Electronics Archives - Page 18 of 30

Apache is functioning normally

June 9, 2023 by Brett Tams

With a new season comes the urge to revamp your home. New cheery furnishings and colorful accessories can pump new energy into your place and give it a more welcoming feel. And Memorial Day is a good time to take advantage of discounts on quality furniture and decor.

We spent hours digging through Amazon’s thousands of deals on home decor and accents to spruce up your living spaces and found 14 bargains too good to pass up. Equal parts functional and stylish, these pieces will transform your home without putting a massive dent in your bank account.

Take a look at the handpicked deals that will help you breathe new life into your space, and don’t forget to check out Amazon’s full list of special offers.

Amazon

Aoruisen Round Throw Pillow

A new plush pillow arrangement will make your couch feel like new again, even if you’ve had it for years. These decorative pillows aren’t just pretty to look at. They can also be used to deliver comfort during your reality TV marathons.

To buy: From $15 with coupon (was $23); amazon.com.

Amazon

Olanly Luxury Bathroom Rug Mat

Stepping out of the shower and onto ice-cold tile is a nightmare scenario. This highly absorbent microfiber bath rug will save your floor and your feet. The best-seller comes in nine different sizes and 11 charming colorways.

To buy: $36 (was $40); amazon.com.

Amazon

Amazon Basics Upholstered Tufted Storage Ottoman

If you’re short on space or simply just prefer not to see clutter, then a storage ottoman will be your best friend. No one will guess that this modern footstool doubles as a chic place to stash extra blankets, magazines, books, electronics, and so much more.

To buy: $72 (was $117); amazon.com.

Amazon

Sakringt Cordless Rechargeable Table Lamp

This set of contemporary, cordless LED lamps work as accent decor, minimalist desk lighting, ambient accessories, and more. They feature a sleek anodized finish, three color temperatures, and between eight and 40 hours of light when fully charged.

To buy: $60 (was $80); amazon.com.

Amazon

Umbra Trigg Geometric Hanging Planter

An easy way to add a little character to your home is with gorgeous greenery. Whether you’re an avid green thumb or prefer the company of charming faux plants, this fun, geometric planter will only take up vertical space while enlivening the room.

To buy: $25 (was $31); amazon.com.

Amazon

Amoystone Teal Agate Bookends

Add color and flair to your bookshelves will help from these stunning, jewel-toned agate bookends. They’re shoppable in teal, black, natural, and pink and come in four sizes. They also make lovely standalone decorative pieces around your home.

To buy: $29 (was $36); amazon.com.

Amazon

Yaheetech Accent Chair

Accent chairs are a fabulous addition to just about any room in your house. Bring a personal touch to your home office, living room, or sitting room with a velvet accent chair that all of your guests will want to sink into.

To buy: $66 with coupon (was $93); amazon.com.

Amazon

HBCY Creations Round Mirror

If your entryway seems small and stuffy, a chic mirror can make the space feel more open and even brighter. This exquisite option from HBCY is available in matte black, gold, and silver finishes, as well as five sizes to fit your area perfectly.

To buy: $60 (was $100); amazon.com.

Amazon

Tinsow Artificial Eucalyptus Stems

These artificial eucalyptus stems are so versatile, you may want to buy them in bulk. The set includes five stems with about 25 leaves each that measure 15 inches tall. Create the floral arrangement of your dreams with them.

To buy: $8 (was $12); amazon.com.

Amazon

Roomfitters Faux Marble Coffee Table

Your coffee table is usually the center of your living space, so updating it can easily make your living room look instantly refreshed. The two-tiered design gives you more opportunity to decorate with books and accessories or festive holiday decor.

To buy: $99 (was $189); amazon.com.

Amazon

Oubonun Rustic Tablecloth

You don’t need to swap out your dinner table when you can simply switch out your tablecloths and introduce a whole new vibe into the room. Adorned with a premium zigzag design and tassels on the edges, this pick is simple yet timeless—and it’s machine washable.

To buy: $17 with coupon (was $33); amazon.com.

Amazon

DII Handmade Placemat Set

Add to the rustic charm of your dining room with this set of handcrafted placemats. They’re made of recycled cotton, and thanks to their handmade quality, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Spills are easy to handle since this set is also machine washable.

To buy: $22 with coupon (was $42); amazon.com.

Amazon

Creative Co-Op Farmhouse Embossed Stripe Ceramic Pitcher

It’s the season of outdoor parties, and this sturdy stoneware ceramic pitcher was meant to be showcased, whether you’ll be using it to refill everyone’s glasses with homemade iced tea or you opt to make it the centerpiece of the tablescape with a fresh handful of vibrant blooms.

To buy: $22 (was $35); amazon.com.

Amazon

Le Tauci Ceramic Spoon Rest Set

Add some practicality and color to your kitchen with this set of spoon rests. The stackable design will save you precious countertop space. Plus, the set of four ensures you don’t have to worry about cross-contamination while cooking up your delicious dishes.

To buy: $16 (was $20); amazon.com.

Source: realsimple.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 8, 2023 by Brett Tams

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.

We are going to under the cover and discover $12 an hour is how much per year.

For most Americans, this is hovering near minimum wage.

Let’s get this straight… This is not a livable wage.

If you are in high school or college and have support from your parents, then this is great spending money for you.

However, if you are making it on your own, $12 per hour will not make ends meet each month.

For most people, being at minimum wage is common and the goal is to make your way up the payscale and quickly!

In this post, we’re going to detail exactly what $12 an hour is how much a year. Also, we are going to break it down to know how much is made per month, bi-weekly, per week, and daily.

That will help you immensely with how you spend your money. Because too many times the hard-earned cash is brought home, but there is no actual plan for how to spend that money.

When living close to minimum wage, you must know how to manage money wisely.

More than likely, you are living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to survive to the next paycheck. Take a deep breath and make this minimum wage just a season.

The ultimate goal is to make the most of your hourly wage with inspirations to make more money.

If that is something you want too, then keep reading. You are in the right place.

$12 an Hour is How Much a Year?

When we ran all of our numbers to figure out how much is $12 per hour is as an annual salary, we used the average working day of 40 hours a week.

40 hours x 52 weeks x $12 = $24960

$24960 is the gross annual salary with a $12 per hour wage.

Breakdown Of 12 Dollars An Hour Is How Much A Year

Typically, the average work week is 40 hours and you can work 52 weeks a year. Take 40 hours times 52 weeks and that equals 2,080 working hours. Then, multiple the hourly salary of $12 times 2,080 working hours, and the result is $24,960.

That number is the gross income before taxes, insurance, 401K, or anything else is taken out. Net income is how much you deposit into your bank account.

Work Part Time?

But you may think, oh wait, I’m only working part time. So if you’re working part time, the assumption is working 20 hours a week at $12 an hour.

Only 20 hours per week. Then, take 20 hours times 52 weeks and that equals 1,040 working hours. Then, multiple the hourly salary of $12 times 1,040 working hours, and the result is $12480.

How Much is $12 Per Month?

On average, the monthly amount would average $2,080.

Annual Amount of $24000 ÷ 12 months = $2080 per month

Since some months have more days and fewer days like February, you can expect months with more days to have a bigger paycheck. Also, this can be heavily influenced by how often you are paid and on which days you get paid.

Work Part Time?

Only 20 hours per week. Then, the monthly amount would average $1040.

How Much is $12 per Hour Per Week

This is a great number to know! How much do I make each week? When I roll out of bed and do my job, what can I expect to make at the end of the week?

Once again, the assumption is 40 hours worked.

40 hours x $12 = $480 per week.

Work Part Time?

Only 20 hours per week. Then, the weekly amount would be $240.

How Much is $12 per Hour Bi-Weekly

For this calculation, take the average weekly pay of $480 and double it.

$480 per week x 2 = $960

Also, the other way to calculate this is:

40 hours x 2 weeks x $12 an hour = $960

Work Part Time?

Only 20 hours per week. Then, the bi-weekly amount would be $480.

How Much is $12 Per Hour Per Day

This depends on how many hours you work in a day. For this example, we are going to use an eight hour work day.

8 hours x $12 per hour = $96 per day.

If you work 10 hours a day for four days, then you would make $120 per day. (10 hours x $12 per hour)

Work Part Time?

Only 4 hours per day. Then, the daily amount would be $48.

$12 Per Hour is…

$12 per Hour – Full Time	Total Income
Yearly Salary (52 weeks)	$24,960
Yearly Wage (50 weeks)	$24,000
Monthly Wage (173 hours)	$2,080
Weekly Wage (40 Hours)	$490
Bi-Weekly Wage (80 Hours)	$960
Daily Wage (8 Hours)	$96
Net Estimated Monthly Income	$1,588

^{**These are assumptions based on simple scenarios.}

Paid Time Off Earning 12 Dollars an Hour

Does your employer offer paid time off?

As an hourly, close to minimum wage employee, more than likely you will not get paid time off.

So, here are the scenarios for both cases.

For general purposes, we are going to assume you work 40 hours per week over the course of the year.

Case # 1 – With Paid Time Off

Most hourly employees, get two weeks of paid time off which is equivalent to 2 weeks of paid time off.

In this case, you would make $24960 per year.

This is the same as the example above for an annual salary making $12 per hour.

Case #2 – No Paid Time Off

Unfortunately, not all employers offer paid time off to their hourly employees. While that is unfortunate, it is best to plan for less income.

Life happens. There will be times you need to take time off for numerous reasons – sick time, handling an emergency, or even vacation.

So, let’s assume you take 2 weeks off without paid time off.

That means you would only work 50 weeks of the year instead of all 52 weeks. Take 40 hours times 50 weeks and that equals 2,000 working hours. Then, multiple the hourly salary of $12 times 2,000 working hours, and the result is $24,000.

40 hours x 50 weeks x $12 = $24000

You would average $96 per working day and nothing when you don’t work.

$12 an Hour is How Much a year After Taxes

Let’s be honest… Taxes can take up a big chunk of your paycheck. Thus, you need to know how taxes can affect your hourly wage.

This is why you always wondering why your take-home pay is so much less.

Also, every single person’s tax situation is different.

On the basic level, let’s assume a 12% federal tax rate and a 4% state rate. Plus a percentage is taken out for Social Security and Medicare (FICA) of 7.65%.

Gross Annual Salary: $24,960

Federal Taxes of 12%: $2,995
State Taxes of 4%: $998
Social Security and Medicare of 7.65%: $1,909

$12 an Hour per Year after Taxes: $19,057

This would be your net annual salary after taxes.

To turn that back into an hourly wage, the assumption is working 2,080 hours.

$19057 ÷ 2080 hours = $9.16 per hour

After estimated taxes and FICA, you are netting $9.16 an hour. That is $2.84 an hour less than what you planned.

This is a very highlighted example and can vary greatly depending on your personal situation. Therefore, here is a great tool to help you figure out how much your net paycheck would be.

$12 an Hour Budget Example

You are probably wondering can I live on my own making 12 dollars an hour? How much rent can you afford on 12 an hour?

Using our Cents Plan Formula, this is the best case scenario on how to budget your $12 per hour paycheck.

When using these percentages, it is best to use net income because taxes must be paid.

In this example, above we calculated $12 an hour was $9.16 after taxes. That would average $1588 per month.

According to the Cents Plan Formula, here is the high level view of a $12 per hour budget:

Basic Expenses of 50% = $794
Save Money of 20% = $318
Give Money of 10% = $159
Fun Spending of 20% = $318
Debt of 0% = $0

Obviously, that is not doable when living so close to minimum wage. So, you have to be strategic on ways to decrease your basic expenses and debt. Then, it will allow you more money to save and fun spending.

To further break down an example budget of $12 per hour, then using the ideal household percentages is extremely helpful.

recommended budget percentages based on $12 per hour wage:

Category	Ideal Percentages	Sample Monthly Budget
Giving	10%	$62
Savings	15-25%	$104
Housing	20-30%	$645
Utilities	4-7%	$125
Groceries	5-12%	$187
Clothing	1-4%	$21
Transportation	4-10%	$125
Medical	5-12%	$208
Life Insurance	1%	$18
Education	1-4%	$10
Personal	2-7%	$31
Recreation / Entertainment	3-8%	$52
Debts	0% – Goal	$0
Government Tax (including Income Tatumx, Social Security & Medicare)	15-25%	$492
Total Gross Income		$2,080

^**^{In this budget, prioritization was given to basic expenses. Thus, some categories like giving and saving were less.}

$12 an Hour Calculator

Now, you get to figure out how much you make based on your hours worked or if you make a wage between $12.01-12.99.

Here is a handy calculator to use if you make $12.60, $12.30, or $12.75 an hour.

Living on $12 Per Hour

Living close to minimum wage can be a very difficult situation.

Is it doable? Probably not for long.

You just have to be wiser (or frugal) with your money and how you spend the hard-earned cash you have been blessed with.

A lot of times when people are making under near the minimum wage mark, they feel like they are in this constant cycle that they can never keep up with (which completely makes sense it is hard!).

When your thoughts are constantly focused on how you are struggling to keep up with bills and expenses, that is all you focus on.

You need to realize that your mindset is everything.

This is what you say to yourself… Okay, I am making near minimum wage for now. I have aspirations and goals to increase how much I make. For now, I am going to make sure that I am able to live on my 12 dollars per hour. I’m going to try and avoid debt and payday loans at all costs.

Other Tips to Help You:

Check your minimum wage for your state and city. You might find a higher minimum wage in a nearby city.
Look to living in a lower cost of living area to stretch your money.
Find ways to minizine your basic expenses.
Thrive with a minimalist lifestyle.
Decide if a roommate or moving back with your parents would help.
Bike or walk to work.

In the next section, we will dig into ways to increase your income, but for now, you must focus on living on $12 an hour.

5 Ways to Increase Your Hourly Wage

This right here is the most important section of this post.

You need to figure out ways to increase your hourly income because I’m going to tell you…you deserve more. You do a good job and your value is higher than what your employers pay you.

Even an increase of 50 cents to $12.50 will add up over the year. Even better $13 an hour or $15 an hour!

1. Ask for a Raise

The first thing to do is ask for a raise. Walk right in and ask for a raise because you never know what the answer will be until you ask.

If you want the best tips on how specifically to ask for a raise and what the average wage is for somebody doing your job, then check out this book. In this book, the author gives you the exact way to increase your income. The purchase is worth it or go down to the library and check that book out.

2. Look for A New Job

Another way to increase your hourly wage is to look for a new job. Maybe a completely new industry.

It might be a total change for you, but many times, if you want to change your financial situation, then that starts with a career change. Maybe you’re stressed out at work. Making $12 an hour is too much for you and you’re not able to enjoy life, maybe changing jobs and finding another job may increase your pay, but it will also increase your quality of life.

3. Find a New Career

Because of student loans, too many employees feel like they are stuck in the career field they chose. They feel sucked into the job that they don’t like or have the potential they thought it would.

For many years, I was in the same situation until I decided to do a complete career change. I am glad I did. I have the flexibility that I needed in my life to do what I wanted when I needed to do it. Plus I am able to enjoy my entrepreneurial spirit.

4. Find Alternative Ways to Make Money

In today’s society, you need to find ways to make more money. Period.

There is no way to get around it. You need to find additional income outside a traditional nine to five position or typical 40-hour-a-week job. You will reach a point where you are maxed on what you can make in your current position or title. There may be some advancement to move forward, but in many cases, there just is not much room for growth.

So, you need to find a side hustle – another way to make money.

Do something that you enjoy, turn your hobby into a way to make money, turn something that you naturally do, and help others into a service business. In today’s society, the sky is the limit on how you can earn a freelancing income.

5. Earn Passive Income

The last way to increase your hourly wage is to start earning passive income.

This can be from a variety of ways including the stock market, real estate, online courses, book sales, etc. This is where the differentiation between struggling financially and being financially sound happens.

By earning money passively, you are able to do the things that you enjoy doing and not be loaded down, with having a job that you need to work, and a place that you have to go to. And you still make money doing nothing.

Here is an example:

You can start a brokerage account and start trading stocks for $50. You need to learn and take the one and only investing class I recommend. Learn how the market works, watch videos, and practice in a simulator before you start using your own money.

One gentleman started with $5,000 in his trading account and now has well over $75,000 in a year. Just from practice and being consistent, he has learned that passive income is the way for him to increase his income and also not be a slave to his job.

Tips to Live on $12 an Hour

In this last section, grasp these tips on how to live on $12 an hour. On our site, you can find lots of money saving tips to help stretch your income further.

Here are the most important tips to live on $12 an hour. Highlight these!

1. Spend Less Than you Make

First, you must learn to spend less than you make.

If not you will be caught in the debt cycle and that is not where you want to be. You will be consistently living paycheck to paycheck.

In order to break that dreadful cycle, it means your expenses must be less than your income.

And when I say income, it’s not the $12 an hour. As we talked about earlier in the post, there are taxes. The amount of taxes taken out of your paycheck is called your net income which is your home $12 an hour minus all the taxes, FICA, social security, and Medicare are taken out. That is your net income.

So, your net income has to be less than your net income.

2. Living Below Your Means

You need to be happy. And living on less can actually make you happier. Studies prove that less is better.

Finding contentment in life is one thing that is a struggle for most.

We are driven to want the new shiny toy, the thing next door, the stuff your friend or family member got. Our society has trained you that you need these things as well.

Have you ever taken a step back and looked at what you really need?

Once you are able to find contentment with life, then you are going to be set for the long term with your finances.

Here is our story on owning less stuff. We have been happier since.

3. Make Saving Money Fun

You need to make saving money fun. Period.

It could be participating in a no spend challenge for the month.
Check out the 200 envelope challenge (which is doable on your income)
It could be challenging friends not to go to Target for a week.
Maybe changing your habits and not picking up takeout and planning meals.
Whatever it is challenge yourself.

Find new ways of saving money and have fun with it.

Even better, get your family and kids involved in the challenge to save money. Tell them the reason why you are saving money and this is what you are doing.

Here are 101 things to do with no money. Free activities without costing you a dime. That is an amazing resource for you and you will never be bored.

And you will learn a lot of things in life you can do for free. Personally, some of the best ones are getting outside and enjoying some fresh air.

4. Make More Money

If you want if you do not settle for less, then find ways to make more money. If you want more out of life, then increase your income.

You need to be an advocate for yourself.

Find ways to make more money.

It could be a side hustle, a second job, asking for a raise, going to school to change careers, or picking up extra hours.

Whatever path you take, that’s fine. Just find ways to make more money. Period.

5. No State Taxes

Paying taxes is one option to increase what you take home in each paycheck.

These are the states that don’t pay state income taxes on wages:

Alaska
Florida
Nevada
New Hampshire
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Washington
Wyoming

It is very interesting if you take into account the amount of state taxes paid compared to a state with income taxes.

Also, if you live in one of the higher taxed states, then you may want to reconsider moving to a lower cost of living area. The higher taxes income tax states include California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oregon, Minnesota, the District of Columbia, New York, Vermont, Iowa, and Wisconsin. These states tax income somewhere between 7.65% – 13.3%.

6. Stick to a Budget

You need to learn how to start a budget. We have tons budgeting resources for you.

While creating a budget is great, you need to learn how to use one.

You do not have to budget down to every last penny.

You need to make sure your expenses are less than your income and you are creating sinking funds for those irregular expenses.

Budget Help:

7. Pay Off Debt Quickly

The amount that you pay interest on debt is absolutely absurd.

Unfortunately, that is how many of these companies make their money from the interest you pay on debt.

If you are paying 5% to even 20-21% or higher, you need to find ways to lower that debt quickly.

Here’s a debt calculator to help you. Figure out your debt free date.

Make that paying off debt fast is your target and main focus. I can tell you from personal experience, it was not until week paid off our debt that we finally rounded the corner financially. Once our debt was paid off, we could finally be able to save money. Set money aside in separate bank accounts and pay for cash for things.

It took us working hard to pay off debt. We needed persistence and patience while we had setbacks in our debt free journey.

Jobs that Pay $12 an Hour

You can always find jobs that pay $12 per hour. Polish up that smile, fill out the application and be prepared with your interview skills.

Job Search Hint: Always send a written follow-up thank you note for your interview. That will help you get noticed and remembered.

First, look at the cities that require a minimum wage in their cities. That is the best place to start to find jobs that are going to pay higher than the federal minimum wage rate. Many of the cities are moving towards this model so, target and look for jobs in those areas.

Possible Ideas for Jobs Paying $12 an hour:

Cashiers
Back of the house restaurant staff
Landscape Laborer
Retail jobs
Virtual Assistant – learn how to get started now!
Paraeducators at schools
Janitors
Farm help
Warehouse workers
Call center
Hotel Housekeeper
Delivery driver
Product demonstrator
Caregiver
Busser at restaurants

companies paying $12 an hour

Target
Amazon
Walgreens
Great Wolf Lodge
Olive Garden
Sonic

$12 Per Hour Annual Salary

In this post, we detailed 12 an hour is how much a year. Plus all of the variables that can impact your net income. This is something that you can live off.

How much is 12 dollars an hour annually…

$24,960

This is under $30000 per year and you need to make at least $38k a year.

In this post, we highlighted ways to increase your income as well as tips for living off your wage.

Use the sample budget as a starting point with your expenses.

You will have to be savvy and wise with your hard-earned income. But, with a plan, anything is possible!

Spend your time wisely and make money doing it. All of these quick ways to make money are simple and easy to do!

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Apache is functioning normally

June 7, 2023 by Brett Tams

Funding education with student loans is extremely common, thanks to the high cost of earning a degree. But while it may be essential to borrow to pay for things like tuition and living expenses, there are some things it doesn’t make sense to buy with loan money.

While I borrowed money to earn both my undergraduate degree and my law degree, there were four things I made sure never to spend my student loans on — even as some of my peers splurged more than I was comfortable with. Here’s what they are.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Vacations

It was tempting to fund spring-break trips or trips home from school to see family with my student loans. But the reality is, student loans typically come with long repayment terms of a decade or more. It didn’t make sense to pay for a vacation — and incur interest costs — for a 10-year period of time for a vacation that would be over in a week or two.

2. A car

Having transportation would have been very convenient while in school, but I wasn’t willing to pay for a car with a student loan.

Like with a vacation, it didn’t make sense to fund a vehicle purchase with a loan I’d be repaying for so many years. In fact, there was a substantial likelihood I’d still be paying my student loans even after the car got too old to drive, so I’d ultimately have been paying for a vehicle I no longer even owned.

If you can qualify for one, a car loan can be a better option than a student loan if you absolutely must borrow to buy a vehicle while in school. These loans have shorter payoff times and sometimes lower interest rates than student loans, so they can end up being more affordable.

Instead, you can do what I did: Rely on public transportation until you can afford to buy a car with cash or make car payments from your paycheck, rather than your loan checks.

3. TVs and video game systems

While I was in school, some of my friends bought televisions, video game systems, and other expensive electronics with their “extra” student loan funds. But this was something I wasn’t willing to do. The technology would have been obsolete before the loans were paid off, and I know I would have regretted making this decision.

4. Dining and drinking at restaurants and bars

Finally, spending money on fancy restaurants and drinks at bars was another common thing people did with student loan money. While it makes sense to spend time making these types of memories in college, borrowing to do it isn’t the best idea.

Every extra dollar of student loan payments can make it more expensive and difficult to pay back these loans later. A few drinks at the bar may not be worth having to wait to buy a house or start a family or begin saving for retirement because of lingering debt.

Ultimately, you are not supposed to spend your student loan money on these types of expenses. These loans are intended to be for educational costs only. While your lender isn’t checking your bank account to make sure you didn’t take a trip to the Bahamas with your loan funds, there’s a reason that you’re restricted to borrowing up to the cost of attendance.

You don’t want to trap yourself in a ton of debt just to “enjoy” your college years, only to end up spending the next decade or two of your life struggling. I made the decision early on to borrow the minimum necessary for the essentials, and others who need to rely on student loans may want to do the same.

Source: fool.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 6, 2023 by Brett Tams

Rental season is just around the corner! It’s time for a good spruce-up. Get your home summer-ready with these tips.

Give the place a deep cleaning: Whether you hire professionals or do it yourself, you’ll need to thoroughly clean your home. This includes:
● Wiping down kitchen appliances, cabinets, and furniture
● Cleaning out the inside and outside of the refrigerator
● Scrubbing the kitchen floor
● Emptying the dishwasher
● Dusting and vacuuming the living room and bedrooms
● Emptying all trashcans
● Scrubbing the floors, showers, toilets, and sinks in the bathrooms
● Giving walls a fresh coat of paint.

Organize room by room: Reduce clutter throughout your home to make it as livable and presentable as possible. Take out any furniture or items that won’t add to the vacation experience. Remove all valuables, including anything that has sentimental value, is irreplaceable, or contains your personal information.

Stock up on the essentials: You’ll need to provide your renters with bed linens, towels, hand soap, dishes, and cookware (at the very least). Make sure to have at least two sets of everything for each person. Make sure all of your electronics are in working order and light bulbs have been replaced. If necessary, upgrade your flat pillows, low-thread-count sheets, and anything that has a tear or crack.

Add a few personal touches: Make this feel like a home away from home with some simple additions. Here are a few ideas:
● Board games and cards (especially for rainy days)
● Books, magazines, and movies
● Tour guides and coffee table books
● Decorative throw pillows
● Artwork or photography on the walls

These tips may make your guests feel right at home!

Source: century21.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 3, 2023 by Brett Tams

Here on Making Sense of Cents, I talk a lot about different ways to make money on the side and the many great side hustle ideas. I do this because I truly believe that making money on the side can change a person’s life.

After all, learning about different ways to make money on the side changed my life.

My main side hustle a few years ago mainly consisted of me blogging here on Making Sense of Cents. Then, it quickly grew, my income matched and then exceeded my day job income, and I actually made the decision to leave my day job in order to pursue my side hustle full-time.

As you can probably tell, starting a side hustle significantly improved my life and it’s something I will ALWAYS be extremely happy about. My side hustle income allowed me to pay off my debt quickly, leave the job I disliked, start working towards my passion, and travel extensively.

Taking part in the many different ways to make money on the side can allow you to:

Pay off your debt;
Save for things such as a vacation;
Stop living paycheck to paycheck;
Reach retirement sooner;
Not feel as stuck at your job;
Become more diversified.

Many others believe in the amazing power of side hustle income as well. I recently interviewed many side hustlers, freelancers, business owners, and more about the different ways they’ve made money on the side and compiled them into one extremely informative blog post to help all of you. Plus, they share their tips on how to manage side jobs better so that you can make money on the side while not going crazy.

Below are over 40 different side hustle ideas and tips from the experts. There are many different ways to make money on the side and I’m sure you’ll find one below.

Related articles on side hustle ideas:

Here are over 40 ways to make money on the side:

Start a blog.

Blogging is how I make a living and just a few years ago I never thought it would be possible. I now make a great living online, I travel full-time, and I enjoy the work I do.

I made over $300,000 last year by blogging and will make more than that in 2016 (I’m hoping to double my income this year).

There are many ways to make money on the side and one of the top ways I recommend is to start a blog. You can create your own blog here with my easy-to-use tutorial. You can start your blog for as low as $3.49 per month plus you get a free domain if you sign-up through my tutorial.

Become a Brand Ambassador.

“A side hustle that I absolutely love is being a Brand Ambassador. A Brand Ambassador quite simply shares talking points and usually free swag with the public in order to build brand awareness. Brand Ambassadors typically work on the weekends at different events so the trick is to manage family time if you have a family. For more information on how to become a brand ambassador check out the following post: How To Become a Brand Ambassador.” – Michelle Jackson

“Love meeting new people? Many cities have active brand ambassador Facebook groups that are constantly looking for product demonstrators, trade show spokespeople, tour managers, and more! And brand ambassadors can expect to earn $15-20 per hour.” – Kate Dore

Related: Become A Brand Ambassador And Make Extra Money

Write a book.

“Self-publish a book on Amazon that focuses on a topic at the intersection of 3 things: 1. your passion; 2. your expertise; 3. a need in the marketplace How much a person could make would be based on how much they want to charge for the book, but I would say you could make anywhere from $50 – $300 / month, depending on your book content / audience.” – John Lee Dumas

“Anyone can be a self-published author now and it is one of my favorite side hustles. Whether you want to share tips on how to do something or want to write a fictional story, any topic can be published. How much you make depends a lot on how much competition there is for the same type of book. I make between $300 and $500 a month for a crowdfunding book I wrote last year while my investing books make between $100 and $250 a month. The best thing is that, once published, they will keep making money year after year.” – Joseph Hogue

“Publish a book. It is easier than it used to be. You can self publish or if you have a platform such as a blog with associated social media you can pitch to publishers and generate interest there. Publishing a book increases credibility and leads to other opportunities such as speaking, course, freelance writing, judging, presenting awards, launching events and a lot of media exposure. Depending on how you do, what niche it is, how well you market it you can make anywhere from nothing right through to millions. Personally, getting asked to publish a book back in 2010 changed everything and was a pivotal turning point for me. Quite a few friends of mine earn a few hundred thousand a year from their books and associated content, others a couple of million. Most authors only make a few thousand if they are lucky though. It is all in how you market and how much of a following/community or tribe you have.” – Kylie Travers

Become a virtual assistant.

There are many ways to make money on the side online, and one of them is by becoming a virtual assistant.

“My favorite way for someone to make extra money from home (and what I would personally do if I needed extra money FAST is to be a virtual assistant. Specifically, I would be a VA to bloggers. There are so many ways to do this, including assistant with social media, creating images, writing content, etc. There are lots of Facebook groups set up specifically for people to sell content to bloggers. Really your income is only limited to the time you want to invest in it. Some VAs charge per hour and some charge per project/post. With a few hours per day, I’d say you could easily make $50-$100 extra per day.” – Lena Gott

“I’ve made most of my money by working as a VA and blog manager for busy blog owners. I fit my side hustle in alongside my full-time job by reminding myself that I was making a temporary sacrifice of sleep and free time in order to build my business to the point I could quit my job. I now make over $5,000/month online with my business.” – Kayla Sloan

A virtual assistant helps a business run more smoothly. You can be contracted for one project (such as collecting data for research) or it can be a continuing job such as replying to e-mails and comments. Virtual assistant work can range widely. There are many, many tasks that people hire virtual assistants for.

Related: How To Become a Virtual Assistant and What Does a Virtual Assistant Do?

Become a coach.

“Coaching is a great way to make side income. It needs practically no monetary investment… just time. Just be mindful of what you charge per hour, as almost everyone starts way smaller than they really should. When pricing your coaching services, if in doubt, double it!” – Chris Ducker – ChrisDucker.com

“One on One coaching is a really simple and fast way to start earning income fast for yourself. While people who’ve been doing this for a while will typically earn around $300, $500 an hour, someone just getting started could expect to earn $50 a $100 an hour. The benefit with this side business is that you can earn more per hour starting out which means you won’t have to work as much to earn as much. Also, consider offering package deals, this will allow you to sell at a higher price point and this gives a definite start and end date to things.” – Chris Holdheide

Sell on eBay or Craigslist.

“I go through twice each year and pick up items I’m not using to sell on craigslist or ebay. I make about $3-400 each time I do it. That’s an extra $800 for something cool!” – Lauren Bowling

“One of my favorite ways to make extra money is to go around my house and find one thing to sell on Craigslist every week (particularly on Fridays right before the weekend when everyone loves to get rid of their money ;)). It not only helps you de-clutter and get rid of stuff that’s no longer important to you, but also make some good side money that you can then bank towards something you do care about! I made over $1,200 doing this last year and it helped fund a Roth IRA. Give it a shot!” – J. Money, BudgetsAreSexy.com / RockstarFinance.com

“One way that a person can make side income is by selling items on eBay. The amount of money varies. It depends on how many items you are selling and also the type of items. I’ve had months where I’ve made $300 (part-time), but I’ve also had months where I’ve only made $50.” – Jason Butler

Whether you have old clothes you want to sell, a car, electronics, or something else, eBay or Craigslist can be a great way to sell many different types of items.

Related: How To Sell On Ebay

Edit for others.

“One way a person can make a side income is to provide edits to authors. The amount they can make depends on the type of edits they provide and the number of projects they take on. I primarily take on larger projects that involve either developmental edits or line edits (or both!) but short story projects can also be a good way to work on brief projects while making a side hustle and break up the monotony of projects that are the same length. How much a person can make can also vary based on how they charge; for example, I charge per word in order to provide a better estimate, but some people charge per page. ” – Megan Harris

Get paid to search online.

Did you know that you can take paid online surveys to make extra money?

Swagbucks is just like using Google to do your online searches, except you get rewarded points called SB for the things you do through their website. You can also earn points by taking surveys, watching videos, and shopping. Then, when you have enough points called SB, you can redeem them for cash, gift cards, and more. You’ll receive a free $5 bonus just for signing up through my link!

InboxDollars is another online rewards website I recommend. You can earn cash by taking surveys, playing games, shopping online, searching the web, redeeming grocery coupons, and more. Also, by signing up through my link, you will receive $5 for free just for signing up!

Another one you may be interested in related to this one is Nielsen Digital Voice. Digital Voice is a part of Nielsen, which I’m sure you’ve heard of. All you have to do is surf the web and you may be able to start earning money.

Become a proofreader for court reporters.

In 2014, Caitlin made slightly over $43,000 by being a freelance proofreader, while also going on several fun vacations. If you are looking for a way to make money on the side, this may be something you want to look into.

“Court reporters use digital stenography machines in combination with computer-aided transcription software to write verbatim records of various legal proceedings. They report depositions, trials, hearings, arbitrations, case management conferences, compulsory medical examinations, examinations under oath, and pretty much any other type of legal proceeding. Because of the sensitive nature of legal proceedings, it’s imperative that as many errors as possible be eliminated from transcripts — an especially major error could ruin an entire trial! A fresh set of eyes will 99% of the time catch more errors than the same eyes who saw the text from start to finish, too. An excellent proofreader is a huge asset to a court reporter — especially a court reporter who wants to make more money.” – Caitlin Pyle – Make Money Proofreading By Becoming A Freelance Proofreader

Answer surveys.

You can get paid to answer surveys and to test products all from the comfort of your home. Due to this, I think it’s one of the easy ways to make money on the side as you don’t need any experience, skill, inventory, or anything like that.

Survey companies I recommend include VIP Voice, American Consumer Opinion, Survey Junkie, Clear Voice Surveys, Pinecone Research, Opinion Outpost, Survey Spot, Prize Rebel, and Harris Poll Online. They’re free to join and free to use! It’s best to sign up for as many as you can as that way you can receive the most surveys and make the most money.

Clean homes.

“One great way for a person to start making some side hustle income is to clean houses. It’s a chore that’s always in demand (I personally hate having to clean), and it’s pretty easy to get into. You can make anywhere from $100 a job and up, all depending on the time and level of cleaning you do.” – Glen Craig

Find a part-time job.

There are many, many part-time jobs out there that may be able to work along with your schedule at your full-time job. You can find a job on sites such as Snagajob, Craigslist (yes, I’ve found a legitimate job through there before), Monster, and so on.

Start an e-commerce store.

“A great way to make a side income is with an e-commerce store. Unlike a blog or an info site which does not actually sell anything, an online store allows you to quickly scale and generate revenue immediately after launch. My wife and I made over 100K in profit in our first year with our shop.” – Steve Chou

Drive a taxi or become an Uber driver.

“Drive a taxi at night. I’m reliably told that on Friday and Saturday a taxi driver who owns his/her car can make up to $300 per night. Nothing to be sniffed at! But what you decide to do as ‘side hustle’ depends on what you like to do and what you are really good at. If you like dogs, start a dog walking/sitting hustle.” – Maria Nedeva

“I’m always looking for new ways to make a few bucks so that I can then share the results with my readers. I wanted to test out Uber so that I could see if it was worth it. I drove part-time (weekends and evenings). The first week of driving generated me $651.60. Since the article went live, many of my readers have started driving on the side. You won’t get rich, but the extra money adds up. The other positive is that you save money by not going out. This side hustle will help you pay off debt and save up for your major goals. Good luck on the road and cheers to your new friendships that you’re going to create.” – Martin Dasko

Related: How To Become An Uber Driver

Write online.

“Freelance writing is an excellent side hustle because you can commit your time “per article,” and work at any time of the day or night. Most people can expect to make $50 per article and up. However, a lot of people – including myself – make considerably more as a professional freelancer.” – Holly Johnson

Test websites.

“One cool way to earn money on the side is by testing websites. There are a number of sites out there, but UserTesting.com is the best. You get paid $10 for testing websites and apps and following their instructions. It’s simple, easy, and you can earn about $30/hour with this. The work is not guaranteed, but it’s a great way to maximize any of your downtime with earning extra cash.” – Grayson Bell

Prepare taxes.

“One great side hustle most people can easily learn is preparing taxes. If you start your own tax preparation firm, your potential is unlimited. However, if you’re just learning, try getting a part time job at a place like Liberty Tax or H&R Block or a local CPA firm. At the big brands, like Liberty Tax or H&R block, you can probably expect to make between $10 to $15 per hour depending on your location and experience. This job is generally only seasonal, so it allows you to have summers and the holidays off from your side hustle.” – Lance Cothern

Become a photographer.

“Photography! Most people only think to hire a photographer for big events like weddings and baby announcements because photographers are expensive. Charge $100-$200 for an hour package at a local park, and in one weekend by booking your friends and family, you can easily make $2k with just family portraits. With the popularity of photo cards from sites like Shutterfly, you can be a saving grace for families on a budget and you’d be surprised at how many folks you know who would hire a photographer in budget!” – Shannyn Allan

Create a website.

“I’ve created several simple websites about apps and websites that I like and use. I write about how the apps work, pros/cons, other similar apps, etc. Some of the apps or websites give me credits or money when I get new users to sign up or use their service. I’ve made about $4,500 over the last three years, and I haven’t spent more than a few hours working on the sites during the last two years. I’d say overall I only put in 20-30 hours.” – Louis DeNicola at Saveful.com

Become an online tutor.

Online tutoring has become an open market place for the gig economy. This is a great option to make money on the side, or even convert it to full-time. Studypool provides a great platform for tutors to simply answer student’s question and get paid (no video chat required). You can earn up to $500/week tutoring part time or potentially up to $60,000 a year tutoring.

Take part in research studies.

“If you live in a city, or near a university or teaching hospital, you can make money participating in research studies that need human subjects. Just go to craigslist, click on “volunteers”, and type in “research”. There are a wide variety of studies out there: some are medical (if you’re generally healthy, you can often be a control subject), and some are more about psychology or other related disciplines. You can make anywhere from $10-$20 for a short, one-time study to hundreds or even thousands of dollars for longer, more involved studies. Another benefit is that you get to learn about the research that’s being done, which is often fascinating.” – Sarah from The Yachtless

Make money online.

“The best way that I know how to make side income is online. Specifically, by freelance writing and blogging. The amount of make you can make online is unlimited. If you’re just starting, maybe you’ll make $500/month. But over time, you can increase your earnings to $5,000/month and before long even more than that. I don’t know another side gig where the income growth potential is so high.” – Natalie Bacon

Film weddings.

“One way that my wife and I made $5,000 in the past year on side income has been filming weddings. A year and a half ago we had no video experience. Once we bought a camera and posting videos, we’ve had friends and friends of friends start asking us to film their weddings. Most everything we learned about video came from asking other film peeps to show us the ropes or looking up “how-to” videos on Youtube. Since weddings are typically on the weekends, they really are an ideal side hustle. They don’t get in the way of our typical work week at all and they pay high margin. Once you have some film experience under your belt, you can charge $3-5k per wedding film, easily. If you’re interested in getting started filming weddings, I would recommend tagging along with an experienced shooter. From my experience, they are always looking for good help if you’ve got an eye for good shots and can work well under a little stress (there will be brides after all). This past fall we apprenticed and was well worth the long weekend shoots. We learned so much about shooting good wedding film and made a good amount of money in the process.” – Heath Padgett

Create a product to sell.

“I’m biased, but I think creating an online product and selling it is one of the best side hustles a person can do. But people shouldn’t be scared for the term “product”. A product can be anything – an idea or content, a course, a widget, a downloadable printout, anything! And there are so many different avenues to sell today: create a blog, start an Etsy shop, sell on eBay or Amazon. The great thing about the Internet is that there is somebody out there that is looking for something and everything. If you’re a teacher, sell your classroom notes. If you’re an engineer, share your though processes. Anything can be turned into content, and anything can be packaged and sold.” – Robert Farrington

“The ways to make a side income are really endless. I’ve encountered so many ways entrepreneurs are able to make a side income. Although blogging has been the most lucrative way for me to make a side income, my favorite way is creating courses. Creating a piece of content showcasing your expertise in a specific are and people paying you for it is a great and rewarding feeling.” – Jeff Rose

Manage databases, apps, and more.

“Managing, designing or configuring cloud-based apps- ranging from social media and content management systems (like WordPress) to databases. I learned to administer salesforce.com databases for nonprofits and last year made $6,000-$15,000/month pretty consistently working from home. (The going rate for these services is $50-$200/hour) What helped me was going through a self-study course on the platform, getting a couple of certifications, doing some spec work, then going out and asking clients if they needed my services. I call it “Learn, Slay It, Sell It.” Find out about growing trends, get up to speed then see if people will pay you to do it. If you become enough of an expert at it, they will! The nice thing is that it doesn’t have to be anything you studied in school, just something you studied on your own and mastered enough to be marketable.” – Aja McClanahan

Build websites.

“One way to make side income is to build websites for people and for businesses. The first website I ever built I charged $1200. Even if you dont know programming, it is easy to learn by watching free tutorials on Youtube. I think it would be very realistic to make $2,000 – $3,000 on the side building websites.” – Deacon Hayes

Become an alcohol demonstrator.

“Back in college, I made extra money on side side pouring alcohol samples for people in grocery stores. It was easy and paid well, considering how I don’t even know how to open a wine bottle (If I wasn’t using a product in a bottle that had a twist top, I asked someone else to help open it). The job paid $20 to $25 per hour and I could choose when I’d like to work and what job opportunities I’d like to accept. If you like to talk to people and prefer a laid back and good paying side job, being an alcohol demonstrator is definitely worth looking into.” – Chonce at My Debt Epiphany

Become a consultant.

“Become a consultant in your spare time doing some of the same work you might do in your full time gig. This works best with white collar office type roles where you can do your work at home at your computer. Just make sure you don’t compete with your current employer.” – Jim Wang

Tips from the experts on ways to make money on the side.

Along with the many different ways to make money on the side above, I also asked experts for their top tips when it comes to managing a side hustle.

“One of the best ways to think about how to make extra money is to identify what people are already paying for. I, for example, recently hired someone to manage my Pinterest account. That’s a great hustle you can master through a course or ebook, then execute from anywhere on your own time. Make someone else’s overwhelm your opportunity.” – Stefanie O’Connell

“Set boundaries. If you don’t you will get pulled in every direction and your health, personal life, finances, everything will suffer. Set boundaries for times you will work on your side hustle, what you are willing to do and stick to it. Don’t let checking social media creep into time you are watching your kids play sport or time you were going to work out. No money makes up for lost relationships or lost health. ” – Kylie Travers

“To accommodate a side hustle that makes a serious second income one ought to re-organise their life. I’d say that keeping a time/task diary helps. For a week write down all you do and how long you do it for. Analyse it and decide to stop doing anything that is: a) not productive; and/or b) doesn’t give you a lot of pleasure. You’d carve up a lot of time. You can also start looking for activities that you can combine to save time; e.g. running and commuting to work.”- Maria Nedeva

“My favorite (and least-favorite at the same time) way to manage everything (four kids & four blogs) is to work when our kids go to sleep. I will do some things during the day, but nothing that will require my attention for more than just a few minutes. My husband and I work from home, on our blogs, so we spend around 4 or more hours every night working side by side on them. We also try to squeeze in two hours during the preschool hours. This allows us to spend our time with our kids during the day and work together at night. While we might be a little more tired than usual right now (haha!) we figure that we can make up this time when our kids are older and in school. 😉 It is all about balance and finding time when we can. We can’t give 100% of ourselves to everything at the exact same time, so setting aside time for family and time for working is what works best for us – so we can give 100% to our family during the day and then 100% to our blogs in the evenings.” – Becky Mansfield

“My best tip for finding time to make extra money on the side is to give up watching tv. I used to watch one or two shows each evening, and now I spend that time working on my blog. I also stay up a little later than usual some evenings to get work done so I can spend my days with my kids. I’ve found that if you make it a priority, you will find time.” – Lena Gott

“You can make extra income in many ways – the only real limit is the limit you put on yourself. If you’re technically inclined, you can monetize that in your “off” hours. If you’re knowledgable about a certain topic you can freelance write in that area. Even if you have no skills, which I don’t believe, you can do something as simple as work around your neighborhood to walking/sitting for dogs while people are away from home. The opportunities really are endless to make extra income, you just need to want it and think outside the box.” – John Schmoll

“As someone who works full time and runs a blog on the side, I am a master at time management and planning. The best advice I have to managing both a job and a side hustle is to prioritize. If your job is number one and your side hustle is number two, then you may have to say no to anything that interferes with these two priorities (e.g. events with friends or family). Personally, prioritizing my goals and creating a plan to achieve them, have been the two most important factors to succeeding with a job and a side hustle.” – Natalie Bacon

“Organization of your time. I work a 9-5 job, I come home and walk my dog, then cook dinner. As you can imagine that doesn’t leave a ton of time for your side hustle. It means organizing your time for your side hustle. After I finish eating dinner, I budget an hour to my side hustle. Now that doesn’t seem like a lot, but if you do it every weekday that adds up to 5 hours you spent on your side hustle. You might have missed “Making a Murderer” but you added $100 to your pocket.” – Even Steven Money

“Because I was writing for my full-time job and also freelance writing/blogging as a side hustle, the last thing I wanted to do after an 8-hour day was come home and grind out more copy. Because of this, I leaned heavily on my weekends and my evenings became sacred. Every Sunday evening from 4-8 I’d work on my blog or any projects I had in the pipeline. Writing on Sunday evenings became so routine I find myself doing it now even though I work for myself full time and can write whenever I want! So that’s my advice: pick out a chunk of time that’s just for you and keep the date with yourself religiously. No one ever likes to hear it, but the truth of the matter is that it takes sacrificing in other areas of your life to truly side hustle and make it worth your time.” – Lauren Bowling

“Top tip: manage your time smarter. Managing your time has everything to do with FOCUS. Tasks will expand to the time you allot them, so schedule the things that are important to you, and stick to that schedule. It’s not about finding more time, it’s about leveraging the same 24 hours we all have in a day, and focusing on ONE goal at a time for your side income will help you accomplish that goal. Better yet, The Freedom Journal will guide you through setting and accomplishing your #1 goal in 100 days, so my top tip would be to grab The Freedom Journal and start taking action! :)” – John Lee Dumas

“The best way to find more time for side hustles is to eliminate things you thoughtlessly do that add no value. Consider how often you look at the same news feed updates on Facebook over and over again. If you just check Facebook once per day, you’ll get the same info and save a bunch of time.” – Lance Cothern

“My top tip for managing a side hustle is to be very organized. Every week, I have a “planning night” where I put actionable items on my calendar and then I follow through with them. I also use Trello to manage projects and outline what “steps” they are in and keep checklists in Trello so I make sure I don’t miss anything. A person can find more time for side income pretty easily – devote half an hour over lunch, or take time away from your favorite TV show to look for ideas, and then do them!” – Megan Harris

“The number one thing you can do to manage your life and your side hustle is to simply schedule time for it and have your family hold you accountable to it. You can make time for anything you set your mind to. You somehow manage to watch your favorite show each week, make dinner as a family, etc. Well, if making extra money is important, you’ll find the time. Maybe it’s before work or after the kids are asleep? There’s always time. The trick is, set a designated time, ask your spouse and tell your kids that this is what the time is for, and then use that time to make things happen!” – Robert Farrington

“Managing a side hustle is like any other aspect of your life. If you want to succeed at it, you need to prioritize it. So, allot the time, work through the time, make your side income and then get back to the other aspects of your life.” – Chris Ducker – ChrisDucker.com

“I’d suggest starting small with just a few hours a week. It’s easy to look at your free time outside of your job and think you can easily add 20+ hours of work per week. This can easily lead to burnout, and which might kill any motivation you had for side gigs.” – Jeffrey Trull

“One of the best things you can do for your goals is to wake up an hour early and *only* spend time working on what’s truly important to you. Sure you can watch less TV at night or hustle on your lunch breaks, but I find a single hour in the morning when everyone else is sleeping to be much more productive. And then you’ve started the day off with a major accomplishment no matter what else happens the rest of the day! It’s a beautiful thing!” – J. Money, BudgetsAreSexy.com / RockstarFinance.com

“Find something you enjoy doing that you don’t normally get to do otherwise. Turning it into a side hustle will offer incentive to make time for it. For instance, if you love pets and aren’t currently a pet owner, you can sign up with Rover and dogsit, or maybe work as a dog walker. That way you’re killing two birds with one stone.” – Jackie Lam

“The best way to make time for a side hustle is to learn to manage your time better. If you’re watching three hours of television each night, for example, you may need to give that up to work on your side hustle instead. If you’re still too busy, consider getting up at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. I did that for over a year before I was able to quit my 9-5 job to pursue my side hustle full-time.” – Holly Johnson

“You need to make time for your side hustle. I would work on it during lunch, at morning before I went to work. Sometimes I would do it when on nights and weekends. I think most people could find 1 – 3 hours per day to work on a side gig.” – Deacon Hayes

“First, make a weekly calendar of all the events in your life. On that same calendar, enter in the blocks of time you plan on working on your side hustle. Treat those times like anything else that is important on your calendar. If you schedule time from 8-9pm on Wednesday and you forgot your favorite show is on, no excuses! Commit to these times and don’t let anything interfere that isn’t a family emergency.” – Jeff Rose

“My top tip for managing a side hustle is work at a scheduled pace. Set aside a certain number of hours every week and make sure that you make consistent progress. To find more time, I’ve replaced television and YouTube surfing for more productive activities.” – Steve Chou

“I used to struggle with finding extra time outside of my work and family life. The one tip I recommend is use your down-time more effectively. Instead of watching an hour of TV, take that hour and work on a side hustle. If you’re a night owl, use that when everyone else is asleep to create a business or develop a product. We don’t use all time effectively, but just taking chunks here and there and building a side hustle can change your life.” – Grayson Bell

“Choose your side hustle wisely. Choose to market your skills and talents instead of just looking at it from a financial standpoint. Earning a lot of extra money sounds nice, but if you don’t enjoy what you are doing, you will start to dread it quickly and it will take up more of your time. I’m able to work quickly and efficiently on side projects I enjoy so I can make the most of my time. I also try to cut out mindless tasks that take up time like binge watching television or browsing aimlessly through social media.” – Chonce

“The opportunities to earn extra money are endless. But your time and energy are finite. Prioritize a health diet, exercise, socializing, and relaxation. You will be rewarded with extra energy for a side hustle on top of your day job.” – Kate Dore

“You don’t have to make it a part-time job. Make it a hobby first and don’t stress out about getting it done immediately. Find five hours a week to work on the book. Spend a couple of months learning everything you can about the subject or developing the characters/idea. Books can be as short as 40 or 50 pages or as long as you want to write them.” – Joseph Hogue

“If you really see a future in what you are doing, invest in your “side-hustle” by creating systems and ways to duplicate yourself i.e. subcontracting work when possible. Since we are a debt free family, our “personal burn rate” was low enough where I didn’t have to pocket all the business revenue. I eventually began to subcontract workers to fulfill client requests. It was a huge time saver for me and kept it a part-time gig for me that was relatively stress-free.” – Aja McClanahan

“Choose a side hustle that you also get some sort of personal benefit out of, in addition to the extra cash. For example, you might choose a side hustle that helps you get more exercise, or that gives you the chance to earn a new skill, or that allows you to meet new people, or just something you find really interesting. You’ll be more likely to stick with it if there are multiple benefits.” – Sarah Noelle

“You need to make it a priority. The best way to make it a priority is to understand why you need this extra income – pay off debt? Save more for retirement? That goal will drive you. Then make sure you list all the non-essential tasks you do and rank them, your side hustle will be above some tasks… make sure you hustle before you do those tasks.” – Jim Wang

Hope you enjoyed this expert roundup on different ways to make money on the side. Do you want to make side hustle income? Why or why not?

Apache is functioning normally

June 3, 2023 by Brett Tams

Coupons. Just the word alone causes a little thrill of excitement to shoot through me! I’m a long-time coupon user. From the early days of carefully cutting out coupons when I was real young, to the newer, sleek, digital method that I came to know later, I’m a sucker for savings! However, sometimes the process of finding those coupons and achieving those savings can make you feel like you’re hunting for a needle in a haystack, instead of the fun treasure hunt it really should be. And as a busy stay-at-home mom to a toddler, you better believe that my days fly by, and hunting down coupons isn’t something I can do for long periods of time, especially when I surface with none to speak of. For my sake, and your own, I found a few of the best places to find coupons so your own little coupon treasure hunt can go from gritty confusion to shimmering elation!

Where to Find the Best Physical Free Coupons

There’re numerous different places to find coupons, but for a moment let’s talk about free coupons. Which are some of the most fun coupons to stumble upon. Thanks to lots of research, no longer will you wander around in the dark trying to locate your discounts. We’ve got you covered!

One of the simplest places to locate physical free coupons is in the Sunday newspaper. I’m not sure how many people get the average Sunday paper anymore, but the number of coupons inside it is, I believe, absolutely worth it. Many papers have a small coupon insert in the centerfold, and that’s where the gem of coupons is contained. There’s usually a small subscription fee for a newspaper but nowadays a lot of publishers give you the option to subscribe to just the Sunday paper. (Or a great little life hack that I’ve personally used a few times, is picking up a Sunday paper at the Dollar Tree store, if your town has one.) True to their wonderful name, you can snag a paper for only a dollar. Newspapers are loaded with free coupons, many of which promote the items you buy on the regular, fun unique products, or discounts on experiences that you might otherwise have missed. Things like coupons for grocery stores, restaurants, and fun hot spots in your local community, are just a few examples of the nuggets of treasure found within those black-inked pages. Keep a sharp eye out for any weekly ads as well. Newspapers are really good a resource for that.

Another great place to find free coupons is the normal stores and retailers that you frequent on a weekly or even daily basis. These could be manufacturer’s coupons that are directly printed on, or attached to any product that you buy in the store. Meaning as soon as you’ve bought that product, the coupon is yours to use for your next purchase of that same product.

Perhaps one of my favorite ways to score some good old free coupons, is to take a second glance at the junk mail that seems to arrive almost daily, or mail advertisements. It’s happened a few times where I’ve actually stopped and looked carefully through the miscellaneous mail, and I’ve found a gem of a coupon or a discount on something amazing. A restaurant for a fun date night in our area that just opened, or even a percentage off of a decadent facial from a nearby Zen-soaked spa. That one was coupon gold, my friend. (The moms will get it!)

A resource that is just a bit newer in the coupon game is coupons.com. It’s strictly a coupon site in which they have a whole section of printable coupons. You can just go to the site, search for the easily found printable coupon page, print out and cut out to your delight. There’s something kind of soothing about cutting out physical coupons and if they’re free, so much the better, in my opinion.

Where to Find the Best Digital Coupons

As with most things these days, they have a digital counterpart. Coupons are no exception. For this next batch of coupon-hunting ideas, you can set aside those sharp scissors and give your snipping hand a rest. Instead, you can pick up your phone and head to coupons.com again. However, this time you can scroll through their digital download coupon page! It’s chock full of tons of coupons that are as easy to access as just pressing a button on your phone to get some massive savings.

In case you’re new to the digital coupon game, they work the same exact way as physical paper coupons. Meaning you will redeem the coupon at checkout, but instead of a paper barcode, once you “click and clip,” your digital coupon you will most likely get a barcode or a coupon code that the cashier can scan to secure your discount on the product.

Social media is a fantastic resource for finding digital coupons, or mobile coupons, as they are sometimes called on the various social media platforms. They usually come with a promo code, or another type of barcode that will allow you to redeem your coupon at checkout. The next time you’re scrolling through Instagram, or your Facebook page, make sure to keep your eyes wide open for any great deals.

Along those same lines, Amazon is amazing for finding coupons. Even if you don’t currently hold an Amazon Prime Subscription, a lot of their products have one-time coupons. Things like grocery items, cleaning agents, pet supplies, electronics and baby supplies, have regular coupons and deals that you’ll be sure to benefit from. (As with any coupon, be aware of its expiration dates, and other fine print on your digital coupons!)

Also see: Can you use manufacturer coupons on Amazon?

A little further down the treasure hunt trail of searching for the best coupons, are coupon apps. Ibotta is a great resource. It’s more of a “save and earn cash back,” kind of a deal, and I have several mom friends who swear by this app. Sign up and see what kind of savings you can earn with this gem of a coupon app nugget.

Flipp is another great one. Meant mostly for grocery, home supplies, or pharmacy needs, this app caters towards shoppers with either iPhones or Android phones. It’s very simple to download and you’ll find a surplus of digital coupons sure to meet any and all of your shopping needs.

Also see: Is Amazon Prime worth it?

Where to Hunt Down Coupons for Specific Needs

Some of the most popular coupon categories are in the area of grocery, kids, and pets. If you happen to be looking for coupons in this area, listen close and we’ll tell you some of the best places to find these!

For hardcore grocery coupon hunters, you can’t get much better than Grocery IQ. This app will pull some of the best coupons from coupons.com as well as other online apps and places them all in one spot for you to digitally sift through. Get ready to cut that grocery bill in half, my friend! It seems that the app owner (coupons.com) is a bit behind on updating the app and some people have difficulties using it. Hopefully, they will continue development as I haven’t found anything that works as well.

Need a new seasonal wardrobe for the kiddos, but would like to save a bit of money while doing it? The Children’s Place is your best bet. With everything from kid’s clothes to shoes, and accessories for your little ones, the amount of access to discount deals and exclusive coupons on this site, is truly staggering. I’ve used it several times myself, and if my 3-year-old daughter insisting that she wear her pink and purple, flowy, tulle-covered tutu, ten days in a row without washing it is any indication of how many points you’ll score by your purchases, I’d say you’ll be in for a parent of the year award, for sure. They even have a whole “vacation,” clothes section, so if you’re planning a fun summer getaway for you and the kids be sure to check that section out!

We oftentimes consider our pets to be just as near and dear to us as our actual children, so of course we’ll give you the lowdown on one or two of the best places to snag coupons for pet food and other supplies for our lovey, furry companions.

PetSmart, which you might be familiar with, is just about the best there is as far as coupons go for all of your four-legged friends. They allow you to use their store coupons as long as they have a PetSmart barcode, these can be either physical coupons or digital that you redeem right at the checkout when you’re making your final purchases. They also have a wonderful coupon receipt option that you can take advantage of. This is where the coupon is printed right on the bottom of a previous receipt, which you can redeem at the time of your next purchase. Every time I’ve been there, I’ve received awesome customer service, in that my cashier reminds me about the coupon on the bottom of the receipt for my next purchase. I love that about my neighborhood PetSmart!

Hunting Down One Step Further Savings

Sometimes, as good as they are, one-time coupon savings doesn’t quite do the trick. If you find yourself in that same spot, you can do what I like to call, “one step further savings.” This is a semi-fancy way of saying, you can sign up for things like Target Rewards Circle, Kohl’s Rewards program, TJ Maxx Rewards, or Amazon Prime Membership’s Subscribe and Save.

These are rewards programs for these particular stores. (And, in case you’re not aware, most bigger stores like the ones listed above have a rewards program like this.) Even most online stores have them as well! They’re designed to cater to the loyalty of their shoppers and customers. Usually, they’re set up in the way that once you reach a certain number of “points,” or a certain amount of money that you’ve spent with them, you receive a percentage off of your entire purchase or individual items.

They really are wonderful programs. You can set yourself and your family up to save a bundle. If the stores mentioned here aren’t ones you usually frequent, never fear. As I said most bigger stores have these types of rewards for their shoppers and you can just about always find a great program fit at your favorite store to fit your needs. Places like Walmart, CVS, Home Depot, and Menards have been known to have them as well. And, as a little-known bonus, you’ll usually receive extra coupons during the year, and sometimes even a little special percentage off near your birthday. Well worth it for those little perks alone.

Hopefully, the way we’ve broken it down, your own coupon treasure hunt won’t be so much of a hunt anymore! Keep your eyes peeled, your hands outstretched, and your excitement on the rise as you gather up those big, glittering savings!

Source: pennypinchinmom.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 2, 2023 by Brett Tams

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

As a traveler, I am firmly team carry-on and will very rarely check a bag, while some of my colleagues prefer to always check a bag.

Even if you insist on checking a bag, certain items should always go in your carry-on.

Here are 10 items to never check, according to our TPG travel team.

Identification documents

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This one should go without saying since your identifying documents, such as a passport or valid driver’s license, are among the most important items for a traveler to keep close, especially if you’re traveling abroad.

If you’re traveling domestically and don’t need a passport, all travelers age 18 and older still need a driver’s license or other state photo identification card from their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) to pass through security at U.S. airports. A full list of Transportation Security Administration-accepted forms of identification is available here.

Once you’ve reached your destination, you’ll likely need to show some form of ID to check into a hotel or rent a car. If traveling abroad, we recommend carrying a picture of your passport with you while keeping your passport (and other valuables) securely locked in your room (in a hotel safe, if available).

Additionally, consider printing your travel itinerary and other important documents in case something happens to your phone or you can’t access Wi-Fi, says Erica Silverstein, TPG senior cruise editor.

Phone and charger

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A phone is among the most helpful tools when traveling, especially if you have a plan that allows you to use your data internationally.

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From navigating and figuring out directions in a new place to visiting cities you’ve visited before, your phone can be a lifeline when traveling. This also means frequently having to charge your phone, which is only possible if you’ve brought the right charger and any converters to be able to use the plugs (if applicable).

Keep all of your electronics and chargers in a carry-on for easy access on the plane, where you can also use the in-seat charging portal. Charging inflight ensures your phone is fully charged before exiting the plane, minimizing the chance of a dead battery en route to your hotel or other accommodations since your room may or may not be available for check-in when you arrive.

This is also helpful if you have a lengthy layover between flights since you can’t guarantee you’ll find access to a charging station at an airport.

As a female traveler who sometimes travels solo, a working phone is crucial. All travelers, solo or not, should pack a portable charger in their carry-on and always bring that with them when they go out and about.

Headphones and electronics

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In addition to your phone, some travel with other Apple products, such as an iPad and Apple Watch, requiring separate chargers. If you’re like me, you’ll never travel without two sets of headphones (one wireless and one not) since wireless ones may run out of battery.

This is also courteous for your fellow passengers since most airlines prohibit flyers from listening to shows or music out loud while also potentially providing you with headphones, depending on the airline and route.

Keep your headphones and AirPods within easy reach at all times.

If you happen to travel with a suitcase with a battery pack for charging, such as those from Away, remember that these must be carried on per TSA rules.

A change of clothes

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Per my earlier comment, the last time I checked a bag, it was a huge mistake. I missed my connecting flight due to inclement weather and my luggage was sent without me to my final destination. That left me spending the night in an airport hotel in Miami with just my backpack and the clothing I had been wearing for almost an entire day.

I’m not alone in this experience.

“I always keep at least one change of clothes for myself and each of my kids in my carry-on, even if I am checking a bag,” said Tarah Chieffi, TPG travel news reporter. “If our checked luggage is delayed or lost, or if inflight accidents occur, we always have a fresh change of clothes.”

This scenario is exactly why it’s important to pack at least one spare outfit in your carry-on item.

She also recommends throwing in a grocery bag or large zip-close bag for dirty clothes in your suitcase. Some suitcases even come with a reusable laundry bag.

You’ll likely appreciate having a fresh change of clothes, especially on long-haul flights and those with long layovers. You might even be able to access an airport lounge or an aircraft with showers, which is even better for freshening up.

Even if your flight is short and direct, it’s still helpful to pack a change of clothes in your carry-on in case your baggage gets delayed.

Reusable water bottle

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Another item we recommend traveling with is a reusable water bottle. Just make sure the bottle is empty before you pass through airport security since most airports limit the number of liquids you can take through security.

Once you head to your gate in the post-security area, you’ll likely find free water refill stations where you can fill up your reusable bottle, including some with filtered water.

During your flight, request water and then pour that water into your bottle so it’s full at all times. Just remember to take your water bottle (along with your other items) off the plane when you disembark. I’ve lost two Hydro Flasks this way.

Also, flying can dehydrate you, especially if you’re drinking alcohol. It’s important to pay attention to your water consumption on travel days and make sure you are getting enough.

Considering how much airport stores charge for water and other items, bringing your own water bottle saves money — and eliminates single-use plastic.

Snacks

Not unlike the water, don’t rely on the airport or inflight snacks since food options when traveling may not be available or open when you need them.

“I always bring snacks, which are especially helpful if your flight is unexpectedly delayed while you’re on the plane with no option to get off,” said Senitra Horbrook, TPG credit cards editor.

Prescriptions and other medications

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If you take medication daily, it’s wise to pack any prescriptions into your carry-on luggage along with any over-the-counter medications you take frequently or might need, such as pain relievers or allergy medicine.

For example, I always bring several days’ worth of Tylenol, Benadryl, vitamins, probiotics, etc., as well as a few extra supplements of my daily medicine in case I end up staying longer than anticipated.

I also pack a few extra pairs of contact lenses. I wear dailies and prefer them over wearing my glasses, though I bring my glasses as a backup. I also bring adhesive bandages, just in case.

Assistance items

For senior travelers or those who require assistance, do not keep any assistive/medical device item, such as a walking stick or handicapped placard, out of reach.

A good rule of thumb — if it’s anything you can’t live without for half a day or more, put it in your carry-on, says Erica.

Hand sanitizer, wipes, paper towels and tissues

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Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many travel with hand sanitizer and sanitary wipes to wipe off seats, tray tables, seat belts, etc., upon boarding.

These items are small and can easily fit in your carry-on item. Just ensure your hand sanitizer does not exceed 12 ounces, which is an allowance specifically for hand sanitizer that the TSA implemented during the pandemic. All other liquids must still meet the 3.4 ounces or 100-milliliter size requirement.

Other items to consider bringing in your carry-on are paper towels and a washcloth in case of spills or other situations where you need to dry your hands.

You might be able to find tissues and band-aids at airports and on planes, though they’re likely not going to be great quality. Tissues are small enough to pack a few in your carry-on in case of unforeseen circumstances, from the sniffles to a paper cut.

Valuables

Beyond your phone and important travel documents such as your passport, keep your most important items close to you while traveling, including jewelry.

These items would fall under the “hard to replace if not irreplaceable” category, depending on how sentimental they are to you.

Bottom line

Once you’ve decided on the items most essential for your carry-on, be sure to decide what carry-on item makes the most sense for them to go in.

For example, if you have two carry-on bags, one smaller one that fits underneath the seat in front of you or one suitable for the overhead bin, think about what items you might need most often throughout the flight and position those in your smaller bag.

For everything else, you can always get up and retrieve items from your larger bag from the overhead bin.

Related reading:

Additional reporting by Ben Smithson.

Source: thepointsguy.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 2, 2023 by Brett Tams

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Chelsea Dehner

Published Oct 8, 2019
– [Updated Apr 26, 2021]

1 min read

Sources

When we think of things that will save the environment we think of taking the bus to work or buying local food — both expensive actions. Yet going green doesn’t have to cost you a ton of time or money. In fact, many of the eco-smart habits also help you save money by reducing excess and getting more use out of old things.

We all know the phrase: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. However straightforward it may sound, it can still be hard to incorporate environmentally friendly actions into your everyday. Becoming familiar with the sustainability of every company and brand you support can be time-consuming and difficult. It can be confusing to determine which kinds of plastic can be recycled and which can’t.

Thankfully, there’s technology out there that can make helping the environment a bit easier — all while saving money. There’s apps that help us monitor our energy and water usage to help us make smarter choices, and apps that make it easy to upcycle old clothes and electronics.

Check out the infographic below for a full list: