Ever heard the phrase, “Money saved is money earned”? Well, it’s true; and if you want to save money, you are not alone.
Whether you are an entrepreneur, an intrapreneur, a homemaker, or a student, saving money is always attractive. However, keeping track of your expenses can be difficult in today’s fast-paced life. There is so much to take care of on the professional and personal front, and at times, finance can quickly get out of hand.
If you are keen on getting things fixed and saving money, here are 5 apps you must have.
1. Ibotta
Buying groceries and other household purchases is an expense that no one can avoid. However, with this app, you can get cash back for many of your purchases, both in-store and online. Ibotta has partnered with around 2,000 retailers and covers groceries, entertainment, eating out, pet supplies, clothing, and more.
You can earn cash in three ways:
For Online Purchases:
Shop through the app or with the Ibotta browser extension.
For Retail Shopping:
After you have shopped at your retail store, add offers and submit your receipt.
Through the Ibotta app, purchase a retailer gift card or link your retailer loyalty accounts to the app.
Also, every time you complete a task (like watching a video, taking a poll, or sharing on Facebook), cash is added to your account, which you can access when you make a purchase.
When you make a verified purchase, the money will be directly transferred to your bank account, sent to your PayPal account, or turned into gift cards.
2. You Need A Budget
You Need A Budget (YNAB) is an app designed specifically to help you gain control over your money. The app gathers all the information from different portals into one central view. So, all data from your bank accounts, loan balances, and credit cards are in one place, so you can start budgeting without getting overwhelmed.
Also, budgeting is not restrictive. It is custom-made according to your preferences, so you can design your budget without feeling guilty. The app also helps you align your money with your goals. So, whether you want a car or a house, simply set the target and watch the balance fill up.
You can start with the app’s free trial and budget using their proven method (a 4-step method—give every dollar a job). If you find the app useful, you can continue using it.
3. Acorns
Acorns is an investment app that helps you save money and invest spare change. It rounds up purchases made on the debit and credit cards linked to the app. It transfers the difference to the Acorns account for saving and investment. This way, your money can work toward your financial goals.
The app offers diversified portfolios, so you can decide whether you want to invest in a conservative or aggressive fund, round-ups, recurring investments, and more. The app started as a micro-investing platform, but with its high growth and significant expansion, it now offers five products.
Also, the app is ideal for people who want to learn about financing, budgeting, and more. It runs a literacy program that helps its users learn about the various aspects of money management.
4. Mint
With 30 million users, Mint is the most downloaded personal finance app. The app links all your accounts so you can keep track of all your financial activity. It also tracks your expenses, recognizes your spending patterns, and curates a budget for you.
This helps you fulfill all your obligations and save for emergencies, retirements, and more. With reminders for upcoming bills and due dates, the app also enables you to stay on top of your bills, so you don’t have to spend extra on penalties and late fees.
5. Chime
Chime is a mobile banking app that offers a spending account and a Visa debit card. With these, you can safely deposit funds, learn about your transactions, and track where you are spending the most.
It also has another feature—an optional high-yield savings account. It controls the savings at two points—save when you get paid and save when you spend.
In the case of “save when you get paid”, the app automatically sets aside a part (10%) of the credited amount in Chime. It transfers this to your Chime’s savings account, which offers 1.50% APY.
With “save when you spend,” Chime rounds up the purchases you made with the Chime Credit card, and it transfers the difference to your savings account.
Apart from the above features, Chime has a host of other features that make banking very convenient.
Conclusion
Saving money is a difficult task—one that people don’t master easily. However, with the help of financing, budgeting, and cashback apps, you can get closer to your goal.
We hope the top 5 must-have smartphone apps we have listed will help you save a ton of money.
Apart from tuition, one of the major expenses college students face is their textbooks as well as course materials. In 2021, full-time, undergraduate students spent approximately $1240 on textbooks on average.
While this is an unavoidable expense, there are still ways to get your money back once you’re done using these textbooks. After the end of the semester, the piles of books in your cupboard are of no use to you plus it only occupies space. There is always a demand for used college textbooks and this can be a golden opportunity for anyone looking to sell their used copies.
Here’s what you need to know about selling your old college textbooks so you can make some extra money.
Maintaining the Condition of Your Old College Textbooks
Whether you had pre-planned or have just decided to sell your books, the condition of your books will play a major role in determining how much you’re able to sell them for. A buyer or a bookseller may refuse to entertain textbooks with doodlings or drawings.
Loose-bound books or books with missing pages and water and food stains will also not be accepted by most buyers. If your textbooks include supplementary materials like a CD, make sure you have those intact.
While the easiest way to avoid this is by using the books with care or trying to restore the books as much as possible. And since you may decide to sell your next batch of textbooks as well, make sure to keep them in good condition.
