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Shared Oct 23, 2012 comment

31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas: Pet-Sitting (Day 20)

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31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas: Pet-Sitting (Day 20)

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas

Welcome to October’s series on 31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas. In this series, I’m highlighting simple and legitimate ways you can earn extra cash in the next two months for those of you who could use a little extra cash to help you pay for Christmas — or just for your living expenses if you’re in a tight spot right now.

If you’ve found a great way to make extra cash before Christmas that doesn’t require an outlay of cash upfront, please email me your tip. I’d love to hear it and possibly share it during this series!

Guest post by Debby from Nutrition Concepts

A while back, I realized that many pet owners wanted at-home care for their pets instead of boarding them when they were on vacation or just gone at work all day long. And since I’m a huge animal lover, I started a pet sitting business in my community about 3 years ago — and it turned into a great way to make extra money!

I’m a dog owner and lover, so I mostly focused on catering to dog owners, but I also have a few cat owners as clients now. I give my clients the option of bringing their pet(s) to me or having me come into their home one to three times per day.

3 Things To Consider Before Setting Up a Pet-Sitting Business

1. Setting Rates

  • In deciding how I would set my rates, I surveyed what local boarding facilities were charging. (I looked at Petsmart, Petshotel, and a few other local kennels/boarding facilities).
  • Based on their rates, I decided on the following: $25 a day for one dog and $35 a day for two dogs (3 visits a day), $10 for a single visit and $15 a day for cats (single visit).

2. Creating Business Materials

  • I made my own Pet Sitting Business Cards using Avery business card stock. It cost me about $10 to buy the business card stock but you could also make up your own using regular 8 ½ x 11″ paper or card stock and cut them up to business card size.
  • I created a Pet Sitting Information Sheet to keep track of all of the information I need while caring for my clients’ pet. This makes it easy to know exactly how the client wants their pet fed, walked, etc.

3. Advertising

  • We have a community/HOA website that I advertised on at first, but all of my clients now come from word-of-mouth referrals.
  • I also keep business cards in my purse or pocket to hand out to people I meet when I’m out and about and also when I’m out walking my dog in the morning and evening.

Prospective Client Playdate

When I have a new/prospective client who wants their dog to stay at my house, I have them come over for a play date and complete the Pet Information Sheet. I’ve learned to ask good questions during the play date visit to find out what the animal’s behaviors and habits are really like. As with all relationships, communication and being clear about expectations will make it a good experience for both parties.

Keys to Success

The key to success in this business (and many other businesses) is great customer service – I regularly stay in contact with my clients to let them know how their pet is doing, and I send notes to new clients to thank them for their business.

Another key is to find clients as close to your home as possible so you don’t have to spend a lot of gas money driving to home visits.

Pet sitting is a great way to make a nice extra income. Plus, if you’re an animal lover, it’s also a lot of fun!

Debby is an ex-corporate executive turned small business owner and nutrition educator who has a passion for life and helping others. She writes about raising healthy children and eating healthfully on a budget at her site, Nutrition Concepts. You can also find her at her Facebook Page, Nutrition Concepts, Inc.

Money Saving Mom
Shared Oct 23, 2012 comment

Doing Something I Never Believed Would Be Possible: My First 5K Race

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Doing Something I Never Believed Would Be Possible: My First 5K Race

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Last Saturday morning, bright and early, I got up and did something I’ve always wished I could do… I ran (and finished!) my first 5K race.

For some of you who run multiple marathons a year, that sounds like a cakewalk, something you’d do as a little warmup. For me, on the other hand, it was monumental.

I’d Convinced Myself I Wasn’t a Runner

You see, up until two years ago, I couldn’t even run a half mile without collapsing and feeling like I was going to hyperventilate. So I’d long ago convinced myself that I’m not a runner. Instead, I’d walk or bike or get on the elliptical.

However, after challenging myself to start and follow through with an entire round (all 90 days!) of P90X awhile back, I decided to just try running a mile to see if I’d really increased my endurance or gotten stronger.

To my utter disbelief, I ran a little more than a mile without stopping!

Inspired by this success, I started running on a regular basis. At first, I could barely pull off more than a mile. But I kept making myself get on the treadmill, even when it was the last thing I wanted to do.

Doing Something I Never Believed Was Possible

I started the Couch to 5K program to help keep me on track and gradually working on improving my endurance and time. Some days, it was grueling and I felt like I was going to keel over and throw up. Some days, I had to stop because I just had nothing left to give.

But I didn’t give up. And one day, after a number of months of consistently running, I got on the treadmill and ran 3.1 miles without stopping.

I’m not an emotional person by nature, but I cried the whole last quarter of a mile.

Why? Because I had done something I never believed to be possible. I had run a 5K. Granted, the 5K was on the treadmill, but it was still 3.1 miles — something I never would have thought weak, non-runner me could pull off.

Facing My Fears Head On

But I was still scared to actually run in a race. To go out there with other people and try to start and finish a 5K seemed daunting. I was afraid of failing, coming in last, or just plain not being able to pull it off under pressure. I know it sounds silly to admit it out loud, but I’m just being gut honest here.

As I’ve been learning recently, though, sometimes the best thing you can do in the face of fear is to just do it. Just step out and face head on whatever scares you most. The more you face your fears, the less daunting they seem to be.

So, I signed up for the race, I put on my running shoes, and I showed up. Still nervous about the whole thing, but determined to not cower away from something I’d set out to do — even if it was hard.

Even If I Didn’t Medal, I Came Home a Winner

It wasn’t the best race ever, and I certainly didn’t come close to having a shot at a medal, but when I ran through that finish line, I felt every bit like I’d won a gold medal. Regardless of my time, regardless of the fact that many people older than me had a much better time, I finished — and that’s what mattered.

Truthfully, once I got over my initial fears and pre-race jitters, I loved the experience. And I’m pretty sure that it will be the first of many races to come… in fact, I’m planning to set a goal to run at least one 10K race in 2013.

It just goes to show, you will never find out how far you can go, unless you just get out there and start trying.

Have you faced some of your fears and stepped out of your comfort zone recently? If so, tell us about it so we can cheer you on!

Money Saving Mom
Shared Oct 23, 2012 comment

Reader tip: Making Jingit Simple

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Reader tip: Making Jingit Simple

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Here’s a great tip on Jingit from Victoria who blogs at Snail Pace Transformations

I joined Jingit after you featured it in your 31 Days to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas series. At first, I found it difficult to view the videos more than once to maximize my earnings. I would click and past the URL’s to my browser like you suggested and found most would not work.

Then Jingit sent me a “New Earning Opportunities” e-mail, and after I clicked through to earn, I then saved the e-mail and have used it every day since to click through to the videos and earn. No pasting needed.

Now I am LOVING Jingit! -Victoria from Snail Pace Transformations

(Note: The link in this post is my referral link. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Money Saving Mom
Shared Oct 22, 2012 comment

31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas: Mom’s Mornings Out Services (Day 19)

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31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas: Mom’s Mornings Out Services (Day 19)

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas

Welcome to October’s series on 31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas. In this series, I’m highlighting simple and legitimate ways you can earn extra cash in the next three months for those of you who could use a little extra cash to help you pay for Christmas — or just for your living expenses if you’re in a tight spot right now.

If you’ve found a great way to make extra cash before Christmas that doesn’t require an outlay of cash upfront, please email me your tip. I’d love to hear it and possibly share it during this series!

Guest post from Lindsey of Faithful Homemaking

When I was trying to earn money to buy a DSLR camera, I came up with the idea of hosting a “home preschool” once a week so my friends could get a break from their kids. I feel that most of the moms I know are over-worked and under-paid and could use a morning off!

This option has a dual-purpose of earning some extra cash and blessing your friends at the same time. An added bonus is that you don’t have to leave your kids or your own home to do it!

I chose Friday mornings as the mornings I’d offer Mom’s Morning Out to other moms. This is what worked best for the friends I was marketing my services to. I just committed to do it for four weeks, since I was only aiming to earn enough for a short-term goal of buying a DSLR camera.

Fridays may work for you, or, with the holidays coming, there are other times that would be prime options for a kid’s group. Such as offering to:

  • Watch children on Black Friday so their moms can shop?
  • Watch children the day or two before Thanksgiving Day while many moms are cooking up a storm?
  • Host a Christmas-ornament-making party for kids on a Saturday in December so parents can wrap gifts at home?
  • Offer to care for several kids every other Friday night so all your friends can go out for Date Night with their spouse?

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in trying, here are some things you’ll want to decide upfront:

How many children will you accept?

First, decide how many kids you can handle without going crazy. My limit was 8.

If you want to partner with another mom or two and invite more kids, go for it! I typed up a flier explaining to my friends what I would be doing and said that only the first 8 kids to sign up for each session could come.

Some kids were able to come to all 4 playgroups and some were only able to come to 1 or 2.

How long will each session last?

Decide on a time limit that works for your schedule. I recommend between 2 and 4 hours for a Mom’s Morning Out.

If you are doing a special event, like watching a bunch of kids on Black Friday, it could be an all-day thing; just don’t wear yourself out!

What ages will you accept?

You can choose to offer your services to kids of all ages but it won’t be as successful if you have babies in the mix. If the kids are similar ages it will be easier to get them interested in the games and activities you have planned.

I catered my playgroup sessions towards preschoolers.

What will you do?

I chose four themes, one for each Friday, to make up a month’s worth of Mom’s Mornings Out. Some theme ideas that are always a big hit with the kids are: dinosaurs, baking, race cars, princesses, nature, books/reading, the solar system, cowboys and cowgirls, helping the needy, etc.

If you are doing one in the pre-Christmas season you may want to do a different Christmas craft with the kids each time. During one play session, I had the kids help me package hats and gloves for a shelter and make Christmas cards for the homeless.

Once you have your theme idea, begin to build on it. Choose a healthy and inexpensive snack that fits your theme. Find books at the library on the topic. Find a Bible lesson or character lesson that would go well with your theme. Plan a game or two.

It’s very important to plan ahead so you have lots of fun things to occupy the little ones. In addition, give the kids plenty of free-play time as well where they can play with blocks, legos, dress-ups, dolls, cars and one another.

What will you charge?

First of all, it’s probably best to go with a suggested donation instead of a fee, due to different laws regarding daycare regulations and childcare licensing. Bartering is a great way to go, too!

Do your friends have a skill that you need? Maybe one friend could take your Christmas photos for you, one could cut your hair, one could crochet some hats for you to give as gifts, or one could bake you some holiday goodies which you can share with your neighbors.

If you’d prefer getting money, ask around to see what the local daycares and preschools are charging per child per hour. Adjust your suggested donation for doing playgroups depending on what the parents can afford. Remember to add in the cost of craft supplies and snacks, too.

I did my Mom’s Morning Out playgroup for just one month (four Fridays total) and was able to earn around $150 towards my camera for about 15 hours of work (charging a fairly low rate to bless my friends). My kids and their friends had a lot of fun and my friends got a little time to themselves!

If one of my friends offered this service to me, I would definitely sign up at least one of my children for this!

Lindsey blogs at Faithful Homemaking. She loves planning theme birthday parties for her two girls and two boys that have included: ballerinas, tea parties, teddy bear picnics, cowboys, cowgirls, a wet n’ wild water party, monster trucks, motorcycles, and ponies.

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Money Saving Mom
Shared Oct 22, 2012 comment

6 goals for this week

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6 goals for this week

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I’m releasing an ebook tomorrow and leaving to speak at Allume with Jesse on Thursday, so I’m keeping my goals simple this week. 🙂

Last week’s goals:

Family/Marriage/Mothering Goals

1. Read 3 chapters of The Stolen Necklace aloud to Kathrynne. Finish Still More Stories From Grandma’s Attic aloud to Kaitlynn. Read 10 picture books to Silas. Read at least 3 chapters of A Way Through the Sea aloud to the kids.

2. Write a love note to Jesse.

Personal Goals

3. Finish reading Whose Voice the Waters Heard, Desperate, Anything, and Reunion.

4. Start listening to Made to Stick.

5. Do 5 days’ worth of the Couch to 10 K program.

6. Run in a 5K race on Saturday — finally! :)

7. Get at least 7 hours of sleep every night

Homemaking Goals

8. Finish 25 more rows of the scarf I’m working on knitting.

9. Make at least two new recipes.

Business Goals

10. Finish tweaking the workshop & powerpoint for our joint session at Allume next week. {Almost done with this!}

This week’s goals:

Family/Marriage/Mothering Goals

1. Read aloud to the children every day (Monday through Wednesday).

Personal Goals

2. Read Erasing Hell by Francis Chan, The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer, Anything by Jennie Allen, Pinterest Power, The Wings of the Morning, Wrecked by Jeff Goins. {I’m hoping to get through a lot of books this week since I’ll be flying to PA and back!}

3. Listen to one hour of Made to Stick.

4. Do 3 days’ worth of the Couch to 10K program.

Business Goals

5. Finish tweaking the workshop & powerpoint for our joint session at Allume next week.

6. Launch 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life.

How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!

You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.

Money Saving Mom
Shared Oct 22, 2012 comment

Guess what’s coming tomorrow?!?

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Guess what’s coming tomorrow?!?

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So, I’m just a wee bit excited… or maybe even a lot more than a wee bit excited! 🙂

You see, bright and early tomorrow morning (Tuesday, October 23, 2012), I’m launching a brand-new ebook called 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life.

If you’re craving more order, peace, and discipline in your life and you want some step-by-step help and motivation, you’ll definitely want to get a copy of this ebook. Plus, for three days only (Tuesday through Thursday), the ebook will be just $0.99.

But wait, that’s not all!

You know how I like to give stuff away? Well, I’ve lined up a Giveaway Extravaganza like no other to coincide with tomorrow’s launch.

For the next three days, there will be opportunities to earn free gift cards, beauty products, decor items, organizational items, free ebooks, a Kindle Fire, and much more. There will be multiple ways to enter and so many prizes given away that you’ll have a very good chance of winning!

You won’t want to miss our biggest Giveaway Extravaganza event of the year! Come back tomorrow morning for more details — and I hope you win something!

Psst! Are you a blogger? If so, did you sign up for our affiliate program? I’m offering 50% in commissions for all sales made through your referral link!

Shared Oct 22, 2012 comment

Five Mindsets That Are Imperative for Frugal Living

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Five Mindsets That Are Imperative for Frugal Living

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Guest post from Debra.

Frugality is a lifestyle, right? It sure is. A lifestyle that involves thinking against the flow.

Here are five mindsets that I believe are imperative to living that frugal “against the flow” lifestyle:

1. Simplicity

Simplicity in meals means less exotic ingredients you have to buy. Simplicity in lifestyle means less gadgets you have to buy.

A friend recently told me to enjoy the journey. We were making dinner and I was feeling rushed. “She’s right” I thought… and making dinner became fun.

By embracing simplicity and remembering to enjoy the journey instead of rush through it we can save money on all those gadgets that really do not make our life easier and all the equipment we do not need for a slow and simple life.

2. Patience

It is tempting to go get something the moment I have the money for it, or see the need for it. But, oftentimes, a little patience is rewarded.

It takes time to find a good deal, so sit on it for a while. Often someone is actually giving away the thing that we were needing and praying about, so spending money on it was not even necessary.

3. Contentment

This one is huge! We live in a culture of stuff.

Be willing to be different and choose to be content. Before buying something, train yourself to think, “Do I really need this?”

Contentment saves far more money then being deal savvy. A person can go broke buying good deals. If you’re buying something you don’t need, then you are not saving money no matter how great the deal.

4. Student

Have the attitude of the student and always be willing to learn. Seek counsel from those wiser and more experienced. This one alone would have saved us about $20,000. We’ve learned to never make any big purchase without plentiful prayer and counsel.

5. Making Do

Have a need? Look around your house and see what can meet it. Don’t be afraid of a little elbow grease. In fact, we have purchased very few things all year because of making do and re-purposing.

Embracing these mindsets have saved us an incredible amount of money, and have made working on our debt, surviving grad school, two lay offs, two kids, and five moves in four years a possibility.

What about you? What are some mindsets you find important to the frugal lifestyle?

Debra is first and foremost a daughter of the King of kings. She spends her days being a helpmeet to her wonderful husband, loving on and teaching her children, cooking, keeping home, crafting, and writing.

Money Saving Mom
Shared Oct 20, 2012 comment

31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas: Market Research and Focus Groups (Day 18)

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31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas: Market Research and Focus Groups (Day 18)

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas

Welcome to October’s series on 31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas. In this series, I’m highlighting simple and legitimate ways you can earn extra cash in the next two months for those of you who could use a little extra cash to help you pay for Christmas — or just for your living expenses if you’re in a tight spot right now.

If you’ve found a great way to make extra cash before Christmas that doesn’t require an outlay of cash upfront, please email me your tip. I’d love to hear it and possibly share it during this series!

Guest post from Carrie of CarrieWillard.com

For the past five years, I’ve been earning part-time money doing focus groups and testing and giving my opinions on products for market research firms.

These are not the same as doing online surveys. They usually involve traveling to a location in your area to participate. Sometimes, the study takes place over the phone.

Participating in market research is a fun way to earn some extra cash — especially for a stay at home mom, student, or a retired person with a flexible schedule. Other than gas to drive to the research facility, there is no cost to be a respondent.

What Are Market Research and Focus Groups?

When a company wants to change an existing product or launch a new one, they need people to test and try that product to get an idea of how it will perform in the marketplace.

These companies hire market research firms to gather groups of people in various demographics so they can compile this information from their target market.

How Do You Find Legitimate Market Research Companies?

The company I’ve done the most work for is Delve. They have offices in several states.

You can search for other similar companies in your area with a Google search. I found the two companies I work with by searching “market research respondent database”. GreenBook.org has quite a few recommend companies to choose from.

Remember to use good common sense when searching for a research company to work with. The number one rule is: don’t pay any money to join a database. Legitimate Market Research companies will never ask you to pay them any money to join. In addition, don’t give private information such as your social security number out to anyone.

What Is the Process For Getting Jobs With Market Research Companies?

To start working for a market research firm, you’ll first need to fill out an online profile. Then, if you’re accepted, a screener will call you when a study becomes available that fits your demographics. The screener will ask you questions to determine whether you’re a good fit for the project.

Please note: Companies typically don’t want you to do more than one study for the same type of product in a 3-6 month period. Before accepting you for a particular job, a screener will ask you questions that may disqualify you for a particular study.

How Much Can You Earn?

The amount of money you can earn depends on how many companies you sign up with. Compensation is given to you immediately when the study is completed, and it is in the form of a check or a prepaid debit card.

The studies are fun and pay quite well for the time involved. For instance, once I got paid $35 just to taste and give my opinions on a bakery product. It took all of five minutes!

I have listened to music and shared my thoughts on radio stations. I’ve been given free baby diapers and personal care products in addition to compensation for my time.

My sons were even selected to do a study once and each of them earned $150 in about 1 ½ hours! They were thrilled about that, of course. 🙂

In addition to the in-house focus groups that you can do with other people, you will sometimes take home product and try it out over a period of days. A couple of times I’ve earned $100-$150 for a few minutes of paperwork each day. This doesn’t include the value of the product — things like beauty products or baby necessities or food.

Carrie is a writer, wife and homeschooling mom of 7 and lover of good food and great books. Visit her online at CarrieWillard.com.

Money Saving Mom
Shared Oct 20, 2012 comment

So Long Coupons, Hello Price Matching

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So Long Coupons, Hello Price Matching

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Healthy-Food_A

Guest post from Jami of 356 Collide

I was an avid, borderline crazy, couponer… before I gave up coupons.

Well, I gave up most of my coupons! I still use them at times for our family essentials like dairy products and eggs. But for me, couponing became an obsession and a comparison game. I was loosing my sanity and my life was consumed by those tiny pieces of paper. And to top it off, our food choices were rather unhealthy.

I handed over those tiny strips of newspaper and decided to follow a more simple way of living and an easier way of saving money for my family. I decided to turn to price-matching. I read about it here on MoneySavingMom.com and wanted to give it a try.

What I Have Learned About Price-Matching

1. It Saves Time & Energy

I literally spend about 10 minutes circling my local advertisements and writing my grocery list for the week. This is compared to hours on end each day trying to find coupons and matching deals.

Since I price-match, that means I only go to one store a week, compared to the four plus stores I would go to during my couponing spree.

2. It Saves Money

I limit my purchases to whatever I circle with the occasional purchase of other essential products. Doing this helps me be self-controlled and purchase what is on sale. I do occasionally pair price-matching with a few coupons for dairy products which helps save a few dollars, as well.

Overall, our grocery budget has actually been lowered by price-matching since there isn’t any pressure to buy every deal that is out there. Also, since I only go to one store once a week, I save money on gas. And who doesn’t like the sound of that? 🙂

3. Produce is Really Inexpensive

I mean really inexpensive. Most of what I price-match are fruit and veggies.

Almost all of the ads I receive advertise produce for as low as $0.30/lb! Also, instead of paying $1 on a single bell pepper, I usually only pay $0.25 for one. This helps in being able to stock up for the freezer.

4. Our Food Choices are Healthier

Many of the coupons out there are for processed foods. When I price-match, I purchase fresh foods, dairy products, and eggs that are on sale in my local advertisements.

Instead of a cart full of boxed items and processed food, my cart is now full of fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy-for-you foods.

Have you tried price-matching before?

Jami is a wife and a stay-at-home mom to two girls. She enjoys spending time with her family, encouraging others, cooking, and creating pretty things. You can read more about her and the life that she leads at 356 Collide.

OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!

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Money Saving Mom
Shared Oct 19, 2012 comment

31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas: Listia.com (Day 17)

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31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas: Listia.com (Day 17)

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas

Welcome to October’s series on 31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas. In this series, I’m highlighting simple and legitimate ways you can earn extra cash in the next two months for those of you who could use a little extra cash to help you pay for Christmas — or just for your living expenses if you’re in a tight spot right now.

If you’ve found a great way to make extra cash before Christmas that doesn’t require an outlay of cash upfront, please email me your tip. I’d love to hear it and possibly share it during this series!

Guest post from Shannon of Tethered Mommy

I’ve discovered an interesting (and fun!) way to earn a few Amazon cards — just for getting rid of stuff I don’t need. I use Listia.com to give away my items and receive credits that I can use to “buy” other things that I do want and need such as Amazon gift cards, Chili’s gift cards, and more.

What is Listia?

Listia is an online auction similar to eBay yet no money is exchanged (unless the winning bidder pays for shipping). Instead, credits are used to win auctions and are received when your auctions have “sold”.

How does it work?

If you have something you’d like to list, you would take a photo of it and list it using their auction platform. You’ll  choose a category, write a description, and select how long you would like the auction to run (ten days is the max).

There’s no cost to list an item and you’ll receive free credits for doing so. You can also receive free credits for offering free shipping, earning badges, and more. If your item ends with a winning bid, you’ll receive the credits for that auction.

Once you’ve accumulated a decent amount of credits, you can bid on auctions you’re interested in. The Amazon cards are very popular so I try to find some with a low GIN (Get It Now) price. I’ve won a $5 Amazon card for 2500 credits, but now that Listia is getting more popular I don’t think I’ll find one for that low again.

How much time does it take?

It take about 10-15 minutes to list an auction — basically however long it takes you to photograph your item, upload the picture, and create your listing.

How much can I earn?

The key to listing items on Listia is offering items that cost little or nothing to ship. You’ll want to offer small, lightweight items that can ship with just the cost of a stamp or two, such as CD’s or necklaces.

It’s amazing the items people will bid on! I’ve seen MyCokeRewards codes being listed and have started collecting caps myself to create an auction of my own. These codes can then be emailed to the winning bidder, saving you from having to pay shipping costs. Just make sure to include a photo of the caps because there is a rule that no intangible goods can be sold.

I recently received a TJ MAXX $10 store credit and will not be using it since the closest TJ Maxx is two hours away. Instead, I’m going to list on Listia — and that should result in a large number of credits (plus, it will only cost $0.45 to ship!)

You can also earn credits by referring your friends. When they successfully list their first auction, you’ll get 500 credits! And they’ll get 100 credits simply by joining.

You’re not going to get rich, but Listia is a great way to earn Amazon cards from things you no longer need or can’t use. Then, you can use your Amazon gift cards to purchase Christmas gifts or other things your family needs!

Shannon is a blogger at Tethered Mommy. She’s always on the lookout for ways to earn extra money when you’re “tied-up” at home.

Shared Oct 19, 2012 comment

Double Apple Whole-Wheat Scones with Caramel Glaze

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Double Apple Whole-Wheat Scones with Caramel Glaze

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Guest post from Brigette Shevy

I love fall. Cool crisp mornings, bright orange pumpkins, breathtaking color, fresh apples from the orchard, football, steaming chai lattes, honeycrisp apples, sweatshirts and jeans, baking, snuggling with blankets and my sweet children, and did I mention apples?

I spend the entire year counting down the months until September, when those amazing Honeycrisp apples are finally in season (and thus semi-affordable!) at my favorite orchard.

Here’s a recipe that transforms a delicious fall favorite — caramel apples — into tender, flaky scones. These are perfect with a mug of hot tea or coffee! We like them for breakfast, snack, dessert… pretty much any time of day.

They are sophisticated enough to serve as a fancy, not-overly-sweet dessert, but simple enough for everyday. As an added bonus, they will make your house smell good for hours!


Double Apple Whole-Wheat Scones with Caramel Glaze

Makes 10 large scones or 16 smaller scones

Ingredients for Scones:

  • 1 large apple, peeled and chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup white whole wheat flour (You can also use regular whole wheat, whole wheat pastry flour, or additional all-purpose.)
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 ½ Tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 5 Tablespoons butter, cubed
  • 1/3 cup applesauce
  • 1/3 cup whipping cream, half and half, or milk

Directions for scones:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine chopped apples and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for one minute. Stir in cinnamon and vanilla. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix together flours, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in the butter until mixture is the consistency of pea-size lumps. Stir in the applesauce and apple mixture. Add just enough cream or milk until you can form a ball of dough and turn onto a lightly floured board.

Knead lightly a couple of times and press into a circle about ¾ inch thick (for smaller size scones, press into two smaller circles ¾ inch thick). Cut into 10 pie-shaped wedges and place on an ungreased cookie sheet (for smaller scones, cut each smaller circle into 8 wedges each).

Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly on a wire rack and drizzle with caramel glaze (recipe below) and chopped peanuts if desired. Store in a covered container.

These are best served slightly warm (they can be reheated for a few seconds in the microwave).

Ingredients for Caramel Glaze:

  • 3 Tablespoons butter
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/16 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1-2 Tablespoon apple juice or milk
  • Chopped salted peanuts for garnish, optional

Directions for Glaze:

Combine butter, brown sugar and salt in a small saucepan. Stir and bring to a boil over medium-low heat. Continue to stir and cook for another minute.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and powdered sugar. Whisk in enough apple juice or milk to make the mixture a drizzling consistency (it should be fairly thin, but will harden up some as it cools).

What is your favorite way to use delicious fall apples?

Brigette is a full-time wife and mother who is blessed with three amazing bundles of energy (ages 5, 3 and 1). She enjoys music, experimenting in the kitchen, homeschooling her children, finding great deals, long-distance running, and anything chocolate.

Money Saving Mom
Shared Oct 19, 2012 comment

Frugal Photo Friday: Home and Decor (yes, you can laugh!)

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Frugal Photo Friday: Home and Decor (yes, you can laugh!)

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Welcome to Frugal Photo Friday!  This month I am partnering with Rebekah from SimplyRebekah.com. Each Friday we are sharing pictures of simple ways that we save money. This week’s themes are home and decor.

I know, I know. I should not be writing a post on frugal decor. Because if you’ve been around here for any length of time, you know that I have just about zero skills in the home decor department.

I can gush over beautiful pictures of other people’s homes, I can appreciate my friends’ home decor finesse, but when it comes down to trying to decorate my own home, I’m a pretty hopeless case.

But since I committed to do this series, I thought all week long and came up with a few things to show you… bear with me, because it’s pretty slim pickings. 🙂

There are always amazing photo canvas deals floating around the internet and they are a fantastic way to pull off a big wall-hanging on a budget. I took advantage of one of these to blow up a photo I took on that amazing cruise my husband and I took. This photo hangs in our beach-themed bathroom and is a constant reminder to me of a special memory.

{Though I have to admit that my somewhat OCD self still obsesses over the fact that one of the beach chairs is crooked and overturned. I cannot believe I didn’t even notice it — until after I got the picture blown up. Oh well, it’s a reminder that even in the beautiful things in life, nothing’s ever perfect, you know?}

And this is my favorite wall in our home. I smile every time I look at the beautiful faces of my children and I am reminded that the years are fleeting as I see how much they’ve grown up since we had these pictures done late last year (the one with them in green is with their cousin and was taken two years ago — amazing to see how they’ve grown up since then!)

Photo deals abound on the internet or in the newspaper. We usually use a coupon or a Groupon voucher to get a great deal and I only get professional photos done of everyone once a year.

You can purchase frames at the dollar store (you can paint them to match your decor, if you’re handy like that!) or with a coupon at Hobby Lobby or Michael’s. Then, just switch out the photos every year or six months — and you have wall art on a dime.

Oh and that Family decal? I purchased it with a Groupon voucher. Love it!

Now it is your turn to share the simple ways that you save. Share your link below or on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #FrugalPhotoFriday. All of the link-up details and themes for each week can be found here.


Money Saving Mom
Shared Oct 19, 2012 comment

Reader Tip: Free Educational Resources from Ambleside Online

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Reader Tip: Free Educational Resources from Ambleside Online

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Becky emailed in the following tip:

I recently discovered Ambleside Online — a free curriculum, in the sense that it tells you what to study (it doesn’t give you all the books). They are committed to keeping educational costs as low as possible, so as I’ve delved into the site and the forum/yahoo groups, I’ve found more and more free resources.

There are lots of links to free books online, free or cheap kindle books, free math, nature study, audio books, and reading resources — as well as ideas on how to implement the curriculum in inexpensive ways using the library and internet. It’s a fairy rigorous K-12 Charlotte Mason inspired curriculum. -Becky

Money Saving Mom
Shared Oct 18, 2012 comment

31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas: Have a Garage Sale (Day 16)

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31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas: Have a Garage Sale (Day 16)

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31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas

Welcome to October’s series on 31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas. In this series, I’m highlighting simple and legitimate ways you can earn extra cash in the next two months for those of you who could use a little extra cash to help you pay for Christmas — or just for your living expenses if you’re in a tight spot right now.

If you’ve found a great way to make extra cash before Christmas that doesn’t require an outlay of cash upfront, please email me your tip. I’d love to hear it and possibly share it during this series!

A series on earning money wouldn’t be complete without me talking about garage sales — especially since I’ve sort of garnered a reputation for having smashingly successful garage sales. After many years of hosting and earning thousands of dollars from garage sales, I’ve learned much through trial and error.

Here are my well-proven top 10 tips for having a successful garage sale:

1. Collect Clutter Year-Round

I have an ongoing Garage Sale Stash. When I come upon something we no longer need or use and I don’t know anyone to pass it onto, I stick it in a box in our garage. Once a box fills up, I start another. And another.

Without much effort at all, by the time it’s the month of our annual garage sale, I usually have at least 8-10 boxes of stuff collected.

2. Have a Plan

A successful garage sale does not happen without organization. At least a week before the sale I go through my home from top to bottom and clear out clutter. At least 2-3 days before the sale, I take an afternoon to price everything and organize it. And then the day before the sale, I devote a few hours to final organization, posting an ad on Craigslist, getting the cash and signs together and so forth.

Do not wait until the last minute to pull off a garage sale. Either it will flop or you’ll run yourself ragged–or both. If you’re in a new location or you’re new to hosting a garage sale, I’d suggest that you start getting organized at least 3-4 weeks in advance.

Getting Organized for a Garage Sale

::How are you going to display items? Do you need to borrow or make a clothes-rack?

::Do you have enough table space? If not, check and see if you can borrow tables from friends or put together some makeshift tables out of plywood and boxes.

::What signs will you be using and how many do you need? Where will you be displaying the signs to best direct traffic to your home? Drive the routes people will be coming and decide on these locations so you’re not scrambling the morning of the sale.

::Who is going to put the signs out the morning of the sale? Designate someone for this ahead of time and let them know specifically where to place the signs.

::How much cash should you have on hand and how will you keep it in a safe location?

::Do you need to purchase a license for running a garage sale in your area?

::Do you have enough help?

3. Team Up

One of my best “secrets” for success when it comes to garage sales is that I never do them on my own. I always find friends or family to team up with.

Not only does this arrangement mean you have more stuff to sell and more variety in sizes and types of things offered, it also means you have more help. Divvying up the responsibilities between 3 or 4 people makes a garage sale much more manageable. Plus, it just makes it more fun when you’re doing it with friends and family!

4. Location, Location, Location!

If you want to have a garage sale that flops, pick a location which is off-the-beaten-path and hard to get to. That’s a surefire way to lose a lot of business.

Don’t live near a busy intersection? Well, look for alternative locations like a friend or relative’s home.

This is probably the key to our garage sale success. We live right between two very heavily-trafficked streets. We put up some good signage and the crowds descend!

5. Timing is Everything (well, just about!)

I don’t advise planning a sale in the freezing cold Winter or the blazing hot Summer. Choose a time of the year when the weather will be very pleasant and try to check the weather forecast ahead of time to make sure rain is not expected when you’re planning your sale.

In addition, find out what days of the week are best for yard sales to run in your area. When we lived in Kansas City, I found people usually only held sales on Friday and Saturday. However, where we live now, Thursdays are a big yard sale day and seem to garner the most traffic.

6. Clearly Mark Your Prices

It’s easy to want to just stick a big sign on a table saying that everything on that table is a quarter, but, in the long-run, it is much more efficient to go ahead and put price stickers on everything. Instead of having to make up prices on the spot, people will know exactly how much something is. In addition, some people are too shy to ask the price of an item, so you’ll lose a sale if an item isn’t marked.

I’ve found it’s easiest to invest the few dollars it costs to buy pre-priced stickers for most of my items as this makes pricing a snap. I try to have variety in pricing with plenty of $0.25 or less items. I’ve found that when people pick up one thing to buy, they are more likely to pick up other things as well, so have lots of $0.25 items and it might help you sell some of your larger-ticketed items, too!

Since we pretty much always have multiple families involved when we run a garage sale, we just mark initials on all our price tags and then keep a tally sheet in a notebook as things sell. It adds a bit more time when customers are checking out, so it’s good to have at least two people working the money table–one to keep track of the tally sheet and one handle the money and making change.

7. Price Things to Sell

When I go to a garage sale, I expect to pay yard sale prices. Unless something is brand-new with the tags on, I am not going to pay more than a few quarters for it, if that. When I am pricing my own items to sell, I always try to price things at what I feel would be a good bargain if I were buying the item at someone else’s garage sale.

I’d rather price something on the low end and have someone actually buy my item, than to have 25 people pick up the item and put it back down on the table because it is too expensive.

8. Advertise well

The marketing of your sale is usually the number-one factor in how well your sale does. You can have great items, great prices and a great location, but if you don’t tell people how to get there, they won’t find it on their own.

Put some time and effort into making a number of quality, clearly-readable signs which you put in conspicuous places to easily lead to your home. The brighter, bolder and bigger the sign, the better.

I have also found Craigslist to be the most-effective marketing tool for advertising a garage sale. And did I mention it’s free to advertise on Craigslist? I usually advertise the day before the sale and then re-post a revised ad each day of the sale. The more details you can put in your ad, the better. Tell specific items, specific brands, and specific sizes.

When people search for items on Craigslist, if they are looking for what you’re selling–even if they aren’t looking at garage sales–your item will pull up in searches for them. So the more descriptive you can be in the listing and title, the better.

Of course, don’t write a book; just focus on your hottest sellers. And please use proper grammar and spelling. Sometimes, it’s the little things that make a big difference!

9. Mark Things Down on the Last Day

Things are usually pretty picked over by the last day of the sale. That’s the perfect opportunity to get creative and hand out rock-bottom bargains! We found that running “Fill a Bag for a Buck” is extremely effective. In a recent garage sale, we got rid of around 25 bags full of stuff in a few hours by doing this.

We’ve also done it where everything was half-price the last day. Or, if we have quite a bit of stuff left and we’re feeling ready to close up shop, we’ll just say that everything is free the last hour.

10. Don’t forget the cookies and lemonade!

What better way to teach your children entrepreneurial skills and let them earn a little money in the process than to have them set up their own little cookie and lemonade stands at the sale? Or, if it’s cold outside, try selling hot chocolate, coffee, and fresh cinnamon rolls. One yard sale, we even set up a pancake griddle and sold pancakes hot off the griddle on Saturday morning.

Baked goods–like homemade cookies and bars–sell extremely well at our garage sales. In fact, my younger brother  made around $100 from selling cookies at a recent garage sale!

What are your best tips for having a great yard sale? I’d love to hear!

photo credits: Louisa_catlover; Chiot’s Run