Finance Xpress

A great meal plan can help you eat well while saving money. Here are our top 10 picks for the best meal planning service available online!

If your normal weeknight dinner plans involve dining out or scrounging around the fridge for leftovers, meal planning could be exactly what you need. A great meal plan can help you eat well while saving money.

With so many meal plans to choose from, which are the best? And which one is best for you? We’ve compiled 10 meal planning services, so you can figure out which will work best for you.

The Best Meal Planning Service Available

$5 Meal Plan

At just $5 a month for the service, the $5 Meal Plan is super affordable. The recipes tend towards family-friendly comfort foods, but always include a health balance of fruits and veggies. The weekly meal plan comes with a grocery shopping list, as well as bonus desserts, drinks, or other treats. The plan also offers a weekly gluten-free plan option.

More recently, $5 Meal Plan has introduced a Meal Plan Builder tool. This is great for pickier families, as it lets you build your own meal plan based on the site’s bank of cheap meals. Then, it will generate your shopping list for you.

• Pros: This service is affordable, and it focuses on affordable meals. The plans take advantage of seasonal products and what’s likely to be on sale. So most meals cost around $2 per person. The plan is also great in that it always includes at least one crock pot meal and one 20-minute meal per week. Many of the meals can also be prepped ahead of time for easier weeknight cooking.
• Cons: The meals aren’t customizable and neither are the recipes. (The website, however, offers a few six-week specialized menus, including a paleo option.) In other words, you can’t bump up a four-person recipe to accommodate six people easily. You’ll have to do the math–and adjust the grocery list–on your own.
• Who it’s for: The $5 -Meal Plan is good for average-sized families who are neither super-picky nor super-adventurous. If you don’t mind some cooking on weeknights and your main meal-planning goal is trimming that grocery budget, this might be the plan for you.

Try $5 Meal Plan

Once a Month Meals

This meal-planning service used to be known as Once a Month Mom, and it’s taken off for a reason. At $16 per month (or $170 per year), subscribers to Once a Month Meals get access to a menu, grocery list, and planning materials. You set aside one day a month to cook, stock the freezer, and then have meals for the whole month. Menus include traditional, whole foods, paleo, diet, vegetarian, gluten free/dairy free, allergen, mini, and baby.

• Pros: If you’re just too busy to cook on a typical weeknight, this is a great service. It offers customizable menus that make it easy to change serving sizes for your meals. The service actually plans out your entire cooking day to a T, making cooking as efficient as possible.
• Cons: At $16 per month, this is one of the more expensive services around, though it has more features. Cooking a full month’s worth of meals in one day makes for one very long day and also requires that you can buy a month’s worth of groceries at one time. Also, you’ve got to have a fairly large freezer to store all the meals.
• Who it’s for: This service is great for people who don’t like cooking on weeknights, but can bring themselves to cook once a month. It’s even better if you can team up with a friend, lighten the load, and split the meals for the month.

Try Once a Month Meals

eMeals

eMeals is one of the original online meal planning services, and from the volume of meal plans available, that’s obvious. The service offers a huge variety of menus, from clean eating to low carb to heart healthy to crock pot to vegetarian. They even offer plans in partnership with Health, All You, and Paula Deen. eMeals costs $59.99 per month, with additional options available for lunch and breakfast plans.

• Pros: With all the variety available, eMeals makes it easy to choose a meal plan that works for you and your family. They even offer store-centered plans that bases recipes on what’s on sale that week. Plus, you can swap plans when you want, making it easy to fit meal planning to that week’s particular needs. eMeals will also export your grocery list to shopping apps like ClickList, which can be helpful.
• Cons: With eMeals, you can’t switch the serving sizes. The meals are set to either two to four or six to eight servings per meal with most plans, and you’ll have to do the math to reduce them yourself if needed.
• Who it’s for: If you don’t mind cooking and want some flexibility with your meal planning, eMeals has the biggest variety available. You can easily switch to a 20-minute-meal or crock pot plan on a busy week, and then go back to your regularly-scheduled paleo plan when life slows down.

The Fresh 20

The unique angle of this meal planning service is that it focuses on twenty fresh, local ingredients per week. The Fresh 20 splits the difference between daily meal prep and monthly freezer cooking with a one hour per week prep period to make weeknight meals simpler to prepare. Currently, it offers classic, gluten free, vegetarian, and paleo plans, as well as plans for one person. each plan costs $74 per year or $14 per month.

• Pros: With a focus on simple, fresh ingredients, The Fresh 20 is a healthy option. The one-hour prep period per week helps streamline meal prep each evening, too. When you pay for it annually, the plan is pretty cheap at just over $6 per month. you can also purchase specific plans, including dairy free, kosher, and six weeks’ worth of lunches, for an additional fee.
• Cons: You can’t switch between plans without adding additional costs, and you can’t change meal sizes easily with this one.
• Who it’s for: If you want both a great meal plan and fresh ingredients, this could be a good option. It’s geared towards families who want good-tasting, easy meals, but who also want to reduce their environmental footprint.

Plan to Eat

Unlike the above meal plans, Plan to Eat doesn’t provide the recipes; you do. This app and online recipe planner collets your favorite recipes from anywhere. Then, you drag and drop your recipes onto your calendar-like meal planner. Plan to Eat then generates a grocery list for you.

• Pros: It uses recipes you already know your family loves, which makes your life easier and your dinner more likely to get eaten. Plus, the grocery list it generates is interactive, so you can check off items as you pick them up during the week. At $4.95 per month, it’s a pretty affordable option, too.
• Cons: It doesn’t do all the work for you, like some of these other services. You have to actually have a library of recipes your family enjoys to make this work!
• Who it’s for: This is best for people who don’t mind cooking and have beloved recipes they’d love to eat, but who hate the list-making (and item-forgetting!) part of meal planning and grocery shopping. If you don’t mind putting in a bit of extra work, it’s a great option for streamlined meal planning.

The Six O’Clock Scramble

At $1.44 per week for a two-year subscription, The Six O’Clock Scramble is one affordable meal planning service! The service focuses on healthy meals that are quick to fix, and all the meals include side dishes. You can also customize meals for gluten free or vegetarian diets.

• Pros: It’s very affordable if you decide to opt for the two-year subscription. With a focus on wholesome meals that are also easy to prepare, this is a great balance for families. Other reviewers have also noted that the weekly newsletter that comes with the service is helpful and interesting.
• Cons: Adding new recipes to the pre-planned menu can be difficult, and customization isn’t the easiest thing to do. And if you add a new recipe, you’ll have to print a separate grocery list.
• Who it’s for: The Six O’Clock Scramble is geared towards families with family-friendly recipes based on simple ingredients. If you’re not too fussy about customizing weekly menus, this is a simple way to plan quick weeknight meals.

Pepperplate

Pepperplate is another app that will hold all your recipes. You can create and edit your own or import them to the service by pasting in an URL. The app comes with unlimited library space for your recipes, and you can schedule them as needed. The app also lets you scale recipes, and will generate shopping lists based on your meal plan.

• Pros: As a free app, it doesn’t get much cheaper than this! If you already have beloved recipes you love to use, this is a great app for compiling them and making them simpler to use.
• Cons: This is another app that doesn’t do it all for you. With Pepperplate, you’ll have to take time on the front end to save and import your favorite recipes, and you’ll have to take the time to plan your menu each week.
• Who it’s for: Pepperplate is another good option for those who already have recipes they love on hand. And since it’s free, it’s great if you’re on a super-tight budget that just doesn’t have $5-$10 per month of wiggle room for a meal planning service.

Eat This Much

If you’re on a specific, calorie-restricted diet, Eat This Much may be the meal-planning app you’ve been waiting for. It lets you put in how many calories you want to eat per day. Then you can build out your weekly meal plan with pre-made recipes and those that you add. You can track calories and your weight over time, as well. It lets you filter certain types of foods out of your meal, plan, as well, which is great for low carb diets, vegetarians, and more.

• Pros: The app has a free version, but you can use premium features, including leftover planning and automatic weekly meal planning, for $5 per month with an annual subscription. This app is great for planning meals specific to your dietary style, right down to the calories you eat. It also offers unique features like an option to plan your meals based on restaurants or pre-made meal options.
• Cons: Family meal planning is part of the app’s premium services, so it’s not free. It also will only integrate personal nutrition targets for one person at a time.
• Who it’s for: If you want to follow a specific diet plan, either as a bodybuilder or someone who wants to lose or maintain weight, Eat This Much offers unique features you’ll love. It’s probably not the most family-friendly option on the market, though.

PlateJoy

The goal of PlateJoy is to help you be more joyful about your eating by providing you with meal plans that fit your life. When you sign up for an account, it will give you a quiz that lets the site customize a meal plan for your time constraints, eating preferences, and health goals. PlateJoy also offers a digital pantry, which keeps track of ingredients you should already have in your kitchen. And it automatically minimizes the number of ingredients on your grocery list to minimize waste.

• Pros: With the customization quiz, PlateJoy is likely to give you everything you never knew you wanted in a meal plan. It’s a good option if your family can all fit under the same time, health, and preference constraints.
• Cons: At $99 for a 12-month subscription, this one is on the more expensive end of our list. But, still, if it results in a meal plan you love, the cost could be worth your while.
• Who it’s for: This meal plan could be for just about anyone, since it offers the get-to-know-you quiz when you start your subscription and then bases your meal plan on your personalized answers.

CookSmarts

What if you really want to meal plan and eat at home more, but you don’t really know much about cooking? In this case, CookSmarts might be for you. It includes helpful how-to cooking videos for beginning chefs, making it great for learning how to cook. Other features include weekend prep steps to ease your weeknight meal prep, automatic food waste reduction, and several diet options.

• Pros: This is an excellent option that takes some of the stress out of learning to cook. At $6-$8 per month, it’s not too expensive, either. And customizing your meals is easy, since each meal comes with a gluten-free, vegetarian, or paleo option. Your subscription also gets you access to the archives, so you can shop for a different plan if you don’t like that week’s.
• Cons: CookSmarts doesn’t offer as wide a variety of menu types as some of the options listed here.
• Who it’s for: This one is formulated specifically for beginning or inexperienced cooks who want to cook fresh meals and learn more about specific kitchen skills.

Topics: Smart Spending

The post Best Meal Planning Service: Our Top 10 Recommended Picks appeared first on The Dough Roller.

via Finance Xpress

Posted by: Richie Bernardo

When the mercury drops, some Americans welcome the chill while others follow the sun. But fewer travel options may be available to warm-weather fans this winter season — at least domestically — considering forecasts of lower temperatures, more rain throughout the U.S. and extra snow in some regions compared with the previous winter.

To help Americans plan their travels over the colder months, WalletHub’s analysts developed a ranking of the cheapest U.S. destinations that are also the easiest to reach. In total we analyzed more than 60 of the largest metro areas — grouped as “warm” or “cold” — based on 32 key metrics, including two weeks of flight data, safety indicators and weather predictions.

Compared with other rankings that focus on each destination’s scenic quality, this report focuses primarily on the cost and convenience of traveling to each location as well as its affordability. It also ensures that the number of attractions and variety of activities in each destination will keep everyone busy and entertained throughout the trip.

Read on to find out where to book your next winter escape and to learn how we ranked the destinations. Planning an excursion with the kids? Operating on a tight budget? Make sure to take in the sage advice from WalletHub’s travel experts in our Q&A below.

1. Top Cold-Weather Destinations
2. Top Warm-Weather Destinations
3. Ask the Experts: Tips for Saving on Winter Travel
4. Methodology

Top Cold-Weather Destinations

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/7930/geochart-winter.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://ift.tt/2zkiVjn;  

Best Winter Holiday Destinations for Cold-Weather Lovers

Rank (1=Best)	Cold Destination (MSA)	Overall Score	‘Travel Costs & Hassles’ Rank	‘Local Costs’ Rank	‘Attractions’ Rank	‘Weather’ Rank	‘Cold-Weather Activities’ Rank	‘Safety’ Rank
1	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	77.30	1	23	2	23	2	17
2	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	69.75	24	19	5	16	4	14
3	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	68.86	3	29	6	5	11	2
4	Pittsburgh, PA	68.72	11	9	16	21	5	3
5	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	67.38	23	32	1	10	1	4
6	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	66.87	25	25	3	15	3	26
7	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	66.82	4	17	12	27	10	12
8	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	66.80	17	24	4	6	13	18
9	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	66.72	13	30	7	12	6	10
10	Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	66.61	6	16	9	9	9	21
11	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	66.50	2	20	8	2	8	24
12	St. Louis, MO-IL	64.47	12	13	15	7	12	22
13	Columbus, OH	63.87	15	3	24	17	19	15
14	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	63.39	16	6	22	14	17	11
15	Cleveland-Elyria, OH	62.11	14	18	13	29	14	16
16	Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	61.30	7	7	17	19	15	29
17	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	61.10	21	4	14	26	16	25
18	Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA	60.89	20	2	27	20	24	19
19	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	58.50	5	5	25	28	32	23
20	Salt Lake City, UT	58.39	28	8	18	18	7	31
21	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	58.24	9	22	10	11	18	30
22	Kansas City, MO-KS	58.21	8	15	21	3	27	27
23	Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI	58.07	22	11	28	30	26	5
24	Rochester, NY	57.63	31	12	23	31	21	7
25	Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI	57.11	18	10	19	25	25	28
26	Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY	57.06	27	14	20	32	20	20
27	Albuquerque, NM	54.95	19	1	11	1	22	32
28	Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	53.73	29	26	26	13	23	9
29	Worcester, MA-CT	53.70	10	28	31	21	29	13
30	Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	52.19	26	21	30	4	31	6
31	Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	50.37	30	27	29	24	28	8
32	Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT	41.98	32	31	32	8	30	1

 

Top Warm-Weather Destinations

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/7930/geochart-winter2.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://ift.tt/2zkiVjn;  

Best Winter Holiday Destinations for Warm-Weather Lovers

Rank (1=Best)	Warm Destination (MSA)	Overall Score	‘Travel Costs & Hassles’ Rank	‘Local Costs’ Rank	‘Attractions’ Rank	‘Weather’ Rank	‘Warm-Weather Activities’ Rank	‘Safety’ Rank
1	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	73.81	8	12	5	12	1	26
2	Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV	70.82	5	14	3	4	4	35
3	San Diego-Carlsbad, CA	69.86	13	29	4	8	2	3
4	Austin-Round Rock, TX	69.40	3	22	9	33	10	9
5	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	68.68	14	30	2	2	6	19
6	Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	68.09	1	15	11	31	8	31
7	San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	65.86	4	1	12	37	13	34
8	San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	64.57	18	33	1	16	3	29
9	Tucson, AZ	64.51	16	5	6	5	11	33
10	New Orleans-Metairie, LA	63.16	6	25	7	34	15	30
11	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	63.14	2	17	20	24	12	11
12	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	61.51	10	27	15	13	9	8
13	Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	61.14	7	24	13	3	17	23
14	Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	59.73	10	7	24	21	23	7
15	Jacksonville, FL	58.69	17	13	16	36	16	25
16	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	57.70	15	35	8	27	5	28
17	Charleston-North Charleston, SC	57.23	9	28	14	18	20	21
18	Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	56.35	25	6	18	30	19	20
19	Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	54.30	20	16	26	11	24	2
20	Baton Rouge, LA	52.78	21	21	21	32	14	32
21	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	52.33	12	34	17	6	18	4
22	Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	52.22	24	2	30	10	26	27
23	Killeen-Temple, TX	52.01	23	3	36	23	33	12
24	McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	51.92	26	4	32	19	30	10
25	Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	50.85	28	10	25	17	28	18
26	Mobile, AL	50.83	19	11	22	29	25	37
27	Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	47.92	31	9	31	25	35	16
28	Lafayette, LA	47.87	27	23	23	26	27	22
29	Corpus Christi, TX	47.36	22	18	19	35	22	36
30	North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL	47.32	33	20	35	13	29	5
31	Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	46.70	29	8	37	9	37	17
32	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	45.05	32	26	27	1	21	14
33	Urban Honolulu, HI	44.00	36	36	10	28	7	15
34	Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	43.17	35	19	34	22	34	24
35	Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	42.11	30	31	29	7	31	1
36	Salinas, CA	35.70	34	37	28	20	32	13
37	Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	30.24	37	32	33	15	36	6

