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No matter if you’ve already gotten your tax refund or waiting on it, you should have plans for your money. If you haven’t made any preparations, you could lose what you have real quick.
This article will cover some smart strategies to stretch your tax money and make it work for you.
5 Smart Money Strategies For Your Tax Refund
But first, here are some money mistakes you don’t want to make with your tax refund:
- Spend It At The Club
- Buy Their Relatives Things
- Invest In Get Rich Quick Schemes
If you can help it, stay out of the nightclubs so you don’t overpay for those high-priced drinks and other things.
Now let’s get into what you should do: Here are some smart things to do with your tax refund:
1. Open A Savings Account
Make sure you put away some money by opening a savings account. You can go to one of the major banks or even try some of the online banks. Here are some good ones with the best interest rates:
2. Pay Off Some Bills
The #1 way to save money is to pay your outstanding bills. If you can stay out of debt, then you can enjoy your money. it’s just that simple.
- Prioritize your bills: Determine which bills are most important to pay first, such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and credit card bills.
- Create a budget: Create a monthly budget to help you track your income and expenses. This will help you identify areas where you can cut back on spending and allocate more money toward paying off your bills.
- Negotiate with creditors: If you’re having trouble paying your bills, contact your creditors to see if you can negotiate a payment plan or lower interest rates.
3. Start A Business
They say it takes money to make money, and starting a business is the best way to do that. You should try something small so you can handle the operating costs without going into debt.
One of the first steps you should take when considering starting a business is to conduct some market research. The way to do that is to identify a need in the market and determine whether there is demand for your product or service.
Here are some ideas on small businesses you can start:
- Dating Consultant
- Life Coach
- Personal Trainer
- Clothes Reseller
- Blogger
- Lawn Care
- Handyman
Read how to start a business in Atlanta.
4. Fix Up Your Home
With a little extra money, you can make some big improvements around the house. You’d be surprised how easy it is to add thousands of dollars of value to your home just by doing simple renovations and upgrades.
Here are a few you can do:
- Paint Your Home’s Exterior
- Install New Bathroom Fixtures
- Hang Some New Blinds
- Hang A New Front Door
Read up on how to give your home curb appeal.
5. Invest In The Stock Market
Nothing intimidates people like the stock market. You should really think about investing in the stock market if you want your money to work for you.
Learn the strategies and techniques that have made other people successful. Research trading individual stocks, focus as well as stock mutual funds.
Here are five books to check out if you want to learn stock market investing:
- A Beginner’s Guide To The Stock Market
- How To Day Trade For A Living
- How To Make Money In Stocks
- Stock Investing For Money
Final Word
Tax time is here and people are going to start getting those refunds in the mail and direct deposited into their accounts. You know what they say about new money .. but here’s what you don’t need to do with yours: Waste it.Metro Atlanta has a hot economy and that means employers are hiring at a rapid pace. We currently have job articles that show you high-paying jobs, those close to downtown and even side hustles you might like.If you’re looking to get hired in Atlanta right now, there’s a very real possibility that you can land your dream job. -
Have you filed your taxes yet? Because the traditional day to file your taxes fell on a weekend, U.S. taxpayers were given a few more days to get it done.
When Is Tax Day 2023?
If you need a tax extension, hopefully you’ve do it because Americans have up until the last hours of Tuesday, April 18 to file their taxes.
How To File Your Taxes For Free
If you want to file your taxes for free, the IRS provides free tax file software.
If your 2019 adjusted gross income was $69,000 or less, you may quality for free file.
The programs you need to know are these two:
When you file your taxes, one thing you’re going to have look out for are scams, especially the email variety.
The easiest way for criminals to steal sensitive data is simply to ask for it. IRS urges people to learn to recognize phishing emails, calls or texts that pose as familiar organizations such as banks, credit card companies or even the IRS. Keep sensitive data safe.
Atlantafi.com is bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta under a state of emergency. More definitive advice on health, please visit CDC.gov. Here are some helpful links:
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One thing you can bet on is that you’re going to run across a lot of things to buy this year, from food to smart TVs and other devices. How you pay for those things will be very important.
In this article, we’re going to talk about why you should stop using your debit card to pay for things online.
But first, let’s go over the scenario: You shop online or run inside the grocery store to pick up a few things and at checkout, you pull out your debit card and proceed to swipe — but here’s why you shouldn’t.
Why You Should Never Use A Debit Card
For starters, hackers are actively trying to get your money, especially if you store it on websites and other places that may be high risk.
- It’s Harder To Get Refunds: If you’re in the habit of paying for things you buy online with a debit card, it may take you much longer — if ever — to get your money back if there’s a problem.
