Beating Broke

7 Affordable Ways to Stay Active This Summer

May 25, 2023 By Erin H Leave a Comment

Are you ready to give your Netflix a break and get off the couch? With summer on the way, it’s time to plan for the best activities to do. If you enjoy an active lifestyle or want to start one, read on for all the ways to enjoy the extra sunny days on a budget. The air-conditioning equipment market is expected to grow to $281.59 billion by 2027. If you’re looking to get out of the AC and soak up the sun, read on to learn more

1. Go Hiking

There are so many benefits to hiking. In addition to being free, you can enjoy amazing views of a mountain or forest landscape. Look out for sightings of wildlife like deer, foxes, and various species of birds. If you love photography, bring a camera to take pictures as you work up a sweat. As more people are interested in the benefits of hiking, it’s easy to find hiking groups in any city. Just remember to have comfortable footwear with good traction, sunscreen, water, and a healthy snack to keep you energized.

2. Find a Bike Trail

It’s hard to find a road without designated bike trails now. You can enhance a hike by bringing a bike and riding through the wilderness for part of the journey. If you don’t own a bike, you can find cost-effective rentals in many cities. Take advantage of the City Bike rental program nationwide instead of driving to and from work or other errands. Keep in mind that 857 bicyclists died in bicycle accidents in 2018, and exercise the proper precautions for your ride.

3. Volunteer to Work with Kids

Kids are an endless supply of energy. If you enjoy spending time with them, summertime is the perfect time to indulge in that joy. Look into volunteering or working at a camp or other youth-based activities. You can show your ball handling, running, swimming, or tennis skills by coaching eager young people in those sports.

4. Become a Dog Walker

Do you like dogs? It’s no secret that dogs are just as active, if not more so, as children. Canines love to play and run. So why not sign up to be a dog walker or dog sitter and have fun with the furbabies all day? Not only is it affordable, but you can also earn money or possibly reside in a swanky home for the summer while you pet sit.

5. Join a Recreational Sports Team

Who says you have to be LeBron James to play on a team? There are recreational sports teams in cities year-round, but summer is high time. Whether you love softball, baseball, volleyball, or bowling, you can find something that suits your needs. Make new friends and enjoy low-pressure competition as you play at least once a week. Consider joining a golf league! The busiest time on a golf course is between 10 AM and 1 PM. If you’re looking to make friends, this might be the best time to go.

6. Find a Cheap Gym

You can always save your hardcore activity for the gym. There are cheap gyms like Planet Fitness that have memberships for as low as $10 monthly. If you prefer alternatives, other gyms may have summer or new-person sign-up discounts you can benefit from. If your friend already has a gym membership, you can go for free for at least a week or more when you join them under a Guest Pass.

7. Buy a Yoga Mat

Even if you’re not into the yoga lifestyle, buying a yoga mat for your home can pay for itself. You can get one for as little as $15 on sites like Amazon. You can roll out the mat to do stretches, calisthenics, yoga, or pilates. Turn on YouTube and find one of the many instructional fitness videos on the site. From kickboxing to aerobics, you can get a free workout lesson at home, thanks to social media.

Summer is a great time to indulge in an active lifestyle. You can join a local team or a cheap gym. Go hiking or biking alone or with friends. There are many ways to stay active while not breaking the break, and this list is a good way to start. If you want more insight into summer fitness, contact our local team today for more information.

6 Tips to Beat Debt After a Disabling Injury

May 23, 2023 By Erin H Leave a Comment

In the aftermath of a disabling injury, overcoming the resulting financial burdens may seem like an uphill battle. However, it is possible to beat debt and regain control of your financial future with the right strategies and support. This article will explore practical and effective tips to help you navigate the challenges and achieve financial stability after a disabling injury. Read keenly and be confident of finding much-needed help.

1. Seek Support from Social Security Disability Benefits

When a disabling injury hinders you from working, you should consider seeking help from Social Security Disability benefits. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, social security programs financially benefit 8.2 million, including 104,000 spouses and 1.4 million children. These benefits can alleviate some financial burdens for a more stable financial future.

2. Explore Remote Job Opportunities

The internet has opened up the world of remote online jobs, allowing flexibility and independence in employment. Pursue online jobs in diverse fields that match your skills and interests, such as online tutoring, virtual assistant, content writing, graphic design, and programming. Regrettably, according to Statista, approximately 60% of Americans with disabilities do not have internet access. If you’re part of the statistics, you are missing out on the tremendous earning potential the Internet offers. Consider installing the internet in your living space and enjoy the convenience of working remotely.

3. Communicate with Creditors and Seek Assistance

Don’t hesitate to communicate with your creditors if you find it challenging to meet your debt obligations due to your injury. When you explain your situation, the creditors might offer potential options to reduce the burden, including reduced deferments and hardship programs. Many creditors are willing to work with individuals facing financial difficulties, especially when presented with genuine situations. Additionally, seek assistance from nonprofit credit counseling organizations, which can guide debt management strategies and lead negotiations with creditors.

4. Create a Realistic Budget

When dealing with debts, it’s important to assess your current financial situation carefully. Your assessment should involve evaluating sources of finances, monthly expenses, and outstanding debts. A precise assessment will help you identify areas where you can cut back or adjust your finances to free up additional funds for debt repayment. For example, consider reducing non-compulsory expenses such as eating out, entertainment costs, and subscriptions.

5. Your Insurance Cover Can Offer a Relief

Accidents happen unexpectedly, disrupting our lives and leaving us vulnerable to various challenges, including financial burdens. The National Safety Council’s data show nearly 2.5 million individuals were affected by disabling and non-disabling injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents in 2021! This underscores the need for proactive measures like getting comprehensive insurance coverage. Your insurer will cater to your costs of medical treatment, rehabilitation, and daily living finances, enabling you to navigate the aftermath of the accident with peace of mind.

6. Consider Debt Consolidation or Settlement

Debt consolidation or settlement programs can be viable options for individuals struggling with multiple debts. The former involves combining all your debts into a single loan or credit account, typically with a lower interest rate. Doing so allows you to simplify your repayment process and potentially reduce your monthly payments. On the flip side, as part of a debt settlement, you can negotiate with your creditors to settle your debts for less than the full amount owed. It’s a suitable option if you can’t meet your debt obligations and must reduce the total amount owed.

Note: These options may have potential drawbacks, such as the impact on credit scores and potential long-term costs; however, they can provide a path toward debt relief.

If you’re facing a disabling injury that burdens you financially, don’t lose hope. Believe in your ability to overcome adversity. More importantly, engage a reputable debt professional for practical solutions. You’ll overcome!

How We Save for Financial Emergencies

May 22, 2023 By MelissaB Leave a Comment

A financial emergency, large or small, can happen at any time. Maybe you have a $2000 car repair that you hadn’t expected. Or, worse, you get laid off. You should save for financial emergencies to prepare for life’s unexpected expenses. We’ve been working on bulking up our savings for the last few years. Here’s how we’re doing.

Utilize Sinking Funds

Our first step was to create a budget that realistically represented our expenses. So, we save $138 every paycheck for home improvements. Then, we save another $138 for home maintenance. That gives us $3588 yearly for home improvements and $3588 for home maintenance. Honestly, that’s likely not enough, but it’s the best we can do for now.

We also set aside $92 per paycheck for car repairs/maintenance, giving ourselves $2,400 annually for this category. So, if we have a car repair, we pay for it from this sinking fund.

The sinking funds allow us to pay for expenses without dipping into our emergency fund.

Budget a Month in Advance

Next, we worked on budgeting a month in advance. As we earned money above what we had budgeted, we started applying it to next month’s expenses. We now have enough money to cover an entire month of costs. So, when we get paid in May, I don’t use the money in May. Instead, I use it to fund June’s expenses. Now that we’ve accomplished this goal, I’m working on budgeting two months ahead. (This might take me another year to complete.)

Have an Emergency Fund

Beyond sinking funds and budgeting in advance, we also have a separate emergency fund. I want to get this up to at least $10,000, but right now, it’s sitting at $3,500. We will use this if we have a significant home or car repair that exceeds our sinking fund. We could also use it if one of us lost our job.

Consider Credit Cards

We don’t have credit card debt, and we’d like to avoid having any in the future. However, we could use our credit cards if we had a significant emergency, such as a personal injury or a long-term unemployment situation. We have tens of thousands available, though we’d only use them as a last resort.

Additional Safeguards

We have additional safeguards in place for financial emergencies.

My husband and I both work, so it’s unlikely we would lose our jobs simultaneously. Therefore, we should always have some income stream.
Second, my husband has short-term and long-term disability insurance since he’s the primary breadwinner.
Third, we have life insurance in place for both of us.

Final Thoughts

Our strategy to save for financial emergencies is an ongoing one. We will continue to save, focusing now on budgeting two months in advance rather than one month. We will also work to grow our emergency fund. Finally, when either of us gets a raise, we will use some of the increase in funds to increase our sinking funds, so we will have to rely less on our emergency fund.

Read More

Credit Cards as Emergency Funds

Are You Ready for a BIG Emergency?

Should You Create Sinking Funds Before You’re Debt Free?