How to Cut Costs and Make Money

There are dozens of ways to get creative and cut down on basic expenses and even make money. You don't need experience, more time, or that perfect idea to save hundreds a months. Try some of these ideas to put money back into your pocket.

Grow A Garden

Even those without a green thumb can brush up on the basics and grow daily staples like potatoes, corn, or tomatoes to supplement your daily diet. If a full garden seems too ambitious or you live in an apartment, try potted herbs and grow mint, basil, rosemary, and all your favorite ingredients.

Join A Food Co-Op

Many major cities, and even small towns, have their own food co-ops. Usually members pay a small fee and then volunteer a specific number of hours to help run the co-op per month. Instead of pay, you receive nearly wholesale discount on food and fresh produce.

Raise Chickens

Urban farming is becoming more popular than ever. Whether you have a large outdoor space in a suburb or a small patch of land in a townhouse, you can raise your own backyard chickens. Most chickens need room to move around, fresh water, and basic food like vegetables. Many chickens will simply root around the yard and eat bugs and worms instead of looking to you at meal time. In return, you get fresh eggs to eat, barter, or give away to friends and family.

Coupon

Couponing is often overlooked simply because it takes some time to de-mystify the process. Start small by reading the weekly circular or ads in your paper for ongoing deals. Whenever buying a gift online, google for a coupon code. For example, search for "yoga direct coupon code". Slowly graduate to extreme couponing and learn how to save tens, if not hundreds, on monthly groceries and household needs.

Foraging for daily staples is a fun and creative way to save money. If you live near a park or countryside, look for edible flowers, herbs, scallions, roots, nettles, and mushrooms. Exercise extreme caution to avoid any potentially poisonous food by scouring through a foraging guide or asking along a friend or expert to show you the ropes. You could wind up with a completely free dinner fresh from the land.

Go Freegan

There's an entire culture of white-collared professionals and beyond dumpster diving for canned goods, unopened food staples, discarded bakery bread and more. Most Freegans are collecting garbage this by choice to reduce their footprint and prove that our consumeristic society is wasting valuable resources. Some even score on in the box electronics and never worn clothes. Freegans are known to save thousands a year and cut their bills in half.

Cut The Cable

Cut the cable and keep the Internet and reduce your bill in half. Watch all your favorite shows on networks like NBC, ABC, or CBS or Hulu. Order HBO seasons and movies from Netflix and stay entertained without flipping through the tube.

Pick Up Odd Jobs

The Craigslist ETC section always has jobs for gigs to clean out a garage, transcribe audio, mow a lawn, temporarily cat sit, organize books, sit and wait for the cable guy to come, or help with a project. Post flyers at your local library or grocery store to drum up odd jobs in your neighborhood.

Start A Side Career

Maybe it's time to start that side career you've always thought about. While launching an IT company could be a great fit for you, it's okay to think small. Try cat sitting, becoming a professional organizer, trimming Christmas trees, editing graduate papers, or running a personal errand service. You can set your own hours and rates as it fits your lifestyle.