TessMore Finance Blog

The housing market can be a beast to navigate, but in the past year, it’s become even more difficult to lock in a property that is entirely ready for move-in. In June 2021, home prices in the U.S. catapulted by around 25% according to Redfin , the Seattle discount real estate brokerage, and the number of homes for sale decreased by nearly 40%. With these eye-opening statistics, it’s no surprise that people are turning to contractors to help them turn a fixer-upper into a dream home, or to at least press pause on selling a home and make energy efficient and design upgrades to it instead. But working with contractors isn’t always the most cut-and-dry task, not the least of which is negotiating their fees. According to Homeadvisor , some contractors’ hourly fees can add up to nearly $4,000 by the end of the project. And with that kind of money coming out of your remodel budget, you can’t afford to misunderstand any aspect of the home improvement process. It’s easy to get caught up in

If you’re like most of us, 2020 did a number on your cash flow. What is cash flow , you ask? We’re so glad you asked! Cash flow refers to the money that’s constantly moving into and out of your bank account. Your paychecks (assuming you have work) flow in, and your payments (for food, housing and everything else) flow out. For many of us, the COVID-19 pandemic has torn a hole in our finances, mucking everything up. Whatever has your cash flow bottled up, we’ve got six suggestions for improving it, one step at a time. 1. Stop Paying Your Credit Card Company Credit card debt will destroy your cash flow. And the truth is, your credit card company doesn’t really care. It’s just getting rich by ripping you off 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 match you with a low-interest loan you can use to pay off every single one of your balances. The benefit? You’ll be left with one bill to pay e

For heavy commuters, drivers doing gig work and those looking for passive income opportunities, car wrap advertising is a fairly straightforward way to pull in some extra money with little effort. Just make sure the advertising company is legitimate. It’s no secret that the car wrap advertising industry is plagued by scammers. They may email or text message you: You’ve been selected for an advertising campaign! You’ll earn hundreds of dollars a week! The premise isn’t a total fraud, but – spoiler alert – you’re not going to earn hundreds per week . Even the largest and best-paying companies don’t pay that much. Still, you could potentially rake in up to hundreds of dollars per month by getting your car wrapped. Here’s what car wrap advertising is, how to sign up with legit companies and how to steer clear of scammers. What Is Car Wrap Advertising? Car wrap advertising is an out-of-home (OOH) advertisement method that is likely to conjure up images of motorsports cars. But you do

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . When customers grew tired of high cable and satellite bills, streaming giants Netflix and Hulu entered the playing field. When customers lamented their experiences with taxis, Uber and Lyft offered a new way to get around town. And when customers saw that their financial institutions were not working with their best interests in mind, online bank accounts came onto the scene to offer more. The best online checking accounts offer members lower fees (or sometimes even no fees) and higher interest rates than their traditional bank and credit union competitors. They also have responsive websites and advanced mobile apps to provide the same convenience of in-person banking on the go. And despite what you might think about an account that is entirely online, they are incredibly safe. (Lack of safety is just one

Starting an Airbnb is a popular side hustle. While most hosts make a modest amount of extra income to supplement their day-job paychecks, some Airbnb hosts turn their short-term rental property into a full-time business, earning a handsome income every year. While you can make extra money by renting out a room in your home , you’re likely to be more profitable by turning entire houses, apartments or other living spaces into an Airbnb. If you’re serious about turning this into a real business, these tips will get you started as an Airbnb entrepreneur. This guide will cover: Finding the Right Airbnb Property for You Making Your Airbnb Business Legitimate Calculating Your Return on Investment Listing Your Airbnb Property the Right Way to Attract Guests Taking Extra Good Care of Your First Airbnb Guests Improving Your Host Rating Accommodating Remote Workers Making Sure You’re COVID Compliant Is Starting an Airbnb Business Worth It? Finding the Right Airbnb Property for You