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Industries That Are Ripe for Disruption
Netflix innovated and adapted, leaving bankrupt Blockbuster in its wake. What other industries are due for a shake-up? Photo: Esther Vargas
dis·rupt
verb \dis-ˈrəpt\ : to cause (something) to be unable to continue in the normal way : to interrupt the normal progress or activity of (something). That’s according to Merriam Webster dictionary.
Disrupting an industry involves more than just gaining market share from your competitor. It’s a shift in how business is done — the money flow and value delivered, ideally squeezing out inefficiencies and those profiteering from lack of transparency.
So what industries are ripe for disruption? Anything come to mind?
Investment from the Inside Out
Investing your time and energy in things like exercise and your family is every bit as important as investing in stocks or bonds. Photo: Jefferey Kerekes
When we talk about investments on a personal finance site, we’re usually discussing things that you can buy for a certain amount of money that will, in theory, provide a return on that money. Stocks, bonds, real estate, porkbelly futures – you get the idea.
Such investments are a valuable thing to know about, of course, but it just scratches the surface of investing. You actually invest all the time, whether you realize it or not.
Old Hustle, New Tools: Social Media Investing Scams
Want to make a killing in the market? Who doesn’t? But be careful chasing hot stock tips — social media have made it easier than ever for investing scam artists to find their marks. Photo: Perpetual Tourist
“Psssst, over here,” croaked a voice from the shadows somewhere in the alley. “Are youse lookin’ for a hot tip on a cool stock?”
Rob looked over his shoulder and from side to side before pointing with his thumb at his own chest like a novice hitchhiker. The voice grew louder as its source, a shady-looking character straight out of a black-and-white gangster movie, stepped out from behind an overfilled dumpster.
“Sure, I’m talking to you” he hissed. “There’s money to be made by smart guys like you that’re willing to act fast and not ask a lotta questions.”
10 Financial Mistakes Too Many Parents Make
Parents, start saving for college early, and help your child through the financial aid process. Photo: bradleypjohnson
Every loving parent has hopes and dreams for their children, whether it’s about college, falling in love and starting a family, or finding their passion in life. But most of all, most parents want the same thing – for their children to grow up and live happy, productive lives.
But having kids requires more than just dreaming about the future; it requires planning for it. And even when parents have the best intentions, it’s easy to let proper planning slide when you’re busy living for today. Meanwhile, there are times when parents focus so much on their children’s happiness and success that they sacrifice their own well-being.
The Tools for Declaring Independence
Traits such as self control and a willingness to learn, among others, are like a Swiss Army knife of life skills. Photo: Chris Penny
At first, our big financial goal was simply a matter of escaping a paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle. After that, it was getting rid of all of our credit card debt. After that, it was buying a home and then becoming completely free of all debt.
Are Credit Card Rewards Really Worth It?
Hotel loyalty points are easier to earn and redeem than airline miles, but are they worth the hassle? Photo: Rene
A friend recently mentioned that she wished she had more time off work to travel – and more money to travel with.
“I don’t see how you do it,” she said. “Airfare is crazy expensive. And then you have to pay for your hotel, rental car, and food!”
She was right, but I quickly reminded her that my family uses a combination of points and miles to cover most of our expenses.
“When we do that,” I said, “we can afford to pay for food and entertainment as long as we budget for it.”
She wasn’t having any of it. “It sounds like a huge hassle to me,” she said. “Is it?”
“Yes,” I said. “It’s a huge hassle, but totally worth it.”
How to Avoid Scholarship Scams
A scholarship can help pay for college, but make sure it’s the real deal. Photo: Nino James
Anyone who’s in or entering college is certainly aware of the abundance of graduates dealing with student loan debt. Scholarships, like grants, are a way to reduce that debt.
Free money to pay down tuition or living expenses? Who wouldn’t want it?
Your Game Plan for Escaping the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle
Taken one step at a time, simple – but lasting – changes can help you escape the paycheck-to-paycheck treadmill. Photo: arileu
Right off the bat, I want to say that I understand that this article won’t appeal to all of my readers. Many of you have escaped this cycle and are rolling along toward financial independence. However, I’m willing to bet that many of you have friends or family that are stuck in this cycle and some of them may be really struggling to escape it. They may have asked you for help or commented publicly about it.
If you know anyone who is reaching out for help in breaking out of their paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, send them this article. If you want to just send them a link, send them to this link:
Best Ways to Use Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Cashing in your Chase Ultimate Rewards points can lead to big savings on air travel. Photo: Thomas Hawk
There is a reason why so many fans of credit card rewards go out of their way to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Aside from being versatile and easy to use, the points can be very lucrative — especially if you know how to use them.
If you’ve never had a Chase credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards points, it can be hard to understand what they’re really worth. This post aims to explore the many ways you can use the points for your benefit — whether for travel, experiences, or for simple and easy cash back.
Best Cash Back Credit Cards for 2015
In 2015, you won’t see significant changes from many of the best cash back credit cards, but there are a few improvements with rewards programs that will benefit cardholders. For example, some of the rotating category cash back credit cards have now added groceries as a quarterly item to earn rewards on. In the past, this wasn’t the case as some categories were very specific, only allowing you to earn rewards from certain stores.
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