This post is sponsored and contributed by The Penny Hoarder, a Patch Brand Partner.

Personal Finance

6 Money Secrets Americans Are Still Missing Out On

From saving on bills to easy side cash, these money secrets could help you keep more in your wallet.

Many Americans overlook simple ways to save and earn more. These six money secrets could help you cut costs, reduce debt, and add extra cash to your budget.
Many Americans overlook simple ways to save and earn more. These six money secrets could help you cut costs, reduce debt, and add extra cash to your budget. (Shutterstock)

Here’s the thing: A lot of people have already put these money secrets to good use. They’ve found hundreds of dollars in savings, secured their family’s financials and padded their bank accounts.

Now it’s your turn.

Putting all these secrets to use is actually easier than you might think. We’re betting you can knock out at least three or four of these things right now — yes, even from your phone.

Go ahead and get in on these money secrets:


1. You Can Become a Real Estate Investor for as Little as $10

Take a look at some of the world’s wealthiest people. What do they have in common? Many invest in large private real estate deals. And here’s the thing: There’s no reason you can’t, too — for as little as $10.

An investment called the Fundrise Flagship Fund lets you get started in the world of real estate by giving you access to a low-cost, diversified portfolio of private real estate. The best part? You don’t have to be the landlord. The Flagship Fund does all the heavy lifting.

With an initial investment as low as $10, your money will be invested in the Fund, which already owns more than $1 billion worth of real estate around the country, from apartment complexes to the thriving housing rental market to larger last-mile e-commerce logistics centers.

Want to invest more? Many investors choose to invest $1,000 or more. This is a Fund that can fit any type of investor’s needs. Once invested, you can track your performance from your phone and watch as properties are acquired, improved, and operated. As properties generate cash flow, you could earn money through quarterly dividend payments. And over time, you could earn money off the potential appreciation of the properties.

So if you want to get started in the world of real-estate investing, it takes just a few minutes to sign up and create an account with the Fundrise Flagship Fund.

This is a paid advertisement. Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fundrise Flagship Fund before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund’s prospectus. Read them carefully before investing.


2. Set Up Direct Deposit — Pocket Up To $300

When you set up direct deposit with SoFi Checking and Savings (Member FDIC), they’ll put up to $300 straight into your account. No… really. Just a nice little bonus for making a smart switch.

Why switch? With SoFi, you can earn up to 3.80% APY on savings and 0.50% on checking, plus a 0.70% APY boost for your first 6 months when you set up direct deposit or keep $5K in your account. That’s up to 4.50% APY total. Way better than letting your balance chill at 0.40% APY.

There’s no fees. No gotchas. Make the move to SoFi and get paid to upgrade your finances.


3. Save $1,025 on Your Car Insurance

You might not even realize it, but your car insurance company is probably overcharging you. In fact, they’re kind of counting on you not noticing. Luckily, this problem is easy to fix.

Don’t waste your time browsing insurance sites for a better deal. A company called Insurify shows you all your options at once — people who do this save up to $1,025 per year.

If you tell them a bit about yourself and your vehicle, they’ll send you personalized quotes so you can compare them and find the best one for you. No phone calls. No spam. Just happy customers (4.7 rating on Trustpilot).

Tired of overpaying for car insurance? It takes just five minutes to compare your options with Insurify and see how much you could save on car insurance.


4. Stop Paying Your Credit Card Company

If you have credit card debt, you know. The anxiety, the interest rates, the fear you’re never going to escape…

And the truth is, your credit card company doesn’t really care. It’s just getting rich by ripping you off with high interest rates — some up to 36%. But a website called AmONE wants to help.

If you owe your credit card companies $100,000 or less, AmONE will match you with a low-interest loan you can use to pay off every single one of your balances.

The benefit? You’ll be left with one bill to pay each month. And because personal loans have lower interest rates (AmONE rates start at 6.40% APR), you’ll get out of debt that much faster. Plus: No credit card payment this month.

You don’t need a perfect credit score to get a loan — and comparing your options won’t affect your score at all. Plus, AmONE keeps your information confidential and secure, which is probably why after 20 years in business, it still has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

It takes less than a minute and just 10 questions to see what loans you qualify for — you don’t even need to enter your Social Security number. You do need to give AmONE a real phone number in order to qualify, but don’t worry — they won’t spam you with phone calls.


5. $15K or More in Debt? Most People Don’t Realize This Option Exists

Life gets expensive, and sometimes credit cards become a lifeline. If you’re feeling weighed down by debt, National Debt Relief can help lighten the load for you.

If you have $15,000 or more in unsecured debt, their team of Certified Debt Specialists will work with your creditors to lower what you owe and set up a plan that fits your budget. No stress, no guesswork—just a clear path forward.

Most clients wrap up their debt in just 12 to 48 months. A free consultation is all it takes to start taking control of your financial future. Why wait? Get started today.


6. Get Paid $225/Month While Watching Movie Previews

If we told you that you could get paid while watching videos on your computer, you’d probably laugh.
It’s too good to be true, right?

But we’re serious. By signing up for a free account with InboxDollars, you could add up to $225 a month to your pocket. They’ll send you short surveys every day, which you can fill out while you watch someone bake brownies or catch up on the latest Kardashian drama.

No, InboxDollars won’t replace your full-time job, but it’s something easy you can do while you’re already on the couch tonight, wasting time on your phone.

Unlike other sites, InboxDollars pays you in cash — no points or gift cards. It’s already paid its users more than $56 million.

Signing up takes about one minute, and you’ll immediately receive a $5 bonus to get you started.

This post is sponsored and contributed by The Penny Hoarder, a Patch Brand Partner.