12 Million Americans Might Get Up to a 40-Point Credit Score Bump in July

No matter how much you read up on credit scores and how they’re calculated, there’s still this “man behind the curtain” element that makes you nervous every time a big financial move rolls around.

Time to buy a car? Nail-biting over whether your score will be high enough to get a good interest rate.

New job requires a credit check? Nail-biting over whether that bad day in small claims court will stop you from getting hired.

But those big, mysterious credit bureaus are about to make a change that takes away a bit of the mystery.

And your credit score could benefit.

What the “Big 3” are Doing to Boost Your Credit Score

Starting July 1, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax will stop listing most tax liens and civil judgments on your credit report.

How will that impact your score? To find out, you’ll want to grab the most recent version of your credit report.

The credit bureaus are actually required to give you a free report each year.

Already used up your freebies? This TransUnion portal lets you score a new credit report every month so you can monitor these upcoming changes.

If your report lists a tax lien or civil judgment, your score could get a boost.

A tax lien is what the government sets up if you have unpaid tax debt. This step takes place before the government levies (or takes control of) your property to cover the unpaid debt.

Once you pay a tax lien in full, it gets released within 30 days.

A civil judgment is a non-criminal court case you lost. Sometimes wage garnishment is used to obtain regular payments toward a civil judgment.    

These issues aren’t directly reported to the credit bureaus. Instead, they’re public records anyone can access.

As of this summer, the bureaus will only list these items on your report if three of the following four pieces of data are present: name, address, Social Security number and/or date of birth.  

“Many liens and most judgements don’t include all three or four,” Annamaria Andriotis reports in the Wall Street Journal.

In addition, the credit bureaus will update public records they collect at least every 90 days.

“We believe the enhanced standards for public records carefully balance the concerns of consumers and regulators about public accuracy while at the same time ensuring that creditors can continue to rely on credit report data and credit scores derived from the data,” said Eric Ellman, interim president and CEO of the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA), in a March 13 statement.

The Fair Isaac Corporation, which administers FICO credit scores, said about 12 million people will see their scores go up once the bureaus implement this reporting change.

For most, the credit score increase will be “modest,” probably fewer than 20 points. But about 700,000 consumers could see an increase of about 40 points.

Why will only a small group of credit score holders see a marked increase?

“An overwhelming majority of consumers who will be impacted by the [credit reporting agencies’] updated policy still have other derogatory indicators such as collections or serious delinquencies on their credit file, which will remain post-removal of this public record information,” a FICO representative explained.

Points for Everyone! Right?

Leaving tax liens and judgments off credit reports is exciting for affected consumers — but not so thrilling for people who pull credit reports to make decisions about your financial health.

Washington Post columnist Kenneth Harney asked Mortgage Bankers Association President and CEO David H. Stevens how the reporting change will affect the mortgage industry.

“Stevens said that blocking this information will raise some applicants’ credit scores artificially, creating ‘false positives’ that make individuals appear lower risk than they are,” Harney noted.

Even an increase of a few points, he explained, could have a major impact on a consumer’s creditworthiness.

More Changes to Your Credit Report

But over the past few years, negative pieces of data have slowly been dropped from credit reports in response to a series of state settlements that tweaked reporting practices.

Launched in March 2015, the National Consumer Assistance Plan requires in part that medical debts aren’t reported until after a 180-day window passes to allow for payment by an insurance company. Fines like parking tickets and overdue library books won’t appear on your credit report, either.

This most recent announcement, though, seems like a gift rather than a response to punishment.

“There’s nothing, absolutely nothing, in the Fair Credit Reporting Act that requires the removal of liens and judgments,” John Ulzheimer of The Simple Dollar wrote. “And there’s nothing in the settlement language between the credit bureaus and all of those attorneys general that obligates them to remove liens or judgments. This is a choice the credit bureaus made on their own, and it’s pretty good news for consumers.”

Will these changes affect your score? The best way to find out is to keep an eye on your credit report.

Your Turn: Do you expect your credit score to improve after most tax liens and civil judgments are removed from credit reports?

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. We’re letting you know because it’s what Honest Abe would do. After all, he is on our favorite coin.

Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer at The Penny Hoarder.

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CLOSING BELL: Oil drags stocks lower

Other areas of the market saw modest losses as investors wait to hear from the Federal Reserve, which began a two-day policy meeting on interest rates.

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I Need Money! 10 Ways You Can Make Money For Tomorrow’s Rent

It’s the first of the month, and crap: Rent is due.

At my old apartment, I had a five-day grace period, but there’s no legal requirement for this niciety. Technically, your grace period is built into the last five days of the previous month…

So you need money — like by tomorrow — to pay rent.

Unfortunately, companies don’t usually hand out daily paychecks.

And even if you secure a side gig or online hustle, if it’s through an app or online platform, payment likely isn’t immediately.

You could hit up the payday loan store. But please don’t do that. The interest rate is terrifying.

So, instead, here are some make-money-right-freakin’-now ideas to pay tomorrow’s rent.

1. Break up with some of your clothes.

Because if you’re like me, you’re guilty of always wearing the same two things in your closet full of clothes… and yet you still have nothing to wear.

Lately, I’ve been trying to create a capsule wardrobe, so bit by bit, I’m getting rid of the clothes I don’t wear anymore.

My usual sell-back spot is Plato’s Closet. But sometimes I get insulting offers for a stack of nice, gently worn clothes.

There are other options, though. Apps and websites will let you sell your clothes — and you don’t even need to leave your house.

We like letgo because you get to set your own prices. Plus, it’s easy. All you have to do is a take a photo of the clothing item. The platform operates like Craigslist in that you’re advertising to local consumers, so once someone bites, and you make the transaction, you get paid.

The platform recommends you use something secure like Paypal, but that’s not your only option.

There are also other platforms like Poshmark, but you’ll have to ship your items, and the buyer will have to accept the delivery before you get paid. Still, it’s an option — if you have the time. (Here’s your guide to get started!)

2. Play with some dogs.

Love dogs? Cats? Even birds?

Tons of apps out there help you secure a pet-sitting side gig, but you likely won’t pocket the money immediately. Plus, the apps typically take a cut of your commission.

If you don’t have that kind of time, offer up your services to family or friends. You can even post in a local Facebook community page, advertise on Craigslist, or set up a profile on Care.com.

You could get paid $40 just to take pup for a walk, according to our pet sitting guide (but you have to pick up the poo, too).

3. Sell your unused gift cards.

Didn’t get your dream birthday present? Got an irrelevant gift card instead?

That plastic is taking up space in your wallet where some cold, hard cash could be.

But no need to hang onto it until it expires. You can sell that sucker on online.

Penny Hoarder Dana Sitar has cashed her gift cards in and wrote about five places that’ll take those things off your hands — and pay you.

We tend to gravitate towards Raise, because similar to letgo, you get to set your own asking price. So if you’re not willing to sell that $25 Starbucks card unless you get at least $20 for it, you can control that.

The only thing: People might not bite immediately. Whereas the some of other sites Sitar wrote about will pay right away.

4. Do a random chore.

People always need help.

My cousin recently cleaned out her garage and needed someone to come haul her junk away because she didn’t have a truck. So she consulted Craigslist and paid a nice man to do the job.

Craigslist is a great place to sell your services under the “Gigs” section. Pay and tasks will vary, of course.

And if you don’t trust Craigslist, check out TaskRabbit or Fiverr — to name just a few.

You can also break out of the internet bubble and reach out to your family, friends and neighbors. Chances are someone could use a hand!

5. Sell your old DVDs, CDs and electronics.

I don’t have many old DVDs or CDs sitting around — not even old phone or electronics — but my editor Matt Wiley wrote about how he had about 100 DVDs and Blurays he’d stockpiled. :scream:

Because you need money ASAP, try selling those suckers to an old video store or a pawn shop.

If you have a couple of days to spare and don’t want to leave your couch because you’re now addicted to Netflix, you could sell them on Decluttr.

That’s what Wiley did. He cashed out the next day and earned $54.

6. Return something.

Look around. Does that jacket you impulsively bought still have its tags? Or maybe you impulsively splurged on something totally random from Amazon…

Now that rent is due, those purchases might seem unnecessary.

7. Deal with sticky fingers, and babysit.

Nowadays, sitters can make $12 to $18 an hour to look after kids, and, as one Penny Hoarder wrote, “It’s not just a business for teenagers anymore; as an adult, you may be more likely to find work.”

Keep your ear to the ground — in classes, at work, around town or within your family. You can even volunteer, because an exhausted parent might not even realize they need a night off.

8. Dust off your bookshelf.

I stockpile way too many books. I even have old college textbooks stacked in my closet; I never touch them.

If you’ve been meaning to get rid of some of these, your dire rent situation could be the perfect motivation to purge.

For the most immediate results, venture over to your local used bookstore. See what they’ll take for your books.

If you have a little more time, there are online platforms, such as Bookscouter. You’ll enter your book’s ISBN, and it’ll tell you how much the book is worth — and which buyback company will grant you the best deal.

It’s free to use and will help you make the most off those dusty pages.

If you become addicted — you could make up to $750 each month?! — dive into the book-hunting industry. This guide will tell how you to find the most valuable books for cheap.

9. Get the most out of your grocery run.

Just because rent is due and you can’t afford it doesn’t mean you can give up grocery shopping. Food is a non negotiable in my book.

However, you can earn some money back with rebate apps such as Ibotta. All you have to do is take a picture of your receipt.

It’s No. 5 on this list — which also shares other ways you can earn money back.

10. Suck it up, and borrow from your family or friends.

This isn’t ideal, but if worse comes to worse, see if your family or friends will loan you some money to get by this month.

If they can afford it, your loved ones often want to help out when you need it, so ask. Just be upfront and honest with them. We also recommend writing down whatever you agree upon, just so everyone’s on the same page.

Bonus: If you just need a drink…

When you can’t make rent, you might just want to go invest in some alcohol.

But if you’re going to do that, you might as well be smart about it, and use bevRAGE.

The rebate app grants you cash back on drink deals at bars, restaurants, grocery and liquor stores. You can search by your location, find the best deal, then take a photo of your receipt to redeem your rebate.

BevRage deposits the money in your PayPal account within 48 hours — giving you some cash to fund your rent.

Your Turn: What’s your go-to way to piece together your rent payment?

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. Adding these links helps us keep the lights on in The Penny Hoarder HQ, which makes it a lot easier to play shuffleboard after a long day of deal-seeking!

Thanks to Minting Nickels for some of these ideas!

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These Scammers Will Pay Back $7.5M After Targeting Veterans and the Elderly

If you recently bought into an “investment opportunity” via a telemarketer who claimed to represent Amazon or the federal government, you may have been a victim of a scam.

On March 13, the Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement as the result of its complaint against six companies that allegedly worked together to scam consumers out of $9 million.

Were you one of the thousands affected by the scam?

How to Know If You’re a Victim of This Telemarketing Scam

This scam mostly targeted the elderly and military veterans living on fixed incomes. Many shelled out insane amounts of money — some gave more than $20,000.

The telemarketing scheme was a classic one: Scammers convinced victims to transfer money to the accused companies via credit card under the false promise of huge returns on “risk-free” investments. These “investments” were in e-commerce websites, such as Amazon, or in profit-sharing programs with credit card companies.

Ninety days after victims sent money, the companies would cut off all communication and never give a penny of it back.

The following companies were involved in the scam, according to the FTC: Advertising Strategies LLC, Internet Advertising Solutions LLC, Internet Resource Group Inc., Network Advertising Systems LLC, Network Professional Systems LLC and Network Solutions Group Inc.

The accused companies have also operated under other names in the past, including: Titan Income, Building Money Network and buildingmoney.cash, Prime Cash and Primecash.net, Wyze Money and wyzemoney.net.

How to Get Your Part of the Settlement

If you believe you may be a victim of this telemarketing scam, you may be eligible for your share of the required $7.5 million payout.

According to FTC spokesman Frank Dorman, “those who lost money can expect to get some portion of it back.”

“As in most cases, it will be several months before it happens, as a redress administrator will be hired to identify them, obtain the money and send out checks,” Dorman said. “When that happens we’ll issue a news release.”

Victims won’t have to do anything on their end. The FTC will notify victims when it has determined it will recover part of their money.

To keep up with the latest news about consumer settlements and find out how to protect yourself from scams, follow the news and events section of the FTC’s website.

Your Turn: How do you stay safe from telemarketing scams?

Kelly Smith is a junior writer and engagement specialist at The Penny Hoarder. Catch her on Twitter at @keywordkelly.

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Upcycling 101: Look Around Your Home for Cheap Garden Ideas

While gardening can save you massive amounts of money on your grocery bill, it can seem expensive to get started. Don’t you need planters, pots, started plants and special gadgets?

When I started my garden a few years ago, I went bananas and bought everything: fancy planters, hundreds (yes, hundreds) of canning jars and all sorts of gardening paraphernalia. Before I knew it, I had spent over $200 on “stuff” — and that didn’t include any plants or seeds.

