Latest news with #Acorns


Entrepreneur
09-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
How Young People Earn 5 Figures Without a 9-5 Job: Report
Young professionals, particularly those belonging to Generations Alpha and Z, aren't embracing the 9-5 life like those who came before them. One recent Upwork survey found that the majority of Gen Z workers (53%) opt for freelance careers over traditional 9-5 jobs, and another report from Acorns revealed that 69% of 6-to-14-year-olds have started or plan to start a side hustle. Nowadays, there are countless ways for young people to make money on their own terms — and online education platform K12 recently dug into some of their strategies for achieving their first $10,000 in independent income. Related: I Made Over $4 Million on Upwork While Battling Kidney Disease. Here's How I'm Helping Patients Like Me Achieve Health and Financial Freedom. K12's study, which surveyed 380 young entrepreneurs who graduated from public, private and online schools, found that most of them (68%) have one motivation in common when it comes to earning their first $10,000: gaining independence. Cost of living (45%), peer influence (8%) and family pressure (6%) rounded out the top four motivators for the young professionals, according to the data. The survey also found that a range of work opportunities contribute to young people's five-figure incomes. Many of these new entrepreneurs offer freelance services (30%), sell physical products (29%), or resell or flip items (18%). Related: Tired of 'Culturally Obtuse' Products, This 27-Year-Old Took His Side Hustle From $1,000 a Month to 7-Figure Revenue: 'Pick the Right Opportunity to Pursue' Additionally, more than half of all young entrepreneurs surveyed (62%) rely on their own savings to fund their first serious business effort. Many of the young adults surveyed wish that their educations had better prepared them to run their businesses: They would have liked to learn how to market themselves or their business (45%), create a business plan (45%), pay taxes (44%), invest or save for the future (44%) and budget (40%). Regardless of where their careers take them, young professionals should remain curious — and keep soft skills sharp, chief people officer at edtech company D2L Amy Clark told Entrepreneur earlier this year. Related: After a 12-Year-Old's Side Hustle Made Over $4,000 in 1 Day, He and His Dad Grew the Business to Nearly $50,000 a Month: 'It Takes Commitment "If your skills don't yet align with your dream job, look for guidance about how you can learn more," Clark said. "Remember, your human skills — communication, collaboration, problem-solving — are just as important as the technical skills you need (sometimes even more important). Don't neglect them." Looking for a profitable side hustle but not sure where to start? Money Makers is a free newsletter providing helpful tips, ideas and action items to build your own lucrative venture — delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here. Ready to break through your revenue ceiling? Join us at Level Up, a conference for ambitious business leaders to unlock new growth opportunities. This article is part of our ongoing Young Entrepreneur® series highlighting the stories, challenges and triumphs of being a young business owner.


BBC News
02-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Acorns Children's Hospice's PM artwork to plead for more funding
An emotive artwork, addressed to the Prime Minister, made entirely using the handprints of children who are dying or seriously ill has been portrait of Keir Starmer had been made using hundreds of orange handprints of children cared for by Acorns Children's Hospice. The charity, which has hospices in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, said behind it is an urgent call to save "vital funding" that is under threat for hospices across 'Hands for Hope', the artwork was revealed outside the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday to launch the charity's campaign calling on the government to guarantee long-term funding for children's hospices. Chief executive Trevor Johnson said Acorns took this "emotional step" as it approaches a turning point."There is genuine concern we may have to make heart breaking decisions, which is why we've taken this emotional step. "We need the government to act now so children and families don't worry that the care they deserve is going to be government said in November hospices would get help to cope in the face of rising National Insurance costs and a drop in government December, it said hospices in England would receive £100m of government funding over two years to improve end-of-life funding Acorns fears it may be forced to turn away a seriously ill child for the first time in its 37-year history, Mr Johnson charity received £2.2m from the Children's Hospice Grant but it said in eight months the money will run Johnson added: "One thing is certain without this funding we will have to cut services. "Our message to the Prime Minister and the government is simple it's now in your hands who has the power to ensure that all children's hospices, including Acorns, receive long-term sustainable funding." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Black Sabbath donation to help hospice families
A children's hospice says they will be able to support more families at a time when demand for its services is rising, thanks to an upcoming donation from Black Sabbath's farewell gig. Sabbath, founded in Birmingham in 1968, are due to play their final show at Villa Park on Saturday, sparking a big build-up in the heavy metal band's home city. The gig's proceeds will be donated to three charities - Birmingham Children's Hospital, Cure Parkinson's, and Midlands-based Acorns Children's Hospice. "[This will enable us] to be there for more children and families," said Trevor Johnson, Acorns' CEO, who added that demand for services had more than doubled in the last two years. Acorns, which has its headquarters in Birmingham and also runs hospices in Walsall and Worcester, currently supports 800 to 900 children every year, Mr Johnson told BBC Radio WM. Michelle, who has used the Walsall hospice with her four-year-old son Reagan, described it as "a little world of acceptance and calm". Michelle added that Acorns put on "amazing" events for the children who went there and their siblings, such as Easter egg hunts, Halloween celebrations, and summer festivals. Reagan was diagnosed with a life-threatening kidney disease shortly after he was born and needed a transplant. He spent the first two-and-a-half years of his life in and out of hospital. "[The hospice] has been really important, it's been great, because sometimes [the experience of illness] does feel lonely," Michelle said, adding that it had been particularly helpful to meet other parents who were having similar experiences. "As much as you can explain it to your friends and extended family members…it's really hard, unless you're in it, to understand." Two of the three charities chosen to benefit from Black Sabbath's gig are Birmingham-based, while Cure Parkinsons is a cause close to home for lead singer Ozzy Osbourne, as he has largely been forced to stop touring due to the disease and spinal injuries. Joanna Hutton, a nurse at Acorns' Walsall hospice, said all donations were "crucial" because "otherwise we can't stay open". She added that the hospice aimed to create a home-like environment for children, with activities such as cooking and crafts, as well as daytrips. "I think that a lot of people have a stigma around hospices. They think it's really sad, but it really isn't - it's vibrant," she said. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Black Sabbath at Villa Park: All you need to know Black Sabbath to give city £20m boost Hospice boss warns of funding challenges 'Proud' children's charity given Unicef award Acorns Children's Hospice
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
6 Key Signs You're More Financially Savvy Than the Average American
There's no magic formula for being financially savvy, but there's certainly an art to being good with money. It's mostly a mix of planning, common sense, your credit score, commitment and a little cost-of-living calculus. People who actively build a financial blueprint they can follow — budget included — are prepared for the future and manage their money in a way that builds wealth. For You: Check Out: So how do you stack up? Are you savvier than the average American? Here's a look at several signs you're on the right path. It doesn't take much effort to find the banks that offer the best interest rates — a simple internet search will deliver all the info you need to better reach your long-term goals. Even so, a lot of U.S. consumers settle for rates as low as 0.01% APY when they can score rates at or above 4.5% APY. GOBankingRates consistently researches to find the best high-yield savings accounts available and here are the best high-yield savings accounts for 2025: EverBank Performance Savings Account Bask Bank Interest Savings Account Jenius Bank High-Yield Savings Account Bread Financial High-Yield Savings Account Western Alliance Bank High-Yield Savings Premier Acorns Emergency Fund Wealthfront Cash Account Betterment High-Yield Cash Account GO2bank High-Yield Savings Account Salem Five Direct eOne Savings Account Be Aware: Making a financial plan and establishing a monthly budget might be the two most important traits of financially savvy people. Your financial plan should encompass both long- and short-term goals and include everything from leisure activities and investment goals to major purchases such as a house or car. In contrast, your budget should focus on current living expenses and day-to-day spending. Here are six steps you can take to make sure you set a realistic budget and stick to it: Step 1: List all your living expenses. Step 2: List flexible and recurring expenses and loan payments. Step 3: Add up your after-tax income. Step 4: Set financial goals. Step 5: Record and track your spending. Step 6: Adjust and review your budget to account for growth. Nobody is born financially savvy, and nobody who becomes financially savvy ever has it all figured out. You need to keep aiming for ways to learn more — and that means seeking advice from people with expertise you might lack. It's important to consult with professional financial advisors who can recommend investments, savings plans and debt-management strategies to help you reach your goals. One thing financially savvy people have in common is that they don't bury themselves under a mountain of debt they can't afford to pay off. The road to financial ruin often begins with maxing out your credit cards to buy stuff you otherwise couldn't afford. This leads to a vicious cycle of paying only the minimum on your debt each month to free up extra cash for essential bills, which racks up additional interest and makes it even harder to climb out of debt. Being financially savvy isn't only about spending and budgeting wisely; it also means figuring out how to earn extra money beyond just the paycheck from your primary job. This can come in many different forms. One of the most popular ways to build wealth is to put a certain percentage of your income into investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds and real estate. You can also earn extra income through part-time jobs and side hustles that turn your free time into a source of wealth. Impulse purchases can make a bigger dent in your monthly budget than you may realize. Financially savvy people don't have the poor spending habits of an impulse shopper. Not maxing out your credit card and sticking to your goals puts you a financial foot ahead of many consumers. Here are a few ways to avoid impulse buying and stay savvy with your cash flow: Don't lean into retail therapy and the love of shopping. Deal-seeking is great, but don't mistake the crave of the save for actually saving money. Know that you're not missing out if you don't buy an item that you don't need. Stockpiling items is one step away from hoarding. Only buy things for which you've budgeted. Don't overestimate how much you will use a product you purchase. Being financially savvy isn't something that just happens. It's the result of hard work, a thirst for knowledge and dedication to making good money decisions. Employ some of these tips today to become that much more financially savvy. Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates 10 Unreliable SUVs To Stay Away From Buying This article originally appeared on 6 Key Signs You're More Financially Savvy Than the Average American Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


News18
11-06-2025
- Business
- News18
Looking To Save More Money? These Apps Can Help You
Last Updated: These are 6 "set-it-and-forget-it" apps that save your money automatically. Saving money can be tough, especially with daily expenses and unexpected bills. Automating your savings takes the stress out of the process by regularly setting aside money without requiring manual effort. It promotes financial discipline, ensures steady progress toward your goals, and reduces the temptation to spend impulsively. Whether you're building an emergency fund, planning a vacation, or growing long-term wealth, automation makes saving effortless. It also allows you to benefit from compound interest by starting early and saving consistently. With the right tools and apps, saving becomes a seamless background task quietly working toward your financial future while you focus on living your life. Here are the top 5 apps to automate your savings: Acorns: Perfect for beginner investors, Acorns rounds up your everyday purchases and invests the spare change. While not exactly a savings app, it automates micro-investments, which can grow significantly over time. It's ideal for those who want to combine saving and investing without thinking about it. Digit (now owned by Oportun): Digit analyses your income and spending habits, then automatically transfers small, safe amounts from your checking account to savings. It intelligently adapts to your cash flow, so the transfers are hardly noticeable, but the growing savings balance is. You can also set custom goals, such as saving for a vacation, paying off debt, or building a rainy-day fund. Chime is a mobile banking app that rounds up transactions and automatically transfers the difference to a savings account. It also offers a feature to save a percentage of your paycheck automatically. With no monthly fees and early direct deposit, it's a great all-in-one digital banking tool. Truebill (now Rocket Money): Originally designed for managing subscriptions, Rocket Money also helps users set savings goals and automate transfers. You can customise amounts and schedules, making it ideal for those who want more control. It's also helpful for tracking expenses and identifying ways to save more. Goodbudget: Goodbudget is a household budgeting app built on the traditional envelope budgeting method, where you allocate portions of your income into virtual 'envelopes" designated for specific categories like groceries, rent or loan payments. Available in both free and paid versions, the app helps users effectively plan and manage monthly expenses. While it excels at organising budgets and tracking spending, Goodbudget lacks built-in tools for saving or investing, limiting its functionality to budgeting alone. First Published: