#2 dollars less in pay and a half hour to an hour's more commute. well i dont know

[carcarrot]

do i really want to make individual drinks again

[weaselle]

also... stuff like this is true: big development companies and banks bought up a huge amount of the empty housing (and because they can afford to keep the houses empty for years at a time, they can keep the prices high due to scarcity) so, in a bunch of places in california houses cost about a million dollars... per bedroom. I am not kidding i have found one bedroom houses for 1.5 million, and average 4 bedroom homes for 5 million. Prices have gone down a little since then but not enough.

So if you buy a 2 million dollar home (which is, at this point, a normal 3 bedroom if you're lucky) even if you pay for it all at once in cash and do not have a mortgage, the property taxes on that home come to about 40k per year. You'd have to spend my entire annual income on a house you've already paid off. For a normal family home.

So when you see like "hollywood so and so has a net worth of several million dollars" yeah, they are doing well, but also, they have to live where it's super expensive for work, and therefor are basically middle class. Quite comfortable, true, but not the enemy.

Like, look at this. This is a current listing i just found for a normal ass family home in the city i used to work in, and your mortgagge would cost you more than 20k per month, and your property taxes would be another 5,600 per month so you're talking 26k per month or over 300k each year just on a family home you could have 3 kids in. If one parent stays home with the kids the other would need an income of half a million dollars a year just to get by

somebody with a billion dollars could by 250 of these homes and park a $100k car in each of their driveways and they'd still have money left over.

And yeah, you can go three hours north and find homes for less, but you'd have to commute 5 hours round trip every day to anywhere you could get a good job, and your neighbors would be meth heads

So if you see somebody that makes, like, $500k a year, they could still be a normal middle class family struggling to save for retirement. They certainly aren't the people we're trying to sacrifice to poseiden

I need y’all to understand that every time that somebody who makes $10,000 a year thinks that somebody who makes $30,000 a year thinks that somebody who makes $50,000 a year thinks that somebody who makes $100,000 a year thinks that YES EVEN somebody who makes $150,000 a year is the real enemy

…a billionaire wins and we all lose.

And every time that somebody who makes $150,000 a year thinks that they’re better than somebody else who makes $100,000 a year thinks that they’re better than somebody else who makes $50,000 a year thinks that they’re better than somebody else who makes $30,000 a year thinks that they’re better than somebody else who makes $10,000 a year

…a billionaire wins and we all lose.

Privilege and comfort rises with income, obvi. It’s not all “the same.” But please zoom the fuck out and look at the whole picture. The WHOLE picture.

[kimminstudying]

Note: I’m pretty sure I made this list last summer and since school finally over I figured I would reflect on these and see how well I did and how I could improve. Linked below is the original post that has all of the goals I will be talking about, but since I write them down here I’m sure you don’t need to read it to understand what I am talking about, but I put it there just in case. This is just a review of my goals from last year, I will create a separate post for my new goals for this summer and next year. 

The Original Post

⊳ Money

Goal #1: Work towards saving more of your paychecks ✓

I did a good job of saving money, but I went back and forth as time went on. During the summer I would spend money at work during my breaks but I was making way more than I am currently during the school year. I would still spend money like I was when I was making more, but when I learned that I got better at budgeting my cash. 

Now that I have a car and have a monthly bill for it as well as gas, I am getting better at saving the money I need for the said bill. 

I plan on moving out within the year so I need to save up as much as I possibly can. I am moving out with two of my best friends, if all goes as planned, we will be splitting rent and bills between the three of us. 

Goal #2: Put half of checking into a savings account on payday ✖ I did this for a while, but then I saw that it wasn’t really helping me as much as I thought it would. I would end up having like $6 in my checking account before payday comes so I didn’t see a point in just transferring $3 when I was going to get more of it, so what I did was estimate how much money I would need for the week and then put the rest in savings. If I knew I was going out or had bills to pay during that week, I would leave that money in the account. This proved to work way better for me than what I had originally planned to do. 

What I ended up doing was creating a separate savings account for my new house/apartment so I had an emergency account and a moving out account. I would only use my emergency account for things like bills, unpredicted expenses, or big purchases such as a new laptop for school and blogging. But I keep it at $500, just in case I needed it. Right now it’s at like $450 since I needed to pay my car bill and I didn’t work much this week, but what I do is I rebuild it as fast as possible and hopefully, I do not need to take more money out of it.

When I am rebuilding my emergency fund, not as much or no money goes into my “moving out” account, so I am more motivated to save money so I can get both accounts back in order. I am going back to my old job this summer, since it is seasonal work, and I know I am going to be working close to 40 hours a week since I will be 18 they would work me as much as possible, which I like since it’s a job I love with wonderful coworkers. Not to mention we get so many gift cards it’s not even funny. We all love free money. 

*Update: My family has encouraged me to stay home while I am studying at a college that I am commuting to. My father said he won’t charge me rent as long as he can afford to keep me at home and even if he does it won’t be more than $100 a month which he and I agreed on for a price. That account is now for saving up for a new car. 

Goal #3: Have a spending limit when going out ✓

This goes along with what I was saying before about leaving money in my checking account if I have plans to spend it. I like planning my week out and so I tell my friends if they want to make plans they need to do it a few days in advance so I can see if I don’t have work or scheduled time to study, since I am the “nerd” if my group, all of my friends respect how I plan things. 

They also respect when I tell them I don’t have money to go out. Sometimes I’d rather save my money than use it on movie tickets, of course with the occasional splurge here and there on a new pair of shoes or a delicious dinner. When times get like that, we all agree to do something else that is either really cheap or free, such as having a sleepover or going to the park. 

Goal #4: Establish an “okay amount” to spend daily on coffee, breakfast, etc. ✖

I also did this for a little while, putting away $15 every check to get coffee in the morning before school. Since saving money is a learning experience, I’m messing up now rather than ten or twenty years from now. Doing this put be at risk for developing bad spending habits, $3-$4 a day adds up way faster than you think, the next thing you know you’re spending over $50 in a month for morning coffee runs. Now I’m not saying I never go to buy food and coffee before or after school, sometimes it’s great to treat yourself by doing so. Typically, I buy creamers and coffee grounds to make at home and sometimes I’ll buy a bundle of bananas to last me the week. I saw that not only did it save me money, it also saved me about a half hour in the morning. Meaning a half hour more of sleep. 

While my coffee brews I walk my dog for a few minutes so she can go to the bathroom before everyone else in the house wakes up, and I start my car so it can run a bit before I leave. This is especially good since where I live the weather is unpredictable and it can frost over my windows at any time. If I catch this early enough I can defrost my windows before I go to school.

For about a month I would do something called “Fuck it Friday” where I bought coffee, snacks, whatever I wanted since I get paid every Friday. I saw that when I did this, I would just end up spending the amount I typically would in a whole week in one day, so I quickly stopped doing that and I plan on going back to making coffee at home. Goal #5: Add spare change to change dispenser in car ✖

I don’t use cash that often, which means I don’t really get change, but when I do have some lying around, it normally goes right into a bank I have in my room. When I have change in my car, I do tend to put it into the dispenser but then I’ll sometimes use it to give to the people asking for spare change or to buy a piece of candy at the store.

⊳ Languages

Goal #1: Take review notes of language material learned over the summer ✓

I did a really good job over the summer with posting a lot here, at least in my opinion, but when the school year started I posted a little less. In my first semester, I had a bit more time to post multiple times a week for multiple blogs, but when the second semester hit I began to prioritize my schooling over languages and blogs. I started to post at least once a week, but I noticed my language learning for Korean and Italian has gone down a lot because of it.

I take French in school so I practice it every day, and there are so many French posts I have drafted I’m in love. During the summer I worked more on Italian and Korean since my French was already way way way better, and I knew I would be taking it as a class during the school year.  Goal #2: Listen to podcasts in the halls instead of music ✖

I really was going to do this, but right as summer ended I lost my apple headphones and I was not going to spend thirty dollars or so to get new ones, so I just didn’t have podcasts. I have my old phone, which is a Samsung, for music so I just used that with regular headphones.

Even when I got apple headphones from my dad’s fiancee, I still didn’t really listen to podcasts. I think it’s because I don’t want to start a new one or a new audio lesson if I am just walking three minutes to my next class. When I go back to my old job, however, that’ll change. It’s part of a program with my school for getting students into the workforce, so there is a bus that provides us with transport. I have a 45-minute ride there and an over 2-hour long ride back. No excuses to not listen to a podcast or two!

Goal #3: Mondly/Duolingo and Lingodeer during breakfast/as a part of your morning routine ✖

I used to be really good at doing these daily, but then I lost motivation. Even before I would never have a long streak, but I would just try to do it as often as possible to make up for it. There was a time where I didn’t even look at these apps for over a month, but I didn’t notice much of a change in my language comprehension. But I want to get back into it since I don’t have a lot of time now to sit down and do a couple of grammar lessons.  Goal #4: Post weekly to studyblr/langblr for Italian and Korean review notes of what you studied over the summer. ✓

Again, I feel like I did a better job with this during the summer and my first semester of this year. I have several vocab lists saved just in case I don’t feel like studying but I need to do my weekly post. There are some times when I’ll be really motivated for no reason and just make like twelve vocab lists and I draft them for future use.

⊳ Health/Lifestyle

Goal # 1: Wake up at 6am ✓

Waking up early does not equal productivity, I learned that the hard way. I wake up that early for school, but during the weekends or on breaks I wake up normally at 8-9am if I don’t have to work that morning, which I rarely do since I work the night shift (typically around 1-12am I work). 

Goal # 2: Go to bed at 10pm - 11pm ✖

If I am not working I go to bed at around 11pm at the latest, but there are some nights I get home at around 11:30 so I don’t sleep until 1-2am. This is usually weekends so I don’t have an issue since in my state it’s illegal to work minors after 10pm on a school night and 11pm on a weekend. 

But now that I’m 18 and it’s summer, I can anticipate a lot of overnight shifts or longer hours! I’m not complaining, I’d rather work at night than in the daytime anyway. 

Goal # 3: 5-minute workouts or 10-minute abs in the morning and evening or after school  ✖ Hahaha, I never did this. I’m never gonna do this.   Goal # 4: Floss more ✖ Not happening either, that’s too much man. It’s not that big in my life to floss, even if my dentist tells me to do it more. I have no cavities, no gum issues, so I’m good. Goal # 5: Take your medicines daily ✓ This I’ll admit, I need to do more. Sometimes I’ll go a few days without my meds, but it’s not important that I take them daily, since they are “as needed” medicines. I should take them at least every other day, but I am getting better at that.  Goal # 6: Morning and Nightly Skin Care Routine ✓ I started off slow by only doing my routine in the morning and then occasionally going a nightly routine. My skin is really sensitive so this worked for me, putting on too much product would either make my skin too dry or too oily. If the weather is affecting my skin, I’ll add on an extra moisturizer if need be. 

Basically, I only do a night time routine when I get home from work or school late and my face feels really gross. Since I shower at night I wash my face with a gentle cleanser in the shower. That’s usually it. 

Goal # 7: Face mask while you study ✓   Doing facemasks too often also negatively affects my skin as well. I normally do one when I’m with my friends or when my skin really needs it. 

Goal # 8: Drink more water ✖

Again, I need to do this way more often than I do. I think this is mainly because the water fountains at my school are utterly disgusting. I don’t know if it’s because our school is under construction, but it’s always been gross if I remember correctly. 

⊳ School

Goal #1: SAT Fee Waiver ✓ 

THIS SAVES LIVES. At my school, if you have free or reduced lunch, you get fee waivers for all sorts of things. AP Exams, Applications, even SAT Exams. You only get two for the SAT so you need to use them wisely. Most students don’t even know that their school offers fee waivers that either cover costs completely or reduce the fee. Make sure you ask, it doesn’t do any harm!

Goal #2: October SAT  ✓

I took the October SAT and got a 1050, which is way over than what the school I wish to go to is asking for. Then I retook the exam in June since I had one more waiver left, and I got a 1080. Now the college I want to go to has a 960 SAT Average and I needed at least a 500 on the Math and English portions to be exempt from the entrance exams.

Goal #3: Research application deadlines ✓ My school was a big help with this, especially since I’m starting at community college for my first two years. I’m accepted as a student and have already selected my classes, but there were some issues with my FASFA that I still need to resolve.  Goal #4: Check scholarship board ✓ My school was also a big help with this as well, they print out all the available scholarships for that month, the criteria, AND the due dates! All I had to do was complete the applications, no fishing for free money. 

Goal #5: Study at least 15 minutes a day ✓

I was strong with this with my first semester classes, since I enjoyed the work and had daily tasks I needed to do for one of the classes. When the second semester came, things changed. Most of my classes are easy, no homework and very little classwork that I got done early. All but AP Calc. 

The way my teacher is, he doesn’t grade the problem sets he assigns. He’ll give us class participation points if we are working in class, but the problems are mainly for our own benefit. I don’t let myself not do the problems just because I won’t get a grade I’m struggling in that class now and I do all that I can to bring my grade up, but it’s not really doing much. If this is the only class I fail, then I’m glad it's AP Calculus AB and not English or something. I don’t need calc to graduate or to still obtain scholarships, it was an extra class I regret taking. 

⊳ Misc.

Goal #1: Watch more Netflix when stressed ✓ I found that I’m not much of a TV or Show person unless it’s a really good show that I get hooked on. I’d much rather destress by having time to myself and browsing social media for hours.  Goal #2: Take your time with everything ✓ This allowed me to get better with time management, taking things slow, thinking carefully, and making myself okay with the idea of rescheduling plans. Goal #3: Think before you speak/act ✓ Doing this made me do things I was glad I did and knew I would never do if I hadn’t thought it out. I became the friend who would do and say the things everyone else was afraid of.  Goal #4: Try listening to others about their day ✓ This kind of went along with the goals #2 and #3 but this also worked out for me and I feel it made me somewhat of a better person??? Yea, just listen to people when they talk to you and ask them questions. Let them know you care about them, you don’t know how much it could raise their spirits.  Goal #5: Attend Coalition meeting (every third Friday) ✖ As much as I wanted to, I could not attend meetings. I didn’t have an adult representative from my school to escort me and possibly other students, therefore I could not attend meetings. 

~brianna

[crystalelemental]

Honestly you're right about the way the wrong lessons were learnt about pokemon - when let's go was a commercial failure in nintendo terms, they thought "it must be because people love the mobile games!" not, you know, people DON'T like the mobile games enough for them to be replacing the mainline series' mechanics and full game efforts etc. Do they ever actually listen to their customers? Probably not. I could write a dissertation on companies losing the love for letting video games be games.

I think that’s a large component, but I do think there’s another component to it as well that’s a bit more bleak.  I think mobile games absolutely are catching on as a competitor to console games.  I think half the reason that the Switch is the new handheld console is specifically to compete with smartphones.

Like, when you think about it, console games are expensive for everyone.  It’s several hundred dollars of expense, and about $60 per game, excluding any DLC or whatever they add in.  That adds up quick.  One game on a console requires $400 dollars, just to start.  The main reason no one got Let’s Go, from what I heard, was “why would I drop all that money for a console, just to play Go in its original state with fewer Pokemon?”  Which is fair.  But that’s the big issue: cost.

By comparison, smartphone games are free to pick up.  They don’t stay free, unless you don’t mind being completely unable to compete in the games, but you can, theoretically, get them completely free.  On a system which costs like...hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on your pretention level, but consider: smartphones are unavoidable.  A smartphone is largely considered necessary in society now.  It’s your phone, an internet browser, able to connect to all sorts of different apps, and is now a separate gaming console in its own right.

So a consumer has a choice now.  They can either (1) spend hundreds on a console that...pretty much just plays games, and occasionally has access to the internet but can’t compete with a PC due to the lack of like...anything significant a PC does, or (2) they can get a smartphone, which has all the same features of a console and then-some, but the games are less 40-hour time sinks and more pick up and play when you can, such as during your commute or when you have a little downtime between activities in your day.  The choice is obvious.  Getting the phone is an unavoidable expense that comes with games that are technically completely free, more features, and the games presented are better able to fit into the busy schedules of adult life.

So now we have the Switch, which is a handheld console, that’s adding a bunch of well-known indie games that are fairly short duration.  Why?  Competition.  I think consoles are starting to realize that their main competition isn’t PCs anymore, it’s the smartphones.  And smartphones are going to blow them out of the water.  Sure, smartphones can’t render the same level of impressive RPG experience that a console can, but then, does it need to?  How many people are still getting those console games, now that everyone comes with major extra expense with DLC, and run 40-60+ hours?  Not to mention the cost to the company producing them.  By comparison, smartphone games are about as cheap to produce as they come.  You barely have to do shit for them to still make millions.  On every side, the smartphones win.  Hell, if you want to get really jaded: I barely own games for the Wii or WiiU.  Maybe 3-5 games that are actually on the console.  Most of the games for those systems are downloaded from virtual console, and I would say a good half of the WiiU games I own are remakes of older games.  If we’re aiming to appeal to nostalgia, guess what: smartphones can emulate those older RPGs.  So if consoles are going to largely try to appeal to nostalgia to draw in customers to their remake games that are still full price, guess what.  Smartphones win again by having the ability to cheaply emulate the original version of the game.

Pokemon Company, and probably many other franchises, are definitely learning the wrong lessons, but the lesson isn’t which type of platform people like more.  No one in the company cares.  It’s about profit, and on that front, smartphone wins hands down.  Rather, the lessons they’re not learning are about how to compete.  What can the console games do different from smartphone games, and what draws in players?  Well, as we should have been learning, consoles can definitely put on more of a spectacle with graphics and such, but that’s not exactly salvaging your problem.  So what they need to be doing is paying attention to the purchasing decisions, and what draws people in, when they’re making these games.  But who knows!  Maybe that’s not a concern anymore.  Maybe all of these constantly mistakes are just their way of transitioning everyone to accept that the main console games are no longer a focus or concern, and they just want to go into the mobile market that’s making them way more for way less effort.

[crussssell]

Last summer I spent two weeks of my summer travelling around Sri Lanka whilst collaborating with hotels and restaurants across the country. I used the public transport system and local drivers to visit six different locations in my thirteen full days there, seeing everything from the Indian Ocean from Mirissa’s beaches to elephants in Yala National Park. In this post I’ll outline costs of food, commuting and excursions in Sri Lanka as well as giving a rough itinerary outline. Of course, everybody visits this incredible country for different reasons. I’m aware that some people may want to safari or surf for the duration of their stay, but for me I wanted to cram as much as possible into my very short visit and at as low a cost as possible.

For those intending on visiting Sri Lanka, there is a limit on how many Sri Lankan rupees you can take out of the country so you will be unable to purchase currency before your trip. If you’re taking cash to convert on arrival, be sure to use a large currency such as Pounds (for my fellow Scots, make sure it’s English notes – trust me!) or Dollars. Sri Lanka requires an e-visa from most visitors. Our visas took around 3 working days to be confirmed and emailed to us, so make sure to apply in plenty of time and to use an official source (local governments should have links to where visas are safe to purchase from). I have a full post on applying for East and South Asian visas on my site, which you can read by clicking here.

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Itinerary

As I’ve already indicated we visited a total of six locations whilst in Sri Lanka, however there were countless other towns and sights I would love to have seen so I’ll be sure to include them in this post, too.

Colombo, 3 nights: We started in Colombo, spending three nights in the heart of the city. Colombo has a great culinary scene and its skyline is transforming almost daily. The city is experiencing incredible growth but managed to retain all the charm I expected to find in Sri Lanka. You can see more photos from our time in Colombo as well as hotel and restaurant reviews by clicking here.

Mirissa, 3 nights: From Colombo we took a beautiful coastal train to Galle followed by a bus to Mirissa (more on getting around Sri Lanka later in this post) where we spent a further three nights. You can read my full review of our hotel, Seaworld Resort, by clicking here. Mirissa is perfect for surfing, being close to the stick fishermen and is roughly forty-five minutes for the much pricier town of Galle.

Yala, 2 nights: We took a tuk tuk from our hotel in Mirissa and drove across the Southern belt of the country which took close to three and a half hours. Yala is an incredible National Park with an endless list of wildlife. You can see photos from our safari by clicking here, and if anyone would like a review for our hotel then just let me know in the comments.

Ella, 2 nights: We travelled by bus from Yala to Ella by public bus. Although they’re pretty crowded and poorly ventilated, this drive in particular was one of the most beautiful we took during our visit. We climbed into the mountains to reach the small town of Ella, where you can visit the famous nine-arch bridge, mountainside waterfalls and climb Little Adam’s Peak. For more photographs of Ella and a full review of a suitable-for-any-budget hotel, click here.

Kandy, 2 nights: We took the world-renowned train journey from Ella to Kandy which took a few hours. Kandy was incredibly hectic, but I have to say I preferred it to Colombo. We stayed with the same chain as in Colombo, Clock Inn, and you can read my review for the hotel/hostel by clicking here.

Pinnawala, 2 nights: I’m aware this location may be slightly controversial to some, and I will admit that after seeing wild elephants on safari I would rather have not stayed at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, but hotels and transfers to the airport were already paid for. However, our hotel had an incredible view of the river and we were able to get up close and personal with the elephants during their times in the water. Note that you’re unable to get to your hotel without paying a fee outside the hours of 10am and 4pm, so be sure to arrive before or after then to avoid time wasting.

Because of both time and budget constraints we weren’t able to make it to Sigiriya, Udawalawe National Park or to the Cameron Highlands. When I visit Sri Lanka again I’ll make a point of visitng all three for very different reasons. Udawalawe because of its dense elephant population, the Cameron Highlands because of their incredible beauty and Sigiriya to learn more about its history.

Costs

During this trip I was fortunate enough to receive a lot of my meals and accommodation for free, but I’ve done some research on costs of both as well as that of public transport and excursions to give a fully comprehensive guide to Sri Lanka.

Our flights from Manchester to Colombo (with a stopover in Muscat) cost approximately £360 return with Oman Air. As far as long haul flights go, this is more than reasonable and the same path for the rest of 2018 will cost you roughly the same. I always use Skyscanner.net to source flights and compare prices. Nine times out of ten I’ll book the flights through the airline’s own website, but sometimes the discounted rates are available only through Skyscanner. If you’d like to learn more about using the website for flights and hotels, you can read my guide here.

In terms of hotels, prices fluctuate slightly from region to region. For more remote areas such as Pinnawala and Yala, hotels have the ability to jack up the prices because of their monopoly across the area. Even so, for two people rooms can range from £12 per night to upwards of £100. In the larger cities like Colombo and Kandy, I would budget around £30 per night for a three-star hotel and £75 for a five-star. This is really where I start to plan the lengths of my trips, as accommodation is always the biggest outlay apart from flights.

Food can be as expensive or inexpensive as you desire. Around half of the nights we bought ramen noodles and cooked them with the kettle at our hotel which cost just £2 to feed us both. Others we went to local restaurants, and others to larger restaurants like Kaema Sutra and Ministry of Crab. Like the hotels, you really can adapt your meal plan to suit your budget. Realistically, I would budget around £20 per day per person for food, however it’s more than doable on £5 each.

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Getting Around

For getting around the country, you can either use private transfers, hire a car yourself or use public transportation. With the exception of our final trip to the airport which cost us an insane £40, we used public transport and tuk tuks for the entirety of our trip.

Upon our arrival in Colombo we used the local 187 bus to take us to Colombo Fort, costing 60 rupees (120 LKR = 1 GBP) each. This is significantly cheaper than taking a taxi, and means you get a higher-up view of the city while you maneouvre the winding market streets of the outskirts of the city. From the fort we took a taxi to our hotel which cost us 400 rupees. At no point in Colombo did we ever pay more than this to get from A to B, and everytime we boarded a tuk tuk we asked either the driver turn on the meter or give us a price upfront.

For thirteen days and for two people we spent around £100 getting around Sri Lanka. We took two trains, one from Colombo to Galle and another from Ella to Kandy. The former can cost 50p for third class tickes, £1 for second and £5 for first. The latter is a little pricier, but worth it compared to the cost of private transfer, at £2 each for a second class ticket.

Twice we used tuk tuks for length journey, the first being from Mirissa to Yala which cost us 4000 rupees and the second from Kandy to Pinnawala which cost us much less at 2000 rupees. Both of these journeys are possible by bus, but we wanted to cut down our travel time and be able to stop on the drive wherever we wished. Private transfers begin at roughly £40, so if you’re on a budget I strongly recommend investigating the public transport system and its limits before heading to Sri Lanka. For every country – Asian, European and North American – I’ve visited I always use Seat61 to determine routes, prices and timetables. Click here to view his site.

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If you’ve made it all the way to the end, thanks for taking the time to read this post! This is a brand new style of post for me, so I’d really like to hear your feedback on my social channels or in the comments. If you’d like to subscribe for more content like this, sign up at www.caitlinjeanrussell.com/subscribe

    Two Weeks in Sri Lanka – Costs, Itinerary and Getting Around Last summer I spent two weeks of my summer travelling around Sri Lanka whilst collaborating with hotels and restaurants across the country.

[letsimportanttreecollection-blog]

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Born abroad car insurance premiums higher?

I have been gathering quotes for car insurance online on confused and was delighted to see the price down at 615 for once as I have been getting car insurance every year since the age 18 and it has always been over 1000. However, just having a quick check over my details to make sure everything I had entered was correct and then I noticed I had ticked the resident from birth box. I was born in Spain as my mother went over there to work and then had me. I was born in 87 and she took me back home in 88 or 89 roughly. (She is a full British citizen born and raised in UK). As I have no contact with my father and I don't even remember being in Spain or nor can I even speak the language well, I feel fully British and also am regarded as a British citizen. My mum also registered me at a british consulate in april 88, just 6 months after I was born. So I put on the form that I became a resident in 1988. I then calculate the prices again and the insurance quotes shoot up with 955 being the cheapest and the rest going up to 1000. I then think back to all the years I have been paying the insurance and building up my no claims and being the perfect driver with no claims despite having to pay the shocking premiums that young people have to pay and this makes me absolutely livid that my insurance goes up by 340 to 400 based on the fact that I was born in Spain and spent 1 year of my life there and the rest of the 23 years as British Citizen raised here. I am just wondering if I could get away with just going ahead and saying that I was a resident from Birth as I have a baby on the way and really wish that my premiums were a reasonable ammount for once or I should go through it and just demand that they bring the premiums down to the 615 like originally quoted! It just makes me really annoyed that they can get away with this kind of stuff and I really don't like the fact that I am having to pay higher premiums just for the sake of it. Any advice on this?""

Car insurance Michigan?

Im 23 i will be trying to buy a car. I have the down payment but its the insurance that the dealers are scaring me with. One dealer told me it would be about 400 to start a policy. My question is do i havr to pay that whole 400 to get my car off the lot or will it be like half and then the other half later that month

Does anybody know of or know a way of finding an insurance company that insures car park operators?

I want to hire 50 car parking spaces from a major retail outlet in the UK with a view to renting these spaces to commuters /I will be sharing their car park with the retailers customers. Does anybody know of or know a way of finding an insurance company that insures car park operators?

What's the annual policy premium?

I have an amount of 623 dollars for annual policy premium for life insurance. Do I have to pay the amount?

Exactly how much does credit score affect auto insurance rates?

Can anyone tell me roughly what percentage my rate is gouged (oops, I mean 'increased') as a result of less than perfect credit? I have Progressive insurance if that helps. Thanks!""

Don't Have Insurance But My Dad Does. Can I Drive (with him) In His Car?

In other words, I'm from California and I don't have insurance nor a car. I have a Permit. The adult (with a license) has a car and insurance. Is it legal for me to drive his car (with him on passenger seat) even though my name is not on the insurance?""

Swinton Car Insurance ?? Any one used Swinton ?

I have always been insured with either Churchill or Direct Line. Been shopping around this time and Swinton have offered the best quote so far through Highway Insurance.,. Price includes Legal cover, High breakdown cover, courtesy Car ect,, Im just abit unsure what the service is like as I dont know anyone who uses them. Any one used them and what were your experiences? good or bad ? Many thanks in advance.""

Lowest insurance cars for 17 year old / first car?

i'm looking to buy my first car and wanna spend about 1000, does anyone know a good lads car around this price with comparatively low insurance for young drivers? thanks peoplee!""

What whole life insurance policy is best for a 24 year old?

I have a policy from New York Life, but 2 of my friends who are financial planners, say Mass Mutual would be better... there's a bunch of baloney I'm not understanding i.e. guaranteed benefits, crap about withdrawing money for retirement. Altogether, it doesn't seem like I am getting that much from death benefits with the amount I am putting in ($1K/year until pretty much I'm 65). I don't want to pay forever for this... where in my policy does it say when I can stop paying?""

Question About Car Insurance?

I have AAA. I have 3 vehicles, 2 in which my daughters are the drivers. One of my daughters has 2 points for prohibited turn, which raised my insurance rate. Is there anyway to get the points removed or remove her from the policy even though she would still drive?""

Where can i buy health insurance?

I'm have a low income and I'm looking for a right insurance coverage. I work as a part time job so my employer won't buy an insurance for me. Please if anyone knows any ...show more

""Is it possible to buy a car insurance without owning a car, and then use it for renting a car?""

I live in India and frequently travel to USA. And when I go rent a car, pay almost double the rental because I have to buy all the coverage. I was wondering if it is possible for me (or my company) to buy some sort of protection policy, using which I can rent the car and not have to buy insurance from them.""

About health insurance?

i don't have a health insurance and my job doesn't provide me one i had a car accident and i owe around 3,000 dollars on my own hospital visit i didn't injure another car if i get an insurance do you think they will pay for my health debts???""

How much car Insurance would I pay?

I have just got my first car as I'm 17. I got the VW Scirocco 2.0 Around how much insurance would I be paying? I am a very good driver as I have had lots of practise since I was about ten. It is modified with a nice body kit and has twin turbos. I didn't think about insurance before I bought big engine car for a first car. Any help and who does it cheap for teenagers?

Do you have to have proof of car insurance to get your car inspected in texas?

Just wanted to know if you have to have proof of car insurance in order to get your car inspected in the state of Texas?

What is the best place to get insurance from when just passed test (uk)?

What is the best place to get insurance from when just passed test (uk)?

Where can I get affordable health insurance?

I am a full time college student, and my school offers insurance, but it is expensive. I need basic health care to cover doctors visits, specialist visits, and x rays. The main reason I need coverage is that my back is messed up from a car accident about a year and a half ago and I can't take the pain anymore. I went to my states website and the insurance they offer is currently not accepting applications. I have looked at tons of sites online, but so far am having no luck. Any advice would be appreciated.""

Wich car will cost more?

wich car will cost more in insurance? im a 16 year old boy with a3.0. i dont need exact prices just wich costs more. 2004 mustang v6 or 2004 silverado 1500 access cab 5.3 litre v8. thank you

Motorcycle insurance?

Im a 20 soon to be 21 year old male who lives in the lower half of Michigan. I was wondering if any one knows about the cheapest or the best coverage and how much will that run me? I am about to buy a Honda CBR 600 if that makes any difference. Anyone with insurance experience any and all information will be greatly accepted also information on registration!!!! THANKS

What's the cheapest insurance company or booker they've come across?

The cheapest iv encountered is onlyyoungdrivers.com the next being RAC insurance a few hours quid more, followed by 4youngdrivers.co.uk that is myself being under 25. Also has anyone found it cheaper to ring the direct in attempt to get cheaper quote, iv stayed away from this as of yet because of the cost of calling.""

What does comprehensive car insurance cover?

I caused damaged to my own car, scraping it against a wall while driving out of a car park. The damage was done near the rear tyres and on my door and quotes I've received were all above the 900 range. My standard excess fees are $725, I was wondering if having comprehensive insurance (with AAMI Insurance) does that cover damage done to your OWN car? (I pay $2,500 annually for insurance) and there was no third party involvement, it was just a driving error. Would my insurance fix up my car even if it was entirely my fault?""

Is there a State Farm insurance branch in Texas?

Is there a State Farm insurance branch in Texas?

Best option for buying insurance for my 8 yr old child?

I am wanting to buy insurance for my child. He is no longer covered by his old plan and I want to get it ASAP. Without having company/ group coverage as an option I have been looking at EHealth online services. It can be a little confusing on just exactly which is the right deal. My child is never sick and has no existing issues, but with all the sport; I just don't want to be facing a broken leg and no insurance. I could some advise here. I have all but pulled the trigger on a package I found through Humana (I think) on the E health site but I just would like an nonbias opinion first. Thanks""

How much is registration/insurance for a 17 year old?

Does anyone know how much car insurance is in QLD australia for 6 monthda and a year for a 17 year old

Do (UK) car insurance companies need to know the car's registered address?

I am a student and thus spend most of my time away from home - I receive correspondence to my university address and my car is kept there most of the time. Essentially all the details ...show more

Livingston Manor New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12758

Livingston Manor New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12758

Where can I get affordable health insurance in Arkansas??

Where can I get affordable health insurance in Arkansas??

""I'm turning 16, and wanting to buy a car. How much is the Car insurance?""

Well, i'm turning 16 and when i'm 16 i'm going to buy a car. I saved enough money to buy myself a mitsubishi lancer or Eclipse base model. I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada i want to know what is the cheapiest car insurance for me? on a monthly or yearly term.""

Mandating health insurance?

I heard that HIllary and Obama want to mandate health insurance. How is that going to solve anything? People can't afford it, like me. Health insurance should be like car insurance, people pay their own way and if they don't have it they pay for their repairs or don't get fixed.""

What is the best and the cheapest car insurance in ontario?

What is the best and the cheapest car insurance in ontario?

How much for an 18 years old car insurance?

I will be turning 18 in august, and i was just wondering how much my car insurance will be. I have to wait till august to get my license, My GPA is about 3.50gpa, I'm planning on buying a used scion tc. Can someone give me a estimate how much i have to pay for 6 month insurance?""

Car insurance?

I PLAN TO PURCHASE A USED CAR. THIS WILL BE MY FIRST CAR SO I DO NOT HAVE ANY CAR INSURANCE. I KNOW THAT I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT UNTIL I HAVE CAR INSURANCE. SO WHAT DO I DO? CAN I SIGN UP FOR CAR INSURANCE AT THE LOT? WHAT IS A GREAT CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES? ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE ME WILL BE GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH :)

How much will Mirena IUD cost without insurance?

I go to a local clinic and My copay is %75 of the bill . How lovely right lol , How much would the Mirena cost ?? any ball park figures would be great thanks!""

Will my insurance company insure my car without the registration?

I'm buying a used car and picking it up and hour away from me. I don't have the bill of sale or registration but I need insurance on it to drive it home. Can they still insure it?

When i turn 21 can i change my car insurance details for cheaper car insurance?

so im 20 now and as we all know your insurance drops when you turn 21 basically im insured now but my policy doesnt run out for like 8 months when i turn 21 can i ring them up and say im now 21 can i change this detail to get cheaper car insurance whilst not cancelling the policy

How much is car insurance for a 17 year old?

I know it all depends, but I'm talking on average, I live in the Manchester area and I've heard it depends on your area aswell?""

Do I HAVE to pay for insurance if im not driving but have a license?

My mom is trying to tell me and my brother (who is 19 and I will be 18 in about a month which is when i will get my license) that we cant get a license unless we have money to buy insurance. I think its really f***ed up for a student who got a license and doesnt drive any vehicle has to pay for insurance. She says that once i get my license, the insurance company will force her to put me on her plan so i can be insured. I think its a load of sh*t. I have never heard of anyone being forced to have insurance when they dont drive. When i say dont drive i mean, when i get my license, i wont be driving until I get my own car. Please dont respond to my situation and how i should deal with it, just tell me if thats even possible for the insurance to do that.""

What will happen if my wife gets pregnant and we dont' have health insurance?

They can't refuse prenatal care can they? Would we have $40,000 in medical bills? What would happen? We aren't poor, we just have horrible insurance through both of our workplaces.""

If a health insurance company can't deny my pre-existing condition...?

Why should I buy insurance at all?

What is the best car insurance company out there today?

I'm gonna get a car soon and I'm having difficulty picking an exact car insurance company to insure my car so I just wanted to read others opinion on what car insurance they think is the best.....if availabe tell me the pros & cons....

How can I get the best quote for a car insurance in the UK?

I have just bought a car, but I haven't driven since I moved to London, 5 years ago. I am doing a research on-line to get the best quote, but they all seem to be a bit pricey. Does anybody know a telephone number in the UK where a person (rather than a machine!) can find the best deal? I am tired of websites such as moneysupermarket, as you end up having to contact companies individually... Any help would be greatly appreciated as I would like to bring the car home today!! Many thanks in advance!!""

What is the cheapest auto insurance for young drivers?

With your experiences with auto insurance, whats been the cheapest you've had or knew someone had. I'm 20 with a 2001 Mazda Protege LX 2.0L in NYS""

What is the cheapest auto insurance in general/in NM?

I feel like i'm paying too much for auto insurance (i have aaa) what other insurnce cold I get that will be the cheapest, I don't drive my car all that much, I just want the cheapses rather than nothing.""

How much does insurance cost for?

Hi! I'm a 16 year old male that lives in Kentucky, and i'm getting a truck soon, it would be my first vehicle. Its going to be a mid 90s or late 80s truck. I'm wanting to know how much insurance would cost on average? Any help would be greatly appreciated.""

How much would i pay for car insurance? Estimate?

I know that it depends on a lot of factors but can you estimate how much i would pay for car insurance on a monthly basis - I am 18 years old - will be driving either a 1999 or 2000 model - will be attending college after the summer - clear background - this will be my first car - I live in a very wired and exotic place called MARYLAND

Looking for a online site to get cheap car insurance quote from all carriers at once?

Looking for a online site to get cheap car insurance quote from all carriers at once?

Which is the best Home Loan insurance?

Hi, i have taken Home loan of Rs. 10 Lac from HDFC. and want to protect my loan through insurance. can any body tell me that , which is the best home loan insurance plan or policy. HDFC recommend to me its own HDFC ERGO for home loan. is it best for me or any ohter option to chosse me. Please advice. LK Sharma""

How much will my insurance and maintenance costs be affected by what type of car I get?

I'm about to be 18 and am planning on getting my first car soon. I've been driving for almost 3 years in my parents' cars but need my own for heading off to college and such. I don't know what type of car I want to get, but it's gotta be cheap, old and used, preferably up to $6,000-7,500 at the absolute max. The problem is that I've been really into cars for most of my life and would rather have something a little nicer to start, I mean within the same price range but for example a Mustang, Mitsubishi 3000GT, BMW 3- or 5-Series, etc., rather than the usual Civic or Camry (not that I'd mind one of them either). The problem is that I'm worried the insurance will be way more expensive. The latest quote my dad got was a few weeks ago and it was quite a bit lower than I expected, only like $560/yr., but that was with their old '93 Taurus GL. Will having a sports car or more high-end car affect it really dramatically or will it not make that big a difference as long as my driving record stays good? Also, how much more does it cost to maintain and repair a car like a used BMW than it does just a normal car like an Accord? I've always heard that European cars in particular can be temperamental and finicky if not maintained properly, so I'm just worried that I won't have the money and know-how to have and keep a car like that as my first car.""

What is full coverage auto insurance?

What counts as full coverage auto insurance in California? Thanks!

""Car accident, insurance rate?""

ive been driving 2 years, no tickets, no accidents....so tonight i got in an accident, rear ended a car....my fault,,,how much will my insurance go up? i have Allstate.""

What's the cheapest motorcycle insurance for a 17 year old owning a motorcycle and holding a Motorcycle L....?

Learner's permit and no DL in viriginia? Serious answers only please. I want to be the only person on the insurance.

Livingston Manor New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12758

Livingston Manor New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12758

Is it possible to get Mexican insurance (not tourist) for US plated car ?

I have a US plated car (calif plates) not currently registered in the US, Not currently insured in the US. I am in mexico on FM2. Car has been here for over 4 yrs with temp permit. Is it possible to get insurance in mexico? For tourist policy I have been told car must have current US registration and insurance, For mexican policy I have been told need to have mex plates. Anyone with US plates been able to get Mexican insurance (not tourist) for their currenlty unregistered un insured US vehicle in mexico? If so what is your insurance company. Thanks""

Has anyone ever had short term car insurance ?

how much is it ? i work alot in the summer so i only need a car for a month please help am new to this.

Is it Ok to buy insurance for me and let other people buy the car?

It is cheap to buy me insurance, so I am just wondering if I can buy the insurance and let other people to drive the car.""

What is the positive & negetive aspect of Term insurance?

Why insurance agent do not show interest towards term insurance. Why they insist on ULIP only.

Can I buy triple a auto insurance with a permit? California?

So due to curtain circumstances, I need to get my own auto insurance, the catch is that I only have a permit. what I wanted to know is if a major insurance company, like triple a, would cover me, if so would it cost more than a newly licensed person, and if not does anyone know a minor insurance company that would.""

Are Honda's usually expensive on insurance?

Also what are some good looking cars that arn't to bad with insurance (I know that it all depends but still) oh and we have geico, thanks!""

Why are insurance companies such bastards?

I could never figure out why people screw their insurance companies when they can. Well now I know. They are a bunch of ethic-less, principle-less bastards. So go for it, screw them when you can for all you can. You can be assured they will do it to you first wether you are honest or not.""

How much is the insurance for a '01 pontiac firebird?

i wanted t know how much the insurance is for a teen on a '01 firebird?

Car insurance for a 19 year old?

Ok about a few Weeks ago I was involved in a wreak, I had no license and was not under my parents insurance. Luckily i didn't go to jail cause I was rear ended. Now I'm attempting to get A drivers license after SO long I've been begging for one, The only thing that's held me back from getting one was my parents because they said i would be tagged on into the insurance, and that I had to go under another address. Now after the wreak they said I cant get one, because once the insurance finds out im driving, they'll automatically add me on, is this true? I want to get back on the road and walking is pretty bad knowing i have a car ive been paying for the [ast two years for. BTW I live in Texas and under state farm.""

What is the cheapest way to get car insurance?

i passed my driving test yesterday and am looking at buying my first car but no matter what car i go fo i always get quoted around 3500 but i just cant afford that. does anyone know of any companies that specialise in young or new drivers insurance? and i would prefer less than 2000 lol xx

Will my car insurance rates go up?

A year ago, I got into an accident that was my fault. My insurance rates went up. Recently they dropped but at school, I was pulling out of a parking space and I ran into another girl's car. Will my insurance rates go up if she put in a claim? If so, how much. Any thoughts? What should I do?""

How much is car insurance on a Nissan 350z?

How much is car insurance on a Nissan 350z?

Insurance same day proof?

i was pulled over on he 1-9-2008 the same day i received the insurance went to court thought it was done i recevied a paper from the bmv in ohio asked for my insurance sent it to them 2 weeks later was sent another letter insurance same day proof for my insurance company faxed that to them they faxed it back should i had insurance 1-9-2008-6-9-2008(changed insurance companies)my insurance company signed it i sent it to the bmv that apparently was not good now they on the paper which never asked for the time exactly and make and model of car shouldn't they just except what the insurance company sighned and gave them

""Can any one say best insurance site,which dealing with better travel insurance policies of different companies?

I want to know benefits of insurance policies of different companies before buy travel insurance policy

What is the least expensive color of car to insure?

I know red is the most expensive. I've heard that white is the least from one person and green is the least from another.

How much will my auto insurance cost?

Ok...so I'm looking at an old 73' Bug to possibly buy for college and all. Cost- of the car at least- is not a problem, as its $100, and I have $100. (Yes, it does have issues and looks horrible, but hey it runs and drives). So...that brings up insurance. There is NO way I can get in on my mom's insurance- she won't let me get a car so the only way is if I do all myself, and I'm 18 now and going to college in a few weeks, so a=Im looking at my options. I know as a male teenage driver its going to be high, but what is high? How much will good grades and all that help? Just, what would you recommend and how much could it end up costing? Thanks...""

Is Progressive Auto Insurance a good company?

I have several insurance quotes from State Farm and Allstate, and Progressive beats the price by almost half. But, when something looks to good to be true, it probably is. Is this good insurance? Are they good with claims?""

Do I need to declare to my insurance company If I change my alloy wheels.?

It currently has the factory 16 alloy wheels on but 2 of them are buckled. I don't want to buy new ones the same as this seems to be a common problem with ford fiesta alloys so was thinking of replacing them with the same size alloys of a different brand. Do I have to declare this to my insurance company?

What is the average insurance cost for a 2012 Chevy Cruze?

I will be turning 21 in June. No tickets or accidents on my record. What would the average monthly payment be for insurance?

How much would car Insurance be for a 16 year old girl?

I live in Michigan. Thank you :)

Nj motorcycle insurance?

im 23, male, have a pretty good car driving record (if that helps), but my credit isnt that good. how much (ball park) would it be in nj for motorcycle insurance. im planning on purchasing a bike in the next 8 months and wanna know how much i should expect to pay for insurance. i will get a quote, i just wanna know from you guys a rough estimate. thanks""

What do I need before I get car insurance besides license?

I have my license, and a car that I bought that is in my dad's name. He wants to transfer ownership to my name, inspection expired in 2007 (I haven't driven for about a year). First, do I need to have a car in my name to get insurance, or can I just get ins. with the car in my dad's name then transfer the title later? (with no ins. changes) 2nd, to get insurance do I need to pass inspection, or can I just get ins. first?""

How old dose a car/vehicle need to be for lower insurance?

I am 17 and i have been saving money for a brand new car and i started looking for one and i found the one i want and so i decided to get a quote on the insurance for it and the quote as around 350 and the car payment quote was 200 i thought that this is a little ridicules myself and i cant afford insurance that high... So i was just wondering how old a vehicle needs to be before the insurance is way lower than what it would be if it was brand new!

I need to find a good Car no older then lets say 1999! Thats good on Gas and low Insurance! Low Price $5000 <!

Hi my name is James. I am a college student and I am looking for a used car to get me through college and maybe Further! I am hoping to spend under $5000 Dollars. I need it to be able to have a lower insurance rate then lets say a sports car. I also need something thats has a very good fuel efficacy! I am a tall guy but can fit into any thing! So if any of you know of a car that looks almost good has good gas millage and is not too expensive on car insurance let me know! ASAP!!!!!! Oh and this car not one I want to buy online or privately. It is one I want to buy from a car dealer ship this is just to help me lock down my search!

Non-credit based car insurance?

i saw a commercial on tv about a car insurance company that bases your premium on your driving record, not your credit score. but i cant remember the name. anyone know? thanks!""

Livingston Manor New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12758

Livingston Manor New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12758

Can anybody Reccomend a good online insurance company for a Cagiva Mito 125?

I have been looking around for a low insurance rate for my Cagiva Mito 125 Motorbike, does any Mito owners know of a good insurer for that bike and how much did you pay?""

Do I buy car insurance before buying a car from a private party?

I'm buying a car this weekend from a private seller (we are just waiting for the duplicate title to come in the mail; she lost the original). Money won't be exchanged until ...show more

Where can i find cheap auto insurance?

I am 18, almost 19""

I just got a speeding ticket how much will insurance go up?

Im 18 i was speeding to get to school, 50 in 35... The ticket was worth 50 dollars, i pay 1200 a year for insurance and i was wondering how much it goes up, and my insurance company is farris insurance in Hickory NC, and my sister works there.""

What bike would be cheapest on insurance?

scooter?street+trail?chopper?crotchrocket? or anything?which bike out of all bikes street legal and able to achieve 50mph is the cheapest insurance wise

Do you think which is better for a 1984 corvette classic car insurance or regular car insurance?

I am planning on getting a 1984 corvette but the insurance for it is a little too high.i just found out about classic car insurance but i really don't know much about it.but for classic car insurance,am i limited to a certain number of things like how far i can drive my car,when i can drive,etc?will the insurance actually be less or more for classic car insurance?and what is the best classic car insurance company i should go with?""

How much would a Ford Puma cost to insure?

I'm 16, taking driving lessons soon after my birthday, and I'd love to get a Puma, I know insurance is a lot... But I thought that as it's a small, 2 door car, the price might drop a bit, if maybe the price is going to be quite high (Above average for a new driver) then please suggest some other cars that are cheap to insure :) But I would really like one of these x) Also considering fuel consumption and economy :) One of these - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201228478314260/usedcars/postcode/bn72ph?logcode=kp :) Thanks very much""

Can I sue someone with auto insurance?

I live in Las Vegas and I was involved in a car accident in November. There were 6 cars involved and this process is being UNUSUALLY long. It is impossible to get in contact with one of the claimants so we can not settle for our car damages. Can I sue the individuals that were held respoinsible for the auto accident?

Can I get insurance myself at 17?

I'm 16 right now and I have been diagnosed with major depressive. My mom lost her insurance in May last year and I haven't been to a doctor since. My symptoms are getting worse and I attempted suicide a couple months ago (refused to see a doctor afterwards because I didn't want social services to get involved). I have a family history with depression and mood disorders and my condition is only getting worse. I tried to get insurance all summer and fall last year, but I couldn't qualify for medi cal (I live in california) because of my age supposedly and my old doctor refused to sign off on minors consent. I'm wondering if things will be different by the time I turn 17? Will I be more likely to be accepted by then? Is there anything else I can do that won't get my mom arrested and me put into the foster care system? I feel like the social workers have a gun pointed to my back right now.. if I say much more about my problems to them they'll take me, and my little brother. Also CPS is not an option I want nothing to do with them or foster care. I would rather continue on and die in my condition than go to the foster home in my area, I've met kids stuck in that system and continuing on without medical care seems better than living in that hell hole. And I certainly wouldn't wish that on my little brother.""

Is Medicaid consider as A health insurance?

Hello, I live in Texas and am going to college. My mom wants me to get health insurance stuffs fill out for college, so I have to pay less(? not sure if this is true). The website told me to to file my health insurance so they can take some of the health bill off the insurance.""

I reasonly got layied off need my wife is haven a baby need to know about insurance?

i got layied off from my job im a union worker in nyc and i have to work a certin amout of hours to keep my heath insurance going . my term ends in june my baby is do in july there for i will not be covered when the baby is do . does any one know what i can do for covrage i have aetna ? is there anyway i can extend my insurance ?

How does rbs insurance differentiate itself from it's competitors?

Hi, I'm filling out an internship form, and I'm stuck on this question.. Please help me! Thank you""

Minor car accident without insurance?

I caused a scratch. But I don't have insurance by that time. What am I supposed to do? Go to beg the old lady stop claim insurance company but solve that privately? But she already reported to insurance company. Can she withdraw the claim so we can solve privately? Any other choice?

How much will my car insurance go up?

I recently had an accident and my car was totaled, it was my fault, i did have full coverage so they did pay for my car and the other person, can someone give me an idea like a percentage or something that will help me determine how much more i will be paying, i am currently paying $95/month.""

Need Insurance?

I am buying a new car and have to get insurance. Any suggestions on good and cheap companies?

How many people lack health insurance?

If you lack health insurance, why? If you cannot afford it, what could people around you do to help you out?""

How much would car insurance cost for me?

Im seventeen. And female. The car is a black 94 Jetta standard (if that has anything to do with it) Im just confused about insurance. People are saying it would be very expensive but I turn 18 in a month should I wait until then? Also people say insurance is cheaper for girls. Is this true? And what insurance company is cheapest?

""How can i get insurance if my car cost 20,000?""

How can i get insurance if my car cost 20,000?""

Is a Pontiac Grand Am considered a sports car?

Want to know if it'll be a higher insurance cost..... Thanks. :3

What types of insurance are required in Minnesota?

I have a permit test in about an hour and I forgot what kinds of insurance are required in the state of Minnesota? There are 2 of them I think it's liability and no fault? Help please?

What is the cheapest auto insurance for 16 year old boy?

Thanks in advance

Whats the difference between insurance and bonded insurance on roofs?

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Insurance Rates?

I'm a 17 year old male and I just got my 1st speeding ticket today and it was a 6 point ticket how much do you think my insurance rate will go up by

Do i need insurance to sell motobikes?

I am selling mini moto's and quad bikes online, do i need liability insurance to sell these?""

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Livingston Manor New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12758

Livingston Manor New York Cheap car insurance quotes zip 12758

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/find-cheap-car-insurance-hayden-collier/"

[itsfinancethings]

New story in Business from Time: Millions of Americans Have Lost Jobs in the Pandemic — And Robots and AI Are Replacing Them Faster Than Ever

For 23 years, Larry Collins worked in a booth on the Carquinez Bridge in the San Francisco Bay Area, collecting tolls. The fare changed over time, from a few bucks to $6, but the basics of the job stayed the same: Collins would make change, answer questions, give directions and greet commuters. “Sometimes, you’re the first person that people see in the morning,” says Collins, “and that human interaction can spark a lot of conversation.”

But one day in mid-March, as confirmed cases of the coronavirus were skyrocketing, Collins’ supervisor called and told him not to come into work the next day. The tollbooths were closing to protect the health of drivers and of toll collectors. Going forward, drivers would pay bridge tolls automatically via FasTrak tags mounted on their windshields or would receive bills sent to the address linked to their license plate. Collins’ job was disappearing, as were the jobs of around 185 other toll collectors at bridges in Northern California, all to be replaced by technology.

Machines have made jobs obsolete for centuries. The spinning jenny replaced weavers, buttons displaced elevator operators, and the Internet drove travel agencies out of business. One study estimates that about 400,000 jobs were lost to automation in U.S. factories from 1990 to 2007. But the drive to replace humans with machinery is accelerating as companies struggle to avoid workplace infections of COVID-19 and to keep operating costs low. The U.S. shed around 40 million jobs at the peak of the pandemic, and while some have come back, some will never return. One group of economists estimates that 42% of the jobs lost are gone forever.

This replacement of humans with machines may pick up more speed in coming months as companies move from survival mode to figuring out how to operate while the pandemic drags on. Robots could replace as many as 2 million more workers in manufacturing alone by 2025, according to a recent paper by economists at MIT and Boston University. “This pandemic has created a very strong incentive to automate the work of human beings,” says Daniel Susskind, a fellow in economics at Balliol College, University of Oxford, and the author of A World Without Work: Technology, Automation and How We Should Respond. “Machines don’t fall ill, they don’t need to isolate to protect peers, they don’t need to take time off work.”

Cayce Clifford for TIMELarry Collins, at home in Lathrop, Calif., on July 31, was a bridge toll collector until COVID-19 led the state to automate the job to protect employees and drivers. “I just want to go back to what I was doing,” says Collins, whose job is among the millions that economists say could be lost forever as companies accelerate moves toward automation.

As with so much of the pandemic, this new wave of automation will be harder on people of color like Collins, who is Black, and on low-wage workers. Many Black and Latino Americans are cashiers, food-service employees and customer-service representatives, which are among the 15 jobs most threatened by automation, according to McKinsey. Even before the pandemic, the global consulting company estimated that automation could displace 132,000 Black workers in the U.S. by 2030.

The deployment of robots as a response to the coronavirus was rapid. They were suddenly cleaning floors at airports and taking people’s temperatures. Hospitals and universities deployed Sally, a salad-making robot created by tech company Chowbotics, to replace dining-hall employees; malls and stadiums bought Knightscope security-guard robots to patrol empty real estate; companies that manufacture in-demand supplies like hospital beds and cotton swabs turned to industrial robot supplier Yaskawa America to help increase production.

Companies closed call centers employing human customer-service agents and turned to chatbots created by technology company LivePerson or to AI platform Watson Assistant. “I really think this is a new normal–the pandemic accelerated what was going to happen anyway,” says Rob Thomas, senior vice president of cloud and data platform at IBM, which deploys Watson. Roughly 100 new clients started using the software from March to June.

In theory, automation and artificial intelligence should free humans from dangerous or boring tasks so they can take on more intellectually stimulating assignments, making companies more productive and raising worker wages. And in the past, technology was deployed piecemeal, giving employees time to transition into new roles. Those who lost jobs could seek retraining, perhaps using severance pay or unemployment benefits to find work in another field. This time the change was abrupt as employers, worried about COVID-19 or under sudden lockdown orders, rushed to replace workers with machines or software. There was no time to retrain. Companies worried about their bottom line cut workers loose instead, and these workers were left on their own to find ways of mastering new skills. They found few options.

In the past, the U.S. responded to technological change by investing in education. When automation fundamentally changed farm jobs in the late 1800s and the 1900s, states expanded access to public schools. Access to college expanded after World War II with the GI Bill, which sent 7.8 million veterans to school from 1944 to 1956. But since then, U.S. investment in education has stalled, putting the burden on workers to pay for it themselves. And the idea of education in the U.S. still focuses on college for young workers rather than on retraining employees. The country spends 0.1% of GDP to help workers navigate job transitions, less than half what it spent 30 years ago.

“The real automation problem isn’t so much a robot apocalypse,” says Mark Muro, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. “It is business as usual of people needing to get retraining, and they really can’t get it in an accessible, efficient, well-informed, data-driven way.”

This means that tens of thousands of Americans who lost jobs during the pandemic may be unemployed for years or, in Collins’ case, for good. Though he has access to retraining funding through his union contract, “I’m too old to think about doing some other job,” says Collins, who is 63 and planning on taking early retirement. “I just want to go back to what I was doing.”

Check into a hotel today, and a mechanical butler designed by robotics company Savioke might roll down the hall to deliver towels and toothbrushes. (“No tip required,” Savioke notes on its website.) Robots have been deployed during the pandemic to meet guests at their rooms with newly disinfected keys. A bricklaying robot can lay more than 3,000 bricks in an eight-hour shift, up to 10 times what a human can do. Robots can plant seeds and harvest crops, separate breastbones and carcasses in slaughterhouses, pack pallets of food in processing facilities.

That doesn’t mean they’re taking everyone’s jobs. For centuries, humans from weavers to mill workers have worried that advances in technology would create a world without work, and that’s never proved true. ATMs did not immediately decrease the number of bank tellers, for instance. They actually led to more teller jobs as consumers, lured by the convenience of cash machines, began visiting banks more often. Banks opened more branches and hired tellers to handle tasks that are beyond the capacity of ATMs. Without technological advancement, much of the American workforce would be toiling away on farms, which accounted for 31% of U.S. jobs in 1910 and now account for less than 1%.

But in the past, when automation eliminated jobs, companies created new ones to meet their needs. Manufacturers that were able to produce more goods using machines, for example, needed clerks to ship the goods and marketers to reach additional customers.

Now, as automation lets companies do more with fewer people, successful companies don’t need as many workers. The most valuable company in the U.S. in 1964, AT&T, had 758,611 employees; the most valuable company today, Apple, has around 137,000 employees. Though today’s big companies make billions of dollars, they share that income with fewer employees, and more of their profit goes to shareholders. “Look at the business model of Google, Facebook, Netflix. They’re not in the business of creating new tasks for humans,” says Daron Acemoglu, an MIT economist who studies automation and jobs.

The U.S. government incentivizes companies to automate, he says, by giving tax breaks for buying machinery and software. A business that pays a worker $100 pays $30 in taxes, but a business that spends $100 on equipment pays about $3 in taxes, he notes. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lowered taxes on purchases so much that “you can actually make money buying equipment,” Acemoglu says.

In addition, artificial intelligence is becoming more adept at jobs that once were the purview of humans, making it harder for humans to stay ahead of machines. JPMorgan says it now has AI reviewing commercial-loan agreements, completing in seconds what used to take 360,000 hours of lawyers’ time over the course of a year. In May, amid plunging advertising revenue, Microsoft laid off dozens of journalists at MSN and its Microsoft News service, replacing them with AI that can scan and process content. Radio group iHeartMedia has laid off dozens of DJs to take advantage of its investments in technology and AI. I got help transcribing interviews for this story using Otter.ai, an AI-based transcription service. A few years ago, I might have paid $1 a minute for humans to do the same thing.

These advances make AI an easy choice for companies scrambling to cope during the pandemic. Municipalities that had to close their recycling facilities, where humans worked in close quarters, are using AI-assisted robots to sort through tons of plastic, paper and glass. AMP Robotics, the company that makes these robots, says inquiries from potential customers increased at least fivefold from March to June. Last year, 35 recycling facilities used AMP Robotics, says AMP spokesman Chris Wirth; by the end of 2020, nearly 100 will.

Cayce Clifford for TIMEThe Carquinez Bridge toll plaza in Vallejo, Calif., is empty of tollbooth collectors on July 30, the result of the state’s decision to automate the jobs at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. For now, workers are being paid in exchange for taking online courses in other fields, but that’s not a benefit available to most of the millions of U.S. employees who have lost jobs during the pandemic.

RDS Virginia, a recycling company in Virginia, purchased four AMP robots in 2019 for its Roanoke facility, deploying them on assembly lines to ensure the paper and plastic streams were free of misplaced materials. The robots could work around the clock, didn’t take bathroom breaks and didn’t require safety training, says Joe Benedetto, the company’s president. When the coronavirus hit, robots took over quality control as humans were pulled off assembly lines and given tasks that kept them at a safe distance from one another. Benedetto breathes easier knowing he won’t have to raise the robots’ pay to meet the minimum wage. He’s already thinking about where else he can deploy them. “There are a few reasons I prefer machinery,” Benedetto says. “For one thing, as long as you maintain it, it’s there every day to work.”

Companies deploying automation and AI say the technology allows them to create new jobs. But the number of new jobs is often minuscule compared with the number of jobs lost. LivePerson, which designs conversational software, could enable a company to take a 1,000-person call center and run it with 100 people plus chatbots, says CEO Rob LoCascio. A bot can respond to 10,000 queries in an hour, LoCascio says; an efficient call-center rep can answer six.

LivePerson saw a fourfold increase in demand in March as companies closed call centers, LoCascio says. “What happened was the contact-center representatives went home, and a lot of them can’t work from home,” he says.

Some surprising businesses are embracing automation. David’s Bridal, which sells wedding gowns and other formal wear in about 300 stores across North America and the U.K., set up a chatbot called Zoey through LivePerson last year. When the pandemic forced David’s Bridal to close its stores, Zoey helped manage customer inquiries flooding the company’s call centers, says Holly Carroll, vice president of the customer-service and contact center. Without a bot, “we would have been dead in the water,” Carroll says.

David’s Bridal now spends 35% less on call centers and can handle three times more messages through its chatbot than it can through voice or email. (Zoey may be cheaper than a human, but it is not infallible. Via text, Zoey promised to connect me to a virtual stylist, but I never heard back from it or the company.)

Many organizations will likely look to technology as they face budget cuts and need to reduce staff. “I don’t see us going back to the staffing levels we were at prior to COVID,” says Brian Pokorny, the director of information technologies for Otsego County in New York State, who has cut 10% of his staff because of pandemic-related budget issues. “So we need to look at things like AI to streamline government services and make us more efficient.”

Pokorny used a free trial from IBM’s Watson Assistant early in the pandemic and set up an AI-powered web chat to answer questions from the public, like whether the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the county seat, had reopened. (It had, as of June 26, with limited capacity.) Now, Watson can answer 75% of the questions people ask, and Otsego County has started paying for the service, which Pokorny says costs “pennies” per conversation. Though the county now uses AI just for online chats, it plans to deploy a Watson virtual assistant that can answer phone calls. Around 36 states have deployed chatbots to respond to questions about the pandemic and available government services, according to the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.

IBM and LivePerson say that by creating AI, they’re freeing up humans to do more sophisticated tasks. Companies that contract with LivePerson still need “bot builders” to help teach the AI how to answer questions, and call-center agents see their pay increase by about 15% when they become bot builders, LoCascio says. “We can look at it like there’s going to be this massive job loss, or we can look at it that people get moved into different places and positions in the world to better their lives,” LoCascio says.

But companies will need far fewer bot builders than call-center agents, and mobility is not always an option, especially for workers without college degrees or whose employers do not offer retraining. Non-union workers are especially vulnerable. Larry Collins and his colleagues, represented by SEIU Local 1000, were fortunate: they’re being paid their full salaries for the foreseeable future in exchange for taking 32 hours a week of online classes in computer skills, accounting, entrepreneurship and other fields. (Some might even get their jobs back, albeit temporarily, as the state upgrades its systems.) But just 11.6 % of American workers were represented by a union in 2019.

Yvonne R. Walker, the union president, says most non-union workers don’t get this kind of assistance. “Companies out there don’t provide employee training and upskilling–they don’t see it as a good investment,” Walker says. “Unless workers have a union thinking about these things, the workers get left behind.”

In Sweden, employers pay into private funds that help workers get retrained; Singapore’s SkillsFuture program reimburses citizens up to 500 Singapore dollars (about $362 in U.S. currency) for approved retraining courses. But in the U.S., the most robust retraining programs are for workers whose jobs are sent overseas or otherwise lost because of trade issues. A few states have started promising to pay community-college tuition for adult learners who seek retraining; the Tennessee Reconnect program pays for adults over 25 without college degrees to get certificates, associate’s degrees and technical diplomas. But a similar program in Michigan is in jeopardy as states struggle with budget issues, says Michelle Miller-Adams, a researcher at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.

House and Senate Democrats introduced a $15 billion workforce-retraining bill in early May, but it hasn’t gained much traction with Republicans, who prefer to encourage retraining by giving tax credits. The federal funds that exist come with restrictions. Pell Grants, which help low-income students pay for education, can’t be used for nontraditional programs like boot camps or a 170-hour EMT certification. Local jobless centers, which receive federal funds, spend an average of $3,500 per person on retraining, but they usually run out of money early in a calendar year because of limited funding, says Ayobami Olugbemiga, press secretary at the National Skills Coalition.

Even if federal funding were widely available, the surge of people who need retraining would be more than universities can handle, says Gabe Dalporto, the CEO of Udacity, which offers online courses in programming, data science, AI and more. “A billion people will lose their jobs over the next 10 years due to AI, and if anything, COVID has accelerated that by about nine years,” says Dalporto. “If you tried to reskill a billion people in the university system, you would break the university system.”

Dalporto says the coronavirus should be a wake-up call for the federal government to rethink how it funds education. “We have this model where we want to dump huge amounts of capital into very slow, noncareer-specific education,” Dalporto says. “If you just repurposed 10% of that, you could retrain 3 million people in about six months.”

Online education providers say they can provide retraining and upskilling on workers’ own timelines, and for less money than traditional schools. Coursera offers six-month courses for $39 to $79 a month that provide students with certifications needed for a variety of jobs, says CEO Jeff Maggioncalda. Once they’ve landed a job, they can then pursue a college degree online, he says. “This idea that you get job skills first, get the job, then get your college degree online while you’re working, I think for a lot of people will be more economically effective,” he says. In April, Coursera launched a Workforce Recovery Initiative that allows the unemployed in some states and other countries, including Colombia and Singapore, to learn for free until the end of the year.

Online learning providers can offer relatively inexpensive upskilling options because they don’t have guidance counselors, classrooms and other features of brick-and-mortar schools. But there could be more of a role for employers to provide those support systems going forward. Dalporto, who calls the wave of automation during COVID-19 “our economic Pearl Harbor,” argues that the government should provide a tax credit of $2,500 per upskilled worker to companies that provide retraining. He also suggests that company severance packages include $1,500 in retraining credits.

Some employers are turning to Guild Education, which works with employers to subsidize upskilling. A program it launched in May lets companies pay a fee to have Guild assist laid-off workers in finding new jobs. Employers see this as a way to create loyalty among these former employees, says Rachel Carlson, the CEO of Guild. “The most thoughtful consumer companies say, Employee for now, customer for life,” she says.

With the economy 30 million jobs short of what it had before the pandemic, though, workers and employers may not see much use in training for jobs that may not be available for months or even years. And not every worker is interested in studying data science, cloud computing or artificial intelligence.

But those who have found a way to move from dying fields to in-demand jobs are likely to do better. A few years ago, Tristen Alexander was a call-center rep at a Georgia power company when he took a six-month online course to earn a Google IT Support Professional Certificate. A Google scholarship covered the cost for Alexander, who has no college degree and was supporting his wife and two kids on about $38,000 a year. Alexander credits his certificate with helping him win a promotion and says he now earns more than $70,000 annually. What’s more, the promotion has given him a sense of job security. “I just think there’s a great need for everyone to learn something technical,” he tells me.

Of course, Alexander knows that technology may significantly change his job in the next decade, so he’s already planning his next step. By 2021, he wants to master the skill of testing computer systems to spot vulnerabilities to hackers and gain a certificate in that practice, known as penetration testing. It will all but guarantee him a job, he says, working alongside the technology that’s changing the world.

–With reporting by Alejandro de la Garza and Julia Zorthian/New York

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[whimsically-ominously-auspice]

The guy... That We bought it from...

He used to take me around when I was a kid. And I would buy an entire apartment complex in Harlem for like $50k, sell Jesse James One apartment for $75k. He would flip it... I would end up paying like 30k out of pocket to help him tho... With materials cause he could never afford to pay so he says cause i would rip him off you know... So he would then end up selling it for more than $100k so he would make well nothing... But I would let him keep the whole $100k although he. Never actually paid me the $75k for the apartment... But he would sell it straight out for the $100k then fell he owed me money...

See i was trying this trick to figure out how to get free labor... Because i was doing all this work to get people out of human trafficking... So i figured out how to do it to Jesse... Cause how do you trap people?

So I would give him the full $100k them have him pay out of pocket to rehabilitate 3 or more apartments (row houses)

Well Steve never knew i actually never took money from Jesse... But we always agreed that he owed me.. Because i couldn't be a human trafficker... But I could see how easy it was.

So Steve swore he would never get ripped off by me. Never. Ever. Ever. For nearly 30 years he's sworn he wouldn't get ripped off

Well one YouTube video later... My ass got a castle for $2.5 million USD

Jesse did pay me tho... He gave me a check one day for $600k and asked me about his commission and pay. I was all "that's not the deal buddy. Where you been living the last 5 months? How you been eating man? You get nothing"

Nah but i did give him $200k and i made $750k off a 50k purchase in SE Harlem.

Steve Vaughn never knew that tho.

Couldn't go around telling people i was making others rich. How would that look?!

So he always swore I would never rip him off.

Do you know the tax write off on a loss of a $6 million dollar house sold for $2.5M?!

At least $3.5 million

He was an old CIA lawyer back in the day i asked to make sure i didn't break laws while trying to get myself real close to as human trafficking as possible.

But he didn't know that either.

I told him I just wanted to rip people off and wanted to know how to do it legal.

He gave me good business advice and told me to figure out the rest. But he did give me "if you wanna be an ass hole" advice. Which made my eyes shine.

Jesse was good at finding people to mortgage an apartment in Harlem off Wall Street. He would ask men on Wall Street that had a certain look -- a Harlan Vibe -- guess they were from Harlem and tell them we were trying to get it back to its roots and bring Harlem back up and that is how he sold them so easily.

And he did the construction himself with his brothers. Extra sheetrock for sound control so it was more private than hearing neighborhood noise.

Chandeliers and major upgrades.

So while he got only 250k for the Harlem cause I charged him 50k rent although he claims he didn't live there -- I must had just caught him sleeping on the job. For 5 row homes... He did pretty good.

And the next 15 that needed less build and repair and just upgrades and Windows got him half million to share with his brothers.

We never told anyone. Not especially a lawyer who i paid $20 per day to help me

So i always been ripping him off!!

He always swore I wouldn't rip him off. But I always ripped him off most..

Except when i told the CIA he did earn his fee of $200 per hour. And I told the CIA he was under billing cause it cost him 2 hours to see me in commute in Harlem. And had them pay that, too.

And i would call and tell them to pay if he just talked on the phone. He said "I'm not charging you. You're a kid!"

"Is that because of my legal age?!"

So i would call back to HQ and tell them i had talked legal shit with Steve and they had to pay him again. Every dam time.

Even if he just called to cuss me out.

In a month he earned half a million. 3 million in two months.

Idk.

Jesse asked why I paid him $250k when he said he should only earned $5k and wanted to borrow money to try again to flip it and make money like me.

I told him I wanted to know how human trafficking worked and I did it. I let him sleep whenever and wherever and took him food once a day and didn't pay him for 2 months and he did all this work

And I told him "you didn't deserve to be human trafficked but I did it. I did it to the lawyer Steve, too. And now I'm rich and you're not. And I'm going to turn myself in to the CIA about Steve"

And that is how Steve became a multi-millionaire.

Because I explained to the CIA I did it to two people right under their nose.

So they paid Steve 3 full months 40 hour week days at $200 per hour

Then they took the $250k I gave Jesse and doubled up and gave him an additional $500k

So Jesse gave me $50k to buy in on a new set of row houses. 30 of them. I told him bull shit you owe me for sleeping on the job and food.

It workedm. Human trafficking is easy. Just "oh I'll pay you later" that's what they do down there.

That is why i call them all Jesse James. Anyone that worked for him in Harlem... Some weren't so great as you recently read about.

I call the one i put into Sabrina's Slavery, Papa Smurf. He lives over in Austin. Has a big ole house and a bunch of dogs.

So getting this big ole castle... I mean it's a great price and has a fantastic story.

But it means so much more because of the family we got it from.

Because we bought it from that lawyer.

That ole lawyer from with a one way hour commute Harlem.

Its a small fucking world.

Family really is family.

And I didn't even know it was his. I really just watched a video 60 seconds with Tommy Johnson Jr and it popped up under the recommended

And Ritchie told me "that house ain't on the market"

So maybe i ripped him off -- but unless he invested poorly -- he got plenty off investments on that 3m so maybe it was the first time he spent it... Well he got it all back. From build cost and maintenance and upkeep he was only gaining 200k.

Just about what jesse got on his first set of row castles down in Harlem.

Kinda a perfect world huh?

Of course before i knew who he was... I hired him for consulting again... Because i don't know the area we bought the house in... So i told him he can help with letting us know how that area is... Because he knows a different way about it than our relators.

So I bought a castle built by a CIA lawyer. So that shit is tight. Already has in home cameras.

Which Miss Gremlin said was because there was soooo many murders the cops had a feed right to their police station. Not too far off from the truth...

So yeah... Brian didn't just buy a mansion..he bought a castle.

And from family.

So its like now this big fucking legacy.

With multiple mysteries

Not bad for a 7 year old home.

I'm not just lucky. I'm grateful.

It really goes to show what you put into this world, you get back.

💞

[shirlleycoyle]

Why the US Sucks at Building Public Transit

American cities are facing a transportation crisis. There’s terrible traffic. Public transit doesn’t work or go where people need it to. The cities are growing, but newcomers are faced with the prospects of paying high rents for reasonable commutes or lower rents for dreary, frustrating daily treks. Nearly all Americans, including those in cities, face a dire choice: spend thousands of dollars a year owning a car and sitting in traffic, or sacrifice hours every day on ramshackle public transit getting where they need to go. Things are so broken that, increasingly, they do both. Nationwide, three out of every four commuters drive alone. The rate in metro areas is not much different.

“Without an integrated system of transit in our metropolitan areas the great anticipated growth will become a dream that will fail,” predicted Ralph Merritt, general manager of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, “because people cannot move freely, safely, rapidly, and economically from where they live to where they work.”

Although Merritt’s words could just as well apply today, he said them 66 years ago in 1954. This is a crisis facing American cities right now in 2020, but it’s an old crisis. The only thing that has changed is the problem has gotten worse.

Like most crises, there is no single cause. Our cities, and our federal government, have made a lot of mistakes. Some were obvious at the time, others only in hindsight, but most have been a combination of the two. We keep doing things that stopped being good ideas a long time ago.

Many of those mistakes have to do with housing policy, which is inextricably linked to transportation policy. But the most obvious cause of our transportation crisis is a simple one: America sucks at building public transportation.

Why is this? Why does the U.S. suck at building good, useful public transit?

It’s a question that has vexed me for years. Just when I think I’ve figured it out, some other facet I had never previously considered comes to my attention. I have spoken to a dozen transit experts and historians. I have read several histories of American mass transportation policy written by independent scholars as well as government agencies. I've scoured federal archives and interviewed employees of transit agencies planning their own big projects. I’ve analyzed budgets and construction costs and compared them to our international peers. The tangle of American governmental dysfunction is so profound, digging into it can feel like undoing a rubber band ball with your teeth.

But the failure itself is simple and obvious. It’s apparent to anyone who has traveled abroad in the last several decades. Whether it’s traditional subway and commuter rail systems, modern streetcars and light rails, high-speed intercity rail, or even the humble bus with dedicated lanes and train-like stops, the U.S. lags perilously behind. It is a national embarrassment and a major reason our cities are less pleasant, more expensive places to live.

Just to name a few recent accomplishments abroad lacking an American parallel: Paris has the Grand Paris Express, 120 miles and 68 stations of new lines, plus a host of new trams and express bus lines with dedicated lanes. Moscow is building 98 new miles and 79 new stations for its Metro. At two years delayed and three billion pounds over budget, London’s Crossrail qualifies as a scandalous by European standards. But when it opens—perhaps in 2021—it will provide 73 miles of new rapid, frequent trains across greater London, including right through the center of the city. Since the 1990s, Madrid’s Metro has added more than 100 kilometers to its system. There are numerous examples of highly functioning and useful public transit systems in Latin America, which also invented the Bus Rapid Transit, a hybrid system with enclosed stops and dedicated lanes. China, which had basically no rapid transit through 1990, now has 25 cities with comprehensive rail systems, including seven of the world’s 12 largest metro networks by length.

Source: Yonah Freemark. Chart by Cathryn Virginia

Of course, China’s massive central government means it can build what it wants when and where it wants. But it’s hardly just China and other authoritarian regimes embarrassing the U.S. when it comes to transit construction. Consider, for example, high speed rail, or trains between cities capable of going faster than 120 mph. Over the last 30 years, almost two dozen countries have built true high-speed rail networks, according to transportation expert Yonah Freemark. The U.S. has a grand total of 34 miles of high-speed track.

China is not on this graph because they're literally off the charts (sorry). Data source: Yonah Freemark. Chart by Cathryn Virginia

This isn’t to say the U.S. has built nothing in the same time period. Freemark, one of the most thorough chroniclers of American transportation projects, calculated that the U.S. spent more than $47 billion on 1,200 miles of new and expanded transit lines in the decade from 2010 to 2019 (most of that mileage has been on bus routes).

That may sound like a lot, and at first glance it can seem like the U.S. has made some progress. There are now 93 miles of light rail in Dallas, 60 miles in Portland, and 87.5 combined light and commuter rail miles in Denver. Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, San Diego, Sacramento, Phoenix, and others can cite similar improvements. For all their flaws, these are transit systems that didn’t exist 40 years ago.

But these systems, with the possible exception of Portland’s, do have one thing in common: they’re not especially useful because they’re not big enough and don’t go where people need them to. There is no perfect metric to evaluate the usefulness of a transit system, but, the most obvious failure is these systems haven’t changed their cities. Few people rely on them. As a general rule, these light rail systems serve fewer than 30 million passenger trips a year (LA has more, although as a percentage of the metro area population its usage is in line with other new systems). Even in cities of millions of people like Houston and Phoenix, light rail systems serve fewer than half that. Meanwhile, the Grand Paris Express and Crossrail are projecting ridership in the millions per day.

The basic truth is nearly everyone still depends on their cars even in cities with soul-destroying traffic. By any definition, the last half-century of American transportation policy has been a dismal failure.

Ultimately, this is not about trains and buses. This is about a political system uninterested in reform, a system unconcerned with fixing what’s broken.

But the problem isn’t limited just to new systems with growing pains. Older American cities with legacy systems have barely expanded to meet the growing footprint of their metro areas, as London and Paris are. The subway maps of New York, Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia look almost identical as they did in 1950; in some cases, they’ve actually shrunk.

Simply put, the U.S. builds less public transit per urban dweller than its peer countries. Freemark found U.S. cities “added an average of fewer than 2 miles of urban bus improvements per million inhabitants—and fewer than 1 mile of rail improvements.��� Meanwhile, France added 10 miles of buses and 3 miles of rail per million inhabitants in that same time period.

There is, of course, no simple answer why our transportation systems are broken, in much the same way there’s no simple answer to why our healthcare system is broken or why our criminal justice system is broken, beyond, as Freemark put it, that our “dysfunctional, irascible political system [is] woefully unprepared to commit to anything particularly significant.”

Ultimately, this is not about trains and buses. This is about a political system uninterested in reform, a system unconcerned with fixing what’s broken. If we can understand how politics failed American transportation systems, perhaps we can make the solution part of broader reform that must occur if American government is to start addressing the needs of the people in all aspects of life, from health care to criminal justice to housing to employment law to digital privacy to climate change.

It’s more important to understand all those causes now than ever. Building lots of public transit fast is, according to the Department of Transportation, a key front in the fight against climate change, because transportation accounts for about 30 percent of U.S. emissions, most of that from private automobiles. Are we up for the task? Can we, as a nation, build the infrastructure we desperately need to create a more sustainable world?

Do you work for the Federal Transit Administration or a local transit agency? What are the challenges you face in getting public transit projects done? We'd love to hear from you. Using a non-work phone or computer, you can contact Aaron Gordon at aaron.gordon@vice.com or aaronwgordon@protonmail.com.

The answer to that question depends on understanding why we have failed so miserably up to this point. While researching the question of why our public transit is so bad, I’ve encountered a series of partial but ultimately incomplete explanations. If you don’t feel like descending into the transit nerd tunnel with me, here’s the tl;dr version:

Everything costs too much

We build highways instead

We don't plan well

People don't trust the government to build things so they vote against projects under the assumption they will be executed poorly and waste taxpayer dollars

We don't give transit agencies enough money to run good service which erodes political support to have more of it

There are too many agencies at all levels of government, especially at the local level, and not enough coordination between them

Our newer cities are sprawled out which makes good transit hard, and our older cities are too paralyzed by political dysfunction to expand the systems they have

As a result of generations of privatization efforts by all levels of government, in the rare event we do actually get to build stuff there is not enough expertise within the agencies to do it well

The good news is all of this is fixable. At least, that’s what Freemark believes. “The idea that we can’t build new systems is ridiculous,” he told me in an interview. “We just have to assemble the political interest and excitement to make those things happen.”

“There Was Always A Subsidy Somewhere”

Before we go any further, it’s important to dispel a pernicious myth that has perpetuated in the United States about public transportation. This is the idea that transit ought to pay for itself just like any other business.

This was a popular position in local, state, and federal governments until the mid-20th century. It is also the founding principle of public authorities, like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that oversees much of greater New York’s transit, which are legally required to balance their budgets every year. The concept is that well-run public transit ought to be profitable.

The problem—well, just one of the problems—with this philosophy is it’s based on a totally fictitious belief that the New York City subway once was a good business, or that the Boston subway once was a self-sustaining operation.

This was never true. “There was always a subsidy somewhere,” Jeff Davis, senior fellow at the think tank Eno Transportation Center said. Streetcars and early subways were paid for by wealthy financiers, real estate speculators, and electric companies, among others. The speculators bought cheap land on the outskirts of town and then built transportation that went there before selling the land for a tidy profit. Back in the day when lights were the main use of electricity, electric companies faced a huge surge at night. Streetcars were a convenient use of that excess electric capacity during the day when demand was lower. And, as the 19th century became the 20th, financiers (mistakenly) thought rapid transit would be a great investment, typically as part of an arrangement we now commonly refer to as public-private partnerships that required transit companies to keep fares low, usually at five cents.

Then it all slowly fell apart. Inflation jacked up costs, but transit companies were legally obligated to keep fares the same per their agreements with cities. The Great Depression hit. Real estate speculators sold off all their land and no longer cared about the transit connections. The public utility companies were forced to sell off their streetcar stakes by Congress under an antitrust provision. Long-term maintenance and upkeep rendered short-term profits illusory. Although most commuters still used transit through the 1940s, people tended to use private automobiles for recreational trips. Bills for decades of deferred maintenance came due. Streetcars went bankrupt. Local governments picked up the slack, and as part of the transition, closed the electric streetcars and converted those routes to buses. By the 1960s, most every transit system had either closed down or was under the auspices of some level of local government.

“And then that subsidy became an explicit job of the local government to subsidize and take over management,” Davis said. Private subsidies were replaced by public ones, just at the time when government was deeply, fundamentally uninterested in public transit. Because in the mid-20th century, cars were the future.

The Road to More Roads

From 1950 to 2017, the U.S. constructed 871,496 miles of roads, enough to go to the Moon, come back, return to the Moon again, and then get two-thirds of the way back to Earth. The pace has slowed in the last few decades, but barely. Thirty-seven percent of those miles have been built since 1985.

As traffic increased, it was accepted policy to widen a lot of roads under the mistaken belief this would reduce traffic. The Federal Highway Administration only started tracking lane-miles built in 1980, but in the 37 years between then and 2017 we added 881,918 lane-miles to our some four million lane-miles of road, an 11 percent increase. Urban areas in particular added 30,511 new lane-miles to freeways since 1993, an increase of 42 percent, according to the non-profit Transportation for America, which went on to call this program of building more lanes in a misguided attempt to reduce traffic a “congestion con.”

In the meantime, the U.S. barely built any new rail. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics only started tracking rail miles in 1985, but from that year through 2017 the U.S. constructed 6,247 miles of commuter rail, heavy rail, and light rail combined. That’s only 195 miles a year on average, compared to 10,017 miles of roads per year during that same time. In fact, the pace of building new transit has been so languid, America’s 20 largest metro areas have the same or even fewer miles of transit service (including bus routes) per capita than they did in 2003.

“It’s all about priorities,” said Jeff Brown, an urban planning professor at Florida State University. “What are the spending priorities that we’ve established?”

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics and Transportation For America. Chart by Cathryn Virginia

Of course, the short term cost of building a mile of road is lower than building a mile of transit, but that can be deceptive. According to Transportation for America, it costs $24,000 per lane-mile per year to maintain a road in good repair, and much more for those in disrepair, as many of America’s roads are. And that’s even before accounting for the strain on public services by encouraging and supporting sprawl where every mile of sewer, water, and power line serves fewer taxpayers.

Nevertheless, we’ve also spent much less money overall on transit compared to roads. These funding mechanisms are extremely confusing and have changed over time, but what has not changed is that roads always get a lot more.

Congress gives states roughly $40 billion a year for roads, according to Transportation For America, which can be spent either on new roads or maintenance at the states' discretion. Meanwhile, public transit agencies have to compete for only $2.3 billion in annual transit funding for big projects such as extending rail lines or building new ones, some $37.7 billion less than what states get for roads (the feds dole out an additional $7.5 billion a year for maintenance and buying new subway cars and buses).

That $40 billion a year in road money is given out to states based on a formula. It’s automatic, and states can spend that money however they wish. Not so with transit money. Transit agencies have to apply for funding for individual projects.

And should the transit agency’s project be deemed worthy of federal funding, the federal government will subsidize a much smaller percentage of the project costs than it will for roads. Transit agencies can get a maximum of 50 percent of the project cost covered by the feds, whereas roads can get up to 80 percent (down from 90 percent during the highway spending spree of the 20th Century).

And this is just at the federal level. The discrepancy between road and transit funding is even wider at the state level, Freemark says, where legislatures are typically dominated by rural interests.

Brown, the Florida State professor, said the numbers don’t lie. “It’s not a sufficient amount of money to support grand project ideas.”

Of course, many people believe it is not the federal government’s role to be paying for mass transportation because it’s a local issue (rarely is a similar argument made about roads). This was very much up for debate when the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (now a part of the Federal Transit Administration) was created in 1964. The upshot was that there’s no clear reason why the federal government should be subsidizing road construction, home mortgages, auto fuel, and any number of other things but not mass transportation. Plus, in light of the local and state government failures to pay for transit, if not the federal government, then who? Tellingly, the UMTA was founded under the Welfare Clause of the Constitution, not the Commerce Clause that authorized highway construction, because it is good for cities to have good transportation.

From nearly any vantage point, this road-heavy, transit-lite approach has been a disaster for American cities. We’ve spent hundreds of billions of dollars constructing and maintaining an unsustainable roadway network, and traffic has only gotten worse to boot. In 2015, California’s Department of Transportation, which supervised some of the most fervent highway construction in the nation during the 20th century, came right out and admitted this didn’t work. More roads means more traffic. So, the state is no longer going to keep widening roads to relieve congestion.

Not only is there not enough money to go around, but it has to be shared by all the states. Federal rules require that no single project gets too big a slice.

“You can’t ask for so much money in a single year as to crowd out everyone else,” explained Davis. For example, he said, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the Obama administration told Los Angeles that it wouldn’t get all the money it wanted for the Westside Purple Line as one big extension through Beverly Hills and into Westwood. So, LA broke it up into three segments, with construction on Phase I beginning in 2014. Each got its own cost-benefit analysis, planning, and studies, and waited a few years between applications, which drives up costs. In February, LA received its grant for the third and final segment, a $1.3 billion payout that will cover just 36 percent of the cost. It is expected to be completed in 2027, meaning it will take 13 years to build a nine mile extension.

“Usually congressional and even executive branch political realities mean they spread the peanut butter around,” said Sarah Jo Peterson, author of Planning the Home Front, “and, when there isn't much peanut butter, they spread it thinly.”

The Costs Are Too Damn High

Not only does the money get spread too thinly, but once cities do get their money, they waste a lot of it.

“In the cities where rail transit works best,” Davis observed, “costs have just gotten out of control.” This is especially true for megaprojects, huge public works that cost billions of dollars.

I could spend an entire article on this subject alone and not even scratch the surface of just how profoundly screwed American megaproject costs are. Indeed, many writers and researchers have done exactly that, and one researcher in particular, Alon Levy, has more or less made a name for themselves on this subject.

New York City is responsible for the most expensive mile of subway track on Earth, at $3.5 billion per mile, the first segment of the Second Avenue Subway. The second phase is projected to crush that record. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the subway and commuter rail system, is also some two decades late and $8 billion over budget on the $11 billion East Side Access project, which will bring Long Island Railroad trains into Grand Central, a 15 minute walk from Penn Station where Long Island Railroad trains currently go.

What is undoubtedly clear is every transit project is first and foremost a political project, and political projects are about consensus-building. This gets us not the projects we need but the projects we deserve.

The problem is hardly limited to New York. California’s high speed rail project has given new definition to the term “boondoggle.” And, as Levy has documented, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, and D.C., among others, all build subways and light rail lines at much higher costs than European cities.

“Nearly all American urban rail projects cost much more than their European counterparts do,” Levy wrote in Citylab. “The cheaper ones cost twice as much, and the more expensive ones about seven times as much.” This includes both heavy rail (subways) and light rail. “Only a handful of American [light rail] lines come in cheaper than $100 million per mile, the upper limit for French light rail.”

There are a lot of reasons for this, including:

Over-engineered stations

Arcane labor rules that inhibit productivity such as requiring more employees to work at a machine than is necessary

A lack of cooperation between agencies

But cost overruns are not a new problem for American transit.

“Cost escalation has been going on for some time,” Davis of Eno Center said. The D.C. Metro was initially slated to cost $2.5 billion but ended up with a $10 billion bill. Dating back to the Ford administration, the federal government started changing grant rules so the feds wouldn’t be on the hook for the inevitable cost overruns, leaving any eventualities to the transit agency building it and the local government overseeing it.

Do you work for a public transit agency or a contractor and have any experience with how projects end up costing so much? We'd love to hear from you. Using a non-work phone or computer, you can contact Aaron Gordon at aaron.gordon@vice.com or aaronwgordon@protonmail.com.

Some cost overruns are attributable to unforeseen circumstances, but across the board, we are very bad at estimating how much these projects will cost to begin with. Sometimes, agencies give low estimates in order to make projects more politically palatable, knowing a realistic assessment will get shot down. D.C.’s initial estimate of $2.5 billion, according to George Mason University historian and author of The Great Society Subway: A history of the Washington Metro Zachary Schrag, was “never terribly realistic.”

Depressingly, it seems we gave up on ever building necessary infrastructure for the same price as other countries decades ago. Schrag also quoted Jim Caywood, head of the engineering firm that helped design Metro, as saying “there’s no way in this world that you can build a mammoth public works project such as Metro within a reasonable budget with all the outside influences. They won’t let you do it.”

The Biggest Outside Influence of All

What are those “outside influences” Caywood referenced? The big one is politics.

“Transportation planning is not just a matter of letting the engineers find the best solution to a technical problem,” Schrag wrote, “but a political process in which competing priorities must be resolved by negotiation among interest groups.”

If there’s one point on which all the experts I spoke to agree the most, it is that transportation is politics. A 1988 deep dive into the construction of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system by Portland State University professor Sy Adler found any vague proposal for a transit project, whether it be highway or rail, produces competing coalitions with their own self-interests. Maybe they want to spur development in their own downtown area or make it easy for commuters to live in their suburb. These factions then weaponize the options on the table for their preferred ends. The protracted debates result in entire regions losing focus over why they wanted to build a new transit system in the first place. Over time, it becomes a battle not of which option solves a given problem, but re-defining what the problem is.

Meanwhile, another cohort of interest groups form to stop projects they don’t want. Typically, these are neighborhood associations that don’t want a transit line coming through their block, either out of fear of construction impacts or racist concerns that it’ll disrupt the segregation of their urban area. Sometimes, they are not just neighborhood groups but entire regions.

In the 1970s, in what was later called “referendums on race,” Atlanta’s suburban and overwhelmingly white Cobb, Clayton, and Gwinnett counties voted out of the region’s MARTA system before it was even built. In 1988, five years after voting in favor of a 200-mile light rail system with local financing, Dallas voters refused to approve bonds to pay for construction, growing skittish on the whole prospect due to the oil crisis which hurt the local economy, according to Indiana University professor George Smerk’s history of the government’s mass transportation policy. Seattle, Detroit, and scores of other cities either voted against major transportation projects or approved watered down versions of original plans thanks to local opposition.

What is undoubtedly clear is every transit project is first and foremost a political project, and political projects are about consensus-building. This gets us not the projects we need but the projects we deserve.

To take just one of scores of possible examples because it affected me personally: back in the 1970s the University of Maryland rejected plans to have the D.C. Metro’s Green Line stop on campus, again for predominantly racist reasons. This forced “a complicated redesign” that “later caused commotion in College Park,” Schrag wrote. Today, anyone looking to take public transportation to the university, with 41,000 students and 14,000 faculty and staff, must either take a shuttle bus from campus or walk at least 20 minutes each way. Repeat these fights dozens of times per project and it’s no longer so difficult to envision how they end up getting relegated to land the public already owns regardless of how useful it is like freeway medians or don’t get built at all.

Meanwhile, a great political shift occurred in the United States that made transit’s prospects even worse. First was the Reagan-era movement away from services provided by the government and towards private enterprise.

Transit was not spared. When Miami’s Metrorail opened, Reagan derided the “$1 billion federal subsidy” that “serves less than 10,000 daily riders” as a prime example of government waste. Better for the government to have bought everyone a limousine, Reagan quipped.

Nevermind that all of those numbers were incorrect and deeply misleading because the project hadn’t even been completed yet, according to the Sun-Sentinel. But factual errors aside, there was a larger ideological one. “Even if Metrorail doesn't turn a profit,” the paper said, “it will be performing a valuable service. Without it, thousands of new commuters would be forced back into their cars, making the roads even more overcrowded.”

Ironically, some of the blame for the wastefulness of federal transit money belongs to Reagan himself. He spent considerable effort trying to kill the main transit grant program, according to Davis, but Congress wouldn’t let him because these projects were often popular.

In order to keep the funding going, Congress had to resort to doling out the money through annual appropriations—in other words, the 435 members of the House of Representatives, with all its byzantine committees and rules, deciding for itself which projects to fund rather than career experts in the Federal Transit Administration—through a process called earmarking. In this way, transit projects became just another horse to trade.

“The nature of earmarking is that since there are 435 House districts and 50 states, and only so much money to go around, things get split more widely than they would if the Administration just got to pick a few.” Davis continued: “Ted Stevens [longtime Alaska Senator and chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee from 1997 to 2005] used to put a million dollar grants to little towns all over Alaska. I don't know what the hell they were for.”

Not only did it become fashionable to slash funds for big transit projects, but so too was it the sign of the times to slash agency budgets as well. Expertise then migrated to the private sector, in many cases to the very consultants and engineering firms hired to execute the few projects that got done. As a result, agencies were—and remain—ill-equipped to make big decisions on big projects, who hire those aforementioned consultants, who in turn charge a pretty penny for their services.

Do you work for a local transit agency and struggle with a lack of resources or funding? We'd love to hear from you. Using a non-work phone or computer, you can contact Aaron Gordon at aaron.gordon@vice.com or aaronwgordon@protonmail.com.

“We often don't have really expert public staff making decisions, making some key decisions at least,” said Eric Eidlin, a former FTA planner. “We've given over that responsibility to consultants that have a profit motive. I don't mean to say that the consultants have this desire to subvert the public interest or anything, it's just not their job, right?”

Karen Trapenberg Frick, an urban planner at UC Berkeley who used to work for the Bay Area’s planning commission, echoed Eidlin’s point and said it had a real impact on what agencies were able to do, only further undermining the public’s willingness to give them money for big projects.

“There are certain cities where when I was a planner a long time ago and now, it's the same complaint: we give the city money but they can't move the project through because they don't have the staff to do it,” she explained. “And we don't have the staff to do it because there's been this whole neoliberal mind shift that the public sector can't do a good job.”

There’s a very sad irony here. The Reagan era cuts were ostensibly designed to make the public sector more efficient by harnessing the power of the market, but instead it made public agencies reliant on for-profit contractors that jack up costs, only making government less efficient and more wasteful.

“When there's no in-house public sector expertise, the ability to deliver projects quickly or efficiently is compromised,” Eidlin said. “And time is money, too.”

Who Decides?

So far, I’ve focused on the federal side of things because it has a lot of money and power. But what level of government is the right one to make decisions about massive transportation projects? Although there is no obvious right answer, it feels like the U.S. has discovered an awful lot of wrong ones.

As a nation, local authority is our founding principle. We fought a revolution to achieve it, wrote a (bad) set of rules to maintain it, scrapped those, then wrote a new set of rules we have been arguing about ever since. Most of those arguments have been about whether the federal or state governments should determine how we live.

But unprecedented depressions and world wars have a funny way of harnessing big government power, and the feds continued to flex those newly-discovered muscles as American cities deteriorated in the years afterward. From New York to Los Angeles and in dozens of cities in between, so-called “urban renewal” programs used federal dollars to quite literally tear down and rebuild massive sections of cities from scratch, sometimes in order to build a highway through the demolished portion. One of the many legacies of this program, which destroyed entire neighborhoods, was a growing distrust in the government to sensitively execute centrally planned projects. The preferred remedy was to have more local control, neighborhood by neighborhood.

This approach has its merits, but for transportation it has serious drawbacks. Whether they be subways, light rail, bus routes, or even the humble bike lane, any transportation worth using is a network that allows people to get from one side of a city to another quickly and efficiently. Giving substantial input or even veto power to individual communities along that network undermines the entire concept.

“Transit is fundamentally regional,” Eidlin said, “And I really feel like our general population and our decision makers don't universally agree with that or even had that epiphany yet.”

Just as too much hyperlocal control can stymie useful transit, putting transit under the auspices of entire states can have downsides, too. Several of the country’s biggest transit systems including New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C. are controlled not by local authorities but state (or in D.C.’s case, quasi-federal) bodies. This means taxpayers who don’t obviously benefit from the system pay into it, a constant source of political tension. And when proposed projects cross state lines, it opens up a prolonged debate about who pays for what share, a fight that often takes years or decades to resolve.

Put the lack of funds for transit together with our country’s general desire to give local control as close to the individual citizen level as possible, and we’re left with a contradictory system where every limb and appendage fights the others. The lack of funds dedicated to transit means higher and higher levels of government—the ones with more and more money—often have control over transit, either by law or by practice. But those same agencies must seek local consensus for what are not local projects, a time-consuming and expensive proposition at best and a poison pill at worst.

This desire for local control yields bizarre outcomes. For example, Eidlin is working on a transportation hub project in San Jose, CA. Four different public agencies are involved, each for a different jurisdiction that will meet at the hub (this is indicative of the Bay Area, which has 27 transit operators and 151—yes, 151—transit agencies). As a result, Eidlin says much of the project’s work at this stage is not on the project itself, but administrative tasks to keep all the agencies up to speed.

“We value local control so much and we fund so many things locally that we never stop and ask,” Eidlin said, “what's the right level of government at which to be addressing a public issue?”

How To Fix This

As dire as the American transit landscape is, there are specs of hope. Federal funds are no longer given out through earmarks; that stopped in 2010. Now, the FTA grades projects based on merit. And some metro areas have big plans. Los Angeles and Seattle voters have opted to raise their sales taxes slightly to fund tens of billions of dollars in transit upgrades that could significantly improve their region.

But we need much bigger solutions, not only to build transit systems faster and more efficiently, but to run them better, too. In the vicious cycle of transit funding, agencies that are perceived as wasteful or bad at providing services have a harder time getting money from politicians, which then makes it harder to run a good transit service. This cycle must be broken.

Public transit…ought to be as natural a government service as trash collection.

More money for transit would obviously help. Bernie Sanders has proposed $300 billion for public transit by 2030 and $607 billion for a high speed rail network (Joe Biden, in an excellent distillation of the failures of American transportation policy to date, does not commit any dollar amounts to these issues in his platform, but does commit $50 billion in his first year to repair roads, highways, and bridges). That would be a lot more money where it’s desperately needed, and polling suggests it’s a popular platform with majority support.

The most noteworthy part of Sanders' platform, however, is not the money. It’s the framework under which it is proposed: the Green New Deal.

This, says Florida State University’s Jeff Brown, fits with the history of how big transit projects are proposed. “Transit, in most places, has very much been an afterthought or a reaction to some other perceived crisis,” he said. Traditionally, that crisis has been traffic. For periods in the 1970s and 1980s, it was the oil crises. Sanders, however, clearly puts better public transportation within the framework of the climate crisis.

But the very concept of tying transit construction to a crisis misses the point. Transit does address those issues, but it is more than that. We will never build good transit until we jettison the century-old misconception that it is a business the government happens to run out of necessity. Rather, public transportation is a public good on its own merits, good times and bad. Allowing people to move about their cities cheaply, efficiently, and quickly makes cities more productive and better places to live and has numerous knock-on public health, environmental, social, and economic effects. Public transit funding ought not to be a response to any crisis. It ought to be as natural a government service as trash collection.

On the other hand, framing transit as a fight against traffic is a losing battle, because it doesn’t take very many cars to create traffic. It is, as transit planner Jarrett Walker argues, a matter of geometry. It will always appear to a certain type of person that money was wasted. But positing that transit is a way for city dwellers to live better, more pleasant lives is a winning platform, as politicians across Europe can attest.

We also have to work out what the right level of government is to make transit decisions. New York, D.C., and San Francisco in particular have complicated and bizarre governance structures for their transit agencies. Most of these structures were created in mid-century when good governance types replicated the corporate boardroom as the ideal of good governance. History has proven this approach hopelessly naive. Transit is politics. It’s time to, as Freemark has argued, put transit squarely within the responsibility of one elected official who is clearly accountable.

None of this solves what may be the biggest impediment to good American public transit: costs. The solutions here are not easy. Hell, as Josh Barro of New York has pointed out, and I've also learned, we don’t even fully understand the problem. At the very least, fixing it requires cultivating long-term expertise on the local level so agencies aren’t reinventing the wheel the rare occasions they’re given enough money to undertake megaprojects. It also might require, as Laura Tolkoff of the San Francisco-based non-profit SPUR suggested, establishing governmental entities with in-house megaproject expertise, weaning the transit world off relying on expensive contractors and consultants and onto agencies looking out for the taxpayers’ interest, not the stock market’s.

These are just a handful of the high-level suggestions I learned while reporting this story. I will keep reporting on this and learning more, and you should contact me if you work in a transit-related industry and know anything I ought to know. But one thing we must always keep in mind is the answers are out there.

“[The U.S.] needs to learn what works in Japan, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, South Korea, Spain, Italy, Singapore, Belgium, Norway, Taiwan, Finland, Austria,” Levy wrote. “It needs to learn how to plan around cooperation between different agencies and operators, how to integrate infrastructure and technology, how to use 21st-century engineering.”

To that end, Levy and fellow researcher Eric Goldwyn just received a two-year grant from the John Arnold Foundation via New York University to study why U.S. construction costs are so high. And they’re looking to hire a research associate, preferably one with language skills other than English. “We are particularly looking to extend our coverage outside countries where information is readily available in English,” their job posting for the project says.

“Imitate,” Levy advises. “Don’t innovate.”

Why the US Sucks at Building Public Transit syndicated from https://triviaqaweb.wordpress.com/feed/

[lcohen35]

Assignment 6 Final Draft:How can the responsibility for population control be balanced between more and less developed nations?

Figure 1. “Depicts 320,000 light bulbs, equal to the number of kilowatt hours of electricity wasted in the United States every minute from inefficient residential electricity usage (inefficient wiring, computers in sleep mode, etc.)” (Jordan 2008a).

“Either we limit our population growth or the natural world will do it for us” -Sir David Attenborough (Miller and Spoolman 2016, 119). Maybe the coronavirus is nature’s cry for help...

The world population is approaching 8 billion people (Worldometer 2020). As the population grows, we use more of the earth’s natural resources, our ecological footprints expand and degrade the natural capital that keeps us alive and supports our lifestyles and economies. Three major factors contributed to our oversized population:

Emergence of early and modern agriculture which increased food production

Additional tech helped humans expand into almost all of the world’s climate zones and habitats

Death rates dropped sharply with improved sanitation and health care (antibiotics and vaccines)

It’s unclear how many people the earth can sustain, but there has been rapid population growth in the past 200 years. The world’s population is unevenly distributed between the global north and south, with less-developed nations containing more people. The current view is that we have already exceeded some of the limits of population growth. This is clear in our extreme degradation of the environment.

Figure 2. “Depicts 28,000 42-gallon barrels, the amount of oil consumed in the United States every two minutes (equal to the flow of a medium-sized river)” … “Statistics can feel abstract and anesthetizing, making it difficult to connect with and make meaning” (Jordan 2008b). Chris Jordan has an interesting and effective approach to making meaning out of numbers.

However, our economic view has not come to agree with this. Our unnatural appetite for endless growth is insatiable. The economy cannot grow forever (New Economics Foundation 2020). This growth-based economy does not even prioritize human quality of life for most people. Instead, it relies on the efficiency of workers as cogs in the corporate machine to benefit the top 1%. If society focused on having a more meaningful life, our value systems would be altered (Koehler 2008). We need to invest in social and natural capital rather than just financial capital. We can follow the Netherlands in their Plenitude economy which focuses on well-being rather than efficiency and expansion. This model suggests we hire more workers who work less to increase the number of people in the workforce along with free time of those workers. Our current model does not support this type of change due to the increasing operational costs of labor (New Dream 2011). The Steady-state model, however, would support this type of change. This model suggests we halt the growth of wealth, population and therefore the economy. It was applied to ecological economics by Herman Daly, who recommended government regulate and implement this mode of economics. Measures already exist which lean towards this model, such as the limiting of consumption through plastic bag bans. A movement which represents the promotion of these types of economies is the Degrowth movement of the 1970s. Their 3 main goals were to:

Reduce the environmental impact of human activity

Redistribute income and wealth both within and between countries

Promote the transition from a materialistic to a convivial and participatory society.

The movement  saw the model of sustainable development as an oxymoron, as any form of development was seen as unsustainable (Wikipedia, n.d.A).

The plenitude economy, steady state economy and degrowth movement prioritize the average individual rather than potential stakeholders, and we should use our voting power to vote people into office who advocate for our quality of life. 

Educating and Empowering Women to Decrease Population Size

A key factor affecting birth and death rates is the average number of children born to women within a population. There are two types of fertility rates: replacement-level and total. Replacement-level is the average number of children that couples in a  population must bear to replace themselves (2.1 children). Total Fertility rate (TFR) is the average number of children born to the childbearing population. TFR must equal replacement-level consistently to halt population growth.

The US population is third largest at over 329,000,000 and still growing due to baby boomers and longer life expectancy, immigration (legal and illegal). There is a net gain of one person every 24 seconds due to one birth every 9 seconds, one death every 11 seconds, and one international migrant every 44 seconds (United States Census Bureau 2020). Immigration has made this country more culturally diverse, which increases economic growth as these people work and start businesses. Migration is also a key factor affecting population, but discouraging immigration is not an adequate solution to the population issue.

The more adequate solutions are through reducing poverty through economic development, elevating the status of women and encouraging family planning. Women tend to have fewer children if they are educated, can control their own fertility, earn an income of their own and live in societies that don’t suppress girls and women. Currently, only about 30% of the world’s girls are enrolled in secondary education. Poor women who cannot read often have an avg of 5-7 children, compared with 2 or fewer children in societies where most women can read. This statistic outlines the global need for all children (regardless of gender) to get at least an elementary school education. As women in less-developed nations take charge of their lives and reproduction, populations will stabilize, human health will be improved, poverty and environmental degradation will be reduced and there will be more access to basic human rights.

In addition to educating women on a basic level, family planning can also aid in lowering TFR. Family planning provides education and clinical services that can help couples choose how many children to have and when to have them. Each dollar spent on family planning saves $10-$16 in health, education and social service costs by preventing unwanted birth. However, in many cultures, males dominate impoverished societies, which leads to early marriage of ⅓ of girls.

Women should be given the tools to limit family size such as access to education and birth control (and contraception), however I do not believe anyone has the right to tell a woman whether or not she can have children. It is important that children are not the only option made available.

Green Cities

Populations are especially dense in cities. More than half of the world’s population resides in urban areas. 3 major trends of urbanization include:

The percentage of urban global population has grown sharply and projected to continue growing

Then numbers and sizes of urban areas are increasing

Poverty is increasingly urbanized, mostly in less developed countries

Figure 3. Megacities with 10 million or more people (Miller and Spoolman 2016, 606).

Concentrating people in cities has helped protect biodiversity by reducing destruction and degradation of wildlife habitat. However, older cities have deteriorating services, aging infrastructure and carry beyond their intended capacity. Additionally urban sprawl – the growth of low-density development on the outskirts of cities and towns –has allowed people to live near, but not in cities. This lifestyle degrades natural habitats and forces people to drive almost everywhere. Dependence on motor vehicles for transportation results in high emissions, which contribute to climate change. Some solutions to discourage use of cars have been full-cost pricing of gasoline, tolls, and car sharing initiatives. Mayor Bloomberg tried to implement congestion pricing (a fee on cars entering Manhattan during peak hours) as part of PlaNYC, but it was cancelled due to many complaints from commuters. Additionally, it was criticized because the underlying assumption that people could use mass transit was incorrect; many subways were used to full capacity, and the tracks allowed no more room to add trains  (Wikipedia. n.d.B).

The major urban resource and environmental problems in cities include high levels of resource use, waste, pollution and poverty. It is increasingly difficult to maintain sustainability in the face of growing population and higher resource use per person (large ecological footprints).

Figure 4. Natural Capital Degradation. (Miller and Spoolman 2016, 610).

People living in cities lack vegetation and green space, and don’t benefit from their ecosystem services (air purification, generation of oxygen, removal of atmospheric CO2, control of soil erosion and wildlife habitat). Pollution can be attributed due to the density and number of people found in cities. Poverty is also common, and impoverished city dwellers are subject to severe air and water pollution. A solution to poverty in Brazil and Peru was legal recognition and titles to land. This applied permanence has allowed impoverished groups to improve their living conditions and eventually become productive working citizens who contributed to tax revenues which pay for government programs which can assist the poor. I would argue, however, this is based on the assumption that all people in poverty have a desire to contribute to a system that has failed to serve them, which I’m not sure is entirely accurate.

Cities can become more sustainable and livable through citywide initiatives and lifestyle changes. If people chose alternative modes of transport, recycled or reused most waste, grew much of their food, protected biodiversity by preserving surrounding land, and generated carbon-neutral energy, we would be on a sustainable track. Cities should exist for people, not cars, and environmental justice must be considered through any sustainability initiative.

I believe cities have the potential to exist as sustainability hubs, due to city dwellers’ lack of reliance on cars. However, they should not be the only places where sustainability and sustainable business is supported. We need to balance the avoidance of urban sprawl with the fact that while people don’t want to live in cities, they tend to be the epicenters of success and flourishing economies. 

The question of how social change occurs still remains. If we rely on the government too highly, we may end up with plans that don’t accurately address the problem. On the other hand, relying on grassroots community movements, like Transition Towns, put a large amount of ownness on individual action and self-sufficiency that this economy and society does not support (Wikipedia. n.d.C). The balance of both government and individual action is essential in this movement. Additionally, the global north needs to decrease the size of their carbon footprint, and give back to the communities we have drained of resources for too long.

Figure 5. “Depicts 92,500 agricultural plant seeds, equal to one hundredth of one percent of the number of people in the world today who suffer from malnutrition. To illustrate the entire statistic with 925 million seeds would require ten thousand prints of this image, covering more than eight football fields.” (Jordan, 2011).  

Word Count: 2,200 words

Question: Do more-developed countries have a responsibility to aid sustainable development in less-developed countries? How can they balance doing so with the history of colonization?

Works Cited

Jordan, Chris. “Light Bulbs.” 2008. Running The Numbers: An American Self-Portrait. Online Collection. http://www.chrisjordan.com/gallery/rtn/#light-bulbs.

Jordan, Chris. “Oil Barrels.” 2008. Running The Numbers: An American Self-Portrait. Online Collection. http://www.chrisjordan.com/gallery/rtn/#oil-barrels.

Jordan, Chris. “Stone of The Sun.” 2011. Running the Numbers II: Portraits of Global Mass Culture. Online Collection. http://www.chrisjordan.com/gallery/rtn2/#maya.

Koehler, Berrett. “More than Money- What is ‘The Good Life’ Parable.” YouTube video, 3:05. Posted August 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7JlI959slY.

Miller, G. Tyler, and Scott E. Spoolman. 2016. Living in the Environment: Nineteenth Edition, 119-616. Canada: Cengage Learning.

New Dream. “Visualizing a Plenitude Economy.” YouTube video, 4:51. Posted September 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HR-YrD_KB0M.

New Economics Foundation. 2010. “The Impossible Hamster.” Vimeo video, 1:10. Posted January 2010. https://vimeo.com/8947526.

United States Census Bureau. 2020. “U.S. and World Population Clock.” Accessed February 26, 2020. https://www.census.gov/popclock/.

Worldometer. 2020. “World Population.” Accessed February 26, 2020. https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/.

Wikipedia. n.d. “Degrowth.” Last modified February 17, 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrowth.

Wikipedia. n.d. “PlaNYC.” Last modified November 1, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlaNYC

Wikipedia. n.d. “Transition Town.” Last modified December 14, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transition_town

[jambrass0-blog]

Debt reduction: How to get rid of debt forever

Being in debt is normal — statistically speaking.

But there’s a difference between manageable debt and unmanageable debt.

And you’ll know if you have unmanageable debt if:

You don’t know how much you owe.

You’re not paying off your statements in full each month.

You’re suffering psychologically from it (e.g., losing sleep, avoiding emails/phone calls from bank).

And unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there who want to take advantage of this. These are organizations that prey on people in debt in order to get money out of them — keeping them in debt longer.

Fortunately, there IS hope. Below I’ve outlined a system to help you reduce debt quickly and also give you a look into debt reduction companies so you can make the best choices for you.

What is debt reduction?

Debt reduction is taking proactive measures to cut down the money you owe to creditors. This includes things like:

Credit cards

Student loans

Car loans

Mortgages

Utility bills

Rent

And there are actually debt reduction services out there that’ll help you with this. They’ll work with your creditors to either A) consolidate your debt, B) negotiate with your creditors to lower your payments, or C) a combination of both.

Note: Debt consolidation is the process of using one loan in order to pay off all of your debt. That loan has a lower interest rate than your debt. So in theory you’ll end up paying less because you’re not paying as much in interest.

On the surface, they can seem like a gift from heaven. Angels sent by God to help lift you out of debt forever. What could be better?

Well, there are a LOT of pitfalls that can come with them.

I’ve talked about this before in my article about debt consolidation — but the short of it is this: Many of these companies prey on people in debt in order to get money out of them for as long as they can.

There are a lot of issues with this, but the three biggest ones are:

You’ll be in debt longer. Even the scammiest consolidation services will be able to give you a lower interest rate on your loan. However, they often protract your loan term (the length of your loan), meaning you’ll be in debt longer and end up paying more even with lower interest rates.

You might lose a BIG asset. If you put your car or home down as collateral and fail to make payments, your debtors are within their rights to repossess those assets. Losing a car could mean your livelihood is at stake if you commute to work. And having a house taken away from you could mean homelessness.

Your credit score will drop. 15% of your credit score is how long you’ve held onto a line of credit for. That means if you pay off a bunch of credit and take on a single big loan, you’re going to see a drop in your score. That drop only gets bigger with the more lines of credit you close.

That said, there ARE good debt reduction services out there. The trick is to find a good one that’ll fight for you — instead of squeeze you for all the money you have.

How to find a good debt reduction service

If you want to find a good debt reduction service, look for a non-profit.

These are 501(c)(3) organizations that help provide debt relief through things like:

Consolidation

Credit/debt counseling

Negotiating lower interest rates or total payment with your creditors

Since they are non-profit organizations, these debt reduction services are funded through grants and donations — meaning they’ll cost you little to nothing to use their services.

There are still scammers to be wary of (even in the non-profit world). So to make sure you find a reliable debt reduction service, you’ll need to look out for a few things:

Fees. Yes, you read that right. Reputable non-profit debt reduction services will charge you a fee. These are typically monthly maintenance fees that are relatively low cost. Note: A good non-profit will work with you if you cannot afford it. Some will even waive the fees entirely for you.

Non-profit status. “Well, no duh,” you’re probably saying. But the reality is a lot of scammers pretend they’re non-profit in order to take advantage of people’s goodwill.  

ACTION STEP:  Find 5 – 10 non-profit debt reduction services.

Spend the next week calling them and asking them about their fees, proof of their non-profit status, and what they can do for you.

A good non-profit will spend about an hour on your consultation. Beware of any organization that wants to take your money and put you into a plan right away. They are NOT looking out for your best interests.

How to get out of debt IWT style

If you also want to think about long-term wins, check out my Free Guide on Personal Finance.

Below is our process to help you eliminate debt for good. We go more into this system in our article on how to get out of debt fast — but I’ll give you a solid rundown of it below so you can get started as soon as possible.

Because if there’s one important thing when it comes to getting out of debt/investing/saving/earning/anything finance related, it’s this: It’s best if you do it early, often, and consistently.

Let’s get started.

Step 1: Discover exactly how much you owe

A lot of people in debt don’t actually know how much they owe.

It all boils down to human nature. Debt is a bad thing. Society looks down on people who owe exorbitant amounts of money. So people end up feeling guilty about their debt.

So what do we do? One of two things:

Blindly pay the minimum amount toward bills with no strategy.

Not pay at all because we’re paralyzed by our debt.

You play right into the creditor’s hands when you do this. They’ve designed the system so it’s easier for you to just send in the minimum payment or avoid paying entirely. When you do this, they end up getting MORE money.

You need to fight against this BS. And the first step in doing that is finding out exactly how much you owe. In the end, you’ll probably find that it’s not as bad as you anticipated.

ACTION STEP: Find out how much you owe across all of your debt.

Spend the next hour finding out how much debt you owe. This means calling up your credit card companies or digging up a recent statement. Logging onto your student loan portal to see how much you owe. Or emailing your mortgage lender. Whatever it takes to find out how much you owe.

Add up all of the numbers on a spreadsheet and you’ll have a solid idea of how much you owe.

Once you do that, congrats! You’ve taken the hardest and first step in getting out of debt.

Here’s a handy spreadsheet template you can use to calculate your debt.

DEBT

TOTAL OWED

APR

MONTHLY MINIMUM PAYMENT

Credit card A

$X

X%

$X

Credit card B

$X

X%

$X

Student loan

$X

X%

$X

By finding out exactly how much you owe, you can start to strategically approach taking down your debt.

Step 2: Decide what to pay first

Now you need to ask yourself: Which debt should I pay off first?

And there are a lot of different ideas on how this should be approached.

The standard method involves paying the minimum on all debt, but pay more money to the loan with the highest APR because it’s costing you the most.

Dave Ramsey famously touts his Snowball Method of getting out of debt. This involves paying the minimums on all of your debt, but paying more money to the card with the lowest balance first (i.e., the one that will allow you to pay it off the quickest).

This is a source of fierce debate in debt reduction circles. Technically, this method isn’t the most efficient way to approach your debt since the debt with the lowest balance doesn’t necessarily have the highest APR. Psychologically, it’s very rewarding to see one debt paid off. That’s why it’s the one I suggest.

For more on this, check out my video below.

ACTION STEP: Choose a debt reduction strategy.

It doesn’t actually matter too much which method you choose. The important thing is for you to choose one.

Pro tip: When it comes to your student loans, you can actually save thousands of dollars each year — by paying down your debt more each month.

Let’s say you have a $10,000 student loan, at a 6.8% interest rate, and a 10-year repayment period.

If you go with the standard monthly payment, you’ll pay around $115/month.

But check out how much you can save per year if you paid just $100 more each month:

Even $20 more per month can save you huge amounts of money.

See for yourself by calculating your savings using this calculator.

Step 3: Negotiate your APR to save thousands

I’m a huge fan of taking 50/50 odds if the upside is big and it only takes five minutes of my time.

That’s why I love negotiating my interest rates. The best part is it works surprisingly often — and if it doesn’t, so what? Especially considering you can save more than $1,000 with a single phone call.

Remember: Negotiations are all about being polite yet firm. Remind them that you’re a loyal customer and appreciate their service — but you’d really like to have your interest rates lowered to help you pay off debt.

ACTION STEP: Use this script to lower your APR.

Here’s a word-for-word script that many of my readers have used already to lower their interest rates:

YOU: “Hi, I’m going to be paying off my credit card debt more aggressively beginning next week, and I’d like to lower my credit card’s interest rate.”

CC REP: “Uh, why?”

YOU: “I’ve decided to be more aggressive about paying off my debt, and that’s why I’d like to lower the interest rate I’m paying. Other cards are offering me rates at half what you’re offering. Can you lower my rate by 50% or only 40%?”

CC REP: “Hmmm … after reviewing your account, I’m afraid we can’t offer you a lower interest rate.”

YOU: “As I mentioned before, other credit cards are offering me zero percent introductory rates for 12 months, as well as APRs that are half what you’re offering. I’ve been a customer for XX years and I’d prefer not to switch my balance over to a lower-interest card. Can you match the other credit card rates, or can you at least go any lower?”

CC REP: “I see … hmm, let me pull something up here. Fortunately, the system is suddenly letting me offer you a reduced APR. That is effective immediately.”

Repeat this process for any other cards you can, and then move on to my favorite step.

Step 4: Find the money to pay off your debt

One common barrier to paying off debt is wondering where the money should come from. Balance transfers? Using money from your 401k or savings?

These questions are daunting — which is why I want to address two bad options now and give you some good ones:

Balance transfer. Many people begin by considering a balance transfer to a card wit a lower APR. I’m not a fan of this. Why? Simple: It’s a Band-Aid for a larger problem (typically your spending behavior). Plus the process is very confusing, rife with tricks pulled by credit card companies to trap you into paying more. A better option would just be to negotiate down your APR.

Using money from your 401k. This is also not a viable solution. Not only do you put your financial future in serious jeopardy by borrowing against your 401k, you’re setting yourself for a bad habit of dipping into these accounts whenever you fall into debt. Plus you’ll be heavily penalized if you withdraw from your 401k before retirement age — losing even MORE money. I repeat, do not use money from your 401k.

Instead, I recommend you try four things:

Use the cash you’ve freed up from Step 3. You’re paying less in interest now and should use that money towards taking down your debt.

Set up a Conscious Spending Plan. This is an automated system that lets you know exactly how much you have to spend each month — while also paying off your debt automatically. More on that here.

Tap into Hidden Income. Through more negotiations, you’ll be able to save hundreds per year on things like cable, cell phone, utilities, car insurance, and even rent. More on that here.

Earn more money. This is my favorite way of getting out of debt. You can only save so much money — but there’s no limit to how much you can earn. More on that here.

Download my free Ultimate Guide to Making Money to get more options for increasing your income.

Wipe out your debt — and live a Rich Life

Beating debt isn’t easy — but through a few straightforward systems, you’ll be able to take control of your debt for good and build habits that’ll lead to financial success.

Do me a favor: Write in the comments below one thing you’re going to do TODAY to help get you out of debt. I’d love to hear from you.

Do you know your actual earning potential?

Get started with the Earning Potential quiz. Get a custom report based on your unique strengths, and discover how to start making extra money — in as little as an hour.

Start The Quiz

Takes 3 min

Source: https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/debt-reduction/

[epacer]

Education

Los Angeles Braces for Major Teachers’ Strike

LOS ANGELES — There are 900 schools, 30,000 teachers and more than 600,000 students in the Los Angeles public school system. By the end of the week, a teacher strike could throw them all into crisis.

After months of failed negotiations, teachers are expected to walk off the job on Thursday, in a show of frustration over what they say are untenable conditions in the second-largest school system in the country.

Teachers and other employees in the Los Angeles Unified School District are demanding higher pay, smaller class sizes and more support staff like counselors and librarians. But district officials say that they do not have the money to meet all of the demands and that the strike would do more damage to schools than good.

A strike in Los Angeles would offer a new stage for the national teacher protest movement, which in the last year has driven walkouts against stagnant pay and low education funding in six states. A walkout in staunchly liberal Los Angeles would also signal a major shift in a movement that has spread mostly in conservative or swing states with weaker unions.

Teachers in those states thronged state capitals to picket legislators and governors last year. Educators in Los Angeles, by contrast, are led by a strong union and are planning a more conventional strike against the superintendent and Board of Education, who they say favor charter schools over traditional ones. Their protests could ripple across the state, with frustrated teachers in other cities considering their own labor actions.

Although officials from the teachers’ union and the school district have another negotiating meeting set for Monday, analysts say a last-minute agreement seems unlikely.

The impending strike highlights the fact that despite California’s reputation as a center of liberal policy, it spends relatively little on public education. School spending levels, about $11,000 per student in 2016, are far below those in other blue bastions; for example, California spends about half as much as New York on the average child.

Education advocates on all sides of the labor impasse in Los Angeles say that it is the neediest students who are hurt most by funding constraints. More than a fifth of public school students in California are still learning English, the highest percentage in the country.

“California has been underfunding its schools for many, many years,” said Pedro Noguera, a professor of education at the University of California, Los Angeles, who has worked closely with Los Angeles and New York public schools.

The state has only recently begun to restore deep cuts made during the last recession, when California was hit particularly hard. “It’s not even close to where we should be,” Professor Noguera said. “I would not say that the state has deliberately starved the schools, but there has been no leadership from the state.”

Underlying the debate between the two sides is a situation they agree is a major problem: that high-needs school districts like Los Angeles, where 82 percent of students are low-income, bear the brunt of the burden from the state’s low education spending.

With many wealthy and white families opting to choose charter or private schools, or move to other surrounding school districts, the Los Angeles school district is disproportionately African-American and Latino. A study from U.C.L.A.’s Civil Rights Project found that Latino students in Los Angeles are more segregated than anywhere else in the country.

In other districts in California — Oakland, in particular — as well as in Virginia and Indiana, teachers angry over pay and limited resources have raised the possibility of protests.

“We’ve had a systemic process over the past many years of disinvesting in neighborhood public schools,” said Alex Caputo-Pearl, the president of United Teachers Los Angeles, the main union for the district. Instead of funding neighborhood schools, cities and states had chosen to “dismantle them and privatize them,” he said.

Critics of the Los Angeles union say that by targeting the school district and not the state, the union is misdirecting its ire.

“Ninety percent of our funding comes from Sacramento, and if they were marching there, I would be marching with teachers,” said Nick Melvoin, vice president of the Los Angeles Board of Education.

Mr. Melvoin is a major supporter of the city’s charter schools, but concedes that some of the union’s complaints are valid. When traditional schools lose students to charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately run, they are sometimes left with students who have more demanding needs. Some may be homeless or live in foster care, or have parents who are less involved in their educations.

“I think that’s fair,” he said of the critique. The solution for traditional schools, he argued, was not to vilify the charter sector, but to adopt some of the strategies of charters to compete with them. Policymakers should better regulate charter schools to make sure they do not “cherry pick” the easiest-to-teach students, he added.

The vast majority of charter-school teachers are not unionized (although hundreds of them in Chicago last month staged the nation’s first strike against a charter network). All charter schools in Los Angeles are expected to stay open during the strike.

Just before school began last fall, public schoolteachers in Los Angeles voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike. For months public officials hoped for an agreement, especially after the district offered a 6 percent raise. Teachers in the statewide walkouts last year were largely successful in securing raises, though results were mixed on demands for more school funding and resources.

The Los Angeles union has insisted that it wants more than a raise. Some classes have as many as 45 students, the union complained, and school nurses, art and music teachers must serve thousands of students by traveling to multiple schools.

The union has accused the district of withholding nearly $2 billion in reserve money, but the district has repeatedly said that it is operating at a deficit. Austin Beutner, the district superintendent, says that meeting the union’s demands would immediately bankrupt the district and that the district is already in danger of insolvency.

“We all say we want what’s better for students,” Mr. Beutner said. “We all want lower class sizes and more nurses. There’s no issue between what they want and what we want.”

The union has fought bitterly with Mr. Beutner, a former investment banker who was selected to lead the district last year. “We need to be working ourselves out of a hole,” he added. “I have yet to understand how a strike is going to get us there.”

Because the state allocates money to schools based on daily attendance, the strike could cost the district millions of dollars in lost funding if students stay home while teachers are on strike. The last teacher strike in Los Angeles was in 1989, when schools closed for nine days. At the time, some teachers crossed the picket lines, but there is little sign that any will do so this time. Unlike other states, public employee strikes are legal in California, where unions hold considerable sway.

Many observers say the state’s property tax law is the major culprit for chronic funding shortages in large urban school districts. In 1978, California voters passed Proposition 13, which capped property taxes and drastically limited what the state could bring in for public schools. The law means that smaller affluent suburban communities can raise money for their schools with local bonds or parcel taxes much more easily than poorer urban districts, including Los Angeles.

Both union and district leaders in Los Angeles support an effort to place a measure on the 2020 ballot that would amend the law to allow increased taxes on commercial, but not residential, property.

Many education advocates are placing their hope in Gavin Newsom, the former mayor of San Francisco who will be inaugurated as California’s governor on Monday. But Mr. Newsom has made it clear that he already plans to spend billions in early childhood education and community college, so it is unclear how much new funding he will allocate to K-12 schools.

In the meantime, teachers like Amy Owen are preparing to greet students on Monday after three weeks of winter vacation and then strike three days later. Ms. Owen, who has been teaching in Los Angeles public schools for more than a decade, said it has grown increasingly difficult to live near her school in central Los Angeles on her salary of about $72,000.

“Pretty much everyone at my age owns things, a home or a condo or something, and for me to get that I’d have to commute an hour and a half every day,” said Ms. Owen, 44. “If you looked at my salary just as a number I would be doing well in many places. But in L.A. I am just barely middle class. I understand that teaching is not a profession where you are going to make a lot of money, but we deserve some basic respect.” *Reposted article from the New York Times by Jennifer Medina and Dana Goldstein of January 7, 2019

[askkibbitzer-blog]

Wanting vs Capable: Living on Your Own

I wanted to move out from my parents home at a very young age. To give more insight into my reason of wanting to move out at the age of 12-13 you have to know more about my life and how I was brought up.

I’m a second generation immigrant. Both my parents came from Cambodia and was relocated to the United States because of the Khmer Rouge before I was born. My mother was previously married in Cambodia and had my older half-brother but was separated from her husband during the genocide. 

My parents met in my hometown and started dating and had me. My mom was older then my father by about 10 years. Coincidentally that’s about how much my older brother and I are apart.

Growing up, my family was a mess. My brother joined a gang and started to get into a lot of trouble. My father only knew one way to discipline my brother was by force. My father would beat my brother and threaten to hit him if he continued to do more bad things. Later it would be me in the same situation getting beat and threaten that I’ll be beat if I continued my bad behavior. 

While this was going on my mother was helpless. To her she was a woman and that her role was to follow her husband’s rule and that he is stronger than her and he had more power than her.

When I was 5, my brother got sent to juvie and my parents started to argue more and it escalated to physical fighting between the both of them. I saw and heard them yell at each other, curse each other, made each other cry and also saw them shed blood on each other. 

When my brother was gone, I was the main focus on my parents radar. I wasn’t allowed to go outside, play with the other kids in our apartment complex. I was only allowed to go to school and come back home, that’s it. I was only allowed out only when my parents took me out. Luckily I was able to go outside and hid it from my parents for a while before they let me out. But because of that I got beat a lot for stupid things.

I wanted to get away from everything, to runaway. My parents were always constantly fighting each other and I just had enough. When I got to high school, I lied to my parents more and more so I wouldn’t have to go home. When school would let us out early I wouldn’t tell my parents and just hanged out with my friends. I lied about having clubs or tutors after school, just to avoid going home. I knew when I was a junior in high school that I was going to dorm in college. Somewhere far away, away from them and everyone.

I wanted to move away but something in me told me not to. So i listen to that voice and commuted from my hometown to the big city via train, subway and bus to go to my classes. It was exhausting. My parents were still fighting and it wasn’t until my mother had enough that she moved out. I wanted to leave with her but my father refused it and his word was finally.

During this period of my life, I felt actual sadness. I was sad all the time. I locked myself in my room and only came out to eat and use the bathroom. I let myself starve waiting until my dad left the house before I would go outside my room to eat and shower. My father knew I wasn’t happy with him and when I asked him to let me live with my mother we were both crying. I was crying because I was sad, sad that he wouldn’t let me go. He was sad because he knew he was the one hurting me, but he let me go.

Living with my mother was great at first. I got to experience freedom. My father was not here to tell me what to do or what I have to do. I dropped out of college already and was looking for a job. When I got my first job I was so happy. I was one step closer to moving out. Living with mom was great at first but then I didn’t have any privacy and mom had a bit of a money problem. She couldn’t save money but dad would gamble it away. I came from a family who didn’t know how to manage their money. I had to learn on my own. That was the first thing I had to teach myself before I could move out. 

 I knew I couldn’t move out without a job. So I fixed that by getting myself a job but then I didn’t know how to save my money. I would spend my money on fast food and random things that I wanted. I had to learn how to discipline myself. It wasn’t easy, but I restricted myself to what I could use my money for. I stopped buying fast food and hanging out with my friends. I also started to think of things not in value of money but in time, such as how many hours do I have to work to get that new laptop? I would think of everything like this and see is this worth the number of hours I worked and trust me, working at a crappy place does help.

After killing my social life and thinking of how much time I have to put in to get something I was able to save up and make a big purchase. I bought my very own car. It was my first car and I named him Bulbasaur. I bought him for $600 and got it insured and registered. I paid the insurance and maintenance on it myself with no help. It was at this moment, I knew that if I had my own place I needed to be able to pay my bills. So I got off my dads phone plan and signed up with Sprint (Worst choice I ever made). I realized that my bills was almost my whole months worth of pay. I knew I had to work harder and get more hours at work to make more then ends meet.

I started picking up shifts and would come in when work called last minute. I started working 30 hours each week and would sooner be promoted to a manager. I was making good money and able to pay my bills off and still had money left. I though I was ready to move out on my own, but I was wrong.

I wanted to move out but looking on Craigslist and other sites that showcased apartments for rent I couldn’t afford it on my own. So I had a co-worker who was also my best friend and we decided to live together. It was here when I realize a lot of places require you to have good credit which we didn’t have any. First, last and a security deposit, which could be the equal to the rent, was required to move in. We didn’t have that either! We didn’t want to tell our parents that we needed help moving out. We wanted to do it on our own, but no one told us how important credit was and that you should be saving three times the amount you could afford to rent. No one told us also that your rent should be like two-thirds of your monthly income. We were second-generation and nobody taught us shit! We were fucked in the ass hard.

Fortunately (Unfortunate later), this guy came up to us and said he had an apartment for rent. We just needed to wait about a month for him to fix it up. He wasn’t asking for a deposit or last. All he wanted was the rent for that month, when we moved in. Looking back now, it was a shit apartment. It was above a liquor store and we didn’t have a designated parking lot or space. I parked Bulbasaur in front of the liquor store dumpster and had to over it every morning. It had bugs and carpets that were not changed. Mold was growing on the bathroom ceiling and our oven wasn’t even working. But, I was doe-eyed. The apartment was perfect. We found our own place. Funny thing was we never invited our parents to come over and see it.

Moving in was easy as we both didn’t have much. The hard part and the first sign that we shouldn’t be living in this crap hole was the electricity was still on in the apartment and remained in service until we “moved out”. We thought it was just the previous tenant not disconnecting their electricity service and we would just use it until it got disconnected which never happened but, we needed heating which was gas. We told them the address and they couldn’t find us to service us. They had to come to our apartment and told us that we were the rear and not apartment 2. There was only “two apartments” above the liquor store. This was the first inconvenience of living in my own apartment.

The second one came when we started to get cable and internet. I knew how to set iy up on my own and to save us some money cause we were broke, I opted for us to self install our cable and internet. But, this apartment was like fuck no and when I tried to install our network and cable it didn’t work and we had to go through customer service and have a technician come out. The technician had to rewire things and had to go into the liquor store and needed access to the basement. When following the technician with the landlord into the basement, there was someone living in the basement! The basement was furnished into another apartment I didn’t know about and the backroom of the liquor store was a place for people to gamble!

This was when I knew I had a shitty and sketchy landlord. He didn’t care about us. He only cared about the money we were giving him. But this is what we wanted. We wanted to live on our own. So we ignored it and continue to live in our apartment that was finally service. We had electricity, cable and heat. They only thing was furnishing the apartment, it was hard. We had to go to dollar stores and Wal-mart. Even though our apartment was crap it was ours and we wanted it.

Less than a year later, problems arise. My roommate got a cat and wasn’t taking care of him. It annoyed me that I was taking care of him, when it wasn’t my pet. I was cleaning the apartment and doing the dishes. Half of which wasn’t mine! It drove me mad, but we were stuck together. Both of us couldn’t face to live with our parents again and none of us knew other people looking for roommates but I won’t lie I did try to looking for anyone who needed a roommate. Even though we were the best of friends living with her is something that I would not do anymore. I thought living with my friend would be easy, that we were the same person but,it wasn’t like that. She was getting on my nerves and her dirty habits, and laziness was bothering my living space that I was sharing with her. I was making money just like her and tired from work as well but, I managed to clean the whole apartment and take care of HER cat! It drove me crazy and still I live with her now with two other roommates I know very well and it’s still driving me crazy. I clearly haven’t learned my lesson yet that living with your friends is not the best choice. If anything live with strangers because you have nothing to lose and you don’t have to be friends with this person.

My biggest lesson living on my own for the first time was renter’s insurance and smoke alarms. My apartment got caught on fire due to a candle my roommate left and the cat knocking it down. The whole place caught on fire and we were homeless and my roommates cat was taken to the nearest animal hospital as it was suffering lots of damaged from the smoke and fire. The cat survived but we he suffered from neurological damaged and had to be nursed back to health and rehabilitated to learn how to walk. We both cried at the hospital as the treatment he needed we couldn’t afford it. My roommate had no credit and it was my choice to either try and save him or not. Turns out I had good credit at the time (Not so much now). The fire alarm in our apartment didn’t work and the fire alarms in the whole building were faulty or had dead batteries in them. Going off randomly and making sound that there was smoke but there wasn’t. Make sure your landlord knows about these important issues and make sure they fix it. IMMEDIATELY!

This was a bad time for me. I was homeless. My roommate stayed with her mom for a bit and I kept moving from friends to friends until one friend opened her home to me and I was able to stay for a bit but, I commuted from her place to my roommates brother place to rehabilitate the cat and sleep on the floor to watch over him. My parents didn’t know this happen not until about a year later when my cousin had told them. I didn’t want my parents to worry, I didn’t want to cause them more grief in their life. My parents were finally happily separated, they were no longer fighting which involved me on some occasion. I felt guilty that I was apart of my parents arguing. But this was when I learned that some people in my life are genuine. Those who let me stay with them and help donate to us to get a new apartment (the apartment I live in now).

Living in this new apartment almost a year after the fire at our last place a lot has changed. I asked my other best friend to live with us, my old roommate and myself. Sad to say, but happy it happened I’m no longer best friends with that friend anymore. Living together I learned she wasn’t really a friend but a friend who comes in and out of my life and we weren’t as close as I thought we  were. We didn’t have the same mindset or goals anymore. We drifted apart. My old roommate and I also drifted apart because of the drama that happened between the three of us and we still are drifting. My other best friend moved out and at the time I was unemployed. My roommate and my other best friend paid the rent for that month to cover me. It was the last kind gesture they did for me and that I would let them do for me. 

After the drama disappeared and my roommate and I were civil to each other we received a phone call followed by a letter that we were being charged for the damages of the fire that was ruled as an accident. We were told we had to pay over 50 thousand dollars or they would take legal option. They told us that renter’s insurance would of protected us and lots of people told us we should have gotten it. We resolved the issue by getting in contact with a lawyer who helped us with our case. The fire alarms were not up to code, there was no fire extinguisher and also the apartment was not registered or permitted as a residence or to have people living in it. We got off and that’s all we cared about.

Fast forward to a year later and our lease is over and we are now living on a month to month lease. I’m ready to live on my own and do my own thing. Living on my own is no longer a want but a need.

You need to know the difference of wanting to live on your own and being able to. Wanting is just a feeling but to be able to live on your own you have to be able to handle everything that comes at you. 

Learn how to manage your finance. Budget everything to what you can afford to pay monthly. Make sure you save three times worth of the rent you can afford, that’s the money for you to move in. If you have to CHANGE or DOWNGRADE things in your life, DO IT! Trust me when you eliminate things you don’t need you realize how much money you were wasting and how much you are now saving. Every dollar counts, as it means less time you need to work. 

I decided we didn’t need cable so we cut that and changed to an internet only plan. For electricity we unplug everything we don’t use or when we are asleep also turning off the circuit breaker whenever we can. For heat, we dress warmly or layer up. We leave the thermostat at around 70 degree Fahrenheit and if you are still cold, take an empty two liter soda bottle with hot water from the sink and use it as your own personal heat warmer under your covers.

I changed my cellphone plan from Sprint to Ting. I used to pay like $120 a month and now I pay between $30-$60 dollars a month. I pay for only what I use and I recommend it highly to those who are always connected to WiFi and isn’t on your phone constantly. Even if you use a lot of data it is still affordable. Sign up with Ting using my referral link: https://zm3rcj4e11d.ting.com/ 

When you successfully sign up using my link you will get $25 in Ting Credit that can be used towards your first bill and I will receive $25 in Ting Credit as well. You can bring over any phone number (even your current one) and any unlocked device to Ting. They support both CDMA and GSM phones.

Living with your friends isn’t easy, it can either drive your crazy or you have a crazy time living together. From my own personal experience I would live with a stranger or on my own. It makes it easier and causes less drama, awkwardness and less pressure for you when you live with a stranger or own your own as you don’t have to be friends. All you have to do is be civil and do basic things. No need to hangout with roommate or feel the need to be close.

Definitely get renter’s insurance if you can. Renter’s insurance doesn’t not protect you from being charged for fire damages but it does protect your stuff when accidents do happen like floods, fires and theft.

I hope this post helps anyone who reads this. I like to share my own personal story to those who are looking for help or advice. If you have any questions or looking for any advice, you can ask on my tumblr and remain anonymous. No subject is taboo and nor would you be judge.

Be Loved, Give Love, Share Love.

-Kibbitzer 

[plathwasaperfectionist]

Chances are, if you’re in college, you’re pretty new to living on your own and managing your own money. Especially if you have to pay for things on your own, but even if you’re just making loan money last through the semester, it can be overwhelming. I’ve been paying my own way for almost two years now, and I’ve learned a TON about how to save money, prioritize, and live off more than ramen and bottom-shelf vodka (although bottom-shelf wine is still fine by me). Here are the best tips I have to offer:

1. Cook at home

Meal plans are a rip-off, and ordering food all the time is a waste of money. It’s so much cheaper (not to mention healthier) to buy your own groceries and cook your own meals. Even if you’re in a dorm kitchen with a mini fridge in your room, you can do a lot with some basic kitchen supplies and groceries. I love this website to find recipes--it breaks each recipe down by the cost per serving, so you know exactly how much each meal is costing you. Once you realize you can make filling food yourself relatively easily for a small fraction of what you would pay even at a fast food place, it’s hard to justify the expense. Just tonight I made a huge pot (probably six servings) of three-bean chili for less than 5 dollars total.

(And 1.5. If you commute or have long days, bring food with you. Buy a set of Tupperware with varying sizes (some big enough for salads or soups, some smaller for snacks or sandwiches), and double your recipes so it’s easy to bring leftovers with you to campus every day.)

2. Eat more plant-based meals

Meat and dairy are fucking expensive, and you’ll save money by using less of it or by cutting it out entirely. I’m not talking about buying processed meat-free substitutes because that’s even more expensive. Instead, try using things like grains, beans (dried instead of canned is even cheaper!), or tofu in dishes instead so you can fill up on cheaper food that’s better for you. When you can, substitute frozen produce for fresh to save money too (save the fresh stuff for salads, roasting, or eating raw--those are the only times you can really tell the difference).

3. Stop buying coffee

If you drink coffee daily (I do!), then you should have a coffee machine and make it yourself. A travel mug, real coffee machine (no Keurigs!), and a tub of coffee grounds is way cheaper. At Starbucks/Dunkin/Tim Horton’s you’re paying three dollars a cup for something you could make at home for pennies. Even if you drink lattes/something espresso-based instead of drip coffee, a stovetop espresso maker, milk frother, and a bottle of your favorite syrup works out to be cheaper over time, and you can control exactly what goes into your drink! 

4. Download Honey

Honey is a browser extension that automatically checks for coupon codes/cash back options when you’re shopping online. In my experience, it works everywhere but Amazon (their discount codes tend to be product-specific so the odds are low that you’re buying the exact right thing), but it can net you some pretty major savings with little to no effort.

5. Move the fuck out of your dorm (maybe)

At least at my school, living in a shared dorm room costs literally twice what it costs me to live off campus in a large two-bedroom apartment (my boyfriend and I use the second bedroom as a home office). Also watch out for any school-affiliated apartments that lure you in with amenities like a pool, rec center, or game room--they tend to be even more expensive, and you probably won’t use the extra amenities that often. Do your research, of course, because there are some places with a high cost of living where rent will definitely cost more than the dorms. That said, you’re most likely paying extra for things like cleaning and maintenance when you could easily do that yourself (and not have to share a bathroom with twenty strangers either). Move out, feel like an adult, and thank me later.

6. Take care of the things you have

Even if you’re buying cheaper things instead of investment pieces, if you take care of them they should last a long time and save you money on replacements. All of my furniture is hand-me-downs from IKEA, so when I moved into my current apartment I was extra careful to cover the edges of things made out of cheap particle board and make sure that nothing scratched the paint on my bed frame. Don’t treat anything like it’s disposable--being careless with your things can add up.

7. Thrift stores, dollar stores, and discount grocery stores!

I fucking live for the deals I can find at inexpensive stores like these. Chances are, you have these options near you, but you may not have considered shopping there because your family never did. Keep in mind that just because your parents might be able to afford shopping at Wegman’s or Whole Foods as grown-ass adults, that doesn’t mean your college budget can handle it. Open your mind. Thrift stores are great for clothes (just check for holes, sweat stains, and weird smells and wash before you wear), but they can also have furniture (don’t get anything with fabric, though--stick to all-wooden or metal pieces), kitchen stuff (I got a set of beautiful wine glasses for six dollars one time), or storage containers. Dollar stores are the best place to find cleaning or kitchen supplies, as well as things like Q-tips and cotton balls, paper towels, or little containers to organize with. I would steer clear of the makeup and the food, however. Buy your food at discount grocery stores (like Aldi’s, PriceRite, etc.). While they may not look like the grocery stores you’re used to (at Aldi’s, for instance, they keep the projects in the cardboard cartons they come in to make stocking faster and cheaper), their products are just as good and wayyyy cheaper--I usually pay around $50 for groceries that feed my boyfriend and me for two weeks. If you don’t have a similar store near you, try buying the generic brand of most foods, and sticking to whatever produce is in season--it’ll be cheaper and taste better.

8. Student discounts (obviously)

This is a pretty basic one. I got Microsoft Office for free and a free six months of Amazon Prime (and then a half-priced subscription) with my student email, but you can get discounts at a lot of places. Check this list to see. 

9. Track what you spend and use it to set a budget that includes savings

The biggest thing that made a difference for me was actually seeing what I spent--it was way more than I thought. I hadn’t realized how quickly buying snacks, meals on campus, alcohol, and impulse buys to treat myself could add up. You can use an app like Mint to do this automatically, but I found that using a customized spreadsheet and inputting everything I spent when I spent it kept me the most accountable. I also tracked what category the purchase was (bills/food/entertainment/clothing/etc) and whether it was something I needed or not (groceries and a new pair of basic black heels for mock trial I needed, two new face masks I did not). Once I’d done this for a couple months, I added up all the categories and made a monthly budget for myself, making sure to budget some money for savings and restricting each category some, but not too much. If I didn’t let myself spend some money on makeup, books, or meals out, I’d go crazy--budgeting a small amount for “extra” stuff will keep you on track to save money, but without feeling overly restricted.

10. Credit card points and cash back

If you still use a debit card for everything, get a credit card. Having some kind of credit score is so important for everything from getting approved for loans to renting your own apartment. Just make sure that you’re paying it off on time, not letting a balance roll over from month to month, and not using more than a third of your credit limit at any time. Not only will you build credit, you can also earn cash back or airline points on purchases you’d be making anyway.

11. Take advantage of your school’s perks

I was paying four dollars a day to take the metro to and from campus, which doesn’t sound like much, but it adds up over time (I have classes three days a week this semester, so that’s almost fifty dollars a month at minimum). Recently, I realized that my school has a shuttle that comes once an hour close to my apartment--all I have to do is leave ten minutes earlier every day, and I save fifty dollars a month just by using what my school offers. The same principle applies to things like your school’s gym, free food at events, free coffee or tea on campus, services at your career services office, or even the student health center. It’s included in your (probably way too high) tuition anyway, so you might as well use it and not waste the money!

12. Find dupes

I was obsessed with the trio of serums Glossier released a few months back, but the set cost $65, so I held back. I’m so glad I did, because I found this skincare brand called The Ordinary, which sold serums with basically the same chemical composition for less than $10 each (some for around $5-6). They also come in larger bottles, and I was fucking sold. I’m a sucker for Glossier’s aesthetic, but I’m also broke as hell. If you’re interested in the specific dupes, here are ones similar to Super Bounce, Super Glow, and Super Pure. (ELF’s eyebrow treat and tame is also basically the same as Boy Brow--you’re welcome). So many products in the beauty/skincare realm are marked up simply because of their brand name, and it’s worth looking around for similar things at lower price points--especially when it comes to skincare, if you know the active ingredients in a product it’s easy to find something similar without the gimmicks.

13. Figure out whether you find it harder to spend with cash or card

...and then start carrying that one with you. Most people find it easier to spend on a card than to hand over cash, because you’re limited to the amount you have and you can physically see it leaving your hand. I find it easier to spend cash because I check my bank balance often and I only see card purchases reflected there--for me, it’s easier to hand over cash and forget about a purchase. Figure out which is harder for you to spend on and use that method as often as you can. Leave the other one at home. If you need more limitations, either only bring a certain amount of cash with you or transfer most of your money into savings and keep a low balance in your checking account--you can’t spend more than you make available to yourself.

14. Be prepared to do weird and/or creative things

Ultimately, how you save money depends on what you spend on. I don’t have laundry in my building, and it would cost me six dollars per load to do it across the street (the only laundry machines that are close enough to my building). So, I bought a little $50 hand-crank washing machine and a clothes rack, and I wash my clothes by hand in my bathroom and air-dry them. I also grow things like lettuce and basil in my kitchen windowsill. Be creative, and don’t spend money on things unless you have to.

[newstfionline]

10 Simple Investments You Can Make in Yourself for a Huge Return

The Simple Dollar, 28 Feb 2017

So often, we think of investments as being purely about dollars in and dollars out. If you put $10,000 into an investment with an average return of 7% a year, how much do you make after 10 years? Is it better to pay taxes on that money now, when you put it in, or when you start withdrawing later?

That’s great, of course, but I like to think of investment in broader terms. For me, an investment is when you spend some resource--money, time, energy, goods, personal capital, etc.--and receive something in return for that resource--money, time, energy, goods, personal capital, etc. In other words, almost everything we do in our daily lives can be perceived as an investment of some kind.

I tend to view a good life as being one that’s full of good investments. If you use your resources (money, time, energy, etc.) in a smart way, they’re going to give far more value back to you in return.

This post actually started as a conversation with my children, where I was explaining to them how some of the things you do in life have at least some value that comes back to you later on, and that the best things in life tend to happen when you’re reaping the rewards of having done a lot of those things.

I want to share a list with you of my 10 favorite “investments” that I feel give me the best return on what I invest in them in my life. All of these involve spending some resource that I have, but the benefit I get out of spending that resource is far greater than the cost.

Investment #1: Getting a good night’s sleep, one where you’re not awakened by an alarm clock.

The best night of sleep that you can get is one where you fall into bed and sleep until your body decides it’s recharged and wakes you up naturally. That’s in almost direct opposition to the sleeping pattern of a busy person, which usually involves inadequate sleep and being awakened by an alarm clock that disrupts normal sleep patterns.

The cost: The cost of doing this is losing out on the last hour or two of your day. That’s generally time when you’re pretty tired anyway and aren’t doing anything particularly productive. You might miss out on a window of time to watch a television show or something, but it’s time where many people doze off on the couch or march through some household tasks at a really low rate of productivity.

The benefit: After a day or two of adjustment, you feel substantially better in terms of energy level, awareness, and clarity of thought. The way I describe it is that I swapped 18 waking hours in a day for 16 hours with almost double the energy and much clearer thinking. You also lose that miserable feeling of hearing an alarm go off when you’re really not ready to wake up yet, which means that days start off a little better.

Investment #2: Spending some time outside doing something where you move around

What I often do is go on a walk with my earbuds in my ear, listening to a podcast or an audiobook. I go outside, let a bit of sunshine hit my cheeks and hands and arms, and simply move around. I’ll just walk around the block at a steady pace, admire the environment, and then wind up back home half an hour or an hour later, usually having absorbed some of that podcast or audiobook, and feeling a whole lot better. If I can afford it, I’ll go to a park instead and go on a short hike in the woods--it takes more time but it pays even higher dividends.

Why? There are a number of factors. A small amount of sun exposure each day is very healthy as it promotes natural vitamin D production and good serotonin balance in your body. Mild exercise is also incredibly good for you. You can spend that time learning and keeping your mind active, too.

If you actually have an outdoor task to take on, even better! Get to it! Mow the yard. Rake the leaves. Clean out the gutters. Trim the hedges. Plant something. Detail your car. Anything that gets you outside and moving a little bit each day is a good thing.

Investment #3: Eating simple but varied meals that are mostly fruits and vegetables

There are tons and tons of studies and theories out there on this topic, but there are a few essentials that they all agree on: eat a variety of foods, make the majority of them fruits and vegetables, and try to eat mostly unprocessed stuff. The arguments about whether to avoid wheat and about carb levels and so on are infinite and change all the time, but those core rules seem to stay pretty much the same. So stick to them.

It’s not real hard. Just eat something different at every meal. Switch it up a lot. Try new stuff sometimes to make your palate even bigger. Make sure you’re eating plenty of vegetables and fruits. You don’t have to eat stuff you hate, either. Try to avoid overly prepared or processed stuff, like fast foods or premade freezer meals, but you don’t have to go to absurd lengths to do it.

Consumer Reports sums up the benefits really well: lower blood lipid levels and higher levels of short-chain fatty acids in the gut, which results in lower risk of heart disease, inflammatory diseases, and type 2 diabetes. There’s strong evidence of better brain health in a varied diet that includes fish, too. You’ll feel better and think better in the short term, in other words, and it’ll significantly improve your long term health outcomes.

Investment #4: Apologizing when you mess up rather than passing blame

Think about the last time you heard a blatant excuse from someone who had made a mistake and didn’t want to accept any blame or consequence for it. Did it make you think more highly of that person? What about the last time someone genuinely apologized for a mistake and put it squarely on their shoulders? How did that make you feel about that person?

Now, transition those feelings and imagine you’re the person who made that mistake. Your decision about whether to apologize for your mistake or not is going to decide how exactly they feel about you. Are they going to feel like you do when you witness someone blatantly passing the buck? Or are they going to feel the surprise and respect that you do when someone genuinely apologizes for their misstep and looks to make amends?

The cost: It’s hard to do it. It is really hard to confess that we’ve made mistakes to others. It feels far easier to just pass the blame or kick the can down the road. Apologizing for a mistake you made requires swallowing a lot of pride and it may mean some consequences for the error you made, though the penalty is usually substantially reduced when you make an honest apology.

The benefit: Respect. A lot of it. Almost everyone tends to gain respect for someone who admits a personal error or failing and asks what they can do to fix the problem, especially when they do it sincerely and directly without even a hint of passing the buck. Virtually every relationship in your life moves in a better direction if you apologize for a mistake rather than passing it on, even if you don’t see it on the surface. That type of respect is the foundation of strong relationships. People who respect you will help you in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, and you earn that respect through simple actions of strong character like apologizing for your errors.

Investment #5: Genuinely listening to people and responding to them

People like to be listened to. People like to be valued. People like to be remembered. People like to feel important. When you can do that for people, they like you. Period.

It’s not even hard to do. All you have to do is listen to someone when that person is talking. Don’t stand there thinking about what you want to say next. Just listen. Focus on what they’re saying, try to understand it to the best of your ability, and ask follow-up questions to get them to expand on anything that’s unclear.

When you do that, the person you’re listening to and talking to will naturally like you. They’ll value your presence. They’ll usually start asking for your thoughts on things. They’ll respect you a little and will become predisposed to respect you more.

The cost: It takes some time to just listen to someone. It also means you don’t get to contribute as many of your own thoughts to a conversation as you might otherwise, though when you do contribute, that contribution has more value.

The benefit: It strengthens virtually every personal relationship you have. Listening is like magic for building the strength of relationships. It helps your reputation, as well. Furthermore, you often learn quite a lot about things when you’re listening rather than talking because people give out a lot of useful info when talking.

Investment #6: Living in a place with easy access to work and food and social connection

If you live close to your workplace, you can walk or ride a bike to work, which in itself fulfills the second investment above. It’s also far, far cheaper than owning and driving a car. You can even potentially divest yourself of a car. If you live close to a good discount grocer and, even better, to your social connections, those same features repeat themselves. You invest less time and less money going to the places you need to and want to go. That’s a huge thing.

The cost: You might have to give up some other elements of what would make an ideal place for you to live. It might mean a smaller living space or an area that isn’t your perfect ideal. You might have somewhat higher housing costs, too, depending on where your workplace actually is.

The benefit: You slash your commuting costs. You slash the time devoted to tasks like commuting and getting food. You slash your time devoted to meeting up with friends. You slash your social costs because it becomes much easier to just hang out at each other’s houses or apartments. Simply put, this choice saves a lot of money and a lot of time.

Investment #7: Writing in a journal about what’s troubling you in life

Whatever aspect of your life that you happen to be struggling with, time spent seriously evaluating that problem, figuring out what the true source of that problem is, and then developing a plan to fix the source of the problem is incredibly valuable time spent. It costs you virtually nothing other than a bit of paper and ink and it can help you to resolve or eliminate all of the largest stressors in your life.

The benefit: Your stress is lowered. Almost every major problem in your life is reduced, either in a reduction of the size of the problem or in a reduction of its impact on your life. You feel far more in control of things and feel far more ready to handle things that might come at you.

Investment #8: Building a relationship with a mentor

A mentor is simply a person who serves as an example on how to live and can help guide you along the path of your life. A mentor might be a professional mentor, helping you guide your career or business, or that mentor might be a personal mentor, helping you navigate your personal life or spiritual life. Having a strong relationship with a mentor is incredibly useful, as it becomes someone that can help you steer your ship through rough waters and can point you in the right direction at life’s crossroads.

The cost: It takes time and effort and sometimes some money to build a good relationship with a mentor.

The benefit: You have unparalleled personal guidance through almost every challenge that life deals you, from career crossroads to personal challenges, from figuring out your destination to figuring out how to dig yourself out of a mess.

Investment #9: Building a skill that you don’t have but that you desire

No one in the world has the full set of skills that they need to handle all of the challenges that life throws at them. I’m absolutely awful at starting conversations with people I don’t know, for example. There are some professional skills that I definitely wish that I had, such as faster editing skills. I can name a dozen skills I wish that I had, but that I simply do not have.

The cost: It takes time and effort to master a skill, and it sometimes also takes money when you need to hire a teacher.

The benefit: You add a new skill to your repertoire. That skill, if well chosen, will frequently serve you in your personal and professional life, enabling you to take further career steps, build better relationships, complete a wider variety of tasks, and so on. The benefits very much depend on the skill learned, of course. Also, the process of learning a skill improves your aptitude for self-learning, making it easier to continue to add skills.

Investment #10: Taking a day off but using it meaningfully

Time off almost always reaps benefits. It allows you to relax and unburden yourself from a seemingly endless string of responsibilities, at least for a while. However, it’s very tempting to just waste that day off in idleness. There’s nothing wrong with leisure or hobby time, but that’s when you’re actively choosing to do something meaningful to you. Idleness is time spent doing nothing meaningful to you at all. Choose meaningful things, whether it’s personal tasks, hobby time, genuine leisure, or something else--whatever brings the most overall joy from the day.

The cost: You lose a day that you could have devoted to other tasks.

The benefit: It kills stress and worry like nothing else. It can still be quite productive, depending on what you choose. It can absolutely destroy the temptation to buy things, because the desire to buy often springs out of an unrequited desire to actually do something.

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13 Reasons to Open a Laundromat

Laundry is not the flashiest option for self-employment. Those who dream of owning a small business probably see themselves opening a popular restaurant or working flexible hours as a consultant. Maintaining long days,7 days a week, in a humid, fluorescent-lit mini-mall storefront might not fit the bill.

But laundry businesses can be great investments for the right businessperson. They require a lot of startup capital, but the amount of hands-on investment varies depending on what services you want to offer and whether you want to hire staff. One thing is for certain, though: people need to wash their clothes. Plus, who doesn’t love the smell of fabric softener?

In this article, we’ll look at all the reasons you should consider a laundromat for your investment or small business.

1. Laundromats Are a Necessity

Clean clothes are a household essential. Even in a recession, laundromats will see consistent business—perhaps even an uptick, as households wait to repair their own laundry machines. At most, laundries might see customers waiting longer between trips, but it’s unlikely people will stop doing laundry altogether.

2. Laundry Is Consistent Year-Round

Almost all businesses have to deal with seasonal cycles but not laundromats. Unless you’re in a town with mostly seasonal residents (like a beach community), customers will be visiting your business at about the same frequency in winter, spring, summer, and fall.

3. Americans Have Less Time To Do Laundry

With increased commute times, multiple jobs, and longer hours, Americans don’t have a lot of free time to do laundry. That means they are more willing to pay extra for wash-and-fold services, which more and more laundromats are offering. Some households with their own laundry machines are even choosing to go to laundromats to save time on multiple loads: a row of industrial-sized washers can go through a family’s dirty clothes in one cycle, while a home machine would take hours of separate loads to complete the task.

4. Laundry Can’t Be Ordered Online

Customers can’t order clean laundry from Amazon. When you open a laundromat, you have a relatively captive group of consumers in your area.

The only exception might be laundry pickup and delivery services—however, these services are usually attached to a local laundry business. You can add a delivery component to your laundromat. Online-only services like FlyCleaners are still limited to major cities.

5. Laundry Is Local

There’s not a single national chain of laundromats in the US. There are some small regional ones, but most laundromat owners operate just 1 or 2 locations—so you won’t have to worry about losing customers to the McDonald’s of laundromats. While some neighborhoods have 2 or 3 laundromats competing for business, others are dependent on a sole option. With the right location, you could provide a lifeline to a large apartment complex.

6. Laundromats Are Profitable

We wouldn’t be discussing laundromats as a small business idea if they weren’t lucrative. According to Entrepreneur, most laundromats gross between $30,000 and $1 million per year, with about 35% profit if managed well. This couple describes a case study of $150,000 in annual revenue, with almost $50,000 in profit.

7. Laundromats Can Be (Mostly) Passive Income

A self-serve laundromat requires little active involvement. Someone needs to open and close the business each day, clean up, and collect quarters—and that last task is negotiable if you choose a card-based payment system. Equipment needs to be maintained and repaired periodically. Some owners choose to hire staff for these tasks, reducing their personal workload even more (but adding management responsibilities for the owner).

8. Laundromats Have Multiple Revenue Streams Under One Roof

Dingy, cramped laundromats are a thing of the past. In recent years, coin-operated laundromats have been renovated to feature well-lit, comfortable waiting areas and other amenities. Owners have realized that many customers are happy to pay for diversions like vending machine snacks and arcade games while they wait for their clothes to dry. With fixed location costs, adding these revenue streams won’t affect your overhead much.

However, the most popular amenity addition to a laundromat is wash-and-fold service. This service will change the nature of your business from a self-serve, passive operation to one that requires much more hands-on work and constant attention. But many owners have seen a worthwhile investment and increase in revenue by courting customers too busy to do their own laundry.

9. No Experience Is Required

Few laundromat owners have experience in the business before they buy their first location. Some general familiarity with small businesses is recommended. 

10. You Can Work With Your Hands

Handiness with machinery is also a plus. You can hire a repairman when needed, but many owners find they keep costs down by learning basic machine repair themselves.

11. You Can Use Your People Skills

Laundry owners, especially those with wash-and-fold services, will be interacting with customers frequently. If you enjoy talking to people and learning their needs, this might be the perfect job for you. Soft skills for customer service can come from many industries, further lowering the barrier to entry for laundry workers. 

12. High Up-Front Costs Limit Competition

There’s no way around it: Buying and opening a laundromat requires a lot of money. The industrial equipment is expensive, and many newer laundromats have a large real estate footprint. The Entrepreneur article estimates that laundromats require between $200,000 to $500,000 in starting costs. However, this barrier to entry is an advantage for those who can overcome it. The high up-front costs and relative security are what make laundromats so appealing to people who have saved a nest egg and are looking for an investment or second career.

13. You Can Finance the Investment

Remember, you don’t have to provide the entire half-million-dollar investment yourself—and you probably shouldn’t, even if you could. Use financing to retain some of your cash. If you provide a down payment, you can secure additional funding through small business loans, lines of credit, equipment financing, and more. (Lendio can help you apply to multiple lenders with one simple application.)

For example, this couple describes buying a laundromat for $105,000. With a 35% down payment, they secured a 5-year loan. With additional startup costs of $12,400, they paid $49,150 up front, out of $117,400 total in initial costs.

For all these reasons and more, we hope you’ll give this essential service another look. If you want a consistent, lower-risk business and have the initial investment saved, you could do a lot worse than opening a laundromat.

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