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  • Crazy Ways to Get a Good Scholarship

    Crazy Ways to Get a Good Scholarship

    College is expensive. There’s no two ways about this. The ballooning costs of a college education are a serious problem in the US. While there are loans available for students, they’re generally not a great idea. The interest rates and penalties on private loans are downright predatory, and government loans don’t usually cover everything. To help you out, here are some crazy ways to get a good scholarship!

    Great Websites for Finding a Good Scholarship

    Collegeboard.org

    This site has a great number of features for you to check out. The site is primarily aimed at being a college planning site, but it has a whole division set aside for scholarship. Fill out your profile as accurately as you can and it will help you sniff out great scholarships! If you’ve been in extracurricular activities, have a high GPA or were on a sports team, include that!

    Even students who didn’t do any of those things might find good scholarships. Make sure you fill out all the info about your background, your family and where you’re from. There are scholarships for all kinds of things! You never know what types of markers you might have that make you a good candidate for a scholarship. That’s why it’s so important to fill out the paperwork as accurately and thoroughly as you can!

    Scholarships.com

    It should come as no surprise that a site called Scholarships.com can help you find scholarships. Jokes aside, this is a fantastic resource for college hopefuls. The site features scholarships from a wide variety of sources, and you’re bound to find something that applies to you.

    There are a ton of search criteria you can use to try to find a scholarship for you. Everything from scholarships for academics, sports, clubs and even backgrounds can be found on Scholarships.com. That’s not to say you shouldn’t also make a detailed profile! Again, you can never know just how many great scholarships are just waiting for you!

    Chegg

    Chegg is a cool site for a few reasons. The first reason is pretty evident right away: they’re a great site for finding textbooks! While getting textbooks for your classes is going to be expensive, it’s well worth it. You’ll usually fall behind your classmates and fail the course if you try to wing it without a textbook. It can be tempting to try to find the book for free online, but that’s not always an option. Some books are hard to find, and others are far too big to parse in PDF form.

    All that being said, Chegg is a great place to buy college textbooks from. They have good prices and a great search function. Whether you’re a freshman going in or a returning upperclassman, you should check out Chegg’s bookstore. As for the scholarships, they have a wide variety you can search on their site too!

    Simply go to the homepage and select “colleges.” Then, in the drop menu, select “scholarships.” As you would expect, there are a number of criteria you can search through to find a scholarship that’s right for you. They even have a “top scholarships this week” filter to help you find some of the most popular options among other students.

    As with the other sites in this list, you can also make a detailed profile. Make sure to include all pertinent information: it can help you get the best scholarships! Every little bit helps!

    The U.S. Labor Department’s Free Search Tool

    It’s good to check with this free search tool, as well. If you’ve already applied for FAFSA, this should be your next step. The government has a number of programs in place to help you figure out good ways to pay for college. Remember: people want you to succeed. Your success is important! Government programs like this is funded by taxes and made to help the people. That’s you!

    If you still need help after checking all of these sites, consider speaking to your university’s financial aid office. It can be really difficult to find enough assistance to pay for school! Just remember that you can take government subsidized loans out relatively safely. Just be really careful that you don’t take out more loans than you’ll be able to pay back!

  • Easy Tips for Starting Your Own Blog

    Easy Tips for Starting Your Own Blog

    Are you trying to start your own blog? If so, there’s a lot to cover when it comes to getting started. You’ll have to figure out what platform, whether to self-host and what kind of design you want. Today we’re going to take a look at some of the most popular options and give you some tips for starting your own blog!

    How to Get Started with Your Own Blog

    Choose a Platform

    First, you’ll need to choose a blogging platform. Put simply, this is the interface you’ll use to put your blog up on the internet. There are a few options, but the biggest one by far is WordPress. If you hadn’t guessed, the very post you’re reading was made in WordPress. Roughly half of all the blog on the internet were made using the WordPress platform.

    Why is WordPress so popular? There are a few reasons. Firstly, it’s very well laid-out, offering a clean and simple way to manage your content. Secondly, it’s easy to search for a layout and template you like the look of. This makes your content look very professional and makes monetization significantly easier! Not everyone who blogs is going to make a ton of money, but if money is your goal in this then WordPress is likely your best bet. It’s simply the most professional-looking mass-market blog platform.

    Alternatives

    As for alternatives, there are a few you can look into. The biggest other platform out there is called Blogger. It’s a fine resource, if a bit more limited than WordPress. If you prefer Blogger’s style and layout, however, that’s totally fine. You can make an awesome-looking blog with Blogger.

    The next biggest blogging platform is a website called Tumblr. Tumblr’s a bit of a cross between a blogging site and a social media platform. It’s a bit atypical in terms of hardcore blogging, but it’s worth keeping in mind. If you want to do something more social and off the wall then you might like Tumblr’s looser, more casual approach.

    Self-hosting or Free

    Once you’ve picked a blog platform, you’ll need to figure out whether you’ll self-host or not. Self-hosting costs money, but it gives you a lot more control. Not self-hosting means your blog will be free, which is cool, but it comes with some notable limitations. For one thing, you won’t have your own domain name. Your domain, instead, will be hosted under the platform you’ve chosen.

    For example, a blog hosted by WordPress would have a WordPress domain name. For all intents and purposes, it would belong to WordPress. If they wanted to delete your blog, they could. It’s unlikely, but the point stands. The other option is self-hosting. Self-hosting costs money, but it gives you a lot more freedom. You get your own domain name, you have more monetization options and you own your site.

    The price is also lower than you might expect. The average price is about $5 or $10 per month. That’s not too bad, especially if your site is making more than that each month.

    Design an Attractive Blog

    If you’re new webpage design, don’t sweat it. You can make a great-looking blog through a blog platform like WordPress without needing a design degree. The first step is deciding what your blog’s theme should be. If your blog is all about video games, you should opt for a game-related theme. WordPress has a wide variety of themes, so choosing one that fits your blog and your style is important.

    The next thing to remember is that a clean, easy-to-navigate website gets way more traffic than an ugly, cluttered one. If your site’s visitors can’t find an article pretty quickly, they’re going to move on. That’s no good! You need a design that grabs attention and is easy to navigate.

    The Internet is Your Friend

    If you get stuck or confused and can’t figure out where to go next, don’t freak out. There’s a ton of options for you to check out and get your bearings. The internet is downright full of resources made just for people starting their own blogs. If you’re hitting a snag, you can bet someone else has hit it before and written a guide on it.

    There you have it! Those are some of the first considerations you’ll make in starting your own blog. Remember to have fun with it and make it your own! If you’re having fun and doing what you love, everything else will come naturally!

  • You Won’t Believe Which City is the Best for Visiting a Tiny House

    You Won’t Believe Which City is the Best for Visiting a Tiny House

    Have you been thinking about living in a tiny house? If so, you’re probably wondering where you should go to get your tiny house fill. Which city is the best for these adorable little abodes? Look no further! Today we’re counting down some of the best cities for tiny house vacation living so you can try it before you get your own tiny house!

    Best Cities for Visiting a Tiny House

    There are ample tiny houses for rent in cities across the US. They’re priced like hotel rooms, but they have great amenities that make them comparable to a vacation house.

    Portland

    Portland, Oregon is a great place to visit to try out a tiny home. There are tons of wonderful little places to rent, which isn’t surprising. The Northwest is all about small living spaces. There are a few reasons for that: it’s crowded, housing is expensive and so on.  Whatever the reason, though, we recommend Portland highly for trying out tiny home living.

    There are a number of interesting tiny home rentals available here. One such example is the Caravan Tiny House Hotel. It features a number of tiny homes on wheels that you can rent. The tiny homes are arranged like a caravan, moving from place to place and showing off how luxurious tiny spaces can be. After spending some time in this little caravan you might not want a regular-sized home anymore!

    While you’re visiting Portland, make sure to try out the awesome food in the city! Portland is renowned as one of the best food cities in the country. The Northwest is a very unique and fun region, so visiting here is always a treat!

    Lyons

    The next city on our list is Lyons, Colorado. The most notable tiny home experience in the city is a resort called WeeCasa, which is touted as one of the largest tiny house hotels in the world. Located near Boulder, Colorado, WeeCasa is a really unique experience.

    When you visit, you’ll likely notice the large number of styles and builders on display in this resort. If you’ve been looking to figure out what you like in a tiny home, WeeCasa is a great place to start. You can try out a really wide variety of tiny home styles and build types while you’re here. You might be surprised at how much luxury you can squeeze into these small spaces.

    Colorado is also a beautiful region of the country. Tall trees, stunning mountains and friendly people make Colorado a worthy destination of any vacation. You can also enjoy the local food and nightlife, especially in nearby Boulder!

