5 Money Hacks that Have Saved Me Over $4.1 Million Dollars

This Work-From-Home Customer Service Job in Texas Pays $12/Hour — Apply Now

If you live within 60 miles of Canyon Lake, Texas, here’s a work-from-home job you might want to check out.

SkyRun Vacation Rentals is hiring part-time remote customer service representatives to assist guests over a company-supplied phone or by email.

To apply for this job, you must live within 60 miles of Canyon Lake, Texas.

If this job isn’t what you’re looking for, be sure to check out our Jobs page on Facebook. We post new opportunities there all the time.

Remote Customer Service Representative at SkyRun Vacation Rentals

Pay: $12 per hour

Responsibilities include:

• Communicating with guests by phone and email
• Assisting with sales, customer service and basic troubleshooting tasks

Applicants for this position must have:

• High school diploma
• High attention to details
• Strong communication skills
• Personal computer
• Internet access
• Weekend availability
• One year of customer service experience

Applicants must live within 60 miles of Canyon Lake, Texas.

Benefits include:

• Company-issued phone

Apply here for the remote customer service representative job at SkyRun Vacation Rentals.

Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She loves telling readers about new job opportunities so look her up on Twitter (@lisah) if you’ve got a tip to share.

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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UCLA Law Students Will Get Support from New Chris Cornell Scholarship Fund

To fans of the late, great Chris Cornell, the music from Soundgarden is the gift that keeps on giving.

But now, a coalition led by the famous frontman’s wife, Vicky Cornell, has offered up another gift that will continue to pay out for years to come: a scholarship endowment fund of more than $1 million that will support students at the UCLA School of Law.

According to a press release, the Chris Cornell Scholarship honors his commitment to “justice, human rights and advocacy for those in need.” The coalition is made up of several of Cornell’s friends and colleagues, along with supporters of UCLA Law.

“Vicky Cornell and all the people paying tribute to Chris Cornell’s tremendous legacy are helping to ensure that the law school will extend and strengthen its commitment to our students and to the pursuit of justice,” said UCLA Law Dean Jennifer Mnookin in the press release.

Cornell died in May at the age of 52. Before his death, Cornell wrote and recorded a song titled “The Promise” for a feature film of the same name that highlights the story of the Armenian genocide. Cornell donated his proceeds from the song to the International Rescue Committee, while proceeds from the film itself are going to various human rights causes. These funds helped create the Promise Institute of Human Rights at UCLA School of Law.

“This endowment honors an influential musical artist who cared about human rights and enables others the opportunity to make a positive impact in the world,” UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said.

In November, the Los Angeles Committee of Human Rights Watch honored Chris Cornell posthumously at its Voices For Justice event.

“My husband and I agreed that given the opportunity of education, people have the power to change the world,” Vicky Cornell said in a statement. “[W]e are proud the Chris Cornell Scholarship will provide funding for future students and future leaders of the world.”

This endowment fund donation is a contribution to the $4.2 billion UCLA Centennial Campaign, which will conclude in December 2019, marking UCLA’s 100th anniversary.

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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This Medical Support Job Lets You Work From Home (Great Benefits Included!)

Looking for a job in the field of medical support but don’t actually want to work in a hospital setting?

Envision Physician Services, which supports health care providers at over 1,000 hospitals throughout the nation, is hiring client support representatives to work from home covering evening and night shifts.

This is a position for those who have previous experience in the medical field and can solve technical support issues. If this isn’t the particular job for you, be sure to check out our Jobs page on Facebook. We post new opportunities there all the time.

Client Support Representative for Envision Physician Services

Responsibilities include:

• Taking inbound calls and responding to emails and online chats
• Resolving requests for support and documenting the resolution process
• Maintaining patient confidentiality

Applicants for this position must have:

• A high school diploma or GED
• At least two years of experience in the medical support field or a related field with demonstrated leadership skills
• Computer literacy, with a preferred understanding of computer architecture, networking and windows troubleshooting
• The ability to physically connect to a high-speed internet service provider (not wireless) using a provided network patch cable. (The company will also provide a phone and workstation.)
• Understanding of basic medical terminology and radiology and imaging devices is preferred

Benefits include:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Company-matched 401(k)
• Two weeks of paid vacation
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Tuition reimbursement

Apply here for the client support representative job with Envision Physician Services.

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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The New Tax Law: How it Can Affect Year-End Giving

A planned giving expert advises those who want to make charitable gifts in 2017 how to best take advantage of the changing tax code.

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Eight Reasons to Ignore the Bitcoin Craze

If you’ve never heard of Bitcoin, here’s a serious question: Where in the heck have you been?

