Finance Xpress

Posted by: Adam McCann

Staying active isn’t just good for your health. It’s also good for your wallet. One of the best ways to maintain an active lifestyle is to choose a city that encourages and facilitates recreation. The best cities have a wide range of leisure activities, both indoor and outdoor. Those activities require varying levels of exercise and contribute to a city’s overall well-being and economy.

Consider neighborhood parks, which are instrumental to building a sense of community, boosting property values, improving public health and reducing pollution. In Washington, for instance, close proximity to a park increases a home’s value by 5 percent while the same types of spaces in Sacramento, Calif., result in nearly $20 million in health care savings. “A regular vigorous run can cut medical costs by an average of $250 a year” per individual, according to The Trust for Public Land. Recognizing these benefits, 100 major U.S. cities together invested more than $8 billion in parks and recreation in 2018.

But some cities offer more and cheaper options than others. To determine the places where recreation is a high priority, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 48 key metrics that speak to the benefits of recreational activities. In each city, we examined basic living costs, the quality of parks, the accessibility of entertainment and recreational facilities and the weather. Read on for our findings, expert commentary and a full description of our methodology.

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

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/5144/geochart-recreation2.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://ift.tt/2lNP1uK>  

Best Cities for Recreation

Overall Rank (1=Best)	City	Total Score	‘Entertainment & Recreational Facilities’ Rank	‘Costs’ Rank	‘Quality of Parks’ Rank	‘Weather’ Rank
1	San Diego, CA	58.27	4	70	11	34
2	Las Vegas, NV	58.14	10	38	21	18
3	Orlando, FL	58.13	2	50	54	28
4	Honolulu, HI	56.71	3	85	4	43
5	Tampa, FL	53.73	14	36	74	13
6	Atlanta, GA	52.90	13	64	37	41
7	Cincinnati, OH	52.20	18	9	19	58
8	Scottsdale, AZ	51.96	29	52	24	3
9	Portland, OR	51.31	9	53	25	78
10	Los Angeles, CA	50.93	11	92	55	7
11	San Francisco, CA	50.25	1	99	6	49
12	Denver, CO	49.37	16	60	13	64
13	St. Louis, MO	49.16	19	4	16	94
14	New Orleans, LA	49.14	20	66	8	53
15	Minneapolis, MN	48.96	22	40	2	77
16	Chicago, IL	48.74	5	94	5	92
17	Seattle, WA	48.54	8	89	9	70
18	Sacramento, CA	48.49	25	72	42	9
19	Boise, ID	48.42	42	6	57	26
20	Tucson, AZ	47.46	34	27	82	16
21	El Paso, TX	47.24	87	1	28	25
22	Philadelphia, PA	47.08	17	81	34	52
23	Lincoln, NE	46.95	50	33	18	46
24	New York, NY	46.84	6	100	1	55
25	Henderson, NV	46.68	83	2	69	4
26	Albuquerque, NM	46.63	57	51	12	37
27	St. Petersburg, FL	46.53	37	41	39	40
28	Austin, TX	46.36	15	57	48	81
29	Phoenix, AZ	46.08	53	37	63	17
30	Reno, NV	45.91	47	17	81	27
31	Washington, DC	45.72	7	93	15	93
32	Long Beach, CA	45.04	51	77	43	12
33	Miami, FL	44.89	12	84	65	68
34	Omaha, NE	44.88	39	7	29	75
35	Colorado Springs, CO	44.87	56	12	51	42
36	Birmingham, AL	44.68	58	5	99	59
37	Pittsburgh, PA	44.43	23	42	47	84
38	Chesapeake, VA	44.24	86	26	7	47
39	Jacksonville, FL	44.23	40	25	30	67
40	Virginia Beach, VA	44.16	30	18	27	90
41	Columbus, OH	43.92	45	8	64	61
42	Irvine, CA	43.73	33	96	20	21
43	Cleveland, OH	43.71	26	23	45	83
44	Anaheim, CA	43.62	54	71	95	6
45	Glendale, AZ	43.46	52	80	62	11
46	Oklahoma City, OK	43.40	66	15	76	35
47	San Antonio, TX	43.31	28	10	70	74
48	Madison, WI	43.07	48	48	10	73
49	Kansas City, MO	43.07	67	24	49	44
50	St. Paul, MN	43.00	35	49	22	69
51	Chandler, AZ	42.82	79	63	66	14
52	Plano, TX	42.74	64	31	61	45
53	Fort Worth, TX	42.65	63	58	56	32
54	Dallas, TX	42.57	31	34	50	72
55	Houston, TX	42.42	24	67	33	86
56	North Las Vegas, NV	42.37	91	73	32	5
57	Milwaukee, WI	42.00	36	32	35	95
58	Baton Rouge, LA	41.98	43	30	80	54
59	Tulsa, OK	41.91	59	44	78	30
60	Corpus Christi, TX	41.58	60	20	38	66
61	Greensboro, NC	41.39	69	11	44	57
62	Bakersfield, CA	41.26	95	39	94	2
63	Mesa, AZ	41.20	73	65	71	20
64	Raleigh, NC	41.09	46	14	83	79
65	Norfolk, VA	40.90	55	69	17	62
66	Nashville, TN	40.89	27	54	59	88
67	Buffalo, NY	40.51	32	56	36	100
68	Stockton, CA	40.47	97	76	46	10
69	Gilbert, AZ	40.38	80	16	98	14
70	Winston-Salem, NC	40.35	76	47	73	39
71	San Bernardino, CA	40.23	99	79	99	8
72	Lubbock, TX	39.70	82	28	67	48
73	Boston, MA	39.68	21	98	3	98
74	San Jose, CA	39.58	71	86	40	23
75	Arlington, TX	39.46	68	68	87	36
76	Baltimore, MD	39.11	41	78	23	89
77	Riverside, CA	39.07	77	83	92	1
78	Detroit, MI	38.65	78	62	31	60
79	Fresno, CA	38.49	90	59	90	19
80	Indianapolis, IN	38.30	38	19	93	99
81	Santa Ana, CA	38.20	72	87	77	21
82	Laredo, TX	38.16	98	21	91	31
83	Wichita, KS	37.98	81	3	75	85
84	Louisville, KY	37.87	44	45	79	91
85	Lexington-Fayette, KY	37.75	74	22	88	62
86	Toledo, OH	37.60	88	55	58	50
87	Newark, NJ	36.95	89	29	41	97
88	Charlotte, NC	36.94	49	61	97	71
89	Aurora, CO	36.49	84	46	52	65
90	Garland, TX	36.43	96	74	84	33
91	Fremont, CA	36.13	92	97	26	24
92	Durham, NC	35.86	65	43	89	79
93	Memphis, TN	35.16	70	35	96	87
94	Hialeah, FL	35.10	85	88	72	38
95	Anchorage, AK	34.83	62	91	14	82
96	Chula Vista, CA	34.69	100	82	85	29
97	Fort Wayne, IN	34.46	75	13	86	96
98	Oakland, CA	33.95	61	95	68	51
99	Irving, TX	33.39	94	75	60	76
100	Jersey City, NJ	31.91	93	90	53	55

