See the caption to the left: the quotation reminds us that if we ever find ourselves on a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere. Look at that path, there is nothing in the way, you and i can walk down that path with no problem because there is no obstacle...SUCH IS LIFE....WE ARE GUARANTEED OBSTACLES. Debt can be an obstacle; yet it can be overcome...read on for there is help!I was in the dollar tree store on Sunday afternoon picking up the usual dollar items to live on when I spotted these small Smart Style books, small pamphlets, to be exact. There are five according to the inside cover: 101 Ways to Fall Asleep Fast, 101 Ways to Get out of Debt Fast, 101 Ways to Lose Weight Fast, 101 Ways to De-Stress and 101 Ways to Communicate With Your Kids. The two that I saw I picked up. They were about getting about of debt and de-stressing. Those two things I am seriously trying to work on. They are very important to me. They may be of importance to you; maybe not. I do know that when I hit Dollar Tree on Sunday after my usual day of worship services, I will pick up the other three. Speaking of losing weight, I have not had any water today; let me just get up one minute from here; I know my foot aches but the refrigerator is less than a second away, I am in the kitchen. My kitchen serves as an office/ study area/eating area and watching dvd movies, what more can I say right now?
I would like in this blog to list 20 ways to get out of debt-fast! And in the red rose blog, list the suggestions for de-stressing, 20 ways as well. If it does not apply to you; perhaps you can share it with someone else that you know of that is in either situation, in debt or stressing. I can use some help in both areas. And away we go!
Debt. one of the few words of the English language that can instill fear into a fully grown adult. All over the world men and women of every age group, are battling with their own personal finance problems. If you take a look at your finances, you may find that you are struggling with these issues too.
There are many forms of debt-credit cards, mortgages, personal loans, and payday loans, to name but a few. Perhaps the most financially crippling of these is credit card debt. Credit card debt is among the most expensive debt a consumer can have.
No matter what form of debt you are tackling, there is always a way to pay the money back without getting yourself further down into the borrowing hole. If you truly want to dig your way out of debt and toward financial freedom, then you should follow this guide. The best thing about this minibook is that none of its suggestions involve borrowing more money. Instead, it offers practical solutions to boost your income and decrease your spending.
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1. Ask your boss for overtime. By asking for overtime at your current job you achieve two things: first, you show your boss that you are a committed and dedicated employee and second, you give yourself the opportunity to earn additional cash.
2. Apply for a second job. Another good option is to apply for a second job. Even a simple job, with minimal responsibility and few hours, could provide a regular source of income. Check your local newspaper for opportunities in your area, or visit web sities such as www.gotajob.com or www.monster.com for more information.
3. Start a home business. If you are serious about making enough money to fully pay off your debts, then you could consider running your own part-time, home-based business. Pick an area of work that you are skilled in and start your own business. Focus on a niche area where you have particular skills. Visit www.home-business-network.com to get started.
4. Take on freelance work. If owning your own home business sounds like too much hard work, then you might want to think about taking on freelance work. Many companies are more than willing to outsource certain tasks. It could be writing, maintenance work, graphics and design work, or even something as simple as filing or picking up the mail each day from the post office. Check with local companies in your areas to see what they have to offer, or visit www.freelance-work-exchange.com for more details.
5. Apply for a higher paying job. One of the most obvious courses of action to take when you find yourself in debt is to apply for a higher paying job. Earning more money is the perfect way to help clear up your loans and credit cards. See the web sites under #2 for more information on job opportunities.
6. Take out a home equity loan. A good idea is to pay off your credit card debt with a home equity loan. It won't reduce the amount of debt initially, but it will significantly reduce your interest rate and make more money available for principal repayments. Visit www.esmartloan.com/home-equity-loan.htm for more information.
7. Don't overpay your taxes. Are you getting a refund on your taxes? You could be loaning the government money interest free, as a result of too much witholding on your salary. And you are probably paying sky-high rates on your credit card debts too. Get together with your personnel department and recompute your witholding to avoid a big tax refund and increase your take home pay. Contact the National Foundation for Credit Counseling at www.nfcc.org for nore details.
8. Do household chores for your neighbors. Another prime way of making extra money is by hiring out your services as a cleaner, cook, or handyman (or woman) to your neighbors. People will be only too happy to pay you to do the jobs that they would rather avoid or don't have the time to do. Not meaning to be negative, but they want to help me with the trash bag they see me carrying to the dumpster for crackerjacks or want to borrow 40 cents or 5,00, so they need me, they cannot hire me, i would have to hire them, so this does not work for me, that's just my one cents i had to throw in, lol)
9. Organize a "swear" box. A swear box builds up cash quicker than you can say "put the money in the box." If you're not comfortable with a swear box, you can always alter it for a "no snacks box" or a "close the refrigerator door box." Whatever your vice, use it to your advantage.
10. Consolidate your loans. Free up your earnings by consolidating all your loans and reducing both your interest and repayments. There are many companies that offer this sort of loan solution, and you can find various ones advertised in the newspaper classifieds or on the web. Try www.unitedpersonaloans .com or www.gsfonline.com/debt-consolidation-loans-ya.htm in order to get started.
11. Hold a garage sale. Rummage around your garage, attic, and house and collect all the bric-a-brac you can find. Price it, put a "garage sale" sign in the front yard and make as healthy profit as passersby purchase all the things you no longer have a need for.
12. Make money online. There are literally thousands of moneymaking opportunities online. Many companies offer paid surveys, focus groups, and questionnaires. Try looking at www.paidsurveys.com and www.focusline.com to put you on the right path.
13. Start a loose change jar. Put all of your loose coins in a jar, and promise not to touch then until the jar is full to the top. You'll be surprised at how much you can accumulate, and all of this can be added to your debt fund.
14. Ask for a pay raise. The old maxim holds true. "If you don't ask, you don't get." Write out a list of reasons why you deserve a pay raise. Discuss it with your personnel dpartment before going to your supervisor or boss. Be professional and honest abut your self-appraisal, and you could be in for a little extra income.
15. Become a paid taxi for your friends on nights out. Instead of wasting your money on taxi fares, why not be the designated driver for a night out with your friends? You can charge them a cheaper fee then the taxi and still make enough to cover your gas and put something in your pocket towards your bills.
16. Sell items on Ebay. If you are internet savvy, then you may want to consider selling some of the items you own on Ebay. Look for anything that you no longer need, use, like, and then offer it up for grabs in this popular online market. Visit them at www.ebay.com
17. Put unneeded clothes on consignment. This is an especially good way to get rid of evening dresses (think old prom gowns and cocktail dresses you'll never wear again) and suits, but anything in good condition can be put on consignment. You share the money from the sale with the consignment shop, but it's an easy way to squeeze some money out of clothes that would otherwise just take up closet space.
18. Get a paper route. This may not be as silly as it sounds. Nowadays, paper routes aren't just for school kids. In fact, many people from all walks of life use this as a hassle-free way to make some additional cash when they need it most. Call your local newspaper and see what they have to offer.
19. Rent out a room in your house. If you have a spare room in your house you should consider renting it out to a lodger. Students at local universities are always looking for affordable housing. In most metropolitan areas, rooms average about $400.00 a month. This is a great way to generate income because the money will come on a regular basis. Make sure to get references on any lodger who applies and get a deposit to cover any damages and cleanup.
20. Sell your old videos/dvds/cd's. If you are looking to earn some money without too much effort, consider selling some dvds/cds/videos. Make sure they are in good working order.
other suggestions in the book:101 ways: grants and scholarships, TUTORING, YEAH! dog-walking,-pet-sitting, baby-sitting, scrapbook service, homemade greeting cards, tupperware, stuff envelopes, selling old books, laundry service, create a budget, create and sell your own candles, clip coupons, carpool, brown bag it, generic prescriptions, microwave instead of oven, THRIFT STORES, AHA!, avoid using your atm card at machines that charge a fee, and so on.
I noticed in the back of the book that there are other books in this series like "Get Fit Now," "Healing Foods," "Prayers To Your Guardian Angel," "Clean and Organize Your Home," I NEED, I NEED! (lol) and "Kids' Party Planner."
Additional link to check out for grabs...
www.coolfreebielinks.com
see ya next time!
