Far too many people fail to save enough for retirement. According to Zacks Investment Research, 72% of people aren’t saving enough each month for the future. Another survey from Bankrate.com found that 36% of Americans have absolutely nothing saved for retirement. Those figures are alarming and highlight how critical it is to take retirement planning … Read more

Did you know there are many excellent places to camp for free? If you’re looking for ways to save money, free camping is a fantastic option that lets you explore new places without spending much on lodging. Camping costs can vary dramatically. You’ll find beautiful no-cost spots across the United States, while some private campgrounds … Read more

EarnStar pays you to play games, download apps, and complete online surveys. Read my EarnStar review to learn what I experienced and whether it’s worth your time. I recently tried EarnStar to see if it lives up to the claims. After testing many survey and rewards platforms, this one pleasantly surprised me. EarnStar is a … Read more

Food is one of the largest monthly expenses for many families, which is why I’m a big advocate of weekly meal planning. If you’re searching for new budget-friendly recipes to cook for yourself or your family, you’ve come to the right place. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, an average family of four … Read more

Welcome to Day 7. This is the final lesson of the free blogging course. Today I’ll share a collection of practical blogging tips to help you succeed. Read on for my top recommendations and best practices. Be Yourself When you start a blog, be authentic. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. The best blogs … Read more

If you are searching for the best online jobs for teens, you’ve come to the right place. Below you’ll find a wide range of legitimate, practical ways teenagers can earn money online—even with no prior experience. Whether you are 13 or 19, there are plenty of opportunities that fit different skills, interests, and schedules. This … Read more

Welcome to the June business income report, where I share how I earned money online last month. Here’s the monthly update and a breakdown of how things went. If you’re new to Making Sense of Cents, you might wonder why I publish an income report every month. Feel free to skip ahead if you’re already … Read more

Hello everyone! Some of you asked where I was yesterday. I was recovering from all the excitement after FinCon13. It was an incredible experience, and I learned many things I plan to apply to my work. If you’re thinking about going to FinCon in 2014, I strongly recommend it. I regret skipping the last few … Read more

We’re only halfway through the year and I’ve already earned more than $2,500 in credit card rewards. Each rewards card we use has contributed between $450 and $875 so far this year. I achieved this without paying any interest and simply by charging the normal monthly expenses I already pay. I plan to repeat this … Read more

Hello! Today I have a meaningful personal finance story from a reader, Lisa. In six years, Lisa and her husband paid off $80,000 in debt and saved 20% for a down payment on a family home. Enjoy! This is our story of how my husband and I paid off $80,000 in debt and saved enough … Read more