If you're on a budget, finding a spring break destination that your family can enjoy can be challenging. However, there are ways that you can spend a fulfilled spring break with your family without breaking the bank. From taking the family on the road to enjoying the outdoors, here are five ways to answer the question, "What's an affordable spring break vacation you can enjoy for families with children?" How to Spend Spring Break with Your Family Go on a Camping Trip Plan Daily Events in Your City Plan a Road Trip Visit State Parks Explore Myrtle Beach 1. Go on a Camping Trip A camping trip in a national park is an affordable way for families to enjoy spring break vacations. Many national parks have campgrounds offering affordable tent or RV camping rates. You can find reasonably priced park entrance fees and purchase them in advance online to save even more money. During the day, families can explore the park's hiking trails, go on ranger-led programs, and participate in other outdoor activities such as wildlife watching, fishing, or kayaking. At night, families can gather around the campfire for s'mores and stargazing. Camping trips also offer the opportunity to disconnect from technology and enjoy quality time together as a family without the distractions of everyday life. It's a chance to slow down, enjoy nature, and create lasting memories. Lilia Koss, Community Manager, Facialteam See my feature in What Foods to Bring Camping 2. Plan Daily Events in Your City Your city may have undiscovered attractions or locations that you've yet to visit. From waterparks to zoos to museums, there are multiple ways that you can keep your child entertained. Most of these attractions have special discounts for children on spring break. The draw is that if you receive a discount during spring break, the business suspects that you may want to frequent them in the future if you receive a discount and enjoy your experience. Your child's school may also have coupons, or free access passes during spring break. Visiting sites in your local area can eliminate the need to schedule a flight or book a hotel that would be required if you went out of town to visit attractions. Annette Harris, Founder, Harris Financial Coaching See my feature in How parents are approaching Spring Break during Covid 3. Plan a Road Trip There are a few options for families looking for an affordable spring break vacation. Consider planning a road trip! Traveling by car reduces airfare expenses and allows you to explore more of your destinations since you're not limited to one airport. You can have plenty of great road trips throughout the United States that don't need to break the bank and will show you a more organic view of the country. Asker Ahmed, Director and Founder, iProcess 4. Visit State Parks State parks provide excellent opportunities for families with children looking for affordable vacations. Whether you camp in a tent or rent a cabin, state parks offer something for everyone and every budget. With activities ranging from fishing, hiking, swimming, boating, and even horseback riding, there is plenty to keep the kids busy. And nothing is better than relaxing around a campfire in the evening while making s'mores. Vacations are about spending time together and building memories. State parks provide the perfect opportunity to do this without breaking the bank. Andrew Adamo, VP, Bullion Shark 5. Explore Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is a much-loved favorite spring break destination for families with children. The springtime is ideal for hitting the beach, as the water is warmer and not too freezing. There are also many water parks, arcades, and miniature golf courses throughout the greater Myrtle Beach area that will surely be a night of fun for any youngster. Alexandre Robicquet, Co-Founder and CEO, Crossing Minds See how I'm spending spring break this year in this Haven Life article! Where are you going for spring break? Leave a comment below.

Many financial considerations come into play when entering into a marriage with children from previous relationships. To keep the peace in your relationship and reduce future financial stress, it's important to determine yours, mine, and ours. From avoiding shared credit responsibilities to trying the raw contribution method, here are seven answers to the question, "What are your most helpful tips for merging finances in a blended family?" How Families are Merging Finances in a Blended Family Keep Credit Cards in Your Own Name Go All in With Lifestyle Expenses Create a Blended Family Budget Establish Clear Boundaries and Expectations Be Consistent Have Family Finance Meetings Use the Raw Contribution Method Keep Credit Cards in Your Own Name Having your financial plans together with a blended family is great, but if you want to keep your credit accounts separate, this way, you can keep building your own credit. You can add a person as an authorized user on your credit card account so that if you like a particular card for rewards, they can use it for household expenses, but it is easy to take them off the account if an issue arises. I think the only merged account should be your mortgage. Jeanne Kelly, Founder, Kelly Group Coaching, Inc. Go All in With Lifestyle Expenses Go all-in on merged finances for day-to-day activities. Create a joint bank account for housing, utilities, and activities. It starts with your finances if you want your family to feel cohesive. There are certain financial areas that you need to keep separate. For example, the original owner should keep assets each party had before entering a marriage. But both partners should contribute to lifestyle expenses and have access to accounts to pay for necessary and discretionary family bills. Melanie Musson, Insurance Expert, USInsuranceAgents.com Create a Blended Family Budget With merging finances in a blended family, one of the best pieces of advice I can offer is to build a household budget. By constructing and agreeing to a plan for how the money will be allocated across the family, everyone clearly understands their expectations, and there are fewer chances of disagreements. This family budget should consider the individual needs of each party and focus on what's best for the whole family. A great way to develop this unified plan is