Lawsuit Claims Uber Quietly Makes Millions a Month in Overcharged Fares

Last year, Uber introduced upfront fares as an added means of transparency. The fare system allows customers to see their calculated fare in advance before they book their rides.

Uber says it calculates upfront fares by the trip’s expected time and distance, traffic and local demand at that moment.

In a June 2016 post, Uber described its upfront fares as ensuring “no complicated math and no surprises” for riders.

But a federal class-action lawsuit filed May 24 against the ride-hailing company claims otherwise. More than 100 plaintiffs say the company has been charging UberX riders higher rates for the “actual fare,” i.e., the amount the driver receives for the trip, than the driver actually receives. The suit says Uber is pocketing millions as a result.

Plaintiffs Accuse Uber of Fare Fraud

Jacqueline Gayed, a Brooklyn, New York resident described in the lawsuit as a regular UberX user, is the lead plaintiff in the class-action lawsuit.

According to Fast Company, Gayed is married to an Uber driver. She says she compared rider fares to driver compensation over time, and is accusing Uber of fudging the numbers.

Gayed’s lawsuit claims that Uber has charged UberX riders an average of $1.98 more than the driver’s fare. The suit alleges that UberX users pay for longer, less efficient routes than what the driver’s app uses. This results in a discrepancy between the actual fare and what the rider pays.

The lawsuit includes screenshots that purportedly show Mr. Gayed’s fares compared to his rider’s total fares. All six examples appear to show a discrepancy between rider and driver fares.

In easier terms, Gayed is claiming that Uber presents different fares to the riders and drivers, and it pockets the difference.

The lawsuit says Uber is violating a New York law prohibiting unjust enrichment and estimates it could pocketing an extra $7.43 million per month in New York City as a result.

In April, a Los Angeles Uber driver filed a similar lawsuit about the upfront pricing system.

The lawsuit seeks damages for UberX rides dating back to April 2016 and seeks a trial by jury.

Earlier this week, the ride-hailing company admitted to an error that resulted in it underpaying its New York drivers a whopping $45 million.

The company has vowed to do right by paying the drivers ”every penny owed” plus interest.

So far, there has been no official response from Uber about the new class-action suit. The Penny Hoarder will update this story as it develops.

Kelly Smith is a junior writer and engagement specialist at The Penny Hoarder. Catch her on Twitter at @keywordkelly.

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.

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CLOSING BELL: Tiny gains push S&P, Nasdaq to records

Major U.S. stock indexes ended the day pretty much where they started as trading was quiet ahead of the Memorial Day holiday. Meager gains by the Standard & Poor's 500 index and the Nasdaq composite were enough to leave both at record highs. Both marked their seventh straight day of gains. The Dow Jones industrial average of 30 major stocks fell slightly. Consumer-focused companies rose. Costco gained 1.8 percent [...]

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Could Trump’s Proposed Cuts to Medicaid and Welfare Actually Help the Poor?

The Trump administration has a new way of measuring compassion. That’s the explanation behind many of the proposed cuts budget director Mick Mulvaney put forth this week.

“We’re no longer going to measure compassion by the number of programs or the number of people on those programs, but by the number of people we help get off of those programs,” he said at a press briefing this week. “We’re not going to measure compassion by the amount of money that we spend, but by the number of people that we help.”

The new budget proposal is aimed at eliminating the national debt in the next 10 years, Mulvaney said. To achieve this, the administration proposes cutting many of the programs that help the poor, who often don’t make enough money to pay federal income tax.

According to the New York Times, some of the programs that the proposed budget cuts would hit hardest over the next decade include:

• Medicaid, the federal health care program for the poor, would lose $800 billion.
• The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides nutritional benefits commonly known as food stamps, would lose $192 billion.
• Welfare programs would lose $272 billion overall.
• Social Security disability benefits would also get cut by $72 billion.
• Loan programs that subsidize college education for the poor and student loan forgiveness for those who take jobs in government or nonprofit organizations would also be eliminated.

What Won’t Get Cut in Trump Budget?

Of course, there are some programs that would survive the Trump administration’s suggested deep cuts.

The priorities for the Trump administration are public safety and defense spending.

The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice will each get extra money to fund policing and criminal justice initiatives at the federal, state and local levels. About $2.6 billion of that would go toward strengthening Border Patrol and border security, and $1.6 billion will fund the first stage of construction of the wall along the Mexican border.

The budget proposal also includes $639 billion for the Department of Defense. That’s $52 billion more than was approved for 2017.

That will allow the government to strengthen the military while providing funds needed to extend the Veterans Choice Program, which makes it easier for veterans to get timely care that is close to home.

Trump also requests $19 billion over 10 years to implement six weeks of paid leave for parents following the birth or adoption of a child.

The Reasoning Behind the Cuts

Mulvaney emphasized the compassion behind the budget at the Tuesday press briefing.

“Compassion needs to be on both sides of that equation,” he said. “Yes, you have to have compassion for folks who are receiving the federal funds, but also you have to have compassion for the folks who are paying it. And that is one of the things that is new about this president’s budget.”

Mulvaney went on to say that the new budget will only pay for the programs the government can ask taxpayers to fund “in good conscious.”

According to Mulvaney, the budget will allocate more money to programs most taxpayers would be “OK with,” like helping injured veterans.

But the administration is uncomfortable with funding programs where taxpayer dollars may be benefiting those who aren’t using the programs as they’re intended, like “this person over here who really isn’t disabled but is getting a disabled benefit, or this person over here who is supposed to use the money to go to school, but isn’t actually going.”

Mulvaney also stated the budget would reduce funding for programs the administration deems ineffective, like one “that is supposed to encourage you to graduate from high school — or from college, but is only 6% effective.”

This budget proposal follows the announcement of Trump’s tax plan, which would cut taxes for businesses and the richest Americans.

Mulvaney said the cuts to programs for the poor combined with lower taxes will work together to spur the economy and create more jobs. Those jobs will presumably help the poor work their way out of poverty and make it so that those who can no longer access government programs will no longer need them.

Mulvaney also said anyone — including the Congressional Budget Office — who doesn’t believe that the Trump administration can create the economic growth it has promised is a pessimist and “we reject pessimism.”

The administration is calling its proposal “The New Foundation for American Greatness,” but Mulvaney says he hopes it will simply be know as “The Taxpayer First Budget.”

“I think for years and years we’ve simply looked at a budget in terms of the folks who are on the back end of the programs, the recipients of the taxpayer money, and we haven’t spent nearly enough time focusing our attention on the people who pay the taxes,” Mulvaney said.

This budget is still just a proposal for now. It will need to pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate before it can become law.

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.

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Higher Prices, Fewer Jobs, Less Pay: The 'Strangling' Effects of Over-Regulation

Americans already know over-regulation hurts the economy and their own pocketbooks. But new research shows the last 11 years have really piled on the pain.

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Disney and 4 Other Companies Need Your Work-From-Home Skills. Apply Now

Gather ‘round, I’ve got another collection of work-from-home jobs to tell you about that I think you’re going to love.

Unfortunately, some of these opportunities are location specific. As we’ve mentioned before, some states have laws and regulations that make it difficult for companies to hire remote workers.   

1. Guest Services Representative at Disney

Here’s the perfect job for Disney fans! At the moment, this position is only available to residents of Texas, Georgia, Nevada, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Answering inbound calls and email from guests.
• Contacting guests via outbound calls as needed.
• Identifying and fixing issues that impact the guest experience.
• Directing escalated issues to the appropriate supervisors or managers.
• Creating magical moments for guests.

Applicants for this position must also have:

• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Computer proficiency, including ability to use the Microsoft Office suite and navigate websites.
• High-speed internet access.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
  

The job listing does not include any details about benefits.
Pay: I’ve reached out to Disney and will update you when I hear back.

Apply here for the guest services representative job at Disney. Under keyword, enter “guest services representative,” and scroll down to find your state.

2. Customer Service Associate at Intelenet

This hospitality company is hiring 15 associates. If you’re interested, act fast: Training sessions begin June 12.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Answering incoming calls and assisting customers with booking hotel rooms across the U.S.
• Assisting guest callers with their request and making additional recommendations on each call.
• Building rapport with guest callers and using effective listening skills.

Applicants for this position must also have:

• Previous experience working in a work-from-home call center environment.
• Previous hospitality experience preferred.
• Availability to start on June 12, and attend all training sessions during the first two weeks (Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT).
• High-speed internet access.
• A wired USB headset.
• Proficiency in computer operation and website navigation.
  

You’ll be eligible for the following benefits:

• Guaranteed performance increases
• Set schedule
• Paid training
• Paid time off
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) savings plan

Pay: $9.25 per hour, plus incentives of up to $200 to $900 per month.

Apply here for the customer service associate job at Intelenet.

3. English Tutor at ALO7

If you love working with kids, give this job a look. This tutoring company is offering a $45 bonus to all new hires.

Your responsibilities will include teaching English as a Second Language to Chinese students ages 5-15.

Applicants for this position must also have:

• English as your first language.
• A bachelor’s degree or current enrollment in a four-year college program.
• Tutoring or teaching experience (preferred).

• Note: You do not need to be bilingual to apply.

You’ll be able to set your own schedule in this job.

Pay: $15 to $21 per hour

Apply here for the English Tutor job at ALO7.  

4. Work-at-Home Agent at Sitel

We’ve mentioned jobs at this global telemarketing and outsourcing business before. At the moment, this position is only available to residents of 22 U.S. states and Ontario, Canada.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Answering inbound calls.
• Assisting callers with account, billing or product questions.

Applicants for this position must also have:

• Prior customer service and sales experience.
• Strong verbal and listening skills.
• A professional and articulate voice.
• A quiet work environment.
• A USB headset.
• A desktop or laptop computer that meets specific technical requirements.

You’ll be eligible for the following benefits:

• Paid training
• Paid time off
• 401(k) savings plan
• Direct deposit

Pay: Varies depending on the skills each client needs.

Apply here for the work-at-home-agent job at Sitel. Under Search by Keyword, enter “work@home”; scroll down to find your state.

5. Work-at-Home Reservation Agent at ACTIVE Network

If you enjoy being outdoors, this job is right up your alley. You’ll be helping inbound callers make reservations at campgrounds and state parks across the country.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Assisting customers with reservation requests.
• Communicating with customers using scripted material, policy, guidelines and procedures.
• Attending all mandated virtual training sessions.
• Maintaining productivity goals and quality assurance standards.

Applicants for this position must also have:

• A quiet work environment.
• A land-based phone line.
• High-speed internet connection.
• Desktop computer monitor.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Minimum typing speed of 20 to 30 words per minute.
• Basic computer skills, including email, instant messaging and basic internet searching.

You’ll be eligible for the following benefits:

• 100% work-from-home environment.
• Access to an employee participation program for personal and professional growth.
• Discount opportunities on activities, gear and travel.

Pay: I’ve reached out to the company and will update this post when I hear back.

Apply here for the work-at-home reservation agent position at ACTIVE Network.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on our Jobs page on Facebook. We regularly post new jobs there.

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

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, 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.

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10 Awful, Unexpected Bills We’ve All Had to Deal With (And How to Pay Them)

We’ve all been there.

You’re cruising smoothly through life when suddenly, BAM — something big breaks. Something expensive.

Your transmission needs replacing. Your home’s air conditioner breaks down. You break an ankle and get a pile of medical bills. Your faithful dog Rusty has this weird bumpy thing that might be a tumor or something. And then your phone dies — or you drop it in the toilet.

You get the idea.

This is one of those How am I going to pay for this? kind of expenses. You wonder if you’ll even have enough cash and/or credit available to cover the cost. Your life slips out of cruise control and starts to drift toward the breakdown lane.

At times like this, you’ll need to use your wits. One way or another, you’ll be paying bills, possibly by drumming up some extra cash.

Here are 10 unexpected expenses we’ve all encountered and strategies for dealing with them.

1. Car Repairs

Your car starts making a funny noise: Ka-chunk, ka-chunk, ka-CHUNK, ka-chunk, ka-CHUNK…

It’ll happen: Sooner or later, your muffler or brakes or transmission will break down.

Or your mechanic will squint at you and say, “It’s your ignition coil and your manifold and your catalytic converter,” and like we all do, you’ll nod like you know exactly what he’s talking about.

Fact: 1 in 3 U.S. drivers can’t pay for an unexpected auto repair without going into debt. The average car repair cost is $500 to $600, and major engine or transmission repairs cost a lot more.

What to do: Start an emergency fund, preferably one you can’t touch. A good option is opening an account with Aspiration Summit checking account. Sure, it’s not a traditional “savings” account, but this online-only bank has no fees, no minimum balance, and pays up to 100 times more interest than an average checking account.

2. Home Repairs

I own a house. As a homeowner, one thing I can testify to is this: Just when you think you’re starting to get a little bit ahead financially, something big breaks, whether it’s the roof or a random water pipe.

I live in Florida, and just last week my house’s 18-year-old central air conditioning system finally wheezed its last breath and gave up the ghost. At the beginning of summer. IN FLORIDA. IN SUMMER. It was like living inside a microwave oven inside a sauna inside a jungle. That A/C had to be replaced pronto.   

No wonder homeowners typically spend between 1% and 4% of the value of their home on annual maintenance and repairs.

You can save by doing some repairs on your own. But you also know when it’s time to hire a pro.

How to afford that on short notice? Sometimes you can’t just throw it on a credit card (which probably isn’t the best idea, anyway).

Credible is an online marketplace that offers consumers personalized loan offers. Think of it like Zillow — but for personal loans. Rates start at 5.99%, and you can check yours by entering a loan amount here ($500 to $40,000) and comparing your personalized options in under 90 seconds.

Odds are you’ll get a better interest rate than you’d get from a credit card.

3. Weddings and Other Unexpected Trips

It’s wedding season! Hurray!

Your best friend/cousin/college roommate is getting hitched. Hurray!

You’re in the wedding party, and you’ll have to fly across the country for this. Hurr-ouch!

Weddings are expensive, and this one will involve vacation days, airfare and hotel rooms. If it involves a lengthy trek, use these tips to save money flying.

Not to mention, you’re also in the wedding party. Now you’re probably on the hook for whatever the bride/groom wants everyone to wear.

And don’t forget the destination bachelor(ette) party…

What to Do: Start an emergency fund with Stash.

The app saves your money without you lifting a finger. Just link it to your checking account and ask the app to automatically pull a few bucks from your account each week. It’ll invest your savings into dozens of different stock options.

And if you sign up for Stash here, you’ll get an extra $5 to invest when you open your account.

You won’t have a fortune overnight, but every bit helps.

4. Pricy Prescriptions

You have a cough. Ehh, you’ll be fine.

A week later, you can’t stop coughing. You can barely get a word in. You need strong medicine.

But you need to take time off work to go to the doctor. And depending on your insurance, you might have to pay for that visit. And you’re going to need that strong medicine — which definitely isn’t free.

Prescription drugs can be expensive — and the prices keep increasing. Plus, the high cost of insurance can put them out of reach for many adults.

What to do: Use an app like GoodRX to shop around for the best prescription price.

The app quickly compares prices across pharmacies to see where your meds are cheapest. It also provides coupons, some of which could save you up to 80%. You can either print them out or just show them to the pharmacist on your phone.

5. Medical Bills

Remember that cough? Maybe it develops into something worse. (Hope not…) Or, heaven forbid, you’re running late for work and take a weird step off a curb.

Congratulations! You now have a broken ankle and need an X-ray, cast and crutches (and probably a ride for a few weeks).

Medical bills pile up fast. Americans pay more for medical care than almost any other industrialized nation — about $10,000 a year per capita, in fact.

Here are 10 ways to save money on your medical bills, including negotiating them. Still, when you see those crazy-high bills, the bottom line can seem insurmountable.

With medical expenses, you can often work out a payment plan with your medical provider. Then you could use a steady source of extra income. Shoot for earning enough extra cash to cover your payment plan.

What to do: List your home or extra room on Airbnb.

Have a spare room? Might as well use Airbnb to make some money by renting it out.

If you’re a good host with a desirable space, you could add hundreds — even thousands — of dollars to your savings account with Airbnb.

Taking a few simple steps can make the difference between a great experience and a less-than-satisfactory one.

Here are a few tips:

• Make your space available during high-demand times in your area. Think: concerts, conventions and sporting events in your area.
  

• Be a good host, and make sure your place is stocked with the toiletries you’d expect at a hotel — toilet paper, soap and towels.
  

• Be personable. A lot of travelers turn to Airbnb for the personal touch they won’t find at commercial properties.
  

Here’s the link to sign up as an Airbnb host.

(Hosting laws vary from city to city. Please understand the rules and regulations applicable to your city and listing.)

6. Veterinary Bills

Dogs have this weird idea that they need to put everything in their mouth. It probably tastes good, right?

Nope, it might cause vomiting, and lethargy, and all the other warning signs that mean you’re about to frantically rush to the vet.

Here are 21 ways to save money on pet care, including this key tip: Call the vet before you need one.

The worst time to find an affordable vet is when you have a medical emergency (stupid dog). If you love your pets, you’ll pay whatever it costs in the moment. To lower the cost of routine and emergency pet care, choose an affordable vet before you need one.

Use websites like VetRatingz.com to avoid bad vets. Call the acceptable ones and ask what they charge for a basic checkup, vaccinations, teeth cleaning or other procedures.

No matter what, a sudden vet bill may leave you short of cash.

What to do: Drive with Uber.

Uber is all on your own time. Got a few hours to spare? Drive around and make some money.

As an Uber contractor, you set your own schedule and work when you want. Your pay is calculated on a base fare, plus time and distance traveled for each pickup. Uber charges a service fee of 20% to 35%, depending on your city.