Don’t be tempted to follow in my footsteps. You don’t actually need anything fancy or expensive. With a little extra effort, anyone with a bit of outdoor space and a willingness to get their hands dirty can start a garden for little to no money. Here’s how to get your grow on for less.

Upcycle What You Already Have

What’s upcycling? It’s the trendier (and cheaper!) version of recycling. You use what you have available, transforming it for a new purpose and turning it into all kinds of Pinterest-worthiness.

Before you can upcycle, though, you need to know what you’re working with. Start by searching your house for potential garden containers and tools, especially in these places:

The Kitchen

The kitchen is the motherlode of upcycled gardening. All sorts of bowls, pots and other random things often wind up gathering dust in a cupboard — like that “black hole” cupboard that sits over the fridge or stove.

Look for any containerlike items, such as:

• Teapots 
• Colanders 
• Bowls 
• Pots 
• Cups 
• Coffee cans and soda bottles from the recycling bin

Here’s a list of ways you could upcycle some of those items, but don’t let it limit you.

Also keep an eye out for old wooden spoons, which make cute garden markers, and long-tined meat forks, which are great for digging out stubborn weeds.

The Closets

Dig through your closet — and the kids’ as well. Look for anything that’s a bit too worn out to wear but can still hold soil. It’s not the most natural thought process when searching through a closet, but here’s what to look for:

• Sneakers 
• Work boots 
• Blue jeans 
• Sweaters

And if you need more inspiration, here are 35 ways to use shoes as planters.

The Garage or Shed

If you’re like me, your garage and shed are bursting at the seams with goodies. Have an extra sink, toilet or tub lying around after a recent renovation? Turn ‘em into a sink planter, a toilet bowl herb garden or a bathtub vegetable garden. Just think of the interesting conversation piece you’ll create!

Scrap wood or pallets can become raised beds; if you don’t have enough in your shed, ask a local store if they’d be willing to part with one.

Pull out that rusty old shovel and hoe and finally put them to good use. If you happen to have an old bicycle or wheelbarrow lying around, you’ve just hit the jackpot for a kitschy backyard planter.

Share With Friends and Neighbors

Ok, so you have your containers ready — it’s time to add plants.

Seeds can be a costly expense: at $2 to $5 a packet, they’re pricey enough to make you reconsider how many different vegetables you really need. Seed packets typically contain many more seeds than the average gardener will use, and the seeds may be less likely to grow if you keep the same packet for years. Solve all of these problems at once by splitting each packet with a friend or two.

No need for a fancy seed-starting tray or kit; try this simple do-it-yourself technique to make your own seed starters from toilet-paper rolls.

If you’re looking for an established plant or cutting, ask around for friends, neighbors or local farmers who may be willing to give or sell you a few extra starts.

Thumbs Up for Upcycling

Behold: an affordable, even free, way to start your garden. With plenty of everyday household items available, you’re bound to find something to upcycle into a useful — and surprisingly trendy — garden essential.

Enjoy your new Pinterest-ready garden — and all the money you’re saving on groceries, thanks to your upcycled, garden-fresh produce.

Your Turn: Have you upcycled household items into garden containers or tools? What are your favorite cheap garden ideas?

Steph Weber is a mom and freelance writer hailing from the Midwest. She writes mostly about healthcare, finance, and small business — that is, when she’s not finding her happy place after chasing around a sticker-crazed toddler.

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How a Backyard Garden Could Save You $500 on Groceries

A small garden can save you a bundle at the grocery store: an average plot provides “an estimated 300 pounds of fresh produce worth $600,” according to a study by the National Gardening Association (NGA). That estimate is based on an average gardener’s investment of $70, so $530 is a pretty impressive return!

Blogger Kristina Seleshanko estimates her 12-by-14-foot and 33-by-3-foot gardens significantly cut her grocery bills during the summer of 2013. Her startup costs (including raising backyard chickens) were just $278, yet she calculates her harvest of eggs, tomatoes, kale, onions and potatoes would have cost her approximately $1,770.89 at the grocery store, equaling a savings of $1,492.89.

With returns like these, Penny Hoarders willing to get their hands dirty should take notice. It turns out, says the NGA, one of the top reasons to grow your own food in a vegetable garden is to save money on grocery bills. Here’s how to make the most of your garden to cut your grocery bills.

Plant What You Eat

“Grow stuff you eat!” exclaims Cape Cod, Massachusetts, backyard gardener Brittany Haskell. “I’m growing celery, green beans, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and squash.”

P. Allen Smith, author of “Seasonal Recipes from the Garden,” suggests starting the planning process by looking at grocery receipts to figure out what to plant. If you regularly purchase fresh herbs at the grocery store, he suggests an alternative. “Spend $20 on herb plants and have enough to use all summer,” he says. “Just do the math.”

“Plant what is reasonable for where you live,” suggests homesteader and backyard gardener Alexandra Bodrie, from Sandwich, Massachusetts, who eats all her own produce from June to September. “The season is too short for watermelons on Cape Cod, but I get a bumper crop of green beans and peas.”

Start with Seeds

If you have the time and space, start seeds indoors in the late spring to save even more.

“Seeds are still a great deal. Since you usually get more than you can use, why not set up a seed exchange with your gardening friends,” says About.com gardening expert Marie Iannotti.

During a recent trip to the grocery store, I found tomatoes on the vine were $2.29 a pound, while a six-pack of tomato plants that will yield up to 15 to 25 pounds per plant at your local garden center in the spring is typically under $5, and a pack of seeds costs even less. The savings of starting your plants from seeds make that spaghetti dinner even more affordable.

Plan Well to Maximize Yield

Your garden doesn’t have to be huge to make an impact on your bottom line. The NGA found that while the average garden in the U.S. is 600 square feet, many are much smaller.

Maximize the space you have available by planting high-yield crops like tomatoes, onions and leaf lettuce. Less efficient crops include Brussel sprouts, celery and pumpkins — though that doesn’t mean you have to skip these entirely.

Don’t underestimate your vertical space. “Use whatever you have to allow climbing plants to grow up and save precious garden space,” suggests Bodrie.

Planning is essential when gardening to save money. “Take careful notes,” says Haskell. “I keep sheets about when I planted things, what does well, what doesn’t, and how much of a harvest I get. All that helps me decide what and how much to plant the following year.” For help planning your garden, check out this great chart from the NGA showing yield, dollars per pound and value.

Plant Now, Eat Later

“A shrewd gardener always plans to grow more vegetables than can be eaten fresh. The surplus can be preserved in a variety of ways for consumption during the winter months,” suggest staffers at the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment at UMass Amherst. Crops like carrots, potatoes, onions, winter squash and pumpkins require little to no processing for long-term storage.

Haskell also plants her garden with the winter in mind. “If you are diligent in harvesting and preserving correctly right away, you can make your produce last well into the winter. I didn’t have to buy a pepper at all last winter.”

Both Haskell and Bodrie chop, blanch and freeze extra vegetables. A small chest freezer is a worthwhile investment if you are looking to enjoy farm fresh veggies all year long.  

Think Outside the Garden

“Food gardens aren’t just in backyards anymore.” The NGA reminds us that folks “grow food in containers on decks and patios, in community gardens, at schools, at senior centers, and even in front yards for everyone to see.”

Don’t underestimate your garden’s value beyond its food. “Most importantly, it’s free entertainment,” says Bodrie, a single mother. “It takes work and time to tend your garden — time you would otherwise be out and about spending money — plus it is a great educational activity to do with the kids.”

You can start saving by growing herbs or pot-friendly veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers or lettuce on a small patio or sunny window. Your state’s cooperative extension or master gardeners program typically offers great (and free!) advice for gardeners of all levels.

Your Turn: Do you keep a garden to grow your own food? What’s your best tip for new gardeners?

Ally Piper is a writer, designer and marketing director living on Cape Cod. She used to have a garden where she grew mammoth zucchini and is anxious to get her hands dirty again soon.

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6 Unexpectedly Frugal Ways Millionaires Save Money

Do you dream of living life like a millionaire?

What do you imagine? Fancy dinners, elaborate mansions, fast cars and designer clothes?

Don’t forget your grocery budget, fixer-uppers, bumming rides and second-hand stores.

Oh, you didn’t think millionaires worried about that stuff? Well, how do you think they became millionaires?

For an invisible majority, accumulating wealth isn’t about a massive inheritance, family name or success in the entertainment industry. Most (multi)millionaires work and budget just like the rest of us — only smarter.

6 Ways to Save Money Like a Millionaire

If you want to actually live like a millionaire, here are six ways to save money our favorite frugal millionaires employ:

1. Make It a Game

Regardless of how much money you have to spend, it always feels good to find a killer price on something you want.

Millionaire couple Angela Marchi and Bob Weidner shop at outlet stores for deals, because they hate to pay full price.

When they go, Weidner likes to play a game: How many items can he buy without spending more than $100?

Frugal spending and saving are always more fun when you can make a game of it — we can almost guarantee it. Create challenges for yourself and your family to help you get the most for your money.

2. Buy Modest Vehicles

What’s the first sign of someone who just cashed a huge pension check or landed some kind of windfall?

A flashy car.

Any armchair financial advisor (‘hem, your dad or grandpa, usually) will tell you a car is a terrible thing to sink your money into.

“A car loses value as soon as you drive it off the lot,” said every adult in my family since I was old enough to sort of know what money is.

Given the extra money, though, the first stop for many people is the Mercedes dealer.

Don’t make the same mistake.

Take a note from Dallas Cowboys running back Alfred Morris, who commutes to the field either by bicycle or in a used 1991 Mazda.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard takes it even further: He rented a place close enough to the stadium his rookie year to walk to work, and he borrowed his girlfriend’s mother’s van when he needed a vehicle.

3. Spend on Extravagances… Selectively

Many self-made millionaires choose to spend money on experiences, rather than things.

That means travel and hobbies, instead of fancy cars and big homes.

We see lots of stories of people retiring early to travel or pursue other passions.

Sure, those experiences come with a cost not everyone can afford. But these frugal retirees are choosing to spend their extra cash wisely — on stories and memories they can share with friends and family, instead of fleeting possessions.

We always recommend spending and saving your money wisely — frugality doesn’t have to mean never spending it at all. It just means being choosy about when and how you splurge.

4. Ignore the Joneses

Consider what makes you happy, and ignore the rush to keep up with Joneses or Kardashians or whoever is leading the endless race these days.

And, for goodness sake, do not Instagram before you shop!

Don’t compare your life to your friends’ Instagram and Facebook photos. We all know these are hand-picked to portray unrealistic perfection, but somehow we still hold them up as an unattainable goal.

5. Save the Bulk of Your Income

Former Tonight Show host Jay Leno is notorious for his lifelong (relative) frugality.

Over his 17 years with the network, Leno reportedly saved every dime of his NBC salary.

He lived off earnings from personal appearances, endorsement deals and stand-up, which he continued to perform dutifully most weekends — even while he taped the show five days a week.

While it may seem like a celebrity has the unique luxury of setting aside a full salary, the habit likely started early, before the millions were rolling in.

“You know, when I was a kid,” Leno told fellow comedian Jerry Seinfeld on Seinfeld’s show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, “I always had two jobs, and I would bank one, and I’d spend the other. Then when I got ‘The Tonight Show’ I just continued to do that.”

Could you live off the income from a side hustle or part-time job — even for a few years?

Sticking to a tighter budget and automatically saving your salary from a full-time job could expedite your road to financial freedom.

6. Make Smarter Choices, Not More Money

Self-made millionaires tend to accumulate wealth because they save, invest and manage money wisely — not because they make huge salaries.

Consider this: A 21-year-old liberal arts graduate making an average starting salary of $36,000 would need to save only $25 per week in an IRA to retire comfortably at 65.

That’s neither a phenomenal salary nor a major sacrifice in most weekly budgets. But knowing what to do with that small amount of money can mean big things.

By investing as much as he could of every paycheck, Brandon Sutherland was able to retire at 32. He expects to live for at least 30 years on the interest from his investments.

Brandon is a pretty typical college graduate without special advantages. He was just willing to invest up to 70% of his paycheck toward living the life he wants — sooner than later.

Your Turn: What smart money-saving tips can you add for living like a millionaire?

Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer’s Digest and more, attempting humor wherever it’s allowed (and sometimes where it’s not).

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18 Solitary Ways for Introverts to Make Money (No Conversation Required)

Introverts have been getting a lot of buzz in the past few years. Everyone wants to tell us how to survive in what is, apparently, an extroverted world.

But what if you just want to live in an introverted world?

Luckily, we love to find ways to make money working for yourself or working from home, so you can keep your interaction with the outside world to a bare minimum.

Here are 15 jobs for introverts and other ways to make money that don’t compromise your very-real need to just be left alone sometimes.

1. Take Surveys While You Stay Home on Saturday Night

We know surveys aren’t going to make you rich quickly. But if you’re just vegging out on the couch avoiding Facebook event invites, why not use the time to make some extra cash?

Valued Opinions and MyPoints are two legitimate paid survey companies we love.

Sign up for these sites, and you’ll get notified when you qualify for a survey. You’ll answer a few qualifying questions, complete the survey and earn points you can cash in for gift cards to major retailers like Amazon.

Plus, when you sign up for MyPoints right now, you’ll earn $5 for taking your first five surveys!

2. Shop Online So You Never Have to Go Outside

You know what it’s like out there. Stores are full of people, crammed into aisles, holding up the line, chatting you up for no good reason.

Skip it, and shop online. You can find everything you need without talking to a soul. Plus, we’ve got a secret tool to help you make some of your money back.

This secret weapon is called Paribus. It’s a tool that gets you money back for your online purchases.

Paribus is free to sign up and takes less than a minute. Once you do, it scans your email archives for receipts. If it discovers you’ve purchased something from Amazon, Target or one of the other participating retailers, it will track the item’s price. Anytime a price drops, it’ll refund you the difference.

There’s no fee to use the service. It just charges 25% or less of what it saves you.

3. Improve Your Fitness Routine Instead of Spending More Time With Friends

Avoiding people doesn’t have to mean you’re cooped up inside all the time.

Maybe you’ve been working on your solo fitness routine to shed some pounds.

Picture this: You step on the scale and finally see your goal weight.

Congratulations! But it gets even better.

You’re about to receive a generous check you can spend on stuff to do alone or wisely stick into your savings — all just for losing weight!

It’s not a fantasy. If you wager on your own commitment with HealthyWage, this could very well happen for you… as long as you stick to your guns and lose the weight.

Here’s how: Sign up for HealthyWage, and define a goal weight and a timeframe to achieve it. Place a monetary bet on yourself, between $20 to $500 a month.

HealthyWage’s calculator will consider how much weight you have to lose, how much time you give yourself to do it and how much money you wager to determine your reward. You could win up to $10,000!

4. Do Your Banking Online, So You Never Have to Talk to Anyone

Have you had enough with the small talk at the bank? For goodness’ sake, no one cares what you’re doing this weekend.

Open an account with an online bank, and never talk about the weather with a teller again.

Aspiration’s Summit Checking Account is an online-only bank account with no fees, no minimum balance, no minimum monthly deposit and no chatty Cathys.

It also yields 1% interest — about 100 times a typical interest rate. You’ll get a debit card, so you can access your money at any ATM in the world, and it reimburses 100% of your fees.

5. Sell Your Stuff Without Inviting People Into Your Home

Negotiating and bartering are tough for anyone. For introverts, they can be agonizing.

Decluttr lets you skip the trip to the record store or the awkward liaison with a Craigslist buyer.

You just scan your stuff with the app, and it makes an offer.

Decluttr buys your old CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays and video games, plus hardware like cell phones, tablets, game consoles and iPods.

To get started, just download the app and start scanning barcodes of the items you want to sell. You won’t pay any fees. Decluttr even sends you a prepaid shipping label, so you don’t have to go to the post office. Plus, enter PENNY10 at checkout to get an extra 10% for your trade-ins!

Have a bunch of old college textbooks laying around? Are all of the novels you’ve burned through instead of being social collecting dust? Sell them on BookScouter.

Just type your book’s ISBN (International Standard Book Number — it’s near the book’s barcode and copyright info) into the search bar and the site will connect you with more than 25 of the best-paying and most reputable buyback companies online.

6. Get Paid to Drink by Yourself

Drinking at bars is overrated.

It’s loud, people are everywhere — and they might even try to talk to you. It’s probably better to stock up on some adult libations and just drink at home by yourself.

Rebate app bevRAGE understands and will actually give you money for buying booze at grocery and liquor stores. If you’re feeling adventurously social, it works at bars and restaurants, too.

Here’s how it works:

1. Download the app and start a free account to browse drink deals in your area.

2. Choose the deals you want, and buy the items.

3. Click “Redeem” on the offer in the app, and take a picture of your receipt.

4. Cash will be deposited into your PayPal account within 48 hours.

BevRAGE is always updating with new deals, so check back before you go out.

Some of the latest deals include:

• Stoli vodka: $4 off at any bar or restaurant

• Kraken rum: $3 off restaurant purchase, $3 off store purchase

• Rebel IPA by Sam Adams: $3 off 12-packs, $2 off 6-packs, $2 off drafts

• Bushmills whiskey: $2 off restaurant purchase, $3 off store purchase

Redeem these anywhere — you’re not restricted to specific businesses. You do have to be 21 or older to take advantage of these deals!

Note: These deals aren’t yet available in Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah.

7. Earn Money From Credit Card and Bank Bonuses

Did you know a lot of credit cards and banks will give you money just for signing up? Instead of getting a toaster, they’re getting straight to the point these days: cold, hard cash.

These bonuses usually come with a few requirements. Typically, you’ll have to spend a certain amount on the credit card or deposit a certain amount into the bank account within the first few months of opening.

Switch your typical spending to these accounts, at least temporarily, and you could earn hundreds of dollars in bonuses a year!

Here are some of the best bank bonuses and the best credit card sign-up bonuses we’ve found — earn from $100 to $500!

8. Get Paid for All the Time You Hide Out Online

You’re probably doing it right now: browsing the internet at your desk, in your bedroom or in the bathroom at a party… It’s a great way to escape and clear your head.

You could also be getting paid for this. Digital Reflection Panel is a research company that will pay you more than $200 a year for connecting a device to your wireless router.

The device anonymously gathers information about how you use the internet, in hopes of helping companies improve online experiences.

To qualify, you have to have wireless internet service and live in a single-family home (no apartments, sorry!).

And don’t worry, you don’t have to talk to anyone to install the device (though they’re available if you need help). The set-up kit comes in the mail with instructions, and you’ll earn your first $25 for installing it within four days.

Then you’ll earn $60 after you’ve kept the device installed for two months, and $10 a month after that.

9. Search for Stuff on the Internet

Since you’re going to get paid just for being online anyway, here’s another passive way to make money on the interwebs when you’re not hanging out with people.

Stop using Google and change your default search engine to Swagbucks.

It’s powered by Yahoo! and for each search you make, you’ll earn points (called SB) that you can apply toward gift cards to popular stores like Walmart and Target — even Amazon.

You’ll get $5 just for signing up.

10. Stay Behind the Camera: Sell Your Smartphone Photos

Occupy yourself on nights out or at parties by snapping photos of other people. It’s a great way to join in on the fun without really interacting with people.

Plus, we found an app called Foap that allows you to turn your smartphone photos into cash.

To use it, you’ll download the Foap app on your Android or iPhone, upload your photos and make them available for purchase on the Foap Market.

You’ll make $5 for each photo you sell, and you can sell the same photo an unlimited number of times.

11. Be a Freelance Blogger — Or Start Your Own

Everyone is doing it these days, but it’s a safe bet to say introverts were probably the first bloggers.

Carefully composing your ideas before presenting them to people far, far away is pretty much an introvert’s ideal form of interaction.

As a freelance blogger, you can work as much or little as you want, so this makes a nice side gig or full-time job.

Pay varies wildly for writers, so make sure you’re compensated fairly for your time. Check out these seven blogs that pay $100 or more per post.

Feel like starting your own blog? Here’s your ultimate guide to getting started.

TL;DR

1. Snag a domain name from GoDaddy (your URL).

2. Set up hosting through a site like BlueHost (where your site will live).

3. Start an account with WordPress and start writing!

12. Use This as an Excuse for Those Nights You Just Want to Stay in

Have you run out of excuses for turning down invitations to go out with friends? Tell ‘em you’re working!

Through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk), you can earn an extra $10 to $50 a week or so by completing small tasks online.

You’ll sign up as a “Turker” with your Amazon account and accept tasks (called “HITs”) like data entry, writing, research or taking surveys. The work won’t be crazy exciting, but it’s not a bad way to pass the time, especially when you’re getting paid.

13. Be a Bookkeeper

Does earning $60 an hour sound appealing? Duh, of course it does. How about the freedom to work remotely with small business owners you’ll probably never have to deal with in person?

Those are the perks of working as a bookkeeper, says Ben Robinson, a certified public accountant and business owner who teaches others to become virtual bookkeepers.

And no, you don’t have be a CPA to be successful in this business. In fact, all you really need are decent computer skills and a passion for helping business owners tackle real-world problems.

It’s a great opportunity for moms who want to work part time, millennials who are just out of college and anyone who wants to bring in real money while working from home — with minimal human interaction.

14. Take Care of Houses

House-sitting is kind of like babysitting, except you don’t have to be around kids all day. Sometimes, you don’t have to talk to another person at all.

The best bonus, really, is you get to stay in some pretty nice houses. You can get paid to look after them while the owners are out of town.

House-sitting can be a smart way to find free lodging when you travel, or you can actually turn it into a business and get paid for your service!

To learn more, read our full guide on how to find house-sitting jobs here.

15. Hang Out With Dogs, Instead of People

Yes, you can get paid to hang out with dogs. We know you’d be happy to do it for free, but why not make a little side hustle out of it?

Find dog-sitting or dog-walking jobs in your area by reaching into your network or signing up through a service like Rover, Wag! or DogVacay.

You’ll set your own rates and availability, so you have control over how often you work and how much you can earn. This stay-at-home mom earns $6,000 a year walking dogs.

You can even decide which dogs you’ll accept, based on size, age and medical needs. (See? They’re already easier than people.)

16. Write About Food and Wine

If you prefer the company of a good bottle of wine, try getting paid to write about it.

Turn your knowledge of body, fruit, tannin, acidity and sweetness into education and recommendations for other wine-lovers.

If you have writing skills and experience, pitch your ideas to magazine editors. Check out these 10 wine magazines to get started.

Also think about how your culinary prowess could apply to other topics. Maybe you can share cooking tips for families? Pitch these parenting blogs and magazines.

Even Penny Hoarders can recommend a good wine! TPH contributor Jamie Cattanach has shared several recommendations for great wine on the cheap (even the best boxed wines).

17. Work at a Cat Cafe

Yeah, if you work in a cat cafe, you’re going to have to deal with people. But they’re cat people, so you can probably handle it.

We found three cat cafe jobs that pay up to $13 an hour, plus tips. If you have barista experience, your main job could be taking and preparing drink orders and helping customers. If you only want to hang out with cats, they have “cat wrangler” positions just for you.

Either way, if you’re a cat-lover, it’s a pretty great way to meet some new feline friends.

Who knows? You might even connect with some cat-loving humans while you’re at it!

18. Write Book Reviews

Spending another Saturday afternoon reading? Yeah, we thought so.

You ought to get paid for that time.

Lots of sites will send you free books and/or pay you to write book reviews. Here are 18 of them. If you’re an avid reader, it’s a great way to save money!

Some sites will publish your review in their magazine or blog. Some will ask you to publish at your own blog or on Amazon. Most ask for your honest review, but a few will only pay for positive reviews.

Your Turn: Will you try any of these jobs for introverts?

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. We’re letting you know because it’s what Honest Abe would do. After all, he is on our favorite coin.

Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s written for Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, Writer’s Digest and more, attempting humor wherever it’s allowed (and sometimes where it’s not).

The post 18 Solitary Ways for Introverts to Make Money (No Conversation Required) appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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This Scary Tool Tells You How Much Money You’ve Made — Ever

Have you ever wondered how much money you’ve made… over your entire lifetime?

We see those little black numbers on our pay stubs — or, let’s be real, in our bank accounts after direct deposit — regularly enough to feel like we have a handle on our earnings.

But our wages (hopefully) change over time, and it’s easy to forget about side gigs, tips and other irregular income.

So if you could see, at a glance, the total amount of money you’ve earned over the course of your life, would you?

As it turns out, there’s a website that lets you do just that. And it might teach you a lot about your personal finances.

How Much Money Do You Make… Really?

Seeing your total lifetime earnings in actual, numerical form is kind of like checking the bottom of your shoe after you squish a particularly nasty bug.

It’s gonna be gross — and maybe even a little scary — but you’ve gotta make sure it’s really dead.

Your total lifetime earnings might shock you with their low total.

But more likely, you’ll wonder how you squandered the thousands and thousands of dollars you’ve made.

As Reddit user palmermarc handily summarizes, “I’ve actually made significantly more than I thought… And yet, I’m broke.

“[Expletive deleted] my life.”

Either way, you know you want to take a peek.

Take a deep breath. When you’re ready to satisfy that morbid curiosity, head on over to My Social Security. Make an account, and then click on the “Earnings Record” tab.

See those big numbers in the final column? Grab a calculator and add ‘em up. If you’ve been working for a while, you might want to use a spreadsheet.

The grand total is your lifetime earnings, before taxes and obviously not including any money you don’t report. (Don’t cheat on your taxes, kids.)

So there it is, revealed, for better or for worse.

And no matter how you feel about your total, it probably gives you a sense of how much more you could be doing with your money.

(Friends to the north, you can check the Canada Revenue Agency for this info.)

Money Management, Budgeting Help and More

Even if you make a pretty decent wage, it’s easy to feel like it’s never quite enough.

After all, living within your means is hard work. Even millionaires have to budget if they want to keep the title.

If you can’t believe how much money you’ve earned when there’s always next to nothing in your bank account, keep reading. We have some great ways to help you finally get ahead and save some serious cash.

Here’s how to save your first $1,000 and break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle. Once you’ve got some cushioning in your account, you can start to get serious about budgeting and setting financial goals.

One quick way to save a giant chunk of change? Start spending your grocery money more carefully. Here are some of our favorite ridiculous (but effective!) ways to save money on groceries.

Alternatively, you might be disappointed by how low your total is after working hard for years on end. But not to worry: We’ve got resources for you, too.

If you want to see your total earnings increase… you need to earn more money.

Start by browsing these 29 ways to earn money on the side, or pick up hours at one of these well-paid retail jobs.

Maybe you could sell some of your clothes or create a flexible side gig with Uber or Postmates.

That low-ball total got you feeling really radical? Consider switching to one of these high-paying careers that don’t require a college degree… or taking the plunge and finally getting your freelance business on its feet.

No matter what you decide, congratulate yourself on confronting the truth and making some decisions.

It wasn’t that bad, was it?

Your Turn: How much money have you made in your lifetime? Did your total shock you because it was too low… or way higher than you expected?

Jamie Cattanach (@jamiecattanach) is a freelance writer whose work has been featured at Ms. Magazine, BUST, Roads & Kingdoms, The Write Life, Nashville Review, Word Riot and elsewhere. She lives in St. Augustine, Florida.

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24 DIY Dorm Decorating Ideas Even a Broke College Student Can Afford

Twelve Ways to Use Spring Break to Tidy Up Your Financial Life

In the coming month, many Americans of all ages – not just children – are going to be enjoying spring break. Students, teachers, school employees, college employees, and many others will enjoy a partial or full week away from the regular demands of their life to recharge and pursue other projects.

In my own family, that means everyone but me will enjoy a spring break in the near future, as my children are all in school and Sarah is a teacher. Most years – this one included – I plan around it, get some extra writing done in advance, and enjoy a bit of a spring break as well. Spring break is definitely a real presence in our lives.

So, what exactly can we do with this free week in order to tidy up and strengthen our financial lives? Here are twelve ideas for things you can do during your spring break – or even a long weekend during March or April – to put yourself in a better financial place.

Idea #1 – Do your own taxes
If you’re like most Americans, you have a stack of W-2s and 1099s in a folder or a cupboard somewhere, waiting until you get around to doing your taxes or take them to a tax preparer. Don’t let those forms wait around. Take care of those taxes sooner rather than later.

It’s pretty easy, actually. Just download some tax preparation software – I like Turbotax, personally – and fill in the blanks when prompted by the program’s questions. You’ll want to have all of your tax documents available when you start so that you can just grab them and type in the numbers as you go.

The whole process is actually very simple provided that you have a somewhat typical financial life. If you just have a bunch of W-2 forms and some 1099s from banks or investment firms and maybe a few more from consulting gigs, along with perhaps some mortgage interest statements and some charitable giving documents, then you should be able to burn through your taxes easily. It just requires you to sit down and do it – and then, when it’s done, it’s done.

Idea #2 – Study the investment options available in your retirement plan and make a strong choice
Many people sign up for their retirement plan at work or for their own Roth IRA, choose a default investment option when they start, and then just let it ride from there. They don’t really put in any additional thought as to whether the investment choices make sense to them.

Spend some time looking at the investment options available to you in your retirement plans. If you’ve chosen a target retirement fund, does it mature when you intend to retire (or a few years later)? Have you looked at the actual investments in that fund to see what it’s made of? If you’re in other investments, have you looked around at similar offerings within your account to see whether they offer similar risks and rewards with a lower fee? Are there index funds that do more or less the same thing as your mutual funds?

If you find something that matches your needs well, don’t be afraid to shift funds within your retirement account to those new investments.

Idea #3 – Write a business plan for your side gig
If you’ve ever thought about launching a small side business for yourself to run in your spare time, right now is the time to take the first big step toward that dream in the form of writing a simple business plan for your idea.

This might seem strange – shouldn’t you start with the actual work? – but the purpose of writing a business plan for even the smallest entrepreneurial endeavor is so that you think through what you’e trying to do and avoid obvious pitfalls from the start. It’s akin to sharpening your axe before chopping down a tree, to borrow an Abraham Lincoln anecdote.

Take the basic structure from our simple business plan guide and start filling in the pieces with elements of your idea and see what you come up with. You may be surprised at what comes out and what develops later as you revise and update the plan. It can turn a pipe dream into something real and actionable, something that could change your life.

Idea #4 – Read a personal finance book – or other personal growth book
For many people, spring break is a time to simply kick back and relax from a crazy start to the year. I know many students and teachers who fall into this boat, as the period between the start of the year usually represents the first half of a spring semester, in which everyone involved needs a chance to stop and breathe after midterms.

One great way to do that is to devote some significant time to reading a personal growth book of some kind – ideally, a personal finance book (this is The Simple Dollar, after all). Kick back with a good book and keep a notepad and a pen nearby to jot down thoughts and things you want to follow up on.

Want some suggestions? If you’re just trying to get a strong overall perspective, I recommend Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. If you’re struggling with a mountain of debt, I recommend The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. If you’re trying to learn more about investments and aren’t afraid of a bit of a challenge, I wholeheartedly recommend The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing by Taylor Larimore, Mel Lindauer, and Michael LeBoeuf. Honestly, any book that looks interesting in the personal finance section of your library is a good idea, though I’d avoid any book that talks about getting rich quickly or becoming a millionaire at age 30 or any nonsense like that.

Idea #5 – Clean out your closets and prepare for a Craigslist sale or yard sale
Almost all of us have unused stuff stowed away in our closets – items that we bought or were gifted to us with the best of intentions, only to go unused, put aside, and forgotten in the flow of our busy lives. Even if the item seems great, on some level, we’ve come to realize that it just isn’t for us, so it winds up in storage.

Now is a great time to go through those closets and pull out all of those items that got stowed away for later. Pull out those garments, those kitchen utensils, those DVD box sets, those project kits, those forgotten books, and make the choice to get them into the hands of someone who will actually use them.

This can be the first step to running a yard sale a bit later in the year – ideally, on a weekend where there’s a citywide yard sale so you can attract lots of customers – or it might be the start of a big selloff on Craigslist. Put all of the items in a big pile, get some sense of what they might sell for on Craigslist or at a yard sale, price them all out, and sell, sell, sell! You’ll make some money and free up some space in your home!

Idea #6 – Weatherstrip your doors
If you ever find that there’s cold air drifting into your home from the edges of a door on a winter day, you not only have discovered something that’s making your house chilly, you’ve also found a place where money is literally pouring out of your home. Your furnace and/or heaters are working overtime to heat up that chilled air and it’s costing you money.

The solution is simple – just install a weatherstrip where the cold air is leaking in. A weatherstrip is a simple strip of metal or other material that covers up that gap while the door is closed so that air doesn’t leak through it any more. It’s simple to install one with the right tools – you usually just need a drill and a kit from a hardware store.

Once it’s installed, you’ll find that cold air doesn’t leak through that gap any more and thus your furnace runs less often than it used to. In the summer, the reverse is true – it keeps hot air outside and thus causes your air conditioning to run less frequently. Both of those results are big money savers.

Idea #7 – Caulk your windows
A similar phenomenon happens around your windows. Many windows, especially older ones, will leak a little air around the edges and when there’s a big difference between the temperature of indoor air and outdoor air, that can result in your furnace running more in the winter and your air conditioner running more in the summer.

Go around your home, identify the leaks, and then get out a caulking gun and some caulk (both available at your local hardware store for a very reasonable price) and apply some caulk to those leaky seams to block that air flow.

Much as with the weatherstripping, this simple project will keep cold air out in the winter and warm air out in the summer, and the result of that is that your energy-hogging furnace and air conditioning will run less during their prime seasons, causing your energy bill to drop significantly.

Idea #8 – Check and update the insulation in your attic
Another place where the flow of warm air to and from the outdoors can really affect the energy efficiency of your home is in the attic. Many attics are full of insulation to create a block between the outside air and the inside air so that you don’t gain unwanted heat in the summer or lose heat in the winter.

A quick peek up into your attic can tell you pretty quickly whether there are any gaps in your insulation. Just look for places where you can see light coming in from the darkness or where you feel air that’s of a different temperature than the inside of your home to see a spot that should be filled. Visit your hardware store, pick up some attic insulation, and fill in the spots where you see light.

It’s a simple task, but for many people, getting up in the attic and wandering around, then going to the hardware store for a bit of insulation, then getting up there again to install it is something they just don’t get around to. Make this spring break a time where you do get around to it.

Idea #9 – Install a programmable thermostat
Another simple energy improvement task you can take on to tidy up your finances a bit is to install a programmable thermostat. If you’re typically not at home during the day, a programmable thermostat can save you a surprising amount of money.

Installing them is a snap. It’s mostly just throwing a breaker so that you don’t get shocked, then removing the current thermostat (usually just a screwdriver is needed) and putting the new one in its place, connecting the wires as instructed. Take pictures as you go so you can diagnose problems later if any arise (like your air conditioner running constantly, which can happen if you didn’t connect a wire in the right spot).

Once you have it installed and working, it’s usually very easy to program. Just instruct it to not have the air conditioning or furnace running while you’re at work or asleep unless the temperature gets extreme. Our programmable thermostat allows the temperature to go as low as 50 F at night without the furnace kicking on and as high as 82 during the day without the air conditioning kicking on. This helps immensely with our energy bills.

Idea #10 – Replace all of the lights in your home with LEDs
Here’s yet another little project you can take on to improve the energy efficiency in your home. Just go around your home to every socket with a normal incandescent bulb in it and replace that bulb immediately with an LED.

LED bulbs are so efficient and long lasting that it is more cost-effective to remove a still-functioning incandescent bulb from a socket and replace it with an LED than to wait until the incandescent burns out normally. So, you’re better off updating all of your bulbs at once.

Head to the store, pick up enough LED bulbs to cover all of the sockets in your home that still have an incandescent bulb in them, and then go home and swap out some bulbs. Your energy bill will drop noticeably.

Idea #11 – Practice cutting your own hair
Here’s a secret: I cut my own hair. Sure, I have a simple short haircut where I trim the sides pretty short with a short clipper attachment and then trim the hair on top with a longer attachment and then even out the dividing line with a graduated attachment. It’s easy to do. The truth is, though, that most simple haircuts are things you can do for yourself in front of a mirror for free.

The first time you try to do it is pretty intimidating, which is why it’s a good project to try during a break from work or community responsibilities. If you mess something up, you can go to a professional to “fix” what you did. If it turns out fine, then you know you can do it and then can repeat it with confidence.

Right now is a perfect time to give this little project a shot. Get out a comb and some hair scissors or a set of clippers and get to work on your hair. Better yet, see if your spouse can cut it for you or if you can cut your spouse’s hair.

Idea #12 – Make a bunch of make-ahead meals and freeze them
There are few things more convenient and more wallet-friendly than having a bunch of home-cooked frozen meals in the freezer. You can go home after a busy day, preheat the oven, take one of them out of the freezer and put it in the fridge (for a day or two down the road), take one out of the fridge that you put in there a day or two earlier, and pop it right in the oven. An hour or so later, you’ll pull out a home-cooked meal for everyone in your family to enjoy. It’s a low-cost and super-convenient home-cooked meal.

The catch, of course, is that you need to prepare a bunch of these meals in advance. That’s where spring break comes into the picture. You can just take a lazy day and make several pans of lasagna and several batches of homemade soup and several pans of tuna casserole and put all of them away in the freezer (except for one, which you eat for dinner that night). There are many “make ahead” recipes online, so just Google a make-ahead recipe for anything you like. (Note that virtually any soup works great as a “make ahead,” just use about 20% less liquid than the recipe calls for and freeze it in quart or gallon freezer containers or bags when it’s mostly done cooking.)

A freezer full of low-cost home-cooked meals that you can pop right in the oven or onto the stovetop to finish up whenever it’s convenient is an enormous money saver – and a time saver on a busy night.

Final Thoughts
Even if you find time to do just one or two of these things during your spring break, you’ll find that any of these projects will result in a greater understanding of your financial situation or more money in your pocket. Many of them will result in a permanent reduction in your bills, and some will even result in time saved over the long run.

What about me? What’s my big spring break project? I actually have four of them, three of which are straight from this list. I’m going to read a personal finance book (one that I’ll probably talk about or review later on The Simple Dollar, but that I’m reading primarily for my own enrichment) on the philosophical basis of frugality. I’m also going to do my family’s income tax filing, and I’m going to write a business plan for a side gig I’ve had in mind for a while. My final “spring break” project this year isn’t really personal finance related – it involves spending a day with a few old friends playing a very long board game together.

As for you? Set aside a bit of spring break time for a financial improvement task, and maybe some time for a special personal project, too. You won’t regret it!

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