Current is a digital banking app designed to simplify banking in the modern world. It also includes features for teens and young adults that can help them learn to manage money.
So, how does Current work and what does it cost? We’ll answer all of these questions and more in the Current review below.
What is Current?
Current is not a bank. It’s different from other financial institutions in that it’s a financial technology with a mission to help people make smart decisions about money.
It comes with several perks, like faster paycheck access, savings pods, spending insights, and cash back rewards. Best of all, there are no minimum balance requirements or overdraft fees.
Founded in June 2015 by Stuart Sopp, Current has raised over $400M and landed big name partners and investors, including Mr. Beast, the well-known YouTube star.
Its banking services are provided by Choice Financial Group and Metropolitan Commercial Bank, Members FDIC. In addition, the Current Visa Debit Card is issued by Choice Financial Group and Metropolitan Commercial Bank.
To date, there are about 4 million Current users. Current accounts are currently mobile only as there is no desktop account access or in-person branch network. You can download the Current app on your Android or iOS advice.
Current Features
Current offers several account features that you might find useful, including:
Faster Paycheck Access
Sometimes, you can’t wait until payday and need your hard earned money sooner. That’s where Current’s paycheck access comes in. It will deposit the funds from your paycheck up to two days faster than the typical direct deposit.
Current is unique in that it disregards the date your employer intends to release your paycheck funds. Instead, it works like a prepaid debit card and credits your account immediately after receiving it.
Gas Hold Feature
There’s no denying that the price of gas has skyrocketed. As a result, many gas stations have begun placing holds on the cards of customers. For example, a gas station might place a $100 hold on your card, even if you only purchase $50 worth of gas.
This will ensure you’ll have enough funds to cover the total cost. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days for the gas station to release the hold. Current will remove the hold right away so that the funds are readily available to you and you don’t have to wait.
Teen Banking
Current offers a teen account that enables parental supervision and strives to educate teens about proper money management. Its parental features include cashless convenience, instant transfers to teen cards, purchase notifications, and the ability to block specific merchants.
Parents can also use Current’s teen account to set spending limits and chores as well as automate allowance payments. In addition, multiple family members may add funds as they wish.
Savings Pods
With Current’s savings pods, you can meet various saving goals. Here’s how it works: You name a savings pod and deposit money into it from your account or qualifying direct deposit.
You can also add money through the round up feature where you round up to the nearest dollar from any debit card purchases you make.
At the time this article was written, Current offers 4% APY on $6,000. To take advantage of the interest feature, transfer money from your spending balance to your savings pods.
Note that the type of membership you have will determine how many savings pods you can open. If you’re a basic customer, you’re limited to one pod whereas premium customers get up to three pods.
Cash Back Rewards
Current members can reap the benefits of a generous rewards program. As a member, you can earn up to 15x points on purchases you make at over 14,000 retailers. These retailers include Rite Aid, Cold Stone Creamery, Rite Aid, Subway, Forever 21, Burger King, and others that are listed in the Points tab in the Current app.
You may redeem these points for cash back in your Current account. You’ll receive the points right after you make a qualifying purchase and can redeem 100 points per dollar.
According to Current, its members have the potential to earn $165 cash back per year by simply using their card at participating gas stations. Keep in mind that Premium customers have the potential to earn more points and cash back than Basic customers.
Instant Cash Deposit
Current lets you easily deposit cash into your account. You may instantly add cash at over 60,000 at convenient places like local grocery and convenience stores, including Walmart and CVS. This is a huge selling point.
To deposit cash with Current, find a nearby cash deposit location, tap “view barcode” from the map, show the barcode to a cashier, and give them the funds. You can add up to $500 per transaction or up to $1,000 per day and $10,000 per month. The money will show up in your Current bank account immediately.
Overdraft Protection
The app does more than eliminate overdraft fees. If you overdraft your account by accident, you’ll get a free pass. The Overdrive feature offers a fee-free overdraft of up to $200 on in-store and online purchases.
To qualify for it, you must be 18 years or older and receive $500 or more in eligible direct deposits each 30-day period. A qualifying deposit can be an ACH transfer from your employer, payroll company, or Social Security. Unfortunately, mobile check deposits and peer-to-peer transfers don’t count.
Cryptocurrency
With Current, you can buy and sell cryptocurrency from the same app. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about any trading fees or wait days for your trade to settle. You can purchase 27 popular coins, like Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, and Shiba Inu. Once you sell a coin, you’ll notice the cash in your Current account immediately.
Money Management
Current’s money management tools can come in handy if you’re looking for a way to take control of your personal finance and make the most out of your money. The Spending Insights feature, for example, is available on your home screen.
It lists your recent purchases and assigns them a spending category so you can easily see where your cash is going. You may also sign up for real-time notifications that will appear any time you make a debit card purchase.
While the Spending Insights feature is designed to help you track your spending, the Budgets tool if your goal is to prevent overspending. You can create budgets for various categories. As you approach your budget or spending limit on an account ownership category, you can receive updates and make changes accordingly.
Current Pay
Current Pay works a lot like Apple Pay, Venmo, Zelle, and PayPal. If you know others that use the app, you can pay and request money from them instantly. Best of all, the process is easy and doesn’t involve any fees.
Does Current Have Transaction Limits?
Despite all of Current’s handy features, the app does impose transaction limits you should be aware of. These include a $500 daily maximum in ATM withdrawals, $2,000 daily maximum in card purchases, and $5,000 maximum transaction amount for peer-to-peer payments through Current Pay.
Are There Any Fees?
Now it’s time to discuss Current review fees. You may be surprised to learn that Current doesn’t charge monthly maintenance fees or have any minimum balance requirement requirements.
Additionally, there are no overdraft fees, or money transfer fees for money transfers from an internal bank account or external bank account or ATM fees at 40,000+ Allpoint ATMs. This is great news if you’d like to try it out with no strings attached.
But keep in mind that you may face out-of-network or third-party fees. For example, if you use Current at an out-of-network ATM, you’ll get charged $2.50. International withdrawals cost $3 each.
In addition, if you’d like, you can upgrade from the Basic membership plan to the Premium account or membership plan. While this will come with an additional monthly fee of $4.99, you’ll get access to more features, like additional savings pods and the chance to earn more cash back.
Who is Current best for?
Current might be worth exploring if you don’t mind mobile banking. It can help you meet smaller savings goals with a high interest rate. It’s also ideal if you use your credit card frequently and hope to earn generous cashback rewards.
In addition, you may benefit from Current if you’re a parent or guardian that wants an account for your teen and wishes to instill healthy money habits. We also recommend Current if you’re unable to qualify for a traditional banking account and are looking for a viable, cost-effective alternative.
Current Pros and Cons
Just like any digital banking app or online bank, Current comes with several benefits and drawbacks, including:
Pros
No monthly fees: You can use Current without committing to monthly usage fees.
Generous APY: Current offers 4% APY on up to $6,000 in savings to help you expedite your savings goals.
Cash back: Unlike most debit cards, Current rewards you with cash back every time you make a purchase at 14,000+ participating retailers.
Early paycheck access: You may access the money from your paycheck up to two days sooner.
Instant gas hold removals: If a gas station places a hold on your account, Current will remove it immediately.
Teen features: Current comes with plenty of features you can use to help your teen become responsible with money.
Cons
No online or in-person banking: You can only use Current on your iOS or Android device as Current’s mobile app currently doesn’t support online or in-person banking at a local branch.
No checks: The Current app doesn’t offer checks so you’ll have to find an alternative payment solution.
Email-based support: If you have a question or concern, Current will only be able to help you via email support is not available.
Mobile check deposit feature is slow: It can take up to 5 business days for a check deposit to clear.
How to Use Current
If you’d like to sign up for Current, follow these easy steps.
Download the app on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. You can also enter your phone number on Current’s website and receive a download link.
Share basic personal information including your name, phone number, email address, residential address, and Social Security number.
If you’d like, connect Current to a debit card or bank account to fund your account.
Once you sign up, you’ll receive a Current debit card by mail. It should arrive via USPS within 7 to 10 business days but you can use Current before then. Current will give you a virtual card you can add to your digital phone wallet while you wait for your physical card.
Current Reviews
Before you go ahead and sign up for the Current app, you might be wondering what other Current account holders have to say about it. Here’s an overview of the various reviews we found online.
TrustPilot
On TrustPilot, Current earned 3.8 out of 5 stars. Most reviewers praise the app but there are several complaints about Current customer support and challenges with disputes.
Apple App Store
Current users gave it a 4.7 out of 5 stars on the Apple App Store. There are over 84K reviews and any of the negative ones relate to customer service.
Google Play
When it comes to the Google Play Store, Current ranked well as well with 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 89K reviews. Again, the negative reviews are about customer service and resolving disputes.
It’s no surprise that customer service is Current’s most noteworthy downfall as it’s only available via email and in-app chat that sometimes doesn’t work. If you have an urgent question while using the app, you won’t be able to make a phone call and receive a quick response. Depending on when you send the email, you may have to wait a few business days or even longer to hear back.
Speaking of customer service, you might want to know how to go about it. You can use the in-app chat feature or fill out an email form and wait for an email response. As stated, there’s no way to call the Current team for faster support.
The good news is the app is fairly intuitive and you shouldn’t come across too many issues while using it, especially if you consider yourself tech savvy. Plus you can check out Current’s frequently asked questions on its website for answers to simple, less urgent questions.
Current Alternatives
While Current is a solid online banking app for many adults, teens, and young adults, it’s not for everyone. If you find that Current isn’t right for you or are wondering about alternative options, here are a few to consider.
Chime®
Just like Current, Chime is a financial technology company or fintech company with modern features you may not find at a traditional bank, credit union, or brick-and-mortar financial services company. It offers early direct deposit2, savings roundups, and no-fee overdrafts5.
Compared to Current, it’s more like a high yield savings account8 in that it lets you earn a better APY on your savings on your entire balance, rather than just up to $6,000.
In addition, there’s a Credit Builder7 account you can use to boost your credit without a credit check. Just keep in mind that Chime doesn’t offer a teen account like the Current teen account.
Read our in-depth Chime review here.
See also: Chime vs. Current: Which Is Better?
Greenlight
While Current is intended for teens and their parents, Greenlight’s online banking services are geared toward younger children in elementary school. Both apps come with parental controls and features such as spending limits, chore rewards, transaction monitoring, and the chance to blacklist set retailers. Greenlight also lets you invest in the stock market.
Bottom Line
Current offers a long list of features that make it a smart choice if you want a digital banking platform with no monthly fees or hidden fees. You can enjoy early paycheck deposit, no overdraft fees, teen savings accounts, cash back rewards, savings pods, and more.
As long as you’re okay with limited customer service and don’t mind using the app on your mobile device, it’s certainly worth exploring.
Current FAQs
Here are a few of the most common questions that many people ask about the Current digital banking app.
Is Current safe?
It’s a risk to use any type of mobile or online banking platform. But Current checking accounts and teen accounts are backed by FDIC insurance of $250,000 in the event of a bank failure. Plus just like many reputable online banks, the app uses bank-level data security measures and you can sign up to receive push notifications any time current detects account fraud.
Does Current have any physical branches?
At this time, Current does not have any physical branches. This means you won’t be able to receive in-person service. The good news, however, is it does offer fee-free cash withdrawals at over 40,000 Allpoint ATMs throughout the country.
Can you deposit cash into your Current account?
Yes, Current lets you deposit cash. However, cash deposits aren’t free and you will have to pay $3.50 for every cash deposit transaction.
What happens if you overdraft your Current account?
Thanks to the Overdrive feature, it’s no big deal if you overdraft your account. You can enjoy a fee-free overdrive of up to $200 on any purchase you make in-store and online.
Can you earn rewards or bonuses with Current?
Absolutely! As long as you use the Current Visa debit card at participating retailers, you can earn cash back. Plus you can earn $1 every time you refer a friend who signs up for a Current account.
Is Current worth it?
If you’re looking for a free checking account with plenty of bells and whistles or a teen banking account, the Current mobile app should be on your radar. But if you prefer a more traditional banking experience, you might be better off with an account at a local bank or credit union.
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC. Credit Builder card issued by Stride Bank, N.A.
2. Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. Chime generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
5. Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each at least once every 34 days. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime’s discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won’t cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions.
7. To apply for Credit Builder, you must have received a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Checking Account. The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT). Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash loads or deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a qualifying direct deposit are not qualifying direct deposits.
8. A Chime Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account.
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.
47k salary is a solid hourly wage when you think about it.
When you get your first job and you are making just above minimum wage making over $47,000 a year seems like it would provide amazing opportunities for you. Right?
The median household income is $68,703 in 2019 and increased by 6.8% from the previous year (source). Think of it as a bell curve with $68K at the top; the median means half of the population makes less than that and half makes more money.
The average income in the U.S. is $48,672 for a 40-hour workweek; that is an increase of 4% from the previous year (source). That means if you take everyone’s income and divided the money out evenly between all of the people.
But, the question remains can you truly live off 47,000 per year in today’s society since it is below both the average and median household incomes. The question you want to ask all of your friends is $47000 per year a good salary.
In this post, we are going to dive into everything that you need to know about a $47000 salary including hourly pay and a sample budget on how to spend and save your money.
These key facts will help you with money management and learn how much per hour $47k is as well as what you make per month, weekly, and biweekly.
Just like with any paycheck, it seems like money quickly goes out of your account to cover all of your bills and expenses, and you are left with a very small amount remaining. You may be disappointed that you were not able to reach your financial goals and you are left wondering…
Can I make a living on this salary?
$47000 a year is How Much an Hour?
When jumping from an hourly job to a salary for the first time, it is helpful to know how much is 47k a year hourly. That way you can decide whether or not the job is worthwhile for you.
$47000 a year is $22.60 per hour
Breakdown Of How Much Is 47k A Year Hourly
Let’s breakdown, how that 47000 salary to hourly number is calculated.
For our calculations to figure out how much is 47K salary hourly, we used the average five working days of 40 hours a week.
Typically, the average workweek 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, divide the yearly salary of $47000 by 2,080 working hours and the result is $22.60 per hour.
47000 salary / 2080 hours = $22.60 per hour
Just above $22 an hour.
Key Points….
That number is the gross hourly income before taxes, insurance, 401K, or anything else is taken out. Net income is how much you deposit into your bank account.
You must check with your employer on how they plan to pay you. For those on salary, typically companies pay on a monthly, semi-monthly, biweekly, or weekly basis.
Just an interesting note… if you were to increase your annual salary by $5K, it would increase your hourly wage to over $25 an hour – a difference of $2.40 per hour.
To break it down – 52000 salary / 2080 hours = $25.00 per hour
That difference will help you fund your savings account; just remember every dollar adds up.
How Much is $47K salary Per Month?
On average, the monthly amount would be $3,917.
Annual Salary of $47000 ÷ 12 months = $3917 per month
This is how much you make a month if you get paid 47000 a year.
$47k a year is how much a 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 of $47k salary a year, how much can I expect to make at the end of the week for my effort?
Once again, the assumption is 40 hours worked.
Annual Salary of$47000/52 weeks = $904 per week.
$47000 a year is how much biweekly?
For this calculation, take the average weekly pay of $904 and double it.
This depends on how many hours you work in a day. For this example, we are going to use an eight-hour workday.
8 hours x 52 weeks = 260 working days
Annual Salary of$47000 / 260 working days = $180 per day
If you work a 10 hour day on 208 days throughout the year, you make $226 per day.
$47000 Salary is…
$47000 – Full Time
Total Income
Yearly Salary (52 weeks)
$47,000
Monthly Wage
$3,917
Weekly Pay (40 Hours)
$904
Bi-Weekly Pay (80 Hours)
$1,808
Daily Wage (8 Hours)
$180
Daily Wage (10 Hours)
$226
Hourly Wage
$22.60
Net Estimated Monthly Income
$2,990
Net Estimated Hourly Income
$17.25
**These are assumptions based on simple scenarios.
47k a year is how much an hour after taxes
Income taxes is one of the biggest culprits of reducing your take-home pay as well as FICA and Social Security. This is a true fact across the board with an all salary range up to $142,800.
When you make below the average household income, the amount of taxes taken out hurts your hourly wage.
Every single 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%.
So, how much an hour is 47000 a year after taxes?
Gross Annual Salary: $47,000
Federal Taxes of 12%: $5,640
State Taxes of 4%: $1,880
Social Security and Medicare of 7.65%: $3,595
$47k Per Year After Taxes is $35,884
This would be your net annual salary after taxes.
To turn that back into an hourly wage, the assumption is working 2,080 hours.
$35884 ÷ 2,080 hours = $17.25 per hour
After estimated taxes and FICA, you are netting $32,830 per year, which is $10,170 per year less than what you expect.
***This is a very high-level example and can vary greatly depending on your personal situation and potential deductions. Therefore, here is a great tool to help you figure out how much your net paycheck would be.***
In addition, if you live in a heavily taxed state like California or New York, then you have to pay way more money than somebody that lives in a no tax state like Texas or Florida. This is the debate of HCOL vs LCOL.
Thus, your yearly gross $47000 income can range from $32124 to $37765 depending on your state income taxes.
That is why it is important to realize the impact income taxes can have on your take home pay. It is one of those things that you should acknowledge and obviously you need to pay taxes. But, it can also put a huge dent in your ability to live the lifestyle you want on a $47,000 income.
47k salary lifestyle
Every person reading this post has a different upbringing and a different belief system about money. Therefore, what would be a lavish lifestyle to one person, maybe a frugal lifestyle to another person. And there’s no wrong or right, it is what works best for you.
One of the biggest factors to consider is your cost of living.
In another post, we detailed the differences between living in an HCOL vs LCOL vs MCOL area. When you live in big cities, trying to maintain your lifestyle of $47,000 a year is going to be much more difficult because your basic expenses, housing, transportation, food, and clothing are going to be much more expensive than you would find in a lower cost area.
To stretch your dollar further in the high cost of living area, you would have to probably live cheap and prioritize where you want to spend money and where you do not. Whereas, if you live in a low cost of living area, you can live a much more lavish lifestyle because the cost of living is less. Thus, you have more fun spending left in your account each month.
As we noted earlier in the post, $47,000 a year is below the average income that you would find in the United States. Thus, you have to be wise with how you spend your money.
What a $47,000 lifestyle will buy you:
If you are debt free and utilize smart money management skills, then you are able to enjoy the lifestyle you want.
Have some fun money in your budget.
You are able to rent in a decent neighborhood in LCOL and maybe a MCOL city.
You should be able to meet your expenses each and every month.
Participate in the 200 envelope challenge.
Ability to make sure that saving money is a priority, and very possibly save $3000 in 52 weeks.
When A $47,000 Salary Will Hold you Back:
However, if you are riddled with debt or unable to break the paycheck to paycheck cycle, then living off of 47k a year is going to be pretty darn difficult.
There are two factors that will keep holding you back:
You must pay off debt and cut all fun spending and extra expenses.
Break the paycheck to paycheck cycle.
It is possible to get ahead with money!
It just comes with proper money management skills and a desire to have less stress around money. That is a winning combination regardless of your income level.
$47k Salary to Hourly
We calculated how much $47,000 a year is how much an hour with 40 hours a week. But, more than likely, you work more or fewer hours per week.
So, here is a handy calculator to figure out your exact hourly salary wage.
$47K a year Budget – Example
As always, here at Money Bliss, we focus on covering our basic expenses plus saving and giving first, and then our goal is to eliminate debt. The rest of the money leftover is left for fun spending.
If you want to know how to manage 47k salary the best, then this is a prime example for you to compare your spending.
You can compare your budget to the ideal household budget percentages.
recommended budget percentages based on $47000 a year salary:
Category
Ideal Percentages
Sample Monthly Budget
Giving
10%
$274
Savings
15-25%
$705
Housing
20-30%
$1018
Utilities
4-7%
$157
Groceries
5-12%
$313
Clothing
1-4%
$24
Transportation
4-10%
$157
Medical
5-12%
$196
Life Insurance
1%
$12
Education
1-4%
$12
Personal
2-7%
$35
Recreation / Entertainment
3-8%
$88
Debts
0% – Goal
$0
Government Tax (including Income Tatumx, Social Security & Medicare)
15-25%
$926
Total Gross Monthly Income
$3917
**In this budget, prioritization was given to basic expenses and no debt.
Is $47,000 a year a Good Salary?
As we stated earlier if you are able to make $47,000 a year, that is a decent salary. You are making more money than the minimum wage and close to double in many cities.
While 47000 is a good salary starting out in your working years. It is a salary that you want to increase before your expenses go up or the people you provide for increase.
However, too many times people get stuck in the lifestyle trap of trying to keep up with the Joneses, and their lifestyle desires get out of hand compared to their salary. It is okay to be driving around a beater car while you work on increasing your salary.
This $47k salary would be considered a lower middle class salary. This salary is something that you can live on if you are wise with money.
Check: Are you in the middle class?
In fact, this income level in the United States has enough buying power to put you in the top 95 percentile globally for per person income (source).
The question you need to ask yourself with your 47k salary is:
Am I maxed at the top of my career?
Is there more income potential?
What obstacles do I face if I want to try to increase my income?
In the future years and with possible inflation, in many modest cities 47k a year will not be a good salary because the cost of living is so high, whereas these are some of the cities where you can make a comfortable living at 47,000 per year.
If you are looking for a career change, you want to find jobs paying at least $55000 a year.
Is 47k a good salary for a Single Person?
Simply put, yes.
You can stretch your salary much further because you are only worried about your own expenses. A single person will spend much less than if you need to provide for someone else.
Learn exactly what is a good salary for a single person today.
Your living expenses and ideal budget are much less. Thus, you can live extremely comfortably on $47000 per year.
And… most of us probably regret how much money wasted when we were single. Oh well, lesson learned.
Is 47k a good salary for a family?
Many of the same principles apply above on whether $47000 is a good salary. The main difference with a family, you have more people to provide for than when you are single or have just one other person in your household.
The costs of raising children are high and will steeply cut into your income. As you can tell this is a huge dent in your income, specifically $12,980 annually per child.
That means that amount of money is coming out of the income that you earned.
So, the question really remains is can you provide a good life for your family making $47,000 a year? This is the hardest part because each family has different choices, priorities, and values.
More or less, it comes down to two things:
The location where you live in.
Your lifestyle choices.
You can live comfortably as a family on this salary, but you will not be able to afford everything.
Many times when raising a family, it is helpful to have a dual-income household. That way you are able to provide the necessary expenses if both parties were making 47000 per year, then the combined income for the household would be $94,000. Thus making your combined salary a very good income.
Learn how much money a family of 4 needs in each state.
Can you Live on $47000 Per Year?
As we outlined earlier in the post, $47,000 a year:
$22.60 Per Hour
$180-226 Per Day (depending on length of day worked)
$904 Per Week
$1808 Per Biweekly
$3916 Per Month
Next up is making $50000 a year.
Like anything else in life, you get to decide how to spend, save and give your money.
That is the difference for each person on whether or not you can live a middle-class lifestyle depends on many potential factors. If you live in California or New Jersey you are gonna have a tougher time than in Oklahoma or even Texas.
In addition, if you are early in your career, starting out around 38,000 a year, that is a great place to be getting your career. However, if you have been in your career for over 20 years and still making $47k, then you probably need to look at asking for pay increases, pick up a second job, or find a different career path.
Regardless of the wage that you make, if you are not able to live the lifestyle that you want, then you have to find ways to make it work for you. Everybody has choices to make.
But one of the things that can help you the most is to create a biweekly budget to make sure you stay on track.
Learn exactly how much do I make per year…
One of the best ways to improve your personal finance situation is to increase your income. Here are a variety of side hustles that are very lucrative. With time and effort, you can start enjoying the lifestyle you want.
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Monica helped me find my momentum and my want to pursue my business again.
After taking a second job as a driver for Amazon to make ends meet, this former teacher pivoted to be a successful stock trader.
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Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Our rights as women have come a long way since we earned the power to vote on August 26, 1920.
But the financial playing field between men and women still isn’t level. Not even close.
To help you make waves in your own financial life, I interviewed several Millennial and Gen Z women to find out what financial advice they’d give to other women today
Here’s what they had to say.
What’s Ahead:
1. “Don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary.”
Anna Barker, Founder of LogicalDollar, offered me this advice.
There’s no question that it can be scary to ask for more money. Especially as women, we often internalize the feeling that we’re going to be seen as pushy or demanding if we ask for a raise.
However, various studies show this is actually one of the reasons women end up earning less over their lifetimes than men, who tend to be more likely to ask for more money.
2. “Take advantage of any employer match ASAP.”
Barker also talked with me about retirement. One of the best things that you can do for your future financial security is to start investing as early as possible.
If your employer offers any matching of your 401(k) contributions, this is basically free money and you should do everything you can to invest up to the limit of the match.
3. “Avoid high-interest debt.”
According to Barker, a big money mistake that a lot of women in their 20s and 30s make is signing up for high-interest credit cards. To be clear, credit cards can actually be a great tool if used correctly — which primarily involves paying the balance off in full by the end of each billing cycle.
The problems start to arise once those interest-free periods run out and you realize you’re not able to immediately pay off the debt you’ve accrued.
4. “It is SO cliché, so hear me out… please start saving early for retirement!”
Heather Albrecht, Financial Coach and Founder of Balance Financial Coaching, discussed this with me.
It’s hard because when you’re young, you seem to have SUCH a long time until that money is needed. But the math doesn’t lie.
Starting young makes it easier because you can save less. Gosh, I wish I had made the space in our spending plan to save earlier even though it seemed impossible. The $25 here or there would have been huge by now.
5. “Start using a spending plan or budget. Zero it out each month, and save the rest.”
Albrecht also spoke with me here. And I have to say if I had been able to get myself into the mindset of “saving money is spending money on my future freedom” at a younger age, there would have been a lot less stress at times.
Budgeting doesn’t have to be difficult, either. Just pick the right method and it’ll become just another habit.
6. “As a Millennial myself, the best money advice I would give women in their 20s and 30s is to diversify how you save and spend money.”
Siobhan Alvarez, Founder of Budget Baby Budget, shared this wisdom with me.
I am a big believer in not being dependent on one checking and savings account! I have a long-term high-yield savings account for an emergency fund, a savings account at my local bank for big purchases, a checking account for everyday expenses; and a checking account for fun purchases throughout the month.
This has helped me not only pay off a huge amount of debt over the past few years but do it in a way so I didn’t feel like I was missing out on life and fun!
7. “Protect yourself and your people financially.”
Brittney Burgett, Head of Communications at Bestow, gave this little nugget of advice. Emergency savings, disability insurance, and life insurance matter, especially if you have financial dependents.
Insurance, in particular, is more affordable to buy the younger and healthier you are. I, for example, have life insurance because I own a home.
My mom is my beneficiary, so if anything were to happen to me, the payout from a policy would enable her to continue the mortgage payments and decide later on what to do with my house — keep it, rent it or sell it. Life insurance would give her flexibility when it’s needed most.
8. “Educate yourself so you understand how money, interest, and debt works.”
Lindsay Feldman, Publicist and Founder of BrandBomb Marketing, broke down this for me.
It wasn’t until I really started reading financial books and listening to podcasts that I really began to take control over my financial situation. Understanding how money, interest, and debt works are key to being able to make your money work for you. I look at everything differently now which has empowered me to make smarter decisions.
9. “Sign up for Experian Boost. It’s free and will report monthly bills that generally don’t boost your credit like a phone bill, gas, and power!”
Feldman offered up a way for folks to finally help their credit the easy way. Experian Boost™ is free and it takes just a few minutes to sign-up.
Always be on the lookout for ways to improve your credit – it’ll only help you in the long run.
Feldman shares a great tip that can help homeowners own their home sooner (and pay wayyy less in interest). If it’s possible, work those extra payments into your budget.
11. “When it comes to money, you can have your cake and eat it too.”
Youmna Rab, Founder of Brilliantly Budgeting offered me this quote.
You don’t need to save every penny you earn and give up your favorite indulgences like spa days or dinners out.
If you make a plan for your money, you can enjoy what you like while also saving money for the future.
12. “Do not share bank accounts with anyone you’re dating but not married to, even if you live together.”
Shannon Vissers, the Financial and Retail Analyst of Merchant Maverick, shared some tough love here.
If you break up or your partner spends on things you don’t agree with, you’ll have no legal recourse to get your money back apart from suing them in small claims or court (which is expensive and stressful and may not go in your favor).
13. “Do not lease your car. Take out a loan instead.”
Vissers makes a good point here as well. A lease is essentially a very expensive car rental, and it’s a bad choice unless you’re wealthy enough to comfortably afford this luxury.
This doesn’t mean you can’t get a new car when you’re young. Rather than leasing a car out of your price range, opt to finance a cute, reliable car that you’ll own in three or five years (ideally three). You’ll build credit history this way and, in a few years, you won’t even have a monthly car payment.
14. “Be a minimalist, especially if you rent.”
While this tip may not be for everyone, there’s a good reason Visser’s offers this pearl of wisdom as well.
A good case can be made for spending on experiences when you’re young – trips, concerts, etc. — but overspending on retail goods is another story. Ever heard of the saying, what you own, owns you?
It’s true.
Remember, you’ll have to deal with all your clothes, shoes, furniture, kitchen items, knick-knacks, etc. the next time you move — and your headaches will be compounded if you have to move to a smaller place.
15. “The greatest gift you can give yourself is to save and invest early.”
Sarah Jane Paulson, CFP® at Valkyrie Financial, gave me this bit of guidance.
The classic pay yourself first mentality is the easiest way to a financially strong future. Build that emergency fund (or F*** You fund, if you prefer) of three to six months worth of expenses in a separate account other than your everyday checking.
Then go out and open an IRA or Roth for yourself. Put your money into cheap, diverse index funds and keep adding to it. The greatest money strength you have on your side is that you have years for the market to create an avalanche out of the first few snowflakes of money you invest.
16. “Becoming a financially grown-up woman means unlearning a lot of money lessons society taught us as girls: that men are better at money and math (they’re not), that investing is scary (it’s not), and that the best route to financial stability is to marry a high earner (absolutely not!).”
Sara Rathner, credit cards expert at NerdWallet, wanted to share this with other women.
So throw all those old lessons in the garbage, because that’s where it belongs. Now, today, learn everything you can about managing your finances on your own.
There is nothing more empowering than being the boss of your own life, and of being an equal partner in your relationships. No one will ever care as much about your money as you will.
17. “Surround yourself with people with similar money values.”
Sue Hirst, Co-Founder and CFO of CFO On-Call shared her experience when we talked.
When I was in my 20s, I used to hang out with many people who didn’t share my money values. As a result, almost every time I went out with my friends, I splurged money recklessly due to peer pressure.
This was one of the top reasons I was unable to save as much money as I would have liked each month. Looking back, I wish I had either told my friends directly that I wasn’t comfortable spending huge amounts of money routinely, or made new friends whose financial values aligned with my own.
18. “Make saving a habit as soon as you start making income.”
Imani Francies, Finance Expert at US Insurance Agents, shared this little mind shift.
Saving becomes easier when you look at yourself with the same significance that you look at your power bill or any other bill. No matter what, you are going to do your best to pay your power bill. You should feel the same way about putting money into your savings.
Paying yourself first every month is investing in your future. Even if you can only put $5 into a savings account once a month, start early.
19. “Budget, but give yourself room to indulge.”
Lisa Thompson, Savings Expert at Coupons.com, offered up ALLLL the good tips when I spoke with her.
What’s your weakness: designer handbags, weekend getaways, fine dining with a great bottle of champagne? Make room for things you love by controlling what you spend in other areas.
20. “Cash back offers are everywhere, from brands like Rakuten, to credit card perks, to apps like Coupons.com. Use them!”
Thompson also offers this bit of advice. Refuse to pay full price for anything until you’ve looked for an offer. If you can pair a coupon or cash back offer with a store discount or sale, bam! That’s a savvy way to shop.
21. “Learn to use credit cards wisely.”
To tack on, Thompson also had this to say.
She makes a good point, too. Today, there are so many options for credit cards that offer perks from cash back to miles to points, as well as incentives, like a free Dash Pass for DoorDash or money toward a Peloton membership. The key, of course, is to not carry a balance and pay so much interest that it cancels out the perks. But if you can learn to use credit cards wisely by paying them off each month, the perks and incentives can help make everything from dining out to travel more affordable.
22. “Get a side gig by turning a passion into a money-making opportunity.”
Finally, Thompson ended our conversation with the quote above.
Do you love essential oils? Make balms, rollerballs, and pillow sprays, and sell them on Etsy or at pop-up shops.
Do you love thrifting, going to estate sales, and visiting antique shops? Find items worth more than what you’re paying and resell them! Facebook Marketplace is the perfect spot for that, and it’s free.
If you can turn a hobby into a source of income, that’s extra money for you to invest, save, or use as your slush/entertainment fund.
23. “Know your worth and advocate for yourself when negotiating.”
Amy Maliga, Personal Finance Consultant at Take Charge America, tells it like it is with her wise advice above.
Since the gender pay gap is still a real thing (ugh), it’s important to do your research on salaries for your position and advocate for yourself when negotiating a new job or discussing your annual performance review.
24. “Set goals and actively work toward them.”
Maliga offered me a simple but strong piece of advice above.
Whether it’s buying a home, starting a business, or embarking on world travel, setting financial goals gives a structure and framework to how you plan your finances.
25. “Forget FOMO. Don’t be afraid to say no.”
Maliga also makes a good point here.
TikTok made me buy it – or did it?
It’s way too easy to shop these days, and social media knows exactly what it takes to get you to press “add to cart.” When you’re tempted to buy something you hadn’t planned on, or friends are trying to talk you into activities you can’t afford, keep those long-term financial goals in mind, and don’t be afraid to say no.
Summary
We celebrate Women’s Equality Day every August 26th to commemorate the day the 19th Amendment finally recognized that women have the right to vote. But that same equality hasn’t trickled to the financial space yet, where the gender pay gap, wealth gap, and investing gap still exist today.
We’ve made a lot of progress over the decades, but a lot still needs to happen at the company, state, and national levels to achieve equal pay and equal opportunities for equal work. Until then, I hope these financial tips from awesome Millennial and Gen Z women serve as inspiration for how you can up the ante in your own financial life.
Are there any tips you’d add to the list? Let me know in the comments below!
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.
38k salary is a solid hourly wage; above most minimum hourly wage jobs.
For most people, an entry-level job would be paying just over $38,000 a year. The question that remains is can you make a living off $38k a year.
The median household income is $67,521 in 2020 which decreased by 2.9% from the previous year (source). Think of it as a bell curve with $68K at the top; the median means half of the population makes less than that and half makes more money.
The average income in the U.S. is $48,672 for a 40-hour workweek; that is an increase of 4% from the previous year (source). That means if you take everyone’s income and divided the money out evenly between all of the people.
But, the question remains can you truly live off 38,000 per year in today’s society since it is well below both the average and median household incomes. The question you want to ask all of your friends is $38000 per year a good salary.
In this post, we are going to dive into everything that you need to know about a $38000 salary including hourly pay and a sample budget on how to spend and save your money.
These key facts will help you with money management and learn how much per hour $38k is as well as what you make per month, weekly, and biweekly.
Just like with any paycheck, it seems like money quickly goes out of your account to cover all of your bills and expenses, and you are left with a very small amount remaining. You may be disappointed that you were not able to reach your financial goals and you are left wondering…
Can I make a living on this salary?
$38000 a year is How Much an Hour?
When jumping from an hourly job to a salary for the first time, it is helpful to know how much is 38k a year hourly. That way you can decide whether or not the job is worthwhile for you.
38000 salary / 2080 hours = $18.27 per hour
$38000 a year is $18.27 per hour
Let’s breakdown how that 38000 salary to hourly number is calculated
For our calculations to figure out how much is 38K salary hourly, we used the average five working days of 40 hours a week.
Typically, the average workweek 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, divide the yearly salary of $38000 by 2,080 working hours and the result is $18.27 per hour.
Just above $18 an hour.
That number is the gross hourly income before taxes, insurance, 401K, or anything else is taken out. Net income is how much you deposit into your bank account.
You must check with your employer on how they plan to pay you. For those on salary, typically companies pay on a monthly, semi-monthly, biweekly, or weekly basis.
What If I Increased My Salary?
Just an interesting note… if you were to increase your annual salary by $5K to $43K per year, it would increase your hourly wage to over $20 an hour – a difference of $2.40 per hour.
To break it down – 43k a year is how much an hour = $20.67
That difference will help you fund your savings account; just remember every dollar adds up.
How Much is $38K salary Per Month?
On average, the monthly amount would be $3,167.
Annual Salary of $38000 ÷ 12 months = $3167 per month
This is how much you make a month if you get paid 38000 a year.
$38k a year is how much a 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 of $38k salary a year, how much can I expect to make at the end of the week for my effort?
Once again, the assumption is 40 hours worked.
Annual Salary of$38000/52 weeks = $730 per week.
$38000 a year is how much biweekly?
For this calculation, take the average weekly pay of $730 and double it.
This depends on how many hours you work in a day. For this example, we are going to use an eight-hour workday.
8 hours x 52 weeks = 260 working days
Annual Salary of$38000 / 260 working days = $146 per day
If you work a 10 hour day on 208 days throughout the year, you make $182 per day.
$38000 Salary is…
$38000 – Full Time
Total Income
Yearly Salary (52 weeks)
$38,000
Monthly Salary
$3,166
Weekly Wage (40 Hours)
$730
Bi-Weekly Wage (80 Hours)
$1,461
Daily Wage (8 Hours)
$146
Daily Wage (10 Hours)
$168
Hourly Wage
$18.27
Net Estimated Monthly Income
$2,418
Net Estimated Hourly Income
$13.95
**These are assumptions based on simple scenarios.
38k a year is how much an hour after taxes
Income taxes is one of the biggest culprits of reducing your take-home pay as well as FICA and Social Security. This is a true fact across the board with an all salary range up to $142,800.
When you make below the average household income, the amount of taxes taken out hurts your hourly wage.
Every single 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%.
So, how much an hour is 38000 a year after taxes?
Gross Annual Salary: $38,000
Federal Taxes of 12%: $4,560
State Taxes of 4%: $1,520
Social Security and Medicare of 7.65%: $2,907
$38k Per Year After Taxes is $29,013
This would be your net annual salary after taxes.
To turn that back into an hourly wage, the assumption is working 2,080 hours.
$29013 ÷ 2,080 hours = $13.95 per hour
After estimated taxes and FICA, you are netting $29,013 per year, which is $8,987 per year less than what you expect.
***This is a very high-level example and can vary greatly depending on your personal situation and potential deductions. Therefore, here is a great tool to help you figure out how much your net paycheck would be.***
Taxes Based On Your State
In addition, if you live in a heavily taxed state like California or New York, then you have to pay way more money than somebody that lives in a no tax state like Texas or Florida. This is the debate of HCOL vs LCOL.
Thus, your yearly gross $38000 income can range from $25,973 to $30,533 depending on your state income taxes.
That is why it is important to realize the impact income taxes can have on your take home pay. It is one of those things that you should acknowledge and obviously you need to pay taxes. But, it can also put a huge dent in your ability to live the lifestyle you want on a $38,000 income.
How Much Is 38K A Year Hourly Salary Calculator
More than likely, your salary is not a flat 38k, here is a tool to convert salary to hourly calculator.
Many entry level jobs start at this range, which may make you believe that a business degree is worth it.
38k salary lifestyle
Every person reading this post has a different upbringing and a different belief system about money. Therefore, what would be a lavish lifestyle to one person, maybe a frugal lifestyle to another person. And there’s no wrong or right, it is what works best for you.
One of the biggest factors to consider is your cost of living.
In another post, we detailed the differences of living in an HCOL vs LCOL vs MCOL area. When you live in big cities, trying to maintain your lifestyle of $38,000 a year is going to be extremely difficult because your basic expenses, housing, transportation, food, and clothing are going to be much more expensive than you would find in a lower cost area.
To stretch your dollar further in the high cost of living area, you would have to probably live a very frugal lifestyle and prioritize where you want to spend money and where you do not. Whereas, if you live in a low cost of living area, you can afford the cost of living and maybe save more money. Thus, you have more fun spending left in your account each month.
As we noted earlier in the post, $38,000 a year is well below the average income that you would find in the United States. Thus, you have to be wise with how you spend your money.
What a $38,000 lifestyle will buy you:
If you are debt free and utilize smart money management skills, then you are able to enjoy the lifestyle you want.
You are able to rent in a decent neighborhood in LCOL.
Driving a beater car is normal.
You should be able to meet your basic expenses each and every month.
Not be able to afford many of the fun spending luxuries.
Participate in the 200 envelope challenge.
When A $38,000 Salary Will Hold you Back:
However, if you are riddled with debt or unable to break the paycheck to paycheck cycle, then living off of 38k a year is going to be pretty darn difficult.
There are two factors that will keep holding you back:
You must pay off debt and cut all fun spending and extra expenses.
Break the paycheck to paycheck cycle.
It is possible to get ahead with money!
It just comes with proper money management skills and a desire to have less stress around money. That is a winning combination regardless of your income level.
$38K a year Budget – Example
As always, here at Money Bliss, we focus on covering our basic expenses plus saving and giving first, and then our goal is to eliminate debt. The rest of the money leftover is left for fun spending.
This is how zero based budgeting works.
If you want to know how to manage 38k salary the best, then this is a prime example for you to compare your spending.
You can compare your budget to the ideal household budget percentages.
recommended budget percentages based on $38000 a year salary:
Category
Ideal Percentages
Sample Monthly Budget
Giving
10%
$158
Savings
15-25%
$570
Housing
20-30%
$887
Utilities
4-7%
$127
Groceries
5-12%
$253
Clothing
1-4%
$19
Transportation
4-10%
$127
Medical
5-12%
$158
Life Insurance
1%
$10
Education
1-4%
$10
Personal
2-7%
$29
Recreation / Entertainment
3-8%
$71
Debts
0% – Goal
$0
Government Tax (including Income Tatumx, Social Security & Medicare)
15-25%
$749
Total Gross Monthly Income
$3,167
**In this budget, prioritization was given to basic expenses and no debt.
Is $38,000 a year a Good Salary?
As we stated earlier if you are able to make $38,000 a year, that is a low salary. You are making around or just above minimum wage.
While 38000 is a decent salary just starting out in your working years, it is a salary that you want to rapidly increase before your expenses go up or the people you provide for increase. If not, you will be left working multiple jobs to make ends meet.
However, too many times people get stuck in the lifestyle trap of trying to keep up with the Joneses, and their lifestyle desires get out of hand compared to their salary. And what they thought used to be a great salary actually is not making ends meet at this time.
This $38k salary would be considered a lower class salary. You must make each dollar count in your budget.
Check: Are you in the middle class?
In fact, this income level in the United States has enough buying power to put you in the top 95 percentile globally for per person income (source).
The question you need to ask yourself with your 38k salary is:
Am I maxed at the top of my career?
Is there more income potential?
What obstacles do I face if I want to try to increase my income?
In the future years and with possible inflation, in many modest cities a 38,000 a year is not a good salary because the cost of living is so high, whereas these are some of the cities where you can make a decent living at 38,000 per year.
If you are looking for a career change, you want to find jobs paying at least $50000 a year.
Is 38k a good salary for a Single Person?
Simply put, you can make it work.
You can stretch your salary much further because you are only worried about your own expenses. A single person will spend much less than if you need to provide for someone else.
Your living expenses and ideal budget are much less. Thus, you can live comfortably on $38000 per year.
And… most of us probably regret how much money wasted when we were single. Oh well, lesson learned.
Is 38k a good salary for a family?
Many of the same principles apply above on whether $38000 is a good salary. The main difference with a family, you have more people to provide for than when you are single or have just one other person in your household.
At the 38K salary with a family, you would need more than one income stream to make this possible without government help.
The costs of raising children are high and will steeply cut into your income. As you can tell this is a huge dent in your income, specifically $12,980 annually per child.
That means that amount of money is coming out of the income that you earned.
So, the question really remains is can you provide a good life for your family making $38,000 a year? This is the hardest part because each family has different choices, priorities, and values.
More or less, it comes down to two things:
The location where you live in.
Desire to improve your career and make more money.
Your lifestyle choices.
You will not be able to afford everything on this salary.
Many times when raising a family, it is helpful to have a dual-income household. That way you are able to provide the necessary expenses if both parties were making 38,000 per year, then the combined income for the household would be $76,000. Thus making your combined salary a very good income.
Learn how much money a family of 4 needs in each state.
Can you Live on 38000 Per Year?
As we outlined earlier in the post, $38,000 a year:
$18.27 Per Hour
$146-182 Per Day (depending on length of day worked)
$730 Per Week
$1,461 Per Biweekly
$3,166 Per Month
Next up is making $40,000 a year.
Like anything else in life, you get to decide how to spend, save and give your money.
That is the difference for each person on whether or not you can live a lower-class lifestyle depends on many potential factors. If you live in Washington or New Jersey you are gonna have a tougher time than in Florida or even Texas.
In addition, if you are early in your career, starting out around 32,000 a year, that is a okay place to be getting your career. However, if you have been in your career for over 20 years and still making $38K, then you probably need to look at asking for pay increases, pick up a second job, or find a different career path.
Regardless of the wage that you make, if you are not able to live the lifestyle that you want, then you have to find ways to make it work for you. Everybody has choices to make.
But one of the things that can help you the most is to stick to our ideal household budget percentages to make sure you stay on track.
Learn exactly how much do I make per year…
One of the best ways to improve your personal finance situation is to increase your income. Here are a variety of side hustles that are very lucrative. With time and effort, you can start enjoying the lifestyle you want.
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Monica helped me find my momentum and my want to pursue my business again.
After taking a second job as a driver for Amazon to make ends meet, this former teacher pivoted to be a successful stock trader.
Leaving behind the stress of teaching, now he sets his own schedule and makes more money than he ever imagined. He grew his account from $500 to $38000 in 8 months.
Check out this interview.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Last year the zipper on my winter coat broke. Not before time, mind you; I’d had it so long that I couldn’t remember exactly when I bought it. My best guess is 25 years.
Gut reaction: Oh no! I can’t afford a new coat. But of course I could. I have a regular writing gig. Yet I actually thought about getting a seamstress to put in a new zipper.
Folks, this coat wasn’t classy even when it was new way back in the mid-1980s. It was a navy blue, butt-length cloth coat with a hood, bought from the clearance rack for about $40. After a couple of dozen years of wear it was fraying badly, especially around the cuffs and pockets.
Paying for a new zipper would have been like putting a new door on a condemned property. Why not apply that money toward a new garment?
Because I was used to doing without.
Because I was afraid I couldn’t afford it.
Because I was afraid, period.
Call it a scarcity mentality, call it cheapskatery, call Dr. Phil and have him work me over. The fact is, I had trouble spending money because I remembered the time when I had nothing.
Still Stuck in the Pain
Like someone who’d gone through the Great Depression, I was afraid to loosen the purse strings. Sometimes I still am. And I’m not alone.
Plenty of the folks body-slammed by the current recession are also fearful, according to Dr. Ted Klontz, co-author of Mind Over Money: Overcoming the Money Disorders That Threaten Our Financial Health. Even after their finances improve, he says, it’s likely that some “are going to have a lot of difficulty (taking) care of themselves and their families in reasonable ways.”
Spending after a financial crisis is like dating after a divorce, Klontz says. “It’s a natural process to restrict it, because you don’t want to go through the pain again. What that would tell me is that you’re still stuck in the pain associated with that time.”
He’s right. To me, hitting the mall would have been as unnatural as signing up for one of those online dating sites. (Even though I do enjoy foreign films, taking long walks on the beach at sunset and reading to orphans.)
After a day or two I came to my senses and got a replacement coat. (More on that later.) It was a good sign that my personal improvement program — aka “Get a grip, Freedman!” — was taking hold.
Before you judge me too harshly, know this: If you’ve never done without, you have no idea how hard it can be to believe — to really BELIEVE — that the wolf is nowhere near your door.
Instead, you remain in frugal lockdown. You pay the bills, allow for a bare minimum of necessities, and hoard the rest in case something bad happens.
Knowing You Have Enough
These days I think in terms of living mindfully, which some people call living intentionally — i.e., thinking hard about wants and needs and then meeting them in a low-cost, preferably low-impact way.
In other words, I’m not hoarding every dime because something bad might happen. I’m saving so that something good will happen, such as buying a home of my own. In the short term, I’m using a portion of saved funds to do some of the things I want, such as traveling — or buying a coat. (We’ll get to that soon. Honest.)
What helped me, and what might help you, was creating a “spending intention statement.” Financial adviser Spencer Sherman suggests making a list of all the basics (including an emergency fund and a retirement fund), plus categories for long-term savings and charity. Pay those bills/honor those commitments each month. Congratulations — you’re solvent!
“If you’re saving money and you’re giving some money away, that’s telling you you’ve got enough — the rest of the money, you can spend,” says Sherman, author of The Cure for Money Madness: Break Your Bad Money Habits, Live Without Financial Stress — and Make More Money!.
So once I’ve paid my monthly bills, filled the larder with frugal vittles, mailed a check to an elderly relative, set aside money for quarterly taxes, and seen automated monthly savings siphoned off into an online bank, I know that whatever’s left over is mine to enjoy.
Sort of.
Where Your Money Goes — and Where it Stays
Should I really want to use up every dime? Should anyone, especially if you’re in debt, recently out of debt, or the kind of person who, before layoff, always spent like a sailor on shore leave?
Nope. And nope. That’s where the big, bad B-word comes in. Two B-words, actually: budget and balance.
A “spending intention statement” is just a highfalutin synonym for “budget.” As noted earlier, an SIS eases panic and anxiety because it gives you a clear picture of where your money goes — and where it stays. It’s control. It’s choice.
Suppose you make your bills, continue to fund for the future and enjoy the occasional package of Sweet Tarts. If there’s any left over you can choose to put some or most of it into additional categories: new car fund, college savings plan, replacement winter coat. (Nearly there. I promise.)
Don’t forget a “fun” category. Fun is a major component of the “balance” side of the ledger. Do without entertainment for too long and you’re likely to bust loose and blow the budget. You’ll hate yourself in the morning. (The company that holds your credit card will probably send you flowers, though.)
Whether your idea of a good time is a monster truck rally or the New York Philharmonic, that part of the budget is yours to use as you see fit. Don’t deny yourself fun — but don’t try to run through every possible permutation in the same weekend, either. When coming off a long, dry, fun-less spell, it’s best to start small.
Oh, and to pay cash. Choose something you find both wonderful and affordable and treat yourself, using fresh green tender from your wallet. Leave the plastic home. You’re less likely to overdo it that way.
Savor and Appreciate
This is especially true if overindulgence was the reason you wound up in trouble in the first place. Learn why that was a problem, lest you repeat this particular history. Did you:
Try to cover up pain or loneliness by accumulating Stuff?
Strive to keep up with free-spending peers?
Have an entitlement mentality?
Fall into the trap of eating every meal out? (My friend knows a couple who routinely spends $700 to $800 a week in restaurants.)
Googols of self-help and personal-finance books exist to help you get to the bottom of your overspending. (You will, of course, get them from the library. Right?) Or you might want to seek help from a therapist, a reputable credit counseling agency or a group such as Debtors Anonymous.
One personal finance expert told me that it’s best to initiate or reinstate treats slowly. Maybe add one indulgence every couple of months, whether that’s a new video game, a perennial for your garden, brunch with your sister or a therapeutic massage. Just make sure that it doesn’t raise your total monthly budget by more than 5%.
Take the time to savor and appreciate each new treat, and to think about when — or whether — to add a new one. Having money once more doesn’t mean you can throw it around. (You could put someone’s eye out that way.) Even though I’m working to overcome my spending phobia, I’m still striving to meet needs and wants alike as reasonably as possible:
Ha! Told you we’d get there! I needed a coat but I wanted to save money, so I compromised: I went to Value Village in Seattle, where I found a barely-worn Eddie Bauer down coat for $14.99.
Keeping Money in Perspective
Being super-aware of spending isn’t a bad thing. It’s a reminder to send my bucks toward things that matter. That can be a small thing, incidentally — say, an ice-cream cone with my great-nephews. On a warm summer day while I’m on vacation, ice cream matters.
But I don’t need to have ice cream every day. If I do, it no longer matters. (It also plays hob with my cholesterol.) Thus skeptical spending keeps me from piddling away a ton of money on things that ultimately make no difference in my life.
Besides, remembering the tough times helps me keep money in perspective. It reminds me that I don’t really need much to live on. It also reminds me how blessed I am: After meeting basic needs I now have the luxury of selecting from among my wants.
So join me. Look for the place between paranoia and profligacy. Look for balance. And look in thrift stores on half-off days. I’m still mildly irritated that I spent $14.99. That coat better last another 25 years.
Inside: Many jobs are available in the early morning hours. This is an opportunity to make a bit of extra money before your 9-5 or when kids are at school with early morning jobs.
It’s a commonly held belief that working the early shift is not worth it. If you’re waking up at 4 am every day for work, your earnings will be drastically lower than if you worked a regular 8-hour day.
The idea of this article is to show why it could actually be worth waking up before sunrise and trying to earn more money by doing these “early” jobs in earnest.
For me, many of my jobs have always followed the non-traditional hours of a 9-5 job. Personally, that works great for me as it frees up my day for other things, pursuits, and kids.
The funniest part is I’m not a morning person by any stretch of the imagination! Yet, I make my money early in the day consistently.
So, if you are thinking, early morning jobs are not for me – wait until you actually give it a try.
In this article, you will find a list of jobs that are available for people who love working early hours as I do and want more money!
Hint, hint… It is the allure of making money that gets me motivated and out of bed!
How can I make money early in the morning?
There are a variety of early morning jobs that you can do in order to make some extra money.
You just need to find one that is a good fit for your lifestyle and personality. It’s important to pick an early morning job that you feel comfortable doing so that you don’t dread waking up early every day.
Additionally, many employers are willing to pay a premium for employees who are willing to work the early shift.
Making money early in the morning is easy if you put your mind to it.
How early is an early morning shift?
An early morning shift jobs start between 3 and 6 am and typically ends late morning or early afternoon.
This gives people the opportunity to work during the daytime and still have time for other activities in the evening.
Most start work at 5 am.
Why morning jobs are better?
Working the early shift has its perks.
For one, you’re done working by the afternoon and can run errands, schedule appointments, and socialize. Secondly, many employers are willing to pay a higher wage for employees who are willing to work during the morning hours.
Additionally, many people opt for an earlier start who want to avoid the rush hour traffic or those who have children they need to care for once the school day is over.
Plus some people work early morning hours because they want a flexible schedule, while others do it because they need the extra money. No matter your reason, there are plenty of opportunities to make money in the early hours of the day.
The 10 Best Early Morning Jobs
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The most common are shift work jobs, which require employees to work during hours that are not typically considered “normal” working hours. This can include the night shift, early morning shift, or swing shift.
There are many different types of early morning jobs. The most popular type is a full-time job, but there is also part-time, temporary, and freelance work available. Each type of job has its own advantages and disadvantages.
1. Warehouse Worker
Warehouse workers are responsible for ensuring that goods are unloaded from trucks, inspected for any damage or defects, and sorted and placed in the correct locations in warehouses or stores. They may also be responsible for preparing goods for shipment to customers.
Most of these positions are for early morning hours.
This can be a great opportunity for people who are looking for work and would prefer to work during the earlier hours of the day.
2. Barista
Barista is the term used to describe a person who performs coffee-related tasks, such as preparing and serving espresso drinks. Ideally, baristas serve beverages in establishments that offer coffee or other hot beverages.
Baristas are in high demand and typically have flexible hours. They can earn up to $15 per hour, depending on their level of experience.
Plus you have the flexibility of afternoons off after the morning rush.
3. Stock Trader
For those who want to work from their own home and have flexibility in their schedule, then you want to learn how to become a successful stock trader. Someone who buys and sells stocks to make income.
This is a highly lucrative side hustle for many people. In fact, how fast can you make money in stocks?
Personally, this is what I choose for my early morning job.
Stock Trading can be a full-time career opportunity if you have the ambition and patience to make it through the ups and downs.
Many people start trading with the hope of generating supplemental income, but it can become more than that with hard work and consistent effort.
Nowadays, the barrier of entry is very low to start trading stocks. However, you need to take the best online investing classes first.
4. Personal Trainer
Personal trainers typically offer their services at early morning hours, before most people go to work.
They help people achieve their fitness goals, whether it be weight loss, toning up, or building muscle. Personal trainers are responsible for creating workout routines and helping their clients stay on track.
Personal trainers are in high demand and the median salary is around $40,000 per year. If you have the time and availability, you can build a client base and the earning potential is endless.
5. Package Delivery
Another morning job hiring near me is package delivery drivers. These workers are responsible for the delivery of a shipment of goods from one place to another.
This position offers consistent and part-time morning hours. You will be responsible for package delivery in the area. Pay normally starts at $21 an hour plus.
6. Online Seller/Flipper
Side hustles are becoming more and more popular as people look for ways to make extra money.
One way to make some extra cash is by selling items online.
You could also get these items at local yardsales, estate sales, or donation stores and sell your items on Etsy, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace.
If this is something you are serious about, then check out Flea Market Flippers.
7. Freelancing
Freelancing is a great option for people who want to work on their own schedule. You can choose when you want to work and how much you want to work, which is great for people who want to get an early start on their day.
Freelancing can be a great way to utilize your skills and make some extra money on the side, but it’s important to keep in mind that freelancing is a business.
In fact, many people start freelancing as a side hustle in order to make some extra money but it may turn into a full-time career. In fact, according to recent studies, 1 in 3 Americans are now freelancing. This number is only going to grow in the years to come so don’t be afraid to start freelancing yourself. It may just lead to a more fulfilling career.
Learn how to earn money writing.
8. Baker
Bakers are often some of the first people to arrive at a bakery or shop. This is because many bakeries and shops open early in the morning.
Bakers are responsible for baking bread, pastries, and other items. They are required to have a fundamental understanding of baking as well as the ability to work in early morning shifts and afternoon shifts. They must also be able to handle flexible hours.
Bakers typically earn an hourly wage of around $14 an hour, but with experience and additional skills (like cake decoration), that number can go up to $20 an hour or more.
9. Online English Tutor
There are many opportunities for online English teachers to make money. One great opportunity is for early risers who want to work from home in the morning. There are many students looking for online classes at this time of day.
There are a number of companies that offer English teaching jobs to those who are certified in teaching English as a second language. The majority of these positions have you teaching students in China, Korea, or Taiwan. However, there are also opportunities to teach business professionals and executives in other countries.
If you’re looking for a way to make some extra money, becoming an English tutor for international students is a great option. You can typically expect to earn around $14-$22 per hour, depending on your experience and qualifications.
10. Flight Attendant
Flight attendants are responsible for the safety and comfort of passengers on an airplane. They must attend to passengers’ needs, provide information about flights, and ensure that all safety regulations are followed.
Flight attendants typically work long hours, often including overnight shifts, and earn an average salary of over $75,000 per year.
However, with more experience, they can make more money. Some ticket counters open as early as 4 am in order to prepare for morning departures.
Other Types of Early Morning Jobs
Those are not the only type of early morning jobs. There are plenty more morning jobs near me. You can find both part-time and full-time.
Here are more jobs to pursue.
1. Store Stocker
A store stocker is a person who stocks shelves in a grocery store. The stores they work at are typically open 24 hours and the job entails cleaning, restocking items that run out of stock, and making sure the shelves are neat.
This is typically an entry-level position in a grocery store or department store.
2. Childcare Related Jobs
Have you ever asked what are morning jobs hiring near me, then consider working with children. There are always plenty of open jobs to look after kids.
Here are some positional childcare related jobs:
Preschool teacher
Paraeducator
Substitute teacher
Daycare teacher
Nanny
Before and after-school programs
In all honestly, this can be one of the most rewarding morning jobs because kids will always make sure you laugh and smile.
3. Rideshare Driver
Yes, driving for Uber or Lyft can be a great way to make some extra money early in the morning. The hours are flexible and you can often make good money during those times.
The most popular route is heading to the airport.
Since many people book these types of rides in advance, you can earn a steady stream of income.
4. School Bus Driver
School bus drivers are responsible for transporting children to and from school. They ensure the safety of students on their bus as well as have a number of other responsibilities such as making sure all students are wearing their seatbelts and that the bus is clean.
Right now, we are facing a severe school bus driver shortage, which is affecting how children must get to school.
In many areas, you can find starting hourly wages for school bus drivers at $19 an hour.
5. Dog Walker
There are many ways to make money through Rover. You can provide pet care, pet sitting, dog walking, and more. You can also choose to offer services like delivery or house sitting. The options are endless!
This is one of the easiest ways to make money.
6. Truck Driver
A truck driver drives a semi-trailer truck loaded with freight. They drive the freight to its destination and unload it when they arrive.
For truck drivers who want to save money on fuel or have good mileage, the best time to drive is during the early morning hours. This is when there is less traffic and you can avoid rush hour.
Truck drivers can make a lot of money. In fact, they can earn up to $35 an hour. That’s a lot of money for early morning work.
Don’t want to drive? Then, become the middleman. Learn the exact freight broker salary.
7. Landscaper (Yard Work)
If you’re an early riser and you’re looking for a job that gets you outside, landscaping is a great option. It’s hard work, but it can be very rewarding.
It might be hard to get your services as there are already established landscapers in the area. If you don’t have a business, see if there is a business that needs lawn work done and if so, offer your services. You can also go door-to-door asking people if they need their yards done; just make sure you have a good sales pitch ready!
This seasonal job is great to do in the morning because it tends to be cooler and there’s more daylight. The pay usually ranges from $10 to $20 an hour, so it’s a good way to make some extra money.
8. Chef
Chefs are some of the most hard-working professionals in the culinary industry.
They often start their day at 4 am, preparing for the onslaught of orders and tasks that come with a busy kitchen.
While many chefs have formal training from culinary schools, there are also many ways to learn the trade. Some chefs start out as dishwashers and work their way up the ladder, while others may take online courses or watch cooking shows to learn new techniques.
The average salary for a chef is just over $50,000 a year.
9. Mail Carrier
Mail carrier and other postal worker jobs are excellent for early risers because there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes before delivering mail.
These types of jobs offer some excellent benefits that can be harder to find these days.
Mail carriers are nearly always employed by the United States Postal Service, but they can also be hired independently.
10. Factory Worker
Factory work can be a great option for people who are looking for full-time or part-time work. The hours are usually regular, and the job doesn’t require many if any formal qualifications. However, you may need some experience in the field and a high school diploma.
However, if you have practical skills such as forklift driving, you can earn more by picking up shifts in the mornings, nights, or weekends. The work is physically demanding so you’ll need to be in shape and stand or sit in one position all day long.
Working the early shift at a factory can be tough, but it also has its benefits. The pay can vary a great deal depending on the company, so it’s important to do your research. However, if you’re looking for work and don’t mind getting up early, then this might be the perfect opportunity for you.
11. Part-time Retail Employee – Early Morning
Part-time Retail employees working early morning shifts will be paid for their time. There are always companies looking to hire for early morning jobs.
These are great for stay-at-home moms. In fact, the employee discount can be a nice bonus for working there.
This is a perfect low stress job after retirement.
12. Gig Worker
Gig work is a term used for short-term, contract-based work. It can be a great way to have more control over your schedule and to make some extra money on the side. There are many different types of gig work available, so you’re sure to find something that suits your skills and interests.
Those who need to run errands or get an early start on their day may use gig work apps like Grubhub, Postmates, DoorDash, and Uber Eats. Additionally, you can increase your chances of getting gigs by downloading all the relevant apps and clicking on the one that seems to produce the best results.
13. Farm Worker
As you can imagine, farm work can be difficult, but if you’re someone who loves working outdoors and enjoys physical labor, then this may be a great career for you.
Farm workers are typically hired based on their qualifications and experience.
If you can offer the help local farmers need, you should be a great fit for the position. Farm work is often physical labor, so make sure you’re physically prepared for the job before applying.
14. Morning Radio DJ
Morning radio DJs reflect the lives of their listeners, who may be early risers or working professionals. The job involves playing music and talking about topics that are important to the listener in order to help them wake up and start the day.
The main goal of morning show DJs is to keep listeners tuned into their station while providing a fair amount of entertainment.
Starting out your career in radio can be a great way to get started in the industry. Many DJs start their careers at small community or college radio stations and then move on to bigger stations as they gain more experience. The morning time slot is from 6 AM to Noon, which is a great opportunity to reach a large audience.
15. Cleaner
There is a high demand for cleaning services and cleaners can earn up to $22 per hour, plus tips. Some of the highest earners are making over $1000 a week.
This is one type of service that is not going away and the barriers to entry are extremely low. The average cost a house cleaner charges are $50-90 for two hours of work.
16. Online Surveys
That’s the beauty of online surveys – you can do them at any time of the day that works for you.
You don’t need to focus too much on taking them, either; in most cases, you can do other things while completing the survey. This means that they’re a great way to make some extra money without having to put in a lot of effort.
The best surveys are normally released first thing in the morning and only available for a limited time. That’s why it’s important to do online surveys as soon as they’re available. This will give you the best chance of getting rewarded for your efforts.
Best Online Survey Companies:
Where to find morning jobs near me?
Some tips for finding early morning jobs include using job search engines, checking job boards, and networking with friends and family. It is also important to be prepared for the interview and to have a strong resume.
If you’re looking for a job that starts early in the morning, you’re in luck! There are many jobs available that start at 5 am, 6 am, 7 am or 8 am. You can find these jobs by searching online or by going to your local job center.
It’s never too early to start looking for a job.
In fact, many people start their job search well before they’re actually ready to start working. This is because it can take some time to find the right job for you. And remember, it’s important to keep learning and earning money so you can be happy!
The best way to find an early morning job is to search online.
What to do when you land an early morning job
So you’ve landed an early morning job. Congratulations! This can be a challenging but rewarding experience when you first start out.
Prepare what your days will look like with your early morning job.
If you are adding a second job, make sure you are fully rested to take on both jobs.
Tips for surviving the early shift
When you start your early morning job, the most important thing is to get a good night’s sleep.
In fact, most of the early birds actually follow the billionaire morning routine to get in their flow.
Here are a few tips to help make the most of it:
Get plenty of rest the night before. It’s important to be well-rested for those early morning shifts.
Arrive on time. Punctuality is key in any profession, especially so when working the early shift.
Stay focused and work hard. Those early hours can be tough, but it’s important to stay productive and get the job done right.
Take breaks as needed. It’s important to stay hydrated and quick breaks to recharge your batteries.
Enjoy your free time wisely. The evening hours are precious, so make sure to use them wisely and enjoy your time off responsibly.
What morning time jobs interest You?
Early morning jobs are a great opportunity for those looking to make a bit of extra money.
They are also a great way to get your foot in the door with a company you are interested in working for.
Plus you don’t have to debate is a business degree worth it as many of these jobs don’t require one. In fact, find low-stress jobs that pay well without a degree now.
In the post, we detailed plenty of early morning jobs. Since you are getting up earlier than most people prefer, make sure you pick an interest that can become a life-long career.
You want to be passionate about what you are doing early in the morning!
Especially because you don’t want to start only to say… “I don’t want to work anymore.”
Be sure to dress for success, be punctual, and be prepared to work hard and you will be sure to land an early morning job.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Inside: Learn how much your 80k salary is hourly. Plus find tips to make more money and live the lifestyle you want.
Retirement can be a scary word to those who are not wealthy or afraid of having too much time on their hands.
People in the workforce often don’t know what they will do when their retirement comes around, but it doesn’t have to be that way after all.
For most retirees, there are many reasons they want to work after retirement. And that is 100% okay!
Low stress jobs after retirement make for great part-time careers while still providing enough flexibility to enjoy your personal life. Plus a little extra money is always helpful!
While there is no one “right” answer on which job for you, we compiled a list of 30 great options to consider. All of these jobs offer relatively low stress levels and plenty of opportunities for relaxation and enjoyment.
But before you jump on the first one that comes along, you want to consider which will work best and help ease your transition into the world of retirement.
When you retire, you want to find a job that is low stress and enjoyable. That’s why finding a good retirement job is so important!
The benefits of having a low stress job after retirement
After years of hard work, retirement is a time to relax and enjoy life.
However, for some retirees, working part-time or as a side job can provide additional earnings and a sense of purpose. The following jobs are perfect for seniors over 55, or those post-retirement. They have lower stress levels than the average job and offer many opportunities for growth.
Many retirees below starting a second career after retirement would be difficult and are looking for a job that has fewer strings attached. This may be due to the fact that many retirees feel they have reached the pinnacle of their careers and want more time freedom.
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.
Fortunately, there are many available jobs with increasing demand and most even have lower stress levels than average.
Retirement is a good time to consider additional earnings. This can provide a stream of money for people who want to enjoy life longer and need an additional income. In addition, working can help retirees stay mentally and physically healthy.
Jobs to Do after Retirement
The list is composed of jobs that are perfect for seniors over 55, or even post-retirement. They have lower stress levels than the average job and offer many opportunities for growth.
Some retirees prefer to work part time or as a side job; others want to find a full-time position that will keep them busy and engaged in their community. Whatever your preference, know that there are plenty of great options out there!
Retiring means starting a new life, so it is important to consider this change as the beginning of a new life and not the end of an old one.
So go ahead and take the plunge into retirement! It’s a new beginning full of endless possibilities.
There are plenty of good jobs for retirees!
What are fun jobs after retirement?
There are many fun retirement jobs that pay a small fortune! And what your personality prefers!
Some people choose to continue working in the same field, but in a more relaxed or part-time capacity. Other people choose to use their retirement to try something new and exciting, such as starting their own business, traveling, or taking up a new hobby.
What can I do after retirement to make money?
Now that you’re retired, you may be looking for ways to make some extra money. Luckily, there are plenty of options to make money in retirement available to you!
You could start a business, become a consultant, or tutor students. In addition, you could also look into working from home opportunities or start a blog.
Maybe you want one of the best part time jobs in retirement.
Whatever you choose, make sure you do your research and find something you enjoy so you don’t get bored!
Tips to Making Money in Retirement
The best fun jobs after retirement include working at a theme park, house sitting permanently on a beach or something crazy you never dreamed yourself to do!
One great way to make some money is by selling your skills and experience. For example, interior decorating is a low-stress field that often requires past experience. Alternatively, you could become a real estate agent. Both of these opportunities allow you to use the skills and knowledge you’ve acquired over the years.
Another great option for retirees is to take advantage of the growing gig economy. There are a host of jobs available through online platforms like Uber or Lyft that don’t require a lot of physical activity or travel time. Plus, they typically offer higher pay rates than traditional employment opportunities.
If you’re looking for something a little more relaxing, consider joining one of the many survey sites out there. These sites reward you with a small amount of money for each survey you complete. It may not be much, but it can add up over time!
Finally, if you’re looking for an easy way to make some money, consider something easy like greeting people. This is a great option because it’s so easy and doesn’t require any special skills or knowledge.
Which job is stress free and high paying?
There is no such job that is stress free and high paying. All jobs have their own unique stressors and rewards. It is important to find a job that is rewarding to you and that you find manageable levels of stress.
There are many jobs that are considered “stress free” after retirement.
For example, many seniors are now looking into jobs such as being a consultant or working in customer service. These positions offer a more relaxed work schedule and usually don’t require extensive training.
In addition, the amount of money one earns from a job is directly related to how much work one put into it. If you’re willing to put in the extra effort, you can make significantly more money than those who don’t.
Really Focused on less stress?
Many seniors are also looking for jobs that don’t involve stress or concern. Proofreading is one such position that meets these qualifications. The job requires native-level English proficiency and an excellent understanding of grammar to succeed. In order to be successful in this field, you have to proofread documents that contain no grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, or syntactic flubs.
You need to find a job that feeds your soul and doesn’t seem like work.
Plus it is fun to tell others what do you do for a living.
Best low stress jobs after retirement
Some people want to use their retirement as a vehicle to start their side hustle and be more relaxed than they were during work hours. This is a great way to spend your retirement! Most cool retirement jobs require little-to-no experience, but some do.
At the end of the day, you must decide if you want to work for yourself and start your own company with a higher earning potential. Or work for someone else with less strings attached and lower pay.
In many cases, you might be stuck working because you didn’t save for retirement, so here are a few jobs that are perfect for seniors over 55 years old, or even after retirement:
1. Freelance writing
Freelance writing can be a good source of income when one has the skills and experience to do so. The best part? You get to set your own hours and take on as much or as little work as you want!
This may not sound like a low-stress job at first, but it’s actually an excellent low-stress job! Being your own boss offers incredible benefits. Best of all, you can do it in a completely stress-free environment by deciding in advance exactly how many hours you want to work.
In fact, my friend over at More Time to Travel does freelance writing for Forbes.
Freelance writing is a great way to make money from home. Be sure to have a strong portfolio and excellent writing skills to land quality freelance writing jobs. Here is a great freelance writing course.
2. Tour guide
This is perfect for someone who loves people and to discuss their worldly knowledge.
A tour guide is someone who accompanies tourists and provides information about the areas they are visiting. They are usually seniors because no special certifications or degrees are required. However, it can be a fun job for anyone who loves meeting people and has a lot of knowledge about their area. Some tour guide jobs offer tips and the opportunity to travel.
A good tour guide will have a deep knowledge of the areas they are touring and will be able to answer any questions the tourists may have. Plus cash tips are always a perk!
3. House Sitter
You can house sit for someone you know, or use a site like Mind My House to find paying gigs. Rates vary depending on the city, but typically you can expect to earn $25-50/day as a house sitter.
It allows you to live in new places without having to commit to long-term leases, and it gives you an opportunity to meet new people and explore new neighborhoods. Plus, it’s a great way to make some extra money on the side as well as lowering your monthly expenses!
If this is something you are seriously considering, then check out this book to learn how to housesit from an expert.
4. Librarian
Librarians are responsible for organizing and managing library collections, helping patrons find information and materials, and providing instruction on how to use library resources. They typically work regular hours in a library setting, and their work is relatively active.
They also need excellent research skills and the ability to stay up-to-date on new technologies.
However, job prospects are good to work in this quiet environment.
5. Customer Service Representative
Jobs in customer service usually don’t require a lot of experience or special training, so they can be a great way to ease into retirement. And since most customer service positions are in the service industry, you’ll likely get to meet new people and help them solve problems every day.
They may work in call centers, retail stores, banks, or insurance companies. In some cases, they may also work remotely from their homes. Customer service reps typically need strong communication and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to stay calm under pressure.
6. Craft seller
Many people don’t have time for their crafts like they wanted when working full-time and raising kids. So, retirement is a perfect time to become an artisans who make and sell their own products.
You can set your own hours, work from home and sell whatever you like. There are many online marketplaces that cater to craft sellers, so you can find a platform that fits your style and interests. In addition, you can attend craft fairs and other events to sell their work in person.
Make sure to price your items competitively and take the time to create an attractive product listing. Plus ship quickly and provide excellent customer service to keep buyers coming back for more!
7. Crossing Guard
It only requires a few hours of work per day, and the pay is decent around $15 an hour.
The job does not require any special skills or training, so it is an ideal way to spend your golden years. Plus you can keep youthful by staying around all of the school-aged children.
8. Blogging
This is a form of expression for most retirees or those thinking about retiring.
It can be a low stress job after retirement, as you can do it from the comfort of your own home and set your own schedule. You don’t need any special qualifications or training to start blogging – all you need is a computer, an internet connection, and something to write about.
Blogging is a great way to create fresh, new content on a regular basis for your website. In fact, my friend over at Tuppennys Fireplace uses blogging to drive extra money to their retirement budget each month.
You can sell advertising space on your blog, use affiliate marketing to promote products and services, or even launch your own product or service. The sky’s the limit when it comes to making money from blogging – so if you have something interesting to say, go for it!
9. Elder Care Services
Services can range from in-home help to full-time nursing care, and each has its own benefits and drawbacks.
While this may seem odd as a low stress job in retirement, it is a good reminder that you are still youthful in others’ eyes.
These may be simple jobs such as picking up groceries, light cleaning, cooking meals, or companionship during the day. Given the cost of nursing homes and certified nursing assistance, this is an affordable option for families who want extra eyes on their loved ones.
10. Private Island Caretaker
Okay, this is the one I want!
If you are reading this and need a caretaker, I am happy to be the right person for your estate.
A lot of caretaker jobs are in private areas, such as private islands, ski resorts, large estates, and other remote or private areas. This is often because employers need someone they can trust to be on-site full time and take care of things.1) Private Island Caretaker
Caretaker jobs are a great way for retirees to stay engaged and active in their golden years. They can provide a sense of purpose and routine, as well as an opportunity to explore new places and meet new people.
11. Docent or Usher
One low-stress job that retirees can consider is becoming an usher at their local theater or sporting area. This job does not require much training and typically pays minimum wage, but it can be a great way to meet people and see new shows and watch sports.
A docent is someone who has expert knowledge about a certain subject and can teach people about it through guided tours and lectures. They are often found in museums, art galleries, and other places where people can learn about the arts.
For many retirees, these are the perfect jobs to get paid for enjoying their hobbies and events they didn’t have time to see when working full-time.
12. Work at Disney
Jobs at Disney parks can be both fun and challenging, with plenty of opportunities to make new friends and help guests have a great time. You’ll need to be able to work hard and stay cheerful under pressure, but the rewards are many.
If you’re interested in working at one of the happiest places on earth, visit the Walt Disney Company website to learn more about current openings and how to apply.
Perfect for the retiree to stay youthful!
13. Invest in Various Intiatvies through Crowdfunding
When it comes to investments, there are many options to choose from that can fit any personality type.
Crowdfunding was created to help more people invest in various businesses by pooling resources together. This makes it more affordable and less risky for everyone involved.
For many retirees, this is a great way to impact start-up businesses and maybe even have a great ROI on their money.
14. Tutoring
Tutoring can help students learn in a one-on-one environment, and help them to focus on the material. Tutoring can also help build a student’s confidence, and help them to ask questions they may be too embarrassed to ask in a classroom setting.
It’s a great way to help students who are struggling and give them the support they need to succeed. You also get the satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping young people achieve their goals. Tutoring can be done in person or online, so it’s a flexible job that you can fit around your schedule.
In today’s society, there are plenty of opportunities to help students achieve faster with tutoring. Most tutors are paid at least $30 an hour.
15. Virtual assistant
There are many low stress jobs that can be found online and Virtual Assistants are one of those jobs.
A virtual assistant is a professional who provides administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients from a remote location. Often, virtual assistants work for multiple clients simultaneously, providing a wide range of services including social media management, email management, bookkeeping, and more.
They provide a service to their client through the internet and This is a great way for someone with retirement to start making money fast because most VAs make between $35 and $50 an hour.
Take free training for becoming a virtual assistant!
16. Personal shopper
A personal shopper may work in a store, helping customers find what they need, or they may work remotely for a customer who gives them a list of items to purchase. Either way, personal shoppers usually charge by the hour.
It also pays well, especially if you work for a high-end retailer. And since you’re working with customers one-on-one, this is a great job for someone who enjoys helping others. Perfect for a retiree to get out and about.
17. Personal organizer
They may work with individuals or groups, in both business and personal settings. Personal organizers usually have excellent time management skills, as well as a thorough understanding of the principles of organization.
This type of position is great to keep you moving as well as help others.
18. Animal shelter worker
They may feed, groom, and exercise the animals, as well as administer medication and vaccinations. They also clean cages and kennels, and may handle adoptions. The work can be physically demanding, but it is also very rewarding to help homeless animals find new homes.
For someone who loves animals, this is a perfect opportunity to make money and help neglected animals.
19. Book store assistant
The work is relatively easy, and there are usually no major deadlines to worry about. Plus, bookstores are typically quiet and calming environments, which can be a nice break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
If you’re looking for a relaxed job after retirement, this could be it!
20. Photographer
Some people take up photography as a hobby, some as an art form, and some as a profession. The beauty of photography is that it can be whatever you want it to be. There are so many different types of photography, based on your taste and choice you can choose which area to focus on first.
In addition, photography is a great low stress job after retirement!
It can be done freelance to supplement your income or on a full-time basis. There are many opportunities for photographers, and the work is generally enjoyable.
21. Life coach
After retirement, there are many low stress jobs that a person can take on. One such option is becoming a life coach.
This job involves helping people work through their problems and achieve their goals.
By becoming a mentor for the next generation, you are able to have a lasting impact and legacy. This allows you to share your wisdom and knowledge while also helping someone else in their career path.
As a life coach, it’s important to be a good listener and have strong communication skills. Additionally, new graduates might be able to offer you fresh perspectives on life that you may not have considered before. It’s easy to become a mentor to coworkers or people in your field; all it takes is some time and effort.
22. Consultant
Consulting is a broad term used to describe an area of work. It encompasses a wide range of activities and can be done by anyone with the appropriate skills and experience.
Many retirees choose to focus on the areas they enjoyed at work and avoid stressful parts, becoming consultants in those fields.
Often, retirees are a great resource for companies looking for short-term or project-based work. If you let your network know that you are available for consulting opportunities, they may be more likely to reach out to you when they have a need. Additionally, the average consultant salary is between $50 and $150 per hour, depending on experience level.
23. Walmart Greeter
Greeters welcome customers, help them find what they need, and provide general information about the store. They may also monitor security cameras and alarms in the store. The position requires little training, and most Walmart greeters are given on-the-job training.
However, greeters must be able to handle stress well, as they are often the first point of contact for customers who are angry or upset. The position also requires being able to work weekends and holidays.
24. Dog walker
Dog walking is a great job for people who love dogs and want to make a difference in the lives of animals. It is also perfect for retirees who want to stay busy and have flexible hours. The work can be enjoyable and rewarding, and it is a low-stress profession.
Dog walkers are typically paid by how many dogs they are watching at any given time, rather than by the hour. There are specific websites where you can find work as a dog walker like Rover and the average pay is $14 an hour.
25. Pet sitter
A pet sitter is a professional who is hired to take care of pets while their owners are away. Pet sitters typically visit the home of the pet owner to feed, water, and exercise the pet. They may also provide additional services such as grooming and medication administration.
For example, many retirees enjoy pet sitting because it allows them to form close relationships with animals while also providing a service to their community.
Find plenty of pet sitting gigs on Rover.
26. Camp Host
After retirement, many people are looking for a low stress job that will allow them to travel, get outside, and see new places. Campground jobs are perfect for this because you can work during the day and explore at night.
Camp hosts are people who work at a campground to provide information and assistance to guests.
Campsites allow for some flexibility in terms of location – you may be able to choose the state or national park you’d like to work in, as well as the dates of your stay. Additionally, many camp hosts have a good deal of control over their schedules, which can be a perk.
They usually work for minimum wage, but can often receive tips from guests.
27. Adjunct Professor
Many retirees take on part-time work as adjunct professors. The position offers a high level of flexibility, good pay, and opportunities for professional development. In addition, adjunct professors often have the opportunity to work with students from diverse backgrounds and help them grow academically.
This can be a great way to share your knowledge and expertise with the next generation of students. Contact your local college and see if they have any openings. Adjunct professors typically earn around $3,000 per class taught.
28. Author
Becoming an author can be a great way to enjoy your retirement years while still earning some extra money on the side. The job doesn’t involve a lot of pressure, and you get to set your own deadlines.
There are a few different ways to get your book published. One option is to work with an agent. However, this may not always be possible, especially if you are writing a non-fiction book. Another option is to self-publish your book. This can be a great way to get your book out there without having to go through a publishing house.
You will finally have time to tell your story from your perspective.
29. Focus group participant
Focus groups are gatherings of people who are brought together to discuss a certain topic. The participants can range from 6 to 12 people, and they are typically held in local hotels or conference centers. During the focus group, the participants will discuss upcoming products, services, trends, and issues.
Focus group participants are typically reimbursed for their time and participation in the discussion. This can be done in a variety of ways but is usually either through cash or gift cards.
30. Furniture flipper
Furniture flipping is a great business for those who want to make some extra money with little stress and no formal education needed. You can do it from the comfort of your own home, as long as you have the necessary tools and space. With a bit of hard work, you could be on your way to making some serious cash.
Furniture flippers are people who buy furniture at a low price and resell it for a profit. They usually start as furniture buyers who love hunting for deals at garage sales or estate auctions. This is a low-stress job that’s also profitable.
For many retirees, it may have been a hobby turned profitable.
31. Delivery driver
Delivery driver is a great job for retirees because it keeps them active and socially engaged. It can be difficult to sit at home all day, so this job is perfect for those who want to be out in the world meeting new people.
Delivering food is a great way to make some extra money in your spare time. It’s a low-stress job because you’re only out of the car for deliveries, and many companies offer drivers up to $20 per hour.
I love Doordash because their sign-up process is so easy–you can be up and running in minutes!
32. Rideshare driver
Ridesharing is a great way for seniors to make some extra money on the side while still having plenty of time for themselves. It’s very flexible, so they can work as much or as little as they want, and it doesn’t require them to take too much time out of their day.
Both Uber and Lyft require relatively little startup capital, and retirees can often make money driving for these companies.
Just make sure you have the proper auto insurance for ridesharing.
33. Taxi Driver
Taxis are in high demand in most cities, so there is always work to be found. In addition, the hours are flexible, so drivers can work as much or as little as they want.
And since driving a taxi is not very demanding physically, it is a good job for those who are no longer able to do strenuous work.
Many people who move to a foreign country find being a taxi driver a highly rewarding and lucrative way to make money.
34. School Bus Driver
There is a severe shortage of school bus drivers across the country.
This may not be a low stress job to many, but you can have a long lasting impact on the students. Right now, our students need positive influences in their lives.
What does the job entail? You must have a valid commercial driver’s license (or find someone who will provide the training) and be clear from moving violations in the last 3 years. In addition, you must pass a background check to work with students.
Many districts are desperate for school bus drivers and providing a signing bonus.
35. Chat moderator
Chat moderators are responsible for monitoring chat rooms and helping to ensure that the conversation remains on topic and respectful. They also work to resolve any disputes that may arise.
They work in a variety of settings, from social media to online gaming platforms.
But for the most part, the job is relatively low-stress, thanks to the ability to take breaks and work flexible hours. Chat moderators also often have the opportunity to learn new technologies and hone their customer service skills.
36. Babysitter & Nanny
Babysitting and nannying is a great way to make some extra money in your spare time. It’s perfect for people who love kids and have a few hours in the afternoon after school lets out. You can help out your neighbors by babysitting their kids or finding families near you who are looking for a nanny.
They offer a lot of flexibility, they’re relatively low stress, and they often come with a set schedule so you know what you’re doing each week. Plus, you can usually work from home, which is a big perk if you want to stay active in your golden years.
The average babysitter in the United States earns a bit less than $15 per hour, but some earn at least $20 an hour. It is easy to find work.
37. Event Staff
Event planning can be a very stressful job, but it can also be a very rewarding one. After retirement, many people look for a flexible job that they can do mostly on the weekends and in the evening. Event staff is a great option for those people.
They may work in a variety of industries, including entertainment, hospitality, marketing or nonprofit organizations.
Event staff often have to wear many hats during an event, handling duties such as coordinating with vendors, setting up event spaces, managing attendees, and serving as liaisons between organizers and other staffers.
This may not be the situation for everyone, but great for someone who likes to be in the action.
38. Research Assistant
After retirement, many people feel lost and without a sense of purpose. A research assistant helps others find information and discover problems to solve. They work with teams or individuals to locate the best information possible and help them use it effectively.
Research assistants are in high demand because they help other people find information and solve problems. They work on a variety of tasks, such as conducting research, organizing data, and writing reports. Their skills are in high demand by companies, governments, and individuals who need help conducting research.
The job is relatively low stress and pays between $18 and $22 per hour. It requires patience, communication skills, and a range of computer skills.
39. Substitute Teacher
A substitute teacher is someone who fills in for a permanent teacher when they are absent. This can be for a variety of reasons, such as paid vacation, maternity leave, or sick leave. It is a great option for retirees because it is one of the most respected and low-stress jobs after retirement.
This is one of the best retirement jobs because you can substitute teach any position within a school.
Substitute teaching can be extremely rewarding, as you are able to help students in need and fill in for teachers who are absent. You may also have the opportunity to work with different age groups and learn new things.
It is now possible to earn around $20 per hour on average as a substitute teacher. In order to become a substitute teacher, you need to have a bachelor’s degree in any academic discipline from an accredited college or university. With the right qualifications, you can enjoy a great deal of flexibility and earning potential while working with children.
40. Airbnb Host
You can earn up to $1,000 per month by listing your home on the site.
It’s also a low-stress job since you don’t have to worry about meeting deadlines or dealing with customers. And, since you’re working from home, you can easily take care of any last-minute changes or emergencies.
If you’re interested in becoming an Airbnb host, check out this guide on how to get started.
41. Proofreading
In this career, you would be reading documents or manuscripts and looking for mistakes in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax. You would then mark the errors with a correction symbol and provide a note to the author about the mistake. Proofreading can be done independently or as part of a team.
It is also important to be able to meet deadlines because many publishers require that manuscripts be returned within a certain timeframe.
42. Park Ranger
They enforce park rules, help visitors enjoy their visit, and provide information about the areas they patrol. Park rangers may also conduct educational programs, research projects, and archaeological surveys.
The growing popularity of outdoor recreational activities will lead to more demand for these workers.
Rangers must be able to hike long distances in difficult terrain, often carrying heavy equipment. They also may need to work extended hours, including weekends and holidays, during peak visitor seasons.
43. Voiceover artist
Voiceover artists are people who provide the voice for a character or commercial. They must be able to understand and interpret the script, and then deliver the lines in a way that sounds natural and believable.
Voiceover artists are in high demand for their unique ability to provide a voice for various multimedia productions that requires no formal training. This work can be done from anywhere with a good internet connection, making it an ideal job for retirees or those with flexible hours.
44. Real Estate Agent
The work is often exciting, and you can set your own hours. However, it can also be demanding and require long hours during busy times.
They must be knowledgeable about the current market conditions and have strong negotiating skills. In order to succeed in this career, you’ll need to be able to work well independently and be comfortable networking with potential clients.
You’ll also need to develop a strong marketing strategy to attract new clients.
45. Sports Coach
They may also instruct athletes on the rules and regulations of a sport. Sports coaches typically have a college degree in physical education, kinesiology, or a related field.
Coaches often work long hours during the season and must be able to handle criticism from players and parents. However, for those who love sports and enjoy working with people, sports coaching can be an enjoyable and low-stress job after retirement.
46. Artist
Being an artist is a great job to have after retirement because it doesn’t require a lot of stress and you’re free to create whatever you like. The only requirement for the job is that you have some artistic ability, which most people do.
Working as an artist can be perfect for people who are looking to have more flexibility with their hours and want to work on the go. There are many different types of artist jobs that one can find, and the best way to find out what’s available is to do some research online or talk to other artists in your area.
47. Translator
Translation is a great option for those who want to use their second or third language skills in a professional setting.
Many retirees find themselves with time on their hands after retirement and may enjoy doing something that they are good at and can be successful at. Speaking another language can lead to many opportunities, including working as a translator or in a translation services company, or becoming a consultant in foreign affairs.
Translators must be able to understand the source material fully and then accurately convert it into the target language.
48. Interior decorator
Interior decorators are in high demand because they have an eye for design and can help people make their homes look beautiful. This is a low-stress career choice that allows retirees to work anywhere, which is why it is becoming increasingly popular.
Interior decorators are often retirees who have a wealth of knowledge and experience in interior design. They must build up a portfolio of their clients’ homes before they can become an interior designer and be able to charge more for their services.
Interior decorating is a creative line of work that can earn great money, and it’s often a side hustle for people who want to make more money while still having free time. Satisfying customers is another perk of this career!
49. Handyman Services
If you’re looking for a way to make some money after retirement, and enjoy doing hands-on home repair projects, consider working as a handyman. Handyman work can be done on your own schedule, so it’s a great option if you want more flexibility in your life.
Handyman services are becoming more popular because they allow you to set your own rates and work on your own schedule.
This is beneficial for both the worker and the customer, as it allows the worker to charge a fair price for their services and customers can get work done on their time. Additionally, handymen have a variety of skills and can fix many problems around the home, which makes them a valuable asset.
50. Professional cuddler
Cuddling has become a popular service in recent years. Companies like Cuddle Comfort offer professional cuddlers that will come to your house and provide you with a compassionate, understanding listening ear as well as some quality cuddle time.
Some people make a living from professional cuddling. These cuddlers can earn approximately $40 per hour for just being themselves and giving bear hugs. This is a growing industry with many people finding comfort and satisfaction in human touch.
51. Mediator
To become a mediator, you need to have either legal training or a bachelor’s degree in mediation. This gives you the skills needed to mediate and resolve disputes between two or more parties. Mediators usually have a low-stress job because of their flexibility and freedom to work from anywhere.
Mediators come from a variety of professional backgrounds, but the majority have some form of legal background. More than half of certified mediators work as general mediators, charging $100 to $250 per hour.
52. Data entry specialist
A data entry specialist is somebody who enters data into a computer system. This can be a very low stress job, especially if you have basic computer skills and typing speed and accuracy. The work is relatively easy to find and usually does not require any specific qualifications.
Data entry specialists are paid a modest wage for their work, but the pay is reliable and predictable. The job is also relatively easy to find, making it a great option for people who are looking for additional work during retirement or in their spare time.
Being able to type quickly and accurately in order to be successful in this role.
53. Waiter/ Waitress
If you have a gift of gab and service, then this might be the perfect industry for you. Especially as a bar back!
The work hours are flexible, the tips are usually good, and you get to meet new people all the time. Plus this type of job is fun, as it’s not high-stress and it allows someone who just retired or wants a job with flexible hours to stay active socially while they make money.
If you’re looking for an alternative after retirement, waiter or waitress work is definitely a good option.
54. Cook
Many families are looking for healthy options for dinner. What is better than a home-cooked meal?
While working as a cook for a restaurant, you may often work long hours in a hot, noisy kitchen. However, cooking for local families on a small scale may be the perfect scenario.
55. Become a Transcriber
Transcription is a great way to make some money after retirement. You can typically make around $18-$25/hour, depending on your skill level and experience.
The work is relatively low stress, so it’s a great option for those looking for a relaxing way to make some extra income.
56. Retirement planner
Some retirement planners offer training and certification for their employees. The employer might pay for your training and certificate if they feel confident enough in hiring you as an employee after seeing how well you do these tasks.
This may not be the ideal situation for many, but it pays well.
57. Flip Items
Flipping items for profit is a great way to make some extra cash. You can find deals at garage sales and online, and then turn around and sell them for more.
Be sure to look out for scams, however, as there are many people who try to take advantage of those looking to flip items.
To learn how to flip for a side hustle, check out Flea Market Flippers.
58. Professional Volunteer
Charity work is a great way to give back to the community and help those in need. There are many charities that need help, and by donating your time or money, you can make a big difference in someone’s life.
It can also be a great way to ease into retirement. Many charities are always in need of volunteers, and you can often find opportunities that fit your schedule. You may also be able to find paid positions with certain charities.
You will have the opportunity to help others and make a real difference in their lives. You may also find new friendships and learn new skills.
It keeps you social and busy, and it lets you help out in your community. Plus, many organizations offer volunteer opportunities tailored to retirees’ skills and interests.
In fact, many volunteer opportunities turn into paid jobs.
How to find a job that is low stress and matches your skills?
Which best jobs for retirees do you want?
When you’re looking for a job that is low stress and matches your skills, it’s important to consider a variety of factors. For example, employers want employees who can work independently and are well-organized. They also want employees who can communicate clearly. You should have a basic understanding of the job duties as well.
If you have specific skills, you may not need these things as much.
However, employers still want employees who can complete tasks without any help from others. There are a variety of ways to find out about such jobs, including using search engines or social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn.
Also, whoever says you have to wait for retirement?? Find low-stress jobs that pay well without a degree now.
It’s also important to be aware of the pay structure. Often, employers want employees who will be able to work for them on a long-term basis. The pay structure is often predictable and employers know exactly how much work there will be available for each project. This makes it easier for both parties involved.
One way to find a job that is low stress and matches your skills is by using online platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr. These platforms offer many data entry jobs that are perfect for those looking for an easy way to make some money after retirement. In order to take advantage of these jobs, you’ll have to learn how to type fast.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Autumn is here and the leaves are just starting to turn. Believe it or not, that means it’s time to start thinking about the holiday season. Holiday expenses can pile up quickly. Planning ahead saves you sticker shock and can spare you a steep credit card bill in the new year.
Careful planners have laid out their holiday budget well in advance and saved for it all year long. It’s not like the holiday season is a surprise, after all! A generation ago, it was common for housewives to be part of a “Christmas club” at their local bank, which was just a targeted savings account where you saved a little cash each week and got it back in a lump sum before the holidays.
But what if you haven’t laid aside a nice nest egg for holiday shopping, travel and entertaining? Well, it’s never too late to start. Getting on the holiday savings bandwagon now will help you create a buffer between you and all those extra bills.
How can you do it?
Begin with a budget Start with a budget of expected expenses. You probably know at least roughly what you spend year to year. If you’ve been tracking your spending, you can even look back at the past few Decembers and get a more detailed feel for what your expenses have been.
Don’t just look at what you spend at the mall. Gifts are probably a big chunk of your holiday budget, but they’re not everything. You also need to consider added costs for food and drink if you entertain during the holidays. Travel costs are a factor if you visit relatives, whether it’s a road trip to Grandma’s or an international flight.
Then there are all the little expenses:
The gifts for your child’s classroom teacher, and the secretary at your office.
Yankee swap (or white elephant) items.
A bottle of wine for the hostess at each of the four holiday parties you attend.
A dress for New Year’s Eve — and new shoes to go with it.
Once you’ve looked over your expense records for last year (or wracked your memory if you’ve just gotten on the personal finance bandwagon and don’t have last year’s records), it’s time to sketch out a budget. I like to be specific in my holiday budgeting. I make a “Santa’s list” of gifts I expect to buy. I jot down rough expenses for the annual holiday party I host: how much I expect to spend on booze, food and sundry party supplies. I budget out any trips we’re going to take, like visiting my father for Thanksgiving.
This may sound tedious, but I find it really fun. In general I use more detailed budgeting than J.D. does, so I may be predisposed to finely tuning things. If you prefer a looser method, you need only figure out how much your total spending from, say, mid-November through New Year’s exceeded your regular monthly spending. That’s how much extra cash you’ll need to cover your holiday expenses.
If you’re like me, you probably want to take a more detailed approach. In the case of my holiday budget, it’s not a chore at all. It’s sort of an anticipatory activity. I sit down with my husband and plan out what we want to do for the kids this year. I get to imagine how my party will be, and think about what kinds of food and drink I’ll serve. Checking on airfares to Tucson is a chance to think about the Thanksgiving meal I’ll share with my father, and how happy he’ll be playing with my kids. I’m looking ahead to the things I enjoy about the holiday season, while I’m figuring out what each one will cost me. It helps me keep my expectations realistic, and gives me a chance to savor the time with friends and family that I’m looking forward to.
Starting to save Once you’ve figured out your budget, in whatever level of detail is comfortable for you, it’s time to save that money.
Money doesn’t come from nowhere. To save up a chunk of cash over a few months, you’ll probably want to employ several strategies.
The first thing you can do is cut back on your discretionary spending. Stop eating out, scale back on entertainment. Stay in with Netflix and a good homemade meal a few times, and you’ll save a decent chunk of cash. Taking a close look at your spending habits will probably highlight some other things you can cut back on: shopping, subscriptions, travel. The usual suspects. If you’ve been managing your finances closely for even a little while, you probably have a good idea of what your personal money sinks are. You know what can be cut for a short period of belt-tightening. Now is the time to do it if you want to splurge over the holiday season.
Once you’ve cut back your discretionary spending, look at ways to bring in more cash. Some people pick up part-time jobs around this time of year: plenty of places need seasonal workers, from stores at the mall to apple orchards. You can easily pick up a short-term gig doing something that may not thrill your soul, but will put extra cash in your pocket.
Alternately, you can look at earning money from a hobby or talent. Maybe you can schedule some portrait sessions, or make some money busking in the subway. You might be able to hang out your shingle doing some bike repair or odd jobs around people’s homes. Craft fairs and shops offer opportunities for knitters and crafters to sell their creations. Putting in some extra hours and effort with your creative work this season might well pay off in extra fun money right when you need it.
Finally, you can sell stuff. Possibly even some of last year’s Christmas presents. You surely have old DVDs, sports equipment or other useful things in good condition that you are never going to use again. Selling your unwanted goodies is a bit of an art. Some people, like J.D., are great at it. Others find it’s more of a hassle than a lucrative hobby.
However you decide to approach saving for the holidays, have fun with it. Not only is it a good idea to put by some extra money for the upcoming season, but it’ll give you good practice at setting a financial goal and meeting it.
Note: Another way to help your Christmas budget? Don’t forget to explore homemade gifts. These can save you money and be fun to make.
Looking for a quick definition? Keep the one below in mind.
Sharing economy definition
The sharing economy is a peer-to-peer lending system, often facilitated by online platforms, that allows individuals or small companies to share goods and services with one another.
To better understand the sharing economy, it’s helpful to see how it fits into the bigger picture of novel industries that are disrupting traditional ones.
Sharing economy vs on-demand economy
The on-demand economy is a name for the new suite of services most people have available with their phone. “On-demand” refers to the fact that, with just a few taps, swipes, and a credit card, there are many goods and services immediately available to consumers.
For instance, let’s say you need groceries delivered — there’s an app for that. A fleet of gig-working delivery drivers (more on that next) is ready on demand to bring you the bread, almond milk, and kale that you need ASAP.
How does this differ from the sharing economy? When investors, economists, and consumers talk about the sharing economy, they are referring more specifically to services that facilitate sharing goods. It might not even be on-demand; for instance, if you’re part of a group of people who share power tools, you might not have access to the bandsaw you need until the person who has it now is done in 3 days.
The sharing economy and the on-demand economy have a lot in common, though, as they both allow peers to collaborate through the use of a third-party app. That brings us to another buzzword you might be hearing a lot about these days.
Sharing economy vs gig economy
The gig economy focuses more on the workers’ side, rather than the consumer. For instance, both sharing economy services (like Airbnb) and on-demand economy services (like TaskRabbit), and even services that fall into both categories (like Uber), can be considered forms of gig economy work.
The gig economy consists of workers who operate on short-term contracts, performing jobs through an app-based service. When investors and economists talk about the gig economy, they’re usually talking about the transition in many sectors toward this sort of short-contract-based work.
The quintessential example is a service like Uber or Lyft. Rather than a full-time, wage-based job like taxi driver, many people are instead working part-time, contract-based, often precarious positions as ride-share drivers. That’s the gig economy in action.
Examples of the sharing economy
We’ve already discussed a few types of sharing economy services, but what are a few more familiar examples? The answer is that there’s no set definition or criteria for what makes a service a part of the sharing economy. That said, there are a few examples that you’re probably familiar with:
Ride-share: Services like Uber and Lyft are great examples of the sharing economy — a driver shares their car (and time) with a consumer, who gets a lower-cost ride out of the arrangement.
Car-share: Some services also allow you to share your car with peers, not by driving them, but by allowing them to rent it.
Tool-share: Power tools are expensive. Luckily, the sharing economy makes it easy to see who has a tool you can borrow, and pay a small amount to rent it for a day or two while you complete a project.
Clothing sharing: There are sharing sites for expensive designer clothes that you probably won’t wear more than once. Pay for a subscription, then rent for a few days.
Crowd-funding: Have a new business idea or product concept? You can use services online that allow you to crowd-fund the startup costs.
Peer-to-peer lending: Rather than going through a large financial institution or sketchy loan shop when you need cash, peer-to-peer lending allows consumers to seek financing from other individuals who have a little surplus cash they’d like to grow.
As mentioned before, there’s no hard-and-fast definition or criteria — pretty much any service that allows people to help each other out can be considered a part of the sharing economy.
Sharing economy apps
We’ve mentioned that the sharing economy is mostly facilitated by app-based services — but what are these apps? Chances are, you’ve probably already got a lot of them on your phone. Here are a few common sharing economy companies, and what they’re built for:
Ride-sharing and taxi alternatives: Uber, Lyft
This is definitely not a complete list. Chances are, if you need some item or service, but don’t want to purchase it yourself, there’s a sharing economy solution out there for you. A simple Google search of “[What you need]” + “sharing app” will likely bring you tons of interesting options to consider.
Pros and cons of sharing economy
Like anything, the sharing economy comes with plenty of pros and cons to consider. Before going all-in on using sharing apps, let’s take a look at some of the benefits and downsides that come along with the sharing economy.
Pros
Sharing services can help you save money
Sharing apps give you access to things you might not otherwise have (like power tools or a small loan)
They’re often on-demand, too (though not alway), so you can get what you need quickly
They allow owners of assets to make a small, steady stream of passive income
They’re popular. According to PWC, about 19% of people have participated in the sharing economy, and that number is expected to grow.
Cons
They might be riskier than a traditional business because you’re renting items (like a car) from an individual rather than a company
While they might allow for a new income stream, some sharing economy jobs (like rideshare drivers) might not allow you to make a full living
Some app companies might inflate prices or take a large commission in order to increase their own profits — be sure to do your research on an app before using it as either a buyer or seller
Overall, for most people, deciding whether using the sharing economy makes sense will be an individual process. For some people, making money with side hustle apps might be a great way to spend some time and earn a little cash. For others, it might not make as much sense.
If you have a vacation home you don’t use often, it could totally make sense to rent it out to travelers who need a place to stay. Others might not want the hassle associated with cleaning the home and preparing it for the next guests — ultimately, it’s up to you whether participating in the sharing economy makes sense.
Sharing economy: the takeaways
The sharing economy is a great way for peers to connect and share goods and services they have access to with people who are looking for access at a bargain price. It can include anything from sharing cars and power tools to peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding.
Here’s what to remember:
The sharing economy uses apps to allow individuals to connect with each other, sharing their goods and services.
It’s closely related to the on-demand economy and gig economy; in fact, there’s tons of overlap when it comes to the apps used in each.
You can use the sharing economy to access things like car rentals, fashionable clothes, power tools, personal loans, and seed money for your ingenious ideas.
Apps like Uber, Vrbo, DailyLook, and Prosper are all popular sharing economy options.
There are pros and cons
Pros: Usually inexpensive, a great way to find extra income, and convenient
Cons: You have to trust peer lenders and borrowers, and some companies pay workers less than other options, or charge fees that make lending not worthwhile
What options can the sharing economy open up for you? Research the ways that you can start using sharing apps today, and start saving (or making!) money.
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The Millennial’s Guide to Buying a Home: Budgeting and Insurance
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Side Hustle 101: What You Need to Know About Renting Your Car
Some love the idea of taking a year off from your life’s traditional trajectory to explore the unknown. But others prefer to stick to their determined path.
No matter where you stand in life, a gap year could be the right choice for you. However, it is not the right choice for everyone.
What’s Ahead:
What is a gap year?
According to the Gap Year Association, a gap year is:
“a semester or year or experiential learning, typically taken after high school and prior to career or post-secondary education, in order to deepen one’s practical, professional, and personal awareness.”
That’s a lot to take in!
Ultimately, a gap year is a period in which you choose to step away from the current trajectory of your life. Traditionally, people choose to take gap years before or after college. But technically, you can take a gap year at any point throughout your career.
Why you should take a gap year
You’ll find plenty of reasons why you should take a gap year. Some of the most prominent reasons include:
Self-exploration
As you move through life, it is normal to run into some confusion along the way. After all, there are so many directions you can take in life. It can be hard to know which way to turn. The right gap year could help the perfect way to sort through your feelings and determine what you want your life to look like.
Thomas Jespen, CEO of Passion Plans, says:
“I felt confused after high school. I had in fact gotten into the college I had wanted to go for but remember I woke up one day thinking I was making a mistake. My gap year was the best self-exploration journey I have ever undertaken.”
Avoid burnout
Constantly staying engaged in our school or work can be draining. Unfortunately, many students say they are burnt out in school. In fact, a study conducted by the Ohio State University’s Office of Chief Wellness Officer found that 71% of students reported burnout in April 2021.Kassandra Marsh, owner of Lakazdi, says:
“Going straight from high school into university seemed like no big deal at the time, but after a semester at university, it was clear that I needed a break after so many years of continuous education.”
When she returned from the gap year, Marsh had more enthusiasm to tackle the degree.
Gain work experience
Work experience can help you decide what you like, and perhaps more importantly, what you don’t like. In a gap year, you can choose to work in any field to see what is out there.
June Escalada, co-founder of PhotoshopBuzz, took a gap year between high school and college. The overarching goal was to study for a big exam. But Escalada says, “I also took some time to work part-time and travel.” The experience helped her learn how to be part of a team and deal with coworkers.
Save for school
College can be incredibly expensive. Depending on the path you take, you might not be comfortable taking out too many student loans. With that, a gap year could serve as the perfect opportunity to work and save for your degree.
Need some help saving for college? Here are our top tips for teenagers.
Explore while you have the chance
A gap year is an incredible opportunity to see the world or explore whatever your heart desires.
Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love, didn’t have the opportunity to take a gap year. But looking back, he sometimes wishes he had.
“At this stage in my life and with all of the responsibilities that I have, taking a gap year really isn’t possible anymore, so I do sometimes wish that I had done it while I had the chance.”
Should you take a gap year?
As with every big decision in life, there are some major advantages and disadvantages to taking a gap year. You can weigh the benefits in your own life. Ultimately, it may come down to a gut decision that only you can make with your heart.
At the end of the day, you need to take a few things into account before you make a decision:
Can you afford to take a gap year? This entirely depends on what you want to do with your gap year. If you’re looking to travel the world, consider if your finances can handle that.
Does taking a gap year align with your future goals? If school is going well, then you might not want to break up your momentum. This is especially true if you are already set on a particular career path that you don’t have any doubts about.
How to make the most of your gap year
If you decide to take a gap year, here’s how to get the most out of it.
Determine what you want to gain from your gap year
A gap year will be a highly personal experience. With that, you should have a general idea of what you want to gain from your gap year before jumping in.
Here are a few ideas to consider:
Satisfy your wanderlust by traveling around the globe.
Save for college with a job.
Volunteer your community to see what types of work you enjoy.
Learn a new skill.
Explore another part of yourself.
The reasons why you take a gap year will vary. But without a broad purpose in mind, it can be tempting to settle into an easy routine around the house. After all, it is all too easy to dive into a Netflix series or escape reality in your favorite virtual world instead of getting the most out of this unique year.
Sketch out a plan
Depending on your personality, you may want a plan that covers all the details. But even a plan that covers just the broad strokes can be very helpful.
For example, you may set up your first volunteering gig. But decide to see where that takes you. Or you might map out a tour of the places you want to visit.
As you embark on this adventure, it might be a good idea to enter the experience with an open mind and a willingness to make changes along the way.
Consider your finances
Personal finances will play some role in your gap year. If you have funds available, that might open the door to travel. If you are light on funds, you might decide to pursue opportunities closer to home.
You can get creative with your finances to make a gap year successful. If you need funds, consider picking up a flexible side hustle or learning an in-demand skill that can travel with you.
Summary
A gap year could be the right move for your future. But only you can decide if it is a good choice for your life.
Don’t forget to consider the finances required to fund this adventure. You may want to build savings before jumping in.