- Debit Cards Don’t Protect You From Fraud: Credit cards have more fraud protections than debit cards. That’s not to say that debit cards are useless, but if you’ve been defrauded, your money’s usually gone.
To help you understand the distinctions between the two, let’s look at credit cards and debits cards for what they are and how they differ.
What’s The Difference Between A Debit Card And Credit Card?
Debit cards and credit cards are two entirely different forms of payment. The only similarities they have are that they’re both plastic cards.
What Is A Credit Card?
A credit card allows you to borrow money directly from your bank. When you swipe your credit card, you automatically create an account balance that you should pay at the end of the month.
A credit card is backed by the bank or card issuer. That means they have many safeguards in place to protect their product, and you — the cardholder — benefit from that.
What Is A Debit Card?
A debit card is a card that allows you to spend money from your bank account. The amount that is deposited into your account is how much purchasing power you have at any given time.
One convenience of a debit card is that you can access money practically from anywhere by using an ATM.
Is It Bad To Use A Debit Card?
Generally, when making purchases you have more protections with a credit card rather than a debit card. For instance, if you get swindled due to buying a defective product, a credit card issuer typically will refund you the money even before it recoups it from the product seller.
On the other hand, if you use a debit card to buy a defective product, that money is generally not refundable. The bank doesn’t have any incentive to fight for your money.
Bottom Line
It seems like every week there’s another data breaches or cybersecurity incident. It’s a wonder that more people aren’t afraid to pay online with a debit card.
It seems like every week there’s another data breaches or cybersecurity incident. It’s a wonder that more people aren’t afraid to pay online with a debit card.
So the next time you shop at an online store, remember to pull out your credit card, not your debit card.
Again, this is not to say that debit cards serve no purpose, but remember that they only have as much power as what you have in your account.
A credit card, on the other hand, has the card issuer on the hook as well, so they have protections built in to safeguard their investment as well as yours.
Interested in other ways to save or make money? Check out our Money Section:
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If you’ve been to the pump lately, you know that prices are cheaper than they’ve been in more than a year’s time. You may be interested to know which state has the cheapest gas and where to find it.This State Has The Cheapest Gas In America
According to AAA, Texas has the cheapest gas prices in the United States. The national average for a gallon of gas is $3, according to the latest gas price data. In Georgia, the AAA data shows the average price for regular is about $2.77 a gallon.State Regular Mid-Grade Premium Diesel Texas $2.621 $2.995 $3.333 $4.057 Oklahoma $2.644 $2.962 $3.206 $3.860 Arkansas $2.699 $3.077 $3.401 $4.250 Missouri $2.714 $3.012 $3.343 $4.261 Mississippi $2.748 $3.144 $3.487 $4.369 Wisconsin $2.759 $3.172 $3.619 $4.116 Georgia $2.770 $3.170 $3.535 $4.608 Louisiana $2.768 $3.150 $3.517 $4.281 Alabama $2.814 $3.207 $3.589 $4.521 3 Ways To Save Money On Gas
If you’re wondering what it takes to save money on gas, here are three suggestions you can put to good use.Use a Gas App
There are several apps on Android and in the Apple Store. Here are the best apps to use:Pay With Cash
You might not know it, but it’s cheaper to buy gasoline when you pay with cash. When you use a credit card, you will be hit with a credit surcharge. Many gas station operators tack on a fee to process your credit card, which is why the fuel costs will be higher. To get a gas station’s advertised price, pay for gas with cash money!Join A Rewards Program
Another say to save on gas money is to join the rewards program of a gas station near you. Some of the top gas station reward programs include BP, RaceTrac and Shell, which gives you points you can redeem for things like food and gas.Last Words
Some people are convinced that they have to spend more money on premium fuel because their car runs better on it, but that’s not the case for most vehicles! How can you find out for sure? Pull out the owner’s manual. If it says that premium gasoline is recommended, then by all means please use that. The truth is that cheap gas may work find for your vehicle. The type of gas you use will affect your engine’s performance and fuel economy, so always follow what’s written in your car’s manual. Interested in other ways to save or make money? Check out our Money Section:More Articles Like This From AtlantaFi.com: -
An additional round of funds for the In Her Hands initiative, the largest guaranteed income program in the South, is expected to open. This time around, the community site is Southwest Georgia’s Clay-Randolph-Terrell county cluster, Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward and College Park, Georgia.
The site will open in early 2024. Read on to see the exact deadline for applications.
Program Offers Black Women $850 A Month, No Strings Attached
This article will tell you how to qualify and apply for the In Her Hands initiative.
What Is The In Her Hands Initiative?
In Her Hands is a $13 billion initiative to help solve financial insecurities facing America’s most vulnerable group: women of color. The program is backed by partnership the Georgia Resilience & Opportunity Fund (GRO Fund) and GiveDirectly and promises to provide unconditional cash transfers averaging $850 per month for two years to 650+ Black women in Georgia.
According to the GroFund’s website, the program is a bold move to reverse the economic fortunes of those who have fallen behind and been ignored by America’s policymakers and wealth-builders.
“We are disrupting ‘business as usual’ by promoting assistance that is direct, flexible, dignified, and specifically focused on improving the financial health of Black women,” it says on the website.
What Are The Requirements For The In Her Hands Fund?
Eligible applicants must be women 18 years or older (inclusive of transgender women and non-binary individuals) living in one of the three project sites chosen by the initiative. So far, the three project sites are:
- Old Fourth Ward (currently accepting applications)
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Southwest Georgia (Clay, Randolph, and Terrell County). (Application opened on June 6).
- College Park, Georgia
To qualify, you also must have been impacted by COVID-19 and make less than or equal to two times the federal poverty line.
How To Apply For the In Her Hands Initiative
To apply for the In Her Hands initiative, you need to be a black woman, a resident of the Old Fourth Ward and, as mentioned, earn less than or equal to two times the federal poverty line.
The final application period is set to open in 2024.
You will need to give some personal information such as:
- Your full name, date of birth, and home address
- A mobile phone number
- A picture of your photo ID (if you have one; if you do not have one, we will ask you to take a photo of yourself instead)
Here’s How Participants Will Be Selected
Participants will be chosen from a randomized lottery from the pool of eligible applicants. Half of the recipients will receive $850 a month for 24 months. The other half will receive a first, lump sum up payment for $4,300 followed by 23 months of $700 payments.
To submit, fill out this online application.
Final Word
If you are selected for the initiative, you will be notified via email or text message within four weeks of submitting your application.
Miriam Laker, research director at GiveDirectly, said, “This project is limited to 650 households in three communities in Georgia, but will deepen our understanding of how guaranteed income impacts a specific demographic: Black women. We expect the research findings will inform more inclusive policy design in the future.”Who couldn’t use an extra $850 a month in their budget? if you’re a Georgia woman of color, you could qualify for this money. The funds are possible due to the In Her Hands initiative, the largest guaranteed income program in the South.More AtlantaFi.com Articles: -
Do you have a gift card from Amazon or another retailer and you’re wondering how to use it?
If they’re not expired, gift cards can be used just like cash for purchases. If you have a Visa gift card, you can use it on Amazon to buy the things you need.
In this article, we’re going to go over how to use your Visa gift card on Amazon.
How To Use A Visa Gift Card On Amazon
As you may know, Amazon accepts many gift cards and other pre-paid cards that can be redeemed to purchase items online. In fact, many shoppers prefer gift cards because they have so many uses.
Follow these steps to use your Visa gift card on Amazon (And note: You can use several different cards to add up to a large sum).
- Go to Amazon.com’s Reload Your Balance page
- Enter the amount on your Visa gift card (you’ll have to do this for each subsequent Visa card as well)
- You’ll have to sign in to continue. Once you do that, tap the “Edit” button where it says payment method
- Tap “Add a card”
- Enter your gift card balance and other information
- Select your gift card and tap “Done” button
- It will take you back to the Reload Your Balance page, where you can verify the balance by tapping “Reload”
Once you complete those seven steps, your Visa card will be loaded onto your Amazon account and you can begin using it to buy stuff.
Last Words
Amazon doesn’t take all gift cards. They have to meet the guidelines that they have set out.
Here are two restrictions that apply to Visa, American Express and -MasterCard:
- The gift cards can’t be combined with credit cards on a single purchase
- Amazon also doesn’t use the three-digit CVV code normally found on the back of some cards
BEFORE YOU GO, take a look at all the top deals happening on our Retail Page. Don’t pay full price for things when you can get GREAT VALUE on items for low prices. Don’t want to miss a deal? Sign up for our #ATLHaps list HERE🙂
Looking to shop? Check out the best malls in Atlanta
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, take a look at all the top deals on our Retail Page, there are PLENTY of good deals that you don’t want to miss! Subscribe to our #ATLHaps Newsletter HERE and get the deals delivered to your inbox 🙂Along with the wonderful things to eat and do in Atlanta, there are also so awesome places to shop.
In addition to malls, many Atlanta boutiques and consignment shops have daily deals so that you can save money.
Atlanta’s retail scene continues to be a bright spot for the local economy — and that means more sales for everyone!
Here are more articles from AtlantaFi.com you might like:
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Small business owners are still struggling more than two years after the COVID-19 pandemic began. Thankfully, there’s help that these businesses and entrepreneurs can reach out for and receive.
Keep reading to see other funding opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses.
If you’re an entrepreneur, many entities are trying to make grants available to you right now. All you have to do is apply for the assistance.
If you’re unsure about what a grant entails, here’s what you need to know first:
What Is A Grant?
A grant is a funding for our business or service that does not to be repaid. The federal government is the #1 supplier of grants in the United States.
American businesses and entrepreneurs with projects that need funding use grants to get their ideas off the ground and into fruition. Many organizations also use grants to support critical recovery initiatives, research, and many other community programs.
The Small Business Association is specifically trying to help the smaller companies affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Check Out These Small Business Grants For COVID-19
Here are several grants and loans available right now for your small business impacted by COVID-19.
Atlanta Resurgence Grant Fund
The Atlanta Resurgence Grant Fund gives up to $40,000 to small local businesses impacted by the pandemic.
The grant is open through April 29, 2022. Apply here.
Facebook Small Grants Program
Facebook is another company offering big money to businesses. This time, the social media giant has pledged $40 million in grants. How it works is that Facebook will give $4,000 grants ($2500 cash, $1500 in optional ads credits) to 10,000 qualifying small businesses to keep them afloat.
Interested in the Facebook Small Grants Program? Apply here.
GoFundMe Small Business Relief Fund
GoFundMe has partnered with smaller stakeholders to offer the Small Business Relief Fund to those who apply. The grant gives those who are selected $500. Apply here.
Fearless Strivers Grant Contest
The Fearless Strivers Grant Contest is open only to black women who meet the eligibility requirements. You can get $10,000 if you are accepted.
Apply for the Fearless Strivers Grant Contest here.
Halstead Grant
Visa • IFundWomen Grant
Visa is partnering with IFundWomen to offer grants to Black women-owned small businesses. The program is providing 10 grants of $10,000 each as well as one year of IFundWomen Annual Coaching Membership.
To qualify for the grant, you must:
- Be a Black woman
- Have a business up and running for at least two years
- Have a minimum annual revenue of at least $24,000
Apply for the Visa + IFundWomen Grant Here.
Hidden Star Minority Grant
Hidden Star is offering $3,500 grants for minority businesses. If you’re interested, apply for the Hidden Star grant.
Small Business Administration Restaurant Revitalization Fund
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) provides funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses stay open. Food businesses may be eligible to get funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients don’t have to repay the grant if the money is used for eligible expenses by March 11, 2023.
Apply for the SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund
Shuttered Venue Operators Grant
The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program is still being administered by SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance until funds are depleted. Eligible businesses can get grants an amount equal to 45% of their 2019 gross earned revenue OR $10 million, whichever is less.
Apply for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant
Final Thoughts
For more resources tailored toward Atlanta, see Invest Atlanta’s website.
If you want to prepare your small business for the second round of PPP loans, the University of Georgia is holding a series of web seminars to give you all the information you need.
The seminars are set for:
- Tuesday, January 19
- Wednesday, January 20
- Thursday, January 21
Know of any other grants for small businesses? Let us know in the comments.
Interested in other ways to save or make money? Check out our Money Section:
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Take a good look at your local gas stations and you’ll see it: Gas prices are rising. And affordable gasoline is getting hard to find not only in your local area, but nationwide.
As of right now, 24 states have average gas prices that have risen above $4 a gallon, according to AAA. You may wonder what those prices have to do with what’s going on at the pumps in Georgia: This article will tell you that as well as why now is a good time to fuel up.
Why Are Gas Prices So High In Atlanta Right Now?
Gas prices are high in Atlanta and other major metropolitan cities currently because of the stresses on the world oil market caused by the war in Ukraine.
Although it is true that crude oil prices have fallen over the past week or so, gasoline prices usually take several weeks before they follow suit. That means Atlanta motorists are in for more pain at the pump.
What Affects Gas Prices?
Factors that affect gas prices include how much the OPEC nations charge for oil. As you know, the OPEC nations are a cartel of nations that set and regulate oil prices around the world.
Another thing that affects gas prices is the weather and global crises like COVID-19 and in this case the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
All of that is why now is a good time to fill up your vehicle with petro. Gas up now so that you won’t be paying higher prices in the near future.
Where Is Cheap Gas Near You?
To save time, you can use Google to find cheap gas. Visit this link to find cheap gas near you.
Here’s How You Can Save Money On Gas
If you’re wondering what it takes to save money on gas, here are three suggestions you can put to good use.
- Use a Gas App
- Pay With Cash
- Join A Rewards Program
Last Words
One misconception that may be costing you money is assuming that buying a higher grade of fuel will help your car to run better. That’s not true in every case!
To find out what kind of gas benefits your car, refer to the owner’s manual. If it says that premium gasoline is recommended, then by all means please use that.
The truth is that cheap gas may work find for your vehicle. The type of gas you use will affect your engine’s performance and fuel economy, so always follow what’s written in your car’s manual.
Interested in other ways to save or make money? Check out our Money Section:
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If you’re looking to get funded for an idea, project or company, one of the easiest ways to do that is to get money from the government.
The U.S. government awards tens of millions of dollars a year to Americans who apply and get accepted for loan and grant programs. Could you be the next awardee? Read on to find out how it works.
How To Get Government Money
In this article, we’re going to tell you how to get money from the government via loans and grants.
Here Are the Best Grant Sites For Free Money
How Do You Borrow Money From The Government?
The way to get money from the government is to apply at the official federal website GovLoans.gov. This is a great resource that not only allows you to apply for loans but provides free information on how to fill out application forms and see monetary opportunities.
GovLoans.gov has several categories that you can find loans in, including:
- Agriculture
- Anti-Violence Efforts
- Anti-Hunger Efforts
- Business
- Disaster Relief
- Education Efforts
- Housing
- Military Assistance and more.
Instead of a loan, it’s best to see if you can get a grant, although you may only qualify for a free loan.
What Is A Free Loan?
A free loan is an arrangement that gives you money that you don’t have to pay back. The government may call it different things, primarily a grant.
With a free loan, once you’re approved you won’t have to worry about paying interest or even an origination fee like most loans. That’s why it’s called a free loan.
What Is The Easiest Government Loan To Get?
The easiest loan to get is a student loan. Of the two most common students loans, the most popular is the Direct Loan, which is easy to qualify.
The loans typically give you a 10-year grace period before you begin to pay for the loan, if you can’t get it forgiven by the government.
Final Word
Although the information is free to research, getting approved for.a government grant or loan is difficult in most cases. It takes a lot of time to complete the applications and you have to fit stringent requirements, but you can do it.
If you have a good proposal you can get free money from the government.
Are you trying to become more financially literate? Check out Money Mondays at AtlantaFi.com, where we’ll share strategies to save and make cash.
If saving money is something you’re serious about, AtlantaFi.com has a lot of resources to help you.More From AtlantaFi.com: -
So you’re about to sign a new lease agreement to rent a place of your own. You’re about to get the keys. All you have to do is sign the lease.
Before you do, there are some very important things you need to know.When Do You Sign The Lease To An Apartment?
You sign the lease to an apartment when you’ve made sure you can afford the place and the terms are favorable to you. Many tenants skip this step and it comes back to bite them.
Please know that when you sign an apartment lease, you’re agreeing to a contract. That means you’ll be legally bound to follow what’s in the lease.
The landlord has done all he or she could to get you to sign up for a new apartment. Perhaps they’ve taken you to the pool area and tried to impress you with the courtyard. Maybe you’ve been treated to the excellent fitness center or community room with a huge bar and billiards table.Before you sign the dotted line, you should remember to make sure you know the following things:1. Know Who You’re Renting From
Landlords will typically do a background check on you before they decide to rent to you. They want to know what type of person you are and more importantly, whether you’re a criminal.For the same reasons, you should do some research on your prospective landlord as well.Go to a website like RateMyLandlord, landlord online or ReviewMyLandlord.com to see what you can find out about your landlord before you sign the dotted line.2. Document The Property’s Condition
Many landlords will not disclose cosmetic damage that is hidden or undetected by the tenant. That’s why you should look for things that could be broken or damaged in the apartment.Once you find something that is already damaged, make sure it’s written down in the lease.This will legally protect you in the future if there is a dispute about the condition of the property.3. Make Sure You Know About All Fees
In addition to your monthly rent, many landlords will tack on other fees and charges not specified in the lease.For example, there may be a service fee to use the trash chute. There also could be a service charge to use the washing machines.Make a list of all the charges associated with your rent. Total it up so you can see how much renting there is actually costing you.Final Word
Getting a new place is not as simple as looking online and asking to sign the lease. Your money, and more importantly, your safety, should be guaranteed beforehand.
