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  • Smarter Business Solutions: Best Employee Time Tracking Software

    Smarter Business Solutions: Best Employee Time Tracking Software

    Every business needs the right tools in order to succeed. Chief among these tools are employee management tools. When your employees clock in, when they leave: these are critical data points you have to have great tracking of. Time tracking software is how you generate payroll, and how you accurately keep up with billable hours, time management and project durations.

    When you get employee time tracking software, you need the best. It needs to be reliable, easy to use and easier to read. No one wants to have to decipher crazy tables and illegible data points in order to try to generate payroll. Today we’re looking at a few of the best employee tracking software solutions on the market to help you narrow it down to the best options. Run your business like a pro with these smart time tracking solutions.

    Beebole

    Don’t let the odd name fool you: Beebole is a great app for businesses of any size. Whether you have only 10 employees or 1,000, Beebole can help you to manage your team’s time. Of course, it can track basic time sheets, but it’s also great for coordinating project time management as well as budget monitoring.

    Beebole offers budget tracking, configurable time reports, one-click timers and a lot more. It’s incredibly simple and easy-to-use, but it’s also highly modular and can be configured to do pretty much whatever you need it to. To add to how easy it is to use, it’s also got a mobile app that works on all mobile devices, and can even be used when offline. Beebole only costs $6 per month, and there are even discounts for large groups.

    Scoro

    Scoro is a very popular time sheet program capable of handling tons of functions for your business. The basic time-tracking is there, of course, keeping up with billable hours employee in and out times and project durations. This information is presented in a clear and easy-to-read format, and can be used to help coordinate team efforts on project. This is a stellar tool for people who need their teams to work consistently on time-sensitive projects.

    Scoro is a lot more than just time-tracking, though. It also offers billing automation, quoting and invoicing, time and work reports, CRM and a lot more. It can probably replace three or four different tools you’re already using for these tasks, likely saving you a ton of money. Scoro costs only $26 per month per user, and you can try it out for 14 days for free.

    Harvest

    Harvest is a favorite time-tracking app of hundreds of businesses. It’s one of the best-known time tracking software solutions, and for good reason: it’s a very focused time tracker for businesses of small or medium size. It’s not like the other software suites on this list, though: it’s not a team collaboration tool, it’s primary function is as a time tracker. This single-mindedness makes it incredibly straightforward: it has one job, and it does that job quite well.

    Harvest is available in both free and paid plans. The paid version starts at $12 per month per user. The app supports real-time tracking of time spent on the job, generates estimates of invoices based on collected data, and can even integrate data from across a wide variety of time-tracking tools. In short, there’s a lot of very useful features under the hood of this deceptively simple time-tracking app. Whether you’re running a small business and just need an inexpensive solution for your time-tracking or you’re running a medium-sized business and need an efficient and focused time-tracker, Harvest can fill these roles for you.


  • Considering A Mobility Scooter? READ THIS FIRST!

    Considering A Mobility Scooter? READ THIS FIRST!

    So your mobility isn’t what it used to be… no problem! Today, some insurance companies will actually help with coverage on a mobility scooter, or even pay for the whole thing. Check it out for yourself! Either way, it may be worth checking them out and seeing if it fits your lifestyle. With that in mind, let’s look at the top ten mobility scooters.

    Drive Medical Phoenix Heavy Duty

    A heavy, sturdy scooter for a great price, this one is a good pick. This one has a headlight, which is good for darker areas. It also has a basket in the front for carrying things, making it great for grocery store trips! The seat is customizable, broad and comfortable. For $1,200, this is a great heavy-duty pick.

    Pride Mobility Go-Go Sport

    This scooter is notable for its four-wheel drive and durability. It’s not terribly fast, topping at 4 MPH. That said, it’s rugged and durable, and works great when outdoors! If you like being outside and enjoying the sunlight, this is a great pick! For a combination of durability and mobility, check out the Go-Go Sport!

    E-Wheels EW-72

    A stylish and slick scooter, the E-Wheels EW-72 has a look inspired by classic cars! For those looking to really zoom, this scooter has a top speed of 15 MPH! As a heavy-duty scooter, it works quite well, as it has a top weight rating of 500 pounds! If you’re looking for a great, stylish, heavy-duty scooter, this is a great choice for you!

    Transformer Electric Folding Mobility Scooter

    Another great choice for carrying in a trunk and carrying around with you, this transforming scooter is pretty neat. It folds up into a nice, compact shape so it can go anywhere with you! The battery is airline compliant, so it can fly with you, which is great for those who fly often. If you’re on the move and need a scooter that can keep up, this is the one for you!

    E-Wheels Jellybean Electric Scooter

    The second E-Wheels scooter on our list, this one is also quite heavy-duty! This one is three-wheeled, though, so it’s got a bit of a different construction from some others on this list. The best thing about this scooter, though, is the high speed! It tops out at 18 MPH, which makes it a serious scooter! It has a great battery, too, offering up to 45 miles on a single charge. This one also has an anti-theft alarm, which is great! It sports a huge back-mounted basket, perfect for trips to the market.

    Spitfire 420 Ex

    Another great scooter, this one has interchangeable panels in different colors. The panels come in red, blue and silver, and are easy to change out! It also boasts quick-connect batteries, a comfortable seat and padded armrests. The wheels are anti-tip, which makes this a very safe pick. The front-mounted basket even has an interior lining, which is great for shopping. If you’re looking for a good mobility scooter for medical reasons, such as old age, this is a good pick.

    SmartScoot Lithium Foldable Travel Scooter

    This folding scooter is great to throw in the trunk or backseat and carry with you to a destination. The best thing about this scooter: the battery! It has great battery life for how portable it is for travel. It lasts for up to 12 miles! It also breaks down into three parts, and only weighs 27 pounds.

    Drive Medical Scout 3 Wheel

    At the very low price of right around $600, this three-wheeled scooter is a popular choice. A little less expensive than its four-wheeled counterpart, this one is a good value. The drawbacks to this scooter include its three-wheeled construction, slightly low battery life and make. There are more comfortable, high-end scooters, but if you’re looking for a good bargain, this is it. This scooter is the most affordable on our list!

    Best Value: Drive Medical Scout Compact 4 Wheel

    For those on a budget, the Drive Medical Scout Compact is a very popular choice. At $700, it’s a fantastic value, and it shows in its popularity. It’s a good scooter, with all the trimmings you’d expect from a medical mobility scooter. Older customers on a fixed income love the low price, and the price doesn’t compromise the quality. This one also has interchangeable panels in red and blue, so you can change your style! A great value for the money for those looking to save.

    Best Overall Mobility Scooter: Shopride Sunrunner

    If you’re looking for an especially comfortable scooter, look no further than the Sunrunner! It has a 300-pound capacity and a huge 25-mile battery. You can opt for a headlight, which is quite useful. It has a front basket, perfect for shopping. The star of the show is the big, comfortable seat, though. You can’t beat the level of comfort on display here! It’s hard to find something this premium and high-quality for this price! It retails for $1,500 but can often be found on sale for less.


  • Live Your Dream: Owning an RV

    Live Your Dream: Owning an RV

    Many retired people dream of buying an RV—a recreational vehicle—and traveling around the country. One of the most enduring and fun pastimes that Americans enjoy during their vacation time is going camping. However, camping can be a bit inglorious: slumming it out in a tent in the woods is a bit harder to do once you’re out of your twenties. So, what’s a lover of the great outdoors to do? Well, the simplest solution would be to buy an RV, so you can bring a little bit of home with you when you go camping!

    RVs are quite the investment, though. It’s important that you know what you’re getting into before you buy an RV. To that end, we’ve compiled a quick guide of things you should know before you buy an RV. Get ready to hit the road and the campground in style!

    Be Selective

    It’s okay to take your time when you’re looking to buy an RV. Check out all the options available to you, take it slow and easy, and don’t fall in love with the first camper you see. It’s easy to fall for a hype sales pitch, but don’t let it convince you to buy something you’re not sure about yet. An RV is likely the second-most expensive thing you’ll ever buy, after your home. As such, it’s important you’re as discerning with your RV as you were when you bought your home.

    Keep a lookout for substandard components. Maybe the plumbing isn’t ideal, or the water pump is outdated. Check the cabinets out and double-check the build quality on the furniture. This is a huge purchase: it’s okay to take a year or more doing research and weeding out the campers you know you don’t want before you find the one you do.

    On the Lot

    When you’re going in to buy the RV, make sure you know when to buy. The best time to hit the dealership is towards the end of the month, or the end of the year. That way, you’re close to the deadline for some of the dealership’s quotas and sales targets. This gives you a lot more power in negotiating. When the power is in your hands, you can negotiate much more freely.

    Start by haggling for around thirty percent off the sticker price of the RV. If you can get the price down around that region, you’ll be in good shape. It’s important that you know to walk away if you can’t find a good price with the dealership you’re at. Let the salesperson know that you’re willing to walk away and work with their competition if they won’t work with you.

    Or Buy Used

    If you don’t feel like fussing with a dealership, you can try to buy an RV used. RVs are unusual in that they’re luxury items, but their value depreciates rapidly once they’re purchased. After being driven off the lot, they can drop as much as 25% in price on the spot. As such, if you’re willing to shop around and deal with secondhand sellers, you can likely find RVs for as much as half off their MSRP.

    When buying used, make sure you check the living quarters thoroughly and ask the owner for all the paperwork showing the proper upkeep and maintenance of the RV. They can be a big hassle to keep up with and maintain, so if the person you’re buying from is done with the RV and wants to get rid of it, you’ll likely find it easy to haggle for a better price on the camper. Be aware before you buy any RV that repairs can be costly and can take a lot of time, so be ready for a big responsibility. If you put the work in, though, they can be huge fun!


  • Thinking of Purchasing A Boat? Learn Just How Affordable It Can Be!

    Thinking of Purchasing A Boat? Learn Just How Affordable It Can Be!

    Most people don’t realize how affordable boating is: in some instances, you can buy a brand new boat financed for around $250.00 a month, like a car. If you’ve fallen in love with a boat — or the idea of one — it pays to learn more about boat loans. Boat loans are set up much like car loans, with a specific loan amount on which you pay interest over a fixed term. You can get boat financing through banks, credit unions, boat dealers or marine finance companies.

    3 Types of Boat Loans:

    Secured Loans

    This type of loan is secured, meaning that it is backed by collateral. So, if you default on your loan, the lender will take the collateral as a form of payment. Much like a car loan, your boat can be repossessed if you stop making payments.

    Unsecured Loans

    This type of loan does not use the boat, or any other asset or property, as collateral. Because these types of loans are not anchored to any specific asset as collateral, they’re seen as high-risk loans. Due to this, you’ll often find a much higher interest rate attached to this loan.

    Second Mortgage

    Some boat owners opt for a second mortgage, which is essentially a second type of secured loan mentioned above. A home equity loan, which is a type of second mortgage, uses your home as collateral for the boat loan. Interest rates for secured loans tend to be lower than those for unsecured loans That said, home equity loans can be particularly risky because the stakes are so high: If you default on the loan, the lender may be able to take your home.

    How do boat loans work?

    If you’ve had a car loan before, you already have a basic understanding of how a boat loan works. You can apply for a loan amount, put money down, and then choose a repayment term. If approved, the lender may offer a higher or lower interest rate based your credit history.

    Lenders

    You have a range of lender options. Some banks, credit unions and boat dealers offer boat loans. However, marine finance companies also specialize in these types of loans.

    Down payment

    Boat loan lenders often want to see a down payment, usually somewhere between 10% and 20%, depending on who the lender is and how much your boat costs. Watch out for some lenders offering 0%-down loans. While it may seem like a great deal to not make a down payment, this can actually increase the total cost of the loan once interest is taken into account. Ouch!

    Interest

    Interest rates on boat loans may be fixed or variable. This will vary widely based on the lender you decide to go with and, of course, your credit. Some lenders are offering APRs starting between 4% and 6% on secured boat loans. But factors such as your credit history, loan term and loan amount will always affect your rate.


  • The Secret Hack To Getting Your Taxes Done For FREE!!

    The Secret Hack To Getting Your Taxes Done For FREE!!

    It’s that time of year again. Tax time, the time when you know you need to get out and get your taxes prepared. Maybe you’re notorious for putting it off, since it can be pricey.

    However, there are a number of ways to get your taxes prepared for FREE! In fact, you can even get your taxes prepared online for completely free today! Here are some of the best sites to use for free tax preparation.

    Free Tax Preparation

    FreeTaxUSA

    FreeTaxUSA is a user-friendly and well-made site for tax preparation. The site is very straightforward, easily walking you through filing your taxes step-by-step. If you’re worried about your taxes being too complex to fill out online, don’t. This site offers you a very thorough helping hand in getting everything filed easily.

    While the federal return is totally free through this site, filing a state return through this site costs money. On average it costs about $12, so make sure you factor that in when you’re considering your tax filing. Keep in mind that it’s most likely that any tax prep site you use will require a small fee for filing a state return.

