KNOW YOUR GREEN
Do you know where your money is going? Do you keep track of what you spend? Do you tell your money how it will be utilized?
Many of us have never had a positive relationship with our money and unfortunately, we have had no control over our finances. Well, you are in luck! Project GREEN is here to help you get into the driver’s seat and regain control!Project GREEN has developed a budget spreadsheet to assist you with “Knowing Your GREEN.”Budgeting helps you identify the amount of GREEN you have coming in. You are able to track your expenses and visually see where your GREEN is going and how much is left over each month. A budget spreadsheet is a very helpful tool used for your finances and now that you can see your GREEN, you will be able to set SMART goals, make a plan, adjust your habits, and gain control!
When was the last time you pulled your credit report? Your credit report is a great way to identify your debt to income ratio and will help you get a better grasp on your GREEN. This will also be a very important tool to help you set your budgeting goals by tallying up your debt and making a realistic plan for how to gain financial freedom. You are entitled to a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) once per year. You are able to request all three reports at once, or space them out throughout the year.
AnnualCreditReport.com is the only website that is government authorized to provide you with free copies of your credit report.
You can also contact the credit agencies directly if you have any questions or if you need to dispute information in your report.
Equifax
Experian
TransUnion
Do you qualify for programs in Grand Rapids to help you find the money you didn’t even know you have?
- 2-1-1 Programs: KENT COUNTY TAX CREDIT COALITION[Click Here]
- Every year millions of dollars in tax refunds and credits go unclaimed by those who need them the most. Through 15 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites throughout our community, the Kent County Tax Credit Coalition helps working individuals and families achieve economic success through free tax services and financial literacy courses.
- DO YOU KNOW ALICE? Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed[Click Here]
- Standing for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – ALICE represents those in our communities who are working yet still struggling to make ends meet. ALICE households earn more than the U.S. poverty level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county. Combined with the number of people living at or below the poverty line, ALICE equals the total population struggling to afford basic needs.
Did you know that the State of Michigan has a site where your GREEN can be sitting unclaimed waiting to be found?
Visit this site Unclaimed GREEN-State of Michigan and FIND YOUR GREEN!
- 50 percent toward fixed costs. Fixed costs are expenses that don’t vary and that you must pay every month. Rent, student loans, car payments, utilities, gym memberships, Netflix, and tuition all fall into this category.
- 20 percent toward financial goals. Your goals might include paying off high-interest debt, saving for retirement, or creating an emergency fund.
- 30 percent toward discretionary spending. Flexible spending includes things like groceries, gas, eating out, entertainment, hobbies, and so on.
Use these calculators to determine the appropriate amounts of your monthly net income should be allocated to your expenses
http://www.calculators.org/budget/ or
http://thewealthguy.com.au/personal-budget-calculator/
Use this Google Doc Spreadsheet to keep track of your money following the 50/20/30 Rule[Click Here]
- Baxter Community Center – In the Garden and Around the table, Baxter’s Greenhouse Programs, work to increase food security and nutrition, environmental awareness, professional development, and community spirit in our neighborhood.
- FREE Food Pantry & Clothing information[Click Here]
- Greenhouse Garden[Click Here]
- WIC Assistance Program[Click Here] – WIC services at Baxter’s Health Center include nutritional evaluation from a registered dietician, immunizations, and the provision of supplemental food coupons.
- COMMUNITY FOOD CLUB OF GR[Click Here] – A collaborative systemic response to hunger, promoting food, security, consumer choice and dignity for low-income member households.
- Save money via Couponing deals in Grand Rapids
- Krazy Coupon Lady
- Smart Source – Coupons for multiple locations
- Wild For Wags – Walgreens coupons
- Wild For CVS – CVS coupons
- Totally Target – Target coupons
- Redplum coupons
- Stores in Grand Rapids where you can save money on clothing
- In His Image[Click Here] – In The Image links new and gently used clothing, furniture, and appliances with people in need for FREE
- The Best 10 Thrift Stores in Grand Rapids, MI[Click Here]
- Save money on your travel by taking the following transportations in Grand Rapids
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- List of free and reduced rate transportation in Grand Rapids[Click Here]
- Free rides to health appointments
- Call 888.975.8102 or 616.464.8102 for more information or help to arrange a ride
- Transportation is covered at no cost to the client when medically necessary and appropriate. Please call to set up a ride 4 days in advance of your appointment. To schedule a ride, call 1.888.975.8102.
- Roadie[Click Here]
- Roadie App is Cheap Carpooling for Your Cargo. Peer-to-peer network lets drivers earn extra cash for carrying neighbor’s goods cross-country
- The Rapid[Click Here]
- Walmart Free Shopper Shuttle[Click Here]
- All-American Pedicabs (Downtown GR)[Click Here]
- Uber[Click Here]
- Lyft[Click Here]
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- Savings/ Checking Account Deals
- Baxter Community Center – In collaboration with the Kent County Tax Credit Coalition and AARP, Baxter’s Marketplace offers a Free Tax Preparation Program to low-income families and individuals in Kent County. Thousands of volunteer hours make this service possible.
- TRUTH Card – A New Way to Pay
- The Truth Card lets you do all the spending you normally do–like paying bills[1] or shopping in stores and online.
- There’s no credit check,[2] no activation fee, and no minimum balance.
- Give back to yourself with The Truth Card via the rewards program.
- Earn Cash Back – Choose Payback Rewards offers and receive cash back from many of your everyday purchases.
- Savings Account – Set aside money by enrolling in the optional tiered-rate Savings Account.
- TRUTH Card – A New Way to Pay
- Home Repair services[Click Here]
- The Home Maintenance Checkup is a free program from Home Repair Services[Click Here]
- Rookie Renovators: Home Maintenance
Baxter Center
- Dental Care[Click Here] – Baxter’s Community Dental Office offers high-quality dental care for those that might otherwise be unable to afford it. Services are exclusive to those without any form of dental insurance (including Medicaid/Medicare). Baxter’s Dental offers examinations, cleanings, fillings, extractions, and X-rays.
GROW YOUR GREEN
How do I grow my money when I don’t have any?
How do I have my money make me money?
Complete the challenge and receive $1,378.00!!!!
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Sometimes working a 9 am-5 pm doesn’t provide the income to meet your needs. Check out the companies below that provide job opportunities to grow your green:
- Driver On Call – http://www.driveroncall.net/driver/ (No personal vehicle needed)
- Provides designated driver services tailored for seniors and chauffeur them in their own vehicle wherever they need to go 24/7.
- Doorman – https://www.doorman.co/delivery-drivers/
- At Doorman, we’re setting a new bar for package delivery, and that starts with you. Our drivers are the face of the company, and the reason customers call us “life-changing”.
- Uber – https://www.uber.com/cities/grand-rapids/
- Lyft – https://www.lyft.com/cities/grand-rapids-mi
- Roadie – https://www.roadie.com/roadies
- Roadie App is Cheap Carpooling for Your Cargo. Peer-to-peer network lets drivers earn extra cash for carrying neighbor’s goods cross-country
- Driver On Call – http://www.driveroncall.net/driver/ (No personal vehicle needed)
- Videos on investing
- Mary Buffett – Warren Buffett and Long-Term Investing
- Buffett shares words of wisdom from Warren Buffett, and explains some of his recipe for success.
- Stock Market Risk and Long-term Investing
- An informational video covering the basics of long-term investing risks.[Click Here]
- Best Websites to learn investments:
- http://www.investopedia.com/
- This is what Bill Gate’s Investment Portfolio looks like
- Investing 101: A Tutorial For Beginner Investors
- http://etfdb.com/
- http://investorplace.com/
- Yahoo! Finance
- Motley Fool
- Wall Street Journal
- MSN Money
- Investor Guide
- Seeking Alpha
- Investment companies in Grand Rapids
- VanderPol Investments – WEBSITE
- The Northern Trust Company – WEBSITE
- Blackford Capital – WEBSITE
- Fidelity Investments – WEBSITE
- CWD Real Estate Investment – WEBSITE
- Baird Financial Advisors (Grand Rapids Office)
NAME |
COMMISSION |
ACCOUNT MINIMUM |
WEBSITE |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLOOM | $4 to $79 a month | $0 | VISIT BLOOOM |
| FUTURE ADVISOR | 0.5% | $0 | VISIT FUTURE ADVISOR |
| BETTERMENT | 0.15% – 0.35% | $0 | VISIT BETTERMENT |
| PERSONAL CAPITAL | 0.49% – 0.89% | $25,000 | VISIT PERSONAL CAPITAL |
| WEALTHFRONT | 0.25% | $500 | VISIT WEALTHFRONT |
Acorns
Acorns is an app that puts your spare change to work by tracking your spending, rounding up your purchases, and automatically investing the difference between the rounded total and what you actually spent.
Robinhood
Robinhood is another investing app that allows you to quickly start playing with investments without requiring a lot of money upfront. You can buy and trade US-listed stocks and ETFs and pay $0 on commission.
Betterment
Understandably, you may be interested in finding an investment app that strikes a balance between the simplistic Acorns and the more complicated Robinhood. Enter “robo-advisor” platform Betterment.
Forex Hero
Price: Free
DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY!
Forex Hero is a fun little simulation game where you attempt to make money by trading currencies. It uses actual strategies and information about trading stocks to educate you on how it’s done. It’s a unique and fun way to dive into the world of investment. You’ll learn about things like trends, trading principles, and even some trivia on the finance world. It also has some pretty good, if basic, strategies that it’ll teach you. It’s unlike most investment apps, but it’s great for beginners.
FRED Economic Data
Price: Free
DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY!
FRED Economic Data is one of the most useful investment apps out there. It has 40,000 data sets from 37 regional, national, and international sources. You can use this information to see how companies have done in the past and look for trends. There are a variety of browsing options. You can also save your favorites once you find them. It’s a free app with a lot of useful information.
investment.com
Price: Free with in-app purchases
DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY!
investment.com has one of the most popular investment apps out there. The name of the app isn’t great but don’t let that fool you. It boasts to give real-time information on over 40,000 financial instruments traded in over 70 global stock markets. There is also live charts you can follow, news you can read, analysis by experts, and information on emerging markets. This is a great way to get some information quickly and effectively.
Here is a list of Identity Theft Lawyers and Law Firms in Grand Rapids, MI[Click Here]
Katt Insurance – Identity Theft in Rockford and Grand Rapids, MI
LakeState Mortgage – Located in Grand Rapids, receive a FREE identity theft report[Click Here]
Lake Michigan Credit Union to offer LifeLock® Identity Theft Protection Services[Click Here]