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Source: mint.intuit.com

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Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further

Being a homeowner comes with a steep learning curve, and many first-time homebuyers struggle financially in their first year of owning a home. After years of saving for a down payment, they are blindsided by the extra expenses that come with buying and owning a house. It’s frighteningly easy to exhaust your cash reserves before you even move in.


Misunderstandings about the costs of owning a home can push people even further into financial distress. You can avoid a lot of this trouble by doing your research and determining how much house you can actually afford. Develop a sample budget to help you prepare for the cost of homeownership and the expenses that come along with it.


Hidden Costs of Homeownership

Here are some expenses prospective homeowners often forget to consider while they are shopping for a new place to live. Keep these figures in mind as you set your budget for a home.

Utilities

If you’re used to paying for utilities and other costs of living as a renter, it can be tempting to think that homeownership won’t alter your budget significantly — especially if your estimated mortgage payment will be less than what you’ve been paying for rent. However, your new home may use substantially more electricity and gas than an apartment, townhouse, or smaller rental house. Plus, your monthly rent may have included utilities like water or internet. 

Mortgage Payment

Each month, most of your mortgage payment will go toward your principal and interest. However, you’ll also pay additional expenses such as property taxes, homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance. Insurance companies assess these expenses annually, but your lender will collect the fees each month with your mortgage payment and hold the funds in escrow. If you choose a home in a neighborhood with a Homeowners Association (HOA), you’ll also have HOA dues to include in your budget.

Furniture and Decor

New rooms could mean new needs. When you buy a house, the furniture you used in your rental may not be a perfect fit for your new home. Paint, curtains, furniture, and other decorative items can personalize your new home but can be a strain on your budget. If the thought of all new furniture and decor is overwhelming, choose one room to finish at a time.

Lawn Care

As a first-time homeowner, you may find yourself with a whole new set of outdoor responsibilities — mowing grass, trimming hedges, and keeping weeds at bay. If you buy a home in a neighborhood with an HOA, you may face strict lawn care standards.
Whether you choose to do it yourself or hire a service to take care of it for you, lawn care can get expensive. If you go the DIY route, you’ll need to purchase equipment and supplies to get the job done, such as:

  • Lawnmower
  • Weed-eater
  • Hedge trimmer
  • Weed killer
  • Fertilizer
  • Grass seed
  • Pest control products

If you hire a company to take care of your lawn, expect to pay between $100 and $200 per month for basic care.

Renovations

Once the excitement of buying a new house starts to subside, your focus may shift to how your new home meets your needs. Unless you built a home with custom options, you may eventually want to update or renovate.

Renovations are becoming increasingly common among first-time buyers. According to a 2017 study by Houzz, first-time homebuyers spent an average of $33,800 on home renovations in 2016 — up 22% from 2015. Among all homeowners surveyed, the greatest motivating factor for renovating was a desire to customize their home.

Maintenance and Repairs

Maintenance and repairs can be a major budget killer for new homeowners. Many first-time homebuyers overlook the age of the roof, exterior paint, AC unit, and furnace when they buy a home. Even if you buy brand-new construction, you should begin saving for necessary maintenance updates and unforeseen repairs.

Don’t exhaust your savings to purchase your home; keep some money aside for necessary or unexpected repairs.  Some financial experts suggest saving 1-4% of the home’s purchase price each year, depending on the age of your home.

Your homeowner’s insurance should cover damage due to fire or weather, but you’ll still need cash to cover the deductible, which could be anywhere from $200 to $2,000, or more. If you’re concerned about having enough cash on hand in the event of an emergency, look into plans with a higher monthly premium and a lower deductible.


A Sample Budget for Your First Year of Home Expenses

The price for a starter home will vary widely depending on where you live. Looking at average starter home prices around the country and landing somewhere in the middle, here’s a sample budget.

The following sample budget is an example of what your monthly home-related expenses would look like if you purchased a $200,000 home with a 5% down payment. For this sample, we used an online mortgage calculator and the average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate of 5.10%.

Mortgage Payment

Monthly mortgage payment: $1599


Utilities and Lawn Care (based on national averages)

Gas $82
Electricity $183
Water $40
Sewer / Garbage $20
Internet / Cable $147
Lawn Care $150

Monthly utilities expense:$622


Recommended Maintenance/Repair Fund

Repairs/ Maintenance   $4,000 (based on 2% of purchase price)

Monthly repair/maintenance savings: $333

For this sample budget, your expenses would work out to $2,554 per month. That’s nearly $1,000 more than your monthly mortgage payment.


The Takeaway

Don’t make the mistake of asking how much house you can buy — instead, examine your income and projected expenses to figure out how much you can afford. If you’re buying a home with a spouse or significant other, be sure you’re on the same page.

An experienced real estate agent is an excellent resource. Ask lots of questions: inquire about the home’s roof and exterior, as well as appliances and heating or cooling systems. Your agent can also request information about HOA fees and utility usage from the seller.

For more information on home buying and selling visit Owners.com.

Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further

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Source: mint.intuit.com

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In November 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged Sean Austin, John Steven Huffman, John Preston Thompson, and their affiliated companies with deceiving consumers by falsely promising to eliminate or substantially reduce their credit card debt. The FTC alleged that the defendants took tens of millions of dollars from people through their deceptive debt relief scheme, which operated under multiple names such as ACRO Services, American Consumer Rights Organization, Consumer Protection Resources, Reliance Solutions, Thacker & Associates, and Tri Star Consumer Group.

To prevent further harm to consumers, the FTC requested that a federal court temporarily freeze the defendants’ assets and appoint a receiver over their businesses while the case took place. The court orders, which were agreed to by the defendants to settle the case, include a number of requirements to prevent the defendants from engaging in similar activities in the future.

Firstly, the defendants are permanently banned from advertising, selling, or assisting in any debt relief product or service. Secondly, the defendants are permanently banned from participating in telemarketing. Thirdly, the orders broadly enjoin the defendants from deceiving consumers about any other product or service they sell or market.

The defendants are also required to surrender certain property interests and assets contained in multiple bank accounts that will be used to provide any possible refunds to affected consumers. The orders contain a total monetary judgment of $17,486,080, which is partially suspended upon the defendants’ surrender of assets and also based on their inability to pay the full amount. If the defendants are found to have lied to the FTC about their financial status, the full judgment would be immediately payable.

In summary, the court orders permanently ban the defendants from engaging in debt relief products or services, telemarketing, and deceiving consumers about any product or service they sell or market. The orders also require the defendants to surrender certain assets contained in multiple bank accounts to provide possible refunds to affected consumers and contain a total monetary judgment of $17,486,080.

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Steve Rhode is the Get Out of Debt Guy and has been helping good people with bad debt problems since 1994. You can learn more about Steve, here.
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Source: getoutofdebt.org

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One of the obvious perks of working from home is the opportunity to cut some expenses.

Almost one in three workers remains fully remote in early 2023, and no wonder. When you no longer have to commute every day, you save time and money. You can prep lunch everyday versus buying a pricey takeout salad, and you don’t have to buy (or clean) work clothes anymore. You’re likely to notice some savings quite quickly.

However, there are other costs that might ratchet up just because you’re home more — and that includes energy costs. The extra time you may be spending on your laptop, watching Netflix, or even boiling water for a ramen lunch could nudge your energy usage upward — and your monthly electric bill.

If you have those bills set on autopay, you may not have noticed an increase. Or maybe you noticed the expense creep up but didn’t know what you could do to manage it.

Fortunately, with some planning, you can probably minimize your energy bill. Here are some strategies that might help while you’re working from home:

In the Home Office

You may have put some thought into setting up your office in a way that works ergonomically and looks presentable on Zoom. But have you thought about making your workspace energy efficient?

Choosing Power-Saving Equipment

If there’s a choice, consider using a laptop instead of a desktop computer to do your work. According to Energy Saver, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) consumer resource, it takes much more power to run a desktop and its monitor than it does to run a laptop.

And with the laptop, there’s a battery for backup if the power fluctuates or there’s a brownout due to high electricity demand in your area.

Those who are new to working at home and purchasing their own office equipment may want to check out Energy Star-certified computers, monitors, and printers, which run more efficiently than standard equipment and use about half as much electricity.

💡 Quick Tip: Help your money earn more money! Opening a high-yield bank account online often gets you higher-than-average rates.

Unplugging at the End of the Day

Remote workers aren’t the only ones who can benefit from a break at the end of their day. The computers, phone chargers, and other pieces of office equipment they rely on may continue to draw power even when not in use.

For convenience, workers may want to consider attaching these “energy vampires” to a smart power strip, with just one easy-to-reach switch to flip when it’s time to call it quits.

Also: Not to be a Grinch, but come the holiday season, if you like to keep the holiday lights on all day to brighten your work area and deliver a holiday mood, you might rethink that. The cost of holiday lights can add up.

Recommended: Adjusting Your Budget for Working from Home

Letting Computers Take a Nap

Another way to save money on energy is to set a computer to sleep or hibernate if it’s going to sit idle for a while. This differs from using a screen saver, which actually may take extra energy to keep an animated display active on the screen.

When a computer enters sleep mode, the power is cut to any unneeded systems, and the memory receives just enough power to maintain data.

In hibernation mode, the computer saves open documents and running applications to the hard disk instead of to RAM, which means it uses zero power. It takes a little longer to start back up from hibernation, though, so sleep mode may be better for shorter breaks.

Recommended: Do You Qualify for Home-Office Tax Deductions?

Choosing the Right Light

Making the most of natural light in the layout of a home office can cut down on eye strain and energy use, so it can help to create a workspace by a window.

But if a desk lamp will be on for much of the day, using energy-efficient bulbs instead of traditional incandescent bulbs could decrease the amount of energy the light will use by as much as 80%.

Because LED light bulbs produce less heat, they also may help cut costs associated with home cooling. And LEDs, halogens, and compact fluorescent lamps typically last longer than traditional bulbs.

Elsewhere Around the House

Working from home typically means more time spent using appliances; opening and closing doors; and running the air conditioner, fans, or the heater.

Many power companies offer free home energy assessments with a custom report that shows a home’s past and current power use and offers tips on how to save energy in the future.

For those who prefer to DIY their audit, the Environmental Protection Agency provides the Home Energy Yardstick , which compares a household’s actual energy use (based on a year’s worth of utility bills) to that of similar households.

There are also companies that, for a fee, will come and inspect a home’s energy usage . They will also report on areas where the home and its residents could be more energy efficient (though it may require changing some old behaviors).

Making Chores More Efficient

If the local utility company offers “time of use” pricing plans — charging less for power consumed during off-peak hours — it might be another opportunity to save.

Taking advantage of lower pricing may require breaking some old habits — running the dishwasher in the morning, for example, or doing laundry in the late evening — but the reward might be a lower utility bill as well as a healthier planet.

Running full loads in the clothes washer, dryer, and dishwasher can be another way to save. Tempting as it may be to run a load just to get a favorite pair of jeans clean, you’re much better off waiting till you can fill the washer.

