Smart Money Links 4U

2020 was quite a year. Mostly marked in terrible ways as the pandemic created a global health crisis and changed the ways we live. But there was at least one silver lining: Americans adopted or fostered shelter animals in record numbers. Because so many people worked from home they felt they had the time to devote to a new pet or to caring for an animal temporarily. Adopting a new pet — especially a shelter animal — is a caring decision. It’s also a financial decision because the cost of initial medical services for a dog or cat can add up quickly. One of the most expensive initial procedures your pet will need is getting either spayed or neutered. Luckily, money doesn’t always have to be a huge obstacle when it comes to getting that early veterinary care. If you know where to look, there are a myriad of free or low-cost spay/neuter programs across the country. Should My Pet be Spayed or Neutered? Yes! Spaying or neutering your pet reduces the overall pet population. This helps re...

Not everyone owns a power washer, paint sprayer, chainsaw, backpack leaf blower, multipurpose steam cleaner or cordless wet/dry vacuum for auto detailing. But those who do own these tools can use them to make extra money. It can be well worth investing in certain small power tools that most people don’t own to develop a side gig. For example, Popular Mechanics ranked its top three power washers, ranging in price from $159 to $529. HomeAdvisor , a website that helps homeowners find home improvement professionals, estimates the typical power washing job for a house with siding is $220 to $380 and $130 to $220 for a driveway. Thumbtack , another website that connects clients with service providers, suggests paying 16 cents to 22 cents per square foot of power washing. So the money earned on just two power washing jobs would easily recoup the cost of buying even the more expensive power washer. It’s easy to spread the word on social media or flyers on windshields about your services, w...

If you’ve ever heard of Medi-Share , you might be intrigued by its promises to cover your health care costs. Curious? We looked into the details to find out how Medi-Share works — and whether it’s a good option. Here’s our honest, unbiased review of the program. What Is Medi-Share? Medi-Share is a health-care sharing ministry made up of members united by their faith. This program and similar medical-sharing ministries rely on their members to take care of one another through financial contributions, as well as prayer. The details work much like typical health insurance. Like having a deductible, members choose an amount they’ll contribute as a household before they can submit bills to the community for payment assistance. A monthly share payment works like a premium, ensuring your eligibility for assistance, should you need it. There’s no guarantee your medical expenses will be covered through Medi-Share, and there are plenty of exemptions to consider before you apply. But if y...

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . Saving money is never a bad thing, right? You take a percentage of your check every payday and tuck it away in a savings account. You’re doing what you’re supposed to, right? Wellllllllll, kind of . Unfortunately, saving alone will never get you to retirement. You’re on the right track, but the money you’re stashing away isn’t growing like it could be. Not even close. Let’s take a look at why this won’t work — and what you should do instead. The Downside of Saving To retire comfortably, you need to grow your money. You need to build wealth . Saving money is all well and good, but it won’t really grow your money. That’s what investing is for . Here’s the thing about savings: Let’s say you put your money in a savings account at a bank. According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the av...

As parents, it can be overwhelming to think about everything we need to teach our kids — whether it’s showing them how to cross the street safely, introducing them to the alphabet or teaching them to ride a bike. But unfortunately, money still seems to be a taboo educational topic — even among families. A survey conducted by The Penny Hoarder found that among those who didn’t talk about money management at home, almost a third earn less than $50,000. But for those who did talk about money, just 18% earn less than $50,000 a year. And 40% of people who did not discuss finances growing up currently have no savings at all. That figure drops by more than half among those who did receive early financial education at home. And unfortunately, kids often don’t get to learn money management topics in school, either. Only 21 states require personal finance education in order to graduate high school, according to the Council for Economic Education. That leaves it up to parents when it comes...

If you are feeling crowded in your home and considering buying something bigger, it’s scary these days to see how much just a little more space will cost. The median sales price of a home was up 17% for the four weeks ending April 11 compared to the same period in 2020, according to Redfin, the nationwide real estate brokerage. But disappointed would-be homebuyers feeling priced out of the market can make simple changes where they currently live to maximize space and feel less cramped. Here are some ways to create new spaces in your existing house or condo and enjoy it more while waiting for prices to drop. Who knows, you may decide there’s no place like home. 5 Tips for How to Maximize Your Space  Here are some ways to maximize space and carve out individual rooms for a lot less than adding on or leasing a bigger apartment. 1. A cleaned-out closet becomes an office nook  If you empty out a closet, it easily becomes a remote-learning classroom where all school materials...

Tutoring has become big business since the start of the pandemic disrupted schools and sent many students to school in their living rooms. Initially, tutors were needed to help with learning pods and with kids at virtual school in one room while parents were working from home in another. Today? Parents are reaching out to tutors in an effort to help their kids make up for a year’s worth of uneven growth. And that study help may be needed even more now schools begin to open up and there have been many promises to be back to normal in the fall. According to Tutors.com , the average price of a tutor service ranges from $25 to $80 per hour  and this number can go up significantly for SAT tutoring, where it can go as high as $250 per hour in places like New York and California. High schools students eyeing college are looking for tutoring services to help them meet their test score goals. 5 Cheap Online Tutoring Services Thankfully, it’s not necessary to pay those prices for excelle...