As a reservation sales associate,you’ll answer customer calls in a friendly manner and respond to inquiries regarding availability, accommodations, sales promotions, transportation to and from properties and more.
Pay starts at $9 an hour, with performance-based incentives, according to Hilton’sjob preview for this position. Incentives could bump pay up to $14 an hour.
Jobs benefits includediscounted rates at Hilton propertiesfor employees, plus their family and friends.
Schedules are flexible, butthis position is for a 40-hour work week.You may also be required to work weekends and holidays.
While this is a work-from-home position, the company needs these employees to live in the following 29 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
How to Land This Work-From-Home Job with Hilton
For this gig,Hilton is looking for someone with at least one year of experience in a customer-oriented or sales role.
You should also have at least six months experience in a sales-oriented, performance-driven role where you’ve had to successfully meet metrics or goals, upsell or cross-sell, overcome objections and use negotiating skills.
A college degree is not required.
Job candidates also should:
Have a positive attitude with high energy
Have strong communication and active listening skills
Possess excellent customer service skills
Be computer literate
Be able to provide a quiet work environment, free from noise and distractions
Bonus points if you have a hospitality industry background, experience with virtual training or previously held a work-from-home job.
Job interviews and training will be done virtually.
Once you’re hired, the company will provide you with specific hardware to get the job done. However, you’ll need to already have:
A monitor
Landline phone with dial pad and a dedicated number (no cell phones)
Headset compatible with phone
Speakers
Webcam
Surge protector
High-speed wired internet connection (wireless is not permitted)
Watch this videoto learn more about the reservation sales role.If this sounds like the right opportunity for you,apply here.
If you’re interested in other work-from-home jobs — or jobs in general — then make sure to likeThe Penny Hoarder Jobson Facebook.
Your Turn: Will you apply for this work-from-home job with Hilton?
Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, one of the largest personal finance websites. We help millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. In 2016, Inc. 500 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the No. 1 fastest-growing private media company in the U.S.
Internet scammers are savvy. They have to be. How else would they be able to swindle thousands of people out of millions of dollars?
One scam in particular has sent the Federal Trade Commission on a warpath this week as officialsfiled 16 new actions, including legal complaints, settlements, indictments and guilty pleas against deceptive tech support companies.
These scams generally work the same way:A pop-up in your internet browser will instruct you to call a toll-free phone number to get help with a security issue or risk losing your data.
Once the scammers have you on the phone, they will attempt to gain remote access to your computer to run fake security scans and eventually try to sell you expensive software you don’t need to solve your fictitious problem.
According to the FTC, this scam has already cost consumers millions of dollars in hard-earned cash. Although the FTC’s legal battle against the scammers could slow down scammers, there are several steps you can take to make sure your money stays with you.
Protect Yourself Against Tech Support Scams
The FTC recommends taking thisseries of stepsto avoid being the victim of a tech support scam.
1. Keep Your Security Software Updated
It’s important to keep your anti-virus software updated and know exactly what an alert from that company looks like. If you do that, it’s less likely a scammer will be able to fool you with a look-alike. This will also help fight back against any malware a scammer could potentially install.
2. Don’t Call the Phone Number
The scammer’s goal is to get you on the phone and convince you they are real tech support employees. That way, when they offer you services or software, you will be willing to pay up.
Remember, Microsoft willneverdisplay a pop-up warning asking you to call a toll-free number to talk about viruses or security problems on your computer, the FTC said.
3. Never Give Anyone Control of Your Computer
If you make the mistake of calling the phone number and the person on the other end asks you to give them remote access to your computer for any reason, don’t do it. Hang up immediately. That same rule applies if the person asks you to send money for any software or service.
4. Report it to the FTC
Although you WON’T be calling the toll-free phone number, don’t just close the pop-up. If you see something suspicious, make sure toreport it to the FTC. Record as much information as possible, including the phone number the pop-up prompted you to call. That could help the FTC in its effort to catch the scammer and protect other people from getting swindled.
5. Spread the Word
Once you’ve reported the incident to the FTC, be sure to tell your family and friends about it, too. Sometimes, letting loved ones know this type of crime exists is the best way to protect them.
6. Never Share Your Passwords
Don’t share passwords to your computer or private accounts with anyone. If you’ve already done this, make sure to change those passwords immediately on every account that might be compromised.
7. Do You Need Tech Support? Find the Right Phone Number Yourself
Of course, there may be times when you need someone to walk you through a security issue. While you should never call the phone number in a pop-up, you can still feel comfortable calling your security software company directly. Just be sure to look up the correct phone number on its official website.
8. Think You’ve Been Scammed? Call Your Credit Card Company
If you’re finding our advice a little late and already missed the chance to follow all the steps above, it’s not too late. The scammer may have your money, but you can still call your credit card company to ask it to reverse any fraudulent charges. Be sure to keep checking your statements to make sure no future charges appear.
Desiree Stennett (@desi_stennett) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, one of the largest personal finance websites. We help millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. In 2016, Inc. 500 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the No. 1 fastest-growing private media company in the U.S.
If you believe everything you read in the Lowe’s or Home Depot mailer, you probably think you need a new grill, decorative stones leading to your glamorous garden shed, and protective paint on the floor of your garage. And you absolutely need amazing new flowers in new pots with new spring colors, along with a new layer of mulch, new decorative rock, and a wind chime for good measure.
While all of these purchases can absolutely improve your home’s look this spring, these kinds of home upgrades can become costly – especially if you do them year after year. One season’s worth of mulch alone can cost $100 or more (depending on the size of your beds), and new shrubs, flowers, decorative items, and plants can set you back even more. And once you start upgrading, it can be difficult to stop.
So, how can you save money while keeping your home in tip-top shape? Here are some tips to spruce up your yard without spending a fortune.
#1: Tackle one project at a time, and ignore the rest.
At my house, we tend to take an either/or approach to home maintenance each spring; in other words, we tackle one project each year, and leave the rest alone.
This year, we bought a new garden shed… and that pretty much wiped out our yard maintenance budget for the year. To make up for it, we’re skipping the mulch altogether (we’ll survive), reusing all our pots from last year (except for one that busted), and trying not to buy anything else.
#2: Ask friends or neighbors to split their plants.
While not all plants can be divided and shared, some absolutely can – perennial plants are naturally inclined to spread. And if you’re trying to save money on lawn upkeep, it’s hard to beat free plants.
Kim Anderson of Thrifty Little Mom says her money-saving strategy for this year includes taking advantage of as many freebies as she can.
“My mother-in-law divided hostas she had in her yard and we transplanted them in our yard to make it look nice at no cost,” says Anderson. “Now, each year we can divide and transplant the ones we have to create more plants without spending money.”
#3: Lay long-lasting rock when you can.
Rock is easy to maintain and almost never needs to be replaced. Aside from pulling weeds that sprout up between your rock landscaping, you’ll have little work to do all year long.
Amy Blacklock of Life Zemplified says she set herself up for savings a few years ago when she gave up on struggling shrubs and chose to “plant” rocks instead.
“We finally tackled the overgrown shrubs on the side of our home we purchased two years ago. Because the area doesn’t get much sun, we decided to make a rock garden instead,” Blacklock says. “We purchased some pebble stones on sale and gathered numerous large stones and rocks from our field and our surrounding neighbors’ yards and fields. We then added a few potted plants that grow well in shaded areas.”
Keep in mind, you can buy 0.5 cubic feet of river pebbles for as little as $3.50 at Walmart. And you may never need to replace it again.
#4: Quit trying to keep things alive that shouldn’t be.
If you’re tired of paying for water or to replace plants that always seem to struggle, you can save money and hassle by giving up. If you live in a desert, for example, growing grass is an uphill battle that you will surely lose – but only after you spend a boatload of cash.
Aaron Crowe of Cash Smarter figured this out the hard way during California’s long drought that only recently came to an end. “After letting the grass die for years, because wasting water on a lawn in the backyard seemed stupid, we had the backyard covered with wood chips instead,” she says. “We’ve added lawn furniture and a hammock, creating a great outdoors area with minimal weed picking and upkeep required.”
#5: Hire a landscape designer to create a plan, but do the work yourself.
Perhaps you want to completely overhaul your yard, but you barely know where to start. If you’re willing to do most of the actual work but need some guidance on layout, materials, and plant selection, Cheryl Reed from service review site Angie’s List suggests hiring a professional for design work only. After an on-site consultation, they’ll come up with a master plan for your yard – and you can either have them do the work, or chip away at it yourself.
“If your plan is truly transformational, consider investing in hiring a landscaping pro to give you a plan that you implement yourself,” says Reed. “There’s a cost here, but a pro will have a better idea than you about what will work best, and it’s the perfect way to establish that phased-in approach to creating your best yard.”
#6: Explore the magic of paint.
Whether we’re talking about upgrading your home’s interior or exterior, it’s amazing what a can of paint can do. Paint makes surfaces appear cleaner and better maintained, and a cute color can brighten up any home or garden.
“Paint usually helps a lot!” says Mary Shockley, a Realtor in Florida. “Can you paint your sidewalk, front door, garage door?” With around $20 in paint and a paintbrush, you can liven up your home’s curb appeal.
Shockley suggests talking to a specialist to see what paint would be best for the surface being painted. And while you could go with a solid color you’re already comfortable with, new paints (including textured options) on the market can create some pretty cool effects for outdoor surfaces.
#7: Experiment with solar lighting.
If you want to spruce up your yard without any ongoing expense, solar lighting can highlight the beauty of your home – and add some utility and safety to walkways as well.
“An easy way to improve the look of your front and backyard is by installing strategically placed solar powered lights,” says Evan Harris of CD Equity Partners.
“Whether you’re looking to illuminate your yard for security reasons or simply to highlight certain features, investing in solar powered lights is an easy and cheap way to upgrade your home’s exterior. Better yet, they require very little maintenance after installation.”
You can get a 10-pack of outdoor solar lights for around $22 at Lowes.com.
#8: Give everything a good cleaning.
If you don’t want to make any extreme upgrades, giving your home’s exterior a good cleaning can help brighten things up. Use Brillo Steel Wool Soap Pads to scrub outdoor garbage cans, clean up your grill, and remove grime from outdoor children’s toys and outdoor tables and chairs.
Sweeping your driveway, sidewalks, and garden pathways will also help, as will picking up trash and debris.
Borrow a power washer to spray down your deck and your exterior siding. Lastly, wipe down your windows to make your home appear shiny and clean.
If you plan to spend a ton of time outdoors this year, upgrading your patio might be worth it. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, however. Most of the time, you can spruce up the place with some pretty pots and plants.
“Every porch or patio needs greenery,” says Lisa Melone Cloughen of Melone Cloughen Interiors. “Think containers, mixing a variety of urn and planter styles. Mix larger scale classically inspired urns with mid-century drip glaze pots and sleek glazed or zinc contemporary urns,” she says.
Melone Cloughen suggests filling the larger urns and some smaller ones, too, with a variety of plants based on color, texture, and dimension. Consider mixing taller plants with ivy and moss spilling over the sides.
“Bold color combinations such as orange and purple look really great too, and for smaller, tabletop arrangements consider a mix of succulents, all of which add to the visual interest of the space.”
The Bottom Line
If you want to improve your home’s look without overspending this year, the best thing you can do is ignore most of what your home improvement store says. Take a close look at your home, yard, and garden and determine what you really need to enjoy your outdoor space before you head to the store. If you go with a list of upgrades and a budget in mind, it’s a lot easier to avoid getting sucked into spending more than you planned.
Also remember it’s impossible to keep up with the Joneses. We all have those neighbors who spend thousands making sure their yard is in tip top shape. While there’s nothing wrong with taking pride in your home, you shouldn’t have to spend a bundle to create a clean and sophisticated look. By strategically investing your money into a few upgrades every spring, you can ensure your home looks well-maintained and presentable all year long.
Holly Johnson is an award-winning personal finance writer and the author of Zero Down Your Debt. Johnson shares her obsession with frugality, budgeting, and travel at ClubThrifty.com.
Four in ten households (42%) could reclaim a collective £1.3 billion from suppliers for energy they paid for but didn’t use over the winter months.
Four in ten households (42%) could reclaim a collective £1.3 billion from suppliers for energy they paid for but didn’t use over the winter months.
According to research from price comparison website uSwitch, the average household paying by direct debit and in credit could stand to reclaim £117, while 7% could be owed more than £200.
When I was in high school, I dreamed of being a student athlete.
They were popular, good-looking and had all the extracurriculars to make college admissions counselors swoon.
Now that my 10-year reunion has come and gone, I’ve come to terms with my lack of athletic finesse, but I’m still envious of those sports scholarships.
If you think only the best athletes in the country get scholarship offers, well, you’re right.Just 2%of high-school athletes receive athletic scholarships, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Even so, theaverage athletic scholarshipis only around $10,000 per year. Factor in the cost of room and board, a meal plan and out-of-state tuition, and you might wish you’d played chess at community college instead.
13 Athletic Scholarships for College-Bound Students
Luckily, some organizations have identified the gap in athletic scholarships and are helping to bridge it.
So whether you’re an all-star prodigy or just like playing pick-up on the weekends, you might be eligible for a number of fitness and athletic-based scholarships.
1. Wear Action Scholarship
Are you obsessed with your step count? Then this scholarship is perfect for you.
Wear Action is a website dedicated to education on wearable technology. It offers a$500 scholarshipeach year to any high-school or college student with the best 700+ word essay on the impact fitness gadgets have on our lives.
You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and be a U.S. citizen to apply.
The annual deadline is in February.
2. NSCA Foundation Scholarship
If you’re pursuing a career in strength and conditioning, such as physical therapy, coaching, or personal training, the National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundationawards scholarshipsin five different categories every year.
High School (for seniors entering college)
Challenge Scholarship
Jerry Martin Scholarship (specifically for students wanting to become strength coaches)
Minority Scholarship
Women’s Scholarship
Applicants are judged on a number of categories including NSCA involvement, financial need and an essay.
Scholarships are worth $1,500 each and students must be current NSCA members by the application deadline. The number of awards hasn’t been disclosed for 2017, but in 2016, there were 38 scholarship winners across the five categories.
The deadline is in March annually.
3. Sports Unlimited Scholarship
Sports Unlimited awards one$1,000 scholarshipannually to a college freshman or sophomore or high school senior.
Its unique essay question asks you to identify a piece of gear or equipment used in a sport and to describe how and why to improve it. My pick would be lacrosse sticks, with a glow-in-the-dark paint job.
The deadline is April 25, 2017.
4. Fitness and Education Scholarship
If you plan to major in a health- or fitness-related field at a four-year university, Ironcompany sponsors this$2,000 scholarshipannually for an incoming college freshman.
Students must have a 3.0 GPA or higher and explain what makes you passionate about fitness in an essay using fewer than 500 words.
The deadline is May 1, 2017.
5. Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarship
The Positive Coaching Alliance awards high-school juniors$1,000-$2,000 scholarshipsbased on their essays about improving themselves, their teammates, and the game.
Students must reside in the U.S. and play for a high school team or in club sports. The organization awards a minimum of 62 scholarships every year.
The deadline is May 31, 2017.
6. BigSun Scholarship
High school seniors and college students can apply for BigSun Athletics’BigSun Scholarship.
Students must be engaged in a sport of any kind and apply with an essay describing how their participation in high school sports influenced them.
The deadline is June 19, 2017.
7. USATF Kim Haines Academic Excellence Grant
Student athletes who have been members of USA Track and Field for the two most recent consecutive years and have competed in one of the qualifying championships can apply for one of 10grants from $500-$1500. The award amount is based on GPA.
The deadline is July 30, 2017.
8. Thomas “Sarge” Johnson Scholarship
These11 scholarshipsare available for active USA Boxing members who havehave competed in at least two sanctioned bouts in this year, as well as each of the last two calendar years. Applicants should havecompleted at least one semester in a college, technical or vocational school.
There are two trade school awards for $2,000 each, seven undergraduate awards for $3,000 each and two graduate awards for $2,500 each.
The deadline is Sept. 15, 2017.
9. Focus Fitness Scholarship
Focus Fitness teaches at-home bodyweight exercises and proper nutrition. Its annual$3,000 scholarshipis open to all college students in any major, but special consideration is given to students committed to living a healthy lifestyle.
You’ll have to write a 1,000-1,500 essay about why you chose your major and what you do to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The deadline is Dec. 1, 2017.
10. Yoga Alliance Foundation Scholarship
If you’re more of a sun warrior and a four-year university isn’t your thing, then you can apply for one of the Yoga Alliance Foundation’s nineyoga education scholarships.
Awards are biannual. The spring deadline is in May, and the fall deadline is in August.
11. CaptainU Student-Athlete Scholarship
CaptainU is a site that allows student athletes to promote themselves to colleges and helps college coaches manage their recruiting efforts.
High school and junior college students who play sports and plan to attend a four-year college can apply for this$2,000 awardby completing a profile and promoting themselves and CaptainU on social media.
This scholarship has a quarterly deadline.
12. Lawrence A. Golding Scholarship
The American College of Sports Medicine honors one undergraduate student at its annual ACSM Health & Fitness Summit with$1,000 in scholarship moneyand $1,000 credit to the ACSM store for DVDs, books or wearables.
Sophomores, juniors and seniors in college who have made a significant contribution to their community in the areas of health, fitness and/or education can apply.
The deadline is in November annually.
13. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Scholarship
For high school seniors entering a four-year, accredited U.S. college or university, Foot Locker awards$20,000 scholarshipsto20students each year.
Of those, one scholar will be selected for the Ken C. Hicks Scholarship, receiving an additional $5,000 award.
Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, be a member in good standing of a high school sports team or be involved in an after-school sport.
The deadline is in December annually.
Jen Smith is a writing intern at The Penny Hoarder and blogger behindSaving with Spunk. She’s a recreational runner who spends more money on her sport than she will ever get back.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, one of the largest personal finance websites. We help millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. In 2016, Inc. 500 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the No. 1 fastest-growing private media company in the U.S.
Ford Money has launched a regular saver paying 4% interest for a year, with no restrictions on who can apply for the account.
Ford Money has launched a regular saver paying 4% interest for a year, with no restrictions on who can apply for the account.
This means the 12-month fixed rate is available to everyone rather than being linked to a current account, as is the case for many regular savings accounts.
The cost of keeping defined benefit pension schemes afloat is costing the average worker £200 a year in lost income, according to a new report from the Resolution Foundation.
The cost of keeping defined benefit pension schemes afloat is costing the average worker £200 a year in lost income, according to a new report from the Resolution Foundation.
Scarlet Paolicchi is a Nashville blogger and stay-at-home mom of two. Her award-winning blog, Family Focus Blog reports on parenting tips, family fun activities, eco tips, food, travel, decor, discounts, and giveaways. Find out how this biology major made the leap from retail management to full-time blogger. You started blogging in 2010, tell us a […]
My first experience camping in a tent involved my rear end meeting a pile of ants.
On a hot July morning in South Carolina, I woke up covered in sweat. I escaped the tent for fresh air. That’s whenithappened. As I crouched down, fumbling with something or other, I fell back. Ants! After jumping around, shaking out my clothes and sending squeals through the quiet campground, I settled down.
I only got bitten a few times but decided to cut the trip short. I needed a shower, air conditioning, some anti-itch cream and my queen-size mattress.
I later tried the whole tent thing again and learned to enjoy it. I’ve managed to avoid anthills, and I have a more comfortable sleeping bag.
But I’m still missing one thing when I go camping: good campfire food.
Now, when I venture into the wilderness with my boyfriend, we cook hot dogs over the campfire and roast marshmallows. That’s not an inventive menu at all, and that campfire diet starts hurting my digestive system after a few days.
Without getting too Food Network,I’ve compiled some affordable, simple campfire recipes for our next adventure. And they don’t require any fancy grills or cast-iron pots.
All we’ll need are some basic kitchen and camping staples.
Note: I priced the ingredients for these camping recipes at my local Publix in May 2017, so do note these prices will vary by your preferred store, location and the time of year.
1. Fireside Pizza Log
Where we camp, we usually can’t call up our favorite pizza chain for delivery. However,this pizza loglooksalmostas easy as that.
Here’s what you’ll need:
1 can pizza dough: $2.59
1 can pizza sauce: $1.39
1 bag shredded mozzarella cheese: $4
1 pack pepperoni (or your favorite toppings): $3
Total: $10.98
I bet if we grabbed another can of pizza dough, we could get another pizza from the leftover ingredients.Each pizza will serve 4, putting our price per serving at $2.75.
Preparation takes place before the trip. Roll the dough into a rectangle, cover it in sauce, and top it off with cheese and your favorite toppings.
Then, roll the pizza up, carefully tucking all the edges in. Coat the foil with cooking spray before wrapping it around the pizza roll. Freeze the roll. When you head out for your trip, transfer the pizza roll into a cooler, and let it thaw before cooking.
Leaving it in the foil, place the pizza log directly in your fire pit. Cook each side for about 15 minutes.
2. Easy Bacon and Egg Breakfast
Breakfast is a camping staple, so one weekend my boyfriend and I ambitiously packed bacon and eggs. We borrowed my dad’s portable grill, and grabbed some pots and pans. This was fine, but it required some setup and cleaning.
Here are two hacks we’re going to try next time. All we need are bacon, eggs and skewers.
Here’s the intricate (just kidding) ingredient list:
1 pack bacon: $4.50
6 eggs: $1.50
Total: $6 (with leftovers)
For the bacon, lace it onto your skewer — the same skewer you’d use to roast marshmallows. (Or a stick, if you’re really roughin’ it.) Rest the skewer over your campfire and rotate it about every 5 minutes.
Pair it with scrambled eggs, which require some cooking spray or butter, a fork, a cookie sheet (optional) and a muffin tin.
Coat each muffin tin well with the spray oil or butter. Crack each egg into the muffin tin, and beat them with a fork. Add whatever your heart desires to the egg mix — mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes… more bacon.
You can also prep the eggs ahead of time by beating them in a bowl, adding veggies or other mix-ins and freezing the whole mixture in an airtight container before putting it in your cooler. If you do it this way, make sure to cook the thawed egg mixture all the way through when it’s time for breakfast.
For an even more portable version, use cupcake liners inside each muffin well — that way, you can skip the cooking spray.
Set the muffin tin over hot coals (not directly on the fire). If the bottoms seem to cook faster than the tops, cover the muffin tin with a cookie sheet or tin foil. Cook until done.
I know I said no s’mores, butthis rendition is inventiveenough to include — and a little healthier (kind of).
Here’s what you’ll need per boat:
1 banana: about 30 cents
1 bag mini marshmallows: $1.50
1 bag chocolate chips: $2.69
Total: $4.49
I’m not going to divvy out the marshmallows and chocolate chips because you can pile those on. In total, though, each boat is likely less than 75 cents to make.
Grab your banana and cut it in half lengthwise. Place it on heavy-duty aluminum foil (or just double up the regular stuff).
Stuff that baby with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips before wrapping the foil around it.
To cook, place it over hot coals until the marshmallows and chocolate melt. Feel free to dig in on your primitive aluminum pan, as long as it’s not too hot.
4. Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
Nothing warms my insides more than a hot ham and cheese sandwich, and these sweet nuggets will be easy to tote along on our next camping trip.
Here’s what you need to serve up to six:
1 pound deli-sliced ham: $5
12 Hawaiian rolls: $3.99
12 slices Swiss cheese: $3.29
½ cup butter, melted: $2.50
1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard: 8 cents
1 tablespoon dried onion: 68 cents
1 tablespoon brown sugar: 4 cents
Total: $15.58
Roll out 6 pieces of foil, and place 2 rolls on each. Evenly divide the ham and cheese among the rolls.
Make the go-to ham and cheese condiment by mixing the melted butter, Dijon mustard, dried onion and brown sugar into a bowl. Pour the combination over the tops of the sandwiches.
Fold the foil to cover the sandwiches. You’ll have 6 little packets containing 2 small sandwiches each. Place each packet on top of warm campfire coals to cook. You’ll want to turn them frequently until the cheese is melted and the rolls are toasty. It should take 10-15 minutes.
Again, this isveryclose to those hot dogs my boyfriend and Ialwayscrisp up over the campfire, butthe twist on this classicmakes me excited to try it. Plus, it’s almost as simple as sticking a hot dog on a stick.
Here’s what you need:
1 pack hot dogs: $1.75
1 can crescent rolls: $2.59
Favorite condiments: varies
Total: $4.34 plus price of condiments
If you look at the pictures, you’ll figure this one out, but clarity’s sake, I’ll lay out the instructions for you. Slide your hot dog onto the skewer. Unroll your crescent rolls, and wrap 1 precut triangle around each hot dog. Wrap the hot dog loosely in foil, and roast it over the fire just like you would a normal hot dog. Repeat the process for each hot dog.
At first, I thought this campfire recipe would just call for a canned cinnamon rolls wrapped around a stick, which I bet would work. This recipe is a little more involved but still pretty easy — even for me.
Here are the ingredients you need:
1 package crescent rolls: $2.59
¼ cup sugar: 9 cents
1 tablespoon cinnamon: 39 cents
¼ cup powdered sugar: 8 cents
Total: $3.15
Mix the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. Open the crescent rolls, wrap each one around a skewer, and coat them in the cinnamon-sugar mix. Cook it over the campfire for about 5 minutes. You’ll want to keep rotating it.
If you want to top these off with glaze, just mix ¼ cup powdered sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of water. If that’s too much for you, you can buy some.
Thanks toAlmost Supermomfor this gem. We think youareSupermom with this recipe.
Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, one of the largest personal finance websites. We help millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. In 2016, Inc. 500 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the No. 1 fastest-growing private media company in the U.S.
While everyone has their own savings strategies when it comes to groceries and household goods, I tend to take the easy route. Instead of driving from store to store to snag deals, I do almost all of my shopping at Kroger.
My friendly neighborhood supermarket may not always have the lowest prices, but they usually do. Plus, shopping at just one store helps me save something more important than money – time.
Yet, I always make one more shopping trip each month, and that’s to my local Dollar Tree. It’s right around the corner from my house, and it has some awesome deals. Keep in mind, there are many types of dollar stores, including Dollar General. The store I’m talking about here is Dollar Tree, where everything is $1 or less.
19 Things I Always Buy at Dollar Tree
While I occasionally buy something random at Dollar Tree, I normally go there to stock up on specific essentials. Because, let’s face it, some items at Dollar Tree are so cheap it would be a sin to buy them elsewhere.
How cheap? Well, everything is a dollar or less! It doesn’t get much cheaper than that.
Here are 19 things I always buy at the dollar store:
#1: Flip-flops
It’s hard to beat $1 shoes no matter how cheap or flimsy they are. We do most of our vacations at the beach, and Dollar Tree flip-flops are perfect for those trips.
Lose a shoe in the ocean? Forget them at your hotel? Who cares?
It’s hard to stress over a pair of shoes that costs just a dollar. But really, I’ve had Dollar Tree flip-flops last for years. That’s why I keep buying them. And since most similar shoes would cost $5 or more elsewhere, you can save $4 or more per pair.
#2: Cards
I’m awful when it comes to birthdays and anniversaries, often forgetting about them until the last minute. Fortunately, I’ve learned to keep a bunch of cards in stock so I can mail them out on the fly.
Dollar Tree lets you buy two cards for $1, which makes it easy to stock up on generic cards for emergencies. I typically buy 10 cards every few months – a few for birthdays, and some for other occasions. I also buy Dollar Tree’s blank cards so I can fill them out however I want.
Since birthday and anniversary cards can easily cost $4 or more at the supermarket or drug store, this is a huge savings!
#3: Balloons
While I rarely buy balloons for birthdays and special occasions, there are times when I’ll splurge. At Dollar Tree, you can get a balloon for $1, five balloons for $5, and so on. If you don’t like any of the balloons that are already prepared, they’ll also blow one up for you.
Balloons can cost $5 and up at the grocery store, so this is an awesome deal when you need balloons for any reason. The Dollar Tree doesn’t normally have specialty balloons or large balloons in animal shapes, but the basic balloons they do have are nice.
#4: Party Supplies
Along with balloons, Dollar Tree is a great place to buy party supplies. You can buy solid color tablecloths, plastic cutlery, napkins, and more – all for $1 a package.
I always buy my kid’s birthday party supplies here. They don’t always have the most up-to-date party “themes,” and their stuff isn’t fancy, but it’s good enough for me. Dollar Tree is also a great place to buy paper plates to use for barbecues or dinners when you don’t feel like doing dishes.
#5: Wrapping Paper
If you don’t keep wrapping paper in stock, it’s easy to overspend in a crisis. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve paid $5 or more for wrapping paper in the store when I was in a hurry.
These days, we keep wrapping paper from the Dollar Tree in stock all the time. It’s only $1 per roll, and we try to buy generic patterns that can work for any occasion. I also buy holiday wrapping paper here at the end of the year.
#6: Gift Bags
Gift bags are another Dollar Tree steal that are crazy expensive at regular stores. I frequently see gift bags for $5 or more at the grocery store, yet they’re only (you guessed it) $1 at the Dollar Tree.
The selection may not be that great, but you can’t beat the price. I’ve had the best luck finding gift bags for baby showers and birthdays, but they do have cute holiday bags at the end of the year, too. It’s always smart to keep a few of these on hand. You never know when you’ll have to prepare a last-minute gift, and gift bags make the wrapping part easy.
#7: School and Office Supplies
Since my husband and I work at home, we occasionally need to buy supplies for our office – pens, pencils, Sharpies, and markers. We always find what we need for $1 at Dollar Tree. The only office supply I wish they would carry is printer paper.
We also buy some of our kid’s school supplies here. They don’t always have everything we need, but they usually have pens, paper, glue, erasers, and so on. Whether you’re trying to stock up for your own kids or simply want supplies to donate, Dollar Tree has some good deals.
My local Dollar Tree has an entire section full of paint brushes and supplies. They’ve got small brushes for edging or big ones for large walls, rolling pans, and roller brushes. They also have painting tape and other supplies.
Since paint brushes run about $3 to $10 (and sometimes more) at Lowe’s or Home Depot, the brushes at Dollar Tree are a steal. They may not be the world’s best quality, but they work fine for most painting jobs. Since I like to touch up the interior paint of my home occasionally, I keep these brushes on hand at all times.
#9: Medicine and First Aid
Generic Tylenol, Band-Aids, and cough drops are all things I buy regularly at Dollar Tree. They also have eye drops, medicine for kids, and first-aid supplies.
While it’s easy to assume Dollar Tree medicine is sketchy, you can check expiration dates before you buy. We’ve been using medicine and first-aid supplies from Dollar Tree for a long time, and we’ve never had a problem.
Razors can be insanely expensive at the grocery store or the drug store. But, at Dollar Tree, everything is only $1!
You can buy 5-packs of the flimsy single disposable razors, or 3-packs of the nicer luxury razors. I tend to buy the 3-packs of the nicer razors because they last longer. If you’re not picky about which brand of razor you use, these are a steal.
I buy nearly all our dental care items at Dollar Tree – things like floss, toothpaste, and mouthwash. They have plenty of name brands like Colgate and Crest, and the prices can’t be beat.
Over time, I’ve found it’s smarter to keep extra toothbrushes and toothpaste on hand. That way, I don’t wind up spending more on supplies at the grocery store. I even keep extra kid’s toothbrushes on hand for when our kids’ friends stay the night. Their kid’s toothbrushes are an especially good deal at three for a $1.
#12: Brushes and Hair Ties
My kids go through brushes and ponytail holders like it’s their part-time job. I probably buy 100 plain ponytail holders every few months. They end up in the trash, or stashed somewhere when my kids take their ponytails out.
Fortunately, it’s easy to stock up when everything is $1. I typically buy a few packs of ponytail holders, hair pins, and clips each time I visit the store.
#13: Snacks
While I’m fairly picky about the food I buy at Dollar Tree, I’m not against stocking up on cheap snacks. Whether I’m buying cookies for a party or some chips to snack on at home, Dollar Tree has a pretty good selection at $1 each.
I occasionally buy their canned goods, and I’ve been known to stock up on coffee and coffee filters there, too. Since their food options change all the time, I tend to buy whatever they have that’s a good deal.
If you buy spices and seasonings often, you already know how expensive they can be. At my local Kroger, spices are usually in the $3 to $8 range depending on what you’re buying and how much.
At Dollar Tree, all their spices and seasonings are just $1. They don’t have a huge selection, but what they do offer is a good deal. I regularly buy seasoning salt, garlic salt, garlic powder, and dried basil there.
Whether you need small sandwich bags or gallon-size bags for freezing, it’s hard to beat Dollar Tree pricing. They have the same bags my local Kroger offers, but for $1 each.
I try not to use too many bags, but I do keep a stash in case the kids need them for school or something special. Gallon-size bags are also especially handy when it comes to freezing soups or leftovers.
Ideally, I like to use reusable containers when I can – like, for my kids’ lunches. But there are still plenty of occasions where plastic bags come in handy.
#16: Trash Bags
I buy all our trash bags at Dollar Tree, mostly because I don’t mind the generic brands. We have a small trash can anyway, so I don’t mind the type with the flaps instead of the drawstring, either. And I certainly don’t mind the $1 price tag! After all, a box of trash bags at my local grocery store is usually $5 or more.
I also buy tiny trash bags for our bathroom trashcans at Dollar Tree. That way, I have bags available when we run out of used grocery store bags.
#17: Cleaning Supplies
While not all cleaning supplies are a good deal, Dollar Tree does offer an array of smart options for $1. I tend to buy glass cleaner, toilet cleaner, and other basic cleaning supplies there.
I also buy two-packs of those bleach packets for toilets. While those are $5 or more at the grocery store, they’re just $1 at Dollar Tree.
Recently, I bought an outdoor broom specifically for my garage. I’ve also bought dust pans, scrub brushes, and sponges at Dollar Tree. They typically have cleaning clothes, plungers and other supplies as well.
While prices vary, it’s hard to find any of these items elsewhere for anything close to $1.
Batteries can be expensive depending on where you buy them. At Kroger, for example, an 8-pack of AA batteries typically costs $5.99 or more. At Dollar Tree, on the other hand, you can buy nearly any type of battery for $1.
The downside here is that the selection isn’t always that great. Plus, all of their batteries are off-brand. If you can get past those issues, you’ll save plenty of money!
The Bottom Line
If you want to save money on food and household supplies, don’t forget to check your local dollar store. While not everything they offer is an excellent deal, there are plenty of bargains to be had. And if you’re willing to make a monthly trip, you can stock up on the items that make sense and avoid paying more elsewhere.
Just be sure to check the size of each item so you can make an apples-to-apples comparison. While it’s possible to score full-size items for $1, dollar and discount stores occasionally offer a sample sizes for the lower price. It’s up to you to compare ounces or amounts of whatever you’re buying so you can ensure you’re getting the best deal possible.
Holly Johnson is an award-winning personal finance writer and the author of Zero Down Your Debt. Johnson shares her obsession with frugality, budgeting, and travel at ClubThrifty.com.
I love free food. It makes me excited, probably more than it should.
So the concept of gardening seems fabulous to me.
I say “concept,” because I realize actual gardening includes exposure to bugs, which kinda-sorta freaks me out. But being able to just go to my backyard and pick out fruit for a snack orveggiesfor lunch — without swiping my debit card — would be awesome.
I’m all for fresh food, reducing my carbon footprint and getting fresh air and exercise, not to mention having loads ofextra produceto help lower mygrocery bill.
The thing is…mostgardensstill require a monetary investment: for tools, supplies, seeds and related expenses.There goes the concept of “free” food.
Fleet Farming, a nonprofit initiative that started in Orlando in 2014, turns neighbors’ lawns into gardens, but it comes with a price: the group asks for a$500 donationto cover the costs of installing and maintaining the plot for a minimum of two years.
How to Start a Vegetable Garden from Scratch
Despite having to fork over some money, the benefits of growing your own garden are still pretty great.
There are lots of creative ways to cut down the costs of growing your own food.Fleet FarmingProgram Manager Caroline Chomanics offers the following five tips on to help you start a garden on a small budget.
1. Pick Up Leaves
Ever notice your neighbors raking their leaves into big piles and leaving them at the edge of their front lawns to be thrown away? Ask them if you can take those leaves off their hands!
“People throw away leaves on the side of the road all of the time that can be used as a great mulch,”Chomanics said.
Mulch acts as a barrier to block sunlight from the ground’s surface, keeping soil cooler so plants’ roots won’t overheat, according toBetter Homes and Gardens.
2. Go Dumpster Diving
Raised garden beds offer a prime environment for a new garden.
They provide good drainage and also help prevent soil compaction, invasion from pathway weeds and pests such as slugs and snails,according to Eartheasy.
But purchasing wood to build one or buying one already built could be costly.
Chomanics recommendsupcyclingtrash to be used for raised beds. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right?
“Old wood, cement blocks, bookcases and other discarded items can make great structures for raised bed gardening,” she said.
3. Compost at Home
The soil in your backyard may not always be the rich, earthy stuff that’s prime for growing.
Here in Florida, what makes up the ground is mostly dusty sand — but that doesn’t stop the Fleet Farming group in Orlando.
Fleet Farming Director Lee Perry said they use compose from a nearby mushroom farm to help convert sandy dirt to dark, lush, nutrient-rich soil.
“You can compost at home by storing food scraps in a container in the freezer,” Chomanics said. “Then, when it is full, turn it in a pile in your yard.”.
“Leaves and grass clippings [as long as it’s unfertilized grass] are great additions,” she said.
Chomanics also advised contacting your local compost provider to find affordable compost.Some cities offer free compost pick-up, she said.
4. Save Seeds
While you might need to buy seeds at your local garden nursery or home improvement store to start out, save money on future planting seasons by holding onto the seeds from the plants you grow.
“Have an endless supply of seeds by harvesting seeds from your harvest,” Chomanics said.“Plants like dill, sunflower and basil offer tons of seeds that you can use every year.”
5. Use Drip Irrigation
Plants are pretty simple. They only need a few things to grow, like sunlight, soil and water. And unless your home is right on a river or creek, that water is not going to come free.
Using a sprinkler to water your garden could have you ending up with a hefty water bill if you don’t do things right.
Adrip irrigation systemmakes sure water is not wasted by targeting exactly where the plants need it.
“Every day, water will drip to the plants,” Chomanics said. “That saves you time watering and is water friendly.”
She recommends installing a water timer hooked up to a hose with a sprinkler. Timers control how much and when your garden is watered.
Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. We’re letting you know because it’s what Honest Abe would do. After all, heison our favorite coin.
Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She loves the idea of having a garden, except for dealing with bugs.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, one of the largest personal finance websites. We help millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. In 2016, Inc. 500 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the No. 1 fastest-growing private media company in the U.S.
About a week ago, I was listening to a wonderful friend of mine, Heidi, talking about Amelia Earhart. Out of the blue, right in the midst of those thoughts, she burst into song, singing part of this song a cappella:
The lyrics of this song, Amelia Earhart’s Last Flight, go something like this, depending on the version:
A ship out on the ocean, just a speck against the sky,
Amelia Earhart flying that sad day;
With her partner, Captain Noonan, on the second of July
Her plane fell in the ocean, far away.
There’s a beautiful, beautiful field
Far away in a land that is fair.
Happy landings to you, Amelia Earhart
Farewell, first lady of the air.
She radioed position and she said that all was well,
Although the fuel within the tanks was low.
But they’d land on Howland Island to refuel her monoplane,
Then on their trip around the world they’d go.
Well, a half an hour later an SOS was heard,
The signal weak, but still her voice was brave.
Oh, in shark-infested waters her plane went down that night
In the blue Pacific to a watery grave.
Well, now you have heard my story of that awful tragedy,
We pray that she might fly home safe again.
Oh, in years to come though others blaze a trail across the sea,
We’ll ne’er forget Amelia and her plane.
There’s a beautiful, beautiful field
Far away in a land that is fair.
Happy landings to you, Amelia Earhart
Farewell, first lady of the air.
On her last flight, it was pretty clear that Amelia Earhart didn’t know where she was for certain, and thus when she entered a course correction, it took her even further off course. She was looking for Howland Island but, wherever her plane wound up, it was nowhere near that island as the vicinity has been thoroughly searched for any sign of her crash.
Heidi’s point in singing this song – and she always has a point, even if it takes her a while to get around to it – was to emphasize the idea of course corrections. As she put it so well, a course correction in the wrong direction makes things even worse than before, so a course correction is useless if you don’t know where you are.
It’s a beautiful way of looking at things, but it might not make perfect sense at first glance, so let me use an example.
When I first started my career, I took an assessment of where I was in my career and concluded that I needed to build a strong professional network and strong resume going forward in order to maximize my job options. That makes sense on paper, right?
The problem was that I didn’t really have my career figured out in the big scheme of things. My career path was fairly set in stone unless I went back to school for more education, but I was strongly resistant to that idea. I had student loans and didn’t want any more. I wanted badly to get on with my “adult life.”
What I should have focused on at that point in my life is leveraging the job I had to get a masters degree and even a doctorate. I was in a great position to do this and doing so would have set me up for a marvelous career going forward at a very low cost. I should have waited a little while to have children and then I would have been perfectly set up for the stable life that I dreamed of.
Instead, I was looking off in a different direction for those big things that I wanted. I wanted to have a family and a house, but I thought that what was keeping me from it was a lack of a professional network. I didn’t see my debt as an obstacle. I didn’t see the limitations of my career path with the degree that I had as an obstacle. Instead, I saw something as a huge obstacle that wasn’t an obstacle at all.
I was like Amelia Earhart on her final flight, in other words. I was going along a course that already wasn’t quite right, and I was about to make a course correction that made things even worse.
I threw lots of money and effort into building professional relationships. I didn’t put any effort into furthering my education. That came from a lack of understanding of my career.
I didn’t put money away for the future. Instead, I threw lots of money into impressing others. That came from a lack of understanding of my financial state.
I chose to have children right away, not understanding the huge time and money cost that they would bring. That came from a lack of understanding of what it took to be a parent.
I knew what my destination was. I wanted to have a thoughtful career that paid well, with a few kids and a house and a great marriage with my lifelong love. I did eventually wind up there, but I did it by landing on a completely different island that I happened to stumble upon. The truth of the matter is that my course corrections actually sent me out in the middle of nowhere, far from my intended destination, and by all rights I should have just crashed in the ocean; it was only through sheer luck and a stubborn work ethic that I did not.
My original flight plan was a few degrees off of where I should have been headed. When I saw it was going awry, I jumped in with some hasty course corrections and adjusted by a few degrees in the wrong direction. In short, I put myself in a position where I was headed for a disaster.
Here’s the reality: making changes to your life can be a great thing, but you have to make sure of where you’re at and where you want to be headed or else you’re likely to just make things worse.
This really breaks down into two distinct areas: making sure you know where you’re at and making sure your course corrections actually point you to where you want to go. Let’s take a look.
Figure Out Where You Are
If you’re thinking about making changes to your life, the first step in that process is to really step back and get an understanding of where exactly you are in your life. Quite often, that desire to make changes comes from a sense that something isn’t right in your life and that you’re not really heading anywhere worthwhile. Your gut feeling is probably right, but your sense of what exactly is wrong might not necessarily be right.
In other words, that moment where you feel like things aren’t going in the right direction is the exact moment when you should step back and do a serious and honest life evaluation. You need to step back and carefully evaluate your life in every dimension to figure out what’s good, what’s bad, and what’s ugly, what things are vital and what things need to change.
There are infinite things you can do for a self-evaluation of your life. What follows is a really straightforward method I use for self-evaluation; it’s something I do every several months just to make sure I am where I think I am.
The first thing I do is make a list of everything that’s important to me. I just think about my life, ask myself what’s actually important, and then write it down. It might be specific people or things like “immediate family” or things like self-improvement or a particular hobby or fitness or whatever. Just write down things that are important to you.
Now, trim those things down to five things. Start crossing off things. I find it’s easier to simply ask myself if there are five other things on the list that are more important to me than this. If there is, then I cross it off. You can always devote a little time and energy to those things, but they should be strongly secondary to the five core things.
I recommend that those things be centered around different areas of your life. You shouldn’t list just five hobbies or five family members (my wife, my oldest child, my second oldest child, etc.) or five physical attributes (my glutes, my abs, my face, etc.). Try to cover as many of the spheres of your life as possible – physical, mental, social, professional, familial, personal, spiritual. You don’t have to cover all of these, but you shouldn’t have the most important things all stacked up in one sphere or else you’ll find yourself with a very unbalanced life that feels empty in many areas.
Once you have those five things, evaluate your current state in each one of those things carefully. Are you happy with your current state regarding those things? Are you in a good place with each of those things?
You should also consider the foundations upon which those things rest. Are your finances in healthy shape? You can do that by taking a basic financial assessment, calculating your net worth and making sure that you’re spending less than you earn each month. If you’re married, is your marriage strong? If you’re employed, is your employment strong?
I usually find that getting a second viewpoint on those key things is worthwhile. I’ll talk to my wife about how she thinks our marriage is going. I’ll talk to my mentor or my supervisor about how my job is going right now. I’ll ask my trusted friends for their impression of specific aspects of my character. If I don’t have anyone to talk to about something, I’ll talk to a very close friend about it and lay out everything that I can.
I find that my perspective on those things is usually tweaked a little bit by those key conversations. Almost always, I don’t have a perfect understanding of where I’m at with the most important things in my life, and talking to those key players will often clue me in to where I’m awry. This is the basis of a bit of course correction, but we’ll get to that in a minute. Don’t sweat it if you find that your conversations with others point out ways in which you’re not where you thought you were. Almost no one is.
Take all of this together and use it as the basis for understanding where things are at in your life in all spheres – physical, mental, spiritual, professional, social, romantic, familial, and financial. Those things are often very intertwined, so don’t buy into the idea that you can really assess one area without even considering the other.
Figure Out Where You Want To Be
Knowing your current situation is valuable, but it’s much like the equivalent of having a single dot on a piece of paper. You can’t draw a line that leads anywhere without another dot to connect to. That other dot is your destination.
Where do you want to be in five years? Ten years? Twenty years? Those aren’t easy questions, either. Many people have a vague sense of the life that they want at that point and may even have it as some kind of goal, but it’s often not a truly meaningful or clearly stated thing. It’s just kind of nebulous and “out there.”
The thing is, even if you know where you are and know vaguely where you want to go, you can still course correct in the wrong direction. You can still end up with a financial and professional and personal life that’s going to a place that you just don’t want to go.
I suggest, then, starting off with a five year plan for your life. All that means is that you sit down and think about each major area of your life – physical, mental, spiritual, professional, social, romantic, familial, and financial, just like above – and sketch out what you want to have in those areas in five years. As you’re doing this, keep in mind the five most important areas you set for yourself above in terms of what’s important to you in your life, as well as the things upon which those important areas rely (like your finances).
I’ll give you an example, using myself.
Physical: I want to have a weight that’s close to average for someone of my height. I want to be in a little better physical shape, but I’m not really interested in being an “athlete,” just healthy enough to go on interesting hikes and keep up with my kids.
Mental: I want to learn tons of new things and have a sense that I’m learning meaningful new things every day.
Spiritual: I want to have a greater understanding of the major religions and philosophies of the world and what they say about the meaning of life and how to live a good life. I want to participate in a group that reflects on such things, even if it focuses on one particular religion or philosophical tradition.
Professional: I want to keep writing as I am now – reliable and consistent, with an earnest tone. I want to build some free “beginner” courses to supplement and organize what’s on The Simple Dollar, making it easier for people to dip into the years of archives of quality material on the site.
Social: I want to build up many of the friendships that I have into something stronger. I feel like I already have a healthy number of good friendships and acquaintances, but I’d like to strengthen those relationships and maybe add some more on the periphery, in the sense that I have better connections to the community I live in.
Romantic/Marital: I want to be by Sarah’s side through all of the ups and downs that life will bring us. This, of course, means constant “care and feeding” of our marriage.
Parental: I want to guide my children into adolescence and toward adulthood. I want to react to their changes with thoughtfulness and conversation rather than confrontation, and that takes time and patience.
Financial: I want to continue to walk the path to financial independence and perhaps accelerate it a little by cutting out some of our expenses. I want to make sure I’m saving for every major future expense I see coming down the road – college education for my children (for which we intend to pay for part of it), financial independence / early retirement, replacements for our current vehicles.
Those are my destinations in the major areas in my life. When I pair them up with where I’m truthfully at in the major areas of my life, I can now see two dots on that paper. Now, let’s connect the dots.
Figure Out Your Course Corrections
You know where you are, because you’ve done some self-assessment. You know where you want to go, because you’ve done some long-term visioning. Now it’s time to connect the two, and that means course correction.
Most likely, if you continue to do the same things you’ve been doing every day, you’re not going to march straight to that destination you just envisioned. If you continue to eat lots of extra calories every day, you’re not going to hit your target weight. If you continue to fluff off at work and get mediocre job reviews, you’re not going to get a promotion. You get the picture.
You know where you are in terms of the foundations of your life – the five things most important to you and the foundations upon which they rest. You know where you want to go in the major areas of your life. What do you need to do to get from here to there? That’s the key question.
Go through each of those destinations you set for yourself. Think about where you are today. Ask yourself what exactly needs to be done to get from here to there.
For each of those destinations that will require you to do something significantly different in your life than what you’re doing now, start plotting that course correction. Don’t worry as much about the big picture of what needs to change. Instead, focus on what needs to change in your day-to-day life to make that big picture change a foregone conclusion.
For example, if I want to lose weight and reach a lower sustainable body weight, what I really need to do is to focus on eating less each day in a sustainable way so that when I reach that weight, I can easily do it automatically. How do I do that? Some homework is in order, but the basic recipe is to figure out how many calories per day I would eat to maintain that target weight, subtract a little bit from that, and then start counting calories carefully and making sure I hit that target every day.
If I want to turn my financial life around and reach a financial milestone in five years – let’s say it’s debt freedom – I definitely need a debt repayment plan, but I also need a daily focus on not spending money on unnecessary things. A good way to do this is to establish a weekly or monthly budget for non-essential items, which means that everything that isn’t an absolutely essential purchase like a bill or a basic food item comes out of that “fun” budget. That includes things like a morning coffee or a book from the bookstore or a new game.
When you’re course correcting, focus on sustainable daily changes, things that you can do virtually every day as part of a normal routine. If you find that you don’t have time for something new that will take up some time, look at how you spend time right now and trim out some of the unimportant stuff. Start by turning off the television or the smartphone or the laptop, as those things just gobble the hours.
Remember, a course correction is usually just a relatively minor shift in direction. You’re not radically rebooting your life. Instead, you’re molding your typical day just a little bit so that your life naturally starts to move toward your destination. If you cut your daily calorie intake by, say, 500 calories, that’s like two fewer sodas a day, but it will lead to a substantial weight loss over time. If you cut your extra spending by putting yourself on a weekly “free spending” budget and stick to it, you’ll find yourself with more and more money for eliminating debt over time. If you cut half an hour out of your television viewing each day and devote it to a Bible or philosophy study, you’ll find yourself growing spiritually without a new time commitment on your hands.
It’s easy. Know where you are. Know where you want to go. Gently correct your course to take you there. It’s the lesson of Amelia Earhart – if you don’t know where you are and can’t define where you want to go, your course corrections won’t really help and will probably make things worse.
What course corrections are you going to start charting today?
Pennsylvania regulators are no strangers to what happens when new technology meets old regulations.Uber, anyone?This time, it’s electric vehicle charging stations, an emerging industry trying to find its footing and an economic model in Pennsylvania.In an effort to encourage the growth of the industry, at least one utility — Pittsburgh-based Duquesne Light — is allowing charging station operators to resell its electricity, sometimes at a substantial [...]
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A business in Middle Smithfield Township turned 23 on Saturday. Pocono Go Karts sent the first drivers around its 1,400-foot track on May 20, 1994. The business has since expanded with the addition of a paintball area and mini-golf course.Now, it’s time for a change, says owner Joe Pandolfo. The longtime local amusement park is up for sale, with a $325,000 turnkey asking price.“I’m 62 years old, and this place needs someone young,” he said. [...]
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East Stroudsburg Area School District announces Meritorious Hall of FameSix individuals who have brought honor and prestige to the East Stroudsburg Area School District, our community, and the world in which we live, will be honored with induction into the East Stroudsburg Area School District Meritorious Hall of Fame. The 2017 honorees are: Melissa (Allen) Lear, Class of 1985; Jill (Lesh) Brink, Class of 1980; Brett R. Miller, Class of 1979; Alex Romagnoli, Ph.D., [...]
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