Buying a Home with 1099 Income can present unique challenges for self-employed individuals. Understanding the implications of 1099 income on mortgage loans is crucial. Lenders carefully assess tax returns and stable income to determine eligibility.
Strategies such as maximizing chances of approval and exploring alternative documentation options can help self-employed borrowers qualify. Government-backed and conventional mortgage options, as well as home equity for down payment assistance, are available.
Overcoming challenges in the mortgage process requires addressing higher interest rates, documenting income, and navigating common hurdles. Assessing affordability and staying informed about the future of home buying for self-employed buyers is essential. Recent changes and technological advancements are shaping the lending landscape.
Understanding 1099 Income and Its Implications on Home Buying
When it comes to buying a home, it’s important to understand the implications of 1099 income. This type of income is earned by individuals who are considered self-employed, meaning they work as independent contractors or freelancers. It’s essential to grasp how 1099 income affects mortgage loans and what lenders look for when determining eligibility for home financing.
What is 1099 income and who is considered self-employed?
1099 income refers to the earnings received by individuals who work on a contract basis, rather than being traditional employees. These individuals are considered self-employed as they are responsible for their own taxes and don’t receive benefits like health insurance or retirement plans from an employer. Self-employed individuals include freelancers, consultants, and independent contractors across various industries.
The impact of self-employment on mortgage loans
Being self-employed can have specific implications when applying for a mortgage. Unlike traditional W-2 employees who have a consistent income and verifiable employment, self-employed individuals may face additional scrutiny. Lenders assess the stability and predictability of income to evaluate the borrower’s ability to make mortgage payments.
Qualifying for a mortgage with 1099 income: What lenders look for
Lenders typically consider several factors when qualifying self-employed borrowers with 1099 income for a mortgage. These factors include the length of self-employment, consistency of income, and documentation of tax returns. Lenders may require a minimum of two years of self-employed tax returns to establish a track record of income stability. They also evaluate the borrower’s debt-to-income ratio and liquid assets to ensure they can handle mortgage payments and other financial obligations.
The Importance of Tax Returns and Stable Income
When it comes to buying a home with 1099 income, understanding the role of tax returns and demonstrating stable income is essential. Lenders thoroughly analyze tax returns to assess your financial situation and determine your eligibility for a mortgage loan. Here are the key aspects to consider:
Analyzing your tax returns: What lenders assess
Lenders carefully scrutinize your tax returns to evaluate your income stability and ability to repay a mortgage. They review your gross income, deductions, expenses, and net income to get a comprehensive understanding of your financial standing. Additionally, lenders examine your Schedule C, which reports business profit and loss, to gauge the viability of your self-employment and the consistency of your income stream.
Demonstrating stable income as a self-employed borrower
As a self-employed borrower, proving stable income is crucial to reassure lenders of your ability to make regular mortgage payments. One way to establish this stability is by maintaining consistent income over a period of time. Providing documentation such as bank statements, profit and loss statements, and invoices can help demonstrate a steady income stream. Showing a history of consistent income is beneficial in building trust with lenders.
The role of two years of tax returns in mortgage approval
Two years of tax returns serve as a benchmark for lenders to verify the sustainability of your income. This requirement helps lenders assess the consistency and predictability of your earnings. Typically, lenders average your income across the two-year period to determine how much you can afford to borrow. Keep in mind that a significant decrease in income from one year to another may require additional explanation or documentation to strengthen your mortgage application.
Understanding the importance of tax returns and stable income is vital for self-employed individuals aiming to purchase a home. By analyzing your tax returns, demonstrating stable income, and meeting the requirements set by lenders, you can improve your chances of securing a mortgage loan.
Strategies for Self-Employed Borrowers to Qualify for Home Loans
When it comes to buying a home with 1099 income, self-employed borrowers face unique challenges. However, there are strategies to maximize your chances of qualifying for a home loan:
Maximizing your chances: Tips for self-employed borrowers
Maintain a strong credit score: Lenders consider credit history and scores to assess your financial responsibility.
Save for a down payment: A larger down payment increases your chances of loan approval and improves your loan terms.
Manage your debts: Keep your debt levels low and avoid taking on new debts before applying for a mortgage.
Keep clean financial records: Maintain organized financial records, including bank statements, tax returns, and profit/loss statements.
Alternative documentation options for income verification
Traditional income verification methods, such as W-2 forms, may not be applicable for self-employed individuals. Consider alternative options:
Bank statements: Provide several months’ worth of bank statements to demonstrate consistent income deposits.
Profit and loss statements: Prepare accurate profit and loss statements to showcase your business’s financial health.
Letter from a certified public accountant (CPA): A letter from a CPA can verify your self-employment status and income.
Understanding debt-to-income ratio and its impact on loan approval
Lenders calculate your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio to assess your ability to repay the loan. To improve your chances of loan approval:
Minimize your DTI: Reduce your monthly debt obligations and aim for a DTI ratio below the lender’s maximum threshold.
Increase your income: Boosting your income through additional revenue streams can help improve your DTI ratio.
Pay off existing debts: Lowering your outstanding debts reduces your monthly obligations and improves your DTI ratio.
Mortgage Options and Requirements for Self-Employed Buyers
Mortgage options for self-employed buyers offer various opportunities to secure financing for buying a home with 1099 income. Understanding the available options can help navigate the loan process successfully.
Government-backed loans for self-employed individuals
Government-backed loans, such as FHA loans, VA loans, and USDA loans, provide viable mortgage options for self-employed individuals. These loans often have more flexible requirements compared to conventional loans, making them accessible and attractive for those with 1099 income.
Conventional mortgage loan options for self-employed borrowers
Conventional mortgage loans are another option for self-employed borrowers. These loans typically require more extensive documentation to prove income and financial stability. Self-employed individuals may need to provide additional paperwork, such as profit and loss statements, bank statements, and business tax returns, to demonstrate their ability to repay the loan.
Exploring home equity options for down payment assistance
Self-employed buyers can explore home equity options to assist with their down payment. Utilizing the equity built in an existing property can help secure a mortgage with favorable terms and potentially avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI). Home equity loans or lines of credit can provide the necessary funds for the down payment, allowing self-employed individuals to fulfill their homeownership dreams.
Overcoming Challenges and Navigating the Mortgage Process
As a self-employed borrower, there are unique challenges to overcome when navigating the mortgage process. Addressing higher interest rates is one of the first hurdles to tackle. Lenders often consider self-employed individuals as higher risk borrowers, resulting in slightly higher interest rates compared to traditionally employed borrowers. It is important to factor in these rates when assessing affordability and determining the long-term financial implications of homeownership.
Documenting your business and personal income is another critical aspect for self-employed borrowers. Lenders require verifiable proof of income to assess your loan eligibility. This includes providing tax returns for your business and personal finances for the past two years. Accurate and complete documentation is crucial to establish a clear understanding of your income stability and ability to repay the mortgage.
Common Hurdles and How to Overcome Them in the Loan Process
Difficulty Meeting Traditional Income Requirements – Self-employed borrowers often face challenges meeting the traditional income requirements set by lenders, as their income may fluctuate or be less predictable compared to salaried employees. To overcome this hurdle, you can work with a knowledgeable mortgage broker who specializes in assisting self-employed individuals. They can help navigate through alternative documentation options and find lenders who are more flexible with income verification.
High Debt-to-Income Ratio – Another common hurdle self-employed borrowers encounter is a high debt-to-income ratio. This ratio compares your monthly debt payments to your monthly income. To improve your chances of loan approval, consider reducing your overall debt by paying off high-interest debts or consolidating them into more manageable payments. Additionally, increasing your income or finding ways to demonstrate consistent income over time can help lower your debt-to-income ratio.
Limited Work and Income History – Having a limited work and income history as a self-employed borrower can be a challenge when seeking a mortgage. Lenders typically prefer borrowers with a steady work history and established income. However, you can showcase your industry experience, expertise, and success through a well-crafted business plan and professional portfolio. Demonstrating a stable and promising future in your line of work can help offset the lack of a traditional employment history.
Important Considerations for Self-Employed Buyers
As a self-employed buyer, there are several important considerations to keep in mind when purchasing a home. These include assessing affordability, understanding the impact of self-employment on your mortgage, and exploring the benefits of FHA loans for self-employed individuals.
Assessing affordability and determining your monthly income
Before diving into the home buying process, it’s crucial to assess your affordability. As a self-employed individual, your income may vary from month to month, making it essential to calculate your average monthly income. Consider your tax returns, invoices, and any other financial documents to determine a reliable estimation of your income. This will help you determine how much you can afford to spend on a mortgage payment each month.
Understanding the impact of self-employment on your mortgage
Self-employment can have a significant impact on your mortgage application. Lenders typically scrutinize self-employed individuals more closely due to the potential volatility of their income. It’s important to provide a comprehensive picture of your business and finances to alleviate any concerns. Prepare to provide documentation such as profit and loss statements, bank statements, and contracts or agreements with clients to demonstrate the stability and consistency of your income.
Exploring the benefits of FHA loans for self-employed individuals
For self-employed buyers, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans can offer several benefits. These loans have less stringent requirements compared to conventional mortgages and may be more accommodating for self-employed individuals. FHA loans typically have lower down payment requirements, lenient credit score criteria, and flexible income verification options. Exploring FHA loan programs tailored to self-employed individuals can provide viable financing options for buying a home.
The Future of Home Buying for Self-Employed Borrowers
The landscape of home buying for self-employed individuals is constantly evolving, with recent changes reflecting the needs and challenges of this growing segment of borrowers. Technological advancements and innovations in mortgage lending are also playing a crucial role in shaping the future of home buying for self-employed borrowers. Let’s explore some key aspects that are shaping the future of home buying for self-employed individuals.
Recent changes in the lending landscape for self-employed individuals
In recent years, there have been significant changes in the lending landscape that specifically address the needs and realities of self-employed borrowers. Lenders have started offering more flexible mortgage options tailored to accommodate different types of income, including 1099 income. These changes have made it easier for self-employed individuals to qualify for mortgages, as lenders now consider a wider range of income documentation and alternative verification methods.
Potential developments and opportunities for self-employed home buyers
Expanded lending options: The lending industry is constantly exploring new ways to cater to the unique needs of self-employed individuals. This includes the development of specialized loan programs and products that are specifically designed for self-employed borrowers, offering more favorable terms and conditions.
Enhanced income verification methods: Technology-driven income verification methods, such as bank statement analysis and cash flow analysis tools, are gaining traction. These methods provide a more accurate assessment of a self-employed borrower’s income, accounting for fluctuations and seasonality, which can help strengthen their loan applications.
Increased support for gig economy workers: As the gig economy continues to grow, more and more individuals rely on income from freelance work, contract jobs, or side hustles. The lending industry is recognizing this shift and exploring options to accommodate gig economy workers, ensuring fair access to homeownership opportunities.
Overall, the future of home buying for self-employed borrowers looks promising. With ongoing changes in the lending landscape and advancements in technology, self-employed individuals can expect more accessible, efficient, and tailored mortgage solutions to fulfill their homeownership dreams.
About the author – Eric Jeanette started as a Realtor in 1993 and eventually transitioned to lending. His companies Dream Home Financing and FHA Lenders provide mortgage information and education to consumers. They also provide those same consumers with a free lender match service through a network of lenders for conventional, FHA/government, subprime, self-employed and many other niche loan programs.
In December 2021, when the 30-year fixed mortgage rate still averaged 3.1%, a borrower could get $700,000 mortgage that required monthly payments of principal and interest of just $2,989.
Fast-forward to Wednesday, and a $700,000 mortgage taken out at the current average mortgage rate of 6.90% would equal a $4,610 per month payment, which is $583,000 more over 30 years than that mortgage issued at a 3.1% rate. When adding on insurance and taxes, that monthly payment could easily top $6,000. Not to mention, that calculation doesn’t account for the fact that U.S. home prices in June 2022 were 12% above December 2021 levels and 39% above June 2020 levels.
Mortgage planners like John Downs, a senior vice president at Vellum Mortgage, have the hard job of breaking this new reality to would-be homebuyers. However, unlike last year, Downs says most 2023 buyers aren’t surprised. The sticker shock, the loan officer says, is wearing off.
Just before speaking with Fortune, Downs wrapped up a call with a middle-class couple in the Washington D.C. area, who told him they were expecting a mortgage payment of around $7,000.
“The call I just had was a typical area household. One person makes $150,000, the other makes $120,000. So $270,000 total and they said a payment goal of $7,000. I’m still not used to hearing people say that out loud,” Downs says.
Even before these borrowers speak to Downs—who operates in the greater Baltimore and Washington D.C. markets—they’ve already concluded that these high mortgage payments will be “short-lived,” and they’ll simply refinance to a lower payment once mortgage rates, presumably, come down.
To better understand how homebuyers are reacting to deteriorated housing affordability (and scare inventory levels), Fortune interviewed Downs.
This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Fortune: Over the past year, mortgage rates have spiked from 3% to over 6%. How are buyers in your market reacting to those increased borrowing costs?
John Downs: I must say, the reaction today is quite different from last year. It’s almost as if we have lived through the “7 stages of grief.” We appear to have entered the “acceptance and hope” phase.
With all the reports pointing to home prices stabilizing, one might think that buyers are comfortable with these rates and corresponding mortgage payments. The reality is quite different. Many would-be homebuyers have been pushed out of the market due to affordability challenges through loan qualifications or personal budget restraints. Move-up buyers also find themselves in the same predicament.
As a result, my market (Baltimore-DC Metro Region) has 73% fewer available homes for sale than pre-pandemic, 57% fewer weekly contracts, and an 8% increase in properties being relisted. (Information per Altos Research) As a result, prices have remained relatively stable due to the balance of buyers outweighing sellers.
I’m seeing buyers today taking the payments in stride for various reasons. Their incomes have risen dramatically, upwards of 25-30% since 2020, and the income tax savings through the mortgage interest deduction is now a meaningful budget item to consider. Many also say, “I can always refinance when rates come down in the future,” which leads to a sense that this high payment will be short-lived.
When I say buyers are comfortable with these payments, I know there are also two to three times more buyers who run payments using online calculators who opt out of having conversations in the first place! To prove this, our pre-approval credit pulls (a measure of top-of-funnel buyer activity) are running about 50% lower than pre-pandemic.
Among the borrowers you’re working with, how high are monthly payments getting? And how do they react when you give them the number?
For the better part of the last decade, most of my clients would enter a pre-approval conversation with a mortgage payment limit of no more than $3,000 for a condo and $4,500 for single-family homes. It was rare to see numbers higher than that, even for my higher-income wage earners. Today, those numbers are $4,000 to $6,500 respectively.
To my earlier comment, active buyers today seem to expect it. It’s as if they are comfortable with this new normal. Surprisingly, the debt-to-income ratios of today (in my market) are very similar to where they were five years ago. Income is ultimately the great equalizer. Yes, the payments are dramatically higher today, but the buyers’ residual income (post-tax income minus debt) is still in a healthy range due to local wages.
Remember, we are still talking about a much smaller pool of buyers in the market today so this conversation is skewed towards those with more fortunate lifestyles.
Tell us a little bit more about what you saw in the second half of 2022 in your local housing market, and how that compares to the first half of 2023?
There are dramatic differences between those two periods. In the second half of 2022, there was nothing but fear. The stock market was under stress, inflation was running wild, and housing began to stall. Across the country, inventory began to rise, days-on-market pushed dramatically higher, and price decreases were rampant. The safest bet then was to do nothing, and that’s just what buyers did. The mindset was, “I will wait until prices fall and rates push lower before I buy.”
The start of 2023 sparked a reversal in many asset classes. The stock market found a footing and pushed higher, mortgage rates rebalanced, property sellers adjusted their prices, and employers began pushing out significant wage increases. As a result, housing stabilized, and in some areas, aggressive contracts with multiple offers, price escalations, and contingency waivers became the norm.
The strength in housing was not as universal as it was in 2021. There were very hot and cold segments, depending on location and price point. The affordable sector (<$750,000 in my market) and higher-end (>$1.25 million) seemed to perform very well with heightened competition. The mid-range segment is where we noticed some struggles. One common theme is that buyers at every price point seem much more sensitive to the property’s condition. When the housing payments are this elevated, it doesn’t take much for the buyers to walk away!
What do you make of the so-called “lock-in effect”— the idea that existing market churn will be constrained as folks refuse to give up those 2-handle and 3-handle mortgage rates?
I believe the “lock-in effect” is very real. My opinion is based on countless conversations I’ve had in the past 6-9 months with homeowners who want to move but can’t. Some cannot afford to buy their current home at today’s value and rate structure. Others just cannot stomach the significant jump in payment to justify the increase in home size or the preferred location.
I believe the reason we are seeing struggles in the mid-range home is that the traditional move-up buyer is stuck. In my market, that would be the person who sells the $700,000 home to purchase at $1 million. They currently have a PITI housing payment of $2,750; the new payment would be $6,000 rolling their equity as a down payment. That jump is too much for most, especially those with a median income. That payment would have been $4,500 a couple of years ago, which was much more manageable.
Based on what you’re seeing now, do you have any predictions on what the second half of 2023 might look like? And any thoughts on the spring of 2024?
Despite high rates, the desire to buy a home is still high for many. Given the lag effects of Fed tightening (raising interest rates) coupled with an overall improvement in inflation, one can assume mortgage rates have topped out and will continue to improve from here. Think of playing with a yo-yo on a down escalator, up-and-down movement but generally pushing lower. As rates improve, affordability and confidence will shift, bringing out more buyers and sellers.
I believe this will be supportive for home values and give buyers more choice as inventory increases. Keep in mind, most sellers become buyers, so the net impact on inventory will be negligible. Knowing that some sellers will keep their current home as a rental, one could argue that inventory will worsen. At least buyers will have more house options each week, a stark difference from today.
When discussing strength in housing, thinking through local dynamics is crucial. The DC Metro area has a diverse, stable job market which I do not see reversing if an economic slowdown occurs. We didn’t have a tremendous push towards short-term rentals as many other areas and the “work-from-home” (WFH) environment had most people stay within commuting distance to the cities.
One thing I expect is an unwinding of WFH in 2024. In fact, I’m already experiencing that. Many clients are being called back to the office, either through employer demands or fear they will be exposed to corporate downsizing efforts. As a result, I expect underperforming assets (D.C. condos and single-family rentals in transitional areas of the city) to catch a bid while single-family rentals in the commuting neighborhoods plateau from their record-setting appreciation over the past few years.
Housing market affordability (or better put the lack thereof) is at levels unseen since the peak of the housing bubble. Do you have any advice on how would-be buyers can ease that burden?
This may be the most complex question because everyone is at a different place in life. For the better part of the last 20 years, my consultation calls were 20 to 30 minutes long, and we could formulate a great plan. Today, that pushes over an hour and usually requires a detailed follow-up call. If I had to sum up all my conversations, I would say it comes down to forecasting life and patience.
Forecasting is a process where you map out life over the next two to three years—discussing job stability, income projections, saving and investment patterns, debts rolling off (or being added), kids, schools, tuition, etc. From there, talking about local market dynamics such as housing supply, population growth, and interest rate cycles and projections. This helps formulate a solid budget to use for a home purchase.
Patience can mean several things. For some, it means renting for a period of time to save more money or ride out periods of uncertainty. For others, it could be looking for the right sale price mix and seller concessions for rate buy-downs, closing costs, etc. Sometimes it means being patient with your desired location. Maybe you just can’t have that specific house in that specific area for a few years and settling for the next best location is good enough for now. Housing used to be a stepping stone for many but the low-rate environment of the past few years allowed everyone to get what they wanted right away. We seem to have lost the art of having patience in life.
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
More from Fortune: 5 side hustles where you may earn over $20,000 per year—all while working from home Looking to make extra cash? This CD has a 5.15% APY right now Buying a house? Here’s how much to save This is how much money you need to earn annually to comfortably buy a $600,000 home
Open a BMO Harris Premier™ Account online and get a $500 cash bonus when you have a total of at least $7,500 in qualifying direct deposits within the first 90 days of account opening. Expires 9/15. Conditions Apply.
If you’re self-employed or helm a small but growing business, you already know that most business bank accounts are not designed with your needs in mind. They’re meant for larger, more established companies with complex finances and 10 or more people on the payroll.
One of the few business bank accounts that is set up for entrepreneurs like you is Bluevine Business Checking, a user-friendly checking account with no maintenance fees or minimums and a generous interest rate on eligible balances. It’s one of the best bank accounts for freelancers and people with side hustles and can handle the demands of slightly larger companies as well.
That said, Bluevine Business Checking isn’t perfect. Before you open an account, make sure it’s the right fit for your business.
What Is Bluevine Business Checking?
Bluevine Business Checking is a small-business checking account with no monthly maintenance fee and no minimum balance requirements. When you complete monthly qualifying activities, it yields 2.00% APY on eligible balances, enough to qualify as a high-interest checking account.
Bluevine Business Checking has some notable benefits that enhance its appeal for sole proprietors and microbusiness owners. It has a generous debit card rewards program through Mastercard Easy Savings, access to more than 120,000 in-network ATMs and retail money centers, and allows up to five subaccounts with their own bank account numbers to keep separate funds earmarked for specific purposes.
What Sets Bluevine Business Checking Apart?
Bluevine Business Checking stands out from most other business bank accounts for the following reasons:
No minimums and very few fees. Bluevine Business Checking has no minimum balance requirements and no monthly maintenance fee. In fact, it has very few fees of any kind. If you don’t make international wire transfers or certain other less common types of transactions, you probably won’t pay anything for it at all.
Excellent yield for a checking account. This account yields 2.00% APY on balances up to $250,000 when you complete qualifying activities. Those activities are quite easy for most businesses (and even freelancers and side hustlers) to manage.
Potentially generous debit card rewards program. Bluevine participates in the Mastercard Easy Savings debit card rewards program, which earns up to 20% back on select business purchases.
Key Features of Bluevine Business Checking
Bluevine Business Checking has low barriers to entry, a generous and easy-to-earn interest rate, and some other features worth noting.
Account Fees & Minimums
Bluevine Business Checking has no monthly maintenance fee. It also has no overdraft fees, though Bluevine reserves the right to decline transactions that would result in a negative balance. And other fees common to small-business checking accounts are absent, such as excess transaction fees or per-item deposit fees.
Account Yield & Qualifying Activities
Bluevine Business Checking yields 2.00% APY on the first $250,000 in the account. To earn this yield in any given statement period, you must do one of the following:
Make at least $500 in eligible debit card purchases
Receive at least $2,500 in customer payments to your main account or linked subaccounts
Balances above $250,000 don’t earn interest even if you complete the activity requirements.
ATM Access
This account comes with a Mastercard debit card accepted anywhere Mastercard is. You can withdraw or deposit cash at more than 120,000 ATMs and retail money centers across the United States through the MoneyPass and Green Dot networks.
Debit Card Rewards
Your Bluevine debit card is automatically enrolled in the Mastercard Easy Savings program, which entitles you to as much as 20% back on eligible business purchases with select merchants and 4% back on a wider range of purchases with about 50,000 participating merchants.
Subaccounts
You can add and link up to five subaccounts to your main Bluevine Business Checking account. Each gets its own unique account number and functions as a separate account, minus the debit card (your Bluevine debit card taps your main account only). Subaccounts are useful as employee expense accounts or pools of money set aside for specific purposes, like a rainy-day fund, payroll, or overhead expenses.
Mobile Features
Bluevine Business Checking has a mobile-responsive website and a comprehensive mobile app that can do anything the desktop banking interface can. The app is well-reviewed by verified users and has a long track record of reliability and user-friendliness.
Specific mobile features and capabilities include:
Remote check deposit
Digital bill payments (one-time and recurring)
Domestic and international check payments and wires
Access to the Mastercard Easy Savings portal
Main and subaccount management
Deposit Insurance
Bluevine offers federal deposit insurance on balances up to $250,000 through Coastal Community Bank, its member-FDIC partner bank.
Pros & Cons
Bluevine Business Checking has a lot of advantages for self-employed people and small-business owners, but it’s not perfect.
No maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements
Excellent yield with qualifying activities
No overdraft fees
Debit card rewards program
No account opening bonus
No debit cards for subaccounts
Only five subaccounts per main account
Pros
Bluevine Business Checking is more accessible than most business bank accounts for sole proprietors and microbusinesses. It’s also much more affordable.
No maintenance fees. There’s no monthly or annual maintenance fee on this account. That’s excellent news for frugal business owners who don’t want to pay to manage their money.
No minimum balance requirements. You can fund your new Bluevine Business Checking account with as much or as little as you want (or can afford).
No overdraft fees. This account charges no overdraft fees for negative-balance transactions, though Bluevine reserves the right to decline individual overdraft transactions.
Above-average yield with qualifying activities. Balances up to $250,000 yield 2.00% APY when you complete qualifying monthly activities. Neither option ($500 in debit card spending or $2,500 in customer payments) should be a heavy lift.
Debit card rewards through Mastercard Easy Savings. You can earn up to 20% back on select business expenses (and 4% back more reliably) through Mastercard Easy Savings, a free perk of this account.
Subaccounts with separate account numbers. Bluevine Business Checking’s subaccounts come with their own account numbers. That makes them ideal for holding funds that you’d rather not commingle with your main account, such as payroll.
Access to more than 120,000 ATMs and money centers. This account comes with access to more than 120,000 fee-free ATMs and retail money centers. That’s much more than the average business account and good news for business and employees who frequently travel for work.
Cons
Bluevine Business Checking lacks an account opening bonus opportunity and has some notable restrictions on subaccounts.
No account opening bonus. Bluevine Business Checking has no account opening bonus. Some other business checking accounts do, and a few are very generous.
No debit cards for subaccounts. Bluevine’s subaccounts don’t have debit cards of their own. Only the main account has one. That’s a drawback if you treat your subaccounts as functionally distinct bank accounts.
Only five subaccounts per main account. Bluevine allows only five subaccounts per main account. While it’s nice that each subaccount functions as its own separate bank account for accounting purposes, five is a low limit for a business with complex finances. Some competitors allow 20 or more subaccounts at once.
How Bluevine Business Checking Stacks Up
Before you open a Bluevine Business Checking account, see how it compares to other checking accounts geared toward freelancers and microbusinesses. One popular alternative is Lili; here’s how they compare.
Bluevine Business Checking
Lili
Monthly Fee
$0
$0 to $9, depending on plan
Minimum Balance
$0
$0
Subaccounts
Yes, up to five
Yes, but only one
Yield
2.00% APY on eligible balances
1% with Lili Pro only ($9 per month)
ATM Access
120,000+
About 40,000
Final Word
Bluevine Business Checking is made for self-employed individuals and owners of very small businesses ready to get serious about their professional finances. With a generous yield, a nice debit card rewards program, and basically no fees or minimums, it’s one of the most attractive small-business accounts on the market.
It’s not perfect for everyone though. Bluevine Business Checking can’t handle the complex finances or heavy transaction demands of larger businesses, so if your long-term plan involves a lot of growth, it’s not a permanent solution. In the meantime, it’ll do just fine.
The Verdict
Our rating
Bluevine Business Checking
Bluevine Business Checking is one of the most accessible business bank accounts for freelancers, side hustlers, sole proprietors, and owners of very small businesses. It’s also surprisingly generous, with an above-average interest rate on eligible balances and a debit card rewards program. But it lacks some benefits and capabilities found in bank accounts marketed to slightly bigger businesses.
Editorial Note:
The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
@media (max-width: 1200px)
body .ns-buttons.ns-inline .ns-button-icon width: 100%; .ns-inline .ns-button –ns-button-color: #000000;
Brian Martucci writes about credit cards, banking, insurance, travel, and more. When he’s not investigating time- and money-saving strategies for Money Crashers readers, you can find him exploring his favorite trails or sampling a new cuisine. Reach him on Twitter @Brian_Martucci.
Banking
Wealthfront vs. Chime – Which Banking App Is Best?
There’s no shortage of online banks available for American consumers to conduct their banking and investing activities. We take a look at two popular branchless money management options, Chime and Wealthfront, in a head-to-head comparison. Find out which is the better fit for you here.
Whether you need to buy a car, pay off credit card debt, or save for a mortgage down payment, an extra $10,000 wouldn’t hurt.
But what if you don’t have time to save up for years? What if you need the money ASAP?
Turns out, there are many ways to make $10,000 fast. They require work. You won’t get rich overnight. But if you’re willing to put in the effort, that extra 10 grand is well within your reach.
24 Ways to Make $10,000 Fast
What does it mean to “make money fast” anyway?
Are we talking a week? A month? A year?
With the following strategies, you can make an extra $10,000 in less than three months. In some cases, you only need to choose one method. Other times you may have to bundle ideas together.
It all depends on your dedication and willingness to hustle. If you go all-in with some of these strategies, you could reach your goal within weeks.
Anyone can hit the jackpot and get rich overnight with speculative investments like penny stocks or cryptocurrency, but those aren’t safe bets.
Instead, focus on low-risk money-making opportunities you can do outside your full-time job. Each income stream is subject to taxes, so don’t forget to factor those in as well.
1. Get a New Bank Account
One of the quickest ways to earn extra cash is through new bank account promotions. Many banks offer new customers hundreds of dollars when they sign up for an account.
However, earning this money isn’t as simple as opening an account and waiting for a payment.
Banks offer these promotions in hopes of turning you into a loyal customer. To get your money, you usually have to meet certain requirements with your new account.
For instance, a new BMO Harris Relationship Checking Account comes with a sign-up bonus of $500. But you only get this payment once your new account has received direct deposits of at least $7,500 within the first 90 days.
Sign Up For BMO Harris Relationship Checking Account
2. Open a Credit Card
Many credit cards also offer sign-up bonuses for new customers.
For example, Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a cash-back credit card that pays 1.5% cash back on most purchases. That’s actually not an amazing rate of return. But new customers earn an extra 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 of eligible purchases in their first year, for a total return on base spending of up to 3%.
Better still, this card pays 3% cash back on drugstore and dining purchases and 5% on travel. And the 1.5% bonus applies to those as well. So if you open this card and use it to book a $10,000 vacation, you’ll receive $650 cash back right off the bat.
Of course, planning a pricey vacation just to get cash back doesn’t save you money. But if you were going to take that vacation anyway, using this card is a way to make some money while doing it.
You can also get sign-up bonuses from certain travel rewards and gas credit cards. For example, you can receive a $200 cash bonus from the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card when you open your account and complete qualifying activities. So no matter what kind of rewards you prefer, you can find a new card that’s useful for you and helps you toward your $10,000 goal.
Sign Up For Chase Freedom Unlimited
Sign Up For Citi Custom Cash
3. Transfer Funds to a New Brokerage Account
Even brokerage houses offer new-account bonuses. And since these accounts often hold quite a lot of money, the bonuses for them can be bigger than for bank accounts or credit cards.
New accounts at TradeStation can pay up to $3,500 in bonus cash. However, to get that amount, you must transfer at least $1 million to the account within 45 days and keep it there for at least 270 days. Smaller transfers receive smaller bonuses.
Some brokerages, such as RobinHood and WeBull, offer bonuses in stock rather than cash. These can be even more valuable than cash bonuses if you’re fortunate enough to get the right stock. On the other hand, they could be worth far less than the more reliable all-cash offers.
Sign Up For Tradestation
4. Invest in Real Estate (Roofstock, Fundrise, etc.)
You might think investing in real estate requires significant capital, housing market knowledge, and risk.
That’s not always true.
If you don’t have the time or know-how to hunt for properties, you can use real estate crowdfunding sites like Fundrise.
Fundrise pools investors’ money to buy real estate assets. As an investor, you earn through dividends and the growth of your shares. It allows you to start investing passively in real estate with as little as $1,000. Because it doesn’t take any time on your part, you can combine it with other active side jobs.
If you’d rather invest in something more tangible, you can find turnkey rental properties on platforms like Roofstock.
Roofstock takes all the hassle out of finding an investment property. No need to go out searching for deals or spend time working on fixer-uppers. You can tour properties — many of which already have tenants — from the comfort of your home.
See our guide comparing Fundrise vs. Roofstock for a closer look at these platforms, including potential earnings for each.
Sign Up For Roofstock
Sign Up For Fundrise
5. Rent Out Your Home Space
If you don’t mind jamming your house full of strangers and their stuff, renting your space can be an easy way to boost your income.
According to All The Rooms Analytics, the average Airbnb private room cost $84 per night in 2021. Not bad for a room that normally sits empty.
If you’re willing to experience temporary discomfort to reach your income goal faster, you could rent out your whole house and live in an RV while you boost your income.
In 2021, the average rental price for a U.S. home went for $216 per night. To earn $10,000, you’d only need to spend 47 nights renting your home and staying in your RV or on a friend’s couch.
Before accepting guests, see our guide to renting out a room in your house legally.
Hosting guests isn’t the only way to earn with your property. With Neighbor.com, you can rent your empty basement to a small business needing inventory space. Or turn your backyard into a parking lot for RVs and boats.
Recently, we were hunting for long-term storage for our camper van in Los Angeles, where the average 10-by-20-foot parking space cost $254 per month. We found one listing with six vehicles jammed into their small fenced-in backyard.
At $254 per month per vehicle, that’s over $5,000 in three months. Combine that with an Airbnb room rental, and you could make $10,000 and barely lift a finger.
Other than checking people in and cleaning, renting your space isn’t time intensive. That means you can combine it with other side hustles to rack up your income even faster.
Renting space is most lucrative in big cities where demand outweighs supply. But people need storage in small cities as well. And if you offer a lower price than traditional storage units and parking garages, you can make a healthy side income.
Sign Up For Neighbor.com
6. Teach Your Skills Privately
There are many ways to trade your skills for cash. What do you know how to do that others would pay to learn? Cooking? Art? Photography? Tennis? Graphic design?
All it takes is a handful of students to scale to $10,000. You can teach online through Outschool, in person, or both.
One of my fitness fanatic friends needed some extra cash, so he started giving group exercise classes in a park for $10 per class. He’s a fun guy, and the classes were a hit. After a month, he was running a pair of hour-long classes per day with 15 students each. That’s $300 per day for two hours of work. Fast forward three years, and he now runs a successful gym.
The easiest place to find your first clients is your current network. If you’re a charismatic teacher, like my fitness friend, your classes might even grow on word-of-mouth alone.
7. Sell Unwanted Jewelry
Just because you don’t wear it any longer doesn’t mean no one else will. There’s always a market for unused jewelry. And with the right partner, that market is a lot bigger — and a lot less local — than you might think.
That’s why we’re fans of Worthy, a jewelry auction platform that makes it easy to sell your unwanted rings, necklaces, watches, and other baubles without leaving home. Here’s how it works:
Prep your jewelry. Worthy’s certified gemologists give your items a professional deep-clean and take magazine-quality photos in preparation for listing. They’ll have your items graded by neutral, third-party jewelry experts too.
Monitor your auction. Worthy then lists your jewelry for auction online. More than 1,000 professional jewelers have access to your listing, and you’re free to set a reserve price to ensure your item won’t sell for less than you’re willing to accept. Auctions typically last 48 to 72 hours.
Get paid. This is the fun part. If your item sells, you’ll get paid within four business days.
Worthy only gets paid if and when your item sells. And it has an incentive to sell your items for fair value, since its fees are based on your earnings — anywhere from 10% to 18% of the final sale price, depending on the dollar amount.
Sign Up For Worthy
8. Sell Your Stuff
Take a look around your house and garage. What haven’t you used in the past three months? Is there anything you wouldn’t miss if you sold it?
The drawer full of old iPhones, the fancy treadmill collecting dust, the Jet Ski parked behind your garage that you take out once per year — selling these nonessentials is one of the easiest ways to earn $10,000 fast.
The process is simple:
Snap photos showing the product at different angles.
Write a compelling description including all the details a potential buyer would want to know.
Post your items on online marketplaces like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or eBay.
Respond to messages to arrange the sale.
Sell the item in person or ship it.
Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace work well for items of any size. If something is easily shippable, you can reach potential buyers outside your region by listing on eBay or adding a shipping option in Facebook Marketplace.
If your house is full of valuable items you’re willing to sell, you could hit $10,000 in a matter of days. If not, you can combine this idea with other side hustle strategies to reach your goal faster.
For more tips, see our guide on how to turn clutter into cash.
9. Offer Freelance Writing Services
You don’t need to be Shakespeare to make good money with freelance writing. Any halfway decent writer can do it.
Freelance writing commonly involves writing blog posts for companies to publish on their website. But it could also include any type of written content that a business uses, from emails to brochures to e-books.
You don’t need a degree or any special qualifications to become a freelance writer, but writing experience helps. And if you have expertise or connections in a certain field, it’s easier to get your foot in the door and charge more.
If not, start from scratch and work your way up the totem pole. It’s easier than it sounds.
First, you need a few writing samples to show off your chops to potential clients. Then, search for jobs on freelancing platforms like Upwork or Media Bistro to land your first few projects. Better yet, reach out to your network to see if anyone can connect you with someone who needs writing help.
If you start with gigs paying $100 per project, you need to complete one project per day for 100 days to reach $10,000. It seems like a lot, but the more you write, the faster you become.
As you build your portfolio and gather testimonials, you can increase your rates with every new client you land. Stick to it, and you can gradually trade up those $100 projects for $1,000 projects. At that point, making an extra $10,000 is even more doable.
For more help getting started, read our tutorial on how to become a freelancer.
10. Freelance Other Skills
If writing isn’t your forte, you can freelance any skill or service others need help with. This could be:
Photography
Graphic design
Consulting
Translation
Voiceover acting
Illustrating
Modeling
Programming
Tutoring
Personal training
If it’s a service people pay for, you can freelance it. That said, if the goal is to make $10,000 fast, choose a high-demand service you already know how to do. Learning a new skill from scratch takes too much time.
Similar to freelance writing, the easiest way to get your foot in the door and gain experience is to first offer your service to people you know.
11. Drive for Uber or Lyft
Driving for ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft is one of the easiest ways to earn extra cash on the side.
All you need is:
A smartphone
An eligible car
A driver’s license
Personal insurance
A clean criminal record
A relatively clean driving record
Rideshare earnings are complicated to calculate. They depend on your location, the number of hours you work, the time of day you work, surge pricing, trip lengths, and tips. Then you must factor in driving expenses like gas prices, car maintenance, and insurance costs.
To give a rough estimate, Glassdoor pegs the average Uber driver’s salary at $24 to $41 per hour. At this rate, if you buckle down and drive five to six hours per day for two months, you’d hit $10,000.
Even if you only squeeze in a few hours of driving per day, you can still generate a hefty chunk of change while moving closer to your financial goals.
12. Rent Your Car to Rideshare Drivers
Don’t let your extra vehicle sit unused collecting dust. Instead, put it to work for you.
Companies like HyreCar and Turo connect car owners with rideshare drivers who need a car.
Your earnings depend on your vehicle, location, and how often you rent. But HyreCar claims users can earn up to $9,000 per year renting their vehicles. You can combine this with other side business ideas to reach your $10,000 goal.
Or you could take it a step further. Knowing that any car under $9,000 could pay for itself in a year, you could scour Craigslist for good deals, and buy a fleet of cars to rent out. With a fleet of five cars — each generating $750 per month — you could hit $10,000 in less than 90 days.
13. Rent Your RV to Campers
If you have an RV that sits unused most of the year, you can make a lot of money renting it out on platforms like Outdoorsy and RVshare.
Your earnings depend on your location, rental demand, and the size and condition of your RV. But according to RVshare, you could earn up to $40,000 per year, or $10,000 in three months.
Of course, you still have to pay for RV maintenance, insurance, and any financing and storage costs. But if you already have an RV sitting outside, these are expenses you pay anyway.
Both Outdoorsy and RVshare let you list your RV for free and take a cut of your rental earnings.
If you feel uneasy about letting strangers drive your RV, you could also park it next to your house and rent it out on Airbnb.
14. Deliver Packages and Food
If you don’t like the idea of carting strangers around as a rideshare driver, you can also earn extra cash with your car by making deliveries.
The Amazon Flex program allows freelance drivers to deliver packages in their spare time. Amazon reports that most delivery drivers earn between $18 and $25 per hour, and the program is currently available in over 50 U.S. cities.
All you need to start is a driver’s license, a smartphone, and a mid-sized or larger vehicle.
You can also inch closer to your $10,000 goal by delivering food for UberEats, DoorDash, and GrubHub.
Food delivery pay rates vary by location, tips, and in-app promotions. According to DoorDash, Dashers earn over $30 per hour delivering in California’s major cities. But don’t expect these earnings everywhere — the overall average rate is more like $15 per hour.
Despite the variance, making deliveries is a flexible way to squeeze more earnings into your free time each day.
If you can’t decide which platform to deliver for, see our guide on working for DoorDash vs. GrubHub.
15. Take Advantage of Retail Arbitrage
Retail arbitrage involves buying underpriced products, then reselling them for a profit.
It can take many forms but commonly entails searching for clearance deals at retail stores, thrift stores, and wholesale websites, then reselling them on Amazon or eBay.
To succeed, you need to flip items with high demand and proven margins. Both these factors are easy to determine with a quick product search on Amazon.
Many retail arbitrage sellers stick to items that cost between $10 and $40. This sweet spot allows sellers to buy inventory in bulk but still earn enough margins to make it worth their while. That said, the higher your margins, the fewer flips you need to reach $10,000 in profit.
Car flipping is an example of arbitrage with high margins. To make $10,000, find five undervalued used cars on Craigslist that you can flip for $2,000 profit each.
Retail arbitrage can be risky, especially when you’re learning the ropes. If you mistakenly invest in a product with low demand, your capital freezes with inventory that’s hard to sell.
For more tips on how to get started, read our full guide to making money with retail arbitrage.
16. Earn Commissions Through Referral Marketing
Many companies offer referral marketing programs that pay you for every new customer you bring in their doors.
It’s a win-win for everyone. The new customer gets their problem solved. The company gets business. And you get a cut of it.
To make $10,000 fast, you’d have to promote high-value services. For example, Michigan-based Renaissance Roofing Inc. offers $100 for every referral customer who spends over $2,500 on a roofing job. If you set up referral agreements with companies offering high-ticket services across various industries, you can hunt for people who need those services.
You essentially work as an informal salesman working on commission. The more referrals you generate, the faster you hit $10,000.
17. Earn Commissions Through Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is the digital version of referral marketing. It involves a unique tracking link you use to promote a product or service. If someone clicks and purchases through your link, you earn a commission.
Because you don’t need to directly interact with your referral, affiliate marketing is easier to scale.
For example, you could create a YouTube channel and post videos reviewing products you love. Add your affiliate link to the description, and anyone who watches your videos could turn into a potential referral, whether you know them personally or not.
Commissions add up fast when you promote high-ticket items, especially digital products that offer generous commission rates. For example, if you promote a web host that offers a $500 commission for each sale, you’d only need to get 20 people to sign up through your link to hit your $10,000 goal.
Affiliate marketing is easier for bloggers, podcasters, and social media influencers who have followers and subscribers to promote products to. It’s one of the most popular ways to monetize a following.
But if you work hard to connect with potential referrals, you don’t need an established audience to earn with affiliate marketing.
18. Teach English Online
If you’re a native English speaker, there are millions of people around the world who’d be happy to hire you.
The easiest way to start teaching is through platforms like VIPKid, Qkids, and PalFish. Requirements vary from platform to platform, but commonly include:
A Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification
A Bachelor’s degree in any subject
Experience working with children
Nationality from certain English-speaking countries
Some platforms only require you to be a native speaker. For example, you can teach English on SkimaTalk without a degree, TEFL certification, or experience with children.
That said, the more qualifications you have, the easier it is to find better-paying opportunities. Investing in a comprehensive TEFL training program also sharpens your teaching skills, which your students appreciate.
Your pay rate depends on the platform you use and any bonuses they offer. Teaching through VIPKid, you can earn up to $22 per hour. If you ramp up to a full-time teaching schedule, you’d tally $10,000 by the end of three months.
Even teaching a few hours per day pushes you to your goal. And because many platforms target Chinese children living in the China Standard Time zone, you can squeeze in your part-time classes early in the morning before starting your day job.
Once you gain confidence, you can earn even faster by recruiting private students directly and cutting out the middleman.
To discover the best websites to look for TEFL jobs, read our guide on how to make extra money teaching English online.
19. Create an Online Course
Private lessons are a great way to trade your knowledge for extra income, but there is a limit to the number of students you can fit in each day. To scale, organize your knowledge into an online course.
With an online course, you don’t need to be present to earn money. It requires front-loaded effort to create, but after that, you earn passive income in your sleep.
And with platforms like Teachable, you can create and sell professional-looking courses without any special tech skills.
If you earned $200 per course sale, you’d only need to find 50 buyers to reach $10,000.
For some, finding buyers is the most challenging part. Creating an online course isn’t a build-it-and-they-will-come type of deal. You have to market yourself.
If you don’t have an audience to sell to, you can borrow someone else’s audience with similar interests. For example, if you create a training program that helps athletes increase their vertical jump, you could drum up business by:
Offering a free sample of your training to high school sports teams
Sharing vertical jump tips on a podcast that targets athletes
Creating YouTube videos with free tips
Find creative ways to put yourself in front of large audiences of potential buyers.
You can also offer your online course as a lower-priced alternative to one-on-one coaching sessions.
20. Open an Online Store
With today’s technology, opening an online store is easier than ever, requiring no advanced technical skills.
With an online business, your customer base isn’t limited by geography. You can sell your products worldwide.
The trick is getting in front of those customers. Without a physical storefront to draw people in, an effective marketing plan is essential. Without it, nobody knows you exist.
You can choose a DIY marketing approach and sell products off your own website or social media channel.
Or you can open your store on a platform that already attracts millions of shoppers, like Amazon or Etsy.
If this is your first rodeo, it’s easiest to test the waters on a proven shopping platform, even if it means giving up a slice of your earnings.
One popular online store model takes advantage of the Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) service. With the Amazon FBA model, you list your products on Amazon and store your inventory at their warehouses. Whenever someone buys, Amazon fulfills the order and ships your product.
Starting an Amazon FBA business requires a fair amount of upfront work including market research, product sourcing, and a product launch plan. But because Amazon does most of the heavy lifting, it can be relatively passive income once everything is up and running.
Your earnings depend on your margins. For example, if you pocket $15 per sale after accounting for all expenses, you’d need to sell an average of 7.4 units per day for 90 days to earn $10,000.
21. Start a Manual Labor Side Hustle
If making money online sounds too technical, you can also make $10,000 the old-fashioned way — with your hands.
Finding manual labor gigs is easy with platforms like TaskRabbit and HomeGuide, which connect handy people to clients who need help with projects around the house.
For example, on TaskRabbit, freelancers offering home repairs typically charge $40 per hour or more. If you took on a $120 task after work each day, you’d make an extra $10,000 in less than 84 days.
TaskRabbit pockets 15% of the project fee, so if you feel confident about finding your own clients off-platform, you can earn even more.
And you don’t need special handyman skills to earn as a manual labor freelancer.
For example, the average dog walker charges $20 per 30-minute walk, according to HomeGuide. Imagine becoming a neighborhood’s go-to dog walker, going on four 30-minute walks per day, walking three dogs at a time. Not only could you earn over $100 per hour, but you’d also save a trip to the gym.
22. Offer Virtual Assistant Services
A virtual assistant (VA) is a digital sidekick for busy business owners. As a VA, you can either offer generalized or specific services.
General VAs take basic tasks off their client’s plate, such as email inbox management, data entry, file organization, and document formatting. These are tasks anyone can do with basic tech skills.
Specialized VAs are experts in one specific aspect of their client’s business, like SEO, Pinterest, graphic design, or social media.
Businesses with multiple virtual assistants may even hire a Head VA to manage them all.
Pay as a VA depends on the skills you bring to the table. The more unique value you offer, the more you can charge. According to ZipRecruiter, the average work-from-home virtual assistant earns $34 per hour in the United States.
By logging in a few hours of work on nights and weekends, you can make a sizable dent in your $10,000 goal.
It’s one of the most flexible work-from-home jobs you can do without any special skills. If you know your way around an email inbox or Word document, you can find a VA job.
23. Donate Your Fluids
If you don’t mind parting with your plasma, sperm, or eggs, you can donate them to make money fast.
Pay rates for plasma donations depend on the donation center and current promotions, but new donors at BioLife Plasma Services can earn up to $850 in their first month donating twice per week.
As a qualified sperm donor, you can earn up to $1,500 per month depending on the sperm bank you work with.
Or hit $10,000 with just one egg donation cycle. Bright Expectations, a private egg donor program, offers $5,000 to $10,000 per cycle. The exact timeline varies depending on the company you use. But with Bright Expectations, it takes about two months and six to eight doctor appointments.
24. Volunteer for Clinical Trials
You can earn surprisingly well volunteering yourself as a human lab rat.
Paid clinical trials and medical research studies base their rates on the risk involved. Expect higher pay for treatments that are less understood.
Clinical trials can be hard to find. Most require you to have a certain medical condition that the researcher is trying to cure. Use the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation search tool to find clinical trials you qualify for.
That said, other paid research studies need healthy test subjects. For example, NASA runs studies paying healthy astronaut-like individuals to lay in bed for months at a time to study the effects of weightlessness.
Final Word
With some hustle and grit, there’s no reason why you can’t make $10,000 in three months. And the more legit money-making strategies you combine, the more time you can shave off the process.
That said, if you’re on a tight timeline and need $10,000 immediately, see our step-by-step guide on how to get a personal loan in a matter of days.
@media (max-width: 1200px)
body .ns-buttons.ns-inline .ns-button-icon width: 100%; .ns-inline .ns-button –ns-button-color: #000000;
Mitch Glass is a “homeless” personal finance writer. He covers real estate, fintech, insurance, and retirement—all while working from Airbnbs around the world as a digital nomad. In his spare time, he runs the Project Untethered blog and Youtube channel, helping other aspiring nomads take the plunge.
If you’re trying to keep track of your spending and your finances in general, a budget binder could be an important tool.
What is a budget binder? Basically, it’s a big three-ring notebook that helps you corral bills, receipts, and statements all in one place. It can also help you track your income, spending, and savings as you work to budget your funds.
A budget binder is usually a low-cost, low-effort project. You may have the supplies needed already on hand. Once it’s set up and you begin using this system, it can help you stay on top of your flow of funds and how you are tracking on your financial goals.
Ready to learn the how-tos? Read on.
Benefits of Creating a Budget Binder
If you’ve got receipts bursting out of your wallet, bills stored hither and thither (maybe some paper, some online), and you’re just keeping mental tabs on your spending, your financial life might benefit from a little more organization.
One key benefit of a budget binder is that it can help you keep all the important documents regarding your spending, debt, and savings in one place.
While there are plenty of higher tech financial organization tools (such as spreadsheets and budgeting apps), if you’re more of a visual person, you may prefer to use an old-school, pen-and-paper way to stay on track with your money.
Another benefit of the binder system is that it’s completely customizable. You get to choose what you do and don’t want to include in your binder, and can set up the system in a way that works best for your situation and financial goals.
A budget binder can also help you:
• Create and stick to a budget
• Keep track of paychecks
• Track monthly spending
• Stick to your savings goals
• Avoid missing payment due dates for bills and loans
• Save time searching for financial documents
• Help ensure that a spouse or partner has the same understanding about joint finances.
What You’ll Need to Make a Budget Binder
You can buy premade budget binders, but It doesn’t take a lot of time or effort to create your own. A DIY binder can be as simple or fancy as you like. Some items you may need include:
• A three-ring binder (at least 2”)
• A three-hole punch
• Paper
• Paper clips
• Binder dividers
• Three-hole binder pockets or folders with pockets.
You may also want to create or print out some budgeting worksheets that can help you set up and keep up your money management system.
You can find tons of free printable budget sheets by searching for “free budget printables.” Here are some you may find useful:
• Budget worksheet (this is where you can record monthly income and expenses and see where you are netting out each month; you can print these out these sheets for a budget in Excel and elsewhere)
• Payments due calendar (to help you keep track of bill due dates)
• Income tracker (to record when and how much you get paid, including any income from side hustles)
• Expense tracker (to log each time money leaves your wallet or bank account)
• Debt tracker (to note who you owe, how much you owe, minimum payment amount, and due date)
• Savings tracker (to record the money you’ve set aside for future expenses and goals)
• Net worth tracker (to show your assets, such as how much you have in retirement and investment accounts, minus your liabilities)
• Financial goals (to record what you want to achieve and steps you need to take to get there).
Ready for a Better Banking Experience?
Open a SoFi Checking and Savings Account and start earning up to 4.40% APY on your cash!
How to Set up a Budget Binder
You can customize your budget binder to include whatever sections, pockets, folders and money management tools you like.
Below are some sections you may want to consider including:
Monthly Budget
You may want to make the front section of your budget binder a place for monthly budget worksheets, one for each month of the year. These are sheets that have a space to log your total monthly income, as well as your monthly spending, broken down into budget categories.
These worksheets can help you see whether you’re making more than you spend or spending more than you make. The Federal Trade Commission offers a free budget template that can be useful for tracking monthly income and expenses.
You can go to Consumer.gov and download their free “Make a Budget” worksheet.
Expenses
Here you can keep track of and record everyday expenses, collect receipts, and also keep and track all your monthly bills. You may also want to keep a calendar here so you can mark due dates in one easy-to-see place.
Recommended: Budgeting for Basic Living Expenses
Debt
If you have debt, even if it’s just a car payment or mortgage payment, this is a section to keep track of your debt repayment. You may want to set up a paper for each debt and include what your interest rate is and monthly payments.
You can also use this sheet to record each payment, as well as how much is left to pay on the debt.
You can even put your papers in order of which debt you are working to pay off first, second, and so on.
Savings
Here you may want to keep a paper for each savings goal, such as saving for an emergency fund, retirement, college savings, a new car, a home, or any other item or event you are saving for.
On each sheet, you can put the name of the goal, goal amount, and when you hope to achieve that goal amount. You can then record every time you add money.
Other Sections
Depending on your needs, you may want to include other sections (such as insurance or net worth) and also tweak things as you go. The best thing about a binder is that it’s flexible: You can add to it as you need to because every month is different.
Using Your Budget Binder
It can be a good idea to keep your budget binder in a place where you can access it easily and often.
The main difference between a budget binder that works and one that doesn’t is actually sitting down on a regular (ideally weekly) basis to add receipts and bills and log spending.
Regularly checking in with your binder also enables you to see how you are doing with your spending so far that month. This also allows you to make any tweaks so that you are able to pay all your bills and also put money away into saving for your goals.
The Takeaway
A budget binder is a place (typically a 3-ring binder) where you can store all of your most important financial information, including your monthly budget, bills, debt, and savings goals.
Having all your key money-related information and papers in one place means you don’t have to scramble to figure out when the utility bill is due or how many car payments you have left.
A budget binder can also help you get a sense of the bigger picture, including how much is coming in and going each month, and where you may need to tweak your spending in order to live within your means and also save for your goals.
Interested in opening an online bank account ? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
Better banking is here with up to 4.40% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
SoFi members with direct deposit can earn up to 4.40% annual percentage yield (APY) interest on Savings account balances (including Vaults) and up to .50% APY on Checking account balances. There is no minimum direct deposit amount required to qualify for these rates. Members without direct deposit will earn up to 1.20% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 7/11/2023 There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
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.
People love saving challenges to earn. So, we are going to layout some of the ways you can do the 200 envelope challenge.
In case you have not heard, the 100 day envelope challenge originating from TikTok has taken off!
Let’s be honest… you need to make saving fun! Saving just to save money can get boring after awhile.
Here at Money Bliss, we have plenty of money saving challenges to help you find the perfect one for you.
Today, we are going to bring you a spin of a super popular envelope challenge.
Have you seen the popularity of this money saving challenge take off on TikTok? If not, then you are missing out.
This saving hack has been going viral and does not seem to be going away anytime soon. In fact, more and more variations of the original challenge have sprouted.
In this post, we will break everything you need to know about the 200 day envelope challenge.
What is the 200 Envelope Challenge?
The premise of the 200 envelope saving challenge is a very simple hack to start saving money.
For many people attempting the 100 day challenge, they learned that saving envelopes from 51-100 were more difficult as the dollar amount was harder.
So, here is the 200 envelope challenge spin.
You start off with 200 envelopes. You will label each envelope with the numbers 1 through 50. Repeat this process 4 times.
As such, you will have four envelopes with the same number on them.
Then place all of the envelopes in a special place like a container box, basket, file folder, or bag.
Each day, you will choose a new envelope, and you must put that amount of money in the envelope.
For example, if you draw the number 12, then you would put $12 into that envelope and seal it. Then the next day, if you draw the number 35, you would put $35 into that envelope and seal it. Then, continue this challenge for over 200 days.
And the best part is by the end of the 200 envelope challenge, you have saved $5,100.
Now, after 200 days, I would call saving $5,100 a huge win when saving only $1-$50 per day.
200 Envelope Challenge Chart
How much money do you save with the 200 envelope saving challenge?
You need to the numbers behind everything so you truly understand how the 200 day money challenge is set up.
Let’s break down how the math works with this 200 envelope challenge chart.
At the end of the 200 day money challenge, you will save $5,10!!
Here is the math if you randomly pick an envelope each day:
Most saved in one week: $200
Least saved in one week: $4
Even if you do not finish the entire 200 days and quit on day 100, you will save at least $2500. More than likely, it will be a higher amount (unless you are great at just picking numbers under $20).
This challenge is great for somebody who gets paid with cash on a consistent basis, like servers, bartenders, drivers, caddies, etc – any tipped employee.
Advantages of the 200 Day Money Challenge
This is the #1 benefit of the 200 envelope challenge over the 100 day envelope challenge…
It is much easier to save under $50 a day than having to save $51-$100 a day.
You can simply cut out spending purchases to hit your goal.
That is easy.
Plus with the fun saving challenge you walk away with over $5000 saved in less 29 weeks! In just over half of the year, you can save $5k.
If someone said, you would save over $5k in less than 7 months, verall, would you accept the challenge?
That should be a resounding… YES!!
Supplies Needed for the 200 Day Envelope Money Saving Challenge
The supplies needed for the 200 Day Challenge are not complicated and you should have most of them around your house.
Supplies Needed:
Envelopes – Plain old white envelopes work, but colored envelopes makes everything more fun.
Sharpie or Marker Pens – You need something to write with in order to keep track of those envelopes.
Cash – You need to figure out where you have the extra cash to stuff those envelopes. You may need to run to the bank quite a few times.
Stickers or Rubber Stamps – To make sure you don’t cheat and reopen a finished envelope.
Box or Container – Just make sure you have enough space for your envelopes!
Related Read: Best Cash Envelopes – Pick Your Favorite
Don’t want to make your own? Then, pick up these handmade envelopes from Desire Your Curves. Check out these 200 mini envelopes!
Also, it is super helpful to have a free printable 200 day challenge to keep you accountable! Don’t worry… we have you covered!
At the bottom of the post, you have the opportunity to download a free 200 envelope challenge PDF.
Printable 200 envelope challenge PDF
The 200 Envelope Challenge is a printable tracker chart that you can download and print.
Think of one friend you want to do this challenge with and share this post
The idea of saving over $5000 in less than 7 months is reason to participate in this challenge!
Tracking your progress is very important with any money saving challenge. Plus it is a powerful motivator.
Check Out: Free Printable 100 Envelope Challenge
200 Envelope Challenge App – Do It Digital
As of right now, there is no envelope challenge app developed to make this cashless. However, you can do this challenge digitally and we will show you how to do it virtually.
In case you utilize a cashless envelope system, you may be wanting to do this challenge, but are not sure of the best way to do it.
Here is how to do the 200 day challenge digitally:
Instead of using 200 envelopes, you could write on 200 pieces of paper, fold them up, and put them into a bag or box.
Every day you would draw out a new number (just like the normal challenge).
Make sure you have separate savings account for the challenge.
Instead of placing cash into the envelopes, you will move money from your checking account to that separate savings account.
For example, on the first day, you pull out the number 8. Well, that means you would move $8 from your checking account into your newly open 200 envelope challenge savings account.
You are taking money from your normal spending and moving it away and into a savings account.
That way you are setting aside money, virtually into a different account.
200 Envelope Challenge Variations
Not everyone can complete the 200 envelope saving challenge as we discussed in this post.
Here are some alternatives to make the envelope challenge work for you:
Pull an envelope weekly instead of daily.
Save $25 for every envelope.
Pull 3-4 envelopes a week.
Save the amount of the envelope $1-200 and save over $20K!
There are many ways you can spin the 200 envelope challenge to work for you!
At the end of the day, the goal is just to save more money.
Many people prefer one of these challenges instead:
Ready for the 200 day Envelope Challenge?
All in all, this is the one great thing that social media can offer.
It brought around the envelope challenge as a new spin for you new hack for you to start saving money.
The 200 day envelope challenge is a fun way to kickstart your money saving journey.
The 200 day money envelope challenge is perfect for everyone to complete!
If you are looking for something different, check out one of these…
If you like the idea of this challenge here are some other money saving challenge ideas that you may enjoy more:
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.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Learn how to supplement your daily, weekly, or monthly income with trading so that you can live your best life! This is a lifestyle trading style you need to learn.
Honestly, this course is a must for anyone who invests. You will lose more in the market than you will spend this quality education – guaranteed.
Read my Invest with Teri Review.
If you’ve ever wanted to make a full-time income while working from home, you’re in the right place!
This intensive training combines thousands of hours of research, years of experience in growing a virtual assistant business, and the power of a coach who has helped thousands of students launch and grow their own business from scratch.
Learn how to buy and resell items from flea markets, thrift stores and yard sales. They will teach you how to create a profitable reselling business quickly
…no matter how much or how little experience you have.
Our friends Cody & Julie of Gold City Ventures are experts at creating five figures of passive income selling printables. Learn how to create your online printables business from scratch with our programs and templates.
Are you passionate about words and reading? If so, proofreading could be a perfect fit for you, just like it’s been for me! I’m excited to share how you can create a freelance business as a proofreader, just like I did.
The ultimate discounted bundle of my 4 best-selling courses and WordPress theme on how to build and grow a profitable blog.
Learn the best SEO practices and how to monetize your blog quickly!
Designed as a 101-level course on freight brokerage, you’ll learn the basics of freight brokering in this online course.
This course is designed for freight brokers in any setting, regardless of their employment status.
If you want to start your brokerage, we’ll show you exactly how to do it. If you are an agent or employee of a brokerage, we’ll take you through sales and operations modules designed to help you source more leads and move more freight.
You can make money as a freelance writer. Learn techniques to find those jobs and earn the kind of money you deserve! Plus get tips to land your first freelance writing gig!
This is the perfect side hustle if you don’t have much time, experience, or money.
Many earn over $10,000 in a year selling printables on Etsy. Learn how to get started by watching this free workshop.
The Empowered Business Lab teaches you how to sell your digital products naturally with strategies that just make sense.
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!!
Still in the dark about how to make money online? Side hustles are all the rage, but not everyone has tried one. You’re a beginner, and that can be the case at any age.
The internet has opened up a lot of ways to make side money, but so many options can be overwhelming. That’s why we say to do a little personal discovery first to decide what you like. Then dive in with a positive attitude and flexible mindset. Because the money is out there, but it isn’t guaranteed.
Here are four steps to get you started.
Step 1: Take inventory of your skills
The term “side hustle” assumes you already have a full-time obligation, like a job, school or family responsibilities. If you’re going to spend your precious few hours of free time on another form of work, you ought to do something you enjoy. Start with a personal assessment of your interests and emphasize the ones with online earning potential. Grab a piece of paper and jot down your answers to these questions:
What do I like to do the most? Consider the hobbies, interests and activities that bring you joy, but add a work slant because you probably won’t get paid to watch videos.
Of the interests listed, which ones do I do well? Narrow down your initial list to the areas where you have the most skill. Do you write well? Do you know the ins and outs of a certain category of collectible merchandise?
What kind of work would I be happy doing for hours on end? Make sure going all in on a potentially paying hobby won’t make you hate it.
Step 2: Focus on monetizable skills and ideas
Did you identify any skills with earning potential? You can probably answer this with common sense. You’re more likely to be paid to design a logo than make a meme.
Do you know how to code and do you like it? How about writing website copy, articles or marketing emails? You might have a future in freelancing, and that’s a side hustle tailor-made for making money online.
Maybe you listed vintage fashion as a top interest, and you know more than most about clothes. Do you like selling stuff and communicating with potential customers, too? Because reselling clothes is a way to monetize a hobby (and support a habit) from your laptop. If you have crafts or bespoke products to sell, you could open an Etsy shop online.
Once you match a passion, skill or idea with a monetizable opportunity, you can find the right online service or platform to facilitate your business.
Track all the money you make
See the ins and outs of your cash, cards, and bank accounts at a glance.
Step 3: Research the top places to make money online
There are plenty of online platforms that can connect you with customers, gigs and tasks. The hard part is narrowing the list down to the ones that are worth your time. We can help you focus on real ways to make money online (and offline, for that matter) and explore home business ideas. The work you did in the skills inventory step should help you quickly eliminate the noncontenders.
Be realistic about how much you can make
Once you pick a skill and a platform, you can give your online side hustle a try. How much money you’ll make (and when it comes) will vary.
Online freelance work may take time to gain traction, but you can pick a site like Upwork or Fiverr that connects you with paying clients and post your pitch today.
Places to sell stuff online typically have few barriers to entry, which is great for beginners. But make sure profit margins are worth your time. Selling a used book on eBay for $7.50 won’t amount to much side money when you factor in fees and shipping.
Using an online service to get task-based work can be a way for a beginner to make real money with less wait time. Depending on where you live, quick gigs like driving people or delivering packages and groceries can be in high demand. And signing up for gigs through a service like Uber or Instacart can connect you with customers and have you driving in no time.
Walking dogs is one of the highest paid side hustles by average hourly wage, according to an analysis from online tutoring platform Preply. Rover and Wag are two sites that match dog walkers with paying customers.
Other ways may require more patience
Some popular ways to make money online, like starting a blog, making YouTube videos or sharing influential advice on social media can require a lot of effort and time before you’ll see a dime. Don’t let us discourage you from your dreams of content creator stardom, but influencers typically need a sizable following to see big money.
Step 4: Evaluate and pivot
Flexibility is key when it comes to making money online. Give it a couple of weeks (or months) and evaluate your progress. If the dough is low, you might need to adjust your approach or switch to another platform. Maybe it’s time to pivot to a different monetizable hobby. Go back to your skills inventory and give something else a try. Enjoy the experience, and don’t quit your day job.
Inside: Are you looking for ways to make money quickly and easily? This guide has a variety of tips and tricks to help you make 1000 a day.
Making money is something that everyone is interested in. And why wouldn’t we be? Money gives us the ability to buy the things we want, travel, and live a lifestyle that most people can only dream of.
But what if I told you that it was possible to make $1000 a day? Would you believe me?
Well, in this blog post, I’m going to show you some of the best ways to make money really fast.
So if you’re looking to make some quick cash or consistent income, then this is the post for you!
In this post, I will share with your some of the best ways that I know of to make money $1k a day on a regular basis.
So if you’re ready to learn how to make 1000 a day, then let’s get started!
Is it possible to make $1000 a day?
Yes, it is possible to make $1000 a day.
In fact, this is something I regularly do (see picture to prove it).
However, achieving this goal requires commitment, hard work, and a solid plan. Factors that contribute to achieving this goal include finding a method that works for you, sticking with it, and putting in the necessary effort.
Additionally, having a unique skill set and interest in a particular method can increase the chances of success.
How to make $1000 a day?
Making $1000 a day is an appealing goal for many people, whether it’s a one-time need or a consistent source of income. Fortunately, there are several ways to achieve this goal.
Here are the top ways to make $1000 a day:
Start a high-paying job: Some jobs pay over $300k a year, and while they may require advanced degrees and education, there are also a few that don’t require a college degree.
Offer high-value services: You can offer services such as pet-sitting, tutoring, design work, or writing to make money.
Start a business: You can start a business that generates $1000 a day, such as a digital marketing agency, freelancing, or a service-based business.
Sell items you no longer need: You can sell items on eBay, Craigslist, or other online marketplaces to make quick cash.
Let your money work for you: You can invest in stocks and shares, real estate, or property to earn upwards of $1000 a day.
While each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, with the right strategy and dedication, making $1000 a day is achievable.
So, get started today and see how much money you can make.
Are you passionate about words and reading?
If so, proofreading could be a perfect fit for you, just like it’s been for countless of readers! Learn how you can create a freelance business as a proofreader.
Check out this free workshop!
Bookkeeping is the most stable, reliable & simple business to own. This is how to make a realistic income -either part-time or full-time.
Find out TODAY if this is THE business you’ve been looking for.
Best ways to make 1000 a day
We’ve compiled a list of our favorite ways to make money really fast – specifically $1k a day!
Many times, you will have to invest 100 to make 1000 a day.
If you’re looking for ways to make some extra cash, or even earn a full-time income, this post is for you.
1. Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is a great way to make extra money or even replace your full-time job. There are various types of content that freelance writers can specialize in, such as long-form content or shorter direct-response copywriting.
With freelance writing, you can earn over $.50 or even $1 per word, which means that a 1,000-word article could net you $1,000 quickly.
To start, you need to establish a portfolio of your work to pitch to new clients. This portfolio should include links to any relevant articles or copy you’ve written that’s related to the client you’re pitching. If you don’t have a portfolio yet, you might need to do some work at lower rates to get your foot in the door.
Even if you don’t consider yourself a writer, don’t strike it off the list just yet. With the right approach and mindset, anyone can become a successful freelance writer.
2. Crafting
Crafting offers many benefits beyond just making extra cash. It allows for flexibility in your schedule, creativity in your work, and the ability to turn a hobby into a lucrative business.
If you are creative and have a talent for creating handmade items, then starting a crafting business is the perfect way to monetize that skill by doing something you enjoy. There are plenty of crafts to choose from and you may even become an instructor!
The most difficult side is you are trading your time for money and it may be difficult to scale.
3. Day Trading Stocks
Day trading stocks is a high-risk, high-reward investment strategy that involves buying and selling stocks within a single trading day. It requires a great deal of knowledge, discipline, and risk management to be successful.
However, there is a large group of us who have made the $1000 in a day club.
Successful day traders use a combination of technical analysis, risk management, and discipline to make profitable trades.
This choice requires discipline, a proper trading education, knowledge, and risk management.
Trade and Travel with Teri Ijeoma is a popular course that investors can take to learn about trading stocks and options and begin their journey to making $1,000 a day.
4. Trading Options
Trading options can be a lucrative way for seasoned investors to make money.
With options, investors can speculate on different stocks with only a fraction of the investment capital needed to buy the stocks outright.
Investors who are familiar with investing in individual stocks can take the next step in the process by trading options. While options may seem exotic on the surface, they are a common tool used by seasoned investors and are especially valuable during volatile activity in the stock market.
To trade options successfully, investors need research skills, investing knowledge, discipline, and patience.
Trading options can be a high-risk option, especially for those who lack expertise in the area. However, it can be extremely lucrative for those who have experience and knowledge in the stock market.
Investors should consider taking courses to learn more about trading options.
5. Youtube
YouTube can be a great source of income for those who are willing to put in the effort to create quality content. It offers multiple ways to generate revenue, including sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and Google Adsense.
With the right approach, it’s possible to make $1000 or more per day on YouTube.
Remember, success on YouTube takes time and hard work, but the potential rewards are significant.
6. Selling on Amazon
Selling products on Amazon can be a highly profitable business opportunity.
Amazon FBA, or Fulfilled by Amazon, is a business model where you send your inventory to Amazon warehouses and they handle the rest, including storage, shipping, customer service, and returns.
This makes it a great option for digital nomads and those looking to scale their business quickly.
With an average profit margin of $20 per sale, it’s possible to make $1,000 per day by selling just 5 units per day of 10 different products.
7. Sell Printables Online
Selling printables online has become a popular way to make passive income.
With the rise of digital products, creators can sell anything from coloring pages to budget spreadsheets on platforms like Etsy. Thousands of creators make a living selling digital products, and it’s easy to see why.
Learn how these sellers got started.
The key is to pick a topic you’re knowledgeable in and passionate about, so you can create high-quality products that people will want to buy.
8. Dropshipping
Dropshipping is one of the best ways to make $1000 a day, especially for those looking to start a business with minimal initial investment.
This business model allows entrepreneurs to sell products to customers without ever holding a single piece of stock.
Dropshipping is a viable and profitable business model that can generate high profits without the hassle of managing inventory. With the right niche, platform, supplier, and marketing strategy, entrepreneurs can make $1000 a day or more with dropshipping.
9. Consulting
Consulting is one of the best ways to make $1000 a day!
It’s a lucrative career option that allows you to provide expert advice to clients and help them solve problems.
The first step to becoming a consultant is to determine your area of expertise. This could be anything from personal finance to marketing to human resources. Your expertise should be something that you have significant knowledge and experience in.
One of the most important aspects of becoming a consultant is building your network. This includes reaching out to potential clients, attending networking events, and connecting with other professionals in your field.
10. Become a Virtual Assistant
Being a virtual assistant can be a great way to make money while setting your own hours.
As a virtual assistant with no experience, you can work from home and typically on your own schedule. You can choose to work part-time or full-time based on your availability and the workload of your clients.
The tasks that you are asked to perform as a virtual assistant can vary widely, but commonly needed skills include administration, accounting and bookkeeping, marketing, communications, customer service, and many other capacities.
You don’t need special skills or training for this job, as most clients will bring you up to speed on what they need to do. However, having organizational, communication, and time-management skills can be helpful.
Check out the checklist to get started as a virtual assistant.
11. Side Hustles
Side hustles are a great way to earn extra income and supplement your regular income. With a little effort and some creativity, you can make up to $1000 a day with certain side hustles.
Here are some of the best side hustles that can help you achieve this goal:
Deliver food: You can make good money by delivering food with these apps. You can choose your own hours and work as much or as little as you want. DoorDash is a great option.
Drive with ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft: If you have a car and some free time, you can earn money by driving people around. You can make up to $1000 a day, depending on how much you work.
Pet sit or walk dogs: If you love animals, you can make money by pet sitting or dog walking through Rover.com. You can earn up to $50 per day, depending on the services you offer.
Babysit or tutor: If you have experience with children or are good at a particular subject, you can offer your services as a babysitter or tutor through Care.com. You can make up to $50 per hour, depending on your qualifications.
Side hustles are a great way to make extra money and reach your financial goals.
12. Start a Business
Starting a business is one of the most effective ways to make 1000 dollars a day on a regular basis. However, it requires careful planning and execution to succeed.
The first step is to research the market and identify a profitable business idea and build it to profitability.
Challenges may arise, such as competition, financial setbacks, and marketing difficulties, but with persistence and determination, you can overcome them and achieve financial success.
The potential for significant financial gain from starting a successful business is immense, making it a worthwhile endeavor for anyone willing to put in the effort.
13. Yard Work
Yard work is an excellent way to make $1000 a day, especially if you have some extra time and don’t mind getting dirty.
If you want to get up and running quickly, there is nothing better than a local side hustle to earn extra money such as mowing lawns in your neighborhood.
Mowing lawns is not only a great side hustle for adults but also for teens. For an average size lot, you could expect to make at least $35. If you could line up a few lawns each weekend, you could easily make an extra $1000 each month.
Landscaping, leave pickup, and bush trimming are all simple tasks that you can complete quickly if you have the right equipment. You can choose to set an hourly rate or get paid for the entire job, depending on the task.
You may have to start hiring crews in order to hit $1k a day.
14. AirBnb or VRBO Rentals
Airbnb or VRBO are popular platforms for renting out your property to travelers.
Many successful hosts have earned $1000 or more per day because they have accumulated more than one property.
One tip for success is to garner excellent reviews that people want to come back time and time again.
15. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a lucrative way to make money online and has the potential to earn you $1000 a day.
This works well for influencers who have a reach of thousands of people. Another way is creating a niche website that focuses on a specific product or market segment.
It’s essential to promote products effectively to generate revenue. Successful affiliate marketers have earned six figures or more per year.
16. Flip Products or Retail Arbitrage
Retail arbitrage is a popular business model that can help you make $1,000 per day or more. The premise is simple – buy or find things cheap and resell them for a higher price.
This is a great example of how to flip money.
To be successful, you’ll need to have an eye for the right product and do product research to choose products that will sell.
Here is a list of the most popular items to flip.
17. Pickup Services
Pickup services refer to businesses that provide transportation and delivery services for goods, furniture, or other items. These services are in high demand, especially in urban areas where people are always on the move and need help with moving heavy or bulky items.
Starting a pickup service business requires some equipment, such as a truck or van, and marketing strategies to attract customers.
So, if you are looking for a new side hustle or business opportunity, consider pickup services as a viable option.
18. Casino Gambling
While casino gambling is not a recommended way to make $1000 a day, it is still worth mentioning as a potential option.
However, it is important to note that gambling should always be done responsibly and within one’s means.
If you are considering casino gambling as a way to make quick money, it is essential to understand the most profitable games and their strategies. Here is an ordered list of the best casino games to play to make money:
Blackjack: This game has one of the lowest house edges, making it a popular choice for professional gamblers. The objective of the game is to beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21. The key to winning at blackjack is to use basic strategy, which involves making the mathematically correct decisions based on the dealer’s upcard and your own hand.
Craps: This game has a low house edge and offers a variety of betting options. The objective of the game is to predict the outcome of a roll or series of rolls of the dice. To win at craps, it is essential to understand the different bets and their odds and to follow a betting strategy that suits your playing style.
Baccarat: This game is easy to learn and has a low house edge. The objective of the game is to bet on the hand that will have a total of 9 or closer to 9. The key to winning at baccarat is to understand the different bets and their odds and to follow a betting strategy that suits your playing style.
When playing these games, it is important to practice good bankroll management by setting a budget for yourself and sticking to it. It is also crucial to know when to quit to avoid losing money.
A winning streak can lead to making $1000 a day, but it is important to be cautious and not get carried away.
19. Freelance Graphic Design
Graphic designers create visual concepts using computer software or by hand to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. They work on various projects such as branding, marketing materials, website design, and more.
Freelance graphic design is a lucrative option because there is always a demand for graphic design services, and businesses are willing to pay top dollar for high-quality designs.
By building a strong portfolio, staying up-to-date with the latest design trends, and providing excellent service to your clients, you can earn a substantial income as a freelance graphic designer.
20. Make Money Flipping Items
Flea market flipping is a great way to make some extra cash on the side or even turn it into a full-time business. It involves buying items for a low price and reselling them for a profit.
One couple, Rob and Melissa Stephenson, have become full-time flea market flippers and even host their own website, Flea Market Flipper, to help others find success in the venture. They offer several courses to help individuals turn this into a serious side hustle or even a full-time business earning six figures.
Learning from successful flea market flippers like Stephenson’s can be a great way to get started. They have the skills and knowledge to help individuals find valuable items, network, and use social media and photography to their advantage.
21. Photography
Photography is a lucrative career option that has the potential to generate high income or as a side hustle.
There are different types of photography that one can explore to make money, including wedding photography, family photography, real estate photography, and stock photography.
By building a strong portfolio, networking, finding clients, investing in high-quality equipment, and constantly improving your skills, you can become a successful photographer and make a great income. Don’t underestimate your potential in this field.
22. Rental Income
Passive income through rental properties is a great way to generate consistent long-term income. Here are the steps to follow in order to make $1000 a day through rent income:
Find a suitable property: Look for properties that are priced reasonably, require minimal renovations, and are located in areas with high rental demand. You are likely to start making $1000 a month.
However, the earning potential is dependent on the ability to scale multiple properties, keep them occupied, and increase monthly income streams.
Investing in rental properties can be a lucrative and rewarding experience for those willing to put in the effort.
23. Amazon Merch
Amazon Merch is a platform that allows you to create and sell your own merchandise on Amazon. It’s an excellent way to make money because Amazon handles all of the heavy lifting, such as printing, shipping, and customer service.
Using Amazon Merch, you can sell a variety of products from t-shirts to phone cases, and best of all, you don’t need to invest in inventory or equipment.
All you need to do is create the designs.
Successful Amazon Merch sellers include graphic designers, artists, and entrepreneurs who have created unique and appealing designs that resonate with their target audience.
24. Creative Skills like Video Editing
Creative skills can be a valuable asset when it comes to generating income. Video editing is another skill that can be monetized.
With the rise of video content, businesses, and individuals are always in need of skilled video editors. One can offer video editing services for YouTube creators, and businesses, or even edit personal videos for clients.
Freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr are great places to find video editing jobs.
25. Fashion Design
Fashion design is one of the most lucrative ways to make money, and it’s an industry that’s always in demand.
Whether you’re interested in starting your own fashion label, working for a fashion house, or becoming a freelance designer, there are plenty of opportunities to make a living in this field.
Marketing yourself is also key to success in fashion design. Use social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest to showcase your work and build a following.
Networking is also an important part of building a successful career in fashion design. You must stay up-to-date on industry trends, make valuable connections, and potentially land new clients or job opportunities.
Create a website or blog where you can share your designs, offer fashion tips, and connect with potential clients.
Pay attention to industry trends, stay creative and original, and focus on developing your skills and building your brand. Then, there are plenty of opportunities to make a living in this exciting and dynamic industry.
26. Start a Blog
Many people say blogging is dead. But, it’s not.
Starting a blog can be a great way to share your interests, skills, and experiences with others while also creating a new income stream for yourself. The flexibility of blogging allows you to turn your current job or passion into a successful blog.
However, starting a blog can be challenging, and it requires technical knowledge, writing ability, social media skills, and topical expertise.
Once you have started your blog, it’s essential to treat it like a business and monetize your content.
27. Self-Storage Business
Self-storage business is a lucrative venture that involves renting out storage units to customers who need extra space for their belongings. These businesses are in high demand, especially in urban areas where living spaces are often small and cramped.
In fact, the self-storage business is expected to bloom to $64.17 billion by 2026.
Starting a self-storage business can be a profitable venture if done correctly.
28. Invest in Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies have gained popularity as a potential source of significant income. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin are some of the best cryptocurrencies to invest in.
To invest in cryptocurrencies, one must first set up a digital wallet and choose a reputable exchange such as Coinbase or Bitstamp.
It is important to research the market and understand the volatility of cryptocurrency before investing. While the potential for high returns exists, it is important to approach cryptocurrency investing with caution.
29. Invest in Real Estate
Investing in real estate can be a lucrative way of making money.
To make $1000 a day through real estate investing, there are several steps you can take.
First, set aside a few hundred dollars each month to invest in real estate over time.
Second, consider the different types of real estate investments available, such as rental properties, commercial properties, and fix-and-flip properties. Each investment type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to research and choose the one that fits your financial goals.
Third, consider investing in real estate investment trusts (REITs) or crowdfunding platforms like Fundrise, which allow you to invest in real estate without purchasing a property.
Remember that investing in real estate carries a degree of risk, so it’s important to do your research and seek advice from successful real estate investors.
30. Make Money on the Internet
Making money online has become a popular option for those looking to earn a substantial income. The internet provides a wealth of opportunities for anyone with an internet connection and a bit of creativity.
You need to learn how to make money online for beginners.
There are so many options today and you never have to leave your house!
When it comes to making $1000 a day online, it’s important to acknowledge that it’s not a quick or easy process. It takes time and effort to build a successful online business or generate significant income through freelance work or other online opportunities.
However, with dedication and hard work, it is possible to achieve your financial goals.
How to make $1,000 really fast?
If you’re in a financial bind and need to make $1,000 quickly, there are several options available to you.
Here are the top ways to make $1,000 a day quickly:
Sell items on eBay or Craigslist: If you have items that you no longer need, consider selling them online. This could include clothes, furniture, or electronics. This is a quick and easy way to make money fast.
Offer freelance services: You can offer services such as tutoring, design work, or writing. If you have a specific skill or talent, you can find customers online who are willing to pay for your services.
Do odd jobs for people in your community: You can offer to mow lawns, rake leaves, or shovel snow for a fee. This is a great way to make money quickly, especially if you live in an area with a lot of homeowners.
Participate in paid focus groups or surveys: This is a great way to make money quickly without leaving your home. Companies are always looking for feedback on their products and services, and they are willing to pay for it.
Rent out a room in your home on Airbnb: If you have a spare room in your home, you can rent it out on Airbnb and make money quickly. This is a great option if you live in a popular tourist destination.
Manage social media accounts: Many businesses need help managing their social media accounts, and they are willing to pay for them. If you have experience with social media, this could be a great way to make money quickly.
Start a blog: If you have a passion for writing or a specific topic, you can start a blog and sell advertising space or products/services to your readers. This takes some time to build up, but it can be a lucrative way to make money in the long run.
Sell handmade crafts or goods online: If you’re crafty, you can make items and sell them online, such as on Etsy. This is a great way to turn your hobby into a money-making opportunity.
Borrow money from friends or family: This is not an ideal option, but if you’re in a bind and need money quickly, consider asking for a loan from someone you trust.
Pawn items for cash: This is a last resort option, but if you have items of value, you can pawn them for cash quickly.
Don’t be afraid to try different methods and see what works best for you.
This is the perfect side hustle if you don’t have much time, experience, or money.
Many earn over $10,000 in a year selling printables on Etsy. Learn how to get started by watching this free workshop.
If you’ve ever wanted to make a full-time income while working from home, you’re in the right place!
This intensive training combines thousands of hours of research, years of experience in growing a virtual assistant business, and the power of a coach who has helped thousands of students launch and grow their own business from scratch.
FAQ
Passive income is a form of earnings that is generated without active involvement.
It is a way to make money while you sleep and can provide financial stability and independence.
This is one of three types of income and the one you want to strive towards building.
Ultimately, the best side hustle for making $1000 a day is one that meets your needs and interests while providing a good return on investment.
Here are several factors to consider before choosing the best option.
Think about your skills, interests, and availability. If you have a full-time job, you may want to consider a side hustle that allows you to work flexible hours.
Next, consider the earning potential of the side hustle you are considering. Some side hustles pay more than others, and you want to choose one that will give you the highest return on investment.
Additionally, consider the start-up costs associated with the side hustle. Some require significant investment, such as buying a car for ride-sharing apps or purchasing an online course.
Most importantly, choose a side hustle that aligns with your passion and expertise. This will make the work more enjoyable and increase your chances of success.
There are many ways to make money from your expertise.
You can start a consulting business, offer services such as coaching or speaking, create and sell information products, or build a following and sell advertising or sponsorships. The possibilities are endless.
What’s important is that you start somewhere and then take action to turn your expertise into cash.
Ready to Make 1000 in a Day?
There are many ways to make money quickly and easily.
The best way to make money fast is to find a way that best suits your skills and interests.
Whether it’s graphic design, content creation, photography, or trading stocks, there are plenty of opportunities to turn your passions into profit. So, start honing your skills and explore the endless possibilities of the gig economy.
Learning how to make quick money in one day is possible. You just need to be determined and disciplined.
So, which method do you choose on how to make $1k a day?
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
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.
The ripple effect of a financial mindset can be seen in every aspect of your life.
Think about it: If you are not mindful of how you spend and save money, then you will be in a constant struggle each and every month.
If you are simply someone who is struggling to make ends meet, there are many things we can do to save money. If you are trying desperately to reach financial freedom sooner, then you need these best money hacks to make it happen sooner.
Around here at Money Bliss, we spend a lot of time on our money mindset and setting goals.
Everyone is in a different season with their finances.
But, one thing is true… Most of us never learned proper money management.
Do you find yourself in a constant cycle of financial struggle? Do you feel like you are constantly trying to live up to unrealistic standards?
It is easy for people to feel that they are constantly broke, and in some cases this is true. But, it is also important to remember that there are ways in which you can make more money and start saving for your future.
Since changing money habits does not always come easy and often requires some serious changes in our mindset, we are here to support you to find the top money hacks.
Read on as we share 50+ ways you can start saving more money as well as making more money while also saving your sanity!
What are Money Hacks?
Money hacks are the ways in which people stretch their money.
These money hacks can come from a variety of sources, such as personal experience, family members or friends, and other individuals on social media.
Money hacks can come in many forms such as:
Simple money saving hacks
Ways to make money on the side
Strategies to make every dollar count
Thrifty ideas to be more frugal
Ideas to be more conscious of our waste
All in all, money hacks will help you to spend less money. Thus, saving more money.
As you will learn at Money Bliss, saving money opens up doors of opportunities
Best Money Hacks
Money hacks are ways to build long-term wealth.
Even though most of the hacks for money include quick saving wins, over the long term, you will actually start a snowball effect of more money in your bank account.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to find the motivation to save money, but these 7 best real money hacks will help you reset your financial mindset and start saving!
The best money hacks are the overarching big picture concepts that you must master for long-term success.
1. Think Big
Open up your mind.
One way to reset your financial mindset is by opening yourself up to new ways of thinking about spending and saving.
Too often, we are focused on what is directly in front of us instead of thinking about the big picture.
A great way to think big with your finances is to decide how you want to live life with intention.
2. Habit of Saving Money
Get back in the habit of saving.
If you have been beyond your means or barely scraping by, the best way to get back on track is by saving at least 20% of your income.
This may seem a little ludicrous. However, by prioritizing saving first, you will be pleasantly surprised how well you live off the rest.
In this post, there will be so many simple and easy ways to start saving today.
3. Make a Plan for Your Money
Create a spending plan (aka that dreaded word budget).
Creating an outline for what you want and need will help you to make smarter decisions about your spending.
This concept has been made too difficult over the years.
The bottom line is you want to spend less than you make. So, make a plan for that to happen today.
4. Make Money on the Side
This one is huge!
Personally, making extra money has been a priority for the last 5 years. We spent many years trying to cut our expenses and hating our inability to actually spend less as a growing family. So, we changed our focus to finding ways to make more money instead.
Start a side hustle. If you are not making enough to live comfortably, start a side hustle! Use your unique skill set to make extra cash.
Pick up a second job or ask for more hours.
There are plenty of ways to make money fast.
5. Invest in Stock Market
This means a way to make money or increase your net worth. AKA make your money work for you.
Too many times, the concept of investing is big and scary. The thought of starting is way too overwhelming. So you put it off until next week or next month. Then, a couple of years go by and you have not invested your money.
That is the biggest financial mistake you can make.
Start small by investing in an index fund. Each month consistently add more money.
If you want to learn to trade stocks, then you must enroll in the best investing course I have found.
Read my in-depth investing course review.
6. Pay Off Debt
Ugh… debt is the cash flow killer.
You are unable to make forward progress if you are straddled by debt.
Figure out how to pay off debt ASAP.
When calculating how long it will take to pay off high-interest debt, you should consider paying the highest interest rate first. Here is the best debt payoff app available.
7. Watch Your Spending
Be mindful of your spending.
This is a great practice that many people need to start doing again, regardless of how much money or how little money they have.
Every few months, you need to evaluate your spending to see if it matches up with your values.
As you can imagine there are many money hacks that can help you save, but the list above is the money hacks that will make the biggest difference the quickest. Below we have many more money hacks for you to explore.
Hacks for Saving Money
Money app hacks are small, quick, and easy ways to improve your finances.
They can range from things like automating your budget or creating a money jar that pays for itself, to more complex solutions like changing your tax withholding or moving money around to get a higher return.
Honestly, there are so many life hacks for saving money.
8. Automatic Savings
This is a practice of automatically transferring money from your checking account into your savings account on a regular basis.
It is best to set a transfer amount and stick to it.
Since it is easier to save your money before you spend it, you must save as much money as possible in order for this strategy to be effective.
9. Financial goals
A financial goal is a long-term, quantifiable expectation for how much money you want to have, or what you plan on doing with your money. Your goals can be as simple as saving for the down payment on a house or as involved as saving for retirement.
Our financial goals allow us to set specific, numerical targets that help us achieve our desired lifestyle in a more concrete way.
You must set smart financial goals.
10. What brings you joy?
At the end of the day, it is important to remember that life is all about finding what brings you joy.
The question is open-ended, but your money must line up with what brings you joy.
Spend a few minutes and stew on the question.
11. Build an emergency savings fund
Building an emergency savings fund is a great idea if you are in the habit of saving money and want to make sure that you have some money saved up when times get rough.
If you are struggling to save, there are a few ways you can increase your savings.
For example, you might be able to set up automatic transfers from your checking account into an investment account. You should also make sure that you have a way to save money outside of your checking account.
Saving cash in a jar or saving up coins are ideas for some people.
12. Invest spare change
If you go shopping and buy something, most stores will give you change. If you use a debit or credit card, you can do the same thing with help of a popular app!
Simple money hack: investing your spare change.
In order to invest your spare change in an account, you can open one for as little as $5. Acorns then automatically invest the money from your checking account and into a savings acorn account.
As the round-up feature continues to add upon each purchase, it is a good idea to invest in this app so that you can save more dollars!
13. Challenge Yourself to Save
If you are looking to save money, it is best to set up a budget that includes challenging yourself.
A great way to do this is with the no spend challenge.
A no-buy is when you decide to simply not make any purchases for a certain amount of time.
A no-spend is when someone decides to not spend any money in a certain period of time.
When you are struggling with spending too much money and want to reset your wallet, then give up spending money. Period.
14. Join a buy nothing group
The buy nothing groups are a growing movement that started in order to help people cut their ecological footprint, save money, and break free of consumerism.
This is a great way to find things you need as well as declutter your house.
15. Negotiate everything
The key to successful negotiation is preparation.
Research the company’s past sales, price changes, and discounts offered in order to get a better understanding of what you’re negotiating for.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate.
What is the worst thing that can happen when someone says no!?!
16. Refinance Your Mortgage
It is never too late to refinance your mortgage.
In fact, it might be a good idea if you’re in the market for a new home or refinancing your loan on an existing property.
You must weigh the costs of refinancing to how much you will save over the time period of the loan.
Ask around for mortgage broker recommendations and get at least two quotes.
17. Downsize your Home
Downsize your home is the term for reducing a residence in size. This can be done by either moving to an apartment or buying a smaller house. There are many benefits of downsizing, including living a more affordable lifestyle and having less upkeep.
Downsizers use their homes as investments and save money on rent or mortgage payments.
18. Cut the cord
With the internet becoming accessible to everyone, people have started cutting their cable and watching shows online. People can save up to $500 a year by cutting cable from their bills.
Cut the cable & stop watching TV!
19. Learn about Finances
Ask for help.
If you are struggling, there is no shame in asking for assistance from your friends or family members.
The goal is to get ahead with money and not keep digging further into a hole.
Check out any of our courses to help you.
20. Save for What You Want
Decide what you want most and work towards it with the money you have now, instead of waiting for a windfall or a large inheritance.
This may mean setting aside $200 a month.
For example, as a reminder of your long-term goal of buying a beach property, you may buy something you would hang in the new place. Every time you see it, you will be reminded of what you are saving towards.
Budget Hacks
Financial hacks are not unusual.
Since it is so easy to overspend, you must know a few budgeting hacks ahead of time.
21. Need vs Want
A want is a desire for something, while a need is something that fulfills the requirement of your body like food or shelter.
When you think about buying something, ask yourself if it is a want or a need.
By uncovering needs vs wants, you are quickly able to find ways to spend less and save more.
22. Avoid Temptation
To avoid temptation, it is important to maintain a healthy amount of physical and emotional distance from the things that tempt you.
Sometimes, spending triggers are easy to avoid but other times they’re not.
However, people should always be aware of their temptations and try to stay away from them because it will lead to unnecessary debt or stress in the long run.
23. Practice the 30-day rule
Many people wonder what’s the 30 day rule with money…
The 30-day rule is the principle that states that you should practice a new habit or stop an old habit for at least thirty days before expecting success.
When it comes to your money, it means to wait thirty days before making big purchases or changes.
24. Keep a Budget Binder
A budget binder is an important tool that helps people keep track of their finances.
The binder can help people plan out their finances by providing a place to record expenses and income.
Keeping a budget binder is an effective way to track your spending and keep yourself accountable.
By keeping it, you can easily plan for future expenses in advance as well as see what money could be saved or spent on different items over time.
25. Get a spend tracker and use it regularly
Track your spending for 30 days. It can be a good idea to track your spending for at least a month to get an idea of what you’re spending and where.
A spending tracker is a tool that helps people keep track of how much they are spending on a certain item. It is important to use this tool regularly in order to be able to see patterns in your spending.
Then, review your spending. Share it with a trusted friend or family member to come up with some goals to reduce expenses in order to save money.
26. Create a budget
Create a budget, and follow it.
When you schedule your spending, make sure to leave room for savings. This is the easiest way to ensure that you can stick to your budget.
Find more budgeting resources on our site.
27. Pay Bills on Time
This should be a simple statement that we all know. However, life can throw curveballs.
Try to pay your bills on time and in full every month, and make sure all of your bills are paid each month.
This will show lenders that you are responsible and that you are taking care of your credit. Plus you don’t rack up those pesky late fees and high interest rates.
28. Avoid Missed Payments
Don’t miss any payments, and pay off your balances each month to avoid paying high interest rates or fees on late or missed payments.
Read again… do not miss paying your bills.
29. Reconcile Your Checking Account
Balance your checkbook monthly. Okay, no one really uses a checkbook anymore, but you can still do this with pen and paper.
Even better, use Quicken as a simple way to balance your checking account. Read my Quicken review.
This is a great way to check for being charged too much or find a subscription you don’t use anymore.
30. Avoid Summer Budget Busters
Avoid spending money for the summer by just being conscious of your spending and reviewing what is different than the norm.
It is too easy to get into the trap of spending money because the weather is warm.
31. Review your Credit Card Statements
If you’re like most people, you probably review your credit card statements once every six months.
What’s the best way to go about reviewing them?
It depends on how often you use your credit card, how much debt you have, and what your credit score is. You should review your statements at least once a year if you’re carrying a balance on your credit cards.
If you use your credit card, then you should review your statements at least monthly.
32. Use the Cents Plan Formula
While the 50/30/20 budgeting rule is popular, our method of budgeting your money will be more helpful.
Learn how to divide your income into various categories.
Check out the Cents Plan Formula.
33. Use Cash
Use cash instead of credit cards to spend, which will make it easier to limit yourself to how much you can spend.
The envelope system helps you save money by only spending from one designated cash stash each month and withdrawing a set amount for different types of expenses (like groceries).
34. Spending Freeze
Implement a spending freeze, which helps you get used to not buying things for an allotted time so that when the freeze is over, it’s easier to buy what you want.
You will be surprised how much random online shopping you do.
Begin your spending freeze now.
35. Use a Budgeting App
Use your bank’s budgeting tools, like Quicken, which can help you track how much money is coming in and out of your account.
This is the simplest way to manage your money wisely.
Using a money app or a personal finance website can help you to stay organized and get more creative about your budgeting.
Check out this list of the best budgeting apps available.
Hacks to Make Money
Hacks to make money are a list of ways to generate income for yourself. Many ways to make money include blogging, affiliate marketing, or day trading. These money making hacks are great, but they can take more time and energy invested.
36. Use cash back apps
Cash back reward apps like Ibotta are a way to get extra money for your purchases.
They take some time getting used to and you only have access to partner stores that offer cash-back offers. It only takes a few seconds to make some extra cash.
Check out the best cash back apps available.
37. Ask for a Raise
A raise is an increase in pay for a job, labor, or service.
If you are concerned about asking for a raise, then you are missing out on lost money.
Your boss may be receptive to it, then try negotiating more money. Not only will this be good for your career, but also the relationship between you two can improve as well.
38. Get a side hustle
A side hustle is an additional job or career, usually, one that requires only a small amount of time and effort.
For example, someone who wants to work on the weekends might start a side hustle as a bartender.
Side hustles are a form of entrepreneurship that allows you to earn money and do little tasks. They are not difficult or time-consuming, but they can still help you make extra cash on the side.
Pick one of the best gig economy jobs.
39. Rent out a part of your home
A part of your home is often a room, which can be rented out on Airbnb.
Airbnb is the largest and most successful company in the world that lets people rent their extra space or properties. They are a well-known company that provides an easy way for people to make money from their extra space.
Use Neighbor to lend out your space in your home.
40. Declutter: sell your junk for cash
Decluttering is the act of getting rid of excess or unnecessary items.
In order to declutter, you must be willing to give up something that has been a part of your life for a long time. It is important to remember that decluttering does not have to be a quick or easy process.
Then, sell your stuff on Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, eBay, etc.
Learn more at Flea Market Flippers.
41. Earn Money While Watching TV
Although it is not a fast way to get rich, this can be used as a side hustle.
It’s better to use the money earned from watching TV or something else that takes up your time for other things like bills and groceries.
Survey platforms are online sites that allow people to earn money while watching TV.
The survey platform will send surveys through the mail or email, and then they can choose whether they want to take the survey for a set reward amount or if they would like cash back on their purchase.
One of these options is MyPoints, which allows users to earn points by completing tasks such as taking surveys and shopping online at specific retailers.
Others include:
42. Maximize Your Income
Find ways to increase the amount of money you bring in, whether that’s through a side hustle, increasing hours at work, or asking for a raise.
In today’s society, there are plenty of ways to make more money.
Only you put a limit on what you are capable of earning.
43. Build Your Credit
Building your credit can be a long process, but it’s worth the effort. If you’re trying to establish or improve your credit score, here are some tips that might help:
Try to keep your credit utilization rate below 30% at all times.
Do not open too many new lines of credit in a short period of time.
Pay your bills on time.
This will help you avoid damaging your credit score.
Hacks for Free Money
Hacks for free money are a form of fraud wherein the perpetrator solicits payment via PayPal, credit card, or other methods in exchange for access to what they promise will be a legitimate business opportunity.
Hacking free money is a way to make more cash, fund your financial goals, or help you pay off debt. There are lots of ways that people hack their finances and use cash back apps for some extra income.
Other options include signing up for bank bonuses or credit card bonuses.
Honestly, real free money hacks are more likely to be scams. So, beware when searching online.
Money Hacks in the Kitchen
You can save the most money by looking at what you eat.
Typically, people waste over 25% of their grocery budget and throw out food. Would you willingly throw out $250 a month? Probably not.
So, learn how to stretch your money for food.
44. Start meal planning
Meal planning is a money-saving strategy that can help in the long run. It’s also important to eat healthily and reduce food waste when meal planning.
But planning ahead will help save on the grocery budget, and it’s not too late to start now.
Start meal planning by deciding what you want to eat for each day. Then, make a list.
45. Say no to prepackaged foods
Packing your lunch for work or school can be time-consuming, especially if you have a family.
Some people prefer to buy prepackaged foods because they save time, but this is not always the best option.
A better choice is to make your own food at home and pack it for lunch, which you can then eat in peace without worrying about what other people might be saying about the food you packed.
46. Eat at home
Eating at home is a way to save money. It may be uncomfortable for those who do not enjoy cooking as it requires extra effort and time.
Instead of getting food at restaurants, consider cooking your favorite meals at home.
You can save money and time by eating the same meal over and over again.
Learn about the frugal home must haves.
47. Grow your own herbs and food
The most common methods of gardening include container gardening, hydroponics, and both indoor and outdoor gardening.
Many people are growing their own herbs and food for the satisfaction of being able to eat something that was grown with their hands.
48. Take your lunch
If you are interested in saving money, consider taking your lunch. This will save you up to $1,000 a year on work lunches and make it easier to meet the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables as well.
“Take your lunch” is an invitation to eat at home. There are many benefits of eating out less often, such as saving money and gaining more control over food choices.
Travel Hacks to Save Money
The following are travel hacks that can help you save money on your next trip.
Some of these hacks include traveling during weekdays, using public transportation, staying at hostels and Airbnb instead of hotels, and using a travel credit card.
49. Use foreign websites for lower prices abroad
Foreign websites are websites that have been created by people from other countries, and they sell products in the language of their country. These websites often offer lower prices on products than what is offered in the United States.
If you’re traveling abroad and need to find a place to stay, there are plenty of websites that can help. A few websites have deals on places where travelers often stay while they travel internationally.
50. Stay for free or get paid to house sit abroad
A house sitter is someone who looks after someone’s property for a certain amount of time in exchange for the promise of payment.
House sitting is typically offered by homeowners to travelers and others who are looking to stay in a particular location for an extended period of time.
The main types of house sitting include:
– full-time house sitters, who are responsible for all aspects of the house and who are typically paid a monthly salary,
– part-time house sitters, who may be responsible for taking care of one or more specific tasks such as gardening or handling the mail
51. Hide your search
To avoid being taken advantage of by airlines, it is best to open a new incognito or private window between searches.
This will make sure that you are not tricked into buying tickets that may be significantly more expensive than they need to be.
Airlines use cookies in your browser to make you believe the prices are going up and up.
Money App Hacks
Money app hacks are ways that people have figured out to make their money work for them in terms of saving and spending. These apps offer different features, such as budgeting, tracking your spending, and saving money.
If you want a simple way to save money, then any of these money apps are designed to find excessive spending.
52. Billshark
This is a legitimate way to save money on monthly bills. Billshark offers you the opportunity to save up to 25% each month (when compared with regular bill payments).
All of this can be done for you by BillShark team, and there are no fees involved!
Try Billshark for free!
53. Trim
Review your spending habits to find what you can cut out, like subscriptions.
Find other ways to save by looking for ways to reduce costly bank fees or getting a discount on your cell phone plan. By using Trim, you are saving money and improving your financial health.
Sign up with Trim now.
54. Truebill
Truebill can help you to track your spending, save money and get a clear picture of your financial life.
This helps you identify services that you are no longer using but continue to pay for. It will help save money by automatically negotiating prices with your service providers and receiving a refund of the money going to waste, which is free money.
Get started with Truebill.
Which Life Money Hacks Can You Start?
This is a lot to take in, but don’t worry.
Take the time to read through each suggestion and consider how you can implement it into your life.
The more hacks you try out, the closer you’ll get to a healthy financial mindset.
These are the life hacks to save money I have found to work for me and my family in order to reset our financial mindsets and grow our net worth.
Everyone will find their niche and what will work best for them.
Personally, you need to figure out how do I make more money. That will make the biggest impact the fastest.
What have you done with your money lately?
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Inside: Looking for fun things to do with friends? Look no further! This guide has 101 fun activities for you and your friends to enjoy. From painting parties to bowling nights, there’s something for everyone.
Do you ever feel like you’re in a rut, doing the same things with your friends all the time?
If you’re looking for some new ideas for fun things to do with friends, look no further!
We’ve compiled a list of fun activities for friends to do so you can find something that fits your mood.
Whether you want to get active and try something new, or stay in and relax together, we’ve got you covered.
So round up your besties and get ready for some fun!
Why spending time with friends is important
Spending time with friends is an essential aspect of human life. It provides us with an opportunity to bond, socialize, and create lasting memories.
The benefits of spending time with friends are numerous, and they range from improving our social skills to reducing stress levels.
By participating in activities that allow us to spend quality time with our friends, we will have better overall mental health.
What should friends do for fun?
There is no one answer to this question, as friends can have different interests and preferences.
However, some fun activities that friends could do together include going to the movies, playing sports, going out to eat, or attending a concert.
That is why we will cover so many various ideas for you and your friends!
The fun things to Do with Friends
We all know the importance of having friends in our lives. They are the people we rely on and confide in. They make us laugh, help us when we’re down, and are always there for us.
If you are wondering what should I do today, then we have you covered.
So, it’s important to have plenty of fun things to do with friends as well.
1. Go on a Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are a popular group activity that can be enjoyed by friends of all ages.
Planning and executing a scavenger hunt with friends can be a fun and engaging way to spend time together.
To get started, choose a location that offers a variety of interesting sights and sounds.
Next, create a list of items to find, such as a red bicycle or a funny sign.
Divide into teams and set a time limit for the hunt.
Use a special hashtag and have each team post a pic every time an item is found.
Nowadays, you can even buy a scavenger hunt kit to make it easier!
2. Play Board Games
>
Board games are a great way for friends to have fun and connect with each other.
Some popular board games include Scrabble, Chess, and Monopoly, but there are many other options to choose from. Card games like poker and blackjack are also great choices. Party games like Charades and Apples to Apples can bring a lot of laughter and enjoyment.
Board games provide an opportunity for friends to engage in friendly competition, improve their strategic thinking and social skills, and have a great time together.
So, gather your friends, choose one of the best-selling board games, and let the fun begin!
3. Explore street food
Exploring street food with friends is an exciting way to satisfy your taste buds while spending quality time with your loved ones. From food trucks to pop-up stands, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Here are three street food examples that are worth finding:
Tacos: Bite into the crispy shell and savor the juicy meat, fresh salsa, and creamy guacamole. Tacos are the perfect combination of flavors and textures that will leave you craving more.
Gyros: Sink your teeth into the warm pita bread and taste the tender slices of meat, crunchy vegetables, and tangy tzatziki sauce. Gyros are a delicious Greek dish that will transport you to the Mediterranean with every bite.
Bao buns: Savor the fluffy steamed bun filled with savory meat, pickled vegetables, and sweet sauce. Bao buns are a popular street food item in Asia that will tantalize your taste buds with their unique flavors and textures.
Exploring street food with friends is an adventure that will take you on a gastronomic journey around the world. You can try new dishes, share your opinions, and bond over your love of food.
The joy of exploring street food with friends lies in discovering hidden gems, trying something new, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
4. Get Messy with a Color Run
Participating in a color run is a unique and exciting way to stay fit while having fun with your friends.
This 5K run involves getting covered in colored powder while running through different stations. It’s a great way to stay active and create some memorable photos with your friends.
Plus, you get to support a good cause since many color runs are organized as charity events.
5. Watch a Movie Marathon
A movie marathon with friends is a fun way to bond and enjoy each other’s company. They provide a fun and relaxing environment to enjoy each other’s company and appreciate great films.
To plan and execute a successful movie marathon, follow these steps:
Choose a theme or movie series: Decide on a theme or movie series that everyone will enjoy. This could be a specific genre, actor, or movie franchise like “Harry Potter” or “Star Wars.” Or just pick a variety of old classics and new favorites.
Prepare snacks and refreshments: Popcorn, pizza, and soda are classic movie snacks, but feel free to get creative with your choices. You could even have a potluck and have everyone bring their favorite snack to share.
Arrange the viewing space: Make sure the viewing space is comfortable and has enough seating for everyone. Consider using blankets and pillows to create a cozy atmosphere.
So, grab some popcorn and gather your friends for a movie marathon that you’ll never forget!
The best movies can be found on Paramount Plus!
6. See What Festivals Are in Town
Attending festivals with friends can be a fun and unique activity to break up your routine. There are many different types of festivals to choose from, including food, music, art, and film festivals.
Additionally, there are usually free local events like food festivals, music festivals, farmers’ markets, and intercultural events.
Planning ahead and checking the festival schedule is important to ensure that all friends can attend. So why not gather your friends and try attending a festival together?
7. Hike
Hiking is a fantastic way to stay active and enjoy the great outdoors with friends.
Not only does it provide a great workout, but it also offers the opportunity to bond with your crew while surrounded by natural beauty.
You can even plan on these fantastic hiking trails for beginners or more experienced hikers:
In California, Big Basin Redwoods State Park offers a variety of trails ranging from easy to challenging, with the highlight being the 11-mile Skyline to the Sea Trail.
In Colorado, the Mount Falcon Park Trail offers stunning views of the Rocky Mountains and is a moderate 3.6-mile hike.
For those on the East Coast, the Franconia Ridge Trail in New Hampshire is a challenging yet rewarding 8.9-mile hike with breathtaking views of the White Mountains.
Remember to dress appropriately for the weather and terrain, wear sturdy hiking boots, carry plenty of water, and pack snacks to keep your energy levels up.
8. Go for a short road trip
Planning a road trip with friends can be a bonding experience, from working together on a collaborative Spotify playlist or burning some old-fashioned mixtapes to listen to on the road to stocking up on snacks and booking an Airbnb.
Going for a short road trip with friends is an excellent way to take a break from the daily grind and explore new places. It is also a reason to escape life’s hustles and bustles.
A spontaneous road trip might turn out to be a trip to remember as you explore unknown routes, stop at scenic spots, and try the local cuisine.
9. Host a Vision Board Party
A vision board is a visual representation of your goals and aspirations for the future.
Making a dream board with friends can be a fun and inspiring activity that promotes deeper social connections while helping you achieve your dreams.
It’s a crafting and manifesting activity that can help you visualize your dreams and work towards them with the support of your friends.
Learn how to host a successful vision board party.
10. Make Smoothies Together
Making smoothies with friends is a fun and healthy activity that promotes bonding and trying out new recipes.
You will need fresh or frozen fruits, such as bananas, strawberries, or blueberries, a liquid base like almond milk or coconut water, and optional add-ins like spinach, chia seeds, or protein powder to make smoothies.
Personally, I have found the Vitamix to blend the perfect smoothie!
11. Have a Karaoke Night
Karaoke is a great way to build confidence and create lasting memories with friends, so don’t be afraid to let loose and have a good time!
To host a successful karaoke night, start by choosing a venue such as a karaoke bar or setting up a karaoke machine at home.
Provide drinks and snacks to keep energy levels high and make sure to take plenty of photos and videos to capture the fun.
12. Have a Potluck Dinner
Having a potluck dinner with friends is a fun and affordable way to spend time together while enjoying delicious food.
To organize a successful potluck, consider the following tips:
Set a date and theme: Choose a date that works for everyone and select a theme to make the potluck more exciting. Some ideas for themes include Italian food, comfort food, or secret family recipes.
Assign dishes: Encourage everyone to bring a dish to share, and assign specific types of dishes to avoid duplicates. For example, one person can bring an appetizer, another a main course, and another a dessert.
Communicate and coordinate: Make sure everyone knows what they’re bringing and communicate any dietary restrictions or allergies. Coordinate with each other to ensure a good variety of dishes and avoid too many of the same thing.
A potluck is a great way to try new foods and bond over shared experiences. It’s also a money-saver and takes the pressure off one single host.
13. Skateboard/Roller-skate
Skateboarding and roller-skating are not only fun but also great ways to build friendships and community.
There are numerous activities that can be done while skateboarding or roller-skating with friends like:
Trying out tricks and stunts with friends can be a great way to learn and improve your skills.
Racing with friends can add an element of competition and excitement to the activity.
Obstacle courses can also be set up to test your agility and coordination.
Freestyle sessions can allow for creativity and self-expression.
Doing these activities with friends can provide support, encouragement, and a sense of camaraderie.
14. Have a DIY spa day
Spa days with friends are a fantastic way to bond, relax and practice self-care. It offers a break from the stress of daily life and provides opportunities for quality time together.
Moreover, hosting a spa day at home is a more affordable alternative to going to an actual spa.
You can confer with your BFF and figure out what kind of spa treatments both of you are in the mood for. For example, you can apply face masks, give each other manicures, or soak your feet in bath salts.
If you have the funds, you could even book a couple of treatments at a real spa and make it a real spa day! Regardless of where you have it, having a spa day with friends is an excellent way to relax, rejuvenate, and bond with friends.
15. Have a Craft Night
You don’t have to be crafty to enjoy craft night!
To have a successful craft night, start by choosing a craft that everyone is interested in and gather all the necessary supplies. A few craft ideas that are perfect for a craft night include making jewelry, painting, scrapbooking, or even DIY home decor.
Once you have everything set up, encourage everyone to let their creativity flow and enjoy the process of making something together.
Make sure to create a comfortable atmosphere by providing plenty of space to work and snacks to munch on.
16. Blow Bubbles
Roll by the time calendar and remember how much fun blowing bubbles was!
Blowing bubbles is a great way to spend a lazy afternoon or unwind after a long day.
You can go with the classic way of blowing bubbles or look into a bubble machine!
So, grab some bubble solution and wands and get ready for a fun and bubbly time with your friends!
17. Have a Water Balloon Fight
Water balloon fights are a fun activity to indulge in during the scorching heat of summer.
To make the water balloon fight even more enjoyable, you can incorporate team play or set up a tournament bracket. This will add a competitive element to the game and make it more exciting.
Regardless, having a water balloon fight with friends is a great way to beat the heat and have fun.
18. Plant a Garden
Gardening with friends is a rewarding activity that allows you to connect with nature and each other.
Plus it can also provide a sense of accomplishment and a source of fresh produce.
You can choose to plant a garden in someone’s backyard or join a local CSA.
Also, this is a continuous way to get together!
19. Spend Time in Nature
Spending time in nature with friends is a great way to relax, recharge and create lasting memories.
There are a variety of activities that friends can engage in while spending time in nature such as hiking, camping, picnicking, rock climbing, paddleboarding, and gardening.
Personally, know that spending time in nature with friends can be a refreshing and rewarding experience that allows friends to bond and enjoy the great outdoors together.
20. Sign up for a Recreational Sport
Signing up for a recreational sport is a great way to spend time with friends while staying active. There are many sports that are suitable for recreational leagues and can be played with friends, such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, and ultimate frisbee.
Playing team sports has many benefits, including building camaraderie, improving communication, and developing a sense of teamwork.
Costs associated with joining a league can vary, but many leagues have affordable fees.
21. Go Kayaking
Kayaking is a fantastic outdoor activity that is gaining popularity among friends who want to bond and have fun at the same time. It provides a great opportunity to explore new waterways, race each other, play games, fish, and take breaks to swim.
While kayaking, you and your friends can discover new places and enjoy the serenity of nature, which will help you to relax and forget about your daily worries.
Also, you have to work on your communication with each other while kayaking.
22. Cook Together
Cooking with friends can be a fun and rewarding activity that helps build strong bonds.
This is one of my favorite ways to spend time with friends. You can spend hours and never actually make anything edible and it doesn’t matter! Or you can create something absolutely delicious!
23. Join a Club
Joining a club with friends is a great way to try new things and meet new people.
There are many different types of clubs to choose from, including:
Book clubs
Hiking clubs
Cooking clubs
Bunco groups, and more.
Joining a club with friends not only provides an opportunity for shared experiences and new adventures but can also strengthen relationships by creating a common interest. Plus you meet on a regular schedule for spending time together.
24. Have a Painting Party
Painting artwork with friends can be a fun and fulfilling activity. Even better, plan to host a painting party with friends!
You hire someone with experience to help you out or you can watch a video on YouTube.
The best part is being able to exchange ideas and inspiration with each other to spark creativity!
25. Play Laser Tag
Playing laser tag with friends is a thrilling and exciting activity that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping.
This is always a must-do for most teens!
Playing laser tag with friends not only provides a fun and memorable experience, but it also helps build teamwork skills, promotes physical activity, and fosters friendly competition.
26. Go Birdwatching
Birdwatching is a relaxing and enjoyable activity that can be done with friends to appreciate the beauty of nature and learn about different bird species.
All you need to go birdwatching with friends is a simple guide to birds in your area, a pair of binoculars, bird seed, and a park or garden.
Birdwatching can enhance the bond between friends as they learn to identify different bird species and discover a new hobby together. It is a great opportunity to explore new trails, take pictures, and enjoy the scenic location.
27. Have a Marshmallow Fight
Marshmallow fights with friends are a fun and exciting activity that can help you forget your worries and bond with your friends.
You need a good laugh, right? This is exactly what you should participate in.
It’s a great way to relieve stress and enjoy some friendly competition with your friends.
So, grab some marshmallows, find a safe spot, and get ready for an unforgettable marshmallow fight with your friends!
Make sure to grab this indoor s’more kit!
28. Do Yoga
Yoga is a great way to improve flexibility, reduce stress, and promote overall well-being. Doing yoga in a class with friends or in a park can make the experience even more enjoyable and motivating.
Attending a yoga class with friends can be a fun and social way to exercise. You can encourage each other to push yourselves further and hold each other accountable for attendance. Additionally, practicing yoga in a group setting can help to create a sense of community and support, which can be beneficial for mental health.
Alternatively, practicing yoga in a park can be a great way to connect with nature and enjoy the fresh air and sunlight. You can bring your own mat or towel and find a quiet spot to practice. Practicing yoga outdoors can be a refreshing change of pace from the usual indoor studio setting.
29. Plan a Trip
Planning a trip with friends can be an exciting and bonding experience. It provides an opportunity to create unforgettable memories and explore new places with your closest friends.
However, it can also be expensive, so use this 100 envelope challenge to save for the trip.
Another way to save money is to be flexible with your travel dates.
Research your destination, create a budget, and be flexible with your travel dates to save money. With some dedication and effort, you and your friends can have the trip of a lifetime. Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination.
30. Explore a New Town
Exploring a new town with friends is an adventure that offers new opportunities to learn more about each other’s interests and create lasting memories. It allows you to discover new places, try local cuisine, and learn about the history and culture of the area.
When exploring a new town with friends, you can visit local landmarks such as museums, botanical gardens, and historical sites. You can also attend local events such as festivals, concerts, and fairs.
Don’t forget to try the local cuisine at restaurants and cafes.
31. Paint Pottery
Pottery painting is a popular activity to do with friends that allows you to unleash your creativity.
Thankfully, you can go to a business that provides all of the necessary supplies or you can purchase online.
Painting pottery can also be a relaxing and therapeutic activity that helps to reduce stress and anxiety.
32. Try a New Food
Let’s be honest… If it wasn’t for good friends, you may be missing out on different types of foods and cuisines.
Trying new foods with friends is an excellent way to break up your eating routine and have some fun while discovering new flavors.
So step out of your comfort zone and try something new – you never know what delicious dishes you might discover!
33. Visit a Farmer’s Market
Visiting a farmer’s market with friends is a fun and exciting way to spend a day outdoors. Not only does it support local businesses, but it also provides an opportunity to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables.
Did you know the Palisade Farmer’s Market is one of the best in the country? I can attest to that; it was wonderful, especially during peach season.
There are many activities to enjoy at a farmer’s market with friends, here are my favorites:
Shopping for fresh produce: One of the main reasons to visit the farmer’s market is to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables. You can compare prices, sample different varieties, and even learn new recipes from the vendors.
Trying free samples: Many vendors offer free samples of their products, from homemade jams to artisanal cheeses. This is a great way to taste new flavors and support local businesses.
Exploring local crafts: Along with food, many farmer’s markets also feature handmade crafts and artisanal products. You can browse jewelry, pottery, candles, and other unique items.
Eating street food: If you’re hungry, there are often food trucks and stalls selling everything from tacos to crepes. You can grab a bite to eat and enjoy it at one of the picnic tables or benches.
So why not gather your friends and head to a farmer’s market? You won’t regret it!
34. Compete with Minute-to-Win-It Games
This one is popular! Competing with Minute-to-Win-It games is a fun and easy way to spend time with friends while challenging each other’s skills.
To get started, gather a few household items and set a timer for one minute.
These games are not only a great way to have fun with friends, but they also improve hand-eye coordination and quick-thinking skills.
Plus this is a low-cost and entertaining way to bond with friends. Give them a try and see who comes out on top!
35. Host a DIY Escape Room
If you are looking for a cost-effective way to enjoy an escape room challenge with friends, setting up your own escape room at home is a great idea.
You can find free missions at Escape Team, and additional missions only cost a few dollars each.
Hosting a DIY escape room for your friends is an excellent way to challenge their problem-solving and teamwork skills in a fun and engaging way.
36. Join a Flash Mob
Joining a flash mob can be an exciting and memorable thing to do with your friends. Flash mobs are spontaneous gatherings of people who come together to perform a predetermined action, often in a public place.
Typically, flash mobs can range from dance performances to singing events and can involve people of all ages and backgrounds.
Participating in a flash mob can be a unique and fun experience that you and your friends can cross off your bucket list.
You can find local flash mob announcements by searching on Google or checking out websites that list flash mobs in your area.
37. Create a Time Capsule
Creating a time capsule with friends is an exciting and unique way to capture memories and special moments together. It allows you to reminisce about the past and look forward to opening the capsule in the future.
To create a time capsule, start by finding a sturdy waterproof container.
Next, gather items that are important to each of you, such as letters to your future self, photos, ticket stubs, and other mementos.
Add these items to the capsule and bury the capsule in a safe place, such as a backyard or a park.
Make a pact to open it up in a few years, say five or ten years or twenty years.
Cherishing memories with friends is important, and creating a time capsule is a fun and meaningful way to do just that.
38. Head to the Beach
Visiting the beach with friends is a great way to spend quality time together while enjoying the beauty of nature. There are many activities you can do with your friends at the beach, such as lounging under an umbrella, playing beach volleyball, building sandcastles, or having a picnic.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can go surfing, snorkeling, or take a walk along the shore. The possibilities are endless, and the memories you create with your friends will last a lifetime.
Whether you want to relax and unwind or have an action-packed day, the beach offers something for everyone.
39. Try an Art Class
Trying an art class with friends is a fun and fulfilling way to explore your creative side.
There are many places you can try painting or pottery! by going with a friend, it cuts out the scary risk of doing a creative project alone.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to create something beautiful with your friends! This is a great experience gift idea, too!
40. Go Bowling
Bowling is a fun and engaging activity to do with friends.
Not only is it a great way to get some exercise, but it also offers a variety of fun things to do while playing. From trying trick shots to competing for the highest score, bowling is a great way to bond with friends.
Bowling is a fun and engaging activity that everyone can enjoy, regardless of their skill level.
41. Use Guest Passes
Typically, when you belong to a gym, museum, or any other membership-based activity. They will offer free guest passes.
This is a great way to hang out with your friends while enjoying a new activity. Or showing your friend one of your hobbies.
42. Go Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is a winter activity that involves walking on snow with specialized footwear. It is a fun and unique way to explore the outdoors with friends while enjoying the beauty of nature.
There are many snowshoeing trails and locations that friends can explore together.
Snowshoeing provides an opportunity to get exercise, enjoy the peacefulness of nature, and bond with friends.
43. Get Creative With Sidewalk Chalk
Regardless of age, sidewalk chalk is a fun activity to do with friends that can ignite your creativity and bring out your inner artist.
There are a variety of ways to get creative with sidewalk chalk.
You can draw a hopscotch board and challenge each other to see who can jump the longest.
Create a masterpiece by working together on a huge drawing and experimenting with different styles and themes.
Play a game of tic-tac-toe and enjoy some friendly competition.
You can even use sidewalk chalk to write positive messages or quotes to inspire each other.
Spending quality time with friends is important, and simple activities like using sidewalk chalk can create lasting memories.
44. Have a Cocktail Party
Overall, the goal of a cocktail party with friends is to have fun and create shared experiences that will be remembered for years to come.
The best cocktail parties are based on a theme that will set the tone for the evening. Then, select a variety of easy-to-make and crowd-pleasing cocktails that will impress your guests.
Dress up smartly, put on some music, and decorate your space to match the theme. Provide snacks such as finger foods, cheese platters, and charcuterie boards to accompany the drinks.
During the party, encourage guests to mingle and try each other’s cocktails, while sharing conversation and laughter.
45. Go to a Drive-in Movie
Drive-in movies are a unique and fun experience that makes for a great activity to do with friends.
However, drive-in movie theaters are harder and harder to find. So, you may have to plan ahead for a local showing.
Once you arrive, park your car and settle in for the movie, chatting and joking around with your friends as you watch.
46. Meditate
Meditating with friends can be a powerful way to connect and improve your mental and emotional well-being.
To get started, find a quiet spot in nature, set up a blanket, and close your eyes. Take in the natural sounds as you sit in silence together.
Alternatively, you can attend a group meditation or breathwork session or hold a moon circle.
The benefits of meditating with friends include reducing stress and anxiety, improving focus and concentration, and deepening your connection with others.
47. Have an Insta Photoshoot
One of the best things about having a photoshoot with friends is that it offers you the opportunity to create memories together.
You can make funny faces, strike silly poses, and capture the moment in a photograph. You can also dress up in costumes and enact your favorite movie scenes together, which is bound to create some beautiful memories.
Whether you are looking to be goofy or play model, a photoshoot is an excellent way to express yourself and have some fun. You don’t necessarily have to photograph people either! You can experiment with still-life photography, food photoshoots, or even take pictures of landscapes.
P.S. You will always see teens taking photoshoots around town.
48. Play charades or Pictionary
Playing charades or Pictionary with friends is indeed a fun way to build excitement and laughter within the group while also improving communication skills and teamwork.
These guessing games are perfect for group activities and can elicit lots of shouting and laughter as people try to guess the correct word or movie.
You can even form teams and start a tournament to make it more interesting. Alternatively, card games such as poker, blackjack, spoons, and rummy are also fun and cost nothing to play if you already have a deck of cards.
All of these games can help improve your strategic thinking and social skills while having a great time with friends.
49. Make videos together
Indeed, making videos with friends can be a fun and exciting activity that creates lasting memories. There are many different types of videos that can be made with friends, such as music videos, vlogs, or short films.
The research suggests that enacting favorite movie scenes with friends can uplift the atmosphere as well. Dressing the part, rehearsing together, and video shooting the entire set can create fun moments that are bound to create some beautiful memories.
Making videos with friends can strengthen friendships and develop new skills such as video production and editing. The key is to have fun with your best friends and enjoy the time spent together.
50. Start a Band
If you and your friends have instruments, getting together and making music can be a fantastic way to bond and express yourselves while also encouraging collaboration and teamwork.
Creating music together is an excellent opportunity to learn new skills and experiment with different musical styles.
Plus, it helps create unforgettable memories and offers new opportunities to learn.
51. Create a Photo Album
In our digital age, putting together a photo album is another fabulous activity that you can do with friends.
Asking each friend to contribute a few photos and putting them in a friendship photo album is an excellent way to keep your memories close and spend an afternoon with your best friends.
Plus you are creating something you can enjoy for years to come!
52. Have a pillow fight
Having a pillow fight with friends can be a hilarious bonding experience that will make you forget all your worries.
To get started, find a spacious room or outdoor area where you can safely swing your pillows without breaking anything. Before starting the fight, agree on some basic rules to ensure everyone’s safety, such as no hitting in the face or aiming for sensitive areas.
Once you’re ready, grab your pillow and let the feathers fly! Don’t forget to laugh, scream, and dodge as you try to land a hit on your friends.
53. Attend park concerts
Attending park concerts is one of the best fun things to do with friends.
Not only are they affordable or free of charge, but they also offer a great opportunity to relax and unwind with friends.
This is something to enjoy after long work weeks!
54. Start a Business
Starting a business with friends can be a great way to combine your passions and skills while also earning extra income.
However, before jumping into any business venture with friends, it’s important to consider the potential risks and challenges. It’s crucial to have a clear agreement and plan in place to avoid conflicts and misunderstandings in the future.
Another option is to research side hustles as a great way to earn extra income. There are numerous side hustle ideas that can be done with friends such as dog walking, pet sitting, house cleaning, and tutoring.
Learning how to make money online for beginners is a hot topic.
55. Play Tourist in Your Own Town
Playing tourist in your own town can be a great way to spend time with friends while discovering new sights and experiences. There’s no need to travel far when there are plenty of activities to do in your hometown.
To start, visit local landmarks such as museums, historical sites, or city parks. These places offer a glimpse into the history and culture of your town.
Try out new restaurants and cafes that you haven’t been to before. It’s a great opportunity to sample local cuisine and support small businesses.
Attending local events such as concerts, festivals, or farmer’s markets can also be a fun way to experience your town.
Exploring the outdoors by taking a hike, bike ride, or even a picnic in a nearby park can be a refreshing change of pace.
Playing tourist in your own town not only allows you to discover new places but also strengthens friendships by creating shared memories and experiences.
56. Play games via video call
Playing games with friends remotely is indeed a great way to stay connected despite the distance.
There are various options available for playing games online with friends, such as board games, card games, and online games like Fortnite or Minecraft. Additionally, apps like Words with Friends or Yahtzee with Buddies can also be used to play games with friends remotely.
If you prefer non-digital games, you could play games like “Would You Rather?” or “Truth or Dare?” on a video call.
Playing games with friends online is an excellent way to spend time together and maintain a strong connection, even when you can’t be together physically.
57. Go to a bonfire
Going to a bonfire with friends is a fun and memorable activity that allows for bonding through storytelling, laughter, and shared experiences. Honestly, I forgot how fun a bonfire was until I went last weekend!
A bonfire is an outdoor gathering around a fire, typically held on a crisp fall evening.
With the hot temperatures and risk of fires, I would plan to attend a bonfire put on by an organization with fire trucks readily available.
Ensure there are snacks and drinks, and follow safety precautions. Overall, a bonfire with friends is a great way to escape the monotony of life and create lasting memories.
58. Bake something delicious together
Baking with friends is indeed a fun and exciting activity that can bring people closer together. It provides an opportunity to bond and share a sweet treat afterward.
One can choose a recipe they would like to try, whether it’s an old standby or something brand new. A cake, a sweet fruit pie, or a few batches of favorite cookies are some of the options that one can bake and decorate.
Alternatively, holding a friendly bake-off is a good way to bond competitively with friends.
So, next time you’re looking for something fun to do with your friends, why not try baking together?
59. Go camping together
Camping with friends is an excellent way to bond and enjoy the outdoors while disconnecting from technology. It is a cheap and fun hobby that offers numerous benefits, including strengthening friendships.
Whether you choose to camp in a nearby park or your backyard, sharing stories around a campfire, cooking meals together, and exploring nature can be a healthy move for everyone to unwind.
Camping provides an opportunity to enjoy the serenity of nature away from the disruptions of city life. You can hitch a tent, make a bonfire, roast some marshmallows, and play games, which is sure to be an adventure away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
It is important to plan ahead, bring necessary supplies, and follow safety precautions to ensure a fun and safe camping experience.
60. Go Geocaching
One of our personal favorite activities.
Geocaching is a fun and exciting activity that involves using GPS to find hidden containers or “caches” outdoors. It’s like a real-life treasure hunt that can be enjoyed with friends.
To get started, one can download the official Geocaching app for free.
Geocaching can be a great way to explore new places in your local area with friends while having fun. With GPS coordinates, you can search for hidden treasures that are waiting to be discovered.
61. Go to A Local Coffee Shop
Going to a local coffee shop is a great way to spend quality time with friends. Aside from being a cliche, it is an easy thing to do and offers a comfortable environment to catch up with your friends.
You can order your favorite beverage and indulge in a little slice of cake while chatting about everything you have missed since you last spoke.
A coffee shop offers a cozy and relaxed atmosphere, which makes it a perfect spot to hang out with friends.
Going to a local coffee shop also supports small businesses in your community. It is also a great way to discover new cafes and coffee shops in your area, which can become your new favorite hangout spot.
62. Volunteer
Volunteering with friends is a great way to give back to the community while having fun with your pals.
There are various ways friends can volunteer together, such as helping out at a local animal shelter, sprucing up city landscaping, or serving meals at a soup kitchen.
Volunteering with friends strengthens relationships, gives back to the community, and is a fun way to do good.
These are the best ways to capture your bucket list and find ideas!
FAQ
There are a number of things you can do right now with friends. You can go for coffee, take a walk, or visit a museum. You could also consider doing something more active, such as going for a run or playing a sport.
Whatever you choose to do, make sure you enjoy it and spend time with your friends.
The important thing is to find something that you both enjoy so that you can have fun together.
You can watch a movie, play video games, go for a walk, listen to music, or even just sit and talk.
What Fun Places to Go with Friends Will You Choose?
These unique activities are just a few examples of the many fun things you can do with your friends.
Don’t be afraid to try something new and get creative! Who knows, you might just discover a new favorite activity.
A little short on cash? Don’t worry… here are 101 things to do with no money.
So, gather your friends and start planning your next adventure together.
And if you have any unique ideas of your own, be sure to share them in the comments below!
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!