Need to make $1000 in 10 months... ideas

[manning]

Buy store brand. Most of the time store/name brand come off same line. Compare the labels.

 

[tasha99]

credit card bonuses have been good to me.

This. If you are going to pay for things anyway, put them on a card that gives you perks you would have to buy on your vacation. We use Chase Sapphire for generic travel freebies (used on American airlines and a Kimpton hotel in Vermont--super flexible), and Jet Blue. You might choose different cards, depending on what gives the best bonuses on the airlines and hotels you like. You do need to make the initial charge amount to earn a reward, but we did it by charging all our normal expenses to the cc, then paying them off monthly (a habit we've continued, as it racks up the points).

 

[SharonZ]

That seems like a lot of money to be made without making lifestyle changes and ruling out something like babysitting. Good Luck, though!

 

[wendow]

Do you bake? I would pay someone for homemade baked goods or even an occasional full dinner, providing the price was reasonable (figure out what it costs to make the item(s), including the cost for baking and then double it).

This is a great suggestion! I have a friend who makes more than $1000 per month cooking for other families in her neighborhood who do not have time to cook but would like a homemade meal each evening. She has one family that she cooks for M-F every week.

 

[wendow]

Are Canadians eligible for US credit cards? If so, you and dh could both get the Chase Sapphire Preferred and get 50k points which is the equivalent of $500 US .

 

[bababear_50]

I know it doesn't sound like much, but I need to do it without cutting back in any other areas of our budget. I'm a SAHM (part time job not an option) living in Canada. I am a columnist/freelancer and I know that through my freelance work I typically pick up I'll be able to earn most of what I need to pay for our trip next fall, but right now I'm looking to be about $1000 short. I have joined Swagbucks, but don't really know how to use it/maximize it, outside of just random SBs I earn doing searches. Suggestions on how to earn the money?

Hi Hon
I would go with something you are good at and enjoy doing to earn the extra money. You say you are in a small rural village --does anyone have a small store that you could sell handmade knit/sew (consignment) stuff at? OR maybe summer markets and craft shows,,
I have a couple of friends that own a Christmas tree farm and they have had to hire help--not for the trees but they started making and selling Jams and they can barely keep up with the demand.
Best Wishes
Hugs Mel

 

[mshanson3121]

My sister has developed a very good side photography business. It's too bad that you missed the holidays. Are grad photos a thing in Canada? That is another busy time for photographers here.

Yes they are, so I could definitely do that, though they typically do those in the fall.

Do you bake? I would pay someone for homemade baked goods or even an occasional full dinner, providing the price was reasonable (figure out what it costs to make the item(s), including the cost for baking and then double it).

Yes I do. Once upon a time I used to sell my baked goods at the local grocery store, but again, life was just too hectic so I had to stop. But between the baking ad the crafts, I'm starting to think that maybe I'll run a table at the local market this summer. Our village also puts on a large community yard sale, that I could likely sell my stuff at, too. I'm thinking this may be a good route.

This. If you are going to pay for things anyway, put them on a card that gives you perks you would have to buy on your vacation. We use Chase Sapphire for generic travel freebies (used on American airlines and a Kimpton hotel in Vermont--super flexible), and Jet Blue. You might choose different cards, depending on what gives the best bonuses on the airlines and hotels you like. You do need to make the initial charge amount to earn a reward, but we did it by charging all our normal expenses to the cc, then paying them off monthly (a habit we've continued, as it racks up the points).

We do have a Mastercard that gives rewards at the grocery store we shop at - good rewards, too. In all honesty, I forgot about it! I average $25-30 a month in rewards, so that will be an easy $300 right there. Funny how you can forget the obvious things until other people point them out for you, lol.

Are Canadians eligible for US credit cards? If so, you and dh could both get the Chase Sapphire Preferred and get 50k points which is the equivalent of $500 US .

No unfortunately not. Otherwise, I'd have a Disney card, lol.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

I get the fact you don't want to skimp on stuff you are used to and you don't want to do a lifestyle change. Do you budget? Meaning each month or check or however you do it, do you list $x for groceries, $x for fuel for cars, etc? Without changing your buying habits, I'm assuming each budget cycle you are maybe spending a little less then you plan in each category. You could always set that money aside for the trip fund. Then nothing is changing in your life and you aren't spending your time trying to find an odd job or doing online surveys.

The variable monthly expenses in our budget include; groceries, fuel, electric/gas and spending money. Some months I'm right at what I budgeted and other months I may end up a few hundred less then I budgeted.

 

[kuhltiffany]

https://www.upwork.com/i/how-it-works/freelancer/#get-hired

 

[wendow]

When I need to cut costs, the main place I can save is on groceries. We are very health conscious (don't eat out more than once every 2 mos or so) and I do not consider cutting meat or eating more beans as unhealthy choices. They are things we do to save money but also things we do to eat healthier.

 

[mshanson3121]

When I need to cut costs, the main place I can save is on groceries. We are very health conscious (don't eat out more than once every 2 mos or so) and I do not consider cutting meat or eating more beans as unhealthy choices. They are things we do to save money but also things we do to eat healthier.

To each their own We eat meat for health reasons But again I'm not looking to cut costs - rather just to make some extra money.

 

[mshanson3121]

I get the fact you don't want to skimp on stuff you are used to and you don't want to do a lifestyle change. Do you budget? Meaning each month or check or however you do it, do you list $x for groceries, $x for fuel for cars, etc? Without changing your buying habits, I'm assuming each budget cycle you are maybe spending a little less then you plan in each category. You could always set that money aside for the trip fund. Then nothing is changing in your life and you aren't spending your time trying to find an odd job or doing online surveys.

The variable monthly expenses in our budget include; groceries, fuel, electric/gas and spending money. Some months I'm right at what I budgeted and other months I may end up a few hundred less then I budgeted.

Yes, this is true. We budget, and yes, we always almost always spend less than budgeted, to varying amounts. We normally just roll it over to the next month, or snowball it.

 

[wendow]

To each their own We eat meat for health reasons But again I'm not looking to cut costs - rather just to make some extra money.

Right...but obviously, by cutting costs, you effectively have made money.

And I'm far from anti-meat...love meat ...but it is a more expensive protein source and for meat to be healthy (organic, grass-fed, free-range), you are spending a lot. Especially if you are feeding a family. We only buy organic cuts of meat so I'm pretty familiar with the pricing unless Canada is just super inexpensive compared to the States on that. But yes, to each their own.

 

[Momto2minniemice]

Just a thought but let’s say you were going to buy x (let’s say food, clothing, or whatever) no matter what you were going to buy it and prepared to pay for it. But you found it on sale. Take the money “saved” and simply move it to savings. This could add up over time and you were already prepared to spend the money.
Also when you do spend money at the end of the day round up to the dollar. If your bill was $5.97. Move the 0.03 into savings little things like this will add up too over time too. In the end of the month it might be $3 dollar .
Just a couple of simple ideas!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Yard sale when the weather is better.
Or what I've been doing for a couple of years... join a FB yard sale page and sell individual items that you no longer want. (Although my last sale was a bit hairy so I'm laying low for a little while lol)

I know you said you aren't willing to cut your budget in any other way but perhaps you could consider it a bit.
Like skip a couple of meals out, skip going to a movie or two, skip buying that next handbag or heels, or even just a lip stick. *Whatever your guilty little pleasures are that you really don't need to buy more of when trying to save up some money.)
Skipping one thing here and there will not "ruin" your year but it could save you quite a bit.

I've heard of Swagbucks but I am not part of it.
I do Ebates and it often works well for me because I tend to shop at the places with some of the highest cash back opportunities like JCP.
I love using it around the holidays because I do most of my Xmas shopping online now.
My next payment in the form of a check sent to my house will be at least $30 which will be a pleasent surprise for when I return from my next trip.

 

[BLAZEY]

I've sold a quite a bit of my DD old clothes,dance shoes and skating gear on Varagesale.

 

[tcufrog]

A friend of mine decided to try for three months having Meatless Mondays for dinner. She challenged her kids to give her ideas for dinners on Mestless Mondays with the following criteria: The ingredients couldn’t be difficult to source or cost more than she typically spent for meals; there had to be a good source of protein in it; it had to be healthy; and it couldn’t take longer to cook than she usually spent on a weeknight meal.

The kids rose to the challenge and turned it into a friendly competition yi see who could come up with the tastiest meal. She didn’t start this to save money but she was pleasantly surprised by how much she saved. At the end of the 3 months the kids elected to continue Meatless Mondays because they enjoyed the break from routine and trying new things.

My other suggestion is to to research credit cards to make sure you have the best points deal and to maximize your points. I treat my credit card like a debit card and pay for everything I can with it that doesn’t have an extra cc fee including monthly bills such as utilities. I also make sure to pay it off in full every month. I am also aggressive about paying off debt since that will save me money in the long run.

 

[Gigi22]

Do you have a good-sized freezer? Butchers will frequently offer a significant discount on a package of assorted frozen meats, or a side or quarter of beef/pork. Downside is, you need the cash to pay for your entire purchase up front, upside is, you save grocery money on meat.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

I feel your Canadian pain! It's so hard to find practical opportunities up here!

Can you split a cow with another household? I know freezer space can be an issue...

Do you already buy in bulk? I mean, not like 40 cans of tuna Costco bulk, I mean like Bulk Barn where you take your jar in and fill it with spices rather then the tiny jars at the grocery.

I agree with the online garage sale or the actual, real thing once it thaws out (HAHAHAHA I KNOW let's dream right???)

IF the cash flow is NOT a problem, try keeping track of how much you "save" on things - if you saved $3.99 on a box of cereal on sale, make sure you tally somewhere that you need to move $3.99 out of one bank account and into your savings. I say keep a tally because in one shopping day, you probably will have bought a number of items "on sale" and so you only want to do that transaction once. I find that when I actually MOVE the money it makes a final psychological step in my mind... if I just pat myself on the back for my "savings" then I will just spend it at the next store because it's still in my primary account

 

[mshanson3121]

So basically, what I've come up with:

- Maximize Swagbucks (should be able to get $200 here)
- Utilize our PC Points (credit card reward, should be able to get $400-500 here)
- During our community yard sale, the kids can have a lemonade stand and I'll sell baked goods (Based on past revenue from this, I expect $100+ for this. Could even do it a couple times over the summer).
- Sell some craft goods at the summer market (no idea really, but I'm hoping for $100ish)
- Offer "Back to School/Grad" mini-session day (should be able to get $200-300)
- Rather than a yard sale, sell on our local classifieds site throughout the year (should be able to make $100-200).

So, looks like it shouldn't be a problem to come up with what I need.