Zina Kumok

Editor

Zina KumokZina graduated from Indiana University in 2011 with a Degree in Journalism. Her post-graduate experience in paying down student loan debt inspired her to help others take control of their finances. Having escaped student loan debt in under 3 years, she enjoys sharing tips and tricks for getting out of debt on her blog Conscious Coins.

An author and personal finance expert, her work has been featured on Investopedia, The Washington Post, Experian, Fox Business, Time, Quicken Loans, LendingTree, Forbes, Money.com, Mint, and many more. A three time “Best Personal Finance Freelancer or Contributor” Plutus Award finalist, Zina’s byline has also appeared in the Indianapolis Monthly, Commercial Appeal, and the Associated Press.

When Zina isn’t working she is spending time with her husband and two dogs.

To learn more, connect with Zina on LinkedIn.

Swappa Review 2024: A Legit Site to Sell Used Phones & Tech

I loathe selling things online. Even though it’s a popular side hustle, it’s not my favorite thing to do. It takes forever to take pictures of the item, I despise negotiating with people, and it takes way too long to get paid. That’s why I’ve stopped trying to sell things online, especially high-end electronics like…

Zina Kumok 10 Nov

Mistplay Review 2024: Is the Gamer Rewards App Worth It?

I’ve never had much luck making money from survey websites and other similar online side hustles. I get bored easily and I hate taking endless surveys, filling out the same information over and over again. But using Mistplay was different. Mistplay is a fun app where you play popular games and earn points that you…

Zina Kumok 25 Aug

What to Do When You Hate Your Job and Want to Quit

I hated my first job out of college. I was working as a newspaper reporter in a small town where I didn’t know anyone. My workday lasted from 2 to 10 p.m., which left little time to hang out with people. My boyfriend lived in a different city three hours away, and I quickly realized…

Zina Kumok 30 May

5 Apps That Will Pay You to Lose Weight

Everyone has their own motivation for losing weight. Sometimes it’s because you want to wear clothes you fit into years ago. Or maybe your doctor said some of your health problems could be relieved if you lost some weight. But finding the motivation and discipline for weight loss is hard. A survey from 2013 to…

Zina Kumok 20 Dec

The 50/30/20 Budget Rule Explained (with Examples)

We all know someone who loves numbers. They’ll spend hours poring over budgeting spreadsheets, examining the finer details of their investment accounts, and organizing the cash in their wallet by denomination. For someone like that, being offered basic budgeting advice is like preaching to the choir. For the rest of us, there’s the 50/30/20 budgeting…

Zina Kumok 02 May

How to Fill Out a Money Order (Step-by-Step Guide)

Learning how to fill out a money order is essential to completing important money moves when a checkbook is no longer an option for you. These days, checkbooks have largely gone the way of the dinosaur. Some people still keep one around for old times’ sake — or for budgeting reasons. But for the most…

Zina Kumok 15 Mar

What Is a Bank Statement and How Do I Read It?

A bank statement is like a copy of your medical history. It’s an important collection of information, but most of us don’t actually look at it unless something is wrong. You may take a quick glance at your balance every month, but chances are that piece of paper goes straight in the trash shortly after….

Zina Kumok 07 Mar

What Is a CD Ladder? A Unique Savings Strategy Explained

A CD ladder is one of the best ways to maximize interest earnings on short-term savings. Everyone wants a sure thing when it comes to money. They want to invest their money without losing it and get a huge return without inheriting any risks. They want to have both the comfort and security of a…

Zina Kumok 14 Jan

11 Best Places to Sell Your Phone for Cash (High Payouts)

Everyone loves getting a new cell phone. It’s fun to set it up, see how fast it is, and try out the new features. But then you’re stuck with your old phone. Throwing it away seems like a waste, and you may not want to donate something you paid hundreds of dollars for. So the…

Zina Kumok 04 Nov

19 Best Places to Sell Textbooks for the Most Money

The cost of college tuition has outpaced inflation, but the cost of textbooks has increased more than 800% since the 1970s. I was extremely cost-conscious when I applied to college. My parents weren’t going to pay for everything, so I had to apply to schools I knew I could afford. I knew the cost of…

Zina Kumok 14 Oct