Category: Personal Finance

We’ve all been there. Your savings are drained, you won’t get your next paycheck for a couple of weeks, and your car breaks down. Maybe your roof needs to be repaired.

If you’re in a jam and need money now, don’t abandon hope. There are several ways to get what you need, including the five options listed below.

What To Do When You Need Money Now

Look for Things to Sell

One of the first things you should do when you need money now is to start looking for things that you can sell. Take old clothes to a consignment store, or take some electronics to a pawn shop.

Depending on the amount of money you need, getting cash for things you don’t want or use anymore can be a great option.

You can also look into things like paid surveys and product testing opportunities to make some extra cash.

Get a Loan

If you need more than you’re able to get from selling old clothes and other items, you might want to consider getting a loan.

Personal loans from a bank are a good option, especially if you have a good credit score. Good credit generally means lower interest rates. You can also look into home equity loans and lines of credit for major expenses.

If your credit is not great and you’re not able to get a loan from a bank, you can also consider borrowing from a private money lender instead.

Get a Cash Advance

Most credit cards offer cash advances. If you need money now, check your cardholder agreement to see is a cash advance is an option. You can get an advance through an ATM, bank withdrawal, or checks that work like a short-term loan.

If you go this route, keep in mind that you’ll likely be charged a transaction fee. Cash advances also tend to have higher interest rates than your card’s usual rate.

Borrow from Yourself

If you’re able, borrowing from yourself is another good option as well. If you’ve invested money in a 401(k) or IRA, you can take a loan from one of these accounts. Interest rates will be lower and your credit score won’t be affected.

Keep in mind, though, that you might have to pay the loan back within a certain time frame to avoid penalties. You may also have to pay it back in its entirety if you lose your job; otherwise, the loan will be considered an early withdrawal.

Look into Peer-to-Peer Lending

Peer-to-peer lending sites allow you to get a personal loan from a stranger who is interested in lending as a source of investment. Just like other types of loans, interest rates for this kind of loan are often based on your credit score.

Before you get a peer loan, you might need to provide pay stubs to prove your income. You’ll also be expected to stick to a payment schedule to avoid late fees.

Find More Options

If you need more advice on ways to get cash quickly, whether it’s for an emergency or to start building up your emergency fund again, check out the rest of our blog!

If you know of any other ways to bring in some quick cash, leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you.

If you’re dreaming of the perfect trip, getting your travel finances in order well before you leave home is the best way to make it a great experience.

The Census Bureau states that tourist spending within America has been growing steadily since the start of this decade. However, you can keep your costs low by planning ahead and cutting your travel costs in advance.

Get a grip on your travel finances right now with these 5 simple tips.

1. Save Ahead of Time

It sounds so simple, but many of us don’t really think about the cash we’re going to take on vacation with us until we leave.

Putting aside a little each month over 12 months is a lot easier than trying to find the money all at once when the time comes.

Say you put $50 of your paycheck into a special account for your vacation. That’s $600 marked for vacation use, which sounds like a very good start to a trip!

You can also save yourself a bit more cash with these savvy tips. Then, you can put the difference aside for your vacation.

2. Buy Ahead of Time

You can also help to spread out your spending by buying activities and experiences ahead of time through sites like Groupon.

This type of site sells prepaid vouchers for things to do during your trip. Usually, these offers are sold at a big discount.

Just don’t forget to bring the vouchers with you when you leave for vacation!

3. Consider a Credit Card for Travel Finances

A credit card processed by a travelers epay system can help you to spread the cost of your vacation as you go. That way, you can deal with the debt later.

However, this isn’t meant to encourage you to spend what you don’t have.

The best way to manage this aspect of your travel finance is to take out a trip-friendly 0%-on-purchases card that you can spend on and pay off later. Ideally, you can pay it off during the 0% period.

Just remember to pick a card which offers a good exchange rate if you’re leaving the states.

4. Look at Airbnb

We all need little luxuries from time to time, but Airbnb is often so much cheaper than hotels.

You can spend the difference on treats for your vacation. That way, you’re not forking out hundreds of extra dollars for a hotel room.

Also take a look at Tripping.com, FlipKey and HomeAway when looking for hotel alternatives.

5. Discount Vacation Websites

There are sites out there like VacationsToGo which scout for ‘clearance’ vacations and sell them to the rest of us.

You can enjoy 50% or more off the cost of a trip using these sites. They’re great if you’re traveling on a budget.

And they’re also great for anyone who’d rather spend the money they save on more exciting things than a hotel room!

Enjoy Your Trip

Wherever you’re going, use these tips to make it a fabulous (and affordable) experience.

If you’re looking to earn some extra cash on the side before you go, check out these ways to earn money for your vacation.

If there are two things in life that are relentlessly complicated, it’s parenthood and filing a tax return.

While being a single parent will always present a unique set of challenges, filing your taxes as a single mom doesn’t need to be as hard as it seems.

Here are five tips for simplifying your taxes as a single parent.

1. File as Head of Household

Being the head of household typically provides you with a lower tax rate than you’d get filing separately. It should also allow for a higher standard deduction. Both of these together should dramatically lower the chances of needing to apply for tax loans.

How do you know if you qualify as the head of household according to the IRS? These are the requirements:

• You’re unmarried on the last day of the tax year you’re filing in.
• Your kids live with you at least 6 months of the year.
• You contribute to at least 50 percent of the finances in the home.

2. Claim Dependents

If you’re a single mom, you might be able to claim your child as a dependent. Doing so will provide you with extra benefits like the dependent exemption and a tax credit.

However, not all single moms can claim children as dependents. You can claim your child as a depending if you meet the following criteria:

• You and the father of the child are legally divorced or are separated
• You and the child’s father have lived apart for the past six months
• The child receives at least 50 percent of their support from you at least half of the year
• You or your child’s father has legal custody
• You have written a waiver or have a pre-1984 legal agreement allowing the non-custodial father to claim your child as a dependent

3. Go for Child-Related Tax Credits

If you filed in the 2016 tax year, you could have earned a Child Tax Credit of up to $1,000 per child claimed. You could also have earned the Child and Dependent Care Credit of up to $3,000.

4. Don’t Forget the Earned Income Tax Credit

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is available for working single mothers and families whose income is below a certain threshold.

If you’re single and filing as a head of household, you can claim the ETIC if you make less than $39,617 and have one child, $45,007 and have two children, and $48,340 if you have three or more children.

The maximum credits for this year are:

• $6,318 if you can claim three children
• $5,616 for two children
• $3,400 for one child

5. Post-Secondary Education Tax Benefits

If you’re a single mom of kids who are out of school but still dependent, you can avail of two tax credits: the American Opportunity Credit (AOTC) and the Lifetime Learning Credit.

The American Opportunity credit provides up to $2,500 of the cost of post-secondary education for the first four years of that education. The second credit provides a $2,000 tax credit per student for an unlimited number of years.

Saving Money and Time on Your Taxes

Being a single mother is tough. Fortunately, the IRS has provided a few ways to benefit from tax credits based on your status and income.

With these five tax tips, you’ll be able to spend less on taxes and more on something nice just for you. You deserve it!

Did you know the average American household spends over $12,000 on a professional move?

Of course, the cost of moving varies greatly depending on several factors. The distance between locations and the weight of your belongings both play a role. However, the fact still remains that a move isn’t exactly cheap.

Fortunately, moving on a budget is a lot easier when you have the right plan in place. There are many steps you can take to ensure you’re not spending too much money.

Here are 5 pieces of advice you need to know before relocating. Read on to learn how to save big on your moving expenses!

1. Leave the Cheap Furniture Behind

It can be tough to sell your old home since it holds so many cherished memories. Similarly, your furniture can have a lot of sentimental value as well. However, moving on a budget requires making some tough decisions.

In most case, it’s not wise to drag along your cheap or old furniture. If the furniture is cheap, it won’t cost you much to replace, and if it’s old, you’ll have to replace it soon either way. All in all, you’ll save money by leaving the heavier pieces behind.

2. Don’t Skimp on the Truck

Most of us are always looking for the best new deals. As a result, small moving trucks seem like such an enticing choice. After all, they’re a lot cheaper, and you’ll somehow find a way to make everything fit anyway, right?

In reality, skimping on the truck can actually cost you more money. If you end up making multiple trips, you’ll have to cover the gas. Therefore, make an informed decision rather than simply choosing the least expensive truck.

3. Research All Your Options

One of the biggest mistakes many movers make is that they don’t research all of their options. They see one appealing price and get tunnel vision.

Before you make your final decision, look at multiple moving companies. To make sure you’re getting a good value, read online reviews as well. Also, make sure the companies have good standings with the Better Business Bureau.

4. Never Buy Boxes

One thing is for certain: you’re going to need a lot of boxes when you move. That said, there’s no reason to spend your money on boxes. Ask your friends if they have any to give you, or check the back alleys of clothing stores.

Additionally, look for creative ways to save space when packing everything. For example, see if you can fit some smaller items inside your washing machine.

5. Try Moving During Winter

Not everyone can control when they move. Sometimes, you have to get to your new job immediately. Other times, you want to get situated in your new home before the kids start school.

However, if you can help it, try to move during the winter. Professional movers offer the biggest discounts from December through February. Conversely, moving during the summer will hit your wallet the hardest.

Final Thoughts on Moving on a Budget

The tips outlined above can help you put together a plan for your next move.

When moving, make sure you do your best to avoid rush hour traffic so you can save you a bit of money on gas. Also, consider using USPS to ship your books in bulk.

Do you have any other useful tips for moving on a budget? What are some mistakes you made with moving in the past? Feel free to share with the rest of us by leaving a comment below!

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