This is What I Learned When I Finally Set My Finances to Autopilot

I’ve spent the past few months setting my personal finances to autopilot.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean I don’t have to think about money anymore. I still obsessively monitor my budget.

But it does make paying bills, saving money, and even making money, a heck of a lot easier.

Overall, I’m feeling more financially confident. Plus, I have more time to, well, waste… or to write about money-saving tips.

Like these.

I know, I know. You might feel iffy about letting go, even just a little bit. But here are some solid reasons to automate your finances — plus tips and tools tol help you get started.

1. You’ll Protect Your Hard-Earned Money

I’m a fairly paranoid person. Worst-case scenarios generally take up a good chunk of space inside my brain.

But when it comes to identity theft and data breaches, I should probably be a little more paranoid. After the Equifax breach, I joined the 59% of consumers who didn’t check to see if their data was affected.

Why? In part, I was busy, and I’d always think about it at the most inconvenient time — like on a flight or in the shower. I also thought the process would be a lot more involved (spoiler alert: it’s not). Plus, I had already signed up with Credit Sesame earlier this year.

Credit Sesame not only shows me my credit score and credit report — for free — it also allows me to sign up for text and email alerts. If anything fishy is going on, or something dramatically changes within my accounts, the service automatically lets me know.

Plus, it offers $50,000 in identity theft insurance and fraud assistance if someone does steal and use my information. (You can’t see me, but I’m knocking on wood right now.)

Now, I’ve freed up more space in my head to draw up other horrific scenarios.

2. You’ll Find That Saving isn’t Impossible

Admittedly, saving money is not my forte. Even when I was living back home with my parents, I struggled to tuck money into a savings account.

Now, I’m wishing more than anything that I’d taken the matter more seriously. Looking back, I coulda-shoulda-woulda set up an automated savings account.

I’ve learned the best way to trick yourself into saving money is to automate it.

Start simply, and allocate a portion of your paycheck to a separate, hands-off account.

With Stash, you can start with as little as $5, and select how often — and how much — you’d like to invest. Be realistic. Even if it’s $5 a month, you’re doing something, and that’s all that matters.

And because it’s automatic, you likely won’t miss the money. Plus, you’ll be surprised with a nice little nest egg of savings — which can go toward paying off your debt if needed.

And, hey, when you sign up, you’ll snag a $5 bonus to make your first investment!

Now, you’re doublin’ down on those savings… am I right?

3. You’ll Coast Along the Road to Retirement

Ideally. I mean, you never know what life’s gonna throw at you, but if you have a 401(k) set up — or any other retirement account — that’s awesome.

And if it’s through your employer, it’s automatic. No monthly reminders, and again, what you don’t see, you don’t miss.

You’ll just want to be sure your 401(k) is doing what you need it to do.

I’m reluctant to hire a financial adviser because, well, I don’t have many finances for one to advise me on. But when I logged into my 401(k) account to poke around, it might as well have been jibberish.

That’s why I signed up for Blooom, an SEC-registered investment advisory firm that optimizes and monitors my 401(k) for me.

Blooom gave me a free 401(k) “checkup”. It used a flower metaphor to show me that my account wasn’t exactly blooming. It told me I needed to mix up my stocks and bonds and diversity my funds.

I didn’t really know where to start with that, so I opted in for the $10 a month service. Now Blooom keeps tabs on everything, and I’ll occasionally get an email from the robo-advisor that lets me know my account has been rebalanced.

It’s nice to know that one day I might actually be able to retire.

4. You’ll Know You’re Paying What’s Fair

For services you can’t necessarily shop around for, it’s hard to know if you’re paying what’s fair.

When I recently sought out cable and internet, I realized I had only one option. And it was not cheap.

I tried to passively haggle (definitely an oxymoron) with the sales associate on the other end of the line, but I knew I was stuck unless I wanted to forego internet — and my treasured work-from-home days.

But after installation, I uploaded a PDF of my first cable and internet bill to Trim. Trim is a website, personified by a cute little bot wearing a visor, that acts as your personal finance assistant.

After uploading the PDF, Trim’s AI-powered system got to work. It negotiates with a number of cable and internet companies, including Comcast, Time Warner, Charter and Spectrum.

If Trim manages to save you money, it’ll take a 25% credit. The rest, though, is applied toward your upcoming bill (or bills).

And you don’t necessarily have to be paying too much. Trim also negotiates with companies if there’s an outage.

In the month since I’ve started my service, I’ve earned $10 back. Others, though, have taken to Twitter to report saving even more:

@ask_trim I thought trim pulled a quick one on me. I was wrong! Trim saved me $200 on my Comcast bill! I simply cant believe it. Thank You! http://pic.twitter.com/xtPzY5oqsm

— Schwifty (@Trmplstilskn00) October 20, 2017

@ask_trim thanks for saving me $28.97 for a one-day Comcast TV and internet outage! You are the best!

— Zuchini Bread (@puddlejumper83) October 18, 2017

#BelieveTheHype i just received a $100 comcast credit for no work. thanks .@ask_trim http://pic.twitter.com/URbRBxfLqV

— Joshua Lory (@joshua_lory) October 18, 2017

Trim will also show you all your subscriptions, so if you have an old magazine subscription hidden in the depths of your accounts, it’ll show you. You can then automatically cancel said subscription through Trim.

Honestly, it feels great knowing someone — or something, in this case — has my back. And that it doesn’t require sitting on hold for hours at a time.

5. You’ll Make Some Passive Income

Like a true Penny Hoarder, I’ve become obsessed with earning cash back on my purchases. Any little bit counts — and it adds up more quickly though I thought.

For example, in the past six months, I’ve earned nearly $100 through the Ibotta app.

I recently added another one to stash. It’s called Dosh, and it’s all — you guessed it — automated.

Dosh is neat because you don’t have to scan barcodes, take photos of receipts or hunt down promo codes.

Here’s what to do:

• Download the Dosh app. It’s free.
• Connect your credit and/or debit cards. Select the ones you use most frequently. For the first card you connect, you’ll earn $5. The subsequent cards will earn you another $1.
• Go about your day.

Each time you complete a transaction at a Dosh-affiliated retailer, restaurant or even brewery, you’ll earn automatic cash back. For example, I can earn 7% back at a local coffee shop. Or 2% cash back at Sam’s Club.

I’ve enjoyed the app’s passiveness. I don’t even have to check in. (Except I do, because there’s a certain thrill that comes with earning cash back.)

Bonus: If you want guaranteed cash back on every single purchase, stake out the best rewards card for you.

We like the Barclaycard CashForward™ World Mastercard® because you’ll earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Each time you redeem those rewards, you also get a 5% redemption bonus to use toward your next redemption.

You’ll get a $200 bonus when you sign up and spend $1,000 within 90 days. When you think about it, $1,000 isn’t really that much; groceries can add up pretty fast. Just make sure you pay your bill in full each month.

If you want to learn about more ways to set up a passive stream of income — no matter how big or small — we’ve got some ideas for you.

6. You’ll Always Remember to Pay All Your Bills

Forgetting to pay a bill can send you into a spiral of late fees and overdraft fees and right on over to collections.

It’s another irrational fear I have — forgetting to pay an important bill and ruining my credit score.

I’ve started tackling this worry by setting my bills to auto-pay. Now, I don’t have to worry about paying my electric, cable and internet or credit card bill off in time because it’ll just pull from my account. (The key is to just have enough money to pay for those…)

I’m also working to automate my monthly rent payments, but I haven’t quite figured that out with my landlord. In the meantime, I’ve set up a reminder with Trim, which shoots me a Facebook message with a reminder.

(My rent is due the 12th of every month, so it’s not like it’s that easy to remember. Stop judging me.)

Although it’s not healthy to totally forget about your finances — I think that’s what therapists call repression? — it is helpful to automate a few important aspects of it to keep that well-oiled machine chugging.

Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s fond of lengthy to-do lists. Without automating some aspects of her finances, her lists would span the entire block.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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Looks Like Uber Got Hacked Last Year: Here’s How to Protect Your Identity

Another day, another hack.

We hate to say it, but data hacks are becoming the norm. Think: Pizza Hut, Equifax and Forever 21.

The latest company to join the never-ending list? Uber.

Although this data breach only recently come to light, it actually occurred more than a year ago — in October 2016. Hackers got their hands on the data of more than 57 million riders and drivers, according to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi’s blog post.

The data included names, email addresses and phone numbers. The driver’s license numbers of about 600,000 U.S. Uber drivers were also exposed.

So why are we just hearing about Uber hack?

Well, the company managed to keep the breach a secret under former CEO Travis Kalanick, according to multiple news outlets, including the New York Times, by paying a $100,000 ransom. The incident was uncovered after a recent internal investigation.

Now, Khosrowshahi, who didn’t know about the Uber hack until recently, is making strides to be transparent.

Khosrowshahi also ensures Uber drivers and riders that their information is OK.

“At the time of the incident, we took immediate steps to secure the data and shut down further unauthorized access by the individuals,” his announcement states.

“We subsequently identified the individuals and obtained assurances that the downloaded data had been destroyed. We also implemented security measures to restrict access to and strengthen controls on our cloud-based storage accounts.”

That’s great and all, but what if this happens again?

How to Protect Yourself From Data Breaches…

…even if they’re kept secret…

We’ve got two easy steps you can take to help protect yourself in the future. Do note: You can definitely do both of these.

Option 1: Protect Your Identity — for Free

Start by taking a super simple — and free — step: Sign up for credit-monitoring alerts.

You can find this service on a number of platforms, including Credit Sesame. Here, you’ll gain access to your credit score and your credit report. You can also sign up for email or text alerts, so the service will let you know if anything weird is going on.

It also offers $50,000 in identity theft insurance. Again, for free.

Option 2: Freeze Your Credit

If you want to take a more aggressive approach — and don’t mind dropping a few dollars — consider freezing your credit.

Credit Sesame defines a credit freeze as  “a process which locks down your credit file and prevents identity thieves and cyber criminals from opening credit in your name.”

Basically, no one can do anything with that information except you.

When you do need access to your credit — for example, when you open a new bank account, sign up for a credit card or apply for a mortgage — you’ll unfreeze (or thaw) it. The process  only takes a few hours and shouldn’t cost more than $20.

If you want to learn the ins and outs of credit freezes, read up on this guide.

Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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Make This Thanksgiving Weekend a Movie Weekend With This BOGO Ticket Deal

Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family and loved ones. You eat a great meal. You bond.

You bond some more.

OK, now you just need to find something to do before you all go nuts. How about a movie?

Right now, there are a lot of interesting choices out there for you. Feeling like a big-action superhero movie? Go see “Thor: Ragnarok” or “Justice League” to get your fix.

Mystery? It doesn’t get cooler than a new take on Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express.”

Have the kids along and want a family-friendly jaunt? “Wonder” will make you all cry (in a good way), and “Coco” is the newest creation from Disney Pixar.

Or, you could just sneak in some mini-bottles and tear it up with “A Bad Moms Christmas” or “Daddy’s Home 2.” No one is judging.

And while you’re at it, get buy one, get one tickets with this deal from Atom.

Get BOGO Movie Tickets With Atom

Atom, a new app designed to help you get movie tickets easily, is having a special BOGO promotion now through Nov. 26. Just buy one movie ticket at regular price and get a second ticket for that same showing absolutely free.

Visit the Atom website or download the Atom app and find your local theater. Pick the movie and time you want, and add two or more tickets to your cart.

Here’s the catch to this BOGO: You need to use Chase Pay as your payment method to get the deal, so you have to have either a Chase bank account or credit card.

The deal runs through Nov. 26 or until supplies run out, whichever comes first.

If you are looking to get out of the house, it’s a great time to catch a movie. There are a lot of amazing options out there. Why not save a little money so you can spring for the jumbo bucket of popcorn? It’s Thanksgiving weekend. It’s allowed.

Tyler Omoth is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder who loves soaking up the sun and finding creative ways to help others. Sour Patch Kids are his go-to movie treat. Catch him on Twitter at @Tyomoth.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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10 Financial Choices You’ll Regret in 10 Years

“All I had to do was turn in the form to my HR department.”

It was a simple task but one that was shoved to the side to deal with most important things throw at us.

The form was a 401k enrollment firm and I my client was left wondering what could have been had she enrolled when it first became available to her.

We've all faced similar decisions.

Some we get right.  Some we are left wondering the possibilities of what could and should have been.

Let's take a look at some financial decisions that you'd kick yourself for in 10 years.

Don't do them!

1. Starting your budget way too late

I’ll be first to admit that I hate budgeting. Nonetheless, my wife and I both recognize the importance of having a budget.

Most people view budgeting as not being able to spend money on the things that you want to but the reality is sitting down and making out a budget is a freeing exercise. It frees you because you can recognize the areas of your life of where you are wasting money on things that aren’t important to you.

An easy example could be spending money on a cell phone package when you might not need all of the minutes with the data that it provides. Could you put that extra money toward a vacation fund or help pay for your kid’s college education? Using that money for something that is more desirable instead of an expense that you could care less about will put your money to better use.

If you have been putting off beginning to budget, it's time to start. Forget that you should have started yesterday, start today and discover the amazing benefits of budgeting. Some of those benefits will extend to other areas of your life besides your finances . . . .

For example, you might find that having a budget improves your relationship with your partner. If you're married, you probably know how difficult money fights can be to overcome. You know what?

A budget helps reduce those money fights because you're making an agreement before you spend the money. No surprises, no fights.

2. Not paying off your credit cards each month

This was something that my father struggled with and I initially struggled with when I was graduating college. I was picking up credit cards left and right and kept telling myself that I could just make a payment later.

Well, for me, later became never and my credit card debt started piling on and suffocating me. I eventually figured it out only after paying hundreds of dollars of unnecessary interest.

Unfortunately, a lot of people don't take the time to figure out how much interest are paying. However, if they found out, they'd probably want to pay off their credit cards pretty quickly.

Make an effort to pay off your credit cards quickly. The beauty of doing this is that it will ensure you keep more money in your wallet instead of giving it over to some large credit card company.  If you cannot pay them off quickly then open up one of the 0 apr credit cards so you can get your interest down to zero and pay them off faster.

Some people can't control their credit card spending. If that's you, it's best to stay away from credit cards altogether. While you might be missing out on the rewards, you'll be better off.

3. Blindly buying a financial product without investigating first

It amazes me that with the ability to do a quick search online that many investors are still putting their money into investment products and they don’t understand how they work. I talked to dozens of investors who have invested a large chunk of their life savings into something that they couldn’t explain to a friend or neighbor.

Do your homework, get a second opinion, and make sure that you understand how this investment works. How much is it going to cost you? Are there any surrender charges? These are the types of answers that you need to know.

I know a woman who paid over $3,500 in variable annuity fees and didn't even know it. Don't think it can't happen to you.

If someone is selling you an investment or an insurance product, make sure that you do your homework before you invest your money.

4. Putting your emergency fund on the back burner

Emergency funds help protect you from the inevitable. The thing is, everyone has a big financial emergency at some point. That's why you need to prepare.

It's a fantastic idea to have many months worth of expenses in your fund. Some people have three months, others have 12. I think you should have eight months, but choose an amount that makes sense for your situation.

For example, if you're single and have one job, you will probably want more money in your emergency fund. If you're married and both you and your spouse are employed, you can probably get away with less money in your emergency fund.

There are a number of places to put your emergency fund money. Remember, you should only place your emergency fund money somewhere that you can retrieve it pretty quickly without much risk to your capital.

One such place is an online savings account. There are a number of great online savings accounts that deliver quite a bit more interest than you'd find at a physical bank or credit union.

Plus, there are usually no penalties associated with taking money out of a standard online savings account (if there are, look elsewhere).

That's just one idea of where you can keep your emergency fund money. I recommend that you read The 11 Best Short-Term Investments For Your Money at GoodFinancialCents.com to learn about some more places you can keep your emergency fund money. But don't just stop there – act on what you learn and get your emergency fund moving in the right direction!

Remember: If you let your emergency fund slip into the abyss, you might find yourself down the road with more debt than you can handle. Make sure to replenish it!

5. Buying a brand new car that you can't afford

Vehicles are important for many, but remember that they can quickly turn into a discretionary purchase. Don't buy all the bells and whistles when you can't afford them.

The ramifications of a car payment well exceed the financial hit of the price of the car, and you can end up spending your retirement away without realizing it.

Listen, I know what it's like to drive around an old car. I used to have a '98 Chevy Lumina Sedan that was something a grandmother would drive. Now, I probably could have purchased something fancier or sold the car before I did, but instead, I decided that not having a car payment was awesome. But I certainly didn't always think that way.

I remember my professor in a finance class pointing out that he would take a bunch of vacations whenever he wanted to because he didn't have a car payment. And you know what? He was right. That one little point from my finance professor made a difference in my life, and it taught me the value of owning stuff outright. You can learn this lesson too and see tremendous results.

And please, please don't tell me that you're thinking about buying a brand new car for your kid in college because they need “reliable transportation.”

There are plenty of reliable, used cars available for purchase that are much more affordable than brand new cars. And you know what the differences are between a car that's three to five years old and a brand new car? There aren't many in most cases. So why spend the extra money?

6. Trying to be a DIY investor when you have no clue what you're doing

If you're not a financial professional or haven't been exposed to financial education, you really shouldn't be investing unless you're doing so with the help of a financial advisor.

I think the biggest harm in this comes when an older couple is retired and the husband has been mostly in charge of the couple’s investments. All too often, the wife is clueless in what they’re actually invested into and if something unexpectedly happens to the husband, she doesn’t even know where to begin. Hire a financial advisor who can meet with the both of you. Then, the wife has someone to rely on in case something happens and is super important.

Financial advisors can also save you a great deal of time and money ensuring your investing strategy is relevant for your situation. Don't go without this valuable service.

7. Viewing important insurance polices as being lame

If you were to die right now, would your family be financially okay? If not, you need life insurance.

And, that's just one example. There are a number of important insurance policies you shouldn't delay in putting in place: disability insurance, perhaps long-term care insurance if you're over 60 years old, and perhaps umbrella insurance.

“I’ll get around to doing it.” Those were the tragic last words of a husband that left behind his wife and two kids. What he was going to getting around to doing was taking out a life insurance policy. In fact, he had begun the process and gone through his life insurance options, but never signed the application and never sent in a payment so the policy wasn’t active.

In any other situation that wouldn’t have been a big deal, but in this case, the husband took his motorcycle out for a weekend spin and was involved in a collision that left his spouse a widow. What could have been a financial relief (a life insurance policy) is now added stress and worry to a grieving widow (the absence of funds when the family needs it most). She also has to deal with the fact that she lost her husband and the father of her two kids.

Insurance protects you from financial liability you wouldn't be able to cover with your emergency fund alone. Don't neglect it.

8. Treating your retirement like a distant second cousin

One of the first meetings I had as a financial advisor was when I was meeting with a couple that was almost two and a half times my age. They were hoping to retire soon and they sought me out to be their retirement hope.

When I started poring through their financial documents, I quickly learned that retiring early wasn’t even close to being an option for them. In fact, retiring at all might not be a possibility. They put off saving and planning for retirement way too long.

They had little savings and no pension and the only thing they could really fall back on was Social Security. Note: their savings was roughly about $60,000. Don’t procrastinate any longer. Even if you get started investing only $100 a month, do it.

Saving for retirement is critical. If you're trusting Social Security to be your sole source of income, think again. It's not likely that you'll be able to maintain your lifestyle with Social Security benefits alone. If you would be able to, congratulations, you're living pretty frugally!

Invest today with a financial professional you trust.

9. Neglecting important money conversations with your spouse

Want to crash and burn financially?  Try taking on all of your financial goals without getting on the same page of your spouse.

Marriage means you do life together as one unit.  All decisions, especially money decisions, should be discussed and agreed up.

Why not align your financial goals? Talk through your differences, learn to compromise, and get on the same page together. It will be worth it – especially down the road.

10. Being blind to your recurring expenses

Recurring expenses can eat a hole in your wallet. And you know what? Many people don't even know that's happening to them.

Take a look at the recurring expenses – large and small – and determine which ones you absolutely need and which ones look more like discretionary splurges. It's okay to splurge every once in a while, but don't go overboard.

When you are working on your budget, many of these expenses might come to your mind. Don't just forget about them – do something about them! If you have a high cable bill, see if you can get a discount. If you have a gym membership that you're not using, consider exercising at home instead. There are many ways to save money on recurring expenses.

Follow this advice, and you'll be much less likely to kick yourself in the future. Aim for no regrets!

This post originally appeared on Forbes.

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How Different Color Schemes Can Impact Sales on Your Website

While most people may not realize it, marketing and psychology are closely related.

The most successful marketing campaigns apply customer psychology.

On the surface, it’s a simple concept.

If you understand how the customer’s mind works, you can use certain triggers to help you generate a profit.

One of the most important psychological factors you need to consider is color.

Keep it in mind when you’re:

• branding your company logo
• designing your website
• building a mobile application
• creating a call-to-action button
• sending an email
• coming up with a marketing campaign.

The list goes on and on.

Basically, anything visual your company produces needs to have appropriate color schemes.

The right colors can lead to a conversion, while the wrong colors can leave a customer with a negative impression of your company (which you obviously want to avoid).

Let’s take a look at something as simple as gender as it relates to favorite colors:

Blue is for men and pink is for women, right?

Think again.

According to a recent study (image above), both men and women said blue was their favorite color.

Clearly, just because newborn babies are typically put in either blue or pink doesn’t mean grown adults feel the same way.

Here’s more from that same study that shows the least popular colors based on gender:

Both men and women dislike brown and orange.

But why?

I’ll explain the psychology behind different colors so you can adjust your marketing tactics accordingly.

Changing a website’s colors can help you increase sales for your business.

Blue

Let’s start off by discussing the color blue since we already established it’s the favorite color for both men and women.

It represents security, trust, and dependability.

Blues also signify spirituality and calmness.

With so many different shades of blue out there, which one should you choose for your website?

Light blue shades work best for friendly websites that have a social and calm concept.

Use dark blue hues for corporations and businesses.

Here’s a visual representation of the top 10 most valuable brands in the world:

Do you notice a pattern here?

Half of these businesses have a shade of blue in their logos.

Based on everything we just discussed, this shouldn’t be a surprise.

Depending on your company, blue may be a top choice for your website.

Green

We associate green with the word “go”.

It represents life, nature, wealth, and harmony.

Green colors also symbolize freshness, the environment, and something new.

With that said, these associations are not universal across the globe.

Keep that in mind when you’re designing a website.

Here’s how people in different geographic locations perceive the color green:

Look at some of the polar opposite representations here.

In Japan, green represents life.

But in South America, it signifies death.

Make sure you understand your primary target audience and what colors mean to their culture.

Here’s a great example of how Animal Planet incorporates greens into their website design:

Why?

Like I said before, in our culture, green symbolizes nature and the environment, so it works well with the overall theme of their brand.

Pink

Even though pink wasn’t every woman’s favorite color, it still represents femininity.

For those of you running a business primarily geared toward men, I’d recommend staying away from pink tones.

Pink stands for love, sexuality, nurture, sweetness, and warmth.

Look at how a gender specific brand like Victoria’s Secret uses pink on their website:

The company sells strictly women’s apparel, so they don’t need to worry about turning away men from their brand.

When a woman shops at Victoria’s Secret, the pink tones make her feel welcome.

Red

Stop at a stop sign. Stop at a red light.

These are some of the things we think of when we see the color red.

It’s muscle memory and instinct.

But red represents more than that.

From a marketing perspective, red creates a sense of urgency.

That’s why you’ll often see red sales tags on discounted items.

Red tones appeal to impulse shoppers because the color can increase their heart rates.

Restaurants use this color to fuel a customer’s appetite.

McDonald’s has been using this strategy for years to lure hungry people into their restaurants.

From an emotional and personality viewpoint, red roses are a symbol of love.

Red evokes passion as well as intensity.

You can strategically use this color based on your industry.

If you want to increase conversion rates and deliver an urgent message, use red to draw the viewer’s attention to that area.

Yellow

If you’re using yellow on your website, it’s important to use it subtly and sparingly.

Don’t use it for text because it’s hard on the eyes and tough for people to read.

Yellow represents happiness, joy, and cheer.

It’s a warm and happy color with an energizing effect.

There’s a difference between different shades of yellow and the way they represent age.

Bright yellow is used to represent children and their youth, while darker yellow designs signify a more mature age.

Here’s how yellow affects personality and emotion:

Overall, using yellow on your website will create a positive and appealing vibe.

However, it can also stand for caution or act as a warning sign.

Make sure your message is clear whenever you’re using yellow.

It works well to complement logos but doesn’t stand well on its own.

Orange

Orange isn’t a commonly used color.

Earlier we saw that 33% of women and 22% of men said this was their least favorite color.

However, because companies use it so sparingly, it typically stands out when you see it.

That means it’s a great color for your CTA buttons.

Orange is a comforting color.

It’s got some of the same qualities as both yellow and red.

It’s sociable, energetic, and sunny.

Similar to red, it can often stimulate appetite.

Orange can also stand for affordability, which may be the reason why The Home Depot uses it in their logo:

Orange is friendly and energetic, but it’s not as overwhelming and hard on the eyes as yellow.

Purple

Purple ranked high in terms of women’s favorite color.

It’s a beautiful shade that stands for royalty:

It’s a noble and romantic color as well.

Purple is luxurious and gives people the feeling of nostalgia, power, and glamour.

This color is also used to stimulate curiosity because it represents a mystery.

If you’re running some sort of surprise promotion in which a website user or email subscriber needs to click to reveal an offer, consider using a purple CTA button.

Purple tones are often associated with a ceremony as well.

They represent creativity and exclusivity.

If you’re trying to target a group of people who see themselves as high-class, you may want to consider incorporating purple somewhere on your website.

White

People often overlook white, but yes, it’s still an important color to consider in your website design.

Although it may appear plain, white represents simplicity and purity.

It’s a clean design allowing a brand to signal perfection.

White logos are often used in health care industries.

It’s also associated with luxury brands and designs.

That’s why Apple uses a white logo in their website color scheme.

If you’re using white on your website, you can also use grey tones to compliment it, just like Apple does with the light grey background and dark grey text.

White is used to show high-tech products.

When associated with cuisine, white represents foods that have low fat.

To add sophistication or strength to your website, consider using a simple white and grey design.

Don’t use white for any buttons.

Instead, you can use a darker colored button with white font if you want to go that route.

Black

Black establishes authority.

Similarly to white, it can represent sophistication, luxury, and elegance.

Products and brands that are black can be viewed as expensive—the opposite of orange.

So if your website is supposed to be for people who want a bargain, I’d recommend staying away from black.

Black is serious and can also be considered very somber.

I wouldn’t recommend using black if your company represents new life or rejuvenation because black is often associated with death.

Brown

Brown is commonly used in the following industries:

• Food
• Agriculture
• Environment

It’s an earthy tone that represents durability and simplicity.

Brown is a natural color that stands for dependability.

If you want to add a dark color to your website but don’t want to use black, consider using brown as a warmer alternative.

When a company uses brown in their logo, it shows customers that they are reliable:

That’s why the slogan for UPS is “What can brown do for you?”

It’s a nice customer service color.

What color should I use for my website?

If you’re torn between a couple of different color choices, you can run an A/B test to determine which one gives you a higher conversion rate.

Keep everything on your website the same, but change the background color, an accent color, or a CTA button color.

Experiment.

But don’t change the content or layout.

Here’s an example of a test for the CTA button color choice:

Everything on the website remains the same.

The only thing that changed was a green CTA button vs. a red CTA button.

Based on what we talked about earlier, green means go and red means stop.

So a hypothesis would be that the green button would outperform the red button.

However, the results of this test told a different story.

The red button saw a 21% higher conversion rate than green.

It’s surprising, but it’s good to know.

Just because you think you understand how people perceive certain colors doesn’t mean you shouldn’t run any tests.

The difference of 21% is so significant that it can drastically impact how much money your website makes.

Look, I’m not telling you this so you automatically choose red over green each time.

It depends on your brand, industry, and customer base.

I used this example to show why you should never assume anything and always run an A/B test to make sure you’re making the right decision.

Where to find the best color scheme for your website

Like I said before, it’s important to use different tones.

Don’t just pick blue and make your entire website the same shade of blue.

Using a blue color palette is much more appealing.

I like to use Coolers.co to find color schemes that work well with each other.

If you wanted to use purple tones on your website, this service helps generate a palette of purple colors.

You’ll get all different shades of purple from light to dark.

Pick and choose which ones you want to use for different parts of your website.

Consider using a lighter shade as the background and darker tones for text.

Conclusion

The color choices on your website appeal to the psychology of your customer.

Don’t pick a color at random.

Make sure the colors you choose reflect your brand and company message.

It can impact your sales.

Think back to the example we used for A/B testing a CTA button.

A simple color change boosted conversions by over 20%.

Don’t miss out on an opportunity like that by not taking the time to carefully select the right colors for your website.

Look at your target audience.

If you’re trying to appeal to a certain gender, use colors like blue or pink.

For those of you who want to create a sense of urgency or an alert, red would work well.

Black and white colors symbolize authority, simplicity, and cleanliness.

Purple is a color of royalty, social status, and curiosity.

Follow the tips I outlined above to come up with a killer color scheme for your website to boost sales.

What feeling are you trying to evoke from your customers with your website colors?

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These Are Perfect Clapbacks for When Your Finances Start Throwing Shade

Your debt is out of hand. Like, drunk at 3 a.m. on Twitter out of hand.

It’s time to shut it down.

Next time your finances threaten to get you down, show ’em what you’re made of.

Here are seven scathing financial clapbacks for every time money throws a little too much shade on your sunny day.

1. For the Empty Savings Account Mocking Your Globetrotting Dreams

Every time your new issue of “Travel & Leisure” shows up, you hear your bank account hissing, “Yeah, enjoy that rustic Irish inn with the $8.37 you’ve squirreled away.”

Use This App to Start Saving Without Thinking About It

Next time you swipe your credit card, you can tell your bank account, “Enjoy my spare change, boo.”

That’s because you’ll be using Acorns, an app that helps you save and invest without thinking about it.

Acorns connects to your checking account and credit cards. With each purchase, it rounds up to the nearest dollar and sticks your digital change into a simple investment portfolio based on your goals.

So you can set aside money without noticing it missing, and that money has the potential to grow through investments in the stock market. And you never had to learn WTF an ETF is.

You: 1. Mountain of debt: 0.

2. For the Maxed-out Credit Cards Dissing Your Monthly Budget

You think you’ve got your budget figured out each month. Then you spy your credit card bills chatting in the corner: “Does she seriously believe she’ll ever get rid of one of us?”

Consolidate Your Credit Card Debt to Pay It off Faster

Clap back at your credit card debt with Even Financial: “I won’t get rid of one of you. I’ll just get rid of all of you at once.”

Through this marketplace, you can consolidate your credit card debt, so you have just one lender to worry about — possibly with a much lower interest rate.

Even searches lenders to match you with a personalized loan offer in three steps. Even’s platform can help you borrow up to $100,000 (no collateral needed) with fixed rates starting at 4.99% and terms from 24 to 84 months.

3. For the Student-Loan Debt Taunting You for Changing Your Major Six Times

College was tough. It doesn’t help that now you have tens of thousands of dollars in student-loan debt screaming, “Maybe if you were more decisive, you’d have a better job by now!”

Refinance Student Loans to Get Them Under Control

Bid farewell to your student loans and tell them, “If your interest rates weren’t so ugly, maybe we’d still be together right now.”

Through a marketplace like Credible, you can replace your mess of private and federal loans with a new loan from a single lender.

Starting fresh on your loans could help you:

• Owe a lower monthly payment, in case you’re struggling to keep up with payments now.

• Get a lower interest rate, which means you’ll pay less over the life of your loan.

Credible tells us their average user saves about two interest points on their federal loans.

It might seem like a small difference, but a lower interest rate can mean a lot of savings over time. It’s helping grad Ashley Williams save more than $18,000 in interest over the life of her loan!

Enter your info at Credible to find an interest rate you can swipe right on today.

4. For the Extra Bedroom You Swore You’d Turn Into a Craft Room

You were going to sell your hand-sewn pillows at the weekend art fair. You pay an extra $300 a month to live in the two-bedroom apartment.

But work’s been running you ragged, and you’d rather spend your free time clearing your mind with Netflix than cross-stitching swear words. So the room sits mostly unused, nagging you every time you walk by, “Bet you can’t even darn a sock.”

Make Your Space Count By Listing the Spare Room

Adjust your aspirations, and make that snarky room earn its keep by renting it out to travelers in your city.

If you’re a good host with a desirable space, you could add hundreds — even thousands — of dollars to your savings account with Airbnb.

(Hosting laws vary from city to city. Please understand the rules and regulations applicable to your city and listing.)

5. For the Paycheck That LOLs When You Want to Go Out for a Night With the Girls

You feel a rush of excitement every payday — and it dissipates later that day when you pay all your bills. It’s like your salary is mocking you, “Enjoy the spoils of your labor — oh, nvm!”

Boost Your Bank Account by Starting a Lucrative Side Gig

You’ve done all you can to raise your salary at work — so find another source of income. Starting a side hustle can put extra money in your pocket and give you some control over your finances.

To make money on their own schedule, Sam and Susen Meteer earn $1,500 a week taking turns driving for Lyft and raising kids.

“It keeps milk on the table,” Sam says.

The extra cash could help you pay the bills and, you know, have a life. Here’s the link to get started.

6. For the Fancy Dress Shop That Eyes You Up Like Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman.”

Window shopping is fun, but the price tags on some of those outfits just scream, “I don’t think we have anything for you. You’re obviously in the wrong place.”

Get Paid to Walk Into Your Favorite Stores

With an app called Shopkick, you’ll always be in the right place — and you’ll earn money being there.

Shopkick pays you in rewards called “kicks” for walking into partner stores (including biggies like Target, Walmart, Macy’s and more). You’ll also earn kicks for scanning items in the stores or purchasing them with a connected card.

You can redeem your kicks for gift cards to places like Starbucks and Sephora — so you’ll look haute next time you stroll by that condescending window display.

7. For the Retirement Account That Says You’ll Be in This Cubicle Forever

Your retirement plan sees your dreams, and scoffs. “Better rig that RV with Wi-Fi, because you’ll never stop working.”

Show Your 401(k) Who’s Boss With This Simple Robo-Advisor

If you’re worried your retirement savings isn’t on the right track, spy on it with Blooom.

Signing up for your employer’s 401(k) plan is a good start. But you also need to make sure it’s doing what you need it to. Deciphering your account information — if you can even remember where to find it — can be tough.

That’s what Blooom is for. It’s an SEC-registered robo-adviser, which basically means you get the benefits of an investment advisory firm without the high costs.

You can connect your 401(k) account to Blooom to get up close and personal with it.

You’ll get an initial checkup for free to find out if you’re paying too many hidden fees and whether your money is invested in the best places to get you that RV on your 65th birthday. After that, the tool is $10 a month to continue to monitor your account.

Better rig that RV with Wi-Fi… so you can flaunt your journey to your bajillion Insta followers.

Clap Back at Debt

Debt is a nasty troll. But you don’t have to take its guff anymore.

Get your act together, and show your rude finances what you’re made of.

Dana Sitar (dana@thepennyhoarder.com) is a senior writer/newsletter editor at The Penny Hoarder. Say hi and tell her a good joke on Twitter @danasitar.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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Applications for US Unemployment Benefits Drop 13,000

The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits fell for the first time in three weeks, pushing total applications down to a low 239,000, further evidence of the strength of the labor market.

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Saving Enough for Retirement When Money Is Tight

One of the biggest financial challenges for everyone during their professional years is saving for retirement. The idea of needing to save hundreds of thousands of dollars – or even millions of dollars – for a goal that seems incredibly far off in the future feels simultaneously distant and incredibly intimidating, highly important but not at all urgent, like a mountain on the horizon.

It’s not even a question – most Americans must save for retirement. Social Security provides only a hand-to-mouth existence and very few companies or organizations today offer a pension plan (if you have one, you’re lucky, and I truly hope that the pension is secure).

Like it or not, the last thirty years or so have seen the responsibility for retirement income swing almost entirely in the direction of individuals having to be fully responsible for saving money early in life in order to be able to have a great retirement late in life. The traditional “work thirty years for a company and retire with a great pension” has become “work a few years for a company that might have a retirement savings plan of some kind, then move to another company, then move to another company.”

If you want a life with options in retirement, you have to save for it. There’s no two ways about it.

At the same time, finances for many Americans are tight. As I’ve mentioned many times on The Simple Dollar, 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and more than 10% of Americans making $100,000 or more a year can’t make ends meet. Money is tight for a lot of people.

In other words, the important long term goal of saving for retirement looms on the horizon for pretty much everyone, but the immediate realities of life push as hard as possible away from saving for retirement.

How does a person navigate this apparent conflict? With money so tight, what can a person do to squeeze out space for retirement savings? Here are some strategies that actually work.

Make Automatic Contributions

Here’s the neat part about automatic contributions to retirement: they never show up in your checking account (or, if they do, they show up for a day or so and then disappear). The money is just automatically moved for you. The only change that you really notice is that there’s just a bit less money in your checking account.

Well, isn’t that “bit less money” a problem? What actually happens for most people is that they simply make unconscious changes to spend a little less than before. When you check their account balance and find a little less money in it, you won’t choose to go without important things – rather, you’ll choose to go without minor spur of the moment things.

In other words, your retirement savings will be funded by things like not going into a convenience store when gassing up or not buying a spur of the moment extra book at a bookstore – the kinds of forgettable purchases that we all make when we have some extra money. Those purchases really add up.

How do you automate your contributions? If you have a workplace retirement savings plan, it’s pretty easy – just fill out a form to have contributions taken automatically from your check straight into your retirement account. If you’re managing your own account – say, a Roth IRA – just log onto the website for your account and set up an automatic transfer from your checking account that lines up well with your paydays.

In any case, the money will either never grace your checking account at all or only be in there for a moment. The magical part? You’ll barely notice it at all. It’s easy to think that you’ll definitely notice the change, but the truth is that the difference will be noticed in the form of buying fewer quickly-forgotten spur of the moment items.

Get Every Dime of Matching

One of the most efficient ways to save for retirement is to gobble up every single dime of employer matching if your employer offers it.

Many companies and most public employers offer some form of matching of your retirement contributions. They usually take the form of matching you dollar for dollar up to a certain amount of contributions. For example, some employers will match your contributions up to 5% of your salary, so if you put 5% of your salary away in your retirement plan, they’ll kick in 5%, too. That instantly doubles your money.

Gobble up every dollar of matching. It’s free money, or, at the very least, a part of your salary that will go unclaimed if you don’t take it. Do not leave it sitting on the table (unless you enjoy throwing money away, that is).

Let’s say you make $1,000 per paycheck. If your employer offers full matching of the first 5% of your contributions, start contributing 5%. Your pay goes down to $950, but you’re actually adding $100 per paycheck to your retirement savings. That’s well worth a 5% drop in your pay.

Start Young! (Meaning Start Now!)

The longer you wait to start saving for retirement, the more you’re going to have to save each and every pay period to make it to a decent retirement.

That might be obvious at first glance, but it’s actually even more intense than that. See, the earlier in your life that you contribute to retirement, the more years your contributions have to grow in value.

For example, let’s say you put money into retirement that’s going to grow at 7% a year until you’re 65.

If you put in $100 a month starting at age 25, your total contributions will be $48,000 over the course of those forty years ($100 times 12 times 40).

On the other hand, if you put in $200 a month starting at age 45, your total contributions will also be $48,000 when you reach age 65 ($200 times 12 times 20).

The difference comes in the investment returns.

If you start with $100 per month at age 25, your retirement account will be worth $247,946.81 (given the 7% annual return mentioned above).

On the other hand, if you start with $200 per month at age 45, your retirement account will only be worth $101,832.80 (again, given the 7% return mentioned above).

In both cases, the total contribution by the account holder is $48,000, but by starting earlier, the contributions end up working a lot harder for you, resulting in far more money saved up for retirement.

What does that mean? Start now. Start at the absolute first second you can. The longer the money sits there, the better off you’ll be.

Hands down, the single best decision I made during my twenties in terms of my finances is to contribute to my retirement plans, enough to get full matching from my employer. Because of that, my retirement accounts are already multiples of my current salary and I barely have to contribute any more throughout my adult life to have enough to retire at around age 65 or 70. Anything else I contribute just allows me to retire even earlier or add a bit of panache.

What if you’re older? Start. Now. Every month you wait, the harder the path becomes to a good retirement. You need every possible year between now and retirement for your savings to grow, so start today.

Remember – The Perfect Is the Enemy of the Good

It’s really easy to convince yourself that you can never possibly save “enough,” so why bother? It’s a calculus that many people make.

Here’s the thing: the perfect is always the enemy of the good. Having something saved for retirement is better than having nothing at all.

Even if you just contribute a little, even if you start late, even if you don’t have employer matching, anything you save is going to help. Having $5,000 is better than having nothing. Having $500 is better than having nothing.

People often talk about how much money they should have for retirement and those kinds of numbers seem overwhelming, but the truth is that those numbers present an optimum, perfect case. That’s what you’d need to save in order to have a life with a ton of financial flexibility while retiring early in your sixties.

Don’t worry about the “perfect” picture. Don’t give up because you feel like it’s impossible to achieve that kind of “perfection.” Worry instead about making your own picture a little better.

The perfect is always the enemy of the good. Shoot for good. Don’t worry about perfect.

Good luck.

The post Saving Enough for Retirement When Money Is Tight appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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Enrolled in Medicare? Here’s Why You Need To Review Your Plan Before Dec. 7

If you’re a Medicare recipient, you’ll want to tackle an important task before the open enrollment period ends on Dec. 7.

Spend a few minutes reviewing your plan to make sure you’re getting the right coverage to meet your needs.

You could save hundreds of dollars and get even better benefits by switching to another plan.

Still More Fun Than a Colonoscopy

A new survey from WellCare Health Plans found that 62% of seniors aged 65 and up don’t review their Medicare plan annually.

In fact, some Medicare enrollees aren’t aware it’s possible to review and change their plans. Others say it’s simply too frustrating to bother.

According to the survey, people say reviewing Medicare plans ranks right up there with colonoscopies and dentist visits on the list of things they don’t like to do.

Where to Find Information on Medicare Plans

When you’re ready to review and compare Medicare plans, there are a few places to find the information you need.

1. Watch Your Mail

Medicare mails “Plan Annual Notice of Change” packets to enrollees every year outlining any upcoming changes in plan coverage or cost.

Watch your mail carefully, though. The packets can be easy to overlook.

2. Go Online

Everything you need to review and compare your Medicare plan options can be found at Medicare.gov.

Enter your zip code in the Medicare Plan Finder tool for a broad list of plans available in your area. Or, for more personalized results, provide your Medicare number, last name and date of birth.

If you need additional help choosing a plan, AARP is a great place to turn for objective advice.

“There’s a wealth of information on www.aarp.org, and you can do a quick search to find the articles that most interest you or are relevant to what you’re seeking,” says Bart Astor, author of AARP Roadmap for the Rest of Your Life.

“AARP, of course, has published some excellent books on Medicare and they have featured articles in their Bulletin and magazine that can help with choosing the right plan.”

3. Find an Adviser

You can seek Medicare advice from an insurance counselor in several places, including:

• Your local senior center
• Your state’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program
• Medicare’s toll-free help line: 800-633-4227 (TTY 877-486-2048)

If you’re interested in plans with a particular company, “don’t forget about the customer service personnel at companies that offer plans,” Astor says. “They’re very knowledgeable and can help you find what’s best for you.”

Medicare advisers are also an option. Be sure to choose an independent agent who is authorized to sell a variety of Medicare plans rather than a captive agent who may be limited to only one or two plans.

“A captive agent will only be able to offer you a few plans, whether they fit your needs or not,” Diane Daniels, author of The Medicare Survival Guide, explained to USA Today. “A captive agent doesn’t get paid if they don’t make a sale. A captive agent doesn’t have you in their best interest. A Medicare adviser will.”

Medicare advisers are typically paid commission by the insurance companies they represent, and do not charge customers for the advice they offer.

Susan Edwards, an editor at The Penny Hoarder, recently used an independent agent to help sort out her Medicare options.

“My adviser was an independent agent and did not charge me,” says Edwards. “The bonus is that he doesn’t work for a particular insurance company and so has no incentive to push one plan over another. He said he is paid the same commission, regardless of which plan his clients choose.”

There are thousands of listings for independent Medicare agents online but your best bet is to ask friends and family for a word-of-mouth referral.

How to Compare Medicare Plans

Medicare.gov offers a wealth of information about Medicare plans, but it can be tough to sort through it all.

1. The Cheapest Isn’t Always the Best

Medicare premiums range from $0 to $400 per month depending on the plan you choose. Optional drug coverage can add another $13.30 or more to your monthly bill.

“While cost is one consideration, the lowest price isn’t always the smart choice, just like you don’t always choose the low bidder for work done on your house,” says Astor.

2. Look at the Big Picture

Before committing to a Medicare plan, make sure the doctors you see now are covered and give some thought to what kind of medical care you may need in the future.

Keep in mind that traditional Medicare plans offer limited or no dental, vision or hearing services.

“Also don’t forget that Medicare has limits on diagnostic tests such as MRIs and PET scans,” Astor notes. “Mental health conditions and substance abuse coverage should be a consideration as well.”

3. Do the Math

There’s more to Medicare expenses than just the monthly premium, so make sure you understand what you’ll pay out-of-pocket for doctor visits, hospital stays, and medical tests.

“The key is to make sure that when you compare plans, you’re considering all of the costs, including the deductibles, not just the premiums,” Astor says.  

How to Save Money on Medicare

Astor says the key to saving money on health care and Medicare expenses is “to anticipate our health care needs in the future, not what they were in the past.”

Take prescription drug coverage, for example.

“[T]wo weeks ago my blood pressure was considered well within the range of normal,” Astor says. “But recently it was reported that a blood pressure higher than 130 over 80 is considered hypertension. In the coming year, therefore, my doctor may decide that I need to be on a blood pressure medicine.”

If you can’t afford your Medicare premium or deductible, you may be able to get help from your state or through a government-funded program called “Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.”

Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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Moneywise Autumn Budget 2017 coverage

The Chancellor Philip Hammond has given his Autumn Budget to Parliament today. Here is a roundup of all the important news and information to come from the speech.

Autumn Budget 2017 – the Moneywise view: Stamp duty was the safest rabbit – pensions tax relief would have been too dangerous a beast
“Thank goodness for stamp duty abolition. Now, if we can only make use of our new millennial railcards and cut down on avocados, we’ll be able to buy properties,” chorus first-time buyers around the country. Or something like that.

Budget 2017 predictions: Will the Chancellor take from the old to give to the young?
Find out which predictions were made ahead of the budget. 

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• Markets & economy

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• Budget 2017 predictions: Will the Chancellor take from the old to give to the young?
• Autumn Budget 2017 – the Moneywise view: Stamp duty was the safest rabbit – pensions tax relief would have been too dangerous a beast
• Fun facts about the Budget

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Skip the Hand Turkeys — Here Are 4 Crafts to Make With the Kids Instead

These Free Apps Will Actually Pay You to Skip Those Holiday Desserts

My self-control is out of control.

And by out of control, I mean I have none. Especially when it comes to sweets. As you can imagine, the holidays are a particularly difficult time for me.

Sweet potato pie? One more slice, please. Homemade fudge? I’ll eat it ’til I feel sick. Caramel cake? Don’t count on leftovers…

But this year, I’m making big plans to step away from the dessert table. I’ve spent the past few days considering my options.

Sure, I could excuse myself from the table and run far, far away. Or I could just hide in the depths of my childhood closet, only emerging once every last crumb is gone.

Or I could do something slightly more normal: I could reward myself — in cash and gift cards — for skipping dessert.

Yes, you can actually get paid to lose weight.

I’ll share with you a few strategies I’m considering.

1. Walk It Off, Man

Sometimes the best tactic to avoid any situation is to just say no and walk away. (Isn’t that what they taught us in D.A.R.E.?)

For that reason, I’ve downloaded two apps that’ll reward me for the number of steps I’ve taken.

• Achievement: This is an app you can connect to other apps to keep track of your daily activity.

For example, hook Achievement up to your Fitbit, Garmin, MapMyRun or MyFitnessPal (among a bunch of others). It’ll keep track of your steps and reward you in points. Once you collect 10,000 points, exchange them for a $10 gift card. About 20,000 steps equates to 50 points.

On that note, I’ve got to say, this isn’t the fastest way to earn money, but it’s so passive I don’t mind. Plus, Achievement delivers weekly progress reports to my inbox, which motivates me to keep moving.

• Qapital: Achievement pays you, whereas with Qapital, you pay yourself. This is an app that helps you automatically save money.

Download the Qapital app and create a savings goal for yourself. Then set some rules. One of my favorites is the daily step goal. I have my account set so that when I reach my goal of 10,000 steps a day, the app pulls $2 from my checking account into my Qapital savings account.

I’ve got to say, the app is fun to use — if even a bit addicting. I used it last summer and managed to tuck away $700 in about five months toward a vacation.

Go ahead and set up a fun goal for yourself before Thanksgiving dinner, then you’ll feel more motivated walking away from those desserts.

2. Bet Yourself You Can Skip Dessert

Because I have terrible self-control, I have this Negative Nancy voice in my head saying, “You can’t do it. Give up.” This goes for anything — from going on a two-mile run to lifting five-pound weights to, yup, skipping dessert.

But as I grow older and wiser (lol), this voice is slowly fading. Plus, it helps when I have something I’m working toward — like money. You can quite literally get paid to lose weight.

The holidays are a wonderful time to sign up for a service like HealthyWage to keep yourself accountable. HealthyWage allows you to place a bet on yourself and your weight-loss goals. (Yeah, with, like, real money.)

Start by using the HealthyWage Prize Calculator. Here, you’ll enter how much weight you’d like to lose (a minimum of 10% of your starting weight), how long it’ll take (six to 18 months) and how much you want to bet (anywhere between $20 to $150 a month). The calculator then determines your price amount.

Then, officially place your bet, agreeing to pay the monthly amount for the duration of the challenge. When you hit your weight-loss goal (yes, when!), you’ll earn your prize. If you don’t hit your goal, the money goes toward HealthyWage.

Read some inspirational HealthyWage stories here before setting out.

Bye, Negative Nancy.

3. Get Out of The House

If you’re lacking in the self-control department, I have to say: This might not be your best tip. (You’ll understand why in a second…)

Anyway, download the Shopkick app. It’s one of our favorite cash-back rewards apps because you don’t even shop to earn money back. Our very own Khiem Nguyen has earned nearly $400 in gift cards using Shopkick.

Here’s how it works: You earn kicks for completing various tasks. These include walking into affiliated stores (like Target, Best Buy and Walmart) and scanning barcodes of various items throughout the stores.

I started using the app recently, and it definitely becomes a game. How many items can I scan in Target? Which will reward me with the most kicks?

The only issue? I get blinded by all the pretty, shiny products along the way and have to resist impulse purchases.

But once I hit a certain amount of kicks, I can exchange them for a gift card. Right now, I’m working my way toward a $25 Amazon gift card.

Needless to say, this has become a fun game to play when I have to run errands. And it could prove to be a fun way to escape the temptation of dessert and to scope out Black Friday or after-Christmas shopping crowds.

You can even get your family and friends in on the action and refer them to sign up. When they do, you’ll bank 250 bonus kicks.

What do you think? Is money a strong enough motivation to pry you away from the dessert? Are you ready to get paid to lose weight?

*Sighs deeply*

We’ll see…

Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s just going to tell her mom to make licorice pudding — because that’s probably the only dessert she’d never eat.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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