Tired of Your 9–5? Here Are 101 Ways to Make Money Online
Let’s be honest — making money online has never been easier or more accessible. All you really need is a solid internet connection, a laptop or even just a smartphone, and the right strategy. You don’t need a fancy portfolio or a million followers. In fact, there are people making real income online from their kitchen tables, during nap time, or after their 9-5 jobs. Whether you’re looking for a side hustle or want to build a full-blown online business, there are countless ways to earn money from home. And the best part? You can choose what works for you based on your skills, interests, and lifestyle. In this guide, I’ll walk you through 101 legit ways to make money online — from beginner-friendly options to more advanced online income streams. 101 Ways to Make Money Online Here are top 101 ways to earn money online: 1. Start a Blog If you’re looking for ways to make it big online, then consider blogging. It involves creating a blog/website and post exciting articles that will attract visitors. With Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Pinterest marketing, you can accelerate your level of income from blogging. By driving a high number of visitors to your blog, you will increase your chances and opportunities to earn money from your blog. Ways to earn money from blogging are displaying ads, selling products, affiliate marketing, etc. Here is one of my income reports where I shared how I earned over $8k a month. 2. Freelancing This is one of the most popular and flexible ways to make money online. Many freelance platforms offer countless opportunities for people who want to work from home and earn on their own terms. If you have a valuable skill like content writing, web design, or graphic design, you can create a profile on sites like Upwork or Fiverr and start offering your services. The demand is huge, and if you’re good at what you do, this can become a high-income stream. 3. Affiliate Marketing Affiliate marketing allows you to earn commissions by promoting other people’s products. It’s one of the easiest and most beginner-friendly ways to make money online. You don’t need special skills to start — just the creativity to market products effectively. As an affiliate, I personally earn money by promoting platforms like Clickfunnels, which also offers a 100-day Affiliate Bootcamp to help you get started. It’s a real, proven way to earn online. 4. Google AdSense or Other Display Ads Google offers several ways to earn online, and one of the easiest is through their AdSense program. If you have a blog or website, you can apply to place ads on your site. Every time a visitor clicks on those ads, you earn money. And once your traffic grows, you can apply to premium ad networks like Mediavine, AdThrive, BlogHer, Monumetric, Café Media, The Blogger Network, Bloomly, Ezoic, or GourmetAds — most of which offer higher RPMs (rates per thousand views) but require a certain traffic threshold to join. 5. Sell on e-Commerce Sites With platforms like eBay and Amazon, making money online by selling products is very doable. You can sell physical goods or start a dropshipping business. All you need to do is pick a niche and learn the basics. Many people earn a full-time income this way, and it’s not as far-fetched as it may sound. 6. Earning as a Writer on Sites If writing comes naturally to you, this can be an excellent way to make money online. You can write for blogs, publishers, online magazines, and more. It’s especially great for beginners, and the learning curve isn’t steep. Start small, build your portfolio, and work your way up. 7. Review Writing You can get paid to write honest reviews about various products or services — from mobile apps and software to restaurants and games. If you enjoy sharing your opinion, this is a fun and easy side hustle to try. 8. SEO Services Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a highly valuable skill in the online world. If you have a good understanding of how SEO works, you can offer your services to bloggers, business owners, and website managers — and earn really well doing it. SEO is always in demand. 9. Consultancy Are you an expert in a specific area? You can work as an online consultant and offer your advice to companies, business owners, students, or teachers. As long as you have solid expertise and a way to communicate it effectively, this can be a profitable online service. 10. SEM Services Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is closely related to SEO but focuses more on paid strategies. If you know how to run Google Ads or PPC campaigns, you can help businesses grow their visibility and sales through search engines — and get paid well for it. 11. Email Marketing Bring powerful results for companies by creating professional email campaigns and getting paid for your magic. If you know how to write emails that convert, businesses will gladly hire you to boost their revenue—and you can build a super solid income from it. 12. Selling of Email Listing With attractive headlines and good storytelling, you can earn by monetizing your email list the smart way. Whether it’s through sponsored content, affiliate offers, or paid shoutouts, your list can be a goldmine—as long as you know how to sell without being spammy. 13. Marketing Newsletters You can market products and sell your newsletters to earn daily. A well-crafted newsletter can promote your own products, share affiliate deals, or feature paid sponsors. Yep, your inbox vibes can totally turn into a money-maker. 14. Social Media Marketing You can earn as a marketer through social media by helping companies grow their brand online. If you’ve got a knack for creating scroll-worthy content or running killer ad campaigns, this is your ticket to turning likes and clicks into cash. 15. Social Media Management Companies hire people to run their social media accounts and manage customer feedback. From replying to comments to scheduling posts and keeping the brand voice consistent—it’s a legit way to earn while staying plugged into the digital world. 16. HR Recruiting A recruiter who thinks like an employer can save companies time and money—big time. If you know how to spot top talent, you can help businesses hire faster and smarter, and get paid for connecting the right people to the right roles. 17. Software and Apps Solutions If you know how to offer smart fixes or suggest improvements for websites, apps, and software, companies will pay you for your insight. Whether you’re testing UX or offering feature ideas, your feedback can actually lead to a paycheck. 18. Earn Through Payment Gateways If you’re a web developer with coding knowledge, you can build or improve payment platforms—like your own version of PayPal—and earn big. There’s a growing demand for custom, secure, and user-friendly checkout experiences. 19. Direct TV If you can start a direct TV channel, you can earn through ads and sponsorships. Think niche content, loyal viewers, and monetizing with brands who want to get in front of your audience—it’s a creative route to real income. 20. Sales Funnels You can create a platform where businesses promote and sell their products easily—like building your own version of Clickfunnels. With the right funnel strategy, you’ll be helping brands sell more… and getting paid for making it all work smoothly. 21. Membership Sites You can make money by building an online community—like a private network for bloggers, entrepreneurs, or creatives—and charging for access. Monthly membership fees can add up fast, especially when you’re offering valuable content or insider support. 22. YouTube Yep, you can absolutely make money (even millions in some cases) through your YouTube channel. Allow ads on your videos, partner with sponsors, and you’ve got yourself a money-making machine—just hit record and show up consistently. 23. MLM Multilevel marketing (aka network marketing) is kind of like affiliate marketing with a twist—you can sell products and recruit others to do the same. It’s a real online income opportunity if you’re good with people and don’t mind building a team. 24. Earn Big by Downloading and Using Apps There are legit sites that will actually pay you just to download and test out new apps. Use them for a few days, leave a review, and earn a little extra cash for your feedback. It’s easy, low-effort income you can do from your phone. 25. Various Sites Pay for Question and Answer Sessions If you love helping people solve problems or giving advice, you can earn by answering questions online. Platforms will pay you for sharing your knowledge—whether it’s about parenting, tech, cooking, or anything in between. 26. Online Tutoring Got skills to teach? You can create videos that walk people through a course—on your own site or a learning platform—and get paid. It doesn’t have to be on YouTube! Think “how-to” lessons, step-by-step tutorials, or full-on course bundles. 27. Online Universities If you’ve got a background in education or just want to teach professionally, you can create full-blown online degree programs. People are willing to pay for structured courses in subjects like business, law, marketing, and more—especially those juggling work and school. 