ways

Money

28 Dumb Ways You Could Lose It All by Trying To Get Rich

By Gertrude Aziz 22 hours ago

Everyone wants to get rich quickly, but no one likes the risks involved in chasing that elusive fortune. If you want to learn how to get rich, you’ll receive conflicting advice and run into a dizzying array of investment opportunities. And low returns aren’t the only danger. If you choose a bad method for making money, you could end up losing a big chunk instead of gaining one.

Last updated: Aug. 12, 2020

Inexperienced rehabbers often drool at the prospect of a cheaply priced house, thinking it will bring them riches as a rental. They ignore the fact that there’s a reason for the price. Brian Davis, the co-founder of SparkRental, learned this the hard way.

“My particular mistake was investing in super low-end properties, chasing super high returns,” he said. “In rental investing, bad neighborhoods look great on paper, because the typical numbers that investors use to forecast income … Read More

Business

30 Ways Shopping Will Never Be the Same After the Coronavirus

By Gertrude Aziz 2 days ago

The coronavirus has changed life in just about every aspect, including shopping. Many retailers with a brick-and-mortar presence have been able to shift to serving customers solely online, but essential businesses like Target and Costco have been forced to quickly adapt to new safety protocols to protect customers and employees.

Some restrictions will almost definitely ease up over time, but as Forbes reported, the longer the pandemic crisis goes on, the greater it will impact the retail landscape. Additionally, as consumers get used to these thoughtful safety measures, they may want them to stick around. Here’s a glimpse at how shopping could be different forever.

Last updated: Aug. 12, 2020

Young Children Not Allowed in Stores

Taking your child with you to run errands might become a thing of the past. In fact, some stores have already instituted this rule.

Wisconsin-based home improvement store Menards banned shoppers under the age

Finance

4 ridiculously easy ways you can be more eco-friendly

By Gertrude Aziz 3 days ago

When it comes to saving the planet, the question of where to start can be overwhelming. And while larger, governmental change is urgently needed, we can all individually contribute to being part of “the solution” rather than “the pollution.”

Savvy consumerism is no longer reserved for staunch eco-warriors, and it’s easier than ever to make “green” choices. There are plenty of examples: Veja creates fashionable sneakers from recycled plastic bottles, organic cotton, or wild rubber from the Brazilian Amazon. Personal care brand By Humankind delivers shampoo bars in paper boxes and provides refills for its deodorant. Whether it’s sustainable fashion or the reusable Origami Bottle that collapses down to pocket-size, traditionally unsustainable industries are being disrupted by alternatives.

Exciting environmentally-friendly products are an easy incentive for consumers to go green. However, they should be wary of greenwashing, or when a brand’s sustainable marketing conflicts with its actual business practices.

Insurance

25 Ways To Make an Extra $500 a Month

By Gertrude Aziz 4 days ago

In times of economic crisis, every last dollar counts. No matter how much the coronavirus pandemic has affected your income, it’s always a good idea to sock away some extra money if you can. Even if you’re working 40 hours a week at a full-time job, there are things you can do to earn a few extra hundred dollars per month. Although everyone’s life is different and some of these ideas might only be possible when cities start to reopen more, there are likely at least a few options that can give you a bit of breathing room when it comes to finances.

Last updated: May 27, 2020

Rent Out Possessions

About $706 per month for car rental, on average via Turo

If you’ve got assets that you don’t want to sell but may not be currently using, consider renting them out. Thanks to the access the internet provides, it’s

Money

Afraid of Losing Your Job? 26 Ways To Financially Prepare Now

By Gertrude Aziz 7 days ago

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, nearly 40 million Americans have lost their jobs over the span of pandemic — and that number is expected to continue to grow, according to NBC News.

Losing a job can be traumatic and throw a major wrench into your financial well-being, but fortunately, there are things you can do now to be prepared in the event of a layoff.

Last updated: Aug. 7, 2020

Build an Emergency Fund

If you don’t have money saved in an emergency fund, now is the time to focus your efforts on building one.

“We typically recommend three to six months of expenses, but there isn’t a magic number to hit as that number is based on your needs,” said Lacey Cobb, CFA, CFP, director of advice solutions at Personal Capital.

Many people don’t have enough to cover living expenses for three months, and if that’s the case for

Insurance

31 Simple Ways Experts Stay Resilient, Hopeful, And Happy During The Toughest Times

By Gertrude Aziz 1 week ago

From Women’s Health

This year’s been a doozy for your mental health, no doubt. Enter: the WH coping manual to help you survive and thrive through any emotional disaster (as well as the small stuff you still sweat)…and crush it every step of the way.

How are you? Seriously, check in with yourself. What was the answer? “Fine”? “Not great, but I don’t want to complain because people have it worse”? “Ready to blast off to space”? It’s no secret that 2020 has felt like an active volcano, in which spewing news cycles are followed by simmering states of despair.

Now for the good: There’s a ton of actions you can take to Keep. Moving. Forward. So fantasize for a minute here. If you want to learn to play tennis, you’d (in an alternate universe) call Serena Williams. Biz advice? You might go to Sheryl Sandberg.

Insurance

Smart Ways You Can Prepare For Job Loss While You’re Still Employed

By Gertrude Aziz 2 weeks ago

Approximately 44.2 million people have filed for unemployment since the start of the coronavirus shutdown in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Labor. If your employer is struggling to stay afloat in the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re probably concerned about your job.

Preparing for a possible pink slip in your not-so-distant future can help you find a new job faster and stay afloat financially in the interim. In order to brace yourself for job loss, take these steps now.

Last updated: July 30, 2020

Update Your Resume

If your resume is updated, you’ll be able to start applying for jobs the day you’re laid off. You’ll need to customize it for each position, but having a generic version ready to go will be a huge start.

This is the first impression you’ll make on potential employers, so take the time to create a polished and professional document. Most employers

Money

Need extra income? Try these 3 simple ways to earn money from home

By Gertrude Aziz 2 weeks ago

With nearly 50 million Americans unemployed due to the coronavirus pandemic, many are looking for any way to earn money from home.

NBC senior business correspondent Stephanie Ruhle spoke with TODAY’s Hoda Kotb about the best ways to help your bank account without leaving the house.

1. Make sure there’s no unclaimed money in your name.

According to Ruhle, a shocking amount of money goes unclaimed in the United States: It’s estimated that the country has about $42 billion in unclaimed funds.

“I’m talking about security deposits, store credits, money the IRS might owe you, maybe even a savings account you forgot about,” Ruhle said. “This money, if it’s left dormant for a while, gets moved to a holding account in your state, but it’s up to you to go find it.”

To start looking for any unclaimed funds, go to your state’s unclaimed property website and type in your

Insurance

101 Easy Ways To Save Money Daily

By Gertrude Aziz 2 weeks ago

You’re probably tired of hearing people — whether it’s your parents, friends or personal finance experts — tell you that you need to start saving more money now. What you really need instead are some helpful tips on how you can realistically start growing your savings today. After all, skipping your daily $5 Starbucks coffee will only take you so far. Fortunately, there are many easy ways you can save money every day.

With friends’ weddings, corporate conferences and maybe even girls’ — or boys’ — nights out, it can be easy to find an excuse to buy a dress or suit every month. But unless you plan to wear that garment several more times in the future, it’s not really worth the expense. Next time you have an event coming up, borrow a nice outfit from a close friend or rent one for the day. You can rent the … Read More

Finance

6 Ways to Finance Your Home Improvement Project

By Gertrude Aziz 2 weeks ago

If you’ve been staring at the four walls of your home since March, you might feel an itch to finally finish your basement or update your bathroom tiles. As long as you’re at home, you might as well enjoy what you’re looking at, right?

According to a survey by online lender LightStream, 73% of homeowners are planning a home improvement project this year. Nearly two-thirds of homeowners planning renovations will use savings, the survey says. Those who don’t have savings or choose not to spend it will need to weigh their options for financing their renovation projects.

The best way to pay for your project depends on factors like your home equity, credit and goals for the project. Here are six types of home improvement loans and how each works.

1. Cash-out refinance

The economic effects of COVID-19 have driven mortgage rates down sharply, making cash-out refinance a popular recommendation