After graduating in $50k with student loans in May 2008 from Virginia Military Institute with a B.A. International Studies and Political Science with a minor in Spanish (I studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain for 3 months), Josh decided to sell his soul for seven years by working in the transportation industry to get out of debt ASAP and focus on doing something else with a better work-life balance.
He is a father of three and has been writing about (almost) everything personal finance since 2015. You can also find him at his own blog Money Buffalo where he shares his personal experience of becoming debt-free (twice) and taking a 50%+ pay cut when he changed careers.
Today, Josh relishes the flexibility of being self-employed and debt-free and encourages others to pursue their dreams. Josh enjoys spending his free time reading books and spending time with his wife and three children.
Rakuten can be a consistent way to save money as you can earn cash back on many online purchases. The service makes it easy to redeem your rewards balance as cash or gift cards with a balance as low as $5.01.
There are several investment apps you can use for investing a few dollars at a time. Three of the most popular platforms for new and experienced investors are Acorns, Robinhood, and Stash. Each service has different investment options and account amenities. This comparison of these popular micro-investing apps can help you choose the best platform for your investing goals and personal preferences.
Gabi makes it easy to compare home and auto insurance rates with your existing coverage with legit insurance carriers. It looks at your current policy and provides quotes on insurance that offers the same levels of protection.
TaxSlayer offers low cost, online tax prep. Their free version isn't as comprehensive as other platforms, for example it doesn't support dependents. However, their paid plans are less expensive than their competitors.
Getting in an accident is scary, even if it's a minor fender bender. First things first, make sure everyone is all right and call 911. Then record the details of the accident and call your insurance company when things are more settled.
While Fundrise is a legit platform for real estate investing, several Fundrise alternatives, such as RealtyMogul, DiversyFund, Streitwise, Roofstockm Groundfloor, Crowdstreet, Peerstreet, AcreTrader and EquityMultiple may be a better fit for your investment strategy.
Ever wonder how the rich and famous spend their money? Lots of celebrities donate huge amounts to charity. Here are some of the charities they've started or support.
Donor-advised funds are perfect for those who give regularly to charities but not enough to take advantage of itemizing their deductions. These funds allow you to group many year's worth of donations into one year to optimize your tax deductions.
While there are a few scenarios that allow you to skip filing a return, it's usually a good idea to file even if you don't have to. Filing allows you to receive a refund, if you over paid your taxes and makes you eligible for any assistance you may qualify for.
H&R Block and TurboTax are both leaders in the tax prep industry and for good reason. Both offer online filing and live tax assistance -- for about the same price. So which is better for you?
H&R Block has been doing taxes since 1955 and has 60,000 tax pros with an average of 10 years of experience. With their many service levels from complete DIY to online assist to fully in-person with a tax pro, you can be sure you are getting exactly what you need without overpaying.
Mvelopes takes the envelope budgeting system digital. If you like the idea of the envelope budget but don't want to carry so much cash Mvelopes may be the answer. With three pricing tiers, you get unlimited envelopes and account syncing, online courses, and a dedicated financial coach.
