DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ A millennial couple who moved to South Korea says $400 a month for full-time childcare is a huge perk
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

They're learning how to be parents in an unfamiliar environment, but there's one thing that could work in their favor: low childcare costs. The couple then moved to Seoul, South Korea, about two months ago, where they currently reside. "Full-time day care is really cheap," the 38-year-old told BI via email. Between 1983 and 2023, US childcare costs rose over 800% compared to a 300% increase for overall inflation, according to a BI analysis published last year. Are you struggling with high childcare costs?

Persons: —, Chris Oberman, Oberman Organizations: Service, Business, of America, . Bank of America, South Korean Locations: Netherlands, —, Beijing, Shanghai, Erbil, Iraq, Seoul, South Korea, China

☆ A Gen Xer shares the saving strategy that grew his net worth from $50,000 to $1 million in 15 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewTodd, a 53-year-old IT professional based in Nashville, had a long journey to a six-figure salary. However, for many Americans, reaching a six-figure income could still have a significant impact on their lives. Todd shared how he's turned his six-figure salary into a $1 million net worth — and why he plans to extend his working years longer than he might need to. When Todd landed a six-figure income — and his financial circumstances began to change significantly — he didn't go on a spending spree. He hopes to pay off his mortgage before age 60 — his goal retirement age.

Persons: —, Todd, he'd, I'm, doesn't, he's, I've, Roth Organizations: Service, Business, Cisco, BI, New, Fed, American Express Locations: Nashville

In Japan, for example, most people are actually quite satisfied with housing costs. In recent years, rising rents and home prices driven by a severe housing shortage — coupled with elevated mortgage rates — have caused Americans' housing costs to soar to near-record levels of unaffordability. Some experts have pointed to Japan, where housing costs are lower than peer countries, as a potential model for solutions the US could adopt. While Japan's abundance of housing isn't entirely a positive story, when it comes to Tokyo, housing experts say there are many lessons the US could learn from its ally. AdvertisementWhile a population slowdown could help moderate housing costs, some experts believe a substantial population decline would have big economic consequences in the long run.

Persons: —, aren't Organizations: Service, Business, Housing, Gallup Locations: Japan, Israel, Turkey, Slovenia, Portugal, United States, Tokyo

☆ The newest expenses Americans are cutting back on to save money: Travel, clothes, car insurance, and DIY projects
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Despite easing inflation, many Americans are still looking for new ways to save money. Travel, car insurance, clothes, and home improvement are four areas people have cut back spending. AdvertisementInflation may be coming down, but Americans are still looking for ways to save money. Over the past year, many US consumers have spent less money on travel, clothes, home improvement, and car insurance, according to surveys, business executives, and analyses of Americans' spending patterns. For some people, this means seeking out lower-priced clothing, travel destinations, DIY project options, and car insurance policies.

Persons: — Organizations: Service

☆ From dentists to lawyers, professionals are looking for ways to save time using AI. You could be missing out.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

More workers are finding ways to use AI technologies to save time on the job. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! AdvertisementIf you're not using AI technology at work, you could be missing out. That's because a growing number of workers across the globe are using AI tools like ChatGPT on the job — and many say doing so is saving them precious time. In recent years, a growing number of professionals in other fields, like dentistry and law, are also leveraging AI to save time.

Persons: They've, —, It's Organizations: Service, Business

☆ A millennial woman who made nearly $250k secretly working 2 jobs says it helped her enter a relationship for the 'right reasons' — not financial security
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

She focused on this gig early in the morning, in the evening, on the weekends, or during working hours on the days her full-time employer allowed her to work from home. While overemployment has increased Olivia's work-related stress, it's reduced her financial stress — something she said has helped her pursue a healthy romantic relationship. That's because the long working hours can take a toll, and remote job opportunities can be difficult to land. As long as she lives in her area of California, she's not sure she'll ever buy a home. Are you working multiple remote jobs at the same time and willing to provide details about your pay and schedule?

