-dated” test strips. These are test strips that are nearing their expiration date and are often sold at a fraction of the retail price. Many online retailers offer test strips at deeply discounted prices.

• The Partnership for Prescription Assistance has a wealth of resources to contact if you need financial assistance when dealing with a variety of diabetes-related issues, from vision help to low-cost insulin syringes. (Also included here: service animals, test strips, amputation prevention and more diagnosis services.)

• Medicare and Medicaid cover a significant portion of diabetes testing and supplies. Benefits vary by state, but both programs will at least partially cover the cost of things like meters, test strips and syringes. In some situations, other things like therapeutic shoes or insoles, eye exams and self-management education programs may be available at no cost to you.

• CHIP, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, is a federally and state-funded program that provides uninsured children with health coverage. Benefits vary by state, but most include coverage for screening, diagnosis and treatment services. If a state does impose fees and copayments, they’re usually limited to no more than 5% of a family’s income.

Millions of Americans are living with type 2 diabetes and don’t even know it. Stay on top of your health by getting screened and by addressing and managing your symptoms.

Grace Schweizer is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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These 8 Excuses to Skip Work are Pretty Weak — Try These Instead

We already know Americans really stink at taking vacations.

But when it comes to faking a sick day to get some rest and relaxation — or even run a few errands — we’re pretty bold.

Forty percent of U.S. workers faked a sick day this year, which is up from 35% in 2016, according to a survey of more than 5,900 people commissioned by CareerBuilder. That’s two-fifths of the working population.

Of those taking a (wink, wink) sick day, 30% had a doctor’s appointment, 15% said they needed to catch up on sleep and 23% said they just didn’t feel like going to work. Is that you, Peter Gibbons?

But even for employees at companies that have a bona fide paid time-off program, 60% surveyed said they STILL need to come up with an excuse to take the day off. And, the excuses they used are, uh, not good.

Human resources managers shared the most, let’s say, interesting excuses with CareerBuilder.

These 8 ‘Sick Day’ Excuses Will Totally Make You Cringe

First off, if your company has a PTO program, you don’t need to dream up an excuse to take a day for yourself. And second, you can do better than some of the ones survey respondents shared.

Here are the eight most unbelievable day-off excuses and why they’re awful:

1. A bear is in my yard and I’m afraid to come out.

OK, this one is my personal favorite. It’s not a terrible excuse on its face, but it’s not specific enough. What type of bear? Is it eating from the trash? Have you tried offering it a pic-a-nic basket or pot of honey?

2. My phone exploded and it hurt my hand.

With all the news about the exploding Galaxy Note 7s, I can see where you’re coming from. Still, it didn’t hurt you anywhere else? It just happened to explode while it was in your hand but didn’t singe your eyebrows?

3. I ate a toothpick that was in a dish at a restaurant.

This one is weak because it’s not clear enough that it wasn’t your fault. Be specific: “The little frilly thing fell off the toothpick in my club sandwich so I couldn’t see it!”

4. I broke my arm wrestling a female bodybuilder.

Just because someone’s a bodybuilder doesn’t inherently make them a good fighter capable of breaking an arm. Next.

5. I’m calling in “fat” because my uniform doesn’t fit.

Did it fit yesterday? Did you eat an entire Thanksgiving turkey last night?

6. My dog swallowed my car keys and I’m waiting for them to pass.

Ah, an absolute classic. While this is a tried and true excuse for lazy middle school students everywhere, it doesn’t translate well to the work world. Also, if you’re not fibbing, you should probably throw away the bacon keychain.

7. I left my clothes at the Laundromat.

As much as I like to imagine someone absentmindedly leaving the Laundromat in their birthday suit, I’m assuming he meant his work clothes. This one isn’t quite outrageous enough for me. Boo.

8. I’m not sure how the solar eclipse will affect me, so it would be safer to stay at home.

The only thing bad about this excuse is that you can’t use it every day.

Here Are 8 Sick-Day Excuses You Should Use Instead

While the eight excuses above aren’t terrible, they do have their flaws.

Here are eight flawless fibs you can use to take a day off tomorrow:

1. A vampire is living in my basement, and I’m scared if I leave for work he’ll turn Sparky into Dogula.

This one has everything: fear, mythical creatures and puppies.

2. I put my suit on backwards and now I can’t get it off!

The key to making this one work is to shout it with a lot of emotion — you’re really frustrated. You want to come into work so bad, but this dang suit! Bonus points if you send a picture of yourself in a backward suit.

3. It’s too windy outside, and I’m afraid if I leave I’ll lose my lucky Mets hat.

Like I said before, specificity is the key. Also, they’ll probably feel too bad to question you because you’re a Mets fan.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

4. My evil twin has escaped from an underwater prison, and he might attack me on my way to work.

They say everyone has an evil twin. Use yours to stretch the truth for a day off. (But, seriously, be on the lookout for your evil twin.)

5. I need to spend the day coming up with schemes to get out of jury duty.

Jury duty is a drag, so surely your boss can relate. Right? If your boss asks what excuses you have so far, say you’re workshopping this one: “I can’t serve on the jury because it was actually me who committed the crime. It would not be fair.”

