Make Money with Your Brain » Personal Finance

Money Making Ideas During the Recession

Suzanne Wells — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:01:16 +0000

As the economy remains slow, people are seeking money making ideas using their computer. A good way to bring some cash in during a recession is by putting recession-proof items on eBay for sale. During a recession, the majority of people begin to drastically change their comfortable and expensive habits. Some of these habits include dining out, going to movie theaters, and taking vacations. An easy solution for saving a few pennies is to watch DVDs from the comfort of your own home and start eating food from your own kitchen more often. Ideal items to sell online are those that can make life at home simpler, such as certain canning and barbeque tools for the kitchen. Other items that could take the place of going out to see movies or spending money on such methods of entertainment would be board games or video games that the whole family can enjoy. (Click here for eBay selling tips on The eBay Coach Blog.)

During a recession, saving money is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Providing information products online is a great way to encourage spending less money and engaging in do-it-yourself type projects at home. ClickBank and e-Junkie are two sites that provide you with helpful information about these products. Posting information products on a blog or website of your own allows you the opportunity to earn affiliate income by putting them up for sale. If you prefer eBay, your information must be delivered via CD.

Recession-proof books are a big hit with the online crowd. Certain books that promote living simpler by spending less, surviving an economic crisis, and starting a home business are of interest to frugal Americans. Books that discuss money making ideas are also great. Amazon is an excellent site for this type of selling; there are absolutely no fees until someone purchases the item. You might have books lying around your house that you can sell now. Garage sales, thrift stores or even used book stores are also affordable places to browse for books to resell.

If you and your family already have a frugal mindset, why not create your own information product? Write an eBook about how to save money on groceries, how to save money on gas, or how to shop for clothes at a thrift store. Be creative! Someone out there may be searching for what you write about.

The current recession could be the opportunity you are looking for to make some money if you sell your items in the appropriate niche. Take a look around your home for money making ideas. Your trash could be someone else’s treasure and they will actually pay you for it!

Money Saving Tip – 5 Ways to Save Money on Air Travel

Suzanne Wells — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 17:48:38 +0000

Summertime means traveling and unfortunately, air travel and all the related expenses are not cheap. Here are a few money saving tips to help you cut those expenses in the air.

1. Leverage the power of the internet and book online. You will save the fees associated with telephone bookings and charges at the reservation counter.

2. Pack light and carry it on. Avoid the fees for checked baggage by packing light and carrying your baggage on board with you. If you are staying with family or friends, consider shipping your stuff via Fed Ex or UPS to your destination a few days before you leave. This is a great money saving tip if you have kids or a large family and want to avoid the luggage fees.

3. Read the travel agreement carefully. Make sure you read the fine print and pay attention to any hidden fees.

4. Bring your own snacks. Avoid the expensive airport and airline foods. Pack trail mix, nuts, dried fruit, and other snack foods that travel well.

5. Take advantage of credit card rewards. Charge your travel expenses to your credit card with the best rewards program.

Homeowner Insurance – How to Get a Free Roof

Suzanne Wells — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:09:52 +0000

Do you know what is happening up on your roof? Do you climb up there to inspect the condition of the roof? Your roof could have hail, wind, or storm damage. If you have homeowner insurance, you may qualify for a brand new free roof.

First, check with your insurance company to determine your deductible – the amount you will have to pay out of pocket.

Look on the inter net or in your local phone book for roofing companies or a contractor that offers roof inspections free of charge. Most roof inspections are free.

Set up an appointment for the inspection. Verify that the inspector will take photos of the roof so that you can prove the damage to your homeowner insurance company. You must have proof that damage exists.

If hail damage is present, it looks like small pings or little dots in the roof shingles. The surface of the shingles can also be worn away by repeated hail storms. Wind damage looks like loose shingles, gaps in the shingles, upturned edges, or edges of the shingles that have detached from the roof surface.

The roofing contractor will be able to tell you if your roof is damaged based on these conditions. If damage is found, call your homeowner insurance company and file a claim for your roof.

Your homeowner insurance company want more details. They will ask you questions about the damage and send an adjuster to your home. Often, the adjusters won’t climb on the roof, so have those photos ready! Be prepared to argue your case.

Saving Money Online – Collective Buying Power

Suzanne Wells — Sun, 16 May 2010 19:10:29 +0000

Have you heard of the new way people are saving money online by using collective buying power? The site is called Groupon and here is how it works.

Every day, Groupon will post a new deal. It may be a discount on event tickets, a discount at a trendy restaurant or bakery, or a special price on a service like dry cleaning or a facial at a spa. The way Groupon states it, “Each day we feature something cool to do at an unbeatable price.”

If enough people sign up to do the deal, then the deal is on! If not enough people sign up, then no deal. That is what collective buying power is about – a group of people have to take the deal to get the discount.

Saving money online through Groupon is easy. Click here to sign up, it is free. You will receive emails announcing new deals. If you like the deal, click the “buy” button and you are done. The deal usually doesn’t expire for several weeks or even months, so you have plenty of time to use it.

Lower Utility Bills – 6 Ways to Cut Summer Electric Bills

Suzanne Wells — Tue, 11 May 2010 08:52:59 +0000

It is getting hot here in Atlanta. Pretty soon, we will be into a long stretch of 90 degree days. And then the electric bill gets scary from all of the air conditioning usage. Living in the South, we have learned ways to conserve the cool air inside the house and lower utility bills. Here are a few ways to cut summer utility bills.

1. Avoid adjusting the thermostat. Adjusting the temperature up and down requires more electricity.

2. Avoid using the stove and oven. These two appliances heat up the kitchen and the air conditioner has to work extra hard to cool it down. Focus on using the microwave, outdoor grill, and small appliances like a George Foreman grill or crock pot.

3. Cover the windows. You can buy inexpensive room darkening shades at WalMart. These are a great investment for the windows in your home that face to the West and get the scorching afternoon sun. Window film is another good option.

4. Use ceiling fans, box fans, and oscillating fans. You can stand warmer temps when the air is moving. Stagnant air makes you feel hotter.

5. Lower utility bills by using a dehumidifier. Humid air is sticky and uncomfortable. Look at WalMart, Target, Home Depot, and Lowes for reasonably priced dehumidifiers.

6. Arrange your day with the afternoon heat in mind. Line dry clothes if possible to avoid using the dryer. Do outdoor chores in the morning or evening before it gets hot so you don’t rush back in side and want to crank up the air.

Click here for more easy ways to lower utility bills.

Cheaper Car Insurance – 4 Ways to Cut Your Costs

Suzanne Wells — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:57:31 +0000

Car insurance is a necessary monthly expense. If you drive, you must have auto insurance. Here are a few ways to soften the blow on your car insurance bill each month.

1. Shop around. Even if you have been with your current provider for many years, you may not be getting the best deal. Go online or call around to get quotes. You might find cheaper car insurance.

2. Get rid of extras you don’t need on your current policy. (Never give up roadside assistance!) Insurance companies are famous for adding options to increase your bill.

3. If you have teen drivers, ask about a good student discount. This doesn’t necessarily mean straight As. Your student may qualify with a certain GPA.

4. When shopping for a new policy, or updating your current policy, ask questions about how to get deeper discounts for cheaper car insurance. Do you get a break for low mileage or if you are a homeowner? If you don’t ask, you don’t get.