Monthly Archives: May 2019
#GYFLT: How a broke millennial turned things around
If you live south of the Mason-Dixon line, Krispy Kreme doughnuts are a way of life. The glow of a “Hot Doughnuts Now” sign is enough to make you bang a U-turn across three lanes of traffic just to jump in line. But, did you also know that they can teach you about money? That’s how Erin Lowry’s dad taught her about net profits, and it ultimately defined her entrepreneurial career.
From doughnuts to dollars
In the summer of 1996, Erin set up shop alongside her mom’s yard sale and sold Krispy Kreme doughnuts to early morning deal hunters. At the end of the day, she was $30 richer, or so she thought. After her dad explained that she needed to repay him for the seed money she borrowed and compensate her sister for her help, Erin’s net profit was $20. She was devastated, as any seven-year-old would be. Looking back, however, Erin says it put her on a path towards understanding the value of a dollar and the work that goes into earning money.
Erin is now a personal money blogger and the founder of brokemillennial.com. It started as something she wrote for fun, a way to share tips and network with other millennials. But, as the number of subscribers began to grow, she knew her written words were filling a need. Erin has spent nearly seven years helping others, particularly millennials, navigate complicated and complex money issues. Her writing style is honest and open, funny and witty, but most of all, relatable. She doesn’t preach, and she promises no finger-wagging, just simple, practical advice that’ll help you get your financial life together.
Control or be controlled
When it comes to money, her mantra is: either you control your money, or your money controls you. Debt should be carefully managed, so it does not become an obstacle that holds you back from reaching your goals. No matter how much money you make, you can manage it wisely and live the way you want. Erin should know. After graduating from college, she lived in New York City, not exactly a cheap place to call home, making very little money.
Cutting costs is a necessity, but it’s not all about penny-pinching. That only gets you so far. Erin adopted habits that took her from financially scraping by to having money to save. She did it so well that in 2015 she wrote Broke Millennial: Stop scraping by and get your financial life together (#GYFLT). It’s a how-to money guide that includes everything from saving to simplifying to splitting the check. In her signature, fun, story-telling style, her book delivers relevant, real-world situations that are familiar to everyone. It’s filled with witty sarcasm, well-balanced strategies, and actionable advice about how to take back control of your money.
From saving to stocks
Erin’s second book, the next installment in the Broke Millennial series, just recently hit bookstore shelves. Broke Millennial Takes On Investing: A Beginner’s Guide to Leveling Up Your Money (#LUYM) is a guide to investing basics. She tackles questions like, should you invest while paying down a student loan? How do you sell and buy a stock? It’s for anyone who feels like they aren’t ready, don’t know enough, or think they don’t have the money to get into the market.
The idea of managing your money, digging yourself out of debt, and investing in the stock market can be terrifying, but they’re all necessary steps to building wealth and establishing financial freedom. Broken down into everyday language, it’s easy to understand and a lot less daunting.
Today, Erin still lives in New York with her husband, and her full-time job is building the Broke Millennial brand. You can check out her blog or her YouTube Show for great advice, tips, and information on everything money and millennials. Now go ahead–grab a cup of coffee and a doughnut and start getting your financial life together.
Car wrap/car advertising scam
One of the biggest scams that we are seeing this year at Georgia’s Own Credit Union is the car wrap or car advertising scam.
Here’s how the scam operates:
You receive an email asking if they would like to make some money by having their car wrapped in a well-known brand logo (e.g. Oral B, Dr. Pepper, or Rock Star Energy Drink). The offer sounds good, especially since there is the option of removing the wrapped sticker after a number of months. Once the offer is accepted, the scammers will send a check for a large amount of money, according to the length of time the member wants to be a “mobile advertiser”.
The instructions for cashing the check indicate that a certain portion of the money is to be kept as the member’s payment and the rest is to be sent via wire transfer to the company who will supposedly wrap their vehicle. After wiring the money, the original check will be returned and the total amount of the check will be debited from your account.
Keep in Mind / Ways to Recognize this Scam:
- Remember, no major brand would hire just anybody to wrap their cars with advertising. It’s great to get paid to advertise on your car, but corporations are very careful about their image and typically have large marketing departments in-house.
- The scammers steal images from websites belonging to reputable companies that do professional car wrapping and make the email recipient believe it’s their business.
- Delete the email, not every online job opportunity that comes your way is real. If you receive a counterfeit check, please shred or you can contact ERM Security at [email protected].
How compound interest can change your life–really!
Nobel Prize winner and renowned physicist Albert Einstein is rumored to have called compound interest the eighth wonder of the world. Regardless of whether he said it or not, it might actually be true, at least in the mathematical world. Compound interest is a powerful income-generating, wealth-building tool that can substantially impact your financial future.
If you don’t know what compounding interest is, or better yet, how it works, don’t worry—you’re in good company. According to ValuePenguin, who asked 2,000 Americans if they could accurately define some financial terms like net worth, credit score, and compound interest, nearly 70 percent of Americans had to ask Siri for help. Let’s see if we can fix that.
Simple vs. compound interest
There are two different types of interest: simple and compound. Simple interest is interest earned on only the principal amount of your investment. Consider a certificate of deposit (CD), for example. At the end of the term, you’ll receive your initial investment amount plus a fixed amount of interest.
Compound interest, on the other hand, is interest earned on interest, and it’s the quickest way to bump up your balance. Each period’s interest (daily, monthly, quarterly, or annually) is earned on the initial amount of your investment plus all the previously accumulated interest.
Here’s an example:
If you invest $10,000 at 7% simple interest, $700 in interest will be added to your account after Year 1. In Year 2, another $700 in interest will be paid to your account… and again in Year 3, Year 4, and so on. As long as the interest rate remains the same, you can count on earning the same $700 amount year after year.
If your $10,000 investment paid 7% compound interest, you’d see the same $700 interest in your account after the first year. However, in Year 2, your interest will be calculated on the new balance of $10,700, not your original investment of $10,000. The interest payment for Year 2 will be $749, which is then added to the $10,700 in order to calculate the interest for Year 3, and so on.
The effect of compound interest is extraordinary. At 7% simple interest, your $10,000 investment would be worth $27,500 after 25 years. With compound interest, the value would have grown to more than $50,000. It’s easy to see which one puts your money to work, and makes the biggest difference.
Invest sooner than later
You don’t need to be a mathematical whiz to benefit from compounding interest.
When you’re saving or investing money, compound interest will continually give you a financial boost. The more time your investment has to run the cycle of earning interest, adding it to the investment balance, and then earning interest on the new balance, the better. Want to see how much a specific investment amount could grow with compound interest? Check out this compound interest calculator.
Put your money to work
Compound interest works the same way, regardless of the amount of money you invest, and it adds up faster than you think. At 6 percent compound interest, your money should double in about 12 years and be worth four times as much in 24 years–that’s the Rule of 72. Simply take the interest rate and divide it into the number 72, which will estimate the number of years it will take for your money to double in any one investment.
Compounding interest can be an important component of your overall financial strategy. It’s ideal for investors with longer time horizons, but it also works for investors who’ve gotten a late start saving for their future. Whatever your situation, don’t wait another day. Put your money to work now and take advantage of the power of compounding.
Seven things to do to jumpstart your spring cleaning this weekend
Oddly enough, spring cleaning is something most people—ok, some people–look forward to each year. Perhaps it’s because it includes the word spring. Otherwise, it’s just cleaning and who really enjoys that?
Maybe it’s about returning all the odds and ends to their rightful place and restoring order in your house, or the time-honored ceremonial cleansing of all the gray winter dreariness. Regardless, there are warm, sunny days ahead and we need to greet them with a clean house!
Some people do all their spring cleaning in one day—that’s their superpower. Others break it down into several days of mini projects. It all depends on how big your house is, how much deep cleaning it needs, and how much time and energy you have. Either way, here’s a list of seven things you can put on your to-do list and get done this weekend. Well, six things because number one doesn’t require any elbow grease.
So, roll up your sleeves, gather your supplies, and let’s go!
1. Choose a room
The most efficient way to clean your entire home is room-by-room, regardless of the time of the year. Why? You stay in one location instead of ping-ponging between rooms, you’ll gain a real sense of satisfaction when an entire room is finished, and it can serve as a good stopping point for the day, if necessary. As a general rule of thumb, you should work from top to bottom, so head upstairs if you have one.
2. Clear the clutter
This is where we get started! All that clutter you’ve accumulated during the year must go. Clutter is a problem that develops and grows gradually, so you probably don’t even realize how much it’s weighing you down—or maybe you do. Either way, when it’s back in its place, off to your favorite charity, in the recycle bin, or in the trash, you’ll experience a whole new freeing feeling. Yes, it’s that magical. Check out this four-step approach to organizing your clutter here!
3. Clean your curtains
Curtains decorate your windows all year long and probably barely move. Unless of course, they’re the functional kind. Still, it’s easy for dust, dirt, and odors to accumulate. And, since they’re often overlooked in routine cleaning, your curtains eventually look dull and dingy. Use a brush attachment to vacuum them gently. Then either-dry clean, steam clean, machine wash, or hand wash them, depending on the fabric. In some rooms, this might seem like a big project, but it’ll be well worth it when the sun can shine through!
4. Wash the windows
While we’re on windows, it’s time to clean them, too. Yes, inside and out—no cheating, please. Clean the inside of the windows with soap and water, and for best results, use a squeegee. Want to know how to clean those panes like an expert? Check it out here.
For the outside, we highly recommend a professional service. They do a fabulous job, they’re quick, don’t leave any streaks, and know how to multitask safely on a ladder. Best of all, they have insurance–or at least you’ll make sure they do before you hire them, right?
5. Make it light and bright
For the brightest light, be sure to clean your light fixtures, too. Whether it’s a chandelier, pendants, a wall sconce, or a table lamp, they’ll need some spring cleaning love. Did you know that built-up dust and grime can make bulbs appear up to 30 percent dimmer? If the shades or covers are dirty too, you reduce the amount of light even more. How’s that electric bill doing now?
Different types of light fixtures require different care, but if you take the time to make them shine, everything will seem a little brighter. Check out some helpful light fixture cleaning tips here.
6. To dust is a must
Dusting seems like the most basic part of keeping your house clean. But, with all those particles settling in every nook and cranny of your home, on every knick-knack you ever purchased, and for every day of your life, it can be a lot. Most hard-to-reach places are easy to skip but don’t give in to the temptation. Spring cleaning is about deep, thorough cleaning, so no shortcuts.
Dust ceiling corners, furniture, fans, molding, HVAC vents, shelves, décor, plants…if you see it, dust it! You might want to check out these seven common dusting mistakes before you tackle this one.
7. Steam clean your carpets
It’s recommended that you have your carpets professionally steam cleaned once a year, so why not make it part of your spring cleaning routine? You could also rent your own steam cleaner and go DIY instead, but you might want to check out this article first.
Some people think it’s nonsense, but carpets aren’t our specialty, so you decide. Either way, make sure you move the furniture and vacuum the carpet first. This will remove the top layer of dust and dirt so the steam cleaner can concentrate on deeper stains and grime.
Some area rugs can be steam cleaned, too, but check the manufacturer’s recommendation. If not, Atlanta’s own Sharian Rugs, Inc is a local and longtime expert in the fine rug business. Drop off your rug instead of having them pick it up and wait for one of their rug cleaning sales for the best price.
If you have hardwood floors, steam is not an option—ever. A damp mop works best. Check out other dos and don’ts for hardwoods here.
Spring cleaning is a time for renewal, a brand new start, a celebration of sunny, warm days to come, so get the whole family involved. The more, the merrier, and the quicker you get the job done!