Hopefully, you already have a budget and you’re working with it every month. But you may find that you’re coming up a little short. That may be due to that fact that you’re leaving off some important items that you didn’t consider when you created that budget.  And if you have too many unplanned expenses, your budget could be going sideways quickly.

Usually, these items aren’t left off intentional, they just seem so minor that the get overlooked. Here are a few things that you might need to add to your budget to make it work:

Subscriptions

If you love Amazon and shop there frequently, you probably have a Prime membership. And since you only pay your membership fee once a year, you probably didn’t add it into your budget. But you need to include that $99 fee along with any other services and subscriptions you may only pay once a year like magazines, Spotify, or Netflix. And of course, don’t forget your monthly memberships like the gym and monthly subscription boxes. If it’s something you only pay once a year, figure out the monthly cost by dividing the total by 12 then set that amount aside each month starting now to cover next year’s expense.

Special Occasions

Birthdays only come around once a year as well so you may not be including those in your budget. But if you have more than one gift to buy in a month, it can really spread you thin that month.  Go back and take a look at what you spent on gifts last year, who you bought for and an average of what you spent. Then, divide the total by 12 to get an amount to put in your monthly budget. Do this for holiday shopping as well so you don’t end up with a huge credit card bill in January.

Car

Your monthly car payment is most likely in your budget, but did you remember to add in gas and tolls?  How about oil changes, new tires, safety inspections, and any other regular maintenance costs?  These items are easy to forget because they don’t come up that often. But they do add up so add a line for routine car maintenance to your monthly budget.

New Clothes

If you are a parent, you know that your kids grow quickly and always seem to need new clothes so you probably have a budget line for them. But what about you? If you don’t shop for yourself too often and like to shop sales, you’ve probably neglected to add these costs to your budget. In addition to new clothes, you’ll need to buy necessities like undergarments and socks.  And don’t forget new shoes!

Fun

You work hard for your money so you deserve to treat yourself once in a while. Maybe it’s dinner at your favorite restaurant or tools for a new DIY project.  Add “Fun Money” to your budget and treat yourself to something you enjoy.

Pets

Your fur babies have expenses too. They need food, toys, treats, and annual vet visits.  If you go on vacation, you might have to hire a pet sitter or board your pets. Add a “Pet” line to your budget then estimate your yearly costs so you can break them down into a monthly budget line item. And keep track of your actual expenses so you know what to budget for next year.

Tax season is wrapping up, and if you’re expecting a nice refund check to hit your bank account any day, you’ll need a plan for how to use it so you don’t waste it away. If the thought of that extra money coming your way is already burning a hole in your pocket, you may want to think about using it in a way that will be financially beneficial to you instead.

Let your money work for you. What does your current financial situation look like?  Can your refund check offer you a little more security? Here are some basic financial priorities that you may want to consider using your refund for.

Pay Off Those High-Interest Loans and Credit Cards

If you’re trying to work yourself out of debt, your tax refund can help you reduce or eliminate your high-interest debt that’s costing you more. Use your refund to pay off any loans or credit cards with a low balance.  Or, consolidate high-interest accounts and put your refund towards any transfer or early payoff fees to help eliminate paying more in interest.  Take a look at your high-interest student loans, car loans, or credit card debt and determine the best way to pay these down or pay them off completely.

Start An Emergency Fund

If you don’t already have a healthy emergency fund, now is the time to start.  If you do have one, but the balance isn’t as high as you’d like, your refund check can give it a healthy boost.  If you don’t have an emergency fund, you’re just one unexpected expense away from getting in debt. You should have at least six to eight months’ worth of your salary set aside. Saving that much can take months if you’re only able to set aside a little bit each month, but your refund can help you to quickly build that fund and provide some peace of mind.

Refinance or Make Improvements

If a lower interest rate is available it will help lower your monthly mortgage payment, but refinancing has closing costs and other fees associated with it.  Using your refund to refinance your home will save you money each month on your mortgage; money that can be better spent on something else.

If you have a good mortgage rate already, take a look at your house. Does your air conditioning system need to be replaced? Maybe energy-efficient appliances will help you pay less in utility bills. Making improvements around your home can significantly increase its value and make it more comfortable to live in.

Buy Life Insurance

When you’re young, you tend to feel pretty confident that there’s always going to be time to take care of the ones you love.  Life insurance is usually overlooked. But if you’re married and you have a family or you’re planning one, a term life policy will offer them protection should the unthinkable happen to you. For a few hundred dollars, your tax refund can make sure your family is protected.

Spend It On Something You Need

Is your car in need of repair? Have you been putting off a visit to the doctor’s office? Let your refund help you get these essentials taken care of.

Why spend all of your refund on things you don’t really need when you can use it to save you money and give you peace of mind?

There are a plethora of “free money” apps out there that feel like a scam. If you’ve gone looking for a Paribus Review, you know that isn’t the case with them. Paribus differentiates itself from so many of the other apps for one simple reason.

Yes! The differentiator here is that I have actually gotten money back through Paribus. I know, for a fact, that this app works. Now that that’s out of the way, we can dig into the app.

An Honest Paribus Review

You set up Paribus by giving it permission to connect to your email address. This is how it tracks your purchases made around the web! As previously mentioned, they work with select merchants, but those merchants cover a wide variety of products. I do 99% of all my online shopping at Amazon, but if you’re not like me, you’re likely still covered. You can also connect your Paribus account to your credit cards to cover your bases entirely and make sure you are always getting the best price.

How It Works

You sit back and relax. Paribus looks at your purchases and uses bots to check prices on the things you’ve bought to see if the price drops. If it does, they work to get you money back. If not… well, you bought it anyway! If Paribus finds you money back, you will receive a message. Paribus does not collect any commission from your refund. Signing up with this link will get you started.

Here’s an example:

Sally buys shoes from an online retailer for $48. Paribus watches the price and it drops to $24. The difference: $24. Instead of $48 on those shoes, your net expenses are $24. As an added bonus, you get all this money back without have to do any extra work since Paribus does that for you!

More About Paribus

Paribus is not a scam. Like I said, I have made money with them. But, I also did some background research for this Paribus Review. Here is what I found…

The app was initially developed in 2014 as the brainchild of two Harvard guys – Karim Atiyeh and Eric Glyman. The software pretty much only runs on iOS, but there are plans to expand it to other operating systems. It is also owned by Capital One, so Paribus is a legit app run by a major banking corporation.

My Take? – Found Money

One thing that differentiates Paribus from similarly “found money” apps is that it requires no work from you. No tedious surveys that pay 10 cents per word. This is an app that actually works, costs you nothing and can help you bring in extra money at no additional work or cost to you. You have nothing to lose!

This post was sponsored by Paribus. 

A side income refers to work you perform outside of your regular job. So, let’s say you work a 9 to 5 office job but you babysitting on the side, that’s a side income or also known as a side hustle. A Side hustle is a great way to not only add more money to your bank account but that money can be used to pay off debt, start a savings, or use it as your fun spending money!

Instead of focusing on penny pinching every cent you bring in with your regular job the side income will allow you to focus your energy on earning and saving more. Are you looking to pay off student loans, lower your debt or saving for an awesome vacation? A side hustle is for you! The best thing about a side hustle is you are able to try a large variety of things and see what works best for you and your everyday schedule. You don’t need to quit your job or make any crazy long term decisions to start your side hustle since they are generally pretty low-risk. Stick your toes in all your options until you find one that works for you financially.

Here are some tips to help you manage your side income:

1. You will have to pay taxes on any side income money you make over $600. PLAN APPROPRIATELY. You don’t want to get stuck with a tax bill at the end of the year.
2. Remember to spend less than you make. This is a major key if you want to use your side income wisely.
3. Open a new bank account, whether it’s a savings account attached to your everyday account or a completely new one. Pro-tip, when they ask if you would like a bank card for the account say no.
4. For your new income set up direct deposit and link it to the new account. This will help eliminate the spending temptations when pay day rolls around.
5. Depending on how much your side hustle brings in, distribute the money appropriately, if you have a mortgage payment, car payment or credit card payment use that money first to contribute to the monthly payment.
6. Next, tackle that debt. Use as much money as you to pay down your debt.
7. If you haven’t downloaded Digit yet I would get on that. The app is extremely user friendly, making it mindless to use. Not only that is it extremely helpful when trying to start a savings account.
8. Use your side income to help you get ahead on payment, add another payment on your credit card or car payment. Not only will this help your credit, it will give you a little cushion if life decides to throw an unexpected expensive at you.
9. Finally, use some of your side income for you. This money is to help relieve some financial stress. Use that money for something that you’ve really wanted, or treat yourself to dinner and drinks with friends. You’re working hard, you deserve it!

For more ways to make extra money through side hustling check out these great articles.

101 Ways to Make Extra Money In Your Spare Time – A Review
4 Things to Do Right Now to Get More Money Each Month
Here Are 5 Things You Need to Consider Before Becoming a Landlord
The Side Hustle Stack: 38 Easy Ways To Stack Money On The Side

Museums are my favorite way to spend a rainy afternoon, especially in a new city I’m visiting. But if you’re not careful, they can take a big chunk out of your travel budget.

Thank goodness you’re careful. Actually, thank goodness you’re here.

Follow my advice and use these six different ways to save money at museums:

1. Consider a CityPass

If you’re going to be in town for awhile, and you want to see and do as much as possible, look into CityPASS. Chances are, if you want to do some touristy things, you can save money purchasing a booklet of tickets to top attractions.

2. Go Early or Late

Check to see if the museum has discounted entry. Sometimes, if you get to the museum in the last hour of the day, entry is free. Sometimes, you can go during the first hour to save money. Chart your museums in advance to see what makes the most sense for you.

3. Become a Member

Becoming an annual member probably only makes sense when you visit a city frequently, not one-off visits. But if the membership fee is typically about 3X the cost of a one-time ticket, consider whether you’ll be back to that city in the next 12 months.

4. Look for Discounts Online

Sites like Groupon, Livingsocial, and Smart Save are excellent places to find discounted entry fees. For example, if you wanted to go to the USS Intrepid museum, with a bit of hunting online, you can easily save 20%.

5. Pay Attention to Emails from Your Credit Card

This is not a reason to sign up for a new credit card, but if you have a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit card, look in your email. Several times a year, they offer “museums on US” days and partner with museums all over the country.

6. Remember “Suggested Donation” is Just That… a Suggestion

There’s a difference between entry fees and suggested donations. Pay close attention to the wording. If it says “suggested donation $25,” that means you can pay less. But speak up! The person at the window is supposed to make that suggestion look like more of a rule.

And, really, if none of these work… go to the museum anyway. I spent one magical afternoon at the Detroit Institute of Art several years ago, and tried fruitlessly to find a discount. It was still one of the best afternoons I can remember.