As a twenty-something, money can be tight. Even if money isn’t inherently tight, as a twenty-something, you should be living with a tight fist, in order to pay down debt more quickly or build an emergency fund. I subscribe to the Dave Ramsey plan and believe whole-heartedly that you can and should live a debt-free life. I am working very hard to get there and believe that I could be debt-free in the next twenty-four months. Along the way, I’ve been working hard to find ways to find free money in the world you’re already living in. Yes, I promise that free money exists, and you can get it with just a couple of steps.
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ParibusHave you ever bought something online and then worried about it going on sale? Do you ever experience the fear of missing out on a sale? Even worse, have you been on the other side of that where you bought something and then immediately afterward it went on sale? It’s the worst feeling in the world. This is where Paribus comes in. Authorize Paribus to sit in your email. Any time a confirmation of a purchase slips into your inbox, Paribus is automatically tracking prices to see if there's a price drop. If it does, Paribus files price adjustment claims. Last year, I saved about $100 with Paribus. They take a small percentage of the amount they find, so you still end up saving money! Sign up for Paribus here.BillcutterzI only recently learned about Billcutterz. You share a PDF of your regular monthly bill with Billcutterz and they negotiate on your behalf to help bring your monthly bill down. They have an especially great track record with cell phone bills and cable companies. Like Paribus, they only take a portion of what they save you, so it costs you nothing to use them. Try Billcutterz here.DigitDid you know you had a spending pattern? You do. Your spending is different at the beginning or at the end of the month. You know what you won't miss? A couple of extra bucks each month. By authorizing Digit to your bank account, the program analyzes your spending patterns and steals just a couple of bucks each month. Believe it or not every dollar adds up quickly! I started using Digit in September. By December, I had saved enough to pay for my ticket and weekend in Philly for my third trip to Army-Navy. Since then, I've diligently let Digit save for me. I'm not going to wind up with a million dollars at the end of the year, but if I can save a pretty penny to add to whatever financial goals I'm working towards at the end of December, I'll be in slightly better shape. Now, I know that Digit isn't exactly free money, but since Digit always takes less than $2 at a time (for me), I never really feel it go away. Sign up for Digit here.Let's talk: Do you have any other ways to find free money?Author Information Emilie is a recent Princeton University grad, currently living in Baltimore, MD. She is half of the brains behind BurkeDoes.com, a life and style blog that specializes in personal finances. Together, Emilie and Laura write about overcoming debt, while balancing trying to eat healthy, stay fit, and have a little fun along the way. She also makes to do lists at MyToDoList.Me. You can follow her around the web: Twitter. Instagram. Foodstagram. Facebook. Pinterest. Bloglovin'
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If you are like me, you shop more for shoe bargains than you do for food. As women it is important to rationalize our budgets and ensure we are preparing for our future financially. Never rely on a man, a family member or one savings account. We have to set ourselves up to be financially free and out of debt before we reach 30 or 40. It can be done. With that being said we have to start being smart with what we are spending our money on. Do we really need another pair of shoes, or do we really need to buy that new lipstick from Mac? The answer is no, but of course we do it anyway. Christina Parisien from coinconsciouscutie.com shared some amazing insights with us on how to save on the things we love. It is okay to want to look your best but just do it in a way that you are not breaking the bank. Now let's hand it over to Christina! Hey guys it's me Christina founder of coinconsciouscutie.com. When I was asked to give some tips on finding some chic affordable pieces to help unleash that inner bawse I jumped at the chance. Now if it's one thing your girl knows how to do, it's shop. Not only do I have a love for being the ultimate consumer but I am completely here for bargain shopping! I am a big advocate for looking your best but honestly you can be runway ready without breaking the bank. I myself have been going to multiple interviews and most of them require you to dress professionally. Many people hear that and instantly think boring button up and slacks. Well I am here to say NOOO. Look, first impressions are everything and honestly your not just being judged by your resume, they are checking that fit. The more well dressed you are the better you feel and the more confident you are. Employers love confidence. They want to know that you can get the job done! Now I'm not saying you can't wear a button up and some slacks but it's all about making sure it fits properly and making sure you are choosing the right colors. You should try and wear neutral colors. Blacks whites grays. If you wear a skirt make sure it falls under your knees and that it's not too fitted. Your pants should also fit well and depending on the style should fall accordingly. The best places to get in style pieces for a great cost are H&M , Forever 21, and New York & company. Most of their items range from $15-35 dollars and they ALWAYS have a sale. (Like always). You can find blouses pants, pant suits, skirts, & shoes all at these stores. Ladies remember if you're wearing makeup keep it really cute and simple. I usually like to wear foundation, a thin eyeliner, and some mascara. My fav product for my face right now is the Maybelline Fit Me foundation. It gives great coverage, lasts long, and is only 7 bucks guys. I also live for my Benefit Their Real mascara and eyeliner because it really gives you the illusion of falsies without being to glam. To save my coins I always get the travel size and it comes together in a pack for only $18. I always wear a nude lippie. Pinks and Browns are your friends this season. Colourpop cosmetics has some nice matte lippies for 6 bucks and NYX has creamy matte glosses for the same price; ultimate win! Lastly it's always important to get your mind right for any interview or any business related venture. I enjoy reading so here are some books, ( might I add under 40 bucks) that will help you mentally get that inner bawse ready.
Girl boss by Sophia Amoruso is an amazing read. Million Dollar Women: The Essential Guide for Female Entrepreneurs Who Want to Go Big by Julia Pimsluer is great, and lastly to really break out of that shell and into your future C.E.O; How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships by Leil Lowndes. Those really dope books are a fool proof way to get you slaying and becoming the ultimate Girl Boss. "Coin Conscious Cutie is for the average working girl with champagne taste and a less than exquisite wallet. So let’s chase these dreams and most importantly coins people! " #CoinConsciousCutie #CoinChaser. After graduating in May 2015 with a never ending love for writing and an even bigger love for being on camera, Christina Parisien set out to live out her dreams while maintaining financial stability. Through that journey #CoinConsciousCutie was born. Christina's never ending love for social media and engaging with others through the many outlets allowed her to be the social media maven she is today. On her site she speaks about the journey of life and self growth as well as sharing affordable beauty finds with her many viewers. Don’t forget to follow us on Social Media @Cc_The_Coins on Instagram, Twitter,& Snapchat as @Tina2Turnt Christia'n Annice, AKA Ms. Serial entrepreneur and She-eo of She's Got Her OWN Network, is a network dedicated to helping female entrepreneurs build their empires from the ground up.
Christia'n established She's Got her OWN Network to help female entrepreneurs and goal getters from all over the world build and establish their own businesses and empires, by focusing on building a strong and solid financial foundation. With the help of Christia'n we are going to make sure that your financial situation changes starting today! Studies show that women are more in debt than men and are less likely to invest. We are going to change that. A woman who is financially educated has the power to conquer the world and become independent. We need to build our girls up by teaching them financial education and the importance of money management. Christia'n shared amazing insights in our interview below. Credit Management: (Question from our readers) Help! I’ve accumulated over $50,000 in debt through college loans where do I even begin with paying it back before I turn 50? A: I would suggest that you contact your creditors and work out some type of payment plan. There are also a few loan forgiveness programs that you can utilize as well you just have to do your research. The best thing is to never avoid your debt and to face it head on. What are efficient ways to build your credit quickly? A: Some efficient ways to build your credit quickly would be to become an AU aka “Authorized User” on a relatives account that is in good standing, or by getting a loan and paying it back on time. Another way to build your credit is to obtain a credit card with revolving credit and pay it off each month, and never go over 15% of your limit. Why is it important to have a good credit score? A: A good credit score is important for anyone to have. Loans are a necessary part of life for most of us. Building a solid credit history and maintaining a high credit score can have a dramatic impact on your quality of life now and in the future when you're considering applying for a loan or even a job. What is a good website to view your credit report and history for free? A: https://www.annualcreditreport.com What are good credit cards to apply for? A: This all depends on your personal needs. But I generally like credit Cards that give cash back rewards, and cards that report to all three credit bureaus. Can you explain the importance of using credit cards wisely? A: It shows how responsible you are to banks and lenders. Your use of credit shows them if you are an asset or liability.You always want to be looked upon as an asset and responsible borrower. Investments: 7. What is a good age to start investing in property? A: Age 21 8. What are some tips for investing for young professionals? A: Transition from a rental to home ownership. How much to allocate for a down payment on your home is a big question to answer. Waiting a year tosave will be very beneficial, as it can reduce the amount of interest you’ll pay overall. For example, let’s say you’re looking at a home that’s valued at $300,000. If you put down $25,000, at 4 percent interest, you’ll end up paying about $198,000 in interest over the life of the loan. If you can hold off and make a down payment of $50,000, you’ll pay about $180,000 in interest. So, by delay ing our purchase, and saving an additional $25,000 toward your down payment, you can save $18,000 in interest. Shop around for mortgage rates. Not all lenders are the same, and rates can and do change based on many factors, such as the type of loan (fixed, adjustable, FHA), term (30-year, 15-year) and fluctuation of the rates themselves. Due diligence is key here. 9. How much money should you have saved before investing? A: $5,000 - 10,000 CD’s, Mutual Funds, IRA’s, Gold $20,000 - 50,000 Home Ownership 10. What are ideal credit scores for investors? A: 680-700+ 11. What should young professionals be writing off for their taxes? (Websites? Small businesses?) A: Anything that pertains to their business expenses such as, Gas, Food, Office Rent, Mileage, Supplies, Work attire, Company Website, Marketing & Advertising. Money Management: 12. What are great strategies for saving money? A: Pay yourself first. From every dollar that you receive be sure to pay yourself first. Place your money in savings accounts that give you good interest. Place an empty water jug by the front door and everyday you come home dump all of your loose change into the jug and don’t touch it until the end of the year. Another way to save money is to go over your bank accounts and be sure that there aren’t any money leaks, which means be sure no unnecessary money is coming out for services you don’t need or use. 13. What should you do if you find that your monthly bills outweigh your income? A: Simply Cut down your bills. You have to learn how to live your WAGE, and stop trying to keep up with the Joneses. Setting financial goals and having a financial plan in action is the best strategy that you can use to keep you on track. 14. What should young professionals be doing with their savings? A: Investing! & Making it GROW! Saving’s isn’t saving’s unless it’s growing and maturing. Young professionals should be finding ways to make their money flip and work for them. 15. Why is it important to save your tax return? A: Your tax return is a great savings or investment starting point. Or, a great opportunity to add to an existing account. 16. What banks have the best savings accounts to build interest? A: I prefer using credit unions over banks. With credit unions you get better rates and they are community based and are all about the people. Ive found that credit unions give the best rates and the best interest for growing my money. Christia'ns motto is "Teamwork Makes The Dream Work!" and she believes strongly in this motto and lives by it daily. Her ambition and drive to help and see others succeed is a passion of this young lady who mentors and guides women from all over the globe on a daily basis, empowering and inspiring others alike in the world of entrepreneurship. "Your Network is Your Net Worth, Use it Wisely!" -Christia'n Annice. Connect with Christia'n using the links below! Website: www.shesgotherown.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/shesgotherownnetwork IG: www.instagram.com/shesgotherownnetwork Twitter: www.twitter.com/shesgother_own Google: She's Got Her OWN Network |