What do you do when you are strapped for cash? How can you make quick and easy cash? The first thing is to take a deep breath and count to 10. This is not the time to panic but to put on your thinking cap.
To help you out I’ve compiled a list of ways you can come up with quick and easy cash right now. Choose a method that works for you and give it all you’ve got. I’ve used all of these methods to make quick cash when I was in a bind. The amount you make varies but it will be worth it.
Now on to my 7 Single Mom Quick and Easy Cash Methods:
Cash back for shopping
Have you ever wished you could get back just a little bit of the money you spend on clothing, shoes, and household goods? I learned about Ebates a couple of years ago. I signed up and got my first check shortly after that. You can get cash back on clothing, travel, shoes and much more on all your favorite stores online. Simply signup at Ebates and start getting cash back.
Sell small electronics online
If you are anything like me you have a bunch of old electronics laying around. Cell Phones are the best items to sell so are tablets. Services like Gazelle or Amazon Trade-in will pay you cash for your electronics. Gazelle sends you a cash and Amazon gives you credit for anything you want to purchase at Amazon.com
Sell stuff you don’t need on Craigslist and Amazon
The go-to place for making quick cash is Craigslist. You can list just about anything and it will sell. In demand items include electronics, furniture, baby items, video games, and consoles. You can also sell your stuff on Amazon with the Amazon Seller Program‘s individual account. Simply upload your images and description to the seller site then ship when someone buys your item. You get all the cash on Craigslist of course, but with Amazon, you pay a small fee.
Clean up for cash
Put your cleaning skills to work in homes or offices to make cash quickly. Busy people will pay you to clean up after them. Ask family and friends if they need help once a week or month. Join Care.com or Hux to list your services.
Weekend babysitting
Head back over to Craigslist to place an ad for babysitting. Moms and dads like going out on the weekend so this is prime time for babysitting. Charge a premium rate for babies and toddlers and a little less for older kids. A Care.com profile comes in handy for this too. Download the Care.com app to your iPhone to sign up conveniently and create a profile.
Sell a service
Put your skills, talents, expertise, or gifts to work for others and make money quickly for yourself. People will always need food, childcare, admin help, beauty products, and other services. This is a great opportunity to start a side gig online or in real life.
Drive for Cash
Your car is a money maker. Services like Uber and Lyft need drivers in their rideshare program. Services like Postmates, Uber Eats, and Door Dash, etc need food delivery drivers. Get out on the weekends and rake in the cash with your car.
If you feel overwhelmed by the choices simply pick the one that feels the easiest to do. After you have your cash and feel back on top of things financially, consider starting a side gig so you can generate more income. The financial stress will lift and you will be able to breathe again.
Check out my Side Hustle Guides and the More Money For Mom Masterclass (Coming Soon) where you will learn more ways to earn extra money on the side.
Look out for my business start-up webinars and classes coming next year. In the meantime, get out there and start making cash quickly using the seven methods above!
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
The Top 25 Most Frequently Asked Questions about Homeowners Insurance
Owning a home is the American Dream for many people. Single moms are no exception. But owning a home is more than a mortgage. You have to protect your asset as well.
Do you know the worth of all your assets? Could you recover in case disasters like a fire or flood damaged your home? Could you recover from the theft of your property?
Homeowners insurance is one of the best types of coverage you can purchase if you own the home you live in. With this coverage, you can be sure of keeping a roof over your head and a shirt on your back. Homeowners insurance protects your property as well as your family and even your pets.
While many households have invested in homeowners insurance, not many truly understand its importance, or what it covers. Here are 25 commonly asked questions asked by consumers about homeowners insurance.
Do I really need homeowners insurance?
If you don’t want to pay out of pocket for property damage and liabilities – such as medical fees for dog bites – you need homeowners insurance. The cost of recovering from theft or damage as well as defending yourself in a lawsuit can run into the thousands of dollars. Unless you have no attachment or need to replace the items you own (including your home), you should have some level of homeowners insurance.
What does homeowners insurance cover?
This depends on the type of insurance policy you buy. According to a survey by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), 33 percent of Americans mistakenly believe that their homeowners insurance policy will cover them for flood damages.
A standard-form insurance policy doesn’t cover flood damage. Standard insurance policies usually cover damage by:
Smoke
Vehicles
Falling objects
Explosions
Fire
Lightning
Weight of snow, sleet or ice
Frozen plumbing and other household systems
Theft and vandalism
You may have to get extra coverage for other disasters.
Is homeowners insurance expensive?
According to a February 2016 study by the NAIC, the average cost of homeowners insurance increased by 6 percent to $1,096 in 2013. This is an average of $91 per month. This is much less than the thousands of dollars you would have to pay in case of a disaster or liability.
You can reduce the cost of homeowners insurance by comparing home insurance quotes online and searching for the best deal.
Is my backyard shed included in my homeowners insurance policy?
Yes. Real property is included under the policy. Real property includes your home, any shed on your property, the garage and any other structure on the property.
How much is my shed insured for?
The value of coverage for any auxiliary structure on your property such as a shed or garage, is dependent on the value of the main structure (i.e. your house). If the house is valued at $80,000 for example, then the shed will be covered for 10 percent of that value (i.e. $8,000).
Who decided how much my property is worth?
This is determined based on state laws. Insurance companies will base the value on various common methods including actual cash value, replacement coverage and extended replacement cost.
Are my valuables and jewelry included in the cover?
Standard policies have a limit to the coverage provided for jewelry. You may need to add extra coverage to ensure you are fully covered.
Am I covered for flood damage?
No. If you live in a flood-prone area, you may need extra flood insurance.
What about earthquake damage?
No. You will need additional insurance.
Will my policy protect me if my neighbor slips and falls on my porch steps and threatens to sue me?
Yes. Your policy will cover the damages if you are found liable.
Am I covered for damages if a tree on my property falls on my house in a storm?
Yes. You will be covered for damage of the roof and removal for the tree.
Am I covered for the removal of a tree that falls during a storm but doesn’t damage my property?
No. Your trees are covered for risks such as fire and vandalism but not wind damage.
Are my children who are away in college covered by my policy?
If your children are full-time students and still part of your household, they will be covered to a limit of 10 percent. Coverage for children living away from home varies from one insurance provider to another.
Is my mother-in-law who lives with us covered under the policy?
She will be considered as part of the household and will have her property covered under the policy.
Is my vacation home in another state covered under the same policy?
Insurance providers operating in multiple states can issue a policy to cover your vacation home. However, the second policy will only cover the property (i.e. a dwelling policy).
I work from home. Is my business property covered?
Yes. However, the coverage is limited. It is therefore best to have additional coverage.
Am I covered for natural disasters?
Natural disasters, also known as ‘Acts of God,’ are not covered by standard policy. Additional insurance is required.
How much will I be paid in case of damage to my personal property?
This is outlined in your insurance policy under special limits. The amount paid will depend on your cover and the insurance provider.
Are my possessions covered even when I’m on vacation?
Yes.
I rent out a room to a tenant. Are they covered under my policy?
No. Tenants are not covered under homeowners insurance.
Where should I start after losing my property?
Begin by taking inventory and then contacting your insurance provider.
What do I do when my property is stolen?
Contact your insurance provider immediately.
Is insurance for my condo different?
The coverage offered for condo owners insurance covers the same general areas as homeowners insurance. However, there may be some differences based on the specific requirements of the condominium unit owners.
Are there exclusions in homeowners insurance policies?
Yes. These include intentional loss, neglect, damage caused by war or general power failure.
My golf clubs were stolen from my car. Are they covered?
Yes. Homeowners insurance covers your property anywhere in the world.
Now that you have the answers to the most frequently asked questions are you ready to buy a home? If you already have a home do you have the protection you need? Be sure the home insurance agency you choose can answer all of your questions and give you the best value for your money.
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Sometimes you have to get back to basics and your money mindset is where it all begins.
Head over to the Rich Single Movement Facebook Page to discuss with the RSM Community. You can ask questions and get tips on how to apply these principles to your life.
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
I tried out the Walmart Grocery Pickup this weekend and I’m officially in love! For years I’ve heard about grocery delivery services in other cities like New York and LA and longed for something like that here in the Atlanta area. But it was just a fantasy. Sure there is Schwan food service but it’s pretty pricey and the choices are limited.
Now there are meal delivery services like Blue Apron, Plated, and Hello Fresh but you only get dinner. With two kids and three nephews (all teens) who visit regularly, my grocery needs are extensive. But I hate grocery shopping. In fact I hate shopping, period. But that’s another story.
Walmart Grocery Pickup is Here!
So I saw the grocery pickup flags waving in front of my local Walmart and I almost lost my mind. I made a mental note to try it soon. This weekend was the test. I was a bit nervous to try it but I went online to Walmart’s site on Friday. Since I already have an account I logged in and connected my account to the grocery pickup section and started shopping.
The home page featured a few of my favorites. Hmmm. How did it know what my favs were? I can only assume it was from the receipts I scanned into the Savings Catcher app. Pretty clever and a little scary. But no matter I added the items I wanted from the suggestions and watched the running total begin.
I added more items using the category drop down menu and the search. I clicked the quantity button under the item if I needed more than one thing.
When I was done I could see the total amount. I switched a couple of things out and made adjustments until I was happy with the total.
Now it was time to book my pickup. When I clicked the button I went to a scheduling calendar. Drats!!! Same day pickup was not available (only if the order is made before 10am). I could only schedule for the next day or beyond. I scheduled for the time slot of 8-9 am the next morning.
There was a review page the let me check the list of items again as well as let me decide if I wanted substitutes in case the item I ordered wasn’t available. It is set to automatically substitute so I went through and unchecked items that I did not want substituted. The checkout was pretty painless. I entered my card information and clicked purchase.
I received an email confirming my order and instructions for pick up. I would receive a call 15 minutes before my scheduled pickup time and I should call 10 minutes before I arrived. I got the call 10 minutes before my pickup time to let me know they were running 30 minutes behind schedule. I waited almost an hour before I called them to get the status of my order. They said there was a couple of more items they had to pull but that I could come on.
When I arrived I followed the orange pick up signs to the side of the store. I parked in front of the reserved spaces. I was greeted by an attendant who was finishing up another customer. He introduced himself and shook my hand then said he would be right out with my order. He came out and confirmed my name again then went back inside. A few minutes later he and another attendant came out with two flat carts that had the blue food bins carrying my groceries.
Stanley, my attendant introduced himself and told me about a few substitutions they had for me. I approved of them all and he started loading my car. He gave me the fragile items and the produce (there were category labels on the bags) to put in the front seat and the rest went into the trunk. He was very conscientious with everything and made sure I was happy.
When I got home I got a call from the grocery pickup service. They forgot to give me one item I ordered; a body wash. They said they would hold it until I could pick it up later that day. When I picked it up they gave me a cake from the bakery to make up for the inconvenience.
3 Reasons Online Grocery Ordering and Pickup is Amazing for Single Moms
With the exception of the grocery pickup delay I am pleased overall with the service. I can really see this being a regular thing for me. Reasons this may be a great shopping experience for you:
You are a working mom,
Have small kids or a baby and don’t want to go shopping or
Want your significant other or someone else to pick up your groceries without the hassle of a list or money
Shopping this way also helps control your spending. You can see the total in the upper right of the screen and at the bottom right under the list of groceries.
There is a $30 minimum to use the service and you can order from a desktop or your phone.
Two Reasons Walmart Grocery Pickup is Not So Amazing
Two downsides of ordering online and picking up are:
Walmart Savings Catcher is not available at this time
Cannot apply coupons though there is a $10 off promo code (REALEASY) available until November with a minimum order of $50.
Overall I loved the experience and will definitely do it again. I’ll be looking for rollback prices to save money but I will enjoy the ease and sanity of letting someone else do my shopping for me!
If you want to give it a try here is $10 to get you started. Let me know how it goes for you.
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Through the years I’ve found a shopping deals and hacks that has saved my budget hundreds of dollars. I admit I’m not the biggest shopping fan in the world but I do love a sale. A couple years ago I was named Mobile Shopping Guru by Essence magazine because I knew how to find great deals on my mobile phone. I am still pretty good at finding shopping deals because I simply do not like paying inflated prices for goods and services.
One of the top hacks I have used for years is shopping online at deal sites like Groupon Coupons. That is the first place I turn when I’m looking for a gift or specific item I’ve been wanting.
Whether it’s a holiday, a birthday, a trip, or something I’ve had my eyes on for a while I go to a site like Groupon to see what they have. If you haven’t signed up for this site you go ahead and do it now.
The main idea of the site is to find local deals but now they have added coupons to your favorite stores like Target, Disney, JC Penny or my favorite, Kohl’s. Instead of hunting everywhere or scouring the Sunday paper you can just go to Groupon and grab your coupons. Print them or download them to your phone to use in the store. You can also shop online with a coupon code.
Here are a few stores you can get coupons for on Groupon right now:
6 pm store
aerie
Ashford
Belk
Birchbox
Carter’s
Coldwater Creek
Disney Store
Foot Locker
H&R Block
JCPenney
Joann
Kohl’s
I hope this shopping hack saves you lots of money so you can grow your bank account and have more money at the end of the month
To stay up to date on the latest coupons visit the Goupon Facebook and Twitter feeds.
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
I’ve been procrastinating about doing spring cleaning at my house. I admit that I’m not a Suzy homemaker. I tried that when my kids were little and I almost had a mini breakdown. I have a good reason — I was a full-time mom, student, and employee.
The pressure was great okay!
Spring Cleaning Begins
So this week I began the spring cleaning process but first to Walmart to pick up a few cleaning supplies. Since I didn’t want to do a lot of scrubbing I needed something to make the job easier. I decided on Scrubbing Bubbles® and Windex®.
The first thing I need to tackle is my bathroom. I have to do the tub, a garden tub mind you, which is kinda big, the toilet, the shower, and the sinks.
The process of cleaning was basic. I followed the instructions on the bottle to spray to cover the area I wanted to clean. Since the Scrubbing Bubbles® is suppose to do all the work I sprayed the tub, sink, toilet, and shower. Now to let the magic happen.
I actually forgot that I sprayed down the bathroom but when I walked back into my bedroom I smelled the spray. I went in to clean the tub first which was more or less a rinse off. The toilet was sparkly white. No scrubbing there and basically the same with the sink. Shower needed a little more work on the floor part but the rest was great!
The Results of the 1st Phase of Spring Cleaning
Here is the before and after for the garden tub:
Here is the before and after for the sink
I loved being able to keep the work down to a minimum. This was a good start to spring cleaning. I think I can move on to the next phase. Closets! 😉
This post was sponsored in part by SCJ and Walmart but the opinions are wholly mine. FTC Disclaimer
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Hi! Welcome to RichSingleMomma.com. I started this website almost a decade ago because I couldn't find any blogs back then that helped single moms with money. I was having some success in that area so I decided to share what I knew about side hustles, making extra money, and managing money. Read more...
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The Fundamental Principles of Personal Wealth is a free audio book (running time: 59 minutes) that you really should listen to.
