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The 7 Biggest Money Secrets Ultra-Rich People Keep From The Rest of Us.

I’m a massive savings/investing nerd, and as such, I spend a lot of my time talking to people about their money habits.

And, spoiler alert: the ultra-wealthy tend to do things way differently than the rest of us.

When you have access to lots of capital, you also tend to get access to the best financial advice: including secret techniques that very few Americans know about.

In my experience, here are the 7 secrets ultra-rich families use to grow their wealth (and cut down on expenses).

(Note: this page contains affiliate links)

Secret #1. They use savings accounts that pay up to 10x more interest than average.

If you’re like the average American, your savings account pays you virtually zero interest (typically under 0.3% a year, in my experience).

Believe it or not, plenty of banks are willing to offer 10x that rate. PNC, for example, has an account that pays a whopping 4%/year right now (with no minimums).

(E.g. if you store $100k in a 4% interest savings account today, in a year you’ll have netted $4,000 from interest alone)

PNC doesn’t have minimum deposits or monthly service charges, so they’re a good option to consider (link is below):

Secret #2. They pay way less when shopping online.

You might be surprised how often you’re overpaying on Amazon and elsewhere.

Big stores like Amazon know that no one has time to price shop through dozens of sites, so there’s often no incentive for them to offer bargain prices.

I typically hate browser extensions with a fiery passion, but if you don’t have Capital One Shopping installed yet, do yourself a favor and grab it.

When you shop online (on Amazon or elsewhere) it will:

  1. Auto-apply coupon codes for you to save you money
  2. Compare prices from other sellers to make sure you’re not missing out on a better deal

It’s saved me a ton of money more than once. Here’s a quick example:

Savings will vary, this is just an example, of course.

That same exact blender was $26 cheaper at another store (with 2 day shipping) when I shopped.

Here’s a link to install Capital One Shopping, if you’re interested.

Secret #3: They save $410+/year on car insurance.

The average American family still overspends by up to $417/year1 on car insurance.

Check out a site like Coverage.org to compare the best car insurance options available.

Answer a few questions and get matched with a customized offer today.

See how much you could save.

Secret #4: They get paid for their screentime.

Very few people know about it, but Nielsen (the company that measures TV ratings) will actually pay you for the time you spend on your phone or PC.

You basically are part of a mini-research study: you just install an app on your device that will give Nielsen anonymous data on how much you use your phone, etc.

Not everybody qualifies for it, but if you do, it’s a sweet gig.

Secret #5. They make money by giving their opinions

There are companies that pay for you to give feedback. Really.

Sites like Branded Surveys are super simple. Sign up, set-up your profile with basic information about yourself, then you can start completing surveys.

In exchange for the time you spend responding to service, you’ll be rewarded with gift cards.

And probably the biggest secret of all: they get a financial advisor to do the work for them.

Doesn’t sound like much, right? 99% of people don’t have one, and it’s typically a huge mistake.

Sure, you can manage things on your own if you want to, but most people don’t have the time to actually do things right. There are huge benefits to having somebody pay attention to your money all the time.

  • People with financial advisors tend to beat the market by ~3%/year (according to a 2019 Vanguard Study). That can make a huge difference over time.
  • But more important: a good advisor will handle ALL of the annoying retirement stuff & bizarro tax implications you would have never thought of

If you don’t know a financial advisor personally, use a comparison site (like WiserAdvisor) and find somebody near you that has good reviews.

Or if you want something easier, here’s a quiz you can fill out that will find an advisor/planner based on your reqs.

That’s all (for now).

Thanks for reading! We’ll update this post monthly as new options become available.

Have $5k+ In The Bank? Here Are 5 Smart Money Moves to Try in 2023.

Congratulations on having a solid financial foundation!

Having $5,000 or more in the bank is a significant achievement that opens up a world of possibilities for you.

Now, as we step into 2023, it’s crucial to make the most of your hard-earned savings and take smart financial steps that can propel you towards a brighter future.

In this post, we will discuss five strategic money moves that can help you grow your wealth, secure your finances, and make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead.

(Note: this page contains affiliate links)

1. Switch to a savings account that pays you up to 10x more interest.

If you’re like the average American, your savings account pays you virtually zero interest (typically under 0.3% a year, in my experience).

Believe it or not, plenty of banks are willing to offer 10x that rate. PNC, for example, has an account that pays a whopping 4%/year right now (with no minimums).

(E.g. if you store $100k in a 4% interest savings account today, in a year you’ll have netted $4,000 from interest alone)

PNC doesn’t have minimum deposits or monthly service charges, so they’re a good option to consider, but here’s a list of some viable banks in your area:

2. Refi your car payments – avg savings: $143/month

Rates have prob changed since you bought your car, and other lenders can likely get you a better deal than your dealership gave you.

Use a company like iLending or Upstart (typically takes a few minutes to do).

3. Refi your student loans – avg savings: $18k over the life of the loan

Same basic strategy as above. Huge savings potential here:

A 2018 report from Credible said the avg. savings for a student loan refi was $18,000.

Companies that do it: CollegeAve and Splash Financial (both are solid options)

4. Stop paying overdraft fees – avg. savings, $250/year

The average person somehow pays $250 in overdraft fees every year (according to the CFPB), because banks are awful.

A quick fix: switch your bank to Current (or a similar app). Has zero overdraft charges, high savings rates (up to 4%), and the ability to get your paychecks 2 days early.

5. Invest the change from almost anything you buy

Get an app like Acorns. They round up your spare change to the nearest dollar and then auto invest it. E.g. you buy a coffee for $4.25, they’ll round the purchase up to $5 and invest the $0.75 for you.

That’s all (for now).

Thanks for reading! We’ll update this post monthly as new options become available.

The 5 Stupidest Things Americans Overspend On

Spoiler alert: They all have absolutely nothing to do with cutting back on Starbucks.

Let’s face it – we all want to save money, but it’s not always easy.

Between rent, bills, and other expenses, it can feel like there’s nothing left at the end of the month.

But, believe it or not, there are some simple changes you can make to save money without drastically changing your lifestyle.

Let’s focus on the big ways to save first:

(Note: this page has affiliate links, I get paid when you click on them, so click on them a lot!)

1. Stop overpaying when you shop online.

I typically hate browser extensions with a fiery passion, but if you don’t have Capital One Shopping installed yet, do yourself a favor and grab it.

When you shop online (on Amazon or elsewhere) it will:

  1. Auto-apply coupon codes for you to save you money
  2. Compare prices from other sellers to make sure you’re not missing out on a better deal

You might be surprised how often you’re overpaying online.

It’s saved me a ton of money more than once. Here’s a quick example:

Savings will vary, this is just an example, of course.

That same exact blender was $26 cheaper at another store (with 2 day shipping) when I shopped.

Here’s a link to install Capital One Shopping, if you’re interested.

2. Refi your car payments – avg savings: $143/month

Rates have prob changed since you bought your car, and other lenders can likely get you a better deal than your dealership gave you.

Use a company like iLending or Upstart (typically takes a few minutes to do).

3. Refi your student loans – avg savings: $18k over the life of the loan

Same basic strategy as above. Huge savings potential here:

A 2018 report from Credible said the avg. savings for a student loan refi was $18,000.

Companies that do it: CollegeAve and Splash Financial (both are solid options)

4. Stop paying overdraft fees – avg. savings, $250/year

The average person somehow pays $250 in overdraft fees every year (according to the CFPB), because banks are awful.

A quick fix: switch your bank to Current (or a similar app). Has zero overdraft charges, high savings rates (up to 4%), and the ability to get your paychecks 2 days early.

5. Invest the change from almost anything you buy

Get an app like Acorns. They round up your spare change to the nearest dollar and then auto invest it. E.g. you buy a coffee for $4.25, they’ll round the purchase up to $5 and invest the $0.75 for you.

That’s all (for now).

Those are my top 5 savings tips for the time being (as of 04/07/23) but I’ll keep adding to this article as I find new tips for you.

Thanks for reading!

Spoil Your Fur-Baby With These Popular Products

There are many pet products available on the market, and the best ones will depend on your specific pet’s needs and preferences. However, here are some of the most popular and highly-rated pet products:

Furbo Dog Camera

This is a smart dog camera that allows you to monitor your dog while you’re away, and even dispense treats and talk to them through the app. It also has a barking sensor that alerts you when your dog is barking excessively.

Kong Classic Dog Toy

This is a durable and versatile dog toy that can be filled with treats or peanut butter to keep your dog entertained and engaged.

Fresh Patch

This is a real grass patch that can be used as an indoor potty for dogs. It’s a convenient and eco-friendly solution for dogs who can’t go outside or for owners who live in apartments.

Catit Flower Fountain

This is a unique cat water fountain that provides a constant flow of fresh water, encouraging cats to drink more and stay hydrated.

Litter-Robot

This is a self-cleaning litter box for cats that uses sensors to detect when your cat has used the litter box and automatically cleans and disposes of waste.

PetSafe ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box – Another popular self-cleaning litter box option, this one uses disposable trays and crystal litter to absorb urine and dehydrate solid waste, reducing odor and making cleanup easy.

These are just a few examples of some of the best pet products available on the market. It’s important to research and read reviews before purchasing any pet product to ensure that it’s safe, effective, and meets your pet’s needs.

5 Must-Have Mobile Phone Apps

There are many mobile phone apps available that are underrated and not used as much as they should be. Here are some of the most underrated mobile phone apps that people should use more:

Pocket

This app lets you save articles, videos, and other content from the web to read or watch later, even when you’re offline. It’s a great way to curate your own personalized reading list.

Feedly

This app lets you create a personalized news feed by subscribing to various blogs and websites. It’s a great way to stay informed on the topics you’re interested in.

Forest

This app helps you focus and be more productive by encouraging you to stay off your phone. It rewards you for staying focused by growing a virtual tree, which can be a fun and motivating way to stay on task.

Duolingo

This app is a fun and easy way to learn a new language. It offers short lessons that are designed to be engaging and interactive.

MyFitnessPal

This app helps you track your daily food intake and exercise, making it easier to stay on track with your health goals. It also has a large database of food and exercise information, making it easy to log your daily activities.

These are just a few examples of underrated mobile phone apps that people should use more. There are many more great apps out there, so it’s worth exploring and trying out new ones to find the ones that work best for you.

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