TSwift’s Cooking Is ‘Bomb.’ Here’s How to Host When You Don’t Have $170M

Look, I’m not exactly a fan of Taylor Swift’s music –– but apparently, the girl can cook.

American comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish recently had dinner with the “Reputation” singer, and she described it to Ellen DeGeneres in one word: “bomb” (that’s millennial slang for good).

Reports are saying it was an awesome potluck, but Swift provided the majority of the food — meaning this wasn’t a potluck at all.

On the menu? Barbecue chicken, cornbread, potato salad and brisket. Haddish contributed collard greens.  

While I don’t doubt Miss Swift’s cooking skills, Forbes says she’s worth $170 million, so her version of a dinner with friend might have been a bit extravagant. Plus, she pretty much cooked the entire meal –– and not everyone has the financial means to do that, especially for a large group.

Looking for a way to wow your besties during dinner without spending a fortune? It’s possible, and you don’t need to be an international pop star to do it.

How to Throw a Dinner Like TSwift Without the Cost

When it comes to hosting dinners, the stress can get real. You have to clean the house, cook for hours, dazzle everyone with entertaining and then clean up a mess once they all leave.

Let’s not forget, either, how expensive cooking for groups of people can get.

It’s possible to cut the stress and cost by spreading the responsibilities of cooking, cleaning and serving among your guests with a potluck.

Think about it: You and your guests each make one dish. For a fraction of the cost, everyone eats, and you get to enjoy the night, too!

Here are a few ways you can host an awesome potluck –– and a few tips for saving on its cost:

Pick a Theme

Penny Hoarder junior writer Grace Schweizer wrote about throwing the perfect potluck. She says that picking a theme ensures all the dishes complement one another, leaving everyone satisfied at the end. Plus, it encourages everyone to get creative with their cooking!

Send Out a Sign-Up Sheet

Schweizer writes that the idea of a potluck is to let your guests get creative and to have a variety of dishes to sample. By sending out a sign-up sheet, everyone can coordinate their dishes, and you’ll be free from the stress associated with creating a menu.

Change Up the Time

If you’re really in a financial pinch, consider throwing a breakfast or brunch potluck. Ingredients like eggs and potatoes are cheaper than meats or fresh vegetables. If you want to add fresh fruit to the mix, be sure to buy whatever is in season to save on cost.  

Buy in Bulk

A good host will provide drinks, of course –– but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune stocking up on your liquor bar. If you’re hosting a potluck dinner, consider buying boxed wine instead of bottled; it’s affordable and never goes bad. Check out our taste test on the top boxed wines so you can buy with confidence.

Oh, and don’t forget: Have fun.

Kelly Anne Smith is a junior writer and engagement specialist at The Penny Hoarder. Catch her on Twitter at @keywordkelly.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, 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 Company Needs Reps to Work From Home in 8 States. Here’s How to Apply

Let me guess: You’re reading this while eating a cold, soggy sandwich, Googling “work-from-home jobs” on your lunch break at your stuffy office job with the two-hour round-trip commute.

No?

Well, then you’re reading this because you’re looking for a job that gives you the flexibility to stay at home and take care of the people (or cats) that mean the most to you.

Still not it? Man, I’m really off my game today.

OK, last guess: You’re reading this because you saw the headline while scrolling and immediately a vision of you, on your couch, eating yesterday’s pizza in your pajamas while still being able to earn a living wage popped into your head and you kinda liked the way it looked.

Whatever your motivations, a work-from-home job might just be the answer — so read on to learn about our latest find. (This one includes some great benefits!)

And if you read all the way to the end and you’re like, “Sure, right idea, but wrong job for me!” then don’t worry: Simply like our Jobs page on Facebook to be the first to see awesome work-from-home job listings whenever we find them!

Children’s Donation Coordinator at Granada Corp

Granada Corp connects companies and organizations with customer support services.

Right now, the company is looking for full-time work-from-home call center agents to join a team of children’s donation coordinators.

These positions are open to people located in Colorado, Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arizona and Nevada.

Here’s what you need to know about landing a work-from-home job with Granada Corp:

Pay: Unlisted

Responsibilities include:

• Answering incoming calls from people who want to make donations

• Making outbound calls to previous donors to solicit future donations

• Making outbound calls to previous donors to offer gratitude

• Assisting donors with recurring payments

Applicants for this position must have:

• Prior customer service experience

• Prior soft sales experience

• Experience with charity work

• Experience in a donation support role for a non-profit

• A compassionate and grateful attitude

• A fluency in English and Spanish, Cantonese or Arabic

Technical requirements include:

• A clean, quiet home office environment

• A computer that meets the system requirements found here

Benefits include:

• Medical

• Dental

• Vision

• Life and accident insurance

Hours and scheduling information for these positions are unlisted.

You can go here to apply to become a work-from-home donation coordinator for Granada Corp.

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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Here’s How the GOP Tax Plan Might Save (or Cost) You Money

The House of Representatives passed a monumental tax bill in November, and now the Senate has passed its own version — by a 51-49 vote around 2 a.m. Friday night. The two chambers are meeting this week to hammer out their differences before teeing up the legislation for the president’s signature.

And while there are quite a few important differences that need to be worked out, a lot of the big stuff is settled: The primary goal of both bills was to lower the corporate tax rate, from 35% down to 20%. But there are lots of other tax cuts to go around.

“Hooray, less taxes!” you might be thinking. Well, probably… but not necessarily. Both bills pair their tax cuts with other rule changes that could impact people in different ways, and a study by the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation found that about a third (32%) of Americans won’t see a significant tax cut (greater than $100) in 2019, or could actually end up paying more. In fact, for a piece of legislation that cuts taxes dramatically, it’s not very popular, with critics ranging from AARP to the National Association of Realtors.

And while the corporate tax cuts are meant to be permanent, the individual tax cuts will expire in 10 years, by which time the JCT expects the bill to result in higher taxes for a lot of folks and to add about $1 trillion to the nation’s debt, even after factoring in an uptick in economic growth.

Leaving all that aside, though, here are some ways the GOP tax legislation could impact your finances in the near term:

Most people will pay less in taxes.

That same JCT analysis found that 68% of Americans would receive a tax cut of at least $100; a separate study by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center found that households earning between $50,000 and $87,000 a year would save an average of $800 a year, at least at first. High earners are positioned to save even more — lots more. Households earning $750,000 a year or more can expect an average cut of $28,000.

Parents get a boost.

Both the House and Senate bills increase the Child Tax Credit from its current $1,000 per kid, up to $1,600 (House) or $2,000 (Senate). This benefit starts to phase out at higher incomes and, notably, expires after 2025. But for low- and middle-income families, it’s a pretty big score in the near term.

There is a trade-off, though: The Senate bill does away with the personal exemption, which currently allows you to deduct $4,050 for yourself and each of your dependents without itemizing (a big benefit to single parents and large families, among others). The expanded Child Tax Credit aims to make up for it, along with an increased standard deduction (which we’ll get to next).

Homeowners lose some advantages, especially in costly or high-tax areas. 

Only about one in five Americans itemizes their taxes (as opposed to taking the standard deduction), and they’re almost all homeowners. That’s because you can write off a bunch of related expenses, like mortgage interest and local property taxes, making it worth the headache.

That may no longer be the case for a lot of homeowners. The House tax bill would cap the mortgage interest deduction to loans under $500,000 and eliminate property tax deductions, while the Senate version would leave the mortgage interest deduction as-is (capped at $1 million) and limit property tax write-offs to $10,000. Both bills do away with deductions for state or local income and sales taxes, and the ability to deduct home equity loan interest.

At the same time, the standard deduction — which everyone can claim without itemizing – will nearly double, to $12,000 (or $24,000 for married couples). This will likely discourage a lot of people from itemizing — simplifying the tax process and helping renters, but weakening what was formerly an advantage for homeowners.

Meanwhile, residents in costly coastal areas with high sales or income taxes – like California and New York – may see an overall tax hike, as they won’t be able to write off those local levies. Some critics say this could place put added stress on local government services like police and school departments.

Home prices may fall.

Elizabeth Mendenhall, president of the National Association of Realtors, expects the loss of those homeowner tax breaks to dent home prices. “The tax incentives to own a home are baked into the overall value of homes in every state and territory across the country,” Mendenhall said. “When those incentives are nullified in the way this bill provides, our estimates show that home values stand to fall by an average of more than 10 percent, and even greater in high-cost areas.”

That’s great news for first-time buyers priced out of the market, but it comes with a caveat: Most economists say the biggest obstacle to housing affordability right now is lack of inventory – there just aren’t enough homes for sale to meet demand. If owners can’t fetch as much money for their houses, they may be more reluctant to sell, compounding that problem. Plus…

You may want to wait longer to sell your home.

One rather vexing change pertains to the capital gains tax on home sales. Currently, if you sell your home for more than you paid for it, you must pay capital gains tax on the profit – unless it’s your primary residence and you’ve lived there for two of the past five years, in which case the first $250,000 (or $500,000 for married couples) isn’t taxable. (This is one reason flipping houses is a dicey proposition.)

However, the Senate bill requires sellers to live in a home for five of the previous eight years if they want to dodge that capital gains hit.

So if someone bought a home three years ago and it’s gone up considerably in value, they may be forced to wait another two years to move or pay tens of thousands of dollars in taxes on the sale. That could further reduce housing inventory in the short term.

Grad students and indebted college graduates might lose out.

The House bill would eliminate the student loan interest deduction and force grad students to pay taxes on tuition waivers. (That means a doctoral candidate who gets $50,000 in free tuition in exchange for teaching some classes would owe taxes on that free tuition as if it were income.) The Senate version does neither, so it remains to be seen what kind of compromise is reached in a final bill.

You may be able to drop your health insurance without penalty – which would drive up healthcare premiums.

Because the Senate bill includes a repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate — which fines people if they don’t carry health coverage — young, healthy types with a teenage invincibility complex would be able to drop their health plans to save money and not face what is currently a $695 penalty. The Congressional Budget Office expects that would drive up premiums for everyone else by 10% — leading even more people to simply ditch their high-cost insurance with hopes they don’t get a serious illness or hit by a car.

The House bill has no such provision, though, so we’ll have to wait and see how the two chambers of Congress hash out this and other discrepancies.

Related Articles:

• What Do Pre-Tax and Post-Tax Mean, and Why Should I Care?
• Six Common Tax Misunderstandings
• Best Free Tax Software

The post Here’s How the GOP Tax Plan Might Save (or Cost) You Money appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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Sure, Amazon's Changed Shopping, But Retailers Can Still Compete

Just 9 percent of all shopping is online, but it's growing fast. Old-school brick-and-mortar stores are trying some new tricks to stay competitive.

Source Business & Money | HowStuffWorks http://ift.tt/2ivY428

Sure, Amazon's Changed Shopping, But Retailers Can Still Compete

Just 9 percent of all shopping is online, but it's growing fast. Old-school brick-and-mortar stores are trying some new tricks to stay competitive.

Source Business & Money | HowStuffWorks http://ift.tt/2ivY428

Sykes Needs Work-From-Home Reps in 40 States (Jobs Include Benefits!)

Are you a savvy problem solver who’s comfortable talking on the phone?

Customer support provider Sykes is hiring full-time work-from-home customer service representatives in 40 states right now.

Benefits include health insurance, a 401(k), flexible scheduling and opportunities for promotion.

Sykes provides customer support to other companies, so you might end up as a customer service rep for a cable company, bank, or any one of their many clients.

“We help people by answering questions, processing transactions, and resolving their issues! We provide awesome customer service on behalf of the big companies you deal with everyday,”  read the job descriptions.

I reached out to the company to find out what this job pays and will update this post when I find out.

Qualifications for This Work-From-Home Job With Sykes

Sykes is looking for a pretty broad skillset in its workers:

• You should be empathetic and friendly

• You should be logical and a good problem solver

• Customer service experience is preferred but not required

Home office requirements are fairly specific. You’ll need:

• Your own computer with monitor, speakers and anti-virus software

• An analog landline

• A USB headset and a telephone headset

• A high-speed, hard-wired, bi-directional Internet connection

The Hiring Process

Once you complete the online application, you’ll take a series of assessment tests to help hiring managers determine where to place you.

If your application is selected, you’ll participate in individual and group online interviews.

(Don’t worry. My interview with The Penny Hoarder was three hours. It’s not nearly as intimidating as it sounds. Plus, mine was in person!)

If you’re chosen for a position, you’ll fill out a sheaf of paperwork, complete a pre-employment check, then get started as a shiny new customer service representative!

Sound like something you’re interested in? Apply here by selecting the job listing in your state!

If you’re interested in other work-from-home jobs — or jobs in general — then make sure to like The Penny Hoarder Jobs on Facebook.

Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. Her three-hour TPH gabfest is the longest interview she’s ever had but, by far, not the strangest.

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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3 Ways the $69 Billion CVS-Aetna Merger Could Transform Your Health Care

First, CVS opened MinuteClinics to provide on-the-spot health care. Then it stopped selling cigarettes. And now it plans to buy a managed health care company.

CVS Health announced on Sunday that it will merge with Aetna, one of the largest health care companies in the nation. The buyout will cost CVS $69 billion.

“CVS Health has steadily become an integrated health care company, and Aetna has moved beyond being a traditional insurer to focus more on consumer well-being,” a statement from CVS said.

Here’s what CVS promises to deliver via the merger:

1. More Convenient Access to Basic Health Care

CVS Health explained in a statement that it would help its customers connect with Aetna’s health care providers via CVS Pharmacy locations and the more than 1,100 MinuteClinics. New community-based health hub services in many CVS locations will help patients get answers about their health issues, prescriptions and insurance coverage.

2. Better Health Data for Patients

What happens to a patient after they leave the hospital? CVS Health notes that the transition from constant monitored care to home recovery can be difficult and filled with questions.

“Readmission rates can be cut in half if patients have a complete review of their medications after discharge from the hospital to help them nag their care at home,” the pharmacy’s statement said.

By taking advantage of health hub locations, where services will be integrated with physician care plans, CVS/Aetna hopes to use the information available about patient conditions and history to provide more comprehensive care at the pharmacy level.

3. More Resources for People With Chronic Conditions

In its statement about the merger, CVS gives the example of diabetes — a disease that 30 million Americans have, and one that costs the health care system about $245 billion each year.

CVS programs can support patients between doctor visits, providing medication and blood glucose counseling, easier access to supplies, and access to services and action steps that can reduce the severity of the disease.

“These types of interventions are things that the traditional health care system could be doing, but the traditional health care system lacks the key elements of convenience and coordination that help to engage consumers in their health,” Larry Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Health, said in the statement.

Is This Really Allowed?

Probably.

CVS and Aetna have worked together for seven years, The New York Times noted. While some experts have sounded the antitrust alarm, CVS and Aetna ultimately don’t provide the same services, which will likely exempt the deal from further antitrust scrutiny.

The buyout news comes shortly after rumors surfaced that Amazon may dip its toe into the pharmacy business. But while Amazon has built its business on delivering products to customers at home, CVS and Aetna are hoping people will spend a little more time at their local pharmacies.

Lisa Rowan is a senior writer and producer 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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Think an Artificial Christmas Tree is a Better Deal? You Might Be Surprised

Stressed Out? This Free Chatbot Helped Me Feel Better in Just 15 Minutes

Are you feeling stressed, anxious or depressed?

You’re definitely not alone. And as a mostly broke writer trudging through the holiday season, I’m right there with you.

The key word there is “broke,” which is one reason why more than half of Americans who need some sort of mental health treatment go it alone instead of springing for therapy.

But what if I told you there was a free “therapist” you could talk to right now? And what if I told you I personally felt better after just one 15-minute session?

Oh yeah, and the therapist fits right in your pocket.

Meet Woebot, a personal chatbot designed to monitor your mood and teach you about what makes you tick using a technique called cognitive behavioral therapy.

It’s available through Facebook Messenger, and according to a Stanford University study of young adults, Woebot reduced anxiety and depression in participants in just two weeks..

It’s definitely no substitute for a true human therapist, but with its current price tag of free (at least, they say, until they decide to push for a more sustainable business model), it’s certainly worth a try.

So I tried it.

Here’s How to Get Started With Woebot

Your first session with Woebot will take about 15 minutes or less, depending on whether you have a pile of issues to deal with, like I do. Start by finding its page on Facebook, and shooting it a message.

A simple “HELP ME PLEASE I’M FREAKING OUT” will suffice.

Woebot started off our first session by putting me at ease.

“The beauty of talking to me is that we can learn together in the context of everyday life,” it said.

“No childhood stuff?” I asked.

“No you have to go to a proper therapist for that ,” Woebot retorted.

It’s simple enough. After an initial questionnaire about anxiety and depression levels, I just check in with Woebot daily. The software charts my energy levels and feelings to help find trends in how life events affect my emotional well being.

“Sometimes I see patterns that can be hard for humans to see,” Woebot said. “It also helps that I have a perfect memory .”

How I Felt After My First Session With Woebot

I definitely felt at ease and even giggled a few times during my first interaction with Woebot. I mean, after my initial assessment, it sent me a gif of a hedgehog getting a belly rub.

Woebot explained the general causes of some of the thoughts in my head giving me anxiety, forced me to confront them, and then rewrite — er text —  the thoughts objectively. Then it would congratulate me on my progress and send an emoji of some kind (Hats off! 🤠).

I chose to work through three thoughts at first, but you can choose how many issues to explore.

As weird as it was texting my deepest thoughts to a dang robot, after the session I felt remarkably more relaxed and focused on the day ahead. It was like getting a $60 therapy session for free (but don’t take my word for that.)

“Although I am merely a guide, I’m very proud of you and you can be proud of yourself,” Woebot said.

Thanks, Woebot.

Does This Mean More Mental Health Apps Are Coming?

Woebot is particularly exciting when you consider the fact that serious mental illness is most prevalent among the poorest Americans, according to the Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker.

But there are still plenty of obstacles that could slow the spread of similar apps.

For one, the Health Insurance and Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) doesn’t cover these chatbots and therefore can’t ensure patient privacy, according to an article in the Washington Post. And while Woebot did have some human warmth, it’s just not good at chitchat.

“These things can work well on a superficial level with superficial conversations,” John Torous, co-director of a digital psychiatry program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, told the Post. “[But] are they effective tools, do they change outcomes and do they deliver more efficient care? It’s still early.”

In the meantime, there are plenty of other free or low-cost ways to supplement your chosen chatbot. Finding a training clinic at a university or attending support groups are a couple of options.

Exercise keeps me on top of my mental health game. So find yourself a cheap gym that’s right for you.

You could always try caring about work less, although that one is a bit of a stretch for all my fellow anxietyheads out there.

For now, there’s always Woebot —I’ll be checking in with it first thing tomorrow.

Alex Mahadevan is a data journalist at The Penny Hoarder. He is totally not freaking out right now. He swears.

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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6 Ways to Handle Money Better than Our Parents

This is a paid post written by me on behalf of Discover Personal Loans. All opinions are my own.

Growing up, I always looked to my father for advice on life’s essentials. I leaned on him for advice on how to get my first job, where I should go to school, and how to pick my career.

I was so grateful to have a father that was willing to listen and offer his guidance whenever I needed it. And, for the most part, his advice was pretty darn good.

Unfortunately, there was one topic he wasn’t qualified to give advice on at all — the topic of money. My father filed for bankruptcy twice and basically had no investments whatsoever.

But, my dad isn’t an outlier at all. The reality is, many from his generation have struggled or still continue to struggle.

According to a recent survey from the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI), only 24 percent of baby boomers ages 51-69 were confident they had enough savings to last through retirement last year. Further, just 39 percent of those polled had even bothered to figure out their retirement needs.

If we want to end up in better shape, the time to get our money straight is now. But, what steps should we take to ensure we wind up better off than our parents? And, what should we avoid?

Here are 6 steps you could start taking today:

#1: Focus on investing as if your retirement depends on it.

Because life was so different for my parent’s generation, I believe the way they handled money and their finances was dramatically different.

My dad never invested, mostly because he didn’t have enough cash and didn’t see the point. I also think some of my parent’s generation may have eschewed investing in the stock market because it was much easier to dump their excess funds into CDs which were, at the time, earning 18 percent or more.

I don’t think that strategy can work today to earn you substantial money. CDs, or Certificates of Deposit, pay a pittance of what they used to back in the day. In my opinion, the best way to save for retirement is to invest in a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and other investments. But, we can’t put these steps off for years like my parents.

To avoid not having enough cash in retirement, today’s young adults should start investing now.

A good place to start is your work-sponsored retirement plan where you may get a company match, but you can also open other accounts like a traditional or Roth IRA on your own. Remember, you can invest up to $18,000 per year in a 401(k) plan and another $5,500 across both traditional and Roth IRAs. In addition, you can also consider investing in real estate (either directly or through REITs), or with a traditional brokerage account.

The sky is the limit, but the best time to start is now.

Looking back, I’m not sure my father understood this. I have to assume he was more concerned with paying off his debt so he didn’t really think about investing.

#2: Research before you choose a financial advisor.

My parents didn't do a lot of research before choosing a financial professional to work with. Because the internet didn’t exist yet, they asked for a recommendation from family or friends and usually went with whatever advisor came their way.

Unfortunately, I think people rarely knew what they were paying their advisor, either. Plus, from what I observed of my parents generations, many weren’t fully aware how much the fees cost on their specific investments.

These days, all that information is more readily available. You can look online to find the fees for any investment your advisor suggests, and you can check up on your advisor’s credentials using FINRA's BrokerCheck or SEC.gov. Or, you can even manage your investments from your own online financial portfolio, and forego using an advisor.

With so much information on social media, blogs, and the internet in general, it’s easier than ever to make an informed decision about your advisor and investments.

#3: Research your borrowing options to find the best fit for your situation.

Many people in my parent’s generation were big on financing automobiles. I know my parents discovered the convenience of credit cards and “buy now, pay later” deals and in my experience leveraged them to the hilt.

My parent’s generation may have been the first to own fancy new cars and large suburban homes, but some didn’t look at other financial tools to accomplish their personal goals, leaving some, like my parents, without much savings for retirement.

If we want to do better than our parents, we need to make sure we’re using debt in a way that furthers our goals, versus borrowing without a plan.

Fortunately, it’s easy to research borrowing tools and lenders these days. The internet offers a treasure trove of information when it comes to reading reviews and finding the right loan for your needs.

There are different borrowing tools to help people accomplish different goals and purchase things they don’t usually have the savings to buy upfront. For example, a mortgage allows people to purchase a home with a down payment, and then pay off the house with a payment each month, until the owners owe no more money to the bank. Student loans allow students to go to college and pay back the loans once they have a job after college.

Credit cards allow people to borrow money and build credit, and some even provide the opportunity to earn cash back or travel rewards for every dollar spent. Personal loans can help people finance purchases they don’t have the cash for upfront, to consolidate and pay down debt, finance unexpected expenses, or achieve a personal aspiration like adoption.

Using a personal loan can be advantageous, depending on the situation and your goals, as they offer a fixed interest rate, monthly repayment amount and term, and no required collateral to secure the loan.

It’s good to know the borrowing options available to you so you can make informed financial decisions, but also use these tools accomplish your goals. Using debt should be a planned, financial decision that fits your budget and should only be used if you have a plan to pay off.

There are also so many different companies that offer financial borrowing tools, so with the right research, understanding of the product and financial planning, you can find the option that fits best with your life and finances.

For example, there are many personal lenders out there, but if you fully research, you can find a lender that will altogether help you save money and work best for your financial needs.

Discover Personal Loans is a lender that offers a variety of repayment terms and amounts to choose from, no fees (as long as you pay on-time) and 100% U.S.-based customer service agents available 24/7. They even provide the option to consolidate your bills into one monthly payment, if you find yourself in higher-interest debt and need to pay down.

#4: Keep on the lookout for employment opportunities offering greater financial and professional growth opportunities.

Our parent’s generation often worked hard for a single employer for life. They earned amazing benefits and a pension that afforded them income in their retirement years, usually after working for a company for 20-40 years. It’s great they were so dedicated to their employer, but times have changed. People are more empowered to manage their retirement savings, healthcare options and more, which allow today’s generation to keep an eye out for other opportunities until they find their perfect fit.

These days, people rarely stick with the same firm for their entire careers, mostly because it’s not always advantageous to do so. Pensions have been replaced by 401(k) plans, and individuals are taking more financial responsibility for their own healthcare.

This may make many people today feel free to explore better employment options, and to keep looking for ways to improve their lot in life. They could look for a new employer or career to increase their income, gain a better healthcare plan that works best for them, or to find projects, a company culture or new industry that’s a better fit for them.

#5: Take care of your credit score.

My parents ignored their credit altogether, mostly because there was a lot less information about how it worked. A low credit score could have hindered people like them from qualifying for certain financial tools, like loans.

These days, there’s almost no excuse to leave your credit score to chance. Not only can you get a free copy of your credit score online, but you can find information on how to improve your credit score with the click of a mouse.

If you ever want to buy a house, finance a car, or take out a personal loan to pay for unexpected expenses or achieve another financial goal, you’ll need good credit and a long history of responsible credit use. I say the best way to get started building credit is to use credit slowly and wisely. Pay all of your bills on time or early, and don’t borrow more than you can afford to pay back. If you find yourself in over your head with higher-interest bills you can’t pay off right-away, consider a debt consolidation loan to help you pay down your debt in a simpler way that could save you money.

#6: Prepare for the worst-case scenario.

If there’s one thing I know about my parents and many of their friends, it’s that they didn’t always plan ahead for the worst-case scenario. I think maybe the concept of the “emergency fund” was born out of the desperation boomers faced when they lost jobs and didn’t have a backup plan.

These days, it’s more important than ever to make sure you have a financial cushion if you lose your job, face a pay cut, or run into some other financial emergency. As a financial advisor, I suggest saving up 3-6 months of income in a special savings account designated for emergencies only. That way, you’re prepared for whatever hardship comes your way.

My wife Mandy and I learned to do this early on. We always try to plan for the unexpected emergencies in life, and we stay out of financial trouble by keeping a fully-stocked emergency fund. That way, if one of our kids has a medical emergency, our car breaks down and needs to be fixed with a high-price repair, or anything unexpected happens we’re prepared financially.

Better Than Your Parents

Whether your parents were good with money or not hardly matters. It’s how you treat your finances and your credit that can determine the financial legacy you leave behind.

If you want to be better, then do better. And if you want to build wealth, it’s smart to look at how previous generations managed their finances, and what tools and products are available today so you can reach your financial goals.

This is a paid post written by me on behalf of Discover Personal Loans. All opinions are my own.

The post 6 Ways to Handle Money Better than Our Parents appeared first on Good Financial Cents.

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8 Tactics to Increase Sales with Video Content

All businesses can benefit from more sales.

Whether your company is thriving or struggling to get by, a sales surge can help you get more cash in the bank.

If your current marketing strategies aren’t working or growing stale, I’ve got a solution for you.

Produce more video content.

Regardless of your industry, videos can do wonders for your company.

Don’t believe me?

Well, more than half of marketing experts across the globe say that videos yield the highest ROI compared to other types of content.

Furthermore, 43% of consumers want marketers to produce more video content.

You need to give the people what they want.

I’ve seen too many businesses avoid video marketing tactics because they don’t know where to start.

They are afraid of doing something wrong. I’ve even heard some business owners say they don’t use video content because they don’t have the right equipment.

You don’t need any fancy or expensive video equipment.

All of the tactics I’m going to show you can be accomplished with a smartphone or basic camera.

That’s it.

Here’s something else to consider.

Think about the other marketing tactics you’re currently using.

Can more than one person view them at the same time?

I doubt it.

But look at how video content gets consumed in groups:

It’s unlikely two or more people will sit side by side and read your email newsletter together.

However, if you send a video, it’s more likely people will watch it together.

Plus, look at all the device options people use to consume video content.

Videos can help you:

• increase your website traffic
• enhance interactions with your customers
• grow your email list
• get more followers on social media
• expose your brand to a wider audience
• promote new products or services

All these benefits lead to more sales.

This is how you do it.

1. Create a YouTube channel

If you’re not currently using any videos to promote your company, creating a YouTube channel is the first step.

Here’s why.

Once you add videos to YouTube, it’s easy to share them on other platforms.

Whether you’re embedding the video into your website or just sending a link, the YouTube platform makes it simple to accomplish this.

As you’ll see shortly, you’re going to distribute your videos across lots of different platforms.

Uploading all your content to YouTube first will help save you time because you won’t need to make the same video more than once.

Let’s look at an example so you can see what I’m talking about.

Here’s a video I included in a blog post;

Guess where it came from?

I took it directly from my YouTube channel.

Making the video again would have been a waste of time.

That’s why this should be the first place where you start.

Don’t be intimidated.

You won’t have hundreds of videos overnight.

Just focus on one at a time.

It took me years to get over 25,000 subscribers on my YouTube channel.

But now, I have videos with over 22,000 views.

Plus, users, in addition to viewing YouTube content on other platforms, will view it directly on that site as well.

YouTube is only second to Facebook when it comes to the number of active monthly users.

All the content on their platform is strictly videos, and it is still extremely successful.

That alone should show you how powerful video content is in terms of what users want to consume.

2. Post videos on social media

Even if you’re not currently using videos, I’ll assume you have active social media profiles.

Use them to their full potential.

You should be posting on social media every day.

This will keep your brand fresh in the minds of your followers.

The reason why so many companies don’t always post on social media is because they don’t know what to share.

Well, if you’re adding new videos to your YouTube channel, social media is the perfect platform to share your new content.

Most social media platforms have their own software to create and publish video content, but we’ll get to that shortly.

For now, just try to focus on getting all your YouTube videos onto your Facebook and Twitter profiles.

That’s a great place to start.

Take a look at how videos have been trending on Facebook for the last two years:

We saw a 6% jump in video posts by businesses from 2016 to 2017.

I expect that number to continue rising each year for the foreseeable future.

3. Add more videos to your website

What’s the first thing people see when they visit your website?

Too many words on the page can be confusing and unappealing.

You shouldn’t have lots of long paragraphs explaining how your company operates.

Nobody wants to read that.

Instead, simplify the design and color schemes.

Replace all of it with a video message.

Square uses this tactic to explain how their products work:

Do you see how little text they included on this page?

This won’t confuse anyone.

Instead, the viewer’s attention gets drawn to the video.

When you click the link, it plays a video from Square’s YouTube channel.

It’s much more effective than trying to explain how your products work in long and messy paragraphs.

4. Go live on Facebook

I love it when businesses use Facebook live as a promotional method.

It’s one of the best ways you can engage with your Facebook followers in real time.

But there’s science behind it.

You don’t want to just go live randomly for no rhyme or reason.

Instead, you should schedule your live streams to run at a set time every week.

That way, you can continue building a regular audience.

Think about your favorite TV shows.

They are on at the same day and time every week.

If they just came on sporadically, it’s unlikely you’d be able to catch every episode.

That’s the kind of following you’re trying to create here with your live video streams.

Just like your website, Facebook live is a great chance for you to promote your products or do a demonstration.

Facebook is the most popular live video streaming platform:

The user interaction is my favorite part of Facebook live.

Viewers have a chance to comment on your live stream.

It’s absolutely imperative that you respond to those comments.

This interaction will help you build a stronger bond with your customers.

The acknowledgement will show them how much you care.

Call them out by name while you’re live.

Thank them for watching.

Give the viewer a reason to tune in next week.

Go live for a long time.

Facebook allows you to have a stream that lasts for up to four hours.

You don’t need to use all four, but I’d say go for at least two or three.

The longer you’re live, the greater the chance you’ll have of getting more people to watch.

Long live videos mean you need to come prepared.

Don’t just wing it.

Have some notes or references for topics, products, and services you’re planning to discuss.

5. Use Instagram stories

You can post pictures and videos to your Instagram story.

For today’s topic, we’ll focus on the video portion of this.

Instagram stories expire after 24 hours.

Feel free to post several each day to keep your brand fresh in the minds of your followers.

These stories appear at the top of everyone’s homepage.

Anyone who follows you will see you have a story posted that day.

To view it, all they need to do is click on your photo, and the video will play through.

Popular stories will also show up on the search page for users who don’t follow you.

It’s a great way to increase brand exposure.

Instagram also has a live video feature that’s incorporated into their stories.

You don’t need to approach this the same way you do Facebook live videos.

Instead, use your live Instagram stream when you’re somewhere cool.

You can give your followers a tour around your production facility or introduce them to your staff.

This helps create an exclusive feeling for anyone watching.

Now they have access to something that would normally be kept behind closed doors.

Plus it’s so easy to do.

Just pull your phone out of your pocket and start recording.

But like on Facebook live videos, you’ll definitely want to respond to the live user comments.

6. Encourage customers to make their own videos

Not all your video content needs to be produced by you.

Try to get your customers involved.

You’ll accomplish a few things with this method.

• You’ll get videos free, and it won’t take any of your time
• It’ll enhance the customer experience
• You’ll get more brand exposure if your customers share their videos

Look at how GoPro encourages their customers to create video content:

They post the best videos on their website and even give out awards to the creators of their favorite submissions.

Giving the customer recognition for their work is a great way to get people on board.

Plus, people are really creative.

You may find out their content is even better than yours.

Run a contest or some other promotion that gets your customers to break out their cameras and start filming.

7. Email videos to your subscribers

Remember earlier I said we could use the videos from your YouTube channel on multiple platforms?

Well, here’s another chance to share those videos with your customers.

Look to your email subscription list.

Those people may or not be following you on social media, so it’s not a guarantee they’ll see your live streams or other shared videos.

But you have direct access to their inboxes.

Use it.

Embed YouTube videos into your email marketing campaigns.

Given the statistics above, you can see that emails with video content:

• improve your CTR
• increase leads
• increase conversion rates
• minimize unsubscribes

So it’s a no-brainer to employ this strategy, especially since you don’t have to come up with brand new videos for each email.

Just use the existing ones from your YouTube channel.

8. Make sure all your videos are mobile friendly

One constant you need to maintain with all your videos is the compatibility with mobile devices.

That’s why I’ve been recommending you use platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram to share your content.

That way, the videos automatically get optimized.

Take a look at how videos are being consumed on mobile devices:

Mobile videos are trending upward.

Just make sure any videos included on your website and emails are on mobile friendly templates.

If your videos aren’t loading and can’t be viewed on phones or tablets, you’ll defeat the purpose of posting them in the first place.

Conclusion

Those of you looking for an easy and inexpensive way to get more sales for your business need to start creating more video content.

Create a YouTube channel, and add videos to it.

You’ll be able to share those same videos on other platforms like social media pages, your website, and even in email campaigns.

In addition to sharing pre-recorded videos, take advantage of live video streams.

Use Facebook and Instagram for this.

It’s a better way to engage with your viewers since you can respond to their comments in real time.

Another way to produce more video content is by getting other people to do it for you.

Come up with creative ways to get your customers to submit videos.

You can share those videos on your website as well.

No matter what kind of videos you’re making, just make sure they are optimized for mobile devices.

The increased brand exposure combined with an easy way for you to explain your products and services will ultimately boost your sales.

What platforms are you currently using to share your video content?

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When a Friend Falls

A couple of weeks ago, just before Thanksgiving, one of our family’s closest friends was standing in his home. He had just spoken to his wife and was standing there for a moment when, all of a sudden, he collapsed to the floor. His heart had stopped.

His wife immediately started CPR on him, almost instinctively. First responders arrived within moments, followed shortly by an ambulance. The first responders managed to restart his heart, but he was quickly taken to the hospital.

He had a severe heart attack, one that almost killed him. It was uncertain for several days whether he would survive or not, and uncertain for several more what the long term damage would be.

He survived, thankfully, with relatively minimal long term damage. In fact, he was able to make it to his daughter’s vocal concert just a couple of days ago.

During those days when our friend was in the hospital, we watched their children quite a lot and took them to school activities. You see, not only was that friend of mine roughly my own age (he’s a little older, but not incredibly so), he’s also a father of two children that are very close in age to my own children – so close, in fact, that they play together quite often.

Worrying about our friend, watching the news updates from the hospital from his wife via text, trying to keep the children cheerful as they alternated between seeming normal and somber and almost hyperactive… it left us with a great deal on our hearts and minds.

The experience has filled me with a lot of reflections on my own life and my own choices, financial and otherwise. I wanted to share some of those thoughts with you.

Life is too short to waste. My friend thought that this was just a normal day like any other. Then, out of nowhere, he almost died – and very easily could have. He spent many days in the hospital and still appears quite frail.

This could happen to me. Today. Tomorrow. Who knows?

What things do I not want to leave undone if that happens to me today? What things will I regret not having done if I’m laying on the floor, feeling life exiting my body?

Why am I not doing those things, right now?

Life is too short to waste on things that don’t really matter.

An awful lot of things don’t really matter. Many people translate the “life is too short to waste…” idea into meaning that you should never plan for the long term and should focus solely on the short term.

My take is almost the opposite of that. The reality is that almost everything I could choose to do in the short term doesn’t really matter in terms of impacting the lives of those I care about the most. In fact, a lot of things I could choose in the short term would have a negative impact on those lives.

I spend too much of my time and too much of my money and too much of my energy on things that will be of little consequence to anyone within moments and of virtually no consequence even to me within a day or two. Sure, such a choice might feel good in that moment, but that moment passes, and if you’re left with nothing – or with an even worse situation, even if that situation is just a little worse – it was an awful choice.

Those things are bad choices. Life is too short and too precious to waste it on those bad choices.

I owe it to myself and to my loved ones to have my affairs in order. Eventually, my life will end. I don’t know when it will happen or why it will happen, but it will.

When it happens, my loved ones are going to struggle for a while. They will miss me. They will have to figure out the new contours of their lives.

I don’t want to leave the people I love the most in the lurch during one of the most trying times in their lives. I owe it to them to have my affairs in order when I pass. They shouldn’t have to deal with the messes I left behind.

So, over the last few days, I’ve started working on a few things. I’ve assembled a document that lists all of the insurance companies and people that need to be contacted if I pass and put it in a place where Sarah can easily find it. I’m downsizing some of my excess possessions. I’m organizing and cataloguing some of my other possessions, along with advice on what to do with them should I pass. I’m making sure that my estate documents are in order.

Obviously, things can’t be perfect, but they can be far better than they are. I want to leave behind the smallest burden I can for my loved ones.

I owe it to myself and to my loved ones to be in a healthy financial state. This mostly revolves around my family. When I pass, I want to be as confident as I can that they’ll be in healthy financial shape. While I feel that this is currently true, it also provides reason for me to avoid falling into the trap of overspending and lifestyle inflation, particularly for things that don’t bring me or my loved ones long term joy.

In short, I’ve learned that genuine lasting happiness isn’t built through spending money, and reflecting on my own mortality just reinforces that. Spending money to attempt to buy happiness now just undermines any sort of stability that my loved ones might have should I suddenly pass.

I owe it to myself and to my loved ones to improve my physical, mental, and emotional health. What can I do today to make sure that such an event is less likely to happen to me tomorrow or the day after or the day after or in the next year or decade? What can I do today to make sure that I’m in a good mental and emotional place with my relationships so that I don’t undermine them?

I need to watch my diet, particularly my calorie intake. I’m actually spending time right now researching sensible dietary approaches.

I need to keep bumping up my exercise. Perhaps most importantly, I need to adopt some better work-related routines. I am going to convert my desk into a standing desk and I’m considering putting a treadmill under it so that I’m walking about a mile an hour while writing.

I need to stay in touch with my mental and emotional health. For me, the practices that help the most with this are a daily meditation routine, daily journaling and reflection, deep reading of books and participation in hobbies that challenge me, and quality social time with people I care about. Those three factors are incredibly beneficial for my mental and emotional health, but sometimes I slack off on them when I get too busy (particularly the socializing with other adults besides my wife). I need to make sure those things are a sacrosanct part of my daily and weekly routines.

I need to keep reinforcing the relationships in my life through attention and quality time. I do this well, but I sometimes feel like it’s not enough. I need to simply put aside as many distractions as possible when the key people in my life are around and focus on them and the shared experiences I have with them and not let myself get distracted by my phone or by other convenient distractions. I need to listen, and not just think about what I want to say next.

Note that these changes are in line with the earlier reflections on my own mortality. All of these things are ones that provide long-term benefits without tapping my own finances.

I owe it to myself and to my loved ones to spend my time and energy in a meaningful fashion, whether to improve myself or to make meaningful connections with them. More than anything, what happened to my friend is a call for me to spend my time and energy in meaningful ways. Things that largely just waste time must have a reduced presence in my life.

I’ve purged a ton of time-wasting apps from my phone. I’ve tightened up my daily schedule a bit and added some focused blocks for things like family time, in which I turn off distractions and just do something with my children and my wife, and more social time, such as more dinner parties and community events, which are deeply important to me.

I need to use my time and energy to either improve myself and extend my own life and my own quality of life, or to use what talents and attributes I have to impact others in meaningful ways. Sitting in front of my phone reading humor sites or simply browsing through Netflix looking for something to watch or reading news sites without any real reflection doesn’t cut the mustard.

Yet, in the end, these things are joyful. As I think about all of those changes, however, I don’t feel overwhelmed. I don’t feel sad. Instead, I feel joyful.

I feel like every change that I want to make is one that’s going to create a better life for me and the people around me over the long run, and even in the short run it’s going to put me in situations where the things I do are meaningful but not miserable.

That joy should come front and center. I might be choosing something a bit harder right now, but with it comes lasting benefits. My life is better because of that harder choice. Beyond that, even the choice itself has joy within it – the feeling of one’s body after exercise, the feeling of really connecting with another person, the feeling of being both mentally and physically tired as you roll into bed. Those are good things.

Perhaps it is unfortunate that it took such a sad moment to remind me of these things, but the guideposts to a better life sometimes pop up in the least expected of ways.

I certainly hope that twenty years from now, my friend and I are both still around, both with happy and healthy lives. Now is my time to do my part.

The post When a Friend Falls appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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What’s Your Budget for the Holidays? Here’s How Much Others Are Spending

How One New Grad Paid Off $30K of Student Loans in a Year on a $48K Salary

Phil Risher changed college majors a few times before settling on international business. He studied in Italy and China, and envisioned finding a dream job after graduation that would lead to a jet-setting career.

“And then real life hits you in the face,” Risher said, looking back.

Risher didn’t speak a foreign language, so he decided to capitalize on his communication and customer service skills. His first full-time job using those skills was at a car rental company, where his duties included cleaning out cars between customers. But it paid $48,000 per year, which could go a long way to pay off his $30,000 in student loans.

How does a new college grad in the expensive Washington, D.C., area make headway paying his student loans right away? By setting a big goal — and blogging about the experience so others can replicate his success.

Risher paid off his entire student loan debt in 12 months, but he had to make some compromises for it to work.

How This New College Grad Made $500 Per Month Last

Yes, Risher moved home for the duration of his aggressive debt payoff. But it wasn’t the easiest choice.

When Risher approached his father and stepmother about living with them, they wanted rent. He explained his financial goal and what it would take to achieve it. Then he volunteered to cut the grass, clean the gutters and serve as on-call babysitter for his two young brothers in lieu of rent. They accepted.

“It’s a win-win if you can hold up your side of the bargain,” Risher said. “If they saw me out spending a bunch of money, that wouldn’t look good. They saw I was working and grinding on this budget.”

Risher brought home about $3,000 per month after taxes. He paid $2,500 toward his student loan debt and stretched the remaining $500 per month to cover his expenses.

He stashed $65 to $70 each month for his twice-a-year car insurance bill for coverage on the used Saturn he paid cash for in college. He spent $20 for gas twice a month. Since he was under 26, he could stay on his parents’ health insurance, and his mother added Risher to her cell phone family plan instead of buying him a Christmas gift.

What about savings, or an emergency fund? “Dave Ramsey says to have at least $1,000,” Risher said, and so Risher decided he should have that amount ready in case of emergency — especially since he owned an older car. He saved up a $500 emergency fund in college, and he put the money he received as graduation gifts into that fund.

His first paycheck at his full-time job gave him the extra kick to get his emergency fund up to $1,000. When his second paycheck came in June, he started his aggressive loan repayment.

He started with his unsubsidized loans first, which accrued interest immediately after graduation. Risher knew his subsidized loans had a six-month grace period before interest started accruing, so he strived to make progress paying those off next — before the interest kicked in.

And then there was the lifestyle change required to live on $500 each month and not go a little stir-crazy in his parents’ basement. When he wasn’t tending to chores for his parents, Risher tried to stay busy.

“Find things that are free and fun that you like to do,” Risher said. He loves playing basketball and even coached his little brother’s basketball team. “I like hiking, and that’s free, and I can take my dog,” he said. His frugal hobbies have even carried over post-debt.

The Legend of Yum-Yum Fridays

When Risher told his co-workers he would bring his lunch to work four days a week and read in a park near work, it was all jokes at first.

“It’s weird for a 22-year-old social butterfly to bring a book,” he said.

But he dubbed the fifth day of the workweek “Yum-Yum Fridays,” the one day each week he could buy lunch.

Before he knew it, his co-workers were excited about his dedication to his budget, along with his dedication to Yum-Yum Fridays.

“Each week I would set aside $20 for eating out,” he said. “Yum-Yum Friday was so much fun to look forward to, and my co-workers started getting in on it and wanted to come.”

Lunch in the Washington, D.C., suburbs can be pricy, and one popular sandwich shop was off limits because a single trip there ate up more than half of Risher’s dining allowance. Any money left over from Yum-Yum Friday went toward the occasional cup of coffee or iced tea, but only if he had the cash.

“Sometimes I would find change in the cars I was cleaning, and I would add it up and go to McDonald’s to get a sweet tea to go with the lunch I packed,” Risher said. “One time I only had a dollar, and I knew I needed a dollar and 10 cents to cover the tax. I saw a homeless man on the corner, and he asked me for money. Instead, I asked him for 10 cents. My co-workers couldn’t believe that I asked a homeless man for money.”

Risher explained Yum-Yum Fridays to the man, and on the next one, Risher delivered an order of McNuggets to him in return.

“Most people would have just put it on the credit card and swiped away,” Risher said. But he was determined to stick to his plan.

He said the mindset of having a brief reward to look forward to helped him stay focused on his goal. “Packing lunch four days a week was a sacrifice, but if I wanted a different life later, I knew I had to do things differently right now.”

Risher’s Life After Debt

Risher achieved his goal of paying off his $30,000 in student loans in 12 months. And then… he continued to live at his parents’ house.

He made an arrangement to pay rent, while still serving as babysitter and gutter guy, as he saved $60,000 to buy a condo outside Washington, D.C.

He knows his path is anything from normal. “I could have moved into someone else’s basement or rented a room and it might have taken a year and a half or two years to pay my loans,” he said. “Just because your dream looks different [from mine] doesn’t mean you can’t achieve it.”

Beyond the benefit of knowing he’s out of college debt, Risher said, “I’m no longer scared of money.”

He said that since we don’t learn much about personal finance in school, we rarely have a chance to fail with our money until we graduate. Once we reach that point, we’re scared to fail — and scared to even talk about money and budgeting. The mindset was hard to shift, but Risher now feels he’s in charge of his money.

“When I hit my goal, I thought, ‘Well, now I can really do anything if I set my mind to it,’” Risher said.

His girlfriend of nine years gets scared when Risher starts talking about a new idea, he said, because she knows he’ll do it. “I don’t want to be the guy that just talks,” he said. “I want to be the guy doing things.”

What about all the travel he planned to do when he was an international business major? “That’s actually my goal this year,” he said. “I’m planning an epic road trip for March 2018.” Aside from yearly summer treks to the beach and a trip to Florida this summer, he hasn’t had a chance to travel much.

But there’s always time to work on a new goal.

Lisa Rowan is a senior writer and producer 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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Card Skimmer Scams Are on the Rise – Here’s How to Avoid Them

Card skimming is a devious, clever, and increasingly common form of criminal activity. The latest data from FICO showed a 70% rise in the amount of credit and debit cards being compromised in the past year.

Skimmers are tiny devices that can be installed on machines that process credit and debit card payments – anywhere you swipe a credit or debit card, such as an ATM or a gas station pump. Skimming devices read your card information as you swipe it, and they’re often used in conjunction with hidden cameras that can record your PIN number.

Tips for Staying Safe

Colleen Tressler, a consumer education specialist at the Federal Trade Commission, says staying safe comes down to being vigilant, as it’s not always easy to spot tampering. Tressler notes that “skimmers are nothing new, but technology has made them smaller and harder to find.” Thankfully, harder to find does not mean impossible.

Here are some things you should do to stay safe when you’re paying with a card or using an ATM. In compiling this set of tips, I enlisted the help of Mason Wilder, a research specialist at the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

• “Watch out for loose or bulky card readers, especially if they look different from the other gas pumps at the station, as well as any signs that a machine may have been tampered with,” Wilder says. “Signs include broken safety seals on panels, loose panels, or pieces that don’t match the rest of the machine.”
• If your card doesn’t slide nicely into the machine, that is a big red flag.
• Avoid third-party ATMs, meaning the ones that are not branded by a major national bank. These are just slightly less vulnerable than gas stations.
• Try to avoid gas stations and ATMs that are shoddily maintained. That’s a sign that the owner probably isn’t keeping the closest eye on the card readers. As usual, good ol’ common sense rules the day.
• Try to use machines that are close to the main building of the business. ATMs that are in dark spots or around corners are more likely to be targeted by fraudsters.
• If you’re at all wary, use cash instead of a card. “The best way to avoid falling victim to a skimmer scam, anywhere, is to just use cash. If you can’t do that, pay inside the station with a credit card,” Wilder says. “Try to plan ahead in order to avoid situations where you have no choice but to use a risky ATM or gas pump.”
• Be vigilant about watching your bank account activity. Even if you take every precaution, you might get burned. If you notice any weird transactions on your bank statement, immediately cancel the card and talk to your bank.

Be Especially Wary at the Pump

Recently, banks have adopted stricter regulations in order to safeguard consumers. For instance, the new “chip” cards that have been rolling out are harder to scam. Recent laws also required banks to replace their older, more hack-prone ATM terminals with machines that accept chip readers. While any card with a magnetic strip is still vulnerable, chip cards are a step in the right direction.

Unfortunately, gas stations are behind the curve when it comes to updating their technology. They’re facing the same regulations as banks, but the law that requires them to update their technology doesn’t go into effect until 2020. That means you have to be extra vigilant when filling up, and it’s why fraud experts like Eva Velazquez of the Identity Theft Resource Center are calling them “one of the last bastions for card thieves.”

The authorities are doing their best to crack down on this activity. Florida recently did a statewide sweep of all their gas stations, and they removed 150 different skimmers. But, much like the fight against malicious computer malware, new ways of avoiding detection are constantly being developed. We can’t rely on the authorities to completely root out the problem, as there is too much money at stake for the thieves. As Velazquez notes, “Skimming is lucrative — people wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t.”

(Chalk up another victory for those of us who are lucky enough to be able to live without a car. All you drivers out there need to be extra vigilant.)

Fighting Fire With Fire

The technology scammers rely on keeps getting better. Lately they’ve taken to installing Bluetooth devices on the machines, which can then transmit your card information and PIN number via SMS text to any location in the world. This is all done instantly and wirelessly, so that the criminal never has to return to the machine to retrieve anything.

One way to avoid this scam is to use advanced technology of your own. If you have a smartphone, you can now download programs such as the Skimmer Scanner app, which allow you to detect if a card reader has had an illegal Bluetooth reader installed. For now there’s only an Android version, but an iPhone version is soon to follow.

It’s an endless game of whack-a-mole trying to spot and disarm card skimmers. But if you’re living in the modern world, it’s the new normal. You might as well carry your metaphorical mallet and be ready to fight back.

Summing Up

It’s a major headache to be a victim of fraud. When the stakes are this high, we can all stand to be a little more careful. If we check for tampering, use machines that are well maintained, and use cash if we notice anything suspicious, it will go a long way toward safeguarding us from skimmer fraud.

Related Articles:

• Home Buyers, Beware: Wire Fraud Is on the Rise
• Don’t Fall for These Credit Repair Scams
• Beyond Equifax: Other Big Data Hacks Nobody’s Talking About

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How To Jump-Start Your Work From Home Job Search In 3 Simple Steps

By Ashlee Anderson The average commute in the U.S. is now more than 26 minutes each way. That’s nearly 5 hours spent in the car each workweek. Between the high costs of gas and desire for more flexible scheduling, it’s no wonder more and more workers are looking to escape their cubicles in favor of […]

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