    H&R Block

    Many people are much more familiar with H&R Block due to their physical tax preparation locations. However, H&R Block also offers a free tax filing service through their website. While preparing online might not sound like the normal H&R Block, it’s actually a rather streamlined and easy-to-use site.

    Not all types of returns can be prepared on the site for free, however. As with most sites, state returns will still require a fee to be sent in from their site. Additionally, more complex tax returns could include a fee for filing.

    The upside to H&R Block is that if your taxes prove too complex to fill out online, you can go to one of their physical locations. Then, a tax-preparer can get you set up in-person! Keep in mind, however, that using in-person tax preparation won’t be free.

    TurboTax

    As their numerous commercials have proclaimed, TurboTax allows you to file your federal return for free. As you might expect, this doesn’t apply to state returns, which include a small fee. Much like FreeTaxUSA, TurboTax offers a great user interface for inputting all of your tax information.

    You won’t have to worry about forgetting something or getting lost. If you miss a box or need to input more info, the useful client will remind you. You can rest assured with TurboTax that your return will be accurate before you submit it!


  • Simple Home Workouts to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

    Simple Home Workouts to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

    The holidays are over and it’s time to shed that winter fat. You’ve probably resolved to live a healthier, more active life for your New Year’s resolution. If so, you’re probably eyeballing a gym membership or some home workout equipment. Before you make any big purchases, though, take it slow. Check out some of these simple home workouts that don’t require any equipment or gym membership. These are some of the easiest ways to keep those New Year’s resolutions!

    Simple Home Workouts

    Before you Start
    Before you start any of these workouts, here’s a few quick words of advice. Make sure you drink plenty of water and don’t overdo it. You should also stretch thoroughly before any strenuous physical activity. If you’re not very used to working out, make sure you don’t throw yourself in too haphazardly. You don’t get good results if you over-exert yourself! Take two minute breaks between each rep and catch your breath.

    Incline Push-Ups
    Get a surface like a bench or box that is sturdy enough to hold up your body’s weight. Brace your arms in a push-up position against the raised surface. Keep your body as straight as you can from your feet up to your head. Keeping this straight profile lower your body with your arms until it dips beneath your elbows. After a brief pause, return to your neutral position as rapidly as your arms can safely manage.

    If you find this exercise difficult, you can increase the incline. The greater the incline, the easier it will be for you. Likewise, if you find this too easy, you can instead do a traditional push-up, with your hands on the floor. In either event, 12 to 15 repetitions is a good number for a session.

    Side Plank
    Start by lying on the side of your body your non-dominant arm is on. Prop your body up on your elbow and forearm and make sure your arm is right under your shoulder. Place your other hand on your hip and tighten your core. Using your core, raise your hips from the floor and keep your arm locked in place. Keep your core tight and hold there for half a minute. Then, flip over and repeat this process for your other side.

    If you find it difficult to hold this for a full thirty seconds, you can try a modified version of the side plank. The modified version involves the same motions, but instead of holding it for a full thirty seconds you can drop back and then restart the movement. Do this until you get thirty full seconds across whichever number of repetitions you need to do.

    Squats
    Square your shoulders and stand as up as straight as you can. Set your feet a little further out than your shoulder-width and hold your arms out in front of you, parallel to the floor. Flexing your ab muscles, keeping your back straight and arms out, slowly squat by bending your knees and keeping your hips back. Once you get as low as you can, pause briefly before slowly returning to a standing position. Repeat this motion 15 to 20 times for a full session.

    Hip Raise
    While lying on the floor on your back, bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor. Put your arms out at an angle from your body and face your palms up towards the ceiling. Tighten your core and breath normally as you squeeze your leg muscles and push your hips off the floor. Keep you body in as straight a line as you can while pushing your hips up off the floor. Pause when high in the air for about five seconds and then and then lower back to the floor slowly. 10 reps make for a full set!

    Jogging
    After doing reps of each of the body-weight exercises, you can round out your exercise with a light jog. Make sure you stretch your legs well and get hydrated before heading out. Stay safe when you’re out jogging, watch out for cars and make sure you don’t trespass. Jog for a few miles every morning or every other day and get in the habit of exercising regularly. If you make it a habit, it’s much easier to get up and get your workout in before work!

    If you stick to these easy exercises and make sure you do them consistently then you may find you have better luck with your resolutions. Happy New Year, and we hope your resolutions go well!


  • 4 Secrets to Save the Most $$$ on a Flight

    4 Secrets to Save the Most $$$ on a Flight

    Everyone loves traveling, and the most time-efficient way to go large distances is by flying. However, flying can be expensive, especially if you don’t fly frequently enough to rack up frequent flyer miles and earn savings that way. If you don’t fly often but want to find the best deals, where should you start? Today we’re answering just that with our guide to low-budget flights and saving money while traveling.

    Saving Money on a Flight

    Fly Coach

    This might sound like pretty obvious advice, but our first tip is that you fly coach. While it can be tempting to fly first class to make the trip plush and nice, there’s nothing wrong with saving money by buying the least expensive ticket you can find. After all, the more you save on the flight, the more you can spend when you get to your destination!

    There’s nothing wrong with hanging in the back of the plane in a smaller seat with less fancy amenities. It’s not like you’re going to have to spend more than a few hours in the plane, so why spend as much as double the ticket price just to get a bigger seat and a bit more legroom? In either case, you’re on the same plane, going to the same destination, taking the same amount of time.

    Search Incognito

    When you’re searching around to find the best deals on plane tickets, make sure you’re doing so incognito. To open an incognito window, just click in the top right of your browser’s settings and hit “open new Incognito Window.” This makes it so sites can’t track your cookies and keep up with who you are, allowing you to go under the radar.

    This is to help you get the lowest price by sidestepping a sneaky airline trick. Airlines will continually jack up the price of tickets the more you view them online, in order to get you to panic and buy them sooner rather than later. To avoid paying this extra amount, shop incognito to keep them from tracking your browsing habits.

    Stay Off Major Search Engines

    Sorry, Google, but you’re not great for airline prices. Most major search engines get a cut of ticket prices when they help generate sales, so the prices you’ll see through them are also inflated. This is another scummy upcharge that you would do well to side-step entirely in order to find the best price. Instead of going through major search engines, you can look for budget airlines through broader engine searches.

    These include options like SkyScanner, which helps you find the best deals on specifically airlines, and Momondo, a broad search engine that can sometimes fetch budget airlines even cheaper than SkyScanner. Other great options you could check out include AirFare Watchdog, JetRadar, AirWander and Cheapoair. Remember, no one search engine is ideal: you’ll likely find the best results by using a combination of all of these options.

    Find the Cheapest Booking Days/Times

    It’s no secret that the prices of airline tickets can change dramatically based on when you buy them. The time of week, the time of day, the length of time until the flight leaves, all of these factors have a role to play in the cost of the ticket. Narrowing down the best time to fly out can feel a bit more mystical than scientific, though.

    There are a few things you can do to make sure you’re getting the best price based on the date you buy your ticket. One of the best resources is actually the SkyScanner website, which can help you narrow down the best days and times to buy, showing you an easy-to-read calendar with clear indicators of prices. It’s really the best way to shop for airline tickets!


  • INSANE Deals on Winter Jackets!

    INSANE Deals on Winter Jackets!

    When it’s cold outside there’s nothing you need more than a nice winter coat. Everyone needs a good, reliable coat for the winter that keeps snow, rain and wind from chilling you to the bone as you go about your daily life.

    If you’re in the market for a new winter coat, you’re in luck. Here are some of the best deals on winter jackets this season!

    Best Deals on Winter Jackets

    What to Look For

    What to look for in a jacket depends on your unique needs. Do you live in a very frigid area? If so, you’re going to want a very thick, well-made winter coat. Does it snow a lot? If so, consider something water resistant so you don’t have to worry about the elements. Do you often wear dress clothes? If you do then consider buying a classier winter coat.

    Other considerations include fashion. What looks good with your wardrobe? Are you more of a brand-name person, or would you rather wear something nondescript? Also, consider your budget when shopping. If you’ve got a limited budget, consider not shopping name brands and instead trying bargains in big-box stores.

    Where to Buy

    Where should you go to buy a winter coat? You’ve got a lot of options. There are retailers like Burlington Coat Factory, Ross and Marshalls that are well-known for the coasts they carry. These higher-end retailers tend to have some of the better brand names and a wider selection.

    For those looking for deals on jackets instead, big box stores like Walmart and Target are a great place to shop. They don’t often have as wide of a selection as some of the premium outlets, but they often have great deals on off-brand jackets. For those looking to simply save money on their jacket, this can be a better way to go.

    If you want something that looks a bit classier, department stores like Macy’s, Kohl’s and Belk often have great deals on dress jackets. These can include long coats for keeping your nice clothes safe from the elements, peacoats that look elegant themselves and even dress jackets that go with suit ensembles.

    Best Brands

    When it comes to winter jackets a few brands instantly spring to mind as being the best for the season. For instance, North Face is considered to be one of the best brands for staying warm. Patagonia, likewise, has a reputation for some of the best windbreakers. Columbia brand jackets are considered some of the best fleece jackets for the winter season.

    Columbia Jackets

    People who want great deals on Columbia jackets can look for savings in premium outlets or try shopping online. Their website is a great place to find up-to-date deals so you can compare prices directly to other sites.

    For those looking to save money, shopping online is ideal. Not only can you check out the full range of jackets available, you can also compare the prices of the various jackets on the fly. No fussing with memorizing tag prices, dealing with salespeople or navigating confusing store interiors.

    Not to mention, you can safely shop in your pajamas and have the items you buy delivered right to your house! What’s not to love?

    Patagonia Deals

    Some of the best deals on Patagonia brand jackets can be found on their own website. It might seem too simple, but it’s true: you often get the best deals by simply buying directly from the manufacturer. If you’re looking for a great deal on Patagonia’s stellar line of winter coats, we recommend starting on their website.

    Often, Patagonia will offer pretty steep discounts on their jackets. Examples include up to $100 off of select jackets in their range. While they might be pricey, shopping through their site can help you keep the prices manageable.

    North Face Deals

    The popular and stylish North Face brand is notorious for being expensive. Much like Patagonia, some of their best deals are available on their website. For a few examples, they have great deals on both men and women’s fashion. For men, there’s the Americana Tri-Blend Full Zip Hoodie for $22 off, or the Allproof Stretch Jacket for $60 off. Another example is the Reyes Thermoball Shirt Jacket for $70 off.

    For women, there are deals on a number of jackets. These include the TNF Indigo Insulated Jacket for $80 off, and the Apex Flex GTX 2.0 for nearly $90 off. It’s hard to beat deals like that outside of North Face’s website, though there are often sales comparable on distributors’ sites.


  • You Won’t Believe What AARP Offers Seniors For Discounts!

    You Won’t Believe What AARP Offers Seniors For Discounts!

    Many people ask the question as they get closer 50: is AARP worth it? The membership isn’t terribly expensive, and there are a number of benefits associated with being a member. However, do those benefits outweigh the yearly membership cost of AARP? Let’s look at the AARP and find out if the membership is worth it for you.

    AARP Membership

    What is AARP?

    The AARP stands for the American Association of Retired Persons, but you don’t actually have to be retired to be a member. The group is a non-profit interest group that represents the interests of retired and older Americans. The organization’s stated goal is “to empower people to choose how they live as they age.” The organization was originally founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus and Leonard Davis.

    Thanks to their 38 million members and yearly membership fees, the AARP is a rather influential and massive interest group. They lobby Congress and other government agencies on the behalf of retired and elderly Americans, often tackling issues like prescription drug prices and caregiving for older persons.

    What Does AARP Do?

    In short, AARP lobbies for the interests of retired and elderly people. Their lobbying efforts are part of their stated mission goal, and they are a non-profit that spends most of their funds on their lobbying. They also set up tons of discounts for their members at various businesses. Memberships for a year cost $16, or $12 if you sign up for auto-renewal.

    Who can Become a Member?

    Membership doesn’t require you to be retired. All you need in order to become a full member of AARP is to be 50 years old. In fact, you can join up as an “associate member” as long as you’re over the age of 18. However, you don’t get access to the full range of benefits AARP offers members if you’re not 50 or older.

    Benefits

    Some of the most notable benefits you’ll want from AARP include discounts on various services. These can include discounts at restaurants and on travel. Travel, in particular, is a major focus of the AARP. They have travel package deals, focusing on travel for retired persons, that can save you tons of money on vacations.

    Other discounts can include up to 25% off of car rental prices, which is great for frequent travelers. Then, on top of this, you can get up to 10% off of your stay at various hotel chains that have deals with the AARP. Flights, cruises, travel packages, and more are also available at discounts through the AARP. You can also land exclusive deals on car insurance like a 10%* discount on your premium, accident forgiveness, and disappearing deductible.

    Many people may not know, but AARP has also partnered with dental insurance companies to help those who don’t have coverage. They offer a variety of PPO and USA plans depending on where you’re from. AARP knows it’s always a good idea to make sure you have your smile protected.

    Entertainment

    Another form of discount you can get through the AARP is on entertainment. This includes discounts on movie tickets through Regal theaters, and there are also discounts through the “Movies for Grown-Ups” program. Another way to save is through Ticketmaster, which offers discounts for AARP members.

    Cirque du Soleil offers 20% off for AARP members at some of their Vegas shows, too! This is a great way for a retired person to save a ton on their entertainment budget, making AARP a smart decision for someone looking to see lots of movies and shows.

    Bottom Line

    There are numerous other upsides for AARP members, including the AARP Now App, the Avo retirement planner, and the free online AARP Brain Games. These benefits, when combined with the discounts that full members get, make AARP membership attractive for many older Americans.

    In short, the cost of your membership is easily offset if you use the discounts on even a few movie tickets. If you spend money on a vacation and save some through the discount program, odds are the $16 membership price will more than pay for itself.


  • Discover The Best Laptop Deals of the Holiday Season on Apple, Microsoft, Dell, and More!

    Discover The Best Laptop Deals of the Holiday Season on Apple, Microsoft, Dell, and More!

    If you’re shopping for a laptop during Black Friday or Cyber Monday for your kids going back to school, or just looking for something to help you with productivity, there’s a lot to choose from. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for laptops on the lower end to distance themselves from competition in the form of tablets and even smartphones.

    Most of the year, it’s tough to find a worthwhile deal on a laptop. If you’re in the market for an upgrade, or are buying your first laptop, Black Friday is when all of the retailers and manufacturers mark down most, if not all, of their inventory to the best prices of the year. Regardless of whether you have your eye on a Windows 10 laptop or a MacBook, there will be plenty of both sorts on sale soon (and in some cases, right now).

    Apple

    Apple’s new 16-inch MacBook Pro is already $100 off at Best Buy, starting at $2,299 for My Best Buy members (Best Buy’s program is free to join and only requires an e-mail address to set up) instead of $2,399. This deal applies to all configurations.

    The latest MacBook Air will be $200 off beginning on Thanksgiving, starting at $899.99 for the base model with 128GB of storage, 8GB of RAM, and an Intel Core i5 dual-core processor. This model is available in several colors, and unlike the previous generation, this one has a True Tone display that can automatically match the screen’s color temperature to the ambient lighting in the room. Best Buy members can save $100 on this product now, but you’ll get a better discount if you wait just a little longer.

    Microsoft

    At the Microsoft Store, the brand-new Surface Pro 7 (Intel Core i5-1035G4 with a base clock speed of 1.1GHz, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage) will be bundled with a black Type Cover (usually sold separately) and sold for $799 starting on Friday, November 22nd. This model is currently priced at $899 for the tablet alone, and since the Type Cover is all but necessary, it’s a great deal given how recently this product was released. You should know that Best Buy will also offer this deal, but on Black Friday.

    Also at the Microsoft Store, the low-end option (Core i3-1005G1 with a 1.2GHz base clock speed, 4GB RAM, 128GB storage) is getting a $150 markdown starting on November 28th. Instead of $749, it will cost $599, and will include a Type Cover. This same deal will also happen at Best Buy on Black Friday.

    Dell

    Dell’s XPS 13 (13-inch 1080p display, Intel Core i7-8565U with a 1.8GHz base clock speed, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM) currently costs $1,049 (usually $1,299). At Costco, Dell’s latest XPS 13 laptop (4K display, 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10710U with a 1.1GHz base clock speed, 16GB of RAM, 1TB SSD storage) will be $1,399 starting on Thanksgiving Day. The webcam is located at the top of the display on both of these laptops, and they each feature two Thunderbolt 3 ports. The XPS 13 is currently our top pick for best laptop, so you should check either of these models out if you’re in the market for a compact, very capable machine.

    Dell’s 2-in-1 version of the XPS 13 laptop is $1,449 right now. It has a 16:10 aspect ratio display (pictured at the top of this post), which offers a little bit more screen real estate for getting things done. It also has Intel’s new 10th Gen Core i7-1065G7 with a base clock speed of 1.3GHz, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. The updated specs, plus the ability to twist the screen around will cost you a premium, but might be worth it for your needs. My colleague Dan Seifert said that this model is “even better than the standard XPS 13” in his review.