During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people found themselves furloughed or unemployed. Perhaps you have been trying to find stable employment for months, but despite your best efforts, you’re still struggling financially. Reading up on personal finance advice on Real Life With Heather can help you start taking small steps towards economic stability. In the meantime, here are a few other strategies you can use to get back on your feet over the next couple of months.

​If your housing costs are eating up a large chunk of your budget, it may be time to think about moving into a cheaper rental. You can save time and make your search easier by filtering out apartments in the Fort Worth, TX area that don’t meet your requirements with a real estate platform like Rent.com. You’ll be able to enter your price range so that you only see options within your budget - in Fort Worth, you should be able to find plenty of apartments for anywhere from $400 to $900 per month.
 
In addition, you can select other filters, like pet-friendliness or the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you need. You could also specifically filter for apartments with certain amenities, such as covered parking lots, pools, or gyms in the apartment complex.

​If you’ve never made a structured budget before, now is the time to start. You will need to include all of your income, your fixed expenses, and your debts. Next, determine how much you can spend on your variable expenses, such as groceries. Finally, see if you have wiggle room in your budget for occasional treats now and then. Make it a point to stay strictly within your budget until you have secured gainful employment again.

​What if you’re looking at the estimated budget you have written out, and you’re struggling to figure out where you could actually cut down on spending? Sofi suggests that you can turn down your thermostat to save on your energy bills, reduce your grocery bills by looking for deals and avoiding pricey snacks, and refinance any loans that you may have. You can also look for fun, affordable activities in your area!

If you worked in an industry that was affected negatively by the pandemic, you may not have been able to find a new job in your field yet. For now, you might need to be open to the idea of working in another industry or doing some freelance work on a part-time basis while you continue hunting for the right full-time position. To let people in your life know that you’re looking for work, The Muse recommends sharing your situation on social media, reaching out to one person at a time to see if they could refer you to an employer and even attending networking events, which will likely remain virtual during the pandemic.

​You might not be able to cover all of your expenses on your own right now. If you have found yourself in this position, you’re not alone, and it’s okay to look for help and apply for financial assistance. You may want to begin researching local programs that have been set up to help people who have suffered from financial hardships because of the pandemic.
 
Dealing with economic uncertainty can be anxiety-inducing. But you have the tools to rebuild your finances and overcome these obstacles. By taking simple actions to save in your daily life while seeking your next job opportunity, you can make it through this challenging time.
 
Ready to make a budget and stick to it? Get actionable tips and advice from Real Life With Heather. Browse the blog today to start getting your personal finances under control. 

I do have a referral code for this app if you are looking to get started with a little extra right from the start. Using my referral code is worth $1.75 currently. If you would like to join using my code it is RCZ9JND. 

Until next time,

Fetch Rewards pays out via gift cards to a slew of different stores- everything from Auto Zone to Whole Foods. I typically go with Amazon as I buy my household goods through them and have been spending money redecorating my office so needed everything from pens to a phone cord as well as the fun things like décor. Their gift cards are claimed in the app and then emailed to you. One of my previously redeemed Amazon gift cards are below to show you what the emails look like. ​

This is the first one that I have a referral link for. If you use a referral link then you receive bonus points upon sign up, helping you get to your first gift card all that much faster. The current reward for using my referral link is a bonus 2,000 points on your account. If you are interested in using my code it is: HE3JP

Until next time,

Photo credit: www.pexels.com

Now that you read all 6 summer self-care tips for busy people, is your answer still 'I don't have enough time'? We don't think so! These simple tips will take a few minutes out of your busy schedule, but they will help you thrive in both your personal and professional life. As you can see, taking a deep breath before starting your day or going for a short walk can make a huge difference in your everyday life. It's simple routines like these that give us strength for bigger things. So, don't neglect them - embrace them!​

In today's edition of money making apps we're looking at Amazon Shopper Panel, a receipt submission app. This app links to your Amazon account and requires that you upload at least 10 receipts each month to be rewarded with a $10 gift card added to your Amazon balance. Occasionally you will also receive invitations to surveys for additional rewards. I've been enjoying using this app as it is super simple and the requirements for a $10 payout months are very small. $120 a year buys me a lot of household supplies on their website, lowering my overall household goods budget considerably for the year. The website's description of the app states:

No referral link for this one either and it said that it was invitation only when I downloaded it... but when I put in a request to join it took about a month for my request to be approved so its worth a shot if you haven't been invited yet.

