MAKE MONEY

Starting a successful coffee shop from scratch with no money can seem like an uphill battle, but it is possible. With careful planning and diligent research, you can find creative ways to get the resources you need to start your coffee business. 

Data suggests that 7 in 10 Americans drink coffee every week; 62% drink coffee every day. Therefore running an independent coffee shop is a very lucrative business.

If you want to set up your coffee shop without breaking the bank, follow along with the blog post.

Skills and Resources

As you get ready to launch your coffee shop, it’s essential to take stock of what resources and skills you already have. You have a basic coffee shop concept, but do you have the necessary skills and resources?

The coffee shop business requires not only knowledge of coffee and culinary skills but also business skills, customer service, communication skills, and managerial skills. A business owner is responsible for espresso machines, coffee grinders, and roasters. You have to lead the team and attract customers.

You must also assess your financial situation and resources to fund the coffee business. It will help guide your decisions for finding creative solutions for sourcing resources and financing.  The budget must be realistic, with timelines for each step.

Local Market Research

Researching the local market before starting your coffee shop is crucial. Local market research helps develop services, menu items, and marketing strategies.

Market research starts with getting familiar with your local economy. Begin by identifying the target audience. You should be specific about who they are, their demographics (age, gender, income, and education level). and their interests and behaviors.

Next, you should assess the competition. A quick look at the existing coffee shop nearby will help you understand its offerings, prices, and marketing strategies. It will help you know their success and gaps to solve to formulate a strong business plan.

A good understanding of your target market, customer, and their preference, will equip you to build a successful business plan.

Coffee Shop Business Plan

A solid business plan is the bread and butter of a coffee shop’s success.

The business plan should include information about the coffee shop’s location, size, and services.  It should also have a timeline for opening, a business model, detailed financial projections, and marketing strategies. 

You should research any local permits or licenses needed to open and local zoning requirements. You should also consider details about what special features your coffee shop will have that’ll make it unique. It should also have intricate management, staffing, and inventory management details. 

Start-up Financing

Every business needs some sort of funding. The commercial space, machines, coffee roasters, employee wages, and high-quality equipment are business expenses. The business expenses will help you determine the coffee shop startup costs.

There are many financing options available for a startup business. It can be small business loans from banks, Angel investors, crowdfunding, or venture capital.

Each financing mechanism has advantages and drawbacks. Therefore entrepreneurs should choose the one that fits their business plan and financial situation.

Commercial Space and Lease

A perfect location plays a massive role in the success of any business. The coffee shop’s location can attract or discourage customers. It will impact the ambiance and influence staff’s productivity and efficiency.

Accessibility, visibility, and foot traffic are key elements of a coffee shop location. The size and layout also play an essential role. The commercial space should have decent foot traffic and appeal to your target demographic.

Lease is the next significant factor. Therefore, the terms must provide clear and favorable terms, lease length, payment schedule, and renewal provisions. When it comes time to negotiate, you should research market rates.

Owning the coffee shop’s physical space can provide long-term stability and cost savings for the business. It gives the company more control over the ambiance, layout, and overall customer experience to build a loyal customer base.

With the right location and a great lease, you’ll be ready to start building out your shop so you can open your doors soon!

Coffee shop equipment

The coffee shop ownership also means purchasing the necessary equipment that keeps it running.

At a bare minimum, a coffee shop owner should start with an espresso machine, grinder, coffee roaster, and water heater. Depending on what other drinks and food items you plan to offer, you may also need blenders, refrigerators, and a range of brewing stations.

A dishwasher, milk steamer, and pour-over equipment are all necessary coffee equipment. A point-of-sale system (POS) is required to accept payments. The POS system you select determines the fees for processing cards.

You can get equipment quotes from online retailers and local suppliers to compare prices and get the best deal. You should also check out reviews and brands that are worth investing in.

With all the right equipment, you’ll be ready to serve some delicious coffee!

Obtain Licenses and Permits

Every state has its licensing and permit requirement before opening a business. There are different business structures that you choose from. A limited liability company fits perfectly for the business. You must secure all the business licenses to open a coffee shop.

A coffee shop business may require a registered business name that legalizes the business identity. Since the coffee shop will be offering food and drinks, a food establishment permit is also required.

As a seller of goods and products, you’re required by the law to pay taxes. You must set up a seller’s permit to transmit the sales tax collected from customers. Since the coffee shop will operate from a specific location, a building permit will also be necessary.

You should start by determining which licenses you need on both the local and state level, as laws and regulations can vary from place to place. Once you’ve gathered all the required permits, keep them in an organized file for easy access. Some States also require you to display certain permits at your coffee shops.

Coffee Shop Marketing Strategy

Opening a coffee shop business is exciting, but it takes more than putting up a “We are Open” sign and hoping the customers will come. You must develop an effective marketing strategy to promote your new business and get the word out.

Start with a website and social media profiles. Coffee shop owners can share information about their business, such as the coffee shop menu, location, and hours of operation. Social media is compelling in promoting businesses and reaching customers. The best advantage is it does not cost money to get started. You can also team up with influencers or local companies for collaboration opportunities.

Your next effective tool is email newsletters or online ads to drive potential customers. You may have to provide free coffee to some to built the customer at the beginning.

A smart marketing strategy help get a targeted audience to generate more revenue.

Accounting and Bookkeeping Systems

Accounting and bookkeeping may not be the most exciting part of starting a coffee shop, but staying organized and financially compliant is essential.

The coffee shop owners should keep their shop’s finances in check. Whether you use online accounting software or do it manually through spreadsheets, staying on top of income and expenses, along with sales, inventory management, payroll, and taxes, is a must.

From the day you open a coffee shop, you’d want to start immediately with cash flow monitoring, bank reconciliation, and tax documentation. You should seek professional help if you need any help.

Employees Training on Coffee Preparation and Customer Service

Creating a successful coffee shop requires quality products and excellent customer service. To ensure both, you must provide proper training to your staff.

The first step is to develop a training program. The program should cover all aspects of coffee preparation and customer service. It must be hands-on with learning material and demonstrations.

The training could be as simple as how to grind beans properly, the different brewing methods, and how to clean and maintain all equipment.

You should hire professionals and experienced trainers that have been in the industry for a long time. A trainer should have a passion for the job and teaching itself.

With the right training, your employees will be equipped to create signature drinks and offer an outstanding experience that can keep customers coming back for more!

Expand Your Coffee Shop Business Plan

If you sell specialty coffee, you might want to keep selling only coffee. But if you plan to increase your revenue, consider selling your merchandise.

Selling your own coffee beans comes with a lot of advantages. It will position your business as a coffee shop brand. It will differentiate your business from other coffee shops and build a loyal customer base. Cost savings, flexibility in experimentation, and quality control are a few benefits when you own coffee beans.

However, owning coffee beans comes with challenges, like capital investment requirements and expertise to maintain quality. The owner will also have to manage the supply chain from sourcing the beans to roasting and storing them.

To Sum It Up

Starting a coffee shop without any money may seem like an impossible task. Researching what it takes and creating a proper action plan will help make the process easier.

A coffee shop success relies on developing a solid business strategy, finding low-cost supplies, leveraging online resources, and growing your team through extensive training. With hard work and determination, you can open your own cafe that stands out from the competition — even with limited funds!

GoodRx brings discounts on prescription drugs at your fingertip through a mobile app, even if you don’t have an expensive health insurance plan.

You don’t have health insurance at all?

No problem. You can use it regardless.

The best part is that using their platform does not cost you a dime. Wondering who pays them? Let’s explore how GoodRx makes money.

What is GoodRx?

GoodRX is a digital platform with a mobile app that gives users access to prescription drug discounts. With over 20 million monthly active users, it is one of the most downloaded medical apps.

The company was founded in 2011 and is based in Santa Monica, California. GoodRX offers users discounts on prescription drugs by providing coupons, deals, and other savings opportunities.

It provides consumers free access to all the pharmacy deals with no membership fees. The platform claims to save users up to 80% on brand medications.

How Does GoodRx Work?

GoodRX offers a free GoodRx Discount Card, accepted at over 70,000 pharmacies and drugstores nationwide. Once signed up, the user can get instant discounts at pharmacies. Whether you have affordable healthcare or an employee-offered plan, all can use these cards. The

The user can search for a specific drug through the GoodRx website or mobile app to find deals and discounts and compare drug prices.  It acts as a price comparison tool that allows consumers to find local pharmacies with prescription drug prices to compare and generate coupons. From here, the user can print and present a GoodRx coupon or show them in the mobile app at the drug store to get discounted prices.

How Does GoodRX Make Money?

Referral Fees

Referral fees are GoodRx’s primary source of income. GoodRx receives referral fees every time a user fills a prescription with its coupon. This fee is typically around 10-30% of the total cost of the prescription. 

The referral fee system is a common business model used by many companies in the healthcare industry, including pharmacy benefits managers and prescription discount card companies. The referral fees do not impact users’ prices for their medications.

Advertisement and partnership

GoodRx revenue also comes through advertising and partnerships with various pharmaceutical manufacturers. GoodRx partners with pharmacies and Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to provide them with access to the GoodRx platform and tools.

Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Manager pay GoodRx a fee to be listed on the platform and to participate in GoodRx’s programs, such as the Prescription Savings Club. The pharmaceutical manufacturers also place ads on the Goodrx platform to promote their drugs. These promotions may include sponsored listings or advertisements at the top of the search results for specific drugs.

Profit from prescription drug data

GoodRx collects and analyzes data on prescription drug prices and discounts from pharmacies across the United States. This data is beneficial for understanding drug prices and prescription patterns.GoodRx generates revenue by selling prescription transactions data to businesses that need them for research. Pharmaceutical companies use these data to formulate marketing strategies and pricing decisions and create business models.

Subscription revenue stream

GoodRx offers a subscription service called GoodRx Gold that provides additional savings on prescription drugs for a monthly fee. GoodRx Gold service generates revenue for GoodRx by charging users a fee to access these additional discounts.The GoodRx Gold membership fee is only $5.99 for individuals and $9.99 for families. GoodRx Gold unlocks deeper discounts than the common platform. The discounts are better than those provided by health insurance companies. GoodRx negotiates directly with pharmacies to secure these discounts for GoodRx Gold members.

Partnership with Insurance Providers

GoodRx has partnered with some health insurers to offer drug discounts to their policyholders. While insurance companies typically negotiate their own drug prices with pharmacies, GoodRx may receive a commission or other compensation for facilitating these partnerships.

Revenue stream through Telemedicine

GoodRx makes money by partnering with online telemedicine providers to provide a GoodRx telehealth marketplace. These services allow users to consult a doctor remotely and receive electronic prescriptions without leaving their homes. GoodRx generates revenue by taking a percentage of the fees charged by these telemedicine providers.GoodRx acquired HeyDoctor, an online telemedicine provider that offers virtual consultations with licensed healthcare providers. Users can schedule appointments through the HeyDoctor website or app and receive prescriptions for various health conditions, including cold and flu, allergies, and skin conditions.This partnership allows GoodRx to expand its offerings beyond prescription drugs and provide users with more comprehensive healthcare services. It also enables GoodRx to generate additional revenue through its commission on telemedicine services.

GoodRx marketplace for supplies

GoodRx has also launched a marketplace for medical supplies and equipment. While prescription drugs are the company’s primary focus, it has expanded its offerings to include blood glucose monitors, nebulizers, and first aid kits. GoodRx makes money by taking a percentage of the sales made through this marketplace.

Conclusion

GoodRX is a great way to save money on prescription drugs. Although referral fee is its primary business model, GoodRx revenue comes in many forms. It earns commissions from retail pharmacies, telemedicine providers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

GoodRx’s business model does not affect consumer savings or charges commission for facilitating service. The GoodRx coupon prescription offered on the website is available to all.

If you’re looking for a way to save money on prescription drugs, GoodRX is worth considering. When you’re ready to save money on prescription drugs, just sign up for the free GoodRX Discount Card today and start saving!

Are you a content creator looking to monetize your work? Or you’re a freelancer wanting to supplement your income with additional revenue streams. 

Whether you’re new or experienced in the field, creating and running a Patreon page can provide another lucrative opportunity.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss leveraging Patreon to generate a consistent income stream. 

How to Make Money With Patreon

From setting up the account correctly to customizing it to suit your needs best, there’s money to be made through Patreon if done correctly! 

Here are some tips on launching a successful Patreon page and boosting your income!

Identify Your Target Audience

Identifying your target audience is one of the most critical steps in making money through a Patreon page. 

It’s not enough to post content and hopes that people will come. There is no doubt that consistency is still crucial, but you also need to know your potential supporters and their interests. It helps create highly engaging content when you know who they’re targeting.

To brainstorm your ideal fan, start with these questions:

• Who do I want to attract with my Patreon page? 
• What type of content resonates with them?
• Are there any specific demographics or interests I should focus on? 

A clear vision for your ideal followers will help you create relevant and compelling content that appeals to them. 

Additionally, researching trends and topics related to your industry will help ensure your content is fresh and exciting to keep your followers coming back.

Create Compelling Content for Your Platform

Creating engaging content is your only path to success when making money through a Patreon page. You must add value, make a difference or solve a problem to connect with the audience. 

Who would want to donate money to anybody who does not connect? 

Not only do you want your audience to be interested in what you’re creating, but you’re also motivating them to contribute financially.

Getting people to open their wallets is one of the most challenging tasks. You may be an expert in the industry, but motivating people on an emotional level is a different ball game. 

Here are some tips for crafting compelling content to get started:

Post Regularly

As mentioned earlier, consistency is still vital. Posting regularly shows your passion and dedication. It is one of the reasons your followers keep coming back. 

A consistently scheduled post helps followers to figure out when to revisit your page. It’s like one of their favorite TV shows. They know precisely how long they have to wait for the next episode.

Develop Unique Content

It is easier said than done, but your content must be unique if you want a higher conversion. You must create something original that stands out from competing or similar pages.

You can also provide a unique perspective on existing content. To make the content special, you can add humor, seriousness, information, or any other personal touch to a broad topic.

Try Different Formats 

It may surprise you that your ideal followers might like a completely different content type. Therefore be willing to experiment with videos, podcasts, or written posts to find out which format resonates best with your supporters.

It takes a while before you see any traction; therefore, test each content strategy long enough before you move to the next one. 

Utilize Special Perks

Offer exclusive content or rewards to incentivize followers to support the page financially. This technique keeps the existing supporters and motivates new ones to join. Supporters want to get personal with their favorite creator. The sneak peeks, and behind-the-scenes are good ways to attract followers. 

Be Authentic

Everyone has their unique style. Instead of copying the popular technique, let your personality shine through in your content. You should share content in your area of expertise with your personal experience. It helps to connect with the audience. 

Share and Promote Your Patreon Page

Once your Patreon page is set up, it’s time to get the word out. Share and promote it like you’d market any product. Being in front of potential followers is the first step to building lifetime membership. 

You can try the following ways to promote your content and the Patreon page:

Utilize Your Existing Networks 

Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram are standard and free platforms where you can start promoting your Patreon page. Let your followers know you have a Patreon page and encourage them to check it out and provide feedback. Sometimes welcoming follower feedback can generate creative ideas.

 Utilize Relevant Hashtags 

Use relevant post tagging to help potential supporters discover your content more easily. Popular hashtags help link similar content by making it easier to find. The social media algorithm also uses it to recommend its audience with similar interests. 

Leverage Influencers

Reach out to influencers in your space which may be willing to promote your Patreon page for a fee or other incentive. Influencers are one of the most effective advertisement methods because they already have an audience you can target.

Engage With Other Creators

 Collaboration with other creators helps share ideas and reach a bigger audience. Follow and interact with other pages that could be potential sources of followers. You can always contribute and add value to other creators’ social pages. It can help build relationships and expand your reach.

Consider Paid Advertising 

Although it’s not free, paid advertisement is an investment. If budget allows, consider running Google or Facebook ads to spread your brand awareness. While advertising, you should always start with a small budget, collect analytics, and review and adjust your settings. 

Paid advertising makes sense when you already have established a base and want to grow. A targeted paid advertisement helps narrow your ideal customer and reach them where they congregate. 

Utilize Additional Opportunities to Generate Income on Patreon

Besides adding followers and advertising your brand to reach a large audience, you should also focus on retaining existing subscribers. It requires consistent and engaging content that provides value to your audience. Here are some tips that can help you keep your followers:

Offer Digital Products

A digital product showcases your skills and expertise in your niche. It establishes your authority and trustworthiness. It can be anything from eBooks, templates, printable artwork, tutorials, or online courses. 

Your followers are invested in your content and eager to support your work. Offering them a free digital product they can own makes them feel they’re rewarded for their generosity. 

It helps build trust and establish a stronger connection with your audience. It also helps attract new followers to your page. 

Crowdfund Your Projects 

Crowdfunding is an incredible tool for content creators to bring their ideas to life, which would otherwise remain dreams. And Patreon is the perfect platform. Instead of relying on one-time donations and sales, Patreon helps build long-term supporters that contribute regularly. 

Host Events

Hold online events such as webinars, live streams, and virtual classes and charge admission for these events to the new audience. You can offer free access based on the supporter’s tier level. It will encourage your followers to upgrade their subscription level, which means more money for you. 

A scheduled replay of a public event that includes the benefits of being a Patreon can be beneficial to collect more supporters. It provides exposure to your skills and what you offer.   

Sell Merchandise

You can also offer t-shirts, mugs, stickers, or any other merchandise associated with your content. Let patrons choose exclusive items when they join your page. It creates a sense of ownership of their favorite content creator. 

Discounted exclusive content or items is a way to reward your most loyal fans. When you offer exclusive content to your patrons, you create a sense of exclusivity and scarcity. It makes the fans feel special and motivates them to keep contributing regularly. 

An exclusive content offering also helps build a deeper relationship with your audience. When your patrons feel like they’re part of an exclusive club, they’re more likely to engage with you and your content on a deeper level. It can increase loyalty, social media engagement, and even more patrons.

Track, Analyze, and Make Improvements

It is one of the essential steps in any creative process. Tracking your performance and understanding what works and doesn’t work is necessary to success on Patreon. 

Here are some of the guidelines for staying on top of your progress and finding success: 

Analyze Your Most Popular Content 

Take a close look at the pieces of content that generate the most engagement from your supporters and use that information to tailor future content. The content that does well can give you insights about repurposing your other content.

Optimize Your Landing Page

 Ensure your Patreon landing page is optimized for the best user experience possible. Keep it simple and make sure all relevant details are accessible. A user-focused with no fluff to the point content has the best conversion.

Monitor User Activity

Monitor user activity, such as page visits, clicks, conversions, and other metrics, to gauge your performance. A page analytics page tells you where you need improvements.

A/B Test Features 

A/B testing involves creating two versions of a webpage and then testing each version to see which one performs better. To maximize performance, use A/B testing to test different page features (such as copy, images, or videos).  

By carefully testing and analyzing different page elements, you can make data-driven decisions that lead to higher pledges and more patron support.

Adjust Your Goals 

Periodically adjust your long-term goals for the platform so you can stay ahead of any changes in the landscape that may impact you. While having a clear vision is essential, it’s also important to be flexible. Always be open to pivoting and adjusting your goals as needed.

Remember that adjusting long-term goals doesn’t mean giving up on them. It means being adaptable and open to change. By re-evaluating your priorities, breaking down your goals, and being flexible, you can adjust your long-term goals and stay on course toward achieving success.

The Benefits and Limitations of Having a Patreon Page

Patreon allows content creators to profit from their online followers by accepting donations. The supporters can choose from multiple payment options and pledge varying monthly payments in exchange for exclusive content, access to live sessions or special rewards. 

For many content creators, Patreon provides a much-needed supplement to their income. It opens up new opportunities for improving their work. But it is essential to understand the benefits as well as the limitations of working with Patreon:

Benefits:

• It gives content creators flexibility with their financial goals
• It enables effortless donations
• It allows content creators to remain independent
• It offers access to other non-monetary rewards

Limitations:

• Initial setup Can Be time-consuming
• It is not easy to secure reoccurring donations
• It has limited ways to promote your page without incurring costs

To Sum It Up

In conclusion, Patreon is an excellent platform for monetizing your content. By tracking performance, optimizing your page, and testing different features, you can increase your income and achieve success in the long run. Don’t be afraid to take risks and experiment with new ideas. With hard work and dedication, you can make Patreon a profitable endeavor!

Trying to pay off credit card debt is daunting if you carry significant balances, but it is possible. Paying off this debt entirely is challenging and will take work and time.

Taking a glance at credit card statistics, you’ll realize you’re far from being alone:

• The average APR for a new credit card offer is 23.55%, the highest since 2019.
• 33% of Americans believe paying off their credit card debt will take more than two years.
• 55% of people carry a card balance monthly, with one in five owing more than $20,000.
• 15% of Americans have been in credit card debt for 15 years.
•  49% of Americans depend on credit cards for essential living expenses.
• 44% of Americans will use their credit cards for $2,000 in emergency expenses.

Since the pandemic, strong consumer spending has resulted in surging debt levels, especially on credit cards, and if left unpaid, become quite toxic to your finances. It is more important than ever to learn to pay off credit card debt.

Why Paying Off Your Credit Card Debt is Essential

Paying off debt is crucial in achieving financial stability and freedom. It allows you to reduce the burden of interest payments and free up money for other important things like savings and investments. Plus, being debt-free can provide a sense of relief and reduce stress in your daily life.

Carrying large credit card balances provide impediments to having peace of mind and will prevent you from:

• reaching your financial goals
• boosting your emergency fund
• sticking to a reasonable budget
• improving your credit report

This post provides options for paying off your credit card balances, making room in your budget with extra savings, and improving your financial health.

17 Ways To Pay Off Credit Card Debt

Struggling with debt and living paycheck to paycheck? Take back control of your finances with these 17 proven ways to pay off debt.

1. Take On No New Debt And Use Cash or Checking

Start paying for your purchases with cash, checks, or debit cards. Only use your credit cards once you have virtually no balance. Otherwise, you will make no progress and only boost your balance.

2. Focus on Debt Reduction Rather than Spending

Staying on top of your budget is essential to ensure you save more than you’re spending. Review your budget monthly and track your spending, especially when you need to save money and carry high credit card balances.

Start by finding quick places to cut discretionary spending on items that you don’t need immediately. Reduce monthly subscriptions, eat home more, sell unwanted things, and make extra income, to build up savings to pay down debt and become more financially secure.

3. Pay More Than The Minimum

Paying the required monthly minimum amount is usually set at a low percentage, or 1% to 5% of your balance, and doesn’t hurt or improve your credit score. However, by paying your entire balance, you avoid potentially massive finance costs by paying the entire balance.

Paying just the minimum benefits the card issuers who charge your card with exorbitant interest rates (i.e., APR) that result in income for them and growing balances that can outpace your ability to pay these bills. If you have an unpaid balance of $2,500 at age 22 and pay only the minimum, you’ll likely carry that balance as a “permanent debt” for years. By age 37, if you have never paid those charges at an 18% APR for fifteen years, the finance charges will amount to $6,750!

As part of the Credit Card Act of 2009, the issuers provide Minimum Payment Warnings on your credit card, giving holders the total time it will take to pay off the balance, and the interest amount cardholders will pay. Heed that warning by paying as much of the balance as possible if you can’t pay the entire amount.

4. Use Extra Savings For Paying Off Credit Card Debt Until Zero Balances

As you achieve extra savings from these options, like reduced spending, mortgage refinancing, debt consolidation, windfalls, and earning extra income, drive down your card balances. You should also refresh your emergency fund, especially if you use some of these savings to pay off debt.

5. Snowball Method – Paying Off Smaller Amounts First

The snowball method prioritizes credit card debts from the smallest balance to the most significant, irrespective of the loan’s interest rate. This behavioral method aims to get small but quick wins to further your motivation by paying off small amounts first.

This motivational approach works for many who benefit from checking off their card debt list. Say you have five credit card balances in the following amounts, $2,500, $4,150, $3,200, and $2,100. The snowball method would lead to paying off the $2,100 first. The problem for many is overwhelming credit card debt grows faster from high-interest costs.

6. Avalanche Method – Paying Off Highest Interest Rates First

The Avalanche method prioritizes the highest interest rate first and lists all your card debt in that order rather than the smallest amount first. For example, if you have five credit cards with the following APRs of 23.45%, 19.85%, 18.66%, 20.73%, and 14.59%, you would focus on the card with the highest interest rate of 23.45% because it’s the most costly, using the avalanche method.

7. Debt Consolidation

Under debt consolidation, consumers would combine all their credit card debt with varying due dates and interest rates for a single large loan or one line of credit to reduce their monthly payments. Debt consolidation loans allow you to combine higher-interest credit card balances into a lower-interest loan. This option allows you to save on interest, pay less monthly, and pay off your debt in as few monthly payments as possible.

The available debt consolidation options (discussed below) you can look into:

• Mortgage Refinance
• Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
• Zero or Low Balance Transfers
• Personal Loan

8. Refinancing Your Mortgage

Refinancing your mortgage is advantageous when interest rates decline, as your new mortgage replaces your existing mortgage with a lower monthly payment on your home. You can apply these savings to pay off your credit card balances.

9. Tapping Your Home Equity

A home equity line of credit, or a HELOC, is a line of credit if you have available equity. You use your home as collateral to secure a loan at lower interest rates to pay off higher-interest credit card debt. Facilitating this loan may come with application and closing fees. Tapping into your home equity is not necessarily the best way to pay off credit card debt, as you may endanger your most significant asset.

10. A Zero-Balance Transfer Credit Card

A zero-balance transfer credit card gives you a fresh start to pay off credit card debt over an extended period. If you have a lot of high-interest credit card debt and at least a FICO credit score of 670, consider a 0% balance transfer card with a typical period of 12 to 21 months to pay off your card balance.

The higher your credit score, the longer you’ll have the zero interest rate. Reduce your credit card balances to zero, so you never have to pay the issuer any interest owed in the future. Be aware that there may be fees of 3% to 5% of the balance you’re transferring.

Unfortunately, a zero-balance transfer option will only work if you have a good credit score or a high credit utilization ratio of over 30%. However, you may be able to get a lower interest than your credit cards.

11. Personal Loan

A personal loan is a popular way to consolidate your higher-cost credit card debt into a personal loan at lower interest rates based on your income, credit score, and history. The loan term typically runs 12 to 60 months at a fixed or variable rate and has upfront fees.

12. Financial Windfalls Coming Your Way

A financial windfall, such as a tax refund, lottery win, bonus, or inheritance, is a one-time unexpected financial gain. Taking on a second job or working longer hours can be effective in helping you get over the mountain of debt you want to pay off.

13. Borrowing From Family

You can borrow from a family member as a quick and straightforward way to pay off your credit card debt. Although it may be easy to turn to someone you know, consider making it a loan with that person with specific terms in writing, especially if it is for a significant amount.

From the IRS perspective, they may see it as a gift eligible for a gift tax. When you borrow from a loved one, there may also be some family drama you may want to avoid.

14. Contact Your Creditors For a Possible Repayment Plan

Reach out to your creditors to try to work out a new payment plan with each of your creditors. They want to see you resolve your financial problems to avoid bankruptcy. Ask if they have a repayment or hardship plan. Let them know if you are working on a debt management plan, which can take time.

15. Consider Debt Settlement Carefully

When overwhelmed with debt, especially high credit card balances, you should turn to a debt settlement company for debt relief. A debt settlement is a third party that will help you settle your debt for less than what you currently owe, with the promise that you’ll pay the amount agreed for in full. They charge high fees, amounting to 1% to 25% of your debt, so consider this option carefully.

There are several risks when employing a debt settlement company instead of bringing down your debt yourself. Credit card issuers may accept debt settlements, for example, accepting 50% of the balance as a settlement, but you must have the cash on hand to pay that amount, and you may be liable for income taxes on the 50% savings. Debt settlements affect your credit score for seven years and will impair your ability to borrow.

16. Find Good Help From A Credit Counseling Agency

A nonprofit credit counseling agency (CCA) can be a desirable way to create a debt management plan. Their counselors can arrange with unsecured creditors to collect payments from overly indebted consumers to repay debts. They may be able to get creditor concessions like reduced interest rates.

Besides helping you pay off your debt, they assist you with financial problems, educational materials on credit, and budgeting. They may charge small flat fees regulated by the state, but your initial sessions are usually free.

17. Bankruptcy As a Last Resort

When debts are so overwhelming that life seems bleak, a situation may arise due to unemployment, illness, divorce, or the death of a loved one. Consider bankruptcy through Chapter 13 and Chapter 7. Declaring bankruptcy is a guaranteed right that permits people (and businesses) to ask the court to find them officially unable to meet debts like credit card debt.

However, you may not be able to discharge all debts. Such debts include education loans within the past seven years, fines, alimony, child support, income taxes for the most recent three years, and obligations associated with the injury caused while driving under the influence. Bankruptcy is not a quick fix and should be used only as a last resort, as it remains on one’s credit record for ten years and impacts your ability to rent housing, get loans, or get a job.

Final Thoughts

There are many options to explore in paying off your credit card debt, though some are difficult if you let your balances get out of hand. It’s best to proactively begin the process by shedding some debt, targeting some easy ways as soon as possible. Once you eliminate your credit card balances, plan to pay your entire balance each month or cut out non-essential spending.

This article originally appeared on Savoteur.

The one way to deal with job burnout has been to quit. 

But what if there was another way? What if you could walk away from all the burnout-related stress at the workplace – without finding a new one first? 

Quietly quitting is a new way to cope with work burnout without confrontation. It’s popular among people who went above and beyond for the company without any incentives or recognition.   

Could it be the answer to relieving work-related stress? As ridiculous as it sounds, we’ll explore the “quiet quitting” concept and how it can help you overcome burnout.

A New Quiet Quitting Trend to Deal With Burnout

Work stress and burnout can seriously impact our mental, physical, and emotional well-being. But when it feels like it’s getting too much, trying to combat it by going above and beyond results in increased fatigue and burnout. 

Quiet quitting is the new viral trend, with the hashtag “#quietquitting” gaining traction on social media as employees grapple with work-related stress. 

But what is quiet quitting a job exactly?

It is the practice of putting your own needs first. It is about maintaining a healthy work-life balance and prioritizing self-well-being. 

Zaid Khan, an Engineer from New York, went viral while posting about quitting in July 2022. Since then, several have joined him, posting in TikTok and other social media on the topic with hashtags #quietquitting, #quitting, and #queitting. People are quiet quitting jobs like never before.

Backlash Against Quiet Quitting

There has been a backlash against “Quiet Quitting,” Some experts advise proceeding with this approach with extreme caution. Some have also linked quiet quitting a job to quitting on life. A regular eight-hour job can also be a place to thrive, build connections and find a new purpose. 

People who disagree with the concept believe that quiet quitters welcome laziness into their lives and hurt performance. The majority also think it could jeopardize your financial situation if the company fires you or you leave the job and apply to other companies. 

The reality is that backlash against employees Quiet quitting will persist as experts remain divided. What we do know for sure, however, is that taking care of our mental and physical health must be a priority. 

While still controversial, Quiet Quitting is an effective way of managing work-related stress in the long run.

Quiet quit to overcome burnout

Several factors can cause employee burnout. Employees do not give up going the extra mile only because they couldn’t find their work fulfilling. Quiet quitting may be caused by a more significant reason than one may think. And its solution could be as simple as little business guidance to realign employees’ engagement.

Not everyone can afford to quiet quit. The existing bias at the workplace due to race and gender forces the underrepresented community to struggle more than the required responsibility despite burnout. 

If you’re burnout and considering quiet quitting, here are a few things you may want to evaluate to maintain your performance standard and assess your long-term goals:

Self-evaluate performance

 Evaluate if there are any performance gaps at your work. You should self-reflect and research if there is any need for more skills or motivation. 

Try to find the core reason for burnout. It helps when you’re burnt out because you need a specific skill set. You can work on those skills to better position yourself.

Create a plan

Create a plan with clear future goals and deadlines and ways to achieve them. The goal may be moving to a better position at a different company or working on something for yourself to be self-sufficient. A clear vision will help achieve the end goal.

Focus on self-care 

 Make sure you are taking care of yourself. Get adequate rest, eat healthily, and engage in activities that bring you joy. Spend time with family or on things that motivate you.

Start building your business.

Some people don’t want the corporate world. A typical  9 to 5 job does not excite them. Use your spare time to start working on a side hustle or build your own business. It will help you find fulfillment, improve performance and take the stress off your day job.

Take breaks

Schedule regular breaks throughout the day to give yourself time away from work and recharge. Doing the same thing all the time can make your mind dull and uninterested.

Get support

Seek support from people who can offer guidance in managing performance and stress. The stress could be irrelevant to the job duties but affect everything. Help from a professional can be beneficial if the pressure gets out of control.

To Sum It Up

Quiet quitting has become an increasingly popular coping strategy for people dealing with burnout, but it’s essential to approach it cautiously. 

Don’t be afraid to step back and find balance in your work life. Quiet quitting may not be for everyone, but some see it as a way to deal with career burnout. So what do you think? Does Quiet Quit sound like a recipe for disaster or a viable solution? Let us know in the comments below!

Creating content on YouTube is a great way to gain recognition, reach an audience virtually anywhere in the world, and make money simultaneously. But how much do YouTubers with 100K subscribers make? 

A YouTube with 100K subscribers can expect to earn $1,000 and $6,000 in average monthly ad revenue. The income is not always guaranteed and straightforward. Various factors impact the YouTube Channel’s earnings. 

This blog post outlines the potential income sources and estimated earnings for a YouTuber with 100K subscribers.

How Much Does a YouTuber with 100K Subscribers Make?

A YouTube channel with 100,000 subscribers is a milestone. However, predicting potential earnings for this milestone can be difficult and will vary depending on the content, niche, video location, and monetization type used. 

Content creators with 100K subscribers can expect to make estimated annual gross earnings between $12,000 and $72,000 in YouTube ad revenue. However the earning is not always guaranteed. The estimate also excludes other revenue forms such as sponsorship deals or affiliate links: merchandise, or crowdfunding.

Average Ad Revenue per 1,000 Views/Subscriber

The amount earned will vary depending on several factors when estimating potential revenue from YouTube ads and other revenue streams. 

YouTubers earn an estimated average of $2-$4 per 1,000 views. It is called Cost per 100 ad impressions (CPM). After deducting YouTube’s share, they’ll receive only a percentage of the CPM.   

The amount received is typically based on audience engagement and the content being offered, so it’s crucial to ensure viewers get something of value in return.

Factors affecting YouTubers with 100K Subs’ Earnings

With 100,000 subscribers, YouTubers have the potential to earn significant amounts of money from their videos. However, there are a variety of factors that can impact earnings.

The types and number of ads served within a video, the specific content topics covered in each video, and the length and quality of each video make a significant difference in making money on YouTube. 

Creators should stay up-to-date with YouTube’s policies and trends to ensure their content is fresh, competitive, and engaging. 

Content Release Frequency

The frequency at which content is released is the key to YouTubers’ success. Establishing a consistent content release schedule is essential for retaining viewers and engaging with audience members who have subscribed to your channel. 

Creating content regularly can help new subscribers discover your channel more quickly. It also helps engage existing subscribers by regularly entertaining them with fresh content. 

Adding new ideas to your content calendar helps grow an online presence.

Viewer Engagement & Retention Rate

Viewer engagement and retention are necessary to ensure YouTubers’ success with 100,000 subscribers. 

Therefore, YouTubers should create engaging content that motivates viewers to subscribe to the channel. Implementing viewer interaction tactics such as responding to comments or hosting giveaways can foster further community involvement and help build longer-term relationships with viewers.

You should also invest time in SEO optimization of the video titles and descriptions to reach a large audience through organic search traffic.

Niche & Content Quality/Relevance

When creating content for a YouTube channel, focusing on a niche and creating high-quality content relevant to the given topic is essential. 

Establishing yourself as an expert in a specific field can help build trust within the community and improve your chances of success. The engaging and informative content can enhance viewers’ watching experience. YouTubers must keep up with current trends, schedule content releases, and provide relevant information.

YouTubers’ Income Source 

Content Creator can generate income in various ways, from brand collaborations, sponsorships, and affiliate programs to merchandising. 

They can make a living off their channels and turn passion into profit with the right strategy. 

The key is to create content that resonates with viewers on an emotional level, build relationships with other creators and brands, and find monetization sources that best fit your channel’s goals.

YouTube Ad Revenue

YouTube ad revenue is one of the most popular ways to make money on YouTube. You can make money from ads that appear in or around your videos and advertisements that play before or after a video. 

Advertisers compete against each other for ad space and views. The amount of money YouTube pays per view depends on the type of ad and its cost-per-click (CPC). 

The more people click an ad, the more money an advertiser pays YouTube, and thus, more money for the content creators.

Brand Sponsorships/Product Placements

Brand sponsorships and product placements are great ways to monetize a YouTube channel. This form of monetization involves partnering with brands or businesses that fit your channel’s content and target demographic. 

Depending on the agreement, you could receive a lump sum up-front, free products or services in exchange for brand mentions, or earn a commission per sale or leads through your videos. 

Collaborating with multiple brands can substantially increase your monthly income and ultimately lead to a full-time career on YouTube.

Patreon/Donation Platform Support

Patreon and donation platforms are great ways to make money on YouTube without relying solely on advertising revenue. Followers can support their favorite creators with recurring payments or one-time donations using the creators’ Patreon page. 

While donations may bring in a different amount of money than ad revenues, they can still provide an essential source of income for content creators.

How You Can Become a Successful YouTuber?

A YouTuber is someone who creates and shares videos on YouTube. They can produce anything from comedic skits, vlogs, music videos, live streams, and more.

You must have a deep passion for creating content and perseverance to find success on YouTube. You also need an interesting concept that sets your channel apart from the others and consistently churns out quality and engaging content that entertains viewers. 

Content creation takes time, dedication, and hard work to master the craft – but it’s certainly possible to gain subscribers with the right strategy and mindset.

YouTube Channel Monetization Requirements

YouTube Channel monetization is not available to everyone. You must meet the prerequisites to make money through the channel to participate in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Your channel must meet the following requirements:

• Over 1,000 subscribers
• Over 4000 watch hours within the last 12 months
• An AdSense account
• Must accept YouTube’s monetization policies
• No active community guidelines strikes

Besides the YouTube Partner Program, numerous other ways to make money from a YouTube channel include brand collaborations, affiliate programs, sponsorships, and merchandising.

Conclusion

If you want to be a successful YouTuber making money, the key is understanding your revenue-generating options. Estimating potential revenue through ads or other revenue streams like sponsorships, affiliate links, and product placements can be tricky – but with some research and creativity, anyone can become a successful YouTuber. 

So why not get started today and begin making money today?

Are you looking to make more money from your YouTube content? YouTube Superchat is quickly becoming popular among content creators as the perfect way to increase revenue. A Virtual YouTuber, Kiryu Coco, has earned approximately $810,000  from Superchats alone. 

In this guide, we’ll explore how to maximize your YouTube Superchat revenue and provide tips and tricks for success. From analyzing the features of Superchat to outlining strategies for success, this post will help you make the most of your participatory viewing experiences and drive more revenue through YouTube Superchat.

YouTube SuperChat to Boost Engagement & Monetization

YouTube Superchat is a feature that allows users to donate money directly to content creators during a live stream. Besides the traditional skippable and notorious unskippable Ads that you see on YouTube, superchats help collect extra revenue to the content creator from their raving fans.

Content creators use it to make extra money and engage with their audience. Allowing viewers to participate in the conversation quickly, super chat on YouTube can create a more interactive viewing experience. 

Additionally, by pinning the most generous supporters on top of the page, Superchats help them gain recognition. It is an essential part of any content creator’s monetization strategy.

YouTube Superchat Features

YouTube Superchat offers a range of features that creators can use to maximize output. Content creators can customize the look and feel of Superchat by creating custom graphics and colors for messages from their viewers. 

Super Chat & Super Stickers: Setup and Tips for Using Them

They control viewers’ messages screen time, with options ranging from one hour to up to five hours. It allows content creators to keep their chats neat and organized. Customizable moderation controls for message types and word-super restricting enable content creators to limit hateful language or spam in their communities. 

Superchat also offers a Tiered donation system, allowing fans to bump up the visibility based on their donations. 

Superchats on YouTube for Participatory Viewing Experiences

YouTube Superchat offers numerous benefits for participatory viewing experiences. Fans can directly interact with and support their favorite content creators through donations. The donations incentivize content creation and encourage creators to add more content. 

Direct interaction with viewers through Superchat encourages a sense of community amongst fans, fostering deeper engagement and connection. With custom graphics and moderation controls, content creators have greater control over their chat environments and can cultivate more positive interactions with their viewers. 

The generous supporters are also rewarded for their contributions, adding fun to the viewing experience. The super chats and the payment amount are visible to the live-stream audience. 

Maximizing YouTube Superchat

For content creators looking to succeed with YouTube Superchat, emphasizing meaningful interaction with viewers is an essential strategy. It includes responding to messages promptly and building a direct relationship with fans. 

Content creators should ensure they set realistic monetization goals while providing quality content for viewers.

Here are some best practices for driving more revenue through YouTube Superchat:

• Use custom graphics and colors to feature to make the viewing experience more enjoyable.
• Use moderation controls to maintain a respectful environment for conversations.
• Appreciate the donations and respond to the super chat messages promptly. 
• Use the tiered system to reward generous supporters.
• Promote live-stream premiers through social media to reach new audiences and advertise to the existing followers
• Promote offerings on other channels, such as Twitter or Instagram.
• Share success stories about donors to encourage further contributions.
• Offer incentives such as exclusive access or exclusive benefits for donating fans.
• Set realistic goals concerning monetization that won’t turn away viewers but will still generate revenue. 

By following these best practices, creators have a powerful toolkit for ensuring success with YouTube Superchat. They can ensure they take advantage of opportunities to earn additional income through Superchat donations. 

Tips and Tricks To Boost Revenue

It takes strategy, luck, and dedication to turn YouTube super chat into a lucrative endeavor. Streamers can implement the following tips and tricks to maximize their opportunities to make more money.

• Take advantage of streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube Gaming that make reaching a wider audience interested in donations easier.
• Utilize social media channels to build relationships with viewers and promote contributions.
• Create merchandise that viewers can use to show appreciation for your streams, including t-shirts, hats, and more.
• Develop special incentives for donating to show appreciation for viewers’ support.
• Experiment with different types of content, such as giveaways or interactive games, to engage viewers and increase donations.
• Monitor donation trends regularly to understand what motivates donors the most and make adjustments if needed. 

Conclusion

Streamers looking to increase their revenue from YouTube Superchat donations must understand the best practices for driving more revenue. Analyze and understand audience behavior, build relationships with viewers, and offer rewards for meaningful and attractive contributions. 

Content creators should also take advantage of streaming platforms and utilize social media channels to boost donations further. Experimentation with various types of content is the key to figuring out what works. 

If you’re a content creator and have any tips or tricks that have worked for you, please leave us a comment below. I’ll definitely add that to the content in the next update. 

Some jobs offer many perks, such as health benefits, vacation pay, and occasional bonuses. But those seeking a position with additional incentives and want to save more on expenses may wish to consider their highest living cost— housing.

Indeed, housing is typically America’s largest expense. On average, Americans spend $1,784 of their monthly income on housing and its related expenses, like utilities and maintenance. 

Have you ever considered the possibility of reducing your living expenses by finding a job where accommodation is included? It may sound too good to be true, but nowadays, with people needing to work in different locations, finding a job with housing included is possible!

Jobs With Housing Included

From hospitality and tourism to outdoor work and farming, here are 20 jobs that offer housing as part of the compensation package.

1. Military Personnel 

Not a job for everyone, but a benefit of moving with the military is that you will likely have several housing options in the new location. Military personnel also receive a housing allowance and moving benefits to ease the transition.

As a service member, there are various housing options, such as Government-owned military installation housing, which saves on paying rent and utilities, and single military installation housing, such as “the barracks,” which are rent-free. 

If you do not wish to live in Government-owned housing, you can use your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) to pay your rental and utility bills. Your BAH is determined based on your location, the rank you hold in service, and if you have any dependents.

2. Pilot 

Pilots may receive free hotel stays when they fly to a new destination. Commercial airlines, private jet companies, and other organizations that employ pilots often provide accommodations for pilots while they are away from home.

The airline takes care of crew members’ lodging and expenses while on a trip. As many pilots do not live where they are based, some opt to commute. Nevertheless, suppose pilots need somewhere to stay while traveling away from home and aren’t on an assignment. In that case, it’s up to them to pay for such accommodations themselves.

Pilots, especially those working with commercial airlines, can benefit from substantial advantages such as health care coverage— including life insurance, vision, and dental plans— along with other benefits like retirement planning. Furthermore, experienced pilots are rewarded for their dedicated service in the form of increasing paid vacation time.

3. TEFL Teacher 

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) abroad often comes with the benefit of having free accommodation. Many employers provide teachers with housing opportunities, making it an affordable way to travel and work simultaneously.

Accommodation varies depending on the employer; some provide a teacher’s apartment while others give them shared housing. Some employers will cover utility bills or provide food allowances. This is especially true for teachers working in a summer camp or government-run program.

You will need a TEFL certificate, which can be acquired in even a few weeks of full-time study, to become a certified teacher. In addition to having free accommodation, TEFL teachers often receive flight reimbursements, health insurance, and other benefits.

4. Hotel Manager 

Besides a good salary of $69,364 per year on average, some hotels offer accommodation to their hotel managers to provide them with close access to the property and ensure they are available for any required tasks after hours.

The opportunity to stay in the hotel for free is a wonderful benefit if the company allows it. Other possibilities include the chance to travel abroad if working for a global hotel company, free or discounted stays at other hotels, and accessible professional development courses.

The typical full-time workweek may extend past 40 hours, potentially necessitating a few nights or weekends here and there. Fortunately, hotel managers can take days off when needed and should consider traveling to other hotels for fresh ideas.

5. Cruise Ship Employee 

The cruise ship employees, from cooks to cabin stewards, are provided with onboard accommodations at sea. This can range from a simple shared room to a more luxurious private cabin, depending on their position and the employer.

Accommodation on a cruise ship varies, with some less luxurious than others. Basic living expenses are covered, such as accommodation, water, electricity, and food. They also offer free medical care, a massive bonus for the average American. 

Employees can often access other amenities such as the gym, pool, and entertainment facilities during their leisure time. If you’re savvy, you may save most of your paycheck as you have no hefty bills to pay.

6. Nanny 

Typically, nannies can live rent-free, with meals and transportation costs covered while they work. This is an attractive benefit for nannies who need to save money or want to travel.

Nannies can save on living expenses while working with some of the most loved people—the children they care for! It’s an excellent opportunity for those looking for an enriching job experience and a chance to grow as an individual.

In some cases, nannies can travel with families on vacation, enabling them to get paid while exploring other destinations. Nannies with a specialized skillset, for example, those with cooking credentials or who know how to teach English or a foreign language, may earn more handsomely for their services. Just remember to check your contract in detail before accepting a nanny role.

7. Oil Rig Worker

Suppose you are okay with long hours and can handle challenging conditions. In that case, an oil rig worker can be a great way to save money while earning a good salary. Plus, life on an oil rig is unlike anything else!

Oil rig laborers can take advantage of free housing and meals in the company of their peers from the oilfield sector. The accommodation usually includes a shared sleeping area with showers and toilets. Many oil rigs have an internet connection, so fortunately, you will never be without service. 

Offshore and land-based rigs are often equipped with recreational amenities such as small movie theatres, video game consoles, and billiard tables— all provided to guarantee that your time away from work won’t be dull!

8. Farm Worker

To get out in nature and experience rural life, consider becoming a farm worker. Voluntary work on a farm typically includes accommodation such as a private room and other benefits such as meals.

Plant trees, weed the fields, harvest organic ingredients, and care for cows, sheep, pigs, and chickens. Milk the goats and learn how to cook various dishes with fresh produce! Every farm is different, so you never know what experiences await you.

You become a household member and learn about local culture and customs. Plus, you get to live with a family who can tell you about their country and traditions. It’s an opportunity to make new friends from many cultural backgrounds! You’ll also be able to explore the surrounding countryside, which can be incredibly therapeutic in today’s busy world.

9. House Sitter

A house sitter is typically provided with free accommodation in exchange for watching over the property and taking care of any necessary tasks while the homeowner is away. The responsibilities may include watering plants, collecting mail, and feeding pets.

Many house-sitting opportunities are unpaid but provide free accommodation, with some places offering a small stipend. This is a great way to travel and save money simultaneously.

If you love animals, there are plenty of opportunities to house-sit and look after pets.

House sitting can be an excellent opportunity to explore different parts of the world without worrying about paying for accommodation. Plus, it’s an ideal option if you have fewer commitments preventing you from taking on this type of job. 

Consider taking an online role, such as freelancing or tutoring, that enables you to work remotely to fund your traveling lifestyle.

10. Seasonal Workers 

From working in a ski resort or national park to activity leading in a school, many seasonal opportunities provide housing and other perks.

In addition to significant savings on accommodation, seasonal jobs often offer benefits such as discounts on food, activities, and rental equipment. Plus, you get to meet like-minded people worldwide, build new skills, and make memories that will last a lifetime!

Sites such as WanderJobs, AnywhereWorks, and Season Workers provide outdoor adventure jobs and seasonal work from all corners of the world. Be sure to view their job ads if this is something that interests you!

Find Affordable Rental Housing

If you are low-income, a senior citizen, or disabled in any way, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) may be able to assist you with finding affordable rental housing. 

Although HUD does not own rental properties, it provides funds to states and building owners who can offer better options for renting a property that people could otherwise struggle to afford.

Other Perks and Benefits

Jobs with housing included provide employees with a unique opportunity to save money while still earning a good salary. It is important to research local area amenities before relocating and to inquire about the specifics of the job offer, such as the type of housing provided and additional benefits.

Some employers may offer additional benefits such as medical insurance or vacation time along with the job. Make sure to inquire about these extra perks before accepting a career that includes housing. Additionally, some employers are open to negotiating a higher salary if it’s needed for an employee to take the position.

Nevertheless, read the fine print and understand what is included in the job offer before signing on the dotted line. Knowing the details of your employment agreement can help you make an informed decision about the job and housing offer. If all goes well, you could find yourself working in a new and exciting location while having a place to live!This article originally appeared on Savoteur.

Becoming a content creator takes time and consistent effort. But it is possible to find success in creating content people love, engage with, share, and take action on. Once you find a way to become a content creator, you can make a living. The step-by-step guide on how to become a content creator will help you from getting started to becoming a full-time content creator.

What is a Content Creator?

A creator creates digital content consisting of audio, visual, or print material. A content creator can be a writer, social media manager, digital marketer, YouTuber, or online trainer. They produce content for their audience.

With the advent of social media, everybody is creating content. But a successful content creator creates engaging content. They may be working part-time or making a living from their content. 

Freelance Content Creator

Freelance content creators work independently with no association with any companies. They are their brand and work for their clients on a project basis. They may have a client with recurring projects or a series of clients with similar tasks. 

What does a Content Creator do?

A content creator creates engaging digital content that people would pay for. S/he can be a part-time, full-time freelancer with a keen eye for art and understands the art of creating audio, visual, or written content. Businesses use these contents to engage visitors and motivate them to take action: either to direct them to the websites or to make a sale. 

Content Creation Platforms

Content creation comes in different forms. It can be written, audio-visual, photographs, audio, or management like social media and ads. You should select the content creation type based on your interest and level of expertise. The following are some popular content creation types to help you get started. 

Blog

Blogging falls under the written content type published online on a blog or website. Content writers help create Search Engine Optimized (SEO) blog posts, copywriting, editing, and perform keyword research. The freelance writer also assists in producing written high-quality content for digital marketing and social media. The blog is one of the best and oldest platforms for content creation.

Social Media 

Social media is another excellent platform for content creators. Social media content creators produce quality and engaging social media content to help businesses connect with their customers. Companies find leads on social media platforms, and viral social media posts help convert those leads into sales.  

A freelance Facebook content creator may produce daily posts and videos or manage the business profile. An Instagram content creator develops niche-specific content to interact with customers. A TikTok content creator focuses on enticing videos. Social media influencers help get product exposure to a larger audience. Social media managers freelance jobs are easy to get into and make money. 

YouTube

YouTube is the next great platform for every content creator. A YouTube content creator may run their own YouTube Channels and monetize YouTube videos to make money, or they can manage other channels as freelancers. 

YouTube has roughly 15 million active content creators, according to Zippa. There are no entry requirements, and anyone can get started right away. It makes YouTube one of the best platforms for video creators. 

Online Course

Online course platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, Teachable, and many others are gaining popularity as more people are moving from traditional teaching methods to learning from home. It also gives opportunities to people who can’t afford expensive in-person courses. 

Course content creators can maximize the training videos by building evergreen content that pays dividends for a long time. A professional content creator curates training videos for their target audience in a specialty field. It can either be prerecorded or live videos. 

Podcast

A podcast is a platform for audio content. It can also act as a platform for advertising yourself and your business. Podcasts can also be an excellent place for monetization when you have a vast audience. 

Since you need audio content for Podcasts, excellent communication skill is necessary. It would be best if you also constantly brainstorm new ideas for discussion. A minimal startup cost is an advantage.

How Much Money do Content Creators Make?

A content creator, on average, makes $50,829 per year. The earnings depend on the industry, experience, qualifications, skill set, and the physical location of the creator. The annual salary can go as high as $84,000. A highly skilled content creator can leverage his experience and expertise to earn more than average pay. 

Freelance content creators making money through their brands can increase their revenue with higher followers or subscribers. You’ll need substantial followers to see a significant change in earning potential. With 1 million active fans on Instagram, you could make up to $10,000 per post, according to USA Today. On a 6 cents per view ad revenue, 1 million views on YouTube can bring in $60,000.

How to Become a Successful Content Creator?

Creating content that encourages customers to take action is a challenging task. According to research, you have 10 seconds to make a first impression and communicate with customers. The number reduces to  2 seconds on social media before a consumer scrolls past your content. Therefore content creation is very challenging but rewarding. 

what people think being a Content Creator is like

vs how it actually is pic.twitter.com/kG6fN2ceFS

— Muaaz (@mws) January 31, 2023

It is not difficult to get started as a content creator. You don’t need a formal education or degree to become a successful content creator. With interest, time, and the right mindset, you can become a successful freelance content creator and make money. Here is the step-by-step guide to becoming a successful content creator.

Find Your Interest

Interest is something that you love doing and always find interesting. You also are okay with doing it for a long time. There is a very thin line between the terms “Interest,” “Hobby,” and “Passion,” but you have to find the field that interests you. You always have to be curious about it and take the time to learn it. 

You may be interested in graphic design, copywriting, or creating visual storytelling. Public speaking and talking to people may excite some creators. Finding your field of interest is essential to start the content creator journey. 

Learn the Basics

Once you know what you want, the next step is learning the basics. You may need gear and software to develop content based on your content category. You should learn to use them. YouTube and online courses in Udemy, SkillShare, and many others are great resources for training. 

Training helps improve one’s skill set and efficiency. When you learn the basics, you’re also figuring out if it’s something you’d want to pursue. You want to avoid diving deep into content creation only to discover that the software and tools have a steep learning curve. 

Choose a Platform

The content platform is the site where it will be published. It may be social media, YouTube, Podcast, a blog, or a website. Either the creator or client will post the content, but the content platform plays a vital role in how what is being produced. 

The platform also determines the content format and strategy. 

The contents can be republished cross-platform. You should have a general idea about multiple platforms but work towards picking a platform and building the expertise. Expertise on any platform opens up opportunities for higher pay. 

Hustle & Build your Portfolio

There are so many reasons not to start your business venture. You can be tired from your day job and need more energy and motivation. But if you do it anywhere, then you’re a hustler. No matter what, you keep putting in your time and effort. 

Hustle and start building your portfolio. You can start creating some templates or get involved in free projects. You can begin posting on a YouTube Channel or social media and build an audience. The free projects will help you create a portfolio until you find a big client.

Find Clients

Once you’re confident about your content, it’s time to reach out to small businesses. You can explore your opportunity with friends and family online on Freelancer, Fiverr, or Upwork. These platforms help connect the content creator with clients. When starting out, keep your price low and build a professional portfolio. 

Another great way of finding clients for a project is through Facebook groups. You can join groups based on your content category and participate in discussions. Reddit discussion groups are also great for finding trends, learning, and exploring job opportunities. You should also set up a LinkedIn profile to market your business. 

To Sum It Up

Anyone can become a successful freelance content creator with an investment in self and the correct mindset. There are several platforms for free learning courses. Training courses give in-depth knowledge about particular content you’d like to create.

Becoming a content creator is hard work. While starting out, you may only make a little money as a content creator, but an experienced creator makes passive income without working for anyone. It’s all about interest, consistency, and willingness to learn. It is worth trying to be a content creator.

With over 40 million users, Cash App is very popular in the United States. And the main reason – it does not discriminate against people who don’t have or don’t want to give away their sensitive information like social security numbers (SSN). 

It is straightforward if you want to know how to use Cash App without SSN. Just download the app, skip the financial information, and start using it immediately!

What is Cash App?

Cash App is a modern mobile payment system for easy and convenient transactions. Square Inc. created the Peer to Peer payment app in 2013 to compete with similar applications like Venmo, PayPal, Apple, and Samsung Pay. 

You can send or receive money, stocks or cryptocurrency without leaving the app. Cash App also lets you set up a bank account and order a Cash Card from the phone. 

With early paycheck direct deposits, zero-cost ATM withdrawals, bills pay, instant discounts, and boosts on purchases, Cash App is an all-in-one financial app. It takes care of almost all of your needs. 

Cash App Facts/ Stats

The company reports that the Cash App’s network is the primary driver of customer acquisition in its 2021 fourth-quarter reporting. 

Cash app generated $12.32 billion of revenue and $2.07 billion of gross profit in 2021. It is a 106% and 69% increase year over year. The app generated $1.96 billion of bitcoin revenue during its fourth quarter of 2021, equating to $10.01 billion yearly. 

The app has over 44 million active users. The company brings in a $47 gross profit with an expense of $10 in customer acquisition per transacting active user. The platform also experienced increased customer engagement among existing customers showing positive signs of retention. 

The Cash App’s subscription service was also a big hit. Its subscription and service-based revenue generated $487 million during its fourth quarter of 2021 and a total of $1.89 billion for the entire year. It is a 63% increase compared to 2020.

Cash App User Sign Up

To become a Cash App user, you must first download the app from Apple App Store or Google Play Store on your mobile device. Once downloaded, you’ll receive a step-by-step guided sign-up process when you open the app.

Since it is a mobile app, you’ll need a phone number where you can get a text message. Alternatively, you can create a Cash App account with an email address. 

The app will send you a confirmation number to proceed to the next step. It will request to provide the debit card information to add bank details. You can skip this step to move on to adding your personal information, like your First and last name. 

You’ll choose a $cashtag that will act as your account ID. Next, you’ll add your zip code; voila, you just created a Cash App account.

Unverified Account Limitation

Once you create the Cash App account, you can receive money through $cashtag. You send a payment request using the Cash App request option utilizing a username, $Cashtag, phone number, or email address.  

You can receive only up to $250 within seven days with an unverified cash app account. Unverified accounts are also limited to spending $1,000 within any 30 days. A verified account enables you to send up to $7,500 per week. 

You can send the payment through Cash, Gift Cards, Stocks, or Bitcoin.

Account Verification

There are several reasons you’d want to verify your Cash App account. Besides raising the sending and receiving money limits, you must verify your account to receive a Cash Card, buy and sell Bitcoins or invest in stocks.  

Cash App is a legit business, but there are many reports of fraudulent activities like identity theft and Cash App scams. The app is secure, but users must take steps to keep their login credentials confidential.

You can verify your account using your full name, date of birth, mailing address, and last four digits of your Social Security Number. Cash App may request additional information if it cannot verify through the provided information. 

Does Cash App ask for an SSN?

You do not need a Social Security Number (SSN) to use the Cash app. It requires the last four digits of your SSN to verify accounts.

Cash App will only ask for an SSN for account verification. 

How to Safely use a Cash App without SSN?

Cash is a regulated financial institution and must abide by the U.S. Federal government and application laws. The U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Networks (FinCEN) made it mandatory for the customer and financial institutions to comply with the KYC standard. Therefore the Cash App requires SSN account verification. However, you can use the app without SSN.

You can sign up for Cash App and start using the app immediately without entering SSN information. Cash App will tag you as an unverified user, but you’ll be able to use its essential features like sending and receiving money. Cash App limits your daily or monthly transactions, but you can perform transactions within the limit.  

Benefits of a Verified Account

It would help if you took advantage of many benefits with a verified Cash App account. Besides protecting customers from illegal activities and money laundering, Cash App wants to keep your account secure. It is one of the largest Peer- to Peer payment apps that takes customer privacy seriously.  

Here are some of the benefits of a verified Cash App account.

Increase transaction limit

A verified Cash App account gets an increase in its daily or monthly cash transfer limits. You can send up to $7,500 per week and up to $17,500 per month. You will also be eligible to receive an unlimited amount.

Loading the Account

Cash App has participating retailers like Walmart, Walgreens, Family Dollar, and many others, where you can deposit paper money into your Cash App balance. You can find a convenient deposit location through the app. The deposit limit is $1,000 per rolling seven days and $4,000 per rolling 30 days. And your deposit range must be $5 to $500.

You can also receive up to $25,000 per direct deposit and up to $50,000 in 24 hours.

Tax Returns

Cash App offers a free tax filing service with free audit defense on every tax return. No matter your tax situation, Cash Apps lets you e-file your return at no cost.

And it is not inferior to other commercial tax software.

You can file using your app on the phone or file from the computer. The platform can also automatically grab information from the W-2 snapshots. You will receive the refunds directly in your Cash App account. 

Cash App also makes it easy for the business to receive tax documents. The platform will provide you with Form 1099-B based on Form W-9 information. 

Buy/Sell Stocks and Crypto

Cash App makes it easy to buy and sell stocks and cryptocurrency. You can invest as little as $1 and own fractional shares of giant companies. The platform does not have fees and commissions and provides free investment insights, analytics, and reports. You can select to invest manually, set up a scheduled investment, and even gift stocks to friends and families. 

Bank Deposit

The cash app offers users a free bank account number through its bank partners. The setup is easy, and you can request a debit card. Cash App uses FDIC-insured Lincoln Saving Bank as its financial institution that offers no monthly fees and no overdraft fees.  

Although the system does not allow wire transfers, you can transfer funds from your debit Card into the bank and vice versa. The money transfers to the bank accounts are available within 1-3 business days. Instant deposits to a debit card are available immediately.

Cash Card

Cash Card is a free debit card that Cash App offers, which works everywhere that accepts visa cards. The Cash App Card is linked to your Cash App balance. You can load up the customizable card in Apple Pay or Google Pay for digital payment. You can also use the visa debit card for ATM withdrawals. 

One of the significant benefits of using a Cash Card is the cash boost. It allows you to get instant discounts at your favorite restaurants, coffee shops, or other online or physical businesses.

Wrapping Up

Cash App provides a convenient P2P payment solution to send and receive money. Its additional services include Cash cards, cash boost, stock and crypto investments, filing tax returns, and an online banking facility. 

Anyone without divulging their social security number (SSN) can use the app and make transactions. But it comes with limitations. A detailed Cash App’s features are available to those who verify their account.