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

[marcyleecorgan]

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.

Here's to your success!

 

[TFC_UNTIL_I_DIE]

You should get onto the Canadian Board here on Disboards and keep an eye on the airmiles deal of the week thread. You can strategize to earn Airmiles and then redeem them at Sobeys/IGA/Foodland in place of paying cash for your groceries and defer that cash.

Also, as an accountant, I say first thing to do is consider your taxes. Do you take all deductions? Anything you may have missed in the past few years where you can file a T1 ADJ? Do you have any TFSA that you can instead tax defer into an RRSP which will then generate an immediate tax deferral? Are any of your kids 16? They can file a HST refund at 16 even if they have no income (I may be out of date on this). Have you optimally claimed healthcare expenses on a revolving 12 month cycle to make sure you get deductions? Have you claimed all charitable donations?

Can you do better on your cable/internet? Often threatening to change providers will make them offer you a 6 month promo which may save you $30month. Can you cut the cord entirely on cable?
Can you get a better cell deal?
You said you are rural - can you get better at online shopping so you never pay delivery fees?
Do you have any subscriptions to newspapers, magazines, website etc that maybe are outdated but you still pay?

One thing we did one year was a the 'change challenge' - we scoured our house for loose change...I think we found over $200 - its amazing what you will find in drawers, coat pockets etc.

There is a survey website in Canada that pays your aeroplan points - you can then convert those into Esso gift cards to pay for your gas (if you have an esso) and divert your gas money.

Maybe you can all grow your hair out this year - save on haircuts or plant a big garden this year

That's all I can come up with - good luck!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

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.

Oh my goodness, how much is a box of cereal there!? If I saved $3.99 on a box it would be free.

 

[mshanson3121]

Oh my goodness, how much is a box of cereal there!? If I saved $3.99 on a box it would be free.

Lol.
Where we are, depending on the brand/size, typically $5-7. A gallon of milk is $7.50. And a litre of gas is $1.13.

 

[wendow]

Lol.
Where we are, depending on the brand/size, typically $5-7. A gallon of milk is $7.50. And a litre of gas is $1.13.

Really!?! Oh my goodness, is that US dollars? In Colorado, a gallon of milk is $2.29 and a box of brand name cereal is about the same. If on sale, might be even less.

 

[Louie7080]

People who live in "blue zones" are the healthiest people in the world and they eat very little meat. They eat a little meat so are not strict vegetarians/vegans (you need a little meat for some nutrients so being a vegetarian is not optimal either). You only need to eat meat once or twice a week for optimal health. Beans are a great source of protein and nutrients. Look up blue zones. Not sure if this helps for your budget planning but eating meat every day is not the healthiest despite what the low carb movement says.

 

[wendow]

People who live in "blue zones" are the healthiest people in the world and they eat very little meat. They eat a little meat so are not strict vegetarians/vegans (you need a little meat for some nutrients so being a vegetarian is not optimal either). You only need to eat meat once or twice a week for optimal health. Beans are a great source of protein and nutrients. Look up blue zones. Not sure if this helps for your budget planning but eating meat every day is not the healthiest despite what the low carb movement says.

Agree. It's frustrating that the paleo/atkins/low carb movement has people thinking they need meat every single day and meal. I was raised by a single mom and on a lot of beans, they are not only budget-friendly but so healthy and protein rich.

BTW, not familiar with what the 'blue zones' are but I am in CO, which is one of the healthiest states.

 

[KVH]

Do some research on participating in market research/surveys. My DW works for one firm that pays anywhere from $100-800 USD for a given study. Can be wine tasting, fast food, exercise gear, or any number of subjects requiring 3-6 hours of participation.

 

[mshanson3121]

Really!?! Oh my goodness, is that US dollars? In Colorado, a gallon of milk is $2.29 and a box of brand name cereal is about the same. If on sale, might be even less.

We're in Canada. So an equivalent of about $5.50 US/gallon for milk.

Do some research on participating in market research/surveys. My DW works for one firm that pays anywhere from $100-800 USD for a given study. Can be wine tasting, fast food, exercise gear, or any number of subjects requiring 3-6 hours of participation.

Holy! What do I look for? I wonder if such things exist in Canada.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Lol.
Where we are, depending on the brand/size, typically $5-7. A gallon of milk is $7.50. And a litre of gas is $1.13.

Ouch!

 

[aliceindisneyland]

Picking up freelance jobs should easily bring in an extra 1k ---assuming freelance writing but any freelance job can be hustled to get more clients/jobs. $ per hour and effort for freelance gigs will far outweigh time wasters like Swagbucks.

 

[mshanson3121]

Picking up freelance jobs should easily bring in an extra 1k ---assuming freelance writing but any freelance job can be hustled to get more clients/jobs. $ per hour and effort for freelance gigs will far outweigh time wasters like Swagbucks.

Yeah, I joined a couple Swagbucks groups, and on one hand, there are people really making a lot of money on there! I was impressed. But I was also shocked when reading the nitty gritty on how they do it. So not happening here, lol. I just do not have time for that level of commitment. Also, it seems a lot of people "make" money by spending money on stuff. I use SB for my search engine, and for shopping that I need to do, but that's about it, other than the odd survey. That said, I do have $25 ready to cash out, so hey, it's something.

 

[KVH]

We're in Canada. So an equivalent of about $5.50 US/gallon for milk.



Holy! What do I look for? I wonder if such things exist in Canada.

My wife is checking to see if they have nay direct connects north of the border. I'm on the biz intel side of marketing so I'm not 100% sure but i do know you can start with the Greenbook. It's focused more on marketers wanting research done but you can get an idea of anyone doing participant feedback studies and then contact the companies directly to see if they're accepting new participants.

 

[amalone1013]

I use SB for my search engine, and for shopping that I need to do, but that's about it, other than the odd survey

If you use sb for online shopping, you could check a few other cash back portals. I like Top Cash Back as it usually has the highest rates, and there's no minimum to cash out. I have accounts with a few cash back sites, and I just check cashbackmonitor.com to see who has the highest rate. It compares portals, sites like sbs, and credit card portals all on one page.

 

[jujubiee4]

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.

This in interesting. How does she advertise. I don't want to do it but sure would like to buy
homemade meals for the family when im out of town.

 

[wendow]

This in interesting. How does she advertise. I don't want to do it but sure would like to buy
homemade meals for the family when im out of town.

I'm not sure she has ever advertised. Her dh died at 39yo leaving her with 4 dc. He had provided a very nice life insurance policy but she still needed to bring in some income so she could continue to be a SAHM. Several friends and neighbors decided to help her out by hiring her to provide meals. It just kind of took off through word-of-mouth. I'm pretty sure all her customers are in her neighborhood as she delivers the meals each afternoon/evening.

 

[hrslvr142]

Thanks to the OP...we are going to Disney in the spring for my birthday and taking along DH daughter/grand daughter (5 y.o. who has never been-I am very excited they will be joining us & a five year old-what fun!)..we were able to pay for their flights through SW points, paying for accomodations but I know mom is struggling with buying their park tickets...so I am going to use some of these ideas to buy at least one if not both of their tickets...I could kick myself for missing on the ebates things at Christmas...that would have been at least $50-$100...anyway thanks for inspiring me and it looks like you will be able to reach your goal as well! Great ideas folks!

 

[scrapquitler]

Because a) we already cut costs significantly b) I'm not so obsessed with Disney that I'm willing to change our lifestyle to go. If we can do it with bringing in money in other ways, great. But if the only way to go is cut out groceries and eat beans and meatless meals, lol, then no thanks. I have no interest in going.

How about cutting your cable/satelllite tv service? Maybe you don't have to cancel it, but go for a lower tier with less channels? That could give you a significant savings without a huge lifestyle change (we got rid of our cable bill $150/month and now just use Netflix/Chromecast and save at least $125/month).

 

[scrapquitler]

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?

Maybe this doesn't apply to you at all, but for many of us, it's a simple and fairly painless way to save a bunch of money every month: cut out a habit of stopping for Starbucks, (Tim Hortons?), a soda at the convenience store, a snack on the way to work, etc. Those little purchases that we don't think too much about can really add up. If you stop and get a coffee every morning on the way to work, even cutting out one of two of those stops each week could net you hundreds of dollars in a short time frame.

 

[mshanson3121]

How about cutting your cable/satelllite tv service? Maybe you don't have to cancel it, but go for a lower tier with less channels? That could give you a significant savings without a huge lifestyle change (we got rid of our cable bill $150/month and now just use Netflix/Chromecast and save at least $125/month).

I would do this no problem. But until they find a way to live stream my husband's sports in Canada, it will never happen, LOL. That said, our package is pretty cheap - sattelite, internet, home phone, long distance for $140/mth.