Making Money

How to Win Super Bowl Squares During the 2020 Game

January 28, 2020 By Amanda Blankenship 5 Comments

The big game is just around the corner. It won’t be long before you’re sitting in front of your TV watching the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs playing Super Bowl LIV to see who becomes the 2020 champion. You may even have put a pool together for the game with money or alternate prizes for some added fun. Here’s how to win Super Bowl squares (or at least better your odds).

How Super Bowl Squares Work

If you participate in Super Bowl football squares pool and it’s done correctly, there really isn’t any way to better your odds of winning. This is because the numbers for the game will be randomly assigned after all of the spaces in the game have been filled. This will mean that nobody knows which numbers they have until after they have already chosen squares. This ensures that those who receive the most coveted spaces do so randomly.

How to Win Super Bowl Squares

The key is that there’s no way to better the odds if the game is set up correctly. The reason that many times it’s possible to better your odds is that often these games aren’t set up correctly. You can do this by understanding the odds of what number combinations are most likely to appear from past Super Bowls. By knowing the number combinations with the greatest chance of appearing, you can choose those slots giving you a distinct advantage over those who join the pool later or don’t understand that some squares are much more likely to win than others.

When football squares are set up correctly, all participants must choose their square (among the white squares from the image above) before the 0 – 9 numbers for both teams are written (the grey squares in the above image). The mistake that happens more often than it should is that the 0 – 9 numbers are filled in before people choose their squares. When this happens, you can choose squares which are much more likely to pay than those that aren’t because you know exactly where they are. Even if you know nothing about football, you have a good chance of winning by knowing the numbers most likely to appear. Here are the numbers you need to know:

The simple rule of thumb is that you want squares that have the numbers 0, 7, 3 and 4 in them and avoid squares that have the numbers 2 or 5 in them. If you have your choice, you want to pick one of the five following combinations:

0-0
7-0 (0-7)
3-0 (0-3)
7-3 (3-7)
0-4 (4-0)

Looking at all the past Super Bowls, this is how often all the numbers have appeared: “0” has appeared 101 times (26.9%), “7” has appeared 78 times (20.7%), “3” has appeared 58 times (15.4%), “4” has appeared 39 times (10.4%), “6” has appeared 31 times (8.2%), “1” has appeared 23 times (6.1%), “9” has appeared 17 times (4.5%), “8” has appeared 10 times (2.7%), “5” has appeared 10 times (2.7%) and “2” has appeared 9 times (2.4%).

Take Note of This And Good Luck!

By understanding that the 0-0 square (or any of the others mentioned above) is much more likely to appear sometime during the game than the 2-2 square (or any other square not mentioned above), you can greatly increase the chanced that you’ll win one of the prizes given away. It’s important to note that these are the odds, and that doesn’t mean the above numbers are guaranteed to win. They simply suggest that going by past Super Bowl games, which numbers are much more likely to appear and which aren’t.

With the above knowledge, you could take advantage of any game put together where the 0-9 numbers have already been written on the sheet before filling in your square(s) and increase the likelihood of winning. A better course of action, at least in my opinion, would be to point out the flaw in the way the game has been set up. The game can then be properly set up so that it’s random and nobody has an advantage over anyone else when the numbers are chosen.

Finally, for a handy printable Super Bowl squares chart, go here.

If you enjoyed this article please leave us a comment below, share it with your friends!

3 Cheap Hobbies That Can Also Bring in Cash

January 28, 2020 By Trey LaRocca Leave a Comment

When it comes to the monthly budget, wiggle room is hard to come by for most people. Whenever a new expense comes up, we are always looking for what we have to go without to compensate. Well, what if you didn’t have to sacrifice anything to have an extra date night? What if that new yoga membership didn’t mean you have to give up post-work drinks on Friday? All this is possible, and you may be able to pull it off with your own cheap hobbies! To show you how this is possible, here are some cheap hobbies that can make you money.

Driving Around

DO you have a comfortable car, and enjoy cruising around your area? Uber and Lyft have become mainstays for side-hustlers. Sign up for an account, grab some snacks and drinks for the back seat, and earn that extra dough! Be careful about this one, and make sure you have the right vehicle. Certain higher-end vehicles depreciate heavily with mileage, and the loss you’ll take on that can compound with premium gas expenses to rapidly make this one not worth it. Older reliable cars that just barely make the year/make/model requirements for the apps are the best option. these have already depreciated, and are probably cheaper to fix. Bonus points if you have a hybrid!

Cooking

Got some skill in the kitchen, and need some extra fun-money? Not only can being a good cook save you cash on eating out, it can also be monetized by selling the food you make! You can sell homemade snacks to coworkers, cater for parties, or even work on the side as a private cook. There are options here for all skill levels, as dealing some easy pastries at work doesn’t take too much expertise and will make you an office favorite. The more you can make, the more money you can bring in, and this one is very easy to work around your own schedule.

Tutoring

Do you have a degree in a high-demand field, and love to teach? Tutors can make great money on the side using online sites like Varsity Tutors or even Craigslist. You can also become a part-time staffed tutor at local educational institutions for a more reliable workload. Usually a degree is required, which elevates the pay past your usual side hustle. Tutoring holds an extra special spot on this list, as you are earning money by helping educate your community. Not only are you providing better for yourself or your family, you’re also giving back to those around you. It doesn’t get much better than that!

What Are the Most Appealing Products to Sell Online?

January 14, 2020 By Susan Paige Leave a Comment

The internet has made selling products online easy from anywhere in the world. With new trends, it’s convenient for you to find your specific niche products. With this in mind, here are some of the things to make and sell Shopify.

Coasters

Used to rest drinks upon and protect the surface of tables, coasters are one of the items that are easy to make and sell online. You can make them using a range of materials, including faux leather, leather, plastic, melamine, tile and paper. You can mix and match coasters with cool shapes, vibrant colors and unique material. If you want to make colorful, unique coasters, you will need supplies such as ceramic tiles, a sponge brush, felt, clear acrylic glaze, fabric glue, decoupage glue and scrapbook paper. You can glue the paper to the ceramic tile and let it air dry before painting them over with decoupage glue.

Clothes

Fashion has a high demand and appeals to many people worldwide. People are always looking for glamorous shirts, trousers, coats and jackets. As such, aspiring designers can create original designs and sell them on the internet.

Pet bed

Pet beds are designed to keep dogs or cats warm, support their arthritic joints and prevent calluses. They also help pet owners to preserve their furniture and concentrate dog shedding in one area that can be cleaned with ease. For these reasons, pet beds are one of the most popular trending products online. You can make pet beds of different sizes, colours and shapes. There are various filling options you can choose from. Fibrefill is a soft choice while memory foam is a great choice for those looking for a pet bed for their dog that has arthritis. Alternatively, you can use a bed pillow, old towels, blankets or T-shirts to make an inexpensive pet bed filler.

Jewellery

Jewellery has always been trending and popular among everyone. It’s a consumer product that does not have boundaries as it appeals to both women and men of all age groups and culture. However, originality is the key if you want to be a successful seller in this niche. Keep up with the changing trends in the world of fashion and make sure your designs reflect who you are. You can offer anklets, bracelets, necklaces and rings. You can make these products from a variety of mediums such as beads, shells and gemstones.

Bath bombs

Used to add essential oils, color, bubbles or scent to bathwater, bath bombs are made from mixtures of dry ingredients that effervesce when wet. They are also easy to make and one of the most selling items online. To make your bath bombs, mold them into attractive shapes, giving them attractive smells and colors. This will help you sell your creations swiftly. With originality and unique branding, you can good money selling bath bombs.

For more great savingadvice articles, read these:

Ways To Make Extra Money

Take the 52 Week Money Challenge

Need Money, You Can Always Get Naked

Image source: Manu, via Flikr.

How to Turn Old Clothes Into Cash

January 7, 2020 By Trey LaRocca 2 Comments

Is your closet getting a little cramped? At a certain point, you just find yourself glancing into the cotton abyss and there are many things you haven’t worn in months. This becomes especially frustrating when you want to buy new clothes, but you just don’t have the space to store them. Even worse, when you have to move and you realize that boxes actually… cost MONEY? No, this just won’t do. So, we find ourselves needing to offload some clothes, and what kind of savers would we be if we didn’t find a few ways to turn old clothes into cash?

