Personal Finance

These 3 States Will Pay Off Your Student Loans

July 28, 2021 By Allen Francis Leave a Comment

When you take on debt, you are just robbing your future self of money. After all, any money you make in the future will be used to pay off that debt.

If only I had learned that lesson when I was a college student applying for student loans long ago.

Student Loans

Over 45 million Americans are currently burdened with student loans.

The average American owes over $37,700 in student loan debt.

Collectively, Americans owe over $1.7 trillion in student loan debt.

It takes a lot of luck and extraordinary circumstances to get your student debt canceled. Forbearance is just another word for temporary suspension of repayments. And you should not hold your breath waiting for congressional action to offer student loan debt relief.

However, if you are highly skilled and educated and willing to move to another state for up to four years, you may be able to get your student loan debt paid off.

Here are three states that will pay off your student debt if you move there.

Georgia

Are you a dentist, physician, registered nurse, or physician assistant? If you move to Georgia, then you can be awarded $10,000 to $25,000 annually for four years to repay your student debt.

Just apply for the Loan Repayment Program on the official for the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce.

What’s the catch? You will have to work 40-hours or more weekly in a small, remote, and rural town with a population of 50,000 residents or less. 32 hours per week must be spent dealing with patients. The remaining 8 hours can be spent on administrative tasks.

You can opt to live in small cities and towns like Lincoln, Monroe, and Polk. Each city is about an hour away from Atlanta.

The application cycle runs from September 1 through December 1, 2021.

California

If you are a dentist, doctor, nurse, certified nurse-midwife, pharmacist, mental health provider, or physician assistant searching for student loan relief, you should consider moving to California.

The California State Loan Repayment Program, or SLRP, will pay up to $50,000 to pay off your student loan debt.

You will have to work in the public sector with disadvantaged people or with a non-profit organization. These will be areas with shortages of available health care professionals.

You will have to commit to at least part-time for two to four years.

The application deadline is September 15, 2021.

Texas

Texas has no state income tax and is one of the states with the lowest cost of living standards in the country. And if you are a health care provider, teacher, or lawyer, the state of Texas will pay off your student debt to move there.

Depending on your qualifications and the program you apply for, Texas will pay anywhere between $4,800 to $180,000 to settle your outstanding student loan debt.

You apply and inquire about application deadlines via phone numbers or email supplied on each application.

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How to Get the Best Prices for Selling Your Jewelry

July 27, 2021 By Jenny Smedra Leave a Comment

Over the years, I have collected a lot of jewelry. Some pieces were passed down from family members, others given as gifts, and some were deals at estate sales that were too good to pass up. However, now my jewelry boxes are overflowing with accessories. It has become such a tangled mess that I can hardly even see what I have anymore. So, I decided to sort through my pieces and look into selling my jewelry. But, where and how do you sell your jewelry to ensure you get the best prices? After a little research, here are the most reputable places that offer fair prices.

Selling Your Jewelry Online

With the surge of e-commerce, I decided to look at the options for online vendors first. Not only do you gain access to a wider audience, but you can also reach people with specific interests.

CashforGoldUSA

You have probably heard or seen their ads because CashforGoldUSA has been around for more than 30 years. They have a longstanding reputation and an A rating with the Better Business Bureau. Along with their associated sites, CashforDiamondsUSA and CashforSilverUSA, you will get fast and fair quotes for selling your jewelry.

The reason they are so popular is that they guarantee payment within 24 hours and accept a wide variety of items. It’s a solid choice for unloading unwanted jewelry. Customers say they pay up to three times more than their competitors and offer an additional 10% if you ship within 7 days. However, they only insure items up to $5,000. So, if you have designer pieces, you will have better luck with vendors who deal in high-end jewelry.

Worthy

Worthy is a much better option when you are selling jewelry valued at over $1,000. So, if you have an engagement ring, diamonds, or signature pieces, you will get a better price here. The difference with Worthy is that you can receive multiple offers. The jewelry is put on an online marketplace where several vetted buyers can bid on your items.

The site has an A+ rating with the BBB and will insure items for up to $100,000 through Lloyds of London. While it can take some time to find a buyer, your patience could net you a higher profit for selling your jewelry.

Online Auctions

If you are trying to sell something truly unique and extremely valuable, an auction will fetch you the highest bids. Famous auction houses such as Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Property Room, and Hibid will require you to send pictures of your item. And, if it meets their standards, they will help you put it up for auction or arrange a private sale. However, they maintain high standards which they rigidly enforce.

Selling Your Jewelry Locally Local Stores

For those who feel more comfortable dealing with vendors face to face, there are several local options for selling your jewelry.

Jewelry Stores

Jewelry stores offer good prices and the added convenience of same-day sales. Their employees can do appraisals and give more detailed information about the item with their specialized knowledge of the styles and materials they are made from. They are also likely to offer you more with trade-in credit since they view you as a potential customer. However, most stores will also pay the same day so you could walk away with cash in hand. Many large retailers have buyback programs, making it easy to sell your jewelry. But, make sure you review the terms and conditions in addition to their reviews before making any deals.

Pawn Shops

For decades, pawn shops have been the best option when you need cash fast. Since you can find them in almost every city, they provide an easy venue when you need funds now. Unfortunately, they won’t pay as much as other retailers. And, there are no guarantees on what each individual shop will offer you. You should do your research before you walk in the door, and only deal with reputable stores. Most are only willing to accept high-demand items like gold rings, necklaces, and diamonds. So, if you have rarer items, it may be worth your time to wait for the right buyer, if possible.

Local Marketplaces

The rise of local marketplaces means tons of online platforms connect you with people nearby. The best news is that many of them, like Facebook and Craigslist, allow you to advertise and manage postings for free. You can set your own prices and choose who you deal with. But, be warned that online marketplaces can be fickle. It’s a good idea to include an appraisal to improve your chances of selling by showing your credibility to potential customers.

What to Know Before Selling Your Jewelry

Before you sell anything, there are some important things you should know about the item you are selling and who you are selling to. Here are a few things you should consider before making any deals.

Know the value of your jewelry. Make sure you know the current value of the metal and gemstone. The condition and rarity of your piece will affect the value as well. You can also do an independent appraisal to make sure you get what its worth.
Current and modern pieces are in high demand.
Selling your jewelry for scrap is the fastest way to get cash.
Vet jewelers and vendors before doing business. Read online reviews and ratings or check with the BBB to ensure you work with reputable vendors.
Specialized retailers and jewelry stores will give you better prices.
Haggling can get you a better price.
Maintain realistic expectations of what your jewelry is worth.

It’s possible to turn your unwanted jewelry into cash. However, you want to be well-informed so you don’t sell your diamond-in-the-rough for peanuts.

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20 Great Places to Find Coins

July 23, 2021 By Jeffrey Strain 71 Comments

I like to walk and when I walk, I am always on the lookout for coins. I don’t really consciously do this — it has become a habit over the years. What I do know is that most years I add over $100 to my savings (you would need to keep way more than $10,000 in your local bank to earn the same amount in interest) simply by keeping my eyes open and knowing where to look.

Here’s the funny thing about finding coins. If you are doing this to try and make extra money, it’s not likely to work. While it may be hard to understand, finding coins really isn’t about the money although it never hurts to add what you do find to your savings.

I have had friends in the past that have heard about how I am able to find money and decide they are going to try it too. Invariably, they come back in a week’s time saying they haven’t found anything. The truth is, you won’t find anything most days. That being said, if you are not looking, the days that you do find money you probably wouldn’t had you not been looking. The people that are successful at it view it more as a game and treat it as such. Here are some of my favorite places to find coins in no particular order:

Car Washes

Coins come out of pockets at car washes and a fair share of them end up on the ground where they can be found. Pay special attention to the areas around the vacuum stations. It seems that a lot of people that are cleaning out their cars don’t think that the change is worth keeping and throw it out with the rest of the trash they find under their car seats and car mats.

Homeless Camps

For some reason, homeless people aren’t great at keeping track of their coins. I’ve been walking around several of these camps, and in a lot of cases, I’ll find several pennies. This might be because homeless people aren’t good at tracking they money, but it may also be that they have a lot of coins.

Highway Rest Stops

People that have been on long road trips have made numerous stops and gathered up a pile of change in their car and pockets. They are tired and not paying as close attention as they might at other times and it seems a fair amount of those coins end up slipping out of the car and staying in the rest area. It’s also a great place to check vending machines.

Melting Snow

If you live in an area of the country where it snows, you’ll love spring if you become a coin hunter. When people drop coins in the winter, they often find it too cumbersome to pick up the coin, or the coin falls into the snow where it’s difficult to find. That leaves an accumulation of coins that appear in the Spring when the snow begins to melt off.

Fast Food Dive-Up Windows

When people hand over money to people at the drive up windows and receive their change, the exchange of coins doesn’t always go perfectly and a coin may fall from time to time. Many people aren’t willing to make the effort to open their car door and search around for where the coin ultimately landed. That means that a quick glance in the area of fast food drive-up windows can put a few coins into your pocket.

Self Pay Parking Machines

Much like the fast food dive up window, I always pay special attention when I walk past a parking lot that has a self pay machine as the person is exiting. People are leaning out the window putting coins into the machine and sometimes a coin drops. Most of the time when this happens, the person isn’t going to get out of their car and look underneath it for the coin. Instead, they will write it off as a loss and just leave. When this happens and the timing is right, that coin will become yours.

Bars, Waiting Rooms, Transit Areas, Etc

It seems that there are a decent number of people that wear pants that simply don’t hold their coins in too well. If you scan around bars, waiting rooms, transit areas and the like, there is a good chance that you will be able to add a few coins to your findings. This is especially true if they have sitting areas with couches or the like where coins can hide.

Your Own Home

I don’t actually count the money that I find in my home toward the total amount of money I find each year since I consider it already to be mine, but that being said, you probably have a decent amount of coins lying around your house that you don’t know about or have forgotten. Decide to do a Spring cleaning and you’re likely to end the day with more money than when you started. Check pant and coat pockets from time to time and you’ll likely find a forgotten bill or change.

At the Beach

There is a reason that you see people on the beach with metal detectors scanning the sand. People go to the beach and coins get dropped because bathing suits don’t have pockets when people are changing. Those coins often get covered in sand so that the person that lost them doesn’t even notice they are gone. While it can be more difficult to spot these coins, they are definitely there for those who have a keen eye. Using detectors at the beach is also a good option, as once coins or jewelry are buried in the sand then can nearly impossible to spot.

You can get a good entry level detector for between $75 and $300 dollars on Amazon.com. The Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV is a good example.

At Parks

Parks are popular during the summer months so that can be a great time to keep your eyes open in the parks. With all the commotion and large number of people, a few coins always seem to get left behind. This is also true after any holiday weekends or events.

Wherever crowds have gathered

If there is a crowd, there is a good chance that coins can be found, especially directly after the crowd begins to dissipate. Places where money transactions take place outside like art fairs, Saturday markets and other community events are also prime locations to find a few extra coins lying around on the ground.

Copy Machines

This isn’t as good of a place to find coins as it used to be when nobody had a home computer and printer in their house, but it is still a place to check the coin slot or credit count when you walk past them. It seems that a fair number of those that use copy machines are in a hurry and simply forget the extra money they have put into the machine.

Telephones

Much like the copy machine, this used to be a great place to find coins, but with everyone now carrying around a cell phone it’s becoming more difficult to find coins around phone booths. Still, it’s worth a look since money does drop and people do forget the coins they are feeding into the phone from time to time.

Coinstar Machines

When people put their money into change counting machines, there are often a few coins that get spit out into the coin slot because the machine couldn’t decipher the coin properly. Some people don’t realize this or forget and leave the coins there so it’s always worthwhile checking when you pass them.

Sidewalks

When people walk, most of them don’t look at the sidewalk. It’s surprising the number of people that walk right on by money simply because they never have seen it. If you keep your eyes on the sidewalk whenever you happen to take a walk, you are sure to find some coins.

