Spend and save - Like the pendulum of your money that swings freely in your bank accounts. The balance is necessary and never-ending. So, today let's do something different and talk financial hacks...
Washingtonians - Did you know that your 67 percent more likely than all Americans to spend over $2,500 shopping online within the past year? Yes, you read that right!
It's seemingly more important than ever to save money and, being it's the first year of owning my own business, it's not as easy as it was before. Leaving my former employer meant no more 401K matching, no more steady salary and no more second income for this (newly) full-time blogger. All of those changes left me to balance a tighter budget, but the show of life must go on right? So, it was time to get creative!
My friends over at Capital One recently teamed with Digital Lifestyle Expert Katie Linendoll in an effort to develop some more "offbeat" and non-traditional ways save money. I found them to be super relevant to my lifestyle and helpful when it comes to saving both time and money. They say, it really starts with digitizing your life by utilizing the latest technology to help. Read on below for some of my favorite financial hacks from Katie & Capital One that any small business owner, entrepreneur, fashion blogger, shop-a-holic, millennial, or, really anyone, can use:
1) Trade in your old tech for cash - Katie says there are many internet trade-in sites and retail stores that will pay you for your old phones and tablets that you have lying around. Decluttering and making money at the same time is always a win in my book!
2) Take Control - Enroll in a bank that offers digital solutions and services, like Capital One's Mobile Check Deposit. Being able to make deposits from anywhere saves you the time it takes to drive to the bank, but also gives you instant access to your funds.
3) Cut The Cord - Switching from a cable television subscription to a media streaming subscription, like Netflix, can save you up to $1,000 a year. If you're not ready to pull the plug, my advice is to at least try it during the warmer months. If you're like me, you're traveling and spending more time outdoors during the summertime. You won't miss it as much during that time and it's an quick way to save a few hundred bucks.
Over the past few months I've also come up my own ways to better manage my finances. Everyone's situation is different, but here are the ones that I've found have worked the best for me personally:
1) The Mint App - I can connect all of my bank accounts and credits cards in one place and track my spending in Mint. Mint will also separate your transactions by category, making it easy to see where you are spending the most and maybe need to cut back.
2) Automatic Bill Pay - It's so important to enroll in auto-pay so that you aren't wasting money on late fees. Choosing a bank that offers this service, like Capital One's Online Bill pay, is crucial for anyone who is as forgetful as me.
3) Out with the old! - When I buy something new, I try to get rid of something old. Doing this not only helps me live a more organized life, but also is an easy way to make money! Whether you're visiting a local consignment shop (I love Current Boutique), or using an online app like Poshmark, you can make hundreds of dollars selling unwanted/unused items. Whatever doesn't sell, you can then donate and use as a write-off on your taxes.
If you have any cool financial hacks that you'd like to share, leave them in the comments below! Or, join in on the conversation with me, @CapitalOne, and @KatieLinendoll on social media!
Special thanks to Capital One for partnering with us on this post.
All photos by Julien
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