6. I need to go back in time and stop the assassination of Lincoln!

This is another one that will require acting chops, as your voice should quiver with imperativeness. And your boss should be prepared, since you took off last Thursday to finish building your time machine.

7. My large adult son has trapped me in in my bedroom for forgetting to buy milk for his Lucky Charms.

Your boss should understand the predicament. What would you do if you had to eat dry cereal?

8. I saw Bigfoot walk across my lawn yesterday, and I need to stay home to snap a picture and document his existence.

Again, mythical creatures are always a solid play. But this one works because you can say you’ll donate your reward to the company’s fantasy football pot.

So there you have it, eight foolproof excuses for you to take a day off of work. Who feels like adulting today anyway?

Alex Mahadevan is a data journalist at The Penny Hoarder. He was going to turn this article in earlier, but a giant bird stole his pants and he had to run home to change.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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These 9 Quick Tips Can Help You Save Money on Your Next Uber Ride

It’s the weekend, and there’s no guarantee what I’ll be doing.

I mean, you could catch me binging my favorite podcasts, cross-stitching or even reading.

Thrilling.

However, here’s one guarantee: I’ll use Uber at some point.

Last weekend, the ride-sharing service was my sober ride to and from a food-truck festival. Then, I placed a Saturday morning UberEats order for donut sandwiches. (You’re wondering: Is that what I think it is? Yes. Yes, it is. It’s a wonderful thing.)

And I have plans to use it again this weekend — to get to and from the airport so I can avoid exorbitant parking rates.

Uber is, well, uber convenient. But the cost adds up quickly.

In fact, I panicked when my budgeting app said I spent $28 on an Uber. What?! It was those doughnut sandwiches, hand-delivered to my front door.

Ugh. The cost of convenience.

Uber is one of those services in my life that’s so valuable I don’t mind paying for it. Like utilities. I just settle because it’s worth it.

But I should have known better. After doing some research, I found some easy ways to save on Uber’s services.

Here’s How to Save Money on Uber

1. Maximize Your Cash-Back Rewards

My editor and I frequently brag to each other about the ways we’ve saved money. A few weeks ago, he showed me Drop, an app that rewards you for spending money.

I stopped what I was writing and took advantage of the free download.

Here’s how it works: You sign up and connect your most-used debit or credit card. Then, choose five of your favorite, most-frequented retailers from a list of options. I selected Lyft, Trader Joe’s, Target, Starbucks and, you guessed it, Uber.

Now, when I spend money on an Uber — or with UberEats — Drop rewards me in points, which I can then exchange for gift cards.

That $28 UberEats order? I earned 280 points. Once I earn enough, I can exchange them for a gift card. For example, 10,000 points equates to a $10 Amazon gift card.

The app is a passive form of income — I really don’t have to do anything. I can hop in a few months from now and find a nice heap of points. Or I can be more active and check for special bonuses, which recently snagged me 200 points just for spending at least $15 at CVS.

(But saving money at CVS is another story.)

2. I Botta Uber… Through Ibotta

Here’s another strategy I’ve already employed to save money on Uber: Request a ride through Ibotta.

Ibotta, a cash-back app, is straightforward. First, download it for free, then see what kind of deals it has going with Uber.

Right now (and quite often), it has an offer for $1 back per Uber ride. Just click “Shop,” and the app will open Uber for you. Now, request your ride like you would any other night. Once the ride is over, Uber will let you know it’ll deposit that dollar into your account ASAP. (It’s usually immediately for me.)

Keep an eye out on other offers. Sometimes, if you take three rides through Ibotta, it’ll grant you a $5 coupon code.

If you’re new, there’s an added perk. Complete your first cash-back opportunity and pocket a $10 bonus.

3. Research the New Uber Credit Card

Another credit card?! (*shivers*)

I wouldn’t normally harp on a credit card, but this one looks pretty sweet. (I even sent it to my boyfriend, who researches the crap out of credit cards, and he was impressed.)

Released Nov. 2, the Uber Visa Card offers some solid rewards in actually relevant categories:

• 4% back on dining. This includes restaurants, takeout, bars and UberEats orders.
• 3% back on hotels and airfare. This includes vacation-home rentals.
• 2% back on online purchases. This includes Uber rides, online shopping and video- and music-streaming services.
• 1% back on everything else.

Better yet? There’s no annual fee. And if you spend $500 in the first 90 days, you’ll snag a $100 bonus.

Redeem your points for cash back — or for Uber ride credits.

Before taking advantage of the deal, we recommend doing your research. And making sure you know how to responsibly use a credit card.

4. Make More Friends

Live by the mantra “No New Friends”? Then skip this tip.

If you’re OK with meeting people, then great. Send ’em your invitation code so you can get $5. They’ll get a free ride, too. Win-win.

To find that invitation code, go to the menu bar (top right corner of the app), and click “Free Rides.” It’s hiding in there.

Bonus: Uber likes to initiate some healthy competition, so if you refer the most friends (new riders!) in one week, you could win $1,000. Second place gets $600, and third place takes $400.

Not bad, right? The only thing is you have to have at least five successful ride referrals within a week. The more you refer, the better your chances.

You can find all the details on Uber’s site.

5. Don’t Hesitate to Complain…

…says me, the person who never has the audacity to complain.

But the best part about this is you don’t have to do it face-to-face or after sitting on hold for 20 hours.

If you truly have a negative Uber experience — say your driver takes the LONGEST way ever, or you were charged unfairly with a cancellation fee — you can submit a complaint.

One driver recently told me to never hesitate to file a complaint because, after all, you’re spending money on the service. She also said Uber is super good about responding to complaints.

6. Check the Facebook Messenger Promo

If you request an Uber through Facebook Messenger, you could score a $20 ride credit.

Do note, we first wrote about this tip back in 2015. Now, this money-saving technique isn’t app-wide, so you’ll want to see if it’s available in your area.

In order to bank the $20 ride credit (or see if you’re eligible), you’ll need to order an Uber through Facebook Messenger. Here’s what you do:

• Open your Facebook Messenger app and create a new message.
• Start a conversation with Uber, and find the car icon. Or open up any other message and find the “…” icon. Select “Transportation.”
• Now, you’ll be able to request, view and pay for your ride via Messenger. This first ride’s free — up to $20.

If you’re not seeing that car icon, you’re not crazy. I couldn’t find it either. I reached out to Uber and asked about the promotion.

A representative told me the promotion was not currently available but that it’s possible it’ll come back. They suggested I keep tabs on email updates or the website to see if and when it’s valid again.

You betcha I’ll be checking in on this offer every now and then. Never say never — especially to $20.

7. Beat The Surge

Ever go to a concert and end up paying $53.33 for a 20-minute Uber ride? I don’t want to say I have… but I have.

Yes, I was tired and just wanted to go home, so I did it. I bit the surge bullet. Next time, though? I’ll employ a few of these moves to save on surge.

And nope! None of the tips say, “Leave Concert Early.” Because you never want to be that person.

8. Pay With a Discounted Gift Card

This one will be hit or miss, but it’s always worth checking.

See if you can find a discounted gift card on an online gift-card marketplace like Raise.

Right now, the deals don’t look so hot — the best one is 2% off, making a $25 Uber gift card $24.50. But you can set alerts so you don’t miss anything good.

9. Utilize Uber’s In-App Features

My last tip? Take some time to familiarize yourself with Uber’s various features.

For example, if you’re traveling with someone, consider using Uber’s “Split Fare” feature. This makes life simple, and you don’t have to worry about that awkward “Request Money” Venmo the next day.

Also, if you’re not in a rush and if it’s an option, use the carpool feature. It’ll likely take a little more time to get to your destination, but you can save quite a bit of money. And, heck, sometimes it ends up being just you.

Finally, some places, including the Tampa Bay area, have partnered with public transit. So you can request an Uber to your destination, and it’ll suggest the closest bus stop. You’ll then Uber to the stop and hop on the bus.

Just from looking at my own recent destinations, this option isn’t much cheaper, but it’s worth consideration depending on where you live and where you’re going.

How ya feelin’? Ready to tackle the weekend — and save money on your next Uber?

Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She earned $3 back on Uber rides this past weekend through Ibotta. She counts that as a win!

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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Pro Tip: These Companies Will Send You Over $750 in Free Coupons

Woo-hoo! Ready to save a ton of money at the grocery store this week?

These offers have been around before, but the coupons always seem to run out quickly. (We’ll update the post once we hear they’re gone.)

There are three different request forms you need to fill out below. All totaled, they’ll add up to more than $750 in free coupons — and a ton of extra goodies.

1. Betty Crocker – Up to $250 in Free Coupons

Give Betty Crocker your email address and it’ll send you up to $250 worth of coupons that can help you get deeply discounted or free canned goods, cereal and yogurt.

In addition to coupons, Betty Crocker’s free email delivers the best of Betty’s 15,000 kitchen-tested recipes, how-tos and more — straight to your inbox!

If you’re like us, you probably get bored making the same food week after week, so wouldn’t it be nice to be occasionally surprised with simple recipes you can make on a budget?

And, hey, the holidays will be here before you know it, so be sure to prepare because 1.) the grocery stores are always a nightmare, and 2.) sneaking away to scoop Aunt Pam’s mushy green-bean casserole in the trash is never fun…   

2. Pillsbury – Up to $250 in Free Coupons

Sign up for Pillsbury.com emails to receive up to $250 in yearly coupons, access to free product samples (quantities limited, one per member) and the easiest recipes sent right to your inbox.

Because of the high value of these coupons, they’ve limited it to one set of coupons per person, so if you need more coupons, get your spouse to sign up.

And, honestly, no holiday dinner is complete without the Doughboy helpin’ you out behind the scenes. No one will know you didn’t make that pie crust from scratch…

3. Tablespoon – Up to $250 in Free Coupons

Sign up for Tablespoon’s free email. and score up to $250 per year in coupon savings. Plus, stay on top of your food game with free recipes for doable dinners, delish desserts, party snacks and more.

Fill out the short form here (it takes 10 seconds), and select “coupon & sales.” Then click the button marked “clip all” to claim the coupons.

(Side note: A few readers have reported not seeing the “coupon & sales” link. You may have to log out and log back in for it show up.)

Good luck Penny Hoarders! 

