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I recently spent the better part of an hour being tortured by bankers.

Given the contentiousness of the conversation, it is entirely possible that they saw themselves as being tortured by me. However, considering that they had my money and were the ones getting paid to be there, I see it the other way around.

I am not going to name names, of either personnel or the bank, because I do not believe the purpose of this kind of platform is to vent my personal beefs. Also, the point I really want to make is that what went on with my bank could go on with hundreds of other banks. Therefore, the purpose is not to call out one bank, but to caution people about what to watch out for with banks in general.

Life’s too short

In this rapidly changing world, it’s comforting to know that some things never change. They are as immutable as the Rock of Gibraltar, as permanent as the sands of the Mojave, and as unalterable as the seven seas and stars above.

Want an example? Try new business failure rates. The percentage of new businesses that go belly up is high today, and likely was high shortly after Adam and Eve went after the low-hanging fruit. Depending on what statistics you believe, either nine of every ten new businesses these days expire in infancy, or 50 percent of them are gone within four years. Either way, as he shreds his business cards, the dazed failed entrepreneur is left with one question: Would he have been worse off hanging out his shingle or suffering a case of shingles?

This post comes from Anthony Fontana at our partner site Zing!

It may not feel like it outside yet, but summer is just around the corner. That means it’s time to start planning vacations. Whether you’re flying somewhere or taking a long road trip, one thing’s for certain: You’re going to need a car at some point. If you’ve never rented a car, it may seem like a somewhat daunting task. Between determining what company to go through, what kind of car to get and many other factors, it can be complex. It doesn’t have to be though. Just follow the below steps and you’ll be in the front seat of your rental car in no time!

Avoid the Airport

People have long spoken of “haves” and “have-nots,” but perhaps never in modern times has the economy seemed so separated between those who seem to be getting ahead and those who are falling behind.

What complicates things is that appearances can be deceptive. The easy availability of debt can make a household believe it is living well when in fact it is working itself into trouble. Failure to put money toward certain responsibilities can also boost a lifestyle in the short term but leave you facing a big bill in the long term.

So, to help look past that kind of illusion, the following are nine questions that will help you determine whether you are getting ahead or falling behind: