Now’s the moment to start thinking beyond the basics: What do you actually want your money to do for you? Build a bigger savings buffer? Start investing? Work toward a future home? So what should your next move be? What actions can help push your financial life to the next level? Here are a few smart next steps to consider:

1. Invest in Real Estate — Starting at Just $500

If earning money while you sleep sounds appealing, real estate has always been one of the most reliable ways to create passive income. The catch? Traditionally, you needed a big stack of cash to get started.

That’s no longer the case.

With a platform called Connect Invest, you can start participating in real-estate lending with as little as $500 by investing in short term notes. And if you make your first investment within 40 days of opening your account, you’ll receive a $50 bonus.

Here’s what you’re actually doing: you’re purchasing pieces of the debt developers take on to fund major real estate projects — and they’re obligated to pay you back with interest. Connect Invest offers annualized fixed returns of 7.5% to 9%, paid monthly, on 6, 12, or 24 month terms. That’s a level of passive income unlikely to come from a typical savings account.

Every project and borrower is vetted, and each note is secured by real estate collateral. If a rare default happens, Connect Invest’s sister company can step in (with investor approval), foreclose, and sell the property to help recover the funds. Create a free account and take your first step into passive income real estate.

2. Stop Letting Your Car Insurer Overcharge You

Car insurance companies often count on the fact that most people won’t check their rates. That’s how overpaying becomes the norm.

Instead of visiting dozens of insurance sites one at a time, Insurify lets you see all your options in a single place. Drivers who use it save up to $996 per year.Just answer a few quick questions about yourself and your vehicle, and Insurify will surface customized quotes so you can compare them side by side.

If you’re tired of paying more than you should, it takes only a few minutes to check your options and see how much you could save.

3. Earn Up to $300 Just for Setting Up Direct Deposit

Switching your checking and savings to SoFi (Member FDIC) can put up to $300 directly into your account simply for setting up direct deposit. Yes — an actual cash bonus.

Why bother switching? Because SoFi pays up to 3.60% APY on savings and 0.50% APY on checking, with an extra 0.70% APY boost for your first six months when you set up direct deposit or keep at least $5,000 in your account. That’s up to 4.30% APY total, dwarfing the typical 0.40% APY many banks offer.

There are no account fees or hidden conditions. Just a straightforward upgrade to a higher-earning account — and a cash bonus for making the move. Upgrade your financial life with SoFi — and get paid for it.

4. Become a Real Estate Investor for as Little as $10

A lot of the world’s wealthiest individuals have something in common: they invest heavily in private real estate projects. Thanks to the Fundrise Flagship Fund, you can participate in that same asset class for as little as $10.

Your investment goes into a diversified portfolio that already holds more than $1 billion in real estate nationwide — everything from apartment communities to rental housing developments to last-mile logistics facilities. And you’re not responsible for handling tenants or managing property; the Fund takes care of all the operational work.

Many people choose to invest $1,000 or more, but even a small starting amount gives you access. Once you’re in, you can track new acquisitions, improvements, and performance directly from your phone. As the properties produce income, you may receive quarterly dividends, and long term appreciation could boost your returns further. Opening an account takes only a few minutes.

5. Borrow Up to $100,000 and Slash Your Credit Card Interest

Making minimum payments on high interest credit cards can feel like treading water. With rates hovering around 24%, progress is painfully slow. MoneyLion can help match you with loan offers that cut your interest rate by as much as 70% — potentially as soon as tomorrow.

They’ll show you offers with rates starting at 5.99% APR*, which is dramatically lower than standard credit cards. If approved, you can use the new loan to pay off your existing balances and consolidate everything into one lower monthly payment. If your credit score is at least 620, you may qualify for up to $100,000 without needing collateral, with repayment terms up to 240 months.

Checking takes just a couple minutes and won’t hurt your credit.

6. Get Up to $1,000 in Stock When You Start Investing

If you’ve been thinking about dipping into the stock market, SoFi Active Invest makes it simple. There are no commissions¹, no minimums, and no complicated steps.

When you open and fund a new Active Invest account, you could receive up to $1,000 in stock². You also get a 1% IRA Match on contributions and rollovers (terms apply).

You can trade stocks and ETFs with zero commissions, follow real time market news, build watchlists, and explore curated insights. Fractional shares let you start with as little as $5. Plus, membership comes with access to investor events and discounts on other SoFi products. Fund your account and start investing on your terms.

7. Earn a $200 Bonus for Everyday Shopping

Imagine getting $200 for buying things you were already planning to buy. That’s exactly what the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card offers. Spend $500 in your first three months, and you’ll earn a $200 bonus. After that, the rewards keep coming:

• 5% back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
• 3% back at restaurants and drugstores
• 1.5% back on all other purchases
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
• No annual fees

Your cash back never expires, there are no redemption minimums, and you get free access to your credit score through Chase Credit Journey. Millions already carry this card for a reason. Check out the details and see how much you could earn.

8. Earn Up to $225/Month Just For Watching Movie Previews

It sounds unbelievable, but you really can make money while watching videos on your computer. Create a free InboxDollars account and you could earn up to $225 each month.

The best part? InboxDollars pays in actual cash — not points, not gift cards. The company has already sent more than $56 million to its members. Signing up takes about a minute, and you’ll get a $5 bonus right away.

These Companies Send People Money When They're Asked Nicely

Find Out Who They Are