Author: Joel Hilton

If you need to make some extra money and you enjoy helping others, donating plasma could be a good option. Plasma is made up of the water, enzymes, proteins and antibodies in your blood. Companies process plasma to create medicines and to use in therapies. Since it can’t be created synthetically, and donated plasma does not go directly into the body of another person, businesses are willing to compensate donors for their time. If you’re considering a plasma donation, here are some things you should know: You need to be between 16 and 69 years old. You must weigh more…

The weather may seem nice right now, but winter is coming. Properly preparing your house in autumn can help prevent costly damage from rain, ice and snow. Here are some tips on how to save some money as you ready your residence for the cold weather. Clear Your Gutters – Clogged gutters can cause water to pool on your roof and cracked downspouts can lead to damaged foundations and flooding basements. Before the wet weather arrives, remove leaves and other debris from your gutters. Test the flow of water with a hose. Look for cracks or breaks and repair where…

If you don't want to spend a lot of money on a waterpark, consider taking your kids to a splash pad. These recreational areas are usually run by the city—so most of them are free—and they include fountains, spray nozzles and other water features to help you cool off. Plus, since there normally isn't any standing water at these public parks, swimming lessons are not required. Here are some tips to get the most out of your family trip to a splash pad: Look around – You may have seen a local splash pad nearby, but it's probably not the…

Did you know there are hidden treasure boxes all around you right now? If you're looking for a fun, inexpensive summer activity you can do with the whole family, try geocaching—all you need is a GPS-enabled device and a sense of adventure. Geocaching is the process of using GPS coordinates to find containers (or "caches") concealed above the ground in forests, fields, caves, bodies of water and city streets. You'd probably be surprised to discover how many are nearby. According to geocaching.com, there are more than three million caches in over 190 countries. Some are as small as film canisters…

Most financial institutions, including America First, offer online statements. After all, paper versions fill your mailbox, clutter the counters and end up in the landfill. To recognize Earth Day, considering cancelling your paper statements. With the online version, there's no waiting for the mail—your information is available anytime, anywhere just by logging in to a secure account. Plus, online statements don't get lost or delivered to the wrong address, and they guard against identity theft. If instant access and added security weren't enough, going paperless is also an environmentally conscious decision. Reducing unnecessary paper waste helps diminish the number of…

Federal holidays have been around since 1870, but back then they only applied to government employees in the District of Colombia. As time went on, these officially recognized calendar holidays have broadened to honor icons & aspects of American heritage that have shaped us as a nation. On these holidays, all non-essential federal government offices are closed. Also closed are federally chartered financial institutions, including credit unions and banks. This is because many, like America First, depend on national agencies to process specific transactions. There are currently 10 federal holidays: New Year's Day (January 1) Martin Luther King, Jr. Day…

Falling in love can make you feel as though you're walking on air, but if a budding relationship is exclusively online, it's important to keep your feet on the ground. Here are some tips to avoid becoming a romance scam victim. You may be charming and attractive, but scammers will try grooming you by flattering your ego. Be suspicious if things progress too quickly without meeting each other in person. Watch out if your new friend starts making financial requests. He or she may play with your heartstrings and say there are medical expenses to pay or ask you for…