Tag Archives: money

Aug6

Top Tips For Choosing The Right Car For You

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Top Tips For Choosing The Right Car For You

After a house, a car is probably going to be the next biggest and most expensive purchase that you will make. With this in mind, you want to make sure that you do not waste your time and money by picking the wrong one. Here, we look at some of the most important things to think about as you begin car shopping:

What is your budget?

The first step is to determine your budget as your car options will be constrained to what you can afford. This also applies to your monthly outgoings – gasoline, tax, and insurance costs can all come as a surprise if you are not careful with your money. Start by researching a style of car you would like. For example, by entering a search for “new Dodge Hornet near me“. Then, you can start comparing prices and seeing if your preferred car is feasible for your budget.

Unfortunately, the model of car that is necessary for you might not be within your budget. For example, you might need a larger vehicle if you have children. Should this be the case, you still have options. Take the time to search for “car loans perth” (or your local area). The experts at the company you choose will be able to create a finance plan so you can have the car that is safest for your needs.

What are you using your car for?

The next thing you will need to think about is what you are going to do with the car. If you live in a city center and only use your car for shopping and commuting, you should consider the amount of parking space you will have – you might want something small. Conversely, if you live in the country, you should consider how bad the weather gets in the winter and whether you will need a car that can withstand inclement weather – maybe a 4×4. Of course, you might just be after a standard family car or something to have fun in on the weekends, such as a convertible or even drift cars!

What style of car do you want?

You need to consider what you frequently carry and the types of vehicles you prefer. If you regularly do the school run, you will need to plan space for your children. However, if your children are particularly socially active, they may bring friends home, which means you should consider purchasing a car with extra space such as a seven seater. If you have a dog, consider how much space your pet will require in the boot and whether they will be able to jump up into it. An SUV can also be useful if you have older family members or very young kids because the extra height makes getting into the car easier.

If you are driving precious cargo like children, family, and pets then you will certainly want a car with the best safety features. Older models might not have everything you need to make you feel comfortable with your loved ones in the car. It might be a good idea to look for new cars for sale that would fit in your budget. Then you will know for certain that your car will feature the most up to date technology with safety being paramount.

Of course, you might be considering to buy a car simply because you love it or have always coveted one and that is okay too! Just make sure you are making your decision wisely in terms of price as it can be far too easy to instantly say yes to your dream car. Shop around at several different dealerships that specialize in the car you are after like Medina Cadillac (or a similar option in your local area). When you have a few quotes, it can give you leverage for a better deal.

How fast do you want your car to go?

You should consider how fast you want your car to be. Generally speaking, the faster a vehicle is, the less cost-effective it is. If you are watching your monthly expenses, you might want to consider a slower, more fuel-efficient vehicle. If you enjoy the sensation of speed or acceleration, spend a lot of time on the highway or enjoy crowing to your pals about your car, you will want a faster one. More speed comes at a higher cost – at the gas pump, on your insurance, and in maintenance – but a fast car can make some buyers proud every time they get behind the wheel.

Choosing the right car for you and your family involves taking many factors into consideration. It is not a decision that you should rush into – take your time to find the right one for you!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Jun1

How To Spend Less On Your Family’s Essentials

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How To Spend Less On Your Family’s Essentials

There are some things that we all need to pay for and costs we need to cover. And, thankfully, there are lots of ways in which you can spend on these essentials and manage the costs associated with them. If you want to learn how to spend less and keep the costs low, read on now:

Raise Your Insurance Deductibles:

Insurance is one of the things that we all need to have in place. And for most of us, there are lots of different types of insurance that are needed. In order to keep yourself and your family safe going forward, you’ll need to find the right deals and put the right coverage in place. But you can, nonetheless, raise the deductibles in order to get a better monthly rate on those policies.

Cook Your Own Meals:

If you’re someone who eats out a lot or orders takeout food a little too often, you’ll know how costly that kind of stuff can be. Cooking your own meals can take a huge amount of that financial burden away. You can cook and prepare meals very cheaply when you buy fresh ingredients and put the effort into cooking. It’s not as hard or as daunting as you might think!

Create a Debt Repayment Strategy:

Lots of people struggle with debt and get dragged down each month by the repayments they need to make. You can create a good debt repayment strategy if you want to, and doing so is almost always advisable. When you have a strategy and plan in place to pay the debt off faster, you’ll start saving money because you won’t be getting constantly hit by the interest.

Start Using Coupons Routinely:

If you’re not doing so already, you should definitely think about how you can start using coupons and discounts to your advantage. If you’re a pet owner you can use a Canada Pet Care coupon code for your pet food needs. And there are plenty of discounts, offers, and coupon codes that will help you with your regular shopping, including grocery store purchases.

When doing online shopping, there are lots of websites that you can utilize to find coupon codes for free shipping or percentages off of your purchases (Retail Me Not, Honey, Raise). If your family is in need of new clothes, you can find some great offers at https://www.raise.com/coupons/macys for a one stop shopping experience at Macy’s.

Cut Your Travel Expenses:

When you’re always traveling by car or public transport, it can get costly. There are many ways to cut your regular travel expenses, such as by doing more walking and cycling. Or you can try carpooling to work with colleagues so you can all spend less on gas. Traveling less and doing more activities closer to home might also be a good idea if you really want to cut those costs as well as be friendly to the environment.

Spending less on your family’s basics and essentials isn’t that difficult and it never needs to be. When you’re willing to put in the effort, you’ll be surprised by how much you can achieve and how far your money can stretch.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

May17

InboxDollars Update

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InboxDollars Update

Hello! I have been visiting the website, InboxDollars, daily for years now and since posting about earning a thirty dollar Amazon gift card in mid January, I am already so close to receiving another ten dollar gift card. On InboxDollars, you can complete surveys, watch videos, play games, clip coupons, answer trivia questions, and more and it all earns you money. And who doesn’t like free money?

Although it can take a while to get started on the website, it is so easy once you get the hang of it and when you reach the ten dollar mark, you can select a gift card as your reward. The website also always seems to be updating to add new ways to earn some extra pocket cash through special offers and making searches online.

While survey websites are, usually, not a viable source of income, it sure is nice to be able to save some money with your gift card rewards! I spent my thirty dollar Amazon gift card when I buffed up my skin care hoard and got my moisturizer and eye cream FO FREE. And literally all I did to get my free product was open emails and answer trivia questions which takes about two minutes per day. Hey, I’ll take it!

Whether you are looking to kill time or make some extra spending money on Amazon, InboxDollars is a terrific little site to check in daily with. Just be sure to refer yours truly so we both get rewarded! 😀

What is your favorite survey website? How do you like to spend your free time online? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May7

Hobbies That Can Be Turned Into Side Hustles

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Hobbies That Can Be Turned Into Side Hustles

If you have been working hard at new or old hobbies during the COVID-19 pandemic, then you might be interested in taking it to the next level by starting a side hustle. It’s always an amazing feeling to have your work verified by people willing to pay for it and who doesn’t want to make a bit of extra cash? If you are interested in starting a side hustle, the following hobbies can very easily be turned into one! Let’s get started:

Reupholstery/Refurbishing Furniture:

The change of seasons is an ideal time for furniture shopping as there tend to be a lot of good sales to help cut the cost. From living room furniture to new dining sets, many will surely want to give their home a bit of a makeover after being cooped up for so long. Reupholstering or refurbishing furniture is an amazing skill to have and it gives people the opportunity to purchase a one of a kind piece. The idea of no one else in the world having something is an appealing one that people would most definitely want to pay for.

Secondhand Shopping:

From selling used clothing on apps to making a pretty penny if you have an eye for vintage finds, selling secondhand is an incredibly popular side hustle. Next time you have a closet clean out, post your no longer wanted items in excellent condition on Poshmark and see how you fair. Educate yourself when it comes to brands, trends, and the best secondhand shops in your area and your trips to the thrift store could turn into an extra income.

Cake Decorating:

I have so many friends on social media who are skilled at baking and decorating sweet treats and have made successful side hustles out of their hobby. I am constantly seeing adorable cutout cookies for baby showers, cake pops, and themed birthday treats that I’m sure are as delicious as they look! If you can bake and decorate with the best of them, post your creations on social media and see if there would be an interest – it can’t hurt!

Cleaning/Organizing Services:

There are many out there who simply detest cleaning and are willing to pay for someone to do it for them. If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty and love the satisfaction of a sparkling countertop, then offering home cleaning services could be the way to go. You could even try your hand at home organization to get your client’s space running more efficiently. If this is the side hustle for you, take some time to look at your competitors by entering a search for “House cleaning in Victoria BC” (or your local area). Can you offer services that they don’t have listed? Are there promotions you can run to boost your clientele? This will be a most helpful step in gaining traction for your hustle.

Sports:

Believe it or not, sports is a great avenue worth exploring for a side hustle. Engaging in sports can be a hobby, and some individuals may turn their passion for sports into a source of income through various aspects like coaching, playing professionally, or working in sports-related professions. Others may take to sports betting and have some success, albeit with some risks. Fortunately, you can follow sports enthusiasts like Jeffrey Rusert Jefferson County if you require extensive data to boost your chances of success and make an informed decision.

The key words when it comes to betting truly are “informed decision” and is a potential side hustle that you should skip on if you are really lacking in sports knowledge. Before you place any bets, it is so important to do your research and learn the ins and outs of the game because it will turn into all risk and no reward. Watch the games, get up to date on all of the players, look up advice on tennis betting or the sport you are interested in. Knowledge is power and will give you a far greater chance of success.

Of course, betting is a hobby that should be done in moderation. However, it can be something exciting to partake in every once in a while and can provide a nice boost to your wallet. You can explore the Top 20 UK betting websites to get started and put your sports knowledge to the test. This is a side hustle that can be done from the comfort of your home or favorite sports bar while you watch the big game.

While success for your side hustle often doesn’t come over night, it is a great thing to start working for. Consider your hobbies, skills, and interests to find the best side hustle for you!

Mar19

Balancing Costs With Essentials As An Artist

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Balancing Costs With Essentials As An Artist

Creatives have it tougher than others. Unless they end up on magazine covers or are propped up by the industry as the Next Big Thing, it can feel difficult just to survive. And that’s even before the self-doubt kicks in over whether you chose the wrong company to work for. If art is your passion, it’s only understandable that you want to make a living with it. A lot of people will tell you that you won’t make money from a career as an artist, which is not the case at all. Try incorporating these tips to achieve your artist dreams without going broke in the process:

Consider the Right Investments:

One major issue with following your artistic dream is the costs, and anyone who has a creative bone in their body knows what these costs are. From acting lessons to high-quality paints and utensils, it can feel you’ve spent everything before you’ve earned a cent. This is why you need to choose the right investments for your craft. Look for high quality but affordable materials from The Sydney Canvas Company, and don’t forget to create a website to go alongside your social media profiles to boost awareness and look more professional.

Know Your Worth:

Many struggling artists desperate for work will have no choice but to accept being paid in exposure. This is a bit of a joke, though, and it’s something clients use to get people to work for free. If you know your worth, you’ll be able to avoid gigs that take advantage of you, which means you have more time to focus on improving yourself. While you might miss out on some jobs, you will be able to demand a price that you can live off of, because you can’t pay for groceries with likes or word-of-mouth.

Don’t Abandon Other Work Entirely (Yet):

Once you decide to pursue your passion, you may have plans to quit your current job and say goodbye to the nine to five lifestyle. However, as you are not stable yet, this is not a good idea. If you want to make sure that you can balance living costs with the essentials as an artist, you’ll need to persevere in your day job for now. As time goes on, you may be able to reduce your hours before giving it up entirely, but until then, stay patient.

