MAKE MONEY ONLINE POSTS: 05/18/18

الجمعة، 18 مايو 2018

Mortgage Rates Are Going Up. Here’s How Much That Could Cost You if You Buy

If you’re eager to buy a new home, now may not be the time to make the biggest purchase of your life.

That’s because the average interest rate has spiked to 4.61%, according to The Wall Street Journal. That’s up from 3.99% in January and the highest average since 2011.

Of course, a higher interest rate could translate to paying a few hundred dollars extra every month and thousands more added to the total cost of your home over the 30-year span of your mortgage.

For example, if you bought a $200,000 home back in January at the 3.99% interest rate, your monthly payment would be $954. If you bought the same house today at 4.61% interest, your monthly payment would jump to $1,026.

That $72 may sound insignificant if you’ve got the flexible income to cover it each month. But over the life of your 30-year mortgage, the 4.61% interest rate will mean paying $25,920 more for the same house.

Should You Buy That New House Now or Stay Put?

Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to move from your starter house to a bigger home, you’re going to have to do some pretty important math before you take the leap.

One of our Penny Hoarding freelance writers, Steve Gillman, has already shown how a few quick calculations can make easy work of the rent vs. own debate. In fact, Gillman and his wife saved more than $5,000 a year by renting a small home instead of buying at the top of the market back in 2006.

Gillman even put together a checklist to calculate the costs of a new home to help you decide if you should buy or keep renting.

According to Gillman — he’s been a homeowner six times over as of 2016, so we trust his judgment — you should be able to say yes to all these points.

You have enough money for a down payment.

You have enough money for closing and moving costs.

You know what it really costs to have a home.

You can handle the big surprises that come with owning a home.

You are ready for the time and work of caring for a home.

Check out Gillman’s story to learn even more if you still can’t decide if you should buy or stay put.

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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Why You Shouldn’t Snub the Frozen Aisle When You Buy Fruits and Veggies

Dear Celery,

I meant well. I swear I did. I bought you with the best of intentions from the produce section and even cut you up for snacking. That was the last we saw of each other, until I found you again weeks later, white and sad.

You’ve probably seen the television ad where the lady puts her strawberries in the fridge, eats a few and then forgets all about them. (Don’t get me started on their use of the “Married Life” song from Disney-Pixar’s “Up.” Carl lost Ellie — spoiler alert! — during that song, not some berries.)

It’s a common tale. We’re taught to shop the outside aisles of the grocery store, because fresh products are healthier than their alternatives.

It now seems that concept is slightly flawed, and more of us are catching on by shopping for produce in the freezer aisle.

Why Frozen Fruits and Vegetables Are Our Friends

A study by RBC Capital Markets shows that people are buying more frozen produce. Why?

Simply put, frozen produce retains almost all of the health benefits of fresh produce, but with far less waste.

Most fresh produce has a refrigerator life of a few days at best. For frozen produce, that window can be extended up to one year, with little to no significant difference in nutritional value.

For fans of The Penny Hoarder, this shouldn't be big news. We’ve been promoting the frozen food aisle as a great way to reduce waste in your kitchen. Less wasted food means less wasted money, right?

One study, published by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, found that peas, carrots and corn actually had higher levels of vitamin E than their fresh counterparts.

This is great news for savvy shoppers. You can eat healthily, save money and waste less food. Just keep your eyes on the frozen produce section, and avoid turning toward those beckoning frozen pizzas and ice-cream treats closeby.

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.

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Graduate to a Higher Pay Scale by Negotiating Salary for That First Job

Good news for the the cap-and-gown crowd: You could get a pay raise before you even start your first job.

According to a recent survey by The Harris Poll, 74% of employers say they are willing to negotiate salary when extending job offers to recent college graduates.

And with the U.S. unemployment rate falling below 4% this month, that gives college grads even more reason to feel a bit more buoyant as they wade into the job market.

Even more good news for your pomp and circumstance: Grads heading into that first interview have a better chance of receiving a better initial offer, as 47% of employers say they intend to offer higher pay than they did last year, with a third of them saying they’ll offer $50,000 or more, according to a survey conducted on behalf of CareerBuilder.

But before demanding that a new employer needs to show you the money, career coach Loren Margolis, CEO of Training & Leadership Success in New York, has some advice that may sound familiar: Do your homework.

“You have to do your research,” Margolis says. “Know what the job that you’re interviewing for pays in other parts of the industry… and definitely do your research on competitors of that organization.”

When researching those numbers, grads should look inward — to their colleges, Margolis suggests.

“You have a built-in network to tap into, so talk to your classmates, definitely talk to your professors and student clubs and of course your career-development or career-services office,” Margolis says. “And hopefully you will have already reached out to the alumni that are working at that company.”

Although alums may not want to reveal their specific salaries, asking about the industry and the company in general can give you a better idea of how your salary offer compares, Margolis says.

“The question could be like, ‘For my own edification, what would you say is the range for what a starting position in our industry would be?’” Margolis says. “And from what you’re seeing… is that a competitive salary?”

Check out even more scientifically proven strategies and tips for negotiating your salary.

Still a bit scared to ask for that salary bump before you start your first day? Consider delayed gratification, Margolis says.

“One of the things that you might want to negotiate instead of an end-of-year review is a six-month review,” Margolis says. “So instead of waiting 12 months to get a raise or to get your performance review, negotiate for it to happen in half the time.”

Maybe that tassel was worth the hassle after all.

Tiffany Wendeln Connors is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She negotiates for additional cheese.

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How To Be a Frugal Auto Enthusiast

A couple of my extended family members have a very expensive hobby. They rebuild old cars, turn them into hot rods, and show them off at car shows. They sometimes recoup their financial investment if someone likes what they’ve built, but unless someone is actually paying them for a custom hot rod, it’s never a guarantee and sometimes results in a loss – occasionally a steep loss. This doesn’t even include situations where things don’t go quite right and all of the other associated costs, like traveling to car shows, paying for entries, and so on.

Even if you’re not quite as into cars as my relatives, the appreciation of and ownership of and, if you’re into it, the improvement of nice cars can still be a really expensive hobby. What do you do if you love beautiful cars but are trying to have some degree of financial responsibility? Here are six suggestions, mostly straight from the mouths of friends and family.

Go to and actively participate in car shows. Car shows are a prime opportunity to enjoy beautiful cars without having to shell out much money at all, especially if you’re willing to get involved and help with some of the work involved with putting on a successful show. Many car shows are free, while others have a very low cost of admittance; people who volunteer usually get extended access to the cars and the makers themselves, along with other perks.

Some advice for attending car shows and getting maximum value and enjoyment from the trip:

Plan ahead Take a look at the car show’s schedule in advance and make a plan so that you can see every scheduled event of interest to you. Make sure you give yourself some windows of time to just wander around and look at the cars, too.

Pack a bag Have a bag with you – or at least in your car – that includes things like sunscreen, aspirin, a light jacket, a water bottle, snacks, and maybe even a meal. This will keep your costs low and your comfort high at the show.

Be humble The people that put cars on display at car shows have often put hundreds or even thousands of hours into those cars. Even if it’s not something that aesthetically pleases you, their car is usually something intended to please someone, often the person making it themselves. Rather than tearing down a car at a car show, look for things to appreciate in each car. That will make the car show far more enjoyable.

Ask lots of questions There are few better ways to show genuine interest and appreciation in someone’s work than to ask lots of sincere questions about it. Come equipped to ask plenty of questions. Center the questions around what interests you and give the car’s owner or maker plenty of time to respond at length. Most of them will happily do so – it’s great to be appreciated!

Consider what you need Many car shows include a swap meet or a car part flea market. If you’re looking for specific components, this can be a good place to look, but make sure you know what you’re actually looking for and what those things should actually cost. Do your homework in advance and you won’t get ripped off by someone asking an elevated price.

Volunteer If there’s a local car show in your area, consider volunteering to help out with the show rather than just attending. Most shows will happily accept volunteers to help out with all kinds of tasks, and volunteering usually comes with perks of some kind. Plus, it’s a great way to get yourself “known” in the local car community even if you don’t have anything to show.

Buy an old junk car with promise and slowly fix it up yourself. One of my closest friends does this. He owns a house with a fairly large garage. He’ll go to estate auctions and junkyards and other places and finds an old beat up car that he thinks he could turn into something beautiful. He gets it home, parks it in the garage, and spends his spare time over the course of many months or even years turning it into something beautiful. He does all of the work himself and goes very slowly to do it well, investing relatively small amounts of money into parts and no money into labor (because he’s figuring everything out on his own).

He then takes his finished car to local car shows, puts a price on it that’s obviously meant to get it to sell, and then flips that money right back into buying his next car to improve, equipment for his shop, and parts to improve that next car, and maybe a little bit of pocket money.

In other words, the actual work of improving a car is his hobby, not the acquisition of cars. He loves the tasks involved in shaping an old rusty car into something utterly beautiful, and in doing so he recoups his cost and more. Yes, his time isn’t well compensated, if it’s compensated at all, but it’s his hobby and passion.

Use this strategy yourself. Buy an old junk car and slowly improve it, entirely with your own hands. Figure out how to do all of the tasks involved and slowly turn that car into a beautiful machine. You can then sell it to recoup most of the costs involved (usually, the startup costs exceed the return on the first car or two, according to my friend) and then do it again, and again. It’s a great way to really dive deep into the hobby.

Find friends who are also into fixing up old junk cars and help each other with the projects. This doesn’t need to be a situation where you’re alone in a garage, though it can be. Seek out friends who are also into doing this. The best way to find them is at auto shows and any auto-related meet ups in the area.

Simply find people who seem to be doing this on their own because they love it, then invite them over to your shop to tinker around. If they’re similarly passionate, you may have just found someone to help on jobs that require more than one person, and you can offer that help back to your new friend. Not only that, this kind of hobby exchange is often the foundation of a new friendship.

Buy and assemble model cars with care and love. Another avenue for enjoying an automotive hobby without breaking the bank is to buy model cars, or even receive them as gifts, and then invest the time to slowly and carefully assemble and customize those models for display in your office and home. An automobile model that you’ve assembled and painted yourself can involve many, many hours of detail work that gives you the opportunity to know some of your favorite makes and models in intimate detail.

This can also be a somewhat expensive hobby, but the cost per hour invested in a model car is far, far lower than the cost per hour involved in buying and selling cars or fixing up old cars or even attending car shows. It allows you to really examine the fine details of some of your favorite auto models and produce a beautiful end result that you’re proud to display in your home or office.

Dive deep into automotive media, particularly online media. This is a great free way to dig into your hobby without breaking the bank. Get involved online in the multitudes of conversations constantly happening involving the automotive world. One good place to start is to simply get a Twitter account and follow some of the best automotive Twitter accounts and dig into those conversations. Look for car forums dedicated to your favorite makes and models – you can find them through a simple Google search. Hit Youtube and check out some of the many great channels and programs related to cars on there.

Don’t like online media that much? Hit your local library. They often have extensive back catalogs of car magazines. Borrow a bunch of back issues and dive deep into the world of automobiles.

Take classes on automotive repair. If these ideas seem interesting but you’re simply overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, consider starting by taking an automotive repair class at your local community college. Most community colleges offer an array of automotive repair classes; many offer a full curriculum. Community college classes are inexpensive and usually hands-on.

If nothing else, a community college class on automotive repair will help you feel more confident in handling small repairs on your own car, which will end up saving you a lot of money over the long haul.

You don’t have to spend tens of thousands of dollars a year to be an automobile enthusiast. You just have to be curious and be willing to get your hands involved a little. While diving deep into any hobby is usually a little expensive, there are many ways to keep the cost of an automotive hobby low while constantly keeping it engaging and social.

Good luck!

The post How To Be a Frugal Auto Enthusiast appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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The Top 21 Best Practices for Running a Successful Ecommerce Website

If your business sells tangible products, you need to have a strong online presence.

But with so much competition in the ecommerce space, it can be tough for you to establish your ground. Not only are you competing with local and regional brands, but you also have to deal with international giants such as Amazon and Walmart.

That’s why it’s important for you to focus on every detail of your ecommerce website.

Learn how to design a homepage that converts.

This guide is useful to everyone. Whether you are a brick and mortar retailer expanding into online business, a company that operates strictly through the Internet, or something in between, you’ll benefit from these tips.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re building a new website or making changes to your existing one.

Following these 21 best practices will help you increase conversions for your ecommerce store. You’ll also be able to generate more leads and add additional sales revenue to your bottom line.

1. Avoid clutter

Ecommerce websites with simple designs have higher conversion rates. Take a look at your homepage right now.

What’s the first thing a visitor sees?

There should be a clear point of focus. The visitor’s eyes should be drawn straight to a CTA button or products you sell.

But too much clutter makes it difficult to identify your CTA.

As you can see, 53% of websites have CTAs that take visitors more than three seconds to locate. You should be aiming for a time much quicker than that.

What actions do you want consumers to take when they visit your website? Obviously, you want them to make a purchase.

Make this as easy as possible for them. Don’t distract people with clutter. It’s overwhelming and confusing.

2. Simplify your menus

Menus are a great way to stay organized and group what you’re selling. But as just mentioned, you don’t want to overcomplicate things.

Too many menu categories will confuse the consumer, preventing them from finding what they’re looking for.

Your menu shouldn’t be super specific. Instead, use broad terms to categorize your products.

For example, let’s say your ecommerce brand sells clothing with items such as:

t-shirts
long sleeve shirts
sweaters
tank tops
vests

Rather than having five different menu options for each of these choices, you can group them into one category: “tops.”

3. Add a search bar

Let’s continue talking about simplicity.

Now that you’ve removed some clutter and simplified your menu options, you’ll still need to make additional changes. Since visitors will have fewer menu selections, they’ll see more products when they click on each category.

I know some of you may not have a ton of products for sale, but other ecommerce sites could have hundreds or potentially thousands of options to choose from.

Forcing users to scroll through these choices randomly won’t drive sales and conversions. That’s why implementing a search bar is the best solution.

Check out this example from the Nike website:

The company sells thousands of sneakers on its website. A search bar makes it easy for its customers to find what they’re looking for.

Take a look at what the search for “running sneakers” yielded in the example above. As you can see, there are 155 products that fit this description. That’s still an overwhelming number of items to scroll through.

But Nike has additional filters and search results on the left column of its search feature.

This helps customers narrow the options based on parameters such as gender or sport.

If you use this strategy, make sure all your products are clearly tagged with the appropriate labels. Then the search results will be accurately displayed for each shopper’s query.

4. Buy a premium web hosting service

Speed is one of the most important elements of a successful ecommerce website. Each page needs to load fast to yield high conversions.

But if you buy a budget web hosting plan, it’ll cost you in the long run.

Research shows a one second delay in page loading time can lead to a 16% decrease in customer satisfaction and a 7% loss in conversions. If your site has a two or three second delay, you’re in big trouble.

Even worse than a slow loading time is site crashes, glitches, or error reports.

That’s why you’re better off spending the money on a premium web hosting plan now as opposed to dealing with these headaches later. Trust me, it’s worth the investment.

5. Eliminate steps in your checkout process

Once a website visitor decides to buy something, they should find it easy to complete the purchase. It’s your job to make it so.

Each additional step in the checkout process will increase the chances of them abandoning the transaction. In fact, 28% of consumers said they abandoned a shopping cart during checkout because the process was too long and complicated.

The key here is to get only essential information from the buyer.

There’s no reason to ask for their mother’s maiden name, the first concert they attended, or their favorite vacation spot.

Get their billing information and shipping address. That’s all you need to process a transaction.

6. Don’t force shoppers to create a profile (but encourage it)

As I just said, you want your buyers to go through the checkout process as quickly as possible.

That’s why you need to offer a guest checkout option instead of forcing visitors to create a profile. That said, you can still encourage them to create a profile.

Check out this example from Lululemon to see what I’m talking about:

Once items are added to a shopping cart, users can finalize their transaction through the guest checkout option.

But that doesn’t mean Lululemon is done trying to encourage people to create a profile.

When the order is being reviewed, guests can see an express checkout button, but they can’t use it.

This option is reserved for customers who set up profiles.

They can go through the checkout process even faster since all their information is saved in their accounts. Subtle features like this encourage profile sign ups without being annoying or putting too much pressure on the customer.

7. Send shopping cart abandonment emails

Once a user sets up their profile, you can tell when they add something to their shopping cart without buying it. Don’t ignore this.

You’re missing out on money.

Often times, they were just a click or two away from completing the transaction. Clearly, they were interested in the product enough to add it to their cart.

Sending an email reminding the shopper about the item can be just enough to finalize the sale.

8. Prioritize SEO

Not everyone who wants what you’re selling will navigate straight to your website.

In fact, research shows that 46% of consumers start the buying process through a search engine, such as Google.

If your ecommerce site isn’t one of the top results, they’ll buy from one of your competitors instead. That’s why it’s so important for you to focus your efforts on search engine optimization.

Do everything in your power to reach the top of Google rankings based on searches related to whatever your brand is selling.

9. Write blog posts on a regular basis

How often will the same person visit your ecommerce website?

Chances are, they’re not buying something every day. They probably won’t buy something even once a week. Only your top customers might shop once per month.

If people aren’t on your website, they obviously can’t spend any money.

But running a blog in addition to your ecommerce site is a great way to build a strong following. Now people have a reason to check out your site on a daily or weekly basis.

Once they’re on the site, they’ll be more likely to buy something.

10. Build an email subscriber list

To have a successful ecommerce site, you need to have lots of visitors ready to buy. But how are you planning on driving traffic to your site?

Building an ecommerce email list is one of your best options. Once you have a subscriber’s email address, you can contact them with special offers and promotions to entice sales.

A great way to add subscribers is to collect email addresses during the checkout process. Here’s an example of this from SAXX:

By default, this box is already checked off. Shoppers will have to deselect this option if they don’t want to be added to the subscriber list.

Once people are added to your list, it’s the perfect opportunity for you to send them personalized offers to drive traffic to your website and increase sales.

You can even offer an incentive for shoppers to sign up for emails, such as a discount off their next purchase.

11. Accept as many payment options as possible

You can’t assume everyone has a Visa or MasterCard.

Even if they do, that doesn’t mean it’s their preferred payment option. One of those cards may be maxed out, or they could have better membership benefits on another card.

Even if other credit card companies charge higher merchant transaction fees, you still need to take other cards like Discover and American Express.

Your ecommerce site also needs to accept alternative payment options such as PayPal and Apple Pay.

12. Write informative product descriptions

You can’t sell something with just a name. Each product on your website needs to have an informative description.

But make sure you avoid large blocks of text. Keep these descriptions short and to the point.

Explain how the product works by highlighting the key benefits. You don’t need to explain the entire history of the product or how it was made. That won’t drive sales.

You can even use bullet points to make it easy for consumers to scan through the text and read the description.

13. Get rid of ads

Some of you may be using your ecommerce site as a platform to sell advertisement space to other brands. Don’t do it. You’re making a big mistake if you do.

Sure, you may get some additional income. But it’s not worth turning away your own customers.

Sidebar ads and popups can look like spam. A visitor may be afraid to click through your site for the fear that they’ll be redirected somewhere else that’s untrustworthy.

Take a look at how consumers throughout the world feel about advertisements on websites:

As you can see, 82% of consumers in the United States say that online ads are disruptive to their shopping experience.

Remove any ads you have, and leave it as blank space. This will help you eliminate the clutter in your design—the point I discussed earlier.

14. Provide easily accessible customer service

Not all of the transactions on your ecommerce site will go smoothly.

Customers will have questions and problems. This is inevitable.

When people are experiencing an issue, such as finding a product or troubleshooting an item they have previously purchased, you want to make sure they can get help as soon as possible.

That’s why you need to have readily available customer service support through various options such as:

phone
email
live chat

Now customers can contact your brand based on their preferred method of communication. In addition to your customer service being easily accessible, it also needs to be friendly.

Don’t keep customers on hold. Make sure your staff are trained to resolve issues quickly and efficiently.

15. Run tests and analyze the results

How do you know if your ecommerce site is set up for the highest possible conversions?

You don’t.

But if you run A/B tests on a regular basis, you’ll have a much better understanding.

Now you can adjust the CTA placement, its phrasing, or button color. Determine which landing pages are driving the most sales.

Based on the results of your tests, you can make the necessary adjustments, increasing the chances of your success.

16. Go mobile

Your ecommerce site needs to be optimized for mobile devices.

That’s because in the last six months, 62% of people who owned a smartphone used their devices to complete online purchases.

You can’t afford to exclude mobile shoppers. If you want to take your mobile strategy to the next level, you may even want to consider building an app for your ecommerce business.

This is the ultimate way to personalize the consumer shopping experience. Plus, you can save user information on file, such as their payment options and shipping address.

Now they can check out and complete each purchase in just a few clicks as opposed to having to enter their credit card for every transaction.

17. Offer free shipping

It’s simple: don’t charge your customers for shipping.

That’s because unexpected costs are the top reason for shopping cart abandonment.

Put yourself in the shoes of a consumer.

They see a price listed on one page of your website, but at checkout, they see additional charges. Sure, they can expect to pay taxes, but shipping too?

These added costs are driving people away. Increase the prices of your products to cover any shipping costs incurred by you as opposed to charging for shipping separately.

18. Partner with brand influencers

Establishing credibility is one of the best ways to drive sales and have a successful ecommerce website.

Having a celebrity or someone with a strong social following endorse your site will make you seem more legitimate. This marketing tactic won’t be free, but it can definitely yield a high ROI.

Just make sure you’re working with someone related to your industry.

If you’re selling skateboards and related products, having an influencer who has never skateboarded won’t have much of an impact on your sales.

19. Display high quality product images

Having an ecommerce shop means customers don’t get to touch and feel the products the same way they can in a physical store.

They rely on pictures to give them a sense of what they’re buying.

That’s why you need to take multiple pictures from every angle of each product you’re selling. I know this may seem tedious, but it’s necessary.

Zoom in and highlight all the top features and benefits.

20. Give video demonstrations

Sometimes, images aren’t enough.

If you’re selling something requiring a demonstration, add a video.

According to Forbes, 90% of consumers say videos help them make a decision about purchasing a product.

That must be why Thule implemented this strategy on its website:

In addition to its high quality photos and product descriptions, the site also has video demonstrations for the majority of items they sell.

This added information makes it easy for prospective customers to learn how each product works.

21. Feature customer reviews and testimonials

Testimonials and reviews are another way to add credibility to your products and brand.

It’s important that you include these on your ecommerce site.

After a customer buys something, send them a follow-up email asking them to review the item they bought. Just make sure you give them enough time to use it before you ask for their feedback.

I realize this can be scary for some of you. Not everyone will be happy with your products, and the idea of negative comments being publically displayed can be frightening to some brands.

But that’s OK. Don’t let a few bad reviews discourage you. Look on the bright side of it.

This will show shoppers the reviews and testimonials on your site are legitimate and trustworthy. A couple of negative remarks can make your positive reviews appear that much more powerful.

Conclusion

Running a successful ecommerce website is not an easy task.

Fortunately, you can do many things to improve your chances of driving sales and keeping your customers coming back for more.

Don’t let this list of best practices intimidate you. I don’t expect you to implement all 21 of these overnight.

That said, you should start to identify changes that need to be made and prioritize the ones you think are the most important.

What elements of your ecommerce website need to be adjusted to improve your conversions rates and drive more sales?

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Turns out You Don’t Need a Bank Teller. Here’s Why This Guy Banks Online

Here’s How to Prevent the Most Common Dog Illnesses — and Vet Bills

When I rescued my first dog, Greyson, he came with every health problem in the book. My vet and I knew each other on a first-name basis in just a couple months solely because of Greyson’s ear infections.

When you rescue a dog, you are inviting joy and laughter into your home. You’re also inviting increased costs and potential heartache as you watch your dog battle illnesses on a timeline that is roughly seven times faster than our own.

To ensure your dog lives a long and healthy life—and to avoid costly vet bills—it is crucial that you take your dog’s health seriously via preventative measures. While there are associated costs with prevention, it is much more affordable than treating an illness down the road. More importantly, it ensures a better quality of life for the new member of your family.

Here is a look at the most common dog health problems, how can you prevent them and the potential costs if you don’t offer preventative care.

Canine Ear Infections

Let’s start with the ailment I encountered most frequently with Greyson.

To prevent frequent ear infections, dry your dog’s ears after swimming and clean them out regularly, especially after outdoor play.

You can get a liquid cleaner that you pour into the ears, though I much prefer ear wipes. I get wipes for both my dogs on Amazon for about $17, and they last about six to nine months.

Without regular maintenance, you can expect frequent ear infections. At Alpha Veterinary Clinic, in Beavercreek, Ohio, I spent $50 for each office visit, plus another $20 for an ear cytology. After diagnosis, Greyson was usually prescribed multiple medicines that totaled $34.25.

If you skip preventative care, your vet cost per vet visit for an ear infection could reach my total of $104.25 or more.

Skin Issues

When I rescued Greyson, he was 3 years old and already balding on his head and back, with flaky skin. Things grew progressively worse, so I finally took him to the vet.

The vet told me exactly what I did not want to hear. There was no easy way to determine what was causing his skin problems. We started considering food allergies, (which account for 10% of all allergy problems in canines, and used an elimination diet to determine the source. Eventually, we discovered a poultry allergy was contributing to the issue.

That means I have to buy a pricier food for Greyson (a salmon and sweet potato diet), but it is cheaper than regular $50 vet visits, and the ingredients are much better for him overall.

However, Greyson was still having a problem with hair loss. Our vet eventually tested his thyroid levels and determined he has hypothyroidism. He is now on regular pills to help, as hypothyroidism leads to more than just hair loss: Other symptoms include lethargy, generalized weakness and regular skin infections.

So, what can you do to keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy? Feed them a high-quality food, bathe your pet regularly with a shampoo that treats the skin and take your dog to the vet to discuss any skin issues because they could point to a bigger and more costly problem that needs correction down the road.

If you skip preventative care for skin conditions, your total vet cost per incident will vary—but it won’t be cheap. I spent hundreds before discovering I just needed to switch up the food and manage Greyson’s thyroid levels.

Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are also among the most common dog health issues. Greyson, of course, suffered from these frequently in the months following his adoption, sometimes with blood in his urine — an alarming site.

Because he had a UTI quite a few times, my vet eventually did a number of tests, including a urinalysis and bacterial culture. That, combined with medications and general vet fees, set me back $231.58.

Preventing UTIs is possible. But if your dog still gets them despite your best efforts, it could point to larger issues such as Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, kidney infections and neurological problems.

Easy ways to prevent UTIs include frequent cleaning around the exterior of the urethra, providing ample water to drink and a regular potty schedule that doesn’t leave your dog holding its bladder for more than a few hours.

I have kept up with this preventative care, and Greyson has not had to visit the vet for a UTI since.

Dental Issues

Proper dental hygiene for your dog is both important and difficult to maintain. Not only is poor dental hygiene bad for your dog’s teeth and gums, but it can also lead to issues with the heart, kidneys and liver.

Greyson has had two dental cleanings in his 5 1/2 years with my family. During the first, he had to have a few teeth extracted because his dental health was so poor. That required a pre-cleaning analysis (including sedation) that cost $143.35, and the follow-up surgery cost $317.10, making the total cost $460.45.

After that, I took Greyson’s dental health more seriously, with regular brushing, better food and toys that cleaned his teeth, like Nylabones and rope toys.

Because of this better preventative care (at a cost of maybe $20 a year), his next dental cleaning, which is important regardless of how well you maintain your dog’s teeth, came in at just $369.42 at Carothers Parkway Veterinary Clinic in Brentwood, Tennessee. This time around, he did not need initial analysis or teeth extractions.

Worms and Fleas

Dogs are adorable, but they attract the most disgusting pests. When I rescued Greyson, he had worms in his stool, for which I had to seek immediate treatment. He also managed to come home with fleas before we were able to administer his first dose of flea medication.

Preventing worms is as easy as keeping your dog away from other dogs’ stool (or grass that may be contaminated with stool) and feeding it a healthy diet. When Greyson had worms, the cost of the vet visit, fecal flotation and dewormer reached $90 at Alpha Veterinary Clinic.

Flea prevention is even easier with a regular flea medication taken once a month. Note, even with the flea meds, it is possible for your dog to catch fleas. Treating the fleas — and thoroughly cleaning your house — can be expensive. Fleas can also lead to more serious (and expensive) conditions for your dog, including Lyme disease and anemia.

Also remember that your dog should be on a heartworm preventative. Heartworm disease can be fatal, so prevention is not optional.

If you skip preventative care for fleas, you likely won’t need to take your dog to the vet, but you will invest a fair amount in products to get rid of the insects and to thoroughly clean your carpets, bedding and clothes.

Vomiting and Diarrhea

Though vomiting and diarrhea are not immediate causes for concern, you will need to take your dog to the vet if they persist. More often than not, your dog probably ate something that upset its stomach.

My other dog, Clyde, suffered from frequent diarrhea. The solution, according to the vet, was an elimination diet to determine the right food. As I did with Greyson when he was losing hair, I began to try out foods with Clyde until his stools became firmer.

Of course, Clyde got off easy. These stomach issues could have also been signs of parvovirus, stress or parasites, which would have been more expensive to treat.

My takeaway from this experience? Start your dog early on a high-quality food to avoid ever needing to go to the vet for this issue.

If you skip preventative care, your total vet cost per diarrhea or vomiting incident could reach at least $50.

Dogs, like people, can get sick regularly. As their guardian, it is your responsibility to do everything within your power to keep them healthy. And by spending some money now on preventative care, you’ll be saving plenty in the long term.

Does your dog get sick frequently? I wholeheartedly recommend pet insurance for financial help and peace of mind.

If asked what his number-one job is, Timothy Moore would likely say, “Doggy daddy.” But when he’s not caring for his dogs or taking them for hikes with his partner, Tim is usually writing, reading, editing or enjoying a good beer with friends.

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My Boyfriend Is OK With His Student Loan Debt. Help Me Tell Him He’s Wrong

Dear Penny,

I was lucky enough to escape college unscathed without any student loan debt thanks to my parents taking the initiative to save when I was young. However, my boyfriend wasn't so lucky.

We've been together for a while now, and he had to take out a few student loans to pay for his last few semesters of junior college. It's nothing big — the total is less than $5,000 — but he doesn't see the point of paying them all down.

He's going back for his bachelor’s soon and thinks that because he's going back, he should continue only paying the minimum, since he's going to get more debt added onto his loan amount. I think he needs to work on paying off his balances in full so he doesn't have that debt at all.

The worst part is, he could easily afford paying more than the minimum payment each month. How do I get him to see how important paying off student loans are?

Sincerely,

Debt-Free Evangelist

Dear Debt-Free Evangelist,

He’s not messing up, but you think he could do better. You mean well, but conversations like the ones you’ve had can easily turn from offers of advice to never-ending, naggy guilt trips.

I understand his mindset. When I started graduate school, I was working full time and planning to take — and pay upfront for — one class each semester. It was a solid plan until I got laid off and found myself with little cash and a lot of free time.

“I have a great idea,” I explained breathlessly to my mother over the phone one day. “Why don’t I enjoy this time, do a little freelance work and go to school half time so I can get financial aid?” I would take out student loans to pay for school and defer my undergraduate loans.

Why she did not stop me right there and kick my butt back into reality, I do not know. But I had already convinced myself of this plan. By the time I graduated with a shiny new diploma, I’d have a shiny new job to take care of those pesky loans. Right?

Not right. You don’t waltz out of a liberal arts degree and into a six-figure job. It just does. Not. Happen.

($14,738.96 to go!)

Anyway, back to you two.

The tricky thing about paying the minimum or deferring your student loans is that interest continues to accrue.

It’s like lingering at a restaurant after you’ve paid the bill. But instead of dirty looks from the waitstaff, you get charged a dollar for each extra minute you stay at the table. You don’t have to gulp your drink down immediately and run out the door, but you do want to make a timely exit before those dollars add up too much.

It’s the same for student loans. Interest rate calculators make it easy to see the long-term impact of paying just the minimum.

I tested this out for you. Say your boyfriend has a $5,000 Direct Subsidized Loan with a 5% fixed interest rate. If he makes the minimum monthly payment over 10 years, he’ll really pay $6,364 for that loan. Add more loans on top of that in the coming years, and that’s more extra money he’ll have to pay back later.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to pay an extra $1,364 for anything.

So show him the math. But then it’s up to him. Would he rather have more cash in his pocket now and pay an extra few grand later for the convenience? Or is he willing to make sacrifices now for greater peace of mind later on?

He may also have money plans he’s not sharing with you, for the simple fact that it’s not easy to talk about money. For example, maybe he’s trying to save for an emergency fund (always a good idea).

Unexpected costs crop up all over the place during your college years, and credit card interest rates tend to be way higher than the interest he’ll pay on his student loans. If he’s working on building up a cash stash, it’s fine to hold off on student loan repayment.

Ultimately, this is his decision. You can talk over the numbers, his motivations and your joint goals, but he’s the one who’s paying the bill each month.

But keep talking about this! It’s not something you can only discuss once and then have to put in a box and pop onto the top shelf of your closet. Continue to approach money discussions as a point of collaboration, and it’ll be easier to face whatever inevitable challenges lie ahead for you as a couple.

Have an awkward money dilemma? Send it to dearpenny@thepennyhoarder.com.

Disclaimer: Chosen questions and featured answers will appear in The Penny Hoarder’s “Dear Penny” column. I won’t be able to answer every single letter (I can only type so fast!). We reserve the right to edit and publish your questions. Don’t worry — your identity will remain anonymous. I don’t have a psychology, accounting, finance or legal degree, so my advice is for informational purposes only. I do, however, promise to give you honest advice based on my own insights and real-life experiences.

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How far can you fly on an airline card?

Jetsetters looking to maximise returns on their spending might want to consider using an airline credit card to accrue rewards.

Virgin Atlantic recently announced the launch of two new credit cards that accrue ‘Flying Club miles’ when you spend.

How far can you fly on airline cards?

With Virgin Atlantic’s new Reward card, you earn 0.75 miles for every £1 spent using the card. Virgin Atlantic’s Reward+ card, meanwhile, pays double at a rate of 1.5 miles per £1 spent, although it comes with a £160 annual fee.

As an example of where you can fly to in the US, 20,000 points gets you a return flight to destinations such as Boston and New York, 25,000 points earns a return flight to Atlanta or Miami, and 30,000 points gets you a return to Las Vegas or Los Angeles.

However, these point limits only apply to ‘off-peak’ times. Peak-time travel, such as school holidays and Christmas, significantly increase the thresholds to 40,000, 45,000 and 50,000 points, respectively.

Global destinations covered by the scheme include Delhi in India, Hong Kong in south-east Asia, and Johannesburg in South Africa.

Best balance transfer and 0% purchase cards

In addition to earning air miles, you can unlock exclusive benefits, such as a free ticket for a companion when you book a flight, upgrades and lounge access, when you spend at least £20,000 a year on the Reward card and at least £10,000 on the Reward+. The interest rate on the Reward card is 22.9% APR and an eye-watering 63.9% APR for the Reward+.

By comparison, the British Airways American Express Credit Card offers one point for every £1 spent. As an example, earning 20,000 points would afford the equivalent of a return flight to Athens. The card offers an introductory bonus of 5,000 points if you spend £1,000 in your first three months. Like Virgin Atlantic’s Reward card, there’s no annual fee and it has an APR of 22.9%.

"You can unlock good benefits, such as a free ticket for a friend travelling with you"

In related news, Avios Group is closing its UK programme and transferring users into the British Airways Executive Club from May. This affects those who collect Avios through cards including Lloyds Avios and TSB Avios. However, you will still continue to be able to accrue and spend points as normal.

The best credit cards for rewards and cashback

What other types of reward cards are available?

If the offer of upgrades and free flights does not entice you, there are other types of reward credit card you can consider.

For instance, users of the M&S Bank Reward Plus Credit Card earn two points for every £1 spent in M&S during the first year, then one point for every £1 thereafter. Cardholders also earn one point for every £5 spent elsewhere, plus £25 in vouchers on signing up. There is no annual fee. The interest rate is 18.9% APR.

An option for online shoppers is the Amazon Platinum credit card. It offers 1.5 Amazon reward points for each £2 you spend at Amazon, and one point for every £2 spent elsewhere. Once you have earned 1,000 reward points, a £15 gift voucher will be credited to your Amazon account. There is no annual fee and new customers will also receive a £10 Amazon gift voucher when they first sign up. The interest rate is 18.9% APR.

Best cards for overseas spending

FEATURED PRODUCT

Virgin Atlantic Reward+

This card has an annual fee of £160, but spend £13,350 – the minimum needed to earn 20,000 points – and you’ll get a free flight to New York. While £13,350 may sound a lot, that’s about £1,112 a month. In comparison, you need to spend £26,667 annually on Virgin Atlantic’s regular Reward card to earn 20,000 points.

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Relationships: How to deal with the earnings gap

Finance can be an emotional flashpoint for couples, especially if one of you earns a lot more than the other. Make sure that money makes, not breaks, your relationship – just follow these five simple rules

Even in a happy and harmonious relationship, disagreements over money are inevitable – particularly when one partner earns significantly more than the other.

Anne McClean, a financial planner at Charles Stanley, says: “As much as we might like to pretend otherwise, there is a lot of emotion tied to money.

The financial pros and cons of marriage

It can be a way of measuring our success or our value. With this backdrop, it can be difficult to make pragmatic decisions.”

Carl Roberts, a chartered financial planner at RTS Financial Planning, adds: “While it can be difficult to be equals when one side of the relationship earns or has more money than the other, this doesn’t mean the person with less can’t bring their own financial independence to the table.” So what are the secrets to financial and relationship harmony when one of you earns more than the other? Moneywise explains the five essential rules.

Rule one

Talk about money

Being open is essential. A survey of 2,000 couples who had been together for 26 years or more, and were interviewed on behalf of pensions advisory firm Portafina, found that nearly three-quarters said honesty about finance, saving together, having the same goals and splitting things fairly were the keys to financial equilibrium.

Portafina’s survey also found that the most successful couples were those who knew each other’s income; 70% of couples who had been together for 26-plus years knew exactly what their partner earns.

Alistair Wilson, head of retail platform strategy at life insurer Zurich, says being open about your financial history is as important as telling your partner about past relationships. He says: “You need to know, has your partner ever been in debt or do they have a bad credit score, meaning they’ll likely be turned down for a mortgage? Knowing this prior to any decision making can also help you avoid damaging your own finances.”

Ms McClean adds that couples often don’t take time to discuss finances, either because it leads to arguments or because they lack clarity about the situation they are in.

Her tip is to tackle conversations around the topic with a sense of curiosity and openness, “not with the tactic of collecting evidence to try to win the argument”.

‘Common law marriage’ myth leaves cohabiting couples facing financial hardship

Rule two

Teamwork equals happiness

How you manage your finances will depend on the stage of your relationship. Ms McClean advises couples who are moving in together to keep assets separate.

If you are buying a property and one of you is putting up more of the money, make sure the ownership reflects your contributions.

You may want to take a more pragmatic approach to income where one member of the couple earns less and is struggling to keep up. This should be discussed and explored.

“Couples often don’t take the time to discuss finances”

When it comes to dividing up bills, Ms McClean says the larger earner might choose to put proportionally more of their salary in that account, while the lower earner puts in less.

If one partner does want to deal with the finances that’s OK too, but you both need to understand your financial position.

Ms McClean adds: “You cannot make good decisions if you don’t know where you are today – for example, if the husband has debt with interest rate of 19%, while his wife has cash in the bank earning 1%. This is costing the family money.”

Rule three

Plan ahead

Discussing your long-term savings goals will help you focus your financial efforts.

Mr Wilson says: “Create a savings plan to achieve what you’ll need for your next down payment. Putting an equal amount of money into an Isa will help it to accumulate wealth over time. When you put that house deposit down, or buy a new car, you’ll know it was a joint effort.”

He also suggests seeing budgeting as exciting. “Of course, deal with the day-to-day expenses but also have a budget for treats and long-term luxuries, such as holidays.”

Rule four

Don’t forget your tax-free allowances

Married couples or those in a civil partnership benefit from the marriage allowance. This is a tax allowance that lets those earning less than £11,850 transfer £1,185 of their personal allowance to their husband, wife or civil partner, provided they don’t earn more than £45,000 a year (£43,000 in Scotland).

This reduces their tax by up to £238 in the 2018/19 tax year. You can work out how much tax you will pay as a couple on Gov.uk.

Even if you are far off retirement, the higher-earning partner should consider contributing towards a personal pension for the other partner.

Anyone who has taken time out to bring up a family is also entitled to have their national insurance contributions (NICs) paid. This will count towards your state pension, but having a higher-earning spouse or partner means you can top up your personal pension.

There are no restrictions on the number of different pension schemes that you can belong to, though there are limits on the total amounts that can be contributed across all schemes each year if you’re to receive tax relief on contributions.

Rule five

Be aware of the warning signs

Jackie Wells, partner and family and divorce lawyer at the international law firm Taylor Vinters, says when one parent gives up work or subjugates their career to look after their children, resentment can set in where they don’t have the same spending power as their spouse, or where access to spending is used in a controlling way.

While married couples are protected by law if they do split, cohabiting couples are not. Ms Wells says partners who are not married or in a civil relationship need to make sure things are drawn up fairly. She explains: “If you are cohabiting and have given up work to look after a family, be aware you are not entitled to any maintenance in your own right, only child maintenance.

If you don’t co-own the family home, you may struggle to establish any rights or a payout.”

Partners also need to be aware of the possibility of financial abuse and financial infidelity.

Financial abuse is a form of domestic violence where one partner attempts to take full control of money and, in particular, to exploit the other partner’s assets and sabotage their efforts to work, study or interact with others (see panel, right).

“Financial abuse is a form of domestic violence, attempting to control a partner’s money”

Kerry Russell, family lawyer at Gorvins Solicitors, recommends keeping an eye on joint bank accounts.

“If there are any unusual transactions, it is important to discuss these together and also consider contacting the bank to suspend telephone and online banking or reduce the overdraft limit to prevent your partner running it up.

She has seen plenty of examples of financial infidelity in divorce cases. “After a marriage breakdown, I often see it where one spouse discovers the existence of credit card debt belonging to the other, which he or she wasn’t aware of during the marriage. Although this debt will ultimately remain the responsibility of the borrower, this may have a financial impact on the other spouse and may have to be repaid out of the family budget.”

If you have any shared liabilities, it’s important to remember that a couple is likely to be “financially associated” and this means your credit score could be negatively impacted if your partner has a poor financial history.

Financial planning no woman can afford to ignore

‘I earn 10 times more than my partner, but he still pays the bills’

samiChris.jpg

Sami Wunder, 29, who set up a dating and relationship coaching business in 2016, earned £525,000 last year, while husband Chris, 31 (both pictured above), brought in £50,000 from his role at the National Space Centre. The couple split their time between Germany and London. But now, despite earning considerably more than her husband, it’s Chris who still organises and pays the family bills.

Sami says: “The roles Chris and I have in our relationship have not changed since the day we started dating, and I believe that this is one of the keys to our success.

“Chris has always been the provider in our relationship. He paid for all our dates and, even today, he still takes care of the basic household bills and groceries. I would say that Chris is still the leader and provider in our relationship.

“What I provide is an additional ‘bonus’ income, which we use for long-term plans. For example, my money has allowed us to build our dream home. It’s a decision we have made.”

Chris adds: “When I married Sami, we were still young and making our way. I was the financial leader and provider in the relationship, and I was comfortable with that role. However, even today I still see myself as the ground level support in our household, taking care of all financial necessities. For us, that works.”

‘My husband pays the bills, but our finances are a joint effort’

Phil Hannah[1].jpg

Hannah and Phil Clarke (pictured above) live in Grantham, Lincolnshire, with their children Toby, three, and Martha, two.

Hannah, 31, says: “I gave up my job to set up my business 18 months ago. I went from earning a reasonable salary to earning nothing.

“My website, Apples & Pips, is an online shop that sells parent, baby and toddler products. It does have a turnover, but I’m not taking a salary from it yet.

“We’ve always been collaborative when it comes to finance. We have a joint account, which we do all our banking from. We don’t have separate accounts. We have a joint savings account too.

My husband is a designer and he earns around £50,000 a year.

“I am earning money from my website, but everything I earn goes straight back into the business via a business banking account.

I do still earn a small amount copywriting, but my husband is largely paying our household bills for the moment.

“If I need something, such as buying clothes for our children, as long as it’s not a large expense I will do so. We’ve always been careful with our food bills and we don’t have any credit cards. We both have the same approach and it works for us.”

Phil, 41, adds: “Hannah has a business account, and she puts everything she earns back into the business. We agreed she would leave her job because this is important to her. We don’t argue about money and we plan for the future together. When we want to buy presents we do it using PayPal, so the other can’t see from the bank statement.

We have Junior Isas for Toby and Martha, and we always discuss major purchases.”

‘I left my financially abusive partner’

“I was a victim of financial abuse, but it’s only now I’m eight months out of the relationship that I can see exactly what happened,” says Louise, who lives in London with her two children.

The 35-year-old explains: “My ex-partner had a fledgling business when we got together. I was attracted to his dynamism, but the signs were there – I just didn’t see them because I felt sorry for him. For example, his business was bringing in money but he didn’t have loo roll in the house.

“I got pregnant, not planned, and gave up my job, but I ended up working for his business. He didn’t pay me a salary, but he gave me all the financial responsibility for the company and none of the power.

“He expected me to balance the books and if he overspent £500 I would somehow get the blame even though I didn’t have access to his money.

“I would have to beg for £5 to buy nappies or milk and bread, but it would be OK for him to take money out of my purse to go to the gym or have his hair cut.

“I even took a part-time job and ended up putting my money in his account because he would blame me if there wasn’t enough money there.

“We had two children together. The mortgage ended up being in my name, but he gave me a £50,000 deposit, which he is now trying to get back. However, I paid his debts off when we were together, so it’s legally complicated.

“I even sold the jewellery that my mum left me, to make ends meet. It came to a head when he was physically abusive to me; it happened once and I then ended the relationship.

“What he did to me as an individual, a career-focused confident woman – I feel it could happen to anyone who falls in love.

“I’m back working and I’m planning on setting up my own company. While I may have lost myself for a while, I’m getting stronger and trying to learn from what happened. For the sake of my children, if nothing else.”

If you’re experiencing domestic violence, contact the 24-hour National Domestic Violence freephone helpline, run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge, on 0808 200 0247.

SAMANTHA DOWNES is a personal finance and consumer journalist and author. She writes for The Guardian, Glamour, Woman’s Own, the BBC World Service and the Financial Times