Money Making(and saving)Tips

If you like to shop online, watch videos, search the web, take surveys and find great deals on the web, then you should check out Swagbucks. Swagbucks rewards you in points(swagbucks) to do the things you normally do online. Points can be redeemed for great gift cards. Every 100 points equals $1 value and there are gift cards as low as 100 points(keep in mind you get what you pay for and better cards become available at 500+ points. This is a legitimate site to make money. People claim to make over $2000 a year easily.

In my search for the best interest rate online accounts, I found an online savings account that has an APY of 1.10%. There is no minimum deposit required to earn this rate. Discover online banking offers a high yielding savings account and other services such as checking, CDs, money market and even IRA accounts.
Synchrony Bank goes a bit better at 1.15% APY. I know what you're saying. Why give two different banks with different APYs? I mean it's obvious that Synchrony should be the choice hands down. I tend to use one as an emergency fund where I'll withdraw money if needed. The other I use as a nest egg and not touch it until later in life. But you do what works for you.

Still living paycheck to paycheck? Here are ways to spend less and save. The ones that have helped me big time are not keeping up with the proverbial Joneses, to hell with what your friends, family or neighbors have. Putting money religiously aside in a savings account weekly. I live below my means and I live in a cheaper apartment. Out of everything else, I learned to cook. That is a money saver and more nutritious if you buy your meals at work.

What should you do on a Monday and never on a Thursday? Buy gas! You've been warned.

Reassessing Your Finances

Do you really need a budget? Some tend to say that a budget isn't really needed. I do believe that everyone is different, and if you are in debt, you should probably have a budget. Budgets should be flexible, since some things can change.




A good way to reassess your finances is to overhaul your financial health. If there is a way, try to earn extra cash. Never miss ways to make extra cash. It will always help in your retirement.


If you aren't doing your banking through an online bank, you definitely aren't getting a great APR rate. Go to Barclays, and get a great rate on savings and CDs. Although it claims 1.00% APY, if you sign up for a Retirement account the rate goes to 1.05% APY. Barclays also rewards you at the end of the year if you don't withdraw any money you put in. You can go right to 1.05% APY in a savings account at GS Bank. The 1.10% APY 12 month CD is a great rate for a short period. As far as checking, Charles Schwab




If you are investing for the future, you know the importance of a diversified portfolio. Can you be losing money because your portfolio is too diversified? I fell into this trap when I was starting out.
Investing should be involved in any financial issue. Start with as little as $1000 and learn how to do it.

For a great resource planner in all financial matters, Personal Capital has many tools to manage your finances and plan for your retirement.

Extra Money...just in case!

There really are legitimate ways to make money. The possibilities are as far reaching as one's imagination...literally!

Here are some clever ways to make extra money. My favorite is renting your friendship, and they say money can't buy friends!

As far-fetched as it sounds, I think this 'be my friend' thing is a goldmine! Oh please be my friend on Facebook!

I'm just saying...

Investing Worth $1 For One Month

Although I am ready to retire in a few years, I have this itch to invest in the stock market. I guess it's like the itch the compulsive gambler gets when he thinks he's got a winner but ends up losing. With the Brexit thingy, everybody expected the worst with stocks and investments and feared that their 401Ks and other retirement investments would see a BIG lost. At first, their fears were realized, while my opportunistic sense for profits was in high gear!

Well, it seems that stocks are rebounding rather nicely on this side of the pond. I was looking forward to buying some winning stocks that were sure to rebound. Most stocks seem to have lost a little while others gained a lot!

Yes, Brexit will affect stocks on their side of the pond for awhile, but it will balance itself out. I am European and realize that European stocks and bonds may have to wait for a couple of years more to give you a good return. Britain was smart, and people fail to realize that Britain never made the Euro its official currency. Rather it decided to keep the Pound as its currency. Now with other countries wanting to exit the EU, it may just create turmoil because they converted their currency to the Euro. So I see a problem if others choose to exit for maybe 3-5 years.

For those of us who look for great investing advice cheap, check out Zacks. This site offers the use of all its premium services for a month for just $1. After that period you can leave, or sign up for various services that can run from $5 a month all the way to over $1000 a year. This service has been extremely informative and my month will end in a couple of weeks. I will sign up for one of their services, I can guarantee that.

Why do I like this site for investing? They break the stocks down from Strong Buy to Strong Sells. They have stocks under $10 that so far perform fairly well. They analyze your Portfolio(s), real or just for research. They give much analysis and strategies that are easy for even the novice to understand.

Now as with anything, there are risks involved with any investment, and I have been ill-advised about one investment, but Zacks more than redeemed themselves since then.

The One I Got Right

Perhaps you missed my last entry, but just so you know, Exelixis is flying high. I've been following this stock for the past three years, and I've seen extreme lows but some extreme highs like the past couple of months. I've lost a significant amount, but now it has more than made back my loss.

What caught my eye and drew me to this company? Look at the description...
Exelixis, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company. The Company is engaged in developing small molecule therapies for the treatment of cancer. It focuses on the development and commercialization of cabozantinib, an inhibitor of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases, in various tumor indications. Cabozantinib is indicated for the treatment of progressive, metastatic medullary thyroid cancer, and is sold under the brand name COMETRIQ. It is evaluating Cabozantinib in a development program, which consists of over 45 clinical trials, across multiple indications, including pivotal studies in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Its other products are Cobimetinib and XL888. Cobimetinib is a potent, selective inhibitor of MEK, a kinase that is a component of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway. XL888 is a small molecule oral inhibitor of Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90), a molecular chaperone protein that affects the activity and stability of a range of regulatory proteins.

Cancer treatments are the future with the aging baby boomers and other generations where cancer will still exist. I'll admit pharmaceuticals are risky since some other company may come up with a generic version. They are a roller coaster ride, so not for the weak hearted.

At one time, all the analysists said don't buy this stock or sell the stock if you have it. Look what they are saying now, here, here and here. Financial advisors might laugh at my layman's assessment. I'm just in shock and awe how this stock is currently flying high!

Best INTEREST Banking

Back in the day, banks would pay out up to 5% APR on all savings accounts. Today some people are happy just to save money with a .08% APR return, because they feel that is the best they can do. Well, I know a few online banks that pay at least 1.0%!


I use 3 online banks for savings and emergencies. GE Capital became GS Bank and pays 1.05% APR. That is a great rate for an interest earning saving account. A bit of advice is to avoid CDs no matter how tempting. You're locked in and there are penalties for early withdraw, not only from the bank, but on your federal returns. Keep that in mind.


Saving money isn't always easy, but being an ant instead of a grasshopper will prepare you for anything that comes your way. Seeing a possible emergency coming may help you put extra money aside. This may very well be the theme of a frugal penny pincher.  Smile, you're on Candid Camera! Google CC.


If you want just a little bit more than GS Bank then you should check out Barclays. It not only pays 1.05% APY, but rewards you with extra credit for not withdrawing and depositing.


So is there possibly a better rate to help you save and earn interest? How does 1.10% sound? Check out Salem Five Direct. The .25% APY on the checking account!


In the GS Bank, I deposit as a weekly overdraft protection. If my paycheck doesn't cover expenses at some point, I withdraw from this account.


The Barclays is a long term savings for retirement account that will yield a high interest return. The Salem Five is for an emergency fund.  Some would say, "Wouldn't you want Barclays as an emergency fund?" An emergency fund might be short term, but more than likely will be longer than projected. Eventually, a non spent SalemFive may earn more than a Barclays!


Now if you are saving it implies that you are not living paycheck to paycheck. This really will not make any sense to those who do. Saving is a form of investing that has a guaranteed return.


As always, be sure to read all agreements before signing on. Is there a minimum deposit on high interest accounts? What is my rate? Read and understand what you are getting into for the most part!

Useful Links

Sometimes I wish there were ways to make things easier, especially if it comes to a way to save money. In today's world we should protect ourselves from possibly facing an identity theft that leads to financial ruin. Strong passwords and a good anti-virus protection will help.


For the best protection, you should have a strong password for each site, rather than one password for all sites. You should write your passwords on a notebook and keep them in a secure location. You can also use password managers such as RoboForm or LastPass.


When it comes  anti-virus' there are a vast number of different ones on the market. AVG and Avast offer both free and premium anti-virus'.


Financial health means possibly going on a spending fast, or freeze, for a day, a week, two weeks, or a month. Anytime you don't spend money puts money in your pocket. Find tips here, here and here to name a few.


Sites that save you on merchandise from food to goods are always worth trying. Coupons.com and SavingStar are useful to help you save. I also recommend applying for the retailers reward cards.


I was just turned on to a rather novel idea. If you buy gift cards from pawn shops or people trying to dump them for cash, you will save on merchandise and food. Try Raise.com where you can get deals and save some money.


If your still hesitant about investing, WealthFront will customize an investment plan and won't charge you until you reach $10000.

The Money Tree

I encounter people who waste so much money it's pathetic. I wonder if they scam the system or can't see what's coming. I know some people in their 50s that have spent their entire retirement and continue borrowing as soon as they qualify. Their Social Security Income will probably be used to pay for their retirement loans.

Some people have addictions that will make them penniless in their golden years. Gambling and drug addictions are the biggies. Then if you live beyond your means, you will face a lifetime of debt. I might sound like a broken record in my rant, but I pull my hairs trying to understand why some live in a state of fantasy. Some continue to talk about retirement even though they still work beyond their original goals. Sad, indeed.

For those who save and invest and plan to retire in the real world, you get it. Saving and finding ways to make money will boost your retirement income. We all know about putting something aside weekly, and saving company raises and any extra income we make using coupons, etc., these will make a difference in your saving.

We all know about investing, although many are weary of the stock market and hiring a financial adviser. A new way to get a high yield(up to 9%) on your money is to lend money. This new trend is giving better returns than the stock market. And although there are risks, you can minimize them by choosing how much and to who you want to give your money to. The higher the risk the better the return. Two places to try are The Lending Club and Prosper.

The biggest pocket drainers(as I call them) in our daily lives are phone plans, cable television, internet connections, gym memberships, and groceries. My phone plan is $25, I don't have cable television, my internet is $48 down from $56 from another provider, my gym is $10 a month with a $40 annual fee(that most gyms charge), my groceries average $60 a week. That's pretty good but I feel I can do better.

Frugal Shopping sites might help you save on everyday shopping. Here are ways to save on 30 expenses that can add to your savings.

The Road-BLOCK-To Riches

Why aren't you rich, regardless of what you earn? It's really no secret. You live above your means(Period). Rationalize and come up with as many excuses as you must, but that is the truth when it comes to your financial situation.

Unfortunately, sometimes living beyond your means can be a form of self preservation. You don't want to live in a high crime area just to save on rent or home ownership. Living beyond your means actually can be summarized as putting your wants ahead of your needs. Your wants require no foreseeable sacrifice but will come with a great price in the near future.

We are materialistic and tend to try to keep up with the Joneses. If the Joneses are more financially stable than ourselves, we are doomed to financial ruin. Yet we continue to spiral in debt because we want more than we need.

When it comes to money, it takes discipline and discipline requires sacrifice sometimes. That is the reality. If you want fantasy, then keep on dreaming. Eventually you will have to pay the piper. God help you if it catches up at your retirement. I know people who haven't saved or invested one red cent their entire working career and have constantly borrowed from their retirement. Their choices are work until you die or retire penniless. This is just a fact.

If you're OK with your current trajectory in financial situation, then continue to dream and prepare for your nightmare. If you want to face facts about your finances, be sure to correct what may be keeping you poor!                                                                                                               

Gimme Shelter

Lifelong lessons come with a price. Going with traditions can sometimes cause discord in money matters. I tend to look at life and see the successes and failures of myself and others. I also see a compulsive behavior that has most of us repeating mistakes when it comes to money.




First thing I should clarify is that I, like many, hit rock bottom but swore never to return. I'm not rich, but I'm frugal and have to live within/below my means. That is the real secret. I've seen people living beyond their means and paycheck-to-paycheck.  I've also been there.


When it comes to shelter, I have rented most of my life I've also owned for awhile. I prefer renting


and have my reasons beyond these valid points. Home ownership is great and has great benefits, each person has to see what is right for them.


I made mistakes when I bought a house. It was a money pit that bled me to live beyond my means. I was a naïve and trusting person, which would normally be a red flag. Then it was the era of predatory lending. The house I bought wasn't exactly in a desirable neighborhood.


Renting is great because I have no maintenance, repairs, etc., bills that most home owners must deal with. Yet, lets not forget that home owners have their home as an asset to them because it has value.


We could go on forever as to the pros and cons of renting or ownership or even the rental property ownership. Whichever scenario you are capable of and makes or saves you money should be your goal.


If homeownership is your thing, do your homework. Will the neighborhood be the same in 30 years? Can you sell the house for a "get/got" profit in the future? Can you rent it FOR A PROFIT? If it's going to cost more to maintain and the neighborhood is going downhill, it might become a money pit.


The great thing about renting is that you can get up and move after the fulfillment of the lease agreement. You don't have to maintain the property. You don't have to clear the sidewalk of snow in the winter or mow the lawn in the summer. Something breaks down or there is a major problem. the landlord should be responsible if it is reported in timely manner.


Renter beware! Read your lease carefully before you sign! Landlords are trying to shift responsibilities in leases making the renter responsible for certain maintenance tasks.


After your first year, you have a right to move by giving just a 30 day notice to a landlord. Clean the apartment when moving because landlords keep your total security by nit picking.


Bottom line: Whether you own a home, rent a home, or are a landlord, when it comes to real estate, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!

Investing For Less

It's time to take the leap and start investing. For as little as $250, you can start investing. The thing with investing is that you have to do your homework, especially if you want to avoid the fees associated with investing. I suggest you drop the excuses and start investing.


There is a lot of information on how to get started with not much money. I was shocked to learn that you can buy stocks directly from companies. The list and requirement information is priceless.


When it comes to money and money matters, check out Money Talks News that is loaded with easy sustainable financial goals.

Final Finance

Should you prepay for your funeral? The final expense can be costly and can set your family back a few bucks. Funerals are something that should be factored into the final expenses to ease any burden your loved ones may encounter.


Most people buy life insurance to make sure that final expense is covered and there is some left over. I am currently looking into burial insurance plans. Of course you have to do your homework to find out how much projected burial costs will cost in the future and buy a policy accordingly.


It goes without saying that your cost will be lower the younger you are. Although it is tough to talk about, final wishes and expenses should be discussed with loved ones.

Money 2015

A new year is here and our best 2015 money moves are to save and invest and to stay out of debt. I may have talked about it elsewhere, but now is a good time to start the 52-Week Savings Challenge. In the end you will save $1,378 this year. I do it a little bit different by starting with the highest and working my way down. For me this makes sense since I earn more at this time than I will later.


The beginning of the year is a good time to give your financial matters a review. You can never be reminded enough when it comes to finances to make sure you're still on target or ahead.


If you're paying for credit monitoring you can get it for free at Credit Sesame. Credit Karma is similar and also tracks your spending. These sites are offered by one of the credit monitoring agencies. Trans Union and Experian so your scores may vary. Credit Sesame also offers free ID Theft protection. Aside from the credit card and loan ads, these sites are informative and informative.


When it comes to money matters people need to decide on whether to hire a financial advisor. The site offers a free DIY tool for those who shun advisors. If you are a DIY-er, make sure you have knowledge on the topic.


It's never to early to supplement your retirement income.


Nvestly is a social platform that allows expert and novice investors to share investing knowledge.


Learn easy money saving tips that can help you save up to $3000 a month.

Money Changers(RESOURCES)

Investor Junkie is not only a site that teaches you to invest or educates you on your money, it also gives you reviews on various financial sites. From brokers to banks to do-it-yourself investors, this is a must visit site. Before using financial sites online, check out what an Investor Junkie review says about it.






Ready For Zero is a site that will help you get out of debt. It is the true light at the end of the tunnel.




Most of us old timers think we have a financial plan for our longevity and lifestyle. It doesn't hurt to make sure that our plan isn't missing certain essentials. There are so many things you may miss. Currently I am looking into a will, and the article offers helpful sites. Yes they even have the frugal one's favorite-FREE-but I'd still consult a lawyer, but to each their own.


Do you need tools to create your financial plan? I have you covered!


If you are frugal, that should not stop you from investing. Learn to invest a small amount here.

Investing For The Future

In life it is wise to have multiple streams of income. This is a way to ensure that you have a source of income throughout your lifetime to meet your needs. We must prepare for our tomorrow today if we hope to retire comfortably. The idea is to make our money work for us making money rather than sitting idle and losing value.


Saving money is ideal, but if the money is sitting somewhere not earning interest, it is just losing value. There comes a time to take risks with our money and invest in the highest returns we can receive. At the very least, money should be invested in as high interest as possible saving, checking, CD and money market accounts. Find the highest returns and read the terms before you commit.


Lately I have been looking for greater returns since I will retire in about 5-7 years and am looking for greater returns. The most banks give is 1-1.5% return on money market and CDs, so I am looking at stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, etc.


I really don't like to talk about investments because they involve risk and I don't want to be wrong or right about your decisions. I made enough investments where I made money. lost money, and broke out even. It's a matter of learning from experience and what works for A doesn't work for B.


The earlier you start investing  for your retirement the better your earning potential because you are able to take more risk. But the closer to retirement, the more of a conservative portfolio you want. Consult a professional financial advisor for all your investment needs.


Online investing and beyond I like Charles Schwab and Fidelity. These sites are novice friendly and will guide you to your investing needs. Granted that it involves mostly their products, but these are top names in the investing business.


A great way to start investing if retirement is not far away is to go with target funds. These are funds that have a target date to make money. One the best is the Vanguard Target Fund.


The stock market is a funny thing because most of us are clueless just what a money making tool it actually is. We also delay seeking advice from a financial advisor. Stocks I own or am watching:
EWI, GE, ODP and others There are winners and losers that is why diversification is recommended.


Any way you look at it everyone needs multiple sources of income to live comfortably. Simple ideas to build multiple streams of money can be found here, here, here, and even here.

Spending To Save

Sometimes spending money can save you in the long run. Depending on where our money goes, there may be ways to save more by spending more. Lets say you have to have that espresso in the morning. It may save you in the long run by buying an espresso coffee maker, or replacing cable with a TV-streaming device. Read more here.


Find where you can save by spending more and learn a strategy here.

The Road To Wealth

When it comes to money, your personal habits can make or break you. The road to wealth isn't a difficult one, but it does require saving, investing and living below your means. The amount of time it takes to reach a "comfort zone" depends on when we start becoming disciplined to meet the requirements. The later you start, the more money you will have to save.


George Costanza on Seinfeld once made a statement that if everything he has done in his life has led to failure, then doing the opposite would lead to victory. Well that was the concept anyway. The point is that if you are living paycheck-to-paycheck or not saving anything, you might want to get your priorities straight.


Your paychecks priorities probably look something like this: 1. Bills, 2. Shelter, 3. Food, 4. Entertainment, 5. Unforeseen expenses, 6. Saving. Some list Saving as 10 or better, and by the time the check gets there there might only be pennies! Your top priority should be savings made automatically like paying a bill.


Start creating rules when it comes to money. It can be as simple as skipping one meal a week at a restaurant, to saving $500 a month. You make your own rules and you stick to them. Learn the money habits that lead to wealth. It's never too late to start, but it will require a greater commitment and contribution to reach your goal.

Financial Journal 2

Currently, I am doing a catch-up toward my retirement and plan to retire in 5-8 years. I would love to work at least until I'm 66 so that I can at least collect the full Social Security. I have a couple of retirement plans at work. Still, relying only on these sources won't make me financially sound in my golden years.




Although I have been wanting to do it for years, I've finally started investing in the stock market. That is where you will get better returns than savings and checking accounts, money markets, CDs and almost anything else a bank offers. My eyes were opened at 3am one day when I was watching this!




I had just opened a couple of CDs at my bank and now I am committed for 3 years for a mere 1.4%. For the same amount, if I had invested in stocks or mutual funds, I could have made at least 4%. Yes there are risks, but life is all a risk.




It doesn't take much to start investing. You can start little and get committed to contribute in a period of time. A good start number is $1000, and here are 5 Simple Ways to Invest $1,000 now.




When it comes to finances, education is a must. But money can be made and saved by reading beyond the personal finance books.


To start investing, you must have both short and long term goals. The long term will deliver the better rewards. To set goals, you might want to consult with a financial advisor, or do intense homework. Just be realistic and not clueless when it comes to money.


Know the basics of retirement planning whether you are in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and even in your 60s!

When Saving Isn't!

I try to give advice on saving money by living frugally. For the most part I intend to empower you to save, make, and stretch your money as much as possible. Sometimes the ways we think we save money, are the ways that can actually end up costing us.


The coupon clipping was something I was aware of, but they can save you, if used on the items you need. Keyword is NEED!


Avoiding all budget saboteurs will keep your budget in check. When cutting items from your budget, cut the ones you truly don't need or can cut back on.

Spending Freeze

Spending freeze is a great way to save some cash. I am trying to reach a 2-week spending freeze, but so far I have gotten to 4 days without spending. It does require some planning and discipline. The savings in the long run can really add up.


You can find tips on freezing your spending and how to get started. Depending on your current spending habits, successful spending freezes require planning. Start stocking up on food and eat at home and take your lunch to work.


Fill your gas tank and drive only to places you truly must. If you're not planning a vacation, you should take a 2-week vacation from work. This will cut the work travel. A vacation can also make a 2-week freeze a bit easier.


What doesn't count in a spending freeze are essential bills like rent, utilities, etc., unless there is a two week period where no bills are paid.


In the end, I consider any day that I make money and don't spend money is a victory. Many times I watched my weekly budget roll into the following week. I have banked and invested quite a savings.