When you’re thinking about becoming a first-time renter, there are lots of things to ponder . Many of these factors will revolve around knowing how to budget for your apartment upfront and setting up a monthly budget between yourself and potential roommates.
Finances aren’t going to be the most fun aspect of your first apartment , but they are a necessary one. In today’s competitive rental market (especially in big cities) it’s crucial to have all of your budgeting skills up to par , as it could help you gain an edge over other applicants.
If you need some budgeting pointers, follow the guidelines below to get started:
Location is everything
There’s a good chance you already have an idea of which neighborhoods you want to live in. Depending on the locale, your monthly budget can differ drastically. Many renting experts recommend that you not spend more than 30% of your annual income on rent, and many property managers will refuse an offer if you’d be spending too much on rent.
However, you might have to be flexible about this rule in cities where high housing costs are way above the norm, such as New York City or San Francisco. In places like these, you might have to plan even further in advance, as the screening and budgeting process could take much longer.
No matter where you choose to live, though, you will need to– above all else– ensure that you are setting a realistic budget based on your take-home pay and the desired city/neighborhood.
Account for all your utilities
We’ve written about accounting for your utilities in the past, but the important part here is to make sure you don’t miss anything. There are a lot you could be responsible for, so go through and make sure that you’ve accounted for them all. You don’t want to be caught out by almost moving in, just to find that you haven’t yet set aside money for pet fees, renter’s insurance, or something else not so obvious.
Expect to pay a lot upfront
Renting might be cheaper than buying, but you’ll still have to spend some serious cash in the first few months to secure your dream apartment.
In most situations, landlords will expect a security deposit, first and last month’s rent, application fees, a possible finder’s or broker’s fee, and a pet deposit if you have one (or more). Expect to be paying two to three times your monthly rent upfront, so make sure you and your potential roommates are saving accordingly.
Budget for more than housing
Unfortunately, the above are just to secure the apartment itself. Moving into the apartment is another large expense, since renting moving trucks doesn’t come for free. You still need to eat to live and may need more things like furniture and household goods you haven’t really needed before. You’re going to have to fully stock a kitchen and furnish several rooms, and those are going to take a significant amount of money. Price out a bed, mattress, tables, chairs, a couch, kitchen utensils, pots, pans, and everything else you might have reason to use. Here’s the time when you want to find things that serve multiple purposes, cutting down both on how many things you need to buy, and the money you need to spend.
Of course, you’re going to have to leave your apartment sometimes, and you need to account for that. How will you get around? Car, public transportation? All of those have a cost attached. When and how often are you going to eat out, or just go out for a night on the town? These don’t come free, and failing to budget for them will leave you wondering where you keep coming up short.
Select roommates carefully
An apartment can be a big financial burden, so why not divide it with your friends? You’re striking out on your own, so why not take your college friends with you?
Hanging out with a friend and living with them aren’t the same thing. Things might work out well, but there’s always the chance things go wrong. Do you know how well they handle their finances? If your roommate doesn’t pay, you’re still liable for their half of the rent. Having to pay for someone else’s financial irresponsibility can make things awkward, if not outright hostile.
As such, it’s crucial that you screen each individual who might be a potential roommate. If he or she seems like a great candidate, meet with him or her to discuss how you might divide bills and rent, as well as where you stand on additional guests and splitting up chores.
Save for those little extras
You might plan out every detail with you and your roommates and think all the bases are covered upfront. However, you’ll need to consider your rainy day fund, as well as other monthly expenses that might have slipped under your radar.
For instance, do you like going to the gym? You won’t have one on campus anymore, and gym memberships can get pricey, so you might have to reallocate your spending. You also need what I call a “fun fund”– it’s not all work and no play, after all. This budget is for nonessentials like money for dining out with friends, going to the movies, expenditures for various hobbies (gardening, painting, etc.), gifts, shopping, and traveling. You can’t predict everything with certainty, so you need some extra money for all the little things that come up. You’re looking forward to the freedom that your first apartment will give you, so make sure to budget a bit of that freedom in there as well.
Some of the most popular interior design styles include industrial, nautical, Scandinavian and Bohemian designs. These styles are all distinct from each other, blending different elements to create a unified look. Designers draw on these different styles when searching for thematic inspiration for interior redesigns or home renovations.
One of the timeless interior designs is the mid-century modern style which emerged during the mid-1900s. Inspired by the Bauhaus style, the mid-century modern approach is set apart by its classic, understated look. Simple yet elegant, its distinguishing features include sleek lines with minimal ornamentation.
Adopting a mid-century modern style to your home is one of the most practical ways to redecorate your space. But how can you achieve a mid-century modern look for your home?
Mid-century modern: A mainstream trend?
Trends come and go. What was famous decades ago can make a comeback in today’s world, for instance. That’s why the mid-century modern interior style isn’t a new concept.
If you’ve seen the show “Mad Men,” it can help give you a good idea on what the style is all about. Critics argue that it’s one of the most seductive shows on television — after all, it has mesmerized British audiences with its tales of Manhattan power struggles, illicit relationships, political intrigue and portrayal of life during the 1960s.
But what truly sets the show apart is its reputation for period accuracy. The sets were specifically designed to reflect East Coast interiors in the 1960s. In fact, the show’s production team worked with Herman Miller to create period-appropriate furnishings and artworks.
The show features a muted color palette made up of teal blues, burnt oranges and olive greens set against a backdrop of rich browns and golds. The set also includes iconic pieces of furniture, such as Roger Sterling’s olive buttoned couch and the padded velvet headboard from the Drapers.
It’s no surprise that the show brought mid-century modern designs back into the mainstream.
Stripping it down to the bare essentials
If “Mad Men”taught its viewers anything, it’s that it doesn’t take too much work to redesign your interiors and give it a mid-century modern appeal. After all, the style’s distinguishing features include an emphasis on functionality. That means adopting a minimalist approach to design, which includes uncluttered and sleek lines with minimal fuss.
In a nutshell, simplicity is the name of the game. It’s all about stripping things down to the bare essentials and letting function take center stage. In a similar vein, adopting this style entails reducing clutter and focusing on a single focal point.
Adapting the mid-century modern interior style
One of the most exciting parts about mid-century modern design is that you can let your imagination run wild. Even though the style is similar to minimalism, it doesn’t mean that you have to limit yourself to simple designs. In fact, this style gives you the freedom to experiment with color.
Simple shapes and lines turn color into a necessary layer of visual interest. Mid-century designers used color boldly by incorporating bright colors here and there. The result: a bright and cheerful look that reflected America’s optimism during the 1950s.
Acknowledging the forces of nature
Apart from streamlined patterns and bold colors, the mid-century modern interior look has a strong connection to nature. And this translates to more items and furniture pieces made from natural materials like leather, wood and cotton.
This is where area rugs can help achieve overall balance in interior design. Their subtle, earthen appeal can add to your home’s warmth. They also pull different visual elements together by making some of your furniture pieces stand out — after all, these rugs can also be displayed on the wall.
Tamarian area rugs, in particular, are a fantastic addition to any space because its classic charm can help juxtapose your contemporary-style furniture pieces on display.
For more inspiration, you might want to go over the work of famous interior designers like George Nelson, Edward Wormley, Eero Saarinen, Isamu Noguchi and Jens Risom.
Turning your interior into a true work of art
With enough research and the right furniture, you can create a mid-century modern interior look for your home. After all, its clean lines, bold colors and attractive simplicity has captured the hearts and minds of those looking to brighten up their indoor space. And what better way to add a unique twist to your home?
Whether you want to turn your room into a space that will rival the set on “Mad Men”or just make your home a little more livelier, you’re on the right track. Since the style prioritizes function over form, you’re changing your indoor space for the better.
Kris Trecer is a freelance writer. Her favorite thing to do when she is at home is to play with her dog.
Landlords across the country have been empowered to act as a kind of police force in the name of crime prevention for decades. How? Through local “nuisance property” laws and “crime-free housing” programs that require them to evict tenants for vaguely defined “criminal activities.”
As of Monday, California became the first state in the nation to ban so-called crime-free housing programs. More states should follow suit.
Such laws target low-income and minority renters for eviction and violate their civil rights. That’s bad enough. But they also fail to reduce crime.
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Cities across the country have been implementing these policies for about 30 years, building on the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, which stepped up evictions in federally subsidized housing. By 2019, about 2,000 American cities had a crime-free housing program, and 37 of the 40 largest U.S. cities had a nuisance property ordinance.
Even as these policies spread, their efficacy was in doubt. I led a recent analysis of California’s crime-free housing policies that found they had no effect on crime. Other researchers have found that by driving people into desperation and homelessness, nuisance property ordinances may actually increase property crime.
Crime-free housing policies backfire partly because they treat 911 calls as an indicator of criminal activity. This creates a perverse incentive: For fear of being evicted, tenants don’t call authorities when they need them.
This particularly harms victims of domestic violence, who may hesitate to seek help from police lest they lose their housing. These policies can also dissuade tenants from seeking medical aid during drug overdoses or mental health crises. Evictions also hamper crime prevention by disrupting community social networks, making it harder for residents to monitor what’s going on in their neighborhoods — a critical element of crime prevention.
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My study of California found that city blocks with apartments certified as crime-free saw 21% more evictions than blocks without such housing. Other researchers have found that nuisance property ordinances increase eviction filing rates by 16%. In the six months after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development instituted a “One Strike and You’re Out” policy on criminal activity in 1996, reported evictions from public housing surged 40%.
Evictions are deeply harmful in many ways. People who are evicted struggle to find housing again, and tenants removed from public housing are prohibited from receiving housing assistance. That can lead to more homelessness and desperation. Evictions also cause disproportionate housing insecurity for children, more unemployment, additional use of emergency room resources, and accidental drug and alcohol deaths.
Legal experts have argued persuasively that punishing people with eviction instead of through criminal justice procedures also denies them due process. These policies don’t require an arrest or conviction or even an indication of crime anywhere near the property. They don’t even require a crime.
People have been evicted under crime-free housing policies over kids playing basketball or jumping on a trampoline and because of complaints about barbecues. Tenants can even face severe consequences for the behavior of their guests. One federal court case concerns an Illinois city trying to evict a family because of a burglary committed by a friend of their teenage son who had slept on their couch.
The policies tend to be selectively enforced, with low-income, multifamily properties bearing the brunt. This has led the Department of Justice to take action against cities for violations of the Fair Housing Act and other federal laws. In 2022, the San Bernardino County city of Hesperia signed a consent decree with the federal government related to selective application of its crime-free housing program. Lawsuits have been filed on similar grounds against cities in Washington, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Minnesota.
What is the point of these harmful policies if they aren’t reducing crime? Public officials have suggested their real goal is segregation.
A Hesperia official acknowledged that the purpose of the city’s crime-free housing program was to remove what he described as “those kind of people” and “improve our demographic.” The mayor of Bedford, Ohio, said the city’s nuisance property ordinance was about taking “pride in middle-class values” and curtailing “urban immigration.” The analysis I led found that cities with crime-free housing programs had larger Black populations and that the affected apartments were on lower-income blocks with larger Black and Latino populations.
HUD has issued guidance to cities on how these policies may violate the Fair Housing Act by disproportionately evicting women, victims of crime and people with disabilities. But more needs to be done.
Following California’s lead, other states should limit evictions under these policies without an arrest or conviction or based on the behavior of nonresidents. Cities should also be required to report the number of evictions resulting from crime-free housing policies and nuisance ordinances. Similar federal policies also need reconsideration, including the one-strike policy for public housing and the rules that prevent evicted tenants from obtaining future housing assistance.
These policies and the evictions they cause are at best an ineffective means of preventing crime. At worst, they’re a harmful form of discrimination that leads to more crime and homelessness. Ending them could make all our communities safer.
Max Griswold is a policy researcher at the Rand Corp.
Investing in real estate is some of the oldest and most reliable financial advice in the books. Few other assets can compete with real estate’s vast array of benefits. These benefits include tax advantages, appreciation, relative impunity to market shifts, and even the potential for passive income.
But even if you have every intention of investing in real estate, it can be challenging to get started. After all, even a modest home usually requires a substantial down payment. And it can take years to save up those five-figure sums. The term “real estate investor” may bring to mind a multi-millionaire who manages several properties, leaving you feeling overwhelmed enough to give up the ghost entirely.
Fortunately, it is possible to invest in real estate with little or no money, even if you aren’t swimming in discretionary income. For instance, with an Opportunity Fund or REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) you can get your foot in the door even if you can’t afford to purchase an entire property. There are also a host of ways to leverage your own home. These include house hacking, renting vacation space on Airbnb, and more.
In this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about how to invest in real estate. We’ll go over some of the most common types of real estate investing. We’ll also break down how they can help you make money. And we’ll explain how you can begin, no matter how much capital you have in hand.
Why Invest in Real Estate?
Before we dig into the meat of the post, let’s take a moment to backtrack. Why is real estate investing such a well-worn piece of financial advice?
You’ve probably heard that diversifying your portfolio of real estate investments is essential. But your “portfolio” doesn’t just have to live on the stock market! Real estate investing gives you, as the name suggests, a real, tangible asset. And it’s much less vulnerable to the capriciousness of the market.
Real estate investing can help you not only build home equity but also generate passive cash flow. Both through the process of appreciation and the more intentional, hands-on approaches we’ll study further below. And owning your own home can help you reap financial benefits while simultaneously providing for one of your most basic needs.
How to Invest in Real Estate with Little Money
When a down payment might cost as much as $60,000, it’s understandable that many first-time property shoppers feel overwhelmed. They say you have to spend money to make money. Yes, but that’s quite a hefty figure for the average American earner.
To be sure, some real estate investment strategies require a good deal of cash upfront to be workable. But there are other tactics that don’t necessitate such a large lump sum to begin with. This means you don’t have to be a real estate mogul to be a property owner. We’ll break down various strategies at both ends of the spectrum below.
Types of Real Estate Investing
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty. What types of real estate can you invest in?
There are three main types of investment properties available to real estate investors.
Residential properties are probably the ones you’re most familiar with. They are exactly what they sound like: buildings used by individuals and families as residential living spaces. These properties include single-family homes, duplexes, apartments, condominiums, and townhouses, and multi-family homes (so long as they’re being used residentially and don’t exceed four units).
Commercial real estate are properties used to conduct business. They may include offices, storefronts, retail spaces, farmland, and large multi-family houses or apartment buildings.
Industrial real estate are properties that serve industrial business purposes, such as factories, power plants, or storage and shipping warehouses.
Furthermore, there are both active and passive forms of real estate investing.
Active investing is, well, active. It requires a good deal of time, energy, and commitment from the investor. Active investing may become a part- or even full-time job for the investor. They usually share ownership with few (or no) other people and thus bears a lot of responsibility for the success of the investment.
Passive investing, on the other hand, allows the investor to reap the benefits of investing without taking on the pressure and responsibility of full ownership of a tangible property. In most cases, passive investing involves supplying capital to a larger investment pool. You earn capital gains on loan interest through dividends paid to shareholders.
We’ll go into it all of this in more detail, including specific ways you can invest in real estate, both active and passive.
How Real Estate Investing Can Help You Earn
Before we break down the specific ways you can get started investing in real estate, let’s talk about how it can help you make money. (After all, that’s the whole point!)
You can invest in real estate in several ways, depending on what type of investing you’re participating in.
Equity and appreciation
Purchasing real estate equips the owner with a “hard asset”; the tangible property or building. Owning this kind of asset confers equity, or value. It isn’t as vulnerable to the fluctuations of the market as stocks, bonds, and other securities. Furthermore, property has a longstanding history of increasing in value over time, or appreciating.
On the contrary, other types of purchases (like automobiles) depreciate, or lose value. Thus, purchasing a property may allow you to earn income passively simply through the process of appreciation. It more or less ensures that the cash value of your home is a safe and stable part of your overall net worth.
Rental income
Chances are, you’ve had to pay rent to a landlord at some point in your life. Well, if you become the landlord, someone’s paying you the rent. And as long as that rental price eclipses your total expenses, including your mortgage and maintenance costs, the rest is profit!
Aside from managing the investment property, you can also collect rental income by sharing your space on platforms like Airbnb or house hacking, which we’ll explain below.
Sale profit
This happens when you buy a home with the intention to fix it up and sell it down the line (also known as “house flipping”.) It’s the difference between your sale cost and your purchase cost (minus all the expenses put into maintenance and improvements) is pure profit.
Loan interest
The interest charged on home and property loans can increase the value of real estate investments made through REITs, investment platforms, and private equity firms.
Ways to Invest in Real Estate
Now we know a bit about the different types of properties available to investors and how those real estate investments stand to help you earn cash.
So, what are the specific ways to go about real estate investing? There are several in both the “active” and “passive” categories.
Active:
House flipping, or rehabbing, is when an investor purchases a property with the sole intent of fixing it up to sell it later on.
Wholesaling is similar to flipping houses, but less work intensive. Wholesaling occurs when an investor purchases a property they believe is underpriced, so they can quickly sell it to another investor at a profit.
Rental properties give investors a long-term way to draw profit from their investments, though they do require lots of hands-on management and maintenance over time.
Airbnb, Vrbo, and other vacation rentals can often be listed for substantial per-night prices. They can be especially lucrative in high-demand travel destinations.
Passive:
Private equity funds pool the assets of many investors, which creates a larger, more powerful investment fund. These funds are usually overseen and allocated by a dedicated manager. They may have high minimum investment thresholds and requirements to join.
Opportunity funds also pool investors’ assets, but with the specific purpose of making investments in qualified Opportunity Zones. These are low-income, up-and-coming communities that would benefit from private investments and economic development.
REITs are companies that invest in commercial properties. Private investors can purchase shares of the company and earn income on capital gains in the form of dividends.
Online REIT platforms can make real estate investing accessible to beginning investors, often carrying no net worth or accreditation restrictions. They may allow you to invest in specific properties or in pre-built, diversified portfolios of real estate.
We’re going to break down these different investment options in even more detail below. But first, let’s start a bit closer to home—literally.
Starting with Your Own Home
One of the most straightforward ways to invest in real estate is probably already on your financial to-do list, anyway: purchasing your own home.
Purchasing a home of your own allows you to kill two birds with one stone. You’re taking care of the basic need of shelter, while also leveraging the purchase to reap a host of financial benefits.
Here are just a few ways that owning a home can help you save and earn money.
Build equity: As discussed above, property ownership confers relatively immutable equity to the purchaser—that is, your home is a fairly safe, tangible asset to add to your overall investment portfolio.
Receive tax benefits: Certain homeowners’ expenses, including real estate taxes and home mortgage interest, are tax-deductible. And if you sell your home, you may exclude up to $250,000 of capital gains (or $500,000 if filing jointly) from your taxes.
Take advantage of appreciation: Even accounting for the 2008 crisis, the cost of homes and other properties have steadily increased over time for the past 50 years. So, the home you purchase today will likely be worth more than the price you paid for it in the future.
Stop paying rent: Although you’ll likely still have a mortgage payment and other expenses to cover as a homeowner, you won’t be paying rent to live in another person’s property. It’s a cost that is essentially entirely wasted, since you aren’t building home equity in the rental property.
Keep the value of your home improvements: When you own a home of your own, any improvements you make will add to the property’s total value, beefing up your asset as well as beautifying your living space.
House Hacking
Another way to make money by purchasing your own home is known as “house hacking“. It’s a real estate investment strategy wherein you leverage rental income from your primary residence to live there cost-free.
The term was originally coined by entrepreneur and author Brandon Turner, who wrote “The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down” and “The Book on Rental Property Investing.”
House hacking may be done, for example, by purchasing a duplex. The investor rents out one unit at a price that covers the mortgage cost while living in the second unit. Some homeowners have also used space-share platforms like Airbnb to offset their housing costs in the same manner.
Real estate investors can use this strategy to pay off the property and even create a profit margin. This will eventually allow them to invest in more rental properties. Thus, house hacking is a great way to combine the personal financial benefits of homeownership with the long-term earning potential of other types of property investment.
Buying a Home Without a Huge Down Payment
Given the recent trends in the housing market, you may feel daunted by the prospect of becoming a homeowner. In 2023, the U.S. housing market experienced significant challenges, with home prices rising to near-record highs.
But there are many incentives and programs designed to make this large investment more feasible for first-time home buyers.
FHA (Federal Housing Administration) Loans may allow borrowers to purchase a home with a down payment as small as 3.5% of the purchase price and with credit scores as low as 580. (You may also be approved for an FHA loan with a lower credit score, but your minimum down payment may be higher.)
The USDA also offers low-cost loans to low- and moderate-income households purchasing homes in qualified rural areas.
Down Payment Assistance Programs offered by local governments and private firms can provide grants, loans, and educational materials to prospective home buyers
Many other financial institutions and organizations also have special incentives for those purchasing their first homes or low-income families in the housing market. Make sure you check with your local housing authority to learn more about what’s available in your area.
Active Investment Opportunities
Want to get hands-on? Here are the details on some of the most popular and accessible active real estate investment opportunities.
House Flipping
If you’ve ever watched more than thirty minutes of HGTV, chances are you’re at least passingly familiar with the idea of flipping houses. It’s basically where you purchase a home with the express intent of fixing it up and selling it (at a higher cost) later.
House flipping is a great way for investors to earn a significant profit. However, they do need to know how to complete the flip successfully without incurring too many costs. Expenses can quickly eat into the investment’s return.
Finding a Home to Flip
House flippers have to be able to recognize a home that may be slightly undervalued but would be able to sell well given the proper upgrades. This involves both an understanding of the area’s desirability and the types of improvements that generate increased home value.
House flippers are responsible for the entire cost of the home purchase. They must also pay for all the upgrades, which they may either do themselves or hire out to professionals.
Either way, flipping houses incurs a hefty up-front cost, and it does come at a risk. Even after you make all the improvements, it’s possible that the house will languish on the market.
This can mean racking up maintenance, taxes, and other expenses for the real estate investor. However, a properly executed, short-term flip can create a substantial profit margin in a relatively small period of time.
Wholesaling
Like house flippers, wholesalers purchase homes with the intent of selling them quickly. But, they aren’t planning to do any heavy lifting along the way.
Instead, wholesalers find properties that are undervalued for their market. They scoop them up and resell them to other investors at a price closer to their true value. Thus, earning the difference as a profit.
Rental Properties
While managing rental properties may seem like a straightforward and reliable way to earn income, it’s one of the most work-intensive approaches on this list. It does require enough up-front capital to purchase the property (or properties) in the first place. However, landlords do stand to see substantial and steady returns in exchange for the work and effort they put into their properties.
After purchasing a viable property, which needs to be well-maintained, in a desirable location, and well-advertised, landlords are responsible for filling that property with qualified tenants. This can involve a time-consuming and labor-intensive screening process.
After all, as a landlord, you’re giving your renters the keys to your investment—literally! It can be a very risky move if you don’t take the time to ensure your tenants are well-qualified.
Finding & Qualifying Tenants
Along with running a standard background check, landlords may also conduct interviews with and request credit reports from prospective renters, all of which takes time. And don’t forget: every month your rental property is unfilled is a waste of potential income.
Once you do find qualified tenants, you’ll be responsible for a host of obligations unless you hire a property management company. You’ll need to provide maintenance and repairs. You’ll also need to stay on top of rent collection and record-keeping. It can quickly become unwieldy once you have several properties.
You’ll also need to be sure you’re in compliance with all the renters’ rights that exist in your jurisdiction, including laws that regulate the eviction process. Of course, you’ll need to put in the work to find good renters and a well-maintained property in the first place. When done so, managing rentals can provide a smooth and steady source of income for relatively little active work.
Seller Financing
Want to buy an investment property with no money down? Look into seller financing or a land contract. This is where the seller acts as the bank. You make your mortgage payments, including interest, to the seller.
After a few years or so, you will have enough equity in the home to get a bank loan. You can then make a lump sum payment to the seller.
Private & Hard Money Lenders
Private money lenders generally charge between 6% to 12% on the money borrowed. Hard money lenders usually charge 10% to 18%. Hard money loans are not from banks. They are from individuals or businesses aimed at financing real estate investments for a return on their money.
Hard money loans are used by investors who don’t qualify for conventional financing. They are typically used to fund renovations. Once the house is finished or has some equity in it, the borrower then refinances to a conventional mortgage with a lower interest rate.
Airbnb, Vacation Rentals, and Space Sharing
Managing a traditional property, wherein renters sign a multi-month lease, is not the only way to make money from an investment property. Platforms like Airbnb have revolutionized the real estate market. They allow homeowners (and sometimes even renters) to make money by renting out their space on a temporary, per-night basis as a vacation rental.
What’s more, you don’t necessarily have to rent out an entire home or unit to participate. A private room, or even a couch in a shared living room, is acceptable for some travelers using these services.
Airbnb and other vacation rental platforms make it simple for a novice renter. You don’t need to have a huge amount of know-how to start earning money this way. In fact, you don’t even necessarily have to “invest” in any property at all. Some landlords may allow their renters to list their housing on Airbnb as a sublet.
Airbnb Laws
However, as this new form of investment property has expanded, it’s created housing crunches in some cities. It’s resulting in “Airbnb laws,” or short-term rental legislation. These laws may limit your ability to use your housing in this way.
Always check your local regulations before you list your space on Airbnb or another of these types of platforms. If you don’t own the space, ensure that short-term sublets are allowed. Check your lease or ask your landlord directly.
Real Estate Investing Groups and Passive Investing
You may have noticed that many of the active real estate investment opportunities listed above do require substantial upfront capital to get started. You can’t wholesale or flip a house if you can’t purchase the house in the first place!
Furthermore, these active strategies generally involve a high level of skill, effort, and responsibility. It may not be feasible for those committed to other full-time careers.
Fortunately, there are still other ways to get involved with real estate investing, even if you don’t want to own or manage tangible property. (Or if doing so is out of financial reach for you right now). These passive investment tactics can help you glean the benefits of real estate investing without taking on quite as much of a fiscal and physical burden.
Private Equity Funds
A private equity, or PE fund, pools contributions from various investors to make larger investments. They’re often limited liability partnerships. That means there are fixed periods during which investors do not have access to their holdings.
Instead, PE funds allow investors to earn gains on debt and equity assets passively, without putting in much active work or research. Asset allocation and investments are managed by a dedicated individual or group. They earn money through annual fees as well as profit sharing.
PE funds come in various types, including the following:
Core equity funds generally invest in established commercial properties. They don’t carry risks like needing major improvements or experiencing losses for lack of consumer demand. The core strategy is simultaneously the least risky among PE funds and, typically, the least gainful.
Core plus equity funds generally follow the core strategy, but take a few more risks on properties that may require minor upgrades. This leads to a higher risk-return ratio on average.
Value added equity funds may invest in commercial properties that require substantial upgrades or new management to operate at their full potential. They may also seek to sell the property after improvements are made to create an additional profit margin.
Opportunistic equity funds offer the highest potential rewards, along with the highest risk. Investment properties purchased via these funds may need new construction or even land acquisitions. The payoff of such a new business venture is all but guaranteed. Furthermore, these developments take time, which means your investment capital may be tied up for longer. However, when they pay off, opportunistic equity funds see some of the best returns of the bunch.
Although PE funds are powerful real estate investment engines, they do often have high minimum investment requirements, generally not less than $100,000. Some funds may also be limited to accredited or institutional investors who can demonstrate available means.
Opportunity Funds
Opportunity funds operate on a similar model to private equity funds but are specifically used to make investments in qualified Opportunity Zones. These are economically distressed areas designated by the state and certified by the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. Opportunity funds are legally required to invest 90% of their assets into properties in these Opportunity Zones.
Because these areas tend to be up-and-coming (and because tax benefits can incentivize investors to support them), opportunity funds often see substantial capital gains for their investors. And taxes incurred on those gains can be deferred until December 26, 2026.
That means the longer the investment is held before that date, the lower your overall tax liability will be. And opportunity fund investments held for at least ten years prior can expect their capital returns to be permanently excluded from capital gains taxes.
Of course, this strategy requires parting with your investment capital for a significant period of time. It’s best for those who can afford to put down the money to play the long game. If you can, however, investing in one is a great way to see substantial returns for almost zero effort.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
A real estate investment trust(REIT) is a company that invests in commercial properties. As an investor, you purchase shares of this company just as you would any other. You earn income through its debt and equity assets in the form of shareholder dividends.
REITs operate similarly to mutual funds. They provide an excellent way for the average earner to experience the benefits of real estate investing. You don’t have to have a huge amount of capital to get started, as minimum investment requirements may be quite low.
However, they may carry high investment fees, especially in the case of private REITs (i.e., those not publicly traded on the stock market). Fees at these companies may run as high as 15%. REITs may also be illiquid and keep your money locked up for longer periods of time.
Online Real Estate Investment Platforms
In this digital, all-sharing-all-the-time age, most of us have already heard of crowdfunding. Real estate investments are no exception to the rules of the new millennium.
Online real estate investment platforms have begun springing up. They can make real estate gains achievable for average investors who may not have the towering net worth or accreditation status necessary to buy into more formal funds. Depending on the specific company, you might be able to choose specific investment properties to fund or buy into a diversified portfolio of investments.
Fees and minimum investment requirements are relatively low on real estate crowdfunding platforms. For instance, Fundrise lets you get started with just $500. That is much less than you’d have to pay to get in on most types of active investments! Check out our full review of Fundrise here.
Ready to Get Started Investing in Real Estate?
As you can see, there are several ways to start investing without saving up a five- or six-figure sum. And if you do it right, your investments can actually help you reach those high savings goals. You can then fund other types of investment projects!
However, as with any financial objective, planning and strategizing is key. Saving up as much capital as possible will help you get the best return on your investment once you’re ready.
You can’t allocate your assets without first keeping track of them, and to achieve that, you need to create a budget. If you’re in debt, aggressively paying it off will free you of a weighty financial anchor, so check out these powerful debt relief options.
Finally, if you intend to purchase property either to live in or as an investment opportunity, your credit score matters. It’s as simple as that. If your credit score isn’t quite where you want it to be, take these steps to raise it. Doing so will allow you to get the best interest rate once you’re ready to make the big purchase.
Looking for the best selling apps so that you can sell stuff? Whether you have old things around your home that you want to sell or if you want to start a reselling business, there are many apps that make it easy to sell stuff right from your phone. There are apps and sites where…
Looking for the best selling apps so that you can sell stuff?
Whether you have old things around your home that you want to sell or if you want to start a reselling business, there are many apps that make it easy to sell stuff right from your phone.
There are apps and sites where you can sell all sorts of things, too, such as clothing, furniture, electronics, collectibles, and more.
I have personally sold many items over the years on many different sites to make extra income. I even had a small reselling business at one point. So, I know how helpful these sites and apps really are!
Key Takeaways
Selling apps make it easy to find buyers for your items.
Some of my favorite selling apps are Poshmark for clothing, Worthy for jewelry, and Decluttr for electronics.
Some pay via PayPal, direct deposit, store credit, etc., so make sure you think about your options before choosing a selling site.
Also, selling apps can charge various fees. You will want to look at what they charge for a listing fee, selling fee, payment processing fee, and so on. Some are free, though, like selling to local buyers on Facebook and Craigslist!
What are selling apps?
Selling apps are sites on your phone or computer that let you sell things like clothes, toys, or even your car. You take a picture, write a little bit about it, and then other people can see it and buy it from you. Some apps help you sell to people all over the world, while others let you sell locally to people who live nearby.
The apps below can be found on iOS, Android, desktop computers, or laptops.
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This free workshop will teach you how to get into the flipping business. It will teach you how to resell furniture, electronics, appliances, and anything else you can find.
Best Selling Apps For Sellers
Below are the best selling apps.
Decluttr
If you want to sell your electronics items like phones or games, Decluttr is one of the best selling apps.
Selling with Decluttr is simple. You can scan barcodes of items like games, DVDs, and books with your phone, and after you scan your items, Decluttr will give you a price for them right away.
When you decide to sell, you send your items to Decluttr for free. They even pay for the shipping and give you a free shipping label. Once they get your stuff, they’ll inspect them and if everything looks good, you then get paid.
People like using Decluttr because it’s easy and the website is easy to understand. They have a high rating from customers on Trustpilot, which means most people have a good experience.
I have personally sold a phone on Decluttr, and I have a family member who has both bought a refurbished phone on this site as well as sold an old one. It’s very easy to use and I highly recommend Decluttr.
Here’s what you can sell on Decluttr:
Phones
Electronics
Books
Games
DVDs
CDs
Apple Watch
MacBook
Speakers
Tablets
When selling, you always get to see the price Decluttr offers before you agree to sell. If you change your mind or if Decluttr says your items aren’t quite right, they’ll send them back to you without charging you anything.
eBay
eBay is an online marketplace where you can sell all different kinds of items to buyers from around the world.
Plus, you can use either your computer or your phone to sell your items.
I have sold many, many items on eBay in the past, and I think it’s a great selling site if you are looking to reach a lot of people at once. I have mainly sold clothes on eBay, but I have family members who have sold lots of different things, even cars!
If you prefer selling directly from your phone, eBay’s app is handy. You can list items by going to the Selling page and choosing “List an item.”
EBay charges two types of fees – when you create a listing as well as a fee when your item sells. This depends on the item’s price, any listing upgrades you add, and more.
Usually, eBay gives you a number of free listings every month, which means you won’t pay to list your items. This amount can be up to 250 for regular sellers or more for eBay store owners. After the free listings, there will be a fee, so keep an eye on how many listings you’re creating. You do still have to pay a fee after the item sells, which is calculated as a percentage of the total amount of the sale, plus $0.30 per order.
Facebook Marketplace
When you’re looking to clear out your space, Facebook Marketplace is the best app to sell stuff locally. This is like a large online yard sale but from the comfort of your home and phone. You can sell almost anything here, from the couch you’re replacing to the bicycle you no longer ride.
People sell things on Facebook Marketplace all the time because it is so easy! All you need is the Facebook account that you most likely already have in order to post an ad.
To sell an item, take clear photos and write a simple description. People sell toys, furniture, electronics, household goods, and more on Facebook Marketplace.
Plus, you have the option to buy and sell locally, which means no shipping hassles, or you can reach out more broadly if you’re willing to ship items. I think that most people are selling locally, though.
OfferUp
If you have items you no longer need, like toys your kids outgrew or a bike you’ve replaced, then OfferUp is a mobile marketplace where you can sell these items quickly. It’s like having a yard sale but on your phone. You just take a photo of your item, set a price, and post it. People in your community can see what you’re selling and message you if they’re interested.
Selling collectibles can be successful on OfferUp too. If you have old video game cards or stamps, you might find collectors on the app who are looking to buy them. Just remember to price your items fairly and describe them well so buyers know what they’re getting.
Unlike some other selling platforms, OfferUp is focused on local sales. This means you often meet in person to exchange the item and payment. This local approach can make transactions fast, as you don’t have to wait for shipping.
Tip: You should always be safe when meeting. Always meet in public spaces and verify the item before paying.
Poshmark
Poshmark is one of the best reselling apps for clothes and accessories.
I love Poshmark because I can find all sorts of clothing, from adult to baby, all on this site. I can search for the exact clothing brand I am looking for and often find great deals. It’s also an easy way to list items that you want to sell, and people sell all the time on Poshmark.
You can get started selling on Poshmark by creating an account, which includes adding a profile picture and writing a biography about yourself to help potential buyers get to know you better.
Then, you will list your items for sale, which includes taking photos of what you’re selling, writing a clear title and description for each item (such as the size and brand), and setting a price.
When you sell something, Poshmark helps with shipping by giving you a shipping label, and you mail the item to the buyer.
When the buyer gets your item and everything’s good, you get paid. Poshmark takes care of payments to keep it safe for everyone.
Nextdoor
Nextdoor is your go-to app for connecting with your neighbors and tapping into your local community. Think of it like a virtual gathering place where you and others in your area can meet up online.
Nextdoor is convenient because there’s no shipping – you just meet up and make the exchange.
It uses no fees to list your items, which means more money in your pocket. Instead, Nextdoor makes money in other ways (such as advertisements) so that you don’t have to pay listing or transaction fees.
So, when you have a couch to sell or want to buy a lawn mower nearby, Nextdoor might just be the app for you.
Craigslist
Craigslist is a very popular site for buying and selling items locally.
I have bought and sold many things on Craigslist in the past, such as car tires, a white water raft, clothes, and more. As you can see, that is a wide variety of items – so I’m sure you can find something that you can sell on Craigslist as well.
Plus, there are no fees to list your items on Craigslist. And, there are no selling fees either.
It is completely free to use.
To sell your items, you need to create a post, add a description and photos, and set a price.
There are a lot of scams on Craigslist, unfortunately, so you will want to stay safe. Be careful with anyone who wants to pay via check, and always stay safe. I recommend meeting buyers in public places and think about bringing a friend along. I like to pick public places like Walmart, and I know many people who like to use police department parking lots.
thredUP
ThredUP is an online consignment and thrift store where you can sell your clothes. If you have gently used women’s or kids’ clothes, thredUP lets you clean out your closet and earn money.
You can get started by simply filling a bag with the clothing items you want to sell. Then, you’ll mail your clothes with a prepaid shipping label from thredUP, and you can drop off your package at FedEx or USPS.
When your clothes sell, you have two choices. You can either cash out or get credit to shop on thredUP.
Remember, you won’t earn money for every item you send because not everything may meet thredUP’s criteria (such as if something is stained or damaged). But it’s a straightforward way to declutter and earn some cash or credit.
Etsy
Etsy is a great place to sell items that are vintage, fun, crafty, or collectible.
You can sell items like paintings, clothing, furniture, jewelry, printables, stickers, mugs, home decor, handmade items, vintage items, and so much more.
I shop on Etsy all the time, and I love how I can find interesting items that I can’t find anywhere else, such as custom artwork or vintage furniture pieces that someone found. I shop on Etsy all the time (several times a year) for both myself as well as to find gifts to give to others.
Now, Etsy is a little different from the other selling apps on this list. This is because you would not only be creating a listing but also a whole storefront.
So, if you want to start a part-time or even a full-time selling business, then this may be more for you. But, if you’re looking to sell just one or two items, then starting a whole Etsy shop may be a little too much work (depending on what you’re selling).
Worthy
When you have jewelry like diamond rings, luxury watches, or gold necklaces that you don’t want anymore, you can sell them on Worthy.com.
At Worthy, they will check your jewelry to see how much it’s worth. Then, they will sell it for you in an auction. This means that lots of people can offer money for your piece until someone gives the best price.
Steps to sell your jewelry with Worthy:
Send your jewelry to Worthy.
Worthy checks your jewelry and helps you know how much it’s worth. If you don’t like the price, you can decide not to sell it and get your jewelry back.
Your jewelry is put up for auction.
You get money when someone buys it.
The good thing is that Worthy takes care of getting your jewelry to the buyers safely. They pay for the shipping insurance, so you don’t have to worry if something happens on the way.
Mercari
You might want to sell things you don’t need anymore like a pair of shoes you outgrew or a video game you’ve finished playing. Mercari is an app that lets you sell these items right from your phone.
You can list almost anything on Mercari as long as it can be shipped. This includes phones, gaming consoles like Xbox and PS5, clothes, shoes, and even collectibles like Squishmallows.
It’s free to list your stuff on Mercari. Instead, they earn money from fees after your item sells.
First, you take a few pictures of what you’re selling. Then, you write down details about it – like what it is, what condition it’s in, and how much you want for it.
When someone buys your item, Mercari helps with shipping. They get you a prepaid label, and you just have to package your item and send it off.
Amazon
We’ve all heard of Amazon and I’m sure most of us use this site.
I buy things on Amazon all the time, and I have a few friends who sell on Amazon as well.
Amazon FBA, which stands for Fulfillment by Amazon, means that sellers keep their items in Amazon’s storage places. Amazon takes care of sending products to customers, dealing with returns, and managing customer service for the seller. With FBA, you can sell different things without the need to store them yourself or manage shipping details.
Your business would involve finding items to sell. Even if you haven’t sold anything on Amazon before, you can make money by selling everyday things like household items, toys, books, electronics, and more.
If you want to learn more about starting an Amazon business, I recommend signing up for this free training that will teach you how to sell products on Amazon and make $100 to $500 per day.
Recommended reading: How To Work From Home Selling On Amazon FBA
Chairish
Chairish is a site where you can sell furniture.
With Chairish, your items are put in front of people who appreciate one-of-a-kind pieces. You can find buyers for antique and vintage furniture, art, and decor.
On Chairish, the process is smooth. You write about your item, set a price, and Chairish handles the rest from marketing to shipping.
Kidizen
Kidizen is a used kids’ clothing site where you can sell your kids’ outgrown clothes, shoes, toys, and more. They even accept clothing for moms and maternity wear.
There are two ways to sell on Kidizen. One is to create listings yourself and sell your used items on Kidizen directly. The other option is to have Kidizen sell the items for you, where they create the listings and do all the work.
Cash4YourBooks
Cash4YourBooks is a site where you can sell your books. They buy book collections of 500 books or more (such as from estates, personal collections, libraries, and more).
If Cash4YourBooks decides to buy your collection, they’ll pick it up; you don’t need to worry about shipping or anything like that.
Gameflip
Gameflip is a site where you can sell gaming stuff, like video games and things you use inside games.
You can sell both real and online games on Gameflip. You get to decide how much they cost, and you can chat with potential buyers. This makes it simple for you to sell your video games and other things.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Selling Apps
When you want to sell items online, finding the right app can save you time and make you money. Here are answers to the most common questions about selling apps.
What apps help you sell stuff quickly?
If you’re looking to sell your unwanted items fast, apps like eBay and OfferUp are great because they have a lot of people who are looking for things to buy.
What selling apps pay you instantly?
Apps like Decluttr can pay you instantly once your items are accepted. This means you get paid quickly, usually after they check your stuff and make sure the quality is what you said it was.
What are the top apps for selling things in my local area?
Nextdoor and OfferUp are easy for local sales, and they allow you to connect with nearby buyers in local neighborhoods, which can make the process faster and skip any shipping. If you have a lot of things that you want to sell but want to keep it local, then you could even post an ad on the Craigslist app announcing a yard or garage sale.
What selling app takes the least amount of money?
If you don’t want to spend any money to sell your items, then Facebook and Craigslist are two great places to start. I have gotten rid of items on both, and they are very easy to use.
What App Is Best To Sell Things? – Summary
I hope you enjoyed this article on the best selling apps.
When you use selling apps, you save time because you don’t have to have a yard sale. It’s also safe because you don’t have to meet strangers in person if you don’t want to. These apps can be free or low-cost, which means more money in your pocket.
Some apps are great for local sales, allowing you to connect with buyers in your neighborhood. These can be super helpful for large items that are difficult to ship. Other apps specialize in specific categories, like fashion or handmade goods.
Whatever you are looking to sell, I hope you see lots of success! I have sold many items over the years, both online and offline, and I think it’s a great way to make money.
Honestly, movie comebacks are usually the best comebacks. That might be because they’ve had a team of writers carefully writing and rewriting them for hours before they’re filmed, but we’re ignoring that small fact for now. Because there’s no greater feeling than following a genuine question or situation with a great movie quote. We all do it without even realizing: those droll lines uttered during heartfelt rom-coms, stirring speeches shouted valiantly in action flicks, and righteous outbursts full of conviction can find their way into our daily banter surprisingly regularly (and it’s so much fun when they do.) Below are some of the movie lines that you can use in real life.
1. “That’s a Bold Strategy, Cotton; Let’s See if It Pays off for ‘Em.”
One user shared, “‘That’s a bold strategy, cotton, let’s see if it pays off for ’em.’ from Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. The movie revolves around a group of misfits who enter a Las Vegas dodgeball tournament to save their cherished local gym from the onslaught of a corporate health fitness chain.
2. “Face It, Girls. I’m Older, and I Have More Insurance.”
Another user said, “‘Face it, girls, I’m older and have more insurance.’” The line is spoken by Evelyn Couch (played by Kathy Bates) in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes.
One user replied, “TOWANDA!!!!!”
3. “You Keep Using That Word; I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means.”
The movie The Princess Bride is packed with quotable moments, but Inigo Montoya has probably been turned into a meme the most often. Here he is with a line we’ve probably all quoted at some time.
“‘You keep using that word; I do not think it means what you think it means.’ And many, many more from The Princess Bride,” one Redditor posted.
Another user replied, “Very nice! So many good quotes from that movie can be pulled out as a funny response.”
4. “Have Fun Storming the Castle!”
Scarcely a single conversation in The Princess Bride goes by without delivering some delightful one-liner, but the whole exchange with Miracle Max is a funny one from start to finish.
Another user stated, “Have fun storming the castle!’—Whenever someone departs for something.”
One commenter quoted back, “‘Think it’ll work?’”
5. “How Do I Get Out of This Chickens- Outfit?”
“After watching Aliens about a thousand times, every time someone asks if there are any questions, it takes all of my willpower not to ask ‘How do I get out of this chickens- outfit?’” one Redditor posted.
Another user shared, “‘Something, something nuke it from orbit…’ Gets used a lot in the shop, in the field, pretty much anywhere but with the customers, I’m not familiar with.”
6 “How Many Combat Drops?”
One user posted, “‘How many COMBAT drops?’ from … Aliens. Every time there’s a new manager/team lead, etc.”
Another user replied, “That’s a good one. I have wanted to use it before, too, but I always manage to bite my tongue!”
7. “That’s Just, Like, Your Opinion, Man.”
Is there any better (or worse) way to diffuse a tense disagreement than by drawling, “That’s just like, your opinion, man”? Depending on the sense of humor of those around you, it could be either hilarious or infuriating, but either way it’s likely to be worth it.
One user shared a line from The Big Lebowski movie and posted, “‘That’s just like, your opinion, man.’”
One user replied, “‘This aggression will not stand.’”
8. “Alrighty Then”
In a movie peppered with strange and ridiculous situations, one of the most valuable takeaways is a quote you can use in precisely those situations. This quote can be sprinkled like salt in any type of awkward situation, or when conversation is awkwardly grinding to a halt. Alrighty then!
“I don’t know about all the time, but I have been known to drop an ‘Alrighty then.’ when someone spouts something that is both TMI and rather absurd,” posted one user.
9 “Let’s Make Like a Tree and Get the F- Out of Here.”
Some movies are just a trip from start to finish, and The Boondock Saints is one of those. It’s good for a gory watch about vigilante justice from time to time, and also the occasional quote.
One user stated from the Boondock Saints movie, “I like to say ‘ … make like a tree and get the f- out of here.’ I don’t remember what movie/show I heard it on, but I know I didn’t make it up.”
10. “You’re Killing Me, Smalls.”
One Redditor quoted the movie The Sandlot and commented, “You’re killing me, Smalls.”
The Sandlot is a story of a group of young baseball players during the summer of 1962. Like any movie with hope, grit and determination, there’s also plenty of situations rife with disappointment. The result is quotes that you can use in any sort of situation involving failure to lighten the mood by tossing out a movie quote.
Another user shared, “YESSS BRRROOOO. YESSSSS THIS IS MEE!!!”
11. “Life Is Like a Box of Chocolates; You Never Know What You’re Gonna Get.”
In Forest Gump, Forest is a very straight-forward character. In a lot of complicated and nuanced situations, he still calls things as he sees them, and it leads to a lot of situational comedy. As a result, the movie is peppered with great quotes that apply (or misapply) to dozens of situations.
“I often use the quote ‘Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get,’ from Forrest Gump,” one user added to the thread.
One user added, “‘Stupid is as stupid does!’”
12. “Winter Is Coming…”
Lots of great movie quote references are rather depending on the circumstances lining up, but the perfect time for this one comes around seasonally. Honestly, that’s rather convenient.
One user shared the most favorite and famous quotes from The Game of Thrones and posted, “‘Winter is coming … ‘ I say this a lot around October.”
Another user replied, “‘You know nothing, John Snow.’”
The OP jokingly replied, “Perfect, lol.”
13. “Groovy.”
Turns out this one pops up in multiple movies; which honestly could play to your favor. Besides, it’s universal enough regardless of which movie you were intending to quote, your chances of having the quote recognized are just about doubled.
One commenter stated, “‘Groovy.’ (The Evil Dead Trilogy).”
The OP responded, “Oh hahaha, I thought that was from Austin Powers. …”
14. “Hasta la Vista, Baby.”
Turns out The Terminator is good for more than just a favorite movie night in; you can take sprinkle those convenient little quotes throughout your conversation.
Another user stated, “Hasta la vista, baby.”
One added, “Love it.”
15. “May the Force Be With You.”
Need a way to say goodbye and good luck all together? We’ve got you—try this quote from Star Wars. Better yet, it’s versatile. You can use it sincerely (and a little humorously) to wish somebody good luck, or you can use it with some snark if you don’t really approve of what they’re about to attempt.
“‘May the Force be with you.” – Star Wars. I use this quote when wishing someone good luck.” shared one Star Wars fan.
Another user replied, “That’s nice of you; I’m sure they love that!”
What do you think of the statements above? Share your thoughts down in the comments!
Source: Reddit.
10 Actors Perfectly Cast for Their Character Roles
Have you ever watched a movie or show and been completely lost in it because of how well an actor or actress became their character? Check out this article for a whole list of actors who were perfectly cast!
11 Vampire Movies That Will Make You Thirst for More
You know that feeling where you’re on a movie kick in a certain genre, but you seem to run out of good movies to watch? Well, if you’re down for a vampire movie or three, check out this article for the best ones out there!
10 Incredible Movies That People Rated 10 Out of 10
It’s pretty hard to replicate the experience of watching your favorite movie for the first time, but we’ve put together a list of movies that people have rated at a perfect 10/10. Next time you need a good movie to watch, check this out!
10 Famous People Who Canceled Themselves With Their Own Stupidity
We’ve all been there: you make a comment you haven’t thought through at all, and the whole room goes silent at what you’ve just said. But can you imagine doing that as a famous person—and getting canceled? Check out this list of celebrities who did just that!
13 Things You Shouldn’t Do When You’re in the US
Are you planning a trip to the US? Culture varies a lot between countries, even countries that share borders. So if you’re headed to the good old U. S. of A, here are a few pointers to make your travels go more smoothly!
A motorized version of a Murphy bed makes raising and lowering the piece of furniture much easier thanks to a push button that puts the bed silently in place, as well as hides it again, in under 15 seconds.
Created by Odin Visser for Moooi, the contemporary, versatile suspension light is playful yet elegant, simple in functionality but visually intriguing.
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Celebrating their 80th anniversary, the brand released a selection of home goods and furnishings from their archives with a colorful, contemporary refresh.
Melt gets you organized with four products that are 3D printed using bio-based filaments made from recycled food packaging waste with other compostable or renewable materials.
The IKEA research and design lab created Couch in an Envelope as a way to challenge traditional design and make it more sustainable, adaptable, and easy to transport.
Designer Sabine Marcelis’ 20-piece VARMBLIXT collection is a collaboration with IKEA that includes sculptural lighting objects, serveware, rugs, and more.
And the most popular Home Furnishings post of 2023 is…
IKEA had an amazing year of design and collaborations, with four posts included here acting as proof. This limited-edition series of 26 products, brings together Nordic design and self-care rituals. From furniture to glassware to textiles, vibrant patterns reflect nature back at you.
Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she’s likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.
With trends like “soft start” morning routines and cozy cardio becoming increasingly popular, I think it’s safe to say we’re all feeling the desire to slow down a little more and hustle a little less. Especially as the year comes to a close and we start spending more time inside, it’s only natural to want to settle into a calmer headspace, and that often starts with our homes. Enter: the blue home decor trend that’s poised to be huge in 2024.
Paint companies including Dunn-Edwards and Sherwin-Williams have selected soft, steely blues as their picks for the 2024 color of the year. According to the experts at Dunn-Edwards, these cool tones represent a collective desire to “achieve balance and tranquility in the year to come.” Similarly, Sherwin-Williams’ color of choice was intended to reflect that sense of peace found when you “slow down, take a breath, and allow the mind to clear.” All in all, it sounds like the perfect trend to try as we gear up for our annual New Year’s resolution-setting.
Interested in hopping on this tranquil trend? Read on for five ways you can incorporate blue into your home for a more calming, energizing space.
How to Try the Blue Home Decor Trend in Your Home
1. Mix and match patterns and textures
Some say there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing. When it comes to color, though, I have to disagree. Repeating the same color throughout your home without any variation will quickly make your home feel too matchy-matchy. The secret to bringing in color without going too monochromatic? Incorporate a variety of textures and patterns in your decor. Instead of adding multiples of the same solid blue pillow to your couch, for example, mix in a patterned pillow that’s accented with blue, or layer on one with a shaggy texture. This will create visual interest and prevent the room from looking too one-note while still maintaining a cohesive look.
2. Use different shades of blue
While Dunn-Edwards and Sherwin-Williams both selected muted shades of blue for their 2024 colors of the year, that doesn’t mean you can’t play around with other blue tones. Mix and match bold hues like deep navy and bright cerulean, or keep it muted with shades of slate blue and denim. Blue comes in so many different shades that you can easily create a whole palette using just this section of the color wheel. Whatever variations bring you the feeling of tranquility, lean into these shades as you refresh your home for 2024.
3. Start with small accessories
If you’re not ready to paint all your walls blue, start by dipping your toes in with subtle changes. You can’t go wrong with small accessories like candles, vases, and throw pillows to quickly and inexpensively try out a new color trend. Especially if your existing decor scheme is fairly neutral, these new pieces will fit in seamlessly.
4. Swap out artwork
One of the easiest ways to keep your home feeling fresh is to swap out your artwork. If you aren’t sure where to start, there are plenty of retailers on Etsy that sell digital prints you can download and print inexpensively yourself. Pro tip: Invest in high-quality frames that’ll make any kind of artwork look good, then find creative ways to save on the art itself.
5. Try out wallpaper
This may sound extreme when it comes to trying out a new home decor trend, but with so many peel-and-stick options on the market, it’s easier than ever to swap out your wallpaper or try it out for the first time. Wallpaper is a fun way to add texture, color, and pattern to an otherwise blank space. If you’re a renter, it’s also a great alternative to painting your walls since the paper will easily peel off when it’s time to move out.
Do you want to get paid to watch ads? While you won’t get rich watching ads (it’s not a full-time job), it’s an easy way to make extra money to cover a phone bill or pay for some groceries. And, it’s something you can do from your couch and in your spare time. If you’re…
Do you want to get paid to watch ads? While you won’t get rich watching ads (it’s not a full-time job), it’s an easy way to make extra money to cover a phone bill or pay for some groceries.
And, it’s something you can do from your couch and in your spare time.
If you’re wondering why companies are even paying people to watch ads, it’s simple.
Companies pay people to watch ads or fill out surveys to get a better idea of what the consumer wants and whether they would buy the product or not. This helps companies improve their product and potentially make way more money. They also pay people to watch their ads so that they can get more eyes on their company.
Today, I’ll help you learn how to get paid to watch ads as well as the best apps and sites to watch ads for money.
13 Best Places To Get Paid To Watch Ads
There are many different places to make money watching ads. Below are some popular options for the best places to make money watching ads.
1. InboxDollars
InboxDollars is one of the top ways to make money watching ads, with over $80,000,000 being paid out to people who use this site (watching ads isn’t the only way, though). Once you sign up for an InboxDollars account, you can start watching ads for extra money.
You can also make money on InboxDollars by:
Cash back shopping
Playing games
Trying out new products and services
Reading emails
Printing coupons
How to sign up for InboxDollars:
Sign up for InboxDollars here and get a free $5 bonus.
Start watching ads by heading to the Videos tab on their site to see what ads are available to you.
The videos open in a different tab or window. Some videos start playing automatically in the new tab or window, while others need you to click the Next button to see the next part of the content.
2. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a website that pays people for watching ads, completing surveys, and more. You can watch ads on a bunch of topics including food, cosmetics, fashion, and more.
Swagbucks pays via points (known as SBs), and they can easily be transferred so that you can get paid either via gift cards (such as to popular retailers like Amazon or Walmart) or get cash back via PayPal.
Swagbucks’ minimum withdrawal amount is also just $3.
You can also make money on Swagbucks by:
Filling out surveys
Playing games
Scanning receipts
Complete daily tasks offered in the app
Referrals (such as with a referral link)
How to sign up for Swagbucks:
Click here to sign up.
Set up an account by entering your email and setting up a password.
Start watching ads or filling out surveys.
Sign up for Swagbucks here (and earn sign-up bonus points).
3. MyPoints
MyPoints is a rewards site that has over 20 million active users on their website. MyPoints has access to tens of thousands of surveys and advertisement videos to watch for extra cash.
Once you create a profile and fill out basic information about yourself, MyPoints will even send you surveys to fill out. Once you fill out online surveys, you get paid via points which can then be redeemed for gift cards, travel miles, and more.
You can also make money on MyPoints by filling out surveys, playing games, and even redeeming coupons.
How to sign up for MyPoints:
Sign up on their website.
Create an account by entering your email and setting up a password.
Start watching ads.
Sign up for MyPoints by clicking here.
4. PrizeRebel
Prize Rebel is a popular survey app that rewards members who answer surveys, watch ads, and try out free samples. Prize Rebel pays out via PayPal cash, Bitcoin, gift cards, and more.
You can also make money on Prize Rebel by:
Trying out free samples
Entering sweepstakes
Trying out new apps
Trying out free trials
How to sign up for Prize Rebel:
Create an account by either entering your info or connecting your Facebook account.
Start watching ads or filling out surveys.
Sign up for Prize Rebel by clicking here.
5. Ibotta
Ibotta is an app (available for Android, Apple, etc.) that gives cash back to customers who make everyday purchases. Once you’re in the Ibotta app, you can start clicking and activating special cash back by clicking the + button next to the item offer.
Some offers will make you watch an ad on their product in return for getting their offer.
For certain retailers, you can even link your store loyalty account to the Ibotta app. This makes it incredibly easy to earn cash back with the app because you don’t have to submit any receipts.
You can also use Ibotta even if you’re shopping online. To shop from your phone, open the Ibotta app, tap online shopping, and browse offers from hundreds of retailers.
New Ibotta users get $10 when they spend $50 at participating online retailers.
How to sign up for Ibotta:
Sign up for an Ibotta account.
Shop and click to activate offers within the app.
Shop at stores like you normally would.
Submit receipts to the Ibotta app.
Please click here to sign up for Ibotta.
Recommended reading: How To Make Money Without A Job
6. iRazoo Rewards
iRazoo Rewards is an app that pays people to watch ads and fill out surveys. New offers are added everyday, making it easy to find new ways to earn iRazoo points within the app.
You can also make money on iRazoo Rewards by:
Answering surveys
Completing offers
Playing games
How to sign up for iRazoo Rewards:
Download the app and create an account.
Fill out the information about yourself.
Start watching ads.
7. Nielsen TV Ratings
Neilson is an information and market research company that you’ve probably seen in commercials in the past as they are popular. Neilson’s job is to give companies information into consumer behavior so that they can create and improve their products.
And, this is why they need you!
Nielson pays out via PayPal Cash, gift cards to stores like Amazon, and more.
How to sign up for Nielsen:
Sign up for an account.
Download the app on your phone or computer.
Earn rewards.
8. Earnably
Earnably is a website that pays you to complete different tasks, such as watching videos.
Earnably pays out via PayPal cash or gift cards. This app stands out more from others because you only need $1 to cash out the rewards that you earn. This means that it is typically easier to get your first payment.
How to sign up for Earnably:
Create an account.
Start watching ads or filling out surveys.
Redeem points for PayPal Cash or gift cards.
9. QuickRewards
QuickRewards pays people to watch informational and entertaining videos on topics like news, lifestyle, pop culture, food, and more.
To get paid to watch videos on Quick Rewards, you simply go to their “Videos” tab when you’re logged in. You’ll then see the daily videos that are available to you, and the amount of points that you can earn for watching each video.
When I was logged in, I was able to earn points for watching movie trailers, food videos (such as cooking tutorials), ads, and more.
There is only a 1 cent minimum needed for redeeming points on QuickRewards. You can earn free PayPal cash, gift cards to Amazon, and more.
You can also make money on QuickRewards by:
Filling out surveys
Playing games
Completing offers
Shopping online
How to sign up for QuickRewards:
Create an account.
Start watching ads.
10. AppTrailers
AppTrailers is a way to make money by watching videos of new apps, celebrity gossip, DIY videos, video ads, and more.
You get points for watching these videos, which you can then redeem for PayPal cash, Amazon gift cards, and more.
You can also make money on App Trailers by playing trivia in the app and entering sweepstakes.
How to sign up for AppTrailers:
Download the app and create an account.
Fill out basic information.
Start watching videos.
11. AdWallet
Unlike the other apps mentioned, AdWallet’s only way to make extra money in the app is by watching ads. After you’ve finished the ad, you’ll complete a short survey. Once you’re logged into the app, you’ll see videos that are ready for you to view them.
The minimum payout for AdWallet is $10 and cash out options are via PayPal cash, gift cards, or donating the funds to a charity.
How to sign up for AdWallet:
Create an account.
Start watching videos.
Redeem points for gift cards or PayPal cash.
12. KashKick
KashKick is an online platform that pays users cash for completing tasks like watching videos. There are no points in KashKick, so you always know exactly how much you’ve earned.
You can also make money on KashKick by:
Completing offers
Trying out new apps
How to sign up for KashKick:
Sign up for a KashKick account.
Review offers in the app.
Start earning money.
Please click here to sign up for KashKick.
13. GrabPoints
GrabPoints is similar to all of the other survey apps and rewards its users for answering surveys, watching videos, and playing games.
To make money watching ads with GrabPoints, you want to pick one of the following video providers: Hideout.TV and Loot.tv. Each of these video providers offers all kinds of videos with topics from entertainment, fashion, sports, and action. How many points you earn depends on the channel.
You can also make money on GrabPoints by:
Taking surveys
Playing games
Downloading apps
How to sign up for GrabPoints:
Create an account.
Start earning points by watching ads or filling out surveys.
Redeem points for cash or gift cards.
FAQ – How To Make Money Watching Ads
Here are answers to common questions about how to watch ads for money.
Can I earn money from watching ads?
Yes, you can earn money from watching ads right from your smartphone or laptop. The amount you earn depends on several things such as the survey site, how long the ad is, and how much time is needed from you.
Ads pay out at around .7 cents per advertisement for Inbox Dollars and related sites. Sites may pay via PayPal cash, Visa gift cards, Amazon gift cards, and more. Withdrawals (payment thresholds) typically start at around $5 to $10, but depend on the specific site.
Recommended reading: 26 Weekly Pay Jobs To Make Money Quickly
Which app pays for watching videos?
There are tons of mobile apps that pay users for watching videos. The top apps that pay for watching ads include Swagbucks, Inbox Dollars, MyPoints, You-Cubez, and Slidejoy. You can search on Google Play and the iOS App Store to look for more. Viggle used to be a popular option for watching short films as well, but it is no longer around.
How to get paid to watch ads on your phone?
To get paid to watch ads, download the app you want to use. You can choose from many apps including MyPoints, Inbox Dollars, Swagbucks, and more. Then, create an account and fill out some basic information. Survey sites want to know information about you to match you to certain surveys.
Once you have the app and information filled out, start browsing the different tasks you can do to make money. This may be watching ads, filling out surveys, printing and redeeming coupons, playing games, etc.
Once you complete the task, you’ll start earning rewards which can then be redeemed for PayPal cash, gift cards, and more depending on the app.
Why are companies paying people to watch ads?
Companies and advertisers pay people to watch ads to get product testing, feedback and insights, and ideas on how to fine-tune their product before the product goes public.
These brands want to know what you’re thinking and what you think about certain products or services. This helps them in the process of making new items for their brand.
Recommended reading: 21 Best Free Surveys That Pay Cash Instantly
Is it worth it to make money by watching ads?
You won’t get rich making money watching ads, but it is an easy way to make extra income to pay off a bill each month.
You may want to think if it’s worth the time and effort to make money watching ads. Try out an app or site listed above for a couple of weeks and see if it’s worth it. You may find that it’s easy enough to do while you’re watching Netflix or waiting in the car to pick up your kids from school.
How To Get Paid To Watch Ads – Summary
If you’re looking to make extra money in your downtime, watching ads is an easy side hustle to start.
By signing up for apps and sites like Inbox Dollars and Swagbucks, you can get paid watching ads, filling out surveys, and even get free products in return for giving feedback to the brand.
You’re on the apartment hunt and know you want something on the smaller side. It’s just going to be you, or you and your significant other, so one bedroom is all you’ll need. You start looking around. You see some great one-bedroom places, but they’re a little on the expensive side. Then, you see your first studio apartment. It’s a little different as far as layout goes, but the price looks good and you could make this work … maybe.
It’s not an uncommon debate to have, studio vs. one-bedroom apartment when looking for a new home that’s the right fit for your lifestyle. Before deciding which one is right for you, it’s good to understand how each place is different.
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What is a studio apartment?
Unlike an apartment with bedrooms, a studio is going for a more compact design. “A studio apartment is basically a self-contained unit and houses everything in the single room space except the bathroom,” says Stefan from homedit.
With a studio apartment, you’re getting some variation of a single large room with attached kitchen or kitchenette, and a separate bathroom. It’s a limited area to work with if you want to create the feeling of separate rooms without walls to break up the space. Your design strategies and furniture placement can help establish defined space. You can make it clear which part of your studio is for sleeping, eating or hanging out with friends.
Studio apartments usually max out at a total of 600 square feet but can get as small as 300 square feet. The smaller the space, the more creative you’ll become in finding storage and places for all your things.
Rental prices for a studio apartment, according to the Apartment Guide 2019 Annual Rent Report, average around $1,065 a month. However, which part of the country you call home directly affects this number.
What is a 1-bedroom apartment?
There’s one essential difference between a studio and one-bedroom apartment, and that’s the bedroom. You also get a few more walls and a distinct separation of spaces. There’s a clear division between your living room, bedroom and kitchen. You may also have a few more closets and a dining space.
Square footage in a one-bed has a decent range. Smaller one-bedrooms can equal the size of a large studio. Even with the same square footage, a one-bedroom can end up feeling larger since you’re not looking at all your space in a single area.
One-bedrooms often have a monthly rent that’s a little higher, averaging around $1,140.
Studio vs. 1-bedroom: Factors to consider when selecting your apartment
Understanding the benefits of living in both a studio and a one-bedroom apartment can help you decide which option is best for your next home. The two biggest differences between your options are the obvious ones — size and price.
Not only will you pay more for rent, on average, for a one-bedroom, but utilities will cost more. You’ll have more space to heat or cool. There’s also more rooms with more lights, and more outlets to suck up electricity. When budgeting for a one-bedroom, it’s helpful to take into account your monthly costs of living on top of the rent. You can ask the property owner of the apartment you’re considering to get estimates on utility costs.
The difference in size can mean a little or a lot more room, but it’s really all about what space you need to feel comfortable at home. Some people do better in a more cozy home, while others need room to stretch out.
Beyond the cost and the square footage, there are a few other ways studios and one-bedrooms compare. These key areas should also get factored into your apartment selection.
1. Privacy
In a studio, where you sleep is also where you eat, work and hang out. A one-bedroom gives you the dedicated space of both a bedroom and a living area. It offers more privacy overall because there’s a door to close between rooms. This is especially important if you have friends or family visiting, crashing on the couch or if you need some time away from your live-in significant other.
If you live alone and don’t use your apartment as a place for social gatherings, you may get all the privacy you need in a single room. Without guests sitting on your bed, because there’s nowhere else to sit, you can retain the privacy of your sleeping space without needing a separate room.
2. In-unit amenities
With the extra size of many one-bedroom apartments, there’s the potential for amenities that couldn’t fit in a studio. Your one-bedroom could have in-unit laundry hookups, more than one sizable closet, full-sized appliances and more storage in general. These are great amenities, but not necessary.
The laundry room in your apartment building could be nice enough that you won’t miss having laundry in your studio. Maybe you prefer to send your laundry out so don’t care if there are machines in your apartment or your building. Having a smaller refrigerator is fine while you’re living on your own, so the space-saving appliance in your studio is great.
Amenities, by definition, are bonus items in your home, and many people have different must-haves.
3. Lifestyle
How you like to live can impact what kind of apartment you’ll need. If you like to have friends over for potluck dinners, watch a favorite TV show or sample some wine at a happy hour, you may need an entertainer’s amount of space.
If you’re planning on living alone or with a significant other you’re very comfortable with, you might not feel compelled to have as big of a place. The important thing is to find an apartment with enough space to allow you to keep being you.
The space you need also relates to your professional lifestyle. If you have a job where you’re always traveling and are never home, why get a big place to sit empty? Having a studio that’s compact and easy to care for might be the right step for your lifestyle. If you work from home, it might be more comfortable setting up a desk in its own space and not on top of everything else.
4. Location
The price will once again impact your apartment decision when it comes to apartment location. If you want to live close to a city center or right near work, you can end up in an area of town where the property is more expensive. It might not be affordable to have a one-bedroom, but studio prices could be low enough to get you into your ideal location.
On the flip side, if you want a bigger space and can handle living outside of town, you may find an affordable deal on a one-bedroom right outside the city. According to Forbes, rent can be 31 percent cheaper if you’re living outside of an urban area. You’ll need to factor in the cost of commuting back into the city for work, but you can still come out ahead with the right apartment.
5. Studio vs apartment upkeep
Both decorating and cleaning are easier when you have less space. It’s faster to clean a studio apartment. There are also fewer walls to decorate. That said, the smaller space can lend itself to more clutter since you’re without a lot of storage options. Either way, you’re going to have to clean a bathroom, and nobody likes doing that.
Is a studio or one-bedroom better?
There’s actually no simple answer to this debate since the better place for you revolves around your own needs and budget.
“Deciding where to live is a choice that impacts your lifestyle in many ways. Take the time to compare the cost of living and determine what’s best for you,” says Roger Wohlner from KeyBank. This is sound advice to keep in mind as you consider the pros and cons between studios and one-bedroom apartments.