OfferUp

One of the best apps for selling anything, OfferUp provides a clean and simple interface to sell your personal belongings. while not specifically geared for clothes, it is one of the most widely used online resources on this list. The best part about OfferUp is that you probably already have the app on your phone. Putting up an ad is easy, quick, and the analytics are very consumable. Definitely the way to go if you are just trying to get rid of one or two higher-priced items.

Poshmark

Now we are into the clothing-focused secondhand apps. Poshmark is a favorite among most of the secondhand sellers I know, as you get to personalize your own online storefront. Not only this, but they make the shipping process super easy. After a purchase is made by a customer, you are sent a prepaid shipping label and you send it off. You can use Poshmark for all varieties of clothing (even menswear) and you’ll get plenty of attention. Poshmark is the perfect upfront fee-less option for somebody who is really trying to empty their closet. One major downside, though, is the 20% cut they take if you do sell something. As a result, it is usually a better idea to post higher-end items here as well.

thredUP

As far as online consignment goes, thredUP is an absolute titan. With thredUP, you can post items for sale, recycling, or even donation. They are the quickest way to get rid of all your clothes, and the process is very simple. You pay your two-dollar fee, receive your bag and prepaid shipping label, and send your clothes off to them. Just like that, you’ve freed up all the closet space you need. After about a month, you will find out exactly how much money thredUP will give you for the ability to resell your clothes. They won’t always be willing to sell everything you send, and you can pay $11 to take back those unwanted items, or just allow them to recycle them for you for free. So, if your primary goal is to get rid of a lot of clothes, and you don’t mind only taking in a bit of cash, thredUP is your play. With that said, keep in mind they only accept menswear as donations.

Sorry! You Can’t Actually Start a Business for Free

September 26, 2019 By Flanice Lewis 1 Comment

If you have dreams of entrepreneurship, don’t quit your day job just yet. As lovely as it would be, you can’t start a business for free. Here are only a handful of the fees you’ll incur to get started.

Federal Requirements

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) is one of your first steps to starting a business. To request a number for your business, you will fill out an SS-4 on paper or online at the Internal Revenue Services website. Completing the process online takes a few minutes and is free. You will receive an email with an official letter providing your EIN, which you need to keep in a safe place. You need this number to file your federal income taxes whether you’re a sole proprietor or larger entity. This number is also essential when you open a business bank account. Your financial institution will need your EIN to report any income, such as interest earned, to the IRS.

Trademarks and patents are additional costs you have to consider. They can be extremely expensive, primarily because you will more than likely need legal advice. Make sure you factor all of your needs while registering to protect your intellectual property.

State Requirements

Your next step is to register the name of your business with your state. Each state has different requirements, but a good number of them allow online filing. There are fees to register your business name, your tax status, and your trade name – “Doing Business As.” In some states, you need to register with your county for taxes too. If you plan to incorporate as a limited liability corporation, there may be additional fees. Prepare to spend two to three hundred dollars upfront, and around one hundred dollars every year to keep your business active.

You may have additional conditions based on your type of business. For example, if you plan to work in real estate in Florida, you have several requirements. You must apply, get fingerprinted, take the required courses, and pass the licensing exam within two years. These can add on over two hundred dollars, depending on your class format.

Other Costs

Keep in mind that all of these costs are before you started working in your business. We haven’t gotten to the intangibles yet. In our technology-driven world, you will need a website. Domains can run from $3 to $12 per year, depending on the site. Namecheap.com tends to have the best prices over GoDaddy and others. If someone else owns the web address you want, it could cost you hundreds or thousands to buy your specific domain.

Luckily, you can use a template to build your website. When you build your website through Wix or Squarespace, you may end up paying more because you’re purchasing through a third party. However, it is far less time consuming because coding can take a long time. Plus, the templates you can choose are attractive and come formatted for different devices.

Some other intangible costs to consider are marketing and branding. Do you want to have sponsored posts on Instagram? Are you selling insurance by having your face on a bench at a bus stop? Perhaps you want custom t-shirts or polo shirts with your logo and slogan? Your budget and preferred method will determine how much you spend.

I know this sounds like a lot, and it is. However, if you want to own your own business, think of it as an investment. Plus, all of the fees incurred that are directly related to your business are now tax writeoffs. Does that change your perspective?

How to Expedite your Business Loan Application?

How Much Money Do I Need to Start a Business?

Side Businesses You Can Start With Little Cash

8 Budgeting Ideas for the Starting Office Entrepreneur

September 15, 2019 By Susan Paige 1 Comment

Congratulations! You’ve started or put together the finishing touches on a new and exciting business venture. You’ve FINALLY started the real first step in becoming an entrepreneur and going your own path.

But that’s just the first step, the real nitty-gritty begins now. Starting a business requires ACTION, time, bother, and requires getting your finances together.

It’s all a matter of organizing, mapping out your budget, and above all, sticking to it. Startups often have to work on a shoestring budget, but you can always employ some creative budgeting ideas in order for you to get your dream off the ground, and have it run with the most impeccable precision – or at least be on the right track to doing so. Here are some money-saving tips you should definitely consider when starting out.

Opt for Open Source

Startups require computers for every purpose, from project management, day-to-day operations, accounting, administration, and creating presentations, you name it. And proprietary software can be extremely expensive, especially when you’re starting out.

Fortunately, there are more open source software options than you can shake a stick at for literally ANY software you can think of – at a tremendously miniscule cost compared to other software or cloud service providers.

Go for Second-Hand Office Fixtures

If you maintain a brick and mortar office, buying the necessary fixtures at brand-new prices can really make a huge dent on your fledgling finances. You don’t have to, though. There are plenty of equipment options such as lighting fixtures, flex seats, and desks you can get for pennies on the dollar at eBay, Craigslist, or your local second-hand store.

You don’t even have to pay over the odds for newer fixtures like standing desks, because you can purchase an inexpensive standup desk converter at a fraction of the cost, rather than purchasing them brand-new. It’s all about making little smart decisions that go a long way.

Set a budget, forecast properly, and STICK TO IT

You can’t run your business on a lean, tightly controlled budget if you don’t set one to begin with.

It doesn’t end there, too. Make it a point to regularly review your operational expenses and sales and incorporate them on your forecasts on a monthly basis.

Most importantly, stick to it.

Compartmentalize your Finances

It’s always helpful to compartmentalize so you can prioritize. Clearly demarcating business finances from your personal spending helps you determine if your startup is liquid and generating income, and it will help you get a grasp of what costs you can trim down further.

Minimize Inventory and Supply Chain Costs Whenever you Can

Inventory and supply chain costs can negatively impact your bottom line, unless you closely monitor it.

Check your financial statements closely to see which supply chain costs you can trim for better operational flexibility. Ideally whenever you can.

Determine what office space you need

Startups often struggle with the question of what office space they require, whether they should set up a home office (cheapest alternative), leasing out an office somewhere, or buying a property altogether (obviously not recommended for startups on shoestring budgets). After all, your office is your public face to your clients.

If a home office is out of the question, there are plenty of coworking spaces that offer a virtual address, concierge, and business services at a fraction of a cost that a lease or buying a property will entail. This frees up more finances you can use for operational expenses or otherwise reinvest in other aspects of your business.

Consider a shorter lease

If you don’t need a big office just yet, try to find office spaces you can lease in the short-term. Do your research, contact your real estate broker, or find them yourself on your local listings to see what options you have. Bonus points if you can find a place that you can easily expand, if your startup will require the office space in the future. Oftentimes, you can save a lot on lease expenses, and get a further discount when you extend your lease to regular terms.

Ditch using paper once and for all

The world is fast adopting a paperless status quo. Not only does it save you money on office supplies (e.g. paper, ink, scanners, copiers, printers, and the like) as well as having to constantly include them in your budget, it saves you and your workers a lot of manhours wasted on such activities, helping them to be more productive.

If you must have hard copies of documents, have a set of forms ready to use and fill out instead of having to print them or make copies of them manually to save time and bother. You will see how this will free up finances over the long haul.

Budgeting can be a tedious matter for most startup entrepreneurs, but it is very extremely rewarding. You are training yourself to have a trained eye in determining which costs can go and which ones are necessary, and set your endeavor up for future success in the process of doing so. Make it a habit.