The digital cryptocurrency known as Bitcoin has been a hot talking point for months, mostly because it surged in value from several hundred dollars to more than $17,000 in a matter of months in 2017.

Imagine if you purchased five Bitcoin last December when each theoretical “coin” was worth around $766. If you held your $3,830 investment until Bitcoin surged over $16,000 early this December, you’d have turned your investment into $80,000. Not bad, huh?

But if, like most people, you didn’t buy Bitcoin? At this point, you might have a serious case of FOMO – or “fear of missing out.” Whether or not you had the cash to invest in Bitcoin when you first heard about it, you might have a serious case of regret.

While it’s easy to understand why you might feel like you missed out on something big, here’s the good news: A lot – and I mean a lot – of financial advisors and economists are suggesting we all ignore the entire Bitcoin craze altogether.

And these people are actual financial advisors and economic experts trained in the financial markets and how they work, not your neighbor Doug who invested $500 in Bitcoin and now thinks he’s a genius.

Eight Reasons You Should Ignore Bitcoin Mania

When experts who know a thing or two about financial markets and the economy talk about Bitcoin, we should listen. Here are eight reasons some experts say we should ignore the hype around Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies – at least for the time being.

#1: Bitcoin is an obvious bubble.

A financial bubble, according to Investopedia, is “an economic cycle characterized by rapid escalation of asset prices followed by a contraction.” Remember that what goes up quickly very often comes crashing right back down, and that could very well include Bitcoin.

Some experts even call Bitcoin an obvious bubble. Recently, Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman shared his thoughts on Bitcoin with Business Insider. To say that Krugman thinks Bitcoin is a bubble could be the understatement of the year. In fact, Krugman says the Bitcoin bubble is “even more obvious than the housing bubble was.”

But if it’s a bubble, when will it crash? Like everyone else, Krugman doesn’t know. Since Bitcoin isn’t anchored by real estate, stocks, or anything of tangible value, Krugman says we’re waiting for a “Wylie Coyote moment.” At some point, Bitcoin will run off a cliff and look down. Only then will we all realize there’s nothing underneath.

Indiana Financial Advisor Tom Diem says Bitcoin reminds him a lot of Tulip Mania, a historic bubble that took place in the 1600s when tulips were brought to Holland from Turkey and introduced to the Dutch. The local population became so enthralled with the new flower that they started trading the bulbs like mad.

Where tulip bulbs had once cost as much as an onion, they surged to reach the price of an estate. Of course, the whole thing eventually came crashing down, and tulip bulbs were suddenly worth what you might expect to pay for a flower – not a lot.

#2: Bitcoin is mostly driven by FOMO.

While Bitcoin has some advantages as a currency — low fees, easy transfers, anonymity — many investors don’t really know much about it. Krugman says this lack of knowledge is a good thing for now as the price continues to surge. But eventually, we may all find that FOMO is the root cause of the currency’s sudden rise in value.

This is a problem, says financial advisor Anthony Montenegro of The Blackmont Group. Many investors driving the price up are doing so because they’re more scared of missing out on returns than they are of actually losing money, he says.

“They’ve succumbed to the fear of missing out,” he says, adding that you shouldn’t “believe the hype.”

As a financial advisor, Montenegro believes and has always believed that steady plodding brings prosperity and hasty speculation brings poverty. “Plan wisely and invest accordingly,” he says.

And perhaps remember the wise words of Warren Buffett: “Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.”

• Related: Eight Questions to Ask Yourself Before Investing in Anything

#3: Bitcoin isn’t backed by a country.

Financial advisor Michael Solari says one of his biggest worries is the fact that Bitcoin, like other cryptocurrencies, is not tied to a country. Without a national bank backing the currency, what will happen if the market tanks or something goes extremely awry?

Former hedge fund manager Todd Tresidder, who blogs at FinancialMentor.com, also says that, while part of Bitcoin’s appeal is that it operates outside of government control, this is simultaneously disconcerting, because government needs to control currencies if they hope to implement policy.

Tresidder says there’s a real risk the federal government could choose to regulate and control cryptocurrency. “And, it’s not a big stretch to imagine them making all currency not originated from government illegal,” he says. “That would, of course, have a dramatic impact on price through its impact on supply and demand.”

#4: It makes more sense to invest in what you know and understand.

Financial advisor Stephen Rischall of 1080 Financial Group says one of the main reasons he isn’t suggesting his clients invest in Bitcoin is because they, like everyone else, do not understand it.

“If you don’t understand how it works, what it does, and how you can easily get your money back, then you probably should think twice before investing in it,” Rischall says.

Cryptocurrencies are highly speculative and unregulated, notes Rischall. “It’s the wild west of investing, where numerous cases of fraud and hacking thefts are hidden by greed and hyper marketing.”

#5: Bitcoin is extremely volatile.

While Bitcoin prices have surged steadily over the past year, the daily value of this currency has been all over the place. These huge swings can cause off-the-charts emotional reactions that will only be amplified the larger the movement, says financial advisor Brett Romero of SAS Capital Investment Advisory Group.

Imagine if you dove into Bitcoin when its value was at $16,000, then watched as its value plunged beneath $14,000 just a few days later — as it did early on December 22. You’d likely be extremely stressed out, and maybe even sell your investment to thwart off further losses.

Either way, volatility can easily cause us to lose our cool and make rash investment decisions.

#6: Investing in Bitcoin promotes gambling behavior.

Financial advisor and investment analyst Joseph Hogue of My Stock Market Basics says Bitcoin isn’t nearly as big of a problem as the investing behavior it creates. Making a lot of money on a short-term investment always turns into gambling, he says. And when you get accustomed to gambling, it’s hard to invest any other way.

“You’re going to be constantly looking for the next hot stock,” he says. “You might make money on a few but you’ll end up chasing your losers all the way down, throwing more money into them until you’ve given up your profits and then some.”

And let’s not forget that you’ll likely lose thousands to taxes and trading fees along the way. “True investing won’t make you rich overnight, but it will meet your goals if you stick to a long-term strategy,” says Hogue.

• Related: Outrageous Investing Fees You Should Never, Ever Pay

#7: Bitcoin is highly concentrated in the hands of a few.

As of earlier this year, just 1,000 people owned 40% of the Bitcoin currency, according to Bloomberg. You can see why this could be problematic. Imagine some of those investors, often called “whales,” decided to capitalize on their gains and sell their Bitcoin all at once. What would happen to the currency?

As the market floods, chances are good Bitcoin prices would drop with a thud, says financial advisor Christopher Clepp. Having so much Bitcoin in the hands of so few makes it “ripe for market manipulation by a relatively small number of people,” he says.

And if these owners decided to coordinate their movements to protect themselves from losses, they could. Since Bitcoin is a currency and not a security (a stock), there’s “no prohibition against a trade in which a group agrees to buy enough to push the price up and then cashes out in minutes,” notes Bloomberg.

#8: Bitcoin may be especially susceptible to hacking and theft.

Because Bitcoin is a digital currency that is mostly unregulated, it may be especially susceptible to hacking. And this is already playing out. In early December of this year, for example, more than $60 million in Bitcoin was stolen through a trading site called NiceHash.com, notes CNBC. And apparently, North Korean hackers had stolen upwards of $80 million in Bitcoin as of a few weeks ago.

But Clepp says this may just be the beginning. “The coming wave of quantum computing, which will accelerate greatly in the next two to four years, will render much of the cryptography of bitcoin near useless in preventing hacking and theft,” says Clepp.

In other words, it could all get worse before it gets better. And it may never get better.

The Bottom Line

Instead of racking your brain over how or when to invest in Bitcoin, most financial advisors suggest you focus on real, tangible financial goals. Boosting the amount you’re saving for retirement by a few percentage points, building up your emergency fund, and paying down debt can make a huge difference in your net worth over time, for example.

These tried and true financial moves may not be as exciting as Bitcoin, but they will pay off in the long run.

Holly Johnson is an award-winning personal finance writer and the author of Zero Down Your Debt. Johnson shares her obsession with frugality, budgeting, and travel at ClubThrifty.com.

Related Articles:

• Four Ways to Start Investing Without Much Money
• 10 Things You Need to Do Before You Start Investing
• Why Employer Stock Is One of the Riskiest Investments You Can Own

Did you invest in Bitcoin? Are you planning on it? Please share in the comments below. 

The post Eight Reasons to Ignore the Bitcoin Craze appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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How to Increase Sales by Mastering the Art of Storytelling

Nothing keeps someone on the edge of their seat like a good story.

That’s why people love to watch movies, read books, and binge-watch television shows.

I know we all have that one friend or family member who tells the best stories around the dinner table.

But what if there was a way to turn those stories into dollars?

There is.

You’ll be able to boost your sales if you can get customers to connect with your stories.

Some of you may be thinking, “I’m a terrible storyteller, so this won’t work for me.”

And some of you might say, “My life is boring. I don’t have any good stories to tell.”

Yes, storytelling is an art.

Not everyone is born with the ability to tell an engaging story.

But luckily for you, I’m very familiar with storytelling.

In fact, I use this strategy all the time as a marketing technique.

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you may remember this article I wrote a couple of years ago where I shared my personal experience:

That blog post has nearly 70 comments on it.

People buy food, but nobody seems to think you can make money off it.

Plus, with numbers so high, readers are bound to be interested.

I’ll share with you some of my storytelling secrets that you can implement in your marketing campaigns to squeeze revenue from your customers.

Here’s how you can master the art of storytelling.

Identify the target audience of your story

First, recognize to whom you’re telling the story.

Make sure it’s appropriate for that audience.

Let’s use an analogy before we relate it to your business.

A story you might tell to your poker buddies during a card night while having a beer may not be something you’d tell your in-laws during a Thanksgiving dinner.

You know what I mean?

For the most part, I’d recommend keeping your stories suitable to all ages.

I practice what I preach. If you read my blogs, you typically won’t see any vulgarity or cuss words.

But depending on your brand and how you market yourself, it may be part of your image.

Something else to consider is where you plan to distribute your story.

If you’re posting it on social media, your audience may vary depending on the platform.

Let’s say you identify your target audience as baby boomers.

Based on the graph above, it wouldn’t be smart to tell that story on Instagram, Snapchat, or Twitter because there isn’t an active presence of your audience.

But if you were trying to connect with millennials, Instagram or Snapchat would be good channels to promote your story.

Once you figure out the target, you’ll be able to use an appropriate tone to tell the story and release it on the right platforms as well.

What goal are you trying to achieve?

You might be able to tell the best story in the world, but that means nothing if you don’t have a goal for it.

The story has to be actionable.

That’s the only way you’re going to get customers to convert and increase your sales.

You need to have some kind of message the customer walks away with.

Let’s take a look at an example from the Farmers Insurance website:

How do insurance companies make money?

They have to sell policies.

In a perfect world for them, they sell a policy, and the customer never makes a claim.

This story on their website talks about the disaster from hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas.

The underlying message to a prospective customer could be that they should purchase flood insurance.

Someone may read this story and think something similar could happen to their home if they live in an area below sea level that’s susceptible to a natural disaster.

It can entice them to purchase or upgrade their policy.

Try to get an emotional response from the customer

Emotions are a powerful way to drive sales.

Refer back to our last example with Farmers Insurance.

The emotion elicited by that story would be fear.

Consumers may be afraid of a disaster happening to them, and that will prompt them to make a purchase.

Another example could be telling a story about a robbery to get customers to buy a home security system.

While fear is definitely a powerful emotion, it’s not the only way to get a response from your audience.

Dopamine gets released from the brain when someone has an emotional connection with a story.

Think about some other strong emotions you can trigger.

According to Dr. Robert Plutchik, a psychologist and professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, there are eight main emotions:

1. Fear
2. Anger
3. Sadness
4. Joy
5. Disgust
6. Surprise
7. Trust
8. Anticipation

While those are a good place to start, you can try to elicit other emotions as well, such as love, pity, or envy, to connect with your audience.

It all depends on your marketing campaign and how you want your brand to be perceived.

Here’s an example from TOMS shoes:

On their website, they include a biography about their company’s founder, Blake Mycoskie.

They tell Blake’s story.

As you can see from the underlined sentences, Blake was inspired to create TOMS after witnessing firsthand young children growing up without shoes.

Blake came up with a way to help.

For every pair of shoes bought from his company, they would donate a pair to a child in need.

It’s a simple plan to help those less fortunate and a great business model for a for-profit organization.

This story can generate all kinds of emotions within a reader.

At first, they may feel sadness for those children without shoes.

But they can also feel joy because something is being done to help these kids.

Remember, we’re trying to tell actionable stories.

What kind of response can this story get?

This emotional roller coaster can inspire customers to make a purchase, knowing it will help the cause.

Tell stories your readers can relate to

People connect better with stories and ideas that speak directly to them.

If your story is super unique and isn’t relatable to a wide audience, you’ll need to find a way to tweak it.

Otherwise, you should probably leave it out of your marketing campaign altogether.

Tony Robbins, an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, and business strategist, tells stories of triumph that his readers can relate to.

His books and self-help seminars are designed to help people take control of their lives and gain financial freedom.

He tells his personal story and explains that at one point he had only $20 to his name.

That’s something people can relate to.

Most people can understand financial struggles because they impact them every day.

Tony says he was in that position too at one point in his life, but there’s a way out.

To find out how you can do it too, he wants you to buy his books.

That’s the actionable response he’s trying to get from you by telling you a story you can relate to.

This is much more effective than telling a story about his current life, when he is worth millions of dollars.

People can’t relate to that lifestyle, but they can connect with financial struggles.

Start a blog as the platform to share your stories

Now that you know what it takes to write a story, you need to find a place to share them.

Your website needs a blog.

The benefits of blogging are seemingly endless.

It’s a great way to get more traffic to your website.

You’ll also get more engagement with your customers through blogging.

When customers read your stories, they will feel a personal connection with you.

This connection can entice them to make a purchase because they know whom they are supporting.

It’s not like they’re giving money to some faceless and nameless brand.

I could talk all day about why your business needs to have a blog, but we’ll save that conversation for another time.

Right now, it’s just the most logical place for you to share your content that’s a story.

Here are some things to keep in mind for the stories on your blog:

While your blog posts can be long, the stories within them should be somewhat short.

Your customers don’t have enough hours in the day to devote 40 minutes to your story.

If you do this, your story won’t get read, which is counterproductive and a waste of your time.

Don’t ramble.

Stick to the script, and keep it actionable.

You should also use images within your story to make the content more engaging.

Make sure you have a headline that grabs the reader’s attention.

You could have an amazing story, but it’s not worth anything if you can’t get people to click on it.

Promote your blog posts on other marketing channels, like your social media pages, as well. You can also send them to the subscribers on your email list.

Record videos as another way to get your stories out there

Not everyone wants to read.

In fact, more than four times as many customers prefer watching a video about products as do reading about about them.

That’s why I use my YouTube channel to tell stories to my audience.

If you don’t have a YouTube channel, you need to make one right away.

Start adding video content, and share it with your customers.

You can even double dip your content here.

Use a story from your blog, and talk about it in a video.

This way you won’t have to come up with fresh topics all the time.

Allow your customers to share their own stories with each other

While your story may be great, customers may not find it to be a reliable source.

People aren’t stupid (for the most part).

You’re running a business.

They realize that anything you tell them will have some sort of bias toward your brand: you won’t publish any stories that discourage people from buying your products.

That’s why you need to let customers share their stories on your website.

This can be done in the form of:

• reviews
• testimonials
• discussion boards

Take a look at how Lululemon shares stories of other people on their website:

Feel free to take a similar approach and designate a page on your website that’s strictly for user-generated content.

Conclusion

Not everyone is born a storyteller.

But if you follow the tips I’ve outlined above, you can master this art and begin to see the positive impact it has on your sales.

When telling a story, keep your audience in mind.

Make sure it’s appropriate and relatable to the customer.

Your stories should be actionable, so make sure you have a goal in mind with each story.

Otherwise, it may just turn out to be rambling content, which is ineffective.

The best stories can trigger an emotional response from the audience.

Eliciting the right emotions can prompt consumers to make a purchase.

Re-use your stories in videos, and distribute your content on various marketing channels.

You should also dedicate a specific section of your website to customer stories.

What types of actions do you want customers to take after hearing your stories?

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Here’s How the Final Version of the Tax Bill Will Affect You in 2018

After months of drafting, revising and voting, Congress has passed a bill that will overhaul our national tax code.

When the plan passed in the Senate earlier this month, parts of it were significantly different from the plan passed in the House of Representatives in November.

The two groups of lawmakers came together to create one plan that they thought was the best of both worlds. That’s the plan that will go to President Donald Trump. Trump touted the plan as a Christmas gift that he expected to be signed into law by the holiday.

Let’s take a look at the bill that is headed to Trump’s desk.

Here’s What’s in the Final Tax Bill

The New York Times and Politico both created breakdowns of how the new bill compares to our current tax laws. Here are the most important differences:

Individual Taxes Will Go Down, but There Are Still 7 Brackets

One of the early promises was the new tax code would simplify the tax brackets from seven to four. That didn’t happen in the final bill.

When you file your taxes under the new bill, there will still be seven brackets that range from 10% to 37%. The current tax code requires that Americans in the top income bracket pay 39.6%.

While the number of brackets won’t change, taxes will be lowered across the board. At least for now. Most of the individual tax cuts will disappear in 2025.

Corporations Will Pay a 21% Tax Rate

Although individual tax breaks are temporary, the corporate tax cut is permanent in the bill headed to Trump. Early plans said businesses would pay a 20% rate. The final plan bumped that up to 21%. Under current law, the top corporate tax rate is 35%.

Proponents say this cut will create more jobs with higher wages. But critics say workers won’t see the benefits. Instead, they say, it will only widen the wealth gap by concentrating more money in the hands of the rich.

Standard Deduction, Child Tax Credit Will Double… for Now

Temporary changes are coming to what deductions and credits you can claim when you file your taxes.

As promised, the standard deduction — the dollar amount those who don’t itemize their deductions can subtract from their taxable income — will nearly double.

In the past, single filers could deduct $6,300, and joint filers could deduct $12,600. Those deductions jump to $12,000 and $24,000 respectively.

The child tax credit will double from $1,000 to $2,000 and will also come with a larger refundable portion that will likely be helpful to lower-income parents.

Homeowners can expect the mortgage interest deduction to change as well. The new bill limits the deduction to the first $750,000 of mortgage debt for homes purchased after Jan. 1, 2018. The current law capped it at $1 million.

This will impact Americans who own expensive homes and middle-class people in large cities like New York City and Los Angeles, where even middle-income people are forced to pay high prices for homes.

All three of these changes will expire in 2025 as well. If no additional laws are passed to extend them, the standard deduction increase, the child tax credit increase and the mortgage interest deduction cap will all revert back to where they are now.

Finally, graduate students will be glad to learn that plans to tax tuition waivers as income didn’t make the final bill.

When Will These Changes Take Effect?

Tax season is almost here again. In the next few months, we’ll all be gathering up our W-2s and other payment documents to calculate how much we owe the government or how much we’ll get back.

During this tax cycle, the old rules still apply. Once Trump signs the new bill into law, it will impact how we pay taxes on our 2018 income.

Desiree Stennett (@desi_stennett) 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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Want to Read More? Here’s How to Do It Cost Effectively and Meaningfully.

Over the last few weeks, you may have noticed a bit of a theme across some of my articles here at The Simple Dollar. Without directly making it into a series, I’m addressing low cost ways to tackle many common New Years resolutions that people make, such as getting fit or building new friendships or saving money. I even talked about goal-oriented planners for the coming year, and I have a few more “resolution” posts planned in this informal series.

Today, however, we’re going to tackle a resolution that’s near and dear to my heart: “I want to read more.”

People often adopt this resolution when they look back on their life and see a love of reading over the years and reflect on many books that they’ve loved to read, but when they think about their current life… they haven’t read many books at all, or even any short stories or meaningful articles. Reading used to occupy a real place in their life, but it’s somehow faded, and they want to reclaim it.

The problem with a simple “I want to read more” resolution is that it can really easily lead to a lot of unfulfilled spending. It’s really tempting to head down to the local bookstore or over to Amazon and just buy a bunch of books that you’ve been wanting to read. Surely, by having those books on one’s bedside table, one will read more. Right? Right?

Actually, that’s not what I’ve ever found in my life, nor have any of my friends who also love to read. The amount of time spent reading and the amount of books read seems to have little connection to the number of unread books on one’s shelves or bedside table. Just because the option is there doesn’t mean that we pick up books.

As someone who is incredibly busy but still makes room for reading in my life, I find the ability to continue to read books boils down to two key elements.

First, I intentionally set aside time for reading. Every single day, I set aside thirty minutes for reading with my children – during that time, I almost exclusively read fiction. I also spend about the same amount of time reading a personal finance or personal growth book with a notebook open – ostensibly, this is part of “brainstorming” ideas for The Simple Dollar, but it’s also valuable time – and I put aside a solid hour for reading a different nonfiction book on the weekends.

Notice that nowhere in this do I say that I “try” to put aside this time or that I do it if I can “squeeze it in.” I just do it.

For me, reading is a “rock” in the proverbial jar of my life. It’s not “sand.” Sand is the other stuff – television, games, movies, gardening, and so on – that I enjoy doing but that I don’t mind moving around as needed. If I don’t watch any television today, it’s okay. If I don’t play a game today, it’s okay. If I don’t read today… then I’m disappointed. If evening comes around and I haven’t read for a while, it comes before browsing the web on my phone or before watching a television show. It’s a true priority for me.

In fact, most days, I literally schedule it. I usually read my personal finance/self-improvement book just before the kids get home from school on school days, or early in the morning when everyone else is still asleep on non-school days. I usually read my fiction with all of my kids during a half-hour period of sustained reading that we do each day. I do my nonfiction reading for an hour or so after lunch on Sundays.

If I care about something, I make time for it. That means, sometimes, pushing aside other things that I might care about a little bit or that are just convenient time-fillers.

Second, I keep a book with me almost everywhere I go so that I can turn to it in idle moments. This actually contributes a lot to my reading time in a given year. I just simply keep a book with me wherever I go and turn to it in idle moments.

The easiest way to do this, I’ve found, is to simply have an e-reader app on your phone that contains a book that you’re currently reading on it. That way, everywhere you have a phone, you have a book. However, that has a big drawback – your phone is pretty much distraction central.

Another approach I often use is to simply have a “car book.” It’s a book that I just leave in my car and read during idle moments. I’ll take it into appointments with me or just read it when I’m waiting for children to get done with practice or for my friend to come out and join me in the car.

I also keep the books I’m currently reading in my “go bag,” which is basically just my portable office. That way, if I go somewhere to work or to handle some life and household tasks, I have a book with me.

So, if you’re going to adopt a reading habit in the coming year, I suggest two simple resolutions. One, block off some time each day to read and give that time block a high priority. Two, keep a book with you wherever you go. Those two tactics will encourage you to read books far more than you might ever expect.

We’ve tackled how to turn reading into an effective resolution, but how do you make it meaningful and cost-effective? Let’s start with the meaningful.

I have one simple suggestion for meaningful reading: try to read stuff that will improve or change your way of thinking. Read novels that take place in areas you don’t know about, or focus on people from backgrounds that you’re unfamiliar with. Choose nonfiction that addresses a topic that you don’t know well but are curious about, or nonfiction that helps you improve in a desired way.

I find that two types of books really stick with me. One type is the truly great story that sucks me in, but I’ve found that those are very much hit and miss. I might read a book that someone else loves and it’s just not for me, or I might read a book that someone else loathes and absolutely love it. With books like that, I give them a serious chance, but if they don’t click, I don’t feel guilty about moving on to a new book before finishing. The other type is the book that I chose to expose me to a new idea or a new situation or to help me improve myself. These are actually easier to find and choose on my own than great stories are.

Stick to those books and you’ll find that reading really becomes meaningful. Choose promising stories, but don’t stick with them if they don’t click, or choose books that help you improve yourself or introduce you to new ideas or backgrounds or challenge the ones you have.

How do you do this cost effectively, though? The obvious answer is the library. Simply use the library as your primary source of books. Stop in at your local library, see what they have available, and check out interesting titles. If they don’t have exactly what you want, request them or get on the wait list for those books. The only cost for using most libraries is in the form of late fees, so you do have to remember to return the books!

What if you prefer reading on your phone or Kindle? Many libraries offer access to Overdrive, which allows free access to thousands of ebooks and audiobooks via your local library. It’s easy to read books right within the app, pretty much wherever you are, or you can transfer books straight to your Kindle device if you have one.

A final tip: don’t shop for books. If you want to “shop” for books, do so on the shelves of your local library. If you happen to read a book review or hear a recommendation, channel that book acquisition impulse toward your library, not toward the bookstore.

That’s not to say there isn’t a reason to own a book. Books that you use for regular reference are invaluable, as are books that you re-read on a consistent basis. However, books that you’re likely to read just once and then set aside for good? Those are best checked out from the library.

Reading is an incredibly rewarding hobby, one that can both entertain you and add great meaning to your life while simultaneously sharpening your own literacy skills. However, it is a hobby that’s easy to push aside when life gets busy, and simply buying a bunch of books isn’t a cost-effective or time-effective way to reclaim that hobby. Try these strategies instead – set aside time for reading, read things that are meaningful, and use your local library to keep the costs in check.

Good luck!

The post Want to Read More? Here’s How to Do It Cost Effectively and Meaningfully. appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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How to Make These Cute Popsicle Stick Christmas Tree Ornaments

Refurbished Electronics Save You Money Now, but Are They Really a Good Buy?

Shopping for electronics can be exciting. Are you finally replacing that laptop that sounds like a small prop plane when it’s thinking? Or maybe you’re ready to try something new.

Whatever the case, you have options. Hundreds of them.

Then it happens. You find just the right item online. It has every bell, whistle and Bluetooth bit of magic you were hoping to find. And the price is… well, unbelievable!

That’s when you see it. That one word that explains why this too-good-to-be-true deal is actually true.

Refurbished.

Your first instinct is to move on. You don’t want someone’s faulty piece that was shined up for resale, do you?

Maybe you should.

What Does ‘Refurbished’ Mean?

You’ll find a lot of electronics out there on the web listed as refurbished. So what does “refurbished” really mean?

Webster’s online dictionary defines “refurbish” as a verb meaning “to brighten or freshen up.”

So it’s someone’s castaway that’s been buffed and polished? That’s no good.

Not really. In short, refurbished means that the item has been purchased and then returned for some reason. It could have been returned due to a faulty or missing part — or even just a customer who realized they couldn’t afford the item. The store can no longer sell this electronic item as new. So yes, it is someone’s unwanted item, but it could be unwanted for any reason or no real reason at all.

So what does the store do? It gives it a tuneup. It replaces parts that need replacing and gets the item back to like-new quality. Then, it attempts to resell the item, usually at a significant discount.

So the real question is this: Is the discount worth the risk of a defective product?

4 Tips for Finding Reliable Refurbished Electronics

Khiem Nguyen, a social media video strategist at The Penny Hoarder, has bought a few refurbished items, but it hasn’t always gone well.

He purchased a refurbished Wii, brought it home and booted it up.

“What happened next was that I discovered that it was loaded with porn,” he said. “Not fun, especially when you want to show your sister how to play Wii Sports.”

So how do you avoid buying a Wii that’s become a wee bit naughty?

Another one of my Penny Hoarder peeps has some insight.

Assistant editor Justin Cupler says the key is to know who you are buying from. “Always research the company you’re buying the refurbished item from. It’s best to buy from the original manufacturer itself or a manufacturer-approved refurbishing company. You never know what you’ll get if you buy from Joe Refurbishing on eBay.”

So just what are the best tips for finding great deals on refurbished electronics?

• Stick to stores and brands you trust. You need to know that they are refurbishing the items themselves or using reputable companies to do the work. Look for descriptions like “manufacturer refurbished.” That means the company that built the item handles the refurbishing, so you know they’re using the right parts and specs.
• Is there a return policy? There’s a good chance you’ll know if your product is a dud within days, if not minutes, of firing it up. A company that won’t take returns on its refurbished items is telling you something about the quality of those items. Stay away.
• Look for a warranty. If there is no warranty, don’t do it. A warranty safeguards you against an item failing after the first couple of weeks. It’s an absolute must when buying refurbished. The longer the warranty period, the better.
• Research the company and read reviews on multiple sites. A lot of positive reviews are a good sign, but they can also be faked. Try to find feedback on the seller through several sites, including social media, not just the company’s own website.

Here’s What to Buy Refurbished… and What to Avoid

When it comes to buying refurbished electronics, not all products are created equal. Due to the nature of the product and company policies on how well they test the refurbished item, some types of electronics are safer bets for your money than others.

Good Buys

Here are some items that you could get at great quality and really save some cash by purchasing them refurbished.

Laptops and Tablets

Most refurbished laptops and tablets go through thorough testing before companies resell them, assuming you’re working with a reputable company. As long as you get a warranty, you could get a lot more computer for your buck by going refurbished. Just make sure you’ve thought about what you’re getting.

Video Game Consoles

Let’s face it: These things are expensive, and buying a refurbished video game console from a reputable seller can help you get a reliable system for cheaper. The system should be thoroughly tested and in great condition. Of course, you want that warranty, as well.

Maybe: Cell Phones

Some claim this item can be a great buy, and others say to avoid buying refurbished phones at all costs. You be the judge.

I’m hesitant on this one. There is a lot that can go wrong with a smartphone, so if you do choose to buy refurbished, deal only with the manufacturer. Buying refurbished from a third party will likely void any warranties and may create headaches like this guy had. Personally, I’d rather have a new phone that happens to be an older model than risking a refurbished model.

Bad Bets

As great as it is to save money — we Penny Hoarders really, really enjoy that! — there are times when it just doesn’t make sense to go the refurbished route. Here are a few items to avoid.

TVs

A nice TV can be a big purchase, so you want it to work flawlessly and look nice. According to one author at CNET.com, televisions don’t get the same TLC in the refurbishing world as computers. Plus, some televisions labeled “refurbished” may be display models that work fine but have already burned through hundreds of hours of use. That said, if you’re looking for a spare TV for the garage or basement and care more about function than appearance, go ahead and take a flier on a refurbished product.

Printers

If you’re looking for a basic, in-home printer, you probably don’t have to spend that much to get what you need. Why roll the dice?

Even if a refurbished printer has new parts, it’s probably had ink running through its guts. Instead, look for a good sale on a new one and understand exactly what you need from your printer. No need to buy the Ferrari when a Ford will do the trick.

3 Times it Makes Sense to Buy Refurbished

If you know you’ll use your laptop for multiple hours every day doing work you’re passionate about, maybe you should invest a little more and buy a new one. But there are times when it makes perfect sense to buy refurbished.

You Want to Try Something New

Never used a Fitbit or RoboVac? Test the waters with a refurbished one on the cheap. You can always upgrade to a new one later if you fall in love.

You’re Buying for Kids

What are the odds your kid’s tablet gets tossed across the room or goes for a swim in the toilet? Or, if it’s a gaming system, how long before they want the next latest and greatest thing? Consider the expected lifespan of the product, and you may find buying refurbished is a better bet.

It’s a Backup

You love your laptop, but you need a backup for light use when you travel. Or you have your main camera but need one to carry just in case. Keep your costs down by snagging a refurbished model.

If you’re in the market for something techie, take a look at refurbished items, but do your homework first. If the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Stick to the brands you know and trust, and get a solid warranty. Who knows — you may save enough on that laptop to pay for your Wi-Fi for a year.

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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