Wise Bread (Carlos Portocarrero)

8 Cheap Ways to Play Video Games

Carlos Portocarrero — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 11:36:07 +0000

You don't have to drop $400 on a console and then $60 per game to enjoy a video game. There are tons of ways to get your video-game fix without breaking the bank — and without having to break the law with sketchy downloads and cracks. From playing vintage games for nearly nothing to going the freemium route, it's easier than ever to play video games without shelling out the big bucks. (See also: Ways to Save Money on Entertainment)

Here are eight cheap ways you can play video games.

1. Steam

Never heard of Steam? From the Makers of "Half Life" and "Portal," Steam is basically an online video game store. You download the Steam client, and then you have access to all kinds of Indie and mainstream games. Not all the games are cheap, but Steam has sales going on all the time, so if you're paying attention you can grab some great games at rock-bottom prices.

A few weeks ago, I nabbed "Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines" and "Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty" for $3. Score!

2. GOG.com

Love classic games like King's Quest and Fallout? Then GOG is the place for you. The games you used to play, obsess about, and pay $60 for are back at dirt-cheap prices. And they're all available to download anytime you want them.

Want to relive "Baldur's Gate"? GOG has it for 9.99. What about "Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri"? Yours for just $2.39. But they don't just have old games — you can also try newer hits like "Hotline Miami" ($9.99).

3. Gamefly.com

The Netflix of the video-game world, Gamefly is a subscription service that send you the games you want in the mail. Gamefly charges $16 for one game out at a time and $23 for two out at a time. Your monthly payment not only gets you one or two games out at a time, they also offer unlimited download playing time for certain PC games. (See also: How to Play Netflix and Hulu on Your TV)

4. Goozex

Where Gamefly is like Netflix, Goozex is more like a book exchange — Goozex lets you get new (to you) games in exchange for sending out games you no longer want to play.

Sure, you may have to wait a while to get what you want, but at least you'll have access to some of the latest games out there.

5. FatWallet

True to its name, FatWallet is a site where deal seekers gather and post the best deals on everything you can possibly imagine. If there's a really good deal out there, these guys (and gals) will find it. (See also: 12 Essential Daily Deal Sites)

For gamers, that means you might find a coupon for a discount, certain games on sale, or even a game being offered for free for a limited time.

Either way, staying tuned to FatWallet will ensure no good deal passes you by.

6. The Cheapskate

CNet is one of the best tech sites around, and Rick Broida writes the fantastic Cheapskate blog, where he posts a fantastic deal every day of the week (sometimes two… and he usually posts a bonus deal as well).

I've scored all kinds of crazy deals through Rick's blog, including getting the classic "Bioshock" for free.

7. Free/Freemium Games

The latest trend in mobile gaming (we're talking apps here, where your phone is your console) is something called freemium. That means you get the game for free but if you want to unlock additional features or don't want to wait to keep playing, you have to pay. (See also: Top 5 Smartphones)

Forget about how they make money off this model… all I care about is that you can play some great games for free. Games like "Fifa 14," "Real Racing 3," "Temple Run," "Bejeweled," and "Candy Crush Saga."

8. Go Old School

Technology is great and everything, but there's something to be said about hooking up the system you grew up playing games on and reliving the olden days.

You can pick up an old Nintendo NES on eBay for $40-$60 with a bunch of games. Heck, you might even get one for even cheaper at a yard sale or something.

Either way, you can't beat this option when it comes to cost and the nostalgia factor.

Video games don't have to cost a lot, you just have to know where to look.

Let me know in the comments where else readers can find a great deal for their gaming fix.

This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Embrace Failure, Keep Going, and Win

Carlos Portocarrero — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 10:00:03 +0000

There is a widespread movement afoot that's teaching young kids that the "f word" is a bad thing. Failure, that is. From banning traditional physical education games like dodgeball to making sure everyone's a winner no matter what, failing has gone from being a part of life to something we avoid at all costs. (See also: How to Learn From Your Mistakes)

Which isn't going to help anyone once they reach the real world.

There is no magical plan or "secret trick" to avoiding failure. Trust me, it's going to happen. Kids might be getting groomed to avoid it at all costs, but as a grown up you better prepare yourself for a healthy dose of failure, or you'll be in for a rude awakening.

Oddly enough, the more you fail the better equipped you'll be at handling it, which will increase your odds of success regardless of what you're trying to accomplish. Besides, losing can actually be good for you.

If you want to become better at coping with failure, you need to know the three steps to conquering it.

1. Don't Fear Failure

You are going to fail. A lot. Especially if you're constantly trying new things and putting yourself out there. (See also: 20+ New Things to Do Today)

Want to start your own business? Failure central.
Trying to get a new job? Most places will pass on you.
Attempting to lose weight? That's right...you know what's coming.

Instead of trying to rack your brain with ways to avoid failure, you need to just accept that it's going to happen. Will it make you feel less crappy when you do fail?

Nope.

But that's not the point. The point is for you to acknowledge that it's going to happen (and that it's OK), so that you don't stop trying things for fear of failing. Remember that just because you fail, it doesn't make you a failure.

This is the easy part, but it won't mean anything unless you follow through with...

2. Learn From Your Mistakes

So you've failed. You're ready to pick yourself back up and try again. What's the next step?

Some people blame their failures on everything and everyone other than themselves. Others get so down on themselves that they don't ever want to try anything again. Neither is productive nor conducive to success. The smart thing to do is to look objectively at why you failed and come up with ideas on what you could have done differently.

Do some research, talk to other people trying to accomplish what you're attempting to do (and those who have achieved success), and figure out other ways of achieving your goals. (See also: How to Get Things Done With Goal Sequencing)

That cycle of failing and becoming wiser and better prepared for next time is the closest thing to a "secret of success" as I can think of.

Which means the third step is crucial.

3. Move Forward With a Plan

You need a plan to move forward. After evaluating your earlier mistakes, come up with a new, improved way that will give you a better chance at success. (See also: Success Secrets You Should've Learned in High School)

Of course, there are times that we realize our goals weren't "meant to be." That's when we need to come to terms with failure and accept the fact that we won't always achieve what we're after… and that's OK, too.

One other tip that I've learned over time: fail fast. That process of formulating a plan and wholeheartedly attempting it can take forever. But if you put your best effort into it and realize quickly that it's not going to work, now you're ready for your next try without burning years of your life.

It's a fine balance, since you don't want to give up too soon, but at some point you need to draw the line and move on.

How do you embrace failure, learn from it, and keep going?

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This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Get Netflix and Hulu to Play on Your TV

Carlos Portocarrero — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:24:36 +0000

"Cutting the cord" was something only doctors and new fathers used to do. But thanks to the explosion of online streaming content services like Hulu and Netflix, more and more people are saying sayonara to their cable bill.

As I learned when I tried to cut the cord myself, the big advantage to paying for cable doesn't have anything to do with paying less or accessing only the shows you want to watch. It's about convenience. With cable, you turn your TV on and all the shows you know and love are a button press away — right there on your big screen. (See also: 8 Alternatives to Cable TV That Will Keep You Entertained)

Once you move into the world of online streaming, people start to get a little worried. The question I've heard most often is: Will I have to watch on my computer screen? What do I need to watch on my TV? Is it going to be complicated?

And I'm here to tell you that no — when it comes to services like Hulu and Netfix, there are so many options that you'll inevitably find one that works with your current setup so you can enjoy your shows where they're meant to be seen: on your TV.

Start With the Official Sites

It might be overwhelming at first, but what you'll want to do first is check out the device lists for both Netflix and Hulu. There are a LOT of TVs, video game systems, and other devices listed that can help you play streaming content on your TV set. Odds are you'll find something you already own on the list. In fact, most people are already watching Netflix streaming content on their PS3s over their actual computers!

If you don't already own a Wii, XBox, Wi-Fi enabled TV or DVD player, or a streaming device like a Roku — then you'll have to buy one. Or, if worse comes to worst, you can always just hook up your laptop or PC to your TV via an HDMI cable and watch your shows that way.

Choose a Device

If you don't own any of the supported devices, then you'll have to make a decision on which one you want to buy.

But if you do want buy a device, first ask yourself if you'll be buying a new TV soon. Most of the new TVs are "smart," which means they'll automatically connect to your Wi-Fi network and be able to stream Netflix and Hulu, plus content from a lot of other services. That way you don't have to have another "thing" in your TV cabinet — the TV can do it automatically.

Luckily, Hulu and Netflix (and especially Netflix) have been at the forefront of this move to online streaming of content, so they've made sure they are compatible with as wide a range of devices as possible.

All you have to do now is login to your account via whichever device you've chosen and — voila! — you're ready to go!

Tweak Your Signal

All of this sounds easy enough, right? But there's one more thing you need to double check — how good your Internet connection is going to be wherever your TV and streaming device is in your place.

If you have a device that can connect to an actual hard line (an Ethernet cable), then by all means do that; it'll give you the fastest connection you can get.

If not, you'll need to rely on your Wi-Fi connection, which means the closer your Roku/Wii/TV is to your router, the better the connection will be. And the better your connection, the smoother your streaming experience is going to be.

