Here's how to save money on eating out: log a month of it first, then go after the habits you repeat. Swapping 20 workday lunches at 12 for packed ones at 3 saves about 180 a month.
· 3 min read
Here's how to set your freelance rate: add the income you want to tax, costs and savings, then divide by the hours you can bill. On 58,000 and 1,150 billable hours, that's about 50 an hour.
· 3 min read
This self-employed expenses list covers the usual business costs you can claim: office costs, travel, staff, stock, insurance, premises, marketing, subscriptions and training. In the US, an expense must be both ordinary and necessary.
· 3 min read
Here's how to declare side hustle income: in the US, report it on your tax return, and file if net self-employment earnings reach $400. In the UK, register for Self Assessment if your trading income is over £1,000.
· 3 min read
How much should a side hustle make? Enough that your hourly rate after costs and tax beats what else you could earn, and gross pay of 400 for 30 hours can turn out to be 8 an hour.
· 3 min read
How much money can you travel abroad with? There's no general limit leaving the US, UK or EU, but you must declare cash at the 10,000 line: above $10,000 for the US, and £10,000 or €10,000 or more for the UK and EU.
· 3 min read
Is it cheaper to withdraw money abroad? Usually yes, with a low-fee card and the local currency: on 300 dollars from a euro account, that beat an airport desk by about 22 euros in a worked example.
· 4 min read
How much cash to travel with depends on where you're going, but two days of spending plus a taxi fare covers most trips. On a daily budget of 80, that's about 200, and you can take out more once you're there.
· 4 min read
To work out how to split utilities with roommates, start with equal shares, since most bills don't depend on room size. Adjust only when one person clearly uses more, and work out a mid-bill move-out by the day.
· 3 min read
How much should I spend on an engagement ring? What you can save without borrowing or touching your emergency fund, so saving 400 a month for nine months gives you a budget of 3,600.
· 3 min read
How much should I spend on a wedding gift? Set it by how close you are and what you can afford, and spend less on the gift if going to the wedding is already expensive.
· 3 min read
If you've got a roommate not paying bills, check the facts first, talk to them soon, and put a repayment plan in writing. If that fails, your lease and the name on the bill decide what you can do.
· 4 min read
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