Entertainment

How to Avoid These Common Hidden Fees

Emily Guy Birken — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 09:00:08 +0000

When I found out that my favorite comedian was coming to town, I couldn't wait to buy tickets. Each seat in my preferred section cost $84, which was a little high, but I figured it was worth it to see someone who consistently makes me laugh. But after adding in the service charge, taxes, and a fee to email the tickets to me, the two $84 tickets came to a total of just over $200.

Anyone who has recently bought tickets to a music, sporting, or comedy event has had a similar experience. Hidden fees increase the price of your seat, but you won't even realize until it's time to enter in your payment information. At that point, you're already excited about the event and don't want to back out because of an unexpected cost.

Buying tickets is not the only time you find yourself staring down a hidden fee. Here's what you need to know about the surprise extra charges on common purchases, and how you can either plan for them or fight them.

Events

Buying tickets to events has changed a lot in my lifetime. Back in high school, I actually had to visit a box office or local retailer to purchase tickets to an upcoming event. I even camped out to be among the first in line for a popular band that came to town. When buying them in person was the only way to get tickets, the face value of the ticket was much closer to the amount you would pay for it. In general, you'd only pay sales tax on top of the ticket price.

All of that changed when Ticketmaster became the primary method for buying tickets. The event sales giant started charging everything from service fees to delivery fees to processing fees to facility charges. These additional fees are revealed only after you have chosen your seats at the base ticket price, and while you're watching a clock tick down the amount of time before the tickets are released to another hopeful concert-goer.

These fees add 25% to 35% to the price of your ticket, and the use of the countdown clock and the belated reveal of the fees both work to make you grumble but ultimately fish out your credit card to pay anyway.

For a short time, Ticketmaster held an absolute monopoly on tickets, and it still represents more than 80% of the market share of the ticket-sales industry. However, that doesn't mean you have no choice.

Avoiding the fees

The savvy concert-goer and sports fan has several options available for reducing ticket fees. To start, you can purchase directly from the venue to reduce your fees. Even if you buy the tickets online through the venue's online portal, you can usually get a lower price than you would through the big ticket brokers. This is what I did to buy my comedy tickets. As unhappy as I was paying an additional $32 for them, it represented only a 19% markup. Had I gone through Ticketmaster, the markup was just over 34%.

If you have more time than money, rocking the old school method of buying tickets in person at the box office can save you even more money.

Airline tickets

Within the past 10 years, airlines figured out they could increase profit by reducing the freebies they used to offer. They started by levying a checked baggage fee, which ranges from $10 to $150 per bag, depending on which airline you fly and how many bags you're checking.

From there, travelers started seeing seat selection fees when booking online. While there are always a few "free" seats that are covered by the cost of the ticket, you'll often find they're sparsely spread throughout the cabin and often not next to each other. This means that you (and your traveling companions) will each have to pay a seat selection fee if you'd like to be seated together.

Additional fees may include charges to watch the onboard entertainment and for drinks and snacks. All of these fees can inflate the cost of your flight by as much as 50% or more.

Avoiding the fees

Within the airline industry, fees vary a great deal. That means it's still possible to shop around to avoid extra expenses on top of your airline ticket. Some low-cost airlines allow you to bring up to two checked bags for free, skip seat selection fees, and enjoy complimentary snacks, drinks, and entertainment onboard.

Even if you don't have many airline choices because you don't live near a major airport, you can still keep your fees lower by purchasing your tickets as far in advance as possible. The sooner you buy your tickets, the more likely it is you'll be able to pick your seats for free.

In addition, making sure you understand exactly what fees your airline charges can help you to avoid last-minute surprises. Knowing before you reach the airport that you'll have to pay for a checked bag gives you the option of packing light with just a carry-on. And you can come to your flight prepared with snacks and entertainment to avoid paying for them on the plane. (See also: How to Save Money on Flights Using Fare Alerts)

Hotels

Booking a hotel room online allows you to easily compare room rates so you can find the best deal. Unfortunately, the rates you see online don't necessarily match the amount you pay once it's time to check out. That's because of charges like resort or amenity fees, parking fees, online booking fees, and Wi-Fi.

These fees vary and can be difficult to determine ahead of time. For instance, the resort fee is a daily additional charge levied for your use of the hotel's amenities, from gym and pool access, to using the hotel's private beach or enjoying the breakfast spread. Even if you have no plans to use any of the amenities covered by the resort fee, you're still on the hook for the fee. Most hotels charge a flat daily rate for their resort fee, but some charge a percentage of your room rate or a per person rate per day.

Avoiding the fees

Parking fees and Wi-Fi charges tend to be the easiest fees to determine ahead of time. Calling around and asking what these fees will be can help you decide where to stay. You may also be able to ask for discounts on these fees based on membership to groups like AAA or AARP or a hotel loyalty program.

Many countries prohibit charging undisclosed fees like resort fees and online booking fees, but the United States has no specific prohibition — although deceptive pricing is against the law. This means you can find the information about resort and other fees by either looking on your preferred hotel's website or by calling and asking. However, the fees are not necessarily going to be easy to find or calculate ahead of time.

There are several options for opting out of resort fees. The first is to only book rooms at hotels that do not charge them. You can check if a hotel charges resort fees at ResortFeeChecker.com.

In addition, booking a room using travel rewards points often means that your resort fee and your booking fee are waived. Hotel loyalty programs can also potentially earn you fee-free stays. (See also: How Travel Rewards Cards Can Help You Score Luxury Travel Perks)

Finally, opting out of hotel stays altogether can be another method of avoiding fees. Finding a place to stay through a peer-to-peer homeshare like AirBnB or VRBO can offer you cheaper per-night costs that have no fees tacked on.

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This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Why You Should Throw a Dinner Party to Talk About Death

Emily Guy Birken — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 09:00:12 +0000

While it may seem like the last topic you'd want to bring up over a nice meal, dinner parties thrown specifically to talk about death are a growing phenomenon. These so-called "death dinners" allow people to discuss and ultimately plan for the inevitable in a way that can be positive, life-affirming, and even a little bit fun.

Rather than avoid talking about a difficult subject, a death dinner can give you the space you need to consider some tough questions with friends and loved ones. Here's why you might want to consider hosting such a dinner, and how you can make sure you and your guests get the most out of your evening.

Why would you want to host a death dinner?

Family dinner conversations about the end of life might sound uncomfortable — or perhaps a total drag — but holding such a dinner may make a difficult topic easier to grapple with.

According to Michael Hebb, founder of the Death Over Dinner movement, "The dinner table is the most forgiving place for difficult conversations." Sharing food fosters a connection among diners, which can empower everyone involved to open up about their fears, hopes, and ideas.

It can also help you and your guests understand some of the issues that you'll face as you come to the end of your life or a loved one's life. We don't know what we don't know, especially about a topic as hard to discuss as death. Having an opportunity to discuss these issues openly can help illuminate the gaps in your understanding of end-of-life planning, while simultaneously helping you to feel close to your fellow dinner companions.

How can you introduce such an awkward conversation?

There are a number of ways you can plan these events to help ensure a lively and meaningful discussion. First, you may want to prepare some icebreaker questions.

Some common conversation starters for such a dinner include:

If you had a funeral, would you want it to be fun or more traditional?
What do you want to do with all your belongings?
Do you have a will?
Would you rather write your own obituary or entrust it with someone else? Who would that be?
Would you want any other funeral events, such as a wake or luncheon?

In addition, the Death Over Dinner program also provides hosts with reading material, a video, and a podcast to share with your dinner guests ahead of the meal. These materials can form the basis of your conversation over dinner, and give you an opportunity to talk about what decisions you will need to make.

You can choose ahead of time which end-of-life topic you're most interested in discussing at your dinner party and choose the materials that fit best. That means you can steer your dinner party toward topics such as the environmental impact of various burial and cremation options, how to plan ahead for the financial impact of your death, or philosophical questions about end-of-life.

Talking about death can help you plan ahead

A death dinner can not only help demystify an important part of our lives, but you can use it as an opportunity to discuss which documents and policies help people prepare for the end of life. According to the National Institute on Aging, here are a few that may be worth highlighting at your death dinner.

