The Cost of Dog Care is Extreme. Here’s How to Make it More Affordable

Getting rid of them was a nightmare. To keep costs low, my partner, Nick, and I have gotten creative. Below are some of the ways we have saved money on pet care. During the flea off-season, it is still important to keep our pooches safe. Probably not as good as youd like. It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings. But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?...

June 20, 2018 · 3 min · 446 words · Elaine Rivera

This New Company Wants to Help You Avoid a Common Mortgage Mistake

Refinancing could save you money but its not always the best move. No Interest Til Almost 2027? Balance Transfer = Credit Card Cheat Code Is Refinancing Your Best Move? Tim Allen, Founder and CEO of aboutMYmortgage. Carmen Mandato/The Penny Hoarder You might have other options refinancing companies arent telling you about. Crunch the numbers firstto figure out whats best for you. Be careful of ulterior motives when youre getting advice,said Allen....

June 19, 2018 · 2 min · 221 words · John Erickson

This Alternative to Pricy Gym Memberships Can Help You Keep Fit for Free

Gym memberships arent cheap. From enrollment fees to budget-burning monthly payments, paying to stay fit is more torturous than the Stairmaster. Theres free equipment at fitness stations in public parks, but does anyone ever actually know how touseit? The walking lunge requires no equipment at all. Chris Zuppa/The Penny Hoarder Instead of walking by these free fitness stations, consider working out on them. (Not sure if theres one near you?...

June 18, 2018 · 3 min · 583 words · Megan Roberts

This Woman Taught Herself to Code — And Earned $137,000 in One Year

Kelly Vaughn has never taken a class in web development. Shes never attended a coding bootcamp. Amid a sea of dudes and CompSci majors, shes rare: a self-taught female developer. Ready to work for yourself? We’ve got 49 greathome business ideas. Heres how she did it. An Early Intro to Coding Vaughn first started experimenting with programming when she was just 11. No Interest Til Almost 2027? Soon after, she began selling custom-designed MySpace themes for $15 each....

June 17, 2018 · 2 min · 366 words · James Henry

This is Why SPF 100 Sunscreen Isn’t Worth It (and What to Buy Instead)

Alas, fame may be a fickle beast but ultraviolet radiation isnt. We wont even acknowledge the possibility that yourenotwearing sunscreen; who doesnt take a classic 90s earworm to heart? 7 Ways to Make Money if You Hate People Do you avoid people too? Enough small talk.Here are some waysto earn extra cash, without all of the social stuff. Is it worth it to buy upgraded, super-high-SPF sunscreen? Does it actually offer that much more protection?...

June 16, 2018 · 2 min · 233 words · Mark Cooper

I Feel Like I’m Screwing Up by Holding Out for Student Loan Forgiveness

Real Answers for Life’s Money Challenges I recently completed a life goal and finally finished my bachelors degree. I am happy to say that I now have the degree and a great job in my field. Like most students, I left with a pile of student loan debt. I researched and ended up applying for one of the federal alternative payment plans. Aside from my guilt for exploiting this loophole, is there anything wrong with my plan?...

June 15, 2018 · 3 min · 496 words · Hayley Maxwell

Lyft and United Way Are Giving Free Rides to 2-1-1 Callers in 12 Cities

No one wants to cancel a doctors appointment or job interview due to lack of transportation. Probably not as good as youd like. It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings. But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill? Ask one of these companies to help… Lyft recently committed $1.5 million to its Lyft Relief Rides program....

June 13, 2018 · 1 min · 92 words · Alison Stone

This Mom Shows How Foster Parenting Can Be Rewarding and Affordable

Ashley Rhodes-Courter had it rough growing up in the foster-care system. She was removed from her birth mother when she was 3. Yet, Rhodes-Courter, 32, used that painful past to propel herself to a positive future. Ethan plays a game of Frisbee with his father, Erick Smith. Rhodes-Courter and Erick Smith opened their home to 25 foster children in five years, shortly after their were married. Tina Russell/The Penny Hoarder...

June 13, 2018 · 3 min · 503 words · Brian Jones

How Transgender Surgery Changed His Life and the Way He Saves Money Forever

They swapped phones to see which camera provided the best angle and lighting (his moms did). As Kyle looked in the mirror with Dr. Garramone by his side, his voice became louder with excitement. I am physically the person I knew always existed, he said. Kyle Hollingsworth, center, waits for the surgery center to open the day of his top surgery with his aunt, Terry Mathis, left, and mother, Sandra Mathis, right....

June 12, 2018 · 4 min · 647 words · Duane Nelson

This Work-From-Home Job Is Ideal For Experienced Digital Ad Copywriters

The ideal candidate is a seasoned digital marketer with three years of experience in optimizing paid search ads. If youre not interested in digital marketing check outour Jobs page on Facebook. We post new opportunities there all the time. Matt Reinstetle is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. (Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?) You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…

June 12, 2018 · 1 min · 70 words · Mark Brown

Here’s How a Grocery-Delivery Service Can Actually Save You Money

Maybe I hate grocery shopping because I dont like to cook. When I go grocery shopping, its like Im burdening myself with tedious work. I grab food off the shelf and put it in my cart like, Heres some work for you. GeorgeRudy/Getty Images Oh, and heres more work for you. Theres more work here, too. (Hello, fig jam!) And then there are the sugar cravings. The whole store is filled with goodies I shouldnt eat if I want to lose weight....

June 11, 2018 · 4 min · 681 words · Richard Thompson

You Say Ugly, I Say Healthy: Hungry Harvest Expands Its Produce Deliveries

But you may have to wait a few years for these ugly harvests to get to you. Next on the list? Charlotte, North Carolina, according to a report fromThe Packer. The berries were too large or too small. A forklift bumped a load of green peppers and damaged some of the cases. The wholesaler bought too much. Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week....

June 11, 2018 · 1 min · 188 words · Desiree Lewis

Save On Pet Guinea Pig Supplies With DIY Know-How and Smart Shopping

Theyre low- maintenance and cute as anything. But like any pet, a guinea pig has needs that can dent your bank account. Through trial and error, I figured out what to buy and what to skip. Vanilla chowing down on a carrot. Photo courtesy of Nancy Basile. Guinea pigs cannot live in a wire-bottom cage like rabbits can. They must have some kind of flooring to protect their feet, which are small and sensitive....

June 9, 2018 · 4 min · 800 words · Charles Henderson