US Finance World

Looking at the salary comparison of a college grad to a nongrad, it is easy to see the advantages of obtaining a degree. Those with a Bachelor’s degree make a significant amount more than those without. For example, a professional with a Bachelor’s in the early 2000s makes an estimated $52,200 per year. Those with only some college make roughly $36,800. The difference becomes even more prevalent as a person gains more education. A Master’s degree will garner an average of $62,300, while a Doctoral degree generates $89,400. Salary levels can be seen most dramatically in those without a high school diploma. The average dropout only makes $23,400 per year.

Translated over the course of a lifetime, those with college experience are better equipped to make more money in the long run. A person with no or little college can expect to make anywhere from $1 to $1.5 million over their career. By comparison, the average college grad can expect to make over $2 million.

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It was a gorgeous day in Charlotte today! After a trip to the Waxhaw Farmer’s Market this morning where I got fresh, organic strawberries, some handmade soap (of course) and lettuce cut right out of the pot it was grown in (see video). I also enjoyed a cup of coffee with Mark Hernig, the artisan broom maker I told you about last week. (If you can’t see the video, click here.

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The top 5 tips weekly post is always full of hints and tips for small, home & micro business owners.

• Recognise that you are not a big business and should not try to advertise in the same way that they do.
• Offer a small or scaled-down version of your product at a lower price.
• Combine several products or services to create a premium service that can be sold at a premium price.
• Come up with an unusual marketing strategy and use it to differentiate your business from the competition.
• Don’t forget about your existing customers – offer them great deals and incentives to stay with you.

If you have additional tips, please share them in the comments section.

In almost 2 and a half years of writing posts for 20somethingfinance, I just realized that I have never written a post on saving money on groceries. Seriously?? Shame on me!

Next to our mortgage, grocery items are the biggest expense on a monthly basis for my wife and I – and I’m willing to bet that it’s the same for most of you. This assumes  that you don’t eat out all the time (in which case, saving money on groceries should be a secondary concern).

So over the next week or so, I’m going to write a series of posts on food and finances.

And I thought I’d start from the beginning with what I am not willing to sacrifice for grocery cost savings and some ideological considerations that I make toward food consumption. Frugality and personal finance and quality of life can often be a trade-off. And that is certainly the case with food. I have given

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Boston Scientific Up

Boston Scientific (BSX) shares rose as the company got the go-ahead from the FDA to resume distribution of two defibrillators after a month-long halt – but Street observers say it will be awhile before the full effect is clear.

Thirty days ago, Boston Scientific halted distribution of the devices, which detect rapid and irregular heartbeat and shock the heart to restore the normal rhythm. The company ordered the halt after discovering two changes in its manufacturing process hadn’t been submitted to the FDA.

On Friday, the company said it received FDA clearance for the two manufacturing changes and will immediately resume distribution of its Cognis and Teligen defibrillators, two of its newest models. Documentation errors remain with a number of Boston Scientific’s other older-generation products and the company is working with the FDA to secure clearances on those. Investors will likely shift their concern to whether there will be permanent U.S. marke

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There will be no posts this week. Enjoy the week.

So you want to sell retail?

Whether you are setting up a main street store or an online store, you are going to need a relationship with a wholesaler or wholesalers. The same goes for service-based businesses such as hair salons and auto body shops, who can often earn additional income from selling complementary products in their business location.

However, finding and forming a trusted relationship with the right wholesaler can seem a daunting prospect – unless you have done your research and have an idea of what to expect.

Here are some tips for finding and entering into a business relationship with wholesale suppliers for your retail business:

1) Set up a Legitimate Retail Business

Whether you plan to sell products from a concession stand, retail store, or e-commerce site (including eBay) first make sure you set your business up correctly and within the law.

This article – “How to Start a Retail Business – A Step-by-Step Guide” – explains the must-do’s when it comes to forming a business. Y

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Photo Credit DjCodin from www.freedigitalphotos.net

Last Monday I got a terrible phone call. My grandfather’s health had seriously and suddenly declined, and my father and uncles would be taking him off life support later that day (per his advance directive).

I was crushed. I lost my maternal grandmother this past summer without a chance to say goodbye—and now my dad’s family was in terrible pain 2,000 miles away and I couldn’t do anything about it.

I haven’t seen my grandfather in 17 years, nor my dad in 7. My kids would never meet their great-grandfather—a war hero and a man with as many stories as he had days. I wouldn’t be there to hug my dad in a time of pain.

The next morning I spoke to my dad—grandpa was hanging on despite the absence of the machines. I called my husband at work and told him “I’m taking the kids to Missouri to be there. I want to use the e

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