If you are looking to diversify your promotional activities but cannot decide between using banners or flags, we have the facts to help you choose. Both of these items are a great addition to getting customers engaged in your business, product or service. Below will explain the key functionalities of both banners and flags, their various forms and the pros and cons of each.
5 Tips on Finding Inexpensive Car Insurance for Teenage Drivers
When it comes to oxymorons, it’s hard to beat “inexpensive car insurance for teenagers.” As parents of young drivers know all too well, it costs a pretty penny to keep their teens insured. [Read more…]
Can I Move Out Of My Parent’s House With No Money?
Figuring out how to move out with no money isn’t easy. In many cases, moving comes with some significant expenses. For example, there are deposits required when you rent an apartment. Additionally, you’ll need to have a way to get your belongings to your new place, as well as pay your bills moving forward. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t move out of your parent’s house with no money. Here are some options that can help you make it happen.
Start with a Budget
Even if you don’t have any savings to support your move, you may be able to make it work, depending on your income. Create a budget that outlines your current expenses. Next, add in costs you’d need to handle once you move, including rent payments, utilities, renter’s insurance, groceries, and similar expenses. Usually, you can find the average cost for those expenses in your area with a bit of research.
Once you know what you’ll need to cover, compare that to your income. That lets you see if you can potentially afford to move out, as well as if you have room in your budget to start saving for deposits and moving expenses.
Focus on Low-Cost Rentals
While you may have visions of having a luxury apartment, if you don’t have any money set aside, you’re going to need to start out in a low-cost rental. This might include small studio apartments or roommate arrangements.
With the latter, you may be able to save a bit more on your move. For example, if a friend has a room they’re willing to rent – and the landlord allows it – you might not need to cover security or utility deposits. Even if you do have to contribute to a security deposit, what you’d need to pay could be far less than if you moved out on your own.
If you need to move out as quickly as possible, you may be able to talk to other family members or friends to see if you can stay with them for a short period while you get on your feet. However, you do need to have a frank conversation to ensure everyone’s on the same page regarding how this plays out. Additionally, it’s best if you can show a concrete plan – including a timeline – that lets them know when you’d be ready to move into your own place.
Sell Your Excess Stuff
If you want to reduce the cost of your move and give yourself a little cushion, sell any personal belongings that aren’t essential. While it could mean living a little sparsely initially, it lets you get a bit of cash that you can use to cover transporting your other property to your new place, handle security deposits, or build up a small emergency fund to make sure you’re ready for the unexpected.
Secure or Maintain a Source of Income
When you don’t have a financial buffer, maintaining a source of income is essential if you’re going to move out of your parent’s house. Ideally, you want something reliable and reasonably consistent, especially if you want to rent a place on your own. Otherwise, you may have trouble meeting the income requirements for the rental.
In some cases, you may want to supplement your core income, as well. Options through the gig economy can be excellent ways to bring in a bit more money. Plus, if you start before you move out, you may be able to build up some savings to support your move.
Live within Your Means
Living within your means is crucial if you don’t have a financial buffer. Make sure you keep your expenses as low as possible and focus on saving before you move and after you transition into your new place. An emergency fund provides you with some security, so it’s crucial to build one as fast as possible.
While this can mean forgoing niceties for a while, it’s a sacrifice worth making if moving out is important to you. So, focus on keeping your expenses down and stash as much cash as possible. That way, you’ll increase your odds of success.
Do you have any other tips that can help people figure out how to move out with no money? Did you manage to move out on a dime and want to tell others about your experience? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Read More:
- Setting Aside Money for When You Move into Our New Home: What Might You Need It For?
- Is It Ever a Good Idea to Move Back in With Your Parents to Pay Off Debt?
- Should I Let My Parents Move in With Me for Financial Reasons?
Tamila McDonald is a U.S. Army veteran with 20 years of service, including five years as a military financial advisor. After retiring from the Army, she spent eight years as an AFCPE-certified personal financial advisor for wounded warriors and their families. Now she writes about personal finance and benefits programs for numerous financial websites.
5 High-Paying Jobs That Aren’t Worth the Stress
Regarding our careers, we often focus on finding a well-paying job to help our finances. And while there’s nothing wrong with wanting to earn a good income, we shouldn’t sacrifice our health and well-being for a paycheck.
There are plenty of high-paying jobs out there that come with a lot of stress and long hours. You can quickly burn out in one of these roles if you’re not careful. So, before you leap to a high-paying job, it’s essential to consider whether or not the position is worth the stress. Here are some high-paying jobs that aren’t worth the stress.
1. Investment Banker
Investment bankers are known for working long hours and under a lot of pressure. The job can be highly stressful, and it’s not uncommon for bankers to experience burnout. If you’re considering a career in investment banking, ensure you’re prepared to handle the stress. Other occupations in finance can also be stressful, such as being a stockbroker or working in venture capital finances. While these are high-paying careers, they might not be suitable for those not used to long hours, high piles of paperwork, and uncertain business ventures.
2. Lawyer
Like investment bankers, lawyers also work long hours and can be under a lot of stress. If you enter the legal field, you can expect to work long hours and deal with a lot of pressure. And while the job can be rewarding for your finances, it’s not always worth the stress. For instance, around 40% to 50% of marriages end in divorce, which means you will need to handle sensitive issues between couples, custody, and other life-changing situations for families. If you’re not prepared to address the challenges of being a lawyer, you might want to consider another career.
3. Doctor
Being a doctor is a demanding job, and it can be very stressful. If you’re not ready to handle the stress of the job, then becoming a doctor might not be the right career choice for you. Doctors are often on call and have to deal with life-and-death situations regularly. In addition, doctors must also come face to face with some of the worst traumas and problems affecting people. For instance, a pipeline catches fire every four days, affecting many people and leading to burns and emergency room visits. As a doctor, you need to be ready to help these victims in any way you can without letting the stress affect you.
4. Car Salespeople
Car salespeople have a reputation for being pushy and aggressive. And while the job can be lucrative, it’s not always worth the stress. If you’re considering a career in car sales, you must be prepared to deal with rejection regularly. In addition, you’ll also need to be comfortable with working long hours and dealing with people that are angry or upset. Consider that between private-party and dealership sales, nearly 40 million used cars are exchanged every year, meaning you’ll need to help hundreds of people every given month. If you’re not ready to handle the challenges of the job, then you might want to consider another career.
5. Law Enforcement
Working in law enforcement can be a gratifying career, but it’s not always easy. If you’re considering a career in law enforcement, you need to be prepared to deal with the challenges that come with the job. Police officers have to deal with a lot of stress and often work long hours. In addition to the stress, police officers also have to deal with dangerous situations regularly. While the finances of the job are rewarding, if you’re not comfortable with the risks, then becoming a police officer might not be the right career choice for you.
While many high-paying jobs come with a lot of stress, there are also plenty of rewarding careers that don’t involve long hours and high pressure. Finding a balance between a job that pays well and one that you’re actually happy with is crucial.
How to Qualify for Personal Loans With an Average Credit Score
How to Qualify for Personal Loans With an Average Credit Score
Many people in the United States lack the funds to make a huge purchase, meet an unanticipated expense, or consolidate their debts. To spread the cost over time, many people get personal loans, credit cards, mortgages, and auto loans.
5 Strategies to Keep Your Financial Information Safe
Keeping your financial information safe is imperative for theft prevention and financial loss. Hackers gain access to billions of dollars each year due to insecure passwords and easy access to unprotected financial records. Business owners and individuals should invest in fool-proof data communication and storage software. Having more than one type of security makes it difficult for anyone to guess, hack, and infiltrate your online security system. Here are a few tips to help you protect your finances.
1. Use Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication involves using two or more enabled security features to access your account. One factor: authentication is risky, and most hackers can easily guess your password. However, if you were to add a fingerprint, or phone number, along with a difficult-to-guess password, this would help increase your security. This is similar to what online banking institutions require. In order to access your account, you’ll need to verify your identity through several methods. If a hacker provides the wrong information, they won’t be able to access your account.
2. Use Different Passwords
Changing passwords often ensures that no one can easily penetrate your financial records. You should never use the same password for more than one account. Make sure you change your password every few weeks or once a month. If you forget your password, you can always create another one. In the meantime, create a password that makes it difficult for someone to guess. Avoid using personal information such as birthdays, addresses, names, or any identifying information.
Include numbers, capital and small letters, and symbols in your password. Using the underscore feature is a wise choice as well. Don’t use simple phrases or letters. Be creative.
3. Make Sure You Have Virus Protection
Many businesses and individuals make the mistake of not completely securing the information on their servers. A breach online is a breach of your financial information. Having virus protection software can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in technical fees. Cyber threats have been around for a long time, reaping havoc and financial ruin. A good antivirus software program can protect your sensitive and private information 24 hours per day, seven days a week, on any server.
Information stored online is secured through secured servers because data storage and security are imperative both to the modern enterprise and online users. The process of using secured servers enables encrypted data communication of sensitive data. Data is backed up constantly, and security patches are often updated.
4. Avoid Public Connections
Connecting your computer or devices to a public network is risky. Most public devices aren’t secure, and anyone can access your information. This includes places like airports, restaurants, hotels, libraries, and schools. These places have minimal network security, which means anyone can easily acquire someone else’s information. Threats and software attacks are easy targets and put you at higher risk of being exposed to the network. Stay away from unsecured websites, even if they’re free, convenient, and accessible.
5. Secure Financial Information: Destroy Paper Trails
Leave no documents behind. Once you have secured your financial records, destroy repetitive information. Some financial information might be mailed or emailed. Invest in a shredder so you can destroy sensitive information that is no longer needed. For information stored on laptops, computers, or cellphones, delete the files, invest in a permanent deletion program, and reset your phone to the factory setting.
Protecting your financial information is imperative. Not only can a hacker steal your passwords but they can also steal your money and your identity. Follow the tips above to make sure your finances are kept safe at all times.
What Is Financial Literacy and Why Is It Important?
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Financial literacy is the confident comprehension of ideas like debt, investing, and saving. It results in a general sense of financial security and self-confidence. While Americans might undoubtedly do better in this area, they have made progress in recent years. It begins with developing a fundamental understanding of your financial standing and main problems.
What Does Being Financially Literate Mean?
According to a 2015 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report, financial literacy aims to give you a sense of control over your finances. It seeks to empower you to use money as a tool to make decisions that increase the quality of your life freely. Other objectives include being able to deal with unforeseen problems like losing a job and setting and achieving financial objectives.
When you are financially literate, you know how to divide your money between several objectives at once. They may include savings, debt repayment, an emergency fund, and regular expenses. With the right resources, you can research and assess loan, credit card, and investment alternatives even if you don’t have a lot of extra money to meet all of your financial goals,
Financial literacy will teach you how to prioritize your goals and make progress when you can. You can meet many of your goals even with minimal money to spare. Financial literacy in action includes:
- Every time you receive a pay rise, you should increase your retirement savings
- Maintaining an emergency reserve with three to six months’ worth of your expenses and replenishing it after withdrawals
- Keeping up with your credit
The Importance of Financial Literacy
Being financially literate equips you to handle life’s inevitable ups and downs. It teaches you how to avoid problems before they happen and how to deal with them when they happen. The specifics of financial literacy may include:
- Keeping a close eye on your bank and credit card accounts to spot any potential fraud as soon as possible
- Saving up enough cash to recover from expensive and unexpected costs like car repair and medical bills
- Actively saving for essential expenses such as a trip or your child’s college education.
Other benefits include:
Understanding Your Income and Expenses
Making a budget is a crucial step in financial literacy. It allows you to truly grasp an idea of your income and expenses. Once you’ve established a budget, you can monitor your spending and come back to it frequently. Choose a way of budgeting that you’re most likely to follow. FinancialFit can help you get into financial shape and save as much as you need to.
Try to Safeguard Your Retirement
Even though you may have a short-term goal, you must start saving for retirement as soon as possible. Financial literacy will help you make smarter decisions about how much to save, what kind of retirement you want, and how to get there.
Pay Off and Stay Out of Debt
When comparing loan terms, go with the lowest interest rates to promote long-term savings. Paying off credit card balances monthly will also help you minimize interest costs. Financial literacy may help you select the most effective debt relief strategies. You may do it on your own or with the help of a trustworthy professional like a nonprofit credit counselor.
If you are curious about financial literacy, get the help of reliable professionals. They will guide you based on your specific situation, ensuring that you attain financial wellness in no time.
5 Tips to Help You Land Your Dream Job
Everyone looking for a job hopes that it will end up being an amazing one, or better yet, their dream job. This could help make it easier to enjoy working and excel in your career, so it goes without saying that you should make an effort to land your dream job. If you’re wondering what steps you need to take to this end, read on to see five tips that should help you land your dream job.
1. Network
While a number of jobs are posted online, it’s good to note that many aren’t. To have a good chance of learning about more opportunities, you need to network widely. Let the people with whom you interact know that you’re looking for a job in a certain industry and share your qualifications whenever possible. While at it, remember to also network in the right places online. For instance, you will have a good chance of landing a job if you register on a platform like LinkedIn. This is a social network primarily meant for business and career professionals. It has over 500 million users around the world, so it’s easy to see that you may interact with a future employer on it.
2. Research
Next, research widely to find out as much as you can about your dream job. Learn the ways in which you can improve your odds of landing and keeping a job that you love, even seeking examples of questions you may be asked at interviews. This information may prove useful to you at any stage of your job search, so it’s worth the effort. Find out if there are any requirements that may affect your employability and work on them to improve your odds. Learn about the companies for which you would like to work and you may have a better chance of getting hired.
3. Improve Your Image
Remember that your appearance may play a role in helping you land your dream job. This is especially true because of the potential effect that your image has on your confidence levels. If you look good, you may be more confident and therefore be better able to impress a panel of interviewers when invited for an interview. Whatever it is that you’re uncomfortable with, you should work on it, even if it means going to get a procedure done. This includes the appearance of your mouth and teeth, for example. Note that 28% of young adults in a survey said that the way their teeth and mouth look affected their ability to successfully interview for a position.
4. Improve Yourself
Take the time to improve yourself, not just in terms of appearance, but also in terms of competence. This includes learning a course that will give you an edge over other people seeking the same position as you are. Look for a mentor if possible and follow their advice since they likely know things that you don’t. The finances that you spend on improving yourself will be more than returned to you if you can make yourself more employable.
5. Stay Flexible
Finally, it’s important for you to stay flexible in your search for the perfect job, both in terms of time and finances. Remember that, for instance, you may have to start at a junior position before you become eligible for the position you’re eyeing. You may also have to move to a different city, something that’s pretty common to do, with 40% of all moves being because of work.
Give these five tips some thought and you will increase your odds of landing your dream job. It may take some time, but as long as you stay consistent, you have a good chance of getting what you want in the end.
How Much Cash Should I Have In My Wallet?
Today, carrying cash in your wallet can feel a bit antiquated. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good idea to have some bills tucked away, just in case they become a necessity. If you’re wondering, “How much cash should I have in my wallet?” here’s what you need to know.
Why Should I Carry Cash in My Wallet?
One reason that carrying cash feels a bit old-school is that there is a slew of more modern payment options. Various technologies have made alternatives plentiful, allowing you to avoid hassles like going to the bank and speaking with a teller or using an ATM to get enough cash to pay for purchases.
Debit cards, credit cards, and mobile payment apps are generally more convenient, and many people rely entirely on them. At times, these other options also carry less risk. If you drop your cash by mistake, there’s little recourse if you can’t find it. With cards or phone-based options, you can shut the cards or accounts down temporarily, safeguarding your money until you get a new card or can replace your phone. Plus, you can dispute charges on a credit card if you didn’t make them.
In many ways, it may seem like the alternatives are naturally better choices. The issue is that they don’t always work. Here are some times when cash is a must.
Technical Issues
Stores can have technical issues that prevent card readers from working. Similarly, a tech problem might prevent phones from connecting to registers using near-field communication (NFC) technologies, stopping payment methods like Apple Pay or Google Pay from going through. Here, without an alternative form of payment like cash, you can’t complete a purchase.
Not Accepting Cards
While it may seem odd, not all merchants take cards. Generally, it’s rare that a retailer wouldn’t take some form of electronic payment, but some businesses do operate as cash-only for payments. This is more common if you’re not heading to a traditional brick-and-mortar store.
For example, if you want to eat at a food truck or are heading to a craft fair, your odds of a payment issue are higher. That means that, without a bit of cash, you may miss out on what a cash-only business has to offer.
Not Accepting Your Card
Similar to the point above, some retailers take specific card types but not others. This issue is more common with Discover and American Express, but it can technically happen with Visa and Mastercard, too. Without some cash available, you may not be able to complete necessary purchases. As a result, having a little money in your wallet is a wise choice, safeguarding you from the expected and ensuring you can access any retailer you’d like to use.
How Much Cash Should I Have in My Wallet?
When it comes to the amount of cash a person should have in their wallet, there isn’t a specific magic number that works for everyone. Instead, you need to consider the broader situation, allowing you to find a figure that’s right for you.
On a day-to-day basis, having about a day’s worth of typical spending cash is enough. For example, that might involve enough cash to put gas in your car to get to work, cover tolls or parking fees, and pay for a meal or two. For many people, that works out to $100 to $200, though some may be able to get away with a bit less or might require a little more.
If you’re heading out to an event – such as a fair or swap meet – then you may want to carry your full spending budget in cash. While many retailers that travel with events do accept cards, your odds of running into a few that don’t are high.
When you’re carrying a more considerable sum, don’t keep all of it in your wallet. Instead, consider splitting it up, putting some in your wallet and the rest in a concealed money belt. That way, if you drop your wallet, you don’t lose everything. Plus, many money belts are designed to prevent you from becoming a victim of pickpocketing, and they’re usually quite comfortable to wear.
How to Carry the Cash in Your Wallet
If you’re open to having some cash in your wallet, you need to make sure the bills are in the right denominations. Usually, only larger retailers are willing to accept $100 bills, so it isn’t wise to carry your cash in hundreds. Smaller businesses may feel that taking a hundred is too risky, or they might not have enough change available if your purchase total is small.
At times, even $50 bills may be hard to use. Again, some retailers won’t accept bills that large, and others may run into issues with change.
Since that’s the case, it’s usually best to stick with nothing larger than $20 bills. In fact, you may want to mix it up a little to give yourself some versatility.
For example, if you decide to carry $100 in your wallet, go with three $20 bills, two $10 bills, three $5 bills, and five $1 bills. That way, if you need to leave a tip for a meal in cash or make a smaller purchase, you can use smaller bills.
As with the total amount you carry, the mix of bills in your wallet may vary depending on your exact needs. Just keep in mind that $100 or $50 bills might be harder to use, so make sure most of your cash is in smaller denominations.
Are you surprised at how much cash you should have in your wallet? Do you think that carrying cash is a smart move or completely unnecessary? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Read More:
- Don’t Keep These 7 Things in Your Wallet
- 7 Essential Benefits of Using Prepaid Cards
- How to Create an Emergency Fund Without Much Extra Cash
Tamila McDonald is a U.S. Army veteran with 20 years of service, including five years as a military financial advisor. After retiring from the Army, she spent eight years as an AFCPE-certified personal financial advisor for wounded warriors and their families. Now she writes about personal finance and benefits programs for numerous financial websites.
Freedom Debt Relief- How to Negotiate Debt with Your Credit Card Company
There may come a time when you’re paying almost as much in your monthly credit card payments as you’re paying for housing. Or, perhaps, those high interest rates render erasing your debt impossible. If that’s the case, you may want to negotiate with your credit card issuers. Here’s what you should know.
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