Christmas is right around the corner, which means it’s time to decorate. Everyone has plans to create a magical, winter wonderland in their apartment, but there’s one vital thing yet to figure out — do you get a real Christmas tree or an artificial Christmas tree?
Both have their pros and cons, so how do you pick? Well, you better not pout and you better not cry because we’re telling you what you need to know.
A brief history of Christmas trees
Germany is credited with the first use of the Christmas tree starting in the 16th century, and German settlers in Pennsylvania made Christmas trees popular in America in the 19th century.
Ever since then, picking out and decorating a tree has become synonymous with the Christmas season.
Things to consider with artificial Christmas trees
Artificial Christmas trees have been around since the 19th century. Considering they started off as dyed goose feathers, it’s safe to say they’ve come a long way. You no longer have to pluck the goose to decorate your apartment.
Today, you can get a really nice looking tree from a local craft or big box store for a reasonable price. The cost of fake trees can be anywhere from $30 into the thousands depending on what you’re looking for. As you’re making your decision, here are a few reasons to consider a fake Christmas tree this year:
1. Variety of styles and options
There are a lot of different types and styles of trees to choose from. From the traditional-looking green pine tree to sparkling silver to trees dusted with fake snow, you can pretty much buy any type of pine you want for the holidays.
2. Ease of use
One of the benefits of choosing a fake tree as an apartment dweller is how easy it is to set up. Most fake Christmas trees come in a box, so it’s much easier to get it into the apartment, especially if you live in a building with a small elevator.
A great deal of fake Christmas trees come pre-decorated with lights attached. That alone saves you a lot of time and energy. They’re easy to maintain as you don’t have to water them and you also avoid needles constantly falling and cluttering up your space. It’s also not as much of a fire hazard as a real tree because there are no dead pine needles that could spark.
3. Reusability
Unlike a real Christmas tree that has a short life span, fake Christmas trees are a one-time purchase that can last you for years to come. You’ll never have to purchase a tree again and can use the same, beautiful tree year-over-year.
When you’re done with Christmas and it’s time to put away the decorations, all you have to do is break down the tree and stuff it back in the closet it came from.
4. Lack of pine smell
While fake Christmas trees have a lot of perks, there is a con. With a fake tree, you’ll miss out on the fresh pine smell that’s linked to Christmas. Of course, there are candles and other substitutes to fix this problem, such as Thymes Frasier’s dispensers, but at the end of the day, nothing is as good as the authentic smell. But, if you have allergies, a fake tree is a great solution.
Things to consider with real Christmas trees
Christmas tree shopping is one of the many joys of the Christmas season. The thrill of picking out which tree shall be yours is exciting and can be a great family tradition. There’s nothing like walking the rows, debating between the small, Charlie Brown-looking tree or choosing the largest tree in the lot. But there are some other things to consider, too.
1. Choose a unique tree each year
The experience of picking out a fresh tree each year is unforgettable. You can find great trees in your local forest and chop them down yourself. Or, if sawing at a stump for hours in the cold isn’t your thing, then you can go Christmas tree shopping at a local lot. Either way, you’ll be sure to get a tree that is special and doesn’t look like everyone else’s.
2. Fresh pine tree smell
With a fake tree, you won’t have the crisp pine tree smell. But, with a real tree, your apartment will smell like fresh pine the moment you bring the tree home. No diffuser or candle can quite replicate that balsam fir smell.
3. Size and upkeep
There’s the joy of decorating your tree and deciding which ornaments go where. But, you can safely decorate both fake and real trees, and a downside to having a real Christmas tree in an apartment is the sheer size.
It can be a pain to lug a massive pine up to your apartment and then take it back down only a couple weeks later. There’s also the matter of having to care for the tree, making sure it gets enough water on a regular basis. When you’re deciding between a real and fake Christmas tree, make sure you consider the upkeep involved with a real tree.
Your final decision
There are many pros and cons to real Christmas trees vs. artificial Christmas trees. At the end of the day, it’s really up to you and what’s best for your apartment.
Do you want the authentic feel of a real Christmas tree or do you want the ease of an artificial tree? Either one is a great option and will make your apartment feel like a Christmas wonderland.
Ashley Singleton is a writer who loves following and writing about current lifestyle, DIY and home improvement trends. You can read some of her other work on the Lady Spike Media website. In her spare time, she performs stand-up comedy in Los Angeles.
Gender-affirming care encompasses a broad range of psychological, behavioral and medical treatments for transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people.
The care is designed to “support and affirm an individual’s gender identity” when it is at odds with the sex they were assigned at birth, as defined by the World Health Organization.
What is gender-affirming surgery?
Gender-affirming surgery refers to the surgical and cosmetic procedures that give transgender and nonbinary people “the physical appearance and functional abilities of the gender they know themselves to be,” according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. It is sometimes called gender reassignment surgery.
There are three main types of gender-affirming surgeries, per the Cleveland Clinic:
Top surgery, in which a surgeon either removes a person’s breast tissue for a more traditionally masculine appearance or shapes a person’s breast tissue for a more traditionally feminine appearance.
Bottom surgery, or the reconstruction of the genitals to better align with a person’s gender identity.
Facial feminization or masculinization surgery, in which the bones and soft tissue of a person’s face are transformed for either a more traditionally masculine or feminine appearance.
Some people who undergo gender-affirming surgeries also use specific hormone therapies. A trans woman or nonbinary person on feminizing hormone therapy, for example, takes estrogen that’s paired with a substance that blocks testosterone. And a trans man or nonbinary person on masculinizing hormone therapy takes testosterone.
Gender-affirming surgeries and treatments are the recommended course of treatment for gender dysphoria by the American Medical Association. Gender dysphoria is defined as “clinically significant distress or impairment related to gender incongruence, which may include desire to change primary and/or secondary sex characteristics,” according to the American Psychiatric Association.
Some LGBTQ+ advocates and medical professionals feel that gender dysphoria shouldn’t be treated as a mental disorder, and worry that gender dysphoria’s inclusion in the DSM-5 — the authoritative source on recognized mental health disorders for the psychiatric industry — stigmatizes trans and nonbinary people.
How much does gender-affirming surgery cost?
Gender-affirming surgery can cost between $6,900 and $63,400 depending on the precise procedure, according to a 2022 study published in The Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics.
Out-of-pocket costs can vary dramatically, though, depending on whether you have insurance and whether your insurance company covers gender-affirming surgeries.
There are also costs associated with the surgery that may not be represented in these estimates. Additional costs may include:
Surgeons fees
Hospital fees
Consultation fees
Insurance copays
The cost of psychiatric care or therapy, as most insurance companies and surgeons require at least one referral letter prior to the surgery. An hour of therapy can cost between $65 and $250, according to Good Therapy, an online platform for therapists and counselors.
Time off work. After bottom surgery, you can expect to miss six weeks of work while recovering. Most people miss around two weeks of work after top surgery.
Miscellaneous goods that’ll help you recover. For example, after bottom surgery, you might need to invest in a shower stool, waterproof bed sheets, cheap underwear and sanitary towels. Top surgery patients may need, depending on the procedure, a mastectomy pillow, chest binder and baggy clothes.
Is gender-affirming surgery covered by insurance?
It’s illegal for any federally funded health insurance program to deny coverage on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation or sexual characteristics, per Section 1557, a section of the Affordable Care Act. Section 1557 doesn’t apply to private insurance companies, though, and several U.S. states have passed laws banning gender-affirming care.
The following states have banned gender-affirming surgery for people under 18 years old, according to the Human Rights Campaign: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia. In four of these states — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and Indiana — court injunctions are currently ensuring access to care.
And these states have either passed laws — or have governors who issued executive orders — protecting access to gender-affirming surgery, according to the Movement Advancement Project, a public policy nonprofit: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, D.C.
But even if your state has enshrined protections for gender-affirming care, some private insurance companies may consider surgeries “cosmetic” and therefore “not medically necessary,” according to the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund. If you have private insurance or are insured through your employer, contact your insurance company and see if they cover gender-affirming care. Also, ask about any documentation the insurance company requires for coverage.
The Williams Institute estimates that 14% of trans Americans currently enrolled in Medicaid live in states where such coverage is banned, while another 27% of trans Americans live in states where coverage is “uncertain,” because their state laws are “silent or unclear on coverage for gender-affirming care.”
Because of Section 1557, Medicaid is federally banned from denying coverage on the basis of sex or gender; among the roughly 1.3 million transgender Americans, around 276,000 have Medicaid coverage, according to a 2022 report from the Williams Institute.
How to pay for gender-affirming surgery
If your private insurance company won’t cover gender-affirming care, and you’re unable to obtain coverage through the federal marketplace, consider these sources:
There are also several nonprofits that offer financial assistance for gender-affirmation surgeries. Those organizations include:
Point of Pride, which offers grants and scholarships to trans and nonbinary people seeking gender-affirming surgery and care.
Genderbands, which offers grants for gender-affirming surgeries and care.
The United States, as has most of the world, has made stricter and stricter building codes over the years. However, the United States does not have any national building codes the states or local cities make their own rules. I have found the states or areas with the strictest building codes also have the highest prices. The harder it is to build or repair homes, the more expensive they become because people stop building, and when they do build, they have to raise the price for it to make sense. So what areas have the strictest building codes in the US?
How do building codes change over time?
100 years ago there were basically no building codes. Anyone could build whatever they wanted, wherever they wanted with some minor restrictions. Over time, the government decided that houses and commercial properties were not safe enough and there needed to be standards set for construction and even repairs. Some cities, states, and counties choose to have stricter codes than others and the federal government has let local governments make those decisions.
You can see how building codes have changed over time by looking at houses built in different eras. 100 years ago some houses were built with amazing carpentry and we often hear “they don’t build them like they used to”. There were also many houses that were built like shacks that have since fallen down. I have bought many of those shacks as a real estate investor and am surprised many of those houses lasted as long as they did.
You can see improvements in houses by looking at houses from different eras. Houses that are 100 years old may not have any windows in the basement where egress windows are now required. Houses from 50 years ago had very little insulation whereas houses now are required to have a minimum amount. You used to be able to put three layers of shingles on a roof and now most areas only allow one. Areas close to the coast may require hurricane glass and reinforced structures.
The stricter building codes make houses safer and more energy efficient but they also make them more expensive.
What areas do not have building codes?
Believe it or not, there are still some areas in the US that do not have building codes! These states do not have building codes:
Alabama
Arizona
Colorado
Illinois
Mississippi
Missouri
North Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
West Virginia
Wyoming
While these states do not have standard building codes, the local cities and counties usually do. I live in Colorado and while there is no standard building code for the entire state, Denver and Boulder have some of the strictest building codes in the nation. Louisville, where the Marshall Fires occurred in 2021 requires fire sprinkler systems in all new houses although they did remove that requirement for houses destroyed in the fire!
Here are some counties without building codes (from https://offgridgrandpa.com/states-and-counties-with-no-building-codes/):
Delta County in Colorado
Montezuma County in Colorado
Arcosanti Urban Laboratory in Arizona
Brewster County in Texas
Wonder Valley in California
Marfa County in Texas
Terlingua Texas
Miller County Missouri
In these areas, you might be able to get away with building whatever you want as long as you are not in a city with more strict codes but remember codes can always change!
Do you need to get building permits?
What areas have the strictest building codes?
I found it interesting but not surprising that the areas with the strictest building codes tend to have the highest prices. When you look at the list below the most strict areas are definitely the most expensive as well.
You can read up on how they made the list and what the numbers mean here: https://realestate.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/w835.pdf
Why do tougher building codes make it more expensive to build?
You will find that the most expensive places in the world and the US tend to have the strictest building codes. It is not real estate investors that push up prices as many people claim, it is the government. The harder it is to build and repair houses, the more expensive they are going to be when they are built. The harder it is to build houses, the fewer houses that will be built which will also cause an imbalance in the housing market driving prices up even further. You will also find fewer investors in these areas because it is hard to build, expensive to own, and a pain to do business in those areas.
Conclusion
Building codes do make houses safe and more energy efficient but they also make houses more expensive at a time when houses are becoming less and less affordable. If you are pushing for stricter building codes and more energy-efficient homes, you are also pushing for higher prices. While homes in the US seem to be out of range for many people thanks to high-interest rates, remember the US actually has the 5th most affordable housing in the world.
Many people love showing their holiday spirit with Christmas lights, whether just a strand of twinkle lights around a window or going all-out like the Griswolds.
While these lights are festive, it’s worth noting that they aren’t free. In fact, the cost of running holiday lights rose 13% last year, costing the average household $15.48 vs. $13.41 the prior year.
In this economy, every dollar can count, so if you want to learn how much it costs to run Christmas lights for a month and how to reduce that expense, read on.
Here, you’ll learn more about:
• How much do Christmas lights cost to run?
• How much does it cost to run Christmas lights for a month?
• How can you save money on your holiday light electric bill?
Factors Affecting the Cost of Running Christmas Lights
Running Christmas lights uses energy, which can translate to higher utility bills. How much of an increase you see in your electric bill can depend on a number of factors, including:
• How many strands of lights you use
• The type of bulbs used in each strand
• The number of hours you run your lights each day
• How many days you run Christmas lights for
• Where you live and what you pay per kilowatt hour for electricity.
All of these things can influence how large your Christmas lights electric bill turns out be once January rolls around. Understanding what you could wind up paying can help if affordably celebrating the holidays is your goal.
Keep in mind that other costs can drive up electric bills during the holidays, apart from Christmas lights. If you’re using the oven more often to prepare holiday meals, for example, that can result in a higher electric bill. You may also see a bigger bill if colder weather means the heat is kicking on more often or your kids are home all day using electronics more while school is out. Lowering your energy bill may require a multifaceted approach.
How Much Electricity Do Christmas Lights Use?
The amount of energy used by Christmas lights can depend on the type of bulb and the number of bulbs per strand. The most popular options for Christmas lights include incandescent mini lights, mini LED lights, and ceramic C7 lights.
So which type of bulb uses the most energy?
The simplest answer is to look at the wattage of Christmas lights, based on bulb size and number of bulbs per strand. For example:
• With C7 lights, for instance, you’re typically getting 25 lights per strand.
• With mini LED lights, you’ll normally have 50 bulbs for a 14-foot strand and 100 bulbs per 32-foot strand.
• With mini icicle lights, you often have 300 bulbs for a 26-foot strand.
Here’s how the average wattage for each one compares, though note that incandescent bulbs stopped being manufactured and sold in August 2023 (some people may still own and use strands of these, however):
• C7 lights: 5 watts
• C9 incandescent lights (2-¼” long): 7 watts
• Mini incandescent lights: 0.4 watts
• Mini LED lights: 0.07 watts
Between those three options, mini LED lights draw the least amount of energy per strand while C7 lights draw the most.
LEDs possibly lowering energy costs by up to 90% vs. the other options. Switching to LEDs could be a way to save money daily during the holidays.
Also note that you’d need four strands of C7 lights to equal the same number of bulbs in just one strand of incandescent or LED mini lights. This is important to understand because it can affect the number of kilowatt hours used and your overall energy costs.
Recommended: 23 Tips on Saving Money Daily
Cost of Running Christmas Lights
So how much do Christmas lights cost to run for a month? Or longer? Calculating your estimated cost of running Christmas lights matters when trying to lower your electric bill during the winter months. Again, what you’ll pay can depend on a variety of factors, including where you live and how much electricity costs.
The average household pays $0.17 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, but prices may be significantly higher or lower in different parts of the country due to cost of living differences.
If you live in Connecticut, for example, you might pay an average of $0.21 cents per kilowatt hour. People living in Florida, however, might pay an average of $0.11 cents per kilowatt hour. Residents of Hawaii typically pay the most, currently spending $0.32 cents per kilowatt hour.
Here’s how to figure out how much you’ll pay for Christmas lighting:
• Multiply the wattage of the lights by the hours per day the lights will be on, then divide by 1,000 to find kilowatt hours per day
• Multiply kilowatt hours per day by your cost of electric usage to get the cost per day
• Multiply the cost per day by the number of days your lights will be on
Calculating the Cost of Christmas Lights
Now, for how much does it cost to run Christmas lights? Here’s a look at what it would cost to run C7 lights, C9, and mini incandescent lights, and mini LED lights for six hours a day for 30 days, using a price of $0.14 cents per kilowatt hour. Here’s what you’d pay for each one:
Bulb Type
Hourly Cost
Daily Cost
Monthly Cost
C7 (25 bulbs, 5 watts per bulb)
$0.0175
$0.105
$3.15
C9 (25 bulbs, 7 watts per bulb)
$0.025
$0.15
$4.50
Incandescent Mini Lights (100 bulbs, 0.45 watts per bulb)
$0.0063
$0.0378
$1.13
Mini LED Lights (100 bulbs, 0.07 watts per bulb)
$0.0042
$0.0252
$0.76
Keep in mind that these costs are for just one strand of lights, as noted. If you string together several strands on your tree, frame your windows with lights, and then drape your shrubs or street-facing windows outdoors with more, your costs will of course go up.
Also, in terms of what the average person spends on Christmas lights, it can vary by a state’s cost of living, as well as by what kind of bulbs are used. Louisiana residents who run LED lights, for example, would likely spend the least, since they are paying just over nine cents per kilowatt hour (currently the lowest rate in the US) and they would be using energy-saving bulbs. Meanwhile, Hawaiians who opt for incandescent bulbs would probably spend the most, since their bulbs use a considerable amount of power and they currently pay the highest national rate for energy of almost 33 cents per kilowatt hour.
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Tips to Save on Your Christmas Lighting Bill
If you’re looking for ways to lower your energy bill when you start plugging in your holiday lights, follow this advice.
Embracing Energy-Efficient LEDs
As mentioned, the wattage of Christmas lights plays an important part in determining how much you pay for electric bills over the holidays. Between C7 lights, incandescent lights and LED lights, LED lights are highly energy-efficient. According to the Department of Energy, residential LEDs that are ENERGY STAR rated use up to 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lights.
People who use LED Christmas lights tend to pay far less than those using incandescent bulbs or C7 lights. So it follows that an easy way to save money on your electric bill and reduce energy usage would be to use mini LED lights as often as possible. Aside from that, LED bulbs emit less light and are less likely to overload sockets, making them a potentially safer option for Christmas lighting compared to other types of bulbs.
So if you still have some incandescent bulbs in your box of Christmas decorations, you may want to think about swapping them out for LEDs. (You won’t find incandescents made or sold in the US anymore either.)
Benefits of Solar-Powered Outdoor Lights
You might consider using solar-powered outdoor lights on your house over the holidays. These strands depend upon energy collected by small panels that gather and hold energy from the sun during the day.
These strands don’t plug in and draw no electrical power. So they can be especially easy and economical to use over the holidays.
Battery-Operated Lights for Smaller Displays
If you like to create smaller displays, you might consider battery-powered strands of lights. There is a wide range of how long these lights will stay illuminated, but this can be a good unplugged option to try for small-scale displays. While you do have to pay for the batteries, it can be cheaper than plugging in lights for weeks on end.
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The Takeaway
A higher-than-usual electric bill can put a damper on your holiday celebrations. Estimating your potential costs beforehand can help you manage utility expenses. And you can decide whether it’s worth it to invest a little money in upgrading your current Christmas lights to energy-efficient options.
Having the right banking partner, such as one with budgeting tools, can also help make tackling high utility bills after the holidays easier.
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FAQ
Do LED Christmas lights use a lot of electricity?
Compared to C7 lights or incandescent mini lights, LED Christmas lights use the least amount of energy. Specifically, they can use up to 90% less energy while lasting longer. LED Christmas lights also emit less heat and can be easier to install than other types of holiday lighting.
Do Christmas lights raise your light bill?
Holiday lights can raise your electric bill during the winter months. How much it costs to run Christmas lights can depend on several things, including the type of bulbs used, how many light strands you’re running, how long you turn the lights on for, and the average cost of energy per kilowatt hour in your area. Using timers and switching to energy-efficient bulbs can be helpful for reducing your Christmas lights electric bill.
Do Christmas trees use a lot of electricity?
Christmas trees can use a lot of electricity, depending on the type of lights you use, the number of strands on the tree, and how long you leave your tree plugged in each day. Using mini LED lights can reduce electric costs for Christmas tree lighting, while using C7 bulbs to light your tree could result in a higher energy bill.
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Nestled in Hidalgo County, the small city of Alamo, Texas, often emerges as a discussion point among people on a quest for a serene yet promising locale to call home.
The quaint charm often associated with smaller cities can sometimes transcend beyond the picturesque to also offer a quality of life that rivals, or in some instances, surpasses the bustling allure of much larger cities.
This comprehensive assessment dives into the various factors that encapsulate living in Alamo, Texas, with a thorough examination of its cost of living, demographics, amenities and proximity to other significant Texan hubs, ultimately aiming to answer the burning question: “Is Alamo, Texas, a good place to live?”
Demographics and community
The community within Alamo, TX is a reflection of the broader Rio Grande Valley’s demographic composition. With a population that hovers around the 19,000 mark, the town hosts a predominantly Hispanic populace. This cultural backdrop lends Alamo a unique blend of Texan and Mexican traditions, which not only enriches the social fabric but also manifests in the culinary, cultural and artistic offerings of this small city.
Economy and employment
A scrutiny of Alamo’s economic landscape reveals an unemployment rate slightly above the national average. However, this metric has been on a downward trajectory, thanks to burgeoning local businesses and the spillover of economic activities from neighboring cities. The median income in Alamo resonates with the laidback and modest lifestyle it champions.
Cost of living
One of the enticing facets of living in Alamo, Texas, is undoubtedly its cost of living. Statistically, Alamo’s cost of living indices fall below the national average, making it an affordable place especially when pitted against other cities in Texas.
The low cost of living can be largely attributed to the affordable housing market in the city, with the median home value significantly less than the state and national averages. Alamo’s cost of housing and overall living expenses are arguably its biggest selling point to prospective residents on a budget.
Housing market
In Alamo, the median home value stands as a testament to its affordability. Housing here is not only accessible but offers a variety of choices for different income levels. Whether you are looking to rent or buy, the market in Alamo is conducive for families, retirees and even single individuals. The median home value is appreciably lower compared to other cities, making homeownership a feasible dream for many.
Education
Education is a pivotal concern for families contemplating a move to Alamo, TX. The city hosts several public and private schools, delivering a standard of education that aligns with the state’s benchmarks. The proximity to universities and colleges in nearby cities also broadens the educational horizon for residents.
