Archive for March, 2010

What Is Data Entry?

March 25th, 2010 |

What Is Data Entry?

Data entry refers to the act of transcribing data of any kind into another form. Data entry usually refers to entering data into a database, like a spreadsheet or other computer file.

Computers are ubiquitous tools both at home and at work, and there is a huge demand for the collection and presentation of data-based documents in everything from doctor’s offices to school administration and even the accounting field. People who are good at data entry are excellent typists, especially typists who are skilled at using the “10-key” section of the keyboard to enter numbers. To qualify for a job in data entry, you should have fast (and accurate) typing skills as well as lots of 10-key ability.

People who work in the field of data entry are should also be able to read longhand (even the worst handwriting such as that of doctors) as well as typewritten documents. Obviously, accuracy is key in the field of data entry. In data entry, the wrong letter, number, or symbol can ruin an entire document, especially if that document is meant for computer programming or another technical field. Even in simple spreadsheets typos can be embarrassing and damaging to an office setting.

What Kinds of Data Are Transcribed with Data Entry?

What Is Data Entry?Some different kinds of data that people might transcribe are handwritten documents in a doctor’s office, spreadsheet info, long sequences of patternless numbers that go toward building a computer program, or the simplest of data like names and addresses for an accounting firm. You may find yourself working a job that is almost exclusively data entry, while others fields that require data entry skills could spend most of their time away from the keyboard — it depends on the job.

Skills to Learn for Data Entry Jobs

By now it should be obvious that a job in the data entry field will require the ability to focus on the most menial of tasks for long periods of time making few errors. This kind of work can be mentally and physically exhausting, so a personal desire to complete a serious challenge is a good trait.

Remember that data entry work demands you type for hours at a time, so you must pay attention to your posture, and remember that you should type in an ergonomically appropriate position to avoid wear and tear on your back, arms, hands, fingers, and other parts of your body. Regular breaks from typing are important to your physical health — your eyes and hands simply need rest from time to time. Your typing speed needs to be really high to make up for the fact that you need to take a break from data entry at least once every hour. You need to be able to make up lost time when resting.

When looking for a job in data entry, be aware that there are plenty of “scams” out there aimed at data entry professionals. The most obvious scams are those that promise data entry work if you pay a simple up-front fee. Remember — never pay a fee just to get a job.

Most data entry jobs (especially without experience) pay between $10 and $15 per hour, depending on experience and the nature of the job. If you have a specialty, like medical transcription, you can make a lot more cash if you work in that field.

What Is Bill Consolidation?

March 23rd, 2010 |

What Is Bill Consolidation?

When a person transfers their outstanding debts and loan payments into one bill, this process is called bill consolidation. On paper it sounds simpler than it really is. Remember that bill consolidation requires a loan. You don’t just pile all your debts into one payment and send a check and that’s that. You have to be approved for bill consolidation loans. But bill consolidation is just what the name says — combining your bills into one easy to manage payment.

Why Use Bill Consolidation Services?

Theoretically your consolidation loan will decrease the amount of interest and fees you pay on your debts. There are other benefits to using bill consolidation services (such as allowing for one simple payment rather than a dozen little ones), but the big benefit to taking out a bill consolidation loan is the lower interest rate you’ll get. It means you’ll pay off your debt much quicker than using traditional methods.


Reduce Your Credit Card Payments by 50%

Take note of the fact that you’ll have to make regular monthly payments to your bill consolidation company, including any fees they tack on. Depending on the company, these fees can be anything from reasonable to outlandish. The credit card or bill consolidation company takes your money and pays off your various debts themselves — they make their money by securing ultra-low interest rates and having some of your debt lopped off by your debtor, then pocketing the difference between your payment and they payments they make. That’s why you have to be religious about paying them — they’re paying for you and without your payment they’re losing money.

It is common to find a bill consolidation company that doesn’t charge monthly fees. Sounds nice until you realize that they make their money on huge upfront fees — sometimes thousands of dollars — and you’ll end up paying the same either way. You see fewer and fewer bill consolidation companies using the “upfront” method these days, maybe because it makes more financial sense for these companies to get a little money out of you over an extended period of time. Whatever the reason, monthly fees are now the norm.

One slight downside to bill consolidation loans — your debtors may report your loan to credit reporting agencies and this could keep you from opening new bank accounts or credit cards. The good news is that after 6 months or so of regular payments, you can start to take on new debt or open a new bank account.

Another point — some debt can’t be consolidated. Student loans, mortgage payments, and even some high-balance credit card debt is impossible to consolidate.

How Do I Find a Bill Consolidation Company?

Bill consolidation companies (or “debt management companies”) are professionals who negotiate with your debtors to reduce your interest rate. That’s all they do. Don’t get sucked in to doing business with a bill consolidation company that has little or no experience — there’s just too many talented debt management companies to waste time on some low-rent bill consolidator.

When you look for a bill consolidation company, stick with a company that works exclusively with debt management concerns. Companies with a wider scope of interest may not be as interested in easing your debt as they are interested in taking your cash. One tip when signing on with a company — ask for a specific date when your accounts will be paid in full. A good consolidation company will be able to give you a date when each of your accounts will be paid off and you will be debt free.

For more information related to bill consolidation and credit card consolidation, see the following:

Reduce Your Credit Card Payments by 50%

What Is a Tax Attorney?

March 22nd, 2010 |

What Is a Tax Attorney?

A tax attorney is a lawyer who specializes in helping taxpayers deal with IRS or other revenue service problems. The IRS isn’t the only entity that people get in trouble with — state tax departments are a big problem for people who live in states with state income tax.

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United States tax law is byzantine in structure, with more curveballs than a minor league baseball game. The tax law isn’t just complicated, it is ever-changing, with additions and retractions piling up year after year. This means that having a good tax attorney is necessary to people who are affected by small changes in tax law — like small business owners and the self-employed.

What Do Tax Lawyers Do?

Tax lawyers have a specific focus — tax law and tax relief. You can hire a tax attorney to help you get through an audit, get your fines for failure to pay taxes reduced, have liens removed from your property, etc. Tax attorneys are also adept at assisting small businesses with tax troubles and can be useful for those of us that deal with self-employment issues — the self-employed are often hit hard by tax debt and fines.

When a taxpayer gets behind on taxes or has any disagreement with the IRS or other tax entity, the taxpayer may be able to sort out the mess on his own. Due to the complexity of tax law (and the fact that tax negotiations pit one individual against the federal government) a taxpayer may find they need to hire a tax attorney to protect themselves and help them get square with Uncle Sam.

Who Uses Tax Attorneys?

What Is a Tax Attorney?Plenty of small business owners make their tax attorney a major part of their business — as crucial to the daily operation of their business as an accountant. A talented tax attorney will help you deal with potential tax problems before they cause you financial stress. Think of a tax attorney as a different kind of financial advisor.

A tax attorney may be a requirement for the wealthy — they can help set up trust funds, stock portfolios, financial accounts. If your tax attorney is worth his salt, he can make sure that your various financial accounts are legally sheltered from high taxes and government interference. You don’t want to run into a big federal surprise on April 15.

How Do I Find a Tax Attorney?

Don’t just call random tax attorneys out of the phone book — the best bet when looking for a talented tax attorney is to ask your friends who they use, or even ask for a referral from your personal attorney. This is much like finding a medical specialist — your doctor probably has the name of a good endocrinologist should you need one.

When looking for a tax attorney, find one with lots of IRS experience, experience in debt management, and an attorney who has done plenty of work with actual taxpayers. Your tax attorney should have plenty of references and produce them on demand without protest.

Make sure your tax attorney is a member of the American Bar Association as well as your state Bar. You wouldn’t go to an unlicensed doctor or send your kids to a school that wasn’t certified, so don’t trust your finances to a lawyer who isn’t part of the Bar.

When a taxpayer gets in dutch with the IRS and can’t find his own way out, it is time to consult a tax attorney. If you wait to act on your tax debt, those fines really start to add up. Waiting too long could mean bankruptcy or even jail time. This is why any money you spend on a tax attorney is an investment and not a liability.

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For more information related to tax attorneys, see the following:

What Is Internet Dating?

March 21st, 2010 |

What Is Internet Dating?

People have used mass media as a dating resource since well before the days of the Personal ads in the newspaper. There are reports of grafitti on the walls of ancient Greek cities advertising a lover’s prowess or particular romantic style. It is no surprise that the Internet is full of ways to make “new friends” and create potential romantic hookups.

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Internet dating is what it sounds like — a way to meet people using the Internet.

Why Try Internet Dating? How to Start Dating Online

With Internet dating you can “meet” people before you make a commitment to see them in person. People who use Internet dating often “talk” using email or chat long before they meet each other in person. This way, you can decide how long you want to talk to someone and how well you want to get to know them. This makes it easy to weed out creeps or people you know you won’t get along with.

Internet Dating Dangers and ScamsPeople who are hesitant to meet strangers, or people that are on the shy side, swear by Internet dating as a way of avoiding the pitfalls of early dating that usually make them afraid. Unlike the bar scene, Internet dating moves at your own pace, and you control all of the unknown factors, like your outward appearance (your “dating profile”) and the time that you meet someone.

Another advantage is that you can meet people from all over the country (or all over the world) and from all walks of life using Internet dating. If you are interested in meeting people from a specific religion or people who have a specific job or interest, an Internet dating site already exists for that purpose.

How Do I Start Internet Dating?

The first thing to do is to come up with an idea for your dating profile.

A typical dating profile will showcase your hobbies and interests, your hopes for your future, basic facts about your life, and (most importantly) what you are looking for in a date. The choices you make about your profile beyond those basic categories are your own. If you’re rich and want to show off, you can include how much money you make. If you are drop-dead gorgeous and know that’s your best quality, you can include pictures of yourself. Whatever you think it will take to hook a hot date, go for it.

About the photographs — understand that most people engaging in Internet dating will want to see a photo of you before they agree to a date. It is a fact of life — people are shallow. You don’t have to add a photograph to your profile, but most dating sites will tell you that profiles that include a photo are exponentially more popular, and more likely to lead to successful dates.

In case you’re worried about money — don’t fret. Most Internet dating sites are affordable (they can cost anywhere from a few bucks to an amount similar to your monthly power bill) and most of the time you’ll just pay a one-time registration fee. One way these sites “hook you” is allowing you to see other user’s profiles for free but charging a fee if you want to contact them for a potential date. Be prepared to pay with a credit card, check card, or some other online payment method.

Internet Dating Dangers and Scams

You could say that all dating includes dangers–creeps are everywhere looking to exploit other people. And just like with traditional dating, there are a few things to be wary of when considering Internet dating. Obviously, the person you have been talking to may not turn out like advertised. Some people will change their appearance, lie about their personal details, or go to any length to secure a date. There’s plenty of cheating going on at dating sites, and the single surgeon with a new Porsche you’ve been chatting to could turn out to be a married dockworker with a bus pass.

The best way to avoid Internet dating scams is to keep your head on your shoulders. Avoid giving out your home phone or cellphone number to a person that you don’t trust, and certainly don’t tell anyone your address unless you’re willing for that person to show up unannounced. If you do decide to meet someone you met through Internet dating, try to schedule a first date in a public place. These simple tips could keep you from being scammed, lied to, or harmed. Just as with regular life, Internet dating requires some common sense.

Internet dating is no fad — there are thousands of websites designed to help you meet your new partner. The popularity of Internet dating confirms the fact that some people are building solid relationships based on friendships they’ve formed on the Internet. You never know where your next online chat could lead.

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For more information related to Internet dating, see some of the following pages:

Dating and the Internet

Conversations and First Dates

The Single Life

Dating Advice and How To’s

What Is an External Hard Drive?

March 20th, 2010 |

What Is an External Hard Drive?

If you aren’t familiar with what a hard drive is, check out our previous  article What Is a Hard Drive?.

Every computer needs a hard drive to store the operating system information, programs and other peices of user input. Most hard drives are internal — built into the body of the computer — but since our personal computing needs have outgrown the basic hard drive installed on most computers, the external hard drive has become popular.

Why Do I Need an External Hard Drive?

An external hard drive is very useful. For starters, it is portable and can be used to move large chunks of data from one computer to the next. External hard drives also let the user “back up” important information off the internal hard drive. Since internal hard drives are exposed to all kinds of pressures and danger (from viruses to hard drive crash) it is smart to keep certain files in an external location. Your sensitive financial documents, big chunks of music or image files, movies, or even a backup of the entire contents of your internal hard drive can be stored securely on an external hard drive.

What Are Some Threats to Internal Hard Drives?

What is an External Hard Drive

What is an External Hard Drive

The Internet exposes our computers to security threats all the time — Trojan horses, spyware, or good old-fashioned computer viruses are so rampant it is basically impossible to protect your computer from them.

Firewalls and anti-virus programs can’t catch everything, and this kind of danger isn’t the only threat to your information. There are all kinds of ways your data can be lost — family members accidentally erasing old tax files, or physical damage to a computer from any number of causes can put your data at risk.

It isn’t just danger that threatens the hard drive — the sheer size of most people’s data requirements can put a hard drive through a serious test. We all have massive music collections or any other number of huge files that can slow down our drives.

Since an external hard drive sits outside the main computer, users can store information safely. The external hard drive is connected to the computer using a specific kind of high-speed cable that allows data to move on and off all the time. This cable allows the external hard drive to “talk” to the computer so that you can access your data instantly. The two most common kinds of cords are USB or Firewire.

Other Benefits of Portable External Hard Drives

Since external hard drives are portable and work just like any plug-and-play device, any computer with USB or Firewire ports will recognize the external hard drive as a storage device, and instantly assign it an identity. You can access your external drive as easily as you access your internal one.

Another benefit to external hard drives — multiple family members or computer users can store their own drives separate from other users, to protect sensitive documents or just to keep some of the burden off the internal drive.

With the cost of portable external hard drives dropping, some people own multiples external drives and use them as needed. You don’t have to plug them all in all the time — just attach them to your computer as needed. It is common to see one external hard drive for multimedia, one for data backup, one for work files, etc.

The external hard drive is as much a part of modern computing as the internal hard drive. An external hard drive won’t cost you an arm and a leg, and the time and effort it saves you (not to mention the data) are well worth the price.

This article is part of a series we’re doing on computer basics. The other posts in this series are:

What Is a Hard Drive?

March 18th, 2010 |

What Is a Hard Drive?

A hard drive is a crucial element of our modern computer systems. The hard drive is the part of the computer where all of your programs and files are stored. Think of it as the file folder of your computer. A hard drive is also known as a hard disk drive.

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The hard drive is so crucial to the computer that If the drive is somehow damaged, you will lose everything you have stored on your computer.

How Does a Hard Drive Work?

Strangely enough, a hard drive uses memory storage similar to VHS tapes or cassettes.

Where a VHS tape or a cassette uses long strips of black tape infused with a magnetic material to store information, hard drives contain little round mirrors covered in magnetic material that is able to record data. Looking at a hard drive next to a VHS tape, you wouldn’t think the two were at all similar. But just as your VCR reads data from a VHS tape, a piece inside your hard drive reads and writes data on the little mirror looking platters. If you were looking at a hard drive, you’d see a tiny arm attached to the memory platters — this arm moves back and forth over the memory, doing its work nearly silently.

What Is a Hard Drive?Most hard disk drives these days contain multiple memory platters stacked one on top of the other something like a layer cake. There is a tiny space between each layer which gives the drive room to move around and move the arms back and forth to write and rewrite data. When you turn your computer on, the memory platters start spinning. If the vent fan on your computer isn’t running, you can hear the steady but quiet hum of the memory platters at work. You can hear them because they’re moving really fast — about 7,200 rotations per minute for a desktop or about 5,500 rpm for a laptop computer.

No matter if your computer is writing or searching for memory or not, the hard disk is always spinning. It is the arm that we talked about earlier that jumps into action whenever you run a progrem, open a file, alter, save, or delete a file, or a few other minor actions. That little arm is a fast bugger — it can move back and forth over the surface of the platter up to 50 times per second, so fast that if you could watch it in action, the arm would just look like a little blur.

Remember that everything in your hard disk drive moves very fast, so the arm and the drive head never actually touch the memory platters. They skip over the surface of the platter like a hovercraft, supported by a bit of fast-moving air created by the spinning of the platter. Most people are really surprised to learn how much work their computer is doing when they save a file — there’s so much kinetic energy in there its no wonder that we need heat sinks and fans.

What Can Cause a Hard Drive Crash?

Electrical problems with the logic board can cause a hard drive to crash, as can simple shock to drives that are made of glass or other weak material. Luckily, most manufacturers have switched to a material that is not as easily broken.

Another common hard drive failure happens when there are tiny imperfections on the magnetic media on the platters. If a single sector on the hard disk fails to hold alignment, the data will become inaccessible to the user. Most hard drives have these tiny flaws, but the manufacturer marks them in such a way as to prevent the computer from accessing them. You can have your flawed platters fixed in a similar way after-market, but that process will wipe your memory.

The most dramatic example of a hard drive crash is called a “head crash”. This happens when the rapidly moving paltters cause the “heads” holding the arms to literally crash into the memory platters. This is usually caused by dirt or dust in your hard drive that settles on the platters and causes them to bounce and wobble. Remember that the recording medium on the platters is really fragile and is usually totally ruined when the heads crash into it.

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This article is part of a series we’re doing on computer basics. The other posts in this series are:

What Is a Secured Loan?

March 16th, 2010 |

What Is a Secured Loan?

A secured loan is any loan that is backed up by an asset or a piece of collateral.

Secured loans are the easiest way for consumers to get big loans without waiting too long. A lender won’t usually loan a big amount of money without something to back it up — in this case, your word is not good as gold. For the consumer, the secured loan can act as a guarantee that you will pay back the loan. For people who have trouble paying back debts, putting their house or another piece of collateral on the line is incentive to pay off the loan in a timely fashion.

What Kind of Collateral Do You Need for a Secure Loan?

An interesting tweak in the secured loan system is that the item being purchased (for which the secured loan is necessary) can be used as collateral. Most secured loans are taken out to buy a home or a car, and a lien can be placed on the item. This lien means that your bank or finance company will own the title or deed until the loan has been paid off, including any appilcable fees and interest.

If you don’t want to risk your home or your car on a secured loan, you can put up financial commodities like stocks or bonds as collateral, or a valuable piece of personal property.


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What Other Types of Secured Loans Exist?

What Is a Secured Loan?Not all secured loans are taken out to pay for new property. You can use a secured loan as a home equity loan or a new line of credit paid on your home’s equity. Some people are using secured loans as second mortgages as well. Secured loans not used for new purchases are based on the amount of equity in the home — this equity being the value of your home minus the amount still owed. In this case, your home is used as collateral. Be careful using a secured loan based on your home equity — if you don’t make payments on time you could lose your home.

There are still other types of secured loans, like debt consolidation loans. In this case, you use your home or another piece of property as collateral. The reason debt consolidation loans work — instead of paying off several high interest debts each month, a large chunk of money is loaned to you in order to pay off the original lenders, and you only have to pay back the one big secured loan. Interest rates for secured loans are almost always lower than the interest rate on your debt, and your monthly payments on your secured loan are likely lower than the payments made toward your debt. A secured loan used as debt consolidation loan will save you money as well as time mailing bills each month.

The secured loan is the opposite of the unsecured loan. An unsecured loan is a loan made without collateral. Your line of credit with a credit card, student loans, and even bank notes are generally unsecured loans. The difference? An unsecured loan has a much higher interest rate than a secured loan, because unsecured loans are not backed by collateral.

If you are looking for a loan and can’t seem to get a line of credit, a secured loan could be your ticket to the cash you need. If you own a piece of property with a high value to use as collateral, or if the item you’re trying to purchase can be used as collateral and placed under a lien, you could be on your way to the loan you need.

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For more information related to secured loans, see some of the following pages:

What Is an MP3 Player?

March 14th, 2010 |

What Is an MP3 Player?

An MP3 player is a wonderful piece of technology that’s taken over the world of personal music players — the next generation of the LP, the cassette, and the CD. An MP3 Player is a device that plays files called “mp3″ files.

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What Is an MP3 File?

An MP3 is a form of digital audio file that is compressed into a portable and easy-to-handle size using a specific audio recording standard. These standards are defined by the Motion Pictures Experts Group, known as MPEG. Where does the name come from? These files are technically called “MPEG-1, Layer 3″, hence the shortened version, “MP3″. These files use only about 10% of the storage requirements of the popular CD format, meaning you can squeeze more music onto a smaller space using MP3 files.

MP3 Player Specifics

MP3 players come in all different sizes, colors, shapes, and capabilities. The smallest and highest-end MP3 players use a specific kind of memory known as “flash” — unlike conventional memory you might have on your desktop or laptop computer, “flash” memory does not lose stored information when the power source is removed or turned off.

Flash memory is crucial to these devices — it takes up little space, uses little power, and lets designers of MP3 devices create really small devices that have extended battery lives. Both important features when designing a personalized music playing system.

What Is an MP3 Player?The major benefit of an MP3 player is that a consumer can hold a huge chunk of their music collection in their hand rather than lugging around bulky boxes or cases of CDs. Also, MP3 users can create endless amounts of personalized music lists and carry thousands of songs, videos, and even mini games in their pocket wherever they go.

All of that stored music and the MP3 player itself fit into a device that, in some cases, weighs less than one ounce. Portability is a large factor in the popularity of the MP3, considering the ease of transportation in comparison to a CD player and CD storage case. In addition, some devices provide additional technology, like video and photo viewing, alarm and calendar functions, and even cell phone and Internet service.

Downside of MP3 Players

The major case against flash memory based MP3 players is their limited storage capacity. If you have a huge music collection, you’re never going to get everything onto a flash based MP3 player — you’ll need a hard drive backup or a larger hard disk based MP3 device. Some of the larger MP3 devices can store tens of thousands of songs (some companies claiming storage of over 100,000 songs) but you lose the small size and portability features of the flash-based MP3 players. The cost is different as well — flash-based MP3 players are cheaper.

If you are a music fan and you don’t own an MP3 player, you are behind the curve. You shouldn’t upgrade to an MP3 player system just because it is the hot new technology — do it because CDs are on the way out, and all music could one day exist digitally, rather than on a hard disc.

Where to Find Cheap MP3 Players and Accessories

Finding cheap Mp3 players and accessories involves shopping around. You might be able to find an inexpensive MP3 player on Craigslist or eBay. But keep in mind that buying a used MP3 player carries a certain amount of risk with it; when you buy one new, you get a warranty and a customer service department to deal with. If you keep a close eye on Amazon, they run sales and specials from time to time. Amazon is the best place to buy cheap MP3 players and accessories.

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For more information related to MP3 players, visit some of the following pages:

What Is a Savings Account?

March 13th, 2010 |

What Is a Savings Account?

A savings account is any bank account used to hold money and draw interest. A savings account differs from a checking account in that a savings account can not be drawn on by checks, debit cards, or any other personal financial tool. The other crucial difference is that a checking account doesn’t draw interest.

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Savings Account Basics

I don’t want to steer you wrong — not just banks offer savings accounts. You can open savings accounts at credit unions, or you can open a money market fund through an investment company. There are lots of ways to open a savings account, so if you don’t want to do business with a bank, you’re in luck.

Unlike a 401k or an IRA account, savings account funds are easy to get access to if you need to. Simply transfer funds from your savings account to your checking account or even withdraw money directly at your bank. But every savings account is a little different, so your bank may in fact charge for withdrawing money out of your savings account. For the most part, bank members have the ability to freely withdraw money from their savings account, as long as your bank is open or you can get to one of your bank’s ATMs.

One good reason to open a savings account — earning interest on your money. There are other reasons — your savings account is a secure place to store your cash, far better than zipping it up in a plastic bag and burying it in the garden. Even better than a checking account, which we all know earns us exactly nothing.

Savings Account Insurance

What Is a Savings Account?Savings accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC. When you open a savings account, the FDIC insures your money up to $250,000.

This means if the bank goes bankrupt or fails for some other reason, the FDIC will protect your investment up to a certain amount.

Be sure to check that the savings account you’re opening is FDIC insured — there’s no reason to open an unsecured account — they’re everywhere. Almost every bank, credit union or investment company offers this insurance. Don’t go without it.

How To Pick A Savings Account

Do some shopping — look for a savings account that offers a high interest rate. While it is no longer true that banks offer better interest than credit unions, you should compare a series of both banks and credit unions in order to find a competitive interest rate. Money market funds offer the widest variety of rates, but interest rates will always fluctuate based on the stock market and other financial markets — you may find awesome interest rates one year and the next year be stunned by how low your interest rate offers are. This is why it pays to do your homework.

Because there are so many places to find a savings account, the competition for your money is heavy. You should use this to your advantage. Shop around for the best high interest savings account that you can find.

Some banks offer their customers incentives, everything from cash ($50 deposited to your account at opening) to high interest rates for a year or even cheesy giveaways like cars and vacations. Though these gimmicks are just what they sound like — cheap tactics to get customers — you can use them to your advantage. Make the banks compete for you, and let your money start making you money.

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For more information related to savings accounts, see some of the following pages:

What Is Currency Trading?

March 12th, 2010 |

What Is Currency Trading?

Currency trading is a kind of commodities exchange much like stock or futures markets only the trading occurs between the values of different currencies. Since one country’s currency is always a different value relative to another currency, the difference that exists becomes a trade-worthy commodity.

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Despite the fact that it is a volatile market (with high possibility of financial loss) currency trading is the largest financial market on the planet. Depending on whose estimate you believe, there is about $2 trillion traded in the currency market every day. We think of the New York Stock Exchange as a large financial market, but when compared to the currency market, the $50 billion traded on Wall Street seems like pocket change. The currency market is simply enormous, partially because it involves traders from all over the world and partially because its only commodity is cash.

The currency market is commonly referred to as “foreign exchange”, FOREX, or just FX. You’ll see all three names in use in different settings.

All currency has a value that changes relative to the world’s other currencies, and traders on the foreign exchange market buy and sell large chunks of currency to make “leverage” against the ups and downs in that relative value — the goal is to buy one currency when its value is low and sell it again when that value reaches a profitable level. Yep, the old “buy low sell high” principle is at work again.

Why Does Currency Change Value?

What Is Currency Trading?Two main reasons — the most common reason is international commerce. When people from one country want to invest or purchase an item or product from another country, their money’s value must be weighed against the value of currency in the market in which they’re shopping. The same process works in reverse — when money leaves or enters a country, that money’s value must be known before it can be converted for commercial use. Basically — when money changes hands or crosses borders, its value must be known.

The second reason for the change in currency’s value turns out to be the foreign exchange market itself. The forces of “speculation” in the currency market actually affect the currency being traded.

It happens like this — an investor makes a speculation about the value of a given currency based on current events or some other inside information. That investor then either purchases sells a currency based on that notion. On a small scale, these kinds of decisions don’t have much impact, but when a speculation turns into a trend, it can have major consequences on given currency, and even on a country’s economy in the big picture.

For example, a financial crisis in Asia in 1997 was seen as a chance for investors to turn global economic downturn into profit. Financial market speculators used FOREX to buy currency low and sell high. This had a negative impact in the long run, as most economists credit the financial market with extending the downward financial trend in East Asia that year.

Why Currency Trading?

There are plenty of benefits to currency trading when considered against any kind of market equity trading. Because the “spreads” between different currencies are low, an investor can make a low initial investment. Besides low cost, there is the chance for making huge amounts of cash in very little time. Returns as high as 500 : 1 are often reported by members of the FOREX community, as compared to similar high boasts of ratios like 100 : 1 on the NYSE. If you can come up with a currency trading system that works, then you can make some money. But…

This last feature — high potential gain — is cut by a serious chance of loss. Amateur investors or people who don’t understand the financial market, stand a good chance of losing their shirt. Remember that gambles for big gain often mean gambles for big loss.

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For more information related to currency trading and investing, see the following pages:

What Is Online Banking?

March 11th, 2010 |

What Is Online Banking?

Online banking is a system by which a banking customer can conduct bank transactions using the Internet. The movement of banking into the online world was inevitable — as soon as the Internet became ubiquitous it was only a matter of time before we handled everything (even our personal finances) on the Internet.

Online banking means we have one less reason to leave the house. With online banking, you can do everything you would normally do at your bank from the comfort of your computer. Make deposits, transfer funds, and even pay bills using your Internet connection. About the only thing you can’t do with online banking is make a withdrawal — it’d be nice if our printers could spit out money, but the technology’s just not there yet.


The perfect alternative to a checking account

Benefits of Online Banking

The main purpose of online banking is to create convenience for bank customers. Rather than waiting for a bank statement to come in the mail, you can access all of your bank statement information right in your web browser. You can check your account balances 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In general, your Internet bank will provide you with login details (username and password) and the URL you should use to log on.

Another big convenience factor with online banking — security. You can catch any banking discrepancies on your various accounts right away and deal with them well before you could if you were relying on paper statements. You don’t even need to be at home on your own computer — safety features allow you to access your account from any computer in the world. If you have Internet access, you have access to your bank.

What Is Online Banking?If you choose to pay your bills online through your bank, you will find yourself writing far fewer checks. Not just paper checks, but the cost of postage stamps and the pain of walking down to the mailbox are all gone. Online bill pay is one of the most convenient aspects of online banking — simply enter the amount of the bill to be paid and the funds will be automatically deducted from the bank account of your choice. Even better news — the cost to the bank for providing these online services is low, so that savings is passed on to the consumer. Sure, some banks charge a fee for online banking, but it is usually extremely low. When you figure in the cost in time spent standing in bank lines or dealing with crotchety tellers, the cost of online banking is justified.

Downsides of Online Banking

The most secure Internet connection in the world is still vulnerable to hacking or interference. Since online banking depends so heavily on the Internet, outages and security breeches can be a serious problem. Sure, your information is insured and encrypted, and the chance that your online bank account will be compromised is slim, it does happen. While hacking and irresponsible online behavior can be a problem, rest assured that reputable online banks have lots of security features and stopgap measures to prevent fraud.

Another downside is the lack of personalized service. Maybe you like going in and dealing with the same bank teller week after week — with online banking, you may never see a teller’s face again. On the upside, any time you need to make a cash withdrawal or if you have to deposit cash or checks, you will be spending some time at the bank or at the bank’s ATM. Don’t fear — you’ll probably still have plenty of face to face contact with bank representatives.

In most people’s eyes, the benefits of online banking outweight the few risks and downsides. Online banking is no longer the wave of the future — it is just the way most banking is done these days. Contact your bank to see what online banking options they offer and join the 21st century.

The perfect alternative to a checking account

For more information related to online banking and Internet bank accounts, see some of the following pages:

Is It Illegal to Drive Barefoot?

March 10th, 2010 |

Editor’s Note as of July 26, 2010 — Apparently the original post below was in error. Rather than delete it, we’ve left it here in its entirety, along with the comments correcting the error. We apologize that the original author of this post made this mistake, and we’re taking steps to make sure this kind of mistake doesn’t happen again.

Is It Illegal to Drive Barefoot?

There’s nothing like the feel of the open road — just you, your car, and miles of highway stretching off into the distance. Driving is the definition of freedom, a past time as American as baseball.

Sometimes you want to feel the gas pedal underneath your toes, you want to feel directly connected to your car’s engine. Sometimes you just want to drive barefoot.

What are the legal ramifications of driving without shoes?

State Laws

Depending on the state where you are choosing to drive with bare feet you could very well be breaking the law. While there is no federal restriction against driving without shoes (apparently the ability to accelerate with one’s toes is a state’s rights issue) there are more than a few states who feel that driving without footwear is punishable by the law.

States Where Driving Barefoot Is Illegal

Before you climb behind the wheel with no shoes on, make sure you aren’t in one of the following states which provide penalties for driving barefoot:

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware,Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming

That seems like most of the states, and for good reason. Driving barefoot has been shown to be dangerous, reducing road reaction times and causing plenty of potential accidents from foot slippage. Here, then, is a list of state where driving without shoes is not illegal, yet :

Alabama, Ohio, and California.

Why Not Drive Barefoot?

Since most states have laws against barefoot driving, the question must be asked — why can’t we drive barefoot? Why not just make a national law against driving without shoes if it is so dangerous?

If you believe tradition, when automobiles first appeared on the scene, they were not covered in upholstery, no floor mats and nothing to block the feet of the driver from the heat of the engine. During these times, a barefoot driver risked serious burns to their feet if not wearing proper footwear. For many people, this old tradition of covering the feet to protect them from the engine is the main reason they feel the need to wear shoes.

Still other people claim that driving without shoes causes one’s feet to get worn out quickly, and can contribute to careless driving or even cause an accident. This is the basis for most tickets people get for driving barefoot — their foot slips or gets tired in traffic causing an accident.

Driving barefoot is an unavoidable event sometimes. Maybe you lost your shoes after a day at the beach or are in a hurry to get to the emergency room or other emergency facility. Know your local laws and be extra careful when driving barefoot, and you should ‘get away’ with it just fine.

This article is part of a series we’re doing on “Is It Illegal?” The other post in this series is:

Is It Illegal to Sleep In Your Car?

March 9th, 2010 |

Is It Illegal to Sleep In Your Car?

We’ve all been on a long distance car trip and felt the need to pull over for a quick rest. In fact, most driver’s education programs advice just that for road weariness — pull safely to the side of the road and take a nap. “Sleeping it off” is much safer than pressing on to the next available motel or to your final destination. Road weariness leads to more accidents than anything besides drunken driving.

The question many people have is “Is it illegal to sleep in your car?”

Legalities of Sleeping In Your Car

Even though our car is our own private property, and even though we are all told to take a nap if we get tired while driving, there is some concern that sleeping in your car could get you in big trouble. Why should sleeping in the car be perceived as a danger?

1. Vagrancy

In most cases where police don’t want you to sleep in your car it is because they are looking to clear the streets of vagrants. Many times, people who are homeless will find any shelter from the elements, and this includes abandoned or unlocked cars. Police will often wake you up if you’re sleeping in your car in order to determine that you’re not a homeless person in an illegal sleeping situation.

2. Suicide

It is an unfortunate fact of our society that many people choose to end their lives in their cars. If a police officer sees a person asleep in a car, they may assume that person is in the process of committing suicide. Police will often perform a wellness check, look at your license and other documents, and suggest you move on down the road. There’s also a chance that they’ll allow you to remain sleeping, as long as it isn’t against city or county ordnances.

3. Suspicious Behavior

Even in areas where sleeping in the car is legal, police have the right to search you and your vehicle if they believe you are exhibiting suspicious behavior. Police are on the lookout for drug dealers, drug users, and other felonious activity.

4. Health and Safety

If you have parked your car in an unsafe area for sleeping (too close to the road or in an unlit spot) they may ask you to move to a safer spot for sleep. If this is the case, you can expect to be pretty thoroughly searched in the process.

How to Sleep In Your Car (Legally)

Some states, like Texas for example, want you to use their official rest stops for any necessary sleep while on the road. These rest stops are well-lit and well away from the danger of the highway. Other states do not allow this behavior anywhere, so it is best to plan for a sleep stop somewhere along the way. If all else fails, find a big box store (like Wal-Mart) where RVs and other vehicles are known to pull in for a night’s sleep.

If you have any question about whether or not a business will allow you to use their lot for sleep, simply ask the management.

There’s never a good reason to drive while tired. If you must pull over and sleep in your car, do so safely and in accordance with local laws and you should have no trouble getting forty winks.

This article is part of a series we’re doing on “Is It Illegal?” The other posts in this series are:

Is It Illegal to Be High?

March 8th, 2010 |

Is It Illegal to Be High?

Yes, it is illegal to be high.

Here’s the situation — you and your buddies were sitting around listening to The Dark Side of the Moon and enjoying a joint or two. The night’s over and it is time to head home. On the way back to your house, you get pulled over for speeding. You know you don’t have anything illegal on you, and you haven’t been drinking, but still you gotta wonder — can the cop bust you simply for being high?

Drug Test got you worried? CLICK HERE

Let’s set aside the issue of driving under the influence of marijuana for just a moment and talk about the legality of being high.

Intoxication can be difficult to prove. When talking about alcohol intoxication, cops have several methods for determining your level of drunkenness, from field sobriety tests to breathalyzers to blood tests back at the police substation. With marijuana there is no really effective way to prove in a court of law that you were under the influence.

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The short answer is Yes — it is illegal to be “under the influence of marijuana”, especially when you’re driving The problem lies with the officer’s ability to take stock of your level of intoxication.

Detecting Marijuana Intoxication

Is It Illegal to Be High?If the police really want to know if you’re under the influence of marijuana, the only true test is a blood test. There’s no “marijuana breathalyzer” (though one is being developed in California as I write this) so if a cop wants to bring you into the station, that officer will have to have good cause to do so.

A field sobriety test is fairly effective for detection of marijuana intoxication. Depending on the individual (and depending on how high they are) a typical field sobriety test could be tough. Walking a straight line, speaking clearly, etc — marijuana can make all those tasks difficult.

But for an officer to perform a field sobriety test on an individual who is high on marijuana there must be mitigating circumstances. Either you’ve been involved in an accident (which automatically triggers such a test) or you smell so much like marijuana that the officer can’t help but test. If you don’t appear too high and if you haven’t caused too much of a problem in your vehicle such as an accident or something, you probably won’t be tested.

Illegal High

Another sticking point for cops is that they usually have to see evidence on marijuana use in order to arrest you for it. If a cop finds marijuana, paraphernalia, or sees you smoking marijuana, then you will most certainly be arrested and given any drug test they can think of to prove your guilt.

But if you’re walking down the street, causing no trouble and not in possession of any drugs, you could possibly walk right up to a cop and say, “I’m high on marijuana.”

And they probably won’t do anything. If you aren’t driving or behaving criminally, a simple statement to a cop that you are intoxicated is usually not enough to warrant an arrest. On the other hand, don’t test this theory in real life. It’s always a bad idea to admit to any kind of illegal activity to a police officer.

The basic facts are as follows — while it is illegal to be high and operate a car, and while it is illegal to possess, smoke, or sell marijuana, it can be difficult to prove intoxication and therefore most of the time you can get away with.

Our advice is to obey all  the laws in your jurisidction.

Drug Test got you worried? CLICK HERE

This article is part of a series we’re doing on “Is It Illegal?” The other posts in this series are:

What Is the Fastest Car in the World?

March 7th, 2010 |

What Is the Fastest Car in the World?

Once you get up to a certain speed, “fastest” is really relative. One driver may find that his style compliments the SSC Ultimate Aero better than a similarly fast Bugatti model.

Here is a list of the ten fastest cars in the world. All of these cars are fast and furious, and on any given day one model may easily beat another.

The Ten Fastest Cars in the World

1. SSC Ultimate Aero: This monster can hit a top speed of 257 mph, and boasts a 0-60 time of just 2.7 secs. It has a twin-turbo V8 Engine and a ridiculous 1183 horse power. Sure, the base price is a mind-numbing $654,400, but there are other (slower) cars on this list for much more. When the Guinness Book of World Records declared the SSC Ultimate Aero the What Is the Fastest Car in the World?fastest car in the world, car fans were shocked. The old standby Bugatti Veyron has finally been unseated.

2. Bugatti Veyron: The world’s best drivers can reach 253 mph in no time in this vehicle, due to a super low 0-60 time of just 2.5 seconds. This car’s aluminum frame and Narrow Angle W16 Engine clocks in at 1001 horse power. Yes, the base price is an unheard of $1,700,000, but if you really want to turn heads, the Veyron is your chariot.

3. Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo: Top speed is 248 mph, and a nothing-to-sneeze-at 0-60 time of  3.2 secs. For being third on this list, the base price of $555,000 seems like a steal.

4. Koenigsegg CCX: Top speed? 245 mph. 0-60 time? 3.2 seconds. Under the hood, the Koenigsegg looks like nothing on the market. A V8 Engine with 806 horsepower sounds weak, but don’t be fooled. The engineers at Koenigsegg are working hard to make this outlandish vehicle the fastest in the world.

5. McLaren F1: It is ridiculous that a car that can hit top speeds of 240 mph (while running from 0-60 in under 3.2 secs) is this far down the list. Made with a BMW S70/2 60 degree V12 Engine (though a measly 627 horse power) the base price is $970,000.

6. Ferrari Enzo: Chances are you’ve never seen this car. With a top speed of 217 mph, and a still stunning but not perfect 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, only 300 of these vehicles were ever produced. Even though you only get 660 horse power, owning one of less than 400 Ferrari models should well be worth the base price of $670,000. Be careful — the price goes up over time, due to the disappearance or breakdown of other models.

7. Jaguar XJ220: It may seem strange to find a Jaguar on this list, but topping out at 217 mph and performing a 0-60 maneuver in less than 4 seconds immediately makes you a contender for world’s fastest car. Featuring a Twin Turbo V6 Engine with 542 hp, the base price was $650,000, but since these cars were only produced for a limited time in 1991, that price is much lower than you’d expect to pay now.

8. Pagani Zonda F: A disappointing entry for Pagani, who at one time were headed for the top of this list. This vehicle only pulls a top speed of 215 mph, though it does have good pickup, moving from 0-60 in 3.5 secs. Why do I say it is an underperformer? Any vehicle with a Mercedes Benz M180 V12 engine (and any vehicle that costs well over $500,000) should perform much better than this. This car is quickly falling off the list.

9. Lamborghini Murcielago LP640: The only Lamborghini on the list boasts a top speed of 211 mph, 0-60 in 3.3 secs. V12 Engine with 640 hp, base price is $430,000. Nice piece of art, the design is very round and smooth.

10. Porsche Carrera GT: Ah, Porsche. The car of doctors and dentists. Though this model only gets up to 205 mph (only!), the 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds is impressive enough to reel in people looking for serious speed. The bare bones model will run you $440,000.

See also:

  1. How Old Do You Have to Be to Rent a Car?
  2. Who Has the Most Nascar Wins?
  3. How Much Should I Sell My Car For?
  4. Should I Buy a Used Rental Car?
  5. Should I Trade My Car in or Sell It Myself?
  6. What Is an Auto Backup Camera and How Does It Work?
  7. What Is the Fastest Motorcycle in the World?

What Is the Average Cost of Living by State?

March 6th, 2010 |

What Is the Average Cost of Living by State?

Due to differences in taxes, rent and utility bills, food costs, and other geographical quirks the cost of living in America varies from state to state.

Economists assign a number to cost of living, as a specific dollar amount will depend on your lifestyle as well as other factors such as your employment and travel requirements.

Here is a list of all fifty US states and their average cost of living index. In this index, 100 is an “average” cost of living for the entire country — any number lower than that indicates a state that is below average in terms of living cost, while numbers above 100 indicate that state has a higher cost of living than the national average.
Alabama

92

Alaska

126

Arizona

104

Arkansas

90

California

135

Colorado

102

Connecticut

125

Delaware

100

District of Columbia

100

Florida

101

Georgia

90

Hawaii

165

Idaho

92

Illinois

96

Indiana

92

Iowa

93

Kansas

91

Kentucky

90

Louisiana

95

Maine

115

Maryland

125

Massachusetts

113

Michigan

96

Minnesota

105

Mississippi

102

Missouri

91

Montana

102

Nebraska

90

Nevada

95

New Hampshire

108

New Jersey

101

New Mexico

100

New York

145

North Carolina

96

North Dakota

88

Ohio

102

Oklahoma

90

Oregon

101

Pennsylvania

106

Rhode Island

115

South Carolina

89

South Dakota

88

Tennessee

91

Texas

113

Utah

112

Vermont

134

Virginia

87

Washington

119

West Virginia

95

This article about “what is the average cost of living by state?” is part of a series of blog posts we’re publishing about average costs for things. Other articles on similar subjects can be found below:

What Is the Average Cost of Raising a Child?

March 5th, 2010 |

What Is the Average Cost of Raising a Child?

Children are the greatest blessing to anyone’s life. Newborns especially are a true joy to have around. Unfortunately in this day and age, you pretty much need to be loaded to raise a child properly.

As with most “average cost” questions, there are multiple answers. Because of differences between cost of living in different states and differences between childrens’ need (medical problems, etc) the ‘average cost’ of raising a child can be different from one family to the next.

Average Cost of Raising a Child

The most recent data available on the subject, put out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, suggests that in 2004 (these kinds of polls take time to put together, so 2004 is the most recent number available) families who make at least $70,000 a year or more will spend an average of $269,520 to raise a single child from birth through to adulthood at age 18.

Naturally, families with incomes lower than this will spend smaller amounts. Wondering what the highest child rearing cost in the country is? Apparently, wealthy families in urban areas in California pay the most — on average about $284,000.

About those lower-income families — how much does it cost them to raise children? Apparently, a family’s income may not be as big a factor as it seems in the cost of child rearing — families who take in less than $70,000 are spending a whopping $184,00 to raise a child from infancy to adulthood.

Think of this number as about $15,000 a year from birth to age two. Once a child gets older, the expenses associated with your child will shoot through the roof. As your child ages, he or she gets even more expensive, topping out at $15,810 from ages 15 to 17. This survey is deadly accurate too, as it involves a wide sample (8,000 families from across the country) every four years or so.

Problems With This Study

While this study is the most accurate we have, there are some issues. For starters, the study doesn’t consider certain off the wall expenses incurred by families with special needs — hefty medical bills, private schooling, and other sundry items that just don’t fall within the scope of this study.

Don’t forget also that this study is made up of a composite average — this means your actual cost will be no where near the ‘average’ reported, and will come in way above the reported number. The final problem with this study is that it stops at 18, which means most college expenses (rising every year) are not taken into account. Parents could easily add tens of thousands of dollars to this cost just by putting a child through school.

This article answers the question “What Is the Average Cost of Raising a Child?”, and it’s part of a series of articles about average costs. The other articles in this series include:

What Is the Average Cost of Braces?

March 4th, 2010 |

What Is the Average Cost of Braces?

Getting braces has become something of a childhood tradition. According to the American Association of Orthodontics, anywhere from 3 to 4 million kids in America wear braces on their teeth, though the length of time they wear them varies greatly.

With so many kids requiring braces to fix issues with their teeth, it is important for parents of young children to understand the average cost of orthodontics. Since we’ve already said that the length of time required for braces can be anywhere from a matter of weeks to a matter of years, an ‘average’ cost is difficult to determine.

Average Braces Cost

BracesInfo.com (a great source of all things braces-related) says that the average cost of childhood orthdontics is $5,413. This amount can go up to as high as $8,000 depending on the individual orthodontist and the area of the country in which your child receives treatment.

Additional Costs Associated with Braces

There are lots of options for the child about to get braces — but these options will cost you. If your child is a bit ashamed of their braces or just wants a specific look, the cost goes up. “Tooth colored” ceramic brackets will add an average of $500 to an orthodontic bill, while special braces that are placed behind the teeth (called “lingual brackets”) are an even bigger expense, adding anywhere from $2,000-$5,000 to the final bill.

Braces Alternatives

Invisalign, a company that offers a braces alternative of the same name, reports that its products (which resemble clear plastic trays used for teeth whitening) start out at $3,500 but the average customer cost is about $5,000 across the nation. Be careful when selecting Invisalign as your orthodontic treatment of choice — these plans can cost way more than this ‘average’ depending on the retailer.

Orthodontics and Insurance

The good news is that most solid dental plans will cover orthodontics for children under age 18, but there are no dental plans that will automatically cover adult braces. Talk to your insurance company and find out if your kid’s braces will be covered.

For adults who want braces, there are very few options outside of making a payment plan with your orthodontist or purchasing a private amount of dental insurance that will help cover the costs.

Braces can be important. Your child’s smile can make or break his chance at certain jobs, success in love, and general self-esteem. Yes, braces can be expensive, but often they are medically necessary and there are insurance options to help pay.

This article answers the question “What Is the Average Cost of Braces?”. Other articles in this series include:

What Is the Average Cost of a Wedding?

March 2nd, 2010 |

What Is the Average Cost of a Wedding?

It is always difficult to come up with an “average cost” for a county the size of America. There is such a gap between the lower class and upper class in this country that the “average cost” of a wedding is hard to come by — not to mention the huge number of weddings taking place every year.

There are also big differences geographically. A fancy wedding in Martha’s Vineyard may cost one amount while an equally fancy wedding in “fly-over country” will cost you a lot less.

With that in mind, I’m going to offer four different geographical locations and show average wedding prices in big cities in that location. Remember that these are average costs, which means as many weddings cost less than this as weddings that cost more. You can spend as much money as you want on a wedding (I’ve been to million-dollar weddings) or have a very nice ceremony for almost no money at all. Another disclaimer — these average prices do not include things like engagement ring or honeymoon.

Weddings in the South

Dallas, Texas — $18,000 – $29,000
Houston, Texas — $15,000 – $26,000
New Orleans, Louisiana — $17,000 – $29,000
Nashville, Tennessee — $19,000 – $31,000
Atlanta, Georgia — $21,000 – $47,000
Miami, Florida — $13,000 – $23,000
Charleston, South Carolina — $18,000 – $32,000
Mobile, Alabama — $14,000 – $25,000

Weddings in the North

New York City — $39,000 – $64,000
Baltimore, Maryland — $18,000 – $30,000
Washington, DC — $38,000 – $54,000
Boston, Massachusetts — $21,000 – $35,000
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — $15,000 – $26,000
Bangor, Maine — $14,000 – $25,000
Providence, Rhode Island — $12,000 – $22,000
Atlantic City, New Jersey — $16,000 – $29,000

Weddings in the West

Los Angeles, California — $57,000 – $105,000
San Francisco, California — $48,000 – $100,000
Seattle, Washington — $19,000 – $40,000
Tacoma, Washington — $14,000 – $27,000
Portland, Oregon — $11,000 – $38,000
Sacramento, California — $22,000 – $48,000
San Diego, California — $38,000 – $51,000
Las Vegas, Nevada — $30,000 – $52,000

Weddings in the Heartland

Omaha, Nebraska — $16,000 – $28,000
Denver, Colorado — $21,000 – $41,000
Kansas City, Kansas — $14,000 – $29,000
St. Louis, Missouri — $12,000 – $31,000
Chicago, Illinois — $24,000 – $51,000
Iowa City, Iowa — $12,000 – $28,000
Billings, Montana — $12,000 – $24,000
Minneapolis, Minnesota — $21,000 – $51,000

“What Is the Average Cost of a Wedding?” is part of a series of articles. The other articles in this series include: