I have been brain storming on ways to help myself improve our situation. I don't know if these ideas will work for anyone else, but I figured I would share. If they help - GREAT! If not, maybe someone will think of something that will.
1. If you have children take their clothes to a consignment store that gives in - store credit for the clothes. You can then turn that credit around to buy your child clothes that they need. It doesn't put cash in pocket, but it does help keep cash from flying OUT of pocket.
2. If you have a car, walk when you can. Instead of driving that block, or three, to the store walk if you are not picking up too much. It will save gas money.
3. Go through your movies, and you video games if you have them, and sell them. Don't just pawn for a loan, flat out sell them. You get a slight bit more (but still not much, at all). If you don't watch them, and you can get cash for them - something is better than nothing.
4. Offer to clean houses for people! Don't charge a fortune, but its a way to generate bits of income.
5. Have a yard sale! Your junk could be someone else's much needed treasure.
6. If you are handy then offer to help fix things for people, or help to winterize their houses, for a small fee.
7. Look up www.angelfoodministries.com and see if they have a ministry in your area. It can help reduce food costs considerably for you.
8. Freecycle! www.freecycle.org If you have one in your area, give it a shot!
9. If you are a crafter its Christmas! See about renting a table (if you can afford it, or go in with a few people) at a flee market and sell those crafts! The booth/table should not cost more than $10 or $20 which will make it easy to get return on investment.
Maybe one of these ideas will help you, maybe it won't. It never hurts to hope, though.
