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staylovehearts · 4 years

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A Tree in a Forest

Lee Minho x Reader

Word Count ~ 3.7 k

Summary: Sometimes you can’t see the tree from the woods.

Tags: childhood friends, friends to lovers, slight angst, but also really cheesy, weird tree metaphors but I promise it’s romantic, or at least I hope it is

"Let go of me, the people are starting to look."

With a pout, you let go of Minho's elbow that you have been holding onto. Actually, you had meant to hook arms, walk arm in arm like an old couple. Or close friends who are goofing around together. But Minho keeps his arm pressed tightly to his side and you have done your best to wriggle at least three fingers in between. But now he's looking at you with this kind of irritated glance. He's even stopped walking. The only thing that's missing is for him to place his other hand on his hip and use his height to tower over you to make you feel like you are a kid being scolded.

"Since when do you care about people looking at you? You love attention. Besides, you always get super clingy with your friends, why do you never let me be close to you?" You cross your arms in front of your chest while speaking. Half because you are not sure what to do with your hand now that you had to remove your fingers from Minho's elbow. You really don't understand why he is always making such a fuss about it. There is nothing wrong with friends holding hands or hooking arms or any of that. Everyone is doing it. And Minho and you have been friends for quite a while now. Actually, you basically grew up together. He lives down the street, when you were younger you used to sit in the sandbox of the playground around the corner, defending the castles you built together from all the other kids trying to get a chance of playing there as well until your parents pulled you out and scolded you. But the next day you'd do it again. You two have been in cahoots for all of your youth. Exploring the forests and fields around town, building secret hideouts in the woods and coming home with scrapped knees. You went to school together. Have even been in the same classes for most of it. Minho and you have always been close. And he used to not mind being touchy-feely with you. But somehow things have changed sometime during high school. Before that, you always used to walk to and from school together. Him waiting up in the morning, standing on your porch and greeting your mother before joking about how you are always making him late. He stopped. Had to go earlier because of clubs and stuff. He also stopped walking home with you. Meeting with friends or staying later for dance practice. It's fine. You do have other friends as well. It's just how things go. But still... something about the distance he's been putting up makes you upset. And the harder he tries to slip away, the more you want to get close to him again.

"It's different when they do it. They are not annoying and clingy like you. Besides, you can't even compare that. With you it's a whole different story", Minho finally answers your question. It feels like you have been staring each other down in the middle of this crowded shopping mall for at least half a minute.

"Different how?", you ask. "How am I different?"

Minho rolls his eyes at you, as if you are stupid for even asking such a question, but he's also not really providing you with an answer. In fact, he seems to be stalling for time. The stance of his body shifts. The angry posture had given him a confident, overpowering look, but now he's unsure. You can read him pretty well most of the time, so it's easy for you to tell that he'd rather not start arguing with you right now.

"You're just... you", he finally mutters. It's so vague that it could mean anything and nothing.

"What's that even supposed to mean?", you demand, but Minho is running away from the question. Literally. He has started walking again before you could even get into complaining properly. You try your best to catch up with him again, for a moment you consider reaching for his arm again. Just to tease him. But then you stop yourself halfway there and just settle for walking next to him.

"Well, either way, let's go eat something. I'm starving"

"Hey darling, you back already? I thought you were out with Minho?", your mother greets when you walk inside. She's standing in the kitchen, messing around in maybe three different pots and pans at the same time. The air is warm and filled with the smell of different spices and other ingredients.

"He had... a thing later. I think. He didn't really give me the specifics, just told me that he had to leave early. So I'm home already."

Your mother turns around to look at you over her shoulder, not even putting down her spatula or stepping away from the stove. But she gives you this kind of concerned mother look.

"That's odd", she just says, before completely turning back around to stir some vegetables in a pan. Something about the way she says it gives you a feeling that she is implying more than she is saying. But you're mother has always been like that. Giving you that know it all mothery attitude and yet refusing to really talk wisdom until you finally give in and come to her to ask what she means by that. But you're not really in the mood for talking right now.

"Do you want me to set the table?", you ask instead. Without even turning around your mother replies: "Yes, please. You're lucky I made a little extra. I wanted to leave it on the stovetop so you could eat it later when you get here. But now that you're here already you might as well eat with the family."

"Yeah, I'll get right to it."

And that's that. But you have a feeling this conversation is only postponed.

to Dumbass Catboy: sooooo what do you wanna do for movie night this weekend? i'll take care of snax if you bring the dvd, or do you wanna do netflix?? [sent: 17:35; seen 5 minutes ago]

You stare at your phone in anticipation. Movie night is a staple for you and Minho. When you were younger you used to do when every weekend. But as school progressed and homework started piling up you started reducing the frequency. Every second week and then once a month. But it's a date circled in your calender. Marked with a bright red pen. And you make sure to send him reminders about it at least a week in advance. Minho and you have never skipped a movie night. Not even that one time you came down with a really bad stomach bug. You did switch to watching the movie together over a skype conversation though. Because your mother told you not to leave the house. Not that you had felt like that. You still clearly remember how you paused the movie in the middle of a scene, stood up straight and declared "I'm going to puke my guts out" before rushing out of your room and into the bathroom. You remember Minho laughing and teasing and calling your gross when you stumbled back into your room, face pale but cheeks glowing red, hair messy and sweaty bangs sticking to your forehead. But you continued watching the movie once you had settled yourself back into bed. Movie night has never been skipped.

[Dumbass Catboy is typing]

The three dots move, stop, disappear, show up again. Then, finally, after what seems like hours of waiting – well, just about one hour actually – there is finally an answer. But you sure don't like what you are seeing.

Dumbass Catboy: sry, can't make it, got other plans [sent: 18:27]

He's ditching your movie night? Not even telling you what for? No excuse. Just other plans? What other plans could be more important than watching movies with your bestie? It's a tradition. A ritual. You've been doing movie nights for years. And he's just ditching you? Not even an excuse. You throw your phone across the room, not even bothering with a reply. This is stupid. Outrageous. This is... actually so hurtful.

What happened?

Do people just drift apart like that? Is that just how it goes? Friends come and go and life goes on. But if that's just how it goes then why does it hurt so much? Is it normal that it stings so much, that it makes your chest feel so tight that you almost can't breathe anymore? Hands shaking, all of you shaking, shivering, struggling for air, choking out sobs, tears stinging in your eyes?

Why does it hurt so much?

Just then you hear a gentle knock on your door. You try to quickly clean the tears that have by now welled over and dripped from your chin onto the mattress away with your sleeve. Won't fix the puffy eyes, but the light is dimmed, so maybe it's alright.

"Come in", you croak. Voice hoarse and strangled. Damn. The door opens slowly and your mother comes inside, carrying a basket of freshly washed and folded laundry that she puts down. Usually, she'd leave right after that, but this time she stops in the doorframe to look at you. You try your hardest to avoid her gaze.

"Are you alright?", she asks and that's really all it takes for you to break down completely.

"I think Minho hates me now", you choke out between strangled sobs.

"Oh, darling", your mother hurries over to sit down next to you without hesitation. Gently she places a hand on your shoulder and you curl yourself into her side like you used to do as a child, hiding from strangers at family gatherings and the such. She gently pets your hair while she waits for your sobbing and shaking to calm down again before she begins her interrogation.

"Did you two have a fight?", she finally asks, after you have wiped your face with your sleeves a couple of times and sat up straight again. You shake your head because you still don't trust your voice to be stable, But your mother waits patiently for you to explain more. So you finally give in.

"He cancelled movie night. Didn't even give me a reason. He just said that he has other plans. And he's been so weird and distant lately. Like he doesn't want to spend time anymore and when we're out together he always makes me walk like an arm's length away from him. And when I ask him about it he's so weird. He won't even explain himself. I just don't understand why he's being like this now? I thought we were friends. But it's all changing now and I don't know what to do. I don't want to lose him. I l-", you interrupt yourself there, but the knowing glance your mother is giving you is telling you that she was just waiting for that emotional outburst. I love him so much is what you meant to say. You didn't even realise you meant it until now.

"You know, boys can be really stupid sometimes. I'm sure he doesn't hate you. Maybe he just needs space to figure something out. I know you two have always been close, but things change when you get older. That's just how it is. You can't stay in your little sandcastle forever."

"But what if I don't want things to change?"

"Oh, darling, no one wants for things to change. But the world just keeps turning, and either you learn to deal with change or you get left behind. It's cruel, but life can be like that sometimes."

"Hey, sorry about last weekend, I was... busy."

You recognise the voice from behind without turning to look. You don't. You allow him to catch up to you but you don't slow down.

"It's okay", you say. Snappy. Short words. Fired like bullets out of your mouth. You don't turn, but you notice him flinch a little out of the corner of your eye. Minho's lips have always formed into a sort of natural pout, but it becomes even more prominent when he is actually upset about something. Such full lips. So soft, so plush.

"Maybe we could make up for it?", he offers. He's walking fast to keep up with you. Maybe you did add a little more speed to your step. You're basically powerwalking down the street. What is he even doing here? Did he have to be out just now when you wanted to go to the store?

"Maybe", you say. And with that, you're basically done with the conversation. But Minho doesn't seem to be willing to let you go so easily.

"Are you also going to the store? Want me to help you carry that?" He points to the bag around your wrist. Your mother gave it to you even though you insisted you'd be able to carry the few things she wanted without any help.

"It's empty. I think I can handle that myself", you explain. Still not even bothering to look at your friend. Can you even call him that right now? Friend feels like such a loaded word. Maybe he stopped being your friend when he started moving into crush territory. You wonder what territory you are in from his perspective right now? Maybe you're nothing. And being nothing only really hurts when you used to be something.

"Don't you wanna try grabbing me today?", he asks, still not able or willing to read the mood.

"Thought you didn't want me to."

"Yeah, but since when has me telling you what to do ever stopped you from getting your will either way, remember when we-"

"Hey, I'm sorry, but I got this kinda important errand to run", you cut him off in the middle of a sentence. You're not in the mood for childhood memories and sharing stories that you have told each other a dozen times already.

"Sure, maybe we can talk..."

You're out of reach before he can get that later out.

Dumbass Catboy: hey [sent: 22:34]

Dumbass Catboy: i was wondering if we could talk [sent: 22:35]

Dumbass Catboy: look, I know I kinda fucked up and I'm really sorry [sent: 22:36]

Dumbass Catboy: please, I know you are getting these, can you just talk to me please? [sent: 22:47]

You look at your phone, not quite sure what to do. You thought getting some distance yourself would make it easier to deal with your newly realised feelings. But it seems that now, that you have slipped away to finally grant Minho the space he has been demanding he doesn't want it anymore. Suddenly he wants to be close. Texting you, asking to hang out, showing up out of nowhere when you are walking down the street to come up and talk to you. Yesterday he tried to wrap an arm around your shoulder and you just bolted. It hurts. Wanting but not being wanted. Then trying to get the distance. Suddenly being wanted again. But if you cave in now, will he turn cold again?

to Dumbass Catboy: talk then [sent: 22:50; seen just now]

Okay, maybe you're being a little bit unreasonable. A little bit bitchy. But this is basically your first real heartbreak. He's your first real love. It makes sense to be upset, right?

Dumbass Catboi: I thought we could maybe talk in person? [sent: 22:52]

Dumbass Catboi: meet me at our secret place in ten? If that's alright [sent: 22:53]

You glance at the clock on your nightstand. As if the glowing red numbers would give you another time than that displayed on the phone in your hand. It's almost 11 pm.

You grab a coat and head out.

Minho is standing leaned against the trunk of an old oak, the light of his phone making his phone glow a ghastly pale white in the dark of the forest. He raises his head when he hears you step on a twig that snaps under your boots. The light draws weird shadows on his face and for maybe the first time in ages you are unable to tell what he is thinking. His face seems contorted by the light hitting it and you can't read him at all.

You stop roughly an arm's length away from him and wait for him to greet you. Or start explaining why he called you out here in the middle of the night. For him to say anything.

"You know isn't it weird that we are able to find this place so easily even though it's just some random spot in a forest that we made out to be our place ages ago? Like, there is nothing actually special about this tree, we just made it out to be special", Minho finally says after a moment of silence. It's not really what you expected. Well, not that you really expected anything out of this conversation. But you sure didn't think he would go on a rant about trees. But it suits him, talking some weird nonsense instead of getting to the point.