to keep detailed records about spending habits, assess them together, and devise strategies for achieving common goals. Lorien Strydom, Executive Country Manager, Financer.com Establish Clear Boundaries and Expectations This involves determining who pays certain bills and expenses and setting rules for shared expenses, such as dining out or entertainment. It can also include setting individual spending and saving guidelines to meet everyone's financial needs and goals. Having clear boundaries and expectations can help avoid misunderstandings and conflicts down the line. Brian Meiggs, Founder, My Millennial Guide Be Consistent When blended families come together, they bring in multiple house rules, which can turn the finances into a confusing jumble. Establishing one concise set of rules is key to harmonizing blended families and finances. Being consistent with standards ensures everyone meets the same expectations, creating fair competition for household activities and responsibilities—financial or otherwise. Not only does this make sense from an organizational perspective, but it also makes things easier for everyone by setting understandable parameters and boundaries. After all, successful financial blending isn't just about sharing resources—it's also about creating strong relationships by showing respect and trust between blended family members. Bottom line: setting one set of house rules from the start will keep everyone on the same page without overwhelming confusion, leaving more time to enjoy your blended family life! Piotrek Sosnowski, Chief People and Culture Officer, HiJunior Have Family Finance Meetings Having regular family meetings is one of the best practices for merging finances. At the end of the day, everyone likes to agree about financial matters, even kids, when it is explained in an age-appropriate manner. When a regular expense changes, gather everyone together and explain the update or reach a decision about it as a family. Transparency is vital to a happy family. Annu Daniel, CEO, Elohim Company Use the Raw Contribution Method With this method, couples contribute the same amount of money regardless of how much they make. For example, Jerry earns $4,000 a month, and Kelsie earns $6,500 a month. They both pitch in $1,500 and keep the leftovers in separate accounts. This can be advantageous for a blended family because it keeps the higher earner from feeling penalized for their success and the lower earner from feeling subsidized. Dakota McDaniels, Chief Product Officer, Pluto

What are savings bonds, and how can they help you save? Savings bonds are low-risk savings tools. Your returns are based on how long you maintain the bond, the current interest rate, and the type of bond you purchase. Savings bonds come in two forms, Series EE and Series I, and can be gifted to help others begin saving. To determine which bond may fit your financial situation, let's examine how savings bonds could be used for long-term financial planning. What are Savings Bonds? Savings bonds can be purchased in denominations of $25, $50, $100, $200, $500, $1,000, $2,000, $5,000, and $10,000. They can be purchased directly from the U.S. Treasury or from a financial institution. Series EE and Series I Savings Bonds When purchasing Series EE and Series I bonds, the length of time you want to maintain the bond should be considered. Series EE bonds take longer to fully mature than Series I bonds. Series EE bonds are considered long-term bonds and earn interest for 30 years or until you cash them. The interest rate for a Series EE bond is significantly lower than that of a Series I bond. However, after 20 years, your Series EE bond will be worth double what you paid for it. Series I bonds earn an interest rate based on inflation and would be best suited for someone seeking to make a short-term investment. However, you can continue earning interest on a Series I bond for at least 30 years. In October 2021, the current rate for a Series I bond was 3.54 percent compared to a Series EE bonds rate of 0.10%. Savings Bond Volatility Savings bonds are considered to be low-risk assets. Savings bonds receive gradual interest rate increases. The value of bonds also does not depreciate, and the government backs the value. One risk is that interest rates may decrease based on the economy's performance. This is an essential factor for Series I bonds if you want to use them for short-term growth. Buying Savings Bonds You can purchase savings bonds by visiting the Treasury Direct website at any time or during tax season when you file your tax return. Buying bonds in electronic format can be beneficial and secure. Paper bonds can be stolen, lost, and difficult to obtain if you do not know the serial number. TreasuryDirect no longer issues Series EE bonds in paper format. This is beneficial because electronic bonds allow you to periodically check on your bonds' interest and growth rate in a secure environment. In addition, if you have a beneficiary change to your bonds, it can be changed online in a matter of minutes with electronic bonds. See Tools To Teach Your Kids About Saving, Debt, Bonds, and More - TreasuryDirect Kids Savings Bonds For Long-Term Use Savings bonds should fit into a long-term savings plan determining on the type. Series EE bonds can be used for retirement purposes, your children's college funds, or future mortgage payoffs. Series EE bonds mature over 30 years and could fit into your long-term financial plans and eliminate any losses on the interest you gain due to early withdrawals. It's essential to weigh your options when considering Series EE or Series I bonds and consult with a certified financial advisor who can recommend options based on your particular financial situation. Finding a Savings Bond Serial Number The serial number of a savings bond is a unique identifier that is printed on the bond. It is used to track the bond and to redeem it for its value. If you're looking for your savings bond serial number, you can find it in the bottom right corner of your paper savings bond. The serial number will begin with a letter and follow with a series of numbers and letters at the end, identifying the type of savings bond you have. It's helpful to know this number if you lose your savings or want to convert it to an electronic bond.

