Category: saving money

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People Share the First Thing They Worked Hard for to Save Money to Buy

It’s always a big deal when you’re young and you work hard and save that cash to buy something that you’ve been wanting for a long time.

I remember when I bought my first really nice, flat-screen TV that I’d been saving up for. It was great!

And I still have it…I think it might be time for an upgrade…

Do you remember the first thing you worked hard for to save money to buy?

Here’s how folks on AskReddit responded.

1. Gotta have it!

“A TV for my bedroom.

I wanted one when I was 13, and my parents said that was fine as long as I paid for it myself, so I got a job picking strawberries at a local farm.

Yes, I got my TV, but I was so sick of the sight and smell of strawberries that it was at least a year before I could even think about eating them again.”

2. Sounds cool.

“This huge animal encyclopedia. My mother was very poor but she still let me earn a bit of money by doing extra chores around the house. There was this big animal encyclopedia at a local book store.

It was $150, way too much for even a present so I saved up all my chore money for a very long time. I believe around a year. I still came up short. (I would still buy candy here and there) in the end my mom paid the rest of it.

I spent days reading that thing. I kept it for years in the end I gave it to my younger brother. I don’t know where it’s at now.”

3. You should be proud.

“My first car. I’ve been working since I was 17, minimum wage, and I just bought mine at 19 years old. It cost me $5000, and I was able to pay for it all at once.

I was super happy and proud of myself. It’s a 2012 Ford Focus Sel Hatchback, and I love it a lot.”

4. A great accomplishment.

“My education.

I worked CRAZY hours (60+ hrs/wk, 6 days a week) every Summer while I was in college to cover housing and food while I studied.

It was effort well-spent.”

5. Freedom!

“70 years old here …

A $25 J.C.Higgins 24-inch bike.

It was the embodiment of freedom.”

6. A night to remember.

“My prom dress.

I got a part time job as a sign spinner in the the weekends in high school to pay for my homecoming and prom dresses because I knew my mom couldn’t afford them.”

7. You do you.

“Breast augmentation.

I was pancake flat chested, and was bullied as a child and young adult. I was even made fun of by my own mother, frequently. That really messes with a kids head. So in my 20’s, I left my home state and moved 500 miles away.

I worked 2 jobs for 6 months straight, with 1 day off in 6 months. I scrimped and saved up enough money for surgery, and a week off for recovery.

My self esteem has improved so much, that I am literally a different person That was 25 years ago, and I haven’t regretted it for one moment”

8. Wow.

“My dad told me to earn $3k for my first car and he would match it.

I did. He got me a $6,000 car and told me to keep the money.

He just wanted to see me earn and save it.”

9. All yours.

“A pair of Doc Martens.

My Indo-Canadian parents would never have bought their daughter a pair of combat-esque boots so I saved up from my tutoring job and bought my own.

No regrets!”

10. That’s cool.

“Our French class in high school was going on a field trip to Quebec, It was about $800 or so. I didn’t wanna do any of the fund raising and was 17 at the time delivering pizzas after school.

So every day I’d come in with my previous night’s worth of tips which was about $30-$70 dollars and gave it to my French teacher until I had enough.”

11. A wicked axe.

“In 1998, I bought a B.C. Rich Warlock from a pawn shop on layaway.

I’ll never get rid of it for this reason alone.”

12. A good life lesson.

“A 700 dollar camera. I cleaned and organized garages and sheds for months and months. Totally worth it.

Iwas about 13 or so and I’m very proud I achieved that. I will carry that mindset for the rest of my life.”

13. Sounds amazing.

“A trip to space camp. I saw a commercial for it, copied the address, wrote to them to ask for a brochure.

Told the mailman to hold it for me until I came home from school and to not let my parents see it. Got a job at 14 and worked as many hours as they would let me. Opened a passbook savings account and saved my paychecks, my allowance from chores, my babysitting money, birthday and Christmas money for an entire year.

I even had a jar of change that I had found on the sidewalk. I saved over $1,000 and then asked my parents if I could go. They said no, it was too expensive. I handed them the passbook that said I had more than enough. They couldn’t say no and I went to space camp!

My grandmother even chipped in an extra $200 for spending money. Best 10 days of my young life! I am SUCH a nerd! “

How about you?

Do you remember the first thing you worked really hard to be able to buy?

Tell us your stories in the comments. Thanks!

The post People Share the First Thing They Worked Hard for to Save Money to Buy appeared first on UberFacts.

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15 Pieces of Advice That Might Save You a Lot of Money

When it comes to saving money, every little bit of advice helps. We can all be smarter with our finances, so it’s time to keep your mouth shut and your ears open.

People on AskReddit weighed in with their advice.

1. Avoid them at all costs.

“Don’t use credit cards.

Unless you know you’re one of those people that will pay the bill off completely at the end of every month and want to take advantage of the rewards.

Even then… don’t use them.”

2. Check Amazon first.

“That thing you want might be way cheaper on Amazon.

You never know unless you search. It takes two minutes.”

3. Take this one to heart.

“Work like an adult, live like a college student.”

4. Don’t spend it.

“If you are lucky enough to receive a substantial inheritance, DON’T SPEND A DIME OF IT (unless you owe the mob some money and your legs are about to have a rough encounter with a baseball bat).

Seriously. I got about 10k from an inheritance while I was a senior in high school. I blew through it in less than a year. Most of it went towards cigarettes, pot, alcohol, other non essentials, etc. All I really have to show from it is my laptop.

Now I’m a sophomore in college and working a shitty job, donating plasma, and participating in research studies monthly just so I can make rent payments and pay off shitty internet service. I can’t even imagine how much easier my life would be if I had just saved that money or even invested some of it so help me out in the future.”

5. Not for everyone.

“For the youngins: Really think about if you want to go to college. It’s not for everyone.

There’s a lot of opportunities in the skilled trades now if you’re into one of them.

College can put you into major debt, so make sure you want to make the investment beforehand.”

6. Some good tips.

“Housing and food / eating out will eat a lot of budget if you let them. Live within your means.

Don’t get payday loans. Ever. Credit card interest will eat you alive if you make minimum payments, so if you must let a balance float, pay it off the next month.

Get a cheap but affordable car. You don’t need a $30k car. A $15k car will do, if you must by new. Appropriate tires will be cheaper than paying insurance deductibles or increased premiums if you live somewhere with weather. If you can take public transportation, you can save a lot by doing that instead of getting car in the first place.

Alcohol at a bar is very expensive. Buy Cards Against Humanity and have a guest bring a bottle of rum.

Save for a rainy day, even a little, every month or pay period.”

7. This will pay off when you’re older.

“Brush your teeth. Taking good care of your teeth will save you a shit ton of money.”

8. Don’t be a lead foot.

“Drive the speed limit and buckle your safety belt. It costs me $120 a month in car insurance for a 12 year-old Prius because I had a lead foot in my younger days.

Now I have a bad catalytic converter and my car is physically unable to exceed the speed limit. I haven’t received a ticket in two years & my insurance rates have flat-lined.”

9. Avoid the big-name companies.

“Instead of getting your taxes done with a big-name company, use a Mom-and-Pop company that has had the same owners for years.”

10. It’s pretty expensive.

“Learn to relax after work without drugs or alcohol.”

11. STOP.

“Just stop buying shit. Seriously, stop it. Look how much fucking junk you have that you don’t need and have never needed. Look how much of it was never any use or any fun.

Stop caving in to advertising and marketing and learn to stop buying garbage.”

12. Things won’t be as appealing.

“Go grocery shopping after you’ve eaten.”

13. Fund your fun.

“Get some kind of marketable skill in your twenties. A trade. An IT skill. Even if it is not your dream job. Then put time in doing it. It gives you something you can use to build income value on, by building experience in your field.

It might not be fun, but it will FUND your fun. That’s what jobs do.

Not many jobs are fun after 10 or 20 years, even if they were your dream job.

That’s why the call them jobs, not hobbies.”

14. As simple as that.

“Quit buying shit you don’t need with money you don’t have.”

15. And then there’s this…

“Men: Always wear a condom Women: Take your birth control every day.

There. Money and sanity saved.”

So… did you learn anything? Pick up any handy tips?

What about your own tips? Got some you’d like to share?

Let us know in the comments!

The post 15 Pieces of Advice That Might Save You a Lot of Money appeared first on UberFacts.

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Here’s How You Can Pay for Hulu and Netflix and Save Money Every Month

It’s pretty obvious that streaming TV shows and movies is becoming a preferred way of watching them and more services with more selection are coming on the market soon.

Photo Credit: Mike MacKenzie via Flickr, CC BY 2.0

But the services do cost some money. Fortunately, there’s a way to shave off a few dollars.

MoneyTalksNews writer Donna Freedman explains her hack for saving money on Netflix and Hulu if you pay for them through iTunes. Simply put, Costco sells iTunes gift cards at a 15 percent discount. If you use the gift card to pay for the services through iTunes, then BAM! You save on your streaming.

Photo Credit: Pxhere

When your account depletes, just buy another gift card.

There are a few catches:

  1. The Costco discount on iTunes cards only happens a couple of times a year, so you have to stock up when you get the chance.
  2. Only existing users of Netflix through iTunes can pay through iTunes. New purchasers have to pay for Netflix directly through their portal which does not take iTunes gift cards as payment.
  3. If you aren’t a Costco member and you have no interest in becoming one, you will have to find iTunes cards at a discount through online gift card resellers or have a friend buy them on your behalf.
  4. If you aren’t paying for Hulu through iTunes, you will have to cancel and sign up again through iTunes.

 

Still, the savings are there if you are willing to do a little work. Depending on what city you’re in and the cost of living you have, this kind of hustle may be worth it – especially when rate hike time comes.

The post Here’s How You Can Pay for Hulu and Netflix and Save Money Every Month appeared first on UberFacts.

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This 24-Year-Old Will Have $100,000 Saved by Next Year. Here’s How

Managing our money is definitely one of the biggest struggles most of us face as we enter adulthood. It’s a skill that isn’t nearly as widely discussed/taught in school as it should be. Too many adults these days are living paycheck-to-paycheck, where any major, unexpected expense can potentially derail their entire lives.

Tori Dunlap is only 24 years old, but she recently realized she’s on track to have $100,000 in the bank by next year despite never making more than $80,000 in a year. Pretty impressive for a young person, right?

Dunlap said, “One of my biggest priorities in life has always been to save as much money as possible — and I owe much of that to my parents, who made sure I had a strong financial education at a young age.”

Dunlap acknowledges that she has some advantages that others don’t: she’s white, she comes from a middle-class family, and she graduated from college with no debt. But whether you’re as privileged as she is or not, anyone can benefit from her 5 most important money-saving tips.

1. Get on that side hustle

Dunlap said she worked an extra 15 hours per week doing social media marketing outside of her regular 9-5 job to help reach her $100,000 goal. She then invested all her money from her side job and 20% of her earnings from her full-time job.

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You don't have to stop spending money. You just need to stop spending money on things that aren't priorities for you. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 If that daily coffee brings you joy, awesome. But if that daily coffee is your excuse to get you out of the office at 2 pm, and you don't even taste it any more, something needs to change. ☕☕☕ Make a list of your three priorities. These are things you're willing to spend discretionary money on (mine, for example, are travel, food out, and living alone in Seattle.) This list might be the same as mine, or include things like fancy groceries, manicures, makeup, clothes, etc. These are the things were the majority of your "fun" money should be spent. 💵💵💵 Then, use a tool like my Cash Calendar to track your spending and reflect on your purchases. Did these align with my priorities? Or did I emotionally spend my hard-earned money on something that didn’t matter to me? That’s where the real transformation happens. 💫💫💫 What are your three spending priorities? Drop them below! 📷: @oliviafrances143

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2. Invest early

Dunlap opened a Roth IRA after she graduated from college and she maxed it out every year. She also saved six months of living expenses in a high-yield savings account for an emergency fund.