Research the ‘Competition’:

It feels wrong to pit artists against one another when they all have the same goal in mind, and that’s why the word ‘competition’ feels off. Still, if you know what others in your industry are doing, you will be able to adapt to the times, especially when it comes to charging for work or considering how to improve in the future. Building a network of artists is free, and this can help you become better in every aspect of your work.

There will be many, many times where you feel like giving up your dream for something more stable. But, doing so would be a disservice to your talent and your passion. If you know how to balance the cost of being an artist with living a comfortable life, you’ll find that it is possible to make money from what you love to do.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Mar6

How To Save Money & Stress When Moving

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How To Save Money & Stress When Moving

We all know the cliche about moving house being one of the most stressful and expensive things you can ever do. But those negatives aren’t necessarily as inevitable as you might think they are. There are so many ways in which you can reduce the costs associated with moving to your new McArthur Homes property, while also making the process as minimally stressful as it can be. And that’s exactly what we’re going to talk about today. Read on and benefit from these tips:

Plan Your Move Around Your Work Schedule (And Plan In General!):

If you can schedule the day of the move for a time when you’re not going to be working or when you can book paid leave from your job, that’s the right thing to do from a financial standpoint. People often think about the fees and costs of moving to a new home, but the money you lose by being forced to take unpaid time away from work is something that also shouldn’t be ignored.

Declutter Before the Move:

Your move will be a lot less stressful for you if you can take the time to declutter your property beforehand. Spending time, energy, and money moving things that you don’t even want or need is pointless from an efficiency and financial point of view. By clearing out your property today and simply getting rid of the things that you really don’t need anymore, you’ll be able to avoid that level of wasted resources.

Try to Move Off-Season if Possible:

The costs associated with moving differ depending on the time of year. If you want to move in summer when everyone else is also trying to move house, you’re going to face higher demand and competition for people looking to secure the services of good movers and solicitors. The process will also be longer as well as more expensive because of the delays caused by that high demand for the necessary professional services. We suggest entering a search for “movers St Anthony” (or your local area) as soon as you have a time frame of when you would like to move, be that on or off season. This will give you ample time to get quotes, read reviews, and find the best moving company for you.

See if You’re Entitled to Any Discounts:

When looking to secure the help of moving professionals, you should take the time to see if you’re entitled to any discounts often offered by those kinds of services. For example, people over a certain age level, students, and people who have served in the military or government agencies are very often entitled to discounted services. It’s a great way to save money, so don’t miss out if you’re entitled.

Work with Reliable Professionals:

Working with reliable moving professionals who are going to be able to make the move as smooth for you as it can be will make your life a lot less stressful. The right moving professionals have the knowledge and experience necessary, which will help alleviate some of your worries. Whether you are using movers charlotte nc, or a similar removal firm in your area, this will help make this task easier.

Reliability is so important for every aspect of your moving team. From real estate agents, those assisting with loans, or home builders in st louis (or your local area), you will want the highest recommended professionals to help you. It’s amazing how much time and money you can save when you have a solid team.

Source Free Packing Materials:

Sourcing packing materials is one of the best ways out there to save money. If you’re paying for boxes and tape and all of the other wrapping and protective materials you need, you’ll be wasting money. All of that stuff is out there and you can usually get your hands on it very cheaply. Ask around because everyone has boxes that they no longer need after their own house move. Better still, find a moving company that offers this stuff at no extra cost to you.

Saving yourself stress and time when moving house is essential to making the experience a more positive one. Get started with the tips above so you can focus your attention on the more pressing matters of your move.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Feb9

Four Steps To Add Value To Your Home

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Four Steps To Add Value To Your Home

If you might be moving in the future, try to think about some of the best ways of being able to improve the value of your home and add appeal to it. When you’re looking to sell for a high price, it is important to think about the changes you can make that will allow you to be successful with this. Make sure you do as much as possible to present and provide a home that will be appealing to owners and add value to any sales price.

Work out what you can do to take things to the next level in your home to blow potential buyers away. Here are some of the most essential things that play a part in this and there is no better time than the present to get started!

Extend:

Extending your home is one of the best ways to add value to the home. Whether this be a sun room in the back of your home, building a second or third floor, or simply adding some additional bathrooms, your property value is sure to go up with these fixes because you will have more home to sell!

Sort the Garden Out:

Improving on the landscaping in your back and front yard are also surefire ways to add more value to your home. You can do so much to sort the garden out and add value, like hiring a tree company to remove the trees with problematic branches in your back garden, installing a koi pond, or – if you really want to go wild: building a new green house or shed.

Get a New Boiler:

There are a lot of changes that will help you when it comes to improving your home’s value, and one of the key things you can do to achieve this is to install a new boiler. There are a lot of factors that you should think about here, and a new boiler can make all of the difference to helping you improve the functionality of the home, as well as being able to boost the value as well in the process. Don’t forget to get all of your appliances repaired before you put your house on the market, too.

Fix your roof:

A visibly damaged roof can greatly harm the value of your home. Hiring roofing services to repair your roof could be a worthwhile investment. It’s possible that you may only need to replace a few tiles, however in cases of major damage, a roof replacement could be recommended. This will cost a lot more, but is usually worth the extra value that it adds to a home.

From extending your home to tending to the landscaping, there are ample ways for you to add more value to your property. For an even bigger boost to your curb appeal, give your home a fresh coat of paint and use a statement color for your shutters or front door!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jan29

Why You Should Plan For Retirement Early

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Why You Should Plan For Retirement Early

Despite how important retirement is, a lot of us leave planning to the last minute. You might plan to get around to it soon, but ‘soon’ can easily become ‘next year’, and then it’s too late. Most people don’t know how much cash they will need to retire securely, and many don’t have a pension at all. It’s never too early to plan no matter when your dream retirement awaits you so get started with the tips below:

When Do You Want To Retire? When Can You?

Think about your ideal retirement and look at your finances to start planning from tomorrow. This will help you to work out if there is a distance between when you want to retire and when you actually will be able to. Are you hoping for mortgage-free living in retirement or will you live in a retirement community? Do you want to enjoy your retirement with travel and restaurants? Or perhaps you are interested in moving states and have been researching the best places to live in tennessee for retirees (or wherever strikes your fancy)? Try to work out how much you expect to spend each month.

By working out these things early, if you find you can’t reach your ideal retirement with your current finances and the rate you’re saving at, you can work out how much more you will need to set aside each month in order to actually reach your retirement goal. If you don’t get prepared, you could end up with a lot less saved up than you expected. Your goal of retiring at 60 could easily get pushed back to 65, and then 70.

Delaying Could Cost You Thousands:

If you start saving for your retirement at 30, you can save less money each year than if you start saving at 50, and still end up with the same amount in your retirement fund. Every year that you put off planning for your pension means that you will have more catching up to do later on, which is when you will likely have more outgoings, thanks to a growing family or a bigger mortgage. In the future, you won’t thank your present self for a lack of planning for your retirement. One of the best things you can do as you prepare is to find ways to make your savings gain more for you. This could include investing in stocks, finding the best fixed rate isa, or creating CD accounts.

Retiring Isn’t Always A Choice:

You might think of retirement as a milestone for later in life, but sometimes the choice of when you retire is not up to you. You might have to retire earlier than you wanted to due to poor health, a change in family circumstances, or a redundancy. There are lots of reasons that you might find yourself having to stop working earlier than you had planned to. If you don’t plan for changes of circumstances like this, there can be a lot of problems. Trying to support your family or pay your mortgage on a smaller pension than you had planned for would be a big issue. Unfortunately, we can’t predict the future. However, you can plan accordingly with services provided by DVI investment management winter park (or something similar in your local area). The team of experts will be able to build an investment portfolio so that your savings can expand and provide a cushion should you need it.

Planning early is important when it comes to your retirement, so get started ASAP!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Jan16

Bored At Home? Try InboxDollars!

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Bored At Home? Try InboxDollars!

Hey! I don’t know about any of you, but there was a point in my life when I would do online surveys like it was my job. I tried a multitude of different websites but when I found InboxDollars, I stuck with it and have been using it for years. In fact, I just got myself a thirty dollar Amazon gift card from my earnings and was able to purchase all of my skin care for the next few months for a song.

If you are bored at home and looking to make an extra buck, then I can’t recommend InboxDollars enough. The best part about this website is that it isn’t just endless surveys. You can answer trivia questions, open paid emails, play games, clip coupons, online shop, and watch videos to get you closer to your ten dollar cash out goal. Once you have enough earnings, you can collect cash or gift cards to restaurants and online retailers.

InboxDollars is a great way to kill some time and I go on it once daily to at least open some paid emails and answer their daily trivia question. You can spend as little or as much time on it as you’d like and not only is it an easy site to maneuver but it’s fun, too! If you are interested in signing up for InboxDollars, please use my referral code and I can help show you the ropes. 🙂

https://www.inboxdollars.com?rb=78080190&ref_src=link

Which online survey sites do you use? What are your thoughts on InboxDollars if you have used it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan8

Saving Energy: 3 Steps To A More Efficient Home

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Saving Energy: 3 Steps To A More Efficient Home

Are you looking to cut down on your carbon footprint or do you only want to reduce the amount you are spending on household energy? If you want to increase your home’s energy efficiency, you need to do more than just reducing the amount of energy. You should figure out the areas that use energy, how it is wasted, and ways to use it more effectively and efficiently. It all starts with making simple changes around the house that would significantly impact the environment and your energy bills.

If you are unsure of where to begin, here are some tips that can guide you to make your home an energy-saving haven:

Improve your Home Insulation:

Insulating your home in the right way helps to preserve heat during winter and keep out the heat during summer, and serves as a great combined investment as you learn from CleanChoice Energy reviews. It also reduces the amount of fuel you burn to warm the house, reducing CO2 emissions into the air. Insulating your house is a cheaper alternative to using power-hungry air conditioning units.

If your home does not have proper insulation, much of the heat will get lost through the roof, walls, windows, and floors. Not only does it become expensive to heat, but it also becomes challenging to maintain the heat. You don’t have to spend much to improve your home insulation. Small home improvements can have a significant impact on your energy conservation.

For example, you can use spray foam to insulate your walls and prevent them from losing heat too quickly, saving you money while also reducing the energy you use. The correct spray foam insulation temperature should be around 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Turn Down your Thermostat:

Reducing your heating is an excellent approach to reducing the amount of energy you spend every month. It may be a hard feat to enact during winter because of the extremely low temperatures. However, you do not have to overdo it. You can save a lot of money by just turning your thermostat to a few degrees lower.

If your house gets cold, throw on a sweater or a robe and invest in thermal curtains that you can use during the winter months. A smart thermostat can also help you save energy more efficiently since it allows you to heat only the rooms you are using and control the temperatures from your smartphone.

Avoid Leaving Appliances on Standby:

Appliances still consume electricity even when on standby, provided they still have a connection to the power source. This includes devices such as microwaves, printers, washing machines, TVs, and laptops. Once you finish using an item, switch it off by unplugging from the power source. It can help you save more than $30 every year on energy.

As you can see, you do not have to spend too much time or money to make your home energy-efficient. You can cut your energy bills by following the above simple steps. Remember, when your home is well insulated and energy-efficient, it will not only help you save on costs, but it will also lead to a cleaner and greener environment for everyone.

Featured Image By: Pixabay