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- 9 Gifts That Will Be Impossible to Find Due to Supply Shortages
- How to Invest in Marijuana: Everything You Need to Know
| Posted: 16 Nov 2021 01:00 PM PST Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners. Life would be a whole lot easier if someone would just Venmo us $1 million, but unfortunately the chance of that happening is, well, probably zero. (Venmo doesn't allow transactions that large anyway.) But even though our chances of becoming a millionaire are slim, we can still manage our money like one. No, we're not going to tell you how to buy hundreds of shares of Apple stock. Or how to pick out the perfect yacht. These are simple money moves any normal, non-millionaire person can make today. Each secret can get you closer to achieving your big goals. Take a look: 1. Use This Secret Banking AccountHere's the deal: If you're not using Aspiration's debit card, you're missing out on extra cash. Yep. By signing up for a free debit card called Aspiration you could get up to a 10% back every time you swipe, plus they give you up to 100x the normal interest rate on your balance. Need to buy groceries? Get extra cash. Need to fill up the tank? Bam. Even more extra cash. This card used to have a huge waiting list, but you're now eligible to sign up for free. Enter your email address here, and link your bank account to see how much extra cash you can get with your free Aspiration account. And don't worry. Your money is FDIC insured and under a military-grade encryption. 2. Invest in Real Estate (Even if You're Not a Millionaire)The stock market can be a scary place. Stock prices shoot up and down like a roller coaster ride, and who knows when the whole thing might crash? It would be nice to diversify and invest some of your money in real estate, but don't you have to be wealthy to do that? Now you can invest like the 1% does, and all you need to get started is $500. A company called DiversyFund will invest your money in private real estate — specifically, in apartment buildings it co-owns with its investors — and you only need $500. You can see exactly which properties are included in your portfolio through their online dashboard — like a 54-unit apartment complex in Salt Lake City, Utah, or a 30-unit waterfront property in Stuart, Florida. And you don't have to experience the headaches that come with being a landlord — DiversyFund does all the heavy lifting for you. DiversyFund can't guarantee how its investments will perform in the future — no one can — but historically, real estate has outperformed the stock market for the past 30 years. So you don't need a fortune to invest in real estate. All you need to get started is $500. Sign up here to start investing today. 3. You Should See If you Can Get Car Insurance For as Low as $22/MonthWhen was the last time you compared car insurance rates? Chances are you're seriously overpaying with your current policy. If it's been more than six months since your last car insurance quote, you should look again. And if you look through a digital marketplace called SmartFinancial, you could be getting rates as low as $22 a month — and saving yourself more than $700 a year. It takes one minute to get quotes from multiple insurers, so you can see all the best rates side-by-side. Yep — in just one minute you could save yourself $715 this year. That's some major cash back in your pocket. So if you haven't checked car insurance rates in a while, see how much you can save with a new policy. 4. You Can Buy Another Company for $1Take a look at the Forbes Richest People list, and you'll notice almost all the billionaires have one thing in common — they own another company. But if you work for a living and don't happen to have millions of dollars lying around, that can sound totally out of reach. That's why a lot of people use the app Stash. It lets you be a part of something that's normally exclusive to the richest of the rich — buying pieces of other companies for as little as $1.* That's right — you can invest in pieces of well-known companies, such as Amazon, Google or Apple, for as little as $1. The best part? When these companies profit, so can you. Some companies even send you a check every quarter for your share of the profits, called dividends. It takes two minutes to sign up, plus Stash will give you a $5 sign-up bonus once you deposit $5 into your account.** 5. You Can Get Paid For Playing SolitaireLots of us already play Solitaire on our phones for fun or just to pass the time. Want to see if you can win money at it? There's a free iPhone app called Solitaire Cash that lets you play for real money. You could get paid up to $83 per win. You might be thinking: There's got to be a catch. This is definitely one of those spammy apps, right? Wrong. There really isn't a catch. Sure, you can pay to play in some higher-stakes tournaments, but there's no pressure. And, in fact, there aren't even any annoying ads. With each game, you'll battle it out against at least five other players. Everyone gets the same deck, so winning is totally a matter of skill. The top three players who solve the deck fastest can win real money — anywhere from $1 to $83. Over on the App Store, it has over a million downloads and more than 15,000 ratings, averaging 4.7 stars (out of 5). To get started, just download the free app and start playing your first game immediately. 6. You Can Quickly Add up to 300 Points to Your Credit ScoreYou might not think your credit score is that important. In fact, you might not think much about it at all. But what happens when you want to buy a car? Or a house? Unfortunately, those three little numbers play a huge role in whether you'll be able to do that. And if you have an error on your credit report (one out of five reports do), that could stand in your way. Thankfully, a website called Credit Sesame will help you detect any errors — for free. It shows you why you have the score you do and gives you personalized tips to steer you in the right direction. Salome Buitureria, a working mom in Louisiana, found a major error on her report this way. Using Credit Sesame, she was able to fix the mistake and take additional steps to raise her credit score from 524 to nearly 700. Now she and her husband feel like they're in a better position for their biggest goal — purchasing a house. It only takes about 90 seconds to sign up. *Paid non-client endorsement. See Apple App Store and Google Play reviews. View important disclosures. Investment advisory services offered by Stash Investments LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. This material has been distributed for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended as investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice. Investing involves risk. This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 Gifts That Will Be Impossible to Find Due to Supply Shortages Posted: 16 Nov 2021 09:00 AM PST You've probably heard that holiday shopping will be a nightmare even the Grinch himself couldn't dream up. Supply-chain troubles, shipping bottlenecks, and worker shortages will make it harder to find big-ticket items. Meanwhile, demand is up. Holiday shoppers expect to spend $785 on average this season, more than they planned on in both 2019 and 2020, according to market research company The NPD Group Inc. If you haven't started your shopping yet, don't panic. As long as you're flexible, you'll surely be able to find plenty of gifts. But if you have your heart set on buying one of these nine items, it's time to start your hunt ASAP. 9 Gifts That Will Be Ridiculously Hard to Find This YearHere are nine gifts that are expected to be in short supply for the holidays. If someone you love has one of these items on their wish list, expect your options to be limited — and be prepared with a backup plan. 1. Gaming ConsolesThe 2021 holiday season is shaping up to be a disappointing one for gamers. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X remain hard to find nearly a year after their initial release. Now, Nintendo just announced it's cutting production of its Nintendo Switch by 20% for its 2021 fiscal year. The global chip shortage is just one factor. Demand for gaming devices has surged since the beginning of the pandemic, as people sought ways to entertain themselves at home. Adding to the frustration is the fact that humans are increasingly competing with bots to buy in-demand consoles. Then the bot-purchased gaming systems pop up at unofficial retailers at an exorbitant markup. Unfortunately, consoles will still be hard to find after the holidays. Shortages are expected to continue into fall 2022 or even 2023. Pro Tip If you're able to add a console to your online shopping cart, don't wait to complete additional shopping. Check out immediately, as bots have a way of being faster than humans. 2. BicyclesCOVID-19 shuttered gyms last year and caused most people to shun public transportation. As a result, millions of non-cyclists rushed to buy new bicycles both for recreation and bike commuting. As demand has surged, the bicycle industry has struggled with factory closures in Asia, where most bicycles are produced, and shipping logjams. MarketWatch reported in October that it now takes more than 70 days from the time a manufacturing order is placed until the bicycle arrives at a warehouse. Pre-pandemic, it took just 45 days. Many in the bicycle industry expect shortages to persist into 2022. 3. iPhone 13Apple has fared better with supply-chain shortages than many of its rivals because of its huge buying power and long-term agreements with suppliers. But even the world's most valuable company is feeling the pinch of the global chip shortage. Apple is now expected to ship 10 million fewer of its new iPhone 13 than originally projected through the end of 2021. New iPads, MacBook Pros and the Apple Watch Series 7 are also expected to be in short supply. As of this writing in early November, Apple's website listed estimated delivery dates of less than a week for its cheaper standard iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini. But for its pricier iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 ProMax, expected delivery dates extend into mid-December.  4. Engagement RingsCOVID-19 brought diamond mining, trading and cutting to a halt in spring 2020. Yet demand for jewelry stayed surprisingly high. Demand will likely keep surging as a sense of normalcy returns and couples can safely plan vacations (where proposals often happen) and weddings again. Investors are also increasingly seeking out diamonds, putting more pressure on demand. Retailers are now having a difficult time obtaining diamonds and precious metals. If you're planning to pop the question during the holidays or you want to present someone with a stunning piece of jewelry, be sure to budget extra time and money. The New York Times reports that colored stones, like emeralds and rubies, could be especially expensive and difficult to find this season due to production issues at mines throughout the globe. 5. CarsCar company commercials would have you think that it's totally normal to wake up to the gift of a shiny new set of wheels on Christmas morning. We're guessing that this is pretty rare, though. Which is good news because the 2021 holiday season will be an awful time to buy a car. The global chip shortage and shipping woes have hit the auto industry hard. Meanwhile, the pandemic fueled demand for vehicles as people avoided public transportation. As a result, the average price of a new car topped $45,000 in September for the first time in history, a 7.7% year-over-year increase, according to Kelley Blue Book. Even prices for traditionally affordable brands like Hyundai, Kia (up 15.4% year over year) and Mitsubishi (up 23.8% year over year) are surging. Meanwhile, the latest Consumer Price Index survey showed that used car prices rose 26.4% in the past 12 months. Dealerships have razor-thin inventories right now. Available vehicles are often less popular models, yet they're selling well above the sticker price. If someone you love is hoping to find a new set of car keys in their stocking, now is a great time to remind them that there's always next year.  6. ToysDemand for toys has been consistently high throughout the pandemic as parents sought to keep bored kids entertained from home. But for several months, manufacturers have been warning that toys could be hard to find this season. Materials like plastic and resin that are used to produce many toys are in short supply. Exorbitant shipping prices and a lack of warehouse space and truck drivers could add to shortages. Retail forecasters are mixed on how bad the toy shortage will be. It will probably be tougher than usual to find 2021's most popular toys. But as long as you're not set on buying the season's hottest toys, you should have ample options. 7. SneakersExpect your choices to be limited if you're buying someone a new pair of kicks this holiday season. Rubber and plastic are key materials for sneakers, and both are in short supply right now. The footwear industry is also dealing with the same issues virtually every manufacturer is grappling with, like port congestion, worker shortages and Asia factory closures. In fact, Nike's chief financial officer said on a Sept. 23 earnings call that the company lost 10 weeks of production since mid-July in Vietnam, where much of its production takes place. You probably won't have trouble finding shoes this season, but the inventory you find may be older and less popular designs. Also be prepared to shell out more. According to Footwear News, shoe prices were up 6.5% in September compared to one year ago. Pro Tip Shipping costs are expected to peak Dec. 20-Dec. 21, according to Adobe Analytics. Last-minute gift buying will cost shoppers an average of $15 per order. 8. Surprise BestsellersWe started reading more during the pandemic. Mostly, we devoured books on dead tree instead of downloading titles on our iPads and Kindles. As demand for print books has soared, the raw materials used to make books have been in short supply. Wood pulp, a key ingredient for paper making, and ink are both scarce. Many printing presses in the U.S. have also shuttered over the years as the publishing industry predicted the demise of print books and the rise of ebooks. You don't need to worry about empty shelves at your local bookstore. If the book you're planning to gift is a widely anticipated bestseller, you should have no trouble finding it. It's the surprise hits that are causing booksellers anxiety, because they may not be able to get new copies in time for the holidays to accommodate demand.  9. WineWine will be in short supply this holiday season, but COVID-19 doesn't get all of the blame. Droughts in California and other Western states have lowered the grape yield at many vineyards. But much of the vino winemakers do have is sitting around in oak barrels. That's because glass bottles are in short supply thanks to the pandemic. It's unlikely that stores will run dry on wine this season. But if you have your heart set on buying a specific bottle as a gift or for your own celebrations, have some alternatives planned. Also, alcohol tends to be popular as a last-minute gift, so shopping early could help you avoid shortages. What to Do if You Can't Buy the Gift You WantIf someone in your life has their heart set on a hard-to-find gift, now is a good time to temper expectations. Remind your loved one that these are unusual times. Too many customers are chasing after too few goods, which means a lot of people will be disappointed. But also remind yourself that it's not worth blowing your budget or going into debt just to give someone the perfect gift. Here are a few solutions for beating supply chain troubles this holiday season:
Robin Hartill is a certified financial planner and a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She writes the Dear Penny personal finance advice column. Send your tricky money questions to AskPenny@thepennyhoarder.com. This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How to Invest in Marijuana: Everything You Need to Know Posted: 16 Nov 2021 07:00 AM PST Marijuana is big business. The once-shadowy industry has transformed into a highly commercialized and profitable sector, spanning biotech and research companies as well as marijuana growers and consumer retailers. By 2028, the global legal marijuana market is expected to reach $70.6 billion, according to a May 2021 report by Grand View Research. Buying into a burgeoning industry poised for moonshot growth is enough to make any investor's mouth water. But the cannabis business isn't like other cash crops. It's still illegal at the federal level, which can make investing in marijuana stocks tricky. Marijuana investments involve risk — but is the potential upshot worth it? In this guide, we'll explore the different types of marijuana companies, pros and cons of investing in the industry, top cannabis stocks and more. Current Marijuana Legislation in the United StatesStates began legalizing medical marijuana more than 20 years ago. By October 2021, 35 states plus the District of Columbia now permit the sale of medical weed. Recreational use is also booming. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize recreational marijuana for adult use. Just nine years later in 2021, 18 other states plus D.C. have joined the ranks, further expanding the legal cannabis industry. In 2018, the production of hemp and, by extension, CBD oil was legalized at the national level. (The U.S. government defines hemp as any cannabis plant containing less than 0.3 percent of THC, the psychoactive substance that gets users high.) Legal marijuana sales in the U.S. — both medical and recreational — are expected to top $84 billion by 2025, according to New Frontier, a Washington D.C.-based cannabis research firm. But the future of legalization at the federal level is still unknown. A current bill in the U.S. Congress called the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, or MORE Act, would de-schedule cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and enact marijuana-related criminal justice reforms. In June 2021, the bill was reintroduced in the House of Representatives and as of Sept. 30, the House Committee on the Judiciary referred the MORE Act for a vote by the House. Still, recent rumblings in Washington D.C. aren't likely to result in full legalization anytime soon. Most policy experts agree that marijuana simply isn't a priority for the federal government right now, forcing cannabis companies and investors to linger in legal limbo. Types of Marijuana Products and CompaniesCannabis may be booming but there are still only a few dozen publicly-traded companies. Because Canada became the first G20 country to legalize recreational weed in 2018, most cannabis stocks are headquartered there. U.S. companies that directly handle marijuana are barred from listing on U.S. stock exchanges. Before you invest in marijuana, it's important to understand different aspects of the industry. First, there are two broad categories of cannabis products. Medical Marijuana Medical cannabis, which is grown and used to treat various medical conditions such as chronic pain, is legal in 35 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. It's also legal in more than 30 countries. A patient needs a prescription from an authorized health care provider to obtain medical marijuana. Recreational Marijuana Eighteen U.S. states, plus the District of Columbia, have legalized recreational marijuana for adults. Recreational use is also legal in several countries, including Canada, Mexico and South Africa. Because states have been slower to adopt recreational marijuana laws, the recreational sector accounts for a much smaller share of revenue within the legal cannabis market. Numerous products are made from cannabis plants, including marijuana flower, CBD oils, edibles and hemp, as well as concentrates used in vaping and other items. The marijuana industry supply chain is extensive, spanning manufacturing to marketing. 4 Main Types of Marijuana BusinessesMarijuana Growers Cannabis growers cultivate the plant. Some also own production facilities. Retailers These companies own dispensaries where people can purchase cannabis products. Biotech and Research These pharmaceutical companies develop prescription drugs with cannabis ingredients. Providers of Ancillary Products and Services These companies facilitate the legal marijuana industry with services like distribution, marketing, hydroponic technologies, lighting systems and packaging. Because the drug is still federally illegal, investing in U.S. marijuana stocks can be tricky. Buying shares of ancillary firms is one option. Ancillary firms are listed on U.S. stock exchanges because these publicly traded companies don't deal with the plant itself. For example, Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR) is an industrial real estate investment trust that specializes in leasing property to cannabis growers and other companies in the medical marijuana market.  Risks and Rewards of Investing in Marijuana StocksThe marijuana industry is ripe for growth — but plenty of roadblocks remain, especially for U.S. companies and investors. Before you jump into the cannabis industry, it's important to understand what makes these stocks so exciting — and so risky. RewardsMarijuana is a nascent industry. Getting in on the ground floor is one of the biggest potential rewards for marijuana investors. By getting in early, you might be able to capture larger-than-average returns as the cannabis industry expands and evolves. Marijuana stock prices ramped up at the start of 2021, but have declined since February. The plunge is due, in part, to a lack of progress on national legalization. But with a majority of Americans in favor of legalizing marijuana, industry supporters say it's only a matter of time before the U.S. government gives weed the green light. People looking to invest in cannabis could buy cheap shares during the current market lull, and hold their stocks until prices rise. Some investors may see this as a prime buying opportunity. Once the federal government legalizes weed, institutional investors are likely to pour money into the marijuana industry and send cannabis stock prices soaring. Marijuana stocks aren't a good fit for conservative investors who hate the idea of losing money. But if you can stomach risk, devote time to researching companies and hold these assets for a few years, marijuana investing may be a profitable pick for your portfolio. RisksInvesting always involves risk. An asset can lose value as market conditions change. This holds true for any industry — not just marijuana companies. But pot stocks can be particularly volatile. Yes, weed is still illegal at the national level, but it's more than that. Investing in marijuana stocks is risky because:
Like any budding industry, the cannabis market has seen its share of bad actors. Companies poised for tremendous growth potential can suddenly underperform, get acquired by another company or even go bankrupt. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has issued several alerts over the years regarding marijuana stocks, warning consumers about unlicensed sellers, unsolicited offers, market manipulation and fake press releases meant to influence share prices. In short, taking a chance on inexperienced and obscure companies can devastate your investment returns. Another risk is investing in companies that exist simply because marijuana is still prohibited under federal law. Businesses that cropped up to solve a problem — like alternative banking systems for marijuana dispensaries — could suddenly disappear once national legalization occurs. We'll discuss ways to mitigate risks associated with cannabis investing when we delve further into how to invest in marijuana. Best Cannabis Companies to Invest InBelow is a list of the top marijuana stocks to consider. Our list only includes companies with market capitalization of at least $200 million with figures current as of October 2021. Top 10 Marijuana Stocks to Consider
How to Invest in MarijuanaIt's always important to do your homework before purchasing individual stocks — especially in the marijuana industry. You'll need to assess your investing goals, risk tolerance and current portfolio holdings. Research and due diligence is a must. Make sure you understand the company's growth strategy, and scrutinize its financial statements and business partners. Brush up on recent business developments and market data, including acquisitions, mergers and changes in company leadership. Canadian vs. United States Marijuana CompaniesMarijuana's illegal status at the federal level makes it harder for U.S. companies to get listed on a mainstream stock exchange. But experts are mixed about the growth potential of Canada's marijuana industry. In 2018, our neighbors to the north legalized recreational marijuana, spurring a boom of global investment. Stock prices soared, crashed, soared and crashed again. Since February 2021, share prices of major Canadian companies, like Canopy Growth Corporation and Cronos Group, have declined. Experts say overexpansion is to blame. In short, the Candianan industry burned through too much money, grew too much weed and rolled out retail dispensaries too slowly. The result: Canadian cannabis companies are struggling to turn a profit, leading some investment experts to suggest the biggest areas of growth lie in the U.S. cannabis market. The United States has a much larger and more lucrative marijuana market than Canada. But American-based cannabis businesses can't list on U.S. stock exchanges. This leaves U.S. cannabis companies two options: Get listed on a Canadian exchange or trade over-the-counter. What Are Over-the-Counter Stocks?Stocks purchased on over-the-counter exchanges are very speculative because they aren't required to disclose certain financial information to the public, making it nearly impossible to conduct a true analysis of a stock's value. It's also tricky for the average investor to even buy and sell OTC stocks. Many traditional brokerage accounts restrict or bar trading marijuana stocks on OTC exchanges. You may need to use a special brokerage account to purchase shares of U.S. marijuana companies, although a few well-known discount brokers carry OTC stocks, including Fidelity and TD Ameritrade. Charles Schwab also lets you buy your own over-the-counter shares using the Schwab One brokerage account. However, be cautious of trading fees. Some online brokerage firms charge a fee or trading commission on these stocks — even if the investment platform offers free trades on other securities.  How to Invest in Marijuana ETFsThere are two primary ways to invest in marijuana: individual stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs). ETFs are typically a good way to diversify your portfolio because they spread your investment dollars among several companies at once. Marijuana ETFs can be less risky than investing in individual stocks because they diversify you across every vertical of the cannabis industry, from product conception to consumption. It may also be easier for the average investor to buy a marijuana ETF because several are listed on U.S. exchanges. Most Popular Marijuana ETFs
Going with an actively managed ETF, like Amplify Seymour Cannabis (CNBS) or AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis (MSOS) is probably your best bet. Passively managed ETFs, like Horizons US Marijuana Index (HMUS) and the Cannabis ETF (THCX), are only rebalanced and tweaked once a quarter. A lot can happen in three months, especially in this industry. In contrast, actively managed funds are more responsive to industry shake-ups, like mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcies. Portfolio managers of actively managed ETFs are more nimble, allowing them to take advantage of dips in stock prices and divest from problematic companies. If you're trying to find the best marijuana ETF to buy, peek under the hood and look at the specific companies inside the fund. Also make sure to examine the fund's recent price movements along with its one-year and five-year returns. What to Look for in Cannabis Stocks and Ways to Reduce RiskThe best marijuana companies share a few similarities. Here's what to look for when picking cannabis investments that can help you mitigate (some) of the industry's inherently risky nature.
Rachel Christian is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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