The empty lot at 265 South Courtland Street, East Stroudsburg, may soon have a new owner. More than 60 members of the CLU Club voted Saturday to sell the property and buy an existing building elsewhere.“It passed by one vote,” said Steve Murray, the club’s secretary treasurer and soon-to-be-former manager. “The other option was to dissolve all the club’s assets.”A committee, also formed Saturday, will lead the search for a new clubhouse. [...]
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الثلاثاء، 12 ديسمبر 2017
These 3 Work-From-Home Customer Service Jobs Are Open Now (With Benefits!)
Picture a Venn diagram.
In one circle, it says “people who want to work from home.”
In the other, it says “people who are patient, empathetic and have a strong enough constitution to deal with disgruntled customers day in and day out.” (It takes a special person, truly.)
If you, Penny Hoarder and job seeker, fall somewhere within the slim union of those two circles, then this post is for you.
Behold: three customer service jobs that allow you to work from home.
(And if you don’t fall within the union of this particular hypothetical Venn diagram, don’t worry. Just go ahead and like our Jobs page on Facebook. We post awesome work-from-home opportunities there whenever we find them!)
Land One of These Work-From-Home Customer Service Jobs
Here are three work-from-home customer service jobs that are open now.
Customer Operations Associate at Clerky
Clerky is a company that focuses on helping startups deal with legal paperwork.
It is currently looking for a customer operations associate to work from home in any U.S. state.
Pay: unlisted, although the company says it is “top-of-market”
Schedule: full time, but flexible hours must overlap with traditional business hours (the company is based in California)
Responsibilities include:
- Writing thoughtful responses to customer emails
- Writing and maintaining help center articles
- Identifying trends in customer issues that should be addressed
- Coordinating and submitting government filings
- Auditing invoices and resolving discrepancies
- Performing targeted customer outreach
- Working with engineers to help in the debugging process after a customer complaint
- Assisting product development by testing new features
Applicants for this position must have:
- At least two years of experience in an email-based customer support role
- Exceptional written English communication skills
- A genuine love for helping customers
- Strong technological knowledge
- High emotional intelligence
Benefits include:
- Health insurance
- Flexible scheduling
- Educational opportunities
To apply for this job, go here.
Call Center Representative at Conduent
Conduent provides diversified business process services.
The company is currently looking for a full-time call center representative to work from home.
Pay: unlisted
Schedule: full time, to be determined based on availability
Responsibilities include:
- Completing questionnaires and surveys via telephone
- Obtaining and verifying information on inbound calls
- Placing outgoing calls when further information is required
- Documenting call information
- Routing calls to appropriate departments
- Utilizing scripts to answer frequently asked questions
- Maintaining and improving quality results
Applicants for this position must have:
- A high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Excellent computer navigation skills
- Knowledge of customer service principles and practices
- Experience in a call center or customer service environment
- Excellent communication skills
- Bilingual in Spanish is preferred
- Strong data entry and typing skills (35+ words per minute)
- A quiet, distraction-free home office space
- High-speed internet access
Benefits include:
- Healthcare benefits after 60 days
- Accrued paid time off after 180 days
To apply for this job, go here.
Customer Success Champion at Follow Up Boss
Follow Up Boss is a real estate lead conversion and sales follow-up platform.
The company is currently looking for a customer success champion to work from home.
Pay: competitive
Schedule: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday through Tuesday
Responsibilities include:
- Answering incoming customer phone calls
- Resolving support tickets using Help Scout
- Onboarding and setting up new accounts
- Monitoring accounts to ensure customers are satisfied
- Advocating customers’ requests and needs across the company
- Educating on newly released features and functionality
- Contributing to the knowledge base
Applicants for this position must have:
- Prior experience in a customer service role
- A self-motivated, proactive mindset
- Patience, empathy and a good sense of humor
- Superb written and verbal communication skills
- A quiet, dedicated home office space
Benefits include:
- Medical
- Dental
- 20 days of paid vacation
To apply for this job, go here.
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 to Get $110 in Krispy Kreme Coupons for Less Than $10
Ready to ruin some New Year’s resolutions?
Don’t worry, they won’t really mind. Some things are worth it — like hot, fresh donuts.
The 2018 Krispy Kreme calendar just hit shelves, and it’s pretty freaking valuable: It has more than $110 in coupons inside, including a dozen donuts for free!
Oh, and did I mention it’s also has 12 recipe ideas with Krispy Kreme Doughnuts as the main ingredient?
How to Get the 2018 Krispy Kreme Calendar
If you want to get your hands on $110 worth of coupons for donuts and coffee for $10 or less, head to your local Krispy Kreme and ask for the calendar by name.
The exact price varies by market, and we’ll let you know if Krispy Kreme gets back to us with more information. Some bloggers report snagging it for $8, while our local Krispy Kreme here in St. Petersburg, Florida, told us it costs $10.
Either way, it’s a heck of a lot less than the $110 in coupons and deals inside.
You may want to pick up a couple as gifts or just get one for yourself. Let’s face it, after 2017, we could all use some comfort food. And some new recipes featuring Krispy Kreme donuts can’t hurt either.
Here’s to a sweet and caffeinated 2018!
Jamie Cattanach is a freelance writer. Her writing has also been featured at The Write Life, Word Riot, Nashville Review and elsewhere. Find @JamieCattanach on Twitter to wave hello.
Jessica Gray is an editorial assistant at The Penny Hoarder. Her New Year’s resolution is to stop making New Year’s resolutions and eat more donuts.
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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AT&T Is Connecting Those in Need With Internet for as Little as $5/Month
In today’s world, the internet is no longer a luxury.
It’s where you get your news, search and apply for jobs, find coupons for your grocery shopping, and if you have kids, do homework research. Not to mention check out Grumpy Cat. Where would we be without him?
But for those who are struggling just to put food on the table and keep the lights on, the idea of adding another bill for internet can seem impossible. AT&T now has a program designed to help those who need it most get affordable internet in their home with Access from AT&T.
What Is Access From AT&T?
Access from AT&T is a discounted internet plan for people who qualify. To qualify for the plan, the household must:
- Have at least one resident who participates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
- Be in AT&T’s 21-state service area for wireline home Internet service.
- Have no outstanding debt for AT&T internet service within the last six months or outstanding debt incurred under this program.
In California, households that have at least one member who receives Supplemental Security Income benefits may also qualify if they meet the same requirements that apply to SNAP recipients.
The plan’s speeds are slower than most customers receive. For $10 per month, customers can get speeds of 10 Mbps or 5 Mbps, depending on their location. For $5 per month, Access AT&T offers speeds of 3 Mbps, 1.5 Mbps or 768 Kbps.
While these plans don’t provide blazing internet speeds, they still allow you to connect to the internet to use email, check news, and even hunt and apply for jobs. Plus, the kids can do research for those essays due at the end of the semester.
Keep in mind that we’re not in the dial-up age anymore. According to Netflix, its movies and shows will stream in high definition if your connection is 5 Mbps or faster.
Access AT&T is not available in every state; currently, the program services 21 states. You can find out if your state is one of them by heading to the Access AT&T website.
Regular internet service plans can easily run $40 or more, and some options go up to $85 for those who want top-of-the-line service. Access AT&T is an option for those who need to focus on putting food on the table and paying the rent, but still want to keep their family connected. To see if you qualify, simply fill out AT&T’s form.
Tyler Omoth is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder who loves soaking up the sun and finding creative ways to help others. Catch him on Twitter at @Tyomoth.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, 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 You Can Get Paid to Look Ads on the Internet (Seriously!)
Do you tend to lose track of time searching stuff on the internet every day? Wouldn’t it be awesome if you actually got paid to do that?
Good news — Lionbridge is hiring workers to put their internet search skills to use as ads assessors. This is a part-time contractor gig that will allow you to make some extra cash from the comfort of your own home.
Like other work-from-home positions Lionbridge has filled throughout the year, this job doesn’t require you to have a super quiet office space or work on a predetermined schedule. You can set your own hours and don’t have to worry about a barking dog or crying baby in the background while you work.
Remember that we also post open jobs on The Penny Hoarder Jobs page on Facebook all the time, so if this one isn’t a good fit for you, make sure to “like” our page and keep checking for newly posted opportunities.
Ads Assessor Job with Lionbridge
Responsibilities include:
- Reviewing the content of internet search results
- Logging in between 10 to 20 hours a week assessing internet ads
Applicants for this position must have:
- Strong communication skills
- Fluency in English (and have lived in the U.S. for the last five consecutive years)
- A familiarity with current events and cultural affairs in the U.S.
- A home PC with Windows 7 or higher
- Reliable internet connection with an upload speed of at least 1 megabits per second
Benefits include:
- The ability to work from home
- The ability to set your own work schedule
See here for more information and to apply for the ads assessor job with Lionbridge.
Nicole Dow is a staff 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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15 Cities Where You Can Make at Least $1,000/Month With Your Spare Room
Whether you live in a studio apartment in New York City or a three-bedroom family home in Wichita, Kansas, you could earn money from the space you’re sitting in right now.
Airbnb connects hosts and travelers who need a place to stay. It lets you list your spare room, garage apartment, a tent in your yard, your whole house or any other spot someone can lay their weary head.
A lot of variables affect how much you might earn, so I wanted to find out what hosts in a bunch of cities could expect.
This calculator offers a good starting point. It lets you quickly search your city and enter a few options to see what you might make each month letting guests crash at your place.
How Much Can You Earn With Airbnb Hosting?
I ran the numbers for 15 cities to see how much you might earn as an Airbnb host with two options: renting out a private room (assuming you have a spare room, so you could share your place with guests) and renting out your entire place (so you’re not there when guests are).
In either scenario, I assumed you have two guests who can share a room.
Airbnb’s calculator offers an estimate based on 50% occupancy — so, renting your space out at least half the month — and the prices of similar listings.
Some cities on the list are obvious: Of course New York and San Francisco draw good rates. But some might surprise you: Who knew you could make bank in Akron, Ohio?
Here are 15 cities where you could earn $1,000 or more each month as an Airbnb host:
1. New York
Private room: $2,959
Entire place: $4,837
Filling your spare room half the time could earn you enough to buy 1,203 slices of New York pizza a month. Or it’d cover about half your rent — with no roommate drama.
See how much you could earn in New York.
2. San Francisco
Private room: $2,438
Entire place: $3,328
With your extra income, you could ride a cable car 348 times through the city each month (or take Muni 975 times and avoid tourists).
See how much you could earn in San Francisco.
3. Seattle
Private room: $2,369
Entire place: $3,387
That’s enough for 499 monthly Venti Caramel Macchiatos at Starbucks.
See how much you could earn in Seattle.
4. Orlando, Florida
Private room: $1,962
Entire place: $2,914
Earn enough in a month to buy 131 pairs of Mickey Mouse ears!
See how much you could earn in Orlando.
5. Milwaukee
Private room: $1,920
Entire place: $2,816
That’s enough to cover 480 pints of domestic beer or 320 imports (but when in Milwaukee, go domestic).
See how much you could earn in Milwaukee.
6. Chicago
Private room: $1,919
Entire place: $3,030
With your extra cash, you could buy 621 Chicago-style hot dogs at Portillo’s. (Or do they just call them hot dogs there?)
See how much you could earn in Chicago.
7. Salt Lake City
Private room: $1,904
Entire place: $2,949
You could buy 168 bottles of fry sauce with that extra dough!
See how much you could earn in Salt Lake City.
8. Denver
Private room: $1,810
Entire place: $2,636
With your side hustle, you could afford 262 grams of recreational marijuana (not saying should, just saying could).
See how much you could earn in Denver.
9. Houston
Private room: $1,793
Entire place: $2,655
In one month, you could bank enough for 17 wool felt cowboy hats!
See how much you could earn in Houston.
10. Charlotte, North Carolina
Private room: $1,662
Entire place: $2,625
That’s enough to buy you 162 brisket sandwiches at Midwood Smokehouse — per month.
See how much you could earn in Charlotte.
11. Jacksonville, Florida
Private room: $1,634
Entire place: $2,040
You could hang in the sun in style with 12 new pairs of Ray-Bans each month with your extra income.
See how much you could earn in Jacksonville.
12. Scranton, Pennsylvania
Private room: $1,551
Entire place: $2,223
That extra money could help you stock up on 520 “Froggy 101” stickers to show your Scranton (or “The Office”) pride.
See how much you could earn in Scranton.
13. Akron, Ohio
Private room: $1,304
Entire place: $1,819
You could buy 87 seats for the next Zips football game with that extra cash!
See how much you could earn in Akron.
14. Cheyenne, Wyoming
Private room: $1,067
Entire place: $1,474
Your spare room could afford you five new pairs of leather cowboy boots each month.
See how much you could earn in Cheyenne.
15. Albuquerque, New Mexico
Private room: $1,164
Entire place: $1,725
Renting one private room half of the time could cover your entire rent for a three-bedroom apartment in downtown Albuquerque. Not bad for a side hustle!
See how much you could earn in Albuquerque.
Is Airbnb Worth It?
It’s simple to look at numbers and get excited — who doesn’t want a little extra fry-sauce money? But hosting with Airbnb means welcoming strangers into your home, which begs a few questions…
Will You Be Safe?
For some reason, a lot of people fear unknowingly hosting a serial killer. I think we’re all watching too many scary movies.
In case you’re legitimately worried, though, Airbnb works hard to build trust between hosts and guests. Here are a few ways:
- Profile verifications in the app help ensure users are telling the truth about who they are.
- You can require guests provide Airbnb with an ID to further verify their identity.
- Hosts and guests review each other and flag suspicious profiles, so you’ll know whether a prospective guest has made trouble in the past.
Will Your Stuff Be Safe?
To protect against theft or damage of your stuff, you should already have renter’s insurance. On top of that, Airbnb’s Host Guarantee offers up to $1,000,000 for damages to your property.
This doesn’t cover cash, collectibles, rare artwork, jewelry or pets; so stow your irreplaceables, and look into your own insurance before hosting.
Is Hosting Allowed Where You Live?
Rules and regulations vary by city, so make sure you understand the laws where you live. Airbnb says it’s working with local governments to clarify these laws and make it easier for you to host.
In the meantime, look into your city’s zoning and tax laws to make sure you’re good to go. If you rent, check your lease and talk to your landlord to get a thumb’s up.
Are You Responsible for Guest’s Wellbeing?
Be a smart host, and make sure your space is clean and safe for guests.
In case of an accident, Airbnb provides Host Protection Insurance against up to $1,000,000 in bodily injury or property damage. It also protects renters in case a guest damages something in your building.
How Much Could You Earn With Airbnb in Your City?
Are you ready to get started with this new side gig? Find out how much you could earn in your city.
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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Our Holiday Budget Planner Will Let You Play Santa Without Going Broke
Holiday shopping season is here!
Before figuring out what you should spend your money on, it’s essential to figure out how much money you can spend. Even if you’ve already started shopping, it’s still a good idea to figure out how much you have left to spend.
We promise: If you set aside an hour to review your numbers, you’ll emerge in the new year feeling much better.
Budget Planning for the Holidays
To make this a little easier (and a lot more fun), we’ve created something special just for our Penny Hoarders: A free holiday budgeting worksheet.
Before filling it out, get in the swing of things with these eight tips…
1. Analyze Your Debt
It may not be pleasant, but it’s necessary: Before you do anything else, take a good look at your debt — specifically, your credit card debt.
If you have more on your credit cards than you can pay off this month, we urge you to reconsider participating in the holiday shopping frenzy. A much better use of your hard-earned money would be to pay down your credit card balance.
Skipping the expensive gifts doesn’t mean you can’t shower your friends and family with love. You can make gifts by hand (here are some affordable gift ideas), or you can give them service coupons for favors — like cleaning their house or making them dinner.
After all, a gift from the heart often means more than something that will be out of style next year.
2. Project Your Total Holiday Income
Credit cards in the clear? Time to estimate the total amount you’re going to earn over the holiday season.
If you get the same paycheck every two weeks, this will be easy.
If your pay is irregular, it’ll take a little more effort. One option is to look at your pay stubs or bank accounts from this time last year.
Or, if your job has changed since then, you can average the amount you earned over the last three months. (If you have a particularly high month, throw it out; it’s better to err on the lower side.)
3. Calculate Your Basic Budget
Once you know how much you’ll earn during the holiday season, it’s time to calculate your expenses.
Before determining how much you can spend on holiday extras, you need to create a basic budget for essentials like rent, groceries, car insurance and other expenses. (If you don’t already have a monthly budget, stop what you’re doing and read these tips for how to make a budget that actually works.)
But you’re not done yet — we still have to add the fun stuff.
4. Calculate Your Holiday Spending
So, you’ve figured out your projected income and basic budget for the holiday season — but what about the extras? How much can you spend on gifts and parties?
To find that magic number, subtract your basic budget from your projected income. Voila! You now know how much you can comfortably spend on fun stuff over the next couple of months.
If you want to know how much you can spend on gifts alone, simply subtract again: The amount of money you plan to spend on things like flights, special foods, party outfits, etc.
5. Fill Out Your Holiday Budgeting Worksheet
Alright, Santa, who’s on your list?
Record your friends and family members in our handy holiday budgeting worksheet and assign a gift budget to each.
The amounts should add up automatically — if the total is less than or equal to your official total budget, then you’re good to go. If not, tweak the numbers until they work. (Remember: A little extra wiggle room never hurts!)
Next, brainstorm gifts for each person that are at or below each price point.
6. Start Tracking Prices
One of the keys to smart holiday shopping is patience. Well, patience and research.
Before making any purchases, check prices at multiple stores. Price-tracking and -comparison tools abound, which makes the process nearly effortless.
BuyHatke is a useful browser extension that compares and tracks prices. When you shop on Amazon, it also displays price-history graphs, so you can see if the current price is really a bargain.
If you’re on the go, scan an item’s barcode with Purchx to read reviews and compare prices. Or try the SlickDeals app, which alerts you when prices drop in certain categories or at your favorite stores.
7. Stick to It!
This step may be last, but it’s one of the most important (and is definitely the hardest to follow).
Sticking to your budget is the only way to avoid a holiday hangover — at least financially.
To help, create a “holiday” expense category with an all-in-one tool like Mint or an app like Santa’s Bag, which will help you manage both your gift list and holiday budget from one platform.
If you prefer something more tactile, withdraw your holiday shopping budget in cash and keep it in a jar.
If you buy anything online or with a credit card, take that amount out of the jar and put it into a separate envelope, which you can later redeposit in your checking account. Once that jar’s empty, so is your holiday budget.
One bonus of carefully tracking your holiday spending? If you find great deals, you may have a little extra cash for yourself at the end.
Avoid going into the red this holiday season by having a plan — and sticking to it. Here’s that link to our holiday budget template again.
You might curse us when you can’t buy every single thing your heart desires, but you’ll thank us when the new year arrives!
Susan Shain is a freelance writer and digital nomad. She covers travel, food and personal finance (basically, how to save money so you can travel more and eat more). Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.
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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Live in Florida, Georgia or Texas? Check Out These Work-From-Home Jobs
Working from home is the dream, right?
You never have to get out of your pajamas (especially important in these frigid winter months — or weeks, for those of us here in Florida), you never have to make a long and terrible commute and you never forget your lunch (unless you forget to go to the grocery store, but if that’s the case, I can’t help you).
All jokes aside, though, working from home can mean so much more than just pjs and all-day fridge runs.
Working from home can mean freedom and flexibility, additional financial empowerment or just the peace of mind of a steady stream of income for those who can’t be in a traditional work environment.
All of those things mean that people can free up some time and money to live life on their own terms — and we think that’s pretty great!
So today, we found a company that’s hiring people to work from home as customer service representatives in three U.S. states.
(By the way, if you’re looking for a great work-from-home job but you don’t live in one of the states mentioned here, be sure to like our Jobs page on Facebook. We post awesome work-from-home job opportunities there whenever we find them!)
Customer Service Representative for ABC Financial
ABC Financial provides membership management software to health clubs and gyms.
The company is currently looking for customer service representatives to work from home in three states: Florida, Georgia and Texas.
Pay: Competitive, with added monthly incentives
Schedule: Full time, with set work schedules and weekends off
Responsibilities include:
- Handling inbound and outbound calls
- Dealing with payment delinquencies and disputes
- Helping fitness club members and staff with billing and payment issues and contract questions
- Reviewing accounts and answering customer questions
- Maintaining individual standards including an average talk time of 315 seconds or less on member calls
Applicants for this position must:
- Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Live in Florida, Georgia or Texas
- Have a stable work history
- Be willing and able to work an assigned schedule
- Have a minimum of one year of call center experience
- Have excellent verbal communication skills
- Have experience with AS400 and Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook
- Be able to stay confident and upbeat in stressful situations
- Be empathetic to customer needs
Requirements include:
- A quiet, dedicated home office space
- A hard-wired, high-speed internet connection
Benefits include:
- 100% paid training with bonus structure
- A 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off
- All required equipment provided
To apply to become a customer service representative in Florida, go here.
To apply to become a customer service representative in Georgia, go here.
To apply to become a customer service representative in Texas, go here.
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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10 Wines Under $20 You Won’t Be Embarrassed to Bring to the Christmas Party
Those who know me well know wine is one of my favorite things, no matter the time of year. I even have a few special wines on my list for Santa.
Wine is also a great option — or obligation — to bring to a party if the host has dinner covered. But if you’ve been invited to a more formal holiday party and need to impress, the supermarket aisles may seem stacked against you.
Luckily, we’ve compiled some insider info and choices to help you pick a bottle like a pro — without breaking the bank.
How to Buy the Best Wine
Here are a few general tips in case none of the good, cheap wine options below show up on your local shop’s shelves.
Pay Attention to Packaging
This goes without saying — skip big bottles and boxed wines. Although good wines can come in those packages, the odds aren’t in your favor.
The screw cap, however, isn’t the end of the world.
In fact, many wine experts agree the screw cap is a superior wine closure. Especially for young, dinner-party-friendly wines not meant to age, screw caps keep wines fresher more reliably than corks.
So if you pick up a bottle with a screw cap, you won’t look cheap or ignorant — and if someone thinks so, just tell them NPR covered the issue.
Visit the New World
When you buy a bottle of true Bordeaux, you’re paying for the name and history as much as, if not more than, the cost of production.
New World wines generally refer to those from countries other than Europe, though it’s a little more complicated. They also lack the prestige price tag.
Plus, their winemakers started later in the game and usually use more up-to-date, technologically advanced processes to create great wines for lower production costs.
So instead of more expensive French Bordeaux, try a Bordeaux-style wine out of South Africa or Argentina.
My favorite place to try this trick is Total Wine. If you walk up to one of their associates and ask for a New World Bordeaux or Burgundy under $15, they’ll set you up.
Steer Clear of Blends
Before you get all up in arms about your tried-and-true red blend, hear me out.
Lots of blends are tasty wines — and yes, most high-end foreign wines are blends.
But you stand a lower chance of scoring a real bargain when you buy a red or white blend without varietal (that is, type of grape) labeling.
These anonymous blends tend to be made of whatever varietal wines are left over after the winemaker produces their labeled cabernets, merlots and syrahs.
While this kind of leftover wine stew can be yummy, it usually comes at a hefty markup, because it’s so cheap to make — and isn’t snob-friendly.
Tips for Buying Wine at Local Stores
If you live near a Trader Joe’s, you’re in luck: A lot of its bargain “exclusive” wines are actually an incredible value, and the tasting notes it displays in stores are well done.
I once purchased a nice bottle of New Zealand sauvignon blanc there. It exhibited the signature stylistic notes of grass and minerality — for just $7.99.
At ABC Liquors, look for wines with a rating from Wine Spectator or Wine Enthusiast — surprising wines sometimes go deeply on sale!
