Save Extra Money by Christmas

Want to save extra money by Christmas? Start today by changing a few of your habits. A few of them can improve the quality of your life and help build up your bank account. Just:

Brown bag lunch. Bring sandwiches or discount frozen dinners for lunch at work. On average, they cost $5 or less, which is a better deal than what you find at many fast-food restaurants. Also, they are healthier.

Unplug your gadgets. Gadgets that run on electricity still use power as along as they are plugged up. Make a habit of unplugging yours when they are not in use and save extra money by Christmas. After a month, you'll see a decline on your monthly electrical bill.

Brew your own coffee. Take a break from Starbucks and make your own coffee. This habit costs less than running to this coffee giant. The $5 you spend daily adds up to about $150 per month. This amount of money can be used to purchase a nice Christmas gift for a friend or family member.

Get a second position. Save extra money by Christmas the old fashioned way. Get a part-time job. Hit your local mall and apply at all of the retail stores. Most need additional help around the holidays and hire people to start on October 1. Speed up the application process by having a resume and pertinent information about employers in hand.

Make meals at home. Forget about eating out three times a week until February. Curb your spending by making home-cooked meals. Just like brown bagging your lunch, you stretch your dollars to cover more than what you do by patronizing a restaurant. Also, you can lose weight because the meals you serve will have less fat and fewer calories.

Claim more dependents. Another way to save extra money by Christmas is to claim another dependent on your tax filing at work. This act will put more money in your paycheck. Just remember to change the filing back by New Year.

Work additional hours. This suggestion is a no-brainer. Work additional hours and save this money. Don't wait for your boss to ask you to stay late, be proactive and approach him. This way, he can open up some opportunities for you.

These 7 tips will help you earn extra money by Christmas. Use them and put your additional cash flow into your savings account until you need to use them.