Yes, you read that right! On average, it only takes Homie two weeks and two days to sell most homes. Our official Days on Market (DOM*) is 16 days flat. That’s fast. In fact, it’s 4 days faster than traditional agents! So, why would you pay 6%** in commissions ($18,000 on a $300,000 home) for a process that takes 4 days longer? Saving thousands of dollars and selling faster is a game changer and a no-brainer!!!
This isn’t the only game changing news for today. Our average home listing price is $400,000! We are helping customers sell homes in every price range. In fact, we just had a $1,000,000 home sell with us in just one weekend. We also represented the buyer so our client didn’t have to pay the typical 3%** buyer agent commission either. Do that math! They could have paid $60,000 in commissions through a traditional brokerage. That seller could save enough money to park a brand-new Mercedes C Class in the garage of their new home. That Benz is almost as fast as listing your home with us.
So you can have confidence in our ability to sell $100,000 condo to a $1,000,000+ chateau and, of course, the more expensive the house the more you save in commissions! If you don’t know where your home falls in price, don’t worry, our Realtors use the same MLS data and pricing techniques to maximize the value of your home in this hot market.
Currently, there’s a shortage of affordable housing and homes that list with us under the $400,000 price tag are an even hotter commodity. Every day we help manage the sales of homes that attract manage multiple offers. It’s the best problem to have. With average days on market of just 15 days, many homes sell even faster some in just a few days.
Homie’s tech streamlines the entire process and Homie’s agents and attorneys make it simple. Every client has a dedicated agent so you have someone in your corner to help. Whether it’s pricing your home, negotiations or paperwork, we do the heavy lifting so you don’t have to. We’ve got your back!
Call us at 385-429-6888 or visit us online to learn how you can buy or sell a home, the new way, with Homie!
Saving thousands in less time… Game. Changer.
*Based on information from the top 30 brokerage offices in total home listings in the Wasatch Front Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. for the period Jan 1st, 2018 through April 2nd, 2018. Current home listings in Arizona are 24 DOM vs the average 44 DOM based on information from the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service for the period Jan 1st, 2018 through April 2nd, 2018.
**Commission fees vary from agent to agent.
***Homie is a licensed real estate brokerage that has a business relationship with Homie Loans, a licensed mortgage brokerage, as in they are owned by the same persons. For more information visit: https://www.homie.com/terms.
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Even as interest rates approach lows last seen in, oh, 50,000 BC, U.S. savings bonds are still a great deal.
I’m an obsessive fan of savings bonds, particularly Series I, or I-bonds, for short. Since I wrote about them last year, a few aspects of buying and giving them have changed, but the basic message hasn’t: if you aren’t buying savings bonds, you’re missing out on a safe, simple, and relatively high-yielding investment available to anyone with a social security number.
Let’s recap briefly what is so great about I-bonds:
– They pay an interest rate tied to the rate of inflation. You won’t lose purchasing power, and if you’re concerned about high inflation in the future, I-bonds will protect your savings. Most savings accounts, CDs, and other Treasury bonds pay less than the prevailing inflation rate. Right now, for example, I-bonds are paying 2.2% APY, which is more than almost any 5-year CD.
– Each person can buy up to $10,000 per year.
– You can set up an account in minutes and start buying I-bonds online at TreasuryDirect.gov.
– You can cash them in after one year or hold them for up to 30 years. (There’s a small penalty for redeeming I-bonds before 5 years.)
– I-bonds are tax-deferred and can be used for a child’s college education tax-free.
The way I always sum it up is: nobody regrets buying I-bonds.
The gift of aaaargh
The big change in bonds since last year: they got rid of paper savings bonds. If you’re buying bonds for yourself, no big deal. Buying online is easy — all you miss out on is the cool pictures of Einstein and Chief Joseph and Helen Keller.
If you want to give a savings bond as a gift, however, the process is about to get a little awkward, because the recipient of the gift has to have their own Treasury Direct (TD) account. For example, say I want to give my niece a $25 I-bond. I can buy the bond right away and keep it in the “Gift Box” section of my TD account. To transfer it to my niece, however, I have to:
– Call or email my brother and tell him to open a TD account for himself, then a subaccount for his daughter (oh, and another subaccount for his son, if I want to give him a bond, too).
– Have him give me the kid’s TD account number. Yes, it is safe to share your TD account number. No, this is not intuitive.
The Treasury has produced a YouTube video, complete with that reassuring “Welcome to your first day at work”-style voiceover, to explain how to give electronic savings bonds as gifts. Honestly, I would rather call my grandmother and ask her if she has any tech support questions for me.
Instead, I called Jerry Kelly, director of the Treasury’s Ready.Save.Grow campaign. His response, in short: Believe me, we know. “There are a lot of things we’re looking at to simplify the process,” said Kelly. “One of the things we keep in mind for simplicity is PayPal, or, for example, or iTunes. We want to get there eventually. It’s going to take us time.”
I asked Kelly whether anyone is using the gifting feature. “It’s certainly not as robust as paper was, and we knew that that would happen,” he replied.
This isn’t good enough for Mel Lindauer, a Forbes columnist, coauthor of The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing, and a man even more into savings bonds than I am. “The answer is simple,” said Lindauer by email. “Bring back paper I-Bonds and give investors an option. Prior to the elimination of paper I-Bonds, investors overwhelmingly chose paper I-Bonds over TD.”
Stay safe out there
Lindauer ticked off a variety of objections to Treasury Direct, most damningly the fact that, unlike your bank’s website, TD doesn’t promise you’re off the hook in the event someone fraudulently cleans out your account.
“There is an element of truth to that,” said Kelly, but in over ten years and hundred of thousands of TD accounts, no customer has lost a dime to fraud. “We have had people who’ve had problems, but we have not held them accountable for it, because we haven’t deemed them to be negligent with their access information.” He mentioned the guy who put his Social Security number on the side of his truck. If someone did that with their TD password, “we probably would not have a whole lot of sympathy for them.”
And a TD account is not like a checking account: it’s designed to be easier to put money in than take it out. In order to steal my I-bonds, you’d not only need access to my password and my email account (TD sends a one-time passcode via email when you log in on a new computer), you’d then have to link my account to new bank account, which would leave an obvious trail.
In short, it would be even more work than convincing my brother to open a TD account for my niece. Please do not take this as a challenge.
To sum it up
– I-bonds are still an awesome, flexible, safe investment.
– The process for gifting them is too complicated, and no one blames you if you wait until they fix it.
– Buying them for yourself is a snap.
– I’m probably about to get a call from my grandmother asking if she can treat computer viruses with ibuprofen.
Matthew Amster-Burton is a personal finance columnist at Mint.com. Find him on Twitter @Mint_Mamster.
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Whether you’re buying or selling your home, you have probably heard the term listing agent a few times. A listing agent is someone who helps a seller market their home. They communicate with a buyer’s agent so potential buyers can tour your home in person, and then once it comes time, they negotiate offers on your behalf. Here’s an easy way to remember the difference between a buyer’s agent and a listing agent:
A buyer’s agent represents the buyer.
A listing agent represents the seller.
The two agents will communicate with one another on behalf of each of their clients.
Is a Listing Agent Necessary?
The long story short is no. You can try to sell it on your own, often called for sale by owner (FSBO). Some people are successful in selling their home on their own, but most people still need assistance in pricing, marketing, and negotiating top dollar for the home
Enter Homie
Using a traditional listing agent can get pricey. Homie is the tech-enabled way to sell your home for a low fee. You still work directly with a Homie listing agent, but you’ll just save serious dough by not paying high commissions. When you sign up to sell your home with Homie, you get a local, experienced listing agent plus a whole team of home-selling pros. Homie even has a team of attorneys to assist you with all the legal stuff.
What Does a Listing Agent Do?
They have a few responsibilities:
Prices your home
A listing agent can help you analyze the market and price your home accordingly. Of course, it’s up to you as the seller to decide if the final price is right.
Markets your home
Listing agents help you market your home by putting them online. Only licensed agents can put homes on the MLS.
Coordinates with buying agents
Many buyers are represented by a buyer’s agent. Other agents will communicate directly with your listing agent to arrange showings of your casa.
Paperwork
When it comes time to review offers, the listing agent will go over all the paperwork with you and make sure the offer looks good.
Negotiations
Oftentimes, the listing agent will say that their main job is to protect you. They want to make sure you’re getting top dollar from your home. They’ll negotiate with the buyer’s side to ensure the right deal gets done quickly.
What Doesn’t a Listing Agent Do?
There are a few things out of their wheelhouse:
Show your home
A listing agent won’t meet potential buyers at your home to show off what you’ve got. That’s the responsibility of the buyer’s agent.
Write the offer
While they do understand how to negotiate offers, your listing agent will not write the offer on your home. That has to come from the buyer’s side. They will, however, assist in drafting counteroffers and any addenda you may need.
Do magic
The reality is, most sellers believe that their house is worth more than it actually is. A listing agent can’t do magic and make it sell for more than it’s worth or make it better than what you’re bringing to the table.
What Does a Homie Listing Agent Do?
Our listing agents do everything that a traditional listing agent does, but we charge a low fee to list, market, and negotiate on your behalf. There aren’t any outrageous commissions to be made here. There are no hidden fees either. (You may still want to pay the buyer’s agent a commission, which is typically 2.5-3% of the sale price but it’s your choice how much to offer.)
Will they help you get the best price for your home? You’re right. They will.
Will they assist in helping you with all the legal business? They live for it.
Will they help you have the best possible home buying experience? They wouldn’t be a Homie if they didn’t want to.
There’s No Place Like Homie, There’s No Place Like Homie
Really though, our licensed listing agents are ready to help you sell your home for a fraction of the cost of a traditional agent. Click here to learn more about how to sell your home with Homie, or click here to jump right into the process.
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With all of today’s home-based tech gadgets and virtual personal assistants, smart homes are quickly becoming ubiquitous. And with high demand for connected products, so too comes ease of use, accessibility and affordability.
But as with all expenses, it’s important to budget for smart tech upgrades to your abode. Luckily, it’s easier (and more affordable) than it’s ever been. Here, we explore some of the more common smart home tech investments, along with a few things to consider when deciding whether they’re worth the cash.
Virtual Voice Assistants
These devices use natural language processing (NLP) to match a user’s voice commands and execute an action, like “Turn off the lights.” Many of these voice assistants use a “wake word,” like the name of the device (“Hey Google,” for example) in order to alert the assistant so that it’s ready to listen to you.
From online shopping to reading your email for you, virtual voice assistants have the potential to do a myriad of helpful things around your home.
Major Brands: The top players in the virtual voice assistant arena are Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Homepod, Microsoft’s Cortana and Google’s Home — but the list is growing. It’s been reported that Facebook may be working with Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri to create its own smart speaker in this burgeoning market.
Average Price Range: The most basic versions, like Amazon’s Echo Dot, can start at as little as about $50, while more mid-range devices go for about $130 (Google’s Home) and high-range assistants like Apple’s Homepod go for $349.
Life Expectancy: While it’s hard to predict how long these up-and-coming tech devices will last, it’s safe to say that there will be plenty of similar products for a long time to come. Not only that, but virtual assistants will likely continue to improve significantly when it comes to their capabilities, connectivity and affordability. To put things into perspective, it took 13 years for the television to reach 50 million Americans but only two for smart speakers to do the same thing.
Is it Worth It? It depends on how (and how much) you’ll be using the device. If you call on your virtual voice assistant at every whim, the upfront cost may be well worth the convenience. On the other hand, a 2017 Ovum survey of both U.S. and U.K. residents said that about 50 percent of users don’t find virtual assistants useful. Though it’s difficult to narrow down the reasons why, it’s a clear message to manufacturers that they need to up their game to stay competitive.
Smart Thermostats
Intelligent heating and cooling systems have taken the tech world by storm, particularly due to their affordability and savings potential. These smart thermostats learn users’ habits — when they leave for and come home — to optimize in-home temperatures in a way that traditional thermostats can’t. After all, if you’re going away on vacation, there’s no need to leave your AC on the whole time, but you might want to turn it up an hour or two before you return. Cue smart thermostats.
Major Brands: There’s a lot to choose from when it comes to intelligent thermostat needs. Popular brands include Ecobee4, Nest Learning Thermostat, Lux/Geo Wi-Fi Thermostat, Lux Kono Smart Thermostat, Bosch Connected Control BCC100 Thermostat and Honeywell Lyric T5 Wi-Fi Thermostat.
Average Price Range: While you can find some smart thermostats for under $100, most range from about $170 to $260, depending on their uses and features. Some cost as much as $500.
Life Expectancy: Intelligent thermostats have the potential to last just as long as traditional thermostats, as long as you maintain them correctly and don’t misuse them. However, it’s important to note that some smart thermostats are hardwired into your home while others aren’t. If yours operate on battery power, it could last a full two years before needing new batteries — but always pay attention when your thermostat alerts that its batteries are low.
Is it Worth It? Not only are smart thermostats extremely convenient, they also have massive potential for saving you some cash on utilities. While the upfront cost may be a bit hefty, smart thermostats often pay for themselves in the long run. The Energy Star program states that homes equipped with smart thermostats can save up to $180 per year on heating and cooling. What’s more, intelligent thermostats can provide you with reports that show you how to optimize your heating and cooling settings to save even more money.
Smart Lighting
Yep, even light bulbs are getting smarter these days — and not just in the “clap on, clap off!” way, either. With smart LEDs, you can connect all the light fixtures in your home to your virtual voice assistant or smartphone to control individual lights in every room. Not only is this super handy, but it can also provide an extra layer of security if, say, you’re out of town and want to randomly turn lights on and off so it appears that someone’s home. Plus, color-changing bulbs make for great mood lighting and can even sync up to music and movies for extra effect.
Major Brands: Though brand doesn’t matter as much when it comes to intelligent light bulbs, popular bulbs include the Philips Hue White, Philips Hue White and Color Ambience A19 Star, C by GE Starter Pack, Cree Connected Light Bulb, Eufy Lumos Smart Bulb White, LIFX Color 1000, Ikea Tradfri Gateway Kit and MiPow Playbulb Rainbow.
Average Price Range: While you can find affordable options under $20, some intelligent light bulb kits cost upward of $200, depending on the number of bulbs and features included.
Life Expectancy: Regardless of price, the vast majority of smart LEDs have a lifespan greater than 20 years. That’s anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 hours — or up to five times longer than any other light bulb in stores today. Compare that to the measly 1,200 hours of an average incandescent light bulb, or a CFL’s 8,000 hours.
Is it Worth It? Even if you do decide to outfit your home with a $200 smart light bulb kit, it’s arguably still worth it. They last practically forever, they can help keep your home safer, you can control them from your smart device from anywhere you have internet access, and they’re better for the environment than traditional bulbs.
Even though the upfront cost of smart LEDs can be a little off-putting, you might consider this an investment purchase. Yes, they’re more expensive at first, but take a look at this calculation from Simple Family Finance, which added up the total costs of all three types of bulbs, plus 25,000 hours of electricity usage — this is how the expenses broke down:
Incandescent: $218.50
CFLs: $64.63
LEDs: $53.75
That’s a lot less money over the long term, which means a lot more money in your wallet for making other awesome smart upgrades to your home. Smart garage door, anyone? (Yep, they have those, too.)
Mark Simmonds brings 20 years of insurance industry experience to his role as managing director and chief product officer at Esurance. His diverse expertise in many areas of the business, including product, underwriting, finance, operations, and more, help shape his writing. Visit Esurance’s website to find out more about how certain smart home products can reduce your homeowners insurance.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or view of Intuit Inc, Mint or any affiliated organization.
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Mark Simmonds brings 20 years of insurance industry experience to his role as managing director and chief product officer at Esurance. His diverse expertise in many areas of the business, including product, underwriting, finance, operations, and more, help shape his writing. Visit Esurance’s website to find out more about how certain smart home products can reduce your homeowners insurance. More from Mark Simmonds
Today, RE/MAX Holdings announced the launch of a new one-of-a-kind franchised mortgage brokerage known as Motto Mortgage.
In a nutshell, the plan is to create a one-stop shop where home buyers can work with real estate agents and mortgage lenders all in one place.
The hope is to create a more seamless home buying experience by putting loan originators in real estate offices nationwide. Well, they say in close proximity to real estate offices.
But instead of pairing agents with loan officers from Bank X, they’ll have access to a wide variety of loan products because they’ll be working for mortgage brokerages.
Motto Mortgage Wants to Disrupt and Innovate the Industry
RE/MAX is launching the very first mortgage brokerage franchise model in the U.S.
Plan is to create a one-stop shop for home buyers
Where they can search for a home and a mortgage in one place
And get financing options beyond just one lender partner
The company claims its mortgage brokerage franchise model is the first of its kind here in the United States, and hopes to “disrupt and innovate the industry.”
They say they’re a “different kind of mortgage company,” presumably because they’re combining a franchise model with a mortgage brokerage.
Generally, mortgage brokers are smaller independent shops that don’t have a nationwide presence so I suppose it’s unique in that sense. The franchise model is also apparently new. As such, each location will be independently owned and operated.
RE/MAX CEO, Chairman and Co-Founder Dave Liniger noted in a release that the mortgage broker share of mortgage originations has plummeted since the housing crisis.
According to their numbers, it hit a high of 35% in 2006, around the same time the housing market peaked, before falling to just 10% in 2015. It was actually even lower than that in some preceding years.
In any case, it’s still well below the 15-year average of 22%, and Motto Mortgage wants to change that.
Liniger highlighted some of the pros to working with a mortgage broker, including the fact that they have many more loan choices than a single bank.
For example, one broker can shop your loan with dozens of different banks to find the right fit.
If they need to close especially quickly, they might choose Bank A. If they need to close a particularly tricky loan, they might choose Bank C instead.
They also expect customer service to be better with loan originators arranging financing in the very same offices where the real estate agents work.
Or it can all go horribly wrong…just kidding.
Real Estate Agents Often Determine Your Financing Options
This is a pretty significant move by RE/MAX
Seeing that real estate agents often dictate mortgage decisions on behalf of their home buyer clients
Could be seen as a defensive move to combat other tech-heavy players such as Redfin and Zillow
And a desire to provide an all-encompassing experience for clients
A while back I pointed out that real estate agents have a big influence on who a home buyer will use for financing.
In fact, nearly half of home buyer decisions seem to be dictated by the real estate agent and their “preferred lender.”
This means buyers tend to go with whomever their agent recommends. This usually begins with the urging of a pre-approval from said lender, and eventually financing.
Of course, you are under no obligation to use their lender, and you’d be doing yourself a disservice to not shop around and look at other options.
That is perhaps the downside to this setup. If home buyers don’t look beyond their real estate agent’s recommendation, they won’t know what else is out there. Perhaps a lower rate and fewer fees.
However, the fact that Motto Mortgage will operate as a mortgage broker means the borrower will still have more choice than if they work with a single bank or lender.
The question is what happens to the existing mortgage broker partnerships at RE/MAX offices. They might be the collateral damage unless they choose to link up with Motto Mortgage.
For the record, RE/MAX was founded in 1973 in Denver, Colorado and has more than 100,000 agents in more than 100 countries worldwide.
On October 3rd, 2018, the company announced the sale of its 100th Motto Mortgage franchise, just 23 months after its initial launch.
First Republic is teetering, with the stock down 93% in 2023 and the bank exploring strategic options.
The bank won wealthy clients with the offer of jumbo mortgage loans that required no principal payments for a decade.
The bank is now reversing course as it fights for survival.
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pursuing strategic options after revealing that deposits plunged by more than $100 billion in the first three months of the year.
That sent the stock as much as 48% lower on the day, with First Republic now down 93% for the year to date. Gillian Tan and Matthew Monks at Bloomberg subsequently reported that the bank is exploring an asset sale in the range of $50 billion to $100 billion.
First Republic first moved into focus back in the March banking crisis that claimed Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and Silvergate.
Like SVB and Signature, a large percentage of First Republic deposits were not insured by the FDIC, making it especially susceptible to deposit flight. Like SVB, First Republic had seen deposits boom in the low-rate pandemic era. And like SVB, First Republic has been sitting on large unrealized losses, as the value of the bonds it’s marked as being held-to-maturity has dropped as rates have gone up.
But while the FDIC seized SVB and Signature, a group of major banks parked $30 billion in deposits with First Republic, helping to shore it up in a period of where depositors opted to move their money to the biggest banks.
One of the causes of First Republic’s troubles is a strategy to woo rich clients with huge mortgages that offer sweet terms, as detailed in this story from Noah Buhayar, Jennifer Surane, Max Reyes, and Ann Choi at Bloomberg.
In particular, First Republic would offer interest-only mortgages, where the borrower didn’t have to pay back any principal for the first decade of the loan. In 2020 and 2021, it extended close to $20 billion of these loans in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York alone, per Bloomberg’s analysis.
Many of these loans went to ultra wealthy types in finance, tech, and media. For example, one of the most senior executives at Goldman Sachs took out an $11.2 million mortgage with First Republic with no principal payments in the first 10 years and an interest rate below 3%, per Bloomberg.
The quality of these loans isn’t in question, as the borrowers are extremely safe bets.
But the loans are worth a lot less now than when First Republic wrote these deals, with the average mortgage rate on a thirty-year fixed rate loan now at around 6.3%. (Bond prices go down as interest rates go up, and vice versa.)
Wealthy clients can easily move their deposits away from First Republic while keeping their mortgage with the firm, which creates a liquidity challenge.
And these loans are hard to sell to other lenders, given Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are limited to only purchasing mortgages up to just over $1 million. Should they successfully sell, it would also create a hole in First Republic’s balance sheet. The bank would be forced to recognize the current value of these loans, and what are currently unrealized losses could suddenly wipe out the bank’s capital.
First Republic is now backtracking from this strategy, saying it will focus on writing loans that are guaranteed by Fannie and Freddie.
More immediately, the bank is trying to find a way to convince buyers to take on some of its assets, including finding ways to sweeten the deal with equity-like instruments so buyers pay a higher price for the loans, according to Tan and Monks at Bloomberg.
The coming days will show whether First Republic was successful.
With the recent rise in gas prices, many people have been looking for ways to save money on gas. These efforts usually fall into two categories; reducing your fuel consumption, or finding a way to pay less. Realizing that because of the various uses for crude oil, gas prices are somewhat out of our control (especially if our only weapon is a gas boycott), we are limited in how we can reduce the price that we pay. Paying less for gas is really just a matter of either finding the lowest priced gas stations in your area, or using various credit card benefits to get cash back.
However, it is in the area of reducing fuel consumption, where people can get very creative. Unfortunately, some of these techniques can actually cost you money or make your drive more dangerous. Recently, Investopedia published an article outlining some of these methods. I thought it would be interesting to see which fuel saving techniques they highlighted and what they had to say about each one.
They are listed below, with my feedback beneath each one. Be sure to leave your comments below.
Save Money On Gas? Not With These Techniques!
Devices To Increase Airflow
The Theory: High-tech devices designed to increase your engine’s airflow will improve fuel efficiency.
The Facts: It sounds plausible, but the results don’t back up the impressive claims. Consumer Reports tested several of the devices, such as Fuel Genie ($89.95, plus shipping), that purport to increase fuel economy by accelerating airflow to the engine. The tests found no noticeable gains in MPGs, despite claims of 50% fuel savings. While it’s true that drastically increasing the airflow to an engine is a common way to increase horsepower (i.e. forced induction through turbo and superchargers), doing so will actually increase fuel consumption and increase wear on the engine, not to mention that this proven technology costs significantly more than its gimmicky competition.
I have to admit that I have never gotten so much into fuel efficiency that I’ve researched or purchased an airflow gadget. However, I know that some people have been willing to make significant investments in these types of gadgets in order to increase their miles per gallon.
If the problem of increasing the wear on your engine is true, then these gadgets will end up costing a lot more than what you pay for gas!
Fuel Additives
The Theory: The gas we buy can be improved by adding scientifically formulated chemicals that will increase fuel efficiency and, sometimes, horsepower.
The Facts: Clearly, some drivers believe the answer to their fuel woes lies in a magic elixir, because there are numerous fuel treatments that claim to increase MPGs, despite no scientific proof or explanation of how less fuel is burned. According to CNN.com, one common tactic used by shady fuel-additive makers is to tout the product’s approval by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This suggests that a trusted consumer watchdog has approved the product’s claims, but in fact, the EPA had only deemed that the product does not increase a vehicle’s harmful emissions. The truth is, if there were an additive that made fuel burn more efficiently, oil companies would be racing to market their new gas at the pumps and gain a bigger market share.
I used to add a fuel treatment to my car every 3,000 miles. I never noticed a difference in how the car ran, or in the fuel efficiency, but I just figured it was because I wasn’t paying close enough attention.
I think that the worthless EPA approval is pretty deceptive. The average person would think that the claims to improve fuel efficiency have been tested and proven to be true; however, it just means that it won’t increase your emissions!
I don’t think I’ve purchased this stuff since we got our new car over 3 years ago, but I always had a supply in my trunk before that!
Premium Gas
The Theory: Premium gas provides increased performance and better gas mileage.
The Facts: This is true … if you own a premium automobile that requires high-octane gas, but these cars make up the minority of daily drivers. So if you’re in the majority – drooling over Ferraris from the seat of your Corolla – your car’s engine control unit (ECU) is programmed to run on the octane levels present in regular gas. Increasing the octane – either through buying premium gas or adding bottles of octane-boost – can actually cause the engine to be less efficient, as the car’s combustion timing becomes altered and efficiency is lost. But the most noticeable loss will be the extra 20 cents per gallon you’ll be wasting to buy high-octane gas. A safe bet is that if you can afford a vehicle that requires only premium fuel, you likely aren’t concerned with gas prices or tracking mileage.
This is one I’ve always known about. I think the only time I ever purchased anything higher than regular was when the gas station ran out, and they charged the same price as regular.
Once in a while I would come across people who swore by a higher octane, but they could never tell me why. It was just another case of, “it costs more, so it must be better”!
I love what the article said at the end of this…it’s very true. If you can honestly afford a car that needs a higher octane, you probably aren’t worried about your MPG as much as most.
Over Inflating Your Tires
The Theory: Rounder tires roll easier, creating less work for the engine and therefore, better MPG.
The Facts: Again, this tip is true … to a point. Over inflated tires will have less friction with the road, which lessens the effort the engine exerts to keep the car rolling, providing slight gas savings. However, overinflated tires will wear out quickly and irregularly, causing you to need early replacements at a cost of about $50 to $100 per tire. What’s worse is that the decreased contact with the road increases stopping distances and limits handling capabilities. This all adds up to a large risk in costly accidents and injuries. Even if you are lucky and avoid a collision, it would take a lifetime (which could very well be short if you’re riding on bald and bulbous tires) for your fuel savings to negate the cost of four new tires. According to Edmunds.com’s testing, the fuel consumption difference between driving with over-inflated tires and tires at the recommended pressure is negligible. Sometimes, despite what GM’s recent track record suggests, carmakers do know what they’re doing and the recommended settings and levels do provide the best results.
I’ve actually never heard of this trick. It just seems so dangerous, because you have less of your tire making contact with the road – meaning it is more difficult to brake! Even if the increase in MPG were substantial, I would not feel comfortable doing something this dangerous!
I think that the cost of your new tires and the increased risk of being in an accident, would easily negate any gains you have from buying fuel less often.
Roll Down The Windows Rather Than Using Air Conditioning
The Theory: Operating the AC to cool the vehicle uses fuel, so it’s more efficient to cool off by driving with the windows down.
The Facts: While it’s true that some fuel is used to operate the AC compressor, as much or more fuel is lost when the windows are down. Rolling down the windows increases the drag on the car, which causes the car to work harder to maintain its speed. For even better mileage, you can improve your AC’s efficiency by using the re-circulation setting on the car’s HVAC system instead of forcing the AC to cool the hot air from outside. Heeding this tip will increase your mileage, as well as your comfort.
This has been a subject of great debate for a while now. Many people – including me for a while – will drive on the highway with the windows down in the summer, in order to save money by not turning on the AC. Actually, I do it because I love fresh air and I didn’t want the AC to burn up gas. However, once you get over about 40 MPH, the drag on the car (from the air resistance) causes the fuel efficiency on your car to drop dramatically. Therefore, if you are driving on the highway, you will burn less gas by using the AC and keeping the windows up.
Now, I just have to weigh this fact against my need to feel comfortable. I am one of the few people who I know are more comfortable with air blowing on my face in the summer, than having the “conditioned” air blowing on me. If gas prices continue to increase, I may have to get used to running the AC (on the lowest setting, or course).
Reader Questions
What methods have you implemented in order to save money on gas?
How often do you think about rising gas prices?
What are some common myths that you’ve heard about saving money on gas?
That was a phrase that my father continually beat into my head harder than Lars Ulrich could pound on his bass drum (in case there is a generation gap, Lars is the drummer from the rock band Metallica).
Even though on average college graduates do earn more in the long-run and online colleges are bringing down costs, the current job market is saturated with sustainable careers that don’t necessarily require a degree.
Taking a closer look, it seems a major shift in employer priorities is occurring in certain fields, such as manufacturing and information technology (IT), where soft skills and on-the-job training are deemed more beneficial than a formal educational background.
Individuals bringing these resources to the table are now in high demand, especially since many companies now offer assistantship programs or even paid training for high-achieving candidates.
In this day and age, it just might be more about the right skills than the right schooling.
Table of Contents
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25 Highest Paying Jobs Without A College Degree
Margin Department Supervisor
Air Traffic Controller
Automobile Service Station Manager
Real Estate Broker
Landscape Architect
Lead Carpenter
Director of Security
Elevator Mechanic
Cable Supervisor
Flight Services Manager
Freelance Photographer
Personal Trainer
Funeral Director
Commercial Pilot
Truck Driver
Nuclear Power Reactor Operator
Firefighter
Emergency Medical Technician
Railroad Jobs
Medical Coder
Information Technology Technician
Criminal Investigator
Brick Mason
Postal Service Worker
Pharmacy Technician
If you have decided to not attend a four-year college right out of high school, or are looking for a fresh start at a new career path, 25 of the highest paying careers with virtually no degree are featured below.
