Everyone knows there are certain subjects you just don’t bring up in conversation, whether it’s religion, politics, or marital conflicts. But if there’s one thing Americans can agree on, it’s that money is the most taboo topic of all. Asking about salary or diving into details about debt is just not a casual conversation anyone wants to be a part of. While there is a time and a place for everything, does the same always apply to money? Which financial questions are appropriate to ask, and who are people most comfortable talking money with? We surveyed over 980 employed people who cu ..read more

Another year of celebrations behind you, another stack of unwanted gift cards in a drawer. Billions of dollars in gift cards go unclaimed every year. Chances are some unclaimed dollars are lurking in your house. Getting rid of those unwanted gift cards is simple and painless. Here are three different options to get the ball rolling.  1. Make a trade Let’s be honest, the best thing to do with an unwanted gift card is to turn it into something useful. Instead of converting the card to cash you’ll blow, you can trade gift cards with someone else. While CardCash is a place to buy and sell, bu ..read more

The Wall Street Journal recently shared there are two times when you are most likely to follow through with your money goals (or any goal for that matter): the new year, and your birthday.  So, if you want to become richer in 2020, now is the best time to set up the money goals necessary to achieve success.  While the specifics of your goals should be tied to your individual situation, here are a few ideas to get you started. 7 Money Goals to Become Richer this Year When you start brainstorming your financial goals for the year, make sure to keep an eye on the big picture. It’s easy ..read more

How can I start investing in real estate with just $5,000? One of the biggest challenges for anyone wanting to get started in real estate is coming up with the capital to get started. Unfortunately, real estate is one of the areas where it really does take money to make money. That being said, there are ways to start your investment empire with under $5,000. In fact, you can start investing in real estate for as little as $10.  Just remember, investing is always risky. The smartest decision you can make with your money is to diversify your investments to protect yourself if one of your in ..read more

Webull is a new commission-free stock trading app that makes it easy (and affordable) to buy and sell stocks online. The app offers many great features to introduce beginners to the world of investing, while providing detailed analysis tools to meet the needs of skilled investors.  Beginners and pros alike have fun with the weekly “paper trading” competitions, where you can invest virtual money to compete for real prizes.  Additionally, the community forums available in the app provide a valuable platform where investors can discuss the broader market as a whole, or talk specific sto ..read more

Would you like to know how to get free money? Start by earning free stock from these stock trading platforms! What's the catch? Each one of these brands wants your business and they're willing to pay you (in stock) to try them out. Rather than spending thousands in advertising, they've decided to invest this money in their customers (my favorite type of marketing). I've tried all of these platforms and have earned free stock from each one. Now it's your turn. So test them out, determine which platform works best for you, and keep investing to prepare for your future! 1. WeBull: Receive free st ..read more

The average American spends 5 hours a day on their smartphone. If you're going to be using your phone that much every day, why not make a few bucks off of it? From survey sites, to cashback shopping, to microjob apps – there are many great ways to make money with your smartphone. In fact, we've found over 100! Explore the following list of money making apps for inspiration on how you could start earning extra money today. Money Making Apps that Pay You to Shop in Stores with Cashback   1.  GetUpside: Get paid to fill up with gas using this receipt scanning app Sign up bonus: Receive ..read more

Managing money on the road can be tough. But with a little extra preparation, you can travel the world like a financial pro. Here are seven money saving tips to make your next trip more affordable! 1. Make the most of airline miles  Few things will help you get around the world more affordably than a healthy collection (and savvy usage) of air miles. Air miles – accrued in a number of ways, as discussed below – act as a currency and can be used to upgrade cabins, reduce flight costs or even pay for a flight altogether. They’re invaluable and should be forefront in the plans of any world t ..read more

I recently had a conversation with the guy who takes care of my lawn and, naturally, we started discussing money and finances. Why I have someone else take care of my lawn is a topic for another article… As we chatted, the topic of insurance came up. It turns out that there are a variety of insurances available for lawn care businesses, and he was trying to determine which of these insurances (if any) he should invest in. Now, personally, I believe that your insurance should be minimal. You should have enough coverage to protect you from financial stress, but not so much that you are paying ou ..read more

Freelancing and the gig economy are booming. But how much time do you have to devote to it? What if you have a full-time job already and don't want to let it go? Or maybe you have family or school commitments?  From gigs for college students, to people looking for a fun way to make money; whatever your personal circumstances, there are side gigs that can work for you. This post will highlight side gigs that take a minimal time investment and give you an idea of what you need to get started with each one.  1. Start Typing  If you’re in front of a computer during the day and frequ ..read more