    Eatonton

    Eatonton is a city in Georgia that is home to United Tiny House Rentals. This makes it an ideal destination in the southeast for tiny home visiting! While United Tiny House Rentals can deliver your rental to places other than Eatonton, we recommend visiting the gorgeous countryside of Georgia.

    There are ample lakefront camping regions in and around the state of Georgia that will make you long for the great outdoors. If you’ve never been to the region, we have to recommend you visit sometime soon! Friendly locals, delicious regional cuisine and unparalleled wilderness make it prime for camping.

    If you do visit the southeast, make sure to try regional favorite dishes like shrimp and grits and sweet tea! While you’re enjoying the luxury of a tiny wagon-style house you can also enjoy the great vistas. If you’re a fan of hobbies like fishing, Georgia’s lakes are also famous for their ample fishing opportunities. This makes it one of the best places in the country for visiting for tiny home rentals!

    McHenry

    McHenry, Maryland is home to a beautiful mountain resort named Blue Moon Rising. This tiny home resort is a great place to come for a remote getaway. If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life, McHenry is the place to get it.

    The resort is near a deep, beautiful lake high in the mountains. The numerous tiny homes on display are varied and of differing builds and styles. This remote location, coupled with the otherworldly tiny homes, makes McHenry feel like a place out of a fairy tale. We’d highly advise you consider this Maryland hamlet for your tiny home getaway vacation!

  • Best Ski Resorts In the United States

    Best Ski Resorts In the United States

    Planning your next vacation? Why not head to one of the best ski resorts in the world! Today we’re looking at some ski resorts that you absolutely must go visit to make the most of your winter vacation! Nothing beats the rush of moving downhill at a high speed! The wind in your hair, the snow under your skis, it’s really just a great time!

    Best Ski Resorts

    Aspen Mountain

    Aspen is an iconic ski town, and many famous people enjoy skiing there. It’s a symbol of status to go skiing at this iconic resort! Aspen Mountain is well-known for the wide variety of slopes you can find with just a single ticket price. There are four distinct ski regions, Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass, and Buttermilk. The four regions are connected by a shuttle system, and your ticket gives you access to all four. That’s a pretty good deal!

    The various slopes are great for skiers of all skill levels. Aspen Highlands are great for people with lots of experience. Some of the best skiing in Colorado can be found in Aspen Highlands, thanks to the great snow and awesome terrain. If you’re a more middling skier, you’d be better off hitting Buttermilk or Snowmass. These slopes are more well-geared for an intermediate-level skier.

    The town of Aspen itself is a great place for resort hang-outs. There’s tons of nightlife, DJs and things to do in town. It’s a little pricey compared to some ski resorts, but it’s easily one of the coolest places to come ski. If you’re looking for a bit of glitz to go with your powder, you’ve got to visit Aspen! It’s a great town and it earned it’s reputation by being a cool place to visit.

    Vail

    Vail’s not a perfect ski resort: it’s got a lot of polish but can feel somewhat inauthentic. However, don’t let that undercut just how awesome the slopes themselves are. The runs are wide, well-maintained and exhilarating. There’s plenty to see for both beginners and experienced skiers, so it’s well-worth the crowds and somewhat cheesy corporate polish to check the place out.

    Vail is one of the largest skiing areas in Colorado, making it an ideal place to visit if you’re newer to skiing. The European-style village towards the base of the mountain is picturesque and charming, but quite pricey. In fact, everything in Vail is pretty pricey. That said, it’s one of the most visited ski resorts in the US, so the price isn’t out of nowhere.

    There are also a lot of crowds when it comes to Vail. On the one hand, that can be a good thing! There’s plenty of people to hang out with! On the other hand, it can make the slopes feel a bit overcrowded, and it can be hard to get elbow room in town.

    In spite of all that, Vail remains a fantastic destination. The terrain is wide and varied, offering something for everyone. Snow falls in great quantities, especially during the winter months, so there’s going to be plenty for you to ski on. The resort got as popular as it is for good reason, so it’s worth visiting if you’re looking for a high-end skiing experience and have a bit of money to spend!

    Jackson Hole

    If you’re looking for some of the best slopes in the world, leave the kids at home and head to Jackson Hole. This resort sports some of the downright meanest terrain in the US, making it a must-stop resort for experts. In fact, a full half of the mountain is rated for experts only. If you’re an intermediate skier, you’re probably better sticking to the forty percent of the mountain rated as intermediate terrain. Beginner-friendly terrain, you might have guessed, makes up a paltry ten percent of the mountain’s terrain.

