Tag Archives: cash money

Sep24

Moving Past Open Mics With Your Indie Band

Posted on by
Standard
Moving Past Open Mics With Your Indie Band

Sure, there are people out there who are going to tell you that now is the time to be a musician for the simple fact that there are more avenues than ever to explore. But just because there are a lot more ways to get heard does not mean that it is easier. In fact, being an indie band now is probably harder than ever before for the simple fact that there are so many options. Playing yet another gig at yet another tavern hidden way off the beaten track, the kind of place that makes you pay for your own water is not exactly a great way of making it. Don’t believe us, just look at your band’s communal wallet.

However, just because you’re broke and living at your bass player’s mom’s house does not mean that you should give up the dream. That is because you can still make it and live out your dream of touring some far-off country where fans chant your name in their adorable local accents. It is just about following the rules and knowing how to maximize your chances.

Of course, telling you that and then skipping town would hardly be rock n’ roll of us. So, to help you start living the dream and escape your bass player’s mom’s house (No offense, Barbara.), we have pulled together a list of insider tips and tricks. Check it out:

  1. Get To Know Your Fans Like The Back of Your Hand:

Pennies are short and, for some reason, no record labels seem to hang around open mic night’s held in Big Dave’s Garage (lol.). Basically, there is no sign of an advance floating your way just yet, which means your fans are your biggest financial life jacket. That is why you need to make sure that you are giving your fans something for their loyalty and love. Get to know the names of those guys and girls that are always in the front row. Give your fans a way of listening to exclusive music or interviews by creating a band website and then sharing this sort of content there. Share video recordings of acoustic sessions and behind the scenes banter on your social media pages and make sure that you are replying to any comments or messages that float your way. We used the life jacket analogy for a reason because, in the same way, you need to inflate your life jacket by blowing air into it, you need to give your fans something in return for being so awesome.

bandd1

 Party over hereeee!

  1. Play Your Strengths As Well As Your Guitar:

Every band has their own strengths, so make sure that you are aware of what yours are and then play to them in every way possible. Just being great songwriters with above average talent and the technical know-how when it comes to uploading your music onto Soundcloud, Youtube, Spotify or whatever else isn’t enough. You need to find other ways to shove your musical abilities into the realms of greatness, and that requires a little bit of magic (aka creativity). If you’re a band that offers more stage presence than the lovechild of Katy Perry and Bruno Mars, then try and play as many live gigs as possible, and maybe even consider getting a residency somewhere. Not only will you get paid, but you will see your star start to rise as more and more people see you. It could be that your sense of humor is your secret weapon, in which case document this and share it, get interviews with niche magazines and little radio stations, and then let this personality of yours show in your music videos. OK Go became famous for their viral worthy music videos, which means that it is totally possible to emulate this approach to success.

bandd2

 A cool band name is a must!

  1. Grab People By The Eyes And Ears:

Having a sound that people recognize is one of the most important factors when it comes to carving out some Top Of The Pops like success. But so is having the right visual branding, too. That is why it is worth spending a little bit of time and money (Presumably borrowed from your parents. Barbara, we’re looking at you.) on a graphic designer. This branding of yours is going to be stamped across all of your promotional material – Facebook page profile pictures, website homepage, Instagram, flyers, album covers, t-shirts, USB drives, and pub mic-night posters – and will help establish your place in the industry. Think about some of the greatest and most famous bands to ever walk the boards of the biggest venues. The Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Run DMC, Daft Punk. All of these legends created a visual identity so powerful that just their shadows would halt you in your tracks. Basically, get your branding right and you’ll have people want to sport your promotional products, whether t-shirts or posters, and that will spread the good word faster than the flu.

  1. Forget All About A Record Deal. Period.

No one from a record deal is going to turn up at one of your small gigs – or your bass player’s mom’s house (No offense, Barbara.) and hand you the golden ticket that is a record deal. That just isn’t going to happen, nor should you want that to happen. The hard work is there to be enjoyed, used in your music, and make you successful. Most importantly, though, you need to understand that no record label has a secret recipe that guarantees success. They just don’t. Instead, they pick up talent based on their independent success; so they will pick you up based on your independent success. That is what you want. You want to use this as a bargaining chip should the day ever come where labels start to notice you instead of getting snapped up early and dropped or, worse, hung out to dry. Concentrate on what you are doing, focus on your trade and doing your own thing; that is what will lead to success – not trying to chase the money and the labels.

Being in a band is cool. Finding success in something you love is cooler. Prepare for a lot of hard work and with just a little bit of luck, you won’t be crashing on Barbara’s couch for much longer.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Sep19

Cleaning Out My Closet

Posted on by
Standard
Cleaning Out My Closet

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! Okay. We all know by now that I am a clothing hoarder. Everything from accessories and shoes to purses and a closet full of gorgeous duds – I have a lot of it. It’s no secret that I love to shop, BUT it’s also not a secret that I rarely do a closet overhaul because I never know when I might need that five year old cardigan!!

My clothes make me happy to look at, but even I have to admit that it was becoming a chore to squeeze new purchases into my overflowing closet and dresser. It really had me wishing I had a team like those at Closets Etc. to help me organize the clothing chaos! Alas, it was left to little old me so I made an effort to go through my clothing collection and take the rejects to Plato’s Closet and then donate the items that they didn’t want. I have to say – it was really hard!!

During my closet clean out, I tried to follow the “if I haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it” rule. However, this proved to be pretty difficult since I really do wear everything that I own. When I go on shopping trips, I purchase things that I know that I will get a lot of use out of. I am mindful of the quality of the piece that I’m considering and if it will still be in excellent condition one, two, or five years from now. So, with that in mind, you can see how this overhaul was a struggle. It was seriously almost like trying to decide which one of my two beloved dogs that I like the least. Lol, as you can see – I really love my clothes!!

Despite what myself and the good lord knows was a difficult task, I was able to manage filling up my vacation bag with clothes and accessories to take to Plato’s Closet. Although I do try and wear all of the pieces in my wardrobe as often as I can, there definitely were some items that haven’t been in the spotlight for quite some time. Maybe not an entire year’s worth of time, but long enough that I could picture myself without having the top, bottoms, etc. So, into the bag it went.

I would be a liar if I said that I wasn’t pleased with myself. Even though I had a hard time with my closet clean out, I still managed to purge a decent amount of stuff. With an “I just finished a marathon” smile on my face, I made my way to Plato’s Closet to see if I could get myself at least a tank of gas with my fallen clothing friends. I had a pretty good feeling about this, because I take excellent care of my clothes to the point where my wardrobe looks like it’s filled with brand new pieces. But:

APPARENTLY PLATO’S CLOSET DIDN’T THINK SO!!!

Plato’s Closet baffles me – which is why I don’t even like going into the store. They always seem to take the clothing that I wasn’t confident that they would want but threw in the bag anyways, rather than the actual nice pieces that I have to offer. Out of the lovely fall coats and sweaters that I was willing to part with, they ended up taking the random odds and ends of my unwanted items, instead.

It was just confusing to me as to how I only received seventeen dollars for clothing that I know will be marked up to an ungodly price. Does this sound petty? Yes. But it’s okay, because everyone who has sold to Plato’s Closet before has thought that so it definitely needed saying. Of course, I’m happy to be rid of some if the items collecting dust in my closet, but there’s always going to be that “wtf” confusion when an old T-shirt was chosen rather than something with the tags still on it (Gifts! I buy my clothes to wear, remember?)!

Am I bitter? I’m always bitter. But, I did get a tank of gas out of my closet cleaning Plato’s Closet excursion, which is what I set out to do, so it’s cool. (It’s not.)

Cleaning Out My Closet proved to be immensely difficult and the payoff was minimal, but I’m glad to have gotten it over with! What are your closet cleaning tips? What are your thoughts on Plato’s Closet? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: PopKey

Sep1

DIY Lies That You Should Never Listen To

Posted on by
Standard
DIY Lies That You Should Never Listen To

DIY work is something that everyone has tried at some point in their lives. Perhaps you have tried to put together a fence in the garden or maybe attempted to repair something in the kitchen. Some are successful…. some aren’t. DIY success depends on a number of different factors, but there is one major source of information that everyone attempts to follow when they’re presented with a broken appliance or issue: the internet.

The internet is full of useful facts, information, and tutorials that can teach us everything from how to dance to how we can use cardboard boxes as furniture. It goes without saying that the internet is a valuable learning resource, but there’s one problem that far too many people overlook; is the information even credible?

With so many articles and blogs on the internet, it can sometimes be hard trying to discern if something is true or false. In this article, we’ll be going through some of the most common lies that people tell you about DIY and why they’re false. This is to prevent you from making bad decisions when it comes to home repairs and also to alert you about the dangers of false information on the internet.

DIY Is Cheaper Than Calling A Contractor:

Perhaps the biggest flaw in this way of thinking is that DIY is the cheaper option. This assumes that you already have all of the tools and materials to do whatever repair or renovation that you want. And we all know that this can be expensive! Let’s assume that you want to repair a leaking pipe in your bathroom. Not only do you need to purchase the right tools for the job, but you also need to purchase the materials, such as piping, and it needs to be cut to size and shaped appropriately. Add in the additional cost of delivery and you’re going to be paying more than it would cost to hire someone to repair it for you. If you look at plumbing services, such as www.alltex-plumbing.com, you’ll find that it’s actually fairly cheap to hire a contractor. Compare this to the cost of learning something, purchasing the tools, and getting the materials and you’ll see how much cheaper it actually is.

DIY Is Easy to Learn:

DIY is never easy to learn. Among all of the articles that you might read and tutorial videos that you can watch, there’s going to be some information missing. Most of those people usually aren’t qualified teachers, which means that they aren’t exactly the best at explaining things. In addition, experience is what makes a good contractor and unless you have a large supply of broken appliances to fix, it’s difficult to get enough practice in. Small DIY projects can be fun and fulfilling, but larger repair projects should be left to the pros.

In short, DIY is not easy to learn and it’s not cheap, either. If you’re absolutely certain about learning DIY, then you can check websites, such as https://www.familyhandyman.com/skills, to get more information. Just be warned; you need to dedicate yourself to DIY if you really want to get something out of it. And all of the Pinterest projects will be waiting for you when you’re ready!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Aug18

Understanding Reverse Mortgages

Posted on by
Standard
Understanding Reverse Mortgages

A reverse mortgage is a way to increase the money that you have during your retirement by accessing part of your home’s value in the form of actual money. You can borrow up to a certain percentage of the value of your home, and you won’t have to pay it back in the same way that you would a regular home loan. The only monthly installments involved will be the ones that the lender pays to you, unless you request to borrow a large amount at once. You can pay back a reverse loan whenever you want, as long as you don’t move away.

As soon as you leave, the lender can exercise their right to call in the loan, and they can also sell the home to get their money. But, as long as you plan to stay in your house for a while, a reverse mortgage can provide a much needed financial boost in times of trouble.

Who qualifies for a reverse mortgage? There are certain requirements in order to qualify for a reverse mortgage. An individual must own their home outright. If there is still a mortgage balance owed, it must be low enough that it can be paid off at closing. The homeowner is still required to pay property taxes and insurance, so they must have the finances to do so. The individual must be at least 62 years old or, if there are multiple owners, the youngest must be at least 62 years old.

When does a reverse mortgage become due? The reverse mortgage becomes due when the homeowner sells the house, moves out of the property, or becomes deceased. If there are multiple owners, the mortgage does not become due as long as at least one of them still remains in the home as a primary residence. Once the reverse mortgage is due, the balance of the loan must be paid back within six months. If you are nearing retirement, for instance, then you may want to think about how else you can pay your mortgage. You will want to find out the latest RIO mortgage rates from the Halifax Building Society, or a similar company, as you decide if this option is feasible or not for you and your family. You never want this to overextend your budget.

What happens with the estate? In the event that the homeowner or owners are deceased, beneficiaries of the estate can choose to place the property for sale. If the estate sells for more than the amount of the reverse mortgage, the proceeds become the property of the beneficiaries. Should the house sell for less than the total amount of the reverse mortgage, the lender must take the loss. The debt cannot be passed along to the heirs of the estate.

The estate beneficiaries may, instead, choose to pay back the reverse mortgage in order to retain ownership of the property. In this event, they must pay back any balance remaining on the mortgage. This can be done either by using financial assets or by refinancing the mortgage.

What if I change my mind? If a senior citizen obtains a reverse mortgage and then reconsiders, they have the option of paying back the loan early. Prior to September of 2012, lenders could charge a penalty for repaying the loan prior to term. Since then, penalties for prepayments are illegal. However, lenders may charge other administrative fees for processing the early discharge of the loan.

Reverse mortgage counseling: Deciding if a reverse mortgage is right for you depends on many factors, and consumers need to understand all of the pros and cons. An impartial reverse mortgage counselor can fully explain exactly what the loan entails. They will also be able to inform you of other mortgage solutions that you can consider. This is a big decision and you must know all of the facts before making your choice. This counseling is mandatory in order to protect consumers. Counseling may be done face-to-face or over the phone. After providing counseling, the counselor must sign an HECM Counseling Certificate and mail a copy to the homeowner. The copy is presented to the lender along with the reverse mortgage application.

Let’s be honest, any type of financing when it comes to your home can be confusing. It is always best to handle your affairs with the utmost care and to consider how each of your options, like a reverse mortgage, fits into your current lifestyle.

Featured Image By: Flickr

Jun5

Money Management For Summer Fun

Posted on by
Standard
Money Management For Summer Fun

The summer season is unquestionably the greatest time of the year. It offers the opportunity for non-stop fun through a wide array of activities. Sadly, though, those ventures can hit your wallet hard. So, needless to say, finding the right balance between amazing summer adventures and not breaking the bank is essential.

Summer is the perfect time to start generating savings at home because with vacas and day trips, you won’t be there as often. However, you will still be there sometimes, which is why you need to have some entertainment features on hand. You could probably cut down your TV package without noticing the difference, I’m sure there’s countless channels that go unused! Try downloading the Cinemabox movie app for access to the latest films and shows. Not only does it save money, but it also gives you the option to watch from the back yard hammock or on the move.

Speaking of the back yard, that could be one of your greatest assets throughout this part of the year, too. Nothing beats relaxing on the patio with rattan furniture. Whether it’s a relaxed evening with a book or spending family time together in the evening doesn’t matter. Those joys are better than anything offered during the colder months. Best of all, enjoying the garden is virtually free. Your lush back yard could even become your new place for social activities. Invite friends over for a summer BBQ or garden party, and it’ll be far cheaper than heading out to the local bar. And, let’s be honest, this option sounds like a lot more fun!

There are many other ways to save money at home during the summer. This is the ideal opportunity to complete various home upgrade tasks for long-term rewards. Increasing the home insulation will work wonders that will truly pay dividends in the winter. Meanwhile, looking for cheaper energy quotes can help decrease the bills even further. Growing food and generally living a greener life should bring ample rewards, too. Of course, it might be a bit late in the year to start with certain fruits and veggies. But that’s okay! Do your research and learn what types of produce grow best for this time of year and in your area and you’ll be well on your way to delicious summer salads in no time!

You will still inevitably go out on various occasions – it is summer, after all. The key is to make smarter choices. Leave the expensive internal activities for the autumn through spring. The summer months should be filled with hikes, sports, and exploration. I’m sure we’ll all be longing for those opportunities once the weather gets worse.

summer7

Pretty!

Vacations are another crucial part of the summer. Most families have their big trip of the year during this time. Be sure to follow these ideas for a non-budget breaking holiday so that you can score the best deals during your big vaca. Money shouldn’t dictate every decision that you make in life. But maintaining a greater sense of control over your finances will enhance the summer and the rest of your year. If you can generate those savings without sacrificing your enjoyment, then you’re in for a fabulous summer, for sure!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jun3

Summer Travels On A Budget

Posted on by
Standard
Summer Travels On A Budget

Hello everyone and welcome to my darling friend, Amy’s, post for my Salute To Summer guest bloggers series. Amy is the author of the blog, An Ambivert Lifestyle, and it is AMAZING so definitely take a look and give it all the love. As you guys know, my life motto is “ballin on a budget” so, naturally, Amy’s post about embracing a travel lifestyle while being smart with your cash speaks to me on a spiritual level. Take a look at Amy’s how to guide on how to make the most of your moolah on your summer vaca:

Summer Travels On A Budget

Traveling isn’t an easy task. Planning and preparing for the trip is one of the most stressful things that you can do to yourself. From working more hours and skipping nights out to save up to unexpected costs before your trip also contributes to this stress. Personally, as a full-time student and a full-time employee, it is extremely hard, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve to traveling on a budget and finding great deals. Being a college student and a frugal spender, I like to explore deals on flights on the internet, books, personal experience, and word of mouth.

Finding Deals on Flights

  • Student Universe – This company provides less expensive flights for students. They work with 80+ airlines to get cheaper flights listed than anywhere else. This site is truly magical. Not only do they provide deals on flights, but they also offer deals on tours, hotels, and group travel. For members, they provide even more deals for special rates.
  • Private Browsing – This is super important! Whenever you are searching for flights, go on “Private Browsing” on whatever internet browser you use. Airline companies pay big money to know what consumers are searching, so if you visited a certain flight over and over again, they increase prices so you can buy faster.
  • Skyscanner – This helps you scan flights of your choosing through all the different airline companies. You can also see prices on different dates, as well, for convenience.
  • Booking flights on Wednesdays! – This is such an easy trick. Almost all of the time, flights will be consistently lower than the rest of the weekdays since they consider this day to have the most amount of seats available, so prices are lowered to fill the planes.
  • Check social medias and your email! – Usually, airline companies will email deals and promo codes for flights for a period of time. These have saved my bacon many times.
  • Get a refund! – No, really! If you purchased a ticket and the fare has dropped since you bought it, call/email them to ask for a refund for the difference. It may not always work, but the fact that it has worked with certain airline companies is amazing! Websites such as Yapta and Orbitz track your purchased flights and let you know. Easy.
  • Champ through several stop flights – It isn’t easy and most of the time it isn’t fun. The majority of the time these stops are red eyes. It sucks, but being able to spend a couple hundred dollars to be able to buy that souvenir for you girlfriend’s cousin’s mom is worth it. Just make sure you pack a couple of books to beat boredom or play online games while you wait. If you are a fan of casino style games, look into some blackout bingo reviews because it’s a fun game to pass the time with.
  • Airfare Errors – This is your best friend. Websites such as AirFare Watchdog and Secret Flying can be used to allow you to beat the system and stalk for mistake fares.

While Traveling Do’s

  • Research ahead of time – If you travel to a foreign land, it’s best that you research where you want to go first instead of winging it. I have spent so much more money than expected when I have winged it.
  • Look up places that do not charge admission – You’d be surprised at how many museums do not charge admission fees throughout the world. I always do this when I go on vacations because it gives you something to do that’s fun, while keeping money in your pocket.
  • Foreign Exchange at your bank – Some people don’t know this but some banks will actually let you exchange currencies right there. Sometimes the rates are cheaper than when you’re traveling and it’s convenient to have the currency of the destination before you even get off of the plane.
  • Carry cash & don’t use your card – Having a fixed amount of cash on you helps BIG time with budgeting on a day-by-day vacation. It helps you not over spend and prevents binging on those miniature Eiffel Towers or flower shaped gelato. Plus, if you use your card, chances are that your bank will charge you an international fee.

Places to Stay Without Breaking the Bank

  • Air BnB – This is already a given, but I love them so much that I had to put them on this list.
  • Hostel World – Hostels are the cheapest way to travel. You get to meet different people traveling that will probably become your international long term friend. Hostel World allows you to look up every single hostel in the area that you’re traveling to. You get to compare between different hostels, prices for a private room and dorms, and amenities. They have a Best Price Guarantee as well, so they will provide the cheapest rates for every hostel.
  • Home To Go – Not too many people know about this page. It’s a very user friendly site where you get to look up Bed and Breakfast type places. They provide last minute deals and discounts up to 75% off for their members for certain places.
  • Tripping – This is a sight that lets you look up vacation rentals, hostels, rooms for rent per night, hotels, etc. Similar to Air Bnb.

Extras

  • Lonely Planet – Unique site that provides travel books and videos about different countries and their activities such as beaches, food and drink, art and culture, and adventure travel. They also provide services such as travel insurance, adventure tours, car rentals, flights, hotels, sightseeing tours, and airport transfers and shuttles. Another perk of this website is that they provide tips, as well.
  • Like A Local – This company is so great! This site allows you to be able to contact locals in the area that you’re traveling to be able to get suggestions, tips, and even ask to meet up. They provide suggestions for tours, food, nightlife, shopping, and sightseeing all at your fingertips. On top of that, you can also pay a local to be your tour guide for CHEAP. I’m going to be traveling to Munich at the end of May and a local posted that they charge 2 euros an hour to be your guide. I’m SHOOK. But it gets better, you are also able to download their phone app and purchase an offline, no internet, and no roaming charges map for $1.99 per city that can also use your GPS to locate where you are. If you’d like to be a guide as well in your home town, you can also sign up with them and be paid!

The most important part of traveling, of course, is that you have fun and enjoy! Only be on your phone to take pictures and make a new friend and take in every opportunity that you can to soak in and appreciate your new surroundings.

Wow! Thank you so much to Amy for such fantastic, invaluable tools to use while traveling on a budget. For more on Amy’s upcoming travels, be sure to check out her blog! How do you ball on a budget? Where are you traveling to this summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun1

3 Ways Your Home Can Earn You Money (For Once!)

Posted on by
Standard
3 Ways Your Home Can Earn You Money (For Once!)

Homes have always been a cost-center. Sure, there is light at the end of the tunnel, but your home will always cost you money. Mortgage payments, property taxes, utility bills, and all that end of the month stuff that makes us realize how small our pay check really is in today’s world. But what if we told you that you could turn your home from a cash-leaker to a money-maker and that you could do it right now? Oh, yeah, we’re totally serious.

The Extra Apartment: As with anything that involves your house, always check the legalities of a renovation. But, in most cases, there is nothing illegal about adding a self-contained property to your estate. It could be that you have a basement that is doing nothing but letting the heat escape from your home in the winter, in which case you should definitely look into renovating it into an apartment to rent out. If you haven’t got this option, then why not have the team from The Renovation Company take a look at your garage and see what they can do with your space. As a little bit of advice, we do recommend that you work out how much this extra self-contained property will make in rent and how much value it will add to your home, and then calculate whether the cost of renovation is worth it. However, the scales usually tip in your favor, especially if you’re clever (which you are!).

earn1

Chez YOU!

The Rental Route: The undisputed king of disrupted technologies is Airbnb and for good reason, too. If you live in an area that is desirable or even within a short distance of some attractive spot, then you could see your home turn into a cash-catching side-earner. What do we mean by desirable? Well, being in a holiday hot spot has its benefits, but so does living close to a hospital, airport, university, popular wedding venue, or a big employer. The other great thing about going down this route is the choice. You could rent out your spare room, both of your spare rooms, or your entire house (and just go and stay with your friends for a few days). You can set the price, boundaries, rules, and the little extras you are willing to offer (yup, we mean breakfast). You could even up your fee by making a few simple home improvements. Trust us, a lot of people are making a lot of money from going down this easy-peasy route.

If you are someone who is considering renting a home or an apartment addition in a home, it is important to know your rights as a renter. Wrongful evictions can leave you in a dire situation instantly so keep up to date on the standards that are required from your landlord to follow. Should you have been wrongfully evicted, contact a Tucson eviction lawyer (or your local area) as soon as possible to help.

Of course, in some situations you might not want to go the rental route for your home and would rather sell completely. This could be if you are making a quick relocation for work or even if you inherited a home through a will. Navigating the inheritance of a home can be tricky, especially if you have no intention of living there. If this is the case for you, simply enter a search for “sell inherited house arizona” (or your local area) for some guidance. A real estate agent will be an excellent asset to you so you can have the time to grieve while they handle the sale of the house.

earn2

I’d pay extra for that!!

The Storage Space: Not everyone is cool with the idea of sharing their home with total strangers, whether short-term or long. That’s kind of understandable. However, renting your space out for money doesn’t have to mean inviting people into your castle. You can make a steady income by renting it out as a storage space. The fact that there are now companies like Store Mates proves that there is an ever-growing demand for storage units, and that is what you could offer. It could be people wanting to store their boats or RVs over the winter, in which case your heated garage would be ideal. It could be that someone is moving house and needs to store a load of boxes, which is where your unused attic becomes a money maker. Just remember to treat your listings like any other listing. Good photos and a detailed note of any additional features will go a long way in cranking up your fee.

earn3

Just don’t take the boat out for a test spin!

With a bit of creativity and possible renovations, your home could become your newest money maker in no time!

Featured Image By: Pexels

May22

How To Stay In Control Of Your Cash

Posted on by
Standard
How To Stay In Control Of Your Cash

When you’re just starting out in the world of work and education, you’ve got a big shot at life. No matter your circumstances, your relationship with money will define your future, your level of stability and security, and, of course – the rest of your life. We’re sorry to say, but money really does make the world go round, and you could lock yourself out of a future and enter a world of financial insecurity if you are not careful with your cash. If money makes the world go round, you can easily find yourself lost in that same cycle.

cash

Say “money”!

The good news, though? You’re young, you’re just starting out, and you have the internet. This means that you’ve got time, opportunities, and knowledge on your side (if you choose to read up and learn, that is!). With some valuable tools, you can avoid making financial mistakes and you can – for the most part – develop a healthy relationship with money quite easily. The key? It’s to never let your spending outweigh your earnings. Major shopping sprees, vacations, and spending with reckless abandon? It’s an easy path into pointless debt. It’s an easy path to financial misery.

People will get into debt. When you take out a loan to fund a car purchase after passing your test, you’ll be in debt to the provider of the finance. When you get your mortgage, you’re in debt with the lender. When you take out a loan to fund a business venture, you’ll be in debt. This, for the most part, can be seen as “good debt”. It’s debt that is acquired for a purpose. What’s bad debt? Well it has a different definition in business, but to us, it’s the debt that you acquire with high-interest values because you can’t hold yourself back from spending. It’s payday loans; it is credit cards.

Debt is a real danger and for a number of reasons. Debt, of any size, will affect our credit rating. This can affect the future of a young person quite drastically. It can mean that you are rejected from having a mobile phone contract. It can mean that your mortgage is turned down. It can seriously affect any future decisions that you choose to make.

Debt also creates emotional stress and worry. Debt isn’t the end of the world, we all get into debt – it’s how we pay it off that matters. Getting out of debt might include asking for a few extra hours a week at work or asking family or friends for some help. It may be awkward – a lot of us don’t know how to ask a friend for money but it will definitely help give you some peace of mind about your overdue payments.

Being in debt isn’t a bad thing – it is when we choose to live in debt that things turn nasty. There are always methods to paying off debt and anyone that you owe will prefer that some attempt at paying can be made. When you are in debt, you will always have options like student loan forgiveness. Getting stressed about being in debt can quickly lead to one avoiding paying for their way out of it.

To stay in control of your cash, you need to manage debt and your spending. This can be hard for youngsters – because they are explicitly targeted by those who seek to profit from debt. However, control of cash is an invaluable skill for anyone and your bank account will be thanking you! Not today, debt. Not today.

Featured Image By: Wikimedia

May7

When Bargain Hunting Gets Serious

Posted on by
Standard
When Bargain Hunting Gets Serious

We all love a bargain and nothing beats finding the perfect thing on sale. It gets your heart pumping and makes you feel GOOD! And, the invention of online discount code sites has changed the way many of us shop, too. Shopping also releases endorphins. It may not be scientifically proven yet, but most of us would agree that finding a bargain releases even more. But sometimes, there’s more to getting a deal than that feel good buzz. We’re stepping away from finding the dress that you were looking for at half price. Instead, we’re going to look at when finding a deal can make a difference to your life. Believe it or not, some things are more important than clothes (though it may be a small, select few!):

Food: We can all agree that food is an essential. But, finding food when you’re working on a tight budget is far from easy. For some of us, clothes shopping is far from our minds. When we can’t afford to feed our families, life can get on top of us. So, how can you ensure that you can always buy food? The first thing and a point we’re going to return to again and again is the importance of shopping around. Knowing where you can get the best deals is important.

Despite what you might believe, prices on the same products vary a huge deal from store to store. When money is stretched, you can’t afford to buy at the shop closest to you. Instead, look around. Go to a few different stores to see which one has bargains on certain things. It’s also important to have a set meal plan for the week and only buy the ingredients that you need. People who shop per meal are sure to spend more than those who plan ahead and shop once a week or so.

sale2

The chip aisle is SO beautiful.

Health: Healthcare isn’t cheap. Those with enough money can afford to pay for health care to cover costs. But, people on a tight budget don’t have that luxury. Instead, they have to cross their fingers and hope nothing happens. Frankly, a big health bill would be enough to cripple the best of us. It may seem strange to consider bargain hunting where health is concerned, but it’s important. Few people realize that you can get discounts on prescriptions if you need them. It’s even possible to find deals on health insurance if you know where to look. Again, shopping around is key.

sale3Wikimedia Image

Bills: Most of us would agree that our bills are the largest monthly expense that we have. So, it makes sense that we would want to find deals where we can. Sorry to sound like a broken record, but again, shopping around is your best bet. If you don’t look at each company’s prices, you could be paying well over the odds. Once you’ve done your research, you also have the opportunity to return to your current company and see if they can offer a competitive price. Playing companies off against each other is sure to knock costs down.

As you can see, the secret to saving money on important costs all comes with doing your research. Check the ads, apps, and websites for the best deals as well as keeping up with the promotions certain companies may be offering for new customers, etc. and you are sure to see savings!

Featured Image By: Public Domain Pictures

Apr28

How Much Money Can You Really Make In Your Spare Time?

Posted on by
Standard
How Much Money Can You Really Make In Your Spare Time?

It is only the very privileged few among us who are able to say that they are happy with their income. For most of us, we can be happy enough – but that doesn’t mean that we wouldn’t accept an additional boost or two if it were to come along. As a result, the industry for providing people with a means of making money “in their spare time” is a booming one. It always has been, to an extent, with catalog sales and the ability to sell products to friends and family. However, there is no doubt that this is an industry that has found its home amidst the wild west of the internet.

Have a quick browse for money making ideas online and your first impression will probably be sheer horror. How can you possibly figure out which one of these is going to work for you? If you’re a keen gamer, you may be interested in sites and apps that allow you to play games for real money so that you will know you will be having fun with your time, as well as boosting your finances. However, while there are plenty of sites offering various methods to make money online, many of the options are versions of the same thing. Sites offer points for simple tasks such as completing surveys or watching videos. When these points (different sites may call their ‘points’ different names) accrue to a certain level, then you can redeem them for either gift card vouchers or money.

Upon viewing the sums available, a lot of people will wonder if it’s worth it. So maybe it’s time to examine this closer and see if it’s a viable way of bringing in extra cash for you – by examining the pros and cons. Because who doesn’t love a good pros and cons list?!

PRO: You Can Do It When You Want, For As Long As You Want

There’s no boss, there’s no management, there’s no scheduled hours that you have to be present for. You have got complete control of what you do and when you do it. If you don’t need as much extra cash one month, you can give yourself the month off. If you need more, then you can knuckle down that little bit harder. The flexibility makes these sites incredibly attractive.

CON: You Have To Control Your Expectations

The key to making money from these sites is, according to this review, managing your expectations. Don’t think that you’re going to be able to quit your job and work from home in your pajamas all day – it’s not going to happen. You have to have a robust grip on what’s happening and how much money you’re going to earn, or you could find yourself bitterly disappointed. Super bitterly disappointed. Ugh, I love that word.

PRO: You Don’t Have To Qualify

If you wanted to, you could head on over to your computer and start working right now. There’s no interview, no qualification process, nothing of that nature at all. In fact, just being you is all that’s required, especially when it comes to filling out surveys about your opinions.

Taking a survey, perhaps?

CON: The Returns May Not Be Worth It

If you calculate the amount of time you spend on these sites and then factor in your hourly rate, it might not be pleasant reading…Seriously, I have spent a half hour doing a survey that claims to take ten minutes and received a meager fifty cents from it. It was a BITTER disappointment!!

PRO: It’s (Almost) Passive Income

However, you can keep in mind that these tasks can be done while you’re occupied with something else. For sites that allow you to earn points from watching videos, you can just play the videos in the background while you are making your evening meal. The surveys may take more attention, but you can do them from your phone while you’re waiting for the bus. Being able to pick and choose when you participate can be really helpful.

CON: Sites Can Shut Down Unexpectedly

Let’s say you join a site and accrue a huge amount of points. You’re waiting to reach a certain cash out threshold, which will allow you to obtain a voucher to a certain financial value. This is a dangerous way of doing it. These sites don’t owe you anything; if they suddenly fold or go offline, then all of your hard-earned points are going to vanish with them. There’s not a chance that you’ll get them back.

So, be safe and smart with how you use your points. Cash out as soon as you meet the minimum payment threshold, even if you’d get more for your points by hanging on to reach a higher voucher target. It’s better to actually have the money in your hand than relying on the site to keep it safe for you!

PRO: The “Big” Sites Are Well Established, With Users You Can Talk To

If you’re confused about anything that you find regarding the website, you can talk to other users. Most sites will have some kind of forum system or their social media pages will allow users to connect with one another. And, more often than not, there will be someone to explain things further on any questions that you might have.

So online money making websites might not be the best way to earn some extra cash BUT if you control your expectations and manage your time wisely, you could end up with some gift cards and money for the movies in your pocket!

Featured Image By: Pexels