How to Dry Clothes Without a Dryer
You don’t need to spend the money or energy on a dryer.
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How the Pandemic has Impacted Credit Scores Among Americans
As is the case with every facet of consumer spending and credit card usage, credit scores have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of how long this pandemic has lasted, many people became unemployed or started working fewer hours to accommodate the temporary shutdowns that took place in many industries. As a result, a large […]
The post How the Pandemic has Impacted Credit Scores Among Americans appeared first on Credit Absolute.
7 Bond Funds to Anchor Your Retirement Portfolio
Retirement savers need to weigh interest-rate and inflation risks when structuring their investments. These seven bond funds help them do just that.
What Companies Accept Dogecoin and Other Cryptos as Payment?
Dogecoin is not the most valuable cryptocurrency (that would be Bitcoin) or the one with a fast-growing financial sector growing on top of it (that would be Ethereum), but it certainly punches above its weight when it comes to attention from enthusiasts and the general public. Named for the adorable Shiba-Inu meme, Dogecoin has become […]
The post What Companies Accept Dogecoin and Other Cryptos as Payment? appeared first on SoFi.
10 Ways To Make Your Long-Distance Move More Efficient
Moving long-distance can be overwhelming, and that is why preparation is critical. By taking the proper steps, you can make your move a breeze and prevent many of the problems other movers face. By using tools like a moving cost calculator, you can be financially aware and budget accordingly. Other tips, like selling large items, can save you from high moving costs. Overall, there are lots of decisions you need to make when taking on a big relocation, so here are ten ways to make it a little easier on yourself.
1. Decide what to keep
One of the best ways to prepare for a long-distance move is deciding what to bring with you. It may be tempting to bring everything, but it can be a big hassle. Instead, try selling some of your furniture in a yard sale or online on a platform like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist and take that money with you to purchase new furniture.
The less you take with you, the more you save on moving costs and the easier your move will be.
2. Make a checklist
Staying organized is key to making your process as smooth as possible. Fortunately, finding a moving checklist online is easy and will help you stay on track without forgetting anything along the way. Your list can be organized to tackle different tasks at different points leading up to the move, up to 2 months out, depending on the preparation time you have.
3. Find packing hacks
For the items you do want to keep, finding packing hacks online is a great way to streamline packing and unpacking. A lot of moving hacks, like putting trash bags over your hanging clothes, will save you money and prevent you from buying extra moving supplies that you don’t need. Other tips, like putting small items in your shoes, will save you space and allow you to move more for less money.
Check out Who Knew's 15 Tips That Will Change the Way You Pack
4. Measure hallways and doorways
Big pieces of furniture often won’t fit through tight doorways and hallways, which is why it’s essential to measure them before moving. You may need to disassemble your furniture to get it in your new home or sell furniture that is too heavy or difficult to move to the new location.
5. Compare estimates
Moving with professional help is much easier if it is within your budget, and price comparing online will allow you to determine the best plan for you. Make sure to compare several companies, so you know you are getting the best service and the best deal. Getting these estimates in advance will also allow you to budget the rest of your move more efficiently.
6. Pack essential items separately
Consider packing the items you will need immediately, like toiletries and basic outfits, separately. Additionally, you may want to keep sentimental or expensive items close to you, so they are less likely to be damaged or lost.
Don’t forget you will likely also need some cleaning supplies and other valuable tools for your moving day.
7. Protect your items
Protecting your belongings is vital with any move, but especially when traveling long distances as there are more chances for things to be broken. Take extra care by wrapping up dishes and other fragile items in t-shirts, bubble wrap, and newspapers to make sure they are extra safeguarded against bumps along the way.
8. Pick the right time
If you have control over the time of year you will move, avoiding a summer move can save you a ton of money. Summer is the season most people move, and moving during other seasons can automatically make your move cheaper by avoiding peak mover pricing.
Consider planning your move in the middle of the month for even more savings.
9. Check every cabinet twice
It is easy to forget cabinets that you don’t often use when rushing to get out of the house. After you believe you’ve packed everything, recheck all cupboards and crevices to make sure nothing was missed. Then, when you or the movers have taken everything out, check for any lingering items one more time. It can be especially hard to reclaim anything left behind when you’re moving far away.
10. Avoid packing liquids or perishables
Food and liquid items can attract bugs and other critters that you definitely don’t want near your things. Liquids also run the risk of leaking on your items and damaging them. Make sure to bring necessary liquids with you, rather than packing them with the rest of your belongings. On top of this, most storage units don’t allow food of any kind.
By following the tips above, you can ensure your move goes smoothly and efficiently. Taking the extra time to make lists, budget, and prepare will help you avoid unnecessary problems and stress. Moving long-distance can be scary, but it is often extremely rewarding when done right.
Spend on this, not that: When you should (or shouldn’t) use the Amex Gold Card – The Points Guy
What one cardholder thinks is a high annual fee, another might consider to be quite low. At TPG, we consider the American Express® Gold Card to be right down
7 Small Appliances You Donât Need â and What to Use Instead
Here’s how to get the job done without blowing money â or losing counter space.
You have two days left to take advantage of reduced mileage awards on American Airlines cards – The Points Guy
Editorâs note: This post has been updated with new information. Citi is a TPG advertising partner.
Citi Premier 80,000 Points Signup Bonus ($95 Annual Fee) [Ending Soon?]
Signup for the Citi Premier card and get 80,000 ThankYou points as a bonus after you spend $4,000 within the first three months. Best ever offer
A Guide to Solopreneurship: A Conversation with Money Girl Laura Adams
Maybe you’re tired of the full-time gig. Or you’re thinking of a side hustle. Or you’ve bought into the wisdom of having multiple income streams.
If you’ve got the bug—to gig, hustle, or found, then do I have the book—and the conversation for you.
QDT’s own Money Girl, Laura Adams, joins me to talk about all the things you don’t know—and don’t know you don’t know—when it comes to starting a hustle or business. In her new book, Money-Smart Solopreneur: A Personal Finance System for Freelancers, Entrepreneurs, and Side-Hustlers, she covers everything from finance to productivity to purpose, and we chat about the essentials in this week’s interview.
We began at the intersection of financial genius and workplace success.
“It is a scary world,” Laura told me,” for new business owners—there's a lot of questions, a lot of concerns, but the reality is it doesn't have to be scary. We can make it pretty simple.” This beautifully encapsulates her book as well as the conversation we had around it.
You can listen to the full conversation using the player above, or in your favorite podcast app.
For the person who wants to start something on their own, but is just too afraid of the uncertainty, what advice would you offer?
Laura acknowledges that just getting started can be the most intimidating part. We anticipate all the things that could go wrong. But there is a cost, too, to standing still, to not taking a step toward financial independence.
"Don't hold back from a great idea due to a lot of detail."
“One of the themes of my book,” she explains, “is to just give it a go and have the courage to make a move.” Some of what makes solopreneurship so scary is thinking about everything you don’t know that you don’t know. “I see a lot of people who are very reticent to get started because they're so afraid that they're going to do something wrong…to violate some business law. And, and the reality is it's more likely that you should get started and then figure things out…So don't hold back from a great idea due to a lot of details.”
Maybe start a side hustle rather than a full-blown business. Whether that’s driving for a ride-sharing service or doing some small bits of freelance work in your free time, there are plenty of options that don’t require you to leave your job on day one.
“The beauty of starting something on the side is that you don't have a ton of financial risk… For a lot of people, the side hustle is the answer to earning more income so they can invest more for retirement or pay down debt, send a kid to college… if you're interested in getting started, that's the ideal way.”
Do I need to set myself up as a business the first time I earn a dollar as a side hustler or solopreneur?
The short answer is no.
“One piece of advice that I always give folks that are just getting started is to earn a little income first before incorporating… You want to prove the concept can work… it’s going to be a revenue-generating activity… And once you’ve earned $10,000 from your entrepreneurial work, that’s the point where I would say it’s time to start taking yourself a bit more seriously.”
If your proof of concept is a success, then it’s time to explore more formal financial systems.
“You’ll want to be sure you’re keeping your personal expenses separate from your business expenses…[this is] key because if you are not tracking that carefully, you may lose some of the potential tax deductions that you have.”
For example, you may be having dinner with a potential client. If you’re paying for the dinner from “your personal bank account, and you forget to flag that as a tax-deductible expense…then that's money that you're not going to be able to save when taxes are due.”
“The only exception would be if you're getting into something where you do have a lot of legal liability, [like a catering business where you’re serving food]… in that case, you may want to form [a] business structure [sooner than later]. You may want to chat with a business attorney [to fully understand the risk you’re taking on.]”
The world of business insurance is so intimidating!
A lot of people are intimidated by the idea of getting insurance…in part because it requires you to imagine all of the worst-case scenarios.
“It's not fun to think about all the things that can go wrong, but that's why insurance exists. There are a plethora of business policies out there.”
What you need depends so much on what type of business you’re running and what your actual risk is.
“So get advice from a licensed insurance broker… their advice is, is free, and it's generally going to be pretty good… So ask them…”
You’ll want to consider the actual risks you're facing—be it cyber-security, covering your inventory, or even covering income lost to injury or natural disaster.
You’ll also want to consider your clients’ expectations. Some business clients, for example, may require that you have a baseline of coverage in the context of consulting or advisory work.
In short, ask a lot of questions, and make informed decisions as you go. But don’t wait until every question is asked and answered before taking your first step.
But what if it doesn’t work out?
Entrepreneurship, Laura concedes, isn’t easy.
“The biggest myth,” she explains, “is that entrepreneurship is easy. I think too many people just think, ‘yeah, this is going to be a breeze.’ While that may be true for some, in general, it's a lot of hard work…"
Financially, we mitigate this risk by having savings set aside. If things aren’t going according to plan, the world won’t end as long as you’ve set aside those living expenses.
And from a career standpoint? Laura and I discussed how compelling even a short stint in entrepreneurship can be as part of your story. “Even if you only get a year's worth of entrepreneurial work under your belt… I can guarantee you're going to pick up some skills, you're going to meet some new people, you’re going to have some added value to bring back to your next employer. I know many people that go in and out of the freelance world and go back to W2…that's definitely been the case for me and every opportunity that I have, whether it's a W2 position working with a new client as a freelancer, I'm constantly learning new skills."
Laura and I went into greater depth on all these topics and more—listen to the full episode on the Modern Mentor podcast. You can find Laura on the Money Girl podcast, and don’t forget to pick up a copy of her new book Money-Smart Solopreneur: A Personal Finance System for Freelancers, Entrepreneurs, and Side-Hustlers. It’s a wonderful reference guide if you’re just getting started, even thinking about getting started, or a few years in but humble enough to realize there are details you’ve still not figured out completely!