Is it possible to go 30 days without spending money on food?

YES!

Will you have to starve yourself?

No! You can get whatever food you like.

What’s the secret?

You need a plan and you have to be smart about using the resources around you. One of my favorite resources is my phone!

Before I continue with this post, let me quickly introduce myself.

Hi, I’m Charlene Rhinehart. I’m the Editor-in-Chief of Wealthy Women Daily and the Founder of Career Goddess Academy.

Through CGA, I find ways to help people increase their income and decrease their expenses so they can focus on sharing their gifts and making an impact.

I don’t just research all the ways to make money online. I go behind the scenes and do my own research on different money-making opportunities.

In the last 4 years, I’ve explored over 50 career paths and certifications that have exposed people to various options. It’s been fun!

But now it’s time to show people how to reduce expenses so they can have more money to allocate towards the things that matter most.

Since we can’t skip our basic needs, I set out on a mission to find out how to reduce food costs. After all, I was spending over $100 a week on food. It was hurting my pockets!

With the use of digital technologies, I made it happen. In the last 4 weeks, I spent $0 on food!

I know that may be hard to believe.

Here’s my secret: Instead of using my money to fund my groceries, I take advantage of apps that reward users with gift cards. I get free gift cards almost every other day!

I receive gift cards just for walking into stores or scanning receipts. YES! It’s that easy.

People are making money and saving it using their phones every day. Now, you can do it too! All you need are the right apps on your phone.

Another Secret: I go to the grocery store every day or every other day to get what I need. This helps reduce my grocery bill because I don’t feel the need to get everything at once. I mainly buy fresh fruits and vegetables during my “shopping excursions” and then purchase my meatless food products throughout the week.

Are you ready to start saving money so you can start investing? Here are some of the Apps that I use almost every day. Enjoy!

The Three Apps that I Love: FetchRewards, ReceiptPal, and ibotta. Click the links to get extra points when you sign-up!

App #1: Fetch Rewards

I downloaded the Fetch Rewards app in October 2019 and I’m in love!!

I get points just for scanning my grocery receipts!

Now, this is what you call a simple life.

Fetch Rewards is a free app that turns grocery receipts into rewards.

Download Fetch Rewards free here: https://fetchrewards.onelink.me/vvv3/referralemail

Use my referral code, WVWBW, during signup and you’ll get 2,000 Fetch Points ($2.00 in points!) just for starting.

Are you ready to get started? Just scan any grocery receipt, and earn points towards awesome rewards.

You’ll earn at least 1% on all listed brands and products, and gain access to exclusive offers that earn you even more points.

Do you see how simple it is?

So scan your grocery receipt and start getting rewards today! You can redeem your rewards for over 40 different restaurant options or a MasterCard/Visa Reward card!

#MoneyHack: When I make purchases using my ShopKick rewards, I save my receipt and upload it to the Fetch Rewards app to get more points! I get rewarded for not spending MY money!

Download Fetch Rewards free here: https://fetchrewards.onelink.me/vvv3/referralemail

Use my referral code, WVWBW, during signup and you’ll get 2,000 Fetch Points ($2.00 in points!) just for starting.

App #2: ReceiptPal

The same receipts you scan for Fetch can be scanned in ReceiptPal so that you can get MORE free gift cards!

And it only takes 5 seconds to scan a receipt!

Go to receipts, scan your most recent receipts, and you’ll get 100 points once you complete one card which is equivalent to four receipts. It may take up to 24 hours for the system to approve your receipts.

Use my link to download the app and start earning rewards! You’ll get me bonus points too! https://app.adjust.com/oqlq9t9?label=PPT1ZKEN

When you’re eligible to unlock rewards, you’ll have your choice of Amazon or Retail gift cards. I chose a Starbucks eGift Card so that I can use it during my travels.

Download the app so that you can start redeeming rewards. It did take me a bit longer to receive my first gift card with this app but you’re not doing anything extra to get the gift card so life is still good!

App #3: ibotta

The ibotta app is pretty cool because you can see how much your friends have made using the app.

I have one facebook friend who has made over $2,000 using the app! Wowzers!

This is another app that is really easy to use. I love it because you receive cashback rewards on your purchases!

For example, I purchased one banana for $0.13 using my ShopKick gift card. I uploaded my receipt to ibotta and received $0.25 cashback for my banana purchase.

I received $0.25 cashback for an item that was already free because I was using my shopkick rewards card.

Do you see how easy it is to not spend money on food?

I use it every time I shop. Use my referral code, uusyetp, and you can start saving real cash at all your favorite retailers. Sign up at https://ibotta.com/r/uusyetp.

You’re going to save a lot of money using these apps and that’s awesome. So, what do you do with all your extra money? Invest it so that you can multiply it!

If you’re ready to learn how to invest, get your copy of “Dividends Are a Queen’s Best Friend” on Amazon!

If you would like to receive more investing tips and #moneyhacks, join us here to get weekly updates!

Wealthy Women Weekly

I’ve been traveling around the world ever since I left my full-time job in 2015.

I give many thanks to investing, credit card rewards, new checking accounts, and money hacks for making this possible!

Get Rewards for Opening a New Checking Account!

You can earn up to $350 when you open a new Chase Total Checking^®and/or a new Chase Savings^SM account with qualifying activities by October 14, 2019. Sign up here using this link.

Read the following content for more tips:

Dividends Are a Queen’s Best Friend

How I Travel for Free with Credit Card Rewards

Credit card rewards have helped me live my dreams. But I had to be financially responsible first in order to maximize the benefits.

If you need a financial coach to help you increase your income, send me an email at wealthwomendaily@gmail.com.

My dream was to travel all over the world. People thought it would be impossible to do this without a full-time job. But, I’ve been able to travel more since leaving my full-time job.

At first, I was just traveling within the United States.

Then, I took advantage of an opportunity of a lifetime when I traveled on a six-month world tour with Up with People in 2016.  It was a dream of mine to travel while salsa dancing in shows and learning about different communities. That dream came true when I least expected it and I am forever grateful!

Once you start traveling, it’s hard to stop.

After my six-month tour, I had to find a way to continue my travels. So I became a freelance writer, used my CPA (Certified Public Accountant) experience to provide accounting and consulting services, and started a digital marketing and media firm, CEO Unlimited LLC, that caters to experts and entrepreneurs.

But I knew there had to be a way to earn money without working every second of the day. That’s when I started investing more and taking advantage of dividends. Grab a copy of my book, Dividends are a Queen’s Best Friend, to learn how dividend investing works.

Having side gigs and business is great but you don’t just want money to help you get by from day-to-day. You also want money to save for retirement and do the things that matter most to you. For me, that was spending time with my family and traveling around the world.

That’s when I did my research and discovered the power of bank rewards from credit cards and checking accounts. Now I could really live my best life around the world!

***If you’re in debt and live paycheck to paycheck, credit cards should not be the first option for you. You should look into checking and savings accounts that give rewards. Get a financial coach to help you manage your money and shift your money mindset before taking advantage of credit-based incentives. Email me at wealthywomendaily@gmail.com if you need help!***

Get Rewards for Opening a New Checking Account!

Chase is well known for having great credit card rewards. But they also have good checking and savings account incentives. When I opened my new checking account, I was able to get $300 in rewards. But this new promotion below will enable you to get up to $350!

You can each earn up to $350 when you open a new Chase Total Checking^®and/or a new Chase Savings^SM account with qualifying activities by October 14, 2019. Sign up here using this link.

Deposit Enough to Avoid Monthly Fees

Start saving your money now so that you can have the minimum balance needed to open your account! Make sure you put enough in your account to also avoid any monthly maintenance fees.

Meet All Reward Requirements

Read the requirements carefully and ask a personal banker any questions you have so that you can maximize your rewards.

I asked the following questions:

• How much money do I need to keep in the account to avoid fees?
• What type of transactions do I need to make to qualify for the reward?
• Will I be notified when I meet all the requirements for the reward?
• When will I receive my cash reward?
• How will I receive my cash reward?

Book Flights with Bank Rewards!

When I earn bank rewards, I want to keep multiplying that money so I can create endless opportunities.

The best way to do that is to invest the money that you receive. My goal is to see how far my money can go and grow!

So, I do the following:

• Contribute money to my retirement account (you can invest the money in your retirement account!)
• Invest in dividend-paying stocks (you can get monthly or quarterly dividend deposits and checks in the mail!)
• Allocate money towards travel (I was able to get a flight to London for less than $200!)

And this is how you live your best life without working a full-time job! Just become very intentional about where your money goes and you can allocate your time doing the things that matter most to you.

Start earning your rewards now so you can plan for your next trip!

You can each earn up to $350 when you open a new Chase Total Checking^®and/or a new Chase Savings^SM account with qualifying activities by October 14, 2019. Sign up here using this link.

How do you fund your travels? What places are on your travel bucket list? Leave us a comment below.

When I told others that I wanted to graduate college without student loan debt, everyone looked at me like I had 5 heads growing at the same time. And I can definitely understand why.

I attended a private, Roman-Catholic University in Chicago. I lived on campus all four years, pursued a double major and a minor, took advantage of study abroad opportunities, and didn’t start college with any special university scholarships.

No academic, athletic, or arts scholarships with my name on it. Nada!

So, I can see why my goal of graduating without student loan debt seemed unrealistic and just plain impossible.

But if you know my mom, you would understand why I never let the thoughts of others impact my potential and future possibilities. My mom makes amazing things happen and I was determined to do the same!

That’s how I was able to walk across the stage at graduation without ANY student loan debt.

Yep, I paid off every loan that was on my profile and I was debt free at 22!

How did I do it?

Well, I didn’t just blink my eyes and wake up with thousands of dollars raining down on me.

I was intentional. I was focused. And I was committed to the goal of being debt-free.

If you want to position your future children, nephews, nieces, cousins, or community members for financial success in college, share this article with them and let them know that it is POSSIBLE.

Here’s how I paid off my student loan debt at 22:

1. Chose a Lucrative Major

Your major has a lot to do with the financial opportunities you attract. If you’re pursuing a specialized skill that’s high in demand, people will PAY for your studies.

But don’t be discouraged if you would rather follow your passion now and pay big bucks for it in an educational program. There are options for you, too! You just need a really good plan. My good friend Joan Moore always says, “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.”

And failing means tons of student loan debt that you can’t afford to pay back. Don’t get yourself in that situation. The interest adds up and your credit score will suffer.

So, don’t pick a major just because it sounds good. Map out the return on your investment. What justifies a big fat loan for an unprofitable degree?

Will your student loan debt be excused if you pursue a certain profession? Will you gain access to connections that will get you closer to your dreams? Is it needed for your next level move?

What is your why?

I decided to major in accounting. Why?

Here are a few reasons:

High Demand – Accounting never goes out of style. Every industry and organization needs an accountant to manage or audit their financial operations.

Language of Business – Accounting is like a secret code that gets you access (and wins you friends!) in the real world. If you can speak accounting, you can rise as a respected and trusted business leader.

Gives You a Foundation for Entrepreneurship – If you’re an entrepreneur, you need to understand how money works. It’s important to be know how to make, manage, and multiply your money. You also need to know how to use numbers to determine your next move. People get cheated out of their money every day by putting their financial future in the hands of someone else. Not I! I want to understand my money better than anyone around me so I could make informed business decisions.

No Minimum Wage Internship – If I’m going to pursue a college education, I expect to create financial opportunities or experiential learning options that I didn’t have before. During my first corporate internship when I was 19, I got paid more than $20/hour when the minimum wage was less than $8/hr (this was over 10 years ago!).

Bottom Line: Majoring in accounting gave me access to job opportunities and lucrative skills that helped me to pay educational expenses while in college.

2. Received the Best Internships

Where you work will determine how much you make. Choose wisely.

I’m not saying choose an internship just for money. Choose a place where you can grow, learn as much as you can, and gain access to valuable experiences and mentors that will propel your career.

I received three corporate internships at a big four accounting firm and landed an internship as a financial analyst at a prominent bank. I also had other internships during the school year that made me “work ready”. All my internship experiences added up to over $40,000 in cash during my college career.

Although I wish I used every penny of my money better (like buying more used books instead of $300 business books), I was able to use the funds from my internship to pay educational expenses that allowed me more time to serve my community.

3. Applied for Scholarships All the Time

It doesn’t matter if it was 2 in the afternoon or 3 in the morning. If there was a scholarship available, I could often be found sitting in front of my computer putting together a top-notch scholarship package so I could market myself to donors.

Applying for scholarships can be a full-time job. But there’s good news as you go deeper into the process. The more scholarship applications you complete, the less time consuming it becomes.

I applied for over 100 scholarships (yes, I tried to apply for every scholarship I qualified for). Instead of going to college parties every night, I was usually scouting the net for the latest and greatest scholarship opportunities. And if I didn’t qualify for it at the moment, I would note the scholarship in an excel spreadsheet and read the requirements. Then I would make sure I exceeded the requirements when it was time for me to apply.

I will never forget the moment I received my first corporate scholarship in college. I received a call from PwC informing me that I was going to be a recipient of a $3000 exceed scholarship. Girl….I was so grateful! Not only was I getting a scholarship, but I was also receiving a summer internship and a trip to New York to attend the leadership conference. Wowzers!!

4. Enhanced my Network

Have you heard the phrase, “your network is your net worth?”

Many people leverage this term when they enter the working world and are vying for highly coveted positions.

But this applies to college too. Don’t go in thinking that you will be all good if you keep your head in the books. Who you know may determine how far you go.

So I joined every organization that aligned with my values and career interests.

Here are some activities I was involved in:

• President of Golden Key International Honor Society
• Vice President of National Association of Black Accountants
• Member of the Illinois CPA Society
• National Society of Collegiate Scholars Inductee
• Ritmo Dembo Salsa Dance Team

I also took advantage of fellowships such as Vincentian Mission Fellow, M3C Fellow, and Student Leadership Institute Fellow to connect with other like-minded leaders.

As my networks increased, my contributions grew too!

During my freshman year, I got a chance to do 300 hours of service in Englewood as a tutor. The program expanded and I got to serve two more years! During my second year at the school, I was asked to be the commencement speaker for the 8th-grade graduation. It was powerful and I could tell the students were listening to every word.

This experience led to many other service opportunities – including a chance to become co-founder of INSPIRE (Individuals Nurturing Students Positively in Rigorous Education) and Founder of the Libby Adopt A School program. I recruited college-level freshman to join me in Englewood, one of the most economically deprived communities in Chicago in early 2000s, to paint images of different college logos so that students can be inspired to obtain higher education. In order to achieve success, you have to be able to create a vision of it.

Little did I know, my leadership and commitment to my community are what would help me to build my net worth. I was able to create a resume of relationships that helped me gain access to top opportunities.  

And you can do it too! Stop settling for student loan debt and start positioning yourself for endless opportunities.

Questions? Ready for your financial coaching session? Send me an email at wealthywomendaily@gmail.com or click here to schedule your session.

Talk soon!