Disclosure: General Mills has sponsored the placement of Betty Crocker, Tablespoon, and Pillsbury in this post. We appreciate them sharing money saving tips with our readers!

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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How to Create a Highly Effective Value Proposition

I see people make this mistake all the time.

They come up with a slogan and assume it’s an effective value proposition.

Yes, slogans are a great way to build your personal brand.

It’s a great way to help consumers remember who you are.

But slogans are not value propositions.

What’s a value proposition?

It’s a unique message to the consumer that conveys the main reason why they should buy from your brand.

Your value needs to be relevant to the customer. Explain why your brand, product, or service can offer a solution to a problem.

Be specific when you’re talking about these benefits.

Differentiate yourself from the field.

Why should your target customers buy from you instead of your competitors?

Overall, this message needs to attract customers by creating value.

Keep these five types of value in mind while you’re coming up with a unique proposition:

• Functionality – Focus on convenience. What problems are you solving? Why is your company better than the competition?
• Emotions – Put emphasis on the most attractive part of the product or service. How can you get customers emotionally attached to your brand?
• Economics – Mention any financial advantages. Is your product less expensive than alternatives? Will it save your customer time or money in the long-term?
• Symbolism – Figure out what your company represents. Will your customer feel environmentally responsible after shopping? Or will your product elevate their social status?
• End value – Stress the importance of customer satisfaction. Be clear and concise. What are you guaranteeing?

If you’re looking to improve your current value proposition or build one from scratch, I can help.

I’ll tell you everything you need to know about creating a highly effective value proposition.

Focus on your target market

Your value proposition should not appeal to everyone and anyone.

Define your target audience.

You won’t be able to please everyone, so don’t try to.

Trying to reach a wider audience with your value proposition could potentially backfire.

It could end up turning people away.

Here’s an example from Dollar Shave Club:

Look at the wording and terminology they are using in this value proposition.

I pointed out a couple of key points.

It’s clear they are trying to appeal to a younger audience.

Older generations may not understand the “level 9 yogi” analogy of their flexible cancellation plan.

The same people may not respond well to something as informal and direct as “C’mon. Do it.”

But Dollar Shave Club clearly defined their target market.

Changing their value proposition to something more basic could turn off their existing customer base.

Why?

People could see a generic pitch as boring or not as cool.

This company handles their value proposition really well in terms of focusing on a specific audience.

The small things make a big difference

What added value can you provide?

It may sound like something small, but it could make or break the customer’s decision to buy something from you or a competitor.

If you offer added value, show it off.

Here are some examples:

• Free installation
• Free shipping
• Next day delivery
• Cancel subscription at any time
• Money back guarantee
• Fully customizable

Don’t wait until the checkout page to tell customers about these benefits.

If you don’t put it on your homepage, they may never even get to your conversion page.

Look at how Bed Bath & Beyond accomplishes this on their website:

The website visitors instantly see two pieces of added value:

1. free shipping
2. free truck delivery

Now they know they can get their order shipped free even if they are buying furniture.

It can entice them to add something big, like a couch or a table, to their shopping carts.

According to Marketing Land, free shipping is the top incentive for consumers who shop online.

This is an essential piece of information to anyone in the ecommerce industry.

Why?

Because it’s something that adds value to the customer.

How to present your value proposition

There’s no perfect way to display your proposition.

It’s not like there’s a blueprint that has specific requirements.

With that said, there are certain components you should consider when coming up with this display on your website.

Start with a headline.

Keep it short, and try to grab the customer’s attention.

Next, create a subheader.

It will be slightly longer than your headline, adding a little bit more information.

The subheader should be specific.

You’ll also want to come up with a few sentences that describe your brand, product, or services in greater detail.

It’s always helpful to include some bullet points that outline some of your top benefits or key features.

Images work well too.

Visuals help make the customer understand exactly what you’re offering or how the product works.

Let’s take a look at the value proposition from Square:

I love this homepage because it encompasses everything we just discussed.

The header instantly grabs the attention of prospective customers.

What exactly does the company do?

The sub header explains that you can “accept credit cards anywhere,” and the brief description goes into greater detail about how it works.

Square also included bullet points with their top features:

• free magstripe reader
• take chip cards
• countertop POS system

What does the product look like?

The image shows exactly what they’re offering.

Showing scale implies more added value as well. It’s so small that it can fit into your pocket.

If you’re struggling to come up with a layout for your company’s value proposition on a website, you can treat Square’s site as a template.

Just swap out their benefits and description for your own.

But what if you don’t know your top benefits?

If that’s the case, it sounds like you have a marketing problem or a possible issue with your company’s identification.

It’s fixable if you’re willing to put in some research.

Think back to what we outlined earlier.

Start with your target audience.

Conduct a study.

Here’s an example of some critical consumer research in the IT industry in relation to the value proposition.

If you’re in the IT field, you should focus your proposition on:

• ecommerce
• landing design
• online experiences
• analytics
• innovation
• digital transformation

That’s just one example.

It’s up to you to conduct research based on your company and industry.

Reach out to your customers directly and ask what they’re looking for.

Create online surveys. Conduct customer interviews.

This will help you accomplish a couple of things at the same time:

1. build a better relationship with your existing customers;
2. use the information to create a value proposition that attracts new customers.

Essentially, you’re killing two birds with one stone.

Test your value proposition

Now that you’ve developed a value proposition, it’s time to make sure you have it optimized to maximize conversions.

A/B testing is one of the best ways to do this.

Make sure you test only one thing at a time.

If you change too much, you won’t know which aspect of the test increased or decreased conversions.

Here’s an example from California Closets:

At first glance, these website versions appear identical.

The only thing changed was the heading.

Split-testing your website to find out which part of the value proposition is more effective will increase your conversion rates.

After you test the header, test something else.

In the example above, they could test the background image next.

They could also add more bullet points or put the bullets on another part of the screen.

The options are endless.

Another way to test your value proposition is through pay per click (PPC) advertising campaigns.

For the most part, we’ve been discussing your value proposition in relation to your website.

But that’s not the only place where you’re trying to acquire customers and get conversions.

It makes sense to have an effective value proposition on other platforms as well.

Consider using Facebook’s PPC services.

It just depends on how much you’re willing to spend.

The placement of your advertisement will impact the price.

Back in 2012, Facebook acquired Instagram for $1 billion dollars.

If you want to run a PPC campaign on Instagram, you have to go through Facebook.

This will be one of the most expensive ways to test your value proposition through PPC advertising.

However, if you have the funds, you could get the most accurate results with this method.

But don’t feel obligated to use Instagram.

Facebook offers other, more affordable, placement options.

If you’d like to avoid Facebook and social platforms altogether, you’ve got other options.

Consider running your PPC testing through Google AdWords.

You can test your value proposition at a local level or internationally.

Google lets you set this up by:

• cities
• regions
• countries

Less than half of small businesses are currently investing in PPC advertising.

Even if your business is small, you can still take advantage of this strategy.

It will give you an edge over your competitors.

Focus on customer emotion

The emotional value was something we briefly discussed earlier.

I want to elaborate on this because I think it’s important.

Triggering an emotion in your value proposition can elicit a certain response from your customers.

In your case, obviously, you want this response to be a sale or conversion.

Take a look at how different industries are rated based on emotional responses:

How can you elicit certain feelings from your customers?

Think about the goals and mission of your company.

Your value proposition should portray what your business represents.

Here’s an example from Mercedes-Benz:

Look at the phrases they are using in the top left corner:

• benchmark of luxury
• peak of intelligence
• eloquent expression
• leading edge luxury

It’s clear what kind of emotions they are trying to elicit.

They used the word luxury twice, so they’re targeting people who want to have a very specific experience.

Symbolism.

This car portrays a certain level of social status.

That’s how they have effectively branded their company.

Let’s take a look at another example that’s on the opposite end of this spectrum.

We’ll discuss a company involved with charitable organizations.

Have you heard of Project 7?

They sell gum and mints.

A portion of their sales goes to nonprofit businesses, suppliers, and distributors who help people in need.

The money goes to 7 different missions:

1. Save the earth
2. House the homeless
3. Feed the hungry
4. Quench the thirsty
5. Heal the sick
6. Teach them well
7. Hope for peace

Businesses that give back to the community both locally and internationally should be proud of what they’re accomplishing.

Share that information with your customers in your value proposition.

It can trigger an emotional response leading to a sale.

Conclusion

If your company has a catchy slogan, that’s great.

But your slogan is not the same thing as a value proposition.

Your value proposition should talk about the functionality of your brand, products, or services.

What differentiates your company from the competition?

Your value proposition won’t appeal to everyone.

Don’t worry—it doesn’t have to.

Focus on your target market.

Mention any added value as well.

Even if it’s something small like free shipping, free installation, or a money back guarantee, it could be the deciding factor that drives a sale.

Learn how to present your value proposition:

• header
• subheader
• description
• bullet points
• images

After you build an initial value proposition, test it.

I recommend using A/B testing and PPC advertising to find the best option for your layout.

What does your company stand for? Use this to generate an emotional response from your customers.

If you follow these tips, you can create a highly effective value proposition.

What added value does your business offer to differentiate itself from the competition?

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This Calculator Can Help You Figure Out How to Save $700K for Retirement

Think fast: Do you think you can save $700,000 for retirement?

Sounds unlikely, doesn’t it?

For those of us who live paycheck to paycheck, saving $700K sounds like a pipe dream. You might as well make plans to build a candy-coated castle in the clouds, right? Seems just as likely.

Ah, but what if I told you you could do it? Would you believe me?

What if I outlined a strategy to make it happen?

Here’s the one thing you should know: The sooner you start, the better.

The key to saving for retirement is to get serious about it as early as possible. It’s all about the power of compound interest.

Compound interest is interest you get paid on your interest. That way, your savings starts gathering interest like a snowball rolling downhill. With compound interest, your greatest asset is time.

To help you visualize this, check out the cool retirement calculator at Finhabits, an online investment service that’s geared toward first-time savers.

This low-cost digital retirement savings app can help you open an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) within minutes. Its mission is to encourage people to save for retirement — which is a good idea, since millions of Americans worry they’ll never, ever be able to retire.

To get to this handy retirement calculator, go to the Finhabits website and click “Get Started.”

Play around with the calculator. It’s fun!

It asks you for three things: Your age, how much money you can save per week and whether your investment risk level is conservative, moderate or aggressive.

Then it projects how much money you’ll have socked away by the time you turn 62. Its projections are based on Finhabits’ investment plans.

Here are some of the results we got:

• You’re 20 years old. You set aside a certain amount of money each week and invest it in the stock market. (This is the “aggressive” risk setting.) In order to save $700,000 for retirement, you have to set aside $74 a week.

• You start saving when you’re 25. In order to have that same $700,000 stocked away for retirement, you have to save $102 a week.

• You wait until you’re 30 to get started. If you set aside that same $102 per week, you’ll end up with only $500,000, not $700,000. See how big of a difference just five years makes?

Seeing is Believing, So See For Yourself

Playing around with the calculator is really eye-opening. You can see for yourself how much difference it’ll make if you wait too long to start saving for retirement.

Sure, we all know in sort of a vague, general way that the more money you save, the better off you’ll be in your golden years.

But this calculator really puts it in black and white. It uses hard figures to spell out the effects your decisions today will have down the line.

3 Feasible Ways to Make $50 a Week

But, but, but … you’re saying. How do I set aside $75 a week?

You can probably save $25 a week by gritting your teeth and just doing it. Spend less. Go without that expensive latte every morning.

Beyond that, we have three ideas for making and/or saving that extra $50 per week. For maximum results, try all three.

Lyft: Hustle up some extra cash by driving for Lyft on your own schedule. Lyft keeps expanding and says its platform now covers 94% of the country..

Trim: Install Trim, a Facebook messenger bot that will negotiate your cable or internet bills down for you. It works with Comcast, Time Warner, Charter and other major providers. You sign up with Facebook, then upload a PDF of your most recent bill, and Trim’s AI-powered system gets to work. It’ll keep negotiating until it saves you money. Put the savings toward retirement.

Barclaycard: If you don’t have a cash-back credit card and can handle the responsibility of paying it off in full each month, you should get one. With the Barclaycard CashForward™ World Mastercard®, you earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Each time you redeem those rewards, you also get a 5% redemption bonus to use toward your next redemption. Also, you get a $200 bonus when you sign up and spend $1,000 within 90 days. When you think about it, $1,000 over three months isn’t really that much — groceries add up pretty fast.

Take these steps, and maybe you’ll be able to retire after all.

Finhabits’ retirement calculator will help point the way. And once you’ve gotten a look at the numbers, the service will help you open an IRA.

Carlos Garcia, the financial entrepreneur who launched Finhabits, says that no matter how much you put away for retirement each week, it’s best to just do it and not put off saving.

Get started today. The sooner you start, the better off you’ll be.

Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which The Penny Hoarder receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). We do not feature all available credit card offers or all credit card issuers. The Finhabits’ retirement calculator projects results for demonstration purposes only. All securities involve risk and may result in loss.

Mike Brassfield (mike@thepennyhoarder.com) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. He’d like to retire someday.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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This Site Will Literally Pay You for Printing and Redeeming Its Coupons

The holidays are approaching, which means one unfortunate side effect: lots of expenses.

I don’t know what happens with your family this time of year, but in mine, it’s all about the food. When it’s your turn to host a meal for a dozen or more people, those food costs add up.

If you’ve been ignoring your budget all year, this might be the time you start to pay attention. Suddenly, frugality looks attractive, and extreme couponing doesn’t seem so crazy.

Until you give it a try and come up for air after six hours, covered in paper cuts and newspaper ink.

Let’s reign in your ambition for a sec. Collecting weekly ads and clipping grocery coupons at the kitchen table every Sunday night aren’t the only ways to cut expenses.

It’s 2017. You can do that on the internet.

We’ve told you about MyPoints before. It’s a shopping portal that lets you earn rewards points for shopping through its site — but we found a new way to use it.

MyPoints also curates tons of grocery coupons for food, health and beauty supplies, pet supplies, household necessities and more. And it’ll pay you just for “clipping” them from its website… which is way easier than the old way.

How to Get Paid to Clip MyPoints Coupons

MyPoints gives you rewards points for printing and using grocery coupons from its site. And it’ll give you a $5 bonus to get started.

So… you get paid to save money on your groceries. That’s a real thing.

To start saving and claim your $5 gift card:

1. Sign up for MyPoints here.
2. Print coupons anytime (max 500 a month). Earn one point per coupon you print. Plus, after you print your first 50 coupons, you’ll earn 790 bonus points, equal to $5 in gift-card value.
3. You’ll also earn 10 points every time you use a coupon.
4. Cash in your points for gift cards to places including Walmart, Amazon and Starbucks, or money via PayPal.

On top of the points, don’t forget the money you’ll save using the coupons. When I checked the site, it had $510.25 in savings available in printable coupons.

That might even be enough relief to keep you from resenting your visiting relatives this holiday season.

(Too ambitious? Meh, worth a shot.)

Dana Sitar (dana@thepennyhoarder.com) is a senior writer/newsletter editor at The Penny Hoarder. Say hi and tell her a good joke on Twitter @danasitar.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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18 Flexible Ways to Make Money With Your Car

By Holly Reisem Hanna The other day I was at the grocery store and I noticed a woman scanning items with her smartphone. As a user of moneymaking smartphone apps, I decided to ask her which one she was using. She told me that she was shopping for Shipt which is a smartphone app/platform that […]

The post 18 Flexible Ways to Make Money With Your Car appeared first on The Work at Home Woman.

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What to Do If You Think the Stock Market Is About to Start Going Down

The stock market has been on an unprecedented run of success over the last decade or so. Here are the average annual returns of the S&P 500 over the last nine years:

2009 – 26.46%
2010 – 15.06%
2011 – 2.11%
2012 – 16.00%
2013 – 32.39%
2014 – 13.69%
2015 – 1.38%
2016 – 11.96%
2017 (so far) – 16.91%

That’s a pretty impressive run. If you put $1,000 in a S&P 500 index fund at the start of 2009 and just sat on it, you’d have $3,442 right now. That’s an amazing improvement!

Here’s how unusual this run is: it’s the second longest bull market in U.S. history (with a bull market being defined as a run of days in which the stock market has not declined 20% from the high water mark of that run).

That kind of correction, where the stock market declines for a while after a run of positive days and years, has always happened at some time or another. Stock markets don’t go up and up and up at a 10% or more average annual return forever. Eventually, something happens: Companies get too greedy, an unexpected major event happens, investors begin to move into other investments for some reason, or something else entirely.

The point is simple: Eventually, the stock market is going to correct – we’re going to see a run where the stock market dips 20% or more. The only real question is when.

Whenever things are this good for this long, people start getting nervous, even if there aren’t any telling signs of a coming decline. I’ve seen that nervousness in play in several reader emails, where people write in asking what they should do if the market is about to drop, even if they have no idea whether it will and have no evidence whatsoever.

Typically, these readers have a significant portion of their retirement savings in stocks and they’re worried about losing value. They picture their retirement savings falling by 40% or 50%, as happened in 2008, and they don’t want to see that happen.

So, what should you do if you think the stock market is about to start going down?

Here’s my answer: Nothing at all, unless there are a lot of extenuating circumstances. Let’s walk through the reasons.

First of all, the stock market is inherently a long-term investment, and this is a short-term factor. Making a big investment choice with a long-term investment based on some hunch that something might happen in the short term is a mistake.

The truth is that, unless you are a day trader or an investor who focuses deeply on the stock market in a professional way, money invested in the stock market should be heavily diversified and it should be a long-term “sit and wait” investment. The reason to cash out of it is because you’ve either arrived at the time where you want to put that money to work or you’re very close to that point. In other words, the stock market’s current activity should never drive the decision of an average person with regards to holding onto their stock investment.

Second, no one can ever really predict where the top of the market is going to be. The longest bull market of all time was several years longer than the current one (1987 to 2000) and this one could be even longer than that. Simply put, no one has any real idea where the top of the market is going to be or how far away it is.

Why does that matter? Let’s say that you sell everything now and move everything into cash, but then the market keeps going up for the next three or four years. Even with a significant correction, you’re still behind compared to just leaving it in place. You simply don’t know what’s going to happen going forward.

Third, even when the market does start to drop, no one can ever really predict where the bottom is going to be. It might be a rapid three-month correction that only drops 15%. It might be a three-year long correction that drops 55%. Again, no one can predict how long it will last and no one can point to where the “bottom” is except for in hindsight after things have gone back up quite a bit.

So, even if you’re completely right and now is the perfect moment to get out, you’re still very likely to miss the bottom of the market by a wide margin.

Combined together, these three big problems with pulling out now if you think the stock market is about to decline result in a situation that, unless you’re lucky, you’re probably not gaining much by pulling out tomorrow, even if some of those guesses go in your favor.

Hold on, though. Didn’t I say that there were a few situations where it’s okay to pull your money out of stocks right now? There are a few reasons.

The first reason is rebalancing. Many people have their retirement savings in a “target retirement” fund which does the rebalancing for them, but if that’s not you, you may find yourself in a position where you want to rebalance things. Let’s say, when you started investing, that you wanted to have 60% of your money in stocks and 40% in bonds. Over the last decade, your stocks have grown a lot faster than bonds, so you might be in a situation where 75% of your money is in stocks and 25% is in bonds. In that situation, it makes sense to rebalance – sell enough stocks to return yourself to the original balance you decided upon. You’re sticking with your plan, in other words.

The second reason is approaching your target date. If you’re getting close to your target date where you actually want to use that money, it may make sense to move some or all of it to something safer. For example, if you’ve been saving up to buy a house and have put some of it in stocks, and the time to buy a house is drawing close, you probably want to pull money out of stocks now because stocks are a long-term investment and you’re now focused on the short term. Note that retirement savings only partially follows this rule – when you retire, you’re likely intending to only spend a small portion of that money in the first several years of retirement, thus most of your money should stay in something aggressive but some of it should go into something safer.

There are other similar reasons, such as changing personal circumstances, where you may want to make a move right now, but the overall matter still holds true: Unless there’s a very good reason to do so, you should stick with your stock investments just as they are and ride through whatever is to come.

Stocks are a long-term investment. Sometimes they go up and sometimes they go down. No one can really predict when the switch between the two will happen. Making a guess can have some pretty terrible results for your investments, and guessing is exactly what you’re doing unless you are extremely gifted at stock investing.

Sit tight and enjoy the ride.

Related Articles:

• Are You Ready for a Stock Market Crash?
• You’re Guaranteed to Lose Money in the Stock Market
• Even Experts Can’t Beat the Stock Market – Why Would You?

The post What to Do If You Think the Stock Market Is About to Start Going Down appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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This is Why Internet Prices Keep Rising — And How to Cut Your Bill Down

If you haven’t had the pleasure of signing up for internet service lately, let me tell you about it.

I recently moved (out of my parents’ home). And although I’ve paid my fair share of utility bills in the past, I was shocked when I found out how much internet and a simple cable package would cost.

It would be about $140 per month, the nice representative told me.

*Insert my audible gasp and an “Are you serious?” here.*

I asked about just internet. I’d been talking about joining the horde of other households that have cut the cord anyways. After all, I have Netflix and Amazon Prime, and I’ve been wanting to sign up for Hulu. Those streaming services total about $27 per month.

“Just internet?” the nice representative repeats, likely rolling her eyes, because she’s already heard this question 100 times today. That’ll be  $69.99 a month.

Still? I breathed into the phone.

Why is Internet So Dang Expensive?

I need internet like I need electricity and water. I work from home once a week, and even if I’m going to cut the cord and opt for streaming services, well, I still need internet. I could opt to spend all my free time reading, but what about “The Real Housewives”?

I asked folks around the office, my friends, my family: Has internet always been this expensive? Because I don’t remember ever paying that much. Or maybe it’s because I always split the bill with roomies.

No one seemed super shocked. But I received one sign of validation when Consumerist recently reported that, yes, internet prices are increasing.

The Consumerist article cited a Morgan Stanley survey, which found that cable companies have increased internet prices by an average of 12% this past year.

For some concrete context, internet-only customers now pay an average of $66 per month for the service, whereas those who have a broadband and cable package pay $49 per month for internet.

What’s up, guys?

Well, like I’d considered, more and more of us are cutting the cord, which is leaving cable providers with no choice but to hike prices to make up for lost revenue.

And prices will keep on keepin’ on, analysts predict.

“Despite the double-digit cost increases, analysts believe the new prices might not be enough,” Consumerist writes. “Instead, companies would need to set their broadband-only prices to $80/month in order to offset the lost revenue from cord-cutters.”

What’s one to do?

How to Lower Your Internet Bill

Honestly, I felt defeated when I heard the innocent representative give me those price points.

I decided to go with the whole bundle — internet and cable and, yes, even a landline, because apparently not getting one increases your bill by about $30.

Now I’m going to pay an initial bill of $162 (install fees, of course) and subsequent bills of $140.

But there are a few options that’ll help you cut down (or attempt to) your monthly bill.

1. Straight Up, Ask For a Discount

Anyone who knows me knows I’m perhaps the most passive person ever, so the thought of this intimidates me a little.
But it’s worth a shot.
Plus, Penny Hoarder contributor Chris Ronzio outlined five easy steps to get the job done. And, no, none of them include yelling at — or crying to — your provider.

2. Get a Chatbot to Haggle For You

Ah, this sounds less stressful. Also, at this point, I’ve spent half my life on hold with my internet provider, and I’m so over it.

That’s why I’m going to follow my fellow Penny Hoarder’s lead and try using Trim. It’s a little bot that lives in Facebook Messenger or your text messages, and it’ll negotiate your cable or internet bills down for you.

It works with Comcast, Time Warner, Charter and other providers.

You can sign up simply with Facebook. Then, upload a PDF of your most recent bill, and Trim’s AI-powered system gets to work.

If at first it doesn’t succeed, it’ll keep negotiating until it can save you some money.

Also, if you have any outages, Trim believes you deserve a credit, and it’ll handle that for you.
Trim takes 25% of the savings tab.
This past weekend, I submitted my first bill. Trim is haggling with Spectrum at the moment. But I wanted evidence it works, so like all things I want proven, I turned to Twitter to see what people were saying. Here’s what I found:

@ask_trim I thought trim pulled a quick one on me. I was wrong! Trim saved me $200 on my Comcast bill! I simply cant believe it. Thank You! http://pic.twitter.com/xtPzY5oqsm

— Schwifty (@Trmplstilskn00) October 20, 2017

 

@ask_trim thanks for saving me $28.97 for a one-day Comcast TV and internet outage! You are the best!

— Kevin Zuchini (@puddlejumper83) October 18, 2017

 

#BelieveTheHype i just received a $100 comcast credit for no work. thanks .@ask_trim http://pic.twitter.com/URbRBxfLqV

— Joshua Lory (@joshua_lory) October 18, 2017

 

I was very hesitant to give @ask_trim a try, but then it saved me $10 on my @comcast bill without me having to do anything. I approve.

— Eric Farmer (@ericdfarmer) September 28, 2017

I’m kind of pumped see what Trim can do for me!

Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. While waiting for her first internet bill, she’s started using Trim to patrol her Amazon purchases. When an item’s price drops, she receives the difference!

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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