You can find around 48.5 million rental units in the U.S., according to a 2015 survey.

With this many rental units available, you surely can find a unit that you can afford.

If one of your goals this year is to find a more affordable place to live, you should start by learning how to save money on rent.

You can save money on your rental expenses if you know how to, and here are 11 tips that may help you achieve this goal.

  1. Find a Smaller Unit

One of the simplest ways to cut your rent expense each month is by moving to a smaller apartment rental. Larger units always cost more than smaller units.

If you currently have a one-bedroom unit, you can significantly cut your expenses by moving to an efficiency apartment. The monthly costs for an efficiency unit are more affordable than the costs for one or two-bedroom units.

  1. Compare the Costs of Units by Location

Next, you should compare the costs by location. Apartment rentals in large cities cost more on average than rentals in rural areas.

If you want to see the differences in costs by location, compare a few units. Contact a few property management firms in different areas, or look up the classified ads in different places.

By doing this, you will see the cost differences by location.

  1. Get a Roommate to Share the Costs With You

A lot of people save money on rent by getting a roommate. Living with someone else might not be your goal or dream life, but it will make a significant difference in your monthly expenses.

When you share a unit with a person, you each pay for half of the expenses. This one move will instantly cut your costs in half. The only downside is that you’ll have to share your unit with another person.

  1. Find a Unit That Includes All the Utilities

Another idea is to look for a rental unit that includes all the utilities. If your current apartment does not include utilities, you might be paying for gas, electric, cable, and the Internet in addition to your rental payment.

If you want lower bills, find a unit that includes these things. While you might not find a unit that provides every utility, many apartments now include free Internet and cable TV services.

  1. Negotiate the Rent

If you want to save on rent, you could consider negotiating the amount you pay with the landlord. The best way to find a landlord that will negotiate is to find a landlord that is having trouble filling his or her apartments.

When landlords cannot keep their units occupied, they lose money. If you can find a landlord like this, he or she may agree to accept a lower amount for rent just to have some money coming in each month.

  1. Skip the Parking Space

You can also save money on rent by skipping the parking space. A lot of apartment managers charge extra for a parking space. When an apartment building has limited parking, the landlord will charge for the spaces.

You can save money by not choosing a parking space. If you have a car, get rid of it and start using public transportation. Making this one change could help you save even more money.

  1. Pay More Upfront

Another good trick to consider is paying more money upfront. While this may seem counterproductive, it works well in many cases.

If you offer to pay for six months’ rent upfront, the landlord might agree to reduce your monthly rental amount.

You will need more money to make this happen, but you’d save money in the long run.

  1. Sign a Longer Lease

You can also negotiate with your landlord by offering to sign a longer lease. If you agree to sign a two-year lease, the landlord might agree to reduce the monthly rent.

Before you use this tip, make sure you plan to stay in the unit for a longer time frame. Otherwise, you might end up paying more in all if you move out early.

  1. Offer Work in Exchange for Rent

Some landlords are willing to let their tenants perform services around the buildings in exchange for rent. If you have a skill that you can use around the apartment complex, you could use this tip.

For example, do you love painting? If so, you could offer to paint units when tenants move out to reduce your monthly rent. Do you love cleaning? If so, you could offer cleaning services when tenants move out of their units.

  1. Cut Your Bills and Expenses

In addition to finding ways to cut your monthly rent, you should also consider finding ways to cut other bills and expenses.

For example, could you live with cable TV for a while? If so, canceling it will help you save money every month. Go through your bills and see if you can cut any of them, as this will make a difference in your budget.

  1. Rent a Room

One last tip to consider is finding a room to rent instead of a whole apartment. You can browse available room rentals in your area to see your options.

Renting a room is the most affordable option you have with paying rent. You will pay less because you receive less space.

If you are trying to save money to buy a house, eventually, this is an ideal way to go.

Learn More About How to Save Money on Rent

There is no reason to pay too much for rent when you can cut your rent expenses by following these tips.

Would you like to learn more about how to save money on rent? If so, check out our blog. We have a lot of great articles that can help you learn how to pay less for rent and other expenses you may currently have.

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Fuel cards are usually credit cards like but they are used only to pay for gas and other car expenses Fuels cards are widely used around in the world. These fuel cards are used in the payment of gasoline, diesel and other fuels at the gas stations. A fuel card is convenient for the owner as they show a comprehensive detail or report which accompanies their use. This fuel card helps its owners to receive real-time reports and set purchasing control.

Speedway fuel cards offer the consumer the best services. They offer the consumer a credit card without the security issues.

Origins of the fuel cards

The origin of these fuel cards can be traced to the United Kingdom. In the beginning, these fuel cards were usually printed with the vehicle registration, company name and a signature strip on the rear of this card. The fueling station would usually check the registration number the company name and the signature at the back to be sure that it is genuine and only when all these three meets the requirement then would the site approve access to the fuel. In the initial stages, these cards were used only for trucks roads and main haulage routes. In 1989 there were about only seven key fuel stations. In the initial stages, these fuel cards targeted only delivery companies

In the mid-80s the magnetic strip was introduced, and this led to the use of pin which is encoded in the cards. This new security system was far better and safer, and they would decrease the chances of misuse of the fuel card

Do fuel cards save money?

The answer to this question is yes fuel card does save money. When used these fuel cards effectively help save the businesses a lot of money. There is also the popular fleet fuel card which helps drivers buy fuel for company cars.

Benefits of fuels cards

There are many benefits of fuel cards, but if you are looking to find the best fuel card for small business purposes, you will need to weigh the pros and cons of each type, and compare to your precise needs. In such a case, feel free to keep reading for more information.

Discounts on the fuel

Fuel prices are always on the rise be it weekly, monthly or annually fuel prices are not stable; therefore, getting a fuel card is advisable, a fuel card would help you get discounts on the fuel. If you get an offer for a fixed weekly price, this will not affect the card user if there is a rise in price on the particular week and if there is a discount in prices there would automatically be a refund of the money on the card. So, you’re saving a lot of money especially if your fleet is large.

Less administrative burden

There’s more than just fuel discount with your fuel cards you get to trace what your staff has been spending on fuels. All fuel costs for seven days are collected into a single invoice.

Tracking mileage and fuel usage

Another way the fuel cards are useful because they help track the fleet, the fuel cards will trace the places they’ve driven to which stop they stopped at and how much mileage they’ve used.

Getting a fuel card is useful because it helps the owner in a lot of ways these cards are easily available and the individual can apply by visiting the nearest branch of the bank from where they can avail the fuel cards or they can also avail it online.

We’ve all been to that dreaded point: petsa de peligro. There is nothing quite like the pinch of having to stretch out those last few pesos until the next paycheck comes in. It need not be this way month after month; with the help of a few nifty tips you can cut down on your regular expenses without cramping your lifestyle.

  • Record your expenses

This first step is necessary to know exactly what you are spending on, and what makes up the biggest bulk of the expenditure. Recording expenses is also a good practice to continually keep track of your budget and find out what else to cut down on. For example, opt for a more affordable insurance provider with money expert to get a suitable plan that is tailored to fit both your financial and personal needs.”

  • Check your cell phone and data plans

Although post-paid and data plans may be convenient, sometimes we do not actually utilize all the minutes or data provided. If it turns out that your data or post-paid credits consumption is less than what your plan offers, consider switching to a plan with a lower monthly rate.

  • Unplug your devices

Leaving appliances and especially chargers plugged in for longer than necessary can add to your electric bill in a sneaky way. To help shave off a few pesos, unplug devices not being used, or use a power strip that allows you to turn off the current easily.

  • Bring your own lunch

Those lunches and dinners out, or even runs to the convenience store for snacks can gradually put a dent into your budget without your knowing it! Although it is okay from time to time to lunch out or order in at work, making your own lunch on most days helps cut on costs. It is also healthier too since you can tweak the menu to your dietary needs.

  • Install LED or energy efficient lighting

If you are still using incandescent bulbs or even fluorescent lights, you might be spending more on electric bills than you think. Installing LEDs or other energy saving light fixtures may seem expensive initially, but the return of investment in lower bills is worthwhile.

  • Walk

This simple and healthy step can save you both time and money. Walking for short distances can help you save both time and gas money. For longer distances, consider carpooling or taking public transportation.

  • Buy non-perishable groceries in bulk

The usual tendency to buy in “small” or “tingi” packs adds up in terms of costs and waste. For soaps, detergents, canned goods, and other non-perishable items, buying in bulk helps reduce costs per item, as well as reduces time and money spent going to the store to stock up.

  • Check your brands

For most foodstuffs and household items, it may not be necessary to always spring for the high-end brands. Oftentimes “generic” or lower priced brands work just as well, but with the added benefit of being priced lower. Any differences may be subtle, detectable only by the extreme connoisseurs or the overly finicky. Unless the item is one-of-a-kind, there is usually a less expensive brand available on the market.

  • Consider online shopping

Nowadays it is possible to get nearly anything online, from food, clothes, and electronics just to name a few. The delivery fees for many of these online shopping services may come out to less than the additional costs of a shopping trip: gas, parking, food and other incidentals. For as long as you carefully inspect and track your purchases, online shopping is an excellent way to cut costs even for weekly groceries and other necessities.

  • Review your subscriptions

Sometimes old subscriptions may drain your budget sneakily. Do you still really read those magazines, or can you get them online? Do you still watch cable TV, or are you better off using streaming services? Cancelling those infrequently used services may allow you to spring for something better or give you more to add to your savings.

It is possible to save up a great deal every month without reducing your diet to bread and water or having to rely on candlelight once the sun goes down. We hope these tips will help you cut expenses and even banish those pre-payday blues!

Before we go on to the money saving topic, here is a stat that will make you think!

According to American express, about one in three Americans plan to spend at least $1,000 per person on their next summer vacation – or $4,000 for a family of four.

Now, do you really think it is worth it? It’s your earning. You have put in all your effort, your sweat for that amount. How can you plan for a vacation so loosely?

I know you want to have a lavish time and for once, spend your money without thinking. Okay! Do that. However, ensure you get worth for that money.

Spending a huge amount on airline tickets at the last moment, just brings out your carelessness.

So, how do we plan a budget vacation that will give you that king-sized life and save your money at the same time?

I do have a few vacation budget tips that you can implement and not fret later!

Use gum and stick to your budget

Yes! Literally if you need to. The main reason we end up spending more on our high-end vacation is we don’t stick to the plans we made.

We fall for the Instagram quotes saying, ‘You only live once’. ‘Don’t stop yourself from getting what you desire’. While that is good to read and motivate you, but you need to understand that your desires can be met without making a well sized hole in your pocket.

So, the first thing you do is Google, of course and find out the market rates. And not just travel, food and places, the whole itinerary must be looked into. The restaurants you will eat at, the places you will spend more time in less funds, the free places where you can have the best of experiences, I mean. One of the best thing about New York vacation rental is that you can walk on the ‘Brooklyn Bridge’ in NY for free. So, why not do that more.

This budget will also stop you from impulse purchasing. And if you really need to buy something, that’s what the saved emergency money is for.

Another suggestion is selling a couple of things before you arrive for your vacation. Find things in your house that you don’t need any more and sell them on online sites or to the roadside reseller. It will get you more funds than you think! Now, you can drink wine in this money and relax on that Terrace café with the Sydney’s ‘Opera House’ view.

Don’t be afraid of accommodation research

There are many vacation home rental agency and hotel agency available in the market so research the best & never compromise on location, because that’s what you’re going there for! If the view from your vacation rental or hotel is a dustbin, would you really feel energised and revived?

Spend money where you really need to! Booking a vacation rental if you’re going for more lengths of time will be preferable as hotels are too expensive and hostels are not too privacy friendly. Romeloft.com

Adding to that, vacation rentals are proof on how to save money on travel! They are much cheaper than a luxurious hotel and offer better amenities with all the space you need.

Always call the owner of the vacation rental and negotiate for the price.

Chances are they will come down to your price as they are also waiting for somebody to book their homes that hey renovated only for this purpose!

Look for as many discounts as you can. It might be tedious, but hey! You’ll save a lot that you can later spend on food or shopping, perhaps!

How to save money on travel by choosing the apt travel time

I know you have the urge to see the Christmas eve at NYC or the Niagara Waterfalls in the peak season, but that would cost a lot and you would just see humans all around!

Do you really want a vacation that makes you feel you’ve reached your office again? Certainly not!

Hence, the next vacation budget tip is to travel in the off-season. Places are less crowded, giving your body and mind more space, and you can experience all the major attractions in their best form, as they are, natural!

Try to travel overnight, saving you time and energy and even, money at times. Also, Q tip – Never book airlines just a week before! Don’t be that guy please.

Book seven – eight weeks in advance for fairly reduced airfare.

For choosing the best period, look for the periods between two peak seasons. You would experience the city more like a traveller rather than a tourist. You might even want to write about it after you head back, because it was just so peaceful and serene!

How to decide on what to do, what not to do

Another one of the best vacation budget tips is to spend more time in places that are free of cost and give you the actual feel of being in that city.

Just visit ‘The Eiffel Tower’ and picnic in the park for half a day. See how the French converse or just people watch. It’s fun I’ve heard!

Now, I am not saying only run after the free stuff! Spend on the things that would really prove their worth.

Like visiting an observation deck in New York or visiting an Aquarium to say Hi to whales in Sydney – ‘The Harbour City’. These are the things you will relish once the vacation is over.

Always, always use public transports and get yourself discount cards for travel which are available in all the popular cities. Unless you’re planning to live in an igloo in Antarctica, travel will be easy and affordable!

Interact with the locals and don’t be the shy person going with the crowd. Just say hi and ask about the best places. They know best! Like an employee really knows about his/her own company and will vent out when just given a small trigger, locals will give you all the information you need. And hey! You might make a life-long friend!

Random ways to save in your vacation budget tips plan

This might be surprising but book everything, hotels, flight tickets, even theatre shows tickets in incognito mode. The browser won’t know you’re looking for such stuff and will not ping back to travel companies, who in return will send you over priced ads as cookies and pop-ups. Believe me, it works!

If you’re not sure about your travel, get refundable bookings where you will not just give the money to the hotel and airlines for nothing in return. Every travel brand has a month’s return policy that can be checked out on the website and air travel is refundable, you know that. Don’t be lazy to call them!

This might be corny but keep an eye on breakfast buffets. These have the best cuisines and are complimentary. I mean free food that’s clean and authentic, why would you not get up early?

This will sound discomforting but ‘Pack light’. Pack only limited stuff. Make a plan for that too.

You don’t want to go out and buy another bag just for bringing your shopping impulses back to your place. Pack decently and leave some space for the new things you will discover! It’s not impossible, please!

Hope these ‘How to save money on travel’ tips work for you!

Every single financial advisor tells you that you need to save money but this rarely actually happens. Also, it is possible that the money you saved is just not enough for the financial emergency that you have to deal with right now. Fortunately, you do have access to many different options that you can use whenever emergency money is needed. Some of the best are presented right below.

Personal Loans

This is always the very first option that you want to consider. It is offered by credit unions and banks. Also, they can be secured or unsecured. If you need more, you can get money for your car title but if you just need a little more, you just have to prove that you are employed and you have a stable income. When you just have some days to get the money you need, the personal loan is a fair option to take into account.

You need to know that personal loan terms will greatly vary from one financial institution to the next. Interest rates can also be pretty high in the event that credit score is low. This is why you should always read the contract before you agree to any deal.

Cash Advances

Do you have a credit card? If so, the cash advance is a pretty simple and fast option. Basically, this is a loan that you get against the credit card. All you really need to get the loan is to go to an ATM. Extra money is available, according to a specific limit based on your current income.

The cash advance is really convenient but there are some drawbacks that you should be aware of. The lenders normally limit how much cash advance is offered. Always be aware of how much credit is available. If the credit is $3,000, you can only take out $3,000 from the ATM. You will also have to deal with the cash advance fee, which has a value of a pre-set percentage from the loan. Interest charges also normally apply. They are actually higher than what the regular bank loans give you access to. However, if you need money really fast, the credit card cash advance is a wonderful opportunity.

Payday Loans

These are advances issued against paychecks. You can get them through an online lender or through payday loan shops. You use them because cash is offered as you need it, even if credit score is low. In order to qualify all that is needed is a paycheck and a bank account. When you go for the online option, you just need to answer some questions and money is normally wired in under 24 hours.

Although payday loans can be quite good for fast emergency cash needs, remember that terms will vary a lot when thinking about fees and terms. There are, as an example, payday loans that have origination fees and other payday loans will have very high interest rates but no origination fee. What is particularly important with these loans is to know exactly how much you need to repay and when.

Flexibility, no transport time, low fixed costs, freedom and the possibility of passive income are some of the reasons why people are flocking towards jobs and opportunities with working from home, and in particular online.

The opportunity to be at home with the family, the possibility of being able to buy the dream house in the cheap but scenic outskirts of the expensive areas, has also been highlighted as great benefits by those who work and earn money online. No longer do you need to spend 60 minutes or more on a daily commute that is mind numbing and boringly repetitive. Instead, you could be working with any sort of online activity, from freelancing to running your own store. For a quick way into the world of money making online, you can look at web design Italy for help with making your site, and then in turn focus on the important part!

Most people just want to earn a little extra money next to their job – but it can also be that for a variety of reasons you have ended up abroad and have difficulty getting a job locally. In both cases, an online income can be an option.

Let it be said immediately that making money on the net is rarely ‘easy money’, but it is an attractive and flexible way to work with a great potential for high profits with little effort once the initial work has been done.

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Earn money with your own ecommerce store

It is extremely popular to have its own ecommerce store and something that many choose to try out with, however, it is far from all who experience the success of running their own store. It requires good acumen and sense of online marketing. If you choose to start your own store, it is important that you set up your budget for marketing.

Create websites

Are you adept at making websites? It is not really that difficult with a little bit of practice. One of the most popular platforms is WordPress, a free website management system that is used by more than 25% of all websites in the current market. Once you have made the website, you can either be selling websites for profit, or you can turn them into a money making machine and reap the benefits yourself.

Earn money online as a copywriter

If you are good at writing, then there’s always money to be made in copywriting. Many SEO agencies are constantly looking for skilled copywriters as the demand for articles grows as fast as the companies ambitions, and one campaign can require hundreds of 500 word blog posts, so the work is honest and will make you better as a writer at the same time. One great place is fiverr for getting started, as you can set your own rate and get paid instantly.

We hope you liked this article!

Have you ever wanted to make money online? If so, you aren’t alone. With literally thousands of ways to make money online, new people are discovering the power and potential of using the internet to make money on the side almost daily.

With so many different opportunities to choose from, one could easily get distracted with what method might be best. We personally feel that blogging and content creation are the best ways to make money and even start a business online, however, these other money making methods work pretty well too.

In this article, we are going to focus on ten different ways to make money online, as if you had your own website or blog. It seems almost every blogger tries monetizing their site with either AdSense or affiliate links. This is especially true for anyone who is spending their time writing online or trying to become a full time freelancer. While those can be good ways to make money, they require a high volume of targeted traffic. It’s a good idea to explore other options to monetize your website.

Here are 10 that you should consider.

1.      Promote freelance writing services

If you’ve built an informative blog, brands in the same niche would be honored to have you as a writer. Many successful writers built their client base and reputation through their own blog. Carol Tice earns a six-figure income as a freelance writer.  Brian Clark, founder of CopyBlogger, charges $3000 for every article he writes. In addition to building out your own website or blog, freelancers can make money by writing on various freelance job marketplaces like FreelanceMyWay, TextBroker and Fiverr.

2.      Run sponsored ads

Sponsored ads are great for monetizing low traffic websites. It can take thousands of website visitors to earn $50 from AdSense. You can earn that much money from a single sponsored ad.

Many brands will happily pay for sponsored ads on blogs without a lot of traffic. The SEO and brand benefits are often enough.

3.      RSS ads

Every blog should have an RSS feed. It isn’t just a good way to reach more viewers, but it can also be a great way to generate more revenue.

You can embed ads in your feed, which lets you generate revenue even if the readers are on another site.

4.      Sell your own online course

Neil Patel is a big advocate of creating and selling online courses. He said one of the great things about them is that you don’t need lots of traffic. You can make money selling your own online courses with as little as 50 visitors a day.

5.      Sell your own e-book

AdSense and affiliate marketing are popular monetization strategies, because they don’t require much work to get started. You just need traffic.

Not nearly as many bloggers create their own e-books, because it takes a lot of work and it doesn’t pay off right away. This means it’s a great opportunity for bloggers that are willing to invest in it over the long-term.

6.      Ask for donations

It may sound humbling, but many bloggers ask their readers for donations. If you create great content, many of them will be happy to oblige. You will never know unless you ask.

7.      Content locking

Content locking is a strategy that requires readers to do something for the blogger before being allowed to read valuable content. You can ask them to share your content on social media, leave a comment on one of your previous posts – or pay you money.

Make sure that your content is very valuable before trying to charge anyone for it. Create something that they won’t find anywhere else on the web.

8.      Consulting

If you are too much of an extrovert to spend every hour of your day writing, then freelance writing may not be the best way to monetize your blog. You may want to try your hand at consulting instead.

Running a blog is a great way to brand yourself as an expert in your field. When people see that you know your niche, they will be happy to pay you a pretty penny for advice.

9.      Selling Links

Now, I prefer white hat strategies and wouldn’t do this myself, but there are plenty of bloggers that create sites for the purpose of selling links. Many brands will pay decent money for links from sites that have some pagerank. Just don’t count on using the same site for other monetization options, because your organic search traffic can vanish if you get flagged by Google.

10. Flipping Your Domain

Lots of bloggers create sites solely to sell them off. If you build a site with plenty of traffic, you can sell it on an online marketplace like Flippa instead of worrying about monetizing it yourself. The benefits of using an open marketplace like this, is that it’s regulated and managed on their end as well — which keeps everyone safe.

It only took us a few minutes to come up with ten different ways to make money with a website or blog, or even just having the skill or expertise for writing. Now that you’ve also seen some of the best ways to make money online, it’s time to take actions and start making some moola for yourself!

The wedding is one of the significant milestones in life. It is a special day, and that is why everyone looks forward to making it memorable by going all out to make it big and memorable. Everyone dreams of a big wedding, beautiful cars, gorgeous flowers, a lavish reception with hundreds of guests to share in the joy of their special day. However, all those big wishes cost a lot of money.  Although it seems brilliant to have a glamorous wedding, nothing is encouraging in starting married life in debt since arguing over money is the root of most divorce.

It is, however, wise to start your married life on a firm footing by planning and having enough savings for your dream wedding. To guide you in planning your wedding, here are 6 ways to save for your dream wedding and avoid starting out with huge debts and bills to settle.

  1. Start Saving

An average wedding costs about $40,000. You should start saving towards the amount if you do not have that sum already, else, you may end up borrowing. As soon as you have your wedding in sight, start saving at every opportunity that comes your way. Have regular amounts of cash you will be saving into a special account for your wedding. Ask around; you can even find a savings account paying a nice interest rate. Hire a financial advisor to help you plan out your finances when it comes to saving.

  1. Have Priorities

A wedding has several aspects that require a lot of cash. However, you should prioritize certain aspects to cut down on expenses, and yet have a memorable day. Wedding aspects you can prioritize include wedding videography, wedding photography, dresses or clothing, transport, ceremony, reception, wedding rings, and entertainment. Allocate more fund to aspects with higher priorities and reduce spending on the rest.

  1. Have a Budget

Consider your estimated savings and the cost of the prioritized aspects of your wedding to create a workable budget for your wedding without breaking the bank. Having created a budget, make sure you stick to it under any circumstances.

  1. Do It Yourself

While the popular belief is to hire an event planner to handle your wedding from A to Z, there are several things you can do by yourself to save money. You could ask someone you know that can make a fantastic wedding cake to help you with one and other things you ask family, friends, and relatives to help you do.

  1. Negotiate

As you are trying to stay within budget, negotiate with any wedding service providers you contact for reasonable prices – bridal stores, caterers, florists, car rental companies, wedding videographers and photographers, reception halls, and lots more. Tell them you are looking for god prices to make your choices.

  1. Cut out Statement Items

As you are trying to save money for your wedding, you have to remove certain statement items from your list. You can drop buying a designer wedding dress and choose the “off the rack” dress and still look fabulous while you save money.

Start your home on a firm financial footing by following the 6 ways you can save for your dream wedding.

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