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  • How to Get Rid of Credit Card Debt When You’ve Gotten in Too Deep

    How to Get Rid of Credit Card Debt When You’ve Gotten in Too Deep

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    We know how incredibly easy it is to rack up credit card debt.

    More than 50% of Americans carry a credit card balance, with 30% carrying more than $1,000 of debt or more month to month, 15% carrying $5,000 or more and 6% carrying $10,000 or more, according to a recent GOBankingRates survey. The ongoing pandemic and rising inflation have made it even harder for Americans to avoid going into credit card debt, with 45% increasing their overall debt since the start of the pandemic.

    But here’s the tricky thing about credit cards: They only benefit you when you’re building credit and receiving perks — but not when you’re paying interest. If you’re paying a lot of interest on your balances, credit card companies are making money off of you.

    Your cards are using you, not the other way around.

    With average APRs (annual percentage rates) on new credit cards north of 16%, according to LendingTree, paying them off is a smart move. You can do it. And it’ll be worth it.

    Tina Russell/The Penny Hoarder

    5 Ways to Eliminate Credit Card Debt

    Before you start your journey to becoming debt free, try to stop using your credit cards altogether until you can use them without putting yourself in financial risk. Though the specifics will vary based on your situation, we only recommend using credit cards if:

    • You don’t have any debt outside of a mortgage or student loans. (Mortgages and student loan debt are almost impossible to avoid nowadays.)
    • You have an emergency fund with three to six months of expenses saved. This is how much money you’d need to survive during that time period, assuming you have no income reaching your bank account.
    • You can pay off your credit card debt in full every month — not just minimum payments.

    However you do it, make paying off your credit cards — and learning to use them responsibly — a high priority.

    First, determine how much credit card debt you have. You can do this using a tool like Credit Sesame, a free credit monitoring service.

    Then choose your weapons! We’ll go over five different methods, from debt consolidation loans to repayment strategies to settlement, for paying off your credit card debt.

    1. The Debt Avalanche Method

    Instead of looking at your debt in its entirety, we recommend approaching it bit by bit. By breaking your debt down into manageable chunks, you’ll experience quicker wins and stay motivated.

    Two popular ways to break down debt repayments are the debt avalanche and debt snowball methods.

    Using the debt avalanche method, you’ll order your credit card debts from the highest interest rate to the lowest. You’ll make the minimum payment on each of your credit card accounts, and any extra income you have will go toward the highest-interest card.

    Eventually, that card will be paid off, and you won’t have to worry about that monthly payment anymore. Then, you’ll attack the debt with the next-highest interest rate, and so on, until all your cards are paid off.

    2. The Debt Snowball Method

    With the debt snowball method, you’ll order your debts from the lowest balance to highest, regardless of the interest rates on the cards. You’ll make the minimum payment on each of your credit card balances, and any extra income will go to the credit card with the smallest balance.

    Starting with the smallest balance allows you to experience wins faster than you would with the avalanche. This method is ideal for people who are motivated by quick wins, but it has a downside: Those who choose it could end up paying more interest over the long term.

    Here’s an example of how each method would work if you’re paying off four credit cards of varying balances and interest rates.

    1. $654 with 0% interest
    2. $5,054 with 15% interest
    3. $2,541 with 23% interest
    4. $945 with 17% interest

    If you followed the avalanche method, you’d pay off card No. 3 first, followed by No. 4, No. 2 and No. 1. If you followed the snowball method, you’d pay off card No. 1 first, followed by No. 4, No. 3 and No. 2.

    Choosing the right method comes down to deciding whether you’d rather get quick results or save money on interest. We encourage you to check a debt calculator yourself, so you can calculate what each method would cost you.

    3. The Balance Transfer

    If you have good to excellent credit (typically a FICO score of 670 or above) and can feasibly pay off your debt within a year, a balance-transfer credit card is a great option. Balance-transfer credit cards can save you money on interest charges by letting you transfer the balance of a card with a high interest rate to a card with 0% interest.

    Most of these cards offer 0% interest for 12 to 18 months with no annual fee. They generally have a 3% to 5% balance-transfer fee, but you can easily find balance transfer cards with no fee. Higher credit scores help borrowers to qualify for a credit card with better terms.

    Think a balance transfer card is the right move for your finances? We’ve put together a list of the best balance transfer cards currently available.

    4. Take out a Loan

    You might look at getting a loan to consolidate and refinance your debts.

    If you get a loan with a lower interest rate and pay off your credit cards, that lower rate could potentially save you thousands of dollars in interest.

    This is a realistic way to pay off credit card debt if you currently have little or no money to put toward it.

    Let’s look at two options for debt consolidation here: A personal loan or a home equity loan.

    Personal Loan

    Online marketplaces will allow you to prequalify for a personal loan without doing a hard inquiry of your credit, so if you want to shop around, head there first. Shopping for personal loans online does not affect credit scores.

    A personal debt consolidation loan is a good idea if you have decent credit and can manage the repayment plan that accompanies the loan. Whereas credit cards offer revolving credit, meaning you can continue to borrow and just make minimum payments, a debt consolidation loan will have a predetermined repayment plan with a set schedule of payments.

    A debt consolidation loan is similar to a balance transfer credit card, as you are consolidating all of your debt into one place. The personal loan route is more attractive, however, because rates are typically lower for debt consolidation loans.

    A good resource for finding personal loans here is Fiona, a search engine for financial services, which can help match you with the right personal loan to meet your needs. It searches the top online lenders to match you with a personalized loan offer in less than a minute.

    Home Equity Loan

    If you own a home with equity, you have three ways to borrow money against the value of your home: a home equity loan, home equity line of credit or a cash-out refinance.

    • With a home equity loan, the lender gives you your money all at once, and you repay it at a fixed interest rate over a set period of time.
    • With a home equity line of credit, you’re given a limit to borrow. Within that limit, you can take as little or as much as you need whenever you want.
    • With a cash-out refinance, you refinance your first mortgage with a mortgage that’s slightly more money than your current one, and pocket the difference.

    For homeowners, these options will most likely offer the lowest interest rates. But they’re also the riskiest, because your home is the collateral — something you own that your lender can take if you don’t pay off the loan.

    5. Debt Settlement

    The world of debt collections and creditors can be confusing, intimidating and sometimes even illegal. There’s a common misconception, for example, that someone can take your house or you can go to jail for not making your credit card payments. But credit card debt is unsecured debt, meaning no one can put you in jail or take your house if you don’t pay it.

    If you’re being harassed by creditors or have circumstances that make your debt repayment confusing, don’t give up before finding out your options for assistance.

    Debt Management Program

    With a debt management program, a credit counseling company will handle your consolidation in hopes of getting you a better interest rate and lower fees. You’ll be assigned a counselor, who will set up a repayment and education plan for you. This program is specifically for unsecured debt, like credit cards and medical bills.

    A debt management program pays your creditors for you to ensure you stay current on your debt payments. Your credit score may even improve during the program. But if you miss a monthly payment, you can be dropped, and you’ll lose all the benefits you gained.

    Debt management plans usually don’t reduce your debt, but they may reduce your interest rates by as much as half or extend your payment timeline to make paying your debt more manageable.

    Credit Card Debt Settlement

    If you’re in more than just a temporary season of financial instability, and you can’t see yourself affording the amount of credit card debt you owe, debt settlement is an option, though we regard it as a last resort.

    Debt settlement reduces the amount of debt you owe, but it will significantly lower your credit score and negatively impact your credit report.

    The process isn’t as simple as debt consolidation. You have to convince every creditor that if they don’t settle with you, they probably won’t get anything at all. So, of course, during that time you won’t be making any payments — while interest and late fees accrue.

    You can do this on your own, but most people seek the help of a debt settlement company.

    Like a debt management program, a debt settlement firm will negotiate debts on your behalf, and the company will make lump-sum payments to creditors while you make monthly payments to the debt settlement company.

    Pro Tip

    Be careful when seeking help with debt settlement. While some companies are legitimately there to assist you, others take your money and do very little to help your situation.

    While you’re paying the debt settlement company, you’ll still be delinquent with any creditors the company hasn’t yet negotiated with, meaning you’ll still get calls from those creditors.

    And there’s no guarantee the company will be successful. If it isn’t successful in negotiating, you’ll still be responsible for the full debt amount, plus any extra interest that accrued.

    If the company is successful, you’ll have to pay the settlement amount in full. Then in April, you’ll owe taxes on the amount forgiven.

    The settlement company will also charge you up to 25% in fees on top of the settlement.

    How one Penny Hoarder paid off $12,000 in debt in just 12 weeks. She shares her top tips so you can get out of debt too.

    Bankruptcy

    Bankruptcy is another last resort. The two major types for individuals are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.

    Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows you to completely discharge all your debts except student loans in four to six months by liquidating your assets. A trustee gathers and sells all of your nonexempt assets to pay off your debt. Those assets can include property that’s not your primary residence, a vehicle with equity, investments or valuable collections.

    Those who earn a high income or have significant assets typically choose Chapter 13, which allows you to keep certain assets while still repaying some of the debts. It’s a long, arduous process that doesn’t guarantee to resolve your debt. It can be reversed if your income increases, and it wrecks your credit.

    Both bankruptcy options have negative long-term ramifications on your credit. But if you’re out of options, bankruptcy gives you a chance to get your debt under control and get creditors and debt collectors off your back.

    A woman looks at her bills at home.
    Getty Images

    How to Pay off Credit Card Debt Fast

    If you want to become debt free quickly, here are some ways to pay off credit cards fast:

    Up Your Monthly Payments

    Make two payments per month instead of one. Most credit card companies use an average daily balance to compute interest charges. Instead of making monthly payments of $400 toward a balance, make two payments of $200, one at the middle of the month and one at the end. You’ll lower the average daily balance so you’ll pay less interest. Some credit card users even advocate for paying off credit card balances every week; a weekly reminder in your calendar is all it takes.

    Try to Get a Lower Rate

    Ask your credit card companies for lower interest rates. It’s worth trying at least once for each credit card you have. Research competitor cards similar to yours for which you qualify and that offer better rates — then share those with your credit card company to see if they’ll match it.

    Knocking four interest percentage points off a $10,000 balance, for example, can save you hundreds of dollars in interest annually. Add those savings to your debt repayment budget!

    Get the Debt Reduced

    Sometimes you can convince a credit card company to forgive your debt — or at least part of it. After all, these companies want to retain you as a customer, so they may be more open to negotiation than you might think. If you’re in serious financial trouble, explain the situation to the card issuer. Offer to pay a portion of the balance owed as payment in full.

    For most of us, though, there’s no quick answer.

    How Much Will Paying Off Credit Cards Raise Your Score?

    You might be asking yourself, “How much will my credit score go up if I pay off my credit cards?” It turns out that credit card usage has a huge impact on credit scores.

    If you spend too much of your overall limit or miss payments, you’ll hurt your score. If you keep your balances low and regularly make your minimum monthly payment on time, your score will increase over time.

    Just because you have available credit doesn’t mean you should max out your credit cards. Your credit utilization, which tells the credit bureaus how much of your available credit you’re using, shows whether you are sensible with your borrowing.

