Budget Archives - Making Sense Of Cents

Do I Need A Will? What You Need To Know About Wills & How to Create One For Free

Last Updated: September 25, 2020 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - Leave a Comment

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 I need a will?

Lately, I’ve been hearing that question and many other questions about having a will.

I completely understand, and this can feel like such a complicated topic.

Putting a will together is something that most people don’t think they need when they are young. You might think nothing will happen to you and that you have plenty of time before you need to write one.

However, having a will is something that can protect your assets and help your family members decide what to do once you pass. It can also make the probate process much quicker and smoother if you didn’t have one.

Losing a loved one is never easy, but if you’ve ever dealt with a death of someone close to you, you may have heard how helpful it was if they had a will. No one has to guess what they would want to happen, as a will honors their wishes. [Read more…]

Should You Have Life Insurance If You Don’t Have Children?

Last Updated: September 23, 2020 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 1 Comment

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 sponsored partnership with Aflac. All opinions are 100% my own.

Lately, I have received many emails from readers about life insurance.

One of the most common questions I hear is, “Should I consider a life insurance policy before I have children?”

No matter your age, the necessity of life insurance can be a hard topic to consider. However, while the subject might be difficult to reflect on, it is also an insurance option that can benefit your loved ones significantly, regardless of whether you have started a family.

Whenever I am asked the above question, my answer is always the same. Regardless of your family situation, life insurance is still a product to consider.

However, I understand the hesitation — you might think there is no reason to take out a life insurance policy if you don’t have children. September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, so it is the perfect time to talk about Aflac life insurance and why you may want it!

[Read more…]

10 Of The Most Common Questions About Having A Side Job

Last Updated: September 21, 2020 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 3 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.

Today, I’m going to answer some of the most common questions about having a side job. These are questions I get asked a lot by readers and other questions I see asked online.

If you’re thinking about getting a side job or starting a side business, you probably have some questions. I know there were things I was curious about before I got started.

So, if you have common questions about having a side job or making extra money with a side hustle, then this is the article for you.

Finding ways to make extra income can change your life in huge ways.

I say that because I believe it. Here on Making Sense of Cents, I talk a lot about making extra money, especially through side hustles. After all, having side jobs changed my life and allowed me to pay off $40,000 in student loan debt.

My side job (this blog) even turned into my full-time business, which is something I will always be grateful for. I love my business, I earn a good income, I travel full-time, and I have a great work-life balance. [Read more…]

12 Money Hacks That Will Help You Save More Money

Last Updated: September 8, 2020 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.

Are you looking for some money hacks so you can start saving more money? Are you looking for tricks to make it easier to save money?

First, what is a money hack? According to Merriam-Webster, a life hack is “a usually simple and clever tip or technique for accomplishing some familiar task more easily and efficiently.”

And, a money hack is something similar but related to money.

A money hack is a simple and clever way to save money. It could be something that quickly stops you from spending money, something that makes saving money more mindless, etc.

The purpose of using money hacks is to make it easier to save money. This can help you pay off debt, stop living paycheck to paycheck, or even retire early.

However, most people say that saving money is easier said than done, though. That’s exactly why I’m sharing these tips with you today.

Learning how to save money doesn’t have to be hard. [Read more…]

How My Wife and I Lived on $2,000 Per Month for 3 Years During a Financial Hardship

Last Updated: September 4, 2020 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 26 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.

Hello! Today, I have a guest post from Dave at The Dollar Blogger. Dave lost his job, and then 2 weeks later his wife was laid off. This is their story of how they got by, their sacrifices, strategies, and more.

I’ll be honest – I’m not one for excessive frugality. I wouldn’t consider myself frivolous, at least, not anymore, but my wife Mary and I were hit with a solid dose of reality when we lost all of our income over the course of two weeks in 2012. One wrong turn and a layoff two weeks later took Mary and me from making over $100,000 in a year to zero income.

In this post, I’m going to share with you this scary financial hardship that rocked our world, and how the two of us got through it successfully and back on our feet.

We also learned some life-changing lessons about money, which is excellent for anyone who suffers a sudden and total income loss.

In the end, we lived on $2,000 a month, for just over three years.

What You Need To Know About Renting A Room In Your House

Last Updated: August 31, 2020 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 5 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 thinking about renting out a room in your house to make extra money?

We owned a house before we started traveling full-time, and over the years we had four different roommates.

We were able to rent out an extra bedroom and the finished basement to our roommates, and it was a good way to make extra money.

While having roommates is not always perfect, the extra money we made over the years was really appreciated. It helped me pay off my debt and save some money.

And, I have experienced renting a room in a house on both ends.

Before I bought my house, I rented a spare room from someone else, and the roles were flipped.

While renting out a room involves some work, it is a somewhat passive source of income that can help you bring in some extra money without too much effort. [Read more…]

15 Home Business Ideas & The Free Courses You Need To Get Started

Last Updated: September 26, 2020 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 5 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 looking for a work from home job or some home business ideas?

If so, then I have a great list of free resources, such as courses and guides, that will help you find the best option and learn how to get started. Plus, all of the courses and guides in this article are free!

If you’re looking to make extra money, or even a full-time income, working from home is a great option. There are lots of realistic home business ideas that allow you to work on a flexible schedule.

In fact, around 50% of U.S. businesses are home based, and that number is expected to grow well into the future.

But, many people don’t know what kind of options are available or how to get started with their home business ideas.

This article is a good starting point because I’m going to tell you about 15 different profitable home business ideas and link to free courses, workshops, and guides that will help you kick off each of these ideas.

There are lots of valuable paid courses out there, but if you’re not sure about an idea, you might not want to spend hundreds of dollars on a course. That’s why free courses and guides are a great way to start. [Read more…]

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