Companies using artificial intelligence in cybersecurity respond to data breaches faster and save over $1 million in incident responses compared to firms that don’t use AI, IBM reports.
Hacks cost financial firms on average $5.9 million in 2023, according to the tech giant’s new Cost of a Data Breach Report. The average global cost of a data breach was $4.45 million, an all-time high and slight increase from last year’s $4.35 million mark.
The research, conducted by the Ponemon Institute and analyzed by IBM, polled 553 organizations worldwide which suffered cyber attacks between March 2022 and March 2023. It’s unclear if any of the 67 U.S. companies surveyed were real estate organizations. The industry however was hammered with attacks over the same period.
Cybersecurity utilizing AI saved firms on average $1.76 million in incident responses compared to businesses that didn’t, the report found. The tech-savvy firms also contained breaches 108 days sooner than their non-AI counterparts.
“Examples include the use of AI, machine learning, automation and orchestration to augment or replace human intervention in detection and investigation of threats as well as the response and containment process,” the report said.
Only 28% of firms surveyed said they extensively use AI and automation security tools in cybersecurity, while 40% rely solely on manual inputs. Although the mortgage industry has slowly embraced tech solutions, an Arizent survey last year found lenders lagging behind their financial services peers in deploying AI and machine learning in cybersecurity.
Lenders, servicers and other real estate players have suffered attacks impacting as little as a few hundred customers to millions of consumers in the past two years. While some firms have yet to acknowledge widely-reported attacks, others are facing class-action lawsuits from borrowers whose personally identifiable information was compromised.
Mortgage firms have been quick to identify hacks, discovering them typically within days, according to public disclosures. In a more severe lapse, a servicer in late 2021 didn’t identify a breach for 41 days before investigating. Those known response times are far quicker than IBM’s reported average of 204 days for companies to identify a breach and 73 days to contain it.
Among the average damages for firms worldwide were lost business costs, which respondents put at an average of $1.3 million per firm in 2023. Those expenses include lost customers and revenue, and the cost of acquiring new clients. Audits, investigations and crisis management totalled on average $1.58 million.
Notification costs to consumers, regulators and other third parties averaged $370,000, according to the report. The 37% of businesses surveyed that didn’t notify law enforcement of attacks paid on average $470,000 more than those who did.
The overall costs don’t include ransoms paid. The FBI warns victims not to pay hackers to further enable them.
Ransomware accounted for nearly 25% of all attacks, followed by phishing at 16% and compromised access credentials at 15%, the report found. Only a third of breaches were identified by a firm’s own security team or tools, a lapse that could add an additional $1 million to a data breach.
The report highlights the benefits of firms which use a managed security service provider, a vendor that provides around-the-clock monitoring. Companies using a security partner cut breach lifecycles by 21%.
Mortgage companies in the past year have also been forced to reconcile soaring cybersecurity and cyber insurance costs with fading revenues. In the past three months alone, lenders have grappled with a ransomware gang, suffered wide-ranging cyber attacks and paid a seven-figure settlement to resolve the fallout of a data breach.
US economy added fewer new jobs than expected last month.
The US non-farm payroll rose by 187,000 in July, data just released shows, below forecasts of an increase of 200,000.
June’s NFP has been revised down too, from +209,000 to +185,000, while May’s has been cut by 25,000, from +306,000 to +281,000, meaning fewer jobs were created in the spring than we thought.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has also reported that the unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, down from 3.6% in June.
They add:
Job gains occurred in health care, social assistance, financial activities, and wholesale trade.
Economists are hopeful that the US economy is on track for a soft landing, after US employers added 187,000 jobs in July, less than expected.
July’s jobs report is a sign that the labor market is cooling after a series of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve have driven rates to their highest level in 22 years.
July’s gains were just 2,000 more than the jobs added in June. The BLS revised June’s job gain down to 185,000, a cut of 24,000 jobs. It also cut May’s jobs number. Together, June and July represent the two weakest monthly gains in two and a half years.
Here’s the full story:
US economy adds 187,000 July jobs in sign labor market is coolingRead more
In the UK, there are fears the economy is caught in a ‘low growth trap’, after the Bank of England cut its GDP forecasts yesterday and hiked interest rates to a 15-year high.
UK car sales have risen for 12 months in a row….but rising interest rates have been blamed for another fall in housebuilding.
Shipping giant AP Møller-Maersk has warned of a longer and deeper contraction of global trade than previously expected.
Inflationary pressures in the food sector are on the rise, with the UN reporting that global food commodity prices rose in July.
Revolut is shutting down its crypto trading operations in the US amid a regulatory crackdown.
a crackdown on crypto exchanges, by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which has accused industry giant Binance of a range of securities violations, including mishandling customer funds and misleading investors and regulators, and alleged Coinbase of skirting SEC rules by letting users trade crypto tokens that were actually unregistered securities.
Revolut said users will be blocked from buying cryptocurrencies from 2 September, and that access would be fully disabled by 3 October, meaning customers will no longer be able to buy, sell, or hold any cryptocurrencies after that date.
Revolut said in a statement:
“This decision has not been taken lightly, and we understand the disappointment this may cause. This suspension does not affect Revolut users outside of the US in any way, and impacts less than 1% of Revolut’s crypto customers globally.”
A spokesperson stressed that the decision would not affect customers in any other markets, including the UK, where Revolut has been registered as a crypto asset provider since September 2022.
The company – which has been waiting more than two years for a decision on its UK banking licence – said it would not disclose how much of its revenues rely on crypto services, but said in 2021 that they made up around 15-20% of its revenues.
The unemployment rate fell a tick to 3.5% and remains near the lowest rates recorded in half a century. We haven't had unemployment this persistently low for this long in decades. Layoffs are incredibly low and workers report feeling confident they can find work.
— Justin Wolfers (@JustinWolfers) August 4, 2023
Economics, suggests the Fed shouldn’t be worried that US wage growth was steady last month, rather than slowing as expected:
The news that average hourly earnings growth increased by 0.4% m/m in July, and 4.4% over the past 12 months, might seem like a problem for the Fed. With productivity growth accelerating, however, it may not be.
A chart showing US jobs changes
today’s US jobs data.
US jobs report in July is still consistent with a strong labour market, despite lower-than-expected and the smallest monthly job gains since December 2020.
Job gains cooled with the Fed’s tightening campaign and a slower economy, but still decent at 187K in July. Weakness is contained in the manufacturing sector where payrolls dropped by 2K, reflective of the sector’s downturn and more cyclical nature.
Higher-than-expected wage growth of 4.4% YoY means compensation is outpacing inflation and a boost for workers.
August 4, 2023
Carson, has fired over some ineresting thoughts on today’s US jobs report:
The jobs numbers this morning were just slightly below the expectations for a 200,000 increase, coming in an 187,000. At some point, job growth had to slow down and though many people will read this as the start of a recession, this is more likely just normalization of the economy as opposed to “softening.”
Job growth recently has been driven by non-cyclical sectors, like health care, education, and government. These sectors had lagged in the original recovery but have accounted for more than 50% of job creation in 2023 as opposed to 25% in 2022. The cyclical sectors have been on the softer side this year, and this report points to more of the same.
The unemployment rate fell a tick to 3.5% indicating that the labor market remains strong.
Strong employment and strong wage growth means income growth is still strong, which is positive for consumption and the economy, as long as inflationary pressure remains muted.
the ecommerce giant beat Wall Street forecasts last night with sales up 11% to $134.4bn in the last quarter.
The company reported a quarterly profit of $6.7bn, nearly double what analysts expected.
$DXY The Dollar heading lower after NFP pic.twitter.com/XazkDNbevl
My friend Gillian called the other day — she’s been having money trouble and was looking for help. “I’m not really a financial advisor,” I told her. “I write about money, and I try to help people at my web site, but I’m not qualified to coach you one-on-one.” Still, she’s a friend, so I resolved to at least give her some advice. I asked her to explain the situation.
“Tom and I are working all the time, but we’re always broke. He just wrecked his car, but we don’t have money to get it repaired. We’ll have to use the credit cards again. We don’t have any other choice. There’s never anything left at the end of the month,” she said. “I need some help budgeting so that we don’t keep having this problem.”
“Well, let’s see what we can do. I guess the best place to start is with your monthly income and your monthly expenses. How much do you and Tom bring home each month?” I asked.
“About $4,000 after taxes.” That was about what I expected.
“How much do you spend?” I asked.
“All of it,” she said, laughing. I expected that, too.
“How much do you have saved?” I asked. “Do you have any savings at all?”
“No, we don’t,” she said. “There’s never been anything left over to save.”
They don’t have anything left to save because they’re very good at spending money. Gillian and Tom live well:
They have a nice custom-built home.
Each of them drives a late model SUV.
They have no kids.
They enjoy expensive hobbies.
I have friends who make half what Gillian and Tom do, but have built a nest egg because they maintain a frugal lifestyle. It should be easy for these two to reduce their spending to create a budget surplus. “Well, let’s see if we can find a way to free up some cash,” I said. “Let’s list your fixed monthly expenses.”
Gillian listed their bills one-by-one. I jotted them down, making note of anything that seemed particularly extravagant. “Okay, let’s see what we have,” I said. “You’re paying a housekeeper $50 a week. If you were to clean the house yourself, you’d save $200 a month.”
“But…” she began.
“I think you’d be surprised at how much difference $200 a month can make,” I said. “I know from experience that even a $50 positive cash flow can make the difference between feeling broke and feeling flush. A $200 difference is huge.”
“Yeah,” said Gillian, “but I don’t want to clean the house. It’s too much work.” I was puzzled. To me, this was a quick and obvious way to free up money. If I were in her shoes, the housekeeper would be the first thing to go — it would be worth some extra work on my part. I tried a different approach.
“You each have a cell phone,” I said. “Do you both need one?”
“Yes,” said Gillian. “I don’t know what I’d do without one. And Tom needs one for work. I need to be able to reach him.”
Her reasoning seemed thin, but I pressed on. “Well, what about the cable bill,” I said. “You’re paying $60 a month for that. That’s an easy one. What about cutting back to basic cable?”
“Oh, we can’t get rid of cable,” Gillian said. “We watch TV all the time.” I was silent. “Are you there?” she asked.
“I’m here,” I said. “I’m just trying to figure out what to do. In order for you to turn things around, you’re going to have to make some sacrifices.”
“Yeah,” she said, “but we can’t cut cable. Tom would have a fit.”
“Gillian,” I said, “this is a little frustrating. I thought you wanted to get out of your money situation.”
“I do,” she said, “but so far you’re just suggesting things for me to get rid of. Isn’t there something else we can do? Can’t we use a budget to get more money?”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” I said. “Cutting things like these is making a budget. I know it seems terrible to have to give things up, but you need to make sacrifices — at least in the short term — in order to get ahead. You don’t have any savings. Any disaster means you’re putting money on your credit card. You need to build up some savings. You need to pay off your existing debt. In order to do this, you need to spend less than you earn. Right now you’re spending exactly what you earn, and you’ll never get ahead that way. I know, because for years that’s how I operated. You’re going to have to tighten the belt, Gillian. It’s the only way.”
I paused, and then said, “You need to decide what’s important.”
It was obvious I wasn’t going to be able to help her. I hadn’t even explored the Big Ideas, like moving down to a smaller home or trading one of their SUVs for a used car. I had started with the medium-sized stuff — the obvious chaff. But Gillian wasn’t interested in making changes if it meant altering her lifestyle. I changed the subject.
We talked about summer. Gillian asked how our garden was. I described the knee-high corn, the ripe raspberries, and Kris’ monster tomatoes. “I’m jealous,” she said. “I don’t have time to garden. I did get a chance to go to the nursery last week, though. I was able to pick up five shrubs on sale for about $10 each.”
The shrubs were the final straw. There was nothing I could do to help her because she wasn’t ready to be helped. She wasn’t ready to listen. She said she wanted to change, but she didn’t really. She was looking for a magic pill, something that would make life easier without any effort on her part. That’s not how it works. Eventually Gillian will reach a place so bad that she’ll begin to see the need to take responsibility for improving her situation, but she’s not there yet.
Our conversation reminded me of an episode of This American Life I heard recently. The show profiled debt guru Dave Ramsey, and at one point the reporter played a segment in which Dave experienced similar frustration:
Tina calls Dave because she’s upside-down on her car loan. She recently wrecked the car, but rather than use the money to repair the vehicle, she spent it. “Ooooo-kay,” says Dave, obviously flustered. “I’m afraid what you’re looking at is probably a really good part-time job, about six or eight months of 80 hour weeks.”
“Eighty hour weeks?” says Tina. “That’s too much work.”
“I can’t help you, Tina,” says Dave.
And I can’t help you, Gillian.
This story is based on actual events. Names and situations have been changed to protect Gillian’s identity.
Builders are increasingly offering buyers incentives in order to help sell their homes, with promotions including paying the closing costs, buying down mortgage rates and even straight discounts, which is a move they’re normally reluctant to make.
“We are really working a little bit harder to get people in the door and to get people excited,” Mark Mullin, a real estate professional who sells new homes in the L.A. area, told the Los Angeles Times. “These are things [builders] were not having to do a year ago.”
However, the concessions are still fairly small compared to a decade ago, though they are growing. For example, 23 percent of builders in the Los Angeles area lowered their listing prices in December, in addition to offering buyers money for upgrades, according to a recent John Burns Real Estate Consulting survey. In comparison, just 4 percent of builders did so one year ago.
But some 43 percent of builders were cutting prices in 2010, which shows they’re doing better than they were during the last throes of the Great Recession.
Normally, builders will prefer to offer incentives such as new amenities or cash for upgrades rather than cut prices. That’s because they don’t want buyers who’ve already signed a contract while the home is still being built to later back out when they see the prices slashed.
For example, development company Planet Home Living in Newport Beach, California, was selling units at $809,000 but not getting the traction it desired for its townhome-like units. In November, it slashed the price by $10,000 and added upgraded flooring, which would have cost buyers an extra $20,000. But so far, buyers are still not jumping at the discounts. Builders say they don’t expect to drop prices further.
Builders have seen sales slowing for several months. KB Homes, Toll Bros., and other homebuilders reported a drop in sales in the last quarter. Builders and real estate professionals say a jump in mortgage rates in 2018 and more than six years of price increases led to the slowdown. Some buyers “are waiting for reassurance that we are not in a crash,” Mullin told the Times.
Meanwhile, some homebuilders are readjusting their pricing expectations. “We took prices beyond the realm of reality,” says Grant Keene, chief executive of WJK Development, a luxury builder in Huntington Beach, Calif. The company tried unsuccessfully to sell single-family homes for up to $2.2 million—10 percent higher than the previous per-square-foot record for the area. “It made consumers balk,” Keene says.
Mike Wheatley is the senior editor at Realty Biz News. Got a real estate related news article you wish to share, contact Mike at [email protected].
It’s no secret that celebrities have said some wild and outrageous things—both on-screen and off. From ridiculous demands to understanding complicated topics, these famous people will make you shake your head in disbelief. Whether it was a misinformed statement or something downright silly, prepare to be amazed by what they had to say or did! So get ready for an entertaining read as we explore the dumbest statements uttered by our beloved stars of stage and screen.
1. Not Fake a Hate Crime
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One user posted, “Jussie Smollett. Tracy Morgan said it best: ‘Yeah, they gave me a role on “Empire.” Contractually, they gave me millions of dollars. Contractually, all I gotta do is not fake a hate crime.’”
Another user replied, “Dave Chappelle’s bit about Jussie Smollett was pretty funny too. ‘The black community supported Jussie Smollett by keeping our mouths shut.’”
“This is the top one for me. It took so much careful planning and effort,” one commenter added.
2. If I Did It
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One Redditor posted, “Making a book called ‘If I Did It’ after being acquitted of murder.”
Another user replied, “The family of OJs victims got the rights of the book and made the ‘if’ incredibly small.”
One commenter added, “Also, the forward they added is called ‘He Did It.’”
Another Redditor said, “Kids today will never understand what a BIG FREAKIN’ DEAL the whole OJ thing was, from the car chase to the trial. So really, if it weren’t for OJ, we wouldn’t have The Kardashians.”
One user explained, “OJ was one of those athletes who managed to cross over to pop culture. He was on TV often between his acting and product endorsements. In addition to being considered one of the best football players, he had a squeaky-clean image. The closest parallel I can draw today is if Peyton Manning killed his wife and went on a police chase. Of course, there probably wouldn’t be a racial component as there was with OJ, but as far as images are concerned, OJ and Manning would be similar.”
3. Joining Scientology
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One user posted, “Joining Scientology, promoting it, and defending it.”
Another user replied, “Just look at Danny Masterson, they tried to cover up his [sexual] scandal, and thankfully he was convicted.”
4. Performing an Ukulele Apology
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
“Playing the ukulele to ‘apologize’ for being creepy to kids you met on the internet,” one Redditor posted.
Another user commented, “There’s no quicker way to make people think you’re diddling kids than writing a song about it!”
One commenter responded, “I saw a meme about it today, and it was like ‘Common playing in A minor got you in this situation in the first place’ and I was crying laughing.”
5. Trying to Bring a Controlled Substance On an Airplane
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Another user added, “Former NBA player Damon Stoudamire tried to get over 1 ounce of [drugs] onto an airplane, but got caught at the metal detectors because he wrapped it in Aluminum Foil.”
One user asked, “Is that what happened to him?! I was wondering why he just got up and disappeared.”
“He’s the head coach of Georgia Tech,” one Redditor answered.
6. Being Bill Cosby
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
A Redditor shared, “Bill Cosby for being Bill Cosby. Millions adored this man as the father figure they always wanted. Until he wasn’t the father figure anyone wanted.”
One replied, “This one hurt severely. The public loved him. He had great stand-up routines and tv shows. I got to see him perform once.
“Then, Boom. It turns out he’s [sexually assaulted and] drugged women. Ugh.”
Another user added, “It was absolutely heartbreaking. I watched every episode of The Cosby Show, some more than once. It made me feel good; happy memories; everything was okay. Until it wasn’t.”
7. The Streisand Effect
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
“Barbra Streisand created Streisand effect. She didn’t want her home to be known on the internet, so she did everything in her power to remove pictures and addresses but wasn’t successful, and in return, her home became a hot topic,” one user added.
One user replied, “It seems dumb today, but the internet was pretty new and kind of unknown to most people. I imagine this was thought the same way as going after a tabloid. But instead, we witnessed an entirely new phenomenon.”
Another user added, “The funny thing was, prior to her lawsuit, the picture featuring her house had been viewed five times. Presumably, one of those was Streisand herself, and another was her lawyer. IIRC, the offending picture was part of a project to photograph the entirety of the California coastline. So thousands of images. One of which happened to show the back of her house. There was nothing in the picture that identified the house as hers.”
8. Antonio Brown Incidents
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One user posted, “Here’s a list of Antonio Brown incidents from another thread. He could have legit been a potential Hall Of Fame player, as he was arguably one of the best WRs in the NFL. Then… he took crazy to a level that makes Kanye look sane. The dude has a lot more time to add some stupid [things] to it, but here goes:
“Edit: The newest is buying an Arena Football Team to be an owner/player then not paying league dues… currently the target of a class-action lawsuit for withholding paychecks to players as well.
“•Kicked out of Florida International University after fighting a security guard…
“• His second year in the league, he took a personal stretch limo to a charity event, had them open every single expensive bottle of wine, and rejected it. They refused to pay for it (charity, remember), then left. -credit Nduguu77…
• Trashed a condo and threw furniture out a window 14th-floor window, which almost hit some people, notably a child…
“• Threw a fit over Juju winning team MVP and trashed him on social media…
“• Held out and refused to show up to training camp because the NFL would not approve his helmet because it was too old for their safety standards…
“• Got fined by the Raiders for not attending camp…
“• Tried to fight Mike Mayock, called him a cracker, had to be held back by Vontaze Burfict, then punted a football down the practice field and said, ‘Fine me for that.’ [He was fined.]…
“• Released a video where he used audio of Jon Gruden, who didn’t know he was being recorded, which is illegal in California (full disclosure, Gruden has said he gave permission, but the generally accepted theory is that he said that in the hope that it would help get him to show up to the facility and not alienate him.)
