JAL has launched a new credit card with two tiers (basic & premium). Details are as follows:
Annual fee (waived first year)
$35 annual fee for basic tier
$85 annual fee for premium tier
Sign up bonus:
5,000 bonus miles after $3,000 in spend (basic & premium)
Additional 5,000 bonus miles when you spend an additional $2,000 within three months (premium only)
Card earns at the following rates:
Spend on JAL airlines (2x for premium)
All other spend (0.5x for basic, 1x for premium)
No foreign transaction fees
5,000 bonus miles when you you book your first JAL flight (one time use only, even if you apply for a second card)
10% sector bonus miles for every flight
5% discount at HND and NRT duty free, 10% discount at JAL in-flight purchase and wifi
5k bonus mile after you use international flight by JAL
no annual fee in the first year, but $35/$85 from the second year respectively
SUB: 5k after spending 3k within 3month for Basic, additional 5k if you spend 2k more for premium within 3 month
Earn 5 JAL life status points every $1,500. (Theoretically, this makes 470k spending on this card gives you JGC status a.k.a. lifetime one world Sapphire as long as you hold this card and pay 2k mile annually). Combination with tier run can reduce the cost of getting this too.
Miles expire after 3 years of earning unless you are in JGC premiere or JAL diamond status holder.
Our Verdict
Doesn’t really look worth it unless you fly JAL a lot, but better than the previous offering.
Do you want to learn how to get paid to shop? It’s possible! Many companies and apps now give you ways to get paid for shopping that you might already do. You can make extra cash by grocery shopping, buying clothes, or even just browsing stores. These opportunities range from being a personal shopper to…
Do you want to learn how to get paid to shop? It’s possible! Many companies and apps now give you ways to get paid for shopping that you might already do.
You can make extra cash by grocery shopping, buying clothes, or even just browsing stores. These opportunities range from being a personal shopper to taking surveys about products you buy. Some options let you shop for yourself, while others involve shopping for other people. It’s a fun way to earn money doing something you enjoy.
Over the years, I’ve found that there are so many ways to make money while shopping, and it’s been a great side hustle for me. From getting paid to shop for others to earning cash back on my own purchases, it’s an easy and enjoyable way to bring in extra income.
How To Get Paid To Shop
Below are the best ways to get paid to shop.
1. Personal shopper
Personal shoppers help people buy things. They pick out clothes, gifts, and other items for clients, so this can be a fun way to get paid for shopping.
To become a personal shopper, you need good taste and people skills. You should enjoy fashion and keeping up with trends.
Many personal shoppers work in person in retail stores, but you can also get paid to shop online for others. They help customers find outfits and accessories. Some work for wealthy clients, buying everything from groceries to designer clothes.
You can start by getting a job at a department store and looking for positions in personal shopping or styling. Another option is to work for yourself and you can find clients through word-of-mouth or online platforms.
When I was younger, I had a friend who was a personal shopper for a family. My friend mainly did their grocery shopping and ran errands, but would occasionally buy gifts for when the family was attending a birthday party or a wedding.
2. BestMark
I’ve done a lot of mystery shopping over the years, and it’s been a fun way to earn extra money while doing something I already enjoy. Whether it’s evaluating a store’s customer service, trying out new products, or going to a restaurant, it’s pretty easy work.
BestMark is a top mystery shopping company that’s been around since 1986.
As a BestMark shopper, you’ll visit stores, restaurants, and other businesses. You’ll act like a regular customer and evaluate your experience, and this might include checking product quality, service speed, and staff friendliness.
After your visit, you’ll fill out a detailed report online. BestMark gives you a list to help you understand what to look for during your shop.
The pay for BestMark shops varies, but you can tend to earn between $10 and $20 per task. For most assignments, you will get your meal or whatever you buy reimbursed. They usually give you a limit on what you can spend or they specifically tell you what to buy.
Recommended reading: 9 Best Mystery Shopping Companies To Work For
3. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a popular website that pays you to shop online, and it’s free to join and easy to use.
I’ve been using Swagbucks for almost 10 years now, and I think it’s pretty easy to earn points.
To get paid to shop with Swagbucks, there are two main ways to earn points:
Earn cash back when shopping online. For example, right now you can get up to 8% cash back when shopping at Macy’s, up to 4% when shopping on Amazon, up to 10% when shopping at Best Buy, and more.
Earn points (SB) by submitting your shopping receipts. You can submit any receipt that you have from the last 14 days – both in-store and online receipts. You can then earn points. For example, you can get 50 points for any loaf of bread that you buy, 50 points for any bananas, 900 points for diapers, and more.
When you’ve collected enough SB, you can trade them for gift cards. You can pick from lots of popular stores. If you prefer cash, you can get money sent to your PayPal account instead.
I’ve redeemed over 100 gift cards from Swagbucks over the years, and I love how easy this rewards site is to use.
If you join Swagbucks through my referral link, you will receive a $10 bonus.
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Swagbucks is a site where you can earn points for answering surveys, shopping online, watching videos, using coupons, and more. You can use your points for gift cards and cash.
4. Rakuten
Rakuten is a popular way to earn cash back when you shop online. It’s free to use and super easy to get started.
I have used Rakuten for years and it’s an easy way to get cash back for the online shopping that you already do. In fact, I just used it on a hotel booking, and I received 2% back, which adds up quickly for a hotel!
You just sign up for an account on Rakuten’s website or app. Then when you want to buy something, go through Rakuten first. They’ll send you to the store’s site to shop like normal.
After you make a purchase, Rakuten adds cash back to your account. The amount varies by store, but it’s often 1% to 10% of what you spend. Some stores even pay you 20% or more during special sales.
You can get paid by check or PayPal. Rakuten sends out payments every 3 months and you need at least $5 in your account to get paid.
So, why does Rakuten give you this cash back? Rakuten makes money by getting a commission from stores when you buy stuff. They share part of that commission with you as cash back.
Please click here to sign up for Rakuten. Plus, you can get a $30 bonus when you spend $30 if you join right now (at the time of this writing; please double-check the current offer).
5. Stitch Fix stylist
Want to get paid to shop for others? Becoming a Stitch Fix stylist might be perfect for you. This job lets you work from home and help people look their best.
Stitch Fix hires stylists for women’s, men’s, and kids’ styling. They even train you, so you can start with no experience.
As a Stitch Fix stylist, you’ll pick out clothes for customers based on their likes and needs. You’ll use a computer to see what items are available and choose the best ones for each person.
6. Instacart shopper
Becoming an Instacart shopper is a way to make money grocery shopping on your own schedule.
As an Instacart shopper, you’ll pick up and deliver groceries to customers. Instacart has full-service shoppers, where you shop and deliver groceries, as well as in-store shoppers, where you only shop in-store but don’t deliver (someone else picks up the items and delivers).
To start, you need to be at least 18 years old. You’ll also need a smartphone to use the Instacart app as this app tells you what to buy at the grocery store and where to deliver it.
Instacart gives you a payment card to use at stores. You’ll get this card about a week after signing up. You use it to pay for the groceries you’re buying for customers.
Recommended reading: Instacart Shopper Review: How much do Instacart Shoppers earn?
7. Shopkick
Shopkick is a free app that lets you earn rewards for shopping. You can get points called “kicks” for different activities. These include scanning products in stores and uploading receipts.
You don’t even need to buy anything to earn kicks. Just walking into certain stores can give you points. The app works with many popular retailers like Target and CVS.
As you collect kicks, you can trade them for gift cards.
To start, just download the Shopkick app on your phone. Then link your credit or debit cards to your account, because this lets you earn kicks automatically when you shop at partner stores.
8. Ibotta
Ibotta is a free app where you can earn cash back on your everyday purchases. It works for both online and in-store shopping at many popular retailers.
To get started, download the Ibotta app on your phone. Before you shop, browse the app for “offers” at your favorite stores. You’ll see cash back deals on specific items or entire purchases.
When shopping in stores, buy the items with offers (of course, make sure these are items that you actually want to buy because the item is not free, it is simply more like getting a discount). Then, take a picture of your receipt with the app when you are done. Ibotta will match your purchases to the offers and add cash back to your account.
For online shopping, start your purchase through the Ibotta app or website. Shop as usual, and you’ll automatically earn cash back on qualifying items.
Ibotta works with many big stores like Walmart, Target, and Kroger.
Once you reach $20 in your account, you can cash out via PayPal or choose a gift card. It’s a simple way to make your shopping more rewarding.
This app is available for both Android and iOS (iPhone).
You can sign up for Ibotta here.
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Ibotta is an app where you can get cash back and earn free gift cards. Simply submit your receipts on your everyday purchases with your phone.
9. Ath Power Consulting
Ath Power Consulting is a company where you can get paid to do mystery shopping. They have a huge network of over 600,000 shoppers across North America.
Ath Power does more than 10,000 mystery shops each month. They work with many well-known brands and companies around the world.
Ath Power mystery shoppers shop in person for companies, and then share their thoughts about the products and services they try. Companies can then use this information to improve what they sell to customers.
10. IntelliShop
IntelliShop is a company that hires for mystery shopping jobs. You can sign up to become a secret shopper and get paid to visit stores.
Most tasks pay between $5 and $20. They usually take less than 15 minutes in the store, and then after your visit, you’ll need to fill out a report.
IntelliShop has jobs in stores, online, and over the phone.
As a mystery shopper for any of the mystery shopping companies on this list, please remember to keep any receipts or business cards from your visit. You’ll need these to prove you completed the task and get paid.
Recommended reading: How To Become A Mystery Shopper
11. Care.com
Care.com is a site where you can earn money by helping others with tasks like grocery shopping. You can sign up as a helper on their platform to find local gigs.
The site connects you with people who need assistance, such as parents and seniors. You might help with grocery shopping, cooking, or other errands.
As a helper on Care.com, you can set your own rates. Some helpers charge between $15 and $25 per hour. The amount that you decide you want to get paid may vary based on your experience and the tasks you do.
You may be able to find enough gigs to make this a full-time career, or you can also do this part-time in your spare time.
12. Capital One Shopping
Capital One Shopping is a free tool that can help you save money when you shop online. It’s a browser extension and mobile app that works in the background while you browse.
When you’re ready to check out, Capital One Shopping searches for coupon codes automatically and it tries to apply them to your order to get you the best deal.
The tool also compares prices across different websites. This can help you find the lowest price for items you want to buy.
You can earn rewards called Shopping Credits when you make purchases through Capital One Shopping. These credits can be redeemed for gift cards to popular stores.
While you won’t get paid directly to shop, you can save money and earn rewards. This can add up to significant savings over time and even free gift cards.
I recently received a $71 gift card for simply using the Capital One Shopping browser extension, which was super easy to get.
You can learn more at Capital One Shopping Review: Is It Worth It?
13. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards is a free app that lets you earn points for shopping. You can get points by scanning any receipt or shopping online through the app.
I use Fetch Rewards for nearly all of my grocery shopping receipts. What I like about Fetch is that you don’t need to clip coupons or look for special offers. You just buy products and scan your receipts when you are done. It takes less than one minute to scan your receipt and earn points, so it is very easy.
Fetch gives you points for every receipt you upload. You can earn extra points by buying specific brands or products. The app has special offers where you can earn extra points, such as for buying a specific brand of cheese.
You can turn your points into gift cards from many stores and restaurants. Some options include Amazon, Target, and Starbucks.
You can sign up for Fetch Rewards here.
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With this app, you can scan your grocery receipts (from any grocery store or wholesale club, any time) and earn free gift cards. It is free to sign up and easy to use.
14. Uber Eats
With Uber Eats, you can make money by delivering food.
To get started, you’ll need to create an account and fill out some forms. Once approved, you can begin accepting delivery requests through the Uber app.
Uber Eats drivers can earn around $15 to $26 per hour on average. Your earnings can vary based on factors like your location, how busy it is, and the amount that you earn in tips.
You will want a reliable vehicle and a valid driver’s license, of course, for this side gig.
Recommended reading: 14 Ways To Make Money Driving
15. DoorDash
DoorDash is another way to get paid for delivering food.
DoorDash pays Dashers weekly through direct deposit. If you need money faster, DoorDash offers a Fast Pay option. This lets you cash out your earnings right away for a small fee.
Remember, you’re responsible for your own expenses like gas and car maintenance. It’s a good idea to track these costs to see how much you’re really earning.
16. Taskrabbit
Taskrabbit is an app that lets you make money by doing odd jobs for people in your area. You can pick tasks that fit your skills and schedule.
Some popular jobs on Taskrabbit include cleaning houses, assembling furniture, and running errands (such as shopping for others).
Taskrabbit gives you the flexibility to choose when and how much you work, as well as the type of work that you want to do.
17. Walmart personal shopper
You can get paid to shop as a Walmart personal shopper. This job lets you pick out items for customers who order online.
You’ve probably seen Walmart personal shoppers when you’ve been in Walmart. They work for Walmart and typically have a uniform and a very large basket where they collect items for different orders.
Walmart personal shoppers earn about $15 per hour on average.
Most personal shoppers work full-time or nearly full-time, between 32 to 40 hours a week.
As a personal shopper, you’ll walk around the store and find items customers want. You’ll need to be quick and careful to pick the right products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting paid to shop can be a fun way to earn extra money. There are different methods like using apps, shopping for others, and being a mystery shopper. Here are answers to common questions about how to get paid to shop.
How to get paid to go shopping?
You can get paid to shop by using cash back apps, becoming a personal shopper, or doing mystery shopping. Cash back apps give you money back on purchases. Personal shoppers buy things for busy people. Mystery shoppers check stores and fill out shopping assignments on their customer experience.
What are the top apps that pay you for shopping?
Some popular apps that pay you for shopping are:
Rakuten: Gives cash back on online purchases
Ibotta: Pays rebates on groceries and other items
Shopkick: Rewards you for scanning items in stores
Fetch Rewards: Gives points for uploading grocery receipts
These apps are free to use and can help you save money on things you already buy.
How can I earn cash by doing grocery shopping for others?
You can earn cash by grocery shopping for others through apps like Instacart or Shipt. Sign up as a shopper, get orders from customers, and deliver their groceries. You’ll get paid for each order you complete.
How much money do people usually make by delivering groceries?
The amount of money you can make by delivering groceries varies. Most shoppers make between $10 and $25 per hour, and your pay depends on factors like the number of orders you complete, the size of the orders, tips from customers, and time of day and demand.
Is being a secret shopper a good side hustle?
Secret shopping can be a good side hustle. It lets you earn money while shopping and dining out, but it’s not a full-time job. I have done a lot of mystery shopping assignments over the years.
What ways to get paid to shop on Amazon are there?
You can get paid to shop on Amazon in a few ways:
Use cash back sites like Rakuten when shopping on Amazon
Join Amazon’s Vine program to review products
Sell items on Amazon as a third-party seller
Sign up for the Amazon Associates Program to earn from product links
These methods can help you save money or earn extra cash while shopping on Amazon.
Best Ways To Get Paid To Shop – Summary
I hope you enjoyed my article on how to get paid to shop.
Getting paid to shop is a fun and easy way to make extra money while doing things you already like. I have been getting paid to shop for over 10 years now, and I have done almost everything on this list. While I’ve not earned a full-time income doing anything on this list, I have earned side income and plenty of free gift cards over the years.
You can use cash back apps or become a personal shopper to earn cash. You can make money buying groceries, clothes, or even taking surveys about your shopping habits.
Mystery shopping is another way to earn money by pretending to be a regular customer and reporting your feedback on your experience. Companies like BestMark and IntelliShop pay for this. Apps like Swagbucks and Fetch Rewards make it easy to earn by scanning receipts or shopping online.
Whether you want a side hustle or just want to save money, getting paid to shop is a fun way to make more money.
Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. In this episode:
Explore how the 2024 presidential candidates’ tax plans could impact your finances and what to know before voting.
What tax proposals are the 2024 presidential candidates making, and how might these policies affect your finances? What should you know before voting on tax issues? Hosts Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski discuss the key differences in the candidates’ tax plans and how to make informed decisions to protect your financial future. They begin with a discussion of the importance of tax policy, with tips and tricks on understanding credits and deductions, how taxes fund government services, and the long-term effects of tax laws on your paycheck.
Then, Anna talks to Amy Hanaeur, the executive director of the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, to discuss the candidates’ specific tax proposals. They discuss proposals to cut corporate taxes, extend expiring tax cuts, provide child tax credits, and eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits.
Check out this episode on your favorite podcast platform, including:
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Episode transcript
This transcript was generated from podcast audio by an AI tool.
Sean Pyles:
Taxes. Nobody likes them, but it’s how we pay for government, from local police and fire departments to the folks at the national level who make our currency and on and on. So what’s a fair and effective tax structure? That’s an argument democracies have been having since the Greeks came up with the system of government, and it’s an argument that we’re still having in earnest in the 2024 presidential campaign.
Amy Hanaeur:
Two-thirds of the cost of making those individual tax cuts permanent would go to the richest fifth of Americans. So to the richest 20% of Americans. So just for a sense of what that would cost, in 2026 alone, that would cost more than $280 billion.
Sean Pyles:
Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast. I’m Sean Pyles.
Anna Helhoski:
And I’m Anna Helhoski.
Sean Pyles:
This is episode three of our Nerdy deep dive into presidential policy and personal finance. And today, Anna, it’s so exciting. We’re going to talk tax policy.
Anna Helhoski:
Wait, wait, don’t everybody leave yet. This is really important stuff. It has a huge effect on your bottom line, so you should know what the two presidential candidates are proposing to do with your tax dollars and then vote accordingly.
Sean Pyles:
Sometimes it’s hard to figure out exactly what this or that tax policy will do to your paycheck. There are proposals for credits and deductions and write-offs, and it can pretty quickly induce your brain to go on zombie status. But even just the broad strokes are important to understand, so we’re going to go through some of that today.
Anna Helhoski:
And remember, Sean alluded to this at the top of the show. Taxes pay for just about every government service you use. Every time you drive on a highway, every time you call 911. Every time you jangle cash in your pocket. Every time you pay for college with a federal student loan.
Sean Pyles:
Every time you get a letter delivered by the USPS. Every time you go to a national park. Every time your grandparents get a Social Security check. Every time you find yourself in a court of law. And every time you realize that national security is pretty important. All of that is the government at work and it’s funded by the money that comes out of your paycheck.
Anna Helhoski:
Is some government spending ridiculous? Yup. Some of my own spending is ridiculous, by the way, but I digress. You can argue over the size of government. A famous Republican anti-tax lobbyist named Grover Norquist once said his goal was to “reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub.” But it’s hard to imagine how anything would get paid for if there weren’t taxes, including all those other campaign promises that candidates are making.
Sean Pyles:
Right. How would anything get done if it weren’t for, you know… government? But as we’ve been saying throughout this series, the most important part of all of this is that you are an educated voter. That you understand how the presidential candidates’ tax policies could affect you.
Anna Helhoski:
And then take that knowledge to the ballot box and vote your conscience. Or for a lot of us, take that knowledge to the mailbox after you’ve filled in your ballot at home.
Sean Pyles:
I’ve got to say I really love voting from the comfort of my couch, usually in my pajamas. As we’ve noted previously, we want to say at the outset that we are not here to take sides or fan the flames of an already contentious political season. Our goal here is the same goal that we always have at NerdWallet: to help you, our listeners, make smart informed decisions about the stuff that impacts your finances. Sometimes that means choosing the right credit card for your needs. Other times, that means voting for the candidate who you believe will help you achieve your life and financial goals. All right. Well, we want to hear what you think too, listeners. To share your thoughts around the election and your personal finances, leave us a voicemail or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373. That’s 901-730-N-E-R-D, or email a voice memo to [email protected]. So, Anna, who is helping us sort through tax policy today?
Anna Helhoski:
Today, we’re speaking with Amy Hanaeur. She’s the executive director of the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Amy Hanaeur, thank you so much for joining us.
Amy Hanaeur:
Thanks for having me.
Anna Helhoski:
Unsurprisingly, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have introduced some pretty different tax plans. So to kick off our discussion, I’m hoping you can give an overview of what stands out most to you in these plans.
Amy Hanaeur:
I would say there’s a pretty dramatic difference between Vice President Harris’s tax proposals and former President Trump’s tax proposals. It’s one of the biggest policy differences between these candidates.
Vice President Harris has plans to raise revenue from wealthy people and corporations. She’s also a little more concrete about her plans for the child tax credit, which helps middle-class families with children and other families with children. Trump has kind of a history of slashing taxes in ways that largely redound to wealthy people and corporations. He has also put forth some middle-class tax cuts. Those also will go to the wealthiest as well as to middle-class families. So I think his proposals all in all are more expensive and can make it a little harder to pay for the things that are spending priorities for either party.
Anna Helhoski:
Harris has come out with a number of tax breaks, including up to $50,000 for new small businesses, a $25,000 housing tax credit for first-time home buyers, and an increased child tax credit that includes $6,000 for new parents. Would these be effective policies and walk us through their feasibility?
Amy Hanaeur:
I would say that the $6,000 newborn child tax credit along with her proposal to restore the expanded child tax credits for older children that took place during the pandemic are very proven, very effective policies. And we know that the expanded child tax credit cut poverty almost in half. We know that it helped lots and lots of middle-class families. And we know that even at a time when unemployment was sky high, those child tax credits kept the economy moving and kept a lot of families solvent. And the new expanded $6,000 that she’s proposing for newborns is really important because that first year is so important developmentally for children, and so for families to have a little bit more resources in that first year, I think, makes a lot of sense.
The other two things that you asked about I think are a little more marginal in their effect and maybe not the very best approaches. The tax break, the $50,000 for new businesses is a little complicated because a lot of new businesses don’t actually earn enough to pay taxes. And so they would probably stretch that until when they are profitable, and then they would reduce their taxes once they are profitable further down the road. We just don’t think that that makes as much sense as some other approaches. The tax credit for new home buyers is an interesting idea. I think the Vice President is pairing that with some activities on the supply side to make sure that there’s more housing. But I think that those supply-side activities are a crucial part of that because if you just give a tax credit to new home buyers, it could end up driving up the cost of housing. I don’t think it’s the most important or the strongest part of her tax proposals.