For tips on improving your Wi-Fi connection, check out Lifehacker's Top 10 Wi-Fi Boosts, Tweaks, and Apps. Because let's face it...no one wants to watch a show with a big BUFFERING icon spinning away in the middle of a nail-biting scene.

Once you've got your device connected to your account and have it playing smoothly on your TV, sit back and enjoy watching TV in the post-Cable world!

Have you "cut the cord?" Was the switch to streaming Internet video easier — or more difficult — than you expected?

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This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Websites You Must Visit When Buying a New Car

Carlos Portocarrero — Tue, 07 May 2013 09:30:21 +0000

Buying a new car is a pretty stressful experience. You’re putting down a pretty large chunk of cash, and you’re making a commitment to allocate part of your monthly budget to a new expense you didn’t have before. (See also: 17 Things Car Salesmen Don’t Want You to Know)

Which isn’t too bad...except the part where you actually go buy the car and you feel like you’re getting taken advantage of by ruthless, experienced salesmen who want to take as much of your money as they can.

Which is where the Internet comes in.

Thanks to the world wide web, you don’t have to go through this all on your own. There are millions of people out there sharing their experiences on the best way to deal with car salesmen and how to get the best deal possible.

So let’s take a look at the best sites out there to help get you on your way.

1. Edmunds.com

Edmunds is a great place if you want to read tips and advice on which car is a good match for you. Their reviews and feature stories provide lots of information on both new and used cars.

2. Kelley Blue Book (KBB.com)

Kelley Blue Book is similar to Edmunds in that they have some good reviews and information, but KBB's real strength is pricing information. Want to know how much your old car is worth as a trade in? How much should you pay for the new car you’re looking at? Kelley Blue Book is an agreed-upon standard in the car business, so you need to be in-the-know on what the Blue Book value is for any car you’re thinking of buying or selling.

3. Truecar.com

It’s great to have the Blue Book value, but you want to get as many different quotes from different sources as you can to find out what you should be paying for your new car. Truecar is great because they’ll show you a continuum of the different prices for a specific car (MSRP, Invoice, Average Paid), so you can see what the car is being actively sold for.

It’s really eye opening to see how the MSRP is really just for show. You should never even come close to paying that much for a new car.

4. Autotrader.com

I've used Autotrader as a secondary source of information. After visiting the sites listed above, this was just to make sure that my data was good and I hadn’t missed anything. They also have a useful tool that’ll show you any and all dealers near you, so you can start reaching out to them to get the best price on your new car.

5. Carmax.com

Carmax doesn't really sell new cars, but I just used their site to price out a trade in. The website is another place you can get a quote for the value of your car. What you want to do, however, is go to an actual Carmax location and get a full-blown quote. They’ll guarantee it for seven days, and you can take that to your dealer to use as leverage so they give you the full value of your trade-in. If they don’t, simply go back to Carmax and deal with them.

6. NadaGuides.com

Nada Guides is similar to Truecar in that you’ll get a much better idea of what you should be paying for the specific car you’re looking at buying. This database is what car dealers use to value trade-ins, so if you’re armed with this information you’ll be one step ahead of the game.

7. Enthusiast Forums

I wish I could give you a link to the specific forum for the car you’re interested in buying, but that list would be too long. Spend a little time searching for information on the car you want, and eventually the same forum will start showing up again and again. That's the one you visit.

That’s what happened to me as I researched my Subaru Outback. I discovered a TON of really helpful people over on SubaruOutback.org and cars101.com (run by an actual Subaru dealer). There’s nothing like talking to people who have bought the exact same car you want to buy. They’re eager to share their stories and experiences about living with the car — and buying it.

The Internet is a great ally when you're out there trying to get a good deal on a new car. These sites were crucial in my recent car-buying experience.

What Internet resources have you used to help you through the car buying process?

This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

A 5-Step Plan to Quitting Your Job

Carlos Portocarrero — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:24:32 +0000

That all-too familiar dread is starting to consume you more and more every day. Sundays have become even more depressing than normal. Lunch hours are a godsend even if you're not eating.

It's time for you to get out of there. It's time to quit your job.

Here's the right way to do it so you don't burn any bridges and set yourself up for success. (See also: How to Quit Your Job)

1. Start a Journal

Take a long look at all the reasons why you want to quit and write them all down. Not just once, but over time.

Don’t get too Kumbaya about this; the goal isn’t a thorough psychological checkup about why you want to quit or what it means in the grand scheme of things.

The goal is to just keep track of how you’re feeling and what's making you feel that way. It can help keep you focused and might even help you the next time you have to leave a job. We always forget how we felt and why we did the things we did, but if you have it down on paper, it’ll be easy to remember your reasons for quitting.

Hopefully these thoughts will keep you from falling into a similar situation in the future.

And who knows — you may find that it isn't your job that's actually filling you with dread and you don't have to quit to solve the problem.

Action item: Start a Google Doc entitled “Why I’m Quitting” and write a few sentences at least twice a week about the things that make you want to leave and what you’d like to change.

2. Test the Waters

Before you do anything rash, it's important to get a sense for what's out there and start to prepare the world for the awesomeness that is you.

Pump up your LinkedIn profile, make sure a Google search doesn't bring up anything embarrassing, and check out the job boards to see what’s out there.

Now’s the time to reach out to former coworkers to get recommendations (on LinkedIn, or check if they’re willing to be contacted via phone by prospective employers) and to get the word out that you’re looking to make a move.

It’s amazing to me how many doors open up when you just let people know what it is you’re trying to do. I’ve had distant connections I hadn’t talked to in years volunteer to introduce me to important people in key companies.

Talk to your significant other/spouse as well...you don’t want to surprise them by suddenly announcing that you’re going on an interview (or that you’ve already quit!) when they have no idea you wanted to leave your job. It’ll save you from at-home drama during a very hectic time.

I wouldn’t recommend talking to anyone you work with about it, but if you really trust them (and they probably want to leave too), then this can be a great motivator.

The goal during this step is to get a sense of what's available, preparing for a move, and get as much help as possible in finding new leads.

Action item: Email people you trust (a mass email is fine) briefly explaining your situation and asking them if they know of any open roles you’d be a good fit for. Also include a link to your LinkedIn profile and ask for a quick recommendation.

3. Outline Your Plan

Now that you have a sense of what's out there, it's time to put together a plan of action.

You don’t necessarily have to have another job lined up (though I’d really recommend you do), but you absolutely must have a plan.

Financially, I wouldn’t just quit. No matter how much you hate it, I’d advise you to figure out a way to make it bearable enough that you can find a new job before you quit.

If you’re so miserable that you feel you can’t stay a moment longer, then the next step will become even more important.

Your plan should be as detailed as possible; it’s the map you’ll follow to find your next gig — one that you’ll be happy and feel rewarded for a long time (ideally).

Action item: Start a new Google Doc titled “Master Plan” and write three tasks, each with three bulleted items below them. Each one is something you need to do and the bullets are how you’re going to achieve them. Good ones to start with: Find new job, expand my network, pump up my resume, get an interview, etc.

4. Review Your Books

Money is a crucial part of why we work and what we decide to do for a living. So if you haven’t reviewed your finances in a while, please do that ASAP. I always recommend Mint.com to easily keep track of all your income and expenses. (Unfamiliar? Check out 8 Cool Mint Tools for Managing Your Money.)

If you’re going to quit your job, you should have a new one waiting for you (remember the Outline Your Plan part?) or have the money to carry you through a period of not having any (or lower) income. Don't have a six-month emergency fund? Better start saving up...

If health insurance is a big deal to you (you get sick a lot or have a family on your plan), make sure you’ll be covered through any appointments or procedures that will draw down that emergency fund.

Action Item: Tally up your cash and your monthly expenses for the past three months and see how long you can go without a job (or what you need to make at the next job). If the math doesn't add up, make sure you alter your plan to adjust for that.

5. Quitting Time

You've done all the work and now is no time to let up; it's time to be the best damn quitter there ever was. And that means following some simple rules:

Don't Burn Bridges

Be respectful, cordial, and helpful (if you can).

Don't Check Out

It will leave a negative impression on the people you'll one day want a recommendation from — work hard until the end.

Don't Delay

Look back at your journal — there's a reason you're leaving, so don't forget that.

Be a Model

Help with the transition, give at least two weeks, and do what you can to make it easy for your employer. It will pay off in the long run.

Action Item: Memorize the previous four bullets and make sure you re-read them when you're about to give notice and during the two weeks you count down the days until you're set free.

Once you've done all the legwork and made sure you'll be moving into a better situation, you've earned the right to pull the trigger. Don't forget to be nice about it...you may wind up working with some of the people you're leaving behind in a few years.

This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Smart Shopping: Guide to Researching a Purchase

Carlos Portocarrero — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:36:45 +0000

So you're in the market for a new purchase and you want to make sure you buy the "right one"? You've come to the right place — whether you're looking for a new pair of shoes, a fancy laptop, or a new cell phone carrier, this guide will help you make the right decision. (See also: Bargain Shopping 101)

It all boils down to a simple, two-step process: find the right fit, and get a killer deal.

