Inside: This free printable 100 Envelope Challenge is a great way to start saving money. At the end of the 100 days, you will have saved a total of $5000!
Today, I received an email from a reader, who said, “I struggle with controlling my spending and being able to save.”
That is something I hear over and over. Honestly, we spend because we truly don’t know what to do with our money.
Thus, enter the 100 envelope challenge.
A simple way to save over $5000 in a mere 100 days or about 3.5 months!
For most of us, we realized our spending habits needed work. Like every other month, I would spend money on unnecessary things like clothing and shoes (check!) or expensive meals out for one person (double check!). This way of life is no good if you have anywhere in your budget left over at the end of each month; it’s barely enough to make rent.
The solution? Challenge yourself with a 100 envelope challenge.
I know it sounds like a bit of a stretch, but hear me out: you’ll save $1 to $100 each day. The amount you save in the first month is random, but you can expect to save over $1,000 in just the first month! That’s enough to be excited about, right?!?!
Here are some tips on how to start this awesome money saving journey with my free printable below:
How much money do you save doing the 100 envelope challenge?
The 100 envelope challenge is a great way to save money.
By the end of the challenge, you can expect to save $5050.
That’s because you put away a good chunk of money each and every day. Depending on your budget and spending habits, you may be able to save even more!
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
Right now, you are wanting a100 envelope challenge box to keep your cash stuffed envelopes.
Here are some great options to make sure you reach your goal.
Photo Credit:
www.etsy.com
This extremely popular handmade item on Etsy is for you!
You get to choose which theme you want your kit to be made from! This extra customization will keep you motivated. All envelopes are laminated and cut by hand.
Don’t want the full kid – just the cute envelopes!
This option is perfect for you! These envelopes are high quality as they are made of superior paper. They will last for use over and over with outstanding durability and sealing.
Plus it won’t expose the content inside.
Make saving money an interesting game! Do the 100 Envelopes Saving Challenge with your spouse or best friend. You can set a goal together, for example, to go someplace or buy something.
Commes with a complete kit and everything you need. Plus each envelope has a motivational quote to keep you going.
Photo Credit:
www.etsy.com
This homemade 100 envelope challenge kit has that personal touch you wanted.
This is a highly rated small and compact box to help you reach your goals!
100 Envelope Challenge Free Printable PDF
The 100 Day Envelope Challenge is a great way to save money over a short period of time. This fun and easy money saving challenge is popular thanks to Tiktok.
The challenge is simple: put a set amount of money into an envelope each day and don’t touch it.
This 100 envelope challenge pdf provides a visual way to track your progress during the 100 envelope challenge.
This will help you stay disciplined with your spending and save more money over time. You can print the PDF template for free, and it’s easy to use. It is simple to use and helps you stay motivated throughout the year.
100 Day Envelope Challenge PDF Template to Print
Here is how you can grab the free printable!
Simply click on the image, which will direct you to our free resource library. Enter your email and you will get a unique password. Check your email and come back and download your free template to print!
FREE PRINTABLE 100 ENVELOPE CHALLENGE PDF
Why You Will Love Saving Money with the 100 Envelope Challenge
The 100 Envelope Challenge is a fun, simple, and stress-free way to start saving more cash.
It is an easier way to save cash than ever before and a great way to learn about budgeting and saving techniques.
Download the 100 envelope challenge free printable today as a way to learn about how to save for short and long-term goals.
You will love saving money with the 100 Envelope Challenge because of the simplicity of this money saving challenge!
More Envelope Saving Challenges:
Additionally, there are many different variations of the challenge that you can do in order to save the money that you need.
50 Envelope Challenge – For those who are beginner savers or with low income, this money saving challenge is perfect to teach yourself how to save money.
100 Envelope Challenge – The most popular envelope challenge. Learn how to complete this 100 envelope challenge and save $5000.
200 Envelope Challenge – This is a spin on the traditional challenge that is easier for many of my readers to complete. Each day you will put between $1 to $50 in an envelope.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
As a child growing up, I remember my father constantly eating Ramen Noodles in a Styrofoam cup.
It was pretty fascinating that all you had to do was add hot water, and presto, you had a ready to eat meal in a few minutes.
Perfect for an impatient kid!
As I got older I started to notice that the package of Ramen Noodles still existed in our kitchen.
My father had always struggled with money.
He had battled credit card debt and never really made good financial “cents” of his money.
I guess I always just thought that he really liked the cup of Ramen Noodles.
I later found it there was much more to the story.
All Too Familiar Feeling
I remember my first year as a financial advisor. I was meeting with a couple in their early 60s. At the time, I was 24 years old and already started a Roth IRA and was quickly learning the proper ways to invest in your 20s. I remember this couple in particular because while many people get excited about retiring and starting a new venture in their life, with these folks, retirement was nowhere in the near future.
Combined, they had maybe $50,000 saved in their retirement investment accounts combined. Their jobs offered no pensions, so all they had was social security.
I remember looking at this couple, and eerily, I saw similarities with my father. They had no hope of retiring. They had done a horrible job of saving.
The Ramen Noodles Jolt
This meeting instantly made me realize that I did not want to follow in their footsteps.
I knew that I did not want to be in my early 60s and be forced to be eating cup of Ramen Noodle soup.
I didn’t want to have to worry about not ever being able to retire. I know at the age of 24, I was thinking much more different than my peers. None of my friends talked about retirement. We talked about the next trips that we were going to go on, what concerts we wanted to go see, still reflecting back on the good old college days.
Investing in Your 20s Isn’t Cool, It’s a Must
I write this because if you are in your 20s, I know you’re thinking the exact same thing, even if it’s just how to invest with 100 dollars. What’s the point of investing? What’s the point of saving? What’s the point of even thinking about retirement?
Here’s one thing I know, you don’t want to be eating Ramen Noodles for dinner for the rest of your life. It might be good every once in a while, but I promise you, you get sick and tired of it.
So, why is it so important to start investing early in your 20s?
Most young people just don’t get it. They think they have plenty of time to start thinking about retirement. While, yes that’s true, what most don’t understand or appreciate is that the sooner you start, the easier it is.
You don’t want to discover you’ve waited until it is too late to retire.
For example, look at this chart. This chart was something that was shown to me whenever I was junior in college. The chart literally blew me away.
The chart has two young adults that should be investing in their 20s: Super Saver Parker who starts at the age of 25 and Super Slacker Sloane. Both graduate with good paying jobs and have well enough income to start contributing to a Roth IRA.
Super Saver Parker
10 Years of Contributions
Super Slacker Sloane
30 Years of Contribution
25
$2,000
25
–
26
$2,000
26
–
27
$2,000
27
–
28
$2,000
28
–
29
$2,000
29
–
30
$2,000
30
–
31
$2,000
31
–
32
$2,000
32
–
33
$2,000
33
–
34
$2,000
34
–
35
–
35
$2,000
36
–
36
$2,000
37
–
37
$2,000
38
–
38
$2,000
39
–
39
$2,000
40-65
–
40-65
$50,000
Total Contributions
$20,000
$60,000
Ending Account Value
$340,060
$266,427
*BIG* Difference
$73,633
Super Saver Parker starts putting $2,000 a year into his Roth IRA ($166.67 per month). He does this for a total of 10 years and stops for a grand total of $20,000 he put in. Why does he stop? Don’t ask. That’s just part of the illustration. 🙂
Super Slacker Sloane puts off saving because he wants to buy “stuff” (otherwise knows as “crap you don’t need”). He finally gets it and starts putting $2,000 a year starting at the age of 35. Wanting to catch Parker, he puts in $2,000 a year for 30 years contributing $60,000 in total – $40,000 more than Parker. *We’re assuming that they both average 8% return on their money.
After they showed this chart to me in my finance class, the question that was then asked was,
“Who will have more money at the age of 65?”
I remember my initial thought was “Duh, the guy who put in $40,000 of course!“.
Hmmm…..oh how wrong I was.
The reality is that the person who started 10 years earlier (preferably in their 20s) had actually made $73,633 more even though they put in $40,000 less.
Maybe a Chart Involving Beer Will Help?
Not convinced? Here’s something else to look at:
Sounds great, right? Being able to retire, not having to eat Ramen, being able to drink a gigantic tower of beer… all wonderful.
But if I had to guess there are some of you out there in your 20s — just starting careers, just starting families, just really starting to get into the swing of things — that are wondering:
How the heck do I start? I have no idea what I’m doing!
Well that’s hopefully one of the reasons you are reading my blog. I want every single one of my readers to be able to retire, and if I have to show each one how to do it then that’s what I’m going to do.
Resources for Getting Started on Your Retirement Saving
Here are some resources I’ve created to help you jump start your retirement savings.
Best Online Brokers for Beginners
With the large number of brokerage firms out there it can be really confusing deciding where to open an account. There are some brokers out there that are only for “professional” investors that trade a lot and need all kinds of crazy chart tracking.
If you’re just starting and investing in your 20s then that isn’t you.
I’ve boiled down your best online broker options for you to make the selection that much easier.
I like really simple, and beginner investors should too.
The Roth IRA is one of the best investment accounts to have to grow your nest egg for your retirement.
Naturally, you put the two together and you get a great result.The Roth IRA Movement
Last year I helped start the Roth IRA Movement to encourage young people to open and fund Roth IRAs. Over 140 bloggers jumped in to add their own articles and it was a huge success. The link above takes you to an easily accessible list of all of the posts. A lot of good reading here.
Start Saving for Retirement In Your 20s
No matter which broker you go with or what investment philosophy you end up selecting… please do not delay in starting your retirement savings. Investing in your 20s is the absolute way to go. Literally every day that goes by without saving for the future the harder you will need to work and save to meet the same goal.
Let your money work for you by giving it the maximum amount of time to be invested. Don’t end up eating Ramen Noodles and waiting for your next Social Security check. That’s no way to live your golden years.
What do you spend most of your money on? For most people, their two biggest expenses are their home and car(s). If you remember the post comparing expenses in 1913 to 2012, you might recall the three things that Mr. Average spent most of his “raise” on were:
Housing (36 percent of the raise)
Income taxes (28 percent), and
Transportation (24 percent)
A majority of the increase in transportation has, arguably, to do with that wonderful instrument of freedom — the automobile.
The choices we make
Our spectrum of choice in cars is, of course, wider than a mile. Egotistas spend big on the latest model of the coolest car. Hollywood celebrities once flaunted their beblinged Cadillac Escalades at the annual Oscar ceremony. That was before the 2002 recession. When that hit, it suddenly wasn’t cool any more to be seen piloting a behemoth slurping down rivers of Mother Earth’s precious resources. That’s when the curtain went up on the eco-friendly Toyota Prius, which Cameron Diaz and other stars rode to the 2003 big event in their sipply little Priuses. Overnight, saving the planet with the Prius became California Cool.
That was then.
The top 1 percent, as we saw a few weeks ago, figured out a way to ensure that a full 95 percent of the wealth increase from this economic recovery gets channeled into their pockets. With that, concern for saving the planet went the way of Uggs for boys, and now the wheels of choice for gliding down Rodeo Drive has become a Range Rover, starting at $85,000 (new, of course).
While an egotista’s main concern is how to bling up a new Range Rover, the other end of the spectrum is occupied by frugalistas sporting boring robust-o-cars destined for at least ten more faithful years of service. Those road warriors are inevitably at least 20 years old, scored on Craigslist for $500 from people with more money than savings concern.
Most of us find ourselves somewhere in the middle of the bulge of the ever-present bell curve, seeking to save while driving something a tad less extreme. That includes the mythical Mr. Average, the darling of all statisticians and bloggers.
So what does Mr. Average spend to keep his or her car on the road? The three biggest car expenses are depreciation, fuel, and car insurance. How does Mr. Average try to save on these items? Buy a cheaper car, is the usual answer.
Not for insurance. You would think you would save on auto insurance with an economical Toyota Corolla, which would be cheaper to insure than, say, a Chevy Tahoe, which is approximately twice the cost. You would be wrong. In an actual comparative pricing study I did for another blog post, I discovered that insuring the more expensive Tahoe is actually cheaper in total dollars than insuring the economical Corolla (new, as well as used).
Comparing gas mileage and depreciation is relatively easy. Getting a handle on car insurance costs for Mr. Average, however, is not.
You see, car insurance is greatly affected by “other” factors than by your choice of vehicle. According to Insurance.com, there are four basic factors insurance companies use to set your rates, and the actual vehicle is only third on that list.
The biggest factor setting your auto insurance rate is you — or, to be more specific, how insurance companies see you. You are bound to hate some and love some of these distinctions, but they’re driven by hard data, collected and analyzed by geeks at their computers.
Who you are
Age: If you’re under 25, your car insurance rates will be higher. Over 25, it depends. It drops until you become seriously interested in Depends, at which time your car insurance rates will start to climb again.
Along with age, insurance companies look at how many years you’ve been driving. Statistics prove that people who have driven longer file fewer claims. For that reason, it usually pays to keep your driver’s license current, even if you live somewhere like New York City or Chicago, where you many times don’t even need to own a car or drive. (Of course, you may need to have a driver’s license in America to write checks or buy stuff with plastic. Foreigners sometimes have a hard time figuring out how being able to pass a driving test qualifies you to write checks, but that’s a different story.)
Gender: Women pay less because:
They drive less
They get in fewer accidents
They get fewer speeding tickets
They get fewer DUI convictions
They buy safer cars
Please note: that’s not a personal judgment. Insurance companies agree that that’s what the numbers say.
Zip Code: Where you live affects your rates, because the frequency of “risk events” varies greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood. These risk events include vandalism, theft of cars and/or contents, and fraudulent claims. Again, these are not Mark Cuban types of assessments; they’re conclusions drawn from statistical data. For this reason, it’s not uncommon for two identical people living just a few miles apart to have a difference of as much as 50 percent in their auto insurance rates.
So, if you’re considering moving, it might be a good idea to find out what the difference will be in your car insurance. You can get quotes from esurance, Progressive, or other online insurance providers — or you can fill out a single form at Insurance.com and get free online quotes from a bunch of insurance companies any time you want to compare rates. (It’s pretty slick, but I digress.)
In general, it’s cheaper to insure cars in rural areas, because they have less crime, less traffic, and fewer accidents.
Credit History: You might not think paying your credit card bill late would increase your car insurance, but you would be mistaken. According to an insurance broker friend of mine, statistics show that people with bad credit file claims something like 40 percent more frequently than those with good credit. If you want to look into this, here’s an article about how and why your credit history affects your car insurance premiums.
Occupation: Again, statistics rule when it comes to insurance. Occupations like scientist, pilot, or actor/artist show lower claims and, therefore, have lower car insurance rates, generally speaking. Why? I want to say nobody really knows, but I’m sure somebody does. The most common explanation I’ve heard is that those occupations require attention to detail and being meticulous. In other words, those people are careful. That’s in contrast to occupations with high auto insurance rates, such as lawyers, business executives, judges and doctors. Apparently, the reason for that is the stress level that comes with jobs like those. (They say the rate for doctors isn’t much lower than for teens.) Real estate brokers also pay more because they have to drive more.
Marital Status: Did you know married people get into fewer accidents than their unmarried counterparts? Insurance companies do, and that’s why they offer married people lower rates. In addition, insuring two cars with the same company usually will get you an additional multi-policy discount, much like the next criterion.
Homeownership: Insurance companies generally charge less for homeowners because they’re regarded as more stable. By itself, that’s not a significant factor, but the discount you get from combining your home and car insurance is.
The rest
The other basic factors determining your auto insurance rates are:
Your driving record (accidents, tickets, etc.) and claims history
The coverage you’re looking for (pretty obvious)
Your vehicle
The impact of your vehicle selection is not obvious, so it’s not simply that a more expensive car will carry a higher insurance premium. In fact, as pointed out above, a Tahoe costs less to insure than a Corolla.
Chances are that if you’re concerned with getting rich slowly, you will have a good (or at least improving) credit record, and you’ll be on the positive side of many of the variables listed above. But now you know exactly how those factors can lead to savings on your auto insurance, the third largest expense of car ownership.
How have you gone about lowering your car insurance premiums?
Buying a home is one of life’s most rewarding milestones. However, as a prospective homebuyer, you may have noticed how much the real estate landscape has changed over the past few years.
Let’s take a look at how a temporary mortgage buydown concession could reduce your interest rate and make your initial monthly payments more affordable.
What Is a Temporary Buydown on a Mortgage?
A temporary buydown is a mortgage financing strategy that allows a homebuyer to lower their interest rate and payment for a predetermined amount of time through the payment of mortgage points at closing (whether by the lender, homebuyer or seller).
What’s a mortgage point? A mortgage point, also known as a mortgage discount point, equals 1% of your total loan amount. For example, a mortgage point on a $200,000 loan would be $2,000. When you purchase points in a mortgage buydown, you’re essentially prepaying interest upfront at closing in exchange for a lower rate, i.e., “buying it down.” Typically, a lender may offer a .25% rate reduction in exchange for one point.
How long could the rate and payment reduction last? Up to three years.
How much could the rate be reduced? A maximum of 3%. The rate is lower in the introductory period and increases over time — a maximum increase of 1% per year — to the original quoted rate.
What happens to those mortgage point payments? The money will typically go into an escrow account. Those funds temporarily subsidize your interest rate for the agreed-upon time period.
According to Scott Bridges, senior managing director of Pennymac’s consumer direct lending division, the benefit of a buydown is simple. “In short, the buydown allows a buyer to combat higher market rates,” he explains. “The first year of the loan, your rate and payment will be based on a rate that is 1% lower than the market rate. So if current rates are 6%, your first year of payments would be based on a 5% rate. That reduced rate for year one can save the average consumer several thousand dollars in payments (depending on loan amount).”
While interest rate discounts, loan terms, and conditions vary by lender, a buydown can be a good option for temporarily lowering your monthly mortgage payments at the start of your loan.
What Are the Benefits of Buying Down an Interest Rate?
There are several reasons you may want to buy down your mortgage rate. Here are a few potential budget-friendly benefits:
Lowers initial monthly mortgage payments. If you have a temporary buydown, those points you pay for upfront can make your initial mortgage payments more manageable, which can be especially helpful if you’re at the beginning of your career and expect your income to rise in the future. Those early savings will also add up to less interest paid over the life of your loan.
May boost your buying power. A reduced interest rate and the subsequent lower monthly mortgage payment may help you qualify for a higher mortgage, enabling you to purchase a more expensive home.
Can be arranged for both purchases and limited cash-out refinances. Whether you’re buying a new home or doing a limited cash-out refinance and replacing your current mortgage with a new, slightly larger mortgage, you may qualify for a temporary interest rate buydown.
Potential tax write-off. While a seller, builder, or lender may cover the buydown to facilitate a sale, the points may be deductible as home mortgage interest if you’re the buyer and pay for the buydown.1
Reduces rates for fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARM). You can purchase points to lower your interest rate on a fixed-rate mortgage and during an ARM’s introductory fixed-rate period. Depending on the buydown structure, rates may be reduced up to 3% for a maximum of three years.
More money in your pocket. A lower mortgage payment at the start of your loan could free up cash to pay bills or make home improvements.
Allows you to watch the market. A buydown gives you an opportunity to watch the market while saving on your monthly payments. “As rates move up and down during and after that first year, you can refinance into a lower rate with the knowledge you had a full year of reduced mortgage payments,” Bridges notes.
How Much Does It Cost to Buy Down the Interest Rate?
Generally speaking, the approximate cost for a temporary mortgage buydown equals how much you’ll ultimately save in interest. But several factors will be taken into account:
How much money you’re borrowing
How many points you’re buying; each point costs 1% of the mortgage amount
Type of buydown structure
Who funds a temporary mortgage buydown? In most cases, the buyer will pay the mortgage points, but in some instances, the buydown could be fully or partially funded by the seller, lender, or third party, such as a realtor or builder.
How long will the reduced interest rate be in effect? The lower rate and payment will be in effect for up to three years, depending on the rate buydown structure. Below are a few different types of mortgage buydowns.
Rate Buydown Structures
There are several types of rate buydown structures. If your lender offers you a buydown — most, but not all, lenders do — you will have the opportunity to negotiate pricing and determine which structure suits your financial needs. The following are the most common types of temporary mortgage buydown structures.
3-2-1 Buydown
A 3-2-1 buydown is a home financing arrangement that will reduce a homebuyer’s interest rate for the initial three years. The lowest interest rate is in the first year, increasing to the permanent quoted rate after the third year.
3-2-1 Buydown Basics
Reduces rate by three percentage points in the first year of the mortgage
Reduces rate by two percentage points in the second year
Reduces rate by one percentage point in the third year
Borrower pays full interest rate after the completion of the third year and is fixed for the remainder of the loan
3-2-1 Buydown Example
This chart shows how a 3-2-1 rate buydown could potentially work if you were to qualify for a 30-year, $200,000 mortgage at a rate of 7%:
Mortgage Year
Interest Rate
Monthly Payment (Principal and Interest)
Monthly Savings
Annual Savings
1
4%
$954.83
$375.77
$4,509.24
2
5%
$1,073.64
$256.96
$3,083.52
3
6%
$1,199.10
$131.50
$1,578
4 – 30
7%
$1,330.60
$0
$0
In this scenario, the total buydown cost would be approximately $9,171, the amount equal to the first three years of interest savings. The chart amounts don’t include insurance or taxes, and you will want to assume no points contribution from the seller, builder, lender, or a third party.
2-1 Buydown
A 2-1 buydown is a type of home financing arrangement that reduces the interest rate on a mortgage for the first two years, after which the rate rises to the permanent quoted rate.
2-1 Buydown Basics
Reduces rate by two percentage points in the first year of the mortgage
Reduces rate by one percentage point in the second year
Borrower pays full interest rate after the completion of the third year for the remainder of the loan
2-1 Buydown Example
This chart shows how a 2-1 rate buydown could potentially work if you were to qualify for a 30-year, $200,000 mortgage at a rate of 7%:
Mortgage Year
Interest Rate
Monthly Payment (Principal and Interest)
Monthly Savings
Annual Savings
1
5%
$1,073.64
$256.96
$3,083.52
2
6%
$1,199.10
$131.50
$1,578
3 – 30
7%
$1,330.60
$0
$0
In this scenario, the total cost of the buydown would be approximately $4,661.52, the amount equal to the first two years of interest savings. The chart amounts don’t include insurance or taxes, and assume no points contribution from the seller, builder, lender, or a third party.
1-0 Buydown
A 1-0 buydown is a type of home financing arrangement that reduces the mortgage interest rate by 1% in the first year, increasing to the permanent quoted rate after that initial year.
1-0 Buydown Basics
Reduces rate by one percentage point in the first year of the mortgage
Borrower pays full interest rate after the completion of the first year for the remainder of the loan
1-0 Buydown Example
This chart shows how a 1-0 rate buydown could potentially work if you were to qualify for a 30-year $200,000 mortgage at a rate of 7%:
Mortgage Year
Interest Rate
Monthly Payment (Principal and Interest)
Monthly Savings
Annual Savings
1
6%
$1,199.10
$131.50
$1,578.00
2 – 30
7%
$1,330.60
$0
$0
In this scenario, the total cost of the buydown would be approximately $1,578, the amount equal to the first year of interest savings. The chart amounts don’t include insurance or taxes and assume no points contribution from the seller, builder, lender, or a third party.
Who Can Buy Down a Mortgage?
In most cases, the buyer will buy down the mortgage, but there are times when the seller, builder, or lender will offer to purchase points and pay for the buyer’s mortgage buydown. Let’s take a look at each scenario.
Buyer-Funded Buydown
When a buyer negotiates a buydown with a lender, they pay a certain amount of points upfront at closing in exchange for a reduced interest rate. Depending on the buydown structure, the rate could be temporarily lowered for up to three years or the entire loan term. Most mortgage buydowns are buyer-lender arrangements.
Seller-Funded Buydown
A seller-funded buydown is when a highly motivated seller purchases points and buys down the homebuyer’s interest rate. This seller concession can help “seal a deal” by incentivizing and speeding up a home sale. Subsidizing a mortgage buydown can:
Give a seller a competitive advantage without having to lower the listing price
Help increase the borrower’s purchasing power
Make it easier for buyers to qualify for financing
Expedite the home sale process
A possible win-win for both the seller and the buyer. The seller could make a faster sale while holding on to more profits than they would if they lowered the asking price. The buyer saves money with a lower interest rate.
Builder-Funded Buydown
Homebuilders can offer mortgage buydowns to attract prospective homebuyers. As interest rates climb and the new-home market slows, builder buydowns are becoming an increasingly popular selling strategy. A recent survey found that 75% of nationally surveyed home builders confirmed they are buying down buyers’ mortgage rates to make payments more affordable.2 Builder buydowns can:
Lure buyers in a competitive and high mortgage market
Make new homes more affordable to a broader range of buyers
Be offered as part of a package, such as an upgrade or closing cost contribution
A builder buydown arrangement may require the buyer to go through the builder’s mortgage company for the mortgage.
Lender-Funded Buydown
Lenders may offer to subsidize a buydown by contributing all or some of the funds for the mortgage points. This concession option could help increase your negotiating and purchasing power as a borrower.
Is Buying Down an Interest Rate Right for You?
A temporary lower interest rate is certainly enticing, but mortgage buydowns aren’t for everyone. Buying mortgage points in exchange for a rate reduction may not be in your best interest if you are…
Having trouble meeting loan qualification criteria: You must qualify for the standard loan terms without the benefit of the buydown. This also includes:
Having a minimum 660 FICO score
Meeting the applicable Fannie Mae requirements
Submitting mandatory documentation
Purchasing an investment property or manufactured home: A mortgage buydown can be arranged for a principal, owner-occupied home, or a second home. It’s not available for investment properties or manufactured homes.
Planning on selling soon: There are substantial upfront costs involved with buying a new home, including the down payment and closing costs. Add mortgage points to the mix and it will take time to “break even,” meaning the time it will take for your savings to outweigh those costs to lower your interest rate. If you sell in the near future, you may not have been in the home long enough to recoup those point costs.
Doing a regular cash-out refinance: Mortgage buydowns are allowed on purchases and limited cash-out refinances only. Limited cash-out refinances follow Fannie Mae guidelines restricting the cash-back amount to $2,000 or 2% of the new loan principal balance, whichever is less.3
Short on cash: If you have limited cash, the high upfront costs may deplete your savings, leaving you short on funds you may need to cover other future expenses. Instead of buying points, you may want to allocate those funds to paying down high-interest debt or building an emergency fund.
Making a small down payment: If you’re purchasing a home and contributing less than 20% to the down payment, or if you’re refinancing and have less than 20% equity, you’ll likely have to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI) on your conventional loan.4 The premium will be added to your regular monthly payment. Rather than pay for points, consider using that money to make a larger down payment.
When can a mortgage buydown make sense? This home loan strategy is worth exploring if…
You have enough liquid cash: If your savings is enough to cover the down payment, closing costs, and mortgage points — and you have a cash reserve left over — a temporary mortgage buydown can be a great option for reducing your interest rate for up to three years.
You expect your income to rise: Starting your career? Re-entering the workforce? If you anticipate that your income will rise within the next few years, a temporary mortgage buydown can help you ease into homeownership with a lower initial interest rate and payment.
The seller, builder, or lender is paying for the points: If you’re a homebuyer and the seller, builder, or lender offers to purchase the mortgage points for you, a temporary buydown can be an easy way to save money without any point-related, out-of-pocket expenses.
“Lots of people avoid buying a home when rates are higher,” says Bridges, “but this program allows you to at least achieve some reduced payments and real savings for a year.”
Higher rates can also significantly slow down home buying demand. That means, Bridges adds, “You will likely pay less for the house than you would in a low rate market when multiple buyers tend to bid over asking.” With a buydown, you set yourself up to win on multiple fronts. “You get a deal on the house you want, save money on the purchase price of the home in this higher rate market, save money on the monthly payment in year one, and refinance when rates drop.”
The Permanent Mortgage Rate Buydown Option
Want to lower your interest rate and monthly mortgage payment for your entire loan term? In addition to a temporary buydown, you may be eligible to negotiate a permanent buydown with your lender.
Protects against rate hikes. The lower rate will never increase during the loan term as long as you have a fixed-rate mortgage.
How much does it cost? The rate typically costs between six and eight points. Costs are added to the closing fees.
Ready to learn more about how Pennymac can help you find the right home loan? Begin your online application now, and if you still have questions, contact a Pennymac Loan Expert. We’ll help you evaluate your mortgage buydown options and decide the best course of action for your unique situation.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
Do you want to make $10,000 a month?
I was struggling with this question for days. I wanted more money now and the thought of making $10,000 seemed like a dream spurred on by advertisements in magazines promising “easy” earnings opportunities.
But then again, it may have been too good to be true. And that’s why I’m writing this article: because so many people are looking for these quick ways to earn big bucks online without a lot of work – and I’m here to deliver.
I’ve been browsing the internet for years and have found a few ways to make $10,000!
There are a lot of ideas out there, you just have to decide what works well for you. So don’t get too excited just yet.
When you follow these easy-to-follow steps, you’ll be on your way to earning yourself some greenbacks that will take care of all those bills and more than pay off your student loans (or at least buy you a new car).
I have provided links to each of the sources I used for this article, so you can check them out for yourself and decide if they’re worth your time.
So without further ado, let’s get started.
What is the quickest way to make $10,000 a month?
Getting started on a side hustle has never been easier. But how do you know where to start?
Check out these six ideas that can be done in hours and make money like crazy!
Become a freelance writer
Start an Etsy shop
Create and sell digital courses
Drive for Uber or Lyft
Become a virtual assistant
Learn how to day trade
Three Ways to make $10000 a month
Everyone wants to make money and get rich quickly, but the truth is that it takes time.
There are many ways of making a living today; you can choose the traditional route, make money online, or look at passive income.
Option #1 – Make $10,000 a month by earning a high income
There are a few ways to make a high income. You can work in a high-paying profession, like a lawyer or doctor.
Working in a high-paying profession is the most common way to make a high income. If you want to earn a six-figure salary, you’ll need to choose a career that pays well. Some of the highest-paying jobs include doctors, lawyers, investment bankers, and CEOs.
Starting your own business is another great way to make a high income. If you can build a successful company, you’ll be able to earn an impressive salary. Of course, starting a business is risky and it takes hard work to be successful.
Option #2 – Make $10,000 a month by working online
There are many different types of work that you can do online in order to make $10,000 a month. Some examples include writing articles or blog posts, designing websites, freelancing, selling products or services, and much more.
How much you can expect to make depends on a number of factors including the type of work you do, how much experience you have, and the amount of time and effort you put into it. However, if you are willing to put in the time and effort, it is possible to make $10,000 a month by working online.
For many people, however, the quickest way is by starting an online business. The good news is that most of these businesses are easy and sustainable because they don’t require a lot of startup capital.
Learn how to make money online for beginners.
Option #3 – Make $10,000 a month with Passive Income
Investing money in assets that generate passive income is another option for making a high income.
With this approach, you will use your capital to purchase assets such as rental properties or dividend stocks. These investments will provide you with regular income, which can help you reach your goal of making $10,000 per month.
Best Ways to Make 10k a Month
The internet is a great place to make money if you know how. The best part is that there are no huge upfront costs like starting a brick-and-mortar store or subscription business, so the sky is the limit on how much you can make.
That is why you will see many of the best ways to make 10k a month are online, and I’ve listed some of my favorites below. They all work in different ways, but they all have one thing in common: you can get started with no upfront costs.
Want to make money online but don’t know what to do? This guide will show you the quickest and easiest ways possible.
Invest in Stock Market with Mutal Funds or ETFs
There are a few things to consider before investing in stocks.
First, you need to have a clear understanding of what stocks are and how they work. It’s also important to understand the different types of stocks, such as blue chip stocks, growth stocks, value stocks, small cap stocks, and penny stocks. This will help you decide which mutual funds or ETFs, you want to invest in.
With this buy-and-hold approach, you are looking to make returns in the long run and are not worried about the up-and-down movement of your portfolio.
You need a 1.5 million portfolio to make $10k a month passively (source). This is the intrigue of how to FI and why many people pursue it.
Make Income in Trading Individual Stocks
There are a few things to consider before actively trading in stocks. You need to understand what stocks are and how they work. You also need to know the risks involved in investing in stocks as an active day trader or swing trader.
Stocks are shares of ownership in a company. When you buy a stock, you become a part-owner of the company. The value of your stock will go up or down depending on how well the company does. Once you have a basic understanding of the stock market, you can begin researching specific companies that interest you.
Stocks are bought and sold on the stock market. The price of a stock is determined by supply and demand. When more people want to buy a stock than sell it, the price goes up. When more people want to sell a stock than buy it, the price goes down.
It is possible to make money fast with stocks.
Create a blog
Blogging is a great way to make money because it gives you the opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise with a wide audience. If you have a knack for writing and are passionate about a particular topic, then starting a blog is definitely a good way to make money.
There are several ways to make money from blogging, such as selling advertising space, affiliate marketing, or selling products and services. However, the most important thing is to build up a large enough audience so that you can monetize your blog effectively.
Become a Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant is an online personal assistant who can help with a variety of tasks, including administrative tasks, social media tasks, and even customer service.
A virtual assistant can help with a variety of tasks that business owners and entrepreneurs need assistance with. You are able to have a non phone work from home job and work during the hours you want. This is why so many people find becoming a VA so appealing.
Use Your Expertise as a Virtual bookkeeper
A virtual bookkeeper is an individual who provides bookkeeping services to clients from a remote location.
To become a virtual bookkeeper, you will need experience in bookkeeping and accounting, as well as strong organizational and communication skills. You will also need to be proficient in using accounting software, such as QuickBooks or FreshBooks.
Create a Course on Teachable and earn $10k a month online
Teachable is an online course platform that allows you to create and sell your own courses. You can use Teachable to earn extra income or even make a full-time living from your courses.
In fact, Teri Ijeoma is one of Teachable’s top course creators and easily surpasses this threshold.
Etsy shop in just a few minutes. This is a great way to use your graphic design skills and easily make money from $1-3 printables.
Write Articles with a Freelance Writing Business
Freelance writing is a great way to make a comfortable living from your writing. Whether you have a passion for writing or you simply enjoy writing for fun, freelance writing can be a great way to make a living from your work.
Copywriting is a type of freelance writing that requires more specialized skills and offers higher ROI for clients. This is because copywriters are responsible for creating compelling and persuasive content that can drive conversions.
Build a Coaching Business with Clients
An online coach is a professional who provides guidance and support to clients through online communication tools such as email, chat, video conferencing, and social media.
Engage in a social media management
A social media manager is a professional who helps businesses grow and interact with their customers through social media.
Social media managers typically create and post content, monitor and respond to comments and messages, run ads, and analyze data to track results.
Drop Shipping
Drop shipping is a business model where you don’t keep any inventory and instead outsource the production of products to a third party. When someone orders a product from your store, you simply contact the supplier and have them ship the product directly to your customer.
This is a great way to earn passive income, as you don’t need to do any of the work yourself. You can also hire freelancers to do all of the low-value tasks for you, such as customer service, order fulfillment, and marketing.
Amazon FBA
Amazon FBA is a service that allows you to sell products on Amazon.com and fulfill orders through the Amazon fulfillment center.
For example, Amazon FBA is an online store that Amazon handles a lot of the stuff that causes headaches for most e-commerce store owners, such as shipping and customer service. This means that store owners can focus on more important aspects of their business while still benefitting from Amazon’s massive user base.
Customers are more likely to buy from you if they see that your product is eligible for Prime shipping.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is when you promote other people’s products and services to make a commission. The easiest way to get started with affiliate marketing is through Amazon.
You can sign up as an Amazon Associate for free and then use the Amazon Associates link generator to create links for the products you want to promote. Amazon will pay you a commission on anything that is purchased through one of your links, even if it isn’t something that you promoted.
Make a Salary Off Flea Markets
There are many ways to make a salary off flea markets and search through other people’s junk. It is completely possible to make an income from selling items online.
You can start by finding a market that you are interested in and looking for items that are in high demand. Then, you need to know what to look for when you are shopping. When you are ready to start selling, you will need to find a place to sell and know your profit margins.
Invest Your Money to Make More
Investing is the act of allocating resources, usually money, with the expectation of generating an income or profit.
The first step is to understand what you want to achieve with your investment.
Once you know your goals, you can start researching different investment options and choosing the one that best suits your needs. It’s important to remember that there are risks involved with any type of investment, so be sure to do your homework before making any decisions.
Learn all the best ways how to invest 10k.
How hard is it to make $10k a Month?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the amount of work required to make $10,000 a month varies depending on the individual’s circumstances and career path.
However, in general, making $10,000 a month requires a significant amount of hard work and dedication.
For example, someone who is self-employed may need to put in long hours to build up their business before they start seeing a return on their investment. Similarly, someone who is employed by someone else may need to put in extra effort to stand out from the crowd and get promoted.
How much money is required:
Again, there is no definitive answer as the amount of money required varies depending on the individual’s circumstances. However, in general, making $10k a month usually requires having a good income from employment or from other sources such as investments as you build your side hustle. It’s also worth noting that saving up enough money to live on while you’re working towards your goal can also be helpful.
Also, spending money on online courses to jumpstart your process is helpful!
How long does it take:
The time it takes to make $10k a month also varies depending on the individual’s circumstances. For example, someone who already has a well-paid job may only need to save up for a few months before reaching their goal, whereas someone who is starting their own business may need to work for several years before seeing a return on their investment.
How to make $10k a month FAQs
Many people are interested in earning a high income, but they don’t know how to get started. In this section, we go over many of the frequently asked questions.
There are many ways to make money without a job. You can start your own business, work as a freelancer, or find odd jobs.
How much you can make depends on how much time and effort you put into it. You could potentially make thousands of dollars a month if you’re willing to work hard.
If you have the right skills and connections, you can make a lot of money in a short period of time.
To earn 10k a month, you need to average making $333.33 per day (assuming a 30 day month).
If you plan to work a normal 9-to-5 schedule, you must earn $500 a day.
There are many jobs that pay $10,000 a month. Some of these jobs include:
CEOs or any C-level executive
Investment bankers
Lawyers
Doctors
Different jobs require different skill sets. For example, CEOs need to be good at managing people and finances, while lawyers need to be good at research and writing.
The cost of living varies widely depending on where you live – yes the debate of HCOL vs LCOL. But $10,000 a month is generally enough to cover basic expenses and leave some room for savings.
Of course, if you have a family or other financial obligations, your expenses will be higher and you may not be able to save as much.
How to make $10000 a month from home?
There are many ways to make money from home. You can start a blog and sell advertising, write eBooks and sell them online, or even start a YouTube channel and sell products through affiliate marketing.
The amount of money you can make from home will vary depending on the method you choose. For example, if you start a blog and sell advertising, you could make a few hundred dollars per month starting out. However, as you grow and expand into other niches like affiliate marketing, you could easily make over $10,000 per month.
Tips for success:
No matter which method you choose to make money from home, there are some tips that will help you succeed.
First, be sure to choose a niche that you are passionate about so that writing or creating content is not a chore.
Second, be consistent with how you plan on making money from home.
Finally, invest in online courses to jumpstart your learning.
What are some tips for making $10,000 a month?
In the past few years, there has been a shift in how people get rich.
People are now making money six-figure salaries by doing what they love and starting their own businesses or becoming influencers.
Here are the best tips to make sure you have success in how to make 10k a month.
Tip #1 – Set a Goal
Setting a goal is important because it gives you something to work towards. It can also help motivate you to take action and stay on track.
When setting a goal, it is important to be specific and realistic. You should also make sure that your goal is measurable so that you can track your progress.
Example goals:
Enroll in online course to expand your earning potential
Earn an extra $500 per month from side hustles
Have your side gig income to take over your 9-to-5 income
Be able to retire and enjoy time freedom
Tip #2 – Make a Plan
As James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits says, “Many people think they lack motivation when what they really lack is clarity.”
You have to start by making a plan. You can daydream all you want about making $10000 in a month.
Here are a few steps to get you started:
Brainstorm ideas for a side hustle
Research the market and start small
Figure out which online courses to take to jumpstart your learning
Study. Study. And study.
Stay consistent with your plan.
However, the best way to find out if a side hustle will work is to start small. You can always build up your business and make more money later on.
Tip #3 – Be Patient
You need to be patient if you want to make $10,000 a month. It takes time and effort to make this much money.
Don’t think you can walk away after a few hours and make $10k each month.
It takes time to be consistent in making $10k month after month.
However, if you put in the work, you can make $10,000 a month.
Tip #4 – Take Action
In order to make $10,000 a month, it is important to take action.
Each and every day, you should be working on something that will help you reach your financial goals.
Whether it is watching a Youtube video, listening to a podcast, or actually putting reach work in.
Taking action will help you reach your goals quickly.
How to make 10k a week
Making 10k a week is definitely possible, but it’ll take work and dedication to see results.
You’ll need to have the right money-making idea and put in the time and effort to make it successful. Additionally, having multiple streams of income can help you reach your goal faster.
Which Income Stream will you choose to Start with?
So there you have it! A few different ways that you can start earning an extra $10,000 a month.
Which one will you choose to start with?
There are many ways to make money quickly and easily, but not all of them are created equal. In this guide, we’ve outlined some of the quickest and most effective ways to make $10k a month.
Choose the option that best suits your skills and interests, and get started today!
Let us know in the comments below.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
I am a big believer in making big goals and one of my goals is to purchase 100 rental properties by 2023. I have been a real estate agent and investor for more than 15 years, and I love the income my rental properties provide. Buying 100 rental properties will allow me to retire with more than enough money to reach my current dreams and goals. I do not want to buy 100 properties quickly without concern for the returns or risk. It takes a lot of money, time, and effort to buy 100 properties in the right way. I only buy houses that are well below market value and have great cash flow.
I first wrote this article in 2013, but have tried to update it frequently. I now have 20 rentals that make me over $10,000 a month after expenses. I am way behind on my goal, but many things happened that I could not have predicted like our housing market going crazy. I have bought commercial properties in the last few years instead of residential because they have been better money makers in my market.
Why I made a more challenging goal
In 2010, my original goal was to buy 30 rental properties in ten years. I based that goal on what I thought I could realistically achieve when I started buying rentals. A couple of years ago, I realized my goal was too easy because I knew I could buy 30 houses in ten years. I had given myself no room for improvement in my investing strategies or real estate business! At the start of 2013, I reworked all my goals including my rental property purchase schedule. My new goal was to buy 100 rental properties by January 2023 because it challenged me and would make me work hard. I had no idea when I first made this goal how I could buy 100 rental properties, but that is why we make big goals; to challenge us to do more and to change the way we do things.
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Why real estate?
I want to buy 100 rental properties because of the income and freedom that 100 houses will give me. I make over 15 percent cash on cash returns on my rentals because I purchase them below market value with great rent to value ratios. If I can buy 100 rental properties with the current cash flow requirements I have, I will make a lot of money. According to my calculations, I will be making over $900,000 a year in cash flow, have at least 60 houses paid off, and have over 11 million in equity in my rental properties. Those figures are not adjusted for inflation and assume no appreciation or rent increases. That kind of income should allow me to afford whatever my family and I want and allow us to do whatever we like. We only live once and I want to get everything that I can out of life.
The first part of this article discusses the philosophy behind buying 100 rental properties, why it is important to have big goals, and why it is important to think big. The second half of the article discusses the numbers and a detailed purchase schedule.
Is it possible to purchase 100 rental properties?
To be completely honest, I do not know how I am going to buy 100 rental properties by January 2023. I do not make nearly enough money to buy 9 or 10 houses a year. I have barely been able to buy three houses a year. I bought my first rental property in December 2010, and I started my rental property purchase goal on that day. I should have had three by December 2011, six by December 2012, and nine by December 2013. I started out very slow buying only one rental in my first year. I have picked up speed and as of March 2016, I own 16 rentals, still behind where I had hoped to be. That does not mean I will not reach my goal. The reason I have not purchased as many rentals lately is they are much harder to find in our market. Our prices have increased significantly making it harder to cash flow. I have been buying many more fix and flips since I cannot find rentals.
Why do I think I can purchase 100 rental properties by January 2023 if I am so far away? After reading and listening to books on how to become wealthy I started reworking my life goals. A couple of ideas are repeated in books and audio tapes beginning with Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Think and Grow Rich was published in the early 20th century after Napoleon Hill followed Andrew Carnegie for decades. Carnegie was one of the richest men in the history of the world and wanted someone to study rich people in the world and write a book about how and why they became rich. Because Carnegie was one of the richest people in the world, he was able to grant Hill access to most of the world’s wealthiest people. Think and Grow Rich is now known as one of the first self-help books, and many of its basic ideas are still taught today by the world’s most famous life coaches and teachers.
How will my attitude affect my success?
Being positive is a theme that is repeated in every self-help book and audio recording I have ever listened too. I am a strong believer that our attitude has a huge influence on our success in life. The books range from slightly crazy to extremely scientific reasons for how being positive can greatly affect the success we have in our lives. You may have heard of the law of attraction, which states that the universe will return to us whatever we put out. If we are positive and happy, we will get positive and happy things back. If we are negative and sad, negative and sad things will come our way. I am a very logical and scientific person and was not sold on this idea right away. I had to know why this would happen. How could being positive magically bring positive things into our lives?
I started doing research on the brain and on how the law of attraction theory worked. I found out that it is not all magic, there are scientific reasons why the law of attraction works. It is based on the subconscious part of our brain and on how it operates our bodies. We know that our conscious mind is only a fraction of what our brain is responsible for. Our subconscious mind is constantly working to keep us alive by telling our heart, lungs, muscles and the rest of our bodies what to do. Most of our movements and actions are performed by our subconscious, not our conscious mind. We do not have to think about walking, talking, driving, writing, or even most of our daily tasks. By doing those things repeatedly, we have programmed our minds on how to do them.
Tying this back into the positive thinking idea, if we are always thinking positively, our subconscious will think positively, too. If our subconscious thinks we are happy all the time, it will do what it can to make us happy. Why do we care what our subconscious thinks? It is much smarter than our conscious mind. The subconscious is responsible for handling millions of tasks at once, while our conscious mind can only handle a handful of ideas at once. If we let our subconscious know what we want it will help guide our lives and help us to get what we want. Whether it is love, happiness, money, or material items our subconscious has much more power than we think. The theory also states that you must think about what you want, not what you do not want because our subconscious cannot tell the difference. If you are constantly thinking about not having money, then your subconscious will do its best to make that come true as well. If you are constantly thinking of not getting sick, our subconscious will do its best to get you sick. Think of being healthy, think of being rich, and think of the good things, not the negatives.
Why such a big goal?
Almost every self-help book will tell you goals are extremely important. Without goals, we have no direction, no path, and no idea of what we really want in life. There are varying ideas of how our goals should be constructed. Some say we just need broad wide-open goals such as being as happy as possible all the time to make whatever is best for you to come to you. Others say to be as specific and detailed as possible with your goals, break your goals into smaller goals, and then have a period for when those goals will be accomplished. Eventually, you will have a detailed blueprint for how you will get to where you need to go.
Some people say you need realistic goals and others say you need outrageous goals. As you have probably guessed, I like outrageous goals! The reason I like outrageous goals is that they are challenging! If I know that I can reach a goal and if I know exactly how to reach it, where is the motivation for me to push myself? I want goals that make me think and reach for new ideas and systems. I have no idea what opportunities or challenges will face me in the future, so why should I limit my future goals to what I can do now? I may have a huge increase in income or find a new system that allows me to buy houses cheaper. I have such a lofty goal because I have no idea what could happen.
Who will I need help from?
Many of the self-help books also talk about how we all need friends, co-workers, or acquaintances to help us reach our potential. Some use the term mastermind to describe groups of like-minded people who meet to help each other succeed by offering advice and motivation. The idea is that the more people to brainstorm ideas, questions, problems, etc. the better the chance a great idea or solution to a problem will come about. I do not have a mastermind group (this has since changed), but I have recruited my best friend to work with me and learn the real estate business. He was a top-level manager in the corporate world and left his six-figure salary behind to learn real estate from me. I benefit by having a new mind to bounce ideas off and have more help in the office. He benefits by getting out of the corporate grind and learning how to be truly wealthy. He also has a flexible schedule and he is not stuck behind a desk all day.
Why focus is so important
The self-help teachers also say how important it is to focus on one task or goal. All the greats had something in their mind that they really wanted. They did not let anything stop them until they got what they wanted or died trying. I have always thought of myself as being able to multitask, a jack-of-all-trades type of person. So far, it had worked out well, but I know I can do better. I know there are things I can improve in my business to make it run better and make more money. I have always thought that I knew everything about finding good deals in real estate. After starting this blog, I have realized that there is a whole world I have been missing in direct marketing to off-market properties. Instead of trying to manage five different sources of income myself, I need to delegate less important tasks to my staff and focus on the real moneymakers. If I can focus intently on a couple different areas of my work instead of just skimming over 50, I know I can improve my numbers significantly.
Why visualizing the goal being achieved is important
Many great athletes will tell you how important visualization is to succeed in sports. Great golfers visualize exactly how their shot will look before they hit it. Basketball players repeatedly visualize hitting the game-winning shot. The wealth teachers are all huge supporters of visualization. They say visualization will give your subconscious a clear picture of what you want and then your subconscious will do its best to make it happen. If you want to change your life, start visualizing how it should be every day. Better yet, go see, touch, and smell the things you want. Test-drive the car you always wanted, look at your dream home, or immerse yourself with the things you want and your subconscious will get to work. I wrote a ten-year dream story on exactly how I wanted my life to be. I described a beautiful house and in three months, I bought that house. I was not even planning to move and in no way thought I could afford a house like the one I have now, but it became a reality.
Using all I have learned to reach my goals
Based on the ideas I have just discussed, I think I have a good chance of reaching 100 rental properties. I still do not know exactly how it will happen, but I know it will or I will find a better and more challenging goal. I have to train my subconscious to help me reach my goal. I have to be positive all the time. I have to think about my goals constantly and break it down into manageable pieces. I must have help and I have to focus more intently on my important goals. I also have to visualize myself already achieving my goals and having everything I want. Even if not all of this makes me rich, worst-case scenario, I am a positive, determined, focused person who knows exactly what he wants.
Breaking down big goals makes them more realistic
I have broken down other goals in my life, but I have yet to break down a goal this big! I am going to work through the goal while writing the blog and see where I end up in 9.5 years. I wanted to write this article to help convince myself that it is possible to buy 100 properties. The first part of this article was all about my mindset. Now, let us get down to the numbers. Here is a year-by-year breakdown of how I plan to purchase 100 rental properties.
Year one
With my current income, I can purchase three rental properties a year and I have purchased that many in the last three years. I should be able to do a cash-out refinance on at least one rental property in 2014 and get enough money to buy another property. I am also counting on my new attitude and work ideas to create enough extra income to purchase one more rental property. I also just acquired a HELOC on my personal residence for $60,000. I think that will allow me to purchase one more rental. New goal for 2014 is to purchase six long-term rentals.
I will have 15 houses with about $9,400 in monthly cash flow. That is $112,800 a year all going toward paying off mortgages on my properties. I will have paid off one house at the beginning of 2014 and will pay off one and a half more in 2014.
Year two
In 2015, with income and savings, I should be able to purchase four properties. I should be able to do another cash-out refinance and buy another rental property as well. I also believe my continuous improvements will allow more increases in income, through either listing or flipping houses. The increased income will allow me to add another rental and HELOC another as well. I am hoping the addition of my friend beginning to work with me will bring in more income from his real estate activities, which will allow another purchase. My goal for 2015 is to purchase nine rentals.
I will have 24 houses with about $15,200 in monthly cash flow. That is $182,400 a year all going toward paying off mortgages. I will pay off the other half of one property and two more rentals in year two and will have four properties paid off.
Year three
I believe I will increase my income and savings enough to be able to buy five rentals. I will have 24 rentals and I should be able to refinance at least two of those properties. That will allow two more purchases and the HELOC should add the flexibility to add another rental. I am still planning to add to my income every year with increased business. This year I see a big jump in income with my friend being around for his third year and our new marketing and listing techniques taking off. I see three more rental properties being purchased from new income. My goal for 2016 is to purchase 11 rentals.
I will have 35 houses with about with about $22,200 in monthly cash flow. That is $266,400 a year all going to pay off mortgages. I will pay off four and a half more properties for a total of eight and a half properties paid off.
Year four
From my current income, I will be able to buy eight rental properties. I will continue to refinance two properties a year, which will allow at least two more purchases. I am also going to use the HELOC to buy another, and I am still planning to increase my income. I am going to stay conservative and assume enough income to buy one more property this year. My goal for 2017 is to purchase 12 rental properties.
I will have 47 rental properties at this point with about $31,400 in monthly cash flow. That makes $376,800 a year all going to mortgage payoff! I will pay off the half of a mortgage left over from 2016 and five more properties in 2017, making 14 properties paid off.
Year five
From my current income, I will be able to purchase nine rental properties. I will refinance two more properties and use the proceeds to buy two more rentals. I may not have enough money in the HELOC this year so I will not count on that, but I will count on my income increasing enough to purchase one more rental. My goal for 2018 is to purchase 12 rental properties. Note: To buy this many properties I will need about $300,000 in cash for repairs and down payments.
I will have 59 rental properties with a monthly cash flow of $41,000. That makes $492,000 a year all going to mortgage payoff. I will pay off seven and a half more properties in 2018 making 21.5 properties paid off.
Year six
From my current income, I will be able to purchase ten rental properties. I will refinance two more properties and use those proceeds to buy three more rentals. With inflation and appreciation, I should be able to refinance the properties for more money than in previous years. I will not use increased income to buy another property. If my income increases, I will use it for fun stuff such as vacations or cars! My goal for 2019 is to buy 13 rental properties.
I will have 72 rental properties with a monthly cash flow of $51,600. That is $619,200 going toward mortgage payoff. I will pay off the half mortgage from 2018 and nine more properties in 2019 making 31 properties paid off.
Year seven
From my current income, I will be able to buy ten rental properties. I will refinance two more properties and use that money to buy three more rentals. I will not count on any more raises in income since I do not need it at this point. My goal for 2020 is to purchase 13 rental properties.
I will have 85 rental properties with a monthly cash flow of $63,400. That is $760,800 a year going towards mortgage payoff. I will pay off 11 more properties in 2020 making 42 properties paid off.
Year eight
From my current income, I will be able to buy ten rental properties. I will refinance two more properties again and purchase three more rentals with that money. My goal for 2021 is to purchase 13 rental properties.
I will have 98 rental properties with a monthly cash flow of 75,600. I will have $907,200 a year going towards mortgage payoff. I will pay off 14 more properties in 2021 making 56 houses paid off.
Year nine
I only need to buy two more properties to reach my goal! I made it ahead of schedule and when I started writing this article, I was not sure how I would be able to reach 100 properties by 2023. I do not need to refinance any properties at this point and I can start using my income any way I want or I could retire!
I will have 100 rental properties with a monthly income of $82,400. I will have $988,800 a year going to whatever I want it to go to at this point. I can stop paying down mortgages if I want to or I could keep buying properties if I get bored. I came really close to the figures I estimated before writing this article. Falling just short of one million in income from my rental properties (which was more than I thought) and just shy of 60 properties paid off.
Assumptions in my plan to purchase 100 rental properties
You may be wondering how I came up with my figures. To be honest I used very basic figures to make things easy on myself.
I assumed $600 in monthly cash flow per property. I am making between $500 and $700 per property now.
I assumed each mortgage that I paid off would increase monthly cash flow by $400.
I do not assume any inflation because that would cause the numbers to be much more difficult to figure!
I assume my portfolio lender will continue to lend on as many properties as I want. I will have 43 houses financed at one time and then those will start to decrease as I pay them off.
I assume I can continue to do cash-out refinances with my portfolio lenders.
I assume interest rates will not increase significantly.
I assume rental rates will not go up.
Additional benefits of rental properties that my income projections did not account for
Rental properties have great tax advantages, which I discuss here. Every rental property can be depreciated, which will save me thousands in taxes each year. I assume my rental properties will not appreciate, but they have already seen huge appreciation in the last two years, increasing my net worth by $600,000. I assume rents will not increase, but my rents have increased as well over the last couple of years. I rented my first rental property for $1,050 a month in 2011 and it now rents for $1,300 a month. I will most likely be better off than my projections indicate if I can buy 100 rental properties.
Potential roadblocks
These are many assumptions and one or more of them may not work out as I plan. However, other factors may help me do even better than I planned or balance out any roadblocks I run into.
New ways to find properties: I am going to start direct marketing to off-market owners. This should allow me to buy properties even further below market, and I may even find a few owners who will finance down payments. I recently realized I could use my IRA to buy properties!
Private money: One of my goals is to find new sources of private money that will allow me to finance more repairs and down payments. This would allow me to put less money into properties and buy them faster.
New income sources: I have no idea what the future holds as far as opportunities and money. I may find a gold mine that will allow me to buy properties for cash and not have to worry about financing at all!
I assume I will not do anything with the houses I pay off free and clear, but if needed to I could easily get a line of credit or refinance one of these houses to bring in enough money to buy a few new properties.
What will I do in 2023 if I reach my goal?
I have many things I would love to do if I did not have to work. Here is a list of a few of the things I would love to do with one million dollars a year coming in and no job!
Start a pizza restaurant
Start a car dealership
Travel the world with my family
Donate time and money to those less fortunate
Play in the World Series of Poker
Attend a Super Bowl
Play golf all over the world
Buy a Lamborghini Diablo (done!)
Buy a beach house
Help teach others about real estate (doing my best now)
I have a much longer goal list than what is above and I hope to do many of these things before 2023. I know I will have time, money, and the freedom to do these things at that time.
Conclusion
I plan to purchase 100 rental properties by January 2023, but I realize that may not happen. If something better comes along to change my plan, I am ready to embrace fully any new opportunities.
Update on my plan 2014
I have already changed focus slightly in 2014 to fix and flipping over buying long-term rentals. I have done this for two reasons:
There have been more fix and flip opportunities than rental opportunities in my market.
The money from flipping will help me buy more rentals; rentals take a great deal of cash.
It seemed crazy to think I could increase my income enough to buy this many properties when I first made this goal in 2013. However now that it is late 2014, I can easily see myself making more than enough money to buy 100 rental properties and have plenty of money left over to do other fun activities. At some point, I may decide it is better to buy larger multifamily buildings than single-family homes, but for now, I see more opportunity in the single-family market in my area than multifamily.
Update on my plan 2016
The market has gotten even crazier in Colorado. Houses I was buying for $100,000 are now at least $160,000 or more. The rents have not increased nearly as much as house values have increased. It is very hard to find rentals and I have stopped buying them in Colorado. I have started to look at other states including Florida for a new market.
I also stopped paying off my mortgages early. I decided my money was better used to buy as many homes as I could. It has paid off buying 16 rentals in the last five years since our market has gone up so much. I have invested about $300,000 in buying my houses and my equity is close to $1.5 million. I have even decided to sell some of my rentals and re-invest that capital into more properties in another market.
I wrote this goal out in 2013 and updated it in 2014, and it is now 2016. I think goals are vitally important to achieving what you want in life. Will I reach this goal? I do not know. If I don’t reach it, will I be a failure? No! I am already way ahead of where I would have been without this goal. That is the point of goals, to motivate you to go farther than you think you can.
Update on my plan 2018
Right now it is the middle of 2018 and I have not come close to where I should be with my goal. Am I disappointed? No. Many things have happened that are out of my control; good and bad. The biggest challenge I have faced is the housing market in Colorado. Prices have almost tripled since I made this goal. Some of the rentals I bought for less than $100,000 7 years ago are worth close to or more than $300,000 today. I can no longer cash flow on residential rental properties in my market. I have thought about buying rentals in Florida, but in the end, decided to buy commercial properties here. I even bought a 68,000 square foot strip mall this year. I am buying rentals worth a lot of money, but not as many as my plan called for. Sometimes we have to change our plans based on changes in our lives or markets.
I have also focussed more on flips because I can make money with those in my market. I flipped 26 houses last year!
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
Making your money work for you is an important step on the road to financial security and independence. Earning money by trading your time is important, but it’s just as important to find a way to make money without having to be actively involved. While you might dream of being able to make money while you sleep, there are plenty of steps you can take that will help put your money to work.
Pay Down Your Debt
The most important thing that you can do to make your money work for you is to pay down and eliminate your high-interest debt. This includes things like credit card payments, some auto loans, and other types of consumer debt. You may be paying up to 20% or more in interest — which means that when you put money towards paying off that debt you’re getting a 20% return on your investment. It’s hard to beat that kind of guaranteed return.
Start a budget, figure out your income and expenses and start paying down that debt. The exact debt repayment strategy that you use is less important. What is important is that you make a plan and start sooner rather than later. Once you have eliminated your high-interest debt, you can start with the other suggestions in this article.
Open a High-Yield Savings Account
One place to start can be to open up a high-yield savings account that is separate from your checking account where you keep the money to pay your regular monthly expenses. This is important for two reasons. The first is that keeping your savings separate from the money you use for your regular savings helps keep you from raiding your savings to pay your bills.
The second reason is that a savings account may offer slightly higher interest rates than a checking account. Currently, interest rates are at historical lows. That is great for refinancing or taking out a mortgage, but not great for savings accounts. Still, a high-yield savings account is a great place to put your emergency fund money. For anything more than that, you’ll want to look at investments that offer higher returns.
Grow Your Wealth Through Investing
If inflation hovers around 2-3% every year, any investments you have should make at least that much. Otherwise, while you may have more money, that money will be worth less than it was the year before. If all of your money is in a savings account earning 1% interest or less, then you are actually LOSING money to inflation each year. There are many ways to earn residual income, and you’ll want to pick the one that makes the most sense for you. As one example, Investing in the stock market has historically returned around 7% per year.
Take Advantage of Credit Card Rewards
Another way to make your money work for you is to take advantage of credit card rewards. Many credit cards offer rewards of up to 5% back or more in certain spending categories. There are also several cards that offer initial welcome bonuses that are worth $1000 or more. Taking the time to strategically use credit cards can be a worthwhile investment. Check out our list of the best rewards credit cards to see if one of them might make sense for you.
Start a Passive Income Stream
The holy grail of financial independence is passive income. Passive income is income that continues to make money with little to no day-to-day involvement on your part. There are many different ways to generate passive income. A few passive income ideas might be creating and selling crafts, writing a guide or book, starting a blog, or investing in the stock market.
Investing time and money in real estate can also be a way to earn (relatively) passive income. While rental real estate is not without complications, when it is all working, each month you earn rental income. That helps pay down your mortgage balance, hopefully with some extra left over each month. If you think that becoming a landlord is not for you, another way to invest in real estate is through a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). REITs combine some of the best parts of real estate and investing in the stock market.
The Bottom Line
There is an important difference between earning money and having your money work for you. While earning money through a job is important, the real key to financial security is earning passive income. Pay down your debt, start investing and watch the returns come in. You may not make money while you sleep, but following these tips will help set you on the right financial path.
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
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Dan Miller is a freelance writer and founder of PointsWithACrew.com, a site that helps families to travel for free / cheap. His home base is in Cincinnati, but he tries to travel the world as much as possible with his wife and 6 kids. More from Dan Miller
Inside: Are you thinking about moving out? This guide will help you figure out how much money you need to save and where to find affordable housing. Will $5k be enough to move out?
Moving out for the first time is a huge milestone. It’s a chance to start fresh, create your own space, and live on your own terms.
But it can also be a daunting prospect, especially when you’re trying to figure out how much it will cost.
You want to know if $5,000 is enough to move out?
But there are a lot of factors to consider before making the decision to move out, and we’ve laid them all out for you in this ultimate guide.
So whether you’re just starting to think about moving out, or you’re ready to start packing your boxes, read on for everything you need to know about making the big move.
How much money do I need to move out?
Experts recommend having at least $6,000 to $12,000 saved up before moving out.
However, it’s possible to move out with as little as $5,000 if you focus on knowing how to live cheap and have a stable source of income.
However, if you don’t have a job before moving out, the need for a huge savings account is huge.
How much money should I have if I want to move out?
The minimum amount of money required to move out will depend on where you plan to live and your living expenses.
Shortly you will learn factors to include initial moving costs, rental deposit, and ongoing costs like rent, utilities, and food.
If you are looking to move out in an HCOL area, then you will need more than an LCOL city. At this point in your life, it is important to understand HCOL vs LCOL and how it affects your finances.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
What are the expenses you should consider when moving out?
Moving out on your own can be a daunting and expensive task.
There are many expenses to consider when budgeting for your new place especially when you are learning how to move out at 18.
This guide will help you estimate the cost of moving out and provide tips on how to save money.
1. Rent/Utilities
The cost of rent varies depending on the location and size of the apartment or home, with the median rental cost in the US being around $1700 per month.
Along with rent, utilities like electricity, gas, water, and internet can cost around $400 per month.
To save money on rent and utilities, consider finding roommates to split costs or negotiating with landlords for a lower rent.
Rent is your biggest expense when figuring out the ideal household budget percentages.
2. Rent Deposit
When renting an apartment, you will typically need to provide a rent deposit. This deposit is a sum of money paid upfront to the landlord to cover any damages or unpaid rent at the end of the lease.
The cost of a rent deposit can vary depending on the location and the landlord’s requirements, but it can range from $1,000 to $5,000 or one to three months of rent.
To save money on a rent deposit, consider looking for apartments with lower deposit requirements or negotiating with your landlord for a lower amount. A clean rental history will help you with this.
3. Moving Expenses
Moving out can be an expensive process, but with some planning and budgeting, you can keep costs under control.
When considering moving expenses, be sure to factor in the costs of moving truck, packing supplies, such as boxes and tape, as well as the cost of hiring movers
To save money on these expenses, try finding free packing materials on Buy Nothing groups or ask friends and family to help you move. You can also minimize your possessions and have less to move.
4. Renter’s Insurance
When moving out and renting a home or apartment, it’s important to consider getting a renter’s insurance policy to protect you from unforeseen events.
Home insurance, also known as renter’s insurance, is a special type of insurance policy that protects your property against losses or damage stemming from covered perils, including fires, storms, or theft. It can give you peace of mind and help you repair or replace your possessions in the event of unforeseen situations.
Insurance premiums are based on various factors, including where you live, how much you choose to insure, and your deductible. Your credit score and history may also affect your insurance rates.
5. Furniture and Appliances
When moving into a new home, it’s important to consider all the necessary expenses for furnishing the space. This includes appliances like a refrigerator, stove, oven, and microwave, as well as daily living items such as a mattress, table, and couches.
I remember when I moved into my first apartment by myself and there wasn’t a washer or dryer in the apartment. Just hookups. I had one of two choices: 1) rent from the management company for $35 a month or 2) buy new appliances with 0% interest for $35 a month. I choose option #2 and it saved me money in the long term.
To save money, consider buying used furniture from thrift stores or online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace. You can also find plenty of free furniture if you are not picky.
By being thrifty and smart with your purchases, you can furnish your new home without breaking the bank.
6. Housewares
When moving out on a budget, it’s important to consider the essential housewares you’ll need to make your new place feel like home. Here’s a list of must-haves and their estimated costs:
By prioritizing these essential housewares, you can make your new place feel like home without breaking the bank.
Don’t forget to check out thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace for gently used furniture and household items. With a little creativity and resourcefulness, you can furnish your new home on a budget.
7. Internet and Phone Bills
The average cost of internet and phone plans varies depending on the provider and the plan you choose. However, you can expect to pay around $50 to $100 per month for internet and $40 to $80 per month for a mobile phone plan. In addition, there may be additional fees, such as equipment costs or activation fees, which can add up quickly.
To minimize these expenses, consider bundling services with one provider. Many companies offer discounts for bundling internet, phone, and cable services.
8. Credit Card Payments
If you thinking about moving out and are currently swaddled in debt, then you probably don’t have enough money to move out. If you have high-interest credit card debt, prioritize paying it off before moving out.
Automating savings on essential bills using Truebill can also help you manage your credit card payments while covering the costs of moving out.
Additionally, ensure that you have an emergency fund and enough money to stay a year to handle unexpected expenses.
Things may get harder if you have to pay for college without help from parents.
How to calculate your moving out budget
Moving out on your own requires careful planning and budgeting.
To calculate your moving-out budget, start by determining your monthly expenses once you move out. Make sure to include the factors discussed above.
Then, decide on your target move out date.
Now, figure out how many months you have to save.
For example, if your target move out date is in 6 months and you need to save $5,000 to cover your expenses, you’ll need to save about $833 per month.
Additionally, create an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses such as medical bills or car repairs. Aim to save at least 3-6 months’ worth of expenses in your emergency fund.
By creating a detailed monthly budget and sticking to it, you can ensure that you can afford to live on your own and achieve your goal of moving out.
Tips and tricks on how to move out
So, you’re finally ready to move out and start your life as an independent adult.
But before you can start your new life, there are a few things you need to take care of first – like, you know, finding a place to live and figuring out how to pay for it.
Learn the lessons from those who did not move out with enough cash – like me.
Tip #1: Create a Budget and Stay Within Limits
Moving out with only $5000 can be challenging, but creating a budget and sticking to it can make the process much easier.
To start, subtract your monthly bills from your monthly income to determine your basic budget.
For instance, if you make $2500 per month and pay $1500 for rent and bills, you have $1000 left for living expenses.
Allocate $400 for groceries and other necessities, $200 for transportation, and $100 for utilities.
This leaves you with $300 for entertainment and other non-essential expenses.
To stay within your budget, consider using a budget binder to track your income and expenses.
Be mindful of living within your means and avoid overspending by resisting the temptation to spend your first paycheck on new household items or entertainment. Instead, opt for more affordable options such as walking around your new neighborhood or having a picnic in the park.
Tip #2: Reduce Expenses Where Possible
One of the hottest topics is becoming frugal green. To save money and the environment at the same time.
When it comes to furniture, try buying used or refurbished items or borrowing from friends and family. Additionally, cutting back on unnecessary expenses such as dining out and entertainment can free up more money.
By being resourceful and creative, it is possible to move out on a budget without sacrificing quality or comfort.
Remember to allocate 50% of your monthly pay towards necessary expenses, 30% towards things you want, and 20% for debt repayment and long-term savings.
Tip #3: Look for Low-Cost Rentals
Finding low-cost rentals can be a challenge, but there are several options available to those who are willing to be flexible and creative.
Renting a basement suite or studio apartment can be a more affordable option.
Consider couch surfing, subletting, or home-sharing arrangements.
Home-sharing can be particularly attractive as it allows you to pair up with an elderly homeowner who needs a little extra help in exchange for low rent.
Find a tiny home rental.
If you don’t mind sharing the space, you can also consider getting a roommate or looking into pod shares. Pod shares are co-living spaces where individuals rent a bed in a shared room, with access to other community spaces like a bathroom and kitchen.
Become a housesitter and be paid to move out. Learn more with Trusted Housesitters.
With a little bit of research and creativity, it is possible to find low-cost rentals that fit your budget and lifestyle. Remember to determine exactly how much you can spend on rent and be open to alternative housing solutions to help keep your costs at a minimum.
Tip #4: Look Into Getting Renters Insurance
When renting you are more than likely going to live closer to others, which means more things can go wrong. Don’t skip out on renter’s insurance, as it can provide the peace of mind and protection you need as a first-time renter.
Without renter’s insurance, unexpected disasters such as fires, storms, or theft can leave you with thousands of dollars in damages that you would have to pay out of pocket.
Renter’s insurance typically costs around $20 per month and can save you a lot of money in the long run. Some affordable options for renter’s insurance include Lemonade, State Farm, and Allstate.
It’s important to shop around and compare policies to find the best one for your needs and budget.
Tip #5: Plan for Emergencies and Unexpected Expenses
It is crucial to plan for emergencies and unexpected expenses.
Start by setting aside a minimum of $1000 for an emergency fund.
Ideally, you should aim to save at least three to six months of living expenses in a rainy day fund. Remember, having a contingency plan and emergency fund can provide peace of mind and protect you from financial hardship.
Tip #6: Start Saving for a Security Deposit
Remember to prioritize saving for a security deposit by setting a specific savings goal and putting aside a portion of your income each month before you move out!
With dedication and discipline, you can reach your goal and move out with confidence.
More than likely, if you are a good tenant, you should get your full security deposit back after your lease is over.
Tip #7: Start a Side Hustle
Starting a side hustle can be a great way to earn extra money while still maintaining your full-time job. You can earn extra income through various side hustles depending on your skills and interests.
The most common side hustles are online jobs, such as transcription, virtual assistance, proofreading, blogging, freelance writing, data entry, graphic design, and web design. These jobs are flexible and eliminate the need for driving anywhere, requiring only a laptop or computer and a good internet connection.
In fact, learning how to make money online for beginners is a trending topic.
As you start your side hustle, put in as much time as you have available to maximize your earnings. Remember that a side hustle is unlikely to replace the need for a real job, but it can provide a great way to earn extra money and pursue your passions.
Tip #8: Plan Ahead and Create a Timeline
When planning to move out on a budget, it’s important to create a realistic timeline.
Start by mapping out all the expenses you’ll need to cover, such as rent, utilities, food, and transportation. Along with how much money you have already saved for unknown expenses.
Stay organized by keeping a checklist of everything you need to do and when it needs to be done. Don’t rush the process – take your time and make sure you have everything in order before making the big move.
Remember the millionaire quote, failing to plan is planning to fail, so take the time to plan ahead and create a realistic timeline.
Is 10000 a good amount to move out with?
According to various sources, $10,000 is generally considered enough to cover moving out expenses and leave room for emergencies.
However, the actual cost of moving out can vary depending on location, rent prices, and cost of living.
Learn how to save 10000 in a year!
FAQ
There are a couple of different ways to save more money including:
Cut back on frivolous expenses like eating out and buying new clothes.
Sell anything you have that you don’t want or need on websites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Depop, or eBay.
Consider getting an extra part-time job or side hustle to increase your income.
When it comes to furnishings, be thrifty by asking friends and family if they have anything extra they’re getting rid of or checking out second-hand or discount stores.
Set saving goals and track your expenses using a spreadsheet. That will give you a clear picture of what is and is not possible.
Renter’s insurance is highly recommended, and in some cases, required by leases. It provides protection against unforeseen disasters such as fires, storms, or theft that can damage or destroy your possessions.
While it may seem like an unnecessary expense, it is usually affordable and can save you a lot of money compared to paying out of pocket for damages.
Not having renters insurance can leave you vulnerable to unexpected expenses and potential financial ruin.
You should not spend more on your rent payments than you are comfortable.
Just like with getting a mortgage, you should spend no more than 30% of your take-home pay on rent payments.
You don’t want to be stressed about finances, so you should set a realistic budget for rent that allows you to comfortably cover all of your expenses while still having some money left over for savings.
So, is 5000 enough to move out?
It really depends on your situation.
If you’re moving to a cheaper area and don’t have many expenses, you might be able to make it work.
However, if you’re moving to a more expensive city or have a lot of bills, you might need to save up more money.
When determining how much money is needed to move out, there are several factors to consider, which we covered above. These include where you plan to live, your living expenses, initial moving costs, ongoing costs, and emergency funds.
It’s essential to have a budget and do the math to determine the minimum amount required for a smooth transition to independent living on a tight budget.
Ultimately, it’s important to do your research and figure out what’s best for you.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
A cash-out refinance is one of the best tools an investor can use to take money out of their rental properties. A refinance is when you replace the current loan on your home with a new loan, and when you complete a cash-out refinance, you get cash back after getting the loan. One of the biggest roadblocks an investor runs into is finding the cash for down payments on new rental properties. A cash-out refinance is a great way to get cash to buy more properties. When I purchased my first long-term rental, I was able to buy the property from proceeds that came from a cash-out refinance on my personal residence. I was able to take out $40,000 in equity from my personal house, only one year after I bought the home. I have also refinanced multiple rental properties, which has allowed to buy more rentals and I now have 16 rental properties total.
How can you take a cash-out refinance?
Most people get loans on their homes when they buy them. At some point, you may want to consider refinancing that loan for a number of reasons:
Interest rates
If interest rates are much lower now than when you got the loan it may make sense to refinance your current loan into a mortgage with a lower interest rate.
Cash-out
There are many cases where you can get cashback after refinancing. A house could go up in value, you could get a different type of loan, you could make repairs, or make an improvement to a house to increase its value.
The video below goes over a refinance I did on one of my rentals.
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How much does a refinance cost?
The downside to refinancing your home is it costs money. You are getting a brand new loan that will cost about as much as the first loan you got on the home. That can be from 2% to 3% of the loan amount. You have to pay for an appraisal, origination fee, processing fees, flood certificate, and some other fees as well. The good news is that you will most likely skip a mortgage payment after the refinance, but don’t think you are getting an amazing deal because of that as the interest is still charged to you, just upfront in those loan costs.
How can houses increase in value?
Values are going up across the country, and that has created an opportunity for homeowners to do a cash-out refinance. Most banks are using stricter guidelines for qualifications and lower loan to value ratios than before the crash. However, if you bought your home at a great price or have owned it for a while, you still may be able to get cash out.
I do not like to depend on prices to go up. I buy all my properties below market value. I try to buy all my properties at least 20% below what they are currently worth. If they need work, I buy them for much less than 20% below market value. The BRRRR method is a great way to refinance properties and get cash back out by getting great deals and repairing them.
How much money can you take out?
Many banks will require an 80% or lower loan to value ratio when refinancing a rental property and they will use an appraisal to determine that value. It is imperative that you have a lot of equity in your property if you want to complete a cash-out refinance with an investment property. If you are refinancing an owner-occupied home, you may be able to refinance up to 95 percent or more of the value of the home. You must live in the house for a year after refinancing in most cases to get an owner-occupied loan.
What are the risks?
A cash-out refinance will increase the amount of the loan you have on your rental property. For some people who are averse to risk, paying off their home is a great option and they may not want more debt. However, I am not averse to risk and I want to maximize my returns. Debt can be a very bad thing if it is used for the wrong things, but if you use debt to buy cash producing investments it can be a great thing!
In my market, I can get a cash on cash return of 15 percent or higher on rental properties, while interest rates are below 5 percent. It makes more sense to me to refinance for 5 percent and use that money to buy properties that will give me over a 15 percent cash on cash return! That 15 percent return does not even include possible appreciation, tax benefits or mortgage pay down.
Yes, it is possible that values could go down and a cash-out refinance would reduce the equity in your home. If you don’t need to sell your home, then it will not matter how much equity you have in your home. However, if you are pushing how much you can afford with a monthly payment it may not be wise to refinance if it increases your payment. If you have a lot of cash flow and are comfortable with a higher payment, use that money to make more money.
If you increase your debt with a refinance, then you may be decreasing the amount you can qualify for on future homes. If you max out the amount of money a lender will loan to you with a refinance, then you won’t be able to get a loan on a new rental property. Before you refinance, make sure you know how much you will be able to qualify for.
How does a refi work on a rental property?
I recently did a cash-out refinance on one of my rental properties and I was able to pull out about $26,000 with my payment only increasing $136 a month. The terms are usually more restrictive and it can be difficult to refinance if you have more than four mortgaged properties. I was able to do a cash-out refinance with more than four mortgages because I used a portfolio lender. They are a local bank and are much more flexible than big banks.
When I did a cash out refinance on my investment property, the max they would lend was 75 percent of the value of the home. I also could only do a 5 or 7 year ARM or a 15 year fixed loan. I chose the 7 year ARM because I plan to pay off my homes quicker than the 7 year fixed term and the rates and payments are lower than the 15-year loan.
On the property, I paid $92,000 and put about $18,000 into it for repairs. I was able to turn it into a 5 bed, 2 bath and rented it for $1,100 (low because it is rented to my brother-in-law). I had to wait a year to do a cash-out refinance and the current value was determined by an appraisal. The appraisal came in at $140,000 which I thought was low, but I had to go with it. After all the lender fees, interest and miscellaneous costs of the cash out refinance, I was able to cash out over $26,000. My payment went up, but I am still able to cash flow every month and I took out more than enough money for a down payment on another rental property.
What about seasoning periods?
One restriction to completing a cash-out refinance is the seasoning period. Most banks, will not complete a cash-out refi right after you buy the home. They will complete a refinance but loan the lower of the appraised value or what you paid for the home in the last year or 6 months. If you bought the home for $100,000 three months ago, and it appraised for $150,000 last week, the bank will still only lend on the $100,000 purchase price if they have a seasoning period longer than three months.
If they will lend 75% of the value, that means they will only lend $75,00 on the home. Some banks have 6 month seasoning periods, some a year, and some will have none. Make sure you know what your bank will do before you make plans.
Is a HELOC better?
A HELOC (home equity line of credit) is much different from a refinance, because you may not have to pay off your current loan. If you have a $100,000 loan on your house, but your home is worth $200,000 you may be able to get an $80,000 line of credit and keep the $100,000 loan in place. When you take out a line of credit you do not have to use the money right away or ever. You can use as much of the money as you want and pay it back when you like. You can borrow the money again after you pay back the line. A refinance is a mortgage where once you pay off the loan or pay extra money into it, you cannot borrow it again.
A HELOC will have closing costs like a cash-out refinance, but many times they will be less. Depending on if you are getting a line on an investment property or a personal residence the terms and fees will differ. The term of the HELOC could be two years, five years or longer, but not 30 years like a refinance could be. The rates on a HELOC are also usually higher and can go up or down as interest rates go up or down.
It may be tough to get a line of credit on a rental as most banks only want to give lines of credit on primary residences.
Do you pay taxes?
One of the best things about a refinance is you do not pay taxes on it. You can buy a house for $100,000, and refinance it for $150,000 a few months later and the money you take out is almost always tax-free. You are not making any money, you are borrowing it so there is no income tax.
Conclusion
The more properties you can buy, the more cash flow builds up and the more wealth you can create. A cash-out refinance can help you purchase more properties and increase your wealth. Make sure the houses you purchase are bought below market value, and it will make a future cash-out refinance much easier. Make sure your payments are not so much that you are no longer seeing positive cash flow every month.
By Peter Anderson1 Comment – The content of this website often contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you buy through those links (at no cost to you!). Learn more about how we make money. Last edited August 9, 2011.
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been writing quite a bit about the Roth 401(k), the Roth IRA as well as Traditional IRA and 401(k) accounts. We’ve been doing a lot of research for our own family as far as what we want to do with our retirement accounts, and how much we want to save. We’ve finally decided on a plan of action, but over the course of these past couple of weeks I’ve come to realize something.
You can debate all you want about whether to do pretax or post tax retirement accounts, whether to max out a 401(k) first or to contribute to a Roth IRA, or what kind of funds to put your money in. When it really comes down to it however, the best retirement plan is one you actually begin and start contributing to… as soon as possible.
Too Many Aren’t Contributing Enough To Retirement
We live in a credit crazy culture, where people are told to live well and high on the hog while they are young and can enjoy it. Unfortunately far too many people think this is a good idea, and do just that.
The problem is that the life expectancy of people in this country is higher than ever before, and with the longer lifespans more money is needed to allow people to continue living the same lifestyle for longer in retirement.
Most won’t have enough to live the same lifestyle, however. According to one study, a good number of people are going to have to downsize in retirement due to their lack of retirement funds:
The Center for Retirement Research (CRR) estimates that 36 percent of high-income households – those with a median income of $117,000 – won’t be able to live as well in retirement as they do today. Among middle-income households, 40 percent are at risk of having to downsize, while 53 percent of low-income households are likely to fall short.
That hasn’t always been the case.
“We’re at the tail end of the golden era of retirement,” said CRR Director Alicia H. Munnell.
In a report released Tuesday, CRR notes that only 20 percent of those who were between ages 51 and 61 in 1992 were at risk of falling short of money in retirement. Today, 32 percent are.
Why the increase? Munnell points to the shift from traditional pension plans to 401(k)s. Plus, she notes, people are living longer, and Medicare and taxes will take a bigger slice out of Social Security checks.
So while it isn’t completely surprising that low income households don’t have enough saved for retirement or may fall short of being able to maintain their lifestyle, the fact that 36% of high income households are in danger of having to downsize is a bit more surprising. 40% of middle income households are in danger as well.
Start Contributing Early And Often
All of this says to me that we need to start saving earlier, and start saving more – especially if we want to maintain the same lifestyle as we have now. There are things most people don’t consider the costs of when thinking about retirement including the possibility of long term care, health issues requiring medical care, the long term solvency of social security and more.
So how young should you start contributing? As young as you can! It’s a simple answer, but I really do think that as soon as you’re able to get out of debt and save up an emergency fund you should be stashing as much cash as you can, while still living your life and being able to give generously.
Here’s an example. If you start saving $500/month at age 25, by the time you retire at 65 and assuming an 8% return – you’ll have around $1,554,339 in your retirement account. If you waited til you were 35, you would have $679,699. That’s quite a difference that those 10 years make. The wonders of compound interest!
Don’t Worry Too Much About What Type Of Retirement Account, Just Start
My advice is to not get too carried away with worrying about what type of retirement account you should use, and what type of tax treatment is the best for your situation. Think about it certainly, and get some sound advice on which is best for you. But to me the most important thing is just to get started contributing, and contributing as much as you can to your retirement. Time is not on your side!
Do you think you’ll have enough saved for retirement? Did you start saving early enough or are you now trying to catch up by making larger contributions? Tell us about your thoughts on this in the comments!