There’s always a lot of fuss this time a year about gift cards. Some people love them, and some people hate them. I’m sort of in the middle.
On the one hand, I continue to believe that anything a big company wants you to purchase is probably not in your best interest. That is, if a mega-corporation is all fired up to sell gift cards, you can bet they’re a profit center, which probably means they’re rigged against consumers.
On the other hand, gift cards are convenient. They’re easy to give, and they’re generally easy to use. There are many circumstances in which gift cards make great gifts.
Related >> Discounted Gift Cards: The New Coupon
I like to receive gift cards for certain stores. Over the past year, for example, I’ve accumulated $185 in Land’s End gift cards, and I wouldn’t be surprised to receive more this Christmas. I haven’t used any of them yet, though I’ve checked to be sure I’m not going to get dinged because of it. Sometime this spring, after my birthday, I’m going to have an on-line shopping spree — and it won’t cost me a dime.
Still, the critics have some valid complaints.
The Problems With Gift Cards
Last week, my cousin reminded me of a gift card that Kris and I gave him a couple years ago. “It was a nice gesture,” he said, “and I know you meant well, but it’s not anything I’ll ever use. It’s been sitting on the kitchen counter for two years, and will probably be sitting there two years from now.”
That’s one problem with gift cards — here are some others:
They expire. Some gift cards carry an expiration date. The recipient must use the card within a certain amount of time, or the card becomes unusable.
They have fees. Some gift cards — especially those issued by banks — carry fees for various events. Some even charge to use the card. (In August, Tim shared how a gift card from Bank of America carried fees for checking the balance.)
They can be difficult to use. Did you buy a CompUSA gift card for somebody this Christmas? Oops. CompUSA is going out of business — suddenly there’s a very real deadline to use that card. And what if you buy a gift card for somebody but the store doesn’t do business where the recipient lives? Not all gift cards are convenient.
They carry an obligation. When you give a tie to your father, there’s nothing else he has to do use the gift. But when you give a gift card, your father must go to the store to use it. This often means that he has to spend additional money to find something he likes. Gift cards can force the recipient to spend money on his own gift!
Because of the potential problems, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has issued a consumer alert on buying, giving, and using gift cards.
Using Gift Cards Wisely
Despite the naysayers, Americans love gift cards. They love to give them, and they love to receive them. According to the December 2007 issue of the Consumer Reports Money Advisor, last year gift cards were the second-most popular gift to give. They were also the gift that women most wanted to receive. (They were number three on the list for men.)
According to both FTC and Money Advisor, there are few simple steps that gift card recipients can take to minimize potential problems:
Read the terms and conditions when you receive the card so that you understand your rights.
Register your card if it instructs you to do so. This gives you protection if the card is lost or stolen.
Use the card as soon as possible. Unless you know that the card has no hidden fees or expiration date, make it a priority to use it. If you wait, you may be in for a nasty surprise.
Report problems either to the company that issued the card, or to the Federal Trade Commission, whichever is appropriate for your circumstance.
Related >> Picking the right high-yield savings
The FTC also notes:
If your card expires before you’ve had a chance to use it or exhaust its value, contact the issuer. They may extend the date, although they may charge a fee to do it. Some merchants have stopped charging inactivity fees or imposing expiration dates, so it pays to check with the issuer to make sure you’ve got the most up-to-date information.
When giving gift cards, always include a copy of the receipt. Some card issuers require a receipt to replace a lost or stolen card. Also, do your best to research possible hidden fees or other nuisances (such as expiration dates).
Further Reading
Blogger Lazy Man recently explained why he buys gift cards. He thinks it’s more acceptable to give a gift card than money, likes that recipients can pick their own gifts, and is happy that he can save a little cash when buying them. Jim at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity, on the other hand, doesn’t like them. Finally, Liz Pulliam Weston says that gift cards are not gifts.
A poll released today by Rasmussen Reports revealed that 31 percent of respondents said they were underwater on their mortgages, meaning they owed more than the homes were currently worth.
Since April 2009, this number has ranged from 28 percent to 36 percent, so the negative sentiment is below its peak.
Meanwhile, 53 percent of those polled said the the value of their home exceeds their current mortgage balance, up from 51 percent last month, which was the lowest reading since May 2009.
This reading has ranged from 49 percent to 61 percent over the past two years.
Another 16 percent of respondents said they were unsure as to where they stood.
Most Believe Home Values Won’t Rise Soon
Unfortunately, fewer than half of homeowners polled believe home values will go up over the next five years, which does little to instill hope of a recovery any time soon.
However, only 13 percent of homeowners now believe they are at least somewhat likely to miss or a make a mortgage payment late over the next six months.
And 84 percent say they are unlikely to miss or be late for a mortgage payment, including 44 percent who say it is “Not at all likely.”
Nine percent of homeowners said they have missed or been late on a mortgage payment in the past six months, while 88 percent have not.
All of the mortgage payment readings are in line with previous surveys for the past several months.
Finally, 22 percent of those polled say it’s better for the government to assist them with their payments than it is for them to be forced to sell their home.
Women were found to be more supportive than men, while the unmarried favor government mortgage help more than those who are married.
Opposition to government assistance is highest for those who earn $75,000 or more a year.
This is relevant, given the fact that several government mortgage assistance programs are on the chopping block.
The HousingWire award spotlight series highlights the individuals who have been previously recognized by the HW Editors’ Choice Awards. Nominations for HousingWire’s Women of Influence award are open now through Friday, May 19, 2023. Click here to nominate a female leader in the industry — a client, colleague, boss or friend — it can even be you!
Real estate and mortgage have been traditionally male-dominated industries. But in the last few years, women in housing have taken the lead. These female leaders are making outstanding contributions to both their businesses and to the industry at-large. Their energy, ideas, achievements, as well as commitment to excellence and progress, give us a look at the future of the industry.
