Personal Finance

Why You Should Be Saving For The Next Pandemic Now

November 11, 2020 By Kathryn Vercillo Leave a Comment

It’s hard to think about saving for the next pandemic when we are still in the thick of this one. And yet, experts say that there’s no time like the present to start preparing for the future. If you’re struggling with finances right now, then saving might feel like a challenge. But any little bit that you can set aside could help you down the line.

We Are Still In a Pandemic

Even though this article is about saving for the next pandemic, it’s important to acknowledge that we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. People are struggling. Many people are barely making ends meet. And even those who are doing okay are uncertain about the future since it’s unclear what will happen with both employment and the economy in the months and year or so to come.

Yes, it’s hard to think about saving for the next pandemic in the midst of this. But it’s also the perfect time. For one thing, the reality of the pandemic is on your mind right now. Let’s face it; when things improve, we will all be so excited about the opportunity to travel and host guests and go out to activities that we might let ourselves slip a little with spending. Right now, when we really understand the impact of this pandemic, our minds are primed to begin saving for the next one.

Plus, we’re already tightening our money belts. Since we’re in the swing of things with saving money, it’s natural to set aside some for the future.

When Will There Be Another Pandemic?

We can’t predict when there will be another pandemic. We don’t know what it will look like when it happens. But experts say that the likelihood of another one is extremely high.

The World Health Organization and United Nations General Assembly say:

“COVID-19 will not be the world’s last health emergency and there is an urgent need for sustainable health emergency preparedness to deal with the next one.”

And Harvard Business Review goes so far as to say:

“SARS in 2003, H1N1 in 2009, MERS in 2012, and now Covid-19. We don’t know when or where, but we know with 100% certainty that another deadly infection will strike.”

Why You Should Be Saving For The Next Pandemic Now

So, number one, you should start saving now because there’s an extremely high likelihood that there will be another pandemic. Second, you’re already in the mindset to really understand the difficulty of living in the pandemic. Therefore, you’re in a good position to make the changes and sacrifices necessary to save.

After all, despite all of the financial struggles of 2020, nearly one quarter of Americans managed to save money during the coronavirus pandemic. And nearly half of people are spending less than at the same time last year. The “new normal” is to save money. For one thing, you’re probably not traveling. Of course, cutting out travel saves a lot of money.

Moreover, experts recommend using your COVID-19 experience to review your savings plan. Many people kept the traditional 3-6 months of income in their emergency fund. However, in the face of the pandemic, that ran out. Therefore, you might want to consider saving 6+ months in your emergency fund for the next time.

Finally, you might be able to negotiate your bills at this time. COVID-19 impacted so many people that lenders and service providers have put plans in place to help reduce costs for their customers. If you can take advantage of those plans, then it could be a silver lining for saving money.

Tips on Saving For The Next Pandemic

Obviously, saving for the next pandemic isn’t easy. Heck, it’s hard to save money in the healthiest of times! However, it is possible to set aside money.

Check out our article on How to Maximize Savings During a Pandemic. Tips from that article include: stringent budgeting, getting very clear about needs and wants during a pandemic, and skipping dining out in favor of all meals at home. In other words, go back to the basics that you already know about living frugally. When we earn more, we sometimes splurge more, but you probably already know how to cut back. Now is the time to implement those good money habits.

Similarly, North American Savings Bank recommends five key tips to save for the next time this happens:

Create an emergency fund.
Avoid major expenses.
Reduce your outstanding debt.
Manage your expenses.
But, keep your home office.

In fact, that last one is perhaps the only bit of advice that differs now from traditional plans to save a lot of money. Many people over the years have scaled down their housing to reduce costs. Tiny homes and other small spaces help people save on rents and mortgages. However, now that many people are home all of the time – working at home, homeschooling their kids – more space might be worth that extra cost. It’s important to find a way to balance your household expenses with the space that you need. And remember, real estate is an investment. You might want to read: Which Real Estate Investments Are Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Other than that, though, it’s really all about going back to the basics. Lower your costs as much as you can. Set aside as much as possible in savings. Also, check out our article on 10 Unusual Ways to Make Money During a Pandemic. It might feel like it’s impossible to make extra money right now. However, that’s not true at all. You do have options. And of course, the more you can make, the more you can save.

Finally, review your investments. You can still make money investing during COVID-19. Here are some articles that might help:

Governments, the Economy, and the Next Pandemic

While this article is primarily about individuals saving for the next pandemic, it’s important to note that much should also be done at the state, regional, national, and international levels. Governments and private organizations can do a lot towards improving the situation for next time in terms of reducing both the health impact and the financial troubles. Spending money to prevent the next pandemic would not only save lives but would also save economic costs down the line.

For example, scientists suggest “preserving forests, clamping down on the illegal wildlife trade, and starting a broad system of surveillance to catch emerging diseases before they spread.” All of this can lead to preventing the next pandemic or seriously limiting its spread and impact. This makes sense on a financial level as well. The scientists estimate that these measures would cost between $22 and $31 billion per year. Obviously, that’s a lot of money. However, it’s a fraction of the estimated cost of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is $27 trillion in 2020. In other words, “The cost of preventing the next pandemic is 2% of the cost we’re paying for COVID-19.”

The Harvard Business Review says that the United States government should consider affordable health care options for all citizens as a means to prevent individual and collective financial troubles during the next pandemic.

Are you saving for the next pandemic now? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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. If you want to be able to customize your blog on your own domain and need hosting service, we recommend trying BlueHost. They offer powerful hosting services for $3.95/month!

The Day After Election: The Financial Fall Out

November 11, 2020 By Tamila McDonald Leave a Comment

Typically, presidential elections influence the financial landscape of the United States. Each candidate has their own views about government regulation, industry development, and other areas that impact the nation’s economy. Who ultimately comes out ahead has an effect on the markets, at least for a period. Plus, the political uncertainty that lingered during the days it took to identify a winner had an impact. If you are wondering what the financial fallout of the 2020 election looks like, here’s what you need to know.

Why the 2020 Election Was Different

The 2020 presidential election was anything but simple. It took several days for ballots to be tallied in some key states, creating a degree of uncertainty regarding the future of the United States.

Additionally, lawsuits put some doubt over what results would stand, promoting a contentious environment and ensuring that, even once a winner was initially identified, it would take much longer to find out who would actually hold the mantel of president in 2021. This amplified the sense of uncertainty.

There is also the issue of a divided Congress. Republicans seemed primed to hold onto the Senate, while Democrats maintained the majority in the House. With that potentially comes a combative climate, something that can slow decision-making at key times, such as when it comes to passing additional stimulus in response to COVID-19 or future annual budgets.

The Financial Fall Out of the 2020 Election

Ultimately, the 2020 election created a sense of doubt. The slow initial outcome boosted feelings of uncertainty and fears that the result would get tied up with recounts and lawsuits bolstered that notion.

For some, this prompts shifts in their investment strategies. Individuals may look toward options that are viewed as safer, like gold, or at least make an effort to reduce the volatility of their portfolio. This is especially true for those nearing retirement, where preservation is often a priority.

For those investing long-term, the impact may be smaller. At times, it may even signal opportunity, as they may go looking for “deals” as the stock market fluctuates. Additionally, immediately after election day, the stock markets actually experienced a notable gain. This indicates that some investors are feeling bullish, even during these odd times.

Short Term Post-Election Climate

It’s also crucial to remember that most of the notable market movement in a post-election climate is often short-term. While it may persist longer in 2020 due to the heightened degree of uncertainty, it will most likely calm, potentially in fairly short order.

Ultimately, who is elected president has an impact. Both candidates have different views on the economy, various industries, economic stimulus due to the pandemic, and much more. Once the winner is officially chosen, the market may experience some dramatic shifts.

At times, investors try to align their portfolios with areas that are likely to achieve gains once the new president steps into office and begins influencing policy directly. This leads to shifts, but once the president has been in place and their direction settles in, the changes are usually less dramatic. Some may experience losses during these initial days, it’s true. But there can also be gains and are often recoveries.

In the end, movement in the market is normal. While the election may lead to some financial fallout, it can also lead to improvements. The big key is typically time.

Can you think of any other things that cause an election financial fallout? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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. If you want to be able to customize your blog on your own domain and need hosting service, we recommend trying BlueHost. They offer powerful hosting services for $3.95/month!

Is ARCO Gas Bad For Your Car?

October 30, 2020 By Kathryn Vercillo 17 Comments

ARCO gas is typically cheaper than gas at other gas stations. How can they offer lower prices than their competitors? Is ARCO gas bad for your car since it’s a lower price? Let’s take a look at why ARCO gas is cheaper than other brands. Moreover, let’s compare it to those brands to make sure that if you decide to go with ARCO gas, it won’t do any damage to your car in the long run.

Why Is ARCO Gas Cheaper Than Others?

ARCO has a reputation for offering considerably lower prices for its fuel than other gas stations. According to ARCO, consumers can average a savings of $0.05-$0.10 per gallon in comparison with other brands of gasoline.

It seems that with ARCO, these large price savings are due to many of its business practices. First of all, ARCO has no processing fees for credit cards because they do not accept them. This offers ARCO the savings of about $0.30 per credit card transaction fee which its competitors have to pay. In other words, your gas is cheaper because you pay cash.

Moreover, ARCO charges its customers a $0.45 fee per debit card transaction. So, if you don’t pay cash, then you pay more for your ARCO gas. If a customer is already paying a $0.45 debit card transaction fee, chances are the customer will in turn purchase more gas than they might if they were not paying the transaction fee. This allows ARCO to sell more gas per customer, thus granting them the ability to offer lower gas prices.

So, is ARCO gas bad? Since its the companies business practices that lower the gas cost, not the gas that they offer, there’s nothing to suggest that’s so.

Lower Prices Still Meet Minimum Gas Requirements

Since the inexpensive gas offered at ARCO comes at a significantly lower price, consumer often wonder whether or not it’s safe for their vehicles. The federal government has fairly strict guidelines on most things, and gasoline is no exception. Therefore, there are certain standards for all gasoline sold in the United States, such as octane levels, and the general characteristics that gasoline must possess. As a result, all gas sold in the United States is basically the same.

But Is There Better Gas?

Well, the basic minimum level of gas is the same across the board. However, you can pay more for premium gas. Some companies add extra detergents and additives above and beyond what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires. All gas must contain a certain amount of detergent additives. Of course, those things are also EPA approved. Many companies add even more to differentiate their brand for other gasoline. So the question becomes, is the branded gas from companies like Shell, 76, Exxon and Chevron better than ARCO gas?

Why ARCO Gas Is The Same Or Better Than Competitors

While the blend of detergents and additives is different for each company, ARCO gas is on par with other top gas brands in the United States. Is ARCO gas bad? No. In fact, it’s quite good.

ARCO offers “Top Tier” gasoline. Top Tier gas is the standard which is recommended by seven of the top automakers in the world. Importantly, it’s of a standard even higher than what the EPA requires.

Notably, ARCO didn’t always use Top Tier gas. In the past, they used a cheaper gas. People who believe that gas quality does impact how well your car runs used to say to avoid ARCO gas as a result. However, when ARCO began to offer Top Tier gas, those people changed their tune.

It’s Okay to Use Cheaper Gas

To further ease customers’ minds, Edmunds conducted a study questioning experts in the automotive field. According to those findings, consumers put their vehicles at no greater risk by putting “cheap” gas into them. Most vehicle owners will not notice any difference in performance by purchasing cheap gas. However, the best advice is to look at your car’s owner’s manual and follow the guidelines given about the best type of gasoline for your particular car. That said, the average car that you drive probably runs perfectly well on ARCO gas.

TIP: Gas Hack

Whether or not you are concerned that ARCO gas is bad compared to other gas brands, here’s a “gas hack” that you can try to save you money at the ARCO station. In many parts of the country you can tank up at the ARCO station, and also add quality fuel injector cleaner. Adding this fuel injector cleaner as recommended should address any quality concerns, while still allowing you to buy the cheaper ARCO gas.

Just add the injector cleaner when you go to the gas station and you should be good to go. Of course, you do pay for the fuel injector cleaner. But you’ll pay less per gallon of gas than if you buy another brand of gas. Plus, you’re doing something that is almost certainly likely to improve your gas quality. In contrast, choosing between one gas station brand or another doesn’t necessarily improve gas quality at all.

Consumers today are always looking for a bargain. As prices on most things continue to rise, it is good to know that consumers are not putting their vehicles in jeopardy by taking advantage of savings at the gas pump. If you’ve wondered whether this is bad gas just because it’s cheaper, the answer is a resounding no.

Find Cheap Gas Prices

If you want to find the cheapest gas prices near you, then you might want to download the Gas Buddy app. You can use it to search all nearby gas station prices. Moreover, you can filter to search by just certain gas brands. So, if you know that you want to use ARCO gas, then you can easily find the ARCO station closest to you. Since ARCO is often the cheapest option that uses Top Tier gas, it’s a safe bet.

Another cheap tool that you can use during travelling is Atlas VPN. VPN is one of the MUST HAVEs while traveling, for security reasons and pleasant stay.

Does Costco Offer a Free One-Day Guest Pass?

October 26, 2020 By Trey LaRocca 23 Comments

A lot of people wonder if there is a Costco free one-day guest pass to check out the store before purchasing a membership. The answer? No, Costco doesn’t offer guest passes to their warehouse stores, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go.

Alternatives to a Costco Free One Day Guest Pass

Although Costco doesn’t offer a one-day guest pass, there’s a workaround that basically gives you the same opportunity to shop at Costco for one day. What you need to do is get a hold of a Costco gift card. If you have a Costco gift card, you can shop at their warehouses even if you don’t have a membership (these also work for purchasing gas at Costco gas stations, which is often the least expensive with the same gas quality as top tier gas stations. In this way, it works exactly like a guest pass.

How Do You Get a Costco Gift Card?

The only people who can buy Costco gift cards are members. You can’t walk into a warehouse and buy one if you aren’t a member. Since you can’t buy one on your own, there are two main ways people without a membership get them:

1. Ask a friend who has a membership.

Probably the easiest way to get one is to give a friend who has a membership at Costco the money and ask them to pick up a gift card the next time they go. The least expensive card is $25, but you can buy as much as you want at the store as long as you have a card with some money on it (you simply pay anything above the value of the gift card in cash). You could also request one as a gift for a special occasion (birthday, Christmas, etc).

2. Buy it on eBay or Amazon.

Another way to get a gift card is to purchase it on a secondary market such as eBay or Amazon if you don’t have any friends with a membership, or simply don’t want to ask them to buy you one. Again, it doesn’t matter what amount is actually on the gift card (it could only be a few cents, and you’d still be OK), you just need one with money on it to shop at Costco.

When entering Costco, you simply show the gift card and they will let you pass as if it were a membership card. At check out, tell the cashier you only have a gift card. The cashier will need to have a manager give a special code to accept it (there are always managers on the floor and it only takes a few seconds) and you will be good to go. If your items cost more than you have on the gift card, you will need to pay cash.

Another way to shop without getting a gift card is to shop with a friend who has a membership. You can get inside the store with them, but they will have to pay for all the purchases you make. You can pay them back for your purchases once you leave the store.

So while Costco doesn’t have an official one-day guest pass program, there are ways to shop at their warehouses without paying $60 for a membership.

The “Free” Way to Get a Costco Membership

While I don’t recommend this, you can sort of get a Costco membership without paying. The way this works is to use their refund policy. At any point in your membership, you can get your Costco membership refunded. It’s an interesting policy that seems ripe for abuse, but Costco will allow you to cancel for a full refund at any time while it is active. So, if you just want to grab a few things, you could purchase and cancel your membership on the same day. If you want to milk it as much as possible, you can even cancel on the very last day of your membership. Morally, this is a pretty questionable route to go. Nonetheless, it is an alternative to paying full price for a membership. It also works pretty similarly to the way a “Costco free one-day guest pass” might.

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If you like this article, please leave us a comment, share it on social media or rank us five stars below.

Is Teespring Legit or a Scam?

October 21, 2020 By Trey LaRocca 29 Comments

There are a lot of people who are looking to make money online, but there are so many money making scams out there. As a result, you may be pretty skeptical of any popular “side-hustle” ideas floating around the internet. This isn’t a bad thing, as being skeptical can save you from wasting time and money. This skepticism is especially strong when there is a claim of what initially appears to be too good to be true, such as no upfront costs needed to begin the business. Teespring is one of these companies that almost seems too good to be true.

Is Teespring Legit?

The first question is whether or not Teespring is legit. The company has been around for a few years now, and has even produced a number of millionaires according to Forbes. In order to ascertain if Teespring is legit, it’s important to understand how they make money.

How Teespring Works

Teespring seems rather ingenious by making it a win-win situation for all. Instead of creating a design, paying a T-Shirt company to create the T-Shirts and then hoping you can sell all of them to make a profit, Teespring has you create a T-Shirt and set a goal of how many T-Shirts you will sell. The more you think you will sell, the more money you’ll make if you reach the goal. If you don’t reach the stated goal, then the T-Shirts are never produced and no money ever changes hands.

This is how Teespring is able to not charge an upfront fee. If you don’t hit the stated sales goal, they don’t have to produce the shirts. If you do reach the stated sales goal, a profit for you and the company have already been factored in. So, they produce the shirts, and are guaranteed a profit.

Is Teespring Safe?

There is little initial financial risk to using Teespring, so the company is pretty safe. Since you don’t need to give any upfront money when using Teespring, you aren’t risking losing your hard-earned cash. The real investment is your time. If you create campaigns that don’t reach their sales goals, you don’t earn anything. With that said, there are some unique problems with Teespring that you may consider “unsafe”.

Quality Issues With Teespring

Many content creators, businesses, and independent users lean on Teespring to make shirts. While only having 3.5 stars on Trustpilot, most negative reviews seem to be website-quality-related, or complaints about the time it takes to receive materials. While these issues can be worrisome, it doesn’t exactly implicate Teespring as a “scam”. It does, however, suggest you may want to shop around and see if there are other companies that can meet your needs.

In addition to their mediocre Trustpilot score, Teespring currently isn’t accredited by the Better Business Bureau. In fact, the BBB reports similar findings to Trustpilot, in that Teespring receives a high volume of customer complaints. The BB notes two primary issues of note: Customers finding it difficult to remove personalized artwork from the site, and the same late delivery problems found on Trustpilot reviews.

Qualitative Risks of Using Teespring

As mentioned above, there are a couple of risks involved with using Teespring. They don’t make it a “scam”, but they are definitively noteworthy. The most widely reported risk is blown deadlines. It seems pretty well-covered that Teespring struggles to get materials out on time for a significant subset of their customers. So, if you need your materials to make it to you on-time, you will probably want to explore other options.

Another risk reported by the BBB is the possibility of not being able to remove your art from the website. If you are a design-based business, your intellectual property is invaluable. As a result, you may need to think twice about using a company that may not surrender it when you ask. AS the BBB states, it is vital to examine the Terms of Service before you make your purchase to ensure your IP is protected.

Monetary Risks of Using Teespring

Other notable risks are costs you may incur when creating and trying to sell the T-shirts. If you pay someone to design a logo or other image (you don’t have to, you can do this on your own), you may lose these costs if you don’t ultimately sell the T-shirts you have set as a goal. The same can be true if you spend money to try and promote the T-shirts. This money is gone and you don’t get anything for your investment in the advertising if you don’t reach the T-shirt sales goal.

You also have a slight risk with the number of T-shirts you think you can sell. The higher you set your goal, the more you will make for each shirt sold. The problem is, if you don’t reach the goal, you get nothing. For example, if you set a goal of 50 shirts and sell only 49, the shirts are never produced and you get nothing. If, however, your set the goal at 10 T-shirts and sell 49, you would get paid a commission for all the sales since you met the goal. Although, that commission would be less than if you had said you could sell 40 T-shirts. Attempting to accurately estimate how many T-shirts you can sell without overestimating is vital.

Is Teespring Legit or a Scam?

Teespring is not a scam, it is a legit business. Although, this doesn’t mean it is the best business for you. There are some risks, so it’s important to understand how the company works so you know what you’re getting into, but it’s a legit opportunity to make money without having to pay any upfront costs. If you think you are creative enough to come up with some T-shirt designs which you could sell to others, you may want to check out Teespring as a possible way to make some extra money in your spare time. Just make sure to explore all available options before pulling the trigger.

For how to make a success of selling this business as well as other side businesses check out these articles.

Building Facebook Pages for T-Shirts Sales
How to Mix Investing and Small-Business Ownership
Side Jobs to Grow Your Bank Account

(Image courtesy of Teespring)

How Much Is A Stamp? Current Postage Rates 2020

October 16, 2020 By Kathryn Vercillo 5 Comments

There has been so much news about the United States Postal Service recently. However, in the midst of all that, the basics have been overlooked. For example, do you know current postage rates 2020?

If you’re about to send a letter, then that’s something that you need to know. Even if you have a bunch of stamps that you know are still good, you might need to know how much postage to use for alternative mail – such as a postcard or a heavier envelope.

Here, we’ve summed up all of the current postage rates 2020.

How Much Is A Stamp? Basic Current Postage Rates 2020.

First, we’ll look at the cost of stamps. If you’re sending a regular letter through the mail, then you’ll just need a regular first class stamp. But if you’re sending heavy mail, mail in unusual sizes, postcards, or international mail then there are different current postage rates for 2020 to take into consideration.

Cost of a First Class Stamp

A regular stamp is 55 cents.

When most people ask the question, “How much is a stamp?” they are usually wondering what the cost is of a first class stamp. After all, most people mail out basic letters. If you have a standard-sized, rectangular envelope, and you have only put a sheet or two of paper inside (up to one ounce in weight), then you’ll use a single stamp. The current postage rates in 2020 are 55 cents for these letters.

Additional Costs for Mailing Letters

It’s important to note that there are many things that can change the rate to mail your letter. For example, if you have a flat letter that is not the standard rectangular size, then you need to pay a different rate. The current postage rates in 2020 for square, oversized, or unusual letters are 70 cents if it’s one ounce or lighter in weight.

You also pay more for additional weight. The standard letter that takes a 55 cent stamp will cost more if it’s heavier.

At two ounces, you pay 70 cents.
At three ounces, you pay 85 cents.
At 3.5 ounces, you pay $1

Current Postage Rates 2020: Flat Envelopes

Additionally, you’ll pay more money for large flat envelopes. For example, if you stick your letter into a 9″ x 12″ yellow clasp envelope, you’ll pay more than if you fold it up and stick it into a standard sized envelope. 2020 postage rates for flat envelopes start at $1 for one ounce. They increase twenty cents per ounce up to $3.4o for a 13 ounce flat envelope.

How Much is A Postcard Stamp?

A postcard stamp is 35 cents.

It’s fun to send postcards to people. You might do this when you’re on vacation. However, it’s something that you can do to let people know that you’re thinking about them all throughout the year. And postcard stamps are less expensive than regular postage stamps. Therefore, if you send them often, you’ll save money by going this route.

Postcard stamps, assuming that you have a regular-sized postcard, are 35 cents. Note that they haven’t increased since 2015. Remember that if you have unusually large postcards, or postcards that are oddly shaped, then you might have to pay more than 35 cents.

How Much Is An International Stamp?

An international stamp is $1.20.

For those who need to send a letter out of the country, the postage for an international first class letter (up to 1 oz.) is $1.20. It is the same price to send a postcard. Therefore, when shipping short messages internationally, there is no cost savings to using a postcard instead of a regular letter.

Current Postage Rates 2020: Other Common Prices

Of course, flat letters and postcards aren’t the only things that people send through the mail. If you plan to ship gifts for the holidays, then you’ll want to know about the mailing prices for packages. Anytime that you ship something in a thick envelope or a box, the postage rates differ from the basic stamp prices.

Flat Rate Postage Prices

Usually, your best rate option is to choose a flat rate mailing envelope or box. These are available for free at your local post office. You choose the size that you need, then you pay the rate for that size. It doesn’t matter what weight your mailing. Current postage rates in 2020 for flat rate mail include:

12.5″ x 9.5″ flat rate envelope: $7.75
8 11/16″ x 5 7/16″ x 1 3/4″ small flat rate box: $8.30
14″ x 12″ x 3 1/2″ medium flat rate box: $15.05
12 1/4″ x 12 1/4″ x 6″ large flat rate box: $21.10

How to Save Money on Stamps

Every penny that you save adds up. Therefore, living frugally means saving money even on the little things, like stamps. Here are some of the most common ways that people save money on stamps:

Use Stamps.com. Note that you have to pay for this service. Therefore, the savings is only worth it if you ship a lot of items. If you have a business that ships regularly, though, then this can help you reduce your postage costs. You’ll save five cents on every first class letter that you send, reducing the 2020 postage rate from 55 cents to 50 cents. You’ll save more on bigger shipping costs.
Buy stamps using rewards credit cards. If you have a cash back credit card, then you get a percentage back for every dollar that you spend. Therefore, you reduce your postage costs slightly by using that credit card to pay for stamps. Of course, you have to make sure to pay off the card on time so you don’t pay added interest.
Shop using a cashback site. Ebates is a popular choice but of course there are many of them out there. This will give you a little bit back on your stamps purchase.
Buy Forever Stamps on eBay. Forever Stamps are good at the current postage rates in 2020. Moreover, they’re still good as first class stamps even if rates go up in the future. You can purchase these at a discount on Ebay. Usually, you’ll buy at least one whole roll at a time.
Ship smart. Make sure that you always weigh your mail carefully. Only pay what you have to in postage. Moreover, double-check box dimensions to make sure that you aren’t charged for oversized shipping unnecessarily. And make use of those flat rate shipping options, especially for heavy items.

Save Money with VPN

Here is another way to save money apart from Stamps is using VPN. VPN is the only tool to secure users private data and avoid data leak or minor the risk to get malware or any other way of fraud. Great option of a VPN while saving money, as Atlas vpn is the cheapest on the market.

Personal Finance

We Are Still In a Pandemic

When Will There Be Another Pandemic?

Why You Should Be Saving For The Next Pandemic Now

Tips on Saving For The Next Pandemic

Governments, the Economy, and the Next Pandemic

Read More:

Why the 2020 Election Was Different

The Financial Fall Out of the 2020 Election

Short Term Post-Election Climate

Why Is ARCO Gas Cheaper Than Others?

Lower Prices Still Meet Minimum Gas Requirements

But Is There Better Gas?

Why ARCO Gas Is The Same Or Better Than Competitors

It’s Okay to Use Cheaper Gas

TIP: Gas Hack

Find Cheap Gas Prices

Read More:

Alternatives to a Costco Free One Day Guest Pass

How Do You Get a Costco Gift Card?

1. Ask a friend who has a membership.

2. Buy it on eBay or Amazon.

The “Free” Way to Get a Costco Membership

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Is Teespring Legit?

How Teespring Works

Is Teespring Safe?

Quality Issues With Teespring

Qualitative Risks of Using Teespring

Monetary Risks of Using Teespring

Is Teespring Legit or a Scam?

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