The first few weeks of January mark the end of a lengthy holiday season in the United States. After nearly two months, it isn’t surprising most people are mentally exhausted from the festivities. Of course, 2020 was a different beast than usual causing most families to gather digitally. I don’t know about you, but even a Zoom call can drag on the mind after just an hour of talking with the in-laws. It’s logical that, during this ‘quarantine holiday season’ that one of the biggest sellers for the year turned out to be gift cards. The Wall Street Journal even noted that gift card sales jumped ..read more

Thirty years ago, the average person would call you crazy if you said you could get paid to play games. At the time, it was seen as unproductive, meaningless, and a waste of time. While I can’t say public opinion has changed from those stances, but most people today would agree that there are some real routes to earn money with the boom of the internet. I’m sure nearly everyone reading this is familiar with the mainstay of streaming online games to start making some money. With the pandemic still hitting hard, streaming is bigger than ever since a good chunk of people are working at home on t ..read more

If you’re reading this now, there’s a strong likelihood that you are either A: a young person new to the workforce looking to earn extra cash on the side, or B: a guy like me in his mid-twenties looking to fill out his time during the pandemic with worthwhile activities instead of doing the usual Netflix binge/video game marathon I would’ve done when I was younger. Or what I did last week. Not important. Anyways, it’s never easy to start making money through your own endeavors. That’s especially true when it comes to creating content and being your own boss. It just involves that bit of disci ..read more

As a kid, receiving anything more than $20 sent my mind on a wild adventure about the endless possibilities of what I could buy. As I grew a bit older, my sights began to get a bit higher. What can I buy with a million dollars? A jet? A yacht? A life without work? Unfortunately, the saddest realization upon growing up and entering the working world is that, while accruing one million dollars is an achievement in itself, it can by no means support a person for long, much less the remainder of their lives. Let’s be real though, as a kid I also used to think that I could eat ice cream and cand ..read more

There are times in life that you may find yourself strapped for cash.  In those instances, you might need to know how to make $300 fast.   The money could be used to buy groceries, pay your rent or mortgage, or help pay for medical bills.  Maybe it’s an unexpected car repair.  Or your water heater went out…life is full of surprises, so knowing how to make quick cash can be vital.   Below is a list of great options for when you need money quickly.  Many of the choices can make you money in as little as a few days.  Some require more time.  ..read more

The idea of saving money is somewhat paradoxical in both thought and practice. Like many things, making an effort to save money is easier said than done. However, there are a ton of guides available that will tell you it really IS that easy to set money aside, especially by using a sinking funds list. Open a savings account, create a budget for yourself/family, and put X dollars into it per month.  You’ve now saved money. If it’s that simple, why does it always feel as though saving were an impossible task? I put money away each paycheck. I try to be frugal without skimping on holidays ..read more

Planning for the future is vital to your well-being, yet 75% of Americans don’t have any formal plan in place.  Creating a 5-year financial plan is like devising a blueprint for success.   The plan can help you establish and save for an emergency fund as well as set a timeline for paying off debt.  Do you have shorter term goals such as a vacation or home renovations?  The plan can and should incorporate those goals.   Longer term objectives like retirement can never be met if you’re not focusing on them now, which is why they’re included as well. &n ..read more

Saving money is hard.  Yet it’s so important to have cash stocked away for emergencies, vacations, school, holidays, and retirement.  A fun and effective way to start saving more and make it a habit is by starting a money saving challenge.   What is a Money Saving Challenge? Simply put, a money saving challenge is a way to help push yourself to either start saving or to save more. It’s a ‘challenge’ you decide to take that will help achieve a savings goal as well as build good saving habits. There are countless money savings challenges out there, so finding one that fits ..read more

One of our biggest budget expenditures is on food.  In fact, it’s the third-largest expense for the average household, only preceded by housing and transportation.  Most families spend an average of $681 per month on food, which equates to $8,169 per year.  On average, that’s about 10% of your money goes straight to your belly.  That’s why finding dirt cheap meals can be so important for many families.   But you’re in luck!  I’ve compiled a list of 29 super cheap meals that are sure to ease your wallet and your budget.  Most of these cheap easy dinners ..read more

Table of Contents Managing your finances can be tough.  It’s like managing your weight, which sure isn’t easy.  It takes work, persistence, and a level of knowledge.  Even then, it’s an uphill battle that many people fail at.   That’s when you throw in the towel, right?  Nope!  You get a fitness coach who will help educate and push you in the right direction.   That’s exactly what a money coach does for your finances.  They’ll teach you about finance basics, help you build a budget, set a plan to reduce debt, and help improve your overall f ..read more