The closest I got to Halloween as a child was through classic movies like “Hocus Pocus” and “Casper.” That’s because I grew up in a religious household that chose not to celebrate Halloween.
Since I didn’t embark on the adventure of costume wearing as a child, it’s become a first-generation tradition in my household. Although fun, my third year in, I’m realizing how expensive this costume business can become.
Americans are expected to spend about $104 on Halloween this year, according to the National Retail Federation. If you’ll be participating in spooky season festivities, keep reading for a few mom-approved tips for how to save on costumes.
Set a budget to avoid spooky spending
If you’re anything like me, when it comes to spending on creative ventures, you become a kid in a candy store. However, splurging on a Halloween costume can be counterproductive to your financial goals.
Karen Heffren, a mom from Tucson, Arizona, and owner of the DIY blog Desert Chica, says she’s always been frugal, and that’s no different on Halloween.
“When it came to costumes, I didn’t want to spend $25 on a costume that wasn’t great and my kid would wear for an hour,” she says.
Consider setting a hard limit on how much you’ll spend. If you’re unsure how to calculate what you can afford this year, remember your costume money should ideally come from your discretionary income. That’s what’s left after you meet all of your core financial needs.
If you use the 50/30/20 budgeting system, costume money should come out of your 30% wants category, while 50% goes to needs and 20% to debt and savings.
Push your creative boundaries with a DIY costume
You’d be surprised how much you can save by making a Halloween costume using items around the house. Heffren was first inspired to DIY Halloween costumes about 17 years ago when her family became a single-income household. She shares DIY costume ideas on her blog to help people who may need inspiration and says you don’t have to be a super crafter to use this option.
“You just have to be able to think about what skills you have, and then just modify your ideas to make it work,” she says.
Inspired by my research and interviews for this article, I plan to be Whitney Houston this year and have all the items I need at home already. I’ll use a black leather jacket, big hair, red lipstick, a white shirt and leggings. There are multiple resources you can consult for DIY costume research, such as Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, blogs and TikTok.
It’s also important to keep track of your DIY costume spending along the way so it doesn’t end up costing significantly more than a ready-made costume. If it does cost more, the extra expense may be worthwhile if the costume can be repurposed, which we’ll discuss more below.
Choose costumes that can be repurposed
Kalia Johnson, a content creator and mother in Dallas, made a grape costume for her son last year, and it’s the gift that keeps on giving because most of the items are still functional. The inspiration for the costume came from her son playfully putting balls from his ball pit into his onesie.
“The reason why I like this costume is because we still use all the items that we used for the costume,” she says. “He still uses ball pit balls. He still uses the bamboo sleeper as pajamas. He still uses the beanie if it [is] cold outside.”
The only items Johnson bought were the leaves she used, and they cost a couple of bucks.
Heffren, too, is a firm believer in using items that can be repurposed. She uses hoodies as an example.
One of her most memorable costumes was Olaf from the movie “Frozen,” and she used a hoodie and felt fabric to make it. Another example? Heffren says you can use a white button-down shirt, cardboard, an angry face printout, black slacks and some felt material to create the Anger character from the “Inside Out” movies.
Heffren recommends using duct tape or sewing items onto the costume base so you can easily repurpose it or fix mistakes. I plan to take this advice and use a hoodie and felt material to build my son’s Sonic costume this year.
Consider using pre-loved items
Using secondhand items for a Halloween costume is another way to save money.
Some places where you can buy a used costume or items for a DIY piece include Facebook Marketplace, eBay, OfferUp or your local thrift store. Keep in mind that one of the challenges with getting a ready-made costume may be finding one that you like and that comes in your size. If you want to coordinate costumes with loved ones, going this route could be difficult.
Heffren says people should remember that costumes don’t have to be perfect. That means you don’t have to coordinate your entire family’s costumes, nor do you need to turn costumes into a grand and expensive DIY project.
“I think you just have to set realistic expectations and it’s just for fun, you know? It’s not Picasso, right?”
Editor’s Note: Options are not suitable for all investors. Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire amount invested in a short period of time. Please see the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options.
While most investors are familiar with buying and selling shares of stock directly, investing in options is another way to put money behind stock price movements.
Options are a type of derivative contract that allows the investor to buy (or sell) a stock, or some other asset, at a certain price within a specific time period. The two basic types of options are known as “puts” and “calls.”
Options trading is a popular strategy for day traders, because it offers the potential to make profits within a shorter time frame, as opposed to owning shares of stock outright, and waiting for the price to move in the desired direction. Options trading can potentially generate returns, but it can also amplify losses, making it a risky strategy.
Key Points
• Buying a call option gives an investor the right, but not the obligation, to buy shares of an underlying asset at a specific price and by a specific date, to potentially profit from a price increase.
• Buying a put option gives an investor the right, but not the obligation, to sell shares of an underlying asset at a specific price and by a specific date, to potentially profit from a price decrease.
• The buyer of a call or put option must pay the seller a premium for the options contract, assessed per share.
• The price at which an option can be exercised, as specified in the option contract, is called the strike price.
• Options trading involves risks, including potentially substantial losses.
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Overview: What Are Options?
In options trading, an option contract is a derivative instrument that’s based on an underlying asset: e.g., stocks, bonds, commodities, or other securities. Thus, the buyer of an options contract doesn’t purchase the asset directly, but a contract with an option to buy or sell that security. For example, with stocks, also called equity options, one contract represents 100 shares.
Options come in two flavors, as noted above: calls and puts. For the sake of simplicity, this article will refer primarily to stock or equity options.
Options Buyers vs. Options Sellers
An options buyer, also called the holder, has the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the underlying asset at the agreed-upon price (the strike price) by a specific date (the expiration). Buyers pay a premium for each option contract, which is assessed per share. If there is a $1 premium per share, at 100 shares, the total cost of the option is $100.
The potential upside for an options buyer could be unlimited, depending on their strategy. And since an options buyer is not obligated to exercise their option — meaning to actually buy or sell the underlying stock at the price agreed to in the option contract — the most they stand to lose is the premium paid for the option.
An options seller, also called the options writer, is on the other side of the trade. In this case, if the options holder exercises the contract, the option seller has an obligation to buy or sell the underlying asset at the strike price.
The potential upside for an options seller is the option’s premium. Their potential downside depends on whether they’re selling a put option or a call option. More on this below.
Trading options requires familiarity with options terminology, since these strategies can be complex and come with the potential risk of steep losses, depending on the strategy. 💡 Quick Tip: How do you decide if a certain trading platform or app is right for you? Ideally, the investment platform you choose offers the features that you need for your investment goals or strategy, e.g., an easy-to-use interface, data analysis, educational tools.
What Is a Call Option?
When purchased, a call option gives the options buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy 100 shares of the underlying asset at the strike price, by the expiration of the contract.
Buying a call option can be appealing because it gives a buyer a way of profiting from a stock’s increase in price without having to pay what could be the current market price for 100 shares.
If the price of the underlying asset rises above the strike price, then the buyer may choose to exercise their option, paying less than what it’s worth on the market and potentially selling shares for a profit.
For a call option buyer, the profit is determined by the premium they pay and if, and by how much, the price of the security rises above the option’s strike price before it expires. The maximum potential upside is unlimited since, theoretically, the price of the underlying asset could continue to rise. The maximum potential downside is limited to the premium paid for the option.
Conversely, the seller, or writer, of the call option has the obligation to sell the underlying shares to the buyer, if the buyer exercises the option. The seller’s maximum potential gain is limited to the option’s premium. Their potential downside is unlimited, since they must sell shares at the option’s lower strike price, no matter how high the market price has risen.
Example of Buying a Call Option
If an investor buys an option with a strike price of $50 for a stock that’s currently worth $40, the option will be “out-of-the-money” until the stock rises to $50. If the premium is $1/share — meaning they only pay $1 up front — then the investor will only be risking $100, not $4,000.
If the stock is trading at $55 on or before the expiration date, it would make sense to “exercise” the option and buy the stock for $50, thus giving the investor shares with built-in profit thanks to the difference between the strike price of $50 and the value of $55. In this case the profit would be $4/ per share (or $400), minus the premium paid: a strike price of $50 gives the investor the right to buy 100 shares of a stock worth $55, with a premium of $1 per share.
On the other hand, if the stock has not risen enough in price, the investor can just let the option expire, having only lost the price of the premium, rather than being saddled with shares they can’t profit from.
Recommended: A Beginner’s Guide to Options Trading
What Is a Put Option?
A put option gives the investor buying the contract the right, but not the obligation, to sell the underlying security at the agreed-upon strike price, by the expiration date of the option.
If buying call options are a way to profit when the price of a stock or other underlying asset moves in the right direction, buying put options can be a way to profit from the fall of a stock’s price, without having to short the stock (i.e. borrow the shares and then buy them back at a lower price).
Purchasing a put option contract gives its buyer the right, but not the obligation, to sell shares at a certain price, at or by a specified time in the future. The key difference between buying a put vs. a call option is that the put option becomes increasingly valuable as the price of the underlying asset decreases. A put option buyer is hoping they can sell the underlying asset at a strike price that’s higher than the market price.
For the put option buyer, the maximum potential upside is the difference between the option’s higher strike price and the price at which the option is exercised (minus the premium), while the maximum potential downside is limited to the premium paid.
Again, the put option seller is on the other side of the trade, and is obligated to buy the shares from the put buyer, if the buyer decides to exercise the put option. The put option seller’s maximum upside is the option’s premium. Their potential downside extends to the difference between the option’s higher strike price and the lower market price at the time the option is exercised.
Example of Buying a Put Option
As an example, let’s say a stock is worth $50 today. If an investor thought the stock’s value could go down, they might buy a put option with a strike price of $40. Let’s say the premium for the option is $1, and they buy a contract that gives them the right to sell 100 shares at $40. The premium, then, is $100.
At the time the investor buys the put option, it’s out-of-the-money. If the price remains above $40 until it expires, the investor will not be able to exercise the option and they will lose the premium.
But if the stock has dropped from, say, $50 to $35, the option is in-the-money and if they were to exercise the option, they’d profit from being able to sell shares for $40 that are worth $35, pocketing $5 per share or $500, minus the $100 premium, leaving them with $400, minus any brokerage fees.
Risks of Options Trading
Option trading can be a useful way to manage risks in a volatile market and potentially profit from movements in stocks one doesn’t own. Again, an investor buying options only stands to lose the premium they pay for an options contract, though the cost of premiums can accrue if purchasing multiple options contracts over time.
However, an investor selling call options or put options, who is obligated to either buy or sell an option’s underlying assets per the terms of the options contract, could potentially see substantial losses. This is especially true if they don’t understand the potential downside to the trades they’re executing.
The Takeaway
Option trades may appeal to individual investors because they offer a way to potentially see a gain from movements in a stock price, without having to own the underlying shares. If an investor isn’t able to exercise the call or put option they purchased, they’ll lose the premium they paid for that contract. However, selling a call or put option can be high risk, potentially leading to significant losses.
Investors who are ready to try their hand at options trading despite the risks involved, might consider checking out SoFi’s options trading platform. The platform’s user-friendly design allows investors to buy put and call options through the mobile app or web platform, and get important metrics like breakeven percentage, maximum profit/loss, and more with the click of a button. Currently, investors can not sell options on SoFi Invest®.
Plus, SoFi offers educational resources — including a step-by-step in-app guide — to help you learn more about options trading. Trading options involves high-risk strategies, and should be undertaken by experienced investors.
Explore user-friendly options trading with SoFi.
SoFi Invest®
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below:
Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.
Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire amount invested in a short period of time. Before an investor begins trading options they should familiarize themselves with the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options . Tax considerations with options transactions are unique, investors should consult with their tax advisor to understand the impact to their taxes. Disclaimer: The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results. 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.
Glendale, CA, may be just outside the bustling streets of Los Angeles, but this city is brimming with hidden gems and unique things to experience that cater to all tastes. Whether you’re thinking about buying a home in Glendale, CA, or renting a house or have your eyes on an apartment in the city, you’ll soon discover there’s plenty of unique things to do in Glendale, CA.
From comedy nights and cultural explorations to delicious food and scenic adventures, here’s a guide to some of the city’s must-visit spots, blending fun, relaxation, and community vibes.
1. Laugh out loud at Flappers Comedy Club
If you’re in the mood for some laughs, head to Flappers Comedy Club. Located in nearby Downtown Burbank, this 1920’s-themed venue celebrates the repeal of Prohibition with top-notch comedic performances from the likes of Jay Leno, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, and Arsenio Hall. Enjoy a full speakeasy restaurant and bar menu while catching a show seven nights a week. It’s a place where humor meets history, providing the perfect setting for a fun night out with friends or loved ones. Discovering the unique things here makes for an unforgettable experience.
2. Savor New York-style pizza at Slice House
For pizza lovers, Slice House in Burbank is a must-visit. Known for its authentic New York-style pizza, this spot also offers unique things like Sicilian and Detroit-style pies, all crafted by renowned pizza maker Tony Gemignani. In addition to pizza, Slice House features tasty lunch specials that pair slices with salads and drinks. With plenty of TVs showing sports games and a daily happy hour serving craft beer and wine, it’s the perfect place to enjoy great food and community vibes, whether you’re dining in, picking up, or ordering for delivery.
Photo courtesy of Slice House Burbank
3. Sip on craft cocktails at The Famous Craft Bar
For a laid-back bar experience without the pretense, visit The Famous Craft Bar in Glendale. Offering an elevated yet relaxed atmosphere, this local watering hole serves up craft cocktails, a curated selection of wines, and a variety of craft beers. It’s the perfect place to unwind, no matter your drink preference, and experience some of the unique things this bar has to offer.
4. Enjoy classic dining at Foxy’s Restaurant
Bonnie of Bonnie’s Pilates, a long-time fan of Glendale, says, “I’ve been dining at Foxy’s Restaurant for 20 years. It’s an iconic Glendale diner that’s been serving from-scratch favorites since 1964. With its funky Swiss Chalet architecture, it’s a surprise that you can get some of the best Mexican food in LA County.” Whether you’re craving American or Mexican fare, Foxy’s is the perfect stop before or after a shopping trip at the Americana, located just across the street.
5. Taste filipino flavors at Max’s Restaurant
For a taste of the Philippines, visit Max’s Restaurant in Glendale, just steps away from the Americana at Brand. Famous for its signature fried chicken recipe, this beloved restaurant has been serving up authentic Filipino flavors for nearly 80 years. Whether you’re new to Filipino cuisine or a long-time fan, Max’s is the perfect place to experience warm hospitality and comforting dishes made with love.
Photo courtesy of Max’s Restaurant
6. Visit Paperback Brewing for local brews
For a lively community vibe and great craft brews, head over to Paperback Brewing in Glendale. Set inside an old airplane hangar, this brewery offers not just a unique setting but also an unforgettable experience. One highlight is the Wish You Were Beer Show, where locals and visitors gather to socialize over fresh craft beer in a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. The friendly staff and fun events make Paperback Brewing a go-to spot for meeting neighbors and enjoying unique things in craft beer.
7. Cruise around with Ebird Express
For a fun and unique way to explore Glendale, hop aboard the Ebird Express party bike. This lively excursion allows you and a group of friends to pedal through the city while enjoying drinks, music, and good company. The multi-rider bicycle, often referred to as a pedal pub, is a great option for parties, tours, or special events. And if pedaling sounds like too much work, don’t worry—the bike comes equipped with an assist motor to keep things rolling smoothly. It’s one of the many unique things to do in Glendale.
8. Experience fun and flavor at Brewyard Beer Company
Brewyard Beer Company, Glendale’s first full-distribution brewery, offers a mix of Japanese and Filipino-inspired beers and seltzers. Located off San Fernando Road under the Western Avenue Bridge, Brewyard is more than just a place to grab a drink. It hosts a range of events, including trivia nights, karaoke, movie screenings, and Nite Markets, making it a go-to spot for entertainment and unique things in craft beer.
Photo courtesy of Brewyard Beer Company
9. Relax with an in-home massage from Tranquil
If you’re looking for relaxation, consider an in-home massage from Tranquil in Glendale, offering extended hours for convenient scheduling. Whether you’re winding down after a hike in the Verdugo Mountains or just need some time to relax, a little self-care will leave you feeling refreshed.
10. Find romance at the Americana at Brand
Published author Marcello Kline describes Glendale as a “fantastic and romantic city outside of Los Angeles” that inspired his debut novel, The Art Gallery. The city plays a key role in the characters’ blossoming romance, with the Americana at Brand being a notable location. Though not a hidden gem, Kline shares that walking around the outdoor mall at night, with its light strands, cascading fountains, and background music, creates a romantic atmosphere. These unique features make it a perfect spot for a date.
11. Refuel at Panini Kabob Grill
Located in the Glendale Galleria Mall, Panini Kabob Grill is the perfect place to grab a delicious, freshly made meal after a long day of shopping. With a diverse menu that includes charbroiled kabobs, crispy paninis, refreshing salads, and creamy pasta dishes, this restaurant prides itself on using high-quality ingredients prepared from scratch. Whether you prefer to dine indoors or on their spacious patio, Panini Kabob Grill offers a welcoming environment to unwind and enjoy a hearty meal.
Photo courtesy of Panini Kabob Grill
12. Immerse yourself in Glendale’s art and history
The art scene is one of the many things Glendale is known for, offering a variety of enriching experiences, from museums to live performances. For history buffs, the Martial Arts History Museum provides a fascinating look at martial arts traditions, while the Museum of Neon Art showcases eclectic and kinetic displays of historic signage. The city’s beloved Alex Theater, a historic landmark dating back to 1925, regularly hosts live performances, including concerts, plays, and film screenings, making it a cultural hub for the community.
For art lovers, the stunning Brand Library features rotating exhibitions of contemporary art, and the Forest Lawn Museum often presents thought-provoking traveling exhibitions, blending the past with modern creativity. These experiences highlight some of the unique things in Glendale’s cultural landscape.
13. Refresh and refuel at Da Juice Bar
For a healthy, refreshing treat, head to Da Juice Bar on Brand Blvd. Offering a variety of options such as empanadas, acai bowls, smoothies, and freshly made juices, this local favorite is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or an afternoon snack. Whether you’re craving something light or a full meal, this spot r has a little something for everyone.
Photo courtesy of Sense Spa
14. Rejuvenate at Sense Spa
For a truly unique experience, visit Sense Spa, Glendale’s first scalp management center. Combining traditional relaxation techniques with cutting-edge technology, Sense Spa focuses on improving scalp health through treatments like Japanese carbonated springs and advanced scalp care products. In addition to their scalp treatments, they also offer sound aromatherapy body spa services, providing a peaceful and rejuvenating experience for every guest.
Unique Things to do in Glendale: Wrapping up
Glendale is a city that blends charm, culture, and community, offering a variety of unique things to see and do. From savoring diverse cuisines to exploring vibrant arts and entertainment scenes, there’s no shortage of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, Glendale’s distinct offerings promise memorable experiences for everyone.
Do you want to learn how to start a travel blog? Starting a travel blog can be a fun journey that combines your love for travel and writing. You have the chance to share your adventures, tips, and personal stories with a wide audience. Starting a blog changed my life. When I began Making Sense…
Do you want to learn how to start a travel blog?
Starting a travel blog can be a fun journey that combines your love for travel and writing. You have the chance to share your adventures, tips, and personal stories with a wide audience.
Starting a blog changed my life. When I began Making Sense of Cents (the blog that you’re reading right now!), I had no idea that sharing my writing would lead to financial freedom and the ability to work from anywhere.
For nearly a decade, I’ve traveled full-time – by RV, sailboat, and plane – and it’s been an incredible way to live. Along the way, I’ve shared my experiences, travel tips, and stories, and it’s allowed me to connect with fellow travelers from all over the world.
Whether you want to turn it into a business, a career, or just a fun hobby, a travel blog lets you connect with other travelers and inspire them to explore new places.
Creating a travel blog doesn’t need to be expensive. With some basic steps, you can set up your blog and start sharing your travel experiences in no time. This guide will help you understand what you need to get started, from choosing a domain name to setting up your website and reaching your first readers.
Quick note: I have a free How To Start A Blog FREE Course you can click here to join. Join over 80,000 people who have already taken the course. Want to see how I built a $5,000,000 blog? In this free course, I show you how to create a blog, from the technical side to earning your first income and attracting readers.
My background with blogging
Over a decade ago, I started my blog, Making Sense of Cents, without much planning. I stumbled upon an article about a blogger and thought it would be fun to share details about my own life. At first, it was just a hobby with no real expectations.
I didn’t even realize you could make money from blogging back then. But around six months in, a blogger friend introduced me to my first advertiser, and I earned $100. That’s when I really started to see the potential.
Since then, my blog has grown far beyond anything I could’ve imagined, and I’ve earned more than $5,000,000 over the years. Blogging completely changed my life, giving me the freedom to work from anywhere.
What kept me going was my genuine love for everything related to blogging but also my love for travel. That passion made it easy to dedicate time and effort to grow the blog into what it is today, because I love running an online business that allows me to travel whenever and wherever I want.
Now, I’m excited to help you start your own blog and find success too.
What is a travel blog?
A travel blog is a website where someone shares their travel experiences, tips, and advice. The person who writes it, called a travel blogger, posts about the places they’ve been, activities they’ve tried, and things they’ve learned.
Many travel bloggers also give recommendations for places to stay, eat, and things to do. It’s a way to inspire and help others plan their own trips.
Travel blogs can focus on topics like budget travel, luxury trips, family vacations, solo adventures, and so much more.
Some examples of topics that a travel blog may cover include:
Destination guides – Detailed information on must-see attractions, hidden gems, and local tips for specific cities, countries, or regions
Travel itineraries – Pre-planned routes for weekend getaways, road trips, or long-term travel, outlining where to go and what to see
Local travel tips – Yes, you don’t need to travel by plane in order to be a travel blogger! You can write articles on things to do in your own town.
Budget travel tips – How to travel affordably, including finding cheap flights, budget accommodations, and saving money on food and activities
Solo travel – Tips and advice for solo travelers, including safety, making friends on the road, and building confidence while traveling alone
Family travel – Tips for traveling with children, including family-friendly destinations, packing lists, and keeping kids entertained (such as listing the top travel toys)
Adventure travel – Guides on activities like hiking, diving, surfing, and more, plus how to plan an adventure-focused trip
Cultural experiences – How to engage with local cultures, learn about traditions, and have authentic travel experiences
Travel gear reviews – Recommendations and reviews for travel gear like backpacks, luggage, cameras, and more
Traveling sustainably – How to reduce your environmental impact while traveling, from eco-friendly accommodations to responsible tourism practices
Travel photography tips – Advice on taking beautiful travel photos, including photography tips, gear recommendations, and photo spots
You can pick one or more of these topics to focus on. When you stick to one or two areas, it does help you become more known as an expert in that field, though.
Recommended reading: What Is A Blog, How Do Blogs Make Money, & More
Who can start a travel blog?
Anyone with a passion for travel can start a travel blog!
You don’t need to be a professional writer or photographer. You also don’t need to be a full-time traveler.
Starting a travel blog is a great way to document your adventures and connect with others. Whether you’re traveling full-time or just on weekends, your travel blog can become a helpful resource for other travelers.
Why should you start a travel blog?
Starting a travel blog has many benefits.
It lets you share your adventures with friends, family, and a worldwide audience.
You can also make money from your blog. If your blog gets popular, you can earn through ads, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing.
Blogging can help you connect with other travelers. You may meet people who share your interests. This can lead to friendships and collaborations. I have met so many amazing people through my blog, which has been so nice over the years!
Having a travel blog is like having a digital scrapbook because you can look back and remember all of your trips, which I think is absolutely amazing. A travel blog kind of “forces” you to write down your memories and take pictures.
Starting a travel blog can be a fun and rewarding way to combine your love for travel with new skills and opportunities.
How To Start a Travel Blog
Below is how to start a travel blog and make money, step by step!
1. Choose a travel niche
Choosing a niche is the first step in starting a successful travel blog. A niche is a specific topic or focus area for your blog. Picking the right niche helps you stand out and attract readers who are interested in that topic.
Think about what you love most about travel. Do you enjoy food, adventure, or culture? Your niche could be anything from luxury travel to budget trips, or even solo adventures.
Another great idea is to think about who you want to help with your blog. Are you writing for families, couples, or solo travelers?
It’s also smart to see what’s trending. Wildlife travel, romantic getaways, and travel for digital nomads are popular niches right now. Research what’s trending and pick something that excites you.
Once you have your niche, you can create content that matches what your readers are looking for. This way, you make sure your blog is both fun to read and useful.
I recommend starting a self-hosted WordPress blog through Bluehost.
2. Start a self-hosted WordPress blog
To start a travel blog, you’ll need a blogging platform. WordPress is my favorite choice, and it’s what I use for my blog.
WordPress is where you create and manage your blog posts. It’s like the main hub for your blog. You can log in, write new posts, add pictures or links, and publish them for your readers. It’s a simple tool that makes running your blog easy. Plus, one of the best things about WordPress is that you don’t need to know how to code. It’s user-friendly and has lots of ways to customize your blog.
Here are the steps to start a self-hosted WordPress blog:
Get a web hosting service. A popular choice for new bloggers is Bluehost (you can start your own blog for as low as $1.99 per month).
Install WordPress. Most web hosts have a one-click installation to make it as painless as possible.
You can see my full tutorial for this at How To Start A WordPress Blog On Bluehost. There are step-by-step directions included here if you want more detail and/or want to see screenshots of the exact things you should click on.
Plus, if you use my tutorial, you can get the lowest pricing as well as a free domain name!
3. Pick a travel blog name
Deciding on a travel blog name is a big step. You want it to be fun and easy to remember. It’s also good to make it tell what your blog is about.
Here are some more tips:
Think about what makes your travels special. Are you an adventurer, a foodie, or a luxury traveler? Use that in your name.
Using “.com” is the best choice. It’s what most people type first.
Avoid names that are hard to spell or have numbers in them. Simple is best. You don’t want people to get confused or forget your name.
Before you decide, check if the name is available on social media. You’ll want the same name on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, and other sites.
Take your time and have fun with it. Your blog name is the first thing people see, so make it catchy and memorable.
Don’t forget, you can get your domain name (your blog name) for free when you sign up for Bluehost! Click here to claim your free domain name.
4. Design your blog layout
With a travel blog, your site design is very important.
Your travel blog’s design and layout are important because readers like to see a clean and easy-to-navigate blog design. It makes it easier for them to find what they are looking for, and this helps to keep them on your site longer.
Plus, we’ve all seen a bad site design in the past, and when that happens, usually you don’t stay reading that blog for very long (right?!).
So, your blog design is important because you want readers to continue reading and to even come back in the future!
There are three options for designing your travel blog:
Creating your blog design yourself (DIY such as with paid or free themes)
Paying a blog designer for a custom site design
Buying a premade blog layout – this is what I recommend bloggers do!
Doing it yourself is usually the cheapest, but it can take a lot of time. Paying for a custom site design is usually fairly expensive.
My favorite option – I’m a big fan of simply buying a premade blog design. They are a lot more affordable than a custom design and look amazing. One premade blog design site that I recommend is Restored 316. Restored 316 is super easy to use and they have a lot of great blog design options, especially for travel blogs.
Please click here if you’d like to go the easy way and get an affordable premade blog design (this is what I recommend).
Here’s what my About page looks like.
5. Make important pages for your blog
To make your travel blog successful, start by setting up your main pages. These pages help your readers easily navigate your site.
Your important pages should include:
Homepage – This is the first impression visitors get of your blog. A clear and organized homepage helps readers quickly understand what your blog is about. Clearly state what your blog focuses on, such as destinations, travel tips, or itineraries, and provide links to your main sections.
About page – Share your story here and explain who you are, why you started traveling, and what kind of travel experiences you write about.
Contact page – Make it easy for readers, tourism boards, or brands to reach you by listing your email address.
Privacy Policy page – Outline how you collect and use data, especially if you collect any personal information. For legal templates, you can search for these online or buy a premade privacy policy here.
Disclosure page – If you earn money through affiliate links, sponsored trips, or partnerships, you need to be transparent about it.
6. Start social media accounts for your travel blog
Creating social media accounts can be super helpful for growing your travel blog.
Social media allows you to share your pictures, travel tips, and stories, making it easier for people to find your blog and follow your adventures.
Social media is especially helpful for a travel blog because it allows you to reach a larger audience and engage with readers in real time. Posting pictures and videos of your trips on Instagram or TikTok, for example, can inspire people to visit your blog for more detailed itineraries and travel advice.
The social media platforms you can start include:
Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok
You don’t have to be active on all of them, but claiming your blog name on each platform is a smart move to keep your brand name consistent. Then, I also recommend adding social media buttons to your blog so that readers can find you on social media from your blog.
7. Create a blog post plan
A blog content plan is a simple way to organize what you’ll write and post on your blog.
It helps you stay on track and reach your goals, like getting more readers or making more sales.
A good content plan includes a list of topics, post titles, when to publish, and the goal of each post (like promoting something or helping your readers).
It can also include keywords, picture ideas, and how you’ll share your posts. It’s basically a guide to keep your blog running smoothly and growing.
Your travel blog content plan doesn’t need to be complicated, though. It can be as simple as a list of trips or destinations you want to write about. How detailed you make it is up to you.
Here are some blog post ideas for a travel blog content plan:
10 Budget Travel Tips for Exploring the World
How To Plan the Perfect Weekend Getaway
How To Travel Abroad for the First Time: A Beginner’s Guide
Top 5 Must-Have Travel Apps You Need
How To Pack Light for a Two-Week Trip
How To Find Cheap Flights and Save Money on Airfare
10 Underrated Travel Destinations You Should Visit
Best Travel Hacks for Families with Kids
Top 5 Beach Destinations for a Relaxing Vacation
How To Travel Full-Time and Make Money on the Road
8. Write your first post
Writing your first post can be exciting and a bit scary. I think pretty much every blogger is a little nervous to share their first blog post – this is completely normal.
Here are some things to think about when writing a blog post:
You can easily start with an introduction. Tell your readers who you are and what your blog is about, and share a bit about why you love to travel.
After the introduction, get into the main content of your post. Share your travel experiences, tips, or plans.
Divide your post into short paragraphs because this makes it easier to read. Use bullet points or numbered lists to break up the text.
I also recommend that you include photos to make your post more appealing. Pictures of your travels can help bring your story to life. It is a travel blog after all, so readers most likely want to see pictures!
Then, I recommend that you end your blog post with a call to action. Ask your readers to leave comments or share your post with their friends.
Remember to proofread your post before publishing.
9. Find ways to make money with your travel blog
You can make money from your travel blog in many ways, such as:
Placing ads on your blog. Companies will pay you to show their banners or links. This can be a good way to earn an income.
Affiliate marketing is another great option. You can recommend travel gear, hotels, or tours and get a commission for every sale made through your links. It’s a win-win for both you and your readers. I have a free ebook to learn more – Affiliate Marketing Tips For Bloggers.
Sponsored posts can bring in extra money too. Brands might pay you to write about their products or services.
Selling digital products like travel guides or ebooks can also be profitable.
You could also sell paid memberships. Members could get access to exclusive content, special travel deals, or even a personal Q&A session with you.
Running webinars or online courses about travel planning can help you earn money. People love learning and are willing to pay for good advice.
Don’t forget about social media. You can get paid for sponsored posts or partnerships on platforms like Instagram and YouTube.
Freelance travel blog writing – There are websites, such as larger travel blogs, that will pay for content as well.
10. How to grow a travel blog
To get readers to your travel blog, you need to promote it.
Here are some ways to get pageviews on your blog:
Share your travel posts and photos on social media platforms like Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Guest post on other travel blogs. This can introduce you to new readers who are interested in travel.
Email marketing is one of my favorite ways to grow a blog. You can persuade readers to subscribe to your newsletter and send them updates and new travel posts regularly. If you are looking for a way to send newsletters or emails to your readers, I recommend Convertkit.
Use search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to help your blog appear in search results when people look for travel tips or destinations.
Create helpful video content: Many travelers love visual content, so creating travel vlogs or short clips on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok can bring traffic to your blog.
Create downloadable resources. Useful resources like packing checklists, travel itineraries, or budget travel guides can get more readers to your blog.
My favorite guide that teaches many different strategies to grow your pageviews is 21 Strategies I Used to Increase My Monthly Page Views from 17k to 400k+ in 10 Months. If you are a new blogger, check out this resource! The author went from 17,000 monthly pageviews to 400,000 and shares all of her best tips in this guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Starting a travel blog can be exciting and rewarding. Many people are curious about how to get started, the costs involved, and if it’s possible to make money. Here are some common questions about making money with travel blogging.
Do travel bloggers make money?
Yes, travel bloggers can make money. Many travel bloggers earn income through advertisements, affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and selling products or services. Of course, not every travel blogger makes money, but some do.
How much does it cost to start a travel blog?
Starting a travel blog can be affordable. Here are some common expenses:
Domain name: About $10 to $15 per year
Web hosting: Around $3 to $10 per month
Initial costs can range from $50 to a few hundred dollars. You’ll spend more if you get a custom design or pay for freelance writers, though, of course.
Is travel blogging easy?
Travel blogging can be exciting but takes a lot of hard work when it comes to writing, photography, and social media. It involves:
Creating regular, high-quality posts
Promoting content on social media
Engaging with readers and other bloggers
It requires passion and dedication, but many find it rewarding.
What are the disadvantages of being a travel blogger?
While travel blogging has perks, there are challenges too, such as inconsistent income (earnings can vary month to month); it can be time-consuming (creating content and maintaining a blog takes a lot of time); it can lead to travel stress (constant travel can be exhausting); and privacy concerns (sharing personal experiences can sometimes feel invasive).
Who are the most popular travel bloggers?
Many successful travel bloggers have become well-known. Some of these include Nomadic Matt, Anna Everywhere, The Blonde Abroad, Expert Vagabond, Adventurous Kate, The Points Guy, Y Travel Blog, and Jessie on a Journey. There are many more travel bloggers, and then there are also travel Instagrammers, travel YouTubers, and more!
How To Start a Travel Blog – Summary
I hope you enjoyed this article on how to start a travel blog and make money.
I’ve been running this blog that you’re reading for quite some time now, and it’s one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made.
If you are thinking about starting a blog, I highly recommend trying it out! It can be done relatively affordably and all from home, so I think it’s worth the try.
Starting a travel blog is a fun way to share your adventures and connect with fellow travelers around the world. When I first began blogging, I had no idea it would lead to me being able to earn a full-time income and allow me to travel full-time. Whether you’re looking to turn it into a career or just want to share your travel tips and stories, creating a travel blog can open up new opportunities to explore the world and inspire others to do the same.
Reminder: I have a free How To Start A Blog FREE Course you can click here to join. Join over 80,000 people who have already taken the course. Want to see how I built a $5,000,000 blog? In this free course, I show you how to create a blog, from the technical side to earning your first income and attracting readers.
At the end of the year, when holiday celebrations and expressions of gratitude are in full swing, many people think about making a charitable donation. If you donate to a qualifying organization, not only can your funds do good, they may also be deductible when you pay your taxes.
Maybe it’s the animal shelter around the corner from your home, or perhaps it’s a scholarship fund at your alma mater that does amazing work. Whatever pulls at your heart and makes you feel like you’re doing the right thing can be a good cause for donations. The organization you give your money to benefits. Read on to learn if your contribution could also lower your tax bill.
What Qualifies as Charitable Giving?
In the eyes of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a charitable donation is a gift of money, property, or other asset that you give to a qualifying organization, known as a 501(c)(3).
To find out if an organization you’d like to support is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions, you can search for it on the IRS’s database .
You may want to keep in mind that money or assets given to political campaigns or political parties do not qualify as tax-deductible donations. In fact, no organization that qualifies as a 501(c)(3) can participate in political campaigns or activities.
Organizations that engage in political activities without bias, however, can still sometimes qualify. So, a group can educate about the electoral process and remain within guidelines. They just have to go about it in a nonpartisan way.
Can I Deduct My Year-End Charitable Donation?
Currently, charitable donations could only be deducted by tax filers who itemized their deductions. That means that rather than take the standard deduction on their income tax return, they chose the more complicated path of listing all of their eligible expenses.
Recommended: 26 Tax Deductions for College Students and Other Young Adults
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How Much of a Charitable Donation Is Tax-Deductible?
The IRS sets limits on how much of a charitable contribution you can deduct from your taxes, and these are frequently updated. The amount is typically expressed in terms of the percentage of your adjusted gross income (AGI) that you may claim.
In 2024, this limit for cash contributions (say, money debited from your checking account) is 60% of a person’s AGI. The top figure is 20%-50% of AGI if you make a non-cash contribution, such as stock shares or a vehicle. The exact figure will vary with both the type of organization to which you are making the donation as well as the kind of item you are donating.
Of course, you are welcome to donate as much as you like. Just keep in mind that any charitable giving above those figures is not eligible for a deduction at tax time.
Recommended: How to Reduce Taxable Income for High Earners
Tips for Making End-of-Year Donations
To ramp up both the impact and benefit of a charitable donation, here are some strategies you may want to keep in mind:
Making a Timely Donation
Don’t lose track of your timing: The deadline for charitable donations is December 31. If you’re looking to deduct the donation in the current tax year, you will want to make sure your charity has ownership of whatever asset you are donating by the close of business on the 31.
You may also want to make sure that your preferred payment method is accepted by the charity so it doesn’t get kicked back and cause delays. Putting a reminder in your calendar for, say, mid-December can be a good way to make sure you don’t run late with your giving. (Of course, you also want to make sure you don’t miss the tax-filing deadline come April, either.)
Taking Advantage of Company Matching Programs
Your place of employment might have a matching program for charitable giving. They might, for example, match your donation amount dollar for dollar up to a certain amount. If so, it could significantly bump up the amount you could otherwise afford to give.
If you’re unsure about whether your company has a program, it can be worth reaching out to your HR department for further information.
Giving Rewards on Your Credit Card
If you are making a contribution on a budget, you might consider donating credit card rewards you earn, such as hotel points or airline miles. This can be a great way to use points or other rewards that would otherwise just expire. Many credit card companies, hotels, and airlines will make it easy to give your rewards to nonprofit organizations.
Donating Assets from Your Brokerage Account
If you’re looking to lower your taxes, you may want to consider donating assets from your brokerage account to a nonprofit. This may take some time and planning, but the benefits of donating an over-allocated position that’s outperforming can be worth it.
You may be able to receive tax advantages and rebalance your portfolio, while also helping an organization increase its assets.
Recommended: What Tax Bracket Am I In?
Setting up a Recurring Donation
You can get a headstart on next year by creating a recurring contribution now. Many organizations allow you to donate monthly through their websites using a credit card, so you might be able to earn rewards at the same time. By establishing your donation plans now, you won’t have to even think about end-of-the-year giving next year.
Keeping Good Records
If you want to deduct your donation on your taxes, you’ll want to make sure you have the right receipts to back up the transaction.
You’ll want to keep records of your donations. For cash donations under $250, you’ll either need a bank record (like a canceled check or bank statement) or a written acknowledgment from the charity which includes the date and amount of your contribution. (The exception is goods dropped off at, say, a clothing donation bin.)
For cash donations over $250, a bank record isn’t insufficient. Instead, you’ll need something in writing from the charity which includes the date and amount of your donation.
If you are making noncash donations valued at $500 or more, you’ll need to fill out one or more of the IRS Form 8283 . If the donation exceeds $5,000 in value (say, if you gift a car you no longer need to a favorite local organization), you’ll also need to get a written appraisal from a qualified appraiser. In addition, know that donations of $250 or more will also require what is known as a “contemporaneous written acknowledgment.” This is a document that describes the property, states whether the organization provided the donor with goods or services as a result of the contribution,and share an estimate of the value of any such goods or services provided.
Speaking with a Professional
Working with a personal accountant can help answer any questions you may have about how tax laws will impact your tax contribution, as well as help you make the most strategic and efficient charitable donation.
Recommended: Are 401(k) Contributions Tax Deductible? Limits Explained
The Takeaway
Giving can be a good idea for a number of reasons. In addition to helping a nonprofit organization meet its operating costs for the year, you can feel good about what you are doing with your money, and you may also benefit from tax deductions.
Giving can also help you get the new year started on the right foot. If you’re looking for other ways to get your financial life in order, consider a new bank account.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
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FAQ
Should donations be deductible?
Charitable contributions are usually tax-deductible, but there can be limitations as well as exceptions, so it can be wise to inquire in advance. Contributions can often take the form of cash, artwork, cars, and other items of value.
Are charitable contributions no longer tax-deductible?
Charitable contributions can be tax-deductible. However, they must be claimed as itemized deductions; you would do so on Schedule A of IRS Form 1040. Keep in mind that there’s a limit on charitable cash contributions: For 2024, it’s 60% of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income.
Can you deduct $300 in charitable contributions without itemizing?
The short answer is no. Currently, you must itemize charitable contributions in order to claim them as deductions.
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As the leaves begin to change and a crispness fills the air, Denver, CO transforms into a vibrant autumn playground. From stunning parks adorned with fiery foliage to local festivals celebrating the season, there’s no shortage of hidden gems to enjoy in the Mile High City. From nature lovers to foodies, to arts enthusiasts, Denver offers many fun-filled things to do that capture the ever-so-stunning spirit of fall.
Whether you’ve just settled into your new home in Denver, CO, are on the hunt for the perfect apartment, or are seeking a rental to experience your first Colorado fall, join us as we discover the beauty and excitement of fall activities in Denver.
1. Explore fall farms
As the vibrant autumn colors create a stunning backdrop for outdoor activities, exploring a fall farm in Denver is a delightful way to experience the season come alive. Visitors can wander through pumpkin patches, enjoy hayrides, and participate in apple picking, all while soaking in the crisp, refreshing air. Many farms also offer seasonal events like corn mazes and craft markets, making it one of the perfect fall activities in Denver for families and friends.
Take a holiday wreath workshop
Making a holiday wreath at Yetman Farms is a charming way to embrace the festive spirit while enjoying the beauty of nature. Backed up to Bear Creek Trail, the farm makes you feel like you’re in the middle of the countryside, enjoying an evening in the fields.
To create your own wreath, they use flowers grown right on the farm to celebrate the season. Each personal arrangement reflects the vibrant colors and textures of nature, making your creation truly unique.
Meet the farm animals
With the fields alive with the vibrant colors of autumn, the farm animals roam happily, their coats thickening for the colder months. Chickens cluck around, pecking at fallen leaves, while goats playfully butt heads amid the pumpkin patches.
Home to 175 animals, The Urban Farm is the ideal destination for those looking for a place to see them in their habitat. It’s a perfect time to watch the animals interact, enjoying the bounty of the season together.
Learn about sustainable farming
As harvest time approaches, learning about sustainable farming at SustainEd Farms is a fascinating way to see how farms utilize eco-friendly practices to enrich the soil and conserve water. The vibrant autumn landscape serves as a reminder of how sustainable methods not only benefit the environment but also produce healthy, delicious food for the community. Each lesson learned under the golden hues of fall deepens appreciation for the balance between agriculture and nature.
Celebrate harvest
Ekar Farm’s Sukkot and Harvest Festival is a vibrant celebration of community, sustainability, and the bounty of the season. With pumpkin carving, apple cider making, and activities for all ages, the festival highlights the beauty of nature and the importance of supporting local agriculture. With its sustainably grown fruits and vegetables, it’s the perfect fall destination to connect with the local community.
2. Cozy up with a cocktail at La Forêt
Cozying up with a cocktail at a French restaurant in Denver is the perfect way to escape the chill of fall. The warm ambiance at La Forêt invites you to unwind as you warm up with a bowl of their French Onion Soup or savor their rich Stag au Poivre. Indulge in the cozy forest atmosphere during their ‘Pastis Hour’ and enjoy discounted drinks inspired by the French pastis tradition.
3. Unleash your creativity
A fall art class is a wonderful way to embrace the season’s creativity and warmth. Surrounded by vibrant autumn hues, you can explore new techniques while drawing inspiration from the changing landscape outside. It’s a chance not only to hone your skills but also to connect with others who share a passion for art, all while enjoying the cozy atmosphere that this time of year brings.
Take a watercolor and acrylic class
One of the top fall activities in Denver is attending a fall-themed watercolor and acrylic art class for adults at RemainReal Fine Art Gallery. It’s a perfect way to get creative with friends or as a unique date night. After class, explore the vibrant Santa Fe Arts District, one of the many Denver neighborhoods, where you can peruse local galleries, grab a bite at a nearby restaurant, or enjoy a cozy coffee from a local café surrounded by the district’s artistic energy.
Create your own immersive piece
Located in the walkable neighborhood of Baker, Fleur is a creative space that offers art classes and workshops led by local makers. A woman-owned and operated studio, Fleur curates immersive experiences where participants can dive into a wide range of creative projects from jewelry making to textile arts, stained glass making to natural dyeing. Known for its inclusive and welcoming space, Fleur is the perfect spot to explore new skills and craft something special this fall.
4. Find fall treasures
Thrifting for cozy sweaters at Gone for Good Thrift Store in Denver is a delightful way to embrace the season’s warmth and style. As you sift through racks of gently used garments, the thrill of discovering a unique, oversized knit or a vintage cardigan adds to the excitement.
The soft textures and rich autumn colors invite you to imagine all the cozy outings ahead, from pumpkin patch visits to evening bonfires. Each find feels like a treasure, perfect for layering on chilly days while enjoying the charm of fall fashion.
5. Savor autumnal brews
Denver is known for its vibrant coffee scene, boasting a diverse array of artisanal roasters and cozy cafes that cater to both connoisseurs and casual sippers alike. Start your morning at Nixon’s Coffee House and a latte to fuel up before heading to Washington Park. With the trees turning golden and the crisp air energizing your walk, fall is the perfect time to take a stroll through the park with a warm apple chai in hand.
Just a short distance from the park, an inviting coffee shop such as Nixon’s Coffee House offers a comforting spot to warm up, study, or relax after enjoying some fall activities in Denver.
6. Bike ride to see the fall foliage
Taking a bike ride to see the fall foliage in Denver is a refreshing way to soak in the season’s beauty. The crunch of leaves under your tires adds to the experience, making each turn feel like an autumn adventure. Pausing to take in the breathtaking views, you can truly appreciate the magic of nature’s transformation during this enchanting time of year.
Lindsey Sozio, founder of Lavender Coffee Boutique, recommends, “One of our favorite fall activities in Denver is to go for a bike ride along the scenic Highline Canal Trail to take in the stunning autumn foliage.
Sozio continues, “Afterward, we look forward to unwinding and cozying up at the Lavender Coffee Boutique’s outdoor patio, where we sip on the warm fall drinks while reminiscing about our ride.”
7. Shop local harvests at a farmers market
A farmers market in the fall is an amazing way to experience the sights and scents of the season. With the aroma of fresh baked goods and spices, it’s a perfect opportunity to connect with local farmers and taste seasonal produce.
“Fall Sundays at the South Pearl Street Farmers Market are a true Denver delight. The crisp air, vibrant produce, and warm community vibes make for the perfect autumn outing,” says Alexandra Eitel, operations manager at Sanctuary Chai.
Eitel also recommends heading over to the patio at Steam Espresso Bar after meandering through the market to warm up with a delicious spiced chai.
Go apple picking
Apples are quintessentially tied to fall, embodying the season’s spirit with their vibrant hues and crisp textures. To dive into this ripe fruit of the season, go “apple picking” with Ela Family Farms at many of the local farmers markets. With varieties such as Swiss Gourmet, Honeycrisp, and Hubbardston Nonesuch, there’s something to delight every palate.
8. Experience haunted thrills
Visiting a haunted attraction during fall is a thrilling experience that ignites the spirit of the season. As you step into the eerie atmosphere, the suspense builds with every creaking door and flickering light. Scares in spine-chilling costumes jump out from dark corners, sending shivers down your spine. The adrenaline rush of navigating through haunted mazes and chilling encounters makes for unforgettable memories, wrapping you in the excitement and spookiness that the spooky season brings.
Swamp scares
Stepping into The Ritual Haunted House feels like crossing into another realm. The dimly lit paths wind through wooden beams as you walk through the swamp. Each corner reveals scenes of shadowy figures and eerie artifacts, immersing you in a nightmarish tale that keeps your heart racing until the very end. It’s a haunting journey that lingers long after you escape the depths of the swamp.
Haunted house
Named one of the scariest haunted houses in the country, 13th Floor has haunts that will leave you shaking in your boots. With Mini Escape Games, secret bars, and a Zombie Shooting Gallery, the scares at this spooky experience are sure to leave you with nightmares. Each attraction unveils a new horror, from ghostly apparitions to sinister surprises that leap out when you least expect them. As you navigate the twisting passages, the tension builds with every step, making you wonder what awaits around the next corner in this heart-pounding descent into darkness.
Photo courtesy of 13th Floor Haunted House
9. Do as the lumberjacks do
Take on a thrilling twist to the season and channel your inner lumberjack at American Paintball Coliseum with axe throwing and paintball adventures, perfect for those looking to add some excitement to their fall activities in Denver. Perfect your aim while hurling axes at wooden targets, feeling the rush of each successful throw. Afterward, diving into a paintball match adds an exciting layer of competition, where strategy and teamwork come into play.
Together, these activities offer a unique blend of skill, camaraderie, and a taste of rugged outdoor fun that’s sure to create lasting fall memories.
10. Take in the views at a park
As the landscape of the parks in Denver transforms into a tapestry of vibrant colors, the cool, crisp air invites leisurely strolls along tree-lined paths, where golden leaves crunch underfoot.
“One of our favorite activities is a fall goodie picnic at Cheeseman or City Park,” shares Jocasta Hanson with Honey Elixir Bar. “Grab a tasty tea or coffee, some fall-flavored snacks, a cozy blanket, some of your besties, and spend the day soaking up the sun before the rain starts.”
It’s the perfect time to enjoy a picnic, take in the serene beauty, or simply relax on a bench while soaking up the autumn sunshine.
11. Illuminate the night at Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns
Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns is the perfect way to usher in the fall season, offering a captivating experience that celebrates the beauty of autumn. With thousands of hand-carved pumpkins lighting up the garden, it’s a magical experience for families, couples, and friends to enjoy.
The walk-through display is filled with intricate designs, spooky scenes, and creative lighting that make every turn feel like a new discovery. It’s the kind of event that gets everyone into the festive spirit while enjoying the beauty of the autumn season outdoors.
12. Craft with the seasonal materials
Engaging your loved ones in the fall season by using seasonal materials to create home crafts is a fantastic way to help kids embrace the festivities.
Julia Grace Yusuf, president of MOMS Club of Denver shares one of her family’s favorite fall activities in Denver, “We grab a cozy cup of coffee and walk over to the park to let the kids play at the playground. Afterwards, we collect the changing fallen leaves for a handprint leaf collage art project.”
Gathering a variety of leaves becomes a fun adventure, as you search for unique shapes and textures to use in your creations. Once home, the possibilities are endless—whether you’re making leaf rubbings, wreaths, or decorations, each craft serves as a beautiful reminder of the enchanting fall days spent outdoors.
Must-do fall activities in Denver: Final thoughts
As the vibrant colors of fall paint the Colorado landscape, there’s no better time to immerse yourself in the season’s unique charm by adding to your Denver bucket list. From scenic hikes and cozy festivals to bright fall foliage, Denver offers a wealth of activities to enjoy. Embrace the crisp air, gather with loved ones, and make unforgettable memories as you explore all that autumn in the Mile High City has to offer.
Block trades are big under-the-radar trades, generally carried out in private. Because of their size, block trades have the potential to move the markets. For that reason they’re conducted by special groups known as block houses. And while they’re considered legal, block trades are not regulated by the SEC.
As a retail investor, you likely won’t have anything to do with block trades, but it’s a good idea to know what they are, how they work, and how they can affect the overall market.
Key Points
• Block trades are large-volume purchases or sales of financial assets, often conducted by institutional investors.
• Block trades can move the market for a security and are executed through block trade facilities, dark pools, or block houses.
• Block trades are used to avoid market disruption and can be broken down into smaller trades to conceal their size.
• Retail investors may find it difficult to detect block trades, but they can provide insights into short-term market movements and sentiment.
• Block trades are legal and not regulated by the SEC, but they can be perceived as unfair by retail investors.
What Are Block Trades?
A block trade is a single purchase or sale of a large volume of financial assets. A block, as defined by the New York Stock Exchange’s Rule 127.10, is a minimum of 10,000 shares of stock. For bonds, a block trade usually involves at least $200,000 worth of a given fixed-income security.
Though 10,000 shares is the operative figure, the number of shares involved in most block trades is far higher. Individuals typically don’t execute block trades. Rather, they most often come from institutional investors, such as mutual funds, hedge funds, or other large-scale investors.
Why Do Block Trades Exist?
Block trades are often so large that they can move the market for a given security. If a pension fund manager, for example, plans to sell one million shares of a particular stock without sparking a broader market selloff, selling all those shares on a public market will take some time.
During that process, the value of the shares the manager is selling will likely go down — the market sees a drop in demand, and values decrease accordingly. Sometimes, the manager will sell even more slowly. But that creates the risk that other traders will identify the institution or the fund behind the sale. Then, those investors might short the stock to take advantage.
Those same risks exist for a fund manager who is buying large blocks of a given security on a public market. The purchase itself can drive up the price, again, as the market sees an increase in demand. And if the trade attracts attention, other traders may front-run the manager’s purchases.
How Block Trades Are Executed
Many large institutions conduct their block trades through block trade facilities, dark pools, or block houses, in an effort to avoid influencing the market. Most of those institutions typically have expertise in both initiating and executing very large trades, without having a major — and costly — effect on the price of a given security.
Every one of these non-public exchange services operates according to its own rules when it comes to block trades, but what they have in common is relationships with hedge funds and others that can buy and sell large blocks of securities. By connecting these large buyers and sellers, blockhouses and dark pools offer the ability to make often enormous trades without roiling the markets.
Investment banks and large brokerages often have a division known as a block house. These block houses run dark pools, which are called such because the public can’t see the trades they’re making until at least a day after they’ve been executed.
Dark pools have been growing in popularity. In 2020, there were more than 50 dark pools registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United States. At the end of 2023, dark pools executed about 15% of all U.S. equity trades.
Smaller Trades Are Used to Hide Block Trades
To help institutional traders conceal their block trades and keep the market from shifting, blockhouses may use a series of maneuvers to conceal the size of the trade being executed. At their most basic, these strategies involve breaking up the block into smaller trades. But they can be quite sophisticated, such as “iceberg orders,” in which the block house will break block orders into a large number of limit orders.
By using an automated program to make the smaller limit orders, they can hide the actual number of orders at any given time. That’s where the “iceberg” in the name comes from — the limit orders that other traders can see are just the tip of the iceberg.
Taken together, these networks of traders who make block trades are often referred to as the Upstairs Market, because their trades occur off the trading floor.
Pros and Cons of Block Trades
As with most things in the investment field and markets, block trades have their pros and cons. Read on to see a rundown of each.
Pros of Block Trades
The most obvious advantage of block trades is that they allow for large trades to commence without warping the market. Again, since large trades can have an effect on market values, block trades, done under the radar, can avoid causing undue volatility.
Block trades can be used to conceal information, too, which can also be a “pro” in the eyes of the involved parties. If Company A stock is moving in a block trade for a specific reason, traders outside of the block trade wouldn’t know about it.
Block trades are also not regulated by the SEC, meaning there are fewer hoops to jump through.
Cons of Block Trades
While masking a large, market-changing trade may be a good thing for those involved with the trade, it isn’t necessarily a positive thing for everyone else in the market. As such, block trades can veil market movements which may be perceived as unfair by retail investors, who are trading none the wiser.
Block trades can be hard to detect, too, as mentioned. Since they’re designed to be obscure to the greater market, it can be difficult to tell when a block trade is actually occuring.
Block trades are also not regulated by the SEC — it’s a pro, and a con. The SEC doesn’t regulate them, but rather the individual stock exchanges. That may not sit well with some investors.
Block Trade Example
An example of a block trade could be as follows: A large investment bank wants to sell one million shares of Company A stock. If they were to do so all at once, Company A’s stock would drop — if they do it somewhat slowly, the rest of the market may see what’s going on, and sell their shares in Company A, too. That would cause the value of Company A stock to fall before the investment bank is able to sell all of its shares.
To avoid that, the investment bank uses a block house, which breaks the large trade up into smaller trades, which are then traded through different brokerages. The single large trade now appears to be many smaller ones, masking its original origin.
Are Block Trades Legal?
Block trades are legal, but within stock market history they exist in something of a gray area. As mentioned, “blocks” are defined by rules from the New York Stock Exchange. But regulators like the SEC have not issued a legal definition of their own.
Further, while they can move markets, block trades are not considered market manipulation. They’re simply a method used by large investors to adjust their asset allocation with the least market disruption and stock volatility possible.
How Block Trades Impact Individual Investors
Institutional investors wouldn’t go to such lengths to conceal their block trades unless the information offered by a block trade was valuable. A block trade can offer clues about the short-term future movement and liquidity of a given security. Or it can indicate that market sentiment is shifting.
For retail (aka individual) investors, it can also be hard to know what a block trade indicates. A large trade that looks like the turning of the tide for a popular stock may just be a giant mutual fund making a minor adjustment.
But it is possible for retail investors to find information about block trades. There are a host of digital tools, some offered by mainstream online brokerages, that function like block trade indicators. This might be useful for trading stocks online.
Many of these tools use Nasdaq Quotation Dissemination Service (NQDS), Level 2 data. This subscription service offers investors access to the NASDAQ order book in real time. Its data feed includes price quotes from the market makers who are registered to trade every NASDAQ and OTC Bulletin Board security, and is popular among investors who trade using market depth and market momentum.
Even access to tools like that doesn’t mean it’ll be easy to find block trades, though. Some blockhouses design their strategies, such as the aforementioned “iceberg orders,” to make them hard to detect on Level 2. But when combined with software filters, investors have a better chance of glimpsing these major trades before they show up later on the consolidated tape, which records all trades through blockhouses and dark pools — though often well after those trades have been fully executed.
These software tools vary widely in both sophistication and cost, but may be worth considering, depending on how serious of a trader you are. At the very least, using software to scan for block trades is a way to keep track of what large institutional investors and fund managers are buying and selling. Active traders may use the information to spot new trends.
The Takeaway
Block trades are large movements of securities, typically done under-the-radar, involving 10,000 or so shares, and around $200,000 in value. It can be difficult for individual investors to detect block trades — which, again, are giant position shifts by institutional investors — on their own.
But these trades have some benefits for individual investors. The mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that most investors have in their brokerage accounts, IRAs, 401(k)s and 529 plans may take advantage of the lower trading costs and volatility-dampening benefits of block trades, and pass along those savings to their shareholders.
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For many years, SeatGuru served as the go-to site for viewing airplane seat maps to choose the best seat for your flight. But SeatGuru hasn’t been meaningfully updated in years. The best source for checking airplane seat maps these days is AeroLOPA.
AeroLOPA is arguably one of the best aviation resources that have been launched in the past few years, offering hundreds of detailed airline seat maps. However, AeroLOPA isn’t as beginner-oriented as SeatGuru, so you’ll need to know what you’re looking for or use other tools in conjunction with it.
Here’s what to know about AeroLOPA and how to use this resourceful tool to find your perfect seat.
What is AeroLOPA?
AeroLOPA is a website that has compiled and published hundreds of seat maps covering a vast majority of the airlines in the world. The site digitizes each airline’s Layout of Passenger Accommodations — most commonly known by the abbreviation LOPA — letting you see the exact arrangement of aircraft seats, windows, lavatories, bassinets, galleys, etc., for each aircraft type.
Which airlines does AeroLOPA publish seat maps for?
AeroLOPA publishes seat maps for pretty much any airline you can think of.
As of September 2024, AeroLOPA published seat maps for the following 168 airlines:
Aegean Airlines.
Aer Lingus.
Aerolíneas Argentinas.
Aeroméxico.
Air Algérie.
Air Astana.
Air Austral.
airBaltic.
Air Belgium.
Air Canada.
Air Caraïbes.
Air China.
Air Dolomiti.
Air Europa.
Air France.
Air India.
Air Japan.
Air Macau.
Air Mauritius.
Air New Zealand.
Air Serbia.
Air Tahiti Nui.
Air Transat.
Alaska Airlines.
Allegiant.
American Airlines.
Asiana Airlines.
Austrian Airlines.
Azerbaijan Airlines.
Bangkok Airways.
Batik Air.
Binter Canarias.
Blue Islands.
Boliviana de Aviación.
Breeze Airways.
British Airways.
Brussels Airlines.
Canadian North.
Caribbean Airlines.
Cathay Pacific.
Cayman Airways.
Cebu Pacific.
China Airlines.
China Eastern.
China Southern.
Copa Airlines.
Corsair International.
Croatia Airlines.
Cyprus Airways.
Delta Air Lines.
Discover Airlines.
Eastern Airways.
Edelweiss.
Ethiopian.
Etihad Airways.
Eurowings.
Fiji Airways.
Flair Airlines.
French Bee.
Frontier Airlines.
Garuda Indonesia.
Hainan Airlines.
Hawaiian Airlines.
Helvetic Airways.
HK Express.
Hong Kong Airlines.
Icelandair.
ITA Airways.
Japan Airlines.
JetBlue Airways.
Juneyao Air.
Kenya Airways.
Korean Air.
Kuwait Airways.
La Compagnie.
Lufthansa.
Malaysia Airlines.
Middle East Airlines.
Mongolian Airlines.
Northwest Airlines.
Norse Atlantic Airways.
Norwegian Air Shuttle.
Pegasus Airlines.
Philippine Airlines.
Porter Airlines.
Qatar Airways.
Rex Airlines.
Royal Air Maroc.
Royal Brunei Airlines.
Royal Jordanian.
Saudia Airlines.
Shanghai Airlines.
Shenzhen Airlines.
Singapore Airlines.
Smartwings.
South African Airways.
Southwest Airlines.
Spirit Airlines.
Spring Airlines.
SriLankan Airlines.
Starlux Airlines.
Sun Country Airlines.
SunExpress.
Sunwing Airlines.
TAP Air Portugal.
Thai Airways.
Thai Lion Air.
Tianjin Airlines.
Transavia.
Turkish Airlines.
United Airlines.
Uzbekistan Airways.
Vietnam Airlines.
Virgin Atlantic.
Virgin Australia.
Viva Aerobus.
XiamenAir.
AeroLOPA shortcomings
Although AeroLOPA is an excellent free resource, the site has some room for improvement.
Can’t search by airline, flight number and date
One frustration casual travelers may experience is that AeroLOPA doesn’t provide the ability to find flight seat maps by entering your airline, flight number and date. Instead, to see your flight seat map, you’ll first need to research what aircraft type you’re flying via another resource and then search AeroLOPA for that aircraft type.
The founder of AeroLOPA shared that he actively worked on adding a feature that lists the aircraft being used for a specific route on a specific day.
However, airlines often have multiple seating arrangements for the same aircraft type, without a clear indication which arrangement is being used for a particular flight. Rather than potentially provide inaccurate information, AeroLOPA focuses on publishing seat maps and letting travelers figure out the aircraft type themselves.
Lack of analysis
Another shortcoming is that AeroLOPA doesn’t provide any commentary on what seats are good or bad — like what you’d find on SeatGuru. Instead, you’ll need to examine the AeroLOPA seat map to determine the best seat based on your preferences.
This may not be an issue for frequent travelers who can quickly suss out their preferred seat. However, infrequent travelers likely prefer having some guidance.
How to use AeroLOPA
The first step to using AeroLOPA is to check your airline flight booking for the aircraft type being used on your flight. This may be shown as a three-digit code (e.g., 777 or 77W) or spelled out (e.g., Boeing 777-300ER). If you logged into your airline’s website or flight booking platform to find your aircraft type, leave that page open as you might need it in a moment.
Next, open AeroLOPA’s website and scroll through the list of airlines until you find your operating carrier. Clicking on the airline’s link will take you to AeroLOPA’s fleet page for the airline. The next challenge is to figure out the right seat map to refer to.
How to determine your exact aircraft type
Most airlines have several arrangements for the same aircraft type. For instance, take American Airlines. American uses only the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 for its entire wide-body fleet. Here’s where that aircraft code is useful. Knowing whether you’re on a 777-200ER vs. 777-300ER or a 787-8 vs. 787-9 can narrow your results.
However, as you can see above, American has two different seating arrangements for the Boeing 777-200ER, 787-8 and 787-9. In this case, you’ll need to open the airline’s website — or your flight booking platform — in conjunction with AeroLOPA to figure out the right option.
Go into the seat selection functionality to see the seating arrangement for your flight. In the example below, American already does a good job displaying the cabin arrangement, including bathrooms and galleys.
However, other important aspects — such as missing windows — aren’t reflected on American’s seat map. That’s where AeroLOPA can help you select the best seat.
Reviewing the two AeroLOPA seat maps for American Airlines 787-9 aircraft, you’ll see that one cabin has eight rows of business class seating and another has nine rows. For the flight in the example above, the eight-row seat map on the left is the corresponding seat map.
Now that you know which seat map to examine, you can review that AeroLOPA seat map for details like lavatory placement and window arrangement. In this case, there are no lavatories immediately in front of row 1 or immediately behind row 8, making these seats a bit more appealing than otherwise.
However, row 5 is missing a window on both sides of the aircraft.
For some airlines, AeroLOPA even shares the seat manufacturer and seat type. In this example, American installed the Collins Aerospace Super Diamond in business class, a great reverse-herringbone seat that’s used by several airlines.
If you’re trying to find the perfect airline seat …
AeroLOPA is an incredible resource for travelers looking to select the perfect seat. It publishes detailed seat maps for over 160 airlines, with up to dozens of seat maps per airline.
However, this free tool isn’t the beginner-focused one-stop flight seat map tool that SeatGuru used to be. You’ll need to know your aircraft type and arrangement to make the most out of AeroLOPA. But, for knowledgeable travelers, AeroLOPA seat maps are worth bookmarking.
When it comes to investing, there are certain rules of thumb that investors are often encouraged to follow. One of the most-repeated adages in investing is to try and “buy low, sell high.”
Buying low and selling high simply means purchasing securities at one price, then selling them later at a higher price. This bit of investing wisdom offers a relatively straightforward take on how to realize profits in the market. But figuring out how to buy low and sell high — and make this strategy work — is a bit more complicated. Timing the market is not a perfect science, and understanding that implementing a buy low, sell high strategy is more complicated than it sounds is critical to investor success.
Key Points
• Buy low, sell high is an investment strategy that involves purchasing securities at a lower price and selling them later at a higher price.
• Timing the market and implementing this strategy can be challenging, as market movements are unpredictable.
• Understanding stock market cycles and trends can help determine when to buy low and sell high.
• Technical indicators and moving averages can assist in identifying pricing trends and points of resistance.
• Investor biases and herd mentality can impact decision-making, so it’s important to make rational choices based on research and analysis.
What Does It Mean to “Buy Low, Sell High”?
“Buy low, sell high” is an investment philosophy that advocates buying stocks or other securities at one price, and then selling them later when they’ve (hopefully) gained value. This is the opposite of buying high and selling low, which effectively results in investors selling stocks at a loss.
When investors buy low and sell high, they may do so to maximize profits. For example, a day trader may purchase shares of XYZ stock at $10 in the morning, then turn around and sell them for $30 per share in the afternoon if the stock’s price increases. The result is a $20 profit per share, less trading fees or commissions. Of course, a price increase of that magnitude within a single day is highly unlikely.
Likewise, a buy and hold investor may purchase stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or mutual funds and hold onto them for years or even decades. The payoff comes if they sell those securities later for more than what they paid for them.
Recommended: How to Know When to Sell a Stock
4 Tips on How to Buy Low and Sell High
The following tips may help investors develop a buy low, sell high strategy (or avoid the buy high, sell low trap).
1. Investing with the Business Cycle
Understanding stock market cycles and their correlation to the business cycle can help when determining how to buy low and sell high.
The business cycle is the rise and fall in economic activity that an economy experiences over time. If the business cycle is in an expansion phase and the economy is growing, for instance, then stock prices may be on the upswing as well. On the other hand, if it’s become apparent that economic growth has peaked, that could be a signal for stock price drops to come as an economy slows or enters into a recession.
But like most strategies that aim to buy low and sell high, investing with the business cycle can be challenging.
It’s also important to remember that security prices typically don’t move in a straight line up or down in lockstep with a specific phase of the business cycle. Instead, most securities experience a level of volatility, where prices move up or down (or both) in the short term before reverting to the mean.
2. Look at Stock Pricing Trends
Investors who want to buy low may find it helpful to pay attention to pricing trends or technical indicators. Tracking trends for individual securities, for a particular stock market sector, or the market as a whole can help investors get a sense of what kind of momentum is driving prices.
For instance, an investor wondering how low a stock price can go can look at technical indicator trends to identify significant pricing dips or rises in the stock’s history. This could, potentially, help determine when a stock or security has reached its bottom, opening the door for buying opportunities. Conversely, investors may also use trends to evaluate when a stock has likely reached its high point, indicating that it’s prime time to sell.
3. Use Moving Averages
Moving averages are a commonly used indicator for technical analysis. A moving average represents the average price of a security over a set time period. So to find a simple moving average, for example, an investor would choose a time period to measure. Then they’d add up the stock’s closing price each day for that time period and divide it by the number of days.
The moving average formula can help compare stock pricing and determine points of resistance. In other words, they can tell investors where stock prices have topped out or bottomed out over time. Moving averages can smooth out occasional pricing blips that temporarily push stock prices up or down.
Comparing one moving average to another, such as the 50-day moving average to the 200-day moving average, can also help investors to spot sustainable up or down pricing trends. All this can help when deciding when to buy low or sell high.
4. Beware of Investor Bias
An investor bias is a pattern of behavior that influences reactions to a changing market. For example, noise trading happens when an investor makes a trade without considering the state of the market or timing. The investor may follow pricing trends but make trades without considering whether the time is right to buy or sell.
Investors who give in to biases may find themselves following a herd mentality when it comes to making trades. If news of a pending interest rate hike sparks fear in the markets, investors may start panic selling in droves. This can, in turn, cause stock prices to drop. On the other hand, irrational exuberance for a specific stock or type of security can push prices up, causing an unsustainable market bubble.
Investors who can refrain from being influenced by the crowd stand a better chance of making rational decisions about when to buy or when to sell to either maximize profits or minimize losses.
Pros and Cons of Buy Low, Sell High
A buy low, sell high strategy can work for investors, but while it’s a worthy goal, the implementation can be difficult. Investors who are too focused on timing the stock market can run into difficulties.
Benefits of Buy Low, Sell High
Buying low and selling high can yield these advantages to investors.
• Potential bargain-buying opportunities. If investor sentiment is causing fear and panic to take over the market and push stock prices down, that could open a door for buy low, sell high investors as they buy the dip. Individuals who ignore market panic could purchase stocks and other securities at a discount, only to benefit later once the market rebounds and prices begin to rise again.
• Potential for high returns. An investor skilled at spotting trendings and reading the market cycle could reap sizable profits using a buy low, sell high strategy. The wider the gap between a stock’s purchase and sale price, the higher the profit margin.
• Beat the market. A buy low, sell high approach could also help investors to beat the market if their portfolio performs better than expected. This might be preferable for active traders who forgo a passive or indexing approach to investing.
Disadvantages of Buy Low, Sell High
Attempting to buy low and sell high also holds some risks for investors.
• Timing the market is imperfect. There’s no way to time the market and which way stock prices will go at any given moment with 100% accuracy. So there’s still some risk for investors who jump the gun on when to buy or sell if stocks have yet to reach their respective lowest or highest points.
• Being left out of the market. Investors who want to buy low and sell high would not want to buy securities when the market is up. That practice, however, could lead to substantial time out of the market entirely, especially during bull markets.
• Biases can influence decision-making. Investment biases and herd mentality can wreak havoc in a portfolio if an investor allows it. Instead of buying low and selling at a profit later, investors may find themselves in a buy high, sell low cycle where they lose money on investments.
• Pricing doesn’t tell the whole story. While tracking stock pricing trends and moving averages can be useful, they don’t offer a complete picture of what drives pricing changes. For that reason, it’s important for investors also to consider other factors, such as consumer sentiment, the possibility of a merger, or geopolitical events, influencing stock prices.
Alternatives to Buy Low, Sell High
Buying low and selling high is not a foolproof way to match or beat the market’s performance. It’s easy to make mistakes and lose money when attempting to time the market unless, of course, you possess a crystal ball or psychic abilities.
There are, however, other ways to invest without trying to time the market. Take dollar-cost averaging, for example. This strategy involves staying invested in the market continuously through its changing cycles. Instead of trying to time when to buy or sell, investors continue making new investments. Over time, the highs and lows in stock pricing tend to average out.
A dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) is another option. Investors who own dividend-paying stocks may have the opportunity to enroll in a DRIP. Instead of receiving dividend payouts as cash, they’re reinvesting into additional shares of the same stock. Similar to dollar-cost averaging, this approach could make it easier to ride out the ups and downs of the market over time and eliminate the stress of deciding when to buy or sell.
Investing with SoFi
A buy low, sell high investment strategy is fairly simple, in that it involves buying a security at one price, and selling it after, or if, it appreciates. Obviously, there’s no guarantee that any asset will appreciate, so it’s possible investors could lose money – but they could also see positive returns, too.
Further, the strategy can be challenging to implement. Executing a buy low, sell high plan successfully means researching and doing due diligence to understand how the market works.
Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).
For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.
FAQ
Is buying low and selling high a good strategy?
Buying low and selling high can generally be a good strategy as it allows you to take advantage of price movements in the market. However, there is no guarantee that this strategy will always be successful, and you may end up losing money if the market conditions are not favorable.
Is it illegal to buy low and sell high?
There is no law against buying low and selling high. Most investors make money by buying a security at a low price and then selling it later at a higher price.
Why do you sell high and buy low?
Many investors sell high and buy low because they want to take advantage of market conditions to realize a positive return. When the market is high, investors may sell an investment they purchased at a lower price to make a profit.
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Do you want to learn how to start a book blog? Starting a blog changed my life. When I began Making Sense of Cents (the blog that you’re reading right now!), I had no idea that sharing my writing would lead to me being able to earn a full-time income doing what I love. Starting…
Do you want to learn how to start a book blog?
Starting a blog changed my life. When I began Making Sense of Cents (the blog that you’re reading right now!), I had no idea that sharing my writing would lead to me being able to earn a full-time income doing what I love.
Starting a book blog can be a great online business for you as well. By starting your own book blog, you can create a space to share book reviews, recommendations, and connect with a community.
The great thing is, starting your own book blog is more attainable than you might think. You don’t need to be a tech expert or have any special skills. With a little guidance from today’s article, you can set up your blog, choose your niche, and start creating content that reflects your unique voice as a reader.
Quick note: I have a free How To Start A Blog FREE Course you can click here to join. Over 80,000 people have already taken the course. In this free course, I show you how to create a blog from the technical side to earning your first income and attracting readers.
My background with blogging
More than 10 years ago, I decided to start my blog, Making Sense of Cents, on a whim. I had come across an article about a blog, and it sparked an idea to share my own experiences. In the beginning, blogging was just something I did for fun.
At the time, I had no clue that blogging could actually bring in money. About six months in, a fellow blogger introduced me to an advertiser, and that was when I earned my first $100.
At that point, I realized how much I loved blogging, and it felt amazing that I could actually make money blogging.
Since then, the blog has grown in ways I never imagined, and I’ve made over $5,000,000 through blogging. It completely changed my life, giving me financial freedom and the chance to work from anywhere.And today, I want to help you start your own successful book blog.
What is a book blog?
A book blog is a website where people share their thoughts about books. Book lovers read books and then write reviews about them on their blogs. They also talk about book-related topics, like author interviews or upcoming releases.
A book blog can focus on a single genre, like mystery or romance, or cover a wide range of genres. You can choose what you want to write about based on your interests and passions.
Some examples of topics that a book blog may cover include:
Book reviews – In-depth reviews of the latest books or classic favorites
Book lists – Listing book recommendations such as “Best Money Books of the Year” or “Top 10 Mystery Novels”
Author interviews – Conversations with authors about their writing process, inspiration, and upcoming projects
Book vs. movie comparisons – Reviews of how well a book was adapted into a film or series
Reading challenges – Hosting or participating in challenges like “Read 50 Books in a Year”
Upcoming releases – Highlighting new or upcoming book releases that readers should look out for
Book club discussions – Starting or participating in discussions for book clubs, with questions and analyses on books
Book merchandise – Reviewing or sharing book-related merchandise, such as bookshelves, bookmarks, book-themed clothing, posters, stickers, and tote bags
Recommended reading: What Is A Blog, How Do Blogs Make Money, & More
Why should you start a book blog?
Starting a book blog is a great idea for many reasons.
You can share your love for reading and connect with others who enjoy books too. This can lead to new friendships and interesting discussions about your favorite stories.
Other positives of starting a book blog include:
Make money – If your book blog becomes popular, there are ways to make money. You can earn through ads, sponsored posts, or affiliate links. Some bloggers even get paid to review books!
Creative outlet – Your book blog is a space to express yourself. You can write reviews, share reading challenges, and even post creative content like fan fiction or author interviews.
Helps authors – By reviewing and promoting books, you support authors and help them reach a wider audience. Your review might be what convinces someone to pick up a book they otherwise wouldn’t have read.
For me, I am so happy that I started my blog as it has led to so many good things in my life!
How To Start a Book Blog
Below is how to start a book blog and make money, step by step!
1. Choose your book blog niche
The first step in learning how to start a book blog is to decide what you want to write about.
Picking a niche for your book blog will help you stand out and attract readers. It’s important to find a specific area of focus that you are passionate about.
Choosing a niche helps narrow down your audience. Instead of trying to please everyone, you can focus on a specific group of readers who share your interests.
A niche also makes it easier to create content. When you know your focus, ideas for blog posts come naturally.
Plus, specializing in a niche can establish you as an expert. Readers will trust your opinions and keep coming back.
There are many popular niches in book blogging, these include:
Young adult fiction
Mystery and thriller novels
Romance novels
Fantasy
Science fiction
Historical fiction
Children’s books
Biographies
Books that have been turned into movies
And more!
I recommend starting a self-hosted WordPress blog through Bluehost.
2. Start a self-hosted WordPress blog
To start your book blog, I recommend that you use a self-hosted WordPress site for your blogging platform. This means you will own your blog and its content, unlike free platforms.
WordPress is where you write and manage your blog posts. Think of it as your blog’s home base. You can log in, create new posts, add pictures and links, and publish them for your readers. It’s a simple tool that helps you control everything, from writing to how your blog looks.
WordPress is great because you don’t need to know how to code to build your blog or website. It’s easy to use and has lots of options to customize your site.
I use WordPress for my blog, Making Sense of Cents, too!
Here are the steps to start a self-hosted WordPress blog:
Get a web hosting service. A popular choice for new bloggers is Bluehost.
Install WordPress. Most web hosts offer a one-click installation. It’s quick and easy.
You can see my full tutorial for this at How To Start A WordPress Blog On Bluehost. There are step-by-step directions if you want more detail and/or want to see screenshots of the exact things you should click on.
Plus, if you use my tutorial, you can get the lowest pricing as well as a free domain name!
3. Pick a blog name and buy the domain
Choosing a name for your book blog can feel tough. Don’t let this stop you from starting, though.
Here are some tips for figuring out your book blog name:
Keep it simple. Make sure your blog name is easy to spell and remember. Avoid long or complicated words. You want people to find your blog with no trouble.
Think about your blog’s content. What will you write about? Who will read it? Write down words that describe your blog’s focus. This brainstorm can help you come up with a good name.
If you find it hard to think of names, use a thesaurus. This can give you new ideas and similar words that might work better.
To make your blog name stand out, try something catchy. Use humor, rhymes, or alliteration. A memorable name can help attract readers.
If you’re still stuck, consider using your own name. It’s easy and many bloggers do it successfully.
I highly recommend using “.com” for your domain and not any of the others. This is simply because most people are used to typing in “.com,” so it is easier to remember.
Once you have a blog name, you need to buy the domain. A domain is the web address people will use to find your blog.
By the way, your domain name (or blog name) is free when you sign up for Bluehost! Just click here to get your free domain name.
4. Design your blog layout
After you pay for your blog, the next thing you’ll want to do is design your site. Your site design is what readers see when they read your blog posts, and it is important.
You have three things you can do when it comes to designing your book blog:
Designing your book blog yourself (this can be hard to learn but is definitely doable as there are free WordPress themes).
Paying a web designer for a custom design (this can be expensive, though).
Getting a premade blog layout – this is what I recommend new bloggers do!
My favorite option is getting a premade design.
They are more affordable than a custom design and look great. The premade blog design site that I recommend is Restored 316. Going the premade blog design route saves you a TON of time and lets you move on to the next step of making money blogging, which I highly recommend.
Lastly, make sure your blog is mobile-friendly (the blog designs sold on Restored 316 are usually mobile-friendly!). Many readers will visit your site from their phones, so test your layout on different devices.
Please click here if you’d like to go the easy way and get an affordable premade blog design (this is what I recommend).
Here’s what my About page looks like.
5. Make important pages for your blog
To make your book blog successful, start by setting up your important pages.
These pages are important because they help your readers navigate your site easily and find the content they’re looking for.
Your key pages should include:
Homepage – Your homepage is the first impression visitors get of your blog. A clear and organized homepage helps readers quickly understand what your blog is about and gets them to explore your blog further. This should be welcoming and easy to navigate. Make it clear that your blog focuses on books, and include links to your main sections, such as book reviews, recommendations, or author interviews.
About page – This is where you tell your story. Share information about yourself, why you started your book blog, your favorite genres, and what your readers can read on your blog. This helps build a personal connection with your audience.
Contact page – Make it easy for readers to reach you by listing your email address. This allows readers, authors, and potential partners to contact you.
Privacy Policy page – Explain how you use data on your site. This is important for building trust and complying with legal requirements. For legal templates, you can search for these online or buy a premade privacy policy here.
Disclosurepage – If you earn money through affiliate links, book promotions, or sponsored posts, let your readers know. This keeps your blog transparent and trustworthy.
6. Start social media accounts for your book blog
Creating social media accounts can help your book blog grow by making it easier for more people to find your book reviews and recommendations.
The social media platforms you can start with include:
Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok
You don’t need to be active on all of these platforms, but it’s a good idea to claim your blog name on each so no one else can use your name on them.
Once your social media accounts are set up, add the links to your blog’s homepage so your readers can easily follow you and stay updated on your latest book reviews, recommendations, and bookish content.
7. Create a blog post plan
A blog content plan is a way to organize and plan what you’ll write and publish on your blog. It helps you stay on track and makes sure your posts support your goals, like getting more readers.
A good content plan usually has a list of topics, post titles, when you’ll publish each post, and the purpose of each post (like promoting something or solving a problem for your readers).
It can also include SEO keywords, image ideas, and how you’ll promote the posts.
Overall, it’s like a road map to keep your blog organized and productive.
You don’t need to make your blog content plan complicated. It can be as simple as a list of blog posts you want to write – it’s really up to how organized you want to be. For example, you can just write down the blog post ideas you have, like this:
10 Must-Read Books for Summer
How To Start a Reading Habit and Stick To It
My Top 5 Favorite Fictional Characters of All Time
Beginner’s Guide To Starting a Book Club
How To Read More Books on a Busy Schedule
10 Books That Changed My Life
Book Review: [Insert Book Title]
How To Organize Your Bookshelf Like a Pro
Top 5 Audiobooks for Long Road Trips
How To Get Free Books: A Guide to Book Swaps and Libraries
10 Underrated Books You Need To Read
Books vs. Movies: Which Is Better?
8. Write your first blog post
Your first blog post is important. It’s your chance to introduce yourself and set the tone for your blog.
You can start with a catchy title. Something like, “Welcome to My Book Blog” or “Why I Love Reading” can work well.
Next, tell readers a bit about yourself. Share why you love books and why you started this blog. This helps readers connect with you.
Then, outline what your blog will cover. Will you review books? Share reading tips? Let readers know what to expect.
Wrap up your post with a call to action, such as by encouraging your readers to leave a comment or follow your blog.
9. Find ways to make money with your book blog
You can make money from your book blog by displaying ads, promoting affiliate products, writing book reviews, and selling your own products.
Each method can help you earn extra income (or even a full-time income one day!) while sharing your love for books.
Here’s more information on each way to make money with a book blog:
Display advertising – One way to make money is by placing display ads on your blog. You can sign up with ad networks like Google AdSense to place ads on your site. You get paid when visitors see or click on these ads. The more visitors you have, the more you can earn.
Affiliate marketing – Another way to earn is through affiliate marketing. You can sign up for programs like Amazon Associates. When you mention a book, you can use a referral link. If someone buys through that link, you get a commission. It’s a good way to earn by recommending books you love. I have a free ebook to learn more – Affiliate Marketing Tips For Bloggers.
Book reviews – Writing book reviews can also bring in money. Authors and publishers may pay you to review their books. You can learn about the best places to get paid to write book reviews at 16 Best Ways To Get Paid To Read Books.
Selling products – You can also create and sell your own products. Think about items that book lovers would enjoy. You could sell bookmarks, book-themed mugs, or even your own writing.
Recommended reading: 13 Ways To Get Free Books Online and Sent to You
10. How to grow a book blog
To get readers to your book blog, you need to share it so that people can find it.
Below are some ways to grow your pageviews:
Share your book reviews and blog posts on social media platforms like Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. For example, I make a pin image for Pinterest for every single one of my blog posts, and it’s a great way to get new readers to my blog.
Write guest posts for other book blogs or websites. This can introduce you to new readers who are interested in books.
Email marketing is another great option. I recommend that you find ways to persuade your readers to subscribe to your newsletter and send them updates with new book reviews and recommendations. If you are looking for a way to send newsletters or emails to your readers, I recommend Convertkit.
Respond to comments and emails from your readers. Building a relationship with them can encourage them to share your blog with others. I always respond to emails and comments because I know that I would like it if my comments/emails were replied to as well.
Use search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to help your blog appear in search results when people look for book reviews or related book topics.
My favorite guide that goes over many different strategies to grow a blog is 21 Strategies I Used to Increase My Monthly Page Views from 17k to 400k+ in 10 Months. This guide by my friend Lena is full of great information on how to increase your blog’s pageviews. If you are feeling stuck or if you are a new blogger, check out this resource! Lena went from 17,000 monthly pageviews to 400,000 and shares all of her best tips in this resource.
Frequently Asked Questions
Starting a book blog can be fun and rewarding. Below are some common questions people have about becoming a book blogger.
Do book blogs make money?
Yes, book bloggers can make money. You can earn through ads, affiliate links, and sponsored posts. Some bloggers also sell their own books or services like editing and consulting.
How to make a book blog for free?
You can start a book blog for free using platforms like WordPress.com, Blogger, or Wix. These platforms have free templates and hosting. You only need to sign up and start writing. But, if you want to make money with your book blog, I highly recommend that you do not use a free platform – I recommend that you use self-hosted WordPress.
What are some book blog examples?
Examples of book blogs include That Artsy Reader Girl, Pretty Little Memoirs, She Reads Romance Books, The Uncorked Librarian, Traveling Book Junkie, and Everyday Reading.
What’s the best way to use Instagram for sharing my book blog posts?
Instagram is a great place to share your book blog posts. You can do this by sharing pictures of books, reading nooks, or book quotes. Also, using popular hashtags like #Bookstagram to reach a wider audience can help a lot. You can also engage with other book lovers through comments and likes.
What makes a book blog interesting and how do I set mine up that way?
An interesting book blog has a unique voice and perspective. They typically share personal stories or insights about the books they’ve read, and they also engage with their readers by asking questions.
Is it worth starting a book blog?
Yes, it is worth it to start a book blog if you love books and want to share your thoughts on your favorite books. It can be a creative outlet and connect you with a community of fellow book lovers.
How To Start a Book Blog – Summary
I hope you enjoyed this article on how to start a book blog and make money.
I’ve been running this blog that you’re reading for quite some time now, and it’s one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made.
Starting a book blog is a great way to share your love of reading with others and connect with a community of fellow book lovers. With just a bit of guidance, you can create your own book blog, share reviews, and build a platform that reflects your unique voice as a reader.
Reminder: I have a free How To Start A Blog FREE Course you can click here to join. Over 80,000 people have already taken the course. In this free course, I show you how to create a blog from the technical side to earning your first income and attracting readers.