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These Travel Hacks Will Help You Avoid Long Airport Security Lines For Good

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In 2016, commercial airlines carried upwards of 3.8 billion passengers to destinations all across the globe. But even though your next flight can take you on an amazing adventure, getting there can be a real pain — specifically when it comes to the dreaded airport security line. While there’s an element of chance involved as to how long you’ll have to wait before you’re cleared to go to your gate, here are some hacks that will allow you to cut down on the time spent without your shoes on, moving at a glacial pace.

Be choosy about when you fly and your airport of choice

As a rule, you should avoid traveling on the year’s busiest days whenever you can. Airport security lines are notoriously long on Friday afternoons and evenings, from approximately 4 PM to 8 PM. That’s because business travelers are coming back home at the same time pleasure travelers are departing. Flying at any other day of the week or time is usually preferable, unless it’s the day before Thanksgiving or the Sunday right after it.

In addition to days and times, you may want to be conscious of the airport you choose for your departures. Sometimes, you won’t have much of a choice. But if you’re able to decide between a major hub or a small local airport, you may do well to choose the latter. Often, small airports come with shorter security lines simply because they don’t serve as many passengers.

Use the TripIt app

The travel app called TripIt already keeps users’ flight information, hotel and restaurant reservations, car rental info, and itinerary all in one convenient place. But now, the TripIt Pro service will allow tech-savvy travelers to stay up-to-date about the length of the security lines in airports they use. For $49 a year, travelers can access real-time line updates through a line-monitoring system that boasts 98% or 99% accuracy, according to iinside, the company behind the app.

According to a 2013 air travel survey conducted by TripAdvisor, 56% of travelers already used their smartphones for flight status alerts and updates, so it’s not a stretch to think such a service would be in-demand for airline passengers in 2018. While the TSA itself already does provide wait list times through their own site, iinside says their tool is far more precise. The feature is available only for our international airports (like Orlando, Denver, Austin, and Phoenix) right now, but the company plans to expand their offerings soon. If you frequently travel through these hubs and hate nothing more than waiting around, the cost might be worth it.

Sign up for a fast entry program

Even if there’s a long security line at your airport, you can get through faster if you pay for it. TSA PreCheck costs $85 for a five-year period and is by far the most popular option for speeding through security. You do have to undergo a screening and enrollment process wherein you’ll be subject to a background check and fingerprinting. But you won’t have to remove your shoes or take out your laptop, and the TSA says 99% of PreCheck passengers spend less than five minutes in the security line.

If you’re a frequent international jet-setter, you might want to consider Global Entry instead. You’ll get all of the benefits of the TSA program when traveling both domestically and abroad, meaning you’ll avoid long customs lines too. It costs $100 but if you use certain American Express Gold and Platinum cards, you might essentially be able to get it for free.

Clear is a newer option that is currently available in just 13 airports, but it’s getting a lot of attention. It costs $179 a year and basically bumps you to the front of the security line, regardless of how long it might be. Instead of waiting for an agent to scan your ID and boarding pass, you can just place your finger and smartphone’s saved boarding pass onto a kiosk. It’s pretty elitist, but that’s the appeal for some people.

Ensure you have the right ID

You’ll definitely be delayed if you don’t bring the right kind of identification to the airport with you. The Real ID Act was passed in 2005 to prevent identity fraud, and although all 50 states are now compliant, you might soon be prohibited from flying without an acceptable form of ID. If you’re a resident of certain U.S. territories, for example, you might not be able to fly domestically without a Real ID-compliant license, passport, border ID card, or permanent resident card. While most Americans don’t need to worry, experts recommend that if you don’t have a passport or need to renew yours, you should do so as soon as you can. Ultimately, this won’t allow you to avoid a long line entirely, but it’ll ensure the time you do have to wait is well-spent.

Flying might never be a barrel of laughs, but at least you can reduce the time you spend in your stocking feet being scanned by security agents with these tips. Be sure to keep them in mind the next time you fly.

Good News? U.S. Construction and Manufacturing Making Gains Going Into New Year

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Both the U.S. construction industry and manufacturing are seeing a bump in productivity above projected growth right now.

In November, spending on construction was at an all-time high following a 0.8% growth peak, a significant monthly gain when compared to the 2.4% annual growth the Commerce Department sees yearly. This reflects reinvested gains from the current bullish market.

“Strong manufacturing and construction data confirm the U.S. economy is firing on all cylinders at the turn of the year,” Reuters reports Sal Guatieri, BMO Capital Markets senior economist, saying.

America had a 10% market share of the world’s construction market, the second largest, until late last year. Due to the Yuan price strength wavering and sudden U.S. market movement, American construction is number one, for now, according to BMI Research.

Whether the U.S. is first or second in construction is subjective to currency valuations; however, the growth that both construction and manufacturing are going through is impressive.

Significant spikes in other industries could be observed as well. Since over 50% of American products require welding, there are positive implications for a number of related markets.

Mining metals might see a bump as manufacturing grows at an accelerated rate. Welders and skilled trade workers will certainly be in higher demand. The commercial real estate market is also speculated to grow through 2018.

Spending on private sector residential housing rose to the highest it’s been since 2007, closely following the homebuilding trend expectations. In fact, all construction sectors are either rebounding or reaching new heights in early 2018.

This might be bullish for big investors, but a senior economist at Oxford Economics, Nancy Vanden Houten, strikes a more reserved note on the eagerness of consumer spending.

“Many state budgets are being squeezed by weaker-than-expected revenues, and face other budgetary pressures related to things like health care,” said Vanden Houten. “Also, the impact of the new tax law on state and local budgets is not yet clear.”

Despite the skeptics, American manufacturing dominance may also be making a comeback in 2018. In fact, according to Fortune magazine, manufacturing executives world are predicting that the U.S. will dethrone China as the most competitive country in manufacturing by 2020.

Though many economists are predicting more modest gains in the new year, the charts are all lit up green for construction and manufacturing in the years to come.

4 Essential Tips For Planning The Destination Wedding Of Your Dreams

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Every year, an average of 2.4 million weddings are performed in the U.S. And while many couples seem to be under the impression that destination wedding are extravagant and expensive, there are actually a number of ways to make your wedding more unique and memorable than ever by planning your big day in an exotic location. Setting up a modern honeymoon registry will help fund your dream vacation without the awkwardness.  Here are just a few tips for planning the destination wedding you’ve always dreamed of.

Don’t Rush

First, you should know right off the bat that planning a destination wedding will most likely take longer than planning a traditional wedding. That being said, you should focus on finding the perfect destination as opposed to the perfect timeframe or schedule. This is your chance to research the areas you’re most interested in and read reviews from people who have actually tied the knot there. Having this critical information early in the process can help you make a final decision when it comes to choosing a destination, which should obviously be one of the first major decisions you make.

Visit First, If Possible

U.S. residents logged 1.7 billion trips for leisure purposes in 2015, and believe it or not, once you’ve officially chosen a destination, you should take one of your own, if at all possible. That’s right — visiting your wedding destination prior to the actual event can give you some much-needed insight into important aspects such as climate, and more importantly, venues, suppliers, and hotel options. A planning trip can help clarify these decisions, eliminate some stress, and give you and your significant other the excuse to take a mini vacation touring the beautiful sights, sounds, and wedding-related services of your chosen destination. Just think of it as a pre-wedding honeymoon.

Don’t Neglect Additional Expenses

Despite all the anticipation and excitement surrounding your approaching wedding day, it’s important to stay grounded and keep budget in mind. Fortunately, some countries’ exchange rates make it easier than ever to set and stick to a reasonable budget. Not only that, but sometimes destination weddings can end up being cheaper than traditional ones. If you live in an area where even facilities are consistently in high demand, such as New York City, chances are you’ll spend much less by opting for a country like Mexico, where prices are much more reasonable. Yes, even when factoring in hotel expenses, airfare, and the planning trip mentioned above. When it comes down to it, according to a 2011 report, 86% of consumers will pay more for a better experience. But sometimes, you just don’t have to!

Determine Marriage Requirements

Finally, it’s essential to make sure you understand the legal requirements of tying the knot in your chosen destination. Some countries have policies that require a couple to have resided in the country for a full 24 hours prior to your ceremony, sometimes even longer. France legally requires couples to stay in the country for a full 40 days before they can legally wed!

Ultimately, taking advantage of these destination wedding-planning tips can help you find the perfect balance between budget and location. When you choose a destination wedding, you can be sure that you and your guests will have the experience of a lifetime.

Failure to Launch: 3 Ways To Improve Your Company’s Efficiency for 2018

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As a business owner in the 21st Century, it feels like your business has to be a lot more than merely profitable to succeed (and if you’re a promising tech startup, even that’s not strictly necessary). To truly thrive in the Digital Age, new companies have to be unique, ethical, diverse, empowering, passionate, sustainable, and so much more.

It’s a tall order.

As if that wasn’t challenging enough, the young Millennials who will one day be the future leaders of your company are notoriously likely to hop from one job to another if they aren’t finding meaning or fulfillment in their work. Aside from turnover, without happy employees, company efficiency can go out the window.

No article is going to unlock the secret to profitability; you’ll have to figure that out on your own. However, the best ways to improve efficiency and retain your employees are hardly a trade secret. You have to focus on a few core aspects: health, environment, and purpose.

If you want to see your startup grow in 2018 and beyond, here are proven ways to improve your company’s efficiency and productivity in the New Year.

Employee Health

Eating right during the workday

Even though lunch is one of the most important meals of the day, studies have shown that less than 20% of all American workers regularly take a “real lunch break.” If your employees aren’t eating throughout the day, only eating unhealthy snacks, or if you’re forcing them to take a working lunch, they are going to be far less productive. Even worse, they’ll be much unhealthier in general, which will drive productivity even further down. Offer healthier lunch options and encourage everyone to take a least a half hour lunch to relax and enjoy some good food.

According to the Food Network, workplace meals like salmon, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, and even whole grains can be excellent healthy alternatives to sugary snacks at the office.

“So many dieters give up on grains,” said Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, head of nutrition at Next Jump, an organization working to build better workplace cultures. “But the truth is whole grains — such as oats, quinoa, brown rice, and whole-grain breads — are wonderful choices when it comes to weight loss.”

Limit stress as much as possible

If your employees are stressed out, they will be unproductive, unhappy, and unhealthy. Of course, you can’t eliminate stress in most workplaces, but you can take steps to cut down on unnecessary stress. Make sure your managers are talking to each and every employee and soliciting honest feedback about what’s bothering them. Once you have this valuable data, see if there is anything that you can do to help limit stress.

Promote a healthy environment

Whether it’s by offering fruit and veggies throughout the day or implementing fitness initiatives, as long as you’re being vocal about the importance of healthy living and healthy working, it will resonate with your staff. Educate your team members on health tips, the importance of digital detoxes (at home, of course), and lead by example.

“I think that employees often misinterpret wellness programs as negative, that they’re self-serving for employers — to lower health care costs and get more productivity,” added Brenda Bodenmiller, manager of Premier Healthy Living. “But about you and want you to empower yourself to be healthy.”

Workplace Environment

A positive, millennial-friendly workplace environment doesn’t just mean beanbags and ping pong tables. So what does it mean?

Working in a clean environment

Your office could be serve the healthiest foods in the world to the happiest employees in the world, but there are going to be problems if it’s not clean. Even exposure to too much dust can impact a worker’s cognitive skills by up to 6%. Don’t let your productivity levels dip because of an unclean environment.

Allow workspace personalization

The average individual workstation has dramatically shrunk from 80 square feet in 1992 to 39 square feet this year. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, because employees perform well in small areas, but those areas need to be customized to their liking. Allowing and encouraging your team to personalize their desk, cubicles, and office areas is a great way for them to get as comfortable as possible.

Implement work from home programs

Employees who have the option to work from home are much more productive. According to Forbes, as long as employees can designate when they’re working and when they’re relaxing at home, they can be extremely productive.

“A separate workspace makes it easier to set boundaries between your home and office lives,” said Lisa Kanarek, a home office expert.

Eliminate Pointless Tasks

Here’s a startling statistic: the U.S. economy actually loses an estimated $7.4 billion per day (that’s 50 million hours of wasted time) due to improperly filled out time sheets. And that’s just one form of waste.

Workplace Simplification

Workplace and efficiency experts agree: about 30% of any workflow system can be eliminated. No matter how efficient you think you are, systems have a tendency to bloat and expand over time. Without realizing it, these bloated systems become self sustaining. In the New Year, challenge your entire company to simplify their jobs and find ways to cut waste.

Keep communication lines open
Employees need to feel comfortable talking to a supervisor or manager at all times, even during the bad. Don’t let closed communication lines lead to major problems inside your business.

Offer time management workshops

Time management is one of the most difficult skills to obtain in the business sector. Rather than letting each individual employee figure it out for themselves, offer a few time management classes to help them and your entire company.

Limit distractions

Whether you’re employees are onsite or working remotely, make it known that distractions need to be severely limited. It’s okay for your staff to take a 10 minute break every once in a while to decompress, but be sure to not let those breaks stretch to two or three hours of wasted productivity.

For any new company to be successful, either small or large, the entire company needs to find ways to improve all these three major aspects of business. Do your best to find ways to keep your employees as happy as possible, as healthy as possibly, and as productive as possible — you will surely enjoy the results.

Advice from Tom Haverford: When is the Appropriate Time to Treat Yourself?

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Self care is important, and any fans of Tom Haverford from Parks and Rec will be familiar with the phrase “treat yourself.” But how do you balance the urge to treat yourself with your checking account balance?

The classic phrase “treat yo’self” is used to encourage people who are debating splurging on that new pair of shoes or that new leather jacket. Whether it’s your Birthday or it’s just Wednesday, sometimes you just have to go for it. The classic catch-phrase developed from an episode of the hit television show Parks and Rec, and it’s instantly become a classic bit of pop culture.

In the show, characters Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle encourage each other to buy luxury bags, massages, and clothes, no matter the cost, during one special “treat yo’self” day. Researchers have found that between six and 10 purchases made in a store fall under the category of impulse purchases, and sometimes treating yourself is an excellent form of self care.


Yes, buying whatever you want to just “treat yo’self” can be extremely tempting. However, there is a time and a place for doing so. So, when is that time and said place?

Living the luxury lifestyle constantly may sound appealing, but your bank account may disagree. If you do want to make those expensive purchases, you should ask yourself a few things. First, you need to figure out if what you’re looking to purchase is going to exceed more than 5% of your net worth. This is a good rule to follow on all big purchases. Your net worth refers to how much you have in cash and investments. CNBC says, for example, if you have $100,000, you want to make sure you’re not spending more than $5,000 on any single purchase.

Now, this isn’t saying that you shouldn’t be able to splurge every now and again. If you find yourself in a financial situation where you are able to afford it, then go ahead and by that new flatscreen TV. Just don’t make it a regular thing. The best thing to do if you do have money to afford something nice? Make sure you’re not just wasting all of your hard-earned cash on a single item. You don’t want to look down at your wrist and think, “Wow, I spent a lot of money on this watch,” while your computer’s hard drive is fried or your cell phone has cracked.

One final thing to consider when looking at what you want to splurge on, eliminate the cost from your mind and think to yourself, “Even if this cost me nothing, would I still love it?” How much are you going to love what you bought? Is it going to be the situation where you make a purchase, love it for a few months, and then want something else instead? In short, think before you treat yourself.

Ultimately, just keep in mind how much money you have and figure out what you can afford. By taking the time to create a personal budget, you can make sure your personal purchases don’t blow up your banking account. You can also take a page out of the Tom Haverford book and save this money from month-to-month until you have a “Treat yo’self” budget. Then, once you’ve hit your desired savings goal, you can truly go on a shopping binge 100% guilt free. However, without this pre-defined monthly budget, it’s far too easy to overspend on those impulse buys.

You don’t want to put yourself into a black hole of debt just to be able to fund your very own “treat yo’self’ day.

 

via GIPHY

4 Ways to Save Yourself from Filing for Bankruptcy

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Bankruptcy isn’t a get out of financial jail free card. Fortunately, there are ways to save yourself from filing bankruptcy in the first place.

When you’re suffering from an immense and suffocating debt, filing for bankruptcy may seem like a reasonable solution. And it may well be your best option! While being in debt may be so overwhelming you think that you have no other choice, bankruptcy can have a significant impact on your credit score and financial future. There are many ways to save yourself from filing for bankruptcy, even if it does take a little bit longer to get relief.

With that in mind, below are a few ways you can begin to get yourself out of debt and avoid filing for bankruptcy in the first place. If after reading this advice you still think filing for bankruptcy is the best solution, contact bankruptcy attorneys to make sure you get it right.

  1. Talk to your creditors. Chances are, your creditors would rather have you pay them some money today than no money never. By expressing your willingness to pay the debt, they might be able to lower your monthly payments, decrease interest rates, or even write off a portion of the debt. Many credit card companies offer hardship programs for customers who are having financial difficulties.
  2. Consider credit counseling. It may be beneficial to seek the help of an experienced professional. If you don’t have luck with the creditors on your own, a credit counselor may be able to help get your payment and interest rate reduced. If you do end up filing for bankruptcy, you will be required to go to credit counseling anyways, so it’s worth considering.
  3. Sell some assets. By selling whatever you can, you’ll be able to use the money to help pay off your debts. While it may not be a lot of money, it could at least buy you more time. Some people choose to consult an appraiser so they are able to determine the value of the property they intend on selling. It’s important to take action as soon as you realize you are falling behind on payments.
  4. Seek assistance from family or friends. Many people struggle with asking to borrow money from their friends and family. But if you’re close to filing for bankruptcy, you’re going to have to swallow your pride and ask for help. Get your finances in order and figure out how much you’ll need to borrow in order to avoid bankruptcy.

