This Week’s Money Map:

• 🐶 Puppy love — A stress-free way to earn extra income

• 💰 The five types of wealth — How do you measure up?

• ✈️ The secret to affordable airline tickets — Strategies to score the best flights

• 💳 Save big on credit card interest with the best 0% APR cards for February 2025

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 🐶 Turn your love for animals into a stress-free way to earn extra cash

Looking for a chill way to supplement your income? Pet sitting lets you earn money while enjoying the company of furry friends. Whether you're working from home with flexible hours, recently retired or just want a calming side gig, this could be your perfect match.

According to ZipRecruiter, pet sitters earn an average of $16.05 per hour nationwide, with experienced sitters making up to $25 per hour. The demand is especially high in urban areas like San Francisco, New York and Chicago, where busy professionals and families often need reliable pet care. 

Getting started
Begin by signing up on platforms like Rover or Care that also handle payments. Create a detailed profile showing your experience and love for animals. Network with local veterinarians and join neighborhood groups to build your client base. If you really want to stand out, consider getting pet first aid certified — it costs about $50 to $100 but builds client trust.

Building your business
Pet sitting can grow from a casual side gig into a rewarding career. Many successful sitters start part-time and expand as they build their client base. With dedication and genuine care for animals, you could earn $25,000 to $45,000 per year while doing something you love.

Start small with day visits to build confidence. You can also offer holiday and weekend rates. Take detailed notes about each pet's routine and send photo updates. Keep emergency vet contacts handy and focus on building relationships with regular clients. Some sitters find success specializing in senior or special needs pets.

Remember, in pet sitting, reliability and genuine care for animals are your keys to success — and the cuddles are just a bonus.

💰 The five types of wealth — How do you measure up?

Would you want to trade lives with Warren Buffet, who’s worth about $150 billion? Sahil Bloom wouldn’t, and neither would I.

Bloom wrote the book The Five Types of Wealth, where he explains that true wealth goes beyond just money, emphasizing five distinct categories that contribute to a rich, fulfilling life:

• Financial wealth: Money provides freedom and optionality, but is only one piece of the wealth puzzle.

• Time wealth: Having ample financial resources means little if you’re constantly time-poor. The ultimate asset is free time to do what you value most.

• Physical wealth:  Without good health, it’s hard to enjoy the benefits of any other form of wealth. Physical well-being underpins longevity and life quality.

• Mental/emotional wealth: Anxiety, stress, or poor mental health can diminish life satisfaction regardless of your financial or social status.

• Social wealth: Humans are social creatures — a vibrant social circle often correlates with higher happiness, well-being, and emotional support.

Here is where many people are failing the model:

1) They’re over-indexing on financial wealth alone: They focus solely on net worth — chasing higher salaries, bigger investment returns, or job titles. Bloom argues that without sufficient attention to time freedom, health, and relationships, pure financial gain often leads to burnout or emptiness.

2) They’re ignoring time as a finite asset: They trade all their time for money — working endless hours without a clear strategy for regaining that time later. Time is the only resource you can’t get back.

3) They neglect their health (physical & mental): They sacrifice sleep, nutrition, and mental well-being in pursuit of career milestones or financial success. Poor health eventually erodes all other wealth. 

4) They underestimate the power of relationships: They focus on personal achievements and status, isolating themselves from family, friends, and community in the process. Lasting happiness and support networks come from strong social connections.

5) They’re waiting for retirement to “live”: They assume they’ll enjoy life “once they retire,” postponing meaningful experiences or personal goals. Bloom promotes designing a life worth living now, because there’s no guarantee that you’ll have the same opportunities later.

Are you maximizing your five areas of wealth? Where can you invest more today?

✈️ Unlocking the secret to affordable airline tickets: Strategies to score the best flights

Ever feel like the universe is conspiring against your travel plans? For example, you find a perfect flight, think, “I’ll book this later,” and the next thing you know, the price skyrockets. Why does this happen? Spoiler alert: it’s not random — it’s all about AI!

That’s right, powerful algorithms are driving ticket prices up and down in real-time, monitoring everything from demand and competition to your browsing habits. But fear not! You can leverage technology to your advantage and save big on your next trip.

1. Leverage price prediction platforms: Use apps like Hopper and Google Flights that analyze historical data to predict price trends. Set up alerts and let them notify you of fare drops, taking the guesswork out of booking.

2. Browse in incognito mode: Airlines track your cookies, which can lead to price increases if you show repeated interest. Use incognito mode or clear your cookies after each search to stabilize prices.

3. Be flexible with your dates: Flights on weekends and holidays often have higher prices. Use the Google Flights calendar view to discover cheaper fares on less popular days, or consider flying midweek when demand is lower.

4. Set early price alerts: Before you book, use tools like Skyscanner and Kayak to set price alerts. You’ll receive notifications about price changes, ensuring you never miss a deal.

5. Consider alternate airports: Check flights from nearby airports. Using tools like Google Flights can help you examine multiple airports in your search, possibly revealing hidden gems in pricing.

6. Sign up for newsletters and loyalty programs: Airlines often release flash sales or exclusive deals to their loyal customers. By subscribing to their email lists, you can get early access to these offers and loyalty points that can lead to future savings.

7. Book one-way flights: Sometimes, booking two one-way tickets with different airlines can be cheaper than round-trip tickets. Use fare comparison sites to explore this option.

Understanding the role of AI in airline pricing means you can take control of your airfare. Use these tips and tools to outsmart the systems that used to perplex you and turn your travel dreams into reality.

💳 Save big on credit card interest with the best 0% APR cards for February 2025

Still paying off last year's vacation? Or that unexpected car repair? Stop letting interest charges eat up your payments. Here's a simple trick to save money: 0% APR credit cards. 

Think of it as a financial time-out — you move your balance to a new card, and interest charges stop completely. For up to 12 months, every dollar you pay goes toward clearing your debt — not feeding bank profits. 

What are balance transfers?
A balance transfer allows you to move your existing credit card debt to a new card with a lower or 0% APR. This means you won’t accumulate high interest charges while you pay off the balance. Instead, you can focus on repayment without the added stress of dealing with sky-high interest rates. Just make sure to account for transfer fees, typically around 3–5% of the transferred amount.

Top 0% APR credit cards for February 2025:

Citi Simplicity Card
The Citi Simplicity® Card offers one of the longest 0% intro APR periods for balance transfers — up to 21 months. However, there is a balance transfer fee.

Wells Fargo Reflect Card
Like the Citi Simplicity, the Wells Fargo Reflect Card provides up to 21 months of 0% APR. It also offers valuable perks like cell phone protection, but lacks a rewards program.

Chase Freedom Unlimited
If you want to save on interest while also earning rewards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great option. It features a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, along with 1.5% cash back on every purchase. However, there is a balance transfer fee and variable APR after the intro period.

BankAmericard
The BankAmericard is a straightforward option with 21 billing cycles of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers. It prioritizes simplicity and has no annual fee, making it perfect for debt repayment, though it doesn’t offer rewards.

The key to using these cards effectively is having a repayment plan to maximize the interest-free period.

Smart Cents gives you actionable tips and mindset shifts to help you reach your financial happy place. Thanks for being a part of our community.

The MoneyGeek Team

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