Find the Right Fit

Finding the right fit means finding the right purchase for you. You can always search for "top X products" or "best products for X," but none of it matters because what's good for everyone else isn't necessarily good for you.

If we’re talking about a camera, then what kind of camera are you looking for? Something to take pictures of cheetahs? Of panoramas? Of bats in the night? You need to do a little digging beyond just saying “I want a camera because...because I want a camera.”

In order to figure out the reasons, you need to know what each product brings to the table. In the case of a tablet, are you an iOS person? Are you gonna watch movies? Will you use it only where you already have Wi-Fi? These answers will help you determine which model, brand, and version of a product you should watch out for. If it helps, break out your Excel skills to create an easy-to-read comparison.

So how do you find the right fit? Start by asking the pros.

Find the Experts

Thanks to the Internet, this is fairly easy. If you have friends who know more about tablets, shoes, or whatever it is, then ask them first — a trusted opinion is worth its weight in gold. I see people using Facebook and Twitter very effectively to get this kind of feedback.

Consumer Reports is another great place to start, but I like getting a little more specific. For example, if I’m looking into a tech product, I know that CNET and Engadget are the best places to get an in-depth review of a product's benefits and shortcomings. If I want to find the perfect book, then Amazon and Goodreads are the places to find it. Movies? Rotten Tomatoes and...Amazon again.

A Word About Amazon

Two of the reasons Amazon is so helpful are its scale and its technology. Because so many people use the site, you can get a good idea about how the rest of the world feels about a product.

As for Amazon's technology, it’s always intersting to see what other items people bought, viewed, or bought along with that product. The amount of data is fascinating but also valid enough to give you just the right amount of insight you need — finding what's right for you becomes infinitely easier.

Get the Killer Deal

Now that you know what you want to buy, it's time to talk money. And that means finding the right price. There are a few strategies you can use to get the best deal.

Patience Is a Virtue

Visit sites like Fatwallet and Slickdeals to benefit from professional dealseekers who are passionate about finding a deal. These people are deal savants, and if there’s a way for you to buy something for $1.53 less, this is where to find it.

If you're willing to hold out and wait until what you want goes on sale, this method will pay off...eventually.

Read the Cards

Check to see what kind of benefits your credit card offers. If you get cash back or points or some kind of bonus, make sure you factor that into the equation. One of my cards, for example, gives me 6% cash back at the grocery store. How does that help? Well, my local grocery store sells gift cards for just about anything — from Apple to Southwest Airlines.

How does 6% off a flight to Vegas sound?

Another card I own has certain cash back deals at specific merchants. So during specified times, I can get a certain percent off at those stores, too. If my timing is right, I can get a price no one else can.

Know the Code

If you aren't using Retailmenot, then get with the program. Before you check out, make sure you check them for any coupons or promotional codes. If nothing comes up, put Google to work for you and run a search for "your product deal" or "online merchant promo code" to exhaust all the possiblities.

Most of the time, there's a way to knock a few dollars of the price.

Go Forth and Shop

If you have any great tools to either find the right product for you or get a discount on price, please share them in comments to make sure this guide remains as ultimate as it can be!

This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

25 Career Changes You Can Make Today

Carlos Portocarrero — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 10:36:56 +0000

We're all busy. And that means we get caught up in our day-to-day responsibilities and rarely have time to take a step back and look at the bigger picture, asking "Where is my career going?"

Here are 25 things you can do today to make sure your career ship is cruising in the right direction. (See also: 25 Awesome Websites to Help You Get a Job)

Read Up

Reading is important because it's how we learn new things and stay up to date with what's happening in the world. Here are some things you should read to keep you as productive as possible.

1. Books

There are a million books out there about how to “boost” your career. But here are four recent ones I've read that bring a unique perspective to the field. Their goal is to treat your career as if you are a freelancer offering your services. It’s your job to hustle and make sure your services are in demand. The rarer and more valuable those services are, the better off you’ll be. As for "SPIN Selling," there are some sales strategies in there you can use during interviews to help you get the job.

2. The News

Make the news a part of your routine. It’s important that you stay “in the know” about what’s happening in the job market, what industries are getting coverage, and what’s “hot” (and more importantly...what's not).

3. Blogs

Good blogs are a great way to keep the pulse of the career field and get actionable advice that’s tried and true. If you're obsessive and love to read, make sure to check out 15 Career Advice Sites You Should Know About or these blogs:

Connect With People

You’re not going to advance far in your career without some help (and a little luck). So make sure you are constantly building a network of people you admire that you can learn from.

4. Online

LinkedIn is a great way to keep in touch with people in your industry and keep track of what they’re doing and worrying about. If someone you admire tweets about a problem, you have a cool opportunity to help them out. It’s also a great way to study up on a potential new boss/employer.

5. At Work

The people you work with today are the people your next job will be calling for references. You don't have to be a fake, just remember that the goal is to get things done and for the entire group to be successful. Be friendly. Be a team player. You can’t do it all by yourself — and you will have a heck of a time getting anything done if your colleagues don’t like your attitude.

6. Your College Network

Most universities and colleges have an alumni association that you can join. Once you’re in, you can search the alumni database by company, industry, and even title. Right off the bat you have something in common with these people, so use the relationship wisely (don’t spam!).

7. Find a Mentor

Mentors are essential in developing your career. We all think we can do it on our own, but that’s just youthful bravado talking. Find someone you respect and trust that has experience and try to learn as much as you can from them. It might be your boss or it might be a former boss...you never know.

8. Help a Coworker

Keep an eye out for someone that has too much on their plate or is obviously frustrated. Then try to help them out. Take on some of their work. Push a deadline back for them. Take them out to coffee to give them a break. Anything. Just let them know you’re there to help. Help your team today, and they will be there to help you down the line.

Software Savers

I'm a tech guy, so I love using software to make my life easier. Here are some tools I highly recommend.

9. Use Prezi for Presentations

PowerPoint is a snooze-fest, so go to Prezi.com and take a few minutes to learn the basics. Next time you (or a coworker) need to make a presentation, wow everyone by using Prezi instead. Then show everyone else how to use it. No more boring PowerPoint slides to sit through, and you've just demonstrated some leadership.

10. Defend Your Time Against Distractions

Regardless of what email program you use, this advice holds. Turn off the notifications that beep or pop up every time an email comes in; these distractions are productivity killers.

Also, use your calendar wisely — schedule your day in advance by blocking off time so, a) no one bothers you, and b) you have clear direction on what you’re doing throughout the day. Add a couple of blocks throughout the day for checking email.

11. Become an Excel Master

You’ll probably never become as good as this guy, but you should at least learn to do more than basic charts with Excel. There’s a reason why this is so expensive. It can save you hours of work, make you look real smart, and give you some great insight when you have tons of data. As I’ve said before, it’s the most underrated piece of software you already own.

12. Try Evernote

Evernote allows you to store all your notes, pictures, lists, links, and anything else you can think of in one cloud-based location. It makes everything searchable, so you can always find that article you flagged or those meeting notes you stored. You may or may not wind up using it, but try it anyway. Some people use it to take notes in meetings and wind up becoming as attached to it as they are to their email client.

Your Salary

One of the most important parts of your career is what you're worth to the market. The sooner you maximize this, the better off off you'll be down the line — think of it as an investment that pays off the earlier you start executing.

13. Run a Salary Audit

The goal is to figure out if you’re being paid fairly. Use salary-comparison sites like Salary.com and Glassdoor to get a range of where you should be. Be warned — you might find you’re paid fairly (and might be overpaid!) even if you feel you deserve more! For more on salary audits, check out my salary guide.

14. Control Your Spending

Making more is the best way to boost your finances, but you also have to control how much you spend. It isn’t as hard as you think. Spend less than you make, and get rid of your debt as quickly as you possibly can.

15. Automate Your Finances

As much as we love to talk about money, we shouldn’t be wasting all of our time thinking and worrying about it. Automate your savings, your bills, and your investments so you don’t have to spend time managing it every month. Now take that time and devote it to planning ahead.

Plot Your Next Move

You should always be ready to make a move because you never know when a random opportunity (or a layoff) will come along.

16. Work Smarter

Before you try to find another job, make sure you’re killing it at your current job. Make life easier for yourself and for others by finding efficiencies, working smarter, and getting things done. Easier said than done, I know, but when you’re out there interviewing, you want to have concrete examples of how you created value in the past.

17. Learn More Skills

This isn’t easy either, but if you’ve been reading the news and some good blogs around your industry, then you should have a pretty good idea of what you should add to your arsenal. Maybe it’s software skills or a certification, but in order to get to the next step you have to add these skills. Before you go back to school and go into debt, look into alternative online learning solutions like Coursera, Lynda, and online universities.

18. Learn How to Interview

Interviewing is an art form, and you have to know how to drive the conversation and tell your story. I could point you to a million different resources on this, but I’ll make this simple. Go to New York Times bestseller Ramit Sethi’s site and read all the free stuff he offers. Even without paying for his Dream Job program, you’ll still get a ton of value. Start there and sign up to get his hilarious/insightful emails.

19. Be Flexible

Most people think they are in control of their careers. You pick a field/industry/job, and then you plow ahead, doing your best to go as far as possible. That’s not realistic. Things that interest you will lure you into different areas. Stuff you had no idea existed will come into play. You’ll get laid off. You’ll get promoted. You’ll switch jobs. Be open to these changes, and don’t shut any doors because they don’t mesh with your “five year plan.” The best course of action is to be ready for anything because the unexpected moves sometimes wind up being the best moves you ever make.

About Your Boss

This person is a huge player in your career — whether you like it or not. So make sure you're devoting some time and energy to this relationship.

20. Have a Sit Down

Communication is crucial, especially with the person you report to. Whether you get along with your boss or not (in a perfect world you at least respect and trust him or her), you need to have a clear understanding of what’s expected of you and how you can exceed those expectations. Not sure how to “hit a homerun” for your boss? Ask, and then execute.

21. Pretend You’re the Boss

I don’t mean put your feet on your desk and start bossing people around. I mean really take the time to imagine yourself in your boss’s shoes. Think about her day-to-day, the people she manages, the boss she has to answer to. All of that...think about it real hard. Sometimes a little empathy goes a long way. Plus, it will help you on your next task.

22. Help Your Boss

We’re all very busy, but pay close attention to your boss for a week. I mean, really pay attention. What’s bothering him? What’s keeping him up at night? What worries him? Now spend some of your time trying to make his life easier.

Acquire New Skills

Your career can’t progress if you don’t learn new, practical skills that are valued in the workforce. Just because you graduated college doesn’t mean you should stop learning. If you do, you’ll stagnate real quick.

23. Get Technical

Learning to program isn’t easy, but having a basic understanding of how things like websites and apps are created can go a long way. So check out sites like About.com, Udemy, and Code Academy to get a jump start on the essentials. Heck, you might even find yourself getting into it and wanting to learn more.

24. Start a Blog

I’ve always believed everyone can benefit from having a blog. If you commit to a regular posting schedule, you’ll find yourself reading more industry-related news and staying on top of your space. This is a good thing. The blog is an outlet where you can discuss topics that you find especially interesting and potentially find others who are interested in the same things you are. Plus, it’ll teach you the basics of SEO and social media, and you'll be building your "brand" as an expert in your industry. With practice you’ll eventually become a better writer.

25. Teach Others

You can’t call yourself a master at anything until you’ve taught it to others. So pick out something you’re really good at, and share it with others trying to learn it. It can be someone you work with or perfect strangers online. And if you can’t get motivated to do it, you can try to sell your course on sites like Udemy.

Bonus

Have something on the side. I've found that my day-to-day is way more satisfying when I'm working on a side project outside of work. It gives me a sense of empowerment and accomplishment that lets me know I'm not just my job. Which oddly enough motivates me even more at work. Whether it's a blog or a freelance business, just find something you enjoy doing and devote some time to it.

If you have any other tips that you've found to be effective, please share them in the comments!

This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Give Your Career a Boost With One Skill

Carlos Portocarrero — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 09:48:35 +0000

Let’s get real — the economy isn’t in great shape right now. The unemployment rate is hovering around 8%, and companies like DuPont and Kodak keep announcing more and more layoffs. Amidst the doom and gloom, however, there are some positive signs...if you know where to look. (See also: 25 Awesome Websites to Help You Get a Job)

In this case, the place to look is the tech industry.

Tech Is Hot

Turns out the unemployment rate for IT workers is 4% — half the national average! In fact, many employers complain they're having trouble finding candidates to fill tech roles. Software developer (some of you call them programmers) is one of the hottest jobs out there right now.

Does that mean you should abandon your current field and become a developer? If it were that easy, everybody would be doing it. In order to join the tech party, you need a basic understanding of the fundamentals of coding and how developers approach their work. Learning how to be a developer can take years. But there are skills you can learn now that make you immediately more hireable, lay the groundwork if you want to continue pursuing tech, and can apply to any field.

You need to learn the foundation of how websites are built. And that means learning HTML and CSS.

How Web Development Can Help Your Career

I don't expect you to become a web developer overnight (or at all), but I do believe there are some skills that will make you more valuable at your current job and to any future employer.

1. Learning to Think Like a Developer

Developer's brains work in a very specific way. They approach problems and projects in a linear, logical fashion. That means less chaos (in work and in life) and more organization. This type of thinking will help you get things done no matter what industry you're in.

2. Creativity

Most people think coding is like math — that there is only one right answer. Not true — developers need to be creative because there are a hundred different ways to solve the same problem. This approach is instrumental no matter what field you’re in.

3. A Possible New Career

Believe it or not, it can happen. People who decide to learn coding can wind up with a new career. It’s rare, and I wouldn’t bank on it, but some people are doing it.

4. Understand the Magic

Most people think creating sites and apps is magic. But once you know the basics, you’ll have a huge leg up on everyone else...and you’ll be in a better position if you decide you have a great app you want to create.

5. Stand Out

If you aren’t in a technical field but you have some tech skills, that can take you a long way. I was a writer who had SEO and analytics skills before they were mainstream, and that impressed a lot of people at former jobs because the two fields (writing and tech) felt so different to them. People took chances on me knowing I had the ability to learn new things quickly.

What About Mobile Apps?

Some of you might be thinking that web development is a waste of time, asking "Aren’t apps the hot trend right now? Shouldn’t we all be learning to create iOS and Android apps? Aren’t people using their phones and tablets more than their computers?"

Yes, mobile is very hot right now, and if you’re a developer you should absolutely be learning how to develop apps. But if you're reading this, you probably aren’t a developer. And learning to code isn’t as easy as you might think.

That’s why HTML and CSS are such great places to start — they are relatively easy to understand, and you interact with them every single day.

If you pick them up really quickly and decide you want to go even deeper down the rabbit hole, then by all means take the next step and learn how to develop mobile apps.

But for most people, learning HTML and CSS is a better introduction to the world of programming. It’s simpler, and there are so many tools out there to help you see how websites you use every day actually work (Firefox’s Firebug and Chrome’s Inspect Element come to mind).

The Best Places to Learn

Ready to get your learn on? I have great news — there are some fantastic learning tools out there for you.

Code Academy

If you’re a “learn by doing” type of person, then you’re gonna love Code Academy. They’ve broken down HTML and CSS into bite-sized modules that you complete by actually typing in code and checking your results. I recommend this free course to everyone — it’s easy, it’s engaging, and it’s fun.

Udemy

Udemy is blowing up — it seems like they’re adding more and more courses every day. Most of these aren’t free, but if you’re into learning by watching videos, this might be a good fit. How to Become a Web Developer From Scratch ($199) is a great course that covers HTML/CSS and also goes into some additional languages for those of you that want to go a bit further.

W3Schools

If you’re more into traditional reading-and-then-doing type of learning, then W3Schools is a good place to do it — and it’s free. W3Schools.com is a reference used by thousands of web developers, but it’s also a great place to learn. Not only that, you can get a certificate (for $95) if you want to be a show off about it.

Coursera and iTunes U also have tons of resources devoted to computer science if you still haven't found something that works for you. But if you're having trouble deciding where to start, I really recommend going through Code Academy; it's a fantastic, free place to learn.

Go Forth and Code!

I hope I've made a good case as to why the basics of web development are worth learning. It's a great portal into the world of programming, and who knows — maybe you'll find yourself getting more and more into it and eventually learning more complex skills.

If you already have some coding skills but aren't a developer, please let everyone know in the comments how it's helped you in your career.

This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Balancing Living in the Now With Planning for the Future

Carlos Portocarrero — Wed, 30 May 2012 10:36:08 +0000

The latest buzz in retirement news is that most of us won't have enough money to retire. The recent market crisis has everyone feeling very pessimistic about pretty much everything:

"Stocks aren't what they used to be."
"You can't rely on the market growing over time like you used to."
"Computer trading has ruined long-term investing."

These sound like new ideas, but they happen every time after the market tanks (which has happened many times before, regardless of how alarmist the news is).

The current state of retirement is a perfect way to analyze how and why we do the things we do when we try to balance the present and the future. (See also: Why Saving Money Is a Gift to Your Future Self)

With all the panic and hoopla, everyday people like you and me who invest so that we can retire one day have decided to do one of two things:

Give up investing altogether. If the experts are right and stocks aren't going to help us retire because the whole system is "broken," then we might as well put our money under a mattress where we know it'll be safe. Others are even more pessimistic and just say the hell with it — I'm spending it all and will worry about retirement when I'm old.
Save even more. Stressing out about being old and not having money will do wonders for some people's motivation. Many investors have decided they're going to max out their 401(k)s, max out their Roth IRAs, and then try to invest some money in hand-picked stocks so they can have a shot at a decent retirement.

Both strategies, of course, are a little extreme. You need balance when you're saving for retirement, and the sweet spot is somewhere in the middle.

Live in the Now

We all have to remember that life happens in the present. Money comes and goes, but youth and time is something you can never get back. As poetic and mushy-gushy as that sounds, it's true.

If you save up the money to go on a trip to Greece when you're 30, it's going to be a very different trip than if you decide to wait and go when you're 65. You won't be bungee jumping or skydiving; I can guarantee you that much.

