Life would sure be simpler if someone Venmo’d us $1 million, but sadly that scenario is basically nonexistent. (Also, Venmo won’t process transfers that big.)
Even if becoming an actual millionaire is unlikely, you can still handle your finances like one. No, we won’t walk you through buying hundreds of Apple shares or choosing the ideal yacht.
These are straightforward money moves any ordinary person can implement right now. Each suggestion can bring you a little closer to reaching your major financial aims.
Check them out:
1. Check If You’re Paying Too Much
Wikibuy alerts you when you’re about to pay more than necessary for a purchase. For instance, you might save $42 on a pair of headphones.
Wouldn’t it be great to get a notification whenever you’re shopping on Walmart and might be overpaying?
That’s the purpose of a free tool called Wikibuy.
You can add Wikibuy’s free alerts to your browser. Before you complete checkout, it compares prices across sites like Amazon, Target, eBay and others to see if the item appears cheaper elsewhere. It also displays coupon codes, can set price-drop notifications and lets you view the item’s price history.
Imagine you’re buying a new TV. You think you’ve found the best deal — that’s when Wikibuy shows up to warn you if you’re about to overspend. It even applies any known coupon codes automatically.
So far, Wikibuy has helped shoppers save over $70 million.
You can set up Wikibuy in minutes to find out if you’re overpaying online.
2. Cut $715/Year From Car Insurance Very Quickly
When did you last comparison-shop for auto insurance? You’re probably paying far more than necessary for your current plan.
If it’s been longer than six months since you got a new car insurance quote, it’s time to look again.
Through a digital marketplace called SmartFinancial, you could find rates as low as $22 per month — potentially trimming more than $700 off your annual bill.
It takes around a minute to get quotes from multiple carriers so you can view the best prices side-by-side. Yes — in only one minute you might save $715 this year. That’s real cash back into your hands.
If you haven’t checked auto insurance rates lately, see how much a different policy could save you.
3. Spend $1 to Own a Fraction of Amazon, Google and Other Firms
Look at the Forbes list of the wealthiest people and you’ll spot a common thread — many of them own stakes in companies.
If you’re working for a living and don’t have millions to spare, that can seem out of reach.
But with an app called Stash, it doesn’t have to be. It allows you to participate in something usually reserved for the very wealthy — you can purchase fractional shares of companies for as little as $1.
That means you can invest in portions of well-known companies like Amazon, Google, Apple and others for minimal amounts. The upside? When these companies earn profits, you can benefit. Some firms even distribute a portion of profits to shareholders as dividends.
Signing up takes just a couple of minutes and the platform is secure. Stash protects investments through the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) — industry language for “Your funds are safeguarded.”
Also, when you use the link above, Stash will provide a $5 sign-up reward after you deposit $5 into your account.*
4. Stop Letting Your Credit Card Company Bleed You
If you carry credit card debt, you know the drill: stress, sky-high interest and the fear you’ll never escape it.
The reality is credit card companies don’t prioritize your financial well-being — they profit from steep interest rates, sometimes as high as 36%. A service called AmOne aims to change that.
If your combined credit card balances are $100,000 or less, AmOne will connect you with a lower-interest personal loan to consolidate and pay off all your cards.
The advantage? You’ll have just one payment to manage each month. Since personal loans typically come with lower interest rates (AmOne rates begin around 6.40% APR), you’ll pay down debt much faster. And you won’t owe a credit card payment this month.
You don’t need perfect credit to qualify for a loan, and shopping around won’t ding your credit score. AmOne also keeps your data confidential and secure — a factor that has helped it maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau over two decades.
It takes under a minute and only 10 questions to discover what loans you might qualify for — and you don’t need to provide your Social Security number. A valid phone number is required, but they won’t bombard you with calls.
5. Earn Money Just for Watching the News
It’s been a monumental year in current events, and many of us keep refreshing feeds for the latest updates. You probably know someone who fancies themself a news expert.
Research firms will pay you to watch news clips. A site called MyPoints pays members to view short news segments online. Pick which clips you want to watch each day, then answer a few follow-up questions.
Be honest in your responses, and MyPoints will keep rewarding you month after month. Signing up takes less than a minute — then you can start getting paid to watch the news.
6. Boost Your Credit Score by Up to 300 Points
Your credit score matters — it influences major purchases like homes and cars — so keeping it in good shape is essential.
If you want to repair your score or just nudge it upward, try a free service called Credit Sesame.
In about 90 seconds, you’ll see your credit score, any accounts with outstanding balances and personalized suggestions to improve your rating. You may even uncover errors that are dragging your score down (one in five reports contains a mistake).
One user, Michael Lawrence from Atlanta, used Credit Sesame to raise his score nearly 300 points in six months.* “They guided me through the details — how to fix the little things,” he said.
Want to find out for yourself? It’s free and only takes about 90 seconds to join.
7. Discover If You’re Overspending on Homeowners Insurance
You’re likely wasting money somewhere — and it could be on a policy you don’t scrutinize often: homeowners insurance.
Think about it: nearly everything you own is inside your house. What happens if there’s a break-in? A fire? A catastrophic water leak?
Without insurance, you could be in serious trouble.
But there’s a good chance you’re paying too much. A company called Lemonade offers homeowners coverage starting at about $25 per month.
Even better: no phone calls, no complicated enrollment. The whole sign-up process takes around 10 minutes. Just answer a few simple questions about your property to get started.
1 Not every stock pays dividends, and dividends aren’t guaranteed each year.
2 Remember, SIPC protection doesn’t cover losses from market value declines.
For securities priced above $1,000, fractional share purchases begin at $0.05.
*Offer subject to PromotionTerms and Conditions. To qualify for this Promotion and receive the bonus, you must open an individual brokerage account in good standing, link a funding account to your Invest account AND deposit $5.00 into your Invest account.
Savinly is a Paid Affiliate/partner of Stash.
Investment advisory services are provided by Stash Investments LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. This material is distributed for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice. Investing involves risk.
Also, if you’re curious about odd habits wealthy people avoid, check out 9 strange things millionaires money us never tried for a few surprising examples.
