1 in 4 of us has hidden a purchase

How to figure out how much you spend, make money on a fashion blog & ensure you’ll get your child tax credit money [The Penny Hoarder] DAILY DAILY June 7, 2021 [Alternate text] [Credit Sesame]( Hey Penny Hoarders, We have a lot to dig into, beginning with our new survey that reveals how people budget (or don’t budget), why some can’t control splurge spending and who’s hiding purchases from their partners. Whether you meticulously maintain a spreadsheet or only know how much you have when you receive a low-balance alert, we have surprising stats — plus ways to put yourself on a financial path to success. Let’s get started! [Budgeting]( More Than Half of Us Don’t Keep a Budget or Know How Much We Spend How much money did you spend last month? If you’re fumbling for a ballpark figure, you’re not alone. We recently asked nearly 2,000 people about their money tracking habits, and the majority of us don’t have a budget. But that doesn’t mean we’re necessarily bad with money — in fact, here’s what the survey results revealed. [READ NOW]( Your Fashion Sense Could Make Actual Cents (and Dollars, Too) Your next side gig could be a lucrative one if you’ve got both an eye for fashion and an Instagram account. Depending on your following, you could make anywhere from hundreds to tens of thousands from influencer marketing — [here’s how to get started](. [Budgeting]( [Nearly 1 in 4 People Have Kept a Purchase Secret For Fear of Reaction]( by Nicole Dow Dear Penny: Can You Get $250/Month Child Credit if Your Only Income Is SSI? This disabled parent doesn’t earn any money besides Supplemental Security Income — can she still get the child tax credit? Dear Penny says yes, but here’s [what the mom must do to ensure her money arrives]( when the IRS starts sending out checks in July. [Alternate text] [Credit Sesame]( You’re Ready… But Something’s Holding You Back OK, so say you’ve finally got the budgeting thing down pat. You’ve created categories, tracked your spending and freed up some funds to tuck away into savings. Now, you’re ready to put that money toward a new (to you!) car. Or you’re hoping to buy a house in the next few years. Or maybe you’d even like to start your own business. Yeah, you’ve got big plans… but here’s the thing: No matter what your goals are, you might not realize how much your credit score is standing in your way. The good news? [Credit Sesame]( is a free website and app that makes it easy to put your credit score on track to reach your goals. (In fact, Credit Sesame is so serious about helping you reach your goals, they sponsored our budgeting survey to help Penny Hoarders like you access the resources, knowledge and tools you need to start making your big money moves.) So how does Credit Sesame work? Within two minutes of signing up for your free account, Credit Sesame will give you access to your credit score, any debt-carrying accounts and a handful of personalized tips to improve your score. You’ll even be able to spot any errors holding you back (one in five reports have one). We talked to one person, James Cooper, of Atlanta, who used Credit Sesame to raise his credit score nearly 300 points in six months.* He says they showed him exactly what to do — he was even able to open his first credit card. In terms of your personal money goals, adding points to your score could easily save you thousands of dollars over the life of a car loan or mortgage. So don’t let bad credit keep you from reaching your financial goals. [Sign up for free]( (it only takes about 90 seconds) and see how much you could improve your score. [SIGN UP TODAY]( SPONSORED Today's Quick Picks - Even six-figure earners can end up living paycheck to paycheck. It doesn’t matter how much money you make if your expenses outpace your income. Here’s [how to break the cycle](. - Living on a single income can be stressful. One misstep can spell disaster. If you’re in this position, we’ve got [seven money moves you can start making today](. Follow us on: [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [YouTube]( [SHARE WITH A FRIEND](mailto:?subject=Check out this newsletter from The Penny Hoarder&body=Hey!%0D%0A%0D%0AI've been reading The Penny Hoarder newsletters and thought you'd be interested too.%0D%0A%0D%0AI get smart tips and strategies for making and managing money delivered straight to my inbox. Let The Penny Hoarder help you re-prioritize and improve your finances. Click here to see the newsletter I just read!%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Flinks.thepennyhoarder.com%2Fe%2Fevib%3F_t%3D23a8fe520b1043d0ac0c91a3ebd443bb%26amp%3B_m%3D7983a96ce78c4de88e9db0ad039f4411%26amp%3B_e%3DaFPKcfTvym1IsnzLySvv2RLlhQHs7P6p-Q_vfgnwGTlA9Xo5NSfn4xBeLNMkWuI0WwbLCpln8GjX-EXSGCWFZmhlJZ0s38EscvuuxoYfEPUHtr-T6fmEFRxzPsNkzPod%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AIf you like what you see, sign up using the link below.%0D%0A%0D%0A [Image] *Like Cooper, 60% of Credit Sesame members see an increase in their credit score; 50% see at least a 10-point increase, and 20% see at least a 50-point increase after 180 days. Credit Sesame does not guarantee any of these results, and some may even see a decrease in their credit score. Any score improvement is the result of many factors, including paying bills on time, keeping credit balances low, avoiding unnecessary inquiries, appropriate financial planning and developing better credit habits. 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](.