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الاثنين، 9 مايو 2016

6 Ways to Get Signups for Your Product That Hasn’t Launched

Everyone has the dream of a “big launch.”

You release your product and get a nice surge of customers within the first few days and weeks.

But most product creators have a different experience. On the day of a launch, they hear…

…crickets.

The worst thing you can do for your business is focus solely on the product until you launch.

The sort of explosive launches you see other businesses are getting didn’t happen overnight.

Instead, they were the result of a high degree of preparation.

When you have a large group of people interested in your product before it’s even created, you have an instant validation of your idea. 

Not only that, but you’ll also be able to get many of your first customers from that group. And if you’re smart, you’ll get feedback from them to improve the first version of your product.

The first step in all of this is getting signups. Ideally, you want to create an email list that people interested in your product can join.

The tricky part is convincing people to sign up before you even have a product ready. And that’s exactly what this article is about.

I’m going to break down 6 different ways you can get early signups from people who are very likely to become customers when your product is ready.

Instead of struggling from the start, you will be able to get a nice burst of sales and some invaluable early feedback that will allow you to move your business forward rapidly. 

1. It’s never too early for content

If you’ve ever visited any of my blogs, you know how much I love content marketing. It’s been an effective tool to grow multiple businesses to 7 figures in revenue.

Whether you have a product or just a product idea, you need attention from potential customers.

Creating really valuable content is one of the best ways to get that attention.

Once you have that attention, you can redirect it to your product idea within your content or try to get readers onto an email list (recommended).

When you have a targeted email list of potential customers, keep sending them great content until you launch. Throughout this time, you can send periodic emails to inform them about all the ways the product might help them and keep them updated on its progress.

There is no rule in content marketing that says you need to have a finished product in order to begin. In fact, it’s better to start early so you can start building trust and relationships with your subscribers.

You have two options for content: I want to keep it simple here. If you’re launching a product, you don’t have all day to churn out content. Instead, you want to focus on creating a small batch of incredibly high quality content.

If you have a budget for advertising, I recommend starting with a lead magnet (option 1).

The idea is to send traffic (usually from advertising) to a landing page, where you offer your lead magnet.

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You offer an incredible guide, tutorial, or e-book in exchange for your visitors’ email addresses.

Assuming you have a good landing page and offer, you can get a conversion rate from 20% to 50% in most cases (depends on your ad targeting as well).

In most niches, this one simple tactic can help you build an email list of hundreds or thousands of people before you even launch.

The other option (option 2) is to create “epic” content to post on your site’s blog. Then, collect emails using tactics such as content upgrades.

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This will take more of your time but save you money on advertising, and it can also lead to long term organic search traffic, which can be incredibly valuable.

The one key to content success here: The main area where marketers mess up with content and lead magnets in general is targeting the wrong types of people in your niche.

Pretend I’m preparing to launch a custom t-shirt printing company.

My general niche would be people who buy clothes—obviously, a broad one.

Next, I create an amazing guide to sizing and buying a new suit. It gets hundreds of email signups, and I’m thrilled.

Then, when my service is ready, I email those subscribers to tell them about it. Guess what they say?

I’m interested in formal wear, like suits—not t-shirts.

And while you still might get a few sales, you’ve largely wasted your time because you targeted the wrong audience.

If you’re going to create content, create some that you know your likely customers will like. Otherwise, you’ll be promoting your product to the wrong people.

Explode that list with this viral tool: Bryan Harris recently released a simple tool called SmartBribe that works amazingly well when used with a lead magnet.

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Here’s how it works:

  1. You offer the lead magnet as usual and collect the email address.
  2. The plugin then allows you to offer a second lead magnet on the next page (usually a thank-you page).
  3. In order to get that second lead magnet, the visitor needs to share your first lead magnet with their friends through email or social media (the plugin handles all that stuff).

It forms a viral loop, and you can grow your subscribers very quickly. In Bryan’s soft launch, he was able to get a bonus 250 signups from an initial 125 signups (turning 1 subscriber into 3).

2. Create a “coming soon” page

Typically, a business puts a call to action to buy a service on the homepage.

Since you don’t have a product to offer, you can’t do this.

That’s where the “coming soon” landing page comes in.

It’s essentially just a landing page, but it’s tailored specifically to quickly get the interest of visitors and entice them to sign up for an email list to get updates about the product.

The main things you’ll want to include are:

  • A clear headline (clever might be nice but not necessary) – focus on the main benefit your product will deliver. This should be the first thing that draws the attention of visitors.
  • A few sub points - quickly mention other benefits or how the product will work.
  • A clear call to action - Make sure visitors understand they are signing up to hear about your product. Make it large or colorful so that it can’t be missed.

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Optionally, you can add a countdown to the page if you know when you’ll be launching. This can help improve conversion rates if the launch is coming relatively soon:

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Just like the other times I’ve mentioned email lists, make sure you’re staying in contact with your subscribers. Send them fun updates and any content you create.

Tools for a great “coming soon” page: Since these pages are relatively simple, there are many tools that can help you create them in just minutes (although coming up with the text might take longer).

One popular tool is Kickoff Labs. Once you choose from over 20 different “coming soon” themes, just replace the sample text with your own.

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This is a great look, but it costs a few dollars.

Another option is to use Unbounce.

Unbounce is a general landing page creator (and one of the best), and they have a good variety of “coming soon” page templates you can customize:

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If you’re going to be creating other landing pages, it’s worth investing in Unbounce. But if all you want is a “coming soon” page, pick a cheaper specialized option.

Finally, I’ll give you one last option – Lander.

Again, there are a variety of “coming soon” templates, and you can try them with a 14-day free trial:

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At the end of the day, none of these tools do anything particularly special other than make an attractive “coming soon” page. If you’d like to make one yourself, go ahead.

3. Create an incentive

A lead magnet may be an incentive, but an incentive isn’t always a lead magnet.

Here, I’m suggesting creating an incentive where you give free (or reduced) products to people who refer others who become early signups.

The great thing about this tactic is that it works with most products.

For example, a person completing an early signup for Harry’s (a business that sells shaving accessories) would see this thank-you screen:

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Simply put, the more people someone got to sign up (with a referrer code), the more free stuff they got.

Obviously, the first prizes that are easier to get to are pretty cheap, and you work up to more expensive prizes that only a few people will be able to get.

The one thing you need to do is prepare against fake accounts. You can learn about the specifics of that in this complete write-up of the Harry’s launch.

4. Guest posts are just as effective

I’ve written many times about using guest posts to drive traffic to your website:

You can learn how to get great opportunities and how to create great guest posts from those articles.

The only reason I’m bringing up guest posts here is that they can still be effective—even if your product hasn’t launched.

Many marketers assume you should use guest posts only after you launch.

However, when someone clicks that link at the end of a guest post, it usually means they were blown away by your post and want more from you.

In most cases, they’ll sign up for anything you offer. If you have a “coming soon” page up or a lead magnet landing page, send them to that, and collect their email addresses.

5. A quick way to get an extra hundred subscribers…

This is an extremely simple way to get extra signups that just about everyone should use.

How many emails do you send on a regular basis? Probably at least a few dozen a week, if not more.

You can take advantage of this by adding a line about your product/website into your email signature.

Here’s an example of one. It’s the email signature Stuart from Gleam used:

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He was able to get over 100 extra signups for Gleam using this tactic and over 250 for his next project.

Adding a line summarizing your product to the bottom of your email to get an extra 100+ signups is well worth it.

6. Offer beta access

Most products will need to go through a few versions before they are ready to be sold publicly. You want to make sure your product is ready, or you might make a bad lasting impression.

These initial versions are typically called alpha and beta versions (at least in the software world).

It turns out there are quite a few people who are interested in testing new products before they become mainstream.

By showing your product to these communities, you can get some initial signups.

You won’t get thousands, or even hundreds, but you’ll get enough to make it worthwhile and get some great early feedback.

Here are some sites you may want to post your product to:

Granted, these sites are most useful for software-related products, but if you think your product is a fit, give some of these a try.

If you get popular on a site like Product Hunt, it can send you thousands of visitors.

Conclusion

The fact that you’re trying to promote your product before launching it is a great sign.

If you want to get early customers and start growing quickly, it’s a necessity.

I’ve shown you 6 different ways to get early signups, but you do not need to use them all. Pick a few to focus on, and spend your time and budget wisely.

If you’ve done a product launch and know of ways to get early signups that I didn’t mention, please share them in a comment below.



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Don’t Miss Free Cone Day at Häagen-Dazs! Here’s the Scoop…

Does it feel like summer yet? This deal might help it feel like it, no matter where you live.

Häagen-Dazs is celebrating its annual Free Cone Day on Tuesday, May 10.

Take the whole family to your local U.S. Häagen-Dazs shop for a free kiddie size ice cream in a cup, sugar cone or cake cone.

Maybe if you’re lucky, your server will let you get my favorite order: a sugar cone, upside-down in a cup. Because who wants to wait through all that ice cream to get to the crunchy cone?

You’ll get one scoop per guest, and you have to be in line between 4-8 p.m.

Not a Fan of Free Ice Cream?

We’re not convinced you exist, but just in case…

Want to skip the line? Pay for your ice cream!

Any guests who want to purchase items will be able to bypass the line of people waiting for free scoops. So don’t dismay if you’re more worried about getting your Tuesday afternoon sundae in a timely fashion than saving a couple of bucks.

As for the rest of you, we’ll see you in line!

Your Turn: What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?

Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer’s Digest and more, attempting humor wherever it’s allowed (and sometimes where it’s not).

The post Don’t Miss Free Cone Day at Häagen-Dazs! Here’s the Scoop… appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.



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Now Can We Please Fix the GOP Nomination Process

Now Can We Please Fix the GOP Nomination Process

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How to Save Money : 75 Super Easy and Practical Money Saving Tips

We’re all looking for new ideas on how to save money and keep a few extra greenbacks in our wallets.easy ways to save money

But for many of us who have too much month at the end of our money, it can seem impossible to do more with the money we’re already making.

The truth is, there are always ways to save money, particularly if you’re willing to invest a little time.

I am sure there are more extensive and exotic ideas, but here are 75 easy ways you can save money and eliminate the waste from you budget.

InboxDollarsBut first, here’s a bonus money-making tip! Did you know you can make money just by using a different search engine? InboxDollars makes it easy. Plus, you can earn cash for all kinds of other online activities like taking surveys, playing online games, and more. Get a $5 bonus for signing up and click here to learn more!

75 Easy Ways to Save money

Instead of giving you a giant list of 1-75 I broke this up into sections to give you money savings ideas in different categories.  The categories are:

Financial Ways to Save Money

1. Cashback Rewards Cards – If you’re looking for an easy and painless way to save money on everyday expenses, look to your credit card for help. That’s right – with the right rewards card, you can save money on everything from your regular bills to your household expenses.

To get these savings, you’ll need a rewards card that offers a percentage of cash back for every dollar you spend. While we highlight some of the best offers in our post on the best cash back credit card offers, here are a few cards that offer the most bang for your buck.

Chase Freedom® Card – With the Chase Freedom® Card, you’ll earn 5% back in categories that rotate every quarter, plus 1% back for every dollar you spend year-round. Best of all, you get a $150 signup bonus after you spend just $500 on your card within 90 days. Since there is no annual fee, you can plan on keeping this card forever. Read here to learn more about the Chase Freedom® Card.

Chase Freedom Unlimited – The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is similar to the traditional Freedom card in the fact that it never charges an annual fee. However, it offers a flat 1.5% back on all purchases instead of extra points in rotating categories. In addition, you’ll earn a $150 signup bonus after you spend just $500 on your card within 90 days. With 1.5% cash back on everything and a free $150 bonus, this card is hard to beat. Read here to learn more about the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

2. Switch Bank Accounts. If you are being charged feed on your checking account or getting almost zero interest from your savings then it may be time to switch banks.  You can get more than 10 times the interest using a high interest online savings account and there are plenty of free online checking accounts with no deposit.  With either of these options you will save money over the bricks and mortar options.

3. Negotiate New Rates on Your Credit Cards. Credit card companies are always trying to jack up your interest.  They may do it for missing a payment or for lack of usage.  Whatever the reason you can save a lot by calling them and asking them to lower your interest rate.  If they will not budget then consider getting a new credit card with 0% interest for balance transfers.  This will take your rate down to zero for up to 18 months and save you a ton in interest payments.

Food Money Saving Tips

According to a recent Gallup Poll, the average American family spends $151 per week on food, including restaurant eating. That adds up to a cool $7852 per year. Here are 20 ways you can keep more of that money in your pocket:

1. Make meal plans. One of the biggest food budget busters is when you have no answer to the question “What’s for dinner?” Rather than get in the habit of ordering pizza or going out for fast food when you’re stumped by the dinner question—which is infinitely more expensive than cooking at home—get used to planning out your meals for the week or month. Not only will this save you money on take out, but it will also put you in a good place to actually use all the food you buy at the grocery:

2. Make a grocery list and stick to it. Once you know what you plan to make for dinner each night of the week or month, make a grocery list based on your meal plans, and only buy what is on your grocery list! Meal planning ninjas can get to the point where they buy certain ingredients on sale to be used in multiple meals, but even just starting with meal plans and a list for the week will save you money. Having a specific list of items to buy can even combat the grocery mistake of shopping while hungry. It doesn’t matter how tempting the apricots jarred in honey may sound, if it’s not on the list, it’s easy to say no.

3. Cherry pick the grocery deals. As you get better at meal-planning and list-making habit, you can start using your local grocery chains’ loss leaders for bigger savings. Each week, grocery stores publish their sales—and some of those advertised prices are so low that the store would be losing money if all the customers were to only buy the sale items. Making your meal plan with the grocery circular in hand will allow you to figure out what meals will be cheapest for you to make that week, based on each chain’s loss leaders. Then, buy only those loss leaders at each grocery store, and get the rest of your ingredients at whatever supermarket generally offers the best prices. This turns grocery shopping into a much longer affair—it takes several hours to pore through the circulars, make your plans, and then go shopping at several different stores—but the savings are certainly worth the time.

4. Buy generic. With the exception of a few notable items (Pop-Tarts come to mind), most generic products are almost identical to their brand name counterparts. Do you buy Cheerios just because you always have? Try the Generic Os and see if they’re not exactly the same, for a fraction of the price.

5. Pay attention to unit costs. The one caveat about buying generic is that sometimes it actually is cheaper to buy the name brand. This is why you have to keep an eye on the unit cost of anything you buy at the grocery. The generic cans of soup selling 3 for $5 sound like a great deal, but the Campbell’s soup selling for $1.50 each is actually cheaper. Most grocery stores offer a unit price listing, so that you can compare apples to apples (so to speak), but some do not. Get in the habit of carrying a calculator with you to the grocery store (or using the calculator function on your cell phone) to figure out what product gives you the biggest bang for your buck.

6. Buy in bulk, but be careful. This is a money saving tip that could potentially bite you in the butt. It is much cheaper to buy most items in bulk, from crackers to cereal to toothpaste to shampoo. However, some individuals (including yours truly) cannot handle the temptation of having a 144 count package of cookies in the house, and end up overspending on food that’s eaten far too quickly. So only purchase in bulk if it is something you know you can handle storing in your house before use. In my case, that means I buy cleaning and personal care items in bulk, and I buy a week’s (or at most a month’s) worth of food at a time.

7. Pay attention to expiration dates. I once bought a gallon of milk that soured before I got it home. We may have grand illusions about returning to the store and demanding a replacement or a refund, but I know that I never made it back to the store. It’s much easier to just keep a close eye on expiration dates as you put the items in your cart. Similarly, double check that the carton of eggs you’re choosing is free of cracked eggs, and that the cans you want are not dented, and everything in a jar is well sealed.

8. Speed up your grocery shopping. If you try to squeeze in your shopping between other appointments, then you’re more likely simply get the items on your list and go, rather than meander through the store and get tempted by unnecessary items.

9. Sign up for the free loyalty cards. Grocery stores offer loyalty cards that make you eligible for additional savings. If you’ve skipped the loyalty card in the past because you don’t want extra cards in your wallet (or on your keychain), now you have no excuse. Smartphone apps like Key Ring now make it possible for you to always carry your loyalty cards without having to keep track of yet another card.

10. Bring your own grocery bags. Not only is this better for the environment, but many stores will also offer you a small discount for every reusable bag you use. The discount may not be much—generally about 5¢ per bag—but even 50¢ saved with each trip to the grocery can add up. After all, you’d be thrilled to save 50¢ on any one item on your list.

11. Have a bi-monthly “clean out the pantry” week. We all have random cans and packages in our pantries, freezers, and fridges. Often, we end up throwing that food out later because we’ve forgotten about it until after it expired. Make sure you use up the food you’ve already purchased by planning a no-shopping week once every couple of months. That week, your mission will be to eat up all the food you already have without adding to the stockpile. This is a great time to practice some culinary creativity.

12. Brown bag your lunch. It’s easy to make a little extra food at dinner, and package up the leftovers for your next day’s lunch. Not only does it take care of those pesky leftovers that can sometimes just stay in the fridge until they become a science experiment, it’s also much cheaper than buying lunch every day.

Ways to save money brown bag lunch

Even if you do not have leftovers from dinner, it’s relatively simple to put together a decent lunch for much cheaper than fast food: grab a hard boiled egg, an apple or a banana, a cheese stick, and a granola bar, and you’ve covered every food group for a lot less than it costs to buy lunch.

13. Learn to use up leftovers. When you are doing your meal planning, add some of the great fridge-clearing recipes for making sure you use up everything. For example, quiche is a delicious (and easy) meal that can handle any meat and veggie odds and ends you want to put in it. Stews and casseroles are also good ways to use up the tail end of Tuesday’s green beans and Thursday’s ham.

14. Plan for “I don’t feel like cooking” nights. There is a definite time and place for convenience foods. On those days when you would rather go back to work than face the kitchen, you can have some frozen meals already set aside that you can just heat and eat. To be ready for those inevitable nights, just make a double batch of any kinds of meals that freeze well—lasagna, tuna noodle casserole, chicken and rice casserole, and the like—and freeze the one you don’t eat that night. If you do this every time you cook a freezable meal, you’ll soon have plenty of convenient options on harried nights, and you’ll have saved money on each casserole, to boot.

15. Get a slow cooker. One of the easiest ways to make inexpensive and filling meals is with a crock pot. You can find these appliances for as little as $10-$15 on sale, and there are countless slow cooker recipes online. You can put the ingredients together in the morning before work, set it to simmer, and come home to find dinner done at the end of the day.

16. Become a vegetarian (some of the time). Meat is often the most expensive part of any particular meal. Even the most dedicated carnivore can find some favorite vegetarian recipes, and switching to at least one meatless dish a week can really help to bring down your grocery bill.

17. Drink water. Every nutritionist seems to agree that drinking calories in the form of soda or juice is a terrible idea for our waistlines—and apparently diet options aren’t that much better. Rather than spend money on your beverages, why not develop a taste for water? If you’re used to sweet drinks, you can wean yourself off the stuff by mixing water and your favorite beverage, slowly changing the ratio until it’s just water.

18. Eat in season and locally. You may know that watermelon is going to cost a mint in February, but most of us are so used to all produce being available year-round that we’ve forgotten what is in season when. Reacquaint yourself with the growing season. The cheapest way to buy produce is to only get what is naturally growing in your area. That doesn’t mean you have to start shopping at farmers’ markets (which can sometimes be more expensive just for the quaintness factor)—it just means that you use the produce that is abundant in your area.

19. Dine out intelligently. When you do decide to enjoy a restaurant meal, you can still save money. Order an appetizer as your main course. They are generally more than large enough to fill you up, and will be much cheaper than the entrees. Another option is to split an entrée. Even if the restaurant charges you for splitting (as some do), this will still be a cheaper option than both of you getting your own meal.

20. Eat less. There are very few Americans who couldn’t stand to take in fewer calories. If you’re already thinking about trying to drop a few pounds, you could also save yourself some money at the same time. Rather than spending money on diet programs or foods, why not just reduce your portions? Use the recommended portion sizes to determine the size of your meals, and you’ll save money.

Transportation Money Saving Tips

The average sedan-owning American who drives about 15,000 miles per year will spend $8,946 in one year to own and operate that sedan, according to AAA. Here are some ways to make that cost a little more manageable:

1. Maintain your car. One of the most important aspects of inexpensive car ownership is proper maintenance. This includes everything from keeping your tires properly inflated in order to help maximize your mileage, to getting your oil changed and your engine tuned up at the required intervals. This will keep your car from “surprising” you with a preventable problem.

2. Improve your gas mileage. Many articles will recommend that you buy a gas sipper instead of a guzzler. However, that ignores the fact that it can be difficult to put together the money to buy a new (to you) car when the gas guzzler you have is perfectly serviceable. So, find ways to maximize the mileage you can get. This includes doing things like keeping extraneous items out of the car (as the extra weight makes the engine have to work harder), planning out the most efficient route around town for your errands, cleaning your car’s air filter, and driving the speed limit, as most engines operate most efficiently between 40 and 60 miles per hour.

3. Shop around online for gas. Have you ever noticed that gas stations within a few blocks of each other can have 10¢-20¢ differences in price? Rather than just stop for gas at whatever station’s convenient, use websites like gasbuddy.com to find the cheapest fuel around.

4. Don’t wait until you’re running on fumes to gas up. Beggars can’t be choosers, and riding on E will mean you have to accept whatever gas price you run into. Plan your fill-ups enough in advance that you can choose which gas station to go to—whether because of their good prices or your rewards card.

5. Car pool. Sharing a ride can not only break up the tedium of your commute, but it can also help to cut your gas costs in half. Even if you don’t know anyone who lives and works in the same places as you, you can find a fellow commuter through sites like www.erideshare.com and http://ift.tt/1WkxqIS.

Ways to Save Money - Car Pooling

6. Public transportation isn’t just for New Yorkers. Not only will taking the bus or subway lower your gas consumption and reduce the wear-and-tear on your car, but it can also potentially lower your insurance premium, as you’ll be using the car less often.

7. Shop around for the best auto insurance rate. It’s easy to simply renew your insurance each year without deciding if you are really getting the best rate. Websites like www.insweb.com can compare rates from many different insurers and can help you save as much as hundreds each year.

The same actually goes for life insurance.  You can get a full out life insurance plan or a burial life insurance policy that only covers your final expenses.  Psst…  The burial plan is usually much cheaper.  If you are young and in good health then you will want to check with all the top life insurance carriers to see your best rates.  You can do this at BestLifeRates.org to get top quality life insurance quotes.

If you are older or are in poor health then get your quotes fron InsureNow365.com.  They specialize in finding affordable rates for people who may have a harder time getting affordable life insurance.

8. If your car is worth less than $2000, drop collision and comprehensive coverage. One benefit to driving a jalopy is that you no longer need to have these types of coverage. It will cost you more to pay for collision and comprehensive coverage than you’d receive if you needed to make a claim.

9. Increase your deductible. Raising your deductible from $250 to $1000 can save you as much as 15% on your premiums. Wait to take this step until you have a comfortable emergency fund, however, because it wouldn’t be good for your wallet to have to make a claim and have no way to pay the deductible.

10. Check for multi-policy discounts. If you have your car insurance with one carrier and your home or renter’s insurance with another, look to see if either will offer discounts for putting all of your policies under one umbrella.

11. Use a Rewards Credit Card. If your monthly gasoline expenses feel like they are out of control, you can use a cash back credit card to get a as much as 5% back when you fill up at the pump.  For business travelers, you should check out the best credit cards for airline miles. Not only will you rack up miles with your regular purchases, you will get double and triple miles for booking your travel through your card.

Save Money on Your Housing

The Bureau of Labor Statistics annually compiles the cost of consumer expenditures. According to their most recent report, the average American family spends $16,803 per year on housing. Our homes are clearly the biggest chunk of our expenditures, and there is plenty of places where we can spend less on our housing and utilities budgets. Here are 26 tips for reducing your housing costs:

1. Live small. One of the biggest things we can do to tame the cost of housing is to live in a home that actually fits our needs. A family of four does not need 5000 square feet. When choosing your home, remember that a smaller house will cost less to heat and cool, will be easier to clean and maintain, and will add to the sense of family togetherness (whether you like it or not).

Even if you are already living in a Tara-like mansion and have no intention of moving, you can still minimize. Take a page from old-fashioned climate management and close off some of your house that you don’t need to use—just like Scarlett O’Hara would have done. You can focus your utilities on the parts of your house that you’re actually using, and lower your utility bills to a more manageable level.

2. Insulate. Most houses have drafty areas, and not all of them can be blamed on ghosts. Insulating your home can be as involved as blowing cellulose insulation into hollow walls or as simple as rolling out a few more of those Pink Panther spools in the attic.

3. Find air leaks. This is the biggest energy suck in houses, particularly ones that have seen a few presidents go by. The low-tech way to find air leaks is to use your hand or something like an incense stick to see which way the wind is blowing. The high tech method is to call for a blower door test, which will scientifically pinpoint your biggest problems. Generally, your solution will include weather stripping and covering windows with plastic.

4. Get an energy audit. Many utility companies offer free energy audits to their customers to help them conserve energy. The audit will tell you exactly where your energy leaks are, so that you can focus your improvements on the places that will have the highest return.

5. Make like your dad and turn off all lights. There was a reason why the old man stalked through every room of the house, turning off lights and muttering about not being made of money. Leaving lights burning wastes energy and money.

6. Install CFL or LED bulbs. While compact fluorescents do not quite have the longevity that we were promised, they still beat incandescent light bulbs by a mile. They also use a fraction of the electricity that incandescent bulbs needs, and thereby cut your energy bill.  You can also pay a little more and get the LED bulbs.  The LED bulbs are more energy efficient than the CFLs and will last as long as 20 years.

7. Install a programmable thermostat. Dad’s other endearing habit was having a cow whenever anyone touched the thermostat. He set it at a thrifty 64 in February for a reason, dadgummit, and you can just put on a sweater. Now you can make like dear old Pop and keep your home’s temperature within your financial means, without actually having to touch the thermostat.

how to save money with a Thermostat

The programmer will allow you to keep the temperature low (or high, if we’re talking about the summer) during the day, when no one is home, and bring the temperature to a more comfortable setting when everyone gets home.

8. Unplug energy vampires. Keeping your television, computer, stereo, blender, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, and other non-essential appliances plugged in at all times means that they are drawing energy from the wall without using it. Plug these items into a power strip and you can easily turn everything off with a single button.

9. Maintain your appliances. Dust can build up in vents on refrigerators and dryers. Not only does this mean those appliances will need more energy to run, but the dust build up is a potential fire hazard. Regularly checking your appliances can keep your home safe and your bills low.

10. Rent out unused space in your home. Whether you have a mother-in-law suite that is going unused, or half of your garage is completely empty, there is likely someone who is willing to pay you for the privilege of using your empty space.

11. Install a low-flow showerhead. This quick weekend project will make your shower more efficient, and you won’t feel a difference in your water pressure. Low-flow showerheads can save up to a gallon a minute (typical showerheads use about 2.5 gallons per minute). This can add up to huge yearly saving of money on water usage.

12. Downgrade your cable, phone, and internet. For most families, these three services equal big bucks every month. Monitor your use over a month or two, and decide what you actually need and what you could cut. Do you really watch any premium channels? Is the landline doing anything other than collecting dust? How fast do you need the internet to be if you’re only checking Facebook and email? It truly pays to shop around and find a cheaper cell phone service.

13. Replace single pane windows. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, windows can account for between 10% and 25% of a home’s heating costs by letting heat out. Replacing poorly performing windows will eventually pay for itself, although the initial outlay for new windows may be prohibitive. The Department of Energy has several suggestions for improving window performance without replacing them:

14. Use shades judiciously. Tight-fitting, insulating window shades can help to reduce drafts in the winter if other weatherizing measures haven’t fixed the problem. In the winter, closing your curtains and shades at night can help to keep drafts out, while opening them during the day can help sun-warm the house. In the summer, close south- and west-facing window shades during the day to keep the sun from over-warming the house.

15. Install storm windows. These insulating windows can reduce heat loss through windows by 25% to 50%.

16. Boil water in the microwave, rather than on the stovetop. Using your nuker to boil water can use up to 60% less energy. If you do need to boil a pot on the stove, make sure you always place the top on the pot—it keeps you from wasting energy on heat loss.

17. Keep your freezer full. Your freezer works much more efficiently if it is full. The cold items help to keep each other cold, and the freezer doesn’t have to work as hard. You can use bags of ice to help keep the freezer at capacity if you don’t quite have the food to fill it, but just make sure you leave about 1 inch on each side of the interior for better air exchange.

18. Install a low-flow toilet. If you don’t have a low-flow model, installing one can save you a great deal in water usage. Even if you can’t afford a new toilet, you can reduce the amount of water you use per flush by placing a plastic bottle full of water and weighted with pebbles in your water tank.

19. Line dry your clothes. Your clothes dryer is a utility hog. It takes a great deal of electricity to heat up your clothes to dry them. According to EnergyMiser 101, it costs $16.98 per month to run your dryer, which makes it the most expensive appliance to run in your house—even more expensive than your refrigerator. In addition to that, clothes that dry on a clothes line tend to last longer than those that go through a dryer, so line drying will also reduce your clothing expenses.

20. Use your dishwasher. This is one area where the new-fangled gadget actually saves you money and energy (not to mention time), over the old-fashioned way. Just be sure to fill up the dishwasher, since the appliance uses the same amount of water, whether it’s full or half-empty.

21. But turn off the dishwasher’s heat dry function. This is energy that doesn’t need to be used—just allow the dishes to air dry for 20 to 30 minutes before you put them away.

22. Fix leaky faucets. This is an easy DIY project that will save you hundreds of gallons of water a year.

23. If it’s yellow let it mellow. I think this one is kind of gross so I opted for the low flow toilets instead.

24. Change your HVAC filter once a month. This will keep your system working at peak efficiency.

25. Lower your water heater’s temperature. 13% of your home’s energy goes to heating water, so setting your water heater to 120° will reduce your energy expenditure—and lessen the risk of scalds.

26. Wash your laundry in cold water. Unless you are laundering cloth diapers, there is very little need for you to wash your duds in hot water. Turn the dial to cold, and you’ll see your clothes last longer and your energy bill lowered.

Healthcare Tips for Saving Money

It can be expensive to stay healthy. MainStreet.com recently reported that the average American family spends $962 per year for out-of-pocket health expenses on top of the $4,129 they spend for health insurance premiums. And these numbers do not include other health costs like gym memberships. Clearly, there needs to be a way to lower the bite of health care:

1. Stay healthy. This sounds like a no brainer, but many chronic conditions can be prevented or lessened by eating right and exercising. There’s something to that old adage about an apple a day. The exercise-and-nutrition-industrial complex would have you believe that you have to spend money to stay healthy, but nothing could be further from the truth:

2. Get in the habit of walking. All you need for this ideal exercise is a pair of shoes. Walk to go on errands instead of jumping in the car, or start a walking club with some friends to explore the local neighborhoods.

3. Bike to work. This is a double-whammy of helping you stay fit while also decreasing your commuting costs.

Money saving tips - Bike to Work

4. Garden. This exercise will not only keep you shape, it will also help lower your grocery bill. And anything you can grow in your back yard is going to be a nutritional powerhouse—especially compared to pre-packaged processed food.

5. Quit your bad habits. No one would claim that it is easy to quit smoking, drinking, using drugs, or overeating, but these habits are costing you more than just the price of your vice. Quitting destructive habits will improve your health, lower your insurance premiums, and raise your bottom line.

6. Don’t let your doctor be a stranger. Even healthy individuals need to see their doctors regularly. Making sure that you get your regular physicals will help to catch any potential health problems before they become crises.

7. Ask questions. Being your own advocate is an important part of medicine. So, when your doctor recommends a procedure or a medication, ask questions about it. Find out why the doctor believes its necessary, and whether there are alternatives. Blindly following what your doctor recommends might be costly, and possibly unnecessary.

8. Go generic. It might seem as though generic drugs are somehow inferior to their name brand counterparts, but that simply is not true. The generic version has to meet the exact same standards as the original, and you can get it for a fraction of the cost.

9. Ask about discounts and samples for medication. If you are not able to get a generic version of your medication, you still might be able to save money. Ask your doctor to write you a prescription for three months’ worth of a regular medication, which generally means you will only have to pay one co-pay instead of three. Alternatively, many doctors will try to help out their patients by giving them samples of expensive meds. Ask your doctor if there are samples available that you can use to help make your overall medication costs lower.

10. Try home remedies. Honey really can soothe a cough, and ginger really does work wonders for nausea. Often, home remedies will work as well as (or even better) than their over-the-counter cousins, for much less. The next time you’re feeling ill, try a home remedy before heading to the pharmacy.

11. Understand your coverage. Before making any appointments with doctors, make sure you spend time on your insurer’s website to know exactly what your insurance covers and what you will need to pay out-of-pocket. It can be a major hit to your wallet if you don’t find out that your insurance doesn’t cover new glasses until after you have already ordered a new pair.

12. Shop around. Believe it or not, you can check the rates for various procedures at hospitals just like you can check insurance rates. If your doctor has recommended a procedure, find out the current procedural terminology (CPT) code for that procedure. This is the standard billing code that will be the same across the industry. With that code in hand, you can contact the billing department to find out the cost of the procedure, although this could take some persistence. If you find another hospital charges less for the procedure, ask your original hospital if it will match the price.

13. Ask about a prompt-pay discount. Again, if you have to pay out-of-pocket for all or part of a procedure, you may be able to negotiate a lower price by offering to pay quickly. Hospitals don’t want to chase patients for money, even though they often have to. Prompt payment is definitely worth something to hospitals and can result in a 10% to 40% discount.

14. Have your hospital bill itemized. Because of the number of people involved in any one patient’s care—nurses, doctors, specialists, etc—the rate of errors on hospital bills is relatively high. Anytime you have to pay for a hospital stay, request an itemized bill and ask questions about any items you do not understand. And be sure to dispute any errors.

15. Enroll in a Healthcare Flexible Spending Account. These can seem like more trouble than they’re worth, but they are an invaluable tool for keeping your healthcare expenses low. Flexible Spending Accounts allow you to put aside pre-tax dollars into an account for healthcare costs—but any money you haven’t used by the end of the year is forfeited. Until you get the hang of estimating how much money to set aside, use an FSA calculator to determine how much to put away.

The Bottom Line

Many times, we end up paying more than we need to because of apathy and habit. If we change our outlook to see everything as an opportunity to save money, it can revolutionize our budgets—without adding a single extra dollar.

Special thanks to Emily Guy Birken for assistance in researching and help writing this post.



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How 2 Goats Helped This Stay-at-Home Mom Start a Thriving Home Business

Dawn Mathews had always wanted to milk a goat.

One day, she finally got her chance. Though she thought it was “the coolest thing in the world,” she had no idea it would change her life forever.

It was 2009, at the peak of the recession. Mathews’ husband had recently lost his full-time job, and her family of four was “making ends meet” on his part-time gigs.

“We were really afraid,” she says. “We didn’t want to lose our house.”

Keep reading to learn the story of a family, their goats and the home business they grew out of a disaster.

The Mathews Family Goes Goat-Wild

After milking the goat, Mathews “couldn’t stop thinking about it.”

The cost of cow’s milk had risen to $4 a gallon, and with 9- and 7-year-old sons at home, she thought a goat might be the solution.

She told her husband she wanted to get a goat so they could drink its milk and also make cheese.

The only problem? They lived in a subdivision in Granite Falls, North Carolina, on half an acre.

But Mathews knew what she wanted — and forged forward, undeterred by their limited yard space.

She told her friend she wanted to buy one of his goats, and they struck up a unique deal: a month of tae-kwon-do lessons from her husband (one of his odd jobs) as payment.

Soon, they welcomed Buttercup to the family — but goats are herd animals, and she needed a companion.

So Mathews turned to Craigslist and found a great price on a saanen goat: $125. Today, they usually cost $300 to $350, Mathews says.

Buttercup’s new friend Athena quickly became the main milker, giving the family a gallon of milk a day.

Turning a Disaster into a Business

Two weeks after getting Athena, disaster struck: The goats got into the laurel bushes.

Laurels are toxic to goats, and the treatment renders their milk undrinkable for two weeks.

Mathews had to keep milking the goats, and lamented over the wastefulness of it all… Until a friend suggested she make soap.

“I made a batch, and the rest was history,” she says. “People absolutely went crazy over it.”

Emboldened by her success, she invested in her newfound business, spending $250 on soap-making supplies like lard, fragrance oils and lye.

“I was really afraid to do it,” she explains. “We were at a point in our lives where we didn’t have a lot of income coming in, so that money was huge.”

A few months later, she got a booth at a holiday fair and earned more than $1,000.

“At that point, I got really excited,” she says. “I realized it could be a way for our family to get out of debt and pay student loans and vehicle expenses.”

How She Brings Home the Bacon With Goats

That was the beginning of The Thankful Goat.

Mathews continued to sell at festivals and farmers markets, and eventually expanded her line to include lotions, chapsticks, sugar scrubs and other products.

“I started researching other things and tried my hand at making them,” she says. “I decided I wouldn’t make anything you could buy better in the store. It was either going to be the best thing you could get, or I wouldn’t sell it.”

By her third year in business, Mathews was working about 20 hours per week — and grossing $15,000 a year.

She declined to share current sales figures, but she’s still only working part time.

As for overhead, she spends about $100-$150 a month for the goats’ feed, supplies and medical care. Other expenses include soap-making supplies, marketing and web maintenance.  

Her now-teenage sons help with the family business, too; Isaac’s in charge of milking, while Dorian assists with sales. As payment, they get to sell the year’s baby goats and keep the profits.

“It’s been not really just an entrepreneurial journey for us, but for the whole family,” Mathews explains.

She also gets farm help from volunteers with the WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) program.

In exchange for four to six hours of work per day, Mathews provides her WWOOFers with room and board. (Disclaimer: I WWOOFed on Mathews’ farm — she’s a great host and cook!)

“I couldn’t have done it by myself,” she says. “The WWOOF program has been an enormous part of building the business, and also building friendships that are just incredible.”

“Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined we’d host almost 100 kids in four years.”

Eternally Thankful for the Goats

Not only has The Thankful Goat changed her family’s lifestyle and finances, it’s also changed Mathews herself.

“I think it’s given me a lot of patience,” she says. “I’m OK getting out in ankle-deep mud and shoveling poop because I love my goats.”

“I’m OK standing in the kitchen and making product, because I know it’s going to put food on my family’s table,” she adds.

“It doesn’t really matter what I have to do — I’d much rather be doing that and doing it from home and working for myself than for anybody else,” Mathews explains. “It’s just a really awesome life.”

This year, Mathews and her family moved to a 13.5-acre farm. They have nine goats, a llama and dreams of starting an agritourism operation.

And it all started with a single goat.

Your Turn: Would you open a business like this?

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.

The post How 2 Goats Helped This Stay-at-Home Mom Start a Thriving Home Business appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.



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Eight Seasonal Side Hustles to Make Bank This Summer

While the cost of living keeps going up, most wages have remained fairly stagnant, confirms a 2015 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The report, which analyzed American’s wage pattern from 2007 to 2014, shared that the bottom 80 percent of workers had stagnant or declining hourly wages over that seven-year period while the bottom 88 percent of workers saw total compensation and wages drop.

And we wonder why frustration over wages and equality is at an all-time high. Sadly, working a full-time job isn’t always enough these days. To get ahead, a lot of us have taken on side jobs or “hustles” in our spare time. And by leveraging those extra dollars, many people have bucked the system and found a way to “create their own raise.”

Eight Money-Making Summer Side Hustles

If you’ve been considering a part-time job or “side hustle,” your timing is impeccable. Across most of the country, the summer season brings an explosion of extra work you can get hired to do or seek out on your own.

Whether you want to pay down debt, raise money to pay for school, save up for a down payment on a house, or build up a stash of “fun money,” a warm-weather side hustle might provide the answer you’re looking for.

Interested? Here are a few options to consider:

Start a lawn mowing business.

Mowing lawns is a smart summertime side hustle for anyone with a mower and a weed wacker, a way to transport them, and some random daytime hours to kill. And if you’re able to build up a roster of steady clients, you could earn quite a handsome sum through the end of summer and early fall.

If you live in an established neighborhood (and in a region where grass lawns are the norm), it’s fairly easy to start your own mowing business on the side. To spread the word on foot, simply create a flyer and take it door to door and tack it (with your contact information) to public message boards at the library or grocery store. Or, take advantage of social media and online community message boards and post ads online. (Better yet, do all of the above.)

While there aren’t any hard and fast rules for how much you can charge and it depends a lot on the size of each lawn anyway, you can generally expect to earn $30 per hour or more — although that doesn’t include travel time. How did we come up with that figure? According to contractor-review site Angie’s List, “the average lawn costs $35 to $40, and includes mowing, trimming, sidewalk edging, removal of limbs and debris.” As the site notes, the more “extras” you can throw in, the more you can charge clients.

Get in on the gig economy.

A wave of new app-based startups have made it easier for anyone to patch together a part-time job with flexible hours. These startups include rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft, along with TaskRabbit (a service that hires out errands), Instacart (a grocery delivery service), and Postmates (a technology-based delivery service), and many more.

As I’m sure you can imagine, wages for these jobs vary widely based on the specific assignment, location, and the type of job. Still, working for one of these startups provides a type of flexibility that many part-time jobs don’t.

“Unlike in traditional summer jobs,” the Wall Street Journal notes, “students can set their own schedule, and they don’t have to sell themselves to neighbors or managers to get work—the on-demand jobs are largely there for the asking.”

Work as a lifeguard.

If you live near a beach, a neighborhood pool, an outdoor public pool, or even a YMCA or recreational center, you’re probably closer to a lifeguard job than you think.

Obviously, there are some physical requirements for this job, and you must be CPR-certified. According to minimum requirements listed by the Red Cross, lifeguards must be 15 years old by the time they finish training, and be able to pass several physical fitness and swimming tests that can vary from job to job.

Seasonal lifeguards can make anywhere between $16 to $20 per hour, according to Salary.com, while full-time (year-round) lifeguards can make up to $27 an hour.

lifeguard

Watch kids all summer long.

While you can generally find babysitting jobs year-round, summer brings exceptional need for childcare. With the kids out of school, many parents seek out either part-time or full-time care in their homes to save everyone the stress of enrolling in childcare programs or weeks of expensive summer camps.

While babysitting can earn you up to $15 per hour (or even higher in certain parts of the country), wages for full-time or part-time care during daytime hours is all over the map and highly dependent on your experience and where you live.

If you want to see how much you might earn or be able to charge in your area, this wage calculator from Care.com can help.

Wait tables in a posh resort area.

If you live in an area with seasonal tourism (think beach resorts, mountains, destination cities, or near a national park or theme park), local restaurants and resorts might be hiring seasonal help to handle the influx of tourists. And depending on where the restaurant is and how expensive the average check tends to be, you really could make a mint this summer.

How much you’ll earn depends on a wide range of variables, including whether you can land a prime shift like Saturday night, but the most important is the price of the place. Since most people tip (and most waiters and waitresses earn) 15% to 20% on their bill, higher prices generally mean higher pay for waitstaff. Of course, other factors play a role as well – things like “tipping out,” how fast you can turn your tables, and how busy your restaurant stays all summer long.

Since most waiters and waitresses don’t report all of their tips for tax purposes, it’s hard to estimate exactly how much you might earn. A recent report from Payscale.com gives a glimpse into restaurant pay, however. According to their 2015 study of 15,000 restaurant workers, the average waiter or waitress earned a base salary of $5.00 per hour plus $8.20 per hour in tips.

Watch or walk dogs (lots of dogs).

Thanks to social media and new startups like Rover.com — which is a little bit like Airbnb for pets — earning side income watching people’s beloved pets has never been easier.

With Rover.com specifically, you can get started by creating a profile that people in your neighborhood can find online: Showcase your personality and your experience with pets, include any positive references, and set your rates. While prices vary, most people typically charge between $20 and $45 per dog, per night.

If you have a home with a fenced-in yard and plenty of free time, it’s feasible to imagine watching at least two dogs at once. Even at just $25 per night, per dog, that could easily add up to an extra $100 per week if you managed to watch two dogs at a time just two nights per week.

Of course, there may be extra expenses to consider if you provide toys, treats, or food for the dogs in your care. And if you use Rover.com to find jobs, you’ll have to fork over 15% of your earnings.

Work as a tutor.

If you’re a college student especially, tutoring might be the perfect way to earn extra money over the summer. As a tutor, you can generally work flexible hours, work when you want to work, and charge a rate that is higher than you would work at a traditional part-time job.

A high level of knowledge in an especially difficult subject like math or science can help you land jobs as well. If you’re not sure where to look, check out tutoring job boards on sites like Care.com and the Princeton Review’s Tutor.com.

According to Angie’s List, in-person tutoring sessions generally cost between $45 and $60, while online tutors tend to charge around $20 an hour.

House sit while others travel.

With the kids out of school, summer is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. As a result, jobs for house sitters tend to be more plentiful than in any other season.

Several top websites promise to connect house sitters with families in need for a small fee. Included on that list are HouseSitter.com, HouseSittersAmerica.com, and MindMyHouse.com.

Pay ranges depending on the home and its location, and whether other home care duties are included and expected. In the case of long-term arrangements, house sitting is sometimes exchanged for free living expenses instead of actual pay. According to the House Sitters America website, pay varies and is 100% negotiable on behalf of both the home owner and the house sitter.

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a way to earn extra money and your regular 9-to-5 job isn’t offering overtime or the prospect of a raise, it might be time to take more control with a side hustle. And if you’re a college or high school student, a summer side hustle presents the perfect opportunity to earn some extra cash while you’re not in school.

In a perfect world, we would all get the raise we deserve. But in the real world, you sometimes have to eat what you kill. With a seasonal side hustle or a part-time job, you take some of the power back by putting your earning potential in your own hands.

What is your favorite seasonal side hustle? How do you plan to earn extra cash this summer?

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7 Times Our Parents Completely Lied to Us About Money

“Dad, how fast can elephants run?”

“Oh, about 45 miles per hour.”

That’s an actual conversation I once heard at the zoo.

I was 22 years old, and only just beginning to realize everything my parents told me wasn’t necessarily true.

Overhearing the exchange about elephants’ running abilities — which overshot their actual speed by about 300% — made me realize there were probably more of these lies, er, mistruths than I’d previously thought.

If you’re a millennial who frequently sought your parents’ advice, you might still believe a lot of these money myths, too…

1. You Should Stay at One Job Forever

Back in our parents’ days, staying loyal to one company meant raises and promotions, gold watches and paperweights, sometimes even a pension.

So it made sense.

Today, though, those perks are few and far between, and hopping jobs is the norm.

You shouldn’t move around too much — and should probably stay at each position for a year or more –but it’s perfectly normal to change companies or careers.

Not only will you stave off boredom, you’ll also gain new connections and skills at each company.

2. Insurance is More Expensive for Red Cars

I don’t know where this myth came from, but nearly everyone’s heard it — and nearly everyone still believes it.

The thing is: It’s total baloney. Your car’s color has no effect on your insurance.

“The cost of insurance is dependent on the make and model of your car, the body type, the engine size, as well as your age, driving record and credit history,” explains car insurance comparison website Compare.com.

For more crazy car insurance myths you probably still believe, click here.

3. Credit Cards are Evil

I’m always surprised when my peers don’t have a credit card.

When I ask them why, many say something to the effect of “credit cards are evil” — a wariness I suspect was passed on by their parents.

Used responsibly, though, credit cards are far from evil — they’re a helpful financial tool.

They build your credit and simplify budget tracking, and many also offer cash-back or travel rewards.

That being said, they’re not for everyone. If you can’t use a credit card responsibly — and only charge what you can pay off each month — then your parents were right: You should avoid credit cards for now.

4. You Absolutely Must Go to College

The key to a successful life, according to our parents?

College.

But college isn’t always the answer. It costs more than ever, and doesn’t always provide a return on your investment.

So be sure to explore alternatives — like apprenticeships, trade schools and coding bootcamps — before going into debt for a college education.

5. If You Don’t Have an Office, You Don’t Have a Real Job

When our parents were growing up, concepts like remote working, telecommuting and digital nomad-ing didn’t exist.

Because the technology making them possible didn’t either.

So I kinda get why our parents think people who work from home don’t really work. As a millennial, though, you have no excuse.

We do everything online — from dating to paying bills to ordering food. So why should working be any different?

More and more people are starting to work remotely. It’s time to recognize and embrace it.

6. Only Rich and/or Lazy People Need Accountants

My parents always did their own taxes.

Since they never outright told me so, I assumed accountants were reserved for the rich and/or lazy.

Even after I started my own freelance business, I powered through (and probably made a lot of mistakes).

This year, I finally looked into getting an accountant — and was shocked by how affordable and easy it was. Plus, when you’re a business owner, the cost of tax preparation is even tax-deductible.

If your return is simple, then yes, you’re probably better served by free tax preparation software.

But if you have a business, or have recently undergone a major life change, getting professional tax help could actually save you money.

7. You Should Get an Oil Change Every 3,000 Miles

Yup, this car myth isn’t true either.

It was true back in the day, and still remains true for some old cars. But the majority of cars on the road today can go nearly 10,000 miles without an oil change.

Check your vehicle’s manual to see what’s recommended — you could end up saving hundreds of dollars on oil changes.

You know how your parents said you can’t believe everything you read?

Well, turns out you can’t believe everything they said, either.

Your Turn: Did you still believe any of these money myths?

Sponsorship Disclosure: A huge thanks to Compare.com for working with us to bring you this content. It’s rare that we have the opportunity to share something so awesome and get paid for it!

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.

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UK monthly house prices fall by 0.8%

Average house prices fell by 0.8% in April compared to March, according to latest analysis of the property market by mortgage lender Halifax. It takes average house prices in April to £212,321.

Average house prices fell by 0.8% in April compared to March, according to latest analysis of the property market by mortgage lender Halifax. It takes average house prices in April to £212,321.

The survey also found that house prices in the three months to April were 1.5% higher than in the previous quarter, but this rate is almost half the 2.9% rise seen in March.

UK monthly house prices see 0.8% fall
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Average house prices fell by 0.8% in April compared to March, according to latest analysis of the property market by mortgage lender Halifax. The survey also found that house prices in the three months to April were 1.5% higher than in the previous quarter, but this rate is almost half the 2.9% rise seen in March. The annual rate of growth also eased in April from 10.1% to 9.2%, and both quarterly and annual rates are the lowest since last autumn. The monthly drop follows a busy March when buy-to-let investors and those purchasing second homes were keen to buy before the 3% stamp study surcharge on additional homes came into effect on 1 April. Martin Ellis, Halifax housing economist, says: “Current market conditions remain very tight as the severe imbalance between supply and demand persists. This situation, combined with low interest rates and rising employment and real earnings, should continue to push house prices up over the coming months. However, he believes that a dip in consumer confidence in the property market, along with weakening sentiment in its future prospects, could mean that annual house price growth “may ease”. Commenting on Halifax’s survey, Jonathan Hopper, managing director of buying agent Garrington Property Finders, says: “April was the morning after the stamp duty stampede, and the property market clearly awoke with a sore head. The frothy exuberance of March now seems a distant memory, as the market returns to normality with a bump. “Starved of the stamp duty stimulus, double-digit annual price rises are unlikely to return any time soon. However, the sudden cooling of the market may mark an opportunity for buyers, as some sellers are being forced to reassess their overly ambitious asking prices. “For the first time in more than a year, we’re seeing many mid-range properties in the most desirable locations selling for below asking price – hinting that the power dynamic is shifting from a seller’s to a buyer’s market. “But with demand still strong and supply still chronically low, the net effect is likely to be a gradual return to more normal rates of price growth rather than a serious slowdown. “With the Halifax also finding that levels of confidence in the housing market have fallen to their lowest level in more than a year, sellers must think urgently about pricing competitively.” Uncertainty over Brexit Jeremy Leaf, a former RICS chairman and north London estate agent, says: “This easing of growth in prices is a trend that is likely to continue for the next few months, at least until after the EU Referendum. As investors pause for breath, their withdrawal from the market is giving first-time buyers a better opportunity to take that first step on the ladder than they have had for some time. “We don’t expect prices to fall unduly while the shortage of stock remains, but we are more concerned with transaction levels so that buyers and sellers can come in and out of the market more freely. This is better for the longer-term sustainability of the market.' Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, adds: “House prices continue to climb year on year, albeit at a slower pace now that the flurry of activity from investors and second homebuyers to meet the stamp duty hike is out of the way. “While the Halifax reports that confidence is dipping among consumers, most likely because of the uncertainty on the horizon concerning the EU referendum, lenders are keen to keep business coming through the doors by offering competitive rates and easing criteria. “Barclays decision to offer 100% lending to those whose parents lodge 10% of the purchase price in savings with the bank is a case in point and a boost for first-time buyers. Elsewhere, older borrowers are also seeing some relief, with Halifax the latest lender to raise its maximum mortgage from 75 to 80. “With lenders having plenty of money to lend, they can either cut rates – which are already pretty low – or ease criteria so we expect to see plenty of the latter in coming weeks. For those looking to get a mortgage or remortgage, it is a good time to do it.”

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How to Pack a Healthy, Affordable Lunch Your Kids Will WANT to Eat

Kids’ lunches can be pricy if you opt for school-served cuisine or pack an expensive bagged lunch they may not even eat.

So how can you send your child off with a nutritionally sound meal they’ll likely eat — without spending tons of cash?

Follow these tips from parents and nutritionists to save on a healthy, tasty meal for your child. You can also make an extra and have a quick and easy lunch for yourself!

Plan Ahead and Prepare in Bulk

Packing a low-cost and nutritious lunch is no sweat for Tara Allen, a registered nurse, certified health coach and certified personal trainer who specializes in women’s and children’s health.

“The foundation to packing easy, affordable and healthy school lunches for kids includes planning ahead, smart shopping, and bulk cooking and preparation,” Allen says.

“A few extra minutes taken on the weekend, for example, will set the whole week up with a variety of balanced and nutritious options that can be thrown together in a pinch.”

She recommends kids’ lunches include protein, healthy fats and produce.

“With two or three proteins cooked and on hand for the week, veggies and fruit washed and cut, and a few healthy fats on hand, a lunch can come together in less than five minutes!” she says.

For affordable healthy fats, she recommends buying avocados when they’re on sale (and freezing them until needed), as well as bulk nuts.

Another great option is homemade hummus, which only takes 10 minutes to make (recipe below). Allen recommends serving the hummus with carrots sticks, snap peas, whole-grain crackers and an apple.

“The hummus can be frozen in ice cube trays and kept in the freezer for up to six months,” she says. “This makes it easy to pop a couple of these cubes into the lunch box so they will thaw in time for lunch.”

She estimates the entire meal costs $1.85. Plus, it features healthy fats, two vegetables, one fruit, protein and whole grains.

Tara Allen’s Homemade Hummus Recipe:

Ingredients:

One 15-ounce can of chickpeas

The juice from 1 large lemon

1/2 clove of garlic, minced

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons water

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon cumin

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor. (You can use a blender, but you will need to scrape down the sides several times to redistribute ingredients).

2. Add more water if needed for desired consistency. Freeze in ice cubes trays and transfer into a container or bag to store for up to six months in freezer.

“Kids love this meal as it gives them a variety of flavors and textures, allows for some dipping fun, and finger foods are fun and snack-like,” she says.

Keep It Kid-Friendly

Sari Davidson-Crevin, founder and CEO of BooginHead Corporation, often feeds her hungry kids turkey-cheese pita pockets for lunch.

She simply spreads low-fat cream cheese inside a whole-wheat pita and packs in a few roasted turkey slices, some baby spinach leaves and a few cucumber slices.

She estimates this recipe only costs $1.46 per meal: turkey deli meat = 80 cents, spinach = 10 cents, pita pocket = 25 cents, cream cheese = 11 cents and cucumber = 20 cents.

She recommends pairing it with dried apricots or banana chips and a low-sugar beverage along with a cold or freezer pack to keep the meat and cheese fresh.

“Kids go crazy over this easy and nutritious lunch,” she says.

“It’s one of my kids’ favorites. There’s something so wonderful about the combination of the turkey and cream cheese — [they] love it! They also love the crunchiness of the cucumber. The spinach is just a bonus.”

Reuse Containers

Carol Ann Hafner saved money packing lunches for her son by using deli containers.

“When my son was young, I tried to pack his lunches in a variety of containers that came from the grocery store take-out grill and deli-type purchases,” she says.

Not only were these containers free, they also saved money by preserving food, preventing sandwiches and other delicate items from getting squished and going to waste.

“The containers were sturdier than just wrapping foods,” Hafner says.

Use Leftovers

Pack leftovers from dinner the night before, such as roasted chicken in a sandwich or a handful of leftover salad veggies.

Hafner often packed leftovers for her son’s lunch. Sometimes, the meal ended up looking so appealing that other kids would ask him where his mom bought his lunch. Hafner later found out her son actually sold some of his meals to peers during summer camp!

Make Homemade Desserts

Caterer Pam Layton McMurtry and her husband, a registered dietitian, have seven children and estimate they’ve packed more than 15,000 lunches for their kids over the years.

If you’re going to pack a dessert with lunch, she recommends making it at home to have a healthier option and save some cash.

“[Desserts are] often the thing that is eaten first, so make it good,” she says.

“It’s usually more economical to bake and bag whole grain cookies and treats like granola bars. … If you go commercial, try to get treats with whole grains. When you bake, you can substitute a third of the flour with whole wheat flour without a noticeable difference.

“You can also bake with only whole grain flour. Look for recipes with coarse texture like oatmeal cookies. You won’t even notice the difference and you avoid preservatives and chemicals like dough conditioners. Try sending trail mix or nuts for dessert.”

Add Something Special

Whatever you pack for your child’s lunch, McMurtry recommends adding a personal touch.

“Include a note and let your child know you love them, are proud of them and give them encouragement,” she says.

Your Turn: What are your money-saving tips for preparing healthy school lunches?

Kristen Pope is a freelance writer and editor in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

The post How to Pack a Healthy, Affordable Lunch Your Kids Will WANT to Eat appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.



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Chloe + Isabel – Home-Based Business Opportunity for Jewelry Lovers

By Holly Reisem Hanna Is the direct sales model appealing to you? But you’re not keen on having to recruit others into the business? Well, here’s an opportunity that you’ll want to check out. Chloe + Isabel is a direct sales company that sells jewelry, embellished hair accessories, and beauty products. The company was founded […]

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