 

Ask the Experts: Tips for Saving on Winter Travel

Many Americans travel far during winter either to escape or enjoy the cold, which can be a costly ordeal depending on multiple factors. With budget-conscious and group travelers in mind, we asked a panel of experts to provide guidance on planning cost-effective trips without sacrificing pleasure. Click on the experts’ profiles below to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What is the outlook for the upcoming winter travel season?
2. What are the best travel options for families?
3. What are the best ways for travelers to save money?
4. What are some logistical do’s and don’ts for winter travel?
5. In evaluating the best cities for winter holiday travel, what are the top five indicators?

< >

• Brian J. Tyrrell Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management Studies in the School of Business at Stockton University
• Gail Vida Hamburg Professor of Hospitality & Tourism Management in the Heller School of Business at Roosevelt University
• Robert Warren Instructor in the Department of Marketing at the University of North Dakota
• Karen Xie Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management and Director of Research of West Federation CHRIE in the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver

Brian J. Tyrrell Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management Studies in the School of Business at Stockton University What is the outlook for the winter travel season? Every year we conduct a round table discussion at the university on the upcoming local summer season, entitled affectionately the “Jersey Shorecast.” Inevitably, someone will mention that weather will be an important consideration. Of course, the weather experts have their own challenges in forecasting meteorology, but that doesn’t mean they don’t try. NOAA is calling for a warmer winter than usual because of predicted formation of a La Nina, with early projections suggesting that it will be warmer in ski destinations to include New England, Colorado, Utah and Northern California. Not good news if you fancy strapping on the skis or snowboards. I’m sure hoping that is not the case. Still, this could be good news for those that want to escape the cold for familiar beaches and amusement parks in the South. Meanwhile, international travel to the U.S. was down in 2016 and thus far through 2017, and many blame the political climate. Though the mid- to long-range forecasts for international travel are still positive, concerns of international travelers, coupled with recent unfavorable exchange rates with Canada in particular, present a challenge to the industry. While the Canadian dollar has been making a bit of a rally of late, much of the international travel is scheduled well in advance, so past performance is relevant. A silver lining perhaps is that those that do come will find they can purchase more than expected with their monies, should the current rebound continue. What are the best travel options for families? Activities for the children are often what families are looking for. Searching for packages that include some combination of transportation, lodging, as well as recreational activities is likely the best place for families to stretch their often limited discretionary income. The Internet has democratized this for travel, and folks should look early and often. What are the best ways for travelers to save money? A long-term trend that has been seen for several years has been a move away from longer, extended vacations, say two weeks, and towards long weekends instead. Two working parents are increasingly the norm, so I don’t see this changing anytime soon. Fortunately, the industry has reacted by offering these families, who are often more conscious of costs than those without children, the ability to find affordable options for those extended weekends. Further, if folks are flexible with their dates, several of these options can be had at the last minute. In evaluating the best cities for winter holiday travel, what are the top five indicators? Shopping is a major attractor for those wishing to travel in the early months of winter. One need only look at folks flying into Minneapolis/St. Paul prior to the holidays to see this up close and personal. I recall visiting the Mall of America while at a travel conference and talking with visitors that flew in solely to shop. The emphasis that many destinations place on attracting retail certainly help their cause. Still, online shopping is not going away, and the news for the retail industry has not been the brightest. To the extent that cities can take advantage of those wishing to have holiday shopping be a part of their strategy for attracting visitors this time of year, perhaps they can weather the storm (pun intended). Now, I’m off to New York City myself this weekend to bring my youngest daughters to the American Girl doll store. Gail Vida Hamburg Professor of Hospitality & Tourism Management in the Heller School of Business at Roosevelt University What is the outlook for the winter travel season? There has been a decline of as much as 16 percent in international tourism to the U.S. for two reasons, the travel ban, the Trump presidency, and incidents of mistreatment of tourists at U.S. airports by airport security; and the global economic downturn. Los Angeles, San Diego, and Florida are seeing declines in international tourism. This bodes well for Americans, who wish to travel to sunshine states in winter. What are the best travel options for families?

• Houston, rising from the Hurricane, is expected to be eager to jumpstart its tourism with deals for tourists.

• Egypt's tourism is in dire straits and offers good value. Boatmen on the Nile have reported zero earnings for multiple months, thus it is a good time to see Cairo and the Great Pyramids.

• Cuba is an affordable destination, if Americans can adhere to new restrictions placed by the Trump presidency on such travel, including avoiding tourism transactions with Cuban government entities, doing only people-to-people transactions such as Airbnb, and traveling with sanctioned groups.

• Puerto Rico’s tourism will be promoting heavily in coming months, to stem the anticipated loss of 700,000 hotel reservations and 1.5 million air passengers in the last quarter of 2017. Properties in the Hilton, Hyatt, and International Hospitality Enterprises portfolio are committed to offering full services to guests and accepting reservations. Those interested in helping rebuild Puerto Rico while on holiday may be interested in voluntourism, volunteering in Puerto Rico to provide relief while on vacation.

Robert Warren Instructor in the Department of Marketing at the University of North Dakota What is the outlook for the winter travel season? The outlook for this winter travel season is strong. We are seeing airlines like Southwest and Allegiant adding new travel destinations in such states as Texas, Hawaii and Florida, that are preferred destinations for people from northern states. The National Weather Service’s long-range winter forecast also bodes well, as it’s calling for below-normal temperatures and above-average snowfall amounts for many northern states. The two things that will ramp up the bookings are a major cold wave or snowstorm. Prices are also being held in check due to stable fuel prices and deals being offered by major parks, like Disney. The recent hurricanes in the Caribbean basin will also offer winter travelers opportunities, as the islands seek to attract tourists to help build their economies. What are the best travel options for families? For families, the new Disney rates make visiting the park less expensive at $96 a day per person, and this is staying at a property onsite. Combine this with reasonable airfares on both chartered and scheduled air carriers and it makes the trip affordable. Cruises are also a popular family option, especially on lines that offer separate programming for children. Once again, low fuel prices combined with the need of many islands in the Caribbean will combine to keep prices low and make deals available. What are the best ways for travelers to save money? Being a good shopper will save you money as a traveler. For example, flying a low-cost carrier that flies to a secondary airport in the region like Sanford, Florida (Orlando) or Mesa, Arizona (Phoenix) can save you hundreds on airfare. Similarly, booking a hotel that is a couple of blocks away from the beach or property you wish to visit, or selecting an on-property room that doesn’t face the beach or major attraction can save hundreds of dollars over a stay. Look for online and advance-purchase deals on the attractions you intend to visit, as these are often offered at a discount to the standard price as a way to build traffic and ensure the best use of the property. Finally, avoid places like Palm Springs, California or Austin, Texas when major events are on, like South by Southwest, as hotel rates and airfares always rise during these periods. What are some logistical do’s and don’t’s for winter travel? Do’s of winter travel:

• If driving, be sure to check the weather before departure and have a survival kit in your vehicle containing food, water and means to keep warm.

• If flying, make photocopies of all important documents like your passport, driver’s license and credit cards, so you can easily cancel and replace them if lost.

• If flying outside the U.S., be sure to get the necessary vaccines for things like Hepatitis and tetanus.

• Have fun.

Don’t’s:

• Leave your valuables unattended or flash around large quantities of cash.

• If visiting locations outside the U.S., don’t eat street food or fruits/vegetables cleaned with the local tap water.

• If visiting a salon, be sure they are properly cleaning the room and instruments between visitors.

• Take things too seriously. You are on vacation, relax and enjoy.

In evaluating the best cities for winter holiday travel, what are the top five indicators? The top five indicators of selecting a city to visit, in no particular order, are:

• Attractions -- are there enough things to do in the city and surrounding area to keep you and your family occupied for the vacations? Also, take a look at Yelp and other ratings, to see how other similar travelers have rated the attraction.

• Crime rate -- take a look at the crimes against tourists in the area and how well the local police force is dealing with them.

• Cost -- all in, what is the total cost of the airfare, hotel, meal, entertainment and meal costs of the city you intend to visit? You should pick the city that gives you the best return for your money. It might sound great to visit an exotic location, but the cost might not be worth it. Save up and go another year.

• Weather -- take a look at things like average temperature and normal precipitation amounts during your planned visit. A winter vacation is miserable if the city you intend to visit gets a lot of rain during the time, or can experience low temperatures.

• Fun factor -- look for things that are unique to the city you are visiting and that you can attend for limited or no cost. These often are the most memorable parts of the trip because they provide unexpected benefits.

Karen Xie Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management and Director of Research of West Federation CHRIE in the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver What is the outlook for the winter travel season? As the economy continues to grow strong, the winter travel in the U.S. will likely hit another record high. However, the climate change and natural disasters that come along with it would definitely create some uncertainty in the travel season. What are the best travel options for families? Warm places have been the all-time favorite for winter travel. The versatile attractions in California (e.g., theme parks, beach, hiking) meet different needs of the family members, including adults and kids. California also gives tourists a peace of mind thanks to its safety and security environment. So, it is a most recommended place to check out for winter travel. A package tour on a cruise is also a good option for winter travels. Because of the all-inclusive services provide by the cruise, families can enjoy a stress-free vacation on the sea. Popular cruise destinations include the Caribbean, Bermuda and Mexico. What are the best ways for travelers to save money?

• Book earlier -- time plays an important role in pricing;

• Quote multiple service providers and choose one that offers the best value;

• Specific to hotel booking -- make a reservation early and make sure you can cancel the hotel reservation if your plan changes;

• Specific to flight booking -- use Google Flights because it aggregates all the other booking channels’ information for you in one portal. It is nice and handy.

What are some logistical do’s and don’t’s for winter travel? Do’s:

• Check the weather days before you travel;

• Fly non-stop flights whenever possible;

• Keep yourself hydrated all the time, as winter is dry and cold;

• Buy travel insurance in case plans change due to the weather.

Don’t’s:

• Forget to check the weather forecast;

• Dress up during the travel -- instead, dress as comfortably as you can;

• Save money by not buying travel insurance -- it is worth your money to have a peace of mind;

• Bring seven outfits for every activity/event on the travel agenda -- pack wisely and keep lean.

In evaluating the best cities for winter holiday travel, what are the top five indicators?

• Safety and security;

• Easy to navigate;

• Weather;

• Affordability;

• Attractions that meet your family’s needs.

Methodology

In order to determine the best winter holiday destinations, WalletHub’s analysts compared 130 of the most populated U.S. metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, across six key dimensions: 1) Travel Costs & Hassles, 2) Costs in Destination, 3) Attractions, 4) Weather, 5) Activities and 6) Safety.

We evaluated those dimensions using 32 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most ideal winter travel conditions. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we calculated the population size using the square root of the population in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Of the 130 MSAs in our initial sample, we eliminated those for which data limitations existed. We then classified each of the remaining MSAs as either a “cold” or “warm” destination according to the following temperature guidelines:

• Cold: ≤ 46 degrees F (50-year average December temperature)
• Warm: ≥ 57 degrees F (50-year average December temperature)

Next, we eliminated the MSAs with average winter temperatures of 47 to 56 degrees F, a range we designated as a “dead zone,” with the exception of the top 10 MSAs, which were assigned to the climate group with the nearest average winter temperature if they fell within this dead zone. We chose to include the top 10 MSAs on account of their popularity as travel destinations regardless of the season. In total, 69 MSAs were included in our final sample.

For the flight analysis, we collected data on Oct. 3 and used Dec. 24 as the departure date and Jan. 2 as the return date based on the following assumptions inspired by the findings of an American Express travel survey:

• December is the most popular month for winter-holiday travel; and
• The average American considers 10 days the ideal length for a vacation.

Finally, we determined each MSA’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Travel Costs & Hassles - Total Points = 20

• Cost of Cheapest Flight: 30%
• Duration of Cheapest Flight: 10%
• Number of Connections on Cheapest Flight: 5%
• Cost of Shortest Flight: 30%
• Duration of Shortest Flight: 10%
• Number of Connections on Shortest Flight: 5%
• Share of Delayed Flights: 10%

Note: For simplicity, we recorded only the longest leg of each flight. Given the often stark disparities in flight costs and travel times, we also chose the best deals for each metric within a $30 range or one-hour window.

For example, if the cheapest round-trip flight between Washington and Los Angeles would cost $700 but only $25 more for the second-cheapest fight and would reduce the total travel time by two hours, we chose the latter.

Similarly, if the shortest round-trip flight between Washington and Los Angeles would take six hours each way but only 25 minutes longer for the second-shortest and would save the traveler $200, we again chose the latter.

Local Costs - Total Points = 18

• Cost of Three-Star Hotel Room: 33.33%
• Average Price for Two-Person Meal: 33.33%
• Cost of Living: 33.33%

Attractions - Total Points = 18

• Number of Attractions: 60%
• Diversity of Attractions: 40%Note: This metric was calculated using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, a commonly accepted measure of market concentration that also serves effectively as a general-purpose measure of diversity.

Weather - Total Points = 20

Note: The metrics below are based on WalletHub’s “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking.

1. Winter Weather: Total points 18
2. Warm Weather: Total points 18

Activities - Total Points = 18

1. Cold-Weather Activities
   • Proximity of Ski Slopes: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Ice-Skating Rinks per Capita: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Music Venues per Capita: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Food Festivals per Capita: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Restaurants per Capita: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Availability of Affordable, High-Quality Restaurants: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)Note: “High Quality” refers to a star rating of at least 4.5.
   • Wellness Centers & Spas per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)
   • Shopping Centers per Capita*: 11.11% (~2.00 Points)

    

2. Warm-Weather Activities
   • Restaurants per Capita: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Availability of Affordable, High-Quality Restaurants: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)Note: “High Quality” refers to a star rating of at least 4.5.
   • Amusement Parks per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Amusement Parks” List: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Wellness Centers & Spas per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Shopping Centers per Capita*: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Music Venues per Capita: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shops per Capita: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Tennis Courts per Capita: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Public Golf Courses per Capita: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Baseball Diamonds per Capita: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Basketball Hoops per Capita: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Bike-Rental Facilities per Capita: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Food Festivals per Capita: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)
   • Quality of Parks: 6.25% (~1.13 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for Recreation” ranking.

Safety - Total Points: 10

• Violent-Crime Rate: 50% (~5.00 Points)
• Property-Crime Rate: 50% (~5.00 Points)

 Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Numbeo, White Book of Ski Areas, Golf.com, Council for Community and Economic Research, Kayak.com, TripAdvisor, The Trust for Public Land, Yelp and WalletHub research.

from Wallet HubWallet Hub


via Finance Xpress

The 2018 tax brackets are out. Here are the federal income tax rates and standard deductions by tax filing status and income.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard rumblings of tax reform. Congress is currently trying to figure out how to simplify our labyrinthine tax system. But as that hasn’t happened yet, the federal income tax brackets and standard deduction for 2018 are only slightly changed.

The IRS announced 2018 changes, predictably, in October this year. It cites inflation as the cause of this year’s changes, which is typically the case. Maybe we’ll see a major overhaul in 2019, but we’re not quite there yet.

Remember, these numbers are for your 2018 taxes. So you should look at them if you’re changing your withholding for next year–starting on January 1, 2018. But you won’t actually file taxes using these numbers until the spring of 2019.

Personal Exemption and Phase-Out

For 2018, every taxpayer can take a personal exemption of $4,150, up from $4,050 in 2017. But remember that this exemption starts phasing out according to your total income. The exemption starts phasing out when your adjusted gross income reaches $266,700 for an individual or $320,000 for a married couple filing jointly. The personal exemption completely phases out for individuals earning $389,200 or married couples earning $442,500.

2018 Standard Deduction

The standard deduction is jumping a bit this year–by $300 for married couples filing jointly. Here are the standard deductions by tax filing status:

• Married Filing Jointly/Surviving Spouse: $13,000
• Heads of Households: $9,550
• Single: $6,550
• Married Filing Separately: $6,550

What if you’re still claimed as a dependent on someone else’s taxes? In this case, your standard deduction is the greater of $1,050 or the sum of $350 plus your earned income.

What if you’re one of the lucky ones who can take more from itemized deductions than the standard deduction? The IRS still limits how much you can take from itemized deductions. For 2018, those limits are:

• Married Filing Jointly/Surviving Spouse: $320,000
• Heads of Households: $293,250
• Single: $160,000
• Married Filing Separately: $160,000

2018 Tax Brackets

So how much will you pay in taxes for 2018? Here’s how the tax rate is applied for the year. Remember, the income listed here is your taxable income–not your gross income.

Married Filing Jointly and Surviving Spouses

Taxable Income	Taxes
Up to $19,050	10% of taxable income
Over $19,050 but not over $77,400	$1,905 plus 15% of excess over $19,050
Over $77,400 but not over $156,150	$10,657.50 plus 25% of the excess over $77,400
Over $156,150 but not over $237,950	$30,345 plus 28% of the excess over $156,150
Over $237,950 but not over $424,950	$53,249 plus 33% of the excess over $237,950
Over $424,950 but not over $480,050	$114,959 plus 35% of the excess over $424,950
Over $480,050	$134,244 plus 39.6% of the excess over $480,050

Heads of Households

Taxable Income	Taxes
Up to $13,600	10% of taxable income
Over $13,600 but not over $51,850	$1,360 plus 15% of excess over $13,600
Over $51,850 but not over $133,850	$7,097.50 plus 25% of the excess over $51,850
Over $133,850 but not over $216,700	$27,597.50 plus 28% of the excess over $133,850
Over $216,700 but not over $424,950	$50,795.50 plus 33% of the excess over $216,700
Over $424,950 but not over $453,350	$119,518 plus 35% of the excess over $424,950
Over $453,350	$129,458 plus 39.6% of the excess over $453,350

Unmaried Individuals (other than Surviving Spouses and Heads of Households:

Taxable Income	Taxes
Up to $9,525	10% of taxable income
Over $9,525 but not over $38,700	$952.50 plus 15% of excess over $9,525
Over $38,700 but not over $93,700	$5,328.75 plus 25% of the excess over $38,700
Over $93,700 but not over $195,450	$19,078.75 plus 28% of the excess over $93,700
Over $195,450 but not over $424,950	$47,568.75 plus 33% of the excess over $195,450
Over $424,950 but not over $426,700	$123,303.75 plus 35% of the excess over $424,950
Over $426,700	$123,916.25 plus 39.6% of the excess over $426,700

Married Individuals Filing Separately:

Taxable Income	Taxes
Up to $9,525	10% of taxable income
Over $9,525 but not over $38,700	$952.50 plus 15% of excess over $9,525
Over $38,700 but not over $78,075	$5,328.75 plus 25% of the excess over $38,700
Over $78,075 but not over $118,975	$15,172.50 plus 28% of the excess over $78,075
Over $118,975 but not over $212,475	$26,624.50 plus 33% of the excess over $118,975
Over $212,475 but not over $240,025	$57,479.50 plus 35% of the excess over $212,475
Over $240,025	$67,122 plus 39.6% of the excess over $240,025

Again, remember that these numbers are for the 2018 calendar year. They don’t apply to the 2017 taxes you’ll file this spring. For those numbers, read our 2017 Federal Income Tax Brackets article.

(This information is summarized from the IRS Revenue Procedure 2017-58)

Topics: Taxes

The post 2018 Federal Income Tax Brackets and Standard Deduction appeared first on The Dough Roller.

via Finance Xpress

Posted by: John S Kiernan

We’re each projected to spend about $936 on presents this holiday season. And by year’s end, the average household with credit card debt is expected to owe a record $8,557. In other words, it’s important to keep a watchful eye on your wallet during such an expensive time of year.

So in the interest of helping you give more, spend less and worry about money as little as possible, we prepared the following six holiday shopping tips.

1. Make A Budget & Payback Plan: This might at first seem like broken-record advice, but you really do need to figure out exactly how much you can afford, whom you have to buy gifts for and what other expenses you’re likely to occur. Then allocate your available funds accordingly. WalletHub, of course, makes the process easier on you by giving you a suggested holiday budget. But you should still make plans for how to use it wisely if you want to make everyone, including your wallet, happy.

   After all, it’s easy to get so swept up in the holiday spirit that your wallet wakes up with a nasty New Year’s hangover. That’s one reason why we typically rack up more credit card debt during the last three months of the year than any other time. So if you expect to need more than a single billing period to pay off your holiday expenses, you might want to consider a 0% APR credit card. Just make sure to use a credit card payoff calculator to make sure you’ll be out of debt before regular rates kick in.

2. Avoid Retailers’ Special Financing Offers: If you expect your holiday expenses to lead to a balance that you can’t repay right away, don’t use your normal credit card or accept a retailer’s financing offer. Credit cards typically charge high interest rates – the average is 18% – and if you didn’t get one specifically for financing, it’s probably not up to the task. Furthermore, all of the store credit cards that offer 0% introductory rates use a dangerous feature called deferred interest, which can lead to major unexpected costs.

   Instead, we recommend finding a general-purpose credit card with no annual fee and the longest possible 0% intro period.

3. Have A Rewards Strategy: There is historic value to be had from credit cards right now. The average rewards credit card is now offering an initial bonus of $101.48 in cash or 15,664 points/miles, according to our latest Credit Card Landscape Report. And the best deals give you $500+ in cash or 100,000 points/miles. In other words, the right card could cut the average person’s holiday budget in half.

   Plus, wouldn’t you be excited for a 15% off sale at one of your favorite stores? Well, that’s the discount some of the best store credit cards give you on your first purchase. Even the best cash back credit cards can save you 2% on everything. You just need to apply soon enough to have your new card by the time you do your shopping.

4. Hunt For Deals: The best retailers for Black Friday usually give you up to 70% off. The best Cyber Week deals are almost as sweet, offering as much as 62% off. And those are just the high-profile annual options.

   Retailers also hold more impromptu sales this time of year, and you can often find big-time savings online from sites such as eBay. Furthermore, perusing “daily deal” and coupon sites, comparing prices from multiple retailers, and avoiding last-minute shipping all are among the myriad ways we can keep holiday costs in check.

5. Give Cash: It might seem impersonal, but cash is also much simpler and infinitely more versatile than any other present you could give. Plus, look on the bright side: The U.S. dollar is really “strong” right now, which means gifted currency would be uniquely valuable.

   Gift cards are another good option, especially since the most popular offers have decent real estate value. You can also give gift cards for shares of companies’ stock.

6. Give Back: Roughly 16% of charities receive more than half of their annual donations during the holiday season, according to the Nonprofit Research Collective. So why not join the merry crew spreading holiday cheer to those in need? There are plenty of great causes to choose from if you’re feeling generous, and your donations will help you out come April if you itemize your deductions.

This time of year clearly is quite expensive, but the holidays shouldn’t be about money. There are far more important things to focus on, from family and friends to health and happiness. So try to get your shopping done both early and affordably in order to have more time for the finer things in life. Most presents aren’t worth paying interest on, after all, particularly when your mere presence is likely all that’s needed to bring someone holiday cheer.

Image: Kikovic / iStock.

from Wallet HubWallet Hub


via Finance Xpress

Posted by: John S Kiernan

The holiday season has become a commercial bonanza in which billions of dollars are spent on gifts and billions are added to our credit card debt tab. But that’s not what it’s really all about, and there’s no reason to feel pressured into spending more than you can afford. Because if your holiday budget isn’t as big as you’d like, there are plenty of presents you can give that cost absolutely nothing or close to it.

Below, you can find 16 low-cost or free holiday gift ideas that are sure to spread cheer without giving your wallet anything to fear. Happy holidays!

1. Make Something Yourself: From a high-tech, heart-wrenching video to a knit hat, we’re all capable of making a perfectly good homemade present if we put our minds to it. After all, 53 million people already know how to knit or crochet, according to the Craft Yarn Council, and a pair of needles and some yarn would save you a bundle compared to garments bought at retail. Or a picture – whether painted, drawn or taken – could tell a thousand words while also saving you a nice chunk of change.

   The key is to consider what you’re good and what you’d have fun doing. Then channel that into a meaningful gift for someone you care about. Anything that shows you really care will do the trick!

2. Think Sentimental: Try to remember what your friends and family talk about most as well as some of your favorite memories with them. Then brainstorm memorabilia, mementos and other symbolic items that represent those areas of interest or shared history. Your goal is to swap sentimental value for actual monetary worth, and relatively obscure items that don’t mean much to most people can often be had on the cheap.

For example, you could try to find an original ticket stub from the movie your parents saw on their first date and then frame it, along with a touching quote from the film. If you’re lucky, the frame could prove to be your biggest expense. Even a heartfelt letter to your recipient explaining what he or she means to you could make the perfect present in the right situation.

3. Give Your Time: Sometimes, all those closest to us really want is to see us more. So, for example, you could make a standing date for lunch with your grandmother once a month or plans to take a day off from work for an outing with your child. This will give you something to “give” over the holidays without actually spending any money right now.

   The “being there” approach works for charitable giving, too. If you can’t afford a donation this holiday season, you could always volunteer with a worthy organization. You can double-check whether this makes sense in your situation with our Time vs. Money Charity Calculator.

4. Adopt A Pet: Pet care can be expensive in the long term, and adoption should never be on a whim. But if your family is ready for the responsibility, a new pet doesn’t have to cost much up front. Most animal shelters have an adoption fee of about $250, according to WalletHub research.

   If you want to see the kind of unadulterated joy a puppy present can bring, for example, just search “new puppy Christmas” on YouTube.

5. Donate Blood: If you can’t afford to give money to charity this year and are too busy to volunteer, consider swapping greenbacks and sweat for some life-saving red. There’s always a need, especially if you have a rare blood type, and it only takes about an hour.

   You can easily find a blood drive near you on the American Red Cross website.

6. Do Household Chores: The little things really can go a long way, especially when they’re chores that you don’t usually do. Taking the likes of snow shoveling, cooking, cleaning and laundry off someone’s plate gives that person a chance to relax, which can be invaluable.

7. Give A Massage: This might seem childish, but giving the gift of 10 free back/foot rubs, for example, could still do the trick. But the trick is to only give this gift to appropriate recipients!

8. Re-Gift Something: Maybe you have a spare present from an early office holiday party. Or perhaps you have an unopened, unwanted gift lying around somewhere. A lot of people have gift cards they haven’t used. Any of those things could get another life with someone else. And with some new wrapping, the recipient will be none the wiser. Most stores will even let you trade in their old gift cards for the season’s newest design.

9. Bestow Some Knowledge: Newspaper subscriptions are quite cheap. For example, a year of online access to the New York Times costs less than $2 a week right now. Magazines are pretty cheap, too. You can get 12 issues of Time for $30 and National Geographic for just $12. The prices are even cheaper if you go through a site such as Magazines.com or Discountmag.com.

   You can also get an audiobook a month from audible for $14.95 a month. So if you have a reader (or someone you’d like to read more) on your gift list, consider this option.

10. Gift A Subscription Service: Subscription boxes are all the rage right now, and they have the added benefit of allowing you to spread the cost of your gift over time without incurring interest. Plus, there’s enough variety to satisfy anyone on your list, from Birchbox ($10/mo.) for fans of cosmetics to BarkBox ($20+/mo.) for dog lovers.

11. Give Tickets To A Far-Off Event: If you know someone who really wants to attend an upcoming concert, sporting event, play, etc., for which ticket sales have not yet begun, you could simply give him or her a picture depicting the event along with a nice note. This could also work with a future vacation. But be careful, though, because this approach only buys you time. That means it will only work if you expect to have more cash available in the near future.

12. Turn Possessions Into Heirlooms: If you’re a parent or grandparent, anything that’s yours can have a lot of significance to younger family members. So consider parting with something you already have and can live without that someone else might cherish. This could be something fancy like a piece of vintage jewelry or a worn baseball glove. It all depends on your relationship with the recipient.

13. Scour Secondhand Sales: From flea markets and thrift shops to antique shops and estate sales, there are plenty of places to find old items that you can give new life as a holiday gift. And if you have a good eye, some amazing deals can be had.

14. Redeem Credit Card Rewards: If your credit card offers rewards and you haven’t cashed in your earnings for a while, you could have enough value saved up for a holiday gift or two. Most credit cards let you redeem for gift cards, merchandise and/or cash back. You just need to make sure that you don’t sacrifice value by redeeming for the wrong type of item. Points and miles often are worth more when redeemed for travel, for example.

15. Enroll The Recipient In A Class: Whether yoga, karate, ballet or painting, there are fun activities for people of all ages for which you can register recipients now and pay over time.

16. Just Be There: Presents are overrated. Presence is where it’s at. We spend so much time working, commuting, sleeping and engrossed in technology that we hardly get to spend quality time with those we love. So don’t sweat not having a gift as long as you put in some quality in-person face time.

Hopefully, this list of low-cost holiday gift ideas will help you have the happiest of holiday seasons! And if you have some inexpensive-present suggestions that you’d like to add, be sure to share them in the comments section below.

Image: Michelle Schiro / iStock

from Wallet HubWallet Hub


via Finance Xpress

You already rely on bank loans for your mortgage and credit cards, so when you are ready to start your business, you are likely less than eager to look to your bank for help. Business loans through banks and similar major financial institutions are popular, but they can be difficult to acquire — especially if …

Can You Fund Your Business Without a Bank?Read More »

The post Can You Fund Your Business Without a Bank? appeared first on Cash Cow Couple.

via Finance Xpress

When you put together a list of your financial goals for the future, you often realize that to get to where you want to go, you need to head back to school. Having the right education for your dream job is often a key part of becoming financially stable, yet unfortunately going back to school …

Tips for Keeping Your Finances on Track when You Need to Go Back to SchoolRead More »

The post Tips for Keeping Your Finances on Track when You Need to Go Back to School appeared first on Cash Cow Couple.

via Finance Xpress

Posted by: Richie Bernardo

Urbanization might be the trend for much of the population, but not everyone craves the bright lights and crowded spaces of the big metropolis. For those who appreciate more wiggle room, fewer degrees of separation and shorter commutes, small-city life can be tough to beat. And those are just a few of its advantages. Granted, these little urban areas demand some tradeoffs, too, such as fewer restaurant options or shorter business hours.

But one of the best perks of living in a city with a relatively smaller population? Affordability. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the cost of living for a two-parent, two-child family in Hanford, California, for instance, would be nearly 1 percent less than the median U.S. household budget of $5,312, compared with 44 percent more for the same family in San Francisco. Even with a lighter wallet, anyone can enjoy a comparable, or even better, quality of life for much less in a cozy place like Hanford.

No two small cities are made equal, though, so which ones outshine the rest? To find out, WalletHub’s analysts compared more than 1,200 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 based on 33 key indicators of livability. They range from housing costs to school-system quality to restaurants per capita. Read on for the winners, additional insight from our panel of experts and a full description of our methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

Given the large sample of cities ranked in this study, we grouped cities by percentile. The 99th percentile represents the top 1 percent of small cities in America.

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/16581/geochart-small.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://ift.tt/2ifBASc;  

 

Ask the Experts

Living in a small city can be fulfilling, but it comes with challenges as well. For additional insight, we asked a panel of experts in fields such as urban development and public safety to share their thoughts on the pros and cons of small-city life and how to make these areas more attractive to prospective dwellers. Click on the experts’ profiles below to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What are the most important financial factors to consider when deciding where to live?
2. What are the benefits and drawbacks of living in a small city versus a large city?
3. In evaluating the best small cities to live in, what are the top five indicators?
4. What can local policymakers do to attract and retain new residents in small cities?

< >

• Benjamin Y. Clark Assistant Professor of Public Administration in the Department of Planning, Public Policy, and Management at the University of Oregon
• Ezra Haber Glenn Lecturer in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Douglas D. Perkins Professor of Human & Organizational Development in the Peabody College at Vanderbilt University
• Shoshanah B.D. Goldberg-Miller Assistant Professor in the Department of Arts Administration, Education and Policy at The Ohio State University
• Siddhartha Sen Professor and Interim Assistant Dean of the School of Architecture and Planning at Morgan State University
• Susan Bradbury Professor in the Department of Community & Regional Planning at Iowa State University, College of Design

Benjamin Y. Clark Assistant Professor of Public Administration in the Department of Planning, Public Policy, and Management at the University of Oregon What are the most important financial factors to consider when deciding where to live? The decision of where to live should be comprehensive. I would never recommend someone move to a location just because it has low taxes, for example. Low taxes frequently means that you have limited services delivered by your local government. It is important to look at the bundle of services provided locally to find the combination that meets your needs, with some eye toward the cost of those services relative to housing costs. It is difficult for the layman to quickly assess the future trajectory of taxes because financial reporting is rather complex and directed toward experts rather than every day citizens. What are the benefits of living in a small city versus a large city? What are the drawbacks? Small city living often provides one with more manageable commutes – assuming you are not commuting to the big city for work. Small city living gives you more and easier access to your local leaders. Small city living frequently means more personalized services from your local government. On the other hand, large cities are afforded economies of scale, making the delivery of services cheaper (per person) relative to small cities. This means that large cities will be able to offer a wider range of services than smaller cities, but often in these circumstances you’ll get less personalized services since the population is much larger. In evaluating the best small cities to live in, what are the top five indicators?

• Quality of infrastructure.
• Quality of schools.
• Quality/Variety of entertainment and arts.
• Economic/Job opportunities.

What can local policymakers do to attract and retain new residents in small cities? Don’t just focus on taxes or tax breaks as a way to lure residents to your town. This is a trap that is not sustainable and only encourages people to shop tax rates, so these folks may move when they get a better offer. For long-term sustainability, policymakers need to think holistically about infrastructure (roads, bridges, parks, water/sewer, etc.), schools, and economic opportunity. Increasingly, walkability and transportation alternatives are becoming very important — particularly for millennials who are demanding walkable and bike friendly living. Shifting zoning regulations towards a scheme that allows for mixed use development will become more important, even in small towns. Ezra Haber Glenn Lecturer in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology What are the most important financial factors to consider when deciding where to live? First, I don't think that financial factors are necessarily the most important factors -- far more important for most people (both rich and poor and in between) relate to culture, weather, history, family, and the like. People often live in places that economists (or their idealized "rational actors") would not choose -- we're a perverse, fickle species, which is what makes us charming. That said, to answer your question, the most important financial factors are (1) cost of housing, (2) employment options, and (3) relative incomes in the region. My sense is that far too often, people (including residents, politicians, journalists) have a hard time thinking about how these three factors relate: employment and wages may be high, but that drives up the cost of housing (especially in older cities where housing development is slow or nonexistent), which has the effect of pushing out lower-wage workers. This can then make the area "unlivable" for many, even though in theory the economy is strong. (At the same time, many people -- rich and poor alike) will decide to pay more for housing in order to have access to the other benefits of these areas, leading to a population that may be extremely "rent burdened" (which leads to other problems -- no money to spend on much else). What are the benefits of living in a small city versus a large city? What are the drawbacks? My sense is that for the past generation or two, smaller cities tend to give more of the benefits of urban living (jobs, density, culture) without the perceived drawbacks (congestion, unaffordability, crime, pollution, noise), and they can often be more responsive to the concerns of voters and residents, but they may also have less "ballast" and be susceptible to economic shocks. In addition, the recent trend for wealthy people to move back to larger cities (coupled with the "suburbanization of the poor") may be confusing this trend as well -- it may be that we are concentrating our richest residents into our largest/richest cities, leaving smaller cities further behind without the resources to revitalize when industry leaves. In evaluating the best small cities to live in, what are the top five indicators? It depends entirely on who you are. Schools? Parks? Do you have a steady job, or are you looking for one? Can you afford to buy a house, or will you be a renter? Are you a minority that needs to worry about segregation and racial prejudice against you? Unfortunately, we live in an extremely unequal country, which makes it impossible to talk about what is best without asking, "best for whom?" What can local policymakers do to attract and retain new residents in small cities? Focus on supporting and retaining existing residents and the rest will do itself. Be your own city, don't try to reinvent yourself. Diversify your economic base, and never put all your economic eggs into one industry or company. Focus on the basics – quality education, fill the potholes, deliver fair and just policing, provide clean water and efficient public services; don't be afraid to charge the taxes that it takes to deliver these things -- good government costs money, and taxes pay for it, and smart businesses and residents understand this. Douglas D. Perkins Professor of Human & Organizational Development in the Peabody College at Vanderbilt University What are the most important financial factors to consider when deciding where to live? As anywhere else, compare your salary or wages (which will likely be lower than in a big city) to the local cost of living (which should also be lower). If in a region with rising housing costs, try to buy rather than rent. What are the benefits of living in a small city versus a large city? What are the drawbacks? Benefits are typically lower costs, greater safety, ease and speed of getting around, including parking and no traffic. Drawbacks are that local employment may be limited and schools may not be as strong unless the town/small city is near a larger one and has commuters. Thus, generally, the less isolated the small city, the better. In evaluating the best small cities to live in, what are the top five indicators? Good schools; stable, living-wage employment; vibrant business/civic center; usable, clean, attractive open space; sensible planning and zoning based on strong social capital (sense of community, neighboring, citizen participation, empowered community). A strong anchoring institution, such as a college, is often a benefit to all of the above. What can local policymakers do to attract and retain new residents in small cities? Work to attract employment while planning for affordable housing and keeping environment clean and healthy (i.e., not heavy industry employment, which may not be economically stable anyway). Shoshanah B.D. Goldberg-Miller Assistant Professor in the Department of Arts Administration, Education and Policy at The Ohio State University What are the most important financial factors to consider when deciding where to live? The two key aspects are:

1. Can you make a living there? Are there enough job opportunities so that you can ensure you will be able to find employment?
2. Are there places you will like to spend your money? Things such as affordable housing or rental properties, places to buy groceries, cultural amenities such as arts districts, boutiques, music venues, and entertainment options.

