A House panel has passed a bill that would temporarily expand the standard tax deduction used by the majority of taxpayers by $2,000 per person for the next two years.
The Tax Cuts for Working Families Act (H.R.3936) recently approved by the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee would temporarily boost the standard deduction by $2,000 for single filers and $4,000 for married filers for 2024 and 2025. The deduction would start to phase out for single taxpayers with $200,000 in income, or $400,000 for joint filers. A financial advisor can help you optimize your tax strategy and make sense of tax code changes.
“The vast, vast majority of my constituents use the standard deduction on their taxes every year,” said Rep. Carol Miller, R-West Virginia, adding that the measure will increase economic activity in local economies. “The bonus $4,000 deduction is a $100 billion tax cut for the working families and will go a long way to make sure that my constituents can make ends meet.”
Potential Impact of Standard Deduction Increase
Nearly two-thirds of households would get a tax cut in 2024 under the proposal, according to research from the nonpartisan Penn Wharton Budget Model. However, since the standard deduction lowers the amount of income subject to tax, the deduction isn’t refundable and wouldn’t provide cash to lower-income taxpayers. In fact, only a small percentage of the bottom 20% of households have enough income to get a tax cut under the proposal, the researchers from Penn concluded.
But those at the very top of the income ladder also wouldn’t see significant tax savings if the bill becomes law. Not only does the higher deduction phase out for incomes of $200,000 or more (or $400,000 for married couples), but a larger proportion of high-income households use itemized deductions.
“The poorest fifth of Americans would receive just 2% of the benefits of this provision, and on average, that means a tax break of just $30 next year,” said Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the committee’s ranking Democrat.
The change would also cost approximately $96 billion over 10 years, the Penn researchers found.
The standard deduction for 2023 will be $13,850 for singles and $27,700 for couples. The deduction nearly doubled as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which expires in 2026. An increasing number of taxpayers have opted to claim the standard deduction, rather than itemize deductions for mortgage interest, charitable donations, medical costs and a host of other deductible expenses. According to the IRS, 90% of taxpayers opted for the standard deduction for their 2021 taxes.
Will it Help Ease Inflation or Make it Worse?
Sponsors of the temporary increase said the measure was intended to provide relief from inflation, which soared to 9.1% last June before dropping to 4% in May. The target inflation rate for the Federal Reserve is 2%, which mirrors the historical average.
That reasoning was criticized in an analysis by the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, which pointed out that increasing the disposable income of so many Americans tends to make inflation worse, and would contradict efforts by the Federal Reserve to slow consumer spending by raising interest rates.
Bottom Line
An increase in the standard deduction on federal income tax would benefit most U.S. households but only a small amount of lower-income taxpayers would see any cut to their tax bills. Since the increase of the standard deduction in 2017, fewer taxpayers have been itemizing deductions on their returns.
Tax Optimization Tips
When it comes to saving and investing for retirement, taxes are a significant and complicated consideration. Saving in a traditional IRA or 401(k) gives you an immediate tax break since contributions are made on a pre-tax basis. A Roth account, on the other hand, is funded with after-tax dollars so your money grows tax-free. Here’s some additional guidance for late-career savers deciding whether to switch to Roth contributions.
A financial advisor with tax expertise can help you optimize your tax strategy. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call 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.
Whether you should halt your retirement contributions in order to focus debt is one of the most heavily debated dilemmas in personal finance.
Unlike “spend less than you earn” or “track every penny you spend“, there’s no cookie-cutter answer to this question. Variables such as age, career, risk tolerance, and even personality type make each individual situation unique.
You’ll Never Win a Race Against High-Interest Debt
Regardless of your personal situation, there are very few circumstances where high-interest debt should not be the top priority. What’s high interest? Well, that’s another fun question to debate. For the purpose of this article, we’ll assume a broad range of anything in excess of 8-12%.
Once you start trying to race against debt with double-digit interest, you’re destined to fail. It’s risky at best and downright irresponsible at worst.
Let’s be honest. If you’re still relying on high-interest debt, 99% of the time it’s a result of not living within your means. There are rare exceptions, but for most of us (myself included), the issue boils down to spending less than we earn.
On Monday, J.D. wrote about the importance of paying yourself first. Like many, I love this advice. However, I’d like to challenge you with this: Only pay yourself first if you deserve it.
You could spend decades socking away 15% for retirement, but if you are living beyond your means, you’ll still lose. You’ll be tapping your 401(k) for a hardship loan. You’ll be upside down in a house with two mortgages and a HELOC. Even with the best intentions, this is a game that you need to get very, very lucky to win.
I don’t want to rely on luck. I don’t want to race high-interest debt.
For me, having positive cash flow with at least a minor emergency fund is a prerequisite to retirement investing. This proves I deserve to pay myself first. Otherwise, it’s my high-interest debt against my retirement contributions. Not a race I’d like to see.
Ready to Rumble
So now where are we?
Positive cash flow? Check.
Short-term savings? Check.
Only student loans and a mortgage…what now?
Now we’re ready to debate! At this point we’ve covered the basics. We’ve plugged the leak in the ship, but still have a bunch of nasty water to bail from the hull.
Once our remaining debt has interest rates in the single digits (setting an exact percentage isn’t the point), the situation becomes less cut-and-dried. There are two schools of thought on the issue.
The first preaches that this is the perfect time to make retirement a priority. These folks point out that starting the contributions is the hardest step. They show that the earlier we adopt this as a habit, the better our situation is in the long run.
The second school emphasizes the power of focusing on a single goal with all your energy and passion. They profess that intensity and commitment increase the probability that we ultimately succeed in tackling our financial goals. After all, once you eliminate your debt payments, you’ll have an enormous amount of your income to allocate to wealth generation.
I have to admit, I can see both sides. Like many debatable issues, most of us are going to end up somewhere in the middle. In the quest to find balance for our own situations, there are several common factors that are beneficial to explore.
The 401(k) Match
Dave Ramsey suggests going so far as turning down an employer match on 401(k) contributions for a short amount of time (fewer than 18 months) to really focus on your debt. This is where many people draw the line. Actually, that’s putting it nicely. This drives some people absolutely bonkers.
