But you can make mistakes. Your early adulthood is all about experimentation, discovering what you like and dislike so that you don’t end up a basket case that loses everything in a mid-life. When the US Census collects data on average net worth by age, they lump everyone under 35 together. They don’t even care until you can run for President!

There isn’t a single financial thing you do today that will sink you for the rest of your life. At worst, you’ll have to file for bankruptcy and your finances will be ruined for a mere seven years.

These are the money mistakes you want to avoid, missing out on the easy things because you didn’t realize them:

Get Your Employer’s 401(k) Matching Contribution

This is equivalent to picking up a hundred dollar bill you found lying in the street.

Most employers offer a 401(k), which is a great tax-deferred way to save for retirement.

My first employer, a large defense contractor, offered a contribution match. If I contributed just 4% of my salary, they’d kick in 50% of my contribution, or 2%. My salary was $60,000 a year so my contribution of $2400 was matched with an employer contribution of $1200.

That’s right — I got a $1200 raise because I contributed just $200 a month to my own retirement.

Grind Down Your Student Loans

Student loans can be extremely complicated — so much so that my favorite guide to student loan debt is nearly fifty pages long.

Take the time to fully understand your loans and loan options. Depending on your career, there may be options for you to get the loan forgiven or discharged. If your loans are structured in a certain way, it may benefit you to refinance and/or consolidate them.

Don’t assume that the quick way to get rid of the student loan is to pay it off. Student loan companies are not your friend!

You may be able to take advantage of programs that will alleviate that debt designed specifically for you.

Avoid Any Major Financial Obligations

Compared to college, you may feel flush. You may even feel rich. You might want to buy a brand new car, rent the most lavish apartment, or buy a house.

Hit pause.

When you’re young, you want flexibility. You want to build up that war chest, whether it’s an emergency fund or an opportunity fund, so that you can jump on better chances later.

You may have heard that buying a house is great because paying rent is throwing money down the drain. What you don’t hear is that renting gives you the ultimate flexibility. If you’re offered a fantastic job in another state, you can jump on it. If you owned a house, you’d probably have to list the house and sell it before you could accept the job.

Renting isn’t throwing money down the drain, it’s giving you the power of choice.

Learn Ways to Earn Money Outside Work

Your job is going to be your number one income source, but you need to find ways to earn money outside of your job.

There are so many ways you can monetize your downtime; whether it’s driving for a ride-sharing company or starting an Etsy store, you owe it to yourself to investigate whether one of your hobbies could turn into cash.

It’s a great insurance against unemployment or a cutback in hours, but it also may lead to a side business that becomes so big it takes over as your primary job! I started my first personal finance blog, eventually valued at seven figures, on the side.

Always Be Looking to Save Money

Would you pay $50 for a burrito? Of course not. But we routinely overpay for things because we don’t know how much we should be paying.

What if I told you high-speed internet service in other countries is a fraction of what it costs in the United States? According to a PBS study, Americans pay the most for broadband access. And it’s slower!

Look for ways to save throughout the year and spend it on the things you care about, rather than the things you used to care about.

Lastly, have fun.

It’s OK to spend a little more than you expect as long as it’s worth it. The key is to also make smart money moves at the same time. Your future self will thank you!

***

Author Bio: Jim Wang has been writing about personal finance for 20 years and can be found most recently at Wallet Hacks, where he shares unconventional strategies to get ahead financially and in life. 

Photo Credit: Pic 2 Fly

The post How to Avoid the Most Common New-Graduate Money Mistakes appeared first on Len Penzo dot Com.

Not all real estate transactions are created equal. Some investors make money a lot of money while other investors lose money. However, successful investors often develop proven strategies over time using critical data and market intelligence. Investors who lose money on their deals tend to use their same money-losing philosophies while hoping for a different result. So to help avoid the latter, here are some smart property investment tips to help you make and save money during your investing career.

Using Bank Financing to Fund Real Estate Investments

Saving money on real estate transactions is just as important as making money. Understand that when you save money on any investment, you’re also making money. A proven strategy to save money is to use bank financing on your real estate investments whenever possible.

Many of today’s conventional home loan programs let you use financing to purchase investment properties. Some of those programs only require down payments as low as 5%. If you have good credit and a low debt burden, you can save tens of thousands of dollars by using bank financing instead of ponying up a big chunk of cash for an investment property.

Good credit and a low debt-to-income ratio result in a much lower interest rate over the life of your loan, which leads to big savings. Although carrying mortgages on a large real estate investment portfolio may lead to massive debt, it’s never a terrible idea to use bank financing on your first few deals if you can lock in a low rate and favorable terms.

If you’re renting your investment properties, you’re creating passive income, which in many cases pays any monthly mortgage payments you might have on your real estate. Most of the time landlords receive more in rent payments than the amount due on the monthly mortgage payments they owe and any other related expenses. So, you’re using someone else’s money to pay off your existing debt.

Buying Foreclosures as Investments

Since 95% of homebuyers use financing to buy a house, it opens the door to a hidden gem in the real estate investing market buying foreclosures. Nearly one in 200 homeowners in the U.S. will face some type of default or foreclosure proceeding on their homes. Although it’s a troubling statistic, it’s still an opportunity for savvy real estate investors to make significant profits on their investments.

Many times you can buy a foreclosed property at a significantly reduced cost. In some cases, you can buy one for pennies on the dollar. Banks don’t want to keep foreclosed properties on their books, so they often list them for much less than what they’re worth.

If a property doesn’t sell at an auction, banks must keep it on their books and maintain the property until they can sell it, which includes paying taxes. The last thing banks want to do is incur any more losses besides what they lost from the previous owner not paying the mortgage.

Since most properties increase in value over time, you’ll enjoy savings on two fronts: buying a house at a reduced price while enjoying immediate equity. Experienced real estate investors buy foreclosed properties during down housing markets and wait for the market to recover before they list their properties for sale. It’s similar to a buy-and-hold investment strategy, but you’ll eventually list the property for sale when the housing market recovers and home prices start to recover.

Final Thoughts

Leveraging bank financing is a proven way to save money and profit from buying and selling properties. If you can secure a low-interest rate, make a reduced down payment and pay fewer closing costs than most homebuyers, you’ll find yourself in the unique position of using other people’s money to profit from real estate investing.

Photo Credit: stock photo

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Now let’s take it up another notch. Who doesn’t love making money for as little effort as humanly possible? If you aren’t nodding your head right now, then I think it’s safe to say that you’re not being totally honest.

The bottom line is we all love making money. Preferably with as little effort as possible.

With that in mind, yesterday the Honeybee and I got another dividend rewards check from our credit card company. This time, it was for $300. I love it when those checks come in. That’s because we usually use the money to treat ourselves to a nice dinner out. However, we also use it at times for concerts and other fun activities.

As you can see, when it comes to sudden monetary windfalls, we have no trouble figuring out how to spend it.

Over the past ten years we’ve earned roughly $3000 in cash dividends for nothing more than using our credit card.

We get the dividend checks because we have a credit card that pays us a 1% dividend on every purchase. So we use that card as much as we can. In fact, we use it for everything from large purchases new furniture to smaller stuff like our groceries and gasoline.

Of course, these credit card rewards programs only make sense if you’re the type who absolutely refuses to carry a balance from month to month. Otherwise you end up worse off financially. Needless to say, we only use the card if we know we can pay it off in full before the grace period expires.

As for those of you who lack such fiscal discipline, please… do yourself a favor and stay away from credit cards. Regardless of whether they offer dividends and other rewards or not. You’ll be much better served financially by learning to control your urge for instant gratification and eliminating any revolving debt you’ve run up on your existing credit cards.

After all, with few exceptions, I hate paying interest to anybody. You should too.

Photo Credit: borman818

The post The Easiest Money You’ll Ever Make appeared first on Len Penzo dot Com.

Welcome to another rousing edition of Black Coffee, your off-beat weekly round-up of what’s been going on in the world of money and personal finance.

I’ve got another busy weekend ahead of me, so let’s get right to this week’s commentary …

Please cut that pizza into four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.

– Yogi Berra

Credits and Debits

Debit: Did you see this? Barbecue joints in Texas are shutting their doors across the Lone Star State as sky-high beef prices are turning brisket into a luxury item that many of their customers can no longer afford. One BBQ joint owner warned that “absolutely insane” brisket prices were making barbecue prohibitively expensive for most middle-class families, adding that, “When consumers pay $36 a pound for barbecue brisket, and then add ribs, sausage, sides and dessert … one can easily spend $70 to $100” for dinner. Uh huh. Then again, it’s not as if the McRib offers a better alternative…

Debit: Of course, it’s not just the price of barbecue cuisine that’s exploding – bad weather, poor crop yields, tariffs and a dwindling cattle herd continue to raise grocery prices at an above-average pace. In fact, last month they rose by the most in nearly four years. Even worse, food inflation is always difficult to reverse quickly because the size of autumn harvests is determined by planting decisions made in the spring. Then again, inflation is not just limited to food – it’s everywhere. Even worse, it’s becoming tougher to keep under control.

