TessMore Finance Blog

Want to become a mystery shopper? If so, we’ve found the five best mystery shopper companies to work for. Mystery shoppers go by a couple different names – evaluators, secret shoppers — but, regardless of the name, the job’s the same: mystery shoppers document their experiences to help businesses who deal with the public a lot. Workers can score everything from free food to extra money when they work for a mystery shopping company. Mystery shopping jobs are pretty plentiful, too. The mystery shopping industry has been around since the 1940s and is a nearly $2-billion-dollar-a-year industry . Ready to learn how to get paid to shop? This post includes information about the best mystery shopping firms around (and what makes a reputable company), average pay, how to avoid mystery shopping scams and more. What Is Mystery Shopping? Mystery shopping is a job where a company pays you to pose like a regular customer. You’ll provide valuable feedback to the company — from how clean the st

I first discovered coconut oil several years ago when a health-focused grocery store opened in my neighborhood. While I originally bought it for cooking, I quickly found many ways I could use it around the house. Now, I use so much that I invest in giant vats from Costco to save money; an 84-ounce tub costs $15.99 and typically lasts four to six months. If you’re new to coconut oil, you’ll be surprised at just how adaptable this once-unknown ingredient can be. What Are the Health Benefits of Coconut Oil? The first use you probably think of for coconut oil is cooking. I most often find Indian recipes that call for this oil, but I’ve used it in a variety of dishes ranging from curries and stir-fries to granola and muffins. There’s some controversy surrounding the consumption of coconut oil because of its high saturated fat content. According to Harvard Medical School , coconut oil has more saturated fat than butter or lard — about 90%. Saturated fat is known to raise LDL (AKA “bad”

As the popularity of cryptocurrencies grows, so are the asset class’s products and services. One increasingly common example is stablecoin. It’s a version of cryptocurrency that’s increasingly available on crypto exchanges, but it’s different from regular crypto because its value doesn’t fluctuate. That might reduce your ability to make the kinds of big gains investors hope to get on cryptos, but stablecoins provide other very important benefits. Table of Contents What Is a Stablecoin? How Does Stablecoin Work? Why Stablecoins Matter The Benefits of Stablecoins The Drawbacks of Stablecoins What are the Most Popular Stablecoins? The Bottom Line What Is a Stablecoin? By its very nature, cryptocurrency floats in value. Because it’s a decentralized asset, the market establishes the value entirely. That is, what one party is willing to pay another in exchange for the crypto involved in the transaction.  Though that arrangement has led to massive profits, crypto is highly unp

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 . We know how incredibly easy it is to rack up credit card debt. More than 40% of American households carry a credit card balance, with an average balance of more than $6,000, according to a study from the financial data website ValuePenguin. The ongoing pandemic has made it even harder for Americans to avoid going into credit card debt, with 20% increasing their overall debt since the start of the pandemic. But here’s the tricky thing about credit cards: They only benefit you when you’re building credit and receiving perks — but not when you’re paying interest. If you’re paying a lot of interest on your balances, credit card companies are making money off of you. Your cards are using you, not the other way around. With average APRs (annual percentage rates) on new credit cards north of 18%, according to Wa

If you’ve been hard at work, exceeding expectations, and hitting bigger goals , but you still haven’t received a raise — maybe it’s time to ask for one. But if asking for a raise sounds intimidating to you, look no further than this step-by-step guide on how to ask for a raise for a boost of confidence to ask for your well-deserved pay increase. What To Do Before Asking For a Raise Asking for a raise is nothing out of the ordinary, especially if you know you’ve been a valued employee at your company—in fact, only 37 percent of workers have asked for a raise before. However, before requesting a raise, there are some things you should consider. These factors include: how long you’ve been working for the company, the company financial situation, and promotion plans, as well the quality of your performance. When evaluating your reasons for a salary raise, take into consideration what you bring to the team, and gather any feedback and accomplishments during your employment.   How

I f you’re like me, you probably own plenty of things that you only use every once in a while. Whether you’ve got an empty bedroom, a collection of cocktail dresses, assorted athletic equipment, or a car that you only drive once or twice a week, you could be putting your stuff to work for you. Renting your stuff is a great way to make extra money. Renting out your stuff is a no-muss, no-fuss way of earning some part-time money without taking up a big chunk of your time. Consider these options for renting out your stuff: Rent Out Your Real Estate You don’t necessarily have to take on a roommate to make money from your property. These websites will allow you to find renters for your real estate. 1. Airbnb Airbnb is the go-to rent-your-space website for anyone with a spare room, spare property, or frequent travel schedule. The site connects you with paying travelers looking for accommodations and gives you complete control of your bookings, house rules, and how you interact with y