Amanda Blankenship

Top CEOs Say Social Responsibility is Becoming More Important Than Profit

August 19, 2019 By Amanda Blankenship 2 Comments

The country’s most successful companies have undoubtedly proved themselves in the past by being able to make a profit. However, consumers are always changing. As millennials and gen Xers get older, social responsibility has started to become a more important area of focus for top CEOs.

What Does Social Responsibility Have To Do With Business?

The Business Roundtable is a group of CEOs of the largest companies in the United States. Occasionally, the group releases reports about how the world of business is changing and what is most important to shareholders as well as consumers. On Monday, the Business Roundtable released a statement suggesting companies should focus on social responsibility (maybe even more than profit).

More than 180 CEOs signed Monday’s statement, including executives at Amazon.com, American Airlines, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. It marks the first time the group has named something other than shareholder value as the number one priority for companies.

“This new statement better reflects the way corporations can and should operate today,” Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky stated. “It affirms the essential role corporations can play in improving our society when CEOs are truly committed to meeting the needs of all stakeholders.”

Company executives also outlined four other priorities, including employee benefits and wages, support communities, and performing business with ethical suppliers.

How Businesses Are Changing

All of this comes at a time when many companies are taking stances on issues outside of the business world. Many companies have stepped forward in support of the LGBT community, for instance. Much of this pressure to support certain causes have stemmed from social media and even calls from employees.

It has been speculated that many Americans are looking to large companies to take a stance on important issues because the U.S. government has failed to provide solutions when it comes to economic changes like environmental challenges, gender, and race equality. Instead of serving shareholder first, companies have begun to focus on investing in their employees, giving consumers what they want and need, and supporting communities.

“While each of our individual companies serves its own corporate purpose, we share a fundamental commitment to all of our stakeholders,” the statement noted. “We commit to deliver value to all of them, for the future success of our companies, our communities, and our country.” The statement also listed a number of actions each of the companies is committed to making, including:

Providing value to each of their customers.
Investing in our employees through benefits and investment opportunities.
Abiding by fair and ethical business practices with suppliers.
Supporting the communities in which each company works through sustainable business practices.
Committing to transparency and long-term value for shareholders.

“The American dream is alive but fraying,” Jamie Dimon, chairman, and CEO of J.P. Morgan Chase and chairman of Business Roundtable said. “Major employers are investing in their workers and communities because they know it is the only way to be successful over the long term. These modernized principles reflect the business community’s unwavering commitment to continue to push for an economy that serves all Americans.”

Readers, how important is a company’s social responsibility to you when you’re choosing where to shop and invest?

Is Walmart Open on Labor Day 2019?

August 19, 2019 By Amanda Blankenship 2 Comments

This article has been updated with information answering “is Walmart open on Labor Day 2019?” Labor Day is September 2, 2019.

Labor Day weekend is the time for the season’s last cookouts, pool parties, and outdoor fun. You’ll need supplies for that fun long weekend. Therefore, you might find yourself wondering, “is Walmart open on Labor Day 2019?”

With the holiday weekend being such a big deal, many people just assume that everything will be open. However, because Labor Day is a federal holiday, that isn’t always the case. All nonessential government agencies are the only ones required to close their doors on federal holidays. However, some retailers do close their doors for the holiday.

So, it’s a fair question to ask: is Walmart open on Labor Day 2019?

Is Walmart Open on Labor Day 2019?

Yes, Walmart is open. If you need to buy last-minute Labor Day celebration items, then you’re in luck. Your local Walmart will be open to serve you on Labor Day. You don’t have to wonder anymore “is Walmart open on Labor Day 2019?” This store is there to meet your needs.

Are Additional Stores in Walmart Open on Labor Day 2019?

Many Walmart locations also have other businesses operating within their location (pharmacies, banks, money transfer services, restaurants, hair stylists, etc.) If you are wanting to take advantage of these services, call ahead. Because they aren’t technically part of Walmart, these businesses may not be open for the Labor Day holiday.

Walmart 2019 Labor Day Sale

If you’re asking yourself whether a trip to Walmart is worth it on Labor Day or not, it depends. If there are items that you definitely need for the holiday weekend, then it’s certainly worth it. For example, they discount all of the foods and disposable cutlery that you might want for a Labor Day picnic barbecue.

However, keep in mind, you are only saving money if it was a purchase you’d already planned on making. Don’t fall victim to the store sales!

End-of-Summer Items on Sale

That said, there are some great sales. Note that very specific sales deals are usually announced just a few days before Labor Day. However, there are some things that you can usually count on at Walmart during this weekend sale.

For example, Walmart typicall celebrates the Labor Day holiday by discounting specific end-of-summer items. While you may not be using the items over the winter, you can save to stock up for next summer. Some examples of on-sale end-of-summer items this year include:

Camping supplies including tents and fishing gear
Outdoor furniture and patio umbrellas
Portable music speakers
Gas, electric, and charcoal grills

School Supplies on Sale

More immediately, school supplies are also still on sale at Walmart over Labor Day. With many kids heading back to school this week and next, you can get good deals on items for the new year.

Use Classrooms by Walmart, which is a tool where you can find your school’s list of supplies. If your school has a uniform, then you can also get information about that. Therefore, you can buy your kids’ new school clothes at Walmart.

Remember that school items aren’t just for kids; get good discounts on office supplies by shopping in the school supplies section. Furthermore, remember that these days school supplies include tech like laptops. Yes, these are also on sale at Walmart on Labor Day weekend.

Gifts and Other Goodies on Sale

Likewise, there are some great store sales on items that you might set aside as Christmas gifts for later in the year. You can check the Walmart Savings Center online to see what’s already on sale pre-Labor Day. The toys, home, and college dorm sections are great items to check for gifts.

Additionally, Digital Trends reports that Walmart has significantly slashed prices on Google Home smart home products. Whether for a gift or for yourself, that might be something worth taking a look at.

How to Save at Walmart on Labor Day 2019

If you want to get the best discounts on Walmart items this Labor Day, then head to the Walmart website Labor Day page. Scroll down to click on any of the following sections:

Clearance
Special Buys
Rollbacks
Big Savings

That’s where you’re going to get the biggest savings across the store.

Another great way to use the website is to plan your Labor Day shopping trip to Walmart. Browse the site to find what you want to purchase. Do some online comparison shopping to make sure that you’re getting the best deal. Then head to Walmart with a shopping list and stick to the list to get the best savings.

Other Ways to Save at Walmart

If you are going shopping at Walmart on Labor Day, we suggest you use some tried and true ways to save money.

Make your purchase with discount giftcards. This is an easy way to shave a good margin off your Walmart bill.
Use a Walmart credit card to grab some cash back. Normally going with store cards is a bad idea, so if you choose this route you’ll need to manage it carefully.
Check your local store’s Weekly Ad for the latest discounts.
Exploit Walmart price matching. Walmart will price match their brick and mortar and online competitors. To request your price match check their Customer Service page or call them at 1-800-925-6278.

What Is Walmart’s 2019 Holiday Schedule?

Walmart only closes its doors completely one day out of the year. That’s on Christmas Day. However, many Walmart stores do have limit hours on Christmas Eve. They often close early that day.

Walmart is also generally open for only limited hours on Thanksgiving. It’s a bit unusual, because many stores close at midnight and reopen at 6 a.m. for Black Friday sales. However, Walmart stays open late on Black Friday itself. Moreover, some Walmart stores have special extended hours from Thanksgiving through Christmas.

Outside of special holidays, most locations are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Stores that aren’t open 24 hours genreally open at 7 am and close at 11 pm. However, it is always wise to double check the hours of the stores closest to you though. Some may be closed due to maintenance, construction, remodeling, or similar reasons.

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How Will The New Budget Deal Impact Your Finances?

August 12, 2019 By Amanda Blankenship Leave a Comment

According to a new HarrisX poll, 27 percent of Americans believe the new budget deal won’t have any direct impact on their finances, which is likely true. Here is what other Americans think about the deal and how it may impact the economy.

What Americans Think About The New Budget Deal

HarrisX surveyed 1,000 registered voters between July 27 and July 28 to get Americans’ thoughts on the latest budget deal. The poll also found that 14 percent of Americans think the deal would actually improve their finances, while 16 percent believe it will worsen their current financial situation.

Not all Americans have made up their mind regarding the latest two-year budget though. Around 42 percent reported they need more information before deciding how it will impact them. Fifty-one percent of independents who participated in the poll said they’d need more information. Some Democrats (41 percent) and Republicans (34 percent) felt the same way.

There is a small divide when it comes to political parties as well. Republicans were more likely to think that the newest budget deal would help improve their financial situation (24 percent). Only 14 percent of Democrats and 5 percent of independents reported believing that to be true.

Around 22 percent of Democrats polled said they thought the new budget deal would likely hurt their finances (compared to 12 percent of Republicans and 14 percent of independents).

About The Latest Two-Year Budget

The new budget deal is shooting to increase federal spending and borrowing limit over the next two years. According to The Hill, this includes raising military and domestic spending by more than $320 billion. President Trump signed it into law on Friday, despite resistance in the Senate. In fact, more than 20 Republican senators voted against it.

Many people opposing the deal argue it isn’t focusing on decreasing federal spending as we should be. Even though spending is typically a good thing for the economy, the latest budget changes would add about $2 trillion to the national debt over the next 10 years. The national debt has already increased by $2 trillion since Trump took office in 2017.

Final Thoughts

When it comes down to it, many of us won’t recognize any immediate (or large) impact on our finances. However, you may see increases in your taxes over time. Many people who are self-employed or those who are in a higher tax bracket may find they are paying more in than they have in past years.

But, when it boils down to it, many people won’t see a huge impact on our personal finances. The U.S. government, on the other hand, is continuing to increase the national debt. If this continues, our economy won’t be able to hang on for long.

Readers, what do you think about the new budget deal? How do you think it will impact your finances

Psychological Association Warns Against Blaming Mental Illness For Mass Shootings

August 5, 2019 By Amanda Blankenship Leave a Comment

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) issued a statement warning against blaming mental illness for all mass shootings. Following two major shootings this weekend, politicians, including the President of the United States, made statements about gun control and violence. Trump called the shooters “mentally ill monsters,” but the APA believes people with mental illness are being stigmatized.

Mass Shootings Doesn’t Equate Mental Illness

On Monday, Trump called for heavier mental health screenings. He stated that mental illness and hatred pull the trigger and even played with the idea of involuntary mental health treatment for some individuals.

“We must reform our mental health laws to better identify mentally disturbed individuals who may commit acts of violence,” he said, “and make sure those people, not only get treatment but when necessary, involuntary confinement.”

Many other members of the Republican party agreed with the president. Senator Chris Murphy, however, took to Twitter correcting POTUS.

19 out of 20 murderers have no mental illness diagnosis.

4 out of 5 mass shooters have no mental illness diagnosis, and half showed no signs on a prior, undiagnosed illness.

Framing this as just a mental illness problem is a gun industry trope. Period. Stop.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 4, 2019

The APA stated that “the overwhelming majority of people with mental illness are not violent and far more likely to be victims of violent crime than perpetrators of violence.” Anything saying otherwise, according to the association, can discourage people from getting the help they need. It can also embolden individuals with mental health issues to act violently.

Is There An Answer To Ending Gun Violence?

“The rates of mental illness are roughly the same around the world, yet other countries are not experiencing these traumatic events as often as we face them. One critical factor is access to, and the lethality of, the weapons that are being used in these crimes. Adding racism, intolerance and bigotry to the mix is a recipe for disaster,” Rosie Phillips David, president of the APA said.

So, while increasing mental health screenings for individuals purchasing guns may be a good idea, it won’t necessarily cut down on the number of mass shootings we see in a year. It is also unlikely to help cut down on other types of gun violence occurring in the country.

The only possible “fix” to the problem is reforming our laws surrounding firearms. All in all, further regulation is needed instead of placing blame where it simply does not belong.

Readers, what do you think about the APA’s warning against blaming mental illness for mass shootings? Is it accurate?

Why Intermittent Fasting May Not Be Great For Your Health

July 29, 2019 By Amanda Blankenship Leave a Comment

The weight loss industry makes billions of dollars a year from Americans attempting to lose a few pounds. Some individuals have combated this billion-dollar industry with trying things like intermittent fasting. Of course, you’ll spend less money on food when you simply don’t eat for a certain period of time, but at what cost?

What is Intermittent Fasting?

Intermittent fasting is something people do to increase their metabolism, lose weight, and possibly even reduce inflammation. To perform this type of fasting, you go without food for a set period of time every day. During this time, you can only drink water.

Many people fast for 16 hours and eat within an 8-hour window. So, if you start eating at 8 a.m., you’d only eat until 4 p.m. Then you’d fast again until 8 a.m. the next day.

Others use something called the 5:2 method. This means fives days out of the week you eat a normal number of calories. The other two days you have a restricted caloric intake (usually between 500 and 600 calories).

Dangers of Fasting

Billions of people worldwide fast for various reasons, including weight loss. However, many extreme diets or going without eating altogether can have some positive (and negative) impacts on your physical and mental health. More recently, the negative impacts of intermittent fasting have come to light.

Cons of Fasting

“Intermittent fasting is a gateway to an eating disorder,” Evelyn Tribole, registered dietitian and co-author of Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works stated. Oftentimes, when you get used to not eating, you just stop eating. Some individuals may fall into habits that lead to developing an eating disorder.

At the same time, those who don’t fall into anorexia may find themselves binge eating when they come off their fast. They may do really well for a few weeks, then when they stop their fasting period, they binge and gain the weight back, which can be just as harmful. Most importantly, you lose touch with your body’s ability to know when you need food and when you don’t.

On top of how intermittent fasting can change your relationship with food, it can also impact your social life. Many people who have done this type of fasting note that the social side effects were what almost broke them in the beginning. It is more difficult to go out with friends for a bite to eat when you don’t eat most of the day. Also, not all your friends and family will agree with you just not eating.

Pros of Fasting

That being said, there are plenty of benefits to intermittent fasting. Some individuals find that during periods of fasting they are able to think more clearly and feel happier. Additionally, most people who perform any type of fasting see some weight loss results, though they vary from person to person.

As with any extreme change in your lifestyle, be sure to consult with your physician before fasting or adopting any new diet.

Readers, have you tried intermittent fasting or any other kind of fasting? How did it impact you?

Are You Owed Money From The Equifax Breach?

July 23, 2019 By Amanda Blankenship Leave a Comment

It was two years ago when Equifax announced hackers had gotten ahold of more than 147 million people’s personal information. While the Equifax breach itself is nothing new, this week the major credit bureau announced a settlement of $700 million. Individuals could get up to $20,000 each.

About The Equifax Breach

As mentioned above, nearly half of United States citizens had their information stolen in the breach. Equifax reported this data collected included birth dates, names, and around 146 million Social Security numbers.

After two years, Equifax has come to a settlement of $700 million. Immediately, the company will pay $300 million into the consumer fund. Additionally, funding for reimbursement will be paid out-of-pocket.

Consumers can receive up to $20,000 in reimbursement for documented loses traced back to the Equifax breach. These costs may include time spent monitoring your credit score, hiring attorneys, or the cost of freezing and unfreezing your credit. Documentation will be required to prove these loses and preventative measures and consumers will be paid accordingly.

Why It Happened

Equifax CEO Mark Begor was quoted saying the settlement is the largest ever. “It reflects, from our perspective, the seriousness in which we took this matter,” he said. The company still denies any wrongdoing in the matter. It also plans to invest $1.25 billion into bettering its security.

According to Equifax, there have been no instances of identity theft that stemmed from the stolen data from the company in September 2017. There is an attorney out to prove otherwise though. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro stated some individuals had their identity stolen, but he was unable to quote any specific numbers. His office also reported receiving more consumer complaints during the period following the breach.

“This breach happened because Equifax was more interested in profits than in infrastructure to protect our data.,” said Shapiro. Before you get ahead of yourself, submitting a claim won’t always get you paid. Not everyone is owed money from Equifax.

Are You Owed Money?

Equifax plans to set up free credit monitoring for consumers and, for some, individual cash payments will be made.

Many people froze their credit after receiving the news, which impacts your ability to do some things financially (if anyone needs to pull your credit). Consumers affected by the Equifax breach will receive up to 10 years of free credit monitoring and identity protection. If individuals impacted by the breach already have a credit monitoring service, they are entitled to a $125 payment.

After the breach, many people spent more time looking at their credit report than they did before. Anyone who spent time taking preventative steps against identity theft or dealing with identity theft in any way can get up to $500. You must be able to prove you have spent time doing this to receive that payment. However, ten hours ($250) can be self-certified and requires no documentation. If you want the full $500, you will need bank and credit statements.

When Will The Claims Process Begin?

Once the settlement Equifax announced has been approved by a judge, the claims process will begin. This will likely take a number of months. The company expects a decision will be reached by the end of the year.

Are You Getting Money?

Four emails will be sent to class members that may be entitled to reimbursement through the settlement. Equifax also plans to put social media and advertising action behind educating consumers about the settlement as well.

It has already created a website pertaining to the breach where you can get information. On the website, you can enter your name and see if you are included in the class action lawsuit. If you’d prefer, you can also call the toll-free number Equifax set up for people with questions about the settlement. The number is 1 (833) 759-2982.

Photo: Flickr: GotCredit