When To Sell Your Books
Typically, there is a higher demand for textbooks at the start of the semester, whereas there will be little to no demand at the end of the semester.
Generally, there is a major drop in the book value during summer and the demand shoots up once school reopens. So, aim to sell the old textbooks before school begins.
Keep in mind that the book value decreases over the years and can reduce significantly if new editions are released by the publishers.
Best Ways to Sell Your College Textbooks
Once you have ensured that your books are in good condition and have decided when you will be putting them up for sale, you have multiple options for selling your books.
1. Sell Directly To Students
The easiest way to sell your old college textbooks is to sell them in person to students. When you decide to sell them directly to a new student, your potential customers are mostly your juniors. You can advertise your textbooks through word of mouth or by putting up a notice in your dorm or on social media accounts like Facebook.
As for pricing your books, you can find out the average price at which your nearby stores are selling used copies and lower your price by a few dollars. This will ensure that you get more money as you will be cutting out the middleman and selling directly to your customers. You will also be charging less than bookstores.
2. Selling To A Bookstore
Many bookstores tend to buy back used college textbooks. In this case, however, there is a middleman involved so you will get a lower price for your books.
It is a very convenient way to sell your books that will also get you hard cash in hand. However, selling your books at a bookstore most often gets you the lowest price compared to any other method.
3. Selling Online
A lot of students prefer buying second-hand textbooks online, so this is an effective way for you to sell your books. Here are some of the most popular sites where you can sell your old college textbooks:
Selling your books online is typically a fairly simple process.
You will have to look up your textbook’s ISBN (International Standard Book Number). Once you have that, enter the ISBN on the site and you will receive a quote for the books. You can then decide whether or not you want to sell the books to that site.
If you decide to sell your books, you receive a prepaid shipping label that you can get printed and ship your book to them. Some sites may require you to pay the shipping fee.
Make sure you provide correct information about the condition of your book. If your books do not match the description you have given, there is a very high likelihood that the books will be returned to you.
Selling online will get you the best price for your book as you can compare quotes from different sites and select a site that’s giving you the best deal. However, it is also the option that requires the most effort on your part.
Conclusion
College textbooks have a decent resale value. And though there are a number of ways to sell your old college textbooks, ideally, the best option is the one that gets you the highest price for your books with the least hassle.
Make sure you maintain the condition of your books and sell them at the right time to increase your likelihood of turning a profit.
For half of us, working from home is ideal. Whether this is because you’re an unsociable person or because working in retail just isn’t worth the risk of COVID, self-sufficiency is important. The reality of getting a job during a pandemic and economic instability isn’t great, but the outlook on working from home is actually looking up.
Here are the 10 best jobs you can do from home this summer:
1.Tutoring
With schools being closed, many parents will be looking to home-school their children. To keep them brushed up on their Maths, Economics or whatever it may be, paying a tutor for online classes is their go-to option right now. Or, if you’re looking to teach English, parents in China pay a very handsome sum – but beware, the hours are odd.
2.Content Writer
There’s always content to be written, no matter the political or sociological climate. The beauty of content writing is that it can be for any student, no matter what they’re studying. Your best bet is to try and get started on Upwork, and then contact businesses and outlets directly after having built up a portfolio.
3.Customer Service
Given that most businesses have turned to working from home, even more customer interaction is done online at the moment. This is why there are so many opportunities to work in online customer service, such as answering customers on the Live Chat, or on emails or even social media. Pay usually isn’t very high, but then the work isn’t very hard…
4.Video Editor
If you have great video editing skills or animation experience, then freelance work is a great option. This market is only growing, particularly because social media (Youtube in particular) is being watched even more due to lockdown. There are lots of medium-sized channels out there looking for extra editing support, and pay a fair amount.
5.Programming and IT
Programming is an extremely general term, but it’s included because the opportunities are also a wide net. Money will be made from whatever you’re good at. Backend developers and database engineers will get better money and have less competition than front end, but you’re best off checking for yourself. Type the language or software that you’re an expert in to Fiverr or Upwork and see what kind, how many, and what pay the job posts that arise are.
6.Virtual Assistant
There are a lot of virtual Assistant jobs online, and all you need for them is some general, basic IT skills as well as good soft skills. You’ll often get at least the US minimum wage for sending emails, data entry and other basic admin tasks.
7.Translation work
If you’re fluent in two or more languages, then you’re almost guaranteed to be able to find some translation work. The pay can vary, but this is a good way to keep on top of your writing or speaking skills in both languages. Plus, if you’re fast at reading and typing, you can earn good money. If you’re not bilingual, you can still make money transcribing English audio. You have to be a fast and accurate touch typist, but you can easily make $20 per hour.
8.Start a website and create a brand
If you’re able to do almost any of the above, or perhaps you’re just looking to start a blog, then creating a website and branding it is a fantastic use of time. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to sell writing services, photographs, programming, tutoring… Building up a following on social media and developing a website will be an exercise in SEO, branding, and many other skills that will look great on your CV — and maybe you can start monetizing it within a few months.
9.Drop Serving
If you’re entrepreneurially inclined, there’s certainly some opportunities in dropshipping. It’s like Drop Shipping, only not with physical products. So, when you receive payment on your website for services, such as web building or graphic design, you outsource the work to someone else — so you’re just the middleman. It takes some time setting up, but it can scale much larger than the other options.
10. Rent out what you’re not using
Okay, so this is only one that isn’t a “job” per se, but it’s a good money-making opportunity. There’s plenty of things that Coronavirus has put an abrupt end to, and these are the things you could be renting out. For example, public transports have been mostly put on hold, and you’re likely not using your car much right now — so why not rent it out? Likewise, you can also rent out your parking space too.
At the end of the day, it will heavily depend on what skills you have and what you’re studying for. The best paid jobs will be skill-specific, so you’re best off leveraging what you’re studying for and try to work freelance (i.e. web developer, bookkeeper, graphic designer, and so on).
Do you have an unexpected bill you need to pay, and fast? Take a dig throughout your attic – heirlooms and collectibles you’ve been hanging on to for decades could be worth more than you think.
If you get lucky, some may make you a small fortune? Which items should you keep your eyes peeled for? Below, we’ll list 30 collectibles that you can convert into cash, be it online or down at the pawn shop.
(1) Sports cards
Do you have binders filled with baseball cards rammed away in the corner of your attic? Check them – they could be traded for thousands of dollars.
The average card in ‘excellent condition’ from the 1970s trades for about $10-$20. Multiply that by hundreds of cards, and you could have a tidy sum on your hands. And if your Dad gifted you cards from his era? You could strike it big!
(2) Pokemon cards and Magic The Gathering
Sports cards aren’t the only collectible cards worth mad money. Some Pokemon cards are in short supply – Machamps from the 1st edition run in 1999 are worth 1,000 USD. Have you got a 1st edition Shadowless Charizard? 3,000 USD is the market rate. Magic: The Gathering has even a bigger market, especially for graded mint MTG cards.
And if you somehow have one of the five Pikachu Illustrators in existence, accept no less than 100,000 USD for it.
(3) Books
If you inherited a bunch of dusty, old books from your parent’s estate, take a closer look at them. Limited first printings of certain books can be worth radically more than later printings. For instance, Casino Royale, the first James Bond novel by Ian Fleming, had a first edition of 4,700 copies.
If its dust jacket is in good shape, you can flip it for 40,000 USD. If it’s in mint shape, you have a 130,000 USD novel on your hands.
(4) Coins
A popular collectible, it can be hard to make money even on older coins. For example, you’ll be lucky to get 10 USD for a circulated dime from 1916.
However, runs of coins with mistakes can be worth dramatically more, thanks to their rarity. Double dies, broadstrikes, and coins struck with the wrong design can be worth hundreds, even thousands of dollars.
(5) Video games
We don’t mean to make Gen Xers feel old, but – the games you played as kids could now be worth serious cash. If you have a copy of Sonic the Hedgehog that’s in good condition, that’s 400 USD right there.
Remember working up a sweat playing Stadium Events? If so, you might want to check the floor pad it came with. If it is called the ‘Bandi Family Fun Fitness’ pad rather than the Power Pad, you have a 1,000 USD game on your hands.
(6) Vinyl records
Vinyl is enjoying a resurgence lately. As such, the value of rare, collectible records is on the rise. For example, the 1st pressing of Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be The Day” is worth 1,000 USD in good condition.
Did you get a hold of Nirvana’s first album, Bleach, back in the day? If it’s the red and white marbled and in mint condition, it will fetch you 3,200 USD.
(7) Musical instruments
Did your Dad pass down his old Fender Strat to you when you were a teenager? If it’s in good condition, it could be worth a considerable sum. 1970 Strats can be worth over 6,000 USD, but if it’s from 1954 and in great shape, you could get over 20,000 USD for it.
(8) Musical memorabilia
Did you come into possession of a Kurt Cobain-penned setlist, signed by him and the band? This piece of memorabilia and others like it could be worth big bucks. A bidding war over a Nirvana setlist at Bonham’s Auction House in Glasgow produced a €7,000 payday for the establishment.
(9) Comics
Those animated adventures you immersed yourself into as a child could now make your money problems go away. The earlier in the series a comic is, the better. If you’re lucky enough to have a #1 for a popular series, have a seat – it could be worth anywhere from 84,000 USD to 440,000 USD.
(10) Action figures
Got your comic book/movie heroes in action figure form? If you never took them out of the box, you could be in for a big payday. A 1978 Luke Skywalker could be worth more than 25,000 USD in its original box.
(11) Vintage branded signs
Did you pick up some old-looking Coca-Cola signs for your basement at a flea market recently? Look closer – if it’s a porcelain enamel sign – it could be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars, dependant on condition.
(12) China (flatware)
You inherited fine china from your wife’s parents estate, but you’ve never used it. Depending on its age and style, though, it could fetch you a tidy sum. If it hails from England, the odds of having valuable plates increases considerably.
(13) Perfume bottles
After poking around the attic, you came across a collection of shapely, colorful bottles. These are likely perfume bottles – take them to an appraiser. If they came from Europe, circa 19th century, you could have some valuable antiques in your possession.
(14) VHS movies
No, this entry isn’t a joke – some VHS movies actually have collector value. For instance, an excellent condition ‘Land Before Time’ VHS tape can fetch 150 USD on eBay.
Additionally, check any old Disney movies you have for a ‘Black Diamond.’ These icons signify limited-edition Disney tapes that can sell for more than 10,000 USD on eBay.
(15) Typewriters
Remember life before Microsoft Word? It wasn’t that long ago that we banged out school reports on typewriters. In the last generation, machines in good condition have gotten rare, fast. These days, you could get a hundred bucks for a 50-year-old unit in average condition.
If your parents moved to America from overseas, however, their European units could fetch you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
(16) Christmas ornaments
If you’re like us, your attic is probably overflowing with Christmas ornaments. Next season, take a look at them with a more critical eye. If you received some hand-me-down pieces from your parents, they could be worth 5 USD to 250 USD – each.
(17) Art
This entry is one of the more stereotypical items on this list. However, due to the sheer volume of art floating around, don’t expect to score a huge sum per piece. That said, if it’s an original, its value will increase significantly in the eyes of an appraiser.
(18) Dolls
As a child, you loved dolls — a lot. So, your parents bought you some collectibles to decorate your room. Now’s the time to examine them closely to see if they have collector value. If the maker crafted them before they were ‘mass produced’ in the 1980s, they likely have some value. Depending on condition and rarity, you could get between 5 USD to 2,000 USD+ per piece.
(19) Old Apple computers
The power of our smartphones outdoes that of 1980s computers by several thousand times. However, the nostalgia of having an operating old-school Macintosh has led collectors to pay thousands of dollars for them. If you got an old unit gathering dust in your basement, turn that baby into cold, hard, cash.
(20) Stamps
Another standby of collectors, generations of families has passed down stamp collections. If you found one in your attic, each stamp contained therein could be worth a buck each. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it adds up. Truly rare pieces can be worth dozens or hundreds of dollars.
(21) Movie props
Got a wacky item in storage? There’s a chance someone in your family worked as an extra on a film shoot and was gifted a movie prop. If it has identifying marks that can trace it back to a production, it could be worth anywhere from hundreds to millions of dollars.
(22) Board games
Often, game nights were the best nights spent together as a family. If you still have a generations-old edition of Monopoly kicking around, it could be worth between 300 to 900 USD.
(23) Assorted sports memorabilia
From game-worn jerseys to historic balls/pucks, sports memorabilia has more than sentimental value. If it came with a certificate of authenticity, it could sell for well into the thousands of dollars.
(24) Watches
Watches are another item commonly passed down between generations. If it is a name-brand watch that has a pedigree going back decades or centuries, chances are you’ll get at least four figures.
If it is in marvelous condition, a five-figure payday isn’t out of the question. Just don’t tell the in-laws you sold it.
(25) Movie posters
You grew up in a family of movie buffs. Finding a collection of finely-preserved movie posters only brought fond memories flooding back. If some of these are in demand, though, your bank account could get flooded with green.
Case in point: The Dark Knight advance poster sold for 20 USD new, but now goes for 300 USD, thanks to Heath Ledger’s untimely demise before its release.
(26) Lego sets
They do more than hurt your feet early in the morning – if you have certain unopened Lego sets, they can fetch a handsome price. For instance, the Star Wars Y-Wing Attack Starfighter edition now sells for 1,150 USD online.
(27) Military memorabilia
Some families would never dream of parting with military medals passed down by older generations. You can’t sell these – a law passed in 2005 prohibits it. However, other military/wartime items, like propaganda posters, helmets, and swords, all have real value.
Prices range from a couple hundred to tens of thousands of dollars. Before throwing them online, take them to an appraiser, so you don’t get hosed.
