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While there are benefits to having a landline, there’s also a hefty cost. However, you probably don’t want to give your cell phone number out to everyone. Luckily, there are several quality solutions that won’t require you to get a landline and won’t flood your personal phone with business calls. And the best part is that you get to use equipment you already own.

1. eVoice

How It Works:

eVoice is a phone system based in the cloud. Pick a toll-free or local phone number and set up a menu of options, just like every business you’ve ever called. That menu routes calls to whatever number you want, but callers only see the business number you selected. The system is online 24/7, so callers will always be able to reach you and hear your menu message. This is a great solution because the menu is extremely professional and gives you the option to send calls to your cell phone, your co-workers, or your voicemail. You can run your entire business from wherever you are, without needing a landline tied to a home base.

What You Pay:

After a 30-day free trial, you can pick from four different plans, starting at $12.99 a month. Each option offers a range of extensions and minutes, allowing you to choose what works best for you. It’s also possible to change your plan at any time. This means you can just bump up your plan if you suddenly find yourself in need of more minutes or want to add another co-worker’s phone extension.

2. Grasshopper

How It Works:

Grasshopper is an online phone system which makes your business look more professional. Pick a toll-free or local number, or even a vanity number with a customized word, like 1-800-FLOWERS.

You customize your greeting and menu, and set extensions for everyone in your business so that calls can be forwarded to specific numbers. All of your voicemails will be transcribed and emailed to you, so you can easily check in without having to listen to a message. Grasshopper also gives you the option of accepting texts on your business line, and offers a great user-friendly app.

What You Pay:

Grasshopper offers three plans depending on the size of your business, starting at $26 a month. All of the plans come with unlimited minutes, and vary according to how many extensions you need. There’s a 30-day money back guarantee, so there’s no risk in giving it a try. You can upgrade your plan at any time, allowing your phone service to grow with your business.

3. Smartline

How It Works:

Smartline is a new service from GoDaddy that gives you a dedicated business line and voicemail on your existing cell phone. Phone calls for your business show up on caller ID as “via Smartline,” so you can choose to answer them or send them to voicemail. You can use your cell phone to make business calls and know that your personal number is protected. That’s because outgoing calls through the app show up as your business number. You can also send and receive texts with your business phone number. As an added bonus, you can set business hours for your number, so you can keep your work life separate from your personal life.

What You Pay:

Smartline will give you a business phone, but you don’t actually need anything other than the free app. You can try a plan free for a month, then pick the one that best suits you. The basic plan offers 100 minutes and 100 texts for $3.99 a month. The unlimited plan offers unlimited everything for $9.99 a month. Both plans include a local number for your business, a voicemail box, transcribed voicemails, and more.

4. FreedomVoice

How it Works:

The main idea of this service hinges on the ‘CloudNumber,’ a professional local or 1-800 number which is managed via a smartphone (not through a fancy or expensive piece of equipment). You get to stay in control of your number and everything it offers your customers, including your personalized greeting. You can sign any of your employees up to the system, giving them their own extension. That’s all it takes for them to be reached through the number – it doesn’t matter if they’re in Bali, or Bermuda, or Baltimore. You can also check voicemails and faxes from anywhere, thanks to the free mobile app.

What you Pay:

You can try the service for free for 30 days. If you don’t like it, you can cancel. However, you’re probably going to like it. That’s because it offers great plans for great prices – from $9.95 a month for a number with 400 minutes, to the Max plan which offers unlimited minutes for $29.95 a month. Those caught somewhere in the middle can choose the Edge plan for $19.95 a month.

The post 4 Low-Cost Alternatives To Having A Business Landline appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

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Everyone talks about how important it is to maintain a decent credit score, but how much do you really know about your score and what affects it? Here are 12 things that could be messing up your credit score.

1. Not keeping tabs on it.

Do you know your credit score? How often do you check it? You can get a copy of your credit report for free, once a year, from all three credit agencies – TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. TransUnion makes the process incredibly easy, and provides great tips on fixing any inaccuracies. Be sure to take advantage of TransUnion’s credit score simulator, which estimates how your current score would change based on any future actions. TransUnion also offers identity protection which monitors your credit, alerts you to any suspicious activity, and provides up to $1,000,000 in ID theft insurance.

Sign up through our link and get Transunion credit monitoring for $9.95 a month (50% off)

Contrary to popular belief, checking your credit score will not lower your number – so don’t be afraid to do it. You may want to consider signing up to a website such as Credit Sesame, which is entirely free to join and sends you an updated score each month. It also sends daily alerts to let you know if anything has changed, and allows you to track all of your financial information in one place. It’s a great tool to utilize, and is an excellent way to stay on top of your score. It costs you absolutely nothing, so why not give it a go?

Sign up to Credit Sesame and get your free credit score.

2. Taking out loans & opening credit cards.

When you apply for a credit card or loan, the company or lender will pull your credit report. This is a hard inquiry, which means they’re thoroughly examining your account to see if you’re a good candidate. Each hard inquiry shaves a few points off your score, so try to limit or spread out your applications. However, don’t worry about potential landlords checking your credit – these are “soft inquiries” and don’t affect your score.

3. Asking to increase your credit limit.

If you’re seeking more spending power, you can always ask your credit card company to increase your limit. This is a good alternative to applying for an entirely new credit card, and it can positively impact your credit score. But be careful – when you approach your financial institution for an increased credit limit, ask if they will initiate a hard inquiry or a soft inquiry. Each company handles such requests differently, so you need to be careful before you take this step.

4. Getting a new phone plan.

If you’re signing up for a new phone plan, the service provider will make a hard inquiry into your credit. Remember, hard inquiries take a few points off your credit score. If you’re trying to open a new phone line, registering for a new credit card, and applying for a loan at the same time, your credit score will feel the hit, and you’ll be more likely to be denied by all parties.

5. Not using your credit card.

It probably seems like a good move to use cash instead of putting everything on your credit card and potentially paying interest and penalties on late bills. However, long periods of inactivity on your credit card means the company might close it, and a closed card will ding your credit score.

6. Closing old credit card accounts.

If you’re not using a credit card anymore, it might be tempting to close the account. However, closing accounts looks bad on your credit, especially when it’s an account you’ve had for a long time. Closing old cards shortens your credit history, and can significantly influence your score.

7. Transferring credit balances to one card.

It might seem easier to carry around and pay off one credit card instead of many, but doing so could actually hurt your score. Adding all of your balances to one card raises your utilization ratio. When you come close to maxing out a card, an alert is put on your credit report, which makes you seem high risk. Using several cards and making payments on time can greatly increase your score.

8. Using your debit card for car rentals.

Although most rental companies won’t lend you a car unless you can put the charges on a credit card, some allow you to use a debit card. However, opting to use a debit card means the car company will pull your credit before they hand over the keys. This will take a few points off your credit score.

9. Financing purchases through the store.

When you’re buying a big item like a couch or a bed, you might be drawn to a particular store because of their purchase plan. It probably says something like “take the item home today and pay nothing for 12 months with 0% interest.” That sounds great, but taking advantage of the deal means opening a line of credit. Since you’re opening it through the store instead of through a financial institution, it’s marked as a “last resort loan,” which negatively impacts your credit and makes you seem like more of a risk when it comes to borrowing.

10. Not paying medical bills.

Medical bills are stressful enough on their own, because you’re already undergoing a procedure or treatment that caused the bills to pile up in the first place. Depending on your insurance, you might not get much help financially, and you might not be getting paid medical leave from your job. Unfortunately, unpaid medical bills are turned over to a collection agency, and just one negative account on your credit report can cause your score to drop 50-100 points. It’s worth paying down your medical bills to keep your score high.

11. Co-signing loans.

If you’re asked to co-sign a loan for someone else, think twice before you do so. It can either have a positive or negative impact on your credit, depending on how financially responsible the primary signer is. If they make their payments on time, being a co-signer on their account can increase your score. If they stop paying, however, your score could be negatively affected and you could be left to make the payments on your own.

12. Filing for bankruptcy.

Duh. It sounds pretty obvious, but filing for bankruptcy kills your credit score. It takes it down by hundreds of points and stays on your report for 10 years. Needless to say, it takes a long time to repair that kind of damage.

If you do find yourself in need of credit repair, a service like Lexington Law can be a great resource. It’s been helping people improve their credit scores for over 27 years. Head over to the website for a free consultation which will give you a complete review of your credit report and summary. If there’s anything inaccurate on your report, it can help get those items removed.

The post 12 Things You Didn’t Know Messed Up Your Credit Score appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

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Building good credit doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, it can take years to get your score where you want it to be. The journey is well worth it, however, as a good score leads to better interest rates on loans and credit cards, which can save you thousands of dollars over a lifetime. If you have bad credit, don’t worry. Here are two easy ways to improve your score.

1. Lexington Law

What They Do: Founded in 1991, this law firm is well versed in helping consumers repair their credit scores. They begin by analyzing copies of your credit report from all three bureaus, and then come up with a game plan to clean up your record. This can include disputing the validity of certain items on your report and asking creditors to remove old items. You can check their progress online at any time, and they periodically send you tips on what you can do to improve your score while they continue to work behind the scenes.

What You Pay: Lexington Law offers every prospective client a free consultation. From there, you can choose from three tiers of service, beginning at $89.95 a month. You pay monthly for the work they do, so you’ll see changes in your score before you pay. Although it’s difficult to estimate the amount of time needed for Lexington Law to work their magic, most customers begin seeing an improvement in about four months. You can cancel at any time, so you’re under no obligation to keep paying once your score is where you want it to be. Just make sure to continue utilizing Lexington Law’s tips to keep your score high.

Watch the video below and click here to speak to the experts at Lexington Law and receive your free consultation.

2. CreditRepair.com

What They Do: Advisors pull your credit reports from all three agencies, then work to eliminate negative, unfair, and old listings. As they work, you can download the app to keep up with their progress. Through the app, text messages, and emails, CreditRepair.com provides customized information on how to improve and maintain your score. When something shows up on your credit report, you’ll get notified, and the service will explain how each item influences your credit score. You’ll also get information on how to prepare for the future, especially regarding loans and investments.

What You Pay: Clients begin with a free consultation, which includes an agent looking over your credit score and recommending a solution. You’ll pay $99.95 a month for advisors to contact agencies on your behalf, cleaning up your credit report. You can check in with them any time via the online dashboard, in addition to the app, texts, and emails. As a bonus, your monthly fee also includes identity theft insurance to protect your credit score. In just four months, most customers see a 40 point improvement on their credit score.

Click here to receive a free personalized credit consultation.

WIth these great services in your pocket, you can rest assured that you’ll be well taken care of if you choose to seek a credit repair service.

The post 2 Companies That Can Help You Repair Your Credit appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

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Starting your own website is a daunting task – you have to think of a domain name, find the perfect host, and design the actual layout and content. Hiring a custom graphic designer can be costly, and it means pinning your hopes on one person who is responsible for creating the online look of your business – with no promise that you’ll get something good. Here are two affordable ways to design your website, both of which come with money-back guarantees.

1. Use 99designs to turn your website design into a contest.

When you post your business name and identity on 99designs, you open a contest that grabs the attention of dozens of designers who will custom-build your website. Write up a short description of your business and include any colors and design elements you want to be included on your site. Designers post samples of what your site will look like, and you crown a winner after seven days. You then work personally with that designer to create your perfect website.

Starting a contest for your website design is $599 and gives you full copyright. You can also choose to pay more, knowing that the best designers will compete for better-paying contracts. Another plus is that you don’t have to know what you want your site to look like. For example, just tell the designers you want something retro in neon colors, and let their creativity flow. There’s no need to be specific, or to hold the designer’s hand as they work. You can also pay a little more to partner up with Xfive for web development.

2. Crowdsource your site design with DesignCrowd.

DesignCrowd works on a platform similar to 99designs by having you turn your search for a great web design into a contest. The scope is larger, with anywhere between 25 and 100 designs submitted for each project. You set your own price and designers can submit multiple looks for your one project. This means that if you love one designer’s style but not the first look, that designer can keep submitting until you find one you love. You can submit feedback on each design, and share them with your friends and co-workers if you’re seeking additional opinions.

Using DesignCrowd instead of one graphic designer is a great way to develop your site – you set your own budget, you get more creativity from a vast range of designers, and you don’t have to pay a retainer to keep them on board. Once the design is completed, you’ll get all of the files and own the copyright for your site.

The post 2 Affordable Ways To Design Your Website appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

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Having a website for yourself or your small business means there will be a central place on the web where people can find you. Social media profiles are fine, but they can’t present your purpose as well as a complete website. Creating your own professional website isn’t hard these days, with many hosts including a website builder when you buy a domain name and hosting package. Check out these five hosts that offer it all, you really can’t go wrong with any of them. A good tip to follow, try a couple of these companies and go with the one you like the best.

Our two favorites on this list are Blue Host and iPage. iPage currently has a $1.99 special going on which includes hundreds of dollars in free extras (making it worthwhile to signup just to get that).

If you’re looking to launch an e-commerce site, go with Shopify. Scroll down to the e-commerce section of this article for more information, or read this guide to learn how to start your online store in 35 minutes with Shopify.

1. Blue Host

This popular web host, which powers more than two million sites around the globe, is a great choice if you plan on using WordPress for your site. You can set up WordPress with just a few clicks, and manage all of your installations in a single place. The process is so easy that you can start building your website immediately. There’s an in-house team of WordPress experts who are on call to offer support if you need it, as well as engineers and development staff who know exactly how the platform works. As the company itself says, no one powers WordPress better or understands it quite as well as Blue Host. The company aims to help everyone thrive on the web, from beginners to experts, which is why they offer 24/7 assistance to all of their customers.

What you Pay:

Regular web hosting typically begins at $7.99 a month, although there is currently an offer which brings that number down to $3.95 a month. For WordPress users, the WP Standard plan is just $19.99 a month, and offers 30GB of storage and 100 million visits per month. You can also choose from the WP Enhanced, WP Premium, and WP Ultimate plans. No matter which package you choose, you’ll benefit from great performance, quick speed, and secure SiteLock security features.

Try Blue Host for free, using its 30-day money back guarantee.

2. iPage

Get a domain name, email, ad credits, and a page builder for free from iPage when you sign up for a hosting plan. Pick from their assortment of templates, then customize it to look exactly how you want. They offer apps that include a free online store to get your business off the ground. You can create a blog through the site, or link up your existing blog. Once your site is designed, iPage makes sure it is compatible with all mobile devices.

What You Pay:

iPage is currently offering a special price of $1.99 a month for the first term of your service. After that, you’ll only pay $7.99 a month. They offer a 30-day money back guarantee if you’re not pleased with the site, but with 24/7 customer support and the ability to change your entire page, it’s doubtful you’ll need it.

3. Yahoo! Small Business

Yahoo! Small Business is making it easy for you to get everything you need in one place – a domain name, hosting, emails, and a website builder. There are pre-designed templates you can use to make your page beautiful before you even customize it. Adding text and photos is a breeze with their page builder, and they include a guide to walk you through the design process, as well as a checklist to go over once you’re done.

What You Pay:

Basic plans for personal sites are $2.49 a month. You’ll pay just a little more, $3.99 a month, for a business site. If your website gets a lot of traffic, you can get an unlimited Premier plan for just $5.99 a month. All options include a free domain name and $100 worth of ad credits, which is a great way to kickstart your business online.

4. Weebly

Weebly offers it all – domain names, web hosting, online stores, and a website builder. If you already have a domain name, you can link it up with Weebly’s hosting package and use their drag-and-drop builder to make your entire website quickly. Weebly has templates to pick as a starting point, and they make it easy to add pages, including a blog and a store. You drag and drop elements onto your page, click “publish,” and it’s online. It couldn’t be any easier.

What You Pay:

Basic plans are free, so you can get a great placeholder site up and running at no cost to you. It will have Weebly ads on it, but it’s a good way to get a site that looks professional, without paying a dime. Starter plans, which eliminate Weebly ads, are $8 a month. Other plans for small business sites and stores go up to $25 a month.

5. HostGator

If you want to build your website with the support of an outstanding company that has a proven track record, look no further than HostGator’s website builder. Everything you need to build a website is included for a tiny fee, from a wide selection of themes to pre-built website sections. The drag-and-drop functionality makes building your site a breeze, and the 100+ mobile-friendly templates make the already simple process even better. Employees are on call every single day of the year, 24 hours a day, to answer questions and provide assistance.

What you Pay:

Technically, the website builder is free. That’s if you buy a hosting plan with HostGator. The package deal includes a domain name, in addition to all of Hostgator’s website builder goodies. Get an introductory offer for one year, starting at just $3 a month. If you don’t like the service, there’s a money back guarantee. But for prices that low, you’ll probably be sticking around.

* E-commerce Bonus:

Maybe you’ve already been selling products online and need a more dynamic approach to sales. Or you’re looking at dropshipping products and you’re in the final planning stages. Better yet, you may have a great idea for a digital product and you just need a platform to reach your target audience.

Whatever the case, Shopify is a great platform for setting up a successful online store. It is an e-commerce tool built for beginners – for anyone who can’t or doesn’t want to spend much time developing a standalone website.

Shopify powers 600,000 stores around the world. The platform has supported the sale of $55 billion in products. Users without any coding skills can set up a personalized online store in minutes.

Get a free 14-day trial with Shopify.

The post 5 Companies That Can Get Your Website Launched Tonight appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

Freshbooks

FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting software that is custom-built for freelancers and small business owners. Instead of breaking the bank to hire your own accountant or struggling to do the finances on your own, read on to see how FreshBooks is the perfect solution for you.

1. Keep everything in one place.

Instead of creating invoices in Excel or Word, and doing financial accounts work in QuickBooks, FreshBooks is your one-stop shop. You can make invoices, track expenses, keep track of the time and budget spent on each project, accept payments online, and more.

2. Literally one place, since it’s cloud-based.

This software lives in the cloud, which means you can start something on your work computer, then pick up from where you left off via the app on your phone. It works with all platforms: PC, Apple, and Android.

3. Quick and easy money management.

FreshBooks has everything set up for you to choose from, including invoice templates you can design to look professional. Instead of having to struggle to learn a new software or accounting method, it’s an intuitive program that just needs a little input from you to create exactly what you need.

4. No more paper receipts.

Link your business credit card or bank account to FreshBooks to make keeping track of expenses a breeze. You can also take photos of relevant receipts and upload them to the app so they are seamlessly imported into your financial records.

5. Work well with others.

If you work with contractors, or run your own business and want your employees to have access, they can. You can assign anyone access to a specific project’s financial records, or records for the entire business.

6. Tax time won’t be a hassle.

As you input expenses, FreshBooks categorizes them, so you won’t have to do it at tax time. All of your billable hours are already there. All of your income, sales tax, and more. You can hand over the numbers to your tax preparer, or do it on your own with helpful tax tips from the FreshBooks blog.

7. Try it for free, then keep your costs down.

FreshBooks offers a 30 day free trial so you can see if it will be the best fit for you and your business. Once you’re hooked, you start off at $15/month for total control of your freelance or business finances. They also offer a 30 day money back guarantee, so there’s no risk to giving it a shot.

The post 7 Reasons FreshBooks Makes Managing Your Small Business Finances Easier appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

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Your logo is the first thing people see when it comes to your business, and just like a book’s cover — you’re judged for it. Graphic design is a difficult skill to pick up in your free time, especially on top of freelancing or starting your own business. But it’s also pretty pricey to hire your own designer. Thankfully, there are several affordable ways to design a custom, professional logo.

1. Logojoy

Logojoy

What You Do:

Enter your business name on the front page of Logojoy and they’ll pick logos to inspire you. Next, pick a color palette, but you’re not picking on color alone — all of the colors are described in terms to help you decide what you want your logo to say. Pick icons that convey the idea behind your brand, then see what logos were created just for you. Once you find a logo you love, you can click to edit the font, icon, brand name, tagline, and more. When it’s perfect, you’ll have the option to buy the exact file you need.

What You Pay:

The most popular option is $65, which gives you a variety of file types, full ownership of the logo, and lifetime phone support with Logojoy. You can add on a social media kit that has your logo perfectly cropped and sized for icons and wallpapers on social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook. You can also order business cards — talk about a one stop shop!

2.LogoGarden

LogoGarden

What You Do:

LogoGarden offers different ways to design your logo. If you like to get your hands dirty, so to speak, you can design it yourself with the Logo Maker.

If you want a custom logo designed for you, you can sign up for their DreamTeam Design service. Fill out an interest form and within three days, three designers will send you sample logos. Pick which logo you like best, then work with that designer to customize it to be exactly what you want. If you don’t like any of those logos, don’t feel like you’ve thrown your money away — you can request more! Whether you pick one of the first three, or ask for more, you get unlimited revisions on your logo. Take 10% off your order with coupon code WALLSTINS10 (you’re welcome!).

What You Pay:

The logo you made yourself is only $12.50. Designs made by your DreamTeam Design are only $199.99. For added convenience, you can order business cards, stationery, and more merchandise for your business directly from the site.

3. 99designs

99designs

What You Do:

99designs a fun approach to logo design: a contest! Fill out a quick survey describing what your brand is like and how you want your logo to look. This information is posted online as a contest —designers create a logo they think you’ll love, and throw it into the ring. After seven days, you pick your favorite. You will work personally with that designer to customize your logo, and then ownership and files are all yours.

What You Pay:

The bronze level contest is $299 and will get you around 30 custom logos to choose from. The price you pay is what the designer “wins” if you pick them, so more expensive packages will get you more designs of a higher quality. 99designs offers a 100% money back guarantee. 99designs also offers other design services for reasonable prices, and you can continue to work one-on-one with your winning designer, or find another artist to use.

4. DesignCrowd

DesignCrowd

What You Do:

DesignCrowd also uses a contest to create your logo. Fill out a short brief to explain what you want, pick a 3, 5, or 10-day deadline, and post your project. You’ll start getting sample logos within 24 hours. Logo contests get anywhere from 25 to 100 designs submitted, and you get to pick the winner, then work with the artist on revisions until it’s perfect.

What You Pay:

DesignCrowd recommends a budget of at least $150, and takes fees from your posting, but since designers are competing with each other, you’ll get high-quality designs submitted. If you can’t get it exactly right, or don’t get any submissions, you get your money back. DesignCrowd also offers other design services for reasonable prices.

The post 4 Affordable Ways To Design A Logo appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

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Buying a car seems like a huge deal because of the major financial commitment — you’re putting a lot of money down, you’re giving away a huge chunk of your paycheck every month, and you’re going to be driving this thing for years, if all goes well. Instead of worrying about buying your new car, relax and start looking for a quality used car. This will not only save you stress, it will save you a lot of money. Here’s why:

1. New cars lose value quickly.

Once you drive your brand new car off the lot, it loses up to 15% of its value. That means if you turn around and try to sell it back, you’re going to get a low offer for a car that is still brand new! Which basically means you threw away several grand, depending on your car’s initial price. For the next three or four years, your new car will depreciate even more. Studies have shown that cars over three years old have already lost 54% of their value.

2. Pay less in sales tax.

Your total for the car will be less than a new car, so you will have major savings when it comes to sales tax. Sales tax varies from state to state, but if you’re saving several thousand on the car itself, you’ll be saving several hundred on the sales tax alone.

3. Pay less for insurance.

New cars are worth more, so they cost more to insure. When you buy a used car, the value is much lower so you’ll be able to save on your insurance, and maybe even reconfigure what coverage you have.

4. Cars are made to last.

Most cars on the road are over ten years old, and they are still running fine. If you get a three or four-year-old car, you can count on driving it for six or more years, if you keep up with maintenance. That’s not bad, considering how much you saved on your initial purchase of the used car. Add in maintenance over six years, and even if you decide you want a different car by that point, you’ll still have saved more than buying a new car initially. Buying a nice used car every six years will be cheaper than buying a new car every ten or fifteen years.

5. Buy a nicer car.

You really love BMWs, but you have a Honda budget. When you consider used cars on the lot, you might be able to buy a nicer car than you thought your budget would allow. Sure, you could afford a brand new Toyota, but what about that used Lexus that’s the same price?

6. Don’t worry about the dings.

Not only is the act of buying a new car stressful, but it’s also stressful to drive a new car! You’re eyeing every car on the highway as they edge toward that dotted line — and parking lots? Forget it! Park all alone in the back and hike to the store to keep that paint job pristine. With a used car, you might already have a few dings in the paint, so you won’t have to treat your car like it has a bubble around it. You’ll be able to hop in and get on the road, which is the whole point anyway, right?

7. Know your car’s history.

Used car salesmen have the stereotypical story about an old lady only driving the car to the store every week, and otherwise it’s in pristine condition and worth this much. You don’t have to listen to that spiel anymore. Thanks for car history reports like CarFax and AutoCheck, you’ll be able to find out exactly how old the car is, what repairs its had, and more.

8. Buy Certified Pre-Owned (CPO).

If you’re squeamish about buying a used car that anybody could have done anything to, despite having your CarFax report in hand, ask to look at some certified pre-owned cars. These cars might have been leased to someone for a year or two, or used by the dealership for certain things. They typically have lower mileage, are in great condition, and have been inspected before they were put on the lot. The biggest advantage to buying CPO is that you’ll get a warranty, which doesn’t usually come with a used car.

9. Be protected by lemon laws.

Each state has lemon laws that protect car buyers from cars that turn out to not work right and are unable to be repaired. You’ll have to research your state’s lemon laws before you buy — some states cover used cars too.

10. Less pollution.

What? You’re still driving a car and putting exhaust into the atmosphere, so how does buying used affect pollution? Scientific American reported that a study conducted by Toyota in 2004 discovered that up to “28 percent of carbon dioxide emissions generated during the lifecycle of a typical gasoline-powered car can occur during its manufacture and its transportation to the dealer”. That means the used car you’re looking at has already been manufactured and shipped, so by not buying new, you’re keeping a lot of pollution out of the environment. What an easy way to go green!

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In this post, we will review 6 of the best email marketing solutions. You can’t go wrong with any of these options, we suggest trying a couple out to see which one you’re most comfortable with. They all have free trials, so you can test them out without spending a penny. These include Constant Contact, iContact, AWeber, Drip, GetResponse and  Sendinblue. (Scroll down and skip ahead if you’d like or continue reading.)

Email marketing campaigns are an ideal way to grow your business by getting information out to customers who are already interested in your brand. Instead of paying for sponsored ads via social media and hoping the right person will see it, focus on people who want what you have with email marketing. Email is far from a thing of the past; in fact, people are six times more likely to click on an email link than a link on social media. True, developing a quality email marketing campaign may take longer than composing a tweet, but it doesn’t have to jeopardize all of your time. While it seems that almost every email marketing company offers stats for you to see how well your campaigns do, some really go above and beyond. Check out key features of these seven solutions that make email marketing a breeze to see which one is right for you.

1. AWeber

Aweber

The Money: Aweber give you a free 30-day trial; starts at $19/month depending on subscribers.

The Basics: Over 700 templates to use along with a drag and drop editor.

Autoresponder option for campaigns.

Subscriber segmenting and management.

Tracks opens, clicks, and visits to your website.

The Perks: Automatically creates newsletters and emails from your blog posts, so you’re not re-creating content.

Offers engaging sign up forms and also pulls subscribers from WordPress/Paypal.

Triggers campaigns based on links clicked, and allows you to schedule emails.

Sign up for Aweber here.

2. Constant Contact

Constant Contact

The Money: Constant Contact gives you a free 60-day trial; starts at $20/month depending on subscribers; discounts for nonprofits.

The Basics: Offers templates to use along with a drag and drop editor.

Autoresponder option for campaigns.

Subscriber segmenting and management.

Tracks opens, clicks, and visits to your website

The Perks: Can break the contract without incurring fees — also has a “30-day money back” option.

Schedule birthday or milestone emails to personally engage with your customer.

Offers apps for various sites and social media to increase list building.

Posts to social networks and suggests photos and captions so you’re not manually promoting.

Sign up for Constant Contact here.

3. Drip

Drip

The Money: Drip offers a free starter plan for up to 100 subscribers; starts at $41/month for up to 2,500 subscribers.

The Basics: Email blueprints so you don’t have to create your own content from scratch.

Autoresponder option for campaigns.

Subscriber segmenting and management.

Tracks opens, clicks, and visits to your website.

The Perks: Allows you to start, stop, and change Facebook ads based on your customers’ actions.

Links up with online storefronts to start campaigns after a customer makes a purchase (or abandons cart!).

Shows you a timeline of how the customer interacted with your site.

Sign up for Drip here.

4. GetResponse

GetResponse

The Money: GetResponse offers a free 30-day trial; starts at $15/month depending on subscribers.

The Basics: Over 500 templates, or you can design your own.

Autoresponder option for campaigns with an easy calendar layout.

Subscriber segmenting and management.

Tracks opens, clicks, and visits to your website.

The Perks: See campaigns side by side to see what worked and what didn’t — with numbers.

Use dynamic content to appeal to clients personally relating to geographic locations, custom promo codes, results based on what they clicked.

“Perfect Timing” delivers email to each subscriber based on when they are active and likely to read and engage with the email (includes compensation for time zones).

Whitelisted by email providers and boasts 99% deliverability.

Sign up for GetReponse here.

5. iContact

iContact

The Money: iContact offers a free 30-day trial; starts at $14/month depending on subscribers.

The Basics: Drag and drop editor to create your own email campaigns.

Autoresponder option for campaigns.

Subscriber segmenting and management.

Tracks opens, clicks, and visits to your website.

The Perks: Offers engaging sign up forms for your site or Facebook.

Unlimited tech support and personal coaching videos so you always have help.

All-in-one marketing solution by extending reach to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more.

“Spamcheck” before sending to make sure your campaign gets to inboxes.

Sign up for iContact here.

6. Sendinblue

Sendinblue

The Money: Sendinblue gives you 9,000 emails free every month to unlimited contact; starts at $25/month depending on how many emails you want to send every month or day.

The Basics: Offers templates to use along with a drag and drop editor.

Autoresponder option for campaigns.

Subscriber segmenting and management.

Tracks opens, clicks, and visits to your website.

The Perks: See real-time stats related to geography, platform, and what exactly is getting clicked.

Sends campaigns as SMS messages in addition to email.

Offers “Reputation Monitoring” so your messages won’t get caught in the spam filter.

Sign up for Sendinblue here.

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Money problems are the root of all evil. When you’re single, it’s tough to make ends meet, with rent, bills, surprise expenses — all on one income! Once you get married, you think it’s going to be so much easier: another income, two people sharing rent, paying off the same bills, having each others’ backs in the event of a crisis. Not to burst your bubble, but there are some unexpected financial issues that arise in marriage. Here’s a heads up on what you should think about before you get married — or even after you’ve been married for years.

1. The Problem: Engagement Rings

Before you get married, an engagement ring seems like such a huge deal. And it is pretty important because it symbolizes your commitment. But too many people think an engagement ring should also symbolize what income bracket you’re in (or, more likely, you wish you were in). For the most part, no proposal is a surprise. If you’re in a serious relationship, you’ve probably (hopefully) talked about the future. Maybe you’ve even talked about what kind of engagement ring would be just right. Forbes states that the average price of an engagement ring is $5,000, but can expect to spend as little as $1,000.

How to Prevent It:

If that $5,000 price tag sounds a bit high to you, talk with your partner. Maybe you can buy an antique ring, or use a family heirloom, or just have matching wedding bands. It’s important to be on the same page of this issue since it’s the start of a major commitment. Don’t let an engagement ring break the bank — or your relationship.

2. The Problem: Weddings

So you’ve talked to your partner about engagement rings, and bought one that fits your budget and your style. Now it’s on to the wedding plans! Cost of Wedding puts the average wedding expense at just over $25,500. Pretty pricey for a few hours of fun! The site also says that most couples lately have been spending less than $10,000 on their weddings, which is a drastic difference.

How to Prevent It:

You can use Cost of Wedding to custom budget your wedding based on location, number of guests, location expenses, and more. Even if you haven’t started planning your wedding yet, this site is a great way to get a general idea of your budget and start talking about how you both want the day to be. If the wedding doesn’t seem as important as things to come in the future, like going on an adventurous honeymoon, buying a house, or building a nest egg, make that clear to your partner.

3. The Problem: Not Talking About Money

The crucial solution in the first two problems is talking to your partner. If you never talk about money, you’ll never get anywhere, and you might find yourself bitter and in the middle of a divorce. It’s fairly common for a spender and a saver to be married, so don’t feel like you’re already on the brink of divorce for that reason alone.

How to Prevent It:

It’s important to tell your partner how you feel about money, how you want to save, and what goals you’re saving for. Make sure you listen to your partner’s thoughts on these points, too. Once you open the lines of communication, you’ll be able to collaborate about how you want money to be saved and spent.

4. The Problem: Being Emotional About Money

When you work hard and save your money, and then your spouse wants to blow it all on a new car, you get emotional. It’s understandable, but it’s not the best way to handle money — even in something as emotional as a marriage.

How to Prevent It:

It sounds strange, but it’s best to approach money from a business standpoint. Don’t think of the money as your money and their money, it simply belongs to the business, and you are the executives trying to decide how to allocate these funds. If the emotional aspect is out of the equation, you’ll be able to talk with your partner logically about money, and eliminate a lot of fights.

5. The Problem: Merging Accounts Too Soon

There’s advice saying married people should share banks accounts, there’s advice saying married people should keep their own personal accounts, and there’s advice saying you should have a joint and separate account.

How to Prevent It:

You know what all of that conflicting advice is really telling you? Do what feels right to you. If you have a big savings account and your partner is a notorious shopper, don’t feel guilty about keeping your own account. This is something that will be sorted out in your open, level-headed conversations about money with your partner, but it’s also something you should both agree on, and both feel comfortable with.

6. The Problem: Not Having an Emergency Fund

A new study found that only 39% of Americans have $1,000 in their emergency fund. That sounds like a nice chunk of change to have just sitting in your bank account, but think about your life. What if you were in a car wreck — how much would all of those expenses set you back? If you’re a renter, you don’t have to worry about household issues, but if you’re a homeowner, almost anything that goes wrong in your house could cost at least $1,000.

How to Prevent It:

Not having money to pay off a major expense would put a huge strain on your marriage, so instead of putting yourself and your spouse in that situation, talk about a nest egg. How much would you like to have put away for an emergency? Set a goal and start saving towards it each month from your paychecks.

7. The Problem: Not Having Fun With Money

This might sound contrary to all of the advice so far, but while you’re thinking about a nest egg, think about putting some money away for fun. Too often, money is only thought about or talked about when it’s a problem. Money doesn’t always have to be a sore spot in your relationship.

How to Prevent It:

Talk with your partner about how you like to have fun together. Do you want to take a romantic vacation and get away from everything for a week? Or splurge and take the family to Disneyland? It doesn’t even have to be a big trip; what about putting aside enough money to go out to a fancy restaurant once a month? Set a goal and start saving for this fund as well.

8. The Problem: Not Being Honest About Money

Sometimes you might grab fast food for lunch, then feel bad about that minor expense and hide it from your spouse. Or go on a shopping spree where purchases kept piling up because you really wanted them. You might have student loans that you’re pretty sure you can pay off on your own, or debt from credit cards you maxed out in college. Once you’re married, issues like this aren’t just yours, they belong to both of you. Depending on how you file taxes, student loans and other debts could affect your tax refunds.

How to Prevent It:

Never think that your partner doesn’t need to know your spending habits and your debts. Remember, once the open lines of communication about money are open, you need to keep it that way. You’re married, so your partner knows you and should be understanding about any financial issues you bring to them. But if they’re not, think about what you can do to help, and maybe skip that spending spree next time.

9. The Problem: Filing Taxes Incorrectly

You might think you could filed married but separately to keep that debt info from affecting your spouse, but make sure you know all of the facts, first. Filing jointly prevents you from getting the maximum number of deductions, according to H&R Block.

How to Prevent It:

Look into what credits you get from filing jointly, and if you’re not sure of the best option, prepare the tax return both ways before you file it. See what benefits you get filing separately versus filing jointly, and then submit the return that gives you the most refund.

10. The Problem: Not Having a Will

You’re in love — you’re newlyweds, or you’re celebrating a major anniversary and the kids are at home with a babysitter. It doesn’t matter who you are — you need a will. If you die without a will, the state and courts decide what happens to your money and property.

How to Prevent It:

There is a certain hierarchy to this, so a spouse usually gets precedence, especially for joint assets, but you don’t want to take a chance. You and your partner need to have wills drawn up, and make sure you update them as life circumstances (like new children, new properties, and more) change.

The post 10 Financial Mistakes That Ruin A Marriage, And How To Prevent Them appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.