Month: May 2021

2021-05-06T11:01:45

(BPT) – A new survey reveals that people are focusing more on saving money due to COVID-19.

The Coinstar survey found nearly three out of four people (74%) say they are likely to set aside an emergency fund in the future due to COVID-19. The survey also revealed that people who had savings said they dipped into it more than twice over the course of the past year, highlighting just how important a savings account or an emergency fund can be.

The survey also found people reexamining what they spend money on, ways to plan for the future and how to be more conscious of their overall financial picture as a result of the events of the last year. Almost half (46%) of those surveyed said they plan to “tighten their belt” by actively spending less.

If you’re one of the many Americans looking to improve their financial situation and emergency-proof your finances, here are some tips to get you started.

1. Establish a post-pandemic budget

As people emerge from the pandemic, more options like eating out, entertainment and travel are available. Develop a workable budget now, that includes room for discretionary spending, to make it possible to do the things you look forward to when you feel comfortable.

2. Create an emergency fund

This year made it clear that even people with stable jobs can have their livelihoods upended by unforeseen events. No matter how you earn a living, it’s a good idea to have three to six months’ worth of expenses set aside in an account for emergency use only, so you aren’t tempted to dip into it for splurges. Start small by setting up automatic deposits from your paycheck into a special savings account, and save up change that you accumulate daily to add to your emergency fund once a month.

3. Consider selling personal items

In the survey, nearly one-third (31%) were considering selling personal items to help boost their finances. Spending more time at home has made everyone reevaluate clutter in their homes, and reassess what is necessary or useful. Decluttering by selling items you no longer want or use is a win-win — you get a tidier home, along with a little extra cash to save or spend. And thanks to the internet, there are many platforms available to post items you want to sell.

4. Look for the right side hustle or investment opportunity

Over half of those surveyed (57%) have considered picking up an extra job or side hustle. Today’s gig economy is full of options for taking on extra work. From being a shopper or rideshare driver to creating items for sale or caring for someone’s children or pets, it’s important to choose a side hustle that really works for you. It should be something that fits your current schedule and earns enough cash to make the extra effort worthwhile. And if cryptocurrency is your thing, consider making small investments and watch how your investment might grow. You could even have fun dabbling in this new area.

5. Be purposeful with collecting spare change

Make a special place where you keep extra change that piles up. Then you can use those coins to pad your emergency fund, or to pay for extras in your post-pandemic life (such as movies, dinners or gas). It’s easy to save up and use your spare coins, which you can convert to cash or to a no-fee eGift card at a Coinstar kiosk.

You can use some or all of these strategies to help support your financial goals moving forward. With a new approach to budgeting, earning and saving, you’ll feel more confident about whatever the future may hold.

For more information on kiosk locations near you to convert your spare change, or use cash for a bitcoin purchase, visit www.coinstar.com/findakiosk.

2021-05-06T15:01:00

(BPT) – A lot of people take their eyesight for granted, but eyesight allows you to connect to your surroundings, keeps you safe and helps you maintain mental clarity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 12 million Americans have vision problems. If you don’t take the proper precautions to take care of your eyes, you could end up hurting them unintentionally.

Fortunately, eyewear products in recent years have allowed for innovative solutions in the ways we take care of our eyes. Here are some of the innovative eyewear solutions that solve the most common problems:

Switching glasses frequently

Some people need different glasses for reading, computer use, talking with others and more. If it’s bothersome to take your glasses on and off from one task to the next, Multi Focus glasses can help!

The magnification is strongest on the bottom of the lens, and smoothly decreases to about half that magnification at the top of the lens. Whether you’re reading a book, working on the computer or just spending time with a friend, Multi Focus helps you see clearly.

Excessive screen time and blue light

People are constantly connected to their phones, computers and tablets these days, especially those who are working from home or distance learning. And even when they’re off the clock, people are still looking at screens, streaming media or video chatting with a friend.

Fortunately, blue light glasses can help reduce your exposure to blue light throughout the day. Many blue light glasses brands come with patented lens technology.

Active lifestyle and frequently broken glasses

If you’re an avid hunter, fisher or runner, you need eyewear that can protect you from all of the elements the human body and Mother Nature throw your way. Whether it’s your sweat, the blinding glare of the sun or the unpredictability of the weather, maintaining good vision is important for both your health and your survival.

With state-of-the-art performance eyewear from Gargoyles, you can have an undistorted view of almost anything that stands in your line of vision. If you’re looking to get active eyewear, make sure the brand you buy meets or exceeds ANSI standards for durability and clarity. Also, you’ll want to make sure they feel as good as they look.

Harsh sun and eye strain outdoors

Summer is around the corner. And if you like to sit outside, your standard prescription glasses likely won’t protect you. The sun can shine light directly on you when you’re trying to read. And if it’s hot and bright enough, it can be risky if you’re reading for prolonged periods outside.

Fortunately, Foster Grant Fits Over sunglasses can protect eyeglass wearers from the sun’s UV light and provide polarized protection from sun exposure, allowing you to kick back and relax outside while you enjoy your favorite book with ease. Learn more at fostergrant.com.

“Our vision correlates so much with our quality of life,” says Matthew Coon, Senior Vice President, Product Design and Development at FGX International. “When you have eyewear that provides comfort and clarity no matter what you’re doing, the possibilities are endless.”

2021-05-05T21:01:00

(BPT) – Taking your current phone with you when you switch wireless carriers — referred to as “bring your own phone (BYOP)” or “bring your own device (BYOD)” — is an increasingly popular option for those who simply don’t feel the need to buy a new phone. Today’s smartphones are so good, and so powerful, that they really don’t need to be replaced as often as in the past. Plus, it can save you lots of money.

Here are all of the things you’ll need to know to bring your own phone to the carrier of your choice, from unlocking your device to checking for compatibility to picking the right plan.

Make sure your phone is paid off

When considering bringing your phone to a new carrier, the first thing to make sure of is that you’ve fully paid for your device. Most carriers allow you to finance your phone via monthly installments, where the phone costs are incorporated into your monthly bill. It’s easy to forget that your bill is composed of both your plan and your phone costs.

Before switching, double-check your account to confirm your phone has been paid off in its entirety. In most cases, you can pay off the remaining balance of your phone in one lump sum, freeing you of any device-related contractual obligations with your current carrier.

Check that your phone is unlocked

The next thing to do is make sure that your device is unlocked — meaning it is no longer bound to its original carrier network. Phones aren’t always locked, but some are. The lock is a software code that’s put on the phone by the manufacturer per the requirement of the carrier that sells the device. The lock is meant to ensure that the phone can’t be used on any other operator’s network until a different software code is entered to unlock the device.

If you have a device that is locked, you can get it unlocked from your wireless carrier if you meet certain criteria, like having the device paid in full. If you meet these requirements, having your device unlocked can usually be done simply by making a call to your carrier’s customer service department and requesting it.

Checking your phone’s carrier compatibility

While most newer smartphones are compatible across networks, some older phones and devices are limited to operating on specific network technologies (CDMA or GSM). Depending on your phone’s age, make and model, you may need to narrow down your desired carrier list based on which ones support your mobile device.

To find out if your current device is compatible with your new carrier, perform an IMEI check. Most carriers have an IMEI checker on their websites, so you can input the number yourself and get your answer in mere seconds. The IMEI is a unique 15-digit ID number for your cell phone. You can find out your phone’s IMEI number by dialing *#06# on your device.

Find a better phone plan

Once you’ve confirmed that your new provider’s network is compatible with your phone, and that your phone is unlocked, switching is simple. You’ll get a SIM card from your new carrier, and insert it into the proper slot on your device. The process will vary depending on the type of device you have. SIM cards come in three different sizes (Nano, Micro and Standard) and the location of the SIM slot is not uniform, though most are located on the side of your phone.

Carriers today make it easy to switch. Consumer Cellular, for instance, provides both the SIM card and activation on their nationwide networks for free when you sign up using a compatible GSM phone. In addition, they offer no-contract monthly plans which include talk, text and data for as low as $20 a month.

Love your current phone, but not your current carrier? Fortunately, these days it’s easy to switch and save plenty of money by bringing your own phone along.

2021-05-05T10:59:00

(BPT) – Four years ago, Dr. Lakisha L. Simmons was newly divorced, parenting two young kids and living beyond her means.

“After putting the children to sleep, I would be alone at night in that big five-bedroom house,” she said. “I’d just sit there and think to myself, ‘What am I going to do?’”

Simmons decided — as she had throughout her life — to take action.

Her first step was to get a handle on exactly what her finances looked like. She chose to start with Personal Capital, a free online tool that lets her see all of her finances in a single dashboard. After seeing her debts and assets all in one place, she was ready to slash expenses — starting with her hefty mortgage. She downsized to an apartment, got comfortable with budgeting and learned to invest. Within the span of four years, Simmons amassed a $750,000 net worth.

Her message to other single mothers? “All you have to do is take one step forward,” she said. “Just take one step at a time and you will get there.”

Building wealth as a single mom

This past year has heaped financial strain on many parents, particularly single mothers. Among full-time workers, mothers are typically paid only 75 cents for every dollar paid to fathers.

Recent research also reveals a striking longer-term financial impact.

A Personal Capital-Empower Retirement survey found that a majority (62%) of single working moms no longer feel confident in their ability to plan for retirement. Conversely, less than half of the general population (40%) lacks confidence in their retirement plans.

The survey also uncovered that working single mothers, compared to the general population, are more likely to:

• Be paying off a student loan
• Not be able to achieve savings goals
• Anticipate missing a bill payment due to the pandemic
• Say they are “barely surviving” financially

For Simmons, scaling back living expenses was critical to the confidence she now has in her financial future. Although she would’ve been able to sustain her lifestyle, she knew she wouldn’t get ahead.

“For all those years, I’d been working for my money, but now I needed my money to make a return on investment for me,” she said. “It was crunch time — my partner’s gone, I have one income, I have two boys. I have to figure it out.”

Finance tips for single moms

Since selling her house in 2017, Simmons has taken big steps toward her goal of financial freedom.

She learned everything she could about investing. She started side hustles, like writing The Unlikely AchieveHer, taking speaking engagements and delivering goal-setting workshops. She maxed out her retirement accounts, including a 403(b), 457(b) and Roth IRA.

Here’s how she defied the odds.

1. Really look at your financial picture.

“I always say, ‘Get a tool like Personal Capital so you can see and automatically track everything,’” Simmons said.

In order to build a plan, Simmons advocates that people should first know what they have and what they owe, and get familiar with all of their financial accounts.

“I find that so many people just don’t even really know where they stand,” Simmons said. “I’ve had women tell me, ‘I’m afraid to see how much debt I really have’ or ‘I’m afraid to know what my picture really looks like.’ It’s scary.”

She recalls her own financial turning point following her divorce: “I was afraid, too. But I would encourage women, all you have to do is take one step forward.”

2. Get on good terms with your budget.

For Simmons, budgeting is not about deprival. Instead, she refers to her own method of money management as her “budget bestie.”

“You really need to be close with your budget — to know everything that’s going out at any given time,” she said. She uses both online tools and spreadsheets to manage her cash flow, analyze her investments and plan for long-term savings goals like retirement.

Most experts agree that the highest-impact financial action people can take right now is to set aside a cash emergency fund of at least 3-6 months of expenses.

3. Invest in your own future for your children’s future.

As a parent, Simmons believes it’s important to make the big money moves that feel right for you. In her own life, early retirement is important. Once she builds up her nest egg, she knows she has the practices in place to live off it.

Simmons believes in establishing her own financial security so that she can support her kids in their own future goals. Perhaps equally important are the money lessons she passes down.

“When they start working, trust me, they will be helping pay for their own college and investing in their future,” she said. “It’s OK to let your children know that they have responsibility in their financial education.”

All product names, logos and brands are property of their respective owners. Featured individual is a paid spokesperson and not a client of PCAC and does not make any endorsements or recommendations about securities offerings or investment strategy.

2021-05-05T08:01:00

(BPT) – The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our lives in more ways than we could have imagined, but one unexpected impact is the long-term symptoms some people are experiencing for weeks or months after recovering from the disease, a syndrome called long COVID. Researchers estimate 10% to 30%[1] of people who contract COVID-19 develop long COVID after recovering from the disease, with more women reporting lasting symptoms.[2]

Those suffering from “long COVID” experience ongoing combinations of symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, body aches, coughing, joint pain, chest pain, intermittent fever, difficulty concentrating, headaches and even continued loss of taste and smell. Others also report the mental impacts of prolonged symptoms, which include depression, anxiety, changes to their mood and sleep, and a mental “brain fog” that won’t lift. In all, people suffering with long COVID can have up to 200 different symptoms.

Dr. Archelle Georgiou, an author and expert in consumer healthcare, noted that minimizing symptoms and the people who are experiencing long COVID is another unfortunate stage in this pandemic. Understanding that long COVID is a real syndrome, should be treated by experts, and is not imagined may be a relief for some who are suffering with ongoing effects of the virus.

While the number of infected people who will develop long-lasting symptoms is unclear, what is true is those with long COVID can be old, young, healthy or those with chronic conditions. Although many experiencing prolonged symptoms of COVID-19 do not require hospitalization, the ongoing symptoms still have a major impact on their daily lives, livelihood and, of course, health. A recent study of more than 3,700 people with long COVID in 56 countries found that more than half were not able to work full time because of their ongoing symptoms.[3] With symptoms varying from day to day, individuals can feel isolated — alone on an unpredictable journey.

The pandemic has showed us how truly important connecting and seeking social support from your family and friends is as you go through challenging times. Suffering from ongoing symptoms of COVID-19, like any other health journey, can be difficult to endure alone. Access to information and support is a critical factor in the path to healing for those experiencing long COVID-19. There are many resources to read online, however having support from others and a sense of community are also very important. Among the places that provide resources, CaringBridge understands the importance of helping people connect with family and friends during personal health journeys and has developed a new Long COVID Support Center, to keep people up to date with the latest medical research studies, links to support groups, information on finding and accessing post COVID care centers, and advice and opportunities to connect with other users experiencing ongoing COVID-19 symptoms.

Connecting with other long COVID patients in a virtual community is an important way to stay abreast of new health information and a way to get emotional support as you navigate your health journey. Finding social support and connection is so important considering those who are experiencing long COVID or long-lasting symptoms are reporting a rise in sense of isolation.[4]

“Research has shown listening to other people’s stories can improve both mental and physical health. Sharing your story is empowering and liberating and helps not only yourself but others through creating empathic connections and supportive audiences,” said Dr. Georgiou.

In the presence of the unknown of long COVID, love and support can be a lifeline. According to a study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, social support is by far the most important factor for population health outcomes, with 40% of population health outcomes being determined by social support. The power of meaningful connections is real, and the support of a community is crucial as long COVID patients continue through their health journey.