If you want to give it a try, you must:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Have three years’ driving experience
• Have an in-state driver’s license and a clean driving record
• Be able to pass a criminal background check
• Have a four-door car

Here’s a link to apply with Uber. And here’s our story comparing the basics for drivers with Uber and Lyft, another valid option.

7. Your Phone Bites the Big One

You drop your phone in the toilet. PLUNK. Tell me this isn’t happening, you think.

At least the water is clean.

We live and die by our phones. Let’s face it: At this point, our phones are basically an extension of our bodies. In another decade or so, we’ll all be cyborgs. Bank on it.

Exhibit A: When our smartphones suddenly stop working, we don’t say, “Oh, my phone broke,” or “My phone is busted.”

Instead we say, “My phone died.”

The average new smartphone costs more than $500, while the cost of used ones is all over the map. How can you come up with extra cash fast?

Sell all that extraneous stuff that’s cluttering up your home.

What to do: Use apps to quickly unload all that extraneous stuff that’s cluttering up your home.

Decluttr: This app buys your old CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays and video games, plus tech like cell phones, tablets, game consoles and iPods. Scan the barcode with your phone, and Decluttr will make you an offer. It’ll also send you a shipping label, so you can ship everything free. Plus, enter PENNY10 at checkout to get an extra 10% for your trade-ins.

Letgo: You can sell nearly anything through this app. Just snap a photo of your item, and set up a listing in about 30 seconds. Letgo is 80% free to use.

Bookscouter: Hoarding old textbooks? Someone will probably pay you for them. Just search the book’s ISBN on Bookscouter, and the site will connect you with more than 25 of the best-paying and most reputable online buyback companies.

8. A Death in the Family

The worst emergency of all. We’d trade for any other emergency on this list to avoid this one.

You may have to travel suddenly for a loved one’s funeral. And if it turns out to be your funeral this time, here’s how to plan an affordable one so your family isn’t buried in debt.

No matter what, there will still be expenses.

What to do: Consider a life insurance policy, which could be useful for paying off your funeral, mortgage or car loans. It’s about making sure your loved ones will be okay if you unexpectedly leave them behind.

Companies like Haven Life offer streamlined ways to get life insurance. Unlike traditional life insurance providers, this online-only platform provides instant decisions on applications for coverage.

Some qualified, healthy applicants up to the age of 45 may even get to skip the medical exam that most providers require.

9. Identity Theft

Who’d really want to be you, right? Probably more people than you think.

That’s why they open accounts in your name — and spend money just like they’re you. Only they buy lots of way cooler, more expensive stuff than you do. But they do this with shiny new credit cards — with YOUR name on them.

The best part? You don’t even know about it. Until the collections agencies start calling you.

This is definitely an unexpected emergency, and it happens more often than you might think — nearly 3 million times a year.

When fraudsters hijack your identity for their own purposes, they can grab up lines of credit and rack up significant debt in your name with shocking ease.

A free service like TrueIdentity helps you avoid this situation by keeping a watchful eye your finances. It sends alerts by email, phone or text if someone tries to apply for credit in your name.

10. Traffic and Parking Tickets

There’s nothing worse than watching the meter maid put a fresh parking ticket on your windshield from across a busy intersection.

These days I don’t get as many speeding tickets as I did when I was a kid with a Camaro. I spend a lot of time in our local downtown, though, so I still get parking tickets.

These things are getting expensive. The average cost of a speeding ticket is about $150 these days. Parking tickets can run you $10 to $50.

You may need to drum up some extra cash here.

What to Do: There are a number of sites on the web that will pay you to read advertisers’ emails, sign up for offers, and take surveys. We’ve tried many of them, but there are only a few we’d recommend. One is Survey Junkie.

The surveys are relatively quick to complete, and reward you with points. Once you earn 1,000 points — or $10 — you can cash in. Some surveys offers up to 300 points.

Sign up for this at the beginning of the month and promise yourself you’ll log in a few times each week. You’ll have no trouble earning an extra $30 this month.

Another (free) option? Stop getting traffic tickets, dork.

Disclosure: You wouldn’t believe how much coffee The Penny Hoarder team goes through. This post contains affiliate links so we can keep the grinds stocked!

Mike Brassfield (mike@thepennyhoarder.com) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. His whole life is one long unexpected expense.

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.

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10 Cheap and Easy DIY Wedding Gifts I’m Making for Every Bride on My List

Report: Americans Now Owe Billions More Than Before the Great Recession

The year 2008 called. You remember 2008, right? The year right before the Great Recession?

Well, it called, and it wants its household debt record back.

It’s official: Americans have regained their appetite for debt. We’ve crossed a threshold, because we are now borrowing more money than we did at the peak of the U.S. housing bubble in 2008.

You remember what happened after that, right? Yes, that’s when the entire global financial system collapsed.

Relax. It might not be that bad this time, but you’ll still need to play your cards right. We’ll talk about ways to do that.

First, the news: Total U.S. household debt climbed to $12.73 trillion in early 2017, pushing today’s debt level higher than the $12.68 trillion peak in 2008, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Key differences exist between now and 2008, reducing the likelihood of another financial meltdown. The main thing: More of today’s debt is held by older, more creditworthy borrowers compared to 2008, according to the Fed.

“The growing debt level shows that many of the millions of Americans who struggled during the recession have sufficiently repaired their credit to qualify for loans,” The New York Times reports. “It also suggests a rising optimism about economic growth among banks and other lenders.”

While people in 2017 are handling their mortgages and auto loans better — with fewer foreclosures and defaults — the fact is that student loans are fueling the rise in debt.

There’s a fear that rising student loan debt could lead to a wave of defaults like the one from 2008’s financial debacle.

“This is not a marker we should be super excited to get back to,” Heather Boushey, director of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, told the Times. “In the abstract, more debt signals optimism. But in reality, families are using debt as a mechanism to pay for things their incomes don’t support.”

Here’s how to not run afoul of our increasing appetite for debt:

1. Figure Out What You’re Dealing With

Map out exactly what kind of debt you have.

For example, which companies do you owe money to? Are any of your debts in collections? What are your minimum monthly payments on each credit card or loan?

An easy way to do this is to sign up with a free service like Credit Sesame. This tool shows your balance on any unpaid bills, credit cards or loans. It also offers tips on reducing your debt and raising your credit score.

2. Consolidate Your Debt

If you fall behind on your credit card debt, you may find yourself getting crushed by interest rates north of 20%. You’ll never catch up that way. You’re spending so much on interest, you’ll never pay off your balances.

It might be worth consolidating or refinancing your debt.

By refinancing an existing loan, you’re taking out a totally new loan, which comes with new terms and (ideally) a lower interest rate. Credible is an online marketplace that offers consumers personalized loan offers. Think of it like Zillow — but for personal loans.

Rates start at 5.99%, and you can check yours by entering a loan amount here ($500 to $40,000) and comparing your personalized options in under 90 seconds.

3. Protect Your Identity

What if you work hard to pay down all your debt and you’re totally responsible with your credit — only to take a hit because of identity theft?

A free service like TrueIdentity helps you avoid this situation by keeping a watchful eye on your finances. It sends alerts by email, phone or text if someone tries to apply for credit in your name.

The bottom line: It’s best to have a strategy when we’re talking about household debt levels surpassing those of 2008.

The experts insist 2017’s household debt really is different. For one thing, consumers are currently delinquent on less than 5% of total debt, compared to nearly 12% of debt that was more than a month late in 2009.

Fewer of us are falling behind.

Let’s keep that trend going.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. May we all be a bit richer today.

Mike Brassfield (mike@thepennyhoarder.com) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. He remembers 2008 all too well.

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.

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Stay in Other People’s Awesome Homes for Free: How to Find House-Sitting Gigs

Imagine sipping your morning coffee on a beautiful balcony looking out over the ocean. Later, you water the plants and clean up a bit before taking a dip in the pool. Oh, and you’re getting paid for taking care of this house!

It sounds too good to be true. Can you really find house-sitting jobs that pay?

Yes and no. Yes, caretaking gigs that pay a salary or stipend in addition to providing you a place to stay do exist. But no, there aren’t many that fit the description above.

Most house-sitting opportunities fall into one of these two categories: standard house-sitting gigs, or more demanding caretaking jobs. If you’re curious about getting free accommodation in interesting places (and maybe earning a little cash as well), here’s how to get started.

Basic House-Sitting Jobs

Many websites list house-sitting gigs, and a quick glance at the listings tells you right away that not many people are offering to pay their house sitters much — if anything. Normally, you get a nice place to stay, rent free. In fact, if you’re caring for the home for months, you’re usually expected to pay some or all of the utilities.

This might not sound like much of a money-making opportunity, but it depends on how you look at it. If your current lease is ending and you’ll get free rent somewhere for three months before moving into your next $1,000-per-month apartment, you’re $3,000 better off, right?

Here are some of the online platforms where you can find the opportunities, along with their subscription rates:

• House Sitters America ($30 per year)
• Mind My House ($20 per year)
• Housecarers.com ($50 per year or free limited membership)
• Luxury House Sitting ($25 per year)
• Nomador ($89 per year or limited free membership)

Some people make a lifestyle of house-sitting. Canadian couple Dalene & Peter Heck sold everything in 2009 to travel the world, staying in other people’s homes. Among other stays, they spent six months house-sitting in Honduras, and at the moment they’re caring for a home in Paris, France. They say, “We’ve had 14 jobs in nine countries, and saved over $50,000 in the cost of accommodations as a result.”

Sometimes you can get paid for basic house sitting. As House Sitters America explains;

The bottom line is it’s all negotiable between you and the homeowners. In most cases it’s just a straight swap; the house sitter cares for the house and pets in exchange for free accommodation… However there may be times when a homeowner will offer some money for the house sitting job.

They offer examples of times a homeowner might pay you, including:

• When the house is in an undesirable location
• For short sits (such as a few days)
• When there are many pets to care for

They add “Of course, there are also many professional house and pet sitters who actually do this for a living, and they will charge a fee for their services.” How do these professionals get paid? Usually they offer a bit more than simply staying in the house and making sure no one breaks in.

Caretaking Jobs

In general, you’ll get a stipend or salary if you’re doing more than just watching a home. In these cases you’re more of a caretaker than a house-sitter.

One of the best sources for these types of jobs is The Caretaker Gazette, which has been around for more than 30 years. They have the usual listings of free place to stay, but they also host advertisements from people who are willing to pay you. In their archives (which you can see for free) I found the following three examples in one issue:

1. In a small town in Alaska, someone was hiring a caretaker to manage a small store and two apartments and do monthly home heating oil deliveries.

Pay: A small apartment with all bills covered, TV, Wi-Fi, salary (unspecified) and bonuses.

2. Near Colorado Springs, Colorado, an add requested a couple or single person to care for a ranch with five horses.

Pay: Salary (unspecified) and a furnished apartment.

3. An ad from Nassau, in the Bahamas, wanted a “house couple” to keep house, plan events, run errands and much more.

Pay: A place to stay and “$100,000 to $120,000 per year.”

Clearly these are jobs, not just house-sitting, but they suggest the variety offerings found in the Caretaker Gazette. Of the 100 or so postings in that one issue of their newsletter, there were opportunities all over the U.S. as well as in a dozen other countries, including Peru, Australia and Iceland.

Are You Qualified to House-Sit?

A good house-sitter is responsible, reliable and adaptable. If you’re looking to get more than just free accommodation, it helps to also have some mechanical skills. For example, more than one caretaking gig I found in my research required someone with basic plumbing skills, like being able to fix a leaking sink drain.

You’ll have competition, by the way, even for the basic house-sitting jobs. At the moment Mind My House shows 243 active house-sitting assignments, but more than 4,300 “sitter available” listings.

In other words, clients get to be choosy, so experience is a plus. To build some, you might start by house-sitting for family and friends. Be sure to get glowing testimonials from them to add to your resume.

Steve Gillman is the author of “101 Weird Ways to Make Money” and creator of EveryWayToMakeMoney.com. He’s been a repo-man, walking stick carver, search engine evaluator, house flipper, tram driver, process server, mock juror, and roulette croupier, but of more than 100 ways he has made money, writing is his favorite (so far).

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.

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Attention Brides: Amazon Just Launched a Market for Handmade Wedding Stuff

When my sister got married two-and-a-half years ago, she purchased a bunch of stuff off Etsy — her veil, her headband, bouquets and boutonnieres, the flower girl basket, the ring bearer pillow, table runners, table numbers, bridesmaid gifts… the list goes on.

She chose the homemade marketplace because she was searching for a unique look and appreciated that things were customized and crafted by individual artists.

I mean, every bride wants to stand out, right?

Well, this week Amazon decided to get in on the handmade wedding crafts business by launching Handmade at Amazon Wedding Shop. It’s an offshoot of the Handmade at Amazon marketplace it rolled out less than two years ago, TechCrunch reported.

Here, couples shopping for their big day can purchase one-of-a-kind items including invitations, jewelry, fashion accessories, cake toppers, artificial flowers, signs, gifts, favors and so much more. Price points range from under $25 to over $200.

“We created the Handmade Wedding Shop with the savvy couple in mind,” Katie Harnetiaux, head of marketing for Handmade at Amazon, said in a press release. “From rustic chic to glitz and glam, the Wedding Shop is a one-stop destination for customers to discover a vast selection of customized products for their big day.”

With the wedding industry raking in big bucks (at least $55 billion in the U.S.), it seems only natural for Amazon to capitalize on the market. TechCrunch notes that because wedding purchases tend to be emotional and not practical, customers are often willing to spend more.

How to Make Money on Amazon’s Wedding Platform

So if you’re a DIY crafter, how can you sell your wedding-themed goods on Amazon’s newest platform?

Well first off, your products need to meet Amazon’s definition of handmade, which means the items need to be made, altered or assembled entirely by hand.

Since only invited artisans are authorized to sell on Amazon’s Handmade Wedding Shop, you’ll have to apply to receive an invitation. From there, you’ll register, create an artisan profile and then list your products to your online store and start selling!

According to Amazon, seller benefits include the potential to have your products seen by the retail giant’s 250 million customer base, and phone and email support.

Amazon takes a 15% or $1 cut (whichever is greater) of sales on its handmade marketplace. Professional sellers also typically pay a $39.99 monthly fee, however, through the end of 2017, Amazon has waived the charge.

Happy selling, and here’s hoping you make a bride’s dream come true.

Disclosure: A toast to savings! Thanks for allowing us to place affiliate links in this post.

Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She oohs and aahs over personalized wedding decor but has never had a need to purchase any.

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.

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How to Celebrate Personal Success Without Breaking the Bank

Personal success often translates into a time for celebration.

You just got a promotion at work. You just got a great new job. You just got engaged. You found out you’re expecting a child. You paid off your car. You paid off your house. You sold your house. There are lots of reasons that life offers us for a celebration of some kind or another.

However, celebration often translates into expense in the modern world. When we think of celebrating a major personal event like those things, we tend to think of going out for a nice dinner or buying a treat for oneself. In other words, we tend to think of a celebration of personal success as being centered around spending money.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

There are a multitude of ways to commemorate a special event in your life without breaking the bank with a huge expensive meal or an overpriced treat that you don’t really want or need. Here are some free or very low-cost ways to celebrate momentous events in your life.

Give yourself a day or two off.

This is my absolute favorite way to celebrate a big life event. I “treat” myself to some time off from typical responsibilities.

I’ll clear my schedule, burn a vacation day (in my world, that means using some backup articles), and devote that day to simply doing something that I enjoy that I rarely have time for. I’ll spread some elaborate six hour long board game out on the table and play it with a few friends. I’ll spend the entire afternoon curled up with a book. I’ll hike a thirteen mile trail. I’ll make some crazy complicated recipe I’ve been yearning to try.

To me, that’s a celebration. A celebration is about doing something outside of the norm, and for busy people, the thing that’s typically outside of the norm is extra time, not extra money. We effectively “celebrate” by spending money on treats most days of our lives, so why not make an authentic celebration by not spending money and instead spending another valuable resource, time?

Have a potluck dinner party.

People often want to celebrate a special occasion by having a special meal with friends. Why not make the celebration a little more low-key and simply have a potluck dinner party?

Just plan a main course for everyone and ask friends to bring sides and drinks. You’ll find that you’re each spending far less than you would if you went out for a celebratory meal, but that you’re all together around the table laughing and sharing ideas and memories.

The goal of this is to center the focus of the celebratory meal around the people and not around the service or food. At a potluck, the focus really is on the people gathered around the table, the connections they have, the connections they’re growing, the conversations, the laughter, and the communal environment. That, to me, is celebration, and it can happen around my kitchen table with a pot of slow cooked soup, some dinner rolls that a friend brought, and a bottle of wine brought by another friend.

• Related: How to Host a Cost-Effective, Fun Dinner Party

Take some photos.

On my last day at my previous job, I spent an hour or so taking pictures of some of the specific things I wanted to remember.

I took some pictures of my office before I packed up my personal belongings. I took some pictures of my coworkers around the office. I took a picture of the basement server room that I often visited. I took some pictures of the outside of the building, too.

Those pictures were a perfect kind of closure and, honestly, I look at them far more than I do at any of the “going away” gifts that my coworkers gave to me. Those pictures from that last day at work show up sometimes on my photo screensaver and it reminds me of the aspects of that job that I really loved.

It was a great “going away” gift to myself, and since then I’ve taken lots of pictures of things on the cusp of change. I wish now I had pictures of my great-grandmother’s house, for example, because I knew the last time I was in her house was going to be the last time I was there. I’d love to have some pictures of her dining room armoire or of her china cabinet, or of her favorite chair in her front room.

Taking a bunch of photographs is a great way to mark and celebrate a rite of passage or a change in your life, and you’ll often be surprised how meaningful those photographs are later on in life.

Plant a commemorative tree.

Another powerful way to celebrate a life change is to simply plant a tree. Plant a tree when you have a child. Plant a tree when you leave a job. Plant a tree when you get engaged, or when you get married. Plant a tree the day you move into a new house.

The simple act of planting the tree can feel like a celebration, but it’s actually far more than that. That tree will grow over time, and as time passes, you can visit that tree and see the changes in it. Those changes often serve as a great mirror of the changes in your own life since that celebratory event.

Not only that, picking a sapling and heading out to a place to plant it with a few friends and a few tools, and then turning over the soil and placing the sapling in the ground, then perhaps putting up a small fence to protect it… all of it feels very much like a ritual, a moment where you’re really commemorating some kind of change in your life.

Make a collective journal.

If you know someone else is about to go through a major life change, one thing you can do to make for a very special celebration of that moment is to make a collective journal for that person.

It’s easy. Find a cheap journal or a notebook and start it off by writing an entry in it congratulating them on their life change and offering whatever advice you can for their upcoming changes. If someone is about to become a parent, write down some parenting advice. If someone is about to change jobs, offer some advice on establishing yourself in a new workplace.

Then simply pass that journal around to several thoughtful people who might also sensibly contribute to such a journal. Encourage each person to take a page and offer congratulations and advice.

I’ve received a journal like this at one point in the past, and I’ve organized the giving of such a journal many times before. Each time, that journal became a centerpiece of the celebration. I’ve had people write to me years later and mentioning the shared journal they received.

All you need for this is an inexpensive notebook or journal. If you have an old unused one laying around, that’s absolutely perfect for this kind of project. Just get it started well in advance (if you can) and write the first entry yourself to give others some kind of template.

Save something meaningful.

In the back of a cabinet at our house, I have a bottle of one of the best wines I’ve ever shared with my wife. We shared it together at a winery in the Pacific Northwest in 2004 and it’s still sealed.

That was our last vacation together as a childless married couple, and I’ve wanted to save it to drink with her when our last child moves out of the house. Wine typically ages very well, so I’m sure it will be just fine when the time comes.

That bottle of wine didn’t cost very much – less than $20, I’m sure – but it is going to be an incredibly meaningful part of a celebration in a few years. It will be part of how we mark a transition back to living in a house with just the two of us, with our children out on our own.

When you’re taking on a life change that you know will wind down someday, like buying a house together or having a child that will someday move out, put aside something inexpensive now that you can use to celebrate when that period comes to an end. A bottle of wine is perfect for this. Get an inexpensive bottle that you both enjoy and stick it in a cupboard somewhere. Simply opening that bottle together will be all the celebration you need when the time comes.

Celebrations can be special and momentous without breaking the bank. It just takes a little bit of thought and sometimes a little bit of planning. May your next celebration be wonderful and memorable, and may it not hamper your financial plans.

Related Articles: 

• Balancing Financial Success and Life’s Big Moments
• How to Celebrate a Child’s Birthday Without Breaking the Bank
• 10 Friends Who Will Ruin Your Finances If You Let Them

The post How to Celebrate Personal Success Without Breaking the Bank appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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US stock indexes waver, keeping market near record highs

U.S. stocks are little changed Friday, keeping indexes near record highs following a six-day winning streak. Technology companies, which have led the market's recent rally, are flat overall. Video game companies are falling as Wall Street was disappointed by forecasts from GameStop. Consumer-focused companies rose.

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The Ultimate Blueprint for Creating a Super Persuasive Testimonial

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand the correlation between testimonials and higher conversions.

As humans, we’re wired to seek feedback from others.

But testimonials may carry even more weight than you may have thought.

Research found that

customer testimonials are considered to be one of the most effective content marketing techniques, identified by 89% of B2B marketers.

And there’s one particular A/B test involving testimonials I really like.

It compared different variations of a landing page for Seiko Watches.

Here’s the first version, containing no testimonials:

And here’s the second version, containing a widget featuring positive customer reviews:

Guess by how much the conversions improved.

By 58.39%!

Not too shabby.

But I have a bone to pick with the way most brands approach testimonials.

I feel the majority stick to a conventional format and aren’t fully harnessing the true power of testimonials.

In this post, I break down what I think the ultimate blueprint for creating a super persuasive testimonial is.

I’ll briefly touch on the fundamentals and throw in some other angles you might not have thought of.

Here we go.

Use images

I won’t bore you with a long-winded explanation of the importance of images.

This is usually one of the first bits of advice you’ll hear.

But they really are a critical element of a strong testimonial.

In fact,

65% of senior marketing executives believe that visual assets are core to how their brand story is communicated.

Not only do images make testimonials look more professional, they increase “truthiness,” defined as a subjective feeling of truth.

This is what you’re looking for when attempting to create a connection and persuade leads to buy.

Include specifics

You probably know I’m a stat guy.

I love stats!

For me, data is the perfect way to help prospects connect the dots and understand why your brand is worth doing business with.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to include concrete numbers in your testimonials.

Don’t just feature testimonials that say your product “is good.”

Give prospects real data.

Here are a couple of examples of testimonials I use on NeilPatel.com.

There’s one reason I use these specific testimonials.

They work.

Seeing that Timothy earned $15 million in revenue and received 26% more traffic is much better than saying something like, “Neil really helped my company and you should work with him.”

It’s the same story here with Gawker Media:

Here’s how Freshbooks uses this technique:

The point here is to make it crystal clear what results your prospects can expect.

Show them how you can help them in a tangible way.

And here’s another quick tip.

Try to stay away from round numbers, like 20% and 30%.

Consumers tend to prefer exactness, and using only perfect numbers may raise suspicion.

Show the good and bad

If there’s one mistake I see brands making time and time again, it’s using only rosy testimonials.

Don’t get me wrong: you obviously want to sell yourself and ensure that prospects view you in a positive light.

But you don’t want to go overboard and feature testimonials that offer nothing but praise without any negatives whatsoever.

This can kill your credibility, and it tends to make visitors more skeptical.

After all, any charlatan can slap up some bogus reviews and make themselves look like a saint.

What people are looking for is authenticity.

They want to see your brand for what it really is, flaws and all.

In fact, studies suggest that bad reviews can actually be good for business.

Research from social commerce company Reevoo found that

68% consumers trust reviews more when they see both good and bad scores, while 30% suspect censorship or faked reviews when they don’t see anything negative at all.

Just think about it.

Have you ever done research on a product and seen nothing but rave reviews, with every single testimonial giving it 10 out of 10?

To me, that’s a red flag. I feel something is definitely up.

This isn’t to say you should include testimonials that bash your company.

That would be foolish.

But showing a flaw or two can actually work to your advantage.

Make testimonials traceable

Anyone can say a testimonial was written by “Jack W. from Orlando.”

But how do your prospects know it’s legit?

They don’t.

I’ve realized one of the best ways to quell skepticism is to make your testimonials “traceable.”

By this I mean including a link to the person’s website, portfolio, Twitter page, etc.

It doesn’t really matter as long as you can prove that the person giving the review actually exists and that the testimonial isn’t fabricated.

And here’s another idea.

Create an entire page that thoroughly explains how your product/service helped the person and contributed to their success.

Here’s a nice example from Kissmetrics:

By clicking on the link, prospects are taken to this page where they can learn more about the company (Mention) and how Kissmetrics helped it improve its performance.

They’ll instantly know the testimonial is genuine, and it can provide even more incentive to purchase.

I took full advantage of this tactic on NeilPatel.com, where I feature a case study of Timothy Sykes.

Here are a couple of screenshots:

I’ve found this to be a tremendous help, and it’s helped me reel in several big name clients.

Target heavy hitters

I’m going to preface this by saying this isn’t applicable to every brand.

If you’re coming from relative obscurity, it may not be feasible to get testimonials from big name celebrities and industry experts.

But if you can land even one “heavy hitter,” the rewards should be plentiful.

Here’s a good example from Help Scout:

It’s safe to say Gary Vaynerchuk is a pretty big deal.

Here’s another one, featuring Seth Godin:

Just imagine the impact of having someone prominent giving your brand a nod of approval.

It could make all the difference.

Check out this resource for some pointers on landing this type of testimonial.

Experiment with a long-form format

If you listen to standard advice on testimonials, you’ll probably hear that you should keep them short and sweet.

However, this isn’t always the best route to go.

In fact, longer testimonials are often more persuasive than standard, short ones.

Why?

Think about it.

Long-form testimonials allow you to explain the ins and outs of your product and provide specific examples of how it has helped your customers.

You can effectively cover multiple aspects of your product and address any concerns your prospects may have.

One of the best examples I’ve seen of long-form testimonials is Noah Kagan’s landing page for Make Your First Dollar course.

Here’s what I’m talking about:

It’s incredibly in-depth, and I’m sure many of the people reading this testimonial could put themselves in Bryan’s shoes.

Now, I’m not saying long-form is the right approach for every single brand, but it’s definitely something to consider.

If you zig when your competitors zag, this could be your ticket to making your brand stand out.

Experiment with video

Who says a testimonial has to be a conventional text-based snippet?

There are no rules.

I’m a fan of experimenting with different mediums, especially video.

And quite frankly, video has never been hotter than it is right now.

Here are just a few interesting video marketing stats:

• “45% of people watch more than an hour of Facebook or YouTube videos a week.”
• “85% of the US Internet audience watches videos online.”
• “51% of marketing professionals worldwide name video as the type of content with the best ROI.”
• “Marketers who use video grow revenue 49% faster than non-video users.”

If you’re crushing it with video in other areas of marketing, why not incorporate it into your testimonials?

One company in particular that pulls this off flawlessly is Codecademy:

They provide a great real-life example of how one of their users elevated his career and created one of the top 50 websites in 2013.

It’s very compelling, and I’m sure it’s motivated many “iffy” prospects to go ahead and sign up for Codecademy.

Unbounce did A/B testing on their homepage to see what impact video testimonials would have.

Here’s page A, featuring traditional text testimonials:

It looks good enough.

But here’s page B, featuring a video:

This led to a 25% conversion lift!

If you’re looking for inspiration and ideas for creating video testimonials, check out this post from HubSpot.

There’s a bunch of great examples.

Conclusion

At its core, a testimonial is a very simple thing.

It’s

a formal statement testifying to someone’s or a brand’s character and qualifications.

But the way you go about creating a testimonial and the elements you incorporate can make or break it.

The more tried-and-true tactics are okay, and I’m sure they will have some impact.

But the tactics I explained in this post should maximize that impact.

Following this blueprint should enable you to create a highly persuasive testimonial your prospects will eat up.

This should make it possible to quickly gain their trust, squash any skepticism they may have, and ultimately motivate them to buy.

What do you think the most important element of a testimonial is?

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In Mexico, Artists Can Pay Their Federal Taxes With Artwork

How does the Pago en Especie program allow artists in Mexico to pay taxes with art? Learn more in this HowStuffWorks article.

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This Woman Tells Us What It’s Actually Like to Be a Flight Attendant

In Mexico, Artists Can Pay Their Federal Taxes With Artwork

How does the Pago en Especie program allow artists in Mexico to pay taxes with art? Learn more in this HowStuffWorks article.

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Deal of the week: get four free Cornetto ice creams this bank holiday weekend

Adam Williams

ice-cream-deal.jpg

It’s the bank holiday weekend and good weather is forecast for much of the UK. So why not celebrate the long weekend with four free Cornetto ice creams available via the Shopmium app?

It’s the bank holiday weekend and good weather is forecast for much of the UK. So why not celebrate the long weekend with four free Cornetto ice creams available via the Shopmium app?

What’s the deal exactly?

Anyone can get a free pack of four classic Cornetto ice cream cones by signing up to the Shopmium app.

read more

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May’s Peak Season Produce Won’t Stick Around Long — Look for it Now!