The Penny Hoarder

Are You Gen Z or a Millennial? Learn from Previous Generations’ Money Mistakes
The Best Banks for Freelancers Keep Up with Unique Challenges
Cheap Gifts Under $10 (That Your Friends Won’t Regift)
Food Delivery Advice from an Uber Eats Driver Who Made Bank

Are You Gen Z or a Millennial? Learn from Previous Generations’ Money Mistakes

Posted: 22 Nov 2021 01:00 PM PST

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Let's make it clear right off the bat: Your generation is the best generation, OK?

And no matter which generation you happen to belong to, there's plenty you can learn from the financial mistakes of previous generations, who all behaved in financially unwise ways.

If you're Gen Z, you can avoid the house-hunting regrets of millennials. If you're a millennial, you can learn from the credit card disasters of Gen X. If you're Gen X, there's still time to avoid repeating the retirement mistakes of the baby boomers. And if you're a boomer, hey, you already know everything, right?

Kidding, y'all! We're just kidding! (Full disclosure: The writer of this piece is Gen X, so he doesn't really matter.)

What can we learn from previous generations' financial mistakes?

1. Gen Z? Avoid Millennials' Regrets

If you're Gen Z, you can avoid the house-hunting regrets of millennials.

A survey of homebuyers in 2017 found that 57% of millennial homeowners surveyed would have done something differently if they got a do-over on the homebuying process. More than a quarter — 28% — wished they'd saved more before making the purchase.

It's easy to automatically sock away some savings with an app like Aspiration. With a digital Aspiration account — a hybrid of checking and savings — you can earn up to 20 times the average interest on your savings balance. (The FDIC reports that the average account earns just .05%.) You also get a debit card that earns you up to 5% cash back on purchases.

You can automatically sock away some savings every payday. It takes five minutes to sign up.

2. Millennial? Avoid Gen X's Credit Card Hell

So, we're obviously not going to talk about millennials like, you irresponsible kids and your avocado toast. The fact is, elder millennials are pushing 40 these days. Millennials are middle management now.

So it's not too late to avoid being sucked into the credit card hell that mauled Generation X so badly. And I say that as a member of Generation X.

Credit card debt is the most expensive kind of debt, and your credit card company is just getting rich by ripping you off with high interest rates. But a website called AmOne can help you fight back. It'll match you with a low-interest loan you can use to pay off every single one of your balances.

The benefit? You'll be left with one bill to pay each month. And because personal loans have lower interest rates (AmOne rates start at 2.49% APR), you'll get out of debt that much faster. Plus: No credit card payment this month.

It takes two minutes to see if you qualify for up to $50,000 online.

3. Gen Z or Millennial? Don't Wait Too Long to Start Investing

If you're young, here's another thing to learn from your elders' misguided ways. Many of them wish they'd gotten started investing back when they were your age.

For example: These days, Amazon stock is valued at around $3,700 a share. Twenty years ago, it was $14. A relatively modest investment back then would have easily made that investor a millionaire by today.

You really don't need much to get started. Whether you've got $5, $100 or $800 to spare, you can start investing with Robinhood.

Yeah, you've probably heard of Robinhood. Both investing beginners and pros love it because it doesn't charge commission fees, and you can buy and sell stocks for free — no limits. Plus, it's super easy to use.

What's best? When you download the app and fund your account (it takes no more than a few minutes), Robinhood drops a share of free stock into your account. It's random, though, so that stock could be worth anywhere from $2.50 to $200 — a nice boost to help you build your investments.

4. Save for Retirement, for Crying Out Loud

You've probably heard there's a retirement crisis in America. In study after study, half of Americans expect to struggle financially in their golden years because they won't have enough retirement savings.

One of the smartest things you can do for your future — by a mile — is to set aside money from your paycheck to put into your 401(k). And if your employer matches each contribution, that could mean hundreds of thousands of extra dollars in your account when you retire. It's free money!

But if you can't take advantage of this employer benefit because you need all of your paycheck every month, a company called Lendtable will give you the cash.

We know it sounds too good to be true. But if your employer has a 401(k) match program, this is money they already have earmarked for you. By using Lendtable, you'll be able to unlock that free cash.

Let's say you make $50k a year and your employer matches your 401(k) contribution up to 4%. If you put $0 in your retirement account this year, you get $0 from your boss. If Lendtable lends you the 4% of your salary your employer is willing to match, you get $2,000 from your boss, minus Lendtable's fee. (This comes from the extra money you've earned, so there's no sacrifice on your part.)

It takes three minutes to answer a few questions about your eligibility and sign up for an account.

5. No Matter Your Age, Think About the Next Generation

No matter what your generation — no matter what your age — this past year has made a lot of us think about our mortality.

There was a surge of interest in life insurance during the pandemic, as more Americans realized they probably need it.

Also, more people are seeking out no-exam life insurance because they don't want to go to a doctor's office for an in-person exam. Companies like Bestow use algorithms instead of medical exams to evaluate applicants.

Rates start at just $16 a month. You could leave your family up to $1 million. The peace of mind knowing your family is taken care of is priceless.

If you're under the age of 54 and want to get a fast life insurance quote without leaving your home, get a free quote from Bestow.

Whether you're Gen Z, a millennial, Gen X or a baby boomer, there's plenty you can learn from previous generations about what to do — and what not to do.

Mike Brassfield (mike@thepennyhoarder.com) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. He is a member of Generation X so, like, whatever man.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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The Best Banks for Freelancers Keep Up with Unique Challenges

Posted: 22 Nov 2021 09:00 AM PST

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Making money as a freelancer can be hard enough — but then you have to figure out how to manage it.

With a slew of bank account options out there, it can be difficult to narrow down all the financial institutions and determine the best place to stash that hard-earned cash, especially if your financial lifestyle is a little less regular than most 9-to-5 workers'.

To help, the Penny Hoarder team has put together this post to compare some of the best bank accounts for freelancers. That way, you can make an informed decision with minimal fine-print reading.

What Is a Freelancer?

Before diving into the top banks for freelancers, it might be helpful to explain just what's meant by "freelancer." In short, a freelancer is someone who does work on a per-task or per-project basis and is paid by the task. Freelancers are self-employed and they don't receive medical benefits or other perks such as vacation or sick time like company employees do.

Freelancers typically work for several companies, called clients, as independent contractors. The term often has a creative connotation — fields like writing, editing, web design, or photography — but there are exceptions.

What Makes a Business Bank Account Ideal for Freelancers?

Since freelancers are self-employed, they have some additional needs and responsibilities that the average full-time employee might not. For example, freelancers need to pay taxes themselves — nothing is withheld from their paychecks automatically.

Additionally, since freelancers are self-employed, they can count a number of purchases as business expenses, and keeping track of these is important for tax purposes.

Here are the major features to consider when choosing bank accounts as a freelancer:

Fees: Nobody wants to pay money just to keep their money, especially when you have a variable income. Ideally that means no monthly fee and unlimited transactions.
Customer Service: Knowing you've got a reliable team on your side when you have questions or concerns is vital.
Accessibility: Since freelancers often work out of their own homes and remotely, accounts that are tech optimized, with intuitive online banking options and high ATM or branch availability, are generally best. ATM access is especially important for cash deposits.
Business Account Offerings: Don't forget to look at business account offerings for each bank, which can be helpful if you decide to incorporate your business or start an LLC.
Mobile-friendliness: A usable mobile app is extremely important, especially for banks that don't have brick-and-mortar locations.

Help with budgeting and money management will also earn bonus points since everything's a bit more complicated when you aren't relying on a regular paycheck. However, these are nice-to-have features, rather than necessities.

Taking into account these features, we have rounded up the best banks — and in once case a well-known online payment system — for freelancers.

The 4 Best Banks for Freelancers

Bank	Top Feature	Prime Perk
Axos Bank	Selection of accounts	Generous support hours	SEE DETAILS
Chase Bank	5,100 branches	Support options	SEE DETAILS
PayPal	Free business account	Invoicing features	SEE DETAILS
Lili	Freelancer friendly	Top notch on mobile	SEE DETAILS

Axos Bank

Best for Online-First Banking

Key Features

Lots of experience in online banking
Generous support hours
Wide selection of accounts

4 out of 5 Overall

Axos was one of the original online-only banks from way back in 2000. As such, it has a unique understanding of what it means to be online-first — ideal for freelancers who consider themselves digital nomads. Axos offers a number of solid personal bank account and business bank account options, as well as fee-free IRAs and other useful services for freelancers.

Axos Bank

Fees

Business checking accounts available with no monthly fee and low or no minimum balance requirements.

Customer service

Business customers can get help weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST.

Accessibility

There are no branches, and ATM fees are only reimbursable for certain partner institutions.

Business bank account options

Plenty of account options with high interest rates.

Mobile-friendliness

Mobile apps for iPhone and Android.

See Details

Axos offers relatively high-yield checking accounts on both the personal and business sides. Their personal savings account offers up to 1.3% APY, and their business interest checking account earns 0.8% APY. That makes it one of the best business checking accounts available for freelancers (or anyone else, for that matter) that want their money to earn interest.

However, if you're used to in-person banking, Axos might not be for you. Although they offer ATM fee reimbursement at specified locations, you won't be able to walk into a branch and speak face to face with a teller.

Chase Bank

Best for a Traditional Business Checking Account

Key Features

Physical locations nationwide
Useful support options
Variety of business accounts

4 out of 5 Overall

If you want brick-and-mortar access to your business checking account, Chase might offer the best bank accounts for freelancers among the big national players with the Chase Business Complete Banking. It regularly offers new subscribers large opening bonuses, carries low minimum deposits, and offers a number of ways to waive its already-low maintenance fees. You can open personal checking accounts

Chase Bank

Fees

Monthly fees can be waived in account minimums met.

Customer service

You've got all the options: email, phone and walking into a branch.

Accessibility

More than 5,100 branches nationwide and 16,000 ATMs.

Business bank account options

Lots of different options though eligibility depends on where you live.

Mobile-friendliness

Online banking and a mobile app mix real-world and on-the-go banking. Mobile check deposit handy.

See Details

As a major financial institution, Chase also offers a host of business bank accounts and tools, including merchant services that make taking credit card payments easy — even if your brand of freelancing has you out in the world and not constantly behind a computer screen.

Chase also offers a discount for those who sign up to use ADP payroll, which could be useful if you go the S-corp route (or have an employee or two). All together, the Chase business checking account is an excellent option.

To learn more, read our Chase Bank review.

PayPal

Best for Accepting Payments

Key Features

Business banking with no monthly fees
Built-in invoicing and payment features
Fast transfers to other accounts

3 out of 5 Overall

Okay, this one isn't really a bank and you know it as a digital payment system. But PayPal's business account upgrade has a lot of useful features for freelancers, including built-in invoicing and an easy-to-use app with mobile check processing. Even if you have a standard bank account, it's worth having a PayPal account as a freelancer, since many clients will want to use it to process payments.

PayPal

Fees

Minor and mostly possible to get around, except in the case of invoicing.

Customer service

Excellent and readily available, both online and via phone.

Accessibility

While there's no such thing as a PayPal branch, it's easy to move funds to other bank accounts.

Business bank account options

PayPal offers a free upgrade from personal to business accounts, adding a host of tools.

Mobile-friendliness

Intuitive and user-friendly, both in a web browser and via mobile app.

See Details

There's no monthly fee with a PayPal business account, though you may pay fees for certain types of transfers. (It's free to transfer funds to your personal bank accounts as long as it's not a rush, however.) There's also a cost to the business owner when invoices are paid — PayPal's fee is 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction. This is fairly standard for the payment processing industry, though.

Lili

Best All-In-One Solution

Key Features

Built-in expense and tax tracking
Handy referral program
Unlimited transactions with no monthly fee

4 out of 5 Overall

Lili is a tailored checking account that aims to help tackle the unique challenges that come with freelancing. As a freelancer, there are a number of financial tasks that are entirely up to you to handle, like setting aside money for taxes. Lili promises to help with a dedicated business checking account. The app, available for iOS or Android, is laser-focused on specific freelancer needs.

Lili

Fees

None.

Customer service

Standard phone support and a useful online help center.

Accessibility

No physical locations, but access to 32,000 free ATMs across the country.

Business bank account options

Solid — it's designed for freelancers, after all.

Mobile-Friendliness

This is a mobile-only bank, and the mobile app is quite good.

See Details

The Lili business checking account comes with its own Visa debit card. Whenever you spend any money, you'll get a push notification asking you to swipe left or right to instantly categorize the expense as either "personal" or "business." At tax time, this will allow you to easily maximize your expenses and reduce your taxable income, lowering your tax bill.

Even better: You can earn cash by referring up to 10 friends to join Lili. Once they sign up and spend $250 on their Lili card in the first 45 days, you'll each get $100. You can also earn a $50 bonus when you open a Lili Pro account and spend at least $1,000 with your debit card within 60 days.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Bank Accounts for Freelancers

Which Bank Account is Best for Freelancers?

While it really depends on your needs, the best bet for most freelancers is combination of Chase or Axos (Chase if you want physical branch access for cash deposits, Axos if not) and PayPal, the payment system fintech that's built for business. This gives you a feature-rich business checking account and the additional payment options of a PayPal account.

Which Bank is Best for the Self-Employed?

Chase (specifically Chase Business Complete Banking) tends to be the best option overall for self employed bank accounts due to the presence of thousands of physical locations, as well as a solid online experience. This gives the most options to the widest possible group of self-employed individuals.

Do I Need a Separate Bank Account as a Freelancer?

Technically, no. However, it's a good idea to separate your business and personal accounts using a separate business checking account. You may also want to look at business savings accounts. This makes it easier to track income and expenses. Additionally, depending on how you structure your business, you may be required to maintain a business banking account to show that your business is a separate entity apart from you.

