This Week’s Money Map:

• 💰 Waiting cost me BIG TIME!: The price of not putting money to work

• 💪 From crunches to cash: Why a healthier lifestyle leads to long-term financial success

• 💳 Amazon credit card FTW: 5% cash back on everyday purchases

•  🏦 Earn thousands with bank bonuses:  Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, Citi

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💰 Waiting cost me BIG TIME!: The price of not putting money to work

“Time in the market is better than timing the market.”

Ignoring the advice above is one of my top three biggest financial regrets. It’s hard to share this, as it makes me cringe every time I think about what could have been. 

In 2009 and 2014, after hard work and a little luck, I received cash proceeds through private and public company stock sales. I let this money sit in a 2% money market account for years. Fear of a market drop, paralysis about making the “right” decision, a desire to “wait for the perfect moment” and plain old lack of action kept me from investing the money. I finally took the plunge in late 2018, but by then, the opportunity cost was huge.

Had I invested those funds in the S&P 500 right after 2009, I could have earned 3.44 times my money through 2018. The cash I received in 2014 could have grown times 1.5 just by putting it in the index. Checking the math on compound growth is a painful reminder that the best time to invest was yesterday, and the next best time is today.

Don’t do what I did. Here’s what to do instead:

Think long-term: Markets go up and down in the near term, and we all know it’s tough to time it right. Warren Buffett’s logic is that market fluctuations and short-term noise often lead people to make emotional, impulsive decisions — like selling in a panic or trying to guess the right moments to jump in and out. Over the long run, however, it’s tough to outperform a set-it-and-forget-it strategy.

Remember that compound returns over time are huge: From 2009 to 2018, the average yearly return was 13.7%, but compounded over time, this is a 344% return. So let's say I invested $1 million in 2009 — my account would have grown to $3.4 million by the end of 2018.

Start today: If you have cash to invest, create a plan to start now. Like right now. It can be as simple as putting money into index funds like the Vanguard Index 500. If you don’t have money to invest today, think about automating deposits to a long-term portfolio so you’re not tempted to wait and make the same mistake I did.

💪 From crunches to cash: Why a healthier lifestyle leads to long-term financial success

Your financial future might just depend on your next grocery list or whether you choose a brisk walk over a Netflix binge. Here’s why taking care of your health is one of the smartest money moves you can make — and how to get started.

Fewer sick days, fuller paychecks
Feeling burned out? Sleep deprivation alone costs the U.S. economy $411 billion a year. Poor sleep drains your focus and productivity, which can mean missed opportunities at work. Prioritize seven to eight hours of quality sleep each night and you’ll see the benefits in your energy, performance and paycheck. Learn more about how sleep impacts your finances.

Tame stress, save money
Chronic stress isn’t just unhealthy — it’s expensive. It can lead to impulsive spending or forgotten bills. Building habits like mindfulness, regular breaks or yoga can help you stay calm and make smarter financial decisions. A clear mind doesn’t just feel better — it spends better.

Healthy choices, smaller bills
Cutting back on cigarettes, junk food or takeout doesn’t just save money — it saves you from costly health problems down the line. Plus, healthy habits mean fewer trips to the doctor and lower insurance premiums. Swap expensive snacks for home-cooked meals and watch both your wallet and health thrive. Find out how physical and financial well-being go hand in hand.

Energy = earning potential
Good health fuels productivity. More energy helps you juggle side gigs, negotiate raises, or tackle financial goals. Sticking to an exercise routine builds discipline—a skill that works just as well for budgeting as it does for fitness.

Social media detox saves sanity (and money)
Overusing social media can drain mental health and lead to impulsive purchases. Curating your feed or unplugging can boost your financial focus. Check out tips for balancing social media and your mental health.

Investing in your health isn’t about fads or expensive gym memberships — it’s about simple, consistent choices that pay off in both years and dollars. Start small today, and watch your financial and physical well-being grow side by side.

💳 Amazon credit card FTW: 5% cash back on everyday purchases

Are you an Amazon Prime member? I  am, and I feel like there’s an Amazon box showing up at my door practically every other day. Sound familiar? If so, you should definitely consider the Amazon Prime Visa. Why? Simple: 5% cash back on all purchases from Amazon and Whole Foods. That adds up fast if you’re frequently restocking household items or splurging on the latest gadgets.

What’s really great: this card doesn’t have an annual fee beyond your Prime membership. That means you can effectively earn 5% back without any extra cost. Plus, no need to change your other credit card strategies — just use the Amazon Prime Visa for your Amazon and Whole Foods spending, and keep your other credit cards for different bonus categories or travel perks.

Want to save even more? We all know Amazon sells almost everything, so you can swap your Target, Walmart or even local grocery store spend on packaged food to Amazon and save 5%. 

Right now there’s a $100 gift card bonus just for signing up. If you’re deep into credit card point hacking, you’ll want to consider where you stand with Chase’s 5/24 rule before applying. Otherwise, it’s a straightforward way to score ongoing savings on every Amazon purchase you make.

 🏦 Earn thousands with bank bonuses:  Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, Citi

It’s true — you can earn thousands of dollars a year by moving money around to new bank accounts. Kai, from The Daily Churn podcast, earns tens of thousands of dollars per year capturing bank, credit card and other bonuses. 

What are bank bonuses? These are cash bonuses paid to you for opening an account and keeping a certain balance in the account for a number of days or months. 

If you have money sitting in a checking or savings account that’s not earning much interest, you can take advantage of these bonuses. (But I wouldn’t suggest moving cash from high-earning accounts to get these bonuses, as you’ll be missing out on interest payments.) 

What’s great about this strategy is that you can move from bank to bank to earn more bonuses and then start over again. If you play in two-player mode (i.e., with a partner or spouse), you can each get a bonus assuming you have enough cash to open multiple accounts.

Here are the top five deals for January:

1. $2,500 from Wells Fargo: OK, this has a big cash requirement of $250,000. You have to open up a premier checking account and keep this balance in the account for 90 days to earn the bonus. Note, you can put this money into a higher-interest account and link to your premier checking account and still receive the bonus.

2. $525 from Wells Fargo: Wells Fargo is offering a $525 bonus when you open a new savings account and deposit $25,000 within 30 days. Must maintain the balance 90 days from account opening. Offer good through 2/25.

3. Up to $1,500 from Citi Bank: Open a new Citi checking account by July 7, 2025, and deposit new-to-Citi funds within 45 days. $30,000 will earn you $750 and $200,000 will earn you $1,500. Your account balance 45 days after opening the account will determine the bonus. Maintain it for another 45 days to receive your bonus. Or you can deposit $3,000 and set up Enhanced Direct Deposits to earn $325.

4. Up to $2,000 from Citi Bank Business Checking: Open a new CitiBusiness® checking account and deposit the required new-to-bank funds within 30 days. Maintain the balance for 60 days. Complete at least 10 qualifying transactions. Earn a bonus ranging from $300 to $2,000, depending on your total balance.

5. $450 from U.S. Bank: Open a new U.S. Bank checking account by April 17, 2025, with a $25 deposit within 30 days. Then, within 90 days, enroll in mobile or online banking and make at least two direct deposits. You’ll earn $250 for combined direct deposits of $2K to $5K, $350 for $5K to $8K, or $450 for $8K or more. The account does have a $6.95 fee, but it’s waived with a balance over $1,500.

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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