Healthcare and services
Quality healthcare services are within reach, with a number of healthcare facilities located in and around Alamo. The nearby city of McAllen, for instance, has a wider array of medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to specialized medical care whenever necessary.
Proximity to major cities
Nestled strategically in the Rio Grande Valley, Alamo’s location is within a convenient distance from major cities like McAllen and Edinburg. This proximity not only opens up a world of additional amenities and services but also employment opportunities for the residents of Alamo. Moreover, the accessibility to international borders with Mexico enhances the city’s appeal to a more global-minded populace.
Recreation and lifestyle
The lifestyle in Alamo leans towards the tranquil and family-oriented. Numerous parks, recreational facilities and community events held throughout the year contribute to a sense of belonging among residents. The close-knit community vibe is often cited in reviews as one of the endearing qualities of living in Alamo.
Crime and safety
The crime rate in Alamo is comparable to other small towns in Texas. The local law enforcement agencies are active and the community itself is known for its neighborly ethos, which contributes to the overall safety and peaceful living conditions in the city.
Conclusion
The allure of Alamo, Texas lies in its simplistic yet fulfilling lifestyle, far removed from the hustle and bustle synonymous with bigger cities. While it might lack some of the flashy amenities, its affordability, community-centric lifestyle and the promise of a serene living environment make it a compelling choice for individuals seeking a harmonious work-life balance.
However, as with any city, prospective residents should be aware of the economic conditions and be prepared for a lifestyle more serene and traditional compared to urban hubs like Austin or Houston. Looking for your Alamo dream home? Take a look at our available apartments for rent here.
Northwestern Mutual Study Reveals Women Feel Financially Less Secure and Confident for Retirement than Men Gen Z and Millennial women more optimistic than older generations about the future and most likely to say their financial planning needs improvement Nearly 2 in 3 Gen X women don’t believe Social Security will be there when they need … [Read more…]
Why Your Checking Account Should Contain as Little Money as Possible
By: Natasha Etzel |
Updated
Oct. 4, 2023 – First published on Oct. 4, 2023
A bank account is an excellent place to keep your money so it’s organized and readily available when needed. Many people keep their cash in a checking account. But, while you want to stash enough money in your checking account to cover your bills and everyday expenses, you want to avoid keeping all of your cash there. I’ll explain why here, and suggest a better place to stash your extra savings.Don’t miss out on interestThe average checking account doesn’t accrue interest. That means you won’t get rewarded for keeping money in your bank account. Instead of keeping all your cash in your checking account, you should only keep enough to cover your monthly expenses. You may want to keep a bit more than just enough to cover your bills. That way, you’ll be covered if you have an unexpected charge or a more costly bill than anticipated. How much extra should you have? It depends. For some people, a couple hundred extra dollars may be ideal. But for others, it may be a good idea to include a few hundred or up to an extra $1,000 in their checking accounts for extra wiggle room.But don’t keep every last dollar you have in your checking account. If you do, you’ll miss out on interest. Instead, move your extra savings into a bank account that accrues interest. With an interest-earning bank account, you’ll get rewarded as your cash sits in the bank. You could earn money with a savings accountMany people keep extra cash in a savings account. Review the bank’s annual percentage yield (APY) when considering a new savings account. This rate is the amount of money or interest you’ll earn over a year. The higher the APY, the more money you can make. You can take advantage of an attractive interest rate by opening a high-yield savings account. At the time of writing, the bank accounts on our best high-yield savings accounts list offer APYs ranging from 4.30% to 5.26%. If you have a significant amount of extra cash and keep it in an account like this, you can earn money without doing extra work. $5,000 in savings accumulates this much interest To determine how much interest you can earn by moving your extra cash to a savings account, multiply your initial deposit by the APY your bank account offers. This will show you how much interest you can earn by keeping your money in the bank for a year. Let’s imagine you have $5,000 extra sitting in your checking account right now. If you instead move that money to a high-yield savings account with an APY of 5% and you keep it in the bank for an entire year (and your APY doesn’t change; note that banks can raise or lower APYs at any time), you’ll earn $250. That’s much better than making $0 by keeping your savings in a checking account that doesn’t accrue interest. Now you can see why it pays to avoid keeping all your money in a checking account. You can earn extra money from interest by keeping your spare cash in a savings account that offers interest. For additional tips like this, check out our free personal finance resources.
3 Reasons I Don’t Like Aldi as Much as I Used To
By: Maurie Backman |
Updated
Sept. 13, 2023 – First published on Sept. 13, 2023
At some point in 2022, I discovered Aldi and began shopping there weekly. I found that I was able to save money on my grocery bill by purchasing certain produce items there. And since I happen to have an Aldi adjacent to my local Costco, it wasn’t particularly out of my way.But over the past few months, I’ve become less enamored with Aldi. Here’s why.1. The selection is just too limitedAldi — at least near me — is a minimally stocked grocery store. The shelves aren’t loaded the way they are at my nearby ShopRite and Stop & Shop.To be fair, this was the case when I first started shopping there. But because there’s just not a lot of selection, I’m generally limited to only buying a few items when I pop into Aldi.Not so long ago, I was running into Aldi for some fruit, which I usually buy there, and I needed to grab shredded cheddar cheese. Normally, I get that at Costco, but I didn’t want to run next door to Costco and wait in a line for cheese alone. Unfortunately, though, Aldi didn’t have the cheese I needed, so I had to make an extra stop anyway.2. The inventory is too inconsistentNot only is there a limited selection of food items I can buy at Aldi, but sometimes, I can’t even find the five or six things I’m looking for. Aldi was once my go-to source for avocados, since it’s an expensive purchase and Aldi tends to sell them for less than Costco (at least in my area). But the last few times I stopped at Aldi, avocados weren’t in stock.And that’s happened to me with other things, too. Over the past several months, I’ve struggled to find everything from cucumbers to strawberries at Aldi as well.3. What the store saves me on groceries, I lose via lost working hoursShopping at Aldi still has the potential to save me a little money on groceries. At a time when supermarket prices are up 3.6% on an annual basis, that helps.The problem, however, is that even though Aldi is right near Costco in my neighborhood, thereby allowing me to combine those trips, it still takes time to visit an extra supermarket. I have to find parking, wait in a checkout line, and spend time searching the shelves.While it’s nice to save $2 here and $3 there, the reality is that a stop at Aldi might cost me 20 or more minutes of work — especially when I don’t manage to find the things I need. And losing out on that work time often means forgoing more than $2 or $3 of income. So from a time perspective, it’s just not worth it.Shopping at Aldi could make sense for a lot of people. If you’re someone with flexibility in your schedule and grocery list, and you’re not so picky about the brands you bring home, then it could pay to spend the time visiting Aldi, even if you don’t always manage to find all the things you need. But I’ve reached the point where shopping at Aldi makes less and less sense for me, so I’ll most likely stop going there unless it’s a one-off basis.
7 Little-Known Gift Cards You Should Always Buy at Costco
By: Steven Porrello |
Updated
Sept. 29, 2023 – First published on Sept. 29, 2023
Costco gift cards are one of the warehouse’s best deals. Costco often will add 10% to 30% of value when you buy its gift cards in a bundle. It would be one thing if the gift cards were for places you’d never shop, like Bed, Bath, and Beyond (R.I.P.). But Costco gift cards are surprisingly varied and include many restaurants and retailers you’re probably already spending money with.So if you, like me, pinch pennies for your finances, here are seven gift cards you should always buy at Costco.1. Jiffy LubeCostco will add 25% of value when you buy a set of two $50 Jiffy Lube eGift cards for $74.99. While Jiffy Lube doesn’t offer the cheapest oil change on the market (Walmart will likely take the gold for that), its technicians do go through rigorous training via the Jiffy Lube University to ensure no accidental damage is done to your vehicle. If quality trumps price for your vehicle, this deal will save you $25 off your next oil change (limit of five per membership).2. Alaska AirlinesPacific Northwesterners will appreciate this deal — Costco will give you a $500 eCertificate to Alaska Airlines for $449.99. That comes to 10% off your next Alaska Airlines flight (limit of four per membership).3. Southwest AirlinesIf that was the first time you’d heard of Alaska Airlines, here’s a gift card package with a more familiar airline: Southwest. Costco will add 10% of value when you buy $500 of Southwest Airlines gift cards for only $449.99.4. Cinemark TheatresIn a great deal for moviegoers, you can buy a $50 Cinemark Theatres eGift card for only $39.99 at Costco. That’s an extra 20% of value that you can use for movie tickets, food, drinks, or merchandise (limit of 10 per membership).5. Miller PaintPainting your house ain’t cheap. Interior paint jobs will cost about $2 to $6 per square foot, according to the home improvement site HomeAdvisor, while exterior paint jobs can cost about $1.50 to $4 per square foot. To ease those costs, Costco will sell you $100 of Miller Paint gift cards for $69.99 — a whopping 30% of extra value.6. SpafinderIf you thought the cost of painting your house was bad, imagine how your back will feel after hours of painting walls. To ease that pain, Costco has an irresistible gift card deal: two $50 eGift cards for $79.99 to be used at thousands of spas and salons across the country. You can also use them at participating yoga and fitness studios (limit of 10 per membership).7. Synergy RestaurantsOne of the more interesting gift card packages I’ve come across, this extremely lucrative deal — two $50 eGift cards for a sticker price of $69.99 — will help you foot the bill at hundreds of local restaurants in numerous cities across Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. This is perhaps one of the best deals I’ve seen and can be perfect for locals in those states and travelers who are visiting them.Most members don’t realize how many gift cards Costco actually sells. In fact, these seven packages only scratch the surface. Next time you’re at your local Costco warehouse, be on the lookout for gift card packages, which are often found at the ends of aisles. You might find a deal you can’t get anywhere else.
5 Amazing Costco Buys for Less Than $10
Costco is a favorite among bargain hunters. But because it’s a place where you typically buy in bulk, it’s often not great when you only want to spend a few bucks. Believe it or not, though, there are some deals at Costco for $10 or less. Here are five amazing Costco finds that will set you back no more than $10.1. Rotisserie chickenNot surprisingly, the $4.99 rotisserie chicken tops this list. Costco debuted its famed bird for $4.99 way back in 1994. It briefly raised the price by $1 during the Great Recession in 2008, then knocked it back down to $4.99 one year later. Had Costco raised its prices to keep up with inflation since 1994, that chicken would cost $10.48 today.Costco’s rotisserie chicken will always be a fan favorite for those looking for an effortless dinner. Just be aware: Costco keeps the prices low because its rotisserie chicken is what’s called a loss leader. The warehouse giant is willing to lose money selling them because it knows it can get customers into stores, where they’ll probably buy more than just a chicken.2. Hot dog and soda comboCostco has raised the prices of many of its food court items in recent years, but the price of one perennial favorite shows no signs of budging: the hot dog and soda combo, which has cost $1.50 since it debuted in 1985. Adjusted for inflation, the hot dog and soda combo should cost $4.28. Last year, during a quarterly earnings call, Costco chief financial officer Richard Galanti said the warehouse giant could keep the $1.50 price point “forever.”3. Kirkland Signature Creamy Almond ButterYou can use almond butter as a salad dressing ingredient, slather it on toast, put it in baked goods, or just eat it straight from the jar. If you’re the type who likes to devour almond butter by the spoonful, you don’t want to pass up a 27-ounce jar of Kirkland Signature Creamy Almond Butter, available for just $7.99. That works out to less than $0.30 per ounce. By comparison, a 16-ounce jar of Trader Joe’s Creamy Almond Butter Salted costs $6.99.4. Olde Thompson Kosher Sea Salt, 5 lbsSea salt has plenty of uses that go beyond cooking. You can use it for cleaning, as an exfoliant for your skin, and sprinkle it around your garden to keep unwanted bugs away. For just $5.99, you can score a 5-pound jar of Olde Thompson Kosher Sea Salt and keep it handy for all your household and kitchen needs.5. Bisquick Pancake & Baking Mix, 96 OuncesBisquick is another one of those things that’s handy to keep in your pantry. You can use it to whip up a quick batch of pancakes or waffles for breakfast or keep it on hand for a variety of baked good recipes. A 96-ounce box of Bisquick is available at Costco for $8.89. It’s normally priced at $10.99, but there’s a $2.10 manufacturer’s discount that’s good through Oct. 8, 2023.What are the best deals at Costco?Since Costco tends to sell large quantities, you’ll typically find that a lot of the best deals cost well above $10. Regardless of the exact price, it usually makes sense to buy products at Costco that have a long shelf life. For example, even if you find great deals on fresh produce and milk, you probably don’t want to load up on these items unless you’re feeding a large crowd, as they’ll go bad quickly.Also, make sure you look beyond the grocery department for savings. For example, getting your prescriptions from Costco Pharmacy or using Costco to fill up your gas tank could also save you money.If you want to maximize the benefits of your membership, try shopping with a Visa credit card that offers rewards. (Costco only accepts Visa credit cards.) That way you can earn travel rewards or cash back when you load up on groceries and other necessities.
5 Ways to Turn $100 Into Passive Income
By: Chris Neiger |
Updated
Oct. 1, 2023 – First published on Oct. 1, 2023
Creating passive income is one of the best ways to build wealth and protect your personal finances from an emergency, like losing a job or having your salary cut. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, about 20% of Americans have some level of passive income, with the average amount earned from passive income being $4,200 annually.Passive income strategies aren’t get-rich-quick schemes, and many initially require a significant time investment. The good news is that many can be started with $100 or less. Here are a few inexpensive ways you can start generating passive income.1. Buy stocksSome people think that owning stocks is only for rich people. It’s not. In fact, 61% of Americans own stocks, according to Gallup. And while you won’t get rich investing $100, you do have the potential to easily make money.You can open an online brokerage account for free and typically buy stocks for either little or no fees these days. The hard part is figuring out what company you think will do well over the long term so that you get the largest return.Let’s look at one popular company that many people own stock in: Apple. Let’s say you invested $100 annually over the past 10 years to buy Apple’s stock and reinvested any dividends you received to buy more shares. Thanks to Apple’s phenomenal growth over the past decade, your stock would be worth $4,848 — a 385% return on your investment.Of course, picking stocks can be difficult. If you want to potentially earn passive income in the market without picking specific stocks, you may want to buy shares of an exchange-traded fund (ETF). These funds follow market indices and can be purchased for as little as $1, thanks to online platforms that allow you to purchase fractional shares.2. Rent out an extra roomThis one is super easy and might cost you $0 if you already have the extra space. The latest Census Bureau data shows that 27.6% of Americans live alone. This means that many Americans may have a spare room in their home that could be transformed into a passive income stream.While it’s not for everyone, renting out a room in your home could be one of the easiest ways to generate passive income because you’re already in the space — either renting or as a homeowner — so all you need to do is find a roommate and collect their rent payments.This could be a very lucrative way to boost your income, considering that rent prices have skyrocketed over the past few years.3. Rent out your carWith 13% of full-time Americans working from home right now and 28% on hybrid schedules, many cars are sitting unused throughout the work week. With some planning and effort, your vehicle could quickly begin generating income through car-sharing websites like Turo.You can list your vehicle on the site for free and pay Turo a fee when you’ve rented out the vehicle. Turo says the average annual income for one car on its site is $10,516. Of course, some work is required to keep the vehicle clean and coordinate pick-up and drop-off. Still, renting out your vehicle could be a low-cost way to earn semi-passive income.4. Create an online courseMany people have accumulated many skills through jobs and even hobbies. You likely know how to get certain things done that someone else would find very useful — and pay for.There are many online platforms — including Udemy, Skillshare, and Thinkific — where you can create your own professional course and then sell it to an established online audience.You’ll need to do a fair amount of work upfront creating your course — including planning the sessions, recording videos, and making other content — but once you have it up and running, you can earn passive income from your hard work.Some course-creating platforms charge a monthly fee, while others may take a percentage of each sale you make. But while this option isn’t free, it’s certainly inexpensive.5. Start a dropshipping businessThere are many different businesses that fall under the dropshipping category, including selling T-shirts online or print-on-demand content like notebooks and journals.The startup cost for dropshipping businesses is low because you don’t buy any inventory and don’t have to rent an office or retail space. Instead, you’ll spend money setting up a website and potentially selling ads to market your products. You can even become a seller on Amazon and sell products without investing in your own online shop.You’ll have to invest significant time on the front end to build your business. Still, once you’ve found a niche and have established the relevant products, dropshipping allows you to spend minimal time keeping up the business while still making online sales.Keep these things in mindWhile all of these ideas will cost you little money and have the potential to generate passive income, you’ll still need to invest time and mental energy in setting them up. For example, you may need to do a lot of research before setting up a dropshipping business or launching an online course.Like anything worthwhile, be patient and take small steps to get started. You likely won’t be an overnight success, but making any progress toward generating passive income will move you further toward your personal financial goals.
If you are looking for the best online jobs for teens, then you have come to the right place. Here are the best online jobs for teenagers, even if you have no experience. There are many ways to make money online, and as a teenager, you may be interested in learning how you can as…
If you are looking for the best online jobs for teens, then you have come to the right place. Here are the best online jobs for teenagers, even if you have no experience.
There are many ways to make money online, and as a teenager, you may be interested in learning how you can as well.
Whether you are 13 years old or 19 years old, there are many different legitimate online jobs for teens that you may be interested in learning more about.
Related content:
Online Jobs For Teens
There are many online jobs for teens listed below. If you want to skip the list, here are some virtual jobs for teens that you may want to start learning more about first:
Start a website
While I was around 21 years old when I started my blog, I know of a few people who started theirs as teenagers.
A blog can be a great online job to start when you’re young, as you can decide how to build your blog, how you earn an income, and the schedule you put toward it.
Blogging has allowed me to travel full-time, work from home, have a flexible schedule, earn a high income, and love what I do.
You can easily learn how to start a blog with my free How To Create a Blog Course.
Here’s a quick outline of what you will learn:
Day 1: Why you should start a blog today
Day 2: What topic to blog about
Day 3: Tutorial on how to start a blog on WordPress
Day 4: How to make money with your blog
Day 5: How to make passive income on your blog
Day 6: How to get pageviews to your blog
Day 7: Tips to see success with your blog
Out of all of these online jobs for teens, blogging is by far my favorite. It does take a little more time to start making money, but it’s very flexible and fits with any kind of schedule.
Create a TikTok account
You have most likely heard of TikTok.
There are over 1.5 billion users on TikTok, and many people are able to earn an income on this social media platform doing many different things.
From personal finance tips to comedy, day in the life to travel, and more, there are many different topics you can cover on your own TikTok account through making social media content.
If you want to learn how to make money online for teens, this is a fun one.
You can learn more at How I Make Money On TikTok – How I Grew To 350,000 Followers and Made $60,000 In 6 Weeks.
Begin a YouTube channel
Everyone has heard of YouTube, and pretty much everyone has watched at least one YouTube video in their life.
In fact, according to YouTube, there are over 2 billion people who watch at least one video on YouTube each month.
Many people have goals of starting a YouTube channel and making money, but not many people ever actually start.
You can learn more at How I Grew From 0 Subscribers To Over $100,000 On YouTube In Less Than One Year.
Resell items online
If you are looking for a flexible job as a teenager, one to look into may be reselling items online, such as on Craigslist, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace. There are many other online marketplaces as well.
Plus, it’s something that anyone can start because many of us own things that we could probably sell.
And, there are always things that you can buy for a low price and possibly resell for a profit. Or, you may even be able to find free things that people are throwing away and sell that as well.
This is such a profitable idea that my friend was able to make $133,000 in one year through buy-and-sell flipping and with working only 10-20 hours per week.
Since then, they have turned this into an even bigger and more profitable business!
Some of the best items that they’ve resold include:
Something they bought for $10 and flipped for $200 just 6 minutes later
A security tower they bought for $6,200 and flipped for $25,000 just one month later
A prosthetic leg that they bought for $30 at a flea market and sold for $1,000 on eBay the very next day
A lift that they found in the trash (and asked the owner for permission to take) that they sold online for $7,500
You can learn more at How I Made $40,000 In One Year Flipping Items.
They also have a helpful free webinar, Turn Your Passion For Visiting Thrift Stores, Yard Sales & Flea Markets Into A Profitable Reselling Business In As Little As 14 Days. I recommend checking it out.
Sell printables on Etsy
If you are looking for a way to make money at home and be your own boss, then creating printables may be for you.
A printable is a digital product that can be downloaded and printed at home. You make them once and then sell them on a website such as Etsy for people to buy. You wouldn’t have to print anything, instead, you are simply selling the download.
Items such as grocery shopping checklists, weekly meal plans that someone puts on their fridge, gift tags, and quotes to be framed are all printables.
This can be a great way to make money at home as a teenager because you create one digital file download per product, and you can then sell them an unlimited amount of times.
You can sign up for this free ebook that helps you figure out where to start when it comes to selling printables on Etsy.
I recommend reading about this further at How I Make Money Selling Printables On Etsy to learn more about one of the best jobs for stay-at-home moms.
Note: Etsy account owners must be at least 18 years of age to sell on Etsy. If you are between the ages of 13 and 17, you can sell on Etsy if you have the appropriate permission and direct supervision of your parent or legal guardian. Your Etsy account must be registered with the parent or legal guardian’s information.
Create and sell stickers
Another fun way to make money online as a teenager is to sell stickers.
My friend started with no graphic design skills and didn’t even know how to create stickers when she first started. It’s something she learned as she went, and she now earns over $100,000 each year with her sticker business.
I interviewed her here on Making Sense of Cents and she answered questions such as:
Do I need to be a graphic designer to make and sell stickers?
Why do people buy stickers online?
Do stickers sell well online?
How much money can I make selling stickers as a small business idea?
You can head over to How To Make $1,000+ A Month Selling Stickers Online to read more.
Make Canva templates
Canva is an online graphic design website. On Canva, you can sell premade designs to other Canva users so that they can edit and customize them.
Some examples of Canva templates include ebooks, workbooks, Pinterest pins, and more.
Creating Canva templates can be a great way to make extra money because you just need to create them once, and you can sell them an unlimited amount of times.
People all around the world use Canva to help with the graphic design side of their business, and templates make their lives so much easier.
Working just a few hours a week, I know someone who is able to earn $2,000 each month from selling Canva templates from home.
Do you have questions such as:
What is a Canva template and what is Canva?
Why would someone buy Canva templates? What is the benefit?
I have no tech skills, can I still create and sell Canva templates?
You can head to this article to learn more at How I Make $2,000+ Monthly Selling Canva Templates.
Voice over acting
Voice-over actors are of all ages, and you probably hear them all the time!
A voice-over actor is the person you hear but usually do not see on radio ads, YouTube videos, documentaries, e-learning courses, audiobooks, TV commercials, video games, movies, and cartoons.
This job doesn’t require previous experience or special skills – you just need to have the voice the company is looking for.
You can learn more about how to become a voice-over actor at How To Become A Voice Over Actor.
Answer online surveys
Not too long ago, one of the ways I made extra money to pay off my student loan debt was by answering paid online surveys.
You will not get rich from taking surveys, but it can help you to earn a little bit of extra money in some of the spare minutes that you may have throughout the day. Plus, you may get free items occasionally to review as well.
Companies will pay you to take surveys because they want to see what people think of their product and their company. They seek out real opinions from real people.
Here are some of the survey companies that are open to teenagers (along with their minimum age requirements):
American Consumer Opinion – Age minimum – 14 years old
Survey Junkie – Age minimum – 12 years old
MyPoints – Age minimum – 13 years old
Branded Surveys – Age minimum – 16 years old
Swagbucks – Age minimum – 13 years old
InboxDollars – Age minimum – 12 years old
Pinecone Research – Age minimum – 18 years old
User Interviews – Age minimum – 16 years old
Some of the above will even pay you to review music, play video games, or test mobile apps as a part of their research.
Sell items on Amazon
We have all heard of Amazon.
It is a website full of items sold by people like you and me.
In the first year that my friend Jessica’s family ran their Amazon FBA business together, working less than 20 hours a week total, they made over $100,000 profit!
You can learn more by reading How To Make Money From Home Selling On Amazon, such as answers to questions like:
How Jessica started selling on Amazon FBA
What exactly Amazon FBA is
How to choose what to buy and sell
How much a person can expect to earn
The positives of selling on Amazon, and more
Customer service support
If you are looking for a more traditional style of online job, such as working for someone else, then finding a customer service representative job may be something to look into. This way, you can start earning money right away, right after you get hired, instead of attempting to build a business.
There are many companies that hire for customer service support at home, even if you are young. Most will want you to be at least 16 years old or 18 years old to start.
As a customer service representative, you may be responsible for tasks such as:
Answering questions from customers about a product
Troubleshooting and helping with issues that a customer may have with a product
Processing orders
Assisting with returns
Handling feedback and customer complaints
And so much more.
Virtual assistant
As a virtual assistant, you would be helping a person or small business owner with administrative and business tasks. You would be their assistant but working in your own home instead.
I have been a virtual assistant in the past, and I now have virtual assistants of my own. They are lifesavers!
You do not need to have previous experience in order to start as a virtual assistant, instead, you need to be willing to learn so that you can help a business run more smoothly.
Many, many people and companies are looking for virtual assistants, as they play such an important role.
As a virtual assistant, you may be able to start at around $15-$20 an hour, or even much more. This will depend on the type of work you are providing, the experience that you have, the field you will be working in, and more. As a full-time virtual assistant, you may be able to earn over $10,000 a month once you gain experience.
As a virtual assistant, you may be doing tasks such as:
Managing a company’s social media accounts, such as by being their social media manager
Managing a person or company’s calendar
Scheduling appointments or travel
Creating or assisting with slideshows or presentations
Email management
Communicating with clients or customers
And so much more.
Different companies and employers will need different work to be done – it simply depends on who you will be working for and what they need to be completed.
You can learn more at How I Earn $10,000 Per Month From Home as a Virtual Assistant.
Start an online store
I feel like so many young adults are starting online stores, and it completely makes sense.
It’s something you can do from home, and there are ways to do it that don’t involve storing inventory or taking up a large amount of your valuable time.
Plus, you can make extra cash or even a full-time income.
And, there are so many different things that you can sell online.
From pet items, skincare, fitness products, subscription boxes, and accessories, to clothing, crafts, and more, the list is endless.
You can learn more about this topic at How I Make Over $10,000 Monthly With My Online Store In Less Than 10 Hours Per Week.
Write an ebook
Yes, you may be able to make extra money as a teenager by writing an ebook, and you can do it all from your home.
Anyone can write an ebook, no matter how young you may be.
There are many different genres that you can choose from, such as fantasy, fiction, nonfiction, mystery, and more.
If this is one of the online jobs for teens you’d like to learn more about, read How I Make $200 Each Day In Book Sales.
Find online tutoring jobs
Are you looking for a flexible side hustle as an online tutor?
If there is a subject that you are knowledgeable in, such as math, English, science, etc., then you may want to see if you can find students that you can tutor.
To become an online tutor, you can simply create a tutor profile on a tutoring platform, create a listing on Fiverr, reach out to people that you know, and more.
Learn more at The Best Online Tutoring Jobs – A Flexible Way To Make More Money.
Freelance write
Becoming a freelance writer can be a great online job for teens because there is a growing number of jobs out there for freelance writers, and many people start with no previous experience.
A freelance writer is someone who writes for a number of different clients, such as a website, blog, magazine, and more.
You can learn more in the article How To Become A Freelance Writer.
Proofread
If you have a passion for reading and often find mistakes in written content, then you may want to learn how to become a proofreader.
Freelance proofreading is a flexible and detail-oriented job that only requires a laptop or tablet, an internet connection, grammar skills, and a good eye for finding mistakes.
Proofreaders look for punctuation mistakes, grammar, misspelled words, lack of consistency, and formatting errors.
If you want to find online proofreading jobs, I recommend watching this free 76-minute workshop all about how to get started proofreading.
Recommended reading: 20 Best Online Proofreading Jobs For Beginners (Earn $40,000+ A Year).
Tips for online jobs for teens
Below, I want to share some tips for you on how to manage an online job for high schoolers. Having an online job as a teenager means that you may have some questions, such as how to avoid scams, how to balance school and work, how to open a PayPal account when you are underage, and more.
How to avoid online job scams
While there are many, many legitimate online jobs for teens, there are scams as well. Due to that, I want to share my best tips so that you can avoid scams but still find an online gig.
Some of my tips to avoid scams:
Research the company and the position to make sure they are real and a company that you would like to work for.
Search on the Better Business Bureau to learn more about the company and read their reviews.
Research the company online to see if there are any mentions of it being a scam. I like to type in “Company name + Scam” into a search engine and see what pops up.
Always be careful if the company asks you to pay money.
Before you give out any personal information, such as your social security number, you should make sure it is a real job that they are offering you.
Search the Federal Trade Commission and see if they have any press releases or articles about work-from-home job scams that they may have found.
Never click on any links or download anything in a suspicious email.
And, always trust your instincts! If something seems fishy, then trust yourself. There are always other jobs out there – do not feel like you have to take one that you are unsure about.
Simply move on and look for another opportunity that fits you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Jobs for teenagers
Below are common questions about online jobs for high schoolers.
How can a student work from home?
If you are a teenager, then you may still be in school. If you are trying to manage school and find a way to make money, then I do want to share some of my best tips.
After all, I have been in your shoes!
Working and going to school can be tough to manage.
Below is my advice for balancing both:
Realize what your motivation is for balancing both school and having a job. This is important because at times it will be hard to manage both, and thinking about why you are making yourself so busy can help to keep you motivated. You may even want to create a vision board so that you can look at it whenever things are tough so that you can easily remember what you are working towards.
Carefully plan out your school and work schedule. To balance school and work, then I recommend creating a carefully planned out schedule. This mainly only applies if you are in college or if you have control over the hours in your school day. This may include researching when the classes you need are offered and start trying to eliminate any gaps that may fall between your classes. Having an hour or two break between each class can quickly add up.
Bulk up your class days. If you think you can do it without overtiring yourself, then you may want to have as many classes together as possible in one day so that you are not constantly having to drive back and forth between school, work, and home.
Have a to-do list. I live and breathe by my to-do list. It helps me to not forget anything and to quickly realize that I have something to do (so I should stop procrastinating!).
Please head to 9 Ways To Successfully Balance School And Work to learn more.
How to open a PayPal account when you are a teenager?
If you are under the age of 18, then you will need a parent or a legal guardian to open a PayPal account. They would be the primary account holder, and you would simply be doing transactions through their account.
So, this means that you want to choose someone that you trust as they will have full access to the money that you are earning and is being transferred to your PayPal account.
How old do you have to be to work an online job? Can I work from home at 15? How can I make money at 17 without a job?
The age will vary depending on the job that you are looking to get.
How do you get paid with an online job for teens?
The way that you will get paid will depend on what you are doing.
If you are taking paid online surveys, for example, then you may get paid in rewards, a gift card, or even PayPal or check.
For more traditional jobs and gigs, you may be getting a paycheck every two weeks. If you are working for yourself, then you may be getting paid directly to your bank account.
How can I make money online as a teenager?
There are many ways to make money as a teenager, as you learned above. These include:
Blogging
TikTok creator
YouTuber
Reseller
Printables creator
Sticker maker
Canva templates designer
Voice-over actor
Survey taker
Amazon seller
Customer service representative
Virtual assistant
Online store owner
Author
Tutor
Freelance writer
Proofreader
And the list goes on and on!
Whether you are looking to make extra cash or if you are looking for a full-time job, there are many ways for you to earn money as a teenager.
Lastly, my final piece of advice is to make sure that your parents are informed of what you are doing. For your safety, I highly recommend telling your parents about your online job and keeping them updated about what is going on and if there are any changes.
Are you looking for the best online jobs for teens?
Conference call to be webcast live at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET
SEATTLE, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) announced today it will release third-quarter 2023 financial results after market close on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. The company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its results that afternoon at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET.
Information about Zillow Group’s financial results, including a link to the live webcast and recorded replay, will be available on the company’s Investor Relations website at: https://investors.zillowgroup.com/investors/financials/quarterly-results/default.aspx
Please register in advance at https://www.netroadshow.com/events/login?show=cf4e1e3a&confId=45408 to receive emailed instructions to access the live conference call. This pre-registration process is designed to reduce delays due to operator congestion when accessing the live call.
For more information about Zillow Group, please visit https://investors.zillowgroup.com.
About Zillow Group Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow and its affiliates help people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, great partners, and easier buying, selling, financing and renting experiences.
Zillow Group’s affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®; Zillow Premier Agent®; Zillow Home Loans℠; Trulia®; Out East®; StreetEasy®; HotPads®; and ShowingTime+℠, which includes ShowingTime®, Bridge Interactive®, and dotloop®.
With theme parks, beautiful year-round weather and sparkly beaches, Orlando is a destination in Florida. It’s touristy, though, nearly 60 million people visited in 2021. That’s a lot of floral shirts, iPads taking photos and fanny packs.
Finding an Orlando local is like finding a needle in a haystack, but they exist. And, they know the real Orlando inside and out, from the alligators to how to avoid the tourist traps. Here are the best of the Orlando facts.
Facts only an Orlando local knows are true
There are many facts about Orland that tourists and visitors just don’t know. Only locals know these things in their souls.
1. Most residents weren’t born here. Orlando is a city of transplants like so many others in America.
2. It’s a fact that no one knows how Orlando got its name. There are a lot of stories, but no one knows the truth.
3. Every tourist assumes you go to theme parks all the time. I mean you don’t, but you also have season passes for all of them.
4. The real old-timers remember when Disney World was a swamp. Yes, it was an actual swamp before Walt got a hold of it!
5. The city is under construction forever, no matter where you go or what year it is. No projects are actually finished.
6. You wish for four seasons, but when it gets cold, you count the seconds until that Florida humid heat is back.
7. There’s no superior sub sandwich than a Pub sub sandwich. You will die on this hill.
8. You’ve lost count of how many times you and your friends have googled “Florida Man + your birthdate” to find funny news.
9. There’s water everywhere. And, that means alligators everywhere. You know to check before you get in the pool just in case one slipped in like any other day.
10. You’re unfazed by random rain while the sun is out.
11. You’re nostalgic for Medieval Times class trips and a full leg of turkey while you watch knights fight.
12. When you heard that Downtown Disney was changing its name to Disney Springs and you’re still upset about it.
13. Walt Disney World isn’t even in Orlando, even though the tourists say it is. It’s in Lake Buena Vista, 20 miles out.
14. While we’re at it, Winter Park is not in Orlando. But, you find it funny when the Winter Park residents complain when people say they’re from Orlando. They think they’re fancy.
15. Did you know that Orlando is home to the first highway in Florida? Colonial Drive was originally paved with bricks.
16. The best food isn’t on International Drive, that’s the tourist district. And, while the food there is good, it’s pricey. There are spots around the city with better food at more affordable prices.
17. You pull out your puffer coat immediately when it drops below 70 degrees.
18. Mosquitos are practically another pet in your household. You’re no longer shocked by their size.
19. The old Starbucks arcade was where the Spanish market is now and you caught plenty of flying dollar bills in the money pit when you were growing up.
20. Wekiwa Springs State Park, within a day trip of Orlando, is a better spot for swimming than any of the city’s water parks. It’s a perfect, lush, tropical oasis with crystal-clear waters.
21. When people open your car trunk, you have a beach go-bag ready with at least three swimsuits and SPF 50.
22. You’re the master of the stingray shuffle, even if you know it’s an old wives’ tale to avoid getting stung.
23. The second the weatherman says there’s a hurricane coming, your phone starts blowing up with hurricane party invites.
24. You skip the big box movie theatre on your next date and instead, head to the mismatched sofas at the Enzian Theatre.
25. Nostalgia hits you when someone mentions Peaches Records and Tapes and you remember how many great records you picked up there.
26. Traffic is no joke. Rush hour on I-4 is basically all day. You’re probably reading this list while stuck in traffic (don’t read and drive!)
27. Hanson’s Shoe Repair is the only speakeasy left in Orlando. It even looks like an old speakeasy. You have to know the password to get in. (Hint: Just follow them on social media.)
28. House divided between the Seminoles or the Gators? Good luck.
29. If you’re not a Nole or a Gator, you’re irrelevant. (Sorry UCF!) And, if you live in a house divided, good luck.
30. When you enter your car, you tune in to WPRK 91.5 FM immediately. What other awesome commercial-free, only plays local bands, is there?
31. You know the perfect place to kayak is Shingle Creek, which cuts right through the city. Just make sure to keep your hands out of the water. Those gators aren’t playing around.
Did we miss any Orlando secrets?
The best thing about living in Orlando is being in sunny Florida with sandy beaches, but it’s far from the only thing. Are you packing for a move to O-Town after learning these Orlando facts? Here’s where you can find apartments for rent in Orlando.
Muriel Vega is an Atlanta-based journalist who writes about technology and its intersection with arts and culture. She’s worked on content for startups like Mailchimp, Patreon, Punchlist, Skillshare, Rent. and others. Muriel has also contributed to The Washington Post, Eater, DWELL, Outside Magazine, Atlanta Magazine, AIGA Eye on Design, Bitter Southerner and more.