Congratulations, your hard work and dedication have paid off. With a higher annual salary, you’ve achieved a level of financial security that provides choices and the chance to plan for the future.
It’s liberating, isn’t it?
Not long ago your bank balance defined your limit for the week or month. Now you can build a cushion and the means to save and invest in yourself.
Here are 9 tips to kick-start that journey. Not all will work for you, but some will, so read them all.
1. Invest in real-estate with $10
It used to be that investing in commercial real estate, like apartment or office buildings, required lots of money and lots of expertise.
Not anymore! Thanks to an online investing platform called Fundrise, now people with modest amounts of money can own a slice of a big real estate portfolio.
Fundrise tears down the traditional barriers needed to invest in real estate property, and so far over 1.7 million consumers have used Fundrise to invest in commercial property.
It takes as little as $10 to get started, the platform is easy to use, it’s open to investors of all experience levels and there are other investment options too, like IRAs.
Fundrise has delivered an average annual rate return of 5.29% over the past five years, a stark contrast to the average, annual 0.23% interest your money gets by sitting in a savings account.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed, and past performance is no indication of future results. Still, Fundrise has the potential to make more than you’re making now in the bank — or under the mattress. And you can get your feet wet for as little as $10.
Note: This is a testimonial in partnership with Fundrise. We earn a commission from partner links on moneytalksnews.com. All opinions are our own.
2. Make money renting your driveway or extra space
Do you have room in your garage, driveway, basement or attic? Would you like to earn some extra cash? Then check out Neighbor. It’s like Airbnb, but instead of hosting people, you just store their stuff for them.
You can potentially earn hundreds or even thousands in passive income this way, and Neighbor makes it easy. It connects homeowners with people who need storage space for less than the rates that commercial storage places or parking garages charge. You set your own prices, although Neighbor suggests guidelines for you.
You review renters’ requests, and how much stuff you store is up to you. You can stash a few boxes in a closet, or keep someone’s belongings in a room or a shed.
You can think even bigger. If you have the space, you can make money storing vehicles, RVs or boats. Your earnings depend on where you’re located, but most driveways rent for $100 to $150 a month.
You’re allowed to inspect anything you store, and reject anything you don’t want on your property. Neighbor insures you for up to $1 million if your home gets damaged or someone gets hurt moving their stuff in.
Neighbor handles the payments and automatically deposits them into your account each month. They take a 5% cut, but listing your space or driveway is free.
3. Don’t pay retail, save 10%-30% on everything you buy
Let’s face it, shopping online is more convenient than going to a store. Plus, you’re more likely to find a deal, promotion, or coupon code and quickly cross-reference prices at several different retailers to save money.
Want to make that process even easier? Try Capital One Shopping. This handy dandy tool alerts you when a deal on an item you’re buying is available. Talk about effortless. All you have to do is add it as a browser extension, and it’ll search the internet for coupon codes to apply during checkout.
That’s not all. It also compares prices across the internet and will notify you when the item you’re purchasing is cheaper elsewhere. It’s free, and you don’t need to be a Capital One customer to use it. It’s just a friendly tool trying to save you money online.
Save Money When You Shop Online
4. Have a lot to say? Get paid fast for your opinions
Why give something away for free when you can be paid for it?
Branded Surveys offers a quick and easy way to make extra cash in your spare time. Their platform is user-friendly and allows you to complete surveys on any device. Plus, their fast payment system means you’ll receive your earnings quickly.
With Branded Surveys’ point-based system, you’ll earn rewards for each survey completed, and these can be redeemed for gift cards, PayPal cash or even sweepstake entries for a chance to win big.
Join Branded Surveys today and start earning rewards for sharing your opinion!
5. Earn 10 times more on your savings
What’s the difference between a half-percent and 4% interest?
If you’re like a lot of savers, you’ll say, “Who cares? Neither one amounts to much.” But that’s a mistake, and the longer you make it, the more it will cost you.
Example: Put aside $500 a month for 30 years at 0.5% interest, and you’ll end up with $195,000. Nice!
But if you can raise that rate to 4%, you’ll end up with more like $350,000. Nicer!
Doesn’t it make sense to earn an extra $155,000 with no additional effort and with no additional risk? That’s exactly why it pays to shop your savings and find the highest-paying FDIC-insured savings account.
Especially when it’s so simple. There are tons of free online comparison sites that can help you find top rates on insured savings in seconds. So take a few seconds and check it out.
Get a Higher Interest Rate Today
6. Qualify for a low interest loan with that new pay bump
One way to slash the high interest you’re paying is to get a lower-interest personal loan and use the proceeds to pay off all your debt in one fell swoop.
And finding one couldn’t be easier.
Whether you’re consolidating high-interest debt, financing your next home renovation project, or covering unexpected expenses, NerdWallet's loan marketplace makes finding the right loan quick and easy.
It only takes a few minutes to apply — without affecting your credit score — and if approved, you’ll have money in your account in no time.
NerdWallet has rated and reviewed loans from more than 35 financial institutions, with loan amounts ranging from $2,000 to $50,000 and APRs as low as 5.99%.
Their marketplace also offers a range of helpful resources and tools, so you’ll feel confident and informed throughout the process. It’s never been this easy to find and compare personal loans.
Try Out the NerdWallet Loan Marketplace Right Now
7. Get $100 or more for trying fun, free apps
Imagine having your next coffee, case of beer, or gas fill-up paid for. Well, it’s possible when you use KashKick.com. It’s a browser-based rewards website that will pay you for completing specific tasks like trying a new app or game, taking surveys, or watching videos.
KashKick doesn’t have any gotchas or hidden fees. What you see is what you get. Surveys range from 15 cents to $2 each, so your earnings add up quickly. You must have a minimum of $10 before cashing out to your PayPal account. The payout time is usually three business days or less.
To sweeten the pot, you’ll receive 25% of your friends’ earnings when they join using your referral link. It’s only available to American citizens or permanent residents. So, try it in your downtime and let the drinks pay for themselves.
Get Paid for Things You Do All Day
8. Keep more of your hard-earned Benjamins
A 0% interest rate credit card is a great way to stop the interest clock from ticking, often for a year or more, while you focus on paying down your balances.
There are lots of 0% interest credit cards available, so compare the features and benefits of each to find the best fit for you.
Factors to consider include the length of the 0% period, the regular APR after the intro period ends, the balance transfer fee and the annual fee.
This is not a free pass to spend beyond your means. You still need to make at least the minimum payment every month and if possible, to pay off your balance before the intro period expires. And you’ll likely need a good credit score to qualify.
Still, 0% credit cards are powerful tools you can harness to crush high rates and radically reduce your balances. Just use them responsibly and plan ahead for when the intro period ends.
Click Here for the 10 Best 0% Credit Cards
9. Save hundreds on car insurance
If you’re like most Americans, you’re probably paying too much for car insurance. But shopping around for a better deal can be a hassle.
Or is it?
Take a few seconds and check out Provide Insurance, the largest online marketplace for insurance in the U.S. Provide Insurance lets you compare quotes from more than 175 different carriers in the blink of an eye.
Just answer a few questions about yourself and your driving history. Then Provide will show you the best options for your needs and budget.
You could save up to $610 a year on car insurance by using the Provide marketplace. That’s money you could use for other things, like investing, saving, paying off debt or just having fun.
Don’t let your current insurer overcharge you. Try Provide.
See How Much You Could Save Right Now
Bonus: Join 1+ million Americans banking $1,000 extra every year
What if we told you there’s a way to earn an extra $1,000 every year without having to work for it?
There is: It’s called the Money Talks Newsletter, and it’s free. Our more than one million subscribers report saving an average of $991.20 annually thanks to our news and advice, including lots of articles and information to spend less, save more and invest like a pro.
The Money Talks Newsletter takes less than five minutes of your day and is designed specifically to make you smarter and wealthier, and without boring you to tears in the process.
Sign up for the FREE Money Talks Newsletter. It takes 10 seconds to subscribe, and if you don’t like it, 10 seconds to unsubscribe. And we never, ever sell your info. Because that’s just not nice.
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