Making extra money without getting a second job

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  Posted by Rose Wed Jan 14, 2009 8:49am PST

  I believe the best way to make extra money is just by not spending extra money.

  My husband and I stopped going to Starbucks about 4 years ago saving us hundreds of dollars a year.

  Yes we turn down the thermostat (69 degrees) in the winter and wear extra clothes to bed.

  We always shop with a grocery list and go grocery shopping after we've eaten a meal. We stick to the list!

  Of course, we bundle trips. If we need to the grocery, we're also going to the bank, and post office, and whatever. And we buy generic and in bulk if possible. Yes I USE my FOOD SAVER and love it!

  We also eat what we have. We make it a point every year to clean out/eat everything in the freezer. (Seriously, i've seen people's freezers. do you even know what's back there? How long has it been there?) You are just wasting money by not eating it.

  We tried to do a neighborhood garage sale. Cost me $12 to advertise (we all pitched in). I sold $8 worth. Wasn't even worth it. In the end, I was just giving it away to whoever came and then dropped everything else off at the Salvation Army.

  I DON'T HAVE TIME to be selling stuff on the internet and running to the post office to mail things. I would rather donate and be done with it. And next time I want to read a new book, I'll visit my local library! Really when was the last time you read a book twice?!

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  Posted by Mahealani T. Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:51am PST

  There's also another great way to sell your things - Craigslist! It's free to list and you receive the cash immediately, compared to auction listings. Of course, you'll have to meet the people face-to-face to sell them, but I always meet in a public area and bring a friend.

  There's a site where I look up ways to make money from home. (Remember, you never have to pay a fee to work at home.) There is a great forum at volition.com called "Get Paid" forum. Real people trade good/bad information about work at home opportunities.

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  Posted by Mahealani T. Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:52am PST

  P.S. Here's the direct URL to the forum on Voltion: http://forum.volition.com/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=9

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• 
  Posted by Cindy Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:52pm PST

  I have been able to get involved with focus groups, mystery shopping and paid surveys - at first I was supplimenting my income, now it pays the bills - I found this article on associated content:

  www.associatedcontent.com/article/1320582/2009_new_years_resolution_making_and.html

  then I went to the blog it referred to - www.realwomenrealmoneyworkfromhome.blogspot.com

  free info, not asking for a dime, not a sales pitch, just free info on mystery shopping, paid surveys, focus groups with brand name companies - also has some online jury gigs, coupons, things like that, free sample sites - it saved our finances

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  Posted by Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:40am PST

  very empressive^^,

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  Posted by cdags Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:10am PST

  i just priced out 8 hardcover books in excellent condition- most were published in the last 10 years- my total? $1.77. Cash4Books is not helpful. Nice try, though.

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  Posted by teresa Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:39am PST

  in january 2008 i started selling books on amazon.com. i've sold over 140 books. i got the books from a variety of places. i've made a profit and still have over 400 books in my inventory waiting to be sold. amazon does take a portion of your sale though. and, it does take the dedication of going to the post office, but i don't mind. every time i receive an email saying a book has been sold, i get excited. it brings a few extra dollars every 2 weeks.

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  Posted by Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:48pm PST

  I have had to do the same. Cutting up the credit cards is one way. Seeing what you have to sell is another. Cooking at home is also a less expensive and lasts longer sometimes. I have had to do alot in the past year. Donating to Goodwill, toys for tots, etc...it is fun and makes you happy. I agree with redwine that going to a library is fun. We are book nuts to.

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  Posted by GurLz21 Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:50pm PST

  amazing...

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  Posted by Elle Fri Jan 16, 2009 9:39am PST

  I have sold a lot of things on craigslist and it definitely helps. Not only do you clear out the clutter in your garage/closet/etc. but you can make a few extra bucks too! Also, we have stores in my area called Half Price books that buy used books, CDs and DVDs. They pay a lot more than Cash4Books and you don't have to ship them you just take them into the store. Even if you don't have a Half Price books near you search for used book stores in your area and they probably buy books too. There are also Movie Trading Company's near me that will buy DVDs and CDs and they will give you double their buying price if you spend the money in the store. Of course you can take the cash but for me it made more sense since there was a CD I was planning on buying anyway there. Out with the old in with the new!

  I also have recently been looking closer at my bills (cable, electric, insurance) to see if there are any services that I have that I'm paying for and not using. I raised my deductible on my insurance and got rid of the premium channels that I never watch on TV to save a couple of bucks each month. I've also been looking into competitor electric company prices because there may be new programs available to new customers that are cheaper than what you're currently paying for electric. A lot of people think it would be too hard to switch but it really doesn't have to be, some companies will even reward you for switching to them (no switch fee, bonus rewards)

  Hope this helps, Happy Saving!

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