    Keeping your credit utilization at or under 30% is ideal. That means on a credit card with a $10,000 limit, you wouldn’t want your balance to exceed $3,000.

    Credit utilization accounts for a whopping 30% of your score. Other factors affecting your score include payment history (35%), credit history length (15%), credit mix (10%) and new credit (10%).

    Looking for ways to increase your score outside of paying down your credit card debt? Penny Hoarder senior editor Robin Hartill shares 10 moves you can make in 2023 to improve your credit.

    Credit card issuers make it so easy to get in the habit of overspending. The introductory APR offers, new credit card sign-up bonuses and cash back offers are designed to get us using cards more frequently and thinking less about what items cost.

    So if you ever want to be debt-free, you need to change the way you use credit cards.

    Former Freelance Editor Janet Keeler, freelancer Tim Moore, former Staff Writer Jen Smith and Senior Writer Mike Brassfield contributed to this post. 


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    jkeeler@thepennyhoarder.com (Janet Keeler)

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  • This Company Lets You Invest in One of the Most Inflation-Proof Assets Around

    This Company Lets You Invest in One of the Most Inflation-Proof Assets Around

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    Here’s a string of words from the past year that might make you feel uneasy: Inflation, crypto crashes, USD volatility, stocks in the red and housing slumps. OK, so it hasn’t been a great year for our precious nest eggs. But, there’s never been an economic downturn we haven’t recovered from, eventually.

    But even if you’re not worried about a little economic turbulence, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buckle up. In this case, your seatbelt is a carefully diversified portfolio of assets. Do it right, and you could be funding many generations to come.

    There are some investments that can even protect you in times of economic uncertainty. And one asset that’s remained historically steady — with its value even increasing during times of instability — is gold.

    How Gold Can Be a Hedge Against Uncertainty

    Paper money loses value as more is printed. But gold is a finite resource more rare than diamonds, meaning its value will only ever increase with demand. In fact, the price of gold is up more than 300% in the past 15 years, and it’s outperformed the stock market for the last 25.

    The good news is, you don’t need to reenact your own epic trek through the Klondike to get your hands on some of this rare metal. It’s all done online, now through companies like Lear Capital.

    What to Expect When Investing in Precious Metals

    Investing in precious metals isn’t necessarily for investing newbies. You’ll need to be able to invest a minimum of $15,000. And since you’re usually working with gold IRAs, it’s ideal to be over 59-years-old, when you can move retirement accounts without penalty.

    And you definitely want to work with a trustworthy company, like Lear Capital. It’s been in the precious metals business for more than 25 years, which is twice as long as most other gold firms. It has completed $3 billion in precious metals transactions and has over 93,000 satisfied customers. Plus, you’ll get a 24-hour risk-free guarantee to review your purchase before committing to it.

    Not only that, but unlike most gold firms, it will walk you through the entire investing process, from start to finish. After you sign up for your free gold investment kit, you’ll be connected with an expert from Lear Capital, who will go over everything you need to know while addressing any concerns you may have.

    And since gold is ideally a long-term investment, Lear will stick with you after your initial investment. Many other companies leave you to your own devices after they get your investment.

    To learn more, head over to Lear Capital’s site to sign up for your free gold investment kit.


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    clara.stratford@clearlink.com (Clara Stratford)

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  • 5 things not to buy in 2023

    5 things not to buy in 2023

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    It’s been a year of contradictions.

    The recession drum beats on, interest rates are rising, and the stock market has taken a tumble, and yet retail sales have risen 6.5% in the last 12 months, trailing a 7.1% increase in the cost of living.

    There are other reasons people should consider cutting back on spending in 2023. The personal saving rate — meaning personal saving as a percentage of disposable income, or the share of income left after paying taxes and spending money — hit 2.4% in the third quarter from 3.4% in the prior quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said.

    “There are signs that people are pulling back on certain expenditures. ”

    That is the lowest level since the Great Recession and the eighth-lowest quarterly rate on record (since 1947). Adjusted for inflation, savings are down 88% from their 2020 peak and 61% lower than before the pandemic, according to government data. The personal saving rate hit 2.4% in November vs. 2.2% in October. 

    Are people buying stocks during a bearish market, and/or have they run out of their pandemic-era savings? Whatever the reasons, more judicious investing and spending decisions seem to be the most prudent approach — especially given the uncertain economic outlook for 2023.

    There are signs that people are already pulling back on certain expenditures. Although retail sales are up on the year, they did decline 0.6% month-on-month in November to mark their biggest decline in almost a year, largely because of weak car sales.

    About those new cars: New-vehicle total sales for 2022 are projected to reach 13,687,000 units, down 8.4% on the year, according to a joint forecast from J.D. Power and LMC Automotive. MarketWatch reporter Philip van Doorn explains all the reasons why you may wish to skip buying a new car in 2023, in addition to their rising prices.

    So what else should you save your money on in 2023? MarketWatch writers give their verdict below.

    SPACs

    During the pandemic, people loved to buy special purpose acquisitions companies, known as SPACs. In 2021, 613 SPACs listed on U.S. stock exchanges through initial public offerings, according to SPAC Insider. The year before, there were 248 SPAC IPOs. There had never been more than 100 of these before in a single year. There were SPACs associated with Donald Trump and Serena Williams. There were so many, that one was called Just Another Acquisition Corp. 

    SPACs exist as a means to take private companies public, and theoretically give these shell companies a faster and less regulatory burdensome means to access public capital. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission warned investors last April that so-called advantages of the SPAC process, such as reduced legal liability, may not prove to be so solid if tested in court.

    The SPACs raised money even though they had no commercial operations or business, and tried to use the cash to buy something that did exist. But investors who bought SPACs that merged with private companies since 2015 have suffered losses of 37%, on average, a year after the merger, according to a recent study.  The SPAC and New Issue ETF 
    SPCX,
    +0.37%
    has slipped 12% this year. The frenzy for SPACs has predictably gone bust. But if you see one, just stay away from it.

    — Nathan Vardi

    Crypto 

    There are two main reasons not to invest in cryptocurrency in 2023, and neither has to do with the precipitous drop in value for most of the major coins in the last year, including but not limited to bitcoin
    BTCUSD,
    -1.11%    ,
    ethereum
    ETHE,
    -2.71%
    and tether
    USDTUSD,
    -0.02%    .
    Investors have long been conditioned to buy the dip and find value where others fear to tread, and then make money on the upswing. 

    Crypto is different because there’s no correlation to long-held market theories, and buying it amounts more to speculation than to investing. That might seem semantic, but if you look at financial planning holistically, then you treat investing as an exercise in risk tolerance — and crypto is all risk. 

    Which leads to the other main reason to avoid crypto in the next year: If you do buy it, there’s really no safe way to store it. There’s no federal insurance covering exchange failures and little cyber-theft protection for individuals. That leaves you on your own, which is not a good place to be with your money.

    — Beth Pinsker

    Meta Quest headsets

    On the consumer front, if you’re really into virtual reality, there is nothing wrong with jumping on the new Meta Quest two and Meta Quest Pro headsets that were introduced in 2022 by Meta Platforms Inc. 
    META,
    -0.78%    .

    The problem is that you might feel like you bought a BlackBerry
    BB,
    -3.42%
    phone in early 2007. Apple Inc.
    AAPL,
    -1.40%
    is expected to finally show off what engineers at the Silicon Valley giant have been cooking up in a years-long project to jump into augmented and virtual reality, and consumers are expected to at least get a glimpse at Apple’s attempt this year, if not a chance to buy whatever the company produces. 

    The headsets don’t come cheap: Meta said earlier this year it was raising the price of Meta Quest 2 headsets by $100 to $399.99 (128GB) and $499.99 (256GB). The iPhone’s introduction 15 years ago changed the way people look at smartphones, and Apple’s expected jump into this field in 2023 could leave anyone who spent their money on a Meta Quest headset wishing for a new reality.

    — Jeremy Owens

    Meme stocks 

    Struggling companies with business models that appear to some to be dying and/or struggling do not generally perform well in the stock market. But during the pandemic these companies often had stocks that soared. What drove them was social media sentiment, driven on platforms like Reddit, by a swarm of retail investors. 

    There was video game retailer GameStop
    GME,
    -7.42%    ,
    movie theater chain AMC
    AMC,
    -8.43%    ,
    and smartphone dinosaur Blackberry. AMC recently announced the sale of another $110 million in stock, adding to a total that has already exceeded $2 billion since the theater chain got swept up into meme-stock madness. CEO Adam Aron wrote on Twitter that the move put the company “in a much stronger cash position.”

    GameStop recently reported its seventh consecutive quarterly loss and reiterated its goal of returning to profitability in the near term, but analysts have signaled that many challenges lie ahead. During the company’s recent third-quarter conference call, Chief Executive Officer Matt Furlong said that GameStop would be open to exploring acquisitions of a strategic asset or complimentary business if they were available “in the right price range.”

    Buying meme companies like this worked for some in a booming stock market fueled by ultra-low interest rates. But we are now in a bear market with interest rates that are elevated. Corporate fundamentals are back in vogue. So are quaint investment ideas like cashflow. More likely than not, the days of buying meme stocks are over.

    — Nathan Vardi

    Tesla cars

    In recent years, Tesla Inc.
    TSLA,
    -8.25%
    has stood alone as the best option for electric vehicles, while other manufacturers struggled to get production running. But in 2023, there should be many more types of electric cars available, at prices that are expected to trend downward as the year goes along. Teslas range in price from $46,990 for the Tesla Model 3 to $138,880 for the Tesla Model X Plaid. 

    With major manufacturers such as General Motors Co.
    GM,
    -0.73%    ,
    Ford Motor Co.
    FORD,
    -2.68%    ,
    Toyota Corp. and Volkswagen
    VOW,
    -0.77%
    VLKAF,
    -1.15%
    jumping into the fray, and young Tesla wannabes like Rivian Automotive Inc.
    RIVN,
    -7.11%    ,
    Lucid Group Inc.
    LCID,
    -7.24%
    and FIsker Inc.
    FSR,
    -6.19%
     expected to start producing cars, consumers will have many more options for EVs. 

    Meanwhile, Tesla has done little to update the Model 3 since it was introduced in 2017, and has increased prices at a level that Chief Executive Elon Musk has admitted is “embarrassing” for a company that claimed to have a goal of mass-market pricing for EVs. 

    The average price of a new EV is $64,249, while a new gas car is $48,281, according to​​ Liz Najman, a climate scientist and communications and research manager at Recurrent Auto, an EV research and analytics firm focused on the used-vehicle market. After years of not having much choice beyond Tesla for EVs, 2023 appears to be the year that changes.

    — Jeremy Owens

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  • Elon Musk Warns Bankruptcy Still Hangs Over Twitter

    Elon Musk Warns Bankruptcy Still Hangs Over Twitter

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    Three months after taking control of Twitter, Elon Musk is adopting a less pessimistic tone about the future of the social network, which he defines as the Town Square of our time.

    A few weeks ago, the billionaire was worried about the financial health of the platform, which saw an exodus of advertisers, while advertising revenue constituted 91% of Twitter’s revenue in the second quarter. The rest was subscriptions. 

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  • This company has wiped out more investor wealth in 2022 than Tesla

    This company has wiped out more investor wealth in 2022 than Tesla

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    Elon Musk has been trying this week to defend Tesla’s abysmal stock performance in 2022. The electric vehicle giant has seen its stock plummet by 61% this year, making it the 11th-worst performing stock in the S&P 500 in 2022.

    “As bank savings account interest rates, which are guaranteed, start to approach stock market returns, which are *not* guaranteed, people will increasingly move their money out of stocks into cash, thus causing stocks to drop,” Musk tweeted.

    You might expect that Tesla’s stock drop has wiped out more investor wealth than any other stock in the world this year. But you would be wrong.

    If we look at declines in market capitalization — the value of companies’ common-shares outstanding — Tesla
    TSLA,
    -1.76%
    has been the fourth worst-performing stock in the benchmark S&P 500 this year, as of 1 p.m. ET on Dec. 21:

    Company

    		 Ticker

    		 2022 market cap change ($bil)

    		 Intraday market cap on Dec. 21 ($bil)

    		 Dec. 31, 2021 market cap ($bil)

    		 2022 price change
    Amazon.com Inc.

    		 AMZN,
    +1.74%         		-$805

    		 $886

    		 $1,691

    		 -48%
    Apple Inc.

    		 AAPL,
    -0.28%         		-$753

    		 $2,160

    		 $2,913

    		 -24%
    Microsoft Corp.

    		 MSFT,
    +0.23%         		-$700

    		 $1,825

    		 $2,525

    		 -27%
    Tesla Inc.

    		 TSLA,
    -1.76%         		-$622

    		 $439

    		 $1,061

    		 -61%
    Meta Platforms Inc. Class A

    		 META,
    +0.79%         		-$466

    		 $318

    		 $784

    		 -64%
    Nvidia Corp.

    		 NVDA,
    -0.87%         		-$329

    		 $406

    		 $735

    		 -44%
    PayPal Holdings Inc.

    		 PYPL,
    +0.67%         		-$143

    		 $79

    		 $222

    		 -63%
    Netflix Inc.

    		 NFLX,
    -0.94%         		-$134

    		 $133

    		 $267

    		 -51%
    Walt Disney Co.

    		 DIS,
    +1.55%         		-$122

    		 $160

    		 $282

    		 -44%
    Salesforce Inc.

    		 CRM,
    +0.19%         		-$119

    		 $131

    		 $250

    		 -49%
    Source: FactSet

    On a percentage basis, all these stocks have performed worse than the full S&P 500, which has fallen 19%, excluding dividends.

    Amazon.com Inc.
    AMZN,
    +1.74%
    has erased more shareholder wealth than any other publicly traded company in 2022. In total, investors in Amazon have lost $804.6 billion this year. The stock is down 48% in 2022.

    Apple Inc.
    AAPL,
    -0.28%
    and Microsoft Corp.
    MSFT,
    +0.23%
    have also suffered larger market-cap declines than Tesla, by virtue of their sheer size.

    The companies have different fiscal and annual period ends, but if we look at data for the past three reported quarters and compare to the same period a year earlier, here’s how the four stack up:

    Company

    		 Ticker

    		 Change in sales for three quarters from year-earlier period

    		 Change in EPS for three quarters from year-earlier period
    Amazon.com Inc.

    		 AMZN,
    +1.74%
     

    		 10%

    		 N/A
    Apple Inc.

    		  
    AAPL,
    -0.28%         		6%

    		 2%
    Microsoft Corp.

    		  
    MSFT,
    +0.23%         		14%

    		 -2%
    Tesla Inc.

    		  
    TSLA,
    -1.76%         		58%

    		 169%
    Source: FactSet

    Amazon showed a net loss of $3 billion for the first three quarters of 2022 as the company neared the end of its extraordinary multiyear effort to build out its warehouse and fulfillment infrastructure. For the first three quarters of 2021, the company booked $19 billion in profits. When announcing Amazon’s third-quarter results CEO Andy Jassy said the company was working methodically toward “a stronger cost structure for the business moving forward.”

    The incredible growth of Amazon’s cloud business has stalled and disappointed the expectations the company had nurtured on Wall Street. The Amazon Web Services business is facing increasing competition from the likes of Microsoft and its customers are pulling back. Meanwhile, retail sales have also come in weak going into the Christmas and holiday season. 

    Amazon’s stock has declined 22% since it closed at $110.96 on Oct. 27, right before it disappointed investors not only with its third-quarter results, but with its outlook: It expects to break even during the holiday quarter. Analysts polled by FactSet had previously expected a profit of more than $5 billion.

    Tesla stands in contrast to Amazon, as you can see on the table above. Its sales grew by 58% during the first three quarters of 2022 from the year-earlier period and its earnings per share rose nearly threefold.

    This has been a year of significant declines for shares of giant tech-oriented companies, especially those that had traded at lofty price-to-earnings valuations — that group includes Amazon and Tesla. In fact, these companies have given up all their pandemic era gains int he stock market.

    But with Tesla’s results so outstanding through the first three quarters of 2022, it raises the question: How much of the drop in the electric car makers share price was tied to Musk’s actions as CEO of Twitter, which he acquired on Oct. 27 after a monthslong saga? And how much of a relief rally, if any, might there be for Tesla if Musk, as expected, steps down as Twitter CEO?

    How about some bottom-feeding?

    Here’s the same list of 10 stocks in the S&P 500 that have seen the largest declines in market cap this year, with a summary of analysts’ ratings, consensus price targets and declines in their forward price-to-earnings ratios:

    Company

    		 Ticker

    		 Share “buy” ratings

    		 Dec. 21 closing price

    		 Cons. price target

    		 Implied 12-month upside potential

    		 Forward P/E as of Dec. 20

    		 Forward P/E as of Dec. 31, 2021
    Amazon.com Inc.

    		 AMZN,
    +1.74%         		91%

    		 $85.19

    		 $134.85

    		 58%

    		 49.3

    		 64.9
    Apple Inc.

    		 AAPL,
    -0.28%         		74%

    		 $132.30

    		 $173.44

    		 31%

    		 21.4

    		 30.2
    Microsoft Corp.

    		 MSFT,
    +0.23%         		91%

    		 $241.80

    		 $293.06

    		 21%

    		 23.7

    		 34.0
    Tesla Inc.

    		 TSLA,
    -1.76%         		63%

    		 $137.80

    		 $272.64

    		 98%

    		 24.6

    		 120.3
    Meta Platforms Inc. Class A

    		 META,
    +0.79%         		63%

    		 $117.09

    		 $145.45

    		 24%

    		 14.5

    		 23.5
    Nvidia Corp.

    		 NVDA,
    -0.87%         		68%

    		 $160.85

    		 $195.72

    		 22%

    		 39.2

    		 58.0
    PayPal Holdings Inc.

    		 PYPL,
    +0.67%         		71%

    		 $68.76

    		 $104.32

    		 52%

    		 14.5

    		 36.0
    Netflix Inc.

    		 NFLX,
    -0.94%         		47%

    		 $288.19

    		 $302.89

    		 5%

    		 28.4

    		 45.6
    Walt Disney Co.

    		 DIS,
    +1.55%         		82%

    		 $87.02

    		 $119.60

    		 37%

    		 19.8

    		 34.2
    Salesforce Inc.

    		 CRM,
    +0.19%         		78%

    		 $128.45

    		 $195.18

    		 52%

    		 23.4

    		 53.5
    Source: FactSet

    A majority of analysts see a golden path ahead for 2023 for all of these stocks except for Netflix.

    For more information about any of these companies, click the tickers.

    Click here for a detailed guide to the wealth of information available for free on the MarketWatch quote page.

    Don’t miss: 11 high-yield dividend stocks that are Wall Street’s favorites for 2023

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  • How to Advertise to Customer Emotions Without Invading Privacy

    How to Advertise to Customer Emotions Without Invading Privacy

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    It’s probably not difficult to grasp that our customers’ purchase behaviors are deeply entangled with moods.

    There’s a reason that we call shopping therapeutic. Purchasing things we want sends a serotonin surge to the brain that can temporarily make us feel better if we’re stressed, depressed or anxious. Moreover, according to widely-cited research by Gerald Zaltman, 95% of purchase decisions are made subconsciously and driven by emotions — so it’s no surprise that advertisers have been interested in understanding and evoking particular mood states for generations.

    Now that data about internal states of mind is becoming more available, the stakes are higher when we consider how to act on this sensitive consumer information. For example, how far should brands go to utilize emotional data to encourage purchases?

    Let’s take a look at where we’re at and how brands can take a human-centered approach to the use of this sensitive information.

    Related: 5 Insights Into Human Behavior That Will Boost Your Sales and Marketing

    How we gauge emotions

    Let’s start with how we gauge emotions. Until recently, our data about feelings relied on self-reporting by consumers since it’s impossible to embody another person’s emotional experience. Self-reporting means that consumers answer direct questions about how they are feeling at a given time or in a given context. Usually, this happens via market research surveys.

    Neuroscience is advancing to the point that we may be able to accurately predict emotional states without relying on overt consumer admissions. This type of emotional assessment may prove to be even more accurate than direct consumer reporting since many people struggle to predict how they’ll feel in particular contexts.

    Technology that assesses activity in our brains is getting more advanced and better capable of predicting mood states. While most of this innovation is happening in research labs, we’re getting closer to realizing this technology as a marketing tool.

    Neuroscience and wearables

    The Art of Shopping, a subconscious shopping experience between art retailer Saatchi and eBay, is one of the most direct campaigns that aimed to utilize this technology in shopping.

    During the experiential retail event, attendees browsed an art gallery while wearing headsets that were designed to track a consumer’s mental engagement. When the software suggested that viewers were inspired, eBay added similar items to the patron’s shopping cart.

    While the activation was interesting, getting consumers to voluntarily and consistently wear mind-tracking headsets is far-fetched in our current environment. Although, it may become more common as more consumers adopt augmented and virtual realities.

    Today, wearables like fitness trackers and smartwatches are becoming more ubiquitous and can aggregate mood data inferentially or from the self-assessment of consumers. The devices can assess everything from our heart rate and breathing patterns to our mindfulness activity. This can imply or correlate to stress levels or provide more direct mood data on apps like Calm and Halo that encourage emotional reporting.

    Related: 4 Neuromarketing Hacks to Reach More People and Maximize Results

    Inferring emotional data

    There are other ways to gauge the mood of consumers, and some of them have a troubling history.

    Meta, formerly Facebook, was famously under the microscope for conducting a large-scale emotion experiment aimed at understanding if emotions spread through networks.

    It actively manipulated the algorithm of nearly 700,000 users without their informed consent, in order to serve them positive or negative content and to gauge the apparent mood in their resulting posts. Among other goals, the company was interested in how emotions might make the site more or less engaging.

    The more engaged users are on the platform, the more valuable they are to Meta’s advertisers. Critics worried that the company wanted to understand how to manipulate emotions to bolster its bottom line and increase purchases for its advertisers, without apparent regard for the impact on the consumer.

    Meta isn’t the only tech company making actionable inferences about emotions. Search engines like Google track emotional effects by utilizing software to assess language for positive and negative sentiments in search, among other tactics.

    In conjunction with the rest of their consumer data, such as browsing and purchase history, these tech behemoths have real power to understand, contextualize and leverage consumer emotion without the use of neurological equipment.

    Related: If You Want to Win Over Customers, Appeal to Their Emotions

    How are we using this data?

    Marketers are curious about how mood impacts purchases, and thereby interested in creating purchase paths that are aligned with particular feelings. Payment providers are paying attention as well. In fact, in their latest Future of Payments research paper, Worldpay from FIS identified personalization, including emotional engagement, as a trend that payment providers are attending to.

    Creating payment journeys that utilize emotional information from consumers may sound troubling. But it’s worth noting that consumers increasingly expect these kinds of personalized experiences from brands — as long as they are additive to the consumer journey.

    When an experience provides convenience to a consumer and helps the brand connect meaningfully with them, it can make the consumer feel supported and improve emotional engagement and loyalty.

    Striking a balance between utilizing emotional data to offer mutual brand-consumer gains while respecting consumer rights and privacy is tricky. This is why we need to think deeply about creating consumer safeguards as we venture into the future.

    Related: Personalization: A Perspective On The Future Of Targeting

    Where do we go from here?

    There’s no shortage of data, and we’re only going to get better at detecting and reacting to emotional states in various contexts. As advertisers and marketers, we need to be thoughtful about how all this emotional data is applied.

    We’ve already seen social media companies exploiting negative emotional states like anxiety and depression to move users toward a purchase path of aspirational products in categories like beauty and fitness (What’s even more troubling is that the algorithms are likely contributing to the negative emotional state, but that’s a conversation for another day). We’ve seen the same algorithms promote negative headlines that are likely to elicit engagement, which results in exacerbated political polarization and negative societal impacts more broadly.

    As an advertising community, we need to implement safeguards to protect consumers. These safeguards should come from regulators, as well as individual brands. Creating an ethics playbook prior to locking in uses of emotional data in the purchase path, conducting thought experiments for secondary and tertiary impacts of the use of mood-based information, and defining and acting in accordance with a brand’s values can help to ensure marketers are responsible brokers of mood data.

    It’s worth remembering that understanding emotion can have powerful positive consequences as well. As humans, we’re emotional beings and brands that can meet consumers where they are in their internal experiences are likely to create better and more meaningful connections. It’s imperative for brands to think through how they’re using emotional information, not only to create lasting relationships with consumers but also to take a human-centered approach to innovation.

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    Tina Mulqueen

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  • 7 Lies You’re Telling Yourself About Your Finances

    7 Lies You’re Telling Yourself About Your Finances

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    Even if you don’t like to lie, you probably occasionally use the little white variety as a tool to protect other people when the truth would do more harm than good.

    It becomes a serious problem when we make a habit of telling lies — especially when we lie to ourselves. But some of us do it all the time when it comes to our finances.

    We tend to deceive ourselves when there’s a disconnect between where we really are with our finances and where we’d like to be. So we tell ourselves these common lies:

    Lie No. 1: Your Debt Is Under Control

    You don’t always just pay the minimum on your credit card. But if you’re being honest with yourself, those occasional chunk payments aren’t really bringing down your average balance.

    Honestly, if you’re like most of us, you’re treading water.

    And the truth is, your credit card company doesn’t really care. It’s just getting rich by ripping you off with high interest rates — some up to 36%. But a website called AmOne wants to help.

    If you owe your credit card companies $50,000 or less, AmOne will match you with a low-interest loan you can use to pay off every single one of your balances.

    The benefit? You’ll be left with one bill to pay each month. And because personal loans have lower interest rates (AmOne rates start at 2.49% APR), you’ll get out of debt that much faster. Plus: No credit card payment this month.

    You don’t need a perfect credit score to get a loan — and comparing your options won’t affect your score at all.  Plus, AmOne keeps your information confidential and secure, which is probably why after 20 years in business, it still has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

    It takes less than a minute and just 10 questions to see what loans you qualify for — you don’t even need to enter your Social Security number. You do need to give AmOne a real phone number in order to qualify, but don’t worry — they won’t spam you with phone calls.

    Lie No. 2: You Keep a Loose Budget in Your Head, and That’s Good Enough

    An integral part of managing your money is creating a budget. Ew, gross. We know. But it’s important to take a good look at what you’re spending and where you can cut back.

    If you’re not sure where to even start, we favor the 50/20/30 budgeting method for its simplicity. Here’s how it works:

    • 50% of your income goes toward essentials.
    • 20% goes toward financial goals.
    • 30% goes toward personal spending.

    The key is to accept you can’t create the perfect budget in an hour. You’ll have to experiment to find what works best for you.

    Lie No. 3: Your Credit Is Good Enough

    You’ve got big plans. Maybe you’ve got your eye on a new car. Or you’re hoping to buy a house in the next few years. Or you’d even like to start your own business. But here’s the thing: No matter what your goals are, you might not realize how much your credit score is standing in your way.

    The good news? A free website called Credit Sesame makes it easy to put your credit score on track to reach your goals. We even talked to one guy, James Cooper, of Atlanta, who used Credit Sesame to raise his credit score nearly 300 points in six months.*** He says they showed him exactly what to do — he was even able to open his first credit card.

    What could adding 300 points to your score mean for your goals? It could easily save you thousands of dollars over the life of a car loan or mortgage.

    Within 90 seconds, Credit Sesame will give you access to your credit score, any debt-carrying accounts and a handful of personalized tips to improve your score. You’ll even be able to spot any errors holding you back (one in five reports have one).

    Make sure your plans don’t get sidelined by bad credit. Sign up for free (it only takes about 90 seconds) and see how much you could improve your score.

    Lie No. 4: You Make Enough Money to Justify Your Spending Habits

    Maybe you spent a little too much last month. But that’s OK. You deserved a little treat, right? And besides, you’ve got a steady income. It’ll all come out in the wash.

    Gut check: You’re probably not earning enough to support your lifestyle. Here’s a solution we like: Make extra spending money by sharing your opinion online.

    It sounds strange, but brands want to hear your opinion. It helps them make business decisions, so they’re willing to pay you for it — up to $140 a month.

    A free site called Branded Surveys will pay you up to $5 per survey for sharing your thoughts with their brand partners. Taking three quick surveys a day could earn up to $140 each month.

    It takes just a minute to create a free account and start getting paid to speak your mind. Most surveys take five to 15 minutes, and you can check how long they’ll take ahead of time.

    And you don’t need to build up tons of money to cash out, either — once you earn $5, you can cash out via PayPal, your bank account, a gift card or Amazon. You’ll get paid within 48 hours of your payout being processed, just for sharing your opinions.

    They’ve already paid users more than $20 million since 2012, and the most active users can earn a few hundred dollars a month. Plus, they’ve got an “excellent” rating on Trustpilot.

    It takes just a minute to set up your account and start getting paid to take surveys. Plus, right now, you’ll get a free 100-point welcome bonus just for becoming part of the community.

    Lie No. 5: You Don’t Waste That Much Time on Your Phone

    Our smartphones are the world’s greatest time-killers. Browse Facebook, Twitter, TikTok or Instagram. Watch a video on YouTube. Play some Minecraft or Roblox.

    Oh, and there’s bingo. We found a free iPhone app called Bingo Cash that lets you play for real money. You could get paid up to $83 per win.

    You might be thinking: There’s got to be a catch. This is definitely one of those spammy apps, right?

    But there really isn’t a catch. Sure, you can pay to play in some higher-stakes tournaments, but there’s no pressure. And, in fact, there aren’t even any annoying ads.

    The game is based on a classic Bingo format. You’ll battle it out against other players at your same skill level. Everyone gets the same board and sees the same Bingo balls. The top three players in a game can win real money — anywhere from $1 to $83.

    Over on the App Store, it has a 4.7-star rating (out of 5).

    To get started, just download the free app and start playing your first game immediately.

    Lie No. 6: You Can’t Cut Your Bills Any Further

    Here’s the thing: your current car insurance company is probably overcharging you. But don’t waste your time hopping around to different insurance companies looking for a better deal.

    Use a website called EverQuote to see all your options at once.

    EverQuote is the largest online marketplace for insurance in the US, so you’ll get the top options from more than 175 different carriers handed right to you.

    Take a couple of minutes to answer some questions about yourself and your driving record. With this information, EverQuote will be able to give you the top recommendations for car insurance. In just a few minutes, you could save up to $610 a year.

    Lie No. 7: You Don’t Have Time for a $300/Month Side Gig

    If you’re like us, your garage probably isn’t doing much of anything at the moment. Maybe you have some tools in there, or maybe it’s home to your boxes of odds and ends, collecting dust.

    But with a website called Neighbor, your extra space — whether it’s a spare room, an empty garage or a parking space — could be earning you an extra $300 a month in totally passive income.

    Neighbor works by connecting people who need storage space with hosts who have the room to spare. The average host makes about $300 a month, but some people have earned up to $50,000 a year just by letting people park on their property.

    It takes less than 10 minutes to get started. Just answer a few questions about your space, take some pictures and set your asking price. Neighbor will recommend a dollar amount based on your location and type of rental, but the final listing is up to you.

    Neighbor even gives you up to $1 million in free protection as a host and offers protection plans for your renters, giving you both peace of mind.

    Neighbor is an easy source of passive income, and it’s easier than most side hustles. It’s free to list your space, and you’ll only be charged a 4.9% processing fee from the profit you make each month, so there’s no risk to you.

    Sign up here and see how much you could earn.

    ***Like Cooper, 60% of Credit Sesame members see an increase in their credit score; 50% see at least a 10-point increase, and 20% see at least a 50-point increase after 180 days.

    Credit Sesame does not guarantee any of these results, and some may even see a decrease in their credit score. Any score improvement is the result of many factors, including paying bills on time, keeping credit balances low, avoiding unnecessary inquiries, appropriate financial planning and developing better credit habits.


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    qplummer@thepennyhoarder.com (Quinten Plummer)

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  • Unbelievable facts

    Unbelievable facts

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  • House Jan. 6 select committee expected to advise Justice Department to hit Trump with criminal charges

    House Jan. 6 select committee expected to advise Justice Department to hit Trump with criminal charges

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    WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Jan. 6 committee is wrapping up its investigation of the violent 2021 U.S. Capitol insurrection, with lawmakers expected to cap one of the most exhaustive and aggressive congressional probes in memory with an extraordinary recommendation: The Justice Department should consider criminal charges against former President Donald Trump.

    At a final meeting on Monday, the panel’s seven Democrats and two Republicans are poised to recommend criminal charges against Trump and potentially against associates and staff who helped him launch a multifaceted pressure campaign to try to overturn the 2020 election.

    Context: What to expect as House Jan. 6 panel readies final report on Trump’s ‘attempted coup’

    Also: Jan. 6 select committee to review referral recommendations from Cheney, Raskin, Schiff and Lofgren at Monday session

    While a criminal referral is mostly symbolic, with the Justice Department ultimately deciding whether to prosecute Trump or others, it is a decisive end to a probe that had an almost singular focus from the start.

    “I think the president has violated multiple criminal laws and I think you have to be treated like any other American who breaks the law, and that is you have to be prosecuted,” Rep. Adam Schiff, a Democrat from Southern California and a member of the panel, said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

    The panel, set to dissolve on Jan. 3 with the advent of a Republican-led House, has conducted more than 1,000 interviews, held 10 well-watched public hearings and collected more than a million documents since it launched in July 2021. As it has gathered the massive trove of evidence, the members have become emboldened in declaring that Trump is to blame for the violent attack on the Capitol by his supporters almost two years ago.

    From the archives (June 2022): Fox News is notable exception as prime-time Jan. 6 committee hearing blankets TV airwaves

    Also (July 2022): Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson’s live testimony before Jan. 6 select committee was a TV ratings hit: Nielsen data

    After beating their way past police, injuring many of them, the Jan. 6 rioters stormed the Capitol and interrupted the certification of President Joe Biden’s win, echoing Trump’s lies about widespread election fraud and sending lawmakers and others running for their lives.

    The attack came after weeks of Trump’s efforts to overturn his defeat — a campaign that was extensively detailed by the committee in its multiple public hearings. Many of Trump’s former aides testified about his unprecedented pressure on states, federal officials and on Vice President Mike Pence to find a way to thwart the popular will.

    “This is someone who in multiple ways tried to pressure state officials to find votes that didn’t exist, this is someone who tried to interfere with a joint session, even inciting a mob to attack the Capitol,” Schiff said. “If that’s not criminal, then I don’t know what it is.”

    See: Justice Department urges judge to hold Trump’s legal team in contempt over Mar-a-Lago case

    Members of the committee have said that the referrals for other individuals may also include ethics violations, legal misconduct and campaign finance violations. Lawmakers have suggested in particular that their recommended charges against Trump could include conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress and insurrection.

    On insurrection, Schiff said Sunday that “if you look at Donald Trump’s acts and you match them up against the statute, it’s a pretty good match.” He said that the committee will focus on those individuals — presumably Trump — for whom they believe there is the strongest evidence.

    See: North Carolina state investigators say they’ve completed voter-fraud probe of Trump chief of staff Meadows

    Also: Nevada elections department subpoenaed in Trump 2020 election investigation

    And: Trump ally Kari Lake pursues formal challenge to loss in race for governor of Arizona

    While a so-called criminal referral has no real legal standing, it is a forceful statement by the committee and adds to political pressure already on Attorney General Merrick Garland and special counsel Jack Smith, who is conducting an investigation into Jan. 6 and Trump’s actions.

    The committee is also expected at the hearing to preview its massive final report, which will include findings, interview transcripts and legislative recommendations. Lawmaker have said a portion of that report will be released Monday.

    “We obviously want to complete the story for the American people,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat and constitutional scholar who serves on the select committee. “Everybody has come on a journey with us and we want a satisfactory conclusion, such that people feel that Congress has done its job.”

    The panel was formed in the summer of 2021 after Senate Republicans blocked the formation of what would have been a bipartisan, independent commission to investigate the insurrection. That opposition spurred the Democratic-controlled House to form a committee of its own. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of California, a Trump ally, decided not to participate after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected some of his appointments. That left an opening for two anti-Trump Republicans in the House — Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois — to join the seven Democrats serving on the committee.

    From the archives (January 2021): Kevin McCarthy becomes poster boy for Republicans walking back their recent Trump criticism

    While the committee’s mission was to take a comprehensive accounting of the insurrection and educate the public about what happened, they’ve also aimed their work at an audience of one: the attorney general. Lawmakers on the panel have openly pressured Garland to investigate Trump’s actions, and last month he appointed a special counsel, Smith, to oversee several probes related to Trump, including those related to the insurrection.

    In court documents earlier this year, the committee suggested criminal charges against Trump could include conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress.

    Wall Street Journal: Trump tax returns may be released after House panel meets Tuesday

    In a “conspiracy to defraud the United States,” the committee argues that evidence supports an inference that Trump and his allies “entered into an agreement to defraud the United States” when they disseminated misinformation about election fraud and pressured state and federal officials to assist in that effort. Trump still says he won the election to this day.

    The panel also asserts that Trump obstructed an official proceeding, the joint session of Congress in which the Electoral College votes are certified. The committee said Trump either attempted or succeeded at obstructing, influencing or impeding the ceremonial process on Jan. 6 and “did so corruptly” by pressuring Pence to try to overturn the results as he presided over the session. Pence declined to do so.

    The committee may make ethics referrals for five House Republicans — including McCarthy — who ignored congressional subpoenas from the panel. Those referrals are unlikely to result in punishment since Republicans are set to take over the House majority in January.

    Read on: McCarthy’s long-held speaker ambition set to come to a head when new Congress convenes in January

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  • It’s Argentina vs. France in the World Cup final: Here’s everything you should know about the matchup

    It’s Argentina vs. France in the World Cup final: Here’s everything you should know about the matchup

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    After a month of stiff competition in Qatar, the 2022 World Cup’s final matchup is finally set.

    Argentina learned Wednesday that defending World Cup winner France will be its opponent in the final on Sunday. France topped a history-making Morocco side 2-0 a day after Argentina shut out Croatia, which lost to France in the 2018 final, a day earlier. Croatia and Morocco square off for third place in the tournament.

    Related: Why is 2022 Qatar World Cup so controversial? Here’s a list of issues overshadowing FIFA’s tournament.

    Argentina and France, led by Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, respectively, were two among a handful of favorites heading into the quadrennial footballing spectacle.

    Here’s what you need to know ahead of the World Cup final.

    When is the World Cup final?

    The tournament title match will be played Sunday, Dec. 18, at 10 a.m. Eastern time. That’s 6 p.m. in Qatar, earlier than the tournament matches have typically been played.

    The World Cup final can be watched in the U.S. on Fox
    FOX,
    -0.90%
     
    FOXA,
    -0.72%
    and Telemundo, owned by Comcast
    CMCSA,
    -3.70%
    unit NBCUniversal. Fox is available through nearly all cable providers, and cord cutters can stream the match live through FuboTV FUBO, SlingTV, the Alphabet-owned
    GOOG,
    -0.56%
     
    GOOGL,
    -0.59%
    YouTubeTV and Comcast’s Peacock.

    Who’s favored to win?

    Both teams have been oddsmakers’ favorite in every one of their 2022 World Cup matches leading up to the final. But for the grand finale, France is seen a slight favorite over Argentina. France is +175 to win, which carries an implied probability of 36.4%, while the Argentina team is being given a 35.1% chance to win, according to the implied-probability data taken from DraftKings’
    DKNG,
    -1.60%
     odds on Wednesday. The outstanding percentage would account for a draw, though all matches beginning in the knockout stage go to a penalty shootout if a score is tied at the end of regulation and at the end of two 15-minute halves of overtime.

    What’s at stake?

    A win for France would mean back-to-back men’s World Cup wins for the European nation, and France’s third title in history.

    Likewise, a win for Argentina would mean its third World Cup title, and the first World Cup win for legend of the game Messi.

    Related: Budweiser says it will award unconsumed Qatar beer to the World Cup winner

    A record-breaking amount of prize money will also be at stake. FIFA has allocated $440 million in prize money this year, up from $400 million for the 2018 World Cup, hosted by Russia. (FIFA announced on the same day in December 2010 its selection of Russia and Qatar to host the global game’s marquee event in 2018 and 2022, respectively.)

    This year’s winning side will get $42 million, up $4 million from the 2018 tournament.

    The runner-up will receive $30 million, and the third- and fourth-place teams are going home with $27 million and $25 million. As for the rest, the teams that lost in the quarterfinals will each receive $17 million; teams that lost in the second round will get $13 million each; and teams knocked out in the group stage (including the U.S.) will get $9 million each. All 32 qualifying teams also received $1.5 million for securing their spots in the tournament. Only Qatar, as the host country, did not have to play its way in through regional competition.

    Is this really Lionel Messi’s last World Cup?

    Messi, playing in his fifth career World Cup, has said that this would probably be the last time he plays in the competition.

    Failing over the years to achieve in international competition for Argentina what he has in club play (save an appearance in the 2014 final against Germany and a Copa America title in 2021), chiefly with Barcelona in Spain and now with Paris Saint-Germain in France, where he and Mbappé are teammates, Messi has previously announced and rescinded an intent to step back as an international. Only now he’s 35.

    From the archives (January 2010): Club or country? Soccer World Cup revives old tensions

    “Yes. Surely, yes,” Messi said when asked whether Sunday’s game will be his last at a World Cup. “There’s a lot of years until the next one, and I don’t think I have it in me, and finishing like this is best.”

    The Margin: Could Qatar’s ‘reusable’ World Cup stadium end up in Uruguay? There are some amazing plans for tournament venues.

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  • Highest Paying Jobs in 2023

    Highest Paying Jobs in 2023

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    When you’re looking to start a new career, what are the factors you should take into consideration?

    First of all, the career should be something you’re passionate about. Second, it should be able to provide you with the lifestyle you want to live. That could mean work-life balance, career advancement opportunities and, of course, enough money to support your dreams.

    That doesn’t mean an entry-level position is going to make you six-figures this year. But you should look at the earning potential of each possible career and what it would take to reach your ideal salary.

    We’ll outline some of the highest-paying jobs in 2023, plus how to leverage job sites like ZipRecruiter to find openings.

    How to Prepare For a High-Paying Job

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases a study every year about the highest-paying jobs, including wage estimates, number of job openings, on-the-job training programs and what it takes to land a job in one of these highest-paying occupations.

    If you want one of the highest-paying careers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics study shows that many of them require additional schooling and certifications. But not every high-paying career is only available to people with an advanced degree.

    For example, the highest paying job in America is a cardiologist — making an average salary of $350,000 per year — but it requires more than a decade of medical school, internships and residencies before you can make that much. Not to mention, you’ll have to pay back those student loans. But with a master’s degree, you can still enter the medical field as a nurse practitioner and make over $100,000.

    With only a bachelor’s degree, you could start a career in marketing and work your way up. Marketing managers can make a median salary of $140,000 per year. In the Bureau of Labor Statistics section on how to become a marketing manager, it says that many people currently in these roles were former sales representatives.

    Sales representatives, no matter the industry, can start at an entry level position with zero experience. Most companies will offer additional training, giving their sales reps in-depth knowledge about the company’s product and how to best sell it to customers. By gaining experience as a sales representative, people can build their careers into sales managers, marketing managers and even C-level executives.

    But not all high-paying jobs require a degree or formal training. Especially these days, self-taught coders and software engineers can land a job working at technology companies without ever stepping foot in a university or completing a formal education. And not only are these positions in high demand for employers, but you can also start off making an average salary of more than $100,000, if you land at the right company and have the skills needed. No need to take the bar exam or step into an operating room.

    The Highest-Paying Jobs in the U.S. 2023

    Don’t know where to start? These are the highest-paying jobs in America, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

    The Highest-Paying Jobs in the U.S. 2023

    Job Average Salary Degree Required On the Job Training
    Psychiatrists $208,000 Doctoral Internship and Residency
    Obstetricians and Gynecologist $208,000 Doctoral Internship and Residency
    Surgeons $208,000 Doctoral Internship and Residency
    General Internal Medicine Physicians $208,000 Doctoral Internship and Residency
    Anesthesiologist $208,000 Doctoral Internship and Residency
    Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon $208,000 Doctoral Internship and Residency
    Orthodontists $208,000 Doctoral Internship and Residency
    Prosthodontists $208,000 Doctoral Internship and Residency
    Family Medicine Physicians $208,000 Doctoral Internship and Residency
    Chief Executives $185,000 Usually a Bachelors No
    Nurse Anesthetists $184,000 Masters No
    Dentists $183,000 Doctoral Residency/certifications
    Pediatricians $177,000 Doctoral Internship and Residency
    Airline Pilots, Co-Pilots and Flight Engineers $161,000 Bachelors Yes
    Computer and Informations System Managers $150,000 Bachelors/Graduates No
    Architectural and Engineering Managers $150,000 Bachelors/Graduates No
    Marketing Managers $140,000 Bachelor’s No
    Petroleum Engineer $138,000 Bachelor’s No
    Financial Manager $134,000 Bachelor’s No
    Podiatrist $134,000 Doctoral Residency and Fellowship
    Sales Manager $132,000 Bachelor’s No
    Pharmacist $128,000 Doctoral No
    Lawyers $127,000 Doctoral No
    Political Scientists $125,000 Master’s No
    Judges $124,000 Doctoral Short-term
    Optometrists $118,000 Doctoral Clinical Work
    Actuaries $111,000 Masters No
    Business Operations Managers $103,000 Bachelor’s No
    Financial Advisor $89,000 Bachelor’s No

    How to Find High-Paying Jobs

    There are plenty of ways to find a job, but how can you find the highest-paying jobs? A lot of companies don’t list the average salary range on their job postings, so it can be difficult to know if it’s worth your time. If you need to make at least $75,000 a year, but you don’t find out the pay is $55,000 until you get an offer, you could be wasting weeks or months.

    So first things first, do your research. Learn what positions have high earning potential and what industries dole out bigger paychecks. Some industries with the highest-paying jobs include healthcare, engineering, information technology, finance, energy and legal.

    Next, use a website like ZipRecruiter to search for high-paying jobs in your area. Not only can you use their search bar to find jobs by keyword or job title, you can also filter by average salary range (and by several other filters, too).

    ZipRecruiter makes it easy to find and apply for jobs that will help you reach your earning potential. By using the website for your job search, you’ll have access to real salary data from millions of active job postings. You’ll be able to see real salaries from more than 35,000 job titles — from computer science to human resources— giving you the confidence to negotiate fair pay for yourself.

    Transparency about salaries is… not exactly a strong suit for most employers. But with ZipRecruiter’s help, you can find, apply for and negotiate a higher-paying job for yourself. 71% of job seekers earned a higher salary when they found a job on ZipRecruiter.

    It’s totally free to use and only takes a minute to sign up for an account.

    How to Prepare for a High-Paying Job

    In order to increase your value to employers, there are many things you need to do to show off why you’re worth a high salary. It’s not just having education and experience, but also establishing yourself as an expert and making yourself more desirable to companies.

    1. Grow your skill set. This can be done by taking online courses or taking on cross-departmental projects at your current job. The more skills you have, the more desirable you may be to potential high-paying employers.
    2. Set yourself up to be a leader. There’s no doubt that being in a supervisory position will earn you more money, no matter your job or industry. So even if you’re not a manager yet, you could offer to mentor an entry-level employee and attend management training seminars.
    3. Get noticed. Just because you’re not Gary Vaynerchuk doesn’t mean you can’t make a name for yourself. By posting about your expertise often on social media, including LinkedIn and TikTok, you can establish credibility and get noticed. This can set you up to become an expert in your field.

    Additionally, if you have some available cash, hiring a career coach can help you land a higher-paying role. The average price is around $75/hour.

    If not? Network, network, network. You never know who can introduce you to a hiring manager and give you a glowing reference. Plus, you can connect with higher-ups in your network for free advice (or at least the price of a coffee) to help you navigate your path to a higher paying position.

    The Future of High-Paying Jobs

    While there will always be high-paying jobs associated with high levels of education — doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. — the future of well-paid employees is seeing a trend toward self-taught skills and social expertise.

    Spending hundreds of thousands of dollars and a decade in school can help ensure a good salary, but the future of high-paying employment is seeing people ascend the ranks without ever having stepped foot in a masters program. Many are even self-taught or have taken advantage of what the internet has to offer, in terms of training.

    So are you ready to change your future and pursue a high-paying career? Start your search for that next high-salary position on ZipRecruiter.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What job makes $100,000 a year?

    There are many jobs that pay over $100,000 annually, many of which require only a bachelor’s degree. Some of these jobs include lawyers ($127k on average), financial managers ($134k), marketing managers ($140k), sales managers ($132k).

    You can find a more expansive list of job payments over $100k, in the table above.

    Where can I find high-paying jobs?

    You can find high-paying jobs on most online job boards.Some job boards cater to specific industries or certain types of work. But for the most popular job boards, you can find high-paying jobs in almost any industry.

    What jobs pay the most without a degree?

    Some of the best paying jobs that don’t require a college degree are police detectives, airline pilots, physical therapy assistants and distribution managers.

    There are many great-paying jobs that you can obtain with just a year or two of trade school and on-the-job training. Here is how you can find some of the best-paying trade jobs.

    Kari Faber is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.


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    kfaber@thepennyhoarder.com (Kari Faber)

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  • Sinema ditches Democrats, but analysts say it’s no Senate earthquake, just a re-election gambit

    Sinema ditches Democrats, but analysts say it’s no Senate earthquake, just a re-election gambit

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    Sen. Kyrsten Sinema announced Friday that she’s leaving the Democratic Party to register as an independent.

    So what does that mean?

    The initial reaction from analysts is that the Arizona lawmaker’s move won’t shake up how the Senate functions that much, and that it has more to do with her possible 2024 campaign for re-election.

    “At this point, we don’t expect Sinema’s defection to formally change the balance of power in the Senate,” said Benjamin Salisbury, director of research at Height Capital Markets, in a note.

    “Two independents, Senators Angus King [of Maine] and Bernie Sanders [of Vermont], formally caucus with Democrats,” Salisbury noted. “While Sinema declined to say which party she would caucus with, she did say that the change would not change how she votes, and she plans to keep her committee assignments, which is an indication to us that she will keep her affiliation with Democrats. In our view, the move is more about positioning herself for a tough 2024 reelection.”

    Sinema, who has been criticized frequently by progressive Democrats for moves such as opposing changes to the so-called carried-interest loophole, was expected to face a challenge from the left in a Democratic primary. But as an independent, she can avoid a primary and focus on the general election in her battleground state.

    Her calculation is that “the progressive Democratic ‘brand’ won’t help her to reelection in Arizona, but centrists and some from each party will,” Terry Haines, founder of Pangaea Policy, wrote in a note. “So there’s no percentage in doing anything but emphasizing her independence, and this is a high-profile, direct, and effective way of doing it.”

    Haines said the senator’s move isn’t an earthquake for the Senate: “Sinema herself says it’s not so, that she’ll continue to do the job in the same way — and there’s no reason to dispute it.”

    He also wrote that the “basic result for 2023-24 is as it was before Sinema’s announcement: domestic gridlock, basic fiscal/government spending stability, and continued foreign policy unanimity, particularly on China and Ukraine.”

    The Biden White House offered a similar reaction on Friday, saying that Sinema’s decision to “register as an independent in Arizona does not change the new Democratic majority control of the Senate, and we have every reason to expect that we will continue to work successfully with her.”

    Sinema has voted with Democrats 97% of the time, according to Bloomberg Government data.

    Related: Mitch McConnell praises Kyrsten Sinema as ‘the most effective first-term senator’ he’s seen in his career

    And see: Republicans clinch slim majority in House, likely signaling 2023 gridlock ahead

    Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sinema would keep her committee assignments.

    “I believe she’s a good and effective Senator and am looking forward to a productive session in the new Democratic majority Senate,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, also said. “We will maintain our new majority on committees, exercise our subpoena power, and be able to clear nominees without discharge votes.”

    For the past two years, Democrats have controlled the 50-50 Senate only because Vice President Kamala Harris can cast tiebreaking votes.

    Following Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock’s win on Tuesday over Republican challenger Herschel Walker in their closely watched runoff election, Democrats were expected to enjoy a 51-49 majority in the Senate.

    There’s talk that Sinema’s announcement on Friday may have changed that, but analysts such as Salisbury and Haines are pushing against that view.

    “Sinema’s defection is another sign of the tentative rise of overt bipartisanship in Congress,” Haines wrote. “There’s an increasing view that solving issues is what the vast majority of voters want, and some legislators seem prepared to risk the wrath of their party establishments to achieve it.”

    Most U.S. senators have been affiliated with a major political party, but more than 70 have been independents or represented a minor party, according to Senate records.

    Former Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut is a recent example of that group, as he started out as a Democrat, then became an independent but still caucused with his former party. That’s even as Democratic leaders criticized him for backing the late Republican John McCain in the 2008 presidential race.

    U.S. stocks 
    SPX,
    -0.73%
     
    DJIA,
    -0.90%
    traded mixed Friday and were on track for weekly losses.

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  • FTC sues to block Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of game giant Activision Blizzard

    FTC sues to block Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of game giant Activision Blizzard

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    The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday sued Microsoft Corp. to block its $69 billion deal to buy Activision Blizzard Inc.

    The acquisition, which would be Microsoft’s
    MSFT,
    +1.07%
    largest and the biggest ever in the video gaming industry, would “enable Microsoft to suppress competitors to its Xbox gaming consoles and its rapidly growing subscription content and cloud-gaming business,” the FTC claimed.

    “Microsoft has already shown that it can and will withhold content from its gaming rivals,” Holly Vedova, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, said in a statement. “Today we seek to stop Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio and using it to harm competition in multiple dynamic and fast-growing gaming markets.”

    FTC members pointed to Microsoft’s record of “acquiring and using valuable gaming content to suppress competition from rival consoles,” including its acquisition of ZeniMax, parent company of Bethesda Softworks.

    Microsoft President Brad Smith indicated the software giant will fight the lawsuit. In a statement, he said Microsoft has “been committed since Day One to addressing competition concerns.”

    “While we believed in giving peace a chance, we have complete confidence in our case and welcome the opportunity to present our case in court,” Smith said.

    Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, in a statement, said the suit “sounds alarming, so I want to reinforce my confidence that this deal will close. The allegation that this deal is anti-competitive doesn’t align with the facts, and we believe we’ll win this challenge.”

    Still, In recent weeks Microsoft has taken steps to demonstrate to regulators its acquisition of Activision would not give it an unfair advantage in the gaming market. On Tuesday, Microsoft said it would bring the “Call of Duty” franchise to Nintendo Co.’s
    7974,
    -1.31%
    Switch, a rival of Microsoft Xbox, and Microsoft has said it would make Call of Duty available on rival Sony Group Corp.’s
    SONY,
    -0.06%
    PlayStation.

    “It’s a bad idea,” Geoffrey Manne, president of the International Center for Law and Economics, said of the FTC’s lawsuit vs. Microsoft. “There may be markets in which some activities of some of these large tech companies cause concerns, but when they are expanding into new markets or enhancing competition in markets where they aren’t leaders, we should be encouraging them, not threatening them with lawsuits.”

    The government’s action in administrative court marks the first serious regulatory threat to Microsoft’s business in more than two decades, when the Justice Department brought a landmark antitrust lawsuit against the software giant that took years and was settled in 2002. Since then, Microsoft had sidestepped antitrust scrutiny and Smith in particular has focused the glare on its tech rivals Amazon.com Inc.
    AMZN,
    +2.24%    ,
    Apple Inc.
    AAPL,
    +1.19%    ,
    Alphabet Inc.’s
    GOOGL,
    -0.94%
     
    GOOG,
    -0.89%
    Google, and Facebook parent company Meta Platforms Inc.
    META,
    +1.26%    .

    Read more: Microsoft’s shadowy presence in antitrust push is angering the rest of Big Tech

    Shares of Microsoft are up 1% in trading Thursday. Activision’s
    ATVI,
    -1.33%
    stock is down 1.5%.

    The FTC’s lawsuit comes the same day it is heading to court in San Jose, Calif., in what is expected to be a three-week trial to bloc Meta’s $300 million acquisition of VR fitness app maker Within.

    The trial is likely to showcase an intriguing look at the agency’s ability to stifle alleged anticompetitive conduct using largely untested legal theories at a time when Congress is sitting on tech antitrust legislation.

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  • EU set to bar Meta from ads based on personal data

    EU set to bar Meta from ads based on personal data

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    Meta will only be able to run advertising based on personal data with users’ consent, according to a confidential EU privacy watchdog decision, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, in a blow to the US social network.

    The Irish data protection agency, which oversees Meta because its European headquarters is located in Dublin, has been given a month to issue a ruling based on the European Data Protection Board’s (EDPB) binding decision.

    The EDPB will likely require the Irish body to hand out fines, the person said, asking not to be named because of the senstivity of the issue.

    Big Tech’s targeted ad model and how data is collected and used has drawn regulatory scrutiny around the world.

    Shares of the company were down 6.2% in mid-session trade. Google, Snap and Pinterest which are reliant on digital advertising, fell 2.2%, 8% and 4% respectively.

    The Irish case against Meta was triggered by a complaint by Austrian privacy activist Max Schrems in 2018.

    “Instead of having a yes/no option for personalised ads, they just moved the consent clause in the terms and conditions. This is not just unfair but clearly illegal. We are not aware of any other company that has tried to ignore the GDPR in such an arrogant way,” Schrems said in a statement.

    He said the EDPB’s ruling means that Meta must allow users to have a version of all apps that do not use personal data for ads while the company would still be allowed to use non-personal data to personalise ads or simply ask users for consent.

    The 27-country bloc’s landmark privacy rules known as the General Data Protection Regulation went into effect in 2018.

    Meta is engaging with the Irish body, a Meta spokesperson said.

    “GDPR allows for a range of legal bases under which data can be processed, beyond consent or performance of a contract. Under the GDPR there is no hierarchy between these legal bases, and none should be considered better than any other,” the spokesperson said.

    Apple’s new privacy rules, which limit digital advertisers from tracking iPhone users, have also been a blow to the Facebook parent.

    An EDPB spokeswoman declined to provide details of the decisions made. The agency said it stepped in after other national watchdogs disagreed with the Irish agency’s draft decision.

    Its draft decisions on Meta’s parent Facebook and Instagram focus on the lawfulness and transparency of processing for behavioural advertising, while its decision on WhatsApp concerns the lawfulness of processing for the purpose of the improvement of services.

    “The DPC cannot comment on the contents of the decisions at this point. We have one month to adopt the EDPB’s binding decisions and will publish details then,” the Irish Data Protection Commission said.

    Meta may have to change its business model, said Helena Brown, head of data & privacy at London-based law firm Addleshaw Goddard.

    “The direction of travel seems to be that the European regulators will not allow Meta to hide behind “provision of services” as its basis for using personal data for behavioural advertising,” she said.

    “Instead, Meta may need to change its approach to seeking clear, explicit consent instead. It will be a challenge for Meta to be able to explain its practices in a way that such consent can be lawful and well-informed,” Brown said.

    The WSJ first reported on the EDPB ruling.
     

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  • 5 Things to Do Instead of Borrowing Money from Family

    5 Things to Do Instead of Borrowing Money from Family

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    Say what you want about credit card companies, but at least you don’t have to see them at family gatherings. And it doesn’t get weird if you stop communicating with them regularly.

    Sure, family members probably won’t charge you interest if you borrow money from them. But things can get awkward quickly — and the person you borrow from will probably want their money back soon, rather than letting you pay a minimum payment every month.

    Borrowing money from family and friends is never fun. There are other options. Here’s how to get the money you need without having to borrow it from people you know:

    1. Add $225 to Your Wallet While Watching the News

    If family and money are a volatile mix, politics is an accelerant that could make the whole thing go boom.

    Instead of keeping your opinions on the news to yourself, you could make some money and preserve the peace in your family.

    You could add up to $225 a month to your pocket by signing up for a free account with Swagbucks. They’ll present you with short surveys to choose from every day, which you can fill out while you watch tonight’s broadcast.

    You just have to answer honestly, and Swagbucks will continue to pay you every month. This might sound too good to be true, but it’s already paid its users more than $429 million. We talked to one user in Pennsylvania, 52-year-old Carolinda Hendrickson, who earned $1,200 in a year.

    It takes about one minute to sign up, and start getting paid while you watch the news.

    2. Win Up to $249 Playing Games on Your iPhone 

    If you play games on your iPhone, but aren’t winning money every time, you’re making a big mistake.

    We know of three different apps that can score you up to $83 every time you win a game. Whether you want to play Solitaire, bingo or just pop some bubbles, there’s an app for you to rake in the cash.

    Solitaire Cash, Bingo Cash and Bubble Cash are three of our favorite iPhone games that can earn you serious money. Each of them are totally free to download and there’s no risk involved, since you can play for free, too.

    Even better? None of the apps have annoying ads to deal with, so you can keep on playing and earning.

    Ready to start earning some cash while you have some fun on your phone? Download Solitaire Cash, Bingo Cash and Bubble Cash for free and earn nearly $250 in your spare time.

    3. Earn $300+/Month in Passive Income with Your Extra Space

    If you’re like us, your garage probably isn’t doing much of anything at the moment. Maybe you have some tools in there, or maybe it’s home to your boxes of odds and ends, collecting dust.

    But with a website called Neighbor, your extra space — whether it’s a spare room, an empty garage or a parking space — could be earning you an extra $300 a month in totally passive income.

    Neighbor works by connecting people who need storage space with hosts who have the room to spare. The average host makes about $300 a month, but some people have earned up to $50,000 a year just by letting people park on their property.

    It takes less than 10 minutes to get started. Just answer a few questions about your space, take some pictures and set your asking price. Neighbor will recommend a dollar amount based on your location and type of rental, but the final listing is up to you.

    Neighbor even gives you up to $1 million in free protection as a host and offers protection plans for your renters, giving you both peace of mind.

    Neighbor is an easy source of passive income, and it’s easier than most side hustles. It’s free to list your space, and you’ll only be charged a 4.9% processing fee from the profit you make each month, so there’s no risk to you.

    Sign up here and see how much you could earn.

    4. Let This Free App Save You $50/Month on Dining Out and Groceries

    It’s no secret that things are getting more expensive these days — including food.

    But an app called Upside can help you save money every time you dine out or buy groceries. They keep it simple: Spend money at a participating grocery store or restaurant and earn an average of 13% cashback on groceries, or 17% at restaurants. Oh, and that’s real cash, not points.

    Here’s how it works: Just download the Upside app and create a free account, then browse the map to find participating restaurants and stores in your area and claim an offer.

    Pay for your groceries or meal with a card that’s stored in your Upside wallet, then tap “Check In” or take a picture of your grocery receipt — this will confirm you actually bought groceries or food (dine-in or takeout) at a participating location.

    Upside will tally up your cashback earnings. And when you’re ready, you can transfer your funds to a bank account, PayPal account or exchange them for a gift card from brands like Starbucks and Amazon. You’ll get your money in two days or less.

    People who use the app regularly save an average of $240 a year on groceries and $160 on dining out. Download the Upside app to get started — it’s completely free, and it works at more than 50,000 businesses, including gas stations.

    5. Ask This Website to Help Pay Your Credit Card Bills This Month

    If you have credit card debt, you know. The anxiety, the interest rates, the fear you’re never going to escape…

    And the truth is, your credit card company doesn’t really care. It’s just getting rich by ripping you off with high interest rates — some up to 36%. But a website called AmOne wants to help.

    If you owe your credit card companies $50,000 or less, AmOne will match you with a low-interest loan you can use to pay off every single one of your balances.

    The benefit? You’ll be left with one bill to pay each month. And because personal loans have lower interest rates (AmOne rates start at 2.49% APR), you’ll get out of debt that much faster. Plus: No credit card payment this month.

    AmOne keeps your information confidential and secure, which is probably why after 20 years in business, it still has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

    It takes two minutes to see if you qualify for up to $50,000 online. You do need to give AmOne a real phone number in order to qualify, but don’t worry — they won’t spam you with phone calls.


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    qplummer@thepennyhoarder.com (Quinten Plummer)

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  • Let The Exxon Mobil Smart Card+™ Credit Card Earn You Up To 42 Cents Per Gallon on Every Fill Up

    Let The Exxon Mobil Smart Card+™ Credit Card Earn You Up To 42 Cents Per Gallon on Every Fill Up

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    Filling up the tank is likely a dedicated portion of your family’s budget, and nearly half of American drivers say they’ve had to be more thoughtful about driving due to higher prices at the pump.

    But we still need to get around. Holiday travel and expenses are coming up. What are we supposed to do?

    With the Exxon Mobil Smart Card+, you can earn up to 42 cents per gallon during your first two months, thanks to a 30-cents-per-gallon new-cardholder bonus, on top of the 12-cents-per-gallon discount you’ll get every day when filling up with Synergy Supreme+™ premium gasoline. Cardholders filling up with other grades of Synergy™ fuel will save 10 cents per gallon with every fill.

    You can also receive 5% back as a statement credit on car washes, snacks and drinks at Exxon™ and Mobil™ locations. This applies to the first $1,200 spent per year on non-fuel purchases.

    All you have to do is use the Exxon Mobil Smart Card+  credit card to buy your gas at one of more than 12,000 Exxon or Mobil stations across the country, and you’ll get an instant price rollback right at the pump. It takes just a few minutes to apply, and you could start saving at the pump.

    All the benefits of the Exxon Mobil Smart Card+:

    • Avoid paying full price: Get 12 cents per gallon off the pump price on premium gasoline and 10 cents off other grades.
    • See savings instantly: No need to wait for your monthly statement to come out.
    • No fraud liability: Get peace of mind from theft, pump skimmers and other fraudulent activity.
    • Track your fuel costs: See how much each cardholder spends on gas each month.
    • Cash when you need: Get access to cash advances from over 200,000 ATMs by Cirrus (cash-advance fees apply).

    Terms: Subject to credit approval. The up to 42¢ per gallon discount applies for the first 2 months after account open date and is comprised of the ongoing fuel savings of 12¢ per gallon on Synergy Supreme+™ premium gasoline or 10¢ per gallon on other Synergy™ fuel grades, which will be received as a reduced fuel price at the point of sale, plus a 30¢ per gallon bonus discount applied as a statement credit. Offer valid at participating Exxon and Mobil stations. In the event discounts at the point of sale are unavailable for any reason, you will receive the earned discounts as a statement credit. You can earn 5% back in statement credit rebates on your first $1,200 in Exxon and Mobil non-fuel purchases made each year with your card at Exxon and Mobil locations. Qualifying in-store purchases exclude lottery tickets, money orders and gift cards. Exxon Mobil Rewards+™ points will not be earned on purchases made with the Exxon Mobil Smart Card+™ credit card. Terms & Conditions of the Exxon Mobil Smart Card+ Program apply.


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  • Where Is Lindsey Lohan Now? Making Christmas Videos for Pepsi

    Where Is Lindsey Lohan Now? Making Christmas Videos for Pepsi

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    The Lindsey Lohan comeback tour is in full stride.

    After falling off the pop culture radar for a few years, the once ubiquitous actress is back on the screen, starring in a new Netflix movie and a Christmas ad campaign for Pepsi.

    Photo by: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images

    In the commercial, a sultry Lohan promotes mixing Pepsi and milk, or “Pilk,” as she calls it, then combines the concoction with cookies.

    “Combining Pepsi and milk has long been a secret hack among Pepsi fans,” explained Todd Kaplan, Pepsi’s CMO, in a statement.

    Who knew?

    The campaign is part of Pepsi’s #PilkandCookies Holiday Challenge, in which the soft drink giant asked consumers to share a photo or video of their Pilk and Cookies treat to win cash. Exactly how much money was not specified.

    Lohan’s naughty Santa costume is an apparent nod to a scene in the hit 2004 film Mean Girls when she and her friends famously performed “Jingle Bell Rock.”

    Related: Taco Bell Just Premiered ‘Mexican Pizza: The Musical’ on Tik Tok, Starring Dolly Parton and Doja Cat

    Cashing in on TikTok’s Dirty Soda trend

    Pepsi hopes to capitalize on the popularity of the “dirty soda” trend on TikTok. The concoctions are made of a soda of your choice, cream, sometimes fruit, and flavored syrups like vanilla. The hashtag #dirtysoda has over 1.3 million collective views on the platform.

    Pepsi is the latest corporate giant to jump on social media trends to help promote its products.

    For example, Dunkin’ Donuts collaborated with TikTok star Charli D’Amelio on a drink called The Charli, and Chipotle launched a popular challenge on the platform called #GuacDance, which urged guacamole fans to show off dance moves that celebrate avocados.

    It’s too early to tell if the #PilkandCookies Holiday Challenge will go viral. The campaign launched today and will continue until December 25.

    But Pepsi and Lohan are hoping for a Christmas miracle.

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    Jonathan Small

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  • Amazon CEO says more layoffs are coming in 2023

    Amazon CEO says more layoffs are coming in 2023

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    Amazon.com Inc. plans more layoffs, but employees will have to wait until 2023 to see if their jobs are affected.

    Chief Executive Andy Jassy said Thursday that while Amazon
    AMZN,
    -2.34%
    already confirmed that it was eliminating jobs in its devices and books businesses, an unknown number of layoffs impacting other teams are still to follow.

    See more: Amazon confirms layoffs, becoming latest tech powerhouse to slash roles

    “Our annual planning process extends into the new year, which means there will be more role reductions as leaders continue to make adjustments,” he said in a blog post on the company’s corporate site. “Those decisions will be shared with impacted employees and organizations early in 2023.”

    While Jassy doesn’t know “exactly how many other roles will be impacted,” he does know “that there will be reductions in our Stores and PXT organizations.” The company already announced a “voluntary reduction offer for some employees” working in PXT, or People Experience and Technology Solutions.

    The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that Amazon could end up slashing 10,000 jobs.

    Jassy took over as Amazon’s CEO in July 2021 and said Thursday that “without a doubt,” the move to cut staff is “the most difficult decision we’ve made” since he’s been in the role.

    “It’s not lost on me or any of the leaders who make these decisions that these aren’t just roles we’re eliminating, but rather, people with emotions, ambitions and responsibilities whose lives will be impacted,” Jassy said.

    He added that Amazon “has weathered uncertainty and difficult economies in the past, and we will continue to do so.” Jassy emphasized that Amazon will continue to plug away on more established areas like stores, advertising and cloud computing, as well as newer initiatives like Prime Video, the Alexa voice assistant and healthcare.

    Amazon joins other technology companies including Meta Platforms Inc.
    META,
    -1.57%    ,
    Snap Inc.
    SNAP,
    -1.36%    ,
    Shopify Inc.
    SHOP,
    -2.05%
    and Twitter in recently eliminating jobs. An activist investor earlier this week urged Alphabet Inc.
    GOOG,
    -0.49%

    GOOGL,
    -0.50%
    to cut positions as well.

    See more: Here are the companies in the layoffs spotlight

    Shares of Amazon were up 0.3% in after-hours trading Thursday after declining 2.3% in the regular session.

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  • Black Friday surprise: Jeff Bezos tells people NOT to buy cars, refrigerators and other big-ticket items. Critics call him out.

    Black Friday surprise: Jeff Bezos tells people NOT to buy cars, refrigerators and other big-ticket items. Critics call him out.

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    Billionaire Jeff Bezos, who founded the e-retail behemoth Amazon, has some spending tips as Americans gear up for a holiday shopping season — amid four-decade high inflation and recession worries.

    Here’s what he said:

    “‘If you’re an individual and you’re thinking about buying a large-screen TV, maybe slow that down, keep that cash, see what happens. Same thing with a refrigerator, a new car, whatever. Just take some risk off the table.’”

    Bezos made the comments in a CNN
    WBD,
    +0.46%
    interview that aired this week, the same interview where he pledged to give away most of his fortune in his lifetime.

    Why did Bezos offer the tip for consumers and small business to go easy on big-ticket items? He gave one big reason.

    “If we’re not in a recession right now, we’re likely to be in one very soon,” he said in the interview, picking up on his cautionary tweet last month that “the probabilities in this economy tell you to batten down the hatches.”

    Bezos is currently executive chair at Amazon
    AMZN,
    -2.34%    ,
    transitioning to the role last year as Andy Jassy took the reins as CEO.

    Later this week, Amazon confirmed it was laying off some of its staff in its device and services business — joining a growing list of tech companies, including Facebook parent Meta
    META,
    -1.57%
    — that is laying people off. Amazon’s job cuts could number around 10,000, according to the Wall Street Journal.

    “Critics have taken aim at these words of thrift coming from a man — now worth approximately $120 billion — who built Amazon into the online shopping bonanza.”

    To be sure, Bezos is not alone is his worries about a potential recession as the Federal Reserve and other central banks fight higher costs by hiking interest rates.

    But his advice prompted some guffaws on social media. In a nutshell, critics say these are words of thrift coming from a man — now worth approximately $120 billion — who built Amazon into the online shopping bonanza that lets consumers seamlessly spend money.

    As Joshua Becker, a proponent of minimalism wrote on Twitter: “I didn’t hear him mention refraining from Amazon’s Prime Day deals or Black Friday offers, but I recommend adding those items to your list as well.”

    Regardless of how anyone feels about hearing spending advice, particularly from one of the world’s richest people, there are some things to consider as events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday approach.

    For one thing, maybe there are discretionary expenses where people can cut back. Many Americans are still spending briskly, as Walmart
    WMT,
    -0.34%
    third-quarter earnings and October’s retail-sales numbers recently affirmed. Holiday-spending projections paint the same picture.

    Americans will spend between $942.6 billion and $960.4 billion on holiday-season sales this year, according to projections from the National Retail Federation. Last year’s holiday sales totaled $889.3 billion, the trade association said.

    “During the third quarter, Americans’ credit-card balances climbed to $930 billion, the biggest annual increase in more than 20 years, according to the National Retail Federation.”

    But Americans are planning for the holidays while credit-card balances are increasing — likely because credit cards are helping them keep up with rising costs.

    During the third quarter, Americans’ credit-card balances climbed to $930 billion, the biggest annual increase in more than 20 years, according to Federal Reserve Bank of New York data.

    While balances grow, so do credit-card interest rates. The annual percentage rate (APR) on new credit-card offers averaged 19.14% in mid-November, according to Bankrate.com. That beats the old record on APRs for new cards, set at 19% three decades ago.

    The holiday shopping season is typically when Americans accumulate credit-card debt, pay the debts in the early part of the coming year and repeat the holiday-season debt the following year.

    This year, the stakes could be higher if high credit-card bills arrive and a recession-induced job loss follows.

    “It’s not the time to overspend and have a problem with paying your bills later,” Michele Raneri, vice president of financial services research and consulting at TransUnion
    TRU,
    -4.94%    ,
    one of the country’s three major credit bureaus, previously told MarketWatch. “We know the economy is sending mixed messages.”

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  • Use Rakuten Double Cash Back Today and Spend Black Friday With Family

    Use Rakuten Double Cash Back Today and Spend Black Friday With Family

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    We all saw this coming years ago. And now, most retailers don’t even pretend their Black Friday flyers were “leaked” early.

    They start telling us about their elusive doorbusters and other deals before the Halloween decorations come down, so that we can finalize our holiday shopping list and route weeks before joining the Black Friday fray.

    There’s nothing wrong with getting your holiday shopping done early, especially if it saves you money. But there’s an easier, less intense way to bag deals as tantalizing as those offered on Black Friday.

    Rakuten is offering some incredible, double cash back deals that you can take advantage of now. So you can spend less money on gifts and more time with the people the gifts are meant for.

    Rakuten’s Best Double Cash Back Deals

    These are some of the best retail and travel deals found on Rakuten. Many of these deals offer double cash back or more. These deals are subject to change, so treat them with the urgency of Black Friday, if these companies have something on your shopping list.

    Retail Offers:

    • The Body Shop: 10% (5%)
    • Nike: 8% (1.5%)
    • Adidas: 8% (2%)
    • Under Armour: 8% (2%)
    • Zales: 6% (3%)
    • GameStop: 5% (2.5%)
    • Zappos: 5% (1%)
    • Shutterfly: 4% (2%)
    • Belk: 4% (2%)
    • P.C. Richard & Son: 4% (2%)
    • Aerie: 4% (2%)
    • Zoro: 4% (2%)
    • Giftcards.com: 3% (1%)

    Travel Offers:

    • Priceline: 5% (4%)
    • Expedia: 10% (3%)
    • Booking.com: 4% (2%)
    • Best Western Hotels & Resorts: 4% (2%)
    • Hertz: 5% (2.5%)
    • Choice Hotels: 6% (3%)

    It gets even better. If you’re a new user, you’ll get a $10 welcome bonus when you sign up for Rakuten.

    Remember: These offers could be replaced at any time, so don’t wait too long if something catches your eye.


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    qplummer@thepennyhoarder.com (Quinten Plummer)

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