3. Don’t fall into the lifestyle inflation trap

Dunlap lives in an expensive city (Seattle), but she tries to save money in a variety of ways. She lives in a less expensive, less trendy neighborhood than many young people in Seattle. She has prioritized saving money over having a trendy lifestyle. She has a one-hour commute to work instead of a five-minute ride on the light rail, and her neighborhood consists of mostly older people – but, again, she is saving more money than her peers by not paying an outrageous amount for rent.

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Privilege. • This word, especially when it comes to money, can cause people to go from zero to sixty in a hot second. And rightfully so. It’s hard to listen to folks talk about privilege who haven’t done the work of educating themselves as to what it means and why it matters. • One of the core tenants of my practice is to acknowledge my privilege. A huge reason why I’m on the path to $100K is because I graduated without student debt. That was a privilege. Going to a private college was a privilege. Getting two four-year degrees was a privilege. • It was also work. My parents — who both grew up poor — sacrificed and scrimped and saved so they could help support me financially. A huge privilege. They also expected me to contribute — with profits from summer jobs, three jobs while going to school, and merit scholarships. It was a collaboration, not a handout. A privilege but not a hall pass. • After listening to the most recent episode of @fairercents, it got me thinking. Too often, we don’t showcase that both of these things are possible: having or lacking privilege, combined with hard work. I would not be where I am today without privilege: being white, cis-gendered, with supportive parents who were able to emotionally and financially support me. But I also wouldn’t be where I am without diligence. • With privilege, comes responsibility. Having the financial education I have is a privilege I intend on using for good. With this knowledge, I have the responsibility to teach and guide others. It’s what I believe I was put on this earth to do. • I know privilege can be a tough conversation, one that I am constantly learning more about and trying to be better at. Always more to ponder and consider and strive for… thanks for listening. 📷: @karyaschanilec

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4. The three-bucket budget rule

Dunlap divides her budget into three buckets. The first is living expenses (rent, bills, groceries). The second is for goals (investments, retirement, saving for a house). The third bucket is for everything else. This is the fun bucket for eating out, clothes, and travel.

The percentage of how much you put into each of the three buckets varies depending on the person.

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“We all have a better guide in ourselves than any other person can be…” 🥰🥰🥰 Personal finance is just that — personal. Our emotions and our mindset affect more of our money than any APR or interest rate can. 💰💰💰 Changing your money habits starts with changing your mindset. It starts with knowing yourself and your triggers. It starts with small steps over time. 💪💪💪 This is where a money coach can help you. We see you for your whole person, not just the number on your statement. We’re that cheerleader to keep you going, with the knowledge of how to guide you. It’s my favorite thing in the world. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 You know yourself better than anyone else. Trust yourself and start building habits that will change your life. Go get ‘em.

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5. Take things one step at a time and learn from your failures

We all make mistakes when it comes to saving (and spending) money. Dunlap said she took a job once simply because the money was good, even though her gut told her otherwise. The work environment ended up being extremely toxic, and she quit less than three months into the job.

Dunlap admits she felt like a failure after this experience and that it took her a while to rebuild her confidence, but in the long run she learned more about herself and what is important to her. She said, “Money is great, but unhappiness isn’t. Life is just too short.”

Do you have any money-saving tips of your own? Share them in the comments.

The post This 24-Year-Old Will Have $100,000 Saved by Next Year. Here’s How appeared first on UberFacts.