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Hosting Thanksgiving can be a lot of work, not to mention, it can be fairly expensive! If you’re looking to save some money this year, we’ve got some great tips for you. From what to make to decorating your home on a dime, we have you covered! Check out our list of ways to host Thanksgiving on a budget below!

Buy a Frozen Turkey

One way to save money on your Thanksgiving feast is to buy a frozen turkey instead of a fresh one. Frozen turkeys are usually cheaper, and they taste just as good! Just make sure you give yourself enough time to thaw the turkey properly before cooking it and read up on the best ways to prepare it. If you’re worried about dry meat, try brining your bird first. You’ll be surprised at what a difference it makes!

Plan Ahead

Another great way to save money on Thanksgiving is to plan ahead. Not only will this help you save money by not overbuying, but it will also help you stay organized and avoid last-minute stress. Make a list of all the dishes you want to make and then take inventory of what you already have in your pantry. This will help you avoid buying things you don’t need and spending too much money at the store.

Be a Smart Shopper

When it comes to buying food these days, being a smart shopper can make all the difference. Take advantage of sales and coupons, and don’t be afraid to buy generic brands. Join your favorite grocery store’s frequent shopper program and be on the lookout for sales and holiday specials. Some popular chains often offer huge savings on Thanksgiving staples like cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, and pumpkin pie.

Make it a Potluck

This might be my most favorite thing to do for holiday meals. Why do it all yourself when you can ask each of your guests to bring their favorite dish? You can focus on making the turkey or ham and assign things like drinks and appetizers to your guests. Not only will you cut down on your expenses and time spent, but you’ll get a wonderful variety of side dishes and desserts to enjoy. Depending on the number of guests, you may even end up with a larger spread than you could have ever pulled off on your own.

Decorate with Nature

There’s no need to go out and buy all new decorations for your Thanksgiving feast. If you’re looking for cheap (and beautiful!) decorations for your home, look no further than nature! You can make centerpieces out of pumpkins and gourds, or use leaves and branches to create a festive garland. If you have some extra time, get the kids involved and make Thanksgiving crafts together! There are tons of ideas online that are both fun and inexpensive.

We hope these tips help you save money while still enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving feast with your family and friends. What are your favorite ways to save money on holiday meals? Let us know in the comments below! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

The holidays are a time for giving, and we all want to make our loved ones happy with the perfect gift. But let’s face it: Christmas can be expensive! That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips on how to save money on Christmas gifts. By following these simple steps, you’ll be able to get through the holiday season without breaking the bank.

Set a Budget

The first step to saving money on Christmas gifts is to set a budget. Figure out how much you can afford to spend, and then stick to it. This will help you avoid overspending and getting into debt that you may end up regretting well into next year. Once you know how much you have to work with, you can start brainstorming gift ideas that fit within your budget.

Make a List

Think about what kinds of gifts your loved ones would actually use and enjoy and make a list. Whatever you do, don’t just buy the first thing you see! A lot of people end up giving presents that just sit around gathering dust. There are plenty of ways to save money on presents without sacrificing quality or thoughtfulness. If you put some thought into it, you can find gifts that are both meaningful and practical.

Start Early and Shop Around

A lot of people wait until the last minute to start shopping for Christmas gifts, and as a result, they end up spending a lot more money than they intended. If you start your Christmas shopping early, you’ll be able to take advantage of sales and special offers that retailers typically run in the lead-up to the holidays. This can help you save a lot of money, especially if you’re buying for multiple people. Plus, it’s always nice to get a head start on holiday shopping so that you’re not rushed and stressed out come December.

Get Creative

This Christmas, why not try making some of your gifts at home? Not only will this save you money, but it will also add a personal touch to your holiday giving. There are all sorts of homemade gifts that are easy to make and sure to please. For the foodie on your list, how about baked goods or jars of homemade preserves? For the fashionista, you could try your hand at sewing a scarf or bag. And for the friend that could use a spa day, consider making a homemade facial scrub or bath bomb.

Do You Really Need to Give Gifts?

If you’re really struggling to save money this holiday season, you may want to consider whether giving gifts is really necessary. In some cases, it may be better to spend time with loved ones rather than exchanging presents. This is especially true if you have close friends or family members who are also on a tight budget. Instead of buying each other presents, why not plan an outing or activity that you can do together? This can be a great way to show your loved ones that you care without spending a lot of money.

Saving money on Christmas gifts doesn’t have to be complicated. By following these simple tips, you’ll be able to enjoy the holidays without breaking the bank. If you have any tips of your own on how to save money on Christmas gifts, we’d love to hear them! Leave us a comment below and let us know what works for you.

The first known commercial use of Bitcoin was the purchase of two pizzas in 2010 by programmer Laszlo Hanyecz for 10,000 BTC, which is equivalent to roughly $400 million at today’s valuation.

Most people had never heard of Bitcoin in 2010, and even fewer would have considered it an investment-worthy asset. But a decade later, investing in Bitcoin is growing in popularity with advances in cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and the metaverse.

According to Michael Denny, a cryptocurrency investor and CIO of The Investment Nerd, “Investing in Bitcoin is the equivalent of investing in the internet in the mid-90s. There is so much potential it’s hard to overstate what is possible, but like with the internet, it will take many years for its full potential to be realized.”

Investing in Bitcoin has become much easier over the past few years, but there are still a few hurdles to overcome if you have a traditional stock investing background. Read on to learn different ways to invest in Bitcoin and a step-by-step guide to buying your first Bitcoin.

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How To Invest in Bitcoin

Investing in Bitcoin has been compared to investing in “digital gold.” Setting aside the inflation-hedge claims of Bitcoin enthusiasts, comparing it to gold is a good analogy when considering the myriad ways to invest in Bitcoin.

For example, you can theoretically mine gold from the ground, buy physical gold coins, put your money in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that owns gold, or even invest indirectly in companies involved in the gold industry. Similarly, you can also mine Bitcoin using your computing power, buy Bitcoin directly through a cryptocurrency exchange, invest in a fund that controls Bitcoin, or buy shares in publicly-traded companies that use Bitcoin and its underlying blockchain technology.

Each of these methods has different advantages and disadvantages, and which you choose depends on your goals and ultimate risk tolerance.

Invest in Companies That Utilize Blockchain Technology

One way to get Bitcoin exposure in your stock portfolio is to invest in companies that use Bitcoin and the blockchain technology on which it’s based. This type of investment will not give you direct ownership of Bitcoin, but it will let you invest in innovative companies advancing the use of blockchain technologies.

One example of this investing strategy is the Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF and actively-managed ETF trading under the ticker BLOK. According to its prospectus, the fund’s purpose is to “invest in equity securities of companies actively involved in the development and utilization of blockchain technologies.”

Some of BLOK’s most significant holdings include Coinbase, a major Bitcoin exchange; Nvidia, a chipmaker heavily involved in crypto mining; and Paypal, an online payment giant that allows users to buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin.

The advantage of this type of investment is buying into mostly-established companies on the leading edge of Bitcoin and blockchain development. However, while the stock prices of these companies tend to correlate to Bitcoin, it’s not the same as holding Bitcoin itself. Whether this is a pro or a con depends on how much Bitcoin pricing risk you want to take in your portfolio.

Invest in a Bitcoin ETF

Many experts consider the introduction of a Bitcoin ETF a significant step forward in allowing for broader adoption of Bitcoin as an investment.

An ETF is a specialized investment vehicle that tracks the performance of a particular asset without the investor having to own the actual asset itself. It takes away the hassle and security risks of owning Bitcoin directly and opens the doors for anyone with a brokerage account to invest in Bitcoin.

While many organizations have proposed Bitcoin ETFs, no actual Bitcoin ETF exists due to regulatory concerns. However, there is progress being made. In October 2021, the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was approved and began trading. It does not invest directly in Bitcoin but in Bitcoin futures, an important distinction.

According to Kyle Woodley, a Senior Editor at Kiplinger, futures are “contracts that allow someone to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price at a predetermined date.” He goes on to say that “futures are more of a gauge of what people think the price of something could be in the future – but it’s not the price itself.” Without getting into the technical details, suffice to say that a futures-based ETF will not accurately track the underlying asset’s price over time. So while it’s not the same as a spot-price Bitcoin ETF, BITO does allow you to hold a proxy for Bitcoin price in your stock portfolio and even in a retirement account.

Participate in Bitcoin Mining

Bitcoin mining is a way to receive actual Bitcoin in exchange for lending your computing power to solve complex math problems and completing blocks of verified Bitcoin transactions on the blockchain. As more coins are mined, the reward for solving the subsequent successive block decreases, and the difficulty increases.

Most Bitcoin miners own special hardware optimized for the mining process. These machines come at a cost that can run into thousands of dollars. In addition, these computers consume a significant amount of power, so the cost of electricity has to be factored in when considering whether it is a better investment to mine Bitcoin rather than buy it directly.

While early on, it was feasible to make a profit mining Bitcoin with a simple desktop computer, the increasing difficulty and sophistication of competing miners have made it much harder for the average user to make a profit. To estimate the cost and benefits of mining, the site Cryptocompare has a helpful calculator to evaluate your potential rewards.

Purchase Bitcoin Directly

Last but certainly not least on the list is purchasing Bitcoin directly. If you are looking for a pure-play on the price movements of Bitcoin, there is no better way than to own the asset itself.

If you are new to cryptocurrencies, owning Bitcoin differs from holding other assets. Investors can buy Bitcoin from an exchange such as Coinbase and take ownership in an encrypted wallet. More technically, the wallet stores the private keys that you use to access your coins and prove they belong to you.

Because of the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies, other than the volatility of the price of Bitcoin itself, another significant risk of directly owning Bitcoin is security. For example, if you lose your private key, you have effectively lost your investment with no hope of recovery. Owners have lost an estimated tens of billions of dollars worth of Bitcoin that cannot ever be recovered due to lost keys.

In addition, if you store your keys in a wallet controlled by an exchange or otherwise connected to the internet (known as a hot wallet), there is the risk of loss through hacking or theft. To truly protect your Bitcoin, most experts advise holding it in a cold wallet not connected to the internet and less vulnerable to traditional hacking methods.

How To Buy Bitcoin

If, after evaluating the pros and cons of investing in Bitcoin, you decide you want to own it for yourself, there are a few things you need to know. The steps below offer a guide to buying Bitcoin and provide a jumping-off point for further research.

1. Decide Where To Buy Bitcoin

The first step in buying Bitcoin involves choosing a cryptocurrency exchange to make your purchase. These exchanges offer a platform to buy and sell Bitcoin and many other alt-coins. Each exchange generally has different fees and consumer services provided.

Unlike money deposited in a traditional brokerage account, Bitcoin investments are not insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). The reputation, regulation, and security procedures of different exchanges are essential factors in deciding. For example, some exchanges, like Coinbase, provide insurance against loss, but some conditions may apply even then. Always do your due diligence before investing in Bitcoin.

Some of the most popular exchanges include:

• Coinbase: One of the largest exchanges and the first one with a publicly-traded stock, Coinbase is known for its user-friendliness, but fees can be high.
• Binance: While not as beginner-friendly as Coinbase, Binance offers low transaction costs and many cryptocurrency options.
• Crypto.com: Crypto.com is less feature-rich than some larger exchanges but offers unique benefits such as a crypto rewards debit card.
• Gemini: Like Coinbase, Gemini provides an easy-to-use interface for beginners and is available in all 50 states, which can’t be said for all exchanges.
• Kraken: Founded in 2011, Kraken is one of the oldest cryptocurrency exchanges and rates highly on cybersecurity features.

2. Choose a Bitcoin Wallet

After purchasing Bitcoin, it is stored in a wallet. There are two kinds of wallets: a “hot wallet” and a “cold wallet.”

Most cryptocurrency exchanges automatically provide you with a hot wallet that allows you to access your coins through the internet and facilitate easy transactions. However, hot wallets are not the most secure as they are vulnerable to hacking.

Cold wallets are a safer option for the long-term storage of your coins. These wallets are portable devices like a flash drive that allows you to store your Bitcoin offline for added security. Some examples of cold wallets are Ledger Nano and Trezor.

3. Connect Your Bank Account

To buy and sell Bitcoin, you will need to link a bank account to your cryptocurrency exchange or wallet. This process is similar to connecting a bank account to a traditional investment account and allows you to exchange dollars for crypto coins.

4. Place Your Order

Once your account is set up and your bank account linked, you are ready for the easiest step, placing your order. Most exchanges offer multiple ways to place orders, such as market orders, limit orders, and stop-loss orders.

You can also choose to set up recurring purchases, allowing you to dollar-cost average into Bitcoin by buying a set amount every month, week, or even day. For example, if you had a side income of 1000 dollars a month that you wanted to invest on autopilot, you could choose to place a standing order to buy $1,000 of Bitcoin at the end of each month.

5. Manage Your Investments

Depending on your investing goals, once your coins are safely in your wallet, you can manage them in multiple ways, including:

• Hodl: Colloquially known as “hold on for dear life,” you can hold your coins in the hopes of future appreciation.
• Trade: If you are an active trader and want to take advantage of the volatility of Bitcoin, you can choose to buy and sell Bitcoin from your wallet.
• Purchase: There is a growing metaverse of products and investments denominated in cryptocurrencies that you can choose to buy, such as NFTs or even digital real estate.

How Much Should I Invest in Bitcoin?

While there is growing acceptance of Bitcoin in mainstream investing circles, it is still a relative newcomer. Before deciding how much to invest in Bitcoin, you should know its history of extreme volatility and the ever-changing regulatory landscape surrounding cryptocurrency.

Because there are so many unknowns, the future holds high risks and the opportunity for high rewards. Most experts agree you should not invest any money you are unwilling to lose. Consider your household budget percentages going toward necessary expenses and retirement savings before allocating money toward more speculative investments. Financial planner Vrishin Subramaniam told NextAdvisor that he recommends a 2 to 5% net worth allocation for investors interested in crypto. He noted that “the risks and volatility associated with cryptocurrency have much to do with its relatively short track record, at least compared to the stock market.”

Can I Earn Passive Income with Bitcoin?

Part of the excitement around cryptocurrency relates to the many ongoing projects to build the infrastructure and add new features to the ecosystem. Many of these tasks require investments of time and capital and thus receive compensation as a reward. While there are many ways to earn passive income with cryptocurrency, here are a few examples:

• Earn Interest on Your Bitcoin: Platforms such as BlockFi have become cryptocurrency banks of sorts, taking deposits and lending them out to others who need access to crypto capital. To secure deposits, these service providers will pay you to keep your cryptocurrency with them in the form of interest payments.
• Yield Farming: The liquidity necessary to process transactions comes from cryptocurrency holders because of its decentralized nature. In exchange for staking your coins to provide liquidity, you can earn fees on each transaction.
• Mining: Once you get set up, mining Bitcoin is a passive process that doesn’t require your time. In exchange for using your computing power, you are rewarded with freshly minted Bitcoin.

How To Invest in Bitcoin – The Bottom Line

Although it has been in the news constantly, Bitcoin is a relative newcomer as an asset class. Because of the developing ecosystem around cryptocurrency, investing in Bitcoin is not as easy as other mainstream assets such as stocks and bonds. Its newness is a double-edged sword, creating high risk and an opportunity for high reward.

Before deciding where and how much to invest in Bitcoin, investors should do their due diligence and understand the trade-offs. Learning more about investing in Bitcoin and the buying process is crucial in setting yourself up for a successful investment for those ready to take the leap.

This article originally appeared on  Wealth of Geeks.

According to the ADP Research Institute¹, the gig economy is booming, with a 15% jump in independent workers between 2010–2020. In addition, online platforms such as Uber, Airbnb, and Etsy have made it much easier to find and take on side hustles. In short, there’s never been a better time to start a side hustle!

Why start a side hustle?

Side hustles are ideal for busy parents who want fun, easy, or lucrative ways to make extra money. The hours are flexible, and you can do most of them from home—even with a day job.

The variety of side hustles available is almost endless. Whether you want to make money online, earn some quick cash, work from home, set your schedule, or do something productive with your free time, there’s a side hustle to suit your lifestyle!

15 Best Side Hustles for Busy Parents 

Hospitality Side Hustles

1. Airbnb Your Suite or Guest House

Got an empty suite or unused guest house? Why not list it on Airbnb to earn additional income? You won’t have to leave home to do it, and if you’re in a desirable area, it can be a steady and high-paying source of income.

Even better—it’s a great side hustle for kids. They can help with cleaning, tidying, and laundry. You can also turn it into a learning experience by showing them how to create and manage the listing, photograph the suite, and reply to guest messages.

2. Be an Airbnb Co-Host 

Airbnb Co-Hosts help Airbnb owners run their Airbnbs. (Similar to property managers for long-term rentals.) Airbnb Co-Hosts are usually friends, family members, or neighbors of an Airbnb owner. Co-Hosts can also offer their services to owners through Airbnb.

If you know someone who has an Airbnb close to where you live but feels strapped for time, offer to co-host it for them. Depending on the level of involvement, a co-host could earn 15–25% of the booking fee.

Airbnb Co-Hosting is another side hustle where kids can be present or involved. The hours can also be flexible—something that busy parents always appreciate!

3. Host Homestay Students 

Did you know that there’s a way to meet people from other cultures, teach your kids about the world, and get paid to do it? If this sounds appealing, you and your family will love hosting homestay students.

There are many benefits to hosting students:

• You can make money from home.
• It’s flexible and can fit a variety of schedules.
• It can be no or low-cost to start.
• You could earn enough for one parent to stay at home or scale down to part-time work.
• It allows you to put under-utilized spaces in your home to work.
• You can write off expenses you’d pay for anyway.
• It’s a fantastic way to make lifelong friends.

For the reasons above and more, hosting homestay students is a perfect side hustle—not only for parents but for the entire family. If you have an extra guest room that’s sitting empty, why not give this unique side hustle a try?

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Flipping Side Hustles 

4. Flip Used Items for Profit  

If you love shopping at flea markets, scoring deals on Craigslist, or picking up unwanted items on the side of the road, this could be your dream side hustle. It takes time and elbow grease, but flipping used items for profit can indeed be very profitable.

This side hustle is also flexible and easily tailored to your schedule. You can scale it up or down, pick your hours, and decide when and where to buy and resell your items. And, for those who are in a financial pinch, flipping used items is one of the fastest ways to make a quick buck.

Finally, it’s another side hustle that your kids can help out. Younger ones can scrub and wipe down items. Older kids can help with photography and listings—all while learning about one of the many ways to make money online.

5. Sell Unwanted Clothes on Poshmark 

Do you have an overflowing closet? Love scouring thrift shops for vintage and unique finds? Poshmark and other clothing resale apps may be the side hustle for you!

These services make it simple and easy to set up shop (virtually) and list your items for sale. All interactions with your customers happen inside the app, which offers safety and convenience for both parties. (No need to meet up in person or deal directly with payments.)

If you’re a parent, these factors are essential as you may not want buyers coming to your home to pick up items. As for the convenience, any time saved is always good for parents!

Selling your clothing on Poshmark is a side hustle that’s easy to do in your spare time. It can also help you declutter your house and recoup some of your purchase costs. You could get started quickly and easily today, so why not try it out?

6. Sell Collectibles 

Whether you’re into vinyl records, coins, or comic books, you could turn your collectibles hobby into a fun and profitable side hustle. Selling collectibles does require in-depth knowledge and an eye for detail. But if you’re an avid collector already, transitioning into a seller shouldn’t be difficult.

eBay is the most popular platform to sell collectibles when you’re ready to list. But there are many others—websites like Etsy, Bonanza, and RubyLane are just a few.

As with flipping used items, this is another side hustle that your kids can help with. If you’d like to make it more appealing, consider selling toys, games, and collectibles that they’re interested in (or no longer want).

Offer to pay them a percentage for helping you. Or, if you opt to sell those old toys, let them keep all the profit. (Then, stack on the learning by showing your kids how to invest their newfound wealth!)

Financial Side Hustles 

7. Become a Financial Coach 

Are you good with money? Passionate about personal finance? If so, financial coaching could be the perfect side hustle for you. According to Wealthtender:

“A financial coach is a financial professional who focuses on your day-to-day money habits… to help you identify which habits need to change to reach your bigger goals, then supports you as you work toward that change.”

Financial coaching can involve reviews, discussions, and planning around:

• Budgeting: cash flow, spending, emergency funds, etc.
• Income: employment, business, side hustle, etc.
• Saving: saving rate, how and where to save your cash, etc.
• Debt: credit cards, student loans, mortgage, etc.
• Investing: portfolio review, investing approach, etc.
• Workplace benefits: 401k matching, employee stock options, HSAs, etc.
• Goals: vacations, retirement, children’s education, etc.

Most financial coaches work full-time, but some do it part-time. By limiting how many clients you take on, you can scale the hours up or down to suit your schedule and lifestyle.

8. Do Bookkeeping 

Bookkeeping is an essential task, but many business owners are too busy or lack the skills to do it themselves. If you have bookkeeping experience, turn your skills and knowledge into a side hustle!

As a bookkeeper, you’ll help business owners manage their ongoing financial activities, including:

• Incoming and outgoing transactions.
• Payments.
• Invoices.
• Financial reports and records.
• Payroll.

Bookkeeping is ideal for people who are detail and number-oriented. Busy parents will also appreciate the flexibility that bookkeeping offers—part-time positions are readily available and allow leeway to work around kids’ schedules.

9. Prepare and File Taxes 

Accounting firms and tax filing services often get inundated with tax returns—more than their permanent staff can handle. If you have experience with tax preparation and filing, consider applying for the many temporary positions that open up every year.

A unique advantage to this side hustle is it is seasonal. You’ll be busy for a few months during tax season, but then you’re done until next year. Since it’s a defined block of time every year, this side hustle could be one of the easier ones to schedule around.

Service Side Hustles

10. Run a Home-Based Daycare 

If you love kids and wouldn’t mind having a few more in your home, this could be an ideal side hustle for you. Since you’ll be caring for and feeding your kids already, adding a couple of extra children may not be a significant change.

In addition, because the hours align with your children’s school schedule, it won’t take a lot of juggling to make time to run the daycare. However, to keep it a side hustle (and not a full-time business), limit it to before and after school care.

11. Become a Personal Chef 

Do you love prepping and cooking delicious meals? If so, becoming a personal chef may be the side hustle you’ve been seeking. “Personal chef” may sound fancy and expensive. But you can tailor your services to the clientele you’d like to attract—turn the role into whatever you’d like.

For example, you could cook for busy families and specialize in healthy, kid-friendly favorites. Or, if you’re good at cooking a particular cuisine (for example, Korean, Mexican, vegan, vegetarian, etc.), you can target customers looking for those specialties.

Many personal chefs prepare meals ahead of time, then portion and freeze or refrigerate them for clients to reheat later. Being able to cook ahead makes it much easier to fit in being a personal chef as a side hustle. (When your kids are at school, that could be when you batch cook a few days of meals for a client.)

You don’t need specialized training or a license to become a personal chef. And, if you cook from home or in your clients’ homes, startup costs could be zero. If cooking’s your passion, why not give this side hustle a try?

12. Dog Walk or Pet Sit 

Pet parents love their fur babies and want the best care for their pets when they can’t be there. Becoming a dog walker or pet sitter could be a rewarding side hustle if you’re an animal lover.

Some dog walkers and pet sitters already have their pets and find that adding one or two pets to the mix isn’t much extra work. Others can’t commit to a pet or aren’t allowed to have one in their home, so dog walking is an ideal way for them to get their puppy fix.

Dog walking and pet sitting are two more side hustles that are great for families—especially those with kids who love animals. They can help with walking, feeding, grooming, and cleaning. And, as an added benefit, if you’re considering a pet of your own, it’s a no-commitment way to see if your kids are ready for one.

Dog walking and pet sitting can be a very flexible side hustle to fit in. Use apps such as Rover or Wag to list your services and only accept jobs that suit your schedule.

Creative Side Hustles

13. Become a Freelance Writer or Graphic Designer

Do you have a way with words or a flair for design? You’re in luck—your skills are in high demand right now! From news sites to bloggers and social media influencers, content creators of all types need creative services like yours to help them grow.

Freelance writing and designing are great ways to earn extra money on the side. Since there are no set hours and you can work from home, they make for very flexible side gigs. Many freelancers can fit in the extra work, even with a full-time job, while caring for kids.

Nap times and the evening hours could give you just enough time to squeeze in some writing or design work. You could tailor the work and schedule to fit your family’s needs, allowing you to earn extra income doing something you enjoy.

