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How To Get Your Money’s Worth Out of a Conference

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workplace-1245776_1920I recently attended a conference for financial bloggers which made me realize how expensive conferences can be if you pay for most expenses out of pocket. Whether you want to attend a conference or network event for work or your business, you’ll probably need to budget for a variety of expenses.

Some Conference-Related Expenses Include

  • The cost of admission (some conferences have daily tickets or tickets for the whole event)
  • The cost of lodging like your hotel room or an AirBnb
  • Food (for meals and snacks that aren’t covered by the conference)
  • Airfare or gas (depending on how far you need to travel)

These are just a few of the main expenses that could easily add up to $1,000+. You may be wondering why would people spend this type of money to attend a 2-3 day event when it could be saved instead or put toward leisure travel like a relaxing vacation.

The key to attending conferences is to get your money’s worth and leave the event with new connections and opportunities that are more valuable than the initial investment you made to attend the conferences. When attending a conference, what you get out of the experience depends heavily on what you put into it.

Here are some ways to make sure you get the most out of a conference experience.

Research the Conference Schedule and Details Ahead of Time

You can typically visit the conference website a few weeks prior to the start date to see a detailed schedule including the sessions that will be covered and the events that will take place. RSVP for any events that interest you and make note of the sessions you’d like to see.

Conferences can be super busy so it’s best to make sure you have a tentative schedule laid out so you can stay organized and not miss out on anything.

Reach Out to People to Set Up Meetings Before Flying Out

If there is someone you are eager to connect with at the conference or a speaker you admire and would love to work with, don’t wait until you get to the conference and hope you randomly bump into them and strike up a conversation.

Take it upon yourself to reach out to them ahead of time via email to set up a brief meeting so you can introduce yourself. Maybe you can offer to take them to lunch or for coffee near the conference. This will ensure you make a solid connection with your intended contact before anyone else is able to reach them.

Visit With Sponsors and Brands

Most conferences will have an expo hall area with several booths set up for different brands who either sponsored the conference or booked a booth in the hopes of being able to connect with other conference attendees and forge a potential partnership.

These brands will be eager to speak with you so you should just walk up to their booths and introduce yourself. They’ll probably even have some freebies you can take home too so you never know who you’ll meet.

Make a Friend at Breakfast

Since your energy level will probably decrease throughout the day, it’s best to try to get the bulk of your networking done in the morning. Why not kill two birds with one stone and meet someone new during breakfast. If the conference provides one meal per day like breakfast, that will be the best time to sit next to people you’d like to meet and engage in a conversation.

This is an effortless way to network.

Ways to Save Money on a Conference

Now that I’ve covered some ways to make the most out of your experience at a conference, here are a few hacks that will help you save money on the entire experience:

  • Check out a conference in your town
  • Order your ticket early to take advantage of early bird sales
  • Consider having a roommate
  • Cash in credit card rewards for your flight
  • If you will be a first-time attendee, see if the conference provides discounts or scholarships that you can take advantage of
  • Share an Uber with other attendees to save money on transportation during the event

Have you ever been to a conference? How do you save on expenses and get the most bang for your buck?

5 Smart Ways to Save Money When Traveling with Kids

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mother-84628_1920Whether it’s vacation season or not, traveling can get pretty expensive especially if you like to take family trips. Since traveling is a highly sought after experience and a great way to bond with your family and friends and experience new things, it’s no wonder why you might want to take your kids on a trip even though it might cause costs to shoot up.

If you plan on doing any traveling with kids over the next few months, make sure you utilize these tips to save money.

1.Pack Snacks

Whether you are flying or driving, be sure to pack plenty of snacks because kids get hungry often. You can stop by the dollar store and load up on a few snacks for a long car ride, or stuff some items into your carry-on so you won’t want to worry about paying for expensive food. Most airlines will offer complimentary drinks and a light snack at minimum, but it doesn’t hurt to bring along your child’s favorite crackers in case they get a little hungry later.

2. Purchase Souvenirs Ahead of Time

My son loves getting toys and whenever I travel he always asks me to bring him back something which is completely fine and I’m happy to do it. While I avoid gift shops in the airport because they are expensive, I don’t mind checking out local discount shops for souvenirs because they have some great prices.

On the other hand, souvenirs at resorts and amusement parks tend to be super high. If you are planning to visit somewhere like the San Diego Zoo or Disney World, you might actually want to order some souvenirs online that match the theme for a cheaper price, like play animals, Disney characters, etc. That way when your child asks for something, you’ll already have it on hand so they don’t feel left out.

3. Try Driving Instead of Flying

Unless you have credit card reward points, driving may be cheaper than flying because you just have to pay for gas and/or a rental car and you can bring as many people as you can fit in the car instead of paying for just one person.

If you do need to fly to get to your destination, cash in any credit card rewards and frequent flier miles, start saving up early, and be on the lookout for flash sales. I know the Southwest Rapid Rewards card offer the Southwest companion pass to frequent fliers so you can allow one person to fly with you for free.

4. Consider AirBnb

If you have a busy itinerary and want to focus your budget on spending for activities, you might want to save a significant amount on lodging by trying AirBnb. AirBnb allows you to rent local rooms, houses, and apartments often for a cheaper rate than hotels in the area.

Plus, most properties are equipped with things you would regularly have in your home like a television, cable, internet, a fully functional kitchen with dishes and more. This will allow you to save even more money by cooking some of your meals at the property.

5. Take Advantage of Kids’ Specials and Discounts

Since you might do some dining out during your trip, try to check out restaurants that have ‘kids eat free’ specials and discounts. Depending on which attractions are on your list, you might be able to receive free admission or discounted admission for younger kids as long as there is a paid adult for each free ticket.

There are quite a few ways to save money when traveling with kids so if you’ve been longing to take a family trip, don’t let fear of costs hold you back from traveling.

How do you save money when traveling with kids?

3 Frugal Day Trips to Take During a Staycation

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mountains-1645078_1920If you’ve ever wanted to just skip town and explore something new but have a tight budget, day trips are the perfect addition to a frugal staycation.

A trip sounds nice, but you may be wondering how you’ll be able to afford it if you haven’t been saving up to travel. A day trip is a perfect option to get out of town for just a day and explore something new without spending a ton of money. You may have leftover vacation days that need to be used up before the year is over or you could try to make time and clear your schedule for a weekend day.

A day trip would be somewhat local and eliminate costly travel expenses like airfare, hotel stays and even some meals. Here are three amazing day trip ideas you should consider if you’re looking for an affordable getaway.

Visit an Indoor Water Resort

Indoor water resorts offer flexible and affordable fun and relaxation for the entire family. Check online to search for the nearest indoor water resort attraction in your area. Odds are, there may be something just a few hours away or less. Once you find a location that sounds interesting, you can pack up and leave out early to spend an entire day at the resort.

Most resorts have different age appropriate pools and water slides, a café on site, and even an arcade option for when visitors want to take a break from the water activities. Large water resorts often have hotel rooms as part of the resort for guests who want to stay overnight, but if you arrive in the morning and leave in the evening before they close, you will only have to pay for full-day passes.

Head Out to the Boonies

If you want to get away but still sleep in your own bed at night, check out rural areas around your state to see what attractions they have to offer. If you live in a large or expensive city, a small town may give you a much needed change of scenery and allow you to ‘slow down’ in a sense.

Some small towns are known for bringing in tourists while others aren’t but still have some nice attractions. See if any rural areas have museums, old architecture or historical tours you can attend. Check out the local coffee shop or a popular eatery to try some new food. Things tend to get much cheaper the further you get away from large cities.

Attend an Event at a State Park

Depending on where you live, there may be some festive fall activities and events going on at state parks. Most state parks are open year ‘round meaning they have events going on all throughout the year.

State parks are FREE to visit and offer season deals for events and tours. It may be worth it to see if your state park is offering trolley or bus tours, guided winter hikes, indoor performances or musical events.

Hanging out at a state park for the day and checking out things you’ve never seen or experienced before can be an exciting and low cost way to spend your day off.

Have you ever gone on a day trip or do you have any last minute travel plans set up for this year?

How to Get a Free or Discounted Gym Membership

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girl-in-the-gym-1391368_1920Maintaining your health is very important and there’s no experience quite like going to the gym. Whether you love or hate the gym, the experience itself is unique. Being surrounded by people who have similar fitness goals as you, all the equipment you could ever want or need, and the resources and help from staff members and trainers can really motivate to stay healthy, fit and see real results.

The real secret is that you can actually enjoy the benefits of the gym for free or an extremely low rate. I couldn’t find the motivation to work out from home even though I had every resource and tool known to man available to me. I recently signed up for a membership at my local park district that’s about 2 miles away from my house for only $36 per month. Affordable gym memberships like that are definitely worth it in my opinion. Not all gym memberships are free or cheap, but there are a few ways around those costs.

Visit the Gym on Free Days or Sign Up for Trials

Privately-owned facilities or new gyms often have free classes or days when the fitness center and group classes are free to the general public. The YMCA is known to host free group fitness weeks during the fall in most areas.

If there’s a new gym opening in your area, attend their free fitness days or you could even sign up for 30-day free trials at a few gyms in your neighborhood to see which location you like best.

Utilize Your Student Discount

If you’re a student, you can get a gym membership for an extremely discounted rate. You may need to verify your enrollment by showing your current schedule or some other documentation, but it will allow you to exercise at the facility for a fraction of what other people will have to pay.

Some college campuses even have a fitness center on-site that enrolled students can utilize free of charge. College is expensive enough, and this was something I definitely took advantage of to get more bang for my buck while I was in school.

Become a Group Fitness Instructor

If you love attending group classes, consider becoming a fitness instructor. Fitness instructors often receive free or reduced gym memberships and you don’t have to teach an advanced class. Zumba classes are very popular and easy to teach because it’s all about moving and having fun; there’s no such thing as a dance expert at a Zumba class.

To become a fitness instructor, you may have to undergo some training and pay a small fee to become certified. Then, you’ll be able to score free workouts during the classes you teach.

Redeem a Coupon or Discount

Tons of gyms and fitness centers offer coupons or discounts on memberships in the hopes of getting more people in the door to use their facility. Some deals may even allow you to receive a monthly membership for up to 50% off or more.

To secure coupons and discounts that will lower your gym membership rate, start by checking out email offers you receive along with offers or coupons you may get in the mail. You can also do a direct search online for local gym membership offers and discounts. LocalSaver rounds up coupons for hundreds of offers along with some of the best gyms in your area. This makes it very easy to search for discounts online and save money on exercising at the gym each month.

Join a Running or Physical Training Program

If you are sign up for a triathlon, running program or even a 5k, you may qualify for a free or reduced gym membership to utilize during the time you train. The YMCA is known to partner up with coaches, trainers and community groups to offer membership incentives to the participants of various different training programs.

If you’re in a physical training program, it’s definitely worth a shot and allows you to get more for your money.

Do you favor having a gym membership or working out at home? If you have a membership, do you ever try to get a discount on the rate?

How to Have a Debt Free Holiday Season

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GIZ562YED5I know you might be thinking it’s too early to talk about the holidays, but Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before you know it. The holiday season is the most common time to go broke or get into debt. It’s a very expensive time for your wallet and it’s best to be prepared so you can start the new year off without being stressed out about money.

Here are 3 effective things you can start doing now to have a debt free holiday season.

Develop Your Budget and Gift List

The earlier you can write out your shopping list, the better. The other day I pulled my son aside and asked him to provide me a list of a few things he wanted for Christmas. Even he who gets into the holiday spirit all early claimed is was too early to talk about Christmas, but he did add a few items to the list which helped me create my budget.

Your list doesn’t have to be finalized at this time since you don’t know what sales might be offered but a rough draft will give you a good idea of how much you can spend. By getting a head start on this step, you can set realistic expectations and limits for your holiday spending.

Start a Holiday Savings Fund

Since your shopping list will help you know how much you plan on spending, you can start saving now so you can afford to make purchases toward the end of the years. Even if you start setting aside $50 per month, it will help you avoid spending more money than you have saved up when you start shopping. You can store your money in an online high-yield savings account with CapitalOne 360, Ally Bank, or any other bank that offers competitive interest rates.

Set up automatic withdrawals every time you get paid so you don’t even have to think about saving.

Start Accumulating Loyalty Rewards and Gift Cards

If you are apart of any loyalty rewards programs like Ebates or Swagbucks, you can start earnings points to redeem gift cards that you can use for holiday shopping. Since the holiday season can be so expensive, I try to stock up on gift cards all year-round so I can use them to lower my spending.

If you have a birthday coming up or a special event and you don’t really need anything currently, ask friends and family to provide you with a Visa gift card and save it and use it for holiday shopping. Also, shop smart now and sign up for loyalty reward programs so you can redeem rewards later this year.

For example, I recently bought a laptop because mine died. I decided to purchase one at Best Buy because they not only have quality products but an awesome rewards system as well. Since I purchased my laptop there and signed up for their rewards card, I received a $60 credit that I plan on using to buy my son a kids’ tablet for Christmas.

Have you started thinking about the holidays yet and how you’ll be able to afford it? Be honest. Which one of these strategies will you try out this year?

4 Smart Things to Do With Your College Refund Money

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accountant-1238598_1920It’s no secret that going to college can be expensive. Some of us can’t even fathom the thought of actually getting money back as a result of registering for a few college classes. On the other hand, if you get financial aid and attend community college, you have a good shot at getting money back because financial aid awards tend to exceed the cost of community college.

I was in this situation when I first started attending my local community college to earn an associate’s degree and I wish I would have used my refund money more wisely. Here are 4 smart things to do with your college refund money

1. Add it to Your Emergency Fund

I didn’t have an emergency fund in college. Hence why every time an unexpected expense popped up or my car had problems, I freaked out because I knew I couldn’t afford it. If you get a refund in college, consider it a sign that you need to save and add to your emergency fund. Even if you depend on your parents financially, it’s still good to stash some money away for the unexpected because you never know when you’ll need it.

You can open a high-yield savings account for your money so it can earn a little interest over time. My favorite online bank with a high-yield savings account is CapitalOne 360.

2. Save It Up for Future Semesters

Once you head to a university after attending community college, your chances of getting a refund from financial aid will be slim. This is why it’s so important to explore your financial options when attending college, especially when you are trying to avoid student loans.

If you are receiving more financial aid than your need while in community college, it makes perfect sense to save up some of that extra money so you can use it when you don’t have enough financial aid anymore. The extra money can come in handy for books, tuition, your living expenses or all of the above.

3. Invest It

The younger you invest money, the better off you’ll be later on in life. If you choose to invest your extra refund money into a retirement account, mutual fund, or a artificer of deposit (CD), you can earn money on your investment over time which will leave you with more than you started out with.

I know this option is somewhat boring, but it’s better than graduating with tons of student loan debt and no retirement funds or investment nest egg. Investing while your young is the way to go because you often have less needs and financial responsibilities.

4. Pay Off Debt or Take Care of a Need

If you have debt already, consider your refund money as a viable way to get out of debt. Debt like a car loan or credit card debt can hold you back financially if you have a high interest rate or a low income. I didn’t have a car loan but I remember using some of my refund money to take care of some much needed car repairs.

In my area, you need to pass an emissions test every two years in order to drive and my car failed miserably. Instead of buying a new car, I chose to put $900 into my current car to fix it. It was hard spending all that money, but overall I’m grateful I had the money to spend thank to my refund because I needed to keep my car for transportation.

You won’t always get a refund in college, but if you do, it’s important to optimize it so you can improve your finances and prepare for the future. Then if there is anything left, you might be able to squeeze out a new pair of shoes or a concert ticket. There’s nothing wrong with having a little fun as long as you don’t blog all your money.

Have you ever received refund money from college?

3 Popular Budgeting Apps You Should Start Using

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iphone-410324_1280Do you have trouble sticking to your budget or just creating a budget in general? Budgeting can be tedious at times and somewhat confusing but it’s definitely worth it to make a detailed plan for how you will manage your money.

Luckily, these days more and more people are straying away from old fashioned budgeting methods like the pen and paper method and even spreadsheets and downloading free budgeting apps instead.

Budgeting apps are convenient, user-friendly, and some even offer extra perks like bill pay reminders, your credit score estimate and, net worth tracking. Here are the top 3 budgeting apps you should try out.

1. Mint

When I first started getting serious about my finances and creating a budget, I downloaded Mint. Mint connects all your accounts in one place and tracks your spending while providing you with helpful updates and reminders for when bills are due.

If you use debit and credit cards a lot, all you have to to is securely log into your online banking platforms to connect them all to Mint. Then, the app will take it from there and sort out all your recent transactions and categorize them so you’ll know where your money is going each month.

Mint practically creates a custom budget for you based on your income and spending habits but you can always adjust it. I like how Mint also sends reminders when certain bills are due, alerts you if you’ve been charged a fee, and allows you to create and track financial goals.

2. Personal Capital

Personal Capital is similar to Mint, but some people say it’s a more advanced app. Like Mint, Personal Capital allows you to track your spending and create a digital budget, but this app also focused on other aspects of your personal finances like investing and retirement planning.

When you think about budgeting, you are probably doing it to reach a larger end goal. Maybe you want to keep your spending under control so you can pay off debt or save more. Maybe you want to cut expenses so you can put more money toward your retirement fund.

Personal Capital allows you to manage and analyze your investment portfolio and plan for the future with a customized retirement plan. This app perfectly combines tracking your spending and income with tracking your net worth.

3. Level Money

Level Money is a unique budgeting app that shows you how much you can spend today, this week, and this month. If you spend money each day like most of us, this app would be useful in helping you make sure you aren’t overspending and splurging on certain days.

When you purchase things with a debit or credit card, sometimes it doesn’t register that you may be going over your budget or not so that’s where this app can come in handy. Level Money detects how much you can spend by analyzing your income and expenses. This app can also help you set financial goals like paying off debt or budget for larger purchases.

Download a Free App and Get Started

The great thing about all these apps beside the fact that they are extremely helpful is that they are absolutely free. If you have an Android or iPhone you can simply go to the iTunes store or the Google Play store and start improving your budget today. There’s literally nothing to lose.

Which app is your favorite?

Also Read: 9 Best Apps Like Mistplay for iPhone and Android Users

How to Find More time to Side Hustle

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Side hustling has been the bread and butter of my ability to reach many of my financial goals for the past two years.

Juggling a full-time job, a side hustle, and being a mom and managing my home all with having only 24 hours each day to work with hasn’t been easy by any means, but I make it work.

Many people ask me how I do it all, and sometimes I wish I had a better answer than simply managing my time better but that’s what it comes down to. Working is a priority because I need to eat and live.

Side hustling is a priority because I need to pay off my debt. Being a mom is a priority because it’s my main responsibility and I love it. You get the point. In order to get everything done each week without going crazy, I need to be very careful with how I manage my time and my productivity.

Here are a few productivity and time management hacks that will help you make time for your side hustle so you can increase your income and meet your financial goals.

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Cut Out Time Sucks

We all have them. Time sucks are unproductive hobbies or activities that basically waste our time. It’s easier to get sucked into them and before you know it, you’ve wasted 30 minutes that could have been used doing something more productive.

My main time sucks are T.V. and social media/browsing nonsense online. It’s tough because I manage social media profiles for a few clients, so when I log on to schedule Facebook posts for example, I can easily get caught up with other unrelated activities on Facebook like checking out my friend’s profiles, liking and commenting on things, etc.

It can add up to be a huge waste of time so I now set aside designated social media times so I can get online for a few minutes throughout the day and get that out of my system. Ideally, I’d like to spend only 30 minutes or less of leisure time on social media and that can be broken down into 5-10 minute blocks.

Cutting out time sucks completely may be unrealistic, so it’s important to at least designate a few minutes throughout the day to indulge in your time sucks so you can get it out of the way.

Limit T.V. Time

I’m going to make an assumption that watching T.V. is a huge time suck that a lot of us share which is why you’ll need your own separate strategy for limiting T.V. time.

I’ll admit that I love watching T.V. I have my list of favorite shows to catch each week and it’s a great way to relax and unwind after a long day. However, I understand that when you have a side hustle, television can cut into your spare time and hold back your progress.

This is why you should set designated times during the week to watch television and track the time you currently spend watching T.V. If you think you don’t have enough time to side hustle, add up how many hours of T.V. you watch each week and you may find the culprit.

I only watch T.V. mainly on weekends now and if I’ve finished a significant amount of side hustle work during the weekdays. I don’t watch T.V. every weeknight because I have other priorities, and giving up a few hours of T.V. time helps me get way more accomplished.

Go to Bed an Hour Later or Wake Up an Hour Earlier

I wouldn’t recommend doing both since sleep is important. Find out whether you are a morning person or a night person based on when you are most productive.

Since I am more productive throughout the morning, I choose to wake up earlier so I can get more side hustle work done. I generally lose productivity and motivation throughout the day so I get less work done at night.

However, getting up earlier, even if it’s only an hour one week days will give you 5 extra hours to work on your side hustle each week or 20 extra hours a month at minimum. Plus, you’ll probably get more done since you’ll be working during your most productive hours.

Utilize your Break Time Wisely

When I get a break at my full-time job, I often use the extra time to work on my side hustle. Whether it’s checking emails, editing a post, fixing something on my blog, or commenting on other blogs, I make use of the small break I have so I’ll have less work to do when I get home from work and rest up.

If you have any other breaks throughout the day or a long commute via public transportation, you can utilize the extra blocks of time to get more work done with your side hustle.

How do you make time for your side hustle?

4 Ways to Organize Your Wardrobe to Save Money and Time

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Is your closet a disaster zone that you avoid at all costs? Nothing is worse than stepping over shirts and pants and other miscellaneous items when you just want to get ready for work on time.

It’s even worse if you still buy clothes because you’re under the impression that you don’t have anything decent to wear only to find out all your favorite outfits are hidden beneath the mess. A messy closet creates various issues like clutter, confusion, and stress from being so overwhelmed with your clothing and not having any idea where to start.

An organized wardrobe sets the tone for your day, since most people usually wake up and head to the closet and get dressed. It also saves you time and money by being able to see all your items clearly so you don’t have to rebuy things you already had to begin with.

When it comes to organizing your wardrobe to save time and money, the best thing to do is just dive in and get started. Wondering how to do this or where to get started?

Here are 4 simple hacks to help you reorganize your wardrobe and your closet once and for all.

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Narrow Down the Contents of Your Closet

You can start decluttering your closet by taking everything out and organizing it into categories. Set aside items you plan on keeping, what you plan to donate and what you need to throw away.

Be honest about what you don’t need to keep especially if it’s something you don’t even wear anymore. If you’re anything like me and you keep on telling yourself you are saving ____ for a special occasion, you might have a hard time letting go of your favorite old outfits, but it’s best to have less clutter to worry about and you most likely won’t even miss it after a while.

Sometimes less is more and when you narrow down the content of your closet will also help you create a better capsule wardrobe for the upcoming season and have better access to the clothing you do enjoy wearing regularly.

Install Shelving, Racks and other Organizing Tools

Once you clear out your closet, you may want to add some organizing tools to help prevent it from becoming cluttered again. You can purchase shelving to install for purses, shoes etc. from stores like Target and Ross.

If you have a lot of shoes, Walmart sells tons of different shoe racks to accommodate your preferences and they are all easy to assemble. You can also pick up purse hangers, fabric bins, utilize your existing shelf space and implement any related organizational tool to meet your needs and preferences.

Buy Color Coded Hangers

Quality hangers take up less room and help keep your clothes intact. If you need to rebuy hangers, you might as well get packs of different colors to organize your clothes by type.

Do you ever feel like you spend way too much time trying to locate that shirt, pair of jeans, or dress that you really want to wear on a particular day? If you group all of your pants, tops, dresses, skirts and outerwear together, it will be easier to locate everything and harder to lose track of it.

Store Out-Of-Season Clothes Somewhere Else

If you have a storage area in or near your home, consider storing out-of-season clothing in bins and move the clothes back to your closet when it’s time to wear them again.

There’s no need to be looking at shorts in your closet in the middle of December. Keeping your closet stocked with clothing for that particular season will easily make a cramped and tight closet appear more spacious and easier to navigate through.

Once you really commit to decluttering and reorganizing and invest in some basic organizational skills, you’ll save a ton of time in the long run and you’ll spend less on clothing moving forward as well.

Does your closet need some reorganizing? How do you plan on keeping things organized for peace-of-mind so you can save time and money?