Whereas many people shop on Black Friday for the experience, Cyber Monday is more of a purist’s shopping day:It’s about the deals, and the deals only.
You’ve probably made sure your computer andInternet connectionare up to the task, but what about your web browser?
Did you know there are a whole slew ofFREE tools that can help you browse— and let’s be honest, shop — more securely and efficiently? They’re called browser extensions (think of them like apps for Chrome, Firefox and Safari), and they can do everything from find the best price to count down the minutes until a sale starts.
Here are 12 browser extensions to keep yousecure,saneandon budgetthis Cyber Monday.
Browser Extensions to Keep You More Secure
With cyber attacks and stolen identities proliferating in the news, it’s important to take your security seriously whileshopping online. These browser extensions should help.
1.LastPass
Smart Cyber Monday shoppers have their information saved on their favorite websites so they won’t miss out on any hot deals… But that does mean a lot of login info to remember.
Stop using your pet’s name for every password (thereby leaving your billing information vulnerable), and, instead, useLastPassto create and save strong passwords for each retailer.
2. SiteJabber
So you’ve spotted an awesome deal online — but you’ve never heard of the website. How do you know if it’s safe to give it yourcredit cardinformation?
SiteJabberto the rescue. Using an easy red-yellow-green light system, it quickly shows you a website’s trustworthiness and level of customer service, based on reviews from their 700,000 users.
3. HTTPS Everywhere
In case you didn’t know, you’re only supposed to shop at sites that start with “https://”;the “s” stands for secure. Sometimes, though, sites have both secure and unsecure versions — and who are we to keep track?
HTTPS Everywhereensures you’re on the secure version of every site, which helps protect you against surveillance and account hijacking.
4. Panic Button
You’re shopping for a watch foryour husband. You have a million tabs open while you decide on the perfect style and best price. Then, all of a sudden, he walks in. Ah! What do you do?
Instead of freaking out and spilling your coffee all over the keyboard, just press thePanic Button. It hides all of your tabs with a single click — and best of all, saves them for easy shopping once he leaves the room.
Browser Extensions to Keep You Organized
The key to a successfulholiday shopping seasonisn’t insider knowledge or crazy couponing;it’s staying organized.
We found a bunch of browser extensions that will keep you sane on Cyber Monday — or, really, any time of the year.
5. The Great Suspender
Speaking of all those tabs, are they taking up valuable memory and slowing down your computer?The Great Suspenderunloads, suspends or parks your unused tabs — essentially putting them to sleep while you’re not using them — which will keep your computer up to speed on the big day.
Though this specific app is only available in Chrome, Firefox users can trySuspend Tab.
6. Cool Clock
Want to check a site every hour for new deals? Know of a deal that’s going live at a specific time? Don’t rely on your memory; useCool Clockto set alarms, countdowns or hourly notifications. In Firefox, useSimple Timer.
7. Smile Always
Have you heard of AmazonSmile before? It’s a program that allows you to donate .5% of your eligibleAmazon purchasesto the charity of your choice. Only problem? You have to remember to sign in through the special portal, and nobody has time for that — especially on Cyber Monday.
TheSmile Alwaysextension automatically redirects regular Amazon pages through the portal, allowing you to effortlessly support your favorite cause. For Firefox users, there’sSmile Redirect; for Safari,AlwaysSmile.
8. Better History
You found theperfectprice on a new KitchenAid… Only, you can’t remember what site it was on. It happens to the best of us.
Better Historypresents a comprehensive way to search through your history — and it also allows for easy deletion, in case you don’t want your kids seeing what presents you were looking at.Norwell History Toolsis a similar extension for Firefox, as isFetching.iofor Safari.
9. StandApp
Unlike Black Monday when you’re out fighting the crowds, Cyber Monday involves a lot of sitting and waiting. Though the anticipation might get your blood pumping, all that sitting isn’t good for your health.
StandAppis a great everyday extension that reminds you to stand up for two minutes every 20 minutes. Non-Chrome users can download similar apps forMacoriPhone, or simply set a timer.
Browser Extensions for Saving Money
The whole point of Cyber Monday shopping issaving money, right? If you’re nodding your head, these three browser extensions are not-to-be missed.
10. Piggy
If you only download browser extension, make it this one. When you’re ready to check out, all you have to do is click on thePiggybutton, and it finds and applies the coupon code that saves you the most money. Even better, you’ll also earn cash-back rewards at more than 1,400 stores.
11. Coupons at Checkout
If you want a little more control over your coupon codes, tryCoupons at Checkout. When it comes time to complete your purchase, the coupon code box turns red if the extension has found available coupons. Once you click in the box, it displays them for easy picking.
12. InvisibleHand
Like its name suggests,InvisibleHandworks in the background while you’re shopping, only appearing when it’s found a cheaper price on the item you’re looking at. Bonus feature: When you Google a product, it also shows you the lowest real-time prices.
Get ready for Cyber Monday by installing (and familiarizing yourself with!) thesebrowser extensionsnow. We’re certain they’ll help you make the most of this digital shopping holiday.
Your Turn: Do you have a favorite browser extension? Any you planning on using any of these on Cyber Monday?
Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget. Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.
Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving, turns theBlack Friday shoppingfrenzy into a weekend-long affair.
Just as with thein-store deals on Black Friday, shop your favorite retailers online for limited-time discounts on November 30.
But even Cyber Monday deals can be better with some clever deal-stacking!We’d be remiss to let you go shopping without a few extra tips for saving the most money.
On top of already-enticing store discounts,save more money with coupons, rebates, free shipping and cash back on your online shopping.
Follow these steps to turn your Cyber Monday deals into savings only a true Penny Hoarder could achieve.
1. Decide What You Want to Buy
Start with knowing what’s worth buying on Cyber Monday.The online-only deals are often a way for smaller retailers, who can’t compete with the likes of Wal-Mart and Best Buy on Black Friday, to get in the game.
Save purchases of toys, clothing and travel for Cyber Monday.This is a great holiday for thrifty fashionistas!
2. Make a List — and Stick to It
Make a listbeforeyou start shopping.
Ads coming at you from all angles combined with the simplicity of clicking from store to store makeoverspending way too easy online.
Creating a shopping list gives you a game plan to follow so you can ignore distractions, stay on track and keep your spending under control.
Download our Holiday Shopping Worksheet to keep your shopping list, holiday budget and coupons organized in one place!
3. Find Deals and Compare Prices
Once you have your list,make sure you know the best place to buy everything on it.Planning ahead is key to getting the best deal.
Compare Prices
Before choosing a store, usePriceGrabber.comto compare prices on the items on your list.
The site will allow you to see a list of online retailers that carry an item. Prices are side-by-side, so you can quickly pick out which has the best offer.
Find Deals
Deals are tough to follow any time of the year — that’s why we lovedeal aggregators.
Follow our Cyber Monday Deals Site to keep track of deals throughout the day on November 30.
Also, check out these sites that keep an eye on daily deal companies likeGrouponandLivingSocial, soyou can see the best deals in one place:
When you’re ready to check out, choose your method of payment carefully. It could be a valuable decision.
Store Credit Cards
This can factor into which store is the best deal for the items on your list. What kind of bonuses or rewards will you get if you pay with a store’s branded credit card?
Store credit cards can come with drawbacks — high interest rates, limited use — but here are a threeCredit.com says are worth picking upbefore you begin holiday shopping:
Choose between 5% cash back or promotional financing. Also receive free shipping on orders of $35 or more, plus exclusive discounts, special sales and members-only events.
While you’ll get no rewards and unremarkable discounts, this card can be useful if you’re working to build or fix your credit.
It’s one of the easiest store credit cards to be approved for, and comes with perks like receiving a free monthly FICO score and cash withdrawals in store with no fees or interest.
Discounted Gift Cards
Planning ahead can help you save tons of money shopping on Cyber Monday, because you can get your hands on somediscounted gift cards.
Once you know what you want to buy and where you’ll buy it, visitRaiseto purchase a gift card for that store.Sellers typically unload cards they got as gifts or ones they’re not interested in anymore,so you’ll pay less than the value of the card — an automatic discount on anything you buy with it!
If you’re a big shopper, you can load up on cards from popular stores likeTarget,Best BuyorAmazon. Keep them organized withGyft, so they’re easily accessible when you’re ready to pay.
UseCostShredderto find which sites offer the best deal on gift cards for the store you want to shop.
Rewards Credit Card
Do you have acash-back credit card? If you budget well and pay off your balance each month, these can be a smart way to earn rewards for things you’re going to buy anyway.
Compare the rewards you can earn by shopping on Cyber Monday with your cash-back credit card to savings from other payment methods.The credit card could be a better deal overall.
Or, maybe you’ve been trying to save points for a trip or other bonuses. Cyber Monday shopping could be the push you need!
If you don’t already have a card, we always recommend theBarclay Rewards MasterCard, because they offer 1% cash back on all purchases. But some credit cards can be more attractive at different times throughout the year because of rotating bonuses.
With theChase Freedom card, for example, you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent from October 1 to December 31 in these categories:
Amazon.com
Zappos.com
Audible.com
Diapers.com
Discover
Department Stores
Clothing Stores
Stretch Your Money Further
If you pay with a credit or debit card, make your purchase do double duty by connecting the card with an auto-savings app — our favorite isAcorns.
When you make a purchase with a card connected to the app, Acorns will automatically round up to the next dollar and deposit the “digital change” into your Acorns account.
Then they invest the money into super-simple portfolios to help your money grow.It’s a cool way to make a little extra money while you shop— you probably won’t miss that loose change anyway, so why not put it to work?
5. Shop Through a Cash-Back Website
Anytime you shop online, you should take advantage of cash-back sites!Earn back some of the money you spend at every site— you’ll either earn direct cash or points to redeem for gift cards to top retailers.
Even better, throughCashbackholicandCostShredder, you can find which rebate site is offering the best cash back for the store you’re shopping at.
As a bonus, after the shopping frenzy dies down, you can “recycle” your savings by using the gift cards you earn through these sites to purchase more items on your holiday gift list.
3. Look for Coupons
In addition to Cyber Monday discounts and killer rebates,you might be able to save evenmoreby stacking coupons on top of deals.
Many coupons exclude items that are already discounted, or can’t be used with any other deals or specials.Make sure you read the fine print before you start shopping.
When you find a coupon thatcanbe used regardless of other discounts,apply it at checkout to make Cyber Monday deals even better.
Deal aggregators often list coupons and rebates that can be stacked on top of deals. And you can find your own coupons throughthese sites:
Online shopping can offer some killer deals — until you get hit with shipping costs. Tack on an extra $5 or $10 to get an item to your door, and you could negate everything you’ve just saved!
To avoid this extra expense, check out these17 stores that offer free shipping— including some retail giants like Target, Dell and Nordstrom.
Also remember: If you buy individual small items on Amazon — fewer than 8 ounces, smaller than 9 x 6 x 2 inches and less than $10 — you can getfree shipping, even without a Prime membership.
7. Use a Rebate App
One last step!
Once your shopping is done, open yourIbottaandCheckout51apps tofind additional rebates for anything you purchased.
These apps are popular for theincredible savings they offer on groceries, but you can find deals on other retail items, as well. Check for cash back on your Cyber Monday purchases, and remember to enter the items when they arrive.
Create Your Holiday Shopping Plan
You’re all set! Now that you know the steps to take for the best Cyber Monday deals, get organized.
Your Turn: Do you know of an awesome Cyber Monday deal? Share it in the comments!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We would have shared them with you anyway, but a true “penny hoarder” would be a fool not to take the company’s money.
Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a Staff Writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, Writer’s Digest and more. She’ll probably spend Cyber Monday week working on an elusive novel and eating ALL the leftover green bean casserole.
Today, we kick off Cyber Monday. Many companies will offer special online shopping deals, meaning even bigger savings for our Penny Hoarders everywhere.
If you’re here to learn how you can maximize your savings on Cyber Monday, you’re in the right place! We’re here to help you with your shopping strategy.
My team and I will be sharing deals, tips and hacks to Cyber Monday live on this blog. We will be online at the following times:
Sunday, Nov. 30 at 12 p.m. through Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 12 a.m.
We’ll also be available via live chat to answer any questions you may have about Cyber Monday shopping.
Enjoy the savings everyone!
Features
Here are a few tips and tricks to navigate our site most effectively:
Live chat: Our roster of employees will be available around the clock via live chat, Twitter and Facebook to answer reader questions about how to get the best deals.
Navigation tool: You can view “all feeds” or your feed of choice (e.g. the latest deals, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube updates).
Deals: Purple blog posts feature quick deals, while the hot pink blog posts are original articles about how to crush Cyber Monday.
This post originally appeared on our special Cyber Monday site.
Most people I talk to about money end up asking me some version of that question. Heck, I continue to ask it myself as I try to ensure that I’m always giving my clients the best advice possible.
The question comes from a good place. You work hard for your money and you want to make sure that your money is working hard for you. You have important goals to reach and your investment plan has to help you do it.
But there’s an assumption inherent in this question that can get you into trouble.
Because the truth is that there is no right way to invest. And the search for the right way to invest can actually lead to more problems than solutions if it causes you to continually change your investment plan in pursuit of the newest best idea.
Instead, I would encourage you to accept that the best investment plans are a mix of science and emotion, and incorporating both gives you the best chance at success.
It explains how different types of investments work, shows you some simple strategies that will improve your odds of success, and helps you create a “good enough” investment plan to help you reach your goals.
For example, here are a few things we believe to be true based on the best scientific research on investing we have to date:
Stocks offer the greatest opportunity for big returns, but also the biggest risk that you won’t actually get those returns.
Bonds provide a smaller return, but with more certainty that you will actually get it.
None of these things are absolute. Nothing in the world of investing is. But these are best practices we’ve learned from the best scientific research we’ve been able to do. And they should serve as important guidelines as you create your investment plan.
The Emotion
All of that science is great, but it’s inexact. It gives you a range of possible strategies that could work, but it doesn’t provide one right answer.
And here’s the other thing: We know from decades of experience that one of the best things you can do is simply pick a plan and stick with it through thick and thin.
See, we aren’t robots. We can’t just input “optimal investment plan A” and expect to stick with it forever.
We are humans, and humans have emotions. And those emotions affect our decisions whether we like it or not.
If watching your portfolio rise and fall will make you too nervous to stick with your decisions, you should probably choose a more conservative investment plan. Photo by Thomas
For example, you may hear that you’re supposed to be heavily invested in stocks because you’re relatively young and have a long time before retirement. That’s the conventional wisdom and there are good reasons behind it.
But there’s also the fact that being heavily invested in the stock market means that your account balance will rise and fall dramatically with the ups and downs of the market.
Some people are comfortable with that. Some aren’t.
If you aren’t, it’s much better to acknowledge that ahead of time and choose to be a little more conservative.
That will increase your comfort level, which will increase the chance that you’ll actually stick to your plan, which will increase the chance that you’ll actually reach your goals.
And that’s just one example. As you do your research you’ll come across many other right ways to invest. And while some of them can absolutely serve as helpful guidelines, understand that they usually aren’t hard and fast rules.
So take stock of your emotions and include them in your decisions as well.
Science + Emotion = Best Chance of Success
The best investors use the science to understand best practices and determine the range of “good enough” investment strategies.
Then they use emotion to choose a strategy that not only fits within that range, but that they understand and feel comfortable with.
It’s the best of both worlds, and it’s the key to long-term success.
Matt Becker is a fee-only financial planner and the founder of Mom and Dad Money, where he helps new parents take control of their money so they can take care of their families. His book, The New Parents’ Guide to Financial Independence, shows you how to create an investment plan that helps you reach your biggest personal goals.
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Denise Barker of Realty Executives Pocono Pines has been honored by the Pocono Mountains Association of Realtors with the Realtor of the Year Award. The award was presented to Barker at the PMAR Installation of Officers reception held at the Stroudsmoor Inn.Receiving Realtor of the Year is the greatest honor bestowed upon a Realtor by their peers at the board level. The award recognizes an outstanding member of the PMAR for meritorious contributions to the advancement of their [...]
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The Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce recently hosted its annual Healthy Workplace Awards luncheon at Terraview at Stroudsmoor Country Inn in Stroudsburg. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, ChamberChoice and seven regional chambers of commerce are presenting the 2015 Healthy Workplace Awards program to recognize regional employers that have implemented successful wellness practices at work. James McClure from Highmark presented the 2015 Healthy Workplace of the Year [...]
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Bryce Carson runs a subsidiary of a company that uses one of the world’s most recognized trademarks.The letters U and L within a circle are known to many people as the logo of Underwriters Laboratories, the global safety and certification group that now conducts business using only its initials. “People see UL on the side of the building, and they think we have a laboratory in here,” said Carson, general manager of UL Registrar LLC, which is owned by [...]
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Depending on the type of rewards credit card you sign up for, you can earn all kinds of free stuff just for being a cardholder.
If you get one of the best travel credit cards, for example, you can count on earning free hotel stays, almost-free airfare, and various other travel goodies and upgrades. Some cards offer additional, lesser-known perks such as primary auto rental coverage, extended warranties, and zero liability for fraud to sweeten the deal.
At the end of the day, a good rewards credit card can be worth its weight in gold. But despite evidence to the contrary, many people assume they can’t benefit from one.
When it comes to travel credit cards, for example, I often hear people say they don’t travel, so they don’t have the need. And when it comes to your standard cash-back cards, many people feel they don’t spend enough to justify having one.
The thing is, most of the top rewards cards offer some flexibility in how you redeem your rewards. And if you’re willing to think outside the box, you can easily find at least one way to redeem them that makes sense with your budget and your spending habits.
Other Ways to Redeem Those Airline Miles
From cash-back cards to airline credit cards, the options for redeeming your points are endless. Here are eight outside-the-box redemption possibilities you might not have considered:
No. 1: Turn Airline Miles into Lowe’s Gift Cards
A few years ago, my sister and her husband both signed up for the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Card in order to earn the sign-up bonus — but not for the reason you think. Even though this card helps you earn Southwest Rapid Rewards airline miles, the points are also good for an array of lucrative gift card options — and my sister’s family needed a new screen door!
After they each earned their respective sign-up bonus, they redeemed their miles for Lowe’s gift cards in 5,000-point increments for $50 each. Shortly after, they went to Lowe’s and ordered a new screen door.
While this isn’t the most lucrative way to redeem your airline miles, it’s a decent option to consider if you want to earn gift cards toward something you need anyway at a rate of one cent per mile. It’s just another example of how airline miles can be good for something other than plane tickets and seat upgrades. Who knew?
Meanwhile, the Discover It card allows cardmembers to get their cash-back bonus in the form of dozens of gift cards if they wish — most of them at a discount. For example, you could redeem $45 in cash back credit for a $50 Lowe’s gift card at the time of this writing.
Need a new screen door or appliance more than a trip to Florida? Cash in your miles for gift cards at a home improvement store such as Lowe’s. Photo: Lowe’s
No. 2: Pay Down Those Student Loans
A friend of mine recently cashed in a bunch of reward points for cash to pay down his student loans. To accomplish this goal, he and his wife both got a Citi Premier card and earned the sign-up bonus, then redeemed their points for checks to send to his student loan company. With this small move, they paid down $1,100 in student loans — and all with little effort and without taking on a part-time job.
This strategy worked so well because the Citi Thank You program has a “student loan option” that allows you to redeem points for a penny apiece. However, my friend had to check with his student loan company to make sure they would take a check from a third-party bank before pulling the trigger.
If you want to do the same without jumping through those hoops, you could always get a sturdy cash-back card and redeem your points for cash. After that, just send the money to your student loan company yourself.
No. 3: Use Miles to Book a Cruise
Do you prefer a sea-based vacation? If so, you can easily pay for your cruise with rewards from a variety of rewards credit cards. With points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, for example, you can turn in your points for cruise-line gift cards for a penny each (e.g., 40,000 points = $400 in gift cards). Further, you can book nearly any cruise through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal and score a 20% discount if you’re using points.
The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard is another good one when it comes to using rewards to pay cruise fare. With this card, you earn “miles” you can redeem for travel for one cent apiece.
In other words, 40,000 miles is worth $400 in travel with this card, and you can redeem your points for a cruise with any cruise line with no blackout dates or exclusions. Once you book any cruise of your choosing, you simply redeem your “miles” and erase all or part of the purchase from your account.
A lot of people feel they don’t spend enough to bother with credit card rewards, and that’s totally understandable. The thing is, almost anyone can earn a little bit of cash back they can use for fun money — and with little effort.
With either the Chase Freedom or the Discover It card, for example, you earn 1% cash back on all purchases no matter how little you spend, and earn up to 5% cash back in bonus categories that rotate each quarter. You can cash in at increments as low as $20 or redeem your points for gift cards or other options.
And since neither card charges an annual fee, you’ll never have to worry about canceling it, even if you barely use it. Even if you don’t spend a lot, it’s still hard to argue with free.
No. 5: Book an Airbnb or Vacation Rental
With so many big hotel chains offering rewards cards these days, it’s easy to assume that’s the only option lodging-wise. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Again, a handy fixed-value travel card opens the door to an array of travel possibilities — and even the ability to rent cheap vacation condos.
The Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard is especially good for this. If you’ll remember, the miles you earn are redeemable for any type of travel at a rate of one cent apiece. If you despise the sterility of chain hotels, you can use the miles you earn to book spacious and homey vacation rental condos or Airbnb-type rentals instead.
Not only does the Citi Thank You program let you use points to pay down student loans, but it offers the same option for mortgage prepayment as well. At the rate of one cent per point, you can redeem rewards for a check to your mortgage loan company, thus reducing the principal of your loan while also saving money on interest.
If you don’t want cash back and have no desire to travel, this is an especially good way to redeem your points and miles. After all, what do you have to lose — besides mortgage debt?
No. 7: Gift Your Points to Charity
Due to consumer demand, a lot of credit card companies make it easy for their customers to donate unused or unwanted points to a charity of their choice. That list includes the Discover It card, for example, which allows customers to donate through its Discover Giving initiative, or in the form of their Cashback bonus funds.
If you’ve struggled to give enough in the past, getting a card that offers this option is a great way to give back without taking from your bottom line. And having the ability to choose a charity that matches your values is a huge boon, too. With the Discover Giving program, for example, consumers can choose from over 1.5 million participating charities that help bridge the gap when it comes to poverty, hunger, research, and more.
No. 8: Trade Points for Stuff
If you don’t like the idea of free travel or cash back, another option is using your points for free stuff. No matter what type of rewards card you have, chances are good you can redeem your points and miles for various merchandise offered through their corresponding online shopping portal.
As mentioned, the Discover It card offers gift cards from dozens of different retailers, from Lowe’s to L.L. Bean, most at a 5%-10% discount off the face value of the card — meaning you’re getting more than a penny per point on your rewards.
The Chase Ultimate Rewards program also makes this option particularly easy. Using points, you can shop for anything from housewares to designer purses, update your wardrobe, or simply get some of your holiday shopping out of the way — and for free. Using your points this way isn’t always the best value (you’ll normally get around a half-cent per point), but it’s a good option for anyone who wants to shop with their points — either for themselves or for others.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to credit card rewards, airline miles and hotel points get all the glory. But that doesn’t mean those are the only (or best) redemption options out there. With a little bit of research and an open mind, you can use your points to get anything from a new screen door to a KitchenAid mixer. Heck, you can even pay down your mortgage or take a stab at those student loans!
So don’t forget to think outside the box when it comes to rewards. No matter who you are and how much you spend, there is at least one redemption option created just for you.
What is your favorite way to redeem credit card rewards? What is the best redemption you have ever made?
After the big holiday dinner has been served and Aunt Beatrice is on her fifth glass of wine and your cousin Will is well into his third mixed drink, family discussions can sometimes go into overdrive. People start talking about politics, finances, and all kinds of things.
For me, it’s usually during this time of the day when the subject of personal finance comes up. I’m usually right in the midst of this discussion because of my history writing about money issues – if I’m not already involved, someone will drag me in.
And then, inevitably, someone will ask Sarah or me about our financial plans. If they’ve heard about them before, we’ll get something like “Are you guys still wanting to retire when you’re 45?” (usually paired with a chuckle). If not, they’ll want to hear about our plans.
And that’s when we talk about financial independence.
To put our plans simply, Sarah and I paid off all of our debts by the age of thirty. We then purchased a home and paid the whole thing off in four years. Since then, we’ve essentially been banking my entire income (more or less). Our goal? We want to “retire” between the ages of 45 and 50, but for us that means switching our professional goals to things that might not earn much of an income. I want to do some charitable work and write a novel, for example.
Usually, the idea of “retiring” at any age prior to 65 is followed by a bunch of comments and questions. Here are some of the common ones we hear about our financial independence plans.
It’s worth noting that, in some cases, I’m making some guesses as to the source of the comments that we hear. That’s because I often hear similar kinds of comments from people of similar backgrounds, so it becomes easy to attribute those comments to those life experiences.
It’s also worth noting that the comments that people make are almost exclusively well-meaning. They come from people who are genuinely curious or are genuinely concerned for the choices that Sarah and I seem to be making in our lives. Although in writing they can seem like “busybody” or rude comments, they scarcely come off that way. They usually come out with genuine interest, thoughtfulness, or worry.
Common “Holiday Table” Criticisms of Financial Independence
We hear a lot of different thoughts, opinions, and angles on our financial independence goals.
People who lived through the Depression, most of whom are quite elderly today, often seem to understand financial independence the best. The idea of financial independence is heavily rooted in self-reliance, which is a concept that really hits home for them. They usually seem to just get it.
The biggest concern I’ve ever heard voiced from people of this generation is the idea that many people facing financial independence have much of their money invested in the stock market. The Depression created a deep and intense distrust of the stock market in most Americans of that age and, to an extent, that distrust continues in their children.
Many Boomers tend to view financial independence as being crazy talk, completely in opposition to their life experience. Again, that’s for good reason. Their formative years came during a period in time in the 1960s and 1970s when the social contract between big businesses and employees was very strong. You could get a good paying job straight out of high school and getting a good job with a good company was the ticket to long-term success. That was simply the economic reality of the times. Financial security meant a stable job, a pension, and good health care.
There’s also another interesting factor, one that came at least in part from being children of Depression-era parents. There is often a huge perceived social stigma against having few possessions or a tiny house or, particularly, being an adult without a steady job. It’s perceived that having possessions and having a steady job and having at least a decent home are signs of a stable person and without those things, you’re at the very least showing the world that you’re not stable in some way, that you’re not an active participant in society.
Some people think it’s impossible. They refuse to even believe it’s possible at all unless you do something like start a hugely successful business. In other words, unless your income is incredible, it’s not a path that’s available to you.
The people that believe this either think that you’re buying into some kind of a scam or that you’re trying to sell them on some kind of a scam. I’ve had people act fairly sympathetic to me as though I am gullible or respond with a complete rejection of the “story” I’m “feeding” them.
Others wonder why we would even want to do this. “But why?” is a pretty common question that we hear around the dinner table.
Again, from my own experience, this type of reaction comes from people who are genuinely happy with the lives that they currently have (or believe that they are genuinely happy with it). They like their current lives and don’t really understand why someone would follow a significantly different path, one that would require them to be really frugal for many years (or maybe even the rest of their lives) just so that they would sit around and have nothing to do in a decade or so.
Trust me, I can really understand this perspective. I would not even be considering this path if I thought that it led to a life where I just sat around and did nothing all day. That sounds pretty miserable to me, too. This path is exciting to me because there are many, many things I want to do and try in my life and financial independence opens the doors to having the time and the resources to be able to do them.
Others assume that our jobs form the fundamental structure of our lives and thus we will keep on working regardless of our financial state. They believe that we can build up substantial savings, but the idea that we would choose to no longer work in a traditional income-earning job or at least some kind of freelancing work is not realistic.
Again, this makes sense for many career-oriented people. Careers can provide the central structure of a person’s life and someone choosing to walk away from that when they obviously have the skills to maintain a career can seem really strange.
Still others believe that the process to pull this off must be utterly miserable. This has a kernel of truth to it, depending on your perspective of course. Choosing to save a large portion of your income does mean that you’re going to have to choose to go without a lot of perks. Of course, you have the power to choose which splurges you have in your life and which ones you ship.
I’ve found that it’s not really miserable at all. It’s actually pretty enjoyable to reorient your life around a smaller number of things that you deeply enjoy and focusing on experiences over stuff. However, that can be pretty difficult to articulate.
Some worry about the impact this will have on our children. Are we choosing a path that will enable our children to have a normal childhood or to start off on a financially viable path in life? Will they be able to go to college? Do they have deprived lives?
I don’t view these comments as criticisms of us or our parenting style. Instead, I view them as true concern for our children. Are we really putting our own personal financial goals over some of the things that our children could have? Sure, we probably are. Our children don’t have everything that children could have. The newest video game console in our home is a decade old. The family computer is a hand-me-down. My daughter practices piano on an old keyboard.
Here’s the thing, though. Our children also have a parent waiting for them each day when they get off the bus. We play games together, explore parks together, make meals together, have long conversations together, and practice sports together until there are worn spots in the yard. I will not believe for a second that our children are deprived because we don’t spend as much money as we could because we spend a lot of time with them.
How We Respond
So, how do you respond to these points politely around the holiday dinner table? Here are some of the key points that we make when these kinds of conversations come up.
“We have our money invested in a lot of things for diversification’s sake.” This usually alleviates the fears of grandparents and great grandparents who envision us having all of our money stowed away in a risky stock investment.
It’s true, too. We have some of our money in domestic stocks, some in international stocks, some in bonds, some in real estate, and some in cash, both foreign and domestic. If one of those things begins to struggle, the others will step up to the plate as people change around their investment strategies to compensate.
Will that make enough money? It’s true that we would be likely to earn a better average annual rate of return by having all of our money in one specific type of investment, but we also run the risk of being caught by a downturn in that specific type of investment.
Diversification is important now, but it becomes even more important later on as we actually reach financial independence.
“We’re using financial independence as an opportunity to make a major career change.” This tends to alleviate career-oriented people.
Personally, I love to use the example of transitioning from my current batch of writing gigs into trying my hand at being a novelist. That transition means that at some point I’ll be taking a leap in my career, but I will effectively be remaining in the same career path and devoting time to that career path. My life will maintain the kind of structure that seems familiar to them.
It can also inspire ideas in others about the type of career change that they might want to take on. I’ve found that taking this approach can cause people who were thinking about a career shift to start considering building financial leverage to make that shift happen sooner rather than later.
“We spend our time doing things we enjoy, which actually ends up not costing very much.” This addresses the view that the financial choices you need to make along the path to financial independence must be miserable.
