20 Clever Money Moves Almost Any Parent Can Benefit From

Smart Money Moves Every Parent Should Know

Claim the Child Tax Credit: Eligible families could claim thousands per year in tax credits — even if they owe little to no taxes — just for having eligible dependent children.

Use an HSA or FSA for Kid-Related Costs: Qualified medical, dental, and childcare expenses can often be paid tax-free through a health savings or flexible spending account.

Open a 529 Plan Early: Saving even small amounts in a tax-advantaged education account can grow significantly over time — and withdrawals are tax-free for qualified education expenses.

Leverage Dependent Care Credits: If you’re paying for daycare, summer camps, or after-school care so you can work, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit worth up to $6,000.

Buy in Bulk and Share: Partnering with other parents to buy essentials — like diapers, snacks, or school supplies — in bulk can lead to major savings over the year.

Whether you're budgeting for baby gear or saving for college, explore these smart money moves — and see what other moves could help you from our trusted partners below:

Ohio Driver? If you have 2+ cars, cancel your car insurance

Driving without car insurance is illegal, but if you do this, you’re not actually breaking the law.

This tool can help you see if you’re overpaying for car insurance in just a few clicks. You’d be shocked by the difference. $159 per month is what they wanted to charge me. I thought that was the best price, don’t even look anywhere else. Right? Wrong.

I used this tool and now I’m able to pay just $47 a month for 2 cars.¹ <p>Actual savings and coverage options vary based on factors such as driving history, location, and insurer policies. The rates shown in this example may not reflect what every user will qualify for.</p> Too many insurance companies do this. They push up our rates and make us pay even more. But if you want to try this tool and compare and potentially score same-day savings, here’s what to do:

1. Click the link below and enter your zip code, date of birth, and phone number.
2. Answer a few questions about the make and model of your 2 cars to get matched with top offers.
3. Choose the best quote for you and lock it in before rates go up.

Compare rates now and see if you could score same-day savings today!

There is no need to make a call and the process to get matched with an offer can be done 100% online. I can hardly believe I waited so long to do this, but I’m glad I finally did. It only took me two minutes to get matched with top offers. Super fast. You have to trust me on this. Just try it out.

Save potentially $1,000 or more on home insurance in Columbus

Most people don't even think twice about what they pay for home insurance. Huge mistake. Especially if you want more money in retirement. If you live in Columbus and you haven’t checked rates recently, you could save potentially $1,000s.

This tool is actively helping homeowners score huge savings on better home insurance. They bring top insurance providers together to compete for your business, potentially giving you a better deal. This could drive the cost down for you by orders of magnitude.

You could slash the cost of home insurance by tapping into potential discounts and incentives most homeowners probably don’t even know exist.

You might be eligible if you check these 3 boxes:

1. You own your home.
2. You are willing to switch providers to save money.
3. Your ZIP code qualifies.

Complete this short questionnaire to see if you qualify

Access a credit limit up to $100,000 (without touching your mortgage)

If you need cash and own your home, you do not need a cash advance or personal loan — get a HELOC instead.

Access the equity in your home with Trovy for a fraction of the time and cost of a traditional HELOC. With a 100% online application and closing, you could get approved in as little as 4 minutes and access funds as soon as 4 business days after closing!² <p>Approval may be granted in as little as four minutes but may be subject to income verification for properties located in certain states or credit limit amounts. You can receive access to your funds for a balance transfer or cash advance in as few as four days, or faster for properties that are not subject to a rescission period, and your card will be sent promptly after the four-day period concludes.</p>

The best part? The Trovy HELOC is possibly the most flexible HELOC on the market with no upfront draw on your credit line required (really). You’ll even get to easily access your HELOC with your own Trovy Card to make purchases with no draw fee and up to 3% unlimited cash back on purchases!³ <p>There are no draw fees when you use your Trovy Card for purchases. However, each cash advance and balance transfer is subject to a fee of up to 3% of the amount transferred, subject to a life-of-loan cap of 5% of the total Credit Limit. You may also be responsible for recording fees and taxes (up to $425) depending on where your property is located; however, these fees and taxes are waived if you use your account in the first year. Purchases made with the Trovy HELOC cCard earn 3% unlimited cash back on the largest spend card spend category. All other purchases earn 1.5% unlimited cash back.</p>

How to get started:

1. Check your rate easily without affecting your credit score.⁴ <p>To check the rates and terms you qualify for, we will conduct a soft credit pull which will not affect your credit score. However, if you continue and submit an application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.</p>
2. If approved, accept your offer and close your loan entirely online with an on-demand notary.
3. Access your equity in as few as 4 days.

Check your offer

Get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund this account

Get up to $1,000 in stock⁵ <p class="">Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.026%; If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. Probability percentage is subject to decrease.</p> <p>The stocks shown are meant to be a representative sample and are not meant to convey a recommendation to buy, hold, or sell.</p> when you open this SoFi® Active Invest⁶ <p><b>INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED •&nbsp;</b><b>MAY LOSE VALUE</b></p><p>Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA(<a href="https://www.finra.org/">www.finra.org</a>)/SIPC(<a href="https://www.sipc.org/">www.sipc.org</a>).</p> account and fund it with at least $50. It’s so easy I can’t believe more people aren’t doing this.

This account is one of the easiest ways to buy and sell stocks and ETFs with no commission.⁷ <p>Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees. </p> You get access to fractional shares of stocks like Amazon, Netflix, and NVIDIA, letting you own a slice of huge companies for as little as $5.⁸ <p>There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batch order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event.</p>

How to get up to $1,000 in free stock:

1. Open a SoFi Active Invest account at the link below.
2. Fund your account with at least $50 within 45 days of opening the account (important — don’t skip this step!).
3. That’s it! You’re now eligible to get up to $1,000 in stock.

SoFi Active Invest is one of the top investing platforms on the market with an “Excellent” rating on TrustPilot based on over 9,000 reviews.

Open and fund your account with $50 here for your chance to get up to $1,000 in stock.

Ask this company to help you pay off your late tax debt

Past-due tax debt is overwhelming.

It weighs on your mind and causes massive anxiety. You end up emotionally and physically drained. Plus, owing back taxes could affect your Social Security benefits — the IRS can garnish a significant portion of your benefits to satisfy delinquent tax debt.

Alleviate Tax is designed specifically to help you get out of tax debt faster and could reduce some of the debt you owe.

While most tax companies just put you on a payment plan and file your taxes for you, Alleviate Tax talks to the IRS directly. They can help you pay off your tax debt faster while potentially reducing what you owe.

Important: Not everyone will qualify. To take advantage of this special program you must owe more than $10,000 in past-due taxes. If you're ready to make retirement what you always dreamed of and you're ready to get out of debt for good, take a few minutes to see if you're eligible.

Answer a few questions to get started

Get up to $1,070 in year one estimated earnings with this incredible no annual fee card

This credit card is practically unbeatable for it's incredible welcome bonus and additional benefits. The Discover it^® Cash Back(Rates and fees) card has no annual fee, and Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. This generous welcome offer and the top-notch cash back could net you up $1,070 in estimated earnings in the first year! ⁹ <p class="">These values are based on the <a href="https://financebuzz.com/financebuzz-credit-card-valuation">FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model</a>, which takes a look at rewards earned via spending, the welcome offer, and the annual fee. We used a valuation of 1 cent/point unless otherwise stated above. These are estimated values - your actual earnings will depend on how much you spend and in what categories.<br></p>

Even better, earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, you'll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically. The welcome offer combined with the up to 5% cash back reward rate could be worth up to 10% cash back in the first year!

This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then APR 17.74% - 26.74% Variable. To top it all off, the Discover it^® Cash Back is accepted by 99% of merchants (according to the February 2025 issue of the Nilson Report), and there's no annual fee.

Click here to apply now for the Discover it^® Cash Back.

Don’t pay a CENT to contractors for home repairs until you do this

Sounds crazy. And maybe you’re not even sure if this is real. But … you’re probably curious anyway, especially if you want to retire soon. Choice Home Warranty makes it so you might be able to save $100s in home repairs!

They’ve been around since 2008 (so you know they’re legit) and they offer affordable plans to cover appliances and systems in your home that could break down from routine wear and tear.

Think of it like this: Say your furnace breaks down during a cold snap. Instead of paying up to $3,000 for repairs, you may only need to pay a $100 service fee with Choice Home Warranty, and the tech comes over and fixes it right away. This could save you up to $2,900 almost instantly!

Choose a plan here and you can still lock in their ultra-low 2024 rates (for a limited time). Then, whenever a covered system in your home breaks down, all you have to do is make your claim online or give them a call. Their team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.¹⁰ <p>CHW reserves the right to offer cash back in lieu of repair or replacement in the amount of CHW's actual cost (which at times may be less than retail) to repair or replace any covered system, component or appliance. In the event that CHW makes such payment, CHW will provide written notification of the basis for the amount of the payment. First Month Free with purchase of any single payment home warranty plan. The product being offered is a service contract and is separate and distinct from any product or service warranty which may be provided by the home builder or manufacturer.</p>

Choose a plan from Choice Home Warranty here and lock in 2024 rates

P.S. Use the links above and you’ll get $50 off and 1 month free. We don’t know how long this will last, so take advantage of it today before it disappears.

Diversify your hard-earned retirement savings with gold

You’ve spent your whole life building up your retirement savings, but market volatility and inflation could be threatening everything you’ve worked so hard for.

American Hartford Gold is actively helping Americans like you find greater retirement security with precious metal investments. They offer everything from physical ownership to IRAs in gold and silver that have a proven track record during unstable markets.

In fact, from 2005 to 2020, the price of gold increased by 330%. And during the stock market crash of 2008, the value of gold actually increased by 25%.¹¹ <p>Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Any historical returns, expected returns, or probability projections may not reflect actual future performance. All securities involve risk and may result in significant losses.</p>

Take control of your legacy today in 3 easy steps:

• Request your FREE Gold IRA guide.
• Speak to a dedicated specialist about the best option for you.
• Transfer or invest to better diversify your portfolio.

You're in good hands, as they boast an A+ rating with the BBB, are ranked #1 gold company on the Inc. 5000 list, and are exclusively endorsed by Bill O’Reilly. Take control of your savings and download your FREE Gold IRA Guide to get started.

Set up direct deposit - pocket $300

If you aren't banking with SoFi®, you're missing out on a huge boost of extra cash just by following a few simple steps.

Earn a bonus of $50 or $300¹² <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/">sofi.com/banking</a>. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.80% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement.&nbsp;Additional information can be found at <a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> when you open a SoFi Checking and Savings account and make an eligible direct deposit within the first 25 calendar days of the promotional period. Eligible direct deposits totaling $1,000-$4,999 unlock the $50 bonus, and $5,000 or more unlock the $300 bonus.¹² <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/">sofi.com/banking</a>. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.80% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement.&nbsp;Additional information can be found at <a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> Easy.

This is practically passive income and a great way to supercharge your earnings. It basically takes no extra work at all other than following the steps above. Plus, your new account could earn up to an insane 4.50% APY¹³ <p>Earn up to 4.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.80% APY as of 8/5/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking & Savings account and enroll in SoFi Plus by 9/3/25. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> on savings (3.80% APY standard + 0.70% APY boost for six months) on top of the bonus.

Open your account and earn up to a $300 bonus

See if your credit card debt is eligible for this debt relief program

If you have a lot of debt, getting out of it can feel stressful (and nearly impossible). Here’s the problem: the longer you put off tackling it, the harder it may get to fix. If you don’t take control of it before you retire, it can add undue stress to your life for years. But what if there was a way to get out of debt once and for all?

National Debt Relief can help. If you have more than $30,000 in debt from credit cards, medical bills, collections, or personal loans, their representatives may be able to help you resolve your debt for less than you owe — with one low monthly program payment.

Best of all? There are zero upfront fees, and you could be debt-free in 12-48 months. To get started, just answer a few simple questions and get connected with a caring representative. The consultation is completely free and only takes a few minutes to see if you qualify!¹⁴ <p>Clients who are able to stay with the program and get all their debt settled realize approximate savings of 45% before fees, or 20% including our fees, over 12 to 48 months. All claims are based on enrolled debts. Not all debts are eligible for enrollment. Not all clients complete our program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. Estimates based on prior results, which will vary based on specific circumstances. We do not guarantee that your debts will be lowered by a specific amount or percentage or that you will be debt-free within a specific period of time. We do not assume consumer debt, make monthly payments to creditors or provide tax, bankruptcy, accounting or legal advice or credit repair services. Not available in all states. Please contact a tax professional to discuss tax consequences of settlement. Please consult with a bankruptcy attorney for more information on bankruptcy. Depending on your state, we may be available to recommend a local tax professional and/or bankruptcy attorney. Read and understand all program materials prior to enrollment, including potential adverse impact on credit rating.</p>

See if your $30k+ in credit card debt is eligible for National Debt Relief

Get up to $600,000 from your home (no monthly payments ever)

This is really cool. If you own a home and want to take equity out (to pay down debt or fund home renovations, for example) you can — but usually, you have to make payments each month. This company gets rid of that.

It sounds crazy, but it’s called Point, and it lets you take money out of your home right now without making monthly payments.¹⁵ <p>Point partners with and invests alongside the homeowner in the property. Subject to underwriting approval, Point will pay you an upfront, lump sum amount in exchange for a portion of your home’s future appreciation. Future appreciation is based on using the risk adjusted Appreciation Starting Value and calculating any gain or loss based on the final appraised value of your home at the time of exit. Point charges up to a 3.9% processing fee (subject to a $2,000 minimum) and other third party paid closing costs such as appraisal, escrow, and government fees. The term is 30 years. Point will place a lien on your home to secure performance of the underlying agreement. There are no monthly payments or interest accrual. Homeowner’s repayment amount is based on the future value of the subject property at the time of exit, as outlined in the underlying agreement.</p> It's called a home equity investment (HEI), and it’s a partnership with you and Point where you get money now in return for a portion of your home’s future appreciation in value.

Point can give you access to up to $600,000, but you can take what you need based on what you qualify for. You can also leave the partnership at any time by buying back your equity. To get started, go to their website, enter your address, and put in the amount you need. It’s incredible.

Enter your address here to get started

Get the budgeting app that truly does it all

You think you're doing fine financially. You pay your bills, you save some money, and you're not eating out every meal. But do you really know exactly where your money’s going?

Monarch lets you visualize your spending with intuitive diagrams. Most people are scared to look. But once you see exactly where every dollar goes, you can finally take control.

This powerful all-in-one budgeting app is not only great for tracking, but gives you a true view of all your assets in one place, and our editor Greg loves it.

“I love Monarch Money. It was such an easy way to see where my money was going vs building a budget from scratch. The real value is giving my wife access so we can both follow along together!”

Monarch’s money tools are top-notch, which means they do come with a cost — as low as $8.33/mo. But you can get started today with a 7-day free trial. Plus, for a limited time, get 50% off your first year with code MONARCHVIP.

Try Monarch for free today and get 50% off your first year with code MONARCHVIP