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Make Sense of Your Money: 3/27/09
Finance at a glance brought to you by Geezeo
5 Ways Families are Trying to Save
by Hannah Waters
1.) Leave the Brand Names Behind – Buy food at the grocery stores that are the generic brand in order to save money here and there. Brand names and generic names typically have the same ingredients; the brand names are just what people used to buy more often. You may even hear of commercials on the radio or TV for grocery stores now advertising their own brands to customers.
2.) Spending More Time at Home – Families will be able to spend time outside in the sun when the warm weather begins to kick in. Instead of going to the movies and paying an obscene amount, they are watching movies they already own, renting a movie, or purchasing one from their cable company On Demand.
3.) Packing Lunches for School/Work – It is incredibly how much money you can save each week just by packing a lunch. When you are packing a lunch for your kids to take to school, just take a little bit extra time and pack one for yourself as well. Although it may take a little bit more of your time in the morning, you may find that you are saving a great deal each week on food. Making your own coffee in the morning instead of going to Dunkin’ Doughnuts or Starbucks can also be a great way to save!
4.) Budgeting for Meals Out Each Month – Yes, everyone loves to go out to eat, but there is a time and place for everything. People have seen themselves cut back and budget for how much they are going to eat out each month. This way they are not finding themselves spending more money out than they would like to or than they can afford. Putting some money into your budget which allows you to eat out each month will not only satisfy your cravings for take-out but it will help you save each month.
5.) Taking Advantage of What They Already Own – Many families no longer have the luxury of buying a new wardrobe every time the seasons change, instead they are taking advantage or what they already own or accepting hand-me-downs from family and friends. The same goes with things like appliance purchases. If something like the refrigerator breaks people are looking to get them repaired instead of investing in something completely new. Or they might look on EBay or Craig’s List to see what they are able to find at a great deal.
Although many of these changes are things that people have to get used to, these changes can definitely help you save some money that you need to put towards a mortgage, student loans, or other bills you come across each month.
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Ways to Make Money Even if You’re Unemployed
by Hannah Waters
Recycle – Although five cents here and there may not seem like much, it can definitely add up more quickly than you think. Some bottles are even worth a quarter!
Babysitting – People would rather hire someone they know than strangers so if you have friends with kids offer to look after them while they go out for a night.
EBay/Craigs List – You may have some “junk” lying around your house that is someone else’s treasure. Never throw something away without trying to put in on EBay or Craigs List in order to make some money first. People buy anything and everything if the price is right.
Garage Sales – Couldn’t sell your items on EBay or Craigs List? Well, don’t give up just yet! It doesn’t cost you anything to set up a garage sale, just some time and maybe a poster or two to hang up. Spring and summer
Substitute Teaching – Although this is not guaranteed since nobody knows when they might need a substitute teacher, having this as an opportunity to earn money can be great. You do not need a teaching degree to be a substitute teacher. There are many benefits of having this job, you may only have to be at school for a few periods, but often you get paid for a whole day. Also, the hours are great! Since you are not a full-time teacher, you do not have to stay after school for extra help.
These suggestions may not bring in as much money as a full or part time job would, but they will definitely help you out a little bit.
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Want to make more sense of your money? Check out Geezeo.com.
photo credit: Morgue File
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Reader Comments
My friends and I swap babysitting eachother’s kids for our date nights so when my husband and I DO get to go to dinner, it doesn’t cost us $50 in childcare. Babysitting would often cost us more than our bill for dinner! Now, we can go out for as little as $25 and know that our kids are at home with someone they know and like.
In order to make money for my (gasp!) $600.00 stroller, I had a garage sale, sold my son’s toys that he no longer played with on Craig’s List, and sold the gold jewelry I no longer wore to a jewelry store. They just want the gold, so you get to keep the stones and down the line, can make something a bit more modern with them.