Buying a home can be the most fulfilling purchase you’ll ever make. It’s yours — your own little piece of the American Dream. You’ve made it!
Sure, sometimes it’s stressful. For example, you can no longer call the landlord when the toilet won’t stop running or the air conditioner is on the blink. That’s on you, buddy — you and your wallet.
That’s why a savvy homeowner is always on the lookout for money hacks: simple ideas that can put hundreds, maybe thousands, into your pocket every year, protect against the unexpected, and let you grow your financial future.
The best part: Some of these smart money moves only take seconds, but can save tons!
1. Cancel your old homeowners insurance policy
Relax — we’re not telling you to go without insurance. We just think you might be able to do better, price-wise.
America’s most-loved insurance company, Lemonade, can get you a policy in 90 seconds and pay out a claim in as little as three minutes. With plans starting at $25 a month, the company could save up to 30% compared with traditional insurance providers. They’ll even cancel your old insurance and manage the escrow payments for you. It really is the easiest way to switch!
And if you’re interested in some warm fuzzies, try this on for size: The company’s Giveback program gives a portion of unused premiums to the charities its customers choose.
What are you waiting for? Find cheaper home insurance in 90 seconds.
2. Save hundreds on your mortgage every month
Maybe you got a great deal on your mortgage years ago, but have you checked rates lately?
If you haven’t, you could be leaving hundreds of dollars on the table every month. And that’s crazy. Luckily, with a mortgage lender called Better you can find a better rate in five seconds, and get pre-approved in three minutes.
Refinancing can put thousands back in your pocket. That’s extra money you can put toward retirement, a dream vacation or even home improvements. The possibilities are endless.
With rates this low, you’d be crazy not to at least check to see how much you can save by refinancing. Plus, with Better there are no commissions and no lender fees, and you can close up to 10 days faster than average. Better even offers 24/7 support to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Take a few seconds right now, get your free, personalized rate and see how much you can save.
3. Leave your family $1 million
What would happen to your household if (heaven forbid) you should die? Would your spouse/partner be able to pay for the mortgage, insurance, maintenance and property taxes? If not, they’d have to move out.
Add kids to the equation, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster: Not only will they lose their parent, they’ll also lose the stability that comes with staying in their own home and going to the same school.
Maybe you keep meaning to research insurance, but just haven’t gotten around to it. Understandable, since most of us don’t like to think about our own mortality. But here’s an idea: Instead of putting it off until tomorrow, let Bestow get you the coverage you need.
Bestow has an online application form that couldn’t be simpler; in fact, you can get a quote in just seconds and most customers enjoy same-day coverage. You don’t need a medical exam, and you don’t even have to talk to an agent (unless you want to).
Protect your family’s future in minutes: Get your free online quote now.
4. Protect your most valuable asset
Owning a home is awesome. But when Murphy’s Law kicks in, it can also be stupid expensive, because there are lots of things that can, and sooner or later will, stop working.
Maybe the water heater gives out and turns your garage into a wading pool. Maybe your home’s heating/cooling system breaks down. Or you wake up to a non-functioning fridge full of rapidly spoiling food. All sorts of things can go wrong with a home — and when the mortgage and other home-related expenses already have you feeling a bit cash-poor, you can find yourself slipping into debt to cover essential repairs.
Fortunately, with a home warranty from America’s 1st Choice Home Club, you can cover your home’s components for as little as $390 a year. Coverage options vary, but a home warranty can protect plenty of problem areas: appliances, electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems and lots more.
Plus, their in-house service team is available 24/7 to help and ensure a hassle-free repair process if anything goes wrong. You can even choose your own technician, or they can send you one from their nationwide network if you don’t have someone in mind.
All over America, homeowners are choosing AFC Home Club for the savings, service and peace of mind that they deliver.
Stop worrying about household breakdowns and get a quote in 30 seconds.
5. Invest in real estate with as little as $10
You invested in real estate when you bought your home. Maybe you think that’s all you can afford right now, or maybe ever. Not so! With an investing platform called Fundrise, you can invest in real estate for as little as $10.
In other words, for the price of a fast-food meal you can get in on the ground floor of real estate investing.
Growing your net worth is essential if you want to achieve financial security. Real estate investments can make you money and help diversify your savings.
And the returns? According to Fundrise, the average investor in their projects was up 26% over three years and more than 50% over five years.
You should never pin your hopes on past performance because it’s never a reliable indication of future results. Nonetheless, that’s a nice track record. And investing with Fundrise takes almost no effort and comes without the ups and downs of the stock market.
See why more than 150,000 investors have invested more than $1 billion with Fundrise. Get started now.
6. Switch and save $700+ on car insurance
Your home isn’t the only thing that needs protection. Next to our houses, a vehicle is typically our biggest expense. According to Kelley Blue Book, the average price for a new car is now $45,031.
Double that expense if you’re a two-car household. Ouch.
The point: Don’t ever skimp on car insurance. Protect your investment. But don’t overpay, either! With Progressive, you can save an average of $700 every year while still getting the coverage you need. From customized auto insurance to superior claims service, Progressive will support you every step of the way.
They provide 24/7/365 customer service for all your questions and concerns. That’s one reason more than 18 million people trust Progressive to insure what’s important to them.
Buckle up, switch and start saving today.
Bonus: Get smarter with your money in just five minutes
You get it. This is the time to sock away money, to save more, to get your finances in order.
But you also get that it’s not always easy. If there were just one easy thing you could do, every day, to move the needle, to get ahead of the game, you’d do it, right?
Well, here it is: Take five minutes every day and check out the totally free Money Talks Newsletter. More than a million Americans have, and they’ve reported saving an average of $991.20 each by checking our news and advice.
If you want the best tips and strategies to help you make more and spend less, delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our free newsletter today.
Disclosure: The information you read here is always objective. However, we sometimes receive compensation when you click links within our stories.
