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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 Does it Cost to Raise a Child in the United States

postman1 — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 09:19:21 +0000

It can be very expensive to raise a child in the United States. For example, according to one online calculator, it costs almost $200,000 US Dollars (USD) to raise a child from birth to age 18. Other sources estimate the cost at $250,000 USD or more. For parents who put their kids through college, tuition can add as much as $10,000 USD or more to that estimate.
Although this may seem like an unaffordable amount of money, keep in mind that the cost of raising children is spread out over almost two decades. Divided equally by 18 years, to raise a child will cost you roughly $11,000 USD per year. If you have two children, it will theoretically cost you about $22,000 USD per year to raise them, and so on. However, keep in mind that the first 11 or 12 years of each child’s life will most likely be more expensive than the teen years, because daycare expenses usually go away at age 12.
Fortunately, many of these expenses are ones that smart families can avoid, dramatically lowering what it costs to raise a child. For example, the online calculator estimates an expense of $2,900 USD per year for a bigger home. If you can find a bigger home that suits your needs for only $700 USD more a year, it will drop the total expense down to $150,000 USD. If you raise a child in the same size home you have now, you’ll spend under $140,000 USD.
Likewise, the calculator includes an annual cost of $1,250 USD for a bigger car. However, many families can raise a child using the cars they already have, which saves around $15,000 USD over a period of 18 years.
Other costs of raising a child are negotiable, too. For instance, breastfeeding for the first year of your baby’s life could save you a thousand dollars or more in groceries. Making your own baby food — which is actually quite simple — can also save you hundreds of dollars. Savvy shoppers should also be able to clothe their child for well under the allotted $600 per year.
The recreation category provides another way you can save money while you raise a child. There are many free or low-cost ways to entertain your kids. Trips to the library and the park, picnics, and school and community events are all great free or low-cost outings for you and your child. Also, don’t forget that children have great imaginations, and can easily entertain themselves with the toys they already have.
Although at first glance it seems very expensive to raise a child in the United States, in reality, many of the costs are unnecessary, and can be avoided by financially savvy parents. By cutting or eliminating some of the expenses as described here, you should be able to cut the cost of raising a child nearly in half.

How Much do Wind Turbines Cost

postman1 — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:52:17 +0000

Total costs for installing a commercial-scale wind turbine will vary significantly depending on the cost of financing, when the turbine purchase agreement was executed, construction contracts, the type of machine, the location of the project, and other factors. Cost components for wind projects include wind resource assessment and site analysis expenses; the price and freight of the turbine and tower; construction expenses; permitting and interconnection studies; utility system upgrades, transformers, protection, and metering equipment; insurance; operations, warranty, maintenance, and repair; legal and consultation fees. Others factors that will impact your project economics include your financing costs, the size of your project, and taxes.
The costs for a commercial scale wind turbine in 2007 ranged from $1.2 million to $2.6 million, per MW of nameplate capacity installed.
Most of the commercial-scale turbines installed today are 2 MW in size and cost roughly $3.5 Million installed. Wind turbines have significant economies of scale. Smaller farm or residential scale turbines cost less overall, but are more expensive per kilowatt of energy producing capacity. Wind turbines under 100 kilowatts cost roughly $3,000 to $5,000 per kilowatt of capacity. That means a 10 kilowatt machine (the size needed to power an average home) might cost $35,000-$50,000.

How Much Paint to Buy

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:10:31 +0000

How much paint to buy?

Before you begin painting your home’s interior walls, ceiling, woodwork, doors, or windows, you need to estimate the amount of paint you’ll use. Estimates require specific calculations for each surface you want to paint.

To estimate the amount of paint you need in order to cover the walls of a room, add together the length of all the walls and then multiply the number by the height of the room, from floor to ceiling. The number you get is the room’s square footage. Is that math class coming back to you now?

