Month: August 2022

Banking on a budget, making important payments, and working towards greater financial stability and health can be incredibly difficult without the proper banking support. The problem? Some accounts or financial tools can end up taking money out of your account rather than keeping your money in it or even contributing to financial growth over time. Fortunately, for those on a budget or for those looking to make the most of their money, there are a ton of tools out there designed specifically for you. Let’s dive into some of the best tools and tips for banking on a budget that will help serve to improve your financial life.

Look for Bonus Offers and Promotions That Pay You for Banking

Getting paid to bank? It sounds like it wouldn’t be something that would be possible, but there are actually a ton of promotions and offers out there from physical and digital banks that will give you money if you open an account with them. Granted, it’s important to remember that there are always terms and conditions to these types of promotions. There will generally be a minimum amount that you will have to deposit into these accounts in order to get your bonus. That being said, here are a few offers that will help with your banking on a budget!

Discover Savings

Discover is not just a credit card company. They actually offer banking services as well, for which their online savings account is just one of their services. They’re currently running a promotion where if you deposit $15,000 or $25,000, you could get a $150 to $200 bonus, respectively. Discover makes banking on a budget easy.

SoFi Checking and Savings

SoFi offers its own checking and savings account that you can transfer money to so that you can earn a bonus. There are three different bonuses available: $50, $100, and $300. You can make direct deposits of $1,000-$1,999, $2,000-$4,999, and $5,000 to access these.

Chase Total Checking or Chase Secure Banking

Chase often offers a wide range of bonuses and promotions all the time, and two of these this year apply to Chase Total Checking (they’ll give you $200 after you make a qualified deposit within 90 days), and Chase Secure Banking (when you make 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days).

Citigold Checking Account or Citi Priority Checking Account

Are you thinking about opening an account with Citibank? Citibank is also offering several different promotions, including up to $2,000 when you open a Citigold Checking Account (you have to deposit anywhere from $10,000 to $300,000+) or a Citi Priority Checking Account (which has the same conditions).

U.S. Bank Checking

U.S. Bank is offering a $400 bonus when you deposit $4,000 into a checking account with them. You have 60 days to take advantage of this deal once you open the account!

Axos Rewards Checking

Having a rewards checking account can be an amazing way not to only effectively manage your money but grow your wealth over time. If you’re looking for something like this, an Axos Rewards Checking account can earn you $100 if you deposit $1,500 within one month (you have three months to take advantage of this offer).

TD Bank Checking

Looking to open a TD Convenience Checking account or a TD Beyond Checking account? TD Bank will offer you anywhere from $200 to $300 if you deposit $500 into your TD Convenience Checking account or $2,500 into your TD Beyond Checking account, respectively.

Bank of America Advantage Banking

There are multiple checking accounts over at Bank of America that will offer you a $100 bonus, including the Bank of America Advantage SafeBalance Banking checking account, the Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking checking account, and the Bank of America Advantage Relationship Banking® checking account. Each of these have different deposit thresholds to take advantage of the available bonus.

BMO Harris Checking

BMO Harris Smart Advantage or Premier accounts are offering $300 to $500 bonuses, with these bonuses being tied to which account you open. Once you open your account, all you have to do is deposit $4,000 or $7,500 to get your money!

Huntington Checking

Huntington is a pretty popular bank, and they’re currently giving bonuses of up to $200. Just sign up for the Asterisk-Free Checking account and deposit $1,000 within 60 days for $150 or sign up and deposit $1,000 to the Huntington 5 Checking for $200.

Alliant Savings

Many of the above are promotions for checking accounts. But what if you want to open a savings account? Alliant is here for you! If you open up The Ultimate Opportunity Savings account with Alliant and transfer $100 monthly to get a bonus of $100 at the end of the year.

If you happen to miss any of these, you can always continue to keep an eye out for special promotions as they do tend to crop up regularly! The only thing to note here is that you make sure any banking fees don’t eat up your cash and that you don’t sign up for overdraft protection!

Consider Opening Up a Credit Card With a Company That Offers Cash Back

Are you looking to make money from your purchases? Are you also looking to open up a credit card? If so, you’ll find that there are plenty of credit card companies out there that will pay you to use your card (even if just for a limited time). But which cards are those? More importantly, which cards are going to offer you the most cash back over time?

Some excellent cards worth looking further into include the Chase Freedom Unlimited card (       1.5%-6.5% cash back on purchases), the Discover it Cash Back card (1%-5% cash back), and the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card (1.5%-5% cash back), just to name a few. Just make sure that you pay attention to all the terms and conditions on these cards before you sign an agreement or apply. The last thing you want is a card that will only become a financial burden for you over time!

Need to Start Investing? Find an App That Lets You Invest on Your Own Terms

Investing is part of financial success, and you don’t have to spend a lot to start making some money and saving for the future. Take, for example, apps like Acorns. Acorns allows you to establish your own investment schedule or round up your purchases to invest those extra cents, offers several different portfolio types based on your goals, and only costs $3 a month to use. If you not only want to save but hopefully earn a bit of money along the way, you can get started with an app like this.

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Life happens, and some of the situations that we inevitably encounter can end up resulting in some major expenses. Everyone should practice saving money for big issues. For example, you might end up dealing with a flood in your home, a minor fender bender, or even a sick pet. While some people might be able to handle these expenses, many are left wondering, “how am I going to pay for this?”

Saving money for big issues can be a big problem, but there are strategies out there to help you address these developments without breaking the bank. Let’s take a look at how you can save money and prepare for when life comes knocking at your door!

Make It a Priority to Contribute to an Emergency Fund Monthly

The best way to save money on major life events is to make sure that you’re ready ahead of time. While this may not pertain to the emergency you’re currently facing, it’s a strategy to employ now so that things aren’t so impactful in the future. An emergency fund is a fund that you regularly contribute to in anticipation of any emergencies that you might face later on.

No matter how much you’re able to contribute at this point in time, saving whenever possible means that you have more to dip into should you need it. For some, a sum of $1,000 is enough to feel safe, but the amount that you decide to save depends on your personal situation. As long as you’re saving, that’s all that matters!

If You Can Afford Insurance, Get It

Insurance can be expensive. However, the consequences of not having insurance can be even more so. For example, if you get into an accident and break a limb, paying out of pocket for all of the care that you receive can easily add up and put you in a precarious financial situation. This is where insurance comes in.

Whether it’s health insurance, car insurance, or something else entirely, paying for insurance will allow you some type of coverage to help you manage costs when an emergency arises. You will have to pay premiums and a deductible, but it’s better than paying for everything out-of-pocket. If you’re not currently covered, make sure to sit down and do some research to figure out which providers are the best fit for you and which plan fits into your budget. For certain types of insurance, like health insurance, you might even be able to take advantage of available tax credits to cut down on how much you’re spending monthly!

Check If You Can DIY the Problem Before You Enlist the Help of a Professional

Now, there are going to be certain situations where you’re going to have to reach out for help. If you’re facing a medical emergency, you can’t very well perform surgery or prescribe yourself medication. If you get into a car wreck, you won’t be able to fix your car. But let’s say something happens like your washer breaks down. This might not be so unmanageable with a willingness to learn and the right tools.

When life strikes, ask yourself, is this something that I might be able to fix on my own? Will it be cheaper to try to DIY this instead of reaching out to a professional? If so, do some research into what it takes to make the repairs or fix the problem (and how much it will cost to get everything you need to complete the project). Who knows? You might surprise yourself, learn a new skill, and save a big chunk of money all at the same time!

Look for Side Hustles to Supplement Your Income

When you’re facing down major expenses, you’re going to need some extra cash. This is especially true if the life situation you’re dealing with has made it so that you’re currently unable to work, either due to an injury or because you’ve been laid off from your job.

The good news? In the digital age, there are so many ways to develop additional income streams that you should experience very few issues finding a way to supplement your income or replace some of it. Of course, it’s important to filter out the noise. Rather than coming up with a full list of everything you can do, we’re going to separate some ideas into tasks that are easy to conduct and those that are a bit more difficult to get into.

Tasks That You Can Start Today

When you need cash and you don’t want to have to wait for applications and such, you’re going to need side hustle ideas that anyone can get into with ease and with little skill. Granted, these won’t pay as much as some side hustles, but something is always better than nothing. Some easy ways to bring in money include taking surveys (InboxDollars, Survey Junkie), evaluating websites and giving your feedback (UserTesting), or even doing easy tasks on a website like Fiverr (or even smaller tasks on websites like Clickworker). Just make sure that you know what you’re signing up for, what the work entails, and what the pay schedule is so that you’re generating and receiving income in a timely manner. These are all tasks that you can do during your free time with very little difficulty.

Tasks That Require More Skill

Now, there are side hustles out there that pay substantially more than some of the ideas above. However, these types of income-generating opportunities require you to either already have a specific skill set or be able to learn said skill set. They may also take a little more time. Are you looking for opportunities that will earn you far more income when you need it? If so, some effective side hustles include freelancing, becoming a virtual assistant, signing up for a transcription service (like Transcription Outsourcing), finding and flipping products online, dropshipping, and doing services for others (like dog walking or babysitting), and beyond. Some of these might only be temporary solutions. But who knows? You might end up starting your own business out of this side hustle that can make you more money than your current day job!

The more income you have coming in to pay for unexpected expenses and help you support yourself as you navigate them, the less stress that you’re going to have instead of worrying about whether or not you’re going to be able to pay for these costs moving forward. This will also help you save money because you won’t be relying on your singular income to support

Return to Your Budget to Cut Out Unnecessary Spending (and Look for Ways to Otherwise Make Things More Affordable)

In some cases, it’s important to return to your budget in order to figure out where you’re going to find the money to manage the costs of an emergency with ease. Take some time to look more closely at your spending habits and see if there are any areas where you can cut out unnecessary expenses until you’re able to incorporate them back into your budget again. This may not be the most desirable approach, but it will be necessary so that you can handle the emergency.

After you’ve seen where you can make room in your budget for these big life events, you should also look for ways to save money using resources that are available to you. Let’s imagine that you’ve recently undergone a major accident. You might need to take certain prescriptions as you heal. One way to better afford your prescription is to look for certain resources like GoodRx that can cut down the amount you have to spend on your medication. No matter the life emergency, there is generally a wide range of resources that you can turn to for financial support. Set aside some time to do some research into resources that you can rely on to help you navigate your specific situation and save money in the process!

Being Prepared, Taking Action, and Looking for Help Will Be the Ultimate Factors in How Life Emergencies Impact You

We can’t control everything about our lives. Accidents, sudden life changes, and other developments happen every day. We can, however, make sure that we act as soon as possible to deal with the financial repercussions of these life events. As long as you work to make sure that you’re prepared for potential emergencies ahead of time, take action immediately to deal with the situation, and look for resources designed to help you save money on various aspects of the problem, you should be able to work through these issues with less difficulty!

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Budgeting is a skill that’s useful for everyone, especially for those that are interested in improving their financial literacy and credit score! Getting started can be overwhelming though, as there are so many factors to consider, including all varieties of your income, expenses, and savings goals. Creating a budget that’s personalized to you doesn’t have to be a struggle, and CashFurther can support you on your journey of budget creation and maintenance. To learn the steps to develop and implement a basic personal budget that’s a perfect fit for your life, read on!

Choose Which Type of Budget is Best for You

Make sure you start simple – if you try to include too many factors or use a complex organization method before you’re ready, you could discourage yourself from sticking to the budget. Explore the budgeting methods below and choose which one fits your lifestyle the best.

Envelope System: With the envelope system, you’ll need to have all of your money in cash. Each month, set aside a specific amount according to your budget for things like groceries, and place the exact amount of cash for that category in a corresponding envelope.

The 50/30/20 Budget: With this type of budget, you’ll break your expenses into three categories: Necessary expenses (50% of budget), discretionary expenses (30% of budget), and savings/debt payments (20% of budget). 

Pay-Yourself-First Budget: This method is particularly useful for those looking to pay off certain debts or put a significant amount towards savings each month. With this budget, you contribute a fixed amount towards your debt or savings, and then use the rest of your income for the month however you personally see fit.

Identify and Record All Relevant Income and Expenses

The spending area of your budget should be prioritized when creating your budget. All of your monthly expenses, including recurring ones like rent and phone bills, are listed in this area. Make sure you’ve kept thorough records of the expenses you’ve had over the past month that you can refer to before you begin writing down your spending habits. Examine your bank and credit card statements as well as any other monthly payment accounts, such as student loans.

You should also have detailed records of your income. Whether you work multiple contractor jobs or a singular W2, your budget style and capabilities aren’t limited by your employment status. When creating the income section of your budget, be sure to include all forms of income including any side hustles. If the money you earn tends to fluctuate each month, be honest with yourself and use the most realistic average to represent your income. Don’t include one-time payments like tax returns or gifts, because these won’t be replicated each month.

Implement Your Budget with Realistic Goals

To start putting a cap on any excessive spending, cut out any extraneous expenses from your budget. While it’s totally fine to indulge in an expensive purchase from now and then, sticking to your budget will require you to make sacrifices when it comes to the more frivolous financial things. Make sure to include in your monthly budget any costs that cannot be reduced, such as your grocery bill and utilities. Add realistic savings targets last. You’re more likely to save money if you say on your budget that you’ll set aside a little portion of your monthly income each time.

Check Your Budget Regularly and Remember Why You Started

As you progress with your budget, make sure you check in regularly. This means checking bank statements, credit card statements, and any other financial documents to see if your financial progress is in line with your budget. You can do this weekly or monthly, but it’s important to do it regularly to identify any issues and successes you’re experiencing. If you get discouraged with your budget, it’s helpful to remember why you started. You created this budget as your first step to financial literacy and freedom, and sticking to it every day will allow you to reach your goals quickly!

Join the CashFurther Community

Starting out with a budget and looking for financial support? CashFurther is a resource and community built by and for people who are committed to being better with money – and could use some tools, information, and support to do it.

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