Finding the Right Balance

The right answer is to be so prepared for the future that you can enjoy the present without feeling guilty about the things you want to do or panicked about retirement.

That means following some basic rules:

Contribute at least up to the match for your 401(k).
Bump up your 401(k) contribution every time you get a raise.
Put a percentage of your bonus into your Roth IRA and try to max it out every year.
Invest for the long-term in your retirement accounts, ignoring the ups and downs.
Don't take money out your retirement account early.
Run the numbers once a year and adjusting as necessary to ensure you're on the right track.
Minimize your expenses so you have more money to work with.

And if you want to enjoy spending your money today without feeling guilty, here are some tips:

Targeted savings — if you save ahead of time for a trip or a $200 pair of jeans, it'll be easier to spend the money because you "earned it."
Enjoy the present, so you'll have no regrets in the future.
If you get a bonus, take a percentage to treat yourself to something you really want.
Reward yourself for hitting your goals (like making budget every month or contributing to your Roth IRA).
Create a bucket list to remind you of all the things you want to do in your life.
Don't forget you could die tomorrow and all your plans for the future would be for naught.
Write. Keeping a journal or writing letters to others is a great way to keep us grounded in the present and reminds us the things that are really important.

The secret to living a balanced life is to be organized and strict about how you prepare for the future, so you can cut loose and enjoy the present without feeling guilty about it.

How do you prepare for the future without becoming miserable in the present?

This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Why Everyone Needs a Portfolio of Work

Carlos Portocarrero — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:24:10 +0000

The job market is going through a major shift. Employers have a huge pool of prospects to pick from, and they're being especially picky about who they hire. So if you want to land the job of your dreams (or any job, really), you have to stand out. And I'm not talking about scented resumes. (See also: Stupid Things to Put in Your Cover Letter)

What Is a Portfolio?

You probably saw the word "portfolio" in the title of this post and thought to yourself:

I'm not a designer or a copywriter; I don't need a portfolio! I'm a lawyer for crying out loud...this doesn't apply to me! And how the hell am I supposed to pronounce this guy's last name anyway?

To you I say, "Whoa, Nelly!" Calm down. This is the kind of old-world thinking that will get you nowhere.

In order to stand out, you have to look at things a little differently. Instead of spending all that time on your resume (which is important, but only to a certain extent), you need to put together a package that showcases what you've done and what you can do.

That's the goal of having a portfolio — to showcase your skills and past accomplishments.

What About a Resume?

Your resume is a one-page summary of your past work experience....ZZZZZ. Pretty boring, isn't it? Even if you've done exciting work in the past, it's going to be really tough to get that across in a bullet or two.

Besides, all resumes pretty much look the same. Especially if you're sifting through 34 of them and it's 5:14 p.m.

Your portfolio, however, is your playground. Here's a list of things you should include:

Websites you worked on
Projects you were a part of
Events you had even a minor role in
Things you made (apps, catalogs, events, etc.)
People you worked with
A blog you started and write for (blogging got me a better job)
Skills you picked up or perfected

Think of the coolest, most exciting stories you can possibly think of and focus on one or two of those. Then make sure that you actually contributed or learned something, because otherwise you'll just look like a passive observer.

Go heavy on the pictures and on the links, so potential employers can go as deep as they want on this stuff.

After looking at it, employers should be thinking, "Wow, this person is pretty interesting and has some serious skills we could use here."

How to Build It

It doesn't have to be complicated, but this is your chance to show off, so don't hesitate to put some time and effort to make this look as good as it can be.

I know what you're thinking — "But Mr. P, I don't know anything about creating a website! I don't know how to use Photoshop! How am I supposed to put one of these together?"

Time to get creative. It doesn't matter how you come up with this nifty package of cool stuff you've done or great skills you have, what matters is that you get it across. That means you can use any of these:

PowerPoint
Word
Prezi
WordPress
Dreamweaver

It may sound lame to send in a file built in Word, but Word can do some cool stuff if you put the time in.

And the fact that you were able to create something visually interesting that's also effective is a much better way to say "Proficient in MS Word" on your boring old resume.

Now go out there and make something you're proud of that will showcase your talent and your skills.

Your next job may depend on it.

This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Ways Blazing Internet Speeds Can Save You Money

Carlos Portocarrero — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:00:15 +0000

This technology article is sponsored by Comcast Business Class, the nation's leading communication services provider.

Benjamin Franklin said it best — time is money.

This is especially true today, when the speed of your internet connection can directly impact your bottom line. There are many ways employees, entrepreneurs, and business owners can benefit financially from blazing fast internet connections.

1. Knowledge

If you want to thrive in today’s world, you need to know everything you possibly can about your competition, your industry, and your reputation. That means keeping up with the latest research, news, and trends.

The average American consumes 34 gigabytes of data per day. That’s a lot of presentations, video feeds, emails, and documents. Wouldn’t you rather spend time digesting that information instead of waiting around for them to download?

Imagine if faster internet saved you 1 minute per hour. If you worked 8 hours days, you would save 40 minutes a week, which adds up to 2,080 minutes (34.6 hours) a year. That’s 4.3 work days saved per year for just one person.

Faster internet speeds also help you look ahead and grow.

For example, iTunes lets you take entire college-level courses in a bunch of different subjects. MIT’s business school also offers all of their course materials online free of charge. If you run a business, you can add more talent to your team and employees get to develop their skill sets without spending a fortune.

2. Telecommuting and Communication

High speed internet is needed to power high-quality video conferencing and VoIP — two key tools for improving employee collaboration, reducing travel costs, and making your company appear more professional to clients.

If you look at the gas prices lately, telecommuting should be a no-brainer. Having one employee work half of his time from home saves his company about $10,000 per year, and the employee up to $6,800 per year, according to the Telework Research Network.

A drawback of telecommuting is that you get cut off from coworkers. This is why quality high speed video conferencing is so important. Studies show that only 7% of communication involves actual words; 55% of communication is visual (body language, eye contact), and 38% is vocal (pitch, tone of voice).

There’s a world of difference between a pixelated version of you chopping in and out of a video conference versus an HD version that’s crystal clear. The right connection correctly projects your body language and tone of voice — fully bringing you into a meeting. On the other hand, a slow connection can create disastrous misunderstandings (Cartwright!) that will inevitably cost you money.

3. Efficiency and Happiness

Slow internet speed creates distractions that lower your efficiency. Think about it — you’re trying to complete a task, and then you run into a speed bump. Say the large PDF you’re downloading has stalled or the training video you’re watching stops streaming. So you switch over to your email or Facebook to see what’s going on there. You’ve just distracted yourself and become inefficient.

Doesn’t sound like a big deal right? Well, those seconds add up. The average worker switches tasks every three minutes, and, once distracted, that worker takes nearly a half-hour to get back to work, reports the New York Times. Interruptions and the time it takes to recover from them consume 28% of a worker’s day.

Aside from distracting you, slow internet speed can also frustrate you to the point of throwing things. Nobody likes to wait for downloads, especially when it’s crunch time and things need to get done. Frustrations at work are not only annoying, but they also affect an employer’s bottom line. Unhappy workers are less engaged with their work, and are generally 10% less productive.

On the other hand, happier workers are 12% more productive. Studies show that when websites loads faster, the users experience less frustration, lower blood pressure, higher engagement, and deeper flow states. All these positive effects can lead to higher productivity, lower absenteeism, and a general sense of well-being around the office.

4. The Cloud

Productivity and morale are important, but every business knows that without data, nothing gets done. Whether it’s your database or your research, you need to have fast, immediate access to all your data if you’re going to make educated decisions.

The last thing you want to worry about is losing all your precious data, and that’s why cloud technology has been such a boon. Storing your data in the cloud ensures it’s safe no matter what happens to your hardware.

Cloud storage also saves you money. When files are stored on remote servers, your local computer spends less energy storing and processing data. According to recent reports, cloud technology will save the global business community $12.3 billion on energy bills, and save the planet from 87 million metric tons of carbon emissions.

Of course, there’s a catch to backing up to the cloud — it’s not going to be convenient unless you have a fast internet connection. Storing everything in the cloud would be a huge mistake if you can’t get to your data quickly. Implementing cloud computing without upgrading your internet connection is like putting rocket fuel into a Model T.

5. The Future

If your goal is to grow and maintain your business indefinitely, you have to be prepared to adapt to new technologies and new ways of doing business. Who knew ten years ago that Facebook and Twitter would play such an important role in everyday life?

Nobody did — and that’s the point.

There are going to be new technologies that are going to kick ass…if you have the speed for it. YouTube would’ve been useless to most people back in the day of slow, screeching modems. But today’s speeds mean HD video is available to most of us.

I wish I could tell you I know which new technology is going to take the world by storm, but I don’t. I do know this — it’s going to be neat for most people and killer for businesses with fast Internet. Maybe it’s 3D videoconferencing that actually looks good or virtual reality or a better way of cooperating with people across the world.

Who knows...but if you want in, you’d better step on the gas.

Personally, having faster internet has made me smarter (I’m taking a programming course on iTunes) and more inspired (TED talks, anyone?). What has speed done for you?

This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Great Ways to Invest in Yourself

Carlos Portocarrero — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:16 +0000

Most people are scared of investing because it involves risk. No matter how sure you are about a stock, mutual fund, or business opportunity, there’s always the chance that you could lose all your money.

And that’s scary.

So what if I told you there’s a way to invest with absolutely no risk? I can’t promise an exact return on the investment, but I guarantee it will always be positive.

It’s called investing in yourself.

I know it sounds cheesy, but when was the last time you learned something new made you a better employee or job candidate? Instead of trying to get rich by putting huge piles of your hard-earned money into a stock you think is going to go up, why not invest time and money into improving your skills and boosting your earning power? (See also: Best Investment: Yourself)

More skills can lead to a higher pay, more job opportunities, and added job security. Bonus — more skills also make you more interesting.

That sounds great, but how do you invest in yourself without going back to school and paying thousands of dollars for a degree?

Here are some ways you can invest in yourself to boost your skills.

Read a Book

Books are my favorite way of learning new things. Everything I learned about investing and personal finance I learned from reading books. I read everything I could get my hands on and became knowledgeable enough that I started my own site, The Writer’s Coin. I recommend I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi to start.

Start a Blog/Site

When I started my site I did it because I felt I had something to say about personal finance. I had no idea it was going to teach me about networking, social media, SEO, entrepreneurship, CSS, and PHP, or that it would start to make real money for me. Bonus — blogging regularly will make you a better writer, and that’s an essential skill in the world today. Go to Wordpress.com and start your own blog today — it’s free!

Subscribe to a New Site

Learn what an RSS fee is. Then start adding new sites to your reader, and you’ll stay up to date on whatever topic you’re curious about. This is how I injected myself into the personal finance blogosphere.

Take a Course

There's a course for anything you can imagine out there. Whether it’s a local class to learn how to cook or an online course about computer programming, if you can think it, I guarantee someone out there is teaching it. You’ll meet new people, learn new skills, and broaden your horizons. Thanks to the Internet you can learn pretty much anything you can think of. iTunes U has tons of cool courses for free!

Teach Something

The best way to become an expert on something is to have deep knowledge of it and then try to teach it to others. It works your brain in a totally different (and good) way. Plus you’ll meet some interesting people. Pick a sport/instrument/topic you know a lot about and teach your niece/nephew/child a basic concept about it — you gotta start somewhere!

Learn a Language

This is easier said than done, but if your job requires a lot of travel or will be investing in another country soon, then another language might be essential. Tip — Duolingo is gonna be awesome.

Freelance

Freelancing is a great way to get a taste of another job without leaving your current one. It’ll also teach you about handling clients, running a business, and marketing. Check out Craigslist or ask your friends if they need help with something.

Be Smart About the Skills You Learn

Don't expect your boss to give you a raise simply because you can say "hello" in French. Be smart about which skills you tackle and how they fit into your career plan. If your company just signed a major client from France, then go ahead. If you're doing it because you like Paris, it probably won't have an effect on your value to the company.

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

11 Cool Uses for a Tablet Computer

Carlos Portocarrero — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:48:13 +0000

Tablets have taken the world by storm, and it seems like everybody wants one. And why wouldn’t they? They’re sleek, they're cool, and you can take them anywhere. It’s a great way to carry around your music, pictures, and videos.

But other than that, how else are you going to use a tablet? Are you really going to drop $200–$500 for just another screen to stare at between commercial breaks? If you’re dead set on buying a tablet (or just trying to convince yourself it’ll be worth it), here are 15 cool ways to use it. (See also: Frugal Advice for the Gadget Addicted)

1. Second Monitor

Instead of spending an another $130 to get a second monitor, hook up your tablet. Adding another display is a great way to become more productive at home or at work — plus using a tablet as a monitor is easy.

2. Remote Control

It depends on the way you’re set up at home, but it's likely you can find an app that will let you control your TV and your sound system from your tablet. It’s already going to be on your lap, so why not take advantage?

3. Play Old School Games

From old-school Nintendo games to Playstation and Nintendo 64 titles, emulators exist for just about any system you can think of. You’re supposed to own the games you download, so make sure you look into that first. Contra here we come!

4. TV in the Car for Kids

Kids get restless in the car, even if it’s just a 30 minute ride. Instead of buying a portable DVD player, just fasten the tablet to the back of a headrest and boom — they get some entertainment, and you get some peace and quiet.

5. Cash Register

If you own a portable business or are just trying to sell the junk in your garage, taking credit cards will make it easier to sell out. You can take credit-card payments from your phone too if you want, but why not go for the big screen? Happy selling!

6. Order at Restaurants

It’s only a matter of time before restaurants use tablets to take your order. That means they don’t have to run around as much, and your food comes out faster. If you run a food establishment, take note!

7. Make Music

GarageBand is one way to make music on your tablet, but it isn’t the only one — Audiotool Sketch for Android is also out there.

8. Recipe Stand

My wife and I bought one of those cheap plastic cookbook stands, and we never use it. Why? Most of our recipes come from AllRecipes or an email someone sent us. So why not use the tablet as a recipe stand? It’s portable, and we can take right into the kitchen. You can get a fancy stand or just slip it into a Ziploc bag.

9. Picture Frame

Load it up with pictures, set it down in the living room, and let it work its magic — just make sure you aren’t sharing any “personal” pics.

10. Place to Keep All Your Manuals

Manuals suck. I have them for everything I’ve ever bought, and it’s a hassle. Most are available online, but bringing them up on the computer and then going back and forth to the thermostat or whatever it is I’m fixing is a hassle. Instead, put them in a folder on a tablet and boom — you’re done.

11. Textbook

Apple just changed the game with iBooks Textbooks, and I’m thinking this is just the start. Forget about lugging around all those heavy books that don’t play videos or music — textbooks on your tablet are the future.

Tablets aren't cheap, but if you want a deal you can always find one. Keep an eye on the Cheapskate blog and sites like Techbargains for good deals.

Do you have any other interesting ways to use a tablet?

This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Surprising Facts About Roth IRAs

Carlos Portocarrero — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:00:29 +0000

Roth IRAs are a great way to build a nest egg for your retirement. If you’re already contributing to your company’s 401(k), adding a Roth IRA can give you added tax flexibility when you start withdrawing. Since you’ve already paid the taxes on the money you contribute, you can take money out tax-free, and that will help minimize taxes from your 401(k). (See also: Optimize Your IRA and 401(k))

That’s just one of the many benefits — here are seven surprising things you may not know about the Roth IRA.

You Can Take Your Money and Run

Retirement accounts have all kinds of rules and regulations, right? Well, the Roth IRA lets you take your money out whenever you want — with no penalties. Any investment gains are subject to different rules, but the money you put in is yours whenever you want it. So if you’re worried that you might need the money, worry not — unless your investment goes down, of course.

A Roth IRA Can Fund Your First Home

If you want to take out some of those investment earnings, you can do so one time. You’re allowed to take up to $10,000 of your earnings to put towards buying a home IF you’re a first-time homebuyer.

Dividends Aren’t Taxed

Any dividends you’re paid on a stock or security you own in a Roth IRA account aren't taxed. This is a HUGE deal if you own a dividend-paying stock for many years. It can add up to thousands and thousands of dollars that you won’t ever have to pay taxes on. Can’t beat that.

It's Not for Everyone

Not everyone can contribute to a Roth IRA. These rules change annually, but for 2012 if you’re single and make more than $125,000 or married (filing jointly) and make more than $183,000, then you can’t contribute.

You Can Contribute After January 31

You have until tax day (April 15) to contribute towards to the previous year’s limit. For example, you have until April 15 to contribute towards your 2011 limit of $5,000 (or $6,000 if you’re over 50).

Death Isn’t the End

If you or your spouse dies, he/she can combine the two Roth IRAs into one without any penalty.

You Can Pass It On

The money in a Roth IRA can be passed on to an heir without any kind of penalty. It’s a really good way to pass money down to someone else.

This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Cool Mint Tools for Managing Your Money

Carlos Portocarrero — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:24:11 +0000

Mint.com allows you to view all your financial accounts (brokerage, mortgage, loans, etc.) in one place. It's a very convenient way to navigate your financial landscape and track your spending.

But Mint is capable of way more than that. I recently re-discovered Mint and found some cool, convenient tools that everyone can use to better manage their money without wasting time. (See also: If Budgeting Isn't Fun, You're Doing It Wrong)

1. Trend Your Net Worth

While it’s not a perfect way to calculate this number (Mint uses Zillow’s estimate for property values, which is just that — an estimate), it’s still useful to give you a good sense of how your financial picture is changing over time.

2. Rolled-Up Investments

Viewing all your investments in their different accounts as one big portfolio is cool — it makes it easy to see how your overall investments are performing (or not). You can also compare all your accounts to the three major indices, select individual accounts, or even go down to the stock/mutual fund level. A lot of investment accounts don’t even have this information, so it’s cool to be able to see it in one easy place.

3. Best and Worst Investments

It’s nice to get a quick view of which stocks are bringing you down and which ones are making you look like Warren Buffett, especially if you have three or four accounts in different places. This is a good way to look at your winners and losers regardless of what account you're holding it in.

4. Alerts

Mint will send you a text or email when "things" happen. Things like an account going below a certain amount, if a bill is coming up, when interest-rates change, etc. You can rely on Mint to tell you when stuff is happening instead of always worrying about what’s going on with all your accounts.

5. Trend Filtering

Trending is cool — you can do it by category (groceries, restaurants, etc.), and you can search by proper names, like Jewel or Target to see how you’ve spent at specific places. It’s neat to see how your spending on different things changes from month to month. Maybe it’ll help explain all those times that you went to Target for a birthday card and dropped $125 on who knows what.

6. Alerts to Two Emails

When you’re in a relationship where the money is pooled, this is a great feature. Instead of one of you having to be “the bad guy” and saying “We probably shouldn’t buy this,” why not have Mint send an email instead? It can send an email to both of you saying “You probably shouldn’t buy this, you guys are over budget.”

7. Save Money

I was skeptical when I found out how Mint makes money — since they can see all your finances, they will recommend banks and credit cards that can potentially save you money. That is, I was skeptical until they recommended a credit card that will double the amount of cash back I get. Sold! You can always ignore these recommendations, but it's probably a good idea to check them out periodically.

8. Create Goals

It’s easy to say you want to save money for a trip or a new car, but most of us won’t do anything about it. With Mint, setting goals against your actual spending means you’ll know if you’re getting close or veering off track. Don’t forget to set those alerts to keep you in line!

This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The Power of Lists: Getting More Creative and Efficient

Carlos Portocarrero — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:25:20 +0000

Efficiency and creativity aren’t two qualities that typically go hand in hand. You never picture the creative genius going, "I'll spend five more minutes on this idea because I need to get started on the next project."

So what’s the best way to become more efficient and more creative? Read a bunch of books? Take some classes? Spend a whole bunch of money?

I have a much simpler solution — create a list.

Here are two techniques that can help you get things done faster and come up with great ideas, whether you work in a creative field or not. (See also: Solve Problems, Study, and Brainstorm Using Mind Maps)

Becoming More Efficient

I’m horrible at remembering things — I must’ve been dropped on my head as a baby, as a young boy, and a few times as an adult. My memory just plain sucks.

I used to spend a lot of my time at work and at home trying to remember things. Errands, article ideas, putting on my pants before I leave the house, etc. It’s really bad.

But after reading a piece in the New Yorker about the power of checklists, I had one of those "aha" moments — a list was my way around my memory problems! If a simple checklist can help doctors improve their patient care and save lives, then I can surely use that same strategy to remember where I left my shoes.

The concept is simple — you’re offloading the responsibility of remembering to a sheet of paper. Spend a decent amount of time on the checklist, and the next time you need to do a project or complete a task, you just follow the checklist to make sure you completed all the steps.

So as a freelance writer it could be things like:

Great headline
SEO-friendly headline and keywords
Some humor
Something interesting/useful
Strong voice

Sounds silly, but once you sit down to write (or do anything), this isn’t the stuff you want to be focusing on. We forget about it.

I’ve used checklists at work, and they’ve made my life a lot easier. Once you find the fastest way to complete a task, write it down as a checklist. Then, next time you can just run through it and be done instead of agonizing over how to go about it. Again.

Checklists are like the crumbs of bread that you leave behind for the next time so you'll find your way faster. That’s efficiency.

Creativity and Good Ideas

A lot of people think that being creative is simply in your blood. These people wake up in the morning and write a three-act play on their way to the shower.

Those people do exist (I hate you all), but that’s not how most people come up with great ideas. This is something we’re all capable of — we just have to put in a little bit of work to get there.

If you really want to see how creative you can be, you’re going to have to do some digging. Don’t expect to sit down with a sheet of paper, spend a few minutes thinking, and then boom — you’ll hit on a great idea that will be brilliant. Not gonna happen.

Instead, try this tip from the copywriting world — come up with a list of 100.

Wait — 100 ideas??!!

Yup, that’s right. This will force you to do a few things:

Churn out a bunch of ideas
Turn off your inner editor that’s constantly telling you an idea is dumb
Force your brain to keep working, to keep digging, to keep churning and coming up with more and more ideas until you hit 100

The first few ideas will be pretty predictable. But then you’ll hit a wall. You’ll want to quit. You’ll think it’s a dumb idea to sit down and write 100 ideas down. You’ll think I’m an idiot that can’t remember squat. Which is true, but give it a chance.

Once you’re done, you’ll have 100 ideas to choose the very best from. This is a concept a photographer once told me about — in order to get an amazing picture, you have to take a whole bunch of crappy ones.

Your brain has pushed through a few walls and taken you into some random places to keep coming up with ideas. You’ve managed to shut off your lizard brain and open up your mind to the possibility of new, different, creative ideas. Some of them will suck. Some will be OK. What you’re hoping for is to review the list later on and fall in love with one or two of them.

Welcome to the creative process.

Even if you're not a writer, this is a technique you can use. You can come up with lists of ways to make your company more efficient, new products/services your company should start selling, etc. Anything new can be born this way.

Now get a sheet of paper, and start getting more efficient and creative.

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This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

15 Career Advice Sites You Should Know About

Carlos Portocarrero — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:48:56 +0000

There are thousands of sites out there filled with career advice. From figuring out what you want to do and effectively networking to helping you get paid what you deserve, these sites can help you not only land a job you love, but do it better than everyone else. (See also: 25 Awesome Websites to Help You Get a Job)

For Beginners

Don't know where to start? If you're straight out of college and feel like you need a place to grasp the basics, these sites are perfect places to begin.

Job Searching at About.com

There are lots of basics on About.com's Job Searching Site; it's a good place to start and get a little bit of everything nailed down. If you have no clue about writing a resume or what happens on an interview, this is a good primer.

Businessweek: Managing Your Career

Businessweek's Managing Your Career site has a variety of articles and really nice sections along the right-hand side, like articles from the Harvard Business Review. Overall, it’s like the next step up from the About.com site with lots of general advice.

Brazen Careerist Blog

A great source of advice geared towards young professionals and college students. They’ve got great insight on relatively new issues like social media and networking in a digital age. Sample Post: How to Take That Dream Trip While Boosting Your Career

Salary Comparison Sites

Whether you're looking for a new job or want a raise at your current one, it's crucial that you know what the market is paying. Otherwise you're guessing — and if you try to negotiate without any solid data, you aren't going to make a good case. These sites have the best salary information out there.

Salary.com

Salary.com has a bunch of stuff on it, but the reason why it’s great is that getting a salary estimate for a specific job is very fast. Type in the job name and your city, and you’re done.

Glassdoor.com

This site is similar to Salary.com, only Glassdoor has a job-search engine better integrated into their site. You can also read about each company, its interview process, and reviews by other candidates. It's Salary.com on steroids.

Payscale.com

Their content is a little better than Salary.com, but the reason you’re here is to get another data point and an idea of what a position is being paid in your city. Payscale asks you for more information before spitting out the number, but it's still worth it.

Indeed.com

They have some cool trending charts that are pretty interesting, but (again) the reason I like Indeed is because it’s very fast and easy to get a salary estimate by simply entering the position and the city — maybe the fastest of the bunch.

Networking

Some people think of networking as something sleazy — doing a favor in exchange for another favor. Networking is simply knowing people and being known in exchange. These sites are the best way to add new contacts and keep in touch with your current connections.

Facebook

People don’t think of Facebook when they think of networking (they pair LinkedIn with work and Facebook with play). But that’s the wrong mentality to have when it comes to networking. Networking is about socializing, and that’s what Facebook is all about.

LinkedIn.com

Until you clean up your Facebook profile, LinkedIn is a great way to expand your work contacts. From your former classmates to employees at the company you’d like to work for, you’ll likely find a way to add some valuable contacts to your network.

Your Alumni Network

Google the school you graduated from (grad or undergrad, it doesn’t matter) followed by “alumni network.” Now sign up and follow the instructions to verify you’re an actual alum. Most schools will have a tool that allows you to search other alums and connect with them. Having a school in common is a great buffer to starting a mutually beneficial relationship.

Work Hacks

These are some great sites with fantastic career advice.

Lifehacker

Lifehacker is all about finding ways to create shortcuts that make us all more productive, and their career section is filled with helpful tips. Sample post: How to Use LinkedIn to Increase Your Hirability

Tim Ferris's Four Hour Workweek Blog

Tim doesn’t update as frequently as other sites, but this is a great place to shake you out of the everyday. It's always good to be a little bit “out there,” and Tim does that well. Sample post: 8 Steps to Getting What You Want Without Formal Credentials

The Corner Office (From The New York Times)

One of my favorite features out there, the weekly Corner Office column interviews a high-level executive to find out what they’ve learned and how they’ve achieved success. It's incredibly insightful and the inspiration for my own Ninja Employee Newsletter. Sample Post: Fostering a Culture of Dissent

Workawesome

Like Lifehacker, Workawesome focuses on practical content — things you can do right now to make your job better and boost your career. From dealing with coworkers to saving time, they have something for everyone. Sample post: How to Deal with Difficult People

I Will Teach You To Be Rich

Ramit isn’t shy about telling you what works and what’s a big waste of time. His blunt style might not jibe with some, but his honesty and intense focus on results is refreshing. The site sounds like a scam, but he’s anything but. Sample post: How I Helped a Friend Find Her Dream Job...Twice

Did I miss any good ones? Please mention your favorite career sites in the comments!