Employers offer their employees many benefits. The benefits that are offered can be confusing and complicated to sort through. However, if you know what to look for, you will be ready to negotiate some of these benefits before accepting an offer of employment. Below are a few benefits working parents should advocate for during their job search or with their current employer. Benefits Working Parents Should Look For: Dependent Care Account Flexible Spending Account Tuition Reimbursement Vacation Days Paid Holidays Caretaker Benefits Employer Discount Programs Dependent Care Account Dependent Care Accounts allow working parents to use their pre-tax income to pay for daycare expenses. By contributing pre-tax income, parents can reduce their tax rate for an expense that may be required for their children's care while at work. If you owe money when you file your taxes, using the Dependent Care Account is an optimal benefit. Even if you don't owe the IRS when you file your taxes, reducing your tax rate can still be beneficial at times. There are IRS limits, and the amount your employer will allow you to contribute can vary. With this type of plan, employers do not contribute any funds. You must also use any funds you contribute by the deadline or forfeit your reimbursements. Flexible Spending Account Flexible Spending Accounts are employer-sponsored plans that allow you to contribute pre-tax income for future medical or dental care and other medical supplies. An FSA is beneficial to parents who have young children who often need to be seen by doctors. This type of account is even helpful for expenses such as assistive devices, medical equipment, hearing aids, and other medical supplies not covered by most plans. See my feature in Smart Ways Use Up Your FSA Before the Year Ends. Tuition Reimbursement or Scholarships College can be expensive, and every dollar counts when funding your education or your child's education. Parents should look for scholarships and tuition offerings. Some organizations offer scholarships for employees' children up to a specific age limit. Knowing the requirements of employer scholarship programs can help you prepare your child to be eligible when it's time to apply. In addition, most employers will pay for an employee's tuition if it is relevant to their current profession. The IRS limits employer reimbursements up to $5,250 annually. Employers can decrease the annual amount, but this tax-free benefit can reduce or eliminate the need for a student loan. Video: 5 Ways To Avoid Student Loan Debt Vacation Days If you are a parent with school-age children, you may want to take time off for holidays, during spring break or the summer. Negotiating the vacation days you may be eligible for should be accomplished before accepting a position. Typically, once you accept the vacation days available, it won't be easy to adapt this when employed. It's also important to understand when you are eligible to use any accrued vacation. Some employers require employees to be employed for six months before they are eligible. So, ask employers how your vacation days are accrued and attempt to advocate for more. How Many Holidays Does Your Employer Offer? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average employer offers 7.6 holidays to its employees. Any more than that, and you may be looking at an above-average employer. Suppose your employer provides the average number of holidays working parents should consider advocating for more. More holidays can enhance employees' work-life balance and decrease the need to use limited vacation days to fill in the blanks when children do not have school or daycare available. Caretaker Benefits The COVID pandemic has caused more employees to either work from home or required them to go back to work without adequate daycare or eldercare. Employers should consider offering reimbursements or other special offerings for caretaking assistance through community or national partners. Caretaking benefits could include options for in-home daycare, remote monitoring reimbursements, and even support for after-school programs. Offering this benefit could encourage employees to return to the office or eliminate some of the distractions of remote working. Employer Discount Programs Many employers offer discount programs to employees, which can be beneficial when looking to save vehicle purchases or travel during the summer and winter seasons. These programs can come at no cost to employers and save you hundreds to thousands of dollars. If your employer does not offer a discount program with local car dealerships or national perks websites, you can advocate with your HR department to get them included. Here are some employee perk websites that are currently available. Corporate Perks Perks at Work TicketsatWork Whatever added benefit an organization offers, many of the benefits listed above are employee-funded and can enhance an employee's work-life balance and lead to happier, healthier employees.

Comingling finances in a blended family can come with its challenges. Deciding who's responsible for paying for children's daycare, extracurricular activities, or medical care can cause frustration if clear communication about expenses is not established at the beginning of the relationship. From establishing transparent communication to finding an impartial third party, here are six answers to the question, "What are your most helpful tips for splitting finances as a blended family?" Balancing Money in a Blended Family Establish Transparent Communication Take Child Support Payments into Consideration Decide Special Event Budgets Beforehand Balance Your Budget Periodically Bring in an Impartial Third Party Discuss Estate Planning Establish Transparent Communication Establish clear communication about financial goals, expectations, and spending habits from the beginning. This can include setting a household budget and discussing financial decisions and expenditures regularly. Additionally, it may be helpful to set up separate bank accounts for each parent to maintain financial independence and avoid conflicts. Brad Cummins, Founder, Insurance Geek Take Child Support Payments into Consideration One or both parents may be responsible for paying child support payments to the child(ren)'s other parent. Child support can put a strain on an already tight budget. Before blending finances, determine what is available in the budget after the other parent has paid child support for children outside the marriage. Setting boundaries on whose responsible for those payments is critical at the beginning stages of marriage. Decide Special Event Budgets Beforehand Deciding the budget for a special event, like a birthday or holiday party, beforehand is one of the best practices. Setting spending limits keeps everyone on the same page and sets the expectation for the event without having to make any rushed decisions at the last second. Always try to keep the budgets the same for each child's birthday, especially. Even a little extra can be unfair to the other children. Annu Daniel, CEO, Elohim Company Balance Your Budget Periodically When one parent has child support or alimony payments, eventually, they will come to an end. Determining what to do with the stoppage of payments should be discussed in advance. Consider if the parent will use child support payments to fund their child's college education. If alimony payments are ending, should you save that money as a family, or does the other parent have outstanding expenses or debt that should be addressed first? It may already be a stressful topic, but deciding what to do with the funds before the payments stop can ensure that both parties are on the same page. Bring in an Impartial Third Party This can be a challenge, and the last thing you want is for something to cause a rift between family members that can become serious. At all costs, I would do what I could to avoid those issues. One way to figure out these situations is to bring in a third party to look at everything and decide fairly. A financial advisor from your bank should be able to help, or you can speak to a financial expert online who can jump in and provide help. If you talk to the right expert, they should be able to help you manage income, make a schedule for expenses, and evenly divide bills fairly. It will be tough to figure it out on your own, so bringing in a third party is probably your best bet to avoid fights, unfair agreements, or worse. Shaun Connell, Founder & CEO, Credit Building Tips Discuss Estate Planning Estate planning may be the last thing on your mind when you have a blended family. However, a critical discussion should be had when establishing wills and determining what assets children will inherit in the case of your untimely death. For example, when establishing a life insurance party, who will be the beneficiary of the funds? Will it be your children or all of the children combined in the marriage? If the children are minors, will they be required to live with their biological parents, and should life insurance follow them? These are just a few questions to consider when establishing an estate plan. What's Next? If you're in a blended family or preparing to combine your finances, create a checklist of expenses to discuss. Set clear boundaries at the beginning of the relationship to reduce financial discord and eliminate the need to hide your income or withhold your spending habits.

Working in human resources, I have been able to interview thousands of candidates for all types of job openings. With the increase in virtual interview opportunities, I have seen it all. From someone interviewing, while sitting on their bed, in their car, to phones falling and the batteries dying, it has been an interesting rollercoaster of events. To help you do well in a virtual job interview, I asked hiring managers and experienced recruiters for tips to help you prepare for a virtual interview. From being well-prepared and engaging to maintaining eye contact with the interviewer, there are several pieces of advice that may help you perform well in virtual job interviews. How to Ace a Virtual Job Interview Be Well-Prepared and Engaging Test Out Your Environment and Technology in Advance Turn Off Notifications On Phone and Computer Speak With Confidence and Be Authentic Write Down Things To Refer To During The Interview Focus On the Fundamentals Show Interest and Stay Engaged Maintain Eye Contact With The Interviewer Prepare Your Video Equipment Be Well-Prepared and Engaging Stay in the moment for a virtual interview. Though "stay in the moment" might seem cliche or vague, this adage encapsulates patience and awareness and works best with deep breathing. Research, practice, and perform. Remember your preparation, but don't anticipate the questions. Listen intently to the full idea before responding. Because so much can go wrong with a virtual interview, tame your environment and video background as much as possible, reducing sound and visual distractions. Deeply engaging with the interviewer despite the detached nature of a virtual interview is the key to winning the interview and securing the job. - Christopher Ager, HomeBreeze Test Out Your Environment and Technology in Advance You want the focus in your interview to stay on your answers and what makes you a valuable candidate. Part of acing a virtual interview is preparing to minimize the risk of technical glitches, interruptions, and distractions that can prevent you from making the best first impression. If you haven't used the interview software, log into it before the interview day to familiarize yourself with its navigation and use. It's also wise to test your microphone, speakers, and internet connection reliability by asking a friend to set up a virtual call, checking things like your volume level and how your interview space comes across from the other person's perspective. If you live with other people or have pets, make the necessary preparations to ensure you'll have a quiet, distraction-free space for the entire interview. And gauge the noise level of your space when you test the technology to know if you'll need to use headphones or other tools to limit potential distractions. - Jon Hill, The Energists Turn Off Notifications On Phones and Computers Whether you tell your friends not to get in touch or not, you can guarantee that, by bad luck, you'll get a message notification on your phone or laptop during your virtual interview. This can throw off your interview, and you don't want to come across as unprofessional or even have a potential employer see messages between you and your friends. Turn off the notifications on all of your devices, so you don't have to worry about any stray notifications coming through and throwing you off your interview! - James Taylor, James Taylor SEO For assistance with getting your resume and LinkedIn profile noticed, contact an experienced resume writer. Speak With Confidence and Be Authentic Speaking from the diaphragm is an effective way to strengthen your voice without altering it. The diaphragm encourages oxygen flow which helps pace the breathing during speeches, creating a more powerful tone. Speaking from the throat will quickly tire out the vocal cords and become hoarse in a matter of minutes. Instead of breathing air into the lungs, try to breathe through your stomach. In doing so, your voice will sound more confident and authentic while staying true to yourself. - Jodi Neuhauser, Ovaterra Write Down Things To Refer To During The Interview Prepare a cheat sheet, but don't rely on it. Let it serve you as support when needed. Basically, it means that you should be well-prepared for your virtual interview. In preparing, it's a good idea to create such a sheet. Put down all the essential information you want to share and the questions you want to ask. If you feel a void in your mind, take a quick look. - Agata Szczepanek, MyPerfectResume Focus On the Fundamentals Don't lose sleep worrying about the minute differences between virtual and in-person interviews. Focus on the fundamentals of interview prep. This means dressing well, maintaining eye contact, researching the company, and preparing for interview questions. Hiring managers are looking for the same qualities during virtual interviews as in-person ones. We conduct interviews to see how well you can summarize your abilities and articulate your goals as an employee. A virtual interview won't stop you from doing that. - Karl Hughes, Draft.Dev Show Interest and Stay Engaged Stay focused and engaged with your interviewer. Visual cues that show you're actively listening to the person you're speaking with can go a long way in helping you lock down an interview. Instead of sitting perfectly still, consider adding simple gestures like nods or small verbal affirmations (so long as they aren't too disruptive) to let your interviewer know that you're paying attention even when you aren't responding to a direct question. It's a good idea to keep a pen and paper handy for taking notes. Jot down a few questions and important points of discussion during your interview. When your interviewer asks if you have any questions towards the tail end of your interview, you'll already be prepared. - Alex Chavarry, Cool Links Maintain Eye Contact With The Interviewer Eye contact and professional attire are two of the most effective tips to conquer a virtual interview. Nonverbal communication or eye contact acknowledges to the speaker you are focused and engaged in the conversation. A structured jacket or blouse that compliments your skin tone and does not compete with the background reflects confidence. Lastly, virtual interviews have the same value as in-person meetings. The business attire and eye contact show the interviewer you are self-assured about the position. - Yooseok gong, Ohora Prepare Your Video Equipment When interviewing remotely, preparing your video equipment setup is essential. If a candidate does not have access to a computer with a webcam, you can use a smartphone or tablet. If you are using your webcam, ensure that you have proper lighting for the interview. Incorrect lighting can create a glare or make it seem like you're sitting in a dark room. Also, if you're next to a window with blinds, ensure that the glare from the sun is not shining light directly on you. It can be distracting to see shaded and bright light slats from a window blind on your face during an interview. If you are using a cell phone during an interview, ensure you have a phone stand that can steady your phone. If you have to hold your phone or if it constantly slips, this causes distractions to the person interviewing you. Even though it's a remote interview, interviewing in your car and falling phones does not present a professional image. Pick a location, steady your camera, and ensure proper lighting. - Annette Harris, Founder, Harris Financial Coaching

Have you ever been in a crisis where your finances were challenged, and it left you wondering how you could survive? Building antifragility into your budget can help you adapt to unexpected financial circumstances and change. How do you ensure that your budget is antifragile? Taking your budget from fragility to resilience to antifragility can be accomplished in a few short months. What is a Fragile Budget? A fragile budget is a budget that can fracture and the slightest change in your life circumstances. This could range from an unexpected doctor's visit where you have to pay a high copay to your child needing a new pair of shoes for an athletic event. These things you don't typically build into your budget but require immediate payment to maintain your health and your child's happiness. They may seem like a small expense to some, but for you, it could mean you may not have enough money for groceries for the month or week. You can take action now to buy less and save more to help get you out of the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck. See my feature in The case for buying less — and how to actually do it What is a Resilient Budget? Have you started to build your emergency fund that could get you through the next three months of your living expenses if you lose your job? If you are in a car accident, can you afford the deductible on your insurance? Keeping track of your monthly income and expenses can help determine if you have a resilient budget. If your budget accounts for your needs, wants, and expenses, then you are building resiliency into your budget. If you haven't started saving yet, even the most minimal amount of 1% can help you build a saving pattern. You can continually increase your savings percentage as you pay down any outstanding debt or address your immediate financial concerns. How Do You Build an Antifragile Budget? An antifragile budget can help you keep your head above the water when a financial emergency occurs. No longer will it feel like you are drowning in debt with the feeling that you are sinking without a lifesaver. There are a few steps you can take to build an antifragile budget. Cut Unnecessary Expenses - Evaluate your weekly and monthly spending to determine where you can eliminate subscriptions and unused gym memberships or reduce the frequency at which you eat out. In many budgets, eating out is the most significant expense that occurs frequently. Take Immediate Action - There's no time like now to address your concerns with your budget and start saving and investing in your future. Take immediate action to cancel unnecessary expenses. Log on to Amazon, your Iphone Store App, or any other app to cancel reoccurring subscription costs. Own Your Past and Current Decisions - Understanding that you have made mistakes in the past with your budget can allow you to move forward to make future changes. You learn from your mistakes by avoiding making the same decisions repeatedly. If you make a decision that goes against your goals, learn from it and move on. Don't beat yourself up about it, and return to the cycle of a fragile budget. You will achieve your financial goals if you learn from the decisions you made and make future course corrections. Stay Focused on Your Goals -The most important aspect of having an antifragile budget is staying focused on your goals. If your goal is to save $50,000 for your child's education or $5,000 for a down payment on your car, then staying focused on your goals can help you achieve your goals. Setting SMART goals can ensure that you stay on track and provide you with a timeline by which you want to reach your goals. You can take your budget from fragile to resilient to antifragile and achieve your journey toward financial freedom and independence. Control Your Finances by Setting SMART Goals and Talking About Them With Annette Harris

Many workers are abandoning traditional employment for an alternative way of making ends meet. Some professions may find it easier than others to walk away from a steady income in search of a profitable side hustle. Graphic designers or those with design experience are a few individuals who may find it easier to start a side hustle using technology and their technical know-how. I asked business leaders and freelancers for their best side hustle ideas for graphic designers to make the transition to business ownership seamless. From designing ebooks to creating portfolio templates, there are several recommended side hustles for graphic designers to try out. Side Hustle Ideas for Graphic Designers Design Ebooks and Digital Products Create a Course Publish Artwork on Adobe Stock Create Logos Design Social Media Post Templates Enter the Metaverse and Build NFTs Create Portfolio Templates Design Ebooks and Digital Products I've worked with many graphic designers on Upwork to create ebooks and other digital products to be used on a blog. A growing number of websites are developing digital products, so creating a profile on Upwork and getting some reviews can help you boost business in your side hustle. - Kristine Thorndyke, Test Prep Nerds Create a Course Creating a course is one of the best side hustles for graphic designers. Many graphic designers are used to working on a project-by-project basis and don't get to see the big picture. Creating a course allows them to take all of their expertise in one specific area and turn it into a product they can sell repeatedly. A course can provide an additional revenue stream and help you grow your business in other ways. It can help build your credibility and establish you as an expert in your field, allowing you to sell your skill at a higher price than ever before. - Shaun Connell, Connell Media Advertiser Disclosure Publish Artwork on Adobe Stock Publish icons and artwork on Adobe Stock and other websites. Think about making a few packs of your own for the most popular web icons and selling them online so that other people can buy them. You could also place your patterns, font families, or other designs on a tangible item, such as a shirt, and sell it. - Ammad Asif, Stream Digitally Create Logos A great side hustle for graphic designers is logo design. I have an excellent size roster of graphic designers for logo creation, email marketing design, and website graphics. There are endless brands and figures on Instagram, many of whom could benefit from some brand design management. A skilled graphic designer could find temp, recurring, and retainer work by connecting with up-and-coming social media profiles. - Will Gill, DJ Will Gill Ready to Start Your design business? Check out Fiverr! Using Fiverr, you can create logos and sell your design images to small business owners on a budget. Put your skills to the test by creating a business account. You can charge what you desire and see what works for you. Get Started Today! Advertiser Disclosure Design Social Media Post Templates Graphic designers serve small businesses and individuals well in a role as social media post template designers. Compared to their daily scope of work, this side hustle is simpler and offers more room for creativity and freedom. Additionally, the rise of social media and businesses going online means that this side hustle provides an excellent opportunity to capitalize on the growth and also expand the side hustle. - Mehtab Ahmed, LoansJury Enter the Metaverse and Build NFTs Metaverse has opened a plethora of options for making a decent income. No, I'll not recommend graphic designers build their own NFT collection. That's already competitive. I recommend using creative skills in building NFT/Virtual worlds. From designing store outlets for brands like Adidas and H&M to partnering with successful NFT projects and building their personal metaverse world. You can put your artist cap on, look for interior inspiration on Pinterest and create a virtual world, store, or house with your graphic designing skills. This opportunity can be a great way to make your graphic-designing future-proof because building and designing a metaverse world in the future will surely be in high demand. Plus, you can get paid in cryptocurrency, which can help you build generational wealth. Metaverse is the future, and focusing your graphic designing around a metaverse theme will make you future-ready! - Johannes Larsson, Financer.com Create Portfolio Templates A graphic designer should dedicate a few hours each week to creating their portfolio, whether a freelancer or a full-time worker. These could be random designs at first, but as they zero in on their preferences, they can create their own themes and templates related to the industry of their choice and prepare for the giant leap into building a name for themselves. The next step should always be a priority, and while this can start as a side hustle, it can grow into a successful independent career too. - Dillon Hammond, Achieve TMS East

On the journey to building your business, you may search for ways to monetize your blog and increase the reach to your target audience. Like me, you probably applied for Google Adsense and were denied multiple times before you were accepted. I finally got accepted, and you will, too, with persistence. However, there are other ways you can increase your income stream by joining Affiliate programs. Here are a few that I've joined through Awin and may be helpful to you on your journey to building your business and reaching financial success. This post contains affiliate links. As an Awin Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Awin Affiliate Program The Awin Affiliate Program connects you with publishers across the world. You can join programs based on your target market. It's easy to join and for you to begin monetizing your site. To set up your account, you will be asked to enter your website information, provide a brief overview of your website, to validate your business by entering your EIN, and a credit card for verification purchases. I was approved the next day. Now, you will have access to apply for multiple affiliate programs at a time! From Awin: A bit about us: Awin offers an innovative, ethical and global approach to performance marketing providing extensive international reach with 13 offices worldwide. Top consumer brands such as Etsy, HP, and Under Armour grow their online presence by leveraging our market-leading technology - now featuring bounceless tracking. We offer proprietary solutions, comprehensive reporting suites and partner directories to facilitate advertiser and publisher collaboration. Dinnerly Dinnerly brings recipes and ingredients to your door for unfussy, affordable weeknight meals. It is the first subscription meal kit service to offer $4.99 per serving. You could earn up to $10 per sale when someone purchases a basket size of $40. That's the standard size of purchases if you shoppers really want to take advantage of the offering. What does a standard Dinnerly box include? 49 weeknight meals, pre-portioned ingredients, and time saved in the kitchen. Each meal takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and cook on those oh-so-hectic weeknights. Fiverr Affiliate Fiverr operates under a Click Per Affiliation structure. What this means is that depending on the traffic you bring to their site, you will receive varying compensation that can include a flat fee, a percentage of the sale, or a combination of both. Fiverr is full of freelancers worldwide that offer services ranging from graphic design, mobile app development, SEO services on time, under budget, resume writing, and more. So, if you refer someone for resume writing services, you may earn $25, and if you refer someone to a website developer, you could earn $40. The rates may vary from time to time and depend upon the sub-categories. Submit your request to become a Fiverr Affiliate by joining Awin and manage all your programs on one platform Why should you consider being a Fiverr Affiliate? Fiverr explains: Almost any site/page or YouTube/Twitch video can drive traffic to Fiverr. You can refer directly to any sub-category relevant for your audience, to any Gig, search results page, or to the Fiverr homepage. Etsy Affiliate Program I've tried to join Etsy's Affiliate program on my own, and it just didn't work out for me. By joining the Etsy Affiliate program through Awin, you can offer products that apply to your niche. Now, if you have your own Etsy shop, you can't recommend your products, but you can add products that closely relate to the article, video, or other content that you are creating. You can do this by creating links in Awin that tie back to your publisher ID. It's also a great way to build relationships with Etsy shop owners. When you link to their product, tag them in a social post or reach out to them on Etsy. You'll be surprised at how responsive Etsy shop owners are. Are you eligible? See what Etsy has to say. All affiliates are welcome to apply, however certain profiles are not eligible for the program at this time, including cashback and voucher code sites. Please note that we also have Canadian, UK, French, German, Scandinavian (Sweden) and Australian affiliate programs. Affiliates should only apply to their specific country program. Commissions will be rewarded no matter what country the sale was made in. After applying to Awin, I was approved the next day! E-File.com (US) Affiliate Program Since my business is in the financial services arena, I decided to join E-File's Affiliate Program. I publish multiple articles on taxes, including saving money from your tax return and finding free or more secure ways to file. So, this affiliate program was perfect for my target market. They even have a free tax bracket calculator that can be used as a freebie for your subscribers. Cookies typically stay on the person's computer for 30 days, but with E-File, the cookie remains for 120 days. So, this was a bonus because, generally, people take their time when filing their taxes and finding the best deal available to them. I was approved within minutes of applying! The Motley Fool The Motley Fool helps people invest better and is within the financial niche that I gear my content towards. The approval rate for the Motley Fool Affiliate program is 85.68%. Once approved, you can earn cash back or member rewards per subscriber. What if someone doesn't sign up right away? Well, the referral period is in effect for 30 days after someone clicks on your link. It's difficult to make those investment decisions, so I think 30 days is a good length of time for any cookies to remain on your user's computers. Amazon The Amazon Associates affiliate program was one of the easiest to join. I applied on the website and submitted my business information, and I was approved in a day. I was also able to add multiple websites and my YouTube channel to link to the Amazon Affiliate program. It's been slow going, but I have received a lot of traffic. Here's a great resource to help you get started: Amazon Affiliate Marketing: The Secret E-Commerce Passive Income That No One Is Talking About: Make Money Online and Gain Your Freedom Back! With the Amazon affiliate program, you get six months to have at least three purchases made through your affiliate links. The first time around, I did not achieve that goal, so I had to reapply. The tedious part is that I had to relink all of the products in my previous blog posts in order to reroute the traffic, and that took a couple of days. My suggestion is that if you have minimal traffic on your site, try and wait until you sign up for Amazon's program, so you won't have to complete this step multiple times. Pending Affiliate Programs I have applied for other programs related to my target market, and I'm awaiting approval. Each one has varying approval rates, payment times, and earnings per click. I suggest applying for as many relevant programs as possible through Awin and seeing what you get approved for. I've also had publishers reach out to me. Now, this was shocking because I wasn't expecting other businesses to be interested in me showing their products or services on their site. I'm very selective about what I add to my website, so I've declined a few publisher requests, and it's your prerogative to do so as well. What are you waiting for? Get started on your journey with Awin and the hundreds of affiliate programs they have to offer.

With the cold weather outside, there's nothing better than snuggling up by the fire with a good book. And what better way to spend your time than by improving your financial knowledge and setting goals for the future? I've searched through various sources, including my own Kindle library, to compile a list of must-read financial books that can guide you in setting and achieving your financial objectives for the upcoming year. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The Best Personal Finance Books for Budgeting, Saving, Investing, and Goal-Setting 1. Sexy Money: Infusing Pleasure and Power into Money While You Make More Than Ever by Genevieve Rackham It's surprising to think that money can be associated with sex appeal. However, the lack of money can bring about fear, stress, and worry. Genevieve explores the impact of spirituality on shifting a scarcity mindset to one of abundance in her book. Transforming your relationship with money can lead to emotional healing and a more positive outlook. With Sexy Money, you can enjoy the journey of wealth-building and add more joy to your life. 2. You Need a Budget: The Proven System for Breaking the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle, Getting Out of Debt, and Living the Life You Want by Jesse Mecham Yes, you do need a budget. Creating a weekly, monthly, and annual budget can help you set and achieve your financial goals. Jesse describes that you need to give every dollar a job. Before your income enters your bank account, you should allocate it to a specific purpose. If it's for your wants, needs, or savings, creating a budget allows you to let your money do its job. This book is a valuable resource that will enable you to use a tried-and-true system that I have used for years. As the title states, you can get out of debt and live the life you want today. 3. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill Napoleon Hill has a quote that says, "Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve." This quote has always struck a chord with me and continues to inspire me in all my endeavors. In his book, Napoleon shares anecdotes from famous millionaires like Andrew Carnegie, Arthur Nash, and Henry Ford. By learning from their experiences, you can attract wealth into your own life. All you need to do is identify your desires, focus on them, and work towards achieving your goals. 4. Rich As F*ck: More Money Than You Know What to Do With by Amanda Frances Have you ever had more money than you know what to do with? Do you want more money than you know what to do with? This question can be debatable depending on your financial situation, but as Amanda states, "it's time to look behind the curtain at money." This money mindset book walks you through your mental struggles with money and teaches you to believe in yourself and the positive choices you are making with your money. 5. Financial Starter Kit: Gain Financial Literacy and Avoid the Pitfalls of the American Dream by Symone Beez If you need a jump start on your financial literacy, the Financial Starter Kit is for you. Beez reviews the basics of financial literacy, which include credit, mortgages, stocks, business loans, and interest rates. These things are not taught in school, so you may have missed them growing up. I recommend this book for teens and other young adults just starting their financial journey. This book also includes worksheets and other valuable resources that can guide you in setting and achieving your financial goals.

It's tax return season, and your refund may be coming soon. You may have goals for your future, such as saving for a vacation or paying down debt. How do you stick to the goals you set at the beginning of the year when you get your tax refund? Here are four tips on saving, budgeting, and even spending your tax refund. As an Advertiser, this post may contain affiliate links to E-file. Create A Budget A budget for your tax refund can help you spend it in the areas that you designate are the most important. You may need your tax refund to pay for rent, groceries, childcare, saving for an emergency fund, or your child's education. Creating a budget for your refund can help you ensure that every dollar is helping you achieve your goals. Once you determine how much your refund will be, create a list of how much you are going to pay towards each category. For example, will you spend $600 toward your rent, $500 to start an emergency savings account, and $100 on entertainment? Having your tax refund budgeted in advance can help you achieve your savings and spending goals. See my feature on Yahoo, where I discuss 8 Simple Ways for People in Their 20's Can Begin Saving Now. Create a Debt Action Plan Sometimes debt can get out of hand. It seems like it's a never-ending cycle of juggling to pay one credit card bill or loan after another. Using your tax refund to create a debt action plan can help you eliminate or reduce your debt. There are a couple of ways that you can pay off your debt. The first one is to pay off the smallest debts first. If you have a $100 credit card bill, you can start here and subsequently tackle your more significant debts. Paying off smaller debts and working on the increasingly larger ones can help you reduce the number of creditors you owe money to. The second method is to pay off your high-interest accounts first. If you have one credit card where you pay 23% interest and another you pay 6% interest to, then paying off the higher interest rate credit card can eliminate the extra fees you are paying towards your purchases. See my feature in 11 Best Personal Finance Formulae To Live By. Plan To Save If you have a debt plan or limited debt, you can save your tax refund. You can save your tax refund for a future vacation, emergencies, car purchase, or any other future goals on the horizon. Saving all or a portion of your tax refund can help you achieve your savings goals and reduce the need to borrow money in the future. So, how do you save your tax refund? When filing your taxes, you can choose to have your tax refund direct deposited directly into your savings account. This way, you're not tempted to spend the money when it gets deposited into your checking account. You can also purchase savings bonds with your tax refund. Buying savings bonds is an option when working with a tax refund preparer or filing your taxes on your own. Both of these options allow you to build your savings and gain interest on your deposits. Spend A Portion Sometimes we have to treat ourselves or our family, and spending a portion of your tax refund can help you do just that. Whether you want to have dinner out, go to the movies, or get your hair professionally done, treating yourself with a portion of your tax refund is okay. Just be mindful of your other goals and predetermine the amount of your tax refund that you want to use to treat yourself. Whatever option you choose to manage your tax refund, ensure that your money works for you and not against you. File Your Taxes Quickly & Securely Using E-File Filing your taxes online can help you get your tax refund fast. Using sites like E-file you can file your taxes securely and quickly. You can also direct your return how you see fit, and it can help you save for your goals faster. If you qualify for their Basic Software, you can also file your federal tax return for free.

When acquiring debt, you and or the joint account holder are responsible for ensuring that the debt is paid on time or in full when it is due. What happens to that debt when you or a relative passes away? There are a few options that are available when it comes to paying for the debt of a deceased loved one. Some individuals will be responsible for absorbing that debt, and for others, the creditors will be out of luck. Who Acquires Your Debt When You Die? When you die, your debt does not die with you. Creditors will still try to collect the debt, but they will have to go through your estate to do so. Questions your loved ones may have are: Can creditors collect a debt from life insurance payouts or retirement accounts? Is there a limit to the amount of debt that can be collected from an estate? How can individuals plan to minimize the impact of debt on their loved ones after they pass away? What legal protections exist for heirs and beneficiaries to prevent them from being responsible for a deceased person's debt? And many more. Here are a few answers to the questions I get the most often regarding who acquires your debt when you die. Are you responsible for the debt when the debtor passes away? The general answer is no. You are not responsible for someone else's debt if it is listed solely in their name. A lender cannot come after you to pay off the debt if no money is available in that person's estate. On the other hand, if that individual had bank accounts or other property in their name, the balance of the estate could be required to pay off the remaining debt. There could be other reasons you may be responsible for paying off the deceased's debt. Feature: Are Americans Afraid of their Credit Card Debt? Reasons you may be responsible for paying off the deceased person's debt? You co-signed the debt. If you co-signed to be responsible for a debt with another individual and they pass away, you will be required to take over the debt payments for the remaining balance. Co-signing on a debt with another individual means that if, for any reason, the other party does not make a payment, you will be responsible for the debt. If you don't pay the debt, it could affect your credit rating, and creditors could come after you for defaulting on the debt. You live in a community property state. Community property states are states in which property or debt acquired by one spouse is also the other spouse's property. This means that if your spouse buys a Harley Davidson and you never drive it, pay for it, or wanted to purchase it, you are also the owner and responsible party for any debt incurred. There are nine community property states, so it's important to be on the same page with your spouse when purchasing property and incurring debt. State law requires you to pay for your parent or spouse's debt. Some states may require you to pay the debt of your parent or spouse. For example, if either of these individuals passed away and had remaining medical expenses, the hospital may require that you pay for the debt. Some debts cannot be discharged, and healthcare expenses are one of them. For the most part, some community property states are in the majority when requiring a spouse or child to take on the deceased's debt. In addition, if you signed something in the hospital stating that you would be responsible for medical costs incurred, you could be the responsible party after death. You are the executor of the estate. If you are the executor of the state and responsible for discharging the deceased person's debt, then you are legally responsible for settling their estate. As the executor, you will have access to all the individual's remaining funds, property, and debt. You should settle the estate appropriately if they have funds available to address outstanding debt. If you don't, you could be subject to court proceedings. What happens if a debt collector calls? If a debt collector calls, they are permitted to ask for some basic information regarding the payment of the debt and to find the contact person responsible for executing the estate. The debt collector can call and ask for a spouse's information or who the executor of the estate is. The executor is responsible for settling the debt if there are funds available. However, you have the right to ask the debt collector to stop calling you after the first instance. Debt collectors cannot harass or threaten you. They should be reported to the appropriate state organization and the Federal Trade Commission if they do.