Blog - Page 3 of 267 - Making Sense Of Cents

Why I Went With A Credit Union Over A Bank

Last Updated: September 12, 2021 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 6 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

The following is a partnership with SELCO Community Credit Union on the benefits of credit unions, and why I went with a credit union over a bank. All opinions are 100% my own.

There are many benefits of credit unions such as lower fees, lower loan rates, and more. Today, you’ll learn about why you should join a credit union.

I’ve banked with a credit union my entire life. Starting at the age of around 14, I went to my local credit union with my parents and opened an account with them.

And, ever since then, I’ve used local credit unions for my day-to-day banking, as well as any loans that I’ve wanted.

Even as a full-time traveler, I still use credit unions, and have not had any issues with that. I am able to get my day-to-day banking, as well as non-routine transactions done all over the country with no issues.

Credit unions often provide the same or better products and services as the big banks, with the added benefit of being more flexible, more responsive, and more personal.

Credit unions are popular for many reasons, like having lower fees, lower rates, and more.

If you haven’t joined one yet, you will probably be quite interested in what you learn in today’s article. [Read more…]

What You Need To Know About Investing, Retirement Planning, and More

Last Updated: August 30, 2021 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 2 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Are you interested in learning how to invest, start retirement planning, and more? Today’s article will allow you to get started with retirement planning and help with each step along the way.

Planning for retirement and starting to invest can be a very intimidating topic for the average person, and I completely understand that.

However, once you start, everything becomes much easier. You just have to get over that hump, and you can do that by reading up on the different retirement planning topics.

Today, I am rounding up some of my most helpful articles in these areas, so that you can reach financial freedom and start retirement planning.

Some of the topics below include:

How to save for retirement
Answers to 13 of the most popular retirement planning questions
How to start investing
Why you should be careful with 401k loans
What is financial independence retire early?
Different ways to save and invest for retirement
Planning tips for the future and for your family, such as obtaining life insurance, estate planning, and more.

Plus, I’m sharing several early retirement stories from real people. [Read more…]

Celebrating 10 Years Of Blogging – What I’ve Learned and Love After Earning Over $5,000,000

Last Updated: October 11, 2021 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 33 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

This seems completely crazy – it has been 10 years since I started Making Sense of Cents!

10 years ago seems like so long ago, but then it also seems like just last week at the same time.

10 years ago, I had no real dreams or goals for this blog. I was completely anonymous and I had no idea what I was doing. It was all just for fun.

Today, I have grown this blog into hundreds of thousands of monthly readers, I have formed great friendships through this blog, have earned an amazing income that allows me to retire whenever I’d like, and I love what I do.

I never would have guessed this for myself back when I first started Making Sense of Cents 10 years ago.

I have never been more grateful, especially lately.

My blog has grown into a wonderful business that has allowed me to enjoy my work, have a flexible schedule, and earn a great living.

Plus, knowing that I have a baby on the way and with how sick I was for the first few months, I have been able to take time off. And, I’ll be able to take a lot of time off when the baby comes as well. [Read more…]

How To Make $1,000+ A Month Selling Stickers Online

Last Updated: October 8, 2021 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 4 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Do you want to learn how to sell stickers on Etsy?

Creating stickers to sell on Etsy can be a great side hustle because many people use them and buy them, you can make money from home, and it can be fun!

Today, I have a great interview to share with you. I interviewed Mim Jenkinson on how to sell stickers on Etsy.

Mim has taught over 2,500 people how to make stickers from home.

Mim started with no graphic design skills and didn’t know how to create stickers when she first started. It’s something she learned as she went along and she has now turned this into a $100,000+ yearly business.

Are you wondering questions such as:

What are stickers?
Do stickers sell well on Etsy? How do I sell sticker packs on Etsy?
Who buys stickers on Etsy?
How much can you earn from selling stickers?
How do I find customers to sell stickers to?
Can someone with no tech skills create a sticker?

Today’s interview will help you get started and perhaps even introduce you to a new way to make extra money.

Also, you can sign up for her free class – Create Stickers That Sell. In this 60-minute class, you’ll learn the 3-step method to creating stickers that sell and stand out on Etsy and make money from home.

Related content:

[Read more…]

How We Saved Over $100,000 By Age 26

Last Updated: August 13, 2021 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 13 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Hey everyone! Today, I have a great savings story to share from a reader named Nichole. She will be talking about how she went from -$20,000 to a six-figure savings by 26 years old.

The following will be outlining my experience getting scammed and how it catapulted me into learning about how money works. I will divulge all the things I’ve done to earn a six-figure savings, pay off over $20,000 in debt and stay consistent with saving for a home to pay cash. I will go over the importance of knowing your “why” and how it has a large part in saving money. I believe we all have the ability to be successful with our finances and sharing my story hopefully encourages you to stay motivated during your own journey.

Since I was a little girl I’ve always yearned for independence and responsibility. My mother tells the story like this:

“It was your first week of kindergarten and I walked you to the bus stop to drop you off. You didn’t even let me drive you that first day! When I met you at the bus stop after school at 2pm you look at me and say “mom, you don’t need to pick me up from the bus stop, I can walk home without you”. I had to explain to you that wasn’t allowed because you were only five years old and the school didn’t allow that.”

The moral of the story is, if I could do it on my own I did. This included making money so I could buy my own stuff.

Throughout elementary and middle school I sold things to make money: lanyards, bracelets, candy, even offered to do peoples homework for $5 in 6^th grade!

Earning money gave me more independence to pay for the things I wanted, so I always stayed motivated. [Read more…]

13 Best Early Retirement Books – You NEED To Read These Books

Last Updated: August 9, 2021 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 7 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Do you want to learn how to retire early? Today, I’m sharing the best early retirement books to motivate you and help you start planning for your future.

Early retirement is very popular right now, and you may be wondering if it’s possible for you and how to make it happen.

If early retirement is something you’re dreaming about, then I highly recommend reading the books I’m sharing with you today.

Many of the best early retirement books focus on FIRE, which stands for financial independence, retire early. FIRE can mean many different things, but books about FIRE are some of my favorites to read because they are very informative and give me lots of motivation.

The books below can help you learn more about FIRE, as well as dive deeper into the many different ways to become financially independent and retire early.

Reading books about early retirement can be a great way to learn specific actions steps that you need to take to reach early retirement. [Read more…]

What Is Estate Planning? Do I Need To Do This?

Last Updated: August 5, 2021 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 10 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

What is estate planning?

Over the years, I have received plenty of questions about creating a will and estate planning.

After all, anyone over the age of 18 probably needs to have at least some part of an estate plan.

Quick note about an easy giveaway: Vicki and Amy are also giving away three of their Estate Planning 101 books away. Simply leave a comment below and I will randomly select three winners.

Recently, I asked you, my readers, what questions you have about estate planning. Some of the questions you had included:

What is estate planning and why is it important?
Is there a situation in which you would not need an estate plan?
At what age should I start estate planning?
Should I do my estate planning myself or hire a lawyer?
What is the difference between a trust and a will?
Who should have a will or trust?
Who is best to make the executor of your estate plan?
What happens if a person passes away without an estate plan?
What are the main steps in estate planning?

Because this is not an area that I’m an expert in, I gave these questions to Vicki Cook and Amy Blacklock who are experts in the area of estate planning.

Vicki Cook and Amy Blacklock are coauthors of Estate Planning 101 and cofounders of the award-winning personal finance website Women Who Money. Vicki’s also the founder and blogger behind Make Smarter Decisions, and Amy’s the founder and blogger behind the award-winning site Life Zemplified. Additionally, they’ve been frequent contributors to GOBankingRates, Wealthfit, Medi-Share, and various personal finance sites around the web. [Read more…]