(28) Furniture
In some families, pieces of antique furniture have passed from one household to another for generations. Here, you’ll need to do some research: note patterns and other design elements; take pictures; compare them against known styles of furniture your parents/grandparents/great-grandparents would have bought.
By doing this, you’ll give your appraiser all the info needed to make their job easier. Depending on their condition, it could be worthless – or many thousands of dollars.
(29) Vintage fashion
Still have the vintage Chanel dress your Mom gave you on your wedding day? If the tag is intact and the piece itself is in good condition, it could get you a great price. Some sites list sale prices well over 2,000 USD, but see an expert before getting too excited.
(30) Maps
Ever since we started exploring the Seven Seas, we’ve been making maps. You’re unlikely to find maps from the era of Captain Cook in your attic. However, if you have one in excellent shape that dates from the early 20th century or before, you could easily get a few hundred dollars for it.
It has become more popular than ever before to have a “side hustle” while in college to cover day-to-day expenses or future investments. The reason for this is many students are trying to avoid piling up on student loans or are trying to fund their own start up entrepreneurial adventures. It is wise to carefully consider how to make additional money while in college. One such option to make additional income is to sell items on eBay. That said, it is quite complicated for many sellers to get started with selling on eBay due to so many established sellers and complicated setup procedures. In order to learn more about how to make extra money on e-Bay while you are in college, consider the information below:
How Can a Student
Make Money Using eBay?
It is very important for students to have a clear strategy
when they are trying to make money on eBay. Doing your homework will absolutely
pay off when it comes to making money on eBay. The first idea is to see what
older items you have that you would like to sell. Then, it is wise to take a
look at what those items are selling for and how sellers in eBay are currently
listing them. When setting up your auction, it is important to have it end when
your buyers are online, which means having it end on weekends and not during
the middle of the night. When considering your first price, it is best to list
it at $0.99 and then to have a reserve price. This will get your item more
views and if it does not sell for what you want, you still can list it again. Take
very clear pictures of what you are trying to sell so your buyers will gain
your trust. On your first few sales, make sure you ship quickly and that your
item is exactly as it is described. This will help you to build your feedback
score to remain competitive amongst buyers.
Top Student eBay
Success Stories
People are quickly realizing that it is quite easy to sell
items on eBay for a profit. One such example
is former student Nicolaus Wolfrum who decided to sell used and remanufactured
inventory from his father’s automotive machine shop in addition to new
inventory that the machine’s shop providers would provide. Due to the success
of Wolfrum’s eBay store, he was able to focus on his studies and have a way to
afford his expenses in college while making a decent profit on the side. As a
result of Wolfrum’s incredible success, he was selected as a finalist in the
Young Entrepreneur category at the eBay SHINE Awards for Small Businesses.
Wolfrum is a great example of someone who found an unexpected revenue niche
while in college and may have even found his career as a result of starting a
business on eBay while in college.
How Much Time &
Money Should You Invest on eBay?
What is important to understand about selling on eBay is
that it does cost money to list items. It also costs money to have perks on
your listing. What you have to weigh is whether the projected selling price of
the item is worth the listing fees and PayPal fees required to complete the
sales transaction. Generally, you should budget
20-30% of the selling price to eBay in fees. In terms of timing, using eBay’s
App is faster to list items. Investing time and money on eBay sales absolutely
is worthwhile while you are in college. Consider giving eBay 15-20% of your
time to generate a nice little side revenue stream while in college.
Concluding Remarks on
the Subject
Selling on eBay provides many opportunities for college students to earn extra capital while in school. If students sell their old items or use extra income they have to invest in stock to sell on eBay, they may be able to build a sizeable business on eBay that goes beyond covering expenses while in university. The key that each college student has to consider is which kind of items they are able to sell that they have either a passion for or an expertise in. In Nicolaus Wolfrum’s case, his passion for car parts ended up creating an incredible business for him that covered his college expenses and later, launched into a possible career path.
Today, the potential for entrepreneurs to get started while in college is phenomenal. By considering which platforms are possible to make additional capital on, individuals have the potential to start their own business through successful sales without having to take out traditional business loans. While in college, it is absolutely worthwhile to consider how to use eBay to increase a student’s quality of life or overall profit.
Finding a job that works around a crazy college schedule can be difficult. But many students need the extra income to help cover tuition, books and other living expenses while in school. Many have taken to the idea of work that has flexible hours and the ability to work at home or on the go. Several different options are out there for the taking for just about any college student or individual willing to do some work to make some money. Some people have opted to use their cars as a means for making money through Uber or Lyft. Another option is to blog or create a YouTube channel. These two options are similar in their means that they can be done anywhere and at anytime. YouTube provides an easier platform for gaining an audience, since people will use YouTube like Google as a search engine for videos.
Finding a Niche for Youtube
You have decided to create a YouTube channel to help cover costs of school, but you need to find an idea that you are capable of doing with little to no research. Something you can record and do on the fly… There are tons of ideas out there already! Just because the idea is taken absolutely does not mean you can not copy it and create your own audience. With personality and a good idea people will watch your channel. Where there is an audience, money can be made! If someone else has already done it, it can make it easier for people to find your channel while they are searching for the other popular channels.
Popular ideas for starting your own channel include:
Live streaming of video games: Gamers will watch other games, just like people watch football on Sundays. It may seem strange but it’s true.
Bloopers: Video yourself trying new and strange things or products some may be successful ventures, but the ones that will get you the most views are the ones with unfortunate mishaps.
Cooking: Young people no longer have access to home ec. classes and people now use YouTube videos to learn how to cook. This gives you three different options a day seven days a week as chances to build your portfolio on your channel by recording what you were going to do anyway: cook and eat!
Your audience is worldwide, and the ideas are endless! The ability to work from home or anywhere is great! However, as any successful entrepreneur will tell you, the work can take over. While you can work anywhere anytime, it doesn’t mean you should or have to. Many entrepreneurs find themselves working 80 hour a week for themselves instead of setting limits. While you CAN work anywhere and anytime it isn’t always the best way to get ahead. Working for yourself can also be lonely, while many people are watching you, you actually aren’t getting real social interaction that you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Be sure to get out of the house, your basement, your office or where ever you record and enjoy life outside too!
Once your channel starts getting views and then you can eventually start earning an income. You can do it through advertising, subscriptions, selling your own merchandise et al. Your channel can be a great source passive income on past work, but you want to keep moving forward because the fad of your channel may lose its luster and the income could eventually dwindle away. It is rare that people become multi-millionaires through their channels, but don’t let that deter you from trying to get a piece of the YouTube pie!
Some notable success stories that you may not have heard of with success with YouTube and beyond are:
Blippi: This guy started making videos for toddlers back in 2014. He shows them places to play and how to play. Stevin John is Blippi and discovered that his nephew was watching low budget and low quality shows on YouTube and wanted to create something fun for him to watch. His desire to provide entertainment for his nephew grew to 2.8 million subscribers and has been viewed over 2.34 billion times!
His background in online marketing and digital creation has definitely paid off! Now instead of a one man show, he has a team of people behind Blippi helping him make his videos. He has not lost that touch even after great success for engaging children in watching him on his channel. He is like the modern day Mr. Rodgers for kids who grew up in the 70’s and 80’s. He talks to you as if you are with him and takes you on his adventures. As a well loved child character he is regularly requested as a character to meet with Make-A-Wish Foundation. All of this in only 4 years!
Ryan Toys Review: Ryan is a young child and his parents record him opening and playing with new toys. Thus, giving the public an honest review of toys from a child’s perspective. Ryan Toys Review started back in 2015, Ryan asked his mother why he wasn’t on YouTube when there are so many other kids that are on YouTube. She soon decided to leave her full time job as a chemistry teacher to work on building Ryan Toy Review. Clearly a good financial decision as of December 2018 the channel has seventeen million subscribers and the channel videos have been viewed over twenty-six billion times.
The channel is ranked as highest paid YouTube channel for 2018! They only just started this 3 years ago. YouTube was a lifestyle changer for their entire family. They have now brought in his twin sisters to help review toys and doing regular child friendly videos.
Philip DeFranco: This guy records himself talking about what he has read in the news and his personal reactions to it. With a totally different audience than the two previously mentioned YouTubers, DeFranco started his channel back in 2006. His subscribers are much older than the other two YouTubers, but this could also be because adults are much more likely to remember video channels without having to ‘subscribe’ to them. He has 6.32 million subscribers and has been viewed 2.51 billion times.
He has been nominated for numerous awards and even won some as well, like Sexiest Geek in 2008 by Wired and a regular nominee and winner for the Streamy Awards from 2010-2018. He won in categories Best News Series, Best News and Culture Series, Audience Choice for Best Series of the Year, and News and Current Events.
Each of these people once all started exactly where you are today. Their education and backgrounds did not impact their desire to build an audience and build it. The old saying ‘If you build it they will come’ if definitely true if you have a good idea and can deliver it in a way that your audience will want to watch! They wanted to make some extra money and be in control of their project. Anyone can start a YouTube channel. You don’t have to be skinny, beautiful or even talented! You simply need a good idea and a personality that people will enjoy watching. If you are an amateur baker learning step by step or if you are just talking about what upset you in the news today. Or maybe you are a master in your field and want to share and help other people. People will watch! So get started today, and yes there is a video on YouTube on how to get started on YouTube!
The typical 9-5 office job lacks the glamour it once had. It once provided the income, prestige, and fulfillment that once defined the American Dream – not anymore. These days, stagnant salaries, 12-hour work days, and piles of soul-crushing work are becoming the norm.
Is that all there is?
No. There are people who still enjoy their careers in 2018, but many have chosen to build theirs from the ground up. The freelancing revolution is in full swing – by 2020, 43% of all workers in America will be self-employed.
Want to join them? Below, we’ll talk about everything you’ll need to address before you can make your favourite coffee shop your new office.
Find an overlap between your skills and what the market needs
Writing, graphic design, web development – these are just a few areas in which you can specialise as a freelancer. To succeed, though, it is vital to research your target market’s needs. Or maybe you like being in front of a camera and create a Youtube channel.
If hundreds of writers in a specific region are churning out the same content, it will be tough for you to make ends meet.
On the other hand, finding someone who writes quality ad copy can be difficult. Specialise in this niche, and you will be able to earn much more per project than lower skilled writers.
Whether it is writing technical documents for oil & gas companies, coding SaaS apps, or creating covers for e-book authors, a lucrative income can be found at the intersection of your skill set and the needs of the market.
Name your price
The temptation to undercut the competition can be overwhelming – don’t do it. First, most established freelancers are too well-connected to worry about having future work opportunities ‘stolen’ from them. Second, underpricing oneself can create a poverty trap that can be tough to escape from.
To figure out a fair rate for your skill set, research the websites of colleagues who do similar work. If their fees aren’t displayed, contact them as a ‘customer’. This may feel awkward but remember – successful freelancers get dozens of e-mail messages every day.
You will be far from the first person who ghosted them after sending over their rate card. If this bothers you, be transparent about your intentions – many freelancers are happy to help out their brethren.
Create a high-quality website
It is not enough to be on social media. A website gives self-employed professionals a platform to sell themselves to clients around the world. On it, you can break down the services you offer, showcase your work in a portfolio, display testimonials, and more.
Don’t think you have the technical prowess to set up a website? It has never been easier for everyday people to get their own web portal up and running thanks to WordPress.
Web hosts like Bluehost and HostGator offer a streamlined installation process that usually takes less than five minutes – you don’t need to be a nerd to set up a website these days.
Can’t afford to set up your own domain? Establish a web presence for free on WordPress.com or Blogger. While we recommend having your own space, this is a quick way to get on the web for no cost.
Once you are ready to show your site off to the world, optimise your site’s SEO, buy some Google Ads, get on social media, and print business cards – these steps and others will make it easier for clients to find your home on the web.
Learn about taxes
As an employee, taxes are something you never have to think about. Every two weeks, the payroll department automatically deducts local and federal taxes, as well as entitlements. When you work for yourself, though, this responsibility falls squarely on your shoulders.
A newly-minted freelancer’s first tax season can be a painful one; not because of the amount they owe, but because they forgot to budget for it in the first place.
Make an appointment with an accountant before sending out a single invoice. They will educate you on the records you’ll need to keep, quarterly filing dates (if applicable in your area), tax breaks, and so on.
At minimum, calculate your effective tax rate and deduct this amount from your daily gross earnings. At month’s end, transfer everything that is owed into a segregated savings account. This way, you’ll avoid spending money that isn’t yours.
Prospect for clients
Now that you’ve learned how to set up, market, and run your freelance business, it’s time to get some clients. With any luck, some may have already reached out via your website. If not, it’s on you to find them.
But before calling or e-mailing every company in your area, take a second to think about the work you want to do.
You may be an ace at building websites, but if banking bores you to tears, taking on clients in finance might not be the best idea. If you constantly check out houses on your morning jog, though, designing sites for real estate agents might be a better fit.
Next, draft a solid pitch. Feel free to reuse it for multiple prospects, but leave plenty of room for customisation – nobody likes to receive a generic pitch e-mail they’ve seen dozens of times before.
Cut to the chase – quickly explain what skills you bring to the table, as well as the specific value you intend to deliver.
Keep a record of every business you contact. This way, following up unanswered pitches becomes easier. Most successful entrepreneurs are busy – sending them a gentle reminder two weeks later will increase the likelihood of a reply.
Cut the cord
Unless you have six to twelve months of expenses saved up, we don’t recommend quitting your job to start a freelance business. Instead, leverage your free time outside of work to build your practice on the side. This way, you’ll avoid having financial stress influence your decisions.
Once you have built up an income you can live on (as well as the six to twelve-month buffer mentioned above), schedule a meeting with the boss and turn in your two-week notice – the real work is about to begin!
Gambling is one of the worst thing you could do for your personal finances as a whole. Nonetheless of you are a student who is struggling financially, or a parent that has to bear the heavy costs of college enrollment. In fact, it is scientifically proven that the “problem gambling” group (people who gamble excessively to a point it has a tremendous financial and mental costs) mainly consists of poor individuals, so the fact you have little money in your possession doesn’t make you any less prone to become an addict.
The above is my “don’t gamble, kids!” disclaimer. I am by no means encouraging anyone to wager their money through gambling (ESPECIALLY if its against the law where they live).
After we have established the fact that gambling can be the root of all evils, we have to withstand the fact gambling is a highly popular recreational activity, and especially for college students who are able to set foot inside a casino for the first time in their life. Although they can develop issues as a result of uncontrolled gambling, it’s no less of a risk than cigarette or drug consumption which incredibly trendy at this age.
Below are 7 tips that will help you control your gambling spending, decrease associated fees, and improve your chances of actually winning something back.
1. Use a set budget
Easier said than done, I know, but you need to have a stringent budget for gambling purposes, else even a one wild night can cost you dearly. The budget should be a number that you would make you feel comfortable to lose in one evening, if you occasionally gamble (once every few weeks or more seldom than that). If your frequency is higher than that, you should decide on a weekly or a monthly budget, but that’s far more difficult to track.
The best tip I have for you is to use cash when you go to a brick-and-mortar casino, without a debit or a credit card. This way, you won’t be exceeding your limits even if you really, really, want to.
2. Spend time playing in demo mode
If it’s boredom that drives you into gambling, and you need endlessly click to slot’s re-bet button, why won’t you play online on demo mode without risking any money? Although it turns things from gambling to gaming, some people can get to similar levels of enjoyment from this activity without putting any money at risk.
3. Online casinos offers lower stakes
Playing online casino games for real money can be quite destructive because you cannot set limits in the same way you can when going to a land-based casino. It’s also a non-social activity, unlike going out to a casino with your mates, which has higher risks of becoming addictive (or so I believe, found no evidence to that). On the other hand, online casinos offer a lot more variety. Variety of games, variety of promotions, variety of competitions, and also variety of stakes. While the average US casino had a $1-5 minimum per hand in blackjack, online casino enable lowballers to wager as little as $2c per hand.
4. Avoid credit and payment fees on deposit
If you are going to a brick and mortar casino, do not use credit card to make payments for your chips as it will incur additional costs in comparison to cash/debit. If you are going to gamble abroad, do not exchange your money in the casino, as the exchange rates will be drastically worse to a standard exchange bureau. If you are playing online, check the casino’s specific fees for usage of different payment methods, and consider using eWallets that sometimes have unique promotions of if you use them to deposit (eWallets you can use for gambling: Paypal, Neteller, iDebit, Siru and a bunchload more).
5. Utilize bonuses and loyalty club memberships
Online and landbased casinos will go above and beyond to preserve you as a customer. This is exactly why casino membership cards are so great – they accumulate bonus points that you can use in the bar, restaurant or on the felt! The same applies to online casinos. The more you play, the more of your bonus you redeem. The more you deposit, the more VIP points you accumulate. This is free money that you should use, just be sure to read the fine print and understand online casino bonuses can also be a hassle because they limit your withdrawal if you have won any money (until you have fully redeemed the bonus).
6. Focus on low-house-advantage games
If you are indifferent towards the gaming experience in a casino and just enjoy the thrill of gambling on money, why won’t you try games that you have better chances of winning at? Of course that in the long run, you will end up losing money if you play casino games*, but if you play a game like blackjack or baccarat, you are likely to consume your funds at a much more sufficient pace than with slots.
* If you specialize in games like Texas Hold’em poker you might end up even winning! This is not a casino game but rather a skill game with 10-20% lifetime winners (who made more money than spent). Same thing applies to sports-betting – if you are an expert punter using a sophisticated strategy, you might win in the long term.
7. Don’t play to win
If you want to have a night evening out (or in your dorms) playing casino games, do it for the sake of entertainment without telling yourself you can win, because you can’t. It’s not a question of luck, but rather simple statistics. With every single die roll, statistics balance out. If you are playing blackjack that has an advantage of about 0.5% against optimal strategy (assuming you do use it), that means that roughly 0.5% of the total turnover will be won by the casino. So if you bet $10 a million times, you should be about $50,000. That all there is to it, maths. You can win on a single night, or a week, or a month or even a year, but you won’t be winning in the long term.
Hope this was helpful to you young gamblers. Just note that in the USA online gambling is not only prohibited but also quite impossible. Online casinos that accept Americans aren’t the ones you want to be wagering your money in. For concluding words, I will refrain from using the banal “good luck” wish, and just advise you to gamble responsibility.