    Jackson Hole is also an interesting resort in that Winter is its off-season. If you’re looking for a high-end experience that has less crowds and more gnarly slopes, head to Jackson Hole. There is a bit of nightlife in nearby Jackson, which is about 20 minutes from the lodge. This makes it less extravagant than places like Aspen. However, that might not be a bad thing for certain visitors. If you’re looking for a lodge where you can focus on the pure act of skiing, look no further than Jackson Hole.

  • World’s Best Luxury Cruise Lines

    World’s Best Luxury Cruise Lines

    Is there anything better than a cruise? Think about it: you’re in the ocean, on a luxury boat, enjoying a drink and lounging by the pool. Today, we’re looking at some of the world’s best luxury cruise lines! Time to start planning your next vacation!

    World’s Best Luxury Cruise Lines

    Oceania Riviera

    The Oceania Riviera is one of the best luxury cruise lines for food-lovers. Outfitted with seven gourmet restaurants, it’s hard to top their offerings when it comes to cuisine! There’s an Asian cuisine restaurant called Red Ginger that you can visit, as well as a French restaurant named Jacques. If you like steaks, you can visit Polo Grill for a traditional meal!

    There’s also a restaurant called Toscana, which offers fine Italian food. If you’re in the mood for something classic, you can go to La Reserve and try a seven-course meal that includes wine pairings. There’s also the Grand Dining Room and Privee, both of which offer luxurious dining experiences.

    The Oceania Riviera also offers cooking classes at an onboard cooking school. The Bon Appétit Culinary Center offers a great range of classes to teach you how to make delicious food! If you’re in the mood for painting, instead, you can head to the Artist’s Loft and take some classes on that instead!

    Cruising on the Oceania Riviera starts at $1,600 for their Caribbean cruise. There’s also a la carte pricing for a lot of their meals and experiences on-board. As such, it can get pretty pricey for certain experiences. That said, if you’re looking for a great food cruise, this is the one for you!

    Viking Star
    The Viking Star is a luxury cruise ship with some very awesome amenities. These include an open, spacious feel on the deck and very roomy cabins. The cabins have small touches like USB ports near the beds and heated floors as well as major upsides like verandas.

    The ship sails out of Miami and makes several stops in Cuba. This is a great opportunity for those who wish to visit Cuba and try things like Cuban cigars. Cuban cuisine is also unique, and many Americans haven’t gotten to try it!

    The food options on the Viking Star are numerous: there are two international restaurants, The Restaurant (catchy) and World Café. There’s a Norwegian restaurant (no, really) called Momsen’s, as well as an Italian place called Manfredi’s. The highlight is the Kitchen Table, where you pay extra to pick out food with the chef while at port and help them make the gourmet meal you’ll be having that evening.

    The only downside, in our opinion, is that the cruise doesn’t have a casino onboard. For some people, that’s a good thing, as they don’t want to be tempted! All said, though, the Viking Star is a great experience. Cruises out of Miami start at $3,000.

    Regent Seven Sea Explorer

    An absolutely extravagant cruising experience can be had on the Regent Seven Sea Explorer. This downright regal ship is adorned with masterworks of fine art from stem to stern. That includes pieces from masters like Picasso, making this almost as much of an art museum as a cruise. Marble and granite adorns the floors of the interior rooms, making the cruise feel downright lavish.

    Every single cabin on the Explorer is a suite. If you’re cruising with them, you’re cruising in style. The suites are gorgeously appointed, and each one looks like a top-of-the-line suite from a movie.

    If you’re looking for a cruise with great food options, you’re in luck, as the Explorer has them. There’s a pan-Asian grill called Pacific Rim that serves a number of favorites. Prime 7 is the on-board steakhouse for those looking for a classic meal. There’s also traditional French cuisine on offer from Chartreuse, another restaurant on board. There’s buffet-style food available from La Veranda during lunch and breakfast, and then it switches to a more traditional restaurant experience.

    While the Explorer doesn’t have the most robust entertainment selection, it is downright lavish. The extravagant and well-appointed suites are wonderful to spend time in, and it’s amazing to view the paintings onboard. If you’re traveling without children, you’ll likely greatly enjoy this cruise. Children, however, may be a bit bored by the cruise. Cruises on this lavish ship start around $4,300.


