Financial life(style): Easy ways to earn extra cash / money in a tight month

We all have those months where we can't make ends meet (such as January for example) therefore I thought I would share some of my easy methods of earning some extra cash with you.                                                                                                                                       

• Car wash in your backyard or at a public place - On a weekend you could open up your yard to those in need of a car wash. Just make sure to place a sign out front and within a few weekends you will be packed with cars. Get some neighbours involved too so that you can share the workload. Alternatively you could get permission from a shop owner to offer a car washing service in his/her parking lot over a weekend.   

         

• Selling of baked goods - If you can bake, why not bake up a few batches of cupcakes or fudge to order? Just spread the news of your baking amongst your neighbours, friends and colleagues, and before you know it you will have orders coming out of your ears. I did this for years when I was in need of an extra income, and you can really earn quite a bit this way. Just make sure that those who place orders realise that you only bake once or twice a week and that you also do not take on more orders than you can handle. 

       

                                        

• Mowing lawns - Own a lawnmower? Then why not make some extra dough by offering to mow the lawns of your neighbours (or others) over the weekend? The fresh air and exercise would be great for you as well. Just make sure to wear a pollen mask at all times whilst mowing, since the dust and other particles that become airborne during a mowing session, can congest your sinuses like crazy (especially if you are mowing many lawns in one day).                                                                         

• Selling unused good on E-bay or other similar websites - We all have extra goods stashed away in our cupboards or in the attic/garage. Why hold onto these if you are never going to use them? Remember, "one man's trash is another man's treasure"- (Hector Urquhart).                                                                         
  

• Renting out an extra room in your home - If you have a spare, unused room in your home, you could always rent it out for a few months if money is tight. There are numerous websites online that make provision for the advertising of these. Just Google the name of the country you live in, with the words, "spare room for rent" at the back, to find such websites in your specific country or area. On an extra note, always do a background check on any prospective renters, since you don't want to have a psychotic killer or sex fiend living in your house with you and your family.                                                             
      

          

• Offering a house-sitting service to those who know and trust you - Many people don't take vacations due to the fear of having their homes broken into. You could offer your services (at a set fee), as a live-in minder for your friends, colleagues, neighbours and family when they are planning a trip. The fact that someone will be living in their house (and as a result will be able to take care of their garden and pets) will ease their burdens greatly. In the end you might even earn a bonus, due to the peace of mind you have created/given.

                                             

And that's that. If you have any other tips to add, please feel free to do so in the comments section below.

D
xxxxx

If you like my blog, why not subscribe to Mortal Life Modes within the NewsDog App?

Financial Life(style):- How to have a super cheap but fabulous festive season!

The Christmas season is once again upon us. With the global economy being the way it is, this year we could all do with a few money saving tips and tricks to make Xmas more pleasurable and less (financially) taxing and painful.

Just like with other holidays, such as Diwali for instance, Christmas has become a time of spending vast amounts of money, causing many people to lose sight of the true meaning of this Holiest of events. It need however not be this way and you can still enjoy all the traditions that go with this occasion, without breaking the bank in the process.

Think out of the box when it comes to gift giving. Less can indeed mean more and it is honestly not about the cost of the gift/gifts you give to others that gives it/them true value. Creative thought comes into play when it comes to your festive menu as well, and with a little initiative and some inner magic, you can create fabulous spreads on a shoestring budget. 

Below I shall be sharing a few money saving tips when it comes to yummy Christmas food as well as some heartfelt yet cheap gift ideas to help you out where it counts (in your wallet region that is). 

Here are some great and budget friendly Xmas (and New Years) meal ideas:

1. Instead of cooking a whole expensive leg of lamb or gammon, why not have a cold cut/ cold meat Christmas? This works especially well in countries where it is summer during Xmas time (like South Africa). 

2. As an alternative to cold cuts and expensive meats, one could also prepare a few delectable fish dishes as an easier as well as cheap alternative to meat. Trout, salmon and haddock are great choices that won't strain or drain your finances.

3. Why spend a fortune creating elaborate side dishes whereas a few simple yet delicious salads will compliment just about any main dish you choose to serve (cold cuts and fish dishes included)? You could for instance make a simple three bean salad by adding one can of baked beans, one box or can of French green beans and one can of red kidney beans. Another easy salad you can make is a basic three ingredient potato salad for which you will need four medium sized peeled and boiled potatoes (cut up into bite sized pieces), three hard boiled eggs ( also cut up into small pieces) and two cups of mayonnaise. The focus should be on simple. For more ideas do an internet search entitled "simple, easy and cheap salads". You will be amazed at just how many recipes are out there. The above-mentioned two salad ideas I have given you are just simple ones I have been making for years when I am short on time and not in the mood for great cost or effort. I guarantee you will find many more exciting choices online when you go in search of ideas.

Now for some budget friendly gift and decorating ideas:

1. Instead of buying elaborate gifts for your parents and/or in-laws, you could take a few photographs of your family (or if single, just of yourself) and print these out at home for placement into simple cheap wooden frames. Once framed, let your children decorate the frames or if childless/single you could decorate these yourself. Trust me, a gift like this would mean way more to any parent than even the most expensive store bought item. Sentimental gifts are all the rage! 

2. If you have children, you can alternatively give them a little holiday project in which they draw a picture with special meaning for each relative, which you can frame in budget, seamless glass frames and then give to the intended respective family members as gifts with an ultra special meaning. 

3. Child-free? Then why not bake a few holiday cookies/fudge, or make a few holiday style candies or other treats, which can then be placed in beautiful, inexpensive tins and given out as gifts to friends and loved ones. This type of gift is such a thoughtful gesture with a personal touch that adds to its charm. 

4. Why purchase expensive holiday crackers when you can use toilet roll inners, left over wrapping paper and/or crepe paper and some cheap corner shop sweets/candies to make your own at a fraction of the cost?

4. Don't purchase expensive Christmas tree or table decorations when simple objects (such as pine cones, roll on deodorant balls and string et cetera) paired with a can of metallic silver/gold spray paint can make ornaments to die for at the price of pennies compared to their store bought counterparts. 

These are just a few ideas to awaken the frugal and creative genius that lives inside each and every single one of us. As said before, search the internet for more ideas and/or be creative and brainstorm!

Here's hoping you have and absolutely amazing Christmas and a blessed new year! Be safe and be happy!

With love, Debbie Vermaak Nel/Mortal Life Modes.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

If you like my blog, why not follow Mortal Life Modes on the NewsDog App? 

Financial Life(style) - How to live a cheaper existence and ease your stress and burdens

In this day and age it's getting harder and harder to get by and make ends meet (especially in countries like South Africa, China and India, where the currency is so much weaker). In fact most people I know of have admitted to having to go into debt every month just to buy food and other groceries! It truly is shocking how much the Global Economy in general, has gone downhill in the last 20 years or so. Money seems to have no value anymore. 

Because of the above-mentioned, I have decided to share some tips with all of you on how to live a bit cheaper and in the process, ease some of your stress and burdens (hence making you happier and a little more content again). People in other countries outside of South Africa, India and China, can also benefit from reading this, since in this day and age, we can all use some money saving tips and advice.

Tip number one - work on a budget 

Start budgeting your grocery bill (by making a weekly list and sticking to it). This is actually a lot easier than it seems and I have been doing it for years. When you make your list, put your maximum amount to spend on each item, next to that item. This way you can total up your total maximum spend, and not have any nasty surprises at the till/checkout.

Tip number two - purchase a cheaper car 

We all need vehicles to get us from A to B but what we don't need are vehicles costing a small fortune. Why put yourself through obscene payments in a month for something that decreases in value? Rather purchase second hand than purchasing new. Something I find totally ridiculous though, is the fact that the used car market has even become outrageously overpriced. I was laughing the other day when I saw a vehicle, that used to sell brand new, for 40 000 South African Rand (an Opel Utility Vehicle), in the market by a car dealership for 60 000 South African Rand. Can you imagine?! In South Africa you will pay more for a used car now then when it was new! I am fortunate enough to have access to motor vehicle values booklets and was shocked to see how many used car dealers advertise their vehicles for way over book value. So do your homework first by finding out the real values before searching for a more reasonably priced car, to avoid being done in.

Tip number three - not only cheaper, but also smaller (car)

Remember, the smaller the vehicle the less the petrol/fuel, which means less expense in a month. Some households can save thousands this way. Don't believe me? Well compare cars (and their average fuel consumption) and do the math for yourself.

Tip number four - live in a cheaper house/home

It is true our homes are our castles, but why pay the price for a castle if you are not a king? Property has become obscenely expensive in South Africa the last few years. Some might say it's due to the weak rand, however I have been doing a little research recently and this led me to discover something very interesting. Some homeowners and Estate Agents are the ones causing the unrealistic rises, by advertising properties at drastically bloated prices (in order to pocket more money in sales and commissions). Again, do your homework by finding out what the real market values are, before purchasing a home. 

As for those who are renting their home, my advice would be to try and find a house/flat of equal standards, or maybe even a little smaller than what you have now, for a price more affordable than what you are currently paying. 

Remember, the key here is to be realistic and to not live above your means. 

Tip number five - cheaper insurance

Insurance is yet another expensive commodity we cannot dare live without. Just be sure you are getting yours (car and household insurance) for the absolute lowest premiums possible. Beware of brokers though as they will take a cut (making your insurance a bit higher). Rather compare different insurances online for yourself.

Tip number six - cut back on the booze

Boozing it up might be fun but it doesn't come cheap (health and money wise). Many people (especially in South Africa) don't realise how much money they drink away each month. I do realise drinking is a stress release but honestly, if I have managed to find cheaper and healthier stress relieving pastimes, so can you.

Tip number 7 - take holidays closer to home

Surely you can skip that sea/beach holiday once in a while and take a break someplace closer to home. You might even land up having more fun (since you will be exposed to new and different types of experiences). If you simply can't stand the thought of not going to the Ocean, why not do it out of high season then?

Tip number 8 - make use of Groupons and other coupons

I am relatively new to the whole Groupon concept myself, but what it basically is, are various coupons for various things (such as restaurant meals) which you buy online to get the said item for a much cheaper price. Other coupons for a discount on items such as milk can be found in magazines, pamphlets and newspapers. Don't be embarrassed to make use of these, since in this day and age any savings you can make are worth it. 

Tip number 9 - try to use less electricity

 Set your geyser/water heater lower, use energy saver bulbs only, cook on a gas stove, have a prepaid electricity meter installed. All these (mentioned) things are a huge start. There are many other ways to save on electricity bills if you just apply some grey matter (such as making use of solar lanterns at night to create a peaceful mood and save some bucks for example).

And that is it from me. The above nine tips can save you a ton each month (and keep you out of financial trouble). There are of course many other money saving tips and tricks out there, as mentioned above (that don't involve things like re-using a tea bag for example). All it takes is some research and some thought.

Happy saving!

xxxxxx