Category: Business

We all know that feedback is essential. Whenever we work on a project, our peers and superiors can provide insight into how well we’re doing. But the problem is that sometimes it takes effort to give and receive feedback in a way that makes it worthwhile. 

Instead of getting helpful information, people may feel judged or defensive, and they might give you their opinion anyway. That’s why anonymous employee surveys have become popular throughout many industries as a way to gather honest opinions from employees without worrying about repercussions for either party involved.

Here are the top reasons why your organization needs anonymous employee surveys.

Encourages openness

Anonymous employee feedback encourages openness. Think about it. People are more likely, to be honest, speak up, and take responsibility for their actions. They’re also more likely to change their behavior if they know that their managers will look out for the organization’s best interests.

Employees might be hesitant to give feedback if they believe that their supervisor will hold it against them or if they fear retribution. By encouraging anonymous employee surveys and other forms of anonymous communication between employees and higher-ups at work, companies can help encourage an open culture where everyone feels free enough to contribute ideas on how best to improve company processes and offer accurate reviews of each other’s performance levels.

Gives management a reality check

According to Linkedin, 75% of employees believe that feedback is essential. And even managers need to know what’s happening with their teams. They need to understand how employees are feeling, and they need to have a better idea of what the real problems are. If people aren’t giving you honest feedback, it’s usually because they’re afraid of being punished or overlooked for promotions. 

This kind of fear can be dangerous for your organization. It means that only good news is getting through, which means you might see warning signs once it’s too late. Anonymous employee feedback allows employees to give honest input without fear of punishment or retribution from management.

Breaks down walls

The ability to give anonymous feedback is the main reason why your organization needs it. While it’s true that some people will be more likely to provide honest feedback if they don’t have to worry about repercussions, this is only sometimes the case. People are often willing and eager to share their ideas and concerns but are still determining how or whether they should do so.

Along with breaking down walls within the company, giving anonymous feedback allows employees who might otherwise feel too intimidated by their superiors or peers. Or aren’t sure what an appropriate way to speak up without fear of being shamed or ridiculed. 

Creates more dialogue

According to Brosix, 33% of the workforce state the lack of transparency in internal communications is a problem. If you’re wondering why anonymous feedback is so important, it allows employees to feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and concerns. 

It creates more dialogue between managers and their teams, encouraging employees to speak up about issues they may not feel comfortable discussing in a face-to-face meeting.

It can be constructive when working with remote teams that can’t convene regularly or organizations with large or distributed teams who can’t get together regularly for meetings. Anonymous employee feedback helps break down barriers between peers and management by providing an outlet for people who otherwise might not share their views or concerns with others within the company.

Builds trust and loyalty

Employee feedback is paramount to building trust, loyalty, and employee retention. A recent survey by Edelman revealed that 78% of employees trust their employers. If you’re fostering an environment of communication and feedback between employees, you’re taking advantage of a huge opportunity to develop your company culture.

Communication is key to building trust, and anonymous employee surveys are one way to do this. Employees need opportunities for candid dialogue with managers about various topics such as compensation, career development, mentorship programs, and more that impact an individual’s overall experience at work. 

Anonymous Employee Feedback Is Important for Getting Honest Results

In face-to-face, non-anonymous feedback, employees may be hesitant to share their true feelings about a workplace issue or organizational problem. They may feel that they will come across as unfavorable or not a team player if they don’t give their full approval of something the company has done or is doing. 

Anonymous employee surveys can also help you discover things you never knew were issues at your organization before receiving them in anonymous survey responses. It means that even if you thought all was well at your company, there could still be some serious problems lurking under the surface, waiting for someone with enough insight into what employees need from their work environment.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a way to improve your organization, anonymous feedback is an easy and cost-effective way. Encouraging employees to share their honest opinions will benefit the company and help create a more engaged workforce. With this in mind, creating a culture that promotes open communication between management and staff members is essential, so they feel comfortable giving honest answers without fear of repercussions or judgment.

There comes a time in every business journey when financing is the best option for growth and stability. Some business owners require financing to get started while others revisit this option regularly throughout their entrepreneurial journey.

Source: Pexels.com

The key to finding success in credit and financing is to be a responsible borrower. Here are five tips for responsible borrowing in your business.

1. Research Your Loan Options

There are infinite financing options to choose from for every business type, loan size, and credit score. There are short-term, quick turnaround options like commercial vehicle title loans and long-term, meticulous approval options like business lines of credit.

Approach the process with an open mind; you likely have more options than you think. Shop around between lenders and compare the terms and interest rates. Even if you’re in a rush to secure money to cover expenses, there’s always time to think logically; your business longevity depends on it.

2. Have a Definitive Financial Plan

Take some time to outline a clear financial plan. Every cent you borrow should be accounted for and have a definitive purpose. While you may get approved for more, you should only take what you need.

Outline how you’ll cover the payments and interest to ensure you can afford the loan. People who skip this exercise are the ones who have issues down the road.

It’s also wise to outline long-term financial plans and corrective action if your business is in trouble. Don’t hesitate to consult with a financial expert for guidance.

3. Work on Your Business Credit Score

Your business credit score will determine how much you’re approved to borrow and the terms of your agreement. While there are plenty of options available for businesses with poor or non-existent credit, the interest rates tend to be better for those with strong scores.

Build your business credit score by using credit to pay bills and using credit payment terms with vendors when possible. Taking short-term loans and paying them back on time will also help this process.

4. Read the Fine Print

Always take the time to read the fine print and understand the terms before signing for a loan. Remember that the only stupid questions are the ones left unasked before making a financial commitment. 

Understand that lenders have a code of ethics they must follow for consumer protection. Take some time to review the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) to ensure you’re working with a reputable lender and know your rights.

5. Be Proactive in Communicating Issues

Ideally, you won’t borrow money you can’t pay back. There are serious consequences to defaulting on payments, especially for a business. However, you may experience a time when you must delay your payment. 

If this issue arises, be proactive in contacting your lender and making arrangements. In most cases, they’ll be open to discussing your options. Remember— they want you to be able to pay as they tend to lose money on collateral in defaulted loans. The key is to be open and to make the best possible effort.

By following these tips, you can borrow responsibly to finance your business. Do your research, know your rights, and make smart financial choices.

Getting your real estate license is no small feat. In most states, you need to complete extensive and often expensive training, as well as take a difficult exam, in order to get licensed. If you’re currently considering getting your real estate license, but aren’t sure how to go about doing that, we have good news for you! This post will help you ace your real estate license training and get licensed easily and quickly. But before we dive into the details, let’s take a quick look at why getting your real estate license is so important.

Why Getting Your Real Estate License Is So Important

Getting your real estate license is incredibly important for a few key reasons. First of all, as we’ll discuss below, earning a real estate license opens up a huge number of career opportunities for you. Earning a real estate license is also a great way to boost your income, and it’s a great way to gain financial security, as real estate agents make a very good living in most areas. Real estate licenses are also great tools for building wealth and achieving financial security in the long term, as real estate agent are allowed to invest in properties and build equity, which will increase in value over time. Another reason why getting your real estate license is so important is that it allows you to own your own business. Becoming a real estate agent is one of the few ways to become an independent contractor and own your own business, which is extremely helpful for managing your finances and reducing your overall risk.

How to Ace Your Real Estate Training and Get Licensed

Getting your real estate license is a lot of work, but it’s also very doable if you’re willing to put in the necessary time and effort. In order to get your real estate license and ace your real estate training, you’re going to need a comprehensive real estate license training course, real estate license exam prep course, and a healthy dose of patience and perseverance. We’ve created this guide to help you navigate the licensing process, find the right real estate class for you, and prepare for and pass the exam. With these tools, you’ll be well on your way to getting your real estate license. This comprehensive guide will help you: Find real estate training courses near you, even if you don’t live in a state where you need a license Prepare for and pass the real estate exam Find the right real estate course for you Choose the best real estate exam prep course for you Follow all of the tips and advice in this guide to ace your training and pass your exam! Follow these steps, and you’ll be well on your way to earning your real estate license and pursuing a rewarding career in real estate.

What to look for in a real estate license training course

When selecting a real estate class, you want to make sure that it’s not just a real estate licensing course, but that it also provides thorough and comprehensive education in real estate in general and real estate as a career. While most states require that you complete a real estate licensing course to get your license, some states, like New York, require that you complete a real estate education course as well. When looking for a real estate course, make sure the course is approved by your state’s real estate licensing board. You can usually find a list of approved courses and providers on your state’s real estate licensing board website. Real estate courses are often offered as online or in-person courses, and you can choose whichever type of course you want. You can complete an online course in your free time from home, which is a great option if you’re already working full-time and don’t have the time or flexibility to attend a course in-person. However, if you want to network with other real estate agents, learn in a group environment, and meet other people who are also interested in real estate, you can complete an in-person course.

Which Real Estate Course Should You Take?

That’s up to you! There are a ton of different real estate courses available, ranging in quality, price, and reputation. Your best bet is to do some research and find one that seems like a good fit for you and your learning style. Here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a real estate course: Is the course accredited? A real estate course that’s accredited means that it meets the standards set by your state’s regulator. In general, it’s a good idea to select an accredited course over a non-accredited one, as it will help you get your real estate license faster and with less hassle. How comprehensive is the course? You want to make sure that the course covers everything that you need to know, as thoroughly as possible. Are there online reviews of the course? You can usually find reviews of real estate courses online written by people who have taken the course. Pay close attention to what the reviewers have to say and which course they recommend. Is the course affordable? Real estate licensing courses can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. However, most good quality and comprehensive real estate courses cost around $1500. Ideally, you want to select a real estate course that fits your budget without compromising quality.

Tips for a successful real estate license exam prep course

Along with completing a real estate course, you’ll also need to prepare for and pass your real estate exam. While your real estate course will prepare you with the knowledge you need to pass the exam, there are a few additional tips that can help you pass the exam your first try and maximize your success. Here are a few tips for a successful real estate exam prep course: Stay on top of your coursework – You want to make sure that you stay current with your course materials and don’t fall behind. It’s also a good idea to stay ahead of your coursework as well, so you don’t get overwhelmed or stressed out by the amount of material you have to study. Make sure you’re properly prepared – You don’t want to take your exam until you’re fully prepared and know what to expect. Make sure you’ve completed all of the coursework and prepared for the exam with extra practice exams and study guides. Take your time – Real estate exams are timed and can be stressful, so you want to make sure that you pace yourself and don’t feel rushed. Make sure you’ve got enough time to finish the exam before the time is up.

Conclusion

Getting your real estate license is an important and rewarding part of becoming a real estate agent. Earning your real estate license is also no small feat, which is why it’s important to start preparing early, take your course seriously, and put in the necessary time and effort. This post will help you ace your real estate license training by finding the right real estate course for you, selecting the best real estate exam prep course for you, and following all of the tips and advice in this guide. Follow these steps, and you’ll be well on your way to earning your real estate license and pursuing a rewarding career in real estate.

To be honest, selling real estate for a living is not nearly easy as it might seem. It requires that the real estate agent have a wide range of skills beyond the basics of real estate agent training, including a good mind for business and the ability to communicate with a diverse selection of clients. After all, nothing less should be required of an individual who can make a $60K commission on a million-dollar sale.

Working as a real estate agent is an honorable profession. It gives people the opportunity to help other people make their dreams of home ownership possible. With that kind of responsibility given, it’s not surprising that all states require that real estate agents be licensed. If fact, there are several tedious things prospective agents need to go through before securing said licensing.

The mere fact you are reading this information suggests you might be interested in becoming a licensed real estate agent in your state. With that in mind, we offer up the following information that should help guide you on the path to a fruitful career as an agent. FYI: It’s a five-step process from beginning to riches.

Step 1: Take the Required Educational Curriculum for Real Estate Agents

It should not come as a shock that educating yourself in the field of real estate would be required to become a real estate agent. There is essentially no way someone is going to be able to pass the required license exam without going through the proper educational process.

Keeping in mind that all requirements may vary a bit from one state to the next, prospective real estate agents are expected to accumulate a certain number of credits. The required courses target different aspects of the real estate industry with a specific focus on passing the required test.

Note: Courses are available through colleges/universities/trade schools, covering things like key real estate terminology, principles, and law.

Step 2: Sit for and Pass Your State’s Real Estate Exam

When armed with the right knowledge, you can register to take the real estate license exam in your state. You can find test information through your an online website, which is maintained by your state’s real estate commissioner.

The testing process is managed through third-party test organizers. Depending on the state in which you live, the test will generally include 75 to 100 multiple-choice questions. There will be math questions so bringing a calculator would be prudent. To pass the test, you would have to answer a certain percentage of questions correctly. Again, that percentage will vary from one state to the next but 80% would be the target percentage you should use.

To set expectations, only 50% to 60% of the test takers will pass the first time. Yes, it’s a difficult test. However, everyone is able to retake the test when ready.

Step 3: Activate Your Real Estate Agent License

The news comes and you passed. In passing the required test, you technically earn the right to become a licensed real estate agent in your state. Now all you need to do is pay a licensing fee to your state’s real estate commissioner, which effectively activates your license. Again depending on the state, license fees can range from $250 to $500.

At this point, you can start interacting with potential clients. Your license will help you gain access to listings and post listings of your own. Some resources are free, but other resources will require that you pay a membership fee to gain access to the available information.

Step 4: Join the National Association of Realtors®

If you have designs on becoming a full-fledged Realtor® with all the benefits that come with doing so, you would need to become a viable member of the National Association of Realtors®. Membership comes with a fee. This is mandatory in almost all states

The benefits that come with this membership include discounts on the required continuing education courses, access to real estate market data, and the right to legally use the term “Licensed Realtor” on your marketing materials.

Step 5: Join a Brokerage Form or Hang Your Own Shingle

Well, you have arrived as a licensed real estate agent in your state. What now? With the license and National Association of Realtors® in hand, you can now make a decision about how you wish to proceed in your career as an agent and how to get your first luxury homes for sale.

Realistically, you’ll have two choices. The first choice is the most common. You can join a brokerage firm at the conclusion of your real estate agent training. In fact, many states require that you spend time with a “supervising broker” as part of the licensing process.

At some point, you might get bold and go with your second choice. That would be to hang your shingle and start your own brokerage firm with other realtors working for you.

Any chance you know when you last saw your wide-eyed Furby in your parents’ basement? Does your teenage dresser now double as a time capsule storing Spice Girls posters? Could your old Sega Genesis console still be up in the attic?

If so, now is the time to sell that 90s memorabilia. Members of Gen Z, who were born in the 1990s and early 2000s are fans of the music that was hot in that era and want their kids to play with the same toys they did. These items are on their holiday wish lists and they are paying more than you’d think for them online.

That Furby is worth $16 to $65, the right  Spice Girls poster could fetch more than $150 and pre-owned video game consoles are selling for $50 to $150. These values are based on recent “sold items” on eBay.

The Britney Factor 

If you have any Britney Spears T-shirts, posters, backpacks or even CDs, you are sitting on cash. The beloved singer rose to fame in the 1990s, hitting the charts with “Baby One More Time” in 1998.

The saga of her conservatorship followed on Instagram by millions of people and her recent $15 million book deal make anything Britney-related valuable.

A Britney “Jive” photo postcard signed by the singer recently sold for $350. A Britney Spears Monopoly game went for $50 while a 2007 Bratz doll honoring Britney sold for $100.  Even if you don’t have big ticket items like those, anything Britney brings cash. CDs, posters, magazine covers and T-shirts sell for between $10 and $30 on average.

Sarah Wasserman, a recent graduate of  the University of Vermont in Burlington, proudly wears a Britney T-shirt her friends gave her for her birthday. They pooled their money to buy it because it was on the top of her wish list.

“With her being freed from her conservatorship there’s reason to celebrate and enjoy her music even more,” she said. “I grew up in the early 2000s. I remember getting a Barbie keyboard that played a snippet of ‘Oops I Did It Again’ and feeling so cool listening to it.”

For a broader list of hot ‘90s stuff, Self Financial, a company that helps people build good credit, created this searchable research showing some of the top selling items.

Why ‘90s Collectibles Are a Hot Market

“We have people who come to our sales buying that stuff up,” said Brett Kennedy, of Kennedy Brothers Auctions in St. Petersburg, Florida. “They are usually younger kids (high school and college age). Everybody is looking for a side hustle these days.”

Smart customers are buying popular items and reselling them on eBay or other outlets.

“We have buyers who come to our sales (online and in person) looking especially for T-shirts. The kookier the better. They may have been a limited production. You can pick these things up for $2 or $3 (at a yard sale or find them at home) then sell them for $20, $30 or even $100 depending on the subject matter,” Kennedy said.

Concert and movie posters sell well, too. Kennedy Brothers recently sold a batch of movie posters that actually hung at theaters, including a few from Star Wars films, for $850.

“The Gameboys, kids played with them over and over and they got destroyed. So, if you find one that’s actually operable, it’s worth something,” he said. But why would someone want to spend that much money to play a game with ‘90s technology when so many advanced options are available now?

“People buy what they remember. It brings back fond memories of their past,” Kennedy said.

The market for ‘90s collectibles grew during the pandemic because of pent-up demand from collectors and young parents nostalgic for a simpler time, according to Jason Williams, who owns Big Fun vintage toy store in Columbus, Ohio.

“I think the pandemic has brought out a lot of recreational collectors,” he said. “A lot of these toy lines that may not have sold as well before like Polly Pockets now sell pretty well.”

Cashing in on Nostalgia

Along with trying your hand at selling on eBay or Etsy, remember the brick and mortar vintage toy and collectibles stores in your region along with auction houses. Many local outlets sell to local audiences as well as national and international buyers online.

Here’s a list of some of ‘90s collectibles and what they sold for recently on eBay.

• An unopened, mint condition Polly Pocket’s Disney Cinderella Castle that cost around $20 in 1995, recently sold for $375. A used version with all the pieces sold for $100 and a castle without any pieces went for $40.
• Some of the top selling console games are the Super Nintendo Entertainment System with two controllers, which sold for $159, a Nintendo 64 console sold for $75 and a Sega Nomad Genesis Handheld System Console with three game cartridges went for $250.
• Games sold on their own  fetch a wide range of prices. A Super Mario Bros. 3 Nintendo game just sold on eBay for $60, while a Donkey Kong Nintendo 64 games went for just $22 And a Looney Tunes Space Race for a Sega game console cost $64.
• As for those expensive American Girl dolls that were the final fabulous gift on Christmas mornings in the ‘90s, they haven’t gone up in price like other 90s icons. But, if one is just sitting in the attic it is definitely worth the time to sell it online. An Addie doll just sold for $150, Kirsten went for $95 and one Kit sold for $40 while another for $70. All were pre-owned, pre-played-with and not in their original boxes.

Music posters from the ‘90s are selling well these days. A London Calling poster recently brought $30 while a rare Kurt Cobain Nirvana poster went for $180.  A David Bowie poster based on his Diamond Dogs album scored $149. It’s hard to tell what makes a Spice Girls poster what someone wants or what someone really, really wants. They sell for an average of around $20, but a few rare images of the British singers go for $100 to $150. If you have one, load it online and see what happens.

Many T-shirts from the ‘90s are selling for more than they cost back then.  A 1993 Lollapalozza shirts just sold for $170 while a shirt from a Pretenders concert in 1994 fetched $55. Several Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon recently sold for $20 to $30. And some happy bidder paid $30 Seinfeld T-shirt from NBC studios.

Contributor Katherine Snow Smith covers ways to make money, save money and other topics. Her work has appeared in the Tampa Bay Times, Charlotte Business Journal and Greenville (S.C.) News. She is the author of” Rules for the Southern Rulebreaker: Missteps & Lessons Learned.”

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We all make mistakes, and we all have regrets. That’s part of the deal when you’re a human being.

We got to wondering: What do old people regret the most, financially speaking? If they could go back in time, what would they do differently — especially when it comes to money?

A researcher at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School recently found out. Economics professor Olivia Mitchell conducted a survey of nearly 1,800 older Americans with an average age of 72. “What’s your biggest financial regret?” she asked.

The answers may surprise you. Your average 72-year-old has regrets about how much longer they should have worked and whether they started claiming Social Security too early, among other things.

Pay attention to the 72-year-olds. Because if we know what they would do differently, then we still have time to change things before it’s too late.

Here are the top five financial regrets, along with our suggestions for how to handle them.

1. ‘I Should Have Saved More for Retirement’

Let’s start with the biggest one. An eye-opening 57% of older Americans regret that they didn’t save more for retirement during their working years.

That’s more than half! (Yes, obviously we are advanced mathematicians here at The Penny Hoarder.)

Actually, this shouldn’t come as much of a shock. Any number of studies have found that lots and lots of American families have virtually nothing saved for retirement.

Our advice here is really straightforward: Learn from your elders and start saving for retirement now. If your employer offers a 401(k) plan, sign up for it and learn how to maximize it. If that’s not an option for you, set up automatic withdrawals on payday into a Roth IRA, a type of individual retirement account. If you haven’t gotten around to this yet, the sooner the better.

If you’re already saving for retirement, dig a little deeper and sock away a little more. Even an extra $25 a week could make a huge difference over time, thanks to the magic of compound interest.

2. ‘I Should Have Bought Long-Term Care Insurance’

We know, we know. Your eyes are glazing over right now. After all, who wants to think about long-term care insurance? Boring, am I right?

The thing you should know here is 40% of older adults regret not having it. Forty percent!

Here’s why it’s important: Everyone seems to think Medicare will pay for you to stay in a nursing home in your old age. But it won’t. You’re the one who has to pay.

Long-term care insurance covers the things regular health insurance or Medicare won’t, like nursing home care, assisted living facilities, in-home medical care, in-home assistance for routine daily activities, adult day care, home modification and more.

Only about 7.5 million Americans have this insurance because, unfortunately, it can be pricy. According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, the average annual premium is $2,220 for a 55-year-old single male, $3,700 for a 55-year-old single female (it’s higher because women typically live longer) and $5,025 for a 55-year-old married couple.

So the insurance costs money. Long-term care is really pricy, though, so having this insurance can pay off.

3. ‘I Should Have Worked Longer’

Third on the list: 37% of retired Americans regret not working longer.

Once you hit your 60s, the two most useful things you can do to fund your retirement is to:

• Keep working as long as you can, and;
• Delay taking Social Security as long as possible. (More on that later.)

Lots of us don’t have any choice but to keep working, of course. Millions of Americans can’t afford to retire.

On the other hand, lots of us end up getting forced into retirement due to a layoff or health problems. Having trouble finding full-time work at your age? Here’s our list of 20 part-time jobs for retirees who aren’t quite ready to call it quits.

4. ‘I Should Have Invested in an Annuity’

Actually, we’re not too sure about this one. But here goes:

According to this Wharton Business School survey of nearly 1,800 older Americans, 33% of them regret not having invested in a lifetime annuity or some other product that would produce a guaranteed income for the rest of their lives.

Now, here at The Penny Hoarder, we’re not necessarily fans of annuities. Sure, guaranteed income for life sounds like a great deal, and that’s what most annuities promise. But nothing is ever as good — or as easy — as it seems.

If you’re considering purchasing an annuity to supplement your retirement income, it’s important to understand the risks, fees and restrictions involved.

The positives: Annuities protect you against the risk of outliving your money. No matter what, you’ll have income coming in as long as you live.

The negatives: They’re often ridiculously complex, with loads of less-than-transparent fees. You’re losing out on potentially growing your wealth because insurance companies make money on annuities by investing your cash and paying you less than if you were investing it on your own. And finally, inflation can eat away at your earnings over time.

5. ‘I Claimed Social Security too Early’

Fifth on the list: 23% of retired Americans suspect that they claimed their Social Security benefits too early.

When your 62nd birthday approaches, you’ll have a big decision to make: Should you take Social Security at 62 and accept lower benefits? Or should you delay Social Security to get a higher benefit amount?

The answer to whether taking Social Security at 62 is the right move for you depends on several factors: your life expectancy, whether you’re retiring early and your overall financial situation. By taking Social Security at 62 instead of at full retirement age, you’ll reduce your monthly benefit by 30% for life.

However, if you’re feeling relatively healthy and you wait until you’re 70 to start claiming your Social Security benefits, you’ll end up getting checks that are nearly 80% larger.

It’s a bit of a gamble either way. Just know that nearly a quarter of retired Americans wish they’d waited longer.

Here’s something you won’t regret: You’ll never regret digging into each of these topics, doing your own research and weighing all of your options before making a decision.

Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. And by “senior” we mean “older.”

Hey Penny Hoarders! As many of you know, we have a Community site that’s a gathering place for folks to discuss all things money. Through the support of fellow Community members, the site has helped people tackle their debt, increase their credit score and even book a dream vacation.

We’re excited to announce our Community site just got a makeover – one in which we feel provides a much more user-friendly experience. We wanted to share some things you can expect when you visit the new Community site.

What to Expect in the New Penny Hoarder Community

First up, The Penny Hoarder Community is still the place to share tips and find support on all-things money. Besides contributions from other Community members, you’ll also find our staff sharing personal stories on topics like frugal finds, money wins and fails, and more.

Earn Badges

So many badges. On the Community site, you can now earn badges for all sorts of things – creating or commenting on a post, or liking someone else’s post. Even just visiting the Community site on a regular basis. Also, the more badges you earn, the more things you’ll unlock on the Community site. Do you have what it takes to be a top contributor? You’ll not only earn the respect of your peers, but also gain access to exclusive opportunities and offers from The Penny Hoarder.

Events, Feedback and More

Badges are just the beginning. Throughout 2023, we’ll be adding more new elements to the Community site. We’ll use it as a spot to post and host regular Penny Hoarder events where we dive into pressing money topics together and let attendees connect with experts from The Penny Hoarder (and elsewhere).

There’s also a new section specifically for feedback where we welcome your suggestions for ways to continue to improve ThePennyHoarder.com, the Community site, our email newsletters and our social media spaces.

Already a member of The Penny Hoarder Community? Be sure to read our post on logging in to the new site. We hope to see you there!

Will Simons is a community marketing product manager at The Penny Hoarder. Originally from Omaha, Neb., Will loves to help people get talking about bettering their finances.

This holiday season, there will be packages aplenty on people’s doorsteps.

With many of us gearing up (or already starting) to purchase gifts online, we all need a better way to track packages headed to our front door.

There is no shortage of available apps to help you track packages when you have a tracking number, but with so many options available, which are the best?

We’ve made the decision easy by highlighting the best package tracking apps to keep an eye on your packages this holiday season. Just download a package tracker app and grab your tracking number.

What Is a Package Tracking App?

Rather than switching between shopping apps to track your packages or searching the tracking numbers on the web, you can use tracking apps.

Installing a package tracking app on your smartphone allows you to view all your shipments from multiple sources in one place — no shuffling apps on your iOS or Android device.

Package tracking apps offer varied features, but many share a few similarities that we’ll cover. Our favorite package tracking apps will automatically add new packages to your watch list by linking with your Amazon account or scanning your email for tracking numbers.

We’ve emphasized tracking apps that are free or offer the majority of their features at no cost — just plug in a tracking number to get started.

While all of these package tracking apps are highly recommended, be sure to check out the details of each to find the perfect option for your shopping habits.

Route: The Best Package Tracking App

After hands-on testing with a multitude of package tracking apps for iOS and Android, we selected Route as our favorite. This great package tracking app is free and offers a visual map to see where your packages are in transit.

Route offers a beautiful and simplistic interface that is easy to use and integrates well with several email services, including Gmail, Outlook and iCloud. Route will automatically add the package if a tracking number is discovered within a received email.

Route also integrates easily with Amazon, allowing you to keep an eye on packages. Amazon has made it increasingly challenging to track packages with third-party apps, but solutions such as Route employ clever tricks to enable the feature.

The Route app even includes a built-in feature for dealing with order issues. With only a few taps, you can report packages that were stolen, arrived damaged or were lost in transit. Route is truly our favorite package tracker app this year for the holiday season.

Download for iOS or Android.

Package Tracking App Honorable Mentions

We found our top package tracking app, Route, to deliver an optimal experience we believe everyone will love. However, as opinions are just opinions, we have listed a few honorable mentions for those seeking something different to track shipments.

Shop

The Shop app has become increasingly popular thanks to its tight integration with many independent online stores, thanks to the Shopify platform. But, in addition to integrating with small shops, the Shop app can import packages directly from Amazon.

If Amazon or the independent online store you purchased from doesn’t work with the Shop app, you can have the app scan your emails for tracking numbers. The Shop app supports Gmail and Outlook email accounts. (Sorry, iCloud fans, no luck here.)

Opening the Shop app does directly place you in a shopping tab in an attempt to show you shops and items you may wish to purchase, but navigating to your orders is only a tap away. If you decide to purchase with the Shop app, you can even pay later with monthly installments.

Download for iOS or Android.

Deliveries

The Deliveries package tracker is the only paid app in our lineup, but at only $4.99 a year or 99 cents a month, it’s a worthy recommendation. If you choose to unsubscribe to the app at any time, you’ll be able to view package history but cannot add new deliveries.

Like the other apps we recommended, Deliveries allows you to track all your packages in a single location. For automated tracking, you can set up any email service to forward tracking numbers to the app.

Deliveries you add will be synced across your devices using iCloud, so you can track your packages across multiple devices. We also love that Deliveries allows you to add delivery dates to your calendar for easy tracking.

Oh, and the best part? The Deliveries package tracker doesn’t try to sell you products when you open the app like all of the other best package tracking apps on this list.

Download for iOS (not available for Android).

FedEx, Postal Service, UPS and DHL Tracking

Don’t care about viewing all of your packages in a single app? You can download individual apps for delivery couriers, such as FedEx, the U.S. Postal Service, UPS and DHL.

While these apps won’t allow you to track everything, you generally gain access to more advanced tracking information, such as rescheduling deliveries and adding shipment notes.

If you don’t have a tracking number, many official postal services will enable you to see incoming packages merely based on your address.

Here are delivery apps for some of the most popular courier services:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Michael Archambault is a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder specializing in technology.

Affording dental work can be tough if you’re an older American on Medicare.

That’s because Original Medicare — which covers a majority of beneficiaries — doesn’t include routine dental care.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced plans to begin covering limited dental services starting January 2023. But the scope is narrow: Dental work must be linked to a covered medical procedure, such as before an organ transplant, to qualify for coverage.

For now, older adults are mostly on the hook when it comes to paying for their own oral health care.

Here are seven ways to get free or reduced dental care. We’ll also explain what limited dental benefits Medicare coverage provides, along with other options like private insurers and Medicaid.

7 Places To Get Cheap or Free Dental Care for Seniors

Medicare beneficiaries who use dental services spent an average of $874 a year out-of-pocket, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

That’s a lot of money, especially if you’re on a fixed income.

Here are a few tips and tricks to get free dental work and save big on oral health.

1. The Dental Lifeline Network

This program by the American Dental Association offers free, comprehensive dental treatment to specific groups, including people ages 65 and older.

You can use this tool on the Dental Lifeline Network website to learn about the specific program details in your state.

Heads up: Due to long wait lists, several states and counties are no longer accepting new applications for the Dental Lifeline Network program. When we did a quick search, Nevada and Wisconsin weren’t accepting new applications.

2. Community Health Clinics

Federally funded community health clinics provide reduced-cost or free dental care services to people with low incomes.

Many operate on a sliding scale system while others offer flexible payment plans.

Wait lists can be long, so it’s important to reach out to your local clinic early.

Follow this link to find the nearest community health clinic near you.

3. Dental Schools

Some dental schools offer low-cost cleanings and other routine care to members of the community.

Most of these teaching facilities have clinics that give dentists-in-training an opportunity to practice their skills while providing low-cost dental care to the public.

You can search for dental schools and programs in your area by visiting the American Dental Association website.

There’s no guarantee that a dental program in your area currently offers free or reduced dental care. You’ll need to contact each program individually to see what’s available.

When you call, make sure to ask about any fees up front.

4. NeedyMeds.com

This website offers a comprehensive list of dental offices with sliding scale payment options, community health center locations and dental school clinics.

It does a great job breaking down requirements and eligibility (if any) for services in your area, and provides contact information for each service.

Just enter your zip code into this search tool to get started.

5. Talk With Your Dentist

It might be difficult to ask for help, but being honest with your dentist about your financial situation can help.

Your dentist may be able to offer a less expensive treatment, help you set up a payment plan or provide a sliding scale payment option.

Ask if you can receive a discount for referring a friend. Or, see if it’s possible to knock off a few bucks in exchange for a positive online review of the dentist office.

6. Sign Up for a Dental Savings Plan

Dental savings plans aren’t dental insurance, but they may still be able to save you money.

Here’s how it works.

With a dental savings plan, you pay an annual fee, then get a 10% to 60% discount on most dental services such as exams, cleanings, fillings, root canals and crowns.

The plan contracts with dentists who agree to reduce their fees, then you pay the participating dentist directly using your discount.

You’ll still pay out of pocket for those services, but the idea is that you won’t pay as much as you would without the plan.

But let’s be clear: Dental discount plans aren’t free. The average cost for plans in Orlando, Florida, for example, ranged between $135 to $170 a year.

You can visit DentalPlans to find a plan in your area.

7. Shop Around

Dentists can charge widely different prices for the same exact procedure.

When it’s coming out of your pocket, it pays to shop around.

You can find average prices in your area by using FAIR Health, a national nonprofit organization. The site lets you search by specific procedures, so you get the average cost for a root canal or teeth cleanings in your area.

Armed with knowledge, call around to different dentist offices for quotes. Ask about senior discounts.

You can also look for discounted dental care on sites like Groupon.

A quick search on Groupon for dental services in Houston, Texas, showed numerous X-ray, exam and cleaning packages for $25 to $50. One office even offered $700 toward dental implants for just $50!

If you reside in a high cost-of-living area, driving to a less expensive area is another smart way to find low-cost dental care.

Does Medicare Cover Dental Care?

Yes and no.

Original Medicare doesn’t provide coverage for routine dental, vision or hearing benefits.

Original Medicare will only cover dental work if it’s deemed medically necessary, i.e. you were hospitalized after a traumatic injury that also affected your jaw, teeth or mouth.

Starting Jan. 1, Medicare will begin covering the following dental procedures:

• Reconstruction of a ridge when performed at the same time as the surgical removal of a tumor.
• Stabilization or immobilization of teeth when done in connection with the reduction of a jaw fracture.
• Dental splints when used in conjunction with a medically necessary treatment.

Here are the other dental services covered by Medicare Part B:

• Dental services that are critical to a larger procedure like facial reconstruction after an accident.
• Tooth extraction that is needed to prepare for radiation treatment.
• Oral exams and treatments that are done to prepare for a kidney transplant, heart valve replacement or organ transplant procedures.

So if you’re looking for standard dental care like teeth cleaning, X-rays, fillings, extractions, dentures and more — the cost comes out of your pocket.

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage plans are administered by private insurance companies. They must provide the same basic coverage as Original Medicare, but plans may offer additional benefits, such as dental.

About 94% of private Medicare Advantage plans provide some dental coverage, but the amount of coverage varies by plan.

Nearly all Medicare Advantage plans that include dental offer coverage for oral exams, cleanings and X-rays, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

But benefits for more advanced dental work like root canals, implants and dentures can carry substantial copays, depending on the plan.

Medicare Advantage plans almost always impose restrictions, including annual dollar caps and how often you can get certain benefits, such as dental implants.

The average annual limit on dental benefits among Medicare Advantage plans that offer more extensive benefits was about $1,300 in 2021, according to KFF.

If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, it’s important to check the plan’s summary of benefits or evidence of coverage to see exactly what dental work is covered. It can vary widely from plan to plan.

Other Dental Insurance for Seniors

About half of all Medicare beneficiaries — 47% — did not have any form of dental coverage in 2019, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Besides Medicare Advantage plans, other sources of dental coverage for seniors include Medicaid and private plans, such as employer-sponsored retiree plans and individually purchased dental plans.

Private Dental Insurance for Seniors

A standalone dental policy for people 65 and older is typically $20 to $50 a month, according to AARP. You can expect an annual deductible of $50 to $100 with these policies.

Dental insurance plans usually cover checkups and cleanings 100% but you will probably owe 20% to 50% for other services, such as tooth extractions or dentures.

The devil is in the details with private dental plans: It’s important to shop around and carefully compare benefits to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Here are a few other things to keep in mind about private dental insurance plans:

• You can’t enroll in a dental plan through the federal ACA Marketplace if you’re already enrolled in Medicare.
• ​​Private dental policies usually don’t charge higher monthly premiums if you’re over 65 or in poor health.
• An insurance company may require you to undergo a waiting period before you can get expensive procedures.
• Some plans won’t cover pre-existing dental conditions you had before enrolling in coverage.
• You may be restricted to an in-network dentist, so check to see if your dentist is on the list.

Medicaid

About one in five Medicare beneficiaries is also enrolled in Medicaid, sometimes referred to as being “dual enrolled.”

Medicare usually pays as your primary insurance when you’re dual enrolled. But if you need dental work done or even a yearly cleaning, consulting your Medicaid handbook is a smart move.

If you meet Medicaid low-income requirements in your state, you may be able to receive free or low-cost dental care for certain procedures and services.

But it’s not a guarantee. While most states provide at least some emergency dental services, only 39 states and Washington, D.C. offer limited or comprehensive dental benefits for adults, according to the National Academy of State Health Policy.

Even if your state Medicaid program includes dental, it may not pay out much. Of the 39 states with routine dental care coverage, only 25 states offer an annual expenditure cap of $1,000 or more.

Adult Medicaid recipients in Arkansas, for example, only receive annually up to $500 of dental services, and that excludes dentures and tooth extractions. So if you need a $3,000 root canal and you’re dual enrolled with Original Medicare, you can expect to pay $2,500 out of pocket in that state.

According to Medicaid’s national website, “States have flexibility to determine what dental benefits are provided…There are no minimum requirements for adult dental coverage.”

To find the Medicaid office contact information for your state, click here.

Rachel Christian is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.

When’s the best time of year to buy a car? Let’s see what all the experts say.

Edmunds: “Data shows that December is the best time of the year to buy.”

Autotrader: “The best time to buy a car is in late December when yearly, quarterly, and monthly sales goals converge.”

Cars.com: “Shoppers looking for the best deal on a new vehicle are typically advised to wait until the end of the year.”

Carfax: “The time of year you shop for a car is important, and analysts agree that consumers who go car shopping in December could obtain the best deals of all.”

Hmmm, how about that? IT’S ALMOST LIKE WE’RE SENSING A THEME HERE. It appears that December is the best time of year to buy a car — as long as you’re looking for the best deal, that is.

And it’s vital to get the best deal you possibly can because cars are getting ridiculously expensive these days.

In fact, the average sticker price of a new automobile just hit an all-time high of nearly $46,000, according to the market research company J.D. Power. Cars and trucks have never been this expensive before, and all that sticker shock helps explain a couple of other pertinent facts:

• We’re all driving our cars as long as we possibly can. The average age of vehicles on the road just hit an all-time high of 12.2 years.
• We’re making car payments for longer than ever. There’s been a spike in the number of car buyers signing up for six- and seven-year loans, instead of the traditional five-year auto loan. As a matter of fact, the six-year car loan has become the most popular option, with the seven-year loan coming in second, according to Edmunds.

What does all of this mean for you? Let’s go over the details.

Why December? And When in December?

Traditionally, the end of December is when automakers offer their most generous sales incentives, like cash rebates or zero percent financing, according to Cars.com. It’s also when dealerships are most likely to give you a deeper discount on the sticker price.

If you’re looking for a deal, try the year-end sales events at dealerships in your area.

“Automakers and dealerships want to close the year with strong sales,” Edmunds says. “They also want to get rid of the prior model-year cars that are taking up space, so they’re motivated.”

Dealerships and salespeople will be in a negotiating mood because they’re trying to meet their quotas. After all, there are year-end bonuses at stake.

“The biggest bargains are usually up for grabs on New Year’s Eve,” Carfax advises. “If you can’t make it on New Year’s Eve, the best days to visit a dealership are December 24 and December 27-30. Christmas Eve, when customer volume is light, is especially good.”

What If You’re Not Ready to Buy Right Now?

Of course, maybe you won’t be buying a car this month. Maybe the holidays are running you ragged. Maybe you’re going broke paying for Christmas. Maybe it’s too cold outside. Or maybe your current car is purring like a kitten and you’re not quite ready to replace it.

No problem! December isn’t the only strategically good time to purchase a vehicle.

Just in general, try the end of the month or the end of the quarter. Dealerships and salespeople typically have monthly or quarterly sales targets, and they often get a bonus for meeting their goals, Carfax says.

Can’t shop for cars on Christmas or New Year’s? Try a different holiday instead.

“Many other holidays on the calendar work to your advantage for car buying,” Autotrader advises. “Dealerships use just about any holiday with a three-day weekend attached to it, like Presidents Day, Memorial Day or Labor Day, for incentives to entice potential car buyers.”

Navigating the Trickiness of Today’s Car Loans

At your local auto dealership these days, the incredibly high sticker prices are making things tricky.

For example: Financial experts recommend prequalifying for a loan at a bank or credit union before visiting a dealership. That way, you can compare your bank’s offer with the dealer’s offer for better negotiating leverage.

However, we’ve been getting reports from car buyers who found that a dealership wouldn’t sell them the car they wanted unless they went with the dealer’s financing. Now, how firmly they hold to that will depend on the dealership. Just be prepared for that.

The stakes are high here. The terms of your auto loan are really important because you’re probably going to be making car payments for a long time.

To offset the high cost of today’s cars, more people are lengthening their loan terms to lower their monthly payments. A five-year car loan used to be the standard, but now it’s the exception. Today, nearly three-fourths of all new car loans are for longer than five years, according to Edmunds.

Here’s What Else You Should Know

Four final pieces of car buying advice:

Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.