Looking for a fun job that pays well? Scared that the cause of unemployment may be growing? Sign up for free and see who’s hiring in 2023 at www.FlexJobs.com.
Disclaimer: While there are definitely some good paying trade jobs on this list, I still think having a college degree is worth it. Yes, tuition is high and will continue to rise, but the experience, connections, and mindset that college offers are invaluable. Now on to the jobs…
1. Margin Department Supervisor
Average Salary: $74,799
Prior Education: A finance or accounting degree is not required, but knowledge of all basic processes is needed.
On-the-Job Training: Moderate to high training and/or shadowing.
Job Description: A Margin Department Supervisor oversees a company’s credit department, which manages customer credit accounts and approves or denies credit to customers.
As would be expected, approving or denying credit sometimes involves unhappy customers, so you’ll need strong communication and negotiation skills for this role.
Since the scope of the job requires mathematical calculations as well as debt analysis and recognition of accounting principles, make sure you are confident with these basic processes. Some companies may increase pay if you have a degree under your belt.
You’ll also primarily be in charge of ensuring all department employees adhere to federal policies and regulations.
2. Air Traffic Controller (ATC)
Average Salary: $124,540
Prior Education: A college degree is not required, but the nature of the field is very competitive where experience is highly valued. A combination of progressive work experience and formal education is generally preferred.
On-the-Job Training: Rigorous training and testing is required.
Job Description: An Air Traffic Controller is required to pass rigorous testing by the FAA, which includes health checks, as well as mental stability tests. You must initiate the testing process before age 31.
Being an Air Traffic Controller has been voted the most stressful job in the United States for many years because of what the job entails on a daily basis. Air traffic controllers also often work night shifts, weekends, and even holidays.
A typical work day may include monitoring and directing in-air traffic, including routine take off/landing. Sometimes in-air emergencies must be handled, hence the high stress associated with the position.
Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities along with excellent communication skills are highly valued in this role. It does help to know someone already in the business to land a job in this field.
3. Automobile Service Station Manager
Average Salary: $45,204
Prior Education: High school diploma or equivalent. Some employers may prefer a Bachelor’s degree in management or similar field and/or several years of experience in automotive service management.
On-the-Job Training: Most can obtain this type of position by working one’s way up the ladder through on-the-job experience. Obtaining certification may also be required.
Job Description: Essentially, the role of the Service Station Manager is to run the day-to-day operations of a gas station.
The scope of the work includes setting the gas prices for the day, scheduling and training the rest of the employees who work at the station, ordering new merchandise to keep the shelves stocked, ensuring service station safety, as well as being the direct manager for the other employees.
Some skills that would be helpful in obtaining this job would be good personal skills as well as some managerial and accounting experience.
4. Real Estate Broker
Average Salary: $56,730
Prior Education: High school diploma or equivalent. However, a college degree in finance or related field may prove beneficial.
On-the-Job Training: Even though you must take a couple of classes to obtain your certification, these courses are much less of an expense compared to financing a college degree. Licensure requirements typically vary from state to state.
Job Description: To become a real estate broker you will still need to take a couple of classes to become certified. But still, these courses are still much less of an expense to you compared to financing a college degree.
You will be trying to sell houses as well as filing the paperwork for the transactions. In addition, you will help customers with their loan agreements.
However, if you are considering this career, you should be very friendly and have flexible hours since you will most likely be working on your customers’ schedules.
You typically are self-employed setting your own hours and working on a commission basis. Good negotiation skills along with market research experience will prove helpful in this role.
5. Landscape Architect
Average Salary: $65,760
Prior Education: Typically a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture is preferred. An internship experience is highly encouraged. This job may require you to take some classes at a community college on horticulture as well as landscape design, but these types of courses are not required.
On-the-Job Training: With this career, you will have the option of whether you would like to be becoming certified or not. However, if you are certified, you will have access to larger contracts and a wider scope of work. Most states do mandate licensure, though, and the requirements vary from state to state.
Job Description: If you do not mind getting a little dirty and working hard for a living, then this might be a good career for you. Typical job duties include designing functional yet attractive outdoor spaces and parks for a variety of clients.
Landscape architects spend a large portion of their time creating blueprints and preparing cost analysis reports. You would also analyze environmental conditions for projects and even participate in restoration initiatives.
Make sure you have a good eye for design and a strong work ethic to consider this career. Understanding GIS technologies and project management is a must.
Here’s a how-to guide for starting your own lawn company and making some serious money (in turn being able to and saving some serious money, too!).
6. Lead Carpenter
Average Salary: $51,150
Prior Education: High school diploma or equivalent. Most Lead Carpenters begin their careers as skilled apprentices.
This job requires a high amount of experience in the field either through attending a trade school to master technical skills or by being an apprentice to a lead carpenter.
On-the-Job Training: By going to trade school you will actually have to obtain some type of certification, possibly making you more marketable in the field.
Often training includes learning how to expertly handle a variety of power tools, such as power drills or saws.
Job Description: Serving as an apprentice would most likely land you in a job replacing your teacher. Either way, you can be very successful in this type of career if you enjoy working with your hands.
Although highly dependent on the type of industry, job duties may include analyzing construction plans, creating project timelines, and managing and overseeing team production activities.
Carpenters often work in both indoor and outdoor settings and may need to eventually join a union.
7. Director of Security
Average Salary: $78,608
Prior Education: Typically a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field is preferred along with years of experience in related positions.
In reality, this job will involve starting off in an entry level security position before working your way through the ranks to become the Director of Security.
On-the-Job Training: You might also be required to pass a security guard training program, but this will most likely be paid in full by the employer so the actual educational cost to you would be zero.
Depending on the company you will work for, you might also be required to pass a background check as well as some minor health inspections.
Job Description: A typical work day would include reviewing and implementing security department policies along with ensuring relevant local, state, and federal laws and regulations are adhered to. This role may also involve actively participating in training programs with the security staff.
Some good skills to have for this type of job would be some above average physical characteristics, as well as integrity to always choose what is right.
This position often involves being on-call for any emergencies after-hours, so make sure you can fulfill this requirement.
You can also try going the Police Officer route. If you decide to pursue this career, make sure you study with the Police Exam Guide.
8. Elevator Mechanic
Average Salary: $77,806
Prior Education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Just like the Lead Carpenter job, this job will most likely be acquired through a trade school degree, assistantship, or lots of years of experience. Being an elevator mechanic does have a couple more stipulations, though.
On-the-Job Training: Moderate to high training; may need to attend trade school to contract with large corporations.
Job Description: Lots of major corporations will require you to have a license and work for an insured company, which in this case would then force you to go the trade school route so that you could work on these large corporate jobs.
A typical work day would include repairing elevators and fulfilling routine preventative maintenance when needed. Installing and repairing control systems or adjusting and inspecting safety controls are other common work tasks.
Elevator mechanics should be able to identify and troubleshoot issues quickly and efficiently, and having a working knowledge of elevator mechanics is needed. Most of this industry is unionized, so make sure you are willing to join a union before entering this line of work.
9. Cable Supervisor
Average Salary: $51,112
Prior Education: High school diploma or equivalent. However, technical school education or an internship/assistantship may prove beneficial.
On-the-Job Training: A good way to acquire this type of a position is to either apply for the job with some type of managing/scheduling background or to apply for an entry-level position and work your way up by knowing the business.
Job Description: This career would be in a managerial-type setting. You would be responsible for overseeing the maintenance as well as installation workers setting up cable boxes and internet connections.