Gutters

When you are walking on the sidewalk, stay to the street side. While you may find a few coins on the sidewalk, you’re likely to find even more in the gutter beside the sidewalk during your travels since people are even less likely to be looking there when they walk.

Intersections / Crosswalks

I’m always on the lookout for money when crossing the street. For some reason, coins seem to gather there more than on the sidewalks and gutters along the main portion of the street. This is often because people are, very reasonably, watching traffic and not on the look out for extra money.

Train / Subway Stations

Public transportation stations are a good place to find fallen coins. People are taking out money to buy tickets, sitting and standing quite a bit and invariable a coin drops to the ground here and there.

Stores

People are at stores to buy things so they are taking money out of their pockets to pay for items they want. Coins get dropped and not all of them get found. Keep your eyes open along the sides and corners and you will find a stray coin from time to time. This is especially the case in front of cashiers stations in most stores.

Parking Lots

If I have an opportunity to cut through a parking lot, I don’t do it to save time or distance, but to look for coins. I tend to park as far away as I can from the store to let me walk across parking lots when I go shopping. Parking lots are one of the better places to find coins.

Around Vending Machines

If there are vending machines, there is a good chance that there is a lost coin around. This is especially true in winter when it’s cold outside and people are wearing gloves (I find far more coins in winter around vending machines than I do in summer). They don’t have a feel for the coins and are more likely to drop one without noticing. Of course, don’t forget to check the coin slots as well.

For more places to find coins, or even how to make more money with the coins you find check out these articles.

17 Coins in Your Pocket Worth More Than Face Value
35 More Places to Find Coins
50 Places to Find Coins

3 Tips that Will Help You Save Money for Years to Come

July 22, 2021 By Justin Weinger Leave a Comment

A penny saved is a penny earned — or so the saying goes. It is true that saving money on a consistent basis can be just as beneficial as increasing your income levels. Of course, some expenses are unavoidable. Everyone has to purchase groceries, pay bills, and keep up with mortgage/rent payments. However, you can develop habits that will allow you to save money in your everyday life. To that end, here are three tips that you can use to protect your financial stability and achieve your personal goals. Check them out here:

Don’t Procrastinate

Problems don’t just go away on their own. Rather, the longer you wait to deal with an issue in your life, the more likely it is to cause you trouble, and, crucially, cost you significantly. For example, individuals with bunion pain shouldn’t wait for their condition to deteriorate before they ask for help. Instead, they should visit a clinic like Northwest Surgery Center for assistance right away. Similarly, don’t put off household repairs or debt payments. Staying on top of your finances and your well-being isn’t always easy, but it can be very beneficial all the same.

DIY — Whenever Possible

Sometimes it’s impossible to fix a problem all on your own. Other times, it isn’t. Very few people have the time and skills to address foundational issues in their home, for instance. However, figuring out how to solve smaller problems on your own can save you a lot of money over the long haul. Learning how to change the oil in your car or fix a leaky faucet can be great skills to learn now. Adopting a DIY mentality may provide you with numerous cost-saving opportunities down the line.

Shop Smarter

As we mentioned above, certain expenses are essential and unavoidable. Yet, this doesn’t mean that you can’t shave these costs down! The truth is that you can save a lot of money at places like the grocery store by purchasing generic-brand products instead of name-brand ones or use an automated savings app like Digit so that you can save on your spare change after shopping. What’s more, don’t be afraid to shop around when you need repairs done to your home or car. It never hurts to compare what other offers are available. Lastly, work hard to eliminate impulse buys and unnecessary purchases. Waiting 24 hours to buy something can help you avoid making a regrettable purchase decision.

Conclusion

There is, unfortunately, a lot of bad financial advice floating around on the internet. Thankfully, these tips will allow you to save money on a consistent basis regardless of your personal situation or financial goals. Keep them handy moving forward

What is the Costco Return Policy?

July 21, 2021 By Heidi Renee Mason 31 Comments

Besides being able to buy all of your favorite foods and household items in bulk, Costco is known for another amazing thing that impresses its customers — it has an unbeatable return policy. Although most retail stores offer some type of return policy, very few are able to compare to the one offered by Costco.

What’s Costco’s return policy?

Costco offers a “risk-free 100% returns policy”. Costco’s return policy allows customers to return all items purchased at the warehouse (except certain electronics, jewelry and some special order kiosk items) at any time. This has been Costco’s policy for quite some time, and most customers have been pleased. Per costco.com, here are the exact specifics of their return policy.

What’s Costco’s return policy on electronics?

Costco updated its return policy in 2007 to be a bit more specific on certain items to curb abuse. In reference to electronic items, Costco now says these may only be returned within ninety days from the date of purchase. All other non-electronic items, however, are still under the umbrella of Costco’s generous allowance for returns.

What’s Costco’s return policy without a receipt?

To return an item, it doesn’t matter if you no longer have the receipt as long as you have the same membership you had when you made the purchase. This allows Costco customer service to look up under your membership purchase history to confirm you purchased the item you’re returning. If it is there, you can return it even without the receipt. If you shop at Costco without a membership and lose your receipt, you’re out of luck.

What’s Costco’s return policy for online purchases?

Costco offers full refunds on all purchases, either made online or in a store location. You can receive the refund or exchange simply by visiting one of Costco’s warehouse locations. Even if you are not able to physically visit a store for a return, there is no need to worry. Costco has a customer service phone number which you can call and make arrangements for the return to be scheduled via United Parcel Service (UPS). All you need to do is take your merchandise, in its original packing material, to the closest UPS shipment center.

Is the Costco Return Policy Unlimited?

Besides the limit 90-day return limit on electronics, many wonder if the Costco return policy is unlimited. For anything reasonable, the answer is “yes.” In the strict sense, the answer is “no” for those who are trying to abuse the system.

Costco states its return policy aims for a “100% guarantee on all merchandise.” Costco is also quick to clarify the return policy is left up to the individual discretion of each location’s manager. This is necessary, because, like any good thing, it seems there will always be those people out there who decide to take advantage of the generous return policy. There are stories online of customers attempting to return ten-year-old products, just to test whether or not Costco will honor the return policy.

In some cases, people have financial hardship and take advantage of the Costco return policy. From reddit:

While unconfirmed, it may be the case that returns go back to the vendor who sold the product to Costco. So, abusive returns could cause a great deal of financial trouble for both Costco and its vendors. Per this comment on Quora:

costco return policy abuse — https://www.quora.com/Do-people-abuse-Costcos-return-policy, accessed 7/21/2021.

Apparently, even Costco has limits, and that’s why managers are given the discretion to decide on an individual basis whether or not to accept a return. Costco can and does cancel memberships based on unreasonable return behavior. This is increasingly the case as larger retailers are increasingly using third-party vendors to monitor customers who make unreasonable returns (per Business Insider).

Like most retail establishments today, Costco is aware that customers demand satisfaction, and it goes out of its way to please its customers with a highly-regarded return policy. As long as you aren’t trying to abuse the system, you should be able to return any product you aren’t satisfied with without any issues at all.

For more on Costco and what you should and shouldn’t get there check out these articles.

Does Costco Accept Manufacturer Coupons?
A Review of Costco Cakes
Costco Comparison: How Does It Rank Among Competitors?
Does Costco Offer A Free Trial Membership?

(Photo courtesy of Jeepers Media)

These 5 Stores Have The Best Price Match Guarantees

July 21, 2021 By Tamila McDonald Leave a Comment

Getting the best deal when you shop can be a chore. Hopping between several stores to make sure you get the lowest price is time-consuming, and it isn’t practical for many busy households. Luckily, by heading to stores with the best price match guarantees, you can skip a lot of the hassle. You’ll be able to get the lowest price without having to head to several retailers, making it much more convenient. If you’re wondering what are the best price match guarantee stores around, here are some that easily make that list.

Target

If you’re looking for some of the best price match guarantee stores, Target definitely qualifies. First, if you find an identical item for less at Target.com, the store will match the lower price. The same goes for cheaper prices at select online retailers, including:

• Amazon.com
• Apple.com
• Bedbathandbeyond.com
• Bestbuy.com
• Barnesandnoble.com
• Buybuybaby.com
• Chewy.com
• Costco.com
• CVS.com
• Disckssportinggoods.com
• Gamestop.com
• Homedepot.com
• Jcpenney.com
• Kmart.com
• Kohls.com
• Lowes.com
• Macys.com
• Newegg.com
• Officedepot.com
• Petco.com
• Petsmart.com
• Sears.com
• Sephora.com
• Staples.com
• Ulta.com
• Walgreens.com
• Samsclub.com
• Walmart.com
• Wayfair.com

One point where Target stands out is with local competitor ads. If you see an identical item listed for less in a qualifying competitor print ad, you can get the lower price. Plus, you don’t have to spot the deal right away. You have up to 14 days after the purchase to come into the store – for in-store purchases – with proof of the lower price. If you do, they’ll make an adjustment. If you shopped through Target.com, just call Guest Services for the adjustment.

It is important to note that other conditions can apply. However, most of them are reasonable, such as not matching clearance prices or misprints.

Best Buy

If you’re looking for electronics and want a store with one of the best price match guarantees around, Best Buy is a solid option. For identical items, Best Buy matches its own online pricing, as well as prices at several major online electronics retailers, including:

Amazon.com
Crutchfield.com
Dell.com
HP.com
Tigerdirect.com

Additionally, it will also match prices on identical items from local competitors, which can include other stores like Walmart and Target locations.

As with all price match policies, there are exclusions. For example, the qualifying item needs to be in stock or “immediately available.” Additionally, daily or hourly flash sales are excluded.

For online purchases, you can actually chat with a Best Buy representative to discuss the lower price before you buy. You can also call their customer service line if you’d rather handle it over the phone.

Home Depot

Few price match guarantees are as straightforward as what you get at Home Depot. The home improvement giant has options for in-store and online purchases, giving you a chance to secure a better deal regardless of how you shop.

For online price matching, you’ll need to show the lower price and proof that the item will ship to your location. Home Depot doesn’t have a formal list of online retailers it will match. However, the store does need to be a genuine “competitor retailer” – something that doesn’t usually include deep-discount retailers, wholesale warehouse clubs, auction sites, or small marketplace sellers.

For in-store, you can bring in a competitor’s ad, a printout, or even a photo showcasing the lower price and that it applies to an identical item. In some cases, a Home Depot employee has to contact the competitor to confirm the information you’re sharing is accurate (which is more likely to occur if you’re using a photo as proof). However, if what you’ve given is correct, the process is pretty streamlined.

Staples

Staples goes above and beyond when it comes to their price match. Not only will they match a lower qualifying price, but they’ll also beat it by 10 percent.

The process is incredibly simple. After you find a lower price, you bring proof to the store. The customer service employee can then process the price match.

One nice thing is that you have a 14-day price guarantee on both in-store and online purchases. If you see a lower price within that two-week period, even if it didn’t start until after you bought, you’re still eligible for the guarantee.

There are some exclusions, but they aren’t as restrictive as some other stores. Mainly, the products have to be an identical match, and the lower-priced retailer has to qualify as a competitor. Of course, there is more fine print, but those are the biggest factors in the equation.

Walmart

When it comes to price match policies, if you shop Walmart in-store, it’s a bit limited. In-store matching only works for exact product matches found on Walmart.com or Jet.com, and it only applies to base prices, not sales or other discounts.

However, the Walmart.com price match policy is a bit more comprehensive. You do still need identical products, and the item you want has to be in stock both at Walmart.com and the other online retailer. But the price can come from a variety of popular e-commerce sites.

Other limitations can also apply, and you’ll need to reach out to Customer Care before you make your online purchase. But, in the end, that gives you a lot of price matching opportunities.

Do you know of any other stores with excellent price match guarantees? Let other people know about them! Share your thoughts in the comments below.

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. Check out these helpful tools to help you save more. For investing advice, visit The Motley Fool.