Thursday, May 13
Show them the Money!
Finding personal financeangles on any beat
Today’s agenda:
Transportation
Health care
Show them the money! Finding personal finance angles on any beat
Big piece of art
To readers, nothing is sexier than a dollar sign!
The $even Dimensions of Personal Finance
Finding consumer stories in the transportation sectors
Adding value to the baggage-fee story
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2010/04/common_vacation_hidden_fees_an.html
Transportation
Earning: Careers. Endless possibilities; people aren’t
going to stop moving around any time soon. From engineering and alternative power to design to manufacturing, selling, etc. – check BLS occupational handbooks for job forecasts, outlook.
Small business. Service, sales, detailing, aftermarket of all personal transport. Vendors.
Transportation
Spending: Cars/trucks/bikes ~ 2nd largest purchase
Selling prices/depreciation (Edmunds, KBB)
FSBO / classifieds
Warranties, extended warranties pros & cons
Recalls, investigations, safety alerts
Fuel mileage
Rentals, exotic rentals
http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/45310/article.html
Transportation
Spending: Aftermarket services, trends
Maintenance/repair caveats, DIY angles Franchises, innovations
Options Factory options – what’s worth it, what’s not, novelties
AAA and other memberships
On-board mobile assistance (On-star, etc.)
Sat radio, GPS, SYNC, other digital options, trends
Transportation
Spending: Airline travel
Fees, routing, Internet brokers (Expedia,Orbitz etc.)
FF programs – how to work the angles – hotels, cc, etc.
Similar angles for rail, bus travel
Public transport, tolls, commuting
Transportation
Borrowing: Auto lease/loan terms ~ loan lengths
Incentives, interest rates
RVs /boats/light planes ~ credit markets, op costs
Trucks – owner/operator/small biz
Saving: Maintenance tips
Vehicle-sharing programs, rentals
Transportation
Taxes Gasoline taxes
Landing fees, excise taxes on air tickets, rail
Sales tax
Investing Local angles – manufacturers, airline hubs etc. – pension
and retirement issues, labor contracts.
Franchises – car washes, detailing shops, etc.
Transportation
Risk Insurance – auto, boat, bike, RV, etc. – depends on
state requirements. Min/max, high-risk pools, etc.
Civil infractions – a metro story could become a pocketbook package
Travel insurance, liability, etc.
http://www.detnews.com/article/20100427/METRO05/4270380/Many-speed-limits-set-too-low
Finding consumer stories in the health care sectors
Health care
EarningCareers possibilities are endless. Worth a
series.
Look for offbeat niches. Home visits, NURSECAR, travel/temp RN, MD jobs
Cost of training vs. earning potential for RN, EMT, CNA, etc. – community colleges, etc.
Bioscience, R&D – college grad outlook, start-ups and incubators
Question: With medical insurance reform in the news, have you searched your own beat for a health oriented consumer tie-in?
Please answer Y or N.
Health care
Spending Implications of health care reform.
Shopping for insurance / evaluating benefits
Flexible spending accounts
Health savings accounts
Alternative service providers: walk-in clinics, dial-a-nurse
Imaging centers – pros & cons
Health care
Spending Free/low-cost drugs at mass merchants
Drugmaker programs for elderly, low-income
Child insurance through state programs
Internet, cross-border Rx / medical tourism
Pet health
Dental, vision, fitness, wellness, sports med, electives, physical therapy
Health care
Borrowing Medical collections
Financing elective procedures – cash, credit, in-house loans, etc.
Downsides of dipping into home equity, long-term savings to finance unsecured debt
Health care
Savings Overlap with “spending”
Where not to cut costs
Homeopathic, alternatives
Avoiding medical scams
Participating in studies
Free clinics, screenings – worth it?
Mail-order supplies
Health care
Taxes
Deductible medical expenses; record-keeping, mileage
Investing
Start-ups, focused funds
HSAs
** Risk: Overlaps with insurance spending. Beware dubious products like cancer insurance
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/health/policy/25scam.html
Friday: Financial services and personal finance storytelling
Please feel free to e-mail me with additional questions at [email protected].
Show them the money! Finding personal finance angles on any beat
