A pleasant-smelling home can instantly create a sense of warmth, comfort, and tranquility. However, achieving this without resorting to harsh chemicals can sometimes be a challenge. This expert guide will explore natural methods to infuse your living space with delightful aromas, ensuring a healthy and inviting environment. Whether you’re moving into a new home in Dallas, looking to refresh your current apartment in Fort Worth, or simply searching for a healthier indoor environment, these strategies from ApartmentGuide and experts we interviewed can make a significant difference. From simple household remedies to elegant DIY projects, discover how to make your home smell good naturally by using natural scents to transform your home.
1. Hang eucalyptus plants in your shower
Daniel Zevallos with the Maryland-based company Clean Home Theory shares, “One of his favorite ways to create a cozy and heavenly atmosphere at home is by incorporating eucalyptus plants. A practical and inexpensive idea is to hang eucalyptus plants in your shower; the steam will activate their lovely scent, transforming your bathroom into a relaxing spa atmosphere. Clean Home Theory is such a fan of this versatile plant that they are currently developing their first candle line, including a refreshing white eucalyptus scent that will infuse any room with a cool, crisp, and elevated aroma, thanks to its natural oils.
2. Tailored fragrances for each room
Karen with Essencional recommends, “Rather than using the same scent throughout your apartment or home, it’s much more inviting to use different fragrances in different rooms. For example, the clean and earthy smell of fig hand soap works well in the kitchen, while a reed diffuser such as AquaFlor’s Ambra Home fragrance will create a warm and cozy mood in the bedroom.” Karen also recommends “candles to enhance the ambiance of your living room, and the gentle light is conducive to spending a quiet evening at home. Try a sandalwood or leathery scent such as Diptyque’s Cuir for a clubby feel.”
3. Keep your home odor-free
Sharon Perfumes suggestion if you want to keep your home fresh and odor-free, you should focus on two strategies: “preventing bad smells from building up and adding your favorite scents. Deal with odor sources by washing linens, curtains, and rugs regularly, and keep your kitchen smelling good by cleaning spills quickly and using airtight containers for food.
Sharon also adds that “It’s equally important to introduce pleasant scents into your home. She shares that to create an inviting atmosphere to use vanilla and sandalwood candles, perfect for relaxing after a long day. Lastly, a fresh bouquet of roses or gardenias can naturally and gently perfume any space, making it feel brighter and more inviting.”
4. Sweet U Candles
Sweet U Candles believes that a welcoming home is more than just a physical space; it’s a sanctuary where you can relax and recharge. That’s why their go-to candle for creating a serene atmosphere is sage lavender. The earthy, grounding notes of sage blend harmoniously with the calming, soothing scent of lavender, creating an oasis of tranquility. This comforting fragrance is perfect for unwinding after a long day, helping you to let go of stress and find inner peace.
Photo courtesy of Sweet U Candles
5. Confessions of a Cleaning Lady
Sara San Angelo founder of Confessions of a Cleaning Lady shares that she “believes in the physical and emotional benefits of having live plants in your home. Not only do they clean the air, but studies have shown that being around plants can lower stress levels and promote relaxation. And caring for them, like watering and pruning provides a calming ritual that reduces anxiety.”
So, when looking for how to make your home smell good naturally, Sara looks to plants. She recommends plants like jasmine, eucalyptus, or gardenias, which can make a house smell fresh and pleasant. Plant fresh herbs like rosemary, mint, and basil in pots around your home. “Not only will this make your home smell wonderful, but you can use them to cook and make your home smell even better!”
6. Plant Swag Shop
Plant Swag Shop shares “One of our go-tosfor how to make your home smell good is placing a jasmine sambac plant in a central location in your home. This beautiful plant releases a sweet, calming fragrance that naturally freshens the air and creates a serene atmosphere. It’s an effortless way to enhance your living space with a touch of nature.”
7. Kate Hill Flowers
To naturally freshen your home, Kate Hill Flowers recommends filling it with timelessly fragrant flowers like garden roses, freesias, or oriental lilies. They also share, “For a touch of Australian nature, eucalyptus or flowering gum foliage works beautifully, and looks as good as it smells when creatively displayed in a modern setting.” Kate Hill Flowers loves “enhancing the ambiance of my home with a floral-scented candle. Not to mention the luxury that can be brought to any room with a light spray of natural scent, such as lavender oil, on clean bed linen or a cozy throw.”
Photo courtesy of Kate Hill Flowers
8. Essential Oil Parlour
Melissa Johnson with Essential Oil Parlour suggests adding an essential oil diffuser to the main room or bedroom of your home for an instant, lasting aromatic atmosphere. Do this by creating a diffusing station in just a few easy steps. Keep a container of water plus two or three blends of essential oil like Adaptiv, Balance, or Serenity by doterra at the station. Visiting your diffuser station as one of the first things you do in the morning not only makes your house smell good naturally, but it is also an accessible daily wellness habit.
Ella with Bread and Weather shares this, “Avoid the harmful ingredients and overpowering scents in mass-produced candles by choosing one made with all-natural ingredients.Their essential oil candles are blended and poured in Co. Wicklow, Ireland from natural, aromatherapy ingredients. Seven oil blends inspired by tranquil surroundings will fill your home with luxurious natural scent for hours and hours.”
Photo courtesy of Bread and Weather
Ella also shares to “place a bar of naturally scented handmade soap in your wardrobe. This old-fashioned housekeeping tip has been known by grandmas for generations and is still a winner. Handmade soaps are scented with all-natural, therapeutic essential oils. They will gently scent your clothes as well as naturally deter any little critters who may be attracted to your cashmere sweaters. Helpful tip: A peppermint lemongrass blend is especially good for keeping spiders away.”
10.Fresh air and a clear conscience: GinaBritt Candles
Indulge in the delightful aromas of GinaBritt Candles while supporting a noble cause. These thoughtfully crafted candles not only fill your home with pleasant scents but also contribute to helping animals in need. Experience the perfect blend of fragrance and philanthropy with GinaBritt Candles.
11. Fragrant flowers with Lora Bloom
Lora Bloom shares her best-kept secret to buying fragrant flowers is to buy local. “Most mass-produced flowers are grown for vase life more so than fragrance. Find your nearest farmer’s market or flower shop that sources locally grown blooms, and you’ll be shocked at how fragrant flowers can be! Depending on the season, lavender, freesia, garden roses, sweet peas, stock, eucalyptus, and much more will be available! Even plants like geranium, mint, and rosemary create beautiful and welcoming fragrances in the home!”
Photo courtesy of Missy Palacol Photography.
12. Sweet aroma with Sadie Sunshine
Sadie Nelson, lead floral designer with Sadie Sunshine Floristry, shares this helpful tip of placing freshly cut garden roses in vases throughout your space, as their delicate and fragrant petals release a subtle, sweet aroma. Enhance the scent by drying a few rose petals and using them in homemade potpourri or sachets.
13. A simple stovetop method: Inspire Clean
Inspire Clean shares this helpful and creative tip for how to make your home smell good –by simmering a pot of natural ingredients on the stove. A mix of citrus slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme can fill your home with a warm, inviting scent. Simply add these ingredients to a pot of water, bring it to a simmer, and let the fragrant steam waft through your space. It’s a simple, yet effective way to create a cozy and pleasant atmosphere.
14.Scent-sational cleaning with Scents Gift
Scents Gift shares, “To cultivate a naturally fresh aroma in your room, incorporate essential oils into your cleaning routine by adding a few drops to water for mopping or wiping surfaces. Place air-purifying plants like lavender or eucalyptus around the space. Ensure proper ventilation by frequently opening windows, and keep the room clean for a lasting, pleasant scent.”
15. Cork & Candles: DIY fragrance fun
Kenny Straub of Cork & Candles suggests the fun of creating your own custom fragrance through candle making, bringing a unique and delightful scent to your home.”Candle-making is the perfect way to fill your home with a wonderful aroma! As you pour the melted wax into your container and stir it with the fragrance oil, you will enjoy the aroma that fills the air.
By making a candle yourself, you get to enjoy the aroma both when you make the candle and later when you light it. For anyone who wants to enjoy candle making, but who doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of buying supplies, testing recipes, or cleaning up, Cork and Candles can be a great alternative. Cork and Candles offers a BYOB candle-making experience in their luxurious space that allows guests to enjoy the art of candle-making while connecting with friends!”
16. Potpourri: The Blu Blazer Guy
The Blu Blazer Guy says, “The perfect product to use to naturally make my home smell wonderful is the potpourri from the Italian brand Santa Maria Novella. Made from leaves, roots, blossoms, and buds that grow in the Tuscan hills, it fills the air with a sophisticated blend of spicy, woody, and balsamic notes that are utterly addictive. It’s perfect for the upcoming autumn season, lacing the home with its comforting and rich aromas.”
17.How to make your home smell good: Lasting aroma with Aroma Energy
Aroma Energy’s suggestion is “to make your home smell wonderful, add a few drops of Aroma Energy’s fragrance or essential oils, like lavender, fresh linen, anxiety blend or vanilla & coconut, to a diffuser or oil burner, allowing the scent to gently disperse throughout the space. For a more lasting aroma, mix the oils with water in a spray bottle to refresh fabrics or lightly mist the air.”
18. Ever Clean House
Ever Clean House says to “Regularly clean your apartment to prevent odors from developing. Use eco-friendly cleaning products to maintain a fresh environment.
Another great way is to use essential oils in a diffuser, which is a popular and eco-friendly way to keep your apartment smelling fresh.”
19. Beauty and benefits: My Little Flower Shop
My Little Flower Shop’s favorite way to make a home smell heavenly is to place small bouquets of fresh lavender and rosemary throughout the house. Not only do they provide a soothing, herbal fragrance, but they also add a lovely visual touch to any room. For a longer-lasting scent, I often keep these bouquets on display.
A lasting impression: How to make your home smell good naturally
By incorporating these natural methods into your daily routine, you can effortlessly transform your home into a fragrant oasis. Not only will you enjoy the pleasant aromas, but you’ll also contribute to a healthier and more inviting living space. Remember, a delightful-smelling home is not just a luxury; it’s a simple and effective way to enhance your overall well-being.
I started making extra money and side hustling around 15 years ago, and since then I have done over 20 different side hustles. I started so that I could stop living paycheck to paycheck, and so that I could pay off my student loans quickly (I ended up paying off $40,000 in student loans in…
I started making extra money and side hustling around 15 years ago, and since then I have done over 20 different side hustles.
I started so that I could stop living paycheck to paycheck, and so that I could pay off my student loans quickly (I ended up paying off $40,000 in student loans in just 7 months thanks to side hustling!).
Some were short-lived, while others turned into steady streams of income (and are even my full-time income today). Each side job taught me something valuable about money, time, and effort. I juggled everything from reselling clothes online to being a virtual assistant, mystery shopping, answering online surveys, having roommates, and more.
There isn’t one best way to make extra money; it depends on what you’re good at, what you like, how much time you have, and more.
If you want to start a side job, my experiences can help you decide. I’ll tell you what I learned from each one I tried, so you can see the pros and cons of each.
My Side Hustles Review
Below is my review of the different side hustles I have tried over the years. These are in no particular order.
A picture of me blogging from several years ago 🙂
1. Blogging
Blogging can be a great way to earn money while writing about topics you love. I’ve done it for years and have seen how it can grow from a hobby into a full-time job.
I enjoy blogging for many reasons such as:
It’s flexible – You can blog from anywhere, anytime.
It’s affordable to start – You just need a computer and internet.
It’s a great creative outlet – Share your thoughts and passions with the world. I enjoy blogging and running a website.
While there are a lot of great reasons to start a blog, there are some challenges such as it can be time-consuming and there is no guarantee that you will make money.
When I first started my blog, I was working over 40 hours a week on it and making nothing. It took me 6 months to make my first $100 from it, actually!
But, it was all worth it in the end.
Blogging used to be my side hustle and it is now my full-time job where I have earned over $5,000,000 over the years.
I would definitely say that blogging is my favorite side hustle.
For me, it was a great second job because I could work on my blog before my day job, during lunch, after work, and on weekends. You can make your own schedule, which is a big bonus!
You can learn more about how to begin in my free How To Start a Blog Course here.
2. Paid online surveys
Paid online surveys are a way to make some extra cash when you have spare time. With just a few clicks and some honest answers, you can see money rolling in.
Companies want to know what customers think about their products and services and that is why they pay for surveys. By sharing your opinions, you help them improve and develop better offerings. In turn, they pay you for your time and insights.
You usually can earn anywhere from $0.50 to $5 per survey, depending on the length and how hard the survey is. And, surveys can take anywhere from around 10 minutes to an hour, so they are not high paying.
I’ve taken a lot of surveys over the years, and what I like about them is that you can do them whenever you want – in the morning, during lunch, before bed – whenever it works for you. There’s no strict schedule, and they are really easy to do.
My tips for success:
Sign up for multiple sites: This increases your chances of getting more surveys and making more money.
Complete your profile: Some survey sites match you to surveys based on your profile.
Be honest: Giving truthful answers ensures you stay eligible for more surveys.
Payment methods are typically cash via PayPal, bank transfer, or free gift cards (such as to Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks, and more).
You won’t get rich from these surveys, but it’s a nice way to earn some side cash. I know that some people think that surveys are a waste of time – but I know several people (including myself) who liked doing them because they are so flexible. I think the right mindset to have is that they will definitely not make you rich, and some can take a long(er) time to earn $5.
The survey companies I recommend signing up for include:
American Consumer Opinion
Survey Junkie
Swagbucks
InboxDollars
Branded Surveys
Prime Opinion
Five Surveys
PrizeRebel
Pinecone Research
3. Focus groups and paid research studies
You can make money by participating in focus groups. Companies pay for your opinions to improve their products and services.
This is similar to paid online surveys, but paid research studies and focus groups typically pay more.
User Interviews is a popular site where you can find paid research studies and focus groups.
Big companies like Pinterest, Spotify, Macy’s, Home Depot, Trip Advisor, and Amazon use User Interviews to get feedback on their new products, apps, and websites.
You can make $50 to $100 per hour, or even more, just by sharing your thoughts and feedback.
I did a user interview myself and got paid $400 for just one hour of work. It was easy, and everything was done online through a video call where they asked for my opinion on a new feature for a website.
Please click here to learn more about User Interviews.
Also, if you’re interested in paid medical research studies, then that can be a high-paying option as well. When my husband was younger, he took part in a few medical research studies to help us make extra money. He usually got paid about $1,000 for a week’s worth of time.
4. Dividends
Okay, so this isn’t exactly a side hustle, but it is a way that you can make more money so I wanted to include it here, especially since it’s one of my favorite ways to increase my income.
Dividends are an awesome way to earn passive income. You don’t need to do much work, and the money comes in. Many companies pay dividends to their shareholders regularly.
Here are a few benefits of investing in dividend stocks:
Regular income: You can receive payments quarterly or even monthly.
Low effort: Once you buy the stock, you don’t have to do much else.
A dividend is a portion of a company’s profits given to its eligible shareholders. You can receive dividends in cash, stock, or even options to buy more stock.
If you own shares in a company that pays dividends, you’ll get a dividend for each share you own.
For example, if you have 10 shares in Company XYZ and they pay $5 in cash dividends each year, you’ll get $50 in dividends for the year. Dividends are usually paid out quarterly, which means 4 times a year. So, in the example, the $5 in yearly dividends would likely be paid as $1.25 per quarter for each share you own.
You can learn more at What Are Dividends & How Do They Work? A Beginner’s Guide.
5. Buy and sell flipping
Flipping items is a great side hustle, and this is when you buy items at a low price and sell them for more.
The benefits of buy and sell flipping include:
Flexibility: You can flip items in your free time.
Profitable: Potential to earn anywhere from $50 to $5000 a month.
Fun: The thrill of finding good deals and making a profit.
I have flipped many items for resale over the years, and I even had a small reselling business at one point. It’s a fun way to make extra money.
While flipping items by buying and selling them for profit can be exciting, it has some downsides. One big risk is that you might not always make a profit, especially if the market drops or you overestimate the item’s value. It can also take a lot of time to research products, find good deals, and manage your listings. There’s tough competition too, as many people are trying to flip items, which can lower prices.
You can learn more at How I Made $40,000 In One Year Flipping Items.
6. Sold clothing
Selling used clothing can be a great way to make extra money. You can find clothes to sell in many places: thrift stores, clearance aisles, garage sales, and even your own closet.
For me, I liked to sell clothing on eBay as well as in person to places like Plato’s Closet. There are many more options these days, such as Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace.
Selling used clothes as a side hustle has its ups and downs. On the plus side, it has low start-up costs because you can start with clothes you already own, and it’s eco-friendly, supporting sustainable fashion. You also get to work on your own schedule, and there’s a high demand for secondhand clothes, especially trendy or vintage items. But it can take a lot of time to sort, clean, photograph, and list the clothes. Plus, shipping costs can cut into your profits, especially for heavier items.
I’ve sold a lot of clothing over the years, both online and in person (I also used to work at a secondhand clothing store for many years). I even had a small clothing resale business at one point, so I have plenty of experience in selling used clothes!
You can learn more at 16 Best Places To Sell Clothes For Cash.
7. Social media management
Social media management is a great side hustle if you enjoy creating content and engaging with people online.
Social media managers handle businesses’ social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. They create posts, reply to comments, and help grow their followers.
Some benefits include:
Flexible hours: Many times, you can work anytime, making it easy to fit around your main job. This is because you can schedule social media posts to go out at the exact time that you want.
You can be creative: You can express your creativity through different types of content.
Work from anywhere: All you need is a laptop and internet.
But, there are some cons too. This wasn’t my favorite side hustle, mainly because it was stressful at times. It is very time-consuming (creating good content and engaging with followers can take a lot of time), there is constant learning (social media trends change quickly, so you need to keep learning new skills), and some clients may have high expectations and tight deadlines.
If you like being creative and spending time online, social media management can be a fun and rewarding side hustle.
8. Virtual assistant
Being a virtual assistant is one of my favorite side hustles. It’s flexible, and you can work from anywhere. You handle tasks for other people or businesses, like managing emails, scheduling appointments, or doing research.
Why I like virtual assisting:
Flexible hours: You set your own schedule.
Work from home: No need to commute.
Variety of tasks: You can decide what virtual assistant tasks you want to provide.
Working as a virtual assistant is a great way to make extra money. It gives you flexibility, a variety of tasks, and you can get started with just a computer and an internet connection.
You can learn more at Best Ways To Find Virtual Assistant Jobs.
9. Freelance writer
As a freelance writer, you get to write for different clients and websites. You can work from home and set your own hours. This side hustle can be very flexible, especially if you enjoy writing.
I’ve been a freelance writer for many years, and I really enjoy it. I’ve written for lots of different websites and companies, and I’ve made good money doing it.
The positives of being a freelance writer include:
Flexible schedule: You can write during your free time.
You get to decide what you want to write about: You get to write about different topics.
Work from home: No need for a commute.
There are some cons, though, such as income can vary, with some months being busy while others are slower. Finding clients requires actively searching to keep work steady. Plus, meeting deadlines can also be stressful, adding pressure to the job.
Freelance writing is a great side hustle if you love to write and want to make extra money. It takes time to build a steady income, but it can be very rewarding.
You can learn more at 14 Places To Find Freelance Writing Jobs – (Start With No Experience!).
10. Receipt scanning apps
Using receipt scanning apps is an easy way to earn some extra money. You just take a picture of your receipts from shopping, and these apps give you points or cash back. Here are some of the best apps to try:
I’ve been using receipt-scanning apps for years, and I love how easy they are to use. You can earn points or cash without spending much time. Plus, since I already have the receipts, it’s great to make some extra money by doing almost nothing.
My favorite receipt-scanning apps are:
I like to use both Fetch Rewards and Ibotta on all of my receipts (yes, at the same time to stack rewards).
Receipt-scanning apps can be handy, but they do have some downsides. One of the main drawbacks is that the rewards are usually small, so it can take a while to earn a significant amount. You also have to remember to scan receipts regularly, which can be time-consuming and easy to forget.
For me, though, I like to use them on all of my receipts as it only takes a quick moment to do.
11. Mystery shopping
When I had student loans to pay off, I turned to mystery shopping to make extra money. It didn’t make me rich, but it helped increase my income and allowed me to enjoy some free meals and free stuff (like free makeup and household goods).
Mystery shopping involves acting like a regular customer and then reporting on your experience. You might review a restaurant, shop at a store, or even evaluate a phone call. Companies use your feedback to improve their service.
What I like about mystery shopping:
Extra cash (typically $10 to $15 per mystery shopping task)
Free items or meals (you’re usually given an amount to spend in the store or restaurant)
Flexible schedule
Mystery shopping helped me make around $100 to $200 a month.
Joining a reliable mystery shopping company is important, though, as there are a lot of scams. I used Bestmark and had a good experience with them.
Mystery shopping won’t replace a full-time job, but it’s a fun way to make some extra money.
You can learn more at How To Become A Mystery Shopper.
12. Babysitter
Being a babysitter is a flexible side hustle. You can choose your own hours and accept jobs that fit your schedule.
Parents often need help on weekends or evenings, which can be perfect if you are busy during the day.
What I liked about babysitting:
Good pay – around $15 to $25 per hour (depending on where you live)
Helps develop responsibility
Flexible hours
Of course, there are downsides to being a babysitter, such as it can be tiring watching kids for long periods, and sometimes this side job means that you’ll be working late nights or weekends.
I was a babysitter when I was younger and I really liked it. The kids I babysat were fun to be around!
13. Coaching
Coaching can be a great side hustle. You get to help people grow and achieve their goals. It also offers flexibility because you get to be your own boss and decide your work hours.
I used to offer blog coaching in the past, and I enjoyed helping people learn how to grow their blogs and make money blogging.
It was also really easy for me to do, as I have been blogging for many years and have learned a lot about what to do and what not to do.
If you have the expertise and enjoy motivating others to improve, then there is probably a topic that you can coach others on.
14. Course creator
Creating an online course can be a game changer for your income. I launched my first course, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing, in July 2016. Within the first year, it brought in around $434,698. This wasn’t due to any fancy marketing techniques but mainly through word-of-mouth.
Even though the course was successful, it didn’t come easy. I was nervous about it, especially since it was my first. I had worries that no one would be interested. Plus, many people said that your first course usually isn’t great.
Yet, the desire to help others understand affiliate marketing kept me going. By sharing my knowledge, I aimed to help bloggers increase their income. Online courses are beneficial because they can include interactive materials, workbooks, and community support, which go beyond what an ebook offers.
Here are some success stories from my course:
One student increased their monthly income from $272 to $4,400.
A new blogger got their first affiliate sale just two days after taking the course.
Another went from earning $87 a month to over $1,700 the next month.
And I have helped countless bloggers earn well over $100,000 a year from their blog and turn it into a full-time income.
Creating a course is a lot of work, but it can also be very rewarding. It allows you to reach a wider audience and can become a substantial income stream. If you have knowledge to share, you may want to try creating your own online course.
This is a business idea that I recommend more people start! I enjoy taking courses from people and sign up for them all the time. I love learning, and so do others.
You can learn more at How I’ve Made Over $1,000,000 From My First Course Without a Big Launch.
15. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular side hustles. It’s easy to start and doesn’t need a lot of money up front.
You promote products and earn a commission for every sale made through your referral link. This can be done on social media, a blog, a YouTube channel, and more.
What I like about affiliate marketing:
Low start-up cost: You don’t need much money to start.
Flexible schedule: Work when you want.
Passive income: You can earn money even when you’re not working.
Affiliate marketing can be a fun and profitable side hustle. Just remember to stay patient and persistent!
You can learn more at What You Need To Know About Affiliate Marketing For Beginners.
This small house we owned had 4 bedrooms and we rented out two of them.
16. Rent out a room in your home
Renting out a room in your house can be a simple way to make extra money. If you have unused space, like a spare bedroom or basement, you can turn it into a rental.
I have had several roommates in the past, and I liked this side hustle a lot.
What I liked about making extra money by renting out a spare room:
Extra income to help pay the mortgage
If you have unused space, then this can be a good way to fill it
Of course, there are challenges to having a roommate, and it isn’t always perfect. Sometimes, it can be hard to share common spaces (like the kitchen and bathroom), and it can also take time to adjust to someone else’s lifestyle.
Renting out a room isn’t for everyone, but it can provide steady income with minimal effort.
17. Shop at cash back websites
Shopping at cash back websites is an easy way to earn extra money. These sites give you a percentage of your purchase back as cash. You just have to sign up, shop through their site, app, or browser extension, and earn rewards.
I like cash back sites because they are easy to use and you don’t have to pay anything extra for using them.
Shopping through cash back sites can give you a nice little bonus on things you already planned to buy. It’s like getting paid to shop.
My favorite cash back sites are:
Rakuten (for online shopping like clothing, home goods, etc.)
Upside (for gas)
Honey (for online shopping like clothing, home goods, etc.)
Fetch Rewards (for groceries)
18. Earn credit card rewards
Using credit cards (the smart way) can help you earn rewards like cash, travel points, and more.
I’ve been using rewards credit cards for years, and now they’re the only cards I use. They help me save money on travel, earn cash back, and more.
By choosing the right credit card and using it wisely, you can enjoy great rewards and make the most of your spending.
Remember, carrying a balance on your credit card can lead to interest charges, which can outweigh the benefits of rewards. Always try to pay off your full balance each month to avoid these fees.
You can see my favorite credit card rewards at Best Rewards Credit Cards For This Year | What You Need To Know.
19. Brand ambassador
Being a brand ambassador is one of the more popular side hustles.
You represent a company and help promote its products. Often, you act as a public spokesperson. You can find opportunities on Facebook and many cities have brand ambassador groups where gigs are posted.
Brand ambassadors can earn between $15 to $20 per hour. Some high-end gigs can pay up to $100 per hour.
Benefits of this side hustle include flexible hours and the chance to work for brands you like. You may be able to get free products or swag, too, and this is one thing I really liked about being a brand ambassador in the past.
20. Newspaper delivery
Delivering newspapers can be an easy way to make money. It’s a job you can do before school or work, and it lets you get exercise too. You may drive, ride your bike, or walk to each house and leave the newspaper by the door.
The benefits of newspaper delivery include:
Exercise: If you walk or ride your bike, you can get plenty of fresh air and exercise.
Scheduling: Most routes are in the early morning, so you still have the rest of the day free.
Tips: Some customers might give you tips during holidays or for good service.
But, there are some downsides, with the main one being that you typically have to wake up really early for this job. For newspaper delivery, you usually have to wake up very early in the morning, often around 3:00 to 5:00 AM. The exact time depends on how big your delivery route is and what the newspaper company requires. The goal is to have all the newspapers delivered by the time most people wake up, usually around 6:00 or 7:00 AM, so starting early is really important.
The other main negative is that a big collection of newspapers is, of course, heavy!
When I was younger, I helped a friend’s family with their newspaper run whenever I slept over at their house. They used their van to deliver a bunch of newspapers, and I got to tag along.
21. Help others with their resume
Helping others with their resume can be a rewarding side hustle. You can earn extra money while also making a big difference in someone’s job hunt.
When I was in my last year of college as well as about a year after I graduated, I helped several people with their resumes. I didn’t charge a lot (and many times worked for free or for a free meal), but I liked looking at resumes and finding ways to make everything sound better.
I was also really good at it and it came so easy to me!
Some benefits of this side hustle include:
Flexibility: You can do this from home.
High demand: Many people need help with their resumes.
Work at your own pace: There’s no rush, and you can take on as many clients as you want.
By helping others with their resumes, you can earn money and provide help. It’s a great way to use your skills and make a difference in someone’s life.
22. Enter contests and giveaways
Entering contests and giveaways can be a fun and rewarding side hustle. You will definitely not win every time, but the more you enter, the higher your chances. People have won cash, gift cards, vacations, and electronics through these events.
You can spend a little time each week entering different contests. You can find them online, on social media, and in emails from brands you follow. Some people set aside about an hour each week to enter as many as they can find.
I found success this way. For example, I once won $10,000 from a financial blog’s anniversary contest, and this was a major win early on in my side hustle journey.
Remember, entering contests should be fun. Think of it as a hobby that could pay off with some great surprises. You most likely won’t get rich nor win the lottery doing this.
This is a screenshot from this month. I earned around $300 playing games on my phone.
23. Rewards sites (GPT sites)
Rewards sites, also known as GPT (Get-Paid-To) sites, are platforms where you can earn money by doing simple tasks online.
Tasks you might do include:
Taking surveys
Reading emails
Playing games
Shopping online
Trying new apps and services
Clicking ads
Rewards sites have been around for a while and have proven to be a reliable way to earn some extra cash. Though the payouts are often small, they can add up over time. For instance, Swagbucks has paid out over $80 million to its users.
Using multiple sites can help maximize your earnings. It’s easy to do tasks during your free time, making it a flexible way to earn money without a huge time commitment.
It’s key to choose reputable sites to make sure that you get paid for your efforts, so I recommend that you stick with popular, well-reviewed platforms to avoid scams.
Rewards sites will most likely not replace a full-time income, but they can be a fun way to get some extra spending money.
Here’s a quick list of the best GPT sites:
24. Test websites (User Testing)
Testing websites, also known as user testing, is a popular side hustle. You get paid to visit a website or app and give feedback on your experience.
You will need a computer, a reliable internet connection, and sometimes a microphone.
User testing is flexible. You can do it in your free time from the comfort of your home. This side hustle is great if you like trying new things and providing feedback.
I have personally been paid to do user testing in the past, as well as paid others to do user testing on this very website, Making Sense of Cents. I thought it was an easy side hustle where you just share what you honestly think of a website.
25. College textbook resale
Selling your college textbooks is a great way to make some extra money.
When I was in college, I sold all of my college textbooks once I was done, and I always tried to make the most money (so, that typically meant that I never sold it directly back to my college bookstore, because they usually paid the least amount).
Reselling college textbooks as a side hustle has its ups and downs.
On the plus side, there’s a high demand for cheaper, used textbooks, so you can make good money if you buy low and sell high. It’s easy to start, especially if you begin with your own used books, and it’s a great way to encourage reusing materials.
But the market is seasonal, with most demand at the start of each semester, so your income might be inconsistent. New editions can come out, making older books less valuable, and storing a lot of books can be tough. Plus, shipping heavy textbooks can cut into your profits if you’re not careful.
Recommended reading: 17 Best Places To Sell Used Books For Cash
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to common questions about finding the best side hustle.
What are the top side hustles that can bring in good money?
Top side hustles that can bring in good money include freelancing, blogging, flipping items for resale, and renting out rooms in your home.
How can I find side hustles that pay me every week?
You can find weekly pay side hustles through gig economy platforms like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash. Freelancing on websites like Upwork or Fiverr might also pay weekly, depending on your agreement with clients. Another option is finding part-time jobs at local businesses that pay weekly wages.
Can you suggest some side hustle ideas I can do from my house?
There are several home-based side hustles. You can start freelancing in areas like writing, graphic design, or social media management. Another idea is to sell virtual assistant services. Teaching online courses or tutoring students in subjects you excel at is also a great way to earn from home.
What side jobs are out there for someone with no experience?
There are many side jobs for beginners. You can try pet sitting or dog walking through apps like Rover. Babysitting is another option if you like spending time with children. Delivery driving for companies like Uber Eats or Instacart doesn’t require much experience and can be started quickly too.
My Favorite Side Hustles – Summary
Now that we have gone over my full list, I want to talk about one of the main deciding factors of a side hustle.
Your time is important. Some side jobs take a lot of time but don’t pay well, while others pay more with less time.
Think about how much free time you have after your main job and how much money you want to make. This balance is very important. Track the hours you work and the money you earn to see if it’s worth it. The best side job fits into your life without stressing you out.
Also, another important deciding factor is choosing a side hustle that aligns with your skills and lifestyle. If you’re good at something, you’re likely to enjoy it more and perform better.
So, I recommend thinking about your current skills and hobbies. Matching your side hustle to your skills makes it easier and more enjoyable. Plus, you’re more likely to find success and earn extra income.
Home Equity Processing, Del and Non-Del, TPO, Rate Reset Products; Government Program Updates
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Home Equity Processing, Del and Non-Del, TPO, Rate Reset Products; Government Program Updates
By: Rob Chrisman
Fri, Apr 12 2024, 11:24 AM
When I win the lottery, I am going to buy one of these to heat my blankets at home. Of course, that would mean that I will have to start playing the lottery, so until then I’ll just have to rely on my cat Myrtle to prep things. Just because you own a home, doesn’t mean you’re wealthy; some homeowners live in poverty. A LendingTree analysis shows that more than 3 million families who live in owner-occupied homes in the U.S. earn incomes below the poverty threshold for their family. 7.4 million families across the nation earn incomes below their poverty threshold… nearly 9 percent living in poverty! Of the families in poverty, 41 percent live in owner-occupied housing units and 59 percent live in renter-occupied housing units. Montana, Vermont, and Idaho have the largest share of impoverished families living in owner-occupied homes, 55 percent on average. New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey have the smallest share of impoverished families living in owner-occupied homes at 29 percent on average. (If you want to dig into what “poverty” means, here you go.) (Found here after 8:30AM ET, this week’s podcasts are sponsored by PHH Mortgage. From subservicing to correspondent lending, MSR/co-issue transactions, portfolio retention, reverse mortgages, and commercial servicing, PHH has solutions for the entire mortgage lifecycle. Hear an interview with MCT’s Phil Rasori on the current state of the capital markets and the “holy grail” for pricing technology.)
Lender and Broker Products, Software, and Services
Orion Lending has revamped its HyperTrack training program to now offer both scheduled and on-demand training! Orion’s recent Down Payment Assistance (DPA) session covered the newest enhancements to their proprietary Boost DPA program, including Forgivable Seconds, 1/0 & 2/1 Buydowns, and High Balance options. Wait… what, you weren’t one of the 150+ registrants for that session?? From best practices on how to service more borrowers using DPA in this competitive landscape to learning about all other Orion Loan programs, (and the amazing STAR Portal!) HyperTrack is here to support you! No need to miss out on anything Orion has to offer going forward, it’s on demand, when you need it! Visit here to hyper speed your business!
ACES Q3 2023 Mortgage QC Trends Report Finds Critical Defect Rate Declines for Fourth Consecutive Quarter: Despite mortgage interest rates and volume concerns, critical defect rates have maintained a downward trend, ending the quarter at 1.67 percent. Summary of Findings include the overall critical defect rate declined 2.91 percent ending the quarter at 1.67 percent, defects in Credit & Liabilities categories increased for the 3rd straight quarter, income/employment continues to lead all defect categories, and defect share increased across all loan types except conventional. “While fewer loans may afford lenders the opportunity to intensify their focus on quality, it’s clear that maintaining high standards amidst market fluctuations remains paramount. The persistence of this trend underscores the industry’s adaptability and dedication to ensuring the integrity of lending practices.”- ACES Executive Vice President Nick Volpe. Read the Report
“The Arizona sun isn’t the only thing heating up. Total Expert is bringing the hottest tech in retail mortgage to HousingWire The Gathering 2024! The Total Expert team will be on-site to show you how we can help make the most of every opportunity as the market looks to rebound in 2024 and beyond. Three ways to connect with us at the show: stop by our kiosk to grab some pickleball swag; catch our Founder & CEO Joe Welu’s session on The Modern Marketing Strategy in Retail Lending during the Vanguard Forum in Salon A-G, Monday at 4:15 p.m.; and grab a drink on us at the Pickleball viewing party at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Schedule a meeting to connect with us at the show.”
“Rocket Pro TPO is hosting a special edition Pro Talks event during the week of the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, MI. On April 24th, 2024, at 2PM ET tune in virtually to hear from Mike Fawaz, Executive Vice President of Rocket Pro TPO, and featured guest Kirk Herbstreit, a renowned sports analyst known for his insightful commentary on ESPN’s College GameDay and Thursday Night Football on Prime. Herbstreit will explore the parallels between the sports and business worlds, offering his take on strategy, teamwork and what it takes for professionals, athletes, and business alike, to succeed. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain unique perspectives from Kirk Herbstreit. Sign up now for this special edition of Pro Talks! For more information, contact Rocket Pro TPO today!”
Want to cut your home equity origination times down from 45 days to as few as 5 days? Heading to the MeridianLink User Forum in Nashville later this month? FirstClose, the fintech provider of one-of-a-kind home equity workflow solutions for mortgage and home equity lenders nationwide, is proud to be a Platinum sponsor of this year’s event. Lenders using FirstClose Equity have experienced a 35 percent increase in online applications, a 25 percent increase in pull-through and a 77 percent reduction in time to close from application to funding. So if you’re looking to up your “equity game” or get into the space, schedule a meeting with us at the show so we can discuss your home equity needs.
FINOFR (formerly Rate Reset) launched its patented Reset technology with Vantage West Credit Union. What is a Reset? A “Reset” eliminates the process of a refinance and can be completed by the homeowner in 90 seconds. FINOFR has forever changed Mortgage Banking (for the better) solving mortgage retention. FINOFR has a 90 percent retention rate and has completed over 22,000 Resets with over $22 billion in volume. If you own portfolio mortgage loans, and want to see a demo, contact Foster Kelly.
“The Mortgage Bankers Association Secondary & Capital Markets Conference Expo is nearly a month away. Have you scheduled time to meet with Spring EQ Correspondent Lending? Contact Joe Garcia or Rick Martinez today and meet with them during the conference at the Times Square EDITION Hotel! Spring EQ Correspondent is offering delegated and non-delegated options to qualified correspondent sellers, with maximum premiums paid up to 3 percent. The need for home equity solutions is surging among borrowers, so make sure your business is prepared to meet this demand by partnering with the experts in home equity at Spring EQ. Interested in a correspondent partnership? Click here. We look forward to seeing you in New York City!”
Government Lending News
USDA Rural Development Bulletin discusses GUS changes and updates to HB-1-3555, Chapters 8, 12, and 15. Additionally, the bulletin announces revisions to technical Handbook-1-3555, Chapters 8, 12, and 15. These changes became effective upon the recent issuance of a Procedure Notice (PN).
FHA published extensions to its temporary regulatory waiver and related Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 waiver, which allow mortgagees to utilize alternative methods for conducting meetings with borrowers in accordance with FHA’s early default intervention requirements. These alternatives provide practical and useful methods for conducting meetings with borrowers while ensuring they still receive needed information directly from their mortgage servicer.
Pursuant to APM 17-06 and Chapter 3, Part 21 §B(1) Ginnie Mae monitors its counterparties portfolios to ensure Ginnie Mae Issuers meet acceptable risk parameters. Ginnie Mae has observed increased prepayment activity in some elements of its program. Ginnie Mae posted reminders to Issuers in Ginnie Mae News and Notes on prepayment activity monitoring.
Speaking of Ginnie, Ginnie Mae’s mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolio outstanding grew to $2.56 trillion in March, including $32.4 billion of total MBS issuance, leading to $12.5 billion of net growth. March’s new MBS issuance supports the financing of more than 101,000 households, including more than 45,000 first-time homebuyers. Approximately 68 percent of the March MBS issuance reflects new mortgages that support home purchases because refinance activity remained low due to higher interest rates. More information is available in this Ginnie Mae Press Release.
Capital Markets
It has certainly been a rough week for those hoping for relief from high rates. After March consumer prices caused a CPI-inspired selloff on Wednesday, it was much the same story again yesterday as investors continued to walk back the timing of Fed rate cuts. Inflation at the wholesale level rose 0.2 percent in March and 2.1 percent year-over-year, according to the Producer Price Index. Even with the smaller than expected month-over-month increases, the headline PPI rate accelerated from 1.6 percent in February while core PPI accelerated to 2.4 percent from 2.1 percent.
Bond traders are bracing for a potential rise in 10-year Treasury yields beyond 5 percent, as the scenario of no rate cuts by the Fed this year looks increasingly possible. Pricing in Fed Funds futures now implies less than a one-in-five chance that the Fed will cut rates by a quarter point in June. Prior to Wednesday’s CPI report, pricing implied more than a 50 percent chance of a June rate cut. Richmond Fed President Barkin said yesterday that recent inflation figures raise questions and that he is reluctant to declare victory over inflation. New York Fed President Williams said that he expects inflation to move closer to 2.0 percent in 2025, but that there’s no need to ease in the “very near term.”
March import and export prices kicked off today’s calendar (expectations were for both to increase 0.7 percent versus 0.3 percent and 0.8 percent previously) but are totally overshadowed by the CPI and PPI data this week. Later today brings preliminary April Michigan sentiment (which includes forward-looking inflation expectations), and remarks from multiple Fed speakers.
Bank earnings also kick off with JP Morgan, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo reporting before the open along with BlackRock and State Street Wall Street is expecting a subdued earnings season as global growth picks up. A solid domestic economy is expected to fuel a rise in profit growth for S&P 500 companies, and strong margins from big tech will be a key driver. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices better than Thursday by about .125, the 10-year yielding 4.52 after closing yesterday at 4.58 percent, and the 2-year yielding 4.91.
Employment
“A non-QM investor is seeking to hire for a Capital Markets Strategy role responsible for growing our market share with existing originator clients by leveraging the firm’s capital markets and product development capabilities. The ideal candidate will have 5-10+ years of experience at a non-agency investor or experience as a senior capital markets or product development professional within an originator. Remote or New York City based. The company is rapidly growing and currently purchasing ~$3bn/yr. across Non-QM, DSCR and 2nd liens.” Interested parties should send a confidential note to Chrisman LLC’s Anjelica Nixt for forwarding.
“While competitors have struggled to keep their doors open, Sierra Pacific Wholesale’s team has continued to grow. This last quarter, our Wholesale Channel welcomed 8 new Account Executives including Jason Wood, Sharlee Stemmons, Fay Hoffman, Denise Tully, Jeff Dolby, Steve Munster, Greg Neidhart, and Melanie Rocha. We also hired industry veteran Jonathan McCash as Regional Vice President – TPO Sales East. These new additions have brought a wealth of mortgage experience and align with the core values that are foundational to the ONE Sierra company culture. From cutting-edge technology and full-service operational support to a corporate commitment to continual growth, we equip our employees with the tools and resources they need to be successful in any market. If you’re an Account Executive looking for an opportunity to work with some of the best leadership in Wholesale today, send a note to Rob Saunders (EVP – TPO Production).”
Since 1902, OceanFirst Bank has believed in supporting and growing the local communities it serves. Initially, the focus was helping neighbors realize the dream of owning a home. Now, the Bank is fulfilling those dreams and assisting families with all of their financial needs during every stage of life. OceanFirst is a $13.5 billion regional bank providing financial services throughout New Jersey and in the metropolitan markets of Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Boston. Recently, OceanFirst was recognized as being one of the best regional banks in the country by Newsweek. Thus, making the Bank a great place for top producing Loan Officers to take their careers to new levels. Contact John Costa, Senior Vice President and Head of Mortgage Sales or dial 609.444.6121 for this exciting opportunity.
Your mind and body may be ready for a sunny beachside spring break in Cancun, but if you’re living that broke college kid life, you may imagine your spring break looking more like a week at home, scrolling through Instagram and binging Netflix.
However, it is possible to plan a spring break trip on a limited budget. And yes, even a college student’s budget can be stretched for spring break fun! If you’re wondering how to plan a spring break trip without living off instant noodles for the next month, we have some tips to help you get a well-deserved vacation from those long nights spent studying in your dorm room.
Keep reading for some of our best tips on making your spring break trip dreams happen on a budget.
1. Start Planning Early
Waiting until the last minute to plan a trip could mean missing out on cheaper flights, hotels, and even popular ticketed attractions. If you’re going to a hot destination during a peak travel season, which includes spring break for many destinations, then you could blow your travel budget on the flight alone, leaving you without enough money for food and lodging.
2. Make a Budget & Stick to It
Before you even leave for your destination, it’s smart to create a travel budget. What can you reasonably afford to spend on accommodations, transportation, entertainment, meals, and shopping? Having a budget could help you avoid splurging on expensive dinners or overspending at local shops.
Recommended: How to Save for a Vacation: Creating a Travel Fund
3. Find Off-Season Destinations
If Cancun for spring break is too pricey for your college student budget, don’t stress. There are a number of great destinations that are off-season in the spring, ranging from the more rugged Jackson County, North Carolina to the Big Apple.
4. Only Travel as Far as You Can Drive
It’s about the journey, not the destination, right? You can make that (semi) true by taking a road trip with a few friends. On a road trip, you don’t need to follow any set schedule. Since there’s no flight or train to catch, and often no hurry to reach a destination, you can make spontaneous decisions and discover hidden gems along the way.
5. Avoid Tourist Traps
Doing spring break on a budget generally means skipping touristy destinations like Miami, New Orleans, and Cabo. However, there are plenty of cheaper alternatives to these locations that can save you money and that will probably be far less crowded, too.
6. Reach out to Friends & Family
If you have friends or family in another city, reach out and ask if they’d be willing to host you. If they agree, you could get some free lodging and meals out of it. Plus, you’d be connecting with locals who could guide you through the city and give some tips on cool and free stuff to do that you might not have found otherwise.
Recommended: How to Balance the Urge to Travel and the Need to Save
7. Ditch the Plane Ticket
Planes and cars aren’t the only way to land at your tourist destination. You can do spring break on a budget by hopping on an Amtrak train or a Greyhound bus, both of which have destinations all over the country. The best part? You can catch up on some work, sleep, or relaxation while you enjoy the ride.
8. Don’t Forget about Cruises
You could spend a fortune going to just Miami or Los Angeles. Or, you could check out some cheaper cruise options that could potentially take you all over Alaska, the Caribbean islands, or a slew of other destinations for less. There are even cruise options designed specifically for college students.
9. Consider Pitching a Tent
Do you get motion sickness in cars or boats? With camping, your feet will be firmly planted on the ground, and your budget will also likely stay down to earth. You can camp out in many destinations across the U.S. and even abroad, be it under the stars near a national park or near a great fishing hole in the Carolinas.
10. Look For a Deal
Sites like Groupon and LivingSocial offer a number of travel and hotel deals both for individuals and for group travel. Checking out which hotels are offering promotions could help you save when booking accommodations. You can also find deals on attractions near where you’re vacationing, too.
11. Sign Up for a Spring Break Volunteer Experience
Many colleges offer a program called “alternative break,” which allows students to travel and volunteer during their spring break. If your college doesn’t offer any alternative break trips, you can still find some opportunities through organizations like Habitat for Humanity and United Way .
12. Be a Tourist in Your Own State
If airfare is out of the question for your spring break budget, a budget-friendly alternative could be touring your own state. You can take a spring break road trip around your state or even take multiple day trips, the latter of which could allow you to have most of your meals at home with no hotel needed.
13. Fly on Unpopular Days
No, it’s not just your imagination: There are some days that are cheaper to fly on than others. If you’re not tied to a set departure and/or return date, use the flexible date search on a travel or airline site. This can help you find the cheapest travel dates for your trip.
14. Sign Up for Price Alerts
One helpful way to ensure you’re getting the best possible deal on your trip is to sign up for price alerts, a free service offered by several travel companies, such as Kayak, Skyscanner, and Google Flights. These sites track prices daily and alert you in real-time when the price changes for a flight, hotel, or rental car you want.
15. Ask for Extra Snacks
If you’re flying to your destination, be sure to grab the airplane snacks. And if you like the snacks, ask for seconds! You may be able to snag a free snack to help tide you over between meals when you land. The worst thing that can happen is that they say no.
16. Consider Airbnbs or Hostels
For those looking for the best tips on how to plan a spring break trip, one not-so-obvious one may be skipping hotels altogether. Staying at an Airbnb or hostel could be a cheaper travel hack than even a budget motel, especially if you don’t plan on spending much time in your room anyway.
17. Use Public Transportation
While Uber may be one of the handiest apps to have while traveling, relying on ridesharing and taxis could end up costing you a small fortune, especially if you’re traveling in a big city. Using public transportation could cost you a fraction of the price of an Uber, plus it will allow you to explore more of your destination as you navigate around subway and bus stations.
18. Bring Your Own Food
Grocery costs may be on the rise, but the cost of dining out can really wreak havoc on your spring break budget. If you want to try the local cuisine, you can typically do so much cheaper by going to a local grocery store and buying premade meals there or, better yet, making your own meals using fresh, local ingredients. This option may only be available if you’re staying at an Airbnb or hotel with a kitchenette, though.
19. Eat Out for Lunch, not Dinner
Eating out for dinner will often cost you far more than eating out for breakfast or lunch. And if you decide to eat out for dinner still, skip the drinks and desserts. These items typically have higher markups than other items on the menu. Plus, when it comes to desserts, the quality (and quantity!) may not be worth it — many restaurants don’t even make the desserts they serve.
20. Ask About Complimentary Hotel Meals
Students looking for spring break trips on a budget won’t want to miss out on this tried-and-true travel budget saver: Before booking your hotel, ask if they have any complimentary meals, such as a continental breakfast. It may not be as fancy or Instagram-worthy as the hottest brunch spot in town, but it will likely be a lot better for your budget.
21. Use The Free Hotel Coffee
Most hotels offer free coffee either in the lobby in the mornings or through small coffee makers in your room. It may not be as fancy as your usual Venti Coconutmilk Latte with two pumps of salted caramel, but it won’t cost you anything.
22. Look out for Free Samples
Looking to score some more free snacks? Add local farmers’ markets to your itinerary. Many markets are full of free samples, so you may even be able to scrounge together a free lunch. You may also be able to score free swag, like t-shirts and reusable bags, from local vendors and businesses, your hotel, or the local visitor’s center.
23. Prioritize Free Activities
Sure, you can spend $50 for a museum ticket. Or, you could search online for some free museums nearby. Many hot spring break destinations offer free walking tours, free museum days, and a plethora of other free activities, such as parks and beaches.
24. Find a Travel Buddy (or Four!)
You’ll find that going on a budget-friendly spring break trip can be a lot easier if you team up with friends. Pooling your college budgets together may even help you to afford nicer accommodations or a more far-flung destination.
25. Cash in Credit Card Rewards…
If you have a rewards or cashback credit card, you may want to save up your points to help fund your epic spring break. Having a travel rewards card can be an easy way to save on travel, especially if you’re able to use that card on purchases before heading out on vacation, which could help you build up even more rewards points.
26. …And Earn More Rewards While Traveling!
Using your rewards credit card on vacation may not help you save for your current trip. But if you rack up more rewards during your trip, you’ll already have a new vacation fund started before you even come back from spring break.
27. Research Student Discounts
Catching a movie or eating out during spring break? Ask about a student discount! You may be able to score some sweet savings even before your vacation, as companies like Expedia often offer student-only travel deals. You can also try StudentUniverse , which helps students get discounts on hotels, airfare, and more.
28. Ask About Membership Discounts
A ton of college discounts exist, but don’t rule out membership discounts you could get from family members. For instance, Costco, Sam’s Club, AAA, and AARP all offer travel discounts to their members. It may be worth asking some relatives about their memberships to save big on your spring break trip.
29. Avoid Transaction Fees
Transaction fees can be a real budget-killer if you’re traveling abroad. And even if you’re stateside, ATM fees can also put a dent in your spring break savings. So you may want to ask your card issuer about fees and plan accordingly to make sure you have enough cash on hand to avoid them.
30. Use Hotel Toiletries
TSA-approved toiletries can be overpriced, and buying them when you arrive at your destination may also mean overpaying for toiletries that you have loads of at home. The best alternative? Decant your own shampoo and conditioner into smaller bottles you can snag at The Dollar Store. Or, better yet, just use the hotel toiletries. They may not be what you’re used to, but your budget will thank you.
The Takeaway
Wondering how to plan a spring break trip on a budget? It may not be as hard as you think. If you’re willing to try off-peak destinations and hunt for discounts, you can save a ton of cash. Spring break trips on a budget don’t have to be a drag, either. You can still go to popular destinations if you create (and stick to) a spring break travel budget. Using rewards and cashback cards can also help you save on airfare and other travel expenses.
SoFi Travel has teamed up with Expedia to bring even more to your one-stop finance app, helping you book reservations — for flights, hotels, car rentals, and more — all in one place. SoFi Members also have exclusive access to premium savings, with 10% or more off on select hotels. Plus, earn unlimited 3%** cash back rewards when you book with your SoFi Unlimited 2% Credit Card through SoFi Travel.
Wherever you’re going, get there with SoFi Travel.
Photo credit: iStock/onurdongel
**Terms, and conditions apply: The SoFi Travel Portal is operated by Expedia. To learn more about Expedia, click https://www.expediagroup.com/home/default.aspx.
When you use your SoFi Credit Card to make a purchase on the SoFi Travel Portal, you will earn a number of SoFi Member Rewards points equal to 3% of the total amount you spend on the SoFi Travel Portal. Members can save up to 10% or more on eligible bookings.
Eligibility:
You must be a SoFi registered user. You must agree to SoFi’s privacy consent agreement. You must book the travel on SoFi’s Travel Portal reached directly through a link on the SoFi website or mobile application. Travel booked directly on Expedia’s website or app, or any other site operated or powered by Expedia is not eligible. You must pay using your SoFi Credit Card.
SoFi Member Rewards: All terms applicable to the use of SoFi Member Rewards apply. To learn more please see: https://www.sofi.com/rewards/ and Terms applicable to Member Rewards.
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.
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.
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With DIY projects and home renovation ideas filling our social media feeds daily, achieving the home of your dreams has never been more affordable and accessible. Just like any other facet of home decorating, DIY home decor trends come and go, often following suit with standard interior design trends.
To get the scoop on what DIY projects will be popular in 2024, we spoke with four home design and DIY experts. Here are the six top DIY home decor trends that will be big this year.
Textured Walls
Heather Barnes, expert home DIYer and the content creator behind @ourbarnesyard on Instagram, predicts that textured walls will be big in 2024. Think: Roman clay and limewash paint for a natural, stone-effect finish.
Both of these wall treatments are eco-friendly and super DIY-friendly, requiring only time and patience to get the finished look. The best part is that various application techniques can yield drastically different results, from plaster to marble-like finishes.
Eccentric Knobs, Pulls, & Switch Plates
Here’s a super fun and simple way to upgrade your space on a budget—swap out your builder-grade knobs, pulls, and switch plates for something more personalized and unique. Julian Thomas, DIY and home lifestyle expert and Command Brand partner, says that eccentric hardware and finishes will be all the rage this year.
“From marble-covered switchplates to anamorphic handles, to switchplates for the maximalist, this DIY design trend is one that anyone can do on their own, and can add a bold look to any space,” Thomas says.
Wall Paneling
Wall paneling has been popular in both the interior design world and the home DIY world for the past couple of years, and experts agree we can expect to see that continue in 2024.
“I’ve been seeing painted pencil molding or paneling applied to walls to give them more flair,” says Morgan Blinn, lead designer at Rumor Designs based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. “This simple project can make a big impact on the overall feel of your space and add dimension to your walls.”
While it looks complicated to install, this is a super easy and beginner-friendly DIY that people of all experience levels will be able to try out.
Disco-fying
From home decor to fashion, the disco movement is having a bit of a comeback, with disco balls being particularly popular. Sophie Brown, a graphic designer, content creator, and Visual Designer at Mustard Made, predicts that “disco-fying” will be a big trend in 2024, with all kinds of home decor items getting the glittery, disco ball treatment.
“I have such a big soft spot for bedazzling and disco-fying,” Brown says. “I love that it can take the sunlight and scatter it around a space, creating unpredictable little universes of reflections.”
It’s a low-cost, accessible trend that blends the best of DIY, crafting, and playful home decor.
Bold Accent Walls
Accent walls are nothing new, but experts agree that they will continue to trend in 2024. Where accent walls used to err on the neutral and subdued side, this year we can expect to see plenty of bold, statement DIY accent walls taking over our social media feeds.
“People are getting more comfortable with being bold in their style and straying away from monochromatic beige tones,” Blinn says.
Think striking colors, interesting textures, bold wallpapers, unique architectural details, and more. Not only will a bold accent wall add some visual interest and personality to your space, but it’s also a super affordable and accessible way to give your home an upgrade, regardless of your DIY experience level.
Swag Lighting
Lastly, Thomas predicts swag lighting (fixtures that are not hardwired) will be popular in 2024 as homeowners look to add light fixtures to areas of their homes without the heavy investment of hiring professionals to install them.
For renters, swag light fixtures allow them to customize their homes without breaking their rental agreement or making permanent changes to space.
“Usually, the lighting cord is long and exposed allowing for it to be plugged into an outlet,” Thomas says. “The exposed cords on swag lighting can add to the overall design aesthetic of the space, especially if it leans more mid-century or industrial.”
Read Next: 53 DIY Furniture Ideas to Personalize Your Home
Arizona’s largest airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, is located about four miles from downtown Phoenix. A focus city for both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, Phoenix Airport is the 10th busiest airport in the United States by aircraft movements.
If you have a trip to or from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport in the near future, this guide, which includes information on how to get to the airport by public transport, terminal details and what lounges are available, is for you.
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport quick facts
Airport code: PHX.
Address: 3400 E. Sky Harbor Blvd.
Number of runways: Three.
Number of terminals: Two — Terminal 3 and Terminal 4.
Transport between terminals: PHX Sky Train.
Daily flights served: 1,200.
Daily passenger count: 125,000.
Phoenix Airport map
For PHX Sky Harbor terminals and an interactive map, visit this page.
Airlines with service to Phoenix airport
Nearly two dozen airlines, both U.S.-based and international, operate flights to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Depending on the carrier you’re flying, you’ll be departing from one of the terminals below.
Terminal 3 airlines
Advanced Air.
Air Canada.
Alaska Airlines.
Allegiant Air.
Breeze Airways.
Contour Airlines.
Delta Air Lines.
Denver Air Connection.
Frontier Airlines.
Hawaiian Airlines.
JetBlue Airways.
Southern Airways Express.
Spirit Airlines.
Sun Country Airlines.
United Airlines.
Terminal 4 airlines
American Airlines.
British Airways.
Condor Airlines.
Southwest Airlines.
TSA PreCheck lines at Phoenix airport
Both terminals have TSA PreCheck lines, so if you’re a member of the Trusted Traveler Programs, you can use the following checkpoints to breeze through security:
Terminal 3
North checkpoint.
Terminal 4
Checkpoint A.
Checkpoint B.
Checkpoint C.
Checkpoint D.
Getting to and from Phoenix airport
Bus
Two bus lines serve Phoenix Airport: Route 13 and Route 44. Route 13 stops near the airport’s operations building, west of Terminal 3, and at 24th Street PHX Sky Train Station. Route 44 stops at the 44th Street PHX Sky Train Station.
Train
Take the free Sky Train to the 44th Street PHX Sky Train Station and head to the Valley Metro Rail platform. You can use the light rail to reach Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa.
Ride-hailing apps
Both Lyft and Uber operate in the Phoenix metro area, meaning you can request a ride to and from the airport.
Rental car companies at Phoenix airport
If you need to rent or drop off a vehicle, you can take the PHX Sky Train between the rental car center and the terminals.
The following car rental companies have offices at the car rental center at Phoenix Airport:
Phoenix airport car rental options
Enterprise.
NÜ Car Rentals.
Phoenix airport lounges
Terminal 3
Location: Near Gate F8.
Hours: 4:45 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Location: At the intersection of E and F gates, mezzanine level, next to Passage by Hudson.
Hours: 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Location: Near Gate E3.
Hours: 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Terminal 4
Location: Above Gates A7 and A9.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Location: Between Gates A19 and A21.
Hours: 4 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Admirals Club, Concourse B
Location: Above Gates B5 and B7.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Escape Lounge – The Centurion® Studio Partner
Location: Across from Gate B22.
Hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Location: Across from Gate B22, on the upper level.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
USO Lounge
Location: Level 2, East End, near B and C elevators (pre-security).
Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Restaurants at Phoenix airport
If you don’t have lounge access, you can grab a bite at many restaurants available at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The eateries include national chains as well as some local establishments.
Terminal 3 restaurants
Ajo Al’s Mexican Cafe.
Giant Coffee.
Humble Torta & Taco.
Panera Bread.
Peet’s Coffee.
PHX Beer Co.
SanTan Brewing Company.
Shake Shack.
Starbucks.
The Roadie.
The Tavern.
Terminal 4 restaurants
Barrio Cafe.
Blanco Tacos & Tequila.
Cartel Roasting Co.
Chelsea’s Kitchen.
Cheuvront Restaurant & Wine Bar.
Cowboy Ciao.
Deluxburger Express.
Dilly’s Deli.
Dunkin’.
Fazoli’s.
Focaccia Fiorentina.
Four Peaks Brewing Company.
Humble Pie.
La Grande Orange.
La Madeleine.
Los Taquitos.
Matt’s Big Breakfast.
McDonald’s.
O.H.S.O. Brewery.
Olive & Ivy.
Panda Express.
Peet’s Coffee.
Pei Wei Asian Kitchen.
Sir Veza’s Taco Garage.
Starbucks.
Sweet Republic.
Tammie Coe To Go.
Wendy’s.
Wildflower Bread Company.
Zinburger.
Zinc Brasserie.
Shops at Phoenix Airport
A slew of retail shops is available for passengers looking for last-minute items in between flights. Among the traditional travel swag, you’ll also find some merchandise showcasing the spirit of the American Southwest.
Terminal 3 shops
Best Of The Valley Market.
Discover Arizona.
Indigenous Mosaic.
InMotion Entertainment.
Ironwood by Hudson.
Johnston & Murphy.
Passage by Hudson.
Phoenix Public Market.
Stellar News + Market.
Tech On The Go.
Travel Outfitters.
Terminal 4 shops
Arizona Highways.
AZCentral.com.
Brooks Brothers.
Bunky Boutique.
Cactus Candy.
CASA Airport.
CNBC 12 News.
Connections.
Earth Spirit.
Hudson News.
Indigenous.
InMotion Entertainment.
Johnston & Murphy.
Lucky Break.
Phoenix Duty Free
Roosevelt Row.
Sonora Southwest Living.
Sunglass Hut.
TripAdvisor.
Uno de 50.
Uptown Phoenix.
Frequently asked questions
Does Phoenix Airport have Clear lanes?
Yes, Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 both have Clear lanes for Clear Plus members and enrollment options for passengers interested in joining the program. North checkpoint as well as Checkpoints A, B, C and D all have Clear lanes.
What terminal is Southwest at PHX?
Southwest Airlines is located in Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
Where is the Delta terminal at Sky Harbor Airport?
Delta flights depart from Terminal 3 at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
What terminal is United at Phoenix Airport?
The Sky Harbor United terminal is Terminal 3.
What airlines are based at Phoenix Airport?
American Airlines and Southwest Airlines have operational hubs at Phoenix Airport.
How do I reserve parking at PHX Sky Harbor?
It’s possible to reserve a long-term parking spot at Phoenix Airport. To make a reservation, select the date and time of your entry and exit from the lot, select the preferred parking facility, fill out your information and provide payment details.
You can make a parking reservation as early as six months and as late as two hours before departure. The maximum number of days available for parking pre-booking is 60.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:
Thanksgiving decor can look just as good outside the home as it can inside. From beautiful wreaths and garlands, to pumpkins and cozy lights, these festive decorations are all about making your home look and feel more cozy, special, and seasonal.
The beauty of outdoor Thanksgiving decor is that you can use a lot of the same items that you would use for outdoor fall decor and even outdoor Halloween decor, so many of these decoration ideas can be embraced from the beginning of fall all the way through to Thanksgiving – then it’s time to start getting creative with outdoor Christmas decor.
Spruce up your outside space with outdoor Thanksgiving decor
fall flower and foliage inspiration for your front door, or are looking to decorate with pumpkins on your front porch, our ideas can elegantly elevate your exterior so it’s beautifully in sync with the season.
1. Pumpkins
(Image credit: Studio McGee)
This seasonal squash is synonymous with fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving decor, and is probably the most traditional and popular seasonal decoration of them all.
Whether you style your outside space with pumpkins freshly picked from a day out at the pumpkin farm, or opt for a more contemporary look with stylish faux pumpkins that can be used year after year, it doesn’t get easier than placing a pretty pumpkin by your front door.
Here, interior designer Shea McGee from Studio McGee has created a beautiful blend of traditional Thanksgiving decorations with more modern color palettes. The scattered pumpkins in a palette of pastel shades perfectly complement the planters and their home’s white exterior. Shea says of the design, ‘our wreath (currently sold out but our Oversized Fall Leaf Wreath can create a simple effect) is from our Target for Threshold line, we tied a pretty fall-hued ribbon around the top of it to add some more interest.’
For some further inspiration, take a look at Shea’s similar Halloween porch look below.
Faux Pumpkins & Gourds
Lit Woven Pumpkin
Full Moon Pumpkins (Set of 5)
Studio McGee, with her husband Syd in 2014. They later launched their e-commerce brand, McGee & Co, and starred in their very own Netflix show, Dream Home Makeover.
2. Wreaths and garlands
(Image credit: Balsam Hill)
A traditional festive decoration that beautifully celebrates the colors of fall and seasonal plants and flowers, a wreath or garland can add wonderful texture, color, and shape to your outside space. Wreaths are perfect for sitting pretty on a front door, and garlands can be used to decorate door frames and porch railings.
Whether you fancy embracing a Thanksgiving craft and having a go at making your own Thanksgiving wreath from flowers, branches, and foliage gathered from your yard and garden, or opt for an artificial design (we love Balsam Hill’s Autumn Abundance collection) you can never go wrong with styling your outside space with stylish natural accents.
Autumn Abundance Foliage – Wreath
Autumn Abundance Foliage – Garland
Autumn Abundance Foliage – Swag
fall planters filled with fall flowers and plants for fall color’ says designer, Chantelle Malarkey. ‘It’s great to get bunches in reds, oranges, and purples.
‘Or, for a more modern Thanksgiving decor idea, why not try styling your outside space with some pretty pampas grass? It’s one of my all-time favorites to style with, both indoors and outdoors, and can add a unique, neutral texture to your Thanksgiving decor.’ Pampas is perfect for using in a minimalist Thanksgiving scheme.
In this colorful outside space by @carlosriveracruet, the front porch area has been elegantly uplifted by pumpkins, a unique hanging foliage basket on the door (a great alternative to a wreath), and pretty pots filled with orange, yellow, and white flowers.
Chantelle Malarkey
Outdoor Fortune lanterns from Pottery Barn are great for using all year round too, creating a wonderful seasonal scene that can look just as good at night as it can during the day.
Designer and landscaping expert Ward Dilmore also suggests, ‘as the sun sets, create a cozy and warm atmosphere with string lights. Hang them across your outdoor area or wrap them around porch railings. These lights not only provide illumination, but will add a magical touch to your Thanksgiving gathering.’ These Connectable String Lights from Balsam Hill are perfect – and they can be used for your outdoor Christmas lighting ideas too.
Ward Dilmore
Liz Marie Galvan has created at her farm, featuring cushions, throws, and decorations from the Target x John Derian Thanksgiving collection.
Square Pillow Fall Pumpkin, 18″
Quilted Throw Blanket Fall Mums, 50″x70″
Assorted Fall Paper Decor Pack
fall porch ideas for some further outdoor seasonal inspiration.
Embracing festive window decor, similar to Halloween window decor ideas, can also help to elevate your outdoor Thanksgiving scheme. Hang wreaths and lights in the window or style a window ledge with a stack of pumpkins, perfect for creating a cozy seasonal display that can be appreciated both inside and outside of the home.
Do you want to sell printables online and make extra money? If so, you may be interested in learning about one of the most popular printables courses out there – Gold City Ventures E-Printables course. In this Gold City Ventures Review, I will help you learn everything that you can about this course so that…
Do you want to sell printables online and make extra money? If so, you may be interested in learning about one of the most popular printables courses out there – Gold City Ventures E-Printables course.
In this Gold City Ventures Review, I will help you learn everything that you can about this course so that you can decide if you should take it or not.
Gold City Ventures E-Printables course is one of the best printables courses out there, and it has a lot of positive reviews. But, is it for you? Continue reading to learn more!
Please click here if you want to sign up for the E-Printables course.
Key Takeaways
Selling printables on Etsy can be a great side hustle because you just need to create them once, and you can sell them an unlimited amount of times.
Gold City Ventures E-Printables course will teach you how to create, market, and sell digital files on Etsy for passive income.
This course is for you if you’re looking for a fun and profitable side hustle selling printables online.
You don’t need previous graphic design skills or to be tech-savvy in order to start this side hustle – this course is great for beginners.
You can sell printables on other sites too with what you learn from this course, such as at Teachers Pay Teachers.
There is a free workshop: Earn Money Selling Printables.
The Gold City Ventures course cost is $247.
Do you want to make money selling printables online? This free training will give you great ideas on what you can sell, how to get started, the costs, and how to make sales.
Gold City Ventures E-Printables Course Review
What are e-printables?
E-printables are a type of digital product that you can create and sell online. They are design files that customers can purchase and then print at home or use digitally.
You’ve probably used a printable before and so have many others. The printable business is very popular right now, and many people use printables every single day.
You can make printables for all sorts of things, like holidays (such as Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas), baby showers, bachelorette parties, birthday celebrations, greeting cards, a habit tracker, calendars, educational resources, grocery shopping, a meal planner, digital planners, party invitations, jar labels, gifts, and more.
Once you decide what to sell (which this course will definitely help you do), and after you’ve finished designing them (which the course will also help you do), you can sell them on platforms like Etsy or your own website. When someone makes a purchase, you earn money without having to physically make or ship anything.
If you want to learn how to make and sell e-printables, courses like the Gold City Ventures E-Printables course can teach you step-by-step. They’ll show you important skills like designing, marketing, and selling online so you can have a successful e-printables business.
Recommended reading: How I Make Money Selling Printables On Etsy
Why sell printables on Etsy?
Selling printables on Etsy is a popular way for people like you to earn money with minimal effort. Once you create and list your designs, you can keep earning from repeat sales without doing more work.
This means that this can be a great way to make passive income. If you make a popular printable and set up your shop to be easily found in searches, it can keep making sales over time without needing a lot of extra work.
This means that you can choose when to work and can do it from anywhere with internet access. This can be especially great for people who want a part-time job or to work from their own homes.
Plus, making and selling printables doesn’t have actual materials for you to buy or the need to spend money on shipping. This leads to earning more money compared to selling physical items as you’ll have low expenses.
Etsy also has a big audience, which makes it a great place to sell your printables.
What is Gold City Ventures?
Gold City Ventures could be exactly what you need to learn how to generate passive income. If you’ve ever thought about selling printables on Etsy, then the Gold City Ventures E-Printables course can help you turn this into a fun way to make extra money from home.
Gold City Ventures is a website that sells a full training course that teaches you how to earn money by selling printables online.
Cody Berman and Julie Berninger, the founders, created this course to help others learn from their own successful experiences in running Etsy shops and making money online.
Julie makes over $1,000 per month in her Etsy shop, The Swag Elephant, and Cody was hooked on printables since earning over $700 in passive income in one week while on a ski vacation.
Some of the success stories from people who have taken this course:
Sasha H. is an accounting professional and mother of two who sells budgeting printables to help families reach their money goals. Ever since taking the course, she has made over 10,000 sales in her printables store.
Jen G. took the course in 2019 and since then has made over 7,200 sales with her online shop.
What’s in Gold City Ventures?
Below, I will be talking about what is in the E-Printables course.
What’s included in the Gold City Ventures E-Printables course?
The E-Printables course by Gold City Ventures is designed to teach you everything you need to create and sell digital products on Etsy.
This course comes with step-by-step instructions on how to make money selling printables, from brainstorming what to sell all the way to listing your printable on Etsy. This course will teach you what to do, even if you are brand new. The course also comes with free templates which will reduce the amount of time you spend creating printables, as they give you over 30 done-for-you templates for Canva that you can just make small edits to and then list in your shop quickly.
Even if you are brand new to graphic design, this course will teach you everything that you need to know.
The modules included in the Gold City Ventures E-Printables side hustle course are:
Module 1: Getting Started –This module is an introduction to the course and gives you an overview of what you will learn.
Module 2: What Should You Sell? – These lessons will give you background information on what exactly a printable is, over 50 printable ideas, and more.
Module 3: Getting Started Making Printables – These lessons will teach you how to start making printables and includes finding fonts and pictures and a seller handbook.
Module 4: Canva Overview – This module gives you an overview of Canva, which is a graphic design tool that you will use to make printables.
Module 5: How To Make Printables With Canva – You will learn how to create a design in Canva in this module, as the module name suggests. You will learn how to use their Canva templates, how to make thank you cards, gift tags, coupons, and more.
Module 6: How To Make Canva Templates –This module will teach you how to make templates that you can sell.
Module 7: Creating Editable Printables With Corjl – These lessons will teach you how to use a different graphic design tool to create editable printables that you can sell.
Module 8: Packaging Your Printable –This module will teach you how to package your printables for sale as well as best practices.
Module 9: Making Listing Images –These lessons will show you how to make listing images, such as what a person sees when they search on Etsy for a product. This will be the image that entices them to click on your printable listing.
Module 10: Listing Your Product – These lessons teach you how to start your shop, how to list your product, how to decide what to sell a printable at, and more.
Module 11: Keyword Research Tools –This module will help you create better searchable listings for your products, such as how to do keyword research and all about Etsy SEO.
Module 12: Marketing And Advertising –These lessons go over coupons and sales, how to promote your printables on Pinterest, and more.
Module 13: Optimizing Your Shop – This module teaches you how to improve your sales, find a niche, and see success.
Module 14: Etsy Sellers App –This module goes over the Etsy Sellers App, how to monitor orders, and how to talk with customers.
As you can see, there are many helpful modules and lessons included in this course.
On top of all of that, you will also learn their seasonal product strategy. One of the reasons why students in this course make sales so quickly is because they follow their seasonal product strategy. They fully outline their seasonal trends strategy including all of the tools and resources you need. Some students have even made sales on their first day in the course with their Etsy printables business.
How much is the Gold City Ventures course?
The Gold City Ventures E-Printables course costs $247.
There are free resources that can help you get started, too, such as the free workshop: Earn Money Selling Printables. This free workshop will teach you how to get started selling printables. You will learn different ideas for printables to sell, how to get started on Etsy, and how to actually make sales.
Also, you can sign up for this free ebook that helps you figure out where to start when it comes to selling printables on Etsy. This can be a great way to get started and learn how to sell digital downloads on Etsy.
Who is the Gold City Ventures course for?
The Gold City Ventures course is for people who want to make money selling printables. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to digital design or already sell on Etsy. This course gives you helpful tips to do well in the e-printables market.
This course is for you if:
You want a fun and money-making side job by selling printable items on the internet.
You’re a creative person looking for a way to create passive income.
You want to make a few hundred (or thousand) extra dollars each month.
You want to work from home.
Pros and Cons of Gold City Ventures E-Printables Side Hustle Course:
Pros:
This course covers everything you need to know about making and selling printables.
The course was created by experienced Etsy sellers Julie Berninger (from the popular blog Millennial Boss) and Cody Berman (a well-known financial independence retire-early expert). There are also very helpful successful printables experts who are in their support group answering questions.
Helps jump-start your Etsy shop with actionable steps (there’s no fluff in this course – they teach you step-by-step).
You can possibly earn over $1,000 per month selling printables after taking a printables course.
There really weren’t any cons that I found in the course. But, some things to know include:
You must be willing to invest time and effort to learn and apply the course material as there are a lot of modules and lessons.
The course does have a cost. It is relatively low, though, at $247.
VIP Membership perks
One of the best parts about the E-Printables course is the bonus you get.
When you buy the course, you get a free trial of their VIP Membership for 30 days, and it starts right after you make the purchase.
The VIP Membership comes with two important things: 1) Their special Facebook group for VIPs, and 2) The VIP Membership Vault.
In the VIP Facebook group:
They organize live Q&A sessions, strategy talks, and virtual chats.
They hold monthly sessions where you can get help with graphic design to make your printables look even better.
You have daily access to three experienced experts in their paid group, each with a track record of thousands of printables sales on Etsy.
They will answer all your questions and respond to your requests for feedback on your shop.
And more.
The VIP Membership Vault comes with:
100+ bonus videos including guest interviews, technical training, and advanced strategies
5 brand new template packs you’ll receive every month that you can use for free in your business
Behind the scenes with 6- and 7-figure printables sellers
Even if you don’t have Facebook, you can still access this. Their live events are shared afterwards to the VIP Vault, and you can watch the video replay.
If you decide to continue with the VIP Membership after the initial 30 days, there will be a monthly charge of $29 until you reach 100 sales. They celebrate their “100 Sales Club” members at Gold City Ventures, and you’ll get a special prize sent to you by mail, along with a complimentary VIP Membership.
Note: You are not required to have the VIP Membership, and you can cancel it whenever you want. You’ll always have access to the E-Printables course itself, no matter what.
Refund policy
There is a 7-day refund policy as long as you don’t go past Module 1. If the course isn’t for you, they will give you a full refund, but you will want to make sure that you stay within this limit.
Gold City Ventures reviews and success stories
As you learn more about Gold City Ventures, you’ll see that lots of people have done well with their E-Printables course. This course shows you step-by-step how to make and start your own printable business. It can be a great way to make extra money on the side or even as a full-time job if you’re willing to work hard.
Many students have talked about how much they liked the course. They’ve gone from making their first printable on Etsy to earning a steady income from their online store. There are lots of success stories. People think the course materials are well-organized, easy to use, and packed with helpful advice and techniques.
Some of the things about the E-Printables course that students like include:
The course material covers everything, from creating printables to promoting your products.
There’s a kind and helpful community of fellow learners and teachers.
You get useful tools and resources to improve your Etsy listings and increase your sales.
You have a chance to make passive income with what they teach you.
A lot of people have discovered that investing in the Gold City Ventures E-Printables course is a great step in their printables business journey. Remember to think about your own goals and situation when looking at the success stories and reviews. This will help you decide if this course is the right choice for you.
You can read all of the success stories here to see what real people think of the course.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gold City Venture’s E-Printables Course
Below are answers to common questions about this course.
Do printables sell well on Etsy?
Yes, printables can sell well on Etsy. People search on Etsy all the time for printables, and I have done it as well. There is a lot of demand for creative and helpful printables on Etsy.
How much do people make selling printables on Etsy?
There is not an average that people make by selling printables on Etsy. This is because there are so many factors, such as what a person is selling, how many printable designs they have created, what they are doing to market their printables, and more.
Some sellers may make a few hundred dollars per month, while others could earn thousands. It’s important to remember that building a successful Etsy shop takes time and hard work.
How much does the Gold City Ventures course cost?
The E-Printables course costs $247.
How can I access the free workshop?
Free Training Workshop: Earn Money Selling Printables. This free workshop will teach you how to get started selling printables. You will learn different ideas for printables to sell, how to get started on Etsy, and how to actually make sales.
How long does it take to complete the course?
The Gold City Ventures E-Printables course is a self-paced program, so it might take a few days or weeks to complete the course, depending on your learning pace and available time. The average is around one month to complete the course.
What is the best printables course?
The best printables course depends on your individual needs and learning preferences. Gold City Ventures is one option that has received positive reviews and focuses on creating passive income through Etsy. This is the printables course that I highly recommend, as it is well-rounded and teaches you everything that you need to know right from the very beginning!
Is Gold City Ventures worth it?
The worth of Gold City Ventures relies on what you want to achieve. If you’re interested in learning how to make money passively on Etsy with printables, this program could be a good investment. It teaches both design and marketing strategies that have helped many people succeed.
Gold City Ventures Review: E-Printables Course Review
I hope you enjoyed this Gold City Ventures Review.
The Gold City Ventures E-Printables course will teach you how to make printables, even if you have no experience. This can help you to make extra money, even over $1,000 per month, as well as passive income.
E-printables are digital files that customers can buy, download, and print themselves, either at home or at a print shop. This market has seen a big increase in popularity in recent years as more people look for affordable and customizable options for things like home decorations, planners, and party supplies.
Gold City Ventures shows you how to make, promote, and sell your own printables on Etsy, taking advantage of this growing market and potentially earning you passive income.
Gold City Ventures might not be a perfect fit for everyone, but if you’re motivated, creative, and willing to put in effort, it could help you to make money from home. The course has detailed video tutorials and useful lessons designed to help you get into e-printables and selling on Etsy, even if you’re just beginning. Plus, hearing success stories and feedback from those who have completed the course can give you a lot of inspiration and ideas for your own entrepreneurial journey.
Please click here to learn more about the E-Printables course.
Amanda recently sent J.D. an e-mail looking for advice about gift-giving:
My husband and I have made huge lifestyle changes since our son was born with congenital heart disease four years ago. He’s had five open-heart-surgeries, and we’ve had some killer medical bills. My husband stays home with both of our kids to help prevent Liam from getting sick too often, so we’ve gone down to one income, one car, basic cable, and a really aggressive budget.
One of our worst budget breakers however is gifts. I have eleven nieces and nephews, two kids, etc. At Christmas we’ve convinced both sides to just do a name exchange and then we only have to buy for two nieces/nephews on either side, which helps and we’ve just outright stopped exchanging gifts with our brothers & sisters, but there are still our parents, his grandparents, kids of friends who have birthday parties, and graduations, weddings, and baby showers!
We actually do plan most of these things into discretionary spending since we know when people have birthdays, but it’s always those gotchas like weddings and new babies (and we didn’t pre-think graduations with this year’s planning).
Could you offer any advice on fitting generosity and gift giving into a frugal budget? No one wants to be a grinch, but it really adds up some months. Sometimes, it’s half of our discretionary spending just to get small gifts (we only spend $10-15/kid!).
Ah, Amanda, I hear you! Gifts can be a budgeter’s downfall! Many of us readily accept our own sacrifices in the name of being frugal, but don’t want to seem “cheap” when it comes to giving gifts to others. I’ve struggled with both sides of this issue.
One side of me likes choosing and giving gifts, likes having those gifts appreciated, likes receiving gifts in return. But the other side opposes the commercialism and expectations that accompany holidays and occasions. Too often, hastily-purchased gifts can seem like a substitute for the spare time and energy we don’t have to make a gift meaningful. These gifts can be merely an obligation, which is no fun for either giver or recipient.
For big family gift-oriented occasions like Christmas (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc), you must have “The Talk”. In some families, money is a difficult subject, but your options are either to continue spending more than you want on presents, or to mystify everyone when you cut them off cold turkey. A good way to start is to explain your budget goals, as in, “We’re starting to save for the kids’ education funds,” “…to buy a house,” “to be able to afford to live on one salary,” “pay off the credit cards” or something like that — just make sure you’re being honest.
Whatever you do, don’t insist that everyone stop giving gifts to you (or your kids). You have the right to stop giving gifts, but for many people, being generous with presents is a true pleasure and you should avoid depriving them of that pleasure. It may seem wrong to accept without giving, but you can give back in other ways. Of course, your relatives and friends may be relieved at the prospect of the never-ending gift-exchange ending — maybe they were just too shy to bring it up.
If you don’t want to stop all gifts, here are some ideas to cut costs.
Draw names. As Amanda does, this can allow you to focus on one or two recipients instead of the whole clan. There are various arrangements. Some families write their name and a gift suggestion or two on a slip of paper. In some systems, adults pick an adult and each kid gives to a kid (with adult help as needed). Or, if everyone is gathering together, each person can bring one gift (marked as adult or child) and you can do a sort of “Yankee swap” exchange where unwrapped presents can be stolen or traded until everyone ends up with someone.
Be creative. On J.D.’s side of the family, we have been doing $5 gifts for several years. Everyone (7 adults, 4 kids) buys a $5 (or under) gift for everyone else. (This was my sister-in-law’s idea.) J.D.’s mother asked to be excepted — she loves piling gifts on everyone and exercises her grandmotherly rights to do so. The $5 limit has forced us to be bargain hunters and the results are often both surprising and hilarious. We found a practically new set of drafting pens for a brother’s gift: $80 new, marked as $10 at a garage sale but we bargained it down to five!
Emphasize the experience. Some people have more time than money. If you fit in that category, you can use it to your advantage for all sorts of occasions. Do friends have a new baby? Deliver dinner to the new parents, then stay to hold the baby while they eat the meal. Clean up afterwards, of course. Nieces and nephews? For that special occasion, invite them to join your family for camping, a hike, miniature golf — whatever your family does for fun. You’ll all get to know each other better, too. Parents and grandparents often would rather have you spend time than money on them, as well. Invite them over for brunch, or go feed the ducks at the park, or hear a free concert together.
Don’t turn your nose up at used. Aren’t we silly Americans! We talk about how great recycling is but we want everything we get to be new, new, new! It’s all about mindset. For kids’ toys, as long as they’re in safe condition, the fact that they’re “pre-owned” means little to a child — unless non-stop commercialism has already gotten to them! J.D. and I found two wooden sleds set out for the trash pickup in a ritzy neighborhood. After swallowing our hesitation, we grabbed them. With a cleaning and a few minor repairs, they were good to go — and looked great under the Christmas tree. Keep your eyes open all year for bargains, or arrange a toy exchange or toy hand-me-down system with friends and neighbors. Get to know people’s tastes and decorating styles so you can choose gifts they will appreciate.
Kids love the dollar store. I know, I know — everything’s made in foreign countries by underpaid workers. But seriously, if you are spending more than $3 for a kid’s birthday party gift, you need to visit a dollar store. The kids I know are fascinated by dollar store stuff until age 6 or 7. The parents may turn up their noses, but what kid wouldn’t love growing giant lizards or sharks (600% growth — just soak ’em in water!), red-white-and-blue glow necklaces, or a hundred fuzzy animal stickers?
Agree that gifts are only for the kids. Not having kids myself, I wouldn’t vote for this option, but I know many families like it. I think a better choice if you’re going to do this is to have adults buy small gifts for the kids ($5-10), and let kids make homemade gifts for the adults. I think this gets kids to think about giving as well as receiving.
Use homemade gifts. I’m a big fan for using the homemade gift for most every occasion. Special birthdays get a bouquet of garden flowers in a mason jar. Or, I take the time to write a sincere note in a beautiful card. If someone’s a fan of sweets, I’ll whip up a batch of cookies. If the season’s right, I might present them with fresh berries or a holly and cedar swag. The cost for all these gifts is minimal, but the gesture is still meaningful.
Mass produce. Last year, English Major offered a great tip about gift-giving ideas. You can save lots of dough by the assembly line approach. Pick a gift that will be appropriate for your list of recipients and buy craft items, ingredients, or components in bulk. Before you start, figure out how many gifts you’ll need and the cost per assembled gift. Check the figures against your budget. To maximize this idea, choose an idea that still allows for some personalization, say in the color or style of gift.
Just speak up. At my workplace, the envelope is constantly being passed for one event or another. The loss of a parent, a new baby, a retirement, etc. The flowers or gifts purchased with the collected cash may very well be much appreciated. But if your budget prevents you from chipping in, instead write a heartfelt note or tell the person face-to-face. A verbal expression of sympathy or support may be just what they need.
Shrug it off. Unfortunately, some people are all about the goods. If the people in your life aren’t going to appreciate or adjust to your frugal mindset, you have a choice to make. Keep spending to keep up with the Joneses, or go your own way and hold your head high. Find ways to show you care that don’t just involve handing over your debit card. Give when you can; give what you want to.
The side benefit of implementing any of these ideas is that it moves the whole concept of giving gifts back to thoughtfulness, effort, and individual creativity, rather than the focus on prices and packaging. Think of it as one small chink in the great wall of marketing and consumerism!
These are just some thoughts on the topic to get the discussion rolling. I’m sure there are scores of creative solutions out there.
Sign-up bonus: Get a $100 statement credit when you open a new Verizon Visa Card account and make a purchase on the card within the first 90 days of account opening.
4% Verizon Dollars: On grocery store and gas purchases
3% Verizon Dollars: On dining purchases, including takeout
2% Verizon Dollars: On Verizon purchases
1% Verizon Dollars: On all other eligible purchases
Additional benefits: $10 per month off each line with AutoPay
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.
Verizon is not one of the cheapest cell phone plan providers on the market. But it’s reliable and reputable, which is enough for millions of customers.
If you’re one of them and you have solid credit, the Verizon Visa Card could help you reduce the cost of doing business with Verizon. And avoid the hassle of switching carriers.
The Verizon Visa Card has a lot to recommend it, including a generous cash-back program and ongoing automatic payment discounts. But it’s not for everyone, so be sure you understand its strengths and weaknesses before you apply.
What Is the Verizon Visa Card?
The Verizon Visa Card is a cash-back credit card for Verizon mobile plan subscribers. To qualify, you must be a Verizon account owner or account manager on an account with 12 or fewer lines. You can add people who aren’t Verizon account owners or managers as authorized users.
The Verizon Visa Card earns 4% back on grocery and gas purchases, 3% back on dining purchases, 2% back on Verizon purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases. Rewards accrue as Verizon Dollars, which you can redeem for purchases at Verizon’s website or physical stores. You can also use them for gift cards, statement credits against your Verizon bill, and travel bookings.
The Verizon Visa Card has no annual fee. It has some other notable benefits as well, including a $10-per-line monthly discount on your Verizon bill when you enroll in automatic payments. There’s also a sign-up bonus that requires just one purchase during the first 90 days of account opening.
What Sets the Verizon Visa Card Apart?
The Verizon Visa Card stands out from similar cash-back and retail credit cards in several ways:
Up to 4% back on eligible purchases. The Verizon Visa Card earns up to 4% back on eligible purchases. Specifically, it earns 4% back on gas and grocery purchases and 3% back on dining purchases, including takeout. That’s unusually generous for a cash-back card with no annual fee.
Broad bonus rewards categories. This card has broader bonus rewards categories than most other cash-back cards. They encompass three major spending categories in addition to Verizon purchases, likely accounting for a significant portion of cardholders’ budgets.
Easy-to-attain sign-up bonus. The Verizon Visa Card’s sign-up bonus is very easy to earn. You have to make only one purchase during the first 90 days to get it.
Ongoing automatic payment discount. If you’re a first-time enrollee in Verizon’s automatic payments plan, you can get $10 off per month, per line with this card. Verizon caps the discount at 12 lines, but that’s still up to $120 per month in potential savings.
Key Features of the Verizon Visa Card
The Verizon Visa Card has an easy-to-attain sign-up bonus, generous rewards program, and some other benefits worth noting in depth.
Sign-up Bonus
Get a $100 statement credit when you open a new Verizon Visa Card account and make a purchase on the card within the first 90 days of account opening.
Earning Rewards
The Verizon Visa Card has a four-tiered rewards program:
4% back on eligible gas and grocery purchases
3% back on eligible dining purchases, including takeout
2% back on eligible Verizon purchases
1% back on all other eligible purchases
All rewards categories are unlimited and there’s no cap on how much you can earn overall. Rewards accrue as Verizon Dollars, Verizon’s loyalty currency.
Redeeming Rewards
You can redeem Verizon Dollars for purchases on Verizon’s website and at physical Verizon stores. Alternatively, you can redeem for statement credits against your Verizon bill, gift cards from other merchants, and travel bookings.
Redemption minimums and values vary depending on what you redeem for, but points can be worth up to $0.01 apiece when redeemed for Verizon purchases and statement credits.
Monthly AutoPay Discount
When you enroll your Verizon account in automatic payments with your Verizon Visa Card, you may qualify for a $10 monthly discount on each enrolled line (up to 12 lines total). You must be a first-time automatic payment enrollee to qualify; if you’re already enrolled when you apply for the Verizon Visa Card, you don’t get the discount.
Interest-Free Financing on Eligible Accessory Purchases
This card comes with 0% APR financing for 12 months on eligible Verizon accessory purchases totaling $100 or more. You must make 12 equal monthly payments and pay off the purchase in full by the end of the period.
Important Fees
The Verizon Visa Card has no annual fee. Other fees may apply.
Credit Required
This card requires good or better credit. Verizon doesn’t reveal its exact minimum credit standards, but you may have difficulty qualifying if your FICO score is well under 700.
Pros & Cons
The Verizon Visa Card has great appeal for existing and prospective Verizon customers, but it has a few drawbacks as well.
Excellent, easy-to-attain sign-up bonus
Generous rewards program with broad categories
Potentially valuable discounts
No annual fee
For Verizon customers and account managers only
Not available with business or prepaid accounts
No 0% intro APR offer
Pros
The Verizon Visa Card is a generous rewards card that costs nothing to keep in your wallet.
Excellent sign-up bonus. The Verizon Visa Card’s sign-up bonus isn’t the most generous around, but it’s incredibly easy to earn. Just make one purchase during the first 90 days to qualify.
Unusually generous rewards program. You can earn up to 4% back on eligible Verizon Visa Card purchases with no caps or restrictions on your earning potential. That’s very generous for a no-annual-fee card.
Potentially valuable automatic payment discount. This card’s automatic payment discount benefit is worth up to $120 per month ($10 per line, per month, up to 12 lines). If you qualify, it can significant cut your cell plan costs.
Interest-free financing on eligible Verizon accessory purchases. Verizon accessory purchases of $100 or more qualify for 12-month, 0% APR financing with this card. That’s a nice perk if you like having flashy phone swag and the latest tech.
No annual fee. This card has no annual fee. It costs nothing to keep around, even if you don’t use it as your primary credit card.
Cons
The Verizon Visa Card isn’t for everyone and lacks some benefits common to other cash-back cards.
For Verizon account owners and managers only. You need to own or be responsible for a Verizon account to be eligible for this card. That’s a downside relative to retail credit cards with no real eligibility requirements. For example, anyone with decent credit can get a Target RedCard Credit Card, even if they’ve never set foot in a Target store.
Not available with Verizon business or prepaid accounts. This card is only for traditional Verizon consumer accounts. It’s not open to business or prepaid users.
No 0% intro APR offer. This card offers limited interest-free financing on eligible Verizon purchases, but it lacks a broader 0% intro APR promotion. Many cash-back credit cards do offer such promotions.
Requires good credit. You need good credit to qualify for the Verizon Visa Card. If you’re in the process of building or rebuilding your credit, wait to apply until your FICO score nears 700.
How the Verizon Visa Card Stacks Up
The Verizon Visa Card is one of the better retail credit cards on the market. To get a sense of its usefulness before you apply, see how it compares to another above-average retail card: the Target RedCard Credit Card.
Verizon Visa
Target RedCard
Cash-Back Rate
Up to 4%
5% on all eligible purchases
Bonus Categories
Gas and groceries (4%), dining (3%), Verizon (2%)
Target, dining and gas (2%)
Base Cash-Back
1% on all eligible purchases
1% on all eligible purchases
Sign-Up Bonus
Yes, more generous
Yes, less generous
Credit Required
Good or better
Good or better
The Verizon Visa Card has a slightly lower maximum cash-back rate than the Target RedCard Credit Card, but its bonus categories are broader and more generous. Its sign-up bonus is also better. It’s therefore a slightly better card overall, though the RedCard is clearly superior for shopping at Target and Target.com.
Final Word
The Verizon Visa Card is more than a retail credit card. If you’re a Verizon account owner or manager, it can easily serve as your everyday spending card thanks to a generous rewards program with three broad, common bonus categories. With no annual fee and the potential for a big monthly automatic payment discount, it could significantly reduce your monthly cell phone costs.
Unfortunately, the Verizon Visa Card isn’t for everyone. If you’re not a current Verizon customer, you need to change carriers before you can apply, which might not be worth it. Business and prepaid Verizon accounts aren’t eligible either.
The bottom line is that if you qualify for this card, it’s excellent. But qualifying might be the toughest part.
The Verdict
Our rating
Verizon Visa Card
The Verizon Visa Card is an excellent companion to your Verizon wireless phone plan. With a generous rewards program and the potential for big discounts to your monthly bill, it’s one of the best retail cards around. But it’s only available to Verizon customers and has a few other drawbacks that could impact your decision to apply.
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.
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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.