Ask the Experts

Public facilities are known to enhance public health, a city’s economy and the beauty of a community — but only when planned and managed carefully. We therefore turned to a panel of experts for advice on improving municipal parks and recreation options. Click on the experts’ profiles below to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:

1. What are some cost-effective ways for local authorities to improve parks and recreation facilities?
2. What is the biggest mistake local authorities make in building and maintaining parks and recreation facilities?
3. Should local authorities prioritize funding recreational activities for certain groups (e.g., the elderly or children)?
4. Do you believe that there is a direct link between the size of a park and the benefits it provides to the local community? How should local authorities consider balancing quality and quantity?
5. When evaluating the best cities for recreation, what are the top five indicators?
6. Do you think cities should consider raising new taxes or increasing debt levels in order to invest in parks and recreation?

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• Zach Miller Ph.D. – Professor, Utah State University, Department of Environment and Society, Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
• Lacey Burgess Hatley MS, CTRS/LRT – Adjunct Instructor, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
• Brian E. Kumm-Schaley Ph.D. – Assistant Professor & Internship Coordinator, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, Recreation Management & Therapeutic Recreation
• Andrew Mowen Ph.D. – Associate Professor and Professor-in-Charge of Honors Programs, RPTM, Penn State College of Health and Human Development
• Debby Singleton MA, EP-C ACSM – Instructor, Parks & Recreation Management, Human Services Department, Western Carolina University

Methodology

To determine the best and worst cities for recreation, WalletHub compared a sample of the 100 most populated U.S. cities across four key dimensions: 1) Entertainment & Recreational Facilities, 2) Costs, 3) Quality of Parks and 4) Weather. Our sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

We evaluated the four dimensions using 48 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 highest level of recreation-friendliness. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), the square root of the population was used to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

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

Entertainment & Recreational Facilities – Total Points: 40

• Number of Attractions: Double Weight (~2.62 Points)
• Music Venues per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Public Beaches per Capita*: Half Weight (~0.66 Points)
• Tennis Courts per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Public Golf Courses per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Public Swimming Pools per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Baseball & Softball Diamonds per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Basketball Hoops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Bike Rental Facilities per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Fishing Spots per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Hiking Trails per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Running Trails per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Walking Trails per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Amusement Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Amusement Parks” List: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Water Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Boat Tours & Water Sports per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Food & Wine Tours per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Zoos & Aquariums per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Motion Picture Theaters and Drive-Ins per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Bowling Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Pool Halls per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Restaurants per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Food Festivals per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Sports Fan-Friendliness: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best Sports Cities” ranking. Sports include football, basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer.
• Intramural Leagues per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Sport Venues per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)
• Recreational Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.31 Points)

Costs – Total Points: 30

• Spending on Parks and Recreation per Capita: Half Weight (~1.30 Points)
• Average Fitness Club Fee: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
• Average Cost of Tennis-Court Rent: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)Note: This metric considers cost of rent for one hour during the weekend.
• Movie Costs: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
• Bowling Costs: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
• Grooming Costs: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
• Average Price per Massage Treatment: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)Note: Massage treatment refers to both deep tissue and Swedish massage.
• Average Alcoholic Beverage Price: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)Note: “Alcoholic Beverage” refers to both beer and wine. “Beer” refers to a six-pack of 12-ounce Heineken containers, excluding any deposit. “Wine” refers to a 1.5-liter bottle of Chablis, Chenin Blanc or any white table wine.
• Average Food Price: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)Note: “Food” refers to both hamburger and pizza. “Hamburger” refers to a ¼-pound patty with cheese, pickle, onion, mustard, and catsup. “Pizza” refers to a 11"-12" thin crust cheese pizza.
• Prevalence of Affordable 4.5+ Star Restaurants: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
• Restaurant Meal Costs: Double Weight (~5.22 Points)

Quality of Parks – Total Points: 20

• Share of Population with Walkable Park Access: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
• Share of Designed Parkland Areas: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
• Presence on TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Parks” List: Half Weight (~1.82 Points)
• Park Playgrounds per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
• Parkland as Share of City Area: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
• Acres of Parkland per 1,000 Residents: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)

Weather – Total Points: 10

• Ideal Weather (~10.00 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking.

Videos for News Use:

• YouTube (for web embedding National)
• YouTube (for web embedding San Diego)
• Raw files (for editing into clips)

 Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, The Trust for Public Land, Public Courses, Yelp.com, TripAdvisor, Numbeo.com, Under Armour, IMLeagues, 2Book and WalletHub research.

from Wallet HubWallet Hub


via Finance Xpress

July 1st is National Financial Freedom Day. How do you celebrate this unique holiday? Read on to find out!

Did you know that July 1st is National Financial Freedom Day? This play on the United States’ Independence Day is specifically about celebrating financial freedom–or at least celebrating ways that we can work towards the goal of financial freedom. So how can you celebrate? Check out this list of 10 ways to celebrate financial freedom this year.

1. Check out community events

National Financial Freedom Day still isn’t a big holiday, but some community banks and community centers do have events on this day. Check out community calendars in your area to see if any events are coming up. They might include things like financial counseling sessions, free credit report pulls, and more that could help you on your journey towards financial freedom.

2. Check your credit report

You should check your credit report at least once or twice a year, so this is a good reminder to do that. You can look at your free credit report from each individual reporting bureau once per year. But if you’re getting ready to make a big financial decision or major purchase, you might use this holiday as a good excuse to spring for a paid credit report and score, which can be more accurate and informative. MyFico is a great choice as you’ll receive your credit report and score in an easy-to-understand format. MyFico also goes the extra mile to explain the reason your score may be at a certain level along with tips to improve it. There are also a few places to get your credit score for free. We recommend Credit Sesame and Credit Karma. You should aim for an excellent or very good credit score. For anything less, visit Experian Boost to find out how you can increase your credit score for free.

3. Calculate your net worth

More than just about any other number, your net worth is a great indicator of where you are on your journey to financial freedom. If you have a high positive net worth, you could be financially free fairly quickly, even if you don’t make a ton of money. Calculating your net worth can take a bit of time, but you can also use tools like Personal Capital to walk you through the process. Even if you don’t track your net worth on a monthly basis, checking in quarterly or annually gives you a good idea of your financial progress.

Related: Personal Capital Review – A Free Wealth Management Tool

4. Get creative with what “financial freedom” means for you

You may have an idea of what “financial freedom” means, and there’s a sort of working definition most people have. That working definition often includes the ability to stop working, often at a very young age. But that may not be what freedom really looks like for you, and that vision really isn’t within reach for absolutely everyone. But you can still work towards being completely debt-free, having a career that you love that gives your life balance and flexibility, or just living well within your expenses and having a major amount of savings. Take some time this month to define what financial freedom looks like for you. Check out this article for some ideas.

5. Create a financial freedom vision board

Want to put some legs on that vision of financial freedom? Do a fun craft project by yourself or, if you want, with your family. Grab some magazines or online images and create a vision board of what your life could look like when you’re financially independent or free. The road towards financial freedom can be long and tough. Having a vision board, whether physical or virtual, can help you focus on why you’re doing what you’re doing to become free.

6. Make a plan for becoming free financially

Once you’ve taken some preliminary steps, it’s time to make a plan for becoming free financially. Maybe you already have this plan. If so, now is the time to revisit it to ensure you’re doing things in line with your stated goals and purposes. If you’ve never made a plan, now is the time to start. Your plan will likely include a few large milestones, such as getting out of debt, saving up a specific amount of money in an emergency fund, etc. But you can also add smaller steps to get to those milestones, some of which we’ll talk about shortly.

7. Start a no-spend month

A no-spend month can sound really intimidating. But it’s actually a great way to kick off moving towards your goal of financial freedom. Spending no money during an entire month isn’t really possible for most of us, since the bills will still come due. But if you can strip your spending back to the absolute bare minimum for a month, you can get a feel for where you’re over-spending and where you could really stand to trim down your budget permanently. Here are some other spending challenges you could consider for this July, as well.

8. Create a get-out-of-debt plan

If you aren’t already debt free, that’s probably one of the first steps on your road to financial freedom. Make a plan to get out of debt by writing down every last one of your debts (except, maybe, your mortgage). Then check out this article on the debt snowball to learn more about how to follow that plan to debt freedom.

9. Open a new high-yield savings account

Even before you get started on getting out of debt, it can be a good idea to have a small emergency fund set aside. Even $500 or $1,000 can dig you out of many smaller emergencies without having to go back into more debt. The best place to stash that money is often in a high-yield savings account that’s not connected to your main checking account. That way you’ll have to really think if the situation is an emergency before you take money out of the account. Check out our list of the best high-yield savings accounts around right now to pick one that will work for you.

Deal of the Day: American Express® Personal Savings is offering a terrific 2.10% Annual Percentage Yield on their savings account. Rate as of 12.20.2018. There are no monthly maintenance fees and NO minimum deposit required. FDIC Insured.

Related: A 7-Step Guide to Building Your Ultimate Emergency Fund

10. Kick off a new side gig

Whether your financial freedom means paying off debt or stashing away more savings, a side gig can help you do it. Plus, the right side gig for you can mean another interesting way to stimulate your mind or build relationships. Need an idea? Try Fiverr–where you can get paid to do what you’re good at. Just post any and all skills you are willing to offer to someone, like writing, graphic design or another task someone may find valuable. For more side gig inspiration, check out our huge list of side hustle ideas to get started this month.

Whether financial freedom is decades or days away for you, having a plan to get there means you can make it happen. So this National Financial Freedom Day, take the time to make some progress towards this important goal.

Topics: Budget • financial planning • Money Management • Tools & Resources

The post Ways to Celebrate National Financial Freedom Day this July 1 appeared first on The Dough Roller.

via Finance Xpress

I love the warm summer weather, but it can mean extra spending on traveling, entertainment, and energy costs. To help your budget, I have some great summer money saving tips.

The summer has always been one of my favorite times of the year. The sun is out, there is more to do outside, and I loved being home from school when I was a kid (of course).

As an adult, I realize that the summer months can be expensive.

With school being out for your children and the weather getting warmer, the summer might be one of the most expensive times of the year for you. Between paying for extra summer activities, daycare, vacations, higher electricity bills, and more, the summer means you may be spending more money than usual.

However, with the summer money saving tips I have for you today, you can actually save money this summer instead of spending more of it.

For us, the summer months are actually one of the most affordable seasons of the year. We are already fairly frugal people, but there are many things that happen in the summer that make it even more affordable for us, such as better weather for fun outdoor activities and free festivals to attend.

In today’s blog post, I am going to talk about different ways to save money this summer so that you can actually have fun this season without going into debt and/or spending more money than you're comfortable with.

Related content:

• How We’ve Turned A Free Chair Into $103,000
• How To Earn Over 20x The National Savings Rate
• 10 Easy and Delicious Camping Meal Recipes
• How We Paid off $266,329.01 in 33 Months

Here are my summer money saving tips.

 

Ride your bike when doing your errands.

We ride our bikes all the time, since we live on a boat and still have errands to do off the boat. We ride our bikes to the grocery store, to the post office, when going out to eat, and more. Yes, sometimes it is hot (the other day the heat index was over 105 degrees and we rode 27 miles on our folding bikes), but it's a great workout and super eco-friendly.

If you have errands to run that are close by, riding your bike is a great option that can save you money while letting you get a great work out in. And even though it might be hot where you live, I always think that being out in the sun feels so good and motivates me throughout the rest of my day.

To make running errands easier, you can attach a basket to your bike or purchase a saddle bag. While you may not be able to carry much, you'll be much more mindful of what you buy, while saving money on transportation.

Remember though, always bring a bike lock so that your bike is safe! And, of course, wear a helmet and use any other safety precautions that you deem necessary.

 

Go down to one car.

Not everyone can do this, but for people who work less during the summer, like teachers, going down to one car is one of the best summer money saving tips. It saves you money, and it’s great for the environment.

My brother-in-law is a teacher, and he and his wife put their less fuel efficient car aside for the summer when it makes sense. Sometimes this mean carpooling or riding bikes to complete errands. But, it saves them a decent amount of money on gas.

If this is one of the summer money saving tips that you’re interested in, plan your days out by who is driving where. You may have to put some errands off until another day, but if you take some time to make a car schedule, you can save money on summer fuel costs.

 

Combine your to-do list tasks.

I regularly combine errands, no matter what the season is. If I need one thing, I will wait until there are more things on my to do list.

This is good because it saves me valuable time, and I’m not wasting money on transportation.

However, I know that not everyone can do this, like the last point. I also know many people who will go out of their way to get one small item, even if they don’t need it immediately.

If you are looking for summer money saving tips, or even time saving tips, this may help. If something can wait, then you might as well save yourself some time and money by combining your errands and getting multiple things done at the same time.

 

Plant a garden. 

One of my dreams is to one day have a big garden that provides me with fresh fruits and vegetables during the summer. 

You do have to spend some money buying plants or seeds and weed/maintain your garden, but growing a garden is one of the summer money saving tips that is healthy for you too. Just think, with all of the fresh produce in front of you, you have healthy things to eat right in your backyard!

Even if you just grow basic things like lettuce, tomatoes, and herbs, you are spending less on your food budget. Plus, if you don’t use pesticides or herbicides, you have organic fruits and vegetables for much less than you would buy them for at the grocery store.

If and when we ever settle down in a “normal” home, planting a garden will be one of the first things I do.

 

Spend more time outside. 

In many places, the summer can be a great time to enjoy the outdoors. 

But, even if you live in a place that gets very warm, you can wake up just a little bit earlier in the day to  enjoy the outdoors before it heats up too much.

Getting outside is always one of the best summer money saving tips, no matter where you live. There are plenty of outdoor activities that you can enjoy, like going for a hike, setting out for a camping trip, walking your dog, riding your bike, going for a swim, going on a run, having a BBQ, and more!

The options are endless. 

 

Get rid of your gym membership.

This is one of the easiest summer money saving tips because there are lots of free ways to get a work out in during the summer.

So, if you aren't using your gym membership, then you may want to think about canceling it and saving your money.

You can get a work out in by going for a bike ride, hiking, swimming, and more. And, if it’s too hot to get outside, you can still work out in your home for free. Plus, that AC you are already paying for will keep you cool! For some people there are positives to paying for a gym membership, but the majority of people paying for gym memberships do not get their money’s worth.

So, I simply want you to evaluate whether or not you get your money's worth with your gym membership. Depending on your gym, you could even cancel your membership during the summer, and re join when the weather is cold again. 

 

Learn how to travel on a budget.

Summer is a popular time for most families to travel because children are out of school. Before you think that you have to break the bank in order to go on a fun family vacation, here are some summer money saving tips for helping you travel on a budget:

• Be flexible with your flights.
• Earn free budget vacations by using credit cards. I recommend reading this How To Take A 10 Day Trip To Hawaii For $22.40 – Flights & Accommodations Included.
• Stay in an Airbnb to open up your options for accommodations.
• Ask for a discount at your hotel.
• Find free campsites.
• Eat like a local.
• Buy groceries and eat out less.

Read more at How To Travel On A Budget And Still Have The Time Of Your Life.

 

Take a staycation.

One way to save money on your summer vacation is to take a staycation. A staycation is when you visit places around where you live that you normally wouldn’t.

Many people live in areas that draw people in for one reason or another, even if you don’t live in a really popular tourist destination. When I lived in St. Louis, people came from all around the country to visit the Arch, the Zoo, and City Museum. However, these are places I rarely went to because I lived in town.

To take a staycation, make a list of popular tourist destinations in your city, think about the places you’ve always wanted to visit, and look online for ideas. You can make a travel itinerary for a weekend, few days, or week. And, you save money on travel expenses, such as airfare and your stay.

This is a great way to explore where you live while saving money on your summer vacation.

 

Turn your air conditioner up a few degrees.

The summer means it’s hot outside for most of us. I know this.

But, you may be able to save a little on your utility bills by turning your AC up just a few degrees.

I couldn’t find information about what the average person sets their thermostat at, but I always see social media posts about what people set their AC to during the summer. Many of the commenters say that their AC is set below 72 degrees and sometimes even as low as 65 degrees!

To save money, I recommend setting your thermostat at 76 to 78 degrees when you are home. When you are going to sleep, or if no one is home, then you may even want to raise it a few degrees more.

Some people might find this to be one of the hardest summer money saving tips – people have strong feelings about what their thermostat can be set to. But, doing this can save you around 10% or more on your next electric bill.

 

Block out the sun.

Our boat heats up quickly, so on hot days we make sure to block out the sun by closing all of the curtains. We even had some sunshades built for our windows which really helps. This keeps a lot of the heat out and helps our boat stay at a better temperature.

This is one of the summer money saving tips you can use even if you live in a “normal” home

It may sound like a simple thing, but blocking out the sun can really help if you are trying to figure out how to save money in the summer. You may want to shut the shades, close the curtains, close your front door, and more. This can block out the sun during the hottest parts of the day to contain the cool air conditioning.

 

Purchase a programmable thermostat.

If you haven’t bought one yet, a programmable thermostat is something you may want to invest in. They are relatively affordable and you will most likely make your money back within a year, maybe even just a few months.

With a programmable thermostat, you can set exact temperatures for different times of the day. It automatically changes on a set schedule, meaning you won’t have to think about it.

For example, your AC can automatically turn up when you leave for work so that you don’t waste electricity or money cooling a house that no one is in. You can also program it for while you are sleeping, for the weekend, when you are on vacation, and so on.

I did a simple online search, and I was able to find plenty of programmable thermostats for less than $50, well worth the small investment for one of the easiest summer money saving tips.

 

Remember, cooking food can make your house hot.

If it gets too hot where you live, you may want to be careful when it comes to how you cook your meals. Instead of using your oven for a lot of meals, you can try making something that won't heat up your home.

Cooking meals in your slow cooker, your InstantPot, outside on the grill, and more can be great alternatives to using the oven. This can also help you save money in the summer because you won’t have to turn down the AC when the oven heats up your house.

We haven’t used the oven a whole lot, and if we do, we make sure that it’s not scorching hot outside. After all, we live in a boat, so using the oven quickly heats up our entire home.

Instead, we try to use our slow cooker when it’s hot outside. I love a good Instapot recipe because they are so easy to make.

Related: 10 Delicious Summer Lunch Ideas

 

Invite your friends or family over.

The summer is a great time to have your friends and family over for potluck dinners and nights grilling out. Rather than spending money on going out, this is one of the summer money saving tips that can save you on food and entertainment costs.

It gets darker later in the summer and it’s usually cooler in the evening, so having a night out on your patio or in your backyard can be a fun way to entertain guests. If you do it potluck style, you can save even more. It’s also a fun way to get people involved.

 

Stop paying for cable TV.

The average monthly cable bill is around $120 and it just continues to keep climbing.

Instead of paying for high cable bills, one of the easiest summer money saving tips is to cut your cable and heading outside for less expensive entertainment.

You can read more about cutting cable here and how to save money by doing this. I recommend getting a digital antenna so that you can receive local channels for free!

For anyone who has cut the cord and gotten rid of cable, streaming services are great options to help you save money while still watching your favorite shows and movies.

Here’s what these services are currently charging per month:

• Netflix. $7.99 to $13.99
• Hulu. $7.99 to $39.99
• Sling TV.  $20 to $40
• Amazon Prime Video.  $8.99 (requires an Amazon Prime subscription, which is $119 per year)
• HBO Now.  $14.99
• YouTube TV.  $40+

 

Visit the library.

The library can be a great way to catch a break from the heat (they are always so cold!), while finding a good book to read or movie to watch.

Your local library can offer many frugal ideas for you and your family.

You can borrow books or movies, which you can then bring home and have a fun night in with friends and/or family members. At some libraries, you can even borrow hiking/camping gear, state parks passes, telescopes, and more. So, there are a ton of great benefits of visiting your local library.

If you have kids, most libraries offer summer reading programs that encourage kids to keep reading during the summer while rewarding them with movie passes, gift certificates to ice cream shops, and more. 

 

Start meal planning.

Meal planning is something that has completely changed our lives. We eat healthier than ever, we are saving money, and we have less food waste.

Did you know that the average person wastes over 40% of the food they buy? Yes, 40%!

If you have trouble eating at home, then try the $5 Meal Plan. It’s only $5 a month, and you get meal plans emailed directly to you along with the exact shopping list you need in order to create the meals. This allows you to save time because you won’t have to meal plan anymore, and it will save you money as well! If you are interested in joining for free, click here.

Learn more about weekly meal planning at The Power of Weekly Meal Planning.

 

Buy second hand items.

The summer means it’s garage sale and flea market season, so if you are looking for summer money saving tips while also shopping for things you need, you may want to first search around at garage sales, flea markets, and more.

This can also be a fun way to spend your morning while allowing you to save money in the summer on the things you need or want to buy. I have many friends who love going to garage sales and flea markets, and because things are so cheap, it may be worth it to you. 

 

Find free fun.

Finding free activities in your area is one of the best summer money saving tips because most cities and neighborhoods have lots of fun activities during the summer months. I recommend checking out your town’s calendar and website to see what free attractions and events are offered. In many towns, there may be free festivals, free concerts, and more. Even places like museums often have free days.

Also, if you live near a national park, you may want to find out when their free entry days are. They usually have a few each year, which can be a great way to save money while enjoying amazing views. The free entry days for 2019 are August 25, September 28, and November 11.

What other summer money saving tips do you have to share? Do the summer months tend to be expensive for you or not?

The post Summer Money Saving Tips: 18 Ways To Save appeared first on Making Sense Of Cents.

from Making Sense Of Cents


via Finance Xpress

Posted by: Adam McCann

Running a city is a tall order. The larger the city, the more complex it becomes to manage. In addition to representing the residents, local leaders must balance the public’s diverse interests with the city’s limited resources. That often means not everyone’s needs can or will be met. Leaders must carefully consider which services are most essential, which agencies’ budgets to cut or boost and whether and how much to raise taxes, among other decisions.

But how do we measure the effectiveness of local leadership? One way is by determining a city’s operating efficiency. In other words, we can learn how well city officials manage and spend public funds by comparing the quality of services residents receive against the city’s total budget.

Using that approach, WalletHub compared the operating efficiency of 150 of the largest U.S. cities to reveal which among them are managed best. We constructed a “Quality of Services” score made up of 37 metrics grouped into six service categories, which we then measured against the city’s per-capita budget. Read on for our findings, expert insight and a full description of our methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Detailed Breakdown by City
3. Ask the Experts
4. Methodology

Main Findings Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/22869/geochart-bestrun.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://ift.tt/2NySGcG>

Best-Run Cities in America

Overall Rank (1=Best)	City	‘Quality of City Services’ Rank	‘Total Budget per Capita’ Rank
1	Nampa, ID	48	1
2	Provo, UT	2	3
3	Boise, ID	4	2
4	Durham, NC	35	10
5	Lexington-Fayette, KY	57	4
6	Las Cruces, NM	61	9
7	Billings, MT	51	11
8	Virginia Beach, VA	3	40
9	Missoula, MT	72	6
10	Fargo, ND	6	34
11	Sioux Falls, SD	17	28
12	Fort Wayne, IN	66	12
13	Nashua, NH	18	30
14	Huntington Beach, CA	1	59
15	Cedar Rapids, IA	23	26
16	Raleigh, NC	21	32
17	Greensboro, NC	60	16
18	Albuquerque, NM	104	5
19	Mesa, AZ	55	22
20	Oklahoma City, OK	78	14
21	Lewiston, ME	76	18
22	Madison, WI	12	54
23	Chesapeake, VA	28	36
24	Aurora, IL	26	39
25	Lincoln, NE	14	51
26	Salt Lake City, UT	24	41
27	Arlington, TX	43	33
28	Louisville, KY	91	17
29	Rapid City, SD	102	13
30	Salem, OR	63	27
31	Columbus, GA	120	7
32	Bismarck, ND	7	65
33	El Paso, TX	41	42
34	Phoenix, AZ	56	38
35	Tucson, AZ	97	20
36	Portland, ME	13	64
37	Grand Rapids, MI	31	53
38	Warren, MI	92	29
39	Manchester, NH	50	48
40	Charleston, SC	22	67
41	Topeka, KS	103	23
42	St. Petersburg, FL	64	47
43	Warwick, RI	67	46
44	Corpus Christi, TX	82	37
45	Tulsa, OK	117	19
46	Las Vegas, NV	47	58
47	Wichita, KS	113	24
48	Reno, NV	77	48
49	Dover, DE	88	45
50	Des Moines, IA	39	68
51	Fort Worth, TX	73	57
52	Worcester, MA	54	61
53	Eugene, OR	30	73
54	Aurora, CO	45	69
55	Mobile, AL	114	35
56	Spokane, WA	69	63
57	Fort Smith, AR	121	31
58	Colorado Springs, CO	68	66
59	Huntington, WV	136	15
60	Hialeah, FL	29	80
61	Fairbanks, AK	99	55
62	Santa Ana, CA	38	79
63	Springfield, MA	110	50
64	Montgomery, AL	119	44
65	Portland, OR	20	96
66	Baton Rouge, LA	140	21
67	Boston, MA	9	104
68	Little Rock, AR	122	43
69	San Diego, CA	8	107
70	St. Paul, MN	37	84
71	Dayton, OH	101	62
72	Austin, TX	10	110
73	Houston, TX	86	71
74	Fremont, CA	5	117
75	Jackson, MS	148	8
76	Tallahassee, FL	74	83
77	Anchorage, AK	94	75
78	Omaha, NE	59	87
79	Gary, IN	144	25
80	Miami, FL	32	100
81	Rutland, VT	93	78
82	San Jose, CA	11	123
83	Akron, OH	111	70
84	Charleston, WV	131	52
85	Columbia, SC	107	72
86	Tampa, FL	33	109
87	Casper, WY	84	85
88	Columbus, OH	80	92
89	San Antonio, TX	53	103
90	Frederick, MD	25	119
91	Minneapolis, MN	40	111
92	Orlando, FL	70	102
93	Dallas, TX	90	93
94	Burlington, VT	42	113
95	Jacksonville, FL	124	74
96	Anaheim, CA	27	124
97	Garland, TX	79	105
98	Fort Lauderdale, FL	58	116
99	Indianapolis, IN	105	90
100	Nashville, TN	108	94
101	Norfolk, VA	115	89
102	Kansas City, MO	109	98
103	Charlotte, NC	36	126
104	Bridgeport, CT	118	91
105	Bakersfield, CA	112	97
106	Providence, RI	130	77
107	Toledo, OH	143	60
108	Cincinnati, OH	83	113
109	Lubbock, TX	106	101
110	Richmond, VA	100	108
111	Seattle, WA	15	139
112	Shreveport, LA	147	56
113	Milwaukee, WI	127	86
114	Buffalo, NY	87	121
115	Pittsburgh, PA	62	127
116	New Orleans, LA	137	81
117	Denver, CO	44	132
118	Knoxville, TN	71	128
119	Fresno, CA	134	88
120	Long Beach, CA	34	141
121	Stockton, CA	145	76
122	Sacramento, CA	75	133
123	Syracuse, NY	98	125
124	Modesto, CA	116	122
125	Birmingham, AL	139	95
126	Wilmington, DE	123	118
127	Cheyenne, WY	65	140
128	Kansas City, KS	138	106
129	Baltimore, MD	132	111
130	Riverside, CA	96	134
131	Rochester, NY	85	136
132	Yonkers, NY	49	142
133	Atlanta, GA	95	135
134	New Haven, CT	133	120
135	Los Angeles, CA	52	144
136	Memphis, TN	142	115
137	Philadelphia, PA	129	130
138	Tacoma, WA	89	143
139	St. Louis, MO	149	82
140	Chicago, IL	126	137
141	Cleveland, OH	141	131
142	Hartford, CT	135	138
143	Flint, MI	146	129
144	Oakland, CA	81	147
145	Detroit, MI	150	99
146	New York, NY	16	148
147	Chattanooga, TN	125	145
148	San Francisco, CA	19	149
149	Gulfport, MS	128	146
150	Washington, DC	46	150

 

Detailed Breakdown by City

‘Quality of City Services’ Rank* (Score)	City	‘Financial Stability’ Rank	‘Education’ Rank	‘Health’ Rank	‘Safety’ Rank	‘Economy’ Rank	‘Infrastructure & Pollution’ Rank
1 (71.07)	Huntington Beach, CA	36	1	5	7	16	132
2 (69.23)	Provo, UT	20	145	44	2	2	7
3 (68.60)	Virginia Beach, VA	8	3	43	6	46	74
4 (65.34)	Boise, ID	17	43	24	12	8	52
5 (65.27)	Fremont, CA	108	2	11	14	1	127
6 (65.10)	Fargo, ND	47	9	26	21	10	21
7 (64.27)	Bismarck, ND	29	42	25	15	26	59
8 (64.25)	San Diego, CA	90	8	13	17	45	16
9 (64.21)	Boston, MA	3	149	19	10	60	3
10 (64.10)	Austin, TX	23	6	17	42	19	57
11 (64.03)	San Jose, CA	59	11	2	25	9	120
12 (63.66)	Madison, WI	7	92	10	16	61	81
13 (62.46)	Portland, ME	39	21	30	26	75	29
14 (62.41)	Lincoln, NE	12	47	42	18	49	76
15 (62.14)	Seattle, WA	31	30	7	74	29	36
16 (62.07)	New York, NY	80	60	15	5	114	26
17 (61.95)	Sioux Falls, SD	26	54	53	30	4	69
18 (61.85)	Nashua, NH	51	113	69	1	28	39
19 (61.50)	San Francisco, CA	45	63	1	84	15	38
20 (61.22)	Portland, OR	18	37	36	80	70	5
21 (61.15)	Raleigh, NC	13	61	33	20	68	66
22 (60.63)	Charleston, SC	16	58	32	64	56	28
23 (59.88)	Cedar Rapids, IA	30	100	34	34	12	82
24 (59.41)	Salt Lake City, UT	10	147	73	96	3	6
25 (59.22)	Frederick, MD	41	7	75	37	72	97
26 (59.19)	Aurora, IL	57	34	23	4	110	91
27 (58.69)	Anaheim, CA	97	32	3	23	64	138
28 (58.65)	Chesapeake, VA	21	22	117	19	33	116
29 (58.59)	Hialeah, FL	128	4	21	24	78	89
30 (58.34)	Eugene, OR	28	89	91	52	76	2
31 (58.11)	Grand Rapids, MI	73	50	50	39	39	34
32 (58.01)	Miami, FL	93	13	16	87	102	10
33 (57.98)	Tampa, FL	38	77	77	45	31	47
34 (57.96)	Long Beach, CA	83	12	12	38	80	124
35 (57.91)	Durham, NC	5	86	27	70	82	118
36 (57.53)	Charlotte, NC	15	41	41	83	41	119
37 (57.36)	St. Paul, MN	27	142	71	29	88	31
38 (57.16)	Santa Ana, CA	112	35	4	22	52	140
39 (57.10)	Des Moines, IA	67	82	51	58	34	37
40 (56.97)	Minneapolis, MN	52	144	18	82	42	9
41 (56.73)	El Paso, TX	86	19	38	11	77	123
42 (56.00)	Burlington, VT	132	20	39	9	106	11
43 (55.96)	Arlington, TX	56	16	85	44	27	130
44 (55.95)	Denver, CO	40	143	29	51	32	86
45 (55.81)	Aurora, CO	44	117	28	50	23	125
46 (55.67)	Washington, DC	45	83	118	66	93	4
47 (55.64)	Las Vegas, NV	96	68	80	65	44	14
48 (55.59)	Nampa, ID	82	123	68	32	20	51
49 (55.55)	Yonkers, NY	135	87	6	3	120	111
50 (55.40)	Manchester, NH	101	126	62	27	69	17
51 (55.34)	Billings, MT	53	71	109	85	7	53
52 (54.95)	Los Angeles, CA	99	102	14	41	92	94
53 (54.94)	San Antonio, TX	33	49	87	94	50	77
54 (54.90)	Worcester, MA	98	94	48	28	119	42
55 (54.88)	Mesa, AZ	72	59	57	35	51	136
56 (54.76)	Phoenix, AZ	43	91	55	90	36	83
57 (54.72)	Lexington-Fayette, KY	60	33	40	55	89	141
58 (54.56)	Fort Lauderdale, FL	42	98	22	108	103	20
59 (54.44)	Omaha, NE	85	62	93	54	43	70
60 (54.41)	Greensboro, NC	4	22	134	78	108	106
61 (54.30)	Las Cruces, NM	50	46	49	88	117	75
62 (54.09)	Pittsburgh, PA	126	10	70	31	100	49
63 (54.04)	Salem, OR	103	101	63	81	35	8
64 (54.03)	St. Petersburg, FL	61	95	66	97	37	45
65 (53.99)	Cheyenne, WY	9	88	83	49	5	80
66 (53.96)	Fort Wayne, IN	25	39	125	56	54	129
67 (53.96)	Warwick, RI	114	73	95	13	21	143
68 (53.93)	Colorado Springs, CO	88	56	81	61	17	115
69 (53.79)	Spokane, WA	69	65	46	98	84	55
70 (53.63)	Orlando, FL	49	55	52	130	66	48
71 (53.24)	Knoxville, TN	32	29	103	125	71	43
72 (53.11)	Missoula, MT	115	5	90	112	40	30
73 (52.92)	Fort Worth, TX	113	51	60	47	18	126
74 (52.90)	Tallahassee, FL	84	24	86	103	111	13
75 (52.82)	Sacramento, CA	100	116	37	75	25	96
76 (52.72)	Lewiston, ME	65	146	107	59	24	41
77 (52.48)	Reno, NV	121	14	102	46	13	95
78 (51.82)	Oklahoma City, OK	6	75	114	92	57	148
79 (51.75)	Garland, TX	140	26	74	36	22	128
80 (51.57)	Columbus, OH	89	81	119	43	83	93
81 (51.48)	Oakland, CA	107	85	8	136	11	113
82 (51.47)	Corpus Christi, TX	79	27	65	111	61	121
83 (51.18)	Cincinnati, OH	87	28	130	93	99	32
84 (50.90)	Casper, WY	1	121	105	68	6	64
85 (50.81)	Rochester, NY	102	109	100	67	138	1
86 (50.74)	Houston, TX	117	44	59	106	67	61
87 (50.74)	Buffalo, NY	120	107	58	60	121	22
88 (50.59)	Dover, DE	94	48	104	104	74	79
89 (50.55)	Tacoma, WA	105	104	45	100	48	90
90 (50.50)	Dallas, TX	134	36	54	71	65	73
91 (50.49)	Louisville, KY	37	74	122	99	81	110
92 (50.41)	Warren, MI	66	132	121	8	104	72
93 (50.18)	Rutland, VT	11	70	79	76	101	12
94 (50.13)	Anchorage, AK	75	15	76	113	58	88
95 (49.94)	Atlanta, GA	80	90	84	120	94	60
96 (49.62)	Riverside, CA	123	67	35	72	14	146
97 (49.36)	Tucson, AZ	109	97	31	115	97	92
98 (49.35)	Syracuse, NY	125	129	47	53	122	19
99 (49.17)	Fairbanks, AK	14	31	89	101	55	137
100 (48.86)	Richmond, VA	76	111	133	62	116	67
101 (48.55)	Dayton, OH	71	72	126	91	141	40
102 (48.43)	Rapid City, SD	95	133	67	109	38	85
103 (47.57)	Topeka, KS	104	79	140	86	73	58
104 (47.44)	Albuquerque, NM	63	106	82	146	96	46
105 (47.39)	Indianapolis, IN	19	140	131	127	90	98
106 (47.27)	Lubbock, TX	77	52	72	139	79	142
107 (47.16)	Columbia, SC	64	130	88	122	134	54
108 (47.12)	Nashville, TN	111	119	115	107	63	65
109 (46.98)	Kansas City, MO	91	38	96	144	59	114
110 (46.88)	Springfield, MA	124	125	99	63	135	15
111 (46.69)	Akron, OH	110	64	127	79	136	103
112 (46.62)	Bakersfield, CA	92	53	108	116	47	149
113 (46.40)	Wichita, KS	55	118	101	128	85	135
114 (46.30)	Mobile, AL	62	66	128	140	113	44
115 (46.29)	Norfolk, VA	74	124	149	48	98	108
116 (46.18)	Modesto, CA	122	93	61	121	30	122
117 (46.12)	Tulsa, OK	34	84	129	132	95	145
118 (45.85)	Bridgeport, CT	144	122	9	33	144	63
119 (45.77)	Montgomery, AL	116	99	120	77	130	78
120 (45.04)	Columbus, GA	54	76	150	105	133	35
121 (45.03)	Fort Smith, AR	131	17	110	114	105	87
122 (44.65)	Little Rock, AR	35	96	113	149	115	101
123 (44.26)	Wilmington, DE	78	57	94	143	143	109
124 (43.72)	Jacksonville, FL	138	69	136	102	53	56
125 (43.27)	Chattanooga, TN	106	78	116	124	109	62
126 (42.90)	Chicago, IL	150	45	64	69	125	24
127 (42.83)	Milwaukee, WI	118	134	112	118	112	102
128 (42.36)	Gulfport, MS	129	18	124	129	124	107
129 (42.31)	Philadelphia, PA	136	137	135	57	140	50
130 (41.80)	Providence, RI	147	138	78	40	107	68
131 (41.72)	Charleston, WV	68	40	144	147	126	99
132 (41.66)	Baltimore, MD	48	148	148	126	127	84
133 (41.48)	New Haven, CT	143	136	56	89	139	23
134 (40.89)	Fresno, CA	139	80	97	119	86	147
135 (40.76)	Hartford, CT	149	103	20	95	145	18
136 (40.38)	Huntington, WV	2	108	143	134	129	27
137 (40.12)	New Orleans, LA	142	128	106	123	137	25
138 (40.12)	Kansas City, KS	133	135	98	137	87	104
139 (39.80)	Birmingham, AL	119	25	132	145	131	100
140 (39.63)	Baton Rouge, LA	58	120	141	142	142	131
141 (39.14)	Cleveland, OH	127	114	111	131	148	105
142 (37.78)	Memphis, TN	70	131	142	148	128	139
143 (37.61)	Toledo, OH	130	115	139	117	132	134
144 (37.24)	Gary, IN	24	105	147	73	149	144
145 (36.51)	Stockton, CA	141	110	92	141	91	150
146 (36.39)	Flint, MI	22	141	138	110	150	71
147 (34.59)	Shreveport, LA	137	112	137	138	146	112
148 (32.20)	Jackson, MS	146	127	123	135	123	133
149 (29.81)	St. Louis, MO	145	150	145	150	118	33
150 (28.77)	Detroit, MI	148	139	146	133	147	117

*No. 1 = Best Run

Ask the Experts

A well-run city isn’t just the product of efficient budgeting or lots of resources. It is the fruit of countless other decisions, too. For more insight into why some cities perform better than others, we turned to a panel of local-government, economic and diversity experts. Click on the panelists’ profiles to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

1. In your opinion, what are the most important issues facing U.S. cities today?
2. Why are some cities better run than others?
3. What can citizens do to increase the transparency and accountability of local government?
4. Are some forms of city government — a strong mayor versus a strong city council, for instance — more effective than others?
5. In evaluating how well a city is run, what are the top five indicators?
6. How can local policymakers reduce racial tensions in the wake of recent movements?

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• Denise Scheberle Ph.D., Clinical Teaching Professor, University of Colorado Denver, School of Public Affairs
• Kerry Hunter Ph.D. – Professor, College of Idaho
• David N. Schleicher Professor of Law, Yale Law School

Methodology

In order to determine the best- and worst-run cities in America, WalletHub compared 150 of the most populated cities across six key categories: 1) Financial Stability, 2) Education, 3) Health, 4) Safety, 5) Economy and 6) Infrastructure & Pollution.

We evaluated those dimensions using 37 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 highest quality of service.

Next, we calculated an overall “Quality of City Services” score for each city based on its weighted average across all the metrics. Finally, for each city, we divided the Quality of City Services score by the “Total Budget per Capita” (dollar amount) in order to construct a “Score per Dollar Spent” index — displayed as “Overall Rank” in the Main Findings table above — which we then used to rank-order the cities in our sample.

The metrics used do not create a disadvantage for DC, despite its unusual status as a city/state, with the exception of the Long-Term Debt Outstanding per Capita metric. However, even with that metric removed, DC still ranks last. Thus, the District was included in this report.

Financial Stability – Total Points: 16.67

• Moody’s City Credit Rating: Quadruple Weight (~13.33 Points)
• Outstanding Long-Term Debt per Capita: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)

Education – Total Points: 16.67

• K–12 School-System Quality: Double Weight (~11.11 Points)Note: This metric measures the share of public schools rated by GreatSchools.org with above average score.
• High School Graduation Rate: Full Weight (~5.56 Points)

Health – Total Points: 16.67

• Infant Mortality Rate: Quadruple Weight (~6.67 Points)
• Average Life Expectancy (in Years): Quadruple Weight (~6.67 Points)
• Hospital Beds per Capita: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
• Quality of Public Hospital System: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)Note: This metric is based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ ranking of public hospital systems.

Safety – Total Points: 16.67

• Violent Crime Rate: Quadruple Weight (~4.76 Points)
• Property Crime Rate: Quadruple Weight (~4.76 Points)
• Motor Vehicle Fatalities per Capita: Quadruple Weight (~4.76 Points)
• Share of Sheltered Homeless Persons: Full Weight (~1.19 Points)
• Perception of Safety (Safety walking alone during daylight/night): Full Weight (~1.19 Points)Note: Composite metric:
  • Safety walking alone during daylight
  • Safety walking alone during night

  These data are based on perceptions of visitors of numbeo.com website in the past 3 years. If the value is 0, it means it is perceived as very low, and if the value is 100, it means it is perceived as very high.

Economy – Total Points: 16.67

• Unemployment Rate: Triple Weight (~2.63 Points)
• Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~0.88 Points)
• Median Annual Household Income (Adjusted for Cost of Living): Double Weight (~1.75 Points)
• Median Annual Income Growth Rate: Double Weight (~1.75 Points)Note: Growth compares the income level in 2017 versus in 2016.
• Annual Job Growth Rate (Adjusted for Population Growth): Double Weight (~1.75 Points)Note: Growth compares the number of employed civilian population in 2017 versus in 2016.
• Share of Population Living in Poverty: Double Weight (~1.75 Points)
• Economic Mobility: Triple Weight (~2.63 Points)
• Growth in Number of Businesses: Full Weight (~0.88 Points)Note: Growth compares the number of businesses in 2016 versus in 2015.
• Change in Housing Prices: Full Weight (~0.88 Points)Note: Change compares the price in 2018 versus in 2011.
• Zillow Home Value 1-year Forecast: Full Weight (~0.88 Points)Note: The Zillow Home Value Forecast is Zillow's prediction of what the Zillow Home Value Index will be one year from now.
• Building-Permit Growth: Full Weight (~0.88 Points)Note: Growth spans 2015 to 2017.

Infrastructure & Pollution – Total Points: 16.67

• Quality of Roads: Quadruple Weight (~3.03 Points)Note: This metric measures the share of pavements in poor condition.
• Average Commute Time (in Minutes): Full Weight (~0.76 Points)
• Transit Access Shed: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)Note: “Transit Access Shed” is the total area of land that is easily accessible from any point via public transportation.
• Traffic Congestion: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)
• Walk Score: Triple Weight (~2.27 Points)Note: “Walk Score” measures pedestrian friendliness by analyzing population density and road metrics such as block length and intersection density.
• Bike Score: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)Note: “Bike Score” measures whether an area is good for biking. The Bike Score is calculated by measuring bike infrastructure (lanes, trails, etc.), hills, destinations and road connectivity, and the number of bike commuters.
• Transit Score: Half Weight (~0.38 Points)Note: “Transit Score” is a patented measure of how well a location is served by public transit.
• Recreation-Friendliness: Quadruple Weight (~3.03 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for Recreation” ranking.
• Share of Residents with Access to Internet: Half Weight (~0.38 Points)
• Water Quality: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)
• Air Pollution: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)
• Greenhouse-Gas Emissions per Capita: Full Weight (~0.76 Points)
• Share of Parkland: Triple Weight (~2.27 Points)

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 Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Council for Community and Economic Research, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Moody's Investors Service, GreatSchools.org, County Health Rankings, Health Resources and Services Administration, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Zillow, The Equality of Opportunity Project, The Road Information Program, Center for Neighborhood Technology, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Walk Score, The Trust for Public Land, INRIX, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Numbeo and WalletHub research.

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