5 "Realistic" Ways to Save Money and Make Money

[moneyfolk]

I don't know anyone whose "Get Rich Quick" schemes have worked. This article has pretty good simple advice:

Side Jobs

Find a side job with good earning potential that does not require long working hours. Most of us have full time jobs and do not want a second job that takes up all our spare time, leaving no time for relaxation and enjoyment. The following side jobs are good places to explore since working about four to eight hours per week can earn you an extra $100 to $300 per month:

Tutoring (for example Math, Language, Music)
Lawn Care and Maintenance
Retail Store Staff
Baby Sitting
Maid Service


Sell Your Junk
One man’s junk is another man’s treasure - this concept has propelled eBAY to a billion dollar empire. Round up any items in your household that you have not used in the past three to five years because this means you will probably never use them - sell them. Price your items anywhere from $0.25 and up. Remember that these are junk items that you neither want or need and would probably sit in your basement or garage forever. There is no need to price them at retail prices. Once you have completed the yard sale, write a check in the amount of your net sales and put it into your savings account.


Coupons
My mom has cut coupons for as long as I can remember. She cuts them and put them into a ziplock bag and carries them in her purse. This ensures that she never misses an opportunity to use them wherever she is. Coupons can range from $0.25 to $1.50 or more for everyday grocery items. Keep track of the money you save everytime you use a coupon – literally, write down the coupon amount. At the end of the month, total up the amount and write a check to your savings account in the amount that you saved.


Buy Generic
Buying a few generic items will not kill you. We have been so brainwashed into buying name brand items that most of us do not even give generic foods and everyday products the time of day. Take a closer look at generic items the next time you are shopping and try a few of them. Not all of them will taste as good as brand name items, but this is where you can do some investigation to figure out which items are bargains. Usually you can save anywhere from $0.50 to $1.00 per item. Items such as sugar, bread, tissue boxes, soda, orange juice, bottled water, poultry and meats are good places to look. Obviously there are many, many more items. How much you save depends on how “picky” you are, but this is a great way to save money.


Spare Change
Don’t leave that spare change in the couch cushion or on the bottom of your purse. Every time you see any change lying around, pick it up and throw it into your “rainy day” bank. This is a piggy bank for adults. Continue doing this until it becomes habit. At the end of the year, go to one of those coin cashing machines and cash that puppy in.

Since you have been so good the whole year, bypass the savings account and treat yourself to something nice. Get tickets to a football game, buy a bottle of champagne, go to a nice dinner, etc. You deserve it..

[karnic3881]

I do it all It has definitely helped me pay down my debt.

[ken1706]

Those are 5 good ways.

Here's the most comprehensive list of realistic ways to save and make money that I've come across:

http://savingslist.home.mchsi.com/

A few of its useful suggestions include:

Pay bills online and save a stamp
Buy soda at the store, not from the machine at work
Rent out a room in your home or get a roommate if you rent

[mom-from-missouri]

With gas prices, how about walking more or biking more, and driving less? Plus, it is good for your health. Even if you have to drive to work, see how many errands you can walk on your lunch hour, to prevent driving later. A coworker of mine drives 47 miles 1 way to work in our office, but has her bike on the back of her car. At lunch she bikes to the library and post office and even the grocery store for small items. She just started doing this a few weeks ago when gas went up, and she has reported to have lost 7 pounds, and she it avoiding the fast food drive thrus as well. (she is also bringing a lunch everyday and eating it on her morning break)