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AdvertisementWe expect our energy bill to remain high in the coming months unless we make crucial changes around our apartment. But having the heat on for 12 hours is making our energy bill higher than we'd like. But I am willing to invest a little money if it will decrease my monthly energy bill. Minkel also says that it's important to stay safe with your actions even when you're eager to lower your energy bill. AdvertisementInstead, Minkel says that it's important to put safety first as you're looking for ways to reduce your energy bill.

Persons: —, we've, Maureen Minkel, Minkel Organizations: Service, Business, South Jersey Industries, weatherstripping Locations: South

☆ I fled Ukraine and moved to Colorado. Starting over has been the biggest challenge of my life.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Now they own a small business in Colorado and have built a life for themselves. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mykhaylo Fridlyand, 43, who left Ukraine to move to Colorado. When Russia invaded Ukraine in March 2022, I was snowboarding in Andorra with my girlfriend, Kristina. We moved to Colorado in search of new work and moneyFridlyand and Kristina in Colorado. AdvertisementI miss my family and friends but don't want to go back to UkraineStarting over has been the biggest challenge of my life.

Persons: Mykhaylo Fridlyand, —, Kristina, I'd, Dodge Ram, Fridlyand, wouldn't, I'm Organizations: Service, Dodge, Google Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Greece, Colorado, Andorra, United States, America, Mexico, Miami, Aurora

☆ I'm a Nashville local. It's expensive and overrun by tourists, but it's still the best city in the world.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Bryan Clayton is a Tennessee native who moved to Nashville a decade ago to build his company. Michael Warren/Getty ImagesWhen I moved here, I'd go out on Broadway for the dive bars and live music. You could hear live music from the best musicians without the downsides of big cities, such as generic food and bar chains. People started coming from around the world to enjoy live music and sports without spending a fortune. AdvertisementAfter living in Nashville for a decade, I still believe it's the best city in the world for a weekend.

Persons: Bryan Clayton, it's, —, I've, tonks, It's, Michael Warren, I'd, haven't, we've, John Greim, wilder, I'm, Percy Warner, Percy Priest Lake Organizations: Service, It's, Uber, Broadway, Nashville, NHL's Predators, NFL's, People Locations: Tennessee, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Southern, Nashville , Tennessee, California, New York, Miami, Radnor, Atlanta, Barcelona

AdvertisementA long-term care policy isn't the same thing as your health insurance policyWallace first explained that a long-term care policy is a financial tool that covers the risk of care related to loss of activities of daily living, like bathing, eating, using the bathroom, and more. Since I only have a health insurance policy, I asked if that would cover any of that type of care, so I didn't have to take out a long-term care policy. "But a long-term care policy pays for people to take care of you, whether in your home or in a facility." "You can take out a long-term care policy now at a lower premium because you're 35. If I'm eager to go ahead and get a long-term care policy now, he did say that there is an option to do a 10-year limited pay policy.

Persons: Keith Wallace, Wallace, I've, it's Organizations: Business

☆ I got very superstitious after giving birth to my daughter, which could be postpartum OCD. Here's how I'm working through it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

I'm a new mom who became incredibly superstitious after giving birth. When friends or family members asked us about her sleep, I'd change the subject. I told him I was going through a challenging time and didn't want to have sleep conversations with anyone. She told me that being superstitious could be a part of postpartum OCD. "I recommend reading and writing down some facts about baby sleep," she said.

Persons: —, I've, regressing, she'd, I'd, we'd, Kayla Estenson Williams, would've, Williams, Williams I'd, that's, It's, I'm Organizations: Service

☆ When my husband and I decided to become parents, I went sober. I feel like a better mom without alcohol.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-01 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementSo a month before I ended up getting pregnant, I decided to stop drinking alcohol and become sober. I was exhausted and didn't want to add alcohol to the mixRight after my daughter was born, my husband and I went back to work. AdvertisementI decided not to introduce alcohol into my postpartum life because, above anything else, I didn't want to endanger my child. I don't miss drinking alcohol at all, and I plan on staying sober forever. My life is better without drinking, and I feel like I'm able to be a better mom for my baby.

Persons: chai, haven't, she'd, I'd, I'm Organizations: Service, Business

I started investing for the first time at age 32 without a ton of knowledge or a specific plan. That's why I decided to sit down with financial planner Kelly Klingaman to find out just how messy my investment portfolio really is and what I can do about it. Investing 15-20% of my portfolio in cryptocurrencyIt wasn't until I sat down to audit my financial portfolio that I realized how big a share of my investments are in cryptocurrencies. I shared with Klingaman that I have a habit of investing too little money in too many individual stocks. Doing so will hold me accountable every month with a minimum amount of money I want to add to my investment portfolio.

Persons: —, I've, Kelly Klingaman, Klingaman, Get, it's Organizations: Service, SEC

☆ I left New York to raise kids in Orlando. Not everyone here is Disney-obsessed, and it's less expensive than you'd think.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

They moved into a bigger home, bought annual passes to Disney World, and enjoyed the warmer weather. I was born and raised in New York City but always knew I'd eventually move to Florida. I spent a lot of time vacationing there as a kid and my wife and I went to Disney World for our honeymoon. Plus, my wife and I wanted to start a family there because the cost of living in New York City was too high. Here's what it's like to work, play, and raise kids with Disney World in your backyard.

Persons: Mark Kaley, —, who's, I'd, We've, It's, I've Organizations: Disney, Service, Disney World, Universal Studios, Phillips Center, Performing Arts, Orlando City SC, Orlando Science Center, Otter Public Relations Locations: Orlando, Florida, New York, New York City, Epcot, SeaWorld, Winter, Dora

Passive income streams are a great way of mitigating your financial risk and earning extra income. I talked to financial advisors and accountants about lucrative passive income streams they've seen. Owning a parking lot, real estate, blogging, and online courses can generate over $100,000 a year. To help mitigate personal financial risk, I try to create as many passive income streams as I can. Over the years, I've built multiple passive income streams for myself including courses, e-books, and selling merchandise.

Persons: —, I've, Chris Nddie, Brent Dickerson, Dickerson, Olivia Tan, Tan, Sanchit Taksali, Get Organizations: Service, Invest, CPA, SEC

My income changes month to month, so I need to approach how much rent I can pay with caution. While I might feel I could afford a higher rent on paper, that could be risky in an emergency. Avoiding financial strainRight now, my partner and I pay a total of $3,200 to rent our one-bedroom apartment. Build a BudgetI shouldn't forget about other expensesEven when I looked to find ways to afford a higher rent, Willardson says I should remember my other financial obligations. If not, we will have to be open to leaving the neighborhood in search of a rent we can afford.

Persons: —, I've, I'm, Chad Willardson, that's, Willardson Organizations: Service Locations: New York City, Brooklyn, There's

Just because a deal is good doesn't mean it's the best deal — be sure to comparison shop. Look closely at travel package dealsOne of the most popular travel deals that often pop up around the holiday season are full travel packages. "Just because a package travel deal is advertised as the best deal offered, it might not be true," she says. Myers cautions me against that habit, because I might not end up with a good travel deal. Travel expert Nadia Podrabinek emphasizes the importance of making sure a travel deal offers value for the money and not just a reduced price tag.

Persons: they're, —, isn't, Lindsay Myers, There's, Myers, Nadia Podrabinek Organizations: Service, Black

That's why I asked financial experts to explain the main differences between index funds and mutual funds. An index fund can be a mutual fundEven though it might sound confusing, Clayton Wood, a financial planner, says a good first step in understanding that an index fund is a mutual fund, but a mutual fund is not always an index fund. Index Funds have a lower expensesWhen it comes to fees, Alvin Carlos, a financial planner, says that index funds are low-cost mutual funds. "Most actively managed funds are mutual funds, but there are also many index mutual funds." Mutual funds experience capital gain distributionsOne of the biggest differences between mutual funds and index funds is when taxable events occur for each.

Persons: —, Clayton Wood, Wood, Alvin Carlos, Carlos, Jay Kirkwood, Dow Jones, Kirkwood, Get, Amy Richardson, Schwab, Richardson Organizations: Finance, Service, Costco, Nasdaq, SEC, Mutual

☆ I inherited $15,000 and had fun with it. Then I inherited six figures a few years later and was more strategic — here's what I learned.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Gina Knox, a 30-year-old financial coach who has twice inherited money. When I was 22, I inherited money for the first time. I've also helped clients over the years who have inherited money or had a trust fund they were finally getting access to. When I withdraw the money, I'll pay long-term capital-gains tax on any gains the sum has made in the stock market. When people find out I inherited money, they always want to know what big or flashy purchases I've bought so far.

Persons: Gina Knox, —, I'd, we'd, I've Organizations: Service, Google Locations: South America

I asked financial planners where I could invest my money other than the stock market. Early last year, when I finally decided to invest some of the cash sitting idle in my high-yield savings account, I turned to the stock market. I've come a long way since then, optimizing my stock market strategy to include studying earnings reports and being more strategic with my picks. Real estateA good amount of my friends have turned to real estate investing over the past few years. "You can invest in real estate through REITs — Real Estate Investment Trusts — which pool together investor money to purchase, and sometimes operate, different forms of property.

Persons: —, Jason Dall'Acqua, Carolyn Yun, Privately, Yun, Get, Marguerita Cheng, Cheng Organizations: Service, Investment, SEC, Venture Locations: REITs —

Keeping my credit score high will also help if I take out a small business loan as an entrepreneur. I decided to ask certified financial planner Patrick Marcinko for ideas for how I could leverage my high credit score to help with future financial goals. "With a high credit score, lenders are more willing to give you a better deal on mortgage rates. How I can keep my credit score highSince it's taken me quite some time to achieve this high credit score, I asked Marcinko for ways that I can maintain it in the new year. Additionally, Marcinko says that with a high credit score, I might have access to perks and benefits that credit card companies reserve for those with strong credit.

Persons: —, I've, Patrick Marcinko, Marcinko Organizations: Service

I want to earn more passive income, so I asked financial pros how to start with just $500. One of the biggest things I'm working on this year is finding more ways to make passive income. Here are five tips, from financial planners and financial advisors, on how to start making passive income by investing just $500 or less. Start a side hustleIf you ever wanted to start your own business with the hope of it bringing in some side passive income, financial planner Tania P. Brown says you can start with just $500. High-yield ETFs or mutual fundsOne of the first ways I made passive income was through a high-yield savings account, but I've never considered other high-yield accounts.

Persons: crowdfunding, —, I've, crowdfunding I've, Cynthia Meyer, Meyer, Prosper, Justin Yoo, Yoo, Wealthfront, Read, Tania P, Brown, Alex Caswell, Caswell Organizations: Service

I tend to overspend during the holidays, so I asked a financial planner about spending strategies. AdvertisementEvery year, when November arrives, I start to get stressed out about holiday spending. As I took a closer look at my finances, I realized that it wouldn't make sense to drain my savings account for holiday spending and wondered about other payment strategies to use instead. FOMO makes deals seem overly importantOne of the biggest reasons I often blow through my holiday spending budget is because the deals this time of year seem so great. AdvertisementShe even suggests being transparent with people in your life about your holiday spending and savings.

Persons: —, Shinobu Hindert, it's, Hindert, FOMO, I've Organizations: Service, Brands

☆ I was a bartender for almost a decade. Here are the techniques I used to land bigger tips — and the people I tried to avoid serving.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementBut during my nine years as a bartender, I regularly found myself earning more tips than anyone else on my team. Here are some of the techniques bartenders can use to earn bigger tips and ways to determine who will be a good tipper. Treat regulars like they're good friendsI always made it a point to remember regulars' names, stories, and drink orders. Surface-level compliments are devoid of meaning, and guests will feel like you're trying to schmooze your way to a higher tip. Be wary of large groupsTry to avoid serving people in large groups who seem to not know who's paying.

Persons: Starr Douglas, —, Ramos, I'd, they'll, you'll Organizations: Service, University of Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology Locations: Athens , Georgia, Atlanta, New Orleans

☆ Funeral directors share 7 rules of etiquette and their biggest pet peeves they wish everyone knew
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Insider asked funeral directors to share their top etiquette rules and common pet peeves that they wish more people knew. Keep the family room private before the funeralOftentimes, the close family will wait in a private room together before the funeral. Casey said guests should assume it isn't appropriate to visit the private family room before the funeral unless the family has said otherwise. Respect the funeral and the funeral homeDino Cantelmi , the owner and director of Cantelmi Funeral Home in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, says there are a few rules to keep in mind if you've never been to a funeral. Leave your phone in the car or in your pocketBefore entering a funeral, Cantelmi said, one thing people can do is be aware of their cellphone.

Persons: —, you've, Randi Goldstein, Casey, Goldsteins, Raphael, Sacks, Dino Cantelmi, Cantelmi, Lean, Elizabeth Fournier, Fournier Organizations: Service, Social, Cornerstone Funeral Services Locations: Philadelphia, Bethlehem , Pennsylvania, Boring , Oregon

If you're investing your first $1,000 for maximum growth, try putting your cash in a Roth IRA. Financial planners also recommend choosing index funds or dividend growth stocks. Here's some advice from financial advisors on the four best ways to invest your first $1,000. Go with dividend growth stocksKeep an eye out for dividend growth stocks, which are stocks that are paying dividends and have been growing those dividends for a significant number of years in the past. According to Jonathan P. Bednar, II, a financial planner, dividend growth stocks are a smart way to make money now or use those dividends to reinvest.

Persons: —, I'm, Kenny Senour, Senour, Roth, Read, Jonathan P, Tony Grenier, Grenier Organizations: IRA, Financial, Service, Invest

Financial experts advised investing in real estate and startups, and starting a low-cost business. That's what led me to ask financial advisors and professionals how they'd take $10,000 and turn it into $100,000 in just 10 years, aside from investing in stocks. Invest in real estateOver the years, as I've been able to save more, I've started to consider the idea of investing in real estate. R.J. Weiss, a financial planner, says that if you are willing to take on debt, investing in real estate is one way to grow $10,000 to $100,000 in 10 years. For those of us living in expensive real estate markets, the best real estate investing apps provide another way in.

Persons: —, I'm, I've, Weiss, Read, Zach Reece, Reece, ZipRecruiter, Alvin Carlos, Carlos Organizations: Finance, Service, Invest, R.J, Companies Locations: Republic

However, variable-rate CDs and no-penalty CDs offer flexibility that may be worth considering. So far this year, CD rates have been increasing and I've managed to secure CDs with rates that range from 4.75% to 5.5% APY. "CD interest rates are for a 12-month period." Variable-rate CDBecause I've been mostly risk-averse with my CDs, one type that I've never tried are variable-rate CDs. For example, if you get a one-year CD paying 5% with the option to bump up, Manske said you can pay attention to CD rates and elect to update it if the rates rise.

Persons: —, I've, Christopher Manske, Manske, that's, doesn't Organizations: Service

☆ I'm a girlfriend-for-hire. I use AI to help me satisfy customers, make more money, and feel better about my work.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

She says AI boosts her photos' quality and helps her write fantasies and recall client details. With the help of AI tools, she says she feels less burnout and can meet the needs of more customers. Now I use AI tools such as ChatGPT to help me run my business and make more money. I turned to AI tools to help me get my spark back and show up for my clients. To recall details fast, I use an AI tool called AskYourPDF , which takes my call transcriptions and provides me with a real-time chatbot.

Persons: Ela Darling, —, ChatGPT, I'm, I've Organizations: Service Locations: Austin, Los Angeles

A financial planner told me I need to understand how my retirement account is invested. I don't feel like I have the knowledge or time to be able to manage my retirement accounts on my own. However, Kovar said it's still important to keep a pulse on what's happening inside of those retirement accounts. Kovar recommended that people look at their retirement accounts every 6-12 months to determine how much risk they want to take on. Kovar recommended those with a 401(k) consider having a second retirement fund as well, so their investment options aren't limited.

Persons: —, it's, Taylor Kovar, Kovar Organizations: Service

I asked a financial therapist how to get past my money anxiety. That's why I decided to meet with financial therapist Dr. Erika Rasure , to figure out how I can handle anxieties I have around making crucial money decisions. "Two common money scripts are 'I don't deserve money' and 'there is never enough money.' "Identify the fear, figure out what triggers it, and then choose an action that you're comfortable with," Dr. Rasure said. "Being flexible and creative, along with being authentic and vulnerable, can keep lines of communication open and reduce the likelihood that resentment will build up," Dr. Rasure said.

Persons: —, Erika Rasure, Rasure, spender, I've, doesn't, We've Organizations: Service

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