Money Tips Network

I tend to have a surprising amount of luck simply finding money on the ground. I’ve found quarters, dollar bills, fives, and even twenties on a surprisingly regular basis, just sticking out of gutters or half-buried under leaves.

Part of the reason is that, thanks to a lot of time spent hunting for morel mushrooms and geodes in the past, I’m pretty good at observing the ground for things out of place. Another part of the reason is that I genuinely enjoy walking and exploring and examining things when I walk – it’s just a natural hobby of mine.

On top of that, I like finding $20 bills in my own life. If I can find a way to save $20 on my grocery store visit, for example, I view it as a pretty nice victory, one that I feel good about for the rest of the day.

The end result of all of this is a sequence of small windfalls in my life.

Of all the things you might need for a successful job search, a good resume has historically been the most essential.

The problem is, most resumes look pretty much the same and that can make it hard to get noticed by potential employers. In fact, as someone who's spent time reviewing job applicants, I can tell you that it doesn't take long for all those resumes to start blurring together. (See also: 12 Words You Need to Delete From Your Resume Right Now)

This post comes from Anthony Fontana at our partner site Zing!

It may not feel like it outside yet, but summer is just around the corner. That means it’s time to start planning vacations. Whether you’re flying somewhere or taking a long road trip, one thing’s for certain: You’re going to need a car at some point. If you’ve never rented a car, it may seem like a somewhat daunting task. Between determining what company to go through, what kind of car to get and many other factors, it can be complex. It doesn’t have to be though. Just follow the below steps and you’ll be in the front seat of your rental car in no time!

Avoid the Airport

My grandparents grew up in a time and place when they knew exactly where their food came from: their own backyard. That kind of transparency seems almost unimaginable to me.

The carton of milk I buy might have been sourced from hundreds — or even thousands — of animals. The apples I carefully select tell me only the country or state in which they were grown. Even the fresh bread from my favorite local bakery is suspect; I know nothing about the flour, the seeds, or the hands that bring it to life. And I haven't even gotten to processed food. (See also: I'm Eating What? 12 Gross Things in Your Food)

Pinpointing the exact moment you got over your head in debt may be tricky. But if you suspect you're never going to pay off your loans without a drastic change in circumstances, then you are likely stuck in a bad spot.

You may need to seek outside help, and that means being careful to avoid shady companies that promise to make you debt-free quickly and painlessly. Consider tapping the capabilities of these organizations to do a financial turnaround.

Sometimes, self-help isn't.

While there are loads of excellent strategies out there for improving yourself and your life in all kinds of different areas, there are a few fairly common self-help mandates that may not work as well as they should. (See also: 10 Mantras That Will Transform Your Life)

Take caution before blindly throwing yourself at new goals like these.

"Get Up Earlier"

It's common to tell people that if they want to improve themselves, they should wake up earlier. This is supposed to give you time to get things done before you have to officially start your day.

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some stellar articles on lowering your car insurance premium, helping friends who are bad with money, and what to buy in August.

Top 5 Articles

5 Ways to Lower Your Car Insurance Premium — If you want to lower your car insurance premium, ask about discounts and change your coverage. [Smart Money Chicks]

Money Matters: How to Help a Friend Who Is Bad With Money — To help a friend who is bad with money, point him or her in the direction of financial tools. [Money Under 30]

Since December 2013, the "spot foodstuff" index price is up about 20%. Ouch! For those of us who aren't commodities investors, that will translate to about a 3.5% increase in the price of food over the year — double the rate of last year's increase. Even vegetarians will feel the pinch due to the ongoing California drought.

So what can you do to maximize your food budget? Here are 13 suggestions. (See also: 22 Supermarket Tricks You Haven't Tried Yet)

According to Bankrate, certificates of deposit with a 5-year maturity (as of 7/18/14) offer a meager 1.74% growth rate — hardly anything to brag to your friends about. What do you do if you want to make your money grow even more? (See also: A Low Risk Investment Plan)

One option could be to invest in the stock market. But with such a short time frame as five years, stocks may not be your best option.

Instead, a more suitable investment would be to invest in bonds.

Specifically, to invest in bond funds.