That’s what the Women of Influence award is all about. Each year, HousingWire honors the women in housing who are moving markets forward each and every day.
We asked a few Women of Influence to tell us their secret to success and here’s what they shared:
“Be real, be authentic and always assume you can do it!” —Mary O’Donnell, CEO and president of Westcor Land Title Insurance Company
“Don’t let fear keep you from taking risks. Risk can be scary but it helps you grow. When I started in the mortgage space I don’t think I could have even imagined founding/owning my own business and look at me now, a founder of a mortgage brokerage.” — Valerie Sheeley, co-founder and chief operating officer, Aslan Home Lending
“Listen, learn, and apply. I’ve had invaluable mentors give me advice throughout my career to help me get better and to reach my goals. I always take the feedback to heart. I make sure to take the time to reflect so I can be the best version of myself.” — AJ Barkley, head of neighborhood and community lending at Bank of America
“The secret to my success has always been execution. I am ultra responsive, available , provide solutions and get the task or job done with a sense of urgency. Even as an SVP of sales at UWM, I am one of the most responsive and available leaders. No matter who asks for help or a favor, I do it immediately and make them feel as if they are just as important as our CEO. — Kristina Bennett, senior vice president of UWM Sales, United Wholesale Mortgage
Nominations for the 2023 Women of Influence award open now through Friday, May 19th. Don’t miss the chance to recognize a female leader from your organization!
CHICAGO — You can catch a screening of a White Sox documentary, shop local at the Spring Cleaning Market, check out the Logan Square Farmers Market on its opening day and more.
Here’s 19 things to do in Chicago this weekend:
1-7 p.m. Saturday
Chicago Fair Trade Museum, 1457 N. Halsted St.
The biggest World Fair Trade Day event is coming to Chicago this weekend. Learn how to grown your own greens at home, join a cross-cultural knitting project, compete in a bake-off using fair trade ingredients and more. There will also be tastings of fair trade chocolate, tea and wine. The event is meant to raise awareness of fair trade, a business model aimed at combating poverty, exploitation and climate change. You can buy tickets, enter the bake-off and donate online.
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Lincoln Avenue from Roscoe to School streets
Shop handmade paintings, sculptures, home decor, jewelry and more at this free North Side fair hosted by Special Service Area No. 27. Enjoy food, music, painting classes, selfie stations, interactive art activities for kids, Sunday morning yoga and more. Sign up online for a chance to win $100 in Art Bucks to spent at the fair. Attendees can also bring their gently used wall art to donate the Chicago Furniture Bank, a nonprofit that distributes furnishings and art to people who are leaving temporary shelters and moving into permanent housing.
5-11 p.m. Saturday
CHAOS Brew Club, 2417 W. Hubbard St.
Alongside a taco bar with all the fixings, birria and pastor, enjoy seasonal ales and lagers crafted by CHAOS brewers at this 10th annual Cerveza de Mayo. You’ll also be able to tour the brewhouse, listen to music by Brian Hoyt and sit by fire pits. Tickets are $45 online. Each ticket includes admission, unlimited food and drink and a 45-day membership to the brew club.
Spring Cleaning Market
1-5 p.m. Sunday
Easy Does It, 2354 N. Milwaukee Ave.
You can grab a glass of wine and oysters while buying art, ceramics, floral arrangements, vintage good and more from local artists. There will also be a motor shucker providing raw bar options and DJ at this market by Common Violet.
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave.
“Last Comiskey” is a new documentary about the White Sox’s final season at Comiskey Park, the team’s old ballpark. This event includes a screening of portions of the film and a Q&A with producer and director Matt Flesch, White Sox pitchers Donn Pall and Wayne Edwards, longtime Chicago sportscaster Tom Shaer and White Sox organist Nancy Faust. Admission is a $25 donation benefitting the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance. You can buy tickets online.
6-11 p.m. Saturday
The Logan Theatre, 2646 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Presented by the Japanese Arts Foundation, “Melanated and Animated” is a 21-and-older event that highlights the intersections of Black and Japanese culture. Listen to a panel discussion with industry guests — including game designer, professor and digital artist Derrick Fields and Kotaku staff writer Isaiah Colbert — and watch the director’s cut of critically acclaimed anime series “Afro Samurai.” There will be music, Japanese spirits, onsite gaming and more. Tickets are $35 online.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday
Wicker Park fieldhouse, 1425 N. Damen Ave.
Herbs, vegetables, flowers, hanging baskets and other plants hand-picked by Wicker Park Garden Club members will be for sale this weekend in Wicker Park’s namesake park. There will also be free native pollinator seeds and a children’s potting area, where volunteers will work with children to decorate pots, fill them with soil and plant seeds to take home and grow.
Doors and silent auction 7 p.m., music 8 p.m. Saturday
Bim Bom Lounge, 5226 W. Belmont Ave.
Bim Bom Lounge’s new owners have spent the past year transforming the former dive bar into an recording space. Construction is still underway, and the studio will be literally raising the space’s roof this month. To kick off renovations and raise money for the studio, there will be a BYOB roof-raising show with music and a silent auction with goods donated by local creators. Entry is $10-$20 on a sliding scale. RSVP online or pay with cash at the door to avoid processing fees.
Noon-2 p.m. Saturday
Wilson Abbey, 935 W. Wilson Ave.
The Lighthouse Foundation, a Black- and queer-led social justice nonprofit, is hosting a soul food brunch where people can learn more about the organization’s efforts to ensure equity for Black queer people in Chicago’s LGBTQ nonprofits. The event will feature live music performances, a panel discussion among Black LGBTQ+ workers and a presentation by Executive Director Jamie Frazier. Tickets are free and available online, and a $35-$100 donation is recommended.
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
3025-3113 W. Logan Blvd.