Unfortunately, more than 1.5 million people file for bankruptcy every year, according to U.S. bankruptcy court statistics. To avoid joining their ranks, you’ll need to make real sacrifices. Despite what some people think, personal bankruptcy isn’t a get out of financial jail for free card. Even the best bankruptcy attorneys in the world can’t wipe away your debt with the stroke of a pen.

If you’re finding yourself close to personal bankruptcy, reassess your budget and cut out unnecessary expenses. Trying one of these things, or all of the above, could beneficial in helping you avoid bankruptcy in the short term. It’s important to remember that doing these things won’t be easy, but filing for bankruptcy is not your only option.

Selling a Home? Here Are 5 Proven Ways To Increase Your Home’s Value

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home value tips, increasing home value, home seller tips

Being a homeowner is a major responsibility. Not only do you have to stay on top of all your finances and property maintenance, you need to constantly work to improve the look and feel of your home. But in addition to simply improving your home’s aesthetics, you should also be working to increase the overall value of your home.

Once upon a time, Americans thought that home values would keep increasing indefinitely. Obviously, that wasn’t the case, and that’s why you have to take proactive steps to guarantee the return on investment of your home.

Take the Bel-Air estate commonly referred to as the Chartwell. According to the Los Angeles Times, this 25,000-square-foot mansion is being sold for $350 million, making it the most expensive residential listing in the United States.

Although not every home is going to be sold for $350 million, or even remotely close to that, homeowners can always improve their property and increase their home’s resale value to the best of their ability.

Here are some of the best ways to increase your home’s resale value when selling a home:

Work with professional construction contractors

We may be living in the Do It Yourself era of homeownership, but the most lucrative remodeling projects are extremely difficult to accomplish on your own. Before you list your home is not the right time to experiment with that DIY project you found on Pinterest. Professional contractors can help improve your property and give you a much higher return on investment (ROI). Even minor kitchen remodeling projects yield an average ROI of 82.7%. Plus, there are roughly 7.8 million construction workers in the U.S. today, so there’s no excuse for trying to do it all yourself.

Clean and stage your home


You should prepare your home for the eventual walkthroughs and showcases that will occur when you finally do place your property on the market. Even if your property is amazing if it’s not well kept when people first walkthrough, they are likely going to look for a home elsewhere.

“Do all the work necessary to make your property look good, not through expensive changes but through excellent staging,” said Bruce Irvin, the real estate and renovation consultant known as “The House Whisperer”, to Consumer Reports. “Your agent should be able to provide proper advice and even bring in a professional.”

Even a little dusting and cleaning can make a home feel that much more livable.

“It’s remarkable what regular home maintenance, cleanliness, and minimizing clutter in your everyday life can do for you when it comes time to sell,” added Tara Miller, an interior designer in Portland, Oregon.

If a home is dirty, it simply will not sell.

Make sure you’re being realistic with your offering price

HGTV experts recommend that you should take 15% to 20% off of what your home is actually worth when selling, but lots of homeowners are reluctant to take this advice. This is why working with experienced real estate pros is so essential. You might not know how to navigate the local real estate market as well as professionals.

Create open space inside your home

Consider tearing down a wall that isn’t a key piece of your home’s structure to open up your layout a little bit. Despite the fact that home interior trends change from year to year, lately, homebuyers have loved much more open properties. This also makes the home look bigger than it really is.

“Right now buyers want a wide open floor plan, the living room right off the kitchen,” Kristin Wellins, Senior Manager of Program Development for ERA Real Estate, told This Old House. “They are into big spaces.”

And according to This Old House, opening up rooms inside a home creates a sense of flow that buyers will gravitate to.

Use social media when selling a home

When trying to sell a home, you need to use every tool available to maximize your sale price. Using social media sites like Facebook is a great way to advertise a home listing. You can take high quality, high definition photos of your property and post them online for all the digital world to see. You can promote your home to your friends and connections on these social networking sites, and you can also encourage your friends to share your home’s listing.

Even if you plan to stay in your home for many years to come, increasing its value is always a smart idea. As long as you are working hard to improve your property, you should end up getting a great price for your home when you decide to sell.

Good luck!

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