Month: December 2016

Forget New Year’s resolutions. The real time to wrangle with your personal finances is the fall—when you can still maximize your 2016 financial situation and also avoid the holiday debt that most of us drag into the next year. “We get so wrapped up in our families and travel and last-minute work stuff this time of year,” says Farnoosh Torabi, personal finance expert and author of You’re So Money. “But it’s really important to take a pause and think about what your year-end goals are.” Not quite sure what you should be tackling before 2016 comes to a close? Consider this your cheat sheet:

1. STUFF YOUR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS.

Socking away more money in an IRA or 401(k) is a win-win: You’ll have dramatically more dough in your golden years than if you delay saving until later, and you’ll be able to lower your tax bill come April. “The more you contribute, the more you can deduct from your taxable income,” explains Torabi. “It’s really worth it to see if you have any room in your budget to increase your contributions over the next few months.”

Health insurance might have an open enrollment period, but retirement savings doesn’t work that way—you can head down to HR for help on how to bump things up at any time. (The upper limit for 401(k) contributions is $18,000 for 2016 and, if you’re under age 50, up to $5500 in a traditional IRA.)

Not quite sold on the power of compound interest, or why retirement savings should edge out some of your holiday shopping? Let’s assume you’re 25 years old and make $40,000 a year. If you can put an extra $400 yearly in your 401(k) account starting this year, you could have an extra $3870 in annual income when you’re ready to retire, according to Fidelity.com.

2. GET YOUR EYES CHECKED.

Health insurance deductibles have surged 67 percent over the past five years, according to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation. And workers now pay an average of $1318 out of pocket before health coverage begins to cover part of their bills, up from $584 a decade ago. That means healthcare is probably eating up more and more of your monthly budget. But if you’ve already reached your deductible for 2016, you’ll pay dramatically less for any healthcare you get between now and the new year. So start making appointments! “If you need an eye exam or a flu shot or there’s a procedure you’ve been putting off, why not schedule it for the fall and take advantage of the fact that you’ve already covered your deductible,” says Torabi.

3. SPEND EVERY LAST CENT OF YOUR FSA.

If you set aside funds in a Flexible Savings Account (FSA), that money is “use it or lose it”—and you don’t want to kiss even one dollar good-bye. Torabi recommends checking the balance now, to avoid a frantic December 31 CVS run for stuff you might not actually use. Qualified expenses range from acupuncture to antacids, childbirth classes to copays, according to benefits provider WageWorks. Just make sure you’re mindful of which expenses require you to show a prescription (such as some OTC medications) so you’re not denied down the road.

4. MAKE A HOLIDAY BUDGET.

Even if you’ve been diligently rocking your cash flow each month, the holidays can mean a major loop. Last year, the average American spent $830 on Christmas presents—and for nearly one-third of celebrants, that figure topped $1000, according to a Gallup poll. Add in holiday travel, parties, and decorations, and celebrating the season can get seriously pricey. Finding that extra scratch is hard to do without some advance planning—which might explain why credit card debt tends to rise in the last few months of the year.

Rather than trying to hold back in the moment, Torabi suggests mapping out a strategy well before Jingle Bells takes over the radio. “Maybe instead of everyone in the extended family buying a bunch of gifts, you suggest picking a name out of a hat for a gift exchange and setting the limit at $50,” she says. Or you start buying gifts earlier this year, so you have more time to bargain hunt on sites like Groupon and Giftcardgranny.com. Or, if you’re loathe to trim any line items from your holiday budget, you balance out all of that extra spending by earning more income. “If you have time on the weekends or evenings, a small side gig for a couple of months can really help,” she says. Seasonal workers are in high demand this time of year, or you can jump into the gig economy by checking out Uber or Taskrabbit.

This week, the BBC reports, Nestlé announced that its researchers have discovered a way to restructure sugar. This will allow company confectioners to reduce the sweet stuff in chocolate products by as much as 40 percent, they claim.