Until next time,

This is a new series looking at the apps that I am using to make money on things I already do every day- grocery shopping, getting gas, running errands, eating out, taking photos and more. 

Today's app is Google Opinion Rewards, a location based survey reward app. What is a 'location based survey reward' you ask? Good question! This app requires that you share your location on your phone and then when it sees you at a location that has a survey linked to it you are notified. The website say:

I obviously don't do survey's on the subway but I often do them on my lunch break, while waiting in line or when I'm watching a commercial as they take a minute or so, tops. The pay for a survey depends on its length it seems but I have gotten 10 cents for a single question survey and 60 cents for a 5 question survey about what kind of payment type I used when I was at the grocery store. Both of these were quick and easy change in my pocket. 

This app automatically pays out once you hit the $2 threshold and pays through PayPal or with Google store credits depending on the settings and type of phone you have. I typically make between $2 and $8 each month on this app- not big money but, over time, it will pay for someone's Christmas present the time holiday season gets here. 

There isn't a referral link for this one but it was super easy for me to find on the app store and get started. 

Until next time,

Each year we have the opportunity to start a new chapter in our lives. While many of us make New Year’s or birthday resolutions every year, those resolutions rarely last for longer than a few months. However, if we change our approach to making daily habits a regular part of our lifestyle, perhaps we could make positive changes to our lives that last for years to come, without any pesky annual resolutions.
 
Many of us fail to make long-term changes because we focus on conquering obstacles that are either too big or too ambiguous. Then we get discouraged when we don’t see instant results. But what if we changed our perspective and honed in on making smaller, more manageable changes in our everyday lives? This guide from Real Life with Heather provides tips for implementing daily habits that will improve your life and help you achieve the bigger goals for overall wellness. 
 
Boost your self-confidence.           
One of the most important qualities to have when you’re trying to achieve any goal is confidence. Take steps to enhance your self-confidence, and you’ll quickly realize it’s a powerful tool to have at your disposal. For starters, set realistic goals for yourself. There’s nothing wrong with dreaming big, but when you have no practical and reachable goals, the path to achievement simply becomes too murky, and, eventually, you will abandon it altogether.
 
Begin by implementing self-care in your daily life. Whether it’s getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, working out, or taking a vacation, self-care reduces stress, helps you feel better, and improves your self-confidence. Furthermore, it’s helpful to spark positivity in your life by having a set of affirmations to repeat throughout the day. For instance, verbally remind yourself that you are a thoughtful friend, a good parent, an excellent employee, and so on.
 
Follow your entrepreneurial dreams.
If you’ve ever thought about becoming an entrepreneur, but you never really acted on it, it’s more attainable than you think. Start by spending some time each day researching ways you can start your own business. Not sure what business you want to run? Take a look at the benefits of e-commerce, which can be a great side hustle and bring in a good income if you go about it the right way. In addition to picking the right products to sell, you can run a successful online store by using the drop-shipping method. This way, instead of shipping and handling the products yourself, you hire a supplier to deliver the goods to the customers. You’ll also save money with drop-shipping since the overhead and upfront costs are lower than other e-commerce models.
 
Set personal goals.
If appearance is your concern, make reasonable changes to add pep in your step every day. This can be as simple as a wardrobe makeover or a little more complex like skin or tooth correction. For example, if crooked teeth or gaps contribute to low self-esteem, it’s never too late for orthodontics. The right treatment will help you achieve the smile you want and can be fairly simple. Plus, some dental insurance includes orthodontic coverage, which makes treatment more affordable. If you want braces or clear aligners, you can find plans that may cover 50 percent of your treatment. You may even be able to find coverage for at-home treatments like Byte or SmileDirect.
 
Practice personal hygiene.
Personal hygiene is another essential factor in a thriving everyday life. Showering, brushing your teeth, grooming, wearing clean clothes, and other forms of cleanliness not only help you stave off sickness but also help you feel generally better from day to day and build your confidence. One often underappreciated aspect of hygiene is dental health. Your teeth and gums have a lot to do with your overall health, and neglecting to care for them can lead to a host of health issues. If you’re not going to the dentist, now is the time to start. And if you’ve been pushing it off because your dentist charges too much, or because the office is too far of a commute, you should consider switching to a different dentist.
 
Manage your time.
Another way to implement good habits in your life this year is to manage your time better. There’s no doubt about it — life gets busy. However, on most days there is more spare time than we’d like to admit. Step back for a moment and take an honest assessment of the last few days. How much time did you spend watching TV? Surfing social media? Engaging in negative self-talk? Even when life is at its busiest, there is time to be productive and engage in positive habits when you manage that time correctly and use it intentionally.
 
Automatically save.
Money is a source of stress and tension for pretty much everyone at some point. And as much as we intend to save, many of us forget from time to time or never really get around to it. That’s where automating your savings comes in. Setting up your bank account to automatically put a portion of your deposit into savings is a great way to stash money away for the future. Essentially you’ll be a professional saver without even thinking about it!
 
Make this a year of purpose and action. Improve your confidence by setting realistic goals, practicing self-care, and reminding yourself of the positives. If you want to start your own business, consider working in ecommerce. Remember to maintain your personal hygiene, know that it’s okay to tackle appearance issues, and to manage your time with intentionality. Finally, start enhancing your financial future by setting up automatic savings. Big life changes happen with everyday decisions. 

This quarter I managed to finish saving for the second month of my emergency fund (now changed to Income Loss Fund). This quarter several of my assets rose in value much faster than anticipated, namely my house rose in value significantly and my car increased in value in opposition to what was expected. It's been a weird quarter for the market. 

Additionally, I was able to fund my Roth IRA with funds from a lawsuit being finalized. I also purchased several items from my sinking fund categories: a freezer, pillows, my sister's graduation present and redecorated my office. Finally, I have increased the amount I save monthly towards my student loan repayment to $450.

Video monthly updates are below. 

Thank you for following along!

​Until next time,

The end of the first quarter has arrived and I have been slowly but surely working towards my financial goals. I managed to pay off my credit cards this quarter as well as get my credit score back up over 800. I was so happy to check these off of my goals list. Next up: student loans, investments and finishing up my emergency fund. I managed to make several big purchases in addition to paying off my cards:

• safe
• trash bins
• doorbell & camera

Videos of my monthly updates are below.

Thanks for following along!

​Until next time,

We may not be traveling much yet but we will be soon! Normalcy is coming, hopefully sooner rather than later, and being prepared by adding these fun and/or necessary trips into the budget sooner rather than later can make all the difference in having a lovely trip when the time comes or feeling stressed about the finances of said trip.

The first step in planning a trip is deciding the budget and location for your trip. Today's video and download will help you with the former. 

Once you've decided on your location its time to start looking at places you want to see and activities you want to do while you are there. Write down a basic itinerary and how much each activity would cost then start entering it into the budget calculator. After you have your activities, transportation and food settled in the budget its time to start looking at how your vacation costs can fit into the budget. Chose the timeframe and divide the total budget by that time frame to get your per month/week/paycheck/etc. savings needs. The calculator has it set as months but you can easily adjust this to your own needs. This amount will give you a place to start as you adjust your plans and anticipated costs to fit an amount that you can afford to put towards the trip. Sometimes you may have to cut something or lengthen a savings timeline to make your dream a reality but other times you may decide that the trip is worth more than you and you want to put more money into making it a showstopper. Having a plan allows you to do that, guilt and stress free, so your travel is a more relaxing experience from start to finish.

Where are you planning on going after life gets back to normal?

​Until next time!