Tips On How To Get A Good Credit Score To 800-Woman Holding Phone and Credit Card Yellow Glasses-My Financial Hill
Lifestyle, Money

Tips On How To Get A Good Credit Score To 800

We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details. 

There are many benefits to having a good credit score. From qualifying for low interest rates for a mortgage, car loan, top tier credit cards, get approved for rentals, better insurance rates, and more. Having a great credit score can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in interest. While there are many benefits to having great credit there are simple ways you can implement to get a score over 800. I’ll show you the exact tips I used to get a good credit score to over 800.

What is a credit score?

A credit score is basically a 3 digit number which is a financial institution’s version of a report card that assesses your overall credit risk. Basically, it determines how likely you may be to pay back a loan.

This is why lenders, landlords, or employees may check your credit score. It gives them an idea of the overall risk involved when lending you money, renting you an apartment, or even giving you a job.

All credit scores are not created equal. There are different companies that created their own credit scoring model which may yield different results. However, the most well known type of credit score is the FICO.

A FICO credit score is calculated based on 5 factors:

  • Payment History 35%
  • Amount Owed 30%
  • Length of Credit History 15%
  • New Credit Opened 10%
  • Type of Credit 10%
Tips On How To Get A Good Credit Score To 800-FICO Chart-My Financial Hill

Is a credit score and a FICO score the same?

Usually, when people think of a credit score, they may be referring to a FICO score which is the most well-known type of scoring system.

The FICO score was created in 1989 by the Fair Isaac Corporation. It was meant to streamline the lending process and make it fair and consistent, it is used by more than 90% of lenders.

Over time, other scoring models were created by other companies to serve as competition to the FICO score. It will be good to familiarize yourself with the idea that there are other credit score models out there. Another scoring model that may be more commonly used second to the FICO score is the Vantage Score Model.

Vantage Score Model

The Vantage Score Model was created in 2006 by the three well-known credit bureaus-Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

It has a very similar model compared to a FICO score which consists of:

  • Payment History 40%
  • Age and Type of Credit 21%
  • Credit Utilization 20%
  • Total Credit Balances 11%
  • Recent Behavior/Applications 5%
  • Available Credit 3%
Tips On How To Get A Good Credit Score To 800-Vantage Score Chart-My Financial hill

Other Credit Scoring Models:

  • FAKO Scores
    • Free scores referred to as “educational” or “equivalency” scores for consumers knowledge only. It is not used during the lending process.
    • FAKO score range can be very similar to your FICO score.
  • TransRisk
    • Based on data from TransUnion which determines risk of newly opened accounts rather than existing ones.
    • Not widely used due to it’s limitations in assessment.
    • TransRisk scores have been known to be lower than a FICO score.
  • Experian’s National Equivalency Score
    • Can be obtained for free at Credit Sesame or Credit.com
    • Score ranges from 360-840
  • Credit Xpert Credit Score
    • Developed to help approve new accounts for businesses.
    • It was created to help detect inaccurate information on credit reports to help raise scores fast.
  • CE Credit Score
    • Free and available at Quizzle to give consumers a transparent and accurate depiction of their score.
    • The scoring ranges from 330-830

What are the ranges for a credit score?

Credit scores have numerical ranges. For the FICO score, it goes anywhere from 300-850 at the highest. The chart below is based from the information provided from Experian. For simplicity purposes, we’ll cover the two major credit scoring models: FICO and Vantage Score Model.

The FICO credit score ranges from:

  • 300-579 Very Poor-16% of the American population
  • 580-669 Fair-17% of the population
  • 670-739 Good-21% of the population
  • 740-799 Very Good-25% of the population
  • 800-850 Exceptional-21% of the population
Tips On How To Get A Good Credit Score To 800-FICO Score Range-My Financial Hill

Vantage Score Model ranges from:

The Vantage Score Model is very similar to the FICO Score Model. It has a range from 300-850. According to White Jacobs, the data below indicates which percentage of the population falls within the credit score range.

  • 300-549 Very Poor-17% of the American population
  • 550-649 Poor-34% of the population
  • 650-699 Fair-18% of the population
  • 700-749 Good-13% of the population
  • 750-850 Excellent-30% of the population
Tips On How To Get A Good Credit Score To 800-Vantage Score Range-My Financial Hill

Where can I get a free credit score?

If you want to check your credit score, there are plenty of sites that can give you a glance for free. It’ll be good to know where you stand.

FICO

  • Discover Credit Scorecard
  • Experian
  • Bank of America
  • Barclays
  • Citibank
  • Chase
  • Wells Fargo

Vantage

Why do I need good credit?

Tips On How To Get A Good Credit Score To 800-Woman holding credit cards and wallet-My Financial Hill

People often rely on credit for many big financial decisions in their lives. We often need credit to borrow money for purchases like a car, home, credit cards, personal loans, student loans, apply for rentals, or even to pass employment checks.

Having good credit can often save you more money and simply just make your life a bit easier. There are 6 great reasons to bump up your credit score and maintain great credit.

1 | Savings On Interest

Those who have great credit will generally be eligible for lower interest rates than those with poor credit. This can save you a lot of money over time! Check out the example for different interest rates applied between poor credit to good credit below:

781-8504.69% Interest$25,000 Loan Amount60 Months$28,094$3,094 Interest Paid Over Time
601-66010.91% Interest$25,000 Loan Amount60 Months$32,546$7,543 Interest Paid Over Time

When any money is borrowed from banks, interest is applied. You want to aim for the lowest interest rate as possible so it can save you money in the long run.

In the example provided above, a person within the 781-850 credit score range pays $3,094 over 60 months compared to paying $7,543 if they had a 601-660 credit score. The person with the better credit score would save $4,449 over time.

It’s best to always aim for a high credit score to benefit from the lowest interest rates available. This can be applied to all types of loans from mortgages, personal loans, car loans, and more.

2 | Better Credit Offers

Those with good to excellent credit can be eligible to apply for great credit offers. There are credit cards that offer significant amount of bonus points for travel based on a spending limit usually. These travel cards will often require Good to Excellent credit in order to be approved. Some of the travel cards are:

  • Chase Sapphire Preferred Card– $1,200 Bonus Points Value
  • Capital One Venture Card– $700 Bonus Points Value
  • American Express Gold Card– $700 Bonus Points Value
  • Delta SkyMiles Card by American Express-$580 Bonus Points Value
  • Alaska Airlines Visa Card-$820 Bonus Points Value

Ever since we paid off all our credit cards, our credit score has skyrocketed. Now we always get approved for the best travel rewards credit cards. Find out how we got a free cruise or free flights to Las Vegas below.

Read More:

How We Got Our Free Cruise

How We Got Free Flights to Las Vegas

3 | Better Rates For Car Insurance

Having a higher credit score will often give you better premiums for your car insurance. While you may not be turned down for having poor credit, having a good credit score will certainly get you lower premiums.

4 | Increase Chances of Approval for Rentals

Landlords can check your credit report and credit score to determine if they should approve your tenant application or not. It’s up to the Landlord whether or not they want to approve you based on the information.

If you have poor credit, they may not turn you away depending on the situation. However, they may require a higher security deposit or have a co-signor in order to approve you. On the other hand, if you have great credit they may be quick to approve you.

5 | Waive Security Deposit

There are instances where security deposits may be waived.

Some utility companies that may check your credit history. If you don’t have the best credit, they may ask for a security deposit or a letter-of-guarantee which a family member or friend may pay your bills if you’re unable to.

Cell phone companies may also waive a security deposit to those with good credit and also offer a discounted price of phones.

6 | Employment Hiring Process

Did you know that some companies check your credit as part of the hiring process? They check credit as a means to verify someone’s financial responsibility, verify identity, and background.

In some instances, companies may find it necessary to run a credit check on individuals who will be assigned to managing other people’s funds. They can’t have people who aren’t able to handle their own financial matters properly to take care of client’s finances.

What are the steps to get a good credit score to 800?

Tips On How To Get A Good Credit Score To 800-Good Credit-My Financial Hill

For as long as I can remember, my credit score has never broke 800 until last year. My credit score even dipped down to the 600’s while I was in school. My score has passed the 800 mark and I’ll show you exactly what I did to get it there.

Pay Bills on Time

Late payments can hurt your credit score and it accounts for 35% of your FICO rating. The bad news is that late payments, more than 30 days late, can stay on your credit report for up to 7 years! Yikes.

This is one thing that I always tried to keep up with. I tried to always pay my bills on time even if it was minimum payments. However, there were occasional times when bills may slip through the cracks.

There were times when I didn’t set my auto payment for a credit card and missed a payment here and there. The great part is, it’s easy to get this issue resolved with credit card companies.

You can usually call them and explain your situation, most of the time they will reverse any late fee charged on your statement.

Usually, credit card companies won’t report the late payment if it’s a few days late. If it passes an entire billing cycle, they will usually report it to the credit agency.

If you’ve missed a payment, make sure to pay as soon as you can.

Another huge downside to missing payments for credit cards is when they’re able to remove a promotional interest rate offered to you. Say, you were getting a promotional rate of 0%, well if you miss a payment, they can change that interest rate to their original rate of 18% or higher.

Suggestions:

  • Set reminders to help you pay your bill on time
  • Set up auto pay
  • Call creditors as soon as you notice you’ve missed a payment

Keep Your Debt Balances Low

Your overall debt to credit ratio accounts for 30% of your FICO score. It’s beneficial to have a higher credit to debt ratio. If you owe too much money compared to your credit limit, this can have a negative impact on your score.

This is the main area that has significantly boosted my credit score to over 800. My current FICO credit score below:

Tips On How To Get A Good Credit Score To 800-My Financial Hill 836 Current Credit Score

My credit score had always toggled around the upper 600’s and mid 700’s. Especially when I was in school, my credit rating plummeted because I wasn’t working to pay off my credit cards.

I noticed that as soon as we started attacking our credit debt, our credit scores shot up. When my husband and I first started our debt paying journey, we used the Snowball Method and paid off all our credit cards.

Paying off our credit balances dramatically increased our credit availability limit. Since this category makes up 30% of a FICO score, it was the factor that helped me get into the 800 score club.

Suggestions:

  • Pay off your credit cards using the Snowball Method
  • Try using only 1 credit card to pay off the balance in full each month
  • Call creditors and ask for a credit limit increase

Read More:

How To Get Out of Debt With These 5 Tips

Snowball Method

How to Budget Your Money For Beginners

Want to start getting yourself out of debt? We knocked out over $100,000 in just 24 month and you can find out some great tips to get yourself started too. Grab your free Debt Thermometer and join us in the free 5-Day Debt Free Bootcamp.

Credit Inquiries Impact Credit Score

Credit inquiries can make an impact on your credit score by a few points. If you were to open up many credit cards around the same time frame, it can affect your score significantly.

There are hard inquiries which directly impact your score and soft inquiries which doesn’t have an affect on it.

Hard inquiries generally can stay on your credit report for a little over two years.

Hard Inquiries on Credit

  • Opening up a cell phone plan
  • Applying for a mortgage
  • Applying for an auto loan
  • Opening up a credit card
  • Applying for a student loan
  • Requesting for a credit line increase
  • Getting a rental car with a debit card (possibly hard inquiry pull)
  • Applying for a personal loan
  • Applying for rental apartments

Soft Inquiries on Credit

  • Credit card companies automatically raising your credit limit
  • Pre-approval offer from a lender
  • Checking your own credit report

Suggestions:

  • If you need a loan for a car or mortgage, it’s better to shop around during a short time frame. Some scoring models will consider the multiple inquiries as a single inquiry if it’s done under a small time frame.
  • Check your credit report to make sure there are no other hard inquiries that you are not aware of. You may be able to have them removed if you didn’t authorize the credit pull.
  • Only apply for credit if you really need it.

Length of Your Credit History Matters

The length of your credit history has a 15% impact of your FICO credit score. The longer you have a credit line opened, the better it will help your score over time. Especially, if you’re making payments on time. It’ll be best not to close out any credit cards you have, even if you don’t plan on using them.

When we started paying off all our credit cards, I didn’t cancel our cards. Some of my cards are over 10 years old. All we did was pay off all balances and just leave them alone.

My husband actually canceled 1 credit card which he had for years not knowing it would impact his score. Next thing we knew, his score dropped and it hasn’t reached the 800’s as I have.

Monitor Your Credit

It’s always important to keep tabs on your credit report. There may be things on there that can have negative impacts on your score.

I check my credit report at least once a year just to make sure everything is in good standing and there are no errors.

One time, my information was associated with a completely random address. I had to correct that right away because that property had a lien associated with it. It was bizarre.

You can also check all your accounts to see if there are any delinquent payments posted. One of my student loans actually reported a 30-day late payment to the credit bureau without my knowledge. Delinquencies have a negative impact on your report and score and can stay on your report for up to 7 years.

I called up the student loan provider and had them reverse that initial report.

Suggestions:

  • Check your free credit report and score on Credit Karma
  • Get your free annual credit report on Annual Credit Report (only credit report, no credit score)
  • Fix any discrepancies on your credit report
  • If there are any delinquent payments, reach out to your loan provider and see if they can help you remove it

Give Your Score a Boost

If you’re looking for a boost to your credit score, you can give Experian Boost a try.

If you pay for your cell phone bills or utility payments through your checking account, Experian Boost considers that as on-time payments.

Since payment history makes up 35% of your FICO score, this can significantly help your credit score.

How Do You Use Experian Boost?

First, you sign up for free with Experian Boost. Link your bank account that have been used for paying utility and cell phone bills on time.

Experian Boost then pulls all your on-time payments to apply. The boost to your Experian score can take as little as 10 minutes.

What Bills Can You Use For Experian Boost?

Experian Boost won’t work for credit card bills. It has to be payments made from a checking or saving account.

On time payments:

  • Utility (gas, water, electricity)
  • Cell phone/Land line
  • Cable

Experian Boost gathers your on-time payments and applies it towards your payment history giving you a credit score boost.

What to Consider When Signing Up For Experian Boost

Experian Boost can definitely help your credit score. According to Experian’s website, 86% of users with a FICO score of 579 and below saw an average increase of 21 points.

Although, the service can help boost credit scores, it doesn’t have the same effect across the board for all.

  • Can only use a checking/saving account for assessment of on-time payments
  • Need at least 3 months worth of bill payment history
  • Must have at least one credit card or a loan on your credit report.
  • Experian Boost is 64% more effective with very poor to fair FICO scores compared to only 3% effectiveness for those with very good to exceptional FICO scores.
  • Just because your score increased doesn’t mean your lender will use the same exact FICO scoring model as the one from your report.
  • Adding on-time payments to your credit file with Experian won’t transfer over to TransUnion or Equifax.

Is Experian Boost Worth It?

It’s a free service that can potentially help your credit score and it doesn’t take long at all to set up. If your credit is within the poor to fair range, it may be more worth while to try it out. Just keep in mind that if you are applying for a loan, check to see if the lender uses Experian.

Bottom Line

Having great credit will only help you financially and in life. It can save you thousands of dollars in interest, help you get approved for jobs or apartment rentals. You can improve your credit score and get it up to the 800’s as I have.

Most importantly, creating a budget has helped me tremendously in making sure I have enough funds for bills. Set up auto payment if your bad with paying bills on time. It’s very important to not be late with payments since it has a very large impact on your credit score.

Check your credit history and score at Credit Karma and dispute any discrepancies on your report.

Don’t cancel long term credit cards as it will have a negative impact on your credit score.

Keep your debt balances low by using the snowball method to pay off your debt, especially your credit cards. I think this has been the major reason why my credit score broke the 800 mark and is now 836. What I do now is use only 1 credit card and pay it off in full each month. Having a large credit to debt ratio will help your score out significantly!

If you need a fast credit boost, you can try Experian Boost.

I hope you found some helpful tips here and you can also be on your way to the 800 score club, thanks for stopping by!


Read More
Debt, Lifestyle, Money

How To Start Your Own Free WordPress Blog With Bluehost

We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details. 

 Has the thought ever crossed your mind that it may be awesome to have a blog to call your own? Maybe you're really passionate about something, or you want to share your knowledge, and even maybe you've read blogging success stories of people making thousands of dollars a month from blogging.

Well, what are you waiting for? You won't know if you can succeed if you don't try. I'll show you how to start your own free WordPress blog with Bluehost.

Starting a blog can be a great hobby or it can also earn you major income. It all depends on which direction you want to go in. Either way, blogging can be very fun. There are days where I can spend hours working on my blog but it doesn't feel like a drag, time definitely flies by way too fast.

I guess when you enjoy doing something, it doesn't feel like work at all.

The best part about starting a blog is how very inexpensive it is. You can start a FREE WordPress blog starting today. It's really that easy. You may be wondering what is WordPress?

WHAT IS WORDPRESS?

WordPress is a blog and website creation tool where you can create and customize your content. It may be a website you want to create for your business or create blog posts for your personal blog page.

To think of it simply, WordPress is like a house where you can customize and renovate it and add furniture (content) to your heart's desire. However, a house sits on land. That's where Bluehost comes in.

Keep in mind that you want WordPress.org and not WordPress.com. You can start your free WordPress blog or site through Bluehost (web hosting provider).

Why you want WordPress.org

  • Customize your site to your heart's desire
  • Able to make money off your site by placing ads
  • Able to install any plugin you want
  • It is your OWN site and can't be deleted at a whim

No need to worry about this at the moment. When you sign up with Bluehost, WordPress.org is what you will be using.

WHAT IS BLUEHOST?

How to start your own free wordpress site - My Financial Hill

Bluehost is a web hosting provider. Think of it like the land where the house sits on. Through Bluehost you choose your domain name (website name). Once you sign up with Bluehost, WordPress is then free to be used as your platform. The best part about starting your own free WordPress blog with Bluehost is that the fee is extremely inexpensive!

I'm talking about LESS THAN A CUP OF COFFEE a month. Yes, I'm serious! You can start your own free WordPress blog with them for as little as $3.95 a month. That's incredibly affordable for creating something that can change your life.

I absolutely LOVE Bluehost! I mean it! Their customer service rocks! If I ever had questions about my site, I can chat with a representative at any hour of the day or night.

Just the other day, I reached out to a rep at 11:30 at night and had my question answered.

Bluehost reps are the ones that helped me get my site up and running when I first started out and had no clue what I was doing. They're really amazing. For $3.95 a month to start a blog/website/e-commerce page it's totally worth it plus more!

Bluehost Benefits

  • Low rates- Starting at $3.95 a month to host your website (plan I still use till this day)
  • Awesome customer service
  • Easy setup and integration with WordPress
  • Free WordPress site included

Starting your site with Bluehost is an awesome option for beginners and if you don't get a lot of traffic to your site in the beginning. 

Bluehost is highly recommended for those just starting out because their reps go above and beyond to help you get the ball rolling. 

Once the traffic to your site starts picking up or you need super premium hosting service, then I would recommend WPEngine down the road. 

WPEngine offers great customer service, fast site speeds, and comes with all the bells and whistles when it comes to web hosting. 

HOW TO START A FREE WORDPRESS BLOG
ON BLUEHOST

First you need to head to Bluehost site to register your domain name and sign up for your website hosting. Bluehost if offering a 50% discount at a very low rate of $3.95 a month compared to $7.99 a month for this service. For their level of service, easy-to-use platform, plus a free WordPress site, it can't get any better than that.

Sign up at the discounted rate of $3.95/month with Bluehost-Click Here

How To Start Your Own Free WordPress Blog With Bluehost-Bluehost Main Screen-My Financial Hill

Next, pick your plan

How To Start Your Own Free WordPress Blog With Bluehost-Bluehost Pick Plan-My Financial Hill

If you're just starting out, choose the basic plan. You always have the option of upgrading your plan later if you need to. The basic plan should be more than enough.

Choose your domain (website) name

How To Start Your Own Free WordPress Blog With Bluehost-Bluehost Set Up Domain-My Financial Hill

You can choose your domain (website) name at this point, or come back to it if you can't think of a good name yet. Also, you always have the option of changing your website name later if you're not happy with what you chose to begin with.

Create Your Account
and Pick Your Plan

How To Start Your Own Free WordPress Blog With Bluehost-Bluehost Create Account-My Financial Hill

Within the basic plan, you can sign up for a 12 month plan, 24 month plan, or 36 month plan. When I first signed up with Bluehost, I chose the 36 month plan because I wanted the cheapest monthly cost possible. That is basically $3.95 per month, $47.40 for the year or $142.20 for 36 months. I pay triple in my cable bill for one month compared to what I pay for in a whole year to run my blog.

If you're not sure about a 36 month plan, you can always try it for 12 months which will be $5.95 a month or $71.40 for the year. That's still a really good price to run a website that you can call your own.

To get the cheapest rate, signing up for the 36 month plan would be the best option.

How To Start Your Own Free WordPress Blog With Bluehost-Bluehost Package Information-My Financial Hill

After choosing your plan, there may be some 'Package Extras' that could be automatically checked off. I wouldn't sign up for those tools just yet. First, get your website up and running and you can always download free 'Plugins' to meet your website maintenance needs. You can always sign up for those recommended programs by Bluehost later if you need to.

Install Free WordPress Blog

After signing up with Bluehost, your free WordPress blog and website will be automatically installed. That's another reason why Bluehost is awesome, everything is very simple to use on their platform.

How To Start Your Own Free WordPress Blog With Bluehost-WordPress Themes-My Financial Hill

Choosing Your Theme

First, you will be prompted to choose your theme. There will be lots and lots of free themes to choose from. There will also be premium themes available at a cost. You can choose the theme that you like the most.

When I first started my free WordPress blog, I chose a free theme but quickly ended up with a premium theme. Surprisingly enough, using a free theme was actually a lot harder than using a premium theme.

I found that I had to manually try to "build" a page having to customize every single thing which made it extremely difficult for me since I was completely new to the coding/web page building world.

A premium theme was incredibly easy to use. Everything from the home page, posts, contact pages were already beautifully styled and all I had to do was change wording around.

For people that are new to blogging/website creation, I HIGHLY recommend a premium theme. Save your time, frustration, and energy to create what's valuable which is your content!

For my site I use Thrive Architect theme which you can get get HERE.

Thrive Home Screen - How To Start Your Own Free WordPress Blog With Bluehost - My Financial Hill

I'm stating this from experience but for a good part of the first year of starting this blog, I had another theme which I paid around $50 for it.

It was decent enough where I was able to easily design my pages as needed but as time went on I started noticing that the design of my website was hugely limited compared with Thrive.

As you start your blogging career, you'll begin to realize that any little thing you need as far as appearances go for your site, you may need to start getting plug-ins.

Keep in mind that the less plug-ins you have on your site, the better because a lot of plug-ins actually bog down your site and slow it down.

After months and months of messing with plug-ins and being frustrated with the lack of customization for this site, I came across Thrive and it's been amazing guys!

Thrive is literally the all in one package to help you launch a beautiful site with tons of pre-designed pages. Also, you'll find their page design/builder is extremely easy to use. Even a non-techie and beginner like me was able to design my own site.

Thrive can literally help you save hundreds or more because you won't need to hire designers or buy expensive programs if you want to do more advanced stuff like make courses or create sales pages for your site.

Thrive is all you need! I'm seriously in love with this theme builder and it's so easy to use.

You can get a beautiful site up with Thrive, it's really an amazing tool to use.

So, I HIGHLY suggest for you to try Thrive and save yourself hair pulling, frustration, and wasted time using other themes.

Navigating WordPress

How To Start Your Own Free WordPress Blog With Bluehost-Welcome to WordPress-My Financial Hill

Once you arrive at the "Welcome to WordPress" page, click on "Business" or "Personal" depending on what you want your site to be about. For blogs, I would choose the "Personal" option.

Awesome, now you're all ready to get started creating great content!

Just to familiarize yourself with the platform, let's go over a few things you may see on your navigation bar on the left.

  • Posts- Primarily used for your blog content.
  • Media-Upload your pictures, videos, and other media files for your site
  • Pages- This is where you go to create your homepage, contact page, about me page, and more.
  • Comments-Check recently posted comments on your site.
  • Appearance-This is where you can go to customize the layout of your site by changing themes or adding in widgets.
  • Plugins-Offer extra add-ons to your site if you want specific forms, back-up programs, gallery display, number counters, calendars, graphs, and so much more. There's a plugin for EVERYTHING. You will find all sorts of plugins specific to your site's needs.

There you have it, now you know how to start a free WordPress blog through Bluehost. It's simple and easy to sign up. Bluehost has awesome customer service and they will help you with any concerns you may have. $3.95 a month is so worth having your own beautiful blog and website to call your own.

If you have any questions at all, I'll do my best to help you out. Reach out to me here.

Alright, now you're ready to put yourself out there and share with the world! 

Read More
15 Inspiring Quotes for Motivation and Encouragement-My Financial Hill
Lifestyle

Inspirational Quotes for Motivation and Encouragement

Inspirational quotes has the ability to give us much needed motivation or encouragement when we are going through tough times. No matter what circumstance you’re in, or what mountain lies ahead of you, never give up. Find strength through 15 of these best inspirational quotes that’ll get you motivated and encourage you!

1 | IT ALWAYS SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL IT’S DONE

It always seems impossible until it's done Inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement-MyFinancialHill

2 | WINNERS ARE NOT THOSE WHO NEVER FAIL BUT THOSE WHO NEVER QUIT

Winners are not those who never fail but those who never quit-MyFinancialHill

3 | A WINNER IS A DREAMER WHO NEVER GIVES UP

A winner is a dreamer who never gives up-Inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement-MyFinancialHill

4 | TODAY IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THE TOMORROW YOU WANT

Today is your opportunity to build the tommorow you want-Inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement-MyFinancialHill

5 | SUCCESS DOESN’T COME FROM WHAT YOU DO OCCASIONALLY

Success doesn't come from what you do occasionally-Inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement-MyFinancialHill

6 | NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. THE WORD ITSELF SAYS ‘I’M POSSIBLE

Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'I'm possible-Inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement-MyFinancialHill

7 | DO SOMETHING TODAY THAT YOUR FUTURE SELF WILL THANK YOU FOR

Do something today that your future self will thank you for-Inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement-MyFinancialHill

8 | WHETHER YOU THINK YOU CAN OR YOU CAN’T YOU ARE RIGHT

Whether you think you can or you can't you are right-Inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement-MyFinancialHill

9 | A GOAL WITHOUT A PLAN IS JUST A WISH

 A goal without a plan is just a wish-Inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement-MyFinancialHill

10 | THE ONLY PERSON YOU ARE DESTINED TO BECOME IS THE PERSON YOU DECIDE TO BE

The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be-Inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement-MyFinancialHill

11 | WHEN YOU THINK OF QUITTING REMEMBER WHY YOU STARTED

When you think of quitting remember why you started-Inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement-MyFinancialHill

12 | DON’T BE PUSHED BY YOUR PROBLEMS BE LED BY YOUR DREAMS

Don't be pushed by your problems be led by your dreams-Inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement-MyFinancialHill

13 | YOU’RE BRAVER THAN YOU BELIEVE, STRONGER THAN YOU SEEM, AND SMARTER THAN YOU THINK

You're braver than you believe stronger than you seem and smarter than you think-Inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement-MyFinancialHill

14 | DIFFICULT ROADS OFTEN LEAD TO BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations-Inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement-MyFinancialHill

15 | THE SECRET TO GETTING AHEAD IS GETTING STARTED

The secret to getting ahead is getting started-Inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement-MyFinancialHill

No matter what journey lies ahead or what you may be going through, find some strength to push through with these awesome inspirational quotes for motivation and encouragement.

These quotes encourage me to keep going on paying off my $116,000 worth of debt. So far my husband and I have paid off $77,750, we have $38,250 more to go. Find out how We paid off $50,000 in 10 months.

Follow your dreams, goals, and never give up…

Read More
Lifestyle

Air Fryer Recipes that’s Healthy and Low Carb for Dinner

We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details. 

Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean you’ll never get to eat some of your fav crispy foods. Sure, we all know that eating fried food isn’t the best for us but there’s just something about the sound of eating crispy food that makes it so much more appealing.

Surprisingly, you don’t ever have to deep fry anything ever again and still get that crispy goodness.

If you’ve never tried an air fryer, you’ve got to try one, it’ll change your life in the best way possible!

I was skeptical when it came to air fryers at first and had to go through a couple to find just the right one. Once I came across the right one, it changed the whole meal game for me.

I love the air fryer because it allows you to get the crispiness of some of your favorite foods, cuts cooking time by a ton (I can literally throw frozen wings in my Cosori Air Fryer and it cooks in 30 minutes), and it also has so many different features like baking, roasting, etc.

One thing to keep in mind when buying your air fryer is that you need a large one because you need to space out your food items for it to cook evenly.

For instance, if I were cooking wings, I can literally load up my Cosori Air Fryer and cook it at once. When I had a smaller Ninja Air Fryer, I had to cook it batches at a time which took a long time to get the meal ready.

If you’re looking for a great Air Fryer, I recommend the Cosori one because I’ve had mine for years already and it’s been just awesome!

CosoriAirFryer

If you already have an air fryer or are just curious to see what kind of recipes are out there, below are 30 of the best air fryer recipes that’s healthy and low carb for dinner.

If you need more keto or low-carb dinner recipes that doesn’t involve the air fryer, check out my other post:

20 Easy Keto Low Carb Recipes For Dinner

1 | Keto Air Fryer Pork Chops

MyFinancialHill Keto Air Fryer Pork Chops Butter Sage Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from All Day I dream About Food

Have delicious pork chops for dinner made from the air fryer. Get this recipe at All Day I Dream About Food. All you need to make this is boneless pork chops, butter, salt + pepper, and sage.

2 | Air Fryer Jerk Chicken Wings

MyFinancialHill Keto Air Fryer Jerk Chicken Wings Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from My Forking Life

Spice up your dinner with these jerk chicken wings from My Forking Life. All you need to make this recipe is chicken wings, jerk seasoning, and salt.

3 | Air Fryer Keto Low Carb Fried Chicken Recipe

MyFinancialHill Keto Low Carb Fried Chicken Recipe Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Wholesome Yum

You can still have crispy fried chicken minus all the excess carbs, get the recipe at Wholesome Yum. All you need to make this are chicken drums, coconut flour, sea salt, black pepper, eggs, pork rinds, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and dried thyme.

4 | Keto and Low Carb Breaded Air Fryer Shrimp

MyFinancialHill Keto Low Carb Breaded Air Fryer Shrimp Recipe Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Dr. Davinah’s Eats

Try this shrimp recipe from Dr. Davinah’s Eats without worrying about heavy carbs from regular breading. All you need for this recipe is shrimp, baking powder, coconut flour, pork rind breading, sea salt, black pepper, eggs, dried parsley, and olive oil.

5 | Air Fryer Buffalo Wings Low Carb Keto

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Buffalo Wings Low Carb Keto Recipe Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Maebells

There are alternatives to getting delicious buffalo wings without needing to deep fry them. Get this recipe at Maebells. All you need for this recipe are wings, baking powder, salt + pepper, garlic powder, buffalo sauce, butter, garlic, and apple cider vinegar.

6 | Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Cook The Story

Try this ‘Bang Bang Shrimp’ recipe from Cook The Story without all the excess oil that comes with deep frying. All you need for this recipe is Shrimp, Thai chili sauce, mayo, Sriracha, honey or honey substitute, salt + pepper, buttermilk, and cornstarch.

7 | Air Fryer Breaded Pork Chops

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Low Carb Tuna Patties Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Recipes From A Pantry

There’s no need for heavy breading in this recipe, it uses almond flour which has significantly less carbs than regular breading. Get this recipe at Recipes From A Pantry. All you need for this recipe is pork chops, almond flour, Parmesan cheese, paprika, Herbes de Provence, Creole Seasoning or Cajun seasoning, and cooking spray.

8 | Air Fryer Low Carb Tuna Patties

Try this tuna patty recipe from Whole Kitchen Sink. All you need for this recipe is canned tuna in water, almond flour, mayo, dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt + pepper, and lemon.

9 | Air Fryer Catfish

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Catfish Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Stay Snatched

Don’t miss out on fried fish! You can have a less greasy version of fried fish from Stay Snatched. All you need to make this dish is catfish fillets, Louisiana fish fry mix made for the air fryer, and olive oil.

10 | Air Fryer Chicken Breast

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Chicken Breast Healthy Low Carb Dinner

This chicken breast recipe from Diet Hood can go with any healthy side like salad, cauliflower rice, or zoodles. All you need to make this is chicken breasts, water, kosher salt, olive oil cooking spray, ground pepper, garlic powder, sweet paprika, and dried oregano.

11 | Air Fryer Whitefish

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Whitefish or Tilapia Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Best Recipe Box

Pair this Whitefish recipe from Best Recipe Box with cauliflower rice for a delicious light dinner. All you need for this recipe is tilapia or white fish, garlic powder, lemon pepper, onion powder, kosher salt, pepper, chopped parsley, and lemon wedges.

12 | Air Fryer Chicken Fajita Dinner

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Chicken Fajita Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Cook The Story

Have a Fajita night with this recipe from Cook The Story. Swap out the tortillas and have it with a side of salad or cauliflower rice. All you need for this recipe is chicken breasts, bell peppers, onion, olive oil, chili powder, salt + pepper, cumin, and cayenne.

13 | Air Fryer Vegetable Kabobs

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Vegetable Kebabs Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Recipes From A Pantry

Don’t want to eat meat for dinner? Try this vegetable kabob recipe instead from Recipes From A Pantry. For this recipe, you need skewers, mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini, bell pepper, ground cumin, onion, and salt.

14 | Air Fryer Salmon Cakes

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Salmon Cakes Healthy Low Carb Dinner

Try these healthy salmon cakes from Berry Maple. All you need for this recipe is salmon, eggs, salt, garlic powder, and lemon.

15 | Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from My Forking Life

Try this delicious coconut shrimp with a side of veggies from My forking Life for an easy dinner. All you need for this recipe is shrimp, eggs, flour, unsweetened shredded coconut, Panko breadcrumbs, salt + pepper, and cooking spray. Try subbing out the flour with almond flour and the Panko breadcrumbs with low carb breadcrumbs for an even healthier version of this recipe.

Like what you see so far? Share the love by pinning below! Find 15 more delicious air fryer recipes that’s healthy and low carb for dinner on the next page!

Ready for 15 more air fryer recipes that’s healthy and low carb for dinner? Find more delicious recipes below!

16 | Air Fryer Stuffed Baby Artichokes

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Stuffed Baby Artichokes Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Wholesome Yum

If you love artichokes, you’ve got to try this recipe from Wholesome Yum. All you need to make this is baby artichokes, water, lemon juice, olive oil, salt + pepper, cream cheese, frozen spinach, garlic, and Parmesan cheese.

17 | Air Fryer Steak Bites with Mushrooms

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Steak Bites with Mushrooms Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Best Recipe Box

Try this simple and delicious low carb recipe from Best Recipe Box for dinner. All you need for this recipe is steak, mushrooms, butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt + pepper, and minced parsley.

18 | Air Fryer Keto Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Keto Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Maebells

Get your veggie serving and low carb meal with this recipe from Maebells. All you need is zucchini, chicken, cream cheese, ranch, shredded cheddar, buffalo sauce, and mozzarella cheese.

19 | Air Fryer Pork Loin

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Pork Loin Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Stay Snatched

Try this low carb recipe for dinner from Stay Snatched. You can pair the pork loin with mashed cauliflower, or any type of vegetable you prefer. All you need for this recipe is pork loin, Italian vinaigrette marinade, rosemary, thyme, Italian seasoning, and salt + pepper.

20 | Air Fryer Panko Breaded Low-Fat Chicken Parmesan

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Panko Breaded Low Fat Chicken Parmesan Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Stay Snatched

You can still have chicken parm without worrying about it being deep fried, how great is that? Check out this recipe from Stay Snatched. All you need to make this is chicken breast, Panko bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, Mozzarella cheese, egg, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, Salt + Pepper, and olive oil.

Note: To make this dish even more carb-friendly, swap out the Panko bread crumbs with low carb breading and try low-carb marinara sauce.

21 | Air Fryer General Tso Chicken

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer General Tso Chicken Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from KLEINWORTH & CO.

You can still enjoy your general tso’s without all the extra oil. Get the recipe from KLEINWORTH & CO. All you need for this recipe is chicken breast, soy sauce, cornstarch, scallion, sesame seeds, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, chicken broth, sriracha, and hoisin sauce.

22 | Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

MyFinancialHill Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Burgers Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from My Forking Life

Try this turkey burger recipe out in the air fryer rather than messing with the grill. Get the recipe from My Forking Life. All you need for this recipe is ground turkey, unsweetened apple sauce, onion, ranch seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, plain breadcrumbs, and salt + pepper.

Note: Try low-carb buns for this recipe and you can swap out the plain breadcrumbs for low-carb breadcrumbs instead.

23 | Air Fryer Bone-In Ribeye Steak

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Bone-In Ribeye Steak Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Sandras Easy Cooking

Interested in steak night? Try this awesome steak recipe from Sandras Easy Cooking. All you need to make this is ribeye, butter, parsley, chives, thyme, Kosher salt, and black pepper.

24 | Perfect Air Fryer Salmon

MyFinancialHill Perfect Air Fryer Salmon Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Noble Pig

Get your healthy dose of Omega 3’s with this salmon recipe from Noble Pig. All you need to make this is salmon filets, avocado oil or olive oil, paprika, salt + pepper, and lemon.

25 | Air Fryer Chicken Shwarma Bowl

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Chicken Shwarma Bowl Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Recipes From A Pantry

Enjoy delicious flavors of the Middle East with this chicken shwarma from Recipes From A Pantry. All you need to make this recipe is chicken thighs, vegetable oil, oregano, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, kosher salt, allspice, cherry tomatoes, cauliflower rice, cucumber, salad, and olives.

26 | Air Fryer Chicken Kebabs

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Chicken Kebabs Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and Recipe from Stay Snatched

Try this super easy chicken kebab recipe from Stay Snatched. All you need for this recipe is chicken breasts, soy sauce or liquid aminos, McCormick’s Grill Mates Chicken Seasoning, McCormick’s Grill Mates BBQ Seasoning, Salt + Pepper, green/yellow/red pepper, zucchini, onion, and grape tomatoes.

27 | Low Carb Air Fryer Meatloaf

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Meatloaf Healthy Low Carb Dinner

Try this low carb meatloaf with a side of mashed cauliflower from Stylish Cravings. All you need for this is ground chuck, onion, almond flour, shredded cheddar cheese, eggs, tomato sauce, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and salt + pepper.

28 | Air Fryer Stuffed Turkey Breast

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Stuffed Turkey Breast Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Best Recipe Box

Try this healthy air fryer stuffed turkey recipe from Best Recipe Box. All you need is turkey breasts, salt + pepper, bacon, mushrooms, onion, garlic, kale or spinach, dried thyme, dried sage, kosher salt, and Parmesan cheese.

29 | Easy Air Fryer Crab Cakes

MyFinancialHill Easy Air Fryer Crab Cakes Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from My Forking Life

Try this delicious crab cake recipe from My Forking Life. All you need to make this is lump crab meat, red bell pepper, green onion, mayo, bread crumbs (try low carb bread crumbs), Dijon mustard, old bay seasoning, cooking spray, and lemon.

30 | Air Fryer Baby Back Ribs

MyFinancialHill Air Fryer Baby Back Ribs Healthy Low Carb Dinner
Photo and recipe from Sandras Easy Cooking

No need to mess with grilling with this baby back ribs recipe from Sandras Easy Cooking. All you need to make this is baby back ribs, liquid smoke, oil, kosher salt, ground black pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, and Truvia brown sugar.

Now you’ve discovered some of the best air fryer recipes that’s healthy and low carb for dinner. Who would’ve thought the air fryer can still make it possible to eat all your favorite fried foods? Let us know which of these recipes you’re looking forward to trying by sharing a comment below!


Read More
45 Healthy Weight Loss Recipes To Get Slimmer
Lifestyle

Healthy Weight Loss Smoothie Recipes To Get Slimmer

We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details. 

Smoothies are just plain awesome! They’re great for on-the-go meals or just for times when you don’t feel like cooking up a big meal only to clean tons of dishes after. Not only do they taste delicious, they’re often loaded with vitamins and minerals depending on what you put in there. Some store bought smoothies can be loaded with fattening and heavy ingredients which may hinder any weight loss journey you may be on. Smoothies can be good for weight loss and fat burning depending on the recipe.

Smoothies can give you daily serving of vegetables and fruits while helping you lose weight. It will be best to add smoothies to your daily regimen along with a well balanced diet and exercise to really achieve weight loss. Smoothies can curb your appetite by adding protein powders to keep you full longer. Some natural ingredients may even help you burn fat easier and kick start your metabolism.

Smoothies are so simple to make too! Before you get started, make sure you have the right Blender for max efficiency. If you end up making a large batch of the smoothie, store it in cups and place them in the freezer. The night before, I will defrost the frozen smoothie in the refrigerator and it will be ready to go the next morning. Plus I love using frozen fruit and vegetables because there’s no cooking involved, it’s perfect for rushed mornings. These 45 healthy weight loss smoothie recipes will give you plenty of ideas that will last you a while, enjoy!

1 | Fat Burning Smoothie

Fat-Burning-Green-Smoothie-Healthy-Weight-Loss-Smoothie Recipes
Photo and recipe from Simple Green Smoothies

This smoothie is a metabolism booster and fat burner according to Simple Green Smoothies. All you need to make this is spinach, mint leaves, celery, green tea, grapefruit, pineapple, and avocado.

2 | Metabolism Boosting Smoothie

Metabolism-Boosting-Smoothie-Green-Tea-Coconut-Milk-Spinach-Banana-Grapefruit-Pineapple-Whey-Protein-Healthy-Weight-Loss-Smoothie Recipes
Photo and recipe from Sunkissed Kitchen

This smoothie is sure to give your metabolism a kick-start. It’s packed with lots of nutrients proven to help with weight loss according to Sunkissed Kitchen. All you need is green tea, coconut milk, spinach, banana, grapefruit, pineapple, ice, and whey protein.

3 | Skinny Almond Butter Banana Smoothie

Skinny-Almond-Butter-Banana-Smoothie-Almond-Milk-Chia-Seeds-Healthy-Weight-Loss-Smoothie Recipes

Swap out your heavy deserts with this healthy and savory smoothie from Simple Green Moms. It’s easy to make and all you need to make this is frozen bananas, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, almond butter, and chia seeds.

4 | Metabolism Boosting Blueberry Smoothie

Metabolism-Boosting-Blueberry-Smoothie-Spinach-Banana-Flaxseed-Chia-Seed-Healthy-Weight-Loss-Smoothie Recipes
Photo and recipe from Suburban Simplicity

This smoothie is packed with antioxidants from the blueberries and other nutrients like fiber, folate, and vitamin C from the added spinach according to Suburban Simplicity. This smoothie is sure to give your metabolism a boost. All you need to make this is protein powder, unsweetened almond milk, ice, blueberries, spinach leaves, banana, and ground flaxseed or chia seeds.

5 | Protein-Packed Keto Breakfast Smoothie for Weight Loss

Protein-Packed-Keto-Breakfast-Smoothie-Berries-Flaxseed-Cottage-Cheese-Vanilla-Extract-Healthy-Weight-Loss-Smoothie Recipes

This healthy weight loss smoothie recipe is packed with protein, antioxidants, vitamins, essential minerals, and healthy omega-3’s according to keto pots. Instead of eating a heavy breakfast, try this smoothie instead. All you need to make this smoothie is berries, flaxseed meal, ice, almond milk, cottage cheese, vanilla protein powder, vanilla extract, and liquid Stevia.

6 | Skinny Mint Smoothie

Skinny-Mint-Spinach-Banana-Avocado-Dates-Cacao-Healthy-Weight-Loss-Smoothie-Recipes
Photo and recipe from Simple Green Smoothies

Try this minty and delicious smoothie without all the excess calories but packed with nutrients instead. Get the recipe at Simple Green Smoothies. All you need for this recipe is unsweetened almond milk, spinach, mint leaves, banana, avocado, dates, and cacao powder.

7 | Super Berry Weight Loss Smoothie

Super-Berry-Almond-Milk-Bananas-Berries-Healthy-Weight-Loss-Smoothie-Recipes
Photo and recipe from Nutrition Twins

This refreshing smoothie is delightfully sweet and packed with antioxidants, fiber and protein as stated on Nutrition Twins. All you need to make this is almond milk, bananas, berries, and protein powder.

8 | Fat Burning Strawberry and Mango Smoothie

Fat-Burning-Strawberry-Mango-Coconut-Water-Ginger-Root-Cinnamon-Cayenne-Pepper-Healthy-Weight-Loss-Smoothie-Recipes

Get this fat burning smoothie at Hello Glow. This smoothie has fat burning ingredients like Cayenne and Cinnamon as stated on their site. All you need to make this refreshing smoothie is coconut water, strawberries, mango, ginger root, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper.

9 | Fat Burning Chocolate Smoothie

Peanut-Butter-Oatmeal-Almond-Milk-Cinnamon-Cayenne-Liquid-Stevia-Healthy-Weight-Loss-Smoothie-Recipes

If you love chocolate, then this recipe is perfect for you. It’s packed with protein and has the sweetness from bananas which will help your sweet tooth. Primally Inspired has this fat burning smoothie recipe. All you need to make this is coconut milk, banana, leafy greens, and protein powder.

10 | Peanut Butter Oatmeal Smoothie for Weight Loss

Photo and recipe from Flaxseed and Fairytales

This smoothie should keep you full with added protein and rolled oats. Plus it has a bit of cayenne and cinnamon which aids in fat burning and weight loss as stated on Flaxseed and Fairytales. All you need to make this smoothie is rolled oats, banana, almond milk, peanut butter, protein powder, cinnamon, cayenne, and liquid Stevia.