Chocolate candy isn’t the biggest source of sugar in the average American’s diet (that would be soda), and for the most part, people know they’re not doing their bodies any favors by eating it. But since recent studies link added sugars in foods to an increased risk for obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, confectioners have new incentive to provide customers with reduced sugar options. Until now, a tricky question remained: Could they do so without sacrificing flavor?

Nestlé thinks so. According to the company, their scientists have developed a method of altering sugar’s structure. “It is sugar, but it is assembled differently so it can disassemble easily in your mouth with less going into your gastrointestinal tract,” Dr. Stefan Catsicas, Nestlé’s chief technology officer, told The New York Times. This reportedly allows food companies to use less of it in products. And considering a single Kit Kat bar contains almost all of your added sugar intake for one day (the candy contains 21 grams of sugar, while the the American Heart Association recommends eating no more than 24 to 36, depending on your gender), this reduction could go a long way toward combating the U.S.’s obesity epidemic.

Nestlé hasn’t divulged the secret to its breakthrough technology and is currently pursuing patents. However, the company expects to begin using its new, reformulated sugar in products from 2018 onwards. Eventually, Nestlé might also sell it to other companies for use. Keep in mind, however, that Nestlé’s emerging sugar technology won’t be able to replace all sugar; it can’t be used to sweeten soda or coffee, for starters.

[h/t BBC News]

Every city produces sewage, but now, Aarhus, Denmark is hoping to prove that their waste doesn’t have to be, well, wasted. As New Scientist reports, the Danish metropolis will become the first city to power its water system using energy harnessed from sewage and wastewater.

After undergoing a $3.2 million renovation, Aarhus’s Marselisborg Wastewater Treatment Plant is now capable of creating heat and electricity out of biogas. The waste is served up as a meal to bacteria kept in 100-degree “digesters,” or large tanks. Byproduct gases like methane are then burned, generating more than 150 percent of the electricity required to power the plant. Any surplus electricity is either used to supply fresh water to the city of 200,000, or is sold back to the grid.

The concept of using human waste as an energy resource isn’t a new one: Last year a study from the United Nations University’s Institute for Water, Environment, and Health reported that biogas produced by all the world’s human poop could provide energy to up to 138 million homes. Aarhus is the first city to integrate this innovative idea into their water system, and now cities like Chicago, San Francisco, and Copenhagen are interested in following suit.

For Aarhus’s success to be recreated elsewhere, water plants need to be big enough to produce large amounts of biogas and the wastewater they use has to be the right makeup (too much water dilutes the energy content). Cities also need to have the funding to make the necessary infrastructure upgrades. Aarhus Water’s investment in their plant was pricey, but savings in maintenance and electricity sold to the grid are expected to make it up in five years.

[h/t New Scientist]

The new year is sneaking up once again, and that means it’s a time for a new calendar. Sure, you could go with a free one you got in the mail, but why not keep track of time in a more interesting way? These calendars will get you pumped for the changing months ahead.

1. I COULD PEE ON THIS; $11

It turns out cats make pretty good poets. Francesco Marciuliano’s book, I Could Pee on This and Other Poems by Cats is a great collection of poems from the viewpoint of housecats. Now you can get these felines’ verses in calendar form. Each month features a different cat and a corresponding poetic masterpiece.

Find it: Amazon

2. UNDERWATER DOGS; $15

Photographer Seth Casteel is known for his shots of dogs jumping into bodies of water to fetch balls and other items. It turns out all those jowls and extra skin look pretty funny when pushed up by the water. This 18-month calendar comes with 12 amazing shots of wide-eyed dogs underwater.

Find it: Amazon

3. LIL BUB; $12

It’s no secret that mental_floss loves Lil Bub. The funny little cat has been named “nature’s happiest accident,” and sports the most irresistible mug in the animal kingdom. This calendar comes with plenty of cute pictures of the slack-tongued feline, as well as some fun stickers to stick on your books, folders, and friends.

Find it: Amazon

4. THIS IS GUACWARD; $8

Looking for a little honesty from your calendar? New York-based illustrator David Olenick has got you covered. His new calendar is filled with delightful drawings sharing some harsh, albeit true sentiments. The simplistic designs are perfect for the realist in your life.

Find it: Amazon

5. CATS OF 1986; $12

These cats are living the glory days of the mid-’80s in this super radical monthly calendar. Who knew felines could look so good with big hair and shoulder pads? 

Find it: Amazon

6. GOATS IN TREES; $9

This incredibly specific calendar comes with 18 months, so you can start using it immediately. And it’s never too soon to start enjoying athletically skilled goats that made it up into trees.

Find it: Amazon

7. SPACE CATS; $10-$15

Evidence the world is a beautiful place: You have multiple options when shopping for the perfect space cat calendar. Choose between TF Publishing’s hallucinogenic and seasonal calendar, or Rock Point’s more straightforward alternative. Either way, you win with cats flying through space.

Find it: Amazon, Amazon

8. AWKWARD FAMILY PHOTOS; $12

The novelty blog Awkward Family Photos has been around for a long time and with good reason. These real family portraits are equal parts awkward and hilarious, reminding you that it’s okay to laugh at your own blunder years. Curators Mike Bender and Doug Chernack share some extra cringe-worthy photos for this day-to-day calendar.

Find it: Amazon

9. SUPER MARIO BROTHERS; $10

For nostalgic gamers, this Super Mario Brothers calendar features all the vintage artwork you could want. Each month has a different scene of one of the many iconic levels in the game.

Find it: Amazon

10. NUNS HAVING FUN; $11

As we’ve covered in the past, nuns can totally still have fun. Enjoy pictures of nuns playing sports, taking selfies, and winning prizes at the fair. 

Find it: Amazon

11. CARTOONS FROM THE NEW YORKER; $12

If you find yourself flipping through The New Yorker just looking for the comics, you might as well cut out the middle man and buy this calendar.

Find it: Amazon

12. SLOTHS; $11

Sloths are seriously cute. You can have the cuteness all year round with this second-annual sloth calendar. Zoologist Lucy Cooke shares some of the most adorable sloth pictures out there for your monthly enjoyment.

Find it: Amazon

13. THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC; $10

If you’re a fan of mental_floss, then you’re definitely a fan of cool facts. The Old Farmer’s Almanac calendar is filled with just that. Learn the answers to pressing questions like: How fast can an ostrich run? And why are cashews never sold in the shell? On top of important trivia, you also get folklore, tips, quotes, proverbs, and puzzles.

Find it: Amazon

14. HYPERBOLE AND A HALF; $10

Beloved cartoon artist and writer Allie Brosh is back again with a calendar featuring some of her charming illustrations and comics. The calendar features some of the best material and characters from Hyperbole and a Half.

Find it: Amazon

15. FUN PUGS; $11

Pugs are already fun but wait until you see them Photoshopped into seasonal scenes. From a fancy date in February to dressing up in October, the situations these pugs find themselves in are pretty adorable. The 12 month calendar features 12 pugs that you definitely don’t want to miss.

Find it: Amazon

16. A YEAR OF GOOD BEER; $13

Beer connoisseurs can find new selections and celebration old favorites with this calendar packed with facts, trivia, and beer recommendations.

Find it: Amazon

17. THE LITTLE WORLD OF LIZ CLIMO; $13

Illustrator Liz Climo creates whimsical animal comics that are almost guaranteed to brighten up your day. This calendar gives owners one new cartoon a day, so you know it’s going to be a good year.

Find it: Amazon

This story originally appeared in 2015.

For 25 days in the winter of 1986, Jon Menick traveled the country. He would be ushered into a Burger King franchise location by his handlers, loitering until someone recognized his olive-green jacket and high-water pants. He’d wait for them to say hello, at which point he’d stick out his hand and tell them they’d just won $5000.

Menick repeated this process for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. He was appearing in character as Herb, Burger King’s latest pitchman. Aside from his outmoded fashion sense, Herb was notable for being just about the only man in the country who had never eaten a Whopper. Months of print and television ads had teased Herb’s existence; his “family” and “friends” were interviewed, discussing this blight on their existence. The idea of a man who had never succumbed to the pleasures of a grilled fast-service burger was presented as proportionate to a man who had never tasted an orange or experienced a full moon. 

Burger King was certain Herb would help cut into the market share held by their perennial rivals at McDonald’s. And while he was, for a time, one of the most easily identifiable faces on television thanks to that cash reward, he would also prove to be what Advertising Age would later declare the biggest promotional flop of the decade. Recognizing Herb was not quite the same as liking him.

 
In 1985, McDonald’s saw more than 15 million customers a day, who handed over a total of $9 billion annually for their hamburgers, fries, Happy Meals, and McNuggets. While their advertising budget was substantial, it was only in an effort to retain their incredible 37 percent market share of burger joints. Burger King and Wendy’s, in contrast, had to fight for every scrap left over.

With the merits of their food a subjective discussion, both franchises leaned heavily on ad campaigns to try and pull in more stomachs. Wendy’s hit big with their “Where’s the Beef?” campaign of 1984, in which an elderly woman named Clara seemed disappointed by the lack of meat in the competition’s burgers.

Burger King needed a Clara of their own. Ad agency J. Walter Thompson pitched them on the idea of a man who had committed the mortal sin of never tasting a Whopper. A pariah, he’d be spoken of in hushed tones by his associates. After toying with names like Oscar and Mitch, the agency settled on Herb. “Who’s Herb?” was slated to become the company’s campaign focus for late 1985.

The ad agency began by putting cryptic ads in newspapers that didn’t name Burger King or offer much of a hint of the direction they were taking. “It’s not too late, Herb,” read one; “What are you waiting for, Herb?” read another. In one instance, a man with the same first name who owed money to loan sharks saw the ads and thought he was being personally targeted.

From there, J. Walter Thompson rolled out a series of television spots featuring Herb’s shamed relatives. A kind of viral ad before the concept of viral marketing existed, people began to speculate about Herb: his likes, dislikes, what he looked like, and why he had never delighted his intestines with a Whopper. People who marched into a Burger King and announced “I’m not Herb” could get a burger for 99 cents. Overall store sales spiked by 10 percent.

Though Burger King never openly discussed it, plans were already underway to cast an actor as Herb for phase two of the campaign. After spending two months and $40 million on the ads, America would finally get to see the real thing.

 
A trained stage performer, Jon Menick was plucked out of a pool of 75 actors to portray the character in ad spots that would debut with the January 1986 Super Bowl. Menick traveled to Wisconsin on Burger King’s dime to visit a cheese factory and “find” Herb’s essence. MTV agreed to let him be a guest VJ for a day. He earned a spot as guest timekeeper for WrestleMania 2. After months of going incognito, Herb would be everywhere.

When he debuted during Super Bowl XX, there was a collective sigh of disappointment. Herb was a nerd who didn’t appear to possess many charming qualities. During a “press conference,” he admitted he tried a burger at Burger King and loved it. It wasn’t exactly a startling plot twist. Two months of pent-up curiosity resulted in a mass exodus of interest on the part of burger aficionados.

Burger King leaned on bribery, offering a $5000 reward for anyone who spotted Menick-as-Herb during his nationwide tour. (Local franchisees could kick in more if they wanted: some witnesses scored $10,000.) But the chain suffered further criticism when a series of episodes involving underage winners undermined their generosity. To discourage kids from cutting class to brood in Burger Kings all day waiting for Herb to show, the company insisted on a minimum age of 16 for winners.

One adolescent, Jason Hallman of Alabama, was 15 when he spotted Herb in March 1986. Burger King gave his 16-year-old friend the $5000 instead. Hallman’s parents complained, with the Alabama state senate weighing in. They labeled Burger King’s actions as approaching “consumer fraud” because they had failed to make the age minimum a prominent part of the rules. Another juvenile disqualified from the prize in Reno was awarded the $5000 by the local operator.

That May, Burger King ended any further mention of Herb, turning their advertising focus to “real people” who enjoyed their menu items. Then-company president Jay Darling admitted Herb “did not work nearly as well” as he had expected.

The following year, patrons were no longer on the hunt for Herb, but falling over themselves to locate a far more popular attraction. Burger King had just shipped eight million ALF puppets to stores.