Check out our best tips to help your wallet
Unemployment Insurance: What You Need to Know
If you've lost a job recently, unemployment insurance can help fill in the financial gaps. Before you apply for unemployment, it's crucial to understand how it works, from filing your claim to getting the benefits. Read on to discover more about unemployment insurance...
My Bills: The Ultimate Guide on What to Do if You Can’t Pay Your Bills
From the mortgage and utilities to credit card payments, uncertain times can lead to financial trouble. If you find yourself saying, "I can't pay my bills," you're not alone. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to help mitigate the problem and keep a roof over...
How to Work From Home and Make Money Doing It
Even without the stress of the current coronavirus pandemic, more and more people are opting to work from home than ever before. Whether you've been asked to start performing your duties remotely or you need to make some extra money while you're on lockdown, it's...
Is Travel Insurance Really Worth it?
In 2018, global tourism hit a record high as 1.4 billion people not only went on vacation but spent their time off in a different country. Those numbers stayed strong in 2019, but 2020 will be different. Even a few months ago, if you missed a flight you could get a...
6 Money-Saving Tips to Help You Move on a Budget
Every single year, about 10 percent of the population moves. That's 32,252,000 people who relocate annually! 85 percent of residents move within the same state, and 15 percent move to another state. While your move may be entirely unique to you and your household,...
How to Lower Your Cell Phone Bill
Reducing your spending and lowering your bills requires a team effort from every aspect of where your money goes every month. Whether you have some debt to reduce or you just want to live a savings lifestyle, minimizing your spending requires creating "good" money...
The Best TV and Internet Bundles in 2020
The average American currently spends on average $100 each month on internet and cable. They also pay about $60 per month, on average, for internet access. Are you tired of spending more than $100 per month on cable and internet service? If so, bundling these two...
How to Lower Your Electric Bill
Many people pay their bills on autopilot without giving them a second thought. Bills are a necessary evil, after all, a rite of passage every adult has to learn to live with. The average American pays nearly $112 a month in electricity bills. This averages out to...
20 Ways to Save in 2020
Refinance your mortgage
If you own a home, now is a great time to look at refinancing as a way to save money on your monthly payments or even over the life of your loan.
Cut the cord
One of the easiest ways to cut down on your monthly expenses is to get rid of Cable and start streaming. There are great services out there such as Netfiix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and Sling TV that offer great content, as well as access to live TV channels.
Consolidate your debts
A balance transfer credit card or personal loan could be a great option for those that are carrying a lot of debt with a high interest rate. There are many balance transfer credit cards out there that offer perks such as 0% APR for up to 18 months, as well as personal loans that offer very competitive interest rates. By taking advantage of these options responsibly, you can save quite a lot of money on interest.
Refinance your current auto loan
Based on current rates, now may be a good time to see if you can lower your monthly payment on your car by refinancing. Auto refinancing isn’t as popular as a home refinancing, but can be just as effective when applicable.
Use a travel rewards credit card
If you are travelling, start earning benefits by using a travel credit card to earn points toward future flights and hotel stays.
Cut down on your energy bills
Have you investigated solar energy? While there may be some upfront costs, over the long-term solar can equal big monthly savings on your energy bills.
Refinance your Student Loans
Student loan debt can be crippling, but you do have the power to make it less of a burden through refinancing to save money with a new, lower cost loan.
Switch your Auto Insurance
Did you know you can change auto insurance every 6 months? Given this, insurance companies are constantly battling for your business so it makes sense to shop around from time to time to see if you can get a better rate.
Lower your cell phone bill
Take a look at your cell phone bill and truly understand if you need all of that data in the current plan. There are many cheaper options out there, such as Mint SIM, Tin, Cricket Wireless, Boost Mobile and more where you can lower your monthly payment and save big over the course of year.
Cancel your gym membership
Most exercises that you can do at the gym, you can do at home with some creativity. YouTube is a great resource for coming up with ideas for unique home work outs!
Make sure your tires are properly inflated
Did you know that tires that are inflated correctly can increase your fuel economy by over 3%? This can equate to a lot of gas savings over the course of the year.
Bundle your Cable and Internet
If you are not ready to cut the cord, consider bundling your cable and internet for even more savings. There are a lot of options to consider and we’ve even compiled a great list here!
Lower the temperature on your hot water heater
Your water heater can waste anywhere from $36 to $61 dollars a year if its set too high — usually above 140 degrees. Set the temperature around 120 degrees to save money and reduce mineral buildup in your tank.
Get more energy efficient light bulbs
Replace your incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs to save around $75 a year with these bulbs.
Drink less bottled water
Open an Online Savings Account
Double check the APY of your savings account. You can start earning a good chunk of change on money that would have just set in a standard savings account or checking account earning no interest by opening up an online savings account.
Use public transportation when possible
You can save a lot on gas, car maintenance and potentially get car insurance benefits depending on the amount of time that you use public transportation vs. driving your own car.
Unplug unused electronics
Did you know that electrical devices that stay plugged in draw a small amount of electricity that can quickly add up depending on the number of items you have plugged in. To help decrease your electric bill, unplug these items when not in use.
Look into air sealing
By air sealing your home, you can prevent drafts that can potentially increase your utility bills without increasing heating or cooling of your home.
Start a 24 hour rule
This is a great rule for those online shopaholics. If you see something you like, put it in your cart and enforce a 24 hour rule before you allow yourself to make a purchase. This way, you will really make sure you want that item and are not just buying it impulsively.
Top Personal Finance Reads
What to Do If You Can’t Pay Your Utility Bills
In recent weeks, families around the world have been thrown into a new normal. For many, this time has also introduced a new season of financial hardship. Maybe your hours were reduced to part-time as your company works through these unsettling times. Or, perhaps you...
60-Day Foreclosure Moratorium: What To Know
If you're struggling to keep your head above water because of COVID-19, you can breathe a sigh of relief. The federal government issued a foreclosure moratorium in March 2020 to help everyone affected by COVID-19. HUD Secretary Ben Carson will oversee the new mortgage...
Average Cost To Paint Your House
There's nothing like giving your house a little facelift by doing some painting. Whether you want to add some curb appeal to the exterior or give one or more of the rooms in your house a new look, paint can works wonders to give your home a refresh or a new look. Are...
What Credit Card Is Best For Retirement?
I’ve been studying the credit card industry and writing about it for over 10 years. And while I’m not approaching retirement, I’ve often asked to help retired friends, family members, and readers with their credit cards. Can you keep your credit cards when you retire?...
SR-22: Everything You Need To Know
Did you know that one in eight motorists in the US drives on the country's roads even if they don't have car insurance? Not only is that illegal in most states-- it also puts other drivers and pedestrians at severe risks. On top of that are those who drive while...
Buy Low, Sell High: What You Need To Know
Tales of investors getting rich by buying low and selling high on the stock market don't always tell the full story. During the Dotcom boom in the early 1990s, stock traders made millions from tech companies by 'getting in early.' Others lost money by holding on to...
What Are The Top Surveys For Money?
An astonishing 6 hours and 42 minutes a day -- that's the average amount of time people all over the world spend online. On a long-term scale, that translates to about a quarter of their lives! In the US alone, mobile internet usage has risen -- 20 minutes more in...
How To Find Money Orders Near Me
Money orders may not be the most common form of payment, but they're underrated. Using a money order offers you more privacy, safety, and even an extra layer of theft protection. Everyone can benefit from using money orders, the only problem is -- where do you even...