If you’re among the 50% of Americans who pay $1,000 or more per month in rent, chances are, you’re doing pretty well financially, but may be thinking “there’s got to be more I can do to get ahead.” Good news: these 5 ideas can quickly have you earning more, saving more, and getting ahead faster than you thought possible.
1. Ditch the debt
While your digs may be nice, you may still have some credit card debt hanging around. And we all know the interest rates can crush you, so getting the debt paid off quickly is key.
Check out AmOne, a company we found that will pay off your entire credit card bill this month.
If you owe $50,000 or less, AmOne can help connect you with a low-interest loan to pay off all of the high-interest credit card debt, and replace it with one simple payment per month. And since personal loans have lower interest rates than credit cards, you’ll get out of debt that much faster.
It’s quick, free, and easy to see if you qualify- check here.
Getting out of debt sooner will help you save more, invest more, and get you set up in an even nicer place than you are now.
2. Get more money
Getting more money has never been easier. This debit card- featuring $0 monthly fee and 55,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide- gives you cash back with all purchases. Boom, money in your pocket.
By using the Aspiration debit card for everyday purchases like groceries and gasoline, you’ll not only earn up to 10% cash back- helllooooo, free money- when shopping at stores with a cause (including cool brands like TOMS and Warby Parker), but also help make the world a greener place.
Round up to the next dollar and use your change for change- Aspiration will plant a tree.
Earn more green while helping to make the planet a greener place? Count us in.
Related: 15 Super-Simple Ways to Put Extra Cash in Your Pocket
3. You’ve got a great place… now work there!
With rent north of $1,000/mo, chances are your place is pretty nice. But it’s a drag you still have to spend most of the day at work. Wouldn’t it be great if you could not only work from home, but also earn more money?
Consider starting your own business where you can work from home, set your own hours, and make nearly $70/hour- become a bookkeeper.
While it may sound like you’ll need to go to school for years or be a calculus whiz, neither is the case.
For organized, motivated people looking for a new career path, financial stability, and the ability to work remotely, the online courses at Bookkeepers.com can teach you not only how to do the work of being a bookkeeper, but also how to effectively- and efficiently- run your new business… in just a few months!
4. Keep your stuff safe for 50 cents a day
Now that you’ve worked so hard to have a great place, you certainly want to make sure you protect everything you own from theft, a flood, fire, or other natural disaster.
Many people don’t realize that even if you rent your place (vs own) it’s really, really important to have insurance for your place. Renter’s insurance is surprisingly affordable- as little as $15/month- and would help you replace everything if a burglar stole your laptop and TV or a fire ruined your clothes and furniture.
If you don’t think you have enough stuff that you need insurance, look around and imagine how much it would cost to re-buy everything you own. Definitely more than $15.
Check to see how much it will cost you here. No phone calls, no long, drawn out application processes, just 10 minutes to find how easy it’ll be to protect your stuff.
Related: Do I Really Need Renters’ Insurance?
5. Add up to 300 points on your credit score
Since you’re finally in a nice place, you may not be thinking about your next steps. But when it’s finally time to buy a house, car, or other major purchase having a strong credit score is key.
But where to start? How do you know if your score is good or bad? Going up or down? Why?
Your credit score affects so many elements of your life- from what your credit card limit is, to your car payment, and even if you get the apartment you love- but the majority of Americans have no idea about their credit score.
The team at Credit Sesame has you covered. They’ll help you protect your financial standing, find the best home loan, keep tabs on your credit score, and more. The site will even give you tips on how to quickly increase your credit score.
They’ll also help you with free identity theft protection, free credit monitoring, and provide you with a free credit report card. We like free.
In less than 2 minutes, you can get a free Credit Sesame account and find out what your credit score is and how to improve it.
