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The path ahead is unclear, and we’re all watching closely to see what unfolds next.
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But rather than waiting for Congress to approve another stimulus package, there are several straightforward, unexpected tactics you can use right now — to put extra money to work, reduce what you owe, shrink your monthly expenses and strengthen your financial future.
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1. Reevaluate Your Car Insurance
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You may be bleeding cash without realizing it. And the culprit could be something surprising — your auto insurance.
This isn’t something you constantly think about. You simply accept it as mandatory, so you assume it must stay as is, right?
Wrong. The reality is, you’re likely overpaying. Fortunately, a service called Insurify makes it simple to discover how much you could be saving. It lists policies starting around $15 per month.
It doesn’t matter when your last renewal was; you might qualify for a refund from your prior insurer for the unused portion of your policy. (In other words: They could owe you money.)
No need for long phone calls or piles of paperwork. It only takes a couple of minutes to see what Insurify could return to your wallet. And the best news? With many people driving less, insurers are dropping premiums this month.
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2. Earn $225 Just by Watching the News
It’s been a landmark year for headlines, and we’re constantly refreshing for the newest developments. You probably know a few news-obsessive friends who act like they’re infectious disease specialists or political strategists.
And while you wait for another stimulus deposit, market research firms are willing to pay you to keep watching. You could pocket up to $225 per month by creating a free Swagbucks account. They’ll show you brief news clips to view daily, then ask a few simple questions about them.
All you need to do is answer truthfully, and Swagbucks will keep compensating you every month. This might sound unbelievable, but the platform has already paid users more than $429 million. We spoke with one user in Pennsylvania, 52-year-old Carolinda Marshall, who earned $1,200 in a year.
It takes about a minute to sign up and begin earning for watching the news.
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3. Turn Your Check into a Share of a Company
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Scan Forbes’ list of the wealthiest people and you’ll see a common thread — most billionaires own stakes in other companies. If you have a regular paycheck, none of this seems attainable, right?
That’s where apps like Stash come in. They let everyday people access what used to be reserved for the extremely wealthy — buying fractional shares of public companies. You can invest in pieces of familiar firms like Amazon, Google or Apple for as little as $1.
The payoff? When those companies do well, you can profit too. Some firms even distribute dividends — periodic payments to shareholders.
Signing up takes a couple of minutes, and Stash will reward you with a $5 bonus after you deposit $5 into your account.
4. Leave Up to $5 Million to Your Spouse and Children
One major perk of being a multimillionaire: you can create a lasting legacy and make sure your family is financially protected. The good news: you don’t have to actually be a multimillionaire to provide that kind of legacy. A life insurance policy can do it for you.
We know what you’re thinking: This sounds pricey and complicated. But a life insurance search tool called LeapLife simplifies the process. In under a minute, LeapLife matches you with customized quotes from major insurers (including Pacific Life, Lincoln and Prudential).
For less than many of us spend on monthly coffee runs, you can secure a term life policy up to $5 million.
Answer a few quick questions to get started. Some carriers even let you complete the policy entirely online — no doctor visit needed (depending on your health and other conditions).
So even without a billionaire net worth, it’s easy to create a millionaire-style legacy.
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5. Boost Your Credit Score by as Much as 300 Points
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Good news for average folks: your credit score isn’t tied to how much you earn. Sure, having more cash may mean fewer loans or credit card balances, but a person with a modest income can have the same — or even a better — credit score than a wealthy individual.
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If you want to repair your score — or simply nudge it higher — try a free service called Credit Sesame.
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In about 90 seconds you’ll see your credit score, any accounts carrying balances and a set of tailored recommendations to help improve your rating. You may also uncover mistakes dragging you down (one in five reports contains an error).
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Marcus Lee, from Atlanta, used Credit Sesame to lift his score by nearly 300 points in six months.* “They walked me through the details — how to handle the small stuff,” he said.
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Checking your free credit score takes under 90 seconds.
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6. Slash Your Cell Phone Bill to as Low as $5
While waiting for the next stimulus disbursement, every dollar matters. If you’re hunting for monthly expenses to reduce, start with your mobile bill.
How long have you been with your current provider? Probably quite a while, which often means you’re overpaying.
We found an economical wireless provider called Tello Mobile that has plans beginning at just $5 per month. How much do you currently spend? Exactly. Picture trimming that down to only $5.
Tello recently moved to a nationwide GSM network, offering better 4G LTE/5G coverage, faster data and a more reliable connection. You pick a plan based on minutes and data you need, and you can check Tello’s coverage tool to see signal strength in your area. Over 7,000 customers have given it top marks on Trustpilot.
Plus, Tello is very flexible. You choose a plan that fits you — priced by data and minutes. For instance, a family of four could get 2GB each plus unlimited talk and text for only $56 per month total. Free hotspot and unlimited texts are included with every plan. There are no early termination or activation fees, no contracts, no phone-specific plans and no hidden catches.
Switching is simple and you can even retain your current phone number. You don’t need to leave your home — everything can be handled online. Bring your own GSM phone or buy one through them. See how much you could save.