Persons: —, Olivia, What's, Doxo, jugglers, she's, overemployment, Overemployment, it's Organizations: Service, Business, New York Times, BI Locations: California's Bay, San Francisco, San Jose, Bay, California

☆ How some workers are using AI to save time — even though they fear the tech could replace them
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-07 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Despite the potential downsides of AI adoption in the workplace, several workers told Business Insider that they're using AI tools to enhance their skill sets, productivity, and job performance. AI fears have led some people to embrace the technologyTricia LaRue said using AI tools like ChatGPT has helped her save time as a marketing professional. Meanwhile, others are "very resistant" to using AI, view it as "concerning and scary" and want to avoid using it for as long as possible. In addition to concerns about AI job replacement, Granger said the overall uncertainty of the AI future can stress out some workers. Mastering AI might not be the only way to protect oneselfSainag Nethala said using AI tools typically save him about 10 to 15 hours a week on work tasks.

Persons: —, Gabrielle Gerbus, Jasper, ChatGPT, Gerbus, she's, Goldman Sachs, they're, Ben Granger, Tricia LaRue, Tricia LaRue Granger, Granger, It's, LaRue, Anchlia, Ankit, James Delage, Claude, Sainag Nethala, Sainag, Grammarly, Nethala, he's, I'm Organizations: Service, Business Locations: California, Missouri, Minnesota, Texas, Illinois

☆ A Gen Zer left Boston for New York City because housing was expensive and it offered a 'fraction of the life experience'
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-04 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

After spending a few months researching places to live, New York City — the borough of Brooklyn in particular — stood out. "Cities like Boston that used to seem affordable are feeling just as expensive as New York City for a fraction of the experience," she added. Rent in New York City and Boston can vary considerably depending on where one looks, but New York is generally more expensive. The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City is $3,300 compared to $2,600 in Boston, per Zillow. AdvertisementAside from housing, White said one of the most expensive parts about living in New York City is the costs that come with having a social life.

Persons: Jillian White, White, —, Georgia —, she's, it's, Boston — Organizations: Service, New, Boston University, Business, Apple, New York City —, Boston Locations: New York City, Boston, , New York City, Brooklyn, Brooklyn's Bedford, Stuyvesant, Cities, York City, New York, Florida , Texas , California, North Carolina, Georgia, NYC, York, White, Beacon Hill, Seaport, Fenway, Manhattan

☆ Why Black men's job situation is worse than it looks
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

That means that the tens of thousands of Black men who are incarcerated aren't being included in these calculations, effectively boosting the Black male employment rate. As of July, the BLS estimated a there were 16.2 million US Black men in the noninstitutional population, compared to 18.8 million Black women. AdvertisementThe bottom line: If the survey data had a more complete picture of Black men, Holzer said the Black male employment rate would likely be "considerably worse." Education differences and discrimination can work against Black menEducation is one factor that can help explain the lower employment rate of Black men, Wilson said. A strong job market and workforce development programs could drive progressThere are several things that might help get more Black men into the workforce.

Persons: —, there's, it's, Harry Holzer, aren't, Holzer, Valerie Wilson, Wilson, Jared, Black, didn't, weren't, " Holzer Organizations: Service, Business, Georgetown University, US Department of Labor, Pew, BLS, Black, University of California, University of Chicago, BI, Harvard, Stanford, Initiative Locations: Berkeley

☆ Why you shouldn't worry about the job market and a recession just yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewThe labor market is trending in the wrong direction, but it might not be time to sound the alarm just yet. The unemployment rate has risen for four consecutive months and at 4.3%, it's the highest it's been in nearly three years. However, there are some reasons it might be too soon to freak out about the labor market. AdvertisementSatyam Panday, chief US economist for S&P Global Ratings, said in a note published on August 6 that the slowing labor market appears to suggest a "normalization" of a previously red-hot labor market, rather than an "economy that's about to slip into a recession." The labor market might get worseTo be sure, there are plenty of reasons to remain concerned about the state of the labor market.

Persons: —, there's, it's, Goldman Sachs, David Mericle, Manuel Abecasis, they've, It's, Goldman Sachs that's, Satyam Panday, Michael Gapen, JP Morgan, Claudia Sahm Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, Business, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor Department, Federal, Satyam, Bank of America, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, New Century Advisors Locations: US

☆ Americans who locked in a job, home, and stocks are thriving. Everyone else missed out on their ticket to wealth.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Did you have a job, own a home, and have significant investments in the stock market? If the answer was yes to all three, then there's a decent chance you're feeling OK about the current state of your finances. But the job market has slowed over the past year. To be sure, not everyone has enough extra cash to invest in the stock market. This is among the reasons a growing share of Americans have dipped their toes into the stock market.

Persons: —, haven't, there's, There's, It's, what's, Roland Hesmondhalgh, he's, Republicans —, Tiffany Bell, didn't, Bell, she's, she'll Organizations: Service, Business, Federal Reserve, University of Michigan, Republicans, Federal Locations: Virginia, Pennsylvania, Houston

☆ A millennial couple who make $250,000 say they can't find a home in their budget: 'We refuse to become house-poor'
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

They want to keep their monthly mortgage payment between $3,000 and $3,500 — or around 30% of their monthly take-home income of about $11,000. However, rising home prices and mortgage rates in recent years have made this goal difficult to accomplish. "We refuse to become 'house-poor' and, like many others, are choosing to sit it out until the housing market is reasonable again," Laura said. With an 11% downpayment, they estimated their monthly mortgage payment would be about $5,000 — about 43% of the couple's take-home monthly pay. AdvertisementGoing forward, Laura said they plan to continue monitoring the housing market for a home they like that's in their budget.

Persons: —, Laura Graves, Samuel, they'd, Laura, they've, they're, it's, There's, Samuel aren't, We'll Organizations: Service, Business, Federal, Housing Locations: Portland, Wilsonville , Oregon, Wilsonville, Spokane , Washington

☆ The 3 worst things about being an Uber or Lyft driver
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

In the second quarter of this year, Uber drivers completed 2.2 billion trips across the company's ride-hailing and delivery platforms; Lyft drivers completed roughly 200 million trips. Avedian shared what he considers to be the top concerns of Uber and Lyft drivers: declining pay, driver safety, and wrongful deactivations. An Uber spokesperson told BI that drivers, on average, make more than $30 an hour while active in the app. AdvertisementGeorge, a full-time Uber driver in Cleveland who has driven since 2017, said he wants to quit but has few other options. AdvertisementJulie, a part-time Uber driver in Cleveland, hasn't always felt safe during her five years in the gig economy, she previously told BI.

Persons: —, Lyft, Sergio Avedian, Guy, Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, Avedian, David Risher, George, Julie, hasn't, Aaron Lavender, Lavender Organizations: Service, Business, Wall, Wednesday, Drivers, BI, UC Berkeley, Uber, Lyft Locations: Cleveland, Colorado, Oregon

☆ Voters blamed Biden for high inflation. Kamala Harris could get a pass.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-08 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Where voters place their blame — and specifically whether it falls on Vice President Kamala Harris — could be one of the defining factors of the presidential election. Early polling suggests that Harris won't be able to entirely shed the blame that President Joe Biden has received for inflation. If Harris can avoid some of the blame Biden received for rising prices, it could improve her chances of winning over crucial swing state voters, Traugott said. However, Sarah Foster, a Bankrate analyst, thinks some voters could shift much of their frustrations about rising prices from Biden to Harris. To be sure, it's up for debate how much Biden, Harris, or even Trump are deserving of blame for the rising prices of the past few years.

Persons: —, Kamala Harris —, Harris, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, she'd, Michael Traugott, Kamala Harris, Trump, Traugott, Evan Roth Smith, Blueprint's, Semafor, Elizabeth Pancotti, Sarah Foster, It's, Joseph Stiglitz, University of Michigan's Traugott Organizations: Service, Business, Trump, Democratic, University of Michigan, Republicans, Biden —, Roosevelt Institute, New York Times, Biden, FOX Business, University of Michigan's

☆ A Gen Xer shares why going back to college after dropping out was the best decision he ever made
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-08 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewDavid Houde feels like he's made it — and he thinks it wouldn't have been possible without his college degree. By 2006, he'd earned an associate degree in computer information systems and a bachelor's degree in computer science. A college degree helped him eventually land a high salaryWhen he first enrolled in college, Houde didn't have any idea what he would major in. In 2016, about a decade after he graduated with his bachelor's degree, he decided to pursue an MBA. Have you found financial success without a college degree?

Persons: —, David Houde, he's, it's, Houde, he'd, wasn't, I'm, hasn't Organizations: Service, Business, Pew Research Locations: Michigan, eureka

☆ How much money Olympic athletes earn when they win medals
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Olympic athletes who win a medal receive a wide range of financial prizes. US Olympians receive $37,500 for a gold medal, $22,500 for a silver, and $15,000 for a bronze. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . While the International Olympic Committee doesn't hand out money to athletes who medal in their respective events, many countries across the globe provide compensation to athletes for reaching the podium.

Persons: — Organizations: Hong Kong, Service, International, Business

☆ A Gen Xer who 'retired' at 45 shares how the FIRE movement and side hustles helped him grow his savings to over $6 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-04 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I stopped spending money on things that weren't of value to me." Side hustles and investing in retirement can boost one's savingsOver the past decade, Grumet has padded his savings through various income streams. In addition to hospice work, he's also tried side hustles that include medical expert work, nursing home medical directing, medical blogging, and several forms of consulting. While the extra income has helped boost his savings, Grumet said investing much of this income into the stock market — and seeing strong investment returns — is what's allowed his finances to truly blossom. Grumet said his retirement goal was to have at least 25 times his total annual spending in savings — he's already met this milestone.

Persons: —, Jordan Grumet, Grumet, who's, he's Organizations: Service, Business, BI, FIRE Locations: Illinois

☆ Why workers who lose their jobs to AI will be better off than the Midwest manufacturing employees of two decades ago
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Similar to US manufacturing workers who lost their jobs in recent decades to advancements like automation, those displaced by AI could find themselves without the skills needed for the modern workforce. It comes down to when — and where — AI job losses are likely to materialize. Davis said there are several reasons workers who are displaced by AI should have an easier time finding work than many manufacturing workers of the past. Impacted workers in cities would be more likely to have job opportunities than workers where manufacturing jobs were concentrated, which often were in the Midwest. Widespread AI job displacement won't happen for at least a decadeWhile Davis is uncertain about the timing and scale of AI job displacement, he said he doesn't expect AI to drive major job losses over the next decade.

Persons: —, Goldman Sachs, It's, Steven Davis, Hoover Institute —, Davis, it's, — Davis, they've, they're, Joe Biden, there's, Jim Covello, that's Organizations: Service, Business, Hoover Institute, Stanford University —, Bureau of Labor Statistics —

☆ Meet the typical social-media influencer: They make less than $100,000 a year and juggle other jobs
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

A survey of over 2,000 content creators conducted by the influencer marketing agency NeoReach last year found that 48% of creators earned less than $15,000 a year. Since the money that influencers make sometimes isn't enough to sustain their lifestyles, they balance content creation with other jobs. AdvertisementThe typical US-based influencer is likely to be making less than six figures and creating content part-time, according to research, surveys, and influencer interviews. Most of these creators have smaller audiences, according to former influencer marketer Emmy Petit, who is now a full-time influencer. "The idea of full-time content creation is often more glamorous than reality," Mitchie Nguyen, a content creator based in New York, previously told BI .

Persons: —, NeoReach, Colin Rocker, IZEA, influencers, Jessica Ufuoma, Johnson, Jasmine Enberg, Emarketer, Anushka, Petit, Nadya Okamoto, MrBeast, Mitchie Nguyen, Enberg, TikTok Organizations: Service, YouTube, Business, Deloitte, Johnson, Influencer League Locations: Hong Kong, New York

☆ The South's economic boom is masking a harsher reality. It still has several of the poorest states in the nation.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In June, the financial services company WalletHub ranked the 50 states and DC across three categories: economic activity, economic health, and innovation potential. The Economic Policy Institute pointed to low minimum wages and unionization rates in Southern states as two factors keeping pay down. Of course, workers in some Southern states earn less than others. Using US Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the analysis highlighted the average annual wages across US states as of 2022. Only two Southern states — Louisiana and West Virginia — were among the eight US states that saw their populations decline between 2022 and 2023.

Persons: —, Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, Chandra Childers, it's, West Virginia — Organizations: Service, West Virginia —, of Columbia, WalletHub, Business, South :, Workers, Economic Policy Institute, Southern, Economic, Economic Innovation, Peterson Institute for International Economics, of, of Labor Statistics, Institute, Texans, Dallas Fed Locations: Southern, Delaware , Maryland, Virginia, West, South, South : Mississippi, West Virginia , Arkansas , Louisiana, Kentucky, West Virginia , Arkansas , Alabama, South Carolina, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Nashville, Midwest, Mississippi, Hawaii, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, South : Texas, Florida, North Carolina , Georgia, Tennessee, — Louisiana, West Virginia