14. Start an Etsy Shop 

Have you ever dreamed of selling handmade crafts, art pieces, or digital templates via an online business? If so, Etsy is the ideal platform for you. Selling online through Etsy allows you to avoid the overhead costs, staffing headaches, and inflexibility of a bricks-and-mortar business.

Instead, you’ll enjoy a flexible schedule, the ability to close your shop for vacations, and no one to manage but yourself! Another advantage of Etsy is it gives your business more visibility via Google search and their built-in search function.

Many Etsy sellers have replaced their full-time jobs by first starting on the platform part-time. It could be an excellent way for you to provide for your family while indulging your creative streak.

15. Sell Items on Teachers Pay Teachers 

Do you have a knack and a passion for creating educational materials that make learning fun? If so, there’s a website just for you—it’s called Teachers Pay Teachers (but you don’t have to be a teacher to use it).

TpT is a website where teachers (and others) can buy and sell teaching materials and resources. Items for sale include worksheets, curriculum guides, posters, and much, much more. One huge advantage of TpT is it can become a source of passive income; you create a resource once, and it can bring in money for years to come.

It’s also a rewarding side hustle—you could be helping to improve and enrich the education of students and make many teachers’ jobs easier. In addition, you can build in some philanthropy by offering up some of your items as downloadable freebies.

Closing thoughts

It can be hard to find time to make extra money as a busy parent. However, side hustles like the ones listed in this article offer a lot of flexibility (and, in many cases, an excellent source of income).

Some side hustles are also kid-friendly, allowing you to teach your kids valuable life skills. In addition, you’ll grow your connection by working on your side hustles together.

Whether you include your kids or not, side hustles could be a fun way to generate income, learn new skills and meet new people. Most cost little or nothing to start, so get out there and give one (or a few) side hustles a try. You could start making money today!

1. CNBC (2020), The gig economy has ballooned by 6 million people since 2010

This article originally appeared on Wealth of Geeks.

Are you thinking of taking a vacation but don’t want to blow your budget? Trips can be expensive, but they don’t have to drain your wallet, and they can still be fun, relaxing, and enjoyable.

You’ll need to think about a few things when planning cheap vacations.

How can you swing it? You can find cheap vacations if you are willing to think out of the box and be flexible on your destination, timing, and where you stay. Don’t worry! You’ll have a roof over your head (or sky), and the plane will have wings.

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Vacations Are Expensive, But They Don’t Have To Be

With the average cost of vacation about $2,000 per person, or $8,000 for a family of four, it’s no wonder that many people are searching for cheap vacations to fit their budget. You will need to lower your expectations from images of five-star hotels to maximize savings and minimize your disappointment. Be adventurous and make memories.

1. Tour Your Environs

You don’t have to go far to have a vacation. You can vacation in a place or have a staycation, and make plans to explore your city, town, or region on foot, by car, or bicycle. It may be that you live close to a National Park, lakes, rivers, and you always wanted to take your family and explore these places.

You may have heard others who visit your location tell you where they found the best beaches, lakes, musical and theater events, amusement parks, breweries, boating, hiking areas, and now you want to see all these places. Think about where you live and how you would like to spend your time. You may find treasures right in your backyard but haven’t been able to explore your area.

We have had a house in Litchfield County since 1995 and enjoy roaming through the various towns and visiting the Berkshires. We peruse through flea markets, look for antiques, jewelry, arts and crafts and then find cute cafes or gorgeous houses turned into restaurants. Through the years, and even now, we climb mountains (now with our car!), go fishing, swim, ski, and bike.

You’ll save on airfares and maybe even hotels, especially if you decide to go camping or take day trips. It is a wonderful way to validate the beauty of where you live.

2. Travel Off-Season

There are benefits to traveling off-season to your destination. By going off-season, you can avoid crowds, lines, fewer tourists, and have greater availability to explore. Determine what off-season may be as they differ by cities, countries, beaches, amusements, casinos (is there ever an off-season?), or skiing resorts.

The improved supply and demand are favorable for travelers, allowing better pricing options and availability in packages, airfares, car rental, and hotels.

So what qualifies as low season? It will be dependent on the type of trip you are planning, weather, school schedules, holidays, and special events like the Olympics or World Economic Forum in Davos, as examples.

3. Off The Beaten Path

There are treasures to find when you go off the beaten path. Besides savings which are often considerable, it is an excellent way to explore cultures and towns chockful of beautiful surprises.

Being able to talk to the people who live in the towns, many enjoy pointing you toward unique finds, a cultural site, or an affordable restaurant with the best cuisine. These places may be outside of major cities in the US or abroad and provide benefits like a more fabulous hotel or bed & breakfast availability, cheaper accommodations, fewer tourists, giving you more time and less stress.

4. Timeshare Vacation Rentals

Have you considered renting a timeshare for your vacation? A timeshare is a type of resort that divides ownership of vacation condos among multiple people. There are different resorts and retail chains to choose from and satisfy your needs.

Timeshare rentals are desirable destinations for cheap vacations at premium resorts, with many amenities like pools, beaches, on-site activities, and great restaurants. You can rent condos with kitchens and living space when traveling with a large family.

Some of the best deals may be near your travel departure, which may work for you if you are a last-minute traveler. On the other hand, if you like to plan well ahead of your departure and during peak times, you still can get a deal at popular places that would make any frugal person happy.

5. National Parks

Have you been to Yellowstone? Our country has breathtakingly beautiful National Parks. The parks are majestic and remind us that we are small parts of our universe. There are 423 national parks in the US, DC, and our territories, including 63 with Congressional protection.

Many choices provide excellent budget options. You can enter most parks for free or get seven-day passes for $35 per carload, not per person. If you are an avid visitor, you can buy annual America the Beautiful passes for $80. Senior citizens 62 and older can get a lifetime pass for $80.

The parks accommodate those who want to do picnicking or camping. Many parks have modest lodging facilities, but you need to book way in advance and pay about $200 to $300 a night. Many people use hotels or motels outside of the parks and save money. I enjoy traveling to the US and Canadian national parks and have lodged both ways, and the savings are worthwhile when being within driving distance of the entrance.

Most of us live within driving distance of a national park, so we have the potential to save money on airfare. Explore the region where you live.

6. Camping

Enjoying the great outdoors is always a great way to have a cheap vacation with family or friends. Camping steadily grew before the pandemic and continued to experience strong growth. You can find a  location with lakes, fishing, and hiking trailing.

The 2021 North American Camping report reflects the US and Canadian campers surveyed on their sentiments and behaviors on outdoor recreation. They found more than 86 million US households consider themselves campers, and 48 million of those took at least one camping trip in 2020, up over six million over 2019.

New habits for campers emerged from the survey during 2020, notably:

• Increased diversity among campers
• More weekday trips
• Families benefited from remote schools and work

Camping costs with your family for a weekend or longer are typically inexpensive compared to a traditional vacation. How much you spend will depend on whether you are a first-timer or experienced. If you are a first-time camper, you need to buy equipment gear: a tent, ropes, tools, flashlights or lanterns, and blankets.

There are free camping sites but will likely charge for parking fees and possible amenities. Other costs will be food, drinks, sun lotion, and other personal items you probably have at home, like outdoor chairs.

Some people prefer to go glamping which is camping with comforts and amenities. Glamping.com costs range from $50 to $3,000 per nite, depending on the services.

7. Book A Trip With Costco

Are you a Costco fan? Their members in the US have access to exclusive discounted travel packages, cruises, hotels, rental cars, and limited deals. Just use your membership number to book travel services. There are savings for value-seeking travelers but want luxury.

The retailer offers two membership levels to get more benefits for those who aren’t Costco members.

The Gold Star membership is $60 annually. In contrast, the Executive Membership costs $120 annually with extra perks, including a 2% back on your purchases up to $1,000 per year on select travel products and amenity credits.

We sold our Disney timeshares when we saw better prices on Costco Travel for booking Disney World with our kids. There are impressive discounts on theme parks, park-hopper tickets, and decent hotels outside of Disney.

As part of Walmart, Sam’s Club has some travel discounts, but more limited.

8. Last Minute Cruises

The pandemic has crushed the cruise liners as passengers have worried about the lack of social distancing. In recent years before the pandemic, getting a last-minute cruise has been an excellent way to snag a bargain for those who seek to cruise for a vacation.

That doesn’t mean coming to the dock on the day of sailing with your bags. Travel experts define last-minute cruises as roughly 60 to 90 days before embarkation as the best time to book a cruise to get $1,500-$2,000 off the price. Your best bet is to avoid peak times like Christmas and New Year’s.

Each cruise liner has its deals, or you can try Cruises.com to compare prices.

9. Online Travel Auctions

Bidding online is an excellent way to find bargains for travel packages. Travelers control the prices they are willing to pay for domestic or international packages, rental car deals, hotels, or just flight deals. eBay, the company that kicked off the online auctions for everything, has a travel auction page.

You can find luxury bargains ( a bit oxymoronic) travel options on Luxury Link when you sign as a member. They have various auctions to choose from, like Dutch auctions and Best Shot auctions.

There are many travel auctions to explore, including Priceline,  SkyAuction, and Bidding For Good. For those who are ultra-flexible, you may even want to consider mystery auctions.

Travel auctions for not-for-profit organizations like schools, churches, and elder care are popular for raising money for charities. The money you bid goes toward a desirable purpose, and you may get a tax deduction.

Like anything else you buy, especially online, read the fine print, ask questions, and understand what the package includes before bidding for your prospective deal.

10. Airbnb And Vrbo

Airbnb is a  fast-growing peer-to-peer online marketplace for people looking for a vacation rental as an alternative to standard hotels.

The company has more than 5.6 million active listings in more than 100,000 cities and towns worldwide. More than 4 million hosts rent their property to guests through Airbnb. They offer a wide variety of spaces: entire place, private rooms, shared rooms, and hotel rooms.

Airbnb’s rentals are often cheaper than hotels, but not all the time. Airbnb’s colossal inventory in desirable places may be expensive, so it best to make comparisons based on the market.

You could pick and choose among amenities that serve your needs. There are potential savings from renting larger spaces with a kitchen and laundry to accommodate families and kids better than hotel rooms. You could even bring your dog if pets are allowed in the listing.

Vacation renters can feel a more personal touch, experience a city more like a local, getting tips from owners. Travelers should weigh these benefits against hotel amenities like 24/7 concierge service, housekeeping, gym, pool, complimentary breakfast, and room service, which come at higher costs.

Vrbo is a competitor of Airbnb but has a smaller inventory at about 2 million bookable standalone vacation rentals and doesn’t offer Airbnb’s variety of accommodations.

11. Hostels

There are many hostels in the US and globally. They are attractive choices for single people or small groups, typically young people. It is not just for young people as there are hostels for seniors who take classes on a college campus, paint, go to museums, or ride bicycles. Hostels are budget-friendly with varying accommodations that provide shared social experiences when traveling internationally.

You have a range of choices, from booking a minimalist dorm bed in a room you share with others to luxurious private rooms and more amenities. Prices vary from $10 to $50 per night and per person. It depends on the hostel, location, and amenities. Hostels run deals that will further bring down prices. For many, this is an exciting way to travel, meet people worldwide, and learn about different cultures.

12. Home Exchanges

Home exchanges, also called a house swap, are economical to vacation far from home. Typically, you arrange to occupy someone’s primary residence at your desired destination while that party will occupy your place.

Home exchanges work on a membership with annual fees, where you have a better chance to swap homes. Some people have multiple homes and may opt to put a non-primary home for changing with another party. In some cases, the parties may offer just a guest room in their home when they are still occupying their place.

Home Exchange is the largest home swapping network, with 450,000 homes in 159 countries, including the US. Their membership is $150 per year or $13 monthly. Users claim they find these exchanges better bargains and rarely have any problems.

13. Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is an excellent way to travel worldwide, especially for solo travelers seeking cheap vacations. It began when Casey Fenton traveled to Iceland without a  place to stay. He reached out to a group of Icelandic college students, who offered accommodations.

This experience gave birth to  Couchsurfing.com, an online global travel community founded by its Chairman Fenton that has grown to 14 million people in more than 200,000 cities to connect, find a place to stay or share their homes as hosts.

Until the pandemic, CouchSurfing on the site was free, but the company went with a subscription service, mandating monthly fees of $2.99 monthly or $17.99 annually. These fees are well below alternatives like hostels or hotels and provide a personal experience.

14. Be A House Sitter

Housesitting is an alternative to traveling on a budget and earning some money. Owners often hire house sitters when they take vacations, travel for work, or extended leave. They don’t want to leave their home empty, and it relieves their worry about burglaries and provides them with security and peace of mind.

You can live rent-free in locations you want to explore in different areas in the US and globally. Professional house-sitters may water plants, collect mail, take out the trash, and do pet care. Depending on the location, you can earn $25-$45+ per hour. House sitters may do short overnight stays or more extended stays. This option is beneficial for those who prefer not to stay with the owners.

It is essential to the owner to trust someone temporarily residing in your home, taking care of beloved pets or plants. They will want a background check. You can register with organizations such as TrustedHouseSitter.com or HousesittersAmerica.com

15. Visit With Family And Friends

For many, this is an excellent way to save money, especially if you are going on vacation to visit family and friends who will enjoy seeing you and your children. We stayed with family before we had kids, especially when we had young kids who would see their grandparents, Craig’s parents.

Frankly, I wish that we had done more of this type of travel, not solely for saving money, but because these memories are irreplaceable and meant a lot to my in-laws, who are long gone.

Despite many sincere invitations to see friends, we may drop by for a meal or a barbeque but stay at a hotel nearby. Staying with friends is an excellent option depending on your destination, relationships, and ability to reciprocate with your friends.

16. Hop On A Cheap Flight

Airfares could be a significant part of your travel budget. Knowing how to save on flights can make a difference in your destination choice. We sometimes learn the hard way that booking early or last-minute doesn’t necessarily get you the best deal.

There are many tips to abide by to get a cheap flight: Here are just a few we use:

• Flying off-peak times.
• Having to change planes rather than direct.
• Searching flights incognito or privately.
• Finding the cheapest day (weekday) and time to fly out.*
• Using air mile points and credit card rewards.
• Flying on budget airlines.

* Crack of dawn flights is a challenge, especially when you have young kids and are dragging them through the airports.

These days, you can find cheap flights to your destination on various websites to make your vacation more affordable. You may have to lower your expectations if you need more perks.

 Final Thoughts

There are many ways to take a cheap vacation and have an enjoyable time. You may need to compromise on some amenities, but you can find destinations in the US or abroad to afford, savor, and have wonderful memories.

This post originally appeared on Savoteur.

How to save money for a house is one of the biggest challenges to homeownership. There are many schools of thought on the topic. The reality is that housing is one of the biggest expenses of the average American.

Housing cost accounts for 34.9 percent of the total annual expenditure in 2020, a 2.1 percent increase compared to the previous year. If you were house shopping last year, you would agree this expensive piece of real estate comes with a hefty price tag. In addition to a down payment and closing cost, you would also need extra cash to close during the bidding war. Therefore, it is essential to save for a house.

Saving money is everyone’s goal, yet most fail to achieve it. If you struggle to fatten thy purse, here are 21 practical ways to save for a house that you can implement immediately.

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1. Perform a Spending Habit Check

The first step of determining a cash flow leak is to inspect your purchase history. You might not like what you see, but it shows your overall spending pattern. Spend some time reviewing your credit card purchase history and analyzing any spending over one hundred dollars. You may also want to note down all the recurring payments.

The spending habits check will indicate where your money is going, your recurring payments, and your saving potential. I would recommend you do this with your spouse along with their purchase history, so you both are on the same page. After all, buying a house should be a mutual decision.

2. Setup Saving Goal

If you are looking to buy a home, you should already know how much you can afford. You can calculate the amount you need to close the house based on the house purchase price. It is your minimum saving target.

The other items you must include in your saving target are costs related to relocation, furniture, and essential appliances. Once you get your final saving target, you need to set a goal to save up to this amount within your time frame. Besides reaching the final amount, the saving goal should also outline how to achieve it. Your final saving goal should be achievable based on your income.

3. Create a Budget

For most, budgeting is daunting, and I’m not too fond of it either. But agreeing to a 30- or 15-year long-term loan is a lifetime commitment, and you can’t go easy on it. Being a homeowner is an expensive title not just while buying but also for its maintenance.

The basic budgeting principle is spending money on essentials and cutting down ruthlessly on things you don’t need. With spending habits analysis and saving goals checked, budgeting should come easy. You can also get creative with a spending budget (permission to spend) instead of a saving budget. Whatever you do, stick with your budget.

4. Avoid Impulse Purchases

Impulse buying has to stop completely. Compare me with your nagging mother, but you can’t afford to spend money on things that don’t make sense.

You’d be surprised to know that the average American spends $276 per month on impulse purchases, primarily for instant gratification, according to the OnePoll survey for Slickdeals. Think about your dream house budget next time you come across a sweet deal, huge discount, or store-wide sale sign. Take control of your personal finance by avoiding impulse purchases.

5. Hire a Reputable Real Estate Agent

A great real estate agent will not save you money directly, but s/he will provide you professional advice that will save your time. You might not have time to research and shortlist the perfect home out of hundreds of listings because you have a full-time job. A good agent will do that work and provide any professional information you need while you continue making money at your day job. The real estate agent also plays an essential role during house closing.

6. No Big Purchase for the House

I know you’re excited about buying a house and want to get ready for a new bed, furniture, and appliances but let me stop you there for a while. Don’t make any big purchases while you’re in house contract and have not closed yet. Buy the house first and everything else later.

Debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is one of the factors that lenders evaluate on mortgage applications before approving a loan. Any big purchase made even after pre-approval can potentially jeopardize the deal. Therefore, don’t make any big purchases before closing on the house.

7. Be a Wise Consumer

You become a wise consumer when you only buy what you need. Research before you make any big purchases. I’m not only talking about reading Amazon reviews. Most of them are paid reviews anyway. Cost comparison between different stores or online vs. in-store purchases can help save money.

Anything that comes in attractive packaging is expensive. Somebody has to pay the packaging price. Buy food in bulk only if you can refrigerate for an extended period. Research shows that 21 percent of the total available food supply gets lost at the consumer level. You should select long-lasting items over disposable products. It’s best for the environment and your wallet.

8. Choose Where You Shop

Do you shop at Whole Foods Market, neighborhood Kroger or HEB? Do you mind traveling extra miles for shopping, or do you like to order everything online? Is Amazon Prime your favorite store, or do you prefer Walmart?

Where you shop matters. You may not break your bank with a one-time purchase, but you consume groceries and essential items daily. You may be paying 10-54% more depending on where you shop. Compare prices carefully and choose where you shop that gives a better bang for your buck.

9. Save Your Tax Refunds

You’ve received a big tax refund at year-end.

Great!

Deposit that money into a savings account. Yes, all of it should be going towards your home fund.

Let’s review how you got that refund in the first place. You’ve worked hard throughout the year. The government deducts a tax from each gross pay. Whatever was left (paycheck) was deposited into your bank account.

You were comfortably living with your paycheck. You’ve never needed the extra (tax refund) amount just received; therefore, don’t think about ways to spend it. Throw it all into a home fund and never touch it again.

10. Save Windfalls, Cash-Backs, Gifts & Lotteries

The same principle that applied to tax refund applies here as well. You never needed windfalls, cash backs, gifts, and lotteries to run your day-to-day life. You never needed them, but don’t let it all go to waste when you receive them. Saving money is like building a brick house. You’ll build the home one brick at a time. If you continue throwing away bricks you receive, good luck building a house. These forms of money are hard to come by; therefore, you should use them wisely.

11. Open a Separate Savings Account

This is one of the immediate things you have to do after you start saving for the house. You can call this a house savings account. You must keep the personal account and house savings account separate. Remember the ABCs of investing, don’t put all your eggs into the same basket? It applies here too.

What happens when you mix these two eggs into one basket?

If there is a leak in one basket, all eggs are gone! Use your checking account for everyday shopping and paying bills. You can’t mix your house fund with your account.

The separate account can be a high yield savings account or a money market account. Stock market investing is usually not recommended if you plan to buy a house in a year due to the risk. For a 5-year plan, you can invest in mutual funds or index funds.

12. Set Up Automatic Transfer to the House Savings Account

The federal government implemented payroll tax withholding, where employers withhold appropriate taxes and send money directly to Internal Revenue Services. This automatic transfer setup ensures funding to U.S. budgets. Similarly, one of the main reasons retirement accounts work is because you fund them through paychecks automatically. A similar principle should work in the case of saving for a house.

You can choose the minimum amount you want to contribute as per comfortability. The automatic transfer setup does two things. First, it will ensure you save a portion of your earnings for the house; this is paying yourself first. It will grow without you realizing it. Second, you’ll learn to live comfortably with the remaining money.

13. Temporarily Halt Retirement Contributions

If you’ve been contributing to retirement plans, it is okay to pause the contributions temporarily. Retirement plan contributions are a lifelong process. Pausing it while you’re saving for the house is completely acceptable. But make sure you turn it back on after you’ve met your target amount.

If you are comfortable contributing to your retirement and saving for the house, by all means, do both.

14. Side Hustle To Bring Extra Income

Not everyone has a high-paying full-time income; some might require an extra job to bring additional income.

Lucky for you, there are numerous side jobs available that you can get started right away. Most of them do not require advanced qualifications or specialty. Of course, if you have additional skills, you can leverage them and make money, but don’t be disheartened if you don’t have any.

Food and grocery deliveries, babysitting or dog sitting, renting your car, and reselling are some of the side hustles you can start with minimal skills. You can start tutoring, skillshare, teaching English, be a handyman, start a blogging business, become a YouTuber, or become a personal trainer if you have expertise. These are just a few out of hundreds, if not thousands, of side hustles available in today’s market.

15. Renegotiate Internet & Phone Bills

Most Americans don’t have a choice over internet providers. Even those who do, have access to discounted introductory rates only if signed up for an annual contract. You’re motivated to turn on auto-pay. From here, it goes downhill because the rates go up by year-end, and if you’re not vigilant, the new balance gets deducted before you even realize it.

Phone service is primarily a data game. Unlimited calls and texts are usually included in every plan. The good news is you have several cell phone service provider choices. Even though you’re not required to have a service contract, wireless giants have come up with a strategy to have customers sign up for device payment plans along with extended service contracts.

Whether you choose the internet and cell phone service provider, you should always review and negotiate new fees. Sometimes a switch to a new provider will save you money; other times, the current provider might reduce new rates once they realize you might leave. Customer acquisition is always more expensive than customer retention.

16. Shop Around Auto Insurance

According to The Zebra research, the auto insurance rates have surged 28% to an average annual rate of $1,529 since 2011. The insurance company uses the customer’s rating factor to determine the insurance rate. One of the biggest factors determining the auto insurance rate is your choice of insurance provider. Another important factor is how much coverage you need.

Therefore, it is always wise to evaluate your insurance needs and shop around for the best price and reputable company. Staying with the same insurance company usually should lower the premium through longevity discounts. Most of the time, it does not if you don’t ask.

17. Review Your Subscriptions & Be Creative

Based on the Research conducted by Westmore in 2021, Americans are spending on average $273 on subscription services monthly, a 15% increase from 2018. Most shocking is that among 2,500 surveyed in the Research, 100% of respondents were unaware of their actual spending. Their actual subscription expense was 4.5 times their first guess of what they thought they were spending on digital subscriptions.

Let’s do a math exercise here. If you invest $273 every month with a 6% rate of return, you’ll have $276K in 30 years.

One can argue that the $7 to $10 on subscription is not the end of the world. But when you put it in context, it becomes your primary source of money leak. It’s similar to grocery shopping. Individual items cost less than $5, but your total bill is near or over three digits each time you shop. Now compare subscriptions the same way and multiply that with years of subscription. You are losing much more than you can imagine.

I cannot stress it enough. You’ve got to review your subscriptions. One-third of Americans pay subscriptions they don’t need or are unaware of. You must cancel unnecessary subscriptions. Set up a limit and save yourself and your finances from subscription services fatigue. If you must, consider group buys or share accounts with family and friends! There are always cheaper, if not free, alternatives to everything.

18. Cut Down Bad Habits

I shouldn’t have to be telling you this. Bad habits, as they sound, are bad for your health. I’m talking about habits that have grown into addictions. These include but are not limited to smoking, gambling, drinking coffee (Starbucks), and alcohol. These habits are hurting your health and wallet.

Bad habits not only hurt your finances due to consumption expenses, but they can also lead to a bigger health issue. It would be best if you reduced their consumption and ultimately eliminated them. The faster you can cut them down, the better you’re off.

19. Sharpen Those Cooking Skills

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans, on average, spent $2,375 annually on eating out in 2020. That number declined from the previous year’s $3,526. With COVID-19, it has consistently been an upward trend. Among the Americans who eat out, more than half of them dine out or order to-go multiple times a week. They spend over $60 on average in a week on dining or takeout.

I hope you understand where I’m going here. It is worth sharpening your cooking skills if you’re serious about saving money. Forbes research shows it is almost five times more expensive to eat delivered meals than cooking at home. In addition to saving money, home-prepared meals are healthier than restaurant food since you have complete control over ingredients.

20. Replace Expensive Getaways with Cheap Fun Events

As the saying goes, “the best gift you can give someone is your time.” Consider this a no-brainer. You must avoid expensive getaways if you plan to buy a house within a year.

There are many alternatives to expensive getaways like backyard barbecues with family, hiking and camping in state parks, fishing, boating, bike riding, and the list goes on. While these alternatives may not sound sexy, they are budget-friendly compared to the great gateway and date night at the movie and grill.

21. Reduce Your Commute Time

Commuting is the time of least productivity because you’re more focused on the road. According to American community survey research, the average one-way commute of an average American is 27.6 minutes. The commute time has been an upward trend per the research since 2006. The standard mileage rate of 58.5 cents per mile driven may consider vehicle depreciation and maintenance but does not include the drop in your productivity.

Not everyone can choose not to drive to work, but those who have alternatives like taking a bus, telecommuting, or carpooling should consider them. If you can maximize this rush hour, there is no doubt that you’ll save money. It saves you an hour of your day dedicated to more productive tasks.

Keys to Saving Money

Saving money is only possible if you’re intentional about it. All the above 21 actional items to save money will only be effective if you’re diligent towards your purpose. You can have all the tools in the world; if you don’t believe they’ll work, they never will. If you’re determined and stay on course persistently, nothing can stop you from saving money for any cause.

This article originally appeared on Wealth of Geeks.

We all want that excellent credit status. Good credit is a big deal and can make a big difference in saving you money on things like interest rates.

Other examples could be, whether it’s getting a loan, buying a car, or renting an apartment. And according to Forbes, a good credit score saves you about $35,000 per $100,000 you borrow for a mortgage.

If you are trying to improve your credit score, it’s essential to know what a good credit score is and the steps to getting one. This post will cover what affects your credit score, how to improve it, as well as the best way to check your score.

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The Role Of Credit Scores In Life

Before answering the question “what is a good credit score,” it’s beneficial first to understand how it affects your life.

Credit scores help lenders determine, at a fundamental level, whether or not to give a loan to an individual. According to Credit.com, credit scores “help lenders decide whether [a person] is a good risk.” For example, a person’s credit score can determine the interest rate they receive on debt, the terms of a loan, and whether they can get a loan in the first place. But did you know that it could also mean a more expensive home or car insurance policy; Or paying more for the same amount of credit card debt?

Many people and institutions use credit to evaluate an individual’s overall financial trustworthiness. Hence, a credit score can affect:

• Whether or not an individual can purchase a home.
• How expensive it is to buy a car.
• How willing banks are to let you open up a checking or saving account.

What is a Good Credit Score

With something as important as credit, you’ll want to know what precisely good means. Thankfully, the answer to “what is a good credit score” is made transparent by FICO. Your credit score is a number in the range from 300 to 850, and Americans with a credit score above 670 have a “good” credit score.

However, as you optimize your finances and grow your net worth, it’s helpful to shoot for a credit score as close to 850 as possible. It won’t just mean more approvals but will free up more money in your budget to save for your kid’s college or to save and invest for retirement.

What Affects Your Credit Score

Despite their importance, only 21% of Americans have a good credit score. So if you find yourself missing payments or in credit card debt due to keeping up with jones, it’s time to evaluate your spending. Understanding what goes into your credit score and its influences may help improve it. Here are all the pieces of the recipe.

The 5 Components That Make Up Your Score

Five main components make up your credit score. Each of them plays a role in determining what credit score you receive and how low your loan interest rate could be.

1. Payment history (35%): how often do you miss or make your credit obligations
2. The total amount owed (30%): how much of your entire credit you’ve used
3. Length of credit history (15%): how long you’ve used credit
4. Types of credit (10%): how diversified your credit mix is
5. New credit (10%): how many new credit accounts you’ve opened recently

What Information Credit Scores Do Not Consider

Some things can severely impact your credit score (e.g., missing a payment), and others don’t impact your credit score at all. Here’s some information that credit agencies don’t take into account when determining your credit score:

• Paying with a gift card or debit card
• A change in salary
• Your marital status
• Having a prior credit application denied
• Having accounts with high-interest rates
• Paying a traffic ticket
• Moving money around in your accounts
• Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or cryptocurrency investments

How To Improve Your Score

Understanding “what is a good credit score” is the first step toward improving it. Here are three tangible steps to help you improve your score.

1. Get a Handle on Your Bill Payments

Organizing your bill payments so that you make every payment on time is one of the best ways to increase your score, as payment history makes up the most significant percentage of your credit score. Some ways to get a handle on your bill payments are to:

• Create a budget: List your expenses and income on a sheet of paper or your computer. Then determine whether or not you can make each of your obligations. If not, immediately cut non-essentials out, like your cable TV package or satellite radio in your car.
• Set due-date alerts: Many people miss bill payments because they forget a bill. An easy way to avoid this is by setting due-date alerts on your calendar or phone to remind you to pay your bills on time.
• Automate your bill payments: If you have recurring bill payments you need to make (car payment, utilities, etc.), consider setting up automated payments. The bank will take money out of your accounts and pay your bills without you needing to worry about it.

2. Don’t Use Up All Your Credit

According to Value Penguin, “One of the factors lenders consider when modeling an individual’s credit risk is their credit utilization — the percentage of total available credit a consumer is using month to month.”

Your credit utilization ratio refers to the portion of your credit limit that you’re using at any given point in time. One way to keep your credit utilization in check is to pay your credit card balance in full at the end of every month. However, if this is not achievable, it’s wise to keep your total outstanding balance at 30% or less of your credit limit.

One final strategy is to request financial institutions to raise your credit limit. The worst they can say is no. A higher credit limit lowers the percentage that your current outstanding debt will take, helping your overall ratio.

3. Consider Debt Consolidation

If you have various debt sources that need repaying, consider consolidating them all into one payment with a debt consolidation loan.

The benefits of a debt consolidation loan are that you no longer need to worry about making multiple payments and instead focus on one monthly deadline. Plus, if you can get your debt consolidation loan for a lower interest rate than your other significant loans, you will be saving money and putting yourself one step closer to freedom from debt.

Just be wary of debt consolidation fees as they can sometimes be upwards of 3% of the total loan amount.

The Best Way to Check Your Score

Knowing “what is a good credit score” is essential, but it’s no use unless you know what your current score is.

To start, you can go to one of three major credit bureaus to check your credit report for free. Your credit report provides a history of your financial activity. A history of your financial activity includes any accounts you have, any bankruptcy reports, how often you pay bills on time, and any inquiries you’ve made. The three credit bureaus you can use to check your credit report are:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

However, it’s important to note that your credit report is different from your credit score. To check your credit score with these three bureaus, you’ll need to pay a fee. Alternatively, you can visit a free credit scoring website to check your score (usually for free with a sign-up). Finally, you can also see your credit card provider for your credit score. Some credit card providers and banks offer the service of checking your credit score at no cost to you.

Why Your Credit Score Changed

If you’ve been consistently tracking your credit score over time, you may notice it fluctuate occasionally. Slight changes in your credit score are regular and can happen for several reasons. Some of them are:

• Differences amongst the three major credit bureaus
• The passage of time (the removal and addition of new credit transactions)
• Your debt to credit ratio/credit utilization ratio
• Different scoring systems for various industries
• Changing information and updated information

Fluctuations in your credit are bound to happen, and as long as you keep making payments on time, your score should recover. However, if you notice a significant unexpected drop in your score, it might be prudent to reach out to one of the credit bureaus to ensure that there isn’t any false information on your report.

Recap: What is a Good Credit Score and How to Get One

Your credit affects all areas of your life, from house purchases to banking and even buying a car. So it’s essential to understand what a good credit score is to set yourself up for financial success. Getting your credit score up is the first step to qualifying for more loans, building your financial reputation, and improving your financial health. So what are you waiting for?

This post originally appeared on Savoteur.

It’s time to start being savvy about your grocery bill. We’re all looking for ways to reduce prices when it comes to food and groceries.

One way to accomplish some savings is by meal planning. Here are some cheap dinner ideas to help you out this week.

Has your grocery store bill increased lately? Prices keep rising in stores across the United States. According to the Consumer Price Index, food at home costs increased by 6.5% last year. The most significant category increases included meats, poultry, fish, and eggs. These increases have significantly impacted the average household grocery budget and meal planning for family dinners.

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It’s frustrating to spend so much money on a few staple items at the grocery store. While you can’t control food costs in a volatile market, you can save your budget with some creative meal planning and cheap dinner ideas. 

Families have unique tastes and preferences for dinners that offer choice and variety. Searching for budget-friendly meals online leads you to many ideas that are mainly pasta with a pinch of cheese or dressing. These cheap dinner ideas come from frugal ingredients where the meat is versatile and allows you to shop according to the current market prices.  

Cheap Crockpot Meals

A crockpot is a time and money saver for meals in multiple ways. A crockpot is a useful kitchen tool for busy families. It cooks a meal while you’re at work, saves the cost of using an oven, and allows you to feed a large family. 

Soups, stews, and chilis are cheap crockpot dinner meals that go a long way. Many combinations of meats and veggies work together to make a hearty dinner. Some crockpot meals, such as chili, can be used later in the week to create new dishes, such as topping for nachos or potatoes. Using your leftovers in different meals is cost-effective and reduces food waste.

Taco soup is an example of a hearty and easy crockpot meal that feeds a large family or crowd. It consists of beef (or chicken), tomatoes, corn, beans, and seasoning. These are common canned goods kept in the pantry or affordable to purchase when you need a meal that feeds a crowd. You can choose your meat for this dish based on market pricing at the time, making it a versatile dish that helps with your food budget and weeknight dinners. 

More cheap crockpot dinner ideas:

• Chicken or beef chili
• Chicken with Italian dressing or salsa (shredded to add to pasta or pair with a veggie)
• Chicken and dumplings
• Vegetable soup
• Pot roast and veggies
• Beef stew

These crockpot dinner ideas are easy to make and use inexpensive ingredients. Many of these dishes make enough to freeze for multiple meals, which also stretches your dollar. 

Easy Cheap Casseroles

Casseroles, or one sheet pan dinners, combine foods that create a standalone meal. You probably have some traditional casserole recipes from your cookbook that are already classic family favorites. Casseroles use versatile ingredients and recipes can be adjusted to feed small or large families. 

One easy sheet pan meal and known comfort food that combines chicken, a flaky pie crust, and vegetables is chicken pot pie. The most significant expense is your chicken but it remains a cost-effective meal with veggies and a homemade or store-bought crust. 

A rotisserie chicken is typically an affordable food item used in various dishes to make casseroles and other cheap dinner meals. One chicken can go a long way when used in soups, salads, and pasta to add protein and flavor.  

Easy casseroles for dinner: 

• Shepherd’s pie
• Taco casserole
• Breakfast casserole
• Poppyseed chicken casserole
• Beef stroganoff
• Ground beef casserole

Casseroles typically combine proteins, starches, vegetables, and sauces to create a tasty and filling meal. Another bonus of casseroles is that most freeze well and can be prepared in advance to save time and money. 

Pasta Dinner Ideas

Pasta dinners provide many food choices that are affordable and delicious. They are often a simple meal favorite that kids love too. Pasta consisting of add-on ingredients remains a cost-effective food choice used to feed families or large groups. 

Spaghetti is one choice that can save your budget and please the whole family. It can be vegetarian or meat-based depending on prices at shopping time. Toppings and add-ins can customize your meal based on family preferences. 

Easy pasta dinner ideas:

• Homemade pizza
• Mac and cheese
• Lasagna
• Creamy chicken pasta
• Pasta salad
• Baked ziti

Pasta is cheap, and a few added ingredients can make it an excellent option for family meals. Use what you already have on hand in the pantry or fridge to liven up an otherwise plain pasta dish.  

Meatless Meals 

We can take some meal ideas from the Great Depression and apply them to today to save our budgets at dinner time. The Great Depression was a time in our history when meats and sweets were viewed as splurges and not everyday menu items. They simply used what was available in as many creative ways as possible. Most meals consisted of beans, potatoes, and cornbread. 

Potatoes can be prepared in multiple ways to create different dishes, and a baked potato with a few add-ons can make a cheap dinner meal. Leftover mashed potatoes can be cooked again into fried potato patties to get your money and meal’s worth from one dish. 

Adding more veggies to your meals is a natural way to eat cheap and healthy dinner meals. Many meals can be served vegetarian with lentils, beans, spinach, or other vegetables on sale and in season. 

Other simple meatless meals:

• Beans and rice
• Cheese or veggie quesadillas
• Bean and cheese burritos
• Vegetable stir fry
• Roasted vegetables and sweet potatoes

Lentils and beans provide protein, carbohydrates, and fiber as a great option to a balanced diet that will not blow your budget. Adding more vegetables to your dishes improves the flavor and is healthier too. 

Sandwich Ideas for Dinner

Sometimes you’re a busy family on the go and need a cheap dinner idea with little to no cooking for an easy weeknight meal. A sandwich can meet both needs with a few simple ingredients. Sandwiches for supper are a quick and cost-effective option.  

Making a comeback in part to Johnny Lawrence’s character in Cobra Kai, it doesn’t get much easier or cheaper than a manwich, also known as a Sloppy Joe. A Sloppy Joe is a meat mixture with added sauces to create a tangy flavor. It’s eaten on hamburger buns or bread and served with chips, fries, or tater tots, making it a fun kid-friendly meal. 

More cheap dinner sandwich ideas:

• Grilled cheese
• Pulled pork sandwiches
• Egg sandwich
• Hamburgers
• Bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich

Don’t forget the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich! It’s a quick, cheap dinner idea that still packs in some protein. 

Breakfast for Dinner Ideas

Breakfast makes a meal at any time of the day and provides a quick and easy dinner that uses simple ingredients you likely already have in the fridge or pantry. Oatmeal, fruits and omelets are nutritious choices that are easy to prepare at dinner time. 

A breakfast casserole combines eggs, sausage, cheeses, and croissants to make an all-in-one pan dish that can feed a family of 4. These are items you would need to buy when they are on sale to keep this an affordable dinner choice. 

Simple breakfast for dinner options:

• Oatmeal with fruit or yogurt
• Pancakes or waffles with fruit
• Omelets  
• Cereal 
• Gravy and biscuits

Breakfast for dinner can save your budget and please the whole family, making it a win for a cheap weeknight meal. For those nights when you have no time or energy, a bowl of cereal can come to the rescue!

Easy Dinner Desserts

Whether it’s been a long day, there’s something to celebrate, or just to cure a sweet tooth, sometimes you need a dessert at dinner. Adding a dessert to a meal does not have to blow your budget. 

Desserts can be simple, cheap, and delicious. If you like apples, combine one can of apple pie filling, a box of yellow cake mix, and butter in the crockpot for two hours. The result is a delicious dessert that tastes as good as it smells for less than $5! 

More cheap dessert ideas:

• Pudding topped with whip cream
• Brownies
• Fudge
• Rice or bread pudding
• No bake cookies

This dessert recipe for chocolate Christmas clusters doesn’t fit the cheap category, but it does make enough to gift all of your coworkers or friends and family. The expense is offset by using it as a gift item for a large group of people.

Final thoughts: Cheap dinner ideas can save your time and your grocery budget without compromising flavor or variety. Vegetables can be added to your meals for cost savings and added health benefits. 

This post originally appeared on Savoteur.

Misty Martin (Home Money Habits)

Misty is the owner and founder of Home Money Habits. She has a specialist degree in educational leadership and is a Level 2 Google Certified Educator. Misty provides tips, tools, and printables for home and money management so families can stress less and spend more time on their terms.