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June 9, 2023 by Brett Tams

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I’m not really sure about this whole expensive holiday gift thing. I know it’s supposed to be a way of showing love and appreciation, but I think it is too much pressure. Why not give a cheap holiday gift that they will actually use?

Plus a lot of people struggle with finding a Christmas gift for their loved ones, regardless of price.

Some people say that the best gifts are homemade, but not always. I am going to show you 101+ of my favorite cheap but thoughtful Christmas gifts ideas for someone who is on a budget or does not want to spend too much money.

These cheap Christmas gift ideas are for everyone on your list, from the family member you don’t know what to get them to the coworkers who always complain about not getting anything.

You will find the best advice on how to find the perfect present without breaking your budget.

The holidays are right around the corner, and it is time to start thinking about those gift lists! The holidays are about spending time with those closest to you, for many Americans it can be exceedingly difficult to find a decent gift for those from your close circle.

Why Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas

I know that you’re looking for some great gift ideas this year and we have you covered: adults, teens, kids, fashionistas, athletes, teachers, plus so much more!

There are so many inexpensive Christmas gift ideas that it can be hard to know where to start. This article will help you find the perfect present for everyone this holiday season.

The price range will be cheap Christmas gifts under $10 or nice cheap gifts for Christmas under $20. Some items maybe a little bit more expensive, but well worth the extra cost based on the idea!

Find over 250 cheap last-minute Christmas gifts (delivered by Amazon) on this list that I know the recipient will love!

We all want to give gifts that are thoughtful, stylish, and affordable. These cheap Christmas gift ideas offer all of that, plus they are inexpensive to buy. Broke at Christmas time isn't fun. Learn how to get awesome gifts when broke. DIY and free ideas for women, for guys, for friends, for men, for kids. These money saving tips will help your Christmas budget.

Cheap Christmas Gifts for Adults

Easy cheap Christmas gifts for adults are those that can be afforded by the budget-conscious and the best part is still are awesome gifts.

These gifts usually have a handmade flair or personal touch to them to reflect the recipient’s personality.

To find cheap Christmas gifts for coworkers, you can pick any present on this list.

  • DIY Jewelry: This is one of the best ways to make multiple gifts for cheap. You can make many types of homemade jewelry.
  • Mug with their name on it: Make them smile with a customized mug just for them!
  • Coloring Books: Coloring isn’t just for kids. Adult coloring books are extremely popular and inexpensive to pick up an adult coloring book and colored pencils.
  • Magazines Subscriptions: Some ideas include National Geographic or Smithsonian. Great way to find new inspiration and ideas.
  • A Photo Album of your Memories: This can be a physical or digital photo album. A simple way to portray your friendship and experiences together.
  • Journal: Write down thoughts, ideas, or quotes that they love in the journal. Pick up a plain journal at Target for $5-$10.
  • Stickers: Add a few stickers from your collection, some ribbon, and scrapbook papers to decorate it!
  • Movie Night: A movie night with popcorn and some of their favorite movies is a thoughtful, inexpensive gift that everyone will enjoy. Buy a streaming movie or pass to the local cinema.
  • Handmade Gifts: If you have a knack for the arts and crafts, making a handmade gift is not only thoughtful but also can be very inexpensive!
  • Coffee or tea from their favorite coffee shop: There’s nothing better than a cup of joe or tea to start the day off right.
  • A Bouquet of Flowers: Get a bag of those colorful hair ties, and tie them to the stems for an extra special touch!
  • Collage Frame: A collage frame can be used as a picture frame, or it can be used as a decoration on the wall.
  • Holiday Decor: This is an affordable and practical gift for someone who loves to decorate their home for the holidays.
  • DIY-ed Ornaments: Get creative with this craft and let their imagination run wild!
  • Homemade Treats: Who doesn’t love cookies, chocolates, or homemade baked goods? Even canned salsa or jelly make great gifts!
  • Stockings: With any number of crafts available to make-you can’t go wrong with a stocking full of goodies for the holidays.
  • Cookies: Bake up some of your favorite holiday cookies and package them in a festive container for a sweet treat. Perfect to host a cookie exchange as a fun experience!
  • Comic Books: It can be no surprise to some adults when they think of all the hard work that goes into creating a comic book and see the end product. What’s even more surprising is that more adults don’t try them.
  • Handmade Gifts from Kids: If your child loves to paint, draw, or make things with their hands-this is the perfect opportunity for them.

Cheap Christmas Gifts for Teens

Picture of cheap Christmas Gifts for Teens

Coming up with Christmas gift ideas for teens can be tough. Teens are often too old to play childish games like Monopoly or Jenga, yet they’re not quite ready for more grown-up games like Trivial Pursuit.

There are a lot of inexpensive gift ideas for teens from the mall, but teens often want something more personal and unique to show they are maturing.

If you are looking for cheap gifts for teens, you can try any of these present ideas.

Gift cards are always a huge hit with this age group! Double bonus if you can make it a fun way to spend some time together. Make sure that your teen is comfortable with this idea.

  • iPod Touch / iPhone / iPad Accessories: A new case, screen protector, and a few apps are always great. Whether it’s to show off or just something fun, this is a great idea.
  • Journal: This gift will help your teens reflect on the year and all of the good things that happened!
  • Fun Colors to Write With: The festive design on these pens will make teens want to use them all year round. Fun gel pens are wonderful gifts for all ages; they are inexpensive and come in a variety of colors.
  • Fashion Designer Scarf: This gift will help your teen express his or her individuality while also staying warm during the winter months.
  • Room Decorations: Checking out new colors and themes for the room is a fun way to spend some time together. Plus they may be ready for a change from their younger decor.
  • Makeup: Teens love makeup and skincare items, so make it their job to pick out a few new things they want.
  • Candles: Having a nice scent can help relax and soothe your teen before bedtime. These versatile gifts come in many shapes. It is also how teens feel more grown-up.
  • Hand-Painted Mug: Handpainted mugs are perfect for all the coffee and tea lovers in your house, and they are so easy to make! This can be an experience gift, too!
  • Handmade Jewelry: this is an affordable yet creative holiday present
  • Trendy Socks: These are always a great gift for anyone. Not only does it keep your feet warm, but it can be fashionable too!
  • iTunes Gift Card: Let them download a favorite song or album.
  • Movies: Movies are a great gift to give especially if it’s one of their favorites or they’ve been wanting to see it!
  • Clothing: The recipient will love getting some new clothes-especially if they’re trendy and stylish, or their favorite store has a sale going on that you know about.
  • Special Treat: A special treat is a great way to show someone that you care about them and appreciate all they do.

Cheap Christmas Gifts for Kids

Picture of kids to show cheap easy Christmas gifts for kids

Kids are the most precious gift of all. They’re also notoriously hard to buy inexpensive presents for – they normally want gifts that are outside your price range! Fortunately, these Christmas gifts will have your child smiling from ear-to-ear.

Cheap easy Christmas gifts for kids are especially not difficult to find and you have plenty of inexpensive gift ideas, – plus your bank account will thank you for it.

At the end of the day, kids don’t really care what it costs as long as they like it.

  • Stuffed Animals: Give them the gift of a new favorite toy that they can hug and take with them everywhere-just make sure to tuck in an extra battery for their new favorite toy.
  • Paper & Stickers: A package of paper and stickers is perfect for kids who love to create their own projects or write notes, letters, or holiday cards. This pack is also perfect for young ones who are just learning how to write.
  • Colored Pencils & Crayons: Colored pencils and crayons are a fun way to keep kids focused on their art. These pens will help them create original masterpieces.
  • Customized Shirts: A new shirt is a great way for kids to express their personality, and it can also be an easy outfit of the day solution when they’re running out the door.
  • Puzzles: Puzzles are a great way for kids to learn new skills and stay entertained on rainy days. They also make excellent stocking stuffers!
  • Ice Cream Variety Pack: A yummy variety pack of ice cream will make their day.
  • Play Doh: Kids love play doh, and it’s a great way to keep them entertained for hours! It also makes a great stocking stuffer.
  • Colorful Pens: Kids love to color, so give them the opportunity with some bright new pens! They’ll have fun for hours doodling on all their things.
  • Slime: Slime is all the rage right now, and kids can make their own with this kit.
  • Sippy Cups: Kids love sippy cups because they’re fun and easy to drink from! They also come in a variety of designs and colors.
  • Kitten: They will love this sweet little creature that they can cuddle up with in winter.
  • Fidget Toys: Fidget toys are a great way to keep kids entertained and focused with some fun. They come in a variety of colors and shapes, making them perfect for all ages!
  • Star Night Light: This was one of my daughter’s favorite gifts (even her older teen brother was jealous). Huge hit to light up the wall at nighttime.
  • Remote Controlled Car: A remote-controlled car is a great gift idea because it can be played indoors or outdoors. It also makes for hours of fun!
  • Make Your Own Soap Kit: This kit will allow your child to make their own soaps at home with some fun ingredients. They have a variety of colors and scents available which they can use to customize the soap for their own preference.
  • Board Games for Kids: Board games are a great way to keep entertained while bonding with their friends and family. They come in different levels of difficulty, making them perfect for all ages.
  • Nature Exploration Set: A nature exploration set will help to inspire your child’s curiosity and creativity. The kit includes a journal, binoculars, magnifying glass, and more!
  • NERF: NERF toys are classics for kids of all ages. They’re great to take on family vacations or just to play with friends.
  • Dolls: Dolls are a classic toy for girls and they come in all shapes and sizes. From Barbie to Baby Alive, there’s plenty of options available!
  • Spirograph: A Spirograph can keep kids entertained for hours. They design pictures with the help of an included pen and paper.
  • Rock Painting Kit: A rock painting kit will allow kids to express their creativity by decorating rocks.
  • Bead Kit: A beading kit is a great way to teach kids about colors and patterns. It also teaches patience as they work with the small beads
  • Sewing Kit: Sewing kits allow kids to create their own stuffed animals and clothes for themselves.
  • Drawstring Backpacks: Helpful to keep their stuff organized on outings, vacations, or events when the kids need to be entertained.

Kids love getting gifts, and these cheap Christmas gifts ideas are perfect for any child!

Best Cheap Gifts for the Foodie Cook

picture of a wrapped present for cheap Christmas gift ideas.

One of the most difficult parts about shopping for a gift is coming up with creative ideas.

This list is full of affordable gifts is perfect for that friend or family member who loves to cook and bake!

Here are some of the best cheap gifts for the foodie cook.

  • Charcuterie Board Set: This is the perfect gift for the foodie that loves to cook with meat. It provides an assortment of meats, cheeses, fruits, and bread in a beautiful wooden tray.
  • Mason Jar Set: This gift is perfect for a friend or family member who loves to cook. The set includes six pint-sized jars with lids and can be personalized with the recipient’s name.
  • Salt and Pepper Grinder: This set comes with salt and pepper grinders for the foodie who loves to cook.
  • Gourmet Spices: Spice up a friend’s cooking experience with this assortment of spices from around the world.
  • Frother: Perfect for milk frothing for coffee, lattle, milk shares, hot chocolates, and matcha powder. You need one of these and everyone else around you does too!
  • Mini Stand Mixer: This is a perfect gift for a friend who loves to cook and bake! The mixer comes with attachments such as a whisk, dough hook, and flat beater.
  • Fondue Pot: This pot is perfect for families that enjoy eating together! The set includes a fondue pot, forks, skewers, dippers, and dipping sauces.
  • Cookie Press: This press is perfect for a friend who loves to bake! The set includes a cookie press, dough sheet mold, rolling pin, and recipes.
  • Oven Mitts: You don’t want your foodie gift receipeint to burn their hands. Replace their worn-out oven mitts with one of these stylish oven mitts.
  • Hot Sauce Set: Every foodie needs some hot sauce in their fridge. This set includes 3 bottles of the hottest sauces around, plus a recipe book for beginners.
  • Spice Rub Set: Give your foodie friend the gift of spices especially if they love to grill or have a Traeger! This set includes salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder.
  • Teapot Set: This is for all those tea drinkers out there. This set includes a teapot and infuser ball.
  • Tea Bags: Add on to the teapot set and deliver a set of tea bags with a bunch of different flavors.
  • French Press:  French press brewing prevents an over-extraction of flavors; the grounds only add flavor regardless of how little or how much coffee is steeped. Expand their coffee experience!
  • Coffee Grinder: This is for all those coffee drinkers out there who like to make their own custom blends.
  • Bamboo Cutting Board: Over time, we all have to replace our words cutting boards at some point. So, this makes a chop-worthy gift.
  • Tea Towels: These are great for drying dishes, wiping counters and so much more. Find a catchy saying they will love to display!
  • Sourdough Banneton Proofing Basket: If they are hooked on the sourdough trend, then they need one of these to elevate their breadmaking skills.
  • Bread Lame Scouring Tool: A must for anyone who makes sourdough breads!
  • Batter Bowl: This is a great kitchen tool for mixing batters, making pancakes, and more. It will be a welcome addition to the kitchen!
  • Flour Sifter: This is another one of those necessary tools in the kitchen.
  • Coffee Mug: For coffee lovers, this is a great gift idea!
  • Salt Cellar: This is a nice addition to the kitchen and it will hold those hard-to-reach salt and pepper.
  • Cheese Plane: This tool makes cutting cheese into perfect, uniform slices – making cooking and serving a breeze.
  • Saute Pan: This pan is great for frying, sautéing, and more! It’s perfect for the average home cook or budding chef.
  • Zester: This handy tool is perfect for adding flavor to dishes with just the slightest touch.
  • Meat Thermometer: This is a tool that can’t be beaten especially for the grill master. This one is by far the best on the market!.
  • Pizza Cutter: This is an essential kitchen tool for any pizza lover!
  • Ice cream scoop: This ice cream scoop is perfect for any ice-cream lover. It comes in 2 different sizes of scoops and they come in a variety of colors.
  • Cooking Class: Give them the gift of cooking skills-it’ll be something they can use for years to come!

Best Cheap Gifts for the Homebody

Picture of Christmas tree for cheap Christmas gifts under $10

Holiday shopping can be a stressful time, but not to worry. Here are some great gifts for the person who has everything and doesn’t want anything.

Consider these cheap, homey gifts that will please any loved one or host.

  • Weighted Blanket: For those who love to cozy up with a blanket, this one might be the perfect weight and size for them.
  • Hot Cocoa Mix: This is an easy way to ensure that your loved ones have a delicious treat from their kitchen.
  • Wool Socks: This is a great item to have on hand for the winter months.
  • Tea Infuser: This one will help your loved ones in their journey of self-discovery.
  • Homemade Snow Globe: Grab a this snow globe kit and make your loved ones their own little winter wonderland.
  • House Shoes: A pair of these comfortable shoes will be something your loved ones can wear around the house.
  • Cozy Blanket: These blankets are made to keep you warm and cozy during those cold winter nights.
  • Popcorn Popper: This is a fun gift that they will all enjoy especially on movie night.
  • Jigsaw Puzzle: Give them a puzzle that will keep their mind sharp and occupied.
  • Board Games: More than likely they prefer to have people over to enjoy good old-fashion board games and a night of laughter with friends!
  • Comfy Pajamas: A new set of cozy pajamas is sure to be a hit with the kids.
  • Robe: A new robe is a great gift for those who love to lounge around in their comfiest clothes.

These are some Cheap Christmas Gift ideas for those who are on a budget!

Best Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Spa Lovers

Picture of a candle for cheap gifts for mom for christmas

The perfect gift for anyone who loves to pamper themselves is a spa gift card. Spa gift cards are the perfect present because it gives the recipient freedom over what they would like to do during their stay.

There are many different spa gift cards available on the market, so it is easy to find one that suits the recipient’s personality and budget.

If you can’t find a group of people to go in on this idea, then turn their home into a spa experience.

  • Bath Salts: These are perfect for the person who loves to relax and take baths. All they will need is a nice scented candle or bath bomb, their favorite book, and these salts to make themselves feel like royalty.
  • Candles: These are perfect for the person who loves to relax and read, or just has a nice smelling home. There are many different scents available so it is easy to find one that suits the recipient’s personality.
  • Aromatherapy: This gift idea is perfect for those who want an inexpensive yet thoughtful gift. There are many aromatherapy oils to choose from, but the two most popular would be lavender and peppermint
  • Diffuser: These are perfect for someone who enjoys a deep and restful sleep, as well as those who enjoy shut-eye at night to take away any stresses or worries. A few drops of these oils in a diffuser or humidifier will soothe the recipient and ease them into relaxation before bedtime.
  • Tea: This is perfect for the person who enjoys a good cup of tea. A nice box of loose leaf teas is sure to be appreciated and used for many, many years to come!
  • Cookies: This may seem like a typical and uninspired gift that most people would choose, but it is thoughtful and they will appreciate the thoughtfulness.
  • Scalp Massager: This is great for those with a sensitive scalp. It helps to soothe the skin and will leave them feeling relaxed
  • Shower Speaker: This is a great gift for someone whose favorite song isn’t Top 40. They will be able to listen to their music while they shower.
  • Manicure Dip Starter Kit: This is a great gift for those who love to paint their nails
  • Hyaluronic Acid: Help maintain the hydration of the outer layers of skin, which helps to improve its appearance.
  • Hair Mask: This is a great gift for someone who loves to pamper themselves, especially if they are in need of moisture.
  • Lip Sleeping Mask: A gentle overnight moisturizer for dry, sore lips.
  • Microfiber Hair Towel Wrap: This is a great gift for someone who spends a lot of time in the pool or at the beach. It is quick and easy to help dry your hair faster.
  • Handheld Massager: Seriously, this is the best gift ever. Plus the cost has been coming down each year.

Cheap Gift Ideas for the Fashionista

Picture of a lady for Cheap Gift Ideas for the Fashionista

If you are looking for an affordable, fashionable gift idea that is also fun and creative then this list has something to offer you.

Here are some ideas for the fashionista on a budget.

  • Scarf: Scarves are always in style and can be found anywhere. You can get a nice one for only about $25, depending on the brand.
  • Tote bag: A tote bag is a necessity for school, the mall, and even just running errands around town. You can find them anywhere from $5-25 depending on what type you want.
  • Pandora Bracelet: The Pandora bracelet is a beautiful piece of jewelry that can be bought with any budget in mind, and it’s a great option for people who want to give something that will last. Great gift to add charms each year.
  • Earrings: Earrings can be a great gift for someone you know who is really into fashion. You can find them at the drugstore or even in some clothing stores, and they cost anywhere from $5-20.
  • Belt: A belt is great for someone who doesn’t have too many accessories, or if you just want to spice up an outfit with a new piece of jewelry.
  • Hair Clips: Hair clips are a great gift for someone who spends most of their time at home because you can clip them in your hair to keep it out of the way while you do chores. Also, great for those trendy messy up-dos!
  • Felt Hat: A felt hat can be a great gift for someone who goes to the beach a lot, or just likes wearing hats because it’s cold outside. They last longer than other types of material and they can be a really inexpensive gift.
  • Jewelry Dish: Find a small dish at the dollar store and decorate with paint or fabric to make it look pretty!
  • Re-gift Jewelry: Add jewelry from your old collection that you don’t wear anymore (maybe some old costume jewelry?).
  • Sunglasses: Sunglasses are one of the most popular Christmas gifts, and they can be found cheaply at many stores. I bought a pair for under $15!
  • Watch: Watches can be found at many stores for a cheap price. Watchmakers are competing to lower their prices as they try and go against the trend of cell phone watches, which is why you can find a nice watch for under $10.
  • Sweatshirt: A good sweatshirt is a woman’s best friend. It will keep you warm during the winter and can easily be dressed up or down depending on what you’re wearing-It doesn’t have to be too expensive either, with most stores having sales or clearance racks that are perfect for picking up gifts.
  • Nail Polish: The best thing about nail polish is that you can buy it in a lot of sizes, from the little bottles that are perfect for stocking stuffers to larger ones that come in packages of 5 or more. Great stocking stuffers!
  • Yoga Pants: We all know yoga pants are a girl’s best friend. But, y’all the prices of these yoga pants are amazing, and did I mention how many I have given as cheap gifts?!?!
  • Winter Gloves: Some people might think winter gloves are odd to put on a Christmas list, but they make such great stocking stuffers!
  • Shopping Bag: This is a great present for someone who likes to shop! I know what you’re thinking, “how do they not have one?”
  • A New Outfit: Even if the person you are buying for is not a fashionista, clothes still make great gifts. And if you know what their favorite style of clothing is then nows the time to indulge them in some new clothes!

Some suggestions are old and some are new, but all of them will be perfect for the person you want to give a gift to.

Cheap Gift Ideas for the Makeup Artist

Picture of makeup tools for Cheap gift ideas for the makeup artist.

Check out these cheap beauty Christmas gifts for the makeup artist on your list. These are great for anyone that has a budget of $10 or less.

  • Makeup: Find out what brands your friends, family members, or classmates like and buy them the makeup in that brand. You can find this information at their favorite retailers or by asking around to see which brands they wear.
  • Nail Polish: Buying nail polish as a gift is a great idea because you can buy them the exact color they want to wear and it’s usually not too expensive.
  • Perfume: If your budget is $10 or less, you can buy a nice perfume that smells great and it will be something they use often.
  • Bath Bomb: If you’re shopping for someone who needs to relax, then a bath bomb is the perfect gift.
  • Specialty Coffee Mug: You can find these for fairly cheap and they’re something that people will use every day so it’s great. Find a fun coffee mug with an artsy flair!
  • Lip Stain: Lip stains are a really popular product because they’re long-lasting and come in so many colors. This is perfect for someone who loves makeup!
  • Makeup Brushes: Any good makeup artist knows the quality of the brush makes a difference. You can find a decent brush at an affordable price!
  • Silicone Makeup Sponges: These are perfect for applying makeup evenly and providing coverage.
  • Reusable Beauty Products: For the eco-conscious, find plenty of reusable beauty products. You will be surprised at this list.

Gather all of these makeup supplies and put them together for a creative gift basket!

Cheap Gift Ideas for the Athlete

Picture of a body builder for Cheap Gift Ideas for the Athlete

Sweating is gross, so this guide has come to help! It’s tough when you have an athlete in the family because they are always on the move.

Athletes will have to replace their equipment and clothing because of use.

Here are some nice, thoughtful gift ideas for the athlete on your list!

  • Water Bottle: Sometimes I feel like I can never have enough water bottles!
  • A pack of compression pants: I wear them for my sport because they help with the swelling and protect against injury.
  • New backpack: I use mine all of the time!
  • Headphones: These allow people to listen to their favorite music or podcast while getting the sweat on.
  • Full-zip fleece jacket: I love being able to bundle up when it gets cold! This is a thoughtful guide for the athlete on your list for before and after workouts.
  • Polarized Sunglasses: These help protect eyes from glare and add style to any outfit.
  • Music Subscription (ad free): This is a great gift for the athlete who loves music!
  • Yoga Mat: Yoga mats are great because they’re environmentally friendly and also come in a bunch of different colors. Sometimes it’s nice to be able to stretch out and do some poses on your own. Plus the experts say we should stretch every day.
  • Sports Watch: Preferably with stopwatch and alarm clock. THey need to time those tabata crossfit workouts.
  • Running Gloves: These are thoughtful gifts for someone who loves the outdoors and running.
  • Foam Roller: A great gift for the athlete who is looking for a little bit of extra relief.
  • Folding Bike: This is a thoughtful gift idea for someone who loves to bike ride but doesn’t have space for a bike. This one is more expensive, but a great idea to go in with others on!
  • Sports Massage Oil: This is a thoughtful gift for the runner, cyclist, or anyone who gets sore muscles. Pick a hand massager to go with it!
  • Camouflage Pillow: This is a great present for an outdoorsy person who has their head in the clouds.
  • Good Socks: Have you ever smelled the stinky socks?!?! Enough said.
  • Sports Tape: The runner in your life will need this present to keep them on the go.
  • Sports Bra: This is a great present for someone who participates in any activity that requires it! One that fits well and is made of quality materials. Plus an affordable price!
  • Fleece Headband: This is a great present for the runner in your life who also likes to wear their hair up when they’re not running.
  • Yoga Pants: This is a great present for someone who likes to keep their activities active. Or just wears yoga pants every single day to be trendy. No one needs to know why! These are my favorite brand.
  • Athletic Shorts: This is a great present for the person in your life who likes to wear their athletic shorts outside of working out. Plus, come on it’s not like they’re going to be wearing them over clothes so people would notice.
  • Resistance Bands: These are great for the person who likes to keep their workouts active, but doesn’t have a ton of space.
  • Light Set of Weights: Everyone needs to have some weight training as part of their workouts. Pick up three or five pound weights to help them reach their workout goals.
  • Armband for Phone: When you workout, you may want to keep your phone with you to track the steps or distance you worked out. This is an armband to keep your phone and simple enough to change your workout music.
  • Latest Fad Cookbook: In need of a great gift idea for the person in your life who likes to cook but always seems to have not-so-perfect dishes? This is perfect! Gift them this latest fad cookbook and they’ll be able to make all the popular, Instagram-worthy dishes that you see on TV.
  • Sneakers: Maybe you are lucky enough to score a pair of comfortable, breathable athletic sneakers on clearance!

I’m sure they’ll be appreciative of any one of these gifts!

Cheap Gift Ideas For Teachers

Picture of a teacher for cheap christmas gifts for teachers

This list of cheap teach gifts for Christmas will help you choose a thoughtful and useful present that won’t break your budget.

  • Essential Oil Set: A true favorite for teachers who like to use aromatherapy in their classrooms or at home. This is our favorite essential oil set.
  • Stress-relief Hand Sanitizer: Teachers are always on the go, so they can use a little help to keep them stress-free. Plus, germs are no fun for anyone!
  • Personalized Mask Lanyard: Personalize your teacher’s mask with their name, school mascot or work logo.
  • Tiger Balm: This is a classic product for teachers and athletes alike! Tiger balm will help soothe your aches and pains.
  • Lounge Pants: Nothing reminds a teacher of home like their favorite TV show! A few years ago my mom gave me a really cute pair of lounge pants and I still wear them. The cut is oversized with pockets for my phone and remote which make it perfect for relaxing on the couch.
  • Smart Plugs: These plugs can be controlled on an app from anywhere. That means the teacher doesn’t have to worry about forgetting to turn their lights off before they left for work.
  • Personalized Stamp: A teacher’s stamp of approval is the best kind. This personalized stamp will help teachers quickly get through their paperwork.
  • Amazon Gift Card: Teachers deserve to take a breather and use some of their hard-earned cash on themselves. A gift card is the perfect way for friends or family members to say “thank you.”
  • Wireless Headphones: Music is a great way to get the energy going and keep kids psyched up, but it can be tough when they’re working on group tasks. Wireless headphones like these ones from Sony
  • Day-by-day Calendar: The last thing teachers need is to scramble for a blank piece of paper whenever they want to jot down notes. The day-by-day calendar is perfect because it’s got enough space for writing, but it’s compact enough to tuck into a drawer.
  • Magnetic Dry Erase Whiteboard: After all the long hours spent at school, who wouldn’t want their own personal whiteboard where they can write, draw, and erase?
  • Lunch Boxes: There is nothing better than a home-packed lunch. These stainless steel containers are compact enough to carry with you, but they’re also roomy enough to hold a sandwich, fruit, and veggies.
  • Educational Activity Books: If you’re looking for something that’s not only fun, but chock full of learning activities and information, these books are perfect for further learning.

Cheap Christmas Gifts for Mom or Her in your life

Picture of a mom for cheap Christmas gifts for her

All of these are great inexpensive ideas for buying on a budget

Shopping for a great gift for women or moms can be hard, but not too much with these affordable options.

  • Little Succulents: This is a cute DIY gift. All you need are succulents, a pot with dirt, and some other accessories if desired.
  • Bath Bombs: These are great for anyone, including people who enjoy a good bath every now and again. They come in various scents so you can find something that is sure to please.
  • Chapstick: This is perfect for the person in your life who always has chapped lips or complains about dry skin on their hands when they are outside too long during winter months.
  • A Book: It may seem like the most unimaginative gift, but it’s perfect for someone who enjoys reading and is looking for something they haven’t read yet. Books are also a great way to get someone hooked on a series so you can recommend their next read.
  • Slippers: These are perfect for the person in your life who is constantly complaining about how cold their feet are.
  • Candles: This is a perfect gift for someone who enjoys relaxing or reading after dinner and the scent fills up the whole house with aromatherapy benefits.
  • A Scratch Off Map: This is a great gift for someone who enjoys traveling or seeing the world. It’s very personalized and they can see how many countries they have visited.
  • A Coffee Mug: This is a great gift for the coffee lover in your life. You can put anything on it such as their favorite book, television show or artist and they will be reminded of you every time they drink their coffee.
  • A Memory Blanket: This is a great gift for people who are always cold and it can go with them anywhere in the world because it folds up easily.
  • A Personalized T-shirt: This is a great gift because it’s very personal and you can put anything on the shirt that has meaning to them such as their favorite sports team, favorite food, or where they have traveled.
  • A Personalized Finger Drum: This is a great gift for anyone who loves to play drums because it has their name engraved right on the drumhead.

Cheap Christmas Gifts for Men

Picture of a family for cheap Christmas gifts for men.

The following items are inexpensive and will make any man, dad, or boyfriend insanely happy! The cheapest gifts can be the best!

Here are some budget-friendly, manly, fun, and creative ideas for Christmas presents.

  • A New Shirt: You can find many options for cheap shirts. Grab one with a funny saying he would enjoy for an out-of-the-park win!
  • Belt: Belt prices vary by brand, but can be found for as low as $10.
  • Wallet: Wallets can also vary by brand and cost, but often end up being around $15.
  • New Socks:: Many men enjoy their sock collection. You can always add on to replace their worn-out socks.
  • A Tie: Ties can be found for as low as $5.
  • Watch: The watch market is a tough one to navigate, but if you know your partner’s style and budget beforehand it can be easier to find what you’re looking for.
  • A Tie Clip: You can usually pick one up for $5 or less, and it’s something that he’ll wear every day!
  • Old-school Vinyl Record Player: Old school vinyl is making a comeback and can be found in all sorts of different styles.
  • Latest Board Game: Board games are always a fun gift idea. You can pick up the latest hot game for less than $20
  • A Good Book: A good book is always a great gift idea. You can find them for as low as $5 and books are something that never goes out of style!
  • Cash: Let’s be honest… most men like to have the cash to spend as they please with no questions asked.

Cheap Christmas Gifts for Friends

Picture of candy canes and money for cheap Christmas gifts for friends.

You may not have a lot of money for this Christmas, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give your friends something thoughtful.

These inexpensive items may not be the most lavish of presents to give a friend this year, but they are sure to be appreciated and useful!

  • Whimsy Kit: A Whimsy Kit is a small package that includes activities such as drawing, coloring, and collaging. It can be used in classrooms or at home to relax and have fun.
  • Poster Board & Markers: A poster board and markers are perfect for making holiday cards to send out or decorating with a festive design.
  • Fun Scrapbook Pens: Fun pens are a wonderful gift for any age to bring color to their writing, coloring, or journaling.
  • Scented Candles Kit: Scented candles can be used for the holidays, but they also make a great gift for any time of the year. The smell will bring a warm and cozy feeling into your home.
  • Gold Foil Blanket: A gold foil blanket is perfect for snuggling up in the car when you are stuck in the car!
  • Cute Pillow Case: A new pillowcase is a fun way to change things up in your bedroom or living room. The best part about these gifts are that they can be given with other items, like the gold foil blanket or a fun pillow.
  • Comfy Socks: When it’s cold outside, there is nothing more comforting than a good pair of socks. These make a great gift for someone who spends most of their time at home or just loves to relax.
  • Bracelets: Jewelry is a great way to show someone you care. Bracelets are not only cute but they go with any outfit!
  • Christmas Ornament: A Christmas ornament makes for the perfect stocking stuffer. They are usually inexpensive and they can be used year round to decorate your home for the holidays.
  • Christmas Fun Pack: It is always fun when Santa sends a surprise in the mail, so why not surprise your friends with a Christmas Fun Pack!
  • Shower Steamers: These will make a great gift for someone who is your best friend, especially if they like to take long showers.
  • Flashlights: These are fun and practical gifts that will come in handy during the dark days of winter.
  • Tissue Box Covers: A unique and inexpensive gift for the person who has everything, these tissue box covers will make any house seem a little more homey during cold winter months.
  • Chocolate: For the person that has everything, you can’t go wrong with some chocolate.

Cheap Christmas Gifts for Coworkers:

Pictures of holiday decor for cheap Christmas gifts for coworkers.

A quick, easy, and affordable way to get the perfect gift for your coworkers this Christmas is by giving them a coworker appreciation gift basket.

These inexpensive gifts are great for bosses or employees. They can be personalized so it’s a gift that will really stick with your coworkers.

  • Planner: This is a great way to give your coworkers something they will really use. They can write down their goals, schedule, and use it as a to-do list.
  • Personalized Stationery: This is such an adorable idea and can be so much fun for everyone involved. These are the perfect gifts that will make your coworkers feel special this holiday
  • Putting Green: This is a great gift that they can use to practice their putting skills in the comfort of their own office.
  • Desk Organizer: A desk organizer is a great way to start your day off with a clean and organized workspace.
  • Timeless Candle: This candle helps you enjoy the holidays or winter season while relaxing in the office.
  • Coffee Mug: Every office needs a good coffee mug to stay energized and motivated throughout the day.
  • Personalized Mouse Pad: You could get them their favorite movie, sport or hobby as a personalized mouse pad and they’ll enjoy using it every day at their office.
  • Luxury Pen: This is the perfect gift for that person who has everything and needs something to help them write down their thoughts and ideas.
  • Desk Lamp: A desk lamp can help you read in your office when it’s dark outside so all the daylight hours are available for working on projects or catching up on paperwork.
  • Ink Pen: This is a great gift idea for anyone who likes to write or doodle. You could get them this as a refillable pen and they can use it to write down their thoughts or ideas.
  • Laptop Tote Bag: This is the perfect gift for anyone who likes to travel and needs something stylish but functional to carry everything in one place.
  • Plant pot & planter: This is a great gift for someone who likes to spend time in their garden or on the porch. You could give them this as an opportunity to grow something new and have something beautiful in their office that is all their own.
  • Journal: This is a classic gift that people like to get for themselves or others. You can find many different styles and sizes of journals, making it easy for you to find the perfect one for your recipient.
  • Watercolor set: This is a great gift if you know someone who loves to paint or draw. It is an opportunity for them to tap into their creative side while also having the materials that they need to create something beautiful or special for someone else.
  • Keychain: This is a great gift for anyone because everyone needs keys! You can get them a keychain that has their name on it, or you can get them a cute one for someone they love.
  • Laptop sleeve: This is a great gift for anyone who has to have their laptop with them at all times. They come in so many different colors and designs, so you can find one that fits your friend or family member perfectly!
  • Monitor riser: If you know someone who has a desk job, they’re probably struggling to stay focused on their screen. This is the perfect gift for anyone who spends time at work looking down all day!

Best Cheap Christmas Gift of them All – Gift Card:

Picture of gifts for the best easy cheap Christmas gift ideas.

A gift card is a prepaid credit or debit card that can be spent in any number of stores, restaurants, and other venues as desired by the purchaser.

This option is great for people who are the “hard to buy for” type.

Even a $10 or $20 gift card to somewhere they like is better than a gift to sit on the shelf unused.

Giving a gift card is always an easy way out, but it can be more useful than materialistic gifts they may not use.

You can never go wrong with a gift card to their favorite store!

You can Buy Cheap Christmas Presents that Look Expensive

Picture of You can Buy Cheap Christmas Presents that Look Expensive

I know that this time of year can be so busy and stressful. It’s hard to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list, especially when you have a tight budget. But there are so many fun and creative ideas that won’t break the bank.

You’ll find the perfect gift for everyone on your list!

Hopefully, you can find cheap Christmas gifts under $20 or less. Most of these power ideas you can pick up on Amazon or Etsy.

Christmas is often a time where people try to get the best gifts for their loved ones. In order to make these gifts more affordable, it’s smart to think about ways that can lower expenses.

One way to do this is by choosing gifts that can be combined with other items. Or even choosing a no gift Christmas.

It is always fun to give a gift to someone special on Christmas. However, sometimes you feel uncertain about what the perfect present is for somebody else.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our cheap but thoughtful Christmas gift ideas!

With these items, your loved one will have a great Christmas! Be sure to check our blog for more money saving tips!

Need More Inexpensive Christmas Gift ideas?

We all want to give gifts that are thoughtful, stylish, and affordable. These cheap Christmas gift ideas offer all of that, plus they are inexpensive to buy. Broke at Christmas time isn't fun. Learn how to get awesome gifts when broke. DIY and free ideas for women, for guys, for friends, for men, for kids. These money saving tips will help your Christmas budget.

Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!

Source: moneybliss.org

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Apache is functioning normally

June 9, 2023 by Brett Tams

This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.


If you have been trading for a while, then there is a good chance that you have made some trading mistakes along the way.

Unfortunately, it is part of learning how to trade.

After all, trading is a skill that takes time to learn.

Trading mistakes are part of the learning process. I know that sucks to hear, but it is the truth.

The outcome goal is to learn from those trading mistakes.

Then, you can realize what you did wrong so you do not repeat those same mistakes.

However, more than not, it is more common to repeat the same mistake over and over again.

If you are ready to recognize trading errors and learn how to overcome them, then keep digging in. Take notes and adjust your trading plan accordingly.

We will cover emotional trading mistakes, technical trading errors, and option trading mistakes.

Learn how to avoid common trading mistakes. These common mistakes in stock trading can have you lose more than planned. Learn how to improve trades and achieve a higher profitability.

What Are Trading Mistakes?

Trading mistakes are errors made by traders when you enter trades, either to purchase stocks or options.

More than likely, you will see the same type of trading error happening over and over again.

Trading mistakes are very common, but they do not have to lead to complete panic.

In order to minimize the chances of making a costly mistake, traders should adhere to their trading strategy. Additionally, traders should always trade with a clear head and stay disciplined.

There are plenty of trading mistakes you can avoid by being smart and adjusting your trading plan where needed.

Why Understanding Trading Mistakes Is Important for Long-term Success

Trading mistakes are the result of traders taking losing trades, which can result in poor overall performance.

Mistakes that occur during trading often include not paying attention to the market, not understanding risk, not having a well-thought out trading strategy, and being bad at managing the trade.

Whatever the reason, trading errors occur and it is how we react to them that matters.

Long-term success in trading is not a goal that can be accomplished overnight.

Achieving long-term success with active trading requires patience, discipline, and practice.

It is easy to get caught up in day-to-day successes and forget to commit to a long-term plan. As traders, it is important to be able to recognize our mistakes so that we can learn from them and move forward.

Top 5 Trading Mistakes

A picture of crumbled paper to show the top trading mistakes.

As you will see, we compiled a long list of trading mistakes. Each trader will see some of those trading errors in themselves. Some are small trading mistakes while others are detrimental.

First, we are going to focus on the top five trading mistakes first. This will make or break your success as a trader.

The following are five common trading mistakes that traders make and how to avoid them.

#1 – No Trading Plan

Trading without a plan means you enter a trade without knowing your next step.

No trading plan means that traders are not able to set clear goals, establish risk-reward ratios, and avoid common pitfalls that can occur during a trade. This makes it difficult for traders to know when they should be buying, selling, or holding.

Trading without a plan is risky because it can lead to losses that are much higher than they need to be.

When starting out in trading, it is important to remember that we can only focus on what we can control. This means that we should not worry about things we cannot change, such as the past or the behavior of other traders. Instead, we should form a trading plan and stick to it so that we can succeed in the long run.

Creating your trading plan will happen with many revisions. The goal of the trading plan is to set your overall strategy for trading.

Also, you need to have a specific trading strategy for each trade you enter.

Avoid by: Spending time to develop a trading plan. Revise as needed. Stick to it.

#2 – Risk Management Plan is Missing

A picture showing how important a risk management plan is.

A risk management plan is essential for traders and it should be included in any trading plan.

Without a risk management plan, traders are more likely to make emotional decisions that can lead to costly mistakes. For many traders, this is the hardest thing for them to manage.

It is possible to create a risk management plan as your overall trading plan.

In your risk management plan, you must decide (in advance) how much money you are willing to lose based on the amount of profit you perceive to make. For instance, you are willing to risk $300 in order to make $1000.

Many day traders focus on a 2:1 reward-to-risk ratio. Personally, I look for stronger reward-to-risk ratios greater than 3:1.

Avoid by: Understand how risk is a part of making a profit. Set your risk tolerance and do not deviate from it.

#3 – Not Keeping a Trading Journal

One of the most important aspects of successful trading is keeping a journal.

This not only helps you keep track of your trades and performance, but it can also help you remember what worked and what did not. Journaling is so helpful and such an overlooked task.

Your trading journal is the perfect place to take notes, keep track of your wins and losses, and record market movements so that you can learn from past mistakes.

At the end of every trading session, you should take some time to analyze your trades.

  • What went well?
  • What didn’t go well?
  • Why did you make that particular trade?
  • What was your entry strategy?
  • What was your exit strategy?
  • Where was the overall market momentum?
  • Did you control your emotions?
  • What grade would you give yourself?

This analysis is important so that you can learn from your mistakes and improve your trading skills. Stay motivated to continue learning about trading and keep more profit.

Avoid by: Start journaling. Spend time after exiting a trade and the market day to understand what happen and why you did a certain trade.

#4 – Watching Too Many Stocks

Picture of a busy stock chart.

Watching too many stocks can lead to a decrease in returns and overall confusion on what is happening with your watchlist.

As a result, it is important to be selective.

The same can be said of stock scanners. If you are watching too many variables and possibilities, you can quickly become overwhelmed.

When you develop your trading plan, you need to decide how you find stocks.

Personally, I prefer to focus on a handful of stocks and a few key metrics. Then, watch them closely and trade accordingly.

As a new trader, I would pick about 5-10 stocks to analyze.

Avoid by: Revise your watchlist to half what you are currently watching.

#5 – Actually Exiting Trade as Planned

Above we talked about creating a trading plan and having a trading strategy for each trade taken.

But, the trading mistake happens when you do not exit the trade as planned.

This could be because of “hopemium” that the stock price will recover and you will get back your loss.

Our “hopemium” is that the stock price keeps rising and you will make more money.

Either one can be damaging to your trading account.

You created a plan. As a disciplined trader, you must follow your plan either to maximize your current profit or protect your risk against further losses.

Avoid by: Exiting at your set targets. Period.

12 Typical Emotional Trading Errors

Trading is 80% mental and 20% execution. Okay, I am not sure that there is an official study to back it up. But, I do know as a trader that emotions play heavily into your overall profit.

The typical emotional trading errors that traders make when they are in a trade are overconfidence, jumping into trades before the proper analysis is completed, and inability to take losses.

This is where most of the trading mistakes are made.

When first starting out in trading, it is easy to get caught up in the prospect of making a lot of money quickly. However, most traders find that trading is not easy to do and make common emotional trading errors.

Let’s dig into these emotional mistakes first and then we will follow up on the technical trading mistakes.

1. Letting emotions impair decision making

Emotions are an important part of decision-making, but it can be dangerous to allow them to influence our decisions. We should also take into account that emotions can often lead us astray.

It is clear that emotional trading can lead to bad decision making and, ultimately, financial losses.

When investors let their emotions take over, they are not thinking logically and may make impulsive decisions. For example, they may sell stocks when the market is down in order to avoid further losses, even though the stock may rebound soon after.

In order to be successful traders, it is important to stay calm and rational when making decisions.

Overcome by: Stick to your trading plan and take emotion out of the equation.

2. Unrealistic Profit Expectations

You go into every single trade expecting a home run! Enough money to achieve your dreams overnight!

These types of profit expectations will have you throwing your risk management plan out of the window and set you up for failure with greed, overconfidence, and impatience.

Be realistic about your expectations with trading activity.

Overcome by: Go for base hits. Small consistent wins.

3. Greed

Picture of someone grabbing a wad of cash in greed.

Greed is a deep-seated need for more profit without regard to the chart or market conditions.

The common rationale is hopefully the stock will go up. Typically, you hold your position too long and end up losing some of your gains.

Greed can manifest in many different ways, and people with greed often neglect their own needs in order to attain more.

Overcome by: Set an OCO bracket to exit the trade at your specified level. Take you out of the equation.

4. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

You fear that you missed out on a trade, so you decide to jump in. As a result, you are risking more than you should.

This trading mistake is common, especially with online trading communities.

As a result, you may buy at the high and watch the stock reverse.

Overcome by: Realize that there will be missed opportunities. That is part of the game. There will always be another chance.

5. Fear

In many cases, fear is a reaction to why or why not we enter a trade.

For any trader, they may become frozen unable able to make a decision as their mind is wrapped in fear. At the same time, they are either missing out on potential profits or unable to exit a trade due to mounting losses.

Overcome by: This is a real emotion that you must overcome. Take the time and read resources to help you overcome being paralyzed by fear.

6. Overconfidence after a profitable trade

Picture of a guy throwing money after a profitable trade.

The overconfidence that comes with success can lead to a loss of profits.

When a trader has a winning position, they may become overconfident and make bad decisions because of the previously profitable trade.

For example, they may not take their profits off the table when there is an opportunity to do so or increase their position size when they should be taking profits. This could lead to them losing all of their winnings and more.

Overcome by: Take a break from trading for a few days or a week after a big win.

7. Entering a Trade Based on Your Gut

The process of entering a trade based on your gut is, essentially, following your “gut feeling” and buying or selling shares after the market opens. This is seen as a more risky and less profitable strategy than following a more traditional market timing approach.

Trading is all about making calculated decisions and sticking to a plan.

Trading based on your gut feeling or emotions will only lead to costly mistakes.

Overcome by: Before entering into any trade, make sure you have a solid strategy in place and know all the rules. Only then should you start trading.

8. Not reviewing trades

Picture of a notebook to journal trades.

Not reviewing trades is a common problem for many traders. Traders who don’t review their trades tend to be more likely to make mistakes in their trading and over-trade, which can result in losses.

You will make the same mistake over and over again until you realize the root of the problem.

This is how you move from a losing average to a winning percentage.

Overcome by: Let your journal be your friend. Document everything including your emotions.

9. Following the Herd

Many people enjoy following the herd with stock trading, especially online platforms on Reddit, Discord, or Twitter.

You may decide to follow a certain group of people in order to be fed stock picks or updates.

This can be risky because there is no sound foundation to base your trade upon.

Overcome by: Trade your style and let that fit you.

10. The Danger of Over-Confidence

The “beginner’s luck” experienced by some novice traders may lead them to believe that trading is the proverbial road to quick riches.

Over-confidence is the belief that one’s abilities, knowledge, or qualities are better than average.

This over-confidence is a risk factor for certain types of mistakes and other negative outcomes as it leads to complacency, a lack of preparation, and an overestimation of one’s abilities.

Overcome by: Realize your limitations and watch for overconfidence to appear.

11. The Importance of Accepting Losses

Losses are always a part of trading life, but they can be overwhelming when they occur.

It is important to recognize that losses are in fact an inevitable part of growth and development as a trader.

Overcome by: Journal all of your losses. Look for patterns to appear. Adjust your trading strategy as appropriate.

12. Quit Your Job Too Fast

Quitting your job too fast is not a good idea, as it will force you to place trades that may not be the best set-ups.

Day trading can be a very risky venture, and it is possible to lose everything you have invested.

It is important to be aware of the risks before getting started. More importantly, do not quit your job too fast. This can lead to losses in your investments and could potentially put you in a worse financial situation than you were before.

Overcome by: Keep trading as a side hustle. Hone your trading skills and build up a reserve fund that will cover your monthly expenses. You will know when you are prepared to leave your 9-5.

Common Mistakes in Stock Trading

Picture of a guy realizing his common mistakes in stock trading.

According to a study by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, technical trading mistakes are actually fairly common among individual investors.

Mistakes in technical trading can be two-fold, either due to lack of knowledge or poor execution.

The most common mistakes are buying at the top and selling at the bottom, overtrading, and not taking the time to properly understand how trading works.

Now, let’s dig into all of the common trading mistakes I see.

1. Overtrading

Let’s start by talking about overtrading. This is a mistake that I see many people make. It is also a mistake that could have been easily prevented if you had just done your research before placing the trade.

Overtrading or placing more orders than you should do is the most common mistake.

Many new traders will simply open up their platform, look at the market, and place a trade. They are often chasing after the last couple of candles or they see an opportunity to get in “on the cheap”.

The problem with this approach is that you have no idea if this is a good trade or not. You are simply taking a shot in the dark and hoping for the best.

Overcome by: Only place the A+ setups that you like. Once you have traded so many times per day or week, stop trading.

2. Buying High and Selling Low

We all have heard the saying, “buy high and sell low.” However, too many novice traders do the complete opposite.

This trend happens with one of the emotional mistakes of FOMO; we already dived into that concept earlier.

Overcome by: Follow your trading plan on when to enter and exit the trade. Practice your strategy in a simulated account and master it.

3. Lack of Trading Knowledge

The lack of trading knowledge is a problem for many traders who are not familiar with how the stock market works. This can cause them to make mistakes when buying and selling stocks, which could result in losing a lot of money.

Just because you made a profit once on one stock does not mean that is a repeatable action.

In order to be successful in trading, it is important to have a good understanding of the markets and the strategies involved.

Without proper training, you are likely to make costly mistakes that can cost you money. Trading courses and tutorials are available online and through other resources to help you gain this knowledge and become a successful trader.

Overcome by: Take an investing course. Spend money on your education and not your losses. Here is a review of my favorite day trading course.

4. Following Too Many Strategies

Following too many strategies is a common problem in the investing world, which can lead to poor performance and more costly mistakes.

There are a million and one different approaches on how to trade the stock market, which indicators to use, whose advice you should follow, so on and so forth.

And then, many traders try and couple the strategies together only to quickly learn they may cause more losses than profits.

One way to avoid following too many strategies is by using a set of rules to decide which strategies are appropriate for investing.

Overcome by: Develop your trading plan. Outline the investing strategies you will use. Test any new strategies in SIM first.

5. Do Your Research

The solution to this problem is simple: do your research!

Before you enter a trade, take the time to do some analysis on the asset you are looking at. Look at past price action, news events, and any other relevant information that you can find.

Understand why the market might move in your favor and be able to build a case for it. The more data points you have supporting your position, the better off you will be.

If you are able to build a strong case for why the asset will move in your favor, then you can enter with confidence. This is because if the market does not move in your favor, you will know that it isn’t because of a lack of research on your part.

When you enter with confidence, this will make it easier to hold through the inevitable volatility and price swings.

Overcome by: If you enter without knowing why something is likely to move in your favor, then you are setting yourself up for failure. Do your research.

6. Not Using Stop-Loss Orders

Stop orders come in several varieties and can limit losses due to adverse movement in a stock or the market as a whole.

Tight stop losses generally mean that losses are capped before they become sizeable. However, you may have your stop loss too tight and get stopped out before your stock has room to move.

A corollary to this common trading mistake is when a trader cancels a stop order on a losing trade just before it can be triggered because they believe that the price trend will reverse.

Overcome by: Plan your stop loss in advance. Stick to it as it is part of an overall risk management strategy.

7. Letting Losses Grow

Active traders can be harmed by refusing to take quick action to close a losing trade.

It is important to take small losses quickly and limit your risk in order to stay profitable.

Stop losses can help you avoid larger losses.

While the stock may come back to your buy price, you have increased your risk far beyond what you planned. If your planned loss was $300 and now you are down over $500, it will take that much longer to overcome that growing loss.

Cut your losses. Review the chart. See what a better entry point may be.

Overcome by: If the stock moves past your pre-determined stop, then exit the trade. Don’t trade on hope.

8. Chasing After Performance

Many day traders are tempted to chase stocks, which is a bad reputation in the day trading world.

This happens when they see a stock that has had a large price increase and they think that it will continue to go up. In reality, this is not usually the case, and chasing stocks can lead to big losses.

What goes up must come down, right?

Overcome by: Wait for a better time to enter the trade according to your trading plan.

9. Avoiding Your Homework

It is important to do your homework. If you avoid doing your homework, then don’t expect fast results

Many new traders often do not do their homework before making any investment decisions.

This can lead to costly mistakes that can be avoided by doing some basic research. Trading is a complex process and should not be taken lightly – make sure you are fully prepared before risking your hard-earned money.

Overcome by: If you have not enrolled in an investing course, do that. Set daily goals on how to improve your trading performance that is not based on profit or loss.

10. Trading Difficult and Unclear Patterns

It is important to stick with the patterns and indicators that are clear and unmistakable so you don’t get caught up in any ambiguous or unclear trading signals.

With a little bit of research and understanding, these market patterns can become quite clear.

By forcing a chart to fit in what you want, then you are putting your trading capital at risk.

Overcome by: If you cannot read a clear chart or pattern, then quickly move to the next stock.

11. Poor Reward to Risk ratios

The most common mistake made by traders is poor risk management. This usually means taking on too much risk in relation to the potential rewards, which can lead to heavy losses if the trade goes wrong.

It is important to always have a solid plan for how much you are willing to lose on any given trade and never deviate from it.

What is the Reward to Risk ratio you look for:

  • 1:1 Reward to Risk
  • 2:1 Reward to Risk
  • 3:1 Reward to Risk

Many beginner traders do not want to take on as much risk because their appetite for potential rewards may be lower. It is important for beginners to consider their trading strategies and risk management plans so that they can make the most informed decisions possible.

Risk-to-reward ratios are an important part of trading, and experienced traders are typically more open to risk in order to maximize their potential rewards. This means that they may be more likely to make high-risk, high-reward trades.

Overcome by: Stick to Risk to reward ratios that fit your trading plan.

12. Ignoring volatility

Volatility is the fear and unknown in the market.

The most important thing to remember about investing is that the stock market can be volatile.

A measure of volatility is from the VIX.

Overcome by: Decide how you will trade when the VIX is high and the news is negative.

13. Too Many Open Positions

Entering too many positions is one of the most common mistakes investors make. A portfolio should consist of a handful of top-performing investments that have proven to be good bets over time.

It is unwise to open too many positions in a short amount of time because it could lead to confusion.

This can be risky because if one or two of the positions go south, the entire portfolio can suffer. For this reason, it is important to carefully consider each position before opening it and make sure that all positions are contributing positively to the overall goal.

Overcome by: As an active trader, stick to under 5 open positions. As a long-term investor, look to build a portfolio of 25 stocks over time.

14. Buying With Too Much Margin

Most brokers offer 2:1 or 4:1 margin to cash. While this is tempting to use, it can also give you a margin call.

Margin can help you make more money by increasing your position size, but it can also exaggerate your losses.

Exaggerated gains and losses that accompany small movements in price can spell disaster for a new trader using margin excessively.

Overcome by: Use your cash only. Stay away from using margin.

15. Following Meme Stocks

These are the stocks made popular by many Reddit personal finance groups.

You have probably heard of Gamestop, Blackberry, AMC, or Bed Bath and Beyond as a meme stock.

While these stocks have risen to crazy highs, they have also fallen just as fast. Chasing the high may leave you with a big and painful loss.

Overcome by: Stick to your stock watchlist.

16. Buying Stocks With No Volume

Buying stocks with no volume is a risky idea that involves placing an order on a stock without knowing how much interest there will be in the shares. This can result in losing money if there are no buyers for the shares.

It is important to validate the price of a stock by looking at volume. The volume shows how much interest there is in a stock and can be indicative of future price movement.

When volume is low, it’s best to stay away from buying stocks as it could be a sign that the stock price is not stable.

Overcome by: Trade stocks with a volume of at least 500,000 or higher.

17. Ignoring Indicators

Indicators are things that tell us the market is going up or down. Examples of indicators would be the stock market at a particular point in time, a company’s performance with regards to earnings, the price of a product or service.

Every trader has their own set of indicators they use.

If you have outlined indicators you use in your trading, make sure to follow them regardless if it is against the way you want the stock to move.

Overcome by: Stick to your trading plan for each stock individually.

18. Trading Too Large Position Sizes

Trading too large position sizes is a risk that traders may run into when they hold positions in their portfolios for extended periods of time.

Position size is the amount of money placed on a trade, and the risk is that a trader may lose more than their capital on the trade if it does not go well.

Overcome by: Base your position size on the amount you are willing to lose. Not how much you want to make.

19. Inexperienced Day Trading

In order to be successful in trading, it is important to have a good understanding of the markets and the strategies you are using. Without proper training, it is easy to make costly mistakes.

Too many day traders turn trading into an unnecessary risky game.

To be successful, a day trader must have a solid foundation in how to invest in stocks for beginners.

Overcome by: Practice in a simulated account and make all of your mistakes there before moving to live money.

20. Inconsistent trading size

Inconsistent trading size is when traders are unable to predict what their position size should be in order to meet the trader’s desired profit goal.

Trading size is one of the most crucial aspects of a trading strategy and should be considered carefully. Larger trade sizes come with an increased risk, so it’s important to be aware of your position size when making trades.

Overcome by: Don’t risk too much on one trade. Stick to your risk management plan.

21. Trading on numerous markets

Trading on numerous markets is when a trader invests in stocks, bonds, commodities, crypto, and other securities.

Every type of market moves differently and takes time to understand how to be profitable.

Overcome by: Find your niche and stick to it.

22. Over-leveraging

Leverage is a powerful tool that can be used to magnify gains and losses in a trade. It is important to be aware of the amount of leverage being used in order to effectively manage risk.

Brokers play an important role in protecting their customers by providing margin calls and other risk management tools.

Overcome by: If you feel over-leveraged, sell some positions before your broker gets involved.

23. Overexposing a position

Overexposure is a term used in the investment world to describe the risk that comes with exposing your position too much in the market. When you have overexposed your position, you are putting yourself at risk of losing money if the stock or security you are invested in falls in value.

You are taking on too much risk.

Overcome by: Stick to your risk management plan. Always have cash reverse on hand in case the market reverses.

24. Lack of time horizon

There are different time horizons for various types of trading strategies. It is important to think about the time horizon you are comfortable with before investing in any type of investment.

If you are a day trader, you plan to close your trades before the end of the trading session. As a swing trader, you typically hold trades for a couple of days maybe up to a month. As a long-term investor, you plan to hold your stocks for longer than a year.

Overcome by: Match the time horizon of that investment purchase with your investing goals.

25. Over-reliance on software

Although some trading software can be highly beneficial to traders, it is important not to over-rely on it.

Automated trading systems are becoming so advanced that they could revolutionize the markets. As a result, human traders need to be aware of the potential for these systems to make mistakes and use them in conjunction with their own judgment.

Overcome by: Set alerts before you want to enter or exit a trade. Then, review if the move still follows your trading strategy.

Top Options Trading Mistakes Beginner Traders Make

Picture of a phone and stock chart for

These options trading mistakes are specific to option trading.

Trading options is an advanced strategy. If you have losses trading stocks, wait before you start trading options.

1. Not having a Trading Plan

Every trader needs a trading plan that outlines strategies, game plans, and trade metrics.

When you are trading without a plan, you are essentially gambling and hoping for the best.

This is not a recipe for success in the world of stock trading and is especially true for options traders.

A good trading plan should include chart analysis so that you can make informed decisions about when to buy and sell stocks. If you are using HOPE instead of a trading plan, then you need to find out the right way to interpret the chart because that will give you a better idea of what is happening in the market and how likely it is that your investment will succeed.

Overcome by: Create a specific trading plan based on your option strategy.

2. Not properly Researching Option Contracts

Learning to trade options is like going to school for a whole different trade.

There are way too many technical aspects to discuss in this mistake.

Spend time learning what criteria you want from an options contract to be successful.

Overcome by: Learn how options work and practice trading options in the simulator before going live.

3. Trading without an understanding of the underlying asset

Before you start trading options, trade with stocks.

Every stock moves at its own beat. You need to learn how it moves.

Jumping into options prior to knowing the stock can cause extreme losses. Learn how the underlying asset moves first. Be successful in trading stocks before moving to options.

Overcome by: Learn to trade the stock with shares first. Then, practice in a simulator. Once familiar, then trade live with options.

4. Buying Out-of-the-Money (OTM) Call Options

Options trading is a risk-based strategy. It’s important to know which strategies are right for you and what the risks of each option type are before putting on an option trade.

One common mistake that many traders make when it comes to option trades is buying out-of-the-money (OTM) call options.

This is because OTM call options are inexpensive and have a range of around 100,000 to 1 million. To avoid this mistake, it’s important to know what the risks of buying OTM call options are and which option strategies are appropriate for you.

Overcome by: Focus on trading In-the-money (ITM) call contracts. Know your strategy.

5. Not Knowing What to Do When Assigned

When you enter into an options contract, you are essentially agreeing to buy or sell the underlying asset at a specific price on or before a certain date.

If the market moves in a way that benefits the buyer of the option (the person who contracts to buy the asset), they can choose to exercise their option and purchase the asset at the agreed-upon price. However, if the market moves in a way that benefits the seller of the option (the person who contracts to sell), then they may “assign” their contract to someone else – meaning that they no longer want to buy/sell the asset, but would like someone else to take on that responsibility.

This can be jarring if you haven’t factored it into your decision-making when trading options, so it is important to be aware of the possibility.

This is why traders need a higher trading level to sell options contracts or verticals.

Overcome by: Be okay with buying the shares if you are assigned. That is a part of your trading plan.

6. Legging Into Spreads

It is a common mistake for traders to get legged into spreads by entering positions when the market price has moved away from their position. They may have gotten caught up in the belief that they are being a “smart” trader by trying to profit from the spread.

The problem is that they are not taking into account that their cost basis must go up in order to maintain the position. If the market price of the underlying goes up, their cost basis must go up as well.

Overcome by: If you are not comfortable with this advanced strategy, then exit your options contract and place a new one.

7. Trading Illiquid Options

Trading illiquid options is a mistake because traders are taking on too much risk, with potentially disastrous consequences.

Illiquid means that the option cannot be bought or sold at the given time.

In other words, the option is not tradable. When traders trade illiquid options, they are taking a risk that their trades will not be executed because there is no liquidity in the market at that time. They have to hope that the market will become liquid again, and they can then sell their position or buy back their option at a lower price.

Overcome by: Check option volume and open interest at your strike place. Verify you have interest in moving your contract.

8. No Exit Plan

It is important to have a plan in case your trading strategy doesn’t pan out as planned.

This will give you the peace of mind that you won’t be left high and dry without an exit strategy.

With options is it more difficult to limit your risk to reward. As a result, you must decide your exit plan in advance.

Overcome by: Develop your trading strategy and include how and when you will exit the option contract.

Ready to Avoid these Trading Mistakes?

Investors are often their own worst enemy when it comes to trading.

They make emotional decisions instead of logical ones, and this leads to them making costly mistakes. Plus there are many technical errors new and seasoned traders are still making.

In order to be successful in the markets, investors must first learn to accept their losses and move on. Only then can they put that mistake behind them and focus on making profitable trades in the future.

In this post, I shared some of the more common trading mistakes that people make and how to avoid them.

Now, you have to work to avoid these trading mistakes and be profitable.

Learn how to avoid common trading mistakes. These common mistakes in stock trading can have you lose more than planned. Learn how to improve trades and achieve a higher profitability.

Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!

Source: moneybliss.org

Posted in: Investing, Money Tips Tagged: 2, About, action, active, Advanced, advice, All, Amazon, AMC, Amount Of Money, analysis, asset, at risk, average, basic, bed, before, beginner, Behavior, Benefits, best, better than average, big, bonds, Broker, brokers, build, Buy, buyer, buyers, Buying, buying and selling, calm, chance, chase, clear, commission, commodities, common mistakes, company, confidence, contracts, cost, couple, crypto, dark, data, day trading, decision, decisions, Development, disaster, disclosure, earnings, education, emotion, Emotions, entry, events, exercise, expectations, expenses, fed, Finance, Financial Wize, FinancialWize, fomo, Forth, foundation, fund, future, Getting Started, goal, goals, good, Greed, Grow, growth, helpful, hold, home, How To, how to invest, in, interest, Invest, Investing, investing strategies, investment, investments, Investor, investors, job, jump, Learn, leverage, Life, Links, liquidity, list, Live, low, LOWER, luck, Make, making, manage, margin call, market, market timing, markets, measure, meme, mistake, Mistakes, money, monthly expenses, More, more money, Move, Moving, needs, new, News, offer, Online Trading, opportunity, options contracts, or, Other, overconfidence, panic, patience, patterns, peace, Personal, personal finance, place, plan, plans, play, points, poor, Popular, portfolio, portfolios, price, PRIOR, protect, Purchase, quit your job, quitting your job, ready, rebound, reddit, Research, returns, Reverse, Review, reward, rewards, right, risk, Risk management, room, School, securities, security, Sell, seller, selling, shares, short, Side, Side Hustle, simple, single, skill, smart, Software, South, Spending, stable, Starting Out, stock, stock market, stock trading, stocks, Strategies, Style, The Stock Market, time, time horizon, timing, tools, trading, traditional, trend, Twitter, under, understanding risk, updates, value, volatility, volume, will, work, wrong

Apache is functioning normally

June 8, 2023 by Brett Tams

Good times happen in small spaces.

Have you rearranged your furniture countless times in an attempt to create a comfortable and inviting living room in a small space? The good news is that, with a bit of ingenuity, you can enjoy the living room of your dreams regardless of size. From bright and eclectic to minimalist and warm, you can incorporate many of today’s design trends into a small living room using our collection of small living room ideas.

The most important aspect of creating a space you love is ensuring it aligns with your vision and lifestyle. As Billy Baldwin, an icon in interior design, said, “Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style.”

Whether using decor tricks to create the illusion of a larger room or designing a cozy space for relaxation and entertainment, these apartment small living room ideas can take you there.

Let’s explore the many ways to make your small space shine!

1. Furniture to fill your space

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While it may seem contrary, integrating larger furniture, such as a sectional, can make the room appear more expansive. The key is choosing a color that blends in with the walls and opting for low-level, armless pieces. Another innovative option is selecting a couch with raised legs, creating a sense of space.

From there, carefully consider each piece of furniture, enhancing negative space while ensuring a living room designed for your lifestyle. Do you need a side table? Would nesting tables work as coffee tables and double as side tables when friends are over? Placing furniture in a close, conversational layout creates a cozy atmosphere for entertaining.

2. Cleverly placed mirrors

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The strategic use of mirrors is one of the best techniques for making rooms look bigger. Placing a large, beautiful mirror opposite windows brings in more natural light and brightens the entire room. Unless you’re going for a vintage look, simpler frames are generally a better choice when creating a sense of spaciousness.

You can also add dimension and atmosphere by placing a mirror close to a light source, like a table lamp or candle. Even mirrored furniture, such as a side table, reflects light, contributing to the illusion of more space. You can also go big with mirror panels. According to Architectural Digest, mirrored walls are in, yet again.

3. Color to the rescue

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Image Source: Rent. / Bahama Bay

You’ve probably heard that painting walls white creates the illusion of a bigger room. Any lighter color, however, such as soft neutrals and pastels, can have the same effect. You can even go bold if you stick to a limited palette.

From natural wood tones to deep greens or blues, rich hues offer a cozy, enveloping feeling, and complementary shades provide a cohesive look that can make a room look bigger.

If your rental agreement doesn’t allow painting, you can still add bursts of color with pillows, throws and artwork. One large painting creates a focal point, drawing the eyes upward while adding intrigue and contrast. Add a sizeable color-coordinated area rug big enough for all your furnishings to sit on, and you have the anchor that ties the room together. Need some inspiration? Check out these popular paint colors and decorating styles that range from art deco to bohemian and Japandi.

4. Lightweight window coverings

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Floor-to-ceiling window coverings add height and dimension but can make a room look smaller when made of heavy material. On the other hand, sheer fabrics provide a light and airy feeling while letting natural light infuse the room.

5. Layers of light

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While layered lighting is important in every room, this approach is particularly critical in small spaces. It combines ambient, task and accent lighting, drawing your attention to specific features while creating depth and intrigue.

Consider wall sconces, hanging pendant lights and strategically placed lamps. LED strips under shelving provide light from an unseen source, setting the mood by changing colors with one touch of a button.

6. Go vertical

Are you having trouble finding space for your bookcase and much-loved artwork? Consider a shelf at a height you can just reach that encircles the room.

This shelf can appear to float when painted the same color as the walls. Deliberately placed books, plants and artwork offer texture and functionality while drawing the eyes upward and making the room appear larger.

7. Purposeful living

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A small living room gives you the opportunity to embrace purposeful living. One way to achieve this is ensuring large pieces provide multi-functionality. An ottoman can double as a coffee table, hidden storage space and a footrest. A bench may offer storage for blankets. There are even bookcases with fold-down tables you can use as a desk.

8. Pay attention to the corners

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Image Source: Rent. / The Link

Adding houseplants, a beautiful lamp or strategic shelving to a few corners brings attention to every area, making your living room seem bigger. Not only do plants enhance your living space, but several studies show they also improve air quality, boost productivity and even reduce stress.

Some good options for darker corners include peace lilies, Boston ferns, philodendrons and spider plants. With indirect light, lush parlor palms and monstera plants can fill a corner.

9. Clutter-free

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Marie Kondo, developer of the KonMari Method for decluttering and star of two Netflix series, suggests that “Life truly begins only after you have put your house in order.” Tidying also creates a minimalist, clutter-free zone that does wonders for increasing a sense of space. Consider a few baskets or decorative boxes to hide remotes and other random items.

10. Bring the outdoors in

small living room ideas

Image Source: Apartment Guide / MAA Gardens

Natural light offers many gifts, including reduced energy usage and improved sleep. It also makes a space feel more expansive and filled with life. Installing a curtain pole extending past the windows allows you to draw curtains fully back, revealing more light and making your windows appear wider.

11. A space for book lovers

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Creating a cozy reading nook is often a top priority for book lovers. Fortunately, a window seat or corner chair with a soft blanket and throw pillows is often all it takes. Add a wall sconce or pendant light that saves space, and enjoy.

Are you ready to create a comfortable, more spacious living room where you relax with friends and family? Use these design tips to steer you in the right direction.

Still looking for your own cozy space to decorate? Start here.

Source: rent.com

Posted in: Growing Wealth Tagged: 2, accent, advice, air, All, apartment, art, bench, best, big, blankets, Blog, bohemian, bold, book, Books, boston, choice, clutter, coffee, coffee table, color, colors, couch, decluttering, Decor, decorate, decorating, design, design trends, desk, developer, double, energy, entertaining, Entertainment, Family, Features, Financial Wize, FinancialWize, Free, furniture, gifts, good, guide, house, houseplants, ideas, in, Inspiration, interior design, items, lamps, layout, Life, Lifestyle, lighting, lights, Living, living room, low, Make, making, Minimalist, More, natural, netflix, News, offer, offers, opportunity, or, Other, outdoors, paint, paint colors, painting, palette, pastels, peace, pillows, plants, Popular, productivity, quality, random, reach, ready, Relaxation, Rent, rental, rich, right, room, Series, Side, side tables, sleep, small space, small spaces, space, storage, stress, Style, tips, Tips & Advice, trends, tricks, under, wall, white, windows, wood, work

Apache is functioning normally

June 8, 2023 by Brett Tams

This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.


Investing in stocks can seem like a daunting task.

There are so many things to consider when it comes to investing, and the stock market is constantly moving.

Stock market investing is a popular option to increase net worth and make money.

Many people are looking for ways to invest their money, with the number of individual investors increasing rapidly in recent years.

This guide covers many important factors for how to invest in stocks for beginners.

Starting out as a newbie trader can be scary and overwhelming… don’t worry, all seasoned traders had to start at the beginning too!

Let’s take away that quell those thoughts and focus on why you want to learn to invest in stocks.

This guide will give you everything you need to know about how to invest in stocks as a beginner investor!

Investing in stocks is a popular way to make money, but you need a solid investment strategy first. Get plenty of tips on investing in stocks for beginners.

What Are Stocks?

In the most basic form, stocks are a form of investment. When you own a stock, you have a piece of ownership in the company’s equity.

The stock market is a real-time financial market in which investors buy and sell stocks and other securites. The stock market is made up of many companies and individuals who are actively investing in stocks.

Stocks are an excellent way for companies and individuals to invest in a company and receive a share of the company’s profits.

Many of the growth stocks (FAANG stocks) are those who investors want their stock price to increase over time. Thus, increasing their overall portfolio’s net worth.

FAANG Stocks is an acronym for: Meta (formerly known as Facebook), Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Alphabet (formerly known as Google).

Some companies like Chevron (CVX) pay out a dividend each quarter to their investors.

There are thousands of stocks available to trade.

What Can You Invest In The Stock Market?

There are many investment opportunities in the financial market, so it is important to be informed about what you can invest in. Below are some of the places where you can invest your money:

  • Stocks
  • Bonds
  • Mutual funds
  • ETFs
  • Commodities
  • Futures
  • Options

Now, we are going to look at the most common.

Individual stocks

Individual stocks are a type of investment that you can make yourself.

You can choose how many shares of a certain company you want to purchase.

For example, you like Tesla for how they are innovative in the electric car space. You can choose to invest 20 shares of their stock.

As a long-term investor, you want to hold a portfolio of 10-25 stocks. Find a list of beginning stocks to build your portfolio.

Individual stocks can be bought or sold as a way to dip your toe into the stock-trading waters.

As a short-term investor, you are looking to make money as the stock price increases or decreases.

Mutual Funds

Mutual funds are managed portfolios of stocks.

As a result, mutual funds typically have load fees equal to 1% to 3% of the value of the fund.

One of the most popular mutual funds is VTSAX because of its expense ratio is .04%

Mutual funds are a clear choice for most investors because of the simplicity to invest in the market. This can be a good investment for both novice and experienced investors, as they offer decent returns with lower risk.

They tend to rise more slowly than individual stocks and have less potential for high returns. Mutual funds are a great way to diversify your portfolio and gain exposure to a variety of different securities.

All mutual funds must disclose their fees and performance information so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to invest.

Exchange traded funds (ETFs)

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are a type of exchange-traded investment product that must register with the SEC and allows investors to pool money and invest in stocks, bonds, or assets that are traded on the US stock exchange.

They are inherently diversified, which reduces your risk.

This is a good option for beginner investors because they offer a large selection of stocks in one go.

ETFs have a lower minimum to start investing, which is a draw for many investors starting out with little funds. Plus there are many different types of ETFs to choose from.

ETFs are similar to mutual funds, but trade more similarly to individual stocks. With ETFs and Index Funds, you can purchase them yourself and may have lower fees.

Why Stock Prices Fluctuate

Picture of a bull market vs bear market on why stock prices flucate.

Stock prices fluctuate because the financial markets are a complex system. There are many factors that can affect the price of a stock,

There are a number of factors that can influence stock prices, including:

  • Economic indicators like GDP growth, inflation, and unemployment rates
  • Company earnings reports
  • The overall health of the economy
  • Political and social instability
  • Changes in interest rates
  • War or natural disasters
  • Supply and demand,
  • Actions of the company’s management
  • Short squeezings like what happened with GME or AMC

The volatility in the stock market is the #1 reason most people stay out of investments. However, on average, the stock market has moved up 8-10% a year.

What is the best thing to invest in as a beginner?

The best thing to invest in as a beginner is your time.

You need to learn how the stock market works. Just like you would get a certification or degree, you should highly consider an investing course.

Learn and devote as much time as you can to investing in stocks.

How To Invest In Stocks For Beginners?

Picture of a stock market gains to show how to invest in stock for beginners.

Investing in the stock market can be a great way to make money! If you’re looking for ways to make money or grow net worth, investing in a stock is a smart choice.

With online access and trading being easier now than ever, it can be easier than ever to start buying stocks.

Let’s dig into how to invest in stocks like a pro.

FYI…You should do your own research before investing.

Step #1: Figure out your goals

Figure out your goals to help with setting an investing strategy.

What are you trying to achieve with stock market investing? Is it supplemental income? A certain level of wealth for retirement? Are you looking for short-term or long-term gains?

Once you know what you’re aiming for, it will be easier to find the right stocks and make wise investment decisions.

Your reason to invest in stocks will be different than everyone around you.

  • Some people want to supplement their weekly income.
  • Others want to invest in companies for the long term.

My goal is to make weekly income from the stock market. That is my investment strategy for non-retirement accounts.

You need to spend time understanding WHY you want to buy stocks.

Knowing this answer will help you define what type of trader you will be.

Step #2. Decide how you want to invest in the stock market

When you decide to invest in the stock market, you need to choose what you want to invest in.

You can invest in stocks, which are shares of ownership in a company, or you can invest in bonds, which are loans that a company makes. There are also other options like mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which are collections of stocks or bonds.

Also, you can expand this to what types of investments will you have in various retirement or brokerage accounts. For example, you may invest in mutual funds with your 401k, ETFs with your Roth IRA, and stick with individual stocks for your taxable account.

This is a personal decision.

Many people when they are first starting to trade stocks choose to limit purchasing stocks with a limited percentage of their overall portfolio.

Step #3. Are you invest in stocks for the short term or long term?

The buy and hold investor is more comfortable with taking a long-term approach, while the short-term speculator is more focused on the day-to-day price fluctuations.

Once again, this is a personal preference.

One of the most common themes of many investing gurus is, “Remember that stock prices can go down as well as up, so it’s important to stay invested for the long term.”

However, this full-time trader wants to make money on those highs and lows.

Knowing your overall investment horizon will help you decide how much time you plan to hold onto your investments to reach your financial goal.

Also, you can choose different time horizons for different accounts.

Step #4: Determine your investing approach

Passive and active investing are two main approaches to stock market investing.

Passive investing does not involve significant trading and is associated with index funds.

  • Passive investing is a way to DIY your investments for maximum efficiency over time.
  • Thus, you would contribute to your investment account on the xx day of the month with $xx amount of money.
  • This happens with consistency regardless of where the market stands on that day.
  • You are less warry of where the stock market will go and focused on overtime it will continue to go up.

Active investing takes the opposite approach, hoping to maximize gains by buying and selling more frequently and at specific times.

  • Active investing is when an investor is actively acquiring, selling, or holding bought stocks.
  • This could be with day trading or swing trading.
  • You may hold stocks for less than a day, a few days, or a couple of weeks.
  • The purpose of having active investing is to make profits.

In the stock market, investors make efforts to increase their net worth over time or to make income off the market.

Step #5: Define your investment strategy

When it comes to investing in the stock market, there are a few key factors you need to take into account: your time horizon, financial goals, risk tolerance, and tax bracket.

Do you want to be an active trader or stick with passive investing? What kind of investor am I?

There is no right or wrong answer as this is a personal preference.

Ultimately, you want returns to be greater than the overall S&P 500 index for the year.

Once you’ve figured these out, you can start focusing on specific investment strategies that will work best for you.

Be aware of any fees or related costs when investing. Fees can take a bite out of your investments, so compare costs and fees.

Step #6: Determine the amount of money willing to lose on stocks.

Trading stocks online is inherently risky.

You want to consider what your “risk tolerance” is. Simply put, how much are you willing to lose in stocks before you want to quit?

The biggest reason most people quit trading stocks is that they do not know their risk tolerance and fail with risk management.

You will lose on trading stocks. The goal is to lose a small amount on some of the trades and gain a greater amount of more of your trades.

  • How much risk you can reasonably take on given your financial situation?
  • What are your feelings about risk?
  • What happens when your favorite stock drops 25%?

Understanding your risk tolerance and how much you are willing to lose will help you keep your losses small.

Start with a small amount of money when investing in stocks. Also, make sure you have enough money saved up so you can handle any losses that may occur.

How to Start Investing in Stocks

Picture of a pig and not for how to start invest in stocks.

There are a variety of ways to start investing in stocks. Some methods include getting a small account balance and then buying shares, creating an investing club with friends, or researching the companies you want to invest in.

Now, that you have determined how and why you want to invest in stocks. Let’s dig into the nitty gritty of how to manage a stock portfolio.

On the other hand, if you don’t invest enough, you could miss out on potential profits. Try starting with an amount you’re comfortable losing if the stock market does go down.

1. Open an investment account

There are a few things you need to do in order to start investing in the stock market.

The first is to open an investment account with a broker or an online brokerage firm.

There are different types of accounts you can open:

  • Taxable accounts like an individual or joint brokerage
  • Retirement accounts like IRA or Roth IRA
  • These are the most basic investment accounts, here is a list of types of investment accounts.

If you plan to hold EFTs or mutual funds, Vanguard is a great place to start.

If you plan to be an active trader, I would look at TD Ameritrade or Fidelity. Be wary of Robinhood or WeBull.

2. Saturate yourself in Stock Market Knowledge

On the simplest level, it can be incredibly easy to begin your investing career with little-to-no knowledge, research, and expertise.

If you have even a remote understanding of stocks, then learn what you need from an easy-to-find YouTube video, followed by watching some of your favorite TV shows to learn more about the market and its secrets.

With that said, you need to be digesting the basics from start to end of getting your first investment started.

As the title reveals, investing can seem intimidating and complicated. Thus, stock market knowledge is invaluable.

3. Consider an Investing Course

A typical investing course would teach how to invest in stocks (and possibly other investments).

As a beginner trader, it is unlikely you will know the full extent of how the stock market works. There are many intricacies you must learn and understand.

Beginners should learn about stock investing basics, such as diversification and investment criteria.

Many investing courses offer a platform on how to make money by trading stocks.

Personally, I highly recommend buying this investing course.

If you choose not to follow my advice, that is fine. Come back when you have lost more money in the stock market than the price of the courses.

I CAN NOT STRESS ENOUGH… how important it is to have a solid foundation and practice in a simulated account before you use your real money.

4. Research the companies you want to invest in

When you’re ready to start investing in stocks, it is important that you do your due diligence and research the companies you want to invest in.

Look for trends and for companies that are in positions to benefit you.

Consider stocks across a wide range of industries, from technology to health care. It’s also important to remember that stock prices can go up or down, so always consider this before making any investment decisions.

5. Choose your stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds

Picture of a stock chart to show how to start invest in stocks.

Next, you have to decide what fits your investing strategy. Are you looking to buy:

  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Mutual Funds

Regardless of which type of investment you make, you must look for companies that have attractive valuations and growth prospects. In the case of index funds or ETFs, which fund has the companies you find attractive.

Most importantly, you should also take into account the company’s financial health and its prospects for future growth.

Make sure you understand the risks associated with holding a particular stock, including possible price fluctuations and loss of value.

7. Take the Trade

This is the hardest step for most people is to take their first trade.

Thus, why learning to trade stocks is great to learn a simulated account using fake money. Then, move to a LIVE account using your real money.

At some point, in your investing in stocks journey, you must press the buy button.

For many the investment platform may be overwhelming to use, so check out your brokerage’s YouTube videos to help you out.

8: Manage your portfolio

Managing your portfolio is important to keep your investments in good shape.

If you are a long-term investor, diversify your portfolio by investing in different types of investment vehicles and industries.

If you prefer to swing trade or day trade, then you want to make sure you always have cash on hand and are rotating your portfolio to take profit.

Investing can be difficult for beginners who often lack knowledge about the stock market.

It is important to remember to keep investing money and rebalance your portfolio on a regular basis. This will help ensure that you stay on top of your investments and achieve the desired result.

9. Selling Stocks

For most investors, it is harder to sell their stocks than to purchase them. There are a variety of factors for that. But, you must sell your stocks at some time to realize your gain.

Don’t panic if the market crashes or corrects – these events usually don’t last very long and history has shown that the market will eventually rebound. Most people tend to panic sell when stocks are low and FOMO buy when the market is at highs.

When you are ready to sell, aim to achieve a percentage return on your investment.

This will require some focus on your time horizon and the stocks you want to invest in.

Also, you need to consider any taxes that may be owed on the sale of stock.

If you’re new to stock investing, consider using index funds instead of individual stocks to gain broad market exposure.

10. Journal & Analyze your Trades

Journaling is a way of recording the important decisions you make during trading to help yourself remember what happened in your trades. It can be used as a tool for reflection, learning from mistakes, and reviewing your strategy.

Analyzing your trades means looking back on your trading history with the goal of improving it.

This is the most overlooked step of the investing process.

When it comes to buying and selling stocks, journalling what is happening in the market is an important part of being a successful investor.

Stock Market Investing Tips for Beginners

Picture of improving returns for stock market investing tips for beginners.

Ask any seasoned trader, and they will have a list of investing tips for beginners.

They have made plenty of trading mistakes they do not want to see newbies do the same thing.

When starting to invest in the stock market, beginner investors often seek out consistent and reliable investments.

This allows them to slowly learn about the stock market and take calculated risks while also earning a return on their investment. Over time, as they gain experience, they can expand their portfolio to include riskier but potentially more rewarding stocks.

1. Invest in Companies That You Understand

An investor should know the company they are investing in and have an idea of what type of return they expect.

When you are starting out, it is best to invest in stocks of companies that are easy to understand and have a proven track record.

Do NOT invest in stocks based on the advice of friends, what you read in the news, or on a whim – these can be risky moves. Be wary of the popular stocks you can find on the Reddit Personal Finance threads.

2. Don’t Time the Market

In the world of investing, there is one rule that no investors should ever break: do not time the market.

By following this rule, you will always be on top of your investments and will be able to reap the rewards.

There are times to buy stocks and sell stocks. This is something you will learn when investing in a high-quality investing course.

As an average investor, trying to time the market will leave you frustrated by your minimal returns or great losses.

3. Avoid Penny Stocks

Penny stocks are the lowest-priced securities on the market, and they don’t offer any significant upside potential to their investors. While you may hit a home run return on some, many penny stocks tend to trend sideways.

The risk is not worth the return.

If you plan to invest in stocks, avoid penny stocks and focus on healthy companies.

4. Consider Buying Fractional Shares

Fractional share investing lets investors buy less than a full share at one time. Many times, you may not be able to afford the price of a full share.

For example, buying a share of Amazon (AMZN) may cost you upwards of $2800 or more. Thus, you can invest a smaller amount with a fractional share.

You would have to check if your brokerage company allows the purchase of fractional shares.

5. Stay the Course

In order to be successful, a trader must stay the course and maintain their focus. By staying focused, they will have less chance of making mistakes that may lead to big losses or overtrading.

When you’re starting out in the stock market, it’s important to be disciplined with your buying. Don’t try to time the market, because you’re likely to fail. Instead, buy shares over time and stay the course.

That way, you’ll be more likely to see a profit in the long run.

6. Avoid Emotional Trading

In order to be successful in the stock market, you have to maintain a level head.

Responding emotionally will only lead to bad decision making. Instead, stay the course and trust your research and analysis.

Know your weaknesses as well as your strengths.

7. Do Your Research

When you’re ready to start investing in the stock market, it is important to do your research so you can make informed decisions.

There are a lot of stocks to choose from, and it can be tempting to invest in them all.

But remember, you don’t want to spread yourself too thin. Invest in stocks that you believe in and that have a good chance of making you money.

8. Build Wealth

Stock market investing is one of the best ways to grow your money over time.

For long-term investing, you buy stocks in companies and hold them for a period of time, typically years. Over time, as the company grows and makes more money, so does your stock. This is one of the most common ways to build wealth over time.

The other way with short-term investing is to consistently take profit and grow your account over time.

Stock investing FAQs

Here is a list of the most common questions and answers on stock investing.

Q: What is the difference between investing and trading?

Trading is buying or selling financial products with the goal of making a profit. This is normally a day trader or swing trader.

Investing, on the other hand, refers to the process of putting money into an investment with the hope that it will grow. Someone who is focused on the long-term.

Q: Do you have to live in the U.S. to open a stock brokerage account?

No, you do not have to live in the U.S. to open a stock brokerage account. You must find a brokerage company in your area of residence abroad.

Q: How much money do I need to start investing?

The very common question of, “How much should you invest in stocks first time?”

It is recommended to start investing with $500 or more. However, you can start with Acorns with as little as $5.

Check out this investor’s story by starting with a small account of $500 and growing it over $35k in less than 6 months.

It is best to grow your account with your growth or profit.

Q: Do I have to pay taxes on the money I earn from stocks?

Yes, you will be required to pay taxes on the money you earn from stocks.

Q: What are the best stocks for beginners to invest in?

The best stocks for beginners to invest in are those that have a history of staying consistently on an uptrend. These companies’ stock prices have typically risen over the course of the year.

Find a list of beginning stocks to build your portfolio.

Q: How do beginners buy stocks?

Above, we outlined this in detail. In order to buy stocks, there are a few different steps that you should follow in order to maximize your chances of success.

The first step is making sure you have an account. Once you have an account, the next step is to decide which stocks you want to invest in. Then, you must buy your stock. Finally, you must decide when you want to sell your stock for a realized gain or loss.

Q: How many stocks should you own?

The best answer is it depends on your investing strategy.

  • As a short-term investor, you can only manage a smaller number of trades.
  • As a long-term investor, you need a more well-rounded portfolio. of15-25 stocks.

More likely than not, the short answer is “as many as you can afford.”

Q: What is the best thing to invest in as a beginner?

The best thing to invest in as a beginner is an index fund.

Indexes are great because they diversify across many different types of investments and don’t require much effort on the part of the investor to maintain. Index funds are also less risky than other investments, especially in the beginning stages of an individual’s investing career.

Q: How do we make money?

Traders make money in many ways. They can trade stocks, bonds, futures, and options on equities. They can go long when the market goes up and short when the market goes down.

Traders also use trading systems that are usually automated to manage the trades they make to maximize profit.

Trading is a risky investment and it’s not uncommon for traders to lose money. In order to keep losses small, many traders use the trading strategy based on minimizing risk in order to get the desired return.

Learn how fast you can make money in stocks.

Q: Why is Youtube Option Trading So Popular?

Video on how to trade options is very popular on Youtube. This is because of the high volume of interest on this topic.

For many people, learning options is an advanced strategy that takes more time and knowledge to learn.

This is my favorite youtube option trading channel as well as an overall investing strategy.

Additionally, traders are able to get a much higher return on motion trading versus going long or short on stocks.

Q: What is volume in stocks?

Volume is a measure of the number of shares traded in a given period, usually trading days.

This is an important metric if you plan to exit your trade to know there are enough buyers to buy your stock.

Q: How to invest in penny stocks for beginners?

Penny stocks are shares of a company that typically trade for less than $5 per share, which is also known as penny stock trading.

Investing in penny stocks can be a lot of fun and the highest risk, and there are many ways to get involved. For anyone who is new to the world of investing in penny stocks, it can be intimidating to know where to start.

However, there are a few things that you should keep in mind before diving into the world of penny stocks. One of these is researching what types of companies you want to invest in. Many of these penny stocks are not healthy companies and burning through cash.

It is important to always be careful when investing in penny stocks. Keep in mind that the risk of losing money is high and you should invest only what you are willing to lose.

Q: How to invest in stocks for beginners robinhood?

Robinhood is a stock brokerage company that allows users to invest in stocks without paying any fees. It also provides real-time quotes and charts. To invest, the user must have an account with Robinhood that holds at least $0.

Most major brokerage companies have zero commission fees on trading stocks as well.

Beware, Robinhood is known for stopping to trade various stocks during times of volatility whereas other’s brokers do not.

Q: What is a good price to buy at?

This is a hotly debated question as every investor sees the market from their view.

More often than not, people wonder the best time to buy stocks.

As such, you can read is now a good time to buy stocks?

Ready for Stock Market Investing?

If you are new to investing in stocks, there are a few things you take into consideration before diving into the market.

For starters, it is important to understand how stock markets work. You should also know the difference between a stock and an investment.

Investing in stocks can be a bit complicated, but this guide walked you through the basics of how to invest.

Before you invest in stocks, it is important that you understand your investment strategy. That way, you can make informed decisions about where to put your money and how much risk you are willing to take on.

Most people shy away from learning how to actively trade stocks because of the movies about Wall Street they have watched.

You will get a deeper understanding of investing in stocks the longer you educate yourself on the concept.

Overall, it is wise to diversify your portfolio and don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

So, what is your next move to start investing?

One of the best ways to improve your personal finance situation is to increase your income.

Here are the best investing courses to guide your path. With time and effort, you can start enjoying the lifestyle you want.

Learn how to supplement your daily, weekly, or monthly income with trading so that you can live your best life! This is a lifestyle trading style you need to learn.

Honestly, this course is a must for anyone who invests. You will lose more in the market than you will spend this quality education – guaranteed.

Read my Invest with Teri Review.

Photo Credit:
studentloanplannercourse.com

Learn how to reach a six figure net worth in 5 to 10 years, even if you have a massive amount of student loans.

This beginning investment course will help you pay off debt and start your path to six figures.

After taking a second job as a driver for Amazon to make ends meet, this former teacher pivoted to be a successful stock trader.

Leaving behind the stress of teaching, now he sets his own schedule and makes more money than he ever imagined. He grew his account from $500 to $38000 in 8 months.

Check out this interview.

Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!

Source: moneybliss.org

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Apache is functioning normally

June 8, 2023 by Brett Tams

I asked, as I sometimes do, what personal finance question my friends and Twitter followers had for me. It was a slow day on the internet and the responses flooded in.

My friend Neil asked, “what do you think about real estate?” A broad question, indeed, and I got him to clarify. “You know… should I buy a house? Why not just rent?”

Why not indeed.

The Dream of Home Ownership
I too bit off and gulped down the dream of home ownership when just a small lass. When I graduated from college, I moved to a Southern U.S. city — Charlotte, North Carolina — and like any young professional often in the company of older, established professionals — saw immediately that they all owned houses. And that this was very good.

What they had, I wanted: the houses with the staircases and the pretty backyard decks and the grand old trees in the back and the guest bathrooms with bowls of little colored soaps. I wanted a kitchen, with wide countertops and an arching clamp-hose faucet over the deep sinks and big drawers for flour and pot lids and recycling bins. And art on the walls, and a king-sized bed, and a walk-in closet, and a master bath.

My dream was only made more intense while shopping for condos in New York City, then in Reston, Virginia, with my 20s-era boyfriend. When he went to sign his first title, I went too, and we went out to lunch afterward at a restaurant on 54th street; we spent $112 and when I ate the tiny plate of tiny after-lunch sweets (a little cheesecake, a little truffle, a little gelee), I felt I’d arrived.

Years later, after the boyfriend, I became pregnant and my now-husband and I shopped for homes. My stories of those searches are intense and full of longing and stress; but by my fourth month of pregnancy I was living in house all my own. I vowed to never move.

Tip: Compare mortgage rates from multiple lenders for new home loans and mortgage refinance loans.

Other People’s Dreams
I am — I was — the classic case for home ownership. I live in a small city and, when I bought the house, prices were reasonable; my mortgage payment is now less than many pay for renting an apartment. I love working on the yard and painting walls and I even tiled my bathroom myself (with lots of structural help from my father and husband). My husband is handy, and can run wiring and solder plumbing and he built a whole room in the basement. We’re the home ownership success story (though admittedly we have a lot more work to do, and no walk-in closet, no master bath).

But for many people, home ownership should remain the stuff of other people’s dreams.

I think my friend Neil is a good example. His ex-wife longed to buy a home in Los Angeles, where they had made a home after Neil’s upbringing in New York City. The situation was probably even more intense for her than for me in Charlotte; their friends and colleagues owned expansive ranch-style show-homes and sweet artsy bungalows, in neighborhoods where the price-per-square foot probably neared four digits at the peak of the market. The mortgage on those homes would require all of one middle-class salary.

Even for the more economic choices, prices were high and there was no clear benefit to buying over renting; in fact, most mortgages would be more than the cost to rent a nice (and low-maintenance) apartment.

Neil wasn’t good with a hammer or a chop saw, nor did his wife have any desire to keep a fine vegetable garden. There was no dad around to rip out old bathroom floors or teach Neil to solder copper pipes. Neil had no dreams of living in his home forever with his growing family; to date, he has no children and he’s now divorced; he’s not sure if he’ll stay in LA for the rest of the year, let alone the decade. For him, home ownership is someone else’s dream.

Should I Buy a Home?
For me, Neil’s question was easy. “No,” I said finally. “I don’t think you should buy a home.”

“But isn’t that the goal?” he asked me. “Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?”

Well, maybe. But I’ve found my own definition of “getting rich slowly” is often made up of doing few things that one is “supposed” to do; for me, living a double income, office job lifestyle is one such “supposed to” I’ve discarded. For Neil, I prescribed letting go of that “supposed to” of buying a home.

How to Know When You’re Neil
Are you Neil? That is to say, should you too avoid adopting the dream of home ownership? Here are a few signs you may be Neil:

  • You are still a transient. Of course, we know I don’t mean “homeless person.” I believe many of us today graduate college (or high school, if college wasn’t the path for you) as transients, expecting to live in one place for a few years before trying out another, and another, and another, until one feels like home (or until you fall in love with someone who’s rooted to a place, giving you a graft and rooting you, too). If you’re not sure yet if this place is going to be your home for more than the next few years, home ownership is not for you. With closing costs and the uncertainties of the real estate market, it’s very difficult to come out of a two-year home ownership transaction without losing money as compared to renting.
  • You have no desire to engage in home and garden upkeep. While some such people might hire gardeners and contractors to fill in the holes in their handy skills and passions, most of those who don’t care to pick weeds or fix fences or mow lawns or plant apple trees are better off with an apartment. Purchasing a condo might be an option, if you don’t say “yes” to any of the other items in the “are you Neil” list.
  • The market in your favorite neighborhood doesn’t make sense. If the cost of a monthly payment on a mortgage would be greatly higher than the price of a two-bedroom apartment or other rental suitable for your family’s needs — say, more than 25 or 30% higher — it’s probably not a good time to buy. While indeed mortgage interest deductions and home buyer credits and the time value of money might be squished around to make the comparative cost similar, do remember that life is uncertain and markets fluctuate and maybe you should wait a bit — or look around for a more sensible neighborhood — before buying something.
  • You’re not sure about your career or your job. Maybe you’re considering going back to school to become a sommelier. Maybe you’re pretty sure your boss wants to retire and sell the company. Maybe you just don’t love your job and you’re looking around for something new. If you’re not fairly confident your next few years won’t include a significant change in income, it’s probably not a good time to engage with the home ownership dream.
  • Your relationship with your partner is rocky. I’ve been watching several of my friends deal with the tough decision over what to do with the family home when a relationship is over. In one case that worked out for the best — the family made a nice profit from the sale. But that was a rarity. If you’re married, you might end up having to sell and take a significant loss, even if you’d rather stay in the house solo; if you’re not married, things could be even more wonky. One woman I know lost her grandmother’s home after a pre-marriage breakup (with someone who obviously turned out to be enough of a jerk to keep her grandmother’s home, though that analysis is one-sided and second-hand, so take it with salt). Be honest with yourself, and know that, much like puppies and babies, houses do not fix broken relationships.
  • You would have to cash in retirement or emergency savings to buy the house. A home buying fund should be separate from those savings for emergencies and retirement. You’ll have more emergencies, in all likelihood, with a home than without. And you know how we feel about retirement savings. If your dream is that intense, then you can use your intensity to fuel your frugality while you save up for the down payment.

It also makes sense to run the numbers through a rent vs. buy calculator to see if the results would influence your decision one way or another. Have you struggled with the decision to rent or buy? Where did you come out on the Neil/not Neil spectrum?

Source: getrichslowly.org

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Apache is functioning normally

June 8, 2023 by Brett Tams

So I have a confession. Something about blog-land has been on my mind for quite some time. Where the hell are the men in design? Have they all passed out under the choking cloud of chevron, glitter, acrylic, gold, pink, and brass? Are they buried under furry pillows, floral prints and Moroccan everything? I’m dying to know how all the interior design lovers around the interwebs have rendered their men mute. Because I know the guy in my life would never let such an overtly feminized style fly.

And if I’m going to be honest, I kinda can’t stand they hyper-girlie design trends either. I find spaces grounded in thoughtful, yet practical design both refreshing and calming.

apt34oneroomchallengewk3IMG_7966+edited

There are a few key elements to this look.

A less is more approach. If there’s one thing I’ve come to learn over the years, particularly now that we have a baby – you really don’t need a lot of stuff! Sticking to utilitarian pieces will serve you in the long term. Yes, you can accessorize with things that you truly love but the tchotchke is only something you have to dust (or keep out of little fingers’ reach!).

Only add pieces with meaning. When you have an empty space it can be very tempting to fill it. But instead or running to the nearest big box take a more considered approach. What do you really need? What do you really really love?

Prioritize function as well as form. There isn’t a lot of room for precious pieces in this kind of style. That doesn’t mean you can’t collect beatutiful pieces but there’s a lot to be said for a gorgeous leather ottoma that will petina with age or a marble coffee table that will stand the test of time.

I’m excited to keep these design mantras in mind to create a space that is as useful as it is beautiful. Here is my current furniture inspiration for the media room.
media-room-design-one-room-challenge-apt34

couch | floor lamp | living room | rug | side table | pillow | pouf | art 

I see a cozy sectional that will be ready for lots of hours spent lounging. The key to making the room interesting is a variety of textures. Linen, leather, a wool rug, a cool textured mirror. I might sneak in a pop of metallic with a killer floor lamp, but we’ll have to see if that passes muster with my guy’s discerning design eye. With this insipiration in hand, I’m excited to move onto the next step – shopping!

Be sure to check out the rest of this week’s updates.

Apartment 34 | Arianna Belle | Because It’s Awesome | Coco+Kelley | Design Darling | Design Indulgence |Design Manifest | Christine Dovey | The English Room | Vanessa Francis | Hi Sugarplum | Honey We’re Home | Jojotastic | The Pink Clutch | The Pink Pagoda | Simplified Bee | Style Your Senses | A Thoughtful Place | Kimberly Whitman | The Zhush |

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Source: apartment34.com

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Apache is functioning normally

June 8, 2023 by Brett Tams

Disney’s new live-action version of “The Little Mermaid” is bringing a new generation of fans under the surface and into the timeless, classic story.

If seeing “The Little Mermaid” on the big screen isn’t quite enough for you, then you can book a trip to go “Under the Sea” where life is the bubbles. There are vacation destinations worldwide where you can hang out with mermaids or sometimes even learn to swim, just like Ariel and her mer-friends.

We can’t guarantee that a hot crustacean band will randomly burst into song, but we can bet you’ll have a fin-flipping good time.

Orlando World Center Marriott — Orlando, Florida

ORLANDO WORLD CENTER MARRIOTT

Less than 2 miles from Walt Disney World at the Orlando World Center Marriott, guests can meet “real” mermaids during Mermaids & Glow pool parties on select Saturday nights throughout 2023. Parties are at the Falls Pool and include meet-and-greet photo opportunities with the mermaids, pool games, arts and crafts, glow face painting, giveaways and more.

You can browse details and party dates on the hotel’s website.

Pullman Maldives Maamutaa — Maldives

PULLMAN MALDIVES MAAMUTAA

Guests of the all-inclusive Pullman Maldives Maamutaa resort can learn how to become a mermaid in one of four different PADI-certified courses, ranging from beginner to advanced. Guests can test their fins in the PADI Discover Mermaid Experience or take their mer-lessons a step further by completing the full series of mermaid certifications. Beginner courses are designed for guests ages six and older, while more advanced courses require a higher minimum age.

If your schedule doesn’t allow for a full mermaid lesson, you can also schedule a swimming session with the resort’s “real-life” mermaids. Or, opt for a mermaid photo shoot that includes the use of a beautiful, shimmering mermaid tail and 10 digital photos in the resort’s swimming pool.

Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel + Spa — Vero Beach, Florida

KIMPTON VERO BEACH HOTEL + SPA

The Mermaid For a Day program at the Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa lets guests ages 6 to 10 “experience the magic of mermaids” with a one-hour group mermaid session that includes a commemorative photo.

Guests can also book the overnight Mermaid For a Day Getaway, which includes a mermaid-themed welcome gift and a colorful mermaid tail for your child to take home. Make reservations for the one-hour experience and the overnight package by calling or emailing the hotel directly.

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Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa — Maui, Hawaii

THE MINDFUL MERMAID

Guests of the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa can choose from a variety of mermaiding courses designed for a range of ages and skill levels.

There is a Mini Mermaid Class (starting at $109 per person) for children ages 4 to 7 and a Social Media Mermaid Class (starting at $149 per person) that focuses on creating photos and videos for teens and adults. There is also a Beginner Mermaid Class (starting at $149 per person) that focuses on swimming skills for guests ages 8 and older. All classes take place in the resort’s lagoon-style pool.

Mermaid Freedive — Florida (various locations)

If your travels take you to Florida, Mermaid Freedive offers courses, retreats and photo shoots for all skill levels at locations across the state.

You can view the full list of courses on the Mermaid Freedive website. Some options include introductory courses at the Hilton West Palm Beach for children ages 6 to 9 and weekend-long mermaid retreats for adults in North Florida’s natural spring waters. No matter which course you choose, you’ll earn an official PADI mermaid certification after completion.

Four Seasons Bora Bora — Bora Bora, Tahiti

Later this year, guests of the Four Seasons Bora Bora will be able to become PADI-certified mermaids.

No matter your skill level, there will be a class that helps you feel comfortable embracing your mer-sona in the resort’s gorgeous, crystal-clear lagoon. The turquoise waters and the marine life swimming below the surface make a beautiful setting for learning to swim like a mermaid.

Silverton Mermaid School — Las Vegas, Nevada

SILVERTON CASINO HOTEL

The Silverton Casino Hotel in Las Vegas is well-known for its mesmerizing mermaid shows. The casino is home to a 117,000-gallon saltwater aquarium with thousands of marine animals, including some very special mermaids. For those who dream of joining their ranks, Silverton holds a 90-minute mermaid experience for visitors ages 7 and older at the Silverton Mermaid School.

Prices start at $175 but vary depending on which class type you choose, and you do not need to be a guest of the hotel to visit the Silverton Mermaid School.

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park — Weeki Wachee, Florida

For decades, people have traveled to Weeki Wachee Springs to see the world-famous mermaid show. However, watching from the other side of the glass just isn’t enough for some visitors. Luckily, Weeki Wachee’s Sirens of the Deep Mermaid Camp allows mer-curious guests to become mermaids during a two-day camp.

The camp is designed for adults ages 30 and older and includes underwater training sessions where you will learn the basic moves that Weeki Wachee mermaids perform during their shows. Former Weeki Wachee mermaids teach the sessions, which occur in Weeki Wachee’s freshwater springs.

Bottom line

Whether your kids are Ariel-obsessed or you want to realize a lifelong dream of donning fins and reliving the days you perfected your mermaid hair flip in the pool, there are vacation spots all over the world that can help you become a mermaid for a day. Whatever you do, though, don’t take relationship advice from evil sea witches.

Related reading:

Source: thepointsguy.com

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Apache is functioning normally

June 8, 2023 by Brett Tams

Investing isn’t new to me. I opened my first CD in high school back in the good old days of 5 percent interest, and I started contributing to my 401(k) as soon as I was eligible (at age 21). I did everything right according to the articles I read. I:

  • Contributed enough to get the maximum employer match
  • Saved/invested around 10 percent of my income
  • Opened up an IRA

Before I break my arm patting myself on the back, let me tell you that I made a huge error. I stopped too soon in my investing education. Instead of continuing to learn, I rested on my investing laurels — and who knows how much money I’ve lost out on because I forgot that no one cares more about my money than I do.

And my huge error led me to make many mistakes. For instance, I didn’t realize until (embarrassingly) recently that different funds in your 401(k) have different fees. Selecting funds with low fees can make a huge difference in returns. Or “buy and hold” is not the same as “buy and forget about it.” And then there’s the issue of investing and taxes.

But doing something (even if I didn’t evaluate or understand my choices) is better than nothing, right? So there I stayed, comfortable in my stinky 401(k), letting my financial adviser make fund recommendations for my IRA.

Until this year. This year, I vowed to tackle my investing fear and ignorance. I’ve been reading old posts on Get Rich Slowly, collecting a list of investing books I want to read and perusing investing websites. I’ve created this list (along with my impressions of each resource) to help me learn more about investing, and I hope it helps you, too. It’s not an exhaustive list, of course. Also, in the interest of full disclosure, I get no compensation for including any of these resources.

Get Rich Slowly Blog Posts

For new readers, I dug through the GRS archives to find some solid investing posts. I wanted the posts to highlight different investing strategies and philosophies. I’m sure I missed a few, but this should save you from poking around the Investing archives — at least a few minutes, anyway.

Dividend-paying stocks This is a fairly recent post, focusing on dividend-paying stocks.

Roth IRAs Here is a great post on Roth IRAs.

Developing an investment policy statement – Before starting to invest, analyze why you are investing. What’s the point? Figuring that out first will help you form an investing strategy.

How the stock market works – The day this post ran was the day I understood more about the stock market. Sure, things have changed since this 1952 video, but the basics are still the same.

DRIPs This post succinctly covers dividend reinvestment programs.

Mutual funds Here is a great introduction to mutual funds.

Index funds This post describes why many people (including J.D.) have most of their portfolios in index funds.

Bonds No list would be complete without mentioning bonds.

Mutual fund prospectus Part of becoming an educated investor involves understanding where your money is going. Here’s how to read (and understand) a mutual fund prospectus.

Books

Best books on investing – This post covers eight well-known investing books, but it’s missing some good ones.

One of the good ones it’s missing is Peter Lynch’s “One Up On Wall Street.” It’s old, but I like his focus on simplicity and buying what you know.

“Control Your Cash” by Greg McFarlane and Betty Kincaid is another favorite. This book actually covers all the usual financial topics (credit scores, buying a car and a house, taxes, etc.), but has a couple of chapters on investing and securities. What I like about this book is that it explains investing in a way that I can understand, using a writing style that is funny and still pertains to a wide variety of investors.

Other Blogs and Websites

Bite the Bullet Investing This just-launched blog appears to be created for the investing novice. Posts cover terms such as equity and return and topics like using other people’s money. Great if you’re just starting out.

SEC guide Use this guide to learn how to read financial statements. I think this is a very easy to understand set of terms.

The Oblivious Investor This site is organized well and Mike Piper writes clearly, without a lot of “fluff.” I found his information on index funds to be easy to understand. I haven’t checked out any of his books, but he’s written several on various topics. I think he appeals to a wide variety of investors.

Seeking Alpha This site has been mentioned several times in the comments of various GRS articles, so I thought it was worth checking out. It covers individual stocks and has some great articles. To read the entire article, you must register (though it’s free, I dislike the extra step). If you’re serious, it has a Pro subscription service in addition to the free information. I think there is some great information here, but it’s too advanced for me at this time.

The Motley Fool One of my favorite articles on the site is “13 steps to investing foolishly.” Like Seeking Alpha, they offer a premium subscription service along with their free information. This site has something for a range of investors. (GRS contributor Robert Brokamp is the Fool’s adviser for its Rule Your Retirement service.)

Morningstar has 172 free investment courses. Topics include “Investing for the long run” and “The magic of compounding.” Did I mention they were free?

Guide to Transparent Investing Frankly, I’m overwhelmed reading my own list. But if you pick anything from this list, please read this guide. Published in 2007, this 53-page discusses DIY financial planning, risk tolerance, and how to create a portfolio to minimize the bite of taxes. It explains fundamental concepts well and includes charts. I wish I’d read this guide years ago.

When doing a list like this, it’s so easy to miss lots of great resources. Which ones would you add?

Source: getrichslowly.org

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Apache is functioning normally

June 8, 2023 by Brett Tams

Real estate has the power to change your life for the better, but it can do so much more than that. Today’s guest, Jen McConnell, used her commissions to fight pediatric cancer, and she later created a foundation to help further the cause. On this podcast, Jen shares how real estate changed her life and has given her the ability to impact the lives of countless others. Jen also covers the advantages of running your own brokerage, ways to deliver five-star customer service, and more.

Listen to today’s show and learn:

  • Jen McConnell’s start in real estate [1:34]
  • What agents learn selling homes for builders [5:31]
  • The Charleston real estate market [6:47]
  • McConnell Real Estate Partners’ sales and team structure [8:04]
  • The advantages of running your own brokerage [13:32]
  • Social media as a tool for real estate agents [15:20]
  • The financial crisis compared to this correction [17:17]
  • About The McConnell Foundation and donating to causes that matter [18:33]
  • Restarting in real estate after major life challenges [22:18]
  • Advice on starting a non-profit foundation [26:53]
  • Advice for agents on giving five-star service to get referrals [27:29]
  • Jen’s favorite CRM: Follow-Up Boss [30:19]
  • The post-closing checklist: When to follow up with buyers [31:13]
  • Transitioning from paid leads to referrals [34:42]
  • Where to find and follow Jen McConnell [36:25]

Jen McConnell

Jen was fortunate enough to start her real estate career when she was a junior in college.  Now with over 17 years of experience in the industry, she has a particular expertise in luxury real estate and custom home building. She moved to Charleston in 2006 after receiving her B.A. in Marketing from Ashland University. In 2022 Jen was awarded the South Carolina Women in Business Award, and chosen as a Top 40 Under 40 Real Estate Agent in Charleston.  Jen has also been featured on Charleston Home Showcase & Lowcountry Live and has been featured in Charleston Real Producers Magazine, Charleston Style & Design Magazine, Southern Living Magazine, The Post & Courier, Charleston City Paper, Charleston Regional Business Journal, Charleston Daily, Greenville Business Journal, Columbia Business Journal and many others. She is a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist through the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing where she has been awarded the prestigious Million Dollar Guild award. Jen has also earned the coveted Realtor of Distinction Award achieving the highest rank possible as a Platinum Award winner through the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors. The Platinum Award places Jen in the Top 2% of agents in Charleston.

Jen is the Co-Founder of King Tide Investment Group and Blue Ocean Investments, both residential real estate investment companies based in Charleston, SC and Greenville, SC respectively. In 2021 Jen and her husband Josh opened their own brokerage on Isle of Palms and formed McConnell Real Estate Partners where she is the broker-in-charge.

Jen met her husband, Josh, in Charleston and was married at Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms in 2010. They now live on Isle of Palms and welcomed their daughter Bennett in 2016 and their son Bodhi in 2017. They have embraced all Charleston has to offer but most especially the outdoor living, the amazing restaurants and long summer days at the beach. The McConnell’s are avid Clemson Tigers, strong supporters of MUSC Children’s Hospital, the South Carolina Aquarium, Pet Helpers Adoption Center and are members of First United Methodist Church on Isle of Palms.

Jen prides herself on being persistent, utilizing her experience to always find the most advantageous terms for her clients, and providing unparalleled professionalism and expertise for her clients in each and every transaction. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or invest in real estate throughout the Charleston area, Jen would love to share her passion and market knowledge with you.

Related Links and Resources:

Thank You Rockstars!

It might go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: We really value listeners like you. We’re constantly working to improve the show, so why not leave us a review? If you love the content and can’t stand the thought of missing the nuggets our Rockstar guests share every week, please subscribe; it’ll get you instant access to our latest episodes and is the best way to support your favorite real estate podcast. Have questions? Suggestions? Want to say hi? Shoot me a message via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Email.

-Aaron Amuchastegui

Source: realestaterockstarsnetwork.com

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Apache is functioning normally

June 8, 2023 by Brett Tams

The unofficial start of summer is finally upon us, and not a moment too soon! School is (almost) out, the sun is high, and surf and sand are calling. Thoughts of your own little beach house might be very much on your mind, especially right now. But then reality intrudes: Who can afford that? Well, you could be surprised.

We found five ideal seaside dwellings that are remarkably well priced—all below a million dollars.

And one of the great things about most of these houses is that you can try before you buy. Most are available for short-term rental, and some come fully furnished.

Of course, this means that these well-appointed and perfectly located beachfront homes generate income, which can help with your house payments.

You can almost smell the salt air and hear the waves as you browse our list. Dive in!

Price: $949,000
Yachats rocks:
Directly overlooking the beach on the dramatic Oregon coast, this newly renovated, four-bedroom, three-bath home has everything you need for a stylish escape for a weekend, or for decades to come.

Located on a bluff above the ocean, the home features a short path to the beach. It’s about 1.5 hours from Corvallis and three hours from Portland.

Expansive windows and decks with built-in seating allow you sweeping vistas of the ocean. You can also take in the views from one of two primary suites. Everything feels freshly new and nautical inside this 2,034-square-foot seaside home.

Yachats, OR

(Realtor.com)


Price: $750,000
Cozy in Carrabelle:
What appears to be a quaint seaside cottage on stilts is actually a decent-size domain with three bedrooms and three baths. The acre lot comes with three outbuildings and covered parking for your car, boat, or RV.

You might never want to leave this retreat, with its beautiful tongue-and-groove ceilings and wood floors. Standout features include a loft bedroom, three sunrooms, and remarkable views of the private beach and Saint George Sound.

It’s located in the town of Carrabelle, which prides itself on being “Florida Panhandle’s Gateway to the Gulf” and is known for its off-shore fishing and sugar-white sand.

Carrabelle, FL

(Realtor.com)


Price: $999,000
Spend nights in Rodanthe:
Remember that Nicolas Sparks novel made into an iconic rom-com starring Diane Lane and Richard Gere, called “Nights in Rodanthe”? In this traditional-style, shingled beach house, you can write your own romance.

Or you could let others create some seaside drama, as this six-bedroom, 4.5-bath, 2,924-square-foot home has a heart-racing rental history—$124,000 so far, with $85,000 already on the books for 2023. Hatteras Island on the famous Outer Banks is a well-documented vacation paradise.

You and your guests will enjoy taking long walks on the beach, just steps outside the door, and sunrise views from the east-facing windows and decks. There are also plenty of places to snuggle—including a great room and several seating areas.

Rodanthe, NC

(Realtor.com)


Price: $750,000
Delightful on Dauphin Island:
This beach house supports itself, not just literally on the stilts that keep it above the high tides, but also financially with its vacation rental income ($125,000 as of 2022).

The four-bedroom, three-bath house sits on a sandy spit of Dauphin Island, which stretches from the Mississippi Sound to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a short walk across the sand from one body of water to the other.

This cottage is rustic chic on the outside and resort luxe on the inside. It features a comfortable main suite, a marble island and breakfast bar in the kitchen, and all-new bathrooms. It comes with all the furnishings, accessories, and artwork, so it’s totally turnkey.

Dauphin Island, AL

(Realtor.com)


Price: $579,000
Best beach buy:
South of Tallahassee on the Gulf of Mexico sits this three-bedroom, two-bath abode with direct access to the ocean and a terrific spot for fishing.

The elevated home comes with an outdoor shower and a sink below, so you can catch, clean, and cook without making a mess in the indoor kitchen.

The screened porch off the great room features remarkable views. Inside, there are vaulted ceilings and low-maintenance tile flooring. This is also a well-established vacation rental property, and all the furniture is included in the very reasonable asking price.

Realtor.comRealtor.com
Alligator Point, FL

(Realtor.com)

Source: realtor.com

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