☆ How the AI revolution could cost you your job without replacing you
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But as tech firms plan to invest billions of dollars in generative AI technologies, there's been another explanation for job cuts. While there's been a mountain of speculation about if and when AI technologies like ChatGPT could displace workers, their near-term impact on job losses could be less about job replacement and more about the cost of AI investments. The risks of AI job replacement remains to be seenIn the big picture, Netzer said he expects AI technologies to be an "enhancer rather than a replacer of jobs" in the years ahead. Advertisement"For many jobs, AI is likely to enhance our job, allowing us to spend more time on the things we enjoy doing and less time on the mundane," he said. AdvertisementBenedikt Frey pointed to translators as one profession that has seen fewer employment opportunities due to generative AI, per his research.

Persons: —, there's, Goldman Sachs, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta, Sundar Pichai, Daniel Rausch, Dan Ives, It's, Carl Benedikt Frey, Netzer, Benedikt Frey Organizations: Service, Apple, Microsoft, Industry, Business, Google, Amazon, Alexa, Fire, Wedbush Securities, Big Tech, FT, Columbia Business School, University of Oxford

☆ A millennial who made nearly $200K working 20 hours a week says secretly working multiple jobs gave him the confidence to start his own business
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Then he had an idea: He could look for extra work to boost his income and professional skills. AdvertisementPatrick, who's 34 and based in California, made nearly $200,000 last year secretly working two full-time remote jobs and doing additional freelance work on the side. While some companies may be OK with their employees taking on extra work, doing so without approval could have consequences. Then, in 2022, Patrick started a second full-time remote job while retaining three freelance clients. He said his freelance work has turned into a full-fledged business — he established an LLC last December.

Persons: —, Patrick, it's, jugglers, He's Organizations: Service, Business Locations: California

☆ A millennial who's been looking for a job for over 4 years says his degrees have offered little value: 'I can't get anything even at minimum wage'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | Andy Kiersz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

He's even expanded his job search to restaurant and retail jobs — e.g. AdvertisementHesmondhalgh shared why he thinks his job search has been so challenging and what he plans to do moving forward. AdvertisementIdeally, he'd land a job in journalism — the field he has two degrees in. He thinks he's struggled to land journalism roles because most of the positions he's looked at require three to five years of formal newsroom experience, and he doesn't have that. Going forward, Hesmondhalgh said he plans to continue his job search for as long as necessary.

Persons: —, Roland Hesmondhalgh, He's, Hesmondhalgh, hasn't, he's, it's, he'll Organizations: Service, Florida Institute of Technology, Business, Georgetown, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Supreme, US Capitol Locations: Virginia, Washington, DC, Arlington , Virginia

☆ A New Hampshire couple who wants to retire by age 35 shares the 'house-hacking' strategy that's grown their net worth to over $800,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewIn 2019, at the age of 23, Lauren Simpson and her husband Ian decided to pursue an ambitious goal: retire by age 35. The rest is from the equity they've built in four properties they've purchased over the last three years: one primary residence and three rental properties. These properties also provide the couple with rental income that they put toward their savings. When someone buys a second home or investment property, mortgage lenders often require a downpayment of at least 10%. In addition to buying investment properties, Simpson said she and Ian have done whatever they can to grow their savings.

Persons: —, Lauren Simpson, Ian, Simpson, Roth, they've, New Hampshire — Simpson, we've Organizations: Service, Business, FIRE, Roth IRA, baseball Locations: New Hampshire, Florida, —

☆ The golden age of overemployment is over. Job jugglers are preparing for life with only one income.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-20 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

They've used the extra income to pay off student debt, save for retirement, and afford expensive vacations and weight-loss drugs. Related storiesIn addition to exploring other income streams, Adam said he's trying to take advantage of his extra income while he still can. The best advice he has for anyone who's still overemployed is not to become too dependent on the extra income. "From the start, I made it a point not to integrate the second job income into our bills," he said. Are you secretly working multiple remote jobs at the same time and willing to discuss details about your pay and schedule?

Persons: —, Charles, slowdowns, Charles said he's, I've, They've, overemployment, jugglers, they've, Adam, he's, He'd, Tomas, Charles couldn't, he'd, I'd, Joseph, — Joseph, Luke, who's Organizations: Service, Business, LinkedIn, Bureau, Labor Locations: an Arizona, Georgia, Texas, —

Search resuls for: "Jacob Zinkula"

25 mentions found