Gary Larson – The Far Side

Debit: In case you haven’t already noticed, the national average price of US gasoline is in the same range as it was in 2022; the year gas prices hit their record highs. That’s because crude oil futures have climbed nearly 50% since the start of the Iran war. What is truly alarming is that, despite the pain currently being experienced at the pump, oil prices are still under $100 per barrel. Let’s hope that “black gold” doesn’t return to its inflation-adjusted all-time high price of $224 per barrel that was reached during the Great Financial Crisis of 2008.

Debit: Speaking of high prices, the national median price of all US homes is now $503,000. Ouch. For those not counting at home, that’s 1.7% higher than it was 12 months ago. And buying a new home is nearly out of reach. In New Hampshire, 83% of households are completely priced out of a new median-priced home; in total, 11 states have at least 80% of households locked out. At the other end of the spectrum, there are only three states – Mississippi, Louisiana, and West Virginia – where the median new home price required to qualify for a mortgage is currently under $100,000. So it should be no surprise that 55% of Americans say their financial situation only continues to get worse.

Credit: On the bright side, prospective first-time homebuyers can take heart in knowing that, while the housing market remains hot in much of the country, 17% of active listings carried a price reduction in April – that figure is elevated compared with historical trends. The bulk of those price cuts seem to be occurring in the Mountain West and Sun Belt regions, with Phoenix and Tampa showing the most listings with price cuts in April (31% and 29%, respectively). So… is this a sign of an impending top in the housing market? Perhaps. However, as long as the Fed continues to push its long-running easy-money policy, we sincerely doubt it.

Debit: In case you haven’t noticed, bond yields have been surging over the past four weeks – and all indications are that the bond vigilantes are only going to take them higher from here. Don’t think that won’t stop newly-minted Fed Chair Kevin Warsh from trying to reverse the trend by lowering interest rates at the short end of the yield curve. Never mind that it’s a plan that will ultimately end up as (yet another) exercise in futility …

h/t: reddit/bonds (mafugga77)

Debit: Unfortunately, interest on the federal debt is already more than $1.2 trillion and is the second-largest item in the budget. Now for the punchline: Every 1 basis point (0.01%) increase in the government’s average borrowing cost – that is, rising bond yields – adds roughly $4 billion to its annual interest debt service expense. This is bad news for a federal government whose widening budget deficit is currently on pace to finish the fiscal year near $1.8 trillion. In the meantime, the rapidly-depreciating US dollar (USD) will continue to plague everyone – including the bad guys …

Credit: To help protect the bond investment principle from currency debasement, the financial industry promotes Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) – that is, US Treasury bonds with an inflation escalator to maintain investors’ purchasing power. But their performance as an inflation hedge has been abysmal – especially when compared to precious metals. In fact, the chart below from macro analyst David Jensen shows how TIPS have measured-up relative to silver since 2018. (Spoiler alert: They haven’t.) Jensen also notes that TIPS performance versus gold is similar. There’s a lesson there for those who try to see it. Clearly, many people do…

Percentage return on investment from 2019 – 2026 for TIPS (red) vs. silver (silver). Does the CIA know about this?

Debit: By the way, Mr. Jensen also points out that spiking interest rates coupled with surging physical precious metal demand indicates that the 40-year era of stimulated financial markets underpinned with artificially-suppressed gold and silver prices has ended. As a result, he says we’re heading into a prolonged period of selling both bonds and stocks that “will likely reach a crisis level.” We’ll see. Regardless, there are many investors who refuse to focus on fundamental value because they’re content to believe that the Fed will always be able to boost the markets. In other words: They stopped playing chess in favor of checkers. Why? Well… duh! Because chess is hard…

Credit: We’ll end this week with the following sobering observation: Ten years ago you could buy an ounce of gold was $1200. Five years ago, that same ounce cost $2000. Meanwhile, it takes nearly $5000 today to purchase one troy ounce of the yellow metal – which perfectly illustrates just how badly the USD has been devalued over time. And with the National Debt soon to exceed $40 trillion – and, eventually, far beyond – it’s a trend that won’t be reversing any time soon. At least it won’t if you believe like we do that the number of new USDs needed to service that debt in the future is only going to grow from here. Got gold?

By the Numbers

In 2026, renters in the United States appear to be seeing some relief as rent growth slows and pricing momentum cools across many major markets. However, the affordability picture remains highly uneven, with conditions varying significantly by location depending on local wage growth, supply constraints, and migration trends. With that in mind, here are the states where rents increased – and decreased – the most over the last 12 months:

1 North Dakota  (change in rent: 5.1%)

2 West Virginia (4.8%)

3 Delaware (3.8%)

4 Illinois (3.2%)

5 New York (2.9%)

46 Florida (▼3.1%)

47 Texas (▼3.3%)

48 Colorado (▼4.2%)

49 Arizona (▼4.3%)

50 Maryland (▼4.9%)

Source: ApartmentList

Last Week’s Poll Results

In your opinion, having a credit card is…

• Good   84%
• Bad   12%
• I’m not sure   4%

More than 2400 Len Penzo dot Com readers responded to last week’s question and it turns out that only 1 in 6 of you believe you’re probably better off without a credit card in your wallet. I’ll say this: They are an unquestionably terrific resource for those who are able to control their spending.

If you have a question you’d like me to ask the readers here, send it to me at Len@LenPenzo.com and be sure to put “Question of the Week” in the subject line.

The Question of the Week

Useless News: Government Contract

The mayor of a large metropolis conducted a public meeting on the steps of the city square after the city council passed a resolution authorizing the painting of its brand new city hall. The meeting was attended by some of the best local painters from many of the city’s different immigrant districts who were asked to offer their best price for the job at hand.

An Italian painter said he could paint the entire city hall for $100,000.

Next up was a Chinese painter who shouted out that he could do the same job for just $50,000.

After several seconds of silence, the Greek painter scoffed and declared to everyone in attendance that it was his professional opinion that such a big job couldn’t possibly be completed for anything less than $150,000.

When the mayor asked the Greek gentleman to further clarify exactly why his bid was so expensive, the painter approached the city official and whispered into his ear: “$50,000 for you, $50,000 for me and we let the Chinese guy do the job.”

(h/t: Peter Pan)

Squirrel Cam

It was raining squirrels last week…

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Buy Me a Coffee? Thank You!

For the best reading experience, I present all of my fresh Black Coffee posts without ads. If you enjoyed this week’s column, buy me a coffee! (Dunkin’ Donuts; not Starbucks.) Thank you so much!

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More Useless News

Hey, while you’re here, please don’t forget to:

1. Subscribe to my weekly Len Penzo dot Com Newsletter!

2. Make sure you follow me on follow me on X. And last, but not least…

3. Please support this website by purchasing my book! Thank you!!!!

Letters, I Get Letters

Every week I feature the most interesting question or comment — assuming I get one, that is. And folks who are lucky enough to have the only question in the mailbag get their letter highlighted here whether it’s interesting or not! You can reach out to me at: Len@LenPenzo.com

I found this comment in the Len Penzo dot Com Complaint Box from Donna S.:

I don’t like your Credits and Debits. If I can give you some advice, I think your blog would be a lot nicer if it were more informative and nicer.

We thank you for the suggestion, Donna, and want you to know that it was immediately forwarded to our Department of Redundancy Department.

If you enjoyed this edition of Black Coffee and found it to be informative, please forward it to your friends and family. Thank you!

I’m Len Penzo and I approved this message.

Photo Credit: public domain

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Of course, there are different trading platforms out there like metatrader and cTrader — but it is extremely important to choose the right one, as the outcome of your trades partially depend on the type of software you use.

There are some features, which can differ from one platform to another. Here is a brief overview of the most essential features: format, programming language, and trading model.

Trading Model

According to the trading model, all platforms can use either Dealing Desk or Non-Dealing Desk (ENC). Dealing Desk is usually offered by forex brokers who are willing to make the market. All transactions pass through these desks, and prices are emanated by brokers. Examples of Dealing Desk platforms include Currenex Classic, MetaTrader, and Trade Station — but there are other out there too.

ENC platforms are also referred to as Non-Dealing Desk trading platforms; they provide access to money markets. All prices are received from liquidity providers, and the trader can choose the one which suits his or her trading model. Examples of Non-Dealing Desk platforms include xAlgo and cTrader.

Format

When it comes to trading platforms, forex traders can find both downloadable and non-downloadable ones. Online non-downloadable platforms can be accessed from anywhere in the world if the Internet connection is available. All you need is to type the URL of the platform and log in to enter your account.

Downloadable platforms are stored on a specific device and are required to be run every time the trader wants to access the account; if you plan on traveling, then you’ll have to take that device with you to be able to trade.

Programming Language

All platforms are also divided into groups, depending on the programming language. For example, MetaTrader uses MQL language, ActTrader uses ActFX language, and TradeStation uses Lua.

MetaTrader is one of the most popular trading platforms because of its intuitive interface and the wide variety of brokers currently offering it.

ActTrader has both the web and downloadable versions — although its work concept is completely different from that of MetaTrader.

Advanced Trader is perfectly suitable for novice professionals in the trading sphere. It is easy-to-use and handles all order types. Best of all, it offers downloadable, mobile and desktop versions, which can be switched easily.

Photo Credit: stock photo

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Revamping the Bathroom

Bathrooms are one of the first areas potential buyers inspect, making them a prime target for renovation. Enhancing the aesthetics and functionality of a bathroom can have substantial benefits. An upscale remodel can transform an average bathroom into a luxurious retreat.

According to Zillow, high-end bathroom renovations can recoup around 56% of the investment. By incorporating features like double vanities, energy-efficient fixtures, and high-quality tiling, homeowners can expect both enjoyment of the new space and financial gain when it’s time to sell. The key is to select materials and designs that appeal to a wide range of tastes.

Moreover, the addition of modern conveniences such as heated floors or a rainfall showerhead can also make the bathroom stand out. These elements, while adding to the renovation cost, can make the space more tempting to potential buyers, ultimately boosting the home’s market appeal and resale value.

Updating the Kitchen

The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home, which is why when it comes to home renovations with good ROIs, even minor kitchen renovations can significantly increase its appeal. Improving key elements such as cabinets, countertops, and appliances enhances both functionality and aesthetics. Bright and efficient cooking spaces can greatly attract homebuyers.

The National Association of Realtors suggests that a minor kitchen remodel offers an impressive 96% ROI. This means nearly the entire expenditure can be recovered upon selling the home. With smarter organizational solutions and energy-efficient appliances, minor updates can provide a major uplift in both the house’s value and the homeowner’s cooking experience.

While undertaking a kitchen remodel, it is crucial to remain consistent with the rest of the home’s style and choose neutral color palettes. This approach ensures the kitchen remains timeless, appealing to a wider audience. Adding features like a kitchen island or improved lighting can further enhance the utility and aesthetics of the space.

Improving the Exterior with a New Garage Door

The exterior of a home sets the first impression, and something as simple as replacing the garage door can significantly improve its curb appeal. Garage doors are one of the most frequently used components of a home and investing in a high-quality replacement can be very rewarding.

Remarkably, the Journal of Light Construction finds that a new garage door replacement can yield a return of up to 103%. This fact highlights the efficiency of this upgrade not just in terms of aesthetics, but also in investment returns. A new garage door can instantly modernize the home’s facade, making it more attractive to potential buyers.

Selecting a garage door that complements the home’s exterior design is vital. Consider doors with contemporary finishes or enhanced security features to maximize appeal and value. Additionally, insulating the garage can further contribute to increased energy savings, serving as another selling point while boosting the overall ROI.

Improving a home’s function and presentation through selective home renovations can result in significant returns on investment. For homeowners looking to enhance their property value, prioritizing renovations such as bathroom updates, minor kitchen upgrades, and garage door replacements offers fruitful financial gains. By choosing projects with proven ROI, one can ensure both current satisfaction and potential future profits. When done thoughtfully, renovations not only enhance day-to-day living but also provide peace of mind regarding the property’s resale potential. 

The post Home Renovations That Create a Good ROI appeared first on Len Penzo dot Com.

A microtask website is a platform that pays users to complete small online jobs. Microtasks are also referred to as Human Intelligence Tasks (HITs); these tasks can include answering surveys, labeling images, reviewing content, testing websites, checking search results, recording audio, categorizing data, or completing app-based offers. 

They are not a replacement for a full-time job, but they can be useful if you want flexible side income from home. If you are comparing earning apps and reward sites before signing up, Hustle worthy is a helpful place to read practical reviews and find platforms that fit your earning style.

The best microtask website for you depends on what you want to do. Some platforms are best for surveys, some for AI data tasks, some for website testing, and others for simple reward offers. Here are the strongest options to consider.

Quick Comparison of Microtask Websites

1. BigCashWeb

Best for: Beginners who want simple paid tasks, games, surveys, app offers, and reward-based earning in one place.

BigCashWeb is the best microtask website to start with if you want an easy mix of small online earning options. Instead of focusing only on surveys or specialist data-labeling work, it gives users a beginner-friendly way to explore paid games, app offers, surveys, partner tasks, and reward opportunities.

Good to know: BigCashWeb is a strong #1 pick because it is easier for most beginners to understand than technical microtask marketplaces. As with any reward platform, read each offer requirement carefully and track which tasks are worth your time.

2. Clickworker

Best for: People who want a mix of data entry, AI training tasks, writing snippets, categorization jobs, and UHRS (Universal Human Relevance System) work.

Clickworker is one of the most recognized microtask websites because it gives users access to a range of small digital jobs. Depending on your location and qualifications, you may see tasks related to data validation, search evaluation, text creation, image tagging, or partner tasks through UHRS.

Good to know: Task availability changes often, so it works best if you check regularly and complete any required assessments carefully.

3. Amazon Mechanical Turk

Best for: Users who want a large marketplace of short research tasks, data checks, surveys, and categorization jobs.

Amazon Mechanical Turk, often called MTurk, has been one of the longest-running microtask website marketplaces. Requesters post HITs, which are small tasks that workers can complete for payment. The work can range from quick surveys to content moderation, data cleaning, transcription, and image review.

Good to know: MTurk has real earning potential for experienced users, but beginners need patience because good tasks can be competitive and approval standards vary by requester.

4. Prolific

Best for: People who want paid academic studies and research surveys rather than low-value generic survey routers.

Prolific is not a traditional microtask marketplace, but it deserves a high spot because many users treat it as one of the best ways to earn from short online studies. Researchers post studies, users answer honestly, and payouts are usually clearer than on many survey sites.

Good to know: The downside is availability. You may not always see studies, so it works best as a site you keep open and check throughout the day.

5. UserTesting

Best for: People who are comfortable speaking their thoughts while testing websites, apps, prototypes, or digital products.

UserTesting pays users to give feedback on websites and apps. Instead of doing tiny data tasks, you may record your screen and voice while completing a set of instructions. These sessions can pay more than standard microtasks, especially when you qualify for longer tests.

Good to know: You need to communicate clearly, follow instructions, and pass screeners before getting accepted into paid tests.

6. Remotasks / Outlier

Best for: Users interested in AI training, data labeling, annotation, and project-based online tasks.

Remotasks and related Scale AI task platforms are known for data annotation and AI training work. Tasks may involve labeling images, reviewing model outputs, classifying data, or completing training modules before getting access to paid projects.

Good to know: This can be more skill-based than basic survey sites. Expect onboarding, tests, and changing project availability.

7. Toloka

Best for: Beginners who want simple global microtasks such as image checks, search relevance, classification, and data review.

Toloka offers small tasks that can often be completed from a phone or computer. The platform is useful for people who want a straightforward microtask experience without needing advanced qualifications for every task.

Good to know: Pay can vary significantly by task and country, so focus on tasks where the time-to-pay ratio makes sense.

8. Appen

Best for: People looking for longer-term AI, search evaluation, social media, or data collection projects.

Appen is different from instant microtask sites because many opportunities are project-based. You may apply for search evaluation, speech data, social media review, transcription, or AI training projects. The work can be more structured than quick offer-wall tasks.

Good to know: Approval is not instant, and projects can have qualification tests, but the work may be more consistent when you qualify.

9. OneForma

Best for: Users with language skills, transcription ability, data collection experience, or interest in AI-related projects.

OneForma offers online projects related to data collection, translation, transcription, annotation, and AI training. It can be a strong choice for multilingual users or anyone who wants more specialized microtask work.

Good to know: Some projects require tests or specific device/location requirements, so read each project brief before applying.

10. Freecash

Best for: People who want app offers, game tasks, surveys, and reward-based microtasks rather than traditional data entry.

Freecash is more of a get-paid-to platform than a classic microtask site, but it belongs on this list because many tasks are small, repeatable, and offer-based. Users can earn from app installs, game milestones, surveys, sign-up offers, and partner offerwalls.

Good to know: Always read the offer terms before starting, especially level requirements, subscription terms, and tracking rules.

How to Pick the Right Microtask Website

Choose BigCashWeb for beginner-friendly microtasks. BigCashWeb is the best first stop if you want simple reward tasks, paid games, surveys, and app offers without starting on a more technical marketplace.

Choose Clickworker or MTurk for broad task variety. These platforms are better if you want many different task types and do not mind learning how each requester or task category works.

Choose Prolific or Survey Junkie for surveys and studies. These are easier to understand and often better for beginners who want simple, opinion-based tasks.

Choose UserTesting if you can explain your thoughts clearly. Website testing usually pays more per task, but you need to qualify and provide useful spoken feedback.

Choose Appen, OneForma, or Remotasks for AI-related projects. These platforms can involve more onboarding, but they are a better fit if you want data labeling, evaluation, or AI training work.

Tips Before You Start a Microtask Website

• Create a separate email address for microtask platforms.
• Complete your profile honestly so you qualify for relevant tasks.
• Track your time so you know which sites actually pay well per hour.
• Read task instructions twice before submitting work.
• Avoid offers that require spending money unless you fully understand the terms.
• Cash out early when testing a new platform.
• Do not rely on one site; rotate between several platforms to find steady work.

The Final Verdict

The best microtask website depends on the kind of work you enjoy. BigCashWeb is the best #1 pick for beginners who want simple reward tasks, games, app offers, and surveys in one place. Clickworker and MTurk are strong for broader task variety, Prolific is excellent for research studies, UserTesting is best for higher-paying feedback sessions, and Appen, OneForma, Remotasks, and Toloka are useful for AI and data-related tasks.

For most microtask website beginners, the smartest move is to test three or four platforms, track your real hourly earnings, and keep the ones that pay reliably. Before signing up for more earning sites, use Hustleworthy to compare reviews and find platforms that match your goals.

Photo Credit: stock photo

The post The Best Microtask Websites for Making Money Online appeared first on Len Penzo dot Com.

What is a chargeback?

A chargeback takes place when you, the cardholder, get in touch with your credit card company or bank to dispute a charge on your account. They then reverse the transaction, effectively issuing you a refund for a purchase made.

Chargebacks offer protection from fraudulent purchases or when there’s a billing error on an account. Make sure you’re organizing your bill monthly to pinpoint any extra or unfamiliar charges. You can also request a chargeback if you’re unhappy with product quality, poor service, or delivery issues and the merchant refuses to provide a refund.

What’s the benefit?

You might have already picked up on the benefit of using your chargeback power — you get your money back for a purchase that should be refunded. You can even go back through previous billing cycles and ask for refunds of purchases after they’ve been finalized if they fall into the categories described above.

Another benefit of the chargeback is the fact that your credit rating won’t suffer if you’re disputing a charge. You won’t have to pay the amount in question right away, nor will it go against your credit score and hurt you financially. You might even receive a provisional refund as you wait for the final result of your claim, although a full refund can take a bit longer to receive.

How can I do it?

If you’re making a claim on your credit card account, you’ll find that most providers make the process as painless as possible. This is especially true if you have an app on your phone. There, you can tap the purchase you wish to dispute and make a claim without much effort.

Some companies may require you to go online and fill out a claim form. They may also require you to call in to negate the charge in question. In rare instances, you may have to write out your dispute and physically send it to your bank or card provider.

Just make sure you don’t waste time in filing your claim. According to the Fair Credit Billing Act, which provides many of these protections, you should ensure your dispute reaches the creditor within 60 days of receiving the bill where you found the error.

Is there anything I should do before asking for a chargeback?

A chargeback shouldn’t be your initial course of action. Instead, you should first approach the merchant and attempt to resolve the problem on your own.

Merchants are always charged a monetary penalty for a chargeback. some credit card companies charge up to $100. So, to be fair, you should give the merchant a chance to offer a refund before using the chargeback tool.

Remember that excessive use of chargebacks could eventually hurt consumers. Think about it: If businesses constantly have to pay fees for these transactions, then they’ll have to raise the prices of their products or services to continue turning a profit.

Thankfully, most merchants are willing to work with you to avoid the extra charges and maintain their good reputation. Figure out a way to solve the problem in person, online, via social media or over the phone. If you can reach an agreement that way, both of you will be better off.

Of course, chargebacks must only be used for legitimate reasons. If your credit card company finds you’re abusing this protection you’ll likely lose your account. A good example: using chargebacks to get refunds on purchases that didn’t actually require a claim.

The Final Verdict

The chargeback is an empowering tool for customers who encounter uncooperative merchants. But remember: Only use this resource when absolutely necessary! Otherwise it could hurt both businesses and the buyer. So only proceed if you’ve exhausted all other options.

Photo Credit: xJason.Rogersx

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With that in mind, here are four of the biggest fears when it comes to buying glasses online, along with reasons why those fears are overblown.

Hopefully, after reviewing each one, you’ll have the confidence to shop online the next time you’re in the market for prescription eyeglasses.

Myth #1: Ordering glasses online is complicated

Ordering glasses can be accomplished in just four easy steps:

1. Get your prescription and pupillary distance (PD) from your eye doctor. Keep in mind that eye doctors are legally required to give you your prescription for free — but you need to ask for it. As for your PD, while most doctors will give it to you, some may charge a fee or even refuse, because they know that once you have both your prescription and your PD, you have all the info you need to buy online. The good news is, you can measure PD yourself.
2. Figure out what kind of glasses you want. When making your decision, be sure to consider your face shape, personal style, and lifestyle
3. Find your glasses. A big advantage of shopping online is the inventory size. You can find glasses as traditional or as modern as you’d like.
4. Place your order! You can rest assured that ordering prescription eyeglasses is no different than ordering anything else on line.

Myth #2: Glasses ordered online are poor quality

A quick web search will help you find reputable online sites that sell the same quality of frames and lenses you find at typical optical retailers.

How can online retailers be so much cheaper? Well, they can save on overhead costs such as sales staff, maintain expensive inventory and renting a retail location. Also, like in many other businesses, they can sell cheaper because they do more volume. While a typical optical retail location might sell one or two pairs per day, online sellers sell upwards of one-thousand pairs.

One major consideration in choosing between online retailers is that quality may be affected by the location of the labs. Some companies use labs located in Hong Kong and other locations overseas, whereas others are based in the US; this can affect the quality and time it takes to get your order.

Myth #3: The glasses won’t look good on me

Receiving unflattering glasses is a legitimate fear, as buying glasses online means you can’t physically try on the glasses. However, glasses retailers provide resources to help you out. Some companies, such as GlassesUSA even offer a “virtual mirror” to help you decide! In most cases, if you find that you don’t like the glasses you bought for any reason, return policies for most online glasses retailers are often 100% satisfaction guaranteed.

Myth #4: The glasses won’t fit correctly

If you have an old pair of glasses that fits you well, you can use their frame size to ensure they fit properly. Just look inside the frame for a series of numbers — they’re usually on the temple — such as 50-18-140. These numbers are the lens width, bridge size, and temple length in millimeters. The good news is the numbers only need to be close, not exact. The lens width should be within 4 millimeters, the bridge within 2 millimeters, and the temple within 5 millimeters.

Reap the Rewards!

Hopefully, you now understand that you’ve really got nothing to fear when buying glasses online. Best of all, by buying online, you can save hundreds of dollars on a pair of same-quality glasses offered at brick-and-mortar stores; that’s cash you can use to supplement your savings account, or retirement fund — or even splurge on yourself.

Photo Credit: GlassesUSA

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It’s not exactly easy and it takes a lot of self-discipline, but you can do it! And it all begins with smart money habits. Here are some smart ways to use your credit card and stay away from debt:

Get Rid of Most of Your Credit Cards

If you have more than one credit card, then you need to rethink your finances. In the best case scenario, you have just one credit card. If that isn’t your current situation, the first step to using your credit card smartly is to stop using credit!

Start paying off your balances in order from smallest balance to highest balance. Then, cancel any credit card that:

• Charges fees even when your balance is $0
• Has higher interest rates than your other cards.

Your credit score will increase if you have multiple cards, so you don’t cancel all of them. You do, however, want to stop using them because this only works if you have a low credit utilization ratio. And if any card has annual or monthly fees even when you aren’t using it, it’s not worth it. Cancel it.

Keep every credit card except the one you’ll use stored somewhere safe in your home.

Budget as if You Have No Credit

The only way to use a credit card smartly is to only buy what you can already afford with your own cash. Buy groceries with your credit card and then pay the balance in full at the end of the month.

With this habit, you’ll steadily increase your credit score while keeping your debt at zero.

If this isn’t what you’re currently doing, then you need to reorganize and create a budget using only the money that you actually have. Pretend that you don’t have a single loan or credit card to your name and create a budget that works on your income.

Then, pay for things throughout the month using your credit card, being careful to stay within the budget you set for yourself so, at the end of the month, you can pay the full balance on your credit card.

Prioritize Debt Payments

After you get rid of your credit card debt, it’s time to pay off any other forms of debt you have, including:

• Car loan
• Mortgage
• Student loans

Even these forms of debt which are sometimes referred to as “good debt” are things you want to avoid. That’s especially true of a car loan; the idea that you can’t avoid a car payment is a major misconception of modern life. You don’t need one and it’s a horrible waste of money.

The goal is to get yourself to a place where you don’t owe a dime to anybody. Then, once your debt is gone, you can use credit strategically to maintain a strong credit score without owing any money to anybody.

Keep Budgeted Money in Your Savings

All the money you budgeted for things like groceries, gasoline, and other expenses that you’ll pay with credit should go into your savings as soon as your paycheck hits your account. This will let you earn a modest amount in interest on that money. But more importantly, it will help you make sure you don’t spend it on anything else. It can also help you save money. If you come in under budget one month, just leave the unused money in your savings!

What it all boils down to is using your credit card as a cash substitute. Stop spending money as if your credit balance is part of your monthly income. If there’s something out of your budget that you want to buy, save until you can afford to buy it with cash. Don’t “just put it on the card!”

Photo Credit: Picserver

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