| Whether you need more money just to make | | | | birthday, Christmas or even anniversary presents. |
| ends meet, are working towards getting out of | | | | It wasn't pleasant but we survived, and so did our |
| debt, paying for college or buying a home, or | | | | marriage. You can't put a price on getting through |
| looking for ways to increase your giving - here's a | | | | tough times together - it made our relationship |
| helpful list of cash generating ideas. | | | | even stronger! |
| * * * | | | | So, if you're short on cash, make homemade |
| And a word of encouragement for those who | | | | gifts such as artwork, home baked cookies and |
| need more cash to make ends meet. As the | | | | frugal crafts. And a special poem or letter can |
| saying goes... "When times get tough, the tough | | | | mean more than a store-bought gift any day. We |
| get going." No matter what your situation is, there | | | | will continue to feature great homemade gift ideas |
| are many ways to create some extra cash. You | | | | at BetterBudgeting.com, it's a great way to |
| just have to pick yourself up and get to it! | | | | create more cash! (Also see #12) |
| 1. Get a second job - There are companies | | | | 9. Cancel memberships to health clubs - Walking is |
| looking for part-time help all the time and this can | | | | one of the best exercises for you anyways, and |
| be a great way to earn more cash. Just | | | | it's free! If you don't have an area near your |
| remember to consider the extra expenses you | | | | home that is good for walking, many shopping |
| might incur while working a second job; If you're | | | | malls open up early so people can walk safely and |
| eating out every night because you're working 14 | | | | comfortably (no bad weather conditions to worry |
| hours a day and no longer have time to cook for | | | | about). And, at that hour the stores will still be |
| yourself, or incurring additional expenses for | | | | closed so there won't be any temptation to spend |
| clothing, or transportation because the new job is | | | | money! |
| across town, or the extra income has bumped | | | | 10. Create cash by selling your books, videos and |
| you up into a much higher tax bracket... you get | | | | CDs online - Selling items on eBay can be a little |
| the point. | | | | time consuming, but I've sold a handful of books |
| Check last year's tax instruction booklet to get a | | | | myself and it's really quite easy. They have |
| general idea of how much additional tax you may | | | | step-by-step instructions on how to list an item |
| owe (it may be very little), or more importantly, | | | | for sale, and I would suggest starting with just |
| for any credits or exemptions you may no longer | | | | one or two items until you get comfortable with |
| qualify for with the higher income. Getting a | | | | the process. Then you can sell more items later |
| second job can be a great idea; it just needs to | | | | on, or even create your own Online Store! |
| bring in enough money to surpass those additional | | | | Some people are making a living this way (you |
| expenses. And in most cases, it will. | | | | could consider it a full or part-time job) by |
| 2. Cut back on spending - This is usually the | | | | purchasing items at garage sales and store |
| easiest and quickest way to create more cash, | | | | clearances and then selling them online. Just stop |
| and it's something everyone can do. If you've | | | | thinking about it and try them out, turn those |
| already sized down and cut back as far as you | | | | items you no longer need into cash! |
| can, I challenge you to look further. Write down all | | | | 11. Have a garage sale or work with consignment |
| of your spending for a few weeks and | | | | stores - When dealing with consignment stores, |
| undoubtedly you'll find something else that can be | | | | make sure they are reputable and have been in |
| cut. No matter how small the savings may be, | | | | business for a while. Otherwise you could give |
| every penny counts. | | | | them a carload of items to sell, only to have |
| 3. Cancel subscriptions - If you have several | | | | them close up shop the following month. You |
| magazines you're subscribed to, keep your | | | | could even start your own business by helping |
| favorite one and cancel the rest. Daily newspaper | | | | other people sell their stuff - if this is something |
| subscriptions can be very costly, consider going to | | | | you enjoy doing. |
| a weekend only delivery (to get the coupons of | | | | 12. Sell your handcrafted products for a profit - |
| course!), or cancel your subscription altogether and | | | | The list of items you can make to sell is endless - |
| pick up the Sunday paper at a local store each | | | | dog houses, book cases, bird houses, painted |
| week as needed. And if any of your subscriptions | | | | mailboxes, plants, quilts, crocheted baby blankets, |
| have time left, you should be able to get a refund | | | | cloth diapers, pillows, baked goods, homemade |
| for the difference. | | | | bread, jelly, Christmas ornaments, toys, picture |
| 4. Stop buying new books - Find something good | | | | frames... you name it! If it's something people |
| to read at the library instead, for free! Many | | | | want or need to buy, you can make it and earn a |
| libraries will even order new books for you to | | | | nice profit! |
| read if it's in their budget, all you have to do is | | | | 13. Offer services or start a home business - If |
| ask. Depending on how serious your bookstore | | | | you have the ability or qualifications you can offer |
| habit is you could save a lot of money here. | | | | several services from your own home - such as |
| 5. Use those coupons! - When you toss those | | | | childcare, senior care, tutoring, music lessons, |
| weekly coupons out with the trash it's almost like | | | | sewing, typing, lawn care, housecleaning, pet |
| throwing away CASH. Take a few moments each | | | | sitting and even personal shopping. Have some |
| week to cut out just the coupons you can really | | | | inexpensive business cards printed announcing |
| use, then look through the grocery store | | | | your services and hand them out to everyone |
| advertisements and match your coupons to the | | | | you know. |
| sales, saving double! And if your grocery store | | | | Vista Print is the popular online company that |
| doesn't offer a double coupon deal, try to find | | | | offers free business cards, and where I ordered |
| one that does. | | | | my first set. All you have to pay is a small |
| 6. Forget your loyalty to name brands - You can | | | | shipping fee. Then later on, as your business gets |
| save a fortune buying store brand foods, which | | | | more established and you know exactly how you |
| are almost always just as good. Especially when | | | | want your cards to look, you can go to your local |
| using the item in a recipe with other ingredients - | | | | office supply store and order the more expensive |
| no one will notice the difference. You don't have | | | | ones. |
| to commit to buying them for the rest of your | | | | 14. Have a bake sale with lemonade - Here in the |
| life, just try them! | | | | US, after 9/11, a community organization did this |
| (Read more of my tips at ) | | | | and earned $50,000 for the World Trade Center |
| 7. Combine errands into one trip - I've used this | | | | victims. When it's for a good cause any effort |
| little trick for years. The more errands you can | | | | you make can turn out to be very successful. |
| combine into one weekly trip, the more gas | | | | (Remember, any service that you can provide to |
| money you will save, therefore creating more | | | | make money for yourself can also be used to |
| cash. You can also carpool or walk to your job | | | | give money away, and vice versa.) |
| and local stores if possible. When carpooling with a | | | | 15. Give with a pure heart - When giving, do not |
| friend, either take turns driving your own car each | | | | give to make money or earn favor... "Give, and it |
| week or split the gas money. | | | | will be given to you. A good measure, pressed |
| 8. Stop buying expensive gifts - When you need | | | | down, shaken together and running over, will be |
| to create more cash, spending money on | | | | poured into your lap. For with the measure you |
| expensive store-bought gifts for your family and | | | | use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38 (NIV) |
| friends, or even yourself, doesn't make much | | | | And that could be more important than anything |
| sense. My husband and I went through many | | | | else you do, not just for creating more cash, but |
| years where we were unable to buy each other | | | | also for living a better life! |