Money/

7 Sure Fire Ways to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

Ready to stop living paycheck to paycheck? Sure you are. Counting the days to your next payday is stressful and no way to live. If you are having a hard time meeting your financial obligations between paydays, then you need to make some changes.

Here are few simple ways on how to stop living paycheck to paycheck.

Change Your Mindset About Money

Let me be honest with you, if you don’t change how you act and respond to money, you’re never going to get a grasp of your finances. You’ll find yourself spending more than you have and begging for payday to come.

And if you never have enough money to cover even the basics, such as rent and utilities, how are you going to have enough to live your best life?

Our upbringings had a lot to do with how we view money as adults, no matter if we admit this to ourselves or not. If you grew up in a household of spenders, you’re going to view money differently than someone who grew up with savers.

That’s just a fact.

Also, our parents are our first teachers so we may find we mimic their actions when it comes to how we handle money.

What words come to mind when you think about money? These words will give you some insight into your feelings about money and if they are of abundance or scarcity.

Knowing this will help you to understand how your thoughts, feelings, and actions affect your relationship surrounding money.

Assess Your Financial Situation

Be honest with yourself and admit you have a problem. Don’t think you have a problem? Well, let the figures do the talking. It’s easy to lose track of your spending, so for an entire month write down every place you spend money.

No matter how little or how small write it down. Jotting down your expenses will help you to see where your money goes.

Once you have tracked your expenses for a month, you may be surprised that you are spending a lot of money in areas you didn’t expect.

One time I tracked my expenses and realized that most of my money went to girl nights and happy hour with my coworkers. At the time it didn’t seem like a big deal, but when I put the figures down on paper I realized my money was going down the drain.

So, for an entire month, keep a journal with:

Income from all sources (include money from your side gigs)
Expenses (expected and unexpected)
Feelings (this will help you to get a sense of how your emotions control your money)

Create a Budget

Did you know that even millionaires keep a budget? Though they may not use an envelope system or cut coupons, you better believe they know exactly where their money is going each month. A budget helps you to:

Not spend money you don’t have and
Save money you do have

Creating and keeping a budget will help you get a hold of your finances and stay on track. With a budget, you’ll be able to track how much money you make and how much you have to spend. If you know what bills are due and for how much, you’ll get a sense of your net worth.

To create a budget, you can read this step-by-step guide and read these tips over at Money Crashers as well as use tools such as Mint (my favorite) and You Need a Budget (I’m currently using their free trial and will give a review of it in a later post).

Cut Out Unnecessary Expenses

If you tracked your expenses for a month and created a budget, you already know there are some areas that need to be cut. Expenses such as eating out seem to be huge budget busters and can be eliminated with little preplanning and creativity.

When I looked over my expenses, I realized I spent a lot of time and money over at Starbucks. As much as I love their coffee, I didn’t need to have it every day.

I purchased a Keurig, started making coffee at home, and literally saved over $75 a month! I also cut out my gym membership, because I never went and preferred walking outdoors anyways. Even at only $20 a month, it was still a waste of money.

Determine what you need to cut so you can have more money to spend each month. Do you really need 200 channels?

If not, try cutting out cable and use a digital antenna instead. Afraid you’ll miss your favorite shows? Subscribe to Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime Video and you will still save thousands each year.

Build Up Your Emergency Fund

Accidents happen when you least expect them and usually during the worse time possible. You can expect your car to break down right after you’ve paid your car note or to get sick when you don’t have any health insurance.

That’s life and the only way to deal with these unfortunate events is to be well prepared with an emergency fund.

Are you prepared? Probably not. According to this Credit Donkey’s survey, half of Americans have less than $500 in their savings.

This scary statistic is true for the poor as well as the middle class who are considered to have everything going well for them.

Before you start saving money and paying off debt, you need to at least build up an emergency fund of at least $1000. This fund needs to be in cash where you can get to immediately.

When I took Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, I was ready to quit after learning this was Baby Step #1. I then realized that I had to do it because I was one paycheck away from catastrophe.

Once you have your $1000 saved, though, don’t stop there. A sound emergency fund should have enough to cover three to six months of living expenses. All of you know no one’s job is 100% safe.

CLICK HERE FOR WAYS TO MAKE MONEY FROM HOME WITH

LITTLE OR NO EXPERIENCE

Stop Trying to Keep up with the Jones’

The Jones family looks good over there with the big house, nice cars, and green grass, but looks can be deceiving. While you’re trying to keep up with them, you didn’t realize that the Jones were in debt up to their eyeballs.

We tend to buy things we can’t afford to impress people we don’t even like. This is how we get ourselves in a lot of trouble and become bogged down with debt. These are the actions that keep us broke and put our financial health at risk.

Yes, your neighbor’s car looks great but did you know they probably leased it because it was the only way they could afford it? Or that the husband had to pick up extra hours at work to pay for it?

There’s no way to know another person’s financial situation and what looks good on the outside may be crumbling on the inside. Make sure to assess your finances first and only make purchases that make sense for you and your household.

Make More Money

Sometimes cutting expenses and eliminating unnecessary debt may not be enough to make ends meet. You may actually need to make more money to stay afloat.

You can make more money by getting a second (or better) job or find ways to bring in additional income.

I am not a proponent of getting a second job, simply because in my opinion, it takes you away from your family. I mean, if you’re young and single, then, by all means, go for it.

However, I think you can find other ways to make money such as selling items you no longer need or completing side gigs that will bring in additional income.

When I side hustled my butt off to make extra money I was then able to get better control over my finances. I tutored students after school, completed surveys, sold items from my home and signed up for cashback programs such as Rakuten and Swagbucks.

Every bit of extra change helped a lot. I also started blogging, which eventually took the place of my income as an elementary school teacher.

You can to start your own blog by following my step-by-step guide here. Starting a blog is easy and affordable and if you sign up with Hostgator, you can use my link here.

Making more money may help you to build an emergency fund and add to your savings, however, if you don’t control your spending you’ll suffer. I know people who are making close to six figures a year and are still living paycheck to paycheck.

Money/

15 Personal Finance Books that Have Changed My Life

Wish you learned how to manage your personal finances in high school, instead of trigonometry? So, do I.

Unfortunately, most of us didn’t learn how to create a budget or to create an emergency fund, until it was too late. Some of us learned from trial and error (or crash and burn).

No matter if you were busting budget spreadsheets from the time you got your first lemonade stand or learned on the fly, here are some of the best personal finance books you will want to add to your reading list.

Why Personal Finance Books

Being educated about finance is important to your overall life. How much money you make, how much money you keep, and your credit score will determine the neighborhood you live in. It will also determine if you’ll live a comfortable life for you and your family or struggle to make ends meet.

Making the right decisions about your money is easiest when you have the right education. Now, do you have to go to school and get your MBA? No. Most of what you need to live your best financial life can be found in books.

Since most of us were exposed to financial literacy in school, we’re often responsible for gaining our own knowledge.

If you’re looking to create a budget, save money, or make more money – here are a few of my favorite personal finance books you should definitely check out.

Here’s a list of the personal finance books that have changed my life.

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

I first read Rich Dad Poor Dad when I was a freshman in college. I can’t remember if it was one of the books assigned to us by one of my professors or something I picked up on my own.

Most likely it was a book I picked up when I should’ve been reading a textbook, but that’s not the point. After reading this book, my view on money and entrepreneurship changed forever. I still have the same copy I purchased 20 years ago and I’ve read it several times since.

Kiyosaki writes about how he had two dads, his biological dad and a man he looked up to as a mentor. His father, a professor at a local college, was educated but broke. On the other hand, his other dad didn’t have a college degree or any formal education but was a rich businessman.

He goes on to say that he learned a lot about both men, but his rich dad taught him a lot about money and building wealth. This book showed me that being rich is a mindset and no matter if you want to be an entrepreneur or not, you will find nuggets in this book.

