Happy New Year! Let’s make 2014 the year to simplify, share resources and even make a little extra money.
Now that smartphones and social media have become a part of our everyday lives, I am excited to recommend four new tools to help you streamline your money management and boost your income.
Simplify
Each year, life seems to get more complicated. Is your wallet brimming with cash, checks and who knows how many cards? Here are two new tools that will make it easier to send money and manage all of those cards.
Square Cash (square.com/cash): Remember the last time you sent money to a child in college, chipped in for a gift at work or had to pay a friend back for lunch? Sometimes, this can be more difficult than it should be. With Square Cash, you can send money to anyone and eliminate checks, hassles and delays.
All you do is send an email to the person you want to pay and copy the email to cash@square.com with the dollar amount in the subject line. The first time you use the free service from Square, you will be asked to link your debit card to your email, and the recipient will be given a link to send the money to his or her bank account. It’s fast, easy and convenient.
Coin (onlycoin.com): If your wallet is like most, it’s loaded with cards of every variety – debit, credit, store, loyalty, membership, etc. Coming this summer is a secure service called Coin. The Coin device is the size of a debit card and swipes just like a card but can hold the information from any card in your wallet. Whether you have five cards or 25, with Coin, you’ll have only one. Check out the introductory video at onlycoin.com.
Sharing resources
The Internet and social media are connecting people in new ways all the time. Today, it’s easier than ever for people with common interests to share resources. Companies such as Zipcar, Kickstarter and Groupon are using this principle to build successful and far-reaching businesses.
“Mesh companies provide people with goods and services at the exact moment they need them, without the burden and expense of owning them outright,” says Lisa Gansky, author of The Mesh: Why the Future of Business is Sharing.
Airbnb (airbnb.com): At this community marketplace, you can list, discover and book accommodations around the world. Used by more than 9 million people in 34,000 cities, Airbnb is a hit for travelers who want a unique experience. Have some extra space at home? Perhaps it’s time to bump up your income by listing it on Airbnb.
LiquidSpace (liquidspace.com): Similar to Airbnb, LiquidSpace features on-demand rentals. This service lists thousands of workspaces and meeting rooms for rent by the hour all over the U.S. Your unused space can equal hidden money when listed on LiquidSpace.
Of course, you control the rental fee and the time the space is available. Durango’s own DurangoSpace, 1221 Main Ave., is listed on the site.
Good luck sharing resources and simplifying in 2014!
matt.kelly.durango.gmail.com. Durango resident and personal finance coach Matt Kelly owns Momentum: Personal Finance. www.personalfinancecoaching.com.
