TessMore Finance Blog

One of the most important things you can do for the ones you love is to create an estate plan . This process includes writing a will, which will help ensure you protect loved ones after you’re gone. Most people assume that writing a will is a costly ordeal that requires a lawyer, but you actually have a few options that could save you thousands of dollars in legal fees.  We’ll cover how much a will costs and give you some cost-effective solutions to help you choose an option. The complexity and size of your estate are going to be key in determining which option is best for you!   Do You Need a Living Trust or a Will? Including a living trust or will in your estate plan is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure your finances and family are secure after your death.  According to the American Bar Association , if you die without a will, the state you reside in will have the power to distribute your assets according to that state’s laws. Creating a t...

College is an exciting time for students to live on their own, make new memories, and create lasting friendships. What’s not exciting is the debt you might inherit once you graduate. In the last decade, student loan debt increased by nearly 70 percent , with over 43 million students facing outstanding student loan debt.  What if there was a way you could get paid to go to college and avoid taking out any student loans ? Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, we have twelve tactics for you to consider that just might help you go to college for free. Keep reading for our favorite tips or jump to a specific tactic below to learn more!  Submit a FAFSA Apply for Grants Research Various Scholarships Consider Community College Attend Tuition-Free College Check if You Qualify for Tax Breaks Become an RA Join the Military Get a Work-Study Job Seek Off-Campus Employment Serve in the AmeriCorps Ask If Your Employer Has Tuition Reimbursement 1. Submit a FAFSA Applying...

Have you ever wondered what’s in all those Amazon boxes and USPS packages filling the numerous delivery vehicles? Maybe you’ve been watching Amazon mystery box unwrapping videos on TikTok, where the person unboxes luxury clothing, electronics, and other valuable items. It may surprise you that not every ordered item arrives at the buyer’s doorstep as it may get lost in the mail for various reasons.  Instead of restocking the items or burying them in a landfill, retailers sell them at often discounted rates. As a result, you may be able to buy single items or entire pallets of goodies.  This guide shows how to buy unclaimed Amazon or USPS packages locally or online. Table of Contents What are Amazon Unclaimed Packages? What to Consider Before Buying Unclaimed Items Places Nearby to Buy Unclaimed Items Liquidation.com Facebook Marketplace Swap Meets Pallet Liquidation Sales 888 Lots Unclaimed Mail Stores Near You Amazon BlueLots USPS Mail Recovery Center F...

If you could invest money in a financial asset that has the potential to grow significantly over time — knowing that it carries some level of risk — would you do it? At its core, owning rental homes is similar to investing money in other financial accounts: You’re allocating funds to an asset with the goal of growing its value over time. Investing in real estate can be incredibly lucrative, notably generating over $430,000 in annual rental income for one 32-year-old investor.  While owning rental property can be profitable, its benefits come at a cost. Before you add “landlord” to your resume, it’s important to understand the risks , and knowing how to start investing in real estate is just the beginning. Here, we’ll unpack the benefits of owning rental property, weigh the pros and cons, and highlight some of the key considerations that property owners should understand before diving in. Key Takeaways Owning rental property can be profitable, but it comes with some downfall...

Freelance writing can be a tough nut to crack, but once you do, it can be fruitful, and something you might love. Have you ever had that awkward feeling of not belonging somewhere and all you want to do is leave? Maybe it was the first time you went to hang out with your significant other’s friends and felt out of place, or maybe it was that extra 30 seconds spent in silence with a stranger in the elevator. This is how I started to feel about my full-time job last year. Though I’m grateful to have a stable job and to earn enough to meet my needs, I still feel like I don’t belong, and I lack passion for what I do. For a while now, I’ve been having a love affair with freelance writing, and it’s fueling my desire to work again. I initially started picking up clients to earn some extra side-hustle money to put toward my debt. As my side gigs grew, I started to think: “Hey, maybe I could do this full time to support myself.” Who would have thought that writing would become a necess...