Anna Helhoski:
And we need to have more housing supply in order to have more first-time home buyers.
Amy Hanaeur:
Anna Helhoski:
I want to shift over to Trump. He certainly wants to extend the 2017 tax cuts made under his administration, and he said he plans to lower the corporate tax rate even further. Can you remind us what was in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and what is set to expire next year? I know it was a complex law, but if you could give us the highlights.
Amy Hanaeur:
The 2017 tax law really cut the corporate rate from 35% to 21%, and the result of that was that corporate tax payments plummeted, and a lot of huge profitable corporations continued to pay far below the statutory rate. So the rate was 21%, but actually, lots and lots of corporations pay much, much less than that. Our research shows, and the research of a lot of other scholars shows that these kinds of cuts increase income and racial inequality. They also… This is kind of important. They send a massive windfall like 40 cents of every dollar to foreign investors because foreign investors own 40% of corporate stocks. That is just not a very well-targeted proposal, and it would really cost us a lot in revenue, which could reduce the ability of either party to execute on their spending priorities.
Anna Helhoski:
Has the former president said he wants all of those tax cuts renewed? Are there any proposed changes or is it just an extension?
Amy Hanaeur:
The corporate tax rate that I was just talking about is actually permanent, the cut that they already made. But as you said, he’s proposing further cuts to that corporate rate. So that’s a new proposal. That’s not an extension. The part that they made temporary were the individual components of the 2017 tax law, and they did that because it cost too much and it wasn’t possible to pass it with the policy mechanism that they were trying to use at the time because they were trying to do it with only one party’s support. In order to get it below the overall cost limit that is imposed on Congress, they made the individual tax cuts temporary. Former President Trump has said that he wants to extend all of the individual tax cuts that were in that 2017 law.
Anna Helhoski:
What has Harris said about that tax legislation?
Amy Hanaeur:
Well, she has said that with all of her tax cuts, there would not be a situation in which somebody earning less than $400,000 pays more. She has said that for the individual tax cuts, she wants to extend them for those earning less than $400,000 but phase them out over $400,000. I can say a little more about what the 2017 law did distributionally.
Anna Helhoski:
Amy Hanaeur:
If that’s helpful.
Anna Helhoski:
Absolutely.
Amy Hanaeur:
That law as a whole did deliver really large tax cuts to those in the top 1%, and that’s kind of a narrow sliver. I’m talking there about people with income over $800,000 a year. These cuts are the part that expire in 2025, but the Trump campaign wants to make them permanent. Two-thirds of the cost of making those individual tax cuts permanent would go to the richest fifth of Americans, so to the richest 20% of Americans. So just for a sense of what that would cost, in 2026 alone, that will cost more than $280 billion. It really does start to cut into revenue.
Anna Helhoski:
Have you seen any shifts in where Trump’s tax policy proposals are now versus when he was president?
Amy Hanaeur:
I would say that he’s kind of looking to just intensify his previous approach. Now, he’s floated some other things and his vice-presidential candidate has floated some other things, but in terms of concrete things on paper, it’s a little bit more of the same. He talked about, for example, repealing the tax on Social Security benefits. It would lower taxes for US households, I think, by an average of about $550 per household. But it would come with a big price because it would reduce Social Security and Medicare revenues by about $1.5 trillion over the next decade.
Anna Helhoski:
I want to talk specifically about Trump’s tariff proposal. He wants to do a 10% to 20% across-the-board tariff on all imports and up to 60% for goods from China. He has also suggested replacing personal income taxes with these new tariffs. Amy, how do tariffs on foreign countries and taxes for Americans intertwine?
Amy Hanaeur:
This is a sort of surprising proposal because it’s a real departure from the traditional way that Republicans have approached this issue. And frankly, a departure from how Democrats have approached this issue in recent years as well. Most economists absolutely agree that tariffs fall on consumers, but there can be reasons why advocates for particular industries, sometimes the owners, sometimes the workers, may want them at different times for particular economic development reasons or retaliatory reasons if they think that another country has appropriated a technology or industry that we had previously dominated in. I think what’s really challenging about the Trump proposal is that it is so across-the-board, and also that he hasn’t been very clear about exactly what he would do. So at some times, he has talked about 10% across-the-board tariffs. At other times, he has talked about 20% across-the-board tariffs. That’s a pretty big difference. And then he’s talked about, as you said, the additional 60% on China. An economist named Kim Clausing estimated 20% across-the-board tariffs would cost the typical household $2,600 a year. It’s a substantial hit to families and it manifests itself much in the way that inflation does. It would just be basically every product that every household buys would end up costing more.
Anna Helhoski:
Now, the Biden administration has largely kept the tariffs that Trump imposed during his previous term. What has Harris said about that and her view in general on tariffs?
Amy Hanaeur:
I’m not sure that she has said that much. I think that this is a part of the Biden administration policy that they are perhaps somewhat quiet about. I think it’s challenging to repeal those tariffs for political reasons. But I think from a policy perspective, it’s just important to note that they do fall on households. They’re not as large as those 20% across the board and 60% on China tariffs that the former president is putting forth. So they don’t have the same kind of impact, but it is kind of universally accepted that those kinds of tariffs do fall on consumers in terms of increasing prices.
Anna Helhoski:
More of our interview in a moment. Stay with us. Amy, real quick, I just want to turn back to Social Security for a second. Trump had said that he wants to get rid of the tax on Social Security. What would be the impact of that on the average American? What would that mean for their paychecks right now and for the prospect of them having Social Security when they reach retirement age?
Amy Hanaeur:
The Tax Policy Center did an analysis of this proposal and found that it would lower taxes for US households by an average of $550 a year. But at a big, big cost because it would end up reducing revenues in Social Security and Medicare by about $1.5 trillion with a T over the next decade. This would end up driving both programs into insolvency much faster, and so it would end up resulting in sharply reduced benefits for tens of millions of recipients. And the Tax Policy Center has not yet estimated, I don’t believe, the exact nature of those benefit reductions, but we know that Social Security is just one of our most important social programs, pulls a huge number of people out of poverty. The elderly used to be the poorest population age group in the United States, and after Social Security was put in place, they became the least likely to be poor among American households. So it’s really a huge part of our social safety net and just a huge part of our society.
Anna Helhoski:
Now, Trump and Harris don’t agree on very much, but one place where there is overlap is that both candidates have proposed to lift the tax on tips. Can you explain that for us and what it would mean for the average American, both those who receive tips and those who pay them?
Amy Hanaeur:
Getting rid of taxes on tips is probably more about politics than about creating a great public policy. First of all, a very small share of the workforce receives all of its income from tips. And so it would be kind of flawed because do we really think that a waitress who earns a very modest salary and a teacher’s aide or a teacher or a nurse’s aide who earns a really modest salary, do we really think that the waitress should pay a lower tax rate than a teacher or teacher’s aide or nurse’s aide who earns the same amount? And that would be the effect of this policy. It would also really encourage shifting some compensation to tips. So high-paid professionals could ask that their fees instead be structured as tips.
Now, Vice President Harris does have a check in place for her proposal that kind of gets at that because she has suggested ways that it could be targeted toward those earning under $75,000 a year. That certainly makes a big difference in terms of the possibility for gamesmanship by very wealthy earners. But fundamentally, we just think there are better ways at getting at helping low-wage workers who receive tips. Namely, we could get rid of the tipped wage. We could say that every worker deserves a minimum wage. The sub-wage for tipped workers is $2.13 an hour at the federal level. So we’re talking about a ridiculously low wage in 2024.
Anna Helhoski:
It seems like either candidate will struggle to bring forth most of these proposals if there’s not enough support in Congress. Either Harris’s or Trump’s proposals, what do you see there being congressional support for? And is there anything that Harris or Trump could do unilaterally?
Amy Hanaeur:
Obviously, a lot depends on the composition of Congress. So if either side gets a trifecta, if we have Republicans taking both Houses and the presidency, I would expect that former President Trump would be able to again cut taxes on billionaires and again cut taxes on corporations. I don’t think his Social Security proposals would go through under any party because Social Security is sort of famously the third rail of American politics, and it really does disrupt our social structures to think about reducing the funding available to pay for Social Security.
For Vice President Harris, if she were to get a trifecta, I think she would probably succeed in getting some of those revenue raisers. I could see her getting through the extensions of the individual tax cuts for those earning less than $400,000 but getting rid of them for those earning more. And in the perhaps most likely situation where we have divided government, I think a lot of this would be up for debate, and I think we’d end up seeing some mishmash of these two approaches.
Anna Helhoski:
Amy, what have we not seen Kamala Harris or Donald Trump weigh in on that you think is an oversight?
Amy Hanaeur:
There are pieces that are in Kamala Harris’s written proposals that don’t get a lot of attention. And one of the big ones is something very obscure called stepped-up basis. Sometimes people call it buy, borrow, and die. That basically says that for very wealthy people, if they acquire stocks or other assets that really grow in value over the time that they own those assets, that if they pass those on to heirs without selling them first, nobody ever pays taxes on the difference in value. So that’s always something that I think should get more attention. But it’s complicated to explain. As you can see with my efforts to explain it, it’s just complicated. And it’s easier to say, “We’re going to raise the corporate tax rate or we’re going to lower the corporate tax rate.” I think that’s something that could get more attention.
Anna Helhoski:
Is there anything else you want to call out about Harris or Trump’s tax plans?
Amy Hanaeur:
I would just say the big picture is: The Harris approach raises more revenue. It raises it primarily from the wealthiest and corporations. The Trump approach puts us deeper in debt and gives a lot more away to wealthy people and corporations. And both of them, I think, have some proposals that would help middle-class families on the tax side.
Anna Helhoski:
All right. Amy Hanaeur, thank you again for talking with me today.
Amy Hanaeur:
Yeah, thank you so much.
Anna Helhoski:
Sean, I want to emphasize one thing before we wrap up, and that’s how much authority the Executive Branch has to change taxes. The president does technically have the power to tax, but they generally don’t exercise that. What they do is press Congress to pass policies that they want. What we don’t know right now is what campaign promises will have bipartisan appeal once we have both a new administration and a new congressional makeup.
Sean Pyles:
You know, Anna, tax is a funny thing, where you make one change in one area and it can have drastic, sometimes unintended ripple effects in other areas. Two examples that come to mind are how Harris providing a tax credit for first-time home buyers could drive up home prices, and how Trump’s tax cuts exacerbated racial and wealth inequality. And these examples underscore how complicated and confusing tax policy can be. But it’s really, really important for all of us to engage with this since a number of components of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 will sunset in 2025. So we have a unique opportunity right now to reshape taxes and our votes will have a hand in that.
Anna Helhoski:
And one thing that Amy Hanaeur didn’t delve too deeply into is the no tax on tips policy that both Trump and Harris are endorsing. But fortunately, listeners, we did go into no tax on tips in a previous episode. So have a listen to our August 21st episode on that topic, which we’ll also link to in today’s show notes.
Sean Pyles:
Anna, tell us what’s coming up in the fourth and final episode of the series.
Anna Helhoski:
Sean, we’re going to talk about two specific areas of policy that affect a large swath of voters: student loans and healthcare.
Eliza Haverstock:
The fate of the repayment plan is now largely in the hands of the courts. However, the president can influence the situation by directing the Justice Department how to proceed with appeals. Harris would likely continue to vigorously defend the SAVE plan in court. Meanwhile, Trump is not likely to defend SAVE.
Anna Helhoski:
For now, that’s all we have for this episode. Do you have a money question of your own? Turn to the Nerds and call or text us your questions at (901) 730-6373. That’s (901) 730-N-E-R-D. You can also email us at [email protected]. And remember, you can follow the show on your favorite podcast app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio to automatically download new episodes.
Sean Pyles:
This episode was produced by Tess Vigeland and Anna. I helped with editing. Rick VanderKnyff and Amanda Derengowski helped with fact-checking. Megan Maurer mixed our audio. And a big thank you to NerdWallet’s editors for all their help.
Anna Helhoski:
And here’s our brief disclaimer. We are not financial or investment advisors. This nerdy info is provided for general educational and entertainment purposes and may not apply to your specific circumstances.
Sean Pyles:
And with that said, until next time, turn to the Nerds.
Looking for the best online customer service jobs? If you’re searching for a way to make money from your laptop or are tired of commuting, then an online customer service role might be the perfect fit for you. Online customer service jobs are typically entry-level opportunities that can be done from home. These jobs are…
Looking for the best online customer service jobs?
If you’re searching for a way to make money from your laptop or are tired of commuting, then an online customer service role might be the perfect fit for you.
Online customer service jobs are typically entry-level opportunities that can be done from home.
These jobs are great for anyone, even with no experience. I’ve personally seen how these roles can provide a good income, all while giving you the freedom to create your own schedule.
In this article, I’ll guide you through the best online customer service jobs available, what they pay, and how to get started—even if you’re completely new to the field.
12 Online Customer Service Jobs
Below is a list of the best online customer service jobs to make money.
The below are mainly large companies that are hiring, but another option would be to become a virtual assistant and work for a small company. Many smaller companies use virtual assistants to get the tasks done that they need, such as customer service. You can learn more about this at Best Ways To Find Virtual Assistant Jobs.
1. Amazon
Amazon is always hiring remote customer service associates to support its massive customer base.
To find jobs on Amazon as an online customer support specialist, visit Amazon’s career website here. In the search bar, type “customer service” and select remote or virtual as your location. This makes sure that the jobs that come up are 100% remote.
From there, you can also choose filters like part-time or full-time. You select the country you’re eligible to work in, as Amazon has job postings all around the world. You’ll want to look for jobs with titles like “Customer Service Associate,” “Customer Support Specialist,” or “Virtual Customer Care Representative”.
Amazon also has seasonal positions, so if you’re looking for a temporary role to bring in extra money during the holidays, this is a great option.
There are many benefits to working for Amazon, including stock options, career development course funding, employee discounts, and more.
Recommended reading: How To Find A Remote Job
2. Apple
Apple also has job listings for remote customer support jobs.
To find customer support jobs at Apple, go to their official careers page here. You can also choose filters like “home office,” so you only see remote job listings. Besides the Apple careers page, you can also find jobs at Apple on sites like Indeed and LinkedIn. Search for keywords like “Apple Customer Service” or “Apple At-Home Advisor”.
You can also set up job alerts for Apple’s customer support jobs so you get email alerts any time a job related to customer service is posted.
There are many benefits to working for Apple, including generous time off, discounts on Apple products, stock options, and education reimbursement for courses.
3. American Express
American Express also has remote customer support jobs. To find these jobs, visit the American Express career page. This is where you can search for jobs by keyword and location.
You can type in keywords like “Customer Service” or “Customer Support” and use the location filter to choose “virtual” or “remote” jobs.
American Express has remote customer service jobs, usually called “Virtual Customer Care Professionals.” You can look for these jobs on sites like Indeed and LinkedIn as well. American Express is frequently hiring customer support specialists, so keep checking for job listings or set up email alerts.
There are many benefits to working for American Express, including health insurance, travel discounts, stock, and more.
4. Progressive
Progressive Insurance has Customer Support job openings on their website here.
To find Progressive customer support roles that are remote, use the keyword “remote” when searching for jobs. As of this writing, I found job openings for remote Claims Adjusters paying $24/hour. I think it’s important to regularly check for job updates on Progressive’s website as they are constantly adding new jobs.
You can also search for Progressive customer support roles on Indeed and LinkedIn. Indeed even lets you set up email alerts whenever new Progressive customer support roles show up.
There are many benefits to working for Progressive, including good starting pay, eligibility for bonuses, extra pay for working evenings or weekends, PTO, and more.
5. Yelp
Yelp has common customer support roles such as Customer Support Specialists and Content Moderation specialists.
To look at job openings for Yelp, check out their career page here. This is where you’ll find all of Yelp’s job openings, including tasks, qualifications, and benefits.
You can also engage with Yelp employees on LinkedIn to see what the job is like and get any insights on the hiring process.
There are many benefits to working for Yelp, including insurance, PTO, mental health services, monthly wellness subsidies, work-from-home reimbursement, and more.
6. AAA
I had a harder time finding remote roles for AAA, but I did find people saying they hire for remote customer support roles, they just can be harder to come by.
In-person customer support roles for AAA seem to be more common, but to find online jobs for AAA, check out their career page here.
There are many benefits to working for AAA, including tuition reimbursement, comprehensive health insurance, and wellness programs.
7. CVS Health
CVS Health has many remote customer support roles, with pay starting at $18 an hour and going up to $28 an hour, depending on experience.
To find CVS Health customer support roles, go to their careers page and filter the search for remote customer support jobs.
There are many benefits to working for CVS Health, including 401(k) with matching, employee discounts, wellness programs, and stock options.
8. Sutherland
You may not have heard of Sutherland before. Sutherland is a digital transformation company specializing in making digital processes feel more human to customers.
Sutherland often has remote customer support roles open. To find Sutherland customer support roles, go to their careers page and search for remote.
There are many benefits to working for Sutherland, including advancement opportunities, competitive pay, comprehensive health benefits, and more.
9. Chewy
If you love animals, you may love working for Chewy as a customer support specialist.
To find jobs at Chewy, go to their customer service careers page here. This is where you’ll find all of the job openings, qualifications needed, benefits, and more. I found it interesting that they have a page specifically for customer service careers, which suggests they are actively hiring in this area!
The starting wage for these jobs is $15.50 an hour, with room to grow.
There are many benefits to working for Chewy, including comprehensive insurance, competitive pay, 401(k), and more.
10. Concentrix
Concentrix is a global business company specializing in CEM, also known as customer experience management. They help businesses improve their operations and enhance customer interactions.
Concentrix has many open job listings for customer support roles, which you can find here.
There are many benefits to working for Concentrix, including paid training, bonus opportunities, insurance, wellness programs, and more. They even have mentorship programs to help you grow in your career and other unique benefits.
11. Alorica
Alorica is a global customer experience and business process outsourcing company. They help businesses improve their customer interactions, similar to Concentrix, which I mentioned above.
To find Alorica customer support job listings, visit their careers page here. Their customer support roles usually start at $16 an hour.
There are many benefits to working for Alorica, including employee discount programs, paid training and tuition reimbursement, and more.
12. TTEC
TTEC is similar to Alorica and Concentrix and is often hiring customer support specialists.
To find jobs at TTEC, go to their careers page here and search for customer service representative jobs.
There are many benefits to working for TTEC, including working remotely full-time, PTO, wellness and healthcare benefits, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the most common questions about online customer service jobs.
How much do work-from-home customer service jobs pay?
Work-from-home customer service jobs typically have a starting wage of around $15 an hour, with more experienced customer support specialists earning over $25 an hour.
What are the highest-paying jobs in customer service?
The highest-paying jobs in customer service include jobs at Progressive and CVS Health. Technical support is related to customer support and typically pays a little bit more than customer service specialist jobs.
Can customer service be online?
Customer service jobs are almost always online since you can do this work from your laptop via chat, email, or video conferencing. So, this can be a great work-from-home job choice!
What does an online customer service representative do?
An online customer service representative is in charge of many tasks and may include:
Supporting customers through live chat, email, and social media
Addressing customer inquiries, resolving issues
Handling customer complaints
Handling processing, managing returns or exchanges
You can find job listings for customer service agents in nearly all industries around the globe, such as retail, travel, finance, and more.
Are there Amazon customer service jobs?
Amazon has many customer service jobs that are both in-house and remote. These roles typically involve helping customers with returns and inquiries, troubleshooting issues, and providing support related to Amazon’s products and services.
How can I find online customer service jobs from home with no experience?
To find online customer service jobs, visit job boards like Indeed or FlexJobs. Look for jobs with keywords like “customer service” and “customer support.” Make sure to choose your location as “remote,” so you only see remote job openings.
Best Online Customer Service Jobs – Summary
I hope you enjoyed my article on the best places to find online customer service jobs.
Finding an online customer service job is relatively easy to do, even with no experience. This is a great way to work from home without having to go on a long commute to work.
Are you interested in starting an online customer service job?
Direct Link to offer (go incognito if it’s erroring out)
Signup for the Capital One Spark Cash card and earn a one-time $750 cash bonus once you spend $7,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Card Details
$95 annual fee, waived for the first year
2% cashback on all purchases
Card earns cashback; if you have a different points-earning Capital One card (such as the Venture or Spark Miles), you’ll be able to transfer over the cash back into miles
Our Verdict
Capital One stopped promoting this card a few years ago in favor of the Spark Cash Plus version. They’ve now quietly brought it back with this $750 signup bonus. The Plus version also has a nice signup bonus currently of $2,000 with $30,000 spend.
This Spark card $750 offer has a lower spend threshold of $7,500 and will be interesting to some. I’d consider signing up for this, but I currently hold the Plus version and I’m not sure if Capital One allows holding more than one business card.
Last we know, this card was not getting reported to the personal credit bureaus. They do, however, credit pull all 3 bureaus. Check out these Things To Know about Capital One Credit Cards. We’ll add this to our list of Best Current Credit Card Signup Bonuses.
Looking for the best Amazon hacks to save money? If you’re like me, you’re always looking for ways to save a little extra cash, especially when shopping on Amazon. Sure, Amazon already has great prices, but what if I told you there are even more ways to cut down your costs? Over the years, I’ve…
Looking for the best Amazon hacks to save money?
If you’re like me, you’re always looking for ways to save a little extra cash, especially when shopping on Amazon. Sure, Amazon already has great prices, but what if I told you there are even more ways to cut down your costs?
Over the years, I’ve found so many helpful tips and tricks that I couldn’t wait to share them with you.
Whether you’re a frequent shopper or just looking to make the most of your Prime membership, these 15 Amazon hacks will help you save money you didn’t even know you could! From using price-tracking tools to earning free gift cards, this list covers everything you need to know to save money.
Recommended reading: 7 Ways To Get Paid For Amazon Reviews
15 Best Amazon Hacks To Save Money
Below is what you need to know about the best Amazon hacks to save money.
1. Use coupons
Amazon often offers promo codes for thousands of products, and sometimes they’re automatically applied at checkout.
To find coupons and deals, go to Amazon’s homepage, “Today’s Deals” or search “Amazon coupons” in the search bar. Doing this will show you a list of the best deals on Amazon for the day which can include items like cosmetics, household supplies, electronics, and almost anything else you can think of.
Some items are reduced automatically, while others make you clip a coupon on the item’s link to get the savings. When you’re ready to check out, make sure the coupon has been clipped and added to your order summary.
Occasionally, the app will have exclusive coupons and discounts, so it’s worth it to have the app if you shop on Amazon a lot.
2. Use price tracking tools
Tools, like Capital One Shopping, can help you find the best deals by tracking price drops. This comes in handy for Amazon products since the prices change so often. For example, a lot of people were finding that Amazon Prime Day items were actually more expensive than before Prime Day.
Other popular price-match tools are Honey and Camelcamelcamel.
To make things more convenient for you (and so you don’t forget to use these price-matching tools), I recommend installing a browser extension on your computer. These extensions make it easy to check any item you’re looking at on Amazon instantly.
You can also set up price drop alerts that will notify you when a price drops to your target price.
Recommended reading: Capital One Shopping Review: Is It Worth It?
3. Choose free shipping for bundling your order
There are ways to never pay Amazon shipping, and here are just a few.
Amazon gives free shipping on orders that meet certain criteria. For non-Prime members, you need to meet a minimum purchase of $35.
Add multiple items to your cart to reach the free shipping threshold.
Keep an eye on promotions that give free shipping on lower threshold amounts.
If you don’t have anything to buy on Amazon to reach free shipping, maybe think about buying household supplies to increase your total (because you always need them anyway).
Thanks to the above tips, I never pay for shipping on Amazon.
4. Choose No-Rush Delivery for free credits
Amazon has a special offer for users called “No-Rush Delivery” where they’ll give you free credits.
Instead of getting your product in two days or less, you’ll get your items a few days later. You can choose this item during checkout.
These credits can be used towards digital content (eBooks, music, movies). The reward credit is usually between $1-$5.
5. Use a cashback credit card
Credit cards are a fantastic way to get cash back and make money back from your purchase.
I use an Amazon Chase card that gives me 5% cash back on all purchases that I make at Amazon as an Amazon Prime member. Nonmembers get 3% cash back on all purchases made on Amazon.
This can add up to hundreds of dollars over the year.
6. Subscribe and Save
Amazon’s Subscribe and Save is a handy way to save money on items you regularly buy on Amazon like cleaning supplies (such as paper towels and toilet paper), cosmetics, groceries and food, vitamins, baby items (like diapers), and so much more. This also includes free shipping and a discount.
For example, if you buy 5 or more subscribe & save products, you can save up to 15% on your order.
7. Find ways to get free Amazon gift cards
Yes, you can get free Amazon gift cards by filling out surveys.
This isn’t a fast way to make extra money, but it’s something you can easily do on your couch or when you’re trying to pass the time.
Here’s a list of the best survey sites:
American Consumer Opinion
Survey Junkie
Swagbucks
InboxDollars
Branded Surveys
Prime Opinion
Five Surveys
You can also earn free Amazon gift cards by playing games on your phone. My sister recently earned $300 in free Amazon gift cards by playing Bingo on the Freecash app. She made this much in just one week!
Recommended reading: 20 Best Survey Sites To Make $100+ Per Month
8. Become an Amazon Vine reviewer
Did you know that you can get hundreds of free products, worth thousands of dollars every year from the Amazon Vine Program?
This program is easy to join and gives you access to thousands of items you can use or gift to friends and family. The Vine program lets you request up to 8 items per day, so you can find all sorts of things you need or totally random items for starting a new hobby.
You may be eligible to be an Amazon Vine Voice Reviewer if:
You have written consistent reviews of your previous Amazon purchases
Your reviews are considered ‘helpful’ to other customers
Your reviews are honest and trustworthy
Recommended reading: How I Received $4,500 in Free Amazon Products by Writing Reviews
9. Get a free trial of Amazon Prime Student
If you’re a student and enrolled in a college or university, you can probably get a free trial or reduced subscription rate on Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime benefits are awesome because you usually get lower prices and free 2-day shipping.
This can make your Amazon Prime account as low as free or around $7 a month (after the 6-month trial period), so this is definitely one of the best Amazon hacks to save money on a Prime membership.
To qualify for an Amazon Prime Student account, you need to have an active .edu email address to sign up for your Prime membership. Amazon will send a verification email to your school email address. This is how Amazon confirms that you’re a student.
You can sign up for an Amazon Prime Student account by clicking here.
10. Shop with credit card points
With certain credit cards, you can automatically apply your points to your Amazon purchase.
For example, I have an Amazon Chase credit card that makes it really easy to use points when I’m checking out on Amazon.
When I’m at the checkout page on Amazon, the payment area includes a section where I can use my Amazon cash-back points on Amazon purchases.
11. Trade in electronics you no longer need
Amazon has a trade-in program that helps you turn your old and unwanted electronics into money.
To do this, just go to the Amazon Trade-In page and tell Amazon about the device you want to trade in. If the electronic is eligible for a trade-in, Amazon will either give you an Amazon gift card or a 20% off coupon, or sometimes both.
You’ll then ship your electronics via UPS for free or drop your old devices off at an approved trade-in location within 45 days. This is a great option for people who like to get the latest tech gadgets or want to declutter.
12. Shop Amazon Outlet
Amazon Outlet is a section on Amazon that features Amazon warehouse and overstock items that are on discount. This section features discounted items across all categories including:
Electronics
Home goods
Clothing
Cosmetics
and more
Use the filter and sort items to narrow down your search to make the shopping process less overwhelming. Also, make sure to check customer reviews and check product descriptions to make sure the item is of good quality.
13. Look for free Audible books
If you’re a fan of audiobooks, Audible usually has promotions offering free audiobooks and free trials. As of this writing, Audible has a 3-month offer for only .99 cents, then $14.99 each month after.
Audible includes:
Premium members get credits that can be used for any titles in their premium selection
Access to exclusive member sales and discounts on all additional purchases
All members can listen to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, originals, and more in the Plus Catalog (as much as you want, no limit)
You can find free Audible books by clicking here.
14. Look for Amazon lightning deals
Amazon has lightning deals that are time-sensitive and limited in quantity across different categories.
On the Deals page, look out for the lightning deal badge next to products. Here you’ll see how long the deal lasts or how much of the item is left.
You can also filter deals by category to help you narrow down items. This makes it easier to find items you’re interested in. If an item you’re interested in is 100% claimed, get on the waitlist. If someone doesn’t complete their purchase, you’ll get a notification. You’ll have a short window of time to complete the purchase before the item goes to the next person on the waitlist.
15. Sign up for a registry
Creating an Amazon registry is a great idea whether you’re having a wedding, expecting a baby, or celebrating another event.
This is also a great way to get a discount on items.
After your event date, Amazon gives a one-time discount on items left on your registry. The discount is typically 10-15% off (higher for Prime members) and applies to select items. You can read about this on Amazon’s website here.
My sister made a baby registry on Amazon when she was pregnant and this Amazon shopping hack definitely works! She was able to save a good chunk of money on the baby registry items that were not bought at her baby shower. I also know of friends who did something similar after they made their wedding registry!
You can create your registry for free on Amazon by clicking here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to common questions about the best Amazon hacks to save money.
How do I save a lot of money on Amazon?
To save the most money on Amazon, take advantage of these money-saving hacks:
Look for the “Clip Coupon” option on the item’s page to instantly apply discounts
If you regularly purchase certain items, use the Subscribe and Save program
Use tools like Capital One Shopping extension to track price changes and receive price change alerts
How do I stop overspending on Amazon?
If you have a problem overspending on Amazon, use the following tips:
Delete the Amazon app from your phone
End your Amazon Prime subscription
Before making a purchase, wait at least 24 hours before checking out
Unsubscribe from promotional emails
What are the best Amazon hacks to get free stuff?
There are many ways to get free stuff on Amazon. Here are some of the best hacks:
Amazon Vine Program (where select customers receive free products in exchange for reviews)
Choose no-rush shipping to get credits that can be used toward digital purchases
Trade-in eligible electronics for Amazon gift cards
How to save money on Amazon Prime?
If you’re a student, sign up for a 6-month free trial of Amazon Prime Student. The membership costs for students are usually half the cost of a regular Prime membership. You can get the discounted Prime membership rate for up to four years, as long as you have a .edu email address.
You can also pay for your Amazon Prime membership annually instead of monthly. This will give you a discounted per month price.
Another tip is to think about whether you need Amazon Prime year-round. Some people only need it for the holiday season when shopping picks up, while others use the membership year-round.
15 Best Amazon Hacks To Save Money – Summary
I hope you enjoyed my article on the best Amazon hacks to save money.
Using these 15 Amazon hacks can save you tons of money over time and help you use your Amazon Prime membership better.
Whether you’re using price tracking tools or trading in electronics you no longer use, these tips will help you get the most out of your Amazon shopping experience.
Happy saving!
What do you do to save money on Amazon? What do you think are the best Amazon hacks to save money?
You likely already know it can be wise to save money every month. Whatever your income or age, putting money aside for the future can help you maintain financial stability and achieve your goals.
But how much of your paycheck should you save each month? Financial professionals often recommend putting at least 20% of your monthly take-home income into savings for future financial goals, such as buying a home and funding your retirement.
Exactly how much you should save each month, however, will depend on your income, current living expenses and financial obligations, as well as your goals.
Here are some guidelines to help you figure out how much of your income you may want to set aside each month, plus some simple ways to jump start (or build) your savings.
Key Points
• Financial advisors often suggest saving at least 20% of your monthly take-home income for future goals.
• A common budgeting technique is using the 50/30/20 rule: putting 50% of income toward essentials, 30% toward non-essentials, and 20% toward savings.
• One easy way to increase savings is to automate recurring transfers from checking to savings accounts.
• Funneling windfalls into savings and using roundups – a tool that autosaves the difference between a purchase price and the nearest dollar — can also boost savings.
• One of the most effective ways to save money is to determine your near-term and long-term financial goals and to track spending and progress in a budget.
Knowing What You’re Saving For
It can be difficult to know how much money you should save each month without having a sense of what you are saving for. Setting a few financial goals can also help motivate you to save, rather than spend all of your income.
There are some savings goals that can make sense for everyone. If you don’t already have at least three to six-months worth of living expenses stashed in an emergency fund, for example, that can be a good place to start. By this measure, many Americans don’t have enough emergency savings, according to SoFi’s April 2024 Banking survey of 500 U.S. adults.
Amount in emergency savings
People who have saved that amount
Less than $500
45%
$500 to $1,000
16%
$1,000 to $5,000
19%
$5,000 to $10,000
9%
More $10,000
10%
Source: SoFi’s April 2024 Banking Survey of 500 U.S. adults
Without a solid contingency fund, any financial set-back -– such as a job layoff, large medical bill, or costly home or car repair — can throw you off balance and cause you to rely on high interest credit cards.
Many people will also want to save for retirement. At the very least, savers may want to take advantage of company matches offered in their workplace retirement plan by contributing the maximum amount the company matches.
After emergency savings and retirement, goals may start to look different from person to person. One person may want to save up for a down payment on a home, another may want to save up to start a business, and yet another may be interested in college savings. Fifty-two percent of the respondents to SoFi’s survey said they are using their savings accounts to save for a specific goal.
Goals People Save For in a Savings Account
Short-term and long-term goals
40%
Short-term goals like a vacation or holiday spending
35%
Long-term goals like a child’s college education or a house
26%
Source: SoFi’s April 2024 Banking Survey of 500 U.S. adults
How Much to Save Each Month
A rule of thumb that is sometimes used in personal financial planning is a spending/saving breakdown of 50/30/20. Using this guideline, you would spend 50% of your take-home income on essentials (including minimum payments towards debts), 30% on nonessential (or “fun”) spending, and 20% on savings goals, including debt payments beyond the minimum.
To use the 50/30/20 method to determine how much you should save, you can simply calculate 20% of your monthly after-tax pay. For example, if you earn $3,000 each month after taxes, $600 would go towards savings or other short term financial goals.
You may want to keep in mind that your 20% savings goal can include the money you’re saving for retirement. You can determine how much you’re putting toward retirement each month by looking at your pay stub or electronic payment record. If your employer is automatically depositing money into your 401(k), you may be able to put less into savings each month.
While the 50/30/20 can be a helpful guideline, how much you should — and can afford — to save each month will ultimately depend on your individual circumstances, such as your current income, monthly expenses, and future goals. If the cost of living is high in your area, for example, you may not be able to swing 20% savings each month.
On the other hand, if you make a significant amount more than you need to live on each month, you may want to put away more than 20%, especially if you’re working towards a large short-term savings goal, such as buying a home in the next couple of years.
Recommended: Cost of Living by State Comparison
Where Should You Put Your Savings?
The best account for building savings will depend on what you are saving for.
If you are saving up for retirement, for example, you’ll likely want to use a designated retirement account, like a 401(k) or IRA, since they allow you to contribute pre-tax dollars (which can help lower your annual tax bill).
You may want to keep in mind, however, that there are annual contribution limits to retirement funds.
For an emergency fund or other short-term savings goals (within three to five years), you may want to open a separate savings account, such as a high-yield savings account, money market account, or a checking and savings account. These savings vehicles typically offer more interest than a traditional savings account, yet allow you to easily access your money when you need it.
Easy Ways to Boost Savings
Below are some strategies that can help make it easier to start — and build — your monthly savings.
Automating Savings
One great way to make sure you stick to a money-saving plan is to automate the process. You may want to set up a recurring transfer from your checking into your savings account on the same day each month, perhaps the day after your paycheck clears. Even setting aside just a small amount of money each month now can, little by little, add up to a significant sum in the future.
Putting Spare Change to Work
There are apps that will automatically round-up any amount paid on a credit or debit card and then put that little bit of extra money into savings accounts or even invest it. This “pocket change” can add up over time.
Using Windfalls Wisely
If a lump sum of cash, such as a bonus or monetary gift, comes your way, you may want to consider funneling all or part of it right into savings.
Or, if you get a percentage raise on your salary, you might want to boost your automatic monthly transfer from your checking account to your savings account by the same percentage.
Reviewing Your Budget
If you feel like your budget is too tight to save anything at the end of the month, you may want to review your monthly and habitual expenses. You can do this by combing through your checking and credit card statements and receipts for the past few months. Or, you may want to actually track your spending for a month or two.
You can then come up with a list of spending categories and determine how much you are spending on average for each.
There are online tools that can help make this process easier — in fact, 23% of people use budgeting tools offered by their bank, SoFi’s survey found. And of the 20% of respondents who have used AI to help manage their finances, 31% have used automated budgeting suggestions.
Once you can see exactly where your money is going each month, you may find places where you can fairly easily cut back, such as getting rid of streaming subscriptions you rarely watch, quitting the gym and working out at home, or cooking more and getting take-out less often.
The Takeaway
The right amount to save each month will be unique to you and includes factors such as your financial goals, how much you earn, and how much you spend each month on essential expenses.
One of the most important keys to saving is consistency. No matter how much of your income you choose to set aside each month, depositing small amounts regularly can build to a large sum over time to achieve your goals.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.30% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.
As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.30% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.
SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.30% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.
SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.
Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.
Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/8/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.
Mobile payment apps are certainly convenient, and, when compared to other payment methods, they are quite safe. They allow you to make payments with devices like smartphones and smartwatches, and can be even faster than using, say, a debit card.
That said, you should know a few details before deciding to use a payment app and when deploying one in daily life to keep your hard-earned cash as safe as possible. This guide will help you with such questions as:
• What are mobile payment apps?
• Are mobile payments secure?
• What are the pros and cons of mobile payments?
• How do I use a mobile payment app?
Key Points
• Mobile payment apps allow you to make contactless payments and conduct other financial transactions using your mobile device.
• While no payment app may be 100% secure, mobile payment apps typically use a number of features to enhance security, including tokenization, encryption, and two-factor authentication.
• To authenticate each transaction, a mobile payment app may require a PIN or use biometrics, such as a fingerprint or face ID.
• There are steps mobile app users can take to help minimize risk, such as setting up payment notifications, enabling two-factor authentication, and allowing automatic updates, which might include security features.
• Always double-check recipient details to avoid sending money to the wrong person or to potential scammers — once funds are transferred, it can be hard to get them back.
What Are Mobile Payment Apps?
Mobile payment apps enable contactless payments by waving a smart device at a payment terminal. This can be faster and touchless versus pulling out a debit card or credit card and then inserting it into a reader.
In addition, mobile payment apps allow you to send and receive money with friends and family. These apps can be installed on devices like smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets. Many payment apps are available, but common choices include Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Venmo.
Some mobile payment apps have a wallet feature that allows you to store credit and debit cards and things like boarding passes and tickets. Instead of having to carry each card individually, you can load them all into your mobile wallet.
Another way to conveniently manage your money is with a high yield bank account. You can typically do online and/or mobile banking with these accounts.
How Mobile Payments Work
Typically, you link payment cards in a mobile wallet or a while on a screen that uploads your payment method. You’ll need basic information such as the card number, expiration date, and CVV (those few digits, often found on the back) to link your card. When you finish filling in your card’s information, you may have to verify it with your bank.
Then, instead of paying with the card directly, you use your device to pay using the payment app. Your device sends your necessary information via what’s known as near field communication (NFC) but without revealing your actual account numbers, which is a welcome security feature.
Benefits of Mobile Payments
Mobile payment apps have several benefits that can make them preferable in our increasingly connected world. Some of those benefits include:
• Convenience: On any given day, you may find you need to carry a wide variety of cards. Not just credit cards and debit cards, but also things like loyalty cards, boarding passes, and sporting event tickets. All of these can be loaded into popular mobile payment apps, so you have everything you need in one place.
• Security: When you wave your device to pay with your mobile app, it doesn’t share your card number. Instead, it generates a series of random numbers (called a token) for each transaction you make. Plus, mobile payment apps require you to enter a PIN (personal identification number) or authenticate with biometrics like a fingerprint or face ID with every transaction. So, even if someone gets access to your device, it’s unlikely they would be able to use it to make purchases.
• Speed: Paying with a mobile payment app tends to be much quicker than paying by swiping or inserting your card. In fact, it can be a way to send money instantly (or close to it), while swiping or inserting can take several seconds. This benefit may seem minor in the grand scheme of things, but it can make a big difference when you’re in a rush.
Are Mobile Payments Safe?
Usually, mobile payment apps are safe compared to other payment methods. Most of that safety comes down to the tokenization mentioned in the previous section. Not only are these tokens different from your card number, but they are also encrypted and unique for each transaction.
This renders “sniffing” of mobile payment data (a common hacking method) virtually useless. Indeed, mobile payments are usually safe in most scenarios in the same way that mobile banking is safe. However, this doesn’t mean mobile payment apps are completely guaranteed to never have security issues or other glitches.
Consider this scenario:
• Most of these apps allow you to send money directly to friends and family to cover the portion of the meal you had together. To be sure, that can be more convenient than dealing with cash.
• However, there may not be a lot of safeguards in place when you send money with a mobile payment app. If you have a new person in your friend group and they accidentally send money to the wrong person (whose username is just one letter or digit different), it can be difficult to get it back.
This shows that mobile payment apps are safer in some contexts but aren’t perfect. The answer to “Are payment apps safe” may never be 100% certainly “yes.” One good way to protect yourself from problems is to always check that your money is going to the right place when paying with a mobile payment app.
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Drawbacks of Mobile Payments
Like all technologies, mobile payments have their pros and cons. Here are a couple of the downsides:
• While the popularity of mobile payments has rapidly expanded, there might still be some merchants that don’t accept them.
• You may find that the payment terminal has a technical issue preventing it from accepting mobile payments. Thus, you might occasionally find you aren’t able to make a purchase by, say, waving your phone.
• There are many different players in the mobile payments field, all of whom may have different policies. For example, the guidelines can be murky around things like data sharing. In addition, many mobile payment apps are available, which can create confusion as people navigate this new technology.
• While rare, money scams and hacking involving mobile payments are possible.
Features of Payment Apps to Look Out For
Because there are so many mobile apps available right now, you should look out for certain features. Here are some key features to keep in mind:
• Ease of use: One of the best aspects of mobile payment apps is they tend to be convenient and easy to use. If you find yourself struggling to link your cards or make payments, the app you are using may not be the best choice for you.
• Security: The other great thing about mobile payment apps is that they sometimes provide greater security than credit cards alone. You’ll want to ensure your payment app has security features like two-factor authentication and PIN or biometric verification for purchases. It should also never display your full card number in your wallet or payment method screen.
• Privacy: Privacy is increasingly an important part of any app’s policies, especially as more and more of our data lives online. However, it can be tough to know how your data is being used without diving into documents like the app’s terms of use and privacy policy. Still, it may be helpful to at least skim them if privacy is important to you. If the app sells your data to advertisers, it should be disclosed in these documents.
You may also feel safer going with a widely recognized mobile payment app, one that has many users and very positive reviews.
How to Use a Mobile Payment App
Each mobile payment app is different, but there are usually just a few steps to using one. Typically, this is how they work:
• Start by downloading your payment app of choice. Or you may already have a payment app loaded on your device, like Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay.
• Once you have your payment app on your device, link the payment card(s) you want to use with it. At this stage, you may have to complete a two-step verification process. For example, you might receive a verification code from your bank, or you may have to call the bank.
• After completing the verification process with your bank, your payment app should be ready to use with your linked cards. You can use your payment app (or a contactless credit card) if you see the NFC symbol when you pay. There are a few different versions of the NFC symbol, but it usually shows an image of waves that increase in size.
• Note that payment apps usually require you to add a PIN or biometric unlock (your fingerprint or face, for instance) to your phone and enter it before each payment.
• Once you unlock and hold your device near the terminal, you will likely see an indication on your phone screen that the transaction is successful. You may also hear an alert sound. When that happens, ta-da: You’ve paid with your mobile payment app.
Recommended: How to Send Money to Someone Without a Bank Account
Tips to Safely Use Mobile Payment Apps
Although mobile payment apps can be safer than other payment methods, there are a few steps you should take to ensure they are secure:
• Set up payment notifications: These will alert you to any payments on your card, so you will know immediately if someone gains access to your information.
• Enable two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security that makes it more difficult to gain access to your account. For example, you must enter a code from a text message or email to verify it after you link a payment card.
• Enable automatic updates: Mobile payment apps frequently receive updates, which might include security features. Auto-update is often toggled on as a default setting, but double-check it’s enabled on your device.
For instance, open the Google Play Store app on Android and tap the menu icon > Settings > Auto-update apps. On iPhone, open Settings > iTunes & App Store and enable App Updates.
• Check that you are sending money to the right person. It can be difficult to get your money back if you send it to the wrong person using a mobile payment app. Before sending money, double-check (and perhaps triple-check) the details on your screen match those of the person who should receive the money.
• Beware of scams. Mobile payment apps are a common way for scammers to get money from unsuspecting victims. An easy way to prevent this is to avoid using a payment app to send money to people you don’t know.
Recommended: Key Features of Mobile Banking
The Takeaway
Mobile payment apps allow you to pay using a smart device like a smartphone, smartwatch, or tablet, and to do so in a fast, contact-free manner. They may also allow you to send and receive money with friends and family. These apps can be safer than other payment methods, like credit cards. However, they can sometimes be fallible, so you should always be careful when sending money.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.30% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.
FAQ
What are the pros and cons of mobile payment apps?
The pros of mobile payment apps include their convenience, security, and speed of payment processing. Cons include that they aren’t yet accepted everywhere and are sometimes used by scam artists.
Does card fraud happen on payment apps?
There have been some instances of card fraud on payment apps, like when scam artists use flaws in the app’s design to extract money from victims. However, thanks to features like tokenization (encryption of your personal financial information), most payment apps make fraud much more difficult.
Are payment apps stealing my information?
Some payment apps might use your information in certain ways, like capitalizing on it to market products or selling it to advertisers. However, these details are often laid out in the app’s policy documents.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.
As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.30% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.
SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.30% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.
SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.
Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.
Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/8/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
*Awards or rankings from NerdWallet are not indicative of future success or results. This award and its ratings are independently determined and awarded by their respective publications.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Achieving your financial goals in life isn’t just about how much you earn; it’s also about your money mindset. Some of our most deeply held beliefs are about money. What does financial success look like to you? Do you think of yourself as a spender or a saver? Do you avoid talking or thinking about money? The answers to these questions all reflect your money mindset. Changing these ideas can be challenging but worth it.
To create a solid financial future, it’s essential to have a strong, positive money mindset. So, if your financial habits need a little (or a lot of) work, here’s how to change your money mindset. Read on to learn:
• What is a money mindset?
• What is a negative money mindset?
• How can I change my money mindset?
• Why is reshaping my money mindset important?
What Is a Money Mindset?
Your money mindset is your approach to handling money. It determines your spending and saving habits as well as your motivations for your financial management.
Whether you are aware of it or not, everyone has a money mindset — a collection of beliefs starting from childhood that shape what you do with your money. (Your money mindset could even be, “I never think or talk about money.”)
Your money mindset can lead to both positive and negative financial decisions.
For example, have you automated your savings, or do you think saving isn’t something you need to or can focus on just yet? Do you use a budget? Can you treat yourself occasionally, or is buying a $5 coffee not a part of your financial plan? Your money mindset characterizes your relationship with money, and so it is essential to understand and possibly tweak it.
What Is a Negative Money Mindset?
A negative money mindset is a set of unhelpful financial beliefs that can lead to poor resource management. It often involves a constant feeling of stress or guilt regarding money or simply disorganization. It may also involve the belief that “if I just made more money, things would change or all my problems would be solved.” While a higher salary or inheritance might help you toward your financial goals, having more money won’t necessarily change your financial mindset.
While it may seem counterintuitive, your income level doesn’t automatically determine your sense of financial freedom. Additionally, it’s worth noting that your money mindset exists whether you’re conscious of how it influences your behavior or not.
Here are some examples of the ways in which a negative money mindset might have a bad influence on your life:
• You might spend too much money due to comparison with others. You see a friend or colleague renting a pricey apartment and think you should too. That can be an aspect of lifestyle creep, in which your spending increases as your income grows, preventing you from saving and acquiring assets.
• You might not save for long-term goals, like a house or retirement, because your parents never wanted to talk about money when you were growing up.
• Because money stresses you out, you might fail to set financial goals, like paying off your student loans on time.
If it feels like you’re in this negative zone when it comes to your finances, know that you are not saddled with it for life. We’ll explore how to develop a money mindset that’s more positive and productive later in this article.
How Your Beliefs on Money Affect Your Finances
Your primary, most powerful beliefs about money most likely come from your parents and your childhood. Children typically absorb financial beliefs from the most influential people in their life. Then, as they grow older and begin handling money, they live out those financial beliefs, for better or worse.
For example, if your parents modeled money as a way to pamper yourself, you may find that you impulse-shop when life becomes challenging. Your money mindset is that spending equals financial self-care.
On the other hand, you may have a reputation among your friends as “cheap” because you grew up in a penny-pinching household that considered luxuries a waste of money. In both cases, your money mindset puts your financial habits into motion.
These examples underscore that children tend to mimic the behaviors of their parents and adopt their money habits in their own adult life. But in some cases, it’s the opposite. Some people will go to great lengths to not be like their parents. For example, if your parents refused to buy anything that wasn’t on sale when you were growing up, you may make a point of never looking at price tags as an adult.
Why Reshaping Your Money Mindset Is Important
It’s crucial to address negative money mindsets. Otherwise, you’ll likely continue to act on the same faulty beliefs, which can keep you from building the balance in your savings account and reaching your financial goals.
Recognizing an unproductive facet of your money mindset gives you the power to change it. By asking yourself questions about how you currently treat your money and how you’d like to change, you can reorient yourself and create a long-term financial plan. In fact, reshaping your money mindset may include setting financial goals for the first time in your life.
By changing your money mindset you can take full control of your finances, break bad spending habits, and reach your goals.
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How to Change Your Money Mindset
While your upbringing and core experiences impact you in significant ways, you have the ability to recast your money mindset or create an all-new one. When reshaping your money mindset, the following tips can help you transform unhelpful financial behaviors into life-changing, literally enriching habits.
Success With Money Is a Possibility
One key to changing your money mindset is to increase your confidence in your abilities. Don’t count yourself out because of your background or financial circumstances — it’s possible to change these patterns.
Whether you’re working up the courage to sit down and make a beginner’s budget, tackle lingering debts, or give yourself permission to make a fun but totally unnecessary purchase, believing it’s possible is crucial for your success. Perhaps saying affirmations will help you, or maybe reading about others who have attained what you are dreaming of will work best. The right technique is a personal decision.
Understanding Why You Feel This Way
Money is emotional for everyone. Feeling anxious, worried, or excited about your money is normal. Our emotions are rooted in beliefs; therefore, you might feel elated or stressed on payday depending on the beliefs you’re associating with your money. You might crave the feeling of going shopping or you might wake up in the middle of the night worried about your car payments.
Delving into how much money you have coming in and going out can help you better manage your funds. If you have a financial plan that allows you to sock money away and also treat yourself a few times a month, getting paid might create feelings of satisfaction or confidence. Hence, your money mindset is creating positive emotions for you. However, if your paycheck reminds you of your mounting bills, it’s probably time to identify where these feelings are coming from. This way, you can start shifting your money mindset to elevate the stress and anxiety.
Additionally, the more you avoid money, the more intimidating it can feel. Even people with plenty of income might run from figuring out their living expenses because it sparks negative emotions.
Avoid Comparing Yourself to Peers or Social Media Standards
Parents aren’t the only ones who influence your money mindset. Peers and mainstream culture send messages about what success looks like or how to best manage your money.
But what others do or think is irrelevant to your money situation. Also, what works for someone else may or may not work for you, especially if you have different goals. Plenty of general financial principles are worth adhering to, but even those aren’t set in stone. For example, a common guide for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which advises dividing up your take home income like so: 50% on necessities, 30% on wants, and 20% for savings and debt repayments beyond minimum. If you live in a high-cost area, however, earmarking 50% of your income for your needs may not be enough, since you may need to put a large portion of your income towards housing. So, you may need to adjust certain “rules” to fit your situation
Overcoming Your Financial Fears
Change can be scary, and so can money, so cut yourself some slack if you’re afraid of changing your money mindset. It can be comfortable to settle back into the familiar, even when it’s not working.
However, overcoming financial anxiety and developing a positive money mindset is possible. Forge ahead at your own pace, and explore your money mindset: What are the things that worry you about money? Where are your biggest fears coming from?
As you unpack that, remind yourself of your motivation to change. Keep your goals at the forefront, and encourage yourself to take a step in that direction. Taking a small but concrete action toward your goals is how to develop resilience, a key characteristic for succeeding in life.
Recommended: Should You Pay Off Student Loans or Invest?
Avoid Dwelling on the Past
As you attempt to change your money mindset, there may be errors from the past sticking in your mind, reinforcing the idea that you are bad at financial management. Dwelling on the past can stop you from creating a different future. The failures, mistakes, and traumas from the past are real — but they don’t have to define you. For example, if you’ve endured a romantic breakup, that doesn’t mean you can’t date again and find love. In the same way, just because you had too much credit debt recently doesn’t mean you can’t get that issue wrangled.
It’s a good idea to jettison this kind of looking-back viewpoint. Instead, try putting your efforts toward what you can change in the present and strive to achieve in the future.
The Takeaway
Your money mindset is the attitude and beliefs that form your relationship with your personal finances, and it drives your financial habits. Since most people pick up unhealthy financial habits along with healthy ones, it’s crucial to recognize the financial beliefs that aren’t serving you. Then you can set about changing your money mindset and shifting your behavior to better achieve your goals.
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FAQ
How do I get rid of a money scarcity mindset?
The belief that you never have and never will have enough money is part of your money mindset. To change that belief, identify where the mindset came from and make a positive change, such as setting a small savings goal and achieving it.
What is a poor money mindset?
A poor money mindset consists of unproductive beliefs about money that lead to negative financial decisions and habits. An unhealthy relationship with money when growing up or having made past financial mistakes can create a poor money mindset.
How is a money mindset formed?
You form your money mindset through the financial beliefs you hold as true. Your childhood, peers, and financial successes and failures help define your money mindset.
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Looking to buy or sell an online business and are looking for a Flippa review? I have personally bought one website as well as have sold three websites in the past, and I think this can be a great way to make extra money. Flippa is a popular marketplace where people buy and sell websites,…
Looking to buy or sell an online business and are looking for a Flippa review?
I have personally bought one website as well as have sold three websites in the past, and I think this can be a great way to make extra money.
Flippa is a popular marketplace where people buy and sell websites, e-commerce stores, YouTube channels, and other online businesses.
Flippa connects buyers and sellers of online businesses, helping hundreds and sometimes thousands of deals happen each month. You can find all kinds of digital properties on the platform, from small blogs to big e-commerce sites.
But is Flippa the right choice for you? While it has many opportunities, some listings might not be as good as they seem. It’s important to do your homework before jumping into any deal.
Let’s take a closer look at what Flippa has to offer and how you can use it safely.
Please click here to head to Flippa’s website where you can buy and sell online businesses.
Flippa Review
Below is my Flippa review. Enjoy!
What Is Flippa?
Flippa is a popular online marketplace for buying and selling digital businesses. It connects entrepreneurs looking to sell their websites, apps, or online stores with potential buyers.
It’s like eBay but for websites and apps instead of physical items. You can find all kinds of online businesses for sale on Flippa.
The platform is easy to use. Sellers list their businesses, and buyers can browse or search for what they want. Flippa handles the money part to keep things safe for everyone.
Types of online businesses on Flippa
Flippa has a wide range of online businesses for sale. Here are some types you can find:
Websites: Blogs (such as finance or travel blogs), content sites, and niche sites
E-commerce stores: Shopify, Amazon, and other online stores
Mobile apps: iOS and Android applications
Domain names
SaaS businesses: Software as a service companies
You can find both small starter sites and big, profitable businesses. Prices range from a few hundred dollars to millions. This variety makes Flippa great for buyers at all levels.
Buying a Business on Flippa
Flippa is a marketplace where you can buy websites and online businesses. It has many options, but you need to be smart and do your homework before making a purchase.
Why buy a website?
Buying a website can be a great way to make money online. You don’t have to start from scratch. Instead, you get a ready-made business that’s already earning money. This can save you time and effort.
Some benefits of buying a website include:
Instant income
Existing traffic and customers
Proven business model
Many people buy existing online businesses (like blogs) and find ways to improve them so that they can make more money. For example, you may improve the blog design or add a new revenue stream to the business.
But remember, not all websites for sale are good deals. You need to look closely at each one to make sure it’s worth your money.
I have personally bought a website many years ago, and I have many friends who have bought websites as well. For me and most of my friends – we have been able to make money by buying a website that someone else created.
Recommended reading: How I’ve Turned Buying Websites Into My Full-Time Career
How to buy a business on Flippa
Buying on Flippa is pretty simple.
Here’s how you can do it:
Create an account on Flippa.
Search for websites in your niche or budget.
Review the listings carefully.
Ask the seller questions.
Place a bid or make an offer.
If you win, complete the payment.
Transfer the website to your control.
It’s important to take your time and not rush into a purchase. Buying a business is a big decision!
How Flippa works for buyers
Flippa connects you with people selling their websites or online businesses. You can browse listings, ask questions, and make offers.
Flippa has some tools to help you such as:
Verified traffic data
Revenue proof
Site age information
Seller ratings
These can help you decide if a listing is worth your time. But you still need to do your own research too.
Due diligence for buyers
Due diligence means checking everything carefully before you buy. This is super important when buying a website.
Here are some things to look at:
Traffic sources: Check Google Analytics to see where visitors come from
Revenue: Ask for proof of income, like PayPal statements
SEO: Use tools like Semrush to check the site’s search rankings
Content: Make sure it’s original and high quality
Technical issues: Look for any problems with the site’s code or design
Flippa has a “Red Flag Report” that can help spot potential issues. Flippa does charge for this – anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500 per report. But don’t rely on this alone as you should always do your own research too.
The Selling Process
Selling a website on Flippa can be a great way to make money from your hard work.
Why sell a website?
You might want to sell your website for a few reasons.
Maybe you’re ready for a new project. Or you need quick cash. Sometimes, you’ve grown the site as much as you can and want someone else to take it further.
Selling can give you a big payday as websites usually sell for 20 to 36 times their monthly profit. So if your site makes $1,000 a month, you could get $20,000 to $36,000 for it!
Recommended reading: How I’ve Made $80,000 Selling Blogs
How to sell a business on Flippa
Selling on Flippa is pretty easy. First, you make a listing. You’ll need to share info about your site, like how much money it makes and how much traffic it gets.
Flippa charges a listing fee, and the fee all depends on how much you plan on selling your online business for.
When your site sells, Flippa takes a cut. This is called a success fee. It’s 10% for sites that sell for under $50,000. The fee gets smaller for more expensive sites.
You can set a starting price or let people bid. You can also set a “Buy It Now” price if you want.
Preparing your business for sale
Getting your site ready to sell is very important. You want to make it look as good as possible to buyers.
You can start by cleaning up your finances. For example, having clear records of your income and expenses is a must.
Next, make sure your site looks nice and works well, such as by fixing any broken links or errors.
In your listing, you should talk about what makes your site special. Maybe it’s a loyal audience or a unique product – highlight these things in your listing.
Flippa’s Fees and Payment
Flippa charges fees for listing and selling websites and online businesses. They have different fee structures depending on the sale price.
Below we will take a look at how Flippa’s fees work and how you get paid when selling a site.
Listing fees
When you list your site on Flippa, you’ll need to pay an upfront fee. This fee helps keep listings high quality. The cost depends on what you’re selling and your asking price:
Domains: $9 starting fee to list
Websites and apps: $15 starting fee to list
Established businesses: $49 starting fee to list
You can also buy extra features to make your listing stand out. These include a “featured” tag or a spot at the top of search results. These add-ons cost more but might help you sell faster.
Success fees for sales
Flippa takes a cut when you sell your site. This is called a success fee and the amount depends on how much your site sells for:
For sales up to $249,999: 10% fee
Sales between $250,000 and $499,999: 9% fee
Sales from $500,000 to $999,000: 8% fee
Sales from $1,000,000 to $4,999,000: 7% fee
Sales from $5,000,000 to $9,999,000: 4% fee
Sales over $10,000,000: 3% fee
So, if you sell your site for $75,000, Flippa would take $7,500 as their fee.
How does Flippa pay you when selling a site?
When your site sells, Flippa uses a system called escrow to handle the money. Here’s how it works:
The buyer sends money to the escrow account.
You transfer the site to the buyer.
The buyer checks that everything is okay.
The escrow service releases the money to you.
This process keeps both you and the buyer safe. You don’t give up your site until the money is there, and the buyer doesn’t pay until they get the site. Flippa takes their fee from this final amount before sending you the rest.
Flippa Scams
Buying and selling websites on Flippa can be risky because there is money involved. Some sellers try to trick buyers with fake info.
Below let’s look at common scams and how to protect yourself.
Common Flippa scams
One of the most common Flippa scams includes fake revenue screenshots. Now, there are plenty of real sites for sale on Flippa (with honest sellers), but this can sometimes be a problem on Flippa. Some sellers may edit images to show higher earnings than reality, and this trick fools buyers into paying more money for a website.
Another scam is lying about pageviews and traffic. Sellers might use bots to boost visitor numbers and this makes their site look more popular than it is.
Some people sell sites with copied content. They steal articles from other websites and this can lead to legal issues for the buyer.
How to stay safe on Flippa
Even though there are some scammers on Flippa, the majority of listings and sellers are truthful and are real. But, since money is involved, I always recommend that you be careful because you just never know.
There are some ways to stay safe on Flippa, such as:
Always double-check the numbers. Ask for proof of income from PayPal or bank statements. Don’t trust screenshots alone.
Use tools like Semrush to check real traffic. This helps you spot fake visitor claims.
Look for original content. Use plagiarism checkers to find copied text.
Get an expert to review high-priced sites. They can spot red flags you might miss.
Check the seller’s history. Look for good reviews from past buyers. Be careful with new sellers who have no track record.
Ask lots of questions. An honest seller will be happy to give you more info.
Flippa Pros and Cons
Flippa has good and bad points for buying and selling websites.
Pros of Flippa
Here are two Flippa pros:
Flippa has a huge group of buyers, so this means that you have more chances to sell your site. There are thousands of people who just browse on Flippa each day looking for the best deals.
You can find many types of sites on Flippa. They have different topics and prices, and you might find a cheap site to start with or a big one to grow.
Cons of Flippa
Here are two Flippa cons:
Flippa takes a big cut when you sell. They charge 10% for sites sold under $50,000. This can eat into your profits, of course.
There are sometimes scams on Flippa so you need to be very careful when buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to common questions about Flippa.
Is Flippa reputable?
Flippa is a well-known marketplace for buying and selling websites. It has been around since 2009 and many people use it. But like any online platform, you need to be careful.
Is it safe to sell on Flippa?
Selling on Flippa can be safe if you take the right steps. Make sure to use their escrow service and give honest info about your website.
Is it safe to buy on Flippa?
Buying on Flippa can be safe, but you need to be careful. I recommend that you always do your own research on any website you want to buy and don’t rush into a purchase.
What should I look out for to make sure a website I buy on Flippa is legitimate?
To make sure a website you want to buy is real, I recommend that you check the site’s traffic proof, income proof, the seller’s history on Flippa, and that you ask questions about anything that seems odd. If possible, talk to the seller directly. Don’t ignore red flags.
How much does Flippa take from a sale?
Flippa takes a cut of your sale price. For sites selling for $50,000 or less, they take 10%. The fee gets smaller for higher-priced sites.
How long does it take to sell on Flippa?
Selling time on Flippa can vary a lot. Some sites sell in a few days, while others might take weeks or months. According to Flippa, the average online business that costs less than $50,000 usually sells within 15 days, the average $50,000 to $250,000 business takes around 1.5 months, and businesses over $250,000 usually take around 2.5 months.
What are some Flippa alternatives for buying and selling sites?
You have other options besides Flippa for buying and selling sites. Some other popular ones are Empire Flippers, Motion Invest, and FE International.
Flippa Review – Summary
I hope you enjoyed my Flippa review.
So, is Flippa legit?
Flippa is a real company that’s been around for years. Many people use it to buy and sell websites and they have done over 450,000 transactions.
They also have many different categories that you can buy and sell in, such as e-commerce stores, blogs, apps, and other digital assets. Flippa’s marketplace also has many businesses in all kinds of price ranges, so you don’t need to have a ton of money saved in order to buy a business, as there are businesses for sale for less than $10,000 on Flippa all the time.
But like any marketplace, you need to be smart and careful when using it.
I have personally bought and sold a few websites over the years, and I actually just took a quick look on Flippa and saw one of those very same sites listed for sale again on Flippa – what a small world, especially since there are currently over 4,200 websites listed for sale on Flippa. Many people use Flippa all the time to buy and sell a website, and if I were needing to buy or sell right now, I would have no problem with using Flippa – it is a safe site as long as you are careful and avoid scams.
Please click here to head to Flippa’s website where you can buy and sell online businesses.
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