11 | Slim Down Smoothie with Avocado and Spinach

Slim-Down-Smoothie-Avocado-Spinach-Banana-Peanut-Butter-Coconut-Almond-Milk-Healthy-Weight-Loss-Smoothie-Recipes

Learn how to make your slim down smoothie at Elevate Fit Coach. All you need to make this is avocado, spinach, banana, peanut butter, vanilla whey protein, coconut almond milk, and ice.

12 | Green Keto Smoothie

Green-Keto-Avocado-Kale-Cucumber-Ginger-Coconut-Water-Chia-Seeds-MCT-Oil-Stevia-Healthy-Weight-Loss-Smoothie-Recipes
Photo and recipe from Appetite For Energy

This smoothie recipe from Appetite For Energy is full of healthy fats and veggies as stated on their site. It also can help with weight loss and burning fat. All you need is avocado, kale, cucumber, ginger root, coconut water, water, ice, chia seeds, MCT oil, and liquid stevia.

13 | Skinny Cherry Banana Smoothie

Skinny-Cherry-Banana-Greek-Yogurt-Milk-Healthy-Weight-Loss-Smoothie-Recipes
Photo and recipe from Inside BruCrew Life

This smoothie is packed with protein and fruit which will help keep you full longer, find the recipe at Inside BruCrew Life. All you need to make this is cherries, banana, greek yogurt, fat free milk, and protein powder.

14 | Flat Belly Blueberry Basil Smoothie

Flat-Belly-Blueberry-Basil-Banana-Almond-Milk-Greek-Yogurt-Lemon-Juice-Flaxseed-Almond-Butter-Healthy-Weight-Loss-Smoothie-Recipes

This smoothie is loaded with bloat fighting nutrients, get the recipe at Eating Bird Food. To make this smoothie, you need blueberries, banana, almond milk, basil, greek yogurt, lemon juice, ground flaxseed, and almond butter.

15 | Weight Loss Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie

Chocolate-Strawberry-Almond-Butter-Honey-Skim-Milk-Banana-Healthy-Weight-Loss-Smoothie-Recipes

This smoothie will give you a protein boost and leave you feeling energized according to Driscolls. All you need to make this smoothie is strawberries, almond butter, honey or agave nectar, skim milk, chocolate protein powder, banana, and ice.

Share this pin!

Read More
20 Easy Keto Low Carb Recipes For Dinner - MYFINANCIALHILL
Lifestyle

20 Easy Keto Low Carb Recipes For Dinner

We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details. 

Dinner is by far the best and most delicious but heavy meals of the day. There’s so much variety for dinner options it’s unlimited on what you can do. Sometimes dinner meals can be very heavy but why make it worse by loading it up with carb filled meals? Choose easy keto low carb recipes to make dinner somewhat better for you. So, what’s dinner without pasta, rice, or potatoes? There’s plenty of delicious keto-friendly and low carb options for dinner. Matter of fact, there’s a list of 20 scrumptious easy keto low carb recipes to choose from. What’s even better is that all these recipes are super easy to make and not complicated at all with less than 8 ingredients. Enjoy!

By the way, if you ever get stuck on what to make for the week then check out $5 Meal Plan. They send you weekly meal plan recipes, ingredients list, and a nutritional breakdown so that it helps you save time and money when it comes to meal planning. Plus they’re offering a free 14 day trial right now, after the trial it’s $5 a month. It’s good for people who don’t like to spend so much time trying to come up with new things to make.

1 | Keto Low Carb Tacos

Have a taco night without the carb filled tacos! Find out how to make keto friendly shells that’s made with cheese. All you need is cheese, protein choice, taco seasoning, and tomatoes and chiles. Find this recipe at Plain Chicken.

2 | Honey Garlic Shrimp Skillet

Recipe and Image from The Cooking Jar

How does sweet and savory shrimp sound for dinner? All you need is shrimp, garlic, ginger, honey, and soy sauce. Find the recipe at The Cooking Jar.

Note: Honey in the recipe from The Cooking Jar may throw off your low carb goal but I’ve come across Pyure which is an organic and vegan honey alternative with 4g of NET carbs. Substitute the honey with Pyure and pair the dish with cauliflower rice to make it more low carb friendly.

3 | Asian Soup With Ginger

Recipe and photo from Kalyns Kitchen

In the mood for some healthy soup? All you need on hand is chicken broth, ginger, mushrooms, spinach, and onions. Find the recipe at Kalyns Kitchen.

4 | Sesame Crusted Salmon

Recipe and photo from The Cooking Jar

Get your healthy dose of Omega 3’s by eating salmon. For this dish all you need is salmon, poppy seeds, toasted sesame seeds, minced garlic, minced onion, and sea salt. Get the recipe at The Cooking Jar.

5 | Chicken with Rosemary Butter Sauce

Recipe and Photo from Lets Dish Recipes

How does delicious chicken with rosemary sound? All you need is chicken, butter, chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, and of course the rosemary. Get the recipe at Lets Dish Recipes.

6 | Chicken Tikka Masala

This super simple meal will cook up in no time plus it’s keto-friendly. All you need is chicken, olive oil, masala sauce, and cauliflower rice. Find the recipe at Organically Addison.

7 | Low Carb Mongolian Beef

Photo and recipe from Noshtastic

Make this savory dish for your family tonight. All you need is flat iron steak, coconut oil, green onions, coconut aminos, ginger, and garlic. Get the recipe at Noshtastic.

8 | Keto Crispy Chicken Wings

Photo and recipe from Fat For Weight Loss

Love chicken wings but not all the batter? Try this recipe out at Fat For Weight Loss. All you need are chicken wings, baking powder, smoked paprika, cajun spice mix, turmeric, and Salt+Pepper.

9 | Keto Creamy Asparagus and Shrimp Alfredo

In the mood for some Italian food, minus the pasta? All you need is shrimp, butter, asparagus, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and Salt+Pepper. Get the recipe at Health Starts in the Kitchen.

10 | Jalapeno Popper Chicken

Photo and recipe from Cast Iron Keto

Do you like spicy food? Try this Jalapeno Popper Chicken dish from Cast Iron Keto. All you need is chicken breasts, jalapenos, cheese, and bacon.

11 | Low Carb Spaghetti Squash with Goat Cheese

Photo and recipe from My Life Cookbook

Want an easy and healthy alternative to eating pasta? Try spruced up spaghetti squash. All you need to make this is bacon, garlic, spaghetti squash, walnuts, and goat cheese. Get the recipe at My Life Cookbook.

12 | Easy Keto Chicken and Zucchini Noodles Alfredo

Photo and recipe from My Life Cookbook

Try another Italian inspired dish minus the pasta. All you need to make this dish is butter, cream cheese, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, garlic, chicken, and zucchini. Get the recipe at My Life Cookbook.

13 | Crispy Air Fryer Pork Chops

Recipe and Photo from This Moms Menu

Do you love crispiness of food but want to avoid deep frying it? Try an Air Fryer to fry your food instead. To make this dish, all you need is pork chops, almond flour, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, creole seasoning, and paprika. Get the recipe at This Moms Menu.

14 | Keto Salmon with Pesto and Spinach

Recipe and photo from Diet Doctor

Get your nutrients in with this simple and delicious dish. All you need is salmon, mayo, pesto, Parmesan cheese, spinach, and olive oil. Get the recipe at Diet Doctor.

15 | Instant Pot Beef and Peppers

Make whipping up dinner a breeze by making this beef and peppers dish with an Instant Pot. This dish cooks up in 12 minutes with the Instant Pot! All you need to make this dish is bone broth, ground beef, red bell peppers, Seasoning, and a white onion. Get the recipe at 40 Aprons.

16 | Keto Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers with Cauliflower

Photo and recipe from Food Faith Fitness

Do you love Philly cheese steaks but don’t want to eat tons of carbs? Try this healthier version that will get you vegetable servings at the same time. All you need is steak, cauliflower, green bell peppers, Provolone cheese, onions, olive oil, and salt. Get the recipe at Food Faith Fitness.

17 | Creamy Chicken Taco Soup

Photo and recipe from This Moms Menu

In the mood for some soup? Try this creamy chicken taco soup if you have chicken broth, chicken, Ro-Tel, taco seasoning, cream cheese, and shredded cheese on hand. Get the recipe at This Moms Menu.

18 | Eggplant Lasagna

Photo and recipe from KetoLogic

Swap out the heavy pasta with eggplant giving it a nutritional boost. All you need to make this dish is eggplant, sausage, olive oil, salt, marinara sauce, and cheeses. Get the recipe at KetoLogic.

19 | Instant Pot Pork Stew

Recipe and photo from Two Sleevers

Want something nice and hearty? Make this spicy pork stew in an Instant Pot. All you need is an onion, garlic, rotel, thyme, seasoning, pork, heavy whipping cream, and spinach. Find the recipe at Two Sleevers.

20 | Keto Pan Fried Coconut Shrimp

Try some sweet and crunchy keto-friendly coconut shrimp. All you need is shrimp, coconut flour, coconut flakes, fruit sweetener, eggs, salt, and coconut oil. Get the recipe at Meganseelinger.

Cut the carbs from your dinner meals by cooking up these delicious keto-friendly low carb recipes. Let me know which one of these easy keto low carb recipes was your favorite. Now that you have some ideas for dinner how about Breakfast? Find some more meal ideas below.

Related: 10 Easy Breakfast Ideas

I hope you will try and enjoy one of these easy keto low carb recipes for dinner. Let me know which one was your favorite.

Don’t forget to share the love by pinning below! Thanks for stopping by!


Read More
Lifestyle

10 Easy Breakfast Ideas

We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details. 

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. Eating something in the morning will get you ready for the day ahead. What’s even better is having something delicious for breakfast. It’s always best to switch up recipes so you don’t get sick of eating the same thing over and over. Hopefully these 10 easy breakfast ideas will help you do just that. What makes these recipes easy is that it requires only 5 ingredients and under, so it’s super simple and easy to make. Enjoy!

If you ever get stuck on what to make for the week then check out $5 Meal Plan. They send you weekly meal plan recipes, ingredients list, and a nutritional breakdown so that it helps you save time and money when it comes to meal planning. Plus they’re offering a free 14 day trial right now, after the trial it’s $5 a month. It’s good for people who don’t like to spend so much time trying to come up with new things to make.

1 | On The Go Breakfast Muffins

Recipe and image from The Cooking Jar

These On-the-go Breakfast Muffins from The Cooking Jar have eggs, cheddar cheese, spinach leaves, bacon bits, and paprika. Doesn’t it look delicious? It’s great for a grab-n-go breakfast.

2 | Breakfast Energy Smoothie

Photo and recipe from Deliciously Sprinkled

Breakfast Energy Smoothie from Deliciously Sprinkled is perfect for those days when you’re strapped for time and need a quick pick me up in the morning. Whip this smoothie up if you have some OJ, yogurt, vanilla, and frozen berries around.

3 | Strawberry Breakfast Pastries

Recipe and Image from Just A Taste

These Strawberry Breakfast Pastries from Just A Taste is perfect for when you want a something a little sweet in the mornings. All you need to make this is some puff pastry, cream cheese, strawberry jam, strawberries, and egg.

4 | Breakfast Quinoa Oatmeal

Recipe and Image from Feel Good Foodie

This Breakfast Quinoa Oatmeal from Feel Good Foodie is super easy to make plus it’s so healthy for you. All you need is your favorite fruit, quinoa, almond milk, maple syrup, and salt.

5 | Sausage Breakfast Bombs

Sausage Breakfast Bombs from Thirsty Handmade Days is awesome for grab-n-go breakfast plus all you need are 3 ingredients which are breakfast sausage, crescent rolls, and cheese. Super simple!

6 | Breakfast Coffee Banana Smoothie

Recipe and Image from Homemade Hooplah

This Breakfast Coffee Banana Smoothie from Homemade Hooplah will give you the pick me up you need in the morning plus a nutritional boost from the bananas. All you need to make this are bananas, sugar, yogurt, milk, and coffee.

7 | Breakfast Street Tacos

Recipe and Image from Tried and Tasty

These Breakfast Street Tacos from Tried And Tasty are simple to make and all you need are sausages, tortillas, eggs, cheese, and tomato.

8 | Breakfast Yogurt Parfait

Recipe and Image from The Spicy Apron

This breakfast yogurt parfait from The Spicy Apron is a healthy way to start off your mornings. All you need are yogurt, granola, and choice of fruit!

9 | Chia Seed Blueberry Kiwi Probiotic Breakfast

This Chia Seed Blueberry Kiwi Probiotic Breakfast from Skinny Over 40 will give you a nutritional boost to start the day. All you need is chia seeds, yogurt, blueberries, and kiwi.

10 | Easiest Crepe Recipe

Photo and recipe from The Stay at Home Chef

Make the easiest crepes from The Stay at Home Chef. These will be a delicious way to start your morning. You can always add your favorite fruits, syrups, cream, or butter to crepes to give it an extra bit of pizzazz. All you need to make these are milk, eggs, salt, flour, and butter.

There you have it! Try one these easy and delicious breakfast ideas the next time you run out of things to make. Please let me know which one was your favorite!

Don’t forget to share the love by pinning below! Thanks for stopping by!


Read More
15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
Lifestyle

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US

This post may contain affiliate links, please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details. 

Do you love traveling but don't like spending tons of money to do so?

How would you like to discover 15 fun and cheap places to travel all over the US?

Some of the cities mentioned are hidden gems and some are big cities but there are still cheap things to do there.

Discover some fun and awesome activities that you can do without breaking the bank!

1 Orange Beach, Alabama

Photo from: Visittheusa.com

Orange Beach is definitely a hidden gem and is known for their white sand beaches and turquoise water along the Gulf Shore. If you want a laid back trip or vacation definitely head to Orange Beach. There are plenty of fun things to do there that are perfect for those looking for a fun and budget friendly trip.

Fun and Cheap or Free Things to do in Orange Beach, Alabama

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

There are numerous activities and places to visit in Orange Beach without it putting a strain on your wallet. You and your family can have a blast with tons of things to do in your itinerary.

Check out the cheapest rates for:

2 San Diego, California

Photo by Elizeu Dias

San Diego may be a city full of theme parks and million dollar homes but don't let that deter you from visiting. There are still a plethora of fun and cheap things to do in sunny San Diego!

Fun and Cheap or Free Things to do in San Diego

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

San Diego is a place that won’t strain your wallet but will keep you and your family entertained and will help you create beautiful memories. There are so many free or cheap things to do there and you may not even be able to cover them all during your trip. San Diego is a definite Must-Go place in the US. 

Check out the cheapest rates for:

3 Washington, D.C.

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

Photo by Michele Orallo

Don’t know where to plan your next trip? How about the nation’s capital? Put on your walking shoes and enjoy the gorgeous monuments, explore the museums, memorials, walk through beautiful cherry tree lined paths, and so much more. You may not be able to fit all your fun, free, and cheap activities on your trip. 

Fun and Cheap or Free Things to do in Washington, D.C.:

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

There are so many free and cheap things to do in Washington that it is sure to keep you and your family busy without breaking the bank. You may need a week to cover all these free and cheap things to do. Good luck!

Check out the cheapest rates for:

4 Fort Lauderdale, Florida

With miles and miles of gorgeous beaches, great restaurants, awesome art scene, and an abundance of free or cheap activities, Fort Lauderdale has something for everyone. There is no shortage of museums, parks, and beaches that will definitely keep you entertained while keeping more money in your pocket.

Fun and Cheap or Free Things to do in Fort Lauderdale, FL:

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

Fort Lauderdale seems to have it all from beaches, gardens, museums, art murals, activities along the water, and so much more. Plenty of things to do there when you’re on a budget. 

Check out the cheapest rates for:

5 Las Vegas, Nevada

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

Depending on where you live, the flights to Las Vegas can be surprisingly very affordable. Las Vegas is a definite must-go to place! The best part is that you don’t even need tons of money to have fun there. 

Fun and Cheap or Free Things to do in Las Vegas:

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

Las Vegas will give you stimulation overload from all the night lights, live entertainment, shows, and so much more. There’s tons to do there without spending loads of money. It definitely is a place you need to visit if you want to have loads of fun without needing to spend to show for it. 

Check out the cheapest rates for:

6 Savannah, Georgia

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

Want to go where there’s some southern charm? Look no further, Savannah is where you want to go. The city is quaint and known for it’s antebellum style architecture and beautiful parks and cobble stone streets. There really is no other place quite like it. Plus it’s surrounded by water which will give you plenty of affordable activities to do by there.  

Fun and Cheap or Free Things to do in Savannah:

  • Go on the Botanical tour 

  • See dolphins on a tour at Tybee Island 

  • While you’re there check out the beach, pier, and pavilion

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

Savannah is rich in history, beautiful architecture, gorgeous parks, and a place to really experience southern style hospitality. Great place to go to if you want to take it easy and just take in all the sites.

Check out the cheapest rates for:

7 Miami Beach, Florida

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

When you think of Miami, you can’t help but imagine luxury cars, expensive restaurants, and a place to be flashy. Don’t let this idea deter you from visiting. Miami is lined with beautiful blue water beaches, warm weather, parks, art events, and has so much more to offer that will help you stay on budget while having loads of fun! 

Fun and Cheap or Free Things to do in Miami:

  • Beaches of course!

  • Day trip from Miami to Key West Tours

  • Bayside Marketplace is an open air and waterfront shopping place where they have live music, entertainment, restaurants, bars, and more

  • Check out Lincoln Road Mall to people watch from street performers, models, people with snakes or birds around their necks, or even catch a bite to eat by pulling up a chair at the restaurants or getting some drinks at the bars 

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

Miami sure will not disappoint from fun in the sun, checking out some art, eating delicious food, and so much more. You can definitely make it a memorable trip all while staying under budget.

Check out the cheapest rates for:

8 Gatlinburg, Tennessee

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

Do you love being in the great outdoors? Well, Galinburg is the perfect place to visit. Relax, enjoy the outdoors, take in fresh mountain air, and experience The Smoky Mountains. The best part is that there are tons of activities to do that is free or on the cheap!

Fun and Cheap or Free Things to do in Gatlinburg:

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

Gatlinsburg is an awesome place to go if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of reality. It will be a great and relaxing place to bring your family to for an experience of the Smoky Mountains.

Check out the cheapest rates for:

9 San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio is known for their rich history and it is a place where you can experience diverse culture. Don’t be intimidated by the saying “Everything is bigger and better in Texas”, definitely doesn’t mean you will be spending more cash here. There will still be plenty of things to do like enjoying the beautiful River Walk to exploring caves and down to experiencing the Hill Country of Texas all while on a tight budget.

Fun and Cheap or Free Things to do in San Antonio:

  • Explore the River Walk of San Antonio where you can find a place to eat right by the water, watch boat rides, have a peaceful stroll, or shop

  • Explore some deep Texas history and learn more about The Alamo

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

San Antonio is full of history mixed with culture. Explore the Caverns, Museums, Art, Parks, and so much more. You’ll be able to do a lot of relaxing and exploring while being able to keep everything under budget.

Check out the cheapest rates for:

10 New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans AKA NOLA is the mega center where people celebrate Mardi Gras and party till dawn. There is so much more to New Orleans from the Cajun/Creole food, music to culture, historic landmarks, beautiful architecture, rich history and stories, among others. New Orleans offers so much to do and the great part is that you don’t need to break the bank to experience it all.

Fun and Cheap or Free Things to do in New Orleans:

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

New Orleans won’t disappoint if you’re looking to have a blast without spending loads of cash. There’s music everywhere, great food, relaxed vibe, beautiful architecture, and so much more. Definitely will be a trip worth remembering!

Check out the cheapest rates for:

11 Page, Arizona

Discover the natural beauty of mother nature’s work. Get a glimpse at awe-inspiring rock formations. Get your camera out to get some incredible photos that will give you an amazing backdrop unlike any other.

Fun and Cheap or Free Things to do in Page:

  • Do you love hiking? Then you need to head to Horseshoe Bend for some hiking with a spectacular view for a treat

  • Discover a rock formation that looks like a bridge called the Rainbow Bridge, plus you can do more hiking there too

  • Also, get some amazing star gazing views at night

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
  • Get a guided hike at the Antelope Canyon
    and don’t forget to bring your camera for amazing pictures of the natural carved sandstone in the canyon

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
  • Discover wilderness and get more incredible views of Canyons and Cliffs at Vermilion Cliffs National Park, you will be amazed by the breathtaking views

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
  • Need more water activities? Go to Lake Powell

  • Powell Museum

  • Water activities including watercrafts, kayaking, power boating, paddle boarding, jet skiing, wakeboarding, swimming, waterskiing, and fishing

Page is a place you want to be to get some awe-inspiring and unique photos. It’s a place to revel in mother nature’s work of art and explore the great outdoors. The best part is there are tons of places to visit in Page that won’t strain your wallet. 

Check out the cheapest rates for:

12 San Francisco, California

When we think of San Francisco, we can’t help but think of Silicon Valley and how expensive it must be. Sure, it is a very expensive place to live in but don’t worry there are plenty of free or cheap things to do in this fun city. 

Fun and Cheap or Free Things to do in San Francisco:

  • Head to Alamo Square 

  • Did you ever watch the show Full House? Well, the Tanner family from the show had a home which were one of the iconic San Francisco’s Painted Ladies. Get a glimpse of the old Victorian style homes for a flash back into the past

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

San Francisco is a perfect getaway to enjoy the beaches, admire redwood trees, walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, and so much more. The greatest thing is, you won't have to break the bank to enjoy your time there. 

Check out the cheapest rates for:

13 Nashville, TN

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

Who doesn’t love a little music? Visit Nashville to experience music galore along with the best southern food around. Nashville definitely won’t disappoint when it comes to having tons of fun without feeling the strain in your pockets.

Fun and Cheap or Free Things to do in Nashville:

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

Photo from Nashvilleneighborhoods

Nashville has so much music history, great place to go if you’re an avid country music lover. Just relax, stroll the parks and museums, and enjoy the live music all around. 

Check out the cheapest rates for:

14 Austin, Texas

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

Ready for some fun and adventure? Austin is the place to go if you want it all from exploring mother nature, enjoying the live music scene, to eating some of the best food. There’s tons to do in Austin without needing to penny pinch.

Fun and Cheap or Free Things to do in Nashville:

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill

Austin is a hip city where there’s an abundance of great live music, good food, and drinks. Not too far from downtown you can still experience the serenity of mother nature at its finest. You will surely have tons of fun without breaking the bank.  

Check out the cheapest rates for:

15 Los Angeles, California

Sure, Los Angeles may be home to the rich and famous but don’t let that stop you from visiting. Los Angeles offers so much to do with budget in mind as long as you know what to do and where to go. 

Fun and Cheap or Free Things to do in Los Angeles:

  • Don’t miss the incredible views and the iconic Hollywood Sign, all you need to do is go to the Griffith Observatory

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
  • Watch some improv at Asssscat

  • Visit Paramount Ranch to get a glimpse into the old Wild West, Hollywood’s movie set

  • Get your camera ready for the Urban Light exhibit

  • Check out awesome mind-bending architecture at The Disney Concert Hall

15 Fun and Cheap Places to Travel in the US - MyFinancialHill
  • Get those instagrammable shots at L.A.’s murals 

Los Angeles will be a memorable trip from experiencing all different cultures to checking out the museums, beaches, possibly spotting some celebrities, and so much more. You can still have tons of memorable fun without counting pennies.  

Check out the cheapest rates for:

Summary

There you have it, 15 amazing trips to take here in the US without breaking the bank. 

Taking a short trip or vacation doesn't have to cost too much. 

You can still have tons of fun and explore these cities while staying on budget. 

Hope you have fun on your next adventure. 

Read More
Lifestyle

5 Essential Products For A Happy And Healthy Dog That Saves Money

We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details. 

Taking care of dogs is not a small task to take on. Over 15 years of raising dogs, I’ve come across 5 essential products for raising a happy and healthy dog that will save you money by keeping your dogs out of the vets office. Just like humans, our furry friends have needs too! They need love, proper hygiene, medication when they get sick, toys, and treats. Our pets are a part of the family and they deserve to be taken care of properly just like one of our own. 

Related: Best Money Saving Tips To Start Now

5 Essential Products For A Happy And Healthy Dog

Do you love your dogs? Do you want them to be happy and healthy as possible? There are a few products I’ve discovered over the years of raising dogs that has helped tremendously with keeping them from getting sick with infections and ultimately avoiding unnecessary vet visits. Dogs experience ailments which may include ear infections, gum disease/dental infections, diarrhea and upset stomach. Check out these top products that I can truly attest to and hopefully will help keep your pups from getting sick too. In addition, I’ve added two of both my dog’s favorite treat and toy as a recommendation that keeps my dogs happy, hope your dog’s will love too!

1| Ear Cleaning Product For Prevention Of Dog Ear Infections

Ear Cleaner For Dogs - Essential For A Happy and Healthy Pet - My Financial Hill
Photo By Karsten Winegeart

Raising dogs is a rewarding experience. They’re so loyal and will always be by your side no matter what.

The tricky part is, we have to be a mind reader when it comes to taking care of them.

Since they can’t speak or tell you what’s wrong, we have to figure out if they’re uncomfortable or in pain. It’s about picking up on certain behaviors which tell us that something’s just not right.

For example, does your dog ever shake their head or scratch their ears a lot?

It can usually mean there’s something going on with their ears, maybe a possible ear infection or irritated ears.

A lot of dogs have big floppy ears and sometimes air doesn’t circulate well through them, which leaves it a breeding ground for bacteria build up.

Just like how we all have to clean our ears, dog’s need their ears cleaned too.

My dog used to get ear infections and irritations a lot. Once I started using Vet’s Best Ear Care Kit after her grooming, she never had ear issues ever again.

What I like about Vet’s Best Ear Cleaner is that it contains natural ingredients like chamomile, clove oil, tea tree oil, and aloe vera to help soothe and fight bacteria in the ears. It’s also alcohol-free which helps prevent stinging.

This $10 kit lasts well over a year and probably saved me hundreds in vet bills! I have to say that Vet’s Best Ear Cleaner Kit has been one of the most essential products that help keep my dog’s healthy.

Vet’s Best Ear Cleaner Kit $10.49

How I use Vet’s Best Ear Cleaner:

  • Trim ear hair with small blunted scissors 
  • Take out a few or several q-tips 
  • Take a q-tip at a time and apply the “Ear Wash” liquid directly on the q-tip
  • Gently clean the part of pet’s ear that can visibly be seen (careful not to bring q-tip too far in to the canal)
  • Keep repeating last step until q-tip is clean and not filled with wax/dark debris
  • You can also take a paper towel or towel and apply the “Ear Wash” solution to wipe down inner ear if there is too much debris to clean
  • After the ear is cleaned of debris, take a q-tip and apply a very small amount of the “Ear Dry” solution on to the q-tip
  • Carefully, apply it gently along the outer wall of ear canal (careful not to bring q-tip too far in to the canal)
  • After a few days to one week, check the pet’s ears
  • Repeat the process if there is build up again

Another important tip to keep in mind is to not let water go into your dog’s ears. It can result in irritation or infections if it’s not dried properly.

When cleaning your dog’s ears, just use the Vet’s Best Ear Cleaner. There’s no need to wash inside your dog’s ears.

If your dog has irritated ears, use the ear cleaner after you groom them according to the directions. If it doesn’t resolve after a few days then it’s probably best to bring the dog in to the Vet to have it checked out.

2| Dog Toothpaste For Prevention Of Gum Disease

Toothpaste For Dogs - Essential For A Happy and Healthy Pet - My Financial Hill
Photo by Lucian Dachman

Did you know that dogs can develop gum disease too? Just like people, dogs also secrete minerals in their saliva and eventually form into tartar which adheres to their teeth. The bacteria and tartar can eventually lead to gum disease and dental infections. Gum disease and dental infections can be very painful conditions where dogs and people alike eventually lose teeth and bone in the mouth. That’s why even for people it is recommended to brush at least twice a day and to floss daily. 

So let’s be real here, I’m not talking about trying to floss and brush your dog’s teeth after every meal. Realistically, people have a hard time even doing that for themselves. At least try to aim for once a day teeth brushing for your dogs. Your pockets will thank you in the long run. Dental treatment for dogs can run from hundreds to thousands of dollars! 

My co-worker recently had a dog go through with 14 teeth extractions and dental cleaning and it costed her well over $1,200. On top of all that, the poor dog was very sick and in tremendous pain because his body was trying to fight off the dental infections which persisted for who knows how long.

Moral of this story is to prevent dental disease, suffering of your dog, and save lots of $$$ by brushing your dog’s teeth at home every day.

Toothpaste

SENTRY Petrodex Enzymatic Toothpaste

Toothbrush/Finger Brushes

Toothbrush Kit

How To Brush Your Dog’s Teeth

  • Secure your pet in between your arms so they don’t get to escape. 
  • Introduce the toothpaste to your dog by placing a very small amount on the toothbrush and give them a little taste. They may like the poultry flavor of Petrodex.
  • Next, hold one side of their cheek open and gently use a toothbrush to brush from their molars forward, repeating on the opposite side.
  • Don’t forget their front teeth and canines! 
  • For my furry dogs, I use a baby’s toothbrush for the sides of their teeth and use the rubber finger brush for their front teeth. Don’t forget the inside parts of their teeth too, especially the lower teeth! 
  • You will find what method works best for you and your pet.
  • If your dog doesn’t let you get far with brushing their teeth it’s okay. Try again the next day. 
  • Sometimes it may take many tries to finally get them used to the brushing. 
  • Now my dogs come right up to me every night when it’s time to get their teeth brushed. 
  • Remember to also praise your pets so they associate teeth brushing with a positive tasty experience!

Keeping your pet’s teeth clean will ultimately keep them free of any dental issues caused from gum disease. They can live long lives with dental free problems. Ultimately, this can also save you tons of money by not needing to get their teeth cleaned all the time and also putting their health at risk by putting them to sleep in the process. 

Teeth brushing is important but if your pet already has severe dental tartar, red swollen gums, and bad breath please bring them to the vet to get them professionally checked and cleaned. The tooth brushing is a preventative measure and not a 100% cure all treatment for dental gum disease in dogs. 

3| Best Dog Product For Diarrhea Treatment

Anti-Diarrhea Treatment For Dogs - Essential For A Happy and Healthy Pet - My Financial Hill
Photo By Charles Deluvio

Has your dog ever had diarrhea before? Pretty sure it has. Sometimes it often resolves on its own which is great news. What if it doesn’t and your dog has diarrhea all over your house? 

Yes, this has happened to me plenty of times. I have small dogs that are kept in the home. Unfortunately, when they have accidents they can’t hold, it turns into a smelly nightmare all over the house!

When feeding dogs treats and transitioning different foods, sometimes their stomachs may be too sensitive or unable to handle the food change. I have even had both of my dogs have diarrhea at the same time which lasted more than a week!

I was desperate to try something over the counter before spending hundreds to bring both my dogs to the vet. That’s where Well & Good Dog Anti-Diarrhea Liquid came to the rescue.

Well & Good Dog Anti-Diarrhea Liquid

This product is amazing. I followed the instructions and gave it to both my dogs right before meals for 3 days. By the end of the third day, no more diarrhea accidents! It was a miracle. I ultimately saved hundreds of dollars. The key is to administer it diligently and follow the dosage requirements according to the dog’s weight. Also, evaluate what gave the dog an upset stomach in the first place

Oral Syringe and Dispenser

I have used this medicine on 3 other occasions and it has worked like a charm. If you followed instructions for this medicine and your doggy is still experiencing symptoms then definitely bring it to the vet. 

FYI: If Amazon doesn’t have this product, get it at HERE at Petco! It’ll be good to have this on hand just in case your dogs gets an upset stomach. 

4| Best Toy To Keep Your Dog Happy

Dog Toy - Essential For A Happy and Healthy Pet - My Financial Hill
Photo By Kara Eads

Are you looking for something to keep your dog busy? Look no further, this interactive dog toy/treat dispenser will keep your dog plenty busy and happy! My house is literally filled with numerous dog toys but there is one that my dog is obsessed with! 

StarMark Bob-A-Lot Interactive Dog Toy


This toy also functions like a puzzle. There’s two compartments which hold treats/kibble. It gets dispensed by the toy being knocked around. You can also control how hard you want your dog to work at to get the treat by adjusting the size of the dispenser holes. My dog gets very obsessed with this toy and it keeps him busy for a long time. 

5| Best Natural Dog Treat For Happy Dogs

Have you ever looked at the ingredients of dog treats? There are so many artificial additives and preservatives added to most of them. Some ingredients have even been linked to cancer. I try to give my dogs the most natural treats and dog food I can find. That’s why I recommend Freeze Dried Liver Treats.

Stewart Pro-Treat, Freeze Dried Dog Treats, Grain Free, USA Made

What I love about this treat is that it only has 1 ingredient that consists of 100% pure beef liver, that’s it! No artificial flavors, additives, or preservatives. Plus it’s processed in the USA! Your dog’s will love these treats just like mine does. 

Takeaway

Being a dog owner is a great experience and it comes with a lot of responsibility. Dog’s need a lot of care from their teeth to their tummies. They need play time and delicious treats every once in a while.

Over 15+ years of being a dog owner, these products came in handy for keeping my pets happy and healthy. I hope these products and tips can do the same for your pets.


Read More
Lifestyle

Cruise To Mexico On A Budget Spent Only $200 For Everything

We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details. 

Going on a cruise can be a lot of fun. You set sail, enjoy the beautiful ocean views, island hop, explore different places, and just have a blast! But of course, cruises aren’t free or are they? Sure, going on a cruise can cost you a lot of money. But, there’s ways to enjoy a cruise to Mexico even if you’re on a budget.

We actually got our cruise fully paid for with credit card points. Find out tips and tricks on how you can get your free cruise too. 

Related: A FREE 5 NIGHT CRUISE WITH CREDIT CARD POINTS

We used our credit card points to pay for all costs of a 5 night Carnival Cruise to Mexico. The total cost for the cruise came about to be almost $1,000. We were able to apply our credit card points to cover the full $1,000. This meant that we got a FREE 5 night cruise trip!

Just because we got a free cruise trip didn’t mean we planned on blowing a lot of money on the trip. We only ended up spending $200 for the full 5 night cruise which went to two different islands.

If you’re planning to go on one, there’s a few tips that I’ll share so that you can also have a blast without breaking the bank.

1 Save on Beverages

If you have never been on a cruise, be warned that you will be bombarded with drinks (alcohol, sodas, coffee) everywhere! The downside is, it’s not free! You’re going to have to pay for every single drink and it can really add up.

To save money on drinks, you’ve got to be prepared.

Cruise lines may usually offer a drink package which allow you to drink cocktails, coffee, sodas, all at a cost. It can be about $50 per person/day. That can easily tack on $250 per person for a 5 day cruise trip.

If possible, skip the drink package.

What you can do instead is bring your own wine or soda on board.

Drinks To Bring On Carnival

  • 1 750 ml bottle of wine per person
  • 12 sealed cans per person
  • Cannot bring on water

Different cruise lines have their own set of rules regarding what you can bring on ship. It’s important to check their rules before deciding to bring your own drinks on board. The last thing you want to happen is have it confiscated.

For Carnival, we skipped the drink package and brought on 2 of our wine bottles and a case of soda. Since, we couldn’t bring water, we ordered some to the room.

Avoid The Corkage Fee

One thing to keep in mind when bringing your own wine is how to avoid the annoying “Corkage Fee”.

Whatever you do, don’t bring your wine bottle to dinner at one of the cruise ship’s main formal dining halls. They’re going to charge you a fee. It can be anywhere from $14-$15.

What you can do instead is, bring the wine to any of their informal dining options so they won’t charge you.

Check For Drink Specials

When you’re on the ship, you’ll most likely get an itinerary booklet. It’s going to have all the day’s events, specials, entertainment, and more. Check it out, it’s going to have some great things in there.

Some days, they’ll even have specials for drinks.

For example, one day Carnival was running a special on beers for 50%. Instead of a $6 beer, we got them for $3. You can save the most on drinks if you find those specials.

Cost: $15 for beers

Overall, you can save hundreds by bringing your own wine, avoiding the corkage fee, and looking for deals on drinks.

2 Free Dining

Another way you can end up spending money when you don’t have to is by paying for dining at one of the specialty restaurants.

Why spend money on the food when there’s tons of free dining options?

Remember when I mentioned the little itinerary booklet with all the specials, deals, and events? It’s also a good reference tool to find out which restaurants cost money.

If you want to save some money, make sure you avoid the restaurants that charge you.

On Carnival, there were so many free dining options to choose from.

  • Main Dining Room
  • Lido Restaurant (Buffet)
  • Pizza Pirate – Open 24 hours, fresh pizza
  • Guy’s Burger Joint – Customized burgers
  • Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que – BBQ
  • Bluelguana Cantina – Mexican food
  • Fresh Creations – Salad bar
  • Pasta Bella – Pastas
  • Swirls – 24/7 Frozen yogurt
  • Carnival Delie – Deli sandwiches
  • SeaDogs – Hot dogs
  • Off The Grill – Burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, chicken tenders, and fries
  • Room Service – A lot of free items to choose from like, continental breakfast, sandwiches, salads, desserts, and more.

There were so many free dining options to choose from, we didn’t have time to eat at all the restaurants.

3 Free Events

The itinerary on Carnival Cruise Line was ridiculous, in a good way! Literally every hour, there’s always something going on. You definitely won’t be bored.

If you’re not careful, this is another way you can easily spend money. They have a lot of free events/shows/and entertainment. Some of the events do cost money so just be careful.

Some events that could cost money is the poker, whiskey tasting, spa treatments, and so much more.

We avoided all the events that had a charge except one which was Bingo. We paid $15 for 3 tickets and ended up winning $5 back from a free scratcher they gave out.

Tip: If you want to play Bingo, wait till later on in the trip because the prize amount will increase significantly

Overall, all the events were enjoyable. There were comedy shows, evening performances, trivia, and more. We had so much fun! Carnival’s entertainment was awesome!

Cost: $15 on Bingo for 3 tickets

4 Land Ho’-Day 1 on Land

Once you hit land, you’re probably going to explore the island. Again, you could end up spending a lot if you book tons of excursions.

Instead of booking those expensive packages, explore the island on your own. Go on an adventure.

You’d be surprised how much fun you could have!

Rent a Scooter in Cozumel, Mexico

Our first stop was Cozumel, Mexico. We rented a motorized scooter and paid $35 for the rental and insurance all included. We also negotiated with the renter, we could’ve easily spent double had we not haggled.

Cost: $35 for scooter rental

Man and Woman Riding Around in Scooter Cozumel Cruise to Mexico On a Budget - My Financial Hill

Riding around in the scooter was so much fun!

If you’re ever in Cozumel, try it out.

When you get off the dock, there will be a line of businesses along the street that rent scooters. Talk to a few of the vendors and find the best deal. That’s the good part about Mexico, you’ll get far with haggling.

Once you get your scooter, the vendor can give you a map or directions to get around Cozumel. It’s really not hard at all. It was actually pretty safe too. There’s a separate pathway for scooters far from the main road which makes riding around much safer and very scenic.

We zipped around Cozumel, ate at a local restaurant, bought some souvenirs, went snorkeling in Playa Palancar (Beach), and headed back to the ship in the late afternoon.

Cost: $24 consisting of $10 for Tacos, $10 for sunglasses and $4 magnets at a local store

Go On Your Own Snorkeling Expedition

You don’t have to pay for a snorkeling expedition, you can just do it yourself. Plus, a lot of the paid expeditions will bring everyone to the same beach which makes it really crowded. You can easily go off on your own adventure and find different beaches in Cozumel that’s not as packed.

When we got to Playa Palancar, we whipped out our own snorkeling gear and checked out the fishes/lobsters in the water. We had our own snorkeling expedition!

You can basically have your own snorkeling fun for free.

One thing to keep in mind is, if you’re on the beach you will most likely have to pay for beach chairs and umbrellas.

We paid a fee of $10 to rent chairs and a shared umbrella. We didn’t mind since we got to stay out of the sun and leave our belongings on the chairs. 

Cost: $10 Rental Beach Chairs and Umbrella 

Skip The Beach Umbrella and Chair Fee

So, of course you could always save that $10 and skip the beach chair and umbrella. Or you could get it for free!

After a couple of hours of snorkeling, we decided to eat at the restaurant that sat right on the beach. They were offering free beach chairs and an umbrella if you ordered something from them.

We ended up ordering a fajita platter and soda for a little snack before we headed back to the ship.

Cost: $15 Fajita Platter and Soda

Tip: If you plan on eating by the beach, check to see if they offer free beach chairs and umbrellas. That way, you don’t have to pay unnecessarily.

Check Out The Small Shops Along The Road

Drinking Coconut By The Beach Cruise to Mexico On a Budget - My Financial Hill

On the way back to the cruise port, we stopped by a coconut stand on the side of the road to get a coconut drink! It was the best coconut drink I ever had. The gentleman made it fresh on the spot! 

Cost: $6 Coconut drink with rum added (Regular coconut drink $3)

There were a few shops along the road from Playa Palancar going back to the ship.

They sold things from beautiful hand woven blankets, clothes, souvenirs, and fresh coconut drinks. It’s definitely worth checking out.

5 Day 2 on Land

If you’re on a 4-5 night cruise, chances are you’ll be stopping off at more than 1 port.

Our second stop in Mexico was Progreso.

We did so much in Cozumel that we wanted to just take it easy in Progreso.

Take a Free Shuttle To The Beach

Two Beach Chairs With Umbrella By Progreso Beach Cruise to Mexico On a Budget - My Financial Hill

When you get off the ship, there will be free shuttles available to take you to the nearest beach called Playa Puerto Progreso.

Once you get off the free shuttle, all you need to do is walk 5 minutes to the beach. It’s very close by.

The beach of Progreso is actually very laid back. It wasn’t really crowded, the water was a warm turquoise color, the sand was nice and soft, overall it was a nice beach.

Get Free Beach Chairs and Umbrella

Just like most beach areas, those chairs and umbrella’s aren’t free.

Walk along the beach and try to haggle with different vendors to see what they offer.

Some may offer free beach chairs and an umbrella if you order from their restaurant. That’s what we did.

The great part is, you don’t have to step foot into the restaurant. It’s close by the beach so the waiter will come to you, take your order, and bring you food / drinks. It’s actually very nice to hang out right on the beach and enjoy some delicious fried fish and drinks.

Overall, we did splurge a little bit at this particular place because we wanted to enjoy our scrumptious fried fish by the water and drinks. We ended up spending $50, $20 for the fish dish, $20 for drinks, and $10 went towards tip and tax. Overall, I don’t regret it since it was our last land day before going back on the cruise ship. 

Cost: $50 Lunch/Drinks on the beach

After our beach day we were headed back towards the shuttle and went through the market. We picked up 2 magnets for $5 for souvenirs. 

Cost: $5 for Souvenirs

Once we got back on the cruise ship, we enjoyed one more day of being on the cruise ship since we were sailing back to our home port. It was sad to have the trip come to an end. 

6 Debarkation 

If you ever go on any Carnival cruise trip, be prepared to have a lot of fun. The best part about cruises are that you can have a great time without spending a lot of money.

Don’t fall into the trap thinking that a few dollars spent here and there isn’t much. It can really add up.

Once your trip comes to an end, you’re going to get an overall bill for everything you purchased while on the cruise.

If you were mindful and didn’t overspend, then the total shouldn’t be shocking.

Ours came out to under $1,000, which we paid for fully using credit card points. We also ended up spending $200 cash in total for a 5 night cruise, which isn’t too shabby I’d say.

One thing I need to mention is try saving some money for your cabin steward. They do such an amazing job and getting your room nice and clean all day, it seems. They definitely deserve a nice tip. We tipped our steward $25, however I think he deserved much more than that. I’m going to have to increase my budget for our next steward.

Cost: $25 Tip for cabin steward

Total Spent:

  • $15 for beers
  • $15 on Bingo for 3 tickets
  • $35 for scooter rental
  • $24 consisting of $10 for Tacos, $10 for sunglasses and $4 magnets at a local store
  • $10 Rental Beach Chairs and Umbrella 
  • $15 Fajita Platter and Soda
  • $6 Coconut drink with rum added (Regular coconut drink $3)
  • $50 Lunch/drinks on the beach
  • $5 for Souvenirs
  • $25 Tip for cabin steward
  • TOTAL $200

Budget Friendly Cruise Tips:

  • Bring your own case of sodas/wine and purchase the cruise’s water package 
  • Avoid the corkage fee by avoiding bringing your own wine to formal dining areas
  • Avoid purchasing the cruise line’s drink package, it can tack on additional $280-$300 per person
  • Check out their drink special discounts (We purchased beers at 50% off on the cruise ship when they advertised)
  • Try their no-fee dining options
  • Stick with their no-fee activities (There are tons of them)
  • If you want to try playing bingo, wait till their jackpot gets higher (usually towards the end of the trip)
  • Try to avoid booking the excursions and go for your own adventure
  • Sodas and other beverages can quickly add up, bring your own bottled water especially when on land. 
  • When purchasing anything in Mexico, try to negotiate, a lot of the vendors will haggle with you
  • Try not to buy too many souvenirs (Do you really need to buy all your co-workers, friends, family something? It can really add up)

Takeaway

If you’re looking to go on a nice cruise, it doesn’t have to put a strain on your finances. Even you could get a free cruise, or even spend minimally while still being able to have tons of fun.

What’s the point in life if you can’t enjoy it. You can still go on great trips and vacations but being budget conscious can help you save more money for your next adventures.


Read More