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How Much Does it Cost to Make a Penny

postman1 — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 09:26:12 +0000

As of May 2008, it costs 1.26¢ US (or $0.0126 US Dollars(USD)) to make a penny, making the face value of a penny less than its actual value. The cost to make a penny first exceeded the face value of pennies in 2006, briefly rising to almost 2¢ US in 2007 before falling again. The rising cost of making a penny has led to some serious reconsideration of the composition of the penny at the United States Mint, the government agency responsible for printing money and striking new coinage.
The cost of a penny is largely dictated by the materials used to make it. Pennies contain 97.5% zinc, with 2.5% copper to give them their distinctive coppery color. Prices of these metals have risen dramatically in the early 21st century, in response to market demands and increasing regulation of mining, which has made the cost of metals extraction much higher.
The obvious solution to make a penny less expensive is to change the composition of the coin, integrating cheaper metals or perhaps even plastics, as is done with some European currency. However, attempts at changing the composition of the penny have met with some opposition, since some people are concerned that changes in composition could change the look and feel of this iconic American coin. Others have suggested that it may be time to do away with the one cent piece altogether, a decision which would certainly change the way Americans do business.
In addition to the penny, the nickel also has a physical value which is higher than its face value; nickels cost around 7.7¢ US to make. Other currency, such as dimes and quarters, costs much less to make. The face value of a quarter may be 25¢ US, but it only costs 10¢ US to make one. The relative high cost to make a penny or a nickel is balanced out by the lower costs of producing other coins, in some people’s opinions.
Changing commodities prices will continue to drive up the price to make a penny. It is unlikely that the cost of production will ever fall below one cent, and with more pennies being made each year, the Mint may face some tough decisions. Like other government agencies, the Mint is expected to be financially accountable, and the business practice of distributing something with a value less than its manufacturing cost is not very sound. Whether Americans like it or not, this means that the penny and the nickel may be undergoing changes to address this issue.

How Much Should I Tip at a Restaurant

postman1 — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 09:15:55 +0000

How much you should tip at a restaurant depends on these factors: the size of your party, the class of the restaurant, and the quality of the service. In this case we’ll call a large party anything over 6 people, and an expensive restaurant a “four-star” restaurant. But first let’s consider more humble establishments.
How much should you tip for eating at a counter? In this case service isn’t considered a big part of the meal, so 10% – 12% is an adequate tip. However, if the service is excellent there is nothing wrong with tipping 15%.
How much should you tip for eating at a local restaurant? Providing the service was good, a tip of 15% of the bill before tax is a good rule of thumb. If you happen to live where the state tax is between 7% and 8% you can calculate the tip easily by looking at the amount you are taxed and simply doubling it. You can then round this amount off higher or lower, depending on the service and your state’s tax percentage
For example, let’s say the state tax is 8%. If the bill comes to $48.70, the tax will be $3.90, for a total bill of $52.60. To quickly calculate the tip, double $3.90 for a tip of $7.80. Since this is 16% (twice the state tax), you can round down to leave a $7 tip. This comes to just slightly less than 15%. Or if you had an especially nice meal you might want to round up to $8 to leave a slightly larger tip. If you are dining with a large party, a 20% tip is appropriate.
Bear in mind that food and service are separate issues. If the food was bad but the service was good, complain to the manager about the food, but tip the server for their efforts. On the other hand, if the food was good but the meal was ruined by poor service, a lower tip can reflect that as well.
ut how much should you tip at a four-star restaurant? At a four-star restaurant, the maitre d’ may be the first person you tip, particularly if you are a regular and he goes out of his way to either keep a table for you, or to seat you even when the restaurant is very busy. The maitre d’ tip might be $20 – $100, and should be given to him before you are seated, or as you are seated, but not after you are seated. Once you have dined, expect to leave a 20% tip. Again the tip is calculated before tax. If you have wine with your meal, the wine steward should be tipped $2 or $3 dollars for a bottle of wine under $10, or if multiple bottles are ordered, 10% – 15% of the wine bill. If you order a single bottle that is extremely expensive a 5% tip to the wine steward is acceptable.
Another person you might need to tip at a four-star restaurant is the coat check attendant. Tipping $1 for one or two coats is fine. Restroom attendants are normally tipped 50 cents to $1, and parking attendants can be tipped $1. If you stop in at a restaurant’s bar while waiting to be seated, the bartender should be tipped $1 per drink, or if you have multiple drinks, 10-15% of the bar bill.
No matter the restaurant, tipping a few percent more is always a good idea when the server has had to work particularly hard for your table or went out of their way to make your meal especially pleasant. Waiting on tables is hard and often frustrating work that usually involves little thanks. Although tips have come to be expected, rather than a reward for service well done, when the service is good it’s nice to let that conscientious server know that you noticed by leaving a good tip.
Some restaurants now add a surcharge to the bill that is supposed to be a “built in” tip. This money is theoretically divided up among busboys and other staff, however it is not unheard of that some restaurant owners keep this fee, and the customer is still expected to tip. If your restaurant bill comes with a surcharge, ask the waitress if she gets a portion of that money. If the answer is no, leave her the customary tip, based on the food bill before the tax and surcharge. Whether or not you wish to patronize that particular restaurant again in the future is up to you!

How Much Do Braces Cost

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:55:58 +0000

How much do braces cost?

If you need braces to straighten your teeth or wish to purchase them for a child, you are probably wondering: how much do braces cost? Sadly, there really is no cheap way around it. Depending on the type of braces you decide to go with, you should expect to spend at least a few thousand dollars just for the braces themselves.

An overview of the different types of braces and the average cost will follow, but it is important to note that on top of these figures you can expect to pay for doctor’s appointments, x-rays, and other procedures that go along with having braces put on and maintaining them long term.

Traditional Metal Braces: A more traditional, basic set of braces will run around $5, 000. The metal that these types of braces are made from can be quite uncomfortable and does not give a great physical look in the mouth. For an extra $500 or so you can get ceramic brackets that are colored more to the shade of the teeth. This will make them a little less obvious.

Concealed Braces: This type lingual braces runs behind the teeth on the backside so they are less obvious. While this may be preferable to many people, they are also a lot more expensive. Expect to pay around $9, 000, though they can run much higher than that even. Since the same metal construction is used and the position behind the teeth is closer to the tongue, you still have some discomfort to deal with when getting this type.

Plastic Trays: The more comfortable and easier to wear plastic trays offered from Invisalign are an affordable alternative to the traditional and concealed varieties. Running as low as $3, 500, you could get a real bargain on this type. Not only is the plastic a bit more comfortable in the mouth, but it is less obvious as the metal railroad track design as well. Invisalign cost a lot less, but they may not be appropriate for everyone, so check with your dentist to see if they’re suitable for you.

Note that invisalign does not have one set price. The average price is around $5, 000, but it could be much less or much more than that. If you are interested in these you would have to talk with an orthodontist who can look in your mouth and give a more accurate estimate.

If you are purchasing for a child’s mouth, you may be able to get some help from your insurance company. How much is covered or whether they are covered at all will depend on the terms of your policy, so either pull it out or give the company a call to ask how much do braces cost.

Unfortunately, most insurance companies will not cover this type of orthodontic work for an adult so you would have to cover the entire cost on your own. Yet, many doctors are now offering payment plans which can lighten the load considerably.

So, how much do braces cost? When you see these figures you likely feel shocked and a bit taken back. It is an expensive procedure, but unfortunately there is a real need for it that often goes beyond just vanity. Many people find that the difference in how their teeth look and feel is well worth the money, if not even more.

How Much Alcohol And Tobacco Can You Bring To America Duty Free

postman1 — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:40:27 +0000

How Much Alcohol And Tobacco Can You Bring To America Duty Free?

Travelers may import previously exported tobacco products only in quantities not exceeding the amounts specified in exemptions for which the traveler qualifies. Any quantities of previously exported tobacco products not permitted by an exemption will be seized and destroyed. These items are typically purchased in duty-free stores, on carriers operating internationally, or in foreign stores. These items are usually marked â€œTax Exempt. For Use Outside the United States, or U.S. Tax Exempt For Use Outside the United States.

For example, a returning resident is eligible for the $800 exemption, which includes not more than 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars:
* If the resident declares 400 previously exported cigarettes, the resident would be permitted 200 cigarettes, tax-free under the exemption and the remaining 200 previously exported cigarettes would be confiscated.
* If the resident declares 400 cigarettes, of which 200 are previously exported and 200 not previously exported, the resident would be permitted to import the 200 previously exported cigarettes tax free uunder the exemption and the resident would be charged duty and tax on the remaining 200 foreign-made cigarettes.

The tobacco exemption is available to each adult. Except for information and informational materials, no traveler (whether traveling legally under an Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) license or traveling illegally without an OFAC license) may import Cuban-made goods, including Cuban cigars, unless authorized to do so by a specific license issued by OFAC.

Alcoholic Beverages One liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be included in your exemption if:
1.You are 21 years old.
2.It is for your own use or as a gift.
3.It does not violate the laws of the state in which you arrive.

Federal regulations allow you to bring back more than one liter of alcoholic beverage for personal use, but, as with extra tobacco, you will have to pay duty and Internal Revenue Service tax.

While Federal regulations do not specify a limit on the amount of alcohol you may bring back for personal use, unusual quantities are liable to raise suspicions that you are importing the alcohol for other purposes, such as for resale. CBP officers are authorized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to make on-the-spot determinations that an importation is for commercial purposes, and may require you to obtain a permit to import the alcohol before releasing it to you. If you intend to bring back a substantial quantity of alcohol for your personal use, you should contact the port through which you will be re-entering the country, and make prior arrangements for entering the alcohol into the United States.
Also, you should be aware that state laws might limit the amount of alcohol you can bring in without a license. If you arrive in a state that has limitations on the amount of alcohol you may bring in without a license, that state law will be enforced by CBP, even though it may be more restrictive than federal regulations. We recommend that you check with the state government before you go abroad about their limitations on quantities allowed for personal importation and additional state taxes that might apply.

In brief, for both alcohol and tobacco, the quantities discussed in this booklet as being eligible for duty-free treatment may be included in your $800 or $1,600 exemption, just as any other purchase would be. But unlike other kinds of merchandise, amounts beyond those discussed here as being duty-free are taxed, even if you have not exceeded, or even met, your personal exemption. For example, if your exemption is $800 and you bring back three liters of wine and nothing else, two of those liters will be dutiable. Federal law prohibits shipping alcoholic beverages by mail within the United States.

How Much Did Avatar Cost

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:27:15 +0000

How much did Avatar cost?

James Cameron and his crew have repeatedly said that Avatar cost was $230 million, but the NYT guesstimates that after tallying up the marketing campaign and Cameron’s own personal contributions, how much did Avatar cost: around $500 million.

Determining the final cost of this film is a trick in itself. Wildly different reports have been published, ranging from $230 million (The New Yorker – How much did Avatar cost) to nearly $500 million (The New York Times). Avatar’s official budget lies somewhere in between, probably closest to the figure the Los Angeles Times’s John Horn and Claudia Eller cited earlier this month—$280 million for the production, plus marketing costs.

Avatar is a 2009 American science fiction epic film written and directed by James Cameron and starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez and Stephen Lang. The film is set in the year 2154, when humans are mining a precious mineral called unobtanium on the lush moon Pandora in the Alpha Centauri star system. The expansion of the mining colony threatens the continued existence of a local tribe of Na’vi—a sentient humanoid species which is indigenous to Pandora. The film’s title refers to the genetically engineered Na’vi bodies used by several human characters to interact with the natives of Pandora.

Development on Avatar began in 1994, when Cameron wrote an 80-page scriptment for the film. Filming was supposed to take place after the completion of Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic, for a planned release in 1999, but according to Cameron, the necessary technology was not yet available to portray his vision of the film. Work on the language for the film’s extraterrestrial beings began in summer 2005, and Cameron began developing the script and fictional universe in early 2006.

How much did Avatar cost? Avatar was officially budgeted at $237 million. Avatar did cost a lot. Other estimates put the cost between $280 million and $310 million for production, and at $150 million for promotion. The film was released for traditional two-dimensional projection, as well as in 3-D, using the RealD 3D, Dolby 3D, XpanD 3D and IMAX 3D formats. The film was touted as a breakthrough in filmmaking technology, for its development of 3D viewing and stereoscopic filmmaking with cameras that were specially designed for the film’s production.

How Much Is a Stamp

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:34:43 +0000

How much is a stamp?

How Much Does a Stamp Cost? How much is a us postage stamp now? A first class postage stamp currently costs $0.44. Forever stamps are also $0.44, but never expire, and can be used no matter what the current cost of postage. With 6 postage rate hikes in the past 10 years, forever stamps are a smart strategy to save a little money in the future.

