What’s the all American Dream? Why it’s home ownership of course. According to the Census Bureau, home ownership is at a historic low right now, of only 62.9%. Why? Well after coming off of a huge housing bust, many homeowners lost their homes to foreclosure and bankruptcy. Credit was ruined and lives were ruined. Never […]
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8 Ways to Make an Extra $1000 a Month
Who wouldn’t want an extra $1000 per month? I know I do! Think of the things you could do with an extra $1000/month, or $12,000 a year?
Pay off school loans, pay off credit cards, put it away in savings, buy a new car, take a vacation, put it into an emergency fund, start a business.
The possibilities are endless. $12,000/year by any standards would be a great raise in most jobs. And chances are it could make a large change in your life. Go ahead and give it a try, what do you have to lose?
- Start a blog– This should seem like an obvious choice since you’re reading a blog! I started this blog, for just this purpose. To learn, to educate, and hopefully to make some money at it. I love it, I love technology, and I love learning and teaching new things. It’s a great side job, lots of work, but well worth it. And to think, you can make a blog about ANYTHING! Just give it shot, you’d be surprised how fun it is!
- Answer Survey– Survey answering is one of those things that I never really knew existed. But it’s out there and there’s plenty of money to be made. Try sites like Typeform, SurveyJunkie, and Swagbucks.
- Drive Uber/Lyft- This is a great option if you’ve got a decent car, like to drive, and aren’t afraid to meet new people. The sign up is easy and painless, and you can start earning money quickly!
- Sell Your Stuff– The first thing I like to do when looking for extra cash, is to start looking around the house! There’s always stuff laying around that can be sold for extra money. Whether it’s electronics, furniture, clothes, handbags, trading cards, or even antiques. Look around that house, there’s bound to be stuff you’re not using. For more ideas on selling your stuff, check out Top 20 Things to Sell to Make Extra Cash.
- Babysit– So a time tested tradition holds up. Babysitting is a time tested classic that started when you were 14, and can still make you money way into your 20’s, 30’s, sky’s the limit. Good babysitting help can be hard to find, and if you’ve got the time and some friends, chances are they need a break and a babysitter!
- Become a Bookkeeper– This might be a strange one for some, but chances are you have some bookkeeping skills. And why not put those to use?
- Become a VA– This is a great job for almost anyone. Almost everyone is looking for some kind of help, mostly online. If you’ve got secretarial, sales, computer, or even writing skills, you can find work. Heck, many people are VA full time and making a great living. Look to sites like Upwork, TaskEveryDay, and even Fiverr as a great way to make some extra dough.
- Freelance Work– Freelance work is great because you’re already doing it! I always preface this with, if you’re working in a field and are employed, you should make sure that you will not get into any problem, freelancing with other people or companies. But the truth is, if you’re skilled, you can usually find very good work doing side jobs and projects within your field.
The truth is, if you’re motivated enough, you can find ways to make extra cash. It might take sacrifice, but in the end, it’s all worth it. Think of all you can do with that extra cash each month? Get outta debt. Save for a rainy day. Take a vacation. Put into retirement savings. The possibilities are endless!!
Money Is The Key To Happiness
Money can make you happy. There I said. I know you’re all thinking that cliche, “but Sara, money CAN’T make you happy, it’s not possible. We need love, and people, and relationships, and cookies, and M&M’s to make us happy”
And you’re right.
Sort of.
But hear me out. I would never prescribe that money can fill all those important voids in your life. I mean what does make a fulfilling, happy life anyway? I would argue, that friends/family/relationships are probably the root of happiness. Sprinkle in some self-esteem, values, career, and love, and well, you’ve got a recipe for true happiness.
But money does something that nothing else can. It gives us POWER.
Not like Superman power, although we’ve all met that guy that’s rich and thinks he’s some sort of superhero.
Money gives us the power to make change and choices. Let me say it again, and louder, cuz this is the good stuff.
MONEY= FREEDOM and CHOICES
Money has the power to impact our lives in a way that nothing else can. When you have the ability to make choices and have freedom, well you’ve got it all.
Tired of living in that small home, time to make a change. Tired of working, and need a vacation, here’s some freedom. Want to spend time giving to charity, or volunteering? Money can make that happen.
See money has the power to make us unconditional in our own life. What does that mean you ask? Well, how many of us have needs, wants, and desires, but there are conditions on them? I’d like a new car but can’t afford it. I’d like to send my child to an Ivy league school but can’t afford it. I’d like to spend more time with my kids, but I’ve got to work.
Whether we like it or not, most of our lives and choices, are dictated by money. Either a lack of it, a need for more of it, and spending time trying to find or earn it.
While money certainly isn’t going to hold your hand during an evening stroll or open a door for you at a restaurant, money does afford us the opportunity to make a change. Change that can become significant in our lives. Change that can lead us to happiness.
I’m definitely not saying that you can’t be happy if you don’t have money, plenty of people are. But wouldn’t life be so much more enjoyable, and less stressful, if we had more of it? Wouldn’t that time that we spend with our family, friends, and loved ones, be more enjoyable if the stress of bills, life, and responsibilities was lessened just a bit?
I certainly don’t want to sound crass or ambivalent about what really matters. It’s clear to me that connection and relationships are the cornerstones from which human existence is shaped. But why do we criminalize and make money a dirty thing? Why do we look at the “money-hungry”, and those that make lots of money as less feeling and connected to us. Certainly having money can buy us lots of fancy things, and experiences, but that’s really not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about something that’s so much bigger.
I realize that many might not agree with me, and it’s really a subjective question. I mean how much money do you really need, a little? A lot? That’s really up to you and your needs. I’m not an extravagant person, I do have certain specific goals that I want to acquire, and no living in a castle isn’t one of them! I am fairly modest. But I do know that having money gives peace of mind, and peace of mind, to me, leads to happiness. And isn’t that what we’re all after anyway?
Whatever your relationship with money is, it’s personal and I get that. And I agree that a simple life can be quite fulfilling. Sustaining meaningful relationships, having a connection and love is always going to be at the top of the list. But being able to have freedom, and freedom to make choices might be a close second.
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