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Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
8 Ways Smart People Save Money When Buying Gas
The average cost of a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. is $3.16 as of May 28, per AAA. Although prices may be different where you live, it never hurts to find ways to bring them down further. After all, gas can be expensive, especially if you drive a lot or have a ride with poor gas mileage. For You: Check Out: The good news is there are ways to save money when buying gas. You just need to be a little bit savvy. This might seem like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised at how many people are creatures of habit and always choose the same gas station, even if it's not the most cost-effective. You can compare local gas stations using an app like GasBuddy or Google Maps. While you're at it, use a rewards card to boost your savings — and earnings — potential. 'Find the gas station in your area that consistently has the lowest gas price, and then see if there's a credit card for type of store with gas purchase rewards,' said Kathy Gilchrist, CEO of CFOKathy. 'For example, Costco usually has low gas prices, and the Costco credit card offers 4% rewards on gas purchases. But make sure to pay the credit card off every month so that you don't have to pay interest.' 'Many credit cards offer different rates of cashback for specific categories of purchases, and gas is a common one,' added Erika Kullberg, an attorney, personal finance expert and founder of 'If you drive a lot, you can consider opening a new credit card that heavily rewards gas purchases. You can then put the cashback you earn back into your bank account or can use it to pay off your credit card.' Up Next: You might not always have to pay for gas out of pocket. 'For young adults, I'm also a fan of asking for gas gift cards for the holidays or birthdays,' said Kullberg. 'It may seem like a boring gift, but these gift cards can be really helpful when you're young and on a super tight budget.' Whether it's a gas station or a grocery store, see if they have a loyalty program that lets you save at the pump. 'For example, with Shell Fuel Rewards you normally save at least 5 cents per gallon and can sometimes save up to 20 cents per gallon,' said Adam Schwartz, CEO of CouponSurfer, Inc. 'Warehouse club like Sam's or Costco will frequently have member only discounts on gas.' The same goes for certain grocery stores. 'Many of them also offer savings on gas,' said Schwartz. 'For example, Safeway offers 20 cents off per gallon at participating gas stations.' Sometimes, the same brand will sell gas at different prices just because of location. 'Don't assume certain brands always have low prices,' said Schwartz. 'For example, there are two Shell's near me. One is $2.99, and the other one is $3.59.' 'Most cars only need regular (87 octane). Check your owner's manual. If it recommends 89 or 91 octane, you can still use 87 octane with only a slight decrease in performance,' said Schwartz. 'If your owner's manual states that 89 or 91 octane is required, then you need to use 89 or 91 octane. Using 87 in place of premium can save you as much as 80 to 90 cents per gallon. While you're at it, consider mixing gas if it makes sense. 'If your car requires 89 Octane, you can usually save money by mixing 87 Octane and 93 Octane. For example, if you are getting 15 gallons, you could get 10 gallons of 87 and then 5 gallons of 93,' said Schwartz. He gave an example to show how mixing gas could save you money. If, he said, one gas station sells 87 for $2.99, 89 for $3.59, and 93 for $3.79, it would cost $48.85 rather than $53.85. That's about $5 in savings every time you fill up a 15-gallon tank. Explore More: Credit cards might be convenient, but they can sometimes cost more than cash. 'If you pay by credit card, be sure to compare the 'credit' price,' said Schwartz. 'Some gas stations charge the same for cash or credit, while other may charge up to 10 or even 15 cents a gallon more.' The truly savvy consumer will also check their tire pressure as it can impact their gas costs. 'Low tire pressure can decrease fuel economy as much as 9%,' said Schwartz. 'Tire pressure generally decreases over time and as outdoor temperatures go down. 'See your owner's manual for the correct tire pressure. You should monitor your tire pressure at least once per month.' If you're trying to really cut costs at the pump, don't warm up your car before heading out. 'Unless it's extremely cold, most modern cars do not need to be warmed up,' said Schwartz. 'In fact your car will warm up faster with you driving it. Thirty seconds of idling uses more fuel than stopping and restarting the engine.' More From GOBankingRates Surprising Items People Are Stocking Up On Before Tariff Pains Hit: Is It Smart? 10 Genius Things Warren Buffett Says To Do With Your Money This article originally appeared on 8 Ways Smart People Save Money When Buying Gas
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
10 Ways To Make $1K a Month in Passive Income, According to Erika Kullberg
Earning passive income isn't always passive — at least not at first. You'll need to take some time and dedicate yourself to setting up something that ultimately generates money while you're busy doing something else. But once you have something going, you can sit back and reap the benefits — or continue building more income streams to garner long-term financial stability and wealth. Check Out: I'm a Self-Made Millionaire: Here's How I Use ChatGPT To Make a Lot of Money For You: The New Retirement Problem Boomers Are Facing If you want to earn passive income, it's best to start small. Even an extra $1,000 a month can set you on the path to financial freedom. After all, once you've made that much passively, there's virtually no limit to what you can achieve next. But what exactly should you do to earn at least $1,000 a month in passive income? And what are your options? GOBankingRates spoke with Erika Kullberg, an attorney, personal finance expert and founder of to see what she suggested. Here are some ways to start earning money through passive income. Prioritize Investments That Bring In Cash Flow One way to start earning $1,000 or more a month is to invest in — and hold — dividend-paying stocks or real estate investment trusts (REITs). 'These are the investments that bring regular cash in the form of dividends or rental income without daily management,' Kullberg said. 'To start, do some research for companies or funds that have stable returns in the past, and open an account at a brokerage service, such as Vanguard or Fidelity. By regular contributions and dividend reinvestment, you'll increase your passive income over time.' Say you want to get started with REITs, for example. You can go through a platform like Arrived or Fundrise, which gives you access to both commercial and residential properties. Keep in mind that you'll typically need to keep your money invested for a long time to see the best returns. Invest only an amount you're comfortable with. As you start to earn, you can always reinvest your earnings for even higher returns. If you don't want your money locked up, you can also invest in REIT stocks, such as Iron Mountain (NYSE: IRM) and Blackstone Mortgage Trust (NYSE: BXMT). Learn More: I Made $10,000 Using One of Dave Ramsey's Best Passive Income Ideas Create and Sell Digital Items If investing isn't your preference, or if you don't have a ton of capital, consider producing and selling something digitally. 'Another passive income opportunity is to sell a digital item like an e-book, an online course or printables,' Kullberg said. 'When they're made, these can be sold again and again without much additional work.'
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Things You Must Do When Your Paycheck Reaches $5K
The average entry-level salary in the U.S. is $39,912 per year, or $19.19 per hour, as of April 2025. For full-time workers, that breaks down to $3,326 per month, or $1,663 per bimonthly paycheck. When you're making this amount, the prospect of making more than double it — $10,000 a month, or $5,000 every other week — could feel like a dream. Find Out: Read Next: Getting to the $5,000 per paycheck mark is a milestone; in many U.S. cities, it means you've graduated to the middle class. It's cause for celebration, but also for financial action. Do the following when your paycheck reaches $5,000, or just increases, period. A higher salary could mean falling into a different tax bracket, meaning your tax liability could go up. 'For example, the 2025 federal income tax brackets increase substantially when single filers pass $48,475 a year, and $96,950 if you're married and filing jointly,' said Erika Kullberg, an attorney, personal finance expert and the founder of 'If you are approaching a higher tax bracket, you can use pretax 401(k) contributions or other methods to stay in a lower bracket.' Learn More: If, like most Americans, you're carrying credit card debt, you need to make paying it off top priority. A boost in income should be seen as a clear opportunity to up the ante in tackling high-interest debt. 'As an employment litigation attorney and a witness to the damage debt and poor financial planning can do to even those with high incomes, my recommendation is: Pay off your credit card debt — in full,' said Seann Malloy, managing partner and founding attorney at Malloy Law Offices, LLC. 'Keeping that balance, especially at a time when interest rates hover around or even over 20%, can devastate your finances quickly.' An increase in pay doesn't make you less vulnerable to unexpected costs. Take this opportunity to build up or replenish your emergency fund. 'You should have enough money saved up to cover at least three months' worth of your current expenses,' said Chris Fohlin, founder and coach at Fohlin Financial Coaching. 'Not having emergency funds puts you at risk of turning to credit cards or pulling from investments or retirement savings in a pinch, which leads to debt, penalties or lost growth opportunities. Calculate your necessary monthly living expenses and build up your emergency savings as quickly as possible so that you're protected from the unexpected.' You may want to enjoy the income boost now, but if you want to be responsible and look out for your future, you should up your retirement contributions. 'When your paycheck increases, I recommend putting higher retirement contributions and savings on autopilot immediately,' Kullberg said. Consider just how big a difference even a modest increase in retirement plan contributions can make. 'If you're investing $500 a month in a Roth IRA with an annual return of 7% from age 30 to 60, you could have over $600,000 tax-free in retirement,' Malloy said. Have you been putting off buying life insurance or disability insurance, or is it time to change your coverage. Now is the time to check your insurance needs. 'If your income is increasing, check your life and disability insurance policies to make sure coverage is still adequate, especially if you have dependents,' Kullberg said. More From GOBankingRates 5 Luxury Cars That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Spring 2025 4 Things You Should Do if You Want To Retire Early 4 Affordable Car Brands You Won't Regret Buying in 2025 5 Types of Vehicles Retirees Should Stay Away From Buying This article originally appeared on 5 Things You Must Do When Your Paycheck Reaches $5K
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Side Gigs With Perks: Get Free Stuff With These 5 Hustles
According to the LinkedIn Workforce Confidence survey, 31% of Americans reported having a side hustle besides their primary job. Read Next: Learn More: While the pay for side hustles will vary depending on the type of gig that you pursue, there are many side gig options for those looking for additional perks. Numerous side hustles come with free stuff, so you can save money and enjoy items at no cost to help stretch your budget. These are five side gigs that offer free things as an additional perk to the money you could earn 'Companies are always looking for feedback on their products, and some give away free items in exchange for customer reviews,' said Erika Kullberg, an attorney, personal finance expert, and founder of 'Whether it's tech gadgets, beauty products, or food samples, product testers get to try out new items before they hit the market.' Find Out: You can start by looking for gigs on platforms like UserTesting or Influenster to see what testing job opportunities are available. Kullberg shared that this is not only a fun side gig that comes with free goodies, but you can earn up to $100 per hour if you specialize in a valuable niche like high-end electronics. According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly rate for a product tester is $37, but this will depend on the type of products you get into. Some opportunities involve writing detailed reviews, and others may require video testimonials. Promotional work could be the ideal side hustle if you have an outgoing personality and enjoy interacting with people. Kullberg noted that brands hire ambassadors to promote their products at events, stores, and festivals. This job can include perks on top of pay, like free merchandise, food samples or event tickets. You can expect to earn an average of $20/hour, but you could also save money by not paying to get into activities that would typically cost you. For example, you could become a brand ambassador for your favorite running shoe company or software and then get paid to promote the products at events. Kullberg shared that working as event staff is a great way to earn money while gaining free entry to major events. She added that the roles vary from ticket scanning and security to working at concession stands or assisting VIP guests. Many of these gigs will also provide complimentary food and drinks during shifts so you could save on normal expenses on top of making some extra cash. The pay rate for event staff is $31/hour, but there's potential for tips and overtime. As a bonus, some even allow staff to enjoy parts of the event during breaks. With increasing prices for events like concerts or conferences, you could save money by getting a free pass. If you're already regularly posting on Instagram or TikTok, turning that into a side hustle can offer some really fun perks if you focus on social media collaborations with local brands. Claire Duarte, a social media and digital marketing influencer expert at Fresh Starts Registry, elaborated on this: ' A brand might offer a free meal, product, or experience in exchange for a post or story shoutout — especially if your audience is local and engaged. I've had everything from spa treatments to family-friendly outings comped this way, and it's a great way to try new things while building relationships with brands.' Earnings will depend on your following size and the budget of the local brand you're working with. Duarte noted that influencer rates vary, but micro-influencers (under 20K) can earn $100-$500 per post, with higher rates for full campaigns or video content. You could also turn your side gig into a social media manager role, which pays $31/hour. As a social media manager, you could work for a local brand or business that you're already spending money on and obtain perks along with your compensation. Affiliate marketing is a side hustle that can be a mixture of the others on this list. With this side hustle, you promote products you believe in for a commission or some sort of compensation. You may get various free things as an affiliate, from digital courses to exclusive access to materials. You could also combine some of these other side hustles with affiliate marketing. For example, you could do a product review on your social media page of a new piece of exercise equipment or a new podcasting headset, for which you then become an affiliate and get paid a commission for every referral. You could also become an affiliate for a brand that you're an ambassador for to double up on the compensation. The average hourly salary for someone in affiliate marketing is listed at $39, but this will depend on how well you convert. There may be opportunities to negotiate a payment structure that allows unique perks, like a discounted membership or free products in exchange for promotions. More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban: Trump's Tariffs Will Affect This Class of People the Most5 Types of Vehicles Retirees Should Stay Away From BuyingHow To Get the Most Value From Your Costco Membership in 20257 Tax Loopholes the Rich Use To Pay Less and Build More Wealth This article originally appeared on Side Gigs With Perks: Get Free Stuff With These 5 Hustles
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Americans Are Ditching the 50/30/20 Budget: How They Actually Split Their Paychecks
The 50/30/20 budgeting rule has long been the gold standard. According to this budgeting rule of thumb, you should devote 50% of your after-tax income to needs, 30% to wants and 20% to savings. Check Out: Learn More: However, many Americans do not actually stick to this rule. A recent Talker Research and EarnIn survey of Americans who earn $75,000 a year or less found that the average respondent put 64% of their income toward needs, 16% toward wants and 16% toward savings. Here's why Americans are ditching the 50/30/20 budgeting rule — and why this might be a mistake. While the 50/30/20 budget may be a helpful guide, it won't work for everyone's budget. 'At the end of the day, you don't have to stick to any particular budgeting rules like the 50/30/20 rule, as long as you find a way of creating and managing a budget that works for you,' said Erika Kullberg, personal finance expert and founder of 'While that study shows some budgeters follow a similar, but different method than the 50/30/20, they could benefit from focusing more on saving and less on wants.' The biggest issue, however, is that many Americans are having to devote too much of their budgets to 'needs.' 'The key here is to lower those ongoing expenses that can weigh down your budget each month,' Kullberg said. 'Small things like shopping around for new car insurance quotes and canceling the bulk of your entertainment subscriptions can add up. You need to find ways to lower your essential spending so more money can go toward savings goals or paying off debt each month.' Bobbi Rebell, CFP and personal finance expert at agrees that devoting 64% of income to needs and less than 20% to savings is not ideal. 'The question for each person is: How do you define needs?' she said. 'It might make sense to go through and think about how they might redefine needs if they lost their job — would everything still stay in that 'needs' bucket? Could they pull just 4% into the savings bucket? If not, could they aim to do 1% more each month until they get to 20%?' However, Rebell acknowledges that the 50/30/20 budget may simply not be feasible for everyone. 'The split reflects the tough reality for many Americans in what is a very expensive inflationary environment,' she said. 'In other words, given the circumstances, this is just how it is for so many Americans who are trying so hard to make ends meet. 'It is also important to note that 16% in savings isn't that far off from a goal of 20%,' Rebell continued. 'The 'wants' is where this theoretical person is really cutting back, and it would be tough to ask them to cut back even more.' Read Next: If your goal is to get as close as possible to the 50/30/20 guidelines, there are some steps you can take to get there. 'There are two basic ways to approach it — redefine what goes in each bucket or increase income, because the 'wants' bucket is already below optimal,' Rebell said. 'It [might] make sense to reframe some needs. A good example might be a gym membership. We might define it as a 'need' because we want to stay in shape, but in reality we can exercise for free. 'The other way to move the needle is to increase income and dedicate that additional revenue to boosting savings first, and then increasing the amount dedicated to wants.' More From GOBankingRates 6 Used Luxury SUVs That Are a Good Investment for RetireesHow Far $750K Plus Social Security Goes in Retirement in Every US Region7 Overpriced Grocery Items Frugal People Should Quit Buying in 202525 Places To Buy a Home If You Want It To Gain Value This article originally appeared on Americans Are Ditching the 50/30/20 Budget: How They Actually Split Their Paychecks