28. Get Paid for Watching Videos Online Okay, this won’t make you rich overnight—but it’s a fun, easy way to earn a little extra while relaxing. Some platforms pay you to watch ads or short videos, so if you’re already binging content, why not get a few bucks for it? 29. Sell eBooks Selling eBooks is way easier than most people think. Pick a topic you know well, write it up, and publish it! With the right strategy, marketing your eBook online can bring in a steady stream of passive income. 30. Taking of Surveys Online Online surveys won’t replace your 9–5, but they’re a solid side hustle if you want to earn from home. Each one can earn you between $1 and $5 in rewards, and you can knock them out while sipping coffee or watching TV. 31. Virtual Transcription Put those listening skills to work and earn by transcribing audio and video files. You’ll get paid for every minute you transcribe—and the best part? You can do it from anywhere, headphones in, coffee in hand. 32. Work as a Social Media Influencer If you’ve got a solid social media presence and know how to engage an audience, you can help brands or public figures grow their reach. All you need are some digital marketing skills and a little confidence to put yourself out there. 33. Selling of Domain Domain flipping is a sneaky-smart way to make money online. Buy domain names with potential (think: short, catchy, or keyword-rich) at low prices and sell them later for a profit. Domains with commercial value? Even better. 34. Website Flipping This one’s next-level. Instead of flipping just a domain, you buy full websites, improve them, and sell them for more. If you’ve got an eye for opportunity and can boost traffic or design, it’s a solid way to make real profit. 35. Work as a Website Designer for Sites Got an eye for design? Start offering web design services—even with just basic graphic design skills. Many web designers earn around $55,000 a year, and you can level up fast with online courses or even YouTube tutorials. 36. Get Paid for App Development Whether you’re building your own app or developing for other companies, this is a high-paying digital skill. From simple tools to full-blown platforms, app dev is hot—and businesses are ready to pay for your ideas and skills. 37. Translator Know more than one language? Put that brainpower to use and get paid for translating documents, videos, or websites. Work from anywhere, on your schedule, helping people bridge the language gap—and earn while you’re at it. 38. Transcription Transcription work is flexible and surprisingly in demand. Join freelance platforms or specialized transcription sites to find clients who need audio turned into clean, readable text. It’s repetitive, sure—but reliable. 39. Data Entry Companies need help digitizing files, typing up documents, or managing spreadsheets—enter: data entry jobs. It’s simple, doesn’t require fancy tech skills, and can be a great way to earn online while watching your favorite series. 40. Earn Money Playing Fortnite Yup, you can actually make money gaming—especially with Fortnite. With the rise of online gaming and esports, players earn through live streaming, competitions, and in-game perks like V-Bucks. If you’ve got skills and strategy, this one’s fun and profitable. 41. Ghost Writing As a ghostwriter, you can get paid to write blog posts, articles, or even full-on books—mostly for authors or website owners. The catch? Your name won’t be on it. But if you’re cool with writing in the shadows and cashing the checks, it’s a solid gig. 42. Online Teaching Teaching online can be both fun and profitable. Start part-time to bring in some extra cash and grow it into a full-blown business. You can teach adults or kids, and many parents prefer online lessons for safety and flexibility—so the demand is real. 43. Online Casino Sites Creating an online casino site can be risky, but also super lucrative if done right. Set up a site where people can play, and earn from the games plus ad revenue. It’s a high-stakes niche, but the payoff can be huge. 44. Sell Printables Want passive income with minimal overhead? Design and sell digital printables—think planners, kids’ activities, checklists, wall art, or party templates. Once they’re listed, they can keep selling 24/7 while you sleep. 45. Virtual Assistant Help business owners stay on top of things by working as a virtual assistant. You’ll handle tasks like email, scheduling, and admin work—all from your laptop. With great communication and time management, this one’s totally doable (and profitable). 46. Selling of Your Write-Ups Got recipes, short stories, or how-to guides? You can sell your original content to websites looking for fresh material. Think recipe blogs, niche publications, or content marketplaces—it’s a great way to get paid for what you already love doing. 47. Become an Online Notary If you’re already a licensed notary, you can offer your services online and expand your reach. From contracts to real estate docs, people are constantly looking for remote notary services—especially in today’s digital world. 48. Proofreading Have an eagle eye for typos? Put those skills to work by proofreading eBooks, blog posts, or website content. Authors, bloggers, and businesses are happy to pay someone who can make their content clean, clear, and error-free. 49. Editing If you’re good at rewriting, catching grammar mistakes, or fixing up messy drafts, editing could be your thing. From blogs to books, people need editors to polish their content—and you can earn steady income doing what you do best. 50. Drop Shipping Dropshipping is one of the easiest ways to get into eCommerce without holding inventory. Here’s how it works: a customer buys from your store, you send the order to your supplier, and they handle shipping. You keep the profit difference. It’s low-risk and beginner-friendly—perfect if you’re just starting out. 51. Start Your e-Commerce Website Build your own platform and help others sell their products—think of it like your own version of Amazon, Etsy, or eBay. Whether you’re hosting your own goods or letting others list theirs, it’s a great way to create a digital storefront and start earning. 52. Brand Ambassador Partner up with brands you love and get paid to represent them online. From social media shoutouts to product placements, being a brand ambassador is all about promoting with personality—and getting paid for it. 53. Start Your Own Dating Site Most people don’t realize how profitable dating sites can be. Platforms like Elite Singles are making serious money—and you could too by launching a niche dating site. It’s a surprising (but genius) way to earn online. 54. Selling of Your Used Ups Have old furniture, gadgets, or stuff you don’t use anymore? Don’t toss it—sell it. There are tons of websites where you can list your used items and turn clutter into cash. It’s simple, sustainable, and kind of addictive once you start. 55. Joining a Mock Jury Yep, you can actually get paid to sit on an online “mock” jury and give feedback on legal cases. It’s like playing pretend court—but with real money involved. A quirky side hustle that’s worth checking out. 56. Get Paid to Play Games If you’re going to game anyway, why not get paid for it? The gaming industry is massive (we’re talking billions), and some sites will pay you to test out their games. It’s fun, chill, and a great excuse to call gaming “work.” 57. Online Real Estate Investment Real estate isn’t just for offline moguls anymore. You can now invest in properties online—buy, sell, or partner with others—and grow your income through virtual real estate. Think of it as house flipping without the hammer. 58. Podcasts Podcasts are blowing up—and they’re not just for fun. You can earn through sponsorships, ad placements, affiliate links, or even offering premium content. Got a mic and something to say? Go for it. 59. Resume Writing If you’re good with words and know what employers want to see, resume writing can be a super profitable service. Job seekers will happily pay for a polished resume that helps them stand out—and land the job. 60. Sell Your Photos and Videos Got an eye for photography or cool video clips? Stock image sites like Adobe Stock, Foap, and Shutterstock will pay for your work. Upload your best shots once, and get paid every time someone downloads them. Hello, passive income. 61. Website Testing (QA) Get paid to test websites and share your thoughts! Companies need real people to check for bugs, broken links, and user experience hiccups—so if you’re detail-oriented (and like clicking around), this one’s a fun way to earn. 62. Get Paid For Searching The Web Yep, you can literally earn money just by searching the internet. Platforms like Qmee reward you for using search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo. Super easy and totally passive—you just install it and browse like normal. 63. Online Workshops If you’ve got a skill or some expert knowledge, you can turn it into an online workshop. Businesses are always looking for creative training ideas—so package your talent into a 1-day or half-day session and sell it to teams around the world. 64. Sell Your Artworks and Design Got creative flair? Turn your art or design work into income by selling it online. Sites like Etsy are perfect for handmade pieces, illustrations, printables, or digital downloads. Share your talent and get paid for it! 65. Be an Online Journalist If you’ve got a passion for writing and storytelling, you can write for digital newspapers, magazines, or even TV networks online. Real reporting, real exposure—and yes, real paychecks too. 66. Shop on Apps and Get Paid Some apps will actually pay you to download them and shop through their platform. It’s like getting rewarded just for doing what you already do. Bonus: some even offer cashback and special perks on top. 67. Become a ‘Clickworker’ Join platforms like Clickworker and get paid to complete small online tasks. It could be data entry, filling out forms, or quick web research. It’s simple, flexible work you can do on your own time. 68. Become a WordPress Developer If you know your way around WordPress, you can offer freelance development services to bloggers, business owners, or content creators. From theme customization to plugin setups, there’s always demand—and it pays well, too. 69. Have Your Music or Videos Sold Got original music or video content? Platforms like iTunes and Amazon let you sell your work directly to fans. Whether you’re an indie artist or a filmmaker, it’s never been easier to get your stuff out there and earn from it. 70. Online Music Listening This one’s as chill as it sounds—get paid to listen to music online! Some apps and platforms will pay you to review or rate songs. It’s not a full-time gig, but hey, you’re getting paid to vibe out. Win-win. 71. Forex Trading Jump onto platforms like E-Trade or Fidelity and dive into the world of Forex trading. You’ll be predicting market trends, watching currencies rise and fall, and staking your money accordingly. It’s definitely risky—but if you learn the ropes, it can be life-changing. 72. Product Testing Brands want honest feedback—and they’ll pay for it. Sign up to test out new products and get rewarded for reviewing them. Some even let you keep the product, so you’re basically getting paid to try new stuff. Not bad, right? 73. Paid to Like and Comment on Instagram Yep, you can actually get paid to engage with Instagram posts. Some businesses pay users to like, comment, or boost interaction on their pages. It’s super easy and takes almost no time at all. 74. Paid to Like and Comment on Facebook Same deal as Instagram—except this time, it’s all happening on Facebook. Brands want to grow their reach, and they’re willing to pay for your quick likes and comments to help their pages look more active and popular. 75. Sharing of Sponsored Posts and Links If you’ve got a decent following on social media, you can earn by sharing sponsored posts or affiliate links. It’s an easy way to monetize your feed—just post, share, and earn commissions every time someone clicks or buys. 76. Offer Your Gig on Fiverr Fiverr is one of the biggest marketplaces for digital services, and you can offer just about anything—writing, design, video editing, voiceovers, you name it. Scroll through the gigs, find your niche, and start selling your skills today. 77. Sales of Insurance Online Insurance companies are always looking for online leads. If you can drive traffic or refer customers to their services, you can earn commissions or even work with them as an affiliate or online agent. 78. Online Reservation Bookings Start a simple portal where people can book tickets, hotels, or events—and earn commissions for each booking. It’s safe, scalable, and a great way to tap into the travel or entertainment industries online. 79. Ad Revenue System Buy ad space in bulk and sell it to other businesses or place it on your own site to earn income. Think of it like flipping digital real estate—get good traffic, display those ads, and watch the revenue add up. 80. Review Videos Got a camera and an opinion? Make video reviews for products or services and get paid for your take. As long as you know the niche and can create quality content, brands will love working with you. 81. Graphics Designing If you’ve got solid graphic design skills, you can easily find work creating visuals for businesses—think logos, social media posts, ads, or websites. The demand is always there, and the better your portfolio, the better you’ll get paid. 82. Managing Websites for People This one’s about helping others run and grow their websites. Whether it’s updating content, fixing bugs, or improving SEO, managing websites can bring in a steady income—especially if you’re good at spotting what makes a site perform better. 83. Sale of Space on Your Website Got a website with decent traffic? You can sell space—like banner ads or featured placements—to other brands. It’s a win-win: you make money, and they get exposure. Works especially well on niche or funnel-based sites. 84. Invest in Stocks Stock investing can be a powerful way to build long-term income. Whether you’re buying individual stocks, using mutual funds, or letting a robo-advisor do the work, the key is to learn first—then invest in solid companies and stay consistent. 85. Design and Sell Your Clothing Got an eye for fashion? You can design your own clothing and sell it through platforms like Printful, Teespring, or your own store. From tees to hoodies to custom merch, it’s a great way to turn creativity into cash. 86. Medical Coding If you’re detail-oriented and don’t mind learning a new skill, medical coding can be surprisingly lucrative. Sites like Aviacode connect coders with doctors and clinics—and many coders earn upwards of $2,000 a month working from home. 87. Voice Over for Podcasts If you’ve got a great voice and some audio editing basics, you can offer voice-over services for podcasts. Not ready to host your own? No worries—lend your voice to others and get paid for bringing scripts to life. 88. Online Customer Service Companies around the world are always hiring online customer support reps to help with emails, chats, and issue resolutions. Since businesses run 24/7, there’s demand across all time zones—perfect if you’re looking for remote work with flexible hours. 89. Sales Rep Selling is all about finding the right product and company. As an online sales rep, you can earn great commissions if you’re selling something high-value or with a fast turnaround. Choose your products wisely, and you can turn this into serious income. 90. Rent Out Your Stuffs Not ready to sell your stuff? No problem—rent it out instead! From cameras to power tools to party gear, there are platforms where you can list your items and earn from them every time someone needs a quick rental. 91. Daycare Service Create an online platform to promote daycare and babysitting services. Busy parents often don’t have time to search manually, so they turn to trusted online directories. If you connect them with great providers, you could seriously boost your monthly income. 92. Doggy Care Just like daycare for kids, but for fur babies! Pet parents are always looking for reliable care while they’re at work or away. Set up a site or offer your services locally online—it’s a fun and easy way to earn extra. 93. Paid to Lose Weight Yep, you read that right. Some sites actually pay you to hit your fitness goals. You commit to losing a certain amount of weight, and if you hit the target—you get paid. It’s like getting rewarded for taking care of yourself! 94. Sell Your Recipe Books Got a stash of unique recipes? Turn them into a digital cookbook and sell it online. Whether it’s for busy moms, plant-based foodies, or dessert lovers—there’s always a hungry audience for good recipes. 95. Start an Online Consultancy Business If you’ve got knowledge or experience in a specific field, turn it into a consultancy biz! It’s low overhead, high value, and you can coach or consult from anywhere. Help other business owners and get paid well for your expertise. 96. Online Coupons People love saving money—and they’ll flock to you if you’ve got the deals. Start a site or even a Facebook group where you post coupons, promo codes, and deals. With affiliate links or brand partnerships, it’s a smart way to earn. 97. Yoga or Gym Instructor If fitness is your thing, become an online instructor! You can offer yoga sessions, personal training, or workout programs from your own website or platforms like Zoom or YouTube. Help others get fit while you build a business. 98. Sell Sponsored Blog Posts Got a blog? Once you’ve got some traffic, you can monetize it with sponsored content. Brands will pay to be featured on your blog—whether it’s a review, a guide, or a simple shoutout. It’s a great way to earn while doing what you love. 99. Real Estate Agency You don’t need to own property to get into real estate. Connect with homeowners or landlords who want to sell or rent, post their listings online, and earn a commission when deals close. All you need is hustle and a solid network. 100. Webinars Hosting webinars can be a goldmine—especially if you’ve got something valuable to teach. You offer a free training and then pitch a paid product or service at the end. If you teach well and pitch right, people will buy. 101. Perform Micro Tasks Micro task sites are full of bite-sized jobs like tagging photos, filling out forms, or testing apps. The pay isn’t huge, but it’s easy work and a great way to get started if you’re new to online income.
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Every Successful Blogger Has These 8 Habits — Do You?
How to Be a Successful Blogger (Even If You’re Just Starting Out) Hey bloggers — real talk: success doesn’t happen by accident. Behind every thriving blog is a set of powerful habits that make all the difference. And the best part? You don’t need to change your whole life overnight. Research shows that with just 30 minutes of consistent practice a day, you can start building habits that stick — and actually move the needle in your blogging journey. Successful bloggers know this. They don’t just show up and wing it — they create systems, routines, and strategies that help them grow their blogs, stay motivated, and show up for their audience (even on the tough days). So if you’ve ever wondered how some bloggers seem to have it all figured out — trust me, it’s not magic. It’s habits. Below, I’ve broken down 8 of the most powerful habits successful bloggers share — and how you can start using them right now to grow your own blog. Let’s dive in! 1. They Know Their Audience Inside Out Successful bloggers don’t write for everyone — they write for someone. They take the time to truly understand who’s reading their blog, what that person is struggling with, what they dream about, and what kind of content will actually help or inspire them. They know what makes their readers click, what questions they’re Googling at 2 a.m., and what kind of tone or vibe makes them feel seen. When you know your audience on that deep level, writing becomes easier, your content becomes more valuable, and your blog starts to feel like a place people want to come back to. That connection? It’s everything. 2. They Invest In Their Blog’s Visuals A lot of people underestimate how important visuals really are — but successful bloggers get it. Whether it’s the photos on your blog, your social media graphics, or the images you use in marketing… visuals either pull people in or push them away. Let’s be real — most of us are super visual. Before someone even reads your headline, their eyes land on the photo. If it doesn’t grab their attention, chances are they’ll scroll right past it. That’s why high-quality, well-styled images are a must if you want your content to stand out and feel professional. You’ll never find a blog post on my site without a photo — it just doesn’t happen. Yes, the content matters (especially for SEO), but if no one sticks around to read it? The best-written post won’t do a thing. That’s why so many top bloggers use stock photo sites. And no — we’re not talking about boring, cheesy stock photos from 2006. I’m talking about gorgeous, professionally styled images that make your blog look polished and consistent without spending hours trying to take your own photos. Here’s why it’s a game-changer: You get instant access to hundreds (even thousands) of stunning photos, ready to use. New images are added every month, so your content always feels fresh. It saves you so much time. Who has hours to shoot and edit photos for every single post? Most memberships are super affordable, and yep — it counts as a business expense. If you’re looking for beautifully styled stock photos that won’t break the bank, check out my favorite resources – best websites to buy feminine stock photos. I personally use them and can’t recommend them enough. 3. They’re Always Learning New Promotional Strategies Successful bloggers never stop learning — seriously. They know that the online world is always changing, and if you want to stay ahead, you’ve got to stay curious. Whether it’s diving into new ways to grow traffic, experimenting with Pinterest updates, learning about email marketing, or testing out SEO tweaks, they’re constantly sharpening their skills. They also make it a habit to stay informed — not just in their niche, but in digital marketing as a whole. They read blogs, books, take courses, and stay plugged into what’s working right now. And honestly? That hunger to keep learning is a big part of what keeps their content fresh and their growth steady. The cool part? That same curiosity doesn’t just help your blog — it keeps you feeling inspired, creative, and even more confident. A love for learning is one of those habits that pays off far beyond the page. I personally can share that I took courses in affiliate marketing, Google SEO, sponsorships for blogs, how to grow your newsletter, and many more! I can say that every course I took, really helped me optimize my blogging strategies and eventually I earned more money! 4. They Treat Their Blog Like a Business Here’s the truth: some blogs are just fun creative outlets — and that’s totally fine. But the ones that actually bring in real income? Those are treated like businesses. Successful bloggers don’t just post when they feel like it or hope that traffic magically appears. They show up with a plan, set goals, and make decisions with intention — because they know their blog has the potential to grow into something amazing. If you’re ready to take your blog to the next level, this is the mindset shift that changes everything. Start thinking of your blog as a business, not just a passion project. That doesn’t mean it has to stop being fun — it means you’re finally taking what you love seriously. And when you do that? The results will follow. Check our one of my income reports where I share how I earned over $8k in a single month! 5. They Post Consistently If there’s one habit that separates hobby bloggers from the ones who actually grow and make money — it’s consistency. Successful bloggers don’t just post when they feel inspired. They pick a posting schedule that works for them (whether that’s once a week or twice a month) — and they stick to it. Why? Because their readers know what to expect. And when you’re consistent, your audience starts showing up for you, too. You don’t need to post every day — just be reliable. It’s better to post once a week every week than to post 10 articles in a week and then disappear for a month. Top bloggers treat their content calendar like a plan, not a maybe. 6. They Take Their Time Successful bloggers know that growth doesn’t happen overnight — and they’re okay with that. Real success takes time, patience, and a whole lot of showing up even when things feel slow. They don’t expect viral traffic or big income right away. Instead, they focus on building their blog step by step, learning as they go, and staying consistent. They put in the work, test what’s working, and tweak what’s not — without giving up at the first bump in the road. The truth is, blogging is a long game. And the ones who win? They’re the ones who keep going, even when it takes longer than they hoped. 7. They Set Goals Successful bloggers don’t just create content and hope for the best — they set clear goals so they know exactly where they’re headed. Whether it’s growing their traffic, hitting a certain income milestone, launching a product, or building their email list, they always have something they’re working toward. Why? Because having goals gives you direction. It helps you stay focused, motivated, and way more intentional with your time. Plus, when you have something specific to aim for, it becomes so much easier to track your progress and celebrate the wins (even the small ones!). Blogging with a purpose is where the magic really happens. Need a planner to help you organize your goals? Download my free planner here. 8. They’re Passionate About What They Do Let’s be real — blogging isn’t always easy. There are ups, downs, slow days, and moments where you wonder if it’s all worth it. But here’s what sets successful bloggers apart: they truly love what they do. They’re passionate about their topic, their readers, and the creative process. That passion keeps them going when the results aren’t instant and helps them stay motivated even when things get tough. If you don’t genuinely care about your blog and your message, it’s hard to stick with it. But when you do? That energy shows in your content — and readers feel it. Final Thoughts These habits aren’t about being perfect. They’re about building something real, step by step. Creating a successful blog doesn’t happen by accident — it’s built with intention, consistency, and a whole lot of heart. So start where you are. Choose one habit to focus on this week, and build from there. You don’t have to do it all at once — just keep showing up, learning, and adjusting as you go. You’ve got this!
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Best Websites to Buy Feminine Stock Photos
Like it or not, image is everything in the online world. If you’re launching a blog or site, you need to have a certain aesthetic or style that’s consistent across all of your content, including social media. Feminine stock photos can help you maintain your brand’s style. But where do you find high-quality stock photos with a feminine look and feel? Here are some of my favorite sources. Best Websites to Buy Feminine Stock Photos Styled Stock Society Styled Stock Society offers stock photos and brand visuals designed with female entrepreneurs in mind. All photos are shot by professional photographers, and their library has 9,000+ images. What I love about Styled Stock Society is that they group photos into curated collections. Each collection has a theme and color palette, which makes it easy to stay on-brand. Photos are of super high quality: at least 2500px X 2500px and 300 ppi. Along with their stock photo collections, they also offer 2,000+ Canva templates, videos and other resources. Pros New content added every week You can continue using the content you downloaded after your subscription ends Unlimited downloads for members Monthly, annual and lifetime subscriptions available Cons Monthly memberships aren’t always available Styled Stock Society’s monthly membership option is only open for a limited time at certain times of the year. But their massive library and the value they offer make their annual and lifetime subscriptions worth it. Visit Styled Stock Society here> Haute Stock Haute Stock is one of the top sites for feminine stock photos, but they offer more than just premium photos. Members also get access to: Stock videos, including vertical videos that are perfect for social media Canva marketing templates for Pinterest Pints, blog graphics, PDFs, sales promotions and more Curated mood boards Members can browse their massive library by industry-related categories or even by keywords. If you’re not sure where to start, they have a Couture Curation® service. Just fill out a request, and they’ll send you a custom mood board along with 100+ photo selections and keyword recommendations for searches. You get all of this at no additional cost, so that’s a major selling point. Haute Stock offers other helpful resources, too, like a daily content calendar that you can use to plan your content, graphic elements and a content marketing guide. This is the website that I use to download amazing photos for PreppSocial and for UrbanMamaz – it helped me earn over $11K per month! Read my blog income report here. If that wasn’t enough, Haute Stock also offers 21 free stock photos if you sign up for their newsletter, so you can check out their quality and decide whether you want to become a member. Pros Stock photos for a wide range of industries Quarterly and annual memberships available (unlimited downloads) 9,000+ stock assets Free personalized Couture Curation® service Cons Monthly memberships are limited and work on a restrictive credit system There’s no easy way to find information on monthly memberships, but you get 30 credits to use every month. Haute Stock also doesn’t provide any information on how often they update their library with new content. Get 15% off through my affiliate link here or by entering this coupon code: 4f2af0a674 Visit Haute Stock here> Ivory Mix Ivory Mix offers styled stock photos, Canva templates and other assets you can use in your content. They’re all about helping female entrepreneurs succeed, so they also offer caption templates for social posts, pre-made content plans, Reels plans and more. Ivory Mix has a giant library of 18,000+ downloads that members can use. But if you don’t want to sign up for a membership, you can purchase styled stock photo packs and individual photos from their shop. This is one area where Ivory Mix has an advantage over other stock photo providers. Many sites require you to sign up for their memberships and don’t allow you to purchase assets individually. The site also offers high-quality, free resources, which are perfect for new site owners or anyone wanting to test out Ivory Mix’s quality. When you sign up for a free account, you get access to: 550+ photos, templates and strategies Unlimited downloads New free monthly downloads Ivory Mix has a lot to offer anyone looking for visual content assets to grow their online business. Pros Lots of freebies 18,000+ downloads for members Content plans, templates and other resources 8 bonus bundles for annual members Option to buy photos and bundles individually Cons There’s so much content that it can feel overwhelming Ivory Mix has so many assets in its library. Along with the templates and content plans, it can feel overwhelming to find what you need. Visit Ivory Mix here> Unsplash and Pexels (Free) If you’re on a tight budget, you can find some great feminine-styled photos on Unsplash and Pexels for free. Both platforms offer high-quality photos that you can use in your blog and social media posts. They can also help you discover photographers who create content that aligns with your brand. But it’s important to remember that these platforms have more limited options. Because the content assets come from a wide range of photographers, you may struggle to maintain a certain aesthetic or mood. Pros Free, high-quality photos Multiple photo size options Cons Not ideal if you’re going for a certain aesthetic Some of the best photos are premium and require a subscription Visit Unsplash here and Pexels here> Styled Stock House Styled Stock House (formerly known as KateMaxStock) offers curated feminine stock photos. Their library isn’t as big as some other stock providers (4,000 images and counting), but they offer imagery in a wide range of categories (seasonal, lifestyle, tech, stationery mockups, etc.). Styled Stock House has an Etsy shop, which can give you a better idea of the quality of their photos. You can also sign up for their newsletter to get free photos delivered to your inbox. Pros Option to download images at full-res (3500 x 2300) or social media sizes Monthly, annual and quarterly memberships with unlimited downloads New collections are launched every month Cons No previews of their images No testimonials Although this provider is well-known, their site doesn’t offer much information about their content. But the monthly membership option is affordable enough that you can test their service. Visit Styled Stock House here> Etsy If you’re looking for more flexible ways to buy stock photos, Etsy is a great option. You can purchase photo packs individually, and if you find a shop you like, you can stick to their content. One advantage of using Etsy is that you can test out different creators (many of the sites above also have Etsy shops) before deciding whether you want to buy memberships. Plus, you’ll be making a purchase through a trusted marketplace. And there’s no shortage of options on Etsy – over 2,700 results for feminine stock photos. Pros Lots of options Photo packs can be purchased individually Trusted marketplace Reviews and ratings help you gauge the quality Cons Some sellers are unresponsive I’ve seen complaints from buyers that some stock photo sellers are unresponsive, and that can be frustrating if you’re having issues with downloads. Fortunately, Etsy has excellent customer service. Floral Deco Floral Deco’s Creative Market shop has a beautiful collection of feminine stock content with lifestyle, flatlay and still-life themes. You’ll also find templates, mockups, graphics, illustrations and more in their shop. Floral Deco has been active on Creative Market for almost a decade and receives rave reviews from customers. Their photos are high-quality and affordable, so you can fill your site with gorgeous imagery without breaking the bank. Pros Tons of photo content (108 pages) Collections with themed photos Affordable prices Cons No membership options With Floral Deco, you can only purchase images separately or in bundles. If you’re more interested in a membership-style site, this creator won’t be a good fit for you. Visit Floral Deco here> Sourced Co. Sourced Co. offers stunning images with styled stock photos and acrylic styling blocks. The company offers 10 free stock photos that anyone can use to see how professional the platform’s photos look. I love that they know everyone’s needs are different, so you have access to: $365 – lifetime access to the 4,000-stock image library $8 – per image cost if you can’t commit to the lifetime deal Pros Multiple purchase tiers available Standard and extended license upgrades Cons Lots of their photos are wedding-themed Although Sourced Co. markets itself as a stock source for creative business owners and wedding pros, much of their content seems to be centered on the wedding theme. Visit Sourced Co. here> Atelier21 Co. Atelier21 aims to elevate your business with high-quality photography that you can use in your visual content strategy. Users can sign up for access to 5,000+ ready-to-download images and a content library that is always updated with unique photos for numerous niches. What I like about Atelier is that they offer: $25/mo. membership $250/year membership You’ll also gain access to a training video on how to curate images from Instagram that match your brand perfectly. And everything is neatly put into collections, such as “offices,” which will have a ton of great images that are all related to – you guessed it – offices. Pros Collections make it easy to find the images you want for your posts Mockup templates help non-design-savvy users streamline graphic creation 50 – 100 drops add per month to the library Cons Can’t use for client accounts or brands
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How I Earned $8,038+ in August 2023 – Urban Mamaz Income Report
YESSSS, this month I broke a new record and managed to earn $8,038+… omg and it feels so good! I’ve been blogging for a few years now and one thing I’ve learned; no matter how hard and frustrating things can be, if you have a goal you want to achieve, never give up! It has been a long time since I shared my last income report… The truth is that there were a few months that my site’s revenue dropped to almost $0. It happened after Pinterest released their crazy algorithm updated that caused my Pinterest account stop getting impressions, and my site traffic dropped from 100k monthly visits to ZERO visits! Just like that, one day without any warnings. And because most of my site traffic was coming from Pinterest, from that day I stopped getting site traffic, which means no ads or affiliate revenue at all! I was solely relied on Pinterest traffic without optimizing my website for Google SEO, leaving all my efforts in one basket. My site was dead. I was depressed, tried to send lots of messages to Pinterest’s support but nothing helped. Didn’t know what to do. It lasts for a month and a half and suddenly one day my Pinterest account came to life again and the traffic returned. It felt like someone just turned on the switch and things were back on track again, like nothing happened. But I wasn’t the same person anymore. I didn’t trust Pinterest. I was afraid that it will happen again and I didn’t feel safe dedicating more time to create content for Pinterest. I even found a day job, wanted to feel more secure. It took me months to start publishing new pins on Pinterest again. Instead, I decided to focus on Google SEO. I tried the “low competition keywords” strategy and managed to grow my traffic to 14k after a few months. But it was moving pretty slow because I had to invest and publish lots of articles per month to grow it faster. I was desperate to hear other blogger stories on how they handled this situation but I mainly found articles on how much traffic they get from Pinterest and how good it works for them. So I decided to give it another try and get back to Pinterest, but this time I changed my Pinterest pinning strategy. And because I got myself a day job, I outsourced my work and hired freelancers to help with my blogging tasks which eventually boosted my blog growth (I share more details about this below). My New Pinterest Strategy First, no more repining old pins (even if they used to be viral) – I used to do it a lot and I felt that Pinterest might consider it as really spamming. Instead, every new pin that I publish, I repin it to 3-5 more related boards. And that’s it. Upgrade my pin designs – I signed up to Canva Pro and picked a collection of pins that has a feminine/minimal style. Hired a VA to help design a few more designs and bought premium stock photos to use in the pins and website. Images and attractive designs are critical to get more traffic. Publish ONLY high quality articles – SEO optimized, trending topics, minimum 1500 word count. I use Uber Suggest and Ahrefs to track viral topics that will work great on Pinterest. And another good source is Pinterest trends where they share trending topics and keywords. A year later, after following this strategy, my site traffic reached 150k sessions, I managed to doubled my page RPM from around $20 rpm to $40 rpm (and on some pages even more), and freakin’ reached $8k+ revenue on August this year! Additionally, I think that hiring great freelancers really helped me boost my website growth. It helps me get the weekly tasks done, meet my deadlines and it allows me to free my time and focus on strategy and blog growth. Wondering what are the exact earning streams and expenses? Here is a breakdown: Urban Mamaz Earnings: $6,582.85 – displaying ads with Mediavine $1,455.55 – Amazon Associates $36.65 – Skimlinks $8,075.05 Total revenue Urban Mamaz Expenses: $60 – Rocket.net hosting – love them – this hosting service makes my website so much faster and my website never shuts down like it used to happen often on Bluehost – worth every penny! $600 – VA – publishing content and graphic design $1500 – Content writers (increased lately) $20 – Adobe – professional graphic design software when I need a better tool $12.99 – Tailwind for scheduling posts $10 – Buffer ($120 annual plan) for scheduling posts $12.5 – Canva Pro ($149.9 annual plan) – User friendly graphic design software for my team $2,215.49 Total expenses *** I know that the expenses might be a bit high, but because I have a day job, hiring freelancers and getting help allows me to work only 2-3 hours on the website per week. Here are a few screenshots from August this year: What’s Next? Well, the goal is go grow of course… and I have a few cool projects that I’m working on. To grow Urban Mamaz I plan to: Continue publishing more content according to the content plan. Considering to increase the number of monthly articles. Plan a strategy to generate free organic traffic from Facebook. Google SEO Optimize and update old content. Amazon Merch on Demand If you visited my website, Urban Mamaz, and you’re subscribed to my newsletter, you probably know that there is also an online shop where you can download lots of free printables and cool digital designs. Because I have many designs I decided to sign up to Amazon Merch on Demand and sell products with my designs. I started on July this year and a few days later I sold my first t-shirt. I promote the tees through banners on Urban Mamaz and that’s it. So far I sold 9 t-shirts – for each one I earn around $4. I uploaded only 9 designs so far because the limit in tier 10 is ten. Once I’ll sell ten products, I should be able to access tier 2 and upload more designs. You can actually set your own price for each t-shirt and this way control how much money you want to earn on each product. What’s good about Amazon Merch on Demand (compared to Printify and Printful) is that you don’t need to deal with delivering the products. Just choose the type of products you want to sell, upload your designs, and focus on marketing. Once I’ll have more time, I’ll plan a good strategy to promote the products through my websites. This can be a great and easy income stream. Final Thoughts I know blogging can be complicated. There are so many things that needs to be done. My best tip is to try to focus on tasks that have high ROI. Do things that directly affect your profit when your time is limited. But still remember to plan a long term strategy for growth. Have any questions or want to share your thoughts? Leave a comment below and I’ll be happy to answer!
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15 Printable Student Planners to Achieve Your Goals
Printable Student Planners for Download We Love the Most Today’s students have to juggle a full schedule, a laundry list of assignments, studying and their social lives. It’s not always easy to keep your schedule organized when you’re constantly on the move, but printable student planners can help. We’ve rounded up 15 of the best planners to help students stay organized and achieve their goals. 15 Printable Student Planners to Keep You Organized 1. Student Planner Printable Pack With 16 Pages It’s easy to lose track of assignments and deadlines, especially when your day is packed. These printable student planners will keep your assignments and exams organized. There’s a table to add your: Assignments Class Due date Grade for each assignment There’s another table, where you can add your: Exam Date of the test Grade And of course, you can also add some notes to help you remember important things. It’s a simple assignment tracker, but it will keep your workload organized. 2. Grade Tracker You’ll find plenty of printable student planners that focus on schedules and assignments, but what about grade tracking? It’s helpful to have an overview of your grades for each class so that you can see which classes may need more attention. With this printable, you can add your: Class description Date Grade Notes This is another simple printable design, but that’s what makes it so great. The simplicity makes it easy to stay organized and check your grades at a glance. 3. Study Planner Printable If you’re looking for printable student planners for studying, here’s a great template to use. It’s difficult to be successful with studying when you don’t have a plan or way to track your progress. With this printable, you can add: The day’s subjects that you want to study Deadlines Study progress A log of your study time schedule Hours you spent studying Goals The planner is meant for daily use so that you can study consistently throughout the week. It’s a great way to make sure that you’re ready for exams or to ensure that you’re improving your understanding of challenging topics. 4. Free Printable Student Homework Planner Template Here’s a great printable for younger children. It allows kids to keep track of their homework assignments for the week. All they have to do is add their assignments to each day of the week. There’s also a space for adding the month and week at the top to keep things organized. For students that are struggling to keep on top of their homework assignments, this planner can help them stay organized so that they don’t miss deadlines. Related: 15 Best Printable Planners To Organize Your Life 5. Student Planner Printable Pack With 16 Pages Here’s a printable that will help you keep track of your college classes for the semester. Just add your classes to the right date and time block. There’s also space for writing down your goals and notes. This printable is great to have at the start of the semester when you’re still getting used to your new schedule. You can easily see, at a glance, which classes you have to attend and when. 6. Essay Planner Printable For many students, essays are some of the most challenging or tedious assignments to complete. However, planning out your assignment and getting your ideas down on paper can make things go a bit more smoothly. With this printable planner, you can plan out your entire essay. Just add your: Title idea Date Main ideas Introduction Ideas for your three main paragraphs Conclusion The planner can serve as your rough draft and help you flesh out the assignment before creating your final draft. 7. Semester Planner Here’s a more detailed semester planner that’s especially useful if you’re attending a new school or taking classes in a new part of campus. With this planner, you can add your: Class schedule for each day of the week and the class time Details for each class, including the name, location and teacher information Start and end date of the semester The planner has a simple design that makes it easy to keep your schedule organized. You can also add some extra details to your class list if you have notes or comments you want to add. 8. Assignments Due https://www.pinterest.com/pin/5136987065269473/ Here’s a printable that you can use to track your weekly assignments. It’s a simple and organized planner that has a place to write down your most important tasks for the week, including your: Assignment Due date Class Important dates for the week Reminders list Each assignment list has a checkbox, so you can cross out each assignment as you complete it. You can fit a lot of information on this single-page planner, so you don’t have to carry around a mountain of papers with you everywhere you go. 9. Student Project Planner Template Project planning can feel like a tedious task, but this printable can simplify things. The minimalistic design helps keep things clean and organized. There’s also plenty of space to plan out the details of your project, including: The subject Due date Description of the project Action plan To-do list Materials list It’s a simple, easy way to keep your project organized, no matter the subject. Students of all ages can use this printable. 10. 40+ Free Student Planner Printables for Back-to-School! For students with reading assignments, this printable can be very helpful. It’s not uncommon to have reading assignments throughout the year and even over the summer. This planner can help keep these assignments organized. There’s space to add your: Assignment name Title and author of the book Citations Notes and associated page numbers It’s a simple way to keep track of your required readings, and it’s a printable that can be used by students of all ages and grades. 11. Free Digital College Planner Printables + Stickers Here’s another great planner for young students, especially those who are going to a new school. This printable can be used for each class to help students get familiar with the: Teacher’s name and contact information Classmates Course information There’s space to add classmates’ names, emails and phone numbers. You can fill in as much or as little information as you want, but this printable can be helpful for students to get to know their classmates and teachers. 12. Topics to Study Sheet! Even if you’re a great listener and diligent note-taker, there will still be topics or subjects that you struggle to understand. With this printable, you can keep track of those challenging subjects that need more of your attention and your progress. Just fill in: Topic areas that you find challenging Your current level of understanding (on a scale of 1-10) Whether you’ve completed your studying New level of understanding For students who struggle to keep track of their studying needs, this is a great printable to have on hand. You can easily use it for any subject and track your level of understanding after each study session. 13. Formulas For students who struggle with remembering formulas, this is a great planner to have on hand. This printable provides an organized chart that students can fill in with formulas to remember. It includes space for: The topic The formula The meaning of the formula Students can keep this printable with them to use when working on assignments or open-book tests. Writing down and studying these formulas will also help you remember them so that you don’t need this printable in the future. 14. Goal Setting Journal Insert Most students have goals they hope to achieve during the year, whether it’s academic or personal. One of the best ways to achieve the goals you set is to write them down. With this planner, you can do just that. Just fill in your: Goal Start date and deadline Motivation for your goal How to achieve it Action steps to take and dates to take them Notes You can even track the steps that were easy and challenging. The simple design of this planner is what makes it such a great option for students who are goal-oriented. Related: Free printable weekly planner for download 15. How to Prep for the Semester With Free College Printables If you’re looking for a simple weekly student planner, here’s a great printable. It includes a chart for the entire week and times so that you can keep track of your: Schedule Assignments If you’re struggling to stay on top of your class times and deadlines, this planner is a great option for you. Final Thoughts These printable student planners are easy to incorporate into your routine and can help you stay organized so that you reach your goals. Whether you need to keep track of your schedule, create a study log or complete an essay, there’s a printable for every student to improve organization.