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This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How Lessons From Moneyball Can Help Your Career

Carlos Portocarrero — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:48:10 +0000

Moneyball started out as a book about the inner workings of the Oakland Athletics baseball team and how general manager Billy Beane found success without spending tons of money like the Yankees and Red Sox.

Now they've made the book into a movie starring Brad Pitt and Philip Seymour Hoffman, which so far has made $50 million. That's how much it cost to make the movie, so it's officially going to turn a profit.

But are Beane's "unusual" methods of running a baseball team still profitable? Were they really as effective as they're made out to be?

Honestly? It doesn't matter — the book kicked off a revolution in the baseball world that we can all put to good use in our careers. (See also: 5 Quick Ways to Become a Better Networker Today)

The A's Method

The Athletics relied on statistical analysis rather just the subjective opinions of their scouts. So instead of drafting a player because Don Diamond (how's that for a fake scout name?) said he was "gonna be great," they focused their energy on what their statistical algorithms told them about the players.

And because they didn't have the budget to afford all the obvious players that the other teams wanted, they focused on one specific metric that — at the time — no one else really cared about — on base percentage.

The Secret Sauce

A lot of reviewers and baseball people have focused on that one metric and called it "the Moneyball way," but that's not what made the A's successful. A formula does not success make.

What made them successful was looking for inefficiencies in the market and exploiting them. In other words, they found something valuable that no one else was paying attention to. And that's a strategy we can all use to help us out in our careers.

Focus on the Undervalued

Find something in your company or in your industry that no one else is worried about, and find a way to make it work for you. What you're looking for is inefficiencies or chinks in the armor — something that no one else is trying to fix that could make a big impact for your company.

Let's take a look at a few examples.

Training New Hires

If you work at a small company, you may not have a whole lot of material dedicated to helping new hires learn the ropes. But if you really dig in, you'll find that companies lose a lot of money when replacing a hire or making a new one.

So if you created something (a manual, a checklist, a presentation) that made this onboarding process faster, smoother, and more effective, then you've just created some value.

Process Improvement

When you start a new job, you'll hear "that's how we do things here" a lot. And the tendency is to nod your head, be quiet, and not ruffle any feathers. But that's the best time to try to change things because you have a fresh perspective.

When I worked at a publishing company, we had some buggy software, so we had to manually do a lot of checking and editing before we could start laying out the catalogs we made. Instead of complaining about the technology and convincing the bosses to pay someone to fix it (that wasn't gonna happen), I created a simple search-and-replace cheat sheet.

Once you ran through the steps in the sheet, you were ready to start laying out, and all those problems were essentially fixed in 15 minutes instead of two grueling hours. I passed the sheet around and boom — just like that, our group became way more efficient.

Finding Your Niche

Specialize in one very specific thing and make it your own. Maybe you work for a company that has a website, and you decide to focus on making it a great smartphone experience since so many people browse the web that way.

There are things you can do to make it better for them and to bring in some business from that channel. In the future, maybe you look into creating an app for your company (if it's a good fit).

The goal is to dig deep and find something you can "own" that's also going to be good for business. When you do, you'll be the hero.

This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

6 Tips to Shrink Your Bills Every Year

Carlos Portocarrero — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:36:15 +0000

Everyone wants to make more money — it’s exciting to think of what you can do with some extra cash. But it’s a lot easier to reduce your bills than it is to make more money. I recently cut $120 from my monthly expenses by doing an annual bill audit, and it only took a few hours of work.

A bill audit means you commit to taking a look at your bills once a year and finding ways to maximize where your money is going.

I just finished my own audit, and here are six tips that will help make things go smoothly.

1. Schedule It

This one is crucial — you won’t get it done unless you schedule it. A one-off bill audit is great, but the real savings come from doing this every year. Set an annual reminder in your calendar program of choice, and then get to work.

If you have a day or time of the year that you sit down and do “paperwork,” then add this to the list. Tax time is a good way to remember since you’re looking at all the money you’ve made. (See also: 5 Things Tax Preparers Should Tell You)

2. Itemize

Take a close look at your bills. Don’t just write down the amount you’re paying every month — that’s useless. You need to know what’s inside that bill.

How much is your cable-box rental costing you? What about HBO?
How much is texting costing you? What about overages?
Are you paying for insurance coverage you don’t need anymore?

I found out I could cut roadside assistance because I have AAA now. The point is to look at the details so you can determine if you need every specific line item. Odds are you’ll find something in there you can chuck.

3. Figure Out Your History

How much have you used the stuff you just itemized? Take a look at the past three months (you can find all this online, more likely than not) or so to see what your usage looks like.

How many Netflix movies did you really watch? How many minutes did you use up on your cell phone? Texts? What about data?

Put all this stuff into a spreadsheet and then look and see if there is a cheaper plan you can sign up for that better suits your actual needs, not what you think you need.

Be careful, though — you don’t want to sign up for a lesser plan only to get dinged with overage charges down the line. Pick one that covers you in case your usage bumps up a little.

4. Get Quotes

Thanks to the Internet, this is easy. Insurance companies will let you create and save quotes in minutes. For cell phones, cable, and Internet plans, just browse the different sites, and you should be able to get an idea of what it will cost you to change your plan.

You might be eligible for extra savings if you actually call, so keep that in mind too.

5. Read the Fine Print

If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure you read all the fine print. I switched to a crazy-cheap T-Mobile plan, but it's crazy cheap because they won’t give me any discounts on new phones. I’m OK with that, but some people won’t be.

Know exactly what you’re getting into before you make the jump.

6. Call

I hate talking on the phone, but sometimes this is only way to get certain deals. It’s also a great way to get all your questions answered. I switched my cell phone plan on the phone and at the end of the switch, the customer service representative offered to take an extra $10 off my monthly bill to try some new service they were offering.

After finding out the exact details (read the fine print!), I signed up and set a reminder to kill the plan in two years so I don’t get charged. Calling is how I found out about the insurance coverage I no longer needed. I hate calling, but I like saving more.

This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Effort vs. Results: The Difference Between Trying and Getting It Done

Carlos Portocarrero — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:36:17 +0000

It's great to see an employee giving his or her best on a project, but it's all for naught if you aren't getting the right results.

Effort is one of those things that a lot of young people are confused by — how can they be faulted if they didn't get the results that were expected of them when they put in 110% of their effort? Welcome to the real world, kids...a world where effort is all well and good, but it will always play a back seat to results.

I had a boss once who gave me a glowing review — she went on and on about what a great job I had done. But as part of the review process she had to pick from three "grades" to give me: very good, average, and below average.

It was a little bit of a shock when she said she was giving me the middle grade. She had a good reason — as a team, we hadn't met the goals we'd set for ourselves. The effort was there — we just weren't getting results. (See also: Goal Setting, Defined and Deconstructed)

How to Get Great Results

In an ideal world, everything you do is aimed at achieving the goals you've set out for yourself or your company set out for you. Here is a step-by-step guide to making sure you aren't wasting time with things that won't help you accomplish your goals.

Identify and Analyze the Problem

You have to know exactly what problem you're addressing. This could be really straightforward stuff like "sell more widgets" or "increase our customer base." For most people, it will be some variation of those two "problems." And if that's too vague for your everyday workload, then it's better to break it off by projects.

That means things like "increase sales for X model" or "lower the bounce rate on our site." Whatever problems your company is facing, make sure you're aware of what they are, because without this part you won't be able to...

Set a Goal

This is the guiding light for any organization, and it should be for you too. Know what your company's goals are, and tie everything you do to those goals. You should be crystal clear on what they are — otherwise the things you do won' t have any greater meaning, and you'll waste time on stuff that doesn't matter.

Some companies publish goals in common areas like the kitchen and lounges — you should do the same. Write your own goals on a little note and stick it next to your monitor or in a drawer you open every day. Seeing this all the time will remind of of what you're trying to do. Which will be easier once you...

Develop a Plan

How do you tackle the goal you've set for yourself? That's the purpose of your plan. It's the roadmap you'll follow when you get lost in the weeds a month later and aren't sure where to go. Since this will be your guide, spend plenty of time on it. If you trust the plan it'll be easier to follow up down the line.

And like any good plan, make sure you...

Measure It

"What you measure is what gets accomplished." Those were the words of famed CEO Gordon Bethune. He was famous for turning around Continental Airlines back in the 90s, and this was one of his credos. He was relentless about measuring and rewarding the very things he was trying to change.

If you're tracking exactly how many widgets are sold on a real-time basis, you'll be able make adjustments on the fly. And you will have to change, which is why you should...

Fail Fast

Don't underestimate the importance of failing fast. People like to think they don't have to fail, but failure is part of achieving results. The sooner you find out if your plan isn't working and can move on to the next idea, the better. Failing fast means you'll find what works sooner and start achieving results quicker.

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This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: