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January 20, 2021

Save money (and stay connected) with the best budget smartphones

The post Save money (and stay connected) with the best budget smartphones appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

I remember my first cell phone. It was a Nokia 3360.

Back then, it was all the rage, and coming from battery-draining car phones, it was a step up.

A lot has changed since my indoctrination into the world of mobile devices. Cell phones are no longer just phones.

Todayâs smartphones are handheld computers that can connect you to information and people around the world in mere seconds.

But, with the development of its supercomputer functionalities, mobile phones have also exponentially increased in price.

Though my Nokia 3360 now sells for a mere $25 on eBay and can probably be listed as a historical artifact, todayâs most popular smartphones start in the hundreds of dollars.

In fact, youâll find most prices quoted as a monthly payment so as not to deter consumers from the actual price tag that theyâll be financing.

Regardless, owning a smartphone doesnât have to break the bank. There are budget options available that can save you money while still allowing you to stay connected.

It’s possible to buy a budget smartphone and save yourself some expense. Since most people finance their phone through their cell phone bill, buying a budget smartphone — like an iPhone SE or an older model like an iPhone 6s — can lower your monthly phone bill. It’s also possible to buy a budget phone — whether it be an Apple phone or an Android Phone — that still has advanced features like extended battery life and a fingerprint sensor.

Here are 3 budget smartphones that you can purchase to save money.

Motorola Moto e6

The Motorola phones rank high among tech reviews for economical smartphones. The Moto e6, in particular, is one of the brandâs most affordable phones.

Motorola describes it as having all of your standard smartphone features, but at an unbelievably low price.

This particular phone starts at only $99.

Nokia Android Phones

If youâre looking for a tried and true mobile phone brand, Nokia has definitely stood the test of time.

These Android phones have the same standard features and overall sleek look as their more costly counterparts.

Nokia offers its smartphones starting at just $50.

Samsung Galaxy A0

This popular Android makes the list of budget-friendly smartphones as well, starting at $99.

The Samsung Galaxy is one of the most popular Android phones — repeatedly making tech lists for best Android phones.

Though much cheaper than its most popular models, the A0 can be a great alternative.

If your budget is a bit higher than $100, then you may consider other options from these brands as well.

A higher, yet still reasonable budget can also afford you an older model iPhone. Walmart offers Appleâs popular iPhone 7 as a prepaid option for just $199.

What to consider when budgeting for a smartphone

The amount of money that you budget for your phone should be based on how you plan on using it.

What you use your cell phone for will determine which features you will need on your phone. And, as expected, the features will impact the overall cost.

For instance, if you want to use your phone solely for talking, then the camera capabilities wonât matter as much.

Similarly, if youâre purchasing a phone for a child who just wants to play games and use it for emergencies, then speed and storage space should be the factors that are important to you.

For a child, an old phone may work just fine. Kids don’t need to store a credit card on their phone or have face ID. You can avoid getting a flagship phone and do less damage to your checking account by buying budget Android phones. Set a financial goal and be willing to sacrifice features like a front camera or wireless charging in order to to get them.

A cheap Android device or older iPhone can still access mobile data, make calls, and send texts. You can keep your fixed expense low with a cheap phone. It may be short on internal storage, lack a fingerprint scanner, only have a rear camera, and still have a headphone jack (a positive that newer phones lack) but it should be able to do most, if not all, of the things you need it to do.

Where to find budget smartphones

You can always find budget-friendly smartphones online.

To ensure that youâre actually getting what youâre paying for, I suggest going directly to the manufacturerâs website and not a third-party site.

Nonetheless, if youâre looking for a better deal and the ability to negotiate with the seller, consider purchasing from sites like eBay.

Cell phone carriers like Verizon, T-mobile, and Sprint also carry less expensive smartphones within their stores. So, if you want to try one out before you purchase it, just visit a local store.

Weigh all of the costs when purchasing a smartphone

The cost of a smartphone doesnât just stop with the purchase price.

There are other factors that will need to be taken into account when youâre trying to budget for a cell phone.

Here are some things to consider:

Service fees

Unless you plan to use a prepaid cell phone, youâll need to plan for monthly service fees from a cell phone carrier.

This will include the cost of cellular data usages, activation fees, taxes, and more.

Accessories

Though smartphones come with the basic accessories to operate, like a charger, youâll have to purchase other items separately.

Accessories such as a case, screen protector, earphones, and an additional charger are items that youâll need to consider in your budget for your phone.

These items can be purchased from third parties to save on costs.

Repairs

Iâve dropped enough smartphones to know that damage is unavoidable. Even with the best protection, you may still need to repair your phone.

Mainstream phone carriers will offer insurance coverage options that can add to the overall cost of your phone. Although, in many cases, you will still have to pay for a portion of your repair costs even though youâre covered.

A cheaper alternative is cell phone repair shops or kiosks that can handle quick repairs, like a broken screen.

Tips for saving money on your smartphone

Still need some help with saving money on your phone? Here are my final tips.

Donât purchase the latest model

If youâre trying to keep costs at a minimum, avoid purchasing the latest model of any smartphone.

Technology is ever-evolving and changing at a rapid pace. So even if you own the newest release, by the next day it’s already old technology.

This means that you might as well save your money and purchase a model that is a bit older.

As long as it functions and does what you need it to do, an older model will suffice.

Shop during the holidays

Itâs no secret that the best deals happen during the holiday season.

If youâre in the market for purchasing a new phone, consider waiting until Black Friday or the day after Christmas to see some real discounts.

Also, consider shopping on sites like Woot to take advantage of flash sales and deep discounts on electronics.

Use wifi

This tip is one that will help you once youâve purchased your smartphone.

To avoid unnecessary fees with your carries, be sure to leverage wifi as much as possible.

This means that instead of using your cellular data to search the internet or to use apps on your phone, you connect to wifi instead.

This is quite simple to do, as most public establishments have free wifi options for patrons. Use it to your advantage to save some extra money.

You can save money

Be smart about spending your money on smartphones. There are reliable, yet budget-friendly phones that can meet your needs.

Use these tips to find one thatâs right for you!

–By Fo Alexander

The post Save money (and stay connected) with the best budget smartphones appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

Source: pennypinchinmom.com

January 20, 2021

What Is Budget Billing and Is It Right for You?

Your utility bills likely make up a significant part of your monthly budget, so itâs important to keep a close eye on them. But while your rent or mortgage stays the same month to month, your utilities donât.

Sweltering summer days and icy winter nights can lead to budget-blowing spikes in your utility bills, and no matter how hard you try to budget and plan, you canât predict the total each month. Or can you?

Budget billing may offer the consistency you crave. Here, personal finance experts describe how budget billing works and explain who may benefit from it, empowering you to answer this question for yourself: Does budget billing save money?

What is budget billing? It's a service that averages your monthly utility charges to determine a set amount to pay each month.

What is budget billing and how does it work?

As you consider this option, your first question might be: What is budget billing? Budget billing is a service offered by some utility companies that provides a set monthly bill for services like gas or electricity.

How does budget billing work? To calculate your monthly budget billing amount, a utility company will look at your past usage, typically over the last year, and average it to determine your monthly charge, says Sara Rathner, financial author and credit cards expert at NerdWallet. This will give you a predictable bill to pay each month, rather than one that fluctuates.

Keep in mind that if you recently moved into your home, the charges used to calculate your budget billing amount may be based on the previous ownersâ or rentersâ usage, says Rathner. Your actual usage may end up being more or less than theirs.

Another point to remember on how budget billing works: While budget billing gives you a steady amount to pay each month, this amount can, and likely will, change over time. Some providers update bill amounts quarterly, some annually. Thereâs no universal timeline for these updates, so be sure to ask your utility provider about its specific process, says Lance Cothern, CPA and founder of personal finance blog Money Manifesto.

How does budget billing work? Utility companies determine the monthly charge by averaging your usage over the past year.

These changes are made to capture your actual usage, whether that usage has decreased (a mild summer allowed you to keep the AC off more often) or increased (a brutally cold winter forced you to blast the heat). Typically, you will be notified in advance of the change.

Now that you know how budget billing works, you may be wondering: Could it save me cash?

Does budget billing save money?

Not exactly.

âBudget billing won’t save you money; it just evens your bill out over time,â Cothern says.

How does budget billing work if you end up using less energy and overpay? You may be reimbursed for the amount you paid above your actual energy usage, or the amount overpaid will be applied to next year.

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âAnyone who sticks to a strict, detailed monthly budget may prefer the predictability of budget billing.â

– Sara Rathner, credit cards expert at NerdWallet

How does budget billing work if you underpay? Youâll have to pay the extra amount to make up the difference. These payments or credits happen in addition to any adjustments your provider makes to your monthly bill if your usage changes over time, Cothern says.

What are the benefits of budget billing?

Overall, thereâs a fairly straightforward answer to what budget billing is, and the benefits are clear, too. While it doesnât save you money per se, it may allow you to more easily manage your monthly budget.

For example, if you know your monthly electricity bill will be $100, you can account for this expense in your budget and more precisely allocate funds into other expenses or savings.

âAnyone who sticks to a strict, detailed monthly budget may prefer the predictability of budget billing,â Rathner says. âYou know exactly how much your utility bill will be each month and can plan your other spending around it.â

Combine budget billing with autopay and you can set and forget your utility bills, ensuring theyâre paid on time and in full, making money management a lot simpler. This could also help you deal with financial stress.

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What are the downsides of budget billing?

While budget billing has its pros, it also comes with cons. Does budget billing save you money? To help answer that question, consider the following:

You may face extra fees. Some utility companies charge a fee for budget billing. In Cothernâs view, this negates the benefit since thereâs no reason to pay tacked-on fees for this service. Itâs important to find out whether there are fees before signing up when youâre researching how budget billing works.
You may ignore your utility usage. Budget billing puts your monthly utility charges, as well as your actual usage, out of sight and out of mind. Without the threat of a higher bill or the reward of a lower one based on your energy habits, some people get complacent, Rathner says. They leave lights on or turn up the heat instead of grabbing a blanket. If this sounds like you, budget billing may actually cost you money in the long run.

âAlways keep an eye on your monthly bill even though you pay a level amount for months at a time,â Cothern says. Most utility companies provide your usage information right on your bill.

If you're wondering "Does budget billing save money?" remember that you may be charged extra fees for the service.

If you can financially handle the seasonal swings of each bill, budget billing may not be much of a benefit for you, Cothern says. Paying the full amount also means youâre paying attention to the full amount, he says, which may motivate you to reduce your energy consumption. And thatâs where the real opportunity to save money lies.

By considering potential fees and the impact on your energy usage, youâll have a good sense of whether budget billing saves you money in the long run.

Make the most of how budget billing works with this hack

After scrutinizing how budget billing works, the potential downsides have led some financial pros, Cothern among them, to develop a new hack for paying utility bills.

You earned it.
Now earn more withÂ it.

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Start Saving

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Instead of signing up for budget billing, open a savings account online specifically for utilities, Cothern suggests. Youâll also want to sign up for a rewards credit card, if you donât have one already.

Next, grab your last 12 months of utility bills, total them up and divide by 12 to get your monthly average. Youâll then want to set up an automatic transfer of that amount from your checking account into the utility savings account each month.

When the utility bill comes, pay it with your rewards credit card and then pay that bill with the money in your savings. You reap the benefits of maintaining a consistent amount coming out of your budget, as well as credit card rewards and any interest earned on that money from your savings account.

Do your homework before signing up for budget billing

After weighing your options and considering your personal budgeting style, you may decide that budget billing is right for you.

Still asking, "How does budget billing work?" Read your utility company's program rules in detail to help answer any questions.

If thatâs the case, itâs important to read your utilityâs program rules in detail. Yes, that means digging into the fine print to understand how budget billing works at the specific company, Cothern says, because budget billing is a general term for a wide variety of utility company programs. Budget billing may be called something else, like flat billing or balanced billing, and it may carry different nuances and terms.

Before signing up for budget billing, Rathner suggests calling your provider and asking the following questions:

Are there startup or maintenance fees?
How is the monthly amount calculated? How often is it updated?
What happens if you overpay or underpay?
What happens when you move or end service?

With the answers to these questions, youâll have a better idea of how budget billing works for your provider. Armed with that info, you can determine whether budget billing saves you money and make the call on whether enrolling is right for you.

Whether you opt for budget billing or not, small adjustments to your home can result in major savings on your energy bills. For starters, check out these four ways to save energy by going green.

Articles may contain information from third-parties. The inclusion of such information does not imply an affiliation with the bank or bank sponsorship, endorsement, or verification regarding the third-party or information.

The post What Is Budget Billing and Is It Right for You? appeared first on Discover Bank – Banking Topics Blog.

Source: discover.com

January 20, 2021

Money Market Account or Checking Account: Which Is Best For You?

If you’re looking for a new bank account that allows you to easily store as well as access your cash, you might be thinking about opening a money market account or checking account. But how do you know which to choose? Decisions, decisions. Both types of accounts have unique advantages, depending on your savings and spending goals.

âThink about how you will be using the money within the account,” says Jill Emanuel, lead financial coach at Fiscal Fitness. “Is this money for daily, weekly or monthly use? Or is it money that will not be needed regularly?”

When comparing a money market account vs. a checking account, consider how often you'll need to access the funds in the account.

You’ll probably need a little more to go on before answering the question, “How do I decide between a money market account or checking account?” No worries. Our roundup delves into the features of both types of accounts to help you determine which one could be right for your financial plans, or if there’s room for both in your money mix.

Get easy access to your funds with a checking account

In simple terms, a checking account allows you to write checks and make purchases with a debit card from the money you deposit into the account. That debit card can also be used to withdraw cash from the account via an ATM.

When deciding between a money market account or checking account, Emanuel says most people use a checking account for the primary management of their monthly income (i.e., where a portion of your paycheck is deposited) and daily expenses (often small and frequent transactions). âA checking account makes the most sense as the account where the majority of your transactions occur,” she adds. This is because a checking account typically comes with an unlimited number of transactionsâwhether you’re withdrawing cash from an ATM, transferring money to a savings account or swiping your debit card.

While a checking account is a good home base for your finances and a go-to if you need to easily and quickly access your funds, this account type typically earns little to no interest. Spoiler: This is one key difference when you compare a money market account vs. a checking account.

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âIf you plan to use your account for monthly bill payments and day-to-day transactions, you would be better suited with a checking account, as these support daily and frequent use.â

– Bola Sokunbi, certified financial education instructor and founder of Clever Girl Finance

Grow your balance with a money market account

When you’re comparing a money market account vs. a checking account, think of a money market account as a savings vehicle that allows you to earn interest on the balance you keep in the account.

“A money market account is an interest-bearing bank account that typically has a higher interest rate than a checking account,” says Bola Sokunbi, certified financial education instructor and founder of Clever Girl Finance.

With some money market accounts, you can even earn more interest with a higher balance. Thanks to its interest-earning potential, a money market account can be the way to go if you’re looking for an account to help you reach your savings goals and priorities.

If you’re deciding between a money market account or checking account, you may think that a money market account seems like a typical savings account with your ability to earn, but it also has some features similar to a checking account. With a money market account, for example, you can withdraw cash from an ATM and use a debit card or checks to access money from the account. There are no limits on ATM withdrawals or official checks mailed to you.

You can withdraw cash from ATMs and write checks with a money market account or checking account.

Before you decide to use this account for your regular bills and your morning caffeine habit, know that federal law limits certain types of withdrawals and transfers from money market accounts to a combined total of six per calendar month per account. If you go over these limitations on more than an occasional basis, your financial institution may choose to close the account.

Don’t need regular access to your funds and want your money to grow until you do need it? Then the benefits of a money market account could be for you.

Deciding between a money market account or checking account

Still debating money market account or checking account? Here are some financial scenarios to help you determine which account may best suit your current needs and goals:

Go with a checking account if…

You want to keep your funds liquid. If you’re thinking money market account or checking account, know that a checking account is built for very regular access to your funds. âIf you plan to use your account for monthly bill payments and day-to-day transactions, you would be better suited with a checking account, as these support daily and frequent use,” Sokunbi says. Think rent, cable, utilities, groceries, gas, maybe that morning caffeine craving. You get the idea.
You want to earn rewards for your spending. When you’re comparing money market account vs. checking account, consider that with some checking accountsâlike Discover Cashback Debitâyou can earn cash back for your debit card purchases. The best part is you are earning cash back as you keep up with your regular expensesâno hoops to jump through or extra account activity needed. Then put that cashback toward fun things like date night, lunch at your favorite spot or a savings fund dedicated to something special.

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You want to deposit and withdraw without the stress of a balance requirement. If you do your research when comparing money market accounts vs. checking accounts, you’ll find that some checking accounts don’t require a minimum balance (or much of one). However, you may be required to maintain a minimum balance (and potentially a higher one) with a money market account in order to avoid a fee. If you’re accessing your money frequently and need to make large withdrawals, a checking account with no minimum balance requirement is a convenient option.

Go with a money market account if…

You want to earn interest. âIf your money is just sitting there, it should be earning money,” Emanuel says of the money market account or checking account question. âI spoke with a woman recently who told me she’d had around $50,000 sitting in her checking account for at least the last 10 years, if not longer. If that money had been in a money market account for the same period of time, she would have earned thousands of dollars on it. Instead she earned nothing,” Emanuel says.
You want to put short-term savings in a different account. If you have some short-term savings goals in mind (way to go!), you may benefit from keeping your savings separate from your more transactional checking account so you don’t dip into them for a different purpose. That whole out of sight, out of mind thing. âA money market account is the perfect place for money that will be accessed less frequently, such as an emergency fund [a.k.a. rainy day fund], a vacation fund or a place to park money after you’ve received an inheritance or proceeds from selling a home,” Emanuel says.
You need an account to fund your overdraft protection. If you’re comparing money market account vs. checking account, consider that a money market account could also cross over to support spending goals. One way is in the form of overdraft protection. If you enroll in overdraft protection for your checking account, for example, you could designate that funds be pulled from your money market account to cover a balance shortfall.

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âA money market account is the perfect place for money that will be accessed less frequently, such as an emergency fund [a.k.a. rainy day fund], a vacation fund or a place to park money after you’ve received an inheritanceÂ or proceeds from selling a home.â

– Jill Emanuel, lead financial coach at Fiscal Fitness

Using both accounts to achieve your financial goals

Speaking of crossover. Both spending and saving are vying for your attention, right? Consider leveraging both types of accounts if you have needs from the checking and money market account lists above.

“Personally, I use my checking account for bill payments, my day-to-day spending, writing checks and for any automatic debits I have each month,” Sokunbi says. She’s added a money market account to the mix “because of the higher interest rateâto store my savings for short-term goals, for investing or for money I’ll be needing soon,” she explains. Maybe it’s not about deciding between a money market account or a checking account, but getting the best of both worlds.

Before opening a money market account or checking account, do your research and compare your options to see which bank offers the best package of low or no fees and customer service, in addition to what you need from an interest and access to cash perspective.

The post Money Market Account or Checking Account: Which Is Best For You? appeared first on Discover Bank – Banking Topics Blog.

Source: discover.com

January 20, 2021

Best Free Business Checking Accounts of November 2020 | The Simple Dollar

With few fees and low account minimums, you can find the best free business checking account for you with these top picks.

Source: thesimpledollar.com

January 14, 2021

Cities With the Best Work-Life Balance â 2021 Edition

Image shows a person taking a break from work; they are sitting by a window and a potted plant, with a mug in one hand and a notebook and pen in the other. SmartAsset analyzed data to find the best cities for work-life balance.

For most people, working is inevitable: You need a job to afford your lifestyle. The trick, of course, is to find a balance where you can earn the money you need without spending all of your time in the workplace. Some of that depends on what the work culture is like in your city, how much you need to earn to pay for housing and how long you have to spend getting to work. To that end, SmartAsset analyzed 100 of the biggest cities in the country to find the best cities for work-life balance for 2021.

To do so, we considered data on the following metrics: walk score; arts, entertainment and recreation establishments as a percentage of all establishments; restaurants as a percentage of all establishments; housing costs as a percentage of income; average weeks worked per year; average hours worked per week; average commute time; percentage of workers with a commute longer than 60 minutes; October 2020 unemployment rate and labor force participation rate. For details on our data sources and how we put all the information together to create our final rankings, check out the Data and Methodology section below.

This is SmartAssetâs fourth study on the cities with the best work-life balance. Read the 2020 version here.

Key Findings

Big city commuting blues. On average in our study, just 7.2% of commuters spend more than 60 minutes getting to and from work. In the biggest U.S. cities, though, that number can be much higher. For instance, 15.7% of commuters have a commute of at least an hour in San Francisco. In Boston, that figure is 11.9%. The city where the most commuters spend at least an hour on the go? New York City, where relatively packed subways and busy streets mean 27.2% of commuters spend at least an hour on travel alone, leaving even less time for recreation. New York also has the longest 2019 average commute time, at 41.7 minutes.
Midwest consistency up top. Four Midwestern cities â Madison, Wisconsin; Lincoln, Nebraska; Omaha, Nebraska; and Columbus, Ohio â also made the top 10 in this study last year. Three of these cities â Madison, Lincoln and Omaha â excel because of their low unemployment rate, finishing in the top 10 this year. Columbus finishes a bit lower (20^th) in that metric, but it does particularly well in terms of low housing costs as a percentage of income, ranking sixth.

1. Madison, WI

For the second year in a row, Madison, Wisconsin is the best city in America for work-life balance. Madison doesnât lead in any categories, but it does finish in the top 10% of the study for six out of 10 metrics. This includes coming in second-lowest for average hours worked per week (36.4), third-lowest for October 2020 unemployment rate (3.9%) and sixth-highest for labor force participation rate (73.2%).

2. Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach, Virginia ranks in the top 10% of this study for two metrics: fourth-highest for restaurants as a percentage of all establishments (10.10%) and sixth-lowest for October 2020 unemployment rate (4.7%). The beach town also ranks in the top 20% of the study for two other metrics: 14^th-best for labor force participation rate (71.9%) and 17^th-best for arts, entertainment and recreation establishments as a percentage of all establishments (1.88%).

3. Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis is the first Minnesota city to make this list, and it does so on the back of finishing in the top five for two different metrics: third for a strong labor force participation rate (74.9%) and fifth for a low October 2020 unemployment rate (4.5%). Minneapolis also places 12^th-best in terms of housing costs as a percentage of income at 29.43%.

4. Lincoln, NE

Lincoln, Nebraska has the lowest October 2020 unemployment rate in the study, just 2.7%. Lincoln also finishes second for the best commute time, an average of just 18.4 minutes, and places sixth-lowest for the percentage of commuters with a commute of longer than 60 minutes, just 2.7%. Lincoln finishes near the bottom of the study, though, in terms of the average weeks worked per year, at 39.65.

5. Omaha, NE

Another Nebraska locale is next â Omaha. The unemployment rate there in October 2020 was 3.3%, the second-lowest in the study â giving the top two spots in that metric to Nebraskan cities. Omaha also places eighth-best in terms of average commute time. The average commuter in Omaha spends just 20.1 minutes in transit, a far cry from the traffic-packed streets of some bigger cities. Omaha residents do work much of the year, finishing in the bottom quartile with 38.47 weeks worked per year.

6. Arlington, VA

Arlington, Virginia is a suburb of Washington, D.C., and it has the highest labor force participation rate in this study, 78.0%. Arlington also ranks second-lowest in the study for housing costs as a percentage of income â housing costs make up just 26.14% of income on average. People do work a lot in the town, though. Arlington ranks dead last in both the metrics measuring how much people work â an average of 41.3 hours per week and 41.80 weeks per year.

7. St. Paul, MN

St. Paul, Minnesota joins its twin city, Minneapolis, on this list and ranks in the top 10% percent of this study for three different metrics:

Fourth for average hours worked per week (36.8).
Sixth for October 2020 unemployment rate (4.7%).
10^th for arts, entertainment and recreation establishments as a percentage of all establishments (2.04%).

8. Columbus, OH

Columbus, Ohio comes in sixth for housing costs as a percentage of income, at 27.53%. That is the only metric for which Columbus places in the top 10, but it does finish 11^th-best for labor force participation rate (72.4%) and 20^th-best for October 2020 unemployment rate (5.4%). Columbus finishes in the bottom quartile of this study for the metric measuring how many weeks per year people work on average, at 38.16.

9. Durham, NC

In Durham, North Carolina, just 2.7% of workers have a commute of at least an hour, the sixth-lowest total for this metric in the study. The average commute in Durham is 22.6 minutes, the 25^th-lowest time spent traveling to work that we observed overall. Durham is not a particularly walkable city, however, finishing in the bottom 10% of the study in terms of walk score.

10. Lexington-Fayette, KY

Lexington-Fayette is the final entry into our top 10, and it finishes in the top 15% for three metrics:

14^th for arts, entertainment and recreation establishments as a percentage of all establishments (1.95%)
14^th for average commute time (21 minutes)
15^th for housing costs as a percentage of income (29.66%)

Lexington suffers when it comes to walkability, though, finishing in the bottom quartile of the study in terms of walk score.

Data and Methodology

To find the best cities for work-life balance, we compared 100 of the largest cities in America across the following metrics:

Walk score. Data comes from walkscore.com and is for 2020.
Concentration of arts, entertainment and recreation establishments. This is the number of arts, entertainment and recreation establishments as a percentage of all establishments. Data comes from the Census Bureauâs 2018 County Business Patterns Survey.
Concentration of restaurants. This is the number of restaurants as a percentage of all establishments. Data comes from the Census Bureauâs 2018 County Business Patterns Survey.
Housing costs as a percentage of income. This is the median housing costs as a percentage of income for full-time workers. Data comes from the Census Bureauâs 2019 1-year American Community Survey.
Average number of weeks worked per year. This is how many weeks per year local employees work. Data comes from the Census Bureauâs 2019 1-year American Community Survey.
Average number of hours worked per week. This is the average number of hours a worker works in a week. Data comes from the Census Bureauâs 2019 1-year American Community Survey.
Average commute time. This is the average number of minutes it takes for a worker to commute to work. Data comes from the Census Bureauâs 2019 1-year American Community Survey.
Percentage of workers with a commute longer than 60 minutes. Data comes from the Census Bureauâs 2019 1-year American Community Survey.
Unemployment rate. Data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and is for October 2020.
Labor force participation rate. Data comes from the Census Bureauâs 2019 1-year American Community Survey.

First, we ranked each city in each metric. We then found the average ranking for each city. Walk score, concentration of arts and entertainment establishments, concentration of restaurants, housing costs as a percentage of income and labor force participation rate received a full weight. Weeks worked per year, hours worked per week, average commute time and percentage of workers with a commute of more than an hour each received a half weight. Unemployment rate received a double weight. We then ranked the cities based on this average. The top city received an index score of 100 and the bottom city received an index score of 0.

Tips for Finding a Healthy Financial Balance

Itâs easier to find balance if you can find support first. Once you have money, making sure it works for you can help you tip the scales of work-life balance in favor of life. A financial advisor can help with that. Finding the right financial advisor doesnât have to be hard. SmartAssetâs free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area in five minutes. If youâre ready to be matched with local advisors that will help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Budgeting is key. A budget can take care of your money decisions in advance and leave you with more time to actually enjoy life.
Save now if possible. When you retire, youâll likely be hoping to really live life without worrying about work for the first time. Make sure you use a workplace retirement plan like a 401(k) if it is available to you, as thatâs the best way to save for retirement and allow for travel and other leisure in your golden years.

Questions about our study? Contact press@smartasset.com.

Photo credit: Â©iStock.com/MundusImages

The post Cities With the Best Work-Life Balance â 2021 Edition appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.

Source: smartasset.com

January 13, 2021

Your Guide to Budgeting for Summer Camp

Summer camp is a rite of passage. A place where traditions begin and memories are made. A unique venue with a structured opportunity for kids to grow and learn new skills. As enriching as it may seem, embarking on the process each year can be intense: How do I choose a camp? Should it have a philosophy? How do I know my child will have fun? But often the question at the top of the list is, “How do I budget for summer camp?”

Whether you’re scrambling for camp arrangements for this year or getting a jump-start on next summer, you’re in need of a working budget for summer camp. “As a parent who sent several kids to summer camp for many years, I know how expensive it can be,” says Leslie H. Tayne, author and founder of debt solutions law firm Tayne Law Group.

Read on for expert budgeting tips for summer camp and how to save money on summer camp so you can make the best decisions concerning your wallet and your child’s wish list:

1. Get a handle on camp tuition

According to the American Camp Association, sleep-away camp tuition can range from $630 to more than $2,000 per camper per week. Day camp tuition isn’t too far behind, ranging from $199 to more than $800 per week.

One of the best ways to budget for summer camp is to understand your needs for the summer as well as your child's interests.

One of the best ways to budget for summer camp and prepare for tuition costs is to understand your needs for the summer as well as your child’s interests. This will help you determine ‘how much’ and ‘what type’ of camp you want: Is day-camp coverage important all summer because of work? Does your child want to experience sleep-away camp for a portion of the time? Is a camp with a specific focus (say a sport or hobby) on the list?

Depending on your circumstances and child’s expectations, it’s not unusual to be looking at a combination of campsâand tuition costsâin one season. If you have multiple kids at different ages, with different interests, creating a budget for summer camp and understanding how much you’ll need to dish out in tuition becomes especially important.

Once your camp plan is in place, assess how much you’ll need to pay in tuition for the summer months with school out of session. The sooner you’ve arrived at this figure, the easier it will be to work the expense into your household budget, says Heather Schisler, money-saving expert and founder of deal site Passion for Savings. “It’s much easier to set aside $30 a month than it is to come up with $300 to $400 at one time,” Schisler says.

Sleep-away camp tuition can range from $630 to more than $2,000 per camper per week. Day camp tuition ranges from $199 to more than $800 per week.

– American Camp Association

2. Plan for expenses beyond tuition

One of the biggest budgeting tips for summer camp is planning for the many costs outside of tuition. Tayne points out that sleep-away camp usually comes with a longer supply list than day campâsuch as specific clothing or gear and toiletries to cover the length of stay. If your child is heading to a sleep-away camp far from home, your budget for summer camp may also need to factor in the cost of transportation or the cost to ship luggage. Day camps can also have fees for extended hours or transportation if your child rides a camp bus each day.

Once you’ve selected a campâday camp or sleep-awayâcheck its website for camper packing lists and guidelines. Most camps offer checklists that you can print out, which can be good for tracking supplies and costs as you go. After you enroll, your camp may provide access to an online portal that can help you manage tuition and track additional expenses, like canteen money, which is cash your child can use for snacks and additional supplies while away.

One of the best budgeting tips for summer camp is making sure you understand how much everything will costâthat's tuition plus any extra camp costs.

3. Create a year-round savings strategy

By calculating the necessary expenses ahead of time for the camps you and your campers have chosen, you’ll be able to determine an overall budget for summer camp. A budgeting tip for summer camp is to save money monthly throughout the year. To determine a monthly savings goal, divide your total summer camp costs by the amount of months you have until camp starts. If camp is quickly approaching and you’re feeling the budget crunch, you may want to start saving for next year’s costs once it’s back-to-school time so you can spread out your costs over a longer period of time.

Once you start saving, you’ll need a place to put it, right? When it comes to budgeting tips for summer camp, consider placing your cash in a dedicated account, which will keep it separate from your regular expenses and help you avoid tapping it for other reasons. “Then you can have your bank set up an auto draft [for the summer camp money] so it automatically goes into your account each month and you will have the money you need when summer rolls around,” Schisler says. If you use a Discover Online Savings Account for this purpose, you’ll also earn interest that can be put toward camp expenses.

âIt’s much easier to set aside $30 a month than it is to come up with $300 to $400 at one time.â

– Heather Schisler, money-saving expert and founder of Passion for Savings

4. Find ways to fund your summer camp account

To boost cash in your summer camp savings account, consider asking relatives and family friends to gift your children cash for camp in lieu of birthday and holiday gifts, says Tracie Fobes of budget blog Penny Pinchin’ Mom. “If your child has his or her heart set on sleep-away camp, they may be willing to forgo a gift or two,” Fobes says.

Another budgeting tip for summer camp is to put your cashback rewards toward your budget for summer camp. For example, if you open a checking account with Discoverâcalled Cashback Debitâyou’ll earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month.¹ You can enroll to have that cashback bonus automatically deposited into your Discover Online Savings Account so it remains designated for camp costs (and can grow with interest).

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Lastly, if you don’t have your tax refund earmarked for another financial goal, you could use the windfall to kick-start your summer camp savings fund. Depending on the refund amount and your total camp costs, it could reduce your monthly summer camp savings goal significantly.

5. Reduce camp-related costs

Despite having your budget for summer camp in full view and planning in advance, camp can still be expensive. Here are some ways to save money on summer camp by cutting down on camp costs:

Ask about scholarships and grants: “Some camps offer scholarships or discounts for children and families,” Fobes says. Research your camp to see if they have anything similar to help offsetâor even pay forâthe cost of tuition.
Use a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA): A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account is a pre-tax benefit account that can be used to pay for eligible dependent care services. You can use this type of account to “cover dependent care [costs], and camp may qualify,” Fobes says.
Negotiate price: “Many people don’t think about negotiating the cost of summer camp, but it is possible,” Tayne says, and more and more camps are open to it.
See if there’s an “honor system”: Some camps have what’s known as an honor system, where the camp offers a range of costs, or tiered pricing, and parents can pay what they can comfortably afford. Every child enjoys the same camp experience, regardless of which price point, and billing is kept private.
Take advantage of discounts: Attention early birds and web surfers: “There are sometimes discounts offered when you sign up early or register online,” Fobes says.
Volunteer: If your summer schedule allows, “offer to work at the camp,” Fobes says. If you lend your servicesâperhaps for the camp blog or cleaning the camp house before the season startsâyour child may be able to attend camp for free or a reduced rate.

.post__breaker–7664 background-image: url(https://865cd2fc18498405a75a-f8cbe8cb758c89f0cd738fe08520ecb9.ssl.cf5.rackcdn.com/online-banking/banking-topics/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Your-Guide-to-Budgeting-for-Summer-Camp_5-FULL-450×200.jpg);@media (min-width: 450px) .post__breaker–7664 background-image: url(https://865cd2fc18498405a75a-f8cbe8cb758c89f0cd738fe08520ecb9.ssl.cf5.rackcdn.com/online-banking/banking-topics/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Your-Guide-to-Budgeting-for-Summer-Camp_5-FULL-730×215.jpg); @media (min-width: 730px) .post__breaker–7664 background-image: url(https://865cd2fc18498405a75a-f8cbe8cb758c89f0cd738fe08520ecb9.ssl.cf5.rackcdn.com/online-banking/banking-topics/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Your-Guide-to-Budgeting-for-Summer-Camp_5-FULL-992×400.jpg); @media (min-width: 992px) .post__breaker–7664 background-image: url(https://865cd2fc18498405a75a-f8cbe8cb758c89f0cd738fe08520ecb9.ssl.cf5.rackcdn.com/online-banking/banking-topics/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Your-Guide-to-Budgeting-for-Summer-Camp_5-FULL-1200×400.jpg); @media (min-width: 1200px) .post__breaker–7664 background-image: url(https://865cd2fc18498405a75a-f8cbe8cb758c89f0cd738fe08520ecb9.ssl.cf5.rackcdn.com/online-banking/banking-topics/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Your-Guide-to-Budgeting-for-Summer-Camp_5-FULL-1600×400.jpg);

Focus on the experienceânot the extras

Don’t let summer camp costs become a family budget-buster. Plan ahead and look for money-saving opportunities and work your budget for summer camp into your annual financial plan.

To save money on summer camp, remember that you only need to focus on camp necessities. “Don’t spend a lot of extra money on new clothing, bedding, trunks or suitcases,” Schisler says. “Remember, summer camp is all about the experience, not the things.”

¹ ATM transactions, the purchase of money orders or other cash equivalents, cash over portions of point-of-sale transactions, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) payments (such as Apple Pay Cash), and loan payments or account funding made with your debit card are not eligible for cash back rewards. In addition, purchases made using third-party payment accounts (services such as Venmo^Â® and PayPal, who also provide P2P payments) may not be eligible for cash back rewards. Apple, the Apple logo and Apple Pay are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

The post Your Guide to Budgeting for Summer Camp appeared first on Discover Bank – Banking Topics Blog.

Source: discover.com

January 13, 2021

Should I Get a No-Fee Checking Account?

When personal finance blogger Allan Liwanag was establishing his career and living paycheck to paycheck, he often had just enough money to cover his expenses each month. He ran into an issue with an old checking account that caused him some major grief.

“I forgot to account for the $15 monthly fee that the bank would charge,” Liwanag says. “So I was short covering my rent. It was a stressful situation because I didn’t know at first if the bank would process the payment for the rent or not.” The bank ultimately covered it, but Liwanag got charged $35 for an insufficient funds feeâon top of the original monthly fee.

If youâre wondering, âShould I get a no-fee checking account?â, weâll help you decide.

Liwanag, who now runs a consumer money-saving site called The Practical Saver, learned a lot from that experience. The main point being, checking accounts can rack up feesâeven for standard activity. In fact, bank fees, including those for ATM usage and overdrafts, continue to rise year-over-year, according to a 2019 Bankrate survey. As Liwanag learned, fees could eat away at the funds in your checking account, which may become problematic when it’s time to pay bills or take care of other expenses.

What you may not know is that there are no-fee checking account options without the hassle of common fees. Discover^Â®Cashback Debit, a no-fee checking account, for instance, doesn’t charge any account fees.¹ It also offers no-fee checking without an opening deposit requirement, which is especially beneficial if you’re starting with a small balance or plan to make big withdrawals or transfers.

So you might be thinking right about now, “What are the benefits of a no-fee checking account?” To answer that question, it’s important to understand what types of fees you may be racking up and how you can make the most of a no-fee account. Let’s get to it.

Bank fees, including those for ATM usage and overdrafts, continue to rise year-over-year.

– 2019 Bankrate survey

Your most common checking account fees

Checking account fees can become a trap you may not realize you’ve fallen into until it’s too late. It’s possible to be charged fees just for keeping your account open or for services or features you may have assumed came standard with the account. Being charged a fee doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve done anything wrong, but it’s a hassle you can avoid with the proper research.

Here is a list of some of the common checking account fees you could be paying:

Monthly fees to maintain or service your account
Overdraft or insufficient funds fees
ATM fees
Fees to order books of checks
Online bill pay fees
Stop payment fees
Replacement debit card fees

Not sure which checking account fees you’re dishing out for? Contact your bank or visit its website to get a copy of your deposit account agreement. This document usually has a list of fees related to your checking account that may apply to you.

Another good tipoff: “If you see monthly, quarterly or annual fees broken out on your monthly bank statement, you’ll know whether your account is truly no-fee,” says CPA and financial analyst Riley Adams of Young and the Invested, a site with strategies for financial independence.

It’s important to review your statements regularly to identify which fees you are being charged and to determine how that’s impacting your budget.

It's important to review your statements regularly to identify which fees you are being charged.

3 benefits of a no-fee checking account

Now that you’ve identified the many possible checking account fees you could be charged, you’ll find that the benefits of a no-fee checking account go beyond just freeing up some cash in your budget. In addition to the features you’re used to with a regular checking account, a no-fee checking account gives you a financial edge in the following ways:

More money for your financial goals. “Having a no-fee checking account can help you get ahead financially,” Adams says. “Instead of paying monthly service fees and even overdraft fees, you can apply that money toward your own financial goals.” The money you save on fees could be used to pay down debt, boost a savings account or help fund an education, business venture or vacation.
Flexibility. A benefit of a no-fee checking account is that it allows you to bank on your terms. If you’re just starting out, a no-fee checking account without an opening deposit requirement means you have the flexibility to fund the account with whatever amount makes sense for you. Need to make a big transfer from checking to savings? No problem, since you won’t have to worry about dipping below a minimum balance threshold. You can even go on your merry way using ATMs in your bank’s network without being restricted by fees, and if you accidentally overdraw, your no-fee account’s flexibility may save you the stress of a ding for insufficient funds.
No surprises. “Should I get a no-fee checking account?” was an easy decision for Liwanag because he knows exactly what to expect with one. “A plus of no-fee accounts is that you can rest assured that unaccounted-for or surprise fees will not kick you into overdraft,” Liwanag says. (Or, in other words, less s-t-r-e-s-s.)

A no-fee checking account without an opening deposit requirement gives you more flexibility.

Manage your finances with multiple no-fee accounts

There are also ways that no-fee checking accounts can help you better manage your income and expenses, in case you’re still wondering, “Should I get a no-fee checking account?”

Liwanag had no problem answering that question: âI have four,” he says, “which I use for easily tracking specific budget categories or expenses.”

As he explains, it can be easier to track expenses when money for different priorities, such as his emergency fund or that much-needed vacation, is bucketed into different no-fee checking accounts. Because he may be charged fees for excessive withdrawals from a savings account, Liwanag uses his no-fee checking accounts to manage the money he’ll need to access frequently for specific purposes.

The best part: Maintaining multiple checking accounts doesn’t cost him extra since a benefit of no-fee checking accounts means fees aren’t in the equation, he says. Some banks do have limits on how many checking accounts you can open, so be sure to consider this if you’re using a multiple account strategy like Liwanag.

Keeping your expenses organized is a pretty big motivator; so if you’ve answered “yes” to the question, “Should I get a no-fee checking account?”, the next step is knowing how to choose one.

.post__breaker–8449 background-image: url(https://865cd2fc18498405a75a-f8cbe8cb758c89f0cd738fe08520ecb9.ssl.cf5.rackcdn.com/online-banking/banking-topics/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Should-I-Get-a-No-Fee-Checking-Account-1029862152-Full-450×200.jpg);@media (min-width: 450px) .post__breaker–8449 background-image: url(https://865cd2fc18498405a75a-f8cbe8cb758c89f0cd738fe08520ecb9.ssl.cf5.rackcdn.com/online-banking/banking-topics/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Should-I-Get-a-No-Fee-Checking-Account-1029862152-Full-730×215.jpg); @media (min-width: 730px) .post__breaker–8449 background-image: url(https://865cd2fc18498405a75a-f8cbe8cb758c89f0cd738fe08520ecb9.ssl.cf5.rackcdn.com/online-banking/banking-topics/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Should-I-Get-a-No-Fee-Checking-Account-1029862152-Full-992×400.jpg); @media (min-width: 992px) .post__breaker–8449 background-image: url(https://865cd2fc18498405a75a-f8cbe8cb758c89f0cd738fe08520ecb9.ssl.cf5.rackcdn.com/online-banking/banking-topics/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Should-I-Get-a-No-Fee-Checking-Account-1029862152-Full-1200×400.jpg); @media (min-width: 1200px) .post__breaker–8449 background-image: url(https://865cd2fc18498405a75a-f8cbe8cb758c89f0cd738fe08520ecb9.ssl.cf5.rackcdn.com/online-banking/banking-topics/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Should-I-Get-a-No-Fee-Checking-Account-1029862152-Full-1600×400.jpg);

Find the best no-fee checking account for your needs

Although the benefits of a no-fee checking account are key, don’t lose your head too much and forget to consider other checking account features that match your lifestyle. If customer service is your deal breaker, make sure the bank offers it around the clock and that it’s recognized for being top-notch. If you’re always on the go and your phone is right there with you, mobile features and mobile check deposit may be on the top of your list. If you’re regularly withdrawing cash, evaluate the bank’s network of no-fee ATMs and see if an ATM locator is offered to make tracking them down a breeze.

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If the benefits of a no-fee checking account are top of mind, you may also want to consider the perks of a rewards checking account. For example, Discover’s Cashback Debit even offers 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month.² So on top of a no-fees savings strategy to meet your goals, you could also earn up to $360 a year. (Vacation, here we come!)

Start on your path to smart checking

Clearly, the benefits of a no-fee checking account and a no-fee checking account without an opening deposit requirement are numerous. Just be sure to do your research, then compare your findings carefully. The no-fee checking account you choose should ultimately help you reach your personal financial goals. You may find that saving on fees and reducing financial stress could be just the edge you need to set your checking account on the best course.

¹Outgoing wire transfers are subject to a service charge. You may be charged a fee by a non-Discover ATM if it is not part of the 60,000+ ATMs in our no-fee network.

²ATM transactions, the purchase of money orders or other cash equivalents, cash over portions of point-of-sale transactions, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) payments (such as Apple Pay Cash), and loan payments or account funding made with your debit card are not eligible for cash back rewards. In addition, purchases made using third-party payment accounts (services such as Venmo^Â® and PayPal^Â®, who also provide P2P payments) may not be eligible for cash back rewards. Apple, the Apple logo and Apple Pay are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Venmo and PayPal are registered trademarks of PayPal, Inc.

The post Should I Get a No-Fee Checking Account? appeared first on Discover Bank – Banking Topics Blog.

Source: discover.com

January 10, 2021

How to Pay Yourself First

Paying yourself first is a budgeting strategy that suggests individuals should contribute to a retirement account, emergency fund, savings account, or other savings vehicle before spending their paycheck on anything else.

The pay yourself first method is a pretty simple concept to understand, but actually applying to your own finances can become a little more complex. To help our Minters put this plan into practice, weâre breaking it down step-by-step and revealing some of the advantages and drawbacks of paying yourself first.

If you already have a solid grasp on the topic, use the links below to navigate throughout the post, or read all the way through for the full picture.

What does it mean to pay yourself first?
Advantages of the pay yourself first method
Drawbacks of the pay yourself first method
How to Pay Yourself First
- 1. Evaluate your monthly income + expenses
- 2. Identify your savings goals + commit
- 3. Review + reevaluate
Wrapping Up

What does it mean to pay yourself first?

Pay yourself first definition: The pay yourself first method, also known as reverse budgeting, is a savings strategy that says individuals should save a portion of their paycheck before spending any other money on bills, groceries, or discretionary items. The amount saved is typically predetermined as part of a larger savings goal, and is often funneled into retirement funds and/or savings accounts.

Many financial experts and individual consumers who subscribe to this method choose to have funds automatically redirected into their elected savings account(s).Â

For example, if you want to put $200 of every paycheck toward your 401k, you could set up an automatic contribution rather than physically transfer funds each pay period. For many savvy savers, this makes it easier to commit to a monthly goal, because the amount never actually reaches your checking account, but is rather allocated directly toward your savings.

Note: There are several options you can employ to make the pay yourself first strategy work for your finances. If you prefer to make the transfers on your own instead of automatically, thatâs totally okay! This budgeting style is really all about consistency â contributing a set amount each month to your retirement plan or savings account can really pay off over time.

Advantages of the pay yourself first method

Like any financial decision youâll make in your lifetime, youâll want to consider the pros and cons of subscribing to the pay yourself first philosophy.

The primary benefit of setting aside savings first, is building the amount you have saved over time. This strategy forces you to live within, or below your means â so long as you donât start swiping your credit card recklessly instead.

Here are a few other potential benefits you could reap if you employ the pay yourself first strategy:

You can save up for big purchases, like a home, car, or dream vacation. Or, put your hard-earned dollars toward an emergency fund, personal savings, or retirement.
Contributing to accounts that earn compound interest allows your money to continue growing the longer you leave it untouched.
Many retirement funds and other savings options are considered âtax-advantaged.â This means that your dollars may be exempted from tax, or in the case of IRAs and 401ks, tax-deferred; so youâll pay taxes later on when you make a withdrawal.

Drawbacks of the pay yourself first method

In addition to the positive aspects a pay yourself first budget may offer, there are some potential drawbacks that could ensue under certain circumstances. Put simply, the strategy simply does not work for everyone. As you learn about the pay yourself first method, consider how it fits into the context of your personal finances.

Here are a few examples where paying yourself first may not work to your benefit:

Without following careful money management advice, you may find yourself scraping for change to make ends meet. Before you commit to a monthly savings goal, use a budgeting calculator to determine how much money you can reasonably afford to save each month.
While prioritizing your savings can help you boost the balance in your savings account, it may be worth paying down debt first. Because interest compounds over time, waiting to pay off a credit card or a student loan, for example, means that youâll pay more interest the longer there is an outstanding balance.

As you consider the various strategies you can use to build your savings, remember to take a close look at the potential pros and cons you may encounter. There are plenty of saving styles you can leverage, so donât count yourself out if this one isnât the best fit for you. For more help creating a budget and savings plan that meets your needs, check out how Mint can help!

How to Pay Yourself First

Now that you know what it means to pay yourself first, and have had a moment to consider the potential benefits and drawbacks, letâs take a look at how this strategy actually plays out, step-by-step.

1. Evaluate your monthly income + expensesÂ

Before you decide on the amount you want to save each month, take a look at both your fixed and variable expenses. Your fixed expenses are those costs that stay consistent month over month, like your rent or mortgage payments, student loan bill, and health insurance, for example.Â

Your variable expenses, on the other hand, arenât always the same amount each time, and sometimes you donât incur them at all. Entertainment costs, vehicle maintenance, and groceries are all examples of variable costs, and so, their price tag may vary from one month to the next â just do your best to estimate these.

Once you can project your monthly expenses, subtract the amount from your monthly income to see whatâs leftover. Depending on your savings and greater financial goals, you can tweak some of your spending to free up more cash.Â Â

2. Identify your savings goals + commit

Now that you have a better understanding of your income and expenses, you can set some savings goals!

If youâre not sure where to start, consider the 50/30/20 rule.

The rule says…

50% of your budget should go toward essential expenses such as housing, food, utilities, an minimum debt payments
30% should be reserved for wants and lifestyle expenses
20% should be funneled into your savings and any extra debt payments

If you donât want to crunch the numbers on your own, try out our 50/30/20 calculator and weâll do the heavy lifting for you!

In addition to setting forth a savings target, youâll also want to think about where you want your reserved cash to live, and hopefully, grow. If you want to save up for retirement, a 401k or an IRA might make sense, whereas traditional savings accounts might work better for those wanting to save up funds for a shorter length of time.

3. Review + reevaluateÂ

Whether youâre using the pay yourself first method or another savings strategy, itâs important to remember that your budget should never be static. As life changes, your finances follow. A better salary or a reduction in your living expenses could present more opportunities to save, while a pay cut or recently incurred expense could have the opposite effect.

To keep your budget optimized and up to date, take the time to review and reevaluate it on a regular basis, and when significant changes arise.Â

Wrapping Up

The pay yourself first budgeting style can be a favorable way to boost the balance in your savings account,Â retirement fund, or other savings goal. However, budgeters should reflect on their unique financial situation to assess whether this strategy suits them. In most circumstances, it would be in your best interest to pay down debt before you start making monthly contributions to your savings.

If you subscribe to the pay yourself first philosophy, follow these three steps:

Evaluate your monthly income + expensesÂ
Identify your savings goals + commit
Review + reevaluate

Need some extra guidance to find the right budget for your lifestyle? Mint gives you a data-driven perspective, helps you launch and track savings objectives, and empowers you to actualize your greater financial goals.

The post How to Pay Yourself First appeared first on MintLife Blog.

Source: mint.intuit.com

January 9, 2021

Employment Trends Among Seniors â 2020 Study

Image shows a senior employee standing in the doorway of his workplace. SmartAsset analyzed BLS data to find recent employment trends among seniors.

Older American workers have been disproportionately impacted by not only the health impacts of COVID-19, but also its corresponding economic shock, which has deeply affected their ability to budget and save for their retirement. In fact, workers 65 and older have seen some of the highest recent unemployment rates. A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of April 2020 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that the unemployment rate was highest among workers in the youngest age cohort (ages 16 to 24) â at 27.4% â and next highest among workers in the oldest age cohort (ages 65 and older) â at 15.6%.

The BLS has not yet published data on how senior employment within specific occupations has changed during COVID-19, so this study investigated the employment trends among seniors leading up to 2020. Specifically, we looked at the most popular jobs as well as fastest-growing jobs for seniors. For details on our data sources and how we put all the information together to establish our findings, check out the Data and Methodology section below.

Key Findings

Lawyers, chief executives and real estate brokers & sales agents stand out as popular jobs. In all three occupations, there is a high gross number of senior employees. BLS data from 2019 shows that more than 160,000 seniors are employed in each of them. Furthermore, seniors make up a large percentage of the workforce in these occupations. Individuals who are 65 years and older make up more than 15% of lawyers, more than 13% of chief executives and almost 15% of real estate brokers and sales agents.
Between 2015 and 2019, senior employment doubled in two occupations. In 2015, about 34,000 and 25,000 seniors were employed as construction managers and applications and system software developers, respectively. Those figures doubled over the following four-year period. BLS figures from 2019 show that there are roughly 77,000 construction managers and 56,000 applications and system software developers who are 65 and older.

Most Popular Jobs for Seniors

More than one in 10 of all employed seniors work in five occupations: retail salespersons (281,000 senior workers), sales and truck drivers (279,000 senior workers), secretaries and administrative assistants (249,000 senior workers), first-line supervisors of retail sales workers (232,000 senior workers) and chief executives (219,000 senior workers).

Though those occupations employ the highest gross number of seniors, seniors make up larger percentage of the workforce in a different set of jobs. BLS data shows that more than a third of models, demonstrators and product promoters are 65 or older. Specifically, of the total roughly 62,000 people employed in this occupation in 2019, about 21,000 were seniors. Average earnings for those working in this field are modest. Nationally, the average annual wage for demonstrators and product promoters in 2019 was about $35,300.

Seniors make up more than 20% of employed workers in five other jobs:

Crossing guards
Tailors, dressmakers and sewers
Tax preparers
Clergy
Musicians, singers and related workers

Across those five occupations, the highest gross number of employed seniors work in the clergy. In 2019, there was a total of roughly 86,000 workers in the clergy who were 65 and older. The table below ranks occupations according to the percentage of seniors employed in 2019.

Fastest-Growing Jobs for Seniors

Between 2015 and 2019, construction managers and applications and systems software developers were the fastest-growing jobs for seniors. Similar occupations also rank high on our list. Specifically, a growing number of seniors have become employed as construction laborers and computer programmers in recent years. In 2015, about 41,000 construction laborers were 65 and older while in 2019, there were about 65,000 in this age group. Similarly, senior employment of computer programmers grew by about 60% over this time. In 2015, about 15,000 computer programmers were 65 and older while the BLS estimates more recently estimates that 24,000 computer programmers are seniors.

Beyond construction and computer occupations, the number of workers 65 and older grew by more than 50% in six additional occupations:

Hand packers and packagers
Psychologists
Taxi drivers and chauffeurs
Counselors
General and operations managers
Human resource workers

Of those occupations, taxi drivers and chauffeurs saw the largest gross increase in employed seniors. Roughly 57,000 taxi drivers were 65 and older in 2015 relative to about 102,000 in 2019. The table below shows the 20 fastest-growing jobs for seniors between 2015 and 2019.

Data and Methodology

Data for this report comes from the Bureau of Labor Statisticsâ Current Population Survey. In both sections, we filtered out any occupation that employed fewer than 15,000 seniors in 2015. We also filtered out any occupation with âotherâ or âmiscellaneousâ in the title due to lack of occupational specificity. In the first section, we ranked occupations based on the percentage of workers who were 65 and older in 2019. In the second section, we looked at the four-year percentage change in seniors employed in each occupation from 2015 to 2019, ranking the occupations from highest to lowest change.

Tips for Ensuring a Comfortable Retirement

Know how much you will need. Perhaps the most important data point when planning for your retirement is to know how much money in total you must have saved up to sustain yourself in your post-work life. From there, you can figure out how long you should stay in the workforce based on your savings rate. Our retirement calculator can help with this.
Catch-up contributions. If you did not save enough for retirement as a young adult, catch-up contributions may help. Catch-up contributions allow people ages 50 and older to make additional deferrals to their 401(k) or IRAs after they reach the annual contribution limits set by the IRS. For more information, take a look at our guide here.
Consider a financial advisor. Another great way to plan for retirement is through a financial advisor. A financial advisor can help you make smarter financial decisions to be in better control of your money and keep you on track in terms of your saving. Finding the right financial advisor doesnât have to be hard though. SmartAssetâs free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area in five minutes. If youâre ready to be matched with local advisors who will help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Questions about our study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com.

The post Employment Trends Among Seniors â 2020 Study appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.

Source: smartasset.com

Motorola Moto e6

Nokia Android Phones

Samsung Galaxy A0

What to consider when budgeting for a smartphone

Where to find budget smartphones

Weigh all of the costs when purchasing a smartphone

Service fees

Accessories

Repairs

Tips for saving money on your smartphone

Donât purchase the latest model

Shop during the holidays

Use wifi

You can save money

What is budget billing and how does it work?

Does budget billing save money?

What are the benefits of budget billing?

What are the downsides of budget billing?

Make the most of how budget billing works with this hack

Do your homework before signing up for budget billing

Get easy access to your funds with a checking account

Grow your balance with a money market account

Deciding between a money market account or checking account

Go with a checking account if…

Go with a money market account if…

Using both accounts to achieve your financial goals

1. Get a handle on camp tuition

2. Plan for expenses beyond tuition

3. Create a year-round savings strategy

4. Find ways to fund your summer camp account

5. Reduce camp-related costs

Focus on the experienceânot the extras

Your most common checking account fees

3 benefits of a no-fee checking account

Manage your finances with multiple no-fee accounts

Find the best no-fee checking account for your needs

Start on your path to smart checking

What does it mean to pay yourself first?

Advantages of the pay yourself first method

Drawbacks of the pay yourself first method

How to Pay Yourself First

1. Evaluate your monthly income + expensesÂ

2. Identify your savings goals + commit

3. Review + reevaluateÂ

Wrapping Up

Donât purchase the latest model

Focus on the experienceânot the extras