David Zimmerman

BankingCredit CardsFraudShopping

Ten Tips For How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

We have an amazing amount of technology, information and convenience right at our fingertips. Of course, so do hackers, identity thieves, and credit scammers. Just as it’s never been easier to work, shop, and socialize online, it’s never been easier for bad actors to use these activities against you. Identity theft is a real danger, and it’s more commonplace than you know. Read on for tips on how to protect yourself against identity theft while making transactions through traditional methods of commerce.

9 min read

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MoneyEducationJobs

College Degrees With the Highest Entry-Level Salary

The cost of college is high, and so is the collective student loan debt shared by Americans. And for many college graduates, these economic challenges are magnified by the fact that loan repayment begins immediately upon graduation. In many cases, even those who are fortunate enough to secure a job right out of school will be settling for a fairly modest entry-level pay. So how can you reconcile the demand to earn a living and repay your loans with the fact that you’re entering the job market without experience? Otherwise, read on for a look at these 10 College Degrees that can lead to above average earnings right away.

12 min read

MoneyEconomicsInflationShopping

Eleven Tips for Saving on Utilities

and sustained inflationary trends in at least 30 years, the cost of living is going up. You can feel the effects when you buy groceries, when you fill up at the pump, and of course, every month when you pay your gas and electric bills. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that “natural gas prices trended higher over the last year. The delivered cost of natural gas to electricity generators grew from $3.19/MMBtu in January 2021 to an estimated $5.04/MMBtu in the fourth quarter of 2021.” The price of keeping the lights on and the heat flowing is getting higher and unfortunately, we aren’t likely to see much relief as we descend into the heart of another cold winter. There are, however, steps you can take to lower the impact on your own household. 

8 min read

EducationJobs

10 Best College Degrees to Earn a Six Figure Salary

Can you land a six-figure income with a four-year degree? Is it possible to rise to the top of the earning pool without spending time and money on a master’s degree? We take a closer look at a number of professions that prove a bachelor’s degree can still be valuable…if you choose the right field. 

11 min read

InvestingJobsMoney

Ten Tips for Early Retirement

More than ever before, Americans are contemplating the idea of early retirement. But it isn’t easy, and it could take some seriously frugal living and meticulous planning to earn yourself a post-professional lifestyle sooner than later. But it can be done. Read on for a look at the strategies that could help deliver you to that sandy shore, scenic overlook, or late morning wake up while you’re young enough to really enjoy it. 

8 min read

MoneyInflationShopping

Eleven Tips for Saving on Groceries

At this point, we probably don’t need to tell you that we’re living through a period of sustained inflation. Your grocery bills already tell you everything you need to know. In December 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a 6.8% rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the previous year. Americans are […]

8 min read

EducationLoans

Can You Trust U.S. News & World Report’s College Rankings?

How do students get the best value out of their college education? And how effectively do college ranking sites deliver on that need? As the rising cost of college far outpaces wages for American workers, this question of value is more important than it has ever been. The good news is that students have more choices than ever before. The bad news is that navigating these choices can be exceedingly difficult. College ranking leaders generally operate under the premise that their ranking lists make this process easier. But do they really? Are college ranking leaders actually providing the information that students need to make smart decisions? Or are they feeding students into a college industry that profits from reputation over outcomes? Are college rankings the ultimate case of style over substance? We examine these questions and more with a closer look at the ranking sector through the prism of its most widely recognized and influential player—U.S. News and World Report.

19 min read

General

Five Ways Individuals Can Think Globally and Act Locally

What does it mean to think globally and act locally? This oft-quoted concept calls on us to consider the health of the planet and all of its inhabitants even in the smallest and most immediate actions. In other words, when you act to support your local economy, community, and culture, you are making important contributions to improvements in living standards, sustainability, and economic fairness the world over. 

11 min read

Business

Ten Reasons Your Company Needs a Great HR Department

Human Resources (HR) covers a lot of ground. In a given organization, HR can play a direct role in everything from recruitment, hiring, and firing to training, evaluation, and oversight of company ethics. While the exact duties charged to an HR department may vary from one company to the next, the importance of a strong, functional and rational HR department is indisputable.

10 min read

TravelJobs

Ten Ways to Travel For Free … and Maybe Even Get Paid To Do It

So you want to see the world? You’ve got the time, the energy, and maybe you’ve even picked up a few useful words in several different languages. Obviously, you want to get out there and spend that time wisely, burn that energy constructively, and use those words contextually. There’s just one problem. You don’t have any money. Granted, that isn’t ideal, but it’s also not a dealbreaker. There are actually all kinds of cool ways to adventure both in the U.S. and abroad without so much as a dime to your name. Not only are there lots of amazing ways to travel for free, but if you do it right, you may even find a way to get paid for it!

9 min read

MoneyReal EstateTravel

Ten Ways to Save Money on a Cross Country Move

Whether you’re moving cross country for a new job opportunity or you’re just ready for a change of scenery, picking up your whole life and transporting it 2500 miles away is a pretty big undertaking. It should come as little surprise that this undertaking can also be quite expensive. From packing supplies and shipping costs to fuel and professional moving companies, expenses can really add up. For some idea of what all of these expenses might add up to, check out this handy Moving Calculator from Moving.com. This is a useful tool for determining how much your move could cost. But you should only consider this estimate as a starting point in your research. While you may not be able to control things like the cost of gas, there are actually a lot of factors that you can control. Any combination of the tips below could lower your overall cross country moving expenses at a time when every penny counts. 

9 min read

BusinessTaxes

How to Start a Small Business in 10 Steps

So you have an amazing idea for a business and you’re ready to make the leap from concept to reality. But how do you actually start your own business? What steps must you take to transform your vision into a fully-functioning and eventually profitable endeavor? If you’re ready to dive full-throttle into the exciting world of entrepreneurship, follow these ten steps. The exact sequence may vary depending on the nature of your business and your personal circumstances but in most cases, you will need to check these items off of your list on the way to a viable business.

8 min read

GeneralMoney

How To Win the Lottery

The chances of striking it rich with the purchase of a lottery ticket are quite low indeed. But that doesn't mean it’s impossible. Perhaps even more encouraging—there are actually a few ways that you can improve your chances of winning. While we wouldn’t necessarily advise basing your future financial plans on buying the proverbial golden ticket, we recognize that playing the lottery can be fun. And there are steps you can take to improve your odds of winning the lottery. For most people, this will generally mean improving from terrible odds to merely bad odds. But hey, at least it’s something.

11 min read

BankingEconomicsReal Estate

Five Ways We’re Still Feeling the Effects of the Great Recession Today

The Great Recession was a financial crisis that gripped the world in late 2007 and held tight until roughly the summer of 2009. While this period of economic stagnation and decline was a global phenomenon, its impact was especially concentrated in the United States. Over a period of 18 months, one in every five American workers was laid off. This was a catastrophic period in the lives of many Americans. For the nation as a whole this period qualified as the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression some 80 years prior. As we face down a growing threat of inflation, Congressional grappling over infrastructural needs, and a political landscape that is both sharply divided and marked by a far-reaching sense of economic discontent, this feels like a uniquely appropriate time to reflect on the Great Recession.

11 min read

MoneyEconomicsEconomists

How Is Inflation Impacting American Consumers?

Inflation is the watchword of the day. But what does inflation mean, and how is it likely to impact you? A perfect storm of events--including hiccups in the supply chain, shortages of essential goods, rising fuel prices and the economic fallout of the pandemic, as well as the various corrective tactics used to manage this fallout--is causing a spike in consumer pricing across the board. And as prices continue to rise, anxiety over inflation has spiraled into full-fledged fear. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) seems to bear this fear out, as do recent indications from the Federal Reserve that interest rate hikes will be coming in the New Year. But is actual inflation or just a short-term spike in consumer prices?

8 min read

InvestingMoneyReal Estate

Should I Buy a Fixer-upper?

A fixer-upper can be a great investment as long as you know what you’re getting. Here, we discuss the best strategy for finding the right work-in-progress home along with a look at the Pros and Cons of Buying a Fixer-upper.

9 min read

InvestingMoneyReal Estate

Building a House VS Buying. Should I Buy or Build?

Getting a new home is a pretty big decision, so you obviously want to consider all of your options first. You’ve probably also noticed just how competitive the housing market is these days. If you find your dream house on the market, there’s a pretty good chance that dozens of others also think they’ve found their dream home. So wouldn’t it just be easier to build your own home? Well, if you’re looking for a home that checks off every box on your wishlist, it might be preferable to design, contract out, and build your perfect dream house. But it might not necessarily be the most affordable option and certainly isn’t the easiest way to get a new home.

12 min read