Now you have to determine how much of that square footage is paintable surface area. Because you use a different paint on the doors and windows, subtract those areas from the room total. No sweat, just subtract 20 square feet for each door and 15 square feet for each average-sized window in the room. You end up with a number that is close to the actual wall area you have to cover with paint.

In general, you can expect 1 gallon of paint to cover about 350 square feet. You need slightly more than a gallon if the walls are unpainted drywall, which absorbs more of the paint. You also need to consider whether to paint more than one coat. If you’re painting walls that are unfinished, heavily patched, or dark in color, plan on applying two coats of paint.

When painting a dark color, pros often add a color tint to the white primer. Tints for both latex or alkyd paints are available at most paint stores. For best results, choose a tint shade that’s closest to the top coat color.

Now for the clincher of the math problem. Divide the paintable wall area by 350 (the square-foot coverage in each gallon can) to find the number of gallons of paint you need for the walls. You can round uneven numbers; if the remainder is less than .5, order a couple of quarts of wall paint to go with the gallons; if the remainder is more than .5, order an extra gallon. Of course, buying in bulk is usually more economical, so you may discover that 3 quarts of paint cost as much as a gallon.

Examples

The following examples walk you through the calculations for determining how much paint you need for a 14-x-20-foot room that’s 8 feet tall and has two doors and two windows.

Ceiling paint estimator

Use the following formula to estimate the amount of ceiling paint you need. Double the result if the ceiling requires two coats.

1. Multiply the length of the ceiling times its width to find its area.

14 × 20 = 280 square feet

2. Divide that number by 350 (the estimated square feet covered per gallon) to figure out how many gallons of paint you need.

280 ÷ 350 = .8

For this example, you want to buy 1 gallon of ceiling paint for a single coat.

Wall paint estimator

Use the following formula to estimate the amount of wall paint you need. Double the result if the walls require two coats.

1. Add together the length of each wall.

14 + 20 + 14 + 20 = 68 feet

2. Multiply the sum by the wall height, to find the total wall area.

68 × 8 = 544 square feet

3. Subtract 20 square feet for each door (20 × 2 = 40) and 15 square feet for each window (15 × 2 = 30) to find the actual amount of wall area you’re painting.

544 – 70 = 474 square feet

4. Divide this figure by the paint coverage (350 square feet per gallon), and the result is the number of gallons to purchase.

474 ÷ 350 = 1.4

For this example, you want to buy 1 gallon and 2 quarts of paint for a single coat.

Woodwork paint estimator

Measure the length of the trim in feet, and multiply that number by 1/2 foot (.5), as a rough size for the width of the trim. Include all the trim around doors and windows, at baseboards, along the ceiling, and for any built-in furniture.

As an example, imagine that you have ceiling molding running around a room that is 14 feet wide and 20 feet long.

1. Determine the total length of molding around the room by adding together the length of all the walls that the molding covers.

Round the numbers off to the nearest foot.

14 + 20 + 14 + 20 = 68 feet

2. Multiply the sum by .5 for an estimated width of the molding.

68 × .5 = 34 square feet

3. Divide this number by 350 to estimate the gallons of paint required to cover the molding.

34 ÷ 350 = .09

The result in this example is much less than a quart, but you may paint other woodwork in the room the same color, so buying a full quart may not be terribly wasteful.

Door and window estimator

Use the same figure for estimating door coverage as you use in your wall-area calculations — 20 square feet = one door. Multiply the number of doors by 20, doubling the answer if you plan to paint both sides. Wall paint estimates allow for 15 square feet for each window. Use about half that window area to figure trim and inside sash — the glass isn’t important to the calculation.

For the room in this example:

1. Multiply the number of doors by 20.

2 × 20 = 40 square feet

2. Multiply the number of windows by 7.5.

2 Windows × 7.5 = 15 square feet

3. Add these numbers together.

40 + 15 = 55

4. Divide the result by 350 (the estimated square feet covered per gallon).

54 ÷ 350 = .16

Often, you end up needing to buy only a quart of paint, which goes a long way on doors and window trim.

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 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 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