💡 Quick Tip: If you’re faced with debt and wondering which kind to pay off first, it can be smart to prioritize high-interest debt first. For many people, this means their credit card debt; rates have recently been climbing into the double-digit range, so try to eliminate that ASAP.

Adjusting the Thermostat

One of the easiest ways to be more energy efficient is to set the thermostat up or down a degree or two to keep a home’s heating or air conditioning from running constantly.

The DOE advises consumers to set the thermostat to 78 degrees — or as high as is comfortable — when home in the summer.

In the winter, the DOE recommends setting the temperature at 68 degrees when everyone is awake and turning it down when they’re asleep or not at home. (Using a smart thermostat that can be operated from a smartphone can make it easier to manage adjustments.)

Getting Creative When Cooking

If eating at home more often is giving the oven a workout (and heating up the house in the summer), consider using the microwave, slow-cooker, or toaster oven to save on electricity and keep things cooler.

So can using the charcoal or gas grill out on the deck, and that might lend a party atmosphere to your regular dinner.

💡 Quick Tip: When you feel the urge to buy something that isn’t in your budget, try the 30-day rule. Make a note of the item in your calendar for 30 days into the future. When the date rolls around, there’s a good chance the “gotta have it” feeling will have subsided.

Keeping the Fridge Filled

A well-stocked freezer operates more efficiently than one that’s sitting half-empty, so feel free to load it up (but look for ways to save money on groceries when doing so). And, of course, if you are buying a new fridge, look for an Energy Star one.

Showering Responsibly

According to the DOE, about 18% of the energy consumed in the average home is from heating water. That means long, hot showers, or even standing at the sink shaving with the water running, can drive up energy bills. So can using the hot water setting on the washing machine or rinsing dishes in hot running water.

One option is to turn down the temperature on the water heater. That will help cut your energy bill when you’re working at home without impacting your comfort much at all. Shortening those showers (which can also help you save on water bills) and changing other habits, regardless of whether you are working from your kitchen table or an office, also can help conserve energy and save money. Extra points awarded to those who air-dry their hair or use the same bath towel more than once.

Ready for a Better Banking Experience?

Open a SoFi Checking and Savings Account and start earning 1% APY on your cash!

The Takeaway

Whether this is a temporary situation or working from home becomes a regular thing, you may find you’ll have to rethink your budget to accommodate the changes to your lifestyle. While typically your energy bill may go up when you are spending more time at home (at your laptop and perhaps peeking in the fridge), it’s possible, with a little effort, to manage your power costs.

Better banking is here with up to 4.20% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2023 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi members with direct deposit can earn up to 4.20% annual percentage yield (APY) interest on Savings account balances (including Vaults) and up to 1.20% APY on Checking account balances. There is no minimum direct deposit amount required to qualify for these rates. Members without direct deposit will earn 1.20% APY on all account balances in Checking and Savings (including Vaults). Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 4/25/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
SOBK0423061

Source: sofi.com

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If you’re like many people today, one of your main modes of shopping is online. It’s quick, it’s convenient, and it’s sometimes even one-click easy. But, like purchasing in any other manner, you’ll want to make sure you are getting the best deals online. Why pay more than you have to?

Read on to learn some clever hacks that will help you get the best possible deals when shopping online.

Ways to Find Deals Online

1. Finding the Right Coupon Codes

Coupon codes are lurking all over the internet to help people find the best deals at their favorite retailers. For example, many online retailers will give customers a little discount for newsletter signup or for their first purchase. Others hide discount codes, but a simple Google search can yield great results for coupon hunters.

An easier way to dig up coupons to online retailers may be to search on coupon websites like RetailMeNot or Coupons.com.

Digital shoppers also can try downloading Chrome extensions like Honey, which automatically searches the internet for the best discount codes and applies them at checkout.

Recommended: 7 Budgeting Methods to Try

2. Using Free Shipping or In-Store Pickup

Online shopping tips don’t stop at coupons. Another way to save is to find free shipping options. If you don’t need an item ASAP, free shipping is typically an option at checkout.

Many online retailers also offer free shipping with a minimum order amount. To find free shipping deals and codes, check out websites like FreeShipping.com.

Another option may be to order an item online and then pick it up at the store for free. If it’s close enough to grab in person, it may be worth it to avoid shipping costs altogether.

💡 Quick Tip: Tired of paying pointless bank fees? When you open a bank account online you often avoid excess charges.

3. Giving a Price Watcher a Go

Consumers who aren’t in a rush to purchase an item may be able to take advantage of price tracking tools. Price tracking tools help shoppers stay informed about price drops and sales so they can click “buy” at just the right time. These might even be able to help you be more patient if you are an impulsive shopper. Knowing that a better price may be in the offing could help you slow down.

Apps like Honey have tools like Droplist that allow consumers to save items for later and be informed when an item on the list has a price drop.

Other apps like CamelCamelCamel track prices on Amazon, and PriceBlink will find even more deals across the Web, too. It works by showing how much an item costs at several online stores so shoppers can pick the best one.

Recommended: How Many Bank Accounts Should I Have?

4. Trying Online Price Matching

Many larger retailers like Walmart and Target participate in price matching programs, which means if you find a price at one retailer you may be able to get it at another.

This used to mean bringing in a printed coupon or proof that the product was on sale for a lower price at a different retailer, but now, it can all be done online. All a shopper needs to do is reach out to customer service, which may be able to help out.

Ready for a Better Banking Experience?

Open a SoFi Checking and Savings Account and start earning 1% APY on your cash!

5. Checking Reviews

To get the best deal when shopping online, you’ll want to be sure you are getting the best product. And one way to do that is to check online reviews. Customers all over the internet leave reviews on products they’ve purchased, alerting others to potential issues or potential great buys.

On websites like Amazon, search for “verified purchase” to know that the review is legit. While online reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, they are one more tool to add to your decision-making arsenal for online shopping.

Before purchasing a product, is it really something you want or need, or will bring joy? If so, check reviews to make sure it’s the perfect fit before clicking “buy.”

💡 Quick Tip: If you’re creating a budget, try the 50/30/20 budget rule. Allocate 50% of your after-tax income to the “needs” of life, like living expenses and debt. Spend 30% on wants, and then save the remaining 20% towards saving for your long-term goals.

6. Waiting for Bigger Sales

Throughout the year, larger retailers will likely host online shopping sales. These sales are known to occur around the holidays, specifically on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, and Cyber Monday, the following Monday, a day that’s packed with online deals.

Other major sales usually occur around holidays like Presidents Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day, as well as midsummer. During this time, you may be able to score major discounts, so if you can wait for a purchase, try to hold off until then. Knowing that deep discounts are coming could help you avoid shopping out of boredom. It gives you an incentive to wait.

One more “holiday” to keep an eye out for is Amazon Prime Day. During the sale, retailers across the website offer steep discounts on products.

However, to get in on the deal, you must be an Amazon Prime member, which comes with a subscription. But Amazon Prime members get free shipping on most products, which can add up in the long run.

7. Following Favorite Brands on Social Media

One more way to potentially find the best deals online is to follow brands and retailers on social media. Brands love to give their loyal customers something special, so they may share insider discounts and offers on their social media pages and newsletters before anywhere else.

Give your favorite brands a follow on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook to stay aware of when sales may be happening, and maybe get inspired about new things to buy along the way, too. Just be sure when you are purchasing that you are on the verified account of the brand. There are some scams out there that you’ll want to avoid.

💡 Quick Tip: When you feel the urge to buy something that isn’t in your budget, try the 30-day rule. Make a note of the item in your calendar for 30 days into the future. When the date rolls around, there’s a good chance the “gotta have it” feeling will have subsided.

8. Earning Cash Back for Purchases

If you’re not interested in having to do all this legwork to get a good deal while shopping online, there is another option: Use a credit card that gives you cash back. You may even be able to bundle and increase the credit card reward if you shop online at specific retailers at certain periods of time.

The Takeaway

Shopping online is already, as you undoubtedly know, quick and easy. But there are ways to make it even more affordable, by tracking prices, using coupon sites, and knowing when to purchase to get the lowest possible price. By deploying these and other hacks, you can get the goods you want at the most budget-friendly price.

Better banking is here with up to 4.20% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2023 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi members with direct deposit can earn up to 4.20% annual percentage yield (APY) interest on Savings account balances (including Vaults) and up to 1.20% APY on Checking account balances. There is no minimum direct deposit amount required to qualify for these rates. Members without direct deposit will earn 1.20% APY on all account balances in Checking and Savings (including Vaults). Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 4/25/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
SOBK0423062

Source: sofi.com

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“It’s huge growth, and we’re very excited to take on our partnerships with all the LOs and processors,” he said. “From an LO’s perspective, we’ll have the ability to lend to over 50,000 or 60,000.” Transaction casts spotlight on brokers The transaction has served to further cast a spotlight on touted advantages of using a … [Read more…]

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Home loans help buyers make a down payment immediately and spread the liability of paying for the home over a period of many years. Go through this checklist before taking a home loan or finalising a property.

Credit score

This is one of the prime factors that determines the eligibility and amount of loan that can be sanctioned by a bank. Try to improve your credit score before availing a home loan. This can be done by establishing a continuous track record of regular and timely credit card payments, and repayment of dues on other loans. You can purchase a credit report to check your score.Down payment
Some part of the cost needs to be funded by the home buyer. This contribution varies among banks and also depends upon the type of property, such as whether it’s an old house being resold or a new one.

Documents
Some of the documents that are required are proof of income, residence of the applicant, financial situation and verification of the property papers. Ensure that all property documents are available for review by the bank, so take the advice of a lawyer if you need to.

Pre-approved housing loan

Banks provide preapproved sanction of home loan based on income of the applicant, even before the property has been identified and finalised. A preapproved sanction will provide a ballpark estimate of the amount of loan that you are eligible for, which can help you to finalise a property based on your affordability.Points to note

  • Do a survey of different home loan products to ascertain the best option, facilities and rate available to you.
  • Understand the processing charges and loan foreclosure charges levied by the bank or financial institution so that you are prepared for these in advance.

Source: m.economictimes.com

Apache is functioning normally

Home is no doubt where our mama’s heart is. Let’s celebrate her with home decor gifts that remind her of the people she loves most. Whether it’s practical day-to-day items like a fresh new set of towels or personalized gifts like a print of her kiddos or grandkids, these gifts for the home decor enthusiast will spruce up her space while thanking her for a job so well done.

We curated these gifts from our new favorite app, Ibotta, which has hundreds of cash back offers on everything from home decor items to groceries to beauty and fashion gifts, even gift cards! Earn real cash back (no points here) while you shop your favorite brands like Target, Sephora, H&M, Trader Joe’s, Container Store and much more. Give the gift that makes mom feel loved and her space feel just a little more charmed with these $60-and-under ideas!

Lucky Seven Wall Art ($58)

Earn 9% cash back when you shop with Ibotta!

Print your favorite photos on sustainably sourced canvas and make a collage of mom’s favorite little and big people. Nothing like a photo gift to remind her that all the hard work is paying off.

Stackers White Classic Jewelry Box Collection ($18-$40)

Earn up to 5% cash back when you shop with Ibotta!

Jewelry is big around Mother’s Day and birthdays. Help her keep it all protected in this modular box that’s all velvety inside (with vegan leather outside) and keeps all her jewels intact.

OAKE Ethicot Bath Towel ($14)

Earn up to 6% cash back when you shop with Ibotta!

Baths are a mom’s best friend. Treat her to a set of new cotton towels in her favorite hues so she can feel all warm and cozy coming out of one!

Society6 Los Feliz Pillow ($28)

Earn 2% cash back when you shop with Ibotta!

Throw pillows are a fun way to change up your decor for the season. Find tons of modern, even quirky, prints to suit your mom’s style personality.

Voluspa Mini Candle Set ($48)

Earn 2% cash back when you shop with Ibotta!

Send her on a sensory vacay with these mini scented candles. Depending on her mood, she can choose from Barbados Grapefruit, Tahitian Coconut Vanilla, Kalahari Watermelon and French Cade Lavender.

LUCID Comfort Collection Weighted Blanket ($54)

Earn 2% cash back when you shop with Ibotta!

A mom needs her sleep (beauty or otherwise). Give her a great big hug in the form of a weighted blanket, which can help reduce anxiety and acts as a sleep aid by soothing her to sleep.

Flower.com Lady in Pink Peony ($60)

Earn 10% cash back when you shop with Ibotta!

Flowers are the more traditional gift route but can still brighten a mom’s day, especially if her favorite petals are in season. Send a pretty bouquet on her big day to boost her mood and decor.

Chevron Seagrass Belly Basket ($15)

Earn up to 5% cash back when you shop with Ibotta!

Every decor lover has a basket problem – they’re the perfect clutter busters! These seagrass baskets are roomy enough for things like cleaning supplies, toys, media, and blankets – and don’t cost a pretty penny.

Black+Decker Cordless Drill and Charger ($47)

Earn up to 8% cash back when you shop with Ibotta!

Creative moms who like to DIY will love this gift that puts the power in her hands to take on projects around the house. It’s lightweight and cordless, making it the perfect power tool for small projects like hanging art and putting furniture together.

Wayfair Gift Card ($25+)

Earn 4% cash back when you shop with Ibotta!

Know your decor-loving mom needs a lamp or rug or something specific, but you want to give her the chance to choose? Ibotta offers cash back on loads of gift cards too, including Wayfair, Lowe’s, Michaels, Crate & Barrel, Macys and more!

All offers were valid as of publish date. Check your Ibotta app for details, as offers change frequently and may not be available in all areas.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Source: brit.co

Apache is functioning normally

Prepaid debit cards can be used to buy almost anything, whether you’re shopping online or in person. They may also be a helpful budgeting tool, and they don’t affect your credit. You may even be able to recover your money if you lose the card.

However, prepaid debit cards do have some disadvantages, including possible fees. Learn how these cards work to help determine if a prepaid debit card makes sense for you.

What Is a Prepaid Debit Card?

A prepaid debit card shares some features of a credit card, debit card, and gift card. It’s a debit card that’s been pre-loaded with money that you can generally use at any retailer (online or in person) that accepts credit cards.

Like credit cards, prepaid debit cards may be associated with credit card networks. So a prepaid Visa debit card, for instance, can be used anywhere that accepts Visa.

Each purchase you make on a prepaid debit card will deduct from the amount that’s been pre-loaded onto the card. When you reach the end of your pre-loaded cash, you can’t buy anything else with the card.

It may be possible to add more money to the card when the balance gets low via cash or direct deposit, depending on the card. However, there might be a fee to reload the card with money.

Ready for a Better Banking Experience?

Open a SoFi Checking and Savings Account and start earning 1% APY on your cash!

Pros of Prepaid Debit Cards

Like most financial products, there are pros and cons to consider when it comes to using prepaid debit cards. Here are a few of the benefits.

No interest or bills

A prepaid debit card is not a credit card, and you can’t carry a balance on it. That means you pay no interest when you use the card, and there is no bill to pay at the end of the month. A prepaid debit card is basically the plastic equivalent of cash.

Limited loss

It used to be that losing a prepaid debit card was like losing cash — you were out of luck. But legislation by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that took effect in 2019 required card issuers to provide protection against fraud and errors. In order to access this protection, you must usually follow instructions to register your card with the prepaid card issuer and report any theft or loss promptly.

Security for Personal Information

Prepaid debit cards don’t typically contain any of your personal or financial information. So if your card falls into the wrong hands, it’s generally not possible for someone to access your sensitive information.

Automatic budgeting

Prepaid debit cards offer a hard stop on spending, meaning that if there’s $100 on the card, you can’t spend more than $100.

For people who have a hard time with impulse purchases or those who are trying to stick to a strict budget, prepaid debit cards may provide a helpful tool to prevent overspending.

There are some prepaid cards that allow account holders to overdraft and spend more than the balance on the card. They may charge a fee for this. If going over the limit is a problem for you, it may be worth considering a card that doesn’t allow overdrafting.

Available to those with less-than-stellar credit

There is no credit check required to get a prepaid debit card. This makes prepaid debit cards one option to consider for consumers who are unable to qualify for a traditional credit card.

If your credit is sub-par, you can get a prepaid debit card and use it where major credit cards are accepted.

Teaching tool

Those with children may find that prepaid debit cards could be a useful tool to teach about money.

Prepaid debit cards could be used by parents to introduce concepts of spending within limits, to help children understand using plastic instead of cash, or to dole out allowances so kids can practice their money management skills.

Spending tracker

Some cards offer email or text alerts based on card activity, or they’ll notify you when the card has been reloaded or the account balance is getting low.

Possible to deposit paychecks

You can have funds (like paychecks) directly deposited onto some prepaid debit cards, skipping the need to manually reload the card as the balance runs low. This could mean that funds are available faster than they would be if you were cashing a paper check.

Cons of Prepaid Debit Cards

Here are a few downsides to consider when it comes to prepaid debit cards.

No credit effect

Although there’s no credit check required to get these cards, it means prepaid debit cards aren’t connected to a line of credit like credit cards are.

Because the company that administers the prepaid debit card is not reporting your payment activity to the credit bureaus, these cards aren’t helpful for establishing or strengthening your credit history.

High fees

Depending on the card, a prepaid credit card may come with a host of attached fees. Some prepaid cards may charge fees for certain activities including:

•   Activating the card

•   Making a purchase

•   Adding money to the card

•   Checking the balance on the card

•   Withdrawing money at an ATM

•   Replacing a lost card

•   Foreign transaction fees

•   Inactivity after a period of time with no transactions

If you’re considering using a prepaid debit card, you may want to shop around and review the costs and fees associated with different types of prepaid debit cards.

Another option for your money — and one that could help it grow — is to open an online bank account that offers a high yield for your savings. With a bank account, you’ll typically also have access to ATMs and online and mobile banking for added convenience. And some bank accounts come with no fees, unlike certain debit cards.

Potential for loss

If you don’t register your prepaid card and something happens to it — loss, theft or fraud — there may be no way to recover your cash.

Getting a Prepaid Debit Card

You can purchase prepaid debit cards at a variety of locations, including grocery stores and drug stores, online, or from some banks and credit unions.

Purchasing a prepaid debit card usually requires you to load money onto the card at the time you buy it. For example, if you want to buy a $50 prepaid Visa debit card at the drugstore, you would pay the fee to activate the card, plus the $50 you want to load onto it.

If you’re shopping for cards, pay attention to the card fees, which should be displayed on the card’s packaging. There may also be a toll-free number or website you can visit for complete fee information. To the extent possible, it’s worth trying to find prepaid debit cards with fewer fees.

After purchasing the card, to be protected against fraud, loss or theft of your card, you’ll usually need to register it.

The prepaid card will generally come with instructions for doing this. The card provider may request information such as your full name, contact information, date of birth ,and Social Security number or tax ID.

Managing Your Money

Sticking to a budget and managing your money can be daunting. Balancing your income against your expenses and savings goals takes dedication and commitment.

Fortunately, the right tools can make it easier. If you’re looking for an alternative to a prepaid debit card, one option to consider is SoFi Checking and Savings. It allows you to streamline money management since you can save and spend in one place. Plus, the account comes with a high APY and no account fees.

Better banking is here with up to 4.20% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2023 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi members with direct deposit can earn up to 4.20% annual percentage yield (APY) interest on Savings account balances (including Vaults) and up to 1.20% APY on Checking account balances. There is no minimum direct deposit amount required to qualify for these rates. Members without direct deposit will earn 1.20% APY on all account balances in Checking and Savings (including Vaults). Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 4/25/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
SOBK0523003

Source: sofi.com

Apache is functioning normally

Have you heard about Fetch Rewards? My Fetch Rewards Review will show you how to earn free gift cards by simply snapping a picture of your receipts with your phone. That’s it – Fetch is really that easy!

Fetch Rewards is a cash back and gift card cell phone app that rewards you for purchases that you’ve already made.

With this app, you can scan your grocery receipts (from any grocery store or wholesale club, any time) and earn free gift cards.

Plus, Fetch Rewards is free. You don’t have to pay money to sign up or to use the app.

I will explain more in my Fetch rewards app review, but with Fetch, you earn points when you submit your receipts to the Fetch Rewards app from any grocery store, clothing store, restaurant, gas station, and more. Yes, ANY!

Then, you redeem your points for gift cards (to places such as Target, Amazon, or Apple) and other rewards.

All you have to do is take a picture of your receipt with your cell phone and easily earn points.

Here’s how Fetch Rewards works:

  1. Shop like you normally would
  2. Scan your receipt after you’re done
  3. Earn points on Fetch Rewards

You can sign up for Fetch Rewards here. 

Content related to my Fetch Rewards review:

Fetch Rewards Review

 

What is Fetch Rewards?

I want to start my Fetch Rewards review with some basic information about the company and app. Fetch Rewards is based out of Madison, Wisconsin, and this shopping app has helped millions of people save money with the tap of a button as you simply scan physical and digital receipts.

Every month, over 11,000,000 people use Fetch Rewards. It is super easy to use Fetch and receive free gift cards.

I keep saying it’s simple because it really is! Every time you shop or dine out, you can scan your receipt into the Fetch Rewards app.

You can scan receipts from any grocery store, clothing store, pet store, home improvement store, club store, restaurant, gas station, and more. Basically, anywhere you shop, you can snap a picture of the receipt and scan it into Fetch.

You can even use your digital receipts from online purchases such as Amazon, Target, Instacart, and more by connecting your online accounts.

If you have a receipt, then you can scan it!

You earn points when you submit your receipts, and Fetch pays you in points that you can redeem for gift cards. 

There are many redemption options. Here are some of the places you can receive gift cards from:

  • Starbucks
  • Dunkin Donuts
  • Amazon
  • Target
  • Visa gift cards
  • Airbnb
  • Old Navy
  • Ulta
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Bass Pro Shops
  • Instacart
  • Sam’s
  • BJ’s
  • Best Buy
  • Lowe’s

And so many more!

You can also decide to put your points towards charitable organizations, such as The Red Cross or the Clean Water Fund. You can even use your points to enter sweepstakes in the Fetch app.

Don’t worry, I’ll explain more about how to redeem your points further down in my Fetch Rewards review.

 

How does Fetch Rewards work?

Here’s how Fetch Rewards works:

  1. Sign up and download Fetch Rewards by creating an account or connecting a Google or Facebook account account, and then make a password for your account.
  2. Go shopping like you normally do.
  3. Scan your first receipt and earn points. To do this, you simply go to your Fetch Rewards app and click on the orange circle at the bottom of your screen that says “Snap.” You then take a picture of your receipt. If you have a digital receipt, you can just tap on the blue circle instead.
  4. Redeem your points for gift cards, make charitable donations, enter sweepstakes, and more.

I have personally used Fetch to prepare for my Fetch Rewards review, and I can promise you it’s just that simple!

 

How much can you earn with Fetch Rewards?

The amount you can earn on Fetch Rewards really depends on your spending, whether you are completing the Fetch Special Offers, and so on.

Because I am writing this Fetch Rewards review, I wanted to use the app for a while to give you the best review possible, and I was able to earn around $56 in free gift cards in 2-3 months by simply spending how I normally do. I didn’t put any additional effort in the app other than just scanning my shopping receipts.

As you can see, Fetch Rewards clearly won’t make you rich, but you can easily make a little extra money shopping like you normally do.

I also don’t think that I spent more than 20 minutes total in the Fetch app. It’s easy to use and only takes like 10 seconds to scan a receipt. You don’t have to do anything else.

 

What stores can I use for Fetch Rewards?

The great thing about Fetch Rewards is that you can use any retailer or store where you buy groceries, from big box stores, to mom and pop stores, to drug stores, convenience stores, hardware stores, liquor stores, gas stations, club stores (such as Costco), and more.

With any receipt I get, I scan it into the Fetch Rewards app. It takes less than a minute, and you earn points with every scan – so easy!

Plus, you don’t have to jump through any hoops to get points. You don’t need to pre-select the offers in the Fetch Rewards app or scan barcodes, plus there are no surveys or ads. Simply go shopping at your favorite retailers just like usual.

You simply scan your receipt after you are done shopping and earn points.

 

How many receipts can I scan on Fetch a day?

Fetch Rewards allows you to submit 35 receipts within a 7-day period. Electronic receipts that are processed on your account do not count toward the 35 receipt limit.

Other things to know about using Fetch Rewards:

  • Fetch Rewards works for stores located in the United States and Puerto Rico.
  • You have 14 days to scan your receipts to earn points.
  • When you scan your receipts, your receipt must include the store name, the items that you bought, the date of your purchase, the store’s address, and the total amount that you spent. All of that information is included on your receipt.
  • If you scan a receipt with a participating item from the Special Offers tab, then you will get bonus points.
  • If you have a long receipt, you simply just snap more pictures to make sure that your whole receipt is included.
  • You should never make fake receipts or scan the same receipt twice in order to try and get more points. This violates Fetch’s terms of service. Always be honest!

 

Does Fetch Rewards take gas receipts?

Yes, you can scan your gas receipts with Fetch Rewards.

If you’re looking to earn even more from your gas station purchases, then I recommend Upside.

Upside is an app that helps you find gas stations, groceries, and restaurants where you can earn cash back. You simply sign up for a free account, and then look at the Upside app to find places near you.

You can earn up to $0.25/gallon cash back at gas stations, up to 30% back on grocery purchases, and up to 45% back at restaurants.

You can check out Upside here to learn more.

Fetch Rewards Special Offers

What receipts give you the most points on Fetch?

There are several main ways that you can earn points on Fetch Rewards, such as:

  1. Scanning receipts. When you purchase something, whether it be online or in-person, you can take a picture of your receipt with your cell phone and earn points. Every time you scan a receipt in the app, you will receive a minimum of 25 points.
  2. Complete special offers. When you are logged into your Fetch Rewards account, you can see what products will give you the most points. As you can see in the image above, you simply just go to the Fetch Rewards App and go to the Discover tab. There, you will see what items will earn you the most points and extra points. Special offers can give you anywhere from 250 points to even over 5,000 points. New special offers are added almost every day too, so even if you don’t see something today, there may be something that interests you tomorrow. Now, you don’t have to look at the Discover page if you don’t want to – it’s simply just another way to earn more points. You can just use Fetch Rewards and scan your receipts without ever doing anything else in the Fetch Rewards app.
  3. Refer friends and family. Sometimes, you can receive around 2,000 to 4,000 points by referring a new user. You can simply head to the Refer A Friend tab in the Fetch Rewards app to find your referral code.
  4. Joining the Huggies Rewards+ Club. If you use Huggies diapers, you can earn up to 50,000 points by simply purchasing certain Huggies items, such as Huggies Diapers or Huggies Little Movers. Plus, you can get Huggies special offers points as well which are quite high as well.
  5. Save on prescriptions. With Fetch, you can also save on your prescriptions. GoodRx is a free prescription price comparison tool that anyone can use. Simply head to your “Me” tab and click on GoodRx. You can then show this card when paying for prescriptions. You’ll get 10,000 points on your first prescription purchase, and then 1,500 points for future purchases and refills.

For me, I mainly just scan my receipts and refer others to Fetch Rewards. But if I wanted to earn more, there are several other great ways to increase the amount of rewards points that I can earn.

 

How many points equal a dollar on Fetch?

On average, 1,000 points equals $1 in rewards.

10,000 points is equivalent to around $10.

 

How do I redeem a free gift card from Fetch Rewards?

To redeem a Fetch reward, you will simply go to your Fetch account, and look at the bottom of the app. Look for the Rewards tab and tap on that.

Here, you will see what you can use your points on, such as:

  • Gift cards up to $50
  • Sweepstakes entries
  • Charitable organizations
  • Fetch merchandise, such as t-shirts

Then, you click on the button that shows how many points you want to use.

Next, you click on the orange button that says “Get My Reward” at the bottom.

You will then be asked to confirm that this is what you would like to do. It typically takes around three days to process your redemption request.

Once your reward is ready, you will get a notification. You can then go to your Rewards tab, then click on “My Rewards” to find your reward. Here, you will see your gift card code so that you can redeem your gift card at the company that you have chosen.

What’s the Fetch bonus code?

Fetch Rewards does not currently have an active bonus code. But, once they do, I will update this and let you know.

 

What is the catch with Fetch Rewards? How does Fetch Rewards make money? What does Fetch Rewards do with your receipts?

These are all great questions, and they are definitely things I want to cover in this Fetch Rewards review.

Fetch Rewards is so easy to use, but what’s in it for them? Why do they give out rewards and free gift cards just for scanning your receipts?

Fetch Rewards is paying you for the data they get from your receipt. They don’t see your name or other private or personal information. Instead, they are observing trends in shopper behavior. They then use this information to help their partners better understand their customer’s shopping habits.

Fetch Rewards also makes money by finding good deals for those who are signed up for Fetch Rewards. The Special Offers section in the Fetch Rewards app is an area where companies pay to be featured in this list, sort of like an advertisement. Companies know that they can get a lot of people looking at their company in the Fetch Rewards app, so they pay Fetch Rewards for this advertisement.

 

Is Fetch Rewards safe?

Yes, Fetch Rewards is safe to use.

They go through many steps to protect your personal information, and all of the data that they collect is anonymized and aggregated with everyone else’s, so your personal information is never shown.

Also, your receipts only show the last five digits of your credit card number, so you don’t have to worry about that being shared either because Fetch can’t see it.

 

Do my Fetch Rewards points expire?

If your Fetch Rewards account is not used for 90 days, then your points will expire. Your account will receive inactive status if you haven’t submitted any receipts or redeemed any rewards in a 90-day period.

This means that you just simply need to scan a receipt or redeem your Fetch points so your points never expire. If you get in the habit of scanning your receipts every time you shop, you shouldn’t have a problem with expiring points.

It’s very easy to stay active as pretty much everyone spends money in a 90-day period.

 

Is Ibotta or Fetch better?

Fetch Rewards and Ibotta are very similar.

Fetch Rewards is a little easier to use than Ibotta because all you need to do is scan your receipt into the Fetch Rewards app, and then you are done. With Ibotta, it’s more like clipping coupons and takes a little more time, but you may be able to earn a little more with Ibotta.

The great thing is that you can use the same exact grocery receipt for both Fetch and Ibotta. So if you have the time, you can try using both to earn even more rewards and free gift cards. This will allow you to increase your earnings by doing very little extra work.

Here’s how Ibotta works:

With Ibotta, you simply create an Ibotta account, unlock rebates and rewards, go shopping, verify your purchases, and then get cash.

You can redeem rebates from over hundreds of stores, such as Walmart, Target, Kroger, Publix, Walgreens, Home Depot, Old Navy, Chewy, and more.

You can also earn cash back online and in-store with Ibotta.

Ibotta is one of the easiest money making apps because you’re making money shopping like you normally do. They pay in cash or gift cards to Amazon, Starbucks, and other stores.

 

Is Fetch legit? – Fetch Rewards Reviews

Yes, Fetch Rewards is legitimate.

I looked through other online Fetch app reviews and found it’s rated 4.8/5 in the App Store with over 2,600,000 ratings.

In the Google Play store, the average Fetch app review is 4.6/5 stars with over 475,000 reviews on Fetch rewards and over 10,000,000 downloads.

You can see even more Fetch Rewards reviews on Trustpilot.

 

How do I contact Fetch Rewards?

If you have any questions or concerns with Fetch Rewards, you can contact them at [email protected].

You can also go to your app, click on the “Me” tab on the bottom, then click on “Help Center,” then “Contact Us.”

Here’s a screenshot of my Fetch Rewards Account. In 2 months, I have earned 55,566 points, which is equal to a little over $50 in free gift cards.

My Fetch Rewards Review

I hope you enjoyed my Fetch Rewards review. I have been using it for several months now and it is very easy to use.

Fetch Rewards rewards shoppers for shopping at their local supermarket and other popular retailers.

With Fetch Rewards, you can start earnings points by submitting both physical receipts and e-receipts so that you can turn your points into Amazon gift cards, Visa gift cards, and more. There’s no coupon clipping and it is very easy to use.

Simply just upload receipts that you have and earn Fetch Rewards points.

You can upload receipts from retailers such as Target, Walmart, Costco, Publix, Kroger, Walgreens, Home Depot, and more. Small stores, big stores, and everything in between.

This is a must-have shopping app that will help you to save more money, without spending a lot of extra time or effort on your end.

You can sign up for Fetch Rewards here.

Do you use Fetch Rewards? What other questions do you have for this Fetch Rewards review?

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Source: makingsenseofcents.com