What are the benefits of living in a small city versus a large city? What are the drawbacks? Small cities are wonderful places to navigate, make friends and build community. They are less dense, so it is easier to get around. Since there are fewer people, those living there really want to make connections and keep them. Larger cities have more options, more density and more vibrancy. They also may have better public transportation, which can be one of the drawbacks to living in smaller cities. In evaluating the best small cities to live in, what are the top five indicators?

1. Does it have great creative sector options? Festivals, art galleries, high-end restaurants, small boutiques, live music, great architecture.
2. Are there livable neighborhoods? Green space, walkable communities and places to shop for groceries nearby the home.
3. Does the city have a sense of pride? Is it a place people love to live? Does it "like itself"?
4. Is it known as an economic engine? Is unemployment fairly low? Is the city concerned about the welfare of its poorest, or does it ignore the so-called "wicked problems," such as unemployment, poverty and lack of education?
5. Can you get around the city? Is it walkable, bike-able and does it have a great mass transit system, or busses and light rail? Does it have green spaces, parks and places that can contribute to your health and wellbeing?

What can local policymakers do to attract and retain new residents in small cities?

1. Think about the city as a whole -- not just the wealthiest taxpayers. Be seen as a "city that cares."
2. Ensure that there are places to create and places to consume creativity. Promote your artists and creative workers, Make sure that there are opportunities for the public and creatives to mix; street fairs, cultural districts, gallery hop events. Promote your city as a creative hub.
3. Think about walkability. Make sure that your city is not just a place for people to come to work, and then to commute home. See your city center as the heart of your city, and promote the downtown as a place to live and to play. Draw in all generations to gather, cluster and keep your city vibrant.
4. Be known as a city that listens. Make sure that policymakers really do elicit the thought and opinions of diverse ranges of residents and visitors. Really look into what your brand promise is, and then capitalize on that. Don't let your size get in the way of your success. Smaller can be beautiful if you celebrate your uniqueness.

Dr. Goldberg-Miller writes about creative cities. Her book, Planning for a City of Culture: Creative Urbanism in Toronto and New York will be published by Routledge in March 2017. Siddhartha Sen Professor and Interim Assistant Dean of the School of Architecture and Planning at Morgan State University What are the most important financial factors to consider when deciding where to live? Some the most significant financial factors include overall cost of living, types of jobs available and salaries for such jobs, cost of health care, cost of education, and commuting costs to major metropolises. What are the benefits of living in a small city versus a large city? What are the drawbacks? The benefits of living in a small city include low cost of living and crime free environment. The drawbacks can include lack of jobs, lack of access to health care and cultural amenities, absence of diverse populations, lack of good school systems, and distance from major metropolises. In evaluating the best small cities to live in, what are the top five indicators?

1. Cost of living;
2. Availability of jobs;
3. Presence or proximity to health care facilities;
4. Warm climate;
5. Access to major metropolises.

What can local policymakers do to attract and retain new residents in small cities? Local policy makers can make small cities attractive by creating more job opportunities; improving the housing stock through subsidies, tax incentives, and public private partnerships; reducing crime; improving the school system; and providing health care and cultural amenities or attracting them through tax incentives. Susan Bradbury Professor in the Department of Community & Regional Planning at Iowa State University, College of Design What are the most important financial factors to consider when deciding where to live? The most important financial factor when deciding where to live is often the cost of housing/cost of living. I would like to explain this a little. Often, people choose to live in smaller communities in close proximity to a larger metropolitan city partially because the high cost of housing pushes them there. In other words, they often can get more house in a smaller community than they can get in a larger city. In addition, often the costs associated with that house in the smaller community may be less – specifically (property) taxes and insurance. So, by living in a smaller city located near a larger city, they are able to capitalize on lower housing costs but, at the same time, still have access to the job opportunities that a large city provides. However, I also wish to note that, often, people who select to live in smaller cities do not always do it for financial reasons but rather for personal reasons. They may choose to do so to be close to family, or because they desire a small town lifestyle for themselves or their children. Often, people who select to live in smaller cities know that their wages/incomes will be lower by living there, that there are fewer job opportunities, for instance, but they feel that there are other benefits that compensate them for this – such as more family time, a more relaxed lifestyle, ties to family, less pollution, more space, etc. What are the benefits of living in a small city versus a large city? What are the drawbacks? One of the biggest benefits and drawbacks about living in a small city is that everyone knows who you are and knows your business. There is little anonymity (although this does depend on the size of the city – there is a big difference in living in a city of 20,000 vs. 100,000 in this regard). In many ways this is good, you tend to know your neighbors, people feel connected to each other, and this promotes strong social relationships. However, some smaller communities can be difficult to break into socially. People may be friendly on the surface but it might be hard to become fully included if you are not from the area or have not resided there for a long period of time. A commonly reported benefit, especially for children, is that the schools are smaller, children may get more attention (their teachers know them by name) and there are more opportunities for participation in various school activities (fewer children means that competition is a little less for band, parts in the school play, football team and so on). As previously mentioned, housing is usually more affordable, there are lower crime rates and less traffic congestion is often found in small cities. On the flip side, there is often less to do, fewer amenities/shopping opportunities and you usually need to drive somewhere else to get certain goods and services. Often, smaller schools, while beneficial in some ways, also tend to limit the variety of programs or specialized educational opportunities available. In evaluating the best small cities to live in, what are the top five indicators? The mostly commonly utilized indicators by these types of lists include:

• Cost of living/cost of housing;
• Commute time;
• Crime rate;
• Quality of schools;
• Entertainment options/arts and culture/recreation opportunities.

And another popular one – has to do with overall health or health care options, since many people consider this a basic service. What can local policymakers do to attract and retain new residents in small cities? There is a lot cities can do to make communities more attractive: focus on supporting and providing good basic services, especially promoting a healthy tax base, maintaining property values, quality schools and access to health care. Policymakers should focus on community development, not just economic development. More people today are a lot more flexible and have more options in terms of selecting where they live. They want to live in nice (desirable) communities – places that they feel at “home” (match their values and lifestyle), and where there are things to do. While costs and jobs are important determinants in selecting locations, they are not the only factors that people consider. People are searching for places where they feel like they belong, and places that support the type of lifestyle that they desire. Also, thinking about providing a variety of housing options is important for policymakers. Even small cities can offer vibrant downtown apartment living for young professionals. While attracting young people to your community is important to the future of these smaller cities, policymakers also need to consider housing options for an aging population as well. People desire to age in place and do not want to have to give up their community (and the social relationships they have there) just because they are getting older and cannot look after a single family home. Having a variety of housing options makes it possible for people as they age or as lifestyles change to remain in their community.

Methodology

In order to determine the best small cities in America, WalletHub’s analysts compared 1,268 cities across five key dimensions: 1) Affordability, 2) Economic Health, 3) Education & Health, 4) Quality of Life and 5) Safety. For our sample, we selected cities with population sizes between 25,000 and 100,000 and considered only the “city proper” in each case, excluding cities in the surrounding metro area.

We then evaluated the five dimensions using 33 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for small-city residents. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we calculated the population size using the square root of the population in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the cities in our sample.

 

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Areavibes, TransUnion, TripAdvisor, County Health Rankings, Yelp and WalletHub research.

from Wallet HubWallet Hub


via Finance Xpress