Blog - Page 4 of 219 - Making Sense Of Cents

10 Easy Instapot Recipes – My New Favorite Gadget!

August 3, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 16 Comments

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

My 10 Budget Recipes roundup proved to be popular, so I'm back at it again with 10 Easy Instapot Recipes.

As you can probably guess, I finally purchased my first Instapot!

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.

Food is one of the largest expenses a family can have each month, which is why I'm a big believer in, and lover of, weekly meal plans. If you are looking for some new easy Instapot recipes to add to your weekly meal plan, then you've come to the right place.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the average family of four spends around $700 to $1,000 a month on food. That’s a lot of money, especially considering that most families waste a large amount of their food each month! [Read more…]

Ditch Your Car And Walk More

August 1, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 16 Comments

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

4 Reasons To Ditch Your Car And Walk More As I recently said in Welcome To Paradise – We’re Living On A Sailboat!, we no longer have our Jeep. Since we are preparing to cruise and will be leaving the marina soon, we no longer have a need for full-time use of a land vehicle.

Now, technically we still own our Jeep, but it’s currently being stored at Wes’ parent’s house. We love it and put a lot of time and money converting it into an overland vehicle that is great for exploring the country without worrying about needing a place to stay. But, for now, as it’s being stored far away, we are completely carless.

Due to ditching our car, we will be commuting by dinghy, folding bikes, and walking.

Some of you may feel bad for us, but we're actually really excited! Perhaps this novelty will wear off eventually, but for now, we're excited to make this change. [Read more…]

7 Health Care Sharing Ministries: Why One of Them Might Be Right for You

August 1, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 1 Comment

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

7 Health Care Sharing Ministries: Why One of Them Might Be Right for You is a guest post from Jacquelyn Pica.

Health care is one of the most hotly debated and controversial topics in the country. It can be expensive and confusing, and — if we’re being honest — feel hopeless at times.

The high costs and frustration have caused many to turn toward an alternative to traditional health insurance: health care sharing ministries. These organizations are made up of members who share a religious belief or similar ethical values, and split the costs of medical bills.

How Do Health Care Sharing Ministries Work?

The ministries are owned and operated by non-profit religious organizations, which means members are exempt from the Affordable Care Act mandate to purchase health insurance (Note: This bill now removes that requirement for Americans). All members split medical costs, so consumers have much lower monthly payments than you would with traditional health insurance.

Typically, everyone’s monthly payments are pooled together into one large account, which is later allocated to cover medical needs as the ministry sees fit. This helps everyone save money. Each ministry has different lifestyle requirements, but most are in agreement that members must abstain from the use of tobacco and illegal drugs. [Read more…]

To Pay Off Debt Or Invest- Which One Is Best For You?

July 30, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 23 Comments

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

Should you pay off debt or invest? This is a common question I receive, and it is a difficult one to answer because every situation is different.

You may have students loans, a mortgage, car loans, credit card debt, furniture debt, medical loans, or something else. Whatever your debt may be, I’m sure you are, hopefully, thinking about your debt payoff plan.

Paying off your debt is a great thing to think about. However, where does investing come in to your overall financial plan? Paying off debt may take what feels like forever, so you may not want to completely ignore saving for retirement and investing while you pay off your debt.

And, this becomes the really tough decision to figure out – should you pay off debt or invest? Should you do both at the same time? Maybe one slightly more than the other? [Read more…]

8 Steps I Took To Save $200,000 By Age 27

July 27, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 6 Comments

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

Today, I want to introduce you to Sean. He is a financial analyst by day and money blogger by night. He saved over $200,000 by age 27 and plans to retire in less than 10 years. Enjoy!

No, that headline never gets any less surreal the more I read it.

And no, I wasn't a lucky lottery winner or a privileged trust fund beneficiary. (Unfortunately)

Instead, I got my money building start at the oh-so-glamorous position of digging ditches in the scorching Texas summers. When I eventually saved up a whopping $500, I opened my first savings account. From there, I took a few years working up the courage to invest in the stock market, and then I held my breath in terror, hoping I didn't lose everything during the recession. [Read more…]

How This 34 Year Old Owns 7 Rental Homes

July 25, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 26 Comments

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

My monthly Extraordinary Lives series is something that I'm really loving, and I’m back with another great interview. First up was JP Livingston, who retired with a net worth over $2,000,000 at the age of 28. Today's interview is with Paula Pant, a 34-year-old who owns seven rental homes, which last year grossed $125,000 and netted $43,000 after expenses!

You probably know her from the super informative blog Afford Anything. I've been a big fan of Paula for a long time, so I'm so happy that I was able to interview her.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How she got into real estate investing.
How she was able to afford so many rental units.
What she looks for in a rental unit.
The types of property she invests in.
How much time and money it takes to invest.
How she manages rentals in a different part of the country.
Her worst renter.
The sacrifices she had to make to make this all possible.

And more! This interview is packed full of valuable information!

She also created a freebie for my readers – download her free step-by-step guide! [Read more…]

What Is A Bad Credit Score?

July 24, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 1 Comment

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

Hello! Today, I've partnered with Lexington Law to help answer the question “What is a bad credit score?“

People who are thinking about giving you a loan and other people who may be looking into your credit score usually have varying opinions about what a bad, good, or excellent credit score may be.

In general, a good credit score is usually 700+. The higher your number, the better your credit score.

But, what is a bad credit score?

Some may say that a bad credit score is anything that doesn't get you what you want in life. Others may say that you don't need credit to survive in life. However, remember, your credit score impacts so many things other than just a loan! Your credit score can impact you getting a job, your insurance rates, whether or not you'll get even a rental home, and more.

Due to this, knowing your credit score and whether or not you have a bad one is extremely important. [Read more…]

How Do Health Care Sharing Ministries Work?

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