On April 9, the US Postal Service announced that the organization had filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission to change the price of several mailing services, including a 5-cent increase to the price of a First-Class Forever Stamp. 

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According to the USPS’ announcement, these price changes are due to continued changes in the mailing and shipping market and that “these price adjustments are needed to achieve the financial stability sought by the organization’s Delivering for America 10-year plan.”

This is the most recent of several price hikes that have hit the cost of postage over the last few years. Read on to find out how this will affect your mailing and shipping habits.

How much is the price of stamps going up? 

The price increase depends on which postal service you are seeking. The USPS has announced price increases for at least six postal services, with more that have yet to be announced. So far, the new prices are: 

The USPS indicated that it was seeking a price change for “Special Services products, including Certified Mail and money order fees” although it did not indicate what those price changes would be. P.O. Box rental fees will remain the same.

The April 9 press release indicated no changes were being made to any shipping rates, but we’ll update this story if the USPS releases more pricing changes. 

When will this change take effect? 

If you want to get stamps or send mail at the current price, you will need to do so before July 14, 2024. So, you have just under three months to fulfill your postage needs before prices increase this summer. 

Source: cnet.com©

If you’re like me and sometimes have to pause to remember how to write a check when it’s time to pay rent, bills or other expenses, we’re here to help. 

Many believe the heyday of writing checks has passed. When you consider various alternative payment methods that might be used, it does seem that check writing is old hat. Other payment methods are greener, by saving you the hassle of filling out a check and reordering more when they run out. Many companies offer online bill-pay, including automatic payments so you can set it and forget it. Using a debit card instead of writing a check will also create an automatic record of your transactions, so you don’t have to worry about doing that yourself.

how to write a check© Getty Images

How to write a check

When you’re filling out a check — in pen, don’t forget! — take care to use each field correctly so you don’t have to start over and waste checks. Always write legibly and use both numbers and letters where indicated, so there’s no question about how much you want your bank to take out of your account and who it’s going to.

Here’s where everything goes.

1. Date. Put the date you’re writing the check in the field in the upper right corner. That will tell the person who’s receiving it when you wrote it. If you need to postdate a check, write in a future date that will indicate when it can be cashed. You may need to do this if you’re sending a check earlier than when it’s due and you don’t have the funds to cover it at the exact moment, or just don’t want the money taken out until it’s time.
2. Payee. Next to where it says “pay to the order of,” write the name of the person or business that will receive the check.
3. Check amount (numerical). Here’s where you write the amount the check is for in digit form. Fill the entire box so no one can add extra numbers and increase the amount the check is for. For example, if you’re writing a check for $250, you can write $250.00 to fill the entire box and make sure there’s no confusion about the exact amount.
4. Check amount (text). Below the payee line and to the left of where it says “dollars,” write out the amount the check is for in words. Writing it out in both words and numerals ensures there’s no confusion over the amount. You want to fill in the entire line here, too. If you’re writing a check for $250, you’d write, “two hundred and fifty and 00/100.” Instead of writing out cents, you would put the cent amount slash 100. In that case, if you’re writing a check for $15.50, you’d write, “fifteen and 15/100.” The “dollars” part is already printed on the check so no need to write that out.
5. Memo. This is where you write what the check is for. It’s not legally required, but will help you track your check if there are any issues. Get as detailed as will be helpful for your own records.
6. Signature. Finally, sign your check on the line in the bottom right corner to indicate you agree to pay the amount above to the person or company you’ve designated to receive it. The check isn’t valid until you sign it, so don’t forget this step.

Record your check

After you’ve written your check, it’s a good idea to record it in your check register. You can use the register that comes with your checks, a spreadsheet or any other method that works for your money management system.

Your records should include:

• Check number
• Date the check was written
• Payee, or who you wrote it to
• Amount
• A memo detailing what the check was for

Tips for writing checks

Both before and after you write a check, it’s important to make sure it’s secure so you don’t fall victim to bank fraud. Here are a few tips to make sure your check is safe.

• Use pen. Fill out your check in blue or black permanent ink instead of pencil. That will ensure no one can change the fields after you fill them out.
• Never sign a blank check. Putting your signature on a blank check essentially gives anyone in possession of it free rein to withdraw as much money as they want. That’s why we recommend only signing your check after it’s totally filled out.
• Void all mistakes. If you make an error, write the word “void” across the check. Then tear it up and throw it away so it can’t fall into the wrong hands.

Source: Good Housekeeping©

There were some 465,000 children reported missing in the US in 2016. Every day, all around the world, children go missing. In partnership with others, The Global Missing Children’s Center works to protect children from going missing or being abducted by providing resources on prevention as well as the appropriate actions to take in the event a child does go missing.

Tips for parents and caregivers:

Teach them their number.

Make sure your child knows his or her full name, home address and telephone number. Include this contact information in their backpack, coat, etc. Teach your child not to share this information with anyone he or she does not know without your permission.

Take a picture

Get into the habit of taking an updated picture of your child each year. This should be a head and shoulder forward-facing photograph with the hair down and no makeup or face paint.

Be prepared when in crowds.

It is important to be prepared when going into crowded places. Dress your child in bright, recognizable clothing that is easily seen if he or she should get separated and be sure to designate a central location where your child knows to meet you if he or she gets lost.

Practice safe social media.

Talk to your children about the risks of sharing too much information on social media. Explain how “checking in” on social networks and sharing location information or routines can have negative consequences.

Listen and ask questions.

Listen if your child says someone makes him or her feel uncomfortable. Ask questions to better understand why. It is important for children to learn to trust their instincts.

Resource:  The International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children

Time management helps you get the best out of your working life and, well, life life. Here are my top ten time management and anti-procrastination tips to improve your working day.

1. Do the important jobs first. People often like to get the most unpleasant task ticked off the list first, just to get it done. Others like to get quick and easy tasks done first, just to feel like they’re achieving stuff. But it’s far better to prioritize in order of importance, regardless of whether it’s hard or not.

2. Ruthlessly prioritize your time. I like to use the ABC Method to plan my day and prioritize tasks in order of importance. An “A” task is my most important, must-do item for the day (or, if there’s more than one A task, I label them A1, A2, and so on). “B” tasks are secondary tasks that are less important than A tasks – you never move onto a B task while there are still A tasks on the list. And C tasks are those that are nice to get done, but it’s not a big deal if they don’t happen that day. I start every morning with this method (or you could do it at the end of each day, ready for the next day).

3. Set a time limit for each task. Once I’ve made my to-do list for the day, I set time limits for each task on the list. This ensures I don’t let tasks expand to fill more time than they really need, and it keeps my day manageable because I know what I can realistically achieve.

4. Find your productive hours. Productive people don’t fill every hour of their day – they know when they work best, and they make sure they get the important stuff done during those hours. Follow their lead and block out your most productive hours (be they in the morning, in the quiet of the evening, or whatever) for the most important tasks. Avoid filling that precious time up with meetings or less important jobs – which are better suited to other times of the day.

5. Don’t multitask. Multitasking is the enemy of productivity because you can end up not doing anything properly. Give one task at a time your full attention, and finish that before moving on to the next item.

6. Eliminate distractions. I love working from home, but I recognize that some people find it distracting. It certainly helps to turn off notifications on your phone or turn on your phone’s “do not disturb mode” when you need to and set boundaries for anyone sharing your space. (For example, by saying, “For the next hour, I really need to get my head down and concentrate” or “When my office door is closed, it means do not disturb.”) The same tips also apply when you’re in an office environment.

7. Learn to say no. Saying no – politely but firmly – is an art form, and if you can master it, you’ll feel much more in control of your time. Very often, it’s not even a case of saying no but setting expectations for when you can do something – for example, by saying something like “I can’t do this until next week.”

8. Weigh up the consequences of doing something versus not doing it. If you’re really procrastinating, ask yourself, “What will happen if I don’t get this done?” If the answer is “Er, not much,” then it’s probably not that important. But if you know, there might be serious consequences if you put it off, that might give you the extra motivational nudge you need.

9. Understand that sometimes – just sometimes – procrastination can be a good thing. The urge to procrastinate might be telling you something (for example, that you’re tired and need a break). And sometimes, the mind just needs a bit of time to wander, imagine and be creative – and that’s also a good thing.

10. Finally, if you find yourself not wanting to do many of the tasks associated with your to-do list, then maybe it’s time to switch jobs! Seriously, ask yourself whether it’s really the right job for you because it’s not “normal” to dislike your job or feel constantly demotivated.

Article by Bernard Marr Photo credit: adobe stock

Source: forbes.com©

 

Have you ever Google searched for coupons or promo codes? You’ll probably waste 15 minutes putting in codes that don’t work. At worst, you’ll end up on a malware-infected site.

Streaming is expensive, so you might be tempted to look up free TV shows or movies. Don’t do it. There are seriously sketchy sites out there.

Google anything and you get pages of search results. At the very top are the “Sponsored Results.” These are paid ads businesses use to drive traffic to their websites.

Google doesn’t vet everyone who buys an ad. Cybercrooks can buy ads just like trustworthy companies – except they hide nasty malware on their sites. Scammers are getting good at search engine optimization, so their malicious search results are at the top of the organic results.

Beware These Bogus Terms

So, what terms should you avoid? Sadly, there’s a whole lot. Let’s focus on five that could do some real damage.

1. Free credit report

There are legitimate ways to get a free credit report. But cybercriminals go after the juiciest search terms and think about all they can get their hands on if you think it’s a site you can trust.

2. Tech support phone numbers

Fake numbers are a classic. If scammers can figure out how to get your bank’s name to appear when they call, you can bet they can get their numbers high in searches.

3. How to make money online

There is certainly money to be made at home, but if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Also, be wary of contract or part-time jobs that come with many unusual perks. This could be a part-time office support job you’re doing remotely with a surprisingly generous bonus compensation plan. Or especially a job offering you a much more flexible schedule than expected.

4. Free people search

People finder, people search, people lookup – no matter what you call these sites, they are notorious for ripping people off.

You’re curious about a new love interest, business contact, or old friend. There are (free) ways to dig up dirt, but these sites are simply trying to reel you into an expensive subscription.

What to do instead?

• Check out publicly available info like government documents, arrest records and property information.
• Do a thorough Google search. There’s an art to this.

5. Crypto wallet

Have some money in crypto or trying to get in while prices are low? That search is not the way to find a wallet to store your digital currency. It’s a road to disaster.

When you buy cryptocurrency on an exchange like Coinbase, a wallet is created for you – one that the exchange controls. This is called a custodial wallet. To move your crypto, buy things with it or stake it to earn money, you need to move to a self-custody wallet. That means you have complete control over the wallet and everything inside it. It also means people are more at risk of being scammed out of their funds.

Pro tip: Every wallet has a “seed phrase” made up of typically 12 to 24 random-seeming words. Never, ever give this out. It is the key to open your wallet from any device.

Article by Kim Komando

Source: USA today©

While the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) says it’s not unusual for an address to not get mail every day, sometimes an empty mailbox is a problem. We’ve all gone to get the mail expecting a long-awaited letter or package only to return disappointed. The Postal Service has faced backlash in recent months for late deliveries, largely brought on by impacts of the COVID pandemic, staffing shortages, and increased mail volumes. But in some cases, your mail might not be delivered for reasons outside of USPS delays. In fact, you may actually be impeding the Postal Service from delivering. Read on to find out the five most common reasons your mail isn’t showing up.

1 Mailbox blocked

2 Dog on premises

3 Hazardous conditions and natural disasters

4 Full or overflowing mailbox

5 Travel obstructions

Source: bestlifeonline.com©

2023 was a tough year for many homeowners: There were a record 28 catastrophic weather events that each caused more than $1 billion in damages, according to J.D. Power.

In total, these events were responsible for $92.9 billion in damages. As a result of all that wreckage, homeowners insurance performance appears to be suffering overall, with customer satisfaction falling to a seven-year low.

How J.D. Power ranked home insurance companies

In compiling its rankings, J.D. Power surveyed 6,019 customers with homeowners insurance who filed a claim in the previous nine months and asked them to rank their insurer based on five factors in order of importance:

• Settlement
• Claim servicing
• First notice of loss
• Estimation process
• Repair process

Amica

This homeowners insurance company’s overall customers satisfaction score: 906 of out 1,000 possible points

Amica sells a Platinum Choice HO5 policy that includes built-in replacement cost coverage of up to 130%.

It also offers its customers a service called Contractor Connection that helps them find licensed contractors that warranty their work for five years.

USAA

This homeowners insurance company’s overall customers satisfaction score: 889 of out 1,000 possible points

J.D. Power actually excluded USAA from its ranking because the company does not meet study award criteria. You cannot purchase USAA coverage unless you are a U.S. military member or veteran, a spouse or child of a member or veteran, or a precommissioned officer.

However, if USAA had been included, it would have earned the second-highest score of all.

Other top home insurers for claim processing

All of the following insurers earned customer satisfaction scores that tied with or beat the industry average, which is 869 out of 1,000 points:

• AIG: 889
• Erie Insurance: 888
• Farmers: 883
• American Family: 877
• Nationwide: 877
• Chubb: 876
• State Farm: 873
• Auto-Owners Insurance: 869
• Liberty Mutual: 869

The worst home insurers for claim processing

Some insurers struggled in the latest survey results. All of these insurers earned customer satisfaction scores below the industry average of 869 out of 1,000 points:

• Allstate: 868
• Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA): 864
• The Hartford: 864
• CSAA Insurance Group (AAA): 859
• ASI Progressive: 851
• Safeco: 851
• Travelers: 845
• Homesite: 820

Source: Money Talks News©

• U.S. telecom giant AT&T (NYSE: T) on Saturday said that some company data-specific fields had been released on the dark web about two weeks ago, impacting about 7.6M current account holders and around 65.4M former account holders.
• AT&T said it was not yet known whether the data in those fields originated from the company or one of its vendors.
• “With respect to the balance of the data set, which includes personal information such as social security numbers, the source of the data is still being assessed,” the company said in a statement.
• The Dallas, Texas-based telecom giant said that, based on a preliminary analysis, the data set appeared to be from 2019 or earlier. The company has launched an investigation supported by internal and external cybersecurity experts.
• “Currently, AT&T (T) does not have evidence of unauthorized access to its systems resulting in exfiltration of the data set,” the company said.
• “As of today, this incident has not had a material impact on AT&T’s operations,” it added.

Source: Seeking Alpha