Best Personal Finance Books for Beginners

The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke by Suze Orman

I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

One of the best finance gurus to follow is definitely Dave Ramsey. With a disdain for credit cards and car payments, Ramsey wrote one of my favorites, The Total Money Makeover.

If you’re looking for sound money advice from someone who is not only rich but who was broke, became rich, lost his money and regained his wealth again, then Dave Ramsey is your man.

For me, I have a hard time taking diet advice from someone who has never been fat. I feel the same way when it comes to money, it’s easy to talk about how easy it is to be rich if you’ve always been rich.

Other Books to Check Out…

The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy by Thomas Stanley

The Purposeful Millionaire: 52 Rules for Creating a Life of Wealth and Happiness Now by James R. Nowlin, J.D

Love Your Life Not Theirs: 7 Money Habits for Living the Life You Want

One of the ways we get ourselves in financial trouble is by trying to keep up with the Jones’. Rachel Cruz agrees and in her book Love Your Life Not Theirs: 7 Money Habits for Living the Life You Want is a manual on how to stop wanting what others have (but we can’t afford).

Sound advice from someone who grew up in a household where being financially responsible was taught (she’s Dave Ramsey’s daughter), Rachel breaks it down on how we can have great lives, without going into debt and without feeling like you’re missing out.

Love Your Life Not Theirs is one of the few personal finance books I ever pre-ordered simply because I was excited to read it. Rachel has a YouTube channel that has sound advice.

Check These Great Reads Out, Too

America’s Cheapest Family by Steve Economides

Retire Inspired by Chris Hogan

The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris

Some people have discounted Tim Ferris’ mantra that you can work as little as four hours a week and live a rich and successful life. I disagree, to a point. I believe it’s possible to work 4 hours a week, but you have to put the time in first.

It is possible to lay out on a beach somewhere and live off of passive income. However, most of us know that passive income isn’t quite passive, especially not in the beginning.

I like the 4-Hour Work Week because Ferris tells us that as long as we have an infrastructure and system in place, then it is possible to have a four hour workweek.

These systems including starting businesses in profitable niches with little overhead and automatic processes. He shows how he started working from home by asking his boss for the opportunity.

Best Personal Finance Books of All Time

Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller – Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century by Napoleon Hill

The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

Gold Diggers and Deadbeat Dads

I admit it, I was interested in Gold Diggers and Deadbeat Dads because of the title. Good thing the book met my expectation and I have kept this book in my bag to refer to when I need a reality check.

The author talks about how she and others were financially devastated by trusting those she loved with their money.

As a woman who has done financially better than most of those around me, I am always being hit up for a loan to get someone out of their own mess. When I should have been paying my bills, I was paying others.

Though I have never cosigned for a car or an apartment for a boyfriend or family member, I have given money when I shouldn’t have.

This book will show you the power of no and how it’s okay to help others on occasion, but not to risk your own financial health to save someone who doesn’t care about theirs.

You will either resonate with the stories in this book or get scared to death by them. Either way, this is a must-read for all women and one of my favorite life-changing personal finance books.

Also, Check Out these Personal Budget Books

Smart Women Finish Rich: 9 Steps to Achieving Financial Security and Funding Your Dreams by David Bach

Live Richer Challenge by Tiffany Budgetnista Aliche

Have you read any of these books on my list? If so, what did you think of them? Do you have any to add?

Hey, if you’re looking for a way to cover some of these books on your list, sign up for here a free account with Swagbucks. Not only will you get to participate in great surveys and games, but you’ll earn SB to redeem for gift cards such as Amazon.

Money/

A Few Things to Consider Before You Buy Your First House

Things to consider to see if you're ready to buy a house.

Buying a house is a dream for some people, but without preparation, it can quickly turn into a nightmare. If you want to purchase a home I commend you and recommend that you give some thought about it first. Before you jump head first into home ownership, consider these few things before you buy your first house.

How’s Your Credit?

If I had a penny for every person who has ever applied for a loan who didn’t know their credit score, I would be rich by now. I never understood the reasoning for this.

Just like I would never use my debit card without knowing how much money I had in my account, I would never apply for credit without knowing my FICO score.

Your credit, but more importantly your FICO score, will show a lender how credit-worthy you are. If your credit score is 625 and the lowest they’ll go is 650, you will most likely be denied for a mortgage.

To them, you’re too much of a credit risk. In addition, knowing your credit score will not only let you know what you need to work on but will help you to shop around for great rates.

Related:

So before you start looking on Zillow, check your credit first. Need to order your credit report and score? Go to AnnualCreditReport.com to view your credit score. Because of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, every person is entitled to a free credit report once per year from each of the major credit bureaus. Just make sure to order all three, because each of them reports differently.

If you see issues on your credit, the time to fix them is before a lender runs it.

Other Ways to Check Your Credit and Score

Are You Ready?

Just because you want to buy a house now doesn’t mean you’re ready to. Planning to move out of the area in the next two years? Then buying a home right now may not be the best thing to do. When buying a home, plan on living there for at least five years.

Why?

Unless you like losing money, you should look at purchasing a home as a long-term investment.

In the first few years into your mortgage, you are only paying on interest and it takes a while before you start paying towards your principal.

Unless your neighborhood sees a spike in prices, not enough time will pass for you to accumulate any equity.

I thought I would live in my house and sell it in three years to move to a bigger house. Less than a year later the market crashed and I was underwater (still was 8 years later).

As you assess your readiness to buy a house, check your finances. If you are living paycheck to paycheck and barely making ends meet, buying a house will put you in a very precarious situation. Part of the reason so many people defaulted on their mortgages was that most of them couldn’t afford them in the first place.

Are You Ready to Buy a House: Checklist

Can You Afford to Buy a House?

Ready to buy a home? If so, can you afford to? Many people think buying a home is cheaper than renting, but this isn’t always the case. Yes, you’re able to get a tax credit for mortgage interest as a homeowner, but you also face more expenses.

When you rent an apartment or a house, you call the landlord when something stops working or breaks. As a homeowner, it’s up to you to find – and pay – for someone to fix the problem.

Also when considering if you are ready to buy a house, consider if you can afford to buy a home. To do this, you will need to take in account your debt-to-income ratio. A lot of people only consider what they make and ignore what they owe.

More debt will not only lower your credit score, but it will also decrease the amount a lender is willing to loan to you. Start paying down bills before you start thinking of buying a house.

Let’s say you currently rent an apartment for $1,500 a month, you might think you can also afford a mortgage for that amount too. Right? Wrong. Unless you’re spending less than 28% of your salary on housing, you cannot afford to have a $1,500 mortgage.

In addition, if you live in a condo you’ll have condo fees on top of your mortgage as well as HOA fees if you live in a homeowners’ association. Add together your mortgage payment, utilities, fees, and repair costs, you may be in over your head.

How to Determine Your Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio

To determine your debt-to-income ratio, add up your expenses and divide it by your total income. For example: if your expenses equal up to $1500 and your monthly income is $5500, then divide…

1500/5500 = 0.28 or 28%…

…which is your debt-to-income or DTI.

All lenders have their own guidelines, but according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, most can’t go over a 43% debt to income ratio when offering a qualified mortgage.

Follow these guidelines when determining what you can afford:

Mortgage Payment – 28% of gross income (max)
Total Housing Payment (Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance) – 32% of gross income (max)
Total Debt Including Mortgage – 40% of gross income

Do You Have Enough Money Saved?

No matter how much money you have in your savings account right now, it’s probably not enough. Most people underestimate the amount of money they will need to have saved up when buying a home. They think that since they already pay rent, they can afford a mortgage.

Like I mentioned before, that thinking is wrong and will make you frustrated and unable to purchase a home.

When looking to buy a home, make sure you have enough money to put up 20% for a down payment. As a first time homebuyer, you may be able to put in as little as 10%, but lenders want to be sure that you have skin in the game too.

A gift from family is great, but don’t depend on it. Always aim for 20% of the home’s purchase price.

In addition to the down payment, some other costs you will need money for:

Debts (lenders may require you to pay some completely off)
Earnest Money Deposit
Home Inspection
Closing Costs
Moving Fees
Repairs and renovations

Make sure that you have enough money to carry you throughout the entire home buying process. When I purchased my home, I was shocked at all the money I had to put out before I ever signed on the dotted line.

I hope these tips were helpful in deciding if you’re ready to buy your first home. Get a few things in order before you pick up the phone to call a real estate agent. I know a few people who go into an agent’s office only to leave disappointed because they’re not quite prepared to become homeowners.

Your home will probably be one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make in your lifetime. Going in blind will leave you devastated, resentful and worse – broke.

Making Money/

21 Surprisingly Easy Ways to Make an Extra $500 a Month

The truth is that most of us would like to make extra money each month.

Living paycheck to paycheck is a real bummer and having additional ways to bring in extra income can keep us afloat.

If you find yourself making too little or spending too much, then you may appreciate these 21 surprisingly easy ways to make $500 a month.

If you haven’t already, go to my post on 5 Easy Ways to Make $100 or More a Month. I show you ways you can literally make money sitting on your butt.

Making an extra $500 a month or more can be life-changing, and that’s why I encourage people to find easy ways to bring in additional income.

Not only can these moneymakers help to make ends meet, but they can keep you from having to get another job.

Surveys

I have signed up with several survey companies and never was consistent in completing them. However, when I realized how easily and quickly I could earn cash completing surveys, I set some time each day to complete them.

With one company, in particular, I’m able to earn around $100 to $150 a month or more. If you diversify your efforts among several companies, making an extra $500 should be pretty easy.

Swagbucks

Swagbucks is still my favorite when completing surveys. Even though they have many opportunities to earn Swagbucks to redeem later for gift cards, completing their surveys is where I focus most of my time and attention.

I like to go for the surveys worth a lot of points because even though they may take 30 or more minutes to complete, you’ll know almost immediately if you don’t qualify or if they’re not accepting any more people.

Other Survey Companies to consider signing up for:

Earn cashback every time you shop! Sign-up for Rakuten (formally Ebates). Rakuten is totally free and you’ll earn cashback on regular purchases. Use my link here and you’ll earn $30 cashback on your first $30 purchase! Sign up here to start getting cash back whenever you shop.

15 Best Survey Sites to Make $1000 + a Month

Mystery Shopping

Like to shop? If so, you may be interested in mystery shopping.

Years ago when I was in-between jobs, I would spend a lot of time completing shops for several companies.

Mystery shopping involves accepting a shop and completing it as specified. You are usually reimbursed for your purchase and/or given a fee for the shop.

Your job is to see if employees know their stuff and rate their customer service skills. So if you’re someone who loves completing Yelp reviews, you will love going mystery shopping.

You can make more money if you sign up for several companies and is very organized and detailed in submitting reports. I also recommend only accepting shops in your local area. It doesn’t make sense to

I also recommend only accepting shops in your local area. It doesn’t make sense to waste your money on gas because this will not likely be reimbursed.

In addition, consider the amount of money you’re willing to spend upfront.

Though you are often reimbursed, there’s a limit and you may have to wait a while to get your money back. This is a good side gig, so don’t depend on it to take the place of your income.

Some Mystery Shopping companies I recommend:

BestMark

Sinclair Customer Metrics

Market Force

Intellishop

Start a Blog

If you’re looking to make some side money or replace your full-time income, blogging can be an easy way to bring in $500 or more each month.

Many small and mid-size blogs are easily bringing in hundreds and thousands each month, so the possibilities are there. If you have an interest in a great niche, you can make money blogging.

Consider, however, that making money from blogging is not immediate and will take some consistency on your part, so don’t create one on a topic you’re not passionate about.

Some bloggers I know are profitable in the first six months of starting a blog, so if you have something to share with the world, start blogging. If you haven’t already, go over and read my post on How to Start a Blog.

Sell Products on Amazon

Not interested in writing and selling Kindle books on Amazon? Then you don’t have to.

There are so many ways to make money on Amazon including selling products.

Most people know about selling on eBay, but Amazon is a great way to sell products through their Fulfilled by Amazon program.

You can also list products on Amazon and deliver them yourself. Selling on Amazon is great if you can find a niche product that will sell well and allow for a pretty decent profit margin.

This 23-year old makes over $40,000 a month selling products on Amazon. Watch her tell her story below.

Plan Parties

Now I’m not talking about a wedding or event planner in the traditional sense. Instead of planning parties for other people, you can make money planning and hosting parties.

You will secure a place to have the event and you will sell tickets to the event. Depending on the type of party, you can make hundreds and thousands every month.

It’s a moneymaker that has helped to raise thousands of dollars for our family reunion. Consider planning a party if you’re looking to make some extra money.

A fun and simple side hustle to start.

Become a Virtual Assistant

If you have a skill that would benefit small business owners, try your hand at becoming a virtual assistant. If you’re pretty techy when it comes to WordPress or graphic design, you can work for bloggers to help them with their business.

Making money as a blogger is a slow process, but in the meantime, you can be a virtual assistant to someone who runs a more established blog.

You can start off with websites such as Fiverr or Indeed to look for virtual assistant jobs.

The following companies help you to find legitimate virtual assistant work, but there are usually costs associated:

More Great Ways to Make Extra Money Each Month

Join Ebates. This is one of my favorite reward companies out there. I do most of my shopping through Ebates and earn cashback on all of my purchases. It doesn’t take much for me to earn $100+ each month. Sign up with my link and get $10 added to your account.
Host and Plan Parties. If you love to entertain, then consider making a business out of it. Planning parties is not only fun but can be lucrative as well. See how I’ve made thousands planning parties with my family and friends.
Share your thoughts and opinions. Make your voice count and join a focus group. Find opportunities in your area and earn $75 to $150 for completed surveys.
Sign up to GrabPoints. I recently found this program and have fallen in love with it. Another way to earn gift cards by completing offers, watching videos, refer friends, and much more. Sign up through your computer or download the app for your phone.

Driving People Around

If you have time during the day and have a fairly recent 4-door car, you can make money by driving other people around.

Sign up for companies such as Uber or Lyft and make hundreds (even thousands) every month. Check out my post How to Make Money with Uber – The Ultimate Side Gig.

You’ll get out of it what you put in it, so your pay will vary. However, as an independent contractor, you’re your own boss and can set up your own hours.

My Uber driver today told me that he doesn’t go home until he meets his daily earnings goal of $150, which is a good side income (or full-time for some).

Making money online is not as difficult as it might seem. If you are looking to make a few extra hundred each month, then I highly recommend that you try the money-making endeavors on this list.

But don’t quit your day job just yet.

As with most money-making opportunities, the amount you make may be minimal. You’ll make more money if you’re consistent and if you pair them up with different opportunities.

Making Money/

5 Easy Ways to Make $100 a Month

I’m always looking for the best way to earn money. As a firm believer in having multiple streams of income, no matter how small they are.

If it brings in a cent, you bet your bottom dollar I’m doing it. I call these my “mini side hustles” and I use this money to pay for groceries or use to pay for date nights.

You’re not giving yourself enough flexibility to live your best life if the only money you bring in is from your paycheck. I also believe that the least amount of effort you can expend to bring in this money, the better.

I mean, who wants an extra part-time job?

Here are 5 easy ways to make $100 a month or more.

5 Easy Ways to Make $100 a Month – On the Side

Ebates (Now Rakuten)

If you’re like me and love to shop online, then you will definitely want to sign up for Ebates. As a member, I’m able to earn cashback on purchases I make at participating retailers online.

Depending on the month, I can easily make enough money to put towards another shopping trip. Ebates is my favorite way to make an additional $100 or more a month.

How Does Ebates Work?

You shop online, just like you usually do, but you do so after activating offers through your Ebates account.

Sometimes I forget to check to see if it Ebates eligible, so I’ve installed the Ebates button through my Chrome browser.

