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الاثنين، 23 يوليو 2018

Should I let my kid start a YouTube channel?

Know the rules before you launch that YouTube channel

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Don’t be left rudderless abroad this summer: Arm yourself with the cheapest travel money

Holiday money

Whether you’re jetting off to sunnier skies or setting sail on a summer sojourn, using a specialist overseas card is the best way to keep your costs down. Here are Moneywise’s best buys.

Taking credit

Take the Barclaycard Platinum Travel card. This product has no fees on worldwide spending when you use the plastic to pay. So, as long as you pay off the balance in full each month, you won’t incur any interest.

Plus, while conscious credit card users will be aware that withdrawing cash on a credit card is a no-no, there is no such trouble with this card. Many travel credit cards represent a good deal for paying by card but catch you out by applying interest immediately after you withdraw cash. But this is not the case for Barclaycard – again, as long as you pay off the balance in full every month.

Fail to repay your balance on time, and you’ll be charged an APR of 19.9% on spending and 27.9% on cash withdrawals.

The no overseas fees guarantee lasts until the end of August 2022, so you’ve got a good few years’ use.

An interesting alternative that’s worth considering is the Tandem Cashback card. While the Tandem card charges interest upfront on all your cash withdrawals at 18.9%, the product has no fees on card spending, plus the benefit of 0.5% cashback on all purchases you make. The APR is 18.9%.

Starling effort

If you’re risk-averse to spending on a credit card or don’t think you’ll be able to pay off the full amount each month to avoid interest, it may be wise to stick to a debit card.

Moneywise’s best buy in this respect is the Starling Bank debit card. Get one by signing up for a Starling current account by downloading the app to your phone. You can then start spending straight away using contactless phone payments, where accepted – there’s no need to wait for a physical card.

The card is free to use on spending and cash withdrawals worldwide. The account also pays 0.5% on balances up to £2,000 and your money is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000. If you don’t request an overdraft with the bank, setting up an account won’t cause a full credit check either. Another benefit of having in-app control is the added security of being able to put a temporary block on your card if you misplace it when you’re by the pool.

Alternatively, you may want to consider Monzo Bank. It provides a very similar current account and the app won this year’s Moneywise Customer Service Award for best banking app. The drawback with Monzo is that it limits you to withdrawing £200 in cash a month. After that, it charges 3% on cash withdrawals. There are no such restrictions on card spending, however.

Card Overseas fees Overseas cash withdrawals Interest Exchange rate Additional perks
Barclaycard Platinum Travel credit card N/A Interest charged after one month 19.9% APR on spending, 27.9% APR on cash withdrawals Visa N/A
Tandem Cashback credit card N/A Interest charged immediately 18.9% APR Mastercard 0.5% cashback on all spending
Starling Bank Current Account N/A N/A N/A Mastercard Earn 0.5% interest on balances up to £2,000
Monzo Bank Current Account N/A No fees up to £200 a month, then 3% N/A Mastercard N/A
Source: Moneywise, 13 June 2018.

FEATURED PRODUCT
Starling Bank Current Account

With no fees on withdrawals or card spending and a host of in-app features, such as card blocking and spending trackers, Starling Bank’s current account is the darling of overseas spending. Plus, you’ll get 0.5% interest on current account balances up to £2,000, 0.25% on balances between £2,000.01 up to £85,000 and your deposits are protected by the FSCS.

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Hyundai Offers a New Way to Shop for Cars with Digital Showroom on Amazon


Just when you thought Amazon couldn’t get any bigger, you can now shop for a car on the e-commerce site.

Hyundai recently partnered with Amazon to create a digital showroom where potential car buyers can shop for new vehicles.

Shoppers can compare the prices and features of similar vehicles and use an online calculator to estimate monthly payments. They can also read owners’ reviews, check inventory at dealerships near them and schedule a test drive. In some locations, you can even have the car come to you for a test drive at home.

While shoppers can’t purchase a car directly from the Amazon showroom, they can search for their nearest dealership to schedule an appointment to sign the paperwork when they’re ready to buy.

Amazon has operated a vehicle section on its site since 2016 for shoppers to gather information about a variety of makes and models, but Hyundai’s online showroom gives shoppers a more robust car-buying experience with detailed model information and more photos, TechCrunch reports.

Tim Maxwell, Hyundai’s senior group manager of digital marketing, said in a statement that the carmaker is the first to have its own digital showroom on Amazon.

“This collaboration with Amazon provides customers with the ability to learn about Hyundai vehicles in a way that matches their expectations for nearly every other type of purchase,” he said.

The online showroom puts Amazon more on the level of independent auto research sites like Cars.com and Autotrader, Bloomberg reports.

The showroom focuses only on current model year cars for now, but there are arguments in support of buying a new car versus a used one. The price may be higher, but new models may last longer than used vehicles and come with warranties from the manufacturer so you don’t have to worry about paying for major repairs.

If you’re thinking of buying a new Hyundai after checking out the Amazon showroom, these 10 tips on buying a new car will keep you from overspending.

Nicole Dow is a senior 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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This Woman Invented Heating Pads to Ease Her Pain — Now She Sells Them

Here’s Why I’m Swapping Out Some of My Drugstore Makeup Products

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How to Get Free McDonald’s Fries Every Friday Through the End of 2018


The second half of the year just got a little tastier.

That’s thanks to McDonald’s. While fast-food restaurants all around the country were giving away free fries in honor of National French Fry Day on July 13, the mega-chain is trying to do them all one better.

At McDonald’s, you can get a free medium order of fries every Friday from now through the end of the year. The coupon you need to claim your fries is in the free McDonald’s app. Just download the app and spend at least $1, and the free fries are all yours.

You’ll get a new coupon every Friday through Dec. 30.

Desiree Stennett (@desi_stennett) is a senior 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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Here’s a Quick Way to Snag a Free $20 Amazon Gift Card


We've found an exciting way to get free money today. (Bonus: This will help you keep an eye on your money, too.)

Today's free cash comes from Personal Capital, a portfolio management site. It's giving away a $20 Amazon gift card to anyone who joins and opens a free account.

We love this site because it helps you keep you track of your investments, credit card balances, and changes to your checking or savings accounts. For example, once you've set it up, it keeps track of your net worth in real time.

Here's how to grab a free $20 Amazon gift card:

1. Sign up for Personal Capital using this link.

2. Add your financial account(s) to your Personal Capital dashboard. You must link an investment account within 30 days of registering (for example, your brokerage, 401(k) or IRA) to receive the bonus.

3. You'll get your e-gift card through Amazon within six weeks from registration to the email address you provide.

To claim the bonus, you must be a legal resident one of the 50 U.S. states or Washington, D.C. and 18 years or older.

DISCLOSURE: Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We're letting you know because it's what Honest Abe would do. After all, he is on our favorite coin.

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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Is Ebates Worth Your Time? Our Review (and How to Make the Most of the Site)


It sure seems like there are a lot of cash-back deals on the internet. Cash-back websites, cash-back programs, cash-back apps. It’s hard to know which ones are legit and which might be scams.

Here’s one we know is for real: Ebates. We’ve checked it out thoroughly, and it’s the closest thing to free money we’ve found. (It’ll even give you a free $10 just for signing up and shopping.)

What Is Ebates?

Ebates is a cash-back shopping site where you can earn 1% to 25% on purchases you make from more than 2,500 online retailers.

You earn these rebates by using Ebates’ online shopping portal. The part we like best is it’s super easy. You don’t have to pay any fees, mail in any forms or redeem your points to get your money.

How Does Ebates Work?

You can sign up for Ebates with a Facebook or Google account, or an email address.

There’s no charge, and nobody will ask for your Social Security number or anything. Make sure to pick one of two sign-up bonuses — either a $10 Walmart gift card or a $10 Ebates cash bonus.

Boom. Now you’re a member.

Find the store where you want to shop by typing it into the search bar or by clicking on one of the shopping categories, such as “Women’s Clothing” or “Electronics and Computers.” Click through to your store, whether it’s Best Buy, eBay, Old Navy, Target or whatever.

Click the “shop now” button, and shop in that online store just like you normally would. You’ve gone through Ebates directly to the store’s regular website, so your shopping experience will be exactly the same as it normally is.

The only difference is that when you buy something, a percentage of the price will be funneled into your Ebates account. Example: If Kohl’s is offering 5% cash back and you buy a cookware set for $100, you get $5 back.

That’s it. That’s the whole thing.

You’ll need to make your first purchase through the site within 90 days and spend at least $25 to earn the sign-up bonus.

How Does Ebates Make Money?

We hear you asking yourself: What’s the catch? Where’s this money coming from? What’s the business model here?

It’s an affiliate marketing site. That means retailers pay Ebates a commission for sending customers their way. So when you click on an Ebates link to an online store, Ebates gets a commission. Then it turns around and gives you a cut of that commission.

Easy-peasy. Ebates is basically acting as a middleman here and cutting you in on the action.

Is Ebates a Scam?

No, it’s legit. Believe it or not, Ebates was launched waaaay back in 1998 by a couple of former deputy district attorneys in Silicon Valley, according to DMNews.com, when the internet was still a baby. Not even kidding.

Before they became cash-back-shopping digital pioneers, these deputy DAs used to prosecute online fraud and identity theft. So you could say they’re authentic law-and-order types.

You don’t have to take our word for it, though. Ebates has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, the best rating possible.

Which Stores Does Ebates Work With?

Ebates works with lots of stores. More than 2,500. Way too many to list here.

No matter what you buy online, Ebates probably partners with somebody who sells it. Bibles. Auto parts. Quilting supplies. Anything. You get the idea.

Here are some highlights:

Ace Hardware Belk Jet Nordstrom RiteAid
Aeropostale Cabela's JCPenney Office Depot Sam's Club
Amazon Crate & Barrel Kohl's Old Navy Sephora
Barney's Dick's Sporting Goods Lowe's Orbitz Turbotax
Bath & Body Works Expedia Macy's Priceline Walmart
Bed Bath & Beyond Gap Nike Petco

A quick word of caution here: If instant gratification is your thing, you’ll need to buckle up and be prepared to wait.

How Does Ebates Pay You?

Once you make a purchase, your cash back should appear in your Ebates account within five days. Then that money gets stored there for a holding period to make sure you don’t return everything you bought. Because that would be cheating.

Once your money has been in your account for 60 days, you’re entitled to a payment. Ebates pays you quarterly, in February, May, August and November.

Depending on your preference, you’ll be paid via PayPal or you’ll have a check mailed to you.

Ebates won’t bother to send you a payment for less than $5. That’s pocket change! So if you earn less than $5 in a quarter, your earnings will carry over to the next quarter.

Tips for Maximizing Your Earnings on Ebates

Here are eight ways to make the most of your cash-back rewards:

Coupons: Before you check out, check Ebates for coupon codes. Not only does the website get you cash back, it also has coupon codes for many of its affiliated stores. That way, you can stack your savings.

Purchase promptly: Make your purchase during the same shopping session that you started after clicking on the Ebates link. If you visit other websites before buying something, your purchase might not get linked to Ebates, and you won’t get your cash back.

Refer friends: If you refer friends or family to sign up with Ebates, you get a $25 bonus. For you to qualify for the $25, they have to spend at least $25 through Ebates during their first year of membership. That way, Ebates knows you’re not signing up fake people.

Browser extension: If you keep forgetting to shop through Ebates, install its browser extension. The Ebates button will perch at the top of your browser window. When you go to an eligible online store, you’ll get a pop-up message reminding you to click on your cash-back button.

Use it in a brick-and-mortar store: You can also get cash back from Ebates when you’re shopping in a real store, not just online. Just click on “In-Store Cash Back” in your account. Link a credit card to your Ebates account. Find a store where you want to shop and click “link offer.” When you buy something in person at the cash register, you get cash back in your Ebates account.

Cookies: Don’t disable cookies on your browser. Web servers use cookies to authenticate users… or something like that. All I know is, if you disable cookies, you won’t get cash back.

Ad blockers: Ebates doesn’t work too well with ad blockers. If you’re using one on your computer, make sure to whitelist Ebates for the best experience.

Rewards credit cards: If you have a rewards credit card, you can boost your cash back by using it for shopping via Ebates. There’s no rule against this or anything. Stack those savings!

Ebates Pros and Cons

Here are those pros boiled down:

  • It’s free.
  • It’s easy to use.
  • You can claim rebates at 2,500 stores.

On the flip side of the coin, what about the cons? Here they are:

No Apples: You won’t get cash back on Apple products. Apple used to work with Ebates, but it doesn’t anymore.

The waiting game: You have to wait for your cash back. This is a fact of life. Ebates itself has to wait to get paid by the retailers it’s referring customers to. If you don’t like waiting, it’s best to just use Ebates every time you shop online. That way, you keep that money train rolling in perpetuity, with a happy bonus dropping into your PayPal account every three months.

The exclusions: Many participating retailers have products that don’t qualify for cash back. For example, on Amazon at any given time, some shopping categories will get you cash back, and some won’t. These categories change month to month.

Consumer complaints: Over the last three years, the BBB reports its gotten more than 200 complaints about Ebates, though they’ve all been resolved. Many of the complaints involve missed payouts or cash-back rewards that got canceled for some reason. If your cash back doesn’t appear in your account, you can clear it up by reaching out to customer service through your account.

Ebates: Note the Fine Print

In our review of Ebates’ practices, we read the fine print. ‘Cuz we’re thorough that way.

Here are two little things that might not be immediately apparent to an Ebates newbie:

The maximum: There’s a cap of $50 that you can earn on any single purchase. For example, if you bought a $1,000 mattress with 6% cash back, you wouldn’t get the full $60 in cash back from that. You’d get $50.

Inactive accounts: If your account goes inactive for a year, Ebates takes a $2 debit out of it. This pays for accounting.

Ebates Review: Is It Right for You?

So, bottom line: Ebates is legit. It’s not a scam.

But is it worth your time?

That depends on how much online shopping you do. If your answer is “Not very much,” this might not be for you.

If you are an online shopper, you have nothing to lose here. All you have to do is get in the habit of using Ebates. It’s relatively easy and hassle-free. The key is to avoid buying something just because you could get a rebate. Only buy what you’d normally buy.

That way, you’re making money doing something you’d do anyway.

Mike Brassfield (mike@thepennyhoarder.com) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. He likes cash.

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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My Husband Doesn’t Care That His Student Loans Will Keep Us in Debt Forever


Dear RAD,

I never expected to preach this rule of marriage, but here we are: Never assume anything is handled.

It’s not that we don’t trust our spouses to be responsible members of our households. The problem is that what one person considers “handled” may be far from it by another person’s standards.

Without establishing the baseline for taking care of tasks in your family, you’re bound to end up with disappointment.  

It’s like the group projects in school where everyone divided up the work, set a date to regroup, and then came back to that same table in the library to finalize the presentation. But you, as usual, discovered that you were the only one who gave your group any chance of earning an A grade. You went above and beyond, while others were satisfied doing the minimum required. Or, even more challenging: Maybe they came to the table proud of their work, but it still fell short of your definition of excellent.

Expectations have a tendency to be miscommunicated unless they’re overcommunicated.

And if you assign your expectations to someone else who’s an equal, i.e., your husband, as opposed to a teacher assigning expectations down to you, you’re likely to face a lot of resentment.

That’s what I’m sensing here. No matter how well-meaning you are, your husband probably feels like you don’t trust his judgment. You keep pushing him to do more, while he may be looking at that monthly student loan statement thinking, “This is the payment due; I’m making the payment on time — what else is there to discuss?”

It sounds like it’s time to sit down and revisit your financial goals as a family — or make some goals, if you haven’t gotten that far together. I usually recommend having this kind of conversation over sandwiches, but… maybe wine. Your call.

And please, do not corner your husband after you’ve both had a long day at work and have run out of energy to have thoughtful conversations. Save this kind of discussion for your best waking hours together.

This isn’t a question of whether you should give your money to your husband. It’s a question of whether you want to work together to achieve a shared goal.

I recently spoke with a woman who once thought that her debt was her debt and that her husband’s debt belonged to him, even though they were sharing the rest of their lives together.

It was only after she paid off her own student loans that she realized helping her husband become debt-free wasn’t just a win for one person — it would be a win for their long-term happiness and peace of mind. They had to work as equal partners to get there, regardless of who was contributing the bulk of the debt payments.

You can’t do anything in the interest of “us” if you’re not already on the same financial page. What do you want your family’s life to be like in five years? In 10? Start there, and then decide — together — what you want to do to reach those goals.

The inbox is open. Submit a question or send your worries to dearpenny@thepennyhoarder.com, and I’ll see what I can do to help.

Disclaimer: Chosen questions and featured answers will appear in The Penny Hoarder's “Dear Penny” column. I won't be able to answer every single letter (I can only type so fast!). We reserve the right to edit and publish your questions. Don’t worry — your identity will remain anonymous. I don’t have a psychology, accounting, finance or legal degree, so my advice is for general informational purposes only. I do, however, promise to give you honest advice based on my own insights and real-life experiences.

Lisa Rowan is a senior 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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Roll the Credits: The Last Two Blockbusters in Alaska Are Closing Down

Zicam Probably Didn’t Cure Your Cold, and Now You Could Get $57


Nothing is worse than being plagued by a cold, slugging your way to the store to buy overpriced cold medicine, and still feeling like crap after many doses.

If this sounds familiar and you’ve purchased Zicam, you might be eligible for up to $57 as part of a proposed class-action settlement.

How to Get Your Slice of the Zicam Class-Action Pie

A class-action lawsuit accused Zicam of making false and misleading statements about how quickly its products make colds go away. The company denies the claim, but it’s paying out up to $16 million in cash and calling it a day.

If you purchased RapidMelts Original, RapidMelts Ultra, Oral Mist, Ultra Crystals, Liqui-Lozenges, Lozenges Ultra, Soft Chews, Medicated Fruit Drops or Chewables between Feb. 15, 2011, and June 5, 2018, you can file a claim online or by mail.

The form asks how many of each product you purchased and the location of the purchase.

You can submit a claim without proof of purchase, but you will only receive the manufacturer's suggested retail price for a maximum of five items, netting you $57.65 if you bought five of the most expensive product, priced at $11.53.

However, if you have receipts, invoices, packaging, bottles, containers or another form of documentation, you’re entitled to receive cash for the exact amount you paid for additional products.

This means you might get more than $57, depending on how many claims are submitted.

You also have the option to object to or opt out of the settlement.

The deadline is Oct. 3, 2018.

Stephanie Bolling is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She thinks having a cold in the summer is worse than having one in the winter.

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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Prime Members: Here’s How You Can Get a Free $10 Amazon Gift Card


You use it to buy everything from your toilet paper to that “crazy cat lady” coffee mug for your aunt.

It’s Amazon. And it’s awesome. But do you have the app?

Now, as an Amazon Prime member, you can score a $10 Amazon coupon just for downloading and signing into the Amazon app.

How to Get Your $10 Amazon Coupon

The deal is simple.

If you’re already an Amazon Prime member, but you haven’t used the Amazon mobile app, this deal is for you. Simply download the app, sign into your account and you’ll receive the $10 coupon by email within seven days.

Some basic terms and conditions apply. The deal is only available for existing Prime members, and it runs through July 31. The coupon is good through Aug. 31 and is good for $10 off of any purchase of $20 of products sold by Amazon. The coupon is not eligible for use for digital content, gift cards or goods sold by third party sellers.

You do everything else on your phone, right? It’s time to bring Amazon to the party. Besides, that’s $10 off your next toilet paper purchase or maybe this sweet Cat Lady board game for when your aunt has people friends over.

Tyler Omoth is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder who loves soaking up the sun and finding creative ways to help others. He will use his $10 coupon to buy something frivolous and fun. Or diapers. 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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Stay on Top of Your Credit Score With These Top-Rated Free Apps


Did you know 26% of people find an error on at least one of their three credit reports?

That’s according to a 2012 Federal Trade Commission report, the most recent comprehensive study on the matter.

Sure, that sucks, but we’ve got to cut the credit bureaus a break. After all, they’re keeping tabs on millions of pieces of information.

That’s why it’s important for you to regularly check on your reports. Catching an error — and disputing it — will keep your credit report clean, and in turn, could potentially increase your score.

But it’s not just about the score. A messy credit report can negatively affect job opportunities, your ability to take out a loan or open a credit card, your insurance rates, your ability to rent and your utility deposits. Even cell phone providers can ask for hefty deposits upfront if your credit’s poor.

Additionally, playing detective and checking your credit reporting regularly could help you sniff out potential fraud or identity theft.

The Top 4 Free Credit-Monitoring Apps

Now the question is: What’s the best way to monitor your credit? There are gobs of products out there, but the key is that they be safe and user-friendly. And free. We like free.

Each of the big three credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — are required by law to let you access your credit report for free at least once every 12 months. However, many of us have trouble remembering to do that. Plus, a lot can happen in a year.

To help you keep a closer eye, here are your top four free credit-monitoring apps ranked based on ratings, report type, security and features.

First, a quick note: Because checking your credit report is a soft inquiry, it will not hurt your credit score. The hard inquiries are the ones you have to worry about.

Here’s a quick break down:

  iTunes App Rating* Type of Report Update Frequency
CreditWise 4.8 stars TransUnion Weekly
Credit Karma 4.7 stars TransUnion and Equifax Weekly
Credit Sesame 4.7 stars TransUnion Monthly
Mint 4.8 stars TransUnion Monthly

*All app ratings accurate as of June 1, 2018.

OK, diving into the details now…

1. CreditWise® From Capital One®

iTunes rating: 4.8 stars with more than 90,000 ratings

Google Play rating: 4.6 stars with more than 24,000 ratings

Report pulled: TransUnion®

Report update frequency: Weekly

Security: Capital One has sophisticated fraud detection and security systems in place that actively monitor CreditWise profiles.

Features: Once exclusively available to Capital One customers, the CreditWise app (as Credit Tracker) is now free for everyone.

In addition to a weekly credit report and alerts via email and push notifications, you can tap into the app’s Credit Simulator. It lets you see how different actions could affect your credit score. Pay off $40,000 in debt? See how much your score could soar.

If you don’t know where to start to improve your credit, CreditWise also offers personalized recommendations.

Advertiser Disclosure: Capital One compensates us when you enroll in CreditWise using the link we provided above.

2. Credit Karma

iTunes rating: 4.7 stars with more than 26,000 ratings

Google Play rating: 4.7 stars with more than 685,000 ratings

Report pulled: TransUnion and Equifax

Report update frequency: Weekly

Security: 128-bit or higher encryption

Features: In addition to letting you check your credit report and sign up for credit-monitoring alerts, Credit Karma offers some other unique features. These include a credit score simulator, a free tax filing station and an unclaimed money search, which allows you to see whether the state is holding onto any money that belongs to you.

3. Credit Sesame

iTunes rating: 4.7 stars with more than 19,000 ratings

Google Play rating: 4.3 stars with more than 24,000 ratings

Report pulled: TransUnion

Report update frequency: Monthly

Security: Credit Sesame uses 256-bit encryption services.

Features: Credit Sesame offers a number of membership options, but the free one grants you access to your credit score and a credit “report card.” This is essentially your credit report but broken down in easy-to-understand terms.

The report card also highlights tips and tricks to help you clean up your credit report and increase your score. Additionally, the free account allows you to sign up for daily credit-monitoring alerts and $50,000 in identity theft protection.

4. Mint

iTunes rating: 4.8 stars with more than 324,000 ratings

Google Play rating: 4.3 stars with more than 128,000 ratings

Report pulled: TransUnion

Report update frequency: Every 30 days

Security: Your data is protected with a 256-bit encryption level and is exchanged through a 128-bit algorithm.

Features: Mint isn’t exclusively a credit-monitoring service, which is why it’s down here on the list. It’s more typically a fan-favorite budgeting app.

However, like others in this list, Mint offers a free credit score and credit report summary, which makes the information more digestible. You can opt in for monitoring alerts, so you’ll get pinged whenever TransUnion receives new credit information.

Are These Free Credit Scores Accurate?

For many of these apps, the most common negative review was that the scores and reports weren’t accurate.

However, the information on these apps should indeed be accurate. After all, they’re pulling it directly from your credit report.

But because there are lots of different credit scoring models — it might be different from what lenders see (not inaccurate). So if you’re checking things out on one of the apps listed above, you’ll see your VantageScore. A lender, on the other hand, might check your FICO score.

Here’s what to remember: Both of those are just three-digit numbers that are ultimately influenced by what’s on your credit report, which is the same for any model.

The moral of the story? Monitor your credit report so you can dispute any inaccuracies,  detect any fishy activity or guide yourself toward financial health.

Carson Kohler (carson@thepennyhoarder.com) 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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Can You Really Save Money by Bundling Insurance Policies?

You may do it with your phone, Internet and TV services.

You may do it with your bank accounts, too.

But should you also bundle your insurance policies with one company to save money?

Like so much else in life, the answer depends, in part, on your unique situation.

First: The Potential Problem with Bundled Policies

Yes, you can save money bundling policies. We’ll get to that.

But first, let’s acknowledge how bundling policies could lead to problems if you aren’t careful.

Unlike with your TV channels and your phone service, for example, you don’t get instant feedback from your insurance company.

When Bundling Products Works

should you bundle your insuranceLet’s say you are saving $30 a month by using the same company for your Internet and your cable TV channels.

Things go smoothly for a few months. The Internet connection is fast enough. You’re happy with the TV channels.

But for some reason one night, after sitting down to watch your favorite show, you discover the TV service has stopped offering your favorite channel.

What do you do?

  • Call customer service every day until the channel comes back?
  • Lose the bundled discount by canceling your service and using a different TV provider?
  • Keep your bundle but supplement its TV service with one of the new online providers since it offers your favorite channel?

A sensible customer could take any of those actions to solve the problem, and other than losing a little time and the monthly discount, the experience hasn’t cost you too much.

When Bundling Products Might Not Work

Insurance is different. Each time you pay your monthly premium, you’re paying to keep the coverage in place and available, not to actually use it.

Since you aren’t using it, you won’t get immediate feedback about the quality of the coverage you’re buying and how it is fitting your changing needs. You won’t be prompted to buy supplemental coverage or get an entirely different policy.

Instead, the feedback comes when you file a claim — when you actually need to use your coverage. At that point, unfortunately, it’s too late to fix any problems that may exist in your coverage.

So if you bought a bundled policy based on its price and convenience, and not because it met your specific coverage needs, you could be in trouble if disaster strikes.

Instead of finding another TV channel to watch, you may be scrambling to pay for expensive repairs to your car or home — or worse, paying for someone else’s astronomical medical bills after they got injured on your property or in a wreck that the adjustors determined was your fault.

How to Bundle Insurance AND Get the Right Coverage

When you’re shopping for groceries and find a great buy-one, get-one-free offer on yogurt or butter, it’s a great time to stock up on yogurt and butter, right?

Sure it is, assuming you like yogurt and butter, and assuming you don’t already have more yogurt and butter at home than you could ever eat.

If either of those things is true, you’re probably wasting money no matter how much you’re saving. Any sensible shopper knows this.

Yet with insurance, it’s harder to make these kinds of common sense decisions unless you first take the time to read the policy’s fine print and find out whether the coverage you’re buying fits your life.

If you don’t know what you’re buying, it’s easier to let price and convenience make your decision for you.

Consider Separate Insurance Needs Separately

So let’s say you’ve had an auto insurance policy for the past five years and you’re happy with your agent and the coverage.

Now, you’re about to buy your first house. Your agent sells homeowners policies and has offered you a 15 percent multiple policy discount.

He’ll mail the policy to you today and you can sign it before closing.

Seems like a great deal: Simple, convenient, and with a discount.

But with something as valuable as your home, you’ll want to make sure your insurance coverage adequately covers your property before taking out the policy.

Here’s how you can go about it:

If the proposed policy meets your needs, you’re in great shape and can enjoy the multiple-policy discount for years to come.

If not, though, that discount could cost you a lot more and you should continue shopping around.

If, for example, the bundled policy doesn’t offer enough liability coverage on your property and someone got injured and sued you, you could lose your savings or be forced to sell your new property to pay damages.

It works the other way, too: If you have homeowners coverage and need to add an auto policy, consider your auto coverage needs on their own merits, then see if you can take advantage of your insurance company’s multiple policy discount.

Shop Around for the Best Bundle

Not all multiple policy discounts are created equally. If you have a homeowners policy and you need a new auto policy, it may seem natural to add the new coverage with your existing company.

You could also take the opposite route, though. If you can save more by bundling policies with an entirely new insurer, why not do that?

Just watch out for cancelation fees and the possibility that one of your coverages could lapse during the transition to the new company.

Bundled Policies. Braided Policies. Tangled Policies?

A two-policy bundle which includes an auto and a home coverage can save you an average of $500 a year. Since rates and insurers vary from state to state, you may be able to save even more in some states.

And the more insurance you need, the more you can potentially save by keeping all your policies in one place.

Your company may offer life insurance, boat insurance, renters insurance, pet insurance — you get the idea.

But how much bundling is too much bundling?

Again, it goes back to considering individual insurance needs individually.

Let’s imagine, for example, you don’t know a whole lot about life insurance. You check your mail one afternoon and see an offer from your auto insurance agent.

It says, “Because you’re a loyal customer we’re offering a special deal on life insurance. Get up to $50,000 in coverage for $100 a month with no medical exam or medical questions! Offer good only for selected clients.”

You’ve been wondering about life insurance, and on the surface, this may sound like a good solution.

But truth be told, depending on your age and health condition, you may be able to get up to $1 million in life insurance coverage for less than $100 a month.

Just because your agent has done a great job with your auto coverage doesn’t mean he’ll (or she’ll) automatically steer you to the right life insurance policy.

Some knowledge about what you’re buying goes a long way. It can keep you from turning your bundled policies into a costly tangle of policies.

When Should You Seek Out Bundled Policies?

Chances are your insurance company will let you know about multiple policy discounts through advertisements, direct mail, or email.

As any consumer can imagine, bundled policies benefit your company, too, or else they wouldn’t offer the discount.

You don’t have to wait for an offer from an insurance company, though.

You can seek out a bundled policy, especially when doing so gives you a specific benefit.

The Discount, of Course

We probably don’t have to say it again, but just in case:

Multiple policyholders seek bundled plans to save money.

If you’re looking for a way to shave some fixed expenses from your monthly budget, bundling your policies could help.

Again, just make sure you’re in control of the coverage you’re buying so you aren’t paying more in the long run.

Insurance rates vary from state to state, so the amount you could save will vary, too.

On average, consumers can save about $500 a year by bundling home and auto policies.

Insuring an At-Risk Asset

If you live in Tornado Alley or a hurricane-prone Florida beach, insurance companies may consider your home an at-risk property, especially if the home has already needed multiple claim-financed repairs.

This at-risk status will make the home harder to insure.

Bundling the new homeowners policy with your existing auto policy can help your case, especially if you’ve never filed or have seldom filed an auto claim.

Of course you can find other ways to remedy this problem — agreeing to a higher deductible, for example — but bundling the at-risk policy with other lower-risk policies can help.

For the Sake of Convenience

Bundling policies can save money, but it can also create some extra convenience for you.

You could log into one site and pay three bills, for example, if you had three policies bundled together. If you already spend an hour paying bills online because you still can’t remember all the passwords, this can be helpful.

And if something bad happened that affected more than one piece of property — if a tree struck your garage and damaged not only the structure but your car which was parked inside, for example — you could get multiple claims going more easily.

Just like with the discount, make sure the policy you’re buying meets your specific needs and doesn’t offer only convenience.

Other Ways to Save on Insurance Premiums

Bundling policies isn’t the only way to save money on your monthly insurance premiums. In fact, it may not even be the best way, depending on your individual needs. You can also save money by:

Getting a higher deductible

A higher deductible means you’d be paying more out of pocket before the insurance company starts paying on a claim.

It also means you’ll pay less per month in premiums.

Find the right balance here, though. A deductible you couldn’t possibly afford can make it difficult to use the insurance coverage you’re paying for.

Buying only what you need

Paying for insurance you don’t even need simply means you’re paying too much.

If your house would cost $150,000 to replace, for example, getting $250,000 in coverage means you’re paying for insurance you couldn’t likely ever use, even if your house were totally destroyed.

Insurance is not a one-size-fits-all product. If your policy’s too small you could have trouble replacing or repairing your property. If it’s too big, you could be paying too much each month.

Improving your property

Cars with up-to-date safety features cost less to insure for one simple reason: You’re less likely to be in a wreck that results in a claim.

The same holds true for your house.

If you have a security system, a new roof, you don’t smoke, or you have a backup power generator, check with your insurance agent about eligible discounts.

And, believe it or not, the same holds true for your life. If you can improve your health before applying for life insurance, you’ll probably save some on your premiums. If you’re a non-smoker you’ll save even more.

Even When Bundled, Your Insurance Should be Customized

Insurance companies offer bundled policy discounts because they give customers additional reasons to remain loyal customers.

Your grocery store, bookstore, department store, bank, and maybe even your medical clinic use the same tactic.

But how many times have you…

  • bought food you don’t like
  • bought a book you’d never read
  • or gone to a medical specialist who manages a condition you don’t have

…just because it’s convenient, or just because you can save 15 percent?

Probably never.

You should use the same common sense approach with your insurance:

  1. Determine what coverage you need.
  2. Shop for and compare policies that will meet your needs.
  3. Look into discounts and ways to make the coverage more convenient.  

This approach puts you in control of your insurance needs so you can make decisions that will protect your property and protect you from liability while also taking advantage of available discounts.

The post Can You Really Save Money by Bundling Insurance Policies? appeared first on Good Financial Cents.



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How To Pay Off Student Loans Faster Than Ever

Trying to pay off your student loans faster? You’re not alone.

In 2018, the total level of student loan debt in the United States sits at around $1.5 trillion.

That’s an all-time high.

And, thanks to a constant stream of new debtors and compound interest, the number keeps climbing to the tune of $2,726 per second.

Short of government intervention or the wholesale shutdown of colleges and universities, our national student loan debt is a bubble with no end in sight.

As the costs of college continue reaching greater heights, so do borrowing levels.

And with wages stagnating for the majority of U.S. workers, paying those loans back has become a costly and seemingly impossible endeavor.

Still, some people find a way to make it work.

Either through serious levels of self-discipline, sacrifice, or any one of a number of financial moves, they pay off their loans – and never look back.

Here are 9 of the best strategies from recent grads you can use to pay off your student debts sooner and move on with your life!

#1 Prolong the poor student lifestyle.

Graduating from college might feel like your first real “burst” into adulthood, but you might want to hold off popping the champagne.

If you avoid big purchases for a year or two and continue living the poor student lifestyle, you may be able to parlay your new adult salary into a scenario where your student loans are paid off sooner.

Finance guru Dave Ramsey’s mantra rings true here:

Live like no one else now so you can live like no one else later.

Living the poor student lifestyle for as long as possible is a smart way to pay down debt when you’re first starting out.

If you have roommates, keep them.

If you’re managing to get by on Ramen, keep it up.

The most important thing to remember is to use your newfound salary to pay down your student loans as quickly as possible – instead of using it to inflate your lifestyle.

#2 Use the debt snowball method (and watch the debt roll away).

How To Pay Off Student Loans FasterWe’ve written about the debt snowball method for getting out of debt before.

Basically, it works like this:

  • Start by creating a list of all of your student loans with the smallest balance listed first and the largest listed last.
  • As the months go by, you’ll snowball all your extra money towards the smallest balance while paying minimum payments on the rest of your loans.
  • And as each of the smaller balances wither away, you’ll be stuck with fewer loans – and less debt over time.

The benefit of this strategy?

You can lump other debts in there, too.

For instance, if you have a car payment, you can list it with your other loans and attack all your debts with equal fervor.

Knock them down one by one, I say, and don’t look back.

#3 Take on a side hustle.

If you want to pay your debts down even faster, earning more money is one approach that always works.

The key, as always, is using your extra money to pay off your student loans instead of wasting it somewhere else.

We’ve shared myriad side hustles here on Good Financial Cents in the past, from 65 side hustles you can do from your kitchen table to ideas on starting an online business.

The basic principles are the same no matter what side hustle suits your fancy.

Pour as much time or effort into it as you can, and use all the extra money you earn to pay off your student loans.

#4 Refinance your highest interest student loans.

Although refinancing isn’t ideal in every situation, thousands of students are saving money and shortening their repayment horizons by refinancing their student loans each year.

Companies like SoFi offer new loans with lower interest rates and better terms.

If harnessed wisely, these new loans create a pathway for borrowers to repay their loans quicker – and save money in the process.

There are certain pitfalls to watch out for with this strategy, however.

For example, refinancing federal student loans with a private lender means losing out on federally-funded perks and backstops such as income-based repayment, deferment, and forbearance.

Further, you’ll want to make sure you’re actually getting a better interest rate if you refinance.

Otherwise, it’s probably not worth it.

This loan calculator from SoFi can help you decide.

#5 Pay off your loans while you’re still in school.

If you haven’t graduated yet, it’s not too early to start preparing for the inevitability of that first student loan payment.

If you’re earning an income, it’s probably wise to start paying down your student loan balances right away.

And if you don’t earn an income, you’ll probably thank yourself later if you put the key task of finding a part-time job on the agenda – and stat.

Many student loans accrue interest while you’re still in school, and that interest gets added to your total once you graduate.

By making payments all along, not only can you diminish your total loan balances, you can also cut down your cumulative interest all along.

#6 Make more than one payment per month.

If you want to pay down your loans fairly quickly with minimal hassle, making more than one payment per month is a reliable approach.

Some people might choose to simplify the process by making bi-weekly payments that coincide with payday, although others may opt to make random payments throughout the month.

Neither strategy is better than the other as long as the extra payments are actually being made.

By making extra payments, you’ll be in the position to reduce the principal on your student loans at a faster pace.

You could also save a boatload of money in interest by prepaying your loan and speeding your payoff date up by months, or even years.

#7 Pay more than the minimum.

There’s a reason this number is called the minimum.

It’s the lowest amount you can pay on your debt and will lead to a minimal change to your total.

If you want to see your debt decrease quickly, go the extra mile when your finances permit and pay as much as you can.

Want another way to pay more?

Take your next refund, raise, or generous gift from grandma to the bank and pay down your student debt.

Making a lump sum might be painful in the moment, but it’s one of the best ways to whack away your debt.

#8 Enroll in an automatic payment program.

Some student loan servicers offer automatic, paperless payment programs to take the pain out of writing a check and auto-debit your checking account on a certain day of the month.

Better yet, some of these programs will offer a discount for signing up – or for signing up for paperless statements.

These programs make it easy to stay on track with your student loan payments.

And remember, you can always make extra payments manually if you want.

The best part about automatic debt is you’ll never, ever be late.

#9 Ask your boss for help.

While asking your boss for help with student loans is a fairly novel concept, it isn’t unheard of.

Actually, nearly anything is on the table when you’re negotiating your salary or benefits – and sometimes, the key to getting what you really want is just asking for it.

Further, some industries and government agencies have already thought of this option, though.

For example, some government employees can receive up to $10,000 a year towards student debt repayment by accessing the federal government’s Student Loan Repayment Program.

Similar programs are also available for nurses and teachers through the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program and Teach for America, which is part of AmeriCorps.

Students who find work in the public sector can also get help with student loans by applying for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

With this option, the federal government will forgive the remaining balance on your Direct Loans provided you have made 120 qualifying payments and remained employed with a qualified employer in the public service sector.

The Bottom Line

As the nation’s total student loan debt levels continue to rise, we all have to take responsibility for ourselves.

Let the numbers fall where they may; it’s up to us to find ways to get our finances straight – and if that process includes paying off student loans the hard way, so be it.

Just remember, you’ve got a wealth of tools at your disposal.

Using everything from debt calculators to budgeting tools, you can dream up dozens of ways to get out of debt faster, and most importantly, smarter.

And with student loan debt levels at an all-time high, you’re going to need all the help you can get.

The post How To Pay Off Student Loans Faster Than Ever appeared first on Good Financial Cents.



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My Favorite 11 Platforms for Finding Free Fonts

How important is a font?

Surprisingly, fonts can be more valuable than you might believe. Visualize all the places where you see written words on a daily basis.

You may not think twice about a font when you see one, but you can always spot a bad font.

Choosing the proper font can be tough. You need to make sure it’s clear and legible as well as unique.

The fonts you use on the homepage of your website could be different from the font in your blog posts. Your Instagram story’s font will differ from the font of your email marketing campaigns.

What do you look for in a font? There are various elements of typography you need to consider besides the font itself.

A typeface—font family—is a set of fonts that share similar design elements:

  • width
  • slant
  • italicization
  • weight
  • style
  • ornamentation
  • condensation

You’ll also need to consider elements such as leading, tracking, kerning, and line length. These typography components deal with the spacing between lines, letters, and characters.

With thousands of fonts available online, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one for your company.

While I can’t tell you which font to choose, I can show you where to find unique fonts.

These are my top 11 places to find free fonts.

1. The Northern Block

The Northern Block is a reasonable place to start your search.

northern block

I like it because the website has a simple design. The navigation is easy to follow, and you won’t have any trouble finding a font suited to your needs.

This platform is based in the UK.

If you want a chance to work with designers from another country, this platform has what you’re looking for.

It specializes in fonts that have a modern feel and design.

While the Northern Block offers free fonts, it also has licensing agreements and paid fonts if you want to be unique.

2. Jeff Schreiber

Some font platforms focus on quantity. Their main selling point is the number of different fonts their users have to choose from.

Don’t get me wrong—it’s great to have options. But sometimes too many choices can be overwhelming.

That’s why I love Jeff Schreiber’s website.

jeff schreiber

This graphic designer from the Netherlands focuses on quality over quantity.

One of his specialties is fonts specifically optimized for mobile apps.

Jeff also excels at graphic design, lettering, web design, logo design, illustration, and type design. He even deals with information design, iconography, and user interface design.

There are lots of different options to choose from on Jeff’s site. Some of these fonts are free, and others will require a payment.

3. Creative Market

Creative Market is much more than just a place to find fonts.

creative market

It offers design elements related to:

  • photos
  • templates
  • themes
  • graphics
  • add-ons

You can also get 3D models from this platform as well.

There are roughly 23,000 designers sharing their work on the Creative Market platform.

The majority of the products need to be purchased, but you can also get some free goods. Here’s how it works.

Each week, the site offers six packages as free downloads. After that week, you’d have to pay if you want those fonts and other design elements.

If you visit this site every week, you’ll be able to get free fonts normally available for purchase.

While you’re on the Creative Market website, it’s worth checking out its blog. The topics covered are related to graphic design. You can get some inspiration and ideas from these posts.

4. Fontfabric

If you’re looking for fonts geared toward logo design, I recommend exploring the options available on Fontfabric.

fontfabric

It’s really easy to navigate through the platform and download fonts for your business.

As you’ll quickly see when you visit the website, it has tons of free choices.

If you are looking to redesign your company logo or even build a new logo for your startup company, you can use the fonts on Fontfabric as a guide.

The reason why these fonts are great for logos is they are big, bold, and easy to read. Legibility is extremely important when it comes to your logo design. Otherwise, people won’t know who you are.

5. Google Fonts

When most people think of Google, they think of a search engine.

As a business owner, you are probably familiar with some of the other tools Google has available, such as Google Drive or Google Analytics.

But most people don’t realize it also has a tool called Google Fonts.Google fonts

This platform is great because you can change the example words for each font so you can see what it looks like directly on the platform. It gives you a chance to see what the font will look like with your own content.

You can also change the size of the font, as well as the pixel size, and customize the display options.

Set up your font for paragraphs, numerals, sentences, and different alphabets.

Google provides complete customization for your font. Next, all you need to do is copy the provided link, and you’ll be able to embed the font into your website.

You can set it up as one font for the entire site, or you can use different fonts in different sections. The platform allows you to change the color schemes of the fonts as well.

Google is known for its superior products. Its font tool fits this description as well. It’s worth trying out.

6. Font Freak

If you are looking for a platform with thousands of options to choose from, Font Freak has you covered.

font freak

There are more than 9,000 free fonts available for download on this website.

Furthermore, it has an additional 125,000 fonts that can be purchased.

Roughly 400 designers have contributed to the Font Freak library, and that number continues to grow. With so many designers, the site has unique fonts for nearly every scenario.

Font Freak has software that allows you to create your own fonts as well.

The fonts on this platform have different versions depending on which operating system you use. Mac and PC users will download different files, which ensures the fonts are optimized for each type of OS.

If you see several fonts you like, you don’t have to download each one separately. This can be extremely time-consuming.

Instead, you can download full libraries of fonts directly from the site and have access to these different options directly from your device.

7. Fontspace

Fontspace is another platform with a massive library of fonts.

fontspace

It offers roughly 33,000 free fonts.

I like this platform because you can browse for fonts based on a category. Some of these styles include:

  • fun
  • famous
  • trendy
  • extreme
  • decorative
  • foreign
  • holidays

You have the opportunity to find something based specifically on what you plan to use it for.

Fontspace has over 2,000 designers actively contributing to the platform. The best part is all these fonts are free.

If you see a font you like, you can click on the designer’s name and have access to their portfolio. Now, you’ll be able to see all the other fonts designed by that user if you like their style and want to check out more.

You just need to make sure you can see the difference between fonts for commercial use and fonts for personal use only.

Fontspace gives you additional information about each font as well. You’ll be able to see the rating for each font based on how users score it after a download. They also show the number of times the font has been downloaded.

If you want something that’s popular, you’ll navigate toward fonts with a high download rate.

But those of you who want to be unique can find fonts not many others have used yet.

8. FontStruct

FontStruct is unique because the platform allows you to build and customize your own fonts directly on the site.

fontstruct

This tool is 100% free to use.

In addition to creating fonts, you can also create custom geometric shapes through FontStruct as well.

After you create your own design, you can easily download your fonts and shapes. Use them for nearly any application.

I like this tool because it gives you a chance to be unique. You know that if you create a font from scratch, nobody else will have the same one.

If you’re not that creative and don’t think you can create a font out of thin air, you’re not out of options.

Just alter and customize fonts previously made by other users on the platform.

9. Font Squirrel

The reason why Font Squirrel should be one of the top options you consider is that all its fonts are licensed for commercial use.

font squirrel

You know that anything you download from the site can be used for purposes related to your business.

In addition, Font Squirrel has a unique feature, setting the site apart from the other platforms we’ve seen so far.

It offers a tool allowing you to identify fonts.

I’m sure you’ve come across a font before on the web and wondered what it was called.

From this platform, you can scan that font, and Font Squirrel will identify the name of it. The software will also show you other fonts with a similar design.

You can learn more about graphic design topics by checking out the platform’s blog.

To those of you who want to take full advantage of everything Font Squirrel has to offer, I recommend creating an account on the platform.

Now you’ll have a chance to communicate with designers, subscribers, and other business owners to discuss related topics through forums.

10. Abstract Fonts

There are nearly 14,000 fonts available for download from Abstract Fonts.

abstract fonts

This platform allows you to search by category so you can limit your choices instead of feeling overwhelmed by the great number of options it offers.

Another reason why I like abstract fonts is you can search for fonts created by specific designers.

If you downloaded a font from a certain designer in the past, you can easily find other fonts they’ve created since the last time you visited the website.

If you’re a designer, Abstract Fonts is a great place for you to share your work with prospective businesses looking for something trendy and unique.

Abstract Fonts is a great resource for people who want something different from the typical fonts seen on popular websites.

The platform gives you a chance to download a font that will make your text stand out from the crowd.

11. MyFonts

There are more than 130,000 fonts available for download on the MyFonts platform.

myfonts

When you visit the site, you’ll notice that some of these fonts are available for purchase. These are the premium options, and the prices vary from a few bucks to hundreds of dollars.

But the site has an entire section dedicated to free fonts.

If you want to find a unique font without spending any money, you’ll benefit from this site.

Conclusion

Finding a font may not be your top priority.

That said, don’t overlook the importance of a great font.

You want to make sure the fonts you’re using for all aspects of your business serve a purpose. Titles should stand out. Blogs should be easy to read. Logos must be unique.

If you take the time to search through fonts, you can even set up your site to have an overall feeling, mood, or theme related to what you’re trying to convey.

There is seemingly an endless number of fonts available online. Tons of various sources offer fonts for download.

I’ve narrowed down my favorite platforms for finding free fonts. Refer to the list above to give you some guidance.

But I know there are many other font resources.

What’s your favorite platform for downloading free fonts on the Internet?



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