In today’s economy, flexibility has been overcrowded with the company’s budget cuts. Employees are getting half days on Friday to cut down on energy costs and hourly employees need to get their overtime approved. However, the concept of making less to embrace a less strict work environment might be beneficial to both employer and employee. The concept has recently been introduced and there are pros and cons to the situation. Continue reading
Five Great Money Quotes: Finding Motivation and Materialism
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As a youngster, I used to keep a notebook of meaningful quotes. I liked to read them for inspiration, and I especially enjoyed the quotes about romance and love and dreams. I am a bit more of a realist today. If I still had a notebook, here are some of the money quotes I would be jotting down: Continue reading
The United States Credit Downgrade, the Government and You
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The impact from Standard & Poor’s historic decision to downgrade the United States credit rating from AAA to AA+ will likely take years to truly be understood and, subsequently, felt. Speculation of the credit downgrade’s effects run the gamut from minimal (Canada eventually regained their AAA rating) to widespread panic of the grandparents working at McDonald’s instead picking up shells on the beach variety. As always, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. According to a number of financial experts and economists, several logical conclusions can be drawn. Continue reading
Tips for Paying for College
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With the rising costs of attending college, furthering your education has become a deep financial investment. Going to college is key to securing a healthy financial future, however, the process takes a great deal of short and long-term planning. The best thing you can do is arm yourself with the necessary knowledge to make good financial decisions and start planning as early as possible. Continue reading
How the Weak U.S. Dollar Affects Domestic Consumers
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A weak dollar affects all of us
Basic macroeconomics lesson here, a weak dollar affects all worldwide consumers. This can be good and bad for spenders at home in the USA. For one, a depressed dollar can restrict the spending capabilities of our corporations, the government and the people. But it can also spur foreign investment in our domestic economy. Here’s what you should consider when you read about a weak dollar. Continue reading
Lessons Learned From the Netflix-Qwikster Debacle
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Netflix CEO Reed Hastings canceled the DVD-only spinoff company Qwikster on October 10th, after a customer revolt against the service sent Netflix stock plummeting. Continue reading
Saving For Increasing Educational Costs
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Saving money isn’t easy for anyone. We all want to make a little money, but spending it on the things we normally wouldn’t just sounds better than “saving it for a rainy day.” However, depending on what age bracket you fit into, it might be time to really grasp the value of a dollar and save a few here and there. Continue reading
When To Buy Store Brand vs. When To Buy Name Brand
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One of these popsicles is a store brand, one's a name brand popsicle. Both are delicious!
When I first started out on my own, I refused to even pick up a non-name brand item. The plain packaging was boring to me, not to mention completely unfamiliar from what I was used to seeing in my pantry. After learning the tricks of the trade in multiple marketing classes, and taking a huge hit to my bank account, I’m now embracing the value by placing more store-brand products in my shopping cart. Continue reading
How to Protect Your Identity
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A tough economy is creating difficult financial situations. Desperation is driving some folks to do unimaginable acts just to get by, like stealing other peoples’ identities. By the time you realize your identity has been compromised, it may be too late to reverse the damage on your own. Continue reading
5 Tips for Recovering from Losing a Job
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Take a little time to deal with the shock of job loss before hitting the want ads.
With the economy struggling to recover and unemployment remaining at record levels, many professionals are still reeling from job loss. Losing a job can cause stress and fear, especially when the prospects of finding a new job seem dim. Allow yourself some time to recover from the shock before you dive back into the job market. Finding yourself suddenly unemployed can offer you opportunities to assess who you are and what you want to do. Try these tips to get yourself back on your feet. Continue reading
Five “Must Follow” Twitter Accounts for Finance
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Are you using Twitter for your financial situation? You should! Twitter is an open forum of some of the most experienced, scholarly business and economic leaders. It is a vast untapped resource, especially if you need to stay on top of your game. Continue reading
Five Companies That Are Hiring Now
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In searching for unemployment during a recession, the answers are simple—follow the money. Continue reading
How the European Debt Crisis Affects Consumers
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The European debt crisis started small with specific countries such as Greece, Portugal and Ireland being affected. However, the problems have reached across Europe and now include larger economies such as France, Germany and Italy. As the European Union is having a hard time in addressing the credit crunch and debt obstacles, consumers need to be informed about what it means for them and the security of the global economy as a whole. Continue reading
New Job, Farther Commute: Things to Consider
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Consider, the money, the stress, the job, the pets and the mister or mrs before taking that job.