An In Case of Emergency document

This is a rundown of all the personal information your family or executor would need after your death. This includes things like Social Security numbers, the location of your will and other legal documents, logins to online accounts, personal contacts, and the names and contact information for any professionals who have helped create your estate plan (such as your lawyer, insurance agent, accountant, etc).

Financial documents and asset information

When someone passes away, there are typically three questions that follow:

Where is their money?
What did they have of value?
What debt will need to be addressed?

Some debt can be forgiven when someone dies, and knowing the financial history of the deceased may help ensure everything is covered. (See also: 11 Essential Documents You Should Keep in Your Safe)

Wills and trusts

These documents often go much deeper than just who inherits your belongings. Consider discussing the difference between wills and trusts, and the process in which these wishes become legally binding.

Talking about how to create and organize these kinds of documents can help insure you and your guests are prepared in case of a sudden death. Adding the stress of trying to handle post-death financial chores without these documents on top of bereavement is a burden that you and your guests can help avoid by having a frank conversation about their importance. (See also: Don't Make These 5 Common Mistakes When Writing a Will)

Enjoying your death dinner

Most people don't relish even thinking about death, but hosting a dinner can be a good opportunity to talk openly about the topic in a supportive setting. Having such a conversation over dinner also removes some of the stigma and pain of discussing death. That makes it more likely that you can have a meaningful and life-affirming conversation about death with people you care about.

Though it may feel odd to plan such a dinner party, having a death dinner can inspire you and other dinner guests to start making appropriate arrangements while you still have time to think them through. And that is an incredible gift to your loved ones.

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This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Ask the Readers: How Do You Celebrate Thanksgiving on a Budget?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 08:30:12 +0000

Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, good times with family and friends, and — of course — food. The first two items don't cost a thing, but if you're hosting, the cost of making food for a large group of people can catapult your grocery bill into headache territory. And this is before you even factor in decor, cooking supplies, and extra utensils you may need to purchase.

How do you celebrate Thanksgiving on a budget? Are you usually the host or the guest at Thanksgiving? What dishes or tasks do you delegate to other people? Or if you're usually the guest, what do you offer to do for the host to make things easier on them?

Tell us how you celebrate Thanksgiving on a budget and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — here's how you can win:

Follow us on Twitter
Tweet about our giveaway for an entry.
Visit our Facebook page for an entry.
Follow @janetonthemoney on Twitter.

Use our Rafflecopter widget for your chance to win one of three Amazon Gift Cards:

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Contest ends Monday, November 18th at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Winners will be announced after November 18th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
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Tell us how you celebrate Thanksgiving on a budget and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Learning How to Become a Money Master From Author David Bach

Chrissa Hardy — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 18:13:05 +0000

Entering the working world is particularly harsh nowadays, and twenty-somethings trying to juggle their student loan debt, possible credit card debt, and low wages understandably feel discouraged and exhausted. While debt can become isolating, it's important to remember that you're not alone, and The Latte Factor (available May 7), by best-selling author David Bach is the perfect companion for those struggling to make ends meet.

We had the honor of chatting with author David Bach about The Latte Factor, and he offered some additional financial wisdom for people young and old trying to manage their money.

Wise Bread: David, THE LATTE FACTOR, Why You Don’t Have To Be Rich To Live Rich is your 13th book. You've written nine consecutive New York Times best-sellers, including your most popular book, The Automatic Millionaire, which spent nearly a decade on the best-seller list. You have over 7 million books in print. Why this book now? Also, THE LATTE FACTOR is written as a parable. What made you, for the first time ever, want to write a story-based book?

David Bach: I've been wanting to write this book for well over a decade, ever since I went on The Oprah Winfrey Show with The Automatic Millionaire and shared the power of the latte factor on her stage. Since then, I've wanted to put out a short book that told a story people could read in 90 minutes to learn the most important principles about money.

I've always been inspired by parables and short books that are easy to read. One great example is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, which is one of the greatest books ever written. Other examples include Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson, who also wrote The One Minute Manager with Kenneth Blanchard. Those books have touched tens of millions of people all over the world. That's my goal with The Latte Factor.

I want this book to inspire the 98 percent of people around the world who want to be smarter with their money, who want to buy their financial freedom, but because they're living paycheck to paycheck, they don't know where to start. I want this book to reach the 98 percent of people who wouldn't normally read a book about money. Even though I've sold 7 million books, I know I haven't even scratched the surface of reaching the number of people who need to be reached. I believe this book, in particular, will connect with the 100 million young people in this country who are Millennials and Generation Z. These young people want to live the American dream, but many are starting to lose hope.

Don't get me wrong, this book also applies to the Baby Boomers. But I believe a lot of Baby Boomers will buy this book for themselves and then turn around and give it to their children and grandchildren because they know it's so much easier to become financially free when you start young. The number one thing people always say to me is, "I wish I had known how to do this when I was younger." I think this book will be a popular gift, especially around graduation time, and it's written in such a way that even a teenager could understand the important financial lessons that are being communicated.

WB: The Latte Factor comes out on May 7. Before it's even been released, what are some things that excite you about this book and its potential?

DB: As a matter of fact, the greatest personal satisfaction for me with this book has already happened, and that is I got my 15-year-old son, Jack, to read it. Keep in mind, he's never read any of my other books because he's not interested in them yet. Since The Latte Factor is a story, he gave it a shot and ended up reading it cover to cover in two days. When he finished it, he turned to me and said two things, the first of which was, "Dad, is this real?" He was pointing to a chart in the book that showed how a young person could have over $1 million by the age of 65 if they started saving at age 19.

I told him it was real thanks to the miracle of compound interest. His next question was, "When do I pay taxes on it?" I explained that with a traditional IRA account, he wouldn't have to pay taxes on the money until he took it out. His eyes lit up at that point, and he asked, "How do I get one of these accounts? I can have way more than that because I’ll be starting at 15, not 19." So, at age 15, my son is asking all the right questions and he's motivated to be financially free because of this book. That's a huge victory.

Another thing to know about this book is that it's not just about money, which is where the second victory comes in for me. You see, this book is also about going after your dreams and the need to take risks to reach your dreams. When I asked my son the biggest takeaway he got from reading the book, he said, 'When I got to the end of the book and read the story about your grandmother, I really thought about my life. I realized I'm going to need to take risks in life to go for my dreams."

We recently decided to move to Florence, Italy, as a family. I gave my son the choice to come with us and he decided he would. Here's what he said about that decision after reading the book: "I realized that not only was going to Florence the right decision, but it was really the right decision. If I had decided not to go with you, I think I would look back on my life later and my biggest regret would be not taking the risk to move to Florence."

That blew me away. If my 15-year-old son can come away with those two lessons, I've achieved everything I wanted to achieve with this book. If this little book can do that for thousands, maybe even millions of other people, it's just going to be incredible.

WB: Can you explain the latte factor for those who aren't familiar with it?

DB: The latte factor is a phrase that has gone all over the world and impacted millions of people. I've talked about it in all of my books and shared it everywhere from Oprah to NBC, CNBC, CNN, Fox, and CBS. Everywhere I've gone and in every speech I've ever done, I talked about the latte factor. Here's why: The latte factor wakes people up to the fact that you don't have to be rich to live rich, which is the subtitle of the book. The latte factor shows you that small amounts of money can truly change your life.

When I first started teaching the latte factor, I told the story of a young woman named Kim, who worked at The Gap and didn't believe she had the money to save. I showed her that by going through her expenses and cutting out her latte, muffin, and some snacks she was eating before lunch, she could save $10 a day. If she invested that $10 instead of spending it, she could be a multimillionaire by the time she retired. That little story went viral as I shared it over and over again all over the world. It woke people up to the fact that, in all likelihood, they do have the money to start saving.

Again, the key is that small amounts of money can change your life. Starting with $5 a day may not seem like a lot, but if you combine that savings with 10 percent annual interest, you'd have $948,611 40 years later. That's the power of the latte factor.

WB: How does the latte factor play into the story you tell in the book?

DB: Throughout the book, you follow the journey of Zoey Daniels as she learns all these important financial lessons. Zoey is 27 years old, she lives in Brooklyn, and has a dream job working in the Freedom Tower as an editor for a travel magazine. It's exactly what she wanted to do with her life when she moved to New York and yet, when the story picks up, Zoey is stressed out because she's not getting ahead. Even though she's gotten raises at work, she's still living paycheck to paycheck. Like so many young people, she's beginning to lose hope that she can live the American dream.

One day, as she's coming out of the subway station at the Fulton Center and walking through the Oculus, she sees a message displayed on a massive LED screen:

If you don’t know where you’re going, you might not like where you end up.

Seeing this phrase starts her on a journey of questioning the path her life is on, which is something that many of us do. We stop and wonder where our lives are going. As she begins to share her pain with others, her boss introduces her to a mentor named Henry who works as a barista at the coffee shop Zoey stops by every morning for her latte and muffin. Henry takes Zoey by the hand and begins to teach her some principles of life that she needs to learn in order to really go after her dreams. Through these mentors and the lessons they teach — including the latte factor — Zoey begins to realize she's richer than she thinks, she's stronger than she knows, and that her dreams deserve to come true. We watch Zoey go from lacking confidence and hope for her life to putting in place a system where she begins to create financial freedom.

It's an incredibly uplifting, inspirational story that also tugs on your heartstrings. We have a couple thousand people on our Latte Factor Insider Team who received preview copies of the book and the initial reviews have been off the charts. A lot of people have told us the book made them realize there's so much more they can do with their lives, but they have to go for it. Wherever you are in life, if you're living paycheck to paycheck, you're behind on your retirement plan, or you simply want to wake up the dreams that have become buried in the background of your busy life, this book will give you the direction, the hope, and the road map to focus on what matters most to you.

WB: David, you're also known for the phrase "pay yourself first." Can you talk about what that means and share with us the way you look at that?

DB: The three most important words you could ever hear when it comes to personal finance are "pay yourself first." That's the way ordinary people with ordinary incomes all over the world become millionaires: they pay themselves first.

Before we get into what it means to pay yourself first and where the money should go, I want to share some startling statistics. The average American is going to work over 90,000 hours in their lifetime, and unfortunately for most Americans, they're going to have nothing to show for it financially. According to the Federal Reserve, nearly half of Americans can't get their hands on $400 for emergency purposes.

According to GOBanking, 66 percent of Americans can't get their hands on $1,000 in case of an emergency. Seven out of 10 working men are living paycheck to paycheck, as are eight out of 10 working women. The average American has just six days of expenses set aside. We have to do something to fix this. What we should be doing is teaching our kids about money in middle school and high school, but until then, my hope is The Latte Factor will provide young people with a financial education.

So, what does it mean to pay yourself first? It means you have to get financially selfish and set yourself up so that you're the first person paid when you earn a paycheck. I recommend at a minimum that you save the first hour a day of your income and have it moved automatically from your paycheck into a retirement account. If your employer offers a 401(k) or 403(b) plan, you can have your employer move the money into that plan for you. If you don't have either of those, you can set up an IRA account.

Whichever account you choose, the key is that the money gets moved without you having to touch it. We're not talking about budgeting or discipline here. We're talking about automation. In The Latte Factor, Henry shows Zoey how much money she could save if she earned 10 percent annual interest. We have other charts in the book that show what the savings would be with interest rates ranging from 2 percent to 12 percent. But the number that matters the most when it comes to saving and investing is your savings rate.

In other words, how much are you saving?

You should start by saving one hour a day of your income. That comes out to 12.5 percent of your gross revenue. If you're using a 401(k), then hopefully there;s a match. Most employers offer one and it's usually around 4 percent, so now you're looking at saving 16.5 percent of your annual income. If you're in your 20s or even your 30s, that's a fantastic place to start working toward financial freedom when you retire.

WB: It's well-known that you hate budgets. In the book, Zoey also hates budgeting. Can you explain why you hate budgets so much?

DB: I've been involved in financial services and financial education for 26 years and what I can tell you is that budgets are difficult to set up and people don't stick to them. It's a lot like a diet. People tend to start out strong, but after a while, they fall off the wagon.

Budgets also lead to a lot of fights in marriage because we tend not to marry someone who's our financial equivalent. If you're a spender, you’ll fall in love with a saver. If you're a saver, you fall in love with a spender. When you have two people who view money differently trying to create a budget, it can actually pull them apart.

If you want to build wealth for retirement, a college education, a dream home, or a nice family vacation, budgeting does not lead to success. The secret is automatic savings. In my other books, including Smart Women Finish Rich, and Smart Couples Finish Rich, I break savings down into three baskets: a retirement basket, a security basket, and a dream basket. That's what I recommend: move savings automatically into those three baskets.

WB: Let's talk about three myths of money you discuss in the book, one of which is that if you make more money, you'll be rich. Why is that a myth?

DB: For most of us, we're making more money today than we did 10 years ago. The question is: Are you saving more? The answer in most cases is "no." As our income grows, our expenses tend to grow along with it. It's this idea that when the tide goes up, the boat goes along with it. This is what's known as "lifestyle creep."

Basically, when you make more money, you desire more things and you spend more money to have those things. That's the American rat race. Everything in front of us is designed to separate us from our paycheck. But what people eventually realize as they make more money is that having more things actually provides less freedom.

What I teach people is that it's not about having a certain amount of money so that you can stop working. It's really about having a lifestyle of freedom and choice. But if you believe this myth that you need to make more money to start saving and investing, you'll never start saving and investing. You're only going to see your lifestyle costs increase as you earn more, which means you'll never get to a place where you feel free.

The message of The Latte Factor is that you can live rich now. You don't have to wait 40 years to feel free and have less stress and anxiety. You can live that way today.

WB: What about the myth that it takes money to make money?

DB: The common misconception from people living paycheck to paycheck or even middle-class people is that the reason the rich get richer is that they have money. The truth is most people in the U.S. were not born with money. Sure, there are millionaires who were born with a silver spoon, but most made their money through saving and investing.

Tied into that misconception is this idea that you need a lot of money to start investing. That's simply not the case anymore. Today, you can start investing your spare change. There are robo-advisors and financial service companies that will help you invest as little as $1 a day. So, no, it doesn’t take a lot of money to start investing. But if you get stuck believing that, you'll never start investing because you don't see the point. Saving a small amount of money can transform your financial life. Even if you can't save the first hour of income you earn every day, start where you can.

The smallest amount, even if it's spare change, can make a huge difference.

WB: Let's tackle the myth that someone else will take care of you.

DB: I've been an advocate and crusader for women’s financial empowerment for 25 years. We've had over a million women read Smart Women Finish Rich. My fundamental message to women is based on what my grandmother, Rose Bach, taught me.

She was a self-made millionaire who started with nothing at the age of 30. By the time I was seven years old, she was teaching me how to buy stocks. But the biggest lesson I took from her was, as a woman, you have to take charge of your family's financial future. That's what my grandmother, who was married to my grandfather, Jack, did, and thank goodness for that. She changed the entire destiny of our family. I may not be doing what I do if she hadn't made that choice and taught me everything she did.

The thing that I want women to know is that you need to be involved in your family's finances. Statistics tell us that 80 percent of men die married and 80 percent of women die widowed. What that means is you can't afford to be in the dark and delegate your financial well-being to your spouse. You have to be in charge of your money.

WB: David, your tagline has always been live rich, finish rich. When you say "live rich," what does that mean to you, and how should we be thinking about it?

DB: For me, living rich means that I'm in a position of freedom, that I'm able to do with my life what I want to do. Now, that doesn't mean every day is rainbows and sunshine, but it means I get to spend my life on my passion, my purpose, and my family. I get to focus my time and energy on the things I love the most. That's what it means to me.

The whole idea of living rich is looking at what parts of your life aren't working and figuring out what can you do to get rid of those things as fast as possible. By doing that, you open up room to get more of what is working and what you really want. What I've seen time and again is that the fastest way to fix your life is to fix your finances.

Just the other day, a woman posted in our Facebook group that she decided to start saving and investing after reading The Automatic Millionaire. With that one change, she was able to get herself out of a neighborhood where she didn’t feel safe and out of a job that she didn’t like. Today, she lives in her dream neighborhood and has her dream job. She changed her whole life by reading one book and deciding to live rich and taking action!

Living rich means freeing yourself. You've got one life to live and you deserve to live your dreams. By fixing your finances, you set yourself up to live the life you want.

You can pre-order the book at TheLatteFactor.com. When you do, send the receipt to teamdavidbach@gmail.com and you’ll get a slew of bonuses worth over $500!*

*This is a limited-time offer that expires May 12th. Act Now.

This article is from Chrissa Hardy of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Ask the Readers: How Do You Save Money at the Movies?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 09:30:08 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Nick, Joseph, and Lisa for winning this week's contest!

Like everything else, movie ticket prices seem to go up every year. If you don't want to bust your budget on a cinema experience, you need to be more selective — and strategic — about going to the movies.

How do you save money at the movies? How often do you go? How do you decide which movies to watch in a theater and which can wait until it's available for home viewing?

Tell us how you save money at the movies and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — here's how you can win:

Follow us on Twitter
Tweet about our giveaway for an entry.
Visit our Facebook page for an entry.

Use our Rafflecopter widget for your chance to win one of three Amazon Gift Cards:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, January 21st at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Winners will be announced after January 21st on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook or Twitter.
You must be 18 and U.S. resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

Tell us how you save money at the movies and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

9 Ways to Improve Your Life This Weekend

Annie Mueller — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 09:01:10 +0000

Weekends give us a chance to play and rest. And we all deserve more time to rest.

However, weekends can fly right by when you waste too much time on activities that don't provide any real return. I love Netflix as much as the next person, but spending all weekend on binge-mode can leave you feeling guilty on Sunday night.

A truly great weekend is about balance. You need to spend some time on yourself, to relax. Some time with people, to connect. And spend some time on your life, to improve it. Here are nine ways to easily improve your life this weekend.

1. Start a creative hobby

You know that secret little desire you've been harboring to get creative in a new way? Maybe you've been watching tutorials and making supply lists, but you haven't done anything yet. This weekend is the perfect time to get started. Get messy and creative. Engaging in creative activities can lower your stress level, boost your mood, and keep your brain strong. Not a bad return for the investment of a few weekend hours. (See also: 25 Hobbies You Can Start for Under $10)

2. Clear out the clutter

Pick one room, closet, or cluttered spot. How much time do you have? If it's less than an hour, go through the junk drawer. If you have an entire morning, tackle the office or bedroom closet. Can you spend a day on it? Go for the garage.

The key to effective decluttering is quick decision-making. The longer you think about it, the more stuff you'll think you need to keep. Set a timer and move quickly through each pile or drawer. Ruined or unusable items go into the trash or recycling bin. Usable items that you're not using (actively) go into a to-sell pile. The rest — which should be a much smaller pile — gets organized and put away. (See also: 10 Smart Ways to Keep Your Entire Life Clutter-Free)

3. Sell your stuff

To sell the stuff you no longer want or use, sort it into two groups:

Valuable and large items: This would include furniture, appliances, electronics, jewelry, high-end clothing or accessories, and sports gear.
Cheaper items and trinkets: This includes sets of smaller, less-valuable stuff like kitchen items, clothing, shoes, toys, craft supplies, books, and household decor.

Snap clear and nicely lit photos of everything, then start listing it on eBay, Craigslist, or local Facebook pages. Sell the more valuable items separately. Sell the smaller, less-valuable stuff in related sets. (This saves you time haggling and making arrangements over stuff that's only going to bring you a couple of dollars.)

Give yourself a time limit to sell it all. If it takes longer than a week, take the leftover items to your local donation center or have a garage sale. (See also: 12 Garage Sale Items That Sell Like Hotcakes)

4. Overhaul your budget

Life changes, you change, and your budget needs to change, too. Spend a couple hours going over your bank statements from the last three months. Compare your actual spending and bill-paying to what you have on your budget. When you find discrepancies — you're spending consistently more or less on an area than you have budgeted — it's time to adjust.

The next step is to look for any money leaks. A money leak is something that takes money from you but doesn't give you anything in return. It might be a subscription or membership you no longer use, but never canceled. Or it might be the result of careless habits: lights left on, food spoiling, or late fees from not remembering to pay that bill on time. Locate those leaks and spend a little time plugging them up!

5. Start a gratitude journal

There is a staggering amount of research showing that gratitude is a powerful way to improve your life. Over time, the practice of gratitude leads to a more optimistic outlook on life. How great would it be to see the challenges of life not as obstacles, but as opportunities? A gratitude journal can help with that.

Keep it simple, and don't feel obligated to spend a lot of time writing pages and pages. Purchase a notebook you like, use one you already have, or go digital and write it on your computer. Then start by recording three things you're thankful for every night. (See also: 11 Things Scientists Say Will Boost Your Happiness Today)

6. Buy that one thing

There are lots of little purchases that may seem unimportant in the moment, or even frivolous. But if you don't fix that broken headlight (for example), you could end up with a ticket. If you don't buy the train pass, you could end up spending a small fortune on taxis and Ubers. Find the one item that will eliminate the need for multiple small purchases, and that will make your life easier, and get it this weekend.

7. Get outside and walk

Being outside is a no-cost way to improve your life. And it doesn't matter how busy your weekend is; even if you only have five minutes, you can use it to stand under a tree and breathe deep. It will improve your mood far more than checking your phone. If you have a little more time, take a walk. Doing so can boost your creativity and lower your blood pressure.

8. Secure your important data

As we rely more on technology for every aspect of our lives, it becomes more important to secure your data so no one else can get to it. Start by setting up a password manager (LastPass and 1Password are both great choices) and get your email, banking sites, and social media sites secured with randomly generated passwords and save them in your password manager. As you use other sites and apps, add them to your password manager.

You can also save secure, encrypted notes in your password manager. That's the right place for, say, your bank account number, social security number, and other sensitive data. Quit saving it on your phone's Notes app or as a photo. Save it securely.

9. Connect with an old friend

Humans are social creatures, but sometimes we're not great at maintaining social connections. Despite our instant means of communication, sometimes we let old friendships slide away. But there's value in these relationships: they validate who we are and can bolster our self-esteem.

So make a phone call, send an email, or arrange a lunch date with an old friend over the weekend. Your shared past can help you both improve your present.

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This article is from Annie Mueller of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Ways to Entertain Party Guests on a Shoestring Budget

Rachel Slifka — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 07:48:37 +0000

Some people are natural entertainers. They can throw the perfect party together seamlessly and effortlessly. From having the most delicious food, to amazing decorations, and of course, the best guest list, they make party planning look easy-peasy.

More often than not, however, the best parties comes with a hefty price tag. Hiring event planners, DJs, and caterers, can cause party costs to get out of control quickly. Fortunately, you don't have to spend thousands of dollars for a memorable party. With a little creativity and planning, you can throw a party that will keep your guests raving for years.

1. Start a party fund

First order of business? Create a budget.

Parties become expensive quickly if you don't have a predetermined budget. And the worst part is, you could spend too much on one aspect of the party (like drinks) and not have enough for another important component (like decor).

Start by determining how much you plan to spend on the whole party. Then divide it up into categories, such as food, decor, invitations, entertainment, and other. Next, set a realistic limit to each category. You can do this in a simple Excel spreadsheet or on paper. As you purchase items for the party, be sure to keep track of every expense.

2. Ask for help

Planning a party can be stressful, but you don't have to do it alone. Instead of hiring an expensive event planner, ask a friend to throw the party with you. He or she can take some of the burden and expenses of party planning.

Have a friend who is an incredible baker? Ask him to make desserts. Know someone who has the best taste in music? See if she can make the party playlist to keep everyone entertained all night long. Outsourcing doesn't just help make your life easier, it also allows other people to join in on the party planning process. Plus, it's way cheaper to solicit the help of friends than it is to hire a professional.

3. Get creative with decor

No party is complete without decor! While decorations are what really brings a party theme to life, you don't have to blow your budget. You can save money by looking at what you already have around the house.

Instead of buying multiple centerpieces (that you might never use again), try mixing a variety of vases, figurines, and decorations from around your home. Or, hit up the dollar stores for affordable candles and votives. Have a mishmash of china at home? Theme your party around that and mix and match all of your decorations for a whimsical vibe. If it's an outdoor party, hang up some cheap cafe or christmas lights to create a cozy feel. (See also: 12 Ideas for Cheap, Festive, Fall Decor)

4. Supply cheap food

As the party host, no one is expecting you to serve a five course, Michelin star-worthy meal. The key is to keep your food simple and appealing to everyone.

If you're cooking yourself, consider making easy batch meals, such as pasta, tacos, chili, or BBQ. These types of foods are easy to batch-cook and are liked by most people. To add a creative flair, set it up as a station so guests can add their own toppings and create their own dish.

If you're not a cook, you can still cater meals while on a budget. The trick is to reach out to casual, smaller restaurants or catering companies. They are more likely to cut you a deal and allow you to personalize your menu. (See also: 14 Crock-Pot Dishes to Serve at Your Next Party)

5. Set up games

Who says entertainment has to be expensive? There are plenty of ways to keep your guests occupied and having fun without spending an arm and a leg.

For an outdoor party, set out a few yard games such as cornhole, croquet, or horseshoes. Everyone loves these classic games, and it's an easy way to bring guests together.

And if you're throwing an indoor dinner party, it's still a good idea to keep some games in mind, such as Pictionary and charades. You never know how late guests will want to stay or when there might be a lull in the party. Having a few games on hand can be your saving grace. (See also: The 5 Best Board Games for Adults)

6. Rethink booze

If you choose to provide alcohol, the costs can add up quickly. It's a slippery slope because everyone tends to have different preferences as to what they drink. You risk overspending by trying to purchase alcohol to fit everyone's tastes.

Alternatively, you can get creative with booze. Instead of providing a full bar, choose some staple liquors and offer several mixers like juice and soda. Also, most people will be happy with a selection of beer or wine. On the invitations, you can let guests know what alcohol you're providing, and encourage them to bring their own beverage if they prefer something different.

Or, if you're throwing a themed party, a signature drink can fit the bill. Create a themed cocktail and whip up a big batch for everyone. Not only is this cheaper, but it allows you to step away from playing bartender all night at your own party.

7. Create a playlist

No need to hire an expensive DJ or band for the perfect party. Create the perfect ambience by arranging your own playlist through Spotify.

Throwing a dinner party? Classical, low-key music can provide the ideal background noise. Backyard barbeque? Try throwing in some country and pop hits. You can create your own playlist or use one of many preset playlists offered on Spotify.

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This article is from Rachel Slifka of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Life Skills You Can Learn for Free

Ashley Eneriz — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 08:00:11 +0000

We don't learn everything in school. There are many people who might have an impressive degree and can do calculus, but when it comes to public speaking or cooking a tasty meal, they don't know where to begin. Here are seven basic life skills everyone needs to know, and how to learn them for free.

1. Budgeting

Rather than learning basic personal finance skills in school, many of us have had to learn financial lessons through costly trial and error. Learning to stick with a budget means you can avoid and pay off debt, save for retirement, and eventually be able to buy a home or splurge on a dream vacation.

There are several budgeting techniques you can use, but essentially you want to start tracking all of your bills and expenses, and ultimately see where you can cut back. Then move those extra funds to paying off debt or into a savings account. Keeping all of this information in one place like a spreadsheet will be your best bet in being able to get a clear picture of your finances. (See also: Take Control of Your Money With These 10 Free Spreadsheet Templates)

2. Public speaking

Even though many will not choose a career that requires constant speeches, like a pastor or politician, all of us will need to speak publicly at some point. Whether it be for a work meeting, a wedding speech, or a eulogy at a funeral, you'll have to get up in front of a group of people and not pass out from nerves.

You can audit the University of Washington’s public speaking course through Coursera for free, or rent books with tips on how to master this skill from your local library. You could even practice monologues in front of a mirror or for a group of friends.

3. Speed reading

Reading at a faster speed while maintaining comprehension can help you enjoy more books in less time. And depending on your line of work, it can also help you perform your work tasks at a quicker speed (and hopefully getting a bigger raise).

There are a few free speed reading courses through Skillshare and other free education platforms. One notable course on Skillshare is Speed Reading Mastery from Jordan Harry, a TEDx speaker who says he can read 1,500 words per minute. Skillshare does have a monthly fee of $15, but you can get the first month for free and take unlimited classes during that introductory period.

4. Speaking a second language

If mastering a second language is on your bucket list, then stop waiting for enough free time to get started. You can learn a new language by committing to 15-30 minutes a day with free audiobooks from the library or free online courses.

Duolingo is one of the most popular free language platforms and gamifies the learning process to make it more enjoyable. There are many languages offered, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese. There is even an option to learn High Valyrian from Game of Thrones or Klingon from Star Trek. (See also: 11 Ways a Second Language Can Boost Your Career)

5. Cooking

There are so many elements to cooking, but everyone should feel comfortable enough in the kitchen to whip up a tasty meal with ingredients they have on hand. When you can look in your pantry and fridge and turn staples into dinner, you won’t be constantly tempted to order takeout.

Jamie Oliver has several YouTube videos on kitchen basics, such as roasting a chicken or making perfect scrambled eggs, along with how to make classic dishes like spaghetti carbonara. Once you've mastered the basics in the kitchen, take it to the next level with Gordon Ramsay’s YouTube lessons. And since you're not a contestant on Hell's Kitchen, you won't get yelled at if you make a mistake.

6. Sewing

Just learning the basics of sewing can save you tons of money because you'll be able to repair minor rips, reattach buttons, and even hem pants that are too long, instead of buying new clothing items all the time. You'll also be equipped to adjust your clothes or your children’s clothes during weight fluctuations or growth spurts.

The internet is full of free sewing tutorials and patterns, but a good starting place is Made Everyday’s sewing lessons on YouTube.

7. Writing

You don’t need to learn how to become the next best-selling author, but you do need to learn how to get your point across with the written word. A well-written letter or email can save you money on your bills, land you a job, soothe a family or friend conflict, or help you do better in the workplace. (See also: 4 Times a Handwritten Letter Can Save You Big Bucks.)

You can audit this free business writing course from Coursera, which covers how to write effectively in the business world and how to avoid basic grammar errors.

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This article is from Ashley Eneriz of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Spectacular Amusement Parks for Thrill Seekers

Nick Wharton — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 08:00:10 +0000

You crave that feeling of anticipation deep down in your stomach when you get in line for a ride. The lightheaded intoxication that takes over your body when you strap yourself in. The unparalleled rush of excitement you experience when you're hurtling through the air at breakneck speeds. You're not alone.

There are thousands of people all over the country who are constantly on the lookout for that next knee-knocking roller coaster ride. If you've got an insatiable thirst for the excitement that only a roller coaster can bring, check out these five theme parks for thrill seekers. (See also: Beyond Disney: 8 Affordable Family Destinations in the U.S.)

1. Six Flags Magic Mountain

Location: Valencia, California

Cost of Day Pass: General Admission $84.99, Junior $59.99

If roller coasters are your thing, then Six Flags Magic Mountain should be right at the top of your theme park bucket list. It has an unprecedented 19 roller coasters — the most of any single theme park in the world.

Though there are plenty to choose from, the most intense rides will have even the coolest cucumbers screaming at the top of their lungs. The DC Super Heroes Drop of Doom boasts a 400-foot vertical drop tower enhanced by a virtual reality headset that shows you falling from a tower as the ride free falls at speeds of 85 miles per hour. X² is also guaranteed to get your heart pumping, with seats that twist and flip at 360 degrees while music, sound effects, and fire surround your journey at 76 miles per hour.

2. Cedar Point

Location: Sandusky, Ohio

Cost of Day Pass: General Admission $72, Junior $45

Known as "The Roller Coaster Capital of the World," this park has 18 stomach-dropping roller coasters, and six of them are over 200 feet tall. Cedar Point has astonishingly been entertaining visitors since it launched its first ride in 1890, and has consistently remained competitive with other parks featuring cutting edge rides.

The park is known for its tall roller coasters, including the Millennium Force at 310 feet, and the Top Thrill Dragster with eye-watering speeds of 120 mph and a dizzying maximum height of 420 feet. Yet it’s not all about height. The Maverick roller coaster is just 105 feet tall and reaches speeds of "only" 70 mph, but it’s regularly voted one of the best rides in the country with a vertical drop, inversions, and breathtaking launches.

3. Kings Island

Location: Mason, Ohio

Cost of Day Pass: General Admission $70, Junior $43

Kings Island is a top pick for more traditional ride fans, possessing four of the best examples of wooden roller coasters you're likely to find. For example, The Beast is the longest wooden roller coaster in the world and has held that record for nearly 40 years since it opened. Then there's the newly built Mystic Timbers, which offers plenty of airtime with speeds up to 53 mph.

But it's not all about wooden rides. The park also has a plethora of brilliant and modern structures to make your hair stand on end. The world's longest steel inverted roller coaster, Banshee, will have you screaming like one.

4. Carowinds

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina

Cost of Day Pass: General Admission $67, Juniors $47

Carowinds proudly proclaims itself to have a selection of some of the "biggest and baddest roller coasters around." And the park easily lives up to that statement with giant rides that you can see towering over the surrounding landscape as you approach the park, giving you a good idea of what's in store for your visit.

Fury 325 is the cream of the crop, as it's the tallest and fastest giga coaster in the world standing at 325 feet and hitting speeds of 95 mph. Then there's the NASCAR-themed Intimidator, which lives up to its name with seven menacing drops along the race to the finish line.

5. Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Location: Williamsburg, Virginia

Cost of Day Pass: General Admission $90, no Junior Prices

Busch Gardens Williamsburg has a reputation of simultaneously catering to all age groups, making it hugely popular with families. Younger kids will be taken with the Sesame Street Forest of Fun, teens and young adults will revel in the wild thrill rides, while older generations can enjoy craft brews and pretzels in the German themed bars and beer gardens.

But just because it effortlessly caters to all ages, doesn't mean it's short on adrenaline-inducing attractions. Apollo's Chariot is an award-winning hypercoaster with "free flight" elevated seating and a combined 825 feet of drops. The classic Loch Ness Monster has been delighting visitors for over 40 years with its double-looping course, and Alpengeist is a favorite among visitors due to its high-tempo inversions mimicking an out-of-control ski lift.

How to get the most from your theme park visit

Book online and in advance for the best prices, which can be up to 50 percent off general admission for tickets bought at the gate. Booking online will also save you the time it'll take to line up at the front gate to purchase tickets.

You should also follow your favorite theme parks on social media, as many theme parks regularly dish out discount codes or special offers to their followers.

And if you're planning to visit any of these parks regularly, consider purchasing season passes, as you can end up saving a ton of money compared to buying several single-day passes for each time you return. (See also: How to Have a Fun Family Road Trip Without Breaking Your Budget)

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This article is from Nick Wharton of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

9 Ways Gamers Can Make Extra Cash

Ashley Eneriz — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 08:00:11 +0000

If your parents ever told you that playing video games is a waste of time, the joke might be on them. Many video game lovers have turned their passion into profits and anyone can follow suit. While making extra cash on video games is a lot more work than you might initially imagine, here are the top ways to do so.

1. Livestream your game play

You can invite fellow video game fans to watch you play during livestreaming with Twitch. While you can upload prerecorded videos of yourself playing, most of Twitch's viewers are there for the livestreaming.

How do you make money on Twitch? There are a few different ways. You can make money through ad views, similar to how individuals make money on YouTube. You can also include Amazon affiliate links for the game you are playing. Twitch streamers with large followings also get paid to do sponsorships, sell their own merchandise, and collect donations from fans.

2. Post YouTube videos

YouTube is notorious for making expert gamers into millionaires. Popular gamers Daniel Middleton, age 26, earned $16.5 million in 2017, and Evan Fong, age 25, earned $15.5 million — all through posting videos of themselves gaming. What earns the top gaming channels big money is expert game-playing skills paired with a winning personality and great video editing.

YouTube is overflowing with gamers, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for new content. Find your "in" by finding a unique slant for your channel. Even though 300 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, 5 billion videos are being watched every day. Therefore, individuals wanting to start a new YouTube career will have to work hard to build up their views and subscribers, but ultimately, more and more people are looking to YouTube as their source of entertainment and consuming more video content daily. (See also: How to Make Money by Creating YouTube Videos)

3. Beta test games

Game testers play new games and give their honest feedback. While game testing sounds like a fun experience, keep in mind you won't be playing your top choice games — and instead of enjoying the gaming experience, you are essentially hired to hunt down glitches. Apply for game beta testing positions at PlaytestCloud and VMC Global Beta Test Network.

4. Sell in-game items

Popular games like Counter-Strike, Dota 2, and World of Warcraft have allowed players to profit on collected in-game items, such as weapons and skins. Marketplaces like Steam and Gameflip make it easy to list popular game items. Recently, a scorching talon from Dota 2 sold for just over $53 on Gameflip, and certain Counter-Strike weapons sell for over $1,500 on Steam.

5. Write walk-throughs and guides

With so many free game walk-throughs available, it can be hard to stand out. However, creating guides on games that are not as mainstream can help you make a name for yourself. Look at Twitch's directory to get ideas on what content to create. For example, Fortnite has almost 20 million followers and guides are easy to find online. But games lower on the list have much fewer followers, and guides may be harder to come across. Creating one and selling it on Amazon could prove profitable.

6. Compete in tournaments

The best gamers eventually find themselves playing in tournaments. There are tournaments for several popular games and the prize money is substantial. For example, prize pools for the Call of Duty World League have awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to competitors.

7. Apply to be gaming support

What's a gamer to do when they run into a problem during game play? Contact customer support. Companies like Sutherland Global and VMC hire gaming support agents. Some of these positions are fully remote.

8. Become a gaming coach

Gamer Sensei connects pro-gamers with players who need one-on-one coaching. Individuals sign up for coaching to improve their game-play strategy, usually in the hopes of performing better in a tournament. Some coaches charge as much as $187.50 per hour.

9. Create gamer crafts

Being a gamer gives you the inside information of what other video game fans want and love. Pair that with crafting skills, and you can create profitable video game paraphernalia. Etsy seller ForeignRealms has created a map of Zelda's Hyrule burned on leather, while seller PropsCom offers Fallout-inspired objects, like a mini nuke bomb storage box. (See also: The 5 Best Sites to Sell Your Arts and Crafts)

While making money off video games sounds like the easy life, it can be quite the opposite. To build up a fan base, create content, or make products that gamers love, it takes time and effort. Gaming won't make you a success overnight, but if you have a strong passion for video games, there are creative ways for you to turn your controller skills into a nice side gig. (See also: How to Make Money as a Superfan)

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These 8 Apps Will Help You Explore the Great Outdoors

Carrie Kirby — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 08:00:12 +0000

The wind is whispering through the trees, the air hangs thick with pine fragrance, and you just whipped out your phone. Don't feel guilty about logging on when you're out in nature! There are more and more apps out there that can seriously enhance your outdoor experience, rather than distract from it — whether you need a map that still works offline, an audio guide for your earbuds, or help figuring out whether you just stepped in poison ivy or a harmless shrub. (See also: 10 Smartphone Apps That Can Help You in an Emergency)

1. Bivy

A bivy is a lightweight personal shelter you can carry around while backpacking. Consider the free Bivy app a lightweight outdoor adventure guidebook. You can pull up the app when you're in a new area looking for a good hike, climb, or paddle. Better yet, you can use the app to record and share your adventures with fellow nature lovers.

This app also tells you when you're off the track, which, in my experience, would be pretty darn useful. Just last weekend, my husband, kids, and I were trying to hike to a waterfall using directions my husband had found online. We followed the landmarks, walked the recommended distance, and never found a waterfall. We still aren't sure what we did wrong. Next time, we'll use Bivy. (See also: 10 Most Breathtaking Day Hikes in the U.S.)

2. PlantSnap Plant Identification

There are several apps out there purporting to tell you what bush or tree you're looking at through photo recognition, but PlantSnap gets the best reviews from the most users on the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store.

The developer claims that the app recognizes 90 percent of all plant and tree species on the planet, although according to reviews, it's a bit hit-or-miss. Still, if you love to take pictures of pretty flowers and shrubs, but never know what they're called, it's worth a try at $3.99 on iTunes or free on Google Play. (See also: 6 Surprising Ways a Houseplant Can Save You Money)

3. HERE WeGo

Billed as a free city navigation app, HERE WeGo can also be useful for deep woods hikes for one important reason: It lets you download maps even when you're offline. Save your destination on the map before leaving civilization, then hike without worry that you'll lose your connection when you need it most. This feature also makes HERE WeGo handy for international travel, if you don't have a data plan abroad. (See also: 8 Ways to Save on Smartphone Costs While Traveling)

4. Just Ahead

I'm famous for missing wild animal sightings — or tripping over my own feet — because my nose is buried in a guidebook. Just Ahead allows you to keep your head up and listen to an audio guide to a number of National Parks, including Yosemite, Zion, the Grand Canyon, and more. If the price seems high for an app (the app is free but each travel guide is an in-app purchase up to $19.99), keep in mind that these tours are professionally written and narrated by experts who have written for National Geographic and other publications.

And don't worry about losing your connection out on the trail; the guide will download to your phone and keep working out of cell tower range. (See also: How to Save on National Park Visits in 2018)

5. Sky Guide or Star Walk 2

Both of these apps use your phone's GPS and the concept of augmented reality to show you the stars and other celestial bodies that hover in the direction your phone is pointed.

The reason I'm listing both is that Sky Guide (for $2.99), made by Fifth Star Labs, is not available for Android. Instead, Android users (and iOS users) can try Star Walk 2, by Vito Technology, which is available in both free and $2.99 versions.

6. Maprika

Billed as a ski app, Maprika is actually much more. It will not only help you navigate hiking and biking trails, it can even help you find the bathrooms at a theme park or guide you around a college campus. The best part of Maprika is that it shows you exactly where you are on the map, just like the big, friendly, "YOU ARE HERE" points on board maps in public places. And if you're with a group that splits up, you can track your friends (or your kids) on the map, as well. (See also: 6 Cheap Date Ideas for Nature Lovers)

7. ChirpOMatic or Bird Song ID

As with the sky mapping apps, the best app in this category, ChirpOMatic, is only available for the iPhone at $3.99. So Android users looking for the same features use Bird Song ID, for $4.99.

Sometimes referred to as "Shazam for birds," these apps let you record bird calls, then they analyze the sound and guess what bird you're hearing. Like plant recognition apps, these are used with varying success; some reviewers love them and others end up frustrated.

8. AllTrails

AllTrails is a popular map app that covers the basics you would expect, like helping you find a promising trail and giving you directions along the way. One thing users love is seeing other users' comments; a recent review can save you from trying to hike a path that's covered in snow or searching for a waterfall that dried up a few years ago. With more than 50,000 ratings on iTunes, your chances are good that another user has recently tread the path you wish to explore.

The paid Pro version (for $29.99 per year) allows you to download offline maps, create custom maps, and to create real-time map overlays, showing conditions such as heat or air quality along your route — all without the ads you'll have to endure on the free version. (See also: 7 Affordable Destinations for Nature Lovers)

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6 Cheap Date Ideas for Nature Lovers

Emily Guy Birken — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 12:40:58 +0000

After this year's seemingly interminable winter, nothing would be finer than getting outside to enjoy nature, especially if you can do so with your special someone. But week after week, you may find yourselves falling back into the Saturday night habit of drinks together at the local bar or watching Netflix on the couch.

It's not that you want to spend all of your precious date nights indoors, but fun outdoor date activities are expensive! Maybe you and your beloved can't afford to go mountain biking, whale watching, or white water rafting. So you end up watching David Attenborough nature documentaries on Saturday nights instead.

It doesn't have to be this way. Instead of settling into your regular booth at the pub or your favorite spot on the couch, consider trying these cheap dates you can enjoy in the great outdoors. (See also: 23 Cheap Summer Date Ideas)

1. Try stargazing

There's a reason stargazing is a classic romantic activity. Not only is it a free way to take in a breathtaking view, but it's an excellent excuse to snuggle with your sweetheart.

All you really need for this activity is a blanket to spread on the ground, a clear night sky, and maybe a thermos of coffee or hot chocolate to share. But it can be more fun to study the night sky if you know what you're looking at, so consider downloading a free astronomy app to help you identify the constellations, planets, satellites, and thousands of stars that are visible to the naked eye. In addition, if you have a pair of binoculars or a telescope, bringing them along can help you to better see the glories of the night sky. (See also: 5 Natural Wonders You Can See For Free)

2. Go on a nature scavenger hunt

Working together can make for a fun and meaningful date, which is why taking part in a nature scavenger hunt together can create lasting romantic memories.

For such a scavenger hunt, all you need is a list of things to find while you are jaunting through your favorite scenic area. Since the rule for nature walks is "take only pictures and leave only footprints," all you have to do is check off that you saw each of the items on your list — or snap photos of them.

For instance, you might challenge each other to find something that begins with every letter in the alphabet, in order. You could write down what you find (apple wood tree, beehive, coneflower, etc.) as you go. Similarly, you could challenge each other to find something representing every color of the rainbow.

Even if you don't have time to come up with a scavenger hunt yourselves, there are a number of free printable scavenger hunts available online that can help you to see nature in a different way. (See also: 6 Outdoor Adventures That Don't Cost a Dime)

3. Plant a garden

Plunging your hands into garden soil is a viscerally satisfying experience that you can share with your beloved. Planting, tending, and enjoying the fruits of your garden together can give you a lovely connection to each other and the earth.

Even if you don't live in a place that allows for gardening, you can still enjoy the benefits of garden living by finding a local community garden. This can help you and your sweetheart form stronger bonds in your community while you build something beautiful and nourishing together. (See also: 13 Simple Gardening Skills Anybody Can Master)

4. Watch the sunrise together

If you are early birds (or dedicated night owls), set your alarm for 0:dark-30 and watch the sunrise together. You can do this from the comfort of your own backyard, or make it an event by driving to the closest beach, park, or eastern-facing hill. As the night sky trades its blacks and grays for dawn's bright pinks and oranges, you and your date can cuddle together and enjoy some coffee and the quiet feeling of being the only people awake in the world.

Finish your early morning date with breakfast al fresco, and you'll both spend the rest of the day with a smile on your faces.

5. Go bird-watching

Even if neither of you can tell the difference between an eagle and an egret, going on a bird-watching adventure can be a fun date. Start with a quick search on the best birding areas near you. Audubon's official website offers a great deal of information and tips for new bird-watchers, and can give you some suggestions for local places to enjoy your bird-watching date.

From there, you'll need a field guide — which you can borrow from the library — and a pair of binoculars. (If you don't have your own pair, borrow some from a friend.) Even with minimal equipment, you can start searching the skies and listening to bird calls together to see if you can identify various local species.

6. Have a picnic

Eating a delicious meal together will be much more fun if you can do it outside. And you don't have to go far or spend a lot to do it. Whip a meal in your kitchen, grab a blanket, and eat it in your backyard under the night sky with some candles lit around you. Or you could pack your meal in some Tupperware and head to your local beach or park.

But even if you're stuck indoors — because sometimes the weather makes it impossible to get outside — you can still have a memorable date night together that honors your love for the natural world. Turn off all the lights, stow away and power down all of your electronics, and enjoy an evening of uninterrupted romantic connection. Not only will you be conserving energy, but you'll also get to enjoy the benefits of unplugging together.

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This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Ask the Readers: What Is on Your Summer Bucket List?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 12:40:57 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Marlene, Maria, and Christie for winning this week's contest!

Summer is a fine time for concerts, fairs, vacationing, and just doing things! No matter where you are, there's bound to be a lot going on and a lot you want to do.

What is on your summer bucket list? What event or activity are you looking forward to the most? Is there any activity that you make a point to do every summer?

Tell us about your summer bucket list and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

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Tell us about your summer bucket list and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The 5 Best Board Games for Adults

Andrea Cannon — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 08:01:20 +0000

Board games have come a long way since the days of Monopoly, Chess, and Scrabble. There are now games available for players of all skill levels and interests.

What are board games for adults?

Board games are an affordable way to spend time with friends, family, and party goers. They include a board and several game pieces to play with, along with rules on how to win the game. And they can be a fun way to laugh and bond with others, without a large investment of time or money.

Top 5 board games for adults

Cards Against Humanity

Cards Against Humanity is technically a card game, but you won't find a better party game out there. It contains 500 white cards, 100 black cards, and a rule book. Each player asks a question from a black card and the other players answer with their funniest white card. The goal is to get players laughing with raunchy responses. Everything comes in a small box, so it's perfect for travel. It is recommended by a range of online publications, including Thrillist and Bustle, and has a whopping 30,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.

Currently $25.00 on Amazon

Catan

Catan has taken the board game world by storm. The game of strategy allows players to conquer land using source cards. Players can acquire their resources through trading, cards, or lucky dice. Each game can last an hour or longer. It includes 19 hexagonal terrain tile, six coastal frame pieces, nine harbor pieces, 20 wooden settlements, 16 wooden cities, 60 wooden roads, 95 resource cards, 25 development cards, four building costs cards, two bonus cards, 18 number tokens, two die, a wooden pawn, and a rule book.

The award-winning game is an Amazon's Choice product, an Amazon best-seller, and one of the "Most Wished For" and top "Gift Ideas" on Amazon. It is also recommended by Good Housekeeping, BuzzFeed, The Wirecutter, NYMag, and Bustle, and has more than 1,700 five-star reviews on Amazon. If you like this award-winning game, there are at least 15 expansion and extension packs you can add on later.

Currently $43.99 on Amazon

Ticket To Ride

Ticket To Ride is a train adventure game based on Around the World in 80 Days. The objective is to collect cards, allowing players to use the different railway routes to travel to different cities in North America. Players need to strategize to win. It includes a gameboard, 225 colored train cars, 144 illustrated cards, five wooden scoring markers, help cards, train miniatures, and a rule book. The award-winning game is an Amazon best-seller, Amazon's Choice item, and one of the "Best Rated" items on Amazon. It has over 4,000 five-star reviews on Amazon and is recommended by Good Housekeeping, The Wirecutter, and NYMag.

Currently $44.95 on Amazon

Codenames

Codenames has become very popular in many different countries. Players go by codenames and race to identify the agents first. It comes with 16 agent cards in two colors, a double agent card, seven innocent bystander cards, an assassin card, 40 key cards, and a rule book. The Amazon best-seller is one of the "Most Wished For," "Best Rated," and top "Gift Ideas" on Amazon. The award-winning word game has more than 1,900 five-star reviews on Amazon and is recommended by Good Housekeeping, Popular Mechanics, The Wirecutter, NYMag, and Bustle.

Currently $16.59 on Amazon

What Do You Meme Adult Party Game

What Do You Meme is technically a card game, but it's been making a splash at parties and on social media. The goal is to create the funniest meme by pairing caption cards with the photo card in play. It includes 360 caption cards, 75 quote photo cards, an easel, and rules. It works for groups of all sizes and is ideal for meme-lovers. Everything comes in a small box, so it's perfect for travel. It has more than 4,000 five-star reviews on Amazon and is recommended by Good Housekeeping and Bustle. If you like the game, there are a range of expansion packs available to match your personal interests.

Currently $29.99 on Amazon

And those are our recommendations for the best board games for adults. As always, be sure to check Wise Bread's Buying Calendar to learn when and how to buy just about anything!

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This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

This Is How Much Our Tech Necessities Would've Cost in the '80s

Emily Guy Birken — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 08:30:28 +0000

We all love to look back on the 1980s as a sort of halcyon time. Transformers were still animated rather than CGI, movies were original rather than nostalgia-grabbing reboots, and we all kept our important papers in Trapper Keepers, just as nature intended.

But before you decide that life really was better back in the decade that brought us hair metal, spandex, and She-Ra, consider what we take for granted now that would have been nearly impossible to replicate in the 1980s. As it turns out, there is quite a bit that makes modern life better.

Music on demand

A 32GB iPhone or other smartphone can store over 8,000 songs, depending on what other apps you have installed on the device. Alternatively, you can stream music through an app like Spotify or Apple Music, each of which allows you to save playlists and favorite albums. Your phone also offers you a remarkably portable package that you are likely to have on you at all times.

To have all of that in your pocket these days, it will cost you around $450 for the phone, plus about $10 per month for your favorite music streaming service. All together, you might pay $570 in the first year of phone ownership to be able to enjoy your favorite tunes wherever you are in 2018.

To recreate this kind of portable music library in the '80s, it would have been much more difficult. To start, you would need a portable CD player. The Sony Discman was introduced in 1985, and cost $300 at the time — or nearly $700 in 2018 dollars. To have 8,000 songs at your fingertips, you would need 570 CDs, assuming about 14 tracks per album. CDs cost about $15 each in the 1980s, or nearly $35 in 2018 dollars — which means you would have to drop the equivalent of $19,950 on CDs to have access to same number of songs. And of course, you could only really take one or two albums with you at a time, since carting around 570 CDs at all times would be next to impossible.

All told, in 1985 you would have had to spend the equivalent of $20,650 in 2018 dollars to have access to the kind portable music library we take for granted today. (See also: How to Choose the Best Streaming Music Service for You)

Cellphones

Having a mobile phone in your pocket has become so ubiquitous that we have reverse-engineered the term landline for the phone that's stuck at your house. We have become so used to carrying cellphones with us at all times that etiquette rules have sprung up around their usage, including a number of tacit rules about texting vs. calling someone.

Assuming that you have a brand-new iPhone X, it cost about $1,000 to purchase the phone, and cell service generally costs about $60 per month, which means a modern cellphone user can expect to spend $1,720 in a year, including the purchase of the phone.

Back in 1983, the first cellphone went on sale for $4,000, or around $10,062 in 2018 dollars. While there was no cellphone plan for early adopters who purchased this Motorola phone (which was 11 inches long, weighed 2.5 pounds, and was nicknamed "the brick"), the phone only offered 30 minutes of talk time, and only had six hours' worth of battery life.

Streaming videos

Netflix streaming has become a staple of modern entertainment, to the point where the term "Netflix and chill" has gone from solid Saturday night plan to dating euphemism to out-of-touch punchline. Subscribing to Netflix's standard streaming plan costs $10.99 per month, or about $132 per year, and gets you access to over 5,500 titles to watch, including both movies and television shows.

Unless watching Netflix is your job, it would be impossible to watch all 5,500 titles in one year. But let's assume you watch two different titles on Netflix every day, or 730 per year. Back in 1988, you could expect to pay about $2.50 per movie rental at the local Mom and Pop video rental store (remember those?). In 2018 dollars, each rental would cost $5.29, meaning you would spend the equivalent of approximately $3,862 per year in 2018 dollars to watch 730 movies — and that doesn't even account for late fees, if you forgot to take The Breakfast Club or Die Hard back on time. (See also: 3 TV Must-Haves Once You Cut the Cable Cord)

eBooks

Physical books will never completely fade away, but e-readers have made it possible for avid bookworms to carry entire libraries with them, whether they are packing for a trip to the beach or just a long line at the DMV. The Kindle Fire can store approximately 6,000 books, which means you can finish one book and start the next without having to go back to the bookstore or library.

A Kindle Fire HD 8 costs about $80, and you can sign up for Kindle Unlimited for $9.99 per month, or about $120 per year. All together, a voracious reader can enjoy books to her heart's content for about $200 in the first year. If we assume our reader manages to finish one book a week, or 52 books per year, that $200 in a year cost comes to about $3.85 per book.

A reader looking to buy 52 books a year in the 1980s would have spent a great deal more. In 1985, new books ranged in price from $8.95 to $19.95 ($20.84 to $46.45 in today's dollars). Assuming a reader only purchased books at the lower end of the cost spectrum, they would have to spend $1,083.68 (in 2018 dollars) in one year to be able to read the same number of books that a Kindle owner could read for $200 nowadays. (See also: 5 Easiest Ways to Score Free eBooks)

Living in the future

There are certainly aspects of 1980s life and culture that we'd all like to return to — like having music videos on MTV. But it's also good to stop and reflect on all the great advances we get to enjoy now that would have been simply impossible back when Max Headroom and jelly shoes were still a thing.

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This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: