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1. Find a free account with a better rate

Hands holding us dollar bills and small money pouch
Yulia Grigoryeva / Shutterstock

You might feel tied to your bank because it’s the only one you’ve ever used. But you can likely find an account with a better rate somewhere else, and switching over is easier than you might think.

And if you currently have your cash sitting in a checking or savings account, use a high-yield savings account instead. High-yield savings accounts pay substantially more than traditional savings accounts, giving the funds you deposit the chance to grow.

Not only will your savings grow much faster than in a normal savings account, but cash back on all of your normal purchases means you’ll have even more to save.

Take a look at some of today's high-yield savings account rates to see how they compare.

Kiss Your Credit Card Debt Goodbye

Having a single loan to pay off makes it easier to manage your payments, and you can often get a better interest rate than what you might be paying on credit cards and car loans.

Fiona is an online marketplace offering personalized loan options based on your unique financial situation.

When you consolidate your debt with a personal loan, you can roll your payments into one monthly installment. Find a lower interest rate and pay down your debt faster today.

Get Started

2. Start investing with only $5

A young woman using her phone while lying down
fizzles / Shutterstock

You don't need millions of dollars lying around to be an investor.

Stash is an app that lets you invest in fractional shares of major companies, like Walmart, Amazon, and Google, which would typically run you thousands of dollars for a full share. You can buy in for as little as $1, and when these companies profit, so will you.

Let’s say you decided to invest your $1,000 with Stash at five bucks a week instead of keeping it in a regular savings account.

Based on an average growth rate of 5%, after three years you’d be up by more than $100. And if you kept it up for another 10 years, you’d be up by more than $1,400.

It only takes two minutes to open an account, and Stash will pay you a $5 sign-up bonus1 2 when you invest your first $5.

3. Stop wasting money on car insurance

Closeup for car flat tire
UnderhilStudio / Shutterstock

Saving $1,000 won’t make much difference if you’re just going throw it all away on your car insurance.

You could be wasting up to $1,127 a year by not shopping around for a better car insurance rate every six months.

SmartFinancial can find a lower rate on your current coverage in minutes.

Just answer a few quick questions about yourself, your car, and your driving record, and SmartFinancial will instantly sort through over 200 insurance companies to find you the lowest prices in your area.

Comparing car insurance rates with SmartFinancial is totally free, so even if you’re just curious, check it out and see how much you can save.

Stop overpaying for home insurance

Home insurance is an essential expense – one that can often be pricey. You can lower your monthly recurring expenses by finding a more economical alternative for home insurance.

SmartFinancial can help you do just that. SmartFinancial’s online marketplace of vetted home insurance providers allows you to quickly shop around for rates from the country’s top insurance companies, and ensure you’re paying the lowest price possible for your home insurance.

Explore better rates

4. Stay out of debt

Top view of stressed young asian woman trying to find money to pay credit card debt.
Pormezz / Shutterstock

If you’re paying sky-high interest on more than one credit card, $1,000 in savings probably won’t last too long.

But there’s an app called Tally that can free you from the hassle of managing multiple due dates and monthly minimums, and potentially save you thousands of dollars.

Tally keeps track of your billing schedule and makes your payments for you — on time, and in a way that minimizes the amount of interest you owe.

You just make one monthly payment to your Tally account, and they handle everything else. On average, Tally users have seen savings of $5,300 over the past three years.

5. Protect your income

closeup of woman walking with a plaster cast and crutches
wernimages / Shutterstock

No matter how much you save up, it could all be wiped out if you lose your job due to an unexpected illness.

Breeze disability insurance gives you financial protection against serious health problems for less than the cost of a Triple Venti White Mocha Latte each month.

Getting a policy is simple: Just answer a few questions about yourself, choose your plan, and apply.

It takes less than five minutes, and you’ll never have to worry about losing your income — or your savings — because of a medical issue.

1 Paid non-client endorsement. See Apple App Store and Google Play reviews. View important disclosures here: www.stash.com/start-investing/impact19. This material is not intended as investment advice and is not meant to suggest that any securities are suitable investments for any particular investor. Investment advice is only provided to Stash customers.

2 You’ll also bear the standard fees and expenses reflected in the pricing of the ETFs in your account, plus fees for various ancillary services charged by Stash.

Follow These Steps if you Want to Retire Early

Secure your financial future with a tailored plan to maximize investments, navigate taxes, and retire comfortably.

Zoe Financial is an online platform that can match you with a network of vetted fiduciary advisors who are evaluated based on their credentials, education, experience, and pricing. The best part? - there is no fee to find an advisor.

About the Author

Sarah Cunnane

Sarah Cunnane

Former Staff Writer

Sarah Cunnane was formerly a staff writer at MoneyWise. She is a writing and marketing professional with an Honors Bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Toronto.

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Disclaimer

The content provided on Moneywise is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter.