Looking to spruce up your home with DIY decor? If you’ve always been curious about crafts, now is the time to tackle 3D SVG crafts! Giving a whole new perspective to crafting, 3D SVG presents a fun challenge to crafters and DIY-ers everywhere.
What are 3D SVG Files?
3D SVGs are craft templates you can cut and assemble to achieve depth and perspective, i.e., the 3D effect. The SVG is 3D SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphic, a type of graphic format that is infinitely expandable.
These awesome templates are typically made with paper, cardstock, and cardboard, though you can also use plywood in some projects. There are many ways to achieve the 3D effect, depending on the type of project you are working on. Among the most popular are layering, interlocking, and modeling.
Where Can You Find 3D SVG Files or Templates?
You can find 3D SVG files and templates in crafting or digital asset websites such as Creative Fabrica. Creative Fabrica has a dedicated library filled with 3D SVG files you can purchase and download with a subscription.
The best thing about getting SVG files from Creative Fabrica is that your download comes with a commercial license, which means you can sell the products you make with the templates (though not the templates themselves).
TIP: When downloading 3D SVG files from any website, make sure you check the usage license, especially if the files are for free.
3D SVG Crafts for Home Decor
3D SVG crafts are quite versatile, but they’re especially lovely additions to your DIY home decor. Here are some fun 3D SVG craft ideas you can create to deck out your living space.
3D paper flowers
Paper flowers are quite beginner-friendly and easily add a touch of daintiness to any space. You can make a flower bouquet arrangement to put in a vase or a wreath to hang on your door or as a table arrangement. It makes for a lovely gift as well.
Shadow Boxes/Lanterns
3D shadow boxes and lanterns make for great conversation pieces! They’re very versatile – you can hang them on a wall or deck out a bookshelf with them.
Because they’re fun to make, you’ll find yourself customizing a shadow box or lantern for different occasions. To bring them to life, beam them up with LED lights.
Seasonal/Holiday 3D Decor
If you want to veer away from store-bought holiday decor, going 3D SVG is the right path. 3D paper crafts offer plenty of 3D decor variety, from seasonal shadow boxes, wall decor, to small hanging ornaments and table centerpieces.
Hanging Decors
If you’re planning a themed party at home, commit to the theme by creating 3D hanging decors for your party space. They’re infinitely prettier than posters and balloons and will wow your guests.
Paper Sculpture
If you’ve always loved sculpture, you can make one yourself with paper! You can find 3D SVG templates for paper sculptures in various shapes, creatures, and sizes. They make interesting wall decor for your child’s room.
Basic Tools and Supplies for 3D SVG Crafting Projects
3D SVG crafts look very intricate so you might think that making them for the home requires complicated tools and supplies. While some may call for extra ornaments or pieces, most templates require basic crafting materials. If you’re still a newbie, here are the basics you’ll need for your crafting table:
Paper/Cardstock
The most recommended paper weights for 3D SVG crafting are from 65 lb to 110 lb, with 80 lb being the safest choice. However, the paperweight still varies per project, so it’s best to follow what the template calls for.
Glue/Adhesives
For adhesives, it’s best to have a few options at hand. Most 3D paper crafts will look best with PVA craft glue or any clear quick-drying glue. You’ll also want a hot glue gun, tape adhesive, and foam adhesives. For detail work, glue dots and foam tape work best.
Cutting Mat
Having a cutting mat is a must for crafting. It serves many purposes: it protects your table from your cutting implements, helps secure your materials in place when cutting, and keeps your cutting more accurate. If you use a cutting machine, you’ll also need a cutting mat that’s appropriate for your cutting machine model.
Tweezers
Tweezers are important for picking up tiny pieces of ornaments and arranging them on your papercraft with precision and ease. There are many types of tweezers available for crafting, so buying a set would be best for starters.
Cutting Machine
While you technically don’t need a cutting machine to craft, having one allows you the confidence to tackle more complex projects. The most popular cutting machines are Cricut and Silhouette.
Craft Knife/Scissors
Whether or not you’ll be using a cutting machine, having a craft knife or a pair of crafting scissors is a must for your basic crafting table. If you work with fabric, paper, and vinyl, be sure to have separate cutting implements for either material to keep your cutters in tip-top shape.
These are just the basics, and you’ll probably add more to your crafting arsenal as you go along. The best way to learn which tools and materials you need for a certain project is to follow the instructions in the template and match their recommendations as best as you can.
5 Tips for 3D SVG Crafting
New to 3D SVGs and want to elevate your craft? Here are some tips and tricks you’ll find helpful in your foray into the 3D crafting world.
Practice correct glue application
Excess glue or badly applied glue can ruin a project. This is quite hard to master so the only thing you can do is be patient with yourself to find the correct balance. A good tip is to apply tiny beads of glue. If you need to glue near the seams or edges, be extra careful and apply a thin layer to avoid leakage.
Have separate cutters and blades for paper and fabric
Different materials call for separate cutting implements, whether you’re using a pair of scissors or a cutting machine. Using fabric shears to cut paper will dull your blade, while paper knives may not be sharp enough to cut fabric cleanly.
Keep your hands glue-free
It’s easy to get glue everywhere when you’re crafting, especially if you’re not careful. Always have a paper towel nearby to clean your hands so you don’t get glue everywhere.
Follow instructions to a T
Craft designers take time to create detailed step-by-step instructions for a reason. Though you’re not required to follow everything, including the recommended materials, it’s best to keep faithful to the instructions, especially the sequence of assembly. How then can you practice your creativity? By adding your own touch to the materials or decor, whether it’s by switching up the colors or adding embellishments.
Start simple
As with any art or craft, mastering the basics is important. Be patient with yourself and start small. Once you’ve gotten the hang of things, you can then progress to more complex designs.
Deck Your Halls with 3D SVG Crafts
If you want to spice up your home with decorations you created yourself, crafting with 3D SVG is one excellent way to start. You can do it yourself or inspire the rest of your family or house members to collaborate. Once you’ve mastered the art, you might even want to try selling your creations or giving them away as gifts!
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If you’re a seasoned trader who spends hours watching the markets every weekday and relies on your portfolio to supplement or even provide the bulk of your income, low-cost robo-advisors and most mass-market DIY brokerages don’t cut it for you. You need a powerful trading platform that lets you execute at a level commensurate with your skill.
Tastytrade is just such a trading platform. It’s designed for experienced, confident traders who actively play the markets and, in many cases, trade in riskier asset types like options, futures, and cryptocurrencies.
Tastytrade has a lot of benefits for market participants who know what they’re doing. It also has some important gaps and drawbacks, so don’t automatically assume it’s ideal for you. Learn more about how it works and what to expect from it first.
What Is Tastytrade?
Tastytrade is an online trading platform for experienced, active traders. It has a broad lineup of available asset types, including stocks, exchange-traded funds, options, futures, and cryptocurrencies. Stock and ETF trades are free, with variable commissions and fees for other asset types.
Tastytrade’s core features enable quick construction and execution of simple or complex trades. Unlike more beginner-friendly brokerages, Tastytrade is designed for traders deeply familiar with the markets and confident in their trading strategies. Though it does have social features that allow regular users to follow experts as they play the markets, it lacks extensive educational resources.
What Sets Tastytrade Apart?
Tastytrade stands out from many other online brokerages in ways both positive and negative:
Excellent account opening bonus. Tastytrade offers an account opening bonus worth up to $3,000 for new users. You can get the maximum bonus amount with a new money deposit of just $250,000, lower than comparable thresholds for similar bonus amounts elsewhere.
Sophisticated features for active traders. Tastytrade is designed for active traders in scenarios where seconds (or even milliseconds) count. Its ordering interface prioritizes speed and accuracy.
Access to advanced asset types like futures and futures options. Tastytrade allows stock and ETF trading, but so do most online brokerages. Its futures, futures options, and cryptocurrency offerings are less common in this market, and quite welcome for serious traders looking to diversify.
Limited trader education resources. The other side of Tastytrade’s appeal to experienced traders is its relative lack of trader education resources. It’s not the best place to learn investing basics.
Key Features of Tastytrade
Before opening a Tastytrade account, understand how its platforms work and what to expect from its trading features. Familiarize yourself with its pricing and account opening bonus opportunity too.
Account Opening Bonus
For a limited time, Tastytrade has an exciting account opening promotion* for new customers. To earn it, complete the following qualifying activities:
Open and fund your account by the stated offer end date, currently September 30, 2023
Make a qualifying new money deposit of at least $5,000 — but you must deposit at least $250,000 to earn the full $3,000 bonus
Meet other bonus requirements as spelled out in Tastytrade’s offer terms
Bonus tiers are as follows:
Deposit
Cash Bonus
$5,000 to $24,999
$100
$25,000 to $99,999
$500
$100,000 to $249,999
$2,000
$250,000 or more
$3,000
Your deposit can be cash, securities, or some combination of the two, but all of it must be new to Tastytrade. Funds transferred from another Tastytrade account don’t count toward the bonus amount.
Account Types
Tastytrade offers two taxable account types: individual and joint. You hold an individual account in your name only and a joint account with one other individual.
Tastytrade offers several types of tax-advantaged accounts as well, including traditional, Roth, and SEP IRAs.
Products Available to Trade
Tastytrade offers a comprehensive lineup of asset types to trade:
Stocks (including fractional shares)
ETFs
Options contracts
Futures contracts
Options contracts for futures
Cryptocurrencies
Commodities
Note that you can only trade stocks and ETFs in a basic account. You need to complete separate applications to get permission to trade other asset types, like options and futures. Standards vary by asset type, but you generally need to have a minimum amount of cash in your account at all times to trade more advanced asset types.
Commissions & Fees
Tastytrade charges no commissions at all on stock and ETF trades and no direct commissions on most other trades.
However, options and futures trades carry variable per-contract fees that are a few ticks above the industry average. These range from $0.25 to $2.50 per contract, depending on the contract type and underlying asset.
Cryptocurrency trades carry a flat 1% commission. It’s capped at $10 per transaction, regardless of the size of the trade. Cryptocurrency trades may involve other fees that Tastytrade can’t control.
Trading Platforms & Tools
Tastytrade has three distinct platforms: a desktop platform that you download once and run on your computer, a web browser that you can use on any machine as long as you have your login credentials, and a mobile app for on-the-go trading from your phone.
All three platforms have a comprehensive array of features and capabilities for serious traders:
Percent-of-profit orders, which allow you to set a strike price with a higher probability of occurring (and thus locking in your profits)
A rapid order adjustment feature that allows you to change pricing and trade structure on open orders without placing the order again
Curve analysis, a visual representation of expected profit or loss for a given trade based on the strike price
Quick roll, a fast way to roll open options orders into the next expiration month without reopening the trade
Social features like the Follow Feed, where you can follow expert traders’ moves in real time, and an in-platform video feed where expert traders narrate their trades
The mobile trading app has separate versions for Android and iOS. It’s essentially the desktop and browser trading platforms in miniature, with all the same features and capabilities. The user experience is excellent and execution speed (which is critical for serious traders) is on par with the other platforms as long as you have a strong Wi-Fi or LTE signal. Both versions have high marks from thousands of verified users.
Pros & Cons
Tastytrade has some key pros and cons to understand before opening your account.
No trading commissions on stocks and ETFs
Access to less common asset types
Excellent account opening promotion
Not ideal for beginners or hands-off investors
Some missing asset types
Above-average pricing on certain assets
Pros
Tastytrade is a comprehensive, social, and overall well-designed online brokerage for experienced traders.
No trading commissions on stocks and ETFs. Tastytrade charges no commissions on stock or ETF trades. If these are the only assets you buy and sell on Tastytrade, you’ll pay almost nothing (other than unavoidable regulatory fees) to use it.
Access to some less common asset types. Tastytrade’s less common asset types include futures, futures options, cryptocurrencies, and commodities that you can buy and sell directly. Many competing brokerages offer only stocks, funds, and options.
Potentially generous account opening promotion. Tastytrade’s account opening promotion is worth up to $3,000 with a qualifying new money deposit. You can earn the full amount with as little as $250,000 in new money, compared with $1 million or more for similar bonuses elsewhere.
Powerful order construction and execution tools. Tastytrade is built for sophisticated order construction and rapid execution. If your income depends on getting in and out of trading positions quickly, this is a key advantage.
Available anywhere with an Internet connection. Tastytrade’s three trading platforms are available anywhere with an Internet connection. The mobile apps offer Tastytrade’s full capabilities on the go.
Cons
Tastytrade isn’t appropriate for beginner and intermediate investors, which means it’s not appropriate for most market participants. It also has some gaps in asset availability and higher-than-average pricing in some asset types.
Not ideal for beginners. Tastytrade isn’t designed for beginners or even intermediate investors. It’s meant for active traders who know what they’re doing. If that’s not you, consider another online brokerage.
Not designed for passive investors. You can use Tastytrade to build a long-term stock and ETF portfolio that you occasionally write options against. But you can do that with dozens of other online brokerages as well. And Tastytrade lacks basic research and education features that long-term investors need.
Some missing asset types. Though Tastytrade has some bond ETFs, you can’t buy or sell government or corporate bonds directly on Tastytrade. The platform also lacks mutual funds. Truly comprehensive brokerages have both asset types.
Above-average pricing on certain assets. Tastytrade’s options and futures pricing is a bit higher than average in some cases. Futures option pricing ranges up to $2.50 per contract, nearly double what more reasonable brokerages charge.
How Tastytrade Stacks Up
Tastytrade is one of several high-quality online brokerages serving experienced, active traders. One of its closest competitors is TradeStation, which has a similar breadth of assets. Before opening an account with either, see how they compare.
Tastytrade
TradeStation
Account Opening Promo
Yes
Yes
Stock Commissions
$0
$0
Options Contracts
$1 per contract
$0.50 per contract
Futures Contracts
$0.25 to $1.50 per contract
$0.50 to $1.50 per contract
Cryptocurrency Available
Yes
Yes
Bonds Available
No
No
Tastytrade is roughly equivalent to TradeStation on stock, ETF, and cryptocurrency trading. Both lack direct bond access as well. But TradeStation is superior overall thanks to more competitive pricing on certain asset types.
Final Word
Tastytrade has a powerful trading interface built for experienced, active market participants. It’s fast, intuitive, and effective.
If that sounds like everything you need in an online brokerage, Tastytrade could be the right platform for you. Unfortunately, most investors aren’t super-experienced or particularly active. Tastytrade isn’t designed with them in mind.
On the bright side, there’s an abundance of beginner-friendly online brokerages for DIYers, plus even more low-cost, easy-to-use robo-advisors built for passive investors. You don’t have to use Tastytrade just because it’s a well-designed product. In fact, if you have to stop and think about whether it makes sense for you, it probably doesn’t.
*This offer is valid for legal residents of the 50 U.S. states and D.C. It’s not valid for IRA or trust accounts. You must be 18 or older to qualify. For complete rules and additional eligibility requirements, see the Official Terms and Conditions.
tastytrade, Inc. (“tastytrade”) has entered into a Marketing Agreement with Money Crashers (“Marketing Agent”) whereby tastytrade pays compensation to Marketing Agent to recommend tastytrade’s brokerage services. The existence of this Marketing Agreement should not be deemed as an endorsement or recommendation of Marketing Agent by tastytrade and/or any of its affiliated companies. Neither tastytrade nor any of its affiliated companies is responsible for the privacy practices of Marketing Agent or this website. tastytrade does not warrant the accuracy or content of the products or services offered by Marketing Agent or this website.
Editorial Note:
The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
The Verdict
Our rating
Tastytrade
Tastytrade is an excellent online brokerage for experienced, active traders who don’t need much support or education. It offers access to less-common asset types like futures and futures options and boasts one of the best, most accessible account opening bonuses in the industry. However, its lack of beginner- and intermediate-friendly resources mean it’s not appropriate for most traders, and its pricing is a bit high on some asset types.
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Brian Martucci writes about credit cards, banking, insurance, travel, and more. When he’s not investigating time- and money-saving strategies for Money Crashers readers, you can find him exploring his favorite trails or sampling a new cuisine. Reach him on Twitter @Brian_Martucci.
Inside: Are you looking for a remote job? This guide will help you find the best remote jobs for college students, with information on industries, pay, hours, and more.
The internet has made it possible to work from anywhere in the world.
This is great news for college students who want to earn some money while they study.
Back when I was in college, working remotely wasn’t even considered a possibility. But, now, there are a number of online jobs available that are perfect for college students.
In addition, remote jobs are one of the best ways for college students to make money and gain experience.
With a remote job, you can work from anywhere in the world, which is perfect for students who want to travel or live at home with their parents while transitioning to and from a college campus.
There are many different types of remote jobs available, so there is sure to be something that suits your skillset and interests.
In this article, we will explore the best remote jobs for college students.
How can a college student make money remotely?
Remote work has become increasingly popular among college students and for good reason.
Many students today have grown up with technology and possess the skills necessary to excel in remote jobs.
Not only does remote work provide a flexible schedule that can be easily adjusted to accommodate class schedules, but it also offers numerous benefits such as the ability to work from anywhere, reduced transportation costs, and the opportunity to contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions.
Additionally, remote work allows students to earn extra income, potentially reducing their reliance on student loans and minimizing post-graduation debt.
Can I work remotely in college?
Yes! Working remotely in college can be a great way to earn some extra money and gain some work experience.
Remote work has gained immense popularity across the globe, with its adoption nearly doubling since the pandemic.
As college students, you often possess the necessary tools for remote work, such as a laptop, making it a convenient option for them.
This is a great idea if you are looking at how to pay for college without loans.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
This is the perfect side hustle if you don’t have much time, experience, or money.
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If you’ve ever wanted to make a full-time income while working from home, you’re in the right place!
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The 15 best remote jobs for college students
Working remotely is a great way for college students to earn money and gain experience in their chosen field.
Whether you are looking for a way to make some extra money, or maybe you need a flexible job that will fit around your studies. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of remote jobs out there that could be perfect for you.
Also, you can review these non phone work from home jobs for more ideas.
Here are 15 of the best remote jobs for college students.
1. Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant is one of the best remote jobs for college students due to its versatility and learning opportunities. Plus there are plenty of virtual assistant jobs with no experience out there.
As the demand for remote administrative support services continues to grow, virtual assistants play a crucial role in helping companies and individuals with various tasks. Working from a remote location, virtual assistants provide administrative assistance by handling phone calls, scheduling appointments, managing emails, and more.
By finding a position as a virtual assistant in their desired industry or with a respected professional, students can make their side hustle more beneficial to their future.
Benefits:
Provides an opportunity to gain professional experience and develop essential skills such as communication, time management, and resourcefulness.
Requires quick thinking and the ability to switch between diverse tasks, which enhances cognitive flexibility and adaptability.
Allows students to learn about different industries and gain insights into their chosen career paths.
Pay: Most virtual assistants average about $20 an hour.
2. Online Tutor
Online tutoring is widely regarded as one of the best remote jobs for college students. With its flexibility and convenience, it offers students the opportunity to work from anywhere at their own pace.
Whether they excel in a specific subject or want to gain teaching experience, online tutoring provides a platform for college students to share their knowledge and help others succeed academically.
Benefits:
A high degree of flexibility it offers.
Freedom to choose their own hours, instruction topics, and the number of students they want to work with.
Balance their tutoring responsibilities with their academic commitments, ensuring they can effectively manage their time.
Pay: Although the reported median hourly wage for tutors was $17 an hour. The actual pay can vary depending on factors such as the subject being taught, the level of expertise required, and the platform through which tutoring is conducted.
3. Proofreader
Proofreading is a crucial role in the final stages of the written content production process, making it one of the best remote jobs for college students. A proofreader possesses a keen eye for detail and a strong command of the language, allowing them to identify and rectify errors that may have eluded the writer or editor.
They play a vital role in ensuring the accuracy, clarity, and coherence of written materials across various industries.
Benefits:
Offer the flexibility to work from anywhere, making it ideal for college students who need to balance their studies with work.
Enhances skill development such as language skills, attention to detail, and critical thinking abilities, which are valuable in various fields.
Networking opportunities to build professional connections and expand one’s network.
Pay: The average pay for proofreading jobs is $22 per hour, providing college students with a valuable source of income.
4. Social Media Manager
In today’s digital world, social media has become an essential tool for businesses to connect with their target audience, build brand awareness, and drive engagement. With the increasing importance of social media, businesses are in need of skilled professionals who can effectively manage their social media presence.
This makes the role of a social media manager one of the best remote jobs for college students, providing them with the opportunity to earn money while gaining practical experience in online promotion.
Benefits:
Enjoy being paid to be on your favorite social media apps.
Ideal remote job for college students due to its flexibility.
Gain practical experience in online promotion, which can be valuable for those studying marketing, journalism, or communications. Benefits:
Pay: The pay for social media management can vary significantly, but you can expect $15 an hour to $25 an hour.
5. Freelance Writer
Remote writing jobs are an excellent option for college students looking to earn extra income while honing their writing skills.
As writers, college students have the opportunity to create a wide range of written materials that can be distributed through various channels, such as articles, blogs, website copy, and more.
The demand for remote freelance writers is high, making it a popular choice among college students seeking flexible work options.
Benefits:
Freelancers can work on short and long-term projects.
As long as you have a computer and internet connection, you can work from anywhere.
Showcase writing skills and earn income.
Pay: The pay for freelance writers is by the word (.01-$1.50 per word). With most freelance writers averaging about $29 an hour.
6. Social media influencer
Social media influencers have become a prominent and lucrative career option in today’s digital age.
For college students, becoming a social media influencer can be an excellent remote job opportunity that allows them to leverage their online presence and pursue their passions while earning money.
To stand out as a social media influencer, it’s essential to create content that is visually appealing and captures the attention of your audience. Experiment with different types of content, such as photos, videos, stories, and live streams, to keep your followers engaged.
Benefits:
Be creative, and authentic, and share valuable information or entertainment that aligns with your niche.
Foster a sense of community.
Monetize your social media presence with sponsored posts, brand partnerships, and affiliate marketing.
Offers flexible working hours, allowing you to manage your studies and other commitments effectively.
Provides opportunities for personal branding and networking, which can open doors to other remote job opportunities in the future.
Pay: Potential for high earnings. This is more passive income than an hourly job.
7. Website or App Tester
Website and app testing is a highly sought-after remote job option for college students due to its flexibility and the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the tech industry.
As designers and developers strive to create the best user experience possible, they often hire individuals to find bugs and issues in their websites and apps. The role of a website or app tester is crucial in ensuring the functionality and usability of these digital platforms.
This feedback is invaluable for designers and developers as it allows them to make necessary improvements and optimize the performance of their websites and apps.
Benefits:
Excellent opportunity for college students to develop and showcase their skills in a professional setting.
Gain practical experience in the tech industry while balancing their academic commitments.
The flexible hours offered by these remote positions allow students to work at their own pace and manage their time effectively.
Pay: Platforms like UserTesting offer a payment of $10 per website tested. You can also find remote hourly wages ranging from $12 an hour to $16 an hour, with potential bonuses based on quality and productivity goals.
8. Video Editing
With the increasing demand for video content across various platforms, video editors play a crucial role in creating engaging and impactful visuals. This profession offers the opportunity to work from anywhere, making it ideal for college students who may have limited availability or prefer a flexible work schedule.
By adhering to the overall video brand messaging strategy, you can shape the final product and captivate the audience. This creative aspect of video editing allows college students to explore their artistic talents and develop their skills in storytelling and visual communication.
Benefits:
One of the key advantages of video editing as a remote job is the ability to work from any location.
Provides a platform for creative expression.
Video editing is a profession that is in high demand.
This high demand translates to a wide range of job opportunities and the potential for steady work, even for college students.
Pay: When it comes to money, beginner video editors can typically charge up to $45 an hour. However, it’s worth noting that rates can vary depending on factors such as experience, the complexity of the project, and client’s budget.
As college students gain more experience and build a strong portfolio, they can potentially increase their rates and earn a higher income from video editing projects.
9. Remote Research Assistant:
Many professors and researchers hire remote research assistants to help with data collection, literature reviews, and other research tasks. This type of job requires strong research and analytical skills, as well as the ability to work independently.
As a research assistant, you will have the opportunity to delve deeper into a specific subject or area of interest.
This can be particularly beneficial if you are considering pursuing further education or a career in that field. By immersing yourself in research projects, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic and develop expertise that can set you apart from others.
Benefits:
Opportunity to work closely with experienced researchers and professionals in your field of interest.
Gain valuable insights, knowledge, and skills that can enhance your academic and professional development.
Learn research methodologies, data analysis techniques, and critical thinking skills that are highly transferable to future career opportunities.
Hands-on experience in conducting research projects.
Build a network of professional contacts in your field.
Depending on the nature of the research projects you are involved in, there may be opportunities to contribute to academic publications or presentations. This can be a significant achievement that adds to your academic portfolio and demonstrates your research skills to potential employers or graduate school admissions committees.
Pay: Compensation for remote research assistant positions varies depending on the project and the level of responsibility. This is a great way to be paid to go to school.
10. Audio Transcription
Audio transcription is a popular remote job for college students that involves listening to audio files and accurately transcribing the spoken content into written form. Additionally, it provides an opportunity to develop valuable skills such as speed and accuracy in typing, excellent listening skills, and efficient time management.
Determine the type of transcription work you want to specialize in, such as technical legal transcription or educational podcast transcription. This will help you target specific clients and tailor your skills accordingly.
Benefits:
Offers flexibility in terms of scheduling, allowing students to work around their classes and other commitments.
Opportunity to develop valuable skills such as listening, typing, and time management, which can be beneficial in various professional settings.
Create a portfolio showcasing your transcription skills and experiences.
Pay: Transcription can be a well-paying job, with freelancing gigs offering up to $0.36 per minute of transcribed audio.
11. Data Entry
Data entry is a popular remote job option for college students due to its flexibility and convenience.
This role involves managing electronic data by entering and updating information in computer systems. It is a job that can easily be done remotely, allowing students to work from the comfort of their own homes or dorm rooms.
However, it is important to be cautious when seeking data entry jobs online to avoid scams.
Benefits:
Minimal specialized skills are required.
Data entry skills can also be beneficial for future career opportunities.
Employers often value individuals with data entry skills, as it showcases their ability to handle and organize large amounts of information accurately and efficiently.
Valuable experience in working with digital documents and databases.
Pay: The average pay for data entry is $18 an hour.
12. Virtual Recruiter
A virtual recruiter is a professional who is responsible for posting online job advertisements and searching for potential candidates to fill various positions.
This remote job opportunity can be particularly beneficial for college students as it offers flexibility in terms of working hours and allows them to gain valuable experience in the field of recruitment while still pursuing their education.
Benefits:
Collaborating with hiring managers and clients to understand their specific requirements and preferences for potential candidates.
This role provides hands-on experience in recruitment, which can be beneficial for your future career in HR or related fields.
Building relationships with candidates, hiring managers, and clients can expand your professional network and open doors for future opportunities.
Pay: The average pay for virtual recruiters is around $20 to $30 per hour, providing the potential for a lucrative income.
13. Blogger
College students can create their own blogs and build an audience by regularly posting content in a unique niche.
While this may not be the easiest route to make money fast, it provides an opportunity to showcase writing skills and develop a cohesive writing style. Once a blog gains a solid stream of visitors, it can be monetized through ads and affiliate links.
However, you will be starting a small online business which has its perks.
Benefits:
This is 100% passive income.
Works as much as you want or as little as you want on your site.
A simple way to help your readers while making money.
Your site can grow as you graduate college until you decide to sell it.
Pay: Various based on traffic and monetization. But it is an easy way to invest $100 to make $1000.
14. Course Creator
As a course creator, you have the chance to teach others about a topic or course that you are passionate about while earning a steady passive income. This job allows you to create online tutorials or how-to videos to educate and engage students from all over the world.
You will be responsible for creating and managing the content on your website and other online platforms. This includes developing blog posts, videos, podcasts, and other educational materials to enhance the learning experience for your students.
Make use of hosting platforms like Thinkific, Teachable, or Kajabi to facilitate easy access to course-related information for your students. These platforms offer features such as course management, student progress tracking, and payment processing, making it convenient for both you and your students.
Benefits:
Opportunity to earn a steady income while pursuing your passion and sharing your knowledge with others.
Working remotely offers flexibility in terms of working hours, allowing students to manage their time effectively and balance their studies with their job.
Gain valuable experience in content creation, marketing, and online teaching, which can greatly enhance their resume for future career opportunities.
Pay: This is a passive income job where you will put the work in upfront and have less ongoing maintenance to run your course.
15. Stock Trader
Stock trading is a lucrative and dynamic field that offers college students the opportunity to work remotely and earn a substantial income. With the rise of online trading platforms and the increasing popularity of investing, stock trading has become a highly sought-after skill in today’s market.
Honestly, I know more and more high school students waiting to turn 18, so they can start life as a stock traders.
As a stock trader, you will be responsible for buying and selling stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments for your own portfolio. This role requires a combination of analytical skills, market knowledge, and the ability to make quick decisions under pressure.
Continuous learning and staying updated on market trends and strategies are crucial to staying competitive in this field. I highly recommend taking the Trade and Travel course to learn the basics of stock market investing.
Successful traders can earn substantial profits, but it is important to note that trading also involves the risk of financial losses.
Benefits:
Stock traders have the potential to earn significant income through their trading activities. Learn how fast you can make money in stocks.
Flexibility to trade before class and work from anywhere with an internet connection.
Opportunity to work independently and be your own boss, setting your own schedule and goals.
However, it is important to acknowledge the challenges that come with being a stock trader. The stock market is highly volatile and unpredictable, requiring constant monitoring and adaptation to changing market conditions.
Pay: Various significantly with your profit /loss ratio. But, a great way to make $1000 a day.
16. Customer Service Agents
Customer service agent remote jobs are a great option for college students looking to gain work experience while studying. These jobs allow students to provide excellent customer service from the comfort of their own homes, offering flexibility and convenience.
Remote customer service agents interact with customers through various communication methods such as phone, chat, and email. They answer customer questions, solve problems, and direct customers to the appropriate resources when needed. These jobs can be done part-time, making them ideal for students with busy schedules.
Benefits:
Require little experience or education.
Develop valuable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and time management.
Showcase their communication skills to future employers, which is a highly desirable quality in any job.
Pay: Earnings can range from $10 to $25 per hour, depending on the role and experience.
17. Photography
Photography is a form of artistic expression that allows college students to showcase their creativity.
You can experiment with different styles, compositions, and subjects to capture unique and visually appealing images. This creative aspect of photography can be fulfilling and enjoyable for college students who have a passion for visual arts.
Benefits:
Choose when and where to take photos, giving them the freedom to balance their academic and personal lives effectively.
Build a portfolio of their best work. A strong portfolio can open doors to more significant opportunities in the future, such as exhibitions, collaborations, or even full-time photography careers.
Earn income while honing their skills in product, stock, or event photography.
When stock images are licensed, earn passive income from the sales.
Pay: When it comes to pay, the average rate for a photographer is $24 per hour. However, it’s important to note that pay can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, and the type of photography gig.
18. Virtual Internships
Virtual internships provide valuable work experience and allow you to gain industry-specific skills while working remotely. Many companies offer virtual internships in fields like marketing, finance, and technology.
Having an internship in the field you want to pursue is an invaluable opportunity to gain practical experience and enhance your career prospects.
Additionally, virtual internships can provide you with a unique perspective on the field you want to pursue (and if you still want to pursue it).
Benefits:
Gain relevant work experience in your desired career field.
Practical experience will not only enhance your understanding of the industry but also demonstrate your competence and dedication to potential employers.
Greatly strengthen your resume.
Build a network of contacts in your desired field.
Pay: These internships may be paid or unpaid, but the experience and connections you gain can be invaluable for your future career.
Looking for Online Summer Job?
There are a plethora of online summer temporary jobs available for college students. You just have to decide what is interesting for you to do.
Also, think about ways you can build your resume for future employment after graduation.
If I could go back to college, I would focus on learning how to make your money work for you. That is one of the best life skills you can truly understand.
This list above has plenty of options for you to consider.
Are you passionate about words and reading?
If so, proofreading could be a perfect fit for you, just like it’s been for countless of readers! Learn how you can create a freelance business as a proofreader.
Check out this free workshop!
Bookkeeping is the most stable, reliable & simple business to own. This is how to make a realistic income -either part-time or full-time.
Find out TODAY if this is THE business you’ve been looking for.
FAQ
Many colleges and universities have career centers or job boards that specifically cater to remote job opportunities for college students.
Networking is crucial for college students when it comes to finding remote job opportunities. Reach out to your professors, classmates, and alumni who may have connections or knowledge of job opportunities.
This is smart if you want to know how to move out at 18.
Remote work requires a unique set of skills that allow individuals to effectively perform their job duties from a distance. In order to succeed in a remote job, college students should possess the following skills:
Time management: Remote work often provides flexibility in terms of scheduling, but it also requires individuals to manage their time effectively. College students need to be able to prioritize tasks, set deadlines, and stay organized to ensure they meet their work obligations.
Communication skills: Since remote work involves limited face-to-face interaction, strong communication skills are essential. College students should be able to effectively communicate through various channels such as email, instant messaging, and video conferencing.
Self-motivation: Working remotely requires a high level of self-discipline and motivation. College students need to be able to stay focused and productive without direct supervision. They should have the ability to set goals, stay on track, and meet deadlines without constant oversight.
Adaptability: Remote work often involves working with different tools, technologies, and platforms. College students should be adaptable and willing to learn new software or applications that are necessary for their role.
Problem-solving: Remote work may present unique challenges and obstacles that require critical thinking and problem-solving skills. College students should be able to analyze situations, identify potential issues, and come up with innovative solutions. This skill is particularly important when faced with technical difficulties or communication issues.
By honing these skills, college students can position themselves as valuable assets to remote employers and increase their chances of securing remote job opportunities.
When you’re applying for remote jobs, most of the time your potential employer will want to see some kind of portfolio that showcases your skills and experience.
You can create a portfolio by using a free online portfolio builder or by creating your own website.
With a visually appealing and user-friendly portfolio, you can make a lasting impression and increase your chances of landing your dream remote job.
Which Online Jobs for College Students Are Interesting To You?
There are a lot of great remote jobs for college students out there!
With a little bit of research, you can find the perfect job for your skills and interests.
Be sure to consider the pay, hours, and industry when you are looking for a remote job as well as career advancement.
For many students, working in college is a must! Because you know how to pay for college without parents is hard.
So, use these ideas to find the right job for you whether it is part-time or full-time.
And if all else fails, check out this list of low-stress jobs that pay well without a degree.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
CPAs, financial advisors, and financial coaches all share similar money-themed responsibilities, but their goals, education, and fees are vastly different.
Financial coaches do a lot more than show you how to build a budget or slap your wrist when you want to eat out five times a week; they teach you how to have a healthy relationship with money, so you and your family can work towards a brighter financial future.
Read on to learn what financial coaches do and whether or not you need one!
What’s Ahead:
What is a financial coach?
Financial coaches take you back to the basics of money management. Personal Finance 101.
Their goal is to evaluate your personal finance habits, identify patterns in your spending and saving, and suggest new boundaries and budget methods to help you reach your financial goals. They also act as accountability partners; so the next time you’re tempted to splurge on a new pair of shoes or the latest iPhone, your financial coach will help set you straight.
Their job is to educate you on ways to manage your money well, so you can recover from debts, save for major financial goals, and achieve a lifestyle where you control your finances — not the other way around.
What do financial coaches actually do?
Financial coaches provide instruction and advice to help people eliminate unhealthy habits and establish better budget practices; but before they get started, they take a little time to understand their client’s unique routines and aspirations.
Assess the client’s financial habits
Generally, financial coaches begin by tracking your current spending and saving patterns, debts, and budget for a short time, likely a few weeks.
As they come to a clearer understanding of your relationship with money, they help you understand which habits are detrimental to your financial wellbeing and how to implement new, healthy practices. They also learn what emotional ties you may have to money and how those connections influence your finances.
Discuss the client’s financial goals
Next, financial coaches will review their client’s short- and long-term goals.
Would you like to save for a down payment on a house? Address your current debts? When would you like to retire?
For many of us, this list can be quite long, and it may be challenging to know which goals to prioritize. A financial coach can help you get organized and teach you how to adjust your spending and saving patterns to tackle each goal.
Build a financial plan that will last
Finally, your financial coach will propose a plan, unique to your needs and desires, to get you back on track.
They’ll help you develop a new budget, eliminate debt, build an emergency fund, save for retirement, and more. They will likely meet with you every week or every other week, generally for a period of six months to a year, to check in and to keep you accountable.
At the end of that time, your financial coach will have taught you how to maintain a lifelong habit of managing your money well!
How do financial coaches differ from financial advisors?
If you need help planning for retirement, understanding your tax situation, or even saving money, both financial coaches and financial advisors can help. However, while these experts do have a lot in common, the reality is they’re quite different, and it’s important to understand why before you hire one.
Services
First of all, the clients that financial coaches and financial advisors take on typically start from different points.
If, for instance, you have minimal savings and perhaps even substantial debts, you need some tips and tricks to restore your finances to a healthy position. A financial coach can provide that level of service! On the other hand, if you’ve already saved a great deal, but don’t know what to do with the cash you’ve accrued, a financial advisor would be a better fit.
When it comes to investments, financial advisors also have the upper hand. One of the key responsibilities of a financial advisor is to manage a client’s investment portfolio, and most require an investment minimum of $100,000 or even $1 million. Financial coaches, however, aren’t licensed to provide investment advice for their clients, so any tips they recommend will likely be limited and non-specific.
While financial advisors can direct budding investors, financial coaches can address deep-seated issues their clients have with money. Whether you’re an avid budgeter or on the brink of bankruptcy, finances are stressful for nearly every American. Financial coaches can address any negative associations — be they emotional, mental, behavioral, or otherwise — and provide practical methods for correcting them.
Credentials
Another key difference between coaches and advisors is education.
Most financial advisors undergo extensive education and possess specific credentials and designations, such as Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA); Additionally, financial advisors must be licensed and registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Financial coaches, however, aren’t required to complete any particular training or certification(s) to provide their services. For this reason, it’s vital that anyone interested in hiring a financial coach be sure to research thoroughly and prioritize those who have achieved some level of education, training, or certification.
Time period
Coaches and advisors also differ in the amount of time they spend with a client.
Since financial coaches aim to help people establish a basic understanding of healthy budget practices, their business relationship is generally for a shorter period of time, such as a year or less. Advisors, however, work with clients for the long haul. They will likely meet once or twice a year to evaluate the client’s assets and manage their investment portfolio.
Cost/rate
One of the most significant differences between coaches and advisors is how much they charge for their expertise.
Since financial coaches aren’t required to have any formal training or licensing, they can be a much more affordable option, accessible to even those who are steeped in debt. However, their rates vary greatly for the same reason. Coaches may charge anywhere from $75-$600 per hour, while others prefer a flat fee per session or for a set number of sessions.
Financial advisors offer a few different types of payment plans, either fee-only, commission-based, or a combination of the two. For fee-only providers, the advisor will charge an hourly rate, such as $150-$300 per hour, or a rate based on the number of assets they manage, typically between 0.5% and 2%. Commission-based advisors receive payment from investment providers, by selling products to their clients.
Who should hire a financial coach?
If you feel stuck in a financial rut, unable to grow your savings, or reach major goals like buying a home, a financial coach may be your ticket forward.
Financial coaches can help their clients eliminate unhealthy money management habits and replace them with positive patterns and routines.
Your issue may be struggling to set aside money for retirement or maintaining a consistent budget. Maybe you’re a textbook shopaholic in need of strict boundaries. No matter your situation, a financial coach can provide some structure and guidance when you need it most.
Once you’ve discarded those negative habits and implemented new norms, they can step aside, leaving you on a new and healthier trajectory.
When do you need a financial coach?
Splurging on an unplanned dinner out or a spontaneous vacation isn’t always bad, but your financial habits can impact your future and even your health if you’re not careful.
When you just don’t know where to start
Let’s say your goal is to buy a house. You’ve opened a savings account and have saved some money over the years, but the progress has been slow and minimal.
Or, maybe you’re living paycheck to paycheck and can’t comprehend how to even begin saving on such a tight budget.
A financial coach can step in and evaluate your spending and saving habits with a fresh set of eyes. They can see opportunities that you can’t and can point out a path to achieving your financial goals.
When your finances are stressing you out
Another serious issue that may require the assistance of a financial coach is when your finances are impacting your health and happiness.
Money is a major stressor for the vast majority of Americans. It can impact everything from your eating habits to your sleep (or lack of). In some cases, the anxiety you feel as a result of finances can even damage your long-term heart health.
If the thought of budgeting, or the weight of financial goals unmet, gives you anxiety or seriously hurts your health and wellbeing, consider contacting a financial coach for help. Don’t assume these issues will sort themselves out. Take action today for the sake of your health and your future.
Why it’s important to find the right financial help
If your finances were a patch of dirt in your backyard, and you wanted to turn it into a beautiful garden that provided tomatoes and carrots for your family, you wouldn’t start with watering. You would pull weeds, plant seeds, and make sure your soil has the proper nutrients to keep plants alive.
A financial coach is like your friendly neighbor with the green thumb who teaches you how to prepare that dirt patch for plants. An advisor is like the nifty irrigation system that provides consistent water to grow your wealth.
If you’re thousands of dollars in debt, a financial coach can help you replace your poor money practices, literally, with healthy ones, or wealthy ones. Or, if you need help building a budget and sticking to it, a financial coach can provide the accountability you need to finally make progress.
But if you’ve got thousands of dollars saved and don’t know what to do with it, you’re probably better off contacting an experienced financial advisor who can help you build and manage a solid investment portfolio and continue to grow your assets.
Where can I find a financial coach or advisor?
If what you need is a financial coach, it’s important that you select a professional with experience in the industry and, ideally, credentials to prove they know what they’re talking about.
Start your search for a financial coach on the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education® (AFCPE) website. AFCPE provides two recognized certification programs, equipping coaches with the Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®) designation or the Financial Fitness Coach (FFC®) designation. By limiting your selection to professionals who hold AFCPE certifications, you’ll feel confident hiring an expert you can count on to help guide you towards a healthy financial future.
For those in need of wealth management expertise, the Paladin Registry is a great places to shop around.
Their impressive platform begins by collecting some information about your finances and goals and then presenting three qualified professionals from their database for you to consider.
They do the backend research and suggest advisors best suited to your needs, so you can feel comfortable interviewing and eventually selecting one of the experts recommended. Best of all, the Paladin Registry walks you through the entire hiring process for free.
Summary
Financial coaches can provide an invaluable service to folks in need of money management basics, but they’re not right for everyone.
If you’ve accrued substantial savings and aren’t sure how best to maximize your wealth, consider a financial advisor who can manage your investment portfolio and provide a long-term relationship to grow your wealth. However, if what you need is a foundation to build on, a financial coach can teach you how to maintain a budget, eliminate debt, build your savings, and more. They also keep you accountable, to help you adopt a new trajectory towards a healthy financial future.
No matter which type of help you need, be sure to research thoroughly for financial experts who are experienced in the industry and have the education and credentials to prove it.
Everyone has at least one dresser in their apartment. You’ve got to put your clothes somewhere. Typically, like most bedroom furniture, dressers are both large and heavy. You have these two elements working against it when you decide it’s time to move them yourself.
Yes, the more hands-on an item the easier to move, but grabbing a friend to hold up one end while you handle the other isn’t always possible. Neither is the luxury of hiring professional movers to do the job for you.
Simply sliding an entire dresser across the floor isn’t usually a good idea, so you need to know how to handle large or heavy furniture safely. This goes beyond the basics of always making sure you can see where you’re going, lifting with your legs and keeping your body straight.
Assuming you can’t hire experienced furniture movers to handle heavy furniture, here’s how to move a heavy dresser all by yourself.
Prepare yourself for moving heavy furniture
Before you even think of moving that bedroom furniture around, you need to prepare yourself and your home. Start by ensuring there’s a path from where your dresser is now to where it needs to end up. If there’s anything in the way, clear that out first. You need enough space to safely maneuver.
Next, measure any doorways your heavy load will have to get through. Make sure the dresser will fit. If you’re heading to a moving truck, don’t forget to measure the front door as well.
Lastly, pick your clothes carefully. You’ll need closed-toe shoes for sure to protect your feet, but you also want shoes with a no-slip grip on the bottom to keep you sturdy for dealing with heavy objects of any kind. Your outfit should consist of light and loose clothing; anything less is likely to get ripped, torn or stretched when in the throes of heavy lifting.
Adding work gloves to your furniture moving ensemble will not only protect your hands but prevent any sweat from weakening your grip on your furniture.
Protect your furniture and your home
It’s relatively easy for heavy furniture to do some serious damage to your home, and that’s why professional movers will typically wrap large furniture with furniture blankets and lay thick plastic wrap on the floor when moving you out.
You may not have the right moving equipment, but you can improvise.
To protect your furniture, floors and walls from bumps, scratches and other damage, take the time to cover your dresser in a sheet or blanket before you move it. Secure the cover with packing tape.
To protect your hardwood floors, you can look into getting furniture pads to go under your dresser or simply use a flat piece of cardboard. You should have a lot of that laying around if you’re about to move to a new house anyway.
When confronting tight spaces, or maneuvering on a delicate surface, go slowly. Make frequent stops to check nothing is scraping against a wall, you still have a barrier between the furniture and the floor and you’re still in control of where the dresser is going.
Review the proper lifting technique
One more piece to consider before moving a heavy dresser is whether you know how to properly lift it. Hopefully, your strategy for moving it solo means you aren’t actually picking it up, but even lifting one corner to adjust it requires a good form.
Proper lifting technique protects your back and keeps your body safe while you’re holding something heavy. Key points to remember include:
Start with your feet facing the heavy object
Squat to lift rather than kneeling down
Use your legs to do the work as you stand
Maintain the natural curve of your back as you lift
Avoid any twisting movements while holding the heavy item
This is a good practice to remember when dealing with any furniture items that sit on the heavier side of the scale. It’s also important when moving individual boxes around.
How to move a heavy dresser
Carrying furniture, when it’s smaller and lighter, is easy. You can safely lift a furniture piece like this and walk it out to the moving truck all on your own. Heavy furniture is more complicated and requires some additional moving tools, but moving it doesn’t mean you need the help of another set of hands.
1. Begin by taking it apart (sort of)
While you’ll never make a dresser feel light, anything you can remove from it does make it lighter and easier to deal with. This is true for any heavy furniture piece, so breaking down what you can is always a good tip.
For a dresser, this could mean taking off the dresser top if that’s possible, separating a large mirror from the furniture piece if there is one or taking those dresser drawers out completely. You can leave all your clothes inside dresser drawers but carry them separately to wherever the rest of the dresser will end up. You can then slide them back into the dresser and seal them closed with painter’s tape so they don’t accidentally slide out while on the moving truck.
Don’t put anything else back onto the dresser though. Instead, use the proper packing materials to keep it all separate. For example, a dresser mirror should get wrapped up with bubble wrap, placed between two pieces of cardboard then wrapped like a present in packing paper. Use packing tape to keep your mirror secure and make sure you label it as fragile.
2. Create a little give with furniture sliders
One of the best tricks for moving furniture is to give it the ability to glide across the floor. Furniture sliders let you do this, using plastic or rubber squares. Putting the sliders underneath the corners of a heavy piece of furniture lets you push the piece with ease.
You can find furniture sliders at your local hardware store, and there are different types for both hardwood floors and carpets, so this strategy works on all flooring types.
If you do end up needing an alternative to sliders and are only moving objects on an actual floor, bedspreads, towels and even plastic container covers will work the same way. The only caveat here is you’ll need to push the furniture, you can’t pull it.
3. Move the heavy dresser using a furniture dolly
Furniture dollies are different than hand trucks. The latter is what you’ll often see when hiring movers. They’ll pull it out of the moving truck, stack a pile of boxes on it and wheel it right up the truck’s ramp.
A moving dolly is actually a flat platform of wood or metal. It has four wheels on the bottom that swivel for easy maneuvering around tight corners. For all its simplicity, a dolly can move up to 1,000 pounds of heavy furniture.
To load a furniture item onto a moving dolly on your own, first, make sure all the wheels are locked. You don’t want it to accidentally roll away from you mid-lift. Next, lift one side of the dresser and angle it onto the dolly. Go to the other side next, lift, and make sure the piece is balanced. If you’re dealing with a longer dresser, you might need two dollies, one under each end. Once secure, push it slowly so the furniture doesn’t slip off.
Although you can buy a furniture dolly from any hardware store, some moving companies will rent the equipment to you. This is probably more cost-effective since it’s not a tool you’ll use very often on average.
4. Add some wheels
Another useful piece of moving equipment designed for heavy furniture is furniture wheels. These only work for solid pieces of furniture so don’t use them with a floppy mattress or anything that doesn’t have a firm bottom.
Instead of being an entire platform, you have to lift your dresser onto, furniture moving wheels consist of a set of casters you attach to your furniture. This does require some hardware and the use of your tools, but once attached, you can quietly roll your dresser right out of the house.
In order to attach your own sliders to your dresser, start by tilting it on its side. Then, attach the wheels to the bottom and set them upright. Leave the wheels on if you’ll need them again to situate your dresser in your new home, but make sure to put the dresser back on its side within the moving vehicle. That way it won’t accidentally roll into anything else in transit.
Since this strategy also has you shifting the dresser’s position so much, it’s a good idea to wrap the piece up with furniture blankets and secure some bubble wrap on the fragile edges at each corner.
5. Try an uplifting strategy
Perhaps the coolest device to move heavy furniture has the low-key name of furniture lifter. It almost looks like a tire jack, but for your stuff. The reason it looks like this is because it’s essentially how it functions.
A furniture lifter typically comes with four sliders, a jack and lever. The jack raises the furniture enough to slide the pads underneath and then you can push the dresser where it needs to go. With this option, you never even have to partially lift the furniture to get the sliders under it.
If there are stairs
If you find that it’s up to you to move a heavy dresser downstairs to the ground floor of your home, don’t stress. You can do this too, but you will absolutely need a second person to manage this safely.
Ideal positioning down a flight of stairs puts one person below the furniture and one person above. The stronger one of the two of you belongs at the bottom, but without both people, you risk dangerously sliding a very heavy object down a flight of stairs. That’s not good for anyone or anything.
Take it nice and slow and make sure you’ve wrapped things up with moving blankets. You can even put an extra one directly on the stairs to make the sliding process easier. All furniture should be taken down on its side to ensure nothing catches on the steps.
Moving other heavy furniture
While all the strategies that make it possible for your to move a dresser alone will work with any piece of heavy furniture, there are a few other things to know.
When moving a chair, turn it sideways into an ‘L’ so you can hook the chair through any doorways or around corners. Point the back of the chair toward the opening first then you can curl it through.
When moving a heavy couch, you won’t be able to carry it horizontally through a doorway yourself. To make it work, stand couches on their end so it faces up (after you’re sure it will clear the door) and push through the door. You can lay a rug underneath to protect the floor.
Ideally a two-person device, you may also see a mattress sling advertised as a way to move your mattress. The great thing about this is it gives your mattress handles which transforms an item notoriously hard to move into something you can actually hold onto.
There are also additional pieces of moving equipment you can use to make lifting possible.
Moving straps
To move heavy furniture and keep it hands-free, look for moving straps or a shoulder dolly. They’re most likely the same thing, but these straps work to distribute the weight of lifting heavy objects across your body. so you can protect the large muscle groups in your back and legs.
There are two types of moving straps. Bigger ones hook over your shoulders, but you hold the heavy item in front. For smaller items, that still have a lot of weight, there’s also a backpack-style set of straps.
To use, you simply slide the strap under the furniture and make sure it’s securely in place.
Hand dolly
This dolly is the kind most people use to stack boxes on. However, you can also lean heavier furniture against it to wheel around as long as the furniture isn’t too tall. The height must stay below your neck so you can see where you’re going at all times.
To use, slide the bottom of the dolly underneath the furniture as far as it will go and tilt the dolly back slowly until you’ve successfully picked up the furniture. Make sure the piece won’t shift side to side as you’re moving it and consider strapping it to the dolly to keep it secure. This is a perfect time to use moving blankets since the furniture can scratch against the dolly as well as your walls.
You can move it
Getting all your heavy furniture to that new house is completely possible, and more affordable than buying new. This is true whether you’re flying solo, have enlisted a few friends or are getting things handled by a professional. All it takes is time, focus and a little extra care so you, your furniture and your old apartment stay safe and in good condition. Here’s to a happy experience moving that heavy dresser!
The other day, a dear friend of mine in her mid-20s told me she was saving up to buy a house in her 30s.
Her plan for amassing a down payment was to simply make a big withdrawal from her 401(k) when the time was right.
When I reminded her that the combined taxes and penalties could be as much as 30% (meaning she’d lose $15,000 out of a $50,000 withdrawal), she frowned.
“Well, I can’t just put the money in a savings account. Interest rates suck these days – the highest I’ve seen is 1%, and that doesn’t even cover inflation!”
She had a point. So why not invest the money, I asked?
“Well, I don’t know much about stocks, I don’t have the patience for real estate, and crypto scares me.”
That’s when I told her she was the perfect candidate for a lazy portfolio.
“A what? Look, buster…”
Once I backpedaled and explained the concept, she understood that I wasn’t calling her a bum, but rather, keying her into a lesser-known but highly effective investment strategy.
In this piece, I’m going to clue you in, too!
What’s Ahead:
What is a “lazy portfolio”?
A lazy portfolio is a bundle of stock market investments that requires little to no active maintenance by you. They’re most commonly made up of between one and five index funds, which are like big bundles of stocks, bonds, and other investments that you can buy just like shares of a regular stock (more on those later).
Aside from the occasional deposit or gentle asset reallocation, lazy portfolios don’t require any work.
You can buy $5,000 or $10,000 worth of index funds today and literally do nothing but watch them for 10 years. Doing this means you’ll have a successful lazy portfolio that will, hopefully, generate good rates of return.
But wait – don’t you have to be constantly buying and selling stocks to make money in the stock market?
Not at all – in fact, it’s better if you don’t. Unlike with day trading, you don’t mess with your lazy portfolio – through thick and thin, you let it sit and generate compound interest for years.
You can think of a lazy portfolio like a baby 401(k) that you design yourself and withdraw from much earlier.
Here’s why being “lazy” is a good thing
I love the movie The Wolf of Wall Street and the investing madhouse r/WallStreetBets, but both entities continue to perpetuate a common myth about the stock market: that you need to day trade to make money.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
In truth, multiple academic studies have found that the overwhelming majority of retail investors end up losing money.
“Don’t be misled with false claims of easy profits from day trading,” Burton Malkiel, Princeton professor and Chief Investment Officer of Wealthfront, told CNBC.
The harsh reality of investing in the stock market is that unless you’re a highly trained wealth manager with decades of experience and a team of analysts, you’re probably going to lose money day trading (and even they tend to struggle to pick winning stocks).
That’s why it’s better not to day trade, and be lazy instead. Rather than researching, buying, and selling stocks every day for the next 10 years, you’ll be better off buying index funds in the next 30 minutes and going about your day (or decade).
What are lazy portfolios made up of?
Lazy portfolios are most commonly made up of a small mix of index funds. Here’s a breakdown of what those are and why they’re so effective for passive investing.
Index funds: the building block of lazy portfolios
Index funds are a form of ETF, or exchange-traded fund, which are like big bundles of stock and other investable assets. When you buy shares of an ETF, you’re effectively buying up shares of dozens or hundreds of companies at once.
Each ETF must be individually approved by the SEC and have an appealing “theme” to it. For example, there are blockchain ETFs; ETFs that track the oil industry; and even quirky, unique ETFs that contain shares of companies trying to appeal to Millennials.
So, while stocks let you invest in a company, ETFs let you invest in an entire industry, concept, or strategy.
Now, what makes index funds as unique as ETFs is that they’re designed to reflect the performance of an entire market index, such as the S&P 500 or the U.S. bond market. To illustrate, here are two of the most popular index funds for building lazy portfolios:
The Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (BND), which reflects the performance of the total U.S. bond market.
The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI), which, big surprise, reflects the performance of the overall stock market.
So by buying shares of VTI and BND, you’re essentially investing in “the stock market” and “the bond market.” I know – the idea of investing in the whole stock market all at once sounds meta and maybe a little ridiculous, but bear with me.
Index funds are extremely popular for one simple reason
If you’re new to the stock market, you should know that pretty much every investor dabbles in index funds. Everyone from Warren Buffet to your grandparents has a stake in them – in fact, here’s how Mr. Buffet himself feels about index funds:
“In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is owning the S&P 500 index fund,” he told CNBC.
Index funds are popular among amateurs and pros alike for one simple reason: they reliably produce around 3% to 10% APY year after year. Index funds that track the S&P 500 are particularly high-performing, which is why many actively-managed mutual funds will say they “beat the S&P 500” as a benchmark for success.
Between 3% and 10% APY may not sound like a ton of interest but lemme tell ya, it’s plenty. Compound interest is a powerful ally, after all. Take a look at MU30’s Compound Interest calculator below to get a sense for yourself:
So to illustrate, let’s take a look at what happens if you opened a “one-fund lazy portfolio” today by buying $10,000 shares of the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO).
How much money would your lazy portfolio be worth in 10 years?
The answer is about $40,000. As I said, it literally pays to be lazy!
Now, most investors choose to put multiple index funds in their lazy portfolios for added diversity, but even one-fund lazy portfolios like 100% VOO are common and highly effective (clearly).
Why index funds are better than mutual funds or robo-advisors for building lazy portfolios
To start, mutual funds and robo-advisors are both excellent tools for smart investing. I’m not knocking them, but there’s a reason many investors don’t use them for lazy portfolios.
For the uninitiated, mutual funds are like ETFs, but they’re actively managed – there’s a team of professionals constantly mixing up the assets in the fund in an attempt to maximize returns for investors.
Similarly, robo-advisors are AI programs that take your money and build a portfolio for you, which, depending on your risk parameters, may contain a mix of ETFs, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and more.
But lazy portfolio builders tend not to use either resource for one simple reason: fees.
Both mutual funds and robo-advisors will charge you a fee of between 0.25% and 2% to cover their costs of managing the fund – and since lazy portfolios are fire-and-forget, many passive investors would rather pick the index funds themselves and just avoid the fees.
To be clear, index funds and ETFs in general charge fees as well, but they’re typically less than a fifth of what a mutual fund charges (usually under 0.40%).
How to Build The Right Portfoilio – 3 popular lazy portfolios to consider
There’s a saying in the personal fitness community that there are 100,000 personal trainers with 100,000 “perfect” workout regimens.
The same applies to lazy portfolios in the investing world – there are (at least) 100,000 institutional investors with 100,000+ ideas on how to build the right lazy portfolio. After all, there’s a lot of flexibility in designing lazy portfolios – they may only contain a few index funds at most, but there are over 1,700 index funds to choose from!
Before you get overwhelmed, here are three solid examples to consider:
1. The basics: Rick Ferri’s Lazy Three Fund Portfolio
Author and CFA Rick Ferri literally wrote the book on index funds and publishes simple, yet effective, lazy portfolios for amateur investors to use. Here’s his bread-and-butter, the Lazy Three Fund Portfolio:
40% Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (BND).
40% Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTI).
20% Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VXUS).
2. For a little more diversity: David Weliver’s Fidelity Portfolio
For a little added diversity, MU30’s very own David Weliver designed an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink portfolio touching four different markets:
20% iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Market (ITOT).
20% iShares S&P Small Cap 600 Value (IJS).
40% iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock (IXUS).
20% iShares Core US Aggregate Bond (AGG).
3. If it ain’t broke: Warren Buffet’s 90/10 Portfolio
For maximum gains and minimum effort (you know, the very essence of a lazy portfolio) you really can’t go wrong copying the best. Warren Buffet’s 90/10 portfolio is one of the highest-performing, yet simplest, lazy portfolios in existence.
But perhaps the best part of the 90/10 portfolio is that Buffet specifically designed it to stick it to fund managers who charge high management fees.
According to author and investor Rob Berger, Buffet claimed this fund…
“will be superior to those attained by most investors – whether pension funds, institutions, or individuals – who employ high-fee managers.”
And the portfolio has outperformed those actively managed funds, year after year. If you need any final endorsements, Buffet advised his trustees to place his and his wife’s money into this portfolio after his death.
90% Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO).
10% Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund ETF (VGSH).
What platform should I use to build a lazy portfolio?
You can build and monitor a lazy portfolio on pretty much any trading platform that lets you buy ETFs, but some are better suited for hosting lazy portfolios than others.
Here are just two options:
M1
Unlike most popular trading apps, M1 is tailor-made for passive investing. It’s easy to buy a few ETFs, build a lazy portfolio, and monitor it over time without the temptation of selling or day trading. If you choose to lean on robo-advisor support, it’s also available.
But the best part about M1 is the community. There are thousands of passive investors on the M1 subreddit ready to lend their strategies and support.
Webull
Many investors like to keep their active and passive investing portfolios on separate apps so they don’t accidentally or impulsively sell their index fund holdings – but if you’re confident you can juggle both on one platform, check out Webull.
Unlike its rivals, Webull offers an advanced trading dashboard and detailed analytics for free. Plus, you’ll get complimentary shares just for joining, making it a great landing pad for short- and long-term investors.
Summary
Lazy portfolios are made up of a handful of index funds that you buy once and let sit and mature for at least 10 years. The healthy and consistent annual performance of index funds like Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) makes lazy portfolios a 100% viable investing strategy, one used by amateur and institutional investors alike.
If you’re looking for a way to invest money so you can buy a house or pay off your student loans in 10 years, don’t overthink it: get lazy.
Some people are just impossible to shop for. Maybe they already have everything, or maybe they have everything they need.
I take minimalism to new heights, and it drives my family crazy come Christmastime. Bad news for my family; good news for you. That makes me the perfect person to walk you through this.
It’s true that hard-to-shop-for people require some extra creativity during gift-giving season. Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to buy outstanding gifts for even the most challenging recipients.
Unique Gift Ideas for Someone Who Has Everything
Forget the usual humdrum gifts. These gift ideas are customizable to your budget and recipient’s hobbies and interests. This time around, give them something they actually want, no matter their age or how difficult they are to shop for.
1. An Educational Project Subscription
There are loads of education projects available on the internet if you’d like to try your hand at DIY. But those without the time nor inclination can sign up for a one-time box or subscription service.
For example, KiwiCo is a parent- and kid-friendly subscription service that delivers enriching art and science projects right to your door each month. Simply choose an age group-based project line, pick your plan, and expect the first crate within days. You can pause or cancel anytime.
Project lines range from Panda (0 to 24 months) and Kiwi (2 to 4 years) all the way up to Eureka (12 to 100 years) and Maker (14 to 100 years). And if you don’t want a monthly commitment, you can order a one-off project crate.
2. A Fun Membership or Subscription
You can give your loved one access to a year’s worth of entertainment through a video streaming service like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, or Amazon Prime Video. If they’re a book or music lover, give them an audiobook service like Audible, or a music service like Spotify or Sirius XM.
For friends with kids, opt for a membership to a local children’s museum, kid-centered gymnasium, zoo, or aquarium. Really, you can give a membership to anything from Costco to AAA to magazine subscriptions.
A subscription box membership is an irresistible gift that keeps on giving. My Subscription Addiction is the place to find boxes for just about any interest and budget.
Not sure where to start? Choose a club or association that would mean something to your recipient, and then contact them to ask if they offer gift memberships for purchase. Every time the recipient accesses their membership benefits, they’ll think of you.
3. A Virtual Assistant
Money is a renewable resource, but time is not.
A virtual assistant can help take a wide range of chores off your recipient’s plate: repetitive work tasks, contacting customer service departments, managing their inbox, bookkeeping, scheduling, travel planning — the list goes on.
A VA can give them back their time by doing whatever scutwork your recipient was planning to do next Saturday morning while the kids were watching cartoons. They can then spend it with their family, doing their favorite hobby, or just catching up on much-needed sleep.
Best of all, once they get over the initial awkwardness of delegating their personal chores to a virtual assistant, they can start regaining time for themselves every single week by continuing to work with their VA.
BELAY and WoodBows are full-service VA placement companies, or you can hire a virtual assistant directly through a freelance website like Fiverr or Upwork. It’s the perfect last-minute gift to buy and print instantly.
4. An Experience
Those of us who have enough stuff don’t need (or want) another knickknack to clutter up our living rooms or another toy to play with for a day or two and then set aside.
Think beyond the physical and give an experience instead. When you prepay for an event or experience, your loved one gets a fun adventure to remember and possibly gains new skills and memories — all of which are much more valuable than a new iPhone speaker or pair of shoes. It’s also a more thoughtful gift, showing you took the time to plan something for them rather than buying them another bland gift set.
Experience gifts can include:
Check out Groupon and LivingSocial for experience-based gifts for any budget. If you’ve got something specific in mind, looking for a site dedicated to those experiences opens up a world of possibilities. For example, Traveling Spoon has delectable food experiences and Context Travel lets you in on one-of-a-kind local-led walking tours in your favorite cities. And for some people, that last one can be a fun way to see the city where you live in a whole new way, through someone else’s eyes.
5. Gift Cards
Some people think gift cards are a cop-out, but consider this: People who have everything clearly know what they want. Why force a gift on them now? With a gift card, they can treat themselves whenever they’re ready.
There’s no shame in buying someone a gift card or gift certificate for their favorite store or activity. It shows you pay attention to their preferences while acknowledging they prefer to shop for themselves. Whether it’s for their favorite clothing store or a new restaurant, a gift card tells the recipient the gift is truly about them and not your need to show off your creativity.
Stop thinking about the kind of gift you’d rather give, and buy them the kind of gift they’d rather receive.
6. A Night Out
Everyone needs a night out sometimes — single people, coupled people, rather-be-with-their-pet people. There are only so many nights in a row you can stay in and watch Netflix.
Plan a date night or night out for your recipient, from start to finish. It could include a dinner reservation and gift card, pre- or post-dinner cocktails at a swanky bar, movie tickets, theater or sporting event tickets, transportation, even tickets to a fundraiser gala. The important point is you do all the logistical planning for them so all they have to do is gussy themselves up and stroll out the door.
Finally, if your recipient has young children, don’t forget to plan for babysitting with someone they already know and trust. Hint, hint.
7. Babysitter Service
Parents of young children need nights — and days — out more than anyone. Give them the gift of breathing room and time to just worry about themselves for once. You can hire a sitter you know and trust or go through a service like Sittercity.com or Care.com.
Just remember that many parents feel anxious about leaving their kids with anyone other than sitters they’ve used before. So you may need to do a little sleuthing to find those people and arrange their services. Or you can offer your own services.
Even if you don’t plan anything else for their day or night out, hiring a sitter can give your loved one the excuse they were looking for to get out of the house for some me-time.
8. Home Cleaning Service
The last thing most of us want to do when we’re not working is scrub our toilets and shower tiles. A home cleaning service offers one more option for helping your recipient reclaim lost time.
You can hire a local or nationwide cleaning service. Your recipient gets a cleaner home, a happier relationship, and their weekend back to spend however they like. Win, win, win.
9. Meal Kit Delivery Service
Meal kit delivery services provide all the ingredients for meals with easy-to-follow recipes. They’re convenient, they’re easy, they save trips to the grocery store, and they can help dieters make healthier food choices without the headache of calorie-counting apps.
Due to their meteoric rise in popularity, you have plenty of meal kit delivery services to choose from, from Hello Fresh to Blue Apron to Hungryroot.
10. Cooking Classes
Alternatively, some people would cook more at home if they felt more confident in the kitchen.
Cooking classes from places like Sur La Table cover a wide range of cooking skills. They cover basics like meal prep and how to use kitchen utensils. For intermediate cooks, there are lessons on how to cook quickly and efficiently with appliances like pressure cookers and air fryers. Advanced cooks to opt for lessons like pairing wines with food.
Or look for a specialty class, such as King Arthur Baking’s school, where they have a class or three almost every day in subjects like pizza, bread-making, and cookies.
Besides being a fun experience gift for foodies, cooking classes can truly transform your recipient’s and their family’s lives. I confess I wish someone had given my mother a cooking class or two when I was growing up.
11. A Personalized Gift
When someone already has everything, a personal touch can mean the difference between just another gift and something truly meaningful. When you order something engraved, embroidered, or otherwise designed specifically for your recipient, you show you’ve put real thought and effort into finding the perfect gift.
Personalized gifts don’t need to be flashy or expensive. A few ideas to get your creativity flowing include:
Photo socks
A keychain with important dates (such as anniversaries or birthdays) listed on it
A leather journal with an embossed name or message
Personalized jewelry
An engraved flask
Engraved wine glasses
A personalized wooden cutting board
12. Name a Star After Them
This gift idea nears the red zone between sweet and hokey. Yet you’d be surprised how many people find it romantic. After all, who doesn’t love the idea of being immortalized?
Several services enable you to exclusively name stars after your loved ones. Check out the Online Star Register and CosmoNova for two reputable options.
Be prepared to break out a star map and a telescope to point out the exact star to your recipient. Mark the occasion with a glass of Champagne to up the romance factor.
13. A Bluetooth Record Player
For the audiophile or hipster on your gift list, it’s hard to go wrong with a vintage vinyl player.
Modern record players make a fun gift for people who enjoy gadgets. You can opt for a vintage-style Bluetooth turntable or go a little higher-end with a fully automatic modern record player. The choice is yours.
Add to the gift by including a vinyl version of your recipient’s favorite album.
14. Noise-Canceling Headphones
One Christmas, I splurged and bought myself a pair of quality noise-canceling headphones.
I don’t know how I lived without them in the loud shared office where I work. It’s like wrapping myself in my own personal sound bubble. Sometimes, I turn them on with no music playing just to enjoy the relative silence.
And the good news is you can buy noise-canceling headphones on any budget.
15. A Scratch Map
My wife is an international educator, as are most of our friends overseas. We all love international travel, and most of us keep scratch maps to visually track our journeys.
Like scratch-off lottery tickets, scratch maps come with all countries coated with silver or gold scratch ink. As you visit a country, you scratch it off the map. For the travel lover on your list, it makes a fun and inexpensive gift.
I like a vintage-looking scratch map that looks like it fell off a museum’s shelf. Scratch maps that distinguish between states in countries like the US, Brazil, and China help you be more specific about your travels.
You can’t go wrong with a scratch map as one of the best travel gifts for men or women.
16. Airline Tickets
If you have a more sizable budget, book airline tickets or a dream trip to help your wanderlust recipient widen their horizons and push past their comfort zone.
Unlike the sweater you gave them last year, it will make for a gift they’ll never forget. But this is one time you’ll want to involve them in the process to ensure the dates work for them and you book a destination they want to visit.
17. Travel Accommodations
If someone’s already handled the travel, book them one or more nights’ accommodations.
There are plenty of affordable alternatives to hotels, many of which prove far more authentic and memorable. I don’t remember most of the corporate hotel stays in my life, but I can remember every guest house in Eastern Europe, every bed and breakfast in South America, and every Airbnb stay in South Africa.
If your recipient would rather choose their accommodations themselves, you can buy gift cards for Airbnb or a major hotel chain.
18. A National Parks Pass
Give the rugged, outdoorsy recipient unlimited access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including national parks and forests.
An annual pass from the National Park Service is surprisingly affordable and makes particular sense for recipients who live near a park they love to visit. But it also serves as an excuse to travel the country and see more of its natural attractions.
For hikers, campers, backpackers, and nature lovers, an annual park pass makes a perfect gift.
19. A Lens Kit for Their Phone Camera
Mobile phone cameras have come a long way since the mid-2000s, rivaling the image quality of full digital cameras a decade ago. But they come with one major limitation: the lens. You can’t extend it to zoom, and you can’t swap it out for wide-angle shots.
Fortunately, you can now buy mobile phone lens kits. In seconds, you can snap on a zoom, wide-angle, or fish-eye lens to your phone’s camera. They’re tiny and light, making them perfect for travel photography when you’re traveling light.
Amazon has loads of lens kits to convert almost any smartphone into a versatile digital camera.
20. A 23andMe Genetic Test
You can learn a lot from a genetic test: useful insight such as health risks and predispositions, information about your family’s roots, and even amusing information such as celebrities with tenuous genetic links to you.
The person who already has all the stuff they want could still use a glimpse into their family’s past through 23andMe’s genetic testing kit.
It may spark a deep curiosity about their roots and kick off a journey of discovery.
21. A New Way to Clean Up
Toilet paper is yesterday’s news. Bidets are the wave — or stream — of the future. And assuming they use it regularly, your lucky recipient’s new post-business cleaning system will almost certainly cost less in the long run than the traditional method.
That’s especially true if you invest in the Tushy Classic 3.0, a built-to-last bidet that’s an absolute steal at just over $100. If you think your friend will wholeheartedly embrace a new way to clean up down there, consider going all-out and outfitting them with a comprehensive Tushy system featuring the Tushy Classic 3.0, Tushy Stand and eco-friendly bamboo tissues, Tushy Brush, and Tushy Ottoman (for better-angled business).
22. Headspace
Every week, it seems like a new study comes out with fresh data reaffirming the physical and emotional benefits of meditation. As someone who practices — or at least tries to practice — daily, I can attest that it helps you manage stress and maintain better control over your emotions and mindset.
But not everyone is ready to hop into a lotus position and start saying mantras. For many people, guided meditation helps them focus. The app stores overflow with guided meditation apps, but few can rival Headspace.
Headspace offers a wide range of guided meditation sessions at varying lengths. They also offer extras like courses, progress tracking, and exercise.
23. A Kitchen Herb Garden
There’s nothing better than fresh herbs in your cooking. But as an apartment dweller, I can’t just nip out back to pluck some fresh basil or thyme from my garden. And even if I had a backyard, I doubt I’d have the time to keep a proper herb garden.
The solution: a miniature kitchen herb garden. If your recipient doesn’t have the proper window orientation for natural light or doesn’t have the attention span to water herbs every day, they can use a small indoor garden kit that provides timed light and watering on automation. You can start them off with a down and dirty DIY herb garden kit or opt for a fully automated hydroponic model.
24. Food & Drink
Nowadays, I mostly give my family and friends consumables. They just don’t want more stuff. So I give upscale cheeses, wine, beer, cigars, and homemade foods. Choose consumable gifts well, and you know they’ll be appreciated and won’t go to waste.
25. A Brewing Kit
Give someone a beer, and you sate them for a day. Teach them how to make their own beer, and you sate them for life.
When you brew your own beer, you get to make fun and creative styles that suit your palette, whether that’s honey red ales, mouth-puckering sours, or vanilla bourbon barrel-aged imperial stouts.
Buy your recipient a beginner brewing kit if they’ve never brewed before, and give them the gift of a new hobby.
26. Stocks, Shares, or Crowdfunding Investments
Everyone needs investments if they ever hope to retire. For the person who has everything, consider the gift of an appreciating or passive income-producing asset.
That could include shares of individual stocks or exchange-traded funds, real estate investment trusts, or even real estate crowdfunding investments through Fundrise. If they’re new to investing and just need a bit of help, start them off with their own brokerage account by sitting down with them in person to help them open one with a company like SoFi Invest or Robinhood. Then, show them how buy their first shares.
27. A Charitable Donation
Donating to charity in lieu of a gift has come a long way in recent years thanks to services like GoFundMe and IndieGogo.
The trick to making a thoughtful donation lies in a single question: What would your friend donate to if they were choosing the organization? A recipient passionate about cancer research would probably love a donation to the American Cancer Society or Make-A-Wish Foundation. You can also use crowdfunding sites to find causes that hit closer to home, like giving money for a friend’s medical treatment or giving to a veteran via the Wounded Warrior Project.
You can opt to take the charitable donation tax deduction on your own tax return by dedicating the gift in your recipient’s honor. Or you can make the gift legally in the recipient’s name so they get the tax deduction if they itemize their deductions.
Your recipient may not need anything for themselves, but there are plenty of people in this world who do. Check out JustGive.org for a list of organizations perfect for gift donations.
Final Word
When someone already has everything they want and need, the real challenge lies in finding a way to show your love and appreciation rather than finding the perfect gift. After all, if it’s the thought that counts, then putting extra consideration into services, experiences, and gifts that show you care is much more valuable than the priciest present. So think outside the mall or gift baskets and come up with a gift that’s truly meaningful.
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G. Brian Davis is a real estate investor, personal finance writer, and travel addict mildly obsessed with FIRE. He spends nine months of the year in Abu Dhabi, and splits the rest of the year between his hometown of Baltimore and traveling the world.
Inheriting a house with a mortgage requires making some decisions about what to do with the property. One option is to sell the home and pay off the loan with the sale proceeds. If you keep the home, you can assume the existing mortgage or refinance the loan. If you keep the home, you can live in it or rent it out. Your choices may be limited by the laws where you live. If the ownership of the house is split between one or more other heirs, you’ll have to consider their wishes. A financial advisor can help develop a plan to reach your personal financial goals.
Home Inheritance Basics
After someone passes away, a will can be used to bequeath property such as a private residence to a loved one. In the absence of a will, state laws may dictate where the property goes.
Often property or other assets inherited in this way goes through probate. When that happens, any debts owed by the estate must be paid off before assets are distributed to heirs. This means the mortgage has to be dealt with in some manner before the estate can be settled. State inheritance laws vary, so local requirements may limit your options.
Mortgage Inheritance Options
When you inherit a home with a mortgage, you’ll have two basic choices: sell it or keep it. Here are the pros and cons of each.
If you sell the home, you can use the proceeds to pay off the loan. If there is any money left after satisfying the lender, you can keep the cash as part of your inheritance.
Selling and paying off the loan relieves of you any responsibility to make future mortgage payments and keep up the property. And selling may be the only option if you share ownership of it with another beneficiary who wants cash. Taxes represent a potential complication. You may owe capital gains taxes on the money you receive after paying off the mortgage.
If you keep the home, you can assume the mortgage and start making payments. A federal law called the Garn-St. Germain Act generally requires lenders to let someone who has inherited a house assume an existing mortgage without getting credit approval or paying closing costs on a new loan. This can let you move into a place more desirable than you could buy on your own, in addition to possibly having pleasant memories associated with it.
Keeping the home gives you more options. You can live in the home if its location and other features meet your needs. Alternatively, you can rent it to tenants and, if the rent is more than the mortgage, collect passive income plus potential gains from price appreciation.
A major downside of keeping the property is that you have to make the mortgage payments, in addition to covering the taxes, insurance and other expenses. If you want to and can get approved for a new loan, however, you may be able to refinance the loan. Refinancing can let you take advantage of lower interest rates and possibly reduce the payments or, if you prefer, take cash out of the equity.
Potential Pitfalls
A lot of things can go right if you inherit a house with a mortgage. Some potential pitfalls to be aware of include these:
Negative Equity: If the house is underwater, meaning the outstanding balance of the mortgage is more than the property’s value, you won’t be able to sell it for enough to pay off the loan. Unless you can get the lender to agree to a short sale, you’ll still be responsible for the remaining balance.
Tax liability: Selling an inherited property and realizing a gain on it after settling the mortgage could create a tax obligation. The gain could even push you into a higher tax bracket so you’ll owe more on the other income you generate from work or investments.
Ownership costs: Repairs, maintenance, property taxes and homeowner association fees are some of the costs that can go with owning a home you inherit. Account for these costs before you decide what to do with the property.
Selling costs: Even if you sell the property, you’ll still have to pay a number of costs. These often include real estate agent commissions, closing costs and possibly repairs, among others. These costs will reduce the amount left after the transaction and can make the sale less appealing and worthwhile.
Picking the Right Approach
Deciding what to do when you’ve inherited a house with a mortgage involves balancing several considerations, including:
Your finances: Ask yourself whether you have the resources to keep making mortgage payments and maintaining the property.
Living situation: If you need a place to live and the inherited property suits your needs, it might make sense to assume the mortgage and move in.
Market factors: The real estate market in your area may suggest that it’s better to sell or rent than to keep the property and live in it.
Nostalgia: A family home could have pleasant memories or, for a variety of reasons, be someplace you’d prefer not to live.
Legal issues: If multiple heirs are involved, they might disagree about what to do with the property.
The Bottom Line
Inheriting a house with a mortgage presents options that need careful consideration. Selling the home and paying off the loan can relieve you of mortgage responsibilities. Alternatively, you can keep the home, assume the mortgage and either live in it or rent it out for passive income. State laws and the wishes of other heirs may limit your choices. Your finances, living situation, market conditions, emotions and legal issues will be part of the final decision.
Tips for Investing
Consider talking to a financial advisor before making any decisions about what to do with a home you have inherited. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t need to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have free introductory calls with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
If you decide to sell an inherited home and pocket the cash, you may wonder what would happen if you invested the funds. SmartAsset’s Investment Return & Growth Calculator can give you an answer. Input the amount you’ll invest, how much and how often you’ll make additional contributions to your initial capital, the anticipated rate of return and your investment time horizon in years. The calculator will tell you what your portfolio will likely be worth at the end of that period.
Mark Henricks
Mark Henricks has reported on personal finance, investing, retirement, entrepreneurship and other topics for more than 30 years. His freelance byline has appeared on CNBC.com and in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and other leading publications. Mark has written books including, “Not Just A Living: The Complete Guide to Creating a Business That Gives You A Life.” His favorite reporting is the kind that helps ordinary people increase their personal wealth and life satisfaction. A graduate of the University of Texas journalism program, he lives in Austin, Texas. In his spare time he enjoys reading, volunteering, performing in an acoustic music duo, whitewater kayaking, wilderness backpacking and competing in triathlons.
If you’re itching to visit Europe but want to make sure you’re comfortable on the long flight, check out these cheap business-class fares to Paris. You can book an American Airlines flight through JetBlue to secure seats for much less money than you would spend booking directly.
Deal basics
Airlines: JetBlue.
Routes: New York City to Paris.
How to book: Search and book these American Airlines fares directly through the JetBlue website.
Travel dates: July 2023 through May 2024, with availability around the holidays.
Book by: As soon as possible.
Sample flights
These discounted fares apply to nonstop flights from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). As of now, summer flights cost about $1,960, as do those in spring 2024.
Flights around Thanksgiving and Christmas cost a bit less at $1,650, while January 2024 fares are as low as $1,310. (We cannot guarantee the below round-trip flights will be available when you book.)
Say you want to spend Thanksgiving exploring the City of Light. Take an overnight flight from New York on Nov. 22 and land in Paris at 6:35 a.m. on Nov. 23.
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After enjoying a week in the city, depart at 11:25 a.m. on Nov. 30 and arrive at 2:10 p.m. in New York.
These rates are for lie-flat business-class seats. The fare also includes access to Flagship® Lounge and Admirals Club®, priority check-in, priority boarding and two free checked bags. There are no change fees if you need to alter the flight. You’ll receive all of this for just $1,653 — about $1,300 less than you would by booking through American.
As you can see, this same flight would cost $2,954 if you booked it through the American website.
Maximize your purchase
Don’t forget to use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as:
Bottom line
These lie-flat business class seats on flights from New York City to Paris are much cheaper than usual. Travel dates are flexible and extend into spring 2024, so you can still plan in advance. Booking through JetBlue rather than American will save you extra cash — just note it might take some trial and error to find a solid deal.
It’s never fun to consider declaring bankruptcy. But, believe it or not, bankruptcy can be a smart financial decision in certain situations. Bankruptcy’s designed to give people a fresh start when they need one. And if you file for bankruptcy, you’re taking a big step towards getting your finances under control. That’s always a responsible goal.
But it’s a serious decision with consequences. Your credit rating takes a big drop (as you may know already) and your spending habits may need to change. How do you know when the pros of bankruptcy outweigh the cons?
First, know the basics of what bankruptcy does. Bankruptcy usually does not eliminate all your debt. The courts treat different kinds of debts differently.
Here are the debts bankruptcy will NOT erase:
Student loans, whether public or private. You can get relief from student loan payments, but that’s a separate process
Income taxes you owe. There are payment options for back taxes. Just like student loans, though, income tax payments have a process all their own
Child support and alimony
Court fines or other legal penalties (such as traffic tickets)
Debts to government agencies
Debts for personal injury or death caused by drunk driving
Any debts you forget to list in bankruptcy papers
Here are the debts bankruptcy CAN erase or make easier to pay over time:
But debt itself doesn’t automatically make bankruptcy the best option. If any or all of the following circumstances apply to you, it might be time to file:
Creditors are suing you for unpaid debts
If creditors have already passed your debt to a collection agency, they may take the next step—a lawsuit. Debt collection lawsuits usually aren’t worth fighting in court. You’ll end up with court costs to worry about.
Bankruptcy will place an automatic “stay” on your account. This is a court order requiring creditors to cease all collection activity, including lawsuits.
Credit card debt is “unsecured” debt. This means creditors can’t repossess any items if you don’t pay it. Bankruptcy usually erases credit card and other unsecured debts.
If your utilities are about to be disconnected, bankruptcy can keep them from being cut off as well.
What’s Ahead:
You’re facing home foreclosure and/or car repossession
Bankruptcy can issue a stay on any repossession or foreclosure activity, just like it can for credit card collections. But this stay’s a little more complicated.
Money you owe on homes and cars may be a “secured” debt, or a debt where a creditor can repossess the property. This is the case if a creditor has a lien on your home or car. A lien is basically a claim on your property saying the creditor can take it back if you don’t make payments. You may have to read the fine print or consult a professional if you’re not sure whether creditors have a lien on your home. Bankruptcy can erase what you owe—but it can’t keep creditors with liens from repossessing property.
Don’t panic! In many cases you can keep your home even after you file. One type of personal bankruptcy, Chapter 13 bankruptcy, gives you time to catch up on mortgage payments. The property you get to keep also depends on your state’s bankruptcy “exemption” laws—each state has different rules about which properties are exempt from creditor claims.
Your wages are being garnished
Wage garnishment, or creditors taking a certain percentage of your paycheck, may be the result of a lawsuit or court order. Bankruptcy’s automatic stay will stop the garnishment.
You pay for everything on credit cards
If you’re paying off debt by digging yourself deeper into debt, bankruptcy can help you break the cycle. Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the most common type of individual bankruptcy, usually erases credit card debt.
You’re dipping into a retirement account to pay bills
Thought it may be tempting, think twice before you turn to retirement funds. Most states protect your pensions, life insurance, and retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s in bankruptcy. You can file, get the rest of your bills under control, and keep the retirement funds. Check the specific legislation in your state to find out what’s protected.
Paying off your debts will take five years or more
To get a full financial picture, calculate how much you owe, to whom, and when you think you can repay—or how long you can manage modest regular payments without going underwater. Focus on the debts bankruptcy can possibly discharge, like credit card debt.
If you don’t see yourself making a dent within five years, much less paying everything back, bankruptcy may give you much-needed relief.
Your revolving debt exceeds your annual income
Revolving debt is any debt with an open-ended term or no end date. Credit cards, personal lines of credit, and home equity lines of credit are all sources of revolving debt. The debt “revolves” from month to month, though you pay a percentage each month.
You’ve tried everything else
Maybe you’ve already negotiated with creditors for a better payment plan. You’ve refinanced loans. You’ve done your best to budget and search for more income sources. And you’ve explored debt consolidation, management, and settlement.
Been there, done all of the above? Keep reading.
Since declaring bankruptcy takes time and affects your credit, it’s often considered a last resort. But the resort is there for a reason. Life happens. Overwhelming medical debt, for example, is a frequent cause of bankruptcy. If medical bills are stressing you out, though, you may have more options than you realize.
You’re eligible to file
We’ll discuss the two types of individual bankruptcy—Chapter 7 and Chapter 13—in detail below. But first, find out if you qualify.
For either type of bankruptcy you should be 90 days overdue on all the debts you need to discharge.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy requires filers’ monthly income to be below the median monthly income for their state (and a household of their size). To figure out your median income, add your gross income from the past six months and divide by six. Then deduct “reasonable and allowable expenses”. This includes what you spend each month on essentials like groceries, housing, and transportation. The number remaining is the income you have available to repay debts.
Here’s a 2016 estimate of the median annual household incomes per state—divide this number by 12 to see if you’re below the average.
If your income’s over the limit, you might still qualify for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
So how are the two types different? And which one should you choose?
Chapter 7 bankruptcy
Otherwise known as “liquidation bankruptcy,” Chapter 7 is designed for individuals with no way to pay their bills otherwise. This type of bankruptcy pays off as much of your unsecured debt as possible, including credit card debt and medical bills. The court “liquidates” your assets by converting them into cash to pay off your creditors.
The process takes anywhere from three to six months. It’s usually much quicker than Chapter 13 bankruptcy. You can keep any assets your state marks as “exempt.” Your house or car, for instance, may or may not be exempt depending on the state you live in. If they’re not exempt, they can be collected. You’re more likely to lose assets if their equity—the value of the property minus the amount still owed—is high.
What if you have little to no income and few (if any) assets? Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be the best choice for you. Be aware, though, Chapter 7 doesn’t erase the obligations of any co-signers you may have on a loan.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy
Also known as “reorganization bankruptcy” or “wage earner’s bankruptcy,” Chapter 13 is designed for people who have a consistent income and who want to keep their property. Chapter 13 bankruptcy gives filers a “grace period” of between three to five years to make payments on their debts. Any debts that remain at the end of the grace period are discharged.
The Chapter 13 plan is similar to debt consolidation. Unlike Chapter 7, this plan lets you keep your assets. It can erase the same debts Chapter 7 can erase, along with any debts from a divorce (except for alimony and child support). The court will determine the value of your equity in assets, look at your income and expenses, and figure out a repayment amount and schedule.
If you have money coming in but you need to buy some time—and you want to ensure you keep your house—Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be the best choice for you. Chapter 13 also protects any co-signers, as long as you make payments on time.
What to know before you file
This is not a decision to be taken lightly (obviously), so consider the following before filing.
Your credit will be affected
A Chapter 7 bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy stays on your credit report for seven years. Scores can drop anywhere from 50 to 200 points (higher scores will drop more steeply). You may have trouble getting certain loans or will pay higher interest rates. But people have successfully obtained credit and even purchased homes after declaring bankruptcy. Good money management practices, from here on out, go a long way.
You’ll have a meeting or two in court
For Chapter 7 bankruptcy you only have to go once, to a hearing called a “Meeting of Creditors.” The trustee will ask you questions about the paperwork you filed, including your assets and debts. Creditors may or may not attend—they usually don’t. For Chapter 13 bankruptcy you go to court twice, for the Meeting of Creditors and an additional confirmation hearing.
You need a lawyer
Technically you can represent yourself, but experts don’t recommend doing this. Filing becomes complicated and takes time and research to get all the facts right. Especially with a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the more complex kind, there are details of bankruptcy law only an attorney can navigate. Fees range between $2,000 and $4,000. The fee may seem steep, but you’ll save on the penalties you might pay otherwise. The American Bar has a directory of bankruptcy lawyers. Some lawyers offer free first consultations, and you may even be eligible for pro bono representation. The American Bankruptcy Institute keeps a list of pro bono bankruptcy attorneys in each state.
Bankruptcy becomes part of a public record
Potential lenders will know you’ve filed for bankruptcy in the past. Your employer, however, can’t fire you for declaring bankruptcy.
There’s a fee of around $300 to file
If your household income is less than 150% of the poverty line, the fee can be waived.
You’ll have mandatory financial counseling
The process of filing for bankruptcy includes mandatory lessons on financial literacy. You take one class before you file and one class before your bankruptcy is discharged.
Your spouse won’t be affected
Your spouse does not have to file for bankruptcy, and your filing won’t affect their credit. The exception is if you need relief from debts you acquired together. In that case you can jointly file for bankruptcy.
You’ll need to simultaneously stop bill payments
Once you file you’ll probably be required to stop all bill payments at once. This may feel strange, but any payment can show you favor one creditor over another, which creditors don’t like.
Filing bankruptcy, first steps
If you think you may be a candidate for bankruptcy, start gathering as much information as you can as early as possible. Although you can learn a lot online about the pros and cons of bankruptcy—and what to expect if you file—you’ll want a lawyer that specializes in bankruptcy to actually go through with filing.
Bankruptcy filing fees and your lawyer’s fees are apt to cost anywhere from $1,000 to several thousand dollars, which is another reason why the decision to file bankruptcy should be made extremely carefully.
If, however, creditors are already pursuing you in court, and bankruptcy will help keep the roof over your head and food on the table, those costs—and the other downfalls to bankruptcy—may just be worth it.
Summary
Filing for bankruptcy is a last resort and can be frustrating. But the end result should give you a little breathing room and a chance to rebuild your finances. Take advantage of this chance if you need to.