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How to Track Your Expenses
Budgeting: How Can I Keep Track of My Spending Patterns? how-to-track-your-expenses-and-save-money Facebook Pinterest Positive financial management can never be void of keeping track of your expenses. You have to know where exactly your money is going on a daily or monthly basis. If you plan to win with money, then you have to change your habit with money. Believe it; the best budgetary plan is useless without tracking your expenses. There is no way you can tell if you have overspent for the month. Well, to cut a long story short, here is how you can keep track of your expenses. Steps to keeping track of your expenses 1. Create a budget There is no way you can track your expenses without drawing up a budget. The budget, in this case, refers to your financial plans for the month, which entails your expected income and how much you will spend on needs for that period. The good thing about a budget is that you are in control, not the budget controlling you. A budget is like a tour guide that ensures that your money is doing the necessary thing you ask it to do. To set up your budget, you will have to do the following: Clearly state and define your monthly income Put down your monthly expenses: you can start with necessaries like foods, clothing, transportation, shelter—rent or mortgage—and other utilities. After that, include other expenses like cable services, gym membership, etc. Then make sure when your income is removed from your expenses, it will equal zero. If it doesn’t end up in zero; you have to make some adjustments until you get to that. 2. Keep a record of your expenses Now you have to cultivate a habit of keeping a record of your expenses on a daily basis. We mean every day because, if you are not recording all your daily expenses, you will end up living a life of false reality where the pocket never runs dry and your bank account keeps swelling like a pregnant woman. While that is good to think, unfortunately, it isn’t real. In the real world, you cannot eat your cake and have it, so you have to keep up with the amount you spend on a daily basis. This is the key to understanding and communicating with yourself or with your spouse what is left to use in taking care of all the categories you listed in your budget. 3. Keep watch on those figures One of the needs to track your expenses is to make sure you don’t overspend. Therefore, each time you record an expense in one category of your budgetary list, keep track of the amount left in that particular category. Assuming you are married, you and your partner should ensure both of you are keeping records and watching the figures spent, communicating same with each other before incurring new expenses. By keeping watch over the figures you spend, you will become more communicative and accountable. By doing so, neither of you would say. “I didn’t know you spent the majority of the entertainment budget purchasing tickets to the super bowl. I wanted to sign us up for a trip to the UEFA Champions League Finals in Milan.” When you don’t track and watch your expenses, you will end up blowing your budget. 4. Mark your spending limits Except in an emergency, you have to stop spending once you discover you no longer have money for a particular category on your budget. This is the most important way you can stay within your budget guidelines. Along the line, you might be tempted to see your budget as insufficient, and you may need to swap money between categories. Try not to give in, instead, wait until next month budget to make the necessary adjustments so you can achieve your aim. Always remember that debt payment and saving takes precedence over vacations and entertainment. 5. Carefully plan for surplus money At times, your budget at the end of the month may turn up some money you did not use due to one or more reasons. In that case, you should carefully plan what to do with such monies. You can decide to roll it over to the next month’s budget for that category where the money was surplus. Assuming the surplus was from power bills, you could roll it over to cover the cost for next month utilities. Assuming it is from groceries, you can decide to transfer it to your savings. Final thought The only way you can be successful with money is to know how you are spending it. To know how you are using your money is to keep track of your expenses. Doing otherwise will amount to failure in your financial management life.
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10 Ways To Start An Emergency Fund When Money Is Tight
How to start an emergency fund How-to-start-an-emergency-fund Facebook Pinterest No one is certain of tomorrow, neither it’s tomorrow certain of what it has for you economically. That is why people need to prepare well for emergencies. Unfortunately, 57% of Americans lack an emergency fund. Worst still, 39% of them have no savings at all. That lack of emergency preparedness leaves people vulnerable to financial emergencies. But what if you find yourself in a money-tight situation? How do you build up an emergency fund when you don’t even have enough to go by? Well, the good thing is that there are ways by which you can set up an emergency fund even when you have little or nothing in cash. Let’s explore those possible ways, shall we? 1. Make A Plan The first step to achieve anything is to set up a goal. That goal must be clear, concise, and realistic around your total monthly net income. Know how much you spend and how much you can save. Go slow on your spending habit and avoid the temptation to dive into your emergency fund for luxury. Look into your list and see if you can cut down on some expenses to add more to your emergency fund. After that, watch your progress and see if there is room for improvement. Use your funds only to solve the necessary needs. 2. Sell Something Take some time to look around your house. You will be surprised at how many “non-essential” items you can sell to raise funds for your emergency needs. From dusty power tools to exercise equipment to kids toys and idle furniture, the list is sometimes endless. You can convert these items into cash. Only use what you have sold to offset an immediate emergency need. 3. Do Side Tasks There are plenty of quick side jobs; you can do to earn extra income. The beauty of it all is that you can do this from inside and outside your home. You can write reviews, answer several online surveys, take care of pets, and guide them while their owners are away, and more. Use the money to restock your emergency funds. 4. Take A Second/Extra Job While some of us hate the idea of committing extra hours outside our regular work hours, it is worth the sacrifice when the rainy day comes calling. One month of a second job can make an enormous difference. The money earned from your extra job can go into handling unexpected financial outcomes. 5. Cut Down On Your Budgets If you look into your budget, you will find that there are lots of different cuts you can make. While you may not immediately notice their effect, they add up significantly to your savings. Cancel unnecessary memberships or services, clip some coupons, and turn down the thermostat to a lower degree. The outcome could cause some heads to spin. Here is how to track your expenses. 6. Buy And Pay With Cash That is how our parents in the good old days were able to save one or two dimes a day. Cultivate the habit of buying and paying for everyday goods and services using cash. That will allow you to keep the change and continue saving for a rainy day. 7. Work Overtime If the job you are working has room for overtime services, use them accordingly to stack up on your fund. Monitor the time you spend doing overtime and transfer the income into a market or savings account each period you receive payment. Once you get to your goal, let go of the oversight or plan for some other financial targets. 8. Build Up A Fund With Your Tax Refund Why spend your yearly tax refund on unnecessary shopping? Instead of withholding much from your paycheck and giving the government an interest-free loan yearly, put the money into judicious use, far away in an interest-bearing account and use it for emergency purpose. 9. Save The Bonus/Raise If ever you are fortunate to have a pay raise or a massive bonus for an excellent job correctly done or to mitigate the cost of living, add the extra money to your immediate emergency funds. 10. Tell It Out Tell your friends and family members that you are set on a course of achieving an important financial goal. While you don’t need to disclose your financial secrets, it is still important to tell them so you can skip a few holidays, lunches and even brewing your coffee to ease on your budget and save more funds. Final thought Remember that it isn’t always going to be easy building your emergency fund from a tight money perspective. But you can do it with the above tips. And also don’t forget to use your funds only when there are an emergency needs.
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How To Plan Easy Steps To Get Out Of Debt
How to Get Out of Debt Faster – Guidelines Debts are meant to be paid, and when the time comes for them to be paid, life can turn out to be one hell of a pain in the butt. It doesn’t matter what led to the mountain of debt clenching their vengeful fist against thee. The thing is that debt, and the thought of it alone is an unpleasant and stressful experience to the body, soul, and spirit. Even the most hardened minds do worry about the debts they owe. But don’t give up yet! People everywhere are getting out of debts every day—you also can do the same! Whatever, here are the best-laid plans with easy steps to get out of debt. Let’s get out of the debt train! The 5 Grand Commandments and Guiding Principles To Get Out Of Debt 1.Set up a debt repayment plan No football team goes to the field without a playing formation to win. So once you decide it’s time to rise out of the debt sepulcher, one of the first and most important steps you need to take to achieve your debt-free goal is to develop a debt repayment plan. A debt repayment plan will keep you on the task and assist you in abandoning the debt ship quicker since you’ll be able to picture real progress. It doesn’t stop there. With a debt repayment plan, you will be able to know how, when and where to get extra cash to offset your debt balance. In fact, your ability to live debt-free rest entirely on your debt repayment plans. So pay attention to it. Setting up a debt repayment plan also means you have to be goal-oriented. 2. Make a list of all your debts Precisely, you have to know what you’re facing! After setting up your debt repayment plan, the next thing you must do is to write and list down all the outstanding debts you owe. The list should include how much you owe, the minimum amount of payment allowed, and the interest rate involved. Make sure the list also include debts from personal loans to student loans and debts from credit cards. You can even include your mortgage, as well as money, owe to family members and friends. 3. Prioritize your debts in a ranking order There are elders, then young adults and teens in your family tree, so too are your debts. They come in the order of “great,” “greater,” and “greatest.” After listing out your debts, you have to rank and categorize them in the order you want to offset them. We recommend that instead of starting from the ‘eldest debt’ (the most significant amount owed), start from the smallest amount. The reason is that, if you start from the largest debt, you may get discouraged on the way as the massive size of the amount may affect your psychological willingness to work harder and pay it off. But when you start from the smallest, it will encourage you to keep up with the momentum. Nonetheless, you can also decide to rank your debt payment in the order of the highest interest to the lowest interest rate, which is capable of saving you more cash. Whatever ranking method you use, just remember that you have to maintain the consistency to pay it off. 4. Pay attention to one debt at a time This is where your goal-oriented repayment plan will be put to the test. The only way you can record consistent success in paying off your debt is to focus on the first debt on our list of priority. Channel whatsoever extra money you make into paying this first debt on your repayment list while satisfying the minimum payment on other debts. The good thing about focusing on one particular debt at a time will enable you to offset that deft faster than you think since most of the cash flow will be going directly to the principal balance while spending less in paying interest. If you decide to pay more than one debt at a time, you will end up paying more interest and record very little success on your overall debt payment. In fact, you might even end up owing more debt. Don’t forget that anytime you successfully pay off debt; you automatically free up extra money for the next debt. So, move swiftly over to the next debt and kick the living daylight out of it. Continue the momentum, and before you can say “Jack,” you’re out of debt, pronto! 5. Sell off whatsoever is unnecessary Too much of everything is bad! Heck, what are you doing with two or more TVs in your home when one is enough for you? Why run two vehicles when one is more than capable of taking you around town? You will be surprised to know that one of the major reasons why your debt ceiling is crying high up to the heavens is because of your indulgence in the sin of too many acquisitions. Trade-in one of your TVs, cars, furniture, or other valuable items and you will be amazed at the important balance you are left with. Use that to pay off your debt. Stop buying too much when paying off your debt. Otherwise, you will just be running round in circles. Over to you So now you have a practical guide that can take you out of debt easily, but with patience and determination. Use these fundamental commandments, and you will never regret it. On this note, we draw the curtain on how to plan easy steps to get out of debt.
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10 Characteristics of Debt-Free People
10 Characteristics of Debt-Free Living 10-characteristics-of-debt-free-living Facebook Pinterest Getting free from debt takes dedication and unwavering commitment. It is a habit that you must learn to imbibe and put into practical use. While this task may seem daunting from the word go, some people have been through this phase before, and have successfully become debt-free. You can draw inspiration from these people by looking at the kind of life they are living financially and materially. Study and copy their characters and learn to live within them. Here are 10 characters of debt-free people you can adapt to become debt-free yourself. 1. They Are Very Attentive Debt-free people pay strict and consistent attention to their personal finance. They keep a close eye on their material and financial needs. They don’t waste money by not remembering overdraft fees or payment due dates. You can start from this point to develop your attention. Check on your credit card statements each month. Weigh your needs and study your abilities. Then start thinking of a budget. 2. They Have A Budget A budget is the only way you can remain consistent in being attentive. Having one doesn’t mean you must have a restrictive lifestyle or that you are broke. Rather, a budget is what debt-free people use to plan for their finances, control their spending, and achieve their goals. 3. They Operate An Emergency Fund Debt-free people have reliable emergency funds that help them to take care of emergencies whenever they arise. Assuming your roof cave-in or you lose your job tomorrow; an emergency fund will help you scale through till you find solace gain, instead of borrowing money and becoming a debtor. Start building an emergency fund by throwing in any extra cash, and start monitoring your spending. Here are 10 ways to start an emergency fund when money is tight. 4. They Go With People That Have A Similar Initiative The people around you and your environment shape your personality, and debt-free people know this. The quickest way to achieve your goals is to spend your time with people of like-minded passion who have been through the same issues in the past. If you plan to stay out of debt or save money, then you must avoid friends or relatives that want you to go out for expensive vacations or lunch every day. Stick with people that share the same mindset as you. 5. They Always Commit To Saving Money One of the hallmarks of debt-free people is that they always remember they have a savings account. So, the moment they receive any money as income, they deposit a percentage of it into their savings account. Do the same. Try to keep and save a percentage of your income, at least 10%. Use the remaining balance to augment your budgetary needs. 6. They Live Lesser Than They Make Debt-free people understand that the best way they can secure their financial future is to live below their means. If you can become aware of the income you make now and then, and you commit to living within your means, you will get out of debt sooner than later. You will also get to save more cash and get to your financial goals. 7. They Have Very Little Or No Time For Stuff Debt-free people rarely put most of their attention on materialism. They understand that material things have no sentimental value, and they can never replace more meaningful engagement, relationships, family, and friends. 8. They live patiently Patience is a great virtue of success, and debt-free people know it. If you must achieve anything in life, including your financial goals, you must be patient and focus mostly on your long-term goals. Debt-free people understand that whatever action and inaction they take today can affect their tomorrow. Never try to be like the Joneses when you don’t have the means yet, or you have more crucial needs to meet. Doing otherwise will only drive you deeper into debt. Wait for your time and save up for whatever you wish to purchase. There is always time for everything. 9. They Do Thorough Research People who are living debt-free understand that information is power and getting the current info put them a step ahead in their pursuit to achieve their goals. They usually do their research before embarking on buying anything. You can find the best deals on many products and services and save up more cash for your savings. Without research, you won’t be able to achieve such. 10. They Are Disciplined Debt-free people knew that the greatest enemy to a debt-free life is oneself. They are continuously tempted by many opportunities to live large beyond their means, dining with friends or lunching with co-workers, and such other small expenses that can quickly mount up. They know the danger and have disciplined themselves to say no when they need to, no matter the allure of the moment. If you must succeed in saving money or paying off your debt, you must be disciplined. Conclusion There is no better way to learn something than to cultivate the new and positive habits of people who have been through that same road. The best-laid plans to live a debt-free life start with you. So lay them out and start your journey to a debt-free life.
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How To Graduate College Debt Free Without Having Rich Parents
Get out of debt stories How-To-Graduate-College-Debt-Free Facebook Pinterest Debts from student loans are some of the most uncomfortable things in life. For college graduates who are within the 20 to 30 years age bracket, the situation is even more frightening. If you are in this group, you may find yourself drowning in the sea of debt. Paying off your student debt is never an easy task; no thanks to the bleak financial profile of many millennials. So many of us don’t have a job and are living at home with debts. As at March 2018, outstanding student loan amounts to $1.14 trillion, with close to 17 million students in the 30 years age bracket holding a total amount of $383.8 billion in student loan. It becomes worse when you don’t have rich parents that can conveniently bail you out. In spite of this entire negative outlook, some young men and women have overcome the burden of student loan debts and are living debt-free today. They did it while in school (some out of school) and without having rich parents. Here is how they did it. Maintaining A Lower Cost Of Living Katelin Anderbery, a 29 years old attorney said she was able to stay debt-free by keeping her cost of living down to a feasible level during her time in law school. She did it by working two part-time jobs. She started paying off her loans immediately the extra income was coming in, and never waited for the 6 months grace period to elapse before she started to pay. Katelin’s goal was to pay off her loans (which have an interest rate of 6.8 and 7.9) before 5 years. Did she succeed? Yes, she did because much of her money wasn’t going into an extravagant lifestyle, but to her savings (saving about 40% of her income). Katelin paid off her $87,000 student debt and became a loan debt-free student. Making Advance Payment Via Interest Rate Margin Danielle Desir, a 27-year-old grant specialist, is another excellent example of a student who never graduated from school with debt lurking in her financial shadows. While in school, Desir uses the strategy of always paying ahead of schedule. She took this step after calculating her interest rate, which happens to be $10 a day. By making regular and consistent payments, she was able to pay off her student loan debt within four years while in school. Desir signed up for an auto-pay option, which removes 0.25% of her interest, making it easier to pay off the debt. You can start making an advance payment today by adding an extra $50-$100 on your due payment each month. Tame Your Lifestyle And Commit Extra Funds To Debt Payment One of the ways you can become a loan debt free student while in school or out of school is to channel whatever extra cash in a bonus or refund to your debt payment plan. Instead of moving out of your parent’s house, stay put, and substitute your rent for extra cash payment towards your debt. Even if you want to move to your apartment, go cheaper, and avoid the high-cost neighborhoods. That would allow you to save on rent and divert more money to your debt. Use Your Grace Period To Your Advantage If your parents were super rich, you wouldn’t be looking for some window of opportunity to living a debt-free student life. But here is the catch: your creditor (the loan lender) usually gives you a period of grace after you stop attending or graduate from college. During this grace period, you will not be making any payment on your loan. You know what? Say no to the grace period (which could be up to six months, depending on the type of loan). Draw up a budget and include your grace period. Then start making payments on your grace period, as you would typically do for your due dates. For example, if your student loan charge would be $200 after your grace period expires at the end of six months, start paying that amount now. By the time the grace period is over, you would have put the sum of $1200 ahead of your debt. Also, it would create in you the habit of always setting aside such money for your dent every month. You can do this without your parents. Conclusion Debt is not a happy experience in any one’s life, and the situation is direr when your parents lack the finance to support you. But, with the above tips, you can become a loan debt free student and enjoy the rest of your life with no debts haunting your financial shadows.
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