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What can you do to earn extra $ to reduce your debt burden?

Submitted by Vikas on Mon, 07/07/2008 - 04:28
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In today’s world of rising prices along with debt burden almost every one of us are struggling to make the two ends meet. In this situation, how can you increase your income to become debt free?


I just found out through a great member here on this forum that ebay is a great and real way to sell what you have and earn good money by doing it. You can start out with a little and over time turn it into a full time job if you want. That is my plan. I always wanted to work from home making good money and all the benifiets it has with it.

This ideal has not only giving me hope but something great to look forward to instead of worrying about stuff I have no control over anyway.

EBAY is the name and the Way!!


Submitted by Lukeskywalker on Mon, 07/07/2008 - 06:38

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I've always had a part-time job to supplement my regular income--even working a couple hours in the evening or on weekends helps! I also complete surveys for a small amount of cash--it's nice to get a check in the mail for $5-25, just for spending a little time giving your opinion! Selling items at garage sales or Ebay can also be a nice supplement to your income.


Submitted by Elle_Marie on Mon, 07/07/2008 - 07:03

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Before you go out and get a second job, try makeing smarter purchases and counter attack your everyday routine with something that would cost you less out of pocket expenses and use those savings towards paying off your debts. As an example, rather than going out to eat during lunch time, bring your own lunch -- I save $100 a month and that money goes towards my credit card. Rather than paying the $15 minimum, I am able to pay 6 times that amount which brings me even closer to being debt free. You can also make simple sacrifices such as shopping less at expensive outlets, carpooling, buying a membership in a bulk outlet store such as Sam's Club (the membership literally pays for itself), cancel your newspaper and magazine subscriptions and read them online, etc. Use the money you save from these small sacrifices towards paying off your debt.


Submitted by Amanda Webb on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 08:02

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I have increased my income by de-creasing certain non-neccesities in my life...such as the daily latte and muffin, washing my own car, clipping dry cleaning coupons, brown-bagging my lunch to work and buying in bulk. When I sat down the worked the numbers, just these small changes "increased" my income by almost $400 a month!


Submitted by jenoliver33 on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 15:55

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You can get a second job. Put all that income towards your debts.

You could sell some of your things you don't need. I've sold jewelry to get extra money when I needed money for payments. It hurt, but I needed to do it.

You could ask to borrow money from a family member or friend. Might be awkward, but you could work out a payment arrangement that would be better for you. At least a family member won't charge you 30% if you are late on a payment.

You could brown-bag it to work. Eating out & getting coffee everyday is a lot of money. Take that money you would have used & put it away somewhere safe (bank, secret stash in house) somewhere that you won't be tempted to spend it.

You could try & restructure other bills. Contact the lender & see if they can lower payments for you. Take the money saved there & apply to other debts.

Apply for a debt management program. The dmp can negotiate lower rates, get you one lump payment-which might end up saving you in the long run. I know for me entering a DMP saved me about $150 a month.

Don't spend as much. Think about what you really WANT vs what you really NEED. Budget it out. See if your budget can allow for it.

Freeze your cards. You could put your credit cards in water and then freeze them. Keep one out for emergencies-just in case you have one. The others, if you feel tempted to use them, then you can take them out of the freezer, let them defrost while you think about what you want. By the time they defrost you can have a clear head.

DON'T take a out a Pay Day Loan. They sound nice but they are TROUBLE. They will get you deeper in debt FAST.


Submitted by lawn1016 on Wed, 07/09/2008 - 18:05

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Sell unwanted items on Ebay. Have a garage sale. Make crafts and sell them at a craft show. Get a part time job. These are just a few things. My mom and I actually went to estate sales and bought things that we knew would be hot sellers on ebay. Like collectible cups and saucers. Old plates and things like that. We then listed them and watched the money double. It is a little time comsuming, but also fun to watch the prices go up on the auctions. We did this every week for about 6 months. I would say we pretty much doubled our money.


Submitted by strangclan on Wed, 07/09/2008 - 19:25

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I've struggled a lot since my husband walked out about 2 years ago. The most important thing I fee I need to do is build a "cushion" (I don't mean a pillow stuffed with money, though that would be nice...). It's been difficult to get caught up with the bills that we were behind on before he left, and therefore put me further behind. I found that my hobby could be somewhat profitable. Being a single mother, with a "special needs" child, it is out of the question for me to work a second job outside of the home. Instead, I try to make some profit from my hobby. If you have a creative hobby such as painting or sculpting, you never know who may want to purchase your work. I also have swallowed my pride and asked to borrow money from family to pay off the biggest bills. They usually won't charge interest, and if they do, it isn't going to be nearly what I'd be paying if I'd struggled along with the original bill. I'm slowing getting to the place I need to be.
It isn't easy, but I've learned to avoid the "traps" and quick fixes. Finding this site has also helped me dramatically!!!


Submitted by jennifer_bailey75 on Thu, 07/10/2008 - 04:17

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My husband and I have been able to secure side jobs that take up one night a week and are able to earn enough to help cover the cost of gas. We've also been cleaning out items in our home that we no longer use and have been selling them on eBay, Craigslist, at yard sales, anywhere we can.
Also, any extra cash we are able to stash away, even if it's only $20, we put into an interest bearing savings account. Although it's not earning much right now, it's at least something and every penny counts these days.


Submitted by Kristine Norton on Thu, 07/10/2008 - 11:29

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One good way to earn some extra money is registering at any market research places in your area. Also, check craigslist daily for any research groups you could qualify for. They usually pay $50 to $200 for a couple hours of your time, and many times you get to try some new product or make your voice known. If you live near a major city, these are usually going on weekly. You could also do surveys online, but these are harder to qualify for, and pay much less then the focus research groups mentioned above.


Submitted by goudah2424 on Fri, 07/11/2008 - 07:25

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go through your house and find items that are no longer needed items or that you can live without and sale them in a garage sale, get a second job, capitalize on a talent or skill you have and charge a fee for that service such as babysitting, yardwork, housecleaning, etc.


Submitted by jayoq on Fri, 07/11/2008 - 08:35

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Increasing your income is something most everyone would like to do. There are quick ways to do it and some that take a bit more time.
For quick cash, there are things like holding a garage sale. Make the most out of your sale by inexpensive advertising (signs) and telling friends and neighbors. Then make sure you have cleared your closets of all the junk you haven't used (in at least a year), clothes that don't fit and things you just don't like. Price them reasonably (nothing less than 50 cents) and you should be able to make a little pocket change at the least. Whatever you don't sell, donate to charity and get a receipt so you can use it at tax time.
Getting another job is way to pick up some extra cash too. Another job can be something as simple as evening or weekend babysitting or housesitting. You would be surprised at what people will pay for a responsible adult to babysit. I personally have babysat for a lady who routine pays $100 for an evening (4-5hours) of babysitting her 3 school age kids.
Another job could also be working in a department store. Christmas is approaching and stores are always looking for Christmas help. Don't wait until the season though, because the stores start hiring several months before the official start of the Christmas season.
If you are a college student, check with your student services office. Almost all will have job offerings. One of the best jobs I ever had when I was a student, I got from reading the job board at school.
If you attend church, call the church office and ask to put a blurb in the weekly bulletin or monthly newsletter advertising your skills and that you are available for work.
Tutoring is another way to make some cash. Are you good in math? Math tutors are always in need. I'm a teacher and I tutor three days a week after school for an hour each day. I make $30.00 per hour. I know I couldn't go and work for 3 hours each week and make $90.00, so it works out good for me. Examine your own areas of expertise and see if you have a skill someone else could benefit from.
These are just a few ways that you can try and get make some extra money to help make ends meet. Consider one or all and go for it. Good luck!


Submitted by Lorri on Fri, 07/11/2008 - 21:49

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I have done numerous things in the past to get more money to help me out of debt. When it was posssible, I took a second job and applied all of the money from that job to a debt, along with the original payment to get it paid off sooner.

I have also gone to some businesses around here and done some office cleaning at night. I went to the Historical Museum and asked them if they had a job, I knew they had meetings and banquets in their basement. They hired me and I was able to do it on weekends or a few hours at night. There are also some schools around here that advertise for night janitorial positons.

I have also gone to different churches and worked at the nursery on Sunday and Wednesdays.

And the last thing I did was, to go apply for a substitute teacher. They pay more if you are degreed, but the pay is good if you aren't, and you work when the kids are in school and off when they are off.

All of these things and a few other little things has helped me get out of debt, along with cutting out alot of extras, and a little sacrifice. In applying the extra money to my debt, I did the lowest one first, along with the original payment, slowly got me out of debt, where I intend to stay!


Submitted by Bossy4455 on Sun, 07/13/2008 - 09:59

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I generally prefer to live alone in my apartment. But sometime back I was in the middle of a "Debt Soup" (I prefer to call it so). To get out of it I decided to open up one of my two-bed-room apartment. It helped me a lot to payoff my debt.

I was also a fashion buff and used to spend a lot of my income towards funky clothes and accessories. But after I got debt ridden, I sold most of these funky stuffs to the vintage store in our locality. To my utmost surprise, I got a considerable amount of money out of this. Wow???????there are so many idiots like me to buy these funky old items.

Thanks to the above that I am living a debt free life. :)


Submitted by phoenix on Sun, 07/13/2008 - 10:31

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There are several things one can do to increase income. One of the things one can do is get a second job, even if it is part time, every little bit helps. This can be one person or both people if they are a couple. My husband works a second job but does not want me to because he feels that one of us needs to be home for the kids, well now for my daughter. Another thing that can be done is cut out or at least reduce the amount of eating out and unnecessary things. Not saying that they have be cut out 100%, but cut back anyway. One could have a yard sale and get rid of things that are not needed or used. That can give one some extra money to help with whatever needs to at the time. We had a yard sale a few weeks back and made over $200. Stay away from payday loans for they get one further in debt. Do not accumulate any more debt by taking out loans or anything on that order. Make a budget and stick to it. Start paying off what you owe, even if it is a little at a time. One has to start somewhere. If you have credit cards, pay the minimum on all but one and pay over the minimum amount, even if it is $10 extra each month. Once that card it paid off, then take the amount that you have been paying on that card and apply it toward another card, and when that card is pay off, continue on until you have all your cards paid off. This can work on other debts too. Do not use credit cards unless it is an absolute emergency. Learn how to say no to the kids once in a while. They do not need to get everything they want...their needs should be taken care of first. Do activites that do not cost anything or costs very little to do. Go to the park, museums or someplace like that. If you want to go to the movies, go some place that offers discount tickets. Around here we have a couple of theaters that sell tickets for $1.50 or $2.00. Granted they may not be new releases, but if they are something we haven't seen, that is ok. Another thing we do is save our change. We put our change in a jar and it can add up fast. It is great to know it is there when we need gas or milk or something like that. In a way, it is like paying yourself.

Some of the ideas I mentioned may not be earning extra money, but it will help with not having as much money going out, which in turn puts more money in your pocket and more money to help toward paying down your debt.


Submitted by 2nband on Mon, 07/14/2008 - 06:39

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