I usually follow this comment up by mentioning the things that we actually do. We read a lot of books – every single person in our family is an avid reader and we are regulars at our local library. We spend a lot of time outside during the spring, summer, and fall months. We play a lot of non-electronic games, both together as a family and in community groups. We make a lot of things, just to learn how it’s done.
These things don’t cost much money at all, yet they fill up most of our family’s free time and free mindspace. There’s really not much interest in spending money on other things because our time is already filled up with activities we care about.
But what about purchases for social status, like clothes and cars and houses?
“Some people want a big house and a brand new car, and that’s cool. We just want to stop working at an earlier age instead.” This is usually the line we use when people start asking questions about other big life goals that people commonly have.
For starters, we don’t really want these things for ourselves. Sarah and I both like the house we have now. Sarah and I both drive cars that are several years old (at least) and have well over 100,000 miles on them. Sarah and I aren’t big wardrobe spenders, either; even her professional wardrobe is purchased pretty frugally.
We don’t really want these things to impress other people, either. To put it quite simply, we don’t have social status as a goal in pretty much any way. It’s not something we think about or care about or value.
It’s one of those maxims that’s repeated again and again in personal finance books. Stop caring what other people think. The thing is, when you really take that to heart, it becomes very easy to live a really frugal life.
“It’s absolutely possible. It just requires a strong commitment over a lot of years.” Sometimes people express complete incredulity about whether our plan is even possible, and this is our typical response. It’s not easy to do it, but it certainly is possible if you take the long approach.
My experience has shown me that people who believe that financial independence is an impossible goal are usually aware that it can actually be done, but that most people aren’t going to make the choices necessary to make it happen. It takes a long term commitment to a fairly high level of frugality, something that modern culture doesn’t really view all that fondly.
In other words, it seems just different enough than the way everyone does things that it appears prohibitively difficult, and when people make seemingly prohibitively difficult choices with their life, other people often react with confusion.
“Health care exchanges and, eventually, Medicare will provide the health care options we need.” When people start digging into the nuts and bolts of the choices that we’re making, one issue that comes up all the time is health care. How will you guys handle health care if you walk away from the workplace?
That simple answer sums up our plans. If we find ourselves in a situation where we’re not employed with a health care plan, we plan to simply take advantage of state health care exchanges to get the health care we need. Sarah is in great health and my only ongoing health condition is my thyroid condition which is addressed pretty well with a single daily Synthroid dosage.
Health care will undoubtedly be an expense for us in the future, but it is something we are accounting for in terms of how much we are saving.
“College costs are going to be high no matter what we do, but spending money just so they appear better on the FAFSA doesn’t strike us as a smart plan.” We’re often asked about our plans for our children regarding their eventual college experiences. Are we going to help them with college? Are our savings going to be used to write fat private college checks for them?
We plan on helping them with college, but we don’t plan on paying for four years of education for them at an expensive private liberal arts school. Instead, we are saving for their college experience using a 529 college savings plan for each of them. We don’t plan on helping them beyond the contents of that savings.
Why not? Why wouldn’t we pay for their college if we have the means? Our feeling is that if we just cut a check for their college experience, it devalues that experience. They don’t see the value of it because they’ve never had to put anything on the line for it. Understanding that is a maturity issue of course, but it’s one that we’re already discussing with our children.
Final Thoughts
The most important thing to remember about these kinds of conversations around the dinner table is that they’re rarely done with maliciousness or anger or negative feelings in mind. Most of the time, questions and comments come up as a result of genuine curiosity or, sometimes, concern over the path that you’re choosing.
Yes, those feelings are often fed by the life history of the person who’s asking the questions, but that doesn’t mean they come from a negative place. It simply means that their life history is telling them that what you’re suggesting is fraught with risk and uncertainty that you might not be seeing.
If you find that your extended family is asking a lot of tough questions about your financial path around the holiday dinner table, don’t take it as an interrogation. Instead, take it as a sign of concern, but also take it as a chance to explain and educate others about financial independence and smart financial choices.
No matter what financial path you’re on, be aware that if you’re trying for anything other than paycheck-to-paycheck living, you’re in a relatively small minority. Less than a quarter of Americans are in good enough financial shape to be able to survive without their next couple of paychecks. To be able to do even that means that you’re a fairly rare bird. Taking it further, to the point of financial independence, is highly unusual.
So don’t be upset when people ask questions and have comments. You’re doing something unusual, and the holiday table is giving you an opportunity to share why you’re doing it.
Just be sure to ignore that cousin of yours who’s had a few too many drinks and is informing you that all of your financial plans will be wrecked by his conspiracy theory du jour.
First time buyers will be pleasantly surprised by the rates available on Help to Buy Isas, as the first wave of products announced today included a market-beating 4% interest rate from the Halifax.
First time buyers will be pleasantly surprised by the rates available on Help to Buy Isas, as the first wave of products announced today included a market-beating 4% interest rate from the Halifax.
Someone saving the maximum amount under the Help to Buy Isa scheme with Halifax would earn £1,525 in interest over five years, according to their calculations.
THEY’VE seen the taxi industry buckle under the pressure of its modern competitors, now hoteliers are worried about their own future saying the sharing economy is has already created a grey market.
Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/1LDTnHR
That’s a wrap on our live blog for Black Friday 2015!
Thanks for staying up with us through 48 hoursof deals, tips,Red Bull, cartwheels, turkey, ads, tweets and more.
It’s been a whirlwind holiday already, and our whole team has had so much fun chatting with readers and helping you find the gifts on your holiday shopping wish list this year.
We asked you all to tell us what you want for the holidays — and nearly 25,000 of you responded!
We scoured the entries to choose a new winner for each hour of the live blog — and awarded a total of $28,800 in prizes to 48 winners!
Narrowing down this list was certainly a big task, but it was inspiring toread all the creative, thoughtful entries.We’re grateful to be able to offer a little something extra this holiday season to these awesome Penny Hoarders:
1. Debra G.
Canon T5i Bundle
Debra asked for a camera for her daughter. With this gift, the inspiring photographer can complete her portfolio and apply to a magnet school for visual arts.
2. Claudia D.
Dinner Out with my Mom
Claudia won a $150 Visa Gift Card to take her mom out to dinner. In her entry, she simple stated, “I just want to spend more time with her.”
3. Jennifer D.
$500 Gift Card to Kroger or Publix or WalMart
A single mother to three, Jennifer won a gift card for groceries, which opens up room in her budget for Christmas shopping.
“I know it sounds very boring,” Jennifer said, “but… money is always tight” when you’ve got three little ones at home!
4. Katie B.
$500 Gift Card to Men’s Wearhouse
Katie wants to surprise her husband with a wardrobe upgrade. The couple just had a baby, and some new suits and accessories will give Katie’s husband a confidence boost in his search for a long-term career.
5. Amanda G.
$500 for California Real Estate Exam
After a few hard years of debt and penny hoarding, Amanda, her husband and their one-year-old son are ready for the next chapter in their lives.
Her husband has passed his Real Estate training, and Amanda requested this gift to cover the fee for his state test and help him start his new career.
6. Rebecca B.
Large Lego Set
Rebecca won a Lego set for her son! Money can be tight, especially around the holidays, and we’re happy to help her check this fun gift off her shopping list this year.
7. Michelle E.
Proofread Anywhere Course Tuition
This Penny Hoarder wants to earn extra money at homeproofreading transcripts. Taking this course will give her the skills she needs to boost her family’s budget.
8. David P.
Two Tickets to a Broadway Show
David asked for the gift of a Broadway show for himself and his 11-year-old daughter Johanna — named for the Sondheim song in Sweeney Todd. Enjoy your first trip to New York, Johanna!
9. Jennifer J.
Spa Day
Single mother Jennifer will graduate from college in May 2016. Going to school and working to pay for it has meant less time with her daughter, so she wants to celebrate with a spa day at a resort — “quality time where it’s just us” — with her daughter.
10. Erinn T.
Snow Blower
Erinn wants to surprise her hard-working husband with a snow blower for Christmas, so he doesn’t have to shovel the driveway all winter!
11. Heather M.
School and Art Supplies
Heather, a teacher, asked for a stock of school supplies for her classroom.
Things like paper, pens, pencils, crayons, glue sticks and construction paper, Heather says, “would help my students in my classroom whose families don’t have money to buy these supplies.”
12. Joe F.
Trip for Two to New York City to SeeWickedon Broadway
Joe got a Cochlear Implant in October and can hear clearly for the first time in his life. He’s been aWickedfan since the show’s debut and is looking forward to the chance to finally enjoy a live performance and share this life-changing trip with his wife.
13. Cecilia M.
$1,500 for a New Wardrobe
After eight years on disability, 58-year-old Cecilia recently went back to school to complete an AAS Degree in Social Services.
A new wardrobe will give her confidence when she re-enters the workforce next semester for clinical field work.
14. Hillary H.
VIZIO 55′ Class 1080p LED Smart HDTV – E55-C2
A mother of two with one on the way, Hillary wants to thank her husband for everything he’s done that allows her to stay at home with their daughters.
This TV is a token of her appreciation, she says. “I know it isn’t much, but I know this is the one thing he really wants!”
15. Karla V.
Decorated Christmas Tree
Karla is spending her first holiday season away from family after moving to a new city for her husband to go to school.
This gift will brighten their Christmas and help the newlyweds start their own holiday traditions.
16. Allegra A.
$2,000 Apartment Security Deposit
Allegra and her daughter are staying with friends after a very challenging year. They’re ready to succeed on their own as a single-parent family, and this security deposit can get them into an apartment and onto their next adventure.
17. Sarah F.
Crock Pot With a Timer
Sarah wants to come home to good home-cooked meal after long, unusual hours working for a law enforcement agency.
Also, says this Penny Hoarder, “It would help me save money since I wouldn’t be getting food from a restaurant as often or stocking up on frozen dinners as much.”
18. Jacqueline M.
Crib
Jacqueline and her husband just found out they’re expecting! She’s working seven days a week and saving up for a house. Covering the expense of this essential will go a long way in setting up a home for their growing family.
19. Deborah M.
ezRead Electronic Reading Aid — TV Digital Magnifier Mouse
Deborah is gifting this reading aid to her 81-year-old mother-in-law, who’s lost significant sight over the past year. Deborah says, “I would love for her to be able to have the gift of reading again.”
20. Judy M.
American Girl Doll
This doll is a gift for Judy’s seven-year-old, who has wanted one all year long. Judy was recently laid off from work, and looks forward to the opportunity to surprise her daughter with this gift from Santa.
21. Candice D.
Humidifier
The cold, dry air throughout the winter does not agree with Candice’s asthma. The gift, she says, will help her “literally breathe easier” this holiday season.
22. Coral T.
Burberry Scarf
Coral asked for this gift for his wife, one she’s always wanted that he can’t afford.
“She’s the most deserving person I know and I love her with everything I am,” says Coral.
23. Ashley F.H.
$500 Worth of Red Heart Yarns
Ashley has been making hats for chemotherapy patients since her mom passed away from Stage 4 brain cancer five years ago. She’s made and donated over 150 hats already, and this gift will go a long way in making more.
24. Tena M.
Two Fitbits
These devices will motivate Tena and her husband to get off the couch and be active during the cold winter months.
25. Martha C.
Fish Tank
Martha is caring for her sick husband and wants him to have beautiful fish to watch throughout the day. The addition to their home will offer serenity for the caretaker, too.
26. Alex H.
iPad Pro and Apple Pencil
This graphic design student — trying to get through college debt-free! — can use the new iPad Pro as a drawing tablet, note-taking tool and planner to increase his productivity now and after graduation.
27. Charles S.
Celestron 130 SLT Computerized Telescope
Charles wants to inspire his children “to look beyond just the things in their immediate vicinity — that AMAZING experiences are there if you apply a little bit of effort.”
We concur, Charles!
28. Kimberly H.
Video Camera
Kimberly’s two boys are skilled vloggers, each with their own YouTube channel. All they want for Christmas is a video camera to make great videos for their fans.
29. Dan A.
Silhouette Curio Bundle Cutting Machine
Dan’s wife is out of work after an injury, and has been trying penny-hoarding tricks for making extra money — including launching an Etsy shop (congrats!).
He can’t afford this gift for her for Christmas, but knows it’s exactly what she wants for her new home business.
30. Arlene M.
A Year’s Supply of Hearing Aid Batteries
Arlene says the expense of buying hearing aid batteries for her deaf daughter every two weeks, “kicks my butt” — we’ve got you covered for the year!
31. Kathey J.
$500 Pre-Paid Visa Gift Card
The card is a gift for Kathey’s 12-year-old granddaughter, Kacey, who has autism. It will help cover the cost of the guitar lessons Kacey has her heart set on.
“Kacey is my shining little star and with this prize I truly believe that she will shine even brighter,” she wrote.
32. Sabrina S.
60′ Class (59.5′ Diagonal) 4K UHD LED TV w/ webOS 2.0
Sabrina asked for this gift to say “thanks” to her dad, who raised three children on his own. He’s sacrificed what he tried to save for his dream TV to help his children, including replacing Sabrina’s computer, and she can’t wait to repay him with this surprise on Christmas.
33. Padilla M.
Professional Espresso Machine
This coffee lover dreams of opening a coffee shop that helps motivate people to pursue their dreams in the arts. This essential piece of equipment is the perfect place to start!
34. Anne R.
Apple iPad Air 2
Anne asked for help buying this gift for her husband, because their daughter’s medical bills have eaten away at their budget. He needs the iPad for work, and the screen on his old one is shattered. Anne wants to thank him for his hard work with this surprise.
35. Aimee W.
4moms momaRoo Bouncer
Aimee is pregnant with her first child and was recently laid off from work. The bouncer will offer a wonderful start to her baby’s life!
36. Roman J.
Root Canal and Crown
Even with a dental discount plan, the quote for Roman’s dental work is over $1,600. Even the down payment of 30% is out of reach for the family, so his fiance requested this prize to help cover the cost and relieve his tooth pain.
37. Lindsey Z.
Titleist 716 AP1 Irons
“This gift would knock my Dad’s socks off,” says Lindsey. She can’t wait to surprise him with this gift — one the soon-to-retire Buffalo, New York, police officer can enjoy in his retirement in Florida!
38. Cayhleen H.
Wii U With Mario Kart 8
Cayhleen’s tight budget doesn’t leave room for gifts for each person in her family, so she wants to surprise them with thisonethey’ll all enjoy.
39. Paula A.N.
Money to Pay Off Credit Card Debt
Paula is a senior on Social Security Disability, who used three credit cards to get through some tight financial fixes. Paying off this debt will help keep her credit clear (and make for much less stress this holiday season!)
40. Bonnie H.
Kitchenaid Stand Mixer
This single mom of four boys works full time cleaning houses. She saves money by cooking and baking healthy treats at home — but she’s been using a 20-year-old hand mixer! This will free up some time to enjoy those creations with her boys.
41. Lauren C.
$500 Towards My Wedding
“Every penny counts,” Lauren points out. She and her fiance just had a baby, which makes it tough to save up for next June’s wedding. This money will offer a little boost for the big day.
42. Julie C.
22-inch LED Flat Screen TV
Julie is retired and lives in subsidized housing, where cable is free — but she doesn’t have a television.
No car means she has trouble getting to synagogue on Friday nights as often as she’d like, and a TV will enable her to stream the services from Central Synagogue in New York.
43. Nick T.
iMac Computer
Nick is starting nursing school and asked for help replacing his old computer, so he has what he needs to succeed.
44. Sterling M.
Giant Defy Advanced Bicycle
Sterling asked for “a better way to commute to work.”
Riding a bike will save him the money he’d spend on gas, and help him feel healthier and happier from the exercise.
45. Angela S.M.
Two iPad Minis
Angela is a mother of twins with autism. “Technology seems to open a door for them,” she says, so these tablets will be the perfect learning tools.
We were also excited to find Angela is right is here in our own St. Petersburg! We were able to visit her this morning to hand-deliver the iPads — which she swiftly tucked away, so she can surprise her sons for the holidays!
46. Geesa J.
Tickets to Disney World
Geesa’s 3-year-old loves Mickey Mouse! He’s been asking non-stop to go to Disney World, and she can’t wait to surprise him with this gift.
47. Shannon W.
GoPro
Shannon asked for this gift for her 15-year-old son, Connor, who is in a wheelchair. She says, “I’d like to strap that GoPro on his chair and show some real adventures!”
48. Abbey S.
Dining Room Table Set
Newlywed Abbey and her husband can’t wait to have a proper dining table, so they can invite guests to their home without pulling out the plastic folding table.
Stay Tuned for Cyber Monday
Thanks again to everyone who entered, and to all of you for following along for our inauguralBlack Friday live blog.
But we’re not done yet! Join us again startingSunday, November 29 at 12 p.m. EST for 36 hours of live Cyber Monday coverage.
If you’re waiting for Target to share its Cyber Monday deals, you can expect to wait until the very last minute — the store won’t reveal its mega-deals until Sunday, November 29.
But Targetisoffering a sneak peek at what you can save on Cyber Monday.
For the first time, the retailer will offer a site-wide discount code:Use CYBER15 to take 15% off all online purchases, including items that have already been discounted.The code is even good on Apple products!
A few discounts will be good from Sunday, November 29 through December 5 as part of what Target’s dubbed Cyber Week:
Take 30% off apparel, shoes and accessories for the whole family
Baby gearand basics like strollers, car seats, play pens and more will be discounted up to 30%. Spend $250 on items for baby and receive a $50 gift card
Receive a free gift card for up to $50 on saleVIZIO TVs
Take up to 40% offChristmas trees. Use code DECORATE to take $10 off a $50 Christmas decoration purchase or $25 off a Christmas decor purchase of $100 or more
Save up to 40% on kitchen brands including Corelle, Riedel, Nachtman, Spiegelau and Cambridge
Last but certainly not least, all purchases get free shipping and returns at Target.com through December 25.
Lisa Rowan is a writer, editor, and podcaster living in Washington, D.C.
Everyone has that one friend who has tons of really quirky money-saving tricks.
And if you can’t think of one… you’re probably that friend.
We’ve got some pretty quirky penny-hoarding habits around here, so we thought we’d shed a little light on the subject. If any of these tips hits close to home, you just might be a true Penny Hoarder.
Your Turn: Do any of these strategies ring a bell? What are your weirdest penny-hoarding habits?
