It doesn’t seem all that long ago that we could only use the internet to send emails and communicate with people. Now, we can use it for a wide range of purposes, including managing our finances. From applying for loans and managing bank accounts to paying bills and dabbling in online shopping, here are some of the many surprising things the internet lets us do with our money:
In the past, if you wanted to borrow money from a lender, you had to take time out of your day to visit them in person and fill out a pile of paperwork. However, how an online payday loan works is now much different.
When you want to apply for a payday loan or another loan type, you can simply visit the provider’s website and start the lending process online. Many of the best lenders have 100% online application processes. Once you have typed out and attached all the necessary information, you simply have to wait for them to contact you with an answer. It’s far easier now than it has ever been before!
Shopping used to be a time-consuming task. When you needed new clothes, groceries, or even a late-night snack, you’d have to venture out of your home and join the queues of traffic. Those days are now over.
Whether it’s a burger and fries at 3am or a new outfit, you can complete all your shopping from the comfort of your home as long as you have an internet connection. The internet has even changed how you pay for the goods you buy. While fiat currency is still widely accepted, we’re also seeing an increasing number of retailers embracing cryptocurrency.
While most businesses still allow you to pay the money you owe them in person, many are now offering a far more convenient option: online bill payments. They can send you a digital invoice, and you can pay the bill with money from your bank account or a credit card. Online bill payments are popular for rent, taxes, tuition, and utilities.
Buying and selling shares is now easier than ever before, thanks to online share trading. There are plenty of websites and apps you can sign up to and start trading from. You simply have to choose an app or website that works for you, compare the fees and required minimum investments, and browse your investment options. After you’ve purchased your shares, you can check up on them from your computer or mobile device.
Bitcoin as a currency originated in 2009 with the release of its open-source implementation. There are now two countries that have recognized it as genuine legal tender: El Salvador and the Central African Republic. It’s now one of many cryptocurrencies that you can buy, sell, and trade on the internet.
Buying and trading cryptocurrencies is a straightforward process online. Select a reputable cryptocurrency exchange platform, create an account, link your bank account, and purchase the desired cryptocurrency. Once you own a form of crypto, you’ll need to store it in a secure wallet, watch market signals, and wait for it to increase in value before deciding to sell it.
If you’re not quite ready to invest in stocks and cryptocurrency, you can still make money-making decisions on the internet. Most banks allow you to open a high-yield savings account online.
You can manually transfer into this account to accumulate interest, or set up an automatic transfer from a different account into it. All actions you take for this account can be performed online.
We no longer have to commute to a brick-and-mortar business to earn a living for our families. We can work from the comfort of our own homes using the internet. Whether you make arts and crafts and sell them on the internet or work from a virtual office within a business, you can perform activities like these solely online.