Yes? No? Maybe so?

Here’s when to say no to a loan offer or credit line increase — plus, we talk mystery shopping [The Penny Hoarder] DAILY February 3, 2020 Hey Penny Hoarders, And hello February! We know it’s still pretty icy out there, but there’s something about making it out of January that seems to promise brighter, warmer days ahead — and at this point, we’ll take any little sliver of hope we can get. Today, we’re talking about a little bit of everything: Side gigs, home buying, a serious savings challenge and why you shouldn’t accept money just because *someone* wants to give it to you. [Debt]( Get Getting Offers for Loans or Credit Line Increases? Here’s When to Say No If the banks want to offer you a loan, that must mean they think you can repay it, right? Not necessarily. Believe it or not, not every lender has your best interest at heart — and you might even be encouraged to accept (and owe) more than you can afford. If you’re getting offers of money you didn’t ask for, it may be tempting to take the money as a short-term fix for other money woes. But here’s why saying no to money from things like car loans, student loans and credit line increases could actually help you financially in the long run. [Read Now]( [Save Money]( [Car Wrap Adds $250 a Month to This Rideshare Driver’s Bottom Line]( by Adam Hardy Dear Penny… “My first grandchild was born last month. I don’t have a lot of money and I’m paying off credit card debt. But I’d like to start investing money in her future. What are the best options?” This week, Dear Penny offers up some advice she knows might go unheeded — before taking [a more realistic approach to this new grandma’s question](. So Mysterious When you think of mystery shopping, you probably imagine going to a restaurant, checking out the service and food and collecting a couple bucks for your time. But did you know you could also get paid for enjoying a day at the spa or test driving cars? Well, you can. [We’ll tell you how](. In The Penny Hoarder Community A community member and single mother of two sons, both with medical issues, is considering buying a home. The problem? She doesn’t have a credit card — and now she’s being told she has to have one in order to purchase the house. What’s the deal? Have you been in this position before? Give this mom and future first-time homebuyer a little insight by [weighing in on the thread here]( Today's Quick Picks - Need some money motivation? Read through these real-life stories — and learn how a 90-second move [could help you add 277 points to your credit score](. - “Broke” can feel like a never-ending cycle. The first step toward getting yourself out of it is to build up a little financial cushion. [Here’s how](. [Word of the Day]( Follow us on: [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [YouTube]( [Image] The Penny Hoarder | 490 1st Ave S, Suite 800 | Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701 | United States [Update mailing preferences](. If you no longer wish to receive emails, [unsubscribe here](. Questions? View our [Privacy Policy](. [View this message in browser](.