A few years ago, a little orange cat showed up on my front porch, and I fed him.
You can probably guess what happened next. Yep, he never left.
But as with any “free” pet, Hans cost a lot of money. This was especially true in the beginning when we had to have him neutered and vaccinated. We also paid for a six-month supply of flea treatment.
Then, Hans injured his paw. It swelled to three times its normal size, and he couldn’t put weight on it. Back to the vet we went, where we learned that the swelling was in an infected joint that usually doesn’t respond to just one round of antibiotics. Sure enough, after the first round, his paw was still swollen. So the vet called in a prescription for two more rounds, and finally, his paw healed.
Hans was his old self again, and thankfully his insurance picked up the $200 bill. No, we don’t have a pet insurance policy. Hans has a pretty sweet health-care plan that bills directly to our checking account.
The moral of the story? Pets can be really expensive!
But most pet owners don’t mind the added expense that comes with their furry friends. They bring a lot of joy into our lives. Still, there are ways you can minimize your vet bills, without cutting back on quality of care. In fact, many of the ways you can reduce your bill also result in a healthier pet.
An Ounce of Prevention
Similar to humans, preventive care results in long-term savings and a longer lifespan for animals. “Preventative care is the main thing that can save you money,” says Shari Valdez, an animal hospital practice manager.
Here are a few ways to prevent a trip to the vet in the first place, or to minimize your expenses if you do have to go:
Help Fluffy maintain her girlish figure. Obese animals are more likely to have diabetes, heart disease, orthopedic problems and other disorders. Ask your vet about your pet’s weight. If your pet could stand to lose a few pounds, talk to your vet about how much food your pet really needs. If you need to switch to a “diet” pet food, make the switch gradually. Also, don’t leave food out all day if your pet is overweight. Slowly start getting her used to regular meal times so that she’s not overeating.
Stay up on vaccines and parasite treatments. If you let treatments lapse, it could turn into a more expensive condition to treat. For instance, “it’s a lot cheaper to prevent heart worms than it is to treat them,” says Valdez. “Heart worm prevention is maybe $20-$45 for a six-month supply, depending on the size of the dog. Heart worm treatment consists of three injections over a three- to four-month period and can cost $1,000, depending on the size of the dog. Treatment is also very painful.” One way to save on routine care is to get a wellness plan. “[Our hospital offers] a wellness plan for preventative care, which actually isn’t pet insurance,” says Valdez. “The plan includes routine care like vaccines, physical exams, and blood work, and the annual cost is split into monthly payments, so it’s like zero-percent financing over 12 months. You also get discounts on things like heart worm meds and other services.” Another option is to check with your local animal-control organization to see if it offers low-cost vaccines, including shots for rabies.
Pet-proof your house. A few years ago, a family friend’s dog got extremely sick, seemingly out of nowhere. My dad had been at their house recently and remembered seeing a castor bean plant outside, near where the dog was playing. He recalled reading something about castor beans being toxic to dogs, and he called our friend immediately, who called the vet treating her pet. It turns out that eating just a small amount of castor beans is likely to kill a dog. Our friend’s dog was lucky enough to survive it. So besides medications and household chemicals, be sure to keep poisonous plants out of reach.
Pay attention to changes. If your cat suddenly stops using the litter box, he could have a bladder infection. If your dog’s breath suddenly becomes very foul, it could mean diabetes or oral disease. The earlier you can catch an illness, the more likely you are to save your pet a lot of discomfort and to save your bank account a hefty vet bill.
Of course, prevention is just half of the equation. There’s also a lot you can do to save money once you wind up in the waiting room.
At the Vet’s Office
The best way to save money while at the vet’s office is to talk to your vet about your situation. That’s not always easy, though. A lot of people feel uncomfortable haggling over procedures or telling their vet they can’t afford the recommended treatment, so the bills wind up on a credit card.
Here are a few tips that can make it easier to talk money with your vet:
Ask about other treatment methods and associated costs. Even if you can easily afford the very best care, it’s a good idea to ask about all of the ways to treat a disease. For instance, when my cat started over-grooming, a former vet prescribed what was essentially Prozac for kitties. For three days, my cat stared blankly out the window. I stopped the meds and learned that there are a lot of non-drug methods I could’ve tried first that my vet never mentioned.
Talk about over-vaccination. If your vet sends you a vaccine reminder every year, that doesn’t necessarily mean your pet actually needs another dose. In fact, we’ve been over-vaccinating our pets for years. For example, new guidelines suggest that we vaccinate for distemper, parvo and adeno every three years, not every year.
Request a written estimate before treatment is provided. Until you see an estimate, you have no idea if a treatment is going to cost $100 or a full month’s rent. With an estimate in hand, you can make sure you’re only getting the services or treatments you want, and you won’t be caught off guard by a sky-high bill.
Ask about ways to save on prescriptions. Sometimes vets have free samples. It’s also possible to shop around to have the prescription filled. For instance, some medications are also used to treat human conditions. “If it’s a prescription that can be filled at Walmart and it’s on their $4-prescription list, that could save a lot of money,” says Valdez.
Finally, talk about payment options. If your pet needs care and you’re planning to charge it on your credit card, wait. Ask your vet about payment options first.
Some vets offer a payment plan or a line of credit that doesn’t charge fees or interest for a set period of time. “We offer a zero-percent financing plan for big expenses like emergency surgery,” says Valdez.
In short, do everything possible to avoid paying interest, which only makes your vet bill even more expensive.
What are some other ways you’ve saved on vet bills?
An unfamiliar city can be more than a little unnerving. Getting to know the area while simultaneously trying to make friends can be scary. Joining a volunteer organization can help you achieve both goals at once.
Volunteering is not only rewarding, but it also gives you a chance to meet other people in your area and build networks. If you’re renting in a new city, networking is an important way to make friends and contacts. Familiar faces will make you feel more at home.
There are numerous ways to get involved with charity organizations, non-profit foundations, or religious groups. Check out the information below on how to find volunteer opportunities, no matter where you call home.
Think about what kind of activities you enjoy, and look for similar volunteering events or organizations. If you find the list growing too long, limit your possible choices to the top five.
It’s also a good idea, but certainly not necessary, to tie in your skill-set with a charity event. Many organizations need assistance building new homes, tending to the elderly, painting over graffiti, or raising money for a cause. There are many volunteer opportunities for just about everyone to lend a helping hand.
Disease can cause human suffering, but it also brings people together. Volunteers offer significant contribution through their assistance and compassionate outlook of the struggle with Alzheimer’s, breast cancer, HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases.
Nearly every disease has an opportunity for involvement. For example, the National Breast Cancer Association encourages volunteers to help host fundraisers to raise money in the fight against breast cancer. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society also allows you to search for local volunteer opportunities online. No matter that the disease, there’s probably something going on in your area. If there are no events, why not take the initiative as a new renter and set something up?
Are you an animal lover? The best option is to volunteer at your local shelter. Many of these shelters are connected to the Animal Humane Society, which offers plenty of ways to care for a variety of different animals. Inside the shelter, you’ll find opportunities to help not only cats and dogs, but also rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, reptiles, pot-belly pigs and other animals in need of assistance. You can take dogs on walks, or assist with nail clipping, feeding, bathing or grooming. Even if your rental policy doesn’t permit pets, caring for these animals lets you connect them with other adoption opportunities. Your furry friends will definitely thank you for your hard work.
Another way to impact the community and become familiar with the city is at your local volunteer fire or emergency medical service department. These departments are active throughout many areas of the country. Not only will you have the opportunity to save lives, but you will build camaraderie with other local volunteers.
Check with your local hospital to see if they know of any programs requiring volunteer assistance. You might be directed to a nursing home needing you to come in weekly to read to the elderly, or you might be asked to assist with a hospital’s fundraising project.
If you enjoy sports or the great outdoors, there are plenty of ways to be active, have fun, and help out your neighbors. For starters, youth sport leagues often need coaches and assistant coaches to help develop training programs, and teach kids about basic skills and teamwork. If you’re a parent, this is a fantastic way to participate in your kid’s life and help his or her teammates.
The Boy and Girl Scouts as well as other groups have local chapters around the country, and they’re often looking for scout leaders and other volunteers to help young people learn values, earn an appreciation of the outdoors, and learn about civic participation. These types of organizations are a great way to give back to the community.
Many people want to help those experiencing poverty or homelessness, as they are often the most vulnerable members of society. Organizations like Habitat for Humanity help build homes for those who are homeless or on a low-income. Local soup kitchens, homeless shelters and food pantries are always looking for new volunteers as well, which provide you with endless ways to support those facing poverty.
Do you know of a special charity or volunteer organization you want the world to know about? Let us know in the comments or share with everyone via Twitter, and spread the good word!
Technology is changing many aspects of our world — including change. When I was young, I remember the thrill of cash and the spare change it generated when I spent it. I would scour my change looking for rare coins and deposit the ordinary ones into my trusty piggy bank.
Today that thrill is gone, along with the simplicity a piggy bank or coin jar brought to saving money. Whether you were working on building an emergency fund or simply wanted to save money for a rainy day, change was always there to give you a head start. Today we swipe a piece of plastic or pay for everything online with no paper bills or coins changing hands.
Thankfully, a new type of technology is filling the void electronic transactions have created. Savings apps that automatically round your purchases to the nearest dollar are bringing back the simplicity that spare change brought to saving.
The Best Round-Up Savings Apps
The apps on our best money-saving apps list all do one or two things very well, if not more. For example, some use psychological triggers to help you save wisely while others focus on helping you teach your children how to set and manage long-term financial goals. And while most aren’t officially banks, most have FDIC-insured checking accounts built in, protecting your money from the unknown.
Acorns
Our Rating
Acorns is a comprehensive personal finance app with a built-in checking account, automated budgeting and savings tools, and multiple investment accounts for all stages of life.
Monthly Fee
Deposit Insurance
Up to $250,000
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Acorns is built around the idea that you can build your finances to be as sturdy as an oak tree with a start as small as an acorn.
Though Acorns is much more than a round-up app, its simple round-up feature is key to its value. Just connect your credit cards and debit cards to your account and it will automatically round your purchases up to the nearest dollar and deposit the change for you. Once you have at least $5 in round-ups ready to process, Acorns transfers the money from your checking account to your investment account.
Acorns offers four different types of financial accounts: a general (taxable) investment account, a custodial account for children, a retirement investment account (IRA), and a checking account. It has two paid plans, with monthly membership fees starting at $3.
Acorns offers mobile apps for Android and iOS devices. They have all the features and capabilities of the desktop version.
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Chime
Our Rating
Chime is a personal finance app that helps you manage your money, save for the future, and build credit. It has one of the best savings yields of any FDIC-insured round-up app.
Monthly Fee
Deposit Insurance
Up to $250,000
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Chime is a mobile-first personal finance and online banking app. You don’t have to use it as a round-up savings app, but it’s easy enough to do so — just opt in to have your Chime Visa debit card purchases rounded up to the nearest dollar and transferred to your Chime savings account.
And that savings account is among the best on this list. Your cash earns 2.00% APY¹, far higher than what most other round-up apps can manage.
¹The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) for the Chime Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is accurate as of May 12, 2023. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest.
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Qapital is a goal-based savings app that makes it easy and fun to save automatically. Its biggest downside: an unavoidable monthly fee of at least $3.
Round-up savings is actually just one way Qapital does this — it’s one of several custom rules (in this case, the “Round-Up Rule”) you can set to put your extra cash to work. Other rules include the Set & Forget Rule (which puts aside a set amount every week or month) and the Freelancer Rule (which saves a set amount from each deposit to cover estimated taxes).
Qapital also has an FDIC-insured checking account and debit card for everyday spending. Balances earn interest at a low rate, but it’s better than nothing.
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Worthy Bonds
Our Rating
Worthy Bonds is a crowdfunding platform, not a banking app. But it does allow round-up investments from a linked bank account, starting at just $10. With all bonds paying 5.65% APY, it’s the highest-yielding option on this list.
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Worthy Bonds is not a traditional round-up savings app, if there even is such a thing. It’s a crowdfunding platform that sells shares (also called Worthy Bonds) in loans made to small businesses and development projects across America.
All Worthy Bonds yield 5.65% APY. If you want, you can link an external bank account to your Worthy Bonds account and round up each purchase to the nearest dollar. Once your balance hits $10 — the value of a Worthy Bond — Worthy Bonds buys you a new bond.
Worthy Bonds is a fun and rewarding way to support everyday entrepreneurs, but there’s a catch: no FDIC insurance. So don’t invest more than you can afford to lose.
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Greenlight
Our Rating
Greenlight is a family finance app that helps kids (and parents) manage and grow their money. With high-yield savings, an investment platform, and even a credit card for parents, it’s the most comprehensive app on this list.
Monthly Fee
$4.99 and up
Up to 5.00% APY
Deposit Insurance
Up to $250,000
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Greenlight is an online custodial bank account that’s designed to help parents teach their children about money. A Greenlight account comes with a customized debit card and advanced ways to save and earn, including round-ups. Every time your children swipe their customized debit cards, the total value of the purchase is rounded to the nearest dollar and the spare change is transferred to their savings account.
That spare change has the potential to earn much more change. Depending on the type of account you open, your children can earn between 1% and 5.00% APY interest on their savings.
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Methodology: How We Select the Best Round-Up Apps
We used six metrics when comparing the micro-saving and micro-investing apps that offer round-up saving functionality. These metrics relate to the cost of the service, allocation of money saved through round-ups, the types of accounts they offer, and other functionality. Here’s what we paid the most attention to in our analysis.
Cost
Round-up apps are all about saving money, so it’s pointless to use them if the fees eat all your savings. To be fair, most apps with this functionality charge reasonable fees, but we did come across a few with fees that were a huge turnoff.
All apps on our list cost under $10 per month, even for the most premium memberships. Two options — Chime and Worthy Bonds — are 100% free to use with no monthly or hidden fees.
How Round-Ups Are Used
It’s important that the money you save grows over time. After all, inflation is a very real force in finance — if your money isn’t growing, it’s shrinking. All the options on our list offer ways to grow the money you set aside, whether through investing in the stock market or earning a meaningful interest rate on your savings balance.
Custodial Accounts
Financial education is valuable at any age, and the sooner you start teaching your kids concepts like savings, the better off they’ll be.
That’s why options like Greenlight are on our list. Custodial accounts and giving kids access to financial information are a great way to teach your children about money management.
Risk Management
Many of the best round-up apps focus on micro-investing — investing small amounts of money over time — to begin building a meaningful portfolio. But investing can be risky. We paid close attention to the risk management features each investing-focused round-up app offers. Every investment-focused app on this list offers highly diversified stock and bond ETFs to help keep risks at bay.
Savings Triggers
Round-ups are a great way to start your savings, but if you’re only saving your spare change, it will take forever to generate a meaningful safety net. All options on this list offer round-ups as well as at least one other savings trigger, like the ability to automatically transfer money to savings on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis.
Some apps offer other, more elaborate savings triggers.
For example, Qapital offers several triggers. You can set a spending budget, and when you spend less, the difference automatically goes into your savings.
Additional Banking Features
According to the FDIC, about 5.4% of Americans — more than 7 million people — don’t have bank accounts. That’s why we love to see companies like Chime make quality banking services available to everyone. Many of the companies that made our list offer accessible online banking services.
Round-Up App FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
If you’ve never used a round-up app, chances are you have a few questions you need answers to before you get started. Answers to some of the most common are below.
Do Round-Up Savings Work?
Round-up savings apps are a great way to kick start your savings, but their effectiveness largely depends on you. If you don’t spend frequently, round-up savings won’t generate meaningful balances. It’s best to use this feature as a small part of your work toward your overall goal of saving money.
If you want to aggressively save money, consider using round-ups in conjunction with other features, like scheduled savings contributions.
Which Is Better: Acorns or Stash?
That depends on how you’d like to invest your savings. If you’re interested in building and managing your own investment portfolio of individual stocks and ETFs, Stash is the way to go. If you’d rather let the pros handle the investment decisions and rebalancing efforts, Acorns is your best bet.
What Is the Best Round-Up App for Kids?
The hands-down best round-up app for kids is Greenlight. The platform was designed to give children some financial independence while giving parents a fun way to teach financial literacy. However, if you want a family experience on a platform where your and your children’s accounts can be viewed in the same place, you may want to consider Acorns.
Final Word
The options listed above are our favorite automatic savings apps, but by now you know they’re not all the same. Each app has its own features, costs, pros, and cons. Here are a few features you should compare before you decide which one to sign up for:
Cost. Some round-up apps are free and others have monthly fees. Consider the cost and how it might impact your savings before you sign up.
Banking Features. Are you one of the millions of Americans who are underserved by traditional banks? If so, consider signing up for an option like Chime that offers complete online bank accounts.
Investing or Saving. Do you want to grow your money in the stock market or a savings account? Have you considered investing in high-yield savings products like those offered at Worthy Bonds? Make sure you consider where your money’s going when you round up before you sign up with a provider.
Do You Have Children? If you have children, consider signing up for an app that offers custodial accounts, or signing up for Greenlight for your children and using a different app for yourself.
STASH DISCLOSURES
Paid non-client endorsement. See Apple App Store and Google Play reviews. View important disclosures.
Nothing in this material should be construed as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation to buy or sell any security. All investments are subject to risk and may lose value.
1 Stash Banking services provided by Stride Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. The Stash Stock-Back® Debit Mastercard® is issued by Stride Bank pursuant to license from Mastercard International. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. Any earned stock rewards will be held in your Stash Invest account. Investment products and services provided by Stash Investments LLC and are Not FDIC Insured, Not Bank Guaranteed, and May Lose Value.
2 All rewards earned through use of the Stash Stock-Back® Debit Mastercard® will be fulfilled by Stash Investments LLC and are subject to Terms and Conditions. You will bear the standard fees and expenses reflected in the pricing of the investments that you earn, plus fees for various ancillary services charged by Stash. In order to earn stock in the program, the Stash Stock-Back® Debit Mastercard must be used to make a qualifying purchase. Stock rewards that are paid to participating customers via the Stash Stock Back program, are Not FDIC Insured, Not Bank Guaranteed, and May Lose Value.
3 Group life insurance coverage provided through Avibra, Inc. Stash is a paid partner of Avibra. Only individuals who opened Stash accounts after 11/6/20, aged 18-54 and who are residents of one of the 50 U.S. states or DC are eligible for group life insurance coverage, subject to availability. Individuals with certain pre-existing medical conditions may not be eligible for the full coverage above, but may instead receive less coverage. All insurance products are subject to state availability, issue limitations and contractual terms and conditions, any of which may change at any time and without notice. Please see Terms and Conditions for full details. Stash may receive compensation from business partners in connection with certain promotions in which Stash refers clients to such partners for the purchase of non-investment consumer products or services. Clients are, however, not required to purchase the products and services Stash promotes.
Stash has full authority to manage a “Smart Portfolio,” a discretionary managed account. Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee a profit, nor do they eliminate the risk of loss of principal. Stash does not guarantee any level of performance or that any client will avoid losses in their account.
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Joshua Rodriguez has worked in the finance and investing industry for more than a decade. In 2012, he decided he was ready to break free from the 9 to 5 rat race. By 2013, he became his own boss and hasn’t looked back since. Today, Joshua enjoys sharing his experience and expertise with up and comers to help enrich the financial lives of the masses rather than fuel the ongoing economic divide. When he’s not writing, helping up and comers in the freelance industry, and making his own investments and wise financial decisions, Joshua enjoys spending time with his wife, son, daughter, and eight large breed dogs. See what Joshua is up to by following his Twitter or contact him through his website, CNA Finance.
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Apartment hunting can be a real hassle. Newspaper listings don’t give you enough information, apartment guide magazines are almost always out of date, and driving around town looking for “For Rent” signs wastes time and gas.
Apartment search engines aim to make finding a new apartment easier by showing listings from multiple sites in a single, easy-to-read format. Some sites hit the mark, while others miss it by miles.
As a renter, here’s how I rank apartment rental sites from best to worst:
PadMapper
PadMapper is the one site I’ve had the most success with because you can customize your search results in nearly every way imaginable. The basic search goes by price, number of bedrooms, and type. The expanded search lets you enter in your own keyword or look for pet-friendly spots. But the best feature of PadMapper is the super-secret setting (seriously), which is a blue bar called “Show Super-Secret Advanced Features.” With this setting, you get a crime map, walk score, neighborhood layout, and mass transit map for each listing.
MyApartmentMap
If you’re looking for a specific type of rental, MyApartmentMap is the site to search. It sorts results by pets allowed, military housing, college apartments, or affordable housing. You can also refine your search within each option, such as, choosing cats, small dogs, or large dogs under the “pets allowed” subsection. The listings themselves are the easiest to browse of all the sites. Each listing has a photo and the rent price clearly marked.
HotPads
If you’re an organizational nut like me, you’ll love the interactive map on HotPads. Each apartment listing appears on the map as a color-coded “hotspot.” Clicking a hotspot pulls up the listing, and from there you can hide the apartment or add it to your favorites. Hiding a listing removes the hotspot, while adding to your favorites puts a star on the map. After sorting all the listings, you’re left with one easy map showing you which apartments you want to look at.
RentLinx
RentLinx does have some cool search features. You can look for income-based, Section 8-approved, handicapped-accessible, and smoke-free rentals. The site was harder to navigate than the others, and even after sorting by most recent listing, all of the ads I saw were a year or two old.
MyNewPlace
MyNewPlace is pretty bare-bones. The site does have some advanced search features that will let you sort by rent price or show you pet-friendly apartments, but the available listings are sparse. My ZIP code only showed 27 listings, whereas PadMapper, MyApartmentMap, and HotPads showed hundreds. After searching, the site required I give my email before I could view any of the listings. The signup sheet had a disclaimer that basically promises to spam my email with advertisements from the site. It adds, “Generally, you may not opt-out of these communications.”
Rentals.com
In my area, Rentals.com mainly listed sponsored ads from corporate apartment complexes with a few private rentals mixed in. While the site listed tons of complexes, the listings themselves weren’t all that comprehensive. None of the ads had floor plans, the photos included were mostly of the complex, and the pricing usually said “Varies.”
RentCompare
RentCompare was a navigational nightmare. The site’s two search options, sort by ZIP code or sort by city name, both came back with errors no matter how many different combinations I tried. When I finally got a search to work, the site required me to sign up before I could see the listings. Sign-up took four separate tries with four separate errors. In the end, I was able to see a few listings with some decent information, but the site wasn’t worth the hassle.
While I tried to cover most of the popular sites, there’s no shortage of others out there. Do you have a favorite site I didn’t mention, or one to avoid?
“The Best and Worst Apartment Rental Sites” was provided by MoneyTalksNews.
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Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Empire continues to spread its wings worldwide. The British billionaire is well known for tearing up the rule book and pushing the envelope with aviation and cruise ships to great fanfare, and his Virgin Hotels brand is slowly but surely opening properties across the U.S. and the U.K.
Built in 1928, the Old Dearborn Bank Building on North Wabash Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, was purchased by the Virgin Group in 2011. The hotel finally debuted in 2015 following refurbishment delays due to the building’s landmark status.
How does Virgin’s modern and unconventional approach to hospitality mesh with an iconic century-old building?
Here’s what you need to know about Virgin Hotels Chicago.
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Snapshot
In the heart of the city, Virgin Hotels Chicago adopts an unstuffy, more casual approach to hospitality, focusing on youthful fun and a hint of British cheekiness. Room rates are lower than nearby luxury properties, though guests may find the informality that can stretch to service standards and food quality too much to bear.
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What you’ll love about Virgin Hotels Chicago
Virgin’s fun style is evident throughout the property, providing an alternative to cookie-cutter corporate accommodation offerings. You might feel like you’re staying with a cool friend rather than at a chain hotel.
A location that is close to everything
In downtown’s vibrant “Loop” area, the property is an easy walk from some of Chicago’s most popular attractions, including the Magnificent Mile and Millennium Park with its iconic Cloud Gate sculpture (affectionately known as The Bean). The Chicago Theatre is the ideal Instagram backdrop for your vacation photo just a few blocks away.
Chicago’s elevated trains (the “L”) pass right by the hotel for journeys that cannot be made on foot, with a stop for the Brown, Green, Orange, Pink and Purple lines directly across the road from the hotel.
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Rooms that feel like home, with some fun bells and whistles
Virgin Hotels calls its guest rooms “Chambers,” with 250 rooms that start at a generous (in this zip code) 350 square feet and feel homey yet luxurious with furnishings like leather armchairs and gold side tables.
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At the base of the bed in the spacious, airy bedroom is a new option for remote work, allowing guests to sit on the bottom corner of the bed, facing the bedhead while working on a laptop — a chiropractor’s nightmare. It’s an interesting idea, but not very practical or comfortable for extended periods.
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The bathroom, storage and vanity areas are combined into a single walk-through room, “The Dressing Room,” with plenty of space to unpack and stretch out.
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A comfy makeup chair between the double vanity is ideal for preparing for a night on the town. You can keep your glad rags catwalk ready by using the fluffy bathrobes provided. A huge walk-in shower with a rain shower head and a handheld fixture also has a tiled bench for tired feet and Red Flower toiletries to match the occasional red tile, a constant subtle reminder of the Virgin brand.
In many ways, Virgin’s Chambers feel more like a thoughfully-designed and well-equipped city apartment than a hotel room.
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A Smeg minifridge (bright red, of course) stocks minibar favorites at surprisingly reasonable prices, including $6 for a large can of First Pils lager, $3 for pretzels and just $2.50 for a bottle of Coke — a bargain compared to many big city minibars where a tin of nuts can easily cost upwards of $15.
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While the round tables are not the most practical to work at, the Bel & Bel Vespa high-back cream leather chair is a fun feature to swing around in this already bright and playful space.
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The whimsy continues in the hallways with statues that make no sense but bring a smile to guests’ faces among the splashes of Virgin red.
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Affordable last-minute suite upgrades
Base rooms at Virgin Hotels Chicago start at a reasonable $198 per night in the low season to a less justifiable $436 for peak summer dates.
While suites are priced around $100-$120 per night over the cheapest Chambers, guests should watch their inbox a few days before departure when Virgin offers suite upgrade email offers at dramatically discounted prices.
VIRGIN HOTELS
For just $20 per night extra, you’ll get significantly more usable space — a 150-square-foot living room complete with a huge ottoman and flat-screen LG smart TV is an excellent deal at 83% off.
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Everything about dining with Miss Ricky
On the ground floor, the hotel’s main restaurant Miss Ricky’s is open from morning to night and offers an outstanding hospitality experience.
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BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
The staff is incredibly upbeat and enthusiastic when welcoming bleary-eyed guests starting their day. In addition to bottomless coffee, expect Mexican favorites like chilaquiles, a nod to the city’s large Hispanic population, and omelets with herbed breakfast potatoes.
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
Room service is also available from Miss Ricky’s. While the breakfast sandwich is an odd combination of savory fillings inside a sweet croissant served with strawberries and grapes, it is filling and the flat white coffee is perfectly crafted.
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
In the evening, the mood at Miss Ricky’s is more formal, with an Italian and Spanish-inspired menu featuring an elegant cured Atlantic salmon and black cod ceviche ($20) for an appetizer and a luxurious lobster spinach ravioli in a Champagne cream sauce ($29) for an entree.
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Virgin has done an excellent job with this space, and the staff here should be commended.
Why you might not love Virgin Hotels Chicago
Virgin’s alternative approach to hospitality won’t be for everyone. Some staff take the relaxed attitude too far with groups of business guests baffled by the lack of professionalism and “can do” attitude.
A head-scratching loyalty program
Rather than being an obvious earn-and-burn partner of Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club program, Virgin Hotels instead has its loyalty program called “In The Know,” teasing room upgrades, welcome gifts and invitations to special events. Even if guests carefully fill in all of their personal preferences, it is unlikely any tangible benefits will actually be delivered, and it all seems far from rewarding.
The promised 2,000 Virgin Points for booking directly and signing up for In The Know may never arrive either, and even if they do, guests still cannot redeem Virgin Points for Virgin Hotels.
This separate vague “loyalty program” seems needlessly complicated and likely to lead to disappointment compared to Virgin Points, which can be a terrific value.
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
Rooftop frustrations
On Level 17, Cerise enjoys breathtaking views across downtown Chicago.
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Unfortunately, guests may find the view is the only reason to visit.
The signature Lil Smokey cocktail with Conejos mezcal ($17) had far too much sweetness with little balance of smoke, and the presentation wasn’t much to write home about either.
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
Even worse was the food. A seemingly simple request to remove gluten from the caramelized Brussels sprouts and charred broccolini lead to both dishes being stripped of all flavor and seasoning, then boiled, with no explanation. Neither tasted pleasant.
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
The pork carnitas tacos were greasy and heavy, the grilled octopus was tasty but tiny, and the fries were served lukewarm with sauces in ballgame-style plastic tubs.
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
The food, cocktails and service at Cerise could be elevated to match the amazing view.
Potential guests should note that the flagship on-site food and beverage destination, The Commons Club, is closed, seemingly a lingering victim of the pandemic. Fortunately, this vast space has been converted into a co-working area that is quiet, civilized and great for working outside guests’ Chambers.
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
Do you work here?
Smartly dressed reception staff at the front desk provide a warm welcome and explain the amenities available to each guest on arrival.
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
However, after leaving the front desk, the service varies wildly. Almost every staff member seems to be dressed differently, from formal to sloppily casual.
My room service was delivered by an employee wearing sweatpants and Timberland work boots. Every staff member at Cerise was dressed in different variations of non-uniform, casual black clothes, making it difficult to guess who was working and who was not.
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
The casual presentation doesn’t automatically equate to casual service, but appearance and professionalism seemed to be directly correlated here. Cerise seemed to have more staff than was necessary, but they seemed more interested in mucking and joking around with each other rather than serving customers or displaying a professional attitude.
Alternatives
Business travelers looking for service and atmosphere that is more corporate than casual should consider the nearby Kimpton Gray Hotel, also inside the Loop.
IHG One Rewards members can earn and redeem points at sensible rates while enjoying luxurious accommodations and mixing with other business travelers for after-work drinks at the popular Vol. 39 bar with its library aesthetic.
Alternatively, the Thompson Chicago, part of World of Hyatt, offers memorable room designs with masculine dark and creme color tones and views of Lake Michigan while adopting a more grown-up service culture.
Accessibility
Rooms and all public areas can be accessed without needing to tackle stairs, holding a gold level 8.7/10 accessibility score by Mobility Mojo. Guide and service dogs are welcome, guests can borrow wheelchairs, and there are a dozen accessible bedrooms available.
Many people think of a pet as a member of their family. So of course pet owners want to be sure they’re providing the best possible care for their animals without having to worry about what a trip to the veterinarian might cost.
Pet insurance offers a way to help pay for that care — whether it’s a routine checkup or an emergency. However, just like health insurance for humans, choosing the right pet insurance policy can be complicated.
There’s a wide range of coverage options and policy costs to consider. And pet insurance may not be the right fit for every pet owner. Here’s what to know.
What Is Pet Insurance?
Though it has a lot in common with human health insurance coverage, a pet policy falls under the property and casualty insurance classification.
Pet insurance has been around for almost 100 years, but has only been available in the United States since 1982, when a subsidiary of Nationwide sold its first policy to cover the dog that played Lassie on TV.
As with health insurance for humans, pet insurance has a range of options and costs to consider.
And it’s growing in popularity: The North American Pet Health Insurance Association reports that the industry has more than doubled since 2018, and the number of pet insurance premiums in the U.S. grew by 30.4% from 2020 to 2021.
Most of the 4.4 million pets insured are dogs (82% in 2021) and cats (18%). But some insurers may offer coverage for birds, fish, and other pets.
Pet policies are designed to protect pet owners from the high cost of taking their animal to the vet. (If a pet bites another animal or person, those costs typically are covered by homeowner’s insurance.)
There are a few types of pet insurance. Coverage can be limited to accident-only care for an animal, or it can be more comprehensive and include treatment for injuries and illness.
Some policies also include wellness costs, such as vaccinations, dental care, and medical tests. A few include extra benefits, such as coverage for pet care when an owner has an emergency, or coverage for vet care when the owner travels out of the country with the pet.
But preexisting conditions and cosmetic procedures usually aren’t covered. And policies tend to come with a waiting period of 14 to 30 days, which means if a pet is diagnosed with an illness or is injured before that time is up, treatment for that condition won’t be covered.
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How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
The average cost of an accident and illness pet policy was $48.66 per month for a dog in 2021, or $583.91 per year, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. For a cat, the average cost was $28.57 per month, or $342.84 per year. Adding wellness care and other benefits can increase the cost of a policy. So can the deductible, co-pay, and maximum coverage amounts the pet owner chooses. These costs are something to consider as you’re budgeting for a new dog or cat.
Reimbursement is typically 80%-90%, which means the insured pet owner can be reimbursed for up to 80%-90% of a qualifying claim. The deductible can be up to $1,000. Research shows many pet owners choose a deductible of $250.
The cost of coverage also may be affected by where the pet owner lives. In cities or regions where veterinary practices generally charge more for office visits or treatments, the cost of pet insurance may be higher.
And coverage may cost more based on a pet’s breed and age as well. Because some purebred cats and dogs may be more susceptible to certain medical conditions, they can be more expensive to insure.
Age is a factor. The older a pet is, the more it may cost to get coverage — both at the time of enrollment and as the pet ages.
The good news is, there are no “out-of-network” provider charges to worry about with pet insurance. As long as the pet owner takes Fido or Fluffy to a licensed vet, and the expenses for the visit qualify, it’s just a matter of filing a claim. Some insurance companies may pay the vet directly, but most reimburse the pet owner after the claim is submitted and verified.
Recommended: 19 Tips to Save Money on Pets
How Can Pet Owners Find Prices and Plans?
Because every pet and every plan is a little bit different, it can pay to do some research.
An increasing number of employers now offer pet insurance in their benefits packages, which could mean a lower premium. So pet owners may want to check with their human resources department to see what their company has to offer.
It’s also easy to get an online price quote from many of the companies that offer pet insurance. A quick search will turn up several well-known insurers (Nationwide, Progressive, Geico, Allstate) that offer coverage, along with insurance companies that are strictly for pets. The insurer will ask a few questions (the pet’s name, age, gender, breed, any preexisting conditions), and then provide quotes for three or more plans, along with some details about the benefits those plans include.
It also may help to have an idea of what it costs to treat common (and not-so-common) problems a certain type of pet might encounter.
For example, a physical for a dog can be as much as $300, and up to $200 for a cat, depending on your location and the pet’s age. Those bills might be daunting but not necessarily devastating for a family’s budget. But an emergency vet visit with multiple overnight stays in an emergency clinic could be as much as $3,500. And surgeries your pet might require can run into the hundreds and even thousands of dollars.
Planning for those costs could help pet owners decide if insurance is something they should consider. (Your vet also may be able to provide some helpful information that pertains to your specific pet.)
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So, Is Pet Insurance Worth It?
As with so many financial decisions, there are pros and cons to purchasing a pet health policy.
Insurance may take some of the stress out of making treatment decisions for a beloved pet based on the ability to pay. Although there still could be out-of-pocket expenses to consider, it might help avoid what the pet insurance association calls “economic euthanasia,” when a pet owner makes the heartbreaking choice to put down a sick or injured animal because the required care is just too expensive.
Insurance also might help a pet owner avoid taking on credit card debt or depleting their savings account to pay for their pet’s care.
Another plus: Because policies can be customized, it may be possible to find one that provides basic coverage and still works within the family budget. And pet owners who love their vet won’t have to switch to a new provider.
But pet insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, and premiums also may be higher for breeds that are vulnerable to costly health conditions. The cost also goes up as an animal gets older, which is when many pets start having problems that require expensive treatments.
And, as is the case for most types of insurance, if policyholders don’t use their benefits, they don’t get their money back. So, for example, if the pet owner opts for an accident and illness policy and the pet stays healthy for several years, the insurance bills could end up costing more than the vet bills. You may want to set up an emergency fund to help cover any healthcare costs for your pet instead.
Recommended: How to Pay for Medical Bills You Can’t Afford
The Takeaway
If you aren’t sure if pet insurance is right for you, it might help to look at how the cost would fit with your current finances. If money is tight, is there something you could or would give up in order to pay for a pet policy? Also, would pet insurance tackle financial stress by keeping you from worrying about what you’d do if your pet needed expensive care?
Think about these questions carefully. If you feel you won’t get your money’s worth out of a health insurance policy, you may want to skip it for now. But if it’s easier for you to pay a premium monthly, rather than having to come up with a hefty sum all at once if something happens, you may decide pet insurance is a good option.
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Even if you don’t tune in to reality TV, you’ve likely caught wind of the drama that’s been circling the hit Bravo show “Vanderpump Rules” and the cheating scandal that has come to be known as “Scandoval” (a portmanteau of “scandal” and “Sandoval”).
For the uninitiated, the reality TV juggernaut premiered in 2013 and originally followed the lives of the staff of SUR restaurant, a West Hollywood, CA, staple owned by Lisa Vanderpump, formerly of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”
“Vanderpump Rules” is currently in its 10th season and experiencing a spike in ratings due to news that longtime cast members Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix had split after 10 years because of an affair between Sandoval and his co-star Raquel Leviss.
In March, the cheating scandal permeated every corner of the internet—from the typical gossip sites to even the New York Times. Since then, Sandoval has confirmed stepping out on Madix and evidence suggests that Sandoval and Leviss are still close.
So if it seems like everyone has been talking about the “Scandoval,” it’s not just you.
Which ‘Vanderpump Rules’ cast members currently own homes?
Some of the biggest questions to come out of the controversy have to do with Sandoval and Madix’s living situation and, specifically, the Valley Village, CA, house they bought together in 2019. Are they both still living in the house? Who legally owns the property? Is the home up for sale?
This shake-up in the Vanderpump universe—as well as news that two cast members recently became new homeowners—prompted us to focus the lens on Southern California and take a deep dive into the homes of Bravo’s most bankable stars.
Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix’s house
The home that Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval own.
(Realtor.com)
In 2019, Sandoval and Madix were the first of three “Vanderpump Rules” couples to make the move outside of West Hollywood and purchase real estate in the San Fernando Valley. The trio of couples—including Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright and ex-spouses Tom Schwartz and Katie Maloney—fell for near-identical modern farmhouse mansions that were within a stone’s throw of one another.
Sandoval and Madix purchased this 4,400-square-foot home for $2.08 million. The massive interior includes a chef’s kitchen with two dishwashers, a butler’s pantry, and a wine refrigerator—the perfect setup for mixologists Sandoval and Madix, who also have their own food and beverage ventures.
Property records show the homeowners are “Ariana Madix and Thomas Sandoval,” so even in the midst of the cheating scandal, they have maintained their residence. For the time being, the house is off the market. But who knows what the fallout will be after the current season of their reality show concludes.
Living room
(Realtor.com)
Kitchen
(Realtor.com)
Backyard
(Realtor.com)
Bedroom
(Realtor.com)
James Kennedy’s house
Front
(Realtor.com)
James Kennedy is another “Vanderpump Rules” star who calls the valley home.
The reality TV star and DJ recently purchased a remodeled three-bedroom, two-bathroom house in the heart of Burbank, CA, for $1.35 million.
The modest suburban spread was designed with comfort and style in mind and includes a stylish kitchen, a primary suite with double vanity, a pool, and a covered barbecue area in the backyard.
James Kennedy’s kitchen
(Realtor.com)
Dining and living area
(Realtor.com)
En suite bathroom
(Realtor.com)
Backyard with pool
(Realtor.com)
Lala Kent’s house
Lala Kent’s house
(Realtor.com)
Love her or hate her, there’s no denying that Lala Kent had a rocky couple of years due to her breakup with her partner, disgraced Hollywood producer Randall Emmett. But a bright spot came this year for Kent when she purchased an oasis in the desert: this 2,300-square-foot home in Palm Springs, CA.
The $1.35 million, three-bedroom pad is set on a golf course and offers jaw-dropping views of the mountains in the backyard. It’s well-equipped for the hot weather with a pool and covered lanai.
Kent’s new home is also next door—yes, next door—to “Vanderpump Rules” co-star and best friend Scheana Shay.
Living room
(Realtor.com)
Kitchen
(Realtor.com)
Bedroom
(Realtor.com)
Patio
(Realtor.com)
Backyard with golf course views
(Realtor.com)
Scheana Shay’s house
While the rest of her “Vanderpump Rules” cast mates were buying in the valley in 2019, Shay set her sights southeast and scooped up a house for $725,000 in Palm Springs. The home has proven to be a good investment—Shay’s friend and cast mate Kent paid nearly double for a similar three-bedroom next door.
The 1,900-square-foot desert dwelling is filled with modern design touches like an electric fireplace, “sliding walls of glass,” a saltwater pool and spa, and a large fire pit.
Shay shares the home with her husband, Brock Davies, and daughter, Summer Moon.
Lisa Vanderpump, restaurateur, philanthropist, and matriarch of the “Vanderpump Rules” empire, has lived in a hilltop estate, dubbed Villa Rosa, since 2011. She and her husband, Ken Todd, purchased the 8,800-square-foot home, which has been heavily featured on TV, for $10.2 million.
The five-bed Beverly Hills mansion is known for its lush landscaping, opulent interior design, and plenty of space for Vanderpump’s menagerie, including five rescue dogs, two miniature horses (including Velvet, a new pony who makes a cameo on this week’s episode of “Vanderpump Rules”), one retired racehorse, swans, peacocks, fish, and various other pets.
Nobody ever said finding “the one” was easy. It takes some time, a great deal of persistence, and definitely the commitment to make your way through a few bad eggs before finding one with potential.
The same is true for finding your ideal apartment– it really does take the same amount of dedication. However, in the same way that it’s hard to know if you’ve landed a guy or gal you could commit to, it’s also tough to know while apartment searching when you’ve found the place you want to snatch up.
Every place is going to have its advantages and disadvantages. So, to give you a little assistance on your apartment quest, here’s how to know you’ve found the one:
You Like Your Landlord (and Your Lease)
It’s important to enter into a lease confident in your landlord’s expectations and dependability. You don’t want to get stuck with no heat mid-December, only to find out you have a landlord who’s no help at all.
When talking (whether in person or over email or phone) to potential landlords or building managers, pay attention to how they answer your questions or concerns and how quickly they respond. Find someone who you like and feel you can trust.
Also, be sure the terms of your lease are OK. If no utilities are included and the rent is already on the high end of your budget or there are strict lease terms you can’t really agree to, the situation may not be the right fit for you.
It’s Well-Maintained
No renter should have to live in a place that’s constantly in need of repairs, small or large. During your apartment search, observe the overall condition of the building and the apartment, including its floors and walls.
Then, inspect appliances, heating and cooling systems (if applicable), and faucets and fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom to make sure everything is in good working order. Don’t feel bad about taking the time to do this– as they say, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Your Location is Ideal
You should have done ample research on the best neighborhoods for you before beginning your apartment search. If not, consider whether the locations of the apartments you’re viewing are a good fit for you.
Is the neighborhood safe? Is the commute to school or work reasonable? Is the area easily accessible by public transportation or is there parking nearby? Are all of your everyday necessities in the vicinity (i.e., a grocery store, coffee shop, pet store, etc.)?
The Price is Right
It’s always best to go into apartment hunting with an ideal budget in mind, but you should nail down a maximum price you’re willing to stretch to in case you aren’t finding anything within your optimal price range.
Your apartment may be “the one” if it’s a little over what you’d like to spend but makes up for that with amenities and location. Perhaps, for example, an apartment with a nice workout facility is more expensive, but then you could also cancel your gym membership to offset that added cost.
However, that doesn’t mean you should go over what you can reasonably pay per month.
It Has Your Non-Negotiable Amenities
Personally, I can’t live in an apartment without a dishwasher. In my experience, that will result in a sink constantly full of dirty dishes and an overextended food budget. Why? Because I’d rather buy food than clean my dishes and make meals at home.
Decide what your non-negotiable amenities are before apartment searching. Your ideal apartment should have as many of these as possible.
It’s the Right Fit for Your Furry Friend
Do you have a pet? Or are you considering getting one in the near future? Then the apartment has to be the right fit for your furry friend too. You wouldn’t marry someone your kids (assuming you have them) didn’t like, would you?
In any case, look for a place that has the right setup, amenities and location for your pets, and make sure the added deposits, fees and monthly rent will still keep the place within your budget. If you’re wondering how to know if a place is good for animals, look for other signs of dogs or cats in the building, like an outdoor doggie play area or a jar of treats at the front desk.
Keep in mind that it’s rare to find a “perfect” apartment. Much like finding the man or woman who is “the one” for you (you know, if you believe in that sort of thing), finding the right apartment may mean having to make a few compromises. While you shouldn’t settle for something that truly isn’t a good fit, give yourself a little wiggle room in all of these categories and look for a place that meets your most important criteria.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
Yep, you are reading this because you need an extra $300 ASAP.
In this post, you will learn the exact ways I have made 300 dollars fast or other methods that I truly know that work. Around here at Money Bliss, we research everything! That way we know you can put in the hustle and make it happen, too!
But with so many ways of making money on the internet these days, which one is best for your situation?
Hey, do you ever wonder how some people seem to make money the way they do?
It’s not by getting lucky–you’ve got to be smart about it.
I’ve looked at different options and ranked them from my favorite method all the way down to what I think is least desirable in terms of time investment and return.
Let’s get started…
How can I make $300 right now?
There are multiple ways to make $300 in a day.
You have to decide what works best for you! Preferably it would be a way that you naturally find enjoyment.
Even better, if you find a way to make 300 dollars fast that you can do repeatedly – that is called passive income.
What are ways to make money fast?
With so many ways to make money, sometimes figuring out what you should do can be a little overwhelming.
There are plenty of ways to make money fast.
You have to decide what you want to do.
35 Specific Ways on How to Make 300 Dollars Fast
Let us break it down for you with some of the most common and well-known methods of earning money.
For each way to earn 300 dollars in 24 hours, we will provide tips on how you could go about doing it.
1. Get a part-time job
One way is to get a part-time job.
You can look online or walk around any business for job postings.
Right now, there are SO MANY places that are DESPERATE for workers! You can easily find a part-time job making $15 an hour to $20 an hour.
2. Do a No-Spend Challenge – Budget to Find $300
A no-spend challenge is a great way to save money fast. I guarantee you can find $300 from your spending.
During a no-spend challenge, you commit to not spending any money on non-essential items for a set period of time. This can be anything from a week to a month.
There are a few different ways you can approach a no-spend challenge. One option is to cut out all non-essential spending for the duration of the challenge. This includes things like eating out, entertainment and shopping for new clothes. Another option is to allow yourself a set amount of money to spend each day during the challenge. This could be $10 per day or $50 per week.
No matter which approach you take, a no-spend challenge can help you save money fast. It’s also a great way to get creative and find new ways to have fun without spending money.
3. Open A New Bank Account & Get a Cash Bonus (Yes, get 300 dollars free)
A simple way to make money fast is by opening a new bank account. In fact, I just did this and received $300!
One way is to sign up for a new account and receive a sign-up bonus. Many banks offer these bonuses, which can range from $25 to $500, just for opening an account and meeting certain requirements. For example, you may need to deposit a certain amount of money within the first month or maintain a minimum balance.
Another way to make money fast with a new bank account is to take advantage of interest rates. Many banks offer higher interest rates for new customers, so you can earn more on your deposited funds.
Finally, some banks offer cashback or reward programs when you use your debit card or credit card for certain purchases. For example, you may get cash back when you use your debit card at grocery stores or gas stations.
4. Hop on TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is a great way to make some quick money in one day. You can sign up to be a Tasker and choose from a variety of tasks that need to be completed in your area. Once you complete the task, you’ll get paid.
TaskRabbit is great for people who are looking for extra income and don’t mind doing odd jobs. Some of the tasks you can do on TaskRabbit include:
Cleaning
Yard work
Furniture assembly
Grocery shopping
To become a Tasker, you’ll need to create an account and fill out your profile. Once your profile is complete, you can start applying for tasks. Once you’re approved for a task, you’ll need to complete it and submit proof of completion in order to get paid.
5. Sell items you no longer need for quick cash
There are a few things you can do to make some quick cash if you find yourself in a bind and selling items that you no longer need ranks at the top.
This could include clothes, furniture, electronics, or anything else that you have around the house that you don’t need.
You can list these items for sale on websites like Craigslist, Nextdoor, or Facebook Marketplace.
6. Join an in-person or online focus group
Focus groups are a great way to make some extra money fast. You can join a face-to-face focus group or an online focus group. Online focus groups are usually conducted via Skype or a similar video conferencing platform.
In a focus group, you will be asked to provide your opinions on various topics, products, or services.
The company conducting the focus group will use your feedback to improve its offerings. Focus groups usually last for 1-2 hours, and you will be compensated for your time with cash or gift cards.
Typically, I have made $50-300 for each focus group I completed. The exact amount will depend on the company conducting the research and the topic of the focus group. Learn more.
7. Move to freelance work
The best way to make money fast is to find a need that you can fill and then fill it. For example, if you’re good at writing, you could start offering content writing services. If you’re good at design, you could start offering design services. There are always businesses and individuals who need help with things like this, so if you can provide it, you’ll be able to make money quick.
There are a few different ways to offer freelance services. You can offer your services through a freelancing platform like Fiverr, or you can reach out to businesses directly and offer your services. You can also set up a website and promote your services through that.
Of course, the amount of money you can make will vary depending on the quality of your work and the size of the projects you’re working on. But if you’re able to deliver high-quality work quickly, you should be able to make decent money doing freelance work.
Also, this is a great way to start building consistent income from work from home jobs without investment.
8. Advertise On Your Car As Easy Ways to Make Money
There are a few companies that will pay you to advertise on your car. You can usually sign up for a short-term contract and get paid per month, or sometimes per week or day.
This can be a great way to make some quick cash if you have a car that you don’t mind driving around with ads on it.
Here are a few companies that offer this service:
To sign up, you’ll need to provide some basic information about yourself and your car, and then you’ll be able to browse the available campaigns and choose the ones you want to participate in. Once you’ve been approved for a campaign, the company will send you the materials you need to apply the wrap to your car, and then you’ll be on your way!
Double bonus if you do this while driving for Uber or Lyft!
9. Become A Virtual Assistant:
There are many ways to make money fast, but becoming a virtual assistant is one of the most viable options.
Virtual assistants provide administrative, secretarial, and clerical support to clients from a home office. They can perform tasks such as scheduling appointments, handling customer inquiries, managing social media accounts, and more.
To be a successful virtual assistant, you will need to have strong organizational and time management skills. You will also need to be comfortable using computers and various software programs. Additionally, it is important to be able to communicate effectively with clients via email and phone.
If you have the necessary skills and qualifications, becoming a virtual assistant can be a great way to earn money fast. Check out this free virtual assistant training!
10. Clean Houses
Cleaning houses is a profitable business and most people charge from $35 dollars to $45 an hour, so you can quickly make $300 by cleaning houses. You could start by advertising your services on platforms like Craigslist orNextdoor.
Once you get a few clients, you could start a Facebook group or Instagram account to showcase your work and attract more customers.
You could also look into joining a local house cleaning company as an independent contractor. This would give you the benefit of having a regular income, while still being able to set your own hours and work as much or as little as you want.
10. Give Blood OR Sell Plasma:
There are a few ways to make money fast, and giving blood or plasma is one of them – especially if you live in a college town.
You can usually make around $50-75 for giving blood or plasma. Also, many centers offer first time donors a big bonus!
The process takes around an hour, and you can usually donate once a week.
11. Do Grocery Shopping With Instacart:
Instacart allows people to shop for groceries and other items from the comfort of their own homes. As a shopper, you would be able to set your own hours and work as much or as little as you want.
For someone who loves shopping, this is perfect because you are not spending your own money!
You would also be able to earn tips from satisfied customers. If you are looking for a flexible way to make money, then becoming a shopper with Instacart could be a good option for you.
12. Test Websites for UI/UX
Testing websites for UI/UX is a great way to make money fast. Here are a few things to keep in mind when testing websites:
Make sure the website is easy to navigate
Check for broken links
Test the forms and checkout process
Provide feedback on the overall design and user experience
Companies want their online experience to be great, so this is a top gig.
13. Tutor Online
There are a few different ways you can tutor online, and each has its own benefits. You can use a platform like Chegg or Wyzant to connect with students who need help in your area of expertise. If you’re more of a self-starter, you can also look for online tutoring gigs on Upwork or Fiverr.
Benefits of tutoring online include:
You can work from anywhere with an internet connection
You can set your own hours
Tutoring is a great way to make $30 an hour
If you’re looking for ways to make money fast, tutoring online is a great option. You can work from anywhere in the world, and set your own hours so that you can fit tutoring into your busy schedule. Plus, tutoring is a great way to make extra money.
14. Writing Skill? Become a Freelance Writer
Also, making money is becoming a freelance writer. There are many websites and online publications that are always looking for new content, and a freelance writer can easily provide this. In addition, a freelance writer can often command a higher rate than other types of writers because of the specialized nature of their work.
Another way to make money fast as a freelance writer is to offer services such as ghostwriting or editing. This can be especially helpful for businesses or individuals who need assistance with their writing but do not have the time or resources to do it themselves. By offering these services, you can still earn a decent living while helping others improve their own writing skills.
Check out this course on how to Earn Money while Writing.
15. Manage Social Media Accounts to Make $300 a Day
There are a few different ways you can make money by managing social media accounts. You can offer your services to businesses or individuals who need help with their social media presence. Here are a few ideas:
Offer to help businesses with their social media strategy. This can include creating and scheduling posts, engaging with followers, and monitoring analytics.
Offer to manage an individual’s personal social media accounts. This can include anything from posting updates to responding to comments and messages.
Start your own social media management company. This will require more work upfront, but you can potentially earn a lot more money in the long run.
If you’re looking to make some quick cash, managing social media accounts is a great option. With a little effort, you can easily make $300 or more per day!
16. Become An Uber Or Lyft Driver:
If you’re looking to make some quick cash, becoming an Uber or Lyft driver might be a good option. This past weekend, we met a driver who would not tell me the exact amount he makes, but it was hovering six figures.
You can work on your own schedule and earn money by picking up passengers and taking them to their destination. Plus, you can get paid even more if you’re willing to pick up additional passengers or drive during peak hours.
Key Tip… Learn the routes and areas in which you are more likely to make more money. This may mean driving outside your hometown.
17. Ask for Extra Hours
A simple way to make $300 fast is to ask for extra hours at work. If you’re able to put in the extra work, you’ll likely see a boost in your paycheck.
This can be a great way to make some quick cash if you’re in need.
Many employers will be happy to pay overtime hours or just under the requirements of a full-time position.
18. Rent Your Car
Have you ever thought about renting your car out?
You can do this by signing up with a car rental service like Turo or Getaround. Once you’re approved, you can start renting out your car for quick cash.
Typically, you can earn around $30/hour for each rental, and you can get paid weekly. This is a great way to make some extra money if you have a car that you don’t use often.
19. Rent out a spare room in your house
Renting out a room in your house is a great way to make money fast.
You can charge daily, weekly, or monthly rates, and you’ll get the money right away.
This is a great option if you have an extra room in your house that you’re not using. Just make sure to list the room on a site like Airbnb so people can find it.
20. Open a Shopify Store and Sell
Opening a Shopify store is one of the quickest and easiest ways to start making money online. Shopify is an eCommerce platform that allows you to create an online store in minutes, without any prior experience or technical knowledge.
There are a few things to keep in mind when opening a Shopify store:
Choose a niche: When choosing what products to sell, it’s important to pick a niche that you’re passionate about. This will make it easier to market your store and stand out from the competition.
Research your products: Once you’ve chosen a niche, it’s important to do your research and make sure you’re offering quality products that your customers will love.
Set up your store: The next step is to set up your Shopify store. This process is relatively simple and can be done in just a few minutes.
Start promoting your store: Once your store is up and running, you’ll need to start promoting it through social media, blogging, and other marketing channels.
Once your store is up and running, you can start selling products and making money right away.
21. Events Assistant
Thankfully, large events are making a comeback, and thus it is now one way to make money fast is to work as an events assistant.
Events assistants help with the planning and execution of events, such as weddings, corporate functions, and parties. They may be responsible for tasks such as booking venues, arranging transportation, and decorating the event space.
Working as an events assistant can be a great way to earn quick cash, as many events take place on weekends or evenings. You may earn tips in cash, too.
22. Apply For A New Credit Card & Get a Signup Bonus
Applying for a new credit card is one of the easiest ways to make money fast if you have a good credit score.
You can often get a sign-up bonus just for applying, and if you use the right card, you can earn cash back or points that can be redeemed for free travel.
Just make sure to pay off your balance in full each month so you don’t get hit with interest charges.
23. Get Paid To Walk
There are a few ways to make money by walking, including becoming a pet-sitter or dog-walker, delivering food or packages, and even participating in research studies.
Pet-sitting and dog-walking are great ways to get some exercise while making some extra cash. You can advertise your services on websites like Rover or Care.com, or even on local community Facebook groups. Once you build up a clientele, you can set your own schedule and rates.
If you don’t mind doing a little bit of extra work, you could also sign up to deliver food or packages for companies like DoorDash, Postmates, or Amazon Flex. You can typically set your own schedule and rates for these gigs.
24. Wait tables
Working as a waiter or waitress can be a great way to make some extra money fast. In fact, it is easy to net over $300 if you are personable and do your job well!
In most cases, you will be able to keep all of the tips that you earn, which can add up to a significant amount of money over time.
Additionally, many restaurants offer their employees discounts on meals, which can further increase your earnings. If you are looking for a way to make some quick cash, waiting tables may be the perfect solution for you as you can start within days.
25. Provide Yard Work Help
Another way to make money fast is by providing yard work services. This could involve mowing lawns, shoveling snow, trimming hedges, or any other type of outdoor work.
You can use online platforms such as TaskRabbit, Nextdoor or Craigslist to find clients, or you can reach out to local businesses or individuals who need help with their yards.
From personal experience, my kids have averaged over $300 a day – just for snow shoveling! Good hustle for those preteens!
This is yet another way to make some quick cash by doing odd jobs for people in your community.
26. Read Books and be Paid as a Reader
There are a few ways to make money by reading books. You can start a book blog and get paid to review books, you can work as a freelance book editor, or you can even get paid to read books!
If you want to start a book blog, you first need to find a niche. What kind of books do you want to review? Once you’ve found your niche, the next step is writing reviews. You can use sites like Amazon and Goodreads to find books to review, and then post your reviews on your blog.
If you’re interested in working as a freelance book editor, there are a few things you need to know. First, you need to have experience editing books. Second, you need to be able to showcase your work. And third, you need to be able to market yourself so that potential clients can find you.
One way that you can make money by reading books is by becoming a beta reader. Beta readers are people who read manuscripts before they’re published and provide feedback on the story and the writing. If you’re interested in becoming a beta reader, the best way to find work is by networking with authors and editors who might need your services.
27. Sell a Skill on Fiverr
There are many ways to make money fast, but one way you can monetize a skill you have is to sell it on Fiverr.
Fiverr is a marketplace where people can buy and sell services starting at $5.
If you have a particular skill or talent, you can create a gig offering that service. Once your gig is created, buyers can purchase your service and leave a review.
If you deliver quality work, you will get repeat customers and your gigs will start to rank higher in the search results. This will help you make more money faster.
28. Profit from Baked Goods & Get Rewarded
Cake pops are hot! As most professional bakeries, charge between $1-4 per cake pop, you would need to sell 75 cake pops to make your goal of $300 a day.
Same with sourdough bread! people are selling homemade sourdough bread for $5-8 per loaf. So, you need to sell around 40 loaves to hit 300 dollars fast.
Another option is to offer baking classes in your community to make extra money. This is a hot thing to do for couples and kids.
There are many delicious ways to make money fast from baking.
29. Flip Stuff Online and Be a Reseller
One way to make money fast is to resell items on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist.
You can find items to resell at garage sales, thrift stores, and even online. Once you have found an item to resell, list it on eBay and set a starting price. Be sure to research the item so you know how much it is worth and what similar items have sold for in the past. You can also offer to ship if you are selling a larger item.
Check out this free training from Flea Market Flipper!
30. Negotiate a Pay Rise
There are a few key things you can do to increase your chances of successfully negotiating a pay rise:
Do your research: find out what the average salary is for your role in your area, and what other people in similar roles at other companies are being paid. This will give you a good starting point for negotiations.
Build a case: put together a document or presentation detailing your successes and value to the company. This will help you make your case in a clear and concise way.
Be prepared to walk away: if the company isn’t willing to meet your demands, be prepared to walk away. This may mean looking for another job, but it’s important to stand up for yourself and not accept less than you’re worth.
This is a great way to increase your paycheck!
31. Do odd jobs for people
One way to make some quick cash is to do odd jobs for people in your neighborhood.
This could be anything from mowing lawns and shoveling snow to painting fences and washing cars. If you have a knack for handyman work, you can list your services on websites like TaskRabbit or Craigslist.
You can also sign up with a local home improvement store, such as Home Depot or Lowe’s, to find customers who need help with small projects around the house.
You can house sit for people in your community who are going out of town and need someone to watch their home while they’re gone. Check out a great place with Trusted Housesitters.
32. Start Copywriting
Copywriting is a skill that can help you make money fast. If you can write persuasively, you can earn quick cash by writing articles, sales letters, and web copy.
Here’s how to get started:
Find a need. Look for businesses that are in need of content and start pitching them your services.
Write a great proposal. Your proposal is your chance to sell your services, so make sure it’s well-written and persuasive.
Get paid! Once you’ve landed a client, get to work and start earning money fast!
Check out where to find copywriting jobs.
33. Play with Dogs with Pet-sitting Services
If you love animals, you can offer pet-sitting services to earn some extra cash.
Pet owners often need someone to watch their pets while they’re away on vacation or business trips. If you love animals, this can be a great way to earn some extra cash.
You can also dog walk or pet sit for neighbors or friends.
34. Invest in Stocks or Cryptocurrency.
If you’re willing to take on some risk, you could make money by investing in stocks or cryptocurrency. However, these investments can also lose money, so be sure to research before investing.
This is one way I consistently make an extra 300 dollars a day.
However, this is after I took an investing course and months of practice. If you are analytical and enjoy patterns, this could be for you.
35. Complete online survey and earn extra cash
This is probably my least favorite, but you can make cash fast for very simple work. The amount of money you can make depends on the amount of time you’re willing to spend, and some other factors like your demographics.
Join a paid survey panel.
These panels usually work with marketing research companies who pay panelists for their participation in online and offline surveys. To join a paid survey panel, you’ll typically have to fill out a short sign-up form and provide some basic information about yourself. Once you’re signed up, you’ll start receiving survey invitations by email.
Here are the top legit survey platforms:
How much money can you make with each method?
The goal is to make 300 dollars fast, right?
It depends on the way you want to make money and the effort you put into it.
Some like virtual assistants or active trading will take longer to build up and get your experience, but it will be more lucrative as you go. On the flip side, pet sitting or house sitting is quicker to start but could be less consistent with clientele.
What are the pros and cons of each method to make money today?
There are a few different ways to make extra money, and each has its own pros and cons. For example, you could get a part-time job, start a side hustle, or take on some freelance work.
Idea #1 – Another job or More Hours
Getting a part-time job is one of the most common ways to make extra cash. The main pro of this method is that it’s relatively easy to find a part-time gig these days. You can use sites like Indeed or Craigslist to find open positions near you.
The main con of this method is that it can take up a lot of your time, which might not be ideal if you’re already working full-time or taking care of other obligations.
Idea #2 – Start a Side Hustle
Starting a side hustle is another popular option for making extra money. The biggest pro of this method is that you can often make more money with a side hustle than you would with a part-time job.
The biggest con of this method is that it takes time and effort to get your side hustle off the ground.
Idea #3 – Freelance Work Online
Taking on some freelance work is another option for making extra cash. The main pro of this method is that you can often set your own hours and rates.
The main con of this method is that it can be tough to find consistent work.
Best Way to Earn Money Fast
Ultimately, the best way to make extra money is the method that works best for you and your situation.
If you need to make some quick cash, a part-time job might be the way to go. If you’re looking to consistently make a bit more money, starting a side hustle is best.
Top ways to make money fast online
There are many different ways you can make money online.
Some of the most common include affiliate marketing, selling your own products or services on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, using your blog as a source of passive income, and creating e-commerce stores.
In fact, learning how to make money online for beginners is a hot topic!
Which methods are best for making long-term income?
There are a variety of methods you can use to make 300 dollars fast. While some methods may only provide you with temporary or one-time earnings, others have the potential to provide you with more long-term income.
Some of the best methods for making long-term income include:
Finding a high-paying job: If you’re looking for more sustainable earnings, then finding a job that pays well is one of the best options. While it may take some time to land a high-paying position, once you do, you’ll be able to earn a steady income that can last for years.
Starting your own business: Another great option for earning long-term income is starting your own business. This can be a great way to earn a passive income, as well as give you the flexibility to work on your own schedule.
Investing in real estate or stock market: Another option for those looking to make long-term earnings is investing in real estate or the stock market. This can be a great way to earn passive income and build up wealth over time.
What are some tips for making money fast?
These are just a few ideas to get you started.
Remember, the key is to be creative and think outside the box. There are many opportunities out there for those who are willing to look for them. With a little effort, you can find a way to make money fast.
Do you need to know how to make 2000 fast?
Tips to Earn Real Money and Make Extra Money Fast
How can you make sure you make the most money possible?
There are a few key things to keep in mind if you want to make the most money possible:
1. Be Clear On Your Expectations
If you want to make extra money, you need to be clear on what you want. Specifically how you are looking to make and how many hours you are going to commit.
Also, you need to communicate this to others around you like friends, family, or kids.
2. Set Prices People Make in Reality
Making sure that you have a clear understanding of the services you’re offering and what the going rate is for those services is crucial.
If you don’t know how much your time and effort are worth, it’s easy to undervalue yourself and end up making less money than you could have. Likewise, if you overprice yourself, people are less likely to use your services.
3. Negotiate a Ton
Don’t be afraid to negotiate. If you feel like you’re worth more than what the other person is offering, try to negotiate for a higher price.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate when it comes to prices. If you feel like your time is worth more than what the other person is offering, try negotiating for a higher price. It never hurts to ask, and often times people are willing to pay more than they initially offered if it means getting better quality work.
4. Work Hard and Make Real Cash – Not Free Cash
Be willing to work hard. The more effort you put in, the more money you’re likely to make.
If you’re not willing to put in the extra effort, you’re not going to make as much money as you could have.
Free cash won’t just happen; that isn’t someone you strive to be. Work hard and be paid.
Start Earning 300 dollars and Make Money Quickly
There are a lot of ways to make 300 dollars fast.
You just have to be creative and resourceful.
With this guide, you now know 35 ways to make 300 dollars fast. You can start earning extra cash today by following these methods.
You can start by looking for ways to make money in your free time, at home, or online. With a little effort, you can make 300 dollars in no time. Then, on to make 500 dollars fast.
Remember to have fun while you’re earning money! Thanks for reading and good luck!
Then, your next goal will be how to turn 10k into 100k.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Is there anything better than a well-prepared tube steak? If you’re a fan of encased meat on a bun, then July’s National Hotdog Month is the season for you. As simple as this food may seem, a hot dog you chow down on near Coney Island might be markedly different from one you nosh in Seattle. Regional variations inspire a strange and all-consuming loyalty — so pay attention to how the locations near your apartment are serving them up.
The Slaw Dog
A staple of the South, the slaw dog is a hot dog slathered with a thick, sweet, creamy mayonnaise-based slaw made from a mixture of finely chopped cabbage and carrots and placed on a lightly steamed bun. You can stop here, or try the unique flavor combination of the chili cheese slaw dog, which features a grilled hot dog topped with hearty, beanless chili and that signature slaw.
Where: The Varisty – 61 North Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308
The Italian
The Italian hot dog is like a regular hot dog on steroids. Hot dog vendors hip to this variety, most often found in New Jersey, take a half-round of doughy bakery bread, slice it open and create a pocket that resembles an enlarged pita, which is then smeared with yellow mustard. Then, they stuff in a pair of deep fried hot dogs (called rippers because their skin rips open during frying), toss on a mound of sautéed onions and peppers and a heap of crispy fried potato wedges.
Where: Jimmy Buff’s – 60 Washington St., West Orange, NJ 07052
The Chicago Style
As the name suggests, you can find this famous style in the Windy City. If you choose to chow down on this culinary creation, you’ll enjoy either a steamed or charred, all-beef, natural casing hot dog, nestled into a steamed poppy seed bun and topped with a variety of things. If you want it “dragged through the garden,” you’ll get chopped onions, sliced tomatoes, a dill pickle spear, neon green sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, pickled sport peppers and celery salt. Just don’t ask for ketchup – you’ll never find this looked-down-upon condiment on the Chicago-style hot dog, although some vendors will provide small packets to customers who request it, along with a dirty glare.
Where: Superdawg – 6363 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60646
The Sonoran
Found in Tucson, metropolitan Phoenix and in Sonora, Mexico, the Sonoran hot dog is wrapped in mesquite-smoked bacon and then cooked on a grill or a griddle and stuffed into steamed bolillo rolls. The finished product is topped with pinto beans, chopped tomatoes, onions, mustard, mayo and jalapenos. Other topping variations include shredded cheddar cheese, queso fresco, cotija cheese, salsa verde and guacamole. It’s like a fiesta for your tummy.
Where: Nogales Hot Dogs – 1945 E Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85016
The Seattle Style
If you haven’t heard of the Seattle-style cream cheese dog, you’re probably not alone. This sleeper hit of the Pacific Northwest has practically popped up out of nowhere and now can be found at hot dog carts across the Emerald City. The Seattle-style hot dog is a wiener or Polish sausage split, grilled and jammed into a toasted bun slathered with cream cheese. Standard toppings include grilled onions, jalapenos and either sauerkraut or grilled cabbage, while typical condiments include mustard, barbecue sauce and Sriracha.
Where: Monster Dogs – 1st Avenue and Bell Street, Seattle, WA 98101
The Puka Dog
Just as its native Hawaii is a melting pot of cultures, the puka dog offers a wide variety of flavors from across the world on one bun. The word puka means “hole” in Hawaiian and, in this case, refers to the hot dog’s bun, a loaf of sweet bread which is baked in a special contraption that creates a hole to encapsulate the grilled Polish sausage. Puka dogs are topped with any number of secret sauces, particularly a lemon garlic aioli, tropical mustards and fruit relish, like habanero, lemon, mango, coconut, papaya and guava.
Where: Hula Dog, 2301 Kuhio Avenue #334, Honolulu, HI 96815