I thought it might be helpful to create a resource page of all the various tools and services I’ve discussed on the site. I’ve used all of these services personally and I think that they can really help you in your quest for financial freedom and passive income. I’ve also included a few of the blogging tools that I use just in case you are thinking of starting your own blog to make some cash on the side. Running a successful blog is not as difficult as it sounds!
Budgeting and Bills
- Mint – A really great free budgeting tool. I use it and if you’re just starting out, I think you should too. If budgeting scares you, just follow my step by step budgeting guide.
- LearnVest – This is a unique and possibly easier approach to budgeting. They’ve got all the killer graphs and sync with all your accounts, however what I really like about this site is their community and free financial resources. There is wealth of information on their blog and you can also upgrade for professional assistance to help you come up with a financial strategy that fits you. Basic account is free of course.
- Manilla – I have a lot of trouble keeping track of all my bills and it seems every year there are more bills than the last. Missing just one payment can kill your credit score and not all bills can be automated. For the ones that I need to remember on my own, I use Manilla to help me track them. It reminds me of all my bills and I can just log into their site and pay from there, no need to log into every site individually. Very convenient, a big time saver for me.
Investing
- Personal Capital – I manage my money here. Their graphs are awesome, they send me weekly updates by email, I got an free consultation with a professional money manager AND their 401k fee analyzer is top notch. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SITE!
- Betterment – Equity research and detailed investing isn’t for everyone. There is no shame in getting killer returns with an account that is no more complicated than a traditional savings account. I use this site to earn income on money that I need to keep available for bills and emergencies. I think it’s the easiest way to invest like an expert without being one.
- eToro – I’m not a professional investor, nor do I have enough time to research like one. I use the site to let me see in real time what professional investors are doing. I follow people, watch them and if I like their style I follow some of their investments.
Traveling
- Groupon Getaways – I had my vacation of a lifetime with these guys (Australia). The deals are incredible. If you like to go on vacation, I think you would be crazy if you didn’t at least check it out and see for yourself. Check out my experience with them and how I proposed on my Australia trip.
- LivingSocial Escapes – It’s the same deal as Groupon Getaways just there are different trips. I keep my eyes on here all the time along with Groupon because it’s like going on a killer vacation for half the cost.
- Viator – I’ve been to a few countries with my fiance and we like to do a lot of the figuring out what we are going to do/visit when we’re there. We want to do local things and go the less touristy route. We always use Viator to help us find ideas of what to do (and good deals). I’ve used it in London, Madrid, NYC and Washington DC so far and I love it!
- AirBNB – Hotels are expensive and feel like, well… hotels. I like the personal touch and experiencing the culture when I’m on vacation. There is nothing cooler than staying in a swanky apartment on the cheap in the city center as opposed to the cookie cutter Marriot. Plus, you can rent out your place on AirBNB while you are away to cut down on vacation costs. I haven’t tried that part yet but once I do I’ll be sure to write about it. They have a $1,000,000 guarantee so I’m pretty confident that it will work out well.
Food
- Restaurant.com – I don’t believe in paying full price but I also don’t believe in never going out to have a good time. Restaurant.com is a happy medium. I go though their list of restaurants, pick a place I like and get their gift cards. I pick nice places that let me get $25 gift cards for $10 so I save 60% before I even walk in the door. Check it out, they have awesome places on there!
Blogging
- WordPress – Hands down the best blogging platform. The code is great and clean if you’re into that. If you’re not, even better because the amount of themes and plugins for WordPress is crazy. It’s easy and there is so much support on the web for it, I don’t think you can ever really get stuck.