How Do I Open a Bank Account as a Freelancer?

This is the easy part! Simply head to a physical location or the website of your chosen bank and let them know you want to open a business checking account (and possibly a business savings account). The bank will take care of the rest.

Penny Hoarder contributors Dave Schafer and Jamie Cattanach did the reporting and writing for this story.

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Cheap Gifts Under $10 (That Your Friends Won’t Regift)

Posted: 22 Nov 2021 07:00 AM PST

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners.

It's the most wonderful time of the year and for many of us, it's also the most expensive. Finding the ideal gifts can be challenging and end up hurting your wallet more than you'd like. It's enough to fill even the most savvy shopper with dread.

You might have been able to avoid buying some gifts last year since your office probably didn't have a holiday party with a white elephant gift exchange, and your friend group may have skipped the secret Santa due to concerns about COVID.

But 2021 is different. While the pandemic is still with us, people are more comfortable gathering now that vaccines are available.

The pandemic will affect gift-giving in other ways this year, though. Factory shut-downs early on in the pandemic caused shipping companies to cut their schedules to accommodate for what they expected would be a lower consumer demand.

But instead, people around the world started buying more stuff than ever online. Items for the house in particular were selling like crazy. This caused a supply chain issue that is still a concern today, and it's expected to make holiday shopping harder than ever, as items you might typically buy (including the hottest toys) may sell out much earlier than usual.

Despite all this, finding the best gifts or stocking stuffers for your friend or family member doesn't have to stress you out. (Although it's a good idea to start shopping early, if you haven't already, to make sure the gifts you want to buy are in stock.)

Here are 40 cheap gift ideas for $10 or less that will please even the pickiest of recipients at your next gift exchange.

Note: All prices are accurate as of Nov. 7, 2021.

Around the House

These great holiday gift ideas will please everyone on your Christmas gift list — not just the homebodies. And to make it even better, these are all practical gifts as well! Pretty much anyone on your gift list would be thrilled to unwrap one of these presents this year.

1. Novelty Tea Infusers: $9.99

Got a sloth-loving tea enthusiast on your list? This tea infuser is dishwasher-safe, super cute and the best gift idea.

Or try this adorable Mr. Tea infuser, who looks like he's enjoying a hot soak in your cup, also for $9.99.

There are several tea infuser options to choose from depending on the tea lover's interests. This is one of the best gifts (and the most practical) for your friend who sips tea all winter long

2. Cat Coffee Cup Cozy: $10

Who doesn't love sipping a hot cuppa while curled up on a frosty day?

For the friend whose lap cat will inevitably complete that picture, consider this cute hand-crocheted cozy. They could even use it at coffee shops and help save paper sleeves.

Friend not into cats? The same Etsy seller has options for LGTBQ pride, unicorn fans and even aspiring pirates, all for $10 apiece.

3. "Corki" Wine Stopper: $9.99

If your friend is more of a dog person than a cat person, this corgi-shaped wine stopper is the perfect present for keeping bottles of wine fresh between glasses.

A wine stopper makes the perfect stocking stuffer for a gift recipient who loves wine, and you can find affordable ones to match your friend's personality.

Oh, and don't forget …

4. Drinking Buddies Glass Markers: $9.99

— so your friends won't lose their drinking glasses at parties. These "Drinking Buddies" glass markers feature men in uniforms so your friends remember whose glass is whose.

If your friend isn't into men in uniform, there are plenty of other glass markers to choose from, including koalas ($9.90) and emojis ($7).

5. Cheese Knives: $7.95 each

If you thought the perfect gift for the cheese-lover in your life didn't exist, think again. Just one of these cheese knives takes a plate of cheese from an appetizer to a display worthy of any get-together.

Or, you know, a fancy Friday night by themselves. We don't judge!

6. Kitty Ice Cube Molds: $6.99

Did you know that you can get ice cube molds in a variety of fun shapes, including kittens? If your friend isn't into cats, you can choose from penguins ($4.80), fish ($4.99) or even pineapples ($7.98).

In addition to using the molds for ice, you can also use them to make novelty chocolate or gummies! Talk about a two-for-one deal.

7. Bonsai Tree Seeds: $4.21

Who knew bonsai tree seeds were so cheap?

If you know someone with a green thumb who's interested in making a new hobby of an ancient tradition, these bonsai seeds might be perfect — although the planting material and container are not included. You could pick those up to make a gift pack, or club together with some mutual friends to keep the cost-per-person down while giving your friend everything they need to start their bonsai tree hobby.

8. Ceramic Planter: $5.95 plus plant

It doesn't take a green thumb to throw a plant into a pot.

With this cute planter and the succulents you can buy at Trader Joe's or Home Depot for $2 to $3 apiece, you'll spend about $9 per recipient of each adorable final display.

If your gift recipient is still working from home, this is an ideal gift to help them decorate their desk and make it feel more homey. Even your gardening-challenged friends can handle a succulent or two.

9. Handmade Soaps or Bath Bombs: $3.50+

Receiving handmade soap or bath bombs as a gift is far from insulting when the products look good enough to eat!

There are tons of options on Etsy or at your local craft fair, but higher-traffic brick-and-mortar stores offer quality products at only slightly higher prices. You may even be lucky enough to find cute handmade beauty items at your local grocery store.

10. Stretchy Bookmark: $8

Do you know a bookworm who frequently loses their place? No more with this stretchy, silicone bookmark, which will point at the exact line where they leave off. It's designed to fit around the entire book, which will hold it in place even if a kid or pet gets hold of it, so your book-loving friend will never have to worry about trying to remember where they left off again.

11. Scarf Hanger: $9.97

If your loved one struggles with storage tactics for their plethora of scarves, here's a gift that'll help get them organized. They likely don't even know they need a scarf hanger.

This hanger displays and organizes scarves (or belts! or ties!) in your closet so they're easily accessible and wrinkle-free. Plus, it'll make your closet look much more tidy and organized, and might even encourage you to organize the rest of it!

12. Lip Balm Set: $7.99

Lip balm is a great gift because it's practical, but you can also get it with fancy scents and packaging to make it feel more special.

This organic lip balm six pack is a steal at $7.99. You can also check out this one, which was on sale for $7.95 at the time of writing. Alternatively, check out the beauty aisle next time you go grocery shopping for even more options. You can even grab a pack of hair ties for a couple of bucks to make a super practical beauty gift.

13. Scented Candles: $9

A beautiful scented candle can brighten any space. You can find them in a variety of scents to fit any mood or preference.

If you're shopping for 50 or more people, you could even check out listings for wedding favors and get a really nice gift quite cheaply (like a bit over a buck a piece).

14. Moon-shaped Ceramic Dish: $7+

Whether it's to wrangle stray jewelry or set down a spent tea bag, these little moon-shaped dishes come in a variety of colors and work for anyone on your list. As an added bonus, they won't cost you much at all.

15. Personal Photos: 12 Cents+ Each

There's just something about a tangible personal photo that the digital file lacks. You can get prints of your best memories online at vendors like Mpix for cents on the dollar; or you can check out what Target and Walmart have to offer.

You don't have to buy a frame — you could string up your photos with wooden clothespins for a cheap, but romantic, option. Many vendors also sell canvas prints or other configurations of your photos at good prices.

If you do go shopping for frames, though, you can find cheap ones in a variety of sizes. They make the best gifts for the friend who loves to display photos around the house.

16. Just Crunch Anti-Soggy Cereal Bowl: $7.99

Nothing ruins your Raisin Bran like a slightly too-long milk bath. Get the breakfast lover in your life the Just Crunch Anti-Soggy cereal bowl to keep them crunching all the way through the Saturday morning news — or cartoons.

On a similar note:

17. French Fry Dipping Cone: $5.99

Dishwasher safe and not just for fries, the french fry dipping cone is a convenient and attractive way to serve finger foods and dip. Your lucky recipient can make burger and fry night at home feel like a night out at the local diner!

Less mess on the cheap! What's not to love?

18. Flexible Pot Clips: $8.99

Flexible pot clips are the perfect gift for your aspiring-chef friend who's still a little messy in the kitchen. Help them get organized and stop splattering chili on their countertops with this convenient gadget.

You might even want to add an extra one to your cart if your cooking style tends to include a lot of splatters.

Edibles

The way to pretty much anyone's heart is through the stomach. Even if you're no gourmand, you can give awesome edible gifts this holiday season! These are sure to be the favorite gifts for the foodies in your life.

19. Beer Marshmallows: $8.50

Um, yum? You can get a dozen Guinness beer marshmallows for less than $10.

If beer isn't your style, you can choose from Peppermint, Fluffernutter or even Maple Bacon.

While you're at it, grab a few sets for yourself to roast over the open fire this holiday season!

20. Good Chocolate: $3 to $5

This listing on Amazon for Ghirardelli chocolate with sea salt is $33.48 for 12 extra-dark chocolate bars, which means you'd spend about $3 on each lucky recipient (and maybe even keep a bar for yourself). But you can head to your local grocery store and stalk the candy aisle for lots of options for less than $5.

If you want to get really fancy, some single-origin, small-batch chocolate bars can cost up to $10 or even more — but are well worth the price to the true chocolate snob on your list.