Shop from more than 100 vendors this weekend for the first Logan Square Farmers Market of the year. The beloved outdoor market will be along Logan Boulevard between Milwaukee Avenue and Whipple Street. Logan Boulevard from Milwaukee to Sacramento avenues will be shut down to drivers to make more room for shoppers and vendors. Alongside produce and farm products, there will be live music and informational booths helmed by local organizations. The Sunday markets take place through Oct. 29.
Noon-4 p.m. Saturday
Mahalia Jackson Court, 1 E. 79th St.
Meet local designers, see some of their fashion, paint flowerpots with your child and shop for Mother’s Day at this free fashion show. There will be food, music and more.
8-10 a.m. Sunday
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2400 N. Cannon Drive
Lincoln Park Zoo is offering a Sensory-Friendly Morning for guests this weekend so they can experience the zoo in a comfortable and inclusive way. The Sensory-Friendly Morning program is offered to visitors who are sensitive to their environments, including people with disabilities, chronic illness, autism, PTSD and dementia. Modifications include limited capacity and muted attractions. The gift shop will open 8 a.m. and Landmark Café will begin selling beverages at 8:30 a.m. Admission is free, but you must register in advance online.
7:15-8:15 p.m. Sunday
Cuddle Bunny – Club, Care & Community, 2901 N. Clark St.
Stretch and rest your mind with bunnies at this bring-your-own-mat yoga class. All skill levels are welcome, and it’s open to people 8 and older. Admission is $22. Sign up online.
2-9 p.m. Saturday
Kehrien Center for the Arts, 5628 W. Washington Blvd.
Local, national and global artists will perform new and ancient South Asian pieces using a variety of instruments and languages at this is event presented by Kalapriya, a nonprofit that celebrates Indian performing arts. There will be Indian food to buy. Tickets are free and donations are encouraged. You can get your ticket and donate online.
Noon Saturday
National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St.
Teens and young adults 13-25 are invited to a free printmaking workshop led by Marimacha Monarca Press, a queer and trans people of color collective of artists and educators based on the South Side. Attendees will create and carve an original design for a rubber block stamp, drawing inspiration from the “Giving Shape: Yollocalli Artistic Practice Through the Years” exhibition. Participants should bring their own items to print with their stamp, like a T-shirt or tote bag. Email [email protected] to register. Spaces are limited.
Bidi Bidi Boom Boom: The Selena Tribute Dance Party
6:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday
National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St.
Celebrate the legacy of Selena, the queen of Tejano and Cumbia music, at the National Museum of Mexican Art throughout the weekend. Dance the night away, sing your heart out to Selena’s music and enjoy drag performances by Chicago artists. This is a 21-and-older event. Tickets are $30 and include admission and adult beverages. You can buy tickets for Thursday here, Friday here and Saturday here.
2-4 p.m. Sunday
Epic Art House, 1850 N. Western Ave.
Create your own mosaic art from scratch this weekend at Epic Art House’s free Mother’s Day workshop for children and families. You will learn how to choose colors and materials, how to cut and arrange the pieces and how to adhere them to create your final piece of art. RSVP here.
Noon-3 p.m. Saturday
Rizzo’s Bar & Inn, 3658 N. Clark St.
Dress your pup in their best attire for Rizzo’s red carpet “Pup Prom.” There will be raffles, silent auctions and photo opportunities. The first 150 people to buy tickets will get a dog-friendly swag bag. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.
11 a.m. Saturday
Anne’s Haven, 5629 W. Irving Park Road
Anne’s Haven is a nonprofit where women, girls and nonbinary people of all ethnic, racial, sexual and religious identities can gather together, support and learn from one another. This weekend, the group is hosting a ribbon-cutting for Anne’s Haven Honor Tree, a piece of artwork honoring women. You can be part of the honor tree by buying a butterfly at the event, available on a sliding scale of $75-$150 or more. Pecan pie, cupcakes and champagne will be served. There will also be a pop-up market with women makers after the ribbon cutting.
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What do you spend most of your money on? For most people, their two biggest expenses are their home and car(s). If you remember the post comparing expenses in 1913 to 2012, you might recall the three things that Mr. Average spent most of his “raise” on were:
Housing (36 percent of the raise)
Income taxes (28 percent), and
Transportation (24 percent)
A majority of the increase in transportation has, arguably, to do with that wonderful instrument of freedom — the automobile.
The choices we make
Our spectrum of choice in cars is, of course, wider than a mile. Egotistas spend big on the latest model of the coolest car. Hollywood celebrities once flaunted their beblinged Cadillac Escalades at the annual Oscar ceremony. That was before the 2002 recession. When that hit, it suddenly wasn’t cool any more to be seen piloting a behemoth slurping down rivers of Mother Earth’s precious resources. That’s when the curtain went up on the eco-friendly Toyota Prius, which Cameron Diaz and other stars rode to the 2003 big event in their sipply little Priuses. Overnight, saving the planet with the Prius became California Cool.
That was then.
The top 1 percent, as we saw a few weeks ago, figured out a way to ensure that a full 95 percent of the wealth increase from this economic recovery gets channeled into their pockets. With that, concern for saving the planet went the way of Uggs for boys, and now the wheels of choice for gliding down Rodeo Drive has become a Range Rover, starting at $85,000 (new, of course).
While an egotista’s main concern is how to bling up a new Range Rover, the other end of the spectrum is occupied by frugalistas sporting boring robust-o-cars destined for at least ten more faithful years of service. Those road warriors are inevitably at least 20 years old, scored on Craigslist for $500 from people with more money than savings concern.
Most of us find ourselves somewhere in the middle of the bulge of the ever-present bell curve, seeking to save while driving something a tad less extreme. That includes the mythical Mr. Average, the darling of all statisticians and bloggers.
So what does Mr. Average spend to keep his or her car on the road? The three biggest car expenses are depreciation, fuel, and car insurance. How does Mr. Average try to save on these items? Buy a cheaper car, is the usual answer.
Not for insurance. You would think you would save on auto insurance with an economical Toyota Corolla, which would be cheaper to insure than, say, a Chevy Tahoe, which is approximately twice the cost. You would be wrong. In an actual comparative pricing study I did for another blog post, I discovered that insuring the more expensive Tahoe is actually cheaper in total dollars than insuring the economical Corolla (new, as well as used).
Comparing gas mileage and depreciation is relatively easy. Getting a handle on car insurance costs for Mr. Average, however, is not.
You see, car insurance is greatly affected by “other” factors than by your choice of vehicle. According to Insurance.com, there are four basic factors insurance companies use to set your rates, and the actual vehicle is only third on that list.
The biggest factor setting your auto insurance rate is you — or, to be more specific, how insurance companies see you. You are bound to hate some and love some of these distinctions, but they’re driven by hard data, collected and analyzed by geeks at their computers.
Who you are
Age: If you’re under 25, your car insurance rates will be higher. Over 25, it depends. It drops until you become seriously interested in Depends, at which time your car insurance rates will start to climb again.
Along with age, insurance companies look at how many years you’ve been driving. Statistics prove that people who have driven longer file fewer claims. For that reason, it usually pays to keep your driver’s license current, even if you live somewhere like New York City or Chicago, where you many times don’t even need to own a car or drive. (Of course, you may need to have a driver’s license in America to write checks or buy stuff with plastic. Foreigners sometimes have a hard time figuring out how being able to pass a driving test qualifies you to write checks, but that’s a different story.)
Gender: Women pay less because:
They drive less
They get in fewer accidents
They get fewer speeding tickets
They get fewer DUI convictions
They buy safer cars
Please note: that’s not a personal judgment. Insurance companies agree that that’s what the numbers say.
Zip Code: Where you live affects your rates, because the frequency of “risk events” varies greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood. These risk events include vandalism, theft of cars and/or contents, and fraudulent claims. Again, these are not Mark Cuban types of assessments; they’re conclusions drawn from statistical data. For this reason, it’s not uncommon for two identical people living just a few miles apart to have a difference of as much as 50 percent in their auto insurance rates.
So, if you’re considering moving, it might be a good idea to find out what the difference will be in your car insurance. You can get quotes from esurance, Progressive, or other online insurance providers — or you can fill out a single form at Insurance.com and get free online quotes from a bunch of insurance companies any time you want to compare rates. (It’s pretty slick, but I digress.)
In general, it’s cheaper to insure cars in rural areas, because they have less crime, less traffic, and fewer accidents.
Credit History: You might not think paying your credit card bill late would increase your car insurance, but you would be mistaken. According to an insurance broker friend of mine, statistics show that people with bad credit file claims something like 40 percent more frequently than those with good credit. If you want to look into this, here’s an article about how and why your credit history affects your car insurance premiums.
Occupation: Again, statistics rule when it comes to insurance. Occupations like scientist, pilot, or actor/artist show lower claims and, therefore, have lower car insurance rates, generally speaking. Why? I want to say nobody really knows, but I’m sure somebody does. The most common explanation I’ve heard is that those occupations require attention to detail and being meticulous. In other words, those people are careful. That’s in contrast to occupations with high auto insurance rates, such as lawyers, business executives, judges and doctors. Apparently, the reason for that is the stress level that comes with jobs like those. (They say the rate for doctors isn’t much lower than for teens.) Real estate brokers also pay more because they have to drive more.
Marital Status: Did you know married people get into fewer accidents than their unmarried counterparts? Insurance companies do, and that’s why they offer married people lower rates. In addition, insuring two cars with the same company usually will get you an additional multi-policy discount, much like the next criterion.
Homeownership: Insurance companies generally charge less for homeowners because they’re regarded as more stable. By itself, that’s not a significant factor, but the discount you get from combining your home and car insurance is.
The rest
The other basic factors determining your auto insurance rates are:
Your driving record (accidents, tickets, etc.) and claims history
The coverage you’re looking for (pretty obvious)
Your vehicle
The impact of your vehicle selection is not obvious, so it’s not simply that a more expensive car will carry a higher insurance premium. In fact, as pointed out above, a Tahoe costs less to insure than a Corolla.
Chances are that if you’re concerned with getting rich slowly, you will have a good (or at least improving) credit record, and you’ll be on the positive side of many of the variables listed above. But now you know exactly how those factors can lead to savings on your auto insurance, the third largest expense of car ownership.
How have you gone about lowering your car insurance premiums?
Are you one of Beyonce’s Single Ladies? Member of the Lonely Heart’s Club? Whether you celebrate your singleton status or just can’t find a decent date, having a bigger pool of eligible candidates to draw from certainly helps your chances. Apartment Guide has dug deep into the data to help uncover the cities where you can find the most single folks in the United States and how the data differs between men and women in that metro area. If you’re single and looking for your next move, here’s where to start.
U.S. Cities With the Greatest Percentage of Single Men
U.S. Cities with the Greatest Percentage of Single Women
This data is sourced from Maponics based on self-reporting households. Single households are defined as households with no children under the age of 18 in which the head of the household is unmarried. Household is defined by the US Census Bureau as one or more people who occupy a housing unit.
When it comes to finding single men, it would appear that heading out west is the way to go. Six of the top 10 cities with the greatest percentage of single men are in California; more specifically around Los Angeles. It seems that L.A. isn’t just great for movie stars and fancy cars, it’s also great for finding single guys!
Great spots for finding single ladies, on the other hand, seem to be sprinkled around the entire country. The Midwest claims the top two spots, with Gary, IN and Detroit, MI coming in strong with slightly over 22% of self-reporting households claiming to be single women. That’s a pretty packed ladies night.
So why does it seem that the percentage rates of single women households are significantly higher than the men? It would appear it comes down to population. According to US Census Bureau demographic information of the United States in 2014, there were about 125.9 million adult women as compared to 119.4 million adult men. That’s a difference of 6.5 million.
Are you currently single and looking for love? Would you ever consider moving to widen your dating pool? Let us know below!
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
Earlier this month I had a major #fangirl moment. It was a full #fangirl evening, in fact, when I teamed up with New York Times bestselling author and Girlboss founder Sophia Amoroso to share in a very special money event.
In partnership with Mint, Sophia and I hosted a panel of four trailblazing entrepreneurs to have an “impolite” conversation about money. The audience heard from Mackenzie Barth, founder of Spoon University (which recently got acquired by Scripps Networks), Lisa Price creator of Carol’s Daughter, a multi-million dollar beauty brand, fashion entrepreneur Nina Faulhaber and Wing Yau, acclaimed jewelry designer.
The only rule for the evening was to be brutally honest. So, we went deep. We talked about our financial hang-ups, our money mantras, how we spend and save, as well as our money wins and losses.
While there were many takeaways, as moderator, I picked up on a few common threads – impolite “rules” – that ran through many of the stories shared. Here are my 5 favorites.
The panelists, a row full of successful entrepreneurs who seem to have a great handle on life and work, admitted that money can sometimes make them feel scared or anxious. In some cases it’s because, as business owners, they don’t always earn a consistent paycheck. In other cases they may not know the best way to save or invest. From time to time, they have doubts, insecurities and fears.
The room was full of nodding heads.
We all can get a little (or a lot) emotional over money, right? The topic triggers all sorts of feels, depending on our upbringing and life experiences. And that’s ok. Emotions provide context for how and why we the make decisions we do. On the panel, some grew up wealthier, while others remember living paycheck to paycheck. Each experience left them with a unique set of money emotions.
Rather than keep them bottled up, these women embraced their feelings. They shared them and through that discovered they weren’t alone and received acceptance and support.
To help us jump over our emotional hurdles, we need to arm ourselves with facts.
The panelists talked about how they continuously seek knowledge and answers to guide their decision-making. They need to make informed choices around saving money, using credit, taking on loans and building financially sound businesses. If they don’t know something, they’ll ask experts and advisors to find out. There’s no sense in guessing.
#3 You’re More Money Savvy Than You Think.
The voices in our head may be telling us that we’re not good enough or smart enough with numbers to manage our money well. Ignore the noise and realize it’s not that difficult. You may face a learning curve when it comes to budgeting, investing and expense tracking, but sometimes the only thing getting in the way is a bad mindset.
Panelist Wing Yau, the founder of WWake, is an artist first and businesswoman second. Like fellow artists, she admitted that she wasn’t exactly hard-wired to know how to analyze a profit and loss statement or manage the financials of her business. Money was an overwhelming topic, at times. But Wing insisted on learning how to manage her company’s books through research and seeking help, as well as trial and error. The process not only left her more educated. It gave her the confidence to fully tackle her business.
You can’t possibly know it all. And you shouldn’t go it alone. Each panelist credited friends, advisors and partners in giving them the support and feedback they need to make smart money moves, as well as business decisions.
Having an accountability partner, someone to keep you motivated and on track, was also critical.
For example, Nina Faulhaber, co-founder of ADAY, an active wear startup, recalls meeting with Sophia Amoruso prior to launching her fashion business to ask a laundry list of questions. Nina was coming from the finance world but knew very little about the fashion industry. Sophia was more than helpful, providing feedback and connecting her with other key people in the clothing world to offer guidance and mentorship.
So now that they’ve established successful businesses, are friends and family coming out of the woodwork asking for money or help? In some cases, yes, the panelists admitted.
But if there is one money rule Lisa Price, founder of the uber successful beauty line Carol’s Daughter, lives by, it is to never lend money. “Only give what you can gift,” she said. In other words, never give money to anyone with the expectation that it will be returned. Instead, offer it as a gift to avoid resentment or disappointment, since, as we know, many personal loans can go awry.
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
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Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
We live in an increasingly cash-free society. While cash is still king and accepted almost everywhere, more and more people are moving away from cash. From credit cards and contactless payments, different banks and credit issuers have an incentive to make sure that THEIR card is at the top of your wallet. That can lead to an opportunity for people with the financial savvy to earn a little extra by making the most out of their credit cards.
How many credit cards should you have?
The first question you might wonder in trying to make the most out of your credit cards is how many credit cards you should have. While there is no one right answer to that question, you should consider the possibility of signing up for a new credit card. The reason for that is that the most value you will ever get from your credit card is its welcome or signup bonus.
Normally, credit cards might give anywhere from 1-2 cents (or 1-2 airline miles or points) per dollar spent on most purchases. It’s really hard to get any appreciable amount of rewards only earning one or two cents per dollar. On the other hand, when you sign up for a new credit card, the credit card company will usually offer an initial signup bonus.
An example might be earning 50,000 airline miles for spending $2,000 in the first three months of having the card. So while you’re making that $2,000 of spending, you’re earning TWENTY-FIVE miles per dollar spent. An example like that can help illustrate the power of signing up for new credit cards — it’s just so much easier to get a healthy balance of rewards this way.
How signing up for credit cards affects your credit
Before you start signing up for every credit card you see, there are a few things that you’ll want to know. One of the most common credit card questions people ask is whether signing up for new credit cards hurts your credit score. For most people, signing up for a new credit card every couple of months will not have a material impact on their credit score. In fact, the increased credit limit can actually help your credit score.
Get organized
The one thing that CAN hurt your credit score is if you aren’t organized and start missing payments on your credit card. So if you do decide to open new credit cards, make sure that you have a system in place for organization. You want to make sure that you have the financial ability and discipline to pay your credit card statement, in full, every month. If you don’t, you risk hurting your credit score, and the interest and late fees can really put a dent into any rewards that you might earn.
Using the “right” credit card
When you only have one credit card, it’s pretty straightforward to decide which card that you should use with any given merchant. You just use the one credit card that you have, every time and everywhere. If you have multiple credit cards, it starts to get a bit more complicated. Some credit cards earn the same amount of rewards no matter where you use them, while others earn bonus points in certain categories.
There are a couple of ways that you can handle using the “right” credit card. Some people just try to remember what bonus categories each of their cards have and use the right one based on their memory. Another strategy is to tape a small note to each card in your wallet with where to use it — groceries, gas, restaurants, everywhere else, etc.
An important thing to remember is that the difference between using the “right” and “wrong” credit card on any one transaction is minimal. We’re talking less than a dollar’s worth of rewards per purchase. And while every bit adds up, it’s not something to lose a whole lot of sleep over.
Maximize your credit card rewards
Once you have earned a good stash of credit card rewards, it’s time to put them to their best use. If you’re wise, you can maximize your credit card rewards without hurting your credit. A good rule of thumb is that most travel rewards are best used with the program where you’ve earned them. Delta Skymiles are best used to travel on Delta; Hilton Honors points are best used to stay at Hilton hotels.
Flexible bank rewards points like American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou points, or Chase Ultimate Rewards are more valuable because they can effectively be used in multiple ways. You can use them to pay for travel, transfer them to hotel or airline travel partners or redeem them as statement credits to help pay yourself back. Having that flexibility is a good way to maximize the value of your rewards points.
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Dan Miller is a freelance writer and founder of PointsWithACrew.com, a site that helps families to travel for free / cheap. His home base is in Cincinnati, but he tries to travel the world as much as possible with his wife and 6 kids. More from Dan Miller
Inside: Looking for some great Easter basket ideas for girls? Our list has you covered! They will love these easter gifts for special ladies in your life.
Easter is just around the corner and if you’re like me, that means it’s time to start thinking about Easter baskets!
I love putting together Easter baskets for my girl.
Girls love getting unexpected presents, and they love trying out new things. Plus girls are also often very creative, so they can come up with unique and interesting gifts.
It’s so much fun to pick out festive and colorful Easter fillers!
If you’re looking for some inspiration for what to put in your little girl’s Easter basket this year, look no further!
Here are 25 great ideas:
What do girls like for Easter?
Girls can enjoy a wide variety of Easter gifts and treats.
Thus, shopping for girls is so much fun!!
The love items such as jewelry, nail polish, art supplies, plush toys, beach towels, tote bags, backpacks, and notebooks. You can’t go wrong with any of our ideas below.
Find Easter gifts to show your little girl how special she is, while still being fun and age-appropriate.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
What can I put in my daughters Easter basket?
Looking for creative ideas to put in your daughter’s Easter basket?
From fun jewelry, nail polishes, and art supplies to sunglasses, we have plenty of ideas to keep you covered.
You need to consider her interests and personality to make her basket special.
The 25 Best Easter Basket Ideas for Girls
If you are looking for some inspiration for what to put in your little girl’s Easter basket this year, look no further!
This is where you will find Easter basket ideas for teens.
We have gathered together 25 of the most awesome girl Easter basket ideas
Pressed Flower Art Kit
A pressed flower art kit is a great Easter basket idea for girls of all ages, as it encourages creative exploration and allows for unique, handmade projects.
These tools can be used to create a variety of fun projects such as cards, bookmarks, trinket boxes, and more.
Moreover, the recommended age of 5 years and up means the kit is versatile enough to engage both younger and older girls.
Grow ‘N Glow Terrarium Kit
The Grow ‘N Glow Terrarium Kit for kids is packed with amazing features for young botanists to explore and enjoy! The kit includes everything you need.
Perfect opportunity to combine the fun of arts and crafts with science for creative and screen-free activity.
Cross Pendant Necklace
A cross pendant necklace is a popular and meaningful choice for faith-based Easter baskets.
It is a stylish and symbolic way to express one’s faith.
The simple design makes it a timeless item and is a popular choice for teens and adults alike. It is a great way to show your devotion to Christ and to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
Kindle Paperwhite
This is something we have purchased before for our kids.
It is such a hit!!
We prefer the paperwhite version over the Kindle Kids.
Spot It Classic Card Game
The Spot It! Classic Card Game is a fun, engaging game for the whole family.
It works by having players search for matching symbols or pictures on cards.
It is an excellent option for an Easter basket for young girls because it encourages critical thinking, visual perception skills, and fine motor skills. It also develops quick reflexes and helps players hone their observational skills.
Squishies Squishy Toy
Squishies Squishy Toys are excellent stress relievers and are great for improving blood circulation in the hands.
These Squishies Squishy Toys make great Easter Basket ideas for girls because they are not only fun and cute to look at, but they are also very safe to play with.
Additionally, they are small enough to fit into Easter eggs and baskets without taking up too much space.
Butterfly Garden
This pop-up, reusable habitat is 11.5 inches tall and made of mesh to allow for easy viewing of butterflies as they go through the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly. It also comes with a feeding dropper and instructions for setting up the habitat.
Watching the caterpillars grow and morph into butterflies is a fun and engaging activity that can teach children about the beauty of the natural world and the life cycle of butterflies.
Make sure to order caterpillars separately! https://amzn.to/3YIM2Uy
Easter Lego Set
The LEGO Creator 3-in-1 White Rabbit is a great Easter basket idea for boys because they can enjoy building the 258-piece rabbit, complete with a carrot!
Plus, the set is compact, making it easy to stow away for later use. Not to mention, it’s perfect for the Easter season, with its cute bunny and carrot design.
So, your child can have fun building with their LEGO set and then decorate their room with the finished product!
Fidget Toys
Easter baskets for girls can be filled with a variety of fidget toys
Girls will love the variety of sensory toys in the set and they can use them to reduce stress and anxiety.
Plus, they trade them all the time! So, it is better to buy a bigger set!
Beautiful Hearted Women of the Bible: A Creative Mother-Daughter Devotional
This beautiful month-daughter devotional by Linsey Driskill is a creative and interactive way for moms to connect with their daughters ages 6-10 years old.
Simple step to help grow their relationship with God.
The bonus is quality time with your daughter digging into God’s word.
Sidewalk Chalk
Sidewalk chalk is a perfect Easter basket item for girls since it encourages them to explore their creative side and get outdoors.
As the chalk is washable, it’s also a safe and mess-free option to let kids express their creativity while having fun outdoors.
Furthermore, the vibrant colors of sidewalk chalk add a splash of color to any outdoor space and bring a lot of fun and excitement.
Temporary Henna Tattoos
Temp henna tattoos are an excellent addition to any Easter basket, as they are a fun, creative way for kids (and adults!) to add a special touch to their celebrations.
They’re great for adding a personal touch to gifts and can even be used to dress up Easter eggs or other decorations.
Plus, they are a safe and non-toxic alternative to permanent tattoos, meaning they won’t cause any lasting damage to skin.
Personalized Beach towels
Why not be in style with a personalized beach towel?
Choose your favorite design, add your own text, and let us do the rest.
You can be sure that your towel will make a statement at the beach this summer.
I Spy Easter Book
The I Spy Easter Coloring Book is a popular Easter basket idea for girls because it provides a fun and creative way to celebrate the holiday.
This book is packed with easy-to-color illustrations, featuring bunnies, eggs, chicks, and other Easter themed treats, on single-sided pages that prevent bleed-through.
With its inspiring Easter themes, this activity book is sure to spark creativity and imagination for toddlers.
Easter Bubble Bath Bomb
Bath bombs are a fun way to get clean and enjoy a spa-like experience at home.
They come in all different flavors, but the most popular is probably the bubble bath bombs. These bombs are filled with a variety of scents and ingredients, including bath salts, oils, and even toys.
When you drop them into a hot bath, they form small bubbles that burst and release.
Non-toxic Nail Polish
An Easter nail polish basket is a popular gift idea for girls.
Look for nail polishes that are usually free of harsh chemicals, vegan and cruelty-free, and eco-friendly, making them safe for all ages, including young children.
The Easter nail polish basket is a popular gift idea for girls because it provides them with a fun and safe way to express themselves and decorate their nails with vibrant colors and designs.
Facial Sheet Mask
Facial sheet masks are a popular Easter basket idea for girls because they are an affordable and easy way to enjoy a variety of skincare benefits.
A facial sheet mask is a skincare product that is made from natural ingredients such as shea butter, aloe, tea tree, peppermint, green tea, and lemon, among others.
Not to mention, they are a fun way to show your skin some love and pamper yourself.
American Girl Doll
There are many different American Girl Dolls to choose from, the options are endless.
You can fill the baskets with different types of clothes, shoes, and accessories. They can also be personalized with the child’s name.
Self Love Journal
Journaling is one of the best practices we can teach our girls.
Positive affirmations work wonders! Our brain is so powerful.
This is a gift you will not regret.
Glitter Double Line Outline Pens
The Glitter Double Line Outline Pens feature vivid metallic silver color surrounded by colored borders.
These pens have a unique technology that produces outlines for you automatically to create a beautiful dual-color effect.
The pigment ink is waterproof, chemically stable, and UV resistant, making them perfect for crafts, cards, and other creative projects.
The Armor of God – Teen Bible Study Book
This highly acclaimed bible study by Priscilla Shirer is what teen girls need today.
Learn how to overcome the war raging around you – in your mind, in your emotions.
Make an action plan for putting on your armor and developing a personalized strategy to secure victory against the enemy.
Selfie ring light
Yep, this is exactly what every teen wants!
A selfie ring light is a device used to take selfies, video chat, and live stream videos. I
It also comes with an adjustable phone holder and a weighted tripod, making it easy to take pictures no matter where you are.
Selfie ring lights are popular gifts for Easter baskets because they make it easier to take great selfies in dark areas or whenever natural light is not available.
Crossbody Purse
It is a popular Easter basket idea for girls because of its convenience and versatility.
The faux leather material and small size of the bag make it a stylish and comfortable accessory that can be worn with just about any outfit.
All in all, a crossbody purse is a great Easter gift idea for girls of all ages because of its stylishness, convenience, and versatility.
What stuffed animals can I include in a girls Easter basket?
A girls Easter basket should include an array of plush stuffed animals!!
Here are the most popular:
Personalized Hop ‘N Cuddle Plush Bunny
Squishmallow
Melissa & Doug Burrow Bunny Rabbit Stuffed Animal
FAQ
Girls are more likely to want the frills and ribbons than boys!
A themed Easter basket is a great idea and there are so many fun and creative themes to choose from.
Consider a princess-themed basket with items like princess jewelry, nail polish, art supplies, and a unique tie-dye beach towel.
Or, think of a pool-themed basket with a beach tote, sand toys, and a colorful beach towel.
Make the basket even more special with a few extra touches like a colorful bow or ribbon, a few Easter eggs, or a special note.
With these step-by-step instructions, you’ll be able to create a custom Easter basket for your girl that she’ll love!
Are there any Easter basket stuffers specifically for girls that are non-candy items?
Indeed, there are!
From glitter and sparkles to fun friendship art, you can find a wide selection of unique non-candy Easter basket stuffers for girls.
There are so many little fillers you can choose from!
Easter baskets for girls come in a variety of styles and colors, from bright pinks and pastels to custom designs.
From cute gift baskets with lock and key to sporty sparkle backpacks, there is something for every girl.
No matter what kind of Easter basket she’s looking for, you’re sure to find something special for every girl.
Time to Shop for Easter Bunny Baskets
We hope this guide has given you some inspiration for the perfect Easter basket for the special girl in your life.
Shopping for Easter should be fun for your daughter, nieces, or granddaughter.
The ideas are endless and open to inspiration based on their personalities.
You can be sure you’ll find the perfect Easter basket for the special girl in your life.
Don’t forget ideas for boys’ easter baskets!
Happy Easter!
Oh, and don’t forget those Easter basket stuffers!
So what are you waiting for? Get shopping!
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Social media marketing, a type of digital marketing, uses social media platforms to deliver online content to a business’s target audiences. Content is generally designed to build brand awareness and promote products or services, but it can also help a business increase visitors to its website and gather information about followers that can be used in email marketing and other campaigns.
Social media marketing allows you to engage in a more direct way with your target audience, even in one-on-one conversations in some instances. It can be less expensive than other forms of marketing, but it’s also highly competitive due to continuous streams of social posts vying for the attention of consumers. Creating an intentional social media marketing strategy can help you maximize your efforts and improve your return on investment.
How to create a social media marketing strategy
Social media marketing works like other forms of marketing as far as defining goals, identifying a target audience and creating content. However, to keep an active social media presence, a business will need to post regularly on their platforms of choice and regularly monitor brand mentions and customer comments.
Determine your social media marketing goals
Plotting out your goals from the outset will help guide you in the other decisions you’ll need to make, such as which social media platforms to use and the type of content to post.
Here are some general goals that are common to social media marketing:
Increase brand awareness.
Gain customer insights.
Increase sales.
Develop leads.
Increase website traffic.
Respond to customer complaints.
Retarget visitors to your website who don’t make purchases.
Get followers to share your content on promotional events.
Draw attention to a charity or nonprofit organization you support.
When possible, be specific when setting goals, but also keep in mind that the success of some of your efforts may be hard to document. For example, it can be more difficult to measure an increase in brand awareness, but the goal of higher website traffic can be documented through marketing tools such as Google Analytics.
Define your target audience
Knowing your customers is important to any marketing effort. Customer information, such as interests, buying behaviors, pain points and demographic details like age, gender and annual income, can help you create content that will interest your target audience.
Also, demographic details may influence your choice of social media platforms. For example, if your target audience is primarily women, you may want to market on a platform that has a higher percentage of women than men. Or, if your target audience is younger, you may want to use a platform that is popular with that age group.
However, with daily users numbering in the millions on many popular platforms, your target audience may be well represented on any platform. Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram are a few of the platforms that offer audience insights tools you can use to learn about the people using the platform. Talking directly to your customers about which platforms they frequent most can also help inform your social media strategy.
Pick your social media platforms
You may choose to target even more niche social platforms based on your type of business and customers, but here are some of the most popular and how they’re used:
Facebook: Text, image and video sharing. A Facebook business page can provide important information about your business and build community.
YouTube: Video sharing.
Twitter: This social networking platform is mostly used for text-based Tweets, but you can also incorporate images, videos and GIFs.
Instagram: Photo and video sharing.
TikTok: Video sharing. Compared to YouTube, this is best for shorter videos.
Pinterest: Image sharing.
LinkedIn: A professional networking platform, LinkedIn is primarily used to market to businesses rather than consumers, or to increase brand awareness by participating in industry-specific forums.
Snapchat. Instant messaging, image and video platform.
Reddit: Forum-style discussions.
Assess your content needs
The type of content you’ll post on social media will depend on your business, goals and which platforms you’re using. It can range from promotional to educational and should reflect the human characteristics and voice that best define your brand, or your brand personality. For example, if your business sells outdoor gear, your brand personality might be rugged and adventurous. Or, if your business sells products and services for small children, your brand personality might be playful but nurturing.
Social media content can include text, images and videos. You may also be able to link to other content you’ve created such as articles, blogs, e-books and videos. Depending on the platform, there may be limits to what can be included in posts. For example, on Twitter, a Tweet can contain up to 280 characters plus up to four images, videos and/or GIFs.
Your social media marketing efforts might also include the use of digital ads on multiple social media platforms and search engines such as Google and Bing. Each platform will have its own requirements for ads and typically offer content recommendations. For example, YouTube offers step-by-step instructions on creating video ads, with pre-made templates and other tools.
Post consistently
Posting consistently is an important factor in successfully promoting your business on social media. Each business’s posting cadence, whether it’s daily, a few times a week or weekly, will depend on its goals and audience. You’ll also want to factor in the time it takes to produce quality content — a video or high-quality photos may take longer than a text-only Tweet, for instance.
Creating a posting schedule can help your business post consistently — and marketing software can help automate the process. While you can post the same content on all your platforms, it’s better to customize the content for the audience of each individual platform. Plus, as discussed, each platform has unique requirements for postings.
Posting regularly can help a business to:
Increase brand authority, credibility and reputation.
Build followers.
Gain familiarity with the platforms and tools.
Establish its brand voice.
Improve content rankings on platform feeds.
Support paid advertising efforts.
Monitor mentions and respond quickly
It’s important to monitor the mentions of your brand and comments made on your posts. Customers frequently take to a business’s social media when they have customer service questions or complaints. In those instances, responding quickly and positively is key, but aim to resolve the issue privately, by encouraging them to direct message or email your business.
Monitoring mentions — and encouraging customers to post about your business (while tagging your account) — can also help you identify brand advocates and gather user-generated content to repost, which can ease the burden of content creation.
It may take months before you see noticeable progress toward your marketing goals, but social media management tools like Hootsuite, Zoho Social and Buffer can help you monitor your content as well as help with posting, scheduling and measuring results.