Recently, U.S. News & World Report posted an article which weighed the considerations of a new job position with a painfully long commute. The questions entertained were if you could afford the costs associated with the commute, if the new position was worth the commute, if you could handle the burden of the commute and if the new position would cut into your free time.
Continue reading
What Is Occupy Wall Street?
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Occupy Wall Street is a grass-roots movement that began in New York on September 17, 2011 in Liberty Square, Manhattan’s Financial District. It now locations in over 100 U.S. cities and hosts protests in more than 1,500 cities globally. Continue reading
President Obama’s Student Loan Plan
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Even books can throw your wallet for a loop in college.
If you’re having a hard time paying for college, your situation may soon see some relief. With outstanding student loan debt for American graduates and students poised to reach a record $1 trillion, President Obama has proposed measures that will make it easier for graduates to repay their student loans. He calls it the “Pay as You Earn” plan, and it would allow graduates to adjust their monthly payments depending on how much money they are earning. Continue reading
Dead Celebs Profits Rival Live Celebs for 2011!
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Until recent years, Elvis Pressley was the King of money-making dead celebrities. Now King of Pop Michael Jackson and others are taking his place.
Noteable Dead Celebs & Their Earnings This Year:
#9 Steig Larsson $7 million
#7 Albert Einstein $10 million
#5 Elizabeth Taylor $12 million
#5 John Lennon $12 million
#4 Charles Schultz $25 million
#3 Marilyn Monroe $27 million
#2 Elivs Presley $55 million
#1 Michael Jackson, $170 million Continue reading
Five Price Tracking Apps
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Many consumers are using their smart phones to do a lot more than talk and text. One “smart” thing you can do is download mobile apps to help you find the best price for specific items while you are shopping. Save yourself some time and money by downloading one or more of these apps, and get the best deals before you buy. Continue reading
Starbucks Brews Small Business Loans
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Starbucks announced that it would donate $5 million to support small business lenders and financial institutions that develop communities and support affordable housing initiatives in low-income neighborhoods. The super sized coffee chain is asking its customers to help out too, by donating when they pay for their orders. Starbucks is trying to help small businesses that are struggling to get going since the financial crisis dried up so much access to credit. Continue reading
POV: The World In The Year 2100
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As of November 2011, the population of the world had reached seven billion people. The future is fast approaching, and the time has come to plan—it may be a matter of our survival. Continue reading
Facebook Means Success for Companies
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The visibility offered by advertising with Facebook is astounding: I say this as an avid Facebook user who is bombarded with suggested ads half a dozen times a day. Continue reading
Signs You May Be Hired
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Job seekers usually focus on what went wrong in the interview, they rarely think about the many things that went well. There are no obvious signs of being hired; there are certainly indicators that you have won your interviewer over. Continue reading
What Toy Should be in the Hall of Fame?
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The National Toy Hall of Fame honors timeless treasures that have brought generations of fun to children and their parents. Current members of the Toy Hall of Fame include Monopoly, Mr. Potato Head and other favorites. Recent inductees for 2011 include the classic dollhouse and Hot Wheels. Our pick for the Toy Hall of Fame is the mind-spinning Sit ‘N Spin. Continue reading
When You Witness Your Co-worker’s Wrongdoing
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Stealing cookies is one thing, but what if your co-worker has done something more serious. Would you speak up?
In order to survive in the professional world, no one is going to run to the boss when a co-worker is caught on a personal phone call or coming back five minutes late from lunch. But what do you do if you witness a serious breach of trust and ethics? What if you see a colleague steal, cheat, lie or do something illegal? Would you report the behavior, and how urgently would you follow up? Continue reading
Hate Your Job? Tips to Stay Sane
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For some, their job can be truly wretched—even to the point where it consumes their entire life. However, in this economy, quitting without a back-up plan is not an option. Try these tips to keep your sanity—and your employment status—at a job you hate: Continue reading
Economic Impact of the NBA Lockout
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This area outside of Conseco Fieldhouse will be filled with people soon, but the impact of the NBA Lockout has already been felt in places like Indianapolis.
The NBA is coming back for Christmas! But they’ve been gone a long time. Continue reading
Be Your Own Boss: Becoming a Consultant
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The hiring market is direly slim nowadays, leaving many people wondering how to make financial ends meet. If you don’t want to begin a series of odd-jobs or sustain a few part-time jobs, concentrate your talents in becoming a consultant.
Continue reading
What Not to Do When Interviewing for a Job
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Job interviews are nerve-wracking, but you want to show up looking confident and sounding articulate. Most employers who interview you are doing so to get an idea of how you behave, and to judge whether you will be a good fit for the team. You have already impressed them with your resume, so concentrate on wowing your interviewers with your professional image and flexible personality. You probably know what you are supposed to do: research the company, practice your answer about why you want to work for them, and be ready with specific examples that prove the skills and talents you possess. Here are some things you want to avoid at a job interview. Continue reading
Blogging for Profit
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Blogging is the new “in” thing, like Ugg boots and miniskirts, cornhole and tailgating, and smartphones with lots of apps. Blogging is the official way of exercising your right to free speech in a digital age. Everyone and anyone has a blog. There are blogs about fashion, music, political debates, when Kim Kardashian will get married and divorce again, and if Jacob will ever steal Bella’s heart from Edward. But, what if you could continue blogging and get paid for it? Freelance blogging is the way to be now, every business is trying to get the edge. Learn 5 methods of cashing in on your blogging skills. Continue reading
When To Get More Education
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No one will argue; these are difficult economic times. For many in the workforce, the game has changed. The world has become much more aggressive, and you need certain advantages to compete. Continue reading
How to Shop for the Boss
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What do you get for the man that signs your paycheck?
You have a hard enough time trying to figure out what to get mom and dad for Christmas, let alone your boss. If you have a great boss and want to impress them, you will probably toil over the perfect gift. On the other hand, if you can’t stand your boss and the thought of giving them anything makes you sick to your stomach, it’s even more difficult to come up with an idea. Here are a few ideas, above and below your budget, on what to get the man who signs your paycheck. Continue reading
Companies with the Best Customer Service
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Often, it is easier to remember when you’ve had terrible customer service than when you have had your expectations met or exceeded. We always remember experiences that are horrible, even traumatizing. Hopefully, you remember times when a company or a business surprised you with outstanding service as well. The companies listed below have a reputation for going above and beyond when it comes to making sure their customers are satisfied. Continue reading
Retweeting Your Income
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Social networks are the most popular accounts to have online. Whether you are promoting your business, sharing stories, or keeping in touch with your friends, Twitter and Facebook are the places to go. But did you know you could actually make money off of this? Yes, you can sell tweets. It’s a pretty novel idea, especially if you are a twitter junkie, selling 140 characters with less than a minutes worth of effort. Continue reading
Earn More Money Every Hour
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Some of us are salaried employees, some of us work for ourselves and some of us are paid by the clock, depending on how many hours we put in. If you are an hourly employee wondering how to make more money, the logical answer is to work more hours. There are other ways to get more bang out of your hourly buck, however. Take these tips and give yourself a raise. Continue reading
How To Save On Your Cable Bill
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Don't throw the TV out yet. There are ways to save money on your cable bill.
The price of cable television has shot up in the past few years, nearly 75 percent since the mid 1990s, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Don’t worry; you are not powerless to do something about it. Continue reading
How to Earn $100 (maybe more) per Hour
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Tattoo artists like Leila at The Needle's Kiss in Townsville can rake in up to $130.00 per hour.
A salary of $100 per hour would be a comfortable living wage for most of us. So, how do we go about doing it? There are pretty much two options: get skilled in a job that pays that much, or set up your own shop as a self-employed consultant and charge that much. Here are two career paths for each of those options. Continue reading
Facebook’s Timeline: Friend or foe?
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Facebook has a new feature called “Timeline.” What Facebook is touting as Timeline’s best feature is how your information is presented. All those status updates, photos you posted, everything, it now potentially becomes even more accessible to friend and stranger alike. No longer will your old statuses in your news feed “disappear” past the point of no return at the bottom of the page. Continue reading
Are health savings accounts really a good idea?
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Consider your health situation before investing in a health savings account
In an era where the cost of health care is skyrocketing, starting a health savings account may be tempting.
For those who don’t know, a health savings account is exactly what it says it is, an account you can deposit money into to pay for your own health care. Continue reading
How the rich avoid tax season
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Tax write off?
Tax season is probably the most horrific time of year for everyone. The tax laws are constantly changing, you never know if you are going to owe money or receive money, and you are always curious about those tax services versus free online software. Ever wonder how the super rich avoid paying all those taxes? Continue reading
Discount at your own Risk
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Business was probably booming during the holidays, but what about after Christmas? How do you keep the business rolling in without losing profit? You might want to consider a daily discount of some kind. You want to give your customers an excuse to come back, even before they might need to. However, there are some precautions you should consider before taking on such a business booster. Continue reading
Things You Do to Save Money That End Up Costing You More
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Times are tough, and you are making every effort to save money. Unfortunately, some ways appear as if they will save you big, but in the end costing you more.
A list of the biggest traps—saving you money now, but hits your wallet hard in the future: Continue reading
Five Ways Social Media Impacts Business
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There are very few people out there today who don’t have a social media profile of some kind. Social media, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn have all become exclusive ways of communication and extensive marketing tools for small businesses and product developers. Getting your business on social media platforms is one of the most popular ways to reach out to new customers, invite current customers to return, and see how your demographic is evolving. Continue reading
Five Student Discounts You May not Have Heard Of. . .
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These discounts will help you save money when you're are off campus.
If you’re a college student, you may have discovered you rarely pay full price for anything while you’re in school.However, there are some discounts that might not be so obvious. Financial Bailout News has made a list of some of the more unusual discounts you may not have thought of. Continue reading
Shopping in February: What to Buy and What Not to Buy
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February makes me think of groundhogs, romance and winter. It often feels like a desperate month, where we wait for an oversized rodent to predict how much longer we have to wait for spring and hope that our significant others remember to demonstrate their love on Valentine’s Day. It’s probably good that the month is shorter than the others. As consumers, there are things that almost everyone buys in February. However, we’re probably paying more than we should for those things. Here’s your list of what to buy and not buy during this anxious month. Continue reading
Redbox and Verizon Team Up
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You have to respect companies that are willing to stay flexible in order to succeed. A great example of this is Redbox and their new venture with Verizon Communications, which will provide customers with a streaming movie service. This will help them compete with Netflix and other on-demand movie services, positioning them as a leader in the industry and establishing a partnership with a powerhouse telecommunications company. Continue reading
Five Companies Doing Good, Environmentally
Most companies try to involve themselves in their local community. Let’s face it, it’s good for business and any expenses can be deducted from their taxes. However, there are a certain collection of businesses that take it one step further, and it’s not for their own benefit. Here are five companies that have been recognized for doing a little good around the neighborhood, getting their hands dirty, and helping those in need.