21. Good Tea: $10

Shop around; there are tons of flavors available for good teas. You can find a large selection of flavored tea bags online or even at the store while you're grabbing your weekly food haul.

Plus, lots of tea bags come in pretty, reusable tins that serve as decorative organization — all for less than $10.

22. Really (Really) Good Honey: $9

Stubbees specializes in raw, creamed, flavored honeys. Pioneered by a 21-year-old beekeeper in the Jacksonville, Florida, area, this honey isn't just delicious; it also supports a cool small business co-founded by a young entrepreneur.

The cinnamon flavor is a popular one, but there are tons of flavors to choose from, including seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice and vanilla bean.

If you'd rather shop for local honey, check out this website to help you find honey farmers in your area. Local honey is said to be good for seasonal allergies, so this can be a wonderful gift if your friend or family member suffers from allergies.

23. Gourmet Barbecue Sauces: $7.95+

There's nothing like a good barbecue sauce to put the finishing touch on a backyard grilling session.

And with options like boozy bacon and roasted peach whiskey, there's no way your recipient's smile will be anything but genuine.

24. Cookie or Brownie Mix in a Jar: $3

You don't have to be super-crafty to DIY a great gift like cookie or brownie mix in jars. Mason jars usually come in packages of 12 for a couple of bucks apiece — or, check out your local thrift store to find 'em for as low as a quarter.

Then, scour the web for tons of creative recipe ideas. In most cases, the ingredients for a single jar shouldn't cost you more than a dollar, especially if you're planning to make quite a few and buy your sugar and flour in bulk.

Write an instruction card for your recipient and decorate the jar with ribbon. You just gave someone a cheap, useful and beautiful gift!

For Work Friends or Secret Santa

You might not know some folks on your list that well; maybe you only see them around the office. Here are some non-Starbucks-gift-card gift options.

25. Picture Message Desktop Flipbook: $9.87

Looking for the perfect gift for your office worker friend? Look no further than this desktop picture flipbook.

This flipbook is a cute cubicle addition with 29 messages to choose from, from "Out of Office" to "Longest Day Ever!"

26. The Seven-Year Pen: $8.95

Work with someone who takes a ton of notes? This unassuming, eco-friendly seven-year pen can write five and a half feet per day for seven years! That's a lot of on-hold scribbling for a bit over a buck a year.

27. Mini Tabletop Zen Garden: $9.99

Got a coworker who could use a mini vacation? Help them relax and focus with this thrifty desktop zen garden.

28. Cute Food-Themed Erasers: $6.99

Come on, these food-themed erasers are pretty adorable, right? A quick, cheap, safe bet for any secret Santa recipient — even if you only ever exchange niceties around the Keurig.

Wearables and Accessories

Buying for a fashionista this year? Here are some independently selected options that make the best gifts.

29. Scarves: $10 or less

You can never go wrong with scarves. They're fashionable and versatile, and come in enough colors to get your loved ones a couple.

Plus, your recipient will have a use for the scarf hanger listed above!

30.Fingerless Gloves: $8.95

Keep your loved one's hands warm with funky fingerless gloves — they're stylish and still let you use your touch screen.

31. Heart Earrings: $10

Tiny heart earrings are unassuming and adorable, plus they'd go with anything.

You can also find tiny flowers ($3.99) or even these adorable tiny dinosaur earrings ($8.40)for the pierced person on your shopping list.

32. Wildflower Crown Knitting Pattern: $4

If you're crafty, you could make a friend this everlasting flower crown for $4 plus the cost of yarn. If you know a crafty person, you could give her the pattern itself as a gift!

33. T-shirts: $6

Since there are so many options for novelty T-shirts, you're sure to find something for anyone on your list. Even those hard-to-buy-for folks who seem to have everything need T-shirts!

Threadless has lots of funky designs and often has sales that take their tees to less than $10.

A group of people exchange Christmas presents.

Novelty Gifts and Other Useful Stuff

From an on-the-go light to blank pages to carry in your pocket, these best gifts will make anyone on your list grin.

34. Pocket Light: $10

Ever get home late at night and can't get your key in the door? Or maybe you're out at a bar and someone loses an earring?

No more scrambling to keep your cell phone screen active with a pocket light that's the side of a credit card. Flip open your wallet and save the day.

35. Cell Phone Propper-Upper: $9.44

Is your techy friend getting carpal tunnel from holding her phone so much?

The cell phone propper-upper holds up your Android or iPhone so you can scroll through the screen with ease.

Want a more stylish option? Try the Pumped Up smartphone stand for $9.02 or the hilarious "iPlunge" for $8.99.

36. Cable Management System: $7.99

Wires, wires everywhere. How many of us suffer from this problem?

This cable management system is sleek and would help streamline anyone's workspace.

37. Harry Potter Keychain: $6.98

For the die-hard Harry Potter fan on your list, you can't go wrong with a Platform 9¾ keychain that costs less than $7.

38. Novelty USB Flash Drive: $8.99

Everyone needs portable storage these days, so why not pick a cute flash drive?

Even better: Fill it with fun personal stuff, like date photos or favorite songs. It's the 21st century mix tape!

39. Notebooks: $9.80 for six

You can never go wrong with a notebook, even in our deeply digital days. There are still plenty of people out there who like to use notebooks for journaling or writing lists. A notebook might even be the place where your bestie starts the great American novel or your honey scribbles a poem for you.

Moleskines are quality, beautiful and come in lots of different colors, and you get three for less than $10!

40. Gift Cards: $10 or less

A $10 gift card to Starbucks or Panera can actually get you a decent amount of stuff, and you might even be able to buy it for less than $10. Check out our list for discounted gift cards and save even more money.

With a little creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, you can find the perfect holiday gift without breaking the bank. Sometimes, the best gifts don't necessarily cost you an arm and a leg. Good luck, and happy shopping.

Jamie Cattanach and Catherine Hiles are contributors at The Penny Hoarder.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Food Delivery Advice from an Uber Eats Driver Who Made Bank

Posted: 22 Nov 2021 05:00 AM PST

Sam Lyon pushed his earning potential in the gig economy to its limits.

The Salem, Oregon, resident made thousands of dollars in June 2020 delivering food for Uber Eats, an app for gig work that proved especially popular during the pandemic.

He challenged himself to make as much money as possible in that one month. To do so, he drove 12 hours a day for 30 days straight.

In the end, Lyon made $8,357 and documented his journey on the video-sharing site TikTok, where he goes by the moniker SabbiLyon. Each day, he recorded a short video to log his progress — amassing more than 200,000 followers and millions of views along the way.

In an interview with The Penny Hoarder, Lyon broke down his earnings and what he learned from his 30-day challenge. He also offered some Uber Eats driver tips that other gig workers can use.

Uber Eats Tips and Tricks From a Driver Who Made $8,357 in One Month

Before we get started, let's be clear: What Lyon earned is not typical. Far from it.

Many factors went into his paycheck but none more than his sheer determination. He drove 12 hours — the maximum Uber Eats allows — for 30 days without a single day off.

Here's how Lyon came up with – and pulled off – his Uber Eats challenge.

His specific challenge may not be replicable (or even advisable) in every circumstance. But if you're a current or aspiring delivery-app gig worker, you can apply Lyon's tips for Uber Eats drivers to maximize your own profits.

1. Set Goals. Even Tiny Ones Help

The very premise of Lyon's challenge is a goal. It gave him something to focus on and the motivation he needed to make it through grueling 12-hour days.

"I think goal setting was huge for my success," Lyon said. "Setting markers in what you want to achieve are extremely important."

After a week or so of driving, he was able to see how much money was possible to make given his parameters. So he aimed for a specific target: $8,000 by the end of June.To reach that, he would try to make at least 20 deliveries a day. He didn't worry much about the pay of each delivery because they ended up averaging about $10 an order.

"I knew I needed to do at least 20 trips to get around that $200-a-day mark," he said. "So that was always my goal. Anything after that was icing on the cake."

Before you start your gig, have a professional or financial goal in mind. That can keep you on track — and keep you from burning out.

Pro Tip

Keep your side hustle in check. Here's how to create an exit plan so that you can enter the gig economy, meet your goals and get out.

2. Take a Great Profile Pic

When you're making your Uber Eats driver profile, don't blast through it thinking you can go back and change it later — especially the photo step.

Your customers don't have much information about you as a driver. They get a first name, maybe a last initial, the make and model of your car and a tiny, circular picture of your (hopefully) smiling face.

"Whether we like it or not, people dictate how much they tip and how they treat other people by how presentable they look," Lyon said. "Have a good, high-quality profile picture."

The first picture you choose is the one you're stuck with. Uber policy allows drivers to change their picture only if something happens that alters their appearance since the original photo. In that situation, you'd have to contact customer support.

"Make sure you look approachable," Lyon said.

This is the main photo used for Sam Lyon's Uber Eats account.

3. Manage Expectations Based on Your Market

What you earn from Uber Eats is heavily determined by your market — the city or metropolitan area you deliver in.

Lyon drove primarily in Salem, Oregon. If you were to do the same challenge in a different city, you may make more or less than he did. A perfect example of this played out over TikTok. About halfway through June, another Uber Eats driver posed a challenge to Lyon: Who could make more money in a day?

"It started off as a beautiful day. The birds were chirping. The sun was shining," Lyon said in a video. "The perfect day for two gladiators to enter the arena."

They both delivered food for 12 straight hours. The difference was that the other driver lived 45 miles north in Portland, Oregon. That turned out to be a crucial factor— the challenger made $323 to Lyon's $268.

A bigger city doesn't always equate to better profits though, Lyon noted. Heavy traffic is likelier and could slow you down. You may have to pay to park to make the delivery.

"Depending on what city you're in, there are a lot of moped Uber drivers, there are a lot of bike Uber drivers. You can't really compete [in a car] in those urban, downtown areas," he said.

"Suburbs are just front porch and then you're gone."

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4. Learn From the Trends in Your Area

Lyon is a big proponent of the quantity-over-quality approach to accepting orders.

"When you're starting, accept every single order and then find your own trends in your own area," he said.

Once you get a sense of those trends, you can then experiment to try to maximize your pay.

"See what kind of restaurants you like and which ones you want to avoid, he said"

Some Uber Eats drivers pass on smaller orders in hopes to land larger ones. But that can backfire for inexperienced drivers. Lyon said he put that strategy to the test and found, on average, he was making $10 an order no matter how selective he was being.

In the time it would take him to land a big order, he says he could have been delivering three smaller orders.

"Not only that — that's three orders. That's three different tips, too," he said.

Results may vary in your market. The key is to adapt to your locale.

5. Occupy Your Downtime

Downtime between orders trips up many new delivery drivers. You're delivering food all day, after all. You might be tempted to go through the drive-thru for yourself. But idle spending can eat into your earnings.

Lyon vowed not to fall into that temptation. He carried only $20 in cash, and that was strictly for gas. If he had downtime, he'd listen to podcasts or practice Spanish — while positioning himself for his next order.

"If I was delivering to a suburb, my downtime would be spent driving the extra mile or two to be parked next to a McDonalds, an Applebees, a Red Robin."

And to cut down on costs, his own food was homemade.

"I would go home and spend 30 minutes to an hour preparing food and eating before going back on the road," he said. "I did not have any fast food during that 30 days."

6. Don't Waste Time With Referral Bonuses

Referral bonuses are "definitely not worth the time," according to Lyon.

Uber Eats gives drivers a referral code that they can share with other people to get them to start delivering, too. Once the new driver completes a certain amount of deliveries, the recruiter earns money. But the amount fluctuates depending on the market. Sometimes it's $200 per 50 trips. Other times, it's $10 per 50 trips.

The app shows you potential earnings based on the amount you would have earned if all the people you invited completed their first 50 trips.

"In pending invites, I would make $1,320," Lyon said as he read off of the stats in his driver profile. "In successful invites, I made $0."

And that's coming from someone who had hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok.

7. Indulge Odd Requests. They Could Lead to Big Tips

Of the hundreds of orders Lyon completed in June, he got some pretty weird requests from customers. One person asked if he could deliver a pack of cigarettes along with the food order. Lyon told the guy that he didn't have the money on him to buy the cigarettes on his own, thinking it would end there.

"You can stop by here. I'll put the money downstairs and you can come grab it," the customer responded.

Lyon went for it.

"You know what? Why not? I'll do it. I picked up the money and got him the cigarettes. When I got back, he paid me the change as well. And I made a quick $20 [tip]," he said.

Lyon entertained just about every odd request he got. They usually led to big tips.

"My days were long," he said. "I would do all that stuff to kind of break it up and have fun."

8. Track Your Expenses

When the paychecks from your side hustle start rolling in, it's easy to think all that money is profit. However, quite a bit of it actually goes toward expenses and taxes. It's one of the biggest pains of being a 1099 worker.

"I would definitely keep in mind you will have to pay those taxes later. It's not automatically coming out of what you earned," Lyon said. "Personally, I set aside 30% of what I make. That way, I have a little bit of wiggle room."

Pro Tip

Lyon's got the right idea. Freelancers, independent contractors and gig workers should set aside about 30% of their paycheck for 1099 taxes.

And if you're keeping track of expenses like gas and car depreciation, you can factor that into the amount you're withholding for Uncle Sam. Lyon's system was pretty simple. He had a fixed amount for gas, $20 a day. That totaled $599. He had one oil change ($49), and also factored in his car's depreciation ($500) based on the miles he drove.

It breaks down like this: His total earnings were $8,357. His expenses account for $1,148, and he set aside an estimated 30% of the difference for taxes, about $2,100. That brought his actual profits to roughly $5,100.

Setting aside 30% might seem steep, but it's usually an overestimate. Lyon, like most taxpayers, would rather have a refund come tax time than a hefty tax bill.

Adam Hardy is a former staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.

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Tuesday, November 23, 2021