Tag - where I got published today
If you like turning 🏚️into 🏠or 🌱into 🌼, you’re going to love my latest Bankrate post:
Home improvement isn’t cheap — according to The Spruce, even something as simple as a surface-level kitchen remodel could cost between $2,000 and $20,000. Add gardening into the mix and you’re looking at what could be a very expensive, but very rewarding, project. Your home is where you live, after all. It’s worth it to make your living space as comfortable and beautiful as possible. (Plus, the right home renovations can add a lot to your resale value.)
I love this piece SO MUCH. (So did my editor.)
I’ve been a full-time freelancer since 2012, and most of my work gets done at home—that is, from my home office. I tried working from coffee shops and co-working spaces, but I tend to get the most work done when I’m in a quiet, comfortable, familiar space where I don’t have to worry about whether I’ll be able to find a seat near an electrical outlet (and won’t have to ask someone to watch my laptop every time I need to use the toilet).
I also know that I get my best work done in the morning and early afternoon; the closer it gets to 3 p.m., the more I’ll want a task that allows me to respond to information rather than generate it. Reading a book for review, for example, instead of writing a book review.
So I’ve developed a schedule that lets me do my best work at the times I work best.
If you’re also working from home and would like to develop a similar schedule, here’s what I’ve learned over the past seven years.
If you’ve been thinking about bidding bon voyage to the new Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, you’re not alone. More and more consumers are signing up with the popular Hilton Honors program, and although it isn’t clear how many of them are coming directly from Marriott, we know that some travelers are starting to sour on the brand.
If you’re paying for everyday expenses like groceries and restaurants without earning rewards, you’re leaving money on the table. Whether you choose a flat-rate cash back card that offers the same points on every purchase or a bonus category rewards card that gives you higher rewards for certain categories of purchases — and we’ve got a list of the pros and cons of both — you’re going to want one of the best rewards credit cards in your wallet. You’ll also want to use it for the majority of your purchases.
Otherwise, you’re going to do all that day-to-day spending without getting anything in return.
Remember, a recession doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll lose your job. Not all employers lay off employees during recessions, and many employers work hard to keep their best team members. However, they often look for other ways to cut costs. This might mean losing the coffee and donuts in the breakroom, or it might mean losing your 401(k) contribution match — so it’s in your best interests to claim as many employer benefits as you can while you’ve still got them.
If you want your credit card rewards to go further, you might be interested in Wells Fargo’s Go Far® Rewards program. This credit card loyalty program rewards Wells Fargo cardholders for everyday spending, gives you the chance to earn bonus rewards while you shop and invites you to redeem rewards for everything from cash back to once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
I told you this article was coming — and it’s LONG, so set aside some time to read the whole thing.
Don’t assume that your business will be an LLC or a S-Corp before talking with a CPA. There are specific advantages and disadvantages of each type of business structure, and it’s important to learn which might be the most beneficial to you—and why—before you incorporate. These decisions have tax consequences that could save (or cost) you a lot of money, so it’s worth it to get a CPA on your team at the very beginning of the process.
New Bankrate post up!
The easiest way to earn points with Rapid Rewards Dining is by using a linked credit or debit card to pay for meals at participating restaurants. You earn 2 Rapid Rewards points per dollar spent, including tax and tip. You can use the Southwest dining portal to locate participating restaurants near you, or you can sign up for Rapid Rewards Southwest Dining emails to get restaurant recommendations.
If you want to follow my freelance output in real time — and also read the articles — here we go:
Identity theft protection is a big concern for modern consumers. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, the number of data breaches dropped by 23% between 2017 and 2018, but the number of personally identifiable information exposed during those breaches increased by 126%.
What does that mean in real numbers? The ITRC reports that 197,612,748 personally identifiable records were exposed during 2017 data breaches. The massive Equifax breach alone exposed the information of 143 million individuals.