Thirty-nine newer strategies, built for five years
Strategies 69 to 107. Each is sorted by how much it can move a five-year payoff. None pays more out of the paycheck; each finds money elsewhere.
Can carry most of it (13)
- 69. Rent the whole house out and live somewhere free or cheaperMove in with family, take a job that includes housing, or rent something much cheaper for a few years.Depends on people or program rules
- 70. Move into the accessory unit and rent the main houseIf the property has a guest house, basement apartment or backyard unit, move into it.Depends on people or program rules
- 71. Sell in a high-cost area and buy for cash somewhere less expensiveIf work or family no longer ties you to a high-cost area, compare what your equity would buy elsewhere.Depends on markets or variable rates
- 72. Live-in improve and sell, every two years, tax-free gain each timeBuy a home that needs cosmetic work, live in it, and improve it while you live there.Depends on markets or variable rates
- 73. Sell a rental property and pay off the homeIf you own a rental, compare its yearly return after costs with the mortgage rate.Depends on markets or variable rates
- 74. Sell all or part of a businessGet a valuation, and talk with partners or key employees about buying a share.Depends on markets or variable rates
- 75. Sell vested employer shares you already ownList shares that are already vested and yours.Depends on markets or variable rates
- 79. Owe an individual? Offer a discounted lump-sum payoffIf your loan is held by a person (a seller who financed your purchase) or a small private investor, ask whether they would take less than the balance for cash now.Depends on people or program rules
- 80. A parent's or grandparent's large gift, using their lifetime exemptionAbove the yearly gift limit, a person can give much more using their lifetime exemption ($15 million each in 2026) and usually owe no tax.Depends on people or program rules
- 85. Lease acreage for a solar or wind projectIf you own open, flat land near power lines, developers may offer a 20 to 30 year lease.Depends on markets or variable rates
- 90. Run a licensed adult family homeSome states license homes to care for a few adults who need help with daily living.Depends on people or program rules
- 104. Disabled veterans: a full or partial property tax exemptionMany states exempt some or all property tax for disabled veterans; in Texas, a 100% disabled rating exempts the whole homestead.Most predictable
- 106. Lease or sell mineral rights you ownIf you own mineral rights, an operator may pay a signing bonus and royalties on a lease, or buy the rights.Depends on markets or variable rates
A solid share (15)
- 76. Surrender a policy you no longer need, for its surrender valueAsk for the policy's account value, surrender value and any surrender charge.Most predictable
- 77. Sell some future structured settlement payments, only with court approvalIf you receive structured settlement payments, a buyer can pay a lump sum for some of them.Depends on people or program rules
- 78. Sell digital assets held outside retirement accountsList crypto or other digital assets you hold.Depends on markets or variable rates
- 81. 73 and over: send required distributions you don't need to principalRequired minimum distributions must come out each year from 73 whether you need them or not.Most predictable
- 82. Use an annuity's yearly free-withdrawal amountMany deferred annuities let you take a share of the account value each year, often 10%, without a surrender charge.Most predictable
- 87. Negotiate fair pay when a pipeline or power line crosses your landIf a project needs an easement on your land, you can negotiate the price, route and terms.Depends on people or program rules
- 94. Public service loan forgiveness, then roll the paymentIf you work for government or a qualifying nonprofit, Direct Loans can be forgiven after 120 qualifying payments.Depends on people or program rules
- 95. Teacher forgiveness or disability discharge for student loansTeachers in qualifying low-income schools for five years may get up to $17,500 forgiven.Depends on people or program rules
- 97. A nonprofit credit counselor's plan to cut card ratesA certified nonprofit credit counselor can set up a debt management plan that often lowers card interest rates.Depends on people or program rules
- 98. Lower health premiums with a marketplace premium tax creditIf you buy your own health coverage, check the marketplace for a premium tax credit based on income.Most predictable
- 99. Children's coverage through CHIP or MedicaidIn most states, children in families with moderate incomes can get low-cost coverage.Most predictable
- 100. Free early childhood programs instead of paid daycareHead Start and Early Head Start are free for eligible families with children up to age 5; many states also offer free pre-K.Depends on people or program rules
- 101. Get out of required flood insurance with a FEMA map amendmentIf the lender requires flood insurance but the house sits higher than the mapped flood level, get an elevation certificate.Most predictable
- 105. On a five-year plan, put cash on principal instead of buying pointsWhen refinancing, points buy a lower rate; the break-even is often longer than five years.Most predictable
- 107. Rent to a family displaced by a disaster whose insurer paysAfter a covered disaster, homeowners policies often pay displaced families' additional living expenses for months.Depends on people or program rules
Helps at the margin (11)
- 83. Find lost pensions and old retirement accountsSearch the PBGC's unclaimed pension database and the Department of Labor's Retirement Savings Lost and Found.Depends on people or program rules
- 84. Claim refunds and settlements you are owedCheck the FTC's list of refund programs for companies you have done business with.Depends on people or program rules
- 86. Get paid to grow and keep forest carbonForest owners with enough acres can enroll in a carbon program that pays each year for practices that store more carbon.Depends on markets or variable rates
- 88. Host campers or a glamping pad on your landCheck zoning for camping and short stays.Depends on people or program rules
- 89. Board horses on pasture or in a barn you already haveOffer pasture or stall board with a written agreement on care, fees and liability.Depends on people or program rules
- 91. Ministers: a designated housing allowanceAsk your church to designate part of pay as a housing allowance before it is paid.Most predictable
- 92. Owners of an S or C corporation: get reimbursed tax-free for home office and mileageSet up a written accountable plan in your company.Most predictable
- 93. Let your employer pay student loans tax-free, then roll that paymentAsk whether your employer offers educational assistance that pays student loans; up to $5,250 a year is tax-free.Most predictable
- 96. Apply for hospital financial assistance on medical billsNonprofit hospitals must have a written financial assistance policy; ask for it and apply, even after the bill arrives.Depends on people or program rules
- 102. Wind-mitigation and FORTIFIED roof discountsWhen the roof needs replacing anyway, build it to the FORTIFIED standard or document wind-mitigation features.Depends on people or program rules
- 103. Cancel add-on products you don't needLook at loans and accounts for optional credit insurance, debt protection, extended warranties or other add-ons.Most predictable