Top Buy-To-Let Mortgage Deals

Mortgage rates are still at historic lows, making it a great time to grab a deal and invest in buy-to-let. To help you find the right deal for you, we’ve asked seasoned landlord and property guru, Richard Blanco, for his advice on the best buy-to-let mortgage deals:

“Buy to let rates continue to be at a historical low.  At 60% loan to value, Virgin Money are offering a 2 year fix at 1.59%.  At 65% loan to value, The Mortgage Works has a 2 year fix at 1.84% and their 75% loan to value products are also best buys with rates of 2.09% for a 2 year tracker and 2.64% for a 5 year fix.  All of these products have a £1995 fee which is common now for the lowest rates. 

Mortgage Deals

The Mortgage Works does not set a minimum income level but Virgin Money requires income of at least £25,000.  All buy to let mortgages are assessed according to the rental income generated by the property and you will need a high credit score. Note that we are seeing a restructuring in criteria since Bank of England regulation of mortgages began on 1 January 2017. Lenders must now use a stress test rate of 5.5% unless the product is a 5 year fix.  Some lenders are also applying 145% mortgage coverage.  So that means that the mortgage will be assessed not at these low pay rates of 1.59% etc.  Instead the borrower will have to show the rent covers 145% of the mortgage payment at a rate of 5.5%.  Fortunately some lenders are still using the 125% calculation, but be aware that this may now depend on your tax status.  This is because lenders have to be mindful that after 6 April 2017, mortgage interest will no longer be fully set against tax and therefore landlords paying 40% tax rates will have higher costs.

For landlords considering buying through a limited company, mortgage rates have come down a little.  Norwich & Peterborough offer a tracker rate of 3.24% at 75% loan to value with a 1.25% fee.  Anybody thinking of buying through a limited company instead of personally should consider whether paying a rate of 3.24% instead of 2.09% is cost effective.  It may make more sense to buy the property personally and just pay a higher tax bill.

Most commentators think that Bank of England interest rates will be stable for at least a year and when they start to rise will do so only gradually, so personally I see no reason to be anxious about the future direction of rates in the immediate future.  Ultra-cautious investors can of course opt for 5 year fixed rates, some may be forced to because of the new criteria brought in as a result of Bank of England regulation - and 5 year fixes are indeed at a historical low.  I tend to stick to cheaper 2 year products – but you should always get independent financial advice.”

If you’re thinking of investing in property in London, or renting out your property, try Airbnb management London, Portico Host.

Smart Tips to Improve Your Skills of Money Management

It takes time to learn the skills of managing money but once you get to know it and master it, it can really pay off in the near future. Not only will it let you stay on top of your bills but also save an extra dollar which you can use later on to pay off debts. Even if you don’t use them for paying off delinquent accounts, you can use them towards your pension or spend them on your next vacation. Whichever way it is, you should know some of the top tips to manage your money and spend them in a manner which doesn’t force you to go broke in the long term. We share a few money management tips with you so that you can use them in your daily life.

Money Management

Setting up a frugal budget

The foremost step to take control of your finances is by preparing a budget and sticking to it. Here are few good steps to get a quick snapshot of how much money is coming in and how much is going out. When you formulate a budget, this means you’re:
  • Less probable to end up in accumulating debt
  • Less likely to accrue any kind of unpredicted expenses
  • More likely to obtain a flawless credit rating
  • More likely to be loved by all lenders and given loans at favorable rates
  • Capable of spotting the places where you can make some savings

In order to get your budget started, you have to work out how much amount you can spend on your living costs, household bills, fiscal products, travel expenses, holiday costs and in buying presents for your friends and family.

Get your budget back on the right track in case you overdo it

If you think you’re spending more amount than what is coming in, you have to sit down and work out where you can cut back on your expenses. This could possibly be an effortless task like preparing lunch at home. You also require keeping a spending diary and maintaining a note of everything that you purchase in a month. If you’re someone who spends maximum amount on credit or debit card, you should maintain your receipts to keep a track of where your money is going.

Trimming down on your mortgage and household bills

For many, household bills form a large chunk of money which you’re spending but there’s good news for such people as there are easy ways in which you can cut down on your household costs. If you shop around for a mortgage loan among many lenders, you can grab the lowest and the best competitive rate and save money. Similarly, if you can grab some worthy discounts while shopping for household items, there too you can save your dollars

Pay off your credit card bills as soon as possible

In case you have loans or you owe hefty amounts on your credit cards, it makes sense to repay debt which charges the highest interest rate. Store cards usually carry outrageously high rates and hence should be taken care of first. If you also owe cash advance loans from payday loans rock hill SC, they should be repaid on time to avoid debt. It is vital to know that you shouldn’t break the terms and conditions of the agreements with the credit card companies.

Therefore, if you wish to manage your money and stay on top of your finances follow the above mentioned points and keep a tab on your expenses. 

Do the Credit Card Offers You Receive Reflect Your Personality?

As competition increases, card companies use technically developed and unique ways to attract new customers.  A commonly used technique is to send emails to prospective customers detailing the latest card-related offers.

Recently, MIT economists studied over a million of credit card mailings and revealed some interesting facts. They analyzed the offers in the emails sent to prospective customers and studied the education and income of the various recipients.

Credit Card Offers

Here are two important findings of this analysis:

1.Offers received by high-income individuals

Most credit card companies send emails to affluent people offering mileage, reward points, and cash back offers. Such cards cater to the educated and wealthy customers. Individuals in this demographic category often spend more on their cards. Furthermore, they are more likely to travel frequently and appreciate earning mileage on their cards. Such products also include other attractive features to solicit new customers. Although these cards may levy a higher rate of interest, the late payment fees are lower than other financial products. This is because card companies prefer to earn more profits through higher usage instead of levying more fees for occasional late payments.

2.Offers received by  low-income individuals

Credit card offers for this category primarily focus on providing lower annual percentage rate (APR) during the introductory period. However, the cards often incur higher late payment fees and penalty finance charges in the case of delay in bill payment. Moreover, the regular APR at the end of the introductory period is higher because the users in this category have lower credit.

Card companies earn profits in three ways. They collect merchant fees when users swipe their cards for purchases. In addition, the companies earn interest on the balance. Lastly, they levy finance charges and late payment fees in case of delays or if the users exceed their available card limit.

Some unscrupulous card companies may try to take advantage of customers who do not fully understand rates of interest and penalties. The companies may offer lower introductory APR and earn more when the card users are unable to follow the terms and conditions. However, this may be possible only when the users do not have sound financial knowledge.

Fortunately, most people today are knowledgeable and ensure their finances are managed properly. Furthermore, card companies face strong competition and offer simple products with no hidden terms and conditions or fees and charges. Moreover, cardholders may easily move to another card service provider if they face any trouble with their existing company. This prevents card companies from making offers that may turn the users away from their products.

Since card companies offer products catered to people based on their demographic profile it is important that individuals spend some time in conducting extensive research. There are several online blogs, forums, and other resources providing beneficial information to prospective card users. Reading this information and understanding how credit cards work before applying for one is highly advisable. Most individuals want to maximize the benefits through the best offers on their cards. However, they must nor rush into their decision and take the time to research all the options that are available.

Make It Count: Cash-Flow Investments That Are Worth Making Today

Good personal finance is more than just about managing expenses. Sure, you can take active steps towards optimizing your expenses and saving more. You can also eliminate unnecessary expenses and boost the amount of money you can save every month. But saving money is just one half of the equation.

The next half is investing. You want your money to do all the hard work and making healthy returns on a regular basis. There are a number of things you can do to invest, but in this part we are going to focus on the cash-flow investments that are worth making today.

Invest in a Business

Nothing feels better than having a healthy cash flow. You don’t have to worry about timing your expenses or not having enough money to pay your bills when your cash flow is healthy. Aside from a regular salary, one of the best ways to generate cash flow is by investing in a business.

Retail businesses tend to work best for generating a healthy cash flow. Focus on fast-moving items that consumers regularly use and you will be able to grow the business steadily. Once you reach a certain point, you can even choose to leave your job and run the business full-time.

Cash-Flow Investments

Other business opportunities work for this purpose, too. Restaurants, coffee shops and online businesses can be equally profitable. The latter even allows you to start your own business without worrying about large overhead costs and huge initial investments.

Try to find a niche or a market segment that you can fill. If you’re thinking about opening a coffee shop, for example, you can tweak the concept so that the shop also acts as a co-working space and a virtual office. By doing so you’re simply adding more sources of regular income to the business.

Invest in Education

Another great way to strengthen your cash flow is by increasing your income. There is no better time to pursue a promotion than today, since companies are growing with the market and new jobs are being created by the day. There are a lot of management-level jobs available too.

If you want to give your career a push forward, consider investing in education. Thanks to the wonders of the internet and top names such as Rutgers University making their online courses more accessible, it is now easy to pursue a master of science or a masters in business administration degree online.

The AACSB online MBA program is a good example of how online education can help boost your career. The course can be completed in as little as 12 months and you will get an accredited degree at the end of the program.

Invest in Buy-to-Let Properties

Lastly, we have the property market. If you have accumulated enough savings, an investment in the property market is actually a lucrative opportunity to explore. Invest in properties that you can rent out to tenants and you will have steady streams of cash flow in an instant.

We now have great buy-to-let mortgage loans and other financing options on the market. There are also still a lot of properties being sold at bargain prices. Be smart with your property investments and you will soon be able to invest in more properties just from the income you’re making in this sector.

All of these investment opportunities are great sources of cash flow for your estate. The more investments you make, the stronger your personal finance will be and the more you will be able to invest in the future. 

Beginner Trader: Things to Sidestep when Learning to Invest on the Global Financial Markets

“Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.” – Rodgers & Hammerstein

Every one of us has to start at the beginning whenever we need to master a new skill. It is not a weakness. It is a fact of life. The same goes for learning how to invest in the global financial markets? Everyone has to start somewhere and, I believe, it’s a good idea to learn from other people’s mistakes. In this way, we bend the learning curve more in our own interest.  

Definitions: Investing and Global Financial Markets

It is important to have a clear understanding of the terminology for the topic that we are discussing. For example, how can we discuss investing in the global financial markets when we don’t even know what these terms mean? 

According to Investopedia, "Investing is the act of committing money or capital to an endeavour… with the expectation of obtaining an additional income or profit. Investing also can include the amount of time you put into the study of a prospective company, especially since time is money.”

trading

A financial market, on the other hand, is ‘’a market in which people trade financial securities, commodities, and other fungible items of value at low transaction costs and at prices that reflect supply and demand. Securities include stocks and bonds, and commodities include precious metals or agricultural products’’. The term "market" is sometimes used for what are more strictly exchanges, organizations that facilitate the trade in financial securities, e.g., a stock exchange or commodity exchange. Thus, global financial markets refer to all of the financial markets, or stock exchanges situated around the world. 

Please note,  “trading” and “investing” are synonymous in this context. 

Online trading instruments and brokers

There are many different ways to trade/invest in the global financial markets. Some of the more popular ways include: Forex trading, options trading, the buying and selling of shares, and CFDs (Contracts for Difference). 

There are also a large number of online trading brokerages available for you to sign up with and each broker offers one or more of the aforementioned trading instruments. It's important to partner with a reputable firm that provides adequate online tools. Stern binary options trading is a registered binary options trading broker who offers more than just a way for you to trade online. Amongst other perks, they offer a comprehensive education centre which includes a binary options trading academy with a fully comprehensive approach to training you that is free-to-use, and analytical software which you don’t need to download and install on your computer. In a nutshell, the more comprehensive the education centre, the easier your learning curve will be, and you will move quickly up the trading ranks, eventually, ending up as an advanced investor. 

Things to avoid as a beginner trader

Here are a few things to avoid or sidestep when learning the art of online trading: 
  • Do not make impulsive trades: Do not make impetuous trades just because you heard on social media (or another source) that a certain asset is going to make a lot of money. This is one of the quickest ways to lose substantial amounts of money, if not your entire investment. It’s vital to thoroughly research the price movements for the asset you want to trade on. If you are uncertain about something, contact the account manager allocated to you by the broker. 
  • Do not trade on emotions: One of the most important lessons that we all have to learn at some stage of our online trading careers, is not to make emotional, knee-jerk trades. Do not “go with your gut.” Once you have decided which trades to make, stick to them. As with the previous point, don’t make any trades without researching the underlying asset thoroughly. Don’t pay attention to hearsay unless it comes from a proper qualified source. 
  • Avoid get rich quick schemes: There are many get rich quick schemes available on the internet today. It would seem that the worse the global economy becomes, the more there are of these schemes – at least, that is just my impression. There is never any ‘easy money’. If something sounds too good to be true, stay away from it. 
  • Never assume you know everything: Learning to trade successfully is a life-long journey. There is always something new to be learned. You might have found a way to trade successfully in today’s economic climate; however, you might need to learn new trading skills for tomorrow’s economic climate. 
Final words

I believe the following words are pertinent to the art and science of online share trading: “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but in seeing with new eyes.” – Marcel Proust. Learning to trade and continue investing successfully on the world’s financial market means becoming wise from a lifetime learning curve with predictable and unpredictable twist and turns along the way. There is no avoiding this. So seek the guidance of experts like www.sternoptions.com.

How to Start a Non-Profit Organization

Communities across the world are dependent on non-profit organizations for support. Creating a non-profit organization is extremely admirable; however, you should be aware that starting out can be challenging.

Have a Mission

You will probably have an idea about your non-profit’s mission already; however, you must come up with an effective plan that identifies each step your organization must take, its fundraising projections and how you intend to achieve your goal.

Non-Profit Organization

You must also find volunteers who share the same vision and will support your organization to the hilt to ensure its success. Non-profit organizations are dependent on kind-hearted individuals who are willing to provide their time, expertise and efforts to improve a community, so it is up to you to find like-mined people to build a solid foundation for your organization.

Consult a Professional

Non-profit organizations are required to adhere to various legal requirements, because your operations are dependent on charitable donations. It is therefore vital you consult an experienced advisor to ensure your organization is legally compliant, so seek advice from an attorney, accountant or a professional who is familiar with charitable operations and/or tax-exempt law.

Know Your Niche

There is a difference between wanting to help and being able to help a community. You must be familiar with your industry before you even think about launching a non-profit. For example, if you want to launch a non-profit hospital, you would have to learn about the legal practicalities, medical requirements of a hospital and whether there is a local or national demand for various medical procedures.

Build a Board

A non-profit organization will require board members who steer the direction of the operations, providing team members with foresight and insight, whilst deciding on hiring the talented individuals who will help take the organization into the future, such as CEO or executive director. Board members will also be required to actively fundraise for the non-profit, from launching fantastic fundraising events to encouraging large and small-scale donations.

Register with Legal Entities

Fortunately, a non-profit organization is exempt from paying tax, but that doesn’t mean an organization doesn’t have its fair share of paperwork. Your organization must apply for a tax-exempt status from the IRS, as well as your state’s tax division, so you can simply invest all your donations back into the community.

Start Fundraising

Once you have the required licences in place, you can start fundraising. You can choose to fundraise by holding large-scale events, such as sporting challenge or dinner party, or taking to the streets or social media communities to share your mission in the hope of public donations.

Building an online presence is also a great way to encourage engagement with people who care about the community. You can therefore incorporate a payment solution on your website so people can donate at their leisure. Payment Savvy can help integrate donation and electronic payment systems to help your organization reach the next level, which can include online donations to mobile text payments.

Fun Ways to Make Money While Studying a Nursing Degree

We are all aware that university is exceptionally expensive. Many students look to make extra money while they study, to try and help avoid debt, or just to fund their student lifestyle. However, working while studying can be dangerous. You don’t want to commit to too many hours, or spend time doing something stressful or time consuming which could affect your studies. So why not try and find a fun way to make some extra cash, and relieve some stress at the same time?

Blogging

Blogging can be a great way to make some extra money. It can take some effort to get going, so consider relating your blog to your studies to make it easier. For those studying a healthcare degree, healthcare blogs can be incredibly successful. Consider offering a paid members area to make money, or offer careers advice to fellow students and professionals. Talk about the difference between nurse practitioner and doctor, advise people on what might be best for them, and even have some fun with the nurse vs doctor theme. Other ways to make money from a blog include advertising and affiliate marketing.

Make Money While Studying a Nursing Degree

Reviewing Music

There are many sites which offer you money to review music and share your opinions. While it won’t make you a fortune, it’s an easy way to make some extra money, and get to hear some new music before anyone else. 

Market Research

Becoming a secret shopper can be really good fun. You’ll get to try new products, restaurants, bars and shops, sometimes with friends. You won’t earn a lot, but you normally get reimbursed for what you spend, so you could save a lot on shopping and meals out.

Product Testing

As with secret shopping, many companies pay people to test and review new products. You often get to keep the products too.

Be a Hangover Buddy

There is nothing worse than being hungover, and having to get up and do things. Hangover buddies are paid to make the experience more manageable. You’ll go around in the morning, get the client up, fetch them breakfast, and generally help and motivate them in any way they need. It’s an easy way to make money, meet new people, and feel better about yourself.

Tour Guide

If you live in a larger city, or particular tourist hotspot, find work, either for a company, or freelancing, as a tour guide. Research some routes and find places of interest. You’ll need to really know your stuff, so if you don’t already, get learning about your town. Consider asking others where they would take people to get some ideas. Points of historical interest are always popular.

Answer Questions

If you have an extensive general knowledge, this could be the one for you. You’ll get paid to answer questions via chat, text or email. There are a few companies that offer this service, and pay about 15cents per question answered.

These are just a few of the options available to you. Try a few and see which you enjoy, who knows, it might even turn into a lucrative career one day.

7 Beneficial Tips to Maintain Your Modern Homes

So, you’ve got yourself a nice, beautiful, and most importantly, modern home. But you’re wondering to yourself: “How am I possibly going to keep this place clean and maintained so it looks as good as new?”

Well, this article has everything you could ever need to know about maintaining your modern home. No matter whether you’re looking for tips for when to do laundry in St. Louis, the best time to do dishes in DC, or Las Vegas AC repair, we’ve got you covered with these beneficial tips. 

1.Create A “Landing Strip” For All the Incoming Items as You Walk in The Door.

The first tip we have when you’re trying to maintain your home is at the front door. We all know the front door can be a pretty chaotic zone, especially when you have children in the family. Jackets come flying off and land randomly on the floor. Shoes get thrown across the hallway. And then you’ve got a huge mess on your hands.

Modern Homes

Try to create a “landing strip” for all of these items as you come through the door. Doing some DIY coat racks behind the front door is a great way to keep everything out of site and easy to access. Or a simple shoe rack for the kids to put their messy shoes on. 

2.Dishes Should Be Washed Right After the Meal. Period.

Doing the dishes is one of the worst chores out there. Absolutely no one wants to do them, but when they pile up, it can be pretty messy and disgusting. That’s why there should be a rule in your home that dishes are automatically washed or put in the dishwasher after every meal. This will ensure that you’re not left with a pile of dishes at the end of the week because no one bothered to handle them. 

3.Don’t Wait Until the End of The Week to Do Laundry.

You should be doing your laundry continuously throughout the week so you don’t end up with a big pile of smelly clothes in your laundry room that absolutely ruins your weekend. Try to pick two or three days out of the week to run a load of clothes and you’ll find yourself a lot less frustrated when it comes to this chore. 

4.Time Yourself When You’re Cleaning. 

Chores shouldn’t take that long. No matter what it is you’re cleaning, you shouldn’t be spending too much time on it because that just takes away from the rest of your day. 

Next time you’re doing chores, try to time yourself for 20 seconds per chore in order to make the most out of your time. You’ll also be able to get a lot more chores done and your home will thank you for it! 

5.Ensure You’re Using All of Your Storage Space to Keep the Clutter Away.

Clutter is one of the worst things that can happen to your modern home, so make sure you are utilizing all of the extra storage space you have to keep it out of sight and out of mind. Under the stairs, in that extra closest, or in the garage – wherever you put it, make sure your guests won’t be able to get a whiff of the mess. 

6.Take Cleaning Breaks While the Commercials Are On. 

If you’re a person who likes to watch TV, a good idea for keeping a clean house is to take cleaning breaks while those commercials come on. You surely don’t enjoy sitting through tons of commercials, so this is a fantastic way to get moving and get your home a bit more sparkling. 

7.Make Sure the Rest of Your Household Is on Board.

Your house isn’t going to be maintained and kept clean without your entire household on board. Make sure that everyone in the house is aware of the new rules and how to keep a clean environment, especially the kids! Consider making a schedule of who does the chores and when. 

And there you have it. All of the tips you need to make sure your house is cleaned and maintained regularly. Now, get to work!

Why Ongoing Learning Will Keep You Financially Healthy

Do you continually update your skillset or have you given up on learning altogether? If you have given up on learning, this could be affecting you financially in many ways you may not even be aware of. However, if you always want to learn new things, you put yourself in a much better financial position. Below are some ways ongoing learning will keep you financially healthy.

You Are Recognized as an Expert

If you're an expert in your industry or niche, employers and business associates will treat you with more respect and are usually willing to pay an expert more money for their services and access to their knowledge. For instance, if you complete an online doctor of education in higher education leadership course, this qualification will automatically transform your career and allow you to work at a higher level in a wide range of educational institutions.

Why Ongoing Learning Will Keep You Financially Healthy

Without this online doctor of education qualification, these doors would not be opened to you. Once you have a recognized qualification and you continue to learn, the lifetime earnings you can generate are usually much higher than someone who does not have a qualification or has given up on education altogether.

You Build Up Valuable Relationships

In most cases, the more courses you complete, the more chance you have of meeting and building friendships with influential people in your niche or industry. These contacts can be extremely valuable, especially if you run a business or want to change your job at a future date, because these potential business partners or employers already know you and trust you.

You Are More Likely to Avoid Scams

The more you know about a certain industry, the more you are aware of all the scams and illegal activities that take place. Once you have this understanding, you can avoid being tricked out of your money or even worse.

You Are Aware of More Financial Opportunities

If you have your finger on the pulse and you keep up-to-date with the latest developments in your industry, you are in a much better position to take advantage of any financial opportunities that come your way. For instance, if the industry you work in changes on a regular basis, you can capitalize on these future changes by learning new skills that will be in-demand in the future.

You Are More Likely to Make Better Financial Decisions

'Knowledge is power' and the more you learn, the better your financial decisions become. You learn to deal with money in a smarter way. This includes saving more of your money, making wiser investment decisions and not taking any unnecessary risks that could affect your financial future. 

Everyone should set aside some time to learn new skills and increase their knowledge. Unfortunately, most people are either too busy or too lazy to do this and wonder why they have money problems. However, if you do make this important change in your life, you will start to see the financial benefits of taking this action over time.

Top Financial Benefits of Taking an Online Course

Do you want to start a new online course? Today’s students have many more opportunities to further their education than previous generations of people who wanted to expand their knowledge and develop new skills. More courses than ever are now available online and there are many good financial reasons to study over the internet. Below are some of the top financial benefits of taking an online course.

You Spend Less Money on Your Education

Until recently, completing a degree or other course was expensive and it was not always suitable for a wide range of students. Previously, course fees, course materials and a wide range of other study-related expenses often prevented people from starting one of these courses. However, if you enroll in an MSA degree online course or similar course, the fees cost less and you avoid many of these expenses.

Taking an Online Course

It's Easier to Combine Work with Your Studies

If money is tight, it’s important for some students to be able to make money while they study and continue to learn new things. In other situations, you may have a full-time job and want to study at the same time. The time you save by studying for an online MSA degree or similar course, gives you enough time to work and make money, as well as study.

You Have Better Job Opportunities Once You Graduate

Studying is a means to an end and the financial rewards you get after you graduate from the course can be substantial. More and more prestigious colleges and universities are offering online versions of their courses. These are accredited, high quality courses that are recognized by employers all over the world. With one of these online qualifications, you will be more likely to get paid more and have more favorable working terms and conditions.

Business Owners Can Run Their Business More Effectively

If you’re a business owner and you complete an online course, your business can benefit in many ways. Typical skills you can improve include planning, forecasting, organization and communication skills, which are all skills that can make your business more efficient and profitable. 
The online nature of these courses also means you don’t have to sacrifice as much of your valuable time studying and spending time attending lectures. Instead, you can spend this time working in your company.

Completing an Online Course Creates Many More Financial Opportunities

Individuals and business owners alike have the potential to increase their working, business and social networks while they are studying online. This includes people from all over the world who are from diverse backgrounds, which would be almost impossible to do in the offline world. Developing these new online relationships could eventually lead to lucrative job opportunities or new business opportunities. 

The internet has changed the way people learn and more courses than ever can be completed online. This huge change makes it much more affordable for students to further their education and take advantage of opportunities that would not have been available to them a few short years ago.

Small Ways To Pocket Cash

Almost everyone wants to have a little more cash in their pockets. As we all know, expenses often arrive when you don't expect them - and always at the least convenient moment. No matter how carefully you plan your budget, money can run short. So, we have some simple ways for you to help pocket extra cash.

Mystery Shopping

Mystery shopping is a fun activity that requires little effort and can bring extra cash. Many companies will ask you to sign up and start right a way which is great since you get money once your job has been verified.

Small Ways To Pocket Cash

Join a Focus Group

Companies need your feedback on products and want you to share your thoughts with others. They are also willing to pay for it. Often it is done with the help of focus groups, and they pay people for their time spent in a group.

Enter Contests and Sweepstakes

This is not conventional, but many people make money from sweepstakes. There are forums where you can connect with sweepstakes professionals and sites that allow you to participate in sweeps.

Become a Tutor

You made it through many years of grammar, geometry and physics. As a tutor, you can get extra cash for the knowledge you are willing to share. Local schools could be a good place to start. Otherwise, you can find online offers.

Sell Old Items on eBay and Craigslist

If you have old junk that you don't need, eBay is a place for you. List your items and get the money! You can also search Craigslist and eBay for cool, underpriced items. Buy them and then sell for a higher price. This is especially profitable with computers and devices that many people are desperate to get rid of.

The same is true for the exercise equipment. eBay always pulls bidders into frenzy at the end of the auction so if you can buy a cheap item on Craiglist and sell it on eBay, you can make a profit.

Sell Gift Cards

There is a marketplace where you can sell gift cards for cash. You choose the price and people buy it. Brand doesn't matter, and you get money when the gift card sells. Choosing the selling price takes less than a minute and then you will have your card featured in front of savvy shoppers.

Online Gambling

One of the simplest ways to get more cash in your pocket is online gambling. It always comes with risks but if you have a strategy and can see several steps ahead, it can significantly boost your income. Before you start gambling, research online to find the best strategies that professionals use to make living from gambling. Once you have defined the strategy, give yourself rules such as betting only if you can afford to lose.

Find Some Gigs Online

If you have free time, you can check sites where you bid for work that may include weeding gardens and running errands. You can also enter bits of data. This work is pretty simple and you will pocket a little bit more cash.

Participate in Surveys for Cash

If you can't spend hours in a focus group, you could spend 20 minutes filling out online surveys. Be careful when choosing a site since there are plenty of survey scams on the web. To help you get started, there is a proven survey company that many people use to earn more cash.

Conclusion

Getting extra cash is much easier that you might think especially if you put some thought into where your skills will be the most profitable.