Typical work duties would also include interpreting cable specifications, troubleshooting issues with cable equipment, and also hiring and training any new cable technicians.
You would be responsible for the scheduling aspect as well as holding the workers accountable to be where they need to be.
10. Flight Service Manager
Average Salary: $64,042
Prior Education: Typically a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in aviation management or related field is preferred. Completing an internship program is highly suggested.
On-the-Job Training: This career would most likely be obtained through lots of on-the-job experience along with obtaining certification if required.
Job Description: You would be responsible for helping schedule flight crews as well as taking care of customer complaints and filing any necessary paperwork.
This job would require great personal skills as well as lots of patience with unhappy customers. Making sure all passengers have the best onboard experience possible is of top priority for Flight Services Managers.
Airlines can be a stressful arena to work in, so if you are considering this line of work make sure you can keep your cool in the toughest of situations.
11. Freelance Photographer
Average Salary: $36,630
Prior Education: No educational experience required.
On-the-Job Training: This career typically involves both self-education and hands-on training through practice. Natural talent and creativity are highly valued in this field.
Job Description: Being a Freelance Photographer takes dedication to one’s tasks, as well as a great eye for artistic detail. This type of career may also require traveling long distances to be able to acquire the right “shot” for the right story.
In a sense, being a Freelance Photographer can take many forms, such as snapping pictures of nature for magazines, or taking pictures of stories for newspapers, or even being a paparazzi-type photographer and searching for the next big celebrity scandal.
To really make a sustainable living in this field, it may prove helpful to complete some basic business management courses, or to attend training sessions on editing or even lighting techniques.
It’s best that Freelance Photographers have good personal skills and can identify and fulfill client needs and/or requests. If you become a really good photographer, you could even sell your photos on Shutterstock to make some extra cash.
12. Personal Trainer
Average Salary: $38,222
Prior Education: High school diploma or equivalent.
This career will most likely require that you are qualified to teach proper physical fitness techniques to clients. Many Personal Trainers have strong backgrounds in nutrition, exercise science, or other related fields.
This certificate is not very difficult to obtain; however, it is relatively cheaper compared to any other type of trade school mentioned above.
On-the-Job Training: Continual through updating or expanding one’s professional certifications.
Job Description: To be successful in this line of work you will most likely want to be a very physically active person yourself, as well as have a passion for this line of work.
A typical work day would include meeting one-on-one with clients to assess their physical fitness needs with the intent of designing an individualized training program.
Personal Trainers also motivate and encourage their clients to reach and even surpass their fitness goals. As a result, good personal and communication skills are a must.
Most Personal Trainers work at gyms, private workout facilities, or provide at-home or virtual coaching services. Some decide to work both inside and outside the home to help facilitate a higher income.
Also, you can try getting your Yoga certification.
13. Funeral Director
Average Salary: $56,850
Prior Education: Educational requirements range from a high school diploma or equivalent to an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Funeral Service Education or related field. Internships are also encouraged.
On-the-Job Training: Licensure is required in the U.S. before taking on a Funeral Director position, and some states may require a certain level of education or the completion of an apprenticeship.
Job Description: You do need some training to become a Funeral Director and possibly certification, but you can eventually make as much as $80,000 a year.
A typical work day would include helping families organize funeral details and complete any corresponding paperwork, such as a death certificate.
Offering counseling to grieving family members and helping to prepare the deceased body for the funeral service are other common duties.
It is important that you be able to handle the macabre, and you do need to have tact and a warm personality since you are dealing with people in difficult situations. Make sure you can accommodate a flexible schedule since visitations and funerals are often on weekdays and weekends.
14. Commercial Pilot
Average Salary: $78,740
Prior Education: High school diploma or equivalent, but most airlines now require a Bachelor’s degree as a prerequisite for employment.
On-the-Job Training: Moderate to high training is involved. Often the first step is to get your private pilot’s license. You’ll get your flight hours up and be more comfortable in the cockpit.
Job Description: Commercial Pilots fly planes for very specific reasons, such as for rescue operations, aerial photography, aerial tours, or charter flights.
Pilots generally evaluate overall conditions of aircraft, communicate with air traffic control, and monitor engines and fuel consumption, among other routine tasks. Being a team player with strong communication and observational skills is also a plus.
You’ll be spending a considerable amount of time away from home, so make sure you aren’t too much of a homebody. Fatigue and jet lag may also be experienced often.
Excellent observational and communication skills prove quite beneficial in this field of work. You can easily make more than $50,000 if you get on as a commercial pilot at the right airline.
15. Truck Driving
Average Salary: $53,199
Prior Education: Typically a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) and/or high school diploma or equivalent is preferred.
On-the-Job Training: Drivers must complete several weeks of on-the-job training.
Job Description: After completing six to eight weeks of training and obtaining your commercial driver’s license, you can make $45,000. Work your way up to becoming a trainer, and you can clear more than $70,000 a year.
Maintaining a clean driving record is crucial. Truck Drivers must adhere to all traffic laws, ensure cargo is secure for transport, and keep all trucks and equipment in good working condition.
Hand-eye coordination, visual stamina, and mental focus are important qualities to have for this type of position.
To become a Truck Driver you need a Commercial Drivers License or CDL. I recommend using both a CDL Practice Test and CDL Test Answers to help you study up so you can pass.
16. Nuclear Power Reactor Operator
Average Salary: $72,384
Prior Education: A degree in a field like engineering is required by some nuclear power plants, but you do not need a college degree to land a lower level operator job. In some cases, all you need to do in some cases is to simply pass the certification test.
On-the-Job Training: Moderate to high training is required along with possible certification.
Job Description: Nuclear power reactor operators manage nuclear reactors, monitoring them and making adjustments as necessary to ensure the safety of the nuclear power production process.
They also have to perform routine maintenance on the reactors and shutdown on very specific systems. Because the job is quite risky and requires very careful attention to detail, it pays quite well.
It also helps to become efficient in the required computer technologies involved in nuclear power plants. Make sure you can handle shift work and long hours.
17. Fire Fighting
Average Salary: $49,080.
Prior Education: High school diploma or equivalent. Any prior training in emergency medical services is a plus.
On-the-Job Training: Completing a physically demanding training program is mandatory along with other certifications.
Job Description: The starting salary for a Firefighter is often just a little more than $30,000, but you can make more than $50,000 a year depending on where you work and whether you reach a supervisory position.
Firefighters must know how to use standard field equipment, such as hoses and ladders, become proficient at providing medical attention to injured victims, and properly handle coming in contact with hazardous materials or wildfires.
Depending on which state you work in, you may need to complete specific training programs, such as high-rise building rescues.
Being a firefighter is a very strenuous and dangerous occupation, and you often must work long shifts and over 40 hours per week. To help you get physically ready for firefighting duty, I recommend you check out Pass the Beep Test, a guide to help you prepare your body for firefighting.
18. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Average Salary: $33,380
Prior Education: Typically a high school diploma or equivalent and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification is required. Completing a postsecondary educational program is common.
On-the-Job Training: Generally there is little to no on-the-job training, but completing levels of certification are more than likely required for most states.
Job Description: If you are about to take your EMT classes to become an EMT, you will be happy to learn that the job outlooks in this field are very promising. However, chances of having a good job in the EMS are given to those who have more EMT certifications (like paramedics).
EMTs are first responders in a medical emergency, assessing victims’ conditions and possibly transporting them to the hospital by ambulance. Often people’s lives are on the line when EMTs arrive on the scene.
The hourly wages can vary from $12.08 (10% of the workforce earns less than this) to $24.77 (10% earn more than this bracket). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2023 the median hourly wages of EMTs was at $17.76 per hour.
19. Railroad Jobs
Average Salary: $59,780
Prior Education: Typically a high school diploma or equivalent is required.
On-the-Job Training: Several months of moderate-level training is standard. Obtaining certifications may also be required.
Job Description: Do you like trains? Do you enjoy traveling? If so, a railroad job might be just for you.
A variety of positions are available, ranging from engineers and conductors to switch operators and management positions. Railroad jobs give you a chance to see new parts of the country while getting paid very well in the process.
Since trains operate every day of the week, expect to work nights, weekends, and holidays in all kinds of weather conditions.
Hand-eye coordination, visual acuity, and communication skills are valuable assets in this industry. If you’re looking at getting a railroad job, here’s a comprehensive guide that shares how to get a job in the railroad industry.
20. Medical Coder
Average Salary: $45,035
Prior Education: Typically a high school diploma or equivalent is required, while an Associate’s Degree is sometimes preferred.
On-the-Job Training: There is little to no on-the-job-training since specific training programs are generally completed as a prerequisite for employment. Completing certifications may also be required.
Job Description: The healthcare industry is currently booming, and you can expect it to continue to rise with the Baby Boomer generation getting older. There aren’t enough doctors and nurses available.
Behind all of the doctors is a team of medical coders typing up detailed reports on what procedures you had done and billing you or your insurance company the amount owed.
According to The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)’s 2022 salary survey, on average medical coders without certification bring home approximately $47,200 per year. However, becoming certified as a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) is highly sought after to seek higher pay.
21. Information Technology (IT) Technician
Average Salary: $41,305
Prior Education: Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, or certificate program in computer science or related field is typically preferred. A degree is usually not required to land an entry-level position.
On-the-Job Training: Little to no on-the-job training expected since some employers require that candidates complete some level of formal training as a prerequisite for employment.
Job Description: There are a number of career paths within information technology that do not require a college degree.
Starting out you’ll probably conduct support calls on a helpdesk and only make $11-13 per hour. As your skills and experience progress and you get more experience you can easily make $50,000 to $70,000 per year as you get into systems administration and network engineering.
Typically IT technicians diagnose and repair computer malfunctions and install and maintain network systems. Get started on your IT career path by getting some online computer training and certification.
22. Criminal Investigator
Average Salary: $58,582
Prior Education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Several years of prior experience in law enforcement is encouraged. Some employers do require a minimum of an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice or related field.
On-the-Job Training: Moderate on-the-job training is expected. Most states do require standard licensure for criminal investigators, along with a license to carry an armed weapon.
Training typically involves learning how to properly gather information and conduct remote surveillance, among other routine tasks. Reconstructing accident scenes is also a field-specific skill learned.
Job Description: Criminal investigators are the individuals tasked with interviewing and collecting evidence for specific cases.
Depending on the case at hand, you may be performing background checks, verifying facts and statements, conducting surveillance, searching online records, or gathering information on persons of interest.
You may even need to testify in court or make a physical arrest. This job is fast-paced and often involves working odd hours, weekends, and holidays.
Important skills to have include resourcefulness, inquisitiveness, and integrity. Being able to stay cool, calm, and collected during criminal investigations is integral to performing well in this role.
23. Brick Mason
Average Salary: $42,900
Prior Education: High school diploma or equivalent. Many masons also complete extensive apprenticeship programs or specific coursework before employment.
Any previous experience as a construction laborer is acceptable.
On-the-Job Training: Learning the trade is often accomplished through completing apprenticeships and/or on-the-job training shadowing experienced masons.
In these apprenticeship programs, promising candidates learn standard masonry practices, such as construction basics, measurement calculations, and safety procedures.
Job Description: Generally a brick mason uses bricks to construct walls, fences, and other structures.
A typical work day would include reading blueprints, gathering required materials, cleaning surfaces with power tools, and lifting heavy materials for proper alignment.
Brick masons often work long hours in a fast-paced and strenuous environment where becoming injured on the job is common. Protective gear, such as safety glasses, should be worn at all times.
Construction deadlines must be met, so brick masons often work indoors and outdoors in all kinds of weather. Important skills to have for this role include hand-eye coordination, physical strength, and attention to detail.
24. Postal Service Worker
Average Salary: $57,260
Prior Education: High school diploma or equivalent. An excellent driving record is a must along with a clean track record.
On-the-Job Training: There is some short-term on-the-job training involved, including passing a written exam, road test, and other standard background checks.
Job Description: Postal service workers generally collect, sort, process, and distribute mail in a timely manner. It’s their responsibility to make sure mail is delivered seamlessly.
They also sell common postal products, such as stamps, and obtain any customer signatures for certified mail.
Important skills to have for this role include a strong focus on customer service and attention to detail.
25. Pharmacy Technician
Average Salary: $31,750
Prior Education: High school diploma or equivalent. Complete a postsecondary program in pharmacy technology before employment is acceptable.
On-the-Job Training: Moderate on-the-job training is required, which typically involves passing an exam or specialized program.
You may also need to learn how to operate automated dispensing equipment, and some states may require certification.
Job Description: Pharmacy technicians are responsible for correctly filling, packaging, and labeling customers’ or health professionals’ prescriptions.
You would also be involved in organizing inventory, processing insurance claims, and accurately entering patient information into a computer database.
Having excellent organizational, listening, and customer-service skills is highly valued for this role.
Pharmacy technicians may be required to work nights and some weekends. Make sure you are physically fit enough to spend most of the day on your feet fulfilling orders.
Is Attending College Overrated?
There’s one thing I know for sure – college is extremely expensive! As the College Board highlights in a recent survey outlining changes in college tuition between 2012-2013 and 2022-2023, tuition is on a steady upward climb that shows no signs of letting up.
In 2023, public four-year in-state tuition is $10,950 for full-time students. This was a 1.8% increase from the previous college year.
There are a vast amount of careers that you can obtain without an actual college degree, but most require either a trade school certification or just time on the job and working your way up through the ranks.
“Formal education will make you a living. Self education will make you a fortune.” – Jim Rohn
Looking for a job? Scared that the cause of unemployment may be growing? Sign up for free at www.FlexJobs.com and see who’s hiring today!
FAQs on High Paying Jobs with No Degree
Are there high paying jobs with no degree?
Yes, there are several types of jobs that do not require a college degree but can still offer competitive salaries. Some examples include web developers, software engineers, medical coders, sales professionals and IT support staff.
What qualifications do I need for these jobs?
What qualifications do I need for these jobs? The requirements for these types of positions vary depending on the job and company, but often include certifications or specialized training in the field you are interested in pursuing.
In addition to technical skills, employers are looking for individuals who demonstrate strong problem solving abilities, excellent communication skills and an understanding of customer service principles.
Q: What are some high paying jobs that don’t require a college degree?
Here are some examples of high paying jobs that don’t require a college degree:
-Commercial pilots: median salary of $121,430 per year -Detectives and criminal investigators: median salary of $81,920 per year -Nuclear power reactor operators: median salary of $94,350 per year -Power distributors and dispatchers: median salary of $83,020 per year -Real estate brokers: median salary of $61,720 per year -Elevator installers and repairers: median salary of $80,180 per year -Web developers: median salary of $73,760 per year -Petroleum engineers: median salary of $137,170 per year -Computer network architects: median salary of $112,690 per year -Medical and health services managers: median salary of $100,980 per year
Are there any high paying jobs that don’t require a college degree, but do require experience?
Yes, there are many high paying jobs that don’t require a college degree but do require experience. Some examples include:
-Commercial pilots: typically require several years of flight experience as a co-pilot before being considered for a pilot position. -Detectives and criminal investigators: typically require several years of experience in a related field, such as a police officer or federal agent. -Nuclear power reactor operators: require extensive on-the-job training and experience. -Real estate brokers: typically require several years of experience as a real estate agent before becoming a broker. -Petroleum engineers: typically require several years of experience in the oil and gas industry before being considered for a position as a petroleum engineer.
The Silicon Valley boom paved the way for unprecedented returns for scores of high-tech companies, resulting in a mass influx of highly-skilled professionals to the San Francisco Bay Area.
A surge in job creation invariably boosted housing demand across the region. With a limited supply at hand, the prices quickly spiraled out of control, appreciating at an extraordinary clip.
The effect of rising demand and limited supply quickly resulted in an over-inflated property market which out-priced nearly everyone in the Bay Area counties. Year-on-year growth rates show that the median house price in San Francisco has increased by 1.3%, – to $1.6 million. While substantial, this is the smallest gain since 2012. More significantly, housing prices across Santa Clara County dropped by 6%, averaging out at $1.26 million.
Analysts agree that the explosive growth in the property market are due in large part to the runaway success of technology companies in the region. 2019 ranked among the most active years for IPO listings, leading to an influx of billions of dollars in venture capital, and various rounds of financing activity. This has led to a cooling of expectations as various tech companies such as Slack, Uber, and Lyft, failed to hit their price targets.
Interestingly enough, the steep prices in San Francisco and its surroundings have many homebuyers shift interest to other areas, like Oakland and Berkeley. Home prices in these areas have risen by approximately 4%, reflecting a median house price of $860,000.
Where to next for the Bay Area housing market?
Dozens of economists were recently surveyed regarding pricing in the Bay Area market. The consensus among them was that San Francisco will lose traction as other housing markets like Austin, Texas gain momentum. Apparently, the worst performing real estate market in 2020 is expected to be the Bay Area.
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Of the 100 economists that were polled in the survey, 64 of them believe that San Francisco’s housing market will underperform this year, followed by 61 experts who believe that San Jose will underperform. If these predictions hold true, home values across the Bay Area will start to decline. Obviously, residents of the Bay Area have mixed feelings about their home value decline, but those looking to rent and buy properties will be heartened by this news.
The uninterrupted growth in property prices has everyone overly concerned. The majority of real estate developers have been focusing on the high-end market when developing new housing facilities. This has neglected the low and middle-income earners who were simply priced out of the market.
One of the most expensive cities of America
Of course, notable exceptions exist such as Danny Haber of oWOW, a California-based real estate development company which focuses on low-cost, luxury accommodations for the market, in and around the Oakland region. Owing to general trends in the Bay Area, most people do not consider home ownership, let alone rentals. While high home prices affect buyers and sellers, they also have an impact on renters by raising the costs. Unfortunately, the rise in rental prices has outstripped the growth in real earnings by a wide margin.
According to SF Gate, the one third rule is not applicable to the Bay Area property market. Typically, renters spend approximately 33% of their gross income on housing, but in the Bay Area, this is a pipe dream.
Rental prices for a single bedroom apartment in San Francisco can average $2,900 per month, which requires earnings of $105,000 a year. Most wage earners come nowhere near close to that figure. In fact, experts found that San Francisco rentals, including San Mateo and Marin counties, eat up to 50% of gross income. This being said, the costs of living here become more affordable in households with multiple wage earners.
Housing alternative for the Bay Area
Construction costs in the Bay Area rose by 6.7% during 2018, making San Francisco the most expensive real estate market to build in. Typically, increases in demand are met with increases in supply to reduce pricing, but in San Francisco’s housing market this is not the case.
Of course, the tech sector is likely to rebound and this will add further pressure onto housing prices. In the absence of accelerated construction, other viable solutions need to be found.
One possible solution to the housing crisis in the Bay Area is MacroUnits, the system provided by oWOW. These modular-style housing units are built offsite and shipped to their destination.
This alternative reduces the costs of remodeling existing apartments, shortening the time to market and reducing overall costs for customers. A flexible walls system known as Magic Walls is used to maximize the living space and create luxurious accommodations by transforming single bedroom units into multi-bedroom units with additional facilities, all within the same square footage.
By entering the market with lower prices, Danny Haber’s company is rapidly expanding its tenant base, by offering upgraded housing at an affordable price. If this system is implemented at scale, it could become part of a comprehensive solution to the housing dilemma.
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Most employees have to submit expense reports at some point — be it for out-of-town travel, client dinners, special events, or other expenses you incur due to your job responsibilities. Keeping track of these expenses is important, otherwise you’re losing money while on the job and probably not endearing yourself to your company’s finance department, which relies on accurate records and timely reports from employees.
It seems straightforward enough to track your expenses, but I’ve personally known employees who have lost receipts and didn’t get reimbursed, failed to get reimbursed because they didn’t understand that an expense was reimbursable, or missed the deadline to turn in the paperwork. In all three cases, the employee paid for a company expense with their own money. Not good at all! The situation can easily be avoided with some basic steps to make sure company expenses don’t affect your bottom line.
Know the Policies
Request a copy of your company’s expense reimbursement policy, and make sure you understand the guidelines about the following:
Methods of payment. Can you use a company credit card? If not, will you pay out of your own pocket, or can you request a cash advance?
Reimbursable expenses. What are the allowable expenses? Typically these are transportation, mileage, meals, lodging, etc. What are the allowable limits? You’ll probably have a certain amount you can spend on meals each day, for example.
Non-reimbursable expenses. Know what isn’t covered by the company. For example, most companies will pay for meals, but not alcoholic beverages.
Documentation. Do you need to submit receipts? What about tracking mileage? Know what documentation you’ll need to accompany your expense report paperwork.
Filing deadlines. How soon must you submit your paperwork to get reimbursed?
Finally, print out a copy of the expense reimbursement form so that you have a clear understanding of what you’ll need to complete it. If something doesn’t make sense about the form or the policies, now is the time to ask for clarification from your boss.
Tip: Leave the form on your office chair to remind yourself to fill it out as soon as you’re back at your desk.
The Envelope Method
Let’s say you are going out-of-town to work at a company event. A simple, low-tech way to organize yourself is with a plain business envelope. Here’s how it works:
If you received a cash advance, place the cash inside the envelope.
If you need to track mileage, draw a mileage box on the outside of the envelope with a column for the date, starting mileage, and ending mileage.
Draw another box for tips, with a column for the date, amount, and the reason for giving the tip. This is for incidentals that might not have a receipt, like a housekeeping tip of $5 or tipping the hotel staff for moving heavy items.
When you receive a receipt for a business expense, mark which items you’ll submit for reimbursement (for example, a fajita meal, but not the margarita). Also write down the purpose of the expense, such as paying for a round of golf for a client and business partner, and the tip amount. Usually dates print out on the receipt, but if it’s not on there, write that down, as well.
Place all receipts in the envelope.
It sounds simplistic, but every time I’ve done this, I’ve found it easier to get my expense report turned in on time. When I don’t do it, I have to hunt down receipts in bags, pants pockets, and purses, then figure out where that $5 went that I forgot I used to tip hotel staff.
Don’t Wait to File
File your expenses the day you return to the office. To be honest, I don’t always do this. But it’s the best way to ensure that you’ll remember any details you might not have written down and that you’ll get your paperwork turned in before the deadline. There are tax laws and company policies about reimbursements, so don’t wait and risk losing receipts or forgetting about submitting them until it’s too late.
I’m going to take my own advice and complete my expense reimbursement form from a business trip last week before I can even think about procrastinating! In the meantime, let’s hear about your own methods for tracking reimbursable expenses. What are your tips for keeping business expenses organized?