  • Best Kitchen Cleaning Supplies

    Best Kitchen Cleaning Supplies

    Some people really just love cleaning. For other people, it’s a chore they hate but they’ve got to do it. In either event, you’re going to want the very best kitchen cleaning supplies when you go to clean up. If you’re not rocking the best kitchen cleaning supplies then you’re not getting the best clean!

    Best Kitchen Cleaning Supplies

    Wring Mop

    Sometimes the classics are well-worth using. The old-school wring-mop is fantastic for floors that aren’t made of wood. Tile, concrete and the like are ideal surfaces for using an old-school wring mop. Make sure you get a good detergent and some hot water, and maybe a bit of vinegar, and you can clean up most any mess on a non-wood floor.

    You know what they say: if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it! This is a critical cleaning supply for kitchens without wood floors.

    Non-cellulose Sponge

    Another great example of a classic kitchen cleaning supply that you should rely on is the non-cellulose sponge. Why non-cellulose? Well, their design doesn’t trap in water that will act as a bacteria-spawning hotbed. That means the normal bad smell and stains associated with sponges don’t come into play here!

    Sponges are great for use on surfaces like countertops that you can’t clean with a mop. After all, you can’t get your mop up that high! Sponges work wonders cleaning appliances like fridges and stoves, too. Make sure you pair them with a good detergent and warm water for best effect!

    Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Products

    A lot of reviewers rave over Mrs. Meyers brand cleaning products. They offer a wide variety of products that are must-haves for cleaning! Whether you’re just getting started with your own place or you’ve been cleaning for a while, you should invest in this cleaner. It’s great at breaking up accumulations of dirt and leaves a great smell behind.

    If you’re environmentally conscious, good news: Mrs. Meyers is too! It’s environmentally friendly without sacrificing cleaning power. That’s the definition of a win-win! It comes in a variety of pleasant scents that aren’t overpowering, making your kitchen smell great while you clean.

    The best part of Mrs. Meyers products is the price, though! From their website you can often find great deals on the product. Right now you can even get three bottles sixteen-ounce bottles for $9! That makes this product less expensive on average than leading brands! That’s hard to beat!

    Coconut Oil Spray

    Hear us out! We know it sounds weird, but coconut oil can play a vital role in your kitchen cleaning. For one thing, it’s all-natural, which is a huge bonus. For another thing, it’s a fantastic furniture polish! If you have furniture or leather in your kitchen, such as your kitchen table or chairs, coconut oil spray is a must. When used in conjunction with sponges and scrubbing, it can make your kitchen pieces look amazing!

    Microfiber Cloths

    The type of cloths you use to clean eyeglasses are amazing for kitchen cleaning. Whether you’re cleaning counters, floors, tables or anything else, microfiber cloths are amazing. They don’t trap water or bacteria, they dry really rapidly and they work on everything. Using them on a variety of surfaces will show you just how great they are!

    They’re also super handy for cleaning in other parts of the house. For instance, if you’ve got a flat-screen TV that needs to be cleaned, a dry microfiber cloth alone can do wonders.

    Bona Mop

    Bona brand mops are similar in some ways to Swiffer wet mops. The main similarity is in the way they both work well on wooden floors. If you live in an older home with an original wood floor, you know how difficult it can be to maintain. So many cleaners are bad about stripping the finish and damaging the wood.

    Thankfully, the Bona Mop and Bono Floor Cleaner are made to help maintain wooden floors. The cleaner is gentle on wood but great at cleaning up messes. If you’re trying to clean an older wooden floor, you might be at a loss as to how you’ll be able to get it clean without damaging it. That’s where Bona comes in!

    When it comes to cleaning, you’ll need a wide variety of supplies. While this isn’t a comprehensive list, we hope it helps you get started in cleaning your kitchens like a professional!

  • Best Trucking Companies

    Best Trucking Companies

    The open road can be a great workplace, as long as you’re working for the right company. If you’re interested in a career as a truck driver, you’re likely wondering which the best trucking companies are to work for. Lucky for you, we’ve got a list of the highest-paying trucking companies right here for you!

    Best Trucking Companies to Work For

    Wal-Mart

    Wal-Mart trucking has a reputation for being really great to work for. The company reportedly pays very competitively. Truckers working for them make, on average, around $80,000 per year. That translates to around $40 per hour. They offer training pay, which is great, as well as mileage and activity pay. Wal-Mart even offers a safe driving bonus every three months.