I am alerted each time I land on a site that has offers to activate. It also automatically applies promo codes to my cart. This makes it easy. Once my purchase is verified, the amount is added to my account.

How to Get Paid with Ebates

Ebates pays you with one Big Fat Check on a quarterly basis.

You have the option of being paid via paper check or PayPal. I have one friend who earns a check of at least $1000 each quarter, so it is possible to make a decent amount.

I’m not there yet and earn on average $75 to $150. I expect this to increase since I’ve started to use Ebates more consistently.

Hate shopping online? If you prefer to shop in the store, you can also earn cash back for in-store purchases.

You can either shop online like you usually do and then choose the option of in-store pick-up (if available, such as with Walmart) or you can link your credit or debit card to Ebates and shop for in-store offers.

Once your purchase is confirmed, you can then get cash back.

Other Ways to Make Money with Ebates

You can also download the app on your phone and activate offers while in the store as well as refer others to make money. Sign up for Ebates here and earn $10 when you do.

Swagbucks

Swagbucks is my second favorite on this list to make money.

You are able to earn money in more ways, which makes this one of the easiest ways to make money.

You can complete surveys and watch videos, among other things to earn Swagbucks. These Swagbucks can be redeemed for gift cards or entries into their Swagstakes. You can also earn cash back through PayPal, which is another great option.

Ways to Make Money with Swagbucks

Here are the many ways you can increase the money you earn with Swagbucks:

Complete Offers (some free)
Complete Surveys
Refer Others
Use their Search Engine
Shop at Participating Stores
Buy GiftCards
Enter Swag Code (found on Swagbucks’ Facebook and Twitter accounts daily)
Watch Videos
Play Games and
Meet Your Daily Goal and
Redeem Coupons at Your Local Grocery Store

I increased my chances of earning Swagbucks by installing the Chrome extension as well as downloading their app on my phone. I usually just open up the app each morning and play videos.

There are people who just let the videos run while they do other activities, but I actually enjoy watching the movie trailers from upcoming movies.

Start earning $100 a month with Swagbucks here to start earning points. You earn a $5 bonus for just signing up.

Ibotta

I wrote a post on Earning Money with Ibotta While Shopping where I discussed how I use this app in my everyday shopping.

I have only used this app for three months and I think it’s easily becoming not only the easiest way for me to make money but the quickest way as well.

You earn cash back from participating store purchases. Participating retailers include grocery, drug, and convenience stores. In addition to earning rebates while dining out, you can also earn them on clothing as well. Ibotta matches you up with stores in your local area so you can start earning cash back.

How Does Ibotta Work

After you download the Ibotta app, you can search for rebate offers at your local stores.

Since I go grocery shopping at least once a week, I always refer to the app before shopping. Once you have found an offer you would like to redeem you just click to unlock them and go shopping.

You are then able to verify your purchase after your shopping trip. Most of the time Ibotta requires you to scan the barcode of the item first and then take a picture of your receipt.

Ibotta allows you to link your reward cards of certain stores. This saves me an extra step of verifying my purchases since I don’t have to take a picture of my receipt.

How to Earn Money with Ibotta

Once you have enough money in your account (usually $20) you can redeem it for gift cards or cash using PayPal or Venmo.

What I Really Like About Ibotta

There are a few features I like about Ibotta, such as not being limited to one particular store for a product.

For example, if I find a cashback offer for Dove, I can usually redeem it at any participating store.

Also, Ibotta has opportunities for you to earn rebates on generic items, such as bread and milk. They can be of any brand and from any store and you’ll still receive credit for them.

I also like how many participating stores Ibotta has. I’ve earned rebates from restaurants such as Papa John’s and Ruby Tuesday, so it pays to open up the Ibotta app before doing anything.

Though I haven’t redeemed any of these (yet), I noticed the rebates on alcohol are worth a second glance.

Earn $10 for signing up with Ibotta here.

Shopkick

How Does Shopkick Work

I just found out about Shopkick a week ago and I fell in love with this app immediately.

You can earn rewards in the form of kicks that can be redeemed for gift cards. With Shopkick’s app, you earn rewards in the form of kicks in the following ways:

Walk-in
Scan Items in Store
Purchase
Submit Receipts
Invite Others to Do the Same

Walk-In

Yes, you can earn kicks by simply walking into the door of a participating retailer.

Shopkick tells you to open up your app when you enter into a store to earn kicks.

I’ve visited two stores thus far and I forgot to open my app while at the door, but still was able to earn kicks.

I think as long as you’re in the store and have your GPS/locator on, then you should be okay.

I also found that if you log into the store’s wi-fi (if available) it automatically awards you kicks as well.

Scan Items in Store
Now, this is probably my favorite feature of Shopkick.

Once you are in a store, open up the app and check for ways to earn kicks on your visit.

You may notice that there are a few store items listed that you can earn rewards from just scanning the barcode with your phone.

It’s just that simple. You don’t have to even purchase the item, you just scan.

Purchase

You can earn kicks from eligible purchases you make.

All you have to do is link your credit or debit card and use it to make purchases in store. Since Shopkick only tracks credit purchases, you’ll have to select ‘credit’ at the register, even if you’re using your debit card.

Submit Receipts

You can earn rebates, or what Shopkick likes to call “kickbates” from eligible in store purchases. Once you open up your app, you can find these items from the scan kick list and make your purchase. Shopkick will then ask you to submit a receipt, similar to Ibotta, for verification.

Invite Others

As with all of the programs listed in this post, you can earn kicks from referring others to try the Shopkick app. You can sign up for Shopkick here.

Inbox Dollars

An old favorite, Inbox Dollars is another rewards program I have used for years. Similar to the above programs, you can make money easily with Inbox Dollars.

I just think you have more ways to earn with them, which makes it a great option if you’re looking for variety.

How to Earn Money With Inbox Dollars

You can earn money with Inbox Dollars by:

Completing surveys
Reading Emails
Playing Games
Watching Videos and Commercials
Completing Offers (free and paid)
Installing and Using their Search Bar
Shopping
Referring Friends and
Completing Tasks

You can earn money shopping at participating retailers, but you can also earn cashback from your Groupon purchases.

To me, that’s a double whammy and it makes the extra step worth it.

Not only do I save on local deals with Groupon, but I get cashback from them as well. In addition, Inbox Dollars offer opportunities for you to earn money from completing tasks, which I don’t think the other programs offer.

Through Crowd Flower you complete tasks such as verifying information on a website or answering questions based on interests.

This seems to be similar to Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, though I don’t know how comparable they are to payment.

How to Get Paid with Inbox Dollars

You can cash out with as little as $30 and request payment via an e-gift card, a prepaid Visa or a good ole’ paper check. In addition, you can earn points to enter into their daily sweepstakes for additional chances to win cash and gift cards.

I usually don’t have time to complete a lot of surveys, so I appreciate having a lot of options to choose from to earn money.

Inbox Dollars really make it easy for you and depending on your time, you can easily make $50 or more a month. I made $30 one year and now I clear that and more each month. So it all depends on your time and effort.

How to Maximize Earnings

Some people complain that these programs are not worth the effort.

I disagree.

I think if you do a little each day, you’ll see your earnings improve. You won’t get rich off of these reward programs, but you’ll earn money and gift cards you can apply to your entertainment or savings.

Since these are activities you were probably going to do anyway, why not get paid doing them?

Another great thing about many of these programs is that you have a variety of options to choose from to earn rewards. If you don’t like to complete surveys, play the games or watch videos.

Here are a few tips to maximize your earnings:

Sign up for a variety of programs. You increase your chances of making more money.
Be consistent and do a little each day. Ten minutes a day can rack up your points.
Participate in activities that you actually enjoy (Hate surveys? Don’t do them!).
Look for the many different ways to make money within a program. At first, I didn’t know I could shop and earn rewards with some programs, so it pays to know what the program offers.
Research and compare rebates and cash back offers between programs. I’ve noticed how one program gives 2% cash back for Groupon purchases, whereas another program gives 6%.
Refer friends. Most programs have awesome referral programs, so spread the word.
Install the app on your phone. I have my phone on me all of the time, so it becomes pretty automatic.
Link to programs social media accounts. Some hold contests or opportunities to win prizes if you follow them.

I hope these ways to make extra money this month was helpful. I found these to be easy and effortless ways to make a few extra bucks each month and I think you will too. Each of the ways I mentioned above takes little effort and skill and is even a good way for teens to earn a little of their own spending money.

Quick Note: Now, if you’re looking to bring in thousands

Saving Money/

How to Plan a Road Trip Without Losing Your Mind (or Cents)

Road trips are one of the best ways to explore new places, make lasting memories, and embark on a spontaneous adventure. But, as exciting as they can be, proper planning is essential to ensure that the journey is not only fun but also safe and cost-effective. Whether you’re driving solo, with friends, or family, taking the time to prepare can make a significant difference in the quality of your trip. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with 10 essential tips on how to have a safe, budget-friendly, and fun road trip.

1. Plan Your Route (But Be Flexible)

The Importance of Route Planning:
One of the first steps in preparing for a road trip is planning your route. Research the destinations you want to visit, the attractions along the way, and any scenic routes that could make the drive more enjoyable. GPS apps like Google Maps or Waze are excellent tools for mapping out your journey and providing real-time traffic updates.

However, while planning is important, you should also leave room for flexibility. Some of the best road trip memories are often unplanned — like discovering a quirky roadside attraction or a beautiful viewpoint you hadn’t known existed. Having a general route in mind will prevent you from getting lost, but leaving room for spontaneity will keep the trip exciting.

Budget Tip:
Use apps like Roadtrippers to map out gas stations, affordable accommodations, and restaurants to stay within your budget. By knowing where cheaper alternatives are, you can avoid costly detours.

2. Perform a Pre-Trip Car Check

Car Maintenance is Non-Negotiable:
Before hitting the road, it’s crucial to ensure that your vehicle is in top shape. A breakdown in the middle of nowhere can turn a dream road trip into a nightmare. Here are some key car maintenance checks to perform before you start:

Oil and Fluid Levels: Check the oil, coolant, brake fluid, and windshield washer fluid. Top up or replace as necessary.
Tire Condition: Ensure tires have adequate tread and are properly inflated. Don’t forget to check your spare tire, too!
Battery and Lights: Test your car’s battery, headlights, brake lights, and turn signals to avoid any unexpected problems.
Brakes: If your brakes are squealing or not responding as well as they used to, get them checked by a mechanic.

By taking the time to perform a car check-up, you not only increase the chances of a smooth trip but also avoid costly repairs on the road.

Budget Tip:
Make sure to get your car serviced by a local mechanic before you hit the road. This can save you money versus being forced to seek emergency assistance in unfamiliar and possibly more expensive locations.

3. Pack Smart and Light

Prioritize Essentials:
While it may be tempting to pack everything you own, less is more when it comes to road trips. Focus on the essentials — items you will need every day or in case of an emergency. Overpacking can reduce fuel efficiency, and a cluttered car makes for a less comfortable ride.

Here are some packing essentials:

First-Aid Kit: Include band-aids, antiseptics, pain relievers, and any prescription medications. Try this first-aid kit.
Car Emergency Kit: Carry jumper cables, a flashlight, extra batteries, a tire repair kit, and a portable phone charger.
Comfort Items: Neck pillows, blankets, and reusable water bottles for hydration.
Entertainment: Audiobooks, music playlists, or downloaded movies can be lifesavers on long stretches of highway.

Budget Tip:
Buy snacks and drinks in bulk from grocery stores before you start your trip. This is much cheaper than purchasing food at gas stations or touristy rest stops. Keep a small cooler in the car for perishables, and refill water bottles at rest stops.

4. Budget Your Trip and Track Expenses

Set Financial Limits:
To avoid overspending, set a clear budget for your road trip. Identify key areas where you’ll spend money, such as gas, food, accommodation, and attractions. Use budgeting apps like Trail Wallet or Splitwise to track your expenses throughout the journey. This will help you stay on track and avoid any unpleasant surprises at the end of the trip.

Save on Accommodation:
Instead of staying at expensive hotels every night, consider more budget-friendly options like:

Camping: Campsites can be fun, adventurous, and affordable. Some public lands even offer free dispersed camping.
Hostels or Airbnb: If you’re not a fan of camping, budget-friendly motels or Airbnb rentals can be a cheaper alternative to traditional hotels.
Stay with Friends or Family: If your route passes through areas where you have friends or family, ask if you can stay with them for a night or two.

Budget Tip:
To save even more on accommodation, look for deals on booking apps like Hotels.com or Expedia. Many of these platforms offer last-minute discounts or rewards programs that can help you save a few dollars.

5. Be Fuel-Efficient

Save on Gas:
Gas is likely one of the biggest expenses on your road trip. To minimize costs, practice fuel-efficient driving techniques:

Maintain a Steady Speed: Avoid rapid acceleration and braking, as it uses more fuel. Cruise control can help maintain a consistent speed on highways.
Reduce Drag: Take off any unnecessary rooftop cargo racks or bike mounts to reduce wind resistance.
Lighten Your Load: The heavier your car, the more fuel it consumes. By packing light, you’ll improve your gas mileage.
Choose Fuel-Efficient Routes: Apps like GasBuddy can help you find the cheapest gas stations along your route. Some loyalty programs, like those offered by certain gas stations, can also save you a few cents per gallon.

Budget Tip:
Plan your gas stops in states or regions where fuel prices are lower. Gas prices can vary dramatically depending on location, so research ahead of time to avoid paying higher prices unnecessarily.

6. Make Safety a Priority

Be Prepared for the Unexpected:
Road trips can be unpredictable, and safety should always be your top priority. Here are some ways to ensure you stay safe on the road:

Take Breaks: Driving for long periods can lead to fatigue, which is dangerous. Take breaks every two to three hours to stretch your legs and rest.
Share the Driving: If traveling with friends or family, rotate drivers to avoid burnout.
Know Emergency Contacts: Keep a list of emergency contacts, including roadside assistance numbers, local hospitals, and your insurance company.
Keep Valuables Hidden: Store important items like wallets, electronics, and travel documents out of sight to avoid theft when stopping at rest areas or restaurants.

Safety Tip:
Before your trip, sign up for roadside assistance programs like AAA or check if your car insurance provider offers similar services. This can be a lifesaver if you run into car trouble.

7. Embrace Free and Low-Cost Activities

Find Budget-Friendly Fun:
Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Many activities and attractions are free or low-cost. Here are some ways to have a blast without breaking the bank:

State and National Parks: Most parks have a small entry fee, but they offer stunning landscapes and plenty of outdoor activities like hiking, picnicking, or birdwatching.
City Parks and Festivals: Check out local parks, fairs, and free events in the cities you pass through. Community calendars often list festivals, farmers’ markets, and free concerts.
Self-Guided Tours: Many cities have free walking tours or self-guided audio tours that provide interesting information about the area’s history and landmarks.

Budget Tip:
Look for discount passes if you plan to visit several attractions in one area. City passes or national park passes can offer savings compared to paying individual entry fees.

8. Stay Connected, But Disconnect When Needed

Technology is Your Friend:
Your smartphone can be a valuable tool on your road trip. It can help with navigation, finding food, making reservations, or even streaming music. Download key apps like:

Offline Maps: Download Google Maps for offline use in areas with poor reception.
Navigation Apps: Waze or Google Maps can help you find the best routes and avoid traffic or road closures.
Entertainment Apps: Spotify or Apple Music are great for creating road trip playlists, while Netflix or Amazon Prime Video can provide entertainment during downtime.

Unplug for the Experience:
That said, it’s equally important to disconnect at times to truly appreciate the journey. Take in the views, have conversations with your fellow travelers, and embrace the peace and quiet of the open road.

Safety Tip:
Avoid texting and driving. Use hands-free technology if you need to make calls or send messages, or let a passenger handle your phone.

9. Take Care of Your Body

Road Trip Wellness:
Sitting for long hours in the car can take a toll on your body, so it’s essential to prioritize your health. Stay hydrated, eat balanced meals, and take short breaks to stretch or walk around. Here are some health-conscious road trip tips:

Hydrate: Keep a reusable water bottle handy, and try to drink water regularly throughout the day. These hydration packets are my go-to for every trip.
Healthy Snacks: Opt for nutritious snacks like fruits, nuts, and whole-grain crackers instead of sugary or processed foods.
Stretch: Take frequent breaks to stretch your legs, back, and neck. Long drives can cause stiffness, and stretching can help prevent discomfort.
Sleep: Don’t compromise on sleep. If you’re tired, switch drivers or stop for the night. Driving while tired is just as dangerous as driving under the influence.

Budget Tip:
Instead of dining out at every meal, pack a cooler with healthy food options like sandwiches, fruits, and salads. This will save you money and help you avoid the temptation of fast food.

10. Capture the Moments

Document Your Adventure:
Road trips create unforgettable memories, and you’ll want to capture them! Take photos of the scenery, interesting stops, and candid moments with your travel companions. If you enjoy journaling, keep a travel log of your experiences — from the quirky roadside diners to the breathtaking sunsets you encounter.

Technology Tip:
Bring a portable power bank to keep your phone and camera charged so you never miss a moment. You can also use travel apps like Day One or Journey to create a digital travel diary.

Conclusion

A successful road trip doesn’t have to be expensive or overly planned, but it requires some foresight to ensure it’s safe, budget-friendly, and fun. By following these 10 tips, you’ll be well on your way to a smooth and enjoyable adventure on the open road. So, buckle up, hit the gas, and enjoy the journey!

Life/

Money Mistakes Women Make that Keep Them Earning Less Than Men

It’s a well-known fact, yet still frequently dismissed, that women earn approximately 79 cents for every dollar earned by men. This persistent wage gap is undeniably rooted in workplace discrimination, where women are often overlooked for promotions and raises compared to their male counterparts, despite having similar education and experience. While systemic change through legislation and shifts in societal behavior will take time, there are immediate, actionable steps that women can take to enhance their financial stability and work towards closing this gap.

The Persistent Wage Gap

Despite progress in many areas, pay inequity persists due to ongoing discrimination against women in the workforce. This inequality extends beyond just salaries, influencing promotions, job security, and the professional respect afforded to women. As we work towards broader societal and legislative changes, women must adopt personal strategies to mitigate these challenges.

Empowering Financial Decisions

In recent years, women have gained more control over their finances and are increasingly responsible for major economic decisions. This shift brings an empowering opportunity to directly influence their financial health and long-term security. By making informed and strategic decisions, women can build wealth and avoid the pitfalls of debt.

Personal Financial Empowerment

As a single mother and the primary financial decision-maker in my household, I experienced firsthand the power and pitfalls of managing family finances. I learned through both successes and significant mistakes, like quitting a well-paying job without a backup plan and unintentionally renting my home to professional squatters. These experiences, though extreme, are not uncommon. Many women find themselves in precarious financial situations due to similar errors in judgment.

Common Financial Mistakes Made by Women

Pausing Careers for Motherhood

Often, women are the ones who opt to pause their careers to raise children, influenced by the wage gap that typically sees their husbands earning more. This decision, while sometimes economically rational when considering childcare costs against income, frequently overlooks the long-term impacts such as lost wages, missed promotions, retirement savings, and employer contributions to 401(k) plans.

Taking Care of Family Members

Women frequently assume the role of caregiver, not only for children but also for elderly family members. This responsibility can lead to reduced working hours or even career breaks, which significantly impact their financial independence and career growth.

Relinquishing Financial Control

Traditionally, men handled household finances, but today, it is imperative for women to be equally involved. Unfortunately, many women are still not actively participating in their household financial decisions, which can lead to a lack of preparedness in cases of divorce or the spouse’s death.

Not Negotiating Salaries

Women often hesitate to ask for raises or promotions, possibly due to ingrained societal norms or lack of confidence in negotiation settings. This reluctance can further widen the wage gap between them and their male colleagues.

Succumbing to Financial Pressures

Women sometimes extend financial help to family or friends, jeopardizing their own financial stability. This generosity, though admirable, can often delay or diminish their financial goals and retirement plans.

Strategies to Overcome Financial Challenges

To counter these financial setbacks, women can adopt several strategies to assert more control over their finances and future:

Educate and Advocate: Become financially literate to manage and negotiate your finances confidently.
Invest in Long-term Care Insurance: Prepare for potential caregiving needs without compromising your financial health.
Seek Professional Advice: Consult with financial advisors to create robust financial plans that accommodate career breaks.
Explore Alternative Income Streams: Consider side hustles or passive income opportunities to buffer against economic downturns or job losses.

While the road to financial equality remains long, by understanding and addressing these common financial missteps, women can take significant strides towards securing their financial future. It’s not just about making up for income disparities but also about empowering women to take complete control of their financial journeys. Every step taken is a step towards diminishing the wage gap and enhancing economic security for women everywhere.

Saving Money/

Amazon Prime Day is Baaaaaaack!!!

It’s not too late to sign up for a free trial of Amazon Prime, right in time for Prime Day. Amazon Prime Day will start at 3:00 PM on July 16, 2018. Now is a great time to be a Prime member. On Prime Day, members can expect to see exclusive deals on many of their products.

What is Prime Day

Amazon uses this time to offer exclusive deals on many of their products. Think Black Friday deals, but only for Amazon Prime members.

Amazon rolls out their bestest (is that a word?) deals in July for their members. For 36 hours, they’ll have the chance to snatch deals that won’t be seen for awhile…

Which means you must be a Prime member (why aren’t you already) in order to be eligible to buy these deals. This year, Prime Day will be held from July 16 – 17.

Benefits of an Amazon Prime Membership

I have been a Prime member for years and find enormous value in the membership. I love not having to pay for 2-day shipping and shopping on Amazon saves me a lot of time. It also saves me a lot of money, because not only am I saving on gas and shipping, but I’m also able to compare and cross-check prices – right from my phone.

A few other benefits of becoming an Amazon Prime member:

Prime Video – unlimited streaming of the hottest movies and TV, including Prime Original Series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Sneaky Pete
Music – streaming of the hottest tunes
Kindle Lending Library – borrow a Kindle book each month for free
Free same-day delivery (available in most areas)
Prime Now – receive deliveries within 2-hours
Unlimited photo storage (comes in handy)
Discount at Whole Foods…
And much, much more.

It makes the $119 a year price tag bearable and affordable.

Sign Up For a 30-Day Trial of Amazon Prime

To participate in Prime Day, you will definitely need a membership.

Don’t have one?

No need to worry. You can sign up for their 30-day trial Prime membership, just in time for Prime Day.

Get a FREE $10 Credit

Once you sign up for a Prime membership, you should download their app to your phone.

Not only is it highly convenient (it has stopped me from making many expensive impulse buys in the store), but if you download the app you will get a $10 credit to use just in time for Prime Day.

Want to earn FREE Amazon gift cards? Sign up for Swagbucks, where you can earn points (they call them Swagbucks) from watching videos, playing games, completing surveys, shopping and more! It’s free to sign up and you can apply what you earn to gift cards.

Another bonus: If you sign up for Swagbucks FIRST and THEN sign up for Amazon Prime through their link, you’ll receive a $15 shopping credit! That’s now $25 you can put towards any of the deals on Prime Day.

Deals to Expect

It’s Amazon, so you can definitely expect to save big on their devices. If you have been eyeing that Echo Show, you’ll save $100 up to Prime Day.

Save up to 30% off of Alexa enabled devices (you can never have enough Echo Dots through the house) and everyday essentials.
Receive a $10 credit when you make a purchase from Whole Foods.
Discounts up to and beyond 10% off of furniture, clothes, and products that will launch for the first time on Prime Day.

Amazon can send you a notification if you add an item to your watch list before that item is available. They’ll let you know via email or their app when the product is available to purchase.

Saving Money/

Money Mistakes We Make That Get Us In Trouble

Like most people, you’re probably up to your eyeballs in debt.

Whether it’s credit card, housing, or student loans, we as a nation have a problem. According to Nerd Wallet, Americans on average are over $130,000 in debt.

So how did we get here?

The answer can probably be found in our actions and behaviors towards money. Too many of us are living paycheck to paycheck and spend most of our lives working to pay off our bills.

In order to fix our debt issue, let’s identify the money mistakes we make that get us in trouble.

Money Mistakes We Make That Keep Us In Debt

Not Saving Enough.

How many of us are guilty of not saving enough money to cover us in the case of an emergency? I’m sure more than we would care to admit. I learned from Dave Ramsey to first save $1000 and then 3-5 months of living expenses.

Doing that was pretty difficult for me at first, but I found that catastrophe always strikes when you’re not prepared.

Not having any money in your savings can put you in a precarious situation and is the main reason people end up being one paycheck away from homelessness.

So, if you want to protect yourself, start saving today. If you have a difficult time with saving money, start putting away a percentage of your paycheck and swear not to touch it.

It’s what they mean when they say to pay yourself first.

As long as utilities are not at risk of being disconnected, put money in your savings before you do anything else.

Participating in your company’s 401K or have money automatically debited from your account and placed into savings will make it easier to save. Out of sight, out of mind.

Not Checking Your Credit Report

When was the last time you checked your credit report? Now if you’re like a lot of us, you probably have no clue of what is on your credit report.

A lower credit score can affect how much you pay in interest for a loan or if you’re approved at all, so it’s knowing that number is a pretty big deal.

If you’re someone who never checks your credit, you may be surprised when you’re denied a mortgage or a car.

Even if you pay all of your bills on time and have zero balances on all of your credit accounts, you’re not too immune to mistakes being reported.

The three credit agencies all report different things about your account and may or may not be accurate.

You don’t want to find out if there is any inaccurate information on your credit report or worse, you’re the victim of identity theft.

Obtaining your credit report is painless and you can request a free one from each credit reporting agency once a year. This will give you time to review inaccuracies and have the removed from your credit report.

Though they have 30 days to review your request there are times when you must provide documentation for them to erase the information. Even small dings to your credit can increase the amount of interest you pay.

You may check your credit for free through Annual Credit Report or Credit Karma.

Having Too Many Overdraft Fees

I once had a checking account where I didn’t put much money in and only used it to pay for a couple of items, such as my monthly gym fee.

Well, one month, I forgot about the annual fee (I never received a reminder) from my gym and it hit my account before I could put money into it. Needless to say, my bank paid for it, but they also charged me an overdraft fee.

By the time I was able to figure out what was going on, my account was already overdrawn over $100!!! Other items that came through my account were sent back and I was charged a $39 return item fee PER ITEM.

Now I try not to have auto-debits come out of my checking account and use mostly prepaid debit cards. (This one has taken the place of my traditional checking account). That way if someone attempts to charge my account and there’s no money in there to cover it, the transaction is declined. I’m not charged overdraft fees and I still have time to add money to my account.

Most merchants will try several times to debit your account, so be mindful of that when you give out your checking account number.

Purchasing a Car You Can’t Afford

Don’t become envious of your friend who has that brand new Lexus, because oftentimes than not, they’re drowning in car debt. When you purchase a new car, you’re not only paying for interest to finance that car but also the insurance required to cover the car.

Add on top of this, title, registration, maintenance fees, and gas – the cost of the car goes sky high.

Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t buy a new car. I’m just saying don’t buy a new car you can’t afford. This includes leasing a car – just don’t do it. Most people are living paycheck to paycheck because they are spending a lot of money on items they don’t need.

If you find yourself peeking out the window every night for the repo man, that may be some indication you can’t afford that car.

If you need a car, look for a reliable used one. Many used car dealerships offer certified pre-owned vehicles and there’s always CarFax.

Better yet, save up enough money to purchase a car with cash and as your needs and funds grow, use that money to upgrade later on.

Living in a Home that is Too “Big” for You

When I purchased my first home, my mortgage was over $1700!!! That’s a lot for a single mom living off of a teacher’s salary. I had two mortgages (crazy, huh), and only one of them was fixed.

Thankfully the interest rate went down and so did my mortgage payment, but who knows how long I would have lasted paying that amount each month.

We often find ourselves wanting to live in the best of neighborhoods, but along with that security and nice schools, comes a huge price tag. If you find yourself paying more than 35-40% of your salary on housing, then it’s time for you to move.

There’s nothing wrong with moving to a smaller home in your neighborhood or moving to an area with a lower cost of living. You’ll have more peace of mind as well as money to use for more important things.

Also, consider if renting is more cost-effective than buying. I know most people will tell you it’s better to become a homeowner than a renter, but depending on the current housing market, your lifestyle, and your financial situation, it may be better to wait a year or two before buying.

The heart is where the home is and it doesn’t matter if you live in a 3,000-square-foot home or a 1,200 one.

Trying to Keep up with the Joneses

Why do we spend money on things we don’t need to try to impress people we don’t even like? Do you find yourself looking for a new car when you see that your neighbor just bought one?

I don’t believe in trying to keep up with the Joneses because they’re probably just as broke as I am. The only difference is that they are trying to appear rich, which will put you in the poor house real fast.

Years ago, I would go shopping spending money on a whole bunch of nothing just because I was bored. I also liked the attention I received when I wore something new and pretty to work.

Once I realized how empty I felt after my shopping binges and how detrimental it was for me to shop aimlessly like that, I stopped.

Yes, I wanted those new leather boots, but did I need them?

Consider what you value most in life. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends more than I ever could with a new Apple TV. Yes, it is nice to have nice things, but you shouldn’t go broke trying to obtain them either.

By the way, if you’re looking to save money on cable, check out my post here.

If you live by the motto, “shop ’til you drop’, then you may want to seek a therapist. It’s possible you have some unresolved issues that need to be dealt with before tackling.

How many of the mistakes on the list are you guilty of doing?

Saving Money/

25 Easy Ways to Save More Money

Are you living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to pay your bills?

Are you desperate to find ways to keep more money in your pocket so you’ll have less stress and more money to enjoy life? If so, I got you covered.

25 Easy Ways to Save More Money

1. Start taking lunch every day. By packing a bag lunch, you’ll resist the temptation to go out to eat. If you spend $10 a day for lunch, you can save around $200 a month.

2. Cook more at home. Not only can you save money by eating in, you can prepare healthier meals at home. You’re the chef, so you can control the ingredients (and calories) in your food.

Related: How to Save Money on Groceries and Still Eat Well Each Month

3. Cut the cable cord. I used to spend hundreds of dollars a month for cable. I had every premium channel but barely watched television. I now have subscriptions to Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and Netflix and can watch my favorite shows on demand. Amazon video is included in a Prime membership and Hulu and Netflix cost around $8/month each.

How to Cut The Cable Cord Without Feeling Like You’re Missing Out

21 Places to Watch TV Online for Free

4. Cancel Your Gym Membership. Gyms know you’re going to purchase your membership in January only to abandon your fitness program by March. I once purchased a gym membership online and never set foot in the building for an entire year. I finally canceled my membership and purchased workout DVDs. You can get fit by equipping your home with your favorite exercise gear or go for a jog or walk outdoors.

5. Use Coupons. Cutting coupons may be a chore, but if you combine them with store sales, you can cut your grocery bill by a lot. I like to use coupons in combination with sales and a cash back app such as Ibotta. Sign up with my link and make $10.

6. Move. If you are spending more than 32% of your income on housing, it’s time to move. In fact, I encourage you to move somewhere that costs a bit less than you can afford. Not willing to relocate to a new town? You are sure to find cheaper alternatives if you’re willing to downsize or move further outside the city.

7. Sign Up and Use Ebates. This is a great way to purchase items you were planning to purchase anyway since Ebates gives you a percentage of your purchases back to you.

8. Eat Less Meat. I’m sure you’ve noticed, but meat is pretty expensive. Start planning dishes that do not include meat. My family knows what to expect on Meatless Mondays. You can find recipes to many tasty vegetable dishes online. If you or your family feel you might miss meat, try meatless substitutions such as veggie crumbles.

9. Forget Starbucks and Make Your Coffee at Home. Yes, a Caramel Macchiato may sound great in the morning, but if you make your own coffee at home you’ll not only save money but time and calories as well. I have a Keurig, but if you think that buying the K-cups is expensive, try this refill to use with your favorite ground coffee.

If you can’t stay away from Starbucks, check out How to Save Money at Starbucks

10. Cut Out Sodas. Not only are sodas bad for you, but they’re expensive as well. Start replacing sodas with water and you’ll stay hydrated. You can save more money by using a water filtration pitcher like a Brita Filter instead of bottled water.

11. Host a Potluck. Instead of going out to eat, invite friends over with a dish to share with everyone.

12. Stick to Cash. Using credit for purchases can bring the cost up on an item because of interest. Try not to purchase anything you can’t afford to pay with cash. If you can’t afford it without charging it, you may want to reevaluate if you need the item at all.

13. Look for Cheap or Free Things to Do. Instead of draining your entertainment budget every weekend, seek free or cheap alternatives around your city.

Related: Fun and Cheap Date Night Ideas

14. Switch Banks. My son had a checking account with one bank that charged him $12 a month to use it. I told him to switch to another bank and now he doesn’t have a monthly fee as long as he has an active direct deposit. The monthly bank charge goes up to $5.95 without direct deposit, but it’s still much cheaper. Sign up for Simple if you want to forgo the bank altogether.

15. Sign up for Customer Rewards. Most stores have a rewards program that gives you points to apply towards future purchases or member only pricing when you shop. I’ve signed up for Plenti which gives me points to use towards gift cards and free gas.

16. Check Out Books and Rent Movies from the Library. Your library card is your key to more than just books. Most libraries have DVDs you can rent for free. I used to frequent the library at least once a week during the summer. My library either didn’t have a book limit or the limit was pretty high because I would leave out of there with at least 10 books.

17. Join a Wholesale Club and Buy in Bulk. Purchasing a Costco or BJ’s membership will help tremendously because often they’re able to offer wholesale pricing. If you are single and have no use for bulk items grab a friend and split up the packages. Also, most clubs offer an additional card for a household member, so you can split up the membership cost with a friend.

I save a lot each month with my Amazon Prime membership. Check it out yourself and try a free trial.

18. Go Through Your Bills. Check all of your bills, including your cell phone, cable and credit cards. You may find that you are paying for services you don’t need or use. Call and cancel these services.

19. Purchase a Used Car. If you need a car, consider purchasing a used one. As long as the previous owner took care of their car, you should be able to find a reliable used one. By buying used, you’re going to save not only a car payment but on insurance as well.

20. Ride Public Transportation. If possible, forgo a car altogether. If you live in an area where you can get around on public transportation, you may find that you’ll save thousands of dollars a year. No longer will you have to worry about maintenance, insurance or gas. If you need a car, you can rent a Zipcar or a Car2go. Heck, you might just want to just call for an Uber or Lyft.

21. Switch to Generic. I know you may have your favorite brands, but consider switching some of them to a cheaper generic. Many products you purchase tend to have a store or generic brand that is just as good as the better-known brand. Check the labels and you’ll be surprised to find that they contain the exact ingredients as your favorite brand.

22. Sleep on Big Purchases. Before making an impulse buy, consider waiting 24 hours before making a purchase. If after 24 hours you still find that you want to purchase the item, then by all means, go ahead and do so. I’ll bet however, you’ll find you don’t need it right now.

23. Compare Prices. I always compare prices of an item I want to purchase. First, I usually check to see if it is available cheaper on Amazon and next I check to see if it’s on sale at my local stores.

24. Cancel Checking Auto-Debits. This has gotten me in a lot of trouble and caused me a lot of overdraft fees. Be leery of places that ask for your checking account information to make auto debits. Gyms are famous for this because they know that more likely than not the bank will pay them. Banks will then charge you an overdraft fee.

What’s worse, if there’s no money in your account to cover it, they won’t pay it and charge you a returned check fee. Try to use your check card or credit card, because they will decline them instead of charging you fees (or at the very least make sure there’s money in your account beforehand).

25. Create a Budget and Stick to It. A lot of time, we spend mindlessly throughout the week and become shocked when we’re broke 5 days before payday. When you are not able to account for where your money is going, you won’t have a grasp on your money. Create a budget and stick to it. You’ll find that your dollar will stretch a little further. Try these budget forms to download to get your finances together or sign up for Every Dollar for free.

I hope these 25 easy ways to save more money were helpful.

Have a money saving tip not on this list? Please comment below and share with the rest of us.

Author:

Change Your Mindset About Money

Assess Your Financial Situation

Create a Budget

Cut Out Unnecessary Expenses

Build Up Your Emergency Fund

Stop Trying to Keep up with the Jones’

Make More Money

Related:

Why Personal Finance Books

Other posts you may be interested in:

Here’s a list of the personal finance books that have changed my life.

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Best Personal Finance Books for Beginners

The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke by Suze Orman

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

Other Books to Check Out…

Love Your Life Not Theirs: 7 Money Habits for Living the Life You Want

One of the ways we get ourselves in financial trouble is by trying to keep up with the Jones’. Rachel Cruz agrees and in her book Love Your Life Not Theirs: 7 Money Habits for Living the Life You Want is a manual on how to stop wanting what others have (but we can’t afford).

Check These Great Reads Out, Too

The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris

Best Personal Finance Books of All Time

Gold Diggers and Deadbeat Dads

Also, Check Out these Personal Budget Books

How’s Your Credit?

Are You Ready?

Can You Afford to Buy a House?

How to Determine Your Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio

Follow these guidelines when determining what you can afford:

Do You Have Enough Money Saved?

Surveys

Other Survey Companies to consider signing up for:

Related:

Mystery Shopping

Some Mystery Shopping companies I recommend:

Start a Blog

Sell Products on Amazon

Plan Parties

Become a Virtual Assistant

The following companies help you to find legitimate virtual assistant work, but there are usually costs associated:

More Great Ways to Make Extra Money Each Month

Driving People Around

5 Easy Ways to Make $100 a Month – On the Side

Ebates (Now Rakuten)

How Does Ebates Work?

How to Get Paid with Ebates

Other Ways to Make Money with Ebates

Ways to Make Money with Swagbucks

How Does Ibotta Work

How to Earn Money with Ibotta

What I Really Like About Ibotta

How Does Shopkick Work

How to Earn Money With Inbox Dollars

How to Get Paid with Inbox Dollars

How to Maximize Earnings

Here are a few tips to maximize your earnings:

1. Plan Your Route (But Be Flexible)

2. Perform a Pre-Trip Car Check

3. Pack Smart and Light

4. Budget Your Trip and Track Expenses

5. Be Fuel-Efficient

6. Make Safety a Priority

7. Embrace Free and Low-Cost Activities

8. Stay Connected, But Disconnect When Needed

9. Take Care of Your Body

10. Capture the Moments

Conclusion

The Persistent Wage Gap

Empowering Financial Decisions

Personal Financial Empowerment

Common Financial Mistakes Made by Women

Pausing Careers for Motherhood

Taking Care of Family Members

Relinquishing Financial Control

Not Negotiating Salaries

Succumbing to Financial Pressures

Strategies to Overcome Financial Challenges

What is Prime Day

Benefits of an Amazon Prime Membership

A few other benefits of becoming an Amazon Prime member: