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You are here: Home / Archives for Alexis Schroeder

About Alexis Schroeder

Alexis is a young woman living in a suburb of Chicago. She is working towards obtaining her college degree and has dreams of traveling the world. You can find more of her writing on her blog FITnancials.

Traveling Tips and Advice To Save Money

August 31, 2015 By Alexis Schroeder Leave a Comment

22-35-33-308_640Traveling doesn’t have to be nearly as expensive as most make it out be. As long as you do your research and studying beforehand, you can learn all the ways to get the most out of traveling with a limited budget.

Being only 22 years old, I have visited many different places in the US and around the world. Due to this, many  often ask me how I do it and mention how they wish they could do it too. If I can do it, it’s very much possible for others around me to do it as well.

The number one piece of advice I always give my friends is to save as much money as possible and educate themselves on not only how to save money and budget, but to also learn  tips and tricks of the trade of traveling.

1. Travel to the city or country when it’s not full of tourists.

This will make everything considerably cheaper, since these places aren’t expecting tourists. This will also be the time most tickets and trip packages are plenty cheaper, since as I mentioned earlier, most of these companies aren’t expecting tourists to come in and it’s their low season.

2. Search for cheaper dates.

Try booking a trip on different days, weeks, or even months depending on how much time you have. You can see how much you will save at different times. If the price keeps decreasing, don’t press your luck and wait for it to keep decreasing. Go with a price that is in your budget, and purchase it before it’s too late.

3. Make sure to always be flexible whenever possible.

This will almost always save you money on transportation costs, and other related activities. This may even save you money on a trip package. If you are couch-surfing (which I’ve talked plenty about as well), keeping you dates flexible will give you a better chance at being selected by a host because they can be flexible as well.

4. Walk.

Do a little bit of walking and get lost (as long as the area/city you are in safe or relatively safe). This allows you to truly experience the city, and get a feel for the area you are in. You might pass your favorite new store or restaurant without needing the help of social media or internet.

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5. Visit unknown places.

Some of the best places to visit are in cities and areas that no one has never even heard of. The areas that aren’t filled with tourists are the real parts of the city, which usually bring out the locals, and lets you experience the culture that you wouldn’t get if you were surrounded by tourists in highly populated city.

Have you participated in any of the above methods of saving money while traveling? What other ways can you save money while traveling?

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, Budgeting, Featured Bar, Personal Finance Tagged With: budget, travel

3 Best Websites To Find Your New Home

August 26, 2015 By Alexis Schroeder Leave a Comment

house-435618_640Checking out an apartment or home has become easier than ever, allowing you to check out every minor detail on most apartments, condos, and homes.

Many sites will now allow you to take 3D tours of the home and allow you to get a better idea of the place of interest before ever stepping foot on the home.

Finding a new home can be quite frustrating and difficult with all the options to choose from. Luckily, most websites will help you narrow down what you are looking for and help you filter out certain places you wouldn’t even want to waste time looking at. Being a college student has lead me on some of these sites plenty of times, as I have needed to look for new apartments. They’ve come quite in handy, especially with the filter button of my max amount of money I can spend.

1. Apartments.com

This site is one of the most popular sites for checking and browsing a new apartment, condo, or home. You can choose the location of the place you are looking for, as well as what type of home you are looking for. They also allow you to choose the minimum and maximum rent you are working with.

This site will also tell you the rating and reviews of the home, and the amenities it has as well as what is in close proximity to it. Once you put the budget you are working within, a map will come up with the various options you have to choose from. You can also plan your commute from the new home, and see how far it is from certain important areas of yours.

2. Trulia

This home finder is similar to the one I mentioned above. It allows you to save different homes that you are interested in, and then you can compare from the different homes to narrow down your options. This site will also help you find an agent to help you find your new home and what you are looking for. You can narrow your search down from how many bedrooms and bathrooms you want, as well as other options as well.

I believe all sites are pretty similar to finding a new home, which is why I decided to add this third tip for when you move.

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3. I Am Moving

I Am Moving is a website that gets rid a lot of the stress you have from moving. It allows you to change your address to over 1,700 places. I’ve always had problems obtaining all of my regular mail, even when I change my address through the USPS. This website makes it a lot easier to still get all of my mail that I would usually from my old home.

Do you or have you used any of the above websites to find your new home? What other websites have you used to find your apartment/home?

 

Filed Under: Blog, Budgeting, Featured Bar, Real Estate Tagged With: personal finance

Looking For Free Ways To Improve Your Life?

August 19, 2015 By Alexis Schroeder 1 Comment

sunset-691848_640Improving my way of life and bettering myself is something that I find very important. Becoming a better person and feeling confident about yourself is important because how you feel about yourself affects all aspects of your life.

I’m a firm believer in trying new activities and and finding out what makes you happy.

Below I am listing five activities that I participate in either daily or weekly to improve my way of life. Working on personal growth is something that should be at the top of everyone’s list, no matter where you are at in life.

1. Meditation.

I recently started participating in meditation after reading an article on the activity. It shocked me when I saw all of the benefits meditating has had on people, yet many don’t partake in the act.

This activity takes a mere 10-30 minutes a day depending how much time you have. It’s best to do it in the morning, although you will benefit from it at any time of the day. Meditation allows you to relieve stress, anxiety, and any negative feelings you have pent up. Another awesome thing about meditation, is that it’s free and available to you whenever and wherever you are on sites like YouTube.

2. Show random acts of kindness to people all around you.

This can be free or very cheap, depending on which route you take. I am and will probably always be volunteering at somewhere, because helping others makes me feel good. I am currently volunteering at a humane society, after being inspired by seeing all the animals on the streets of Peru.

All I do is take out the dogs for a walk around the track a couple of times, and they love it. Dogs need to be socialized with just as human beings do, so find a place near you to volunteer at and give some of your time to the needy.

3. Always keep a to-do list on hand.

A to do list keeps my mind in check and reminds me of what I need to get done. Some days I will even write out a schedule of what needs to get done, and the time frame I have to do so. This improves my sense of time and makes sure I don’t slack off by spending time on Facebook or other social media outlets.

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4. Learn a new language.

I am currently learning Spanish online (for free might I add) and it has made me gain confidence and also helps with my memory and brain function.

Learning a new language opens you up to a whole different world you aren’t used to. Being intermediate or at an expert level of another language allows you to visit the country and get into deep conversation with people that are native to that country, allowing you to experience a different type of world you aren’t used to otherwise.

5. Recognize your flaws and see what you can work on.

Last but not least, learn to love yourself even if there is something you aren’t too fond of. If there is something that you can work on, do so and take action to do it.

Do you participate in any of the above ways to improve your life? What other ways do you think a person can improve their life for free?

Filed Under: Blog, Budgeting, Featured Bar, Personal Finance Tagged With: frugal single girl

Where Should A Person Go To Sell Their Stuff?

August 17, 2015 By Alexis Schroeder Leave a Comment

dresses-53319_640Instead of having garage sales, more and more people are going online to sell their new and used items. It’s becoming the new best way to sell your items, as you can at times get a higher profit from selling online and you can have a much larger market.

Below I’m going to list websites other than eBay, Amazon, and Craigslist. Enjoy!

1. Etsy.

I love using Etsy because I believe it supports small businesses, and it lashes out my Pinterest side. I get to browse at all of the different fun crafts that I otherwise would not be able to make. Instead, I buy the items.

There are so many Pinterest DIY that I wish I could do, but I don’t quite have the creative touch. If mason jars are your thing, there are a ton of different styles to choose from. I believe buying someones homemade items is a lot better than buying something from a large retailer chain that most likely only carry items that were made from another country.

2. Quirky.

This site is new to me and is a bit intriguing as well. You get to post your invention ideas, and people will vote on the idea and pick the invention they like the most. After that part, the people in charge of the website will create the item and bring it to life.

You can browse the different inventions already made and even contribute to items that are currently being invented and in the process.

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3. Copious.

This site is great for selling gently used clothes that you no longer want. You can also to choose to donate your items if no one wants them or if they weren’t approved by the site. You can also socialize with others, as it is similar to Facebook and other social media sites.

4. Tradesy. This site only takes 9% of purchases made and has a lot of variety to choose from. The clothing is slightly new and in good condition as well. It’s a great place to get any type of clothing.

5. Poshmark.

This website is awesome because you are basically shopping in one persons closet. You’re in even better luck when you find a person that has your exact body type, as you will be able to shop their closet over and over again and buy many different items for cheap.

Better yet, you guys can shop at each others closet and save money.

Do you use any of the above websites to sell your new or used items? What other sites would you recommend using?

 

Filed Under: Blog, Budgeting, Featured Bar, Personal Finance Tagged With: budget, couponing for the single girl

5 Random Ways To Save Money

August 12, 2015 By Alexis Schroeder 1 Comment

5 Random Ways To Save MoneySaving money in any way possible is very important to me, especially when money is tight. Saving a dollar here and there adds up in the end, and has the possibility to pay a bill or pay for gas to and from work.

Saving money can also lead to saving your time as well.

Becoming more frugal will teach the people around you to be smarter about how they use the money, and that will lead you to be around people who like to save money which will lead you to spend less money, which leads me to my first tip.

#1: Find frugal friends.

Make sure to surround yourself with friends who like to save money and if you have friends that like to spend a bunch of money on random things, never go shopping with them.

When you go shopping with these kinds of people, you’re more likely to spend more money and not care as much about what you are spending.

#2: Shut off the TV before bed.

Better yet, don’t even put a television in your room because not only will you waste money on electricity, you’ll also stay up longer watching TV.

Also, you might possibly fall asleep with the TV off, and that will disturb your sleep. Not only are you losing money, but you’re losing sleep as well which is just as important, if not more.

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#3: Start hosting board game nights/Netflix parties at your house.

You save a ton of money instead of going out to bars/restaurants that charge you $8 a drink. You can make your own drinks at home, and can find easy recipes on Pinterest.

You can also create yummy snacks/dishes from Pinterest as well. Ask everyone to bring a dish so you won’t have to make a ton of food, this way everyone is saving money. I also believe having parties at home is more convenient because if someone drinks a little too much, they can crash at your house.

#4: Don’t go shopping when you’re hungry, and that means hungry for other items besides food.

If you are hungry for clothes, don’t go shopping. You’ll end up buying a bunch of items you don’t want. Instead, have a list of things you need to purchase, and stick to that list. It’s much easier to go shopping when you already know what you need to buy. Don’t veer off the course, get what you need and then leave immediately.

#5: Eat healthy, exercise regularly, and wash your hands.

This will help you avoid getting sick, therefore you won’t miss any work or school, which obviously saves you a lot of money and time.

Do you participate in any of the above activities to save money? What are some other ways you can save money?

 

Filed Under: Blog, Budgeting, Featured Bar, Personal Finance Tagged With: budget

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Hi, I'm Jenny, owner and creator of The Jenny Pincher. My goal is to educate and empower single women on how to get out of debt, build wealth & design a life you love. How can I help you? Read More

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