Like many, your home is the most valuable asset. It is something you build over your life with love, time, and energy. Once constructed, the primary concern is its safety from weather damage, fire, structural wear, tear, etc.
The first thought that pops up in my mind is home insurance. However, choosing the right home insurance may sound easy, but it’s not. There are several factors that you need to take into account before choosing the suitable one.
You need to evaluate the risks, where you live, compare rates, analyze the claim process and consider customer service. These are some primary objectives you need to think of.
However, the following are some of the steps you can take in choosing the right option.
What does the insurance cover?
The first step is to understand what the insurance covers. Which claims it entertains, and which scenarios it covers.
Any home insurance typically covers dwelling coverage, which covers structural damages to your house.
Miscellaneous structure coverage covers the outer side of the house like fences, sheds, guest houses, and any other structure on the property.
Additional living expenses cover your costs on hotel stays and meals when your house is unlivable and under repair.
There’s liability coverage in which insurance covers the medical cost and other expenses if a visitor gets hurt/injured on your property.
Lastly, there is building code coverage, which covers the cost of repair in the event of damages incurred by a covered peril.
One thing you need to know is that the policy must cover and protect you against most or all of the universal perils. These perils can cause damage to your house. It includes fires, floods, or any damage by cold weather.
Also, you can add customary perils in the insurance, which will cost you extra, but the insurance will reimburse the remaining expenses.
Besides, there are some policies that will not cover less frequent perils like wildfires and thunderstorms if your area is prone to such incidents. It also affects coverage of the damage caused by natural disasters. In these scenarios, insurance holders will pay more than a claim before reimbursement.
Choosing the reimbursement form
This step determines what reimbursement method you prefer in case of damages. The reimbursement arrangement varies from paying the depreciated value of the damaged area to a complete bill for the replacement.
To make it more clear, there are two types of reimbursement options: cash value and replacement cost. In a cash value policy, the insurance company reimburses the cash value of damaged items after depreciation. For example, if your old TV gets destroyed, you will receive the cash value of the old TV and not the new one.
In a replacement cost policy, insurance companies reimburse you with the repair or replace value. If your old TV gets damaged, you will receive the price of a replacement. However, such policies have conditional applications and do not cover everything.
More importantly, if you live in a porch area, where prices of houses keep increasing or have high-value fixtures, you need to consider guaranteed replacement cost coverage. This coverage extends the repairing cost limited by the policy.
Compare and save
It’s your right and duty to compare home insurance from different providers. The cost and conditions vary very much based on circumstances. In this case,Assurance insurance quotes help people like you get the best insurance possible. Make sure whatever policy you choose covers all the necessary perils and any other additional options.
Here’s a bonus tip to save on home insurance.
Consider getting a bundle. You can choose your home insurance along with auto insurance to receive a discounted price. While combining other insurances, the cost will come down, and you can enjoy good discounts.
Which deductibles to choose?
Insuring a home, there are two types of deductibles: dollar amount and percentage deductibles. In the dollar amount deductible, you specify the amount you will cover at the time of the claim. In percentage deductible, you set a percentage you will cover at the time of repair.
One last thing to keep in mind, the higher your deductible is, the lower your premium will be and vice versa. So choose wisely and take all considerations into account before choosing the right home insurance for you.
Personally, the term “sinking fund” is new to me. Because of my parents, I have known the principles behind a sinking fund for a long time but the term is new to me. My parents used to set up a dedicated savings account and name it based on what they were saving up for. In most cases, they would save up for a new car over a few years so they could buy one without having to finance a car.
In a nutshell, this is what a sinking fund is but there is so much more you should know.
Culturally, I think the idea of a sinking fund has been lost in the United States. We want instant gratification. The patience to save up for a new car over a few years is hard to find. It is also so easy to finance items now! Nowadays, we can even finance buying simple items such as a new shirt from Lululemon with Afterpay or Klarna. Having easy access to financing options only reinforces the habits of impatience we have developed.
People not using a sinking fund is something I have observed over the last couple of years.
We have actually started doing the opposite. We take out a loan to pay for the item first. As a cost for instant gratification, we pay interest on that loan. To save us money, we should be saving up first, maybe even earning some interest on that savings, then purchasing the item.
What is a Sinking Fund?
As I have hinted, a sinking fund is a special savings account you set up to save up for a large purchase. We will talk about what the fund can be used for later.
The term “sinking fund” comes from the business world.
“A sinking fund is a fund containing money set aside or saved to pay off a debt or bond. A company that issues debt will need to pay that debt off in the future, and the sinking fund helps to soften the hardship of a large outlay of revenue. A sinking fund is established so the company can contribute to the fund in the years leading up to the bond’s maturity.” (Investopedia)
Difference Between a Sinking Fund and an Emergency Fund
There is one big difference between a sinking fund and an emergency fund.
As we have already learned, a sinking fund is used to help save up for a big purchase. An emergency fund can also be used for large purchases. The main difference between the two is one fund is used for planned purchases (sinking fund) and the other is used for unplanned purchases (emergency fund).
I do not want to go too deep into emergency funds because we have an article about them already. In this article, we learn they are for those unplanned expenses that life can throw at you. Some expenses that an emergency fund can be used for include:
Broken Appliance
Car Repairs
Job Loss
Sinking funds on the other hand are intended to help you save up for large one-time expenses.
Types of Sinking Funds
Some types of large one-time sinking funds include:
New appliances
Home Repair
Home Renovation
New car
Medical Expenses (Human or Pet)
Vacations
They can also be used for larger recurring expenses. My wife and I use our normal checking account for these expenses. We tend to keep a solid five-digit balance within our checking account on top of our emergency and sinking funds just for these recurring expenses.
Car Insurance
Car Registration Renewal
Christmas/Birthday Gifts
Summer Camp
Back-to-school shopping
Annual Subscriptions (software, streaming, etc)
Best Ways to Save for One
Starting to save for a sinking fund really is not too hard. First, you start with a dollar amount for what you want to save up for such as a $5,000 vacation. Then you figure out how long you have to save up for that vacation. Let us say 10 months for this example. We can figure out how much we need to save monthly by dividing $5,000 by 10 months. In our example, we will need to save $500 every month.
Once you know this monthly amount, you need to figure out how this will fit into your monthly budget. Our vacation sinking fund is the third in line for priority. First, we need to contribute to retirement, then our emergency fund needs to be full ($15,000 in our case), then we fulfill our monthly amount for our sinking fund. The remaining amount goes into our checking account to make sure that it is filled enough for those recurring expenses.
Lastly, you should be putting your funds into an account that will earn you interest while you save. This account can be a high-yield checking account or even a money market account. We personally keep ours in a conservative fund within Betterment. I like this option because we can set up an auto-deposit into the fund. It takes the effort to save out of the equation.
5 Tips for Success With a Sinking Fund
1. Separate
Keep your sinking fund money separate from the rest of your money. This gives that money a focused purpose. It is easy to get distracted from your goals. If your funds were in with your general pool, it would be easy to tap into it.
2. Name
Naming your fund will also help you stay focused. You can name your fund “New Furnance” or “Disney Vacation”. A name helps remind you what you are saving for.
3. Automate
When possible, automate the deposits into your fund. This helps make sure a deposit is not missed so you stay on track with your saving goal. Auto-deposit also helps eliminate the opportunity to make an excuse to not deposit this month because you want to purchase something else.
4. Windfalls
If it makes sense, deposit any extra money you might earn such as from a bonus or tax refund. This will help accelerate the saving process and get you to your goal sooner.
5. Prioritize
Some sinking funds will have a higher priority than others. Be sure to focus on those first compared to ones that might be a “want” rather than a “need”.
Conclusion
A sinking fund is a powerful but simple finance tool that can help you save up for large one-time or recurring expenses. They help you purchase items such as cars or vacations so you do not have to take on more debt.
This article is not to knock you, the reader. I am not perfect either. My wife and I financed a new vehicle we bought this past summer. We did a cost-benefit analysis and waited for a deal on the financing, 1% APR. The moral of this short story, financing sometimes does make sense. I am not here to make you feel bad if you make a well-thought-out decision to finance something.
While they take a lot of patience and focus, sinking funds can help you keep your finances in better health instead of just financing to purchase items.
If you are looking to earn more income to help you save up your sinking fund then we have a page for you! Over the years, Andrew and I have slowly been putting together a massive list of Ways to Earn Money. Check it out! You might find something you love!
Wallet Squirrel is a personal finance blog by best friends Andrew & Adam on how money works, building side-hustles, and the benefits of cleverly investing the profits. Featured on MSN Money, AOL Finance, and more!
Today I want to give you my honest ibotta app review. We will look at the application together to see if it is worth the time spent for the cash ibotta give you back.
Today’s ibotta app review is reasonably short because ibotta’s process is just that simple. As I write this review, I keep scrolling through the ibotta app to find more to talk about. Simplicity is why I was thoroughly impressed with the overall process of getting the rebate deposited into my account.
The question is, “Was it worth my time?”
Spoiler Alert! Yes, it is very much worth the time. Here is why.
Who is ibotta (I bought a…)?
First, let us start off with a quick review of who ibotta is.
Ibotta is a startup based in Denver, Colorado, specializing in giving you cash back for purchases you make at particular stores. They have over 300 stores to select from, including Amazon, Uber, Target, Kroger, etc.
Ibotta makes their money from affiliate income from the stores they partner with. For example, a consumer goes to a store to purchase an item and redeems the rebate within the ibotta app. That store then credits ibotta for pointing the consumer to them. Ibotta also makes some money off of the little tasks you have to complete before adding a rebate (more up next).
Here is how that works. A consumer goes to a store to purchase an item and redeems the rebate within the ibotta app. That store then credits ibotta for pointing the consumer to them. Ibotta also makes some money off of the little tasks you have to complete before adding a rebate (more up next).
Ibotta also makes some money off of the little tasks you have to complete before adding a rebate (more up next).
How does the app work?
Within the ibotta app, you will want to add rebates from your favorite stores. In the ‘Find Rebates’ section, click on the plus symbol on items that interest you.
Every time you do add a rebate, you must complete a concise task. So far, all I have seen are one-question surveys. I am not sure if there are other tasks, though I have heard there are videos they have you watch. So far, these tasks have been straightforward.
There are three different ways to get money back through the ibotta app:
By sending a receipt back to ibotta.
You can link a loyalty card from your favorite stores.
You can make mobile in-app purchases.
My favorites are the last two methods because they require essentially no work. We will walk through all three ways for this ibotta app review, though.
By Receipt
The process was pretty simple as it only consisted of four significant steps:
1. Find Rebates
You will want to hop into the ibotta app to search for rebates here. I like to go into the ‘Find Rebates’ section, which allows me to see my favorite stores that I bookmarked. Once I selected a
store, I started searching for any rebate that applied to what I needed.
2. Go Shopping
After getting the rebates locked and loaded, it is time to go shopping! Don’t forget to head to the store before the rebate expires.
3. Redeem
Once you get back from the store, it is time to hop back into the ibotta application. Here you will want to select the ‘Redeem’ button to take a picture of the receipt and the bar code of the product you bought.
4. Get Cash
They promise you will get your rebate within 48 hours. Mine was dropped to me within an hour. I was impressed with how quickly I received my cash!
Link a Loyalty Card
This is my favorite method to gain rebates through the ibotta app. Here you only have to link up a loyalty card to your favorite stores, for me, King Soopers.
Here is what you need to do to get it set up:
1. Link Loyalty Card – Link your loyalty card from your favorite stores (in the ibotta network) to your ibotta account. You can either use your loyalty card number or phone number.
How cool is that?!?!
2. Find Rebates – Like in the ‘By Receipt’ method, head over to the ibotta app to search for rebates add the rebates you want.
3. Go Shopping – Head to the store you linked up to, using your loyalty card or phone number during check out. Because ibotta can see that transaction through your loyalty card, they will care for the rest.
4. Get Cash – Within 48 hours, you should see the rebate deposited into your account.
Mobile In-App Purchases
1. Find Rebates – Before heading to any of the mobile shopping apps that ibotta has partnered with, find the correct rebate for what you need.
2. Launch App – Within the ibotta app, open up the mobile shopping app such as Amazon.
3. Go Shopping – Find the product you are looking for, and make sure it qualifies for the rebate!
4. Get Cash – Ibotta will confirm that the rebate is pending. Within 48 hours, you should see the refund deposited into your account.
Getting Your Cashback
When I first set out to start researching for this ibotta app review, I thought to myself, “There is no way it is going to be this easy to get the rebate back.” Instead, I found from past experiences that most companies make you go through so many loopholes just to get paid.
To my surprise, receiving the rebate back was super-efficient. It was not 60 minutes later when I received my cash into my ibotta account.
There are many options to withdraw this cash to be able to use. They give you the option to deposit to your PayPal or Venmo account. There are also options to buy gift cards as well!
Sadly, there is one loophole you have to jump through. There is a $20 minimum before you can withdraw your rebate cash.
But, Hey! This ibotta app review could not be all positive news!
That is better than the $100 minimum the Stock Photography sites that I participate with have.
Other Helpful Tips
When I first launched the ibotta app for this review, it prompted me to find my favorite stores. Do not skip this step, as I enjoy having my favorite stores easy to find at the top of the ‘Find Rebates’ section. On the ‘Featured’ page, this will automatically pull any featured item from your favorite stores to the shelter, making it easier to find more awesome stuff.
Secondly, a teamwork feature allows you to link with friends through Facebook. This program will enable you to earn cash quickly. I have not tried this feature yet, but ibotta claims, “The bigger your team, the faster and easier it is to earn Teamwork Bonuses.”
Finally, check out the ‘Bonuses’ page under your ‘Account’ page. Here there are some more direct rebates from companies. For example, you might find something special for yourself.
My Final Thoughts
So, now that we have looked over all of the significant elements let’s take a final glance at this ibotta app review.
I like the app and its concept to the shopping front. Ibotta has nailed the process down to a science that provides a smooth experience. Because everything runs like a well-oiled machine, I do not see this company slowing down at all.
I am not sure that my shopping methods work well for ibotta or any couponing. My personal belief is that I do not need to go shopping just because I have a coupon. My wife and I make a menu for the upcoming week based on recipes we enjoy a lot. Then we see if there are any coupons for those recipes. Typically, there are not many.
Maybe we need to change our menus to revolve around the coupons instead.
How do you handle coupons? Have you tried Honey yet?
Ready to Sign Up?
Does this review have you excited to get signed up for ibotta? That’s fantastic news!
Head over there now and sign up using our Affiliate Link. This helps us fund Wallet Squirrel to continue to bring more awesome reviews like this one.
More Ways to Make Money
Looking for more ways to make money for you and your family? Well, the search is over!
Wallet Squirrel is a personal finance blog by best friends Andrew & Adam on how money works, building side-hustles, and the benefits of cleverly investing the profits. Featured on MSN Money, AOL Finance, and more!
This past year my wife and I set out to trim our monthly budget with some creative ways to save money. Our kids are getting older and we are wanting to start traveling with them to places like Disney World. Besides adventures, we also are wanting to get more aggressive with our retirement savings. To help us save up for those adventures and savings we decided to start trimming our already lean monthly expenses.
The cuts we found save us over $700 a month!
When you already have a lean budget as we do, it can be tricky to save money. Sure you can cut out the fun stuff but I want to be able to enjoy life a little bit as well! The trick is to get creative and continuously be learning. Below are some examples of creative ways to save money every month. These are all personal examples my wife and I have implemented over the last year.
1. Internet ($15 a month)
I briefly mentioned this in a recent article but I had no idea you could use your own modem instead of renting one from the internet company. I knew we were paying $15 a month just to use their modem but apparently, you do not have to do this.
It is not that hard either! We ended up purchasing one from Amazon for about $50. It will pay itself off in 3.5 months!
Once you get it, you will unplug the cable company’s modem then plug in your new modem. While waiting for it to start up I plugged my computer directly into the modem. This allowed me to follow the instructions from Xfinity (URL provided by the modem company). Once done, I unplugged my computer and plugged that ethernet cable into our wireless router. This took maybe 10 minutes overall.
Once done, I returned the Xfinity modem and they took the charge off our monthly bill.
2. Phone Bill ($60-$70 a month)
We took a giant leap here. We have been with Verizon for almost 10 years but at $136 a month we decided this bill was WAY too expensive. After some research, we decided to move over to Google Fi.
Google Fi is a unique network that switches between the T-Mobile, USCellular, and secure WiFi networks depending on who has the strongest signal. We have only had the service for two weeks now. I have no complaints yet.
To help you save more money, you can bring your own phone. We ended up doing this. Be aware that the auto-switching between networks only works with compatible phones. You can see if your phone is compatible through the Google Fi website.
3. Subscriptions ($30 a month)
Subscriptions for streaming services or monthly boxes can really add up. This is what happened to us. We had way too much so we both discussed what needed to be cut.
Together we discussed what service we, individually, watched the most. My wife said Netflix and I said Hulu. The kids watch Disney+ the most which is another favorite for my wife and me. After our discussion, we decided to cut everything but Netflix and Disney+.
We also decided to get rid of my Adobe subscription because I was barely using it anymore and had access to the very old but still very usable Adobe CS5. Lastly, we decided to cut our Microsoft Office service and use Google Docs instead. This is a very viable substitution.
I recommend writing down every monthly subscription you have. Most of these subscriptions are wants, not needs. Because of this, I would go through your list asking yourself, “Do I really use this much?” and ranking them with how much you use them. Once you have finished your ranking, cut the bottom of the list.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, King Soopers (Kroger) has made all of their digital which makes it easier to find deals for the week. We make sure that we take advantage every week. King Soopers also gives us loyalty coupons that will give us free items such as eggs or $10 off produce.
Some weeks, these coupons can drop our $125 grocery bill down to $100.
We also enjoy using the Ibotta App. This app is a creative way to save money which saves us anywhere from $5-$10 a week. This might not seem like much but it can add up throughout the month! Check out our Ibotta review if you would like to learn more about this awesome application.
5A. Refinance (Net Zero)
Refinancing and the next item, student loans, are tied together so that is why I named them 5A and 5B.
In the summer of 2021, we decided to refinance, not to lower our interest rate though. We already had the lowest interest rate. Instead, we were trying to tap into the $115,000 of value our house had increased in the first 12 months of ownership.
One main goal of our refinance was to get rid of our private mortgage insurance (PMI). After the 2008 housing collapse, PMI is required for homeowners to carry in they have less than 20% down in the home value. My wife and I were able to put 10% down on our $500,000 home. We needed to come up with another $50,000 to get above the 20% downpayment. This is where part of the $115,000.
The rest would go into helping us restructure our debt.
5B. Student Loans ($550 a month)
We refinanced with a goal not to take on more debt but to restructure our current debt. This time around we focused on paying off my $45,000 in student loan debt with the remainder of the $115,000.
While that debt still exists, we were able to cut the interest rate in half. We can now take this extra $550 and put it into our retirement fund so it can hopefully earn more money for us.
Creative Ways to Save Money Conclusion
It feels great to be saving this much every month ($8,400 annually). This money can go a long way for our future and for having adventures with our kids.
What is your favorite creative ways to save money!
Wallet Squirrel is a personal finance blog by best friends Andrew & Adam on how money works, building side-hustles, and the benefits of cleverly investing the profits. Featured on MSN Money, AOL Finance, and more!
Price Inflation is something that has been affecting the whole world during 2021 and most likely will continue well into 2022. We thought we would take a look at how we can fight price inflation during these times.
Let’s be honest, these ideas are a great way to save money every day even when price inflation is not rising costs on us.
One of our goals at Wallet Squirrel is to save money every day to help us reach financial independence.
1. Bulk Buy to Fight Price Inflation
If you tend to buy a lot of items that are non-perishable, buying in bulk can help you fight price inflation. For example, my wife and I tend to eat at least one pasta dish each week so we can buy our pasta in bulk to save money. The pasta will stay good for a couple of years which we will go through way before then. We also do this for toilet paper, dog food, and other household items that do not expire quickly.
Bonus: Buying in bulk will not only help you fight inflation but will also help you prepare for any emergency such as if you are trapped in your house for a few days after a major snowstorm.
2. Cut Back on Meat
Meat is expensive! Especially red meat. Cutting back on meat and relying on plant-based protein can help you save money each week. We tend to eat 2-3 meatless meals a week. Outside of this, we tend to do chicken or shrimp because they are much cheaper compared to red meat. I will watch out for deals on red meat before putting it on our menu.
3. Meal Prep
Prepping your meals ahead for the week has several benefits and one of them is to help you fight prince inflation. The theory behind prepping your meals is that you are more likely to stick to your weekly menu. While this might sound silly, it really does work! My wife and I spend a couple of hours each weekend prepping our lunches and breakfasts for the upcoming week. I then cook the dinners for the week on Monday and Tuesday evenings.
Meal prep also helps save time throughout the week. It opens up time for me to get other projects done throughout the week.
4. Embrace the Leftovers
I love leftovers so this is easy for me. Not everyone is a big fan of them and that is perfectly understandable. I ask that you learn to love them though because they can save you a lot of money but can save you a lot of time. What would you do with an extra hour in the day? That is what you could be doing instead of cooking dinner and eating leftovers.
Not only do leftovers save you money to combat price inflation but they also limit food waste which is a good thing for the environment.
5. Store Brands
We have a culture in the United States that you need to buy name brands because they are the best. Those brands’ marketing teams have done a great job. While this is true in some cases, most of the time, it is not. We try buying generic brands such as Kroger, Kirkland, Walgreens, and so on. This helps us save on food, dog food, and medicines.
I won’t buy the Kirkland laundry divergent though, it just isn’t as good as Tide.
6. DIY Things
Doing projects around the house can save you thousands of dollars. With Youtube and a little confidence, you can accomplish almost anything around the house. I have saved over $30,000 by completing projects myself. Some of these include:
General maintenance on our cars
Fixing issues on our cars
Sanding and restaining our deck
Redoing the landscaping of our yard
Small electrical jobs
Blowing out our sprinklers
Painting
And so much more
7. Save on Gas
We tend to only shop at one grocery store, King Soopers. This allows us to accumulate a lot of gas points to purchase gas at their Loaf & Jug locations. We tend to save 10 to 40 cents per gallon each time we fill up. This adds up over the year! If you don’t have any rewards then use apps such as Waze or GasBuddy to help find the cheapest gas in your area.
There are also other rewards programs that help you save on gas such as Pay With GasBuddy.
8. Get to Know Your Neighbors
Knowing your neighbors can be very helpful because you can help each other out. We do this in our neighborhood with items such as trading pet sitting favors. I also helped out our neighbors blow out their sprinklers which saved them $75 each! In return, they help me with other projects or lend me tools they have that I don’t have. It is a win/win situation for everyone!
9. Buy Nothing Group
Buy Nothing Group is such a cool concept! It is working to create a culture of ‘We’ not ‘I’ by developing a community of people who gift, receive, share, lend items with their fellow community members. The idea is to help others with gifts we have knowledge or an abundance of. It’s a very similar concept to getting to know your neighbors that I mentioned above.
10. Buy Second-Hand
Sometimes you can find amazing deals buying second-hand. My wife and I have been buying second-hand clothes for our two kids over the years. This is great because they will grow out of the clothes within six months or the season changes again. There are so many other items you can buy second-hand that will help you save money.
Tools
Bikes
Cars
Clothes
Buying second-hand is nothing new but the way we do has flourished in recent years. Craig’s List is a well-known online option but Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, and many other apps have jumped into the game. There are also the box stores such as Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity. There are plenty of options to buy second-hand gear to help fight price inflation.
11. Couponing
Couponing is something you should be doing already but if you are not, it is a great way to combat price inflation. I enjoy using the King Soopers mobile app to clip digital coupons. Ibotta is another great application I use to help save money on groceries. We also keep an eye out for manufacture coupons for items that we often buy such as toothpaste and toilet paper. While shopping online, I make sure that I use the Honey App to help me find discount codes.
Make More Money to Fight Price Inflation
These are just ways to combat price inflation by saving money throughout your monthly expenses. Other people are looking towards side hustles to make extra money each month as well. If this seems like something for you, check out our Ways To Make Extra Money page to get some ideas.
Wallet Squirrel is a personal finance blog by best friends Andrew & Adam on how money works, building side-hustles, and the benefits of cleverly investing the profits. Featured on MSN Money, AOL Finance, and more!
We all have the stress nightmare where your boss comes out of the blue and says “You’re fired”. That’s it and we spend the rest of the night in a panic. The problem is if it did actually ever happen, most of us don’t have a plan in case we do get fired.
Whether you’re thinking about losing your job due to stress, COVID-19, or any slew of reasons, it helps to have a plan. To lay out a blueprint, if this ever happened to me, here are 10 things to do if you lost your job and need money now.
Immediately Start
First, Take A Breath
It seems silly and not productive, but taking a breath is essential. People are let go or fired for a number of reasons and it’s not always a reflection of you or your work. Some things are just out of your control. Take an hour or take a day to let is sink it so it doesn’t consume you later.
1. Review Your Finances
Take a look at all the money you currently have. I personally use Mint to see all my bank accounts, credit card debt, and student loans all at once. You don’t need this, but make a list of every dollar in your possession. Look over your finances and get a feeling of how long you’ll last without a paycheck. It may not be pretty, but it’s something you absolutely need to know.
Know how much you need to spend each month, here is an example monthly breakdown:
Apartment & Utilities ($XX)
Food ($XX)
Car Insurance ($XX)
Cell Phone ($XX)
Internet ($XX)
Misc. ($XX)
PS. Also, consider health insurance as a cost. In most cases, your old employer would have provided this for you, but you need to talk to your HR to see how long this lasts. You may need to pick up supplemental health insurance until you get a new job.
Hopefully, you have some sort of Emergency Fund you can access if you lose your job. Your emergency fund will help cover rent/mortgage, food, and those expenses your paycheck normally covers. Most emergency funds should cover 4-6 months of expenses. If you don’t have an emergency fund, start saving up now but the following tips can still help.
I personally have an emergency fund I keep in a savings account, that will last me around 6-7 months. I know many people don’t have that. It took me 5 years to build. However it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done because it provides a mental safety net.
Let’s continue though as if you have $0 emergency funds.
If you just lost your job, you shouldn’t be watching Netflix, Hulu, or listening to Spotify. If you have any kind of subscription services that cost money regularly, you should cancel these until you get a job again. It may feel like a nice break watching Netflix between job applications, but you need to save all the money you can until you’re working again. If you feel this is too hard to do, consider using your parent’s or friend’s account temporarily to save money.
Needless to say, don’t make any crazy purchases thinking you’ll get a job next week when “you really try”. Until you have a signed contract with a company, I’d suggest avoiding the mall and any kind of gift ideas. If you can, cancel any flights, trips, running races, etc. Plus always ask if you can get your money back. It may not always be possible, but every little bit helps!
For me personally, I would cancel my gym membership ($73/mo.), cancel my Spotify account ($10/mo.) since there is a free version, and I’d probably quit investing in my brokerage account ($200/mo.) until I have a steady paycheck.
3. Ask to Defer Payments
During hard economic times, many companies are willing to work with you because they prefer late payments to nothing at all. Student loan services are often willing to reconsolidate loans or defer payments. Banks are sometimes willing to defer a mortgage payment or at least help with options. It often just takes a call and asks.
For me personally, I would call my student loan companies and ask to defer my payments until I get another job. That would save me $537/mo.
4. Budget and Eat At Home A Lot
One of the biggest ways people spend money is food and eating out. If you just lost your job, avoid going out to eat with friends (unless it’s a networking thing) or ordering in. It may not be sexy, but cold cut sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and ramen got you through the dark years, it will again.
You know what you can cut to save money and you’ll see instant savings in your bank account. Remember one of the easiest ways of having more money, is not spending it!
One of the most popular tricks people use to limit spending is paying for food only with cash. The act of seeing the money physically leaving your wallet and the empty vacuum it creates, helps people be more selective with their purchases. I personally use credit cards because I enjoy the cash back, but I can’t argue with the success physical money has in limiting spending.
Start the Job Search
5. File For Unemployment
If you lost your job and actively seeking new work, you can file for unemployment. It varies state by state, but essentially you would file a claim with the Department for Labor and Employment and prove you’re actively looking for work every 2 weeks (depending on your state). Unemployment benefits will pay you a portion (likely small) of your previous salary. This is meant to help lessen the negative impact that unemployment has on the economy. It won’t be a glamorous option and you’ll meet some interesting people, but it will help.
6. Update Resume & Social Media Profiles
This is the time to update your resume with the latest accomplishments, promotions, volunteer efforts, jobs, references, etc. As you start the job search you want to make yourself look as good as possible. However, this isn’t limited to your resume. You should be updating your LinkedIn, Facebook, etc with the latest info so you’re casting a wider net for employers.
Don’t worry too much about how your resume looks, just that the information sounds grammatically correct and makes you look good! Many companies will force to you to copy all the exact same information into their often terrible online web forms. On the bright side, if your LinkedIn is up-to-date, you can always use their “one-click apply” to jobs posted on their site.
YouTube is also a great resource if you use it to better yourself now that you have free time. There are great exercise tutorials on YouTube, classes on coding (if you’re into high-paying jobs), and even brush up on software like Microsoft Excel. Use this opportunity to start a new job with a new skill set!
7. Tell Everyone You Know You’re Looking For A Great Job
It may feel embarrassing for you to tell anyone that you’re jobless. It’s a very vulnerable situation where you feel like something is wrong with you. There isn’t! It’s a normal thing, and job searching is a $200 billion dollar industry. People are constantly moving and switching jobs, you are now just one of them.
In most cases, when you tell people that you’re looking for a job, they want to help! They’ll often share new job openings they’ve heard of, or perhaps make recommendations to people they know in your industry. The fact is your chances of finding a new job dramatically increase when more people are on your team, helping you get a job.
I personally will change my LinkedIn page to “Looking for an Awesome Opportunity” and email my friends and family that I’m actively looking. More often than not, they will understand (because we’ve all been there before) and they’ll want to help!
Some of the best job search tips I’ve ever heard:
I recommend LinkedIn, Google Jobs, and Indeed for job postings. This is what most people use. I often avoid Craigslist.
Always use Glassdoor and read company reviews on how they treat their employees.
If you like a company, stalk their employees on LinkedIn to see if they went to the same schools you attended, clubs you’re in or charities you participate in. Ask them what it’s like there and ask for advice.
Have a salary in mind, knowing how much you need to cover all your expenses.
Make Money Fast When Your Jobless
8. Sell Your Old Stuff for Extra Money
If you just lost your job and looking for extra money, consider selling your extra stuff on Craigslist or eBay. All that extra stuff in your apartment/house like old bikes or snowboards could make a couple of hundred dollars with a new family. That’s a lot of extra ramen noodles! Plus it’s a rewarding feeling getting rid of some of the junk in your life.
9. Write Articles For Money
I write all the time for a blog, but I discovered there are other places on the internet that pay you for writing! I’ve written a couple of articles on Seeking Alpha that pay $35 per article and $0.01 for every page view. It usually comes around $70/article in the long run.
With your new free time, this is probably one of the easiest ways to earn extra money while unemployed. You’ll have lots of extra time and most of the sites I listed pay between $50 – $100 per article.
For me personally, this is my plan. Spend my mornings looking for new jobs and my evenings writing articles. If I can write 1 article a night, at $50 per article. That’s an extra $1,500/month!
10. Side Gigs
We regularly talk about creative ways to make money, but some of the quickest ways to make extra cash are side-gigs. These are tasks that you can do anytime on different established platforms:
Random tasks in your city ranging from moving furniture to assembling IKEA (sites like TaskRabbit)
Many of these could be done in your afternoons while you spending your mornings (often the most productive time of the day) job searching for new opportunities.
Conclusion
Losing your job is incredibly scary, but there are TONS of resources here and online to help you find a new job and supplement your income. Hopefully, this helps make losing your job a bit less scary and aids in setting up your own backup plan!
Wallet Squirrel is a personal finance blog by best friends Andrew & Adam on how money works, building side-hustles, and the benefits of cleverly investing the profits. Featured on MSN Money, AOL Finance, and more!
For some of us, frugality comes naturally. But for others, frugal living conjures up images of a miserly, meager existence. No wonder so many tune out when the topic of frugality comes up!
But what if I told you living frugally doesn’t have to be painful or boring? And—what if I also told youit could bring financial peace, security, and even freedom? It’s true. A frugal lifestyle canprovide all this and more.
In this article, I’ll share the whys and hows of frugal living. Then, I’ll get you inspired and motivated by sharing my 53 favorite frugal living tips. Ready to start saving? Let’s go!
Why Embrace Frugal Living
As someone who’s always been frugal, I can vouch for the benefits of living a frugal life. There are so many! For those who need a little more convincing, here are my top reasons to embrace frugality:
It’s Easier Than Earning More
Frugality is the simplest, quickest way to improve your finances. When compared with increasing your income, living frugally is far easier. You don’t need special training, knowledge, or tools to save money. Simply pick a tip and get started TODAY!
I think of frugality and saving as low-hanging fruit. Take those easy wins and use them to propel your finances forward.
It’s Powerful
Underneath the simplicity of frugal living is its incredible power. With a few frugal choices, you could save thousands of dollars every year. Those thousands of dollars could become tens or even hundreds of thousands when saved and invested over time.
Imagine the options and freedom that kind of money could bring to your life. Frugality can help you get there.
It’s Freeing
Being frugal can play a huge role in helping you reach financial freedom. How? It increases the gap between your income and expenses. This gap is your savings. When invested wisely, your savings are what will get you to financial freedom.
While a decent income also plays a part, you won’t get far if you spend it all. Frugality is the other half of the financial freedom equation. Embracing it can help you reach your goals sooner.
It’s Painless (When Done Right)
Some people think frugality is difficult and takes the fun out of life. They’re just doing it wrong! The truth is—living a frugal life can be completely painless.
The key is to focus on your values. Cut back hard on things you don’t value. Then, enjoy spending on things you do. That’s the secret to frugality without deprivation.
It’s Rewarding
Maybe I’m a money geek, but I find frugality and saving to be incredibly rewarding. Seriously though—how can you not feel good about slashing an expense in half? Or cutting a no-longer-needed expense?
Frugal changes like these are undeniably rewarding—both emotionally and financially. If you’re having a hard time embracing frugal living, try focusing on the rewards. That may be what you need to get started.
It’s Fun
I honestly find frugal living to be lots of fun. That’s because it’s not ALL about cutting back and saving money. In fact, much of it is about getting creative and learning new skills and ideas.
Also, it often requires connecting with and learning from others. This, too, can bring more fun and enjoyment into your life. All of this just makes frugality even more rewarding!
How to Embrace Frugal Living
So, now you know the whys of frugal living. It’s time to learn how you can start embracing this way of life. It isn’t hard—especially if you break it into manageable steps.
That’s what I’ve done for you in this section. Have a read and get ready to start your frugal living journey.
Gather Ideas
Get started by learning about the many ways to save money through frugality. To give you some ideas, I’ve listed my 53 best frugal tips in the next section. If that’s not enough, there are plenty of websites, podcasts, and books on the topic.
Start Thoughtfully
Try to be thoughtful when choosing your initial money-saving tasks. Don’t start with overly difficult or drawn-out ones. This could sap you of motivation and derail the whole process. Instead, select tasks that are relatively easy to accomplish and give you a boost.
Keep Your Values in Mind
When considering frugal ideas, always keep your values in mind. As mentioned, this is the best way to prevent feelings of deprivation. You’ll also gain a greater sense of satisfaction when your frugal decisions are true to your values. In turn, this will motivate you to keep going.
Take on Higher-Value Tasks
Once you tick off some of the easy tasks, it’s time to take on some of the harder ones. They may require more time and effort to complete, but they’ll usually make up for it with bigger savings. Make the leap and go for it—it’ll be worth it!
Tally up the Savings
Keep a running tally of the money you’ve saved. (It might be fun to display your progress using a coloring sheet or wall chart.) This will increase your motivation to continue working through your money-saving tasks.
Make Plans for the Savings
Start making plans to put your savings to work (or enjoy a portion of it)! This can also help to keep your motivation high and feed the virtuous cycle of frugality.
Put the Savings to Work
Finally, it’s time to put your newly-gained savings to work. You could pay off debt, deposit it in a high-interest savings account or invest it. As you watch your net worth increase, you’ll further fuel your desire to find even more ways to save money.
53 Ways You Can Embrace Frugal Living Today
Okay, now we’ve got the whys and the hows of frugal living covered. Are you pumped up and ready to start saving? In no particular order, here are my 53 favorite frugal living tips to help you save money and spend less. (And maybe even reach FIRE (financial independence, retire early!)
1. Regularly revisit recurring expenses
Revisit your recurring expenses to see if you can reduce, cut or optimize them. For example: do you still read that magazine? Could you get away with less mobile data? Revisit your expenses annually (at minimum) plus anytime your needs or life situation changes.
2. Shop around and get new quotes
Every year or so, shop around and get two to three new quotes on your recurring expenses. Switching to a competitor or taking advantage of promotions could save you hundreds.
3. Ask for loyalty discounts
Instead of leaving for a competitor, try negotiating with your biller. Call and ask to speak to the retention department. Mention how long you’ve been a customer, then negotiate for a discount or get them to meet (or beat) a competitor’s rate.
4. Pay annually (or all upfront) instead of monthly
Some billers offer a discount to customers who pay their bill once a year or all upfront versus monthly. Insurance, online services, and some medical services often offer this payment option.
5. Pay with a credit card
Maximize your spending by paying with a rewards credit card. Even better—use a card that offers higher-earning categories. (For example, groceries, gas, restaurants.)
6. Pay in cash instead of with a credit card
Often, smaller businesses will offer a discount if you pay in cash or with your debit card. (This tip goes against my previous tip. But in some cases, the savings are greater than any credit card rewards you might earn.)
7. Register for refer-a-friend programs
Many billers and banks offer refer-a-friend programs where you and/or your referred friend receive a bonus. Sometimes, the referral bonuses can be quite lucrative, so always check to see if your biller or bank offers them!
8. Skip extended warranties
Resist the alluring sales pitches to buy extended warranties. They’re rarely worth it. Since you’re now a frugality expert, you should be saving enough to cover any issues that arise.
9. Raise your deductibles
This is an easy way to potentially save hundreds on your insurance. Raise your deductibles as high as you can afford. Your coverage will remain the same, but your policy premiums won’t—they’ll be much cheaper!
10. Fine-tune your coverage
Thoroughly read the details of your insurance policies. Are you paying for coverage you don’t need? For example, jewelry and fine collectibles on your home insurance; rental car coverage on your car insurance. Remove unnecessary coverage and enjoy the savings!
11. Ask about discounts
Most insurance companies offer senior, group, corporate, alumni, or profession-specific discounts. These discounts are sometimes not publicly shared, so you may need to ask to access them.
12. Use an insurance broker
When purchasing insurance or applying for a mortgage, you’ll often do better by working with a broker. Brokers can access quotes from multiple companies. That means they can often find you a better rate than you’d be able to find yourself.
13. Ditch bank accounts with fees
So many banks now offer fee-free accounts. There’s no longer any reason to use accounts with fees or minimum balance requirements. You can also do even better than that! Try to find a no-fee account that pays you high interestand functions as a checking account.
14. Understand your account fees
Keep[ in mind that fee-free bank or investment accounts may still have hidden charges. You could incur them if you’re not aware. Be sure to understand any potential fees and how to avoid them.
15. Request a fee waiver
Even the best of us make mistakes! Call your bank or brokerage to plead your case if you slip up and are charged an account or transaction fee. Often, they’ll offer a one-time fee waiver. It’ll cost you a mild scolding and a promise not to do it again—but it’s worth it!
16. Invest in low-cost index funds or ETFs
Consider investing your money in index funds or ETFs when you’re ready to put your savings to work. They’re effective, easy to use, and the fees are ultra-low. (Tip: I highly recommend The Stock Series by JL Collins to learn more about this style of investing.)
17. House hack
Want to live in your house for free (or close to it)? Try house hacking! Some ideas include: renting out your basement, taking in roommates, or Airbnbing your guest bedrooms. You may also want to consider my family’s house hack of choice—hosting international homestay students.
18. Live in a walkable/bikeable area
Save big on transportation costs by living in an area that’s walkable and/or bikeable. By avoiding the need for a car, you’ll save money, get healthier and help the environment! (Tip: visit walkscore.com to find walk, transit, and bike scores for most cities in the world.)
19. Meal plan
Plan your meals one to two weeks at a time, basing your meals on what’s on sale (see the next tip below). This frugal living skill not only saves you money but time and stress as well. (No more coming home and wondering what’s for dinner!)
20. Check flyers and shop sales
One of the best ways to save money on groceries is to check flyers and shop sales. Doing so could easily save you thousands every year. (Tip: use flyer apps like Flipp and Reebee to quickly and conveniently find the best deals in your area.)
21. Buy discounted food
This is one of my favorite frugal hacks! Look for services like Flashfood or Imperfect Foods. They sell close-to-expiry, ugly, or overstocked food at heavily discounted prices. We use Flashfood regularly, and it saves us 50% or more on quality, still-tasty groceries.
22. Get a freezer
Make the best of sales by stocking up and buying in bulk—then store the excess in your freezer for future use. By doing this, you won’t need to buy groceries at regular prices or wait for sales. You can simply ‘shop’ from your freezer!
23. Reimagine leftovers
Combat food waste and boredom by getting creative and reimagining your leftovers. For example, turn a roast chicken into chicken noodle soup, chicken salad sandwiches, or fried rice. (Tip: look online to find recipes for your leftovers. Often, you’ll discover new dishes that may be even yummier than the original dish!)
24. Clean your fridge
If you notice your food’s spoiling sooner than expected, try this simple fix: clean your fridge. You’ll likely find this fixes the problem. You will save your food from an untimely early demise, and you’ll save money!
25. Cook pasta (and other noodles) efficiently
Instead of keeping your cooktop on the entire time, try this energy-efficient technique:
Bring the water to a boil.
Drop in the pasta.
Stir the pasta to prevent clumping.
Bring the water back to a boil, then turn off the heat.
Put the lid on the pot.
Let the pasta soak for 10 minutes.
Try it for doneness.
If it’s not done, try it every 2–3 minutes until fully cooked.
Did you know that most dishes don’t require a preheated oven to start cooking? Save energy and time by putting your dish into the oven when it’s still cold. During preheating, your food will slowly come up to the right temperature. This, in turn, reduces the overall cooking time and energy use.
27. Use the smallest appliance possible
If a smaller appliance will get the job done, use that instead of a larger one. For example: use the toaster oven instead of the wall oven, the Instant Pot instead of a pot on the stove, the hand mixer instead of the stand mixer. This saves you energy and, in turn, money!
28. Eat out at lunchtime or during happy hour
If you enjoy eating out, you could save big by avoiding the dinnertime timeslot. Many restaurants offer happy hour specials or the same meals at a discount for lunch. As a bonus, you’ll also avoid dinnertime crowds!
29. Share meals
My family can usually fill up on three restaurant dishes between the four of us. A typical restaurant dish costs $20 or more (plus tax and tip). Sharing dishes can add up to significant savings and helps to avoid overeating!
30. Take leftovers home
If you can’t finish your meal, ask to have your leftovers wrapped to take home. Don’t forget to also pack uneaten dipping sauces, side dishes, and bread. They’ll get tossed anyway—why waste delicious food that you spent your hard-earned money on?
31. Use coupons and group deals
Don’t be shy about finding and using coupons and group deals when eating out. They’re a fun and frugal way to try new restaurants (and you could discover a new favorite spot). But don’t forget: being frugal is the goal. Being cheap is not—so make sure you tip on the undiscounted amount!
32. Avoid ordering drinks and desserts
Drinks (alcoholic or not) are often the most marked-up items on restaurant menus. Desserts have a lower markup but are nonetheless costly for what you get. By enjoying your drinks and dessert at home, you’ll not only save on the menu price but also taxes and tips.
33. Shower less often
This may seem weird or gross to some, but it could become the norm if discussed more often! Unless you live in a hot, humid climate, you could very likely shower every other day (or less) without issue. Your skin, wallet, and the planet will thank you for it!
34. Wash your laundry less often
Not only can you wash your body less often, but the same goes for your laundry! Clothing, towels, and bedding do not need to be washed after every use. If the item still smells and looks clean, keep wearing or using it until it truly needs a wash. It’s a time, energy, and money-saving win-win all around!
35. Hang dry everything except the smallest items
Save money, energy, and wear and tear on your laundry by hang drying and avoiding the dryer. I realize it can be a pain to hang up many small items. So, reserve your dryer for socks and other tiny items. (Don’t forget to throw your hang-dried towels in the load—see the next tip!)
36. Add dry towels and dryer balls to your dryer loads
To soften your ‘crunchy’ hang-dried towels, pop them in the dryer with your damp laundry. The moisture from the wet laundry will soften the towels. And the towels and dryer balls will speed up drying time and fluff up the rest of your laundry. (It really works!)
37. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
Did you know that ‘free’ or discounted cell phones from cellular providers are financed via your phone plan? It’s rarely a good deal, so opt instead to buy your phone elsewhere (preferably used) then BYOD to your carrier. You could easily save hundreds this way.
38. Keep your devices longer
So many of us have fallen into the ‘normal’ routine of upgrading our devices every two to three years. It’s time to stop the madness! For the sake of your wallet (and our planet), resist this cultural norm and hang onto your devices for as long as you can. Four to five years is a more reasonable lifespan for phones (and five or more years for tablets).
39. Buy used
Always shop the used market first! Even like-new items sell for a fraction of their original purchase price. Buying used does require patience and effort, but it usually pays off. This is especially true when you’re done with the item and resell it for the same price or more! It’s essentially like renting items for free (or close to it).
40. Use Camel Camel Camel
If you do a lot of shopping at Amazon, you’ll love Camel Camel Camel. It’s a website that helps you monitor Amazon for price drops on items you’re interested in. When an item you’re watching drops in price, Camel Camel Camel will send you an alert. (Tip: prices can change quickly on Amazon, so jump on it when you get an alert!)
41. Use rebate sites
Sign up for rebate sites like Rakuten, Mr. Rebates, and Great Canadian Rebates. These sites allow you to earn cashback on your online purchases. Watch for bonus events when you can earn 2x, 4x, or even 10x the normal rebate on your purchases! (Tip: check multiple rebate sites before making purchases. Often, the cashback amount is significantly higher on one site.)
42. Buy discounted gift cards
Discounted gift cards are a great way to save even more at your favorite stores! (You can purchase them in both physical and electronic formats.) Shop for them at websites such as Raise, CardCash, and Cardswap. Typically, you’ll get bigger discounts on gift cards in larger denominations and for less-popular stores.
43. Stack strategies
For maximum savings, stack every money-saving shopping strategy that’s available to you. Here’s how:
Pay for your discounted gift cards with a rewards credit card.
Use a rebate site to earn cashback on your purchase.
Use a discounted gift card to pay for the purchase.
44. Shop clearance and sale items only
Train yourself to ignore regular-priced items. Instead, head to the sale/clearance section of your favorite store or website. You’ll typically save 25–50% on these items, but the discounts can be even higher. (This blows the typical 5–10% off offers on regular-priced merchandise out of the water!)
45. Find and use promo codes
These are getting harder to find, but it’s always worth a try. Search online for promo, discount, or coupon codes for the stores you shop at. Typically, these coupons will get you free shipping or 10% off your purchase. (Tip: if you’re also using a rebate site, check the terms and conditions. Sometimes, using a coupon will void the cashback offer from your rebate site.)
46. DIY everything you can
One of the best ways to save a lot of money is to DIY everything that you can. Here are some ideas to get you started: cooking, baking, home, car maintenance and repair, renovations, haircuts, pet grooming, vegetable growing. The possibilities are endless! (Tip: YouTube is one of the best, free ways to learn how to DIY just about anything.)
47. Mend and repair your stuff
Mending and repairing things is, sadly, becoming a relic of the past. This is terrible for our wallets and the environment. Thankfully, the right to repair movement is gaining steam. Fight back against disposable culture. Turn mending and repairing into a normal part of your frugal living routine!
48. Maintain your stuff
Maintaining your stuff goes hand-in-hand with the previous tip. Take care of your belongings and regularly maintain them. It will save you money and prevent the need to mend or repair them in the first place. (Tip: set recurring reminders on your phone so you don’t forget to take care of routine maintenance tasks.)
49. Travel as a group
Travel can be very costly. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to save on vacations and trips. Traveling as a group is one of them. Group travel can net you valuable discounts through bulk purchases and shared accommodations, and transportation.
50. Stay in Airbnbs
This is my family’s favorite form of travel accommodation! Airbnbs are typically more affordable than hotels. Also, there’s usually a kitchen to cook or reheat meals (which saves money on eating out). We also love that Airbnbs are actual homes. This gives us a more authentic travel experience.
51. Embrace slow travel
Slow travel is one of the best ways to make travel more affordable. How? When you slow travel, you can spread out the cost of transportation (e.g., flights, trains, etc.) across many more days. This brings your per-day cost way down. Slow travel also gives you time and flexibility to select slower, more affordable modes of transport.
52. Travel hack
Travel hacking is the process of earning credit card points to pay for your travel expenses. You could end up paying little or nothing for flights, hotels, and other expenses. It’s a fantastic way to turn your regular spending into free or discounted travel!
53. Put your frugal living thinking cap on
This final tip will help you go beyond the tips in this post. Anytime you’re faced with a spending decision, get creative. Ask yourself how you might be able to do it more frugally. Over time, you’ll get better and better at it. (It’s like exercising a muscle—so practice often for best results!)
Conclusion
I hope this post inspired you to embrace frugal living. When you live frugally, you’ll save money and time and lighten your footprint on the Earth. What’s not to love? Take action now by picking one (or a few) tips from this article and get started!
When you’re ready to learn even more ways to save money, visit my How Much Does it Cost to Live the FIRE Life interview series. Through the interviews, my interviewees and I share our actual expenses along with a plethora of frugal tips—from all over the world!
Wallet Squirrel is a personal finance blog by best friends Andrew & Adam on how money works, building side-hustles, and the benefits of cleverly investing the profits. Featured on MSN Money, AOL Finance, and more!
Hitting the road to get away from it all and explore new places has never felt more thrilling. These trips offer an adventure for everyone from stunning coasts to epic mountains or even music and bourbon trails. If you have a weekend, a week, or a month, there’s a trip for you. Whether you’re looking for roads less traveled or a cheaper way to vacation, here’s The Most Iconic Road Trips in Every State to inspire your next holiday.
1. Alabama’s Mobile to Fort Morgan
Courtesy Unsplash
Mobile is less than two hours from the white sand beaches of the Gulf Coast and is perfect for a weekend road trip. Take I-10, Baldwin Beach Express to Foley Beach Express, and you’ll be on island time in no time. En route to the shore, see over 500 animals at Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Explore the 32-mile long peninsula of sugar-white sand beaches, watch for dolphins, fish, or visit the 200-year-old Fort Morgan on the coastal roads of AL-180 and AL-182.
2. Alaska’s Anchorage to Seward
Courtesy Unsplash
Alaska is a regular destination on people’s bucket lists. Whether you’re looking to extend a cruise or prefer road trip vacations, driving the Seward Highway is awe-inspiring. From Anchorage, the Highway passes between the shoreline and Chugach Mountains’ giant peaks. Along the route, take your pick of National Heritage areas to explore and immerse yourself in the history of the determined people who have lived in this land.
3. Arizona’s Phoenix to the Grand Canyon
Courtesy Unsplash
While you could drive this stretch of I-17 in about 4 hours, give yourself a week to explore all its beauty. From Phoenix, head north to the Montezuma Castle National Monument. Next, spend two or more days in Sedona to explore the 1.8 million-acre Coconino National Forest, a stunning mix of red rocks and pine forests. Enjoy Flagstaff’s college culture and star gazing at Lowell Observatory. For a grand finale, explore the South Rim of The Grand Canyon 90 minutes away.
4. Arkansas’ Eudora to Ohama County
Courtesy Unsplash
Travel the entire length of the state on a 300 mile Great Highway 65 Road Trip. U.S. 65 passes by some of Arkansas’ most popular attractions. Starting in the state’s southern delta, drive north to Pine Bluff, with museums, history, and numerous family-friendly attractions. Continue to Little Rock, and explore the state capital and the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. Next, hike Pinnacle Mountain to take in the views at the top of East Summit Trailhead. On your way to Clinton, stop at Woody Hollow State Park. As you finish your road trip, see the infamous Natural Bridge of Arkansas, and spend a day canoeing on the Buffalo National River.
5. California’s San Francisco to San Diego
Courtesy Unsplash
California’s Pacific Coast Highway is perhaps the most famous road trip in America. Enjoy all that California has to offer over a 600-mile two-week trip. Explore large cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, small towns like Cambria and Manhattan Beach. Savor Santa Barbara wine country, magnificent mountains of Big Sur, the glamour of Hollywood, and the opulent beach towns of Orange County. End your trip with the picture-perfect weather and family-friendly attractions of San Diego.
6. Colorado’s National Parks Loop
Courtesy Unsplash
This epic week-long road trip allows you to see stunning destinations like Red Rocks Canyon and Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs and four of our country’s beautiful National Parks. Start and end in Denver not only for the convenience of their international airport but a bustling downtown and craft beer scene.
As you leave Denver on I-25 South, stop at Colorado Springs’ sandstone rock sites on your way to Great Sand Dunes National Park. Next, take-160 West to Mesa Verde National Park, known for its well-preserved Pueblo cliff dwellings. As you make your way back north on CO-145 and US-550, enjoy the dramatic mountain views while hiking the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. As you travel north to Rocky Mountain National State Park, make a stop in Glenwood Springs for thrilling outdoor adventures.
7. Connecticut’s Lisbon to North Woodstock
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This 32-mile road trip on National Scenic Byway State Route 169 is perfect for a day trip or staycation. Leave the crowds behind and explore small, quaint New England towns and countryside. Particularly beautiful in the fall, take your time exploring The Quinebaug and Shetucket River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Mashamoquet Brook State Park, and historical museums in Canterbury, Brooklyn, and Woodstock.
8. Delaware’s New Castle to Fenwick Island
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Explore the entire length of the state on this 100-mile road trip. In New Castle, hop on the Bayshore Byway, a scenic two-lane road that hugs the Delaware river and bay. Stop in historic Dover for lunch or snacks before exploring the tranquil small towns far away from the interstate. At the end of the byway, take Highway One to beloved shore towns Rehoboth, Dewey, and Bethany Beach.
9. Florida’s Miami to Key West
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One of the most iconic road trips in America takes you from a vibrant multicultural city to the edge of the world, U.S. Route 1 Mile Zero, the southernmost point in the continental United States. The 150-mile Miami to Key West drive includes the over-water Seven Mile Bridge linking towns and islands in the Florida Keys. Take your time stopping at award-winning beaches, state parks, and fabulous restaurants before arriving in Key West.
10. Georgia’s Atlanta to Helen
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Leave the urban sprawl of Atlanta behind on a US-19 N road trip to experience Georgia’s rolling hills, valleys, and mountains. Stop at Amicalola Falls State Park with incredible vistas, hiking, fishing, waterfalls, and a chance to step foot on the Appalachian Trail. On your way to Helen, make sure to stop in history-rich Dahlonega. Helen, one of the most popular destinations in Georgia, is a mini-Bavarian alpine village and the gateway to the Chattahoochee River, perfect for tubing.
11. Hawaii’s Paia to Hana
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The Road to Hana day trip is one of the most popular activities on Maui for a reason. This 52-mile journey allows you to explore an undeveloped portion of east Maui that feels like the Hawaii of yesteryear. From a “Half Hana” to a full 12 hour day, plan your Road to Hana stops to famous sites like Keanae Peninsula, Wai’anapanapa State Park, world-famous Hamoa Beach Pipiwai Trail located in Haleakala National Park. The Road to Hana is about enjoying the journey, not reaching the final destination, so don’t forget to stop at infamous food stalls like Aunt Sandy’s Banana Bread and Coconut Glen’s.
12. Idaho’s Swan Valley to Ashton
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The Teton Scenic Byway road trip is perfect for fall foliage, the spring bloom of wildflowers, or the annual summer balloon festival. This 70-mile drive has stunning views of the Teton Mountains, skirts nearby Targhee National Forest, a geotourism excursion in Driggs, and year-round activities at Grand Targhee Resort.
13. Illinois’s Cave-in-Rock to Cairo
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Add what Teddy Roosevelt called “the world’s most beautiful drive” to your vacation bucket list. The Ohio River Scenic Byway runs next to the Ohio River and puts the best of Southern Illinois on display. Destinations include Shawnee National Forest, historic small towns, various recreation areas like Garden of the Gods, Rim Rock, Glen O’Jones Lakes, and Cave in the Rock State Park.
14. Indiana’s Northern State Parks Loop
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This road trip features six state parks offering soaring sand dunes, lakeside relaxation, and rugged hiking. Start at Indiana Dunes State Park and explore Lake Michigan before hopping on IN-4 E to Potato Creek Park. Take I-80 E/I-90 E to Pokagon State Park, then I-69 S to Chain O’Lakes. Stay for the night in nearby Fort Wayne and explore the Freimann Botanical Conservatory and Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Head to Ouabache State Park on Route N 450 E. As you loop back, check out Tippecanoe State Park as your finale. Whether you live in Chicago or nearby South Bend, it’s an excellent staycation road trip.
15. Iowa’s New Albin to Keokuk
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The Great River Road National Scenic Byway runs parallel to the Mississippi River through the length of the state. A perfect trip for outdoor enthusiasts or history buffs, this 328-mile drive features stunning vistas, quaint river towns, limestone bluffs, and the history of the people living there for thousands of years.
16. Kansas’ Canton to Ellsworth
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The Prairie Trail Scenic Byway is an 80-mile road trip full of scientific landmarks, historical sites, cultural experiences, and fun activities. Highlights include the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge and Buffalo Tour, Kanopolis Reservoir State Park, Smoky Hill Wildlife Area, Marquette Pioneer Trail, Coronado Heights Bluff, Valkommen Rail Trail, and Broadway RFD, the state’s longest-running outdoor theater.
17. Kentucky’s Louisville to Lexington
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Few things are more iconic in Kentucky than bourbon, so why not explore the state on a Bourbon Trail road trip? After enjoying Louisville, travel south on I-65 to Shepherdsville, home of Jim Beam, the most popular bourbon in the world. Continue south via KY-245 to Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto and enjoy a different tasting bourbon known for its delicate sweetness.
Travel east on US-150 to Danville, the birthplace of Kentucky. Grab a bite to eat in their historic downtown and stroll their award-winning Main Street. You’ll be rewarded at the end of your trip with the scenery of Woodford County as you travel along US-127 N to Woodford Reserve Distillery outside of Lexington. Whether you have a designed driver or join day trip tours, stay safe along the Bourbon Trail.
18. Louisiana’s New Orleans to Lake Charles
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A perfect add-on to a NOLA visit, this short road trip along I-10 West illustrates a more diverse side of Louisiana. First, stop in Baton Rouge for lunch at the famous Louie’s Cafe and explore the capital city, home to LSU. Continue to Avery Island, home of Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge and The Tabasco Factory. In Lafayette, learn about exiled French Canadian settlers, the forefathers of Louisiana Cajuns at the Acadian Cultural Center, and enjoy James Beard award-worthy chicken and waffles at The French Press. Plan to stay a night, or two, in Lake Charles.
19. Maine’s Acadia National Park Loop
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Acadia’s Park Loop Road covers 27 miles of one of America’s favorite National Parks. This mostly one-lane road was thoughtfully created over 30 years to protect and display the stunning landscape. This loop begins at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and gives easy access to the park’s sites like Sieur de Monts, Sand Beach, Otter Point, and Jordan Pond, one of Acadia’s most pristine lakes. The road steeply climbs Cadillac Mountain, the top destination in the park. It’s the highest point in the Eastern Seaboard and offers gorgeous coastal views.
20. Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay Loop
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Far away from the suburban crowds of Bethesda and Baltimore, enjoy a weekend road trip on the Chesapeake Country Blue Crab Byway. Explore lower Eastern Shore historic towns and quaint villages on a scenic 210-mile stretch. Along both the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean routes, you’ll have many chances to enjoy local Maryland Blue Crab dishes. Fans of the movie Wedding Crashers might want to add Saint Michaels to their itinerary and book at night at the real Inn at Perry Cabin.
21. Massachusetts’ Boston to The Berkshires
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Whether you’re off to see the fall foliage, a summer show at Tanglewood, or skiing at Jiminy Peak, explore the countryside of Massachusetts and vibrant small towns along the Massachusetts Turnpike or its northern parallel route MA-2. From hiking trails at Mount Greylock, featuring the highest peak in the state, to the MassMOCA in North Adams, the entertainment of Great Barrington, or fine dining in Lenox, it’s perfect for a long weekend or even a week.
22. Michigan’s Standish to Mackinaw City
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This coast road trip on the historic Heritage Route US-23 puts the best of the Sunrise Coast on display. You don’t have to travel far to feel like you’re visiting another world. As you drive along Lake Huron’s coast, there are miles of beautiful beaches, lighthouses, bike trails, and remnants of mysterious shipwrecks. Plan to stop at Tawas Point State Park to experience one of Michigan’s best beaches, Au Sable, for a day of fly-fishing, kayaking, and the quiet of the oceanfront forest, Shipwreck Alley in Harrisville State Park, and bike riding, swimming, and picnicking in Ocqueoc Falls.
23. Minnesota’s Park Rapids to Winona
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Drive US-10 across the state for a 600-mile journey through cities, country, and everything in between. Stop first at Itasca, a 32,000-acre state park with more than 100 lakes. Consider staying in the Brainerd area, known for its hundreds of lakes and legendary resorts. Continue to St. Cloud for its granite Quarry Park Scientific area, The Twin Cities for epic views of meeting rivers, and end in Winona, an art lover’s mecca.
24. Mississippi’s Hernando to Woodville
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For music lovers, U.S. Highway 61 or The Blues Highway is sacred as it gave birth to the roots of modern music. Whether you want to leave your troubles behind like blues artists or just pack up and go, you can experience the history of the blues in the places where it was born. This route is marked with Mississippi Blues Trail signs across city streets, cotton fields, train depots, cemeteries, nightclubs, and churches. Make sure to stop at The Birthplace of the Blues Dockery Farms, GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi in Cleveland, and the various birthplaces of your favorite blues artists.
25. Missouri’s St. Louis to Joplin
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Experience Americana at its finest by taking a road trip on our most famous Highway – Route 66. Missouri, the show me state, has plenty to offer from National Forests, museums, retro drive-ins, and all the neon and kitsch of yesteryear. While not the famed Rosebud Motel, you can stay in some of the original route 66 hotels like the Wagon Wheel, the Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven, and the 1939 Boots Court Motel. Leave time to explore the Mark Twain National Forest, The Meramec Caverns, Route 66 State Park, and the Route 66 Museum in Lebanon.
26. Montana’s Bozeman to Yellowstone
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While you could do this drive along US-191 in two hours, savor all that Big Sky country has to offer over a weeklong road trip. Start in Bozeman, the adventure capital of the Northern Rockies, for fly fishing, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, or backcountry tours. Drive south to Big Sky Resort, a four-season mountain destination. Lastly, continue to West Yellowstone, a convenient base for exploring Yellowstone National Park. Give yourself at least two full days to explore all of its beloved 2 million acres.
27. Nebraska’s Odell to Scott’s Bluff
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Travel along the Oregon National Historic Trail to see the beauty of Nebraska and learn what life was like for those early settlers who traveled the same land. There are over 60 historical mile markers and museums to explore during this road trip. Consider stops at Rock Creek Station State Historic Park, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, Lincoln County Historical Museum, and Chimney Rock, one of the most noted landmarks along the Oregon Trail.
28. Nevada’s Las Vegas to Valley of Fire
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While some never leave Las Vegas during their vacation, consider a road trip along I-15 to Valley of Fire State Park. The 100-mile round trip drive and 40,000-acre state park are perfectly sized for a day trip. See for yourself why this otherworldly place is the filming location for faraway lands in movies like Star Trek and how the sun’s rays on red sandstone rocks illuminate the valley like fire.
29. New Hampshire’s White Mountain Trail Loop
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Explore the 100-mile National Scenic Byway White Mountain Trail, particularly beautiful during the fall. In the words of New Hampshire resident Robert Frost, consider taking the road less traveled. Take your time exploring waterfalls, covered bridges, and endless overlooks. Start at White Mountains Visitor Center, continue to Franconia Notch State Park, and Crawford Notch State Park with stunning views of Mount Washington and the Presidential Range.
30. New Jersey’s Englewood Cliffs to The Delaware Water Gap
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While most people only know The Jersey Shore, the congestion of The New Jersey Turnpike, or towns featured in The Sopranos, the garden state actually has a wide range of destinations and natural beauty. Before traveling I-80, fill up with a big breakfast at Brownstone Pancake Factory and take in Manhattan Skyline views in Englewood Cliffs.
Stop at Paterson State Falls National Historical Park to see the 77-ft. waterfall that Alexander Hamilton used to launch the country’s first industrial city. Stop in Denville for dinner at Hunan Taste, lauded as the best Chinese food in the state, or The Pasta Shop, a local favorite. Enjoy a relaxing and quiet getaway at one of the many Bed and Breakfasts in Sussex County.
31. New Mexico’s Ohkay Owingeh to Las Cruces
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Whether you’re a foodie, a historian, or an outdoor enthusiast, this road trip has it all. The El Camino Real National Scenic Highway traverses the length of the state. Take a week to enjoy the cities (and food) of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, as well as the historical sites of 16th-century Spanish explorers. Explore White Sands National Park, Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, and the 1.6 million acres of the Santa Fe National Forest.
32. New York’s Albany to Niagara Falls
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Take a week-long road trip covering the length of the Empire State along I-90 West. Start in the state capital to experience America’s Main Street before visiting quaint towns and farms on your way to Syracuse. It’s a large city and college town in one chock full of museums, shops, amusement parks, and a zoo. Next up is family-friendly Rochester with The Strong National Museum of Play and boat rides on the Erie Canal. Continue your road trip by driving along Lake Ontario to witness where the lake meets the Niagara River. Enjoy a day exploring Niagara Falls, one of the most famous waterfalls in the world.
33. North Carolina’s Cumberland Knob to Heintooga Overlook
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Travel the Blue Ridge Parkway through the whole state right to the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Plan a week-long road trip to experience the variety of attractions North Carolina has to offer. From Cherokee life, agricultural history, Southern Appalachian culture, the largest home in American, and some of the world’s oldest mountains, there’s something for everyone. Explore the beauty of Grandfather Mountain, Pisgah National Forest, and trendy Asheville, home of The Biltmore Estate.
34. North Dakota’s Washburn to Stanton
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Travel the route of Lewis and Clark along the Sakakawea Scenic Byway and Missouri River Valley. Retrace their incredible journey while learning about the people who’ve lived in this land for centuries. Plan for stops at Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, Cross Ranch State Park, Fort Clark State Historic Site, and Fort Mandan Historic Site.
35. Ohio’s Cleveland to Cincinnati
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Give yourself time to explore the major cities of Ohio on this I-71 South road trip. Start in Cleveland to enjoy the shore of Lake Erie and visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Continue South to Columbus for their arts & food scene and beautiful botanical gardens. For airplane enthusiasts, take a side trip to The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton. End with two days in Cincinnati. It’s the largest metro area in the state with history, art, architecture, children’s museums, and a zoo.
36. Oklahoma’s Talihina to Heavener
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Take a week to explore all the destinations and historic towns along the Talimena National Scenic Byway. Plan day trips and hiking excursions in Ouachita National Forest and Queen Wilhelmina State Park. For white water enthusiasts, enjoy the Ouachita, Mountain Fork, Caddo, and the Cossatot Rivers’ adventures. Don’t miss the 1,000-year-old Viking carvings in the stunning Heavener Runestone Park.
37. Oregon’s Portland Loop
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The Columbia River Gorge Highway connects some of our county’s most stunning sites. Stop first at Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area with beautiful vistas, trails, and 90 waterfalls. At the Washington state border, the Columbia River Gorge will take your breath away. Take the windy drive up to Sandy River and stop at Crown Point Vista House for an incredible view of The Gorge. As you continue, make sure to visit Multnomah Falls, one of the most visited sites in the Pacific Northwest. As you return to Portland, explore Benson and Ainsworth State Parks, Eagle Creek hiking trail, and the town of Hood River, a favorite with kiteboarders.
38. Pennsylvania’s Jim Thorpe to Milford
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For over 100 years, the Pocono Mountains have attracted visitors to its quiet beauty and outdoor adventures. The small towns along Route 209 are known for their seasonal celebrations, historical sites, and family-friendly activities. Start in Jim Thorpe, dubbed America’s Switzerland, for its international architecture. Whether you’re an advanced hiker, train fanatic, biker, or white water rafter, it’s a great place to kick off your vacation.
Next, enjoy Stroudsburg’s downtown as you make your way to The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation area. This 70,000-acre park offers endless outdoor adventures and stunning views of the Delaware River Valley. Dingman’s Falls right off US-209 is a must-do stop even if you’re short on time. End in Milford to tour their historical sites and Raymondskill Falls, the largest waterfall in the state.
39. Rhode Island’s Watch Hill to Newport
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Take a weekend road trip along historic Route 1 to see all that coastal Rhode Island has to offer. Start at Watch Hill, the southernmost point in the state, and snake your way through quintessential New England towns. Rhode Island’s coast contains beautiful historic lighthouses scattered on gorgeous peninsulas, islands, and cliff sides like Point Judith Lighthouse. In Newport, stay a night, or two in luxurious resorts, tour historic mansions and enjoy award-winning restaurants.
40. South Carolina’s Cleveland to Charleston
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While you could drive this stretch of the state in five hours, take your time traveling from the mountains to the coast. Start in Cleveland and enjoy a portion of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Caesars Head State Park. As you drive south on Poinsett Highway, stop in Greenville, dubbed America’s Friendliest City.
As you continue towards the coast on Veterans Highway, visit Columbia, the capital city, and take a stroll in its riverside park. Plan for a day in nearby Congaree National Park and Lake Marion. Conclude your drive where Route 26 ends in Charleston, one of America’s most popular vacation destinations. Leave time to enjoy the state’s oldest city and some of the best restaurants in South Carolina.
41. South Dakota’s Crazy Horse to Badlands National Park
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Consider taking a road trip through South Dakota’s rolling prairies, twisting mountain roads, and iconic American monuments. Start at historical Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial. Take US-16 E to enjoy a couple of days in Rapid City, a vibrant town with outdoor festivals, concerts, and a unique food scene. Travel I-90 E to Wall as a base for exploring Badlands National Park. Drive the Badlands Loop Scenic Byway to see its 16 stunning overlooks and hike among its surreal landscape.
42. Tennessee’s Nashville to the Smoky Mountains
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With a music capital, amusement parks, foodie havens, history, and the most visited national park in the country, it’s no wonder so many Americans are flocking to Tennessee. This 200-mile I-40 E road trip starts in the entertainment-rich Nashville, the country music capital of the world. Next, drive to Knoxville with stops in Old City and Mead’s Quarry. Before entering Great Smoky Mountains National park, enjoy a day in family-friendly Pigeon Forge, home to Dollywood Amusement park. Its neighbor city, Gatlinburg, is a perfect base to explore half a million acres of the Smoky Mountains.
43. Texas’s Austin to San Antonio
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While 30 million people visit The Live Music Capital of the World annually, many don’t leave Austin. Consider expanding your vacation with an I-35 S road trip to San Antonio and experience the Texas Hill Country. Stop first in San Marcos and enjoy the hundreds of river springs perfect year-round at 72 degrees.
Next, explore New Braunfels, a beloved vacation destination for Texans. This small town boasts a historic downtown, an infamous water park, and Comal River, a beloved tubing spot. Next, visit San Antonio, a vacation destination in its own right, with a beautiful miles-long River Walk, unique culture, and historical sites like The Alamo. On your way back to Austin, consider a side trip to Lockhart, with some of the best barbeque in the state.
44. Utah’s Torrey to Bryce Canyon
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If there’s a Million Dollar Highway, it must be on your bucket list. U.S. Route 550 features two national parks, one national monument, a national forest, and a stunning state park, all with million-dollar views. While the Highway is under 150 miles long, leave at least a week to explore all the incredible sites in this portion of the state.
Start on Capitol Reef Scenic Drive to reach the first of many, National Parks in Utah. Explore Larb Hollow Overlook, Burr Trail in Long Canyon, and Lower Calf Creek Falls. Continue to the town of Escalante, home of Grand Staircase with 1 million acres of mind-boggling geological formations. Don’t skip over Kodachrome Basin State Park. It’s so vibrant it was named after the popular color photography film. End this epic road trip in Bryce Canyon National Park’s Mossy Cave Trail, often overlooked by the crowds.
45. Vermont’s Brandon to Goshen
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Witness the beauty of Vermont on the West-Central Mountains & the Appalachian Gap Loop, particularly beautiful in the fall. This 100-mile route passes through Green Mountain National Forest, Lake Dunmore, and ten quaint, welcoming towns. If you’re looking to stay for the weekend or longer, make lodging reservations well in advance for this popular road trip destination.
46. Virginia’s Arlington to Shenandoah Valley
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If you’re planning a vacation to Washington, D.C., add a Shenandoah Valley road trip to your itinerary. As you head west on I-66, stop at the historic Manassas National Battlefield Park and Skyline Caverns. Stay at family-friendly four-season resorts, inns, or romantic bed & breakfasts to explore nearby Shenandoah National Park. During your stay or on your drive back, check out the Shenandoah Spirits Trail featuring more than 45 vineyards, craft breweries, distilleries.
47. Washington’s Seattle to Portland
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Whether you live in the Seattle area or are visiting the area on vacation, this awe-inspiring road trip to some of the Pacific Northwest’s most awe-inspiring sites is bucket-list worthy. From Seattle, travel along I-5 N on the coast to Bellingham, your base for exploring nearby Mount Baker. Continue to North Cascade National Park, Stevens Pass, and Cascade Valley. Next, explore all that the White Pass Scenic Byway offers, like Mount Rainier National Park and Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, before ending in Portland. This walkable city is known for its food and distinct culture that turns visitors into residents.
48. West Virginia’s Charleston to White Sulphur Springs
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Travel 180 miles of The Midland Trail National Scenic Byway to see stunning vistas, experience thrilling outdoor adventures, and learn the history of the people who lived in these hills for centuries. Jump on U.S. Route 60 in the capital city of Charleston and snake your way through the mountains to Hawks Nest State Park, with panoramic views and white water rafting. Fayette County offers fishing, horseback riding, and world-class rock-climbing. Continue to Greenbrier Valley’s limestone landscapes, farms, historic sites, and quaint towns. End your journey with a stay at The Greenbrier, a National Historic Landmark and world-class resort that has hosted half our country’s presidents, royalty, celebrities, and guests from around the world since 1778.
49. Wisconsin’s Madison to Prairie du Chien
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Explore 100 miles of the Lower Wisconsin River countryside on the Wisconsin Scenic Byway. One hour west of Madison is Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s sprawling estate with a national historic landmark designation to honor our country’s most famous architect. Follow the Wisconsin River to the town of Boscobel with one of the best River Outing tour companies in the region. You can book an excursion for a couple of hours or even days. End your road trip in Prairie du Chien, a town established in the 1800s. Make sure to visit Wyalusing State Park 500 feet above the river for stunning views.
50. Wyoming’s Beartooth Pass to Yellowstone
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Did we save the best road trip for last? The Beartooth Highway, a National Scenic Byway, is thought to be the most scenic drive in the United States. While less than 100 miles across Northeast Wyoming, this 80-year-old road draws global visitors to its diverse environment, family-friendly wild west cities, and breathtaking scenery. Set next to epic mountain ranges are endless glacial lakes, national forests, waterfalls, and fantastic wildlife. You can experience the highest and most rugged mountain areas in the continental United States from your car. Leave time to explore Custer, Gallatin & Shoshone National Forests, and the Crown Jewel of America’s National Park System – Yellowstone.
This article originally appeared on Your Money Geek and has been republished with permission.
PayPal revolutionized the online payments world for both sending and receiving payments. However, a downside to using PayPal is having to pay fees. Even though some fees are small if you pay a lot of them, they can add up to a large amount! So, let’s explore how to avoid PayPal fees in this quick guide.
What Is PayPal?
First, here is a quick recap to explain exactly what PayPal is. PayPal is an online payment system that allows online money transfers and works as an electronic alternative to other methods like checks or money orders.
Millions of people and businesses use PayPal to process their payments. It’s a much easier and more streamlined online payment method as opposed to using credit cards. However, PayPal is not always free to use.
In the United States businesses accepting payment via PayPal are charged a percentage of the sale plus a fixed fee. The fixed fee is 30 cents, and the percentage rate is currently 2.9%.
For example, you invoice a client for $100. The client chooses to pay via PayPal. You will receive $96.80. The fixed fee of 30 cents is deducted plus the 2.9% PayPal fee which works out at $2.90.
How To Avoid PayPal Fees
Avoiding PayPal fees means you can keep more of your hard-earned money for yourself. This section will explain several methods of avoiding or reducing PayPal fees.
1. Ask For Payments Less Often
Getting paid every week is great as it means you have money every week! The downside is that every time you get paid, PayPal is charging you a fee. Remember it’s a 30-cent fee + 2.9% for every amount received from a U.S client. If your client is outside of the U.S, the fixed fee varies, and the percentage charged goes up to 4.4%!
That means for every 100 U.S based clients you are charged $30! If you have clients outside the US, you could be paying even more!
A way to reduce these fees is to ask for payment once a month. Doing this means you only pay the fees once instead of multiple times. What’s better $30 a month or $30 a week? Easy right. Provided you can manage being paid monthly, then it’s a no-brainer!
For example, you are earning $1000 a month. Getting paid weekly could mean you only receive $880 a month after fees are deducted. Switching payments to monthly means you get $970! That’s a huge difference!
These figures are to help you visualize the benefit of being paid less often. What you would actually receive will vary based on the number of clients and where the money is coming from (either U.S or outside). However, the concept doesn’t change. You will keep more of your money by receiving it less often.
2. Be Careful How You Withdraw Money From PayPal
When you withdraw your money from PayPal you could be charged a fee depending on how you withdraw it. The good news is that you can withdraw your money fast and for free by one of two methods.
First, withdraw it directly to your bank account. Bank transfers are fast as they are usually in your account by the next business day at the latest. Getting your money this way means you pay no fees for withdrawal.
The other way to get your money is by getting a PayPal cash card. This works like a debit card at all retailers accepting Mastercard. There is no fee to use the card and you can withdraw cash from an ATM. A PayPal cash card is a free way to get your money quickly and easily.
3. Ask To Be Paid As A Friend Or Family
As you now know any money you are paid from a client will incur a fixed fee plus a percentage of the amount. These charges only apply to money received for goods or services.
If a client chooses to pay you using the friends and family option, then no fees are charged to either party. The client will also avoid PayPal fees, provided payment is made from their PayPal balance, bank account, or a combination.
Personally, this method has worked well for me in the past. When I’ve arranged small design jobs via a member of my blogging Facebook group, we’ve agreed the payment to be handled via the friends or family option to save paying any fees.
To make a payment using the friends or family option you simply need to invoice your client directly using an accounting program or manual spreadsheet. The client can then pay you directly via PayPal. Alternatively, send the invoice via PayPal and ask the client not to pay from the invoice. Instead, they can pay using the friends or family option in their PayPal account.
Please note that there are a couple of potential risks to using the friends and family option. First, there is no payment protection for the person paying the money. If you know each other well this should be fine.
The other risk is that PayPal may close your account if they believe you are exploiting the system. When I’ve used friends and family in the past for design jobs, I’ve only used it with smaller jobs and people I know well. Doing this may be recommended to save paying fees but there is a risk involved.
4. Add PayPal Fees Into Your Quote
Adding PayPal fees into your quote doesn’t reduce the fees, but it does mean you aren’t paying them. For example, you are charging a client $100 for a blog post. You would normally receive $96.80 if they are a U.S based client. However, you could tell them the blog post will cost $105.00 which means you still get $100 after PayPal fees are deducted.
Alternatively, ask your client upfront if they are happy to pay the fees. Make sure this is part of the contract when you are agreeing to the job. When creating the invoice simply add a 3-4% fee to cover any PayPal fees. Remember, make sure the client agrees with this first!
5. Offer Alternative Payment Methods
The simplest way to avoid PayPal fees is by not using PayPal!
Direct deposit is an option offered by lots of companies. The money is usually paid just as fast and there are no fees to pay!
If you don’t want to use direct deposit, then you could use the traditional method of asking for a paper check. This will take longer to get your money but there are no PayPal fees to pay.
A final option to consider is using an invoicing software with inbuilt bank transfers. This means the client can receive the invoice and follow the link to easily make payment. The best thing about this is that you don’t incur any fees!
6. Try PayPal Alternatives
PayPal is not the only online payment system. You could try out one of the many alternatives to receive payments to avoid PayPal fees. This means you won’t pay any PayPal fees! Other fees may apply though so make sure you thoroughly check this out before using other systems.
7. List PayPal Fees As A Tax Deduction
In case you don’t know, PayPal fees can be deducted from your tax return. Doing this means you still have to pay the fees during the year, but your tax bill will be lower! You are simply keeping more of your money another way.
All you need to do is add up all the PayPal fees you have paid through the year. Once you have the total simply include the amount on your Schedule C.
How Much Are The PayPal Fees?
To make money PayPal charges a fee of 2.9% from the total amount of every payment received from the U.S. On top of that, there is also a $0.30 fixed fee for every transaction.
If the funds that are received are from outside the US, the transaction fee goes up to 4.4% of the total amount and the fixed fee varies. The amount of the fixed fee will depend on what country the money is from.
The person that is receiving the money is the one that has to pay any fees. This works in a similar way to paying with a card when you go to the store. The store pays the card issuer a fee for the option of accepting payments by card.
Final Thoughts
PayPal fees can be frustrating as no one likes to see their money go to someone else! However, without fees, PayPal might have to make their money by charging you to have an account.
The good news is that you can reduce the amount of PayPal fees you are paying. Ask to be paid less frequently, build fees into your quote, or ask for payment using the friends and family option. Using these methods can vastly reduce how much you pay in fees every year.
Don’t forget you can avoid fees completely by using alternatives. Direct deposit, paper check, or accepting payment using another online payment system could all be cheaper!
Hey, I’m Chris. I have a degree in Business Economics from the University of Liverpool, own a small fast food business and runLifeUpswing.com. I help people make money, save money, and think about money in a way that will give you back your freedom.
Looking for deals is what makes shopping fun. The bigger the sale, the better, similar to the thought – the bigger the TV, the better!
Similar to how you buy coats after the winter season, stock up on golf supplies in the fall, and you always hit up appliance deals around Mother’s Day – there are best times to buy TVs! If you’re considering buying a new TV for your home, the best time to buy a TV matters if you’re looking to save tons of money!
Considering the ideal times to purchase a television, today, we will unveil the three best time periods each year to do so. Additionally, you will learn how to save money in the TV buying process while also getting the most bang for your buck!
The Best Times to Buy a TV
When it comes to buying a new TV, the best TV sales happen during Super Bowl season, the spring, and of course – Black Friday!
Why these times, you might be asking?
Similar to how it seems like Apple’s new iPhone’s always come out around September/October, new TV models are typically released around March/April each year. Knowing this will help you capitalize and save… starting with the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl Season
When: January & February
Super Bowl season, TV, it only makes sense, right? Surprisingly enough, at first thought, you would assume it would be the most expensive time to buy a TV since almost every adult watches the Superbowl! However, it is one of the best times to buy a TV – especially the bigger ones!
Whether you watch the big game for commercials, football, or the halftime show, it doesn’t matter; Super Bowl season is a great time to purchase a brand new television. There are several reasons for this.
New models come out in early spring, and with the holidays now long gone, TV retailers use the Super Bowl as a marketing opportunity to offload old stock and sell as many TVs as possible. Traditionally, the slowest quarter for retail stores is the first quarter. TVs are marketed heavily around the Super Bowl, meaning you can save money in the process!
Spring Time
When: March & April
Remember what we said about new TV models being released in the spring? This means retailers and TV manufacturers want you to buy; thus, they incentivize consumers to buy these new models with special offers and promotions and the old models.
Like how you can scoop up a brand new car – just last year’s model – the same is true for TVs. Looking to unload their overstock from the year before, many big-box retailers offer specials for last year’s models. Unless you’re some TV connoisseur, the model doesn’t matter… how much you save does!
Knowing the TV release cycle is key to saving big when you go to purchase your next flatscreen!
Black Friday
When: The Friday & Monday after Thanksgiving
Black Friday is almost synonymous with TV deals! Seriously though, go to a Walmart or hit up Cyber Monday, and you will be bombarded with amazing TV deals the day after Thanksgiving!
Knowing consumers are looking for deals and willing to spend, TV’s are priced quite nicely to incentivize consumers to purchase brand new TVs! Creating a ripple effect, TV models and brands compete with one another to offer the best deals around Black Friday, making it one of the best times to buy a TV!
Not to mention, with the winter bringing more cool weather and with people stuck inside, TV watching goes up in the winter, therefore more are looking to up their TV game.
Other Ways to Save Buying a TV
So now you know the best time to buy a TV, but what if it’s July and you need a TV in a pinch? Here are some additional ways to save money when you’re buying a new TV.
Compare Online
You don’t need a college degree to compare the prices of TVs online; you need a smartphone, so always use the internet to your advantage. Simply start searching, comparing, and pricing TVs online. You can search for a TV by size, like “Best 65” TV deals,” or you can start with brands.
Write down the prices of the TV’s and begin to compare models, sizes, and brands. Keep in mind, though, it might be a good idea to try it with cookies on and cookies off! Companies can use internet browsing data can be used against you in the purchasing process. For example, when it comes to fights, browsing data is often used against you! For TV’s, start with exploring with cookies on, but see if turning them off can get you a better deal later!
Visit the store
After you have done your research online, visit a store. Sometimes when you visit the store, you can find much better deals. A $600 TV online might be $500 in the store, especially if they’re trying to make space in the store. Otherwise, many stores are implementing buy now, pay later programs through their company or third-party service.
Another positive to going in the store is you can get price matches! Be sure to look at price matches before going to the store, but also, going to the store means you can explore open box deals!
Don’t be afraid of open-box deals.
Open-box deals will save you a ton of money when you’re buying a TV, making going to the store and asking about open box specials one of the best times to buy a TV! Here is how open-box works:
Someone buys a TV in-store or online.
They return said TV for whatever reason in working condition OR they realize there is a minor scuff, ding, or dent.
Because of the minor damage or the return, TVs can b heavily discounted.
You buy the item and save tons of money!
Just make sure you know the terms such as “As Is” and the return policies before buying an open-box TV.
Budget
One of the best ways to buy anything over $200 is always to have a budget and save for it!
If you can’t budget for something, it might be a warning side you don’t need it. So before you buy a TV, set a small goal to budget for it. Perhaps you put $50 an account for a year or $100 in savings account for six months before getting your new TV!
By doing this, you are also rewarding your positive behavior [SAVING] with positive reinforcement [NEW TV].
Quality matters
Sometimes when buying a TV, there is a natural inclination to purchase the cheapest TV. However, price isn’t the only factor you should consider when you buy a new TV. Quality and brand names do matter in some cases, and while you don’t have to get the top of a line TV, you shouldn’t always resort to the lowest price.
Name brand TVs are known to last longer while simultaneously perform better!
Make Money to Buy a TV
Wait, make money to buy a TV; what does that even mean?
Something available for all of us is the opportunity to make money online and outside of our careers. Many people have side hustles to stick to their financial goals while also buying new things (like a new TV) or travel more.
Figuring out a way to make money on the side of your career is always a great idea. You can use the extra income to put towards your television purchase. Remember, the best time to buy a TV is when you have the cash in hand to do so!
Final Word
Now that you know all the information one could ever need as it pertains to buying a TV at the right time of the year, keep in mind a few things before purchasing a new television.
In most cases, a new television is a want, not a need. It’s best to practice the art of budgeting, planning, and saving before merely buying a new TV. One of the reasons many people feel like they’re broke or living paycheck to paycheck is because they make impulse purchases. TVs, cell phones, and other purchases are the difference in hundreds of dollars over the year that could be saved.
Keeping this in mind, ever now and then we need to upgrade our home’s TV, so be sure to purchase yours during these times:
Early spring when new models come out
Black Friday or Cyber Monday
Around the Super Bowl
Or, explore open-box deals year-round!
This article originally appeared on Your Money Geek and has been republished with permission.
Like many, your home is the most valuable asset. It is something you build over your life with love, time, and energy. Once constructed, the primary concern is its safety from weather damage, fire, structural wear, tear, etc. 
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Price Inflation is something that has been affecting the whole world during 2021 and most likely will continue well into 2022. We thought we would take a look at how we can fight price inflation during these times.
