It’s your money

Here’s how to spend it, save it and manage it wisely — today and everyday [The Penny Hoarder] DAILY February 21, 2020 [Image] [Airbnb]( Hey Penny Hoarders, Happy Friday! Listen, normally we’d say the weekend is your chance to rest and relax — but this weekend, we’re feeling particularly inspired, and we think it’s a good time to hit the ground running and cross some things off your to-do list. In the spirit of “things we know would be good for our finances but we’ve been dragging our feet on,” today we’re talking taxes, how to arrange your money so you become a better saver and why it might be time to (finally!) list your space on Airbnb. [Budgeting]( Your Tax Refund is Not a Gift Card. It’s Your Money — Use it Wisely You’ve probably heard someone say that getting a sizable tax refund pretty much means you gave the government an interest-free loan for the year. But if we want to cast it in a more positive light, let’s say it’s less “loan” and more “forced savings account.” Now here’s the thing: You wouldn’t work hard to save up all year and then blow through it all in a couple of weeks. So why do that with your tax refund? Sure, shopping sprees are fun, but they won’t put you in better financial standing. These suggestions will. [Retirement]( A Review of TaxAct, the Simple, Affordable Tax Prep Software Taxes: You can’t not do ‘em, but also they’re kind of the worst. But while doing your taxes isn’t exactly enjoyable, digital tax filing services make the whole process a little less painful. Today, we’re talking about one of these platforms: TaxAct. So without further delay, [let’s talk about what you need to know about it](. [Budgeting]( [The Penny Hoarder Community Shares Their Favorite Books About Money]( by Nicole Dow This Part-Time Copywriter Job Doesn’t Require a Degree Hate labels but love luxury goods? Italic, an online purveyor of unbranded luxury goods, could use your copywriting skills. You’ll need three years of experience for this part-time job — [but there’s no college degree required](. [Image] [Airbnb]( Home is Where the Cash Is Listen, we know your home is your personal space — the place you get to go where, well, where no one else is. But what if that space could help you make extra money and take the edge off your mortgage payments every month? Wouldn’t it make the whole “home sweet home” thing even sweeter? Give this a try: Use Airbnb’s [price calculator]( to see how much money you could make in your area. Then, do the math on your monthly mortgage payment. Not bad, huh? Sure, the idea of listing your place on Airbnb can be daunting, but it can clearly pay off big time. If you’re a good host with extra space, you could earn hundreds — even thousands — of extra dollars with Airbnb. Airbnb lets you list guest houses, apartments and single rooms — but we’ve also discovered you can list just about anything through the platform, including backyard tents, hammocks, couches and even boats. Listing your space on Airbnb is free, and signing up as a host is pretty simple. So if you’re ready to start earning extra money as an Airbnb host, learn more about the process (and any local laws) and [sign up today]( [Learn More]( Quick Picks - Wine that tastes expensive but isn’t? Yes please! [Get $50 off your first $150 purchase of the best finds from Wine Access](. Then, sign up for their email list to get their latest discoveries delivered to your inbox. - You’ve worked hard to save a $1,000 cushion in your bank account. Feels good, right? Now, it’s time to look at [some specific things you can do to take your finances to the next level](. Word of the Day Direct deposit (n): A transfer of money from a payer directly into a payee’s bank account that eliminates the need for a physical paycheck. Most people already take advantage of the convenience of their company’s direct deposit, but did you know you can also split your direct deposit between two or more accounts? If it feels like your paycheck is spent as soon as you get it, [try this direct deposit hack to trick yourself into saving](. You’ll thank yourself later. 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](.