US postal rates increased its rates for first class postage and related services (like insurance) on May 11, 2009. First class rates were last increased on Feb. 11, 2008, and the cost for shipping services (like Priority and Express) went up in January 2009. The US Postal Service says its rates will now be “adjusted” each May.

Typical costs:

As of May 11, 2009 the cost to mail a first class letter is 44 cents for up to one ounce, and each additional ounce adds 17 cents. The price to send a typical two ounce wedding invitation is 61 cents. Large envelopes (flats) are 88 cents for up to one ounce (and 17 cents for each additional ounce). Sending a postcard costs 28 cents. The charge for Certified Mail is $2.80; a return receipt is $2.30 for a printed copy and $1.10 for an electronic version; Money Orders are $1.10 up to $500 and $1.50 for $500.01 -$1,000; retail delivery confirmation is 70 cents for Priority Mail and 80 cents for first class parcels or package services; retail signature confirmation is $2.35; and insurance starts at $1.75 for an item valued up to $50.
Sending a letter Express Mail starts at $13.05 and goes up depending on weight and distance mailed; a flat rate (any weight, any distance but sent in a special preprinted US Postal Service envelope) Express letter costs $17.50. Sending a letter or package Priority Mail starts at $4.95 and goes up based on weight and distance; a flat rate Priority envelope or small package costs $4.95, a regular flat rate package is $10.35 and a large flat rate Priority package costs $13.95.
Postcards and letters to Canada are 75 cents for the first ounce, and the price goes up based on weight and distance; for Mexico it starts at 79 cents; and for all other countries the starting price is 98 cents. Priority Mail International starts at $10.95; Express Mail International at $25.95; and Global Express at $31.95.
Details on the May 11, 2009 postal prices are available at the US Postal Service website.

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How Much Wikipedia Worth

admin — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:08:56 +0000

How much wikipedia worth?

The only statistics to go by are Jimmy Wales (the founder of wikipedia) own personal estimations that he’s made in the past (interviews, articles, etc.). As of 2007, he estimated that Wikipedia was worth about $3 billion, and stated that he makes no money off of the non-profit Wikimedia foundation that he and Wikipedia are a part of. He also once wrote that his own net worth was less than $1 million.

Average website estimator would give you around 200,000$ for wikipedia worth. But, these numbers do not take in account the real value of wikipedia. The amount of information stored on wikipedia’s servers is huge. No one can really tell how much is wikipedia worth. Advertising on 25 pixels square on wikipedia’s pages will bring an income of 10M$ to the creator Jimmy Wales. The traffic is enormous, but still the creator prefers to leave free for non commercial use. Professionals estimate wikipedia’s worth as of 2009 about $3.5 billions u.s. dollars.

How Much Does the President Make

admin — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:06:20 +0000

How much does the president make?

Traditionally, the President is the highest-paid public employee. President Obama currently earns $400,000 per year, along with a $150,000 expense account, a $100,000 nontaxable travel account and $19,000 for entertainment. The most recent raise in salary was approved by Congress and President Bill Clinton in 1999 and went into effect in 2001; prior to the change, the President earned $200,000, plus expense accounts.

As mentioned before, the President currently makes $400,000 a year in salary. This became the new level in 2001 — prior to that, the President had made $200,000 a year since 1969. In addition to his salary, a President also receives an expense account (currently $50,000); a non-taxable travel account (currently $100,000), and an entertainment account (currently $19,000). So the total package is worth $569,000 per year. On top of all of that, the President gets full and free access to the White House for living quarters and all of the White House employees and services, including White House doctors, barbers, cooks, housekeeping, security etc. The President also gets use of Air Force One, Army One, Marine One, Navy One and Coast Guard One as well as Presidential limousines when on business.

Finally, after a President leaves office they receive a pension which is set as the same salary as the current administration’s Cabinet secretaries. Currently, this means all living ex-Presidents are receiving $191,300 per year as a pension. Additionally, ex-Presidents receive travel accounts and free mailing privileges.

How Much Should a Web Site Cost

admin — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:37:55 +0000

How Much Should a Web Site Cost?

Determining how much a web site should cost is one of the most frequently asked but rarely answered questions in the web design world. Even now, with millions of web sites online, there exists no magic formula for calculating either the cost of a new web site or the cost of a redesign.

Historical Perspective: How Much Should a Web Site Cost?

Like other goods and services, the cost associated with designing, developing and building a web site has changed over time. The following chart provides a timeline of historical dates compared to web site cost.

The basis for the chart was a small business (under 25 employees) located in a small city that wanted a professional web site having 15 pages, Web hosting and email, a domain name, and a aesthetic quality level of around 7/10.

Time Period - Expected Cost

1995 – 1997 $7,500 to $12,000
1998 – 2000 $6,000 to $10,000
2000 – 2004 $2,500 to $4,500
2004 – 2008 $2,000 to $7,500

The above data demonstrates a significant decrease in the base cost of a web site over the last decade. The reason for this drop in web site cost is driven by two factors.

First, there exist substantially more competitors in the web design market today, perhaps as many as ten times more than a decade ago. Second, modern tools have made it easier for Web designers to create great looking web sites.

These factors have also led to some unforeseen results. Most notably, in the last five years, the cost of web sites has become more disparate. After further analysis, we believe these trends can be explained through the increasing demand for cost effective web sites along with the drive for higher-end, interactive Web designs.

In other words, as web sites become standard for all businesses, the competition grows to produce higher-quality, low-cost Web designs. By the same token, with more Internet competition, a company now needs to work harder to differentiate its web site from those of its competitors. Often this involves adding better content, Flash designs, online videos, and interactive applications.

Web Site Components and Costs

With a historical perspective in place, it is important to examine each of the components that go into determining how much a web site should cost. On average, the following figures can be applied to estimating the cost of a web site:

Service: Domain Name
Cost: $9/year
Service: Hosting
Cost: $75 to $200 a year (depending on traffic & website features) Service: Web design and graphics development time
Cost: 60 to 150 hours (based on our experience for a 15 page Website) Service: Web site Maintenance
Cost: $500 to $1250 a year (depending on number of updates required)

To completely answer the question “How much should a web site cost” it is also useful to review specific Web design and web site development projects.

Informational or Small Business Web Site Cost::

8 to 16 Web pages
Custom graphics
Stock photos
Little or no flash
Web forms sending to email accounts

Project duration: 30 to 75 days (not assuming a consistent 8 hour a day)
Web site cost range: $2,000 to $6,000

Corporate (100 or more employees) Web Site Cost:

25 to 75 Web pages
Heavy use of flash
High quality design work on all Web pages
Content management system
Extra components: Intranet, calendars, web site search

Project duration: 60 to 90 days
Web site cost range: $10,000 to $25,000

Ecommerce Web Site Cost:

100 to 1000 products
Shopping cart
Payment gateway integration
Product descriptions and images
Sales tax and shipping calculation
Customer and administrative control panel

Project duration: 60 to 120 days
Web site cost range: $5,000 to $15,000

Database Driven Web Site or Web Application:

Dynamic Web pages 20 to 2,000
Administrative control panel for web site management
Advanced programming skill sets required
Interactivity with web site visitor
Enterprise database (MS SQL Server or MySQL)

Project duration: 90 to 180 days
Web site cost range: $6,000 to $35,000

How much is my house worth

admin — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:49:13 +0000

How much is my house worth?

First of all it is needed to shatter a few commonly held misconceptions and highlight that how much your house is worth has nothing to do with:
1. How much you paid for your house.
2. How much money you’ve spent on your house.
3. How much you’d like to sell your house for.

Instead you need to focus on this one truth: your house is worth what a buyer is prepared to pay for it (just so long as your buyer’s mortgage lender agrees). In turn, 3 things decide what a buyer is prepared to pay for your house:

1. What similar properties to yours recently sold for?
2. What price similar properties to yours are currently being advertised for sale at?
3. The current state of the property market.

No matter what anyone tells you, the truth is, until your house is sold nobody can guarantee what price your house will sell for. Go over the Internet, get free instant home values and see comparable home valuations for millions of houses. No personal information is required and no one will contact you.

However you decide to sell your home, you can get the property valued without obligation by local estate agents. It is best to get three valuations for a balanced view. If you do want to sell through an estate agent, it may not always be best to choose the one that gave the highest valuation. You should get to know the local property market and sales prices before you make your choice. This will give you a realistic idea of how much your property could be sold for and avoid any long delays before your home is sold.