SoFi Blog

Tips and news—
for your financial moves.

dog in a bathtub

Make Your Small Bathroom Look Bigger in 8 Easy Steps

If you feel claustrophobic whenever you enter the loo, you might be racking your brain for ideas about how to make a small bathroom look bigger. Many apartments and homes have small bathrooms—but there are often ways to make better use of the space, or to decorate it so that it doesn’t feel as cramped.

Chances are, you spend a lot of time in your bathroom. It’s likely where you start and end your day, so you want it to be a place you can relax in and enjoy. With a few small changes, you could change your bathroom from a cramped space you avoid to a sanctuary where you can decompress.

Whether you want to get creative with paint or color schemes, add some mirrors, or completely gut the space and renovate it, there are lots of ways to make a small bathroom look bigger.

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Balancing a Great Deal vs. Interest Charges

The dilemma: you’re in a store with an armful of essentials. You’re handing your treasures to the cashier, ready to check out, when they ask, “Would you like to open a credit card account and save 10% today?”

It happens in many a retail store across the country. Cashiers have been trained by corporate to wag the brochures in front of you, tempting you with even deeper discounts. This is your favorite store, right? You want a better deal, right? In the moment, it sounds fantastic—an extra 10% and you can simply put the purchase on that shiny new retail credit card and pay it off when you get home.

Except that a few weeks roll by and you’re back at the same store, tempted by yet another discount, so you whip out that plastic again. Pretty soon, bills come around and there doesn’t seem to be enough money in your checking account to cover the new credit card payment. Maybe it’s time to revisit this important question: How does credit card interest work again?

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5 Home Improvement Projects to Do If You’re Trying to Sell Your House

While it may seem obvious, it’s worth repeating: When you put your house on the market, you want it to sell quickly. Case closed. But how do you make the magic happen?

Real estate agents know the real deal—curb appeal wins the day. First impressions matter to potential buyers, and that may mean completing some renovations before putting the house on the market to help it sell with speed.

If you’re interested in improving your home’s resale value, what project should you choose? Renovations can have varying impacts on your home’s value, so it might be worth doing a bit of research. The best value-boosting projects can change from year to year, depending on the economy, demand for raw materials, and buyer preference.

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Prep List for Getting Approved for a Personal Loan

After weeks of unseasonably rainy weather, the worst has happened and your roof has sprung a leak. The water has already started to cause damage to the house and you’re beginning to worry about how you’re going to pay for all of the repairs.

You could use your emergency fund, but you’re worried it’s not going to be enough. If you find yourself in a situation where you need cash, a personal loan could allow you to secure the financing you need.

Unlike other loans such as a mortgage, which is used specifically to pay for a house, you can take out a personal loan for almost any reason. Want to boost your wedding budget, or finally start that home renovation? A personal loan could help you pay for your short-term projects that require financial capital.

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woman on her computer

Launching a Side Hustle: Things to Keep in Mind

Between student loans, rent, utilities, groceries, and food—expenses can add up quickly. If your regular paycheck seems to disappear in a hurry every month, it may be time to find a side hustle to boost your income. According to a 2017 report , more than 44 million Americans have found a side hustle to boost their bottom line.

With most side hustles, you’re able to customize your schedule which can give you the flexibility you need when you’re already working a full-time gig. And with a bit of leg work, you can find a side hustle that falls in line with your passions and gives you a sense of pride and fulfillment that you may not be getting at your full-time job.

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