Blog - Making Sense Of Cents

How We Visited 8 New Countries in 2 Years – While Also Paying Off 58k in Student Debt

October 19, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 2 Comments

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Recently, a reader contacted me and told me about how her and her husband paid off around $58,000 of student loan debt in 2 years, all while traveling. Below is their story. Enjoy!

I always knew I wanted to travel. Ever since I was a little girl watching enviously as my older sister went abroad for the first time, I knew traveling was going to be in my future.

However, I was still unsure how I was actually going to make it happen. As I inched closer to my graduation date from Boston College in 2014, I became increasingly concerned because I had no real career path in mind (or even a trail or a gap in the woods to be honest). My husband (though we were only dating at the time) and I had 58k of student loans between us but all we wanted to do was travel.

So, how did we combine our dream of international adventures with the reality of crushing student loan debt? These are the exact steps we used to make it happen, along with some advice for anyone who is interested in following in our footsteps! [Read more…]

13 Instantpot Thanksgiving Side Dishes

October 17, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 3 Comments

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My 10 Budget Recipes roundup proved to be popular, so I'm back at it again with 13 Instantpot Thanksgiving Side Dishes.

Thanksgiving isn't too far away, which means that you may be looking for some Instapot Thanksgiving side dishes.

I recently purchased my first Instapot, and will definitely be using it for Thanksgiving.

We've always had a slow cooker. I bought one about ten years ago for a whopping $14, and I've used it multiple times a week ever since.

I've definitely gotten a ton of value from that small purchase and decided to upgrade to an Instapot since my crockpot was falling apart.

If you're looking to get your own Instant Pot, I recommend checking out the one I purchased – Instant Pot 3 Qt 6-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, and Warmer.

If you want easy Instant Pot recipes that are budget friendly and delicious, don't worry, it is possible! The Instantpot Thanksgiving side dishes included in this roundup are affordable, easy, and you may already have many of the ingredients in your home! [Read more…]

Pay Off Debt And Break Free Of The Debt Cycle – You Can Do It!

October 15, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 16 Comments

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Pay Off Debt And Break Free Of The Debt Cycle – You Can Do It! #payoffdebt #debtfreecommunity #howtolivedebtfree Do you want to pay off debt and learn how to live debt free?

Do you feel like you are stuck in a cycle of debt? Are you able to pay off your debt, only to fall back into it shortly after? That is what a debt cycle is, and many people fall into this cycle and can't seem to get out.

Falling into debt over and over again can lead to insane amounts of stress, unhappiness, sadness, and feelings of hopelessness. No one wants to experience these feelings.

The thing is that there are lots of reasons for why you may have debt, like student loans, a mortgage, etc. In some ways, that kind of debt can be good, as it can be an investment in your future. Going to college can lead to a higher earning potential, and a home can add to your net worth. [Read more…]

The Best Hacks On How To Save On Online Shopping

October 14, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 3 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

The following is a sponsored partnership with JoinSavvy.com.

As many of you know, we got rid of our Jeep a few months ago. We've been riding our bikes and walking everywhere, which has been great.

However, that also means that we are ordering things online more than ever, because going to the store and carrying stuff back isn't the easiest, especially when you are outfitting a boat and getting ready to leave (we're ordering ALL the things, haha).

While I'm not new to ordering things online, I am always looking to save as much money as I can. Because, after all, who just wants to waste money?

Not me!

If you're like most people in today's world, you're probably shopping online a lot as well. So, these tips should be especially useful to many, many people! [Read more…]

How I Made $104,814 In September 2018 Working From Home

October 10, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 46 Comments

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How I Made $104,814 In September 2018 Working From Home #workingfromhome #workingonline #incomereport #howtostartablog Welcome to September 2018's business income report where I show you how I made money online last month. It's time to look at this month's update and see how I did.

If you're new to Making Sense of Cents, you may be wondering why I would want to publish my income report each month. You can simply skip to the next section if you're not new here.

This all started out as my extra income report because, in the beginning, it was all about the money I was earning from my side jobs. In my side income reports from the beginning, I included all of the income I made except for what I made at my day job.

However, I left my day job as a financial analyst in October of 2013 and now my monthly income reports consist of the many ways I earn a living.

Many have asked why I would ever want to publicly post my income each month. Some think I'm crazy, whereas some are glad I'm open about what I'm doing. Whatever you think, I enjoy publishing my monthly online income reports and I share them publicly for three main reasons: [Read more…]

You CAN Reach Retirement! Avoid These Top 5 Retirement Mistakes

October 8, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 32 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Have you ever checked in to see if you are on track for retirement? I know this can feel like a daunting task, but preparing yourself for retirement can help you save more and avoid common retirement mistakes.

For some, retirement means quitting their job after 40+ years, but it can also mean working towards early retirement, in your 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, and so on.

I know that’s not for the “average” American, but by avoiding some of the retirement mistakes I will talk about today, you can start preparing for retirement at any age.

The thing about retirement is that sadly many out there are not saving enough money. In fact, according to Zacks Investment Research, 72% do not save enough for retirement each month.

Also, according to surveys done by Bankrate, 20% of people aren’t saving any money, and 61% of Americans have no idea what they will need to save for retirement.

These numbers are very alarming. [Read more…]

Want To Be A Rideshare Driver? Tips From The Rideshare Guy

October 3, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 8 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Today, I want to introduce you to my friend, Harry, the owner and founder of The Rideshare Guy Blog and Podcast.

Harry started driving for Uber and Lyft in 2014, while working as a full-time aerospace engineer. After finding a need in the driver community, he started his website to help drivers like himself. He has since quit his day job to focus on his incredibly successful website that provides drivers with insights and a database of tools to help grow their ridesharing income. Plus, he still drives regularly!

In this interview, you'll learn:

How Harry got into rideshare driving.
How much a Lyft or Uber driver can expect to make.
How Lyft and Uber drivers get paid.
Whether or not he thinks there's room for more rideshare drivers.
The positives and negatives of being a driver.
Tricks to increase profits as a driver.
The kind of car you'll need.

[Read more…]

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