"So you called me out here in the middle of the night to talk about trees?"

"Yes, but also not really", Minho answers. "See, what I'm trying to get at is that you are like that tree. When you look around in a forest there are so many trees everywhere, you could hardly make out a single one. And they all kind of look the same. But once you stop and pick a single tree to be that special tree to you, it begins to stick out. And you start noticing all the weird little details. Like how the moss grows in weird shapes on it and how it leans a little bit to the side. And suddenly that one tree is just not some random tree in a forest. And you don't really notice it at first. It seems to be just that tree that you have picked out as a meeting spot. But when you stop to think about it, you realise that that tree has always been there. This tree saw us grow up. We climbed it when we were kids, we had picnics here and we talked for hours every night in summer. Even though it just looks like one of many trees, this tree is special to me. You are special to me."

Minho's little rant leaves you lost for words and you need a moment to comprehend that between all the talk about trees he just made something like a confession. But still, it's too unclear. To vague to actually tell what he is trying to say. He has put his phone away before he started talking. Now the weird shadows are replaced with pale moonlight painting his features soft, Making his sharp and angular jaw look almost smooth, yet the skin is shining like polished marble. And his lips, oh god his lips, have they always been this tempting?

"That's a really weird metaphor", you finally manage to whisper. There is no reason to lower your voice, but you can't get yourself to speak up. You feel like you are trapped in a giant bubble and once you move to fast or speak too loud it'll burst and this whole little moment of perfect honesty will be gone.

"I guess it is. But you know that saying? Not seeing the wood from the trees or something like that. I think this is like the opposite way around. I haven't been able to see that one tree that is special to me because of all the other ones around it. You know, hide a tree, use a forest. Is that a thing that people say? Ugh, sorry, I'm rambling." Minho reaches out. Hand on your shoulder. Pulls you closer. And arm's length is still just enough distance to reach out and touch someone if you want to. "Look, what I'm trying to say is that I really like you. I've liked you for a long time. And I've been scared of these feelings. So I thought if I just push you away I'd be able to move on. But then, when I really felt like I lost you, I couldn't take it. So I decided that it's better to lose you with at least trying to tell you how I feel than letting you go and never telling you. And now here I am. I like you. I really do. And I want to be with you. And I'm sorry that I have been such an idiot about it."

"You really have been an idiot", you mumble. You're standing closer to him now. Toes almost touching, his hand on your shoulder, yours uselessly hanging down next to your body. You reach out, wrap them around his neck, close the remaining bit of distance. Inhale. Everything about his body is so familiar. And yet it isn't. He smells the same, feels the same. But the bit of height difference hits different now. The way his heart is beating rapidly in his chest. This is new. These feelings are new and yet they are old. This tree is special and still, it is one of many. One that you picked. One that you made special. Because you saw it and you didn't let it go. Just like that little boy down the street who you first met when he was trying to pet a stray cat and you laughed when he started crying after it scratched him. But when he turned to look at you with tears in his big brown eyes, you rushed over to comfort him. And you never let him go again. Because he's special. To you he's special.

"I like you too", you finally return the confession. It feels like it took you both forever to get here. Then again, there is still so much time left. So many days to spend together, so many movie nights to be had. So much to do, it feels like no amount of time will ever be enough. Then again, maybe this moment alone is enough already. For now. And for Forever.

#stray kids #stray kids writing #stray kids scenario #stray kids x reader #stray kids fluff #lee minho x reader #lee minho fluff #lee minho scenario #lee know x reader #lee know fluff #lee know fanfic #lee know #lee minho

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audreadeguinness · 5 years

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hi there! i’m dellazia, and this is one of my characters. please like this if you want to plot, or you can just im me! @jetsetstarters

( Candice Swanepoel, Cis Female, She/Her. ) ♛ Isn’t that Audrea de Guinness? The twenty-nine year old Heiress and CEO of Guinness Empire and British aristocrat is unmistakable. She has a reputation for being intelligent and diplomatic, but also detached and extravagant. There’s a reason they call her the Duchess of the jet set, after all.

you can read audrea’s bio right here!

audrea was born and raised in england; her family is of the british nobility, one that is really close to the royal family but they are very casual about it. probably one of the most casual noble families out there.

audrea has two older sisters, the oldest one is audrey langham (nee de guinness), she is married to jericho langham, which makes him audrea’s brother-in-law. audrey is a chef and restaurateur and at the same time the head chef at the langham hotel restaurants. the second eldest sister is audra de guinness. she is an art curator at the guggenheim museum.

as you can see, none of her sisters wanted to become the heiress of the family business, and so everything was handed down to audrea. of course, her father is still the president of the board, but ultimately everything is going to be handed to her.

originally, she wasn’t supposed to assume to ceo position this early. but with everything that is happening between her and jericho, audrea needed a distraction and after her masters degree, that distraction was work, and that is how she gets here today.

she is probably one of the most hardworking woman you can know. at the same time she’s very genuine, intelligent, friendly, generous, and independent. but audrea has learned how to keep her emotions to herself and not letting how she truly feels show. she rarely trusts people when it comes to her emotions and her stories. sometimes she becomes way too independent; like she needed nobody and there were times when she pushes people away without even realizing she was doing it.

so i guess the elephant in the room is her secret, so we’ll talk more about that down below: tw: mentions of self-destructive behaviours, personality disorders, accident, and death, tread carefully!

audrea and her sisters had a great relationship. before all three permanently moved to new york, they still lived in the england family manor and they often travel back and forth from london to new york since they were kids.

usually they would stay at the family house, but it was the first time all three travelled to new york without their parents and so they thought they would try something new and stay at the langham hotel, which is owned by jericho.

audrea was only 21 then, and she was still young but she was always more mature than most girls her age. originally, things started casually between the three sisters and jericho. but audrey was already falling head over heels for jericho as soon as they met. meanwhile jericho was slowly but steadily falling in love with audrea.

jericho was often invited to the family events and even casual dinners and vice versa. jericho spent more time with audrea than with the other two de guinness sisters, and while jericho was already in love with her, audrea had just begun to fall in love with him.

audrey, on the other hand, was already admitting her love for jericho. originally, jericho wanted to reject audrey because obviously he didn’t love her. but that was the time he discovered that audrey has a personality disorder and a self-destructive behavior. when jericho first rejected her, she had a break down and was emotionally unstable and she self-destructed ––- almost harming herself in the process.

josephine de guinness, their mother, begged jericho to at least go on one date with audrey to prove they weren’t compatible. but then in the end audrey became more and more attached and jericho just had to rip the bandage off and told her he didn’t love her. but audrey’s state became worse than the previous break down. during this whole time, audrea was still in harvard university for her masters degree and that is why she missed out on a lot of what is happening.

in the end, it was josephine who convinced jericho that audrey was more his match than audrea and ultimately convinced jericho to marry audrey. the reasons were because audrea was way too young, she still has a career ahead of her, and she’s not ready for a relationship yet. but in all honesty, it was just because josephine was afraid something might happen to audrey and to stop all those episodes ––- the ones that came back ever since jericho entered their lives ––- was to just give audrey what she wanted.

around the same time audrea graduated, jericho proposed to audrey after multiple episodes of break downs. jericho proposed because he felt guilty. he felt guilty that it was because of him all these things are happening to audrey.

it broke his heart having to leave the one woman he actually loved, and it was as though everyone forgot that audrea had feelings too. because throughout the process they continue to worry about audrey’s well-being that they didn’t know how much heartbreak audrea had to endure before she got to where she is today.

note: audrey passed away two years ago in a car accident with jericho.

so yes, that is basically it. now, onto some wanted connections:

audra de guinness; i’ve sent a wc for this to the main!

current rebound; he’s sweet and he loves her. she knows she has to love him too, because he’s such a great guy and she was incredibly lucky. there was no point in pining for someone who doesn’t want her when there is the perfect guy right in front of her.

an ex-boyfriend or two; obviously you don’t expect her to be single this whole time and wait for jericho. but because she was still in love with him all those pushing people away and not showing emotions thing is catching up to her. not that she wasn’t romantic and all that, she was, but the problem was that the ex-boyfriend could feel that audrea wasn’t truly being herself and she was way too independent sometimes that she doesn’t include him in things about her life, and it makes him feel as though he’s not needed.

a bestie / confidant; we know that it is rare for her to have this, but audrea has to have a confidant somehow or she would probably lose her mind. this is the person she spends a lot of time with. either to just go shopping or pour out her emotions to.

the brother she never has; the overprotective, somewhat clueless of her love life, annoying yet caring and loving, hilarious, male childhood best friend who is more like her brother than anything you know? she can really depend on him.

close friends; she has close friends, but there are things she doesn’t reveal to them and simply just hangs out and have fun. although they tell each other stories, they aren’t exactly the first people audrea approaches if she needs to let her emotions out.

frenemies; we all got these types of connections so i guess it’s pretty self-explanatory.

enemies; could be from high school or even university or even just in their social life. anything could be the cause: jealousy, rivalry, or even just not being able to stand each other lol.

#jetsetintro #( –––– she was embroidered by the stars; audrea genevière cordelia de guinness. )

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kennethherrerablog · 5 years

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We Tested 4 Savings Apps for a Month. Here’s How Much We Saved With Each

We test every app, tool and strategy we write about.

We mostly keep this information behind the scenes — pages and pages of chicken-scratch notes — and deliver you the polished version.

But we’re going to switch things up. We recruited four staff members at The Penny Hoarder to test out four savings apps. Each one will ideally help them put money away.

For one month, these staffers used the tools and checked in with weekly updates — and they didn’t hold back. Could these apps actually help them stash away money?

Let’s find out.

He Managed to Save $73 While Preparing for a Big Move

Matt Reinstetle is at a stage in his life where he’s broken the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle. Now, he’s ready to seriously stash money away. The only catch? At the start of this test, he was planning a big move, a notoriously expensive process no matter which way you cut it.

An app called Digit made it possible for him to save by determining small and safe amounts to set aside.

Digit automates saving for you. But it offers more than the standard auto-save feature. It actually uses algorithms to determine how much you can afford to save. The money is pulled into its hands-off FDIC-insured savings account, where you’ll earn a 1% bonus every three months.

The app’s free for the first 30 days, then $2.99 per month after. You’ll get a $5 Penny Hoarder bonus when you sign up.

Review: “For anyone who is interested in starting a rainy day fund.”

Reinstetle was ready to rebuild his savings, but he was moving in his with girlfriend soon, so Reinstetle needed a plan that offered some give and take.

Within the first week of signing up for Digit, he noted five checking account withdrawals that went into his Digit account, ranging between $6.50 and $8.45.

“I’m alerted every afternoon when they do take out the money, and they text me periodically during the week with the overall balance in my checking account,” he says.

With his move coming up during the second week of using the app, Reinstetle set up a safeguard; if his checking account were to dip below $200, Digit wouldn’t pull money out.

“Well, I’m glad to see some of the safeguards work with the app,” he reported back during the third week’s check-in.

He was hit with his deposit and first month’s rent, a U-Haul rental, random Target runs — all the fun associated with moving. Even so, after 30 days, Reinstetle had saved $72.62. He plans to continue to use the app.

For him, it’s worth that $2.99 monthly fee.

This Timid New Investor Tested the Waters With $5 in Free Stocks

Farrah Daniel knows the importance of saving and investing, especially after starting her job with The Penny Hoarder in June. She’s just super new to it — and admittedly super intimidated.

After setting up and exploring her 401(k), she felt ready to explore other investing options. No, she wasn’t ready to invest in a full share of Amazon stock. She just wanted a low-commitment introduction.

Stash, an automated micro-investing app, gave her that.

Stash lets you invest with small amounts of money — as little as $5. You choose where you want to put your money, and Stash manages it for you for a $1 monthly fee.

Bonus: Pocket an extra $5 when you sign up and enter the code PENNYH.

Review: “Its fun approach makes me want to understand more.”

In the spirit of taking baby steps, Daniel had been eyeing micro-investing apps. She could start with just $5 instead of investing in whole stocks, and she’d be able to automate the process.

She started by setting up an automatic deposit of $30 a month, invested across four funds. As she poked around the app, she started feeling less intimidated about investing.

“[The app’s] fun approach to investing makes me want to understand more about the process,” she says. “I also love that it has little info boxes next to commonly misunderstood terms; those are my besties.”

After a month, Daniel still felt like she had a lot to learn, but she began to feel more comfortable. Stash sent her regular account balance updates, so nothing was a surprise.

She plans to continue to experiment within Stash and learn more about investing, but she doesn’t think she’ll keep it on auto-pilot; she’d rather focus on the health of her 401(k).

Eventually, she says, she’ll dive deeper.

She Saved $94 in Spare Change With This Hands-off Saving Strategy

Kaitlyn Blount admits she’s a bad saver. She has a small savings stash — in case of an emergency — but she says it could be better. She’s interested in investing, too, but she doesn’t want a ton of risk behind it. Not yet, at least. She’s still flanked with student loans.

Acorns, a tool that invests your digital spare change, let her get started without risking a ton of money.

Acorns is a micro-investing app. It rounds up your credit and debit card purchases, and once it totals $5, it invests the digital spare change for you. It’s basically a super-powered piggy bank.

It costs $1 a month, but you’ll essentially get the first five months free with our exclusive $5 sign-up bonus.

Review: “I love checking in on the app and seeing the number grow.”

Blount faced some uncommon technical difficulties when signing up, so she ran a little behind the rest of the testing pack. But once she got in, her investments immediately started stacking up.

Blount set her account to auto-save $5 a week and turned on the round-up feature, which she was most excited to use.

“I haven’t really noticed it being taken from my bank account, so that’s cool,” she says. “It’s mostly hands-off. I feel like I glance at it every couple of days just to see the balance, but that’s it.”

She likes using the micro-investing app as a savings tool. Because she’s investing such small amounts, the risk tends to run low. Plus, if the market is strong, Blount has the potential to actually earn some returns.

When I checked in the third week, she responded, “Honestly, loving it.”

At the end of the experiment, Blount had accumulated $94. She says she’ll continue to use the app. For her, the $1 monthly fee is well worth the digital change the app automatically puts away for her.

Plus it’s totally hands off. What could be better?

This Gamer Saved $55 Playing Games on His Phone

Khiem Nguyen is a self-proclaimed “huge gamer” who wants to save money now that he’s paid off his student loans. He already uses other auto-savings apps, but he’s open to more options — perhaps something a little more fun than auto-save.

So he tried Long Game Savings, a free savings app disguised as a game.

The more money you stash into Long Game’s FDIC-insured savings account, the more coins you’ll earn. Use the coins to play games — lucky slots, spin-to-win wheels, scratch-off cards — and win more coins or, better yet, cash.

Review: “If you’re looking for more motivation, this might do the trick.”

When Nguyen signed up, he immediately had 300 bonus coins in his account (a perk for Penny Hoarder readers who sign up), and his initial strategy was to auto-save $5 a week. That’d give him a decent stash of coins to play games with — to hopefully win some cash.

Within a day of downloading the app, Nguyen won 25 cents with a flip game. No, it wasn’t the $1 million jackpot, but the app let him know that the 25 cents earned on his account balance was equivalent to a 5% gain, way higher than even most high-yield savings accounts.

As he continued to use the app, though, he found himself upping his savings amount. That’s because he wanted to keep playing games. The app was proving to be an effortless and fun way to trick himself into saving money.

In all, he put away $55.25 in four weeks.

That initial 25 cents was all the cash he won in his month-long test, though he did win extra coins to keep playing games.

That was his biggest complaint: There’s no guaranteed winnings, so it might be better keeping your money in a high-yield savings account. He’s not sure whether he’ll continue to use it. However, the account does reap a steady 0.1% APY, which you’ll get even if you don’t win any games.

That’s more than you’ll earn playing “Red Dead Redemption 2.”

Have a Favorite Savings App?

If you have a go-to savings and investing app you already use, reach out to the email below. You could be featured on The Penny Hoarder!

Carson Kohler ([email protected]) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She has a “Penny Hoarding” folder on her phone, which is full of nearly every app she’s written about.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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We Tested 4 Savings Apps for a Month. Here’s How Much We Saved With Each published first on https://justinbetreviews.tumblr.com/

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