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The Pros and Cons of MLM Programs

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In 2017, approximately 18.6 million people were involved in multi-level marketing programs (MLM) in the US. Around $34.9 billion in retails sales took place across the country, showing just how much money circulates through these businesses.

While the numbers seem positive, and many MLM sales representatives swear that success is possible, MLMs come with their fair share of risks. However, there are benefits to these arrangements, as long as you play it smart.

What is Multi-Level Marketing?

MLM, also referred to as “direct selling” and “network marketing,” can represent a number of program structures. The most common business model involves companies that distribute products to distributors, the sales representatives, and those individuals make the retail sales.

The multi-level part of the structure refers to the hierarchy used by the company. Representatives can recruit new sellers to work under them, gaining access to a portion of that person’s profits. The more recruits you have, the more money you can make. And, as your recruits recruit and make sales, you get a piece of those profits too.

Perceived Convenience

One of the biggest benefits touted by MLM companies is the ability to set your own schedule. This makes it seem like working MLM selling into your life will be easy, and it certainly can be.

Many people are lured into becoming sales representatives based on the idea of working part-time. There are no set hours for these positions, so they can adapt to nearly any schedule.

However, if you want to make a profit, working part-time might not be enough. Unless you have a large group of potential customers right from the beginning, it will take time and effort to build your clientele. Often, new sellers underestimate the amount of work involved when it comes to getting everything off the ground, so it’s important to be realistic about the potential of these arrangements.

Initial Startup Costs

When considering the pros and cons of MLM programs, the startup costs are a factor. Typically, each new representative has to purchase a base level of inventory, usually in the form of a starter kit.

The costs of starter kits vary. Some are less than $100 while others may cost $5,000 or more. This is money you have to spend up front, and you only get it back if you sell.

For instance, a LuLaRoe starter kit is about $5,500. If you want to get started with Beachbody, a mostly digital business, you’ll need to pay $39.95 to start as a coach along with a monthly fee of $15.95.

Since the starter kits vary in cost so dramatically, it’s important to research any company you are considering before you make a move.

Ongoing Expenses

The startup costs only reflect part of your expenses. You’ll also need to replace sold inventory, store the items until they sell, and transport them to parties. Plus, it doesn’t account for the time you’ll spend attempting to sell the products, including maintaining websites, social media profiles, and other forms of advertising you may choose to try.

In some cases, the companies send new inventory automatically. This means you’ll have a recurring charge (usually a credit card number is necessary at sign up to support these expenses) every month no matter how much you sell or don’t sell. Often, MLM companies report your inventory purchases as sales for the company. This can falsely inflate sales numbers by making your purchases appear as though retail customers are buying.

Some MLM companies have additional ongoing costs on top of inventory-related expenses. You may have to pay extra to maintain your company-hosted website, for example. If you sell your items at parties, a common approach for many sellers, you may have to provide the host with free products or a discount on purchases.

Recruiting other sellers is practically a requirement if you want to make a profit, and it isn’t always easy. It takes a substantial amount of time to convince others to work under you, so keep that in mind as well.

What are the Loss Rates?

One of the caveats of MLM programs is the need to purchase products up front. In most cases, sales representatives have to maintain their own inventory. This means they have to buy some of the products before they can make any sales.

Plus, maintaining your inventory is also an essential part of the program. When you sell items, you usually have to replace them quickly, cutting into your profits.

If you aren’t able to sell your inventory, or at least enough to offset new inventory purchases, you are operating at a loss.

Many MLM companies provide misleading data regarding their success and loss rates. However, a report by Jon M. Taylor of the Federal Trade Commission, states that the loss rate is 99 percent. That means only one in every 100 sales representatives make a profit. Everyone else doesn’t.

If you extrapolate that information to apply to the 18.6 million people working in the industry, that means 18.4 million are operating at a loss. Only 186,000 representatives are making a profit.

What are the Pros and Cons of MLM Programs?

It is important to note that you can make a profit as an MLM sales representative. However, the vast majority of people don’t. In fact, some sellers have even called certain MLM companies scams. LuLaRoe is being sued by multiple former representatives who assert that the company is actually a pyramid scheme.

When reviewing the pros and cons of MLM, most would say that the rewards don’t outweigh the risks, especially if you look at the numbers. Much of making profits involves recruiting other sellers, allowing you to access a piece of their earnings. But, if you target friends and family, you could over saturate your town with representatives, which will impact each rep’s sales.

Since internet sales are often an option, you may be able to expand your reach. However, there are a lot of representatives operating online, so competition can be fierce.

Before you commit any money, take a hard look at the company. Seek out news and reports from reputable organizations, such as government agencies, to see if what the company claims is true, and don’t get pulled in by sales representative reviews that may only be platforms for them to recruit.

Even if everything looks good, it’s important to realize that your business can still fail. If you are comfortable with that, then proceed with caution, and make sure you read the fine print to see how hard it is to get out if you decide it is no longer right for you.

Have you ever been an MLM seller? If so,  what were some MLM Pros and Cons you experienced? Tell us about it in the comments below.

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Smart Ways to Save for College

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The path to saving for college can be long and exhausting. You’re expected to save an outrageous amount of money for each child and to do so over the uncertain 18 year period from when they’re born until when they arrive at college. It’s hard to figure out how to save, where to save, and even how much to save. College tuition is increasing at unprecedented rates and will be in a completely different ballpark by the time kids actually get to college. There are ways to prepare yourself for the inevitably high tuition costs, and concrete steps you can take to soften the blow.

Key tips on saving for college:

Start early

The earlier you start to save for college, the more your interest will compound and easier it will be to reach your savings goals. It’s hard to look so far into the future, but if you devote the funds early, you’ll thank yourself later.

Set a reachable goal

Steady deposits into a dedicated college fund (such as a 529 plan) are a good way to set yourself up. Still, it’s important to set a reasonable goal so that you’re not overextending yourself. You don’t want to severely compromise your current financial situation too much for the sake of future tuition expenses.

Check out how financial aid is calculated and awarded

Federal financial aid is given through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA,  which is awarded in part based on expected family contribution (EFC). This is calculated using family income, social security benefits, and assets, along with other factors. It’s wise to take a look at how your finances fit into the EFC calculator and see where you stand and your kids stand on potential aid awards.

Student Jobs

It’s never a bad idea to start helping out early, given extracurriculars and sports aren’t completely disregarded. Kids can chip-in by working part-time and during the summer in both high schools, and then in college through work-study programs.

Choosing the right plan

There are a variety of government plans out there to help you save for college. Many provide tax benefits in exchange for some (often strict) rules on how you can use the money you’ve deposited into those special accounts.

Good options to store your college savings:  

529 Plans

529 plans are a very popular way to save for college. In short, they provide tax-free status to your savings until the money is withdrawn, after which it’s taxed at the student’s (ostensibly) low tax bracket. The money invested in a 529 can only be used for college tuition and some select related items such as supplies and textbooks. There is a 10% penalty for using the money for another purpose and it’s also then subject to income tax.

State Specific

529 plans are available in 41 states and are run by each one independently. As such their specifics vary across state lines, but they generally function in a similar way. There are even states like Pennsylvania and Maine where you can hold 529 accounts and not reside within those state.

Account

In a college savings plan, your money is invested in stocks and bonds throughout its time in the account. It will grow at a tax-free rate but will be subject to economic and financial market volatility. If you don’t want to incur such risk and are planning on paying in-state tuition, you can opt for a prepaid tuition plan.

Contribution rates

What makes 529’s so popular, besides their tax-exempt status, is their relatively high contribution rates. That is, in this case, the amount of money that can be directed towards that account that will remain tax-free given it’s used for its conceived purpose. Though it varies by state, max contribution rates on 529’s usually hover around $300,000 per beneficiary. You have to be careful though, you have to spread out the payments or they’ll incur a gift tax.

Financial Aid

Once it’s time to apply for federal aid, the total amount in the account will be assessed at 5.64% in the EFC calculation. So if you have $10,000 in your account, $564 will be included in your assets when calculating EFC. This may impact your aid eligibility, yet these terms are generally quite lenient in this regard.

Drawbacks

One of the most important things to take into account when opting for this plan is its strict rules and restrictions. As previously explained, penalties for deviated funds outside the tuition of the person who it’s intended for can be steep. This includes restrictions on using the money for someone else’s tuition, and for related purchases that aren’t considered within their range of acceptable charges.   

Prepaid Tuition:

Prepaid tuition plans are a great option if you’re planning on paying tuition in-state. It allows you to pay for college credits in advance for a particular state’s public university system at a preset price today. This is useful given the nearly guaranteed sharp increases in tuition prices over the next couple of years.

However, if your child opts for another state or a private school, you won’t get the full value of the tuition credit back and you’ll be forced to pay 10% on the principle you invested plus the low interest it has acquired over time.

You can choose to have both a 529 and a Prepaid tuition plan to help pay for college. A mix between the two can be a great way to take advantage of both plans.

Education IRA

The Education IRA is an older, scaled down version of the 529. It allows for a $2000 yearly deposit into a tax-free account and follows many of the same rules as the 529. One key difference is that you must be within the income limit to qualify for this kind of plan, which leaves many families unable to take advantage of it. Also, this is an investment account, which means that it will be subject to market volatility just like any other account of this kind.

UGMA and UTMA Accounts

The Uniform Gift to Minors Act and the Uniform Transfer to Minors Act allow an adult to deposit funds in an account for the benefit of a minor until the time that he/she is of age. What this basically means is that the money deposited will be “owned” by the adult, until the minor turns 18, after which the funds will be “gifted” or “transferred” to them.  

There are some tax benefits to this account: The first $1000 is tax-free, and another $1000 is taxed at the student’s tax bracket. The rest is taxed at the adult’s bracket. This gives some basic tax incentives but has the drawback (or benefit, depending on who you are) of not having spending restrictions. So a minor could choose to spend it on their college tuition, or anything else they can come up with. It’s technically their money once they turn 18.

There many ways to start saving for college, and special plans that help you to do so. The important thing, in the end, is to get help from as many places as you can and plan out your savings strategy in advance. If you know where you’re headed, you’ll have a much better understanding of what it is you need to do right now to get there. Take advantage of the resources out there, of which there are many, and start devoting money towards a tuition fund as soon as you can.

Dorm Room Storage Hack-Amazing Products for More Space

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In the US, there are approximately 20.4 million college students. While not all of them choose to live on-campus, many do.On average, the price of room and board at a public institution is $10,800 per year. At private colleges and universities, that rises to $12,210. In most cases, that gives access to around 100 square feet, and they may have to share that space.  In order to make the room better try a dorm room storage hack.

However, if you bring the right items along, any dorm room can be more comfortable. Finding ways to sneak in storage options is a must, and using the space wisely makes a lot of difference. With that in mind, here are a few amazing products that can make any college dorm room more livable.

Bed Risers

When you need to create storage space in a dorm room, bed risers can make a world of difference. These products go under each of the legs of the bed, lifting it off the ground.

You can find them in different heights, allowing you to choose a size that works best for you. Some even come with power outlets. Simply plug them into the wall outlet that sits behind the bed, and you can easily access the plugs.

After you select your risers, you can choose storage boxes that will fit into the space. You can find a variety of options, including under bed bins with wheels for easier access or foldable ones that are more convenient to store when not in use.

Door Organizers As a Dorm Room Storage Hack

Shoe organizers that hang on the door give you extra storage pockets without sacrificing floor space. They come with hooks that slip onto the top of the door and usually don’t interfere with the door’s operation.

Fabric versions are great if you need to store items discretely. Clear door organizers are ideal if you need to see everything stored in the pockets.

They can hold anything from shoes to toiletries to school supplies to snacks. Consider getting one for every door for maximum storage efficiency.

Command Hooks and Strips

Most college dorms have strict rules about hanging things on the walls. Many don’t allow nails or thumbtacks, and some even restrict standard tape.

Usually, the restrictions are there to ensure the students don’t damage the walls during their stay. However, if you need to store items on hooks or hang pictures, Command Hooks and Strips are usually allowed.

Command hooks and strips are available in a range of sizes, typically denoting different carrying capacities. You can hang hats, scarves, bags, and keys for the hooks, while the strips make putting pictures on the wall a breeze.

Plus, when you leave the dorm, they peel off the wall without damaging the surface, ensuring you can get your deposit back.

Bed Caddies

Most dorm room nightstands are small, and some don’t have one at all. If you need to keep items like your cell phone, glasses, or a favorite book near your bed, pick up a bed caddy.

These little pouches have a flap that fits between the mattress and the box spring. Once you set up the bed caddy, the weight of the mattress keeps it in place.

In most cases, you can add a few along the edge of the bed, giving you additional storage for small items.

You can also find bedside trays that attach to the frame. This can give you an extra surface for drinks and other items, just like a nightstand would.

Shower Locker

If you share a bathroom with a roommate and want to keep your toiletries in the bathroom secure, consider getting a shower locker. They stick to shower walls with suction cups and have internal shelves for additional storage.

Plus, they have combination locks on the door. This means your roommate won’t “accidentally” use your shampoo or other items because they can’t access them.

If your bathroom walls are entirely tile, you can actually put up a few. Then you can protect all of your personal hygiene items, ranging from your toothbrush to your razors to your face wash.

Wire Storage Cubes

Whether you need additional shelves in a closet or a way to organize items along an empty wall, wire storage cubes can be a great option. They come in pieces so that you can configure them in a variety of ways. Plus, putting them together is easy, usually not requiring anything more than a reasonably strong grip.

You can even set up the top row as baskets instead of shelves, allowing you to easily store items that might not sit upright on their own.

Silverware Organizer

Silverware organizers can do more than just hold forks and spoons. They are excellent for keeping desk drawers arranged, giving you sections for pens and pencils that prevent them from rolling around.

They can also work as jewelry storage, letting you keep necklaces and earrings separated. If you set one near the door on a table, it can make a great drop zone too. You can keep your keys and similar small items in different sections, so you always know where to find them.

Ultimately, all of the dorm room storage options above can help make a dorm room feel more comfortable. Consider giving them all a try, especially if you are sharing an incredibly small space with another student. This is another great dorm room storage hack.

 

Do you have a favorite dorm room storage hack? Tell us about it in the comments below.

 

Looking for more great articles about college? Here are a few to get you started:

 

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.

You Thought There Were Only 3 Credit Bureaus – Wrong!

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<img src=" Only3creditbureaus.jpg" alt”creditcardsinthebackpocketofbluejeans">

When people think of credit bureaus, they usually think there are only 3: Experian, Equifax, and Transunion. While these organizations play a big role in your life, they aren’t the only companies controlling your financial destiny.

There Are More Than 3 Credit Bureaus

In reality, there are over 40 consumer reporting agencies that operate in the US. Most of the others, outside of the big three, function in a specific niche. However, that doesn’t make them any less powerful.

Reports from these agencies may determine if you can obtain credit. These reports also determine access to insurance products, landing a job, or even your ability to pay with a check. The companies share information with a range of businesses, utilities, and government entities. They are also diligent about collecting data on you.

If you are wondering what the other credit bureaus mean to you, here’s an overview of each category and the companies in that space.

Low-Income and Subprime

Low-income and subprime reporting agencies focus on financial data that applies mostly to the low-income segment of the population. This includes the use of payday loans, check cashing services, rent-to-own arrangements, subprime credit cards, subprime mortgages, the opening of telecommunications accounts, and more.

Data in these reports can impact your ability to secure new credit, and not just in the subprime space.

Supplementary Reporting

These organizations function in multiple areas, supplementing data in specific niches. This can include anything from property records to ID verifications to child support obligations.

Employment Screening

Employment screening organizations focus on data that pertains to your employment, educational, salary, and credit histories. In some cases, they may also track criminal activities, like past convictions. They can also look at fingerprints from criminal record databases, or drug testing results.

Here are some of the most commonly used organizations in this category:

When a potential employer wants to look at your history, these are the kinds of agencies they contact. However, you typically must provide authorization before a company can look at these reports.

Once they get the report, a potential employer may refuse to hire you.  Especially if this is in accordance with internal policies and based on the information they discover.

Tenant Screening

Many landlords pull consumer reports to determine if renting to particular applicants is a smart decision. Companies that operate in this space provide information about past evictions. They also report payment issues and address history. Some report on criminal background data as well, though this isn’t universal.

In many cases, landlords obtain permission before running these reports. However, details about these checks may be in the rental application, so separate notification may not occur.

If a landlord sees adverse actions or criminal information, they may decline to allow an applicant to become a tenant.

Checks and Banking

Check and bank screening reports track details about a person’s history with banking services. This includes previously writing bad checks, the reason for account closures, and activities that relate to fraud.

Data on these reports can affect your ability to open bank accounts or write checks at various retailers.

Personal Property Insurance

When a home, renters, or auto insurance company wants to determine your rate or decide whether to offer you a policy, they probably check with one of the consumer bureaus listed below. These organizations track information about past insurance claims. They also look at losses and damages, current and previous coverage, driving records, and more.

Depending on the information in your report, you may experience higher premiums or the inability to secure a new policy.

Medical

As with the personal property space, consumer reports also impact medical insurance decisions. These agencies track details about medical conditions. These companies also track prescription drug purchases, past claims, and similar data.

The details in your report can affect the issuing of new insurance policies, the cost of your premiums, or the cancellation of policies.

Utilities

In this segment, the National Consumer Telecommunications & Utilities Exchange is the largest consumer reporting agency. They collect information on utility bills, including payment histories, new accounts, unpaid bills, and fraud.

Retail

Retailers use The Retail Equation to look for signs of fraud and abuse. When it comes to product returns and exchanges; retailers can’t be too careful.

Gaming

Casinos and other gaming companies can get specialized reports from VIP Preferred . They look for fraud and abuse, mostly in the check cashing arena.

How To Get Access To These Reports

As with your big three credit reports, you do have the ability to check these consumer reports. Contact each agency to see if you are eligible for free reports. Some may offer free reports, while others charge a low fee.

Typically, if a consumer report leads to an adverse action, you can request a copy at no cost.

Contact the organization by using the links above to determine what you need to do to receive a copy of the information.

Have you ever interacted with one of these alternative consumer reporting agencies? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

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How to Really Do a Background Check on Yourself

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<img How to REALLY Do a Background Check on Yourself.jpg" alt”persontypingonlaptopsittingonhislap">

As many as one in three adults has an arrest record — and these details can show up on a background check, hurting your chances of landing a job, securing an apartment, or even entering certain professions.

In total, about nine out of 10 employers run a criminal history check on applicants, typically after obtaining permission from the applicant.

However, landlords can conduct certain background checks without explicit consent, so knowing what’s in your record is essential.

Try Not to Pay for It

Typically, if you try to find a resource for a self-background check online, you’ll be inundated with paid sites.

Not all of those services are created equal, so don’t be impulsive about signing up for one that charges money. First determine whether you can get the same information free of charge.

Some areas provide access to court records online at no cost, but not all. Find out what might be available by heading to the websites of the local government organizations nearest you.

Check It All

You’ll need to check county, state, and federal courts to get a complete picture, which can be time-consuming.

However, if you know you have prior convictions or arrests, it can be worth the effort.

That said, some districts require you to pick up the records in person, so you may need to prepare to head to the courthouse in those cases.

Driving Abstracts

Typically, getting a copy of your driving record is fairly easy. Usually, you can head to your local Department of Motor Vehicles and request a driving abstract.

Although there’s often a small fee for obtaining a driving abstract, it contains helpful details on vehicle-related crimes, such as moving violations.

However, this information only concerns the state where you requested the driving abstract. If you’ve previously had a driver’s license issued in another state, you’ll need to obtain a driving abstract from that location.

Credit Reports

A credit report in itself is a form of background check. Luckily, you can access copies of yours from all three bureaus — Experian, TransUnion and Equifax for free once a year through the website Annual Credit Report, which essentially redirects you to each of the aforementioned companies.

You can also obtain free copies of information on your credit report by signing up for an account on such sites as Credit Karma, Credit Sesame, Free Credit Report, Free Scores Online, Credit.com and Check Free Score.

While these sites don’t limit you to just only one check per bureau each year, the information you get is more of a synopsis than copies of your actual reports. However, the data is detailed enough to suffice as part of your self-background checking.

Google Search

Sometimes, a simple Google search can yield information on your background. You’ll need to put in a few details, athough you can start with just your name to see what comes up.

Often, if your name is particularly common or you share a moniker with someone famous, you’ll need to key in more information. This can include your age, state of residence, or similar details.

Keep in mind that a Google search usually isn’t going to provide comprehensive results. However, it lets you know what other people see if they put your information into the search engine.

Social Media

Like Google search, social media will only provide you with a partial picture; but it does give you some helpful information.

You’ll be able to see what a potential employer or landlord will see when upon entering your details, giving you a chance to review it in advance.

Unfortunately, if you see something you don’t like, it can be challenging to get information removed that someone else posts. Friends and family members may be open to untagging you if you’re in a picture that isn’t flattering, but there’s no guarantee.

You can untag yourself on Facebook, even in other people’s photos, but getting it taken down entirely isn’t so easy — try being as candid as possible with the person about why you want it removed. Otherwise, if the poster isn’t willing to honor your request, the material might stay put as long as it doesn’t break any rules on the platform.

Paid Criminal Background Check on Yourself

If you want a better picture of what employers may see, you might find it convenient to simply pay for a service. Just keep in mind that not every site is reputable, and some don’t allow self-background checks.

One site worth checking out is GoodHire. The cost is reasonable — approximately $20 — and it adheres to all federal and state standards.

While some other online searches may be cheaper, it’s safer to spend a little more on a company with a solid reputation.

Thorough Background Check on Yourself

By following the tips above, you can conduct a thorough self-background check.

If you spot any errors, you’ll need to research reporting procedures for each organization to ensure corrections are made.

Readers, have you ever run a background check on yourself? Tell us about your experiences by posting in the comments section beneath this post. 

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How to Talk to a Live Person at Sallie Mae

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<img src=" HowtotalktoalivepersonatSallieMae.jpg" alt”personsittingatdeskwithphone">
While most people rarely speak a single word with their student loan servicer, there are situations that call for a conversation — namely when you’re struggling to make your payments, although even then people don’t think of talking to their lender until it’s too late, if at all.

Perhaps Sallie Mae or a company associated with it handles your student loans. It currently has about $17.3 billion in outstanding loans — just a portion of the $1.48 trillion in overall student loan debt.

Sallie Mae offer other financial products including money market accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs).

How to Talk to a Live Person at Sallie Mae

If you need help with any of the aforementioned types of financial products, you may need to speak to someone at the company, and your best bet is typically a phone call to Sallie Mae.

To get through to an actual human at the other end of the phone, here’s how to navigate the automated menu

For student loans, dial 800-472-5543 (800-4-SALLIE) to begin the call. When the prompt asks you to press one for new applications or press two (or hold on the line) for all other calls, don’t press anything.

Keep Holding

Next, your call is routed through the system as though you are an existing customer. You’ll then be asked to enter your Social Security number or customer identification number. Again, don’t press anything.

You’ll hear that prompt twice. When a new set of prompts plays, asking you to “select from the following options,” just stay on the line and don’t select any options. Again, this will play twice.

After waiting through the prompts, your call is routed to an agent, as long as it is during business hours. Sallie Mae representatives are available between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

Other Types of Accounts

If you need to speak with a live person at Sallie Mae for something other than a student loan — including CDs, high yield savings, or money market accounts — dial 877-346-2756

Once the automated system starts, listen to the first set of options and don’t press anything. When the second set of prompts begin, you’ll get the opportunity to press zero to speak with customer care. Select zero and your call goes to an agent.

For Upromise GoalSaver accounts, dial 877-978-1710 and follow the same process of not selecting any options until you can route to a representative. For Upromise by Sallie Mae, call 888-279-2828 between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. to reach a person.

It’s Actually Easy

Ultimately, getting a chance to talk to a live person at Sallie Mae is fairly easy. While you may need to ignore prompts multiple times, you’ll usually be routed to a queue for a representative in about one minute.

However, once you reach that point, wait times can vary. You may end up holding for 20 minutes or more if they are particularly busy, so make sure you have time to wait for a representative.

Additionally, it is wise to have information about your account available. For example, your Social Security number or customer ID is a requirement to look up your details in the system.

Getting those details ready in advance can make your call go smoothly, so take a moment to prepare before picking up the phone.

Readers, what has been your experience with trying to get a hold of a live person at Sallie Mae? While we’re at it, tell us about your experiences with phone-based customer service at other companies: Which ones have been the best or the worst?

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Looking for more great articles? Here are a few to get you started.

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.