    Drivers for Wal-Mart don’t load or unload freight. They also get one guaranteed day at home per week! Drivers are also given reset hours on the road. The best part, though, is the benefits. Drivers get benefits starting their very first day, and it covers things like dental, medical, life and more.

    Acme

    While they only operate in seven states, Acme is a prolific trucking company. They’ve got a ton of trucks on the road, although they technically don’t own their own fleet. They actually lease all of their trucks. Acme drivers make an average of around $83,000 per year, or roughly $40 per hour. That’s more than just competitive, it’s nearly the highest in the industry.

    They’ve got work for drivers of all experience levels, and they pay rather promptly. Drivers for Acme have noted that they are typically paid just a week after they haul freight. The upsides to working for them are numerous, such as benefits and tons of work available.

    GP Transco

    GP Transco is a lesser-known company, but they’re notable for a few reasons. For one thing, they have the lowest turnover rate of any company in the business. Their average salary is around $75,000 per year, which is highly competitive with other companies. GP Transco offers what is described as a “fantastic” benefits package, which is a huge part of their low turnover rate.

    If you’re going to spend a ton of time away from home on the open road, you’re going to want pay and benefits that match your time. After all, the biggest thing you’re offering as a truck driver is your time.

  • Money Market Account Instead of a Savings Account?

    Money Market Account Instead of a Savings Account?

    It might sound odd, but you might consider opening a money market account instead of a savings account. Most people have a checking and a savings account. The checking account is used for your normal transactions, while your savings account gradually gains interest on your money and helps you save up. What is a money market account, then?

    What is a Money Market Account?

    A money market account is sort of like a checking and savings account rolled into one. You can make withdrawal and deposits, write checks and transfer money electronically. Additionally, it will accrue interest, much like a savings account. You are also, usually, given an ATM card to use with a money market account. That makes them pretty convenient alternatives to traditional checking and savings accounts!

    That said, there are a few limitations to the account type. Notably, you usually have to have a higher balance in a money market account than a checking or savings account. Additionally, you also can’t write a very large number of checks from it in a given period.

    The Upsides

    While those might sound like notable downsides, they’re largely mitigated by the upsides. For one thing, most money market accounts offer better interest rates than savings accounts. There are a few reasons for this, and they’re related to the aforementioned downsides. Firstly, since you have to float a higher balance in a money market account, they offer more money for the bank to invest with.

    Secondly, the smaller number of checks you can write through a money market account means that there are lower fees for the bank to pay. Thirdly, the types of things money market accounts’ funds can be invested in are generally higher in return than the things savings accounts can invest in. Essentially, the regulations on this account type are different, meaning it can be invested more aggressively.

    Should You Go This Route?

    That depends on your personal funds. If you have a larger amount of money to save, a money market might be the right account type for you. It’s also convenient to have everything saved up in the same account. That convenience is furthered by the ATM card most of these accounts offer, giving you quicker access to your money.

    If you tend to float lower balances however, such as if you are younger with less savings, these accounts might not be right for you. Of course, everyone’s financial situation is different. However, under the right conditions, a money market account could be a better option for you than traditional checking and savings!

  • Tips for Signing up for Life Insurance

    Tips for Signing up for Life Insurance

    If you’ve been looking into life insurance, it can be a complex and daunting field! Whether you’re worried about your spouse, children or even grandchildren, life insurance is a great thing to have. You never want it to come up, but someday your family will need it!

    Tips for Signing up for Life Insurance

    Visit Your Doctor

    The first thing you’ll want to do before signing up for life insurance is head by the doctor for a quick check-in. This is doubly true if you used to smoke but don’t anymore. Similarly, if you were overweight but have lost weight since your last check-up, you’ll want this reflected in your records.  That said, this is a good practice anyway: checking in with your doctor regularly is important, regardless of whether you’re looking to get life insurance soon!

    Buy Layered Coverage

    You probably don’t need one gigantic policy. You can save yourself some money by layering your coverage and buying coverage for different lengths of time and with different criteria. While this might sound complex, it’s not too hard to accomplish. You simply see what your life insurance needs are and figure out how much coverage you need. Then, take out individual policies that offer the coverage you need! That way, you’re getting more coverage for less! That’s the definition of a win-win.

    Volunteer No Unneeded Information

    While it can be tempting to simply offer up all of your info unbidden, it’s best not to. When it comes to life insurance, you should only tell the insurance company the information that they ask for. A lot of times, you’ll be penalized for information like whether either of your parents died of cancer. However, some applications will only ask about things like heart disease. It’s okay to simply answer the questions they ask, and not offer any elaboration unless they specifically request it.

    This might seem a bit counterintuitive: after all, no one wants to be dishonest. However, it’s not dishonesty if the insurance company doesn’t ask about it. Simply offer them the information they’ve asked for and you’ll make things much simpler for yourself!

    Whether to Have an Exam

    We highly recommended getting a policy that has an exam if you’re healthy. This is where that doctor’s visit from earlier comes in handy: if your doctor gave you a clean bill of health, you can save some serious money with an exam policy. The policies that don’t have exams can be anywhere from three to six times more expensive than those that do! Don’t spend money you don’t need to, if you’re healthy, go with the exam!

    If you’re not in terribly great health, however, it might be less expensive to get a no-exam policy. However, you should discuss with your doctor any health issues that you think are affecting you. We highly advise you talk to a knowledgeable independent insurance agent if you feel as though your application may be complicated by poor health.

  • Careers as a Medical Billing Specialist

    Careers as a Medical Billing Specialist

    A career in medical billing is a growing field that allows you to work within the healthcare industry. While you’re not dealing directly with patients, you’re providing a valuable skill that is the foundation of a great healthcare system.

    A medical billing specialist has a unique role in the world of healthcare that isn’t diminished by being behind the scenes compared to the role of a doctor or nurse. Are you looking for a new career? Great with data and numbers? Interested in the growing health care field but don’t have an advanced degree? You should definitely consider becoming a medical billing specialist. Check out some important information about the medical billing career that we put together!

    Medical Billing Specialist Schooling Requirements

    There’s no degree associated with a job as a medical billing specialist. However, there are a number of programs you can attend to get a certificate for the position. Most employers would prefer to employ specialists with certificates, so they are well-worth acquiring.

    Additionally, specialists will need a basic understanding of medical and biological terminology. This is because they have to input codes for billing based on procedure and need to understand what those procedures entail.

    Workplace

    Specialists typically work inside a hospital, doctor’s office or nursing homes. They could also work in a therapist’s office or a similar environment. Essentially, any place that offers medical treatments and accepts health insurance is in need of at least one medical billing specialist.

    The work can be described as, generally, medium-stress and not physically taxing. It’s largely typical of office work and involves working from a desk at a computer. This means that people who want to work in the medical field, but maybe not be in the thick of it, would enjoy this type of career.

    Medical Coding

    The medical coding performed by a billing specialist is very important. For one thing, they’re the way that the hospital gets paid. For another, they’re highly specialized. If someone inputs the wrong code, the wrong amount of money will be billed, which simply can’t happen! Jokes aside, the type of coding is called ICD-10, which is what you learn during certification.

    Once that information is input into the system, it’s updated alongside a patient’s file. That means that working as a billing specialist is really important for both record-keeping and medical accuracy. Typically, this also means that billing specialists will work closely with doctors and nurses to ensure that a patient’s information is correct in their file. The last thing you want is to bill a company for a procedure that didn’t happen!

    Reasons to Work in This Field

    There is ample work to be found in this field! For one, there is a great amount of demand. There is a large aging population that will need medical service, and that service will require billing! That means that there is a good deal of demand and job security. If you’re looking for a career opportunity with growth, this is also one great part of this field.

    The medical administration field grows as the medical field does. Administrative positions generally oversee things like personnel, filing and, of course, billing. The type of work wouldn’t change much, though the opportunity for advancement would be a great draw! That’s a lot of upsides for a career path that doesn’t necessarily require a 4-year degree.

    Type of Work

    The type of work performed by a billing specialist includes inputting codes into computer software to send bills to an insurance company. This means that the work is primarily from a desk, on a computer and involves mostly data entry. If you don’t mind sitting at a desk to work, and you’re proficient at entering data from a chart, this type of work might be right for you!

    The job of a billing specialist is an important one. For one thing, it’s the main way hospitals and the like get paid by insurance agencies! That means that, for people to receive adequate care, the billing specialist has to be doing their job! That makes them just as important as other medical professionals, although they are primarily behind the scenes.

    Average Pay

    On average, billing specialists make about $38,000 per year, or roughly $18 per hour. That’s not too bad, considering the position doesn’t require a 4-year degree! Maybe a job as a billing specialist is right for you!