One way or another, we all make mistakes. It is the human condition.
But right now, in the midst of a pandemic, one thing you don’t want to go wrong with is with your money.
Of course, we’ve all let bad financial habits take hold of us. But in these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re not your own bank account’s worst enemy.
Here are seven mistakes people make with their money during the pandemic, and what you can do instead.
1. Stop being overcharged for auto insurance
When was the last time you compared car insurance rates? Chances are, you’re overpaying with your current policy.
If it’s been more than six months since your last auto insurance quote, you should look again.
And if you browse a digital marketplace called SmartFinancial, you could get rates as low as $ 22 per month and save you over $ 700 per year.
It takes a minute to get quotes from multiple insurers, so you can see all the best rates side by side. Yes, in just one minute you could save $ 715 this year. That’s a big cash back in your pocket.
So if you haven’t checked auto insurance rates in a while, see how much you can save with a new policy.
2. Tell your bank to leave
Here’s the deal: if you don’t use Aspiration’s debit card, you’re running out of free money. Does your current bank give you money for free?
Yeah. A debit card called Aspiration gives you up to a 10% bribe with each pass.
Need to buy groceries? Free money.
Need to fill the tank? Bam. Free money again.
This debit card had a long waiting list, but now you can sign up for free.
Enter your email address here and link your bank account to see how much extra money you can get with your Free Aspiration account. And don’t worry. Your money is FDIC insured and under military grade encryption. It’s a nerd talk for “it’s totally safe.”
3. Stop wasting money on credit card bills
If you have credit card debt, you know it. Anxiety, interest rates, fear you will never escape …
And the truth is, your credit card company doesn’t really care. It’s just getting rich by scamming yourself with high interest rates. But a website called AmOne wants to help.
If you owe your credit card companies $ 50,000 or less, AmOne will offer you a low-interest loan that you can use to pay off each of your balances.
Earnings? You will have one bill left to pay each month. And because personal loans have lower interest rates (AmOne rates start at 2.49% APR), you get rid of your debt much faster.
Plus: No credit card payment this month.
And if you’re worried you might not qualify, it’s free to check online. It only takes two minutes and it could help you pay off your debt years faster.
4. Never miss out on a million dollars in life insurance
Have you thought about how your family would cope without your income after you left? How are they going to pay the bills? Send the children to school?
Now is a good time to start planning for the future by considering a term life insurance policy.
You’re probably thinking: I don’t have the time or the money for this. But your application could take a few minutes, and you could leave your family up to $ 1 million with a company called Bestow.
Rates start at just $ 16 per month. The peace of mind of knowing your family is being taken care of is invaluable.
If you’re under 54 and want a quick life insurance quote without a medical exam or even getting up from the couch, get a free quote from Bestow.
5. Don’t watch TV without getting paid for it
It’s been a historic year in the news, and we’re all constantly updating for the latest updates. You probably know more than one news junkie who thinks he’s a respiratory disease expert or a political genius.
And the research companies want to pay you to keep watching the news. You can add up to $ 225 per month to your pocket by creating a free account with InboxDollars.
He will present you with short news clips to choose from each day, then ask you a few questions about them. You just have to answer honestly, and InboxDollars will keep paying you every month.
It may sound too good to be true, but it has already paid people over $ 59 million.
Enter your email address here and you will immediately get a $ 5 bonus to get started.
6. Don’t pay too much on your cell phone
How long have you been in your current business? Probably a while, right? Which means you’re probably paying way too much.
But we did find a discount wireless company called Tello Mobile that has plans starting at just $ 5 per month.
Tello recently switched to a nationwide GSM network, which means improved 4G LTE / 5G coverage, faster data speed, and a more stable network. It lets you choose a wireless plan based on how many minutes and how much data you want, and you can even use Tello’s coverage tool to see how strong its network is where you live.
Over 7,000 customers have given it an excellent rating on Trustpilot.
Tello makes it easy to change and even keep your phone number. No need to leave home, you can do it all online. You can bring your own GSM phone or buy a new one through them. See how much you could save.
7. Never let your credit score cost you thousands of dollars
Your credit score is like your financial footprint. Everyone is different and for different reasons. A person’s credit score may be below 700 because there is an error in their report. Another person’s credit score may be less than 700 because they have an invoice in collection.
This means that everyone’s strategy for improving their credit rating will be different⦠but how the hell are you supposed to know where to start?
Fortunately, a free website called Credit Sesame will take a look at your credit report and tell you exactly what you need to do to improve your score.
Take, for example, James Cooper. He didn’t know anything about credit, but Credit Sesame showed him the exact steps to improve his score – from 524 to 801. *
Then there are people like Salome Buitureria, a working mother in Louisiana who, using Credit Sesame, found a major error in her report. The site helped her correct the mistake and take additional steps to increase her credit score by almost 200 points. *
Want Credit Sesame to show you exactly how to finally get your score above that 700 bump? It takes 90 seconds to register and get started.