How to Make Money While Cleaning Your Home

Thoroughly cleaning your house every spring or fall can give you a great sense of accomplishment as well as make your home feel more spacious. While it is easy to find the obvious things you want to get rid of in the regular living areas, don’t overlook additional places in and around your home that need a good cleaning and will let you earn money in the process.

Attic

Past generations of mementos and trunks full of retro-style clothing can fetch a fair price when sold. Buyer interest and pricing depends largely on the items’ condition, their age, and the prevalence of similar items on the market already. 

Look through old boxes, bags, stacks, and trunks of things that you might not have thought about for a while. Chances are good that there will be plenty of items to part with, some of which could be bringing in unexpected income.

Basement

The basement or any storage area of your home may be full of unwanted trash that others will happily consider as treasures. Books, unused furniture, old toys and games, and similar possessions that no longer are used in your home can be advertised for sale online or locally at competitive prices. 



Make sure they are clean and in good condition and take care when shipping anything to a buyer to ensure that it is wrapped protectively and tracked by the shipping service to confirm delivery.

Shed

Your shed may need a good decluttering to make room for a new riding mower or other lawn equipment. Older tools and equipment are often sought by homeowners, contractors, and entrepreneurs who are looking for quality products at affordable prices. Unused construction leftovers, lawn decorations, and pet supplies may also draw buyer interest.

Garage

Don’t forget to look through your garage to get rid of things you no longer need. Extra painting supplies, garden tools, and patio umbrellas or kids’ swings are typical of used merchandise eager buyers are seeking. 

Vehicle enthusiasts will gladly pay cash for junk cars to restore and drive them or dismantle the frames for parts. Bicycles, skates, and other outdoor sports gear are also popular on consignment lists or at thrift stores.

Organize everything you no longer want or need, market it locally or online, and then collect cash as buyers carry away or receive by shipment your discarded debris. There is hardly an easier way to make easy cash.

Figuring Out Your Finances Before You Choose a House to Retire In

When it's time to retire, you need to consider where you want to spend your retirement. You need a final home where you are comfortable and safe. Of course, you also need to be able to afford the home. Here are some tips on figuring out your finances before you choose a house to retire in.

Living Within Your Means

Ultimately, you want to pick a home that you can afford easily. You don't want to stretch out your finances in your golden years. You want to have money to spend on vacations, dinners, and spoiling the grandchildren. For that reason, you need to pick a place that is in your budget.

Take the time to look at your retirement plans and income. It may be helpful to sit down with a financial advisor so that you set up a solid budget. They will be able to help you understand what money you have, what income you can get, and where you might be able to grow your money a little more. With all this information, you’ll be better able to set a
 manageable budget. Then you can figure out what you can afford to pay for your home.

Consider Additional Expenses

As you probably know by now, a home comes with a lot more expenses than just the sale price. You need to consider all of the additional costs you will have with your new home including HOA fees, home repairs, landscaping, taxes, and cost of living. These costs can add up quickly, so you need to include them in your budget every month. Make sure you have money for repairs, and good insurance, too.




When you start the purchasing and closing processes, you might consider consulting a real estate law firm. They can help you make a contract that protects you from paying too much or making too many concessions on a house that may need work to be up to your standards. They can also help you with other issues that might come up during the buying process.

Think About Medical Expenses

As we get older, we are more likely to run into serious medical issues. These medical problems are draining on the body, but they are draining on the bank account, too. You need to save plenty for any medical expenses that might come your way, including in-home care when you get to your final years. These things do not come cheap, so be prepared.

Your final home is an important decision. While you want to be comfortable in your golden years, you also want to have money to spend and give to the people you love. Before you pick a home, consider these aspects of your finances to help you make the right decision.

Sane Investing for Crazy Times

Smart investing in the best of times can be tricky, but figuring out how to manage assets while the world is going crazy can seem impossible. The good news is that experts like wealth management firm AOG's Frederick Baerenz tell clients that even in unprecedented times, there is a roadmap to sane investing.

Act Rationally

As president and CEO of AOG Wealth Management Inc., Frederick Baerenz has helped many clients through personal and global financial crises by never letting fear win the day. Instead, he advises clients to act according to long-term financial goals rather than panicking because their assets are losing value day-to-day. 

Making decisions based on emotion can cause fearful investors to cash out of temporarily volatile markets before they understand the impact and longevity of the current trend, so he recommends investors stick to what they know instead of what they feel.

Move Slowly

For folks who have many years of earning ahead, weathering the storm is often a better strategy than pulling their money out of investments too quickly. Although there will be times when selling at a loss makes sense, those who can wait it out should. 

Not only will waiting afford the time to make better decisions, but losses to assets such as stocks and real estate also are not realized until they’re sold, making it beneficial to simply wait and see what happens.

Choose Wisely

If the time does come to sell, investors should examine each asset’s historical performance rather than worrying about how much value it is currently losing. 

Performance history provides a better understanding of which investments typically bounce back and which consistently underperform, making it easier to streamline and fortify investment portfolios for the next time the markets don’t cooperate.

No matter what causes economic upheaval, investors can prevail even in the craziest times through sound principles and a levelheaded approach.

How to Save While Fighting a Rat Infestation

Just the thought of dealing with a rat infestation is enough to turn many people’s stomachs. Once rats have a chance to get a foothold, though, the problem is unlikely to go away on its own. 

The good news is that there are ways to save money while fighting a rat infestation so that you don’t find yourself strapped for cash while trying to avoid nightmares about rats in your home.

Lay Your Own Traps

Due to their larger size, rats are much harder to catch than other pests such as mice or roaches. Fortunately, there are traps that are specifically designed for rats that you can place around your home. 

The downside to laying your own traps is that you will have to dispose of the dead rats yourself once the traps have been successful. If you have a strong stomach, though, this can be a great way to get rid of your rat problem quickly and inexpensively.

Find An Honest Pest Control Expert

If you want someone else to take care of your rat infestation, it’s important to do some homework to find an honest and experienced pest control contractor. A quality pest control expert will explain to you the extent of the problem and help you choose the best solution. This approach will help save you money and ensure that the problem is eradicated.

Work Quickly

Once you discover a rat infestation, it’s important to act quickly. The last thing you want is for one of the rats to reproduce while you delay action, which could leave you with an infestation that takes much longer to get rid of. 

Another word of warning is to act quickly if you lay your own traps. If you don’t remove the rat bodies quickly enough, you could attract scavengers that could also choose to set up shop in your home.

Inconvenience Yourself

In some cases, fighting a rat infestation is most cheaply done when you’re willing to inconvenience yourself. For example, if the infestation is centered on a frequently used room in your home, you’ll want to fight the temptation to use that room so that the traps and other eradication methods can do their work. 

If you aren’t willing to put a few parts of your life on hold, you may need to use a more complicated eradication method that is more expensive.

Stop It Before It Starts

Of course, the best and least expensive way to fight a rat infestation is to stop it before it starts. Taking simple steps like keeping your grass cut, closing your trash can, and ensuring all gaps in your foundation are plugged can go a long way toward preventing rats from entering your home and taking over. 

If these prevention efforts fail, though, rest assured that there are economical ways to fight the infestation that will help return your life to normal.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan

How to Reduce Debt When Buying a New Home

Owning a home is one of the most rewarding and life-changing events that you can experience. Before you can own a home, though, you have to buy a home, which can sometimes be fairly complicated. 

If you’re carrying a lot of debt, this can make the process even more complicated, which is why it’s good to try and reduce this debt before you commit to purchasing the home of your dreams.

Cut Back on Non-Essential Spending

When working to reduce debt, it’s important to take a long, hard look at your spending habits. Every dollar that you spend needs to be accounted for to determine how you can cut back so that more money can go toward servicing your debt. 

Of special importance is your non-essential spending. Once you figure out your non-essential expenses, it’s important to cut these out quickly so that you can free-up much-needed capital.

Look for Alternative Mortgage Programs

The best way to reduce your debt is to avoid going into debt in the first place. Fortunately, when it comes to buying a home, there are several alternative mortgage programs available that can get you in a home while reducing the amount of debt that you’ll owe after you move in. 

To get an unbiased opinion on the best mortgage options for you, it’s a good idea to talk to your real estate agent about your current needs.

Take on A Side Hustle

Though being a workaholic certainly has its drawbacks, there’s nothing wrong with working a little extra to earn money to help you reduce your debt. Whether you’re delivering groceries, writing articles, walking dogs, or doing something else you enjoy, you’d be surprised at how quickly the income from these second jobs can add up. 

Plus, you may discover that you enjoy your side hustle so much that you opt to make it a full-time career.

Negotiate Your Rates

The largest amount that you’ll spend when servicing debt is paying for the interest that you accrue. If you can, then, it makes sense to negotiate with your lenders to see if you can get a lower interest rate on any of your debt. 

Considering how quickly interest can accrue, you could end up saving thousands of dollars with even a small reduction in your interest rate, meaning that this pursuit is definitely worth the effort.

Gaining Momentum

The good news about lowering your debt is that this process tends to gain momentum the longer you stick with it. As you reduce your debt, your credit score will increase, meaning that you’ll be eligible for lower interest rates that will help you save money. No matter how big your debt is, though, the most important part of the debt-reduction process is taking the first step to allow the process to begin.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan

How Entrepreneurs Make the Most of Their Endeavors

Entrepreneurship is incredibly attractive to many people for a number of reasons. Some people like the idea of owning their business. Other people like the potential income their entrepreneurial efforts can bring. 

However, there’s a certain mindset that’s important for entrepreneurs to possess if they’d like to be successful. If you’re thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, consider some of the ways you need to make the most of your endeavors.

Embrace the Challenges

Challenges will arise. It’s a part of running a business. This is especially true when you’re a newly budding entrepreneur. However, as the challenges come, don’t sit in the seat of a victim. If you develop a victim mentality, you’ll never win. Instead, focus on what the obstacle can teach you. When you figure out what you can learn from it, you’ll naturally become stronger and wiser as a result.

Become Resourceful

It doesn’t matter which industry you’re in. There are tools that are specifically created for your brand’s needs in mind. If you’re a reseller that needs a system to help you cross-list items, there are tools you can use in order to automate that process. 

If you’re launching a new video game that you’d like to promote, there’s a game launcher that can help you navigate that process. The key is to be intentional about finding and using the resources that are available. Don’t spend too much time recreating the wheel. Use what’s in front of you.

Develop a Positive Outlook

If you wake up in the morning with the mindset that something will go wrong, you’ll make that your reality. You’ll subconsciously look for things to go wrong. Make the most of your endeavors by learning how to focus on the positive aspects of a situation. When you view life through the lens of the glass being half-full, it’ll change your perspective and how you view the possibilities of life.

Utilize Assistance

There’s nothing weak about asking for help. If you know a professional who knows more on a topic than you do, it’s okay to reach out and ask for help. If you know you need to hire a new employee, that’s a great way to have help within reach. 

Take note of the areas of your business that can use fine-tuning. Find ways to get help with those areas in order to make your business run like a well-oiled machine. It’s also important to remember that Google can serve as an amazing helper. Sometimes, the answer is a Google search away.

There are so many benefits to building your own business. However, if you don’t possess the integrity and emotional stamina to keep things going, your business will fail. Be intentional about making the most of your endeavors throughout the various aspects of your life. Once you develop that habit, it’ll bleed into the way you operate within your business.