Many exclaim, “But… but.. it’s free money!” That phrase tends to be thrown around a lot. I’m not a full supporter of either side, but I would like to point out that nothing is free, folks. So please stop saying “free money”! Pretty please?
There’s a real and tangible cost to allocating your money in any specific way. There are indirect opportunity costs. There’s the risk that diluting your intensity means you stay in debt longer and thus pay more interest.
Often the math does work in favor of taking an employee match, but that doesn’t make the money “free”. Some 401(k) plans have limited investment options. Or they have vestment periods that stretch out for years. If you aren’t planning to stay with your current employer this could dwindle the value of “free” even further.
Ultimately, there are several reasons someone may decide to opt out of a matching 401(k) program for a short time. Of course, the factors at play vary drastically from employer to employer. Before making a decision either way, it’s important to know as much as you can about your particular 401(k) options.
Other Factors
There are a couple other situations where investing may make sense. Consider the following:
First, you only have a specific limit per year that you can contribute to a Roth IRA. (This is currently $5,000 per year — $6,000 per year if you’re 50 or older.) Once you miss the window of availability, you’re out of luck. Your new contributions go toward the current year’s limit. You can’t go back and make up contributions you missed for the past two years once you are out of debt.
Second, if you don’t have the discipline to actually apply any new money to accelerate your progress on debt, then don’t halt your retirement. Decreasing your contributions only to spend the difference at the local comic books store (or your vice of choice) may be the single dumbest financial move you can make.
There’s no single answer to this dilemma. In my own life, Courtney and I have chosen to not to invest while still in debt. We live a turbulent life right now, and enjoy the benefits that come with focusing on one financial goal at a time. We’ve also decided to allocate what limited funds we do have into investing in ourselves: training, education, and building a business (our current focus).
Your situation is different. The only thing I will push you to do is consider all your options. Don’t continue making a certain decision just because it’s what you’re doing right now.
Start from a blank slate. Could you benefit from a singular focus? Are you willing to make further lifestyle cuts to increase you current contributions? Examine your options and consider the choices.
How have you attacked this dillemma in your own life?
Don’t it always seem to go That you don’t know what you got till it’s gone? They paved paradise, put up a parking lot …
—Joni Mitchell
It seemed like old times at my favorite Hollywood restaurant the other night. The rains had stopped and everyone was coming out for their favorite California comfort food. A fire was crackling in the fireplace and dessert soufflés were puffing up in the ovens. The party room upstairs was packed with 35 colleagues at a celebratory business dinner and downstairs every table was filled. But something strange was happening.
When diners finished their meals, they took out their phones and began photographing the place. Pictures on the walls had price tags on them. So did lamps and antique tables. Every now and then people hugged each other and wiped away tears. I was one of them.
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This was the last week of life for Off Vine restaurant, a treasured refuge from the hurly burly of Sunset Boulevard, housed in a bungalow with a 115-year history, a repository of countless, colorful movieland stories.
For me, this was personal. Off Vine had become my own Cheers. Like the theme of the TV show, it was the place “Where everybody knows your name / And they’re always glad you came.”
With my friends and neighbors I found camaraderie and a warm welcome at Off Vine for over 30 years. Like so many other Angelenos, we built memories here and shared delicious meals.
“You’re crying for a restaurant?” she said.
“No,” I said. “I’m crying for all we are losing.”
We also formed a society here called the Oy Luck Club, a tongue-in-cheek title that conveyed this was a place to have a good time. We celebrated birthdays and anniversaries. Some of us brought our children as babies and they grew up with this special group of “aunts” and “uncles.” They are now adults and still came back to Off Vine as if it were a second home, a family home. It was the glue that bound us together for the rest of our lives.
How can I tell you why Off Vine matters? If you have been there for a festive brunch on the graceful patio with its bowers of bougainvillea, you may understand. If you took family there for birthday dinners or, like one of my friends, you hosted foreign dignitaries for lunch to show them another side of Hollywood, you will understand.
Recently a friend told me, “You will have to find a new place to go instead of Off Vine.”
I caught my breath, whispered, “I can’t” and began to cry.
“You’re crying for a restaurant?” she said.
“No,” I said. “I’m crying for all we are losing.”
The owners did not plan this. They hoped to stay for a long time. But this is a story of the cost of insensitive development, the devaluation of our city’s history and a place that deserves to be preserved. Otherwise, a treasured piece of Hollywood history will soon be unremembered by anyone.
Hollywood legends
My own story is linked indelibly to the history of Hollywood.
Long ago and far away in a land called New Jersey, I spent many snowy days of childhood dreaming of a magical place called Hollywood where it was always warm and movie stars were everywhere. My dreams were enhanced by movie magazines, which showed a never-ending stream of glamorous actors dining and dancing at night clubs like Ciro’s, Cafe Trocadero, Mocambo and the Earl Carroll Theatre.
Food and drink played a role in the glamour life. Stars had private booths at the likes of Chasen’s and the Brown Derby, where an artist drew caricatures of the famous that hung on the walls. Even a soda fountain, Schwab’s, was famous because legend had it that Lana Turner had been discovered there sitting on a stool sipping a milkshake.
Years later, I would move to Hollywood, but those places were mostly gone, torn down in the march toward modernization. The celebrated history of the movie capital would become confined to the footprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (now TCL Chinese Theatre), stars on the sidewalk and books about its fabled past. As a journalist with the Associated Press, I had the chance to interview stars at the Brown Derby with its big brown hat on the rooftop looming over Hollywood. But soon that too was gone, as was C.C. Brown’s, the birthplace of the hot fudge sundae.
So often I’d strike out when I went in search of a Hollywood landmark such as the Garden of Allah residential hotel, where stars such as Errol Flynn and famous writers including F. Scott Fitzgerald and Dorothy Parker lived and partied in their heyday. I found it had been demolished and replaced by a bank (which was itself torn down a couple of years back for a never-built Frank Gehry project).
