10 Steps to Finding Your First Rental
When you’re looking for an apartment for the first time, it can be overwhelming.The best way not to panic is to break the process down into 10 sequential steps.
When you’re looking for an apartment for the first time, it can be overwhelming.The best way not to panic is to break the process down into 10 sequential steps.
A Homes.com survey of over 1,500Â homebuyers found that 42% are willing to buy sight unseen, or at least consider it. But, can it be done safely?
The post How to Avoid a Disaster When Buying Sight Unseen appeared first on Homes.com.
Money Girl Laura Adams: When did you decide that you wanted to become an author (or other career)?
Miel Moreland: I knew I wanted to write books from a very young age, five or six at the latest. I committed to it in a serious way when I was about sixteen.
MG: Do you write full-time?
MM: I do not write full-time! I have a full-time administrative position at a university. I make more money from that job than from writing—and my job also comes with paid time off, employer-sponsored health insurance, and other benefits. It can be tricky to balance, time-wise, but the stability afforded to me by having a day job means I’m less anxious about my writing, because I’m not counting on writing books quickly in order to be able to pay rent. Since I’m both a slow writer and someone with anxiety, it’s much better to have this pressure taken off.
MG: Did you study writing (or something else) or has it always come naturally to you?
MM: I did not study writing—I was a double English/Politics major in college, but the English program at my school was focused on literature. I only took one creative writing class in college, and that was a mixture of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. Writing comes naturally in the sense that the love for writing comes naturally, but the skill requires significant and ongoing practice, and of course lots of revision. I read a lot (or, at least I thought I read a lot until I realized how much bloggers read!), and I’m always trying to learn from other writers.
MG: When you first started writing (or something else), were there any financial challenges? If so, how did you manage them?
MM: When I first started writing It Goes Like This, I’d just finished my teaching assistant contract in France and was back in the United States, living with my parents while I applied to jobs. Ultimately, during the year in which I wrote, revised, and queried It Goes Like This, I had a constantly changing job situation, while simultaneously applying to grad school: unemployed, working more than full time, working part-time… If I hadn’t been living at home, I wouldn’t have been able to write during periods of unemployment and part-time work—because it would have been urgent for me to work more. Instead, because much of the money I earned that year went into savings for my move to the East Coast, I was able to make the choice to work less and write more at certain times.
MG: What advice would you give someone who's creative or wants to change their lifestyle about balancing passion for their art and earning an income?
MM: Perhaps the first question is to determine if you want to earn money from your art. You don’t have to! In fact, you should consider whether turning your passion into a job could actually decrease your enjoyment of your art. If you decide to pursue financial return from your art, do you want it to be fun, bonus money, or serious money that you will rely on? What kind of time is required to make the quality and quantity of art necessary for your answer? I spend a lot of time on my author job that isn’t purely writing—I’m reading to improve my craft, networking with other authors, and promoting my books.
Before you start a side hustle, you should consider whether turning your passion into a job could actually decrease your enjoyment of your art.
Then you need to be serious about both your current financial needs or commitments and your future goals. How much money would you need from writing in order to make it an integral part of your income? What are you counting as writing: will you also offer editing services, pitch yourself for classroom visits, or write freelance articles in addition to novels? If you stay in a regular full-time or part-time job while writing, what’s the trigger point at which you would consider being a full-time writer? If you try writing full-time, what’s the plan for if it’s not sustainable long-term? You’re not less of a writer just because you have bills to pay and you can’t pay them entirely through book advances.
If you’re balancing art with another job, there are plenty of factors to consider. Some writers thrive on having other jobs related to writing, such as teaching or working in communications. I would be too drained by having a day job that required a lot of creativity. For now, I’ve also deliberately chosen a job with a strict 9-5 schedule. If I were in a job that required a significant amount of overtime, I wouldn’t have time to write. As with everything in life, don’t be afraid to change your mind as your wants or needs evolve over time!
It can be tricky to balance, time-wise, but the stability afforded to me by having a day job means I’m less anxious about my writing.
MG: What do you like to spend money on that some people might consider a splurge or luxury?
MM: Cake from local bakeries to celebrate any book milestone, no matter how minor. And concerts, of course—I promise I didn’t write any tickets off on my taxes as book research.
MG: What’s the best thing you’ve bought in the last few months?
MM: On a practical level, the best thing I bought was a new phone. My previous one was old, physically falling apart, and could not hold a charge. Plus, it was constantly crashing, which was obviously an issue when a significant part of being an author is promoting your books online!
On a fun level, I recently bought a ticket to a live comedy show for the first time. I started watching comedy specials and stand-up during the pandemic, and since live comedy seems to be coming back sooner than live music, this is replacing a concert I might have gone to this year.
I grew up in a household that prioritized experiences over things, and sometimes experiences translate to really nice chocolate cake, and sometimes you just want to be in a big space with other people, all sharing in a particular joy.
MG: What’s the biggest money mistake you’ve ever made?
MM: Not tracking my expenses exactly when I got my first post-college position. I had a basic budget, and I kept a rough sum going in my head, but not knowing the exact numbers was an unnecessary stressor. This was complicated by the fact that my savings were in my American bank and my income—and most of my expenses—were going through my French bank.
It’s especially important to track your money exactly when you’re not charging everything to the same account, or when some portion of your money is only available for certain purchases or in certain locations.
MG: Tell me a financial rule that you never break.
MM: I pay my credit card off completely every month!
Okay, I have broken this rule twice… once when I had to use my American credit card for certain travel expenses but my paychecks were going into my French bank account, and once when a friend was slow to pay me back for a concert ticket. But it’s now been years since I’ve broken this streak.
Oil futures logged their sixth consecutive loss.
If youâve recently gotten married or moved in with your mate, you may wonder whether it makes sense to combine your funds in a shared account, or to continue keeping your finances separate. Opening a joint checking account can make it much easier for a couple to pay, plan, and track household and other shared […]
The post Is A Joint Bank Account Right For You? appeared first on SoFi.
For the most manageable, stress-free, and affordable interstate move, use the following guide to navigate the process.
As soon as you’ve made the decision to move, it’s time to start asking for price quotes from cross country movers. Don’t put it off! The farther in advance that you book your moving dates, the more money you can potentially save on your move. Additionally, make sure you conduct thorough research and choose a moving company with a great reputation for quality service and communication.
If you’re overwhelmed with quotes from multiple companies vying for your business, or you’re worried about falling victim to a moving scam, then you have the option of using a brokering service like Moving APT, which has already verified the best in the business.
Even if you don’t plan to downsize when you move across the country, it’s generally in your best interest to move only what you absolutely need. The more weight you load into a moving truck, the more you will have to pay your movers. Do a detailed walkthrough of your home and identify items or furniture you can sell, donate or take to the dump in order to scale down your household goods.
Decluttering can be overwhelming, but a good rule of thumb is to throw out anything you haven’t worn or used in the last year. You can use your savings from your cross-country move to upgrade and replace anything you need.
If you opt for a full-service move, your packers will label each box with the name of the room they’re packing so they’ll know where to put the boxes on the other end of the move. It can be tempting to move items from room to room during the organizing process, but unless you’re willing to go searching for your bathroom towels all over your new home, you’ll likely benefit from leaving everything in its place.
Ahead of your pack-out date, use a moving checklist to keep up with your preparation to-dos. This way, you’ll be able to answer any questions the movers have about your household goods, and you’ll be prepared for a smooth and simple process.
As your pack out progresses, you and the movers will create a written inventory of your items. Once you reach your destination, you’ll use this list to verify you’ve received everything they moved from your home. If any items are missing or damaged, you may be able to file an insurance claim for reimbursement.
If your relocation is time-sensitive, then you may not have as much flexibility in your moving schedule. Moving companies are busiest in the summer because families often wait until kids are out of school before making huge transitions. Therefore, prices are higher in peak seasons due to demand. However, if you’re able to take your time and plan out each detail of your move, then you may be able to save money by booking movers during the non-peak season from late fall to early spring.
You’ll also want to have a contingency plan in case of severe weather or other situations that can negatively impact your move. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time for packing, loading and traveling.
The cost of boxes, packing paper, moving blankets and tape add up quickly, making even a DIY more costly than you originally planned. Therefore, it’s important to look for deals where you can find them. Check Facebook Marketplace for free or cheap recycled boxes, and start saving your Amazon shipping boxes. Use towels, clothes, and linens to wrap, pad and protect breakables instead of buying bubble wrap. Additionally, if you foresee several major moves in your future, you can invest in large totes and storage containers, and avoid buying cardboard boxes altogether.
A cross-country move doesn’t have to break your spirit or your bank. By following these steps and giving yourself the time and space to plan, your interstate relocation will seem like the best decision you ever made.
After many couples postponed their weddings in 2020, 2021 is shaping up to be jam-packed. Here are some ways to budget for wedding season.
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The post Wedding Season is Back, Here’s How to Budget for it appeared first on MintLife Blog.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.
After graduation can be a whirlwind and trying to figure it all out can be confusing, especially finances. We’ve got you covered.
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The post 5 Pieces of Financial Advice for New Graduates appeared first on MintLife Blog.