I got a bottle of 2010 Château Haut Pommarede Graves Rouge — a pretty decent imported Bordeaux — for just $12.99. Originally, it was almost $20.
Publix, my favorite chain in the South, uses a set of picture graphics to confer characteristics like body and sweetness.
You can always ask the store specialist, though your mileage may vary. Some of these folks are just regular grocery store employees who don’t actually know much about wine. They might still direct you to something yummy, though!
10 Best Wines Under $20 to Bring to Holiday Parties
Any of these wines would be a great choice for your fancy holiday party. Feel free to use this as a rough guideline when you head to the store — not every bottle will be available at your local vendor.
Prices may vary based on your location, but you can get them online if shipping alcohol is legal in the states involved.
You’ll notice that cabernet and chardonnay do not appear on this list. They’re so popular it’s really easy to find an iffy one — and hard to pick out real bargains.
If one of these varietals is your go-to, more power to you. But if you branch out a little, you might be surprised by what you find — and love!
1. Mionetto Brut Prosecco Veneto — $10.99
Bubbles are a classic aperitif whose dinner party presence is well-warranted. But just looking at cheap champagne gives me a headache — and it’s hard to find a nice bottle for less than $40.
If you have yet to try Italy’s sparkling wine, Prosecco, consider it this year.
It’s got all the bubbly goodness of, well, bubbly. But it undergoes a shorter (cheaper!) fermentation method for a fruitier profile with less of the bready, biscuity flavor of French champagne.
It’s affordable — and much better than that $8 magnum you’re eyeing. Your head will thank me tomorrow.
2. Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages Nouveau — $13
Beaujolais is a light and fruity red wine with very little tannin — it drinks well, even for those who don’t like reds.
It’s had moments as a trendy wine for critics to hate on, but it pairs especially well with traditional holiday foods, like turkey with cranberry sauce. Plus, it’s an affordable French import — c’est bon!
The “Villages” version of Duboeuf’s 2015 release is a step up from the regular $8 bottle you can find in drug stores. The additional word corresponds to a rarer wine from a smaller set of vineyards. It’ll make you look that much savvier.
Note: Because Beaujolais is the first wine released of any given vintage — and because it lacks the structure tannin gives bigger reds — it’s meant to be drunk immediately.
Make sure you give the date a glance. You want this year’s bottle, if possible.
3. Hahn Pinot Noir — $15
Because it’s a moody grape prone to low yields, good, affordable pinot is so hard to find — but it pays off so well.
Well-made pinot noir is a light but complex red and goes well with a variety of foods. Hahn makes one of the nicest sub-$20 bottles I’ve ever enjoyed.
Honorable mention: Mayhall Tibbs, 2013 — $10.99 at Trader Joe’s. A little less subtle than Hahn, but if you want cherry-tasting wine, this guy is the bomb. The cherry bomb.
4. Warre’s Heritage Ruby Port — $11.99
Although it’s not for sipping all night (unless you want to feel really rotten tomorrow morning), a sweet wine like port, sweet riesling or even sweet bubbles like Italy’s Asti wine can be really good — even at affordable prices.
The powerful flavor of the extra residual sugar means you won’t miss the fine complexity of the higher end versions, more obvious in dry wines.
Plus, some fortified wines last quite a while after uncorking. They’re dosed with extra alcohol and meant to be consumed in moderate, dessert amounts. Even if you don’t pop the bottle after dinner, it makes a great holiday gift!
5. Aveleda Vinho Verde — $7.99
That’s right — green wine!
Although the color sometimes matches, the name uses “green” to mean “new” or “inexperienced.” So, Vinho Verde is a young Portuguese wine not allowed to age, whether red, white or rosé.
It’s very slightly effervescent and can exhibit exciting fruit flavors ranging from lemon to fig. It’s not as aggressively bubbly as your favorite champagne, but still fizzy.
It’s also a wine you don’t see every day, making it extremely not-embarrassing.
6. Vega Sindoa Tempranillo — $7.99
Remember what I said about Old World wines being consistently more expensive and carrying less value per dollar? Spain’s kind of an exception.
Tempranillo is one of my favorite grape varietals, with big, juicy, red fruit flavors like berry and plum, balanced with smoky, spicy flavors like tobacco and vanilla. It’s a great food wine — and you don’t have to pay much for it.
7. Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier Blend — $15.99
If you haven’t heard of viognier, get ready to replace all your chardonnay. This grape has the same weighty mouthfeel, but because it’s not usually aged in oak, it retains tropical fruit flavors like peach and pear, even floral notes of violet.
Paired with the neutral chenin blanc in this blend, you wind up with a well-balanced wine, free of the sweet, heavy character viognier can take on by itself.
8. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc — $20
Sauvignon blanc is a fantastic food wine because of its high acid level, which cuts through fatty cheeses and meats. Marlborough, New Zealand, is one of the premier regions for this varietal, and Kim Crawford’s bottle is likely to be on your local shelves.
Just like Beaujolais, sauvignon blanc is another wine that’s meant to be drunk young — so look for the most recent vintage when you go hunting.
9. Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo — $18.99
Italian wine means a lot more than $3 chianti in the straw basket, so you’re in for a treat.
This Italian bottle is a big red with notes of blackberry and earth — with lots of tannin and relatively low acid. It’s a wine worth contemplating, and a great value for the price point.
10. The Stump Jump Shiraz — $12.99
If you like cabernet, jump over to shiraz (which is what happens when Aussies try to say “syrah,” apparently).
This is a nice bottle to try, with a low price point. Because shiraz is also a thick-skinned dark grape variety, you’ll notice many of the same blue, black and cooked fruit flavors from your favorite cabernet — but with the exotic twist of pepper or even chocolate.
Need More Wine Help?
Remember: Don’t be afraid to ask for help! If you go to any actual wine shop — as opposed to a grocery store — you’ll be in good hands.
And if worst comes to worst… bring some eggnog and a bottle of spiced rum to the party!
Jamie Cattanach (@jamiecattanach) has written for VinePair, SELF, Ms. Magazine, Roads & Kingdoms, The Write Life, Barclaycard’s Travel Blog, Santander Bank’s Prosper and Thrive and other outlets. Her writing focuses on food, wine, travel and frugality.
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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Don’t Pay Rush Fees! Here’s When to Ship Your Packages so They Arrive by Christmas
Here’s a simple way to save money this holiday season: Avoid unnecessary shipping costs.
If you’re sending gifts to friends and family away from home, do it early. You still have plenty of time to get packages to your loved ones before Christmas without paying extra for expedited shipping.
To help you plan ahead, we’ve rounded up standard shipping deadlines for the major postal services.
Note: Deadlines are for delivery by Dec. 24 within the continental U.S., unless otherwise noted.
U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Shipping Deadline
Ship by Dec. 14 via USPS Retail Ground or Media Mail for standard rates.
USPS Retail Ground is the most common service for gifts and merchandise. Prices are based on delivery distance and the weight of your package(s). You’ll use Media Mail for books, film and printed materials of several pages.
For holiday cards and other envelopes or lightweight packages you can mail with a regular First Class postage stamp, ship by Dec. 19.
For later deadlines and expedited shipping rates, visit USPS.com.
United Parcel Service (UPS) Shipping Deadline
Ship before Dec. 18 via UPS Ground or UPS 3 Day Select.
Because it lands on a Sunday this year, there will be no UPS deliveries on Christmas Eve.
While you could technically schedule a delivery for the day before Christmas Eve, this lands on a Saturday and packages are required to be processed and labeled for Saturday delivery.
The Saturday delivery includes a pricy fee and isn’t available in some regions, so your best bet is to make sure you ship by Dec. 18 for delivery by Friday, Dec. 22.
For later deadlines and expedited shipping rates, see the UPS 2017 Year-End Holiday Schedule.
FedEx Shipping Deadline
Ship by Dec. 18 via FedEx Ground or Home Delivery.
FedEx Ground delivers in one to five business days, depending on your location in the continental U.S. See this handy map for delivery times in your area.
FedEx Home Delivery offers faster delivery to residential addresses. Ship packages up to 70 pounds for delivery within one to five business days plus delivery on Dec. 23 at no additional cost.
For later deadlines and expedited shipping rates, visit FedEx.com.
Happy Holidays, Penny Hoarders!
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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Savvy ways to give your kids money
Rather than buy yet more toys for the kids in your family, consider setting up a saving or investment plan for them.
Many children have hundreds of pounds spent on them at Christmas. But could that money be put to better use? According to the Toy Retailers Association’s Dream Toy list, Hasbro’s £134.99 FurReal Roarin’ Tyler, the Playful Tiger is one of the must-have toys this Christmas. Yes, it may feature 100 sound and movement combinations, but the answer to my kids will be a fi rm ‘no’.
As British parents prepare to spend an average of £121 on each child up to age 11, according to analysts at NPD Group, my family follows the ‘frugal four gift’ rule for children at Christmas. This goes as follows: “Something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.”
The second item on that list is most relevant for this article. What all children need is a long-term investment plan – something to stand them in good stead, when they go off to university, need a deposit for a fi rst home, or to use as a basis for retirement planning.
Although they may not thank you now, they will be VERY grateful in later years.
It’s a good idea to have a ‘saving for children’ conversation involving all family members – can grandparents contribute too? If you all agree to put a small amount of money into a child’s savings account every Christmas and birthday, this could amount to thousands of pounds over his or her childhood.
The advantage of giving cash is that it can be turned into an educational money tool. Whatever account you choose, it’s important that you involve the child in the decision and management of the account so that they can see how the money grows over time. The type of gift that you give depends on how much you want to contribute, as some investment products have fees that would eat into smaller amounts of cash over time.
Cash gifts of less than £100 could be used to open a savings account, or to top up an existing investment such as a Junior Isa. If you have larger sums of £500 or more, or want to start making smaller but regular contributions, consider setting up a long-term investment plan.
Junior Isas
Junior Isas (also referred to as Jisas) are tax-free savings accounts for under 18s. This tax year you can save up to £4,128 in a Jisa. This allowance can be split across both Stocks and Shares and Cash Jisas or saved in just the one Jisa type.
While all the family can contribute, this type of Isa can only be opened by somebody with parental responsibility for the child. It is only this person, known as the registered contact, who can give investment instructions and who will receive all the documentation. The child can’t withdraw the money until they turn 18.
Stocks and Shares Jisas are the most popular product for parents and grandparents saving for children, the results of a recent Moneywise.co.uk poll below reveal.
A quarter (25%) of those who voted said a Stocks and Shares Junior Isa is where they put money when saving for kids in the family.
If you want to combine active and tracker funds using the Moneywise First 50 Funds list (see pages 80-81), then Charles Stanley Direct (Charles-stanley-direct.co.uk/ Our_Services/JISA) is our top pick Stocks and Shares Jisa provider for having the cheapest and most user-friendly option and allowing transfers in of Jisas and Child Trust Funds from other providers.
In contrast, Cash Jisas were only the third most popular product in our poll, with just under two in 10 (19%) saying they use these.
For cash, the Moneywise Best Buy is the Coventry Building Society Junior Cash Isa. This pays 3.25% interest to young savers and can be opened by post or in branch. Although fund performance cannot be guaranteed, it is likely that a Jisa invested in a portfolio of well-chosen investment funds will grow faster than the cash equivalent, when invested over a period of at least fi ve years.
Cash savings accounts
Going back to Moneywise’s poll results, cash savings accounts were the most popular product after Stocks and Shares Jisas, receiving 21% of the votes. Unlike Jisas, these accounts are not taxfree. However, children are unlikely to earn more than the income tax threshold of £11,500. The Moneywise Best Buy for lump sum deposits is the Santander 123 Mini current account. This pays 3% interest on balances that children hold between £300 and £2,000.
It is available to all kids aged between 11 and 17 and, as this is a current account, they can also get a debit card in their name.
If your child is slightly younger or has a larger lump sum to save, consider the HSBC MySavings account. This can be opened in branch and is available to anyone aged between seven and 17. It pays 2.75% on all balances up to £3,000, plus 0.25% on any balance over that amount.
Other options
In the Moneywise poll, other options selected by readers saving for children included: investment trust savings schemes (11%), Premium Bonds (10%), pensions (5%), and direct shareholdings (1%).
A further 8% selected ‘Other’, with responses given ranging from the likes of Child Trust Funds to property, and even (slightly worryingly) “under the carpet”.
Investment Trust savings schemes
These are savings schemes run by investment trust managers that allow monthly or annual purchases of investment trust shares for free, or for a nominal charge.
Our pick in this area is the Baillie Gifford Children’s Savings Plan (Bailliegifford.com) which provides access to a selection of well-managed Baillie Gifford investment trusts. These include Scottish Mortgage, a diversifi ed global equity investment trust and member of the Moneywise First 50 Funds, that works well as a core stock market holding. The scheme is very accessible too. The minimum investment into each trust is a £100 lump sum or £25 a month.
Premium Bonds
Some people deride Premium Bonds for paying no interest, but others like the idea of the chance to make your child a millionaire.
From 1 December 2017, the odds of winning a prize in the monthly Premium Bond draw will be boosted from 30,000 to one to 24,500 to one. At the same time the effective prize fund interest rate will increase by 0.25% to 1.4%.
This means the number of prizes paid out each month will rise from 2.3 million to 2.9 million, and the value of these prizes will rise from £68 million to about £83 million.
Until the child’s 16th birthday, the parent or guardian nominated on the application looks after the Bonds, regardless of who buys them.
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Pensions
Putting money into a pension for a child is the ultimate long-lasting legacy. There is tax relief on contributions, and there is plenty of time for the money to grow, as a child won’t be able to access their money until they are 55 (based on current legislation at least).
The Moneywise Best Buy in this area is the Aviva Personal Pension, which has competitive charges and a good range of investment fund options. For further details, visit http://ift.tt/2yiAUl9 personal-pension/.
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Moneywise First 50 Funds: The investment outlook for 2018
From market jitters caused by Brexit to stock market highs, 2017 has been an unpredictable year for investors. But what does 2018 hold? Moneywise’s Helen Knapman quizzes some of the managers of our First 50 Funds for beginner investors to find out their predictions.
Rising interest rates pose one of the biggest challenges to investors in 2018, according to the managers Moneywise spoke to.
UK interest rates rose in November 2017 from their historic low of 0.25% to 0.5%, while the Federal Reserve in America is expected to continue pushing rates up.
Jacob de Tusch-Lec, manager of the Artemis Global Income fund, says he “expects interest rates to edge higher, as the global economy is improving and central banks are itching to (partly) normalise the current extremely loose conditions”.
However, he believes rising interest rates and the tightening of liquidity could be bad news for ‘defensive stocks’ – companies in the tobacco, utilities or consumer sectors, which sell or make products that are always needed. This could negatively impact the dividend – or income – these companies pay to investors.
Bruce Stout, manager of the Murray International Investment Trust – another global equities fund – also warns that dividends could take a hit in 2018.
“One of the biggest challenges for the developed world, particularly the UK, is corporate dividends,” Mr Stout says. “A lot of companies are really straining to pay their yields and that’s evident in the UK’s dividend coverage ratio, which is below 1% for the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250.
“These companies are paying out more than they earn, and while this is possibly sustainable in the short term, it’s not in the long term. Businesses are also being starved by paying out dividends and not reinvesting.”
Giles Hargreave, joint manager of Marlborough UK Micro-Cap Growth fund, adds: “If the Bank of England does raise rates faster and higher than is comfortable for businesses and households, then that would be a cause for concern.
“For example, if people start to feel the squeeze, then they may put spending plans on hold for ‘big ticket’ discretionary items such as cars and televisions.”
This lack of spending would have a negative impact on those investing in companies producing these products.
The impending exit from the European Union is also still a cause for concern for those investing in UK-listed companies, according to Neil Hermon, manager of the Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust.
“In terms of what could go wrong, we have the issues around the UK slowdown and Brexit uncertainty, and what impact that might have on consumer confidence. The UK economy is growing quite slowly, which is a drag on corporates.”
Meanwhile, Job Curtis, manager of the City of London Investment Trust, points to the risk of new companies disrupting markets. He says: “One must be careful to watch the effect of disruptors on an industry, such as Amazon in retailing.”
When it comes to investing in emerging markets, Nick Price, manager of the Fidelity Emerging Markets fund, says China could be a cause for concern. He explains: “Risks would be a major fall-off in demand from China in commodities and the resumption of a strong dollar.”
A chance to make money
However, the investment outlook isn’t all doom and gloom. According to the fund managers Moneywise spoke to, there are still plenty of opportunities to make money.
For investors in UK-based firms, Mr Curtis says: “Synchronised growth across the world’s major economies is set to continue, which should be positive for company profits and dividend growth.”
Mr Hermon continues: “The underlying corporates [in my fund] are performing well. I also think there’s potential for mergers and acquisitions as we’ve seen this pick up in our portfolio in the past few months and we’re seeing interest from foreign corporates buying UK companies.”
Investors in UK firms which earn money and pay dividends in dollars will also continue to benefit from weak sterling, according to Mr Hermon. He says: “Sterling appreciation has proved a boon for companies with overseas earnings and export sales.
“I’m not a currency expert, but we’re certainly one of the slowest growing developed economies in the G7, we have a pretty weak – effectively a minority – government, and lots of uncertainty with Brexit. So that’s not a cocktail for me where sterling will improve, which means we should still benefit from currency valuations in 2018.”
Pockets of growth
There are also plenty of smaller UK companies where investors can gain growth, says Mr Hargreave. “One of the big positives for us continues to be the sheer number of opportunities in the UK smaller companies’ arena. We have well over 1,000 companies to choose from and many of the strongest are real innovators, tapping into new markets or stealing a march on more established competitors.”
When it comes to investing globally, Mr de Tusch-Lec, says: “Europe might still be mired in political uncertainty, yet it is seeing the strongest growth in close to a decade. House prices are rising and we are seeing signs of wage growth and shortages of skilled labour in the ‘core’ eurozone economies. Demand for credit is rising and loan growth accelerating. China is growing and commodity prices are rising, although there are signs of a politically motivated slowdown coming.
“Furthermore, recent quarterly earnings seasons have been extremely positive – even the analysts and investors perpetually anticipating deflation and recession must accept that.”
Mr Stout points to emerging markets as an asset class where there is money to be made. He says: “I’m always looking for a tailwind, and a lot of the tailwind in emerging markets is that interest rates are coming down, levels of debt are lower, and consumer spending is on the rise.”
His recent purchases include Indocement (a cement company in Indonesia), Siam Commercial Bank in Thailand, and Telefonica Brasil (a telecommunications group in Brazil).
When it comes to emerging markets, Mr Price adds that there are opportunities in the ecommerce and financial services sectors. He says: “I envisage that consumer-related areas of the market will continue to offer many sound investment opportunities.
“Companies that operate in ecommerce and financial services are good examples of pockets of the developing world where structural growth is evident as more and more consumers move online or seek bank accounts, loans and mortgages.”
He also likes India. “Some of the most fragile economies in the developing world also look more stable today than in the past and in large economies, such as India, significant government reforms should help to place the economy on a more sustainable footing for the medium to long term,” he says.
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Finally: The Truth About How Often You Should Check Your Credit Report
To be smart about your money, you have to look under the hood once in a while.
That’s why we’re always talking about checking your credit report and credit score. They affect pretty much everything you do with money — buy a house, rent a car, rent an apartment, open a credit card — everything.
Staying on top of your finances means staying on top of your credit report.
That used to mean requesting that free credit report from the major agencies every 12 months.
Then it meant maybe signing up for a credit card that offered your free FICO score periodically.
Now, with apps like Credit Sesame, you can check your credit score — and see what’s in your report — as often as you want.
But… how often should you?
How Often Should You Check Your Credit Report?
John Ulzheimer, an expert on credit reporting and theft, recently told Forbes the “new normal should be that you’re checking [your credit report] every four weeks.”
“It’s simply too important to turn your back on it for an extended period of time,” Ulzheimer said. “FICO and VantageScores are so influential to our collective bottom lines that we should always have our hands on the pulse of our credit scores.”
Forbes points out this “new normal” has come about because of how easy it’s become to check your credit for free.
For me, having my hand “on the pulse” of my credit score was as simple as signing up for Credit Sesame. It lets me see my credit score and a free credit report card anytime I want, plus offers suggestions for steps I can take to improve those bad marks.
Can You Check Your Credit Score Too Often?
Checking your credit score or requesting a credit report won’t affect it. So technically, you can’t check too often. But you could be wasting time.
Your credit score changes based on your credit report, which is based on information lenders report to credit bureaus. Think: Our pals at Equifax, TransUnion and Experian.
Generally, lenders report new information to the bureaus once a month, according to NerdWallet.
If you’re obsessively checking your credit score daily or weekly, it’ll probably disappoint you.
Through Credit Sesame, I get an email once a month letting me know my score has been updated. Maybe it’s changed, maybe not, but I know it’s the latest information.
Checking in daily might make me feel like I’m taking steps to improve my credit, but it wouldn’t actually help any more than checking once a month.
What Should You Do With This Information?
Like checking your oil when you know nothing about cars, checking your credit score does no good if you don’t know what to do with what you find.
(This is why I’m not in charge of the car at my house.)
If you find a mistake during your monthly credit check up, here’s how to dispute it and have it removed from your report.
Now, onto that rattling sound you hear every time you turn the car to the right…
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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Here’s How People Are Making Thousands of Dollars by Selling Their $1 Bills
Very little is as awesome as holding the winning number in your hot little hands, whether you’ve purchased the fateful lottery ticket or your number was just called at the deli. (Wait, am I the only person who gets excited by that? What can I say? I like to celebrate the small wins.)
However, you may be sitting on a winning number of another kind without even realizing it. What am I talking about?
Check Your Dollar Bills
Specifically, dollar bills with strange serial numbers — ones that aren’t easy to come by.
Turns out antique coins aren’t the only currency worth cash to collectors.
Here’s a rundown of the sort of serial numbers these collectors are looking for:
- Seven repeating digits in a row on $1 Federal Reserve notes (i.e., 09999999, 77777776)
- Seven of a kind on $1 Federal Reserve notes (i.e., 00010000, 99999099)
- Super repeaters on $1 Federal Reserve notes (i.e., 67676767)
- Double quads on $1 Federal Reserve notes (i.e., 00009999)
Can You Really Get Rich With Dollar Bills?
Just ask these collectors and experts, who estimate specific “hot” serial numbers to be worth big bucks:
- The Boston Globe reported in 2013 that one particularly patriotic collector was interested in bills with the serial number 07041776 in honor of the date of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He was said to be willing to pay $500 to $1,000 for $2 bills with this serial number. (Why $2 bills? Each one portrays the historic event.)
- In the U.K., an eBay seller reportedly made 7,100 pounds from the sale of a single 20p coin.
- When the redesigned $100 bill was released in October 2013, Dustin Johnston, director of Heritage Auctions in Dallas, told The Boston Globe the very first bill (serial number 00000001) could be worth a whopping $10,000 to $15,000.
Go ahead: Take a few minutes to check your wallet, pockets and maybe those couch cushions. If you think you’ve got a serial number collectors will be interested in, here’s what to do next.
Show Them the Money
Depending on the rarity of your bill’s serial number, it could be worth a crazy amount of money — when we checked eBay on Sept. 27, 2017, we found dollar bills with fancy serial numbers listed for as much as $550.
And be sure to tell your grandma you want your birthday $20 in singles this year. Because, as the New York Lottery says, “Hey, you never know.”
Kelly Gurnett is a freelance blogger, writer and editor who runs the blog Cordelia Calls It Quits, where she documents her attempts to rid her life of the things that don’t matter and focus more on the things that do. Follow her on Twitter @CordeliaCallsIt.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, 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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