But all was not lost. One day in 1989 I was driving around Hollywood with my best friend and fellow reporter, Theo Wilson, when she and I discovered a remaining piece of the wonderland I‘d been searching for. It was a small, hidden oasis of a restaurant called Off Vine. Tucked away on a street just south of Sunset Boulevard and east of Vine Street, it was a delightful bungalow with a traditional porch and an outdoor patio. When we stepped inside, the warming fireplace, coffered ceilings and vintage pictures of old-time stars and movie premieres made us feel we had come home. We learned the place had a colorful Hollywood history and just recently had opened as an eating place.
We sat down for a meal of California cuisine coupled with old-fashioned comfort food that pleased our taste buds. We knew this place was a keeper.
Over the years it became our go-to destination for brunches, dinners, birthdays and pretheater meals. We brought neighbors from our Hollywood Heights enclave and founded the Oy Luck Club, a name that reflected the lighthearted intent of the members who were part of a unique community that was not the glitzy movie capital but was Hollywood, a small town with homes and shops, block parties and interesting people.
At one time there were so many of us that we brought our own huge, round tabletop that unfolded to accommodate up to 16 people, our own version of the Algonquin Round Table.
Amid this idyllic camaraderie, we never imagined that one day we would lose our treasured piece of history and community. Sadly, that time appears to be now unless some rescuer turns up at the last minute to save it.
The parcel of land on which the restaurant sits has been sold to an investor who plans to tear it down and put up a row of apartments on the whole block. Off Vine sits on what will become an underground parking garage. (Cue the Joni Mitchell song.)
For the record:
12:29 p.m. March 29, 2023The final Oy Luck Club gathering at Off Vine was on a recent Saturday, not a Sunday as originally stated.
A couple of Saturdays ago the surviving members of Oy Luck Club gathered at Off Vine to celebrate two birthdays and reminisce about our beloved clubhouse.
One of those being feted was Diva Ward, 31, who had first come to an Oy Luck at Off Vine as an infant in the arms of her mother, Carol, who flew in from Wisconsin for the event. Also celebrating was architect Michael Mekeel, a founding member of Oy Luck. The oldest member present was famed actor Alan Oppenheimer, 92.
We ordered favorites from the brunch menu: a huge Belgian waffle with berries and bacon, eggs Benedict with exquisite hollandaise sauce, omelets, a breakfast quesadilla and salads. The grand finale was, as always, the signature Off Vine soufflé available in chocolate, raspberry or Grand Marnier. It had to be ordered half an hour ahead but was worth the wait. Nowhere else have I ever tasted such a rich, puffy soufflé.
Movie-worthy history
We shared memories with co-owner Richard Falzone who has saved Off Vine repeatedly. Everyone listened as I recounted the colorful story of the little house, which itself could be the inspiration for a movie.
The classic Craftsman bungalow was built in 1908 on a dirt road surrounded by fruit trees and orange groves off a newly formed country path called Vine Street.
With the burgeoning film industry in its infancy, houses began popping up to accommodate the actors, crews and producers who came west to get in on the new art form.
The house at 6263 Leland Way off Vine Street eventually was purchased by theater and nightclub impresario Earl Carroll for the actress and showgirl Beryl Wallace.
Carroll discovered Wallace in New York and put her onstage in his famous and somewhat scandalous “Vanities,” which featured elaborate productions with beautiful, scantily clad showgirls. She was his star. The two fell in love and for the next two decades she would be his girlfriend and constant companion. When he left Broadway under a cloud due to increasingly risqué shows, he decided to go West to seek a new venue for his extravagant dreams. He brought Wallace with him to Hollywood, where she had small roles in 23 films and performed at the Earl Carroll Theatre, a supper club and entertainment venue on Sunset Boulevard. The building’s exterior bore a 24-foot neon likeness of Wallace with the slogan, “Through these portals pass the most beautiful girls in the world.”
The club, which was colossal in size and from 1997 to 2017 housed Nickelodeon’s TV production studios, is set for renovation and has been declared a historic monument. Built by Carroll in 1938, it housed a 1,000-seat showroom where productions featured 60 showgirls performing on a double revolving stage. Members of Hollywood royalty were among those who paid $1,000 each for VIP lifetime memberships.
Wallace was its premier star, and Carroll felt she needed a residence that would also serve as a retreat between shows. He purchased the charming bungalow on Leland Way that became Wallace’s home. Later her mother lived with her there while the town of Hollywood grew around them. The Pantages Theatre is a few blocks away and the Cinerama Dome is around the corner. Schwab’s was up the street at Hollywood and Vine.
But not all Hollywood stories have happy endings. Tragedy struck in 1948 when Wallace and Carroll, en route to New York to discuss an even bigger project, died together in a plane crash in Pennsylvania. A year later, her mother, suffering from depression over the loss of her daughter, committed suicide.
The little bungalow was home to Beryl’s sister for a time and then was rented to several short-term tenants, including a music production company and a shoe repair shop.
In 1989 it emerged from hiding and became the unexpected restaurant known as Off Vine, which offered an escape from the chaos and glitz that is current-day Hollywood. One historian of the area said of the spot: “It has survived through the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, Hollywood’s Silent and Golden eras, numerous earthquakes, ambitious landowners and, in 2007, a disastrous fire.” But even the electrical fire that gutted the upper story and forced closure of the restaurant for two years while repairs were done could not kill Off Vine. Its savior since 1997 has been Falzone, a former Broadway theater performer who came West in search of his movieland dreams.
He found an unexpected career change when he took a temporary job as a server at Off Vine. He loved the place, worked his way up to general manager and became a part owner with two partners. Eight months later the fire sparked in antiquated wiring panels devastated the house.
But Falzone persisted. He set up an office on the front porch to handle calls from loyal customers and to deal with the city and insurance companies. Two years later, the Craftsman bungalow, looking the same as ever, reopened. It took $750,000 to save it.
The owners were required to bring the house up to code and added a sprinkler system, larger restrooms, a wheelchair ramp and a new state-of-the-art kitchen. The upper floor, used for parties, was restored with its 13-foot coffered ceiling.
“Our journey has been long and tumultuous, full of struggles and setbacks,” Falzone said at the reopening ceremony. “It also has come to exemplify the strength of a community that has continually offered guidance, encouragement and support to a small business that found itself struggling to reopen its doors during one of the worst economic crises our country has ever seen.”
Then L.A. City Council president and future mayor Eric Garcetti said, “This Hollywood gem adds to the continued revitalization of our community.” Loyal customers, including the Oy Luck Club gang, returned in droves. The rebirth of the Pantages Theatre as a venue for Broadway road shows brought audience members there for pretheater meals.
Things were going so well that Falzone decided it might be time to apply for designation as a Hollywood historic landmark. He was supported by Hollywood Heritage, a preservation group whose co-founder, architect Fran Offenhauser, has spearheaded campaigns to save historic buildings from the wrecking ball.
But the arbiters of such decisions looked at its history and ruled that because of the fire, which resulted in a few visible exterior changes, Off Vine did not qualify.
Then the pandemic hit and Falzone had to close. But again the little restaurant that could, with the help of government COVID subsidies, survived. Off Vine reopened as soon as it was safe and struggled to get enough servers. Some loyal employees returned. Amid all of that, Falzone was blindsided by the sale and was given notice that when the lease expires this April he would be required to vacate the property.
It turns out that Earl Carroll, in a seeming premonition and an act of love for his inamorata, added a codicil to his will stating that if he and Wallace should die together the property would go to her heirs. It was still owned by Wallace’s descendants 75 years later when they yielded to a multimillion-dollar offer from Invesco, a development firm that was interested not in the lovely little house but the land on which it stands.
Notice also was given to other nearby restaurants. A Chipotle has already relocated.
“This has been my life for 26 years. It’s been my heart, my soul, my baby and my family. It’s been my everything,” Falzone told me. “It’s not just a restaurant. People are coming into a family home and they are our family. It’s a home where there’s love, good food and good cheer.”
Offenhauser, who also is a founding member of the Oy Luck Club and a powerful advocate for Hollywood preservation, sees this as another nail in the coffin of Hollywood’s history.
“There is a real Hollywood and it’s getting smothered,” she told me as we commiserated about the impending loss. “It is not a sign of progress to destroy things that are meaningful. It’s important to integrate them with whatever is new that is compatible and complementary.
“It’s not rocket science to be able to save Off Vine,” she said. “If you recognize something is important you can build around it. It’s possible to build new and not destroy the old. In the alternative, the building could be moved to another lot. It’s not that complicated.”
We reflected on how many of us who are transplants to Hollywood made it our real hometown.
“For whatever reason when we came to Hollywood we bonded with it deeply,” Offenhauser said. “This bungalow reflects that. It means something much bigger than our individual personal memories. It manifests what neighbors mean; what Beryl’s life meant; how Richard knit people together with his unique grasp of food in a home; what a livable humanistic neighborhood in Hollywood — with neighbors walking by that porch — did mean and should mean.”
When I asked Falzone the other day what happened to the pictures and memorabilia of the beautiful Beryl Wallace that adorned the walls of Off Vine as long as I had been going there, he said the family came and collected everything. Sadly, there remains no evidence that the glamorous star ever lived there.
Deutsch, longtime special correspondent for the Associated Press, is known for covering the trials of O.J. Simpson, Angela Davis, Phil Spector, Patty Hearst, Charles Manson, Robert Blake, Lyle and Erik Menendez, Michael Jackson and many more. She has been a resident of Hollywood for more than 50 years, first in the Hollywood Heights and currently the Hollywood Dell.
Matt Witte has been a full-time teacher since 1999, and that didn’t change when he started his real estate business in 2012. Despite the fact that he’s still teaching full time, he sold 42 homes himself just last year. On today’s podcast, Matt shares how he’s able to run a real estate business while working a full-time job, why he decided to start a team, and where he plans to take his real estate career. Matt and Elliot Hoyte also discuss ways to show clients that you care, offer advice on bringing in new business, and more.
Listen to today’s show and learn:
About Matt Witte [1:46]
How Matt balances two full-time jobs [2:14]
Why Matt got into real estate [3:19]
Making sales without being salesy [4:51]
The stigma associated with being a part-time real estate agent [6:27]
Matt’s first year in real estate [7:22]
Matt’s favorite platform for real estate leads [8:48]
Another fan of Follow Up Boss [9:30]
About The Matt Witte Team [10:00]
The transition from solo agent to team leader [12:37]
Similarities between teaching and real estate [13:48]
What Matt’s day looks like [15:36]
Massachusetts’ real estate markets [17:54]
Working with clients from different geographic locations [20:22]
Being assertive with your clients [22:17]
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Agent [23:28]
The challenges of working in education [24:45]
Matt’s real estate goals [30:35]
Elliot’s thoughts on short-term rentals [32:33]
Supplementing commissions with coaching [35:43]
A system for streamlining tasks your clients must do before closing [38:50]
Ways to show clients that you care [43:00]
Ways to generate referrals from other real estate agents [47:12]
The Real Estate Rockstars Mastermind [49:23]
Getting on the first page of Google [51:58]
Where to find and follow Matt Witte and Elliot Hoyte [54:50]
Matt Witte
The Matt Witte Team is your one stop shop for all of your real estate needs. Not only is Matt Witte a high producing Realtor in North Andover MA he has also resided in the North Andover area for over 30 years. Matt’s specialties include: Buyer’s Agent, Listing Agent, Relocation, Consulting.
50% of Matt’s clients are teachers! A number of his family members are educators and he has a true appreciation for what they have contributed to their communities. You can trust that their core values are embedded in Matt’s overall approach to real estate. He considers his buyers and sellers to be family and he has enjoyed working as a Realtor since 2010. Feel free to call/text/email Matt so you can work together to meet your real estate needs. No pressure! Calls returned within minutes, not hours!
Related Links and Resources:
Thank You Rockstars!
It might go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: We really value listeners like you. We’re constantly working to improve the show, so why not leave us a review? If you love the content and can’t stand the thought of missing the nuggets our Rockstar guests share every week, please subscribe; it’ll get you instant access to our latest episodes and is the best way to support your favorite real estate podcast. Have questions? Suggestions? Want to say hi? Shoot me a message via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Email. -Aaron Amuchastegui
The rental community isn’t just made up of faceless corporations. That’s where private landlords come in.
There are so many decisions to be made when deciding on a new home. Although things like location, cost and floor plan are all ultra-important, it’s equally as critical to think about exactly what type of landlord you want.
That’s because there are some pretty significant differences between private and corporate landlords. Depending on your personal preferences, one or the other is likely to stand out in a more positive way, making the entire rental process easier on everyone.
How private landlords are different from corporate landlords
Unlike corporate landlords who work for a big company with dozens, even hundreds of units per property, private landlords typically own the property themselves. In fact, there’s an entire industry worth of people who scoop up houses, condos and townhomes to turn around and rent them out as investment properties.
Occasionally, they’ll outsource a property management company to handle the leasing process, but often they’ll just do it themselves if they’re local. This comes with a variety of pros and cons which vary in significance from person to person.
Private landlords are a one-stop shop
Private landlords are always the primary contact for any issues or questions regarding their property. Sure, they might outsource a leaky faucet to a handyman, but they’re still the first person a renter should call. This is not always the case when dealing with corporate landlords. In fact, there’s often a different person on the other end of the line. Private landlords also tend to have more in-depth insight into the property, since they’re not managing hundreds of cookie-cutter units.
There’s no one else to complain to
Most private landlords are helpful and responsive, but occasionally one doesn’t provide the level of service most renters need. Since there’s no one above a private landlord to consult when that happens, it can make for some uncomfortable conversations and situations. Avoid this pitfall by getting a reference from a previous renter.
Find out if the landlord was quick to respond to questions, handle repairs, etc. You can also consult Yelp or sites like Review My Landlord or Rate My Landlord for reviews to find out if previous renters were satisfied with the landlord.
You might be a private landlord’s one and only
Even private landlords with multiple properties still won’t have the steep number of renters to handle as corporate landlords do. This means that you’ll be on a first-name basis with your landlord, and it’s unlikely they’ll confuse your unit or request with anyone else’s.
But private landlords don’t have corporate resources
Although private landlords are typically quick to respond, they also often have other jobs to contend with. As a result, the response time for an urgent issue might be slower than with corporate landlords, who typically have someone available round-the-clock to handle sudden matters.
Corporate landlords also usually keep repair professionals on staff to quickly fix any major issues. Private landlords may also try to avoid major maintenance requests and repairs (like a new appliance) until they’re absolutely necessary because the cost is literally coming out of their pocket.
Private landlords are often more flexible
Since the private landlord owns the property outright, they can make the decisions on when to bend the terms of the lease and when not to, without worrying about the strict rules put forth by a corporation.
So if you want to sublet a room to your visiting cousin for a few months or get a small dog, it’s easy enough to talk it over with a private landlord and write the new terms into an existing lease.
Private landlords offer fewer bells and whistles
Most corporate apartment communities these days come with a ton of perks, like fitness centers, swimming pools, dog parks, tennis courts, concierge service and so on. In most cases, however, private landlords can’t guarantee this level of finesse on their own property.
Renters at private properties enjoy more privacy
For many renters, the increased privacy is worth forgoing all of the extras. First, unlike an apartment a house is physically separate from other properties, giving the renter a lot of literal space. Even townhomes and condos are found in buildings with thicker, better-quality walls. But then there’s the added privacy that private landlords are not usually on-site or anywhere too close by to keep tabs on tenants.
Private landlords have the control
Follow the terms of a private rental lease to the letter because the landlord controls the contract and can enact it if they see fit. This means that you could get fined or evicted for breaking lease terms, often without any of the warnings that corporate landlords build into their contracts.
Renting from a private landlord is distinctly different, but not necessarily in a bad way
No rental experience is likely to be 100 percent positive. Weigh the pros and cons of renting from private landlords and land on the option that best suits your personality and tastes.
A freelance writer based out of the Atlanta area, Alia has penned articles during her decade+ career for such sites as HowStuffWorks, TLC, Animal Planet, Zillow and many more. Her favorite things to write about include fitness, nutrition, travel, healthcare and general lifestyle topics. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Alia’s an avid Dawg, but she also loves reading, sewing, eating all things chocolate and playing sports with her husband, three boys and beloved border collie, Flash.
When it comes to getting a secure, well-paying job, it’s not always necessary to get a college degree first.
Some students may choose a career training program to learn the necessary skills for a specific job, often more quickly and for less money than a four-year college degree. These programs may also be referred to as career certificate programs, usually certifying the students to work in a particular role once the course is completed.
Recent high school graduates or those who have attained their GED can often attend career training programs and get started on their careers after receiving their certificate.
Why Do People Choose Career Training Programs?
Two big factors in choosing to go through a career training program before or instead of going to college are time and money.
Career training programs typically can be completed in less time than it generally takes to complete an undergraduate degree. Some programs can be finished in as little as four months.
In addition, they’re also less expensive, which may mean that students have less student loan debt. On average, a career certificate program may cost around $100 per credit. By comparison, the average annual cost of in-state tuition at a public two-year institution is $3,862, and at a public four-year college, the in-state tuition averages $9,377 a year.
For instance, at Minnesota State University, certificate programs consist of nine to 30 credits, which can be completed in one year or less of full-time study. If these programs cost the average $100 per credit, they would cost between $900 and $3,000. This is fairly affordable compared to the cost of tuition at either a two-year or a four-year institution.
Another reason some people choose a career training program is that they need to, or would like to, start earning money relatively soon after graduating high school. And that way, if they borrowed money to help pay for their certificate program, they can put more money toward student loans to pay them off.
A career training program could be a more direct route to employment than getting an associate or bachelor’s degree for people who are sure about their career path. This could also be a beneficial route for students who want to save money to attend college later in life.
Choosing a Program
The most important thing to look for when choosing a career training program, whether it’s in-person or an online career training program, is accreditation. Accreditation verifies that an institution is meeting a certain level of quality. Usually, a certificate will need to come from an accredited institution for it to be considered legitimate.
Accreditation is done by private agencies, and most programs or institutions will list accreditations on their website.
The most up-to-date accreditation information can be found in the database of postsecondary institutions and programs compiled by the US Department of Education or with the specific accrediting agency’s website.
Once it’s clear that the potential programs are accredited, students can begin to narrow down which one will be best for them. This will be a highly personal choice, but there are a few factors worthy of attention, including cost, course length, and type of instruction (online vs. in-person).
Job search assistance—which might include resume writing workshops, job fairs, or interview prep—is another element that may help set students up for success.
Top Paying Jobs For Certificate Holders
In addition to career training programs having the potential to save students time and money, people want to know that they’ll be able to make a good living with those jobs. They also want jobs that can help pay off any money borrowed for school.
These are some of the highest paying jobs for those opting to go through a career training program:
1. Web Designer
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual income for a web designer is $78,300, with the educational requirements ranging from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree. This job is growing faster than average, so it has a promising future.
2. Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and legal assistants make, on average, $56,230 per year. The required education for an entry-level job as a paralegal is a certificate or an associate degree. This job is also growing at a rate much faster than average, showing great potential for a long-term career.
3. Solar Photovoltaic Installer
Solar panel installation is a growing field with decent pay and a lot of projected growth for the future. The median annual pay is $47,670, with only a high school degree or a certificate required to begin working.
4. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
Training to become a licensed practical or licensed vocational nurse typically takes only one year of full-time study, and the median annual salary is $48,070. This job is growing as fast as average and is in a field that will certainly always exist. This could be a good choice for someone who wants to be in the medical field without the time and financial commitment it takes to become a doctor.
5. Medical Records Technician
Working as a medical records technician usually only requires a certificate, and sometimes an associate degree. This job has a median annual pay of $46,660 and the potential to work from home.
6. Pharmacy Technician
The median pay for a pharmacy technician is $36,740 per year. This job is growing at an average rate and typically requires on-the-job training or a formal training program, most of which last one year. Some longer pharmacy tech training programs culminate in an associate degree.
7. Computer Support Specialist
The role of a computer support specialist can vary widely, which means the educational requirements may also vary. Some jobs in this field may require a bachelor’s degree, but others may only require an associate degree or a certificate. The median annual pay for a computer support specialist is $57,910, and the field is growing as fast as average.
8. Phlebotomists
Phlebotomists draw blood and may work in hospitals, labs, or doctors’ offices. Professional certification, which can be gained after completing a phlebotomy training program, is the credential generally preferred by employers. This job has a median annual pay of $37,380 and it’s growing much faster than average.
9. Medical Assistants
Medical assistants have a median annual pay of $37,190 and the job only requires a certificate or on-the-job training. This job is growing much faster than average.
10. Wind Turbine Technician
The median pay for this job is $56,260 per year and the only education required is a training certificate through a technical program. This job is growing at a rate much faster than average, which could make it a great choice for students who are ready to start their career shortly after graduating high school.
Paying for a Career Training Program
Just because career training programs are typically less expensive than college doesn’t mean they’ll be easy to pay for. Some programs last longer than others and could end up costing a fair chunk of money. Here are some ways to help cover the costs.
Pay for it. One way to pay for a career training program is to save up the amount of money needed before starting it, especially if the program is short or has a lower cost. Paying in full with cash means no debt to worry about.
Financial aid. Another potential way to pay for a career training program is to apply for federal student financial aid, which may be available to students enrolled in eligible degree or certificate programs and who meet other eligibility requirements. Completing the Free Application for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step. After submitting the FAFSA, students will find out if they’re eligible for federal student aid, which could include federal student loans and/or work-study.
Scholarships. Students who aren’t eligible for financial aid or those who can’t cover tuition costs may want to look for scholarships. There may be fewer scholarships available for certificate programs than there are for degree programs, but they’re out there.
The best place to start looking for scholarships is with the school the student is attending. Some schools set up their own scholarships. Alternatively, students can search for scholarships offered by professional organizations in their related fields.
Private student loans. A private student loan may be another option to cover the cost of a career training program.
One of the basics of student loans is that loan terms will vary from lender to lender, and applicants are encouraged to shop around. It also makes sense for students to exhaust all federal student aid options before considering private student loans.
Learn more about how private student loans work with this private student loans guide.
Student loan refinancing. If you took out student loans and the payments are difficult to manage, or you’d like to get a lower interest rate, you can look into refinancing student loans.
One of the advantages of refinancing student loans is that you may be able to qualify for more favorable terms or a lower rate, which could help you save money.
Just be aware that when you refinance federal student loans, you lose access to federal protections and programs like income-driven repayment plans. Be sure you don’t need those benefits if you choose to refinance.
The Takeaway
Students can be under a lot of pressure to go right into a four-year college or university after graduating high school, but career training programs provide an alternative that can also set them up for success, typically in less time and for less money.
There are a number of options to help pay for a certificate training program, including saving up for it, applying for federal student financial aid, looking for scholarships, and taking out a private student loan.
If you have student loans and you’d like to get a more favorable rate or better terms, consider student loan refinancing. SoFi offers loans with low fixed or variable rates, flexible terms, and no fees. And you can find out if you prequalify in two minutes.
Learn your options for student loan refinancing with SoFi.
SoFi Student Loan Refinance If you are looking to refinance federal student loans, please be aware that the White House has announced up to $20,000 of student loan forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for qualifying borrowers whose student loans are federally held. Additionally, the federal student loan payment pause and interest holiday has been extended beyond December 31, 2022. Please carefully consider these changes before refinancing federally held loans with SoFi, since the amount or portion of your federal student debt that you refinance will no longer qualify for the federal loan payment suspension, interest waiver, or any other current or future benefits applicable to federal loans. If you qualify for federal student loan forgiveness and still wish to refinance, leave unrefinanced the amount you expect to be forgiven to receive your federal benefit.
CLICK HERE for more information.
Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income-Driven Repayment plans, including Income-Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.
SoFi Loan Products SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Ready for a workout? Here’s where to stretch and flex in Austin without having to leave home.
Moving to a new place means rediscovering all the basics. You need to find a grocery store, a doctor, the closest places to eat and more. One thing you shouldn’t have to struggle with is finding a place to work out.
Living in fitness-friendly Austin means many apartment communities have built-in exercise facilities only steps from home. You can spend more time unlocking the secrets of this Texas city by using the state-of-the-art gyms in your own building.
Ready to break a sweat? Here are 10 of the best apartment gyms in Austin worth checking out.
Source: Rent. / Alexan Waterloo
Located within the creative Red River Cultural District, the Alexan Waterloo has more to enjoy on-site than you might expect. The 30-story building provides panoramic views of Austin which come in handy when it’s time to hit the fitness center. Large floor-to-ceiling windows give an inspiring view while you work out.
The well-stocked fitness center at the Alexan Waterloo includes a variety of cardio and strength equipment, along with free weights and exercise mats. The gym also has a separate spin cycle studio for those who really want to work up a sweat.
Source: Rent. / Gables Park Tower
One of many amenities in Gables Park Tower is the fitness center. It’s a bright space with plenty of windows that let all the natural light of the Seaholm District shine in.
Full of Matrix strength equipment and cardio machines, the fitness center combines with an arcade, 24-hour resident lounge, bocce court and community pool to make a complete amenity package.
Source: Rent. / The Catherine
Just south of Lady Bird Lake sits the trendy and upscale Greater South River City neighborhood. Within it, you’ll find The Catherine. This is a LEED-certified green apartment community with panoramic Austin views.
Once inside The Catherine, the large, executive-accented fitness center will impress you with its thick carpet and wood paneling. Grab one of the fresh towels available on site before using the weights, strength equipment and cardio machines. You can even take advantage of a separate cycling room.
Source: Rent. / Pioneer Hill
For those career-driven folks who still need to squeeze in a workout, Pioneer Hill is in the perfect location with the perfect gym. Situated in Northeast Austin, close to downtown and large employers like General Motors, Dell and 3M, Pioneer Hill offers an HD movie theater, dog park and spa and conference room among its amenities.
The fitness center is modern and well-lit, with two separate spaces to use. One contains a variety of equipment, from treadmills to weight machines. The other comes complete with exercise balls, yoga mats, exercise bands and more.
Source: Rent. / Canyon Springs at Bull Creek
On the other side of town, in one of Austin’s most established and scenic neighborhoods, you’ll find Canyon Springs at Bull Creek. This Northwest Austin community features a clubhouse, video library, pool and pet park.
It boasts a sun-filled fitness center with plenty of windows. Dotting the workout area are bikes, treadmills, elliptical machines and weight equipment, plus all the usual free weights and other portable pieces of equipment.
Source: Rent. / The Pearl
Nestled within the close-knit community of Brentwood, The Pearl is all about its luxury upgrades. Within the apartments, you’ll find smart thermostats and even under-the-counter wine refrigerators. The Pearl is also a LEED-certified building that comes complete with EV charging stations.
Within the gym, you’ll discover an extensive variety of equipment for both cardio and strength training. Use what you like as you look out onto the pool area. Wood-like floors and two separate workout spaces make this space feel even classier.
Source: Rent. / Latana Ridge
Bright blue stripes in the fitness center at Latana Ridge help create a vibrant atmosphere as you dig into your workout. Cardio machines face the windows, while the strength equipment sits against a mirrored wall. A colorful CrossFit box competes the gym.
Located in East Oak Hill, a part of Texas Hill Country, Latana Ridge sits on 55 acres and includes hike and bike trails to complement your gym workout. You’ll also find a playground, dog park and outdoor kitchen and grilling area among the community’s other amenities.
Source: Rent. / Gables Central Park
A newer Austin community, Triangle State attracts a lot of students and young professionals with its fine restaurants, upscale cafes and parks. Here’s also where you’ll find Gables Central Park. The location of this community provides residents with great trails to walk or run as well as easy access to Central Market.
Surrounded by trees and greenery, the fitness center at Gables Central Park has rounded windows that add a bit of class to your workout. There are plenty of free weights, cardio machines and exercise equipment to use as well.
Source: Rent. / Austin CityLights
The modern feel of the gym at Austin City Lights fits right in with the Sweetbriar neighborhood. The whole area has an urban vibe thanks to its proximity to Sixth Street.
Within the 24-hour fitness center pops of orange greet you as you select the right cardio machine. You also have a great view of the pool and sun deck (along with a chance to people-watch). The gym comes complete with strength equipment, exercise mats, balls and bands as well.
Source: Rent. / Camden Lamar Heights
The last of the best gyms in Austin on our list is in Camden Lamar Heights, another community in the Brentwood neighborhood. This gym is full of windows and Austin-themed art. There’s also plenty of equipment and free weights.
Look out to the resort-style pool for your workout in this non-smoking, pet-friendly community. Both urban and modern in design, Camden Lamar Heights has a private dog park and host-planned social events for all residents.
Grab a home workout at one of the best gyms in Austin
Don’t spend money on a gym membership, even if fitness is high on your priority list. Take advantage of the apartment gyms waiting for you on top of so many other amenities. Check out the workout spaces in Austin apartments today and find your perfect home.
Pretax money is invested before any taxes have been deducted, while after-tax money is invested after taxes have been deducted. Investments in tax-deferred retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s are made pretax, which means there is a larger sum of money to invest. While applying taxes reduces the amount of money available to invest, sometimes after-tax investment vehicles such as Roth IRAs can produce better overall returns because, unlike pretax accounts, withdrawals from these after-tax accounts can be made without owing taxes. A financial advisor can help you evaluate after-tax and pretax investment options.
Pretax vs. After-Tax Basics
The terms “pretax” and “after-tax” when applied to income, expenses or contributions tell you whether taxes have been applied to the amount. Wages, for example, are normally after-tax, because the employer withholds taxes before handing out paychecks. Contributions to Roth-type retirement accounts and regular brokerage and bank accounts are also made after tax.
Many people save for retirement pretax by contributing money to IRAs and similar tax-advantaged accounts. These funds can be placed in a retirement account before any income taxes are levied. When you are preparing your tax return, any money you put into an IRA, for instance, is deducted from your total taxable earnings, which generally reduces your total tax liability.
Comparing Pretax and After-Tax
Investing money before taxes have been levied means you’ll be investing more than you would if you did it after paying taxes. And, all else equal, investing a larger sum means earning more from your investment. This simple rule of thumb underlies much of the popularity of saving for retirement pretax using IRAs and similar tax-advantaged accounts. If people could only save after-tax dollars in ordinary bank or brokerage accounts, there would be less incentive to sock away money in these accounts.
However, pretax is not always the best. Sums invested pretax in IRAs and similar retirement don’t completely evade taxation. Taxes on contributions as well as any earnings from investments in the account are only deferred. Savers will owe taxes later, at their then-current rate of taxation, when they withdraw funds from the account.
If the individual’s tax rate is lower in retirement, pretax investing can be advantageous. However, if you earn a lot of income over your career and have a large retirement nest egg, your required minimum distributions and other sources of income could mean your income and tax bracket are higher after you’ve retired than when you put money away pretax.
If an individual’s tax rate will be higher in retirement than it is at the time the investment was made, it can be better to invest after-tax in a Roth-type retirement account. This can work well for younger people just starting their careers before their earnings increase enough to put them in higher income-tax brackets. After paying taxes a relatively low rate when contributing, funds in these accounts grow tax-free and can be withdrawn later without owing any taxes.
Choosing Pretax or After-Tax
Deciding whether to invest pretax or after-tax requires considering your individual situation. Examine the following factors:
Account for investment returns: Start by looking at the expected rate of return on your investments.
Understand how taxes are applied: Capital gains on stocks held more than a year generally are taxed at a lower rate than ordinary income such as interest on bonds. Considering tax treatment of different types of income can help you decide on an after-tax or pretax investment.
Calculate returns after all taxes are applied: Roth IRA or Roth 401(k) withdrawals won’t incur taxes as long as the investor is age 59.5 or older and has had the account for at least five years. For pretax investments, it’s necessary to apply taxes to any sums withdrawn from the accounts before you can estimate the actual return. For instance, if you withdraw $10,000 from a pretax investment and are in a 25% tax rate in retirement, the amount left after taxes would be 75% of $10,000 or $7,500. Money invested in a regular brokerage account with no tax advantages has to pay any taxes due on the money before it’s invested as well as on earnings but as they are earned. However, withdrawing money from a regular account doesn’t usually trigger any additional taxes.
Compare post-tax and after-tax: For example, if you want to invest $10,000 in an after-tax account and you are in a 25% tax bracket, you’ll have to earn approximately $13,333 and pay $3,333 in taxes in order to have $10,000 available to invest. If that $10,000 earns 5% annually for 10 years, it will be worth $16,289. You can withdraw all of it without owing taxes after age 59.5 if the account is at least five years old.
Say instead you invest $13,333 in a pretax account, also 5%. After 10 years, you’ll have $21,718. If you withdraw the full amount and your rate is still 25%, you’ll owe $5,429 in taxes and be left with the same $16,289 as you got with the after-tax investment.
If, however, during the interim you have retired and your tax rate has dropped to 15%, you’ll only owe about $3,258 on emptying the pretax account. This will leave about $18,641. In this case, the pretax investment produces a larger return net of taxes.
If you are in the 15% bracket when you fund an after-tax investment and are in the 25% percent bracket when you retire, the situation is reversed. In that case, you’d need about $11,765 to have $10,000 to invest after tax. Again, you’d wind up with $16,289, which you can withdraw tax-free.
Investing $11,765 pretax at 5% gives you $19,164 after 10 years. a sizable increase. If you withdraw that amount when you are in the 25% bracket, however, your nominal tax liability will be $4,791, leaving you just $14,373. In this case, the after-tax investment generates a better overall result by about $1,916, which is the difference between $14,373 from the pretax method and $16,289 using an after-tax approach.
The Bottom Line
You can invest pretax before taxes are levied or after-tax after taxes have been applied. Pretax investing and after-tax investing both have advantages and drawbacks. Whether it is advisable to invest pretax or after-tax depends on individual circumstances, including whether you expect to be in a higher or lower tax bracket when you withdraw funds.
Investment Tips
Deciding whether to invest pretax or after-tax requires you to understand your tax situation and financial goals. A financial advisor is well-equipped to help you do just that. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call 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.
SmartAsset’s Investment & Return Calculator can make it much simpler to compare the relative advantages of after-tax and pretax investing.
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.
Americans Believe They Will Need $1.27 Million to Retire Comfortably, According to Northwestern Mutual Planning & Progress Study High-net-worth individuals expect to need $3 million to retire Gen Z aims to retire at age 60 – and expects to live to age 100 Expected retirement age climbs significantly in two years to 65 from 62.6 … [Read more…]
Last Updated: May 25, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner – Leave a Comment
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Shorter post today. Super busy with all the car stuff, work and school. But of course I don’t want to leave you hanging 🙂 and I also have a lot of stuff on my mind that I love getting your opinions on.
Yesterday, I made a post about maybe getting a part-time job. A lot of you said just relax, and a lot of you said I should try and find something and come up with extra money ideas.
There are a lot of things out there that I could do. I’m still not sure how much time I would want to dedicate to it though. Once I graduate and get promoted at my work, I’m sure there will be a lot more stress involved and I probably won’t want something that takes up too much time.
However, I have no kids or anything, so I know I will have time.
Here’s a list of things that I could do:
Create another blog. I could start being more professional with this and start learning what all the blog terms like SEO and everything really mean, and then apply it to my blog.
Tutor. I have a lot of people who are always asking me to tutor them, but I always say no. It wouldn’t be a bad idea though.
Work at the tanning salon with my friend. She doesn’t make the greatest money, but it’s not hard work.
Bartend. A lot of my friends are bartenders and make decent money. Plus they get free drinks from other bartender friends that we know and free drinks at their bar.
Volunteer. Yes I wouldn’t make any money, but I could finally start volunteering at the animal shelter.
Retail store. I could maybe ask for my job back at where I used to work, and I’m sure she would say yes. She still loves me.
Do medical research tests. I would never do this. I hate shots, needles, blood being drawn. But my friend does work at a medical research facility and she’s always telling me about the awesome pay they give. This is something I’d never do, but I thought I’d throw it out there for others.
Find a temp job. Some of you mentioned this, what type of skilled temp jobs are out there that you guys were mentioning?
Babysit/nanny. I did this when I was much younger, and haven’t watched a little kid in forever. But I do remember that the pay was good when I was in middle school. I got paid $10 an hour which was pretty nice.
What would or do you currently do for extra money?