“• Demanded a release from the Raiders…
“• Made a lot of crazy tweets saying stuff like ‘Devil is a lie,’ a proverb about burning down a village… he made a lot of crazy tweets around this time is the point here…
“• Signed with the Patriots…
“• The sexual assault allegations came out (the one where he’s getting sued)
“• The sexual harassment allegations came out (the one where he’s not getting sued)
“• Threatened the woman not suing him in a group text that included his lawyer and had a picture of her kids in the text
“• Got released by the Patriots after one week
“• Went off on a tweet storm and said a lot of crazy [things] about a lot of people, and was supportive of people sending threats to the writer of the article detailing the sexual harassment allegations
“• Said he was done with the NFL
“• Went back to college via online classes
“• Tried to outsource his homework to Twitter
“• Wants to come back to the NFL
“• Filed several grievances to try and get more than $40 million from the Raiders and Patriots…
“• Tweeted a couple of bizarre tweets about the Raiders using him for HBO ratings and the Patriots trying to steal his stuff and kept using this weird chicken-based metaphor
“• Tried out for the Saints and brought an entourage and film crew to shoot a music video with him when specifically told not to do that…
“• Tweeted ‘No more white woman 2020.’…
“• Used a bunch of slurs and profane language toward cops in an Instagram video he posted
“• A police youth football league cut ties with him and returned a donation after the release of the video saying there was an ‘irreparable rift’ between the department and AB…
“• Was involved in a dispute with movers at his home, where he allegedly threw rocks at the movers and moving vans. He is currently being investigated for battery by the police…
“• Warrant issued for the arrest of AB…
“• Rumors spread about AB signing with Tampa or Seattle
“• AB announces his retirement (for what I believe is the third time, it’s hard to find a good record of the rest of them.) Two days later, AB wants to play again and is asking for the league to wrap up its investigation
“• The NFL announces an eight-game suspension for AB… under investigation for the bike-throwing incident
“• Allegedly acquired fake covid-19 card. Confirmed to have acquired a fake covid-19 card and subsequently suspended for three games
“• Removed jerseys and pads and threw them in the stands before exiting the game verse the Jets. Was subsequently cut from the Bucs for stripping on the field…”
9. Praising Nazi Germany
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
“Losing a billion-dollar shoe deal b/c he couldn’t stop talking about how much he loves Hitler,” one user added.
Another user replied, “When Alex Jones is trying to reign you in, you know you’re spouting some crazy [things].”
One commenter shared, “That was such a bizarre interview. Alex REPEATEDLY gave him outs like, ‘As a fashion designer, surely you just appreciated their uniforms, RIGHT?’ And Kanye pretty much says, ‘Nah, I just like Hitler, man.’ Wtf?”
10. Staging a Hate Crime
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One user answered, “[Jussie Smollet] is a contender, although many choices exist. He stages a hate crime to gain leverage in contract negotiations… He hires meatheads to do the deed and pays them with a check. Of course, he lied the whole time, then the video turns up, and the DA figures it out.
“But being famous, he pulls strings and escapes prosecution for making a false claim. THEN…the political tide shifts, and he runs his mouth and refuses to reimburse the county for the cost of the investigation. And so the new DA says f- it and prosecutes him, and he gets convicted because he was obviously guilty.”
11. Posting a Video of Violent Death
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
“Logan Paul posted a full YouTube video of someone hanging in a forest,” one user posted.
Another user commented, “Well, his whole family seems like crap, so no surprise he’s a huge [jerk].”
One Redditor added, “Even worse was that he was in Aokigahara, the ‘suicide forest’ in Japan. It’s unclear why that forest is such a popular place for people to un-alive themselves, but to revel in such a horrible event for internet fame is despicable.”
12. Saying You Could Have Saved Flight 11
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One user posted, “Mark Wahlberg saying if he had been on flight 11 (like he was supposed to), it wouldn’t have crashed because he would have killed the terrorists then figured out how to land the plane.”
Another user replied, “So he said what every person in Boston says daily.”
13. Debating Word Definitions
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One user shared, “That time Jennifer Garner corrected Conan O’Brien on the word snuck is one of my favorites. The fact that she throws in the bit about him going to Harvard makes it extra delicious.”
Another user replied, “His laugh when pulling out the dictionary to prove her wrong lives in my mind rent-free.”
14. Gwenyth Paltrow’s Goop
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
“Gwenyth Paltrow and everything she promotes. Here’s a tea made with echinacea, random plants I got from cutting my yard. I stirred it with my [privates]. It’ll cure ED, lung cancer, whatever. Now available at Goop,” posted one user.
Another user replied, “Doesn’t everyone want a $100 candle that smells like my [body]..?”
15. A Math Called Terryology
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One user posted, “Terrance Howard ‘invented’ his own math called Terryology.”
Another user replied, “‘How can it equal one?’ he said. ‘If one [times] one equals one, that means that two is of no value because one [times] itself has no effect. One [times] one equals two because the square root of four is two, so what’s the square root of two? Should be one, but we’re told it’s two, and that cannot be.’”
Do you agree with the statements listed above? Share your thoughts!
Source: Reddit.
These are 10 Things That Completely Destroyed The Love in a Relationship
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
There’s no question that relationships can be confusing, but here are some of the top things to avoid if you want to keep your relationship healthy!
10 Actors and Actresses People Refuse to Watch Ever Again
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
We all have a favorite actor or actress, but most of us have a least-favorite as well. Check out this list of actors and actresses people never want to see performing again!
Top 10 Worst Human Inventions of All Time
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Some inventions are world-changing, and some of them, well, they change the world in the wrong ways. Here are some of the worst inventions Redditors could think of.
10 Famous Celebrities Who Look Like They Smell Terrible
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
We’ve all had moments of hygiene faux pas—but these celebrities just look like they don’t take care of themselves at all.
10 Terrible Fads People Are Glad Died Out
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Every fad has its time in the limelight, but some of them come and go faster than others; and some just need to die out right away. Check out this list of fads of which people were happy to see the last.
This was an actual weekend harvest from our garden last August.
At Get Rich Slowly, we get many requests for information about starting a vegetable garden. This is huge topic, and really enough fodder for an entire website. If you’re a novice gardener you will benefit by asking yourself six questions before mail-ordering seeds or heading to your local nursery. Now is the time to do your research so that you’ll be ready for planting season.
Do you actually like to eat vegetables?
If not, focus on fruits and herbs, edible and ornamental flowers, and a favorite veggie or two. A well-tended garden will produce a lot of vegetables. If you are lukewarm about zucchini then pass up that beautiful seedling. (Or go introduce yourself to your five nearest neighbors so that you can share come July).
What is your gardening space like?
This is probably the most important question for the novice gardener. If you are starting from bare dirt or, more likely, a patch of lawn, you have some work to do. The plot needs to be evaluated for sun and wind exposure, moisture/drainage, soil pH and elemental content, pests, and other factors.
When we moved to the new house, J.D. used math to determine our garden location.
Crop gardens need a sunny spot. But remember that the angle of the sun in the summer months will be different than it is now. Nonetheless, try to watch over the next few weeks to determine where the sun hits your property. If I have to choose between morning sun and evening, I prefer morning sun — it is less intense, which means watering needs are decreased. Here in Portland, however, it’s hard to give a garden too much sun.
Get online and tap the resources at your local university’s extension offices. You can usually find them just by searching for your state’s name and “extension service”. Many states offer free soil testing, which will tell you how to amend the soil if nutrients or organic matter are lacking, or if the pH of the soil needs to be adjusted. Your county’s Master Gardener program may also offer this service. Each crop has an optimum pH growing range. We add acid for our blueberries and strawberries; kale and peas like a slightly alkaline soil. If your soil is close to neutral (pH 7), you can probably proceed as-is.
These tomatoes were started from seed in February. In May they’re ready to be transplanted!
Even if your soil is terrible, you still have options. On a small scale, container gardening can be rewarding. A cherry tomato, well-watered, can do well in a large pot on a patio. Better yet, build some raised beds. These will require an initial investment for the soil to fill them and construction materials, but they provide better drainage, warmer soil temperatures in the spring (and thus earlier crops), and reduced weeding. (Please avoid pressure-treated lumber, though, there is some evidence that the toxic chemicals leach into the soil. Okay for a picnic table, but not for the dirt where your eggplant is growing!)
If this all seems rather intimidating, I encourage you to start small. Don’t roto-till the entire lawn under until you really decide that crop gardening is for you. If your gardening space is less than ideal but you’d like to take the plunge, perhaps one 6’x12′ foot raised bed is the perfect beginning. Or try growing herbs.
During our second summer, we tore up sod to expand the garden space.
Herbs are one of the most forgiving classes of plants to grow — almost as easy as weeds — especially the hardy perennial herbs. Except for excessively moist soil and total shade, almost any conditions will support herbs. They thrive in sunny, dry areas. Herbs are also some of the most frugal crops you can grow because they are outrageously priced at the grocery store and can be used to make even basic ingredients into a stand-out meal. It’s worth the cost to start with herb plants rather than seeds so that you can use them right away.
Perennial herbs like sage, rosemary, thyme, lemon verbena, mints, chives and oregano require very little work. Again, do your homework for your climate. And a word to the wise: some herbs are invasive. Mints have spreading roots that will take over your entire city block. They are best in a container with a solid bottom rather than planted directly in the ground. Others, like oregano and fennel, spread easily by dropping their seeds. If you want to avoid little fennel and oregano families, be sure to trim off the flowers before they go to seed.
Last year we added an herb garden.
Short term, long term, or both?
Plants generally fall into two categories: annuals or perennials.
Annual crops start from a seed, mature and bear fruit (or vegetable) in one season, then die. In our region, corn is an annual, as are cucumbers, watermelons, and tomatoes. Plants that can survive the winter to regrow for another crop season are typically perennials, Examples include asparagus, blueberries, artichoke, and rhubarb. This also applies to flowers, of course: sunflower (annual) versus rose (perennial). I tend to think of fruits in the perennial group: fruit trees and berries are perennials. Most vegetables (again, this is for my climate) are annuals. Obviously there are exceptions to this generalization, like the melon family.
To decide where to focus your gardening energies, you should know your climate zone. This will help you determine the length of your growing season and which annual crops are going to have time to ripen.
Perennials usually cost more than annuals initially (buying an apple tree sapling, for example), and will require patience. We planted asparagus two springs ago and are hoping for our first taste this April. But these plants are longer living, and give you bigger returns for relatively little work. Asparagus plants can live for twenty years before needing replacements; an apple tree may not bear a crop for the first five years, but may live to be one-hundred.
If you’re just getting your gardening feet muddy for the first time, I recommend annuals. Tomatoes are extremely rewarding, as are other salad fixings such as lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, radishes and carrots. Other easy crops to start with are beans, onions (or leeks/shallots), potatoes, and pumpkin (although this needs room to spread). Besides the instant gratification they provide, mistakes with annuals are easily corrected the next season without much expense. Did the birds eat all your peas? Try something next year to protect them. Has your corn crop failed? Next spring, try it in a sunnier place.
Our strawberry plants have spread like crazy in the past three years.
If you have enough space and the inclination, try a bit of both annuals and perennials. A strawberry patch won’t produce much the first year, but the plants will reproduce and spread to give you a bounteous crop. Dwarf fruit trees are a nice option if you are looking for an ornamental small tree; most have beautiful blossoms, too. And don’t forget those herbs!
We planted two apples, a pear, and prune. We also have a filbert and walnut. (We never get many filberts — our yard is home to a Kingdom of Squirrels.)
Who are your gardening neighbors?
Tap those resources. Most gardeners love to talk about their plants. You can learn a lot about what works for your area by listening to their stories of success and failure. If you do a bit of pre-planning, you could also take part in a seed co-op. A typical tomato seed packet may hold 30 seeds — more than enough to split among four gardeners. Many vegetable starts are sold as single pots, but some come in six-packs that can be easily shared. With knowledge and experience, you can even harvest seeds from local gardens (with permission, of course) to plant the following spring. And if you’re lucky, when it’s time for the woman across the street to divide her lavender bush, she’ll share half with you!
Can you control yourself?
Most seed packets run only $2-$3, so they are tempting. But spending money and wasting your time on plants that won’t do well in your garden is an exercise in summer-long frustration. Evaluate your space and the soil and sun conditions. Learn to avoid catalog phrases such as “spreads quickly” or “freely self-sows” unless that’s what you really want. Don’t trust the catalog! The pictures are tempting, but they often show the plant only at its peak — what will it look like the rest of the time? Is it invasive? Poisonous? Hard-to-grow? Will it require constant maintenance? Use the internet and your library’s garden references to research seeds and plants before you buy them. I have found the internet to be a wonderful alternative to a knowledgeable nursery employee.
Do you have the time and money to grow your own food?
Gardening, initially, isn’t cheap. Besides plants and seeds, you’ll need garden tools, fertilizers, soil amendments, watering devices and a million other small things. But for those who savor its rewards, gardening is a labor of love. With time, and smart choices, having a kitchen garden does pay off financially. Herbs will pay for themselves quickly, and over the years, so will the berry bushes and canes, fruit trees and fresh vegetables. J.D. and I literally ate several hundred dollars of free homegrown berries this past spring and summer — all from a bit of our own labor, a few supplies and the investment of the canes and bushes. And that crop will only be bigger next year.
We’ve also dug up the lawn to plant grapes and caneberries.
Most gardens, even sizable ones, can be maintained with thirty minutes of work per day. Hoe weeds while they’re small, mulch properly, water wisely and be timely about harvesting. But if you let the garden tasks slip for a week or two, you may face a daunting task of huge weeds, spoiled crops or everything dead from lack of water. Gardening requires a time commitment if you want to reap the benefits.
Other Thoughts
If you are a beginning gardener, start small. Build on your successes. Be wise: it’s easy to dive in headfirst and then be overwhelmed. Research the plants you want to grow and the conditions they require, build a manageable raised bed if you’re starting from scratch, and use local resources to gain knowledge and cut costs.
Gardening requires a bit of seed money to begin, but the rewards are many! Healthier, fresher food, time in the great outdoors and a connection to nature, as well as engaging in an activity that can build community. And I haven’t even mentioned how much more excited kids are to eat their vegetables when they helped grow them or how people appreciate a homemade gift from the garden — whether a beautiful bouquet, and bunch of fragrant herbs, a fresh salad or a jewel-toned jar of jam.
In January fresh tomatoes are but a gardener’s dream.
Final Note
I recommend keeping your vegetable/fruit garden as organic as possible. One of the greatest benefits of growing your own is avoiding the pesticides (et al) on grocery-store goods. Insect diversity in your yard may be enough to keep pests in check; if you have an outbreak, simply try spraying with lightly soapy water, or other low-impact methods. If your soil is healthy and the plants are well-nourished, the plants will be strong and the bugs will be kept at bay.
This may not be practical in all climates, but here in Oregon, a few minutes each night hoeing will keep down the weeds, and the plants can take some munching by a bug or two once they’re established. With fertilizers, most choices are fine. I like an organic foliar spray — one that goes directly onto the leaves of my plants — but the crystalline concentrates that you mix with water can be fine as well, as long as your soil is already full of good organic matter and friendly worms.
Whether you’re planning to list your home for sale tomorrow or three years from now, it’s never too early to start making investments that will ultimately increase your home’s value.
According to the 2017 Cost vs. Value report, you will get the best return on your investment (ROI) from major renovations including: new attic insulation, basement and kitchen remodels, and adding a second story.
But even if you’re not in the position to start a major renovation—cost or time-wise—there are still plenty of smaller projects. Some you can do yourself, and they’ll help you increase your home’s value to better prepare you for the day you’re ready to sell.
Read on to learn about four small projects that you can work on (maybe this weekend) to boost your home value and make your home stand out in a crowded market.
1. Replace Your Front Door
Updating your front door is a great way to boost your curb appeal. First impressions can make or break your interactions with prospective buyers—especially since most buyers (51%) use the internet to find their home.
If you want would-be buyers to keep reading about your house and eventually schedule an in-person visit, the exterior of your home needs to look clean and inviting.
At a minimum, you’ll want to give your door a fresh coat of paint. Consider choosing a bright color that contrasts with the color of your home, but accentuates your landscaping. Upgrade the hardware on the door, too, for a simple makeover that packs a punch.
If you have more wiggle room in your budget, consider upgrading your front door to steel. Potential homebuyers will appreciate the added durability and security, and you’re likely to get a 90.7% return on your investment.
2. Upgrade Your Landscaping
Landscaping is another component of curb appeal that can really set your house apart from other listings. Prospective homebuyers tend to think (consciously or not) that if the exterior of a home looks well taken care of, the inside will be, too.
Make sure to get rid of any clutter like kids’ toys or bikes that could detract from your landscaping. You’ll also want to make minor repairs or upgrades to parts of your exterior, like painting a rusty gutter or replacing a broken fence panel.
Landscaping isn’t just about a well-manicured lawn and adding color with plants. It could include building a flagstone pathway to the backyard, installing a wrought-iron fence to increase the privacy of your front lawn, incorporating a zen water feature, or creating a peaceful place to relax (not to mention creating more living space) with the addition of a gazebo.
Quality landscaping can add up to 20% to your home’s value—a significant increase!
3. Let the Sun Shine
Maximizing natural light is a great way to make your home look larger and more inviting to prospective homebuyers. Skylights are great for brightening up dark spaces like hallways, kitchens, and bathrooms.
Keep in mind though, adding a skylight is similar to adding another window to your home in that it can increase the demand on your HVAC system. You can cut energy loss off at the pass by purchasing Energy Star no-leak skylights to keep your utility bills low. You may even be eligible for a tax credit.
If skylights are beyond your budget, check out solar tubes. Solar tubes are usually half the cost of skylights and as long as you are comfortable working on a roof, you can probably install one yourself. Even the smallest solar tube, 10-inches, is the equivalent of three 100-watt bulbs, which is enough to illuminate up to 200 square feet.
4. Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Today’s homebuyers are willing to pay a premium for a home with energy efficient features. According to Globst.com, buyers will pay up to $11,000 more for a home with well-insulated windows and Energy-star appliances because of the long-term savings they can expect to experience with their monthly utility bills.
Regardless of your budget, there are plenty of ways to make your home more energy efficient. On the lower end of the cost spectrum, you can start by installing ceiling fans, programmable thermostats, and efficient toilets and showerheads.
If you have more to invest, you could upgrade your insulation—fiberglass insulation ranks high with an ROI of 107.7%—or even install solar panels on your roof.
The best part of this investment is that you don’t have to wait until you sell your home to reap the benefits. You’ll benefit from lower utility bills (and a smaller carbon footprint) while you still live in your home.
No matter which home improvement projects you take on to increase your home value, none of them will be terribly effective if you neglect basic home maintenance.
If there are problems with your home’s exterior—like broken shutters or cracked concrete, or even the way your dryer only works if you shut the lid in a certain way, it will be a big red flag to buyers. Consider creating and sticking to a year-round maintenance plan for a trouble-free home.
Amanda recently sent J.D. an e-mail looking for advice about gift-giving:
My husband and I have made huge lifestyle changes since our son was born with congenital heart disease four years ago. He’s had five open-heart-surgeries, and we’ve had some killer medical bills. My husband stays home with both of our kids to help prevent Liam from getting sick too often, so we’ve gone down to one income, one car, basic cable, and a really aggressive budget.
One of our worst budget breakers however is gifts. I have eleven nieces and nephews, two kids, etc. At Christmas we’ve convinced both sides to just do a name exchange and then we only have to buy for two nieces/nephews on either side, which helps and we’ve just outright stopped exchanging gifts with our brothers & sisters, but there are still our parents, his grandparents, kids of friends who have birthday parties, and graduations, weddings, and baby showers!
We actually do plan most of these things into discretionary spending since we know when people have birthdays, but it’s always those gotchas like weddings and new babies (and we didn’t pre-think graduations with this year’s planning).
Could you offer any advice on fitting generosity and gift giving into a frugal budget? No one wants to be a grinch, but it really adds up some months. Sometimes, it’s half of our discretionary spending just to get small gifts (we only spend $10-15/kid!).
Ah, Amanda, I hear you! Gifts can be a budgeter’s downfall! Many of us readily accept our own sacrifices in the name of being frugal, but don’t want to seem “cheap” when it comes to giving gifts to others. I’ve struggled with both sides of this issue.
One side of me likes choosing and giving gifts, likes having those gifts appreciated, likes receiving gifts in return. But the other side opposes the commercialism and expectations that accompany holidays and occasions. Too often, hastily-purchased gifts can seem like a substitute for the spare time and energy we don’t have to make a gift meaningful. These gifts can be merely an obligation, which is no fun for either giver or recipient.
For big family gift-oriented occasions like Christmas (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc), you must have “The Talk”. In some families, money is a difficult subject, but your options are either to continue spending more than you want on presents, or to mystify everyone when you cut them off cold turkey. A good way to start is to explain your budget goals, as in, “We’re starting to save for the kids’ education funds,” “…to buy a house,” “to be able to afford to live on one salary,” “pay off the credit cards” or something like that — just make sure you’re being honest.
Whatever you do, don’t insist that everyone stop giving gifts to you (or your kids). You have the right to stop giving gifts, but for many people, being generous with presents is a true pleasure and you should avoid depriving them of that pleasure. It may seem wrong to accept without giving, but you can give back in other ways. Of course, your relatives and friends may be relieved at the prospect of the never-ending gift-exchange ending — maybe they were just too shy to bring it up.
If you don’t want to stop all gifts, here are some ideas to cut costs.
Draw names. As Amanda does, this can allow you to focus on one or two recipients instead of the whole clan. There are various arrangements. Some families write their name and a gift suggestion or two on a slip of paper. In some systems, adults pick an adult and each kid gives to a kid (with adult help as needed). Or, if everyone is gathering together, each person can bring one gift (marked as adult or child) and you can do a sort of “Yankee swap” exchange where unwrapped presents can be stolen or traded until everyone ends up with someone.
Be creative. On J.D.’s side of the family, we have been doing $5 gifts for several years. Everyone (7 adults, 4 kids) buys a $5 (or under) gift for everyone else. (This was my sister-in-law’s idea.) J.D.’s mother asked to be excepted — she loves piling gifts on everyone and exercises her grandmotherly rights to do so. The $5 limit has forced us to be bargain hunters and the results are often both surprising and hilarious. We found a practically new set of drafting pens for a brother’s gift: $80 new, marked as $10 at a garage sale but we bargained it down to five!
Emphasize the experience. Some people have more time than money. If you fit in that category, you can use it to your advantage for all sorts of occasions. Do friends have a new baby? Deliver dinner to the new parents, then stay to hold the baby while they eat the meal. Clean up afterwards, of course. Nieces and nephews? For that special occasion, invite them to join your family for camping, a hike, miniature golf — whatever your family does for fun. You’ll all get to know each other better, too. Parents and grandparents often would rather have you spend time than money on them, as well. Invite them over for brunch, or go feed the ducks at the park, or hear a free concert together.
Don’t turn your nose up at used. Aren’t we silly Americans! We talk about how great recycling is but we want everything we get to be new, new, new! It’s all about mindset. For kids’ toys, as long as they’re in safe condition, the fact that they’re “pre-owned” means little to a child — unless non-stop commercialism has already gotten to them! J.D. and I found two wooden sleds set out for the trash pickup in a ritzy neighborhood. After swallowing our hesitation, we grabbed them. With a cleaning and a few minor repairs, they were good to go — and looked great under the Christmas tree. Keep your eyes open all year for bargains, or arrange a toy exchange or toy hand-me-down system with friends and neighbors. Get to know people’s tastes and decorating styles so you can choose gifts they will appreciate.
Kids love the dollar store. I know, I know — everything’s made in foreign countries by underpaid workers. But seriously, if you are spending more than $3 for a kid’s birthday party gift, you need to visit a dollar store. The kids I know are fascinated by dollar store stuff until age 6 or 7. The parents may turn up their noses, but what kid wouldn’t love growing giant lizards or sharks (600% growth — just soak ’em in water!), red-white-and-blue glow necklaces, or a hundred fuzzy animal stickers?
Agree that gifts are only for the kids. Not having kids myself, I wouldn’t vote for this option, but I know many families like it. I think a better choice if you’re going to do this is to have adults buy small gifts for the kids ($5-10), and let kids make homemade gifts for the adults. I think this gets kids to think about giving as well as receiving.
Use homemade gifts. I’m a big fan for using the homemade gift for most every occasion. Special birthdays get a bouquet of garden flowers in a mason jar. Or, I take the time to write a sincere note in a beautiful card. If someone’s a fan of sweets, I’ll whip up a batch of cookies. If the season’s right, I might present them with fresh berries or a holly and cedar swag. The cost for all these gifts is minimal, but the gesture is still meaningful.
Mass produce. Last year, English Major offered a great tip about gift-giving ideas. You can save lots of dough by the assembly line approach. Pick a gift that will be appropriate for your list of recipients and buy craft items, ingredients, or components in bulk. Before you start, figure out how many gifts you’ll need and the cost per assembled gift. Check the figures against your budget. To maximize this idea, choose an idea that still allows for some personalization, say in the color or style of gift.
Just speak up. At my workplace, the envelope is constantly being passed for one event or another. The loss of a parent, a new baby, a retirement, etc. The flowers or gifts purchased with the collected cash may very well be much appreciated. But if your budget prevents you from chipping in, instead write a heartfelt note or tell the person face-to-face. A verbal expression of sympathy or support may be just what they need.
Shrug it off. Unfortunately, some people are all about the goods. If the people in your life aren’t going to appreciate or adjust to your frugal mindset, you have a choice to make. Keep spending to keep up with the Joneses, or go your own way and hold your head high. Find ways to show you care that don’t just involve handing over your debit card. Give when you can; give what you want to.
The side benefit of implementing any of these ideas is that it moves the whole concept of giving gifts back to thoughtfulness, effort, and individual creativity, rather than the focus on prices and packaging. Think of it as one small chink in the great wall of marketing and consumerism!
These are just some thoughts on the topic to get the discussion rolling. I’m sure there are scores of creative solutions out there.
Travelers are flocking away from overcrowded airport terminals and into airport lounges. And so, these lounges have a problem. The exclusive spaces that purportedly offer a refuge from packed airports have become just as chaotic as the general terminals.
Overrated or not, airport lounges still tend to stand superior to most airport terminals. In a lounge, travelers can at least munch on a cheese cube without boarding announcements blaring from the loudspeaker.
As a result, people go to great lengths to enter them. They pay hundreds of dollars in annual fees for credit cards that offer lounge access. They linger outside lounges until their names are off the waitlist.
But now, lounge operators have had to step in to reduce overcrowding. Many lounges often have standing room only, while other lounges enforce entry waitlists to prevent the problem entirely. In 2023, Delta Sky Club increased membership and guest fees and put a limit on how many hours people can spend in the lounge. Meanwhile, American Express made its Centurion Lounge guest policy more stringent to cut back on how many people can gain access.
The problem isn’t so much an obsession with airport lounges. Instead, it’s that most U.S. airport terminals are abysmal for a variety of reasons.
Reduced resources and dated design impact terminals
U.S. airports have a backlog of both approved and necessary infrastructure improvements that’s projected to cost $151 billion, according to Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), an airport trade association that represents about 300 airports in the U.S. and Canada. That’s a 31% increase from the $115 billion backlog cited in 2021. ACI-NA has pointed to inflation as one reason that figure ballooned.
A key revenue source for airport upkeep and maintenance is a passenger facility charge, which Congress capped at $4.50 per ticket. When the charge was introduced in 1992, it was just $3, but the charge hasn’t been increased since 2001.
For context, $4.50 in 2001 would be more than $7.50 today, according to the consumer price index, giving some reason to believe that the cap should be increased to align with today’s equivalent purchasing power.
When the COVID-19 pandemic cut travel, airports lost income from reduced passenger facility charges, as well as other revenue streams like parking and rental car fees, retail sales and concessions. Even with funding, implementing airport improvements can be slow.
“Overregulation of airport land use decisions have delayed project approvals,” according to the ACI-NA’s 2023 U.S. Airport Infrastructure Needs Report.
Airport design significantly changed after 9/11. The establishment of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in November 2001 led to a greater physical footprint for security checkpoints. Unpredictable queues have also increased the number of people in airports, as passengers who might previously have shown up 30 minutes before boarding now arrive much earlier, with hours to spare.
How to make U.S. airports better
If funding weren’t an issue, what improvements could make airport terminals more appealing than lounges?
Activities to pass the time
Singapore’s Jewel Changi Airport won a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice award as one of the country’s top attractions. The airport has a seven-story indoor waterfall, a rock wall and a hedge maze.
Airports don’t need to resemble a runway-lined Disneyland, but the best ones have amenities that are especially relevant during long flight delays, like yoga rooms, live music and museums.
Higher ceilings and bigger windows
Not every airport has the benefit of sitting within Grand Teton National Park, but Wyoming’s Jackson Hole Airport — considered one of America’s most charming airports — takes full advantage with soaring windows that frame the mountain range.
Even without picturesque views, other airports could curtail traveler anxiety and claustrophobia with higher ceilings and outdoor seating. Delta Sky Clubs’ Sky Decks are a good example of how airports could build a compelling outdoor space.
Quiet airport programs
In 2018, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) launched a Quiet Airport program. It cut back on sounds emitted from retailers and gate agents, including a reduction in audio paging and boarding announcements for passengers.
Within two years of implementation, SFO officials said that more than 90 minutes of unnecessary announcements had been eliminated daily in its international terminal alone, which they claim makes air travel less stressful for passengers.
Better food
Starbucks and Sbarro might be concession staples, but the best airports are foodie destinations. The 2023 Global Tastemakers Awards from Food & Wine magazine named SFO the winner of Best Airport for Food in America. SFO hosts outposts of beloved local joints, including Ritual Coffee and vegetarian fast food favorite, Amy’s Drive Thru (its owners also run the organic frozen food brand Amy’s Kitchen).
Even if the meals aren’t free (as they typically are in airport lounges), an order of Amy’s mac and cheese — whether the real stuff or vegan — is probably better than a cube of lounge cheese.
Sadly, these examples are the exception, not the norm. For now, options aren’t exactly promising for air travelers — either at crowded and chaotic airport terminals or crowded and chaotic airport lounges.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:
When facing the loss of a loved one, the last thing someone wants to think about is the expense related to the funeral. Often the cost comes as a shock to the family. When I lost my father in 2006, it was up to my step-mom and me to go about planning his funeral arrangements. I guess I always knew that the cost of a funeral could get pricey, I just never realized how much
Table of Contents
Average Funeral Costs
The cost of the average funeral has dramatically increased in the last 25 years. However, it’s an expense that we can’t avoid. Being prepared and understanding the costs involved can help the process of planning for a funeral a little bit easier and help people decide whether getting a burial insurance policy is the right choice to support their loved ones.
Breaking Down the Costs of a Funeral
From death to burial, and all the steps in between, today’s average funeral can cost upwards of $15,000. There are a few areas where the expense can be cut, such as in choosing the style and extravagance of the casket. But some basic services, such as the cost of the funeral directors services cannot be avoided.
There are two areas that need to be looked at in terms of expense: the funeral service/funeral home fees, and the burial/cemetery fees. This is where a burial insurance policy can be very helpful.
Costs of Funeral Services
According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average funeral cost is around $6,500. This does not include the burial fees, including plot and headstone.
Here’s a look at some of the fees broken down and what they cover:
Non-declinable basic services fee, $1800 – this fee can include the cost of the funeral directors services in securing permits, overhead, arranging the funeral plans, and coordinating services
Removal/transfer of remains to the funeral home, $250 – while your loved one may pass at home, in a hospital, or someplace else, their body has to get moved to the funeral home for the services
Embalming, $625
Other preparation of the body, $200 – this may include dressing the body, grooming, or applying make-up
Use of facilities/staff for viewing, $395 – average cost, but can change based on the duration of viewing hours and space needed
Use of facilities/staff for a funeral ceremony, $450 – let’s face it, those folks who drive the hearse, open the doors for visitors, fetch more tissues, etc… need to get paid
Use of a hearse, $275 – includes a driver and their services as well
Use of a service car/van, $125 – this is usually a limousine used to transport the family from the funeral home to the church and/or cemetery
Memorial printed package, $125 – can include programs and mass cards
The Cemetery Costs
Costs related to the burial are separate than those of the funeral. The burial costs include:
The cemetery plot, $1000 – this is the area of land purchased in the cemetery for the burial of the body
The vault, $700 – an airtight container is required to hold the casket, the cost can vary based on the material used
Headstone, hundreds to thousands of dollars – this cost varies greatly based on the size, material chosen, engraving and details.
Regarding the headstone, I have to emphasize “cost varies greatly”. I was unaware of all the subtle differences that can go into selecting a headstone and much the cost can escalate. For example, by having smooth sides or edges really jumped the price up considerably.
Planning Ahead for Funeral Costs
It is common now for people to plan ahead for their funeral services and even pre-pay or purchase a burial insurance policy. Arrangements and payments can be made over time with the funeral home to help family members not be burdened with the costs and details of funeral arrangements in their time of grief.
Even if your loved one hasn’t paid ahead, taking the time to consider what costs are really necessary and where you might be able to save is a good idea.
Word of caution on pre-paying funerals: make sure you know where the money is going. An estate attorney that I work with shared a story of a funeral home that was selling pre-paid funeral plans. Those plans became obsolete when the funeral home went bankrupt.
For some people, burial insurance isn’t enough – they need a traditional life insurance policy.
Did you have to bury a loved one and get shocked at how much it cost?