How to Become the World’s #1 Expert in Your Niche

Whether you’re a brand, a webmaster or a solo blogger, it’s essential your audience takes you seriously.

You need to prove you know your stuff.

But in a world that’s become increasingly saturated with self-appointed “gurus,” it’s become incredibly difficult to separate yourself from the masses.

That’s why authority and credibility have become the name of the game.

How do you achieve authority and credibility?

It’s not something you can buy. It must be cultivated, and that takes time.

You can’s just go from being an unknown to being a top industry expert overnight.

But I’ve learned over the past decade that there are several ways to expedite the process and attain expert level status within a reasonable amount of time.

In this post, I would like to share with you some lessons I’ve learned, top strategies I’ve used as well as some specific tools you can use to become the world’s number one expert in your niche.

You need to be all in

Before you do anything, you need to make sure you’re truly interested in and passionate about the niche you’re focusing on.

Let’s be honest.

It’ll be an uphill battle if you’re only lukewarm about the topic you are choosing.

Talking about it, writing about it, vlogging about it will inevitably become a chore, and you’ll lose momentum.

I can’t tell you the number of projects I’ve abandoned over the years simply because I wasn’t fully invested in them.

I lacked the passion.

And as Gary Vaynerchuk would say, “Passion is priceless.”

What I’m saying is before you get in too deep, make sure the niche you’re focusing on is something you’re deeply interested in and passionate about.

This is the key to sustaining you for the long haul.

Quite frankly, this has been a huge factor in my success.

It’s not by chance that my niche is digital marketing.

I truly love it. I eat, sleep and breathe digital marketing.

Talking about it all the time doesn’t feel like work. It’s fun.

That’s how I’ve been able to write over 4,000 blog posts over the past 10 years.

I would have never made it otherwise.

The bottom line is you need to be all in before anything else.

That’s a prerequisite.

And here’s a little slice of advice.

The smaller your niche is, the quicker you can build influence.

In fact, a study by Technorati found,

more than 54% of consumers agree that the shorter the community size, the greater the influence.

Keep it in mind because “niching down” is often a good idea when you’re seeking to attain expert status in a hurry.

Make learning a habit

Before you can share your knowledge with others, you need to accumulate your own pool of knowledge first.

The quickest way I’ve found to build a solid body of knowledge is to surround myself with the topic I’m interested in.

In other words, you need to get in the habit of learning continuously.

Fortunately, the Internet is the ultimate vessel for building your knowledge.

It’s simply a matter of finding the best possible resources for research and learning.

This usually starts with blogs, slideshows, infographics, etc.

But I have a little trick for streamlining things and finding some of the top resources quickly.

Here’s what you do.

Let’s say you want to become an expert in urban farming.

First, go to BuzzSumo.

Type in a search phrase.

Then click on “Content Analysis.”

Now click on “Search.”

You’ll get a bunch of results.

Next, scroll down to the section called “Most Shared Domains by Network.”

You’ll be able to see which websites, blogs and publications are receiving the most shares.

The pie chart on the right will give you a visual perspective on things.

For instance, it’s clear that inhabitat.com is killing it in terms of shares relating to “urban farming.”

It’s definitely a site I would want to check out.

You can also scroll down to the bottom to see the top 10 pieces of content for the moment.

I’ve found that BuzzSumo is absolutely perfect for identifying key resources for research.

Build a hub

There’s a lot I love about content marketing!

But what I love the most (besides increasing sales) is that it has allowed me to build my reputation and establish a loyal audience.

When it comes to boosting your authority and credibility, I can’t think of a better way than simply creating great content around your niche.

It’s the perfect way for putting your money where your mouth is and proving you truly know what you’re talking about.

Create your personal “hub,” where you use a variety of different mediums to discuss your niche.

Allow me to use NeilPatel.com as an example.

I use it to show potential clients I’m legit in a few different ways.

First, there’s my blog.

I make sure it stays populated with high-end, in-depth posts on everything digital marketing.

Next, there’s my collection of videos that I refer to as “Neil Knowledge.”

Here, visitors can watch brief videos where I share my knowledge on a variety of digital marketing topics.

Then, there’s my podcast that I call “Marketing School.”

At the moment, I have nearly 350 podcast sessions that run the digital marketing gamut.

This is a model I suggest you follow because it’s your key to being recognized as an expert.

Building a hub such as this gives you an opportunity to cover your niche in great detail and share your knowledge with visitors who are eager to learn.

This isn’t to say you need to use the same mediums I do.

In fact, I recommend experimenting with different formats to see what works best for you and what resonates the most with your audience.

Here are some ideas:

And the more high-quality content you accumulate, the more seriously people will take you.

Connect with other influencers

At this point, you should have chosen a niche, learned everything you can about it and created a hub where you can share your knowledge.

The next step is to start forming relationships with other influencers in your niche.

Why is this important?

This is one of the best ways to get your name out there and to increase your brand equity.

Being associated with other major players enables you to siphon off some of their “street cred” and get your audience to take you more seriously.

Let me give you a quick example.

Awhile back, freelance writer Jorden Roper launched her website called Writing Revolt.

It serves as an online hub for talking about everything related to freelance writing, including ways to thrive in a competitive market.

She was an up-and-comer and had some loyal followers, but it was a fairly small following.

She connected with Bamidele Onibalusi of Writers in Charge, one of the most popular resources for freelance writers.

Bamidele talked about her journey, the way Jorden created a nice living for herself through writing and her tips for making it as a freelance writer.

Just like that, her brand equity skyrocketed, and she gained a massive amount of respect as an expert in her niche.

To me, connecting with relevant influencers like this is the quickest way to gain recognition and have your name associated with a particular topic.

After all, if a trusted name in your niche gives you their stamp of approval, it will inevitably have a positive impact on you.

How do I connect with influencers?

For starters, let me suggest an incredibly old school yet (sometimes) effective tactic.

And that’s to simply get in the habit of consistently leaving high-level comments on top blogs in your industry.

You might be saying, “Neil, that seems so primitive and antiquated!”

Perhaps it is.

But it can still be a great way to get on someone’s radar.

Here’s an example of a comment from one of my top commenters, J. Ustpassing:

Besides potentially building a relationship with a key influencer, you can also gain the attention of their readers.

And as long as your comments are legit, they will elevate your authority.

Another brilliant way to find influencers to connect with is to use BuzzSumo.

In fact, the “Influencers” feature is one of the top features on this platform.

I won’t cover the entire process here because I’ve already went over it before, but you can find all the details in this post.

For more on influencer marketing, I suggest checking out this article.

Leveraging Quora

Finally, I would like to point out how great Quora is for building credibility.

This is one of the most high-end question-and-answer sites, and I’ve used it extensively.

At the moment, I’ve answered 287 different questions, and it’s helped me gain 8k followers on Quora and 47k answer views this month alone.

I’m telling you, Quora gets results and can be incredibly potent for you to position yourself as an expert in your niche.

I find it ideal for imparting my knowledge.

You can learn how to use Quora in this post.

Conclusion

I’ll be the first to say there’s no magic bullet that can turn you into a top expert in your niche overnight.

It’s very much a process that takes time.

Fortunately, you can accelerate that process significantly by following the formula I covered here.

With the right approach, you can gain serious recognition and make your name synonymous with your niche.

This, of course, can yield a host of benefits, e.g., increased brand equity, continual leads and higher conversions.

Which niche would you like to achieve expert status in?

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6 Ways to Get Paid to Get an Education (Instead of Paying for One)

If you’re like me, you love to learn — but find college a tedious and boring way to do it.

And perhaps you don’t want to wait years to start making a living. Then there’s the average student debt to consider, now above $35,000.

College isn’t the right choice for everyone.

What if instead of expensive classes, years of waiting and starting work under a mountain of debt, you could get a paycheck now, while having interesting experiences and learning new things?

If that sounds good to you, keep reading. Here are six ways to get paid to learn valuable skills.

1. Be a Paid Apprentice

The Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship funds various apprenticeship programs at companies across the country, including CVS and UPS.

“Registered Apprenticeships are innovative work-based learning and postsecondary earn-and-learn models that meet national standards for registration with the U.S. Department of Labor (or federally recognized State Apprenticeship Agencies),” the DOL website explains.

You’re paid from day one, making an average $15 per hour, with “incremental wage increases” as you become more proficient.

The DOL estimates you can make an annual $50,000 once you complete an apprenticeship.

You receive a nationally recognized credential from the DOL, and you might even get college credit, depending on the program.

There are over 1,000 potential career areas accessible through the DOL’s Registered Apprenticeship program, but these are their top occupations:

• Able seaman

• Carpenter

• Chef

• Child care development specialist

• Construction craft laborer

• Dental assistant

• Electrician

• Elevator constructor

• Fire medic

• Law enforcement agent

• Over-the-road truck driver

• Pipefitter

You may apprentice for up to six years, but most people complete programs in four.

In addition to 2,000 hours of work each year, you’ll typically spend at least 144 hours in a classroom — though this may be unpaid time.

2. Serve and Learn

Want to help people and learn new skills while earning a modest stipend?

Consider one of these volunteer service options:

The Peace Corps

As previously explained on The Penny Hoarder, you’ll get training, a living expense stipend, health benefits and a payment (currently $8,000) upon completion of a 27-month assignment.

Then you get job placement help and preference applying for any federal position.

What are the qualifications?

The Peace Corps website says 90% of positions go to volunteers with a bachelor’s degree, but they also consider an applicant’s “work, hobbies and volunteer experiences.”

AmeriCorps

Sometimes referred to as the “Domestic Peace Corps,” AmeriCorps is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

As a volunteer, you work on projects in the U.S., first receiving general training and then assignment-specific training.

The CNCS FAQ page makes it clear your “pay” is minimal. You get a living expense stipend, and possibly housing.

But once you complete a term of service (10-12 months), you also receive an AmeriCorps Education Award to help pay for college.

AmeriCorps is actually a “national network of hundreds of programs throughout the U.S.,” and you’ll need special skills or a bachelor’s degree for some assignments.

For other programs, you don’t even need a high school diploma. But, you do have to be between 18-24 years old when you start your service.

Volunteering for service organizations is an opportunity to do some good, learn new skills and make some money — plus it looks good on your resume.

3. Be an Intern

Serving as an intern is a common way to learn skills and get job experience.

You can even search for paid internships on websites like Internships.com. For many of these positions you need to be a college student, but not necessarily a graduate.

Kristen Pope’s recent post lists a dozen internships that pay more than $5,400 per month, so enrolling in college for a while might make sense if that’s what it takes to qualify.

4. Use a Job as Business Training

One of the most effective ways to get paid to learn valuable skills is finding employment in the industry in which you’d like to do business.

For more on this idea, see my post on how to use a job as training to start your own business.

5. Get Selected for the Thiel Fellowship

Yes, you can still get paid $100,000 to drop out of college.

Billionaire Peter Thiel’s foundation has been offering the Thiel Fellowships for years.

If qualified, you’ll get $100,000 over the course of two years — if you’re willing to leave school and work on something visionary and/or entrepreneurial.

Past fellows include Eden Full, who invented a tool that uses solar energy to provide clean water to off-grid communities, and Paul Gu, who created online lending platform Upstart.

6. Look for On-the-Job Training Opportunities

Almost all jobs involve some on-the-job training, so you might want to look at job prospects related to what you want to learn.

For example, as part of a job working with adults with developmental disabilities, I was paid to learn how to de-escalate situations and restrain people without harming them.

I received certification, just as I did when I was trained as a highway flagger by a temp agency, and when I learned CPR as a security officer.

To find jobs that offer valuable skills training, use the big job websites.

On Indeed, a search for “paid training” (no location specified) turns up more than 100,000 jobs.

For Sarasota, Florida (near me), the results included Red Cross positions, a company willing to train you to add captions to videos and no-experience-necessary cable installation jobs.

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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A Daily Commitment to Excellence

When I woke up this morning, I sat up in bed and told myself, “I’m not going to spend any money today at all. I’m going to fill my day with fulfilling things that don’t involve spending a dime!”

I put a reminder in my phone to remind me of this commitment to excellence. It’ll go off four or five times today, reminding me of what I’m shooting for.

Today, I’ll be going to a bookstore and a food co-op and walking around a downtown area of a nice Midwestern town with some real spending temptations. Having that commitment to financial excellence is going to be a real challenge.

Can I do it?

I’ve been using this daily commitment to excellence strategy a lot lately. It usually involves setting some sort of daily goal for myself that pushes me well beyond my normal boundaries.

One day, I woke up and my commitment was to walk or jog at least 25,000 steps. That’s about half of a marathon with my stride length.

Another day, I woke up and my commitment was to spend three hours in distraction-free study of a topic I’m trying to master.

On another day, I woke up and committed myself to getting our financial papers completely in order and negotiating a few bills.

Another day, my commitment was to have great face-to-face conversations with at least 25 people, which is pretty tough for me as I have a pretty strong introverted streak.

On another day, I committed to planning out and making two weeks of meals in advance for my family, with each meal in duplicate. In effect, I was making a month’s worth of dinners at once.

On yet another day, my personal challenge was to spend several hours truly cleaning a part of our house that I had neglected and was dreading.

A final excellence commitment challenge: one day recently, I woke up committed to writing 10,000 words and editing an equivalent amount.

I’ve learned some really valuable things from these kinds of personal daily commitments to excellence.

First, an audacious but not quite impossible challenge really pushes you to tackle it with relish. The best challenges are the ones where it feels like you can barely pull it off in a day, but you can do it if you really focus on it and put your mind to it.

Second, you feel absolutely great at the end of a day where you stick to that commitment to excellence. When you make a strong commitment to excellence at the start of the day and actually pull it off during the day, the feeling at the end of the day when you reflect on it is pure gold. You feel successful because you are successful. You took on a challenge and you nailed it.

Third, focus on your goal is absolutely essential – you have to get rid of distractions to pull off a good goal. A cell phone is a distraction most of the time. A tablet is a distraction most of the time. A web browser is definitely a distraction. A telephone is a distraction. Cut out things that distract you and focus on the thing you want to excel at.

Fourth, doing these things with excellence – in other words, doing them the “right” way without taking shortcuts – is virtually always the best approach. I could get to 10,000 words quite easily by writing “blah blah blah” over and over again, but that would be the opposite of a quality result. I could get to 25,000 steps on my Fitbit by sitting it on the washing machine while it was running. I could prepare a bunch of minimal effort meals that no one would really enjoy. In each of those cases, I met the “letter” of my commitment but didn’t achieve the spirit of the commitment. Shoot for the spirit of the commitment, every time.

Finally, consistent reminders throughout the day is vital for commitments that aren’t “active.” Many commitments to excellence revolve around sustaining a particular behavior throughout the day rather than just completing a project. Constant reminders are the key to success for this. I use the “Reminders” app on my cell phone to send me reminders throughout the day of the commitment to excellence I’ve made that day. “Remember to keep your spending under control!” “Remember to keep your calorie count low!” “Are you talking to people? You can do it!” My phone delivers notifications like that throughout the day, to keep me focused.

Making Your Own Daily Commitment to Excellence

This idea has really been a game changer for me as of late. Simply focusing on one area of excellence in a given day has really helped me to buckle down and achieve some things that I’ve let slide in recent years, and it’s been incredibly gratifying.

So, how do you apply this idea in your own life?

The first step is to come up with areas you want to improve in your life. What are you wanting to improve? We’re not talking about specific tasks, just areas of life where you’re not satisfied. Perhaps you’re unhappy with your finances. Maybe you’re unhappy with your health. Maybe you’re unhappy with your career. Perhaps you’re unhappy with your social life, or your spirituality.

Figure out what big areas of your life is really bothering you and holding you back. Try to stick to just two or three areas; the more you dilute your focus, the less success you’ll see.

For example, my main areas of focus these days are on learning and skill-building, personal health, and good daily financial habits.

Once you’ve identified areas where you wish to see improvement, come up with a handful of specific things you can do within each area to improve. For example, some of the things I came up with when considering my financial habits is a stronger mastery over impulse purchases, renegotiation of my bills, and better organization of my financial documents. Those are areas where I feel weakest right now and I would really like to see improvement. I have similar lists in the other areas I’ve noted.

Each night, before bed, select one of those specific ideas where you would like to see excellence in your life. Your commitment tomorrow will be to really hit a home run with that specific task.

For example, my commitment for tomorrow happens to involve reading and taking notes on several chapters of a very challenging book related to an area of personal finance that I don’t understand well but wish to cover in the future on this site. I might commit, as I did a few days ago, to having a no-spending day when I might be tempted to spend, or to have a day where I organize a huge box of financial documents and scan and shred them. The key is to have a challenging task related to that area of interest that I can complete in one day if I really push myself and commit to excellence and focus.

The next morning, upon waking, immediately reflect on that commitment. Think about what you’re going to achieve today and tell yourself that you can do this. Visualize yourself carrying off that challenge, what you’ll be doing today when you’re really nailing that goal, and how you’ll feel at the end of the day when you succeed.

Set your phone to remind you of the commitment regularly throughout the day. As noted above, this is especially true with commitments that don’t involve an active project but instead focus on consistent behavioral change throughout the day, but it works well with any commitment you make. The goal is to keep your mind on that commitment to excellence that you’ve made in that area of your life.

As you take on the commitment, do it with excellence – commit yourself wholly to making the best results you can for your commitment. Don’t just take the easy route through today’s goal. Instead, approach it with strength and courage and a commitment to excellence. You are going to do this – and you are going to do this well. No shortcuts.

Life will sometimes intervene and you won’t live up to a day’s commitment. The key for those days is to give it all you can regardless of life’s interference. Go to bed knowing that you truly gave it your best shot regardless of the obstacles, then wake up tomorrow with a new commitment.

Some Final Thoughts

When you start off the day by committing to excellence in some specific area of your life, a lot of good things happen.

Often, you really do achieve excellence in that particular area, for starters.

For another, you start to take the first steps of building a pattern of consistent excellence in that area.

You’re also beginning to establish an overall standard of excellence for yourself in all areas. If you actually pull off a daily commitment to excellence many times, you begin to expect that of yourself, and that expectation benefits you in almost every avenue of life.

What will you commit to today?

The post A Daily Commitment to Excellence appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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This Genius Strategy Will Save You a Ton of Money on School Supplies

5-Step Homemade Ice Cream On the Cheap (No Churning Required)

These Programs Offer Free Yoga, Biking, and More in the Heart of D.C.

Washington, D.C. is one of the most expensive cities in the country to live in, and it’s not just the rent that will drain your bank account —everything from cocktails to transportation to Sunday brunch costs more here than in most other American cities.

Getting fit in the District is no exception, especially considering the hefty price tag that comes with a gym or yoga membership. To help you save some cash, I’ve rounded up several free workout classes and events to help you break a sweat without breaking the bank.

Yoga

Yoga by No Excuse Workout

Saturdays at 10 a.m.

It’s hard to beat the location of Yoga by No Excuse, which is right on the water in the heart of National Harbor. Shanon Lee, a resident of Northern Virginia, tries to make every class. “I find the free classes a nice addition to my schedule,” she says. “I keep returning because there is nothing like the view and practicing yoga while feeling the breeze off the water.”

Sunset Fitness in the Park

Wednesdays at 6 p.m.

This series runs until August 30 and includes hour-long workout sessions in Georgetown Waterfront Park. Lauren Boston, Communications Director for the Georgetown BID, says “…with the Potomac River, Kennedy Center and Key Bridge providing one of the most picturesque backdrops in the city, all of our classes are free and taught by Georgetown yoga, barre and Pilates studios, offering a unique and accessible way to celebrate the summer and stay fit.”

Kennedy Center Yoga

Select Saturdays at 10:15 a.m.

Every other Saturday in the Grand Foyer, the Kennedy Center holds a vinyasa yoga class led by an instructor from a local studio. The large windows and unique light fixtures make this an idyllic spot, and there’s plenty of space to stretch out and make the most of your savasana.

Running

lululemon Run Club

Mondays at 6:30 p.m.

With a different route every month to change things up and events like group happy hours and socials, the lululemon run club is perfect if you want to expand your social circle while staying fit. Meet at the Clarendon Boulevard lululemon store and head off on a four to six mile run around Arlington.

Pacers Social Running Group
Dates vary by location

With five Pacers locations in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia (14th Street, Navy Yard, Alexandria, Clarendon and Fairfax), you have plenty of options to get in a run and meet some new friends.

DC Capital Striders

Times vary by location

Capital Striders hosts a run to fit just about any schedule, with meetups nearly every day of the week and at varying times. There are also both long and short runs to accommodate different skill levels. It’s always free to join a run, but you can also sign up for a $25 yearly membership and benefit from discounts on local races, fitness products and supplies.

Cycling

BicycleSPACE Group Rides

Times vary by activity

BicycleSPACE offers many different rides, classes, and events all around DC. For example, the Nice-N-Easy Ride is perfect for beginners, while the cyclists taking part in the Cupcake Ramble enjoy a treat at a local bakery halfway through their ride.

The Bike Rack Group Rides

Dates and times vary

Every weekend, The Bike Rack hosts a group ride that meets at either their Q Street or Brookland shops. Saturdays are a mixed bag of rides for all skills, including the Intro Road Ride designed for beginners and the Treetime Ramble that is perfect for families; Sundays are reserved for Intermediate/Advanced riders who are comfortable with a faster pace.

Aerobics/Dance

Zumba by No Excuse Workout

Wednesdays at 7pm

Every Wednesday between May 4th to October 26th, dance it out with a hip-hop themed Zumba class on the National Harbor Plaza. This is a true workout where you use muscles you didn’t even know you had, but it’s so much fun you won’t care.

Yards Park Free Fitness Series

Dates and times vary
Navy Yard is a neighborhood buzzing with excitement, and their fitness series only contributes to its appeal. I went to a Beyonce Dance Class there one evening, and I haven’t had that much fun working out in years. Also on the schedule are boot camp classes, Jazzercise, and resistance training.

Outdoor Zumba Crystal City BID

Every Wednesday at noon

Zumba in the courtyard is truly a party. With sexy Latin beats and energetic instructors, it’s almost impossible not to have a blast at this class. When I attended, I met lots of awesome people who made me feel comfortable and welcome.

These are just a few of the free workouts available around the District right now. To find even more affordable classes, visit the Fitverse website to choose your activity and enter your location.

Brittany Kerfoot is a writer and educator living in Washington, DC. Her work has appeared in Thrillist, Brit + Co, Racked, HelloGiggles, and more.

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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A dome to call home

Board approves conditional use application for church to set up home in the Pocono Dome

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A School Bus Driver Shortage Means Lots of Open Jobs. Here’s How to Get One

These days, it seems like everybody is an Uber or Lyft driver.

Your neighbor, your uncle, your ex… your ex’s uncle’s neighbor…

One driving job that isn’t gaining as much steam, however, is being a school bus driver. But school bus companies across the country are seriously in need of drivers.

School Bus Fleet magazine surveyed the 50 largest school bus operators in the nation; all reported some level of driver shortage, according to USA Today. Twenty-two percent called the lack of drivers a “severe” issue, while 5% said the shortage created a “desperate” problem.

Not having enough drivers has even led some schools to suspend bus service.

USA Today also reports the availability of higher-paying transportation jobs has created hurdles to hiring school bus drivers, as has to the challenge of having a two-part shift transporting students in the morning and then again in the afternoon.

But for someone up for a flexible schedule (like a freelancer, stay-at-home spouse or someone with a work-from-home job), being a school bus driver could be a great income-earning opportunity.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage for school bus drivers in 2016 was $14.50 an hour, or $30,150 a year.

School Bus Fleet’s survey found the average starting pay for the nation’s 50 largest school bus companies increased from $16.24 an hour in 2016 to $16.90 an hour in 2017.

Over a third of the bus companies surveyed said they offer sign-on bonuses or referral bonuses as a way to attract drivers, and 17% increased pay or benefits.

Another upside: You won’t be likely to work weekends, holidays or summers.

The BLS says those interested in becoming a bus driver need to have a commercial driver’s license and a clean driving record. They must also meet certain physical, vision and hearing requirements. School bus drivers have to pass additional tests to get a special endorsement for their license.

Drivers also may be required to be at least 18, have a high school diploma or equivalent, pass a background check and pass random drug and/or alcohol tests.

Sure, shuttling dozens of kids to and from school is drastically different from signing up with a ride-sharing app. But if your local school district is hiring, this in-demand driving job just might be the right gig for you.

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.

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Blueberry Dunkin’ Donuts Don’t Count as Real Fruit, Shocking Lawsuit Claims

Dunkin’ Donuts is allegedly skimping on its fruit ingredients, and at least 100 people in Illinois are not happy about it.

Bartosz Grabowski filed a class-action lawsuit against the donut giant last month, and Consumerist has blessed us with the documents from the filing.

The suit, which seeks $5 million in damages and fees, claims Dunkin’ Donuts’ blueberry donuts do not feature actual blueberries. While the chain’s blueberry muffins do contain their namesake fruit, Dunkin’s blueberry donuts contain “flavor crystals” or “blueberry flavored bits” that allegedly mislead the customer.

Meanwhile, Dunkin’s strawberry and apple donuts have actual fruit.

Grabowski claims he wouldn’t have bought the now-notorious blueberry donut if he knew they contained faux fruit and “suffered injury and lost money” due to Dunkin’s “fraudulent practices.”

The suit explains that blueberry donut options are more expensive than regular glazed donuts.

“Plaintiff is likely to purchase the Blueberry Products in the future if they each were reformulated to include their premium ingredients,” the suit states.

But What About the Antioxidants?

Did you know that, like many real foods, blueberries are good for you? This is my favorite part of the entire lawsuit:

“Blueberries have the potential to limit the development and severity of certain cancers and vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases of aging. Research suggests that blueberries are one of the richest sources of antioxidant phytonutrients.”

Really, everyone? You are chomping into a donut and expect the mere presence of an alleged fruit to save you from a stroke?

If this lawsuit sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve been here before. Last fall, a Los Angeles man filed a similar $5 million class-action lawsuit against Krispy Kreme after learning its blueberry donuts really contained “blueberry gambits.” That case, which also made claims about other fruit-flavored donuts, was voluntarily dismissed.

There’s even another case open against Dunkin’ Donuts in California over these alleged blueberry products.

The American legal system at its best, people.

Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer at The Penny Hoarder who doesn’t even like actual blueberries.

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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Here’s How Oregon’s New Law Protects Workers in the Restaurant Industry

As more companies deal with the fallout of lax or nonexistent labor policies, Oregon has stepped up to become the first state to address a glaring worker issue: Scheduling uncertainty.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed into law this week a mandate that employers give at least a week’s notice before putting a worker’s name on the schedule, according to an article in CNN Money. No more last minute Ubers or babysitters for Oregonians!

The move comes as employment in industries most vulnerable to last-minute scheduling has exploded.

Since January 2010, jobs in the restaurant industry have grown at double the pace of all employment in the U.S., according to statistics provided by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

In the latest jobs report from July alone, “food and drinking places” added a whopping 53,100 jobs over the same month last year. That’s the most out of any specialized industry during the same time period — in fact, it’s more than the entire professional and business service sector.

These are jobs that are pretty flexible, with no experience and minimal training required. So this could only be great news, right?

Wrong.

Labor Laws Offer Little Protection for Restaurant Workers

The explosion in growth is not necessarily a good thing, according to a recent article in the Atlantic that highlights the growth in restaurant gigs.

“Jobs are jobs, but these ones don’t pay very well,” the article says. “The typical private-sector job pays about $22 an hour. The typical restaurant job pays about $12.50.”

And these types of service-industry jobs are the most vulnerable to less-than-perfect working conditions and benefits. (Cough, Chipotle, cough.)

But nothing affects this sector quite like the lack of a federal law on scheduling uncertainty. As a waiter, your manager can put you on the weekly schedule at the last minute — your personal life, transportation or other considerations be damned.

But that could be changing with Oregon’s help.

Oregon Bolsters its Labor Laws With New Work-Week Mandate

The law, which will take effect in July 2018, applies to retail, hospitality and food-service companies with at least 500 global employees. It also requires employees to give workers 10 hours off between shifts.

It’s a big deal, too.

One in six Oregonians surveyed by the University of Oregon for a February study said they received less than 24 hours notice before their boss put them on the schedule.

That analysis blames the rise of irregular scheduling on new software that uses real-time data to predict how many customers are slated to demand a certain service each day. Thanks, robots — first you try to take our jobs, now you’re screwing with our schedules?

Cities like New York, Seattle and San Francisco have adopted similar legislation, according to CNN Money. But workers in the other 12,000-plus cities and 49 states are out of luck for now.

With the restaurant industry driving job growth in the U.S., it should be a matter of time before more municipalities and states follow suit.

We hope.

Alex Mahadevan is a data journalist at The Penny Hoarder. He dealt with scheduling problems when he was a waiter at a sushi restaurant while working his way through college.

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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This Sneaky Trick Can Help You Save Up to $17 on Uber Rides This Month

I enjoy hunting down coupon codes and finding rebate offers, but I’d kind of given up on saving money when I request Uber rides.

Unless I wanted to become a new customer by signing up over and over with 10 different email addresses… or invite friends to sign up, but they’re already members… so I didn’t have much hope to save.

But Ibotta, a cash-back app, is handing out $17 for Uber rides for a limited time — and it’s so easy.

How to Earn $17 Back on Uber Rides

Ibotta is classically known for its cash-back offers on grocery items, but it’s quickly expanding.

I’m learning to look for offers when I go out to eat, hit the bars and now when I take an Uber.

You can now earn up to $17 in Uber deals when you take seven rides by August 31.

The offers include:

• A $5 ride credit after three rides
• Another $5 ride credit after four additional rides
• $1 back for each ride — up to seven total

Do the math… that’s $17.

I took advantage of this offer last weekend. I applied a $5 coupon on my first ride and earned $3 back on all three. (We were bar hoppin’.) I also earned a $1 mobile shopping bonus, so that totaled $9 that I saved.

To cash out these Uber deals, go ahead and sign up for Ibotta. (Use that link and you’ll get a $10 bonus when you earn your first rebate.)

Once you’re on the app, find the Uber deal. It’ll show up under featured stores as soon as you open it. Click “Shop at Uber,” and the app will open Uber for you. Go about your normal Uber-hailing business. Once your ride is complete, Ibotta automatically adds the money to your account.

If you earn a $5 ride credit, Ibotta emails you the code. Simply navigate to your Uber app, tap “Payment,” then “Add Promo/Gift Code.”

Pro tip: As the night wears on, do NOT forget to open Uber through Ibotta… I’ve learned this from experience.

Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s earned nearly $50 back on Ibotta since signing up three months ago.

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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This Argumentative New Chat Bot Haggles With Comcast So You Don’t Have To

I know we’re all supposed to be worried about robots taking our jobs, right?

Before you know it, machines will replace truck drivers and fast food workers and accountants, and maybe they’ve got their beady little robot eyes on your job, too.

Bummer.

But in the meantime, you may as well let the robot revolution work for you.

In that spirit, programmers at the San Francisco startup Trim have launched a useful new creation. It’s a bot that negotiates with cable TV giant Comcast for you.

The bot, a computer program designed to chat and interact with humans, will negotiate with Comcast customer service reps via online chat in an effort to lower your cable bill.

So you have this bot to do your haggling for you, while you sit back and don’t lift a finger. Truly this is a great time to be alive.

For me, this free tool is especially useful because, personally, dealing with customer service reps is one of my least favorite things. It’s right up there with dental work, engine trouble and overdraft statements.

Comcast: Like a Movie Supervillain, Only More Evil

And what better company than Comcast to sic your attack robot on? (Writer adopts Arnold Schwarzenegger accent: “Comcast, you are terminated.”)

C’mon, Comcast is probably America’s least favorite company.

With cable TV and internet customers in 40 states, Comcast is the largest media company in the world. Notorious for lousy service, it ranks near the bottom of the American Consumer Satisfaction Index. It’s the only company to win Consumerist’s “Worst Company in America” title twice.

So don’t feel bad when you unleash your cool new haggle-bot on Comcast.

Here’s How Trim Works

Comcast subscribers can communicate with the company by phone, email or Twitter, or also by online chat.

Trim noticed that when Comcast customer service employees chatting online with dissatisfied customers, they always stick to a simple, pre-written script of questions and answers, said Trim CEO Thomas Smyth. Trim figured it could build a chat robot capable of conversing with that limited script.

To use the bot, download Trim’s Chrome web browser extension, then follow the instructions.

Powered by machine learning algorithms, the bot will negotiate with Comcast customer service reps using a series of canned arguments and responses.

The goal is to lower your monthly bill — or at least get you a one-time statement credit.

“My grandmother was overpaying by $35 a month for Comcast, because they had raised her rate a little bit each year for the past decade,” Smyth told Fortune magazine. “I negotiated my grandmother’s bill (saving her $420 per year) and wondered if there was a way to do that automatically.”

After making the bot available to the public in November 2016, Trim reported a 70% success rate at lowering customers’ bills, with an average savings of $10 per month. Trim doesn’t take a cut from the savings, either.

Here’s Why Trim Does a Few Different Things

Here at The Penny Hoarder, we have long considered Trim to be a smart way to save money.

The app has previously been best known for helping its users get rid of unwanted subscriptions — you know, subscriptions that you signed up for, put on a recurring payment and then forgot about. Right now, you might be paying Netflix, Spotify, Audible or Planet Fitness every month without even realizing it.

Once you sign up and connect your bank account and phone number, Trim analyzes your transaction history for recurring payments. When it finds one, the app sends you a text and cancels any subscriptions you don’t want to keep.

Trim says it’s building an online, artificial-intelligence assistant to help its customers with their finances. It says the subscription-cancellation service was just the beginning, and that the Comcast chat bot is a next step.

“We started with the easy stuff,” Trim says. “Need to cancel an old subscription? Trim started doing that way back in 2015. We built more nifty features that save you money, like automatic Comcast bill negotiation and price protection for your Amazon purchases.”

“Now we’re starting to work on the hard stuff.”

And so the robot revolution begins.

Mike Brassfield (mike@thepennyhoarder.com) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. He doesn’t trust most robots, but chat bots are okay.

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 Any Dog or Cat Can Get a Free Bag of Food From PetSmart Through Aug. 14

Your cat loves you. He purrs, rubs up against you and makes a shameless display of devotion and affection.

Then your cat bites your toes and runs away.

Perhaps your cat is plotting to kill you.

For all his little quirks, your feline friend needs you to feed him. Or maybe you don’t want to put up with that nonsense and choose a dog instead.

Either way, here’s an awesome deal for you: PetSmart has two new offers for free cat food or free dog food for PetPerks members.

Get the Coupons, Feed the Kitty (or Dog)

If you have a pet, there’s a good chance you head to PetSmart on a regular basis. If you’re a crazy cat lady (and that’s OK), you practically live there. It’s a playground of cat toys, treats and feline luxuries most of us haven’t even dreamed existed.

That means you’re also probably a PetPerks member. Smart move. If you’re not, you can sign up for a PetPerks membership to get frequent deals for you and your little buddy.

Right now, PetSmart has two great coupons for PetPerks members.

One is good for a free bag of Wellness brand dry cat food or dog food (2- to 6-pound size). Simply print out the coupon, and take it to your nearest PetSmart store.

The second coupon is nearly identical. With this coupon, PetPerks members can get a free bag of Nutro brand dry cat or dog food (3- to 5-pound size).

Act fast because these coupons expire Aug.14!

That’s it. There doesn’t appear to be any catch, except that each coupon is limited to “one coupon per customer, per transaction,” so you can’t print out multiples and snag a stack of free food in a single transaction.  

Whether you own a dog who wants to lick you to death or a cat who stares at you with self-righteous contempt from the windowsill, you owe it to yourself to cash in on these deals. Who knows, it could be your pet’s new favorite food.

Tyler Omoth is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder who loves soaking up the sun and finding creative ways to help others. His wife’s cat did not approve of this article’s content. Catch him on Twitter at @Tyomoth.

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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Nissan Is 5th Automaker to Settle Takata Airbag Suit. You Could Get $500

Update: Nissan has reached a $97.68 million settlement over defective Takata airbags in 4.4 million of its vehicles. The settlement will accelerate the airbag replacement process and pay for rental cars for “the most at-risk” class members while they wait for repairs.

It’s been a long time coming.

More than eight years have passed since the first vehicles were recalled due to exploding Takata airbags. But soon, nearly 16 million vehicle owners could finally get compensation.

The Takata Airbag Settlement is Worth Millions

On May 18, plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit filed a $553 million settlement agreement with four of the automakers that used the defective airbags.

The airbags were reportedly rupturing, sending dangerous material into vehicle cabins, harming passengers.

To date, at least 17 deaths, 12 of which were in the U.S., have been linked to the defect. Automakers have recalled and repaired more than 14 million vehicles, but plaintiffs argue the the companies have worked at a slow place, endangering those who are still driving the affected vehicles.

In January, Takata agreed to pay $1 billion for concealing its faulty airbags and submitting false tests to automakers. Three of its executives were also criminally charged with wire fraud and conspiracy stemming from the alleged cover-up and fake tests.

According to NPR, here’s how many vehicles are covered in the settlement and how much the automakers will pay if a judge approves the settlement:

• 9.2 million Toyota vehicles: $278.5 million

• 2.3 million BMW vehicles: $131 million

• 2.6 million Subaru vehicles: $68,262,257

• 1.7 million Mazda vehicles: $75,805,050

• 4.4 million Nissan vehicles: $97.7 million

Ford and Honda were also named in the suit, but they have yet to announce settlements.

Final approval for the five automakers’ settlements depend on a hearing scheduled for Oct. 25.

The settlements compensate affected owners by offering reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses, financial assistance and support for necessary repairs, free rental cars for some owners while they wait for repairs, an extended warranty and a possible payment of up to $500.

USA Today reports that those who have been injured by the exploding airbags are eligible for compensation under a separate fund.

The settlement will also create an outreach program for those who still drive affected vehicles. The program will work to get them repaired as quickly as possible.

More than 42 million vehicles worldwide have the potentially defective airbags. For a full list of vehicles involved in the recall, head to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website.

The website also lays out the steps you need to take to get your vehicle fixed.

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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Costco Wants You (Yes, You!) as a Member and Will Give You $155 in Freebies

Costco is a bulk shopper’s playground. The retail giant is full of bargain deals from groceries to home products to health and beauty supplies, if you don’t mind buying ginormous quantities.

I buy my ground beef there for about half the price of my local grocery stores — I just have to buy it 6 pounds at a time. It’s easy enough to split that up into freezer bags and enjoy having it on hand for a bargain.

What’s the catch? To shop at Costco, you have to be a member, and a standard Costco Gold Star membership costs $60 annually. That’s an OK price for a year’s worth of bargains. (I probably save that much on ground beef alone. Don’t judge.)

But thanks to LivingSocial and Groupon, you can now get your membership plus over $155 in free stuff and discounts.

Is it Really a Deal?

OK, you’ve seen these special offers to lure you into memberships before, and sometimes, they’re not worth it. At The Penny Hoarder, we don’t like to tell you about it unless we think it’s a good deal, but I’ll let you be the judge. Here’s the offer:

• A one-year Costco Gold Star membership with two cards (one for the membership holder and one for another household member).

• $20 Costco cash card. Free money!

• $25 off an order of $250 or more on Costco.com.

• $75 Costco cash card toward Costco Travel to the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico or the South Pacific (excludes cruises). If you haven’t used or checked out Costco travel, give it a look. I used it to book a cruise and found it really easy, and it offered a great price!

Coupons for three free Kirkland Signature products:

• Free 12-pack of create-a-size paper towels ($15.69) Who doesn’t use these?

• Free 24-pack of VitaRain Zero flavored water ($9.99) A nice, tasty beverage.

• Free whole pizza from the food court ($9.95) Umm… pizza!

Keep in mind that coupon item values may vary by Costco location.

So even if you don’t use the online coupon and the travel card, you still get your new membership plus $55.63 in goods and store credit. Not too shabby if you ask me.

What’s more, you can sample about 25 different items while you shop. On a recent trip, Costco was giving out samples of bacon. Bacon!

OK, What’s the Real Catch?

Alas, no offer is perfect. (And, yes, I said “alas.”)

Costco will not send the coupons and gift cards to you immediately via email or any other 21st century method. Once you redeem your voucher online, the wholesale club will mail your goodies to you within four weeks.

It seems Costco set up this offer to bring in new customers or to bring back customers Costco may have recently lost. So, it’s not for everyone.

The fine print tells us that you may not participate if you are a current member looking to renew or if your membership expired after April 1, 2017. In other words, it’s not looking for renewals or slightly late renewals — it wants people who may be on the fence about a membership.

However, if you have never had a Costco membership and have contemplated taking the plunge, or if you let your membership run out more than four months ago and were thinking about jumping back in, this deal could be for you.

Neither Groupon nor LivingSocial list an expiration date for this deal — they only say there’s “Limited Time Remaining” — so we suggest jumping on it sooner rather than later.

Now, go get your deal because there is a 3-pound box of Cheez-It Cheddar Crackers with your name on it!

Tyler Omoth is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder who loves soaking up the sun and finding creative ways to help others. Catch him on Twitter at @Tyomoth.

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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Amazon: Your Stay-at-Home Dog Is Stressed, Audible Subscription Will Help

Amazon is stepping into yet another moneymaking lane, and knowing who the potential customers are, it’s likely going to bring in cash by the truckload.

What’s the new idea, you ask? Audiobooks… for dogs.

Yes, Amazon wants you, an otherwise reasonable adult, to pay for a monthly subscription to Audible to make your dog the most well-read pup on the block.

And while it sounds ridiculous to me, I totally understand exactly why Amazon thinks this idea could make bank — dog owners love their dogs past the point of reason.

Don’t try to deny it.

I’ve seen your let your dogs lick your faces knowing they used those same mouths to lick their butts. I’ve seen the “dog bars.” I’ve seen you bring your dogs to indoor gatherings. I’ve seen you get offended, or skip them altogether, when friends invite you to events that are not dog friendly.

So when I read Amazon’s pitch that claimed “listening to audiobooks outperformed music in reducing stress in canines” and that dog owners who had tried it felt less guilty about leaving their dogs home alone while they were at work all day, I knew this idea had the potential for success.

And I don’t blame Amazon for taking advantage of you by offering a curated list of books your dog will love and dubbing it Audible for Dogs.

In fact, I blame you. Audible for Dogs is a ridiculous nightmare of your own making, dog lovers.

But Seriously, How Does Audible for Dogs Work?

There might be a part of you that assumes there is something that makes the audiobooks particularly dog friendly. But you’d be wrong.

You are literally just using the same audiobook you would listen to yourself and playing it for your dog instead. The only real difference is an introductory video at the beginning of each book by famed and mildly controversial dog whisperer Cesar Millan.

Millan and Audible joined forces to test the audiobooks on 100 dogs before launching them. In 76% of cases, “dog owners who played audiobooks for their dogs reported an increase in calm, relaxed behavior in their pets over a four-week period,” a press release said.

Of course, that means 24 of the 100 dogs either had no change or were possibly worse off. That is a lot of dogs!

In some of the books, the dogs are the main characters. But some of the other picks are just regular books that even cats, or humans without pets might like, too.

The Audible for Dogs curated titles with Millan’s introductory videos are:

• “Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood” by Trevor Noah
• “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
• “A Dog’s Purpose” by W. Bruce Cameron
• “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein
• “Soldier Dogs: The Untold Story of America’s Canine Heroes” by Maria Goodavage
• “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame

Should You Buy Audible for Your Dog?

It’s your money, so I can’t decide what you do with it.

The woman who Audible featured in its case study, Leslie from Santa Clarita, California, seemed to love it, of course.

“I would always feel guilty about leaving my dog, Buddy, alone, but with Audible for Dogs, I felt like I was leaving him with a friend,” said Leslie, whose last name was not included. “The different voices, the different stories. It was like leaving him with a different friend every day.”

It’s possible that your dog will, in fact, love this.

There is an exception for those who happen to enjoy audiobooks. If that’s you, by all means, get a subscription for yourself and share it with your dog. That is reasonable.

But I beg of you, don’t buy it just for Fido.

Desiree Stennett (@desi_stennett) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She doesn’t own a dog. Obviously.

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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Don’t Toss Those ‘90s Fashion Magazines! They Could Be Worth Money

Thinking about finally cleaning out your stash of old fashion magazines? You might want to take a second look before heaving them all into the recycling bin.

Fashionista’s Tyler McCall ponders the value of old magazines in a recent piece about her quest to acquire several specific back issues of fashion magazines like Vogue.

She scored nine Vogues (from the ‘90s and turn of the century — so nostalgic!) for winning eBay bids ranging from $2.50 to $20.

If you think you might have a winner in your stack of magazines (probably labeled “Ditch these???”), don’t set up a secondhand fashion-mag shop just yet.

Making money selling your old magazines is more of an art than a science, McCall notes.

Why People Buy Old Fashion Magazines — And What You Should Know Before Trying to Sell Yours

Some retro magazine issues get purchased by collectors for the sake of collecting; others are bought by people searching for something they can’t easily find online.

For fashion magazines, McCall explains, it might be a designer looking for inspiration or a film crew working on a period piece. Still others get bought up by fans of a celebrity — or perhaps even the actual celebrity themselves.

Pro sellers tend to buy old magazines in bulk, allowing them to sell relatively low and still make some profit.

For the average fashion fan, scarcity is key. No one’s going to pay big money for your December 2016 issue of Elle, but someone might bid on a copy from the early days of the now defunct Jane.

Got a good-condition, mid-90s Delia*s catalog floating around your apartment? Yeah, someone might pay $20 or so for that, according to McCall’s research.

“Because there’s not a solid market for [back issues of magazines], it’s more of an art than it is a science,” she explains. “[I]f there’s a big celebrity or supermodel on the cover, it will command more.” And the older a magazine is, the more likely it is to earn bids.

If you’re ready to list some vintage Vogues — or maybe just the ads — you’ll want to follow our guide to eBay selling best practices.

If you don’t think the potential $5, $10 or $20 in your pocket is enough for you to make an effort, you can at least enjoy giving those magazines one last skim before they get the heave-ho.

Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer at The Penny Hoarder. She owns a full set of the retired Canadian magazine Worn Fashion Journal.

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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Back to School on a Budget: 7 Smart Ways to Get Kids’ Clothes for Less

Although the days are still warm and you’re in full summer mode, retailers are already preparing for back-to-school season.

You can’t walk into a store or flip through an ad without noticing the shift. Gone (or at least relegated to the clearance racks) are the shorts and T-shirts. Jeans, pants and sweatshirts have filled the space.

For parents, this time of year not only means having to shell out money for school supplies, it’s also time to reboot kids’ wardrobes and get them ready for the coming school year.

7 Smart Ways to Save on Back-to-School Clothes

But just like there are ways to save money on school supplies, there are also plenty of tricks to save when it comes to their school clothes.

As a mom of two middle-schoolers (yikes!), here are seven ways I save on getting their wardrobes ready for the new school year.

1. Do a Thorough Inventory

Before you set foot in a single store, go through your children’s closets and drawers and see what still fits and is in good condition.

My kids wear uniforms, so for me, this is a fairly easy process. I check their khaki pants and shorts and their polo shirts.

Of course, I still have to check on their non-school clothes too — the casual ones they put on the minute they get home and wear on weekends (basically athletic pants, shorts and T-shirts).

After taking inventory, figure out what the kids still need. Do they have enough pairs of pants to get them from one laundry day to the next? If not, how many more do they need? You may be surprised at how much they already have.

2. Set a Budget

Determine how much you can spend on back-to-school clothing. Some people already include clothes in their monthly budgets, so that’s a good place to start.

Whatever you do, make sure to have a dollar amount in mind before you start shopping. This way, you’ll prevent sticker shock — or credit card regret — later on.

3. Be Patient

Yes, it’s tempting to start looking at the new fall clothes as soon as they hit the shelves, but think about it: Does your child really need a bunch of jeans and sweatshirts right away?

Think about the weather where you live — maybe they’ll be able to make it through most of September wearing shorts. The longer you wait to buy, the more you’ll save, since stores will start having bigger sales to clear their racks.

4. Shop Consignment Stores

Depending on your kids’ ages and interests, they might not care much about their clothes or where they come from. (If you have a fashion-savvy teenager, you may not be so lucky.)

Use that ambivalence to your advantage and visit local consignment shops and thrift stores to see what they have in stock. These stores can be hit and miss, but it doesn’t hurt to look, and it can pay off with big savings.

Don’t forget to check the shoe area — you might be able to pick up a great deal on shoes that need to stay at school for gym class. When my kids were younger, I frequently found brand-name sweatshirts that looked practically brand new for under $10.

5. Check Facebook Garage Sale Groups and Online Rummage Sales

I view these sites as another form of consignment shopping — except it’s from your home.

On my local VarageSale site, I can easily search for the clothing sizes I need. Facebook garage sale groups are great, but don’t have quite the same search functionality.

As with consignment shops, these options can be hit or miss, but they’re still worth checking out. And if you have clothes your kids have outgrown, go ahead and post them to see if you can make a few bucks. It doesn’t hurt to try!

6. Shop Sales Strategically

We all want to be smart shoppers, but are we? Before heading out, make sure you have any store coupons and check your in-store app, such as Target’s Cartwheel, to make sure you’re not missing out on additional savings.

Do you prefer to shop online like I do? Always head to Ebates or another of these cash-back sites first to earn cash back from your shopping.

When shopping online, type in as many promo codes as you can. For example, Kohl’s is notorious for having multiple sales and codes available at once, so combine them to see just how much you can save on your purchase. Use online codes as well as codes from coupons in the mail.

I know it can seem like a pain, but once you get used to doing it and start seeing the savings add up, you’ll be motivated to keep trying. Or, to make things easier, consider installing one of these browser extensions that help you find the best price, add as many coupon codes as possible and earn cash back.

7. Ask Around

If you have friends or relatives with older children, don’t be afraid to ask what they do with their kids’ old clothes. You never know — they might be looking for an easy way to part with them and might hand them over for free!

I’ve received countless bags of clothes from people at school with older children — and I’ve also passed on my kids’ clothes to others. Sure, there may be some duds in there, but there may also be some treasures, too.

I always tell people that what I can’t use, I’ll pass on to a local charity. Everyone wins — your friend is able to find a home for her kids’ stuff, you get some clothes for free and a local charity gets a donation.

If your friend is planning to sell the clothes online or at a consignment store, ask if you can have first dibs. She’ll likely give you a deal since it’ll cut down on some of her running around.

Getting your children dressed to head back to school doesn’t need to break the bank. Planning ahead and thinking outside of your typical big-box retailer can help you stay on budget.

Disclosure: We have a serious Taco Bell addiction around here. The affiliate links in this post help us order off the dollar menu. Thanks for your support!

Freelance writer MaryBeth Matzek is a mom of two and is always on the lookout for a good deal.

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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You Don’t Have to Spend Like a Celeb to Throw a Fun Kids’ Birthday Party

Oh, the lives of the rich and famous.

You might find yourself envying their weddings and birthday bashes, but have you seen the celebrations they throw for their kids?

Beyonce and Jay Z reportedly spent $200,000 on their oldest daughter Blue Ivy’s first birthday party (that’s not including the $80,000 diamond encrusted Barbie doll).

When Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale’s oldest son, Kingston, turned four, the musicians threw him a birthday bash that reportedly cost $15,000.

David and Victoria Beckham just celebrated their daughter Harper’s sixth birthday with a tea party at Buckingham Palace. Buckingham Palace.

Whew!

And if you think the desire to drop serious dough on elaborate children’s parties is only reserved for celebs, you’re wrong. Regular folk follow suit just the same.

According to a recent article from Moneyish, Tasha Holland spent $5,400 on her son’s first birthday party. Marni Konner rented a $900 pink limo bus for her daughter’s fifth birthday 10 years ago.

But don’t think you have to keep up with the Joneses — you don’t have to catch mom guilt if you don’t drop a few grand on your child’s next birthday party. You can throw an affordable celebration without sacrificing on the fun.

Spare the Expense, Not the Creativity

Just because you’re cutting costs doesn’t mean your child’s party has to be bland. Focus your theme on activities your kid loves, and take advantage of supplies or equipment you already have at home.

This post offers suggestions for throwing a bicycle party or a Nerf gun party — plus four other fun themes that can be executed inexpensively.

Don’t despair if your birthday budget can’t cover a Moana lookalike to entertain the kiddos like Jessica Simpson’s did; you can still have your kid’s favorite characters play a role in their big day by signing up for the Nick Jr. birthday club.

Joining allows you to schedule a free birthday call from characters like SpongeBob or Dora the Explorer — plus you can get free birthday printables.

Find Multiple Ways to Stretch Your Budget

From invitations to decorations, from entertainment to food, a lot goes into planning a party.

The upside? That means there are multiple avenues where you can find ways to save.

This post has smart advice to lower your expenses, like scheduling the party between meals and restricting your celebration to a few hours.

You can also have a low-cost party by using a craft as entertainment and turning paper plates into party decor.

Feed a Crowd Without Fueling Your Stress Levels

It’s hard to escape the fact that parties and food go hand in hand. And with every additional guest, food costs just keep on rising.

But you can keep bellies full and sugar levels up without renting out a floor at Dylan’s Candy Bar like Tracy Morgan did.

These cheap and easy dessert recipes use three ingredients or less. Two-minute, homemade chocolate mousse at $1.05 a serving? Yes, please!

You can also ask family members and close friends to chip in by bringing dishes in lieu of birthday presents. Face it, your kids probably already have more toys than they need. Here are some guidelines to making a potluck a success.

Don’t Forget to Have Fun

Remember, always keep the big picture in mind. Your kid’s birthday party isn’t about impressing their classmates’ parents or emulating a celebrity’s extravaganza — it’s simply about celebrating another year in your child’s life.

A big dose of love and special attention can go far, and there’s no price tag for that!

Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. Her daughter’s birthday is coming up. She’s still trying to figure out how she’ll celebrate — affordably, of course.

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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