Budgeting & Goals Archives | Page 119 of 186

Aug

2023

Calculating If It’s Cheaper To Drive Or Fly Somewhere

By Janet Siroto | Budgeting & Goals, money | Comments Off

Maybe you are heading up the California coast to visit Yosemite, or perhaps there’s a wedding coming up at a small town in the Midwest that you definitely can’t miss. You may be stymied about whether it makes more sense to drive to your destination or fly and which is kinder on your wallet. There are a variety of factors to consider, such as how quickly you need to get where you are going; how expensive airfare is vs. a rental car and hotel room; whether you love road tripping or perhaps hate flying; and more.

So before you start booking flights for a getaway or thinking about tuning up your car for an adventure across several states, take a look at whether it’s cheaper to fly or drive. It may be an obvious choice or a personal decision, but here’s how to size up the dollars and cents.

Pros and Cons of Driving vs Flying

It can be easy to assume that the main benefit of flying is saving time and the main advantage of driving is saving money. However, it’s not quite so simple. In fact, the pros and cons of driving vs. flying depend on the type of trip you’re taking, your priorities, and your personal preferences. Here’s a look at some of the factors worth weighing.

Pros of Driving

When thinking about driving vs. flying, there are plenty of good reasons to get behind the wheel rather than head to the airport.

• When it comes to the “is driving cheaper than flying” question, the answer is often yes! It can be significantly cheaper to travel by car than by air, especially if you’re going with a large group of people. After all, six people flying to Vegas will each need their own ticket, but they can all pile into the same minivan.

• Also, will you need a car when you get to your destination? If you’re going to, say, spend a week at a national park that’s a two-hour flight from home, it might be less costly to drive there. That way, you don’t need to rent a vehicle as well as buy plane tickets so the money you need to save in a travel fund could be a lower amount.

• When considering the flying vs. driving conundrum, it’s worth noting that traveling by car can have other benefits beyond saving money. You can easily indulge in some sightseeing. Traveling by car offers flexibility so you can see the sights you want, whether that’s a quick detour through a national forest on your way across the country or planning a route that takes you from the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., to the National Blues Museum in St. Louis, to the Buffalo Bill Museum in Colorado. You can have fun and create memories while saving money on family travel too.

• Driving also means you can more easily access any type of food your heart desires, not just what’s available in the airport. Some people even plan their road trip routes to go through foodie cities — whether that means enchiladas and sopapillas in Santa Fe or pierogies in Pittsburgh — around dinner time to take advantage of local restaurants. (Of course, making smart choices about where to stop and what to order is one way to save money on a road trip.)

• Driving is likely more comfortable than being constrained to an airplane seat. If you’re six foot six and aren’t interested in spending five hours with your knees touching your chin, you might be more inclined to ride out a trip in the car — where you can stop to stretch as often as you need.

• If you’re traveling with a pet, such as a large dog, a car could be more comfortable for both of you as well.

One other benefit? Science shows us that the anticipation that builds in advance of a trip may lead to a happiness boost before the trip and could even help you enjoy the vacation more. That means that a long drive to get to your vacation destination might make the trip even sweeter when you finally do arrive.

Cons of Driving

Let’s be honest, though: When thinking about diving vs. flying, hitting the road has its downsides, too, however.

• One of the more significant disadvantages, of course, is that you can’t just sit back and relax while you’re driving — you’re the one responsible for making sure the car gets there safely.

• It also can take more work to plan a trip, as you have to choose what route you’ll take, where you’ll stay, and whether you’ll be hitting drive-throughs from California to New York or making reservations at noteworthy restaurants along your route. If you don’t do that prep work, you may end up piling into any motel you can find and grabbing food at any dingy rest stop. Nothing like driving for hours with greasy fast-food bags stinking up your car with stale french fry smell, right?

• There’s also the consideration of the cost of gas and wear and tear to your car — though there are, of course, steps you can take to increase mileage and save money on gas. When you get on the road, you are risking a flat tire or worse, so it’s worth thinking about how you’d handle a roadside emergency. And the fact that you need to bring your A game and alertness for a long-haul trip.

• And we can’t forget one of the main reasons many people choose to fly vs. drive: it takes a whole lot longer to drive than to fly. Think about cruising cross-country by car versus hopping a red-eye from Los Angeles to New York: One takes days, the other takes hours.

Pros of Flying

Booking a plane ticket is often the best option when deciding whether flying vs. driving is the best way to travel.

• It’s faster — a whole lot faster! If you’re taking a business trip to attend a crucial half-day meeting in another city, your highest priority might be the speed of flying in and out. That time-saving advantage is one of the biggest pros when it comes to choosing to fly. A trip that could take days of driving might only take hours in the air.

• Air travel can be more relaxing. You’re free to close your eyes and snooze away the hours until you arrive at your final destination. There’s no question of what route to take, where to stop, and when you’ll leave and arrive — the airline has that all figured out for you. You can take off from New York and wake up in L.A. ready to roll, without the exhaustion of a multi-day road trip holding you back.

• Flying can be cheaper than driving. How, you ask? If your road trip involves an overnight stay at a hotel, it might tip the car travel into more expensive territory. The driving vs. flying cost might wind up surprising you!

Cons of Flying

Of course, there are downsides to flying to mull over also.

• You’ll pay a premium in exchange for a speedy arrival and the convenience of flying. It is often more expensive to fly than to drive — possibly a lot more expensive. And if you are traveling with your squad or family, that price differential will be magnified.

Sometimes, on short flights, the time differential between flying and driving isn’t that much. If you’re thinking of taking a 60-minute flight versus a five-hour drive, it might be a wash when you think about getting to the airport, going through security, waiting to board, retrieving your luggage…you might actually be better off driving in terms of time invested.

• You might also have to sacrifice a little personal space and dignity when flying. Airplane seats can be a tight squeeze, and more and more people are packed onto flights. This means that you can pretty much count on being kind of uncomfortable while you engage in a silent but cutthroat battle with your seatmate over who gets to use the single armrest.

• And if you’re a nervous flier, the anxiety of air travel might outweigh the benefit of getting to your destination sooner.

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Is It Cheaper to Fly or Drive?

For many people, the factor of whether it’s cheaper to fly or drive will determine how they travel. While you may be tempted to merely compare ticket prices to gas prices to decide which one is cheaper, don’t forget to take into account extra costs like eating out, luggage fees, and hotel rooms. These can wind up emptying out your checking account rather quickly! Let’s break this down for you in a bit more detail.

Calculating the Cost of Driving

Here are a few travel costs of driving to consider:

• Gas

• Hotel rooms

• Eating out

• Car maintenance

• Possibility of having to rent a car if you don’t own one or yours isn’t available

• Tolls

Hotel Rooms

There is of course a huge price spread in hotel rooms. If you are going to stay in a motel when driving, it will be much more affordable than pulling into a city and staying at a posh hotel fee where even garaging your car can be a considerable expense.

Maybe, however, you could use points from your rewards credit card to book a room, or perhaps you are a frequent guest at a hotel chain and could bring the cost down. These are among the many ways to lower hotel costs.

Opportunity Cost of Time Spent Driving

Another thing to consider is what you lose if you spend more than, say, a day driving. Do you have to take unpaid time off from work? Do you need to hire childcare since your kids are in school while you’re away? Think through the implications before you opt for a long haul on the highway.

Calculating the Cost of Flying

Now, think about the costs associated with flying:

• Ticket

• Seating choice

• Luggage fees

• Eating out

• Transportation to and from the airport

• Airport parking

• Car rental, if needed

Rental Cars

The cost and availability of a rental car can vary tremendously. If you are renting a car in a small suburb, it likely won’t cost as much as hopping into the driver’s seat over Memorial Day weekend at a major city’s airport. Your destination city, location of car pickup and dropoff, size and style of car, and timing will all matter.

You can scan what rental company or credit card rewards might lower the price if you need to rent a car after a flight.

Accessing Remote Areas

Another factor to consider is where you’re heading to. Not all locations are easily and affordably accessed by plane. For instance, if you are heading to a destination wedding in the Rockies over the summer, you may find that the direct flights that were plentiful and lower-priced during ski season have become sparse, booked-up, and pricier than you expected.

Or you might find that the closest airport is hours away from your destination, so you will be renting a car and driving anyway. That could tip the balance and lead you to decide to drive the whole way vs. flying.

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A Rule of Thumb for Deciding Which Saves You More Money

As far as rules of thumb, some say for trips of around 600 miles or shorter, it’s wiser to drive.

For longer trips, the value of driving will decline as the distance increases, unless of course you want to experience the pleasures of a road trip and stop off at some other places en route.

Obviously, there are also such variables as whether you are traveling a common and readily available route, such as from New York, New York, to Orlando, Florida, or if you are covering ground between two Western US locations that have infrequent and expensive flights.

Luckily, in this day and age, you don’t need a map and a calculator to figure out which transportation method will be more cost-efficient. You can easily use an online calculator like this one from Travelmath or this
one from BeFrugal to get an idea of how travel costs may compare whether you are driving or flying. Thankfully, technology is here to help you make the best choice for whatever trip you may be planning. Bon voyage!

SoFi: Better Banking at Home and on the Road

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FAQ

Is driving cheaper than flying?

Driving typically costs less than flying, but if you wind up needing to pay for lodging en route, it might not be as good a deal. You can use online tools to compare driving and flying costs for different itineraries.

How much more expensive is flying than driving?

Flying is typically more expensive than driving, but it’s important to consider other factors. For instance, if you fly to your destination, will you then need to rent a car? It can be helpful to use online tools to compare costs and find the best deal for the particular itinerary you have planned.

Is it more energy-efficient to fly or drive?

In recent years, studies have indicated that flying may be better than driving. However, the answer to this question depends on how many people are in your party. When multiple people share a road trip, the emissions per person are lowered. This, in turn, makes driving more environmentally friendly than taking to the skies. But if the choice is flying or driving cross-country solo, you’d be better off with the plane.

Should you drive 5 hours or fly?

If you drive five hours at 60 miles per hour, you will cover about 300 miles. That is considered a fairly short trip and so you may well be better off driving.

Is it better to drive 12 hours or fly?

If you drive 12 hours at 60 miles per hour, you will cover about 720 miles. That’s a significant distance, and it will deprive you of a day and a half of productive time, whether that means earning money or taking care of your family. Only you can assess which option makes more sense, based on cost, scheduling, and other factors.

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Aug

2023

Guide to Weekly Budgets

By Kim Franke-Folstad | Budgeting & Goals, Financial Independence, money | Comments Off

A budget can be a great and necessary way to take control of your finances. It helps you track money coming in and going out, which could mean your spending on necessities, fun experiences, and saving for the future.

While many people prefer a monthly budget, a weekly budget can be a better option for others. It gives added control and flexibility in wrangling your finances. For instance, if you get hit with a bigger than expected bill in the first week of a month, you can take steps to accommodate that. Or, if you wind up getting a rebate, you might decide to allocate that towards debt ASAP.

Here, you’ll learn more about this process, including:

• What is a weekly budget?

• How do you budget weekly?

• What are the pros and cons of a weekly budget?

What Is a Weekly Budget

A weekly budget is a way to organize your finances and manage your money on a weekly cycle. It can help show you the money you have coming in, how much you’ll need for the necessities of life (housing, food, utilities, healthcare, etc.), how much you can spend on the wants in your world (dining out, entertainment, travel, cool gear), and how much should be set aside for savings.

For many people, a weekly guardrail like this helps them ensure their cash is tracking properly.

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How Weekly Budgets Work

Here’s how a weekly budget works:

• Figure out your take-home pay per week. This likely requires a bit of basic division since many people are paid bi-weekly or at another cadence.

• Next, look at your spending on necessities, such as housing, utilities, basic food (but not dining out or those vanilla lattes), minimum debt payments, healthcare, and insurance.

• Subtract those expenses from your income. See how much is left.

• From this remaining amount, allocate how much you can spend on “fun” items, such as dining out or takeout, clothing that isn’t vital, entertainment, travel, and the like.

• Also remember to allocate funds for savings. Many experts recommend a figure of 20% but that may vary depending on your cost of living, debt, and other factors.

• Now that you see how much money is coming in and how much remains for spending after the needs of life are paid for, you can track and manage your spending and saving weekly to make sure you are hitting your marks.

Benefits of a Weekly Budget

If you think tracking your money with a monthly household budget is a pain, the idea of putting even more effort into the process — and breaking it down by the week — may feel like overkill. But there could be some benefits to be had from the effort.

Here are a few pros and cons to consider:

Pro: More Flexibility

Life doesn’t always follow a schedule. A monthly budget can be a good fit for fixed expenses that are paid once a month (rent and car payments, student loan payments, etc.), or even quarterly or annual bills (insurance payments, subscriptions, and memberships). But other costs can be less predictable, such as dining out with friends, unexpected car repairs, clothing purchases; gifts; or an occasional massage or pedicure splurge.

Especially when it comes to discretionary expenses, using a weekly budget could help you spot when, where, and why you overspent in a certain category. And you can react more quickly to make changes to get back on track. In these ways, living on a budget can be a real advantage.

If you sit down to review your spending every week, instead of just once a month, you may be able to run through your transactions more quickly. And the less time-consuming and tedious your budget routine is, the less annoying it may be — which might make it easier to stay with it.

Pro: Planning Around Paychecks

If, like most Americans, you’re paid every week or every other week — or your spouse is — a weekly or biweekly budget could offer more flexibility for saving and spending.

People who are paid weekly have some months with four paychecks and some months with five. Those who are paid every other week have some months with two paychecks and some months with three.

A weekly budget could help pinpoint those extra paydays so you can take advantage of the opportunity to work on a short- or long-term goal. You might stockpile a few grocery-store staples that could help tide you over during leaner months, for example. Or you may want to set aside the money to start an emergency fund. Or you could use it to save for a wedding, honeymoon, or vacation.

Pro: Simplifying Savings

Switching to a budget that aligns with weekly or biweekly paydays also could make saving more manageable.

If you’re enrolled in a 401(k) or similar investment savings plan at work, you may already be making contributions each payday. You could do the same thing with your savings account by using a direct deposit from your paycheck. Or you could set up automatic transfers and move money from your checking account to your savings account each week.

Keep in mind that the more interest you earn, the faster you can get to your goals. So you may want to spend some time shopping for an account that offers both a competitive interest rate and innovative ways to manage your finances.

Downsides of a Weekly Budget

As you might expect, there are also some cons of a weekly budget. Consider the following:

Con: Too Much Temptation

The added flexibility that can make a weekly budget appealing also could make it easier for some individuals and households to be tempted off course — especially when it comes to discretionary spending. Telling yourself that you’ll spend less “next week” to justify getting what you want right now could become a habit. An important part of successful budgeting is sticking to the budget.

With that in mind, you might want to tuck each week’s discretionary money into an envelope …and when it’s gone, it’s gone. Using a tracking app to keep track of your expenses on your phone or tablet also could help.

Recommended: Envelope Budgeting Method

Con: Weekly Check-ins Could Become Overwhelming

Taking the time each week to review your purchases and update your budget may not be realistic for some people. If finding time to check in with your budget each week feels too overwhelming you may want to try a bi-weekly or monthly approach.

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4 Steps To Create a Weekly Budget

Making a budget — whether it’s set up to be weekly, biweekly, monthly, or a bit of a combo — can be a good way to get control of your finances. Here’s are some steps to setting up a weekly budget template:

1. Pull Together Your Paperwork

If you want your budget to be useful, it should be as accurate as possible. So you’ll probably want to pull together some paperwork to help get it right, including your most recent pay stubs, bank statements, utility bills, insurance bills, credit card bills and loan statements, and any other recurring bills you can think of. You may also find it helps to have tracked your spending (on paper or with an app) for a while before you sit down to create your budget. Or you may want to collect recent grocery store, drug store, and restaurant receipts to help you estimate those costs.

2. Calculate Your Weekly Income

Write down all your income sources for a month. (If you’re married, include your spouse’s income sources. If you’re a freelancer or your income is unpredictable, you may want to calculate the average over the past three or four months.) Find your take-home amount (what you get after taxes and other payroll deductions) and divide it by four.

3. Make a Realistic List of Your Expenses

Using a budgeting program or app, a spreadsheet, or maybe just a notebook, write down all your expenses for the month. It can help to break down those costs by categories, such as:

• Housing costs. Things like your rent or mortgage, utilities, or other expenses

• Transportation. Costs like car payments, insurance, gas, and maintenance

• Food and groceries

• If you have children, costs like child care, tuition, activities, and more

• Financial expenses, such as bank fees or taxes

• Savings and investing. Contributions to 401(k) or IRA, emergency fund

• Health Care. Prescriptions, dental care, co-pays, and more

• Personal spending. Clothes, shoes, gym membership

• Entertainment. Movies, special events, streaming services, books, and more

Keep in mind that the categories you include in your budget will be influenced by your wants, needs, and spending habits.

You may decide you want to use a monthly budget for some expenses (utility bills and other fixed expenses) and a weekly budget for others (such as discretionary expenses, debt payments, and savings). But if you want to go weekly with everything, the math isn’t all that complicated. To convert monthly amounts into weekly spend amounts, multiply the monthly figure by 12 and then divide by 52.

4. Deduct Expenses from Income

Add up your weekly expenses and subtract that number from your weekly income. If you come out ahead, you could add more to your savings and investments, pay down debt even faster, or add more of a cushion to another category on your list. If you come out even, you may want to adjust your discretionary spending a bit, so an unexpected cost doesn’t throw you off track.

If you come out with a negative number, you may have to make some decisions about what costs you can cut or even get rid of.

Especially when you’re starting out, it may help to use a budget framework similar to the 50/30/20 budget rule, which suggests keeping essential costs to 50% or less, discretionary costs to 30% or less, and setting at least 20% aside for savings if you can. If your percentages are where you want them, you have a budget.

Recommended: See how your money is categorized using the 50/30/20 budget calculator.

Test the Budget and Adjust

Once you have a budget you feel comfortable with, it’s time to test your new spending and savings strategy. You might decide to use a tracking app to see how you’re doing, but you also may benefit from actually sitting down to go over the numbers once a week. (This could be particularly helpful for married couples who are sharing a couples budget.)

If you spot any problem areas or realize you forgot something, you can always make adjustments. If something happens to change your income or expenses (a raise, a new job, a job loss, a big purchase, or a baby), you can adjust again.

Don’t be discouraged if the budget you built doesn’t work out the first time you use it. You may have to develop new habits. Or you may need to get some help with ditching your debt or determining your financial goals.

The Takeaway

Setting up a weekly budget could make it easier to stay on top of your spending by streamlining the number of transactions you have to track and helping you spotlight any areas you may be overspending in. However, for some, checking in and tracking your spending and transaction each week could become overwhelming. An app, possibly provided by your bank, could help.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.00% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

What should a weekly budget include?

A weekly budget should include your income, your necessary expenses (housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more), your discretionary expenses (eating out, travel, entertainment), and your savings.

How do you budget weekly money?

To budget money weekly, you will need to divide your take-home pay into weekly amounts and then do the same with your spending on needs and wants, as well as savings. You want to be sure your weekly income can cover those expenditures.

What does having a weekly budget mean?

Having a weekly budget means you are balancing your income, spending, and saving on a weekly basis. This can be a good way to stay in close touch with your money, though for some people it might feel like overkill vs. monthly budgeting.

Photo credit: iStock/Prostock-Studio

Aug

2023

Top Budgeting Tips for Single Parents

By Nancy Bilyeau | Budgeting & Goals, Family Finances, money | No Comments

Single parents typically carry a lot of weight on their shoulders, paying for their child’s food, clothes, medical care, after-school programs, and more.

It can be challenging to make ends meet and avoid credit card debt. Saving for the future (including college) can be difficult.

But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. There are smart strategies that help make it possible for single moms and dads and their kids to thrive. Establishing a basic budget, knowing how to handle taxes, and whittling down debt can all play a part in boosting your financial wealth.

Here, learn some important financial moves for single parents.

9 Ways to Budget As a Single Parent

Setting up a simple budget can be a smart move for a single parent. It can help you take control of your cash and also make your money work harder for you.

1. Crunching the Numbers and Creating a Single Parent Budget

A great way to get a better financial path is to first figure out where you currently stand and come up with a monthly budget.

How to budget as a single mom or dad is similar to what anyone else would do. You can do this by gathering your financial statements for the past several months, then using them to figure out your average monthly income (after taxes), including any child support or alimony you receive.

Next, you can tally up your fixed expenses (monthly bills) and variable expenses (clothing, food, entertainment) to see how much, on average, you are spending each month.

Ideally, you want your monthly inflow to be larger than the outflow — that way, you have money left over for savings and paying off debt. One smart technique can be the 50/30/20 budget rule, which divides your income into three parts: 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and paying off debt beyond the minimum.

If your current income isn’t high enough to make that work, you can re-jigger the percentages and come up with a spending and saving plan that works for you.

2. Trimming Expenses in Your Single Mom Budget

Next, you need to figure out how to live on a budget.

If you find yourself breaking even or, worse, going backwards each month, you may next want to look hard at your list of expenses and start searching for ways to save money.

A key single parent budgeting move is to hone in on your recurring bills to see if there are any ways to lower them. You may now be living on a single income, which can involve some lifestyle tweaks. You might be able to switch to a cheaper cell phone, for example. Or, maybe you can find a better deal on car insurance or ditch your cable subscription.

You can also look for ways to cut everyday spending, such as breaking a morning coffee shop habit, cooking more often and getting less take-out, and using coupons (say, via RetailMeNot or Coupons.com) whenever you shop.

💡 Quick Tip: Help your money earn more money! Opening a bank account online often gets you higher-than-average rates.

3. Opening an Interest-Bearing Account

Once you start freeing up some money each month, it can be a good idea to start siphoning it off into a high-yield savings account. This can help you create some financial security for your family, as well as help you reach short-term goals, like going on a vacation or putting a downpayment on a home.

Even if you can only afford to set aside $25 or $50 per month, it will begin to add up.

Some good places to stash cash you may need in the next two or three years include a high-yield savings account, an online savings account, or a checking and savings account. These accounts typically earn more interest than a standard savings account, yet allow you to have easy access to your money when you need it.

You may want to keep an eye out for fees, and shop around for financial institutions that won’t charge you monthly and other account fees (which can take a bite out of your hard-earned savings).

4. Prioritizing Emergency Savings

Expensive problems you can’t plan for often come up, like a car or home repair, taking a child to urgent care, or a sudden loss of income. Without a cushion, small money problems can quickly balloon into big ones if you are forced to run up high interest credit card debt to deal with them.

As you start building savings as part of your monthly single parent budget, it can be wise to prioritize emergency savings. Experts often recommend having at least three- to six-months worth of living expenses stashed away in a separate savings account where you won’t be tempted to spend it. That way it’s there when you need it.

5. Paying Off Your Credit Cards

A debt elimination plan can make a significant change in your monthly cash flow. When creating a budget for a single mom (or dad), it can be a good idea to leave room for credit card payments that are higher than the minimum.

You may want to start with the debt that has the highest interest first since borrowing from those creditors is costing you the most money. However, if you’re likely to get discouraged because it’s taking a long time to pay off that debt, you can start with the lowest balance debt. Getting some small debts paid off may motivate you to keep going.

Whatever debt you target, you can then pay more than the minimum payment on that debt while continuing to pay the minimum on others, with the goal to eliminate them one by one.

Another option: personal loans for single moms can help pay off the debt and substitute a lower-interest payment for what you were paying the credit card company. This may be an avenue to explore.

6. Planning for the Future

Once you’ve mastered your day-to-day finances, you may want to look toward your two big long-term financial security goals: retirement and your children’s college education.

If you can’t comfortably save for both at the same time, you may want to begin with retirement. While your kids can likely get loans for college, there aren’t loans for retirement.

You may want to start by contributing to any employer-sponsored 401(k) plan. If your employer is matching contributions, it can be a good idea to chip in at least enough to get the match (otherwise you’re turning away free money!). Or you can set up an IRA; even $25 or $50 a month at first is a start.

When you’re in the habit of regularly contributing to a retirement savings account, you may want to turn your attention to saving for college: An ESA (education savings account) or 529 college savings fund can help you save towards college expenses while getting a tax break.

7. Automating Your Finances

As a single parent, you may be super busy, making it easy to pay bills late simply because you forgot. Automating your finances can simplify your budget (and your life) and help ensure you don’t get slapped with expensive fees or interest charges for being late with payments.

A good place to start is to set up autopay for all your recurring bills, either through your service providers or your bank. This way you don’t have to stay on top of due dates and remember to make every payment.

Automating can also be a great idea when it comes to saving. Often referred to as “paying yourself first,” you may want to set up an automatic transfer of money from your checking to your savings account on the same day each month, perhaps right after your paycheck gets deposited. This prevents you from spending those dollars or having to remember to transfer the funds to your savings at a later time.

8. Increasing Your Income

If your budget is super tight even after cutting expenses, then you may want to find ways to increase your income. This can help take a lot of the stress off budgeting as a single mom or dad.

There are many ways you can increase your income. For starters, if you’ve been at your job for a while and are performing well, you may want to consider asking for a raise. It can be helpful to research what the industry average pay is for your position with your experience to get an idea of how much you should ask for.

Another way to increase your income is to start a side hustle, like walking dogs, becoming a virtual assistant, taking on freelance work in your profession, selling your crafts, becoming a tutor, caring for other people’s kids, or offering music lessons.

9. Taking Advantage of Tax Breaks

Tax credits for single vs. married people can vary. When you’re budgeting as a single mom or dad, it can be smart to be aware of all the tax benefits you may be entitled to. A tax credit is directly subtracted from the amount you owe in taxes, while an exemption means that amount is deducted from your total income before your taxes are calculated.

Here are few tax benefits that may be worth investigating:

• Filing as “Head of Household” instead of “Single.” If you meet the requirements, you may be able to get a higher standard deduction.

• The child tax credit. If you share equal custody with your child’s other parent, only one of you can claim this. You may want to consider alternating years.

• The earned income tax credit. Single working parents with low to moderate incomes often qualify.

• The child and dependent care credit. If you’ve been paying for childcare so that you can work (or look for work), you may be entitled to this. But only one parent can claim it each year.

The Takeaway

Budgeting as a single mom or dad can be challenging. With some simple financial planning, however, you can start to feel less stressed about money and get closer to both your short- and long-term goals.

Key steps for single moms and dads include taking a close look at your monthly cash flow, trimming expenses, paying off your credit cards, taking advantage of tax benefits for parents, and saving a little each month to create financial security. If you’re looking for a simple way to stay on top of your single parent budget, you may want to consider if you have the right banking partner.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.00% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

How do single parents survive financially?

Single parents can survive financially by taking control of their money and budgeting, managing expenses, building up an emergency fund and savings, and minimizing debt. Budgeting for single moms and dads is important since you are likely the only income stream so every dollar counts.

How can a single parent afford everything?

To afford everything (meaning all the expenses related to raising a child), single parents can budget wisely, seek child support, bring in additional income, and seek government assistance if needed.

How much should a single parent have in savings?

It’s important for single parents to have an emergency with a minimum of three to six months’ worth of living expenses set aside. This can help if there’s an unexpected medical or car repair bill or if you are laid off; since you don’t have another income in the family, this is a very important move. Beyond that, experts recommend saving 20% of your salary if possible.

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2024 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/3/24. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

SOBK0723033

Aug

2023

Do You Need a Long-Term Savings Account?

By Kelly Boyer Sagert | Budgeting & Goals, Financial Independence, money | Comments Off

Some of the best things in life are worth saving for, from an incredible vacation in Asia to the down payment on your dream house. A long-term savings account can keep your money safe and pay interest as you accumulate funds over time. This is in comparison to, say, a checking account which may have money constantly flowing in and out.

Long-term savings accounts can help you reach goals that take at least a few years or possibly decades to attain. They may be a savings account at a financial institution, a certificate of deposit (CD), a retirement fund, or other financial products.

Here, you’ll learn more about these options, including:

• What are long-term savings accounts

• What are the pros and cons of long-term savings accounts

• What types of accounts are considered long-term savings accounts

Pros and Cons of Long-Term Savings Accounts

If you are wondering about long-term savings, consider the potential upsides and downsides of this kind of account.

Pros of Long-Term Savings Accounts

Here are some benefits of long-term savings accounts:

• Your money makes money. Compounding interest turbocharges the impact.

• Your money is safe. Look for an account that’s insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, or NCUA (The National Credit Union Administration), and you’ll be covered for $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for every account ownership category. Some financial institutions may offer ways to cover even larger amounts.

• Savings accounts are widely available and typically very easy to open.

Cons of Long-Term Savings Accounts

As you might expect, there are also some disadvantages to long-term savings accounts. These include:

• Relatively low interest rates. If you have your money in a traditional savings account, you may not earn that much. You might do better with a high-interest savings account or investing in the market.

• There’s no tax advantage to putting your money in a savings account, while some retirement accounts may offer you an advantage on that front.

• Restrictions and fees. Some savings accounts may limit you to six withdrawal transactions per month, and there’s a possibility that you’ll pay minimum balance or other charges.

💡 Quick Tip: Want to save more, spend smarter? Let your bank manage the basics. It’s surprisingly easy, and secure, when you open an online bank account.

4 Long-Term Savings Options

While savings accounts are one popular way to stash cash, they aren’t the only game in town. Here are five options, along with some pros and cons of each of them.

1. High-Interest Savings Accounts

This type of savings account can provide considerably higher interest rates than the average savings account.

You may hear it referred to as a high-interest, high-yield, premium, or growth savings account.

It’s generally just as easy to access a high-interest savings account as it is a standard checking account, although there may be limits on the number of withdrawals you can make per month with this type of savings account. They often offer ATM access, sometimes with fee reimbursement, mobile check deposit, and online account management via an app.

Financial institutions that offer these accounts include regional banks and local credit unions; online savings accounts will also often offer these benefits.

To open and maintain this type of account, there are often certain requirements that need to be met. This could include setting up a direct deposit, maintaining a minimum balance, or limiting the number of withdrawals per month. Some high-interest savings accounts also offer tiered interest rates for different balance ranges. For instance, a bank might offer a base tier on balances up to $25,000, and an upper tier with a higher rate on balances greater than $25,000.

One item to check for in the fine print: the balance cap on interest earned. If that’s included, this means that there’s a limit to the balance on which interest can be earned. For example, if the interest rate is 4%, but the balance cap is at $2,500, then the interest rate is only earned on money up to the cap. Any amount above the balance cap will not earn a high interest rate.

2. Money Market Accounts

A money market account is similar to a high-interest savings account, but it will likely have more requirements for keeping it open. For example, some accounts require initial deposit minimums, and a certain minimum balance may be required to prevent monthly fees from being charged.

With both high-interest savings accounts and money market accounts, funds can typically be deposited and withdrawn fairly easily.

3. Certificates of Deposit

A certificate of deposit (CD) is a deposit account that typically offers higher interest rates than a regular savings account and pays compounding interest. In other words, interest is paid on the interest.

One challenge with a CD, though, is that it’s a time deposit. You’ll usually know the interest rate in advance, but you must agree to keep the funds in the account for a predetermined amount of time. (The range is often from a few months to several years.) So this may not provide the liquidity — the ability to quickly turn the account into cash — that some people want and need. If funds are withdrawn before the maturity date, a penalty will likely be assessed.

Interest rates on CDs are typically structured in tiers, based upon how long a person agrees to keep the money in the account. A short-term vs. long-term CD will probably pay a lower interest rate. A six-month CD, for instance, will likely pay a bit less in interest than a two-year CD.

4. Retirement Accounts

Retirement accounts have one thing in common: they are investment vehicles designed to help people save for their post-working years. They typically have tax advantages. Here are three of the types.

1. Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)

The account holder opens this account and makes contributions on their own instead of through an employer. There may be an income tax deduction allowed on contributions made, and the funds are tax-deferred, meaning the contributions aren’t taxed but the withdrawals are. For tax year 2023, the maximum allowable contribution amount is $6,500 annually or $7,500 if age 50 or older. If funds are withdrawn before the account holder is 59 and a half, there is a 10% penalty levied on the amount withdrawn in addition to the usual tax on the withdrawal.

Contribution limits and how much is tax-deductible will depend upon factors such as whether you are filing singly or jointly, how much you earn (your modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI), and whether you are covered by a retirement plan at work.

2. Roth IRA

A Roth IRA is another type of individual retirement account that a person opens and funds without the involvement of an employer, this time using after-tax money to contribute. This means that account holders cannot deduct contributions on their income tax. However, the balance grows tax-free, and when funds are withdrawn during retirement, they are also tax-free. Annual contribution caps are the same as a traditional IRA.

To contribute to a Roth, the account holder must be earning an income. Once that person’s MAGI reaches a certain level — for the 2023 tax year, this is $153,000 — then the ability to continue to contribute will begin to phase out. If the account holder is filing joint federal income taxes, then the amount is $228,000 for the 2023 tax year.

As noted above, the maximum total annual contribution to all your IRAs when combined is $6,500 for those under age 50 in tax year 2023; $7,500 if you are 50 or older.

This type of account is typically best for someone who appreciates the ability to withdraw funds in retirement without paying taxes, and a Roth IRA can work especially well for people currently earning a lower income than they expect to earn in the future.

3. 401(k) Retirement Account

What is a 401(k)? It’s a retirement plan offered by an employer to qualifying employees. Contributions are made with pre-tax money, which means they will reduce the person’s taxable income. The money grows tax-free, with taxes paid when funds are withdrawn in retirement.

For the 2023 tax year, the maximum annual contribution amount is $22,500; an additional catch-up contribution of up to $7,500 can be made by account holders over the age of 50. These contributions are taken from the employee’s paycheck, and some companies provide matching funds up to a certain amount. Sometimes these accounts have fees that must be paid.

Although these are not the only kinds of retirement accounts available, they are among those most commonly used.

💡 Quick Tip: Most savings accounts only earn a fraction of a percentage in interest. Not at SoFi. Our high-yield savings account can help you make meaningful progress towards your financial goals.

Long-Term Financial Goals

By setting long-term financial goals, people can create a plan for a more comfortable future and make a commitment to stay on track with savings goals. The reality is that, according to a recent survey, 37% of Americans have no retirement savings at all.

Creating a long-term financial plan and focusing on that plan can help people reach money goals. Keeping cash in a savings account long-term can help you reach those aspirations.

Steps include setting goals with these five components:

• Clarity

• Challenge

• Commitment

• Complexity

• Feedback

These components are included in “A Theory of Goal Setting and Task Performance,” published by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham.

• First, be clear about what, specifically, you want to accomplish — and don’t be afraid to dream big.

• What challenges might you face? Break your goals into smaller parts to simplify the journey.

• Prioritize them and make a commitment to follow shorter-term goals, one step at a time, which also helps to gain momentum on the longer-term ones.

• The excitement that may be felt about this process can help to solidify a sense of commitment.

• For some people, it can help to partner with another person and share goals, keeping one another accountable. Or perhaps a mentor can be helpful. Other people may find it more effective to reward themselves when certain goals are met. Whichever method is chosen, it typically works best when progress is regularly reviewed and adjusted, as needed.

Emergency Savings Account

Although saving for long-term goals is wise, it can make sense to prioritize creating an emergency fund if one doesn’t already exist. It’s usually wise to choose an account type that offers liquidity because this is one where you’ll want quick access if an emergency occurs.

A typical recommendation is to keep three to six months’ worth of living expenses in this account. That way, if someone in the household loses a job, an emergency home repair seems to come out of nowhere, or medical bills need to be paid, money in these funds can help to keep all on track or at least mitigate the impact of the expenses.

Opening a Savings Account With SoFi

If using separate savings accounts for different financial goals isn’t something you want or need to do, consider using one main account that lets you save for your financial goals, spend money, and earn money. You might want to take a closer look at what SoFi offers.

Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.00% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

What type of account is best for long-term savings?

If you are interested in a highly liquid account that is insured, you might look for a high-yield savings account. These are typically found at online banks and can offer significantly higher interest rates than traditional banks.

What is a long-term savings account called?

You may see different terms used for long-term savings accounts, such as high-yield, high-interest, and premium savings.

What is considered long-term savings?

Long-term savings are typically money that is being set aside for a goal that is at least several years or possibly a few decades away. If you are starting to save for the down payment on a house, your child’s college education, or your retirement, those might be considered long-term goals.

Photo credit: iStock/AndreyPopov

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2024 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/3/24. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

SOBK0723057

Aug

2023

Money Management for College Students

By SoFi Editors | Budgeting & Goals, Fresh Out of School, money | Comments Off

College life is all about getting a great education, getting to know your roommates and classmates, exploring interests and activities, and forging your own adult identity. But it’s also a perfect time to establish some good money habits that will set the scene for success today and tomorrow.

From developing a budget to opening bank accounts, you’ll have ways to make your money work harder for you and grow over time so you can achieve your goals. And it can be pretty simple, too, so it won’t interfere with study sessions or hanging out at the student center.

Learn the 10 best strategies for good money management here.

10 Tips for Managing Your Money As a College Student

Here are 10 money management tips that help you spend less and save more both during and after college.

1. Setting up a Basic Budget
2. Opening up a Savings Account
3. Buying Used Textbooks (and Selling Yours When Done)
4. Using Credit Cards Sparingly
5. Building Your Credit Score
6. Finding Free Stuff
7. Learning to Cook–and Eating out Less
8. Starting an Emergency Fund
9. Getting the Most out of Your Student ID
10. Getting Started with Investing

1. Setting up a Basic Budget

Budgeting may sound complicated, but making a budget is simply a matter of figuring how much is coming into your bank account each month and how much is going out, and making sure the latter doesn’t exceed the former.

To get started, you’ll want to list all of your sources of income, such as from a job or family contributions.

If you are going to be living off a fixed amount of money for each semester, say from summer earnings or money from your family, you may want to divide this lump sum by the number of months you need to make this money last.

Once you know how much you have to live on each month, you’ll want to make a list of fixed expenses that you will be responsible for paying, such as cell phone or car payment, or maybe even rent if you live off campus.

Next, you’ll want to subtract your fixed expense from your monthly spending allotment. This will give you the amount you have left over to cover variable expenses, such as eating out, buying clothes, and entertainment. You can then come up with target spending amounts for each category.

Doing your best to stay within these spending limits can help ensure that your money lasts until the end of the semester, and help you avoid running up costly credit card debt.

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2. Opening up a Savings Account

You might feel like you don’t have enough income to start saving money yet, but even just putting a small amount away each month can add up over time.

For example, if you’re able to set aside $50 a month now, you may soon have a decent nest egg that can help pay for something fun, like a road trip over the next school break.

What’s more, being diligent about saving money each month can help cultivate a habit that will serve you later when you can afford to save more in your nest egg and also for retirement.

3. Buying Used Textbooks (and Selling Yours When Done)

Textbooks can be so expensive! Fortunately, there are a number of ways to save money here.

One option is to buy used whenever you can. You’ll want to be sure, however, that you are getting the version the professor wants. If you have an earlier edition, you might struggle to find the content if the book has since been modified. Getting the digital version of a book can also yield savings.

Another option is to rent what you need from a third-party bookseller, such as Amazon or Chegg. You can often rent textbooks for an entire semester for significantly less than buying new, and may even be able to highlight them.

For books that you purchase (new or used) that you won’t need to refer to in the future, consider selling them when you’re done to recoup some of the expense.

4. Using Credit Cards Sparingly

Credit card companies love college students, and many may try to lure you into applying for cards. You’ll want to proceed with caution, however.

While having a credit card as a student can be a good idea–for convenience, as a backup for emergencies, and to start building credit history (more on that below), you’ll want to be careful that you don’t run up credit card debt.

If you charge more than you can afford to pay off at the end of the month, you can end up paying a high-interest rate on the balance, which can make it even hard to pay off.

As a result, it can be easy for college students to find themselves digging a debt hole that can be hard to climb out of.

If you choose to sign up for a new card, you may want to look for a rewards credit card. These can let you rack up points you can use to get products or travel perks, but only charge what you can afford to pay back quickly.

If you choose to sign up for a new card, you may want to look for a rewards credit card that will let you rack up points you can use to get products or travel perks–and only charge what you can afford to pay back quickly.

5. Establishing Your Credit Score

A credit score is a three-digit number, typically between 300 and 850, designed to represent your credit risk, or the likelihood you will pay your bills on time.

Building your credit history might not seem like a priority when you’re still in school, but you’ll need it in the future if you want to finance a car, buy a house, or qualify for the best credit card offers. Your credit can even affect your job prospects and your ability to rent an apartment.

One good strategy is to use your credit card judiciously. If you make small purchases and regularly pay the balance off in full, you can avoid racking up interest charges but still get that boost to your credit score.

If you have student loans, you may also want to consider making small payments (even just $25 to $50) while you’re still in school to start paying down interest and have some positive repayment history on record.

If you start building a solid credit history now, you will likely be able to get better deals on lending products like mortgages, car loans, and credit cards in the future.

6. Finding Free Stuff

One highly effective way to stretch your money is to find freebies.

Facebook has groups where people can post items they no longer want. You might be able to score free clothes, furniture, or room decor.

Freecycle and NextDoor also have listings for things that people are giving away. You can also find free items on Craigslist (you’ll find the “Free” section under the “For Sale” heading on the main page for your city).

7. Learning to Cook and Eating out Less

You may find you get tired of cafeteria fare and ramen. At the same time, you may not want to don’t blow your budget on eating in restaurants every weekend.

If you have access to a kitchen, you might want to consider purchasing ingredients from your local supermarket and putting together some simple, tasty meals, instead of eating out. This can be a major way to save money on food.

If you’re not much of a cook, you may want to go to some food blogs and recipe sites like Allrecipes or Serious Eats to find some easy recipes and watch a few how-to videos. You could also find tons of cooking videos on YouTube.

Having some go-to recipes in your arsenal can pay off now, and also down the line when you’re working and living on your own (and don’t have to rely on expensive take-out or unhealthy fast food for dinner every night).

8. Starting an Emergency Fund

Starting an emergency fund or back-up savings fund is an important part of anyone’s long-term financial health.

Life can be unpredictable, and your emergency fund serves as a safety net that you can fall back on for those “rainy days” where you find yourself facing an unexpected expense or other financial setbacks.

Having an emergency fund can also help keep you from having to rely on credit cards to get through a financial challenge.

How much you should put aside for emergencies each month is up to you and your financial situation. The key is to start saving something each month, no matter how small the amount may initially seem.

When starting your emergency fund, it’s a good idea to fund the account regularly. Consider setting up an automatic transfer to your savings so you do not have to think about it.

Ideally, your emergency fund should also be set up in a separate savings account so you won’t be tempted to spend the money on something else.

9. Getting the Most out of Your Student ID

You may only think of your ID card as a form of identification and a way to get into college sporting events. But there are actually a number of additional benefits that come with a student ID, and many can help you save money.

You may find that businesses, especially those near universities, will offer students discounts when they show a student ID card.

Next time you go to the movies, shop for school supplies, or get a new haircut, it can be a good idea to ask if they offer any discounts for local college students.

In addition, many national and online retailers, including major clothing, sneaker, and computer brands, offer discounts to college students.

You may also be able to use your student ID to get a better deal on your cell phone plan and streaming services.

10. Getting Started with Investing

Investing when you’re young is one of the best ways to help your money grow over time.

That’s thanks to compound earnings, which means that any returns you earn are reinvested to earn additional returns. The earlier you start investing, the more benefit you gain from compounding.

Investing in the stock market also isn’t as complicated as you may think. You can open a retirement account, like a traditional or Roth IRA, or a brokerage account (for nonretirement investing) online, often with a minimal amount of money.

You may also be able to schedule automatic withdrawals from your bank account to your investment account each month.

It’s important to keep in mind, however, that all investments have some level of risk because the market moves up and down over time.

The Takeaway

College can provide a great opportunity to develop the money skills you’ll need after you graduate. By learning some basic money management techniques now, you can feel confident about your ability to handle your finances well after graduation.

In 10 years, you will likely thank yourself for putting in the effort to learn how to set and stick to a monthly budget, use credit cards wisely, save money, and build your credit score.

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As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/3/24. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

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Calculating If It’s Cheaper To Drive Or Fly Somewhere

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Pros of Driving

Cons of Driving

Pros of Flying

Cons of Flying

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Hotel Rooms

Opportunity Cost of Time Spent Driving

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Rental Cars

Accessing Remote Areas

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FAQ

Is driving cheaper than flying?

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Is it more energy-efficient to fly or drive?

Should you drive 5 hours or fly?

Is it better to drive 12 hours or fly?

Guide to Weekly Budgets

What Is a Weekly Budget

How Weekly Budgets Work

Benefits of a Weekly Budget

Pro: More Flexibility

Pro: Planning Around Paychecks

Pro: Simplifying Savings

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Downsides of a Weekly Budget

Con: Too Much Temptation

Con: Weekly Check-ins Could Become Overwhelming

4 Steps To Create a Weekly Budget

1. Pull Together Your Paperwork

2. Calculate Your Weekly Income

3. Make a Realistic List of Your Expenses

4. Deduct Expenses from Income

Test the Budget and Adjust

The Takeaway

FAQ

What should a weekly budget include?

How do you budget weekly money?

What does having a weekly budget mean?

Top Budgeting Tips for Single Parents

9 Ways to Budget As a Single Parent

1. Crunching the Numbers and Creating a Single Parent Budget

2. Trimming Expenses in Your Single Mom Budget

3. Opening an Interest-Bearing Account

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4. Prioritizing Emergency Savings

5. Paying Off Your Credit Cards

6. Planning for the Future

7. Automating Your Finances

8. Increasing Your Income

9. Taking Advantage of Tax Breaks

The Takeaway

FAQ

How do single parents survive financially?

How can a single parent afford everything?

How much should a single parent have in savings?

Do You Need a Long-Term Savings Account?

Pros and Cons of Long-Term Savings Accounts

Pros of Long-Term Savings Accounts

Cons of Long-Term Savings Accounts

4 Long-Term Savings Options

1. High-Interest Savings Accounts

Earn up to 4.00% APY with a high-yield savings account from SoFi.

2. Money Market Accounts

3. Certificates of Deposit

4. Retirement Accounts

Long-Term Financial Goals

Emergency Savings Account

Opening a Savings Account With SoFi

FAQ

What type of account is best for long-term savings?

What is a long-term savings account called?

What is considered long-term savings?

Money Management for College Students

10 Tips for Managing Your Money As a College Student

